uac--the days of the awakening of
Anzac--to Mac and a dozen of his mates fell the duty of guarding the
exit from the main position to the outposts. The exit consisted of a
large barbed-wire gate across a great communication trench, close to
the stone wall on the beach. They did four-hour watches there night
and day, taking a tally of all who came and went, and watching keenly
for spies. During their daylight hours of duty, Mac and Bill sat on
sandbags under the shady wall of the sap. Their bayoneted rifles
leaned against the bank close at hand, while they, scantily clad in the
scorching hours, lazily noted in tattered note-books the particulars of
sweating, dust-covered wayfarers. When they were not busy, they sat
there automatically flicking away the flies, and watching through a gap
in the trench the horde of naked men on the beach. Passing mules often
left Mac and Bill grousing in a cloud of dust. Aussies, Maoris and New
Zealanders stopped now and then for a few minutes' rest beneath their
awning. They would yarn for a while, and the guards would accept from
their freshly-filled cans a drink of cool spring water. When the
relieving guard came, Mac and Bill just stripped off their shorts, and
ran across the stones for a splash in the sea.

At night they were more alert on guard. Sleepy as Anzac appeared in
the hot sunlight, dark hours shrouded a scene of energy and purpose.
As soon as the evening light had gone, long strings of heavily-laden
mules, with tall Indian muleteers struggling among them, came along the
sap and passed out through the gate. There were pauses, but soon more
mule trains followed, and the earlier ones passed back empty for
further loads. All the time the guard watched carefully lest there
should be strangers attempting to pass through hidden among the mules.
Great piles of bully beef, biscuits, sealed paraffin tins of water and
ammunition grew steadily bigger in hidden spots behind the outposts,
and the troops were light-hearted accordingly.

Platforms had been cut in hill-sides for the accommodation of troops
away from enemy observation, communication trenches had been widened,
some had been bridged and others had been created silently and swiftly
in a single night. Without orders from officers, the troops
energetically overhauled rifles, ammunition and gear; and private
possessions were looked into, diaries written and letters despatched.
Between the opposing lines warfare continu