I started off again in another direction, keeping my back to the ridge, as I reckoned that to be a Turkish searchlight, and, therefore, our own lines would be somewhere down the ridge. Here, high up, I could just see a grey streak, which I took to be the bay. I tried to make for this streak. I scrambled down a very steep stratum of the mountain-side and landed at last in a little patch of dead grass and tall dried-up thistles. By this time, having come down from my high position on the Sirt, I could no longer see the bay; but I judged the direction as best I could, and without waiting I tramped on. I began to wonder how long I had been trudging about, and I put it at about two hours. “Halt!--who are you?” called a voice down below. “Friend! stretcher-bearer!” I shouted. “Come here--this way!” answered the voice. I went down to a clump of bushes, and a man with a rifle slung over his shoulder stepped forward, and we both glared at each other for a second. “Do yer know where the 45th Company is?” “No idea,” said I. “Any water?” “Not a drop left.” “We're trying to get back to the firing-line but we're all lost--there's eight of us.” “I'm trying to get to the 32nd Field Ambulance--d'you know the way?” “Yes; go right ahead there,” he pointed, “and keep well down off the hills--you'll see the beach when you've gone for a mile or so--” “How far is it?” “'Bout four miles;” and then, “Got a match?” “Yes--but it's dangerous to light up.” “Must 'ave a smoke--nothink to eat or drink.” “Well, here you are; light up inside my helmet.” He did; this hid the lighted match from any sniper's eye. The other seven men came crawling out of the bushes to light up their “woodbines” and fag-ends. “Well, I'm off,” said I, and once more went forward in the direction pointed out by the corporal and his lost squad. “So long, mate--good luck!” he shouted. “Same to you!” I called back. And now came sleep upon me. Even as I walked an awful weariness fell upon every limb. My legs became heavy and slow. That short rest had stiffened me, and my eyelids closed as I trudged on. I lifted them with an effort and dragged one foot after the other. I knew I must get back to my unit, and that here it was very dangerous. I wanted to lie down on the dead grass and sleep and sleep and sleep. I urged my muscles to swing my legs--for I knew if once I sat down to rest I should never keep awake. It was while I was thus trying to jerk my sleepy nerves on to action that I came upon a zigzagged trench. It was fully six feet deep and about a yard wide. It was of course an old Turkish defence running crosswise along the great backbone of the Sirt. I knew now that I was nearing the bay, for most of these trenches overlooked the beach. There was a white object about ten yards from me. What it was I could not tell, and a quiver of fear ran through me and threw off the awful sleepiness of fatigue.