It was one of the strangest contrasts that the world has ever
seen. But the explanation thereof, as proffered by Private Mucklewame,
was quite simple and eminently sound.
"All the decent lads," he observed briefly, "are oot here."
"Good work!" said Wagstaffe, when Blaikie's tale was told. "What is
the new trench for, exactly?"
Blaikie told him.
"Tell me more!" urged Wagstaffe, deeply interested.
Blaikie's statement cannot be set down here, though the substance
of it may be common property to-day. When he had finished Wagstaffe
whistled softly.
"And it's to be the day after to-morrow?" he said.
"Yes, if all goes well."
It was quite dark now. The horizon was brilliantly lit by the flashes
of big guns, and a continuous roar came throbbing through the soft
autumn darkness.
"If this thing goes with a click, as it ought to do," said Wagstaffe,
"it will be the biggest thing that ever happened--bigger even than
Charlie Chaplin."
"Yes--_if_!" assented the cautious Blaikie.
"It's a tremendous opportunity for our section of 'K(1),'" continued
Wagstaffe. "We shall have a chance of making history over this, old
man."
"Whatever we make--history or a bloomer--we'll do our level best,"
replied Blaikie. "At least, I hope 'A' Company will."
Then suddenly his reserved, undemonstrative Scottish tongue found
utterance.
"Scotland for Ever!" he cried softly.
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