aggrieved Percy waxed indignant.

"Oh, cut it out! I don't mean you're frightened of going to bed in the
dark, or that you want a nightlight or a nurse. But yours is a town
dark: standing under lamps gettin' the glad from a passing skirt. But
in the real dark, when it's pressing round you like a blanket, and
there are things moving, and people breathing near by, and you don't
know whether it's a German or a pal, or where the wire is, or which way
your own trenches are--what then, son, what then? Why, I reckon you
don't even know which the Pole Star is, or what it's there for?"

"I guess not, Shorty," remarked the other, abashed; "but I'd soon
learn, if you'd teach me."

"Well, I'll see. An' there's that blamed old woman with a face like a
wet street tryin' to shut up the shop. Give me another, mother
darling; no good your na-poohing me--I'm going to have it if I takes
it."

Being what he was he got it, and that evening the lessons began. Going
back to their billet, they had to cross a field. It was a pitch-black
night, and before they had proceeded twenty yards Reggie could hardly
see his hand in front of his face.

"Dark, Shorty, ain't it?" he remarked.

There was no answer, and he stopped and repeated the question. Still
no answer, though he seemed to feel some one close by. Something
brushed his face, and then silence. With a short laugh he walked on--a
laugh which had just the faintest touch of bravado in it. Four times
in the distance to the billet did that something brush his face again,
and though each time he felt that there was some one near him, yet he
heard nothing. The fourth time he stopped and spoke.

"Is that you, Shorty?" The next instant he gave a jump of pure nervous
fright. From within six inches of his ear came the single word "Yep."

"Jove! You did give me a start." He laughed a little shakily. "Where
have you been?"

"Circling round you, son, dusting your face with my glove. Understand
now what I meant by helpless in the dark?"

Thus ended the first lesson. . . .

The others followed in due course. The correct way to crawl through
grass so as to avoid being mistaken for a rhinoceros going to water;
the power of observation so as to be able to spot a change in the
German trenches--maybe, only a few sand bags moved, but just enough to
place the position of a machine gun; the value of disguise to defeat
the curious on the other side; patience, the way to fire a rifle,