I was alone in our room. I had just slipped my swollen pack over my shoulder. My water-bottle was lying on a shelf above me. I reached out my hand to take it. Ugh! it slipped out of my hand, and fell on to the tiles. Damn--oh, damn. Supposing it leaked! I ran to a tap and began to fill it. Yes, there was no doubt about it. It was done for! I was in despair. Nothing worse could have happened to me. I knew the incomparable value of a few drops of moisture at critical moments. When you are exhausted and choked by the sun and the dust, there is nothing like a drop of water on a piece of sugar, or a thimbleful of rum to revive you. And on a route march too you are sustained by the mere thought that you are carrying with you this source of refreshment. And I who had taken such care, and was so pleased at having this clean well-corked water-bottle.... What odiously bad luck! My whole campaign seemed to me to be poisoned by it.... Bouillon arrived on the scene. Directly I had told him, distractedly, of my misfortune. "Good heavens!" he said, "that it should 'appen just now! It's far too late to get it soldered!" I sighed. He looked round the room. "W'y not sneak one?" As I shrugged my shoulders. He continued: "I'll undertake the job if yer like?" "But how?" "Oh, I'll get one from someone or other." "You mustn't touch Guillaumin's things, mind." "No, 'e's in the section. Wot abaht this one?" "De Valpic's?" "All right! Wait a minute!" "But I say, he...?" I hesitated. "He would notice it! The cases are marked, look...." "Don't you go an' worry yerself abaht that now! You've only got to change them! You go an' keep an eye on the door...." I went and watched the corridor. I was consumed by a lively remorse. But what did it matter! Each one must fend for himself! He would have to get out of the difficulty as best he could. After all there was nothing more usual in the regiment than these sly thefts. Why, someone had relieved me of one of my brushes only the day before yesterday! I blamed myself for my horrible selfishness, but I had practised it for so long. The opportunity was too tempting! Anything rather than to suffer, hour after hour, from thirst or the fear of thirst! And did I not promise myself--hypocrite that I was--to share my ration of water with the comrade I had despoiled? In the twinkling of an eye Bouillon had dexterously drawn the two bottles out of their cloth cases, and effected the exchange. "Nobody will ever be any the wiser!" De Valpic came in soon after and noticed nothing. * * * * * I can hear the whistle. Quick march! We shook ourselves.... That was a never-to-be-forgotten moment.