\"Thiswon’tdo，\"saidtheO。C。abruptly。\"GetDunbaroverhere。\"
\"Dunbar，\"saidtheO。C。whenBarryhadcometohim。\"Thisthingisasdullasditchwater。Iwanttogettheboysstartedupabit。
Theyarehopelesslydull。Lookattheireyes。Doyouknowwhattheyareseeing？\"
\"Yes，sir，\"saidBarry，\"theyareseeingwhattheyhavebeenlookingatforthelastthirteendays。\"
\"Youareright，Dunbar，andthat’swhatIwantthemtoforget。NowIknowyoudon’tfeelveryfit，andIhatetoaskyou，butI
believeyoucandosomethingforthemenwiththatviolinofyours。
Whatdoyousay？\"
\"Ihavealreadysentamanforit，\"saidMajorBayne。\"Iknewhe’ddoit，andhisviolinliesthereunderthepiano。\"
WithoutannouncementorprefaceBarrywalkedstraighttothestagewhereColeman，havingmiserablyfailedtostrikefirewith\"TheTulipandtheRose，\"wasgrindingout，withgreatdiligenceandconscientiousenergy，\"IrishEyes。\"Barrypickeduphisviolinfromthefloor，mountedthestage，laidhisviolinonthepiano，thenhetookhisplacebehindthepianistand，bendingoverhim，reacheddown，caughthimunderthelegsandwhilestillinfulltideofhisperformance，liftedhimsquarelyoffthestoolanddepositedhimuponachairatonesideofthestage。Then，ignoringtheamazedlookuponColeman’sface，heproceededgravelytotunehisviolintothepiano。Theactitself，thecoolneatnesswithwhichitwasperformed，theastonishedfaceoftheoutragedpianist，alltogethercreatedasituationexcessivelyfunny。Theeffectupontheaudiencewasfirstoneofsurprise，thenofunalloyeddelight。Immediatelyeverymaninthehallwaswideawake，andasthehumourofthesituationgrewuponthem，theybegantocheerinquitealivelymanner。
WhenBarryputhisviolintohischintheycheeredagain，foroftenhadhebewitchedthemwiththemagicofhisinstrument。
Beforehebegantoplay，heglancedoverhisshoulderatthediscomfitedColemanandremarkedinanundertone，perfectlyaudiblethroughoutthehall，\"Nowwe’llhavesomemusic。\"
Againtheaudiencewentoffinaperfectstormofdelightedcheers，whichwererenewedfromtimetotimeasBarrywouldturnlookingwithagravefaceuponthestillamazedColeman，notyetquiterecoveredfromhisfirstastonishment。
Whenquietwasfinallyrestored，Barrybegantoplay。Forhisopeningnumberhemadeadaringchoice。ItwastheintricatebutaltogethertunefulBalladeandPolonaisebyVieuxtemps。Throughoutthesomewhatlengthynumberheheldhisaudiencefixedunderthemasteryofhisart。Itwasatriumphimmediateandcomplete。WhenhehadfinishedthelastbrilliantmovementofthePolonaise，themenburstagainintoenthusiasticcheering，movednotonlybythemusicbutmorebythespiritoftheirchaplain，whichtheycouldnotfailtounderstandandappreciate。
HehadalreadyachievedwhattheO。C。haddesired，buthewasnotyetdonewiththem。Havingfinishedhisclassicalselection，whichhewasquitewellawareColemancouldnottouch，heturnedtothelatterandgravelymotionedhimtothepianostool。Colemanhesitated，notknowingquitewhatwouldbedemandedofhim。
\"Comeon，Coleman，beasport，\"shoutedayoungofficer，theaudiencejoiningoncemoreinencouragingcheers。
StillColemanhesitated。Oneneverknewjustwhatvagarythechaplainmightputon。Failingtomovehimbyimploringgesture，Barryfinallyapproachedhim，andwithelaborate，courteousformality，offeredhimhishand，andfinallyconductedhimtothepianostool。Againthedelightedaudiencewentintoaroarofcheers。
Fromthatmoment，andforafullhour，Barryhadthemathiswill，nowlisteningspellboundtosomesimpleoldheartsong，nowbeatinghandandfoottoareel，nowroaringtothelimitoftheirlungpowersomeoldandwell—lovedpopularair。
\"Ain’theabird？\"saidthemajortotheCommandingOfficer。
\"He’sfine，\"assentedtheCommandingOfficerwithagreatsigh。\"I
can’ttellyouwhataburdenhehasliftedfromme。It’sworthaweek’sresttothemen，and，poorchaps，theyneedit。\"Loweringhisvoice，heleanedovertothemajorandsaid，\"Wemaybegoingupagainto—morrownight。\"
\"To—morrownight，colonel！\"exclaimedthemajor，aghast。
\"Notaword，butIhaveexceedinglygravenews。Thefrontlineisdrivenin。Oneofthebattalionsholdingiscompletelywipedout。\"
\"Wipedout？GoodGod，andwherearetheenemy？\"
\"AsfarasIcanhear，althoughIhaven’ttheparticulars，theyhavebrokenthroughfromHoogetoHill60，arethroughSanctuaryWood，anddowntoMapleCopse。Tworeliefbattalionshavegoneupandareholding。Thechancesareweshallhavetogotobackthemupto—morrowevening。It’shardontheboys，fortheyhavecomethroughalongandbitterexperience，butnotawordofthis，major，toanyone。Weshallletthemhavetheirrestto—night。
That’swhyIwassoanxiousaboutthisentertainment。That’swhyI
amparticularlygratefultothatPilotofours。Heisawonder，andbythelookofhimheisaboutallin。Heisstayingmagnificentlywiththegame。Andnow，major，Iamgoingtodosomethingthatwillpleasehimimmensely。AtleastIthinkitwill。\"
Atapauseinthemusic，theO。C。aroseandmovedtowardthestage。Barryatoncesteppedbacktotherear。Standingbeforethemen，theO。C。spokebriefly：
\"Iwishtothankinyourname，men，ourchaplain，andhisassistant，Mr。Coleman，fortheverydelightfuleveningtheyhavegivenus。I
knowhowyoufeelbythewayIfeelmyself。Ineedsaynomore，andnow，seeingthatwehavemissedourparadeserviceforthelasttwoSundays，andasIshouldnotlikethechaplaintobecomerustyinhisduty，I’mgoingtoaskhimtobringourverypleasanteveningtoaclosewithalittleservicesuchashehimselfwouldsuggest。\"
Hardlywerethewordsoutofhismouth，whenBarrytookuphisviolinandsaid：
\"Boys，didyouhaveagoodtimeto—night？\"
\"Yes，sir；youbetwehad，sir。\"
\"Well，then，ifyouhad，singthis，\"andrecitedforthemthefirstversesoftheoldhymn，\"Abidewithme，fastfallstheeventide。\"
Whentheyhadsungthefirstverse，hesaidagain：
\"Nowsingthesewords，\"andoncemoreherecitedthestirringverse：
\"Ifearnofoe，withTheeathandtobless。\"
Whentheyhadfinishedtheverse，hesaidtothem\"Shallwehaveanother？\"
\"Goon，sir！\"theysaid。\"Surething！\"\"Finishitup！\"
\"Then，\"saidBarry，\"singthesewords\"：
\"IneedThypresenceeverypassinghour，WhatbutThygracecanfoilthetempter’spower。\"
Thenwhenhehadfinishedtheverse，hedroppedtheviolinand，movingtotheedgeoftheplatform，said，inavoicevibrantwithemotion：
\"Don’tsingthesewords，butsaythemasIplaythemforyou。\"
Hethenrecitedthemovingwordswithwhichtheoldhymncloses：
\"HoldThouThycrossbeforemyclosingeyes；
Shinethroughthegloomandpointmetotheskies；
Heaven’smorningbreaks，andearth’svainshadowsflee，Inlife，indeath，OLord，abidewithme。\"
\"IwanteveryoneofyoutosaythewordstohimselfasIplaythem。\"
Inlong—drawn，tremulousnoteshevoicedthebeautifulpleaforaidinthehourofman’ssupremeneed，whichfindsexpressioninthefirsttwolines。Then，withhisbowgrippingthestringsinagreatsweepingcrescendo，hepouredforthinfullstrongchordsthetriumphantfaithwithwhichthehymncloses。
Helaidhisviolinonthepiano，stoodquiteafewmomentslookinguponthem，thensaid：
\"Men，listentothesegreatwords。Theymighthavebeenwrittenforus，andforthesedays；\"andherecitedtothemthewordsoftheHebrewpsalm，eloquentofcourageinthefaceofacrumblingworld：
\"Godisourrefugeandstrength，averypresenthelpintrouble。
Thereforewillnotwefear，thoughtheearthberemoved，andthoughthemountainsbecarriedintothemidstofthesea。
Thoughthewatersthereofroarandbetroubled，thoughthemountainsshakewiththeswellingthereof。Selah。
Thereisariver，thestreamswhereofshallmakegladthecityofGod，theholyplaceofthetabernaclesoftheMostHigh。
Godisinthemidstofher；sheshallnotbemoved。Godshallhelpherandthatrightearly。
Theheathenraged，thekingdomsweremoved；heutteredhisvoice，theearthmelted。
TheLordofhostsiswithus；theGodofJacobisourrefuge。
Selah。
Come，beholdthewordsoftheLord，whatdesolationshehathmadeintheearth。
Hemakethwarstoceaseuntotheendoftheearth；hebreakeththebow，andcutteththespearinsunder：heburneththechariotinthefire。
BestillandknowthatIamGod；Iwillbeexaltedamongtheheathen，Iwillbeexaltedintheearth。
TheLordofhostsiswithus；theGodofJacobisourrefuge。\"
ThentheyfollowedhimintheGeneralConfession，andtheLord’sprayer。
\"CaptainDunbar，\"saidtheO。C。，offeringhimhishand，\"youhavedoneforusto—nightagreaterthingthanyouknowjustnow。Youwillunderstandbettertomorrow。WithallmyheartIthankyouonthemen’sbehalfandonmyownbehalf，forIassureyouIneededitasmuchastheydid。Iwanttoassureyou，too，sir，thatI
receivedto—nightthethingIneeded。\"
\"Thankyou，sir，\"saidBarrysimply，toowearytoutteranotherword，andstaggeredout，halfdeadwithexhaustion。
Halfanhourlater，ashewasleisurelyundressing，anddrinkingthecupofcocoawhichMonroehadpreparedforhim，amessagesummonedhimtotheorderlyroom。TherehefoundColonelLeightonwithMajorBayneandthecompanycommanders。
\"Ihaveacommunicationhereforyou，CaptainDunbar，\"saidtheO。C。，\"fromyourD。A。C。S。，\"andhepassedhimalittleslip。
Itwastheannouncementofhis\"leave。\"
\"Well，whatdoyouthinkofthat？\"saidtheO。C。\"Howdoesthatsuityou？\"
\"Well，sir，\"saidBarry，uncertaintyandhesitationinhisvoice，\"I’dliketheleave，allright，butcanIconvenientlybesparedjustnow？\"
\"Mostcertainly，\"saidtheO。C。，\"and，what’smore，Iwantyoutogoto—night。Canyougetready？\"
\"Isupposeso，sir，\"saidBarry，wearily。
\"ByJove！listentohim，\"saidtheO。C。\"Hehatestoleaveus，doesn’the？\"Andtheyalllaughed。\"Now，Dunbar，\"hesaid，\"nomoreposing。Youcatchtheleavetrainto—nightatPoperinghe。Asamatteroffact，Ithinkitstartssomewhereabouttwelve。\"
\"Thankyou，sir，\"saidBarry。\"IthinkIcancatchit。\"
\"Thengoodluck！\"saidtheO。C。，risingfromhischair。\"Everyoneofusherewouldliketobeinyourplace，butsinceitisn’thimself，everymanisgladthatitshouldbeyou。\"
StillBarryhesitated。
\"Ireallyhatetoleaveyou，sir，justnow，\"hesaid。\"Imeanthat，\"headdedwithalittlenervouslaugh。
\"Oh，comeon，Dunbar，\"saidtheO。C。inavoicewhosegruffnessmightsignifyalmostanyemotion，butwithatouchuponhisshoulderthatBarryknewmeantcomradeship。\"Saygood—byetotheboyshere，andgetout。\"
Theyhadjustfinishedtheplanforthecampaignofthenextnight，andeverymaninthatlittlecompanyknewthatforhimthismightbehislast\"Good—bye\"tothechaplain。ItonlyaddedtothedepthoftheirfeelingthattheyknewthatofallthisBarrywasunconscious。But，whetheritwasthatunconsciouslyhehadgatheredsomethingoftherealsignificanceofthesituation，orwhetheritwasthathehimselfhadreachedthelimitofemotionalcontrol，ashepassedfrommantoman，shakinghandsinfarewell，hislipsrefusedtoutterasingleword，butinhiseyeswereunshedtearsthatspokeforhim。
MajorBaynefollowedhimtothedoor，andoutside：
\"TakemyhorseandMonroewithyou，andgood—bye，oldman。Allsortsofgoodluck。Rememberthatweallfeelto—nightthatyouarereallyoneofus，andthatwearebettermenbecausewehaveknownyou。Goodbye。\"
AgainBarrywasconsciousofthatstrangesuggestion，almostofimpendingcalamity。
\"Ihatetogo，major，\"hesaid。\"IbelieveI’llwait。\"
\"Nonsense，\"saidthemajorimpatiently。\"Takeyourleavewhenyougetyourchance，andhaveagoodtime。Youhaveearnedit。\"
CHAPTERXVI
THEPASSINGOFMcCUAIG
AtPoperinghetheleavetrainwaswaitinginthestation，andalittlecompanyofofficersandmenwerehavingtheirpapersexaminedpreparatorytotheirsecuringtransportation。SomeoftheofficerswerefromhisownbrigadeandwereknowntoBarry。
\"Abigpushonatthefront，Ihear，\"saidoneofthemtoafriend。
\"Yes，major，\"saidhisfriend。\"Theyhavebeenhavingaperfecthellofatime。\"
\"Bytheway，yourmenaregoinginto—morrow，Iunderstand，\"saidthemajor，turningtoBarry。
\"Idon’tthinkso，major，\"repliedBarry。\"Wehavejustcomeout。\"
\"Oh，well，Ihaditfromfairlygoodauthoritythattheyweregoinginto—morrownight。\"
BarryhuntedupMonroe，whomhefoundtalkingtoasignallerofthebattalion。
\"Didyouboyshearanythingaboutthebattaliongoingupto—morrow？\"
\"Yes，sir，\"saidthesignallerpromptly。\"Wehaditoverthewires。Theyaregoingin，allright，to—morrownight。\"
Monroekickedthesignallerontheankle。
\"Didyouhearanythingaboutit，Monroe？\"enquiredBarry。
\"No，sir。Idon’tbelievetheserumoursatall。Theyarealwaysflyingabout。\"
\"Butyousayyougotitoverthewires？\"saidBarrytothesignaller。
\"Yes，sir。Thatis，sir，ofcourse，wegetalotofmessages。
PerhapsI’mmixedup，\"saidthesignallerinveryevidentconfusion。
\"Andyouhaven’theardanything，Monroe？\"saidBarry。
\"No，sir，notathing，andIthinkIwouldhaveheardiftherehadbeenanytruthinit。\"
SomethinginthechildlikeexpressionofinnocenceuponMonroe’sfacewakenedBarry’ssuspicion。
\"Lookhere，Monroe，\"hesaid，\"don’tlietome。Now，I’mtalkingtoyouasyourchaplain。Tellmethetruth。Haveyouheardofthebattaliongoinginto—morrow？\"
UnderBarry’seyeMonroebegantosquirm。
\"Well，sir，totellyouthetruth，Ididheararumourofthatkind。\"
\"Andyou？\"saidBarry，turninguponthesignaller，\"tellmethetruth。\"
\"Well，sir，it’sjustasIsaid。Wehaditoverthewires。Thebattalionisgoingin。\"
\"Verywell，getmystuff，Monroe，\"saidBarry，quietly。\"I’mgoingback。\"
\"Ibegyourpardon，sir。\"
\"Doyouhearme？Getmystuff；I’mnotgoingoutto—night。\"
Barry’stoneadmittednofurthertalk，andMonroe，swearingdeeplyathisfriendthesignallerandathisownstupidity，andespeciallyathisown\"lackofnervetoseehisliethrough，\"
huntedoutBarry’sbaggageandstoodreadyforhisofficertoreturn。
\"Hello，Dunbar，\"saidthemajor，ashesawBarryabouttomounthishorse。\"What’sup？Forgottensomething？You’llsurelymissyourtrain。\"
\"I’mnotgoing，\"saidBarrybriefly，gettinghimselfsettledinhissaddle。
\"Notgoing！\"exclaimedthemajor。\"Whatdoyoumean？Ithoughtyouwereonleave。\"
\"Changedmymind，\"saidBarrycheerfully。
\"Isay，oldman，\"saidthemajor，\"theremaybenothinginwhatI
toldyouaboutthepush。Anyway，youknowwecannotpostponeourleaveuntilallthefightingisover。\"
\"Oh，that’sallright，\"repliedBarry。\"Therearelotsofyoucombatantchapsinabattalion，butthereisonlyonechaplain。\"
\"Oh，hangitall，\"criedthemajor，\"takeyourleave。Well，\"
seeingthatBarrypaidnoheedtohisadvice，\"thebestofluck，oldman，\"hesaid，offeringhishand。\"Iguessyou’reallrightafterall。\"
TheexhilarationthathadsustainedBarryduringtheeveningsuddenlyfled，leavinghimflatinspiritandlimpinbody。Whathewantedmostofallwassleep，andmorningwasnotsofaraway。
Herodebacktohishut，and，biddingMonroelethimsleepallday，hetumbledintobedandknewnothinguntillateintheafternoon。
Monroe，too，hadsleptin，and，afterrising，hadbeenbusyaboutthehut，sothathehadnofurtherinformationastothebattalion’smovements。Thechaplain’shutwassomedistancefromHeadquartersandfromthebattalioncamp。HenceitcamethatwhileBarrywaswritinghardathislettersthroughouttheremainderoftheafternoon，hewasquiteunawareofwhatwastakingplace。Monroe，however，returnedaboutsixo’clocktosaythatthebattalionhadbeen\"standingto\"allafternoon，butthatthegeneralfeelingwasthattherewouldbenoadvanceuntillateatnight。
Gladoftheopportunitytocatchupwithhiscorrespondence，Barrypaidlittleheedtothepassingoftime。HislastletterwastotheV。A。D。，inwhichhepouredoutthebitternessofhisdisappointmentthathewasnotevennowonhiswaytoBoulogneandtoher，andexpressingthehopethatafterthis\"show\"wasover，hewouldbegrantedleave，uponwhichhappyeventhewouldwithallspeedproceedtoher。ShehadbeenspeakingofatriptoEngland。
Woulditnotbeaverywiseandproperproceedingthatsheshouldmakeherleavetosynchronisewithhis？Nowhemustbeoff，andsowithlovetoher，andwiththehopethattheymightseeLondontogether——
JustthenMonroecamewiththestartlingnewsthatthebattalionhad\"movedup\"hoursago。
\"Whichroad？\"enquiredBarry，springingtohisfeet。
\"Don’tknow，sir，\"repliedMonroe，whohadevidentlyhisownopinionaboutmatters。\"ButImetapadre，\"hecontinued，\"whotoldmethattherewasastreamofwoundedpassingthroughtheBrandhoekClearingStation。Hesaidtheywereveryshort—handedthere，sir，\"andMonroeregardedhisofficerwithanxiouseyes。
\"Ihatetotakeyouupthere，Monroe，\"saidBarrywithasmile。
\"Oh，that’sallright，sir，\"saidMonroe，hastily，\"butIguesswe’llhavetohurry。\"
\"Iremember，Monroe，thatyourmajorandyouwouldhavesentmeoutofthis，butyouknowwellenoughthatthere’sonlyoneplaceformeto—night，andthequestionis，whereisthebattalion——YpresBarracks，ChateauBeige，Zillebeck，orwhere？\"
\"Ienquiredatthetransports，sir，\"saidMonroe，\"andnooneappearedtoknow。Theymovedoutquietlyandleftnowordbehind。\"
\"Allright，we’llgouptoChateauBelge，andiftheyarenotthere，we’llmakeashotatZillebeck，\"saidBarry。\"We’llgorightaway。Wedon’tneedalotoftruckthistrip。\"
Itwasalongandtiresomemarch，butBarryfoundhimselfremarkablyfit，andalreadyundertheexhilarationofwhatwasbeforehim。AttheChateauBelgetheyfoundnowordoftheirbattalion，buttheywereinformedthattheshellingontheKruisstraatroadhadbeenbadallafternoon，andwasstillgoingon。TheBocheswerepayingparticularattentionindeedtothecrossroads。
\"Allright，\"saidBarry。\"We’llgoupandhavealookatit，anyway。\"
AhundredyardsfurtheruptheroadtheywereheldupbyasuddenburstofH。E。shells，whichfellinnearproximitytothecrossroadsbeforethem。
\"Well，we’lljustwaithereafewminutesuntilwecantimethesethings，\"saidBarry，sittingdownbytheroadside。
Astheywerewaitingthere，threesoldierspassedthematquickmarch。
\"Betterwait，boys，\"calledBarry；\"theyaredroppingquiteafewshellsatthecrossroads。\"
\"Wearerunners，sir，\"saidoneofthem。\"Iguesswe’lljusttakeachance，thankyou，sir。\"
\"Allright，boys，ifyouthinkbest，\"repliedBarry。\"Goodluck！\"
\"Thankyou，sir，\"theysaid，andsetoffatasmartpace。
WhileBarrysatlisteningtothesoundoftheirfootstepsuponthepavement，therecamethatterrificwhine，followedbyanappallingcrash，asaH。E。shelllandedfullupontheroad。Barrysprangtohisfeet。Threeothershellsfollowedinquicksuccession，thentherecamethesoundofhurryingfeetandamanappeared，bleedinghorriblyandgasping。
\"Oh，myGod！MyGod！Theyaregone！Theyaregone！\"
\"Sitdown，\"saidBarry。\"Now，where’syourwound？\"
\"Myarm，sir，\"saidtheman。
Barrycutofftheblood—soakedsleeve，rippedopenhisfirstaiddressing，andboundthewounduptightly。Thenheputatourniquetuponthearmabovethewound。
\"Theotherboyskilled，yousay？\"heinquired。
\"Yes，sir，blowntopieces。Oh，myGod！\"hegroaned，shuddering。
\"Mychum’swholeheadwasblownoff，andtheotherhashisbellyalltornup。\"
\"Nowlookhere，oldman，\"saidBarry，\"youliedownherewhereyouare，andkeepperfectlystill，\"forthemanwasthrowinghimselfabout，morefromshockthanfrompain。\"We’llgetyoutothedressingstationinafewminutes。Monroe，runandgetthestretcherbearers，andI’llgoandseehowthingsareupyonder。\"
Hethrewhiscoatoverthewoundedman，andsetoffataruntowardthecrossroads。Hefoundmattersasthemanhadsaid，thetwobodieslyinginadarkpatchofbloodsoakeddust，onewithheadquiteblownoff，andtheotherwithabdomenhorriblytorn。
Hehurriedbacktothewoundedman，whohadrecoveredsomewhatfromhisshockandwasnowlyingonhissidequietlymoaning。Barrygotfromhimthenamesandunitsofthemenwhohadbeenkilled。
\"Iwilldropanotetoyourmother，too，myboy，\"hesaid，\"andtellheraboutyourwound。\"
\"Oh，sir，\"saidtheboyquickly——hewasonlyaboyafterall——
\"don’ttellher——atleast，tellherI’mallright。I’llbeallright，won’tI？\"
\"Surething，\"saidBarry，\"don’tyoufear。Iwon’talarmher，andI’lltellherwhatgoodstuffyouare，boy。\"
\"Allright，sir。Thankyou，sir，\"saidtheboyquietly。
\"AndI’lltellher，too，thatyouarenotworryingabit，andthatyouknowthatyouareinthekeepingofyourHeavenlyFather。Howisthat？\"
\"Yes，sir，\"saidtheboyinalowvoice。\"Iwillbegladtohaveyoutellherthat。Shetaughtmeallthat，sir。Poormother，she’llworrythough，Iknow，\"headdedwithalittlecatchinhisthroat。
\"Nowyoubraceup，\"saidBarryfirmly。\"Youhavegotoffmightywell。Youhavegotanicelittleblightythere，andyouaregoingtobeallright。I’llgiveyourmotherthebestreportaboutyou，sothatshewon’tworry。\"
\"Oh，thankyou，\"saidtheboy，withferventgratitude，\"thatwillbefine。Andyouareright，\"headded，anoteofresolutioncomingintohisvoice。\"Igotoffmightywell，andit’sonlymyleftarm，thankgoodness。I’llbraceup，sir，neverfear，\"headdedbetweenhisteeth，chokingbackagroan。
Barryaccompaniedthestretcher—bearerbacktothechateauandgavethemanoverintothecareoftheC。A。M。C。
\"Canyouputasquadontodiggingagrave？\"heinquiredoftheofficerincharge。\"Ifso，thoughI’minanawfulhurry，I’llstaytoburythosepoorchaps。\"
\"Surething，wecan，\"saidtheofficer。\"We’lldotheverybestwecantohurryit。\"
InaboutanhourandahalfBarrywasonhiswayagain。Hedodgedtheshellingatthecrossroads，andfollowingatrackacrosstheopenfields，arrivedattheZillebeckBundwithoutadventure。
Heretohisreliefhefoundthebattalion。HemadehiswayatoncetoHeadquarters，andwalkedinuponameetingofofficers。
\"Well，I’m——\"exclaimedColonelLeighton，checkinghimselfhard，\"whohavewehere！Whatinhellareyoudoinghere，Pilot？I
thoughtyouwouldbesafelyinoldBlightybythistime，\"headded，shakinghimwarmlybythehand。
\"Oh，youcouldn’tworkthatgameonme，colonel，\"saidBarrycheerily，goingroundthegroupofmen，whogavehimaneagerwelcome。\"Youthoughtyouhadshippedmeoff，justasthefunwasstarting，butIgotontoyou。\"
\"Well，I’llbedarned，\"saidMajorBayne。\"Howdidyoufindout？\"
Barrytoldhim，adding，\"Youwillhavetotrainyourmantoliemorecheerfully。\"
\"That’swhatcomesofaman’senvironment，\"saidthemajor，disgustedly。\"Iwasalwaystootruthful，anyway。\"
\"Well，sir，\"saidBarry，turningtothecolonel。\"I’mawfullygladtofindyouhere。IwasafraidI’dlostyou。\"