f the
path which Jan suggested, and added that he advised us to come to
Mitrovitza. The Scottish women were to give up the idea of a
dressing-station in Novi Bazar and to stop at Rashka. The Serbs had told
him that there was a good chance of Uskub being retaken, in which case
we could all go comfortably to Salonika by rail. In the other case,
there were three roads out of the country from Mitrovitza, which he
thought better than trusting to one road, if it existed.

Jan told him that the carriages were giving way under the strain of the
tents, two of the axle struts having broken; and he suggested that if we
did not jettison the tents, some of the carriages would probably never
get as far as Rashka. Sir Ralph told him to do what he thought best.

So we pitched the two heavy tops and the long bamboo poles overboard,
keeping the sides.

"Oh, what are you doing with our tents?" said one of the Scottish
nurses.

This was complicated! We understood the tents were Sir Ralph's.

All the men swore they were Sir Ralph's tents, they had seen them at
Nish. The "Scottish Woman" said she knew the tents well, and they had
cost L50 each. The men from Nish still claimed the tents, and said that
war was war and they had left thousands of pounds' worth of stores,
tents, etc., and had been obliged to discard even motor cars.

"And very extravagant it was of you," she said.

Jan pointed out that if we did not leave the tents we should very
shortly have to discard both tents and carts, which would be even more
extravagant.

She reluctantly cheered up, and we drove away in the sunshine. Before we
turned the corner we could see an excited mass of soldiers, peasants,
and boys rushing to the tents with their clasp knives. Perhaps, as
coverings, they saved many people's lives on the cold nights to come.

[Illustration: RETREATING AMMUNITION TRAIN.]

More and more exhausted oxen were to be seen lying by the roadside. A
huge cart drove over one. We all arose in our seats, horrified--but the
old ox was all right, still chewing the cud. Over the cliff lay the
smashed remains of a cart--its owners were flaying the dead horse. A
peasant with bowed head led his cart past us. Drawing it was one ox--its
partner was in the cart, lifting its head spasmodically--finished.
Quantities of carts passed us filled with furniture, baths, and
luggage. A smartly dressed family was picnicking by the roadside,
sitting on deck-chairs. Colonel P---- and Admi