I see, you have some of these birds down in this country, too."

"Yes, sir, this is their breeding ground," said the young lieutenant.

Once more came the long whining shriek and the terrific blast of the H.
E., this time closer.

"I would not delay, sir, if I were you," said the young chap coolly,
pulling out his cigarette case. "They get rather ugly at times."

"What about you?" inquired the O. C. moving off.

"Part of my job, sir," replied the youth, saluting.

"Well, good luck, boy," said the O. C., trotting to the head of the
column.

"Thank you, sir," said the youth, turning to his job again.

They rode a hundred yards, when another shell came, there was a terrific
explosion, apparently just at the spot where the young officer had been
standing.

"By Jove! I'm afraid that's got him," said the O. C.

"I'll go and see, sir," said Barry, spurring his horse back to the spot.

"Come back here, Barry," called the major. "Darn him for a fool! What's
the use of that? That isn't his job," he added angrily.

"He thinks it is, probably," said the O. C.

Barry found a great hole in the road with the officer's horse lying
disembowelled beside it, kicking in his death agony. There was no sign
of his rider anywhere. Fortunately there was a gap in the column, so
that no one else was near enough to be injured.

As Barry stood gazing about, a voice hailed him from the ditch, which
was several feet deep.

"I say, sir," said the voice, "I wouldn't just stay there. They
generally send over four of 'em. That's only the third. I find this
ditch very convenient, though somewhat mucky."

Barry looked at him in astonishment. He was white and shaken, covered
with mud, but trying to get his cigarette case open.

"I'd get off, sir, if I were you," he said, "until the next one comes.
Quick, sir, I hear it now."

Barry needed no second invitation. He flung himself headlong into the
ditch beside the young fellow, but the shell dropped into the field
beyond.

"That's as near as I like 'em," said the young officer, scraping the
mud off his clothes. "My poor, old gee-gee got it though." He drew his
revolver and shot the wounded animal. "It's hard on the horses. You see,
they can't dodge," he added.

"I say, my boy," said Barry, for the lieutenant was only a boy, "that
was a near thing for you. What are you going to do now?"

"Oh, just carry on," said the boy. "The relief will be along in a few
hours. Beastly mess, eh?" he