They could not do enough for him.
They wanted to overwhelm him with food, with clothes, with anything he wanted.

They wanted him to tell over and over again of that wonderful march of theirs, how they had issued suddenly from the mountains in the wake of the flying Milroy, how they had marched down the valley winning battle after battle, marching and fighting without ceasing, both by day and by night.
He was compelled to decline all offers of hospitality save food, which he held in his hands and ate as he went about his work.

When he finished he went back to his general, and being told that he was wanted no more for the night, wrapped himself in his cloak and lay down under an apple tree.
He felt then that mother-earth was truly receiving him into her kindly lap.

He had not closed his eyes for nearly two days--it seemed a month--and looking back at all through which he had passed it seemed incredible.

Human beings could not endure so much.