CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I.[Fovant]
ORDERLY ROOM. OFF TO THE FRONT.		1
II.[The Silent Heroes]
THE WOMAN WHO WAITS—AND SUFFERS IN SILENCE.		6
III.[Departure for the Front]
WATERLOO STATION. LUNCHEON ARGUMENTS. THE BAGGAGE PROBLEM.		9
IV.[Crossing the Channel]
THE DOCK PORTER. A WHIFF OF BOND STREET.		15
V.[Going up the Line]
PERFIDIOUS GANG-PLANKS. D'ARCY STRANDED. GUIDES WHO CANNOT GUIDE. A HEATED ARGUMENT.		24
VI.[Rations]
I LEARN TO HATE FOOD. MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS.		33
VII.[St. Amand]
I REPORT AT HEADQUARTERS. THE PROBLEM OF VENTILATION.		37
VIII.[Early Impressions]
BILLETS. A STARTLING INCIDENT. REST CAMP.		41
IX.[Departure for the Somme]
CORBIE. HAPPY VALLEY. PASSING THROUGH THE GUNS.		48
X.[Arrival on the Somme]
FEEDING THE GUNS. SEPTIMUS D'ARCY ARRIVES. A CURIOUS KIT.		57
XI.[Death Valley]
MOVING OVER BATTLE-FIELDS. —— BATTALION, LONDON REGIMENT, IN POSSESSION. THE MYSTERY TRENCH. FALFEMONT FARM.		66
XII.[Out in No Man's Land]
SUDDEN ORDERS. THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT ADVENTURE. DIGGING IN.		71
XIII.[A Night of Alarm]
SEPTIMUS IN A NEW RÔLE. SAVING THE AMMUNITION. THE LAST CARTRIDGE.		82
XIV.[Next Morning]
A COUNCIL OF WAR. OPERATION ORDERS. A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT.		87
XV.[The Advance through Leuze Wood]
NEW OPERATION ORDERS. "AT ANY COST." LIKE RATS IN A TRAP.		91
XVI.[The Attack]
A DESPERATE SITUATION. BATTLE FORMATION. "FOR ENGLAND."		101
XVII.[At Any Cost]
OVER THE TOP. MAD, FIGHTING MAD. THE FINAL ASSAULT.		110
XVIII.[Left on the Field]
THE MYSTERY OF DEATH. THE SECRET CODE. TWO TERRIBLE DAYS.		116
XIX.[The Jaws of Death]
LONELINESS, DARKNESS, AND SILENCE. A LAST EFFORT. I PREPARE FOR DEATH.		123
XX.[At the Mercy of the Hun—and After]
A BASIN OF SOUP. HOSPITAL AT ST. QUENTIN. THE "OPEN SESAME."		130
XXI.[Alive]143
XXII.[Blindness]147
XXIII.[The Woman Who Waits]
THE TELEGRAPH BOY'S RAT-TAT. KILLED IN ACTION. WEEKS OF MOURNING.		151
XXIV.[Ward 43, Reserve Lazarette 5, Hanover]
OCCUPANTS OF THE WARD. CHIVALRY OF THE AIR.		156
XXV.[Saniez]160
XXVI.[Life in Hanover Hospital]
HOSPITAL DIET. INTERVIEWED BY A GERMAN DOCTOR. DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL.		166
XXVII.[Observations and Impressions]
EMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERS. PARCELS. MEN OF MONS.		176
XXVIII.[Stories of the Heroes of Mons]187
XXIX.[Osnabruck]
ARRIVAL IN CAMP. THE CANTEEN. DAILY ROUTINE. RATIONS. PARCELS. NEWS.		199
XXX.[Comedy and Drama]
I SALUTE THE WALL. THE STORY OF AN EGG. A NOVEL BANQUET. JOY RIDE ON A LORRY. THE SWISS COMMISSION.		215
XXXI.[Free]
I BLUFF THE GERMAN SERGEANT. AACHEN. TWO BOTTLES OF WINE. ACROSS THE FRONTIER. GREAT SCOTT! I AM CHARGED FOR MY OWN DEATH EXPENSES.		227

ILLUSTRATIONS

[Captain Gilbert Nobbs]Frontispiece
[Captain Nobbs after his release from the German prison]Facing page 164