The next thing that I remember was Roy’s voice: "They’ve done it on him! The dirty dogs! They’re sending him home! Did you—know?" "No! Yes! Well, I was half afraid of it. I knew the people higher up were getting a bit restive: in fact, I tried to warn him only this afternoon. But I never dreamed they would strike back at a moment like this. You are right, Roy—it will break his heart." (It was the second occasion upon which I had employed that phrase within the last hour.) Another thought struck Roy. "You are in command now!" he said. "I suppose so; but not until this despatch is actually delivered to the Colonel." We were silent again. We were both picturing the same scene, I fancy. Presently Roy said: "If only it had been delayed in some way!" I nodded. "Even for a day!—" "Even for an hour!—" "Even for ten minutes! We should have been gone out of this place, and they would not have got us until the show was over!" Our eyes met, then dropped hurriedly. We had read one another’s thoughts. Discipline, Discipline, Discipline! Roy picked up the two despatches, folded them, and put them mechanically into the pocket of his field despatch-book. Then he cleared his throat huskily. I found myself doing the same. "Look here!—" we began both at once. A cheery voice interrupted us: "Good evening, sir. Is this Caterpillar Farm?" We both jumped, like detected conspirators. In the doorway stood a subaltern, saluting, with the totem of the Royal Mid-Mudshire Regiment stencilled upon his tin bowler. "Come in," I said. "This is the place you want. I presume you have come to take over?" About midnight, the Orderly-room Staff filed through the ghostly streets of Albert, to the music of innumerable big guns working up to their final spasm. At their head marched a silent major and a preoccupied assistant adjutant. Next morning, just after dawn, the Second Royal Covenanters went raging to the opening attack of the greatest battle yet fought in the history of warfare. We were led into action by our Commanding Officer, Eric Bethune. *CHAPTER XI* *ENFIN!*