第10章

\'You\'reatthebarnow，GrafvonSchwabing。Foryearsyou\'vedoneyourbestagainstthedecenciesoflife。Youhavedeservedwellofyourcountry，Idon\'tdoubtit。Butwhathasyourcountrydeservedoftheworld？OnedaysoonGermanyhastodosomeheavypaying，andyouarethefirstinstalment。\'

\'IappealtotheSwisslaw。IstandonSwisssoil，andIdemandthatIbesurrenderedtotheSwissauthorities。\'Iveryspokewithdrylipsandthesweatwasonhisbrow。

\'Oh，no，no，\'saidBlenkironsoothingly。\'TheSwissareanicepeople，andIwouldhatetoaddtotheworriesofapoorlittleneutralstate……Allalongbothsideshavebeenoutsidethelawinthisgame，andthat\'sgoingtocontinue。We\'veabodebytherulesandsomustyou……Foryearsyou\'vemurderedandkidnappedandseducedtheweakandignorant，butwe\'renotgoingtojudgeyourmorals。WeleavethattotheAlmightywhenyougetacrossJordan。

We\'regoingtowashourhandsofyouassoonaswecan。You\'lltraveltoFrancebytheUndergroundRailwayandtherebehandedovertotheFrenchGovernment。FromwhatIknowthey\'veenoughagainstyoutoshootyoueveryhourofthedayforatwelvemonth。\'

IthinkhehadexpectedtobecondemnedbyusthereandthenandsenttojoinEhrlichbeneaththeice。Anyhow，therecameaflickerofhopeintohiseyes。IdaresayhesawsomewaytododgetheFrenchauthoritiesifheoncegotachancetousehismiraculouswits。Anyhow，hebowedwithsomethingverylikeself-possession，andaskedpermissiontosmoke。AsIhavesaid，themanhadhisowncourage。

\'Blenkiron，\'Icried，\'we\'regoingtodonothingofthekind。\'

Heinclinedhisheadgravelytowardsme。\'What\'syournotion，Dick？\'

\'We\'vegottomakethepunishmentfitthecrime，\'Isaid。IwassotiredthatIhadtoformmysentenceslaboriously，asifIwerespeakingahalf-understoodforeigntongue。

\'Meaning？\'

\'ImeanthatifyouhandhimovertotheFrenchhe\'lleithertwistoutoftheirhandssomehoworgetdecentlyshot，whichisfartoogoodforhim。Thismanandhiskindhavesentmillionsofhonestfolktotheirgraves。Hehassatspinninghisweblikeagreatspiderandforeverythreadtherehasbeenanoceanofbloodspilled。

It\'shissortthatmadethewar，notthebrave，stupid，fightingBoche。It\'shissortthat\'sresponsibleforalltheclottedbeastliness……Andhe\'sneverbeeninsightofashell。I\'mforputtinghiminthefrontline。No，Idon\'tmeananyUriahtheHittitebusiness。Iwanthimtohaveasportingchance，justwhatothermenhave。But，byGod，he\'sgoingtolearnwhatistheupshotofthestringshe\'sbeenpullingsomerrily……Hetoldmeintwodays\'timeGermanywouldsmashourarmiestohell。Heboastedthathewouldbemostlyresponsibleforit。Well，lethimbetheretoseethesmashing。\'

\'Ireckonthat\'sjust，\'saidBlenkiron。

Ivery\'seyeswereonmenow，fascinatedandterrifiedlikethoseofabirdbeforearattlesnake。IsawagaintheshapelessfeaturesofthemanintheTubestation，theresiduumofshrinkingmortalitybehindhisdisguises。Heseemedtobeslippingsomethingfromhispockettowardshismouth，butGeordieHamiltoncaughthiswrist。

\'Wadyeoffer？\'saidthescandalizedvoiceofmyservant。\'Sirr，theprisonerwouldappeartobetryingtopuishonhisself。WullI

searchhim？\'

Afterthathestoodwitheacharminthegripofawarder。

\'MrIvery，\'Isaid，\'lastnight，whenIwasinyourpower，youindulgedyourvanitybygloatingoverme。Iexpectedit，foryourclassdoesnotbreedgentlemen。Wetreatourprisonersdifferently，butitisfairthatyoushouldknowyourfate。YouaregoingintoFrance，andIwillseethatyouaretakentotheBritishfront。Therewithmyolddivisionyouwilllearnsomethingofthemeaningofwar。Understandthatbynoconceivablechancecanyouescape。

Menwillbedetailedtowatchyoudayandnightandtoseethatyouundergothefullrigourofthebattlefield。Youwillhavethesameexperienceasotherpeople，nomore，noless。IbelieveinarighteousGodandIknowthatsoonerorlateryouwillfinddeath-deathatthehandsofyourownpeople-anhonourabledeathwhichisfarbeyondyourdeserts。Butbeforeitcomesyouwillhaveunderstoodthehelltowhichyouhavecondemnedhonestmen。\'

Inmomentsofgreatfatigue，asinmomentsofgreatcrisis，themindtakeschargeandmayrunonatrackindependentofthewill。

Itwasnotmyselfthatspoke，butanimpersonalvoicewhichIdidnotknow，avoiceinwhosetonesrangastrangeauthority。Iveryrecognizedtheicyfinalityofit，andhisbodyseemedtowilt，anddroop。Onlytheholdofthewarderskepthimfromfalling。

I，too，wasaboutattheendofmyendurance。IfeltdimlythattheroomhademptiedexceptforBlenkironandAmos，andthattheformerwastryingtomakemedrinkbrandyfromthecupofaflask。IstruggledtomyfeetwiththeintentionofgoingtoMary，butmylegswouldnotcarryme……IheardasinadreamAmosgivingthankstoanOmnipotenceinwhomheofficiallydisbelieved。

\'What\'sthattheauldmanintheBiblesaid？Nowletthouthyservantdepartinpeace。That\'sthewayI\'mfeelin\'mysel\'。\'Andthenslumbercameonmelikeanarmedman，andinthechairbythedyingwood-ashIsleptofftheacheofmylimbs，thetensionofmynerves，andtheconfusionofmybrain。

CHAPTERTWENTY

TheStormBreaksintheWestThefollowingevening-itwasthe20thdayofMarch-IstartedforFranceafterthedarkfell。IdroveIvery\'sbigclosedcar，andwithinsatitsowner，boundandgagged，asothershadsatbeforehimonthesameerrand。GeordieHamiltonandAmoswerehiscompanions。FromwhatBlenkironhadhimselfdiscoveredandfromthepapersseizedinthePinkChaletIhadfulldetailsoftheroadanditsmysteriousstages。Itwaslikethejourneyofamaddream。

InabackstreetofalittletownIwouldexchangepasswordswithanamelessfigureandbegiveninstructions。AtawaysideinnatanappointedhouravoicespeakingathickGermanwouldadvisethatthisbridgeorthatrailwaycrossinghadbeencleared。Atahamletamongpinewoodsanunknownmanwouldclamberupbesidemeandtakemepastasentry-post。Smoothasclockworkwasthemachine，tillinthedawnofaspringmorningIfoundmyselfdroppingintoabroadvalleythroughlittleorchardsjustbeginningtoblossom，andIknewthatIwasinFrance。Afterthat，Blenkiron\'sownarrangementsbegan，andsoonIwasdrinkingcoffeewithayounglieutenantofChasseurs，andhadtakenthegagfromIvery\'smouth。Thebluecoatslookedcuriouslyatthemaninthegreenulsterwhosefacewasthecolourofclayandwholitcigarettefromcigarettewithashakyhand。

ThelieutenantrangupaGeneralofDivisionwhoknewallaboutus。AthisheadquartersIexplainedmypurpose，andhetelegraphedtoanArmyHeadquartersforapermissionwhichwasgranted。ItwasnotfornothingthatinJanuaryIhadseencertaingreatpersonagesinParis，andthatBlenkironhadwiredaheadofmetopreparetheway。HereIhandedoverIveryandhisguard，forIwantedthemtoproceedtoAmiensunderFrenchsupervision，wellknowingthatthemenofthatgreatarmyarenotusedtoletslipwhattheyoncehold。

Itwasamorningofclearspringsunlightwhenwebreakfastedinthatlittlered-roofedtownamongvineyardswithashiningriverloopingatourfeet。TheGeneralofDivisionwasanAlgerianveteranwithabrushofgrizzledhair，whoseeyekeptwanderingtoamaponthewallwherepinsandstretchedthreadmadeaspider\'sweb。

\'Anynewsfromthenorth？\'Iasked。

\'Notyet，\'hesaid。\'Buttheattackcomessoon。ItwillbeagainstourarmyinChampagne。\'Withaleanfingerhepointedouttheenemydispositions。

\'WhynotagainsttheBritish？\'Iasked。WithaknifeandforkI

madearightangleandputasaltdishinthecentre。\'ThatistheGermanconcentration。Theycansomassthatwedonotknowwhichsideoftheangletheywillstriketilltheblowfalls。\'

\'Itistrue，\'hereplied。\'Butconsider。FortheenemytoattacktowardstheSommewouldbetofightovermanymilesofanoldbattle-groundwhereallisstilldesertandeveryyardofwhichyouBritishknow。InChampagneataboundhemightenterunbrokencountry。ItisalonganddifficultroadtoAmiens，butnotsolongtoChilons。SuchistheviewofPetain。Doesitconvinceyou？\'

\'Thereasoningisgood。NeverthelesshewillstrikeatAmiens，andIthinkhewillbegintoday。\'

Helaughedandshruggedhisshoulders。\'_Nous_verrons。Youareobstinate，mygeneral，likeallyourexcellentcountrymen。\'

ButasIlefthisheadquartersanaide-de-camphandedhimamessageonapinkslip。Hereadit，andturnedtomewithagraveface。

\'Youhaveaflair，myfriend。Iamgladwedidnotwager。ThismorningatdawnthereisgreatfightingaroundStQuentin。Becomforted，fortheywillnotpass。Your_Marechalwillholdthem。\'

ThatwasthefirstnewsIhadofthebattle。

AtDijonaccordingtoplanImettheothers。IonlyjustcaughttheParistrain，andBlenkiron\'sgreatwristsluggedmeintothecarriagewhenitwaswellinmotion。TheresatPeter，adocilefigureinacarefullypatchedoldR。F。C。uniform。WakewasreadingapileofFrenchpapers，andinacornerMary，withherfeetupontheseat，wassoundasleep。

Wedidnottalkmuch，forthelifeofthepastdayshadbeensohecticthatwehadnowishtorecallit。Blenkiron\'sfaceworeanairofsatisfaction，andashelookedoutatthesunnyspringlandscapehehummedhisonlytune。EvenWakehadlosthisrestlessness。Hehadonapairofbigtortoiseshellreadingglasses，andwhenhelookedupfromhisnewspaperandcaughtmyeyehesmiled。Marysleptlikeachild，delicatelyflushed，herbreathscarcelystirringthecollarofthegreatcoatwhichwasfoldedacrossherthroat。I

rememberlookingwithakindofaweatthecurveofheryoungfaceandthelonglashesthatlaysosoftlyonhercheek，andwonderinghowIhadbornetheanxietyofthelastmonths。Wakeraisedhisheadfromhisreading，glancedatMaryandthenatme，andhiseyeswerekind，almostaffectionate。Heseemedtohavewonpeaceofmindamongthehills。

OnlyPeterwasoutofthepicture。Hewasastrange，disconsolatefigure，asheshiftedabouttoeasehisleg，orgazedincuriouslyfromthewindow。Hehadshavedhisbeardagain，butitdidnotmakehimyounger，forhisfacewastoolinedandhiseyestoooldtochange。WhenIspoketohimhelookedtowardsMaryandheldupawarningfinger。

\'IgobacktoEngland，\'hewhispered。\'Yourlittle_mysieisgoingtotakecareofmetillIamsettled。Wespokeofityesterdayatmycottage。Iwillfindalodgingandbepatienttillthewarisover。

Andyou，Dick？\'

\'Oh，Irejoinmydivision。ThankGod，thisjobisover。Ihaveaneasy_trundnowandcanturnmyattentiontostraight-forwardsoldiering。

Idon\'tmindtellingyouthatI\'llbegladtothinkthatyouandMaryandBlenkironaresafeathome。Whataboutyou，Wake？\'

\'IgobacktomyLabourbattalion，\'hesaidcheerfully。\'Likeyou，Ihaveaneasiermind。\'

Ishookmyhead。\'We\'llseeaboutthat。Idon\'tlikesuchsinfulwaste。

We\'vehadabitofcampaigningtogetherandIknowyourquality。\'

\'Thebattalion\'squitegoodenoughforme，\'andherelapsedintoaday-old_Temps。

Maryhadsuddenlywoke，andwassittinguprightwithherfistsinhereyeslikeasmallchild。Herhandflewtoherhair，andhereyesranoverusasiftoseethatwewereallthere。Asshecountedthefourofussheseemedrelieved。

\'Ireckonyoufeelrefreshed，MissMary，\'saidBlenkiron。\'It\'sgoodtothinkthatnowwecansleepinpeace，allofus。Prettysoonyou\'llbeinEnglandandspringwillbebeginning，andpleaseGodit\'llbethestartofabetterworld。Ourwork\'sover，anyhow。\'

\'Iwonder，\'saidthegirlgravely。\'Idon\'tthinkthere\'sanydischargeinthiswar。Dick，haveyounewsofthebattle？Thiswastheday。\'

\'It\'sbegun，\'Isaid，andtoldthemthelittleIhadlearnedfromtheFrenchGeneral。\'I\'vemadeareputationasaprophet，forhethoughttheattackwascominginChampagne。It\'sStQuentinrightenough，butIdon\'tknowwhathashappened。We\'llhearinParis。\'

Maryhadwokewithastartledairasifsherememberedheroldinstinctthatourworkwouldnotbefinishedwithoutasacrifice，andthatsacrificethebestofus。Thenotionkeptrecurringtomewithanuneasyinsistence。Butsoonsheappearedtoforgetheranxiety。ThatafternoonaswejourneyedthroughthepleasantlandofFranceshewasinholidaymood，andsheforcedallourspiritsuptoherlevel。Itwascalm，brightweather，thelongcurvesofploughlandwerebeginningtoquickenintogreen，thecatkinsmadeabluemistonthewillowsbythewatercourses，andintheorchardsbythered-roofedhamletstheblossomwasbreaking。Insuchasceneitwashardtokeepthemindsoberandgrey，andthepallofwarslidfromus。MarycossetedandfussedoverPeterlikeaneldersisteroveradelicatelittleboy。Shemadehimstretchhisbadlegfulllengthontheseat，andwhenshemadeteaforthepartyofusitwasaprotestingPeterwhohadthelastsugarbiscuit。Indeed，wewerealmostamerrycompany，forBlenkirontoldstoriesofoldhuntingandengineeringdaysintheWest，andPeterandIweredriventocapthem，andMaryaskedprovocativequestions，andWakelistenedwithamusedinterest。Itwaswellthatwehadthecarriagetoourselves，fornoqueererrigswereeverassembled。Mary，asalways，wasneatandworkmanlikeinherdress；Blenkironwasmagnificentinasuitofrussettweedwithapale-blueshirtandcollar，andwell-

polishedbrownshoes；butPeterandWakewereinuniformswhichhadseenfarbetterdays，andIworestillthebootsandtheshapelessandraggedclothesofJosephZimmer，theporterfromArosa。

Weappearedtoforgetthewar，butwedidn\'t，foritwasinthebackgroundofallourminds。Somewhereinthenorththerewasragingadesperatefight，anditsissuewasthetruetestofoursuccessorfailure。Maryshoweditbybiddingmeaskfornewsateverystopping-place。Iaskedgendarmesand_Permissionnaires，butI

learnednothing。Nobodyhadeverheardofthebattle。Theupshotwasthatforthelasthourweallfellsilent，andwhenwereachedParisaboutseveno\'clockmyfirsterrandwastothebookstall。

Iboughtabatchofeveningpapers，whichwetriedtoreadinthetaxisthatcarriedustoourhotel。Sureenoughtherewastheannouncementinbigheadlines。TheenemyhadattackedingreatstrengthfromsouthofArrastotheOise；buteverywherehehadbeenrepulsedandheldinourbattle-zone。Theleadingarticleswereconfident，thenotesbythevariousmilitarycriticswerealmostbraggart。AtlasttheGermanhadbeendriventoanoffensive，andtheAllieswouldhavetheopportunitytheyhadlongedforofprovingtheirsuperiorfightingstrength。Itwas，saidoneandall，theopeningofthelastphaseofthewar。

IconfessthatasIreadmyheartsank。Iftheciviliansweresoover-confident，mightnotthegeneralshavefallenintothesametrap？Blenkironalonewasunperturbed。Marysaidnothing，butshesatwithherchininherhands，whichwithherwasasuresignofdeeppreoccupation。

Nextmorningthepaperscouldtelluslittlemore。ThemainattackhadbeenonbothsidesofStQuentin，andthoughtheBritishhadgivengrounditwasonlytheoutpostslinethathadgone。Themisthadfavouredtheenemy，andhisbombardmenthadbeenterrific，especiallythegasshells。Everyjournaladdedtheoldoldcomment-thathehadpaidheavilyforhistemerity，withlossesfarexceedingthoseofthedefence。

Wakeappearedatbreakfastinhisprivate\'suniform。Hewantedtogethisrailwaywarrantandbeoffatonce，butwhenIheardthatAmienswashisdestinationIorderedhimtostayandtravelwithmeintheafternoon。Iwasinuniformmyselfnowandhadtakenchargeoftheoutfit。IarrangedthatBlenkiron，Mary，andPetershouldgoontoBoulogneandsleepthenightthere，whileWakeandIwouldbedroppedatAmienstoawaitinstructions。

Ispentabusymorning。OnceagainIvisitedwithBlenkironthelittlecabinetintheBoulevardStGermain，andtoldineverydetailourworkofthepasttwomonths。OnceagainIsatinthelowbuildingbesidetheInvalidesandtalkedtostaffofficers。ButsomeofthemenIhadseenonthefirstvisitwerenotthere。ThechiefsoftheFrenchArmyhadgonenorth。

WearrangedforthehandlingoftheWildBirds，nowsafelyinFrance，andsanctionwasgiventothecourseIhadproposedtoadoptwithIvery。HeandhisguardwereontheirwaytoAmiens，andIwouldmeetthemthereonthemorrow。Thegreatmenwereverycomplimentarytous，socomplimentarythatmyknowledgeofgrammaticalFrenchebbedawayandIcouldonlystutterinreply。

ThattelegramsentbyBlenkirononthenightofthe18th，fromtheinformationgivenmeinthePinkChalet，haddonewondersinclearingupthesituation。

ButwhenIaskedthemaboutthebattletheycouldtellmelittle。

Itwasaveryseriousattackintremendousforce，buttheBritishlinewasstrongandthereserveswerebelievedtobesufficient。PetainandFochhadgonenorthtoconsultwithHaig。ThesituationinChampagnewasstillobscure，butsomeFrenchreserveswerealreadymovingthencetotheSommesector。Onethingtheydidshowme，theBritishdispositions。AsIlookedattheplanIsawthatmyolddivisionwasinthethickofthefighting。

\'Wheredoyougonow？\'Iwasasked。

\'ToAmiens，andthen，pleaseGod，tothebattlefront，\'Isaid。

\'Goodfortunetoyou。Youdonotgivebodyormindmuchrest，mygeneral。\'

AfterthatIwenttothe_Mission_Anglaise，buttheyhadnothingbeyondHaig\'scommuniqueandatelephonemessagefromG。H。Q。

thatthecriticalsectorwaslikelytobethatbetweenStQuentinandtheOise。Thenorthernpillarofourdefence，southofArras，whichtheyhadbeennervousabout，hadstoodlikearock。Thatpleasedme，formyoldbattalionoftheLennoxHighlanderswasthere。

CrossingthePlacedelaConcorde，wefellinwithaBritishstaffofficerofmyacquaintance，whowasjuststartingtomotorbacktoG。H。Q。fromParisleave。HehadalongerfacethanthepeopleattheInvalides。

\'Idon\'tlikeit，Itellyou，\'hesaid。\'It\'sthismistthatworriesme。I

wentdownthewholelinefromArrastotheOisetendaysago。Itwasbeautifullysited，thecleverestthingyoueversaw。Theoutpostlinewasmostlyachainofblobs-redoubts，youknow，withmachine-guns-soarrangedastobringflankingfiretobearontheadvancingenemy。Butmistwouldplaythedevilwiththatscheme，fortheenemywouldbepasttheplaceforflankingfirebeforeweknewit……Oh，Iknowwehadgoodwarning，andhadthebattle-zonemannedintime，buttheoutpostlinewasmeanttoholdoutlongenoughtogeteverythingbehindinapple-pieorder，andIcan\'tseebuthowbigchunksofitmusthavegoneinthefirstrush……Mindyou，we\'vebankedeverythingonthatbattle-

zone。It\'sdamnedgood，butifit\'sgone-\'Heflunguphishands。

\'Havewegoodreserves？\'Iasked。

Heshruggedhisshoulders。

\'Havewepositionspreparedbehindthebattle-zone？\'

\'ididn\'tnoticeany，\'hesaiddryly，andwasoffbeforeIcouldgetmoreoutofhim。

\'Youlookrattled，Dick，\'saidBlenkironaswewalkedtothehotel。

\'Iseemtohavegottheneedle。It\'ssilly，butIfeelworseaboutthisshowthanI\'veeverfeltsincethewarstarted。Lookatthiscityhere。Thepaperstakeiteasily，andthepeoplearewalkingaboutasifnothingwashappening。Eventhesoldiersaren\'tworried。Youmaycallmeafooltotakeitsohard，butI\'veasenseinmybonesthatwe\'reinforthebloodiestanddarkestfightofourlives，andthatsoonPariswillbehearingtheBochegunsasshedidin1914。\'

\'You\'reacheerfuloldJeremiah。Well，I\'mgladMissMary\'sgoingtobeinEnglandsoon。Seemstomeshe\'srightandthatthisgameofoursisn\'tquiteplayedoutyet。I\'menvyingyousome，forthere\'saplacewaitingforyouinthefightingline。\'

\'You\'vegottogethomeandkeeppeople\'sheadsstraightthere。

That\'stheweaklinkinourchainandthere\'samightylotofworkbeforeyou。\'

\'Maybe，\'hesaidabstractedly，withhiseyeonthetopoftheVendomecolumn。

Thetrainthatafternoonwaspackedwithofficersrecalledfromleave，andittookallthecombinedpurchaseofBlenkironandmyselftogetacarriagereservedforourlittleparty。AtthelastmomentI

openedthedoortoadmitawarmandagitatedcaptainoftheR。F。C。

inwhomIrecognizedmyfriendandbenefactor，ArchieRoylance。

\'JustwhenIwasgettin\'niceandcleanandcomfyawirecomestellin\'metobundleback，allalongofanewbattle。It\'sacruelwar，Sir。\'Theafflictedyoungmanmoppedhisforehead，grinnedcheerfullyatBlenkiron，glancedcriticallyatPeter，thencaughtsightofMaryandgrewatonceacutelyconsciousofhisappearance。Hesmoothedhishair，adjustedhistieandbecamedesperatelysedate。

IintroducedhimtoPeterandhepromptlyforgotMary\'sexistence。

IfPeterhadhadanyvanityinhimitwouldhavebeenflatteredbythefrankinterestandadmirationintheboy\'seyes。

\'I\'mtremendouslygladtoseeyousafeback，sir。I\'vealwayshopedImighthaveachanceofmeetingyou。Wewantyoubadlynowonthefront。Lenschisgettin\'abituppish。\'

ThenhiseyefellonPeter\'switheredlegandhesawthathehadblundered。Heblushedscarletandlookedhisapologies。Buttheyweren\'tneeded，foritcheeredPetertomeetsomeonewhotalkedofthepossibilityofhisfightingagain。Soonthetwoweredeepintechnicalities，theappallingtechnicalitiesoftheairman。Itwasnogoodlisteningtotheirtalk，foryoucouldmakenothingofit，butitwasbracingupPeterlikewine。ArchiegavehimaminutedescriptionofLensch\'slatestdoingsandhisnewmethods。He，too，hadheardtherumourthatPeterhadmentionedtomeatStAnton，ofanewBocheplane，withmightyenginesandstumpywingscunninglycambered，whichwasadeviltoclimb；butnospecimenshadyetappearedovertheline。TheytalkedofBali，andRhysDavids，andBishop，andMcCudden，andalltheheroeswhohadwontheirspurssincetheSomme，andofthenewBritishmakes，mostofwhichPeterhadneverseenandhadtohaveexplainedtohim。

Outsideahazehaddrawnoverthemeadowswiththetwilight。I

pointeditouttoBlenkiron。

\'There\'sthefogthat\'sdoingus。ThisMarchweatherisjustlikeOctober，mistmorningandevening。IwishtoHeavenwecouldhavesomegoodolddrenchingspringrain。\'

ArchiewasdiscoursingoftheShark-Gladasmachine。

\'I\'vealwaysstucktoit，forit\'samarvelinitsway，butithasmyheartfairlybroke。TheGeneralhereknowsitslittletricks。Don\'tyou，sir？Wheneverthingsgetreallyexcitin\'，theengine\'sapttoquitworkandtakearest。\'

\'Thewholemakeshouldbepubliclyburned，\'Isaid，withgloomyrecollections。

\'Iwouldn\'tgosofar，sir。TheoldGladashassurprisin\'merits。

Onherdaythere\'snothinglikeherforpaceandclimbing-power，andshesteersassweetasaracin\'cutter。Thetroubleaboutherisshe\'stoocomplicated。She\'slikesomebreedsofcar-youwanttobeamechanicalgeniustounderstandher……Ifthey\'donlygetheralittlesimplerandsafer，therewouldn\'tbehermatchinthefield。

I\'mabouttheonlymanthathaspatiencewithherandknowshermerits，butshe\'softenbeennearlythedeathofme。Allthesame，ifIwereinforabigfightagainstsomefellowlikeLensch，whereitwasneckornothing，I\'mhangedifIwouldn\'tpicktheGladas。\'

Archielaughedapologetically。\'Thesubjectisbannedformeinourmess。I\'mtheoldthing\'sonlychampion，andshe\'slikeamareI

usedtohuntthatlovedmesomuchshewasalwaystryin\'tochewthearmoffme。ButIwishIcouldgetherafairtrialfromoneofthebigpilots。I\'monlyinthesecondclassmyselfafterall。\'

WewererunningnorthofStjustwhenabovetherattleofthetrainroseacuriousdullsound。Itcamefromtheeast，andwaslikethelowgrowlofaveldthunderstorm，orasteadyrollofmuffleddrums。

\'Harktotheguns！\'criedArchie。\'Myaunt，there\'satidybombardmentgoin\'onsomewhere。\'

Ihadbeenlisteningonandofftogunsforthreeyears。IhadbeenpresentatthebigpreparationsbeforeLoosandtheSommeandArras，andIhadcometoaccepttheracketofartilleryassomethingnaturalandinevitablelikerainorsunshine。Butthissoundchilledmewithitseeriness，Idon\'tknowwhy。Perhapsitwasitsunexpectedness，forIwassurethatthegunshadnotbeenheardinthisareasincebeforetheMarne。ThenoisemustbetravellingdowntheOisevalley，andIjudgedtherewasbigfightingsomewhereaboutChaunyorLaFere。Thatmeantthattheenemywaspressinghardonahugefront，forherewasclearlyagreateffortonhisextremeleftwing。Unlessitwasourcounter-attack。

ButsomehowIdidn\'tthinkso。

Iletdownthewindowandstuckmyheadintothenight。Thefoghadcrepttotheedgeofthetrack，agossamermistthroughwhichhousesandtreesandcattlecouldbeseendiminthemoonlight。

Thenoisecontinued-notamutter，butasteadyrumblingflowassolidastheblareofatrumpet。Presently，aswedrewnearerAmiens，weleftitbehindus，forinalltheSommevalleythereissomecuriousconfigurationwhichblanketssound。Thecountryfolkcallitthe\'SilentLand\'，andduringthefirstphaseoftheSommebattleamaninAmienscouldnothearthegunstwentymilesoffatAlbert。

AsIsatdownagainIfoundthatthecompanyhadfallensilent，eventhegarrulousArchie。Mary\'seyesmetmine，andintheindifferentlightoftheFrenchrailway-carriageIcouldseeexcitementinthem-Iknewitwasexcitement，notfear。Shehadneverheardthenoiseofagreatbarragebefore。Blenkironwasrestless，andPeterwassunkinhisownthoughts。Iwasgrowingverydepressed，forinalittleIwouldhavetopartfrommybestfriendsandthegirlI

loved。Butwiththedepressionwasmixedanoddexpectation，whichwasalmostpleasant。Thegunshadbroughtbackmyprofessiontome，Iwasmovingtowardstheirthunder，andGodonlyknewtheendofit。ThehappydreamIhaddreamedoftheCotswoldsandahomewithMarybesidemeseemedsuddenlytohavefallenawaytoaninfinitedistance。IfeltonceagainthatIwasontherazor-edgeoflife。

ThelastpartofthejourneyIwascastingbacktorakeupmyknowledgeofthecountryside。IsawagainthestrickenbeltfromSerretoCombleswherewehadfoughtinthesummerOf\'17。Ihadnotbeenpresentintheadvanceofthefollowingspring，butIhadbeenatCambraiandIknewallthedowncountryfromLagnicourttoStQuentin。Ishutmyeyesandtriedtopictureit，andtoseetheroadsrunninguptotheline，andwonderedjustatwhatpointsthebigpressurehadcome。TheyhadtoldmeinParisthattheBritishwereasfarsouthastheOise，sothebombardmentwehadheardmustbedirectedtoouraddress。WithPasschendaeleandCambraiinmymind，andsomenotionofthedifficultieswehadalwayshadingettingdrafts，Iwaspuzzledtothinkwherewecouldhavefoundthetroopstomanthenewfront。Wemustbeunholilythinonthatlongline。Andagainstthatawesomebombardment！AndthemassesandthenewtacticsthatIveryhadbraggedof！

WhenweranintothedingycavernwhichisAmiensstationI

seemedtonoteanewexcitement。Ifeltitintheairratherthandeduceditfromanyspecialincident，exceptthattheplatformwasverycrowdedwithcivilians，mostofthemwithanextraamountofbaggage。Iwonderediftheplacehadbeenbombedthenightbefore。

\'Wewon\'tsaygoodbyeyet，\'Itoldtheothers。\'Thetraindoesn\'tleaveforhalfanhour。I\'mofftotryandgetnews。\'

AccompaniedbyArchie，IhuntedoutanR。T。O。ofmyacquaintance。

Tomyquestionsherespondedcheerfully。

\'Oh，we\'redoingfamously，sir。IheardthisafternoonfromamaninOperationsthatG。H。Q。wasperfectlysatisfied。We\'vekilledalotofHunsandonlylostafewkilometresofground……You\'regoingtoyourdivision？Well，it\'supPeronneway，orwaslastnight。CheyneandDunthorpecamebackfromleaveandtriedtostealacartogetuptoit……Oh，I\'mhavingthedeuceofatime。

Theseblightedcivilianshavegotthewindup，andalotaretryingtoclearout。TheidiotssaytheHunswillbeinAmiensinaweek。

What\'sthephrase？“__Pourvuquelescivils_tiennent。“\'FraidImustpushon，Sir。\'

IsentArchiebackwiththesescrapsofnewsandwasabouttomakearushforthehouseofoneofthePressofficers，whowould，Ithought，beinthewayofknowingthings，whenatthestationentranceIranacrossLaidlaw。HehadbeenB。G。G。S。inthecorpstowhichmyoldbrigadebelonged，andwasnowonthestaffofsomearmy。HewasstridingtowardsacarwhenIgrabbedhisarm，andheturnedonmeaverysickface。

\'GoodLord，Hannay！Wheredidyouspringfrom？Thenews，yousay？\'Hesankhisvoice，anddrewmeintoaquietcorner。\'Thenewsishellish。\'

\'Theytoldmewewereholding，\'Iobserved。

\'Holdingbedamned！TheBocheiscleanthroughonabroadfront。HebrokeustodayatMaissemyandEssigny。Yes，thebattle-

zone。He\'sflingingindivisionafterdivisionliketheblowsofahammer。Whatelsecouldyouexpect？\'Andheclutchedmyarmfiercely。\'HowinGod\'snamecouldelevendivisionsholdafrontoffortymiles？Andagainstfourtooneinnumbers？Itisn\'twar，it\'snakedlunacy。\'

Iknewtheworstnow，anditdidn\'tshockme，forIhadknownitwascoming。Laidlaw\'snerveswereprettybad，forhisfacewaspaleandhiseyesbrightlikeamanwithafever。

\'Reserves！\'andhelaughedbitterly。\'Wehavethreeinfantrydivisionsandtwocavalry。They\'reintothemilllongago。TheFrencharecominguponourright，butthey\'vethedevilofawaytogo。

That\'swhatI\'mdownhereabout。Andwe\'regettinghelpfromHorneandPlumer。Butallthattakesdays，andmeantimewe\'rewalkingbacklikewedidatMons。Andatthistimeofday，too……

Oh，yes，thewholeline\'sretreating。Partsofitwereprettycomfortable，buttheyhadtogetbackorbeputinthebag。IwishtoHeavenIknewwhereourrightdivisionshavegotto。ForallI

knowthey\'reatCompiegnebynow。TheBochewasoverthecanalthismorning，andbythistimemostlikelyhe\'sacrosstheSomme。\'

AtthatIexclaimed。\'D\'youmeantotellmewe\'regoingtolosePeronne？\'

\'Peronne！\'hecried。\'We\'llbeluckynottoloseAmiens！……AndonthetopofitallI\'vegotsomekindofblastedfever。I\'llberavinginanhour。\'

Hewasrushingoff，butIheldhim。

\'Whataboutmyoldlot？\'Iasked。

\'Oh，damnedgood，butthey\'reshotalltobits。Everydivisiondidwell。It\'samarveltheyweren\'tallscuppered，andit\'llbeaflamingmiracleiftheyfindalinetheycanstandon。Westwater\'sgotalegsmashed。Hewasbroughtdownthisevening，andyou\'llfindhiminthehospital。Fraser\'skilledandLefroy\'saprisoner-atleast，thatwasmylastnews。Idon\'tknowwho\'sgotthebrigades，butMasterton\'scarryingonwiththedivision……You\'dbettergetupthelineasfastasyoucanandtakeoverfromhim。SeetheArmyCommander。He\'llbeinAmienstomorrowmorningforapow-wow。\'

Laidlawlaywearilybackinhiscaranddisappearedintothenight，whileIhurriedtothetrain。

TheothershaddescendedtotheplatformandweregroupedroundArchie，whowasdiscoursingoptimisticnonsense。Igotthemintothecarriageandshutthedoor。

\'It\'sprettybad，\'Isaid。\'Thefront\'spiercedinseveralplacesandwe\'rebacktotheUpperSomme。I\'mafraiditisn\'tgoingtostopthere。I\'moffupthelineassoonasIcangetmyorders。Wake，you\'llcomewithme，foreverymanwillbewanted。Blenkiron，you\'llseeMaryandPetersafetoEngland。We\'rejustintime，fortomorrowitmightn\'tbeeasytogetoutofAmiens。\'

Icanseeyettheanxiousfacesinthatill-litcompartment。WesaidgoodbyeaftertheBritishstylewithoutmuchto-do。IrememberthatoldPetergrippedmyhandasifhewouldneverreleaseit，andthatMary\'sfacehadgrownverypale。IfIdelayedanothersecondI

shouldhavehowled，forMary\'slipsweretremblingandPeterhadeyeslikeawoundedstag。\'Godblessyou，\'Isaidhoarsely，andasI

wentoffIheardPeter\'svoice，alittlecracked，saying\'Godblessyou，myoldfriend。\'

IspentsomewearyhourslookingforWestwater。Hewasnotinthebigclearingstation，butIranhimtoearthatlastinthenewhospitalwhichhadjustbeengotgoingintheUrsulineconvent。Hewasthemoststerlinglittleman，inordinaryliferatherdryanddogmatic，withatrickoftakingyouupsharplywhichdidn\'tmakehimpopular。Nowhewaslyingverystiffandquietinthehospitalbed，andhisblueeyesweresolemnandpatheticlikeasickdog\'s。

\'There\'snothingmuchwrongwithme，\'hesaid，inreplytomyquestion。\'Ashelldroppedbesidemeanddamagedmyfoot。Theysaythey\'llhavetocutitoff……I\'veaneasiermindnowyou\'rehere，Hannay。Ofcourseyou\'lltakeoverfromMasterton。He\'sagoodmanbutnotquiteuptohisjob。PoorFraser-you\'veheardaboutFraser。Hewasdoneinattheverystart。Yes，ashell。AndLefroy。Ifhe\'saliveandnottoobadlysmashedtheHunhasgotatroublesomeprisoner。\'

Hewastoosicktotalk，buthewouldn\'tletmego。

\'Thedivisionwasallright。Don\'tyoubelieveanyonewhosayswedidn\'tfightlikeheroes。OuroutpostlinehelduptheHunforsixhours，andonlyaboutadozenmencameback。Wecouldhavestuckitoutinthebattle-zoneifbothflankshadn\'tbeenturned。

TheygotthroughCrabbe\'sleftandcamedowntheVereyravine，andabigwaverushedShropshireWood……Wefoughtitoutyardbyyardanddidn\'tbudgetillwesawthePlessisdumpblazinginourrear。Thenitwasabouttimetogo……Wehaven\'tmanybattalioncommandersleft。Watson，Endicot，Crawshay……\'Hestammeredoutalistofgallantfellowswhohadgone。

\'Getbackdoublequick，Hannay。Theywantyou。I\'mnothappyaboutMasterton。He\'stooyoungforthejob。\'Andthenanursedrovemeout，andIlefthimspeakinginthestrangeforcedvoiceofgreatweakness。

AtthefootofthestaircasestoodMary。

\'Isawyougoin，\'shesaid，\'soIwaitedforyou。\'

\'Oh，mydear，\'Icried，\'youshouldhavebeeninBoulognebynow。Whatmadnessbroughtyouhere？\'

\'Theyknowmehereandthey\'vetakenmeon。Youcouldn\'texpectmetostaybehind。Yousaidyourselfeverybodywaswanted，andI\'minaServicelikeyou。Pleasedon\'tbeangry，Dick。\'

Iwasn\'tangry，Iwasn\'tevenextraanxious。Thewholethingseemedtohavebeenplannedbyfatesincethecreationoftheworld。Thegamewehadbeenengagedinwasn\'tfinishedanditwasrightthatweshouldplayitouttogether。Withthatfeelingcameaconviction，too，ofultimatevictory。Somehoworsometimeweshouldgettotheendofourpilgrimage。ButIrememberedMary\'sforebodingsaboutthesacrificerequired。Thebestofus。Thatruledmeout，butwhatabouther？

Icaughthertomyarms。\'Goodbye，myverydearest。Don\'tworryaboutme，formine\'sasoftjobandIcanlookaftermyskin。

Butoh！takecareofyourself，foryouarealltheworldtome。\'

Shekissedmegravelylikeawisechild。

\'Iamnotafraidforyou，\'shesaid。\'Youaregoingtostandinthebreach，andIknow-Iknowyouwillwin。Rememberthatthereissomeoneherewhoseheartissofullofprideofhermanthatithasn\'troomforfear。\'

AsIwentoutoftheconventdoorIfeltthatonceagainIhadbeengivenmyorders。

Itdidnotsurprisemethat，whenIsoughtoutmyroomonanupperflooroftheHoteldeFrance，IfoundBlenkironinthecorridor。Hewasinthebestofspirits。

\'Youcan\'tkeepmeoutoftheshow，Dick，\'hesaid，\'soyouneedn\'tstartarguing。Why，thisistheoneoriginalchanceofalifetimeforJohnS。Blenkiron。OurlittlefightatErzerumwasonlyaside-show，butthisisarealhigh-classArmageddon。IguessI\'llfindawaytomakemyselfuseful。\'

Ihadnodoubthewould，andIwasgladhehadstayedbehind。

ButIfeltitwashardonPetertohavethejobofreturningtoEnglandaloneatsuchatime，likeuselessflotsamwashedupbyaflood。

\'Youneedn\'tworry，\'saidBlenkiron。\'Peter\'snotmakingEnglandthistrip。Tothebestofmyknowledgehehasbeatitoutofthistownshipbytheeasternpostern。HehadsometalkwithSirArchibaldRoylance，andpresentlyothergentlemenoftheRoyalFlyingCorpsappeared，andtheupshotwasthatSirArchibaldhitchedontoPeter\'sgripanddepartedwithoutsayingfarewell。Mynotionisthathe\'sgonetohaveafewwordswithhisoldfriendsatsomeflyingstation。OrhemighthavetheideaofgoingbacktoEnglandbyaeroplane，andsohavingonelastflutterbeforehefoldshiswings。Anyhow，Peterlookedamightyhappyman。ThelastIsawhewassmokinghispipewithabatchofyoungladsinaFlyingCorpswaggonandheadingstraightforGermany。\'

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

HowanExileReturnedtoHisOwnPeopleNextmorningIfoundtheArmyCommanderonhiswaytoDoullens。

\'Takeoverthedivision？\'hesaid。\'Certainly。I\'mafraidthereisn\'tmuchleftofit。I\'lltellCarrtogetthroughtotheCorpsHeadquarters，whenhecanfindthem。You\'llhavetonursetheremnants，fortheycan\'tbepulledoutyet-notforadayortwo。Blessme，Hannay，therearepartsofourlinewhichwe\'reholdingwithamanandaboy。You\'vegottostickitouttilltheFrenchtakeover。

We\'renothangingonbyoureyelids-it\'soureyelashesnow。\'

\'Whataboutpositionstofallbackon，sir？\'Iasked。

\'We\'redoingourbest，butwehaven\'tenoughmentopreparethem。\'Hepluckedopenamap。\'Therewe\'rediggingaline-andthere。Ifwecanholdthatbitfortwodaysweshallhaveafairlinerestingontheriver。Butwemayn\'thavetime。\'

ThenItoldhimaboutBlenkiron，whomofcoursehehadheardof。\'HewasoneofthebiggestengineersintheStates，andhe\'sgotanailingfineeyeforcountry。He\'llmakegoodsomehowifyoulethimhelpinthejob。\'

\'Theveryfellow，\'hesaid，andhewroteanorder。\'TakethistoJacksandhe\'llfixupatemporarycommission。YourmancanfindauniformsomewhereinAmiens。\'

AfterthatIwenttothedetailcampandfoundthatIveryhaddulyarrived。

\'Theprisonerhasgivennotrouble，sirr，\'Hamiltonreported。

\'Buthe\'saweethingpeevish。They\'resayingthattheGairmansisgettin\'onfine，andIwastellin\'himthatheshouldbeproudofhisainfolk。Buthewasn\'tverraweelpleased。\'

ThreedayshadwroughtatransformationinIvery。Thatface，oncesocoolandcapable，wasnowsharpenedlikeahuntedbeast\'s。

HisimaginationwaspreyingonhimandIcouldpictureitstorture。

He，whohadbeenalwaysatthetopdirectingthemachine，wasnowonlyacoginit。Hehadneverinhislifebeenanythingbutpowerful；nowhewasimpotent。Hewasinahard，unfamiliarworld，inthegripofsomethingwhichhefearedanddidn\'tunderstand，inthechargeofmenwhowereinnowayamenabletohispersuasiveness。Itwaslikeaproudandbullyingmanagersuddenlyforcedtolabourinasquadofnavvies，andworse，fortherewasthegnawingphysicalfearofwhatwascoming。

Hemadeanappealtome。

\'DotheEnglishtorturetheirprisoners？\'heasked。\'Youhavebeatenme。Iownit，andIpleadformercy。Iwillgoonmykneesifyoulike。Iamnotafraidofdeath-inmyownway。\'

\'Fewpeopleareafraidofdeath-intheirownway。\'

\'Whydoyoudegrademe？Iamagentleman。\'

\'Notaswedefinethething，\'Isaid。

Hisjawdropped。\'Whatareyougoingtodowithme？\'hequavered。

\'Youhavebeenasoldier，\'Isaid。\'Youaregoingtoseealittlefighting-fromtheranks。Therewillbenobrutality，youwillbearmedifyouwanttodefendyourself，youwillhavethesamechanceofsurvivalasthemenaroundyou。Youmayhaveheardthatyourcountrymenaredoingwell。Itisevenpossiblethattheymaywinthebattle。Whatwasyourforecasttome？Amiensintwodays，Abbevilleinthree。Well，youarealittlebehindscheduledtime，butstillyouareprospering。Youtoldmethatyouwerethechiefarchitectofallthis，andyouaregoingtobegiventhechanceofseeingit，perhapsofsharinginit-fromtheotherside。Doesitnotappealtoyoursenseofjustice？\'

Hegroanedandturnedaway。IhadnomorepityforhimthanI

wouldhavehadforablackmambathathadkilledmyfriendandwasnowcaughttoaclefttree。Nor，oddlyenough，hadWake。IfwehadshotIveryoutrightatStAnton，IamcertainthatWakewouldhavecalledusmurderers。Nowhewasincompleteagreement。

Hispassionatehatredofwarmadehimrejoicethatachiefcontriverofwarshouldbemadetoshareinitsterrors。

\'Hetriedtotalkmeoverthismorning，\'hetoldme。\'ClaimedhewasonmysideandsaidthekindofthingIusedtosaylastyear。Itmademeratherashamedofsomeofmypastperformancestohearthatscoundrelimitatingthem……Bytheway，Hannay，whatareyougoingtodowithme？\'

\'You\'recomingonmystaff。You\'reastoutfellowandIcan\'tdowithoutyou。\'

\'RememberIwon\'tfight。\'

\'Youwon\'tbeaskedto。We\'retryingtostemthetidewhichwantstorolltothesea。YouknowhowtheBochebehavesinoccupiedcountry，andMary\'sinAmiens。\'

Atthatnewsheshuthislips。

\'Still-\'hebegan。

still“Isaid。\'Idon\'taskyoutoforfeitoneofyourblessedprinciples。Youneedn\'tfireashot。ButIwantamantocarryordersforme，forwehaven\'talineanymore，onlyalotofblobslikequicksilver。Iwantaclevermanforthejobandabraveone，andIknowthatyou\'renotafraid。\'

\'No，\'hesaid。\'Idon\'tthinkIam-much。Well。I\'mcontent！\'

IstartedBlenkironoffinacarforCorpsHeadquarters，andintheafternoontooktheroadmyself。Ikneweveryinchofthecountry-theliftofthehilleastofAmiens，theRomanhighwaythatranstraightasanarrowtoStQuentin，themarshylagoonsoftheSomme，andthatbroadstripoflandwastedbybattlebetweenDompierreandPeronne。IhadcometoAmiensthroughitinJanuary，forIhadbeenuptothelinebeforeIleftforParis，andthenithadbeenapeacefulplace，withpeasantstillingtheirfields，andnewbuildingsgoingupontheoldbattle-field，andcarpentersbusyatcottageroofs，andscarcelyatransportwaggonontheroadtoremindoneofwar。NowthemainroutewaschokedliketheAlbertroadwhentheSommebattlefirstbegan-troopsgoingupandtroopscomingdown，thelatterinthelaststageofweariness；aceaselesstrafficofambulancesonewayandammunitionwaggonstheother；busystaffcarstryingtowormawaythroughthemass；

stringsofgunhorses，oddmentsofcavalry，andhereandthereblueFrenchuniforms。AllthatIhadseenbefore；butonethingwasnewtome。Littlecountrycartswithsad-facedwomenandmystifiedchildreninthemandpilesofhouseholdplenishingwerecreepingwestward，orstoodwaitingatvillagedoors。Besidethesetrampedoldmenandboys，mostlyintheirSundaybestasiftheyweregoingtochurch。Ihadneverseenthesightbefore，forIhadneverseentheBritishArmyfallingback。Thedamwhichheldupthewatershadbrokenandthedwellersinthevalleyweretryingtosavetheirpitifullittletreasures。Andovereverything，horseandman，cartandwheelbarrow，roadandtillage，laythewhiteMarchdust，theskywasblueasJune，smallbirdswerebusyinthecopses，andinthecornersofabandonedgardensIhadaglimpseofthefirstviolets。

Presentlyaswetoppedarisewecamewithinfullnoiseoftheguns。That，too，wasnewtome，foritwasnoordinarybombardment。

Therewasaspecialqualityinthesound，somethingragged，straggling，intermittent，whichIhadneverheardbefore。Itwasthesignofopenwarfareandamovingbattle。

AtPeronne，fromwhichthenewlyreturnedinhabitantshadasecondtimefled，thebattleseemedtobeatthedoors。ThereIhadnewsofmydivision。ItwasfarthersouthtowardsStChrist。Wegropedourwayamongbadroadstowhereitsheadquarterswerebelievedtobe，whilethevoiceofthegunsgrewlouder。Theyturnedouttobethoseofanotherdivision，whichwasbusygettingreadytocrosstheriver。Thenthedarkfell，andwhileairplanesflewwestintothesunsettherewasareddersunsetintheeast，wheretheunceasingflashesofgunfirewerepaleagainsttheangryglowofburningdumps。Thesightofthebonnet-badgeofaScotsFusiliermademehalt，andthemanturnedouttobelongtomydivision。

HalfanhourlaterIwastakingoverfromthemuch-relievedMastertonintheruinsofwhathadoncebeenasugar-beetfactory。

TheretomysurpriseIfoundLefroy。TheBochehadheldhimprisonerforpreciselyeighthours。Duringthattimehehadbeensointerestedinwatchingthewaytheenemyhandledanattackthathehadforgottenthemiseriesofhisposition。Hedescribedwithblasphemousadmirationtheendlesswheelbywhichsuppliesandreservetroopsmoveup，thesilence，thesmoothness，theperfectdiscipline。Thenhehadrealizedthathewasacaptiveandunwounded，andhadgonemad。Beingaheavy-weightboxerofnote，hehadsenthistwoguardsspinningintoaditch，dodgedtheensuingshots，andfoundshelterintheleeofablazingammunitiondumpwherehispursuershesitatedtofollow。Thenhehadspentananxioushourtryingtogetthroughanoutpostline，whichhethoughtwasBoche。

OnlybyoverhearinganexchangeofoathsintheaccentsofDundeedidherealizethatitwasourown……ItwasacomforttohaveLefroyback，forhewasbothstout-heartedandresourceful。ButIfoundthatIhadadivisiononlyonpaper。Itwasaboutthestrengthofabrigade，thebrigadesbattalions，andthebattalionscompanies。

Thisisnottheplacetowritethestoryoftheweekthatfollowed。I

couldnotwriteitevenifIwantedto，forIdon\'tknowit。Therewasaplansomewhere，whichyouwillfindinthehistorybooks，butwithmeitwasblankchaos。Orderscame，butlongbeforetheyarrivedthesituationhadchanged，andIcouldnomoreobeythemthanflytothemoon。OftenIhadlosttouchwiththedivisionsonbothflanks。Intelligencearrivederraticallyoutofthevoid，andforthemostpartweworriedalongwithoutit。IheardwewereundertheFrench-firstitwassaidtobeFoch，andthenFayolle，whomI

hadmetinParis。Butthehighercommandseemedamillionmilesaway，andwewerelefttouseourmotherwits。Myproblemwastogivegroundasslowlyaspossibleandatthesametimenottodelaytoolong，forretreatwemust，withtheBochesendinginbrand-newdivisionseachmorning。Itwasakindofwarworldsdistantfromtheoldtrenchbattles，andsinceIhadbeentaughtnootherIhadtoinventrulesasIwentalong。Lookingback，itseemsamiraclethatanyofuscameoutofit。OnlythegraceofGodandtheuncommontoughnessoftheBritishsoldierbluffedtheHunandpreventedhimpouringthroughthebreachtoAbbevilleandthesea。Wewerenobetterthanamosquitocurtainstuckinadoorwaytostoptheadvanceofanangrybull。

TheArmyCommanderwasright；wewerehangingonwithoureyelashes。Wemusthavebeeneasilytheweakestpartofthewholefront，forwewereholdingalinewhichwasneverlessthantwomilesandwasoften，asIjudged，nearerfive，andtherewasnothinginreservetousexceptsomeoddmentsofcavalrywhochasedaboutthewholebattle-fieldundervagueorders。MercifullyforustheBocheblundered。

Perhapshedidnotknowourcondition，forourairmenweremagnificentandyouneversawaBocheplaneoverourlinebyday，thoughtheybombedusmerrilybynight。Ifhehadcalledourbluffweshouldhavebeendone，butheputhismainstrengthtothenorthandthesouthofus。NorthhepressedhardontheThirdArmy，buthegotwellhammeredbytheGuardsnorthofBapaumeandhecouldmakenoheadwayatArras。SouthhedroveattheParisrailwayanddowntheOisevalley，buttherePetain\'sreserveshadarrived，andtheFrenchmadeanoblestand。

Notthathedidn\'tfighthardinthecentrewherewewere，buthehadn\'thisbesttroops，andafterwegotwestofthebendoftheSommehewasoutrunninghisheavyguns。Still，itwasadesperateenoughbusiness，forourflankswereallthetimefallingback，andwehadtoconformtomovementswecouldonlyguessat。Afterall，wewereonthedirectroutetoAmiens，anditwasuptoustoyieldslowlysoastogiveHaigandPetaintimetogetupsupports。Iwasamiserabouteveryyardofground，foreveryyardandeveryminutewereprecious。Wealonestoodbetweentheenemyandthecity，andinthecitywasMary。

IfyouaskmeaboutourplansIcan\'ttellyou。Ihadanewoneeveryhour。IgotinstructionsfromtheCorps，but，asIhavesaid，theywereusuallyoutofdatebeforetheyarrived，andmostofmytacticsIhadtoinventmyself。Ihadaplaintask，andtofulfilitI

hadtousewhatmethodstheAlmightyallowedme。Ihardlyslept，I

atelittle，Iwasonthemovedayandnight，butIneverfeltsostronginmylife。ItseemedasifIcouldn\'ttire，and，oddlyenough，Iwashappy。Ifaman\'swholebeingisfocusedononeaim，hehasnotimetoworry……Irememberwewereallverygentleandsoft-

spokenthosedays。Lefroy，whosetonguewasfamousforitsedge，nowcooedlikeadove。Thetroopswereontheiruppers，butassteadyasrocks。Wewereagainsttheendoftheworld，andthatstiffensaman……

Dayafterdaysawthesameperformance。IheldmywaveringfrontwithanoutpostlinewhichdelayedeachnewattacktillI

couldtakeitsbearings。Ihadspecialcompaniesforcounter-attackatselectedpoints，whenIwantedtimetoretiretherestofthedivision。Ithinkwemusthavefoughtmorethanadozenofsuchlittlebattles。Welostmenallthetime，buttheenemymadenobigscoop，thoughhewasalwaysontheedgeofone。Lookingback，itseemslikeasuccessionofmiracles。OftenIwasinoneendofavillagewhentheBochewasintheother。Ourbatterieswerealwaysonthemove，andtheworkofthegunnerswaspastpraising。

Sometimeswefacedeast，sometimesnorth，andonceatamostcriticalmomentduesouth，forourfrontwavedandblewlikeaflagatamasthead……ThankGod，theenemywasgettingawayfromhisbigengine，andhisordinarytroopswerefaggedandpoorinquality。ItwaswhenhisfreshshockbattalionscameonthatIheldmybreath……Hehadaheathenishamountofmachine-gunsandheusedthembeautifully。Oh，ItakemyhatofftotheBocheperformance。

HewasdoingwhatwehadtriedtodoattheSommeandtheAisneandArrasandYpres，andhewasmoreorlesssucceeding。

Andthereasonwasthathewasgoingbald-headedforvictory。

Themen，asIhavesaid，werewonderfullysteadyandpatientunderthefiercesttrialthatsoldierscanendure。Ihadallkindsinthedivision-oldarmy，newarmy，Territorials-andyoucouldn\'tpickandchoosebetweenthem。TheyfoughtlikeTrojans，and，dirty，weary，andhungry，foundstillsomesaltofhumourintheirsufferings。Itwasaproofoftherock-bottomsanityofhumannature。Butwehadonemanwithuswhowashardlysane……

InthehustleofthosedaysInowandthencaughtsightofIvery。

Ihadtobeeverywhereatallhours，andoftenvisitedthatremnantofScotsFusiliersintowhichthesubtlestbraininEuropehadbeendrafted。Heandhiskeeperswereneveronoutpostdutyorinanycounter-attack。Theywerepartofthemasswhoseonlybusinesswastoretirediscreetly。Thiswaschild\'splaytoHamilton，whohadbeenoutsinceMons；andAmos，aftertakingadaytogetusedtoit，wrappedhimselfinhisgrimphilosophyandratherenjoyedit。

Youcouldn\'tsurpriseAmosanymorethanaTurk。Butthemanwiththem，whomtheyneverleft-thatwasanothermatter。

\'Forthefirstweebit，\'Hamiltonreported，\'wethochthewasgaundaft。Everyshellthatcamenearhejumpedlikeayounghorse。Andthegas！Wehadtotieonhismaskforhim，forhishandswerefushionless。Therewaswhileswhenhewadnabehinderedfromstandin\'upandtalkin\'tohisself，thoughthebulletswasspittin\'。Hewaswhatyecalldemoralized……Synehegotasthoughhedidnahearorseeonything。Hedidwhatwetell\'thim，andwhenwelethimbehesatdownandgrat。He\'sayegreetin\'……

Queerthing，sirr，buttheGairmanscannahithim。I\'mayeshakin\'

bulletsouto\'myclaes，andI\'vegotaholeinmyshoulder，andAndratookabashonhistinthatwadhaefelledonybodythathadnaaheidlikeastot。But，sirr，theprisonertaksnoscaith。Ourboysarefearedofhim。TherewasanIrishmansaystomethathehadtheevileye，andyecanseeforyerselfthathe\'snocanny。\'

Isawthathisskinhadbecomelikeparchmentandthathiseyeswereglassy。Idon\'tthinkherecognizedme。

\'Doeshetakehismeals？\'Iasked。

\'Hedoesnaeatmuckle。Buthehasanuncothirst。Yecannakeephimoffthemen\'swater-bottles。\'

Hewaslearningveryfastthemeaningofthatwarhehadsoconfidentlyplayedwith。IbelieveIamamercifulman，butasI

lookedathimIfeltnovestigeofpity。Hewasdreeingtheweirdhehadpreparedforothers。IthoughtofScudder，ofthethousandfriendsIhadlost，ofthegreatseasofbloodandthemountainsofsorrowthismanandhislikehadmadefortheworld。OutofthecornerofmyeyeIcouldseethelongridgesaboveComblesandLonguevalwhichthesaltoftheearthhadfallentowin，andwhichwereagainunderthehoofoftheBoche。Ithoughtofthedistractedcitybehindusandwhatitmeanttome，andtheweak，thepitifullyweakscreenwhichwasallitsdefence。IthoughtofthefouldeedswhichhadmadetheGermannametostinkbylandandsea，foulnessofwhichhewasthearch-begetter。AndthenIwasamazedatourforbearance。Hewouldgomad，andmadnessforhimwasmoredecentthansanity。

Ihadanothermanwhowasn\'twhatyoumightcallnormal，andthatwasWake。Hewastheoppositeofshell-shocked，ifyouunderstandme。Hehadneverbeenproperlyunderfirebefore，buthedidn\'tgiveastrawforit。Ihadknownthesamethingwithothermen，andtheygenerallyendedbycrumplingup，foritisn\'tnaturalthatfiveorsixfeetofhumanfleshshouldn\'tbeafraidofwhatcantortureanddestroyit。Thenaturalthingistobealwaysalittlescared，likeme，butbyaneffortofthewillandattentiontoworktocontrivetoforgetit。ButWakeapparentlynevergaveitathought。Hewasn\'tfoolhardy，onlyindifferent。Heusedtogoaboutwithasmileonhisface，asmileofcontentment。Eventhehorrors-andwehadplentyofthem-didn\'taffecthim。Hiseyes，whichusedtobehot，hadnowacuriousopeninnocencelikePeter\'s。Iwouldhavebeenhappierifhehadbeenalittlerattled。

Onenight，afterwehadhadabaddayofanxiety，ItalkedtohimaswesmokedinwhathadoncebeenaFrenchdug-out。Hewasanextrarightarmtome，andItoldhimso。\'Thismustbeaqueerexperienceforyou，\'Isaid。

\'Yes，\'hereplied，\'itisverywonderful。Ididnotthinkamancouldgothroughitandkeephisreason。ButIknowmanythingsI

didnotknowbefore。Iknowthatthesoulcanberebornwithoutleavingthebody。\'

Istaredathim，andhewentonwithoutlookingatme。

\'You\'renotaclassicalscholar，Hannay？Therewasastrangecultintheancientworld，theworshipofMagnaMater-theGreatMother。Toenterintohermysteriesthevotarypassedthroughabathofblood——IthinkIampassingthroughthatbath。IthinkthatliketheinitiateIshallbe_renatus_in_aeternum-rebornintotheeternal。\'

Iadvisedhimtohaveadrink，forthattalkfrightenedme。ItlookedasifhewerebecomingwhattheScotscall\'fey\'。Lefroynoticedthesamethingandwasalwaysspeakingaboutit。Hewasasbraveasabullhimself，andwithverymuchthesamekindofcourage；butWake\'sgallantryperturbedhim。\'Ican\'tmakethechapout，\'hetoldme。\'HebehavesasifhismindwastoofullofbetterthingstogiveadamnforBocheguns。Hedoesn\'ttakefoolishrisks-Idon\'tmeanthat，buthebehavesasifrisksdidn\'tsignify。It\'spositivelyeerietoseehimmakingnoteswithasteadyhandwhenshellsaredroppinglikehailstonesandwe\'reallthinkingeveryminute\'sourlast。You\'vegottobecarefulwithhim，sir。He\'salongsighttoovaluableforustospare。\'

Lefroywasrightaboutthat，forIdon\'tknowwhatIshouldhavedonewithouthim。Theworstpartofourjobwastokeeptouchwithourflanks，andthatwaswhatIusedWakefor。Hecoveredcountrylikeamoss-trooper，sometimesonarustybicycle，ofteneronfoot，andyoucouldn\'ttirehim。Iwonderwhatotherdivisionsthoughtofthegrimyprivatewhowasourchiefmeansofcommunication。Heknewnothingofmilitaryaffairsbefore，buthegotthehangofthisrough-and-tumblefightingasifhehadbeenbornforit。Heneverfiredashot；hecarriednoarms；theonlyweaponsheusedwerehisbrains。Andtheywerethebestconceivable。

Inevermetastaffofficerwhowassoquickatgettingapointoratsizingupasituation。Hehadputhisbackintothebusiness，andfirst-classtalentisnotcommonanywhere。OnedayaG。S。O。fromaneighbouringdivisioncametoseeme。

\'WhereonearthdidyoupickupthatmanWake？\'heasked。

\'He\'saconscientiousobjectorandanon-combatant，\'Isaid。

\'ThenIwishtoHeavenwehadafewmoreconscientiousobjectorsinthisshow。He\'stheonlyfellowwhoseemstoknowanythingaboutthisblessedbattle。Mygeneral\'ssendingyouachitabouthim。\'

\'Noneed，\'Isaid，laughing。\'Iknowhisvalue。He\'sanoldfriendofmine。\'

IusedWakeasmylinkwithCorpsHeadquarters，andespeciallywithBlenkiron。ForaboutthesixthdayoftheshowIwasbeginningtogetratherdesperate。Thiskindofthingcouldn\'tgoonforever。

Weweremilesbacknow，behindtheoldlineOf\'17，and，aswerestedoneflankontheriver，theimmediatesituationwasalittleeasier。ButIhadlostalotofmen，andthosethatwereleftwereblindwithfatigue。Thebigbulgesoftheenemytonorthandsouthhadaddedtothelengthofthetotalfront，andIfoundIhadtofanoutmythinranks。TheBochewasstillpressingon，thoughhisimpetuswasslacker。IfheknewhowlittletherewastostophiminmysectionhemightmakeapushwhichwouldcarryhimtoAmiens。

Onlythemagnificentworkofourairmenhadpreventedhimgettingthatknowledge，butwecouldn\'tkeepthesecrecyupforever。

Somedayanenemyplanewouldgetover，anditonlyneededthedriveofafreshstorm-battalionortwotoscatterus。Iwantedagoodpreparedposition，withsoundtrenchesanddecentwiring。

AboveallIwantedreserves-reserves。Thewordwasonmylipsalldayandithauntedmydreams。IwastoldthattheFrenchweretorelieveus，butwhen-when？MyreportstoCorpsHeadquarterswereonelongwailformoretroops。Iknewtherewasapositionpreparedbehindus，butIneededmentoholdit。

WakebroughtinamessagefromBlenkiron。\'We\'rewaitingforyou，Dick，\'hewrote，\'andwe\'vegottenquiteanicelittlehomereadyforyou。Thisoldmanhasn\'thustledsohardsincehestruckcopperinMontanain\'92。We\'vedugthreelinesoftrenchesandmadeaheapofprettyredoubts，andIguessthey\'rewelllaidout，fortheArmystaffhassupervisedthemandthey\'renoslouchesatthisbrandofengineering。Youwouldhavelaughedtoseethelabourweemployed。WehadallbreedsofDagoandChinaman，andsomeofyourownSouthAfricanblacks，andtheygotsobusyonthejobtheyforgotaboutbedtime。Iusedtobereckonedabitofaslavedriver，butmyspecialtalentsweren\'tneededwiththispush。I\'mgoingtoputalotofmoneyintoforeignmissionshenceforward。\'

Iwroteback:\'Yourtrenchesarenogoodwithoutmen。ForGod\'ssakegetsomethingthatcanholdarifle。Mylotaredonetotheworld。\'

ThenIleftLefroywiththedivisionandwentdownonthebackofanambulancetoseeformyself。IfoundBlenkiron，someoftheArmyengineers，andastaffofficerfromCorpsHeadquarters，andI

foundArchieRoylance。

Theyhaddugamightygoodlineandwireditnobly。ItranfromtherivertothewoodofLaBruyereonthelittlehillabovetheAblainstream。Itwasdesperatelylong，butIsawatonceitcouldn\'twellbeshorter，forthedivisiononthesouthofushaditshandsfullwiththefringeofthebigthrustagainsttheFrench。

\'It\'snogoodblinkingthefacts，\'Itoldthem。\'Ihaven\'tathousandmen，andwhatIhaveareattheendoftheirtether。Ifyouput\'eminthesetrenchesthey\'llgotosleepontheirfeet。WhencantheFrenchtakeover？\'

Iwastoldthatithadbeenarrangedfornextmorning，butthatithadnowbeenputofftwenty-fourhours。Itwasonlyatemporarymeasure，pendingthearrivalofBritishdivisionsfromthenorth。

Archielookedgrave。\'TheBocheispushin\'upnewtroopsinthissector。WegotthenewsbeforeIleftsquadronheadquarters。

Itlooksasifitwouldbeanearthing，sir。\'

\'Itwon\'tbeanearthing。It\'sanabsoluteblackcertainty。Myfellowscan\'tcarryonastheyareanotherday。GreatGod，they\'vehadafortnightinhell！Findmemoremenorwebuckleupatthenextpush。\'Mytemperwascomingverynearitslimits。

\'We\'verakedthecountrywithasmall-toothcomb，sir，\'saidoneofthestaffofficers。\'Andwe\'veraisedascratchpack。Bestpartoftwothousand。Goodmen，butmostofthemknownothingaboutinfantryfighting。We\'veputthemintoplatoons，anddoneourbesttogivethemsomekindoftraining。There\'sonethingmaycheeryou。We\'veplentyofmachine-guns。There\'samachine-gunschoolnearbyandwegotallthemenwhoweretakingthecourseandalltheplant。\'

Idon\'tsupposetherewaseversuchaforceputintothefieldbefore。ItwasawildermedleythanMoussy\'scamp-followersatFirstYpres。Therewaseverykindofdetailintheshapeofmenreturningfromleave，representingmostoftheregimentsinthearmy。Therewerethemenfromthemachine-gunschool。TherewereCorpstroops-sappersandA。S。C。，andahandfulofCorpscavalry。Aboveall，therewasabatchofAmericanengineers，fatheredbyBlenkiron。Iinspectedthemwheretheyweredrillingandlikedthelookofthem。\'Forty-eighthours，\'Isaidtomyself。

\'Withluckwemayjustpullitoff。\'

ThenIborrowedabicycleandwentbacktothedivision。ButbeforeIleftIhadawordwithArchie。\'Thisisonebiggameofbluff，andit\'syoufellowsalonethatenableustoplayit。Tellyourpeoplethateverythingdependsonthem。Theymustn\'tstinttheplanesinthissector，foriftheBocheoncesuspicionshowlittlehe\'sgotbeforehimthegame\'sup。He\'snotafoolandheknowsthatthisistheshortroadtoAmiens，butheimagineswe\'reholdingitinstrength。Ifwekeepupthefictionforanothertwodaysthething\'sdone。Yousayhe\'spushinguptroops？\'

\'Yes，andhe\'ssendin\'forwardhistanks。\'

\'Well，that\'lltaketime。He\'sslowernowthanaweekagoandhe\'sgotadeuceofacountrytomarchover。There\'sstillanoutsidechancewemaywinthrough。YougohomeandtelltheR。F。C。

whatI\'vetoldyou。\'