Before t

ur in colu

at the popl

fle and cru

ching and a

ite is the d

is the fur

s we march, a

in the lo

d going-

ifle as he spoke. It was seven o'clock in the evening, the hour when candles were stuck in their cheese sconces and lighted. Cakes of soap and lumps of cheese are easily scooped out with cla

and kicking a bundle of straw across the floor of the barn. "

the darkness hung heavy. A match was lighted disclosing the

ntered. "You'll burn the damned place down and

a good-humoured face that belied his nickname. "It's only fit for rats

nd we'll make a night of it," he cried. "Damn the barn, there'll be barns

be cut with a knife, laid down the sword whic

he remarked, "They only shoot rale good soldiers. A

ached itself from the straw and looked round the

st song," asked Goliat

ers on it!" sai

d in its scabbard and throwin' himself flat back on the straw. "Its a song about the time Irelan' was fightin

tood high from the straw in which most of the men had buried themselves, leaving nothing but their faces, fringed with the rims of Balaclava helmets, exposed to view. The night was bitterly cold, outside where the sky stood high splashed with countless stars

n O'Farrel; tell me

h and listen," and his

m the Captain to get

be together at the

isin' of

isin' of

be together at the

poral. "It has got guts in it. I

s," said Feelan, clearing his throat p

ked Goliath, and was off w

plays a rag upo

cupants of th

arts a swayi

claimed t

all around the

" we ch

oe, give us more

burrowing into the straw, no doubt a little annoye

id Goliath. "Your old song

ykes, and forthwith began strumming an invisible

ill for a moment on top of a sheaf of straw, then scampered off again, shadows danced on the roof, over the joists where the he

e a lady's nai

?" interrog

raps," said

or not?" remarked the Jersey boy, looking at each

eep us warm!" said the corporal. "

ierin' 'fore the war started, but when it came along I felt I'd

most immediately he was under the straw with the blanket wrapped round him. We were not backward in foll

we should be i