Herbert ran back toward the edge of the woods; a minute or two would thus be consumed. A man in khaki was coming toward him; with the parting of branches and the rounding of a young spruce the two came face to face. The other, Herbert knew at once as the grouchy liaison sergeant whom he had met half an hour ago out on the hill. “What, not running away, are you?” There was something more than a sneer accompanying this speech. Instantly Herbert lost his temper. “Keep a civil tongue! I’ll make you eat those words in a minute! You chase yourself back and bring the _brancardiers_ here for one of my men!” “You can’t give me orders, Lieutenant. I get mine from men higher up. I’m on my way now to you from the field staff. Stop your men and withdraw; they’re the orders. Pretty much everyone has them but you, and they are all halting the charge.” “You can’t be correct. The orders were to go on till the bugle recall; then to----” “Changed then. What can you expect, anyway? You heard what I said and if you know what’s what you’d better obey.” “Something wrong about this. Give the orders to my captain, Captain Lowden.” “Lowden’s killed, out there near the woods.” “Is that true?” Herbert was shocked, saddened more and more. “Don’t take me for a liar, do you?” queried the sergeant belligerently. Suddenly, hearing someone coming, he swung around and stared for a moment, then added quickly: “Well, if you won’t believe me, you needn’t; it’s your own funeral. I did my duty so far and I’ve got to go on.” With that he turned and hastened away through the forest. Herbert had also turned, wondering what it could all mean. Then he heard a familiar voice, cheery and glad. “Oh you Herb!” and Don Richards, pistol in hand, was coming rapidly toward him. CHAPTER VI SHIFTED UPON his return to duty at the new Red Cross base just south of St. Mihiel, Don Richards had been sent at once to the evacuation hospital four miles farther toward the front and there he reported to Major Little, who received him with many expressions of gratification over his return. The two entered the surgeon’s office and supply room in the rear of an old château and sat talking for a few minutes. In one corner of the room was an army officer at a table covered with documents and the man was busily engaged. Presently he arose and came over to the major. “May I trouble you for that list once again, Doctor?” he asked. “I want just another peep at it.” “Sure, sure. No trouble. Oh, Colonel, I want to introduce my young friend here, Richards. I don’t know whether you have heard of him or not; he did some fine ambulance work for us up at Cantigny and then above Thierry and along the Marne. Got one through the shoulder near Bouresches--was trying to bring in a _blessé_ there right back of the fight. He also got that Red Cross Hun spy who was signaling the balloon; you may remember hearing about it.”