They were challenged by a low voice; and then Captain Marsden got up on the firestep, but could not pick up the mound of rubble even with his glasses. It needed a starshell behind it to make it clearly visible; even by daylight it was almost indistinguishable from its surroundings.

‘Everything quiet?’ he asked the boy beside him.

‘Aye, sir; but sergeant-major, ’e said there were a sniper about. They send up a starshell now and again, but not close. A can just see t’ place, but th’ art not used to t’ light yet.’

Captain Marsden searched the night again, but could not pick it up. He decided in his mind that as the boy had seen it under a starshell, he imagined he still saw it, an image remaining on the retina, after darkness had hidden the object again. Then a distant starshell revealed it, exactly where the boy had said it was. Captain Marsden made the most of his opportunity, and stepped down again.

‘You keep your eyes skinned, m’ lad,’ he said, cheerfully. ‘You may see something interesting over there, yet. All right, Bourne; we shall go back. I suppose you’ll get some tea, or something, and a smoke. I’m glad I came out, and glad you knew something about the place. I knew there were no cellars, but I was wondering how you had got to know. A good fellow, Finch; always knew how to concentrate on the job he was doing, and he did a lot of good work. Did very well in the attack, too, and got a nice Blighty. I’m glad you’re going to become one of us, Bourne. You should have gone for a commission long ago. Perhaps the Colonel will see you after we are relieved.’

He acknowledged Bourne’s salute, and left him; Bourne going into the dug-out by the other entrance. After duly slipping on the two damaged steps with the invariable surprise, and curses, Bourne found Sergeant-Major Tozer and Corporal Jakes in their corner.

‘There’s a drop o’ tea still ’ot,’ said the sergeant-major, ’an’ your rum ration.’

‘What’s ’e goin’ to do about it?’ inquired Jakes more directly.

‘Well, he didn’t let me into any secrets,’ said Bourne; ‘but I believe, Corporal, he wants you to go out and bury that man you saw.’

‘It’s a funny thing,’ said Jakes with the utmost seriousness; ‘but I’d like to think I’d be buried, that is, if I were scuppered, you know. What gets me with the Captain is the way ’e talks to you, as though you weren’t there. ’ave you noticed that, Sergeant?’

Sergeant-Major Tozer, on principle, disapproved of a corporal expressing any opinion about his company-commander; but for once he condoned a fault.

‘What gets me,’ he said, with even greater vehemence, ’is the way ’e looks at you from be’ind ’is face.’