E-text prepared by Al Haines Transcriber's note: In the original book, the author was given as "Sapper," the pseudonym of Herman Cyril McNeile. This e-book uses the author's real name. NO MAN'S LAND by H. C. McNEILE Author of "Men, Women, and Guns," "Sergeant Michael Cassidy, R.E.," and "The Lieutenant and Others" Hodder and Stoughton London ---- New York ---- Toronto MCMXVII TO THE INFANTRYMAN PREFACE During the first few days of November 1914 Messines was lost--in silence; during the first few days of June 1917 Messines was regained--and the noise of its capture was heard in London. And during the two and a half years between these two events the game over the water has been going on. It hasn't changed very much in the time--that game--to the player. To those who look on, doubtless, the difference is enormous. Now they speak easily of millions where before they thought diffidently of thousands. But to the individual--well, Messines is lost or Messines is won; and he is the performer. It is of those performers that I write: of the hole-and-corner work, of the little thumb-nail sketches which go to make up the big battle panels so ably depicted over the matutinal bacon and eggs. And as one privileged to assist at times in that hole-and-corner work, I offer these pages as a small tribute to those who have done so far more than I: to the men who have borne the burden of the days, the months, the years--to the men who have saved the world--to the Infantrymen. CONTENTS PART I THE WAY TO THE LAND PART II THE LAND: I. A DAY OF PEACE II. OVER THE TOP III. THE MAN-TRAP IV. A POINT OF DETAIL V. MY LADY OF THE JASMINE VI. MORPHIA VII. BENDIGO JONES--HIS TREE VIII. THE SONG OF THE BAYONET PART III SEED TIME: I. THE SEED II. THE FIRST LESSON III. AN IMPERSONAL DEMONSTRATION IV. SOMEWHAT MORE PERSONAL V. A PROJECT AND SOME SIDE-ISSUES VI. THE SECOND LESSON AND SOME FURTHER SIDE-ISSUES VII. THE THIRD LESSON, AND A DIGRESSION VIII. THE THIRD LESSON IS LEARNED IX. "AND OTHER FELL ON GOOD GROUND" PART IV HARVEST PART I THE WAY TO THE LAND I It came suddenly when it did come, it may be remembered. Every one knew it was coming, and yet--it was all so impossible, so incredible. I remember Clive Draycott looking foolishly at his recall telegram in the club--he had just come home on leave from Egypt--and then brandishing it in front of my nose. "My dear old boy," he remarked peevishly, "it's out of the question. I'm shooting on the 12th." But he crossed the next day to Boulogne.