ayer.

"Captain Dunbar," said the O. C., offering him his hand, "you have
done for us to-night a greater thing than you know just now. You will
understand better tomorrow. With all my heart I thank you on the men's
behalf and on my own behalf, for I assure you I needed it as much as
they did. I want to assure you, too, sir, that I received to-night the
thing I needed."

"Thank you, sir," said Barry simply, too weary to utter another word,
and staggered out, half dead with exhaustion.

Half an hour later, as he was leisurely undressing, and drinking the cup
of cocoa which Monroe had prepared for him, a message summoned him to
the orderly room. There he found Colonel Leighton with Major Bayne and
the company commanders.

"I have a communication here for you, Captain Dunbar," said the O. C.,
"from your D. A. C. S.," and he passed him a little slip.

It was the announcement of his "leave."

"Well, what do you think of that?" said the O. C. "How does that suit
you?"

"Well, sir," said Barry, uncertainty and hesitation in his voice, "I'd
like the leave, all right, but can I conveniently be spared just now?"

"Most certainly," said the O. C., "and, what's more, I want you to go
to-night. Can you get ready?"

"I suppose so, sir," said Barry, wearily.

"By Jove! listen to him," said the O. C. "He hates to leave us, doesn't
he?" And they all laughed. "Now, Dunbar," he said, "no more posing. You
catch the leave train to-night at Poperinghe. As a matter of fact, I
think it starts somewhere about twelve."

"Thank you, sir," said Barry. "I think I can catch it."

"Then good luck!" said the O. C., rising from his chair. "Every one
of us here would like to be in your place, but since it isn't himself,
every man is glad that it should be you."

Still Barry hesitated.

"I really hate to leave you, sir, just now," he said. "I mean that," he
added with a little nervous laugh.

"Oh, come on, Dunbar," said the O. C. in a voice whose gruffness might
signify almost any emotion, but with a touch upon his shoulder that
Barry knew meant comradeship. "Say good-bye to the boys here, and get
out."

They had just finished the plan for the campaign of the next night, and
every man in that little company knew that for him this might be his
last "Good-bye" to the chaplain. It only added to the depth of their
feeling that they knew that of all this Barry was unconscious. But,
whether it was that unconsciously he had gathered somethin