h its
advertisement signs still displayed but a great red cross floating above
it, came rocking down the road on its way to the field hospital in the
distance. As yet, however, the business of fighting seemed scarcely to
have commenced.

They passed several small houses and farms, in front of each of
which was stationed a sentry. Once, from the hills behind, a great
white-winged aeroplane glided over his head on its way to make a
reconnaissance. Queerest sight of all, here and there were peasants at
work in the fields. One old man leaned upon his spade and watched as the
car passed. Not a dozen yards from him was a great hole in the ground
where a shell had burst, and a little further away a barn in ruins. The
car was forced to stop here to let a cavalcade of ammunition waggons
pass by. Surgeon-Major Thomson leaned from his seat and spoke to the old
man.

"You are not afraid of the German shells, then?" he asked.

"Monsieur," the old man answered, "one must live or die--it does not
matter which. For the rest, if one is to live, one must eat. Therefore
I work. Four sons I have and a nephew away yonder," he added, waving his
hand southwards. "That is why I dig alone. Why do you not send us more
soldiers, Monsieur l'Anglais?"

"Wait but a little time longer," Thomson answered cheerfully.

The old man looked sadly at his ruined barn.

"It is always 'wait,'" he muttered, "and one grows old and tired.
Bonjour, monsieur!"

The car passed on again and suddenly dropped into a little protected
valley. They came to a standstill before a tiny chateau, in front of
which stretched what might once have been an ornamental garden, but
which was now torn to pieces by gun carriages, convoy waggons, and every
description of vehicle. From the top of the house stretched many wires.
A sentry stood at the iron gates and passed Major Thomson after a
perfunctory challenge. An office with mud-stained boots and wind-tossed
hair, who looked as though he had been out all night, stood on the steps
of the house and welcomed Thomson.

"Hullo, Major," he called out, "just across, eh?"

"This moment," Thomson assented. "Anything fresh?"

"Nothing to speak of," the other replied. "We've just had a message in
that the French have been giving them a knock. We've had a quiet time
the last two days. They're bringing up some more Bavarians, we think."

"Do you think I could have a few words with the General?" Major Thomson
asked.

"Come in and