Ii

Hour followed hour, and slowly on we wound, Till wan day turned to front the gradual west; And with day’s waning waned the dream of rest For the worn bearers, whom the twilight found Voyaging no-man’s gray, wide-watered ground, Their shoulders bowed and aching backs distressed; Isthmused between deep pools, and sorely pressed To foot the flanks of many a slippery mound; While floundering convoys, till the light was gone, Across the perilous space their drivers nurse, Limber and gun, by frighted horses drawn, Whose plunging swerve that bogged their burdens worse, Provoked Teutonic fury, well laid on With sounding whipcord and sonorous curse.

RASTATT, 2nd May