“Do you know the route?” asked the Commanding Officer.
“Yes, sir, I have it here.”
“All right, go ahead, Duff. A mighty good piece of work you have done there.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Duff, saluting and turning away.
“Move off, there,” he shouted to the leading team.
The driver started the team but they slipped, plunged and fell heavily. Duff was at their heads before any other man could move.
“Get hold here, men,” he yelled. “Take hold of that horse. What are you afraid of?” he cried to a groom who was gingerly approaching the struggling animal. “Now then, all together!”
When he had the team on their feet again, he said to the grooms standing at their heads, “Jump up on the horses' backs; that will help the them to hold their footing.”
There was some slight hesitation on the part of the grooms.
“Come on!” he roared, and striding to the horse nearest him, he flung himself upon its back.