第11章

Henodded。\'Bytheway，sir，Pienaar\'swiththesquadron。Hewouldliketocomeupandseeyou。\'

\'Archie，\'Isaidsolemnly，\'beagoodchapanddomeafavour。IfIthinkPeter\'sanywherenearthelineI\'llgooffmyheadwithworry。Thisisnoplaceforamanwithabadleg。HeshouldhavebeeninEnglanddaysago。Can\'tyougethimoff-toAmiens，anyhow？\'

\'Wescarcelyliketo。Yousee，we\'realldesperatelysorryforhim，hisfungoneandhiscareeroverandallthat。Helikesbein\'withusandlistenin\'toouryarns。Hehasbeenuponceortwicetoo。TheShark-Gladas。Heswearsit\'sagreatmake，andcertainlyheknowshowtohandlethelittledevil。\'

\'ThenforHeaven\'ssakedon\'tlethimdoitagain。Ilooktoyou，Archie，remember。Promise。\'

\'Funnything，buthe\'salwaysworryin\'aboutyou。Hehasamaponwhichhemarkseverydaythechangesintheposition，andhe\'dhobbleamiletopumpanyofourfellowswhohavebeenupyourway。\'

ThatnightundercoverofdarknessIdrewbackthedivisiontothenewlypreparedlines。Wegotawayeasily，fortheenemywasbusywithhisownaffairs。Isuspectedareliefbyfreshtroops。

Therewasnotimetolose，andIcantellyouItoiledtogetthingsstraightbeforedawn。Iwouldhavelikedtosendmyownfellowsbacktorest，butIcouldn\'tsparethemyet。Iwantedthemtostiffenthefreshlot，fortheywereveterans。ThenewpositionwasarrangedonthesameprinciplesastheoldfrontwhichhadbeenbrokenonMarch21st。Therewasourforwardzone，consistingofanoutpostlineandredoubts，verycleverlysited，andalineofresistance。Wellbehinditwerethetrencheswhichformedthebattle-zone。Bothzoneswereheavilywired，andwehadplentyofmachine-guns；IwishIcouldsaywehadplentyofmenwhoknewhowtousethem。Theoutpostsweremerelytogivethealarmandfallbacktothelineofresistancewhichwastoholdouttothelast。

IntheforwardzoneIputthefreshestofmyownmen，theunitsbeingbroughtuptosomethinglikestrengthbythedetailsreturningfromleavethattheCorpshadcommandeered。WiththemIputtheAmericanengineers，partlyintheredoubtsandpartlyincompaniesforcounter-attack。BlenkironhadreportedthattheycouldshootlikeDan\'lBoone，andweresimplyspoilingforafight。Therestoftheforcewasinthebattle-zone，whichwasourlasthope。IfthatwenttheBochehadaclearwalktoAmiens。Someadditionalfieldbatterieshadbeenbroughtuptosupportourveryweakdivisionalartillery。ThefrontwassolongthatIhadtoputallthreeofmyemaciatedbrigadesintheline，soIhadnothingtospeakofinreserve。Itwasamostalmightygamble。

Wehadfoundshelterjustintime。At6。3onextday-forachangeitwasaclearmorningwithcloudsbeginningtobankupfromthewest-theBocheletusknowhewasalive。Hegaveusagooddrenchingwithgasshellswhichdidn\'tdomuchharm，andthenmessedupourforwardzonewithhistrenchmortars。At7。20

hismenbegantocomeon，firstlittlebuncheswithmachine-gunsandthentheinfantryinwaves。Itwascleartheywerefreshtroops，andwelearnedafterwardsfromprisonersthattheywereBavarians-

6thor7th，Iforgetwhich，butthedivisionthathungusupatMonchy。Atthesametimetherewasthesoundofatremendousbombardmentacrosstheriver。ItlookedasifthemainbattlehadswungfromAlbertandMontdidiertoadirectpushforAmiens。

Ihaveoftentriedtowritedowntheeventsofthatday。ItrieditinmyreporttotheCorps；Itrieditinmyowndiary；ItrieditbecauseMarywantedit；butIhaveneverbeenabletomakeanystorythathungtogether。PerhapsIwastootiredformymindtoretainclearimpressions，thoughatthetimeIwasnotconsciousofspecialfatigue。Morelikelyitisbecausethefightitselfwassoconfused，fornothinghappenedaccordingtothebooksandtheorderlysouloftheBochemusthavebeenscarified……

AtfirstitwentasIexpected。Theoutpostlinewaspushedin，butthefirefromtheredoubtsbrokeuptheadvance，andenabledthelineofresistanceintheforwardzonetogiveagoodaccountofitself。Therewasacheck，andthenanotherbigwave，assistedbyabarragefromfield-gunsbroughtfarforward。Thistimethelineofresistancegaveatseveralpoints，andLefroyflungintheAmericansinacounter-attack。Thatwasamightyperformance。Theengineers，yellinglikedervishes，wentatitwiththebayonet，andthosethatpreferredswungtheirriflesasclubs。Itwasterriblycostlyfightingandallwrong，butitsucceeded。TheyclearedtheBocheoutofaruinedfarmhehadrushed，andalittlewood，andre-establishedourfront。Blenkiron，whosawitall，forhewentwiththemandgotthetipofanearpickedoffbyamachine-gunbullet，hadn\'tanywordswherewithtospeakofit。\'AndIoncesaidthoseboyslookedpuffy，\'hemoaned。

Thenextphase，whichcameaboutmidday，wasthetanks。IhadneverseentheGermanvariety，buthadheardthatitwasspeedierandheavierthanours，butunwieldy。Wedidnotseemuchoftheirspeed，butwefoundoutallabouttheirclumsiness。Hadthethingsbeenproperlyhandledtheyshouldhavegonethroughuslikerottenwood。Butthewholeoutfitwasbungled。Itlookedgoodenoughcountryfortheuseofthem，butthemenwhomadeourpositionhadhadaneyetothispossibility。Thegreatmonsters，mountingafield-gunbesidesothercontrivances，wantedsomethinglikeahighroadtobehappyin。Theywereuselessoveranythinglikedifficultground。Theonesthatcamedownthemainroadgotonwellenoughatthestart，butBlenkironverysensiblyhadminedthehighway，andweblewaholelikeadiamondpit。Onelayhelplessatthefootofit，andwetookthecrewprisoner；anotherstuckitsnoseoverandremainedtheretillourfield-gunsgottherangeandknockeditsilly。Asfortherest-thereisamarshylagooncalledthePatted\'OiebesidethefarmofGavrelle，whichrunsallthewaynorthtotheriver，thoughinmostplacesitonlyseemslikeasoftpatchinthemeadows。Thisthetankshadtocrosstoreachourline，andtheynevermadeit。Mostgotbogged，andmadeprettytargetsforourgunners；oneortworeturned；andonetheAmericans，creepingforwardundercoverofalittlestream，blewupwithatimefuse。

BythemiddleoftheafternoonIwasfeelinghappier。Iknewthebigattackwasstilltocome，butIhadmyforwardzoneintactandI

hopedforthebest。IrememberIwastalkingtoWake，whohadbeengoingbetweenthetwozones，whenIgotthefirstwarningofanewandunexpectedperil。Adudshellplumpeddownafewyardsfromme。

\'Thosefoolsacrosstheriverarefiringshortandbadlyoffthestraight，\'Isaid。

Wakeexaminedtheshell。\'No，it\'saGermanone，\'hesaid。

Thencameothers，andtherecouldbenomistakeaboutthedirection-followedbyaburstofmachine-gunfirefromthesamequarter。Weranincovertoapointfromwhichwecouldseethenorthbankoftheriver，andIgotmyglassonit。Therewasaliftoflandfrombehindwhichthefirewascoming。Welookedateachother，andthesameconvictionstoodinbothfaces。TheBochehadpusheddownthenorthernbank，andwewerenolongerinlinewithourneighbours。Theenemywasinasituationtocatchuswithhisfireonourflankandleftrear。Wecouldn\'tretiretoconform，fortoretiremeantgivingupourpreparedposition。

Itwasthelaststrawtoallouranxieties，andforamomentIwasattheendofmywits。IturnedtoWake，andhiscalmeyespulledmetogether。

\'Iftheycan\'tretakethatground，we\'refairlycarted，\'Isaid。

\'Weare。Thereforetheymustretakeit。\'

\'ImustgetontoMitchinson。\'ButasIspokeIrealizedthefutilityofatelephonemessagetoamanwhowasprettyhardupagainstithimself。Onlyanurgentappealcouldeffectanything……I

mustgomyself……No，thatwasimpossible。ImustsendLefroy……Buthecouldn\'tbespared。Andallmystaffofficerswereuptotheirnecksinthebattle。Besides，noneofthemknewthepositionasIknewit……Andhowtogetthere？ItwasalongwayroundbythebridgeatLoisy。

SuddenlyIwasawareofWake\'svoice。\'Youhadbettersendme，\'hewassaying。\'There\'sonlyoneway-toswimtheriveralittlelowerdown。\'

\'That\'stoodamnablydangerous。Iwon\'tsendanymantocertaindeath。\'

\'ButIvolunteer，\'hesaid。\'That，Ibelieve，isalwaysallowedinwar。\'

\'Butyou\'llbekilledbeforeyoucancross。\'

\'Sendamanwithmetowatch。IfIgetover，youmaybesureI\'llgettoGeneralMitchinson。Ifnot，sendsomebodyelsebyLoisy。There\'sdesperateneedforhurry，andyouseeyourselfit\'stheonlyway。\'

Thetimewaspastforargument。IscribbledalinetoMitchinsonashiscredentials。Nomorewasneeded，forWakeknewthepositionaswellasIdid。Isentanorderlytoaccompanyhimtohisstarting-

placeonthebank。

\'Goodbye，\'hesaid，asweshookhands。\'You\'llsee，I\'llcomebackallright。\'Hisface，Iremember，lookedsingularlyhappy。

FiveminuteslatertheBochegunsopenedforthefinalattack。

IbelieveIkeptacoolhead；atleastsoLefroyandtheothersreported。TheysaidIwentaboutallafternoongrinningasifIlikedit，andthatIneverraisedmyvoiceonce。(It\'sratherafaultofminethatIbellowinascrap。)ButIknowIwasfeelinganythingbutcalm，fortheproblemwasghastly。ItalldependedonWakeandMitchinson。TheflankingfirewassobadthatIhadtogiveuptheleftoftheforwardzone，whichcaughtitfairly，andretirethementheretothebattle-zone。Thelatterwasbetterprotected，forbetweenitandtheriverwasasmallwoodandthebankroseintoabluffwhichslopedinwardstowardsus。Thiswithdrawalmeantaswitch，andaswitchisn\'taprettythingwhenithastobeimprovisedinthemiddleofabattle。

TheBochehadcountedonthatflankingfire。Hisplanwastobreakourtwowings-theoldBocheplanwhichcropsupineveryfight。Heleftourcentreatfirstprettywellalone，andthrustalongtheriverbankandtothewoodofLaBruyere，wherewelinkedupwiththedivisiononourright。Lefroywasinthefirstarea，andMastertoninthesecond，andforthreehoursitwasasdesperateabusinessasIhaveeverfaced……Theimprovisedswitchwent，andmoreandmoreoftheforwardzonedisappeared。Itwasahot，clearspringafternoon，andintheopenfightingtheenemycameonliketroopsatmanoeuvres。Onthelefttheygotintothebattle-zone，andIcanseeyetLefroy\'sgreatfigureleadingacounter-attackinperson，hisfaceallpuddledwithbloodfromascalpwound……

Iwouldhavegivenmysoultobeintwoplacesatonce，butI

hadtoriskourleftandkeepclosetoMasterton，whoneededmemost。ThewoodofLaBruyerewasthemaddestsight。AgainandagaintheBochewasalmostthroughit。Youneverknewwherehewas，andmostofthefightingtherewasduelsbetweenmachine-gunparties。Someoftheenemygotroundbehindus，andonlyafineperformanceofacompanyofCheshiressavedacompletebreakthrough。

AsforLefroy，Idon\'tknowhowhestuckitout，andhedoesn\'tknowhimself，forhewasgalledallthetimebythataccursedflankingfire。IgotanoteabouthalfpastfoursayingthatWakehadcrossedtheriver，butitwassomewearyhoursafterthatbeforethefireslackened。Itorebackandforwardbetweenmywings，andeverytimeIwentnorthIexpectedtofindthatLefroyhadbroken。

Butbysomemiracleheheld。TheBocheswereinhisbattle-zonetimeandagain，buthealwaysflungthemout。IhavearecollectionofBlenkiron，starkmad，encouraginghisAmericanswithstrangetongues。OnceasIpassedhimIsawthathehadhisleftarmtiedup。Hisblackenedfacegrinnedatme。\'Thisbitoflandscape\'smightyunsafefordemocracy，\'hecroaked。\'FortheloveofMikegetyourgunsontothosedevilsacrosstheriver。They\'replaguingmyboystoobad。\'

Itwasaboutseveno\'clock，Ithink，whentheflankingfireslackedoff，butitwasnotbecauseofourdivisionalguns。Therewasashortandveryfuriousburstofartilleryfireonthenorthbank，andIknewitwasBritish。Thenthingsbegantohappen。Oneofourplanes-theyhadbeenmarvelsallday，swingingdownlikehawksformachine-gunboutswiththeBocheinfantry-reportedthatMitchinsonwasattackinghardandgettingonwell。Thateasedmymind，andIstartedoffforMasterton，whowasingreaterstraitsthanever，fortheenemyseemedtobeweakeningontheriverbankandputtinghismainstrengthinagainstourright……ButmyG。S。O。2stoppedmeontheroad。\'Wake，\'hesaid。\'Hewantstoseeyou。\'

\'Notnow，\'Icried。

\'Hecan\'tlivemanyminutes。\'

Iturnedandfollowedhimtotheruinouscowshedwhichwasmydivisionalheadquarters。Wake，asIheardlater，hadswumtheriveroppositetoMitchinson\'sright，andreachedtheothershoresafely，thoughthecurrentwaswhippedwithbullets。Buthehadscarcelylandedbeforehewasbadlyhitbyshrapnelinthegroin。Walkingatfirstwithsupportandthencarriedonastretcher，hemanagedtostruggleontothedivisionalheadquarters，wherehegavemymessageandexplainedthesituation。Hewouldnotlethiswoundbelookedtotillhisjobwasdone。Mitchinsontoldmeafterwardsthatwithafacegreyfrompainhedrewforhimasketchofourpositionandtoldhimexactlyhownearweweretoourend……Afterthatheaskedtobesentbacktome，andtheygothimdowntoLoisyinacrowdedambulance，andthenuptousinareturningempty。TheM。O。wholookedathiswoundsawthatthethingwashopeless，anddidnotexpecthimtolivebeyondLoisy。Hewasbleedinginternallyandnosurgeononearthcouldhavesavedhim。

Whenhereachedushewasalmostpulseless，butherecoveredforamomentandaskedforme。

Ifoundhim，withbluelipsandafacedrainedofblood，lyingonmycampbed。Hisvoicewasverysmallandfaraway。

\'Howgoesit？\'heasked。

\'PleaseGod，we\'llpullthrough……thankstoyou，oldman。\'

\'Good，\'hesaidandhiseyesshut。

Heopenedthemonceagain。

\'Funnythinglife。AyearagoIwaspreachingpeace……I\'mstillpreachingit……I\'mnotsorry。\'

Iheldhishandtilltwominuteslaterhedied。

Inthepressofafightonescarcelyrealizesdeath，eventhedeathofafriend。ItwasuptometomakegoodmyassurancetoWake，andpresentlyIwasofftoMasterton。ThereinthatshamblesofLaBruyere，whilethelightfaded，therewasadesperateandmostbloodystruggle。Itwasthelastlapofthecontest。Twelvehoursnow，Ikepttellingmyself，andtheFrenchwillbehereandwe\'llhavedoneourtask。Alas！howmanyofuswouldgobacktorest？……Hardlyabletototter，ourcounter-attackingcompanieswentinagain。Theyhadgonefarbeyondthelimitsofmortalendurance，butthehumanspiritcandefyallnaturallaws。Thebalancetrembled，hung，andthendroppedtherightway。Theenemyimpetusweakened，stopped，andtheebbbegan。

Iwantedtocompletethejob。Ourartilleryputupasharpbarrage，andthelittleIhadleftcomparativelyfreshIsentinforacounter-

stroke。Mostofthemenwereuntrained，buttherewasthatinourrankswhichdispensedwithtraining，andwehadcaughttheenemyatthemomentoflowestvitality。WepushedhimoutofLaBruyere，wepushedhimbacktoouroldforwardzone，wepushedhimoutofthatzonetothepositionfromwhichhehadbeguntheday。

Buttherewasnorestfortheweary。Wehadlostatleastathirdofourstrength，andwehadtomanthesamelongline。Weconsolidateditasbestwecould，startedtoreplacethewiringthathadbeendestroyed，foundtouchwiththedivisiononourright，andestablishedoutposts。Then，afteraconferencewithmybrigadiers，Iwentbacktomyheadquarters，tootiredtofeeleithersatisfactionoranxiety。IneighthourstheFrenchwouldbehere。Thewordsmadeakindoflitanyinmyears。

InthecowshedwhereWakehadlain，twofiguresawaitedme。

Thetalc-enclosedcandlerevealedHamiltonandAmos，dirtybeyondwords，smoke-blackened，blood-stained，andintricatelybandaged。

Theystoodstifflytoattention。

\'Sirr，theprisoner，\'saidHamilton。\'Ihavetoreportthattheprisonerisdeid。\'

Istaredatthem，forIhadforgottenIvery。Heseemedacreatureofaworldthathadpassedaway。

\'Sirr，itwaslikethis。Eversin\'thismornin\'，theprisonerseemedtowakeup。Ye\'llmindthathewasinakindofdreamallweek。Buthegotsomenewnotioninhisheid，andwhenthebattlebeganheexheebitedsignsofrestlessness。Whileshewadliedouninthetrench，andwhileshewaswantin\'backtothedug-out。Accordin\'

toinstructionsIprovidedhimwi\'arifle，buthedidnaseemtokenhowtohandleit。Itwasyourorders，sirr，thathewastohavemeanstodefendhisselfiftheenemycamon，soAmosgie\'dhimatrenchknife。Butverrasoonhelookedasifhewasettlin\'tocuthisthroat，soIdeprivedhimofit。\'

Hamiltonstoppedforbreath。Hespokeasifhewererecitingalesson，withnostopsbetweenthesentences。

\'Ijaloused，sirr，thathewadnalastoottheday，andAmosherewasofthesameopinion。Theendcameattwentyminutespastthree-Ikenthetime，forIhadjustcomparedmywatchwithAmos。Ye\'llmindthattheGairmanswerebeginningabigattack。

Wewereinthefronttrenchofwhattheyca\'thebattle-zone，andAmosandmewaskeepin\'ooreyesontheenemy，whocouldbeobsairveddribblin\'owertheopen。justthentheprisonercatchessightoftheenemyandjumpsuponthetop。Amostriedtoholdhim，buthekickedhimintheface。Thenextwekennedhewasrunnin\'verrafasttowardstheenemy，holdin\'hishandsowerhisheidandcryingoutloudinaforeignlangwidge。\'

\'ItwasGerman，\'saidthescholarlyAmosthroughhisbrokenteeth。

\'ItwasGairman，\'continuedHamilton。\'Itseemedasifhewasappealin\'totheenemytohelphim。Buttheypaidnoattention，andhecamunderthefireoftheirmachine-guns。Wewatchedhimspinroundlikeateetotumandkennedthathewasbyewithit。\'

\'Youaresurehewaskilled？\'Iasked。

\'Yes，sirr。Whenwecounter-attackedwefundhisbody。\'

ThereisagraveclosebythefarmofGavrelle，andawoodencrossatitsheadbearsthenameoftheGrafvonSchwabingandthedateofhisdeath。TheGermanstookGavrellealittlelater。Iamgladtothinkthattheyreadthatinscription。

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

TheSummonsComesforMrStandfastIsleptforoneandthree-quarterhoursthatnight，andwhenI

awokeIseemedtoemergefromdeepsofslumberwhichhadlastedfordays。Thathappenssometimesafterheavyfatigueandgreatmentalstrain。Evenashortsleepsetsupabarrierbetweenpastandpresentwhichhastobeelaboratelybrokendownbeforeyoucanlinkonwithwhathashappenedbefore。Asmywitsgropedatthejobsomedropsofrainsplashedonmyfacethroughthebrokenroof。

Thathurriedmeout-of-doors。Itwasjustafterdawnandtheskywaspiledwiththickclouds，whileawetwindblewupfromthesouthwest。

Thelong-prayed-forbreakintheweatherseemedtohavecomeatlast。AdelugeofrainwaswhatIwanted，somethingtosoaktheearthandturntheroadsintowater-coursesandclogtheenemytransport，somethingabovealltoblindtheenemy\'seyes……ForI

rememberedwhatapreposterousbluffitallhadbeen，andwhatapiteousbrokenhandfulstoodbetweentheGermansandtheirgoal。

Iftheyknew，iftheyonlyknew，theywouldbrushusasidelikeflies。

AsIshavedIlookedbackontheeventsofyesterdayasonsomethingthathadhappenedlongago。Iseemedtojudgethemimpersonally，andIconcludedthatithadbeenaprettygoodfight。

Ascratchforce，halfofitdog-tiredandhalfofituntrained，hadheldupatleastacoupleoffreshdivisions……Butwecouldn\'tdoitagain，andtherewerestillsomehoursbeforeusofdesperateperil。

WhenhadtheCorpssaidthattheFrenchwouldarrive？……IwasonthepointofshoutingforHamiltontogetWaketoringupCorpsHeadquarters，whenIrememberedthatWakewasdead。I

hadlikedhimandgreatlyadmiredhim，buttherecollectiongavemescarcelyapang。Wewerealldying，andhehadonlygoneonastageahead。

Therewasnomorningstrafe，suchashadbeenourusualfortuneinthepastweek。Iwentout-of-doorsandfoundanoiselessworldundertheloweringsky。Therainhadstoppedfalling，thewindofdawnhadlessened，andIfearedthatthestormwouldbedelayed。I

wanteditatoncetohelpusthroughthenexthoursoftension。WasitinsixhoursthattheFrenchwerecoming？No，itmustbefour。Itcouldn\'tbemorethanfour，unlesssomebodyhadmadeaninfernalmuddle。Iwonderedwhyeverythingwassoquiet。Itwouldbebreakfasttimeonbothsides，butthereseemednostirofman\'spresenceinthatuglystriphalfamileoff。OnlyfarbackintheGermanhinterlandIseemedtoheartherumouroftraffic。

AnunsleptandunshavenfigurestoodbesidemewhichrevealeditselfasArchieRoylance。

\'Beenupallnight，\'hesaidcheerfully，lightingacigarette。\'No，I

haven\'thadbreakfast。Theskipperthoughtwe\'dbettergetanotheranti-aircraftbatteryupthisway，andIwassuperintendin\'thejob。

He\'safraidoftheHungettin\'overyourlinesandspyingoutthenakednessoftheland。For，youknow，we\'reuncommonnaked，sir。

Also，\'andArchie\'sfacebecamegrave，\'theHun\'spourin\'divisionsdownonthissector。AsIjudge，he\'sblowin\'upforathunderin\'

bigdriveonbothsidesoftheriver。OurladsyesterdaysaidallthecountrybackofPeronnewaslousywithnewtroops。Andhe\'sgettin\'hisbiggunsforward，too。Youhaven\'tbeentroubledwiththemyet，buthehasgottheroadsmendedandthedevilofalotofnewlightrailways，andanymomentwe\'llhavethefive-point-ninessayin\'Good-mornin\'……PrayHeavenyougetrelievedintime，sir。

Itakeitthere\'snotmuchriskofanotherpushthismornin\'？\'

\'Idon\'tthinkso。TheBochetookanastyknockyesterday，andhemustfancywe\'reprettystrongafterthatcounter-attack。Idon\'tthinkhe\'llstriketillhecanworkbothsidesoftheriver，andthat\'lltaketimetoprepare。That\'swhathisfreshdivisionsarefor……Butremember，hecanattacknow，ifhelikes。Ifheknewhowweakwewerehe\'sstrongenoughtosendusalltogloryinthenextthreehours。It\'sjustthatknowledgethatyoufellowshavegottopreventhisgetting。IfasingleHunplanecrossesourlinesandreturns，we\'rewhollyandutterlydone。You\'vegivenussplendidhelpsincetheshowbegan，Archie。ForGod\'ssakekeepituptothefinishandputeverymachineyoucanspareinthissector。\'

\'We\'redoin\'ourbest，\'hesaid。\'Wegotsomemorefightin\'

scoutsdownfromthenorth，andwe\'rekeepin\'oureyesskinned。

ButyouknowaswellasIdo，sir，thatit\'sneveranab-so-lutecertainty。IftheHunsentoverasquadronwemightbeat\'emalldownbutone，andthatonemightdothetrick。It\'samatterofluck。TheHun\'sgotthewindupallrightintheairjustnowandI

don\'tblamethepoordevil。I\'minclinedtothinkwehaven\'thadthepickofhispushhere。Jenningssayshe\'sdoin\'goodworkinFlanders，andtheyreckonthere\'sthedeuceofathrustcomin\'thereprettysoon。Ithinkwecanmanagethekindoffootlerhe\'sbeensendin\'overherelately，butifLenschorsomeladlikethatweretochoosetoturnupIwouldn\'tsaywhatmighthappen。Theair\'sabiglottery，\'andArchieturnedadirtyfaceskywardwheretwoofourplanesweremovingveryhightowardstheeast。

ThementionofLenschbroughtPetertomind，andIaskedifhehadgoneback。

\'Hewon\'tgo，\'saidArchie，\'andwehaven\'tthehearttomakehim。He\'sveryhappy，andplaysaboutwiththeGladassingle-

seater。He\'salwaysspeakin\'aboutyou，sir，andit\'dbreakhisheartifweshiftedhim。\'

Iaskedabouthishealth，andwastoldthathedidn\'tseemtohavemuchpain。

\'Buthe\'sabitqueer，\'andArchieshookasagehead。\'Oneofthereasonswhyhewon\'tbudgeisbecausehesaysGodhassomeworkforhimtodo。He\'squiteseriousaboutit，andeversincehegotthenotionhehasperkedupamazin\'。He\'salwaysaskin\'aboutLensch，too-notvindictivelike，youunderstand，butquitefriendly。Seemstotakeasortofproprietaryinterestinhim。ItoldhimLenschhadhadafarlongerspelloffirst-classfightin\'thananybodyelseandwasboundbythelawofaveragestobedownedsoon，andhewasquitesadaboutit。\'

IhadnotimetoworryaboutPeter。ArchieandIswallowedbreakfastandIhadapow-wowwithmybrigadiers。BythistimeI

hadgotthroughtoCorpsH。Q。andgotnewsoftheFrench。ItwasworsethanIexpected。GeneralPeguywouldarriveaboutteno\'clock，buthismencouldn\'ttakeovertillwellaftermidday。TheCorpsgavemetheirwhereaboutsandIfounditonthemap。Theyhadalongwaytocoveryet，andthentherewouldbetheslowbusinessofrelieving。Ilookedatmywatch。TherewerestillsixhoursbeforeuswhentheBochemightknockustoblazes，sixhoursofmaddeninganxiety……Lefroyannouncedthatallwasquietonthefront，andthatthenewwiringattheBoisdelaBruyerehadbeencompleted。PatrolshadreportedthatduringthenightafreshGermandivisionseemedtohaverelievedthatwhichwehadpunishedsostoutlyyesterday。Iaskedhimifhecouldstickitoutagainstanotherattack。\'No，\'hesaidwithouthesitation。

\'We\'retoofewandtooshakyonourpinstostandanymore。I\'veonlyamantoeverythreeyards。\'Thatimpressedme，forLefroywasusuallythemostdevil-may-careoptimist。

\'Curseit，there\'sthesun，\'IheardArchiecry。Itwastrue，forthecloudswererollingbackandthecentreoftheheavenswasapatchofblue。Thestormwascoming-Icouldsmellitintheair-butprobablyitwouldn\'tbreaktilltheevening。Where，Iwondered，wouldwebebythattime？

itwasnownineo\'clock，andIwaskeepingtightholdonmyself，forIsawthatIwasgoingtohavehellforthenexthours。Iamaprettystolidfellowinsomeways，butIhavealwaysfoundpatienceandstandingstillthemostdifficultjobtotackle，andmynerveswerealltatteredfromthelongstrainoftheretreat。Iwentuptothelineandsawthebattalioncommanders。Everythingwasunwholesomelyquietthere。ThenIcamebacktomyheadquarterstostudythereportsthatwerecominginfromtheairpatrols。Theyallsaidthesamething-abnormalactivityintheGermanbackareas。

Thingsseemedshapingforanew21stofMarch，and，ifourluckwereout，mypoorlittleremnantwouldhavetotaketheshock。I

telephonedtotheCorpsandfoundthemasnervousasme。Igavethemthedetailsofmystrengthandheardanagonizedwhistleattheotherendoftheline。IwasrathergladIhadcompanionsinthesamepurgatory。

IfoundIcouldn\'tsitstill。IftherehadbeenanyworktodoI

wouldhaveburiedmyselfinit，buttherewasnone。Onlythisfearsomejobofwaiting。Ihardlyeverfeelcold，butnowmybloodseemedtobegettingthin，andIastonishedmystaffbyputtingonaBritishwarmandbuttoningupthecollar。RoundthatderelictfarmIrangedlikeahungrywolf，coldatthefeet，queasyinthestomach，andmortallyedgyinthemind。

Thensuddenlythecloudliftedfromme，andthebloodseemedtorunnaturallyinmyveins。Iexperiencedthechangeofmoodwhichamanfeelssometimeswhenhiswholebeingisfineddownandclarifiedbylongendurance。Thefightofyesterdayrevealeditselfassomethingrathersplendid。Whatriskswehadrunandhowgallantlywehadmetthem！MyheartwarmedasIthoughtofthatolddivisionofmine，thoseraggedveteransthatwereneverbeatenaslongasbreathwasleftthem。AndtheAmericansandtheboysfromthemachine-gunschoolandalltheoddmentswehadcommandeered！AndoldBlenkironraginglikeagood-temperedlion！Itwasagainstreasonthatsuchfortitudeshouldn\'twinout。WehadsnarledroundandbittentheBochesobadlythathewantednomoreforalittle。Hewouldcomeagain，butpresentlyweshouldberelievedandthegallantblue-coats，freshaspaintandburningforrevenge，wouldbetheretoworryhim。

Ihadnonewfactsonwhichtobasemyoptimism，onlyachangedpointofview。Andwithitcamearecollectionofotherthings。Wake\'sdeathhadleftmenumbbefore，butnowthethoughtofitgavemeasharppang。Hewasthefirstofourlittleconfederacytogo。Butwhatanendinghehadmade，andhowhappyhehadbeeninthatmadtimewhenhehadcomedownfromhispedestalandbecomeoneofthecrowd！Hehadfoundhimselfatthelast，andwhocouldgrudgehimsuchhappiness？Ifthebestweretobetaken，hewouldbechosenfirst，forhewasabigman，beforewhomIuncoveredmyhead。Thethoughtofhimmademeveryhumble。Ihadneverhadhistroublestoface，buthehadcomecleanthroughthem，andreachedacouragewhichwasforeverbeyondme。HewastheFaithfulamonguspilgrims，whohadfinishedhisjourneybeforetherest。Maryhadforeseenit。\'Thereisapricetobepaid，\'shehadsaid-\'thebestofus。\'

AndatthethoughtofMaryaflightofwarmandhappyhopesseemedtosettleonmymind。IwaslookingagainbeyondthewartothatpeacewhichsheandIwouldsomedayinherit。IhadavisionofagreenEnglishlandscape，withitsfar-flungscentsofwoodandmeadowandgarden……Andthatfaceofallmydreams，withtheeyessochildlikeandbraveandhonest，asifthey，too，sawbeyondthedarktoaradiantcountry。Alineofanoldsong，whichhadbeenafavouriteofmyfather\'s，sangitselfinmyears:

__There\'saneyethateverweepsandafairfacewillbefainWhenIridethroughAnnanWaterwi\'mybonnybands_again！

Wewerestandingbythecrumblingrailsofwhathadoncebeenthefarmsheepfold。IlookedatArchieandhesmiledbackatme，forhesawthatmyfacehadchanged。Thenheturnedhiseyestothebillowingclouds。

Ifeltmyarmclutched。

\'Lookthere！\'saidafiercevoice，andhisglasseswereturnedupward。

Ilooked，andfarupintheskysawathinglikeawedgeofwildgeeseflyingtowardsusfromtheenemy\'scountry。Imadeoutthesmalldotswhichcomposedit，andmyglasstoldmetheywereplanes。ButonlyArchie\'spractisedeyeknewthattheywereenemy。

\'Boche？\'Iasked。

\'Boche，\'hesaid。\'MyGod，we\'reforitnow。\'

Myhearthadsunklikeastone，butIwasfairlycool。Ilookedatmywatchandsawthatitwastenminutestoeleven。

\'Howmany？\'

\'Five，\'saidArchie。\'Ortheremaybesix-notmore。\'

\'Listen！\'Isaid。\'Getontoyourheadquarters。Tellthemthatit\'sallupwithusifasingleplanegetsback。Letthemgetwellovertheline，thedeeperinthebetter，andtellthemtosendupeverymachinetheypossessanddownthemall。Tellthemit\'slifeordeath。Notonesingleplanegoesback。Quick！\'

Archiedisappeared，andashewentouranti-aircraftgunsbrokeout。Theformationaboveopenedandzigzagged，buttheyweretoohightobeinmuchdanger。Buttheywerenottoohightoseethatwhichwemustkeephiddenorperish。

Theroarofourbatteriesdieddownastheinvaderspassedwestward。AsIwatchedtheirprogresstheyseemedtobedroppinglower。Thentheyroseagainandabankofcloudconcealedthem。

Ihadahorridcertaintythattheymustbeatus，thatsomeatanyratewouldgetback。Theyhadseenthinlinesandtheroadsbehindusemptyofsupports。Theywouldsee，astheyadvanced，thebluecolumnsoftheFrenchcomingupfromthesouth-west，andtheywouldreturnandtelltheenemythatablownowwouldopentheroadtoAmiensandthesea。Hehadplentyofstrengthforit，andpresentlyhewouldhaveoverwhelmingstrength。Itonlyneededaspear-pointtoburstthejerry-builtdamandletthefloodthrough……Theywouldreturnintwentyminutes，andbynoonwewouldbebroken。Unless-unlessthemiracleofmiracleshappened，andtheyneverreturned。

Archiereportedthathisskipperwoulddohisdamnedestandthatourmachineswerenowgoingup。\'We\'veachance，sir，\'hesaid，\'agoodsportin\'chance。\'ItwasanewArchie，withahardvoice，aleanface，andveryoldeyes。

Behindthejaggedwallsofthefarmbuildingswasaknollwhichhadonceformedpartofthehigh-road。Iwentuptherealone，forI

didn\'twantanybodynearme。Iwantedaviewpoint，andIwantedquiet，forIhadagrimtimebeforeme。FromthatknollIhadabigprospectofcountry。Ilookedeasttoourlinesonwhichanoccasionalshellwasfalling，andwhereIcouldhearthechatterofmachine-guns。Westtherewaspeaceforthewoodscloseddownonthelandscape。Uptothenorth，Iremember，therewasabigglareasfromaburningdump，andheavygunsseemedtobeatworkintheAncrevalley。Downinthesouththerewasthedullmurmurofagreatbattle。Butjustaroundme，inthegap，thedeadliestplaceofall，therewasanoddquiet。Icouldpickoutclearlythedifferentsounds。Somebodydownatthefarmhadmadeajokeandtherewasashortburstoflaughter。Ienviedthehumoristhiscomposure。

Therewasaclatterandjinglefromabatterychangingposition。Ontheroadatractorwasjoltingalong-Icouldhearitsdrivershoutandthescreechofitsunoiledaxle。

Myeyesweregluedtomyglasses，buttheyshookinmyhandssothatIcouldscarcelysee。Ibitmyliptosteadymyself，buttheystillwavered。FromtimetotimeIglancedatmywatch。Eightminutesgone-ten-seventeen。Ifonlytheplaneswouldcomeintosight！Eventhecertaintyoffailurewouldbebetterthanthisharrowingdoubt。Theyshouldbebackbynowunlesstheyhadswungnorthacrossthesalient，orunlessthemiracleofmiracles-

Thencamethedistantyappingofananti-aircraftgun，caughtupthenextsecondbyothers，whilesmokepatchesstuddedthedistantbluesky。Thecloudswerebankinginmid-heaven，buttothewesttherewasabigclearspacenowwoollywithshrapnelbursts。I

countedthemmechanically-one-three-five-nine-withdespairbeginningtotaketheplaceofmyanxiety。Myhandsweresteadynow，andthroughtheglassesIsawtheenemy。

Fiveattenuatedshapesrodehighabovethebombardment，nowsharpagainsttheblue，nowlostinafilmofvapour。Theywerecomingback，serenely，contemptuously，havingseenalltheywanted。

Thequietwasgonenowandthedinwasmonstrous。Anti-aircraftguns，singlyandingroups，werefiringfromeveryside。AsI

watcheditseemedafutilewasteofammunition。Theenemydidn\'tgiveatinker\'scurseforit……Butsurelytherewasonedown。I

couldonlycountfournow。No，therewasthefifthcomingoutofacloud。Intenminutestheywouldbeallovertheline。Ifairlystampedinmyvexation。Thosegunswerenomoreusethanasickheadache。Oh，whereinGod\'snamewereourownplanes？

Atthatmomenttheycame，streakingdownintosight，fourfighting-scoutswiththesunglintingontheirwingsandburnishingtheirmetalcowls。Isawclearlytheringsofred，white，andblue。

Beforetheirdownwarddrivetheenemyinstantlyspreadout。

Iwaswatchingwithbareeyesnow，andIwantedcompanionship，forthetimeofwaitingwasover。AutomaticallyImusthaverundowntheknoll，forthenextIknewIwasstaringattheheavenswithArchiebymyside。Thecombatantsseemedtocoupleinstinctively。Diving，wheeling，climbing，apairwoulddropoutofthemeleeordisappearbehindacloud。EvenatthatheightIcouldhearthemethodicalrat-tat-tatofthemachine-guns。Thentherewasasuddenflareandwispofsmoke。Aplanesank，turningandtwisting，toearth。

\'Hun！\'saidArchie，whohadhisglassesonit。

Almostimmediatelyanotherfollowed。Thistimethepilotrecoveredhimself，whilestillathousandfeetfromtheground，andstartedglidingfortheenemylines。Thenhewavered，plungedsickeningly，andfellheadlongintothewoodbehindLaBruyere。

Farthereast，almostoverthefronttrenches，atwo-seaterAlbatrossandaBritishpilotwerehavingadesperatetussle。Thebombardmenthadstopped，andfromwherewestoodeverymovementcouldbefollowed。Firstone，thenanother，climbeduppermostanddivedback，swoopedoutandwheeledinagain，sothatthetwoplanesseemedtocleareachotheronlybyinches。Thenitlookedasiftheyclosedandinterlocked。Iexpectedtoseebothgocrashing，whensuddenlythewingsofoneseemedtoshrivelup，andthemachinedroppedlikeastone。

\'Hun，\'saidArchie。\'Thatmakesthree。Oh，goodlads！Goodlads！\'

ThenIsawsomethingwhichtookawaymybreath。SlopingdowninwidecirclescameaGermanmachine，and，following，alittlebehindandalittleabove，aBritish。Itwasthefirstsurrenderinmid-airIhadseen。InmyamazementIwatchedthecouplerightdowntotheground，tilltheenemylandedinabigmeadowacrossthehigh-roadandourownmaninafieldnearertheriver。

WhenIlookedbackintothesky，itwasbare。North，south，east，andwest，therewasnotasignofaircraft，BritishorGerman。

Aviolenttremblingtookme。Archiewassweepingtheheavenswithhisglassesandmutteringtohimself。Wherewasthefifthman？

Hemusthavefoughthiswaythrough，anditwastoolate。

Butwasit？Fromthetoeofagreatrollingcloud-bankaflameshotearthwards，followedbyaV-shapedtrailofsmoke。BritishorBoche？BritishorBoche？Ididn\'twaitlongforananswer。For，ridingoverthefarendofthecloud，cametwoofourfightingscouts。

Itriedtobecool，andsnappedmyglassesintotheircase，thoughthereactionmademewanttoshout。Archieturnedtomewithanervoussmileandaquiveringmouth。\'Ithinkwehavewononthepost，\'hesaid。

Hereachedoutahandformine，hiseyesstillonthesky，andI

wasgraspingitwhenitwastornaway。Hewasstaringupwardswithawhiteface。

Wewerelookingatthesixthenemyplane。

Ithadbeenbehindtheothersandmuchlower，andwasmakingstraightatagreatspeedfortheeast。Theglassesshowedmeadifferenttypeofmachine-abigmachinewithshortwings，whichlookedmenacingasahawkinacoveyofgrouse。Itwasunderthecloud-bank，andabove，satisfied，easingdownaftertheirfight，andunwittingofthisenemy，rodethetwoBritishcraft。

Aneighbouringanti-aircraftgunbrokeoutintoasuddenburst，andIthankedHeavenforitsinspiration。Curiousastothisnewdevelopment，thetwoBritishturned，caughtsightoftheBoche，anddivedforhim。

WhathappenedinthenextminutesIcannottell。Thethreeseemedtobemixedupinadogfight，sothatIcouldnotdistinguishfriendfromfoe。Myhandsnolongertrembled；Iwastoodesperate。

Thepatterofmachine-gunscamedowntous，andthenoneofthethreebrokeclearandbegantoclimb。Theothersstrainedtofollow，butinasecondhehadrisenbeyondtheirfire，forhehadeasilythepaceofthem。WasittheHun？

Archie\'sdrylipsweretalking。

\'It\'sLensch，\'hesaid。

\'Howd\'youknow？\'Igaspedangrily。

\'Can\'tmistakehim。Lookatthewayheslippedoutashebanked。

That\'shispatenttrick。\'

Inthatagonizingmomenthopediedinme。Iwasperfectlycalmnow，forthetimeforanxietyhadgone。FartherandfartherdriftedtheBritishpilotsbehind，whileLenschinthecompletenessofhistriumphloopedmorethanonceasiftocryaninsultingfarewell。Inlessthanthreeminuteshewouldbesafeinsidehisownlines，andhecarriedtheknowledgewhichforuswasdeath。

Someonewasbawlinginmyear，andpointingupward。ItwasArchieandhisfacewaswild。Ilookedandgasped-seizedmyglassesandlookedagain。

AsecondbeforeLenschhadbeenalone；nowthereweretwomachines。

IheardArchie\'svoice。\'MyGod，it\'stheGladas-thelittleGladas。\'Hisfingerswerediggingintomyarmandhisfacewasagainstmyshoulder。Andthenhisexcitementsoberedintoanawewhichchokedhisspeech，ashestammered-\'It\'sold-\'

ButIdidnotneedhimtotellmethename，forIhaddivineditwhenIfirstsawthenewplanedropfromtheclouds。Ihadthatqueersensethatcomessometimestoamanthatafriendispresentwhenhecannotseehim。Somewhereupinthevoidtwoheroeswerefightingtheirlastbattle-andoneofthemhadacrippledleg。

Ihadneveranydoubtabouttheresult，thoughArchietoldmelaterthathewentcrazywithsuspense。Lenschwasnotawareofhisopponenttillhewasalmostuponhim，andIwonderifbyanyfreakofinstinctherecognizedhisgreatestantagonist。Heneverfiredashot，nordidPeter……IsawtheGermantwistandside-slipasiftobafflethefatedescendinguponhim。IsawPeterveeroververticallyandIknewthattheendhadcome。Hewastheretomakecertainofvictoryandhetooktheonlyway。Themachinesclosed，therewasacrashwhichIfeltthoughIcouldnothearit，andnextsecondbothwerehurtlingdown，overandover，totheearth。

Theyfellintheriverjustshortoftheenemylines，butIdidnotseethem，formyeyeswereblindedandIwasonmyknees。

Afterthatitwasalladream。IfoundmyselfbeingembracedbyaFrenchGeneralofDivision，andsawthefirstcompaniesofthecheerfulbluecoatswhomIhadlongedfor。Withthemcametherain，anditwasunderaweepingAprilskythatearlyinthenightI

marchedwhatwasleftofmydivisionawayfromthebattle-field。

Theenemygunswerestartingtospeakbehindus，butIdidnotheedthem。Iknewthatnowtherewerewardersatthegate，andI

believedthatbythegraceofGodthatgatewasbarredforever。

TheytookPeterfromthewreckagewithscarcelyascarexcepthistwistedleg。Deathhadsmoothedoutsomeoftheageinhim，andlefthisfacemuchasIremembereditlongagointheMashonalandhills。Inhispocketwashisoldbattered_Pilgrim\'s_Progress。ItliesbeforemeasIwrite，andbesideit-forIwashisonlylegatee-thelittlecasewhichcametohimweekslater，containingthehighesthonourthatcanbebestoweduponasoldierofBritain。

Itwasfromthe_Pilgrim\'s_ProgressthatIreadnextmorning，whenintheleeofanapple-orchardMaryandBlenkironandIstoodinthesoftspringrainbesidehisgrave。AndwhatIreadwasthetaleintheendnotofMrStandfast，whomhehadsingledoutforhiscounterpart，butofMrValiant-for-Truthwhomhehadnothopedtoemulate。Isetdownthewordsasasaluteandafarewell:

Thensaidhe，\'IamgoingtomyFather\'s；andthoughwithgreatdifficultyIamgothither，yetnowIdonotrepentmeofallthetroubleIhavebeenattoarrivewhereIam。MyswordIgivetohimthatshallsucceedmeinmypilgrimage，andmycourageandskilltohimthatcangetit。MymarksandscarsIcarrywithme，tobeawitnessformethatIhavefoughtHisbattleswhonowwillbemyrewarder。\'

Sohepassedover，andallthetrumpetssoundedforhimontheotherside。

End