第1章

ToCarolineGrosvenorDuringthepastyear，intheintervalsofanactivelife，Ihaveamusedmyselfwithconstructingthistale。Ithasbeenscribbledineverykindofoddplaceandmoment—inEnglandandabroad，duringlongjourneys，inhalf—hoursbetweengravertasks;anditbears，I

fear，themarkofitsgipsybegetting。Butithasamusedmetowrite，andIshallbewellrepaidifitamusesyou—andafewothers—toread。

Letnomanorwomancallitseventsimprobable。Thewarhasdriventhatwordfromourvocabulary，andmelodramahasbecometheprosiestrealism。Thingsunimaginedbeforehappendailytoourfriendsbyseaandland。Theonechanceinathousandishabituallytaken，andasoftenasnotsucceeds。Coincidence，likesomenewBriareus，stretchesahundredlongarmshourlyacrosstheearth。Someday，whenthefullhistoryiswritten—soberhistorywithampledocuments—thepoorromancerwillgiveupbusinessandfalltoreadingMissAusteninahermitage。

Thecharactersofthetale，ifyouthinkhard，youwillrecall。

Sandyyouknowwell。ThatgreatspiritwaslastheardofatBasra，whereheoccupiesthepostthatoncewasHarryBullivant’s。RichardHannayiswherehelongedtobe，commandinghisbattalionontheugliestbitoffrontintheWest。MrJohnS。Blenkiron，fullofhonourandwhollycuredofdyspepsia，hasreturnedtotheStates，aftervainlyendeavouringtotakePeterwithhim。AsforPeter，hehasattainedtheheightofhisambition。HehasshavedhisbeardandjoinedtheFlyingCorps。

CHAPTERONE

AMissionisProposedIhadjustfinishedbreakfastandwasfillingmypipewhenIgotBullivant’stelegram。ItwasatFurling，thebigcountryhouseinHampshirewhereIhadcometoconvalesceafterLoos，andSandy，whowasinthesamecase，washuntingforthemarmalade。Iflunghimtheflimsywiththebluestrippasteddownonit，andhewhistled。

’Hullo，Dick，you’vegotthebattalion。Ormaybeit’sastaffbillet。You’llbeablightedbrass—hat，comingitheavyoverthehard—workingregimentalofficer。Andtothinkofthelanguageyou’vewastedonbrass—hatsinyourtime！’

Isatandthoughtforabit，forthename’Bullivant’carriedmebackeighteenmonthstothehotsummerbeforethewar。Ihadnotseenthemansince，thoughIhadreadabouthiminthepapers。FormorethanayearIhadbeenabusybattalionofficer，withnootherthoughtthantohammeralotofrawstuffintogoodsoldiers。Ihadsucceededprettywell，andtherewasnoproudermanonearththanRichardHannaywhenhetookhisLennoxHighlandersovertheparapetsonthatgloriousandbloody25thdayofSeptember。Looswasnopicnic，andwehadhadsomeuglybitsofscrappingbeforethat，buttheworstbitofthecampaignIhadseenwasatea—partytotheshowIhadbeeninwithBullivantbeforethewarstarted。[MajorHannay’snarrativeofthisaffairhasbeenpublishedunderthetitleof_The_Thirty—nine_Steps。]

Thesightofhisnameonatelegramformseemedtochangeallmyoutlookonlife。Ihadbeenhopingforthecommandofthebattalion，andlookingforwardtobeinginatthefinishwithBrotherBoche。Butthismessagejerkedmythoughtsontoanewroad。

Theremightbeotherthingsinthewarthanstraightforwardfighting。

WhyonearthshouldtheForeignOfficewanttoseeanobscureMajoroftheNewArmy，andwanttoseehimindouble—quicktime？

’I’mgoinguptotownbythetentrain，’Iannounced;’I’llbebackintimefordinner。’

’Trymytailor，’saidSandy。’He’sgotaverynicetasteinredtabs。Youcanusemyname。’

Anideastruckme。’You’reprettywellallrightnow。IfIwireforyou，willyoupackyourownkitandmineandjoinme？’

’Right—o！I’llacceptajobonyourstaffiftheygiveyouacorps。

Ifsobeasyoucomedowntonight，beagoodchapandbringabarrelofoystersfromSweeting’s。’

ItravelleduptoLondoninaregularNovemberdrizzle，whichclearedupaboutWimbledontowaterysunshine。InevercouldstandLondonduringthewar。Itseemedtohavelostitsbearingsandbrokenoutintoallmannerofbadgesanduniformswhichdidnotfitinwithmynotionofit。Onefeltthewarmoreinitsstreetsthaninthefield，orratheronefelttheconfusionofwarwithoutfeelingthepurpose。Idaresayitwasallright;butsinceAugust1914Ineverspentadayintownwithoutcominghomedepressedtomyboots。

ItookataxianddrovestraighttotheForeignOffice。SirWalterdidnotkeepmewaitinglong。ButwhenhissecretarytookmetohisroomIwouldnothaverecognizedthemanIhadknowneighteenmonthsbefore。

Hisbigframeseemedtohavedroppedfleshandtherewasastoopinthesquareshoulders。Hisfacehadlostitsrosinessandwasredinpatches，likethatofamanwhogetstoolittlefreshair。Hishairwasmuchgreyerandverythinaboutthetemples，andtherewerelinesofoverworkbelowtheeyes。Buttheeyeswerethesameasbefore，keenandkindlyandshrewd，andtherewasnochangeinthefirmsetofthejaw。

’Wemustonnoaccountbedisturbedforthenexthour，’hetoldhissecretary。Whentheyoungmanhadgonehewentacrosstobothdoorsandturnedthekeysinthem。

’Well，MajorHannay，’hesaid，flinginghimselfintoachairbesidethefire。’Howdoyoulikesoldiering？’

’Rightenough，’Isaid，’thoughthisisn’tjustthekindofwarI

wouldhavepickedmyself。It’sacomfortless，bloodybusiness。Butwe’vegotthemeasureoftheoldBochenow，andit’sdoggedasdoesit。Icountongettingbacktothefrontinaweekortwo。’

’Willyougetthebattalion？’heasked。Heseemedtohavefollowedmydoingsprettyclosely。

’IbelieveI’veagoodchance。I’mnotinthisshowforhonourandglory，though。IwanttodothebestIcan，butIwishtoheavenitwasover。AllIthinkofiscomingoutofitwithawholeskin。’

Helaughed。’Youdoyourselfaninjustice。WhatabouttheforwardobservationpostattheLoneTree？Youforgotaboutthewholeskinthen。’

Ifeltmyselfgettingred。’Thatwasallrot，’Isaid，’andIcan’tthinkwhotoldyouaboutit。Ihatedthejob，butIhadtodoittopreventmysubalternsgoingtoglory。Theywerealotoffire—eatingyounglunatics。IfIhadsentoneofthemhe’dhavegoneonhiskneestoProvidenceandaskedfortrouble。’

SirWalterwasstillgrinning。

’I’mnotquestioningyourcaution。Youhavetherudimentsofit，orourfriendsoftheBlackStonewouldhavegatheredyouinatourlastmerrymeeting。Iwouldquestionitaslittleasyourcourage。

Whatexercisesmymindiswhetheritisbestemployedinthetrenches。’

’IstheWarOfficedissatisfiedwithme？’Iaskedsharply。

’Theyareprofoundlysatisfied。Theyproposetogiveyoucommandofyourbattalion。Presently，ifyouescapeastraybullet，youwillnodoubtbeaBrigadier。Itisawonderfulwarforyouthandbrains。But……Itakeityouareinthisbusinesstoserveyourcountry，Hannay？’

’IreckonIam，’Isaid。’Iamcertainlynotinitformyhealth。’

Helookedatmyleg，wherethedoctorshaddugouttheshrapnelfragments，andsmiledquizzically。

’Prettyfitagain？’heasked。

’Toughasasjambok。Ithriveontheracketandeatandsleeplikeaschoolboy。’

Hegotupandstoodwithhisbacktothefire，hiseyesstaringabstractedlyoutofthewindowatthewintrypark。

’Itisagreatgame，andyouarethemanforit，nodoubt。Butthereareotherswhocanplayit，forsoldieringtodayasksfortheaverageratherthantheexceptioninhumannature。Itislikeabigmachinewherethepartsarestandardized。Youarefighting，notbecauseyouareshortofajob，butbecauseyouwanttohelpEngland。Howifyoucouldhelpherbetterthanbycommandingabattalion—orabrigade—or，ifitcomestothat，adivision？Howifthereisathingwhichyoualonecando？Notsome_embusquebusinessinanoffice，butathingcomparedtowhichyourfightatLooswasaSunday—schoolpicnic。Youarenotafraidofdanger？Well，inthisjobyouwouldnotbefightingwithanarmyaroundyou，butalone。

Youarefondoftacklingdifficulties？Well，Icangiveyouataskwhichwilltryallyourpowers。Haveyouanythingtosay？’

Myheartwasbeginningtothumpuncomfortably。SirWalterwasnotthemantopitchacasetoohigh。

’Iamasoldier，’Isaid，’andunderorders。’

’True;butwhatIamabouttoproposedoesnotcomebyanyconceivablestretchwithinthescopeofasoldier’sduties。Ishallperfectlyunderstandifyoudecline。YouwillbeactingasIshouldactmyself—asanysanemanwould。Iwouldnotpressyouforworlds。Ifyouwishit，Iwillnotevenmaketheproposal，butletyougohereandnow，andwishyougoodluckwithyourbattalion。

Idonotwishtoperplexagoodsoldierwithimpossibledecisions。’

Thispiquedmeandputmeonmymettle。

’Iamnotgoingtorunawaybeforethegunsfire。Letmehearwhatyoupropose。’

SirWaltercrossedtoacabinet，unlockeditwithakeyfromhischain，andtookapieceofpaperfromadrawer。Itlookedlikeanordinaryhalf—sheetofnote—paper。

’Itakeit，’hesaid，thatyourtravelshavenotextendedtotheEast。’

’No，’Isaid，’barringashootingtripinEastAfrica。’

’Haveyoubyanychancebeenfollowingthepresentcampaignthere？’

’I’vereadthenewspapersprettyregularlysinceIwenttohospital。

I’vegotsomepalsintheMesopotamiashow，andofcourseI’mkeentoknowwhatisgoingtohappenatGallipoliandSalonika。I

gatherthatEgyptisprettysafe。’

’IfyouwillgivemeyourattentionfortenminutesIwillsupplementyournewspaperreading。’

SirWalterlaybackinanarm—chairandspoketotheceiling。Itwasthebeststory，theclearestandthefullest，Ihadevergotofanybitofthewar。HetoldmejusthowandwhyandwhenTurkeyhadlefttherails。Iheardabouthergrievancesoverourseizureofherironclads，ofthemischiefthecomingofthe_Goebenhadwrought，ofEnverandhispreciousCommitteeandthewaytheyhadgotacinchontheoldTurk。Whenhehadspokenforabit，hebegantoquestionme。

’Youareanintelligentfellow，andyouwillaskhowaPolishadventurer，meaningEnver，andacollectionofJewsandgipsiesshouldhavegotcontrolofaproudrace。TheordinarymanwilltellyouthatitwasGermanorganizationbackedupwithGermanmoneyandGermanarms。Youwillinquireagainhow，sinceTurkeyisprimarilyareligiouspower，Islamhasplayedsosmallapartinitall。TheSheikh—ul—Islamisneglected，andthoughtheKaiserproclaimsaHolyWarandcallshimselfHadjiMohammedGuilliamo，andsaystheHohenzollernsaredescendedfromtheProphet，thatseemstohavefallenprettyflat。TheordinarymanagainwillanswerthatIslaminTurkeyisbecomingabacknumber，andthatKruppgunsarethenewgods。Yet—Idon’tknow。IdonotquitebelieveinIslambecomingabacknumber。’

’Lookatitinanotherway，’hewenton。’ifitwereEnverandGermanyalonedraggingTurkeyintoaEuropeanwarforpurposesthatnoTurkcaredarushabout，wemightexpecttofindtheregulararmyobedient，andConstantinople。Butintheprovinces，whereIslamisstrong，therewouldbetrouble。Manyofuscountedonthat。Butwehavebeendisappointed。TheSyrianarmyisasfanaticalasthehordesoftheMahdi。TheSenussihavetakenahandinthegame。ThePersianMoslemsarethreateningtrouble。ThereisadrywindblowingthroughtheEast，andtheparchedgrasseswaitthespark。AndthatwindisblowingtowardstheIndianborder。

Whencecomesthatwind，thinkyou？’

SirWalterhadloweredhisvoiceandwasspeakingveryslowanddistinct。Icouldheartheraindrippingfromtheeavesofthewindow，andfaroffthehootoftaxisinWhitehall。

’Haveyouanexplanation，Hannay？’heaskedagain。

’ItlooksasifIslamhadabiggerhandinthethingthanwethought，’Isaid。’Ifancyreligionistheonlythingtoknitupsuchascatteredempire。’

’Youareright，’hesaid。’Youmustberight。WehavelaughedattheHolyWar，thejehadthatoldVonderGoltzprophesied。ButI

believethatstupidoldmanwiththebigspectacleswasright。Thereisajehadpreparing。Thequestionis，How？’

’I’mhangedifIknow，’Isaid;’butI’llbetitwon’tbedonebyapackofstoutGermanofficersin_pickelhaubes。Ifancyyoucan’tmanufactureHolyWarsoutofKruppgunsaloneandafewstaffofficersandabattlecruiserwithherboilersburst。’

’Agreed。Theyarenotfools，howevermuchwetrytopersuadeourselvesofthecontrary。Butsupposingtheyhadgotsometremendoussacredsanction—someholything，somebookorgospelorsomenewprophetfromthedesert，somethingwhichwouldcastoverthewholeuglymechanismofGermanwartheglamouroftheoldtorrentialraidswhichcrumpledtheByzantineEmpireandshookthewallsofVienna？Islamisafightingcreed，andthemullahstillstandsinthepulpitwiththeKoraninonehandandadrawnswordintheother。SupposingthereissomeArkoftheCovenantwhichwillmaddentheremotestMoslempeasantwithdreamsofParadise？

Whatthen，myfriend？’

’Thentherewillbehellletlooseinthosepartsprettysoon。’

’Hellwhichmayspread。BeyondPersia，remember，liesIndia。’

’Youkeeptosuppositions。Howmuchdoyouknow？’Iasked。

’Verylittle，exceptthefact。Butthefactisbeyonddispute。Ihavereportsfromagentseverywhere—pedlarsinSouthRussia，Afghanhorse—dealers，Turcomanmerchants，pilgrimsontheroadtoMecca，sheikhsinNorthAfrica，sailorsontheBlackSeacoasters，sheep—

skinnedMongols，Hindufakirs，GreektradersintheGulf，aswellasrespectableConsulswhousecyphers。Theytellthesamestory。

TheEastiswaitingforarevelation。Ithasbeenpromisedone。

Somestar—man，prophecy，ortrinket—iscomingoutoftheWest。

TheGermansknow，andthatisthecardwithwhichtheyaregoingtoastonishtheworld。’

’Andthemissionyouspokeofformeistogoandfindout？’

Henoddedgravely。’Thatisthecrazyandimpossiblemission。’

’Tellmeonething，SirWalter，’Isaid。’Iknowitisthefashioninthiscountryifamanhasaspecialknowledgetosethimtosomejobexactlytheopposite。IknowallaboutDamaraland，butinsteadofbeingputonBotha’sstaff，asIappliedtobe，IwaskeptinHampshiremudtillthecampaigninGermanSouthWestAfricawasover。IknowamanwhocouldpassasanArab，butdoyouthinktheywouldsendhimtotheEast？Theylefthiminmybattalion—aluckythingforme，forhesavedmylifeatLoos。I

knowthefashion，butisn’tthisjustcarryingitabittoofar？TheremustbethousandsofmenwhohavespentyearsintheEastandtalkanylanguage。They’rethefellowsforthisjob。IneversawaTurkinmylifeexceptachapwhodidwrestlingturnsinashowatKimberley。You’vepickedaboutthemostuselessmanonearth。’

’You’vebeenaminingengineer，Hannay，’SirWaltersaid。’IfyouwantedamantoprospectforgoldinBarotselandyouwouldofcourseliketogetonewhoknewthecountryandthepeopleandthelanguage。Butthefirstthingyouwouldrequireinhimwouldbethathehadanoseforfindinggoldandknewhisbusiness。Thatisthepositionnow。Ibelievethatyouhaveanoseforfindingoutwhatourenemiestrytohide。Iknowthatyouarebraveandcoolandresourceful。ThatiswhyItellyouthestory。Besides……’

HeunrolledabigmapofEuropeonthewall。

’Ican’ttellyouwhereyou’llgetonthetrackofthesecret，butI

canputalimittothequest。Youwon’tfinditeastoftheBosporus—notyet。ItisstillinEurope。ItmaybeinConstantinople，orinThrace。Itmaybefartherwest。Butitismovingeastwards。IfyouareintimeyoumaycutintoitsmarchtoConstantinople。ThatmuchIcantellyou。ThesecretisknowninGermany，too，tothosewhomitconcerns。ItisinEuropethattheseekermustsearch—atpresent。’

’Tellmemore，’Isaid。’Youcangivemenodetailsandnoinstructions。ObviouslyyoucangivemenohelpifIcometogrief。’

Henodded。’Youwouldbebeyondthepale。’

’Yougivemeafreehand。’

’Absolutely。Youcanhavewhatmoneyyoulike，andyoucangetwhathelpyoulike。Youcanfollowanyplanyoufancy，andgoanywhereyouthinkfruitful。Wecangivenodirections。’

’Onelastquestion。Yousayitisimportant。Tellmejusthowimportant。’

’Itislifeanddeath，’hesaidsolemnly。’Icanputitnohigherandnolower。Onceweknowwhatisthemenacewecanmeetit。Aslongasweareinthedarkitworksuncheckedandwemaybetoolate。ThewarmustbewonorlostinEurope。Yes;butiftheEastblazesup，oureffortwillbedistractedfromEuropeandthegreat_coupmayfail。Thestakesarenolessthanvictoryanddefeat，Hannay。’

Igotoutofmychairandwalkedtothewindow。Itwasadifficultmomentinmylife。Iwashappyinmysoldiering;aboveall，happyinthecompanyofmybrotherofficers。Iwasaskedtogooffintotheenemy’slandsonaquestforwhichIbelievedIwasmanifestlyunfitted—abusinessoflonelydaysandnights，ofnerve—

rackingstrain，ofdeadlyperilshroudingmelikeagarment。LookingoutonthebleakweatherIshivered。Itwastoogrimabusiness，tooinhumanforfleshandblood。ButSirWalterhadcalleditamatteroflifeanddeath，andIhadtoldhimthatIwasouttoservemycountry。Hecouldnotgivemeorders，butwasInotunderorders—

higherordersthanmyBrigadier’s？Ithoughtmyselfincompetent，butcleverermenthanmethoughtmecompetent，oratleastcompetentenoughforasportingchance。IknewinmysoulthatifIdeclinedIshouldneverbequiteatpeaceintheworldagain。AndyetSirWalterhadcalledtheschememadness，andsaidthathehimselfwouldneverhaveaccepted。

Howdoesonemakeagreatdecision？IswearthatwhenIturnedroundtospeakImeanttorefuse。ButmyanswerwasYes，andI

hadcrossedtheRubicon。Myvoicesoundedcrackedandfaraway。

SirWaltershookhandswithmeandhiseyesblinkedalittle。

’Imaybesendingyoutoyourdeath，Hannay—GoodGod，whatadamnedtask—mistressdutyis！—Ifso，Ishallbehauntedwithregrets，butyouwillneverrepent。Havenofearofthat。Youhavechosentheroughestroad，butitgoesstraighttothehill—tops。’

Hehandedmethehalf—sheetofnote—paper。Onitwerewrittenthreewords—’_Kasredin’，’_cancer’，and’_v。_I。’

’Thatistheonlycluewepossess，’hesaid。’Icannotconstrueit，butIcantellyouthestory。WehavehadouragentsworkinginPersiaandMesopotamiaforyears—mostlyyoungofficersoftheIndianArmy。Theycarrytheirlivesintheirhands，andnowandthenonedisappears，andthesewersofBaghdadmighttellatale。

Buttheyfindoutmanythings，andtheycountthegameworththecandle。TheyhavetoldusofthestarrisingintheWest，buttheycouldgiveusnodetails。Allbutone—thebestofthem。HehadbeenworkingbetweenMosulandthePersianfrontierasamuleteer，andhadbeensouthintotheBakhtiarihills。Hefoundoutsomething，buthisenemiesknewthatheknewandhewaspursued。

Threemonthsago，justbeforeKut，hestaggeredintoDelamain’scampwithtenbulletholesinhimandaknifeslashonhisforehead。

Hemumbledhisname，butbeyondthatandthefactthattherewasaSomethingcomingfromtheWesthetoldthemnothing。Hediedintenminutes。Theyfoundthispaperonhim，andsincehecriedouttheword"Kasredin"inhislastmoments，itmusthavehadsomethingtodowithhisquest。Itisforyoutofindoutifithasanymeaning。’

Ifoldeditupandplaceditinmypocket—book。

’Whatagreatfellow！Whatwashisname？’Iasked。

SirWalterdidnotansweratonce。Hewaslookingoutofthewindow。’Hisname，’hesaidatlast，’wasHarryBullivant。Hewasmyson。Godresthisbravesoul！’

CHAPTERTWO

TheGatheringoftheMissionariesIwroteoutawiretoSandy，askinghimtocomeupbythetwo—fifteentrainandmeetmeatmyflat。

’Ihavechosenmycolleague，’Isaid。

’BillyArbuthnot’sboy？HisfatherwasatHarrowwithme。I

knowthefellow—Harryusedtobringhimdowntofish—tallish，withalean，high—bonedfaceandapairofbrowneyeslikeaprettygirl’s。Iknowhisrecord，too。There’sagooddealabouthiminthisoffice。HerodethroughYemen，whichnowhitemaneverdidbefore。TheArabslethimpass，fortheythoughthimstarkmadandarguedthatthehandofAllahwasheavyenoughonhimwithouttheirefforts。He’sblood—brothertoeverykindofAlbanianbandit。

AlsoheusedtotakeahandinTurkishpolitics，andgotahugereputation。SomeEnglishmanwasoncecomplainingtooldMahmoudShevkataboutthescarcityofstatesmeninWesternEurope，andMahmoudbrokeinwith，"HaveyounottheHonourableArbuthnot？"Yousayhe’sinyourbattalion。Iwaswonderingwhathadbecomeofhim，forwetriedtogetholdofhimhere，buthehadleftnoaddress。LudovickArbuthnot—yes，that’stheman。

BurieddeepinthecommissionedranksoftheNewArmy？Well，we’llgethimoutprettyquick！’

’IknewhehadknockedabouttheEast，butIdidn’tknowhewasthatkindofswell。Sandy’snotthechaptobuckabouthimself。’

’Hewouldn’t，’saidSirWalter。’HehadalwaysamorethanOrientalreticence。I’vegotanothercolleagueforyou，ifyoulikehim。’

Helookedathiswatch。’YoucangettotheSavoyGrillRoominfiveminutesinataxi—cab。GoinfromtheStrand，turntoyourleft，andyouwillseeinthealcoveontheright—handsideatablewithonelargeAmericangentlemansittingatit。Theyknowhimthere，sohewillhavethetabletohimself。Iwantyoutogoandsitdownbesidehim。Sayyoucomefromme。HisnameisMrJohnScantleburyBlenkiron，nowacitizenofBoston，Mass。，butbornandraisedinIndiana。Putthisenvelopeinyourpocket，butdon’treaditscontentstillyouhavetalkedtohim。IwantyoutoformyourownopinionaboutMrBlenkiron。’

IwentoutoftheForeignOfficeinasmuddledaframeofmindasanydiplomatistwhoeverleftitsportals。Iwasmostdesperatelydepressed。Tobeginwith，Iwasinacompletefunk。IhadalwaysthoughtIwasaboutasbraveastheaverageman，butthere’scourageandcourage，andminewascertainlynottheimpassivekind。StickmedowninatrenchandIcouldstandbeingshotataswellasmostpeople，andmybloodcouldgethotifitweregivenachance。ButIthinkIhadtoomuchimagination。Icouldn’tshakeoffthebeastlyforecaststhatkeptcrowdingmymind。

Inaboutafortnight，Icalculated，Iwouldbedead。Shotasaspy—arottensortofending！AtthemomentIwasquitesafe，lookingforataxiinthemiddleofWhitehall，butthesweatbrokeonmyforehead。IfeltasIhadfeltinmyadventurebeforethewar。Butthiswasfarworse，foritwasmorecold—bloodedandpremeditated，andIdidn’tseemtohaveevenasportingchance。Iwatchedthefiguresinkhakipassingonthepavement，andthoughtwhatanicesafeprospecttheyhadcomparedtomine。Yes，evenifnextweektheywereintheHohenzollern，ortheHairpintrenchattheQuarries，orthatuglyangleatHooge。IwonderedwhyIhadnotbeenhappierthatmorningbeforeIgotthatinfernalwire。SuddenlyallthetrivialitiesofEnglishlifeseemedtomeinexpressiblydearandterriblyfaraway。IwasveryangrywithBullivant，tillI

rememberedhowfairhehadbeen。Myfatewasmyownchoosing。

WhenIwashuntingtheBlackStonetheinterestoftheproblemhadhelpedtokeepmegoing。ButnowIcouldseenoproblem。MymindhadnothingtoworkonbutthreewordsofgibberishonasheetofpaperandamysteryofwhichSirWalterhadbeenconvinced，buttowhichhecouldn’tgiveaname。ItwaslikethestoryIhadreadofSaintTeresasettingoffattheageoftenwithhersmallbrothertoconverttheMoors。Isathuddledinthetaxiwithmychinonmybreast，wishingthatIhadlostalegatLoosandbeencomfortablytuckedawayfortherestofthewar。

SureenoughIfoundmymanintheGrillRoom。Therehewas，feedingsolemnly，withanapkintuckedunderhischin。Hewasabigfellowwithafat，sallow，clean—shavenface。IdisregardedthehoveringwaiterandpulledupachairbesidetheAmericanatthelittletable。Heturnedonmeapairoffullsleepyeyes，likearuminatingox。

’MrBlenkiron？’Iasked。

’Youhavemyname，Sir，’hesaid。’MrJohnScantleburyBlenkiron。IwouldwishyougoodmorningifIsawanythinggoodinthisdarnedBritishweather。’

’IcomefromSirWalterBullivant，’Isaid，speakinglow。

’So？’saidhe。’SirWalterisaverygoodfriendofmine。Pleasedtomeetyou，Mr—orIguessit’sColonel—’

’Hannay，’Isaid;’MajorHannay。’IwaswonderingwhatthissleepyYankeecoulddotohelpme。

’Allowmetoofferyouluncheon，Major。Here，waiter，bringthecarte。IregretthatIcannotjoinyouinsamplingtheeffortsofthemanagementofthisho—tel。Isuffer，Sir，fromdyspepsia—duo—denaldyspepsia。Itgetsmetwohoursafteramealandgivesmehelljustbelowthebreast—bone。SoIamobligedtoadoptadiet。Mynourishmentisfish，Sir，andboiledmilkandalittledrytoast。

It’samelancholydescentfromthedayswhenIcoulddojusticetoalunchatSherry’sandsupoffoyster—crabsanddevilledbones。’Hesighedfromthedepthsofhiscapaciousframe。

Iorderedanomeletteandachop，andtookanotherlookathim。

Thelargeeyesseemedtobegazingsteadilyatmewithoutseeingme。Theywereasvacantasanabstractedchild’s;butIhadanuncomfortablefeelingthattheysawmorethanmine。

’Youhavebeenfighting，Major？TheBattleofLoos？Well，I

guessthatmusthavebeensomebattle。WeinAmericarespectthefightingoftheBritishsoldier，butwedon’tquitecatchontothede—vicesoftheBritishGenerals。Weopinethatthereismorebellicositythanscienceamongyourhighbrows。Thatisso？MyfatherfoughtatChattanooga，buttheseeyeshaveseennothinggorierthanaPresidentialelection。Say，isthereanywayIcouldbeletintoasceneofrealbloodshed？’

Hisserioustonemademelaugh。’Thereareplentyofyourcountrymeninthepresentshow，’Isaid。’TheFrenchForeignLegionisfullofyoungAmericans，andsoisourArmyServiceCorps。HalfthechauffeursyoustrikeinFranceseemtocomefromtheStates。’

Hesighed。’Ididthinkofsomebelligerentstuntayearback。ButIreflectedthatthegoodGodhadnotgivenJohnS。Blenkironthekindofmartialfigurethatwoulddocredittothetentedfield。AlsoIrecollectedthatweAmericanswerenootrals—benevolentnootrals—andthatitdidnotbecomemetobebuttingintothestrugglesoftheeffetemonarchiesofEurope。SoIstoppedathome。Itwasabigrenunciation，Major，forIwaslyingsickduringthePhilippinesbusiness，andIhaveneverseenthelawlesspassionsofmenletlooseonabattlefield。And，asastoodentofhumanity，Ihankeredfortheexperience。’

’Whathaveyoubeendoing？’Iasked。Thecalmgentlemanhadbeguntointerestme。

’Waal，’hesaid，’Ijustwaited。TheLordhasblessedmewithmoneytoburn，soIdidn’tneedtogoscramblinglikeawildcatforwarcontracts。ButIreckonedIwouldgetletintothegamesomehow，andIwas。Beinganootral，Iwasinanadvantageouspositiontotakeahand。Ihadaprettyhectictimeforawhile，andthenI

reckonedIwouldleaveGod’scountryandseewhatwasdoinginEurope。Ihavecountedmyselfoutofthebloodshedbusiness，but，asyourpoetsings，peacehasitsvictoriesnotlessrenownedthanwar，andIreckonthatmeansthatanootralcanhaveashareinascrapaswellasabelligerent。’

’That’sthebestkindofneutralityI’veeverheardof，’Isaid。