Here it was too near the front for the usual peasant family huddled round its stove in the kitchen, and looking with resignation on these strange occupants of their house. The humble farm buildings outside were destroyed. I looked round the room; a picture or two still hung on the walls, and a crucifix. There is always a crucifix in these houses. There was a carbine just beneath this one. Inside of one of the picture frames one of the Colonel's medals had been placed, as if for safety. Colonel Jacques sat at the head of the table and beamed at us all. He has behind him many years of military service. He has been decorated again and again for bravery. But, perhaps, when this war is over and he has time to look back he will smile over that night supper with the first woman he had seen for months, under the rumble of his own and the German batteries. It was time to go to the advance trenches. But before we left one of the officers who had accompanied me rose and took a folded paper from a pocket of his tunic. He was smiling. "I shall read," he said, "a little tribute from one of Colonel Jacques' soldiers to him." So we listened. Colonel Jacques sat and smiled; but he is a modest man, and his fingers were beating a nervous tattoo on the table. The young officer stood and read, glancing up now and then to smile at his chief's embarrassment. The wind howled outside, setting the sacks at the windows to vibrating. This is a part of the poem: _III_ "_Comme chef nous avons l'homme à la hauteur Un homme aimé et adoré de tous L'Colonel Jacques; de lui les hommes sont fous En lui nous voyons l'emblème de l'honneur. Des compagnes il en a des tas: En Afrique Haecht et Dixmude, Ramsdonck et Sart-Tilmau Et toujours premier et toujours en avant Toujours en têt' de son beau régiment, Toujours railleur Chef au grand coeur_. _REFRAIN_ "_L'Colo du 12me passe Regardez ce vaillant Quand il crie dans l'espace Joyeus'ment 'En avant!' Ses hommes, la mine heureuse Gaîment suivent sa trace Sur la route glorieuse. Saluez-le, l'Colo du 12me passe_. "_AD. DAUVISTER_, "SOUS-LIEUTENANT." We applauded. It is curious to remember how cheerful we were, how warm and comfortable, there at the House of the Mill of Saint ----, with war only a step away now. Curious, until we think that, of all the created world, man is the most adaptable. Men and horses! Which is as it should be now, with both men and horses finding themselves in strange places, indeed, and somehow making the best of it.