ies, battalions.

Then, almost before Bob realised what was taking place, a great
hand-to-hand carnage began. Shrieks, groans, cries filled the heavens.
From that time Bob ceased to be the quiet student who had aspirations
after a serene scholastic life. He was an Englishman doing battle with
a huge fighting machine. He was one of the many who determined to cut
out the great cancer of Europe. England and all she stood for was at
stake. Honour, faithfulness to promise, liberty, religion, all must be
maintained!

He found himself facing a huge German. The German hesitated a second,
and rushed on him. It was that moment's hesitation to which Bob owed
his life. With all the strength of his right arm he parried the
fearful lunge of the German, who rushed on him with fixed bayonet. A
second later the man fell.

Bob shuddered as he saw him fall. What had he against the man he had
killed? Nothing. Even at that moment he would gladly have helped him
had he been able. Possibly, probably he had a wife or sweetheart
somewhere, probably too he was a quiet, inoffensive fellow who had no
desire to harm any one. In spite of the war fever which raged, the
English had no personal animus against the Germans. But then they were
not fighting against Germans, they were fighting against the War God
which dominated Germany, they were fighting a system which threatened
the liberty, the peace, the religion of Europe--the world.

All this killing was hellish, but the cancer had to be cut out. If it
were allowed to remain it would poison the life of the world.

"At 'em! at 'em!"

Blood and carnage everywhere; earth made hell at the bidding of a
bully, a madman who declared himself to be the vicegerent of God. Yes,
the horrors of war could not be described in human language, but it had
to be waged in order to destroy the hellish doctrine that might was
right, the hideous creed of "blood and iron."

CHAPTER XVII

The English army had, for the time being, occupied the trenches from
which they had driven the Germans, and for a moment they were safe.
The enemy was moving away towards a distant hill, but a huge rearguard
was on the alert.

The commanding officer knew that although a slight advantage had been
gained, pursuit would be madness, so, taking advantage of the enemies'
trenches, they decided to await further events.

To Bob, the whole day seemed like a dream. His encounter with the
German private was like th