A staff captain on foot is watching the delighted gunners. He laughs also and repeats several times in a loud voice: "Good! Very good!"
I approach him and in a few words inform him of what was befalling half an hour ago over towards Vauxmarie on the Erize road. I repeat to him my wounded colonel's words, indicate the course I have followed, express my joy at having finally reached my destination, and add:
"I should, however, like to see Colonel G——, as I have been sent to him."
The Captain pauses before he replies kindly:
"You go and get some rest now. The —th are no longer needed. Nor will you be wanted for a little while. You have done well."
Then he informs me that my regiment has been withdrawn from the firing line and is being re-established a little to the rear. On his map he indicates the point of assembly and afterwards shakes me warmly by the hand.
"Au revoir, young man," he says. "Sleep well, eat well, keep yourself fit. You will want all your strength to keep fast on the heels of the Boches."
My heart leaps within me.
"Then, Captain, we have won a great victory?"
"I do not know … not yet. But truly it will be so if all our rascals have progressed since Sunday as these have."