The incident merely showed how raw and jagged the Great Retreat had left
the nerves of those who survived it.

An hour's halt passed only too soon, and its later moments were made
uneasy by the instinctive aversion which every one felt for the sound of
the whistles that would mark the end of it. The Battalion, however, had
no sooner swung into the road, than the Colonel, who had been reading a
message with an expression of surprise, held up his hand to signal the
halt. The moment was historic. Although none knew, it was the end of the
Great Retreat.




CHAPTER XVI

THE TURN OF THE TIDE


The next day the Battalion linked up with the Brigade, and instead of
proceeding in the usual direction--southwards--they turned to the north.

There was a great deal of subdued excitement. They were not going to
move off for a precious hour or so, and, as "battle seemed imminent,"
the Subaltern did his best to make up the "deficiencies" in his
equipment.

Another Subaltern lay stricken with dysentery in one of the regimental
wagons, and he "borrowed" his revolver and ammunition. Apart from the
fact that the poor fellow was in too great pain to dispute the robbery,