CHAPTER IX 



THE MARCH CONTINUED 



We have now only three miles to go, and three- 

 quarters of an hour to do it in, so can afford to take 

 it easy, and have a good look about us. 



We are going along a road with fairly high 

 banks, and there is a strip of wood along the top 

 end of the big grass-field which rises up in a glacis- 

 like slope on our right. Suppose we were com- 

 manding a regiment marching along this road, and 

 were suddenly fired at from this belt of wood, 

 which our advanced and flank guards had neglected 

 to look into. What should we do ? 



Something must be done at once, or the men may 

 take the law into their own hands, and either rush 

 at the wood, or rush away down the road, and in 

 either case numbers of them will get bowled over. 

 The action taken may perhaps be somewhat as 

 follows : — 



'"Down behind the bank, vten'' — followed by 

 " Officers Commanding Companies, return that fire 

 by section volleys ; " and then " I want the Officers 

 Commanding 'A ' and 'B' Companies." When 

 these Officers double up, they may be addressed 



ii8 



