The Washington herald., 1918-03-02
CHAPTER XXI.
About Turn.

The next evening we were relieved
by the -th brigade, and once again
returned to rest billets. Upon arriv-
ing at these billets We were given
had just finished getting the mud
from my uniform when the orderly
sergeant informed me that my name
|Nras iFSorders for leave, and that l
was to report to the orderly room in
the morning for orders, trsnsporta-
tion, ahd rations,
1 nearly had ft, hustled about,
packing up, filling my pack with SOU
venirs such as shell heads, dud
bombs, nose caps, shrapnel balls. and
a Prussian Churchman's helmet. In
fact. before turned in that night, l
had everything ready to report at the
orderly room at the next morning
1 was the envy of the whole section,
swanking around, telling Of the good
time was going to have, the places
would visit, and the real. old Eng
lish beer I intended to guzzle. Sort
Of rubbed 1t into them, because they
all do 1t, and now that it was my
turn, / took pains to get my own
back
At reported to the captain, re-
ceiving my travel order and pass. He
asked me how much money 1 wanted
to draw. l glibly answered, 800
francs, sir" he just as glibly handed
me 100.
.. Reporting at brigade headquarters,
my pack Weighing a ton, 1 waited.
with forty others for the adjutant to
inspect US. After an hours wait, he
came out; must have been sore be-
cause he wasn't going with US.
The quartermaster sergeant issued
US two days rations, In little white
canvas ration bag, which we tied to
our belts.
Then two motor lorries came along
and We piled in, laughing. Joking. and
In the best OF spirits. We even loved
the Germans, we were feeling so hap.
by. Our Journey to seven days bliss
in Blighty had commenced.
The ride in the lorry lasted about
two hours; by this time we were COW
cred with fine, white dust from the
road, but didn't mind. even If we
were nearly choking.
At the railroad station at F we
reported to an officer, who had a
white band around his arm which
read "R. T. o." .CRoyaI Transporta-
ton Officer). To US this oficer was
Santa Claus.
The sergeant in. charge showed him
our orders; he glanced through them
and said: Make yourselves comfort
able on the platform and don't leave,
the train Is liable to be along in five
minutes-or five hours
1t came In five hours, q string of
eleven match boxes on big, high
wheels. drawn by a dinky little en-
gine with the CON These match
boxes were cattle cars. on the sides Of
which was painted the old familiar
sign. ''Hommes 10, chevaux s."
The R. T. o. stuck US all into one
car. We didn't care. it was as good
as q Pullman to US.
Two days we spent on that train,
humping. stopping, jerking ahead,
and sometimes sliding back. At three
make some tea, but were unable to
wash. 20 when we arrived at B.,
where we were to embark for Blighty,
We were as black as Turcos and. with
our unshaven faces, we looked like q
lot Of -tramps. Though tired out, we
were happy.
Ao0 ieCACA apf PlcpafalOFy 70
detraining. when r. 7. o. held up
his hand for rs to stop where we
were and came over. This IL what
he said:
Boys. I'm sorry, but orders have
Just been received canceliing all leave.
II You had been three hours earlier
you would have gotten away. Just
stay In that train. as II Is going back.
Rations win be issued to you for your
return journey to your respective sta
tons. Beastly rotten. I know" Then
he left.
A dead silence resulted Then men
started to curse. threw their rides ON
the floor Of the car: others said moth
ing. seemed to be stupefled, while
some had the tears running down
their cheeks. It was . bitter disap-
pointnent to all.
How we blinded at the engineer Of
that train; Il was all his fault 90
We reasoned; why hadn't he speeded
up little or been on time, then we
would have gotten on befors the Or