Part 3 (1/2)

”What _am_ I to do? Straight along till I come to the cross roads, take the N.E. one, and keep on till I come in touch with the enemy? But----”

”Just ready, Sir. I am only asking for final instruc----” ”Oh, No. 1 Section, right turn, quick march.” Oh, bother, I've forgotten to slope the arms. ”Slope arms, there!” By gad, that's a pretty poor start. What _is_ the Adjutant howling about? ”That isn't the way to march an advanced guard. Where are my flankers?” ”Just going to send them out, Sir.” ”Where's the section commander? On the sick list? Who is in charge then? Oh, you, Corporal. Have you ever been in an advanced guard before?

No? Why--oh, it's your first camp, is it? Any of the men been used to this sort of thing? You don't fancy so. Well, we must do the best we can. Take two men and examine that little wood on the right. I will halt the section at the corner till you rejoin.”

Ullo, what does this cyclist want? ”Captain Jones says, will I push on at once, as I'm stopping the whole column.” ”Oh! Forward.” Hang me if I see the good of sending out flankers if you can't wait for them to examine anything. ”Step out there, men, we're blocking the column.”

Well, here are the cross roads. Oh, my sainted aunt, _Five_, an' not a blessed sign-post!

”Any of you men know which is the way to Muddiford? No?” I wonder which _is_ the N.E. road. I thought it was all bally rot getting maps and compa.s.ses, but I wish to goodness I had now. If there was only a gleam of suns.h.i.+ne it would help, but you can't even guess where the sun is through these clouds. Oh, d.a.m.n that cyclist! Oh, the Adjutant's swearing like old boots? Well, here goes. ”Take the turning down the hill, boys, and push ahead as hard as you can.” Thank goodness we seem to have got clear of 'em now, and by the powers, here's a villager.

”I say, is this right for Muddiford?” Why, we are coming away from it!

What the d.i.c.kens am I to do? ”Is there a short cut from here?” ”Yes!

yes! Down that lane, across the common to the wood, straight on till you get to the path, and that will take us right on to the main road long before the rest of the column can get there.” Cheap at half-a-crown.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

”Fall in there. You shall have a rest when we pick the column up, we're a bit off the track. Yes, yes, over the fields and straight through the wood. Get ahead! What the deuce are you men opening out like that for?

You've always been told to spread out when going through a wood? Oh, all right.” If they lose themselves it's their look-out. Where is this beastly path? At last! Which way do we go? Oh, er--er, curse it, that fellow didn't tell me. Let's see, we turned to the left and then again, so I think it must be to the right. Well, it can't be helped--here goes.

I daren't own up to the men that I haven't a notion where we are, but I haven't, and that's a fact. How this infernal path does wind about!

”What's that, Corporal? Here's a _sort_ of a road? _This_ isn't a main road. Well, the men must have a rest, so----Where's the rest of the section? There aren't more than half of them here. Expect they've gone back the way they came?” I'm beginning to wish _I_ had too.

”Corporal, there's no doubt that we've lost touch with the column. We must work our way along the road till we come across a house and find out where we are; unfortunately, I forgot to bring my map with me.” _At last!_ a cottage. The men had better rest while I make a few inquiries.

”Oh, you're a stranger in these parts? But, my good woman, is there any place where I can find----The Red Lion? Where's that? Just down the road, where those soldiers are running to?” Well, I'm----!

[Ill.u.s.tration:]

[Ill.u.s.tration: A Fair Samaritan.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Our N.C.O.'s (No. 1).

_Captain:_ ”Look here, Corporal, you know the great object of the new system is to train the N.C.O.'s to act on their own initiative and responsibility. Now I want you to take a couple of men--understand? Two men, and advance along the main road and select a position commanding a good view of the road, where your sentry can see without being seen--understand? Now you should choose if possible a place giving some shelter for your men, as you are to imagine you've got to occupy it for twenty-four hours, and it ought to be so chosen that you could offer a certain amount of resistance if attacked--understand? You're in absolute command, and you are to do whatever you think best under the circ.u.mstances, keeping in mind the object for which you were sent out--understand?”

_Corporal:_ ”Yessir.”]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Our N.C.O.'s (No. 2).