ome marvellous sketch-maps of
German trenches and positions he'd made from observations through a
periscope. He also had the very latest thing in sectional war maps,
numbered in squares, showing every tree, farm, and puddle and trench: a
place with four cross-roads was called "Confusion Corner," leading to a
farm called "Rest-and-be-Thankful."

10 P.M.--Just got them all off after a strenuous day, and we are to go
up again at 11 P.M.

The two German divisions that reinforced are giving us a tremendous lot
to do.

It is just as well that this department was prepared for this, as it all
goes like clockwork and an enormous amount of suffering is saved by
their preparedness.

The amount that cannot be saved is grim enough.

Must go to bed.

_Tuesday, March 16th._--We loaded up very early this morning with 316
Indians, and are just getting into Boulogne. I expect we shall be sent
up again this evening.

One of the Sikhs wailed before, during, and after his hand was dressed.
A big Mussulman stuffed his hanky between his teeth and bit on it, and
never uttered, and it was a much worse one. What was he to do with
crying, he said; it was right for it to be done. May God bring blessings
on my head; whereas it was full of pain, lo, now it was atcha.

_Wednesday, March 17th._--I didn't tell you that yesterday a kind I.M.S.
colonel at the place where we took the Indians on showed us a huge pile
of used shell cases near the station, and we all had some. I've got a
twelve-pounder and a sixteen-pounder, like my pom-poms, only huge. Next
time he's going to get us some Gurkha's kukries. On the way down a
little Gurkha happened to get off the train for a minute, and when he
looked round the train had gone past him. He ran after it, and perched
on one of the buffers till the next stop, when he reappeared, trembling
with fright, but greeted with roars of amusement by the other Gurkhas.

We had some more to-day, including twelve with mumps, and one who
insisted on coming with his mumpy friend though quite well himself!

We woke this morning at Merville, one of the railheads for Neuve
Chapelle, and loaded up very early--guns going as hard as ever. Mine
were a very bad lot--British (except the twelve native mumpers),
including some brave Canadians. They kept me very busy till the moment
of unloading, which is a difficult and painful business with these bad
ones; but the orderlies are getting very gentle and clever with them. I