Major Bayne followed him to the door, and outside:
“Take my horse and Monroe with you, and good-bye, old man. All sorts of good luck. Remember that we all feel to-night that you are really one of us, and that we are better men because we have known you. Goodbye.”
Again Barry was conscious of that strange suggestion, almost of impending calamity.
“I hate to go, major,” he said. “I believe I'll wait.”
“Nonsense,” said the major impatiently. “Take your leave when you get your chance, and have a good time. You have earned it.”
At Poperinghe the leave train was waiting in the station, and a little company of officers and men were having their papers examined preparatory to their securing transportation. Some of the officers were from his own brigade and were known to Barry.
“A big push on at the front, I hear,” said one of them to a friend.
“Yes, major,” said his friend. “They have been having a perfect hell of a time.”
“By the way, your men are going in to-morrow, I understand,” said the major, turning to Barry.
“I don't think so, major,” replied Barry. “We have just come out.”
“Oh, well, I had it from fairly good authority that they were going in to-morrow night.”
Barry hunted up Monroe, whom he found talking to a signaller of the battalion.
“Did you boys hear anything about the battalion going up to-morrow?”
“Yes, sir,” said the signaller promptly. “We had it over the wires. They are going in, all right, to-morrow night.”
Monroe kicked the signaller on the ankle.
“Did you hear anything about it, Monroe?” enquired Barry.
“No, sir. I don't believe these rumours at all. They are always flying about.”
“But you say you got it over the wires?” said Barry to the signaller.
“Yes, sir. That is, sir, of course, we get a lot of messages. Perhaps I'm mixed up,” said the signaller in very evident confusion.
“And you haven't heard anything, Monroe?” said Barry.
“No, sir, not a thing, and I think I would have heard if there had been any truth in it.”
Something in the childlike expression of innocence upon Monroe's face wakened Barry's suspicion.
“Look here, Monroe,” he said, “don't lie to me. Now, I'm talking to you as your chaplain. Tell me the truth. Have you heard of the battalion going in to-morrow?”