ttack but he did not believe it。 We were supposed to attack too; but they had not brought up any new troops so he thought that was off too。 Food was scarce and he would be glad to get a full meal in Gorizia。 What kind of supper had I had? I told him and he said that would be wonderful。 He was especially impressed by the dolce。 I did not describe it in detail; only said it was a dolce; and I think he believed it was something more elaborate than bread pudding。
Did I know where he was going to go? I said I didn't but that some of the other cars were at Caporetto。 He hoped he would go up that way。 It was a nice little place and he liked the high mountain hauling up beyond。 He was a nice boy and every one seemed to like him。 He said where it really had been hell was at San Gabriele and the attack beyond Lom that had gone bad。 He said the Austrians had a great amount of artillery in the woods along Ternova ridge beyond and above us; and shelled the roads badly at night。 There was a battery of naval guns that had gotten on his nerves。 I would recognize them because of their flat trajectory。 You heard the report and then the shriek menced almost instantly。 They usually fired two guns at once; one right after the other; and the fragments from the burst were enormous。 He showed me one; a smoothly jagged piece of metal over a foot long。 It looked like babbitting metal。
〃I don't suppose they are so effective;〃 Gino said。 〃But they scare me。 They all sound as though they came directly for you。 There is the boom; then instantly the shriek and burst。 What's the use of not being wounded if they scare you to death?〃
He said there were Croats in the lines opposite us now and some Magyars。 Our troops were still in the attacking positions。 There was no wire to speak o