Two soldiers were cooking there.  Their tiny fire of sticks was built against a brick wall, and on it was a large can of stewing meat.  One of the cooks—­they were company cooks—­was watching the kettle and paring potatoes in a basket.  The other was reading a letter aloud.  As the officers entered the men rose and saluted, their bright eyes taking in this curious party, which included, of all things, a woman!

“When did you get in from the trenches?” one of the officers asked.

“At two o’clock this morning, Monsieur le Capitaine.”

“And you have not slept?”

“But no.  The men must eat.  We have cooked ever since we returned.”

Further questioning elicited the facts that he would sleep when his company was fed, that he was twenty-two years old, and that—­this not by questions but by investigation—­he was sheltered against the cold by a large knitted muffler, an overcoat, a coat, a green sweater, a flannel shirt and an undershirt.  Under his blue trousers he wore also the red ones of an old uniform, the red showing through numerous rents and holes.

“You have a letter, comrade!” said the Lieutenant to the other man.

“From my family,” was the somewhat sheepish reply.

Round the doorway other soldiers had gathered to see what was occurring.  They came, yawning with sleep, from the straw they had been sleeping on, or drifted in from the streets, where they had been smoking in the sun.  They were true republicans, those French soldiers.  They saluted the officers without subservience, but as man to man.  And through a break in the crowd a new arrival was shoved forward.  He came, smiling uneasily.

“He has the new uniform,” I was informed, and he must turn round to show me how he looked in it.

We went across the street and through an alleyway to an open place where stood an old coach house.  Here were more men, newly in from the front.  The coach house was a ruin, far from weather-proof and floored with wet and muddy straw.  One could hardly believe that that straw had been dry and fresh when the troops came in at dawn.  It was hideous now, from the filth of the trenches.  The men were awake, and being advised of our coming by an anxious and loud-voiced member of the company who ran ahead, they were on their feet, while others, who had been sleeping in the loft, were on their way down the ladder.

“They have been in a very bad place all night,” said the Captain.  “They are glad to be here, they say.”

“You mean that they have been in a dangerous place?”

The men were laughing among themselves and pushing forward one of their number.  Urged by their rapid French, he held out his cap to me.  It had been badly torn by a German bullet.  Encouraged by his example, another held out his cap.  The crown had been torn almost out of it.

“You see,” said Captain Boisseau, “it was not a comfortable night.  But they are here, and they are content.”