Contemptible""

estaminets" on either side of the road. No doubt both were prosecuting their work equally successfully, but the Subaltern could not help remarking the quiet

led their haversacks with apples and pears, and consumed scarcely ripe plums with an avidity that mad

at day. The men, too, recovered their spirits. He began to think it was good to march on an empty stomach. The sight of French cavalry with th

o are going to do something. There was none of that inane shouting "A bas les Bosches." Later on, some tr

eventful. At about half-past five in the evening the Battalion suddenly struck the "route nationale," along which they had advanced n

Regiment, however, passed through Etreux, and was eventually ordered to occupy a defensive position around the village of Venérolles. Darkness fell so suddenly that the Company Commanders had the greatest difficulty in selecting good positions.

eard creaking up the small lane which led to the position. Then the trouble began. The road was dark, deeply rutted and narrow, and crossed by a little stream. A nervous ho

ort. Horses were neighing, backing, plunging, making things worse, as only horses can. If the Regiment had been attacked that night, and forced to reti

e how pleased he was to see the Major and the Captain seated around a table in a l

four men nervously awaiting the boiling of the

jor, referring to the Senior Subaltern, "or he'd

in, admitting that he had lost himself, a

usual miserable damp. Next morning the Regiment was moved further out, to the top of the ridge, to protect the retreat of the r

e broke out from the road, from which the aeroplane suffered less than the men, as they were in too close formation to fire properly. A vast quantity of ammunition was wasted, and the position and s

oy in some measure, withdrew. The rest of the march passed uneventfully, b

the determination to avenge the humiliations of Delcassé, of Agadir, of the Coronation at Versailles. As vivacious and eloquent as only one of his nation and calling can be, he praised the confidence of the French Army and its "Généralissime." He repeated the great names of