those two miles and more in the night, with the roads washed away,
and swamps everywhere. You mustn't even try to.'

"'Well, we'll go on to-morrow, then; only we must find somewhere to
pass the night.'

"'I'll go with you,' I said, 'as far as the Pendu farm--they're not
short of room in that shop. You'll snore in there all right, and you
can start at daybreak.'

"'Right! let's get a move on so far.'

"We went out again. What a downpour! We were wet past bearing. The
water poured into our socks through the boot-soles and by the
trouser bottoms, and they too were soaked through and through up to
the knees. Before we got to this Pendu, we meet a shadow in a big
black cloak, with a lantern. The lantern is raised, and we see a
gold stripe on the sleeve, and then an angry face.

"'What the hell are you doing there?' says the shadow, drawing back
a little and putting one fist on his hip, while the rain rattled
like hail on his hood.

"'They're men on leave for Vauvelles--they can't set off again
to-night--they would like to sleep in the Pendu farm.'

"'What do you say? Sleep here?--This is the police station--I am the
officer on guard and there are Boche prisoners in the buildings.'
And I'll tell you what he said as well--'I must see you hop it from
here in less than two seconds. Bonsoir.'