Themannoddedvigorously，stilltwitchingviolentlyandmakinganimalmoanings。
Stillpursuinghisinvestigationsandcontinuingtosympathisewithhispatient，thedoctorenquiredastoothersymptoms，toallofwhichthepatientpromptlyconfessed。Whentheexaminationwascompleted，thedoctorgavehismanaheartyslaponthebackandsaid：
\"You’reallright，myboy。Gotreatyourselftoacupofcocoa，andagood，thicksliceofbreadandraspberryjam——raspberry，remember——andto—morrowyoucanreporttoyourbattalionmedicalofficer。\"
\"What！\"exclaimedtheman。\"Doctor，Ican’tgoupagain。I’mnotfittogoup。\"
\"Oh，yes，youcan，myboy。You’llbeingoodfightingtrimto—
morrow。You’llsee！You’llsee！Comebackheresomeday，perhaps，withaV。C。\"
Thereuponthemanbegantoswearviolently。
\"Here，noneofthat，\"saidthedoctorsharply，\"orupyougoto—
night。\"
Agrinranaroundthedressingstation，inwhichnonejoinedmoreheartilythanthefirstshell—shockman，waitingtobeconveyeddowntheline。
\"Theydon’tgetbytheoldmanoften，nowadays，\"wasDr。Gregg’scomment。
\"Youdon’toftengetcaseslikethis，though，doyou？\"enquiredBarry。
\"Notoften。Wehavepassedthroughthisdressingstationsomethousandsofcases，andwemayhavehadeightortenmalingerers。
Butthisisnotallsham。Thereisastrongmixtureofhysteriaandsuggestionwiththesham。Achapwithahighlyorganisedtemperamentgetsburiedbyashell。Thatisaterrificnerveshock。Heseestwoorthreechapsblowntobits。Anothernerveshock。Nowhehasheardaboutshellshockasaresultofasimilarexperience。Immediatelythesuggestionbeginstoworkandthemandiscoversinhimselfthewellknownsymptomsofgenuineshellshock，and，begad！Idon’twonder。Whatwehavejustgivenhimispartofthetreatmentforhysteria——alittlenervetonic。Agoodsleepmayputhimallrightbyto—morrowmorning。Thechancesare，however，thattheO。C。willsendhimdownforafewdays’restandchange。Ifso，thechapwillbeashappyasaclam。Theboyswillraghimhalftodeathdownthere，sothathewillbekeentogetbackagain，andthechancesaremaygethisV。C。Oh，weallgetscaredstiff，\"laughedGregg。\"Wearenoneofusproudabouthere。
Thatherostuffthatyoureadaboutinthehomepapers，wedon’tknowmuchabout。Wejust’carryon’。\"
\"ByJove，Gregg！That’sallright，buttojust’carryon’inthisbusiness，itseemstome，callsforsomeprettyfineherostuff。\"
\"Well，wedon’tcallitso，\"saidGregg。\"NowI’llseeaboutyourambulance。Ibelievethere’soneaboutreadytogo。IthinkIcanfindaplaceforyouandyourfriend，anditwillsaveyoualongwalk。\"
Theycameawayfromtheoldmillwithmingledfeelings。Barryhadtoacertainextentrecoveredfromhisshock，andhadhimselfsomewhatfirmlyinhand。Cameronwasstillsilentandobviouslyshaken。
Itwasgreydawnwhentheyarrivedatthecamp，physicallyweary，nervouslyexhausted，andsickatheart。BarrywakenedHobbs，whogreetedthemwiththenewsthatthebattalionwasunderorderstogoupthatnight。ByhisownstateBarrywasabletogaugethatofhisfriendCameron。Theexperiencesofthelasttenhourshadbeenlikenothinginhispreviouslife。Thedesolationwroughtbywaruponthefaceofthecountry，uponthebodiesofmen，upontheirsouls，hadsickenedandunnervedhim；andthisherememberedwasanexperienceofonlyabrieftenhours。Hewasconsciousofaprofoundself—distrustandhumiliation，ashethoughtofthoseothermen，thosemedicalofficers，withtheirorderlies，theambulancedrivers，thosewoundedsoldiers。Howcouldtheyendurethishorror，dayinanddayout，forweeksandformonths？Inafewhourshewouldhavetomeethisfellowofficersandthemen。
Theycouldnotfailtoreadinhisfaceallthisthathecarriedinhisheart。
Byhisgrey，haggardfaceheknewthatthesamehorrorandfearhadgonedeepintohisfriend’ssoul。TherecametohimthesuddenthoughtthatCameron，too，mustmeethisfellowofficers，andmustenduretheirsearchingchaff，andthathewouldrevealhimselftohisundoing；fornomancaneverlivedowninhisbattalionthewhisperthatheisa\"quitter。\"ThatverynightCameronwouldbeforcedtoleaduphisplatoonintothefrontline，andmustleadthemstepbystepoverthatsameVlammertingheroad，wherethetransportswerenightlyshelled。Inthepresenceofanydangersoever，hemustnotfalter。Whentheshellswouldbegintofall，heknewwellhowtheeyesofhismenwouldturntotheirleaderandsearchhisverysoultoseeofwhatqualityhewas。Farbetteramanshoulddiethanfalter。HehadnotfailedtonoticethestartledlookinCameron’seyeswhenHobbsblurtedouthisnews。
Somewaymustbefoundforthebracingupofthenerve，thesteadyingofthecourageofhisfriend。
\"Comeinwithme，Cameron，\"hesaid，standingatthedoorofhishut。\"I’mdeadbeatandsoareyou。We’llhavecoffeeandsomegrub，andthensleepforacoupleofhoursuntilreveille。\"
Cameronhesitated。Thethinghemostlongedforatthatmomentwastobealone。
\"Comeon！\"insistedBarry。\"Hobbswillhaveafiregoing，andhotcoffeeintenminutes。Comeon，oldchap。Iwantyouto。\"
HethrewhisarmaroundCameron’sshoulderanddraggedhimin。TheboydroppedontoBarry’scot，and，ashewas，bootsandcoaton，wasasleepbeforethecoffeewasready。Hisboyishface，withitshaggardlook，struckpitytoBarry’sheart，andrecalledhisfather’swords，\"Theseboysneedtheirmothers。\"Ifeveraladneededhismother，itwasyoungCameron，andjustinthathour。
Hewoketheboyup，gavehimhiscoffee，hadHobbsremovehisboots，madehimundressandcoveredhimupinhisblankets。Then，takinghisowncoffee，helaydownonHobbs’bed。
\"Harry，\"hesaid，\"giveuseveryminuteofsleepyoucan。Wakeusjustone—halfhourbeforereveillewithcoffeeandeverythingelsegoodyoucanrustle，and，Harry，wakenmebeforeMr。Cameron。\"
Whenhelaydowntosleephemadeanamazingdiscovery——thathisownhorrorandfearandself—distrusthadentirelypassedaway。Hefelthimselfquitepreparedto\"carryon。\"Howhadthisthingcometopass？Hisphysicalrecuperationbymeansofcoffeeandfood？
Thisdoubtlessinpart，butonlyinpart。Inhisconcernforhisfriendhehadforgottenhimself，andinforgettinghimselfhehadforgottenhisfear。Itwasanamazingdiscovery。
\"ThankthegoodGod，\"hesaid。\"Heneverforgetsafellow，andI
won’tforgetthat。\"
HewoketofindHobbsathisside，withcoffee，toastandbacon，andonthefloorbesidehiscothistubawaitinghim——thetubbeingarubberreceptacleexactlyeighteeninchesindiameter。
Hehurriedthroughhisdressing，andhisbreakfast，allthewhileCameronlyinglikeadeadman，andwithalmostadeadman’sface。
Barryhatedtowakenhim，butreveillewasbutabarethirtyminutesoff，andhehadanexperimenttoworkuponhisfriend。
\"Bringthecoffee，Harry。Notthebacon，yet，\"heordered。
\"Hello，Cameron，oldboy！Wakeup。\"
Cameronrolledoverwithagroanandopenedhiseyes，stilldullandheavywithsleep。
\"Hereyouare。Pipethisdownyourtunnelandlooklively，too。
Youhavegotthirtyminutes——twenty—five，really——toreveille，andyouhaveyourtoilettoperform——shave，massage，manicureandalltherest——sogotoit。Here’syourtub。Youcan’tgetintoit，butsoapyourselfover，andHobbswillsluiceyouwithapailortwooutside。\"
\"WhyallthisSpartanstuff？It’sawfullycold。IthinkI’llcontentmyselfwithanoserubthismorning。\"
\"Getoutofbed，andbequickaboutit，\"commandedBarry，\"unlessyou’drathertakeyourtubwhereyouare。\"
Sosayinghejerkedtheclothesclearoffthecot，threateningCameronwiththetub。Cameronsprangup，stripped，soapedhimselfover，groaningandshiveringthewhile；thenstoodoutsideintheopen，whileHobbsadministeredtheorderofthebath，andafteravigorousrub，cameinglowing。
\"Byjingo！That’sbully！It’sapityafellowcan’talwaysfeeljusthowbullyitisbeforehetakesit。\"
\"Na—a—wthen！alittlesnap！\"orderedBarry，inattemptedimitationoftheinimitableSergeantMajorHackett。\"Alittlespeed，ple—ease！That’sbetter。I’veseenworse——notoften！\"
AndsoherattledonthroughCameron’sdressingandshavingoperations。
\"Nowthen，’Obbs，alittleDelmonico’ere。Shovethisbaconagainstyourfice，Cameron。\"
\"Whataboutyours，sir？\"saidCameron，ashesatdowntotheluxurieswhichsomehowHobbshad\"rustled。\"
\"Hadit，youslacker。\"Thenwithaswiftchangeofvoiceandmannerheadded：\"Listentome，Cameron。I’mgoingtohavemyprayers。Youwon’tbothermeany，andifyoudon’tmindI’lldothemoutloud。Don’tyoustopeating，though。Hobbs，stopyourwanderingaroundthereandsitdownandlisten。\"BarrytookhisBible。
\"Cameron，\"hesaid，\"onecomfortinreadingtheBibletoachapwithafatherlikeyoursisthatyouknowallaboutthethingalready——context，historicalreferencesandtheologicalteaching——
therefore，noneedofcomment。Alsoyouhaveagoodimaginationtoseethings。TurnonthejuicewhileIread。Hobbs，youwakenup，too。\"
ThenhebegantoreadthevividwordswhichpictureasinminiatureetchingsthelifestoriesoftheheroesofFaithwhointheirdayheldtheirgenerationsteadyandpointedthewaytodutyandvictory。Ashereadhisfacebecamealight，hisdarkeyesglowed，hisvoicethrilledunderthenoblepassionofthewordsheread。
Thenhecametothisstatelyperoration：
\"AndwhatshallImoresay？ForthetimewouldfailmetotellofGideon，\"andsoonthroughthelistofheroes，\"Whothroughfaithsubduedkingdoms，wroughtrighteousness，obtainedpromises，stoppedthemouthsoflions，（ofwhomtheworldwasnotworthy）。Whereforeseeingwealsoarecompassedaboutwithsogreatacloudofwitnesses，letuslayasideeveryweight，andthesinwhichdothsoeasilybesetus，andletusrunwithpatiencetheracethatissetbeforeus，lookinguntoJesus，theauthorandfinisherofourfaith，who，forthejoythatwassetbeforehim，enduredthecross，despisingtheshame，andissetdownattherighthandofthethroneofGod。\"
Bothreaderandhearersweresweptalonguponthetideofdramaticpassion。Theywerethemselvesapartofthegreatandeternalconflicttherepictured；they，too，werecalledupontoendurethecross。
Cameronhadforgottenhisbreakfast，andwithhiskindlingeyesfasteneduponthereader’sface，waslisteningtothenoblemusicofthethrillingwords。
Barryclosedhisbookandlaiditdown。
\"Great，eh！Wonderfulcompany！Allthefinestandthebestofthewar’sheroesareinit。Now，then，prayer——\"Hedroppedonhisknees，CameronandHobbsfollowinghisexample。
Itwasaprayerchieflyofthanksgivingforthosewhointheirdayandinthefaceofanguishandterroranddeathhadkeptthefaith；
ofthanksgiving，too，forallwhointhispresentdayofsacrificeinthehomelandandofsacrificeuponthefieldofbattlewerekeepingthatsamefaithfortheEmpireandforthissamesacredcauseofhumanity。Theprayerclosedwithasimplepetitionthattheyinthebattalionmightbefoundworthyofahumbleplaceinthatgreatcompany。
Astheywererepeatingtogethertheprayer\"OurFather，\"thenotesofthereveillesoundedshrillyoverthecamp。
\"Goout，Hobbs，foraminute，\"saidBarryaftertheyhadrisenfromtheirprayer。HeknewwellthatCameronwouldwantafewminuteswithhimalone。
\"Sir，\"saidtheboy，andhisvoicewasquietandsteady，\"I’mnotgoingtotrytothankyou，butIbelieveIcan’carryon’now。\"
\"Youbetyoucan，\"saidBarry，grippinghishand。\"Youbetyoucan！It’sthepointofviewafterall，oldman，isn’tit？Forourselvesitdoesn’tmatter，butwehavegottothinkoftheboys，andwehavegottostaywiththegame。\"
Eighteenhourslaterthereliefwascompleted，andthebattalionwasinitsplaceintheline，allbutthesentriesasleepintheirflimsydugoutsandbehindtheirrottenparapets。
Anhourlater，Barry，whowassleepingwiththeM。O。intheregimentalaidpost，waswakenedfromadeadsleepbytheM。O。
\"There’ssomethingdoingoutthere，\"hesaid。\"Listen！\"
Therewasaquicksuccessionofsharpexplosions。
\"Bombs！\"saidtheM。O。
Theexplosionswerefollowedbytherat—tat—tat——tat—tat——tat—tat—
tatofthemachineguns。Instantlytheywerebothontheirfeetandoutinthetrench。
\"IguessFritzieistryingtoputsomethingoveronus，beingourfirstnight，\"saidtheM。O。\"I’llgetmyboysout。\"
Herantotheadjoiningdugout，wherehiscorporalandstretcherbearersweresleeping，rousedthemandsentthemupthetrench。
Therewasthesoundofsubduedvoicesandofquickmarchingfeetalongthecommunicationtrenchafewyardsaway。Theystoodtogetherlisteningforafewminutes。
\"I’mgoing，\"saidBarry，hurryingoffinthedirectionofthesound。\"Comeon。\"
\"CaptainDunbar，\"calledtheM。O。sharply，\"myplaceishere，andIthinkthisiswhereyouwillbemostusefulaswell。Theywillbringthewoundedtousrighthere。\"
Inafewminutesallwasstillagain，exceptforthemachineguns，whichstillkeptuptheirincessanttattoo。
TheM。O。wascorrectinhisforecast。Inafewminutesdownthecommunicationtrenchcameawoundedmanwalking，jubilantinspiteofhiswounds。
\"Fritzietriedtoputoneoveronus，\"heexclaimed，whilethedoctorwasdabbingwithiodineandtyinguphiswoundedarm，\"butI
thinkhe’sgotanotherguesscoming。Yououghttohaveseenourofficer，\"headded。\"Thefirstoneinthebunchtobe’at’em。’
Withabayonet，too，mindyou。Grabbedonefromaprivateasheranpast，andbombsburstinglikehellallaround。Begpardon，sir，\"headded，turningtoBarry。\"He’ssomekid，poorchap。He’sgothis，Iguess。\"
\"Whoishe？\"askedtheM。O。
\"LieutenantCameron，sir。\"
\"Cameron！\"criedBarry。\"Whereishe？\"
\"Theyarecarryingthestretchercasesrightdowntothedressingstation，Ihear，\"saidtheman。
\"I’mgoing，doc，\"saidBarry，andwasoffatarun。
Atthecasualtyclearingstationtherewasnoexcitement，thedoctorsandorderlies\"carryingon\"asusual，receivingthewounded，dressingtheirwounds，sendingthemdownwiththesmoothnessanddespatchcharacteristicoftheirdepartment。
\"Cameron？\"saidthedoctorinanswertoBarry’squestion。\"Whycertainly，I’llshowyou。\"AndheledhimtoCameron’scot。
\"Well，oldchap，\"saidthedoctorcheerily，\"we’regoingtosendyoudowninaminuteortwo。Nowdon’ttalk。\"
Cameron’seyeswelcomedBarry。
\"Dearoldboy，\"saidBarry，droppingonhiskneesbesidehim。\"I’mawfullysorry。\"
\"It’sallright，\"whisperedCameron。\"They——never——knew。——You’llwritedad——andtellhim——Ikept——\"Thevoicetrailedoffintosilence。Themorphiawasdoingitsmercifulwork。
\"Keptthefaith，\"saidBarry。
\"Yes，\"whisperedCameronwithasmile，faintbutexultant。
\"Goodoldboy，\"whisperedBarry。
\"Yes，I——kept——Ikept——\"
Thebearerscametocarryoutthestretcher。
\"Willherecover？\"whisperedBarrytothedoctor。
\"Recover？Surestthingyouknow，\"saidthedoctorinaloudcheeryvoice。\"Wecan’tsparethiskindofstuff，youknow。\"
AndagainBarryleanedoverthestretcherandsaid，pattingCameronontheshoulder：
\"Goodoldboy。Youmakeusproudofyou。Youkeptthefaith。\"
CHAPTERXV
THINNINGRANKS
\"Threemonthsinthathell—holeofthesalienthavemadetheirmarkonthisbattalion，\"saidTransportSergeantMackay。
\"Yes，there’squitealotoftheseroundthefirstlineandbackabouthere，\"repliedthepioneersergeant，whowasputtingthefinishingtouchesuponsomecrosses，thatweretobesentupthelinethatnight。
\"That’sso，Fatty。Whoseisthatcrossyouarefinishing？\"
\"That’sLieutenantSalford’s，afineyoungofficerhewas，too。
Alwayshadasmile。ThedeeperthemudthemoreSallysmiled。AndthishereisLieutenantBooth’s。There’sachapnowthatpickedupwonderful。Twomonthsagoeverybodythoughthewasabigsoftslob，andthosebomberssaythathewasall，right。Andhere’stheM。O。’s。Poorolddoc！Therewasaman，now，ifthereeverwasone。Hewasn’tafraidofnothing。Hewouldgowalkingaboutwithasmilewhenabombardmentwason，andinthatlastbigshowtheotherday，theysayhimandthechaplain——there’sanotherpeach——
they’carriedon’wonderful。Iwasn’taroundthereatthetime，buttheboysatthedressingstationtoldmethatthemtwoworkedbackandforwardgettingoutthewounded，Ithinktheyhadaboutthirtyinjuredupatthattime，asifitwasakindofersummershowerthatwasfalling，letaloneH。E。’sandwhizzbangs，andthenaftertheygotthelastmanout，theM。O。wentinwithsomestretcherbearers，justlookin’aroundbeforeheleft，andashellcameandgot’emall，andtheysayitwasaboutthelastshellthatwasthrowed。Andthat’swherepoorHarryHobbsgothis，too。ThePilotwentoutjustaminutebefore，andwhenhecamebackthat’swhathesaw。TheysayhewasterriblecutupovertheM。O。Funnything，theM。O。’sfacewasjustasquietasifhehadgonetosleep，buttherestoftheboys，wellyoucouldhardlyget’emtogether，andthePilotwalkin’upanddowntherelookin’likealostman。Weburied’emrighttherebyMapleCopse。Iwanttotellyou，sergeant，thatthat’sthehardestjobIeverdoneinthiswar。ThePilot，hebrokerightdowninthemiddleoftheservice。
Itmusthavebeenhardforhim。I’vebeenwithhimnowateveryfuneralandhestandsuptohisworklikeaman。Hetakesitkindofcheeryalmost，butwhenwewasputtin’downtheM。O。andpoorHarry，thePilotjustcouldn’tappeartostandit。Icriedlikeababy，andyououghttohaveseenthecrowd，theO。C。andtheadjutantandthepioneers，andtheyareallprettyhardenedupbythistime。Theyhavedoneenoughplantin’anyhow。Theyjustallwenttopieces。Theshellswasgoin’overheadamongthetrees，somethingawful，butnobodymindedmorethaniftheyhadbeenpea—
shooters。FirsttimeIeverseenthePilotbreak，andIhavebeenwithhimeversincethefirstoneweburied，andthatwasbigJimBerry。Asnipergothim。Youdon’tremember？Iguessyoudon’tseemuchorgetmuchofthenewsbackhere。\"
\"Backhere！\"exclaimedSergeantMackay。\"Whatdoyoumean，’backhere’？Don’tIhavetogoupeverynightwiththetransport，andthroughthatbarridge，too。Thisaintno’safetyfirst’job。\"
\"Iknow，sergeant。I’mnotsayin’youain’tatwar。Believeme，I’dratherbeupfrontthantogouproundHellFireCornerandcomebackbytheMeninGateeverynightlikeyoufellows。Iain’tsayin’nothingaboutthat，butyoudon’tseethingsthatIsee，andyoudon’tgetthenewssameasIdo。Now，aboutJimBerry，youknow，hewasgoin’todosomesnipin’inplaceofMcCuaig，whowenttothemachineguncompany。\"
\"McCuaig，inthemachineguncompany！Ineverheardthat。\"
\"Well，that’swhatI’msayin’，\"saidSergeantMatthews，\"youdon’tgetsomeofthechancestogetnewsdownhere，sameasme。Yousee，whenwe’resewin’uptheboysandfixin’’emuplike，andwhenwe’refixin’upthegravesandputtin’onthecrosses，yougetkindofthinkin’aboutthings，andkindoflonesome，andsotheboyskeeptellingthenewstocheerthemselvesup，andthat’showI
heardaboutMcCuaig。Yousee，McCuaigwassnipin’thefirsttour，andhe’sakiller，youbet，andhehadonlycutthreenatchesinhisrifle。TheboyssayhehadgotfouroftheHuns，buthehadonlyputdownthreenatchesonhisrifletobesure，andafterheseenthemachinegunwork，stoppin’araid，hecomestotheofficer，andsayshe，givin’himhisrifle：’Say，thisisallrightforsport，butitain’tgoodenoughforkillin’thesedevils。
I’dliketogetontoyourgang，ifIcan，’andtheyputhimrightontothemachinegun。Say，he’ssleepin’withthatLewisguneversince。Justpetsitlikeababy。WhatwasItellin’you？Oh，yes，aboutMcCuaigandJimBerry。Well，hetookMcCuaig’splacesnipin’andagoodsniperhewastoo。Heusedtohunt，youknow，upinthemountainswithJimKnighteveryfall。Well，hestartedoutsnipin’thedayafterMcCuaigquit，andMcCuaiggavehimhisrifletoo，andtookhimuptothe’hide。’Well，bigJimwasalwaysacarelesscuss，youknow。Hegetshiseyeonthehole，sightin’
hisrifle，andMcCuaigwaswatchin’throughoneofthemnewthings——\"
\"Perry’sscope。\"
\"Yes，that’sit，Pariscope。ThemFrenchismightysmartfellows，youbet。WhenalongwalksaHun。’Therehecomes！’singsoutMcCuaig。’Didn’tseehimuntilhegotpast，’saysJim，prettymad，becauseJimhatedtoshowthathe’dgot’buckfever，’orsomething，andwaitedforthenext。’Herehecomes！’saysMcCuaig，again。
’Bang！’goesJim。’I’vegothim，’heshouts，hoppin’uptogetagoodlook，whenMcCuaiggrabshimandjerkshimdown，swearin’
somethin’awful，andtellin’himhewasn’tshootin’nomountaingoats。’Ohshaw！’saysJim。’Theycan’tgetme。’’Youkeepyourheaddown，Jim，’saidMcCuaig。That’stheverylastwordshesaidtohim，justashewasleavin’him。Hewasn’tdownthenextdaywhenbang！goesJim’srifle，andagainuphejumpstoseewhathe’dgot，whenping！goesaBochebulletrightthroughhishead。YouknowMcCuaigwasrealmad，andhestoodquietatthatholeforthreehours。ThenhegotCorporalThomtoshoveupahatonarifle，whenping！comesthebulletandbang！goesJim’srifle。
’Guesshewon’tshootnomore，unlessthere’sshootin’inhell，’
sayshe，andmakesanothernatch。Say，theboysallfeltbadaboutJimandsodidthePilot。Well，wehadtoplanthimthatnight，aswewasgoin’outnextday。ItwasoutbeyondtheLoop。Youdon’tknowwherethatis，Iguess。\"
\"Ofcourse，Ido，\"assertedMackayindignantly。\"I’vebeenallaroundthatfrontline。Whatareyougivin’us！\"
\"Oh，youhave，eh！Well，Iwouldn’tunlessIhadto，youbet。
It’snoplaceforamanwithawaistlinelikemine。Well，asI
wassayin’，thatcemeterywasrightoutintheopen，rightunderobservation，andexposedtomachineguns，snipers，whizbangs，allthehullbloodylotof’em。Wasn’tnoplaceforacemeteryanyway，Isay。I’mnotafteranybombproofjobbutacemeteryshouldbe——\"
\"Shouldbeaquietandretiredspot，\"suggestedoneofthetransportboys。
\"Yes。What’stheuseofgettinglivin’menshotupwhenthey’reburyin’deadmen，Iwanttoknow。Notsayinganythingabouttheofficersthat’salwaysround，andthechaplain。Isayacemeteryshouldbesomewhereoutofsight，likeMapleCopse；now，there’sagoodplace，exceptthattherootsmakeitharddiggin’。UpagainstarailwaybanklikethatdownatZillebeck，bytheRailwayDugouts，there’salovelyplace。\"
\"HowwouldtheRampartsdo，sergeant？\"enquiredanothertransportlad。
\"Ramparts？YoumeanatYpres？Yes，\"saidthesergeant，withagrin，\"butI’dhatetoturnouttheBrigadeHeadquartersStaff。\"
\"Goon，sergeant。\"
\"Well，asIwassayin’，that’snoplaceforacemeteryuptherebeyondtheLoop，butIdidn’tknowsomuchaboutitthen，youbet。
That’swherewehadtoburyJim。Itwasaawfulblacknight，andofcourse，justaswegotouttothetrenchtogo’overland’tothecemetery，themflaresstartedupsomethingawful。Idon’tknowwhattheywaslookin’for，butwhentheywentup，Iwanttotellyou，Ifeltaboutthesizeofatree，andIwishtIwasone。Well，Jim，youknow，wasprettyheavy，anawfulheavycarryhewasfortheboys。Iwastryin’tohurry’emalong，butthatPilot，heheadstheprocession，andonhegoesatafuneralmarchpace。NowIbelieveindoin’thingsright。I’veheardofsomepioneersthathurriestheirjob。Idon’tbelieveinthat，butwhenyouaregoingacrosstheopenonadarknight，withthemflaresgoingup，Isaybetweenflaresisagoodtimetogetamoveon，but，no，thattherePilot，hejustgoesthatpaceandnomore。Iwanttotellyoutheboyswasnervousandtheofficerstoo。TheO。C。andMajorBusteadwasthere。Icouldseethemajorfussin’togeton。Well，wegotJimdownallright，andjustasthePilotgotstarted，darnediftheydidn’topenupthebiggestkindofamachinegunchorusyoueverheard。\"
\"Whatdidyoudo，sergeant？\"
