hould be so fully gratified? Tell Hal I had two
delightful swims at the base.

_August 9th, 1915._

My mare is temporarily _hors de combat_ with a cut on the hock.
This is a nuisance, as I have now to rely on the hospitality of
other officers in lending me either their horses or their
motor-cars, or, alternatively, go about on a push-bike when I
have to travel far afield, which happens almost daily. Before the
week is out I am expecting to go right up into the firing-line.
One is astounded at the off-hand manner in which officers who
have been in the trenches take the most hair-raising adventures.
An artillery officer was telling us to-day with the utmost
sang-froid of the difficulty he and his comrades had in eating
their dinner when poison-gas was blowing about. The gas made
their eyes water to such a degree that everybody at the mess
seemed to be weeping bitterly. He also told us that for a long
time they had had no need of reveille, as the Boches had a habit
of dropping a Jack Johnson near by every morning at 6.15
punctually. In the short time I have been out here I have been
struck with the glorious English coolness and the steadfast
refusal to get flurried that marks all our tribe.

In our relations with the inhabitants of the countryside we show
consideration and strict honesty. Every bit of damage done is
compensated, every blade of grass is paid for, although
necessarily we have first to investigate the validity of claims
for damage. The whole thing is very characteristic of British
integrity. I am going very strong and gradually getting the hang
of my work, which is decidedly interesting.

We had a remarkable concert the other night. The whole
thing--stage, paints, wigs, orchestra, curtains, scenery,
everything--was got up by the 1st Cavalry Division Supply Column,
and most of the performers were A.S.C. men. The most popular
vocalist turned up on his own, however, viz. Captain the Maclean,
of Lochbuie (of the 19th Hussars), who is quite an artist in his
way. This gay, debonair Scotsman is simply worshipped by the men.
One of the latter (himself holding the D.C.M. and the French
Medaille Militaire for conspicuous bravery at Landrecies) told me
Maclean was the bravest man he had ever