who, presumably on account of the crush, could
not burst into Germany by the quickest route, had been despatched, _via_
Archangel, to the northern coast of Scotland. Their progress
thenceforwards is, of course, notorious. By now they had safely landed
at Antwerp, and had pursued a career that must have bored them as
monotonously victorious. Namur, "and all those places" had been
captured, and at that moment Maubeuge was being relieved. The Germans
were being sandwiched between the victorious Russian, French and British
Arms. They could only escape as through the neck of a bottle. And the
end of the war was so near, and so definite, that it almost lacked
interest.

The Subaltern was elated. He refused to question the likelihood of such
tales. He was hungry for just such cheering stories of success. And when
he got them, he devoured them with avidity, without ever looking at
them. The effect on him was bracing. It was glorious, he told himself,
to have taken part in such happenings. The only cloud on his horizon was
the fact that the chance to do distinguished acts had never come to him.
The Regimental Colours never required saving under heavy fire, for the
simple reason that they reposed safely at the depot. Neither did the
Colonel, a most profitable person to rescue, ever get wounded in the
open, and give an opportunity for gallant rescue work. He had never had
a chance to "stick a Bosch." He had never drawn his sword in a
triumphant charge, never blazed his revolver in a face, never twisted a
bayonet on a body. It would require courage, he told himself, to admit
these things when he was back again at home.

You must not laugh at the stories of the Machine-Gunner. He believed
what he wanted to believe. Remember, too, that the Allies were then at
the zenith of the greatest victory that was achieved in the first
eighteen months of the war. The strategical ideas of the Machine-Gunner
may have been faulty, but he has saved more lives with his guns than any
doctor in the land.

At about eight o'clock in the morning, the Subaltern saw the Company in
front twisting off the road, and forming up in "mass" in the open field.
They were then in the centre of a large plateau, which offered an
uninterrupted view of miles of flat country on every side. A rough
"outpost" disposition, with which he was fortunately not sent, was
detailed, and the news was spread that there was to be a halt of several
hours.

The business of drying c