The incident occurred to me. So he was the fellow who had turned up one morning, after a day's leave, and implored me to mark him down as having come back at midnight. "Oh, so you haven't forgotten that?" "Rather not. We don't forget the sahibs, any more than we forget the wasters." I was decidedly in a fair way to becoming popular. At the next halt, I went to find De Valpic: "Look here, old chap, do you see what I've managed to get hold of for you?" I held up the new water-bottle. "And what about you?" I tapped my own. "I've got mine, but it worried me to see you without one...." While I was helping him to adjust it, and to unbutton his shoulder-straps, he tried to say something to me: "Dreher ..." he began twice. I interrupted him. I was unusually good-humoured, and gaily told him of my experience with Judsi the day before. I added: "You have to know how to tackle these chaps." I asked him if he had seen that wretched regiment. In this way I managed to fill up the two minutes' halt. "_Au revoir_, old fellow!" When I left him I whistled, and felt tremendously cheery. I believe I deluded myself into thinking that I had played the Good Samaritan. The day's march was lengthening. Henriot was anxious about the direction we were taking. "Where are they taking us to?" We were bearing distinctly westwards. Guillaumin suddenly came up to me and pointed out that our company had been detached from the rest and was marching alone. Were they going to make us take outpost duty? There was no further doubt about it when our platoon went on alone, leaving the rest of the 22nd as supports in a farm. The lieutenant had his instructions; he sent out scouts and made us advance trailing arms. In about ten minutes when we had just entered the woods, he said: "Here we are!" An important crossroads. The site was well chosen. CHAPTER XV A NIGHT ON OUTPOST DUTY I pass over the arrangements of our pickets. Each one of us knew his duties, and acquitted himself conscientiously in his part. Henriot made a thorough reconnaissance. When he came back he showed me a plan which he had picked up. "By way of practice, do you see? Our maps only go as far as the Rhine!" At dusk, a lukewarm meal was brought to us from the supports. The gloom grew more intense. Our vigil was beginning. We established ourselves in a clearing about twenty yards from the road. The stumps of some trees which had been cut down were utilised as seats, a lot of us sat cross-legged, either on the ground, or on little tufts of brushwood, which were a poor protection against the damp. No fire, of course. By the flickering light of two dim section-lanterns placed on the ground we could make out the carpet of trampled grasses, and a big black circle, the remains of a log fire.