I'll be down there myself by 'n by with a fatigue party." I left him and strolled down the hill.

The morning air was cold and the turf, on this north side of the hill, frozen hard underfoot.
But I felt neither hunger nor weariness.

Here was war, and I was in it! As I drew near the plateau a young officer came walking across it and, halting beside the quartermaster, held him in talk for a minute.
He wore the collar of his great-coat turned up high about his ears: but I recognised him at once.

It was Archibald Plinlimmon.
Leaving the quartermaster, he strolled towards the edge of the plateau, hard by where I stood; halted again, and gazed down through his field-glasses upon the muleteers unloading beneath us; but by and by closed his glasses with a snap, faced round, and was aware of me.
"Hallo!" said he, as I saluted: but his voice was listless and I thought him looking wretchedly ill.

"You're in Number 4 Company, are you not?
I heard that you'd joined." It struck me that at least he might have smiled and seemed glad to welcome me.