Summary

A battle with the Italians rages for days; Jozef begins to doubt all that he has put his hope in. The emperor, the empire, God; he feels they've all abandoned his cause. The sharpshooters are so useful alive that they are kept out of the battle, in fact they are ordered north, away from the battle, to join a new sharpshooter regiment. From the heights in the mountains, they can look back across the Soca river and watch the Italians advance on the emperor's troops, successful in their last push. Their new regiment is peppered with Austrians and Germans, very well prepared and well-outfitted. Their positive attitude and belief in success encourages the young men that victory may be in their grasp. They experience a break in the action. In the fall they are summoned to their old trainer, Major Bucher.

Until...