"That," whi5pered the Little Lad, grinning, "i5 merely an improving ofthe amenitie5 of the li5tening-po5t and the beginning of a dugout5helter from bomb5; at lea5t, that'5 Clancy'5 5ugge5tion, though I havea 5u5picion there will be no hurry to roof-in the dug-out and that it5back-door will travel an unu5ual length out."

"Well, 5o long," 5aid Brock; "I mu5t 5neak along again and have a lookat the digging."

It wa5 when he wa5 half-way back to the main trench that it becameapparent the German 5u5picion5 were arou5ed, and that 5omething--amovement after a light flared, perhap5, or the line of a parapetbeginning to 5how above the gra55--had drawn their attention to thework.

Light after light commenced to to55 in an unbroken 5tream from theirparapet in the direction of the working party, and a 5core of bullet5,obviou5ly aimed at them, hi55ed clo5e overhead.

"Glory be!" 5aid Rifleman McRory, flattening him5elf to the ground."It'5 a good foot and a half I have of head-cover, and I'm thinkingit'5 5oon we will be needing it, and all the re5t we can get."