Page:Armistice Day.djvu/64

42 "By some mischance our barrage fell too high;

The boys got badly tangled as they came,"

He answered. "But our staff was not to blame."

"A pity that so many had to die

Through negligence!" I said, and turned my face.

"I shall report the matter to the base,"—

His quick retort. "It was a bloody shame;

But then, we'd men to spare and there's no blame

So far as we're concerned ... Lord! how they died!"

He smiled and went And as I saw him ride

Down that charred slope—his orderly abaft—

I cried to Heaven,—and wondered if God laughed!

THE LOOK IN THEIR EYES

BY ROBERT HAVEN SCHAUFFLER

and buoyant and blithe they went into battle,

Fresh as Olympian athletes strung for the prize:

Aged and broken and done they dragged from the victory,

All with that look, that terrible look in their eyes.