Sudden haloes drew our glances and crests of black smoke went up like cypresses.

On both sides, in front and behind, we heard the fearful suicide of shells.
* * * * * * We marched in the earth's interior until evening.

From time to time one hoisted the pack up or pressed down one's cap into the sweat of the forehead; had it fallen it could not have been picked up again in the mechanism of the march; and then we began again to fight with the distance.

The hand contracted on the rifle-sling was tumefied by the shoulder-straps and the bent arm was broken.
Like a regular refrain the lamentation of Melusson came to me.

He kept saying that he was going to stop, but he did not stop, ever, and he even butted into the back of the man in front of him when the whistle went for a halt.
The mass of the men said nothing.