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Show 1 'l‘lll‘f DARK FOREST THE INVISIBLE BATTLE "I‘Vell. the battle. for instance!" "Oh. that‘s down the hill. I suppose. I think it would interest you. IVe're trying to Cross the river and they're tryin‘cr to prevent us." "Yes," he answered. "llut that isn't exactly what I mean. . . . It‘s hard to explain, but even if we were to see our soldiers trying to cross the river and the Austrians trying to prevent them that wouldn‘t be well. wouldn't be. exactly the real thing; would it? It would only be a kind of side-show. rather u11i111porta11t like that dead man therel" But. my headaehe prevented my interest in his speculations. I said nothing. He added as though to himself: "Perhaps each individual soldier sees the real thing for himself but can't express what he sees. . . ." As I still made no answer, with another little sigh he got up and walked back, on tip-toe, to the side of Marie Ivan- ovna. Then suddenly, in the early hours of the afternoon, to our intense relief, Seniyonov and Andrey Vassilievitch appeared. Semyonov was, as ever, short, practical, and une- motional. "Been a long time, I'm afraid. We found it difficult to see exactly where would be the best place. And, after fillwe've got to separate. . . . One Sister's wanted at the lied Cross over there. They've asked for our help. The other will come with me 011 to the Position until this evening. You three gentlemen, if you'll be so good, will wait here until a wagon comes. Then it will take you down to the trenches at the bottom of the hill. Then, if you don't nlilltla I would like you to wait until dusk when we shall go out to fetch the wounded. . . . Is that clear ?" 87 No danger, except a stray shrapnel or two. \V‘ill you come?" There leapt upon us then. with an agitation that seemed to silence the very battery itself. Trenehard‘s voiee: "No. . . . No . . . Marie. No. it's dangerous. Semy< onov says so. Your tirst day . '" Ile spoke in English, his voice trembling. I turned to see. his face white. his eyes wide open and at the same time blind: he passionately addressed himself to Marie Ivanovua and to her alone. lint she turned i111patiently. "Why. of course. lioetor. l‘in ready at onee.‘y 'l‘renehard put his hand on her a 1111. "You are not to grow Marie. do you hear.) I. have a right . . . l tell you. you are not to no?" "l'ou‘t lie so stupid. 'lohn." she shook oil: his arm. "l'h-aw. lioi'ioi‘. l‘in ready.H Seniyonov turned to 'l‘renr'liard with :1 smile: "Mr. (they:1ll1'11lhdhi111 .\lr. uowi, it will be quite well . . . I will look nth-r her." "You . . . you" i'l'reul-luird would not voliil‘iil his voiee), "yo'i 12111.! pr-weni shrapnel bullets. You don't ware, you ‘ Nviu‘wrnw's \oiei- was ~h;1rp: "i think it better that his- 11 r \l.11i1- li.11.o\11;1 should come with 111e, You understand, the r1 d 1-" \ui1. . . . We ~h.1l! 111w! xii dusk." 'l'iiiu'hnrd only. said "\lul‘ii' then turned away 1‘1'1111. 11s. ,\7111;1 l'« mom. who h.1d mid nothing durin;r this Wine and l:. [1]. iiitlt‘fi‘tl‘ armed in i)(‘ liiliiViHll‘i Hi. ii, [)illilu't‘il I \1. it. it!" 1. v t'rwn iudl‘I‘. \‘. v'iill'. 1. will. zil'l'11~s‘ thi- rond to thr- "ed [he l'weiwr and \l.1ri1- l\'2111o\‘1111disappeared W'e answered yes. l..}‘_,. "Now which Sister will come with me? Marie Ivanoynzl l1'o1,<~i..:rd. luth >‘\1:111.1il11-Ii1:and iI‘i'iinii‘d. Ilo‘ Yrrimh. l ‘.\.1‘. 11s \\.-1~ always my ease with it. was difficult. |