* * * * *

DE PROFUNDIS.

When I went round the trenches a day or two before we were to move in, the
great frost was still in possession; but there was a mild feeling in the
air.

"I can thoroughly recommend these trenches to you, Sir," said the occupier
in a businesslike manner. "Commodious and well built, fitted throughout
with the latest pattern duck-boards and reached by three charmingly
sequestered communication trenches, named Hic, Haec and Hoc. The dug-outs
are well equipped and well sunk. The whole would form an ideal retreat for
gentlemen of quiet tastes."

"Good. And the people over the way?"

"Unobtrusive and retiring to a degree."

"In fact," I said, "a most select neighbourhood--unless it thaws."

He dropped pleasantries and answered very seriously. "If it thaws, Heaven
help you. There's enough water frozen up in these walls to drown the lot of
you."

It did thaw.

When we relieved, we waded up to the line through miles of trenches all
knee-deep in water, to the accompaniment of ominous splashes as the sides
began to fall in. When daylight came we found our select estate converted