第18章

Beforewereachedtheroadthemistblewbackandrevealedawedgeofcountryrightacrosstothehillsbeyondtheriver。Itwasaclearview，everyobjectstandingoutwetandsharpinthelightofmorning。Itshowedthebridgewithhorsemendrawnupacrossit，anditshowed，too，cavalrypicketsmovingalongtheroad。

Theysawusatthesameinstant。Awordwaspasseddowntheroad，ashrillwhistleblew，andthepicketsputtheirhorsesatthebankandstartedacrossthemoor。

’DidInotsaythismistwasfromEblis？’growledHussin，asweswungroundandgallopedbackonourtracks。’ThesecursedZaptiehshaveseenus，andourroadiscut。’

Iwasfortryingthestreamatallcosts，butHussinpointedoutthatitwoulddousnogood。Thecavalrybeyondthebridgewasmovinguptheotherbank。’ThereisapaththroughthehillsthatI

know，butitmustbetravelledonfoot。Ifwecanincreaseourleadandthemistcloaksus，thereisyetachance。’

Itwasawearybusinessploddinguptotheskirtsofthehills。Wehadthepursuitbehindusnow，andthatputanedgeoneverydifficulty。Therewerelongbanksofbrokenscrees，Iremember，wherethesnowslippedinwreathsfromunderourfeet。Greatbouldershadtobecircumvented，andpatchesofbog，wherethestreamsfromthesnowsfirstmadecontactwiththeplains，miredustoourgirths。Happilythemistwasdownagain，butthis，thoughithinderedthechase，lessenedthechancesofHussinfindingthepath。

Hefounditnevertheless。Therewasthegullyandtheroughmule—trackleadingupwards。Buttherealsohadbeenalandslip，quiterecentfromthemarks。Alargescarofrawearthhadbrokenacrossthehillside，whichwiththesnowaboveitlookedlikeaslicecutoutofanicedchocolate—cake。

Westaredblanklyforasecond，tillwerecognizeditshopelessness。

’I’mtryingforthecrags，’Isaid。’Wherethereoncewasawayanothercanbefound。’

’Andbepickedoffattheirleisurebythesemarksmen，’saidHussingrimly。’Look！’

Themisthadopenedagain，andaglancebehindshowedmethepursuitclosinguponus。Theywerenowlessthanthreehundredyardsoff。Weturnedourhorsesandmadeoffeast—wardalongtheskirtsofthecliffs。

ThenSandyspokeforthefirsttime。’Idon’tknowhowyoufellowsfeel，butI’mnotgoingtobetaken。There’snothingmuchtodoexcepttofindaplaceandputupafight。Wecansellourlivesdearly。’

’That’saboutall，’saidBlenkironcheerfully。Hehadsufferedsuchtorturesonthatgallopthathewelcomedanykindofstationaryfight。

’Serveoutthearms，’saidSandy。

TheCompanionsallcarriedriflesslungacrosstheirshoulders。

Hussin，fromadeepsaddle—bag，broughtoutriflesandbandoliersfortherestofus。AsIlaidmineacrossmysaddle—bowIsawitwasaGermanMauserofthelatestpattern。

’It’shell—for—leathertillwefindaplaceforastand，’saidSandy。

’Thegame’sagainstusthistime。’

Oncemoreweenteredthemist，andpresentlyfoundbettergoingonalongstretchofevenslope。Thencamearise，andonthecrestofitIsawthesun。Presentlywedippedintobrightdaylightandlookeddownonabroadglen，witharoadwindingupittoapassintherange。Ihadexpectedthis。ItwasonewaytothePalantukenpass，somemilessouthofthehousewherewehadbeenlodged。

Andthen，asIlookedsouthward，IsawwhatIhadbeenwatchingforfordays。Alittlehillsplitthevalley，andonitstopwasa_kranzofrocks。Itwasthe_castrolofmypersistentdream。

OnthatIpromptlytookcharge。’There’sourfort，’Icried。’Ifweoncegettherewecanholditforaweek。Sitdownandrideforit。’

Webucketeddownthathillsidelikemenpossessed，evenBlenkironstickingonmanfullyamongthetwistsandturnsandslithers。

Presentlywewereontheroadandwereracingpastmarchinginfantryandgunteamsandemptywagons。Inotedthatmostseemedtobemovingdownwardandfewgoingup。HussinscreamedsomewordsinTurkishthatsecuredusapassage，butindeedourcrazyspeedleftthemstaring。OutofacornerofmyeyeIsawthatSandyhadflungoffmostofhiswrappingsandseemedtobealladazzleofrichcolour。ButIhadthoughtfornothingexceptthelittlehill，nowalmostfrontingusacrosstheshallowglen。

Nohorsescouldbreastthatsteep。Weurgedthemintothehollow，andthenhastilydismounted，humpedthepacks，andbegantostruggleupthesideofthe_castrol。Itwasstrewnwithgreatboulders，whichgaveakindofcoverthatverysoonwasneeded。

For，snatchingaglanceback，Isawthatourpursuerswereontheroadaboveusandweregettingreadytoshoot。

Atnormaltimeswewouldhavebeeneasymarks，but，fortunately，wispsandstreamersofmistnowclungaboutthathollow。

Therestcouldfendforthemselves，soIstucktoBlenkironanddraggedhim，whollybreathless，bytheleastexposedroute。Bulletsspatterednowandthenagainsttherocks，andonesangunpleasantlynearmyhead。Inthiswaywecoveredthree—fourthsofthedistance，andhadonlythebaredozenyardswherethegradienteasedoffuptotheedgeofthe_kranz。

Blenkirongothitintheleg，ouronlycasualty。Therewasnothingforitbuttocarryhim，soIswunghimonmyshoulders，andwithaburstingheartdidthatlastlap。Itwashottishwork，andthebulletswereprettythickaboutus，butweallgotsafelytothe_kranz，andashortscrambletookusovertheedge。IlaidBlenkironinsidethe_castrolandstartedtoprepareourdefence。

Wehadlittletimetodoit。Outofthethinfogfigureswerecoming，crouchingincover。Theplacewewereinwasanaturalredoubt，exceptthattherewerenoloopholesorsandbags。Wehadtoshowourheadsovertherimtoshoot，butthedangerwaslessenedbythesuperbfieldoffiregivenbythoselastdozenyardsofglacis。Ipostedthemenandwaited，andBlenkiron，withawhiteface，insistedontakinghisshare，announcingthatheusedtobehandywithagun。

Igavetheorderthatnomanwastoshoottilltheenemyhadcomeoutoftherocksontotheglacis。Thethingranrightroundthetop，andwehadtowatchallsidestopreventthemgettingusinflankorrear。Hussin’sriflecrackedoutpresentlyfromtheback，somyprecautionshadnotbeenneedless。

Wewereallthreefairshots，thoughnoneofusuptoPeter’smiraculousstandard，andtheCompanions，too，madegoodpractice。

TheMauserwastheweaponIknewbest，andIdidn’tmissmuch。

Theattackersneverhadachance，fortheironlyhopewastorushusbynumbers，and，thewholepartybeingnotabovetwodozen，theywerefartoofew。Ithinkwekilledthree，fortheirbodieswereleftlying，andwoundedatleastsix，whiletherestfellbacktowardstheroad。Inaquarterofanhouritwasallover。

’TheyaredogsofKurds，’IheardHussinsayfiercely。’OnlyaKurdish_giaourwouldfireontheliveryoftheKaaba。’

ThenIhadagoodlookatSandy。Hehaddiscardedshawlsandwrappings，andstoodupinthestrangestcostumemaneverworeinbattle。Somehowhehadprocuredfield—bootsandanoldpairofriding—breeches。Abovethese，reachingwellbelowhismiddle，hehadawonderfulsilkenjibbahorephodofabrightemerald。Icalitsilk，butitwaslikenosilkIhaveeverknown，soexquisiteinthemesh，withsuchasheenanddepthinit。Somestrangepatternwaswovenonthebreast，whichinthedimlightIcouldnottrace。I’llwarrantnorarerorcostliergarmentwaseverexposedtoleadonableakwinterhill。

Sandyseemedunconsciousofhisgarb。Hiseye，listlessnomore，scannedthehollow。’That’sonlytheoverture，’hecried。’Theoperawillsoonbegin。Wemustputabreastworkupinthesegapsorthey’llpickusofffromathousandyards。’

IhadmeantimeroughlydressedBlenkiron’swoundwithalinenragwhichHussinprovided。Itwasfromaricochetbulletwhichhadchippedintohisleftshin。ThenItookahandwiththeothersingettingupearthworkstocompletethecircuitofthedefence。Itwasnoeasyjob，forwewroughtonlywithourknivesandhadtodigdeepdownbelowthesnowygravel。AsweworkedItookstockofourrefuge。

The_castrolwasaroughcircleabouttenyardsindiameter，itsinteriorfilledwithbouldersandloosestones，anditsparapetaboutfourfeethigh。Themisthadclearedforaconsiderablespace，andI

couldseetheimmediatesurroundings。West，beyondthehollow，wastheroadwehadcome，wherenowtheremnantsofthepursuitwereclustered。North，thehillfellsteeplytothevalleybottom，buttothesouth，afteradiptherewasaridgewhichshuttheview。Eastlayanotherforkofthestream，thechiefforkIguessed，anditwasevidentlyfollowedbythemainroadtothepass，forIsawitcrowdedwithtransport。Thetworoadsseemedtoconvergesomewherefarthersouthofmysight。

Iguessedwecouldnotbeveryfarfromthefront，forthenoiseofgunssoundedverynear，boththesharpcrackofthefield—pieces，andthedeeperboomofthehowitzers。More，Icouldhearthechatterofthemachine—guns，amagpienoteamongthebayingofhounds。IevensawtheburstingofRussianshells，evidentlytryingtoreachthemainroad。Onebigfellow—aneight—inch—landednottenyardsfromaconvoytotheeastofus，andanotherinthehollowthroughwhichwehadcome。Thesewereclearlyrangingshots，andIwonderediftheRussianshadobservation—postsontheheightstomarkthem。Ifso，theymightsoontryacurtain，andweshouldbeverynearitsedge。Itwouldbeanoddironyifwewerethetargetoffriendlyshells。

’BytheLordHarry，’IheardSandysay，’ifwehadabraceofmachine—gunswecouldholdthisplaceagainstadivision。’

’Whatpriceshells？’Iasked。’Iftheygetagunuptheycanblowustoatomsintenminutes。’

’PleaseGodtheRussianskeepthemtoobusyforthat，’washisanswer。

WithanxiouseyesIwatchedourenemiesontheroad。Theyseemedtohavegrowninnumbers。Theyweresignalling，too，forawhiteflagfluttered。Thenthemistrolleddownonusagain，andourprospectwaslimitedtotenyardsofvapour。

’Steady，’Icried;’theymaytrytorushusatanymoment。Everymankeephiseyeontheedgeofthefog，andshootatthefirstsign。’

Fornearlyhalfanhourbymywatchwewaitedinthatqueerwhiteworld，oureyessmartingwiththestrainofpeering。Thesoundofthegunsseemedtobehushed，andeverythinggrowndeathlyquiet。Blenkiron’ssqueal，asheknockedhiswoundedlegagainstarock，madeeverymanstart。

Thenoutofthemisttherecameavoice。

Itwasawoman’svoice，high，penetrating，andsweet，butitspokeinnotongueIknew。OnlySandyunderstood。Hemadeasuddenmovementasiftodefendhimselfagainstablow。

Thespeakercameintoclearsightontheglacisayardortwoaway。Minewasthefirstfaceshesaw。

’Icometoofferterms，’shesaidinEnglish。’Willyoupermitmetoenter？’

Icoulddonothingexcepttakeoffmycapandsay，’Yes，ma’am。’

Blenkiron，snuggledupagainsttheparapet，wascursingfuriouslybelowhisbreath。

Sheclimbedupthe_kranzandsteppedovertheedgeaslightlyasadeer。Herclotheswerestrange—spurredbootsandbreechesoverwhichfellashortgreenkirtle。Alittlecapskeweredwithajewelledpinwasonherhead，andacapeofsomecoarsecountryclothhungfromhershoulders。Shehadroughgauntletsonherhands，andshecarriedforweaponariding—whip。Thefog—crystalsclungtoherhair，Iremember，andasilveryfilmoffoglayonhergarments。

Ihadneverbeforethoughtofherasbeautiful。Strange，uncanny，wonderful，ifyoulike，butthewordbeautyhadtookindlyandhumanasoundforsuchaface。Butasshestoodwithheightenedcolour，hereyeslikestars，herpoiselikeawildbird’s，Ihadtoconfessthatshehadherownloveliness。Shemightbeadevil，butshewasalsoaqueen。IconsideredthattheremightbemeritsintheprospectofridingbyhersideintoJerusalem。

Sandystoodrigid，hisfaceverygraveandset。Sheheldoutbothhandstohim，speakingsoftlyinTurkish。InoticedthatthesixCompanionshaddisappearedfromthe_castrolandweresomewhereoutofsightonthefartherside。

Idonotknowwhatshesaid，butfromhertone，andaboveallfromhereyes，Ijudgedthatshewaspleading—pleadingforhisreturn，forhispartnershipinhergreatadventure;pleading，forallI

knew，forhislove。

Hisexpressionwaslikeadeath—mask，hisbrowsdrawntightinalittlefrownandhisjawrigid。

’Madam，’hesaid，’IaskyoutotellyourbusinessquickandtotellitinEnglish。Myfriendsmusthearitaswellasme。’

’Yourfriends！’shecried。’Whathasaprincetodowiththesehirelings？Yourslaves，perhaps，butnotyourfriends。’

’Myfriends，’Sandyrepeatedgrimly。’Youmustknow，Madam，thatIamaBritishofficer。’

Thatwasbeyonddoubtacleanstaggeringstroke。WhatshehadthoughtofhisoriginGodknows，butshehadneverdreamedofthis。Hereyesgrewlargerandmorelustrous，herlipspartedasiftospeak，buthervoicefailedher。Thenbyaneffortsherecoveredherself，andoutofthatstrangefacewentalltheglowofyouthandardour。ItwasagaintheunholymaskIhadfirstknown。

’Andtheseothers？’sheaskedinalevelvoice。

’Oneisabrotherofficerofmyregiment。TheotherisanAmericanfriend。Butallthreeofusareonthesameerrand。WecameeasttodestroyGreenmantleandyourdevilishambitions。Youhaveyourselfdestroyedyourprophets，andnowitisyourturntofailanddisappear。Makenomistake，Madam;thatfollyisover。Iwilltearthissacredgarmentintoathousandpiecesandscatterthemonthewind。Thepeoplewaittodayfortherevelation，butnonewillcome。Youmaykillusifyoucan，butwehaveatleastcrushedalieanddoneservicetoourcountry。’

Iwouldnothavetakenmyeyesfromherfaceforaking’sransom。Ihavewrittenthatshewasaqueen，andofthatthereisnomannerofdoubt。Shehadthesoulofaconqueror，fornotaflickerofweaknessordisappointmentmarredherair。Onlyprideandthestateliestresolutionlookedoutofhereyes。

’IsaidIcametoofferterms。Iwillstillofferthem，thoughtheyareotherthanIthought。ForthefatAmerican，Iwillsendhimhomesafelytohisowncountry。Idonotmakewaronsuchashe。

HeisGermany’sfoe，notmine。You，’shesaid，turningfiercelyonme，’Iwillhangbeforedusk。’

NeverinmylifehadIbeensopleased。Ihadgotmyrevengeatlast。Thiswomanhadsingledmeoutabovetheothersastheobjectofherwrath，andIalmostlovedherforit。

SheturnedtoSandy，andthefiercenesswentoutofherface。

’Youseekthetruth，’shesaid。’SoalsodoI，andifweusealieitisonlytobreakdownagreater。Youareofmyhouseholdinspirit，andyoualoneofallmenIhaveseenarefittoridewithmeonmymission。Germanymayfail，butIshallnotfail。Iofferyouthegreatestcareerthatmortalhasknown。Iofferyouataskwhichwillneedeveryatomofbrainandsinewandcourage。Willyourefusethatdestiny？’

Idonotknowwhateffectthisvapouringmighthavehadinhotscentedrooms，orinthelanguorofsomerichgarden;butuponthatcoldhill—topitwasasunsubstantialasthemistaroundus。Itsoundednotevenimpressive，onlycrazy。

’Istaywithmyfriends，’saidSandy。

’ThenIwilloffermore。Iwillsaveyourfriends。They，too，shallshareinmytriumph。’

ThiswastoomuchforBlenkiron。Hescrambledtohisfeettospeaktheprotestthathadbeenwrungfromhissoul，forgothisgameleg，androlledbackonthegroundwithagroan。

Thensheseemedtomakealastappeal。ShespokeinTurkishnow，andIdonotknowwhatshesaid，butIjudgeditwasthepleaofawomantoherlover。Oncemoreshewastheproudbeauty，buttherewasatremorinherpride—Ihadalmostwrittentenderness。

Tolistentoherwaslikehorridtreachery，likeeavesdroppingonsomethingpitiful。IknowmycheeksgrewscarletandBlenkironturnedawayhishead。

Sandy’sfacedidnotmove。HespokeinEnglish。

’YoucanoffermenothingthatIdesire，’hesaid。’Iamtheservantofmycountry，andherenemiesaremine。Icanhaveneitherpartnorlotwithyou。Thatismyanswer，MadamvonEinem。’

Thenhersteelyrestraintbroke。Itwaslikeadamgivingbeforeapent—upmassoficywater。Shetoreoffoneofhergauntletsandhurleditinhisface。Implacablehatelookedoutofhereyes。

’Ihavedonewithyou，’shecried。’Youhavescornedme，butyouhavedugyourowngrave。’

Sheleapedontheparapetandthenextsecondwasontheglacis。

Oncemorethemisthadfled，andacrossthehollowIsawafield—guninplaceandmenarounditwhowerenotTurkish。Shewavedherhandtothem，andhasteneddownthehillside。

ButatthatmomentIheardthewhistleofalong—rangeRussianshell。Amongtheboulderstherewasthedullshockofanexplosionandamushroomofredearth。Itallpassedinaninstantoftime:I

sawthegunnersontheroadpointtheirhandsandIheardthemcry;Iheardtoo，akindofsobfromBlenkiron—allthisbeforeI

realizedmyselfwhathadhappened。ThenextthingIsawwasSandy，alreadybeyondtheglacis，leapingwithgreatboundsdownthehill。Theywereshootingathim，butheheededthemnot。Forthespaceofaminutehewasoutofsight，andhiswhereaboutswasshownonlybythepatterofbullets。

Thenhecameback—walkingquiteslowlyupthelastslope，andhewascarryingsomethinginhisarms。Theenemyfirednomore;

theyrealizedwhathadhappened。

Helaidhisburdendowngentlyinacornerofthe_castrol。Thecaphadfallenoff，andthehairwasbreakingloose。Thefacewasverywhitebuttherewasnowoundorbruiseonit。

’Shewaskilledatonce，’Iheardhimsaying。’Herbackwasbrokenbyashell—fragment。Dick，wemustburyherhere……Yousee，she……shelikedme。Icanmakehernoreturnbutthis。’

WesettheCompanionstoguard，andwithinfiniteslowness，usingourhandsandourknives，wemadeashallowgravebelowtheeasternparapet。WhenitwasdonewecoveredherfacewiththelinencloakwhichSandyhadwornthatmorning。Heliftedthebodyandlaiditreverentlyinitsplace。

’Ididnotknowthatanythingcouldbesolight，’hesaid。

Itwasn’tformetolookonatthatkindofscene。IwenttotheparapetwithBlenkiron’sfield—glassesandhadastareatourfriendsontheroad。TherewasnoTurkthere，andIguessedwhy，foritwouldnotbeeasytousethemenofIslamagainstthewearerofthegreenephod。TheenemywereGermanorAustrian，andtheyhadafield—gun。Theyseemedtohavegotitlaidonourfort;buttheywerewaiting。AsIlookedIsawbehindthemamassivefigureIseemedtorecognize。Stummhadcometoseethedestructionofhisenemies。

TotheeastIsawanotherguninthefieldsjustbelowthemainroad。Theyhadgotusonbothsides，andtherewasnowayofescape。HildavonEinemwastohaveanoblepyreandgoodlycompanyforthedarkjourney。

Duskwasfallingnow，aclearbrightduskwherethestarsprickedthroughasheenofamethyst。Theartillerywerebusyallaroundthehorizon，andtowardsthepassontheotherroad，whereFortPalantukenstood，therewasthedustandsmokeofafuriousbombardment。

Itseemedtome，too，thatthegunsontheotherfrontshadcomenearer。DeveBoyunwashiddenbyaspurofhill，butupinthenorth，whiteclouds，likethestreamersofevening，werehangingovertheEuphratesglen。Thewholefirmamenthummedandtwangedlikeatautstringthathasbeenstruck……

AsIlooked，theguntothewestfired—thegunwhereStummwas。Theshelldroppedtenyardstoourright。Asecondlateranotherfellbehindus。

Blenkironhaddraggedhimselftotheparapet。Idon’tsupposehehadeverbeenshelledbefore，buthisfaceshowedcuriosityratherthanfear。

’Prettypoorshooting，Ireckon，’hesaid。

’Onthecontrary，’Isaid，’theyknowtheirbusiness。They’rebracketing……’

Thewordswerenotoutofmymouthwhenonefellrightamongus。Itstruckthefarrimofthe_castrol，shatteringtherock，butburstingmainlyoutside。Weallducked，andbarringsomesmallscratchesnoonewasapennytheworse。IrememberthatmuchofthedebrisfellonHildavonEinem’sgrave。

IpulledBlenkironoverthefarparapet，andcalledontheresttofollow，meaningtotakecoverontheroughsideofthehill。Butasweshowedourselvesshotsrangoutfromourfront，shotsfiredfromarangeofafewhundredyards。Itwaseasytoseewhathadhappened。Riflemenhadbeensenttoholdusinrear。Theywouldnotassaultsolongasweremainedinthe_castrol，buttheywouldblockanyattempttofindsafetyoutsideit。Stummandhisgunhadusattheirmercy。

Wecrouchedbelowtheparapetagain。’Wemayaswelltossforit，’Isaid。’There’sonlytwoways—tostayhereandbeshelledortrytobreakthroughthosefellowsbehind。Either’sprettyunhealthy。’

ButIknewtherewasnochoice。WithBlenkironcrippledwewerepinnedtothe_castrol。Ournumberswereupallright。

CHAPTERTWENTY—TWO

TheGunsoftheNorthButnomoreshellsfell。

Thenightgrewdarkandshowedafieldofglitteringstars，fortheairwassharpeningagaintowardsfrost。Wewaitedforanhour，crouchingjustbehindthefarparapets，butnevercamethatominousfamiliarwhistle。

ThenSandyroseandstretchedhimself。’I’mhungry，’hesaid。

’Let’shaveoutthefood，Hussin。We’veeatennothingsincebeforedaybreak。Iwonderwhatisthemeaningofthisrespite？’

IfanciedIknew。

’It’sStumm’sway，’Isaid。’Hewantstotortureus。He’llkeepushoursontenterhooks，whilehesitsoveryonderexultinginwhathethinkswe’reenduring。Hehasjustenoughimaginationforthat……

Hewouldrushusifhehadthemen。Asitis，he’sgoingtoblowustopieces，butdoitslowlyandsmackhislipsoverit。’

Sandyyawned。’We’lldisappointhim，forwewon’tbeworried，oldman。Wethreearebeyondthatkindoffear。’

’Meanwhilewe’regoingtodothebestwecan，’Isaid。’He’sgottheexactrangeforhiswhizz—bangs。We’vegottofindaholesomewherejustoutsidethe_castrol，andsomesortofhead—cover。We’reboundtogetdamagedwhateverhappens，butwe’llstickitouttotheend。Whentheythinktheyhavefinishedwithusandrushtheplace，theremaybeoneofusalivetoputabulletthrougholdStumm。Whatdoyousay？’

Theyagreed，andafterourmealSandyandIcrawledouttoprospect，leavingtheothersonguardincasethereshouldbeanattack。Wefoundahollowintheglacisalittlesouthofthe_castrol，and，workingveryquietly，managedtoenlargeitandcutakindofshallowcaveinthehill。Itwouldbenouseagainstadirecthit，butitwouldgivesomecoverfromflyingfragments。AsIreadthesituation，Stummcouldlandasmanyshellsashepleasedinthe_castrolandwouldn’tbothertoattendtotheflanks。Whenthebadshellingbegantherewouldbeshelterforoneortwointhecave。

Ourenemieswerewatchful。TheriflemenontheeastburntVeryflaresatintervals，andStumm’slotsentupagreatstar—rocket。I

rememberthatjustbeforemidnighthellbrokelooseroundFortPalantuken。NomoreRussianshellscameintoourhollow，butalltheroadtotheeastwasunderfire，andattheFortitselftherewasashatteringexplosionandaqueerscarletglowwhichlookedasifamagazinehadbeenhit。Forabouttwohoursthefiringwasintense，andthenitdieddown。ButitwastowardsthenorththatIkeptturningmyhead。Thereseemedtobesomethingdifferentinthesoundthere，somethingsharperinthereportoftheguns，asifshellsweredroppinginanarrowvalleywhoserockwallsdoubledtheecho。HadtheRussiansbyanyblessedchanceworkedroundthatflank？

IgotSandytolisten，butheshookhishead。’Thosegunsareadozenmilesoff，’hesaid。’They’renonearerthanthreedaysago。Butitlooksasifthesportsmenonthesouthmighthaveachance。Whentheybreakthroughandstreamdownthevalley，they’llbepuzzledtoaccountforwhatremainsofus……We’renolongerthreeadventurersintheenemy’scountry。We’retheadvanceguardoftheAllies。Ourpalsdon’tknowaboutus，andwe’regoingtobecutoff，whichhashappenedtoadvanceguardsbeforenow。Butallthesame，we’reinourownbattle—lineagain。Doesn’tthatcheeryou，Dick？’

Itcheeredmewonderfully，forIknewnowwhathadbeentheweightonmyhearteversinceIacceptedSirWalter’smission。Itwasthelonelinessofit。Iwasfightingfarawayfrommyfriends，farawayfromthetruefrontsofbattle。Itwasaside—showwhich，whateveritsimportance，hadnoneoftheexhilarationofthemaineffort。Butnowwehadcomebacktofamiliarground。WewereliketheHighlanderscutoffatCiteStAugusteonthefirstdayofLoos，orthoseScotsGuardsatFestubertofwhomIhadheard。