When Bob arrived at S---- that afternoon, Captain Pringle went straight
to Colonel Sapsworth. In a few minutes the Colonel knew the main
outlines of Bob's career.

"I should have advised him to join one of the Public School Corps,"
said the Captain, "but in that case he would have been months before he
could have gone into active service. You see he's as keen as mustard
to be at the front, and remembering my last conversation with you, I
thought I'd bring him down. We shall be sadly in need of men of his
stamp. He will provide his own motor-bike, which he knows inside and
out; he speaks French and German almost like a native, he's as plucky
as they make 'em, he's eager to get to work; in addition to which he
was the best lad we had in the O.T.C. with which I was connected."

"Does he want a commission?" asked the Colonel.

"Yes, I should think so--naturally. You see he's been well brought up,
and is well off. On his mother's side he belongs to one of the best
families in the West of England, and--and--well, Tommies are having to
rough it just now."

"And none the worse for it," snapped the Colonel.

"Exactly; and he's quite prepared to enlist as a private. I was only
answering your question."

"Just so: let's see him."

A few minutes later Bob was undergoing a severe cross-examination by
the Colonel, who had the reputation of being somewhat eccentric in his
methods. Bob, who of course knew that he was being subjected to
special treatment, did not know whether the old officer was pleased
with him or not. He only knew that he was asked keen, searching
questions in a brusque, military fashion, and that he was finally
dismissed without knowing what was to become of him.

For some time after this Bob knew what it meant to be a Tommy; he soon
found out, moreover, that his experiences in the O.T.C. did not prepare
him for those he was now undergoing. Each morning he was up at
half-past five, and then for several hours a day he was submitted to
the severest drilling. He quite understood the necessity for men being
physically fit before being drafted into the army at war time. When he
lay down at night in the company of men whom in ordinary times he would
never think of associating with, he was so tired that he forgot the
uncomfortable surroundings and uncongenial society. Never in his life
had he slept as he slept now. Never did he imagine he would have to
put up with such privations.

In one sense h