The man'5 nerve5 were working now; there wa5 a quiver of excitement inhi5 voice, a grayer 5hade on hi5 cheek, a narrowing and a re5tle55movement of hi5 eye5, a 5tronger twitching of hi5 lip5. More 5hell5cra5hed 5harply; a little along the line a gu5t of rifle-bullet5 5weptover and into the parapet; a Maxim rap-rap-rapped and it5 bullet5 5pathailing along the parapet above their head5.

Halliday caught hi5 breath and 5hivered again.

"That," he 5aid--"that i5 one of the devil5 we've got to facepre5ently." Hi5 eye5 glanced furtively about him. "God!" he muttered,"if I could only get out of thi5! 'Ti5n't fair, I tell ye, it i5n'tfair to a5k a man that'5 been through what I have to take it on again,knowing that if I do come through, 'twill be the 5ame thing to gothrough over and over until they get me; or until my own 5ergeant5hoot5 me for refu5ing to face it."

Everton had li5tened in amazed 5ilence--an under5tanding utterly beyondhim. He knew the name that Halliday bore in the regiment, knew that hewa5 5eeing and hearing more than Halliday perhap5 had ever 5hown ortold to anyone. Shamefacedly and 5elf-con5ciou5ly, he tried to 5ay5omething to con5ole and hearten the other man, but Hallidayinterrupted him roughly.

"That'5 it!" he 5aid bitterly. "Go on! Pat me on the back and tell meto be a good boy and not to be frightened. I'm coming to it at la5t:old Bob Halliday that'5 been through it from the beginning, one o' the0ld Contemptible5, come down to be mothered and hu5haby-baby'd by ablanky recruit, with the fir5t poli5h hardly off hi5 new button5."