Soon, a circle formed round Lieutenant Henriot. In order to make himself pleasant Playoust had put certain questions to him concerning the strategical situation. The other at once owned that he had had certain hints from the colonel--oh, it was official then!--certain indications.... I drew near. He spread out a map on a seat, and began to speak with great fluency.... I tried for a moment to follow him, but disobliging shoulders got in the way. He was pointing out certain landmarks and routes, and giving the names of towns and villages. It was all a closed book to me! I got tired of it and went off; I was inclined to mistrust these perorations by a subaltern. Our train was shunted back, and we started again. I was tired and peevish, and fumed at the length of our journey. Eighteen hours already, and we were nowhere near the end! Our destination still remained a mystery, a problem which disquieted us. Guillaumin plumped for Sedan, and worried me to tell him what I thought. "What on earth does it matter to me?" "Do you think they'll come back as far as that?" To annoy him, I said: "Sure to!" He exclaimed: "Well, to be going on with, you know we're at Mulhouse! Absolutely official!" * * * * * On the outskirts of Ste.-Menehould, there was a prolonged halt, without permission to get out. Another convoy was standing on a side line. There were some _poilus_ on the platform. Bouillon drew attention to their regimental numbers. They belonged to our division. The men at once called to each other, and asked them to join in a drink. Everyone was delighted. It seemed little short of marvellous to find neighbours from their part of the world, Beaucerons, so far from home! A new start. The country was becoming hilly and picturesque. There were some gorges and then a long tunnel. There was no more doubt about the direction we were taking! Corporal Bouguet, who had served his term with the 4th, was most emphatic: we were taking a bee-line to Verdun! Good! the idea of fighting under the shelter of a powerful fortress was not displeasing. Two hours more. The valley of the Meuse was reached, Verdun attained, and then left behind.... The deuce! Were they going to detrain us at the frontier in the first line...? No, a few miles farther on, the train stopped in the depths of the country. There was a bugle call, and Henriot shouted: "Here we are!" "Where?" "At Charny, the terminus. Out you get! And no disorder, you understand!" In three minutes we were on the ground, arms and baggage and all. The captain passed by. "You're not over-tired?" Lamalou thumped his chest. "In the pink, sir!" "So much the better, because you've got a nice little walk before you!" Some long faces were pulled. It was nearly midday. We had had nothing to eat and the heat was killing. "Now we return to business!" said Judsi.