Part 16 (1/2)

”Yes. An' by that meadow gate. It makes me blood boil to think they won't let us 'ave a go at 'im.”

”Ah, well. I s'pose it will be my turn to-morrow.”

That is the crux of it: Your turn to-morrow? Who can tell ... what does it matter ... what is life after all? But the all-pervading ardour of youth's ”Will of Life” whispers with a bitter realisation of what death really means that you WANT to live. Never before has existence been so full of future possibilities, the wish for life so poignant!

His overwhelming numerical superiority gave no evidence of slackening, his pressure on the gaping line of khaki continued unabated. No reserves, or hope of relief, were apparent. There was no alternative but to carry on day after day in continuous fighting retreat with very small numbers spread over a wide area.

Over the fields and meadows roamed farm cattle, some bleeding and running wildly about bellowing with fear. Cows moaned in agony for the dire need of milking, but who was there to do it? In the farms were styes full of half-starved pigs, grunting and groaning with hideous effect. They were turned loose to fend for themselves, ran rampant over the carefully sown ground and growing potatoes--the sad results of months of painstaking effort. Fowls fluttered and screamed with wild flapping wings, men seized the eggs and drank them down in a fierce famished hunger.

Along all the roads for miles streamed a piteous spectacle of old women, children and dogs. Before them a plaintive little barrow of belongings, on the backs of the men small red bundles tied hastily together.

Wrinkled old men limped laboriously along on heavy sticks ... sometimes by the wayside a white-faced, white-haired old dame sat exhausted, crouching in fear over a poor little bundle; alone, trembling, deserted.

The whine of the bullets crept nearer and troops began to pa.s.s.

”'Ere, mother, can't you get on?” Not comprehending the words but fully grasping the meaning, the unhappy old head was shaken. A pa.s.sing ambulance was stopped and the frail old form gently placed in with the wounded--sometimes. There was not always an ambulance. Many a wrinkled, bent old man or woman, shrinking in fear by the roadside, were left in dire desolation to the mercy of their foe.

Some few old folks stood by their homes to the last, until the khaki rows were far across the fields away, and shot whistling about the eaves of the old thatched roof farm ... dotted here and there on their gra.s.s land a still Britisher kept them company until the Germans pa.s.sed over and onward, collected the bodies, buried them.

Unshaven, tattered and unwashed, Stumpy, lamed in the left foot, potted shot after shot at each retirement, aiming at no one target, but, as he observed. ”Even if I don't 'it 'im, I might puncture 'is bloomin' rum ration.”

”But wot are you aimin' at?”

”Nothin'. Just 'igh in the air. Like--that there. Who knows: why it might just ketch ole Kaiser Bill in the bloomin' belly if 'e came up close 'nough.”

Uncouth, uncultured, rough of manner, of speech. Good-natured, full of courage, humour. Stumpy ... short, fat and clumsy. Withal a man, a warrior. Before mid-day blood was spouting from out five vital wounds and in a few seconds faintness began to spread over him. His eyes filled with tears.

”I feels bad,” he said, ”can't, can't the bleedin' be stopped? I don't want to go under ... think they can get me away before Jerry comes?

Things some'ow ain't over clear: everything foggy.” Casey came over to him, white-faced and half-crying himself.

”You're orl right, ole pal,” he said, ”not bleedin' much now.”

”No. But it's cloudy. D'you find it cloudy?”

”Yes. A 'ell of a mist creepin' up. Want any water?”

”No, but,” with a faint grin, ”got any rum?”

”'Ere you,” an N.C.O. ran up and touched Casey, ”Captain wants a runner.

Get a move on.”

”But poor ole Stumpy yere----”

”D'you 'ear wot I said. Go on, 'op it, or I'll--well, put lead in yer.”

”Orl right. So long, ole pal.”

”So long.” Stumpy tried hard to see him through the mistiness before his eyes, ”but you'll get me away before Jerry comes....” Casualty list two weeks later: ”Pte.----.” Missing. April 12th. He is still unheard of, forgotten. His grave is undisturbed somewhere in peaceful loneliness.