Four days had passed before the second-in-command rejoined his unit in
the trenches. Campbell had been held at Divisional Headquarters, and
now for the first time learned of Des Rosiers's desertion. With a
stiffening of the jaw and an ugly contraction of his shoulders, he
quickly interrogated tragedy's mummers--a sergeant named Smith and a
politician-lawyer company commander. To the former he said nothing; the
man had done his obvious duty. To the company commander he gave a
careful hearing; then, in short staccato sentences that had an odd
resemblance to a machine-gun in action, subjected him to brief
questioning.
"What is Des Rosiers's conduct-sheet like?"
"Pretty bad, sir."
"What were his crimes?"
"Oh, the usual things--dirty on C.O.'s inspection, equipment missing,
late for parades, and generally slovenly. If he hadn't had such a poor
sheet, he would have been decorated."
"In other words, his crimes are rest-billet ones. Is that correct?"
"Well--yes, sir."
"But in the line he earned a decoration?"
"Yes--at Vimy, he----"
"Have you known him to lie?"
"Well, you know what these French-Canadians are like."
"You understand what I mean. Have you ever known him to lie when put on
his honor?"
"Er--no."
"When he told you that he had to see this girl, did you find out if he
was speaking the truth?"
"No, sir, I----"
"Did you look for him at this girl's place when you were coming away?"
"I sent a picket through the village."
The blue in Campbell's eyes became unpleasantly light. "I had Des
Rosiers in my company at Ypres when the Hun sent over his first
gas--you were addressing meetings in Canada at the time--and I know him
for a brave chap, as faithful as a dog. It's men like you with a sense
of vision no better than a mud-puddle that are making the
French-Canadian question another Irish one. They are like children,
easily swayed and true as steel to those they trust; but as long as you
and your kind make a political cat's-paw out of them, alternately
yelling 'Kamerad' and 'Traitor,' according to the political exigencies
of the moment, so long will Canada be without the sympathy and the
enriching of a wonderfully virile race."
The junior officer's face flushed. "I acted according to the evidence,"
he persisted hotly.
"Damn the evidence!" said Campbell furiously. "Play the man, not the
charge-sheet. Does Des Rosiers strike you as a chap who would
deliberately insult a staff-officer? When he is caught he will be shot.
It can't be helped--discipline must be maintained; but I tell you,
when, every few days I read in the adjutant-general's orders that
Private So-and-So, charged with desertion in the presence of the enemy,
was apprehended in a certain village, tried by court-martial, and
sentenced to be shot, sentence duly carried out at 4:15 A.M. on such
and such a date--you know the ghastly rhythm of the thing as well as I
do--I never read one of these announcements without having a bad ten
minutes afterwards. I don't question the decision of the court--a
deserter must pay the penalty--but, mark my words, behind every one of
these offences there is the unseen part played by some officer or
N.C.O. who punished at the wrong time or failed to punish at the right.
There are far too many machine-made routine-fed chaps in the army, with
stars on their cuffs, who don't know that there are times when the grip
of a hand on a Tommy's shoulder, and a few words as man to man, free of
any cursed condescension, are worth all the conduct-sheets in
existence."
"You are making a mountain out of a mole-hill, sir. I consider you are
very unfair to me."
"You do, eh?... What about your unfairness to Des Rosiers and his
little French girl, when he faces a firing-squad in the early morning?"
With an angry gesture, Campbell left the dugout and hurried to
Battalion Headquarters. For twenty minutes he and the colonel, a
gentleman and a soldier, quietly but firmly discussed the case of
desertion.
"I agree with everything you say, Campbell," said the older man, "and I
will strongly recommend mercy to the court; but I am commanding a unit
made up of many personalities, and must think of the example to all."
"Very good, sir. By the way, colonel, I know where Des Rosiers is."
"You do? Then send word to the A.P.M."
"Excuse me, sir; may I go and bring him myself? I ask this as a very
great favor."
The colonel pondered for a moment. "When will you be back?" he said.
"Before 'Stand to' in the morning."
"Right--but, Campbell, my boy."
"Sir."
"Whatever you have in mind, remember that your duty and mine is to
think of the example to the battalion."
The blue in Campbell's eyes deepened; then, with an imperious gesture
of the head, like that of a horse that hears the sound of galloping
hoofs a mile away, he saluted.
"I shall not forget what you say, sir."
"Thank you, Douglas."
With a restless impatience for delay, Campbell left the dug-out and
climbed from the trench to open land. Heedless of a machine-gun that
spat at him from the enemy lines, he hurried on until he reached the
brigade transport lines, where he secured a motor-car.
"Where to, sir?" asked the driver.
"Le Curois," said the major; "and drop me just before you come to the
village."