tion, sat in front with the driver
and told him the various turns to take. Clouds of dust blew back into
the ambulance as we sped onward. It was a curious expedition. The war
seemed to be more real than ever. One felt that a new page in its
history was being turned. I wondered what was in store for us and
what our experiences were going to be. I was also surprised that (p. 244)
one was able to go forth without any emotion upon an adventure of such
magnitude. On and on we rattled down the moonlit roads, past sleeping
villages, and round sharp curves which jolted us in the car, until at
last, at half-past two, we pulled up suddenly in front of some large
iron gates which gave entrance to the grounds of a chateau standing
back some distance from the road. The A.D.M.S. and his staff got out
and hunted for a cottage which they could use as an office.

I thought I had better go off and find a place where I could spend the
rest of the night. With my haversack over my shoulder and followed by
Alberta, I entered the gate, and made my way up the avenue till I came
to the Chateau. It was a large and picturesque building, and stood out
nobly against the outline of the trees in the park. The moon lit up
the gray stone front, which was made all the richer by the variegated
light and shade. The mansion, however, showed no inclination to be
hospitable. All the windows were tightly closed with shutters, and
there was no appearance of life anywhere. I knew we were not far from
the advancing Germans, and I supposed that the inhabitants had all
fled. I was so cold and tired that I determined to force an entrance
and spend the night inside. I walked round to the back, where I saw a
great park richly wooded. A large door in the centre of the building,
reached by a broad flight of stone steps, seemed to offer me a chance
of getting inside. I went up and tried the handle, when, to my surprise,
the door opened and I found myself in a beautiful hall richly
furnished and lighted by a lamp. Antlers hung on the wall, and the
place had the appearance of an English country-house. After my long
ride, and at that hour of the night, I felt as if I were in a dream. I
saw a door to the right, and opening it was admitted to a modern
drawing-room luxuriously furnished. A grate fire was burning on the
hearth, and on a centre-table stood silver candelabra with lighted
candles. There were also plates of bread and butter, some very nice
cups and saucers, and