"I don't want to get you into trouble," I said; "I shall not report you. But let this be understood in future.... The biscuits are sacred, see! Now...." I looked round the circle. "If your pals like to give up a little of their ration, that's their affair. Another time they'll find some way of making you carry your own...." This Solomon's judgment perplexed the audience. Bouillon saved the situation by sticking a knife into a potato: "'Ere you are, Judsi. 'Ere's a pertater. It's one o' yours by rights. I picked 'em up!" Gaudéreaux split a piece of cheese. "Rooty?" Lamalou supplied some. "Take that you old blighter. But another time you better mind or I'll catch you such a biff in the bottom ... just like the sergeant said." I went away in a state of naïve contentment, thinking that I had not done badly. For the first time I had a glimmering of the meaning of the word Authority. To know how to command men! I saw Lieutenant Henriot coming towards me from the edge of the wood in a state of wild excitement. He had his field-glasses in his hand. "Oh, dear! oh, dear!" he cried. "What on earth are we waiting for? I ask you!" I suggested. "Well, but.... They seem to be holding us in reserve." "That's all very well for an hour! But ever since this morning! What the devil is the use of us? Doesn't everything point to the fact that we ought to go to the rescue instead of crossing our arms? No orders.... No orders? And suppose the bearer of them has been killed or taken prisoner! There's only one rule that counts: the same that won all their victories for the Prussians in 1870. That is to keep on till you get to the guns. They're near enough, in all conscience. Never heard such a din." He continued: "And the moment was so well chosen! Look at all those chaps, how they are aching to get to work!" I looked at him instead. Was he dreaming? The men were lying about in a circle after their meal. They certainly seemed resigned to their lot, but as for enthusiasm--not a sign of it. Nor even of that altogether physical excitement of which people speak. Henriot obviously attributed his own keenness to them. He was most certainly in a state of exaltation. Was he to be envied? Probably. But my familiar spirit of analysis did not desert me. It was useless to pretend that the approach of a battle absolutely changes men's characters, that no one can say beforehand what he will do under certain circumstances. Nonsense. I was quite convinced that I should never be roused to acts of heroism and folly. All the better for that matter. The primordial quality of self-possession was the greatest safeguard for myself and for others. Poor Henriot. What childishness it was to be so set upon hurling himself into the fray. What difference would our presence make? Weren't we far better off resting in the shade screened from the glare of the midday sun?... Descroix came and started Henriot off again. Frémont called me: