CHAPTER XV. 



ENNUI. 



When September came round we were all dying of 

 dulness. As it was impossible to leave camp without 

 a large escort, we had to remain confined within the 

 narrow limits of our outposts. Why on earth must 

 human nature be always wanting to salt his life in 

 excitement ? Even my dog insists on my rolling a 

 stone down a hill for him, or chases elusive goats, in 

 order that he may derive a little excitement for his 

 dull existence. After a night of incessant rain and 

 deafening thunder, lit up by continuous flashes of 

 lightning (so much so that I found my way about the 

 camp without a lamp and the least difficulty), the 

 most perfect morning followed. It was one of those 

 mornings on which one felt one must do more than 

 sit down, so I visited my outposts and continued my 

 walk beyond the precincts of the camp. A walk 

 does not sound wildly exciting to the man at home ; 

 but when one has to be fully prepared to see Belgian 

 soldiers lurking behind any suspicious bush, or to be 

 suddenly rushed from behind and carried off a 

 prisoner in an ignominious manner — well, I maintain 

 it lends some colour to one's outing. A picture 

 showing the author out for a walk, accompanied 



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