CHAPTERXIX
　　THEPILOT’SLASTPORT
　　ThelittleCanadianarmywasdonewithTheSalient。TheBritishtraditionestablishedinthethirdmonthofthewar，inthatfirstterrifictwenty—twodays’fightbyYpres，thatthatdeadlyconvexshouldbenothoroughfaretoCalaisfortheHun，waspassedonwithTheSalientintoCanadianhandsintheearlymonthsof1915。HowthelittleCanadianarmypreservedthetraditionandbarred"theroad—hogofEurope"fromthechannelcoastforseventeenmonths，lethistorytell，andatwhatcostletthedeaddeclarewholieinunmarkedgraveswhich，followingthecurvinglineoftrenchesfromLangemarckthroughHoogeandSanctuaryWoodoverObservationRidgetoSt。Eloi，andthedeadunderthoselittlecrossesthatcrowdthecemeteriesofTheSalientandoftheclearingstationsintherear，andthelivingaswell，whothroughlifewillcarrytheburdenofenfeebledandmutilatedbodies。
　　ForseventeenmonthstheCanadiansinshallowdugoutsandbehindflimsytrenchesenduredthemaddeningpoundingoftheHuns’guns，bigandlittle，withoutthesatisfactionofreprisal，exceptinraidorcounter—attack，sufferingthelossoftwo—thirdsoftheirentireforce，butstillholding。Nowatlengthcamethewelcomerelease。TheywereorderedtotheSomme。Welcomenotsimplybecauseofescapefromanexperiencethemosttryingtowhichanarmycouldbesubjected，butwelcomechieflybecausetherewasachanceoffightingback。
　　Theyhadnoillusionsaboutthatgreatbattleareaofthesouth，echoesofwhosetitanicstrugglehadreachedthem，buttheylongedforachancetogetbackattheirfoe。Besides，theSommechallengedtheirfightingspirit。ThatgloriousassaultofthefirstofJulyofthealliedarmieswhichflungthemuponthescientificallyprepared，embattledandentrenched"GermanFrontier，"withitsfortifiedvillages，itsgunstuffedwoods，itsmassedparksofartillery，anddefendedbyhighlydisciplinedandsuperblyorganisedsoldiery，stirredthemlikeabuglecall。Fortwoyearsthemasterwar—makersoftheworldhademployedscientificknowledge，ingenuityandunlimitedresourcesupontheconstructionofasystemofdefencebymeansofwhichtheyhopedtodefytheworld，anduponwhichwhencompletedtheydisplayedthevauntingchallenge，"Wearereadyforyou；comeon！"
　　Inthatgreatconflicttherewasnoelementofsurprise。Itwasadeliberatetestingoutofstrength，physicalandmoral。ForthefirsttimeinthewartheBritisharmystooduponsomethinglikeeventermsinmanpowerandinweightofmetal，with，however，theimmensehandicapstillrestinguponitthatitwastheattackingforce。Theresultsettledforeverthequestionofthefightingqualityoftheraces。Whenthefirstday’sfightwasdone，onabattlefrontoftwentymilestheBritisharmieshadsmashedaholesevenmileswide，whiletheirgallantallies，fightingonaneight—
　　milefront，hadcapturedthewholeline。Intwoweeks’time，theseven—mileholewaswidenedtoten。Fortifiedvillages，entrenchedredoubts，woodsstuffedwithguns，greatandsmall，hadgonedownbeforethatsteady，relentless，crushingadvance。ThefullsignificanceoftheSommehadnotdawnedasyetupontheworld。
　　Themagnitudeoftheachievementwasnotyetestimated，butalreadynameshithertounknownwereflungupflamingintotheworld’sskyinlettersofeternalfire，Ovillers，MametzWood，TronesWood，Langueval，MouquetFarm，DevilleWoodfortheBritish，withtwenty—
　　onethousandprisoners，andHardecourt，Dompierre，Becquin—Court，BussuandFayfortheFrenchallies，withthirty—onethousandprisoners。
　　Onthatlineofcarefullychosenandelaboratelyfortifieddefences，theproudestofGermany’ssupermenofwarhadbeenbeatenattheirowngamebytheciviliansoldiersof"effeteandluxurylovingBritain，"andtherepublicanarmiesof"decadentFrance，"
　　andstilltheHomericfightwasraging。Footbyfoot，yardbyyard，theHunwasfightingtoholdthelinewhichshouldmakegoodhisinsolentclaimtothehegemonyoftheworld。Stepbystep，yardbyyard，thatlinewasbeingtornfromhisbloodyfingers。
　　Intothatseaoffireandblood，theCanadiansweretoplunge。
　　TheyrememberedLangemarckandSanctuaryWoodandSt。Eloi，andwerenotunwillingtomaketheplunge。TheythoughtofthoselongmonthsinTheSalient，whentheruthlessHunfromhisvantagegroundofoverwhelmingsuperiorityhadpouredhisdeadlyhailfromrightflank，leftflank，frontandrear，uponthem，holding，suffering，dying，daybyday，monthbymonth，andtheyweregrimlyjubilantoverthechancewhichtheSommeofferedthemofeveningsomewhatthescore。
　　"WehavesomethingtohandFritzie，"youngPickleswasheardtoremarkwhenhehadlearnedofthequalityoftheSommefighting，"andIhopehe’lllikeit，forhe’sgottotakeit。"
　　Thebattalionranks，bothofficersandmen，hadoncemorebeenfilledup。Theyhadabrieffortnight’straininginthenewopenfightingunderbarrageandthensetoffcheerfullyforthe"BigGame。"Tendaystheymarchedandcountermarchedinthebackcountry，keepingclearofthosetwomightystreams"up"and"down，"
　　thatflowedbetweenditchesandhedgesalongtheroadthatledtothegreatarena，andcatchingglimpsesandechoesastheymarcheduntil，hard，fit，keen，theyjoinedthe"upstream"flowingtowardAlbert。Thatstreamwasmadeupofthosevariousandmultifariouselementsthatgotoconstitute，equipandmaintainamodernarmy。
　　Thereweremarchingbattalions，withtheirmountedofficers，bearingnamesandinsigniafamousintheworld’swarsfortwohundredyears，andwiththembattalionswhoafewbriefmonthsagowerepeacefulcitizens，knowingnothingofwar。Thereweretransportcolumns，ammunitioncolumns，artillerycolumns，withmountedescorts。Therewerebigguns，onhugecaterpillartrucks，shoulderingthelightertraffictotheditches，andlittlegunsslippingmeeklyintheirrear。Thereweremotorlorries，honkingandthunderingtheirinsistentwaythroughdodging，escaping，cursinginfantry，forty—sixmilesofthemtoasinglearmycorps。
　　Therewerestringsofmulesandhorseswithweirdlyshapedburdensontheirpacksaddles。Thereweremotorcarsbearing"BrassHats，"
　　gentlelookingindividuals，excessivelypolite，yetsomehowgettingmentojumpwhentheyspoke，andeverywhereambulances，silentandswiftmoving，beforewhoseapproachthestreampartedinrecognitionoftherightofwayofthesemessengersofmercyoveralltheengineryofwar。
　　The"downstream"wasmuchthesame，withhereandtheredifferences。
　　Thatstreamflowedmoreswiftly。Thebattalionsmarchedwithmorebuoyanttread。Theyhaddonetheirpartandwithoutshame。Theyhadmettheirfoesandseentheirbacks。Thetrucks，transportandammunitionwagonswereemptyandcomingwitharush。Onlytheambulancesmovedmoreslowly。Carefully，withwatchfulavoidanceofrutsandholes，which，inspiteofthearmyofroad—mendingHuns，brokeupthesurfaceofthepavementstheseambulancesmadetheirway。Theymustgetthroughnomatterwhatwasheldup。
　　Andastheyflowedthesestreamseverandanonbroketheirbanksandfloodedoverinlittleeddiesintovillagesandfields，theretotarryforadayandanight，onlytobecaughtupagainineitheroneofthoseresistlessinevitablecurrentsofwar。
　　"Lookbeforeyou，major，"saidBarry，whowasridingwiththeHeadquartersCompanyattheheadofthecolumn，asoftennowattheinvitationoftheO。C。
　　Thecolumnwasslowlyclimbingalonggentleslopinghillthatreacheditsapexsometwoorthreemilesaway。Oneitherside，spreadoutoverthefields，asfarastheeyecouldreach，weremilitaryencampments，intents，inhutsandintheopen。Infantryunits，horselines，motortruckparks，repaircampsformotorsandforguns，ammunitiondumpswithshellspiledhigh，supplyshedsbulgingwiththeircanvas—coveredcontents，RedCrosshutsandmarquees，andY。M。C。A。tentswiththeircuesofwaitingsoldiers，getting"eats"anddrinks，andcomfortsofvariouskinds。
　　Thewholecountrysidewasonemightyencampmentpackedwithmunitionsandsuppliesandthrongingwithhorses，mulesandmen。
　　"Thisiswaronthe’grandscale，’"saidtheO。C。droppingbackbesidethem。"FromthetopofthishillwecanseeAlbertandapartofthemostfamousbattle—fieldofalltime。WecampjustoutsideofAlbertonwhatisknownasthe’brickfield，’andinacoupleofdaysmoreweshallbeinit。Well，"hecontinued，withaglanceoverthecolumnfollowing，"theboysneverweremorefit。"
　　"Andnevermorekeen，"saidthemajor。"Theyarerightontheirtoes。"
　　"Major，Iexpecttomeetthedivisionalcommanderdownhere，andI
　　wantyoutobethere。CaptainDunbar，youknowhim，Ibelieve。Hehasaskedespeciallythatyoushouldbethereaswell。"
　　"Yes，sir，IhavemettheGeneral。Tomymindheisanidealsoldier。"
　　"Yes，andanidealofficer，"saidtheO。C。"Heknowshisjobandheisalwaysfitandkeen。"
　　Atthetopofthehill，atrafficofficer，ayounglieutenantfromtheImperialforces，divertedthecolumnfromtheroadintoafield。
　　"Whyisthis？"inquiredtheO。C。
　　"There’stheanswer，sir，"saidtheofficercoolly。
　　TherewasalongdrawnwhinewhichrapidlygrewintoashriekandanH。E。shelldroppedfairintheroad，ashortdistanceinfront。
　　"Oh，Isee，youhavesomeofthesebirdsdowninthiscountry，too。"
　　"Yes，sir，thisistheirbreedingground，"saidtheyounglieutenant。
　　OncemorecamethelongwhiningshriekandtheterrificblastoftheH。E。，thistimecloser。
　　"Iwouldnotdelay，sir，ifIwereyou，"saidtheyoungchapcoolly，pullingouthiscigarettecase。"Theygetratheruglyattimes。"
　　"Whataboutyou？"inquiredtheO。C。movingoff。
　　"Partofmyjob，sir，"repliedtheyouth，saluting。
　　"Well，goodluck，boy，"saidtheO。C。，trottingtotheheadofthecolumn。
　　"Thankyou，sir，"saidtheyouth，turningtohisjobagain。
　　Theyrodeahundredyards，whenanothershellcame，therewasaterrificexplosion，apparentlyjustatthespotwheretheyoungofficerhadbeenstanding。
　　"ByJove！I’mafraidthat’sgothim，"saidtheO。C。
　　"I’llgoandsee，sir，"saidBarry，spurringhishorsebacktothespot。
　　"Comebackhere，Barry，"calledthemajor。"Darnhimforafool！
　　What’stheuseofthat？Thatisn’thisjob，"headdedangrily。
　　"Hethinksitis，probably，"saidtheO。C。
　　Barryfoundagreatholeintheroadwiththeofficer’shorselyingdisembowelledbesideit，kickinginhisdeathagony。Therewasnosignofhisrideranywhere。Fortunatelytherewasagapinthecolumn，sothatnooneelsewasnearenoughtobeinjured。
　　AsBarrystoodgazingabout，avoicehailedhimfromtheditch，whichwasseveralfeetdeep。
　　"Isay，sir，"saidthevoice，"Iwouldn’tjuststaythere。Theygenerallysendoverfourof’em。That’sonlythethird。Ifindthisditchveryconvenient，thoughsomewhatmucky。"
　　Barrylookedathiminastonishment。Hewaswhiteandshaken，coveredwithmud，buttryingtogethiscigarettecaseopen。
　　"I’dgetoff，sir，ifIwereyou，"hesaid，"untilthenextonecomes。Quick，sir，Ihearitnow。"
　　Barryneedednosecondinvitation。Heflunghimselfheadlongintotheditchbesidetheyoungfellow，buttheshelldroppedintothefieldbeyond。
　　"That’sasnearasIlike’em，"saidtheyoungofficer，scrapingthemudoffhisclothes。"Mypoor，oldgee—geegotitthough。"Hedrewhisrevolverandshotthewoundedanimal。"It’shardonthehorses。Yousee，theycan’tdodge，"headded。
　　"Isay，myboy，"saidBarry，forthelieutenantwasonlyaboy，"thatwasanearthingforyou。Whatareyougoingtodonow？"
　　"Oh，justcarryon，"saidtheboy。"Thereliefwillbealonginafewhours。Beastlymess，eh？"hecontinued，butwhetherhereferredtothedisembowelledhorseorthestateofhisownuniform，Barrycouldnotsay。
　　"Youaresureyouareallright？"saidBarry，asheshookhandswithhim。"I’mawfullygladyouweren’thurt。"
　　"SoamI，"saidtheboyheartily。"Awfullyrottentobepottedouthereplayingaballypoliceman，eh？What？Well，goodluck，sir，"
　　andBarryrodeofftojoinhiscolumnwithadeepadmirationinhisheartfortheEnglishschoolboywho，whenwarbegan，wasprobablyafifthformlad，inwhoselifethemostdangerousepisodewouldbeaballtakenfulloffbatatpoint，oralowtackleontheRugbyfield。
　　AtDivisionalHeadquarters，theymetthegeneral，whoafteraconversationwiththeO。C。greetedBarrywarmly。
　　"Soyouhavegoneanddoneit，youngman。Well，Iadmireyournerve，andIcongratulateyou。Ihappentoknowthefamilyverywell。Asamatteroffactthereissomeremoteconnection，I
　　believe。Bytheway，IhaveacommunicationfromLondonforyou，"
　　headded，drawingBarrytooneside，andgivinghimalittleslip。
　　"Ihappentoknowaboutit，"hecontinued，whileBarrywasreadinghistelegram，"andsay，ifIcanbeofanyassistance，Ishallbeveryglad。It’sastepup，yousee。Ihavenodoubtitcanbeputthroughquiteeasilyandquickly，andIbelievethestepiscomingtoyou。"
　　Barrystoodwithhiseyesuponthedispatch。Itwasanofferofahospitalappointmentatthebase，andcarriedwithithismajority。
　　"Ihavenodoubtthemissuswillbepleased，eh？"saidthegeneralwithagrin。
　　Barrypulledoutaletterfromhispocket，openeditandhandedittothegeneral，pointingtoaparagraph。Thegeneraltookitandread，"AndBarry，dear，rememberthatthoughyouhaveawifenow，yourdutytoyourcountryisstillyourfirstduty。Iwouldhatethatanythoughtofmeshouldmakeitharderforyoutocarryon。"
　　Thegeneralfoldeduptheletter，putitslowlyintoitsenvelope，andhandeditbacktoBarry。
　　"Iknowher，"hesaidsimply。"Ishouldexpectnothingelsefromher。Youarealuckydog，but，ofcourse，"headded，withaswiftglanceatBarry’sface，"someonemusttakethatjob。"
　　"Ifancy，sir，therearemanyforit，whoarehardlyfitforthisworkuphere，"repliedBarryquietly。"Ithink，sir，I’lljustcarryonwhereIam。"
　　"Youarequitesure？"inquiredthegeneral。"Don’tyouwantadayortwotothinkitover？"
　　"Iamquitesure，sir，"saidBarry，"Iamquitesurethatmywifewouldapprove。"
　　"Verywell，then，"saidthegeneral，"letmehandlethisforyou，andletmesay，sir，thatIamproudtohaveyouinmydivision。"
　　Sosaying，hegrippedBarry’shandhard，andturnedabruptlyawaytotheothers。
　　Theyrodetotheircampinalmostcompletesilence，exceptforagruntortwofromtheO。C。whoseemedinagrumpymood。
　　WhentheyarrivedatHeadquarters，theO。C。drewuphishorseandturningtothemajor，said，"Idon’tknowjustwhattodowiththisPilotofours。Heisafoolinsomeways。"
　　"Adarnedfool，sir，"saidthemajoremphatically。
　　"And，"continuedthemajor，"IamselfishenoughtosaythatIamdamnedglad——Iwon’tapologise，Pilot——thathedecidedtostaywithus。Itwouldhavebeenjustalittlehardertocarryonifhehadleftus。"
　　"Yes，"growledthemajor，"but，oh，well，wehavegottostickitI
　　guess。ThePilotisasoldierallright。"
　　Therewasnothingfurthersaidaboutthematter，butnextdayasBarrywalkedaboutthecamp，amongthemen，theireyesfollowedhimashepassed，andeveryofficerinthemessseemedtodiscoveranerrandthattookhimtoBarry’stent。
　　TwodayslatertheCanadiansmovedupintothelineandtookoverfromtheAustralians。TheyfollowedtheBapaumeRoadtowardPozieres，passingthroughacountrywhichhadseentheheaviestfightinginthewar。
　　"This，"saidtheO。C。，drawingasidefromtheroad，andridingtoaslightlyrisingground，"isLaBoiselle，oratleastwhereitwas，andthatIfancyisthefamousminecrater。Sixtythousandpoundsofguncottonblewupthathole。"
　　Therewasabsolutelynosignofthevillage，theveryfoundationsofthehouses，andthecellarshavingtheappearanceofaploughedfield。
　　"Thatwasadesperatefight，"continuedtheO。C。"ItwasherethattheMiddlesexmenmadetheirgreatcharge。Fiftymenreportedfromthebattalionwhenitwasover。Inthatvillagetheyhadawholedivisionfightingbeforetheywerethrough，Middlesexmen，RoyalScotsandIrish，forthreedaysandthreenights。"
　　Astheyrodealong，thegunsoneithersidebegantheireveningchorusandfromthefarrearcametheroaringrushoftheH。E。’slikeinvisibleexpresstrainshurtlingthroughtheair。Itwasmusictotheirears，andtheyrodeforwardwithanewfeelingintheirhearts，forthereappearedtobealmostnoreplyfromtheenemyguns。
　　ThebattaliontooktothetrenchesatthecrossingofthePozieresRoad，andsoeffectivewasthecounter—batteryworkthattheywereabletosettledownintotheirbattlepositionswithoutcasualties。
　　TheR。A。P。wasinadeepGermandug—outthirtyfeetbelowthesurface，withdoubleentrancesandheavilytimbered。Ithadbeenmostelaboratelyprepared，plankedonsidesandfloor，andfittedwithelectriclights。Thereweretwomainrooms，withaconnectingcorridor，leadingtoeachentrance。TheyfoundanAustralianmedicalofficerincharge。
　　"Thesechapswereregularsettlers，weren’tthey？"saidBarry，aftertheyhadexchangedgreetings。
　　"Yes，sir，theyintendedtosty，apparently，"saidtheAustralian，inhisslowdrawl。"Wefoundsomelettersonawoundedofficerindicatingtheirintentiontoremynforthedurytion，butwewantedtheplyce——couldn’tcarryonwithoutitinfact。It’squiteagoodplyce，too，"headdedwithacheerfulgrin。
　　"Why，it’sjustbully，"saidtheM。O。"Iamonlysorrythatwecan’tpromiseyouasgoodinTheSalient。"
　　"Ihearitisratherrotten，eh，sir？"saidtheAustralian。
　　"NotasbadasGallipoli，though，"saidBarry。"ByJove！YouAustralianchapsdidmagnificentlydownthere。Musthavebeenaperfecthell。"
　　"Oh，yes，quitehotforawhile，butIfancyyouCanydiansdidn’thaveanyafternoonteapartyinTheSylient，eh？Myword，therewassomefightingthere。Oh，thereitcomes，"headded。
　　Ashespokeamuffledexplosionwasheard，andthedug—outrocked，andthecandlesflickered。
　　"Cantheygetyoudownhere？"inquiredtheM。O。
　　"IfancyadirecthitfromareallybigH。E。woulddisturbourlittlehome，butnothingelsewould。Ofcourse，ashellinthedoorwyewouldbeabitawkward，youknaow，"repliedtheAustralian。
　　Thenight，however，passedquietly，andexceptforafewslightlywoundedwalkingcases，therewaslittleworktodo。TheCanadiansdecidedthatincomingtotheSomme，theyhadmadeamosthappyexchange。
　　Aquietdayfollowedthenight，butthewholebattalionwaskeyedupwithintenseexpectationfortheattackwhichtheyknewwasfixedforthenightfollowing。Withexpectationmingledcuriosity。
　　Theyknewallaboutraiding；thatwastheirownspecialty，buttheywerecuriousastothenewstyleoffightingwhichtheyknewtobeawaitingthem，thecapturing，holdingandconsolidatingofalineofenemytrenches。
　　Nightfallbroughttheopportunitytogratifytheircuriosity。Fortwohoursbeforetheattack，theirgunsputdownthebarragetocoverthefrontlineofenemytrenches，andtodisposeofhiswire。
　　TheM。O。andBarry，withtheAustralianandtheirwholestaff，madetheirwaytoaridgeafewyardsdistanttoseetheshow。
　　"GreatHeaven，whatisthat？"inquiredtheM。O。，pointingtowhatseemedtobealineofflickeringwatchfiresuponthecrestofaneighbouringrisingground。
　　"Guns！Ours，"saidtheAustralian，surprisedattheM。O。’sexcitement。
　　"Guns！MyLord，guns，Barry，"shoutedtheM。O。
　　"Guns？Andintheopen！Andonahill！Andwheeltowheel！"
　　criedBarry。"ThankthegoodLordIhavelivedtoseethisday。
　　Lookattheboys，"headdedinalowtone，totheAustralianbesidehim。
　　Theyglancedovertheirshouldersandsawtwooftheorderliesexecutingafox—trotintheheavyshell—ploughedsoil。
　　"What’stherow？"inquiredtheAustralian。
　　"Why，mydearchap，"repliedtheM。O。，"don’tyouknowwehaveneverseenaguninactionintheopenthatway。Ourgunsoperatedonlyfromholesandcorners，fromhedgesandcellars。Otherwisethey’dbespottedandknockedoutinanhour。"
　　"Ow！"saidtheAustralian，"ourbirdmenattendedtothatthefirstdyeofthefight。Theysyetherewasadoublelineofobservationballoonsalongthelines，oursandtheirsuptothe30thofJune。
　　ThenextmorningnotaBocheballoonwastobeseen。Ourplynesputtheireyeoutinasingleafternoon。Sincethattime，weholdoverthemintheair。Ah！Therearetheheaviescomingupnow。
　　Thefullchoruswillbeoninhalfaminute。"
　　Afewsecondslater，thetruthoftheAustralian’sprophecywasdemonstrated。Thefullchoruswason。Fortwohoursthebarrageraged，andthedinwassuchthattheyhadtoshoutineachother’searstobeheard。Thehilltopswereringedwithdartingtonguesofredflameasthoughbelchedoutbyathousandfableddragons。Itwasasiftheairabovewasfilledwithmillionsofinvisibledemons，whining，moaning，barking，shriekinginafuryofvenomoushate，whileatregularintervalscametheexpresstrainroarofthetwelve，fifteenandsixteeninchguns。
　　"It’salmostworthwhiletohavelivedthroughthosemonthsinTheSalient，"saidBarry，"togetthefullenjoymentofthisexperience。
　　WelldoIrememberthedaywhenourO。C。askedfor’retaliation，’
　　andwastoldhecouldhavesixrounds，Ithinkitwas，oreight。
　　Meanwhileourtrenchesanddug—cutsweregoingupinbloodymud。"
　　"Ithinkwemightaswellgobelow，"saidtheAustralian。"Theywillbecominginpresently。"
　　ButBarryandtheM。O。remainedlongafterthefirstcominginshellsbegantodroparound。Thatbarragesolongwaitedfor，andsoardentlydesired，wasworthsomerisk。
　　Soonthewoundedbegantoarrive，andthroughoutthewholenight，theM。O。andhisstaffwerebusyattheirwork。Onthearrivalofthezerohour，thebarragelifted。
　　"Well，goodluckgowiththeboys，"saidtheAustralian，fervently。
　　"Theyareoutandovernow。We’llgetsomeofthempresently。"
　　Throughoutthenight，astreamofwalkingwoundedkeptflowingin。
　　Jubilant，exultantinspiteoftheirpain，theyborewiththemthejoyfulreportthattheyhadshiftedtheHunfromhistrenchesandhisdeepdug—outs，andwerestilladvancing。Singingatthetopoftheirvoices，theycamelimpingin，bloodyandmuddy，butwildwithexultationandjoy。ThedaylonglookedforbytheCanadianshadarrived。Theyweregettingsomethingoftheirownback。
　　Thenextdayrevealedthefullextentoftheachievement。ThewholeCanadianlinehadsweptforwardforoverathousandyards，hadcapturedstrongpoints，afortifiedsunkenroad，thefamous"sugarrefinery"and，overrunningtheirobjective，hadcapturedthevillageofCourcelette，aswell。Itwasagallantlittlefight，andquiteanotableachievement。
　　Aftertwodaysthebattalionwaspulledout，havingsufferedcomparativelyslightlosses，andmorethanreadytoreturnwhentheopportunityshouldcome。
　　Thenextthreeweekswerespentinminoroperations，consolidatingpositions，repellingcounter—attacks，andpreparingforthereal"biggo，"inwhichtheCanadiansweretotaketheirpartintheadvanceofthewholealliedline，afterwhichthebattalionwassentintoreserveforafewdays’respite。
　　TheCanadianlinewasgraduallywearingthin，butthespiritofthosewhosurvivedwasthespiritofthewholealliedline，——thespiritthatclaimedvictoryandwasnottobedenied。Astothenatureofthetaskawaitingthem，however，theywellknewthatitwastobeafightinwhichthelastounceofresolutionandonlythelastouncewouldcarrythemthroughtotheirobjective。
　　Theexperiencesofthealliesduringthepastmonthshadwroughtinthemasettledconvictionthatvictorywasawaitingthem，andasettledresolutionthatthatvictorytheywouldsecureatallcostsoever。
　　Atlengththedayarrived，adullOctoberday，overhungwithraincloudsandthickwithchillmist。Ontheparadegroundthebattalionwasdrawnupfortheservicewhichalwaysprecededanattack。
　　Theoperationsofthepastmonthhadreducedthebattaliontoabouthalfitsfightingstrength。Onlysomefivehundredmen，withofficersbarelysufficienttodirecttheirmovements，lookedbackatBarrythroughthemistashefacedthemfortheservice。