"Whew!" whistled Jacques smilingly. "You must be feeling better."
"I never felt so well in my life," cried Leon. "I feel like a king."
"Well, I wouldn't care to feel that way," laughed Earl. "As far as I can see there aren't very many kings who are very well off these days."
"Well, then I feel the way kings used to feel," said Leon. "Have it any way you want, but give me something to eat."
"How would you like to go automobiling after you eat?" inquired Jacques. "Earl and I are going."
"I've got to run an ambulance up to the front and we are to start in about fifteen minutes. I need two helpers and if you feel strong enough you may come along."
"Of course I'll go," exclaimed Leon. "What are they doing with you anyway, Jacques? It seems to me you have a new job about every day."
"He's general utility man," laughed Earl, "and we're his assistants."
"It looks so," Leon agreed. "At any rate I don't mind it. I'm rather fond of variety."
"Did you hear about the _douzième_?" asked Jacques.
"Tell me what has happened to them," demanded Leon quickly. "Where are they?"
"There are not many of them left," said Jacques soberly. "Do you remember that bombardment we saw as we flew over the firing line last night?"
"I do. I remember we wondered if our regiment was in it."
"Well they were all right," said Jacques. "They bore the brunt of the whole attack and if it hadn't been for them I don't know what would have happened."
"The Boches launched a terrible bombardment on that portion of the line held by the _douzième_," continued Jacques. "Then they turned loose one of those massed infantry attacks on our trenches and though the _douzième_ was outnumbered nearly four to one they held fast. Not without paying the price though and half of our comrades were either killed or wounded so that they are out of it."
"They reached it at some points and even entered it; just as things looked blackest, reënforcements arrived and drove them out and saved the trench."
"Good!" cried Leon heartily. "It must have been splendid!"
"More bloody than splendid I guess," said Earl grimly. "I think we were pretty lucky to have missed it."
"So do I," agreed Jacques. "Still I hate to be absent when the rest of our regiment is fighting."