As they were repeating together the prayer "Our Father," the notes of
the reveille sounded shrilly over the camp.
"Go out, Hobbs, for a minute," said Barry after they had risen from
their prayer. He knew well that Cameron would want a few minutes with
him alone.
"Sir," said the boy, and his voice was quiet and steady, "I'm not going
to try to thank you, but I believe I can 'carry on' now."
"You bet you can," said Barry, gripping his hand. "You bet you can! It's
the point of view after all, old man, isn't it? For ourselves it doesn't
matter, but we have got to think of the boys, and we have got to stay
with the game."
Eighteen hours later the relief was completed, and the battalion was
in its place in the line, all but the sentries asleep in their flimsy
dugouts and behind their rotten parapets.
An hour later, Barry, who was sleeping with the M. O. in the regimental
aid post, was wakened from a dead sleep by the M. O.
"There's something doing out there," he said. "Listen!"
There was a quick succession of sharp explosions.
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