Basingstoke and taken down to the docks at Devonport before anyone had
wind of the matter.

All our ambulance wagons, and field medical equipment in wickerwork
panniers, went with us, and it would astonish a civilian to see the
amount of stores and Red Cross materials with which a field ambulance
moves. And so, after much waiting about, aboard the Canada.




CHAPTER VII


MEDITERRANEAN NIGHTS


Intricate and vivid detail leave a more startling imprint on the
memory-film than the main purport of any great adventure, whether it
be a polar expedition, a new discovery, or such a stupendous
undertaking as that in which we were now involved.

The fact of our departure had been carefully kept quiet, and our
destination was unknown. It might have been a secret expedition in
search of buried treasure. Yet, in spite of all precaution, we might
be torpedoed at any moment and go down with all hands, or strike a
mine and be blown up. We knew that victory or defeat were hanging in
the balance, and perhaps the destiny of nations. But while the
magnitude of the venture has left no impression--I cannot recall that
we ever spoke about it--commonplace details remain.