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FAREWELL TO BAPAUME 369
Next we drive into our old friend Longuyon and follow a
long straight street which has suffered less than other parts
of the town. Outside the wall of a house stands a group of
workmen who have finished their day’s toil, and on the other
side some children are playing in the gutter. Opposite, on the
left-hand side of the street, stands a curly-headed little chap
of three or four in a blue smock, watching the other children.
We come along at full tilt and are some twenty metres away
from him when the little fellow takes it into his head to cross
the street. I felt how I froze stiff and went quite white in the
face. I leant forward to try to get hold of his head to throw him
backward from the car. Surely this wretched people had
suffered enough as it was ! We were now into the bargain to
run over its children, its one hope for the future after the war
had wrecked and ruined its homes ! It would have been my
fault, for why had I decided to travel to Metz of all places,
through this country where the population drops from year
to year even in peace time and where every child is so precious !
I can see him now in front of me. He was in the attitude so
characteristic of running children, his body leaning slightly
forward, head down, arms bent and raised, hands levelled
with the ears, slightly curved and with the palm facing for-
ward. He did not see the car, never noticed us and did not
realise the danger, simply staring on the pavement and intent
on reaching the others. The car came nearer. I seemed to
feel the slight jolt as the wheels passed over him and crushed
his ribs. It would have been quite impossible to stop. Instead
the Duke put on a spurt and in a second we were past. How
could we have comforted the wretched sorrowing parents,
when there was no comfort to give ? We should of course
have had to stop in any case. I could see in my mind’s eye
the pitiable little funeral procession to Longuyon cemetery,
and seemed to hear the bells ringing among the ruins. At the
same instant as we passed the little group of workmen and
playing children, I almost flung myself upright in the car and
turned round. There stood the little chap in the middle of
the street with hands clasped and looking after us in mild
surprise. Not a hair of his head had been touched.
Presently we come to Xivry. The light begins to fail. By
the roadside stands a row of pathetic little wooden crosses ;
some of the graves are adorned with helmets, but when the
spring comes doubtless the helmets and crosses will disappear
2 B
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