sunshine with aged and tragic eyes.
"It is very little to do for our wounded," he added aloud to himself.

Burley had sent twenty mules to Nivelle the night before, and had heard
some disquieting rumours concerning that town.

Now he walked out past the dusky, arched passageway into the sunny street
and continued northward under the trees to the barracks of the
Gendarmerie.

"_Bon jour l'ami Gargantua!_" exclaimed the fat, jovial brigadier who had
just emerged with boots shining, pipe-clay very apparent, and all rosy
from a fresh shave.

"Bong joor, mon vieux copain!" replied Burley, preoccupied with some
papers he was sorting. "Be good enough to look over my papers."

The brigadier took them and examined them.

"Are they _en regle_?" demanded Burley.

"_Parfaitement, mon ami._"

"Will they take me as far as Nivelle?"

"Certainly. But your mules went forward last night with the Remount----"

"I know. I wish to inspect them again before the veterinary sees them.
Telephone to the corral for a saddle mule."

The brigadier went inside to telephone and Burley started for the corral
at the same time.

His cream-coloured, wall-eyed mule was saddled and waiting when he
arrived; he stuffed his papers into the breast of his tunic and climbed
into the saddle.

"Allongs!" he exclaimed. "Hoop!"

------------------

Half way to Nivelle, on an overgrown, bushy, circuitous path which was the
only road open between Nivelle and Sainte Lesse, he overtook Maryette,
driving her donkey and ancient market cart.

"Carillonnette!" he called out joyously. "Maryette! C'est je!"

The girl, astonished, turned her head, and he spurred forward on his
wall-eyed mount, evincing cordial symptoms of pleasure in the encounter.

"Wee, wee!" he cried. "Je voolay veneer avec voo!" And ere the girl could
protest, he had dismounted, turning the wall-eyed one's nose southward,
and had delivered a resounding whack upon the rump of that temperamental
animal.

"Allez! Go home! Beat it!" he cried.

The mule lost no time but headed for the distant corral at a canter; and
Burley, grinning like a great, splendid, intelligent dog who has just done
something to be proud of, stepped into the market cart and seated himself
beside Maryette.

"Who told you where I am going?" she asked, scarcely knowing whether to
laugh or let loose her indignation.

"Your father, Carillonnette."

"Why did you follow me?"

"I had n