The M.O. who viewed the body said that without question the man had been crucified alive.  Also it was said that the same thing had happened before.

I told Captain Green of the occurrence when I got back to our own trenches, and he ordered me to keep silent, which I did.  It was feared that if the affair got about the men would be “windy” on patrol.  However, the thing did get about and was pretty well talked over.  Too many saw it.

The Canadians were reprimanded for going over without orders.  But they were not punished.  For their officers went with them—­led them.

Occasionally the temptation is too great.  Once I was out on patrol alone, having sent my man back with a message, when I encountered a Heinie.  I was lying down at the time.  A flock of lights went up and showed this fellow standing about ten feet from me.  He had frozen and stayed that way till the flares died, but I was close enough to see that he was a German.  Also—­marvel of marvels—­he was alone.

When the darkness settled again, I got to my feet and jumped at him.  He jumped at me—­another marvel.  Going into the clinch I missed him with the persuader and lost my grip on it, leaving the weapon dangling by the leather loop on my wrist.  He had struck at me with his automatic, which I think he must have dropped, though I’m not sure of that.  Anyway we fell into each other’s arms and went at it barehanded.  He was bigger than I. I got under the ribs and tried to squeeze the breath out of him, but he was too rugged.

At the same time I felt that he didn’t relish the clinch.  I slipped my elbow up and got under his chin, forcing his head back.  His breath smelled of beer and onions.  I was choking him when he brought his knee up and got me in the stomach and again on the instep when he brought his heel down.

It broke my hold, and I staggered back groping for the persuader.  He jumped back as far as I did.  I felt somehow that he was glad.  So was I. We stood for a minute, and I heard him gutter out something that sounded like “Verdamder swinehunt.”  Then we both backed away.

It seemed to me to be the nicest way out of the situation.  No doubt he felt the same.

I seem to have wandered far from the Quarries and the Grouse Spots.  Let’s go back.

We were two days in the Grouse Spots and were then relieved, going back to the Quarries and taking the place of Number 9 in support.  While lying there, I drew a patrol that was interesting because it was different.

The Souchez River flowed down from Abalaine and Souchez villages and through our lines to those of the Germans, and on to Lens.  Spies, either in the army itself or in the villages, had been placing messages in bottles and floating them down the river to the Germans.

Somebody found this out, and a net of chicken wire had been placed across the river in No Man’s Land.  Some one had to go down there and fish for bottles twice nightly.  I took this patrol alone.  The lines were rather far apart along the river, owing to the swampy nature of the ground, which made livable trenches impossible.