"What does it all mean?" he said to the minister. "What are they talking about? They don't think I'd let down my pals?" "Drink this," said the minister, and he handed the soldier a great silver cup, brimming with wine. The soldier took a deep draught, and in that moment all his sorrows passed from him. "What is it?" he asked? "_Vin nouveau du Royaume_," said the minister. "New Wine of the Kingdom, you call it." And then he bent down and murmured in the soldier's ear. "What," said the wounded man, "the place they used to tell us about in Sunday school? With such drink and such joy--" His voice was hushed. For as he looked at the minister the fashion of his vesture was changed. The black robe seemed to melt away from him. He was all in armour, if armour be made of starlight, of the rose of dawn, and of sunset fires; and he lifted up a great sword of flame. Full in the midst, his Cross of Red Triumphant Michael brandished, And trampled the Apostate's pride. The Monstrance Then it fell out in the sacring of the Mass that right as the priest heaved up the Host there came a beam redder than any rose and smote upon it, and then it was changed bodily into the shape and fashion of a Child having his arms stretched forth, as he had been nailed upon the Tree.--Old Romance. So far things were going very well indeed. The night was thick and black and cloudy, and the German force had come three-quarters of their way or more without an alarm. There was no challenge from the English lines; and indeed the English were being kept busy by a high shell-fire on their front. This had been the German plan; and it was coming off admirably. Nobody thought that there was any danger on the left; and so the Prussians, writhing on their stomachs over the ploughed field, were drawing nearer and nearer to the wood. Once there they could establish themselves comfortably and securely during what remained of the night; and at dawn the English left would be hopelessly enfiladed--and there would be another of those movements which people who really understand military matters call "readjustments of our line."