“Sorry our china hasn't arrived yet, sir,” he said cheerfully, “but the coffee isn't bad, the boys say.”
“Why, it's you, Dunbar,” said the colonel, peering into his face, and shaking the rain drops from his coat. “I might have guessed that you'd be in it. Where there's any trouble,” he continued, turning to the brass hat at his side, “you may be quite sure that the Pilot or the M. O. here will be in it. By Jove, this coffee goes to the right spot. Have a cup, major?” he said as Barry brought a second tin.
“It's against regulations, you know,” said the major, taking the mess tin gingerly. “Fires are quite forbidden. Air raids, and that sort of thing, don't you know.”
“Oh, hang it all, major,” cried the O. C. “The coffee is fine, and my men will be a lot better for it. This camp of yours, anyway, is no place for human beings, and especially for men straight off the boat. As for me, I'm devilish glad to get this coffee. Give me another tin, Pilot.”
“It's quite irregular,” murmured the major, still drinking his coffee. “It's quite irregular! But I see the door is fairly well guarded against light, and perhaps—”
“I think we'll just carry on,” said the colonel. “If there is any trouble, I'll assume the responsibility for it. Thank you, Pilot. Just keep guard on the light here, sergeant major.”
“All right, sir. Very good, sir, we will hang up a blanket.”
Meanwhile the news had spread throughout the camp, and before many minutes had passed the cellar was jammed with a crowd of men that reached through the door and out into the night. The crowd was becoming noisy and there was danger of confusion. Then the pilot climbed up on a heap of rubbish and made a little speech.
“Men,” he called out, “this coffee is intended first of all for the sick men in this battalion. Those sick men must first be cared for. After that we shall distribute the coffee as far as it will go. There is plenty of water outside, and I think I have plenty of coffee. Sergeant major, I suggest that you round up these men in some sort of order.”
A few sharp words of command from the sergeant major brought order out of confusion, and for two hours there filed through the cellar a continuous stream of men, each bringing an empty mess tin, and carrying it away full of hot and fragrant coffee.