The colonel was talking to the adjutant in the road as the companies moved past, and he noted with some concern the ragged ranks and listless movement of the first lot to pass.
'They're looking badly tucked up,' he said.
'They've had a cruel day,' said the adjutant.
'Yes, the worst kind,' agreed the O.C. 'And I doubt if they can stand that sort of thing so well now. The old regiment is not what it used to be. We're so filled up with recruits now—youngsters too. . . . Here's B company—about the rawest of the lot and caught the worst of it to-day. How d'you think they stand it?'
But it was B company that answered the question for itself and the old regiment, singing the answer softly to itself and the O.C. as it trudged past—
I'm the same ol' feller that you always used to know—
Oh! Oh! you know you used to know. . . .
'Gad, Malcolm,' said the O.C. straightening his own shoulders, 'they'll do, they'll do.'
. . . My 'eart 'as never altered, my 'eart is ever true,
the remnant of No. 2 Platoon sang past him.
'They haven't shaken us yet,' said the O.C. proudly.