\"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。