"Look at the guns back there," shouted Ralph, as the company marched back to get their first breakfast after three hours of hard work.

"Come on, boys!" said the corporal in charge, smiling at the boys. "You've worked pretty hard for lads of your age; come and have something to eat."

"So we will," said Alfred; "but what are the guns doing back there?" he asked, as he pointed out a battery which had limbered up and was wheeling into position.

"You will see in a few moments," replied the corporal, and before they reached the mess wagon the guns began to roar.

"How far away are the Germans?" asked Ralph.

"About two and a half miles, I should judge," replied the corporal, looking at the battery.

"How can you tell by looking at the guns?" asked Ralph.

"By their angle," was the answer.

Before they ceased speaking, the first shot was[Pg 62] fired, then another and another, all of them trial shots, as one of the soldiers explained. Then another battery to the left, heretofore unnoticed, began to fire, while one posted higher up on the right, and two more beyond, chimed in. This was a new experience to the boys, as the Belgians, with whom they had formerly associated, were lacking in field pieces compared with those they now saw and heard.

[Pg 62]

The challenge was promptly accepted by the Germans, and within fifteen minutes the whole crest to the east of them, probably two miles distant, seemed to be ablaze. It was singular, however, that none of the missiles fell near the troops where the boys were located. On a little elevation to the right of the kitchen vans the boys noticed a group of officers with field glasses, intently scanning the rear of their position.

"The blooming blokes are shooting too far," remarked a soldier.

"Why are they doing that?" asked Alfred, who overheard him.

"Oh, they'll get the range in time," he replied.

"There's the first airship, to give them a 

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