Read "A Yankee in the Trenches" by Robert DerHolmes online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
A general cleaning of rifles started, although it was dark. Mine was already in good shape, and I leaned it against the side of the trench and went below for the rest of my equipment. While I was gone, a shell fragment undid all my work by smashing the breech.
I had seen a new short German rifle in the dugout with a bayonet and ammo, and decided to use that. I hid all my souvenirs, planning to get them when I came out if I ever came out. I hadn't much nerve left after the bashing I had taken a fortnight before and didn't hold much hope.