The Orphan told him, and as he turned back he ran into some soldiers carrying heavy square tins.
"What are you doing?" he asked one of them.
"Going off to soak the stores with petrol," he said, and hurried on up to the Ordnance Depot.
Down the main road were now coming the first of the "covering parties"—some of the men who had actually stayed in the trenches till the last moment, many of them limping heavily, most of them talking cheerily. Some had maxim guns on their shoulders, others carried the tripod-stands, others maxim belt-boxes.
"Which way for the Margate steamer?" a Cockney voice called out.
"Turn to your right when you get on the beach," the Orphan shouted as he passed them; and the same voice called back: "Hi, Guv'nor! I've lost me return ticket. I ain't got no money, and I don't want to be left behind—I ain't 'ankering after a trip to Constantinople."
The tired men began to laugh.
The midshipman found Captain Macfarlane in his office, and told him that these men were coming down. He went out and stood at the top of the beach as they went past, their feet scrunching on the stones and shuffling through the sand as they marched down to No. 3 Pier, straight aboard the motor-lighters waiting for them.
A little officer came past, walking with a very tall one.
"Is that General Bailey?" called Captain Macfarlane.