With Joffre at Verdun: A Story of the Western Front

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Brereton Frederick Sadleir. With Joffre at Verdun: A Story of the Western Front

CHAPTER I. The Camp at Ruhleben

CHAPTER II. Henri and Jules and Stuart

CHAPTER III. The Road to Freedom

CHAPTER IV. The Heart of Germany

CHAPTER V. Eluding the Pursuers

CHAPTER VI. Changing their Direction

CHAPTER VII. A Friend in Need

CHAPTER VIII. The Verdun Salient

CHAPTER IX. A Terrific Bombardment

CHAPTER X. The Thin Line of Heroes

CHAPTER XI. Falling Back

CHAPTER XII. A Reconnoitring-party

CHAPTER XIII. Douaumont Fortress

CHAPTER XIV. Frenchmen and Brandenburgers

CHAPTER XV. Rats in a Trap

CHAPTER XVI. A Fight to a Finish

CHAPTER XVII. Charge of the Gallant Bretons

CHAPTER XVIII. A Sinister German

CHAPTER XIX. Heroic "Poilus"

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There was a hue and cry in the camp of Ruhleben which caused heads to be thrust out of doors and out of windows, made prisoners who had been languishing in the place for months start to their feet and look enquiringly about them, and set a German official turning round and round like a teetotum – his moustaches bristling, his hair on end, amazed at the din and fearful for the cause of it. It all commenced with a sudden shout, and then was emphasized by the explosion of a rifle. A dull thud followed as a bullet struck one of the huts and perforated it, and then a dozen weapons went off, the somewhat aged guardians of the camp losing their heads and blazing away without aim and without authority.

"What's up? What's happened? Why is there firing?"

.....

"I – I – he – you – "

The non-commissioned officer was utterly taken aback, and it was his turn now to look askance at this dried-up, sinister-looking under-officer. If the unfortunate and aged guard who had fired that shot had been remiss in making a rapid report – remissness excusable enough considering the violence of the Sergeant – the latter had been more remiss in not pursuing the matter more rapidly. He knew it, and knew that the under-officer already condemned him. Moreover, with that under-officer, he was well aware, excuses would not avail him.

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