第16章

CHAPTERXIV

ATOUCHOFWAR

Theperiodofintensivetrainingwasdrawingtoaclose。Thefinishingtouchesinthevariousdepartmentsthathadcometobeconsiderednecessaryinmodernwarfarehadbeengiven。Withthe"puttingonthelacquer"thefightingspiritofthemenhadbeensharpenedtoitskeenestedge。Theywereallwaitingimpatientlyfortheorderto"goup。"Themotivesunderlyingthatardourofspiritvariedwiththetemperament，dispositionandeducationofthesoldier。Therewerethosewhowereeagerto"goup"toprovethemselvesinthatdeadlystrugglewheretheirfellowCanadianshadalreadywontheirrighttostandascomradesinarmswiththemostfamousfightingbattalionsoftheBritisharmy。Others，again，therewereinwhoseheartburnedadeeppassiontogetintogripswiththosehellishfiendswhosecruelties，practisedupondefencelesswomenandchildreninthatverydistrictwheretheywerecamped，anduponwoundedCanadians，hadstirredCanadafromVancouvertoHalifaxwithadesireforrevenge。

But，withthegreatmajoritytherewaslittleofthedesireeitherformilitarygloryorforrevenge。Theircountryhadlaiduponthemadutyforthedischargeofwhichtheyhadbeenpreparingthemselvesformanymonths，andthatdutytheywerereadytoperform。Morethanthat，theywereeagertogetatitandgetdonewithit，nomatteratwhatcost。Withallthis，too，therewasanunderlyingcuriosityastowhatthethingwouldbelike"upthere。"

Fardownbelowalltheirfeelingstherelayanunansweredinterrogationwhichnomandaredtoputtohiscomrade，andwhichindeedfewmenputtothemselves。Thatinterrogationwas："HowshallIstandupunderthetest？"

Thecampwasoverrunwithrumoursfromreturningbattalionsoftheappallinghorrorsofthefrontline。Eversincethatfateful22ndofApril，1915，thatdayoftragedyandofgloryfortheCanadianarmy，andfortheCanadianpeople，theYpressalient，thepointofhonouronthewesternfrontfromDixmudetoVerdun，hadbeengivenintothekeepingoftheCanadianarmy。Duringthoselongandterriblemonths，inthefaceofacontinuedbombardmentandofsuccessivecounter—attacks，withthelinegrowingthinner，weekbyweek，hackedupbywoefullyinadequateartillery，theCanadianarmyhadheldonwiththegrimtenacityofdeathitself。Therewasnothingthattheycoulddobutholdon。Topushthesalientdeeperintotheenemylineswouldonlyemphasisethedifficultyanddangeroftheirposition。Theroleassignedthemwasthatofsimplyholdingsteadywithwhatultimateobjectiveinviewnooneseemedtoknow。

Weekbyweek，andmonthaftermonth，theCanadianbattalionshadmovedupintothesalient，haddonetheir"tours，"buildinguptheirobliteratedparapets，diggingouttheirchoked—upwater—

courses，revettingtheircrumblingtrenches，andrebuildingtheirflimsydugouts，andthenreturningtotheirreservelines，alwaysleavingbehindtheminhastilyduggravesovertheparadosoftheirtrenches，orinthelittleimprovisedcemeteriesbyHooge，orMapleCopseorHill60，afewmoreoftheircomrades，andeversendingdownthelinetheirmaimedandbrokentoberefittedforwarordischargedagaintocivilianlife。Itwasaltogetheraghastlybusiness，akindofwarfarecallingforanenduranceofthefinesttemperandacourageofthehighestquality。

Fromthisgrimandendlesstestofendurance，theCanadianshaddiscoveredaformofreliefknownasa"trenchraid，"aspecialdevelopmentoftrenchwarfarewhichlatercametobeadoptedbytheircomradesoftheFrenchandBritisharmies。Itwasaformofsport，grimenough，deadlyenough，greatlyenjoyedbytheCanadiansoldiers；andthebattalionwhichhadsuccessfullypulledoffatrenchraidalwaysreturnedtoitslinesinastateofhighexaltation。TheyhadbeenabletogiveFritzalittleofwhattheyhadbeenreceivingduringthesewearymonths。

Whilethebattalionwaitedwithever—growingimpatiencefortheorderthatwouldsendthem"uptheline，"agroupofofficerswasgatheredintheseniormajor’shutforthepurposeofstudyingindetailsomephotographs，securedbyouraircraft，oftheenemytrenchesimmediatelyoppositetheirownsectorofthefrontline。

Theyhadfinishedtheirstudy，andwereengagedinthedivertingandpleasantexerciseofraggingeachother。Theparticularsubjectofthatdiscussionwastheirvarioussprintingabilities，andthecomparativeusefulnessofvariouskindsoffunk—holesasaprotectionagainst"J。J。s"（JackJohnsons），"whizzbangs，"ortheuncertainandwobbling"minniewafers。"

SeldomhadBarryfoundoccasiontocalluponMajorBustead，withwhomhehadbeenunabletoestablishanythingmorethanpurelyformalrelations。Amessage，however，fromtheorderlyroomtoLieutenantCameron，whichheundertooktodeliver，broughthimtotheseniormajor’shut。

"Comein，padre，"saidthemajor，whooflatehadbecomemoregenial，"andtellusthebestkindofafunk—holefora’minniewafer。’"

"Thedeepestandtheclosestforme，major，Ishouldsay，"saidBarry，"fromwhatIhaveheardofthoseuncertainandwobblingbeasts。"

"Iunderstandthatchaplainsdonotaccompanytheirbattalionstothefrontline，butstaybackatthecasualtyclearingstations，"

suggestedthemajor。"Wiseoldbirds，theyare，too。"Themajorhadanunpleasantlaugh。

"Isupposetheygowheretheyareordered，sir，"repliedBarry，"butifyouwillexcuseme，IhavehereachitforLieutenantCameron，sir，whichhasjustcomein，"andBarryhandedCameronhismessage。

"Willyouallowme，sir？"saidCameron。

"Certainly，goon，readit，"saidthemajor。

Cameronreadthemessage，andonhisfacethereappearedagraveandanxiouslook。

"It’sfromthecasualtyclearingstation，sir。OneofourchapsfromEdmontonistheredangerouslywounded，andwantstoseeme。

I’dliketogo，sir，ifImight。"

"Oh，certainly。I’llmakeitallrightwiththeO。C。Getahorsefromthetransport。Whichcasualtyclearingstationisit？"

Cameronlookedathismessage。

"MeninMill，sir。"

"MeninMill！Bygad，IthoughtitwasBrandthoek，butMeninMill，goodLord，that’sadifferentproposition。That’swaybeyondYpres，youknow。Rightupontheline。Youcan’ttakeahorsethere。Doyouthinkyououghttogoupatall？"

"IthinkIshouldliketogo，sir，"repliedCameron。"Iknowthechapwell。Wenttoschoolandcollegewithhim。"

"Then，"saidthemajor，"youhadbetterhurryupandattachyourselftooneofthetransportsgoingin。Youwillbarelybeintime。"

"Thankyou，sir，"saidCameron，andlefttheroom。

Barrywentoutwithhim。"Whoisit，Cameron？"hesaid。"DoI

knowhim？"

"Idon’tknow，sir，whetheryoudoornot。It’syoungMcPhersonofEdmonton，anawfullydecentchap，andmyverybestfriend。"

"MayIgoupwithyou，Duncan？IknowColonelTaitandCaptainGregg，whoareattheMill，Iunderstand。"

"Iwouldbeawfullygladifyouwould，butIhardlylikedtoaskyou。Ithasn’tthereputationofbeingaveryhealthyplace，I

hear。"

"Allright，Cameron。I’mgoingup，"saidBarry。

Uponenquirytheyfoundthattheyweretoolateforthetransports，andagainthequestionaroseastowhether，inviewofthemajor’sorder，theyshouldmaketheattemptbythemselves。

"Itwasnotreallyanorder，Ithink，sir，"saidCameron。"Itwasmoreinthewayofasuggestion。IthinkI’llgo。Thenotesaid，’dangerouslywounded，’andhesentforme。"

"Allright，"saidBarry，"we’llgoon，andwe’llalmostcertainlypickupsomeonewhowillbeabletodirectustotheMill。"

Theirroad，whichtookthemtoVlammertinghe，ledthroughlevelfields，lyingwasteanddesolatewithrank，overgrowingweeds。Astheyapproachedthathistoricvillage，theysawoneveryhandthecruelmarksofwar。Oneithersideoftheroadwererooflessandshatteredcottages，grownaroundwithnettlesandbriars。Amongtheseruins，astheyfoundonalaterday，weretheoldgardenflowers，pansiesanddaisies，bravelytryingtoholdtheirown。

Amongtherankweedswastobeseenthehalf—hiddendebrisofbrokenfarmgear。Hereandtherestoodtheruinsofwhathadbeenathriftyhomestead，withitsstone—flaggedcourtyard，aroundwhichclustereditsstables。Nownettlesandbriarsgrewaroundthebrokenwallsandshattered，staringwindows。Atrareintervals，agreathouseappeared，withpretentiousgateway，andgrass—growndrivewindingupbetweenstatelyandmutilatedtrees。Overthewholecountrysidehungamelancholyandweirddesolation，cottages，homesteads，fields，theverytreescryingaloudtohighheavenforpityandvengeance。

AtVlammertinghe，itself，thechurchtowerstillstoodwhole，butthechurchitselfwaswrecked，asweremostofthevillageshopsanddwellings。Inthevillagewastobeseennolivingthingexceptsomesoldiers，whointhebrokencellarsweremakingtheirbivouacs。Thevillagestooddesertedofitsinhabitants，eversincetheterrificonslaughtoftheHuns，onthe22ndofApril，1915，whichhaddriventhemforthfromtheirhomes，apanic—

stricken，terror—huntedcrowdofoldmen，womenandlittlebabes，whileoverthembroke，withacontinuousandappallingroar，apitilessrainofshells。

Atthecross—roadsstoodamountedofficer，directingthetraffic，whichheretendedtocongestion。Astheyenteredthevillage，thesentryhaltedthemtoenquireastotheirbonafides。Havingsatisfiedhim，theyenquiredtheirwaytotheMeninMill。

"Menin！"Therisinginflectionofthesentry’svoiceexpressedamildsurprise。"TheoldMill！Areyougoingthere？"

"Yes，"saidBarry，answeringhisinflection。"Whynot？"

"Well，sir，youknow，it’sratherabadroad。Warmbitofcountryupthere，but——"HeshruggedhisshouldersinquiteaFrenchmannerasiftosayitwasnobusinessofhis。"IfyouaregoingtoMenin，youkeepthisroadstraightthroughpastWiperspasttheClothHall，outbytheMeninGate。Ahotplace，that，sir。Thenstraighton，takingtherightinclineforaboutamileandahalf。

Youwillseeabigcemeteryonyourleft。TheMillstandsnearabigschoolonyourright。Butwhynotdropintothedressingstation，here，sir，righthereinthisoldmill，whichstandsatthecross—roads？YoumaycatchanambulancegoingstraightuptotheMill。"

"Thankyouverymuch，"saidBarry。"We’lldothatverything。"

"Goodluck，sir，"saidthesentry，saluting。

Theyfoundanambulanceabouttostart，andaskedforalift。

"Allright，sir，"saidthedriver，"butyou’dbetterstepinandasktheofficer。"

Theypassedintoalargeandhigh—vaultedstonebuilding，whichinpeacedayshadbeenamill。Theold—fashioned，massivemachinerywasstillstandingintact。Obtainingpermissionfromtheofficer，theytooktheirplacesbesidethedriveroftheambulance，andweresoonontheirway。

Itwasalreadygrowingdark，but，althoughthesurfaceofthestonepavewasfrequentlybrokenwithshell—holes，theambulance，dodgingroundtheholes，rushedwithoutpausealongatahighrateofspeed。

"Youdon’tuseyourlights？"askedBarry。

"No，notlately，sir，"saidthedriver。"That’sthenewestorder，"

headdedinatoneofdisgust。

Theroadlaybetweendoublerowsofoncenobletrees，centuriesold，withthefirstdelicategreenofspringsofteningtheirbareoutlines。Now，splintered，twisted，broken，theirwoundsshowingwhiteinthedarkeninglightthroughthedelicategreen，theystoodsilentlyeloquentoftheterrificforceoftheH。E。shell。

Astheywentspeedingalongtheshell—markedroadtheycameuponahugetrunkofamightyelm，brokenclearfromitsstump，lyingpartiallycrosstheirtrack，whichsoldierswerealreadybusyclearingaway。Withoutaninstant’spause，thedriverwheeledhiscaroffthe’pave’，crashedthroughthebrokentreetops，andcontinuedonhisway。

Barrylookeduponthehugetrunkwithamazement。

"Didasingleshellbreakthattreeofflikethat？"heasked。

"Youbet，"wasthereply，"andalltheseyouseealonghere。It’sthegreattransportroadforourfrontline，andthebochesshellitregularly。Herecomesonenow，"headded，casually。

Therewasasoftwoolly"whoof"faraway，ahigh，thinwhine，asfromaviciousinsectoverhead，witheveryfractionalsecondcomingnearerandyetnearer，everdeepeningintone，everincreasinginvolume，until，likeanexpresstrain，withanoverwhelmingsenseofspeedandpower，andwithanappallingroar，itcrasheduponthem。

Inthefieldontheirleft，thereleapedfiftyyardsintotheairahugemassofearthandsmoke。Thenastunningdetonation。

InsensiblyBarryandCameronbothcroucheddowninthecar，butthedriverheldhiswheel，withouttheapparentquiverofamuscle。

"There’llbethreemore，presently，Iguess，"hesaid，puttingonfullspeed。

Hisguessprovedright。Againthatdistantwoolly"whoof，"thelong—drawnwhine，deepeningtoascream，theappallingroarandcrash，andasecondshellfellintheroadbehindthem。

"Two，"saidthedrivercoolly。"Therewillbeacouplemore。"

Againandyetagain，eachtimetheterrorgrowingdeeperintheirsouls，camethetwoothershells，buttheyfellfarbehind。

"Oh，Fritzie，"remonstratedthedriver，"that’srottenbadwork。

You’llhavetodobetterthanthat。"

Againandagain，ingroupsoffour，theshellscameroaringin，butthecarhadpassedoutofthatparticularzoneofdanger，andspedsafelyonitsway。

"Doyouhavethissortofthingeverynight？"enquiredBarry。

"Oh，no，"cheerfullyrepliedthedriver。"Fritziemakesalotbetterpracticethanthat，attimes。Doyouseethis？"Heputhisfingeruponatriangularholeafewinchesabovehishead。"Igotthatlastweek。Wedon’tmindsomuchgoingup，butit’sratherannoyingwhenyou’rebringingdownyourloadofwounded。"

AstheyapproachedYpres，theroadbecamemoreandmorecongested，untilatlengththeyhadtothreadtheirwaybetweentwocontinuousstreamsoftrafficupanddown，consistingofmarchingbattalions，transports，artillerywagons，ambulances，withnowandthenamotororabiggun。

Aboutamilefromthecity，theycametoalargeredbrickbuilding，withpretentioustowersandsurroundedbyahighbrickwall。

"Anasylum，"explainedthedriver。"Nowusedasadressingstation。

We’lljustruninfororders。"

AtwhatseemedtoBarryrecklessspeed，hewhirledinbetweenthebrickposts，andturnedintoacourtyard，ononesideofwhichheparkedhisambulance。

"Bettercomeinside，sir，"saidthedriver。"Theysometimesthrowafewinhere，seeingit’sahospital。"

Theypasseddownthewidestairs，thecentreofwhichhadbeenconvertedintoagangwayforthepassageofwheeledstretchers，intoalargebasement，withconcretefloorsandmassivepillars，litbyflaringgasjets。Alongthesidesoftheouterroomwererowsofwoundedsoldiers，theirbandagedheadsandarmsnowhiterthantheirfaces，apatientandpatheticgroup，waitingwithoutcomplaintforanambulancetocarrythemdowntheline。

Inaninnerandoperatingroom，Barryfoundtwoorthreemedicalofficers，withassistantsandorderlies，intentupontheirwork。

Whilewaitingtherefortheirdriver，theyheardoverheadagainthatominousandterrifyingwhine，thistime，however，notlongdrawn，butcominginwithterrificspeed，andendingwithasharpandshatteringcrash。Againandagainandagain，withhardlyasecondbetween，therecametheshells。ItseemedtoBarryasifeverycrashwasfairupontheroofofthebuilding，butnomaneitherofthemedicalattendantsorofthewaitingwoundedpaidtheslightestheed。

Atlengththerecameacrashthatseemedtobreakwithintheveryroominwhichtheyweregathered。Thelightsflickered，someofthemwentout，therewasasoundasifatowerhadcrasheddownupontheroof。Dustandsmokefilledtheroom。

"Lightupthatgas，"saidtheOfficerCommanding。Anorderlysprangtoobey。Thegasjetswereoncemorelightedandtheworkwenton。

"Rathernear，wasn’tthatone？"askedBarryofawoundedmanathisside。

"Yes，"herepliedcasually，"theygotapiecethattime，"andagainhesunkintoapatheticsilence。

Inafewmomentsthedriverhadobtainedhisordersandwasreadytosetforth。

"Betterwaitabit，"saidthesergeantatthedoor，"untiltheirEveningHateisover。"

"Oh，that’sallright，"saidthedriver。"IguessFritzisprettywellthrough。Theyarerathercrowdedthereatthemill，andI

guesswe’llgoon。"

Inhisheart，Barryearnestlyhopedthatthesergeantwouldinterposewithamoredefinitecommand，but，inasmuchasthebombardmenthadapparentlyceased，andasifitwereallinaday’swork，thedriver，buttoninguphiscoat，said：

"We’llgo，sir，ifyouareready。"

Afewminutes’runbroughtthemtothegateoftheruinedcity。

Asthecarfeltitswaythroughtheghostlytown，Barrywasonlyvaguelyconsciousinthedarknessofitsghostlyskeletonlikeruins。FifteenminutesbroughtthemtotheMeningate。

"Soundsratherhotoutthere，"remarkedthedriver。"Well，Fritzie，Iguesswewon’tjoinyourpartythistime。Weprefertowait，ifyoudon’tmind，really。"

Heranthecarintotheleeoftheramparts，bythesideofthegateway，waitedtherehalfanhourorso，untilthe"EveningHate"

waspast；thenonwardagaintotheMeninMill。

Theyliftedtheblanketcoveringthesandbaggedentrance，passedthroughadarkcorridorandcameintoacellar，litbylanterns，swingingfromtheroof，andbycandleseverywhereuponledgesoruponimprovisedcandlesticks。

Nosoonerhadtheycomeintothelight，thanBarrysawacrosstheroomhisfriend，Dr。Gregg，hiscoatoff，andhisshirtsleevesrolledtohiselbows。

"Hello，Dunbar，"saidthedoctor，comingforward。"IguessIwon’tshakehandsjustnow。Sitdown。Won’tyouhaveacupofcoffee？

Jim，"turningtoanorderly，"giveCaptainDunbaracupofcoffee。"

BarrypresentedCamerontohisfriend，andtogethertheysatdownandwaited。Whenthedoctorwasthroughwithhispatient，hecameandsatdownwiththem。

"WecameuptoseeayoungchapnamedMcPherson。Ithinkyousentanotedownabouthimto—day。"

"McPherson，"saidthedoctor。"Idon’tremember，butIwillsee。"

Heturnedtoadeskandturningoverthepagesofarecord，apparentlyfoundthename，andreturnedtoBarry。

"IamsorrytosaythatMcPhersondiedthisafternoon，"hesaid。

"Dead，"saidBarry。HeturnedtoCameron。"I’mawfullysorry，Duncan。"

"Wasthereanybodywithhim？"heenquiredofthedoctor。"HewasLieutenantCameron’sveryclosefriend，andcollegecompanion。"

"Oh，awfullysorry，"repliedthedoctor。"Yes，IthinkCaptainWinter，thechaplainofthe——th，waswithhimatthelast。He’snotherejustnow。Icantellyouwheretogethim。To—morrowishisdayhere。"

"Is——is——ishisbodystillhere？"enquiredCameron，afterafewmoments’silence。

"Yes，it’sinthenextroom。Doyouwanttoseeit？Hewasprettybadlysmashedup，I’mafraid。"

"IthinkIshouldliketoseehim，"saidCameron。"Iknowhispeople，yousee，andIwouldliketotellthemthatIsawhim。"

"Oh，allright，"saidthedoctor。Hecalledanorderly。

"Comethisway，sir，"saidtheorderly。

Togethertheyfollowedtheorderlyintothenextroom，apparentlyastorehouseforgrain。Therelyinguponthefloortheysawthreesilentshapes，wrappedingreyblankets。

"ThisisMcpherson，sir，"saidtheorderly，lookingatthecardattachedtotheblanket。

Hestooped，drewdowntheblanketfromthefaceandsteppedback。

Incivillife，bothBarryandCameronhadseenthefacesofthedead，butonlyinthecoffin，afterhavingbeenpreparedforburialbythosewhoseofficeitistosoftenbytheirartdeath’sgrimausterities。

Camerongaveoneswiftglanceattheshapeless，bloodymass，outofwhichstaredupathimwide—openglassyeyes。

"Oh，myGod，myGod！"hegasped，grippingBarrybythearm，andstaggeringbackasifhehadreceivedablow。Heturnedtothedoorasiftomakehisescape，butBarry，himselfwhiteandshaken，heldhimfirmly。

"Steady，oldboy，"hesaid。"Steady，Duncan！"

"Oh，letmego！Letmegetoutofhere！"

"Duncan，therearealotofwoundedchapsoutthere。"

Theboy——hewasonlynineteen——washaltedattheword，stoodmotionlessandthenmuttered：

"Youareright，sir。Iwasforgetting。"

"And，Duncan，remember，"saidBarry，inaquietandsolemnvoice，"there’smorethanthattoMcPherson。Thatfineyoungchapwhomyouknewandlovedisnotthatpoorandbatteredpieceofclay。

Yourfriendhasescapedfromdeathandallitshorrors。"

"Yes，yes，Iknow，"whisperedCameron，stillshaking。"We’llgooutnow，sir。I’llbeallright。IassureyouI’mallright。"

Theypassedoutintothedressing—roomagain，wherethewoundedwerecontinuingtoarrive。Cameronwasfordepartingatonce，butBarryheldhimback，unwillingthattheladshouldbedrivenawaybeatenandunnervedbywhathehadseen。

"Isay，Duncan，let’sseesomeoftheseboys。Wecanperhapscheerthemupabit。Theyneeditbadlyenough，Godknows。"

"Allright，"mutteredCameron，sittingdownuponabenchintheshadow。TheywaitedtheretillDr。Greggcamealong。

"Hello，Dunbar，youarelookingseedy。Feelingrotten，eh？"saidthedoctor，eyinghimcriticallyforafewmoments。

"Oh，I’mallright，"saidBarry。"Thetruthis，I’vejustbeenintherewithyoungCameron。Ratheraghastlysight。Cameron’sbadlyknockedup。Canyoudoanythingforhim？"

"Surething，"saidthedoctorcheerfully。"Stayrighttherewhereyouare。I’llbringyousomethinginamomentortwo。Nowsitrightthere，doyouhear？Don’tmove。"

Inafewmomentshereturned，bringinghotcoffeeforthemboth。

"There，"hesaidinacheerfulmatter—of—factvoice，"drinkthat。"

Barrygulpeditdown，Camerontakinghismoreslowly，andwithevidentdistaste。Thedoctorcontinuedtoconversewiththemintonesofcheerfuland，asBarrythought，ofalmostcarelessindifference。

"Now，Imustleaveyou，"saidthedoctor。"Iseethere’sacaseofshellshock。Wedidn’tknowhowtohandlethatforawhile。TheBritishR。A。M。C。forsomemonthsdeclinedtorecogniseitasrequiringtreatmentatall。Youmightcaretolookatthischap。

Poordevil！"

Barryhadbeenlookingatthemaneversincehehadcomeintotheroom，supportedbytwoofhiscomrades。Hewasindeedanobjectofpity。Ofsplendidphysique，sixfeetandpowerfullybuilt，withthefineintelligentfaceofaneducatedman，hestoodtherewhite，twitchingineverymuscle，inastateofcompletenerve—collapse。

ColonelTait，whohadbeenobservinghimkeenlyeversincehisenteringtheroom，nowapproachedhim，greetedhimwithacheerful"Hello！"tookhimbythehandandfelthispulse。

"Howareyou，oldchap？Feelingalittlebetterthanyouwere，aren’tyou？"

"Yes——doc——tor。Rather——rotten——though——Beallright——to—morrow——"

"Sureyouwill！Stillalittlerestwon’tdoyouanyharm。We’llsendyoudownforacoupleofweeks，andthenyouwillbefitenoughtohaveanothergoattheboche。"

Sosayingheturnedhimovertoanassistant，andwentonwithhiswork。AtthispointCameron，fromwhoseeyesthelookofhorrorhadnotyetfaded，leanedovertoBarryandwhispered：

"Let’sgetoutofthis。ForHeaven’ssake，thisthingisgettingme。"HeglancedatBarry。"What，areyouill，too？"

"Ill，"answeredBarrybetweenhisclenchedteeth。"Ill？No，whyshouldIbeill？Lookattheseboys。Iseemyselfill。ByJove！"

headdedunderhisbreath，"here’sanothershellshock。Sitdown，Cameron！"Hisvoicetookonasternertone。"Sitdown。Don’tbeanass！"

OncemoreColonelTaittookinhandtheshell—shockman。Thissecondwasastretchercase。Themanwasveryviolent，requiringtwomentoholdhimonhisstretcher。

"Oh，lethimgo！Lethimgo！"saidColonelTait。"What’swrongwithyou？"hesaidtotheman。"Haveyouanywounds？"

"No，sir，"chatteredthemanmiserably。"Shell——shock，——sir。

Buried——twice——byashell。Oh！Ah！"

Thecolonelhadafewmoments’conversationwithGregg，whocameovertowhereBarrywassittingandsaid：

"Isay，Dunbar，watchthiscase。Youwillseesomefun。"

"Fun，"echoedBarry，shakenandindignant。"Notmuchfunforthatpoorchap。"

"Standup，"saidthecolonelsharply。

Themanstoodupwithoutmuchapparentdifficulty。

"Ah！"saidthecolonel。"Shellshock。Badcase，too。"Hisvoicewaskindandsympathetic。Hegrippedthemanbythearmandranhishanddownhisspineuntilhecametothesmallofhisback。

"Painthere，eh？"hesaid，givingthemanapoke。

"Yes，yes！Ouw！Doctor。Awful。"

"Thoughtso，"saidthedoctor。"Badcase！Poorchap！Acuriousfeelinginthelegs，eh？"