"His body seemed not to belong to himself at all. A strange, shrivelled
creature had taken possession of it. He raised his head and peered about
him. He and three soldiers--youngsters, like himself, who had never
before been under fire--appeared to be utterly alone in that hell. They
were the end men of the regiment, and the configuration of the ground
completely hid them from their comrades.
"They glanced at each other, these four, and read one another's thoughts.
Leaving their rifles lying on the grass, they commenced to crawl
stealthily upon their bellies, the lieutenant leading, the other three
following.
"Some few hundred yards in front of them rose a small, steep hill. If
they could reach this it would shut them out of sight. They hastened on,
pausing every thirty yards or so to lie still and pant for breath, then
hurrying on again, quicker than before, tearing their flesh against the
broken ground.
"At last they reached the base of the slope, and slinking a little way
round it, raised their heads and looked back. Where they were it was
impossible for them to be seen from the Prussian lines.
"They sprang to their feet and broke into a wild race. A dozen steps
further they came face to face with an Austrian field battery.
"The demon that had taken possession of them had been growing stronger
the further they had fled.
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