We made our way back to the station and secured a very luxurious compartment; and to my intense relief on this occasion I found there was an officer senior to me present, who succeeded to the duties of O.C. train.
The duties of O.C. train are a new sensation to most officers; and it is particularly difficult to know just what to do, and how to do it, when you have an unorganised body of men made up of sundries from every part of the British army.
Our new O.C. train evidently felt the difficulties of his position, and came to me for assistance.
"Excuse me," he said, "but were you in charge of the train last night?"
"Yes, sir. I'm sorry to say I was."
"Well, what does one have to do?"
"Well, but how does one keep order?"
"One doesn't keep order. But they've given me a pile of printed instructions, and I don't see how they can possibly be carried out. How can I keep order in a train half a mile long with men I know nothing about?"
He was getting worried. I knew the feeling.