Many dark masses stumbled and fell with a crash of accoutrements on that huge sloping sewer.

As they swarmed up the chaos of oblique darkness which pushed them back, the men gave signs of exhaustion and anger.

Cries of "Forward! Forward!" surrounded us on all sides, harsh cries like barks, and I heard, near me, Adjutant Marcassin's voice, growling, "What about it, then?
It's for France's sake!" Arrived at the top of the hill, we went down the other slope.
The order came to put pipes out and advance in silence.

A world of noises was coming to life in the distance.
A gateway made its sudden appearance in the night.

We scattered among flat buildings, whose walls here and there showed black holes, like ovens, while the approaches were obstructed with plaster rubbish and nail-studded beams.