ehind the screen.

"_Dites:_ '_Dieu je vous donne ma vie librement pour ma patrie_'" (God, I
give you my life freely for my country). The priests usually say that to
them, for death has more dignity that way. It is not in the ritual, but
it makes a soldier's death more noble. So I suppose Capolarde said it. I
could only judge by the response. I could hear the heavy, laboured
breath, the choking, wailing cry.

"_Oui! Oui!_" gasped out at intervals. "_Ah mon Dieu! Oui!_"

Again the mumbling, guiding whisper.

"_Oui--oui!_" came sobbing, gasping, in response.

So I heard the whispers, the priest's whispers, and the stertorous
choke, the feeble, wailing, rebellious wailing in response. He was being
forced into it. Forced into acceptance. Beaten into submission, beaten
into resignation.

"_Oui, oui_" came the protesting moans. "_Ah, oui!_"

It must be dawning upon him now. Capolarde is making him see.

"_Oui! Oui!_" The choking sobs reach me. "_Ah, mon Dieu, oui!_" Then
very deep, panting, crying breaths:

"_Dieu--je--vous--donne--ma--vie--librement--pour--ma--patrie!_"

"_Librement! Librement! Ah, oui! Oui!_" He was beaten at last. The
choking, dying, bewildered man had said the noble words.

"God, I give you my life freely for my country!"

After which came a volley of low toned Latin phrases, rattling in the
stillness like the popping of a _mitrailleuse_.

* * * * *

Two hours later he was still alive, restless, but no longer resentful.
"It is difficult to go," he murmured, and then: "Tonight, I shall sleep
well." A long pause followed, and he opened his eyes.

"Without doubt, the next world is more _chic_ than this," he remarked
smiling, and then:

"I was mobilized against my inclination. Now I have won the _Medaille
Militaire_. My Captain won it for me. He made me brave. He had a
revolver in his hand."

LOCOMOTOR ATAXIA

Just inside the entrance gates a big, flat-topped tent was pitched,
which bore over the low door a signboard on which was painted, _Triage
No. 1. Malades et Blesses Assis_. This meant that those _assis_, able to
travel in the ambulances as "sitters," were to be deposited here for
diagnosis and classification. Over beyond was the _Salle d'Attente_, the
hut for receiving the _grands blesses_, but a tent was sufficient for
sick men and those slightly wounded. It was an old tent, weatherbeaten,
a dull, dirty grey. Within the floor was of earth, and along