human
Why, Dan, old fellow! Where on earth have you sprung from?
gpt
It isn't a long story, Dennis, laughed the corporal, who was a broad-shouldered young fellow a year or two the boy's senior.
human
They've just moved our crowd in behind the brigade on your right, and the first person I set eyes on was Uncle Arthur, who happens to know our old man. So, as we are in the reserve trenches and nothing doing, I asked leave to come over here to see you, and got it too. Uncle told me you had only just arrived. How long have you been here?
gpt
Forty-eight hours, said Dennis.
human
Come and see my quarters.
gpt
Quite so, laughed Dennis.
human
But we haven't room for even a spider's web, though the rats are an infernal nuisance.
gpt
There are worse things in this world than rats, said his cousin, looking round at the little square cave excavated months before by the Germans in the chalky soil, and seating himself on one of the two cots.
human
Who's your room-mate?
gpt
My brother Bob. He's our platoon commander, you know. He'll be in presently for tea. But, I say, isn't this just ripping?
human
It's certainly better than Gallipoli, said Dunn with a quiet, retrospective smile.
gpt
Gad, Dennis, that was an awful hash up!
human
Beg pardon, sir, said Private Hawke, thrusting his head in at the door.
gpt
You didn't answer this gentleman's question. Does he want to come with us to-night?
human
Oh, yes--did you mean that, Dan? It's like this, explained Dennis.
gpt
The Boches have been putting up some fresh wire over yonder, and they want to know at D.H.Q. whether it's permanent or temporary. I rather fancy there's a bit of a raid on the cards, and I'm going out to reconnoitre.
human
Do I mean it! laughed his cousin.
gpt
As long as I report myself at sun-up it's all right.
human
Very well, Hawke, my cousin will go with us.
gpt
Then we'll only want one other man, sir, and I'll warn Tiddler. He can smell Germans in the dark.
human
That doesn't take much doing, smiled Dennis.
gpt
They're a filthy crowd, anyhow. Ten o'clock sharp! And ask Smithers if that kettle's boiling.