“We might get some paper bags and burst them,” suggested Mr. Burton; “and if you feel that music would add to the martial effect I can play fairly well on a comb.”
It was perhaps nine o’clock when we reached the crest of the hill, and had Tish not thoughtfully brought her wire cutters along I do not believe we would have succeeded in reaching headquarters. We got there finally, however, and it was in a cellar and—though I do not care to reflect on our gallant army—not as tidy as it should have been. Mr. Burton having remained behind temporarily the three of us made our way to the entrance, and Tish was almost bayoneted by a sentry there, who was nervous because of a number of shells falling in the vicinity.
“Take that thing away!” she said with superb scorn, pointing to the bayonet. “I don’t want a hole in the only uniform I’ve got, young man. Watch your head, Lizzie!”
“The saints protect us!” said the sentry. “Women! Three women!”
Tish and I went down the muddy incline into the cellar, and two officers who were sitting there playing cribbage looked at us and then stood up with a surprised expression.
Tish had assumed a most lofty attitude, and picking out the general with an unfailing eye she saluted and said: “Only the most urgent matters would excuse my intrusion, sir. I——”
Unfortunately at that moment Aggie slipped and slid into the room feet first in a sitting posture. She brought up rather dazed against the table, and for a moment both officers were too surprised to offer her any assistance. Tish and I picked her up, and she fell to sneezing violently, so that it was some time before the conversation was resumed. It was the general who resumed it.
“This is very flattering,” he said in a cold voice, “but if you ladies will explain how you got here I’ll make it interesting for somebody.”
Suddenly the colonel who was with him said: “Suffering Crimus! It can’t be! And yet—it certainly is!”
We looked at him, and it was the colonel who had been so interested in Charlie Sands at the training camp. We all shook hands with him, and he offered us chairs, and said to the general: “These are the ladies I have told you about, sir, with the nephew. You may recall the helpful suggestions sent to the Secretary of War and forwarded back to me by the General Staff. I have always wanted to explain about those dish towels, ladies. You see, you happened on us at a bad time. Our dish towels had come, but though neatly hemmed they lacked the small tape in the corner by which to hang them up. I therefore——”