Part 2, Chapter 4 Summary

The men spend a cold and sleepless night, each of them feeling very alone. Hearn and Croft discuss the forthcoming march, and Hearn is aware of Croft's antipathy towards him. Hearn feels fitter than before, and talks to his men, encouraging them and enjoying his feelings of paternalism towards them. He expects the mission to be successful, but when he thinks of Cummings getting the benefit from it, his mood sours. He hates Cummings. He is starting to recognize the need to learn quickly all that Croft knows so that he can keep command. He feels the men resist him because of their fear of Croft.

Wilson's diarrhea is troubling him, his back and groin ache and he is suffering from severe cramps. He tells Red that when he gets back he is going to have the operation. Red is not...