"Yes, sir, I do."
"All right; go inside and get some sleep. They'll wake you up in about an hour. Machine in good shape?"
This was nothing less than an insult. "I always keep it in good shape," said Tom. "I got extra——"
"All right. Go in and get some sleep; you haven't got long. The wire boys will take care of you."
He strode away and began to talk hurriedly with another man who showed him some papers and Tom watched him as one in a trance.
"Now you're in for it, kiddo," he heard some one say.
"R. I. P. for yours," volunteered another.
Tom knew well enough what R. I. P. meant. Often in his lonely night rides through the towns close to the fighting he had seen it on row after row of rough, carved wooden crosses.
"There won't be much resting in peace to-night. How about it, Toul sector?"
"I didn't feel very sleepy, anyway," said Tom.