and bombed us back. We
had two killed and brought one wounded man back with us. Another lot
came up on our left and we had to move farther back."

"Was the battery still firing when you came away?" demanded the
colonel.

"Yes, sir, firing well, but mostly on fresh parties of Boche eight
hundred yards away."

A knock at the door, and the entrance of a quick-eyed dapper bombardier
from the very battery talked of prevented Dumble continuing.

"From Major Harville, sir," he said, saluting.

Just a slip from an Army Book 136, in Harville's neat cramped
handwriting. And the message itself was formal enough: a plain bald
statement of a situation that contained heroism, drama, a fight against
odds--despair, probably, were the truth known; but despair crowned with
the halo of glory and self-sacrifice. The message ran--

"I have fired 2200 rounds, and have only 200 rounds left. My
S.A.A. for Lewis guns and rifles is also running short. Can more
ammunition be sent up immediately, please?

"The enemy has got through the wire in front of the battery, and
is now on two sides of us. If the infantry can assist we can
hold out until dark, when I will retire to rear position."

The note was timed 3.40 P.M. It was now 4.30 P.M. The colonel was never
more collected or more rapid in acting than at this moment. In two
minutes he had spoken to the Infantry brigadier, and asked whether
immediate assistance could not be sent. Then he wrote this note to
Major Harville--

"Your message timed 3.40 P.M. received at 4.30 P.M.

"Hold on: you are doing splendidly, and counter-attacks are
being organised.

"Teams with limbers to withdraw your guns to rear position by 8
P.M. are being sent for."

"I hope the counter-attack is in time," he said to me with a certain
sad thoughtfulness before handing the note to the bombardier. "Do you
think you can get back to the battery, bombardier?" he added. "I'm
afraid you'll find more Boche there now."

"I'll try, sir," replied the bombardier stoutly.

"Off you go then, but be careful!"

In the period of waiting that followed we seemed to have forgotten that
three hours ago we were expecting every minute to have to turn out and
face the Boche with rifle and revolver. Save for the colonel and two or
three of the signallers and a couple of servants, none of us were
experienced soldiers; all our previous experience had been in attack; it
was something new