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 H.Q., to receive the thanks of the Brigadier, and lastly, jolted off, he and Godstone together, in a mess-cart back to the village again.

At the end of the village a waiting piper struck up “Highland Laddie.”

“Damn you, shut up,” shouted MacTaggart to him. “That’s not the way I feel.”

Stiffly he dismounted from the cart, and saying good-night to his men, walked slowly up the hill to the billet, where he and Charles had stayed together.

Their landlady came to the door crying, “Mais où est l’autre officier?”

“Il est blessé, Madame,” said MacTaggart heavily, “mais nous avons tué plus que quarante Bosches—et je suis tres fatigué.”