The First Canadians in France / The Chronicle of a Military Hospital in the War Zone

he felt much better walking alone up

There is a lack of harmony between oneself and the ground. You rock-the gr

ed conversation with a beautifully gowned young lady,

that," said Reg

ded the major,

whom you just avoid

he major, avoiding controversy, "that I should

drily. "Family's fond

lbowed his way through the crowd an

r brother and me, Tom. I feel he need

ed the rotunda

age stood chatting together. Their voices were agitated, and the th

dley of ships no one seems to know wher

our boy should be so near and that we sho

clared reassuringly. "Surely there

the battalion disembarks they will be marched awa

touched. He approached the

upon a private conversation, but I couldn't help over

an help us. My son is aboard the Cassandra. We haven't seen him since he went to Canada four years ago.

ours are anchored side by side; so close,

him?" the mother asked anxiously. "W

I'll see what I can do to get you aboard to-morrow

laimed the lady, wit

with a written permit in his pocket, usher

said Reggy. "I'll get your boy ac

Tommies were not allowed to dine with

head perplexedly. "Ah, I have it," he ejaculated a moment later; "he shall be an

t yourself into trouble," M

y la

risk fascinates me. I'll be back in a mome

t much embarrassed youth, wearing a captain's uniform. But t

rs of joy she didn't strive to hide rolled down her cheeks. The old gentleman turned hi

been caged on board for a full week in sight of but unable to reach the land shouted and danced for joy. The

xes of rifles and ammunition, great cases of food and wagons came hurtling through the hatchway, vomited from the depths below. With gre

d men-of-war, ready to sail or in process of construction, met the eye, and the deafening crash of the trip-hammer stormed the ear. Britain may well be proud

long remain a pleasant recollection. First impressions linger a

rp there! Stow them

unwilling flock. The boys were bidding a lengthy farewell to the

hat was cocked over one eye, in very unmilitary style. The Tommies, under the stimulating infl

rom the train window and mimicking Honk's cockney accent. This

if yer ain't got no more disc'pline than a 'erd uv Alberta steers! If I 'ea

his head in time, and pe

ried a moment later. "D'ye think y'er at

ooking very hot and fatigued i

ormer had transfixed you, the latter wandered aimlessly about, seeking I know not what. He was so knock-kneed that his feet could never meet. I think it was t

ten inches apart has been known to bring a wan sweet smile to the face of blasé

d backward upon its slippery face. He didn't fall, but his queer legs op

rse of the army

e crowd cheered a lusty farewell, and amidst much waving of pocket handkerchi

l mien. Rain was falling in a steady drizzle as we emerged upon the platform and stood shivering in the ble

ight, sir," he ob

nel replied. "My men are tired, t

matter of eight or

the information was given in satirical vein

an easy march for seasoned troops, but my

ut that's the

right here." The c

Englishman inquir

What o

ut it seems unus

ly. "Quartermaster, get out the rubber sheets an

officer salute

had vainly tried a stimulating Scotc

Shun! Right dress. Quartermast

The blankets would all be wet and muddy, and dama

the men. Their line had wabbl

fe if you can't learn to stand in a straight line?" With which unanswerable argument an

cks looked like the deck of an emigrant steamer. Wherever the eye reached, the dimly-lighted platf

r corner was available. Reggy and I occupied either side of an unlighted stove, and thr

growling men. At last he reached his office, and, all unconscious of our presence, stepped within. He stepped upon the sleeping form

in' 'ole a s

ly when he had recovered from his astonishm

r?" Reggy queried in drowsy tone

rn in 'alf an hour,"

and bring some shaving water--

l right, if you don't let me int

sleep-not too much for our first night's soldiering. Hot coffee, cheese and biscui

ow was mere child's play compared with it. Reggy said both his corns were shrieking for Blue Jays and when

or weeks on end, we knew it to be distemper. By day it was a steady drizzle, but at night the weather did its proudest feats. Some

in mud. The sky looked muddy, too. Once, and only once,

uth, but the deep snoring slumber of the full-blown man. But, oh, those cru

ggled figure in blue pyjamas stagger across the sloppy floor. His eyes were heavy with

e sergeant-major's rubber boots f

luted with the rain, came filtering th

untied the cord, and through the hole

t needed. The sight of Reggy's dishevelled countenance was enough; Bill Barker himself "shunned.

or; dish-mis

h a shout of joy the boys s

st, he was saying, with virtuous resignation: "How I envied you lucky devils sleeping-in this morning!

hospital unit in the forces none of us to this day knows-and none but ourselves suspects it yet. We had, and have still, one outstandin

med pleased with us. Presently he passed into the colonel's tent, and they

r horses?" the

ut was indiscreet enough to proclaim his belief to the sergeant-major of that unit. When we hurried down to get them they were gone. No one there had ever heard of a horse of the

away the horses in a tent, after you chumps recognised them. To-

mirabile dictu he

ed: "The horses are h

lained. We listened again, but could only catch scraps of the conversation, such as "Tran

g very fast. At length the colon

hlessly, as soon as discretion allowe

move. We shall be the fi