about ten to one
For a long time they sat over the fire , Barry reading , for McCuaig 's benefit , the newspaper accounts of the Belgian atrocities , the story of the smashing drive of the German hosts , and the retreat of the British army from Mons . `` What , '' exclaimed McCuaig , `` the British soldiers goin ' back ! Runnin ' away from them Germans ! '' `` Well , the Germans are only about ten to one , not only in men but in guns , and in this war it 's guns that count . Guns can wipe out an army of heroes as easily as an army of cowards , '' said Duff . `` And them women and children , '' said McCuaig . `` Are they killing them still ? ''