all right, sir," said Barry, through his teeth. "Excuse me, really
I'm all right. It is a bit difficult to carry on when you know that your
friends are being cut to pieces, but I'm all right, sir."

"All right, my boy," said the O. C., "we're up against it to-day. I'll
come for you in a few minutes, and we'll have a bit to eat."

Barry shook his head. He was too sick to eat, but the O. C. knew better
than he just what he wanted. In a few minutes he returned with an
assistant who took Barry's place.

"Come along, boy," said the O. C. cheerfully. "We have got to feed the
living that we may care for the wounded and dying."

"You are quite right, sir," said Barry. "I am ashamed of myself. I'll be
fit in a few minutes."

"Don't apologise for one moment," said the colonel, "if you felt any
less deeply than you do, you'd be something less than a man. We'll get
into touch with the Divisional Headquarters, and try to get the facts."

He had no sooner reached his private room than his signaller informed
him that Divisional Headquarters had just been trying to get him. It
took some time, however, to get the message through. Meantime, the
Colonel was handling Barry with a wise and skillful touch. He made him
eat and eat heartily, seeking to divert his mind in the meantime from
the disaster that had befallen the battalion to the big issues at stake,
and pointing out with resolute cheerfulness that the calamity that had
befallen the battalion was only a temporary setback.

"We're winning, my boy, and we're paying the price," he said.

At length signals got the D. H. Q. and called the colonel to the phone.
After a few minutes' conversation, the O. C. called Barry.

"The general wants to speak to you, padre," and Barry with an
apprehensive heart went to the phone.

"Oh, that you, Captain Dunbar?" It was the general's voice and somehow
it carried with it an atmosphere of calm and cheerful confidence. "How
are you getting on?"

"Oh, sir, very well. We are terribly anxious, of course."

"That's natural," said the general quietly. "We have had rather a
serious reverse. Your whole brigade met with wire, and I fear they
suffered heavily. The men behaved with great steadiness and are still
splendidly holding. We are, of course, making every effort to relieve
them, and with good hope of success."

"Have you heard of my O. C.?" inquired Barry.

"I fear rather bad news, Dunbar. Indeed, I fear he is seriously wounded.
We have sen