more than ordinary importance was
in the air, and they discussed it one with another. They, too, could
not help realising that things had been going bad with them, and that,
to say the least of it, the Germans were not getting the worst of it.

Tom Pollard felt this more keenly than any one. He had been the man
who had been questioned by the Colonel, and he had more than once
fancied that he had been specially watched. Indeed Tom had determined
to keep both ears and eyes well open, and if possible to do a little
detective work on his own account. He entertained suspicions too,
which he dared not breathe to any one. They seemed so wild and
unfounded that they would not bear the test of a minute's careful
thought, and yet they constantly haunted him.

Of course he knew nothing of what was being settled between the
officers; he had not the slightest idea of the nature of the plans
which had miscarried, he like the others only had a vague feeling that
something was wrong.

One day, while near the canal which runs round the foot of the old
ramparts of the city, he noticed that the Brigadier and Colonel Blount
were talking with two staff officers; one of the latter was a general,
while the other was a captain. Tom felt sure that the captain was
Waterman, whom he had known in Brunford.

Tom was reclining near a dangerous corner, close by the Potijze Road
which runs straight to the beginning of the British communication
trench. German shells were constantly screeching their way through the
air, and falling in various parts of the old town; but by this time he
had become so accustomed to these ominous sounds that he had almost
ceased to take notice of them. There was only one chance in a hundred
that one of them might fall near him, and as he had been so far
fortunate, he, like hundreds of others in a similar condition, thought
he might escape altogether. Besides, although he stood near the
dangerous crossing he was in a sheltered position, and as the day was
hot he sat under the shade of a wall and looked out on the ruins of the
old city.

A few seconds later the group of officers passed close by him, and Tom
immediately rose and saluted.

"Oh, this is the man," said Colonel Blount as he caught sight of Tom.
"Come here, Pollard."

Tom did as he was commanded, not without some fluttering around the
region of his heart.

"Now, Private Pollard," said Colonel Blount, "repeat what you told me
some time ago."