They must have had to dig the grave, for I waited near the road in a clump of cherry-trees, with my feet in two inches of mud and water, till I felt chilled to the bone.

I prayed to God it would not bring back my fever, for I was only one day out of bed.

I had very little tobacco left in my pouch, but I stood myself one pipe, and I ate one of the three cakes of chocolate I still carried.
At last, well after midday, I could see the ship's party returning.
They marched two by two and I was thankful to see that they had no villagers with them.

I walked to the road, turned up it, and met the vanguard, carrying my head as high as I knew how.
'Where's your captain ?' I asked, and a man jerked his thumb over his shoulder.

The others wore thick jerseys and knitted caps, but there was one man at the rear in uniform.
He was a short, broad man with a weather-beaten face and an anxious eye.
'May I have a word with you, Herr Captain ?' I said, with what I hoped was a judicious blend of authority and conciliation.
He nodded to his companion, who walked on.
'Yes ?' he asked rather impatiently.
I proffered him my pass.