Pushed And the Return Push

ade's ups and downs since I had left France in August 1917,wounded at Zillebeke: how all the old and well-tried battery commandersbecame casualties before 1917 was out, but how, under young, keen, andpatiently selected leaders, the batteries were working up towards realefficiency again. Then old "Swiffy," the veterinary officer, came in,and the new American doctor, who appeared armed with two copies of the'Saturday Evening Post.' It was all very pleasant; and the feeling thatmen who had got to know you properly in the filthy turmoil and strainof Flanders were genuinely pleased to see you again, produced a glow ofreal happiness. I had, of course, to go out and inspect the adjutant'snew charger--a big rattling chestnut, conceded to him by an A.S.C.major. A mystery gift, if ever there was one: for he was a handsomebeast, and chargers are getting very rare in France. "They say hebucks," explained the adjutant. "He'll go for weeks as quiet as a lamb,and then put it across you when you don't expect it. I'm going to puthim under treatment.""Where's my groom?" he roared. Following which there was elaboratepreparation of a weighted saddle--not up to the adjutant's 15 stone 5,but enough to make the horse realise he was carrying something; then animprovised lunging-rope was fashioned, and for twenty minutes the newcharger had to do a circus trot and canter, with the adjutant as acritical and hopeful ringmaster. In the end the adjutant mounted androde off, shouting that he would be back in half an hour to report onthe mystery horse's preliminary behaviour.Then the regimental sergeant-major manoeuvred me towards the horselines to look at the newly made-up telephone cart team."You remember the doctor's fat mare, sir--the wheeler, you used to callher? Well, she is a wheeler now, and a splendid worker too. We got thehand-wheeler from B Battery, and they make a perfect pair. And youremember the little horse who strayed into our lines atThiepval--'Punch' we used to call him--as fat as butter, and didn'tlike his head touched? Well, he's in the lead; and another bay, a twinto him, that the adjutant got from the --th Division. Changed 'Rabbits'for him. You remember 'Rabbits,' sir?--nice-looking horse, but inclinedto stumble. All bays now, and not a better-looking telephone team inFrance." --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.