We were marching at a smart pace, and had put not far off ten kilometres behind us. The _poilus_ were reviving. Their behaviour delighted me. They marched with a will across the dry stubble. Judsi began to rag: "If only I'd 'a thought o' bringing my grub." Bouguet still kept up--a miracle of energy. He had got his arm in a sling. He was only sorry--no one could guess it however long they tried--that he was not allowed to sing. We had had nothing to eat for forty-eight hours, and had been fighting for thirty hours almost uninterruptedly. Call us beaten men? Nonsense! About-to-be victors! Only one thing worried me. The almost empty cartridge-pouches. Just then we unexpectedly came across the train of company waggons. We halted, and while the replenishment was going on, our men slanged the drivers roundly. Slackers who had not been able, or had not wanted, to find us! As for me, I looked for Playoust, determined that he should pay for some of his delinquencies. But at the sound of his name a corporal looked up: "A sergeant of that name?" "Exactly." "Well, he didn't last long!" "What?" "He was killed yesterday morning, just as we left Nanteuil. We hardly saw him as a matter of fact. A shell splinter." "You don't mean it!" I said, astounded. The corporal went on: "Probably a pal of yours, was he?" "Yes, yes!" "He looked a good sort, and an amusing fellow, I should say, wasn't he?" He insisted. "One of the best?" "A ripper!" A posthumous reconciliation! * * * * * The halt here was prolonged. Coffee was made. The sun set in fiery splendour. Our arms were piled up at a short distance from a cross-road. The traffic there was intense: waggons, lorries, and batteries. We drew each other's attention to four armoured motor machine-guns, which were the object of a great deal of curiosity. They were the first in use, I believe, and were going southwards. In the growing gloom, Guillaumin pointed out De Valpic to me, deep in conversation with an officer in the Dragoons. When the latter had hurried on, our friend came back to us. "I've just seen my cousin De Montjezieu. It's ripping the way one comes across people!" "Any news?" "Yes--interesting too." We looked up anxiously.