Letters to Helen | Page 3

novel experience, and quite pleasant after the
long period of make-believe in England. Discipline. So salutary and so
irksome. Now for the battle. I own I long to get into the thick of it soon.
We see infantry returning and going up, and we feel sick, somehow, to
be still safe.
This country is very charming, but a bit monotonous. Every road and
every field exactly like every other.
_June 13._
[Sidenote: A SERVICE FOR KITCHENER]
A service to-day for Kitchener. And we had to ride fifteen miles there
in pouring rain. Then we stood in deep mud for about an hour, the rain
gradually trickling down our necks.
To-day delicious rumours of a German defeat at Verdun. Lots of
prisoners, including the Crown Prince!
Goodness me, such rain. Jezebel bit Swallow above the eye merely to
show what her feelings were. He now has one eye enormously swollen
and almost closed up. It is dressed with iodine, so he looks most
remarkable. His beauty much damaged. But it will only be temporary.
Hunt tells me that Swallow is so frightened of Jezebel he daren't lie
down at night. But then, Hunt thinks Jezebel a sort of Bucephalus, and
the more horses she kicks or bites the more pride he takes in her. He
has no love for Swallow, unfortunately.
There's a distant cannonade going on to-day. We all eye each other.
_June 17._
In the small-hours of to-night we leave this wonderful place. Why we
were ever sent here or why moved away is one of those mysteries only
known to a few staff officials.
But how we have loved it. At least I have. Some of the others--Jorrocks

for instance--have been bored. But, then, they couldn't draw, poor dears.
Do you know I have done three pictures. That's a lot in this military life.
One of the courtyard, with cocks and hens and things, and in the
distance men cleaning their saddles. Another of the vestibule, with
Julian and Edward consulting over some map or other at a table.
Another of a "fosse" or coal-pit about a mile away. A coal-pit sounds
repulsive, but not so in Northern France. They are away from all houses
and surrounded by corn-fields. The coal refuse is the curious part of it.
Up it comes from the main shaft and is piled up into a series of large
pyramids, visible for miles around. Many of the famous "redoubts" are
coal-refuse pyramids really. And such nice little chimneys.
Rinaldo--gone! Isn't it heartbreaking! An important person comes
nosing round, and asks for him. Sir John doesn't like to refuse. I am
powerless. Adieu, dear Rinaldo! One gets awfully fond of a horse.
Rinaldo was very naughty sometimes, but I loved him all the more for
it. And now his good looks have been disastrous. Oh that he had been
uglier. Isn't it maddening. Such a leaper, so fast, and such courage.
Well, perhaps I shall see him again.
_June 19._
[Sidenote: FEBVIN TO BAILLEUL]
At the last moment an order that we are not to go. Then late last night
an order to send on an advanced party of one officer and one sergeant
and two men immediately. So off I go with Sergeant Dobbin and Hunt
and Noad. We had to find billets and bivouacs for the squadron at a
place far from here. This we did, and the squadron has just arrived, and
we have had lunch and are feeling very fat indeed. We have just seen a
pretty aeroplane show. Six of them flew over our heads towards the
Boche, and presently puff, puff! went the little dark clouds of smoke all
amongst them. They then got too high and too far off for us to see, but
we still saw the Archie shells following them. First a flash in the sky,
then a very dark spot; then the spot grows larger and fluffier, and
becomes a dusky little cloud. So you see some flashes, some dark spots,
and some larger fluffy clouds--all on the wretched aeroplane's track.
Only two returned, alas! but they told us they had brought down three

Aviatiks.
We're moving with great rapidity up into colder climes. More anon.
_June 22._
I wrote a p.c. early this morning, as I thought I might get no other
chance. Things are all merry and bright. We have moved up like oiled
lightning from ---- to a rather famous place. Hedges and hop-fields.
Very interesting church--not hurt at all. We are suffering so (at least,
the poor men are) from thirst. There's no water anywhere. I long to gulp
down green pond water. However, that will be remedied shortly, I hope.
I went into the big town and bought a barrel of beer for the men.
Tempting Providence. But there's nothing else.