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Rh Would creep to the danger-zone

And offer his life as a mark

To save my own.

Night came. I heard his tread,—

Not stealthy, but firm and serene,

As if my comrade's head

Were lifted far from that scene

Of passion and pain and dread;

As if my comrade's heart

In carnage had no part;

As if my comrade's feet

Were set on some radiant street

Such as no darkness could haunt;

As if my comrade's eyes

No deluge of flame could surprise,

No death and destruction daunt,

No red-beaked bird dismay,

Nor sight of decay.

Then, in the bursting shells' dim light,

I saw he was clad in white.

For a moment I thought that I saw the smock

Of a shepherd in search of his flock.

Alert were the enemy, too,

And their bullets flew

Straight at a mark no bullet might fail;

For the seeker was tall and his robe was bright;