Henodded。\'Bytheway，sir，Pienaar\'swiththesquadron。Hewouldliketocomeupandseeyou。\'
\'Archie，\'Isaidsolemnly，\'beagoodchapanddomeafavour。IfIthinkPeter\'sanywherenearthelineI\'llgooffmyheadwithworry。Thisisnoplaceforamanwithabadleg。HeshouldhavebeeninEnglanddaysago。Can\'tyougethimoff-toAmiens，anyhow？\'
\'Wescarcelyliketo。Yousee，we\'realldesperatelysorryforhim，hisfungoneandhiscareeroverandallthat。Helikesbein\'withusandlistenin\'toouryarns。Hehasbeenuponceortwicetoo。TheShark-Gladas。Heswearsit\'sagreatmake，andcertainlyheknowshowtohandlethelittledevil。\'
\'ThenforHeaven\'ssakedon\'tlethimdoitagain。Ilooktoyou，Archie，remember。Promise。\'
\'Funnything，buthe\'salwaysworryin\'aboutyou。Hehasamaponwhichhemarkseverydaythechangesintheposition，andhe\'dhobbleamiletopumpanyofourfellowswhohavebeenupyourway。\'
ThatnightundercoverofdarknessIdrewbackthedivisiontothenewlypreparedlines。Wegotawayeasily，fortheenemywasbusywithhisownaffairs。Isuspectedareliefbyfreshtroops。
Therewasnotimetolose，andIcantellyouItoiledtogetthingsstraightbeforedawn。Iwouldhavelikedtosendmyownfellowsbacktorest，butIcouldn\'tsparethemyet。Iwantedthemtostiffenthefreshlot，fortheywereveterans。ThenewpositionwasarrangedonthesameprinciplesastheoldfrontwhichhadbeenbrokenonMarch21st。Therewasourforwardzone，consistingofanoutpostlineandredoubts，verycleverlysited，andalineofresistance。Wellbehinditwerethetrencheswhichformedthebattle-zone。Bothzoneswereheavilywired，andwehadplentyofmachine-guns；IwishIcouldsaywehadplentyofmenwhoknewhowtousethem。Theoutpostsweremerelytogivethealarmandfallbacktothelineofresistancewhichwastoholdouttothelast。
IntheforwardzoneIputthefreshestofmyownmen，theunitsbeingbroughtuptosomethinglikestrengthbythedetailsreturningfromleavethattheCorpshadcommandeered。WiththemIputtheAmericanengineers，partlyintheredoubtsandpartlyincompaniesforcounter-attack。BlenkironhadreportedthattheycouldshootlikeDan\'lBoone，andweresimplyspoilingforafight。Therestoftheforcewasinthebattle-zone，whichwasourlasthope。IfthatwenttheBochehadaclearwalktoAmiens。Someadditionalfieldbatterieshadbeenbroughtuptosupportourveryweakdivisionalartillery。ThefrontwassolongthatIhadtoputallthreeofmyemaciatedbrigadesintheline，soIhadnothingtospeakofinreserve。Itwasamostalmightygamble。
Wehadfoundshelterjustintime。At6。3onextday-forachangeitwasaclearmorningwithcloudsbeginningtobankupfromthewest-theBocheletusknowhewasalive。Hegaveusagooddrenchingwithgasshellswhichdidn\'tdomuchharm，andthenmessedupourforwardzonewithhistrenchmortars。At7。20
hismenbegantocomeon，firstlittlebuncheswithmachine-gunsandthentheinfantryinwaves。Itwascleartheywerefreshtroops，andwelearnedafterwardsfromprisonersthattheywereBavarians-
6thor7th，Iforgetwhich，butthedivisionthathungusupatMonchy。Atthesametimetherewasthesoundofatremendousbombardmentacrosstheriver。ItlookedasifthemainbattlehadswungfromAlbertandMontdidiertoadirectpushforAmiens。
Ihaveoftentriedtowritedowntheeventsofthatday。ItrieditinmyreporttotheCorps；Itrieditinmyowndiary；ItrieditbecauseMarywantedit；butIhaveneverbeenabletomakeanystorythathungtogether。PerhapsIwastootiredformymindtoretainclearimpressions，thoughatthetimeIwasnotconsciousofspecialfatigue。Morelikelyitisbecausethefightitselfwassoconfused，fornothinghappenedaccordingtothebooksandtheorderlysouloftheBochemusthavebeenscarified……
AtfirstitwentasIexpected。Theoutpostlinewaspushedin，butthefirefromtheredoubtsbrokeuptheadvance，andenabledthelineofresistanceintheforwardzonetogiveagoodaccountofitself。Therewasacheck，andthenanotherbigwave，assistedbyabarragefromfield-gunsbroughtfarforward。Thistimethelineofresistancegaveatseveralpoints，andLefroyflungintheAmericansinacounter-attack。Thatwasamightyperformance。Theengineers，yellinglikedervishes，wentatitwiththebayonet，andthosethatpreferredswungtheirriflesasclubs。Itwasterriblycostlyfightingandallwrong，butitsucceeded。TheyclearedtheBocheoutofaruinedfarmhehadrushed，andalittlewood，andre-establishedourfront。Blenkiron，whosawitall，forhewentwiththemandgotthetipofanearpickedoffbyamachine-gunbullet，hadn\'tanywordswherewithtospeakofit。\'AndIoncesaidthoseboyslookedpuffy，\'hemoaned。
Thenextphase，whichcameaboutmidday，wasthetanks。IhadneverseentheGermanvariety，buthadheardthatitwasspeedierandheavierthanours，butunwieldy。Wedidnotseemuchoftheirspeed，butwefoundoutallabouttheirclumsiness。Hadthethingsbeenproperlyhandledtheyshouldhavegonethroughuslikerottenwood。Butthewholeoutfitwasbungled。Itlookedgoodenoughcountryfortheuseofthem，butthemenwhomadeourpositionhadhadaneyetothispossibility。Thegreatmonsters，mountingafield-gunbesidesothercontrivances，wantedsomethinglikeahighroadtobehappyin。Theywereuselessoveranythinglikedifficultground。Theonesthatcamedownthemainroadgotonwellenoughatthestart，butBlenkironverysensiblyhadminedthehighway，andweblewaholelikeadiamondpit。Onelayhelplessatthefootofit，andwetookthecrewprisoner；anotherstuckitsnoseoverandremainedtheretillourfield-gunsgottherangeandknockeditsilly。Asfortherest-thereisamarshylagooncalledthePatted\'OiebesidethefarmofGavrelle，whichrunsallthewaynorthtotheriver，thoughinmostplacesitonlyseemslikeasoftpatchinthemeadows。Thisthetankshadtocrosstoreachourline，andtheynevermadeit。Mostgotbogged，andmadeprettytargetsforourgunners；oneortworeturned；andonetheAmericans，creepingforwardundercoverofalittlestream，blewupwithatimefuse。
BythemiddleoftheafternoonIwasfeelinghappier。Iknewthebigattackwasstilltocome，butIhadmyforwardzoneintactandI
hopedforthebest。IrememberIwastalkingtoWake，whohadbeengoingbetweenthetwozones，whenIgotthefirstwarningofanewandunexpectedperil。Adudshellplumpeddownafewyardsfromme。
\'Thosefoolsacrosstheriverarefiringshortandbadlyoffthestraight，\'Isaid。
Wakeexaminedtheshell。\'No，it\'saGermanone，\'hesaid。
Thencameothers，andtherecouldbenomistakeaboutthedirection-followedbyaburstofmachine-gunfirefromthesamequarter。Weranincovertoapointfromwhichwecouldseethenorthbankoftheriver，andIgotmyglassonit。Therewasaliftoflandfrombehindwhichthefirewascoming。Welookedateachother，andthesameconvictionstoodinbothfaces。TheBochehadpusheddownthenorthernbank，andwewerenolongerinlinewithourneighbours。Theenemywasinasituationtocatchuswithhisfireonourflankandleftrear。Wecouldn\'tretiretoconform，fortoretiremeantgivingupourpreparedposition。
Itwasthelaststrawtoallouranxieties，andforamomentIwasattheendofmywits。IturnedtoWake，andhiscalmeyespulledmetogether。
\'Iftheycan\'tretakethatground，we\'refairlycarted，\'Isaid。
\'Weare。Thereforetheymustretakeit。\'
\'ImustgetontoMitchinson。\'ButasIspokeIrealizedthefutilityofatelephonemessagetoamanwhowasprettyhardupagainstithimself。Onlyanurgentappealcouldeffectanything……I
mustgomyself……No，thatwasimpossible。ImustsendLefroy……Buthecouldn\'tbespared。Andallmystaffofficerswereuptotheirnecksinthebattle。Besides，noneofthemknewthepositionasIknewit……Andhowtogetthere？ItwasalongwayroundbythebridgeatLoisy。
SuddenlyIwasawareofWake\'svoice。\'Youhadbettersendme，\'hewassaying。\'There\'sonlyoneway-toswimtheriveralittlelowerdown。\'
\'That\'stoodamnablydangerous。Iwon\'tsendanymantocertaindeath。\'
\'ButIvolunteer，\'hesaid。\'That，Ibelieve，isalwaysallowedinwar。\'
\'Butyou\'llbekilledbeforeyoucancross。\'
\'Sendamanwithmetowatch。IfIgetover，youmaybesureI\'llgettoGeneralMitchinson。Ifnot，sendsomebodyelsebyLoisy。There\'sdesperateneedforhurry，andyouseeyourselfit\'stheonlyway。\'
Thetimewaspastforargument。IscribbledalinetoMitchinsonashiscredentials。Nomorewasneeded，forWakeknewthepositionaswellasIdid。Isentanorderlytoaccompanyhimtohisstarting-
placeonthebank。
\'Goodbye，\'hesaid，asweshookhands。\'You\'llsee，I\'llcomebackallright。\'Hisface，Iremember，lookedsingularlyhappy。
FiveminuteslatertheBochegunsopenedforthefinalattack。
IbelieveIkeptacoolhead；atleastsoLefroyandtheothersreported。TheysaidIwentaboutallafternoongrinningasifIlikedit，andthatIneverraisedmyvoiceonce。It\'sratherafaultofminethatIbellowinascrap。ButIknowIwasfeelinganythingbutcalm，fortheproblemwasghastly。ItalldependedonWakeandMitchinson。TheflankingfirewassobadthatIhadtogiveuptheleftoftheforwardzone，whichcaughtitfairly，andretirethementheretothebattle-zone。Thelatterwasbetterprotected，forbetweenitandtheriverwasasmallwoodandthebankroseintoabluffwhichslopedinwardstowardsus。Thiswithdrawalmeantaswitch，andaswitchisn\'taprettythingwhenithastobeimprovisedinthemiddleofabattle。
TheBochehadcountedonthatflankingfire。Hisplanwastobreakourtwowings-theoldBocheplanwhichcropsupineveryfight。Heleftourcentreatfirstprettywellalone，andthrustalongtheriverbankandtothewoodofLaBruyere，wherewelinkedupwiththedivisiononourright。Lefroywasinthefirstarea，andMastertoninthesecond，andforthreehoursitwasasdesperateabusinessasIhaveeverfaced……Theimprovisedswitchwent，andmoreandmoreoftheforwardzonedisappeared。Itwasahot，clearspringafternoon，andintheopenfightingtheenemycameonliketroopsatmanoeuvres。Onthelefttheygotintothebattle-zone，andIcanseeyetLefroy\'sgreatfigureleadingacounter-attackinperson，hisfaceallpuddledwithbloodfromascalpwound……
Iwouldhavegivenmysoultobeintwoplacesatonce，butI
hadtoriskourleftandkeepclosetoMasterton，whoneededmemost。ThewoodofLaBruyerewasthemaddestsight。AgainandagaintheBochewasalmostthroughit。Youneverknewwherehewas，andmostofthefightingtherewasduelsbetweenmachine-gunparties。Someoftheenemygotroundbehindus，andonlyafineperformanceofacompanyofCheshiressavedacompletebreakthrough。
AsforLefroy，Idon\'tknowhowhestuckitout，andhedoesn\'tknowhimself，forhewasgalledallthetimebythataccursedflankingfire。IgotanoteabouthalfpastfoursayingthatWakehadcrossedtheriver，butitwassomewearyhoursafterthatbeforethefireslackened。Itorebackandforwardbetweenmywings，andeverytimeIwentnorthIexpectedtofindthatLefroyhadbroken。
Butbysomemiracleheheld。TheBocheswereinhisbattle-zonetimeandagain，buthealwaysflungthemout。IhavearecollectionofBlenkiron，starkmad，encouraginghisAmericanswithstrangetongues。OnceasIpassedhimIsawthathehadhisleftarmtiedup。Hisblackenedfacegrinnedatme。\'Thisbitoflandscape\'smightyunsafefordemocracy，\'hecroaked。\'FortheloveofMikegetyourgunsontothosedevilsacrosstheriver。They\'replaguingmyboystoobad。\'
Itwasaboutseveno\'clock，Ithink，whentheflankingfireslackedoff，butitwasnotbecauseofourdivisionalguns。Therewasashortandveryfuriousburstofartilleryfireonthenorthbank，andIknewitwasBritish。Thenthingsbegantohappen。Oneofourplanes-theyhadbeenmarvelsallday，swingingdownlikehawksformachine-gunboutswiththeBocheinfantry-reportedthatMitchinsonwasattackinghardandgettingonwell。Thateasedmymind，andIstartedoffforMasterton，whowasingreaterstraitsthanever，fortheenemyseemedtobeweakeningontheriverbankandputtinghismainstrengthinagainstourright……ButmyG。S。O。2stoppedmeontheroad。\'Wake，\'hesaid。\'Hewantstoseeyou。\'
\'Notnow，\'Icried。
\'Hecan\'tlivemanyminutes。\'
Iturnedandfollowedhimtotheruinouscowshedwhichwasmydivisionalheadquarters。Wake，asIheardlater，hadswumtheriveroppositetoMitchinson\'sright，andreachedtheothershoresafely，thoughthecurrentwaswhippedwithbullets。Buthehadscarcelylandedbeforehewasbadlyhitbyshrapnelinthegroin。Walkingatfirstwithsupportandthencarriedonastretcher，hemanagedtostruggleontothedivisionalheadquarters，wherehegavemymessageandexplainedthesituation。Hewouldnotlethiswoundbelookedtotillhisjobwasdone。Mitchinsontoldmeafterwardsthatwithafacegreyfrompainhedrewforhimasketchofourpositionandtoldhimexactlyhownearweweretoourend……Afterthatheaskedtobesentbacktome，andtheygothimdowntoLoisyinacrowdedambulance，andthenuptousinareturningempty。TheM。O。wholookedathiswoundsawthatthethingwashopeless，anddidnotexpecthimtolivebeyondLoisy。Hewasbleedinginternallyandnosurgeononearthcouldhavesavedhim。
Whenhereachedushewasalmostpulseless，butherecoveredforamomentandaskedforme。
Ifoundhim，withbluelipsandafacedrainedofblood，lyingonmycampbed。Hisvoicewasverysmallandfaraway。
\'Howgoesit？\'heasked。
\'PleaseGod，we\'llpullthrough……thankstoyou，oldman。\'
\'Good，\'hesaidandhiseyesshut。
Heopenedthemonceagain。
\'Funnythinglife。AyearagoIwaspreachingpeace……I\'mstillpreachingit……I\'mnotsorry。\'
Iheldhishandtilltwominuteslaterhedied。
Inthepressofafightonescarcelyrealizesdeath，eventhedeathofafriend。ItwasuptometomakegoodmyassurancetoWake，andpresentlyIwasofftoMasterton。ThereinthatshamblesofLaBruyere，whilethelightfaded，therewasadesperateandmostbloodystruggle。Itwasthelastlapofthecontest。Twelvehoursnow，Ikepttellingmyself，andtheFrenchwillbehereandwe\'llhavedoneourtask。Alas！howmanyofuswouldgobacktorest？……Hardlyabletototter，ourcounter-attackingcompanieswentinagain。Theyhadgonefarbeyondthelimitsofmortalendurance，butthehumanspiritcandefyallnaturallaws。Thebalancetrembled，hung，andthendroppedtherightway。Theenemyimpetusweakened，stopped，andtheebbbegan。
Iwantedtocompletethejob。Ourartilleryputupasharpbarrage，andthelittleIhadleftcomparativelyfreshIsentinforacounter-
stroke。Mostofthemenwereuntrained，buttherewasthatinourrankswhichdispensedwithtraining，andwehadcaughttheenemyatthemomentoflowestvitality。WepushedhimoutofLaBruyere，wepushedhimbacktoouroldforwardzone，wepushedhimoutofthatzonetothepositionfromwhichhehadbeguntheday。
Buttherewasnorestfortheweary。Wehadlostatleastathirdofourstrength，andwehadtomanthesamelongline。Weconsolidateditasbestwecould，startedtoreplacethewiringthathadbeendestroyed，foundtouchwiththedivisiononourright，andestablishedoutposts。Then，afteraconferencewithmybrigadiers，Iwentbacktomyheadquarters，tootiredtofeeleithersatisfactionoranxiety。IneighthourstheFrenchwouldbehere。Thewordsmadeakindoflitanyinmyears。
InthecowshedwhereWakehadlain，twofiguresawaitedme。
Thetalc-enclosedcandlerevealedHamiltonandAmos，dirtybeyondwords，smoke-blackened，blood-stained，andintricatelybandaged。
Theystoodstifflytoattention。
\'Sirr，theprisoner，\'saidHamilton。\'Ihavetoreportthattheprisonerisdeid。\'
Istaredatthem，forIhadforgottenIvery。Heseemedacreatureofaworldthathadpassedaway。
\'Sirr，itwaslikethis。Eversin\'thismornin\'，theprisonerseemedtowakeup。Ye\'llmindthathewasinakindofdreamallweek。Buthegotsomenewnotioninhisheid，andwhenthebattlebeganheexheebitedsignsofrestlessness。Whileshewadliedouninthetrench，andwhileshewaswantin\'backtothedug-out。Accordin\'
toinstructionsIprovidedhimwi\'arifle，buthedidnaseemtokenhowtohandleit。Itwasyourorders，sirr，thathewastohavemeanstodefendhisselfiftheenemycamon，soAmosgie\'dhimatrenchknife。Butverrasoonhelookedasifhewasettlin\'tocuthisthroat，soIdeprivedhimofit。\'
Hamiltonstoppedforbreath。Hespokeasifhewererecitingalesson，withnostopsbetweenthesentences。
\'Ijaloused，sirr，thathewadnalastoottheday，andAmosherewasofthesameopinion。Theendcameattwentyminutespastthree-Ikenthetime，forIhadjustcomparedmywatchwithAmos。Ye\'llmindthattheGairmanswerebeginningabigattack。
Wewereinthefronttrenchofwhattheyca\'thebattle-zone，andAmosandmewaskeepin\'ooreyesontheenemy，whocouldbeobsairveddribblin\'owertheopen。justthentheprisonercatchessightoftheenemyandjumpsuponthetop。Amostriedtoholdhim，buthekickedhimintheface。Thenextwekennedhewasrunnin\'verrafasttowardstheenemy，holdin\'hishandsowerhisheidandcryingoutloudinaforeignlangwidge。\'
\'ItwasGerman，\'saidthescholarlyAmosthroughhisbrokenteeth。
\'ItwasGairman，\'continuedHamilton。\'Itseemedasifhewasappealin\'totheenemytohelphim。Buttheypaidnoattention，andhecamunderthefireoftheirmachine-guns。Wewatchedhimspinroundlikeateetotumandkennedthathewasbyewithit。\'
\'Youaresurehewaskilled？\'Iasked。
\'Yes，sirr。Whenwecounter-attackedwefundhisbody。\'
ThereisagraveclosebythefarmofGavrelle，andawoodencrossatitsheadbearsthenameoftheGrafvonSchwabingandthedateofhisdeath。TheGermanstookGavrellealittlelater。Iamgladtothinkthattheyreadthatinscription。
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
TheSummonsComesforMrStandfastIsleptforoneandthree-quarterhoursthatnight，andwhenI
awokeIseemedtoemergefromdeepsofslumberwhichhadlastedfordays。Thathappenssometimesafterheavyfatigueandgreatmentalstrain。Evenashortsleepsetsupabarrierbetweenpastandpresentwhichhastobeelaboratelybrokendownbeforeyoucanlinkonwithwhathashappenedbefore。Asmywitsgropedatthejobsomedropsofrainsplashedonmyfacethroughthebrokenroof。
Thathurriedmeout-of-doors。Itwasjustafterdawnandtheskywaspiledwiththickclouds，whileawetwindblewupfromthesouthwest。
Thelong-prayed-forbreakintheweatherseemedtohavecomeatlast。AdelugeofrainwaswhatIwanted，somethingtosoaktheearthandturntheroadsintowater-coursesandclogtheenemytransport，somethingabovealltoblindtheenemy\'seyes……ForI
rememberedwhatapreposterousbluffitallhadbeen，andwhatapiteousbrokenhandfulstoodbetweentheGermansandtheirgoal。
Iftheyknew，iftheyonlyknew，theywouldbrushusasidelikeflies。
AsIshavedIlookedbackontheeventsofyesterdayasonsomethingthathadhappenedlongago。Iseemedtojudgethemimpersonally，andIconcludedthatithadbeenaprettygoodfight。
Ascratchforce，halfofitdog-tiredandhalfofituntrained，hadheldupatleastacoupleoffreshdivisions……Butwecouldn\'tdoitagain，andtherewerestillsomehoursbeforeusofdesperateperil。
WhenhadtheCorpssaidthattheFrenchwouldarrive？……IwasonthepointofshoutingforHamiltontogetWaketoringupCorpsHeadquarters，whenIrememberedthatWakewasdead。I
hadlikedhimandgreatlyadmiredhim，buttherecollectiongavemescarcelyapang。Wewerealldying，andhehadonlygoneonastageahead。
Therewasnomorningstrafe，suchashadbeenourusualfortuneinthepastweek。Iwentout-of-doorsandfoundanoiselessworldundertheloweringsky。Therainhadstoppedfalling，thewindofdawnhadlessened，andIfearedthatthestormwouldbedelayed。I
wanteditatoncetohelpusthroughthenexthoursoftension。WasitinsixhoursthattheFrenchwerecoming？No，itmustbefour。Itcouldn\'tbemorethanfour，unlesssomebodyhadmadeaninfernalmuddle。Iwonderedwhyeverythingwassoquiet。Itwouldbebreakfasttimeonbothsides，butthereseemednostirofman\'spresenceinthatuglystriphalfamileoff。OnlyfarbackintheGermanhinterlandIseemedtoheartherumouroftraffic。
AnunsleptandunshavenfigurestoodbesidemewhichrevealeditselfasArchieRoylance。
\'Beenupallnight，\'hesaidcheerfully，lightingacigarette。\'No，I
haven\'thadbreakfast。Theskipperthoughtwe\'dbettergetanotheranti-aircraftbatteryupthisway，andIwassuperintendin\'thejob。
He\'safraidoftheHungettin\'overyourlinesandspyingoutthenakednessoftheland。For，youknow，we\'reuncommonnaked，sir。
Also，\'andArchie\'sfacebecamegrave，\'theHun\'spourin\'divisionsdownonthissector。AsIjudge，he\'sblowin\'upforathunderin\'
bigdriveonbothsidesoftheriver。OurladsyesterdaysaidallthecountrybackofPeronnewaslousywithnewtroops。Andhe\'sgettin\'hisbiggunsforward，too。Youhaven\'tbeentroubledwiththemyet，buthehasgottheroadsmendedandthedevilofalotofnewlightrailways，andanymomentwe\'llhavethefive-point-ninessayin\'Good-mornin\'……PrayHeavenyougetrelievedintime，sir。
Itakeitthere\'snotmuchriskofanotherpushthismornin\'？\'
\'Idon\'tthinkso。TheBochetookanastyknockyesterday，andhemustfancywe\'reprettystrongafterthatcounter-attack。Idon\'tthinkhe\'llstriketillhecanworkbothsidesoftheriver，andthat\'lltaketimetoprepare。That\'swhathisfreshdivisionsarefor……Butremember，hecanattacknow，ifhelikes。Ifheknewhowweakwewerehe\'sstrongenoughtosendusalltogloryinthenextthreehours。It\'sjustthatknowledgethatyoufellowshavegottopreventhisgetting。IfasingleHunplanecrossesourlinesandreturns，we\'rewhollyandutterlydone。You\'vegivenussplendidhelpsincetheshowbegan，Archie。ForGod\'ssakekeepituptothefinishandputeverymachineyoucanspareinthissector。\'
\'We\'redoin\'ourbest，\'hesaid。\'Wegotsomemorefightin\'
scoutsdownfromthenorth，andwe\'rekeepin\'oureyesskinned。
ButyouknowaswellasIdo，sir，thatit\'sneveranab-so-lutecertainty。IftheHunsentoverasquadronwemightbeat\'emalldownbutone，andthatonemightdothetrick。It\'samatterofluck。TheHun\'sgotthewindupallrightintheairjustnowandI
don\'tblamethepoordevil。I\'minclinedtothinkwehaven\'thadthepickofhispushhere。Jenningssayshe\'sdoin\'goodworkinFlanders，andtheyreckonthere\'sthedeuceofathrustcomin\'thereprettysoon。Ithinkwecanmanagethekindoffootlerhe\'sbeensendin\'overherelately，butifLenschorsomeladlikethatweretochoosetoturnupIwouldn\'tsaywhatmighthappen。Theair\'sabiglottery，\'andArchieturnedadirtyfaceskywardwheretwoofourplanesweremovingveryhightowardstheeast。
ThementionofLenschbroughtPetertomind，andIaskedifhehadgoneback。
\'Hewon\'tgo，\'saidArchie，\'andwehaven\'tthehearttomakehim。He\'sveryhappy，andplaysaboutwiththeGladassingle-
seater。He\'salwaysspeakin\'aboutyou，sir，andit\'dbreakhisheartifweshiftedhim。\'
Iaskedabouthishealth，andwastoldthathedidn\'tseemtohavemuchpain。
\'Buthe\'sabitqueer，\'andArchieshookasagehead。\'Oneofthereasonswhyhewon\'tbudgeisbecausehesaysGodhassomeworkforhimtodo。He\'squiteseriousaboutit，andeversincehegotthenotionhehasperkedupamazin\'。He\'salwaysaskin\'aboutLensch，too-notvindictivelike，youunderstand，butquitefriendly。Seemstotakeasortofproprietaryinterestinhim。ItoldhimLenschhadhadafarlongerspelloffirst-classfightin\'thananybodyelseandwasboundbythelawofaveragestobedownedsoon，andhewasquitesadaboutit。\'
IhadnotimetoworryaboutPeter。ArchieandIswallowedbreakfastandIhadapow-wowwithmybrigadiers。BythistimeI
hadgotthroughtoCorpsH。Q。andgotnewsoftheFrench。ItwasworsethanIexpected。GeneralPeguywouldarriveaboutteno\'clock，buthismencouldn\'ttakeovertillwellaftermidday。TheCorpsgavemetheirwhereaboutsandIfounditonthemap。Theyhadalongwaytocoveryet，andthentherewouldbetheslowbusinessofrelieving。Ilookedatmywatch。TherewerestillsixhoursbeforeuswhentheBochemightknockustoblazes，sixhoursofmaddeninganxiety……Lefroyannouncedthatallwasquietonthefront，andthatthenewwiringattheBoisdelaBruyerehadbeencompleted。PatrolshadreportedthatduringthenightafreshGermandivisionseemedtohaverelievedthatwhichwehadpunishedsostoutlyyesterday。Iaskedhimifhecouldstickitoutagainstanotherattack。\'No，\'hesaidwithouthesitation。
\'We\'retoofewandtooshakyonourpinstostandanymore。I\'veonlyamantoeverythreeyards。\'Thatimpressedme，forLefroywasusuallythemostdevil-may-careoptimist。
\'Curseit，there\'sthesun，\'IheardArchiecry。Itwastrue，forthecloudswererollingbackandthecentreoftheheavenswasapatchofblue。Thestormwascoming-Icouldsmellitintheair-butprobablyitwouldn\'tbreaktilltheevening。Where，Iwondered，wouldwebebythattime？
itwasnownineo\'clock，andIwaskeepingtightholdonmyself，forIsawthatIwasgoingtohavehellforthenexthours。Iamaprettystolidfellowinsomeways，butIhavealwaysfoundpatienceandstandingstillthemostdifficultjobtotackle，andmynerveswerealltatteredfromthelongstrainoftheretreat。Iwentuptothelineandsawthebattalioncommanders。Everythingwasunwholesomelyquietthere。ThenIcamebacktomyheadquarterstostudythereportsthatwerecominginfromtheairpatrols。Theyallsaidthesamething-abnormalactivityintheGermanbackareas。
Thingsseemedshapingforanew21stofMarch，and，ifourluckwereout，mypoorlittleremnantwouldhavetotaketheshock。I
telephonedtotheCorpsandfoundthemasnervousasme。Igavethemthedetailsofmystrengthandheardanagonizedwhistleattheotherendoftheline。IwasrathergladIhadcompanionsinthesamepurgatory。
IfoundIcouldn\'tsitstill。IftherehadbeenanyworktodoI
wouldhaveburiedmyselfinit，buttherewasnone。Onlythisfearsomejobofwaiting。Ihardlyeverfeelcold，butnowmybloodseemedtobegettingthin，andIastonishedmystaffbyputtingonaBritishwarmandbuttoningupthecollar。RoundthatderelictfarmIrangedlikeahungrywolf，coldatthefeet，queasyinthestomach，andmortallyedgyinthemind。
Thensuddenlythecloudliftedfromme，andthebloodseemedtorunnaturallyinmyveins。Iexperiencedthechangeofmoodwhichamanfeelssometimeswhenhiswholebeingisfineddownandclarifiedbylongendurance。Thefightofyesterdayrevealeditselfassomethingrathersplendid。Whatriskswehadrunandhowgallantlywehadmetthem！MyheartwarmedasIthoughtofthatolddivisionofmine，thoseraggedveteransthatwereneverbeatenaslongasbreathwasleftthem。AndtheAmericansandtheboysfromthemachine-gunschoolandalltheoddmentswehadcommandeered！AndoldBlenkironraginglikeagood-temperedlion！Itwasagainstreasonthatsuchfortitudeshouldn\'twinout。WehadsnarledroundandbittentheBochesobadlythathewantednomoreforalittle。Hewouldcomeagain，butpresentlyweshouldberelievedandthegallantblue-coats，freshaspaintandburningforrevenge，wouldbetheretoworryhim。
Ihadnonewfactsonwhichtobasemyoptimism，onlyachangedpointofview。Andwithitcamearecollectionofotherthings。Wake\'sdeathhadleftmenumbbefore，butnowthethoughtofitgavemeasharppang。Hewasthefirstofourlittleconfederacytogo。Butwhatanendinghehadmade，andhowhappyhehadbeeninthatmadtimewhenhehadcomedownfromhispedestalandbecomeoneofthecrowd！Hehadfoundhimselfatthelast，andwhocouldgrudgehimsuchhappiness？Ifthebestweretobetaken，hewouldbechosenfirst，forhewasabigman，beforewhomIuncoveredmyhead。Thethoughtofhimmademeveryhumble。Ihadneverhadhistroublestoface，buthehadcomecleanthroughthem，andreachedacouragewhichwasforeverbeyondme。HewastheFaithfulamonguspilgrims，whohadfinishedhisjourneybeforetherest。Maryhadforeseenit。\'Thereisapricetobepaid，\'shehadsaid-\'thebestofus。\'
AndatthethoughtofMaryaflightofwarmandhappyhopesseemedtosettleonmymind。IwaslookingagainbeyondthewartothatpeacewhichsheandIwouldsomedayinherit。IhadavisionofagreenEnglishlandscape，withitsfar-flungscentsofwoodandmeadowandgarden……Andthatfaceofallmydreams，withtheeyessochildlikeandbraveandhonest，asifthey，too，sawbeyondthedarktoaradiantcountry。Alineofanoldsong，whichhadbeenafavouriteofmyfather\'s，sangitselfinmyears:
__There\'saneyethateverweepsandafairfacewillbefainWhenIridethroughAnnanWaterwi\'mybonnybands_again！
Wewerestandingbythecrumblingrailsofwhathadoncebeenthefarmsheepfold。IlookedatArchieandhesmiledbackatme，forhesawthatmyfacehadchanged。Thenheturnedhiseyestothebillowingclouds。
Ifeltmyarmclutched。
\'Lookthere！\'saidafiercevoice，andhisglasseswereturnedupward。
Ilooked，andfarupintheskysawathinglikeawedgeofwildgeeseflyingtowardsusfromtheenemy\'scountry。Imadeoutthesmalldotswhichcomposedit，andmyglasstoldmetheywereplanes。ButonlyArchie\'spractisedeyeknewthattheywereenemy。
\'Boche？\'Iasked。
\'Boche，\'hesaid。\'MyGod，we\'reforitnow。\'
Myhearthadsunklikeastone，butIwasfairlycool。Ilookedatmywatchandsawthatitwastenminutestoeleven。
\'Howmany？\'
\'Five，\'saidArchie。\'Ortheremaybesix-notmore。\'
\'Listen！\'Isaid。\'Getontoyourheadquarters。Tellthemthatit\'sallupwithusifasingleplanegetsback。Letthemgetwellovertheline，thedeeperinthebetter，andtellthemtosendupeverymachinetheypossessanddownthemall。Tellthemit\'slifeordeath。Notonesingleplanegoesback。Quick！\'
Archiedisappeared，andashewentouranti-aircraftgunsbrokeout。Theformationaboveopenedandzigzagged，buttheyweretoohightobeinmuchdanger。Buttheywerenottoohightoseethatwhichwemustkeephiddenorperish。
Theroarofourbatteriesdieddownastheinvaderspassedwestward。AsIwatchedtheirprogresstheyseemedtobedroppinglower。Thentheyroseagainandabankofcloudconcealedthem。
Ihadahorridcertaintythattheymustbeatus，thatsomeatanyratewouldgetback。Theyhadseenthinlinesandtheroadsbehindusemptyofsupports。Theywouldsee，astheyadvanced，thebluecolumnsoftheFrenchcomingupfromthesouth-west，andtheywouldreturnandtelltheenemythatablownowwouldopentheroadtoAmiensandthesea。Hehadplentyofstrengthforit，andpresentlyhewouldhaveoverwhelmingstrength。Itonlyneededaspear-pointtoburstthejerry-builtdamandletthefloodthrough……Theywouldreturnintwentyminutes，andbynoonwewouldbebroken。Unless-unlessthemiracleofmiracleshappened，andtheyneverreturned。
Archiereportedthathisskipperwoulddohisdamnedestandthatourmachineswerenowgoingup。\'We\'veachance，sir，\'hesaid，\'agoodsportin\'chance。\'ItwasanewArchie，withahardvoice，aleanface，andveryoldeyes。
Behindthejaggedwallsofthefarmbuildingswasaknollwhichhadonceformedpartofthehigh-road。Iwentuptherealone，forI
didn\'twantanybodynearme。Iwantedaviewpoint，andIwantedquiet，forIhadagrimtimebeforeme。FromthatknollIhadabigprospectofcountry。Ilookedeasttoourlinesonwhichanoccasionalshellwasfalling，andwhereIcouldhearthechatterofmachine-guns。Westtherewaspeaceforthewoodscloseddownonthelandscape。Uptothenorth，Iremember，therewasabigglareasfromaburningdump，andheavygunsseemedtobeatworkintheAncrevalley。Downinthesouththerewasthedullmurmurofagreatbattle。Butjustaroundme，inthegap，thedeadliestplaceofall，therewasanoddquiet。Icouldpickoutclearlythedifferentsounds。Somebodydownatthefarmhadmadeajokeandtherewasashortburstoflaughter。Ienviedthehumoristhiscomposure。
Therewasaclatterandjinglefromabatterychangingposition。Ontheroadatractorwasjoltingalong-Icouldhearitsdrivershoutandthescreechofitsunoiledaxle。
Myeyesweregluedtomyglasses，buttheyshookinmyhandssothatIcouldscarcelysee。Ibitmyliptosteadymyself，buttheystillwavered。FromtimetotimeIglancedatmywatch。Eightminutesgone-ten-seventeen。Ifonlytheplaneswouldcomeintosight！Eventhecertaintyoffailurewouldbebetterthanthisharrowingdoubt。Theyshouldbebackbynowunlesstheyhadswungnorthacrossthesalient，orunlessthemiracleofmiracles-
Thencamethedistantyappingofananti-aircraftgun，caughtupthenextsecondbyothers，whilesmokepatchesstuddedthedistantbluesky。Thecloudswerebankinginmid-heaven，buttothewesttherewasabigclearspacenowwoollywithshrapnelbursts。I
countedthemmechanically-one-three-five-nine-withdespairbeginningtotaketheplaceofmyanxiety。Myhandsweresteadynow，andthroughtheglassesIsawtheenemy。
Fiveattenuatedshapesrodehighabovethebombardment，nowsharpagainsttheblue，nowlostinafilmofvapour。Theywerecomingback，serenely，contemptuously，havingseenalltheywanted。
Thequietwasgonenowandthedinwasmonstrous。Anti-aircraftguns，singlyandingroups，werefiringfromeveryside。AsI
watcheditseemedafutilewasteofammunition。Theenemydidn\'tgiveatinker\'scurseforit……Butsurelytherewasonedown。I
couldonlycountfournow。No，therewasthefifthcomingoutofacloud。Intenminutestheywouldbeallovertheline。Ifairlystampedinmyvexation。Thosegunswerenomoreusethanasickheadache。Oh，whereinGod\'snamewereourownplanes？
Atthatmomenttheycame，streakingdownintosight，fourfighting-scoutswiththesunglintingontheirwingsandburnishingtheirmetalcowls。Isawclearlytheringsofred，white，andblue。
Beforetheirdownwarddrivetheenemyinstantlyspreadout。
Iwaswatchingwithbareeyesnow，andIwantedcompanionship，forthetimeofwaitingwasover。AutomaticallyImusthaverundowntheknoll，forthenextIknewIwasstaringattheheavenswithArchiebymyside。Thecombatantsseemedtocoupleinstinctively。Diving，wheeling，climbing，apairwoulddropoutofthemeleeordisappearbehindacloud。EvenatthatheightIcouldhearthemethodicalrat-tat-tatofthemachine-guns。Thentherewasasuddenflareandwispofsmoke。Aplanesank，turningandtwisting，toearth。
\'Hun！\'saidArchie，whohadhisglassesonit。
Almostimmediatelyanotherfollowed。Thistimethepilotrecoveredhimself，whilestillathousandfeetfromtheground，andstartedglidingfortheenemylines。Thenhewavered，plungedsickeningly，andfellheadlongintothewoodbehindLaBruyere。
Farthereast，almostoverthefronttrenches，atwo-seaterAlbatrossandaBritishpilotwerehavingadesperatetussle。Thebombardmenthadstopped，andfromwherewestoodeverymovementcouldbefollowed。Firstone，thenanother，climbeduppermostanddivedback，swoopedoutandwheeledinagain，sothatthetwoplanesseemedtocleareachotheronlybyinches。Thenitlookedasiftheyclosedandinterlocked。Iexpectedtoseebothgocrashing，whensuddenlythewingsofoneseemedtoshrivelup，andthemachinedroppedlikeastone。
\'Hun，\'saidArchie。\'Thatmakesthree。Oh，goodlads！Goodlads！\'
ThenIsawsomethingwhichtookawaymybreath。SlopingdowninwidecirclescameaGermanmachine，and，following，alittlebehindandalittleabove，aBritish。Itwasthefirstsurrenderinmid-airIhadseen。InmyamazementIwatchedthecouplerightdowntotheground，tilltheenemylandedinabigmeadowacrossthehigh-roadandourownmaninafieldnearertheriver。
WhenIlookedbackintothesky，itwasbare。North，south，east，andwest，therewasnotasignofaircraft，BritishorGerman。
Aviolenttremblingtookme。Archiewassweepingtheheavenswithhisglassesandmutteringtohimself。Wherewasthefifthman？
Hemusthavefoughthiswaythrough，anditwastoolate。
Butwasit？Fromthetoeofagreatrollingcloud-bankaflameshotearthwards，followedbyaV-shapedtrailofsmoke。BritishorBoche？BritishorBoche？Ididn\'twaitlongforananswer。For，ridingoverthefarendofthecloud，cametwoofourfightingscouts。
Itriedtobecool，andsnappedmyglassesintotheircase，thoughthereactionmademewanttoshout。Archieturnedtomewithanervoussmileandaquiveringmouth。\'Ithinkwehavewononthepost，\'hesaid。
Hereachedoutahandformine，hiseyesstillonthesky，andI
wasgraspingitwhenitwastornaway。Hewasstaringupwardswithawhiteface。
Wewerelookingatthesixthenemyplane。
Ithadbeenbehindtheothersandmuchlower，andwasmakingstraightatagreatspeedfortheeast。Theglassesshowedmeadifferenttypeofmachine-abigmachinewithshortwings，whichlookedmenacingasahawkinacoveyofgrouse。Itwasunderthecloud-bank，andabove，satisfied，easingdownaftertheirfight，andunwittingofthisenemy，rodethetwoBritishcraft。
Aneighbouringanti-aircraftgunbrokeoutintoasuddenburst，andIthankedHeavenforitsinspiration。Curiousastothisnewdevelopment，thetwoBritishturned，caughtsightoftheBoche，anddivedforhim。
WhathappenedinthenextminutesIcannottell。Thethreeseemedtobemixedupinadogfight，sothatIcouldnotdistinguishfriendfromfoe。Myhandsnolongertrembled；Iwastoodesperate。
Thepatterofmachine-gunscamedowntous，andthenoneofthethreebrokeclearandbegantoclimb。Theothersstrainedtofollow，butinasecondhehadrisenbeyondtheirfire，forhehadeasilythepaceofthem。WasittheHun？
Archie\'sdrylipsweretalking。
\'It\'sLensch，\'hesaid。
\'Howd\'youknow？\'Igaspedangrily。
\'Can\'tmistakehim。Lookatthewayheslippedoutashebanked。
That\'shispatenttrick。\'
Inthatagonizingmomenthopediedinme。Iwasperfectlycalmnow，forthetimeforanxietyhadgone。FartherandfartherdriftedtheBritishpilotsbehind，whileLenschinthecompletenessofhistriumphloopedmorethanonceasiftocryaninsultingfarewell。Inlessthanthreeminuteshewouldbesafeinsidehisownlines，andhecarriedtheknowledgewhichforuswasdeath。
Someonewasbawlinginmyear，andpointingupward。ItwasArchieandhisfacewaswild。Ilookedandgasped-seizedmyglassesandlookedagain。
AsecondbeforeLenschhadbeenalone；nowthereweretwomachines。
IheardArchie\'svoice。\'MyGod，it\'stheGladas-thelittleGladas。\'Hisfingerswerediggingintomyarmandhisfacewasagainstmyshoulder。Andthenhisexcitementsoberedintoanawewhichchokedhisspeech，ashestammered-\'It\'sold-\'
ButIdidnotneedhimtotellmethename，forIhaddivineditwhenIfirstsawthenewplanedropfromtheclouds。Ihadthatqueersensethatcomessometimestoamanthatafriendispresentwhenhecannotseehim。Somewhereupinthevoidtwoheroeswerefightingtheirlastbattle-andoneofthemhadacrippledleg。
Ihadneveranydoubtabouttheresult，thoughArchietoldmelaterthathewentcrazywithsuspense。Lenschwasnotawareofhisopponenttillhewasalmostuponhim，andIwonderifbyanyfreakofinstinctherecognizedhisgreatestantagonist。Heneverfiredashot，nordidPeter……IsawtheGermantwistandside-slipasiftobafflethefatedescendinguponhim。IsawPeterveeroververticallyandIknewthattheendhadcome。Hewastheretomakecertainofvictoryandhetooktheonlyway。Themachinesclosed，therewasacrashwhichIfeltthoughIcouldnothearit，andnextsecondbothwerehurtlingdown，overandover，totheearth。
Theyfellintheriverjustshortoftheenemylines，butIdidnotseethem，formyeyeswereblindedandIwasonmyknees。
Afterthatitwasalladream。IfoundmyselfbeingembracedbyaFrenchGeneralofDivision，andsawthefirstcompaniesofthecheerfulbluecoatswhomIhadlongedfor。Withthemcametherain，anditwasunderaweepingAprilskythatearlyinthenightI
marchedwhatwasleftofmydivisionawayfromthebattle-field。
Theenemygunswerestartingtospeakbehindus，butIdidnotheedthem。Iknewthatnowtherewerewardersatthegate，andI
believedthatbythegraceofGodthatgatewasbarredforever。
TheytookPeterfromthewreckagewithscarcelyascarexcepthistwistedleg。Deathhadsmoothedoutsomeoftheageinhim，andlefthisfacemuchasIremembereditlongagointheMashonalandhills。Inhispocketwashisoldbattered_Pilgrim\'s_Progress。ItliesbeforemeasIwrite，andbesideit-forIwashisonlylegatee-thelittlecasewhichcametohimweekslater，containingthehighesthonourthatcanbebestoweduponasoldierofBritain。
Itwasfromthe_Pilgrim\'s_ProgressthatIreadnextmorning，whenintheleeofanapple-orchardMaryandBlenkironandIstoodinthesoftspringrainbesidehisgrave。AndwhatIreadwasthetaleintheendnotofMrStandfast，whomhehadsingledoutforhiscounterpart，butofMrValiant-for-Truthwhomhehadnothopedtoemulate。Isetdownthewordsasasaluteandafarewell:
Thensaidhe，\'IamgoingtomyFather\'s；andthoughwithgreatdifficultyIamgothither，yetnowIdonotrepentmeofallthetroubleIhavebeenattoarrivewhereIam。MyswordIgivetohimthatshallsucceedmeinmypilgrimage，andmycourageandskilltohimthatcangetit。MymarksandscarsIcarrywithme，tobeawitnessformethatIhavefoughtHisbattleswhonowwillbemyrewarder。\'
Sohepassedover，andallthetrumpetssoundedforhimontheotherside。
End