\"Well，gentlemen，\"saidthecolonel，\"youhaveallgotyourorders。
Doesanyonewanttoaskaquestion？Well，then，it’sprettysimpleafterall。TwocompaniesadvanceasfarasMapleCopse，andgraduallyworkupuntiltheyfeeltheenemy，thenputinablockandholdagainstattack，atallcosts。TheothertwocompaniesaretofollowupinsupportatZillebeckVillage。Lateron，whenourreservescomeup，andwhenourgunsreturn——Iheartheyarepushingthemuprapidly——wearepromisedagoatthosedevils。Meantimewehavegottoholdon，butIexpectthebattalionwillbepulledoutveryshortly。\"
Theflickeringcandleslitupthefacesofthemencrowdingthedugout。Theywereelaboratelycarelessandjolly，buttheireyesbeliedtheirfaces。Underthecarelessairtherewasatenseandsternlookofexpectation。Theywereallsportsmen，andhadallexperiencedtheanxiousnervousthrillofthemomentsprecedingabigcontest。Oncetheballwasoff，theirnervousnesswouldgo，andtheywouldbecoolandwary，playingthegameforalltheyhadinthem。
\"Now，gentlemen，\"saidthecolonel，astheypreparedtoleavethedugout，\"beforeIletyougo，thereisonethingIwanttosay。
It’satraditionoftheBritisharmythatanysoldierorofficerwhohaslosthisunitmarchestowardthesoundoftheguns。Iamproudto—nightthatwehaveanexampleofthatoldtraditionhere。
Weleftourchaplainbehind，andhedidn’tknowwherehisbattalionhadgone，buthemovedtowardthesoundoftheguns。ThatiswhatIwouldexpectfromanyofyou，gentlemen，butit’snonethelessgratifyingtofindone’sexpectationsrealised。\"
OnlyhisflamingfacerevealedBarry’semotionasthecolonelwasspeaking。
\"Nowthen，gentlemen，carryon，andthebestofluck。\"
\"Sir，\"saidBarry，\"whataboutalittleprayer？\"
\"Fine，\"saidthecolonelheartily，whileroundtheroomthereranamurmurofapproval。
BarrypulledouthislittleBibleandread，notoneofthe\"fightingpsalms\"butthetenderlyexquisitewordsoftheShepherd’ssong。Hisvoicewasclear，steadyandringingwithcheeryconfidence。Hisprayerwasinthespiritofthepsalm，breathinghighcourageandcalmtrust，eveninthepresenceoftheultimateissue。
InasinglesentencehecommendedhiscomradestothekeepingoftheEternalGodofTruthandJusticeandMercy，askingthattheymightbefoundsteadfastintheirhouroftestingandworthyoftheircountryandtheircause。
TogethertheyjoinedintheLord’sprayer；thenliftingoverthemhishands，heclosedthelittleservicewiththatancientandbeautifulformulaofblessing，whichfortwothousandyearshassentmenoutfromtheHolyPlaceofMeetingtofacewithheartsresolvedwhateverlifemightholdforthem。
Onebyone，astheypassedouttheofficersshookhandswithBarry，thankinghimfortheservice，andexpressingtheirdelightthathewaswiththemagain。
\"Whatarewegoingtodowithyou，Pilot？\"inquiredthecolonel。
\"IthoughtI’dstickaroundwiththeboys，\"saidBarry。
\"Well，\"saidthecolonel，gravely，\"ofcourse，there’snouseofyourgoinguptotheattack。Youwouldonlybeintheway。Youwouldbeanembarrassmenttotheofficers。Thatremindsme，therewasacallfromMeninMillforyouthisafternoon。Theyarehavinganawfulrushthere。OurownR。A。P。willbeinZillebeckVillage，andourHeadquarterswillbethere。\"
\"I’llgothere，sir，ifyouagree，\"saidBarry，andaftersomediscussionthematterwassoarranged。
InaruinedcellarinthevillageofZillebeck，amileandahalffurtherin，theR。A。P。wasestablishedandtherecarriedonduringthedesperatefightingofthenextthreedays。Throughthispostacontinuousstreamofwoundedpassed，thestretchercasesallnight，thewalkingcasesalldayandallnight。InspiteofitsscenesofhorrorandsufferingtheR。A。P。wasacheeryspot。ThenewM。O。wasstrangetohisfrontlinebusiness，buthewasoftherightstuff，cool，quickwithhisfingers，andundisturbedbythecrashingofburstingshells。Thestretcherbearersandeventhewoundedmaintainedanairofresolutecheeriness，thathelpedtomakebearablewhatotherwisewouldhavebeenanightmareofunspeakablehorror。AttachedtotheR。A。P。wasanouterbuildingwhereinthewoundedmenwerelaidaftertreatment。Thitherinapauseofhiswork，Barrywouldruntoadministerdrinks，easethestrainofanawkwardposition，speakawordofcheer，sayaprayer，orsingsnatchesofahymnorpsalm。Therewaslittleleisureforreflection，noriftherehadbeenwouldhehaveindulgedinreflection，knowingwellthatonlythuscouldhemaintainhisself—
controland\"carryon。\"
Witheachwoundedmantherecamenewsoftheprogressofthefighting。Theboyswereholdingsplendidly，indeedweregraduallyeatingintotheenemyfront。Theybroughtweirdstoriesofhiscomrades，incidentspathetic，humorous，heroic，accordingtothetemperamentofthenarrator。ButfrommorethanonesourcecametalesofKnight’smachinegunsectiontowhichMcCuaigwasattached。Knighthimselfhadbeenkilledsoonafterenteringtheline，andabouthismenconflictingtalesweretold：theywereholdingastrongpoint，theywereblownup，theyhadshiftedtheirposition，theywerewipedout，theywerestill\"carryingon。\"
McCuaigwastheheroofeverytale。Hewashavingthetimeofhislife。Hehadgonequitemad。Hewasforgoing\"outandover\"
alone。
ThefirstauthenticaccountcamewithyoungPickles，nowarunner，whomadehiswayhobblingtoHeadquarterswithamessagefromA
Company，andwhoreportedthathehadfalleninwithMcCuaigbytheway，andbyhimhadbeencommandeeredtocarryammunition，underthreatofinstantdeath。
\"WheredidyouseeMcCuaigfirst，Pickles？\"Barryinquired，anxioustolearnthetruthabouthisfriend。
\"WayupLover’sWalk，\"saidyoungPickles，whowasinhighspirits，\"underapileofbrushandtrees。Ithoughitwasawildcat，orsomethingmovingandsnarling——thelightwaskindofdim——andwhenIwentuptherewasMcCuaig。Hewasalone。Twoorthreemenwerelyingnearhim，dead，Iguess，andhewasswearing，andtalkingtohimselfsomethingfierce。Iwasscartstiffwhenhecalledmetohim。Iwentover，andhesaystome，’Say，youngster，’justlikethat，’youknowwherethiswalkusedtodropdownintothetrench？
Well，there’salotofmachinegunammunitionoverthere，allfixedupandready。Yougoandbringituphere。’Itriedtogetoutofit，sayin’Iwasbringinga’hurryup’messagedown，butheturnshismachinegunonme，andsays，’Youngman，it’sonlyacoupleofhundredyardsdownthere，andfairlygoodcover。Theycan’tseeyou。Goandbringthatstuffhere。Ifyoudon’tI’llblowyoutohelljustwhereyoustand。’YoubetIpromised。Igotthatammunitionsoquick。Oh，ofcourse，he’scrazy，allright，\"saidyoungPickles，\"butheisfightinglikehell。Ibegpardon，sir。\"
\"Doctor，I’mgoingafterhim，\"saidBarry。\"Hewillstaythereuntilhebleedstodeath。Heismyoldestfriend。\"
\"Allright，padre，ifyousayso，\"saidtheM。O。，\"butit’sanastyjob。Ishouldnotcareforit。\"
Barryknewtheareathoroughly。HegotfromyoungPicklesanexactdescriptionofthelocationofthespotwhereMcCuaighadlastbeenseen，andwiththereturningstretcherbearerssetoffforthewood，whichwasaboutathousandyardsfurtheron。
Thecommunicationtrenchleadinguptothewood，whichhadbeenconstructedwithsuchcareandofwhichtheCanadiansweresoproud，hadbeenblownupfromendtoendbythesystematicandthoroughbombardmentofthethreedaysbefore。Thelittleparty，therefore，wereforcedtomaketheirwayoverlandbythelightofthestarshells。
Theyreachedthewoodinsafety。Barrylookedabouthiminutterbewilderment。Everyfamiliarfeatureofthelandscapewasutterlyblottedout。Thebeautifulambrosialwooditself，ofheavytreesandthicktinder—brush，wasamatoftangledtrunks，abovewhichstoodsplinteredstubs。Notatree，notabranch，hardlyagreenleafwasleft。UnderthatmatoffallentrunkswereAandC
Companies，somewhere，holding，blocking，feelinguptowardtheHun。
Theshellswerewhiningoverhead，goingoutandcomingin，butmostlycomingin。None，however，werefallingonthewoodbecauseherefriendandfoewerelyingalmostwithinbayonetlengthofeachother。Onlyanoccasionalburstfromamachinegunbrokethesilencethathungoverthisplaceofdesolationanddeath。
\"That’sthecompanyHeadquarters，\"saidthestretcherbearer，pointingtowhatlookedlikeabearden，undersomefallentrees。
Barrypushedasidetheblanketandpokinghisheadin，foundDuffandayounglieutenantworkingatatablebythelightofagutteringcandle。
\"FortheloveofGod，Pilot，\"exclaimedDuff，springingupandgrippingBarry’shand，\"it’sgoodtoseeyou，butwhatareyoudoinghere？\"
\"IcameupforMcCuaig，\"saidBarry，afterawarmgreetingtoboth。
\"Oh，say，that’sgood。Wehavegothimasfarasthenextdugouthere，theoldbear。I’vebeentryingtogethimoutforhalfaday。There’sasoldierforyou！He’sbeenpottingBocheswithhisblessedmachinegun，scoutingfromoneholetoanotherforthelasttwodays，andhe’sgotanastywound。I’mawfullygladyouhavecome。\"
\"Howarethingsgoing，Duff？\"
\"Wehavegotthe————ssothattheycan’tmoveafoot，andwe’llholdthem，unlesstheybringupalotofreserves。\"
\"ByJove！Duff，youboysarewonderful。\"
\"Isay，\"saidDuff，brushingasidethecompliment，\"didyoungPicklesgetthrough？Thatyoungdevilisthelimit。You’dhavethoughthewashuntingcoyotes。\"
\"Yes，hegotthrough。Gotablightythough，Iguess。ItwashethattoldmeaboutMcCuaig。\"
\"Well，Pilot，oldman，\"saidDuff，takinghimbythearm，\"getout！
Getout！Don’twastetime。Theremaybeabreakanyminute。Getoutofhere。\"
Duffwasevidentlyinafeverofanxiety。\"Youhadnorighttocomeuphereanyway；though，byJove，I’mgladtoseeyou。\"
\"What’sthefuss，Duff？\"saidBarry。\"AmIinanymoredangerthanyou？Isay，\"hecontinued，withtenseenthusiasm，\"doyourealise，Duff，thataslongasCanadalaststheywilltalkofwhatyouaredoingupherethesedays？\"
\"ForHeaven’ssake，Pilot，getout，\"saidDuffcrossly。\"Youmakemenervous。Besides，youhavegottogetthatwoundedmanout，youknow。Comealong。\"
HehustledBarryoutandovertotheneighbouringdugout，wheretheyfoundMcCuaigwithhisbelovedmachinegunstillathisside。
Thewoundedmanwasverypale，butextremelycheerful，smokingacigarette。
\"I’mgladtoseeyou，sir，\"hesaidquietly，reachingouthishand。
\"Goodoldman，\"saidBarry，grippinghishandhard，\"butyouareablamedoldfool，youknow。\"
McCuaigmadenoreply，buttherewasahappylightonhisface。
UnderDuff’scompellingurgingtheygotthewoundedmanonastretcherandstartedontheirlongandpainfulcarry。
\"Now，boys，\"warnedDuff，\"youareallrightuphere，exceptformachineguns，butdon’ttakeanychancesfurtherout。That’swherethedangeris。Whentheshellscome，don’trushthings。Takeyourtime。Now，good—bye，Pilot，it’sworthalottohaveseenyouanyway。\"
\"Good—bye，oldman，\"saidBarry，smilingathim。\"You’rethestuff。Goodluck，oldman。Godkeepyou。\"
Duffnodded，andwavedhimaway。Thereturntripwasmadeincomparativequiet。
\"Whatdoyouthink，doctor？\"saidBarry，aftertheM。O。hadcompletedhisexamination。
\"Oh，we’llpullhimthroughallright，\"saidtheM。O。\"Whendidyougetthis，McCuaig？\"hecontinued，touchingasmallwoundoverthekidney。
\"Dunno，rightly。GuessIgotitwhenwewasblownup，yesterday。\"
\"Thenwhydidn’tyoucomeinatonce？\"inquiredtheM。O。
indignantly。
McCuaiglookedathiminmildsurprise。
\"Why，theywasallblownup，andtherewasn’tanybodytorunthegun。\"
TheM。O。examinedthewoundmorecloselyandshookhisheadatBarry。
\"Wewon’ttouchthatnow。We’lljustbandageitup。Areyoufeelingprettycomfortable？\"
\"Fine，\"saidMcCuaigwithcheerfulsatisfaction。\"Weheldthemup，Iguess。Theythoughttheywasgoingtowalkrightoverus。Theywascomin’withtheirpacksontheirbacks。Buttheboyschangedtheirmindsforthem，Iguess。\"
Areminiscentsmilelingereduponthelong，eaglelikeface。
HalfanhourlaterBarryfoundaminutetorunintotheadjoiningroomwherethewoundedlay。
\"Anythingyouwant，McCuaig？\"heasked。
\"Adrink，ifyouain’ttoobusy，butIhatetotakeyourtime。\"
\"Oh，yougotothunder，\"saidBarry。\"Takemytime！WhatamI
for？Anypain，Mac？\"
\"No，notmuch。I’malittlesleepy。\"
Barryturnedtheflash—lightonhisface。Hewasstartledtofinditgreyanddrawn。HebroughttheM。O。，whoexaminedthewoundedman’scondition。
\"Nopain，eh，Mac？\"
\"No，sir，\"saidMcCuaigcheerfully。
\"Allright，boy，justliestill，\"saidtheM。O。，beckoningBarryafterhim。
\"Heisgoingout，\"hesaidwhentheyreachedthedressingroom，\"andhe’sgoingfast。Thatwoundinthebackhasbeenbleedingalongtime。\"
\"Oh，doctor，can’tanythingbedone？Youknowhe’sgotaremarkableconstitution。Can’tsomethingbedone？\"
\"Therearetimeswhenadoctorwisheshehadsomeotherjob，\"saidtheM。O。，\"andthisisoneofthem。\"
\"Isay，doctor，willyougetalongwithoutmeforawhile？\"saidBarry。
\"Goon，\"saidtheM。O。，noddingtohim。
Barrytookacandleandwentinbesidehisfriend。Ashesattheregazinguponthegreyingface，thewoundedmanopenedhiseyes。
\"Thatyou，Barry？\"heaskedwithaquietsmile。
Barrystarted。OnlyintheveryfirstweeksoftheiracquaintancehadMcCuaigcalledhimbyhisfirstname，andneverduringthepastmonthshadbeusedanythingbuthisranktitle。Nowallrankdistinctionswereobliterated。Theywereasmantoman。
\"Yes，Mac，it’sme。DoyouknowwhatIwasthinkingabout？IwasthinkingofthefirsttimeIsawyoucomingdownthatrapidinyourcanoe。\"
\"Irememberwell，Barry。Ioftenthinkofit。It’salongtimeago，\"saidMcCuaiginhissoft，slowvoice。\"I’veneverbeensorrybutoncethatIcome，andthattimeitwasmyownfault，butI
didn’tunderstandthegame。\"
\"You’vemadeagreatsoldier，Mac。Weareallproudofyou，\"saidBarry，puttinghishanduponMcCuaig’s。McCuaig’slongthinfingerstighteneduponBarry’shand。
\"IthinkI’mgoingout，\"hesaid，withhiseyesonBarry’sface。
\"Whatdoyouthink？\"
Itwasthetimefortruthtelling。
\"Oh，Mac，oldman，\"saidBarry，puttinghisheaddownclosetohimtohidefromhimtherushoftearsthatcametohiseyes，\"I’mafraidyouare，andIhatetohaveyougo。\"
\"Why，Barry，youcryingforme？\"askedMcCuaiginakindofwonder。
\"Say，boy，I’mawfulgladyoufeelthatway。SomehowIdon’tfeelquitesolonelynow。\"
\"Oh，Mac，youaremyoldest，mybestfriendinthebattalion，inalltheworld，\"saidBarry。
\"Oh，Ijustlovetohearyousaythat，boy。DoyouknowIwantedtotellyouhowIfeltaboutthattimeontheboat，youremember？\"
Barrynodded。\"Barry，tellme，honestInjun，didImakegoodasasoldier？\"
\"Thebestever，\"saidBarry。\"Theyallsayso，officersandmen。
Iheardthecolonelsaysotheotherday。\"
Againthesmilecame。
\"Barry，itwasyouthatdonethatforme。Youshowedme，andyoudoneitsonice。Ineverforgotthat，andIalwayswantedtotellyouhowIfeltaboutit。Barry，youdonealotforme。\"
\"Oh，Mac，don’ttalklikethat，\"saidBarry，tryingtokeephisvoicesteady。\"IdidsolittleandIwantedtodosomuch。\"
\"Say，Iliketohearyou。I’dliketostayalittlelongerjusttobewithyou，Barry。I’vewatchedyoujustlikeyouwasmyownboy，andI’vebeenawfulproudofyou，butIdidn’tliketosayso。\"
Theuncoveringofthegreatloveofthissimple，humbleheartedmanbrokedownBarry’sself—control。Hemadenoefforttocheckhisfallingtears。
\"I’mgetting——kindofweak，Barry，\"whisperedMcCuaig。\"IguessI
won’tbelong，mebbe。\"
HiswordsrecalledBarry’snerve。
\"Mac，wouldyoulikemetosayaprayer？\"heasked。\"Justasyoufeelaboutit，youknow。\"
\"Yes——Iwould——butIain’t——yourreligion——youknow——though——I
like——awfulwell——theway——youtalkabout——Him。\"
\"IknowyouareR。C。，Mac，butafterallyouknowwehavejusttheoneFatherinHeavenandtheoneSaviour。\"
\"Yes，——Iknow，Barry。It’sallthesame。\"
Barryhadasuddeninspiration。
\"Wait，Mac，aminute，\"hesaid。
Hehurriedouttothedressingroom，seekingacrucifix，butcouldfindnonethere。
\"I’llrunacrosstoHeadquarters，\"hesaid。
\"Say，there’samachinegunplayingthatstreetawful，\"saidtheM。O。’ssergeant，\"tosaynothingofwhizzbangs。\"
\"Oh，that’sallright，\"saidBarry。\"I’llmakeadashforit。\"
ButatHeadquartershewasnomoresuccessful。HewentoutintothegardenintherearoftheR。A。P。，andreturnedwithtwosmalltwigs。TheM。O。boundthemtogetherintheformofacross。
BarrytookitandhastenedtoMcCuaig’sside。
Thehurriedbreathingandsunkencheeksofthewoundedmanshowedthattheendwasnotfar。AsBarrykneltbesidehim，heopenedhiseyes。Therewasalookofdistressuponhisface，whichBarryunderstood。Godwasnear。AndGodwasterrible。Hewantedhispriest。
\"Barry，\"hewhispered，\"I’venot——beenagoodman。Ihaven’tbeen——
meantoanybody，——butIused——toswear——andfight，and——\"
\"Mac，listentome。We’reallthesame，\"saidBarry，inaquiet，clearvoice。\"SupposeI’dinjuredyou。\"
\"Youwouldn’t——Barry。\"
\"ButsupposeIdidsomerealmeanthingtoyou，andthencameandsaidIwassorry，wouldyouforgiveme？\"
\"WouldI——I’dneverthink——ofanything——youdid——tome，Barry。\"
\"Mac，that’sthewayyourFatherinHeavenfeelstoyou。Wehavealldonewrong，butHesays，’Iwillblotoutallyoursins。’Youneedn’tfeartotrustHim，Mac。\"
\"Iguess——that’sso，Barry——Iguessthat’s——allright。\"
\"Yes，it’sallright。NowI’llsayaprayer。Look，Mac！\"
Heheldupthelittlewoodencrossbeforehiseyes。Asmileofjoyandsurprisetransfiguredthedyingface。
\"Iseeit！——Isee——it！\"hewhispered，andmadeamovementwithhislips。Barrylaidthecrossuponthem，andwiththatsymboloftheDivineloveandoftheDivinesacrificepressedtothedyinglips，heprayedinwordssuchasachildmightuse。
ForsometimeaftertheprayerMcCuaiglaywithhiseyesshut，thenwithasuddenaccessionofstrength，heopenedthemandlookingupintoBarry’seyes，said：
\"Barry，I’mallrightnow……Youhelpedmeagain。\"
Thelongthinhands，onceofsuchironstrength，begantowanderweaklyovertheblanket，untiltouchingBarry’stheycloseduponit，andhelditfast。
\"I——won’t——forget——you——ever——\"hewhispered。ThenervelessfingerswithdifficultyliftedBarry’shandtothecoldlips。
\"Good——bye——Bar——ry——\"hesaid。
\"Good—bye，dearoldcomrade。Good—bye，dearoldfriend，\"saidBarryinaclearquietvoice，gazingthroughhisfallingtearsstraightintothedyingeyes。
\"Good——night——\"Thewhisperfadedintosilence。Aquietsmilelayonthewhiteface。Theeyesclosed，therewasalittletiredsigh，andthebravetenderspiritpassedontojointhatnoblecompanyofimmortalswhoabideinthePresenceoftheEternalGodofTruthandLove，and\"gonomoreoutforever，\"becausetheyareakintoHim。
Inthesorelytorturedgraveyard，besidethelittleshell—wreckedZillebeckchurch，inaholemadebyanenemyshell，theylaidMcCuaig——afittingrestingplaceforonewhohadlivedhisdaysinthefreewildspacesoftheCanadianwest，afittingtombforasgallantasoldierasCanadaeversentforthtowartomaketheworldfree。
Thatnightthebattalionwasrelieved。Worn，spent，butwithspiritunbroken，theycrawledoutfromunderthatmattedmassoftangledtrunks，sendingouttheirwoundedbeforethem，andleavingtheirburieddeadbehindthem，toholdwithotherCanadiandeadthelinewhichfromSt。Julien，byHooge，SanctuaryWood，andMapleCopse，andMountSorel，andHill60，andontoSt。Eloi，guardsthewaytoYpresandtothesea。ToCanadaeveryfootofhergreatdomain，fromseatosea，isdear，butwhiletimeshalllastCanadawillholddearasherownthatbloodsoakedsacredsoilwhichherdeadbattalionsholdforHonour，FaithandFreedom。
CHAPTERXVII
LONDONLEAVEANDPHYLLIS
TheleavetrainpulledintotheBoulognestationexactlytwenty—sixhourslate。AsBarrysteppedoffthetrainhewasmetbytheR。T。O。，anoldImperialofficerwithabriskandimportantmilitarymanner。
\"YouaretheO。C。train，sir？\"heinquired。
\"Iam，sir，\"repliedBarry，saluting。
\"Youhavehadahardtime，Iunderstand，\"saidtheR。T。O。，drawinghimofftoonesideandspeakinginalowtone。
\"Yessir，weHAVEhadahardtime，\"repliedBarry，\"atleastthemenhave。Thisismyreport，sir。\"
TheR。T。O。tookthedocument，openedit，glancedhurriedlythroughit。
\"Ah，\"hesaid，\"ninety—sevencasualties，thirteenfatal。Verybad。
Sixburned。Thisistrulyterrible。\"
\"Therewereonlytwosoldiersburned，sir，\"repliedBarry，\"butitISterrible，especiallywhenyouthinkthatthemenweregoingonleaveandweresupposedtohavegotquitofthedangerzone。\"
\"Very，veryterrible，\"saidtheofficer。\"Youranoffthetrack，I
understand。\"
\"No，sir，itwasacollision。Theremusthavebeengrosscarelessness，sir，\"saidBarry。\"Itrusttherewillbeaninvestigation。Ihavetakenthelibertytosuggestthat，sir，inmyreport。\"
Barry’svoicewasstern。
\"Youneedhavenoapprehensiononthatscore，sir，\"saidtheR。T。O。，withhiseyesstilluponthereport。\"Thisisveryclearandconcise。Iseeyoumakenomentionofyourownservicesinconnectionwiththeaffair，butothershave。IhavehadamostflatteringtelegramfromtheofficercommandingtheR。A。M。C。，asalsofromtheDivisionalCommander，mentioningyourinitiativeandresourcefulness。Iassureyouthiswillnotbeforgotten。I
understandyouareapadre？\"
\"Yes，sir，\"repliedBarry，whowasgettingratherwearyoftheconversation。
\"AllIhavetosay，then，sir，isthattheCanadianarmymustberichincombatantofficersfor，ifyouwillpardonme，itstrikesmethatthereisadamnedgoodcombatantofficerlostinyou。\"
\"IfIwereabetterpadre，\"repliedBarry，\"Iwouldbecontent。\"
\"Ifancyyouhavelittlegroundforcomplaintonthatscore，\"saidtheR。T。O。，forthefirsttimesmilingathim。
\"MayIask，sir，\"repliedBarry，\"ifmyresponsibilityendshere？\"
\"Yes，unlessyouwanttotakechargeoftheboat。\"
\"I’drathernot，sir，ifyouplease。Howlongbeforeshesails？\"
\"Aboutthreehours。Haveyouanythingtodo？\"
\"IshouldliketovisittheR。A。M。C。hospital。IshouldalsoliketophonetheAmericanhospitalatEtaples。\"
\"Verywell，youcaneasilydoboth。Iwillrunyouupinmycar，ifyoucaretowaitafewmomentsuntilIputthroughsomelittlemattershere。Thenifyouwillbegoodenoughtojoinmeatbreakfast，Icandriveyouupafterwardstothehospital。Thisismycar。Ithinkyouhadbetterstepinandsitdown；youlookratherusedup。\"
