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.Mr.StandfastMr.Standfast158'Oh, we're doing famously, sir.I heard this afternoon from a man inOperations that G.H.Q.was perfectly satisfied.We've killed a lot of Huns andonly lost a few kilometres of ground.You're going to your division? Well,Page 163 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlit's up Peronne way, or was last night.Cheyne and Dunthorpe came back fromleave and tried to steal a car to get up to it.Oh, I'm having the deuce ofa time.These blighted civilians have got the wind up, and a lot are trying toclear out.The idiots say the Huns will be in Amiens in a week.What's thephrase?"__Pourvu que les civils _tiennent." 'Fraid I must push on, Sir.'I sent Archie back with these scraps of news and was about to make a rush forthe house of one of the Press officers, who would, I thought, be in the way ofknowing things, when at the station entrance I ran acrossLaidlaw.He had been B.G.G.S.in the corps to which my old brigade belonged,and was now on the staff of some army.He was striding towards a car when Igrabbed his arm, and he turned on me a very sick face.'Good Lord, Hannay! Where did you spring from? The news, you say?' He sank hisvoice, and drew me into a quiet corner.'The news is hellish.''They told me we were holding,' I observed.'Holding be damned! The Boche is clean through on a broad front.He broke ustoday at Maissemy andEssigny.Yes, the battle zone.He's flinging in division after division likethe blows of a hammer.What else could you expect?' And he clutched my armfiercely.'How in God's name could eleven divisions hold a front of fortymiles? And against four to one in numbers? It isn't war, it's naked lunacy.'I knew the worst now, and it didn't shock me, for I had known it was coming.Laidlaw's nerves were pretty bad, for his face was pale and his eyes brightlike a man with a fever.'Reserves!' and he laughed bitterly.'We have three infantry divisions and twocavalry.They're into the mill long ago.The French are coming up on ourright, but they've the devil of a way to go.That's what I'm down here about.And we're getting help from Horne and Plumer.But all that takes days, andmeantime we're walking back like we did at Mons.And at this time of day, too.Oh, yes, the whole line's retreating.Parts of it were pretty comfortable,but they had to get back or be put in the bag.I wish to Heaven I knew whereour right divisions have got to.For all I know they're at Compiegne by now.The Boche was over the canal this morning, and by this time most likely he'sacross the Somme.'At that I exclaimed.'D'you mean to tell me we're going to lose Peronne?''Peronne!' he cried.'We'll be lucky not to lose Amiens!.And on the top ofit all I've got some kind of blasted fever.I'll be raving in an hour.'He was rushing off, but I held him.'What about my old lot?' I asked.'Oh, damned good, but they're shot all to bits.Every division did well.It'sa marvel they weren't all scuppered, and it'll be a flaming miracle if theyfind a line they can stand on.Westwater's got a leg smashed.He was brought down this evening, and you'll find him in the hospital.Fraser's killed and Lefroy's a prisoner at least, that was my last news.Idon't know who's got the brigades, but Masterton's carrying on with thedivision.You'd better get up the line as fast as you can and take overfrom him.See the Army Commander.He'll be in Amiens tomorrow morning for a powwow.'Laidlaw lay wearily back in his car and disappeared into the night, while Ihurried to the train.Mr.StandfastMr.Standfast159The others had descended to the platform and were grouped round Archie, whowas discoursing optimistic nonsense.I got them into the carriage and shut thedoor.'It's pretty bad,' I said.'The front's pierced in several places and we'reback to the Upper Somme.I'm afraid it isn't going to stop there.I'm off upPage 164 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlthe line as soon as I can get my orders.Wake, you'll come with me, for everyman will be wanted.Blenkiron, you'll see Mary and Peter safe to England.We're just in time, for tomorrow it mightn't be easy to get out of Amiens.'I can see yet the anxious faces in that illlit compartment.We said goodbyeafter the British style without much todo.I remember that old Peter grippedmy hand as if he would never release it, and that Mary's face had grown verypale.If I delayed another second I should have howled, for Mary's lips weretrembling andPeter had eyes like a wounded stag.'God bless you,' I said hoarsely, and as Iwent off I heard Peter's voice, a little cracked, saying 'God bless you, myold friend.'I spent some weary hours looking for Westwater.He was not in the big clearingstation, but I ran him to earth at last in the new hospital which had justbeen got going in the Ursuline convent.He was the most sterling little man,in ordinary life rather dry and dogmatic, with a trick of taking you upsharply which didn't make him popular.Now he was lying very stiff and quietin the hospital bed, and his blue eyes were solemn and pathetic like a sickdog's.'There's nothing much wrong with me,' he said, in reply to my question.'Ashell dropped beside me and damaged my foot.They say they'll have to cut itoff.I've an easier mind now you're here, Hannay.Of course you'll takeover from Masterton.He's a good man but not quite up to his job.Poor Fraseryou've heard about Fraser.He was done in at the very start.Yes, a shell
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