Hospital, like work and whisky, Is a taste to be acquired, But it soon becomes a habit, Very soon becomes a habit. That was why my Tiadatha Felt so very loth to leave it, Loth to leave his bed and pillows, Loth to leave those kindly people, Cheery V.A.D.s and sisters, Who had fed and dressed and nursed him Just as if he’d been a baby; And his heart was very heavy, Fuller than a well-filled wine-glass, As he thought of those brave people, Brave as any soldier hero, Working through the Balkan summer, Working through the Balkan winter, Working harder far than he did, All for him and such as he was. But at last the time of parting Came, relentless as to-morrow, And a sad-faced Tiadatha Set off on a bumpy journey To the wooded slopes of Hortiach, Said good-bye to those good comrades, To those V.A.D.s and sisters, To those little scraps of England. CHAPTER XIV THE FIRE For a while my Tiadatha Rested on the slopes of Hortiach, Rested till he’d got his strength back. Then at Summer Hill he sojourned, Barren camp where no one lingers Any longer than he’s got to; Thence he went by easy stages Back to join the Royal Dudshires. Found them up at Karasouli, Found so many faces missing That at first his heart was lonely, But a few were still remaining, Still a few familiar faces, And they made him very welcome, With them Woggs his soldier servant. But although he made new comrades, Carried on without the old ones, Yet his heart was often lonely, Lonely for those missing faces. Thus they met another summer, Sweltered through another summer, Changing over every fortnight With a neighbouring battalion. Smol and Macukovo saw them, Waggon Hill and Green Hill saw them, Dache, “P.N.,” and Kalinova, And the muddy Vardar River, And they did a so-called rest cure On the side of shadeless Kirec. Then one day in blazing August Tiadatha pinched a week-end, Touched his Colonel for a week-end, “Just to do a bit of shopping,” And buzzed down to Salonica With his very best pal, Percy, Put up at the Hotel Splendide, Taking Woggs, the soldier servant. After tea at Uncle Floca’s, After tea they did some shopping, Bought some Mess stores from Coppola’s, Bought some braces from Orosdi’s (Selfridge’s of Salonica), Took some watches for repairing As requested by their sergeants, Had a shampoo and a haircut, Had their usual bath at Botton’s, Sauntered back towards the Splendide For their evening gin and vermouth. They were met by Woggs the batman, Trusty Woggs the ever-ready, In a state of huge excitement: “Please, sir, half the town’s ablaze, sir; Started in the Turkish Quarter, May be here at any moment.”