ent there was an officers' meeting in the orderly room.

As Barry entered the room, the O. C. was closing his speech.

Barry was immediately conscious of a new tone, a new spirit, in the
colonel's words. He spoke with a new sense of responsibility, and what
more than anything else arrested Barry's attention, with a new sense of
brotherhood toward his officers.

"In closing what I have to say, gentlemen, let me make a confession.
I am not satisfied with the battalion, nor with my officers. I am not
satisfied with myself. I remember being indignant at the report sent in
by the inspecting officer concerning this battalion. I thought he was
unfair and unduly severe. I believe I said so. Gentlemen, I was wrong.
Since that time I have seen work in some regiments of the Imperial
Service, and especially, I have seen the work on the front line. I think
I know now what discipline means. Discipline, gentlemen, is the
thing that saves an army from disaster. Some things we must cut out
absolutely. Whatever unfits for service must go. I saw a soldier, a
Canadian soldier, shot at the front for being intoxicated. I pray God,
I may never see the like again. At this point, I wish to express my
appreciation of the work of our chaplain, who I am glad to see has just
come in. He has stood for the right thing among us, and has materially
helped in the discipline and efficiency of this battalion. Gentlemen,
you have your orders. Let there be no failure. Obedience is demanded,
not excuses. Gentlemen, carry on!"

Barry hurried away to his hut. The words of his colonel had lifted him
out of his despair. He had not then so desperately failed. His colonel
had found something in him to approve. And France was before him! There
was still a chance for service. The boys would need him there.

CHAPTER X

FRANCE

"France, sunny France!" The tone carried concentrated bitterness and
disgust. "One cursed fraud after another in this war."

"Cheer up!" said Barry. "There's worse to come--perhaps better. This
rain is beastly, but the clouds will pass, and the sun will shine again,
for in spite of the rain this IS 'sunny France.' There's a little homily
for you," said Barry, "and for myself as well, for I assure you this
combination of mal de mer and sleet makes one feel rotten."

"Everything is rotten," grumbled Duff, gazing gloomily through the
drizzling rain at the rugged outline of wharves that marked the Boulogne
docks.

"Look at this,"