CHAPTER XXIV
WAITING FOR ZERO HOUR
"Him is done," announced Ignace Pulinski solemnly, as he slipped theletter he had just finished writing into an envelope. "So I never comeback, will poor my mothar this have an' keep always, remember me."
"Oh, can the croak, Iggy," ordered Jimmy Blaise, looking up from hiswriting. "We're coming back, every last one of us. I've got a hunchthat this won't be our last stab at the Boches."
"That's as good as a safe conduct pass through the shindig," declaredBob emphatically. "I've a lot of respect for those hunches of yourssince Schnitz came back."
Gathered in a corner of a front-line dugout, the five Brothers wereconducting a writing-bee which, in spite of Jimmy's "hunch," might bethe last for part, if not all, of them. Four o'clock the next morningwas to be zero hour for them. The long-expected ordeal was at hand.The 509th men were soon to know how it felt to go Over the Top.
It was now a few minutes past ten o'clock in the evening. Just afterdark the order had come. Two days had elapsed since their return fromrest billets to the trenches. They had returned to front-line duty onthe morning following a furious bombardment of the Boche trenches byAmerican batteries, which had ended in a Sammy raiding party Over theTop. The raid had been a great success so far as the capture of gunsand prisoners was concerned. Many Sammies had been sacrificed, however.As a result the resting detachments had come back to replace their lostcomrades.
During those two days, Fritz had been having his own troubles. Nightand day the Americans had kept up a harrying rifle and machine-gunfire. Hordes of Allied aeroplanes had sailed boldly over the Germanlines, dropping bombs on the reinforcements and supplies which theBoches were engaged in bringing up to their own lines. Fierce indeedhad been the aerial fights. Many an intrepid pilot on both sides hadgone crashing down to death. Undaunted, the Allies continued to sendfresh relays of airmen out to carry on this most hazardous work.
Now, while the iron was hot, it had been determined to strike anotherblow. Thus it was that Jimmy Blaise and his bunkies were writing theirhome letters, preparatory to taking part in the raid to be made justbefore dawn. For almost two weeks they had been jogging along a smooth,peaceful stretch of the famous Glory Road. Now they would soon strikerough hiking.
On the evening following the rescue of Franz Schnitzel by Jimmy Blaiseand Voissard, the two bunkies had returned to billets. Voissard hadaccompanied them and taken part in the joyful little celebration thatmarked the restoration of Schnitzel to his Brothers.
Headquarters was also glad to see Schnitzel. He received flatteringcommendation for his splendid services. He now wore on his left sleevethe insignia of a sergeant. There came for him, too, a wonderful daywhen France acknowledged him as a hero and placed her seal of approvalupon his breast. Jimmy Blaise, also, came in for his share of glory.France was only too ready to decorate one who had rid the world of aspy such as Adolph von Kreitzen. What amazed Jimmy most of all was thereceipt of a large sum of money, the price set by the French governmenton von Kreitzen's head.
For the five Brothers the past two weeks had been one perpetualholiday. It was over now and again they were facing War in all itsgrimness.
They had returned from their eventful sojourn behind the lines inspiredwith renewed loyalty and inspiration. This time on entering thetrenches they had felt little of the heavy oppression which had hungover them on their first journey to the fire trench.
"Of course, we're not veterans yet by a long shot," Bob had confidedto Jimmy Blaise at the beginning of their second trench detail. "Thereare quite a few little friendly acts that Fritz hasn't got around to dofor us yet. For one thing, we haven't been gassed. Isn't that a sweetprospect to look forward to? Betcha! I only hope we'll be all dressedup in our gas masks when the party begins."
Thus far, however, Fritz had kept gas donations at home. Given a daywhen the wind favored him he would undoubtedly display great generosityin this respect.
"Twenty after ten." Jimmy Blaise rose and consulted his wrist watch."I'll have to be getting back to my station. I promised the lieutenantI'd be back at ten-thirty sharp. It was mighty kind in him to let meoff to write my letters and have a chin-chin with you fellows."
"We all owe our officers a lot for the same privilege," Roger declaredgratefully. "If we don't do 'em proud when the grand slam comes, thenwe deserve to get licked."
"We're _going_ to do 'em proud," emphasized Bob. "Every last Sammy isaching to try cold steel on the Boches. I used to think going Over theTop would be the limit. But I'm not afraid of zero hour any more."
"So once think I," confessed Ignace, "but no now. Only am I the sad weno go over top side by each. I would by my Brother be then, the caretake."
"You'll have all you can do to take care of yourself, Iggins," assertedSchnitzel. "It is too bad, though, that we can't be shoulder toshoulder in the big dash."
"We've got to stay where we're put," sighed Jimmy. "Never mind. What'sthe odds where we fight, so long as we're fighting for the same goodold scout, Uncle Sam? Well, time's up. I've got to beat it. Give meyour letters. The lieutenant's going to turn 'em over to a man who'sgoing back of the lines to-night."
Now on their feet, his bunkies turned over their letters to Jimmy. Insilence the five left the dugout. Outside it, by mutual consent, theyhalted for a last affectionate hand grip all around.
"We're not going to say good-bye, 'cause I'm just as sure as anythingthat it's going to be all O. K. for the five Brothers," prophesiedJimmy. "When the scrap's over and the Boches are canned, meet me inthis dugout. That's a date. See that you keep it."
"So is it." Ignace nodded, bound to agree with his Best Brother.
"'So is it,'" repeated Bob. "Never say die. The right dope is, 'I'llsee you later!'"
And this was the hopeful watchword the five Brothers took with them asthey separated, each to find his station and there await the fatefulcoming of Zero Hour.
Just how truly Jimmy's prophecy was verified remains yet to be toldin "THE KHAKI BOYS OVER THE TOP; OR, DOING AND DARING FOR UNCLESAM."