hout any resistance.

"They're probably expecting a big attack at dawn, and they've brought us
up in reserve again," some one said.

Sure enough, the attack took place, but, like its predecessor, it
failed, and they naturally expected to be sent back to the trenches at
Poussey. In this, however, they were disappointed. Dawn having broken,
it was apparently thought to be needlessly imprudent to make the
Battalion run the gauntlet once again. So they were allowed to stay
where they were, with the caution that they were to be ready to move
within five minutes of the Colonel's receipt of the order. It may sound
a long time, but only a smart and efficient Battalion can do it. The
Adjutant has to open and acquaint the C.O. of the order. He has to rap
out his own orders. Sleeping men have to be roused, equipment thrown
on, arms taken up. The men have to "fall in" in their right sections;
have to be numbered, have to form fours. If there is any muddle
whatever, a Battalion cannot move off in five minutes.

They slept propped up against the bank for some hours; then they were
moved further up the road into the little village of Souvir. It appeared
that their new role was to act as Local Reserve, and that they could
amuse themselves how they liked as long as they were prepared "to move
off at fifteen minutes' notice."

The men broke into two big barns and made themselves tolerably
comfortable. They lit little fires in the road and began to cook their
breakfasts. The Officers of the Company billeted themselves on the hovel
nearest the barns and set about the same object.

"I think," mused the Senior Subaltern, "that it would be an excellent
idea if some of us went on a foraging expedition. I should not be at all
surprised if we did not have to stop here for weeks. And there may be
one or two things to be picked up--before the others."

So two of them went off on a tour of inspection. Noticing bee-hives
outside the house of the village priest, they went in and bought two
large jars of liquid honey. An estaminet yielded a couple of bottles of
Medoc, and a patisserie, most unexpectedly, some bread.

Having successfully settled their business, there was time to look
around. Souvir was a bigger village than Poussey, and seemed to be
teeming with troops, who looked as if they had been used to the place
for years, and were likely to remain in it longer. The first object of
interest was the church, which had been turned into a hosp