Without further words, the corporal moved his men away.
Half an hour later, the sergeant major, going his rounds, received a rude shock. In the passage leading to McCuaig's compartment, he met four men, bearing on a stretcher toward the sick bay a long silent form.
“Who have you got there, corporal?” he inquired in a tone of kindly interest.
“McCuaig, sir.”
“McCuaig?” roared the sergeant major. “And who—”
“Medical officer's orders.”
“Silence there,” said a sharp voice in the rear. “Carry on, men.”
And past the astonished sergeant major, the procession filed with the medical officer and the chaplain at its tail end.
After the sergeant major had made his report to the O. C., as was his duty, the M. O. was sent for. What took place at that interview was never divulged to the mess, but it was known that whereas the conversation began in very loud tones by the Officer Commanding, it ended half an hour later with the M. O. being shown out of the room by the colonel himself, who was heard to remark:
“A very fine bit of work. Tell him I want to see him when he has a few minutes, and thank you, doctor, thank you!”