But when it
was done the corporal took the trouble to explain that it was a
barricade to prevent the Germans from making a dash up the hill.
"However," he added, "don't you get nervous. If we chase them out it
will only be a little rifle practice, and I doubt if they even have any
ammunition."
As I turned to go into the house, he called after me,--
"See here, I notice that you've got doors on all sides of your house.
Better lock all those but this front one."
As all the windows were barred and so could be left open, I didn't mind;
so I went in and locked up. The thing was getting to be funny to
me,--always doing something, and nothing happening. I suppose courage
is a cumulative thing, if only one has time to accumulate, and these
boys in khaki treated even the cannonading as if it were all "in the
day's work."
It was just dusk when the bicycle corps returned up the hill. They had
to dismount and wheel their machines under the barricade, and they did
it so prettily, dismounting and remounting with a precision that was
neat.
"Nothing," reported the captain. "We could not go in far,--road too
rough and too dangerous.
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