"Just because a man happens to be spotted.

If my regiment got its deserts, every Jack man would walk about in a suit of armour made of Victoria Crosses.

Give me some more tea, mother." "The thing I shall never understand, dear," she said, artlessly, looking up at him, while she handed him his cup, "is when you see a lot of murderous Germans rushing at you with guns and shells and bayonets, how you are not afraid." He threw back his head and laughed in his debonair fashion; but I watched him narrowly and I saw the corners of his mouth twitch for the infinitesimal fraction of a second.
"Oh, sometimes we're in an awful funk, I assure you," he replied gaily.
"Ask Meredyth." "We may be," said I, "but we daren't shew it--I'm speaking of officers.
If an officer funks he's generally responsible for the death of goodness knows how many men.

And if the men funk they're liable to be shot for cowardice in the face of the enemy." "And what happens to officers who are afraid ?" "If it's known, they get broke," said I.
Boyce swallowed his tea at a gulp, set down the cup, and strode to the window.

There was a short pause.