These were trained on the distant line of Germans, who were also entrenching themselves.

All along the edge of the village the big guns were in action and there was a constant interchange of shot and shell from both sides.
As Maurie dodged among the houses with the big car a shell descended some two hundred yards to the left of them, exploded with a crash and sent a shower of brick and splinters high into the air.

A little way farther on the ruins of a house completely blocked the street and they were obliged to turn back and seek another passage.

Thus partially skirting the town they at last left the houses behind them and approached the firing line, halting scarcely a quarter of a mile distant from the actual conflict.
As far as the eye could reach, from Nieuport to the sea at the left, and on toward Ypres at the right of them, the line of Belgians, French and British steadily faced the foe.

Close to where they halted the ambulance stood a detachment that had lately retired from the line, their places having been taken by reserves.