Trent, with a sickening sense of horror, realised the truth.

The boy had been taken prisoner.
Even then he preserved his self-control to a marvellous degree.

First of all he gave directions for the day's work--then he called for volunteers to accompany him to the village.

There was no great enthusiasm.

To fight in trenches against a foe who had no cover nor any firearms was rather a different thing from bearding them in their own lair.