to get our boy used to his donkey and not
afraid of it. I will have a look at him when (and if) I get home
again. Yesterday I went in the afternoon to put our cemetery straight.
It was being shelled at the time, and as I crept round some of our
batteries afterwards, the guns were being hit, also a rather nice farm
in which they were placed surrounded by a moat. The enemy have been
shelling us this morning too, very closely, but I am tired, and my
nerves, as you know, are not very jumpy! I was up just after 3 o'clock
this morning, and went to various places, nearly being lost in a
quagmire! Two of my men were hit, one by a spent bullet in the
stomach. We can see the bullet, so I expect he will not die. The other
was shot through the thigh, and the bullet stuck in his hand! We have
got it out, and I am forwarding it to the authorities, as it has taken
such a queer shape that one wonders if the German bullets are
according to rules. This is a sketch of the bullet as it was
originally and now. You can imagine what pain such a thing must
give....

[Illustration: Original]

[Illustration: Present shape]

IN BILLETS.
_February 19th, 1915._

We are in support now. As we moved down here one of my men was hit in
the "hinder parts." Very unfair advantage for an enemy to take. Of
course it was dark; we found, however, that he was not dangerously
wounded. That man whose bullet I drew you yesterday had his thigh bone
smashed, poor fellow! Did you see that some officers who were
prisoners had been exchanged by Germany (the incurable ones)? The two
seniors mentioned I knew. One was Major Davey of the Middlesex Regt.,
whose brother lives in Newark. The other is Major Chichester, with
whom I used to hunt in Dover. Did you see French's last despatches? I
heard from Aden last night. The Colonel next junior to me out there
sent all the news. They have had heavy rain, and the whole place is
green (?). It is said not to have happened since the Flood! Then I
received a pessimistic letter from Aunt H---- telling me that lots of
wounded were expected and that the war would not cease. The Kaiser is
not running this world's course. He is only allowed to go on as far as
is good for him and for us. If he were, I should be pessimistic too,
but I have yet to learn that "the arm of the Lord is shortened," and
until then we can rest in peace no matter what