ing to drop around, and even beyond it.

CHAPTER V

THE BEGINNING OF THE RETREAT

It was from this point that the great "Retreat from Mons" really began.
The road in front of the Battalion was hit by one or two shells.
Apparently it was being "searched," and so the Battalion was hastily
moved into the open fields, assuming what is known as "Artillery
Formation," i.e. small collections of troops, moving on the same
objective, with "irregular distances and depths." By this means many
lives must have been saved. After about a mile of very hurried marching,
through turnip fields and stubble, the road was again reached, and the
Battalion was apparently out of the enemy's range.

The heat was beginning to be intense. The men had marched for the last
three days almost incessantly, and without sufficient sleep. Sunday
night in the firing-line had been full of excitement of battle, and all
Monday morning had been spent at digging trenches. Imagine the state of
the men! Dirty from digging, with a four days' growth of beard, bathed
in sweat, eyes half closed with want of sleep, "packs" missing, lurching
with the drunken torpor of fatigue, their own mothers would not have
known them! There was no time to rest and sleep, when rest and sleep
were the most desirable things on earth. Those men assuredly knew all
the agonies of a temptation to sell for a few moments' sleep their
liberty and lives.

During a halt the Subaltern threw himself so heavily in a cabbage patch,
that his revolver became unhitched from his belt, and when the halt was
over he lurched to his feet and on, without noticing its loss. Careless?
Perhaps, but one of his men lost his rifle and never noticed it, because
he was carrying a spade!

There was, however, one consolation. The Germans had for the time been
shaken off; although the noise of battle could still be heard
uncomfortably near on the left. But if one waits long enough, the
hottest sun must go to rest, and drag its horrible day with it. About
six o'clock the Battalion at last came up with its "Cookers" and
transport. Glory of glories, rest had at last been achieved! Never had
bacon been so welcome, never tea so desirable, so stimulating, so
wonderful.

The Quartermaster-Sergeant had some terrifying tales for the Company
Mess about disasters on less fortunate parts of the line; but there was
no time to go into the matter, for the Battalion was ordered to parade
immediately. This was the las