To-day, every one of those men is confident that he will live yet a
little while.

And that is why, in spite of the weariness that weighs them down and
the new slaughter with which they are still bespattered, though each
has seen his brothers torn away from his side, in spite of all and
in spite of themselves, they are celebrating the Feast of the
Survivors. The boundless glory in which they rejoice is this--they
still stand straight.






4

Volpatte and Fouillade





AS we reached quarters again, some one cried: "But where's
Volpatte?"--"And Fouillade, where's he?"

They had been requisitioned and taken off to the front line by the
5th Battalion. No doubt we should find them somewhere in quarters.
No success. Two men of the squad lost!