er was now over. Around
him, as far as he could see, was a sea of bell-shaped tents.
Everywhere was a great seething mass of men in khaki. Horses of all
sorts abounded. Many of the men were bandying jokes one with another,
others were at the canteen, while many more had gone to the nearest
town. Bob himself had earlier in the day gone to the town to indulge
in a "good square well-cooked meal," as he called it; and now, early as
it was, although he little relished the thought of sleeping so-many in
a tent, he was just thinking of going to bed. Near him a number of
soldiers were singing gaily.

"Nancarrow!"

Bob turned his head, and saw a fellow soldier beckoning.

"What's up?"

"You are wanted."

"Where?"

"Officers' quarters."

As Bob obeyed the summons, he caught the song in which a great mass of
men had joined.

"It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go;
It's a long way to Tipperary,
To the sweetest girl I know.
Good-bye, Piccadilly;
Farewell, Leicester Square.
It's a long, long way to Tipperary.
But my heart's right there."

As he reached the officers' quarters, he was surprised to see Captain
Pringle.

"I've news for you, Nancarrow."

"Thank you, sir."

"You've got your commission."

"That's great. Thank you. I'm sure I owe it to you."

"Nonsense. Come this way. You've to go to Colonel Sapsworth. But
that's not all. You start for the front almost immediately."

For a moment Bob could not speak. It was not fear that overwhelmed
him, it was something more terrible. Every nerve in his body quivered,
while his heart beat wildly.

"It's what you wanted, isn't it?"

"Yes, Captain. By Jove, that's great!"

And that was all Bob could say.

CHAPTER XIV

"I was afraid--that is, I thought you might be at the front," Bob
stammered at length. "You told me, the day I enlisted, that you
expected to go in a week."

"Yes, I know, but fresh orders came from headquarters. However, it
can't be long now, thank Heaven! You were surprised at not seeing or
hearing from me, I expect."

"I was a bit."

"Yes--well, that was by order."

Bob looked up inquiringly.

"You don't know Colonel Sapsworth," went on Captain Pringle. "He's
what some of us call a holy terror. A fine officer, but has methods of
his own. He's jolly good to us all, but he's determined to have no
mugs about him. When I first brought you to him, I thought he didn't
like y