CHAPTERXIX
THEPILOT’SLASTPORT
ThelittleCanadianarmywasdonewithTheSalient。TheBritishtraditionestablishedinthethirdmonthofthewar，inthatfirstterrifictwenty—twodays’fightbyYpres，thatthatdeadlyconvexshouldbenothoroughfaretoCalaisfortheHun，waspassedonwithTheSalientintoCanadianhandsintheearlymonthsof1915。HowthelittleCanadianarmypreservedthetraditionandbarred\"theroad—hogofEurope\"fromthechannelcoastforseventeenmonths，lethistorytell，andatwhatcostletthedeaddeclarewholieinunmarkedgraveswhich，followingthecurvinglineoftrenchesfromLangemarckthroughHoogeandSanctuaryWoodoverObservationRidgetoSt。Eloi，andthedeadunderthoselittlecrossesthatcrowdthecemeteriesofTheSalientandoftheclearingstationsintherear，andthelivingaswell，whothroughlifewillcarrytheburdenofenfeebledandmutilatedbodies。
ForseventeenmonthstheCanadiansinshallowdugoutsandbehindflimsytrenchesenduredthemaddeningpoundingoftheHuns’guns，bigandlittle，withoutthesatisfactionofreprisal，exceptinraidorcounter—attack，sufferingthelossoftwo—thirdsoftheirentireforce，butstillholding。Nowatlengthcamethewelcomerelease。TheywereorderedtotheSomme。Welcomenotsimplybecauseofescapefromanexperiencethemosttryingtowhichanarmycouldbesubjected，butwelcomechieflybecausetherewasachanceoffightingback。
Theyhadnoillusionsaboutthatgreatbattleareaofthesouth，echoesofwhosetitanicstrugglehadreachedthem，buttheylongedforachancetogetbackattheirfoe。Besides，theSommechallengedtheirfightingspirit。ThatgloriousassaultofthefirstofJulyofthealliedarmieswhichflungthemuponthescientificallyprepared，embattledandentrenched\"GermanFrontier，\"withitsfortifiedvillages，itsgunstuffedwoods，itsmassedparksofartillery，anddefendedbyhighlydisciplinedandsuperblyorganisedsoldiery，stirredthemlikeabuglecall。Fortwoyearsthemasterwar—makersoftheworldhademployedscientificknowledge，ingenuityandunlimitedresourcesupontheconstructionofasystemofdefencebymeansofwhichtheyhopedtodefytheworld，anduponwhichwhencompletedtheydisplayedthevauntingchallenge，\"Wearereadyforyou；comeon！\"
Inthatgreatconflicttherewasnoelementofsurprise。Itwasadeliberatetestingoutofstrength，physicalandmoral。ForthefirsttimeinthewartheBritisharmystooduponsomethinglikeeventermsinmanpowerandinweightofmetal，with，however，theimmensehandicapstillrestinguponitthatitwastheattackingforce。Theresultsettledforeverthequestionofthefightingqualityoftheraces。Whenthefirstday’sfightwasdone，onabattlefrontoftwentymilestheBritisharmieshadsmashedaholesevenmileswide，whiletheirgallantallies，fightingonaneight—
milefront，hadcapturedthewholeline。Intwoweeks’time，theseven—mileholewaswidenedtoten。Fortifiedvillages，entrenchedredoubts，woodsstuffedwithguns，greatandsmall，hadgonedownbeforethatsteady，relentless，crushingadvance。ThefullsignificanceoftheSommehadnotdawnedasyetupontheworld。
Themagnitudeoftheachievementwasnotyetestimated，butalreadynameshithertounknownwereflungupflamingintotheworld’sskyinlettersofeternalfire，Ovillers，MametzWood，TronesWood，Langueval，MouquetFarm，DevilleWoodfortheBritish，withtwenty—
onethousandprisoners，andHardecourt，Dompierre，Becquin—Court，BussuandFayfortheFrenchallies，withthirty—onethousandprisoners。
Onthatlineofcarefullychosenandelaboratelyfortifieddefences，theproudestofGermany’ssupermenofwarhadbeenbeatenattheirowngamebytheciviliansoldiersof\"effeteandluxurylovingBritain，\"andtherepublicanarmiesof\"decadentFrance，\"
andstilltheHomericfightwasraging。Footbyfoot，yardbyyard，theHunwasfightingtoholdthelinewhichshouldmakegoodhisinsolentclaimtothehegemonyoftheworld。Stepbystep，yardbyyard，thatlinewasbeingtornfromhisbloodyfingers。
Intothatseaoffireandblood，theCanadiansweretoplunge。
TheyrememberedLangemarckandSanctuaryWoodandSt。Eloi，andwerenotunwillingtomaketheplunge。TheythoughtofthoselongmonthsinTheSalient，whentheruthlessHunfromhisvantagegroundofoverwhelmingsuperiorityhadpouredhisdeadlyhailfromrightflank，leftflank，frontandrear，uponthem，holding，suffering，dying，daybyday，monthbymonth，andtheyweregrimlyjubilantoverthechancewhichtheSommeofferedthemofeveningsomewhatthescore。
\"WehavesomethingtohandFritzie，\"youngPickleswasheardtoremarkwhenhehadlearnedofthequalityoftheSommefighting，\"andIhopehe’lllikeit，forhe’sgottotakeit。\"
Thebattalionranks，bothofficersandmen，hadoncemorebeenfilledup。Theyhadabrieffortnight’straininginthenewopenfightingunderbarrageandthensetoffcheerfullyforthe\"BigGame。\"Tendaystheymarchedandcountermarchedinthebackcountry，keepingclearofthosetwomightystreams\"up\"and\"down，\"
thatflowedbetweenditchesandhedgesalongtheroadthatledtothegreatarena，andcatchingglimpsesandechoesastheymarcheduntil，hard，fit，keen，theyjoinedthe\"upstream\"flowingtowardAlbert。Thatstreamwasmadeupofthosevariousandmultifariouselementsthatgotoconstitute，equipandmaintainamodernarmy。
Thereweremarchingbattalions，withtheirmountedofficers，bearingnamesandinsigniafamousintheworld’swarsfortwohundredyears，andwiththembattalionswhoafewbriefmonthsagowerepeacefulcitizens，knowingnothingofwar。Thereweretransportcolumns，ammunitioncolumns，artillerycolumns，withmountedescorts。Therewerebigguns，onhugecaterpillartrucks，shoulderingthelightertraffictotheditches，andlittlegunsslippingmeeklyintheirrear。Thereweremotorlorries，honkingandthunderingtheirinsistentwaythroughdodging，escaping，cursinginfantry，forty—sixmilesofthemtoasinglearmycorps。
Therewerestringsofmulesandhorseswithweirdlyshapedburdensontheirpacksaddles。Thereweremotorcarsbearing\"BrassHats，\"
gentlelookingindividuals，excessivelypolite，yetsomehowgettingmentojumpwhentheyspoke，andeverywhereambulances，silentandswiftmoving，beforewhoseapproachthestreampartedinrecognitionoftherightofwayofthesemessengersofmercyoveralltheengineryofwar。
The\"downstream\"wasmuchthesame，withhereandtheredifferences。
Thatstreamflowedmoreswiftly。Thebattalionsmarchedwithmorebuoyanttread。Theyhaddonetheirpartandwithoutshame。Theyhadmettheirfoesandseentheirbacks。Thetrucks，transportandammunitionwagonswereemptyandcomingwitharush。Onlytheambulancesmovedmoreslowly。Carefully，withwatchfulavoidanceofrutsandholes，which，inspiteofthearmyofroad—mendingHuns，brokeupthesurfaceofthepavementstheseambulancesmadetheirway。Theymustgetthroughnomatterwhatwasheldup。
Andastheyflowedthesestreamseverandanonbroketheirbanksandfloodedoverinlittleeddiesintovillagesandfields，theretotarryforadayandanight，onlytobecaughtupagainineitheroneofthoseresistlessinevitablecurrentsofwar。
\"Lookbeforeyou，major，\"saidBarry，whowasridingwiththeHeadquartersCompanyattheheadofthecolumn，asoftennowattheinvitationoftheO。C。
Thecolumnwasslowlyclimbingalonggentleslopinghillthatreacheditsapexsometwoorthreemilesaway。Oneitherside，spreadoutoverthefields，asfarastheeyecouldreach，weremilitaryencampments，intents，inhutsandintheopen。Infantryunits，horselines，motortruckparks，repaircampsformotorsandforguns，ammunitiondumpswithshellspiledhigh，supplyshedsbulgingwiththeircanvas—coveredcontents，RedCrosshutsandmarquees，andY。M。C。A。tentswiththeircuesofwaitingsoldiers，getting\"eats\"anddrinks，andcomfortsofvariouskinds。
Thewholecountrysidewasonemightyencampmentpackedwithmunitionsandsuppliesandthrongingwithhorses，mulesandmen。
\"Thisiswaronthe’grandscale，’\"saidtheO。C。droppingbackbesidethem。\"FromthetopofthishillwecanseeAlbertandapartofthemostfamousbattle—fieldofalltime。WecampjustoutsideofAlbertonwhatisknownasthe’brickfield，’andinacoupleofdaysmoreweshallbeinit。Well，\"hecontinued，withaglanceoverthecolumnfollowing，\"theboysneverweremorefit。\"
\"Andnevermorekeen，\"saidthemajor。\"Theyarerightontheirtoes。\"
\"Major，Iexpecttomeetthedivisionalcommanderdownhere，andI
wantyoutobethere。CaptainDunbar，youknowhim，Ibelieve。Hehasaskedespeciallythatyoushouldbethereaswell。\"
\"Yes，sir，IhavemettheGeneral。Tomymindheisanidealsoldier。\"
\"Yes，andanidealofficer，\"saidtheO。C。\"Heknowshisjobandheisalwaysfitandkeen。\"
Atthetopofthehill，atrafficofficer，ayounglieutenantfromtheImperialforces，divertedthecolumnfromtheroadintoafield。
\"Whyisthis？\"inquiredtheO。C。
\"There’stheanswer，sir，\"saidtheofficercoolly。
TherewasalongdrawnwhinewhichrapidlygrewintoashriekandanH。E。shelldroppedfairintheroad，ashortdistanceinfront。
\"Oh，Isee，youhavesomeofthesebirdsdowninthiscountry，too。\"
\"Yes，sir，thisistheirbreedingground，\"saidtheyounglieutenant。
OncemorecamethelongwhiningshriekandtheterrificblastoftheH。E。，thistimecloser。
\"Iwouldnotdelay，sir，ifIwereyou，\"saidtheyoungchapcoolly，pullingouthiscigarettecase。\"Theygetratheruglyattimes。\"
\"Whataboutyou？\"inquiredtheO。C。movingoff。
\"Partofmyjob，sir，\"repliedtheyouth，saluting。
\"Well，goodluck，boy，\"saidtheO。C。，trottingtotheheadofthecolumn。
\"Thankyou，sir，\"saidtheyouth，turningtohisjobagain。
Theyrodeahundredyards，whenanothershellcame，therewasaterrificexplosion，apparentlyjustatthespotwheretheyoungofficerhadbeenstanding。
\"ByJove！I’mafraidthat’sgothim，\"saidtheO。C。
\"I’llgoandsee，sir，\"saidBarry，spurringhishorsebacktothespot。
\"Comebackhere，Barry，\"calledthemajor。\"Darnhimforafool！
What’stheuseofthat？Thatisn’thisjob，\"headdedangrily。
\"Hethinksitis，probably，\"saidtheO。C。
Barryfoundagreatholeintheroadwiththeofficer’shorselyingdisembowelledbesideit，kickinginhisdeathagony。Therewasnosignofhisrideranywhere。Fortunatelytherewasagapinthecolumn，sothatnooneelsewasnearenoughtobeinjured。
AsBarrystoodgazingabout，avoicehailedhimfromtheditch，whichwasseveralfeetdeep。
\"Isay，sir，\"saidthevoice，\"Iwouldn’tjuststaythere。Theygenerallysendoverfourof’em。That’sonlythethird。Ifindthisditchveryconvenient，thoughsomewhatmucky。\"
Barrylookedathiminastonishment。Hewaswhiteandshaken，coveredwithmud，buttryingtogethiscigarettecaseopen。
\"I’dgetoff，sir，ifIwereyou，\"hesaid，\"untilthenextonecomes。Quick，sir，Ihearitnow。\"
Barryneedednosecondinvitation。Heflunghimselfheadlongintotheditchbesidetheyoungfellow，buttheshelldroppedintothefieldbeyond。
\"That’sasnearasIlike’em，\"saidtheyoungofficer，scrapingthemudoffhisclothes。\"Mypoor，oldgee—geegotitthough。\"Hedrewhisrevolverandshotthewoundedanimal。\"It’shardonthehorses。Yousee，theycan’tdodge，\"headded。
\"Isay，myboy，\"saidBarry，forthelieutenantwasonlyaboy，\"thatwasanearthingforyou。Whatareyougoingtodonow？\"
\"Oh，justcarryon，\"saidtheboy。\"Thereliefwillbealonginafewhours。Beastlymess，eh？\"hecontinued，butwhetherhereferredtothedisembowelledhorseorthestateofhisownuniform，Barrycouldnotsay。
\"Youaresureyouareallright？\"saidBarry，asheshookhandswithhim。\"I’mawfullygladyouweren’thurt。\"
\"SoamI，\"saidtheboyheartily。\"Awfullyrottentobepottedouthereplayingaballypoliceman，eh？What？Well，goodluck，sir，\"
andBarryrodeofftojoinhiscolumnwithadeepadmirationinhisheartfortheEnglishschoolboywho，whenwarbegan，wasprobablyafifthformlad，inwhoselifethemostdangerousepisodewouldbeaballtakenfulloffbatatpoint，oralowtackleontheRugbyfield。
AtDivisionalHeadquarters，theymetthegeneral，whoafteraconversationwiththeO。C。greetedBarrywarmly。
\"Soyouhavegoneanddoneit，youngman。Well，Iadmireyournerve，andIcongratulateyou。Ihappentoknowthefamilyverywell。Asamatteroffactthereissomeremoteconnection，I
believe。Bytheway，IhaveacommunicationfromLondonforyou，\"
headded，drawingBarrytooneside，andgivinghimalittleslip。
\"Ihappentoknowaboutit，\"hecontinued，whileBarrywasreadinghistelegram，\"andsay，ifIcanbeofanyassistance，Ishallbeveryglad。It’sastepup，yousee。Ihavenodoubtitcanbeputthroughquiteeasilyandquickly，andIbelievethestepiscomingtoyou。\"
Barrystoodwithhiseyesuponthedispatch。Itwasanofferofahospitalappointmentatthebase，andcarriedwithithismajority。
\"Ihavenodoubtthemissuswillbepleased，eh？\"saidthegeneralwithagrin。
Barrypulledoutaletterfromhispocket，openeditandhandedittothegeneral，pointingtoaparagraph。Thegeneraltookitandread，\"AndBarry，dear，rememberthatthoughyouhaveawifenow，yourdutytoyourcountryisstillyourfirstduty。Iwouldhatethatanythoughtofmeshouldmakeitharderforyoutocarryon。\"
Thegeneralfoldeduptheletter，putitslowlyintoitsenvelope，andhandeditbacktoBarry。
\"Iknowher，\"hesaidsimply。\"Ishouldexpectnothingelsefromher。Youarealuckydog，but，ofcourse，\"headded，withaswiftglanceatBarry’sface，\"someonemusttakethatjob。\"
\"Ifancy，sir，therearemanyforit，whoarehardlyfitforthisworkuphere，\"repliedBarryquietly。\"Ithink，sir，I’lljustcarryonwhereIam。\"
\"Youarequitesure？\"inquiredthegeneral。\"Don’tyouwantadayortwotothinkitover？\"
\"Iamquitesure，sir，\"saidBarry，\"Iamquitesurethatmywifewouldapprove。\"
\"Verywell，then，\"saidthegeneral，\"letmehandlethisforyou，andletmesay，sir，thatIamproudtohaveyouinmydivision。\"
Sosaying，hegrippedBarry’shandhard，andturnedabruptlyawaytotheothers。
Theyrodetotheircampinalmostcompletesilence，exceptforagruntortwofromtheO。C。whoseemedinagrumpymood。
WhentheyarrivedatHeadquarters，theO。C。drewuphishorseandturningtothemajor，said，\"Idon’tknowjustwhattodowiththisPilotofours。Heisafoolinsomeways。\"
\"Adarnedfool，sir，\"saidthemajoremphatically。
\"And，\"continuedthemajor，\"IamselfishenoughtosaythatIamdamnedglad——Iwon’tapologise，Pilot——thathedecidedtostaywithus。Itwouldhavebeenjustalittlehardertocarryonifhehadleftus。\"
\"Yes，\"growledthemajor，\"but，oh，well，wehavegottostickitI
guess。ThePilotisasoldierallright。\"
Therewasnothingfurthersaidaboutthematter，butnextdayasBarrywalkedaboutthecamp，amongthemen，theireyesfollowedhimashepassed，andeveryofficerinthemessseemedtodiscoveranerrandthattookhimtoBarry’stent。
TwodayslatertheCanadiansmovedupintothelineandtookoverfromtheAustralians。TheyfollowedtheBapaumeRoadtowardPozieres，passingthroughacountrywhichhadseentheheaviestfightinginthewar。
\"This，\"saidtheO。C。，drawingasidefromtheroad，andridingtoaslightlyrisingground，\"isLaBoiselle，oratleastwhereitwas，andthatIfancyisthefamousminecrater。Sixtythousandpoundsofguncottonblewupthathole。\"
Therewasabsolutelynosignofthevillage，theveryfoundationsofthehouses，andthecellarshavingtheappearanceofaploughedfield。
\"Thatwasadesperatefight，\"continuedtheO。C。\"ItwasherethattheMiddlesexmenmadetheirgreatcharge。Fiftymenreportedfromthebattalionwhenitwasover。Inthatvillagetheyhadawholedivisionfightingbeforetheywerethrough，Middlesexmen，RoyalScotsandIrish，forthreedaysandthreenights。\"
Astheyrodealong，thegunsoneithersidebegantheireveningchorusandfromthefarrearcametheroaringrushoftheH。E。’slikeinvisibleexpresstrainshurtlingthroughtheair。Itwasmusictotheirears，andtheyrodeforwardwithanewfeelingintheirhearts，forthereappearedtobealmostnoreplyfromtheenemyguns。
ThebattaliontooktothetrenchesatthecrossingofthePozieresRoad，andsoeffectivewasthecounter—batteryworkthattheywereabletosettledownintotheirbattlepositionswithoutcasualties。
TheR。A。P。wasinadeepGermandug—outthirtyfeetbelowthesurface，withdoubleentrancesandheavilytimbered。Ithadbeenmostelaboratelyprepared，plankedonsidesandfloor，andfittedwithelectriclights。Thereweretwomainrooms，withaconnectingcorridor，leadingtoeachentrance。TheyfoundanAustralianmedicalofficerincharge。
\"Thesechapswereregularsettlers，weren’tthey？\"saidBarry，aftertheyhadexchangedgreetings。
\"Yes，sir，theyintendedtosty，apparently，\"saidtheAustralian，inhisslowdrawl。\"Wefoundsomelettersonawoundedofficerindicatingtheirintentiontoremynforthedurytion，butwewantedtheplyce——couldn’tcarryonwithoutitinfact。It’squiteagoodplyce，too，\"headdedwithacheerfulgrin。
\"Why，it’sjustbully，\"saidtheM。O。\"Iamonlysorrythatwecan’tpromiseyouasgoodinTheSalient。\"
\"Ihearitisratherrotten，eh，sir？\"saidtheAustralian。
\"NotasbadasGallipoli，though，\"saidBarry。\"ByJove！YouAustralianchapsdidmagnificentlydownthere。Musthavebeenaperfecthell。\"
\"Oh，yes，quitehotforawhile，butIfancyyouCanydiansdidn’thaveanyafternoonteapartyinTheSylient，eh？Myword，therewassomefightingthere。Oh，thereitcomes，\"headded。
Ashespokeamuffledexplosionwasheard，andthedug—outrocked，andthecandlesflickered。
\"Cantheygetyoudownhere？\"inquiredtheM。O。
\"IfancyadirecthitfromareallybigH。E。woulddisturbourlittlehome，butnothingelsewould。Ofcourse，ashellinthedoorwyewouldbeabitawkward，youknaow，\"repliedtheAustralian。
Thenight，however，passedquietly，andexceptforafewslightlywoundedwalkingcases，therewaslittleworktodo。TheCanadiansdecidedthatincomingtotheSomme，theyhadmadeamosthappyexchange。
Aquietdayfollowedthenight，butthewholebattalionwaskeyedupwithintenseexpectationfortheattackwhichtheyknewwasfixedforthenightfollowing。Withexpectationmingledcuriosity。
Theyknewallaboutraiding；thatwastheirownspecialty，buttheywerecuriousastothenewstyleoffightingwhichtheyknewtobeawaitingthem，thecapturing，holdingandconsolidatingofalineofenemytrenches。
Nightfallbroughttheopportunitytogratifytheircuriosity。Fortwohoursbeforetheattack，theirgunsputdownthebarragetocoverthefrontlineofenemytrenches，andtodisposeofhiswire。
TheM。O。andBarry，withtheAustralianandtheirwholestaff，madetheirwaytoaridgeafewyardsdistanttoseetheshow。
\"GreatHeaven，whatisthat？\"inquiredtheM。O。，pointingtowhatseemedtobealineofflickeringwatchfiresuponthecrestofaneighbouringrisingground。
\"Guns！Ours，\"saidtheAustralian，surprisedattheM。O。’sexcitement。
\"Guns！MyLord，guns，Barry，\"shoutedtheM。O。
\"Guns？Andintheopen！Andonahill！Andwheeltowheel！\"
criedBarry。\"ThankthegoodLordIhavelivedtoseethisday。
Lookattheboys，\"headdedinalowtone，totheAustralianbesidehim。
Theyglancedovertheirshouldersandsawtwooftheorderliesexecutingafox—trotintheheavyshell—ploughedsoil。
\"What’stherow？\"inquiredtheAustralian。
\"Why，mydearchap，\"repliedtheM。O。，\"don’tyouknowwehaveneverseenaguninactionintheopenthatway。Ourgunsoperatedonlyfromholesandcorners，fromhedgesandcellars。Otherwisethey’dbespottedandknockedoutinanhour。\"
\"Ow！\"saidtheAustralian，\"ourbirdmenattendedtothatthefirstdyeofthefight。Theysyetherewasadoublelineofobservationballoonsalongthelines，oursandtheirsuptothe30thofJune。
ThenextmorningnotaBocheballoonwastobeseen。Ourplynesputtheireyeoutinasingleafternoon。Sincethattime，weholdoverthemintheair。Ah！Therearetheheaviescomingupnow。
Thefullchoruswillbeoninhalfaminute。\"
Afewsecondslater，thetruthoftheAustralian’sprophecywasdemonstrated。Thefullchoruswason。Fortwohoursthebarrageraged，andthedinwassuchthattheyhadtoshoutineachother’searstobeheard。Thehilltopswereringedwithdartingtonguesofredflameasthoughbelchedoutbyathousandfableddragons。Itwasasiftheairabovewasfilledwithmillionsofinvisibledemons，whining，moaning，barking，shriekinginafuryofvenomoushate，whileatregularintervalscametheexpresstrainroarofthetwelve，fifteenandsixteeninchguns。
\"It’salmostworthwhiletohavelivedthroughthosemonthsinTheSalient，\"saidBarry，\"togetthefullenjoymentofthisexperience。
WelldoIrememberthedaywhenourO。C。askedfor’retaliation，’
andwastoldhecouldhavesixrounds，Ithinkitwas，oreight。
Meanwhileourtrenchesanddug—cutsweregoingupinbloodymud。\"
\"Ithinkwemightaswellgobelow，\"saidtheAustralian。\"Theywillbecominginpresently。\"
ButBarryandtheM。O。remainedlongafterthefirstcominginshellsbegantodroparound。Thatbarragesolongwaitedfor，andsoardentlydesired，wasworthsomerisk。
Soonthewoundedbegantoarrive，andthroughoutthewholenight，theM。O。andhisstaffwerebusyattheirwork。Onthearrivalofthezerohour，thebarragelifted。
\"Well，goodluckgowiththeboys，\"saidtheAustralian，fervently。
\"Theyareoutandovernow。We’llgetsomeofthempresently。\"
Throughoutthenight，astreamofwalkingwoundedkeptflowingin。
Jubilant，exultantinspiteoftheirpain，theyborewiththemthejoyfulreportthattheyhadshiftedtheHunfromhistrenchesandhisdeepdug—outs，andwerestilladvancing。Singingatthetopoftheirvoices，theycamelimpingin，bloodyandmuddy，butwildwithexultationandjoy。ThedaylonglookedforbytheCanadianshadarrived。Theyweregettingsomethingoftheirownback。
Thenextdayrevealedthefullextentoftheachievement。ThewholeCanadianlinehadsweptforwardforoverathousandyards，hadcapturedstrongpoints，afortifiedsunkenroad，thefamous\"sugarrefinery\"and，overrunningtheirobjective，hadcapturedthevillageofCourcelette，aswell。Itwasagallantlittlefight，andquiteanotableachievement。
Aftertwodaysthebattalionwaspulledout，havingsufferedcomparativelyslightlosses，andmorethanreadytoreturnwhentheopportunityshouldcome。
Thenextthreeweekswerespentinminoroperations，consolidatingpositions，repellingcounter—attacks，andpreparingforthereal\"biggo，\"inwhichtheCanadiansweretotaketheirpartintheadvanceofthewholealliedline，afterwhichthebattalionwassentintoreserveforafewdays’respite。
TheCanadianlinewasgraduallywearingthin，butthespiritofthosewhosurvivedwasthespiritofthewholealliedline，——thespiritthatclaimedvictoryandwasnottobedenied。Astothenatureofthetaskawaitingthem，however，theywellknewthatitwastobeafightinwhichthelastounceofresolutionandonlythelastouncewouldcarrythemthroughtotheirobjective。
Theexperiencesofthealliesduringthepastmonthshadwroughtinthemasettledconvictionthatvictorywasawaitingthem，andasettledresolutionthatthatvictorytheywouldsecureatallcostsoever。
Atlengththedayarrived，adullOctoberday，overhungwithraincloudsandthickwithchillmist。Ontheparadegroundthebattalionwasdrawnupfortheservicewhichalwaysprecededanattack。
Theoperationsofthepastmonthhadreducedthebattaliontoabouthalfitsfightingstrength。Onlysomefivehundredmen，withofficersbarelysufficienttodirecttheirmovements，lookedbackatBarrythroughthemistashefacedthemfortheservice。