One hears the noises of picks and of mallet blows.
They have stopped their advance and are consolidating there.

They are hollowing their trenches and planting their network of wire--which will have to be taken again some day.

We watch, outspread on our bellies, or kneeling, or sitting lower down, with our empty rifles beside us.
Margat reflects, shakes his head and says:-- "Wire would have stopped them just now.

But we had no wire." "And machine-guns, too! but where are they, the M.G.s ?" We have a distinct feeling that there has been an enormous blunder in the command.

Want of foresight--the reinforcements were not there; they had not thought of supports.