ake no mention of your own services in connection with the
affair, but others have. I have had a most flattering telegram from
the officer commanding the R. A. M. C., as also from the Divisional
Commander, mentioning your initiative and resourcefulness. I assure you
this will not be forgotten. I understand you are a padre?"

"Yes, sir," replied Barry, who was getting rather weary of the
conversation.

"All I have to say, then, sir, is that the Canadian army must be rich in
combatant officers for, if you will pardon me, it strikes me that there
is a damned good combatant officer lost in you."

"If I were a better padre," replied Barry, "I would be content."

"I fancy you have little ground for complaint on that score," said the
R. T. O., for the first time smiling at him.

"May I ask, sir," replied Barry, "if my responsibility ends here?"

"Yes, unless you want to take charge of the boat."

"I'd rather not, sir, if you please. How long before she sails?"

"About three hours. Have you anything to do?"

"I should like to visit the R. A. M. C. hospital. I should also like to
phone the American hospital at Etaples."

"Very well, you can easily do both. I will run you up in my car, if you
care to wait a few moments until I put through some little matters here.
Then if you will be good enough to join me at breakfast, I can drive you
up afterwards to the hospital. This is my car. I think you had better
step in and sit down; you look rather used up."

"Will you allow me to speak to some of the men first, sir?"

"Oh, certainly. Do anything you like. There are your men."

As Barry moved along the line of men drawn up on the platform, he was
followed by a rising murmur of admiration, until, as he reached a group
of officers at the end, a little Tommy, an English cockney, lifting high
his rifle, sang out:

"Naow then, lads, 'ere's to our O. D," adding after the cheers, "'e's a
bit ov ol raa-ght, 'e is!"

"Men," said Barry, "I thank you for your cheers, but I thank you more
for your splendid behaviour night before last. It was beyond praise. You
couldn't save all your comrades, but you would willingly have given
your lives to save them. That's the true spirit of the Empire. It's
the spirit of Humanity. It's the spirit of God. If I were a combatant
officer--"

"You'd be a good 'un, sir," cried a voice.

"If I were a combatant officer, I should like to lead men like you into
action."

"We'd follow you to 'ell, sir