Grothé and the Greek sergeant saw me off. But I
cant leave at four oclock; I have no money. Thecoats had dirty brass buttons,
covered with verdigris, and buttons ofother materials. They were all ajolly lot and
immediately insisted upon treating to drinks.
The next train isat four oclock, and you must get
your new outfit for France first.
At that moment Grothéhimself came up: They say you
are going to Lyons. The medicalauthorities had not yet arrived to give them their
papers, or someother excuse was made. In the morning my shack companions trooped out
and washed at the pump.
On each sidethere were some beds, and the rest was
empty space.
Otherwise, I should have totravel third class, as
my military pass prescribed.
They were all ajolly lot and immediately insisted
upon treating to drinks. About a dozenmen could be bedded on each
platform.
They wereapathetic, sullen, worn-out by pain and
suffering, and only longed fortheir discharge. Any way I must getyou ready so that
you can leave by the four oclock train for Oran.
The strange looking crevices in their head made one
marvelat the dexterity of the physicians. The strange looking crevices in their head
made one marvelat the dexterity of the physicians.
How to get away was thetopic of
conversation.
No attempt was made to keep the clothes clean or
topolish the boots.
The days in this placewere living nightmares, and
the nights horrible deliriums. I made a note ofthe supplementary fare I should have
to pay for second, and went insearch of money. Kindly butdull they were; they looked
opulent, the war was throwing fortune intotheir arms.
His son wasa full-fledged Frenchman, whose career
was the army. And then they spoke of the admirableway some had deserted. Kindly
butdull they were; they looked opulent, the war was throwing fortune intotheir arms.