On the tenth day after that battle Lieut. Hiram Sill and his company commander were the recipients of extraordinary news. Mr. Sill was requested to visit the colonel without loss of time. He turned up within the minute and saluted with his left hand. "You are wanted back in the U. S. A., Hiram, for instructional purposes," said the colonel, looking over a mess of papers at his elbow. "You don't have to go if you don't want to. Here it is--and to be made out in triplicate, of course." Hiram examined the papers. "And here is something else that will interest you," continued the colonel. "News for you and Dick Starkley. You have your M. C." Hiram's eyes shone. "And Dick seems to have hooked the same for his work on the Somme--and I had given up all hope of that coming through. I recommended him for a D. S. O. last week. The way these recommendations for awards are handled beats me. They put them all into a hat and then chuck the hat out of the window, I guess, and whatever recommendations are picked up in the street and returned through the post are approved and acted upon. I know a chap--come back here!" Hiram turned at the door of the hut. "Do you intend to accept that job?" "Yes, sir." "You have a choice between going over to the American army with your rank or simply being seconded from the Canadians for that duty. What do you mean to do?" "Seconded, sir. I am an American citizen clear through, colonel, but I have worn this cut of uniform too long to change it in this war." Hiram found Dick in his billet, reading a letter. Dick received the news of the awards and of Hiram's appointment very quietly. "Jack Davenport has gone west," he said. Hiram sat down and stared at Dick without a word. "This letter is from Kathleen," continued Dick. "She says Jack went out on Monday to visit some of the people he helps. He had taken on six more widows and seven more babies since the Vimy show. On his way home toward evening he and Wilson were outside the Blackfriars underground station, looking for a taxi, when a lorry took a skid fair at an old woman and little boy who were just making the curb. Wilson swears that Jack jumped from the curb as if there were nothing wrong with him, landed fair in front of the lorry, knocked the old woman and kid out from under, but fell before he could get clear himself." "Killed?" "Instantly." Hiram gazed down at his muddy boots, and Dick continued to regard the letter in his hand. "Can you beat it?" said Hiram at last. Dick got up and paced about the little room, busy with his thoughts. Finally he spoke. "Sacobie is flying, and you are booked for the States, and I am going to transfer to Jack's old lot," he said slowly. Hiram looked up at him, but did not speak.