with him wanted to remove the mud from
his clothes. 'But no,' said the King, 'let it stay. If my own land
clings thus to me, let it stay; it is better that it should be so,'
and he laughed as he passed on. We all cheered him, and he laughed the
more, showing a shining face and bidding us take heart, as a brighter
day was dawning.

"So we went into the fight that evening, afraid of nothing. In rain
and mist we charged a small village with a mighty shout. Though our
numbers were small we charged. We were beaten back, and then we
charged again. My bayonet broke off short in the breast of a huge
German, and then in the dark and mist a great crowd swept over us as
we both went down. I came to in the dawn. Our men were singing the
chant of victory. The gray enemy had gone. The village, smoking and
shattered, was ours. Our guns were rattling up the street to take
another and stronger position.

"A small victory, perhaps, but none the less sweet for that. Alas! I
could not follow, and they brought me on here. The fortunes of war
were hard."

He raised himself painfully. The big Sergeant from the lost legion,
coming along at the moment, picked him up like a baby, hoisted him on
his shoulders, and bore him along through mud to the clearing house
beyond the station yard.

"Lucky chap," said the Sergeant. "He is going to have a warm, snug
Christmas in a snug, warm hospital; and here's me only lorst in this
bloomin' swamp, an' got to report for duty somewhere in the
mornin'--Lord knows where!" he grinned ruefully at me.

King George's Visit to the Troops

[From The London Times, Dec. 8, 1914.]

_An officer in the Indian Expeditionary Force sends the following
description of an episode in the King's visit to the front:_

A red-letter day indeed--for the King turned up here at 10:45 this
morning and stayed quite a long time, inspecting detachments of the
Indian Army Corps. He only crossed from England last night I believe,
stayed with the General for breakfast, and saw us all before lunch,
going on to the next army corps. It was quite the most informal show I
have ever seen. He strolled up and down the ranks chatting with all
and sundry. He asked two of our native officers how long they had been
in the regiment, the General interpreting.

The secret of his visit was well kept. Last night after dinner the
Adjutant biked over from Headquarters and said he and I and ---- had
been chosen by lot from the officers, with