THE BROWN BRETHREN PATRICK MACGILL THE BROWN BRETHREN BY PATRICK MACGILL AUTHOR OF "THE RED HORIZON," "THE GREAT PUSH," ETC. [Illustration] NEW YORK GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO MY FRIEND J. N. D. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. AT THE CAFÉ BELLE VUE 11 II. THE LONE ROAD 27 III. IN LOVE 46 IV. TO THE TRENCHES 61 V. MARCHING 74 VI. CHRISTMAS EVE 83 VII. CHRISTMAS DAY 93 VIII. BACK TO HIS OWN 107 IX. TRENCH FEVER 120 X. LOST TO THE WIDE 131 XI. A SCRAP 148 XII. THE DAY'S WORK 157 XIII. THE TRENCHES 167 XIV. THE SNIPER 182 XV. TATERS AND VASELINE 196 XVI. THE ROOKY 209 XVII. YOUNG BLOOD 222 XVIII. BATHING 241 XIX. THE SOMME 253 XX. BACK FROM BATTLE 271 XXI. RESTING 280 XXII. THE MARRIED MAN 288 THE BROWN BRETHREN THE BROWN BRETHREN CHAPTER I AT THE CAFÉ BELLE VUE Strict on parade! When I'm on it I'm ready To shove blokes about if they do not keep steady! Comin' the acid! Stow it there! or it Won't do with me and then you'll be for it! Swingin' the lead! Them, the dowsiest rankers That ne'er 'ad C.B. or a dose of the jankers, Swing it on Snoggers! I'd like them to do it And good God Awmighty then, I'll put them froo it! Off it, I'm off. Then I'll brush up my putties, Try and look posh and get off wiv my butties, A drink at the Café, a joke wiv the wenches, Last joke per'aps, for we're due for the trenches. Then stick to wiv pride as our mateys have stuck it When kissin' the wenches or kickin' the bucket.