第4章

nailedbrownboots，Peterapairofthosemustard—colouredabominationswhichthePortugueseaffectandwhichmadehimhobblelikeaChineselady。Hehadascarletsatintiewhichyoucouldhearamileoff。Mybeardhadgrowntoquitearespectablelength，andI

trimmeditlikeGeneralSmuts’。Peter’swasthekindoflooseflappingthingthe_taakhaarloves，whichhasscarcelyeverbeenshaved，andiscombedonceinabluemoon。Imustsaywemadeaprettysolidpair。AnySouthAfricanwouldhavesetusdownasaBoerfromtheback—veldwhohadboughtasuitofclothesintheneareststore，andhiscousinfromsomeone—horsedorpwhohadbeentoschoolandthoughthimselfthedevilofafellow。Wefairlyreekedofthesub—continent，asthepaperscallit。

Itwasafinemorningaftertherain，andwewanderedaboutinthestreetsforacoupleofhours。Theywerebusyenough，andtheshopslookedrichandbrightwiththeirChristmasgoods，andonebigstorewhereIwenttobuyapocket—knifewaspackedwithcustomers。Onedidn’tseeverymanyyoungmen，andmostofthewomenworemourning。Uniformswereeverywhere，buttheirwearersgenerallylookedlikedug—outsorofficefellows。WehadaglimpseofthesquatbuildingwhichhousedtheGeneralStaffandtookoffourhatstoit。ThenwestaredattheMarinamt，andI

wonderedwhatplotswerehatchingtherebehindoldTirpitz’swhiskers。

Thecapitalgaveoneanimpressionofuglycleannessandasortofdrearyeffectiveness。AndyetIfounditdepressing—moredepressingthanLondon。Idon’tknowhowtoputit，butthewholebigconcernseemedtohavenosoulinit，tobelikeabigfactoryinsteadofacity。Youwon’tmakeafactorylooklikeahouse，thoughyoudecorateitsfrontandplantrose—bushesallroundit。

Theplacedepressedandyetcheeredme。ItsomehowmadetheGermanpeopleseemsmaller。

Atthreeo’clockthelieutenanttookustoaplainwhitebuildinginasidestreetwithsentriesatthedoor。Ayoungstaffofficermetusandmadeuswaitforfiveminutesinanante—room。ThenwewereusheredintoabigroomwithapolishedflooronwhichPeternearlysatdown。Therewasalogfireburning，andseatedatatablewasalittlemaninspectacleswithhishairbrushedbackfromhisbrowlikeapopularviolinist。Hewastheboss，forthelieutenantsalutedhimandannouncedournames。Thenhedisappeared，andthemanatthetablemotionedustositdownintwochairsbeforehim。

’HerrBrandtandHerrPienaar？’heasked，lookingoverhisglasses。

Butitwastheothermanthatcaughtmyeye。Hestoodwithhisbacktothefireleaninghiselbowsonthemantelpiece。Hewasaperfectmountainofafellow，sixandahalffeetifhewasaninch，withshouldersonhimlikeashorthornbull。Hewasinuniformandtheblack—and—whiteribbonoftheIronCrossshowedatabuttonhole。Histunicwasallwrinkledandstrainedasifitcouldscarcelycontainhishugechest，andmightyhandswereclaspedoverhisstomach。Thatmanmusthavehadthelengthofreachofagorilla。Hehadagreat，lazy，smilingface，withasquarecleftchinwhichstuckoutbeyondtherest。Hisbrowretreatedandthestubbybackofhisheadranforwardtomeetit，whilehisneckbelowbulgedoutoverhiscollar。Hisheadwasexactlytheshapeofapearwiththesharpendtopmost。

HestaredatmewithhissmallbrighteyesandIstaredback。I

hadstrucksomethingIhadbeenlookingforforalongtime，andtillthatmomentIwasn’tsurethatitexisted。HerewastheGermanofcaricature，therealGerman，thefellowwewereupagainst。Hewasashideousasahippopotamus，buteffective。Everybristleonhisoddheadwaseffective。

Themanatthetablewasspeaking。Itookhimtobeacivilianofficialofsorts，prettyhighupfromhissurroundings，perhapsanUnder—Secretary。HisDutchwasslowandcareful，butgood—toogoodforPeter。Hehadapaperbeforehimandwasaskingusquestionsfromit。Theydidnotamounttomuch，beingprettywellarepetitionofthoseZornhadaskedusatthefrontier。Iansweredfluently，forIhadallourliesbyheart。

Thenthemanonthehearthrugbrokein。’I’lltalktothem，Excellency，’hesaidinGerman。’Youaretooacademicforthoseoutlandswine。’

Hebeganinthetaal，withthethickgutturalaccentthatyougetinGermanSouthWest。’Youhaveheardofme，’hesaid。’IamtheColonelvonStummwhofoughttheHereros。’

Peterprickeduphisears。’_Ja，Baas，youcutoffthechiefBaviaan’sheadandsentitinpickleaboutthecountry。Ihaveseenit。’

Thebigmanlaughed。’YouseeIamnotforgotten，’hesaidtohisfriend，andthentous:’SoItreatmyenemies，andsowillGermanytreathers。You，too，ifyoufailmebyafractionofaninch。’Andhelaughedloudagain。

Therewassomethinghorribleinthatboisterousness。Peterwaswatchinghimfrombelowhiseyelids，asIhaveseenhimwatchalionabouttocharge。

Heflunghimselfonachair，puthiselbowsonthetable，andthrusthisfaceforward。

’Youhavecomefromadamnedmuddledshow。IfIhadMaritzinmypowerIwouldhavehimfloggedatawagon’send。Foolsandpig—dogs，theyhadthegameintheirhandsandtheyflungitaway。

WecouldhaveraisedafirethatwouldhaveburnedtheEnglishintothesea，andforlackoffueltheyletitdiedown。Thentheytrytofanitwhentheashesarecold。’

Herolledapaperpelletandflickeditintotheair。’ThatiswhatI

thinkofyouridiotgeneral，’hesaid，’andofallyouDutch。Asslowasafatvrouwandasgreedyasanaasvogel。’

Welookedveryglumandsullen。

’Apairofdumbdogs，’hecried。’AthousandBrandenburgerswouldhavewoninafortnight。Seitzhadn’tmuchtoboastof，mostlyclerksandfarmersandhalf—castes，andnosoldierworththenametoleadthem，butittookBothaandSmutsandadozengeneralstohunthimdown。ButMaritz！’Hisscorncamelikeagustofwind。

’Maritzdidallthefightingtherewas，’saidPetersulkily。’Atanyratehewasn’tafraidofthesightofthekhakilikeyourlot。’

’Maybehewasn’t，’saidthegiantinacooingvoice;’maybehehadhisreasonsforthat。YouDutchmenhavealwaysafeather—bedtofallon。Youcanalwaysturntraitor。MaritznowcallshimselfRobinson，andhasapensionfromhisfriendBotha。’

’That，’saidPeter，’isaverydamnedlie。’

’Iaskedforinformation，’saidStummwithasuddenpoliteness。

’Butthatisallpastanddonewith。MaritzmattersnomorethanyouroldCronjesandKrugers。Theshowisover，andyouarelookingforsafety。Foranewmasterperhaps？But，man，whatcanyoubring？Whatcanyouoffer？YouandyourDutcharelyinginthedustwiththeyokeonyournecks。ThePretorialawyershavetalkedyouround。Youseethatmap，’andhepointedtoabigoneonthewall。’SouthAfricaiscolouredgreen。NotredfortheEnglish，oryellowfortheGermans。Somedayitwillbeyellow，butforalittleitwillbegreen—thecolourofneutrals，ofnothings，ofboysandyoungladiesandchicken—hearts。’

Ikeptwonderingwhathewasplayingat。

ThenhefixedhiseyesonPeter。’Whatdoyoucomeherefor？

Thegame’supinyourowncountry。WhatcanyouofferusGermans？Ifwegaveyoutenmillionmarksandsentyoubackyoucoulddonothing。Stirupavillagerow，perhaps，andshootapoliceman。SouthAfricaiscountedoutinthiswar。Bothaisacleverishmanandhasbeatenyoucalves’—headsofrebels。Canyoudenyit？’

Petercouldn’t。Hewasterriblyhonestinsomethings，andthesewereforcertainhisopinions。

’No，’hesaid，’thatistrue，Baas。’

’ThenwhatinGod’snamecanyoudo？’shoutedStumm。

PetermumbledsomefoolishnessaboutnobblingAngolaforGermanyandstartingarevolutionamongthenatives。Stummflunguphisarmsandcursed，andtheUnder—Secretarylaughed。

Itwashightimeformetochipin。IwasbeginningtoseethekindoffellowthisStummwas，andashetalkedIthoughtofmymission，whichhadgotoverlaidbymyBoerpast。Itlookedasifhemightbeuseful。

’Letmespeak，’Isaid。’Myfriendisagreathunter，buthefightsbetterthanhetalks。Heisnopolitician。Youspeaktruth。SouthAfricaisacloseddoorforthepresent，andthekeytoitiselsewhere。

HereinEurope，andintheeast，andinotherpartsofAfrica。Wehavecometohelpyoutofindthekey。’

Stummwaslistening。’Goon，mylittleBoer。Itwillbeanewthingtoheara_taakhaaronworld—politics。’

’Youarefighting，’Isaid，’inEastAfrica;andsoonyoumayfightinEgypt。AlltheeastcoastnorthoftheZambesiwillbeyourbattle—ground。TheEnglishrunabouttheworldwithlittleexpeditions。

Idonotknowwheretheplacesare，thoughIreadoftheminthepapers。ButIknowmyAfrica。YouwanttobeatthemhereinEuropeandontheseas。Therefore，likewisegenerals，youtrytodividethemandhavethemscatteredthroughouttheglobewhileyoustickathome。Thatisyourplan？’

’AsecondFalkenhayn，’saidStumm，laughing。

’Well，EnglandwillnotletEastAfricago。ShefearsforEgyptandshefears，too，forIndia。IfyoupressherthereshewillsendarmiesandmorearmiestillsheissoweakinEuropethatachildcancrushher。ThatisEngland’sway。ShecaresmoreforherEmpirethanforwhatmayhappentoherallies。SoIsaypressandstillpressthere，destroytherailwaytotheLakes，burnhercapital，penupeveryEnglishmaninMombasaisland。AtthismomentitisworthforyouathousandDamaralands。’

ThemanwasreallyinterestedandtheUnder—Secretary，too，prickeduphisears。

’Wecankeepourterritory，’saidtheformer;’butasforpressing，howthedevilarewetopress？TheaccursedEnglishholdthesea。

Wecannotshipmenorgunsthere。SoutharethePortugueseandwesttheBelgians。Youcannotmoveamasswithoutalever。’

’Theleveristhere，readyforyou，’Isaid。

’ThenforGod’ssakeshowitme，’hecried。

Ilookedatthedoortoseethatitwasshut，asifwhatIhadtosaywasverysecret。

’Youneedmen，andthemenarewaiting。Theyareblack，buttheyarethestuffofwarriors。Allroundyourbordersyouhavetheremainsofgreatfightingtribes，theAngoni，theMasai，theManyumwezi，andabovealltheSomalisofthenorth，andthedwellersontheupperNile。TheBritishrecruittheirblackregimentsthere，andsodoyou。Buttogetrecruitsisnotenough。Youmustsetwholenationsmoving，astheZuluunderTchakaflowedoverSouthAfrica。’

’Itcannotbedone，’saidtheUnder—Secretary。

’Itcanbedone，’Isaidquietly。’Wetwoareheretodoit。’

Thiskindoftalkwasjollydifficultforme，chieflybecauseofStumm’sasidesinGermantotheofficial。Ihad，aboveallthings，togetthecreditofknowingnoGerman，and，ifyouunderstandalanguagewell，itisnotveryeasywhenyouareinterruptednottoshowthatyouknowit，eitherbyadirectanswer，orbyreferringtotheinterruptioninwhatyousaynext。Ihadtobealwaysonmyguard，andyetitwasuptometobeverypersuasiveandconvincethesefellowsthatIwouldbeuseful。SomehoworotherIhadtogetintotheirconfidence。

’IhavebeenforyearsupanddowninAfrica—UgandaandtheCongoandtheUpperNile。IknowthewaysoftheKaffirasnoEnglishmandoes。WeAfrikandersseeintotheblackman’sheart，andthoughhemayhateushedoesourwill。YouGermansareliketheEnglish;youaretoobigfolktounderstandplainmen。

"Civilize，"youcry。"Educate，"saytheEnglish。Theblackmanobeysandputsawayhisgods，butheworshipsthemallthetimeinhissoul。Wemustgethisgodsonourside，andthenhewillmovemountains。WemustdoasJohnLaputadidwithSheba’snecklace。’

’That’sallintheair，’saidStumm，buthedidnotlaugh。

’Itissobercommonsense，’Isaid。’Butyoumustbeginattherightend。Firstfindtheracethatfearsitspriests。Itiswaitingforyou—theMussulmansofSomalilandandtheAbyssinianborderandtheBlueandWhiteNile。Theywouldbelikedriedgrassestocatchfireifyouusedtheflintandsteeloftheirreligion。LookwhattheEnglishsufferedfromacrazyMullahwhoruledonlyadozenvillages。Oncegettheflamesgoingandtheywilllickupthepagansofthewestandsouth。ThisisthewayofAfrica。Howmanythousands，thinkyou，wereintheMahdi’sarmywhoneverheardoftheProphettilltheysawtheblackflagsoftheEmirsgoingintobattle？’

Stummwassmiling。Heturnedhisfacetotheofficialandspokewithhishandoverhismouth，butIcaughthiswords。Theywere:

’ThisisthemanforHilda。’Theotherpursedhislipsandlookedalittlescared。

Stummrangabellandthelieutenantcameinandclickedhisheels。HenoddedtowardsPeter。’Takethismanawaywithyou。

Wehavedonewithhim。Theotherfellowwillfollowpresently。’

PeterwentoutwithapuzzledfaceandStummturnedtome。

’Youareadreamer，Brandt，’hesaid。’ButIdonotrejectyouonthataccount。Dreamssometimescometrue，whenanarmyfollowsthevisionary。Butwhoisgoingtokindletheflame？’

’You，’Isaid。

’Whatthedevildoyoumean？’heasked。

’Thatisyourpart。Youarethecleverestpeopleintheworld。

YouhavealreadyhalftheMussulmanlandsinyourpower。Itisforyoutoshowushowtokindleaholywar，forclearlyyouhavethesecretofit。Neverfearbutwewillcarryoutyourorder。’

’Wehavenosecret，’hesaidshortly，andglancedattheofficial，whostaredoutofthewindow。

Idroppedmyjawandlookedthepictureofdisappointment。’I

donotbelieveyou，’Isaidslowly。’Youplayagamewithme。I

havenotcomesixthousandmilestobemadeafoolof。’

’Discipline，byGod，’Stummcried。’Thisisnoneofyourraggedcommandos。’Intwostrideshewasabovemeandhadliftedmeoutofmyseat。Hisgreathandsclutchedmyshoulders，andhisthumbsgougedmyarmpits。IfeltasifIwereinthegripofabigape。Thenveryslowlyheshookmesothatmyteethseemedloosenedandmyheadswam。HeletmegoandIdroppedlimplybackinthechair。

’Now，go！_Futsack！AndrememberthatIamyourmaster。I，UlricvonStumm，whoownsyouasaKaffirownshismongrel。

Germanymayhavesomeuseforyou，myfriend，whenyoufearmeasyouneverfearedyourGod。’

AsIwalkeddizzilyawaythebigmanwassmilinginhishorribleway，andthatlittleofficialwasblinkingandsmilingtoo。Ihadstruckadashedqueercountry，soqueerthatIhadhadnotimetorememberthatforthefirsttimeinmylifeIhadbeenbulliedwithouthittingback。WhenIrealizeditInearlychokedwithanger。ButIthankedheavenIhadshownnotemper，forI

rememberedmymission。Luckseemedtohavebroughtmeintousefulcompany。

CHAPTERFIVE

FurtherAdventuresoftheSameNextmorningtherewasatouchoffrostandanipintheairwhichstirredmybloodandputmeinbuoyantspirits。IforgotmyprecariouspositionandthelongroadIhadstilltotravel。Icamedowntobreakfastingreatform，tofindPeter’seventemperbadlyruffled。

HehadrememberedStumminthenightanddislikedthememory;

thishemutteredtomeaswerubbedshouldersatthedining—roomdoor。PeterandIgotnoopportunityforprivatetalk。Thelieutenantwaswithusallthetime，andatnightwewerelockedinourrooms。

Peterdiscoveredthisthroughtryingtogetouttofindmatches，forhehadthebadhabitofsmokinginbed。

Ourguidestartedonthetelephone，andannouncedthatweweretobetakentoseeaprisoners’camp。IntheafternoonIwastogosomewherewithStumm，butthemorningwasforsight—seeing。

’Youwillsee，’hetoldus，’howmercifulisagreatpeople。YouwillalsoseesomeofthehatedEnglishinourpower。Thatwilldelightyou。Theyaretheforerunnersofalltheirnation。’

Wedroveinataxithroughthesuburbsandthenoverastretchofflatmarket—garden—likecountrytoalowriseofwoodedhills。

Afteranhour’srideweenteredthegateofwhatlookedlikeabigreformatoryorhospital。Ibelieveithadbeenahomefordestitutechildren。Thereweresentriesatthegateandmassiveconcentriccirclesofbarbedwirethroughwhichwepassedunderanarchthatwasletdownlikeaportcullisatnightfall。Thelieutenantshowedhispermit，andweranthecarintoabrick—pavedyardandmarchedthroughalotmoresentriestotheofficeofthecommandant。

Hewasawayfromhome，andwewerewelcomedbyhisdeputy，apaleyoungmanwithaheadnearlybald。TherewereintroductionsinGermanwhichourguidetranslatedintoDutch，andalotofelegantspeechesabouthowGermanywasforemostinhumanityaswellasmartialvalour。Thentheystoodussandwichesandbeer，andweformedaprocessionforatourofinspection。Thereweretwodoctors，bothmild—lookingmeninspectacles，andacoupleofwarders—under—officersofthegoodoldburly，bullyingsortI

knewwell。ThatwasthecementwhichkepttheGermanArmytogether。Hermenwerenothingtoboastofontheaverage;nomoreweretheofficers，evenincrackcorpsliketheGuardsandtheBrandenburgers;buttheyseemedtohaveaninexhaustiblesupplyofhard，competentN。C。O。s。

Wemarchedroundthewash—houses，therecreation—ground，thekitchens，thehospital—withnobodyinitsaveonechapwiththe’flu。’Itdidn’tseemtobebadlydone。Thisplacewasentirelyforofficers，andIexpectitwasashowplacewhereAmericanvisitorsweretaken。IfhalfthestoriesoneheardweretruethereweresomeprettyghastlyprisonsawayinSouthandEastGermany。

Ididn’thalflikethebusiness。Tobeaprisonerhasalwaysseemedtomeabouttheworstthingthatcouldhappentoaman。

ThesightofGermanprisonersusedtogivemeabadfeelinginside，whereasIlookedatdeadBocheswithnothingbutsatisfaction。

Besides，therewastheoff—chancethatImightberecognized。SoI

keptverymuchintheshadowwheneverwepassedanybodyinthecorridors。Thefewwemetpassedusincuriously。Theysalutedthedeputy—commandant，butscarcelywastedaglanceonus。NodoubttheythoughtwewereinquisitiveGermanscometogloatoverthem。Theylookedfairlyfit，butalittlepuffyabouttheeyes，likemenwhogettoolittleexercise。Theyseemedthin，too。Iexpectthefood，forallthecommandant’stalk，wasnothingtoboastof。Inoneroompeoplewerewritingletters。Itwasabigplacewithonlyatinystovetowarmit，andthewindowswereshutsothattheatmospherewasacoldfrowst。Inanotherroomafellowwaslecturingonsomethingtoadozenhearersanddrawingfiguresonablackboard。Somewereinordinarykhaki，othersinanyoldthingtheycouldpickup，andmostworegreatcoats。Yourbloodgetsthinwhenyouhavenothingtodobuthopeagainsthopeandthinkofyourpalsandtheolddays。

Iwasmovingalong，listeningwithhalfaneartothelieutenant’sprattleandtheloudexplanationsofthedeputy—commandant，whenIpitchforkedintowhatmighthavebeentheendofmybusiness。

Weweregoingthroughasortofconvalescentroom，wherepeopleweresittingwhohadbeeninhospital。Itwasabigplace，alittlewarmerthantherestofthebuilding，butstillabominablyfuggy。

Therewereabouthalfadozenmenintheroom，readingandplayinggames。Theylookedatuswithlack—lustreeyesforamoment，andthenreturnedtotheiroccupations。BeingconvalescentsIsupposetheywerenotexpectedtogetupandsalute。

Allbutone，whowasplayingPatienceatalittletablebywhichwepassed。Iwasfeelingverybadaboutthething，forIhatedtoseethesegoodfellowslockedawayinthisinfernalGermanholewhentheymighthavebeengivingtheBochehisdesertsatthefront。

ThecommandantwentfirstwithPeter，whohaddevelopedagreatinterestinprisons。Thencameourlieutenantwithoneofthedoctors;thenacoupleofwarders;andthentheseconddoctorandmyself。Iwasabsent—mindedatthemomentandwaslastinthequeue。

ThePatience—playersuddenlylookedupandIsawhisface。I’mhangedifitwasn’tDollyRiddell，whowasourbrigademachine—

gunofficeratLoos。IhadheardthattheGermanshadgothimwhentheyblewupamineattheQuarries。

Ihadtoactprettyquick，forhismouthwasagape，andIsawhewasgoingtospeak。Thedoctorwasayardaheadofme。

Istumbledandspilthiscardsonthefloor。ThenIkneeledtopickthemupandgrippedhisknee。HisheadbenttohelpmeandI

spokelowinhisear。

’I’mHannayallright。ForGod’ssakedon’twinkaneye。I’mhereonasecretjob。’

Thedoctorhadturnedtoseewhatwasthematter。Igotafewmorewordsin。’Cheerup，oldman。We’rewinninghandsdown。’

ThenIbegantotalkexcitedDutchandfinishedthecollectionofthecards。Dollywasplayinghispartwell，smilingasifhewasamusedbytheanticsofamonkey。Theotherswerecomingback，thedeputy—commandantwithanangrylightinhisdulleye。’Speakingtotheprisonersisforbidden，’heshouted。

Ilookedblanklyathimtillthelieutenanttranslated。

’Whatkindoffellowishe？’saidDollyinEnglishtothedoctor。

’HespoilsmygameandthenjabbersHigh—Dutchatme。’

OfficiallyIknewEnglish，andthatspeechofDolly’sgavememycue。IpretendedtobeveryangrywiththeverydamnedEnglishman，andwentoutoftheroomclosebythedeputy—commandant，grumblinglikeasickjackal。AfterthatIhadtoactabit。Thelastplacewevisitedwastheclose—confinementpartwhereprisonerswerekeptasapunishmentforsomebreachoftherules。Theylookedcheerlessenough，butIpretendedtogloatoverthesight，andsaidsotothelieutenant，whopasseditontotheothers。Ihaverarelyinmylifefeltsuchacad。

Onthewayhomethelieutenantdiscoursedalotaboutprisonersanddetention—camps，foratonetimehehadbeenondutyatRuhleben。Peter，whohadbeeninquodmorethanonceinhislife，wasdeeplyinterestedandkeptonquestioninghim。Amongotherthingshetolduswasthattheyoftenputbogusprisonersamongtherest，whoactedasspies。Ifanyplottoescapewashatchedthesefellowsgotintoitandencouragedit。Theyneverinterferedtilltheattemptwasactuallymadeandthentheyhadthemontoast。TherewasnothingtheBochelikedsomuchasanexcuseforsendingapoordevilto’solitary’。

ThatafternoonPeterandIseparated。HewasleftbehindwiththelieutenantandIwassentofftothestationwithmybaginthecompanyofaLandsturmsergeant。Peterwasverycross，andI

didn’tcareforthelookofthings;butIbrightenedupwhenIheardIwasgoingsomewherewithStumm。Ifhewantedtoseemeagainhemustthinkmeofsomeuse，andifhewasgoingtousemehewasboundtoletmeintohisgame。IlikedStummaboutasmuchasadoglikesascorpion，butIhankeredforhissociety。

Atthestationplatform，wheretheornamentoftheLandsturmsavedmeallthetroubleabouttickets，Icouldnotseemycompanion。

Istoodwaiting，whileagreatcrowd，mostlyofsoldiers，swayedpastmeandfilledallthefrontcarriages。Anofficerspoketomegrufflyandtoldmetostandasidebehindawoodenrail。I

obeyed，andsuddenlyfoundStumm’seyeslookingdownatme。

’YouknowGerman？’heaskedsharply。

’Adozenwords，’Isaidcarelessly。’I’vebeentoWindhukandlearnedenoughtoaskformydinner。Peter—myfriend—speaksitabit。’

’So，’saidStumm。’Well，getintothecarriage。Notthatone！

There，thickhead！’

IdidasIwasbid，hefollowed，andthedoorwaslockedbehindus。Theprecautionwasneedless，forthesightofStumm’sprofileattheplatformendwouldhavekeptoutthemostbrazen。IwonderedifIhadwokenuphissuspicions。ImustbeonmyguardtoshownosignsofintelligenceifhesuddenlytriedmeinGerman，andthatwouldn’tbeeasy，forIknewitaswellasIknewDutch。

Wemovedintothecountry，butthewindowswereblurredwithfrost，andIsawnothingofthelandscape。Stummwasbusywithpapersandletmealone。Ireadonanoticethatonewasforbiddentosmoke，sotoshowmyignoranceofGermanIpulledoutmypipe。Stummraisedhishead，sawwhatIwasdoing，andgrufflybademeputitaway，asifhewereanoldladythatdislikedthesmelloftobacco。

InhalfanhourIgotverybored，forIhadnothingtoreadandmypipewas_verboten。Peoplepassednowandtheninthecorridors，butnooneofferedtoenter。Nodoubttheysawthebigfigureinuniformandthoughthewasthedeuceofastaffswellwhowantedsolitude。Ithoughtofstretchingmylegsinthecorridor，andwasjustgettinguptodoitwhensomebodyslidthedoorbackandabigfigureblockedthelight。

Hewaswearingaheavyulsterandagreenfelthat。HesalutedStumm，wholookedupangrily，andsmiledpleasantlyonusboth。

’Say，gentlemen，’hesaid，’haveyouroominhereforalittleone？

IguessI’maboutsmokedoutofmycarbyyourbravesoldiers。

I’vegottenadelicatestomach……’

Stummhadrisenwithabrowofwrath，andlookedasifheweregoingtopitchtheintruderoffthetrain。Thenheseemedtohaltandcollecthimself，andtheother’sfacebrokeintoafriendlygrin。

’Why，it’sColonelStumm，’hecried。（Hepronounceditlikethefirstsyllablein’stomach’。）’Verypleasedtomeetyouagain，Colonel。IhadthehonourofmakingyouracquaintanceatourEmbassy。IreckonAmbassadorGerarddidn’tcottontoourconversationthatnight。’

Andthenew—comerplumpedhimselfdowninthecorneroppositeme。

IhadbeenprettycertainIwouldrunacrossBlenkironsomewhereinGermany，butIdidn’tthinkitwouldbesosoon。Therehesatstaringatmewithhisfull，unseeingeyes，rollingoutplatitudestoStumm，whowasnearlyburstinginhisefforttokeepcivil。I

lookedmoodyandsuspicious，whichItooktobetherightline。

’ThingsaregettingabitdeadatSalonika，’saidMrBlenkiron，bywayofaconversationalopening。

Stummpointedtoanoticewhichwarnedofficerstorefrainfromdiscussingmilitaryoperationswithmixedcompanyinarailwaycarriage。

’Sorry，’saidBlenkiron，’Ican’treadthattombstonelanguageofyours。ButIreckonthatthatnoticetotrespassers，whateveritsignifies，don’tapplytoyouandme。Itakeitthisgentlemanisinyourparty。’

Isatandscowled，fixingtheAmericanwithsuspiciouseyes。

’HeisaDutchman，’saidStumm;’SouthAfricanDutch，andheisnothappy，forhedoesn’tliketohearEnglishspoken。’

’We’llshakeonthat，’saidBlenkironcordially。’ButwhosaidI

spokeEnglish？It’sgoodAmerican。Cheerup，friend，foritisn’tthecallthatmakesthebigwapiti，astheysayoutwestinmycountry。I

hateJohnBullworsethanapoisonrattle。TheColonelcantellyouthat。’

Idaresayhecould，butatthatmoment，wesloweddownatastationandStummgotuptoleave。’Gooddaytoyou，HerrBlenkiron，’

hecriedoverhisshoulder。’Ifyouconsideryourcomfort，don’ttalkEnglishtostrangetravellers。Theydon’tdistinguishbetweenthedifferentbrands。’

Ifollowedhiminahurry，butwasrecalledbyBlenkiron’svoice。