"Fall back all of you, out of sight!" Together they stood listening in awestruck silence, expecting every moment to hear sounds of conflict, and cries for help, but all they heard was the cool, even flow of a quiet voice, and after some minutes had passed, the sound of moans, mingled with a terrible sobbing.
The M.O., moving toward the corporal and his guard, said in a low tone: "Take your men down the passage and keep them there until I call for you." "Sir," began the corporal.
"Will you obey my orders ?" said the M.O.

"I'm in command here! Go!" Without further words, the corporal moved his men away.
Half an hour later, the sergeant major, going his rounds, received a rude shock.

In the passage leading to McCuaig's compartment, he met four men, bearing on a stretcher toward the sick bay a long silent form.
"Who have you got there, corporal ?" he inquired in a tone of kindly interest.
"McCuaig, sir." "McCuaig ?" roared the sergeant major.

"And who--" "Medical officer's orders." "Silence there," said a sharp voice in the rear.

"Carry on, men." And past the astonished sergeant major, the procession filed with the medical officer and the chaplain at its tail end.
After the sergeant major had made his report to the O.C., as was his duty, the M.O.was sent for.