There was a bustle of preparation all about us.  Such a harnessing of horses, such a rolling-up of half-dried shirts, but it was all orderly and systematic.  Over it all hung a smell of soup-kettles—­the preparations for the midday meal, and a buzz of many voices as the men sat about eating out of their tin dishes.  I did wish I could see only the picturesque side of it.

It was two o’clock sharp when the regiment began to move.  No bands played.  No drum beat.  They just marched, marched, marched along the road to Meaux, and silence fell again on the hillside.

Off to the northeast the cannon still boomed,—­it is still booming now as I write, and it is after nine o’clock.  There has been no sign of Amelie all day as I have sat here writing all this to you.  I have tried to make it as clear a statement of facts as I could.  I am afraid that I have been more disturbed in putting it down than I was in living it.  Except on Saturday and Sunday I was always busy, a little useful, and that helped.  I don’t know when I shall be able to get this off to you.  But at least it is ready, and I shall take the first opportunity I get to cable to you, as I am afraid before this you have worried, unless your geography is faulty, and the American papers are as reticent as ours.

THE END

APPENDIX

In connection with the foregoing narrative this order issued by General Joffre on September 4,1914, which has but just become available for publication, has special interest and significance:—­

1.  It is fitting to take advantage of the rash situation of the First German Army to concentrate upon it the efforts of the Allied Armies on the extreme left.  All dispositions will be made in the course of September S to start for the attack on September 6.

2.  The disposition to be carried out by the evening of September 5 will be:—­

(a) All the available forces of the Sixth Army to be to the northeast of Meaux, ready to cross the Ourcq between Lizy-sur-Ourcq and May-en-Multien, in the general direction of Chateau-Thierry.  The available elements of the First Cavalry Corps which are at hand will be placed for this operation under the orders of General Maunoury (commanding the Sixth Army).

(b) The British Army will be posted on the front of Changis-Coulommiers, facing eastward, ready to attack in the general direction of Montmirail.

(c) The Fifth Army, closing a little to its left, will post itself on the general front of Courtacon-Esternay-Sezanne, ready to attack in the general direction from south to north, the Second Cavalry Corps securing the connection between the British Army and the Fifth Army.

(d) The Ninth Army will cover the right of the Fifth Army, holding the southern exits from the march of Saint-Gond and carrying part of its forces on to the plateau north of Sezanne.