第3章

Ihailedoneoftheadjacentruffians，andgotintohisrowboat，withmykit。Wereachedthevessel—theycalledherthe_Henrythe_Navigator—justasthefirstshore—boatwasleaving。ThecrowdinitwereallPortuguese，whichsuitedmybook。

ButwhenIwentuptheladderthefirstmanImetwasoldPeterPienaar。

Herewasapieceofsheermonumentalluck。Peterhadopenedhiseyesandhismouth，andhadgotasfaras’_Allemachtig’，whenI

shuthimup。

’Brandt，’Isaid，’CornelisBrandt。That’smynamenow，anddon’tyouforgetit。Whoisthecaptainhere？IsitstilloldSloggett？’

’_Ja，’saidPeter，pullinghimselftogether。’Hewasspeakingaboutyouyesterday。’

Thiswasbetterandbetter。IsentPeterbelowtogetholdofSloggett，andpresentlyIhadafewwordswiththatgentlemaninhiscabinwiththedoorshut。

’You’vegottoentermynameintheship’sbooks。IcameaboardatMossamedes。Andmyname’sCornelisBrandt。’

AtfirstSloggettwasforobjecting。Hesaiditwasafelony。ItoldhimthatIdaredsayitwas，buthehadgottodoit，forreasonswhichIcouldn’tgive，butwhichwerehighlycreditabletoallparties。Intheendheagreed，andIsawitdone。IhadapullonoldSloggett，forIhadknownhimeversinceheownedadissolutetug—

boatatDelagoaBay。

ThenPeterandIwentashoreandswaggeredintoLisbonasifweownedDeBeers。Weputupatthebighoteloppositetherailwaystation，andlookedandbehavedlikeapairoflowbredSouthAfricanshomeforaspree。Itwasafinebrightday，soIhiredamotor—carandsaidIwoulddriveitmyself。Weaskedthenameofsomebeauty—spottovisit，andweretoldCintraandshowntheroadtoit。Iwantedaquietplacetotalk，forIhadagooddealtosaytoPeterPienaar。

IchristenedthatcartheLusitanianTerror，anditwasamarvelthatwedidnotsmashourselvesup。Therewassomethingimmortallywrongwithitssteeringgear。Halfadozentimesweslewedacrosstheroad，invitingdestruction。Butwegotthereintheend，andhadluncheoninanhoteloppositetheMoorishpalace。Thereweleftthecarandwandereduptheslopesofahill，where，sittingamongscrubveryliketheveld，ItoldPeterthesituationofaffairs。

ButfirstawordmustbesaidaboutPeter。HewasthemanthattaughtmeallIeverknewofveld—craft，andagooddealabouthumannaturebesides。HewasoutoftheOldColony—

Burgersdorp，Ithink—buthehadcometotheTransvaalwhentheLydenburggoldfieldsstarted。Hewasprospector，transport—rider，andhunterinturns，butprincipallyhunter。Inthoseearlydayshewasnonetoogoodacitizen。HewasinSwazilandwithBobMacnab，andyouknowwhatthatmeans。ThenhetooktoworkingoffbogusgoldpropositionsonKimberleyandJohannesburgmagnates，andwhathedidn’tknowaboutsaltingaminewasn’tknowledge。AfterthathewasintheKalahari，whereheandScottySmithwerefamiliarnames。AneraofcomparativerespectabilitydawnedforhimwiththeMatabeleWar，whenhediduncommongoodscoutingandtransportwork。CecilRhodeswantedtoestablishhimonastockfarmdownSalisburyway，butPeterwasanindependentdevilandwouldcallnomanmaster。Hetooktobig—gamehunting，whichwaswhatGodintendedhimfor，forhecouldtrackatsessebeinthickbush，andwasfarthefinestshotIhaveseeninmylife。HetookpartiestothePungweflats，andBarotseland，anduptoTanganyika。ThenhemadeaspecialityoftheNgamiregion，whereIoncehuntedwithhim，andhewaswithmewhenIwentprospectinginDamaraland。

WhentheBoerWarstarted，Peter，likemanyoftheverygreathunters，tooktheBritishsideanddidmostofourintelligenceworkintheNorthTransvaal。Beyerswouldhavehangedhimifhecouldhavecaughthim，andtherewasnolovelostbetweenPeterandhisownpeopleformanyaday。Whenitwasalloverandthingshadcalmeddownabit，hesettledinBulawayoandusedtogowithmewhenIwentontrek。AtthetimewhenIleftAfricatwoyearsbefore，Ihadlostsightofhimformonths，andheardthathewassomewhereontheCongopoachingelephants。HehadalwaysagreatideaofmakingthingshumsoloudinAngolathattheUnionGovernmentwouldhavetostepinandannexit。AfterRhodesPeterhadthebiggestnotionssouthoftheLine。

Hewasamanofaboutfivefootten，verythinandactive，andasstrongasabuffalo。Hehadpaleblueeyes，afaceasgentleasagirl’s，andasoftsleepyvoice。Fromhispresentappearanceitlookedasifhehadbeenlivinghardlately。HisclotheswereofthecutyoumightexpecttogetatLobitoBay，hewasasleanasarake，deeplybrownedwiththesun，andtherewasalotofgreyinhisbeard。Hewasfifty—sixyearsold，andusedtobetakenforforty。

Nowhelookedabouthisage。

Ifirstaskedhimwhathehadbeenuptosincethewarbegan。Hespat，intheKaffirwayhehad，andsaidhehadbeenhavinghell’stime。

’IgothungupontheKafue，’hesaid。’WhenIheardfromoldLetsitelathatthewhitemenwerefightingIhadabrightideathatI

mightgetintoGermanSouthWestfromthenorth。YouseeI

knewthatBothacouldn’tlongkeepoutofthewar。Well，IgotintoGermanterritoryallright，andthena_skellumofanofficercamealong，andcommandeeredallmymules，andwantedtocommandeermewiththemforhisfoolarmy。Hewasaveryuglymanwithayellowface。’Peterfilledadeeppipefromakudu—skinpouch。

’Wereyoucommandeered？’Iasked。

’No。Ishothim—notsoastokill，buttowoundbadly。Itwasallright，forhefiredfirstonme。Gotmetoointheleftshoulder。Butthatwasthebeginningofbadtrouble。Itrekkedeastprettyfast，andgotovertheborderamongtheOvamba。Ihavemademanyjourneys，butthatwastheworst。FourdaysIwentwithoutwater，andsixwithoutfood。ThenbybadluckIfellinwith’Nkitla—youremember，thehalf—castechief。HesaidIowedhimmoneyforcattlewhichIboughtwhenIcametherewithCarowab。Itwasalie，butheheldtoit，andwouldgivemenotransport。SoIcrossedtheKalaharionmyfeet。Ugh，itwasasslowasavrouwcomingfrom_nachtmaal。Ittookweeksandweeks，andwhenIcametoLechwe’skraal，IheardthatthefightingwasoverandthatBothahadconqueredtheGermans。That，too，wasalie，butitdeceivedme，andI

wentnorthintoRhodesia，whereIlearnedthetruth。ButbythenI

judgedthewarhadgonetoofarformetomakeanyprofitoutofit，soIwentintoAngolatolookforGermanrefugees。BythattimeIwashatingGermansworsethanhell。’

’Butwhatdidyouproposetodowiththem？’Iasked。

’IhadanotiontheywouldmaketroublewiththeGovernmentinthoseparts。Idon’tspeciallylovethePortugoose，butI’mforhimagainsttheGermanseveryday。Well，therewastrouble，andI

hadamerrytimeforamonthortwo。Butbyandbyitpeteredout，andIthoughtIhadbetterclearforEurope，forSouthAfricawassettlingdownjustasthebigshowwasgettingreallyinteresting。SohereIam，Cornelis，myoldfriend。IfIshavemybeardwilltheyletmejointheFlyingCorps？’

IlookedatPetersittingtheresmoking，asimperturbableasifhehadbeengrowingmealiesinNatalallhislifeandhadrunhomeforamonth’sholidaywithhispeopleinPeckham。

’You’recomingwithme，mylad，’Isaid。’We’regoingintoGermany。’

Petershowednosurprise。’KeepinmindthatIdon’tliketheGermans，’wasallhesaid。’I’maquietChristianman，butI’vethedevilofatemper。’

ThenItoldhimthestoryofourmission。

’YouandIhavegottobeMaritz’smen。WewentintoAngola，andnowwe’retrekkingfortheFatherlandtogetabitofourownbackfromtheinfernalEnglish。NeitherofusknowsanyGerman—

publicly。We’dbetterplanoutthefightingwewerein—Kakamaswilldoforone，andSchuitDrift。YouwereaNgamilandhunterbeforethewar。Theywon’thaveyour_dossier，soyoucantellanylieyoulike。I’dbetterbeaneducatedAfrikander，oneofBeyers’sbrightlads，andapalofoldHertzog。Wecanletourimaginationlooseaboutthatpart，butwemuststicktothesameyarnaboutthefighting。’

’_Ja，Cornelis，’saidPeter。（HehadcalledmeCorneliseversinceIhadtoldhimmynewname。Hewasawonderfulchapforcatchingontoanygame。）’ButafterwegetintoGermany，whatthen？

Therecan’tbemuchdifficultyaboutthebeginning。Butoncewe’reamongthebeer—swillersIdon’tquiteseeourline。We’retofindoutaboutsomethingthat’sgoingoninTurkey？WhenIwasaboythepredikantusedtopreachaboutTurkey。IwishIwasbettereducatedandrememberedwhereaboutsinthemapitwas。’

’Youleavethattome，’Isaid;’I’llexplainitalltoyoubeforewegetthere。Wehaven’tgotmuchofaspoor，butwe’llcastabout，andwithluckwillpickitup。I’veseenyoudoitoftenenoughwhenwehuntedkuduontheKafue。’

Peternodded。’DowesitstillinaGermantown？’heaskedanxiously。’Ishouldn’tlikethat，Cornelis。’

’WemovegentlyeastwardtoConstantinople，’Isaid。

Petergrinned。’Weshouldcoveralotofnewcountry。Youcanreckononme，friendCornelis。I’vealwayshadahankeringtoseeEurope。’

Herosetohisfeetandstretchedhislongarms。

’We’dbetterbeginatonce。God，Iwonderwhat’shappenedtooldSollyMaritz，withhisbottleface？YonwasafinebattleatthedriftwhenIwassittinguptomyneckintheOrangeprayingthatBrits’ladswouldtakemyheadforastone。’

Peterwasasthoroughamountebank，whenhegotstarted，asBlenkironhimself。AllthewaybacktoLisbonheyarnedaboutMaritzandhisadventuresinGermanSouthWesttillIhalfbelievedtheyweretrue。Hemadeaverygoodstoryofourdoings，andbyhisconstantharpingonitIprettysoongotitintomymemory。

ThatwasalwaysPeter’sway。Hesaidifyouweregoingtoplayapart，youmustthinkyourselfintoit，convinceyourselfthatyouwereit，tillyoureallywereitanddidn’tactbutbehavednaturally。

Thetwomenwhohadstartedthatmorningfromthehoteldoorhadbeenbogusenough，butthetwomenthatreturnedweregenuinedesperadoesitchingtogetashotatEngland。

Wespenttheeveningpilingupevidenceinourfavour。SomekindofrepublichadbeenstartedinPortugal，andordinarilythecafeswouldhavebeenfullofpoliticians，butthewarhadquietedalltheselocalsquabbles，andthetalkwasofnothingbutwhatwasdoinginFranceandRussia。Theplacewewenttowasabig，well—

lightedshowonamainstreet，andtherewerealotofsharp—eyedfellowswanderingaboutthatIguessedwerespiesandpoliceagents。

IknewthatBritainwastheonecountrythatdoesn’tbotheraboutthiskindofgame，andthatitwouldbesafeenoughtoletourselvesgo。

ItalkedPortuguesefairlywell，andPeterspokeitlikeaLourencoMarquesbar—keeper，withalotofShangaanwordstofillup。Hestartedoncuracao，whichIreckonedwasanewdrinktohim，andpresentlyhistongueranfreely。Severalneighboursprickeduptheirears，andsoonwehadasmallcrowdroundourtable。

WetalkedtoeachotherofMaritzandourdoings。Itdidn’tseemtobeapopularsubjectinthatcafe。Onebigblue—blackfellowsaidthatMaritzwasadirtyswinewhowouldsoonbehanged。Peterquicklycaughthisknife—wristwithonehandandhisthroatwiththeother，anddemandedanapology。Hegotit。TheLisbon_boulevardiershavenotlostanylions。

Afterthattherewasabitofasquashinourcorner。Thoseneartouswereveryquietandpolite，buttheouterfringemaderemarks。

WhenPetersaidthatifPortugal，whichheadmittedheloved，wasgoingtosticktoEnglandshewasbackingthewronghorse，therewasamurmurofdisapproval。Onedecent—lookingoldfellow，whohadtheairofaship’scaptain，flushedalloverhishonestface，andstooduplookingstraightatPeter。IsawthatwehadstruckanEnglishman，andmentionedittoPeterinDutch。

Peterplayedhispartperfectly。Hesuddenlyshutup，and，withfurtivelooksaroundhim，begantojabbertomeinalowvoice。Hewastheverypictureoftheoldstageconspirator。

Theoldfellowstoodstaringatus。’Idon’tverywellunderstandthisdamnedlingo，’hesaid;’butifsobeyoudirtyDutchmenaresayin’anythingagainstEngland，I’llaskyoutorepeatit。AndifsobeasyourepeatsitI’lltakeeitherofyouonandknockthefaceoffhim。’

Hewasachapaftermyownheart，butIhadtokeepthegameup。IsaidinDutchtoPeterthatwemustn’tgetbrawlinginapublichouse。’Rememberthebigthing，’Isaiddarkly。Peternodded，andtheoldfellow，afterstaringatusforabit，spatscornfully，andwalkedout。

’ThetimeiscomingwhentheEnglanderwillsingsmall，’I

observedtothecrowd。Westooddrinkstooneortwo，andthenswaggeredintothestreet。Atthedoorahandtouchedmyarm，and，lookingdown，Isawalittlescrapofamaninafurcoat。

’Willthegentlemenwalkastepwithmeanddrinkaglassofbeer？’hesaidinverystiffDutch。

’Whothedevilareyou？’Iasked。

’_Gott_strafe_England！’washisanswer，and，turningbackthelapelofhiscoat，heshowedsomekindofribboninhisbuttonhole。

’Amen，’saidPeter。’Leadon，friend。Wedon’tmindifwedo。’

Heledustoabackstreetandthenuptwopairsofstairstoaverysnuglittleflat。Theplacewasfilledwithfineredlacquer，andI

guessedthatart—dealingwashisnominalbusiness。Portugal，sincetherepublicbrokeuptheconventsandsoldupthebigroyalistgrandees，wasfullofbargainsinthelacquerandcurioline。

HefilledustwolongtankardsofverygoodMunichbeer。

’_Prosit，’hesaid，raisinghisglass。’YouarefromSouthAfrica。

WhatmakeyouinEurope？’

Webothlookedsullenandsecretive。

’That’sourownbusiness，’Ianswered。’Youdon’texpecttobuyourconfidencewithaglassofbeer。’

’So？’hesaid。’ThenIwillputitdifferently。FromyourspeechinthecafeIjudgeyoudonotlovetheEnglish。’

Petersaidsomethingaboutstampingontheirgrandmothers，aKaffirphrasewhichsoundedgruesomeinDutch。

Themanlaughed。’ThatisallIwanttoknow。YouareontheGermanside？’

’Thatremainstobeseen，’Isaid。’IftheytreatmefairI’llfightforthem，orforanybodyelsethatmakeswaronEngland。Englandhasstolenmycountryandcorruptedmypeopleandmademeanexile。

WeAfrikandersdonotforget。Wemaybeslowbutwewinintheend。Wetwoaremenworthagreatprice。GermanyfightsEnglandinEastAfrica。WeknowthenativesasnoEnglishmencaneverknowthem。TheyaretoosoftandeasyandtheKaffirslaughatthem。Butwecanhandletheblackssothattheywillfightlikedevilsforfearofus。Whatisthereward，littleman，forourservices？Iwilltellyou。

Therewillbenoreward。Weasknone。WefightforhateofEngland。’

Petergruntedadeepapproval。

’Thatisgoodtalk，’saidourentertainer，andhisclose—seteyesflashed。’ThereisroominGermanyforsuchmenasyou。Whereareyougoingnow，Ibegtoknow。’

’ToHolland，’Isaid。’ThenmaybewewillgotoGermany。Wearetiredwithtravelandmayrestabit。Thiswarwilllastlongandourchancewillcome。’

’Butyoumaymissyourmarket，’hesaidsignificantly。’AshipsailstomorrowforRotterdam。Ifyoutakemyadvice，youwillgowithher。’

ThiswaswhatIwanted，forifwestayedinLisbonsomerealsoldierofMaritzmightdropinanydayandblowthegaff。

’Irecommendyoutosailinthe_Machado，’herepeated。’ThereisworkforyouinGermany—ohyes，muchwork;butifyoudelaythechancemaypass。Iwillarrangeyourjourney。Itismybusinesstohelpthealliesofmyfatherland。’

HewrotedownournamesandanepitomeofourdoingscontributedbyPeter，whorequiredtwomugsofbeertohelphimthrough。HewasaBavarian，itseemed，andwedranktothehealthofPrinceRupprecht，thesameblighterIwastryingtodoinatLoos。ThatwasanironywhichPeterunfortunatelycouldnotappreciate。Ifhecouldhewouldhaveenjoyedit。

Thelittlechapsawusbacktoourhotel，andwaswithusthenextmorningafterbreakfast，bringingthesteamertickets。Wegotonboardabouttwointheafternoon，butonmyadvicehedidnotseeusoff。Itoldhimthat，beingBritishsubjectsandrebelsatthat，wedidnotwanttorunanyrisksonboard，assumingaBritishcruisercaughtusupandsearchedus。ButPetertooktwentypoundsoffhimfortravellingexpenses，itbeinghisrulenevertomissanopportunityofspoilingtheEgyptians。

AsweweredroppingdowntheTaguswepassedtheold_Henry_the_Navigator。

’ImetSloggettinthestreetthismorning，’saidPeter，’andhetoldmealittleGermanmanhadbeenoffinaboatatdaybreaklookingupthepassengerlist。Yonwasarightnotionofyours，Cornelis。IamgladwearegoingamongGermans。Theyarecarefulpeoplewhomitisapleasuretomeet。’

CHAPTERFOUR

AdventuresofTwoDutchmenontheLooseTheGermans，asPetersaid，areacarefulpeople。AmanmetusonthequayatRotterdam。IwasabitafraidthatsomethingmighthaveturnedupinLisbontodiscreditus，andthatourlittlefriendmighthavewarnedhispalsbytelegram。Butapparentlyallwasserene。

PeterandIhadmadeourplansprettycarefullyonthevoyage。

WehadtalkednothingbutDutch，andhadkeptupbetweenourselvestheroleofMaritz’smen，whichPetersaidwastheonlywaytoplayapartwell。Uponmysoul，beforewegottoHollandIwasnotveryclearinmyownmindwhatmypasthadbeen。Indeedthedangerwasthattheothersideofmymind，whichshouldbebusywiththegreatproblem，wouldgetatrophied，andthatIshouldsoonbementallyonaparwiththeordinarybackvelddesperado。

WehadagreedthatitwouldbebesttogetintoGermanyatonce，andwhentheagentonthequaytoldusofatrainatmiddaywedecidedtotakeit。

Ihadanotherfitofcoldfeetbeforewegotoverthefrontier。AtthestationtherewasaKing’sMessengerwhomIhadseeninFrance，andawarcorrespondentwhohadbeentrottingroundourpartofthefrontbeforeLoos。Iheardawomanspeakingprettyclean—cutEnglish，whichamidthehoarseDutchjabbersoundedlikealarkamongcrows。TherewerecopiesoftheEnglishpapersforsale，andEnglishcheapeditions。Ifeltprettybadaboutthewholebusiness，andwonderedifIshouldeverseethesehomelysightsagain。

Butthemoodpassedwhenthetrainstarted。Itwasaclearblowingday，andaswecrawledthroughtheflatpasturesofHollandmytimewastakenupansweringPeter’squestions。HehadneverbeeninEuropebefore，andformedahighopinionofthefarming。

Hesaidhereckonedthatsuchlandwouldcarryfoursheepamorgen。WewerethickintalkwhenwereachedthefrontierstationandjoltedoveracanalbridgeintoGermany。

Ihadexpectedabigbarricadewithbarbedwireandentrenchments。

ButtherewasnothingtoseeontheGermansidebuthalfadozensentriesinthefield—greyIhadhuntedatLoos。Anunder—

officer，withtheblack—and—goldbuttonoftheLandsturm，hoickedusoutofthetrain，andwewereallshepherdedintoabigbarewaiting—roomwherealargestoveburned。Theytookustwoatatimeintoaninnerroomforexamination。IhadexplainedtoPeterallaboutthisformality，butIwasgladwewentintogether，fortheymadeusstriptotheskin，andIhadtocursehimprettyseriouslytomakehimkeepquiet。Themenwhodidthejobwerefairlycivil，buttheyweremightythorough。Theytookdownalistofallwehadinourpocketsandbags，andallthedetailsfromthepassportstheRotterdamagenthadgivenus。

Weweredressingwhenamaninalieutenant’suniformcameinwithapaperinhishand。Hewasafresh—facedladofabouttwenty，withshort—sightedspectacledeyes。

’HerrBrandt，’hecalledout。

Inodded。

’AndthisisHerrPienaar？’heaskedinDutch。

Hesaluted。’Gentlemen，Iapologize。IamlatebecauseoftheslownessoftheHerrCommandant’smotor—car。HadIbeenintimeyouwouldnothavebeenrequiredtogothroughthisceremony。

Wehavebeenadvisedofyourcoming，andIaminstructedtoattendyouonyourjourney。ThetrainforBerlinleavesinhalfanhour。Praydomethehonourtojoinmeinabock。’

Withafeelingofdistinctionwestalkedoutoftheordinaryruckofpassengersandfollowedthelieutenanttothestationrestaurant。

Heplungedatonceintoconversation，talkingtheDutchofHolland，whichPeter，whohadforgottenhisschool—days，foundabithardtofollow。Hewasunfitforactiveservice，becauseofhiseyesandaweakheart，buthewasadesperatefire—eaterinthatstuffyrestaurant。ByhiswayofitGermanycouldgobbleuptheFrenchandtheRussianswhenevershecared，butshewasaimingatgettingalltheMiddleEastinherhandsfirst，sothatshecouldcomeoutconquerorwiththepracticalcontrolofhalftheworld。

’YourfriendstheEnglish，’hesaidgrinning，’willcomelast。

Whenwehavestarvedthemanddestroyedtheircommercewithourunder—seaboatswewillshowthemwhatournavycando。Forayeartheyhavebeenwastingtheirtimeinbragandpolitics，andwehavebeenbuildinggreatships—oh，somany！MycousinatKiel—’

andhelookedoverhisshoulder。

ButweneverheardaboutthatcousinatKiel。Ashortsunburntmancameinandourfriendsprangupandsaluted，clickinghisheelslikeapairoftongs。

’ThesearetheSouthAfricanDutch，HerrCaptain，’hesaid。

Thenew—comerlookedusoverwithbrightintelligenteyes，andstartedquestioningPeterinthetaal。Itwaswellthatwehadtakensomepainswithourstory，forthismanhadbeenyearsinGermanSouthWest，andkneweverymileoftheborders。Zornwashisname，andbothPeterandIthoughtwerememberedhearinghimspokenof。

Iamthankfultosaythatwebothshowedupprettywell。Petertoldhisstorytoperfection，notpitchingittoohigh，andaskingmenowandthenforanameortoverifysomedetail。CaptainZornlookedsatisfied。

’Youseemtherightkindoffellows，’hesaid。’Butremember’—

andhebenthisbrowsonus—’wedonotunderstandslimnessinthisland。Ifyouarehonestyouwillberewarded，butifyoudaretoplayadoublegameyouwillbeshotlikedogs。Yourracehasproducedovermanytraitorsformytaste。’

’Iasknoreward，’Isaidgruffly。’WearenotGermansorGermany’sslaves。ButsolongasshefightsagainstEnglandwewillfightforher。’

’Boldwords，’hesaid;’butyoumustbowyourstiffneckstodisciplinefirst。DisciplinehasbeentheweakpointofyouBoers，andyouhavesufferedforit。Youarenomoreanation。InGermanyweputdisciplinefirstandlast，andthereforewewillconquertheworld。Offwithyounow。Yourtrainstartsinthreeminutes。WewillseewhatvonStummwillmakeofyou。’

Thatfellowgavemethebest’feel’ofanyGermanIhadyetmet。

HewasawhitemanandIcouldhaveworkedwithhim。Ilikedhisstiffchinandsteadyblueeyes。

MychiefrecollectionofourjourneytoBerlinwasitscommonplaceness。Thespectacledlieutenantfellasleep，andforthemostpartwehadthecarriagetoourselves。Nowandagainasoldieronleavewoulddropin，mostofthemtiredmenwithheavyeyes。Nowonder，poordevils，fortheywerecomingbackfromtheYserortheYpressalient。Iwouldhavelikedtotalktothem，butofficiallyofcourseIknewnoGerman，andtheconversationI

overhearddidnotsignifymuch。Itwasmostlyaboutregimentaldetails，thoughonechap，whowasinbetterspiritsthantherest，observedthatthiswasthelastChristmasofmisery，andthatnextyearhewouldbeholidayingathomewithfullpockets。Theothersassented，butwithoutmuchconviction。

Thewinterdaywasshort，andmostofthejourneywasmadeinthedark。Icouldseefromthewindowthelightsoflittlevillages，andnowandthentheblazeofironworksandforges。Westoppedatatownfordinner，wheretheplatformwascrowdedwithdraftswaitingtogowestward。Wesawnosignsofanyscarcityoffood，suchastheEnglishnewspaperswroteabout。Wehadanexcellentdinneratthestationrestaurant，which，withabottleofwhitewine，costjustthreeshillingsapiece。Thebread，tobesure，waspoor，butIcanputupwiththeabsenceofbreadifIgetajuicyfilletofbeefandasgoodvegetablesasyouwillseeintheSavoy。

Iwasalittleafraidofourgivingourselvesawayinoursleep，butIneedhavehadnofear，forourescortslumberedlikeahogwithhismouthwideopen。AsweroaredthroughthedarknessIkeptpinchingmyselftomakemyselffeelthatIwasintheenemy’slandonawildmission。Theraincameon，andwepassedthroughdrippingtowns，withthelightsshiningfromthewetstreets。Aswewenteastwardthelightingseemedtogrowmoregenerous。AfterthemurkofLondonitwasqueertoslipthroughgarishstationswithahundredarclightsglowing，andtoseelonglinesoflampsrunningtothehorizon。Peterdroppedoffearly，butIkeptawaketillmidnight，tryingtofocusthoughtsthatpersistentlystrayed。

ThenI，too，dozedanddidnotawaketillaboutfiveinthemorning，whenweranintoagreatbusyterminusasbrightasmidday。ItwastheeasiestandmostunsuspiciousjourneyIevermade。

Thelieutenantstretchedhimselfandsmoothedhisrumpleduniform。

Wecarriedourscantyluggagetoa_droschke，forthereseemedtobenoporters。Ourescortgavetheaddressofsomehotelandwerumbledoutintobrightlylitemptystreets。

’Amightydorp，’saidPeter。’OfatruththeGermansareagreatpeople。’

Thelieutenantnoddedgood—humouredly。

’Thegreatestpeopleonearth，’hesaid，’astheirenemieswillsoonbearwitness。’

Iwouldhavegivenalotforabath，butIfeltthatitwouldbeoutsidemypart，andPeterwasnotofthewashingpersuasion。Butwehadaverygoodbreakfastofcoffeeandeggs，andthenthelieutenantstartedonthetelephone。Hebeganbybeingdictatorial，thenheseemedtobeswitchedontohigherauthorities，forhegrewmorepolite，andattheendhefairlycrawled。Hemadesomearrangements，forheinformedusthatintheafternoonwewouldseesomefellowwhosetitlehecouldnottranslateintoDutch。I

judgedhewasagreatswell，forhisvoicebecamereverentialatthementionofhim。

HetookusforawalkthatmorningafterPeterandIhadattendedtoourtoilets。Wewereanoddpairofscallywagstolookat，butasSouthAfricanasawait—a—bitbush。Bothofushadready—

madetweedsuits，greyflannelshirtswithflannelcollars，andfelthatswithbroaderbrimsthantheylikeinEurope。Ihadstrong—