第17章

Themannoddedvigorously，stilltwitchingviolentlyandmakinganimalmoanings。

Stillpursuinghisinvestigationsandcontinuingtosympathisewithhispatient，thedoctorenquiredastoothersymptoms，toallofwhichthepatientpromptlyconfessed。Whentheexaminationwascompleted，thedoctorgavehismanaheartyslaponthebackandsaid：

"You’reallright，myboy。Gotreatyourselftoacupofcocoa，andagood，thicksliceofbreadandraspberryjam——raspberry，remember——andto—morrowyoucanreporttoyourbattalionmedicalofficer。"

"What！"exclaimedtheman。"Doctor，Ican’tgoupagain。I’mnotfittogoup。"

"Oh，yes，youcan，myboy。You’llbeingoodfightingtrimto—

morrow。You’llsee！You’llsee！Comebackheresomeday，perhaps，withaV。C。"

Thereuponthemanbegantoswearviolently。

"Here，noneofthat，"saidthedoctorsharply，"orupyougoto—

night。"

Agrinranaroundthedressingstation，inwhichnonejoinedmoreheartilythanthefirstshell—shockman，waitingtobeconveyeddowntheline。

"Theydon’tgetbytheoldmanoften，nowadays，"wasDr。Gregg’scomment。

"Youdon’toftengetcaseslikethis，though，doyou？"enquiredBarry。

"Notoften。Wehavepassedthroughthisdressingstationsomethousandsofcases，andwemayhavehadeightortenmalingerers。

Butthisisnotallsham。Thereisastrongmixtureofhysteriaandsuggestionwiththesham。Achapwithahighlyorganisedtemperamentgetsburiedbyashell。Thatisaterrificnerveshock。Heseestwoorthreechapsblowntobits。Anothernerveshock。Nowhehasheardaboutshellshockasaresultofasimilarexperience。Immediatelythesuggestionbeginstoworkandthemandiscoversinhimselfthewellknownsymptomsofgenuineshellshock，and，begad！Idon’twonder。Whatwehavejustgivenhimispartofthetreatmentforhysteria——alittlenervetonic。Agoodsleepmayputhimallrightbyto—morrowmorning。Thechancesare，however，thattheO。C。willsendhimdownforafewdays’restandchange。Ifso，thechapwillbeashappyasaclam。Theboyswillraghimhalftodeathdownthere，sothathewillbekeentogetbackagain，andthechancesaremaygethisV。C。Oh，weallgetscaredstiff，"laughedGregg。"Wearenoneofusproudabouthere。

Thatherostuffthatyoureadaboutinthehomepapers，wedon’tknowmuchabout。Wejust’carryon’。"

"ByJove，Gregg！That’sallright，buttojust’carryon’inthisbusiness，itseemstome，callsforsomeprettyfineherostuff。"

"Well，wedon’tcallitso，"saidGregg。"NowI’llseeaboutyourambulance。Ibelievethere’soneaboutreadytogo。IthinkIcanfindaplaceforyouandyourfriend，anditwillsaveyoualongwalk。"

Theycameawayfromtheoldmillwithmingledfeelings。Barryhadtoacertainextentrecoveredfromhisshock，andhadhimselfsomewhatfirmlyinhand。Cameronwasstillsilentandobviouslyshaken。

Itwasgreydawnwhentheyarrivedatthecamp，physicallyweary，nervouslyexhausted，andsickatheart。BarrywakenedHobbs，whogreetedthemwiththenewsthatthebattalionwasunderorderstogoupthatnight。ByhisownstateBarrywasabletogaugethatofhisfriendCameron。Theexperiencesofthelasttenhourshadbeenlikenothinginhispreviouslife。Thedesolationwroughtbywaruponthefaceofthecountry，uponthebodiesofmen，upontheirsouls，hadsickenedandunnervedhim；andthisherememberedwasanexperienceofonlyabrieftenhours。Hewasconsciousofaprofoundself—distrustandhumiliation，ashethoughtofthoseothermen，thosemedicalofficers，withtheirorderlies，theambulancedrivers，thosewoundedsoldiers。Howcouldtheyendurethishorror，dayinanddayout，forweeksandformonths？Inafewhourshewouldhavetomeethisfellowofficersandthemen。

Theycouldnotfailtoreadinhisfaceallthisthathecarriedinhisheart。

Byhisgrey，haggardfaceheknewthatthesamehorrorandfearhadgonedeepintohisfriend’ssoul。TherecametohimthesuddenthoughtthatCameron，too，mustmeethisfellowofficers，andmustenduretheirsearchingchaff，andthathewouldrevealhimselftohisundoing；fornomancaneverlivedowninhisbattalionthewhisperthatheisa"quitter。"ThatverynightCameronwouldbeforcedtoleaduphisplatoonintothefrontline，andmustleadthemstepbystepoverthatsameVlammertingheroad，wherethetransportswerenightlyshelled。Inthepresenceofanydangersoever，hemustnotfalter。Whentheshellswouldbegintofall，heknewwellhowtheeyesofhismenwouldturntotheirleaderandsearchhisverysoultoseeofwhatqualityhewas。Farbetteramanshoulddiethanfalter。HehadnotfailedtonoticethestartledlookinCameron’seyeswhenHobbsblurtedouthisnews。

Somewaymustbefoundforthebracingupofthenerve，thesteadyingofthecourageofhisfriend。

"Comeinwithme，Cameron，"hesaid，standingatthedoorofhishut。"I’mdeadbeatandsoareyou。We’llhavecoffeeandsomegrub，andthensleepforacoupleofhoursuntilreveille。"

Cameronhesitated。Thethinghemostlongedforatthatmomentwastobealone。

"Comeon！"insistedBarry。"Hobbswillhaveafiregoing，andhotcoffeeintenminutes。Comeon，oldchap。Iwantyouto。"

HethrewhisarmaroundCameron’sshoulderanddraggedhimin。TheboydroppedontoBarry’scot，and，ashewas，bootsandcoaton，wasasleepbeforethecoffeewasready。Hisboyishface，withitshaggardlook，struckpitytoBarry’sheart，andrecalledhisfather’swords，"Theseboysneedtheirmothers。"Ifeveraladneededhismother，itwasyoungCameron，andjustinthathour。

Hewoketheboyup，gavehimhiscoffee，hadHobbsremovehisboots，madehimundressandcoveredhimupinhisblankets。Then，takinghisowncoffee，helaydownonHobbs’bed。

"Harry，"hesaid，"giveuseveryminuteofsleepyoucan。Wakeusjustone—halfhourbeforereveillewithcoffeeandeverythingelsegoodyoucanrustle，and，Harry，wakenmebeforeMr。Cameron。"

Whenhelaydowntosleephemadeanamazingdiscovery——thathisownhorrorandfearandself—distrusthadentirelypassedaway。Hefelthimselfquitepreparedto"carryon。"Howhadthisthingcometopass？Hisphysicalrecuperationbymeansofcoffeeandfood？

Thisdoubtlessinpart，butonlyinpart。Inhisconcernforhisfriendhehadforgottenhimself，andinforgettinghimselfhehadforgottenhisfear。Itwasanamazingdiscovery。

"ThankthegoodGod，"hesaid。"Heneverforgetsafellow，andI

won’tforgetthat。"

HewoketofindHobbsathisside，withcoffee，toastandbacon，andonthefloorbesidehiscothistubawaitinghim——thetubbeingarubberreceptacleexactlyeighteeninchesindiameter。

Hehurriedthroughhisdressing，andhisbreakfast，allthewhileCameronlyinglikeadeadman，andwithalmostadeadman’sface。

Barryhatedtowakenhim，butreveillewasbutabarethirtyminutesoff，andhehadanexperimenttoworkuponhisfriend。

"Bringthecoffee，Harry。Notthebacon，yet，"heordered。

"Hello，Cameron，oldboy！Wakeup。"

Cameronrolledoverwithagroanandopenedhiseyes，stilldullandheavywithsleep。

"Hereyouare。Pipethisdownyourtunnelandlooklively，too。

Youhavegotthirtyminutes——twenty—five，really——toreveille，andyouhaveyourtoilettoperform——shave，massage，manicureandalltherest——sogotoit。Here’syourtub。Youcan’tgetintoit，butsoapyourselfover，andHobbswillsluiceyouwithapailortwooutside。"

"WhyallthisSpartanstuff？It’sawfullycold。IthinkI’llcontentmyselfwithanoserubthismorning。"

"Getoutofbed，andbequickaboutit，"commandedBarry，"unlessyou’drathertakeyourtubwhereyouare。"

Sosayinghejerkedtheclothesclearoffthecot，threateningCameronwiththetub。Cameronsprangup，stripped，soapedhimselfover，groaningandshiveringthewhile；thenstoodoutsideintheopen，whileHobbsadministeredtheorderofthebath，andafteravigorousrub，cameinglowing。

"Byjingo！That’sbully！It’sapityafellowcan’talwaysfeeljusthowbullyitisbeforehetakesit。"

"Na—a—wthen！alittlesnap！"orderedBarry，inattemptedimitationoftheinimitableSergeantMajorHackett。"Alittlespeed，ple—ease！That’sbetter。I’veseenworse——notoften！"

AndsoherattledonthroughCameron’sdressingandshavingoperations。

"Nowthen，’Obbs，alittleDelmonico’ere。Shovethisbaconagainstyourfice，Cameron。"

"Whataboutyours，sir？"saidCameron，ashesatdowntotheluxurieswhichsomehowHobbshad"rustled。"

"Hadit，youslacker。"Thenwithaswiftchangeofvoiceandmannerheadded："Listentome，Cameron。I’mgoingtohavemyprayers。Youwon’tbothermeany，andifyoudon’tmindI’lldothemoutloud。Don’tyoustopeating，though。Hobbs，stopyourwanderingaroundthereandsitdownandlisten。"BarrytookhisBible。

"Cameron，"hesaid，"onecomfortinreadingtheBibletoachapwithafatherlikeyoursisthatyouknowallaboutthethingalready——context，historicalreferencesandtheologicalteaching——

therefore，noneedofcomment。Alsoyouhaveagoodimaginationtoseethings。TurnonthejuicewhileIread。Hobbs，youwakenup，too。"

ThenhebegantoreadthevividwordswhichpictureasinminiatureetchingsthelifestoriesoftheheroesofFaithwhointheirdayheldtheirgenerationsteadyandpointedthewaytodutyandvictory。Ashereadhisfacebecamealight，hisdarkeyesglowed，hisvoicethrilledunderthenoblepassionofthewordsheread。

Thenhecametothisstatelyperoration：

"AndwhatshallImoresay？ForthetimewouldfailmetotellofGideon，"andsoonthroughthelistofheroes，"Whothroughfaithsubduedkingdoms，wroughtrighteousness，obtainedpromises，stoppedthemouthsoflions，（ofwhomtheworldwasnotworthy）。Whereforeseeingwealsoarecompassedaboutwithsogreatacloudofwitnesses，letuslayasideeveryweight，andthesinwhichdothsoeasilybesetus，andletusrunwithpatiencetheracethatissetbeforeus，lookinguntoJesus，theauthorandfinisherofourfaith，who，forthejoythatwassetbeforehim，enduredthecross，despisingtheshame，andissetdownattherighthandofthethroneofGod。"

Bothreaderandhearersweresweptalonguponthetideofdramaticpassion。Theywerethemselvesapartofthegreatandeternalconflicttherepictured；they，too，werecalledupontoendurethecross。

Cameronhadforgottenhisbreakfast，andwithhiskindlingeyesfasteneduponthereader’sface，waslisteningtothenoblemusicofthethrillingwords。

Barryclosedhisbookandlaiditdown。

"Great，eh！Wonderfulcompany！Allthefinestandthebestofthewar’sheroesareinit。Now，then，prayer——"Hedroppedonhisknees，CameronandHobbsfollowinghisexample。

Itwasaprayerchieflyofthanksgivingforthosewhointheirdayandinthefaceofanguishandterroranddeathhadkeptthefaith；

ofthanksgiving，too，forallwhointhispresentdayofsacrificeinthehomelandandofsacrificeuponthefieldofbattlewerekeepingthatsamefaithfortheEmpireandforthissamesacredcauseofhumanity。Theprayerclosedwithasimplepetitionthattheyinthebattalionmightbefoundworthyofahumbleplaceinthatgreatcompany。

Astheywererepeatingtogethertheprayer"OurFather，"thenotesofthereveillesoundedshrillyoverthecamp。

"Goout，Hobbs，foraminute，"saidBarryaftertheyhadrisenfromtheirprayer。HeknewwellthatCameronwouldwantafewminuteswithhimalone。

"Sir，"saidtheboy，andhisvoicewasquietandsteady，"I’mnotgoingtotrytothankyou，butIbelieveIcan’carryon’now。"

"Youbetyoucan，"saidBarry，grippinghishand。"Youbetyoucan！It’sthepointofviewafterall，oldman，isn’tit？Forourselvesitdoesn’tmatter，butwehavegottothinkoftheboys，andwehavegottostaywiththegame。"

Eighteenhourslaterthereliefwascompleted，andthebattalionwasinitsplaceintheline，allbutthesentriesasleepintheirflimsydugoutsandbehindtheirrottenparapets。

Anhourlater，Barry，whowassleepingwiththeM。O。intheregimentalaidpost，waswakenedfromadeadsleepbytheM。O。

"There’ssomethingdoingoutthere，"hesaid。"Listen！"

Therewasaquicksuccessionofsharpexplosions。

"Bombs！"saidtheM。O。

Theexplosionswerefollowedbytherat—tat—tat——tat—tat——tat—tat—

tatofthemachineguns。Instantlytheywerebothontheirfeetandoutinthetrench。

"IguessFritzieistryingtoputsomethingoveronus，beingourfirstnight，"saidtheM。O。"I’llgetmyboysout。"

Herantotheadjoiningdugout，wherehiscorporalandstretcherbearersweresleeping，rousedthemandsentthemupthetrench。

Therewasthesoundofsubduedvoicesandofquickmarchingfeetalongthecommunicationtrenchafewyardsaway。Theystoodtogetherlisteningforafewminutes。

"I’mgoing，"saidBarry，hurryingoffinthedirectionofthesound。"Comeon。"

"CaptainDunbar，"calledtheM。O。sharply，"myplaceishere，andIthinkthisiswhereyouwillbemostusefulaswell。Theywillbringthewoundedtousrighthere。"

Inafewminutesallwasstillagain，exceptforthemachineguns，whichstillkeptuptheirincessanttattoo。

TheM。O。wascorrectinhisforecast。Inafewminutesdownthecommunicationtrenchcameawoundedmanwalking，jubilantinspiteofhiswounds。

"Fritzietriedtoputoneoveronus，"heexclaimed，whilethedoctorwasdabbingwithiodineandtyinguphiswoundedarm，"butI

thinkhe’sgotanotherguesscoming。Yououghttohaveseenourofficer，"headded。"Thefirstoneinthebunchtobe’at’em。’

Withabayonet，too，mindyou。Grabbedonefromaprivateasheranpast，andbombsburstinglikehellallaround。Begpardon，sir，"headded，turningtoBarry。"He’ssomekid，poorchap。He’sgothis，Iguess。"

"Whoishe？"askedtheM。O。

"LieutenantCameron，sir。"

"Cameron！"criedBarry。"Whereishe？"

"Theyarecarryingthestretchercasesrightdowntothedressingstation，Ihear，"saidtheman。

"I’mgoing，doc，"saidBarry，andwasoffatarun。

Atthecasualtyclearingstationtherewasnoexcitement，thedoctorsandorderlies"carryingon"asusual，receivingthewounded，dressingtheirwounds，sendingthemdownwiththesmoothnessanddespatchcharacteristicoftheirdepartment。

"Cameron？"saidthedoctorinanswertoBarry’squestion。"Whycertainly，I’llshowyou。"AndheledhimtoCameron’scot。

"Well，oldchap，"saidthedoctorcheerily，"we’regoingtosendyoudowninaminuteortwo。Nowdon’ttalk。"

Cameron’seyeswelcomedBarry。

"Dearoldboy，"saidBarry，droppingonhiskneesbesidehim。"I’mawfullysorry。"

"It’sallright，"whisperedCameron。"They——never——knew。——You’llwritedad——andtellhim——Ikept——"Thevoicetrailedoffintosilence。Themorphiawasdoingitsmercifulwork。

"Keptthefaith，"saidBarry。

"Yes，"whisperedCameronwithasmile，faintbutexultant。

"Goodoldboy，"whisperedBarry。

"Yes，I——kept——Ikept——"

Thebearerscametocarryoutthestretcher。

"Willherecover？"whisperedBarrytothedoctor。

"Recover？Surestthingyouknow，"saidthedoctorinaloudcheeryvoice。"Wecan’tsparethiskindofstuff，youknow。"

AndagainBarryleanedoverthestretcherandsaid，pattingCameronontheshoulder：

"Goodoldboy。Youmakeusproudofyou。Youkeptthefaith。"

CHAPTERXV

THINNINGRANKS

"Threemonthsinthathell—holeofthesalienthavemadetheirmarkonthisbattalion，"saidTransportSergeantMackay。

"Yes，there’squitealotoftheseroundthefirstlineandbackabouthere，"repliedthepioneersergeant，whowasputtingthefinishingtouchesuponsomecrosses，thatweretobesentupthelinethatnight。

"That’sso，Fatty。Whoseisthatcrossyouarefinishing？"

"That’sLieutenantSalford’s，afineyoungofficerhewas，too。

Alwayshadasmile。ThedeeperthemudthemoreSallysmiled。AndthishereisLieutenantBooth’s。There’sachapnowthatpickedupwonderful。Twomonthsagoeverybodythoughthewasabigsoftslob，andthosebomberssaythathewasall，right。Andhere’stheM。O。’s。Poorolddoc！Therewasaman，now，ifthereeverwasone。Hewasn’tafraidofnothing。Hewouldgowalkingaboutwithasmilewhenabombardmentwason，andinthatlastbigshowtheotherday，theysayhimandthechaplain——there’sanotherpeach——

they’carriedon’wonderful。Iwasn’taroundthereatthetime，buttheboysatthedressingstationtoldmethatthemtwoworkedbackandforwardgettingoutthewounded，Ithinktheyhadaboutthirtyinjuredupatthattime，asifitwasakindofersummershowerthatwasfalling，letaloneH。E。’sandwhizzbangs，andthenaftertheygotthelastmanout，theM。O。wentinwithsomestretcherbearers，justlookin’aroundbeforeheleft，andashellcameandgot’emall，andtheysayitwasaboutthelastshellthatwasthrowed。Andthat’swherepoorHarryHobbsgothis，too。ThePilotwentoutjustaminutebefore，andwhenhecamebackthat’swhathesaw。TheysayhewasterriblecutupovertheM。O。Funnything，theM。O。’sfacewasjustasquietasifhehadgonetosleep，buttherestoftheboys，wellyoucouldhardlyget’emtogether，andthePilotwalkin’upanddowntherelookin’likealostman。Weburied’emrighttherebyMapleCopse。Iwanttotellyou，sergeant，thatthat’sthehardestjobIeverdoneinthiswar。ThePilot，hebrokerightdowninthemiddleoftheservice。

Itmusthavebeenhardforhim。I’vebeenwithhimnowateveryfuneralandhestandsuptohisworklikeaman。Hetakesitkindofcheeryalmost，butwhenwewasputtin’downtheM。O。andpoorHarry，thePilotjustcouldn’tappeartostandit。Icriedlikeababy，andyououghttohaveseenthecrowd，theO。C。andtheadjutantandthepioneers，andtheyareallprettyhardenedupbythistime。Theyhavedoneenoughplantin’anyhow。Theyjustallwenttopieces。Theshellswasgoin’overheadamongthetrees，somethingawful，butnobodymindedmorethaniftheyhadbeenpea—

shooters。FirsttimeIeverseenthePilotbreak，andIhavebeenwithhimeversincethefirstoneweburied，andthatwasbigJimBerry。Asnipergothim。Youdon’tremember？Iguessyoudon’tseemuchorgetmuchofthenewsbackhere。"

"Backhere！"exclaimedSergeantMackay。"Whatdoyoumean，’backhere’？Don’tIhavetogoupeverynightwiththetransport，andthroughthatbarridge，too。Thisaintno’safetyfirst’job。"

"Iknow，sergeant。I’mnotsayin’youain’tatwar。Believeme，I’dratherbeupfrontthantogouproundHellFireCornerandcomebackbytheMeninGateeverynightlikeyoufellows。Iain’tsayin’nothingaboutthat，butyoudon’tseethingsthatIsee，andyoudon’tgetthenewssameasIdo。Now，aboutJimBerry，youknow，hewasgoin’todosomesnipin’inplaceofMcCuaig，whowenttothemachineguncompany。"

"McCuaig，inthemachineguncompany！Ineverheardthat。"

"Well，that’swhatI’msayin’，"saidSergeantMatthews，"youdon’tgetsomeofthechancestogetnewsdownhere，sameasme。Yousee，whenwe’resewin’uptheboysandfixin’’emuplike，andwhenwe’refixin’upthegravesandputtin’onthecrosses，yougetkindofthinkin’aboutthings，andkindoflonesome，andsotheboyskeeptellingthenewstocheerthemselvesup，andthat’showI

heardaboutMcCuaig。Yousee，McCuaigwassnipin’thefirsttour，andhe’sakiller，youbet，andhehadonlycutthreenatchesinhisrifle。TheboyssayhehadgotfouroftheHuns，buthehadonlyputdownthreenatchesonhisrifletobesure，andafterheseenthemachinegunwork，stoppin’araid，hecomestotheofficer，andsayshe，givin’himhisrifle：’Say，thisisallrightforsport，butitain’tgoodenoughforkillin’thesedevils。

I’dliketogetontoyourgang，ifIcan，’andtheyputhimrightontothemachinegun。Say，he’ssleepin’withthatLewisguneversince。Justpetsitlikeababy。WhatwasItellin’you？Oh，yes，aboutMcCuaigandJimBerry。Well，hetookMcCuaig’splacesnipin’andagoodsniperhewastoo。Heusedtohunt，youknow，upinthemountainswithJimKnighteveryfall。Well，hestartedoutsnipin’thedayafterMcCuaigquit，andMcCuaiggavehimhisrifletoo，andtookhimuptothe’hide。’Well，bigJimwasalwaysacarelesscuss，youknow。Hegetshiseyeonthehole，sightin’

hisrifle，andMcCuaigwaswatchin’throughoneofthemnewthings——"

"Perry’sscope。"

"Yes，that’sit，Pariscope。ThemFrenchismightysmartfellows，youbet。WhenalongwalksaHun。’Therehecomes！’singsoutMcCuaig。’Didn’tseehimuntilhegotpast，’saysJim，prettymad，becauseJimhatedtoshowthathe’dgot’buckfever，’orsomething，andwaitedforthenext。’Herehecomes！’saysMcCuaig，again。

’Bang！’goesJim。’I’vegothim，’heshouts，hoppin’uptogetagoodlook，whenMcCuaiggrabshimandjerkshimdown，swearin’

somethin’awful，andtellin’himhewasn’tshootin’nomountaingoats。’Ohshaw！’saysJim。’Theycan’tgetme。’’Youkeepyourheaddown，Jim，’saidMcCuaig。That’stheverylastwordshesaidtohim，justashewasleavin’him。Hewasn’tdownthenextdaywhenbang！goesJim’srifle，andagainuphejumpstoseewhathe’dgot，whenping！goesaBochebulletrightthroughhishead。YouknowMcCuaigwasrealmad，andhestoodquietatthatholeforthreehours。ThenhegotCorporalThomtoshoveupahatonarifle，whenping！comesthebulletandbang！goesJim’srifle。

’Guesshewon’tshootnomore，unlessthere’sshootin’inhell，’

sayshe，andmakesanothernatch。Say，theboysallfeltbadaboutJimandsodidthePilot。Well，wehadtoplanthimthatnight，aswewasgoin’outnextday。ItwasoutbeyondtheLoop。Youdon’tknowwherethatis，Iguess。"

"Ofcourse，Ido，"assertedMackayindignantly。"I’vebeenallaroundthatfrontline。Whatareyougivin’us！"

"Oh，youhave，eh！Well，Iwouldn’tunlessIhadto，youbet。

It’snoplaceforamanwithawaistlinelikemine。Well，asI

wassayin’，thatcemeterywasrightoutintheopen，rightunderobservation，andexposedtomachineguns，snipers，whizbangs，allthehullbloodylotof’em。Wasn’tnoplaceforacemeteryanyway，Isay。I’mnotafteranybombproofjobbutacemeteryshouldbe——"

"Shouldbeaquietandretiredspot，"suggestedoneofthetransportboys。

"Yes。What’stheuseofgettinglivin’menshotupwhenthey’reburyin’deadmen，Iwanttoknow。Notsayinganythingabouttheofficersthat’salwaysround，andthechaplain。Isayacemeteryshouldbesomewhereoutofsight，likeMapleCopse；now，there’sagoodplace，exceptthattherootsmakeitharddiggin’。UpagainstarailwaybanklikethatdownatZillebeck，bytheRailwayDugouts，there’salovelyplace。"

"HowwouldtheRampartsdo，sergeant？"enquiredanothertransportlad。

"Ramparts？YoumeanatYpres？Yes，"saidthesergeant，withagrin，"butI’dhatetoturnouttheBrigadeHeadquartersStaff。"

"Goon，sergeant。"

"Well，asIwassayin’，that’snoplaceforacemeteryuptherebeyondtheLoop，butIdidn’tknowsomuchaboutitthen，youbet。

That’swherewehadtoburyJim。Itwasaawfulblacknight，andofcourse，justaswegotouttothetrenchtogo’overland’tothecemetery，themflaresstartedupsomethingawful。Idon’tknowwhattheywaslookin’for，butwhentheywentup，Iwanttotellyou，Ifeltaboutthesizeofatree，andIwishtIwasone。Well，Jim，youknow，wasprettyheavy，anawfulheavycarryhewasfortheboys。Iwastryin’tohurry’emalong，butthatPilot，heheadstheprocession，andonhegoesatafuneralmarchpace。NowIbelieveindoin’thingsright。I’veheardofsomepioneersthathurriestheirjob。Idon’tbelieveinthat，butwhenyouaregoingacrosstheopenonadarknight，withthemflaresgoingup，Isaybetweenflaresisagoodtimetogetamoveon，but，no，thattherePilot，hejustgoesthatpaceandnomore。Iwanttotellyoutheboyswasnervousandtheofficerstoo。TheO。C。andMajorBusteadwasthere。Icouldseethemajorfussin’togeton。Well，wegotJimdownallright，andjustasthePilotgotstarted，darnediftheydidn’topenupthebiggestkindofamachinegunchorusyoueverheard。"

"Whatdidyoudo，sergeant？"