he wasn't going to doctor Germans,
and he might be useful to the retreating Serbian army. Ellis also said
that he would come and would bring his car, which would help us at least
some of the way. Sir Ralph asked Jan to take charge of the party of the
English Red Cross, and we went back to our rooms to repack, for Jo had
already arranged things for internment, Mr. Blease decided to come with
us. Nobody knew what the dangers would be, or where the Austrians and
Germans were, and many doubted if it were possible to get through. The
season was getting late, and snow was daily to be expected. Some
imaginative people enlarged on "the brigands" and "wolves," but we did
not think that they counted for much. The chief problems were, if we
could get shelter each night, and could we carry enough food to support
us in case we could get none, which seemed very possible.

We got an order from Gaschitch for bread from the Serbian authorities.
We were going off into country, the real conditions of which nobody
knew, and our friends took leave of us, many expecting to see us back in
a few days. The Austrian prisoners were very sad at our going.

The station was dark and gloomy, the little gimcrack Turkish kiosk--like
a bit of the White City--was filled with Red Cross stoves and beds. Two
trains came in, but neither was for Kralievo; one was Red Cross and the
other for Krusevatz. A lot of boys, in uniform, clambered on board and
shouting out, "Sbogom Vrntze," were borne off into the night. Our
spirits fell lower and lower. We thought of the friends we were leaving
behind us, and of what we had before us. The reaction had set in,
intensified by the gloom and cold of the station.

Hours later the train arrived. The only third-class carriage was filled
to overflowing, people were standing on the platform and sitting on the
steps. We tried the trucks. All were crammed so full that the doors
could not be opened.

"You'd better go to-morrow," said the station-master.

"We're not going through that a second time," we said. "Can't we climb
on to the roof?"

We scrambled up. There were other men there, lying in brown heaps. We
made some of them move up a little, stowed our blankets and knapsacks,
and sat amongst them.

"Are you all right?" shouted the station-master.

"Yes."

"Good-bye, then. Lie down when you come to the bridges, or you'll get
your heads knocked off."

We lay down at once, taking no risks, not knowing when the bridg