They easily promised us transport
for Sir Ralph Paget's box and henchmen--no trouble at all they said. Yet
had we not known them personally we might have waited a month without
help. One is irresistibly reminded at every turn that the Near East
means the East near the East and not the East near the West.
We went to the English colonel's, but no news was yet forthcoming, and
we were, after a jolly tea, invited back at eight.
The camp was in darkness by the time we reached it once more. The fire
lit up the men sitting about it, and the two inverted V's of the tent
entrances; very faintly behind could be seen the outline of the line of
little tented waggons. We had collected an additional member, Miss
Brindley of the "Stobarts." She was very keen to get home, as her
parents were anxious, and both her brothers at the front. Jo gave one
look at her and said "Certainly." She had rushed immediately into the
town and had laid in a stock of beans and lentils, as her contribution
to the common stock.
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