the
Turks, whose enthusiastic rifle-fire gave life to the proceedings. On
withdrawing from the enclosure, however, the company, instead of
returning to camp, halted as soon as they were out of sight of the
Turks, and lay up in a convenient hollow till dusk. The true cunning of
this daily manoeuvre was now revealed. Had Burjaliye been visited for
the first time on the 16th, the Turks would certainly have had their
suspicions roused and would have been specially on their guard, probably
patrolling the place during the night. But the daily repetition of the
little comedy had led them to suppose that it was a mere instance of the
madness sent by Allah upon all unbelievers, and in consequence, when the
same patrol issued from cover at nightfall and cautiously reoccupied the
enclosure, they found it untenanted, and after sticking their bayonets
into the tiny hut and nearly falling down the well, sent back a cheerful
message that all was clear. They subsequently confessed to certain
qualms when, themselves about 100 yards from the hedge, they perceived,
through a gap, the glowing end of a cigarette, slowly waxing and waning
as an undisciplined Turk, disobeying all the rules of war, solaced his
vigil with tobacco. The escape of a single infidel from the garden, or
even his noisy decease, would have given away the whole business, and
they were much relieved when some careful stalking revealed nothing more
alarming than an inconsiderate fire-fly slowly moving its wings across
its luminous body.

As soon as the all clear came through the rest of the company moved up
and placed a series of sentry groups along the far side of Burjaliye and
down the valley to the west of it. There followed a dreary vigil in
momentary expectation of the arrival of a Turkish patrol, which would
have to be "sunk without a trace"--as the German diplomat said of the
shipping. It was bitterly cold for bare knees and drill shorts. Several
times the curious high-pitched cries with which the Turkish outpost
keeps up his courage or reports his whereabouts issued from the darkness
in front, but there were no developments, and about 11.30 p.m.
unmistakable sounds from the rear announced the fact that the Brigade
had arrived. How it was that the Turk did not also hear the inevitable
disturbance caused by the arrival of some thousands of men, tool
limbers, mules and camels, in utter darkness over unfamiliar and very
rough country, will always be a mystery. But the