A STROLL WITH THE PADRE

and each time they've loaded the gun the "all-clear"
has been given before they could fire it. So they
had to put the shell back again. It was always the
same shell and they were soon on the most intimate
terms with it. They called it "Arthur". . . .'

"Eventually, unable to stand it any longer, they
fired the thing. I don't know at what and I'm not at
all sure they know themselves. . . .'

'Anyway/ they said, 'we've got rid of "Arthur"!'

Army and Navy
'Did I hear you say,' said the Scottish Major, 'you
were with the Ninth Division in the last war?'
I nodded:
'From August, 1915, to May, 1916 . . . at
B&hune, then at Poperinghe, then at Bailleul.'
'Then don't ever leave me. One of the old 'uns
of the Ninth, eh? There aren't so many of us here,
you know.'
Through the mess-room window we could see the
flooded fields, the willows reflected in the still waters,
soldiers in balmorals, the trenches themselves. It
was a truly Scottish regiment and the Vs' sounded
through the little room like the roll of drums.
'We call this room the "Blue Dog",' the Colonel
said, pointing to the animal painted on the door.
'It's forbidden to talk shop in here. We can play,
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