Well, the first-line trench, very remarkably swept and dusted and spotless—­as were all the trenches beyond the communication trench—­was not much like a trench.  It was like a long wooden gallery.  Its sides were of wood, its ceiling was of wood, its floor was of wood.  The carpentry, though not expert, was quite neat; and we were told that not a single engineer had ever been in the position, which, nevertheless, is reckoned to be one of the most ingenious on the whole front.  The gallery is rather dark, because it is lighted only by the loop-holes.  These loop-holes are about eight inches square, and more than eight inches deep, because they must, of course, penetrate the outer earthwork.  A couple of inches from the bottom a strong wire is fixed across them.  At night the soldier puts his gun under this wire, so that he may not fire too high.

The loop-holes are probably less than a yard apart, allowing enough space in front of each for a man to move comfortably.  Beneath the loop-holes runs a wooden platform for the men to stand on.  Behind the loop-holes, in the ceiling, are large hooks to hang guns on.  Many of the loop-holes are labelled with men’s names, written in a good engrossing hand; and between the loop-holes, and level with them, are pinned coloured postcards and photographs of women, girls, and children.  Tucked conveniently away in zinc cases underground are found zinc receptacles for stores of cartridges, powders to be used against gas, grenades, and matches.

One gazes through a loop-hole.  Occasional firing can be heard, but it is not in the immediate vicinity.  Indeed, all the men we can see have stepped down from the platform in order to allow us to pass freely along it and inspect.  Through the loop-hole can be distinguished a barbed-wire entanglement, then a little waste ground, then more barbed-wire entanglement (German), and then the German trenches, which are less than half a mile away, and which stretch round behind us in a semicircle.

“Do not look too long.  They have very good glasses.”

The hint is taken.  It is singular to reflect that just as we are gazing privily at the Germans, so the Germans are gazing privily at us.  A mere strip of level earth separates them from us, but that strip is impassable, save at night, when the Frenchmen often creep up to the German wire.  There is a terrible air of permanency about the whole affair.  Not only the passage of time produces this effect; the telephone-wire running along miles of communication-trench, the elaborateness of the fighting trenches, the established routine and regularity of existence—­all these also contribute to it.  But the air of permanency is fallacious.  The Germans are in France.

Every day of slow preparation brings nearer the day when the Germans will not be in France.  That is certain.  An immense expectancy hangs over the land, enchanting it.

We leave the first-line trench, with regret.  But we have been in it!