"Let's follow it and see," exclaimed Jacques readily.
A blind alley ran off from the main trench and it was this that the two boys were following. There was a narrow doorway at the end of the alley and through this they advanced.
"Another dug-out, I suppose," said Jacques.
"Looks like a real one," exclaimed Leon. "Whew!" he whistled in amazement as he descended the stairs and stepped out into the underground room.
"Say," said Jacques warmly, "some general must have lived here."
"I should think as much," agreed Leon. "Just look around you; rugs on the floor, pictures and mirrors on the wall."
"And a wonderful stove; let's make some tea," cried Jacques eagerly.
"There must be some here; there seems to be everything else."
A short search soon produced tea and crackers; a fire was started in the stove and water was put on to boil. Tea was always in demand by the soldiers; it was their favorite beverage in the trenches.
"Isn't this great?" exclaimed Leon. "War wouldn't be so bad if we only had places like this to live in."
"Did you notice that there were two entrances?" asked Jacques.
"Yes, one at each end. I suppose that's in case the trench should cave in and block up one passage-way you could still get out the other side."
"Pull up a chair, Leon," exclaimed Jacques. "We might as well be comfortable as long as we can."
The two soldiers sat by the fire and sipped their tea and chatted. Now and again a dull roar told them that the Germans were still busy and that they still had their opponents, the French, in mind.
"Do you suppose we could be hurt down here?" remarked Leon.
"If one of those big German shells happened to strike squarely over us I guess we'd be hurt all right," said Jacques.
"It would have to be a direct hit though."
"That's true and I don't believe there is much chance of its happening. This seems to me about the safest spot I've seen."
"Too bad the others don't know about it," said Leon.
"Listen," warned Jacques. "Here comes somebody now."
A moment later six soldiers filed into the dug-out. They were men from the _douzième_, but belonged to a different company from that of which Leon and Jacques were members.
"Come in," cried Jacques cordially. "Have some tea."
No second invitation was needed and the eight soldiers were soon grouped around the fire, sipping canteens of hot tea. Everyone was as enthusiastic as Leon and Jacques had been and life seemed worth while once more. The time was short, however; it soon became necessary for our two young friends to leave and go back to their post.