"Well, naw," quietly responded the soldier. "You see it was like this. He lay on the field pretty near me with an awfu' bad wound an' bleedin' away somethin' terrible. I was losin' a lot of blood too fra' my leg, but I managed to crawl up to him, an' bound him up as well as I could, an' he did the same for me. Nawthin' o' coorse was said between us. I knew no German an' the ither man not a word o' English, so when he'd dun, not seein' hoo else tae thank him, I just smiled, an' by way o' token handed him my Glengarry, an' he smiled back an' giv' me his helmet." Thus Thomas Atkins has shown how to fight his enemy and to love him too. * * * * * This, then, in brief outline, is the story of Christian work at the Home Base during the early stages of the war. Chaplains or acting chaplains everywhere, Scripture readers, Y.M.C.A. workers, voluntary workers, all sorts and conditions of workers. Bright, cheery services every evening. Loving appeals for decision for Christ--appeals which have been responded to by thousands of our lads. Centres for thought and rest and recreation everywhere. The need has been great, and the need has been supplied by people moved to self-sacrifice as never before. Few families but have had some members in either Navy or Army, and as parents have said good-bye to their sons they have known that a hearty Christian welcome awaited them where they went, and that they might safely leave them to the kindly ministry of willing hearts and hands. The motto of everyone, high and low, has been _Ich dien_--I serve. CHAPTER II EARLY DAYS AT THE FRONT If Minister Shoots Minister!--A Brighter Side--A Beautiful Story--Pastors and Members in the Firing Line--A German Pastor--The Retreat through Belgium--The Work of Heroes--A Rear-guard Action--Seeking the Wounded--Refugees Stupid with Terror--Behind the Rear-guard--A Narrow Escape--A Night to be Remembered--The Man who Saved the British Army--God has been with Me--The British Soldier will Joke--Why Not?--Awful Experiences--A Monotony of Horror--Picking up Wounded Stragglers--Lines of Broken Men--Still Retreating--A Wonderful Triumph of Will--Thirsty Heroes--The Ambulance Found--The End of the Retreat--Mentioned in Despatches--No Parade Services. Viewed from a Christian standpoint, the most distressing things about this war are: (1) That _Christian_ nations are engaged in a life and death struggle. It is a lamentable confession, an awful fact. Two thousand years of Christian teaching have absolutely failed to keep Christian nations at peace.