Sergeant, have the men got anything in their haversacks ?" "Yes, sir.

Captain O'Connor ordered them to take their breakfast ration of bread, and he told me to see that their water bottles were filled; and--" (and here he moved closer up to Ralph, so that he should not be heard by the men) "he gave me a couple of bottles of whisky to mix with the water, and told me to fill the bottles myself, so that the men shouldn't know what was in them till they had their breakfast; otherwise there would be none left by the time they wanted to eat their bread.

He is always thoughtful the captain is." "That's a very good plan, sergeant.

I shall bear it in mind myself for the future.

They will want something before they get back after a fourteen-mile march." The fine mist continued steadily as they tramped along; but the night seemed to grow darker and darker.