"Age?"
"Fourteen."
"Have you had your dinner?"
"No, sir."
"Well, come with me. I dare say there's a drop of soup left, and if there is any meat you shall have it."
I followed the good-hearted sergeant to the kitchen where, for the first time, I ate out of a French soldier's gamelle. When I had finished the non. com. said to me:
"You shall remain with us. Go sit outside a bit and then get off to bed. But it's on straw, not on feathers you'll sleep, my boy. However, since you want to go to battle, you must accustom yourself to our life, and if we leave, you shall come with us."
"Oui, mon sergent."
"Good! I'm pleased to see that you're beginning to accustom yourself to the military life."