"Yes. About three hours after dawn to-morrow; Kilbride has the details. We are going in from our present sector. I suppose the battalion are all ready to move?" "Yes; they are parading now. They are timed to pass through Albert after dark, and take over from the Mid-Mudshires just before midnight." "Good! They may as well know at once that they are going to attack, if they haven’t guessed it already. I shall say a word to them before they move off. Are they all going together?" "No. By companies, at twenty minutes interval." "Well, let them parade together, anyhow. After I have spoken to them I shall go on with the leading company, and take Kilbride with me. I want you to stay here and clean up. Is another unit taking over this billet?" "Yes—the Mid-Mudshires; we are simply changing places with them. I am expecting their advance-party at any moment." "All right. When you have handed over, come along with the Orderly-room staff and join me. Have you much left to do here?" I glanced round the littered table. "A fair amount. You are taking Kilbride yourself?" "Yes. Do you want help?" "If you could spare me an odd subaltern—" Eric glanced out of the window, to where the Headquarters Company were parading in the muddy road. His eye fell upon Master Roy, who, a little apart, was inspecting his own particular beloved command—a workmanlike squad of snipers. Eric swung round. "If you want a really odd subaltern," he said, "take young Birnie! Appoint him Assistant Adjutant for the occasion, and tell him to send those pop-gun experts of his back to duty!" I fairly gasped. "You will break their hearts!" I said. "Can’t you use them as scouts, or—" Eric blazed right out this time. "For God’s sake, Laing, allow me to command my own battalion!" he cried. Then—characteristically—"I’m sorry, old boy! You mean well, I know; but really I must do things my own way. We don’t require Bisley specialists in a hand-to-hand battle. As for Roy Birnie, a little less sniping and a little more intelligence won’t do him any harm at all. Now I’m off to harangue the battalion. Sergeant, is my groom outside? I want my horse." *CHAPTER X* *DISCIPLINE! DISCIPLINE! DISCIPLINE!*