ing him on a
stretcher, giving orders to the bearers to take him without delay to
the hospital life-boats. And so, swaying precariously, he was taken
away down the rough, steep slope, the bearers halting often to regain
their breath. Then, taking not the slightest heed of his mild
protests, they dumped him off the stretcher after they had gone about
half a mile, spread a blanket over him and departed. He lay there
peacefully for an hour or two, and then, becoming thoroughly fed up at
this lack of progress and seeing no point in such delays, called out to
some one he heard near him, to know what possibility there was of a
further move.

"None, old boy," came the discouraging reply. "Stretchers are just
about finish, and there 're dozens of stretcher-cases lying everywhere.
From the looks of things you might be here for a day or two yet."

Mac thought for a minute or two and decided to take matters into his
own hands. He heard some one passing along the path.

"Hullo you! Come over here," he called.

Some one approached.

"What's up, cobber?"

"If you're going to the rear you might as well take me along with you.
I can walk all right. I only want a helping hand. What about it?"

"Well, I'm a Fifth Reinforcements just landed, an' I dunno where all my
mates are gone."

"All right. You might as well come along with me." And so saying, Mac
stood up, shed his blanket, and went off with the man who had lost
himself.

It was broad daylight again, and the Artillery activity was steadily
increasing. They wandered down the dusty bottom of the ravine, Mac
directing the way as best he could. At the bottom of the ravine, near
a battery in furious action, they had to halt for some time owing to a
congestion in the traffic through the big communication saps. Mac
wanted to go along the top, but the other fellow refused flatly as
there were too many bullets flying, and so they had to progress when
opportunity offered through the hot dusty crowded saps. They were
close to the sea by No. 2 Outpost, but the hospital boats had ceased
taking wounded off from there, owing to the heavy rifle fire. Mac
decided to go on to Anzac without delay as, with weakness growing, he
wished to keep going until he reached a hospital-ship. Dragging one
foot after another, he plodded on through the interminable trenches,
though swiftly his strength was going and he had to rest every twenty
yards.

His companion, taking the wrong tur