第7章

Onthehighroadtheremightbeawkwardquestions。

WhenIstartedoutagainIfeltverystiffandthecoldseemedtobegrowingintense。Thispuzzledme，forIhadnotmindeditmuchuptonow，and，beingwarm—bloodedbynature，itneverusedtoworryme。Asharpwinternightonthehigh—veldwasalongsightchillierthananythingIhadstrucksofarinEurope。Butnowmyteethwerechatteringandthemarrowseemedtobefreezinginmybones。

Thedayhadstartedbrightandclear，butawrackofgreycloudssooncoveredthesky，andawindfromtheeastbegantowhistle。

AsIstumbledalongthroughthesnowyundergrowthIkeptlongingforbrightwarmplaces。Ithoughtofthoselongdaysontheveldwhentheearthwaslikeagreatyellowbowl，withwhiteroadsrunningtothehorizonandatinywhitefarmbaskingintheheartofit，withitsbluedamandpatchesofbrightgreenlucerne。I

thoughtofthosebakingdaysontheeastcoast，whentheseawaslikemother—of—pearlandtheskyoneburningturquoise。ButmostofallIthoughtofwarmscentednoonsontrek，whenonedozedintheshadowofthewagonandsniffedthewood—smokefromthefirewheretheboyswerecookingdinner。

FromthesepleasantpicturesIreturnedtothebeastlypresent—

thethicksnowywoods，theloweringsky，wetclothes，ahuntedpresent，andadismalfuture。Ifeltmiserablydepressed，andI

couldn’tthinkofanymerciestocount。ItstruckmethatImightbefallingsick。

AboutmiddayIawokewithastarttothebeliefthatIwasbeingpursued。Icannotexplainhoworwhythefeelingcame，exceptthatitisakindofinstinctthatmengetwhohavelivedmuchinwildcountries。Mysenses，whichhadbeennumbed，suddenlygrewkeen，andmybrainbegantoworkdoublequick。

IaskedmyselfwhatIwoulddoifIwereStumm，withhatredinmyheart，abrokenjawtoavenge，andprettywelllimitlesspowers。

Hemusthavefoundthecarinthesandpitandseenmytracksinthewoodopposite。Ididn’tknowhowgoodheandhismenmightbeatfollowingaspoor，butIknewthatanyordinaryKaffircouldhavenoseditouteasily。Buthedidn’tneedtodothat。Thiswasacivilizedcountryfullofroadsandrailways。Imustsometimeandsomewherecomeoutofthewoods。Hecouldhavealltheroadswatched，andthetelephonewouldseteveryoneonmytrackwithinaradiusoffiftymiles。Besides，hewouldsoonpickupmytrailinthevillageIhadvisitedthatmorning。FromthemapIlearnedthatitwascalledGreif，anditwaslikelytoliveuptothatnamewithme。

PresentlyIcametoarockyknollwhichroseoutoftheforest。

KeepingwellinshelterIclimbedtothetopandcautiouslylookedaroundme。AwaytotheeastIsawthevaleofariverwithbroadfieldsandchurch—spires。Westandsouththeforestrolledunbrokeninawildernessofsnowytree—tops。Therewasnosignoflifeanywhere，notevenabird，butIknewverywellthatbehindmeinthewoodsweremenmovingswiftlyonmytrack，andthatitwasprettywellimpossibleformetogetaway。

TherewasnothingforitbuttogoontillIdroppedorwastaken。Ishapedmycoursesouthwithashadeofwestinit，forthemapshowedmethatinthatdirectionIwouldsooneststriketheDanube。WhatIwasgoingtodowhenIgotthereIdidn’ttroubletothink。Ihadfixedtheriverasmyimmediategoalandthefuturemusttakecareofitself。

IwasnowcertainthatIhadfeveronme。Itwasstillinmybones，asalegacyfromAfrica，andhadcomeoutonceortwicewhenIwaswiththebattalioninHampshire。TheboutshadbeenshortforIhadknownoftheircominganddosedmyself。ButnowI

hadnoquinine，anditlookedasifIwereinforaheavygo。Itmademefeeldesperatelywretchedandstupid，andIallbutblunderedintocapture。

ForsuddenlyIcameonaroadandwasgoingtocrossitblindly，whenamanrodeslowlypastonabicycle。LuckilyIwasintheshadeofaclumpofholliesandhewasnotlookingmyway，thoughhewasnotthreeyardsoff。Icrawledforwardtoreconnoitre。Isawabouthalfamileofroadrunningstraightthroughtheforestandeverytwohundredyardswasabicyclist。Theyworeuniformandappearedtobeactingassentries。

Thiscouldonlyhaveonemeaning。Stummhadpicketedalltheroadsandcutmeoffinanangleofthewoods。Therewasnochanceofgettingacrossunobserved。AsIlaytherewithmyheartsinking，Ihadthehorriblefeelingthatthepursuitmightbefollowingmefrombehind，andthatatanymomentIwouldbeenclosedbetweentwofires。

FormorethananhourIstayedtherewithmychininthesnow。

Ididn’tseeanywayout，andIwasfeelingsoillthatIdidn’tseemtocare。Thenmychancecamesuddenlyoutoftheskies。

Thewindrose，andagreatgustofsnowblewfromtheeast。InfiveminutesitwassothickthatIcouldn’tseeacrosstheroad。AtfirstI

thoughtitanewadditiontomytroubles，andthenveryslowlyIsawtheopportunity。Islippeddownthebankandmadereadytocross。

Ialmostblunderedintooneofthebicyclists。Hecriedoutandfelloffhismachine，butIdidn’twaittoinvestigate。AsuddenaccessofstrengthcametomeandIdartedintothewoodsonthefartherside。IknewIwouldbesoonswallowedfromsightinthedrift，andIknewthatthefallingsnowwouldhidemytracks。SoI

putmybestfootforward。

Imusthaverunmilesbeforethehotfitpassed，andIstoppedfromsheerbodilyweakness。Therewasnosoundexceptthecrushoffallingsnow，thewindseemedtohavegone，andtheplacewasverysolemnandquiet。ButHeavens！howthesnowfell！Itwaspartlyscreenedbythebranches，butallthesameitwaspilingitselfupdeepeverywhere。Mylegsseemedmadeoflead，myheadburned，andtherewerefierypainsoverallmybody。Istumbledonblindly，withoutanotionofanydirection，determinedonlytokeepgoingtothelast。ForIknewthatifIoncelaydownIwouldneverriseagain。

WhenIwasaboyIwasfondoffairytales，andmostofthestoriesIrememberedhadbeenaboutgreatGermanforestsandsnowandcharcoalburnersandwoodmen’shuts。OnceIhadlongedtoseethesethings，andnowIwasfairlyinthethickofthem。Therehadbeenwolves，too，andIwonderedidlyifIshouldfallinwithapack。Ifeltmyselfgettinglight—headed。Ifellrepeatedlyandlaughedsillilyeverytime。OnceIdroppedintoaholeandlayforsometimeatthebottomgiggling。Ifanyonehadfoundmethenhewouldhavetakenmeforamadman。

Thetwilightoftheforestgrewdimmer，butIscarcelynoticedit。

Eveningwasfalling，andsoonitwouldbenight，anightwithoutmorningforme。Mybodywasgoingonwithoutthedirectionofmybrain，formymindwasfilledwithcraziness。Iwaslikeadrunkmanwhokeepsrunning，forheknowsthatifhestopshewillfall，andIhadasortofbetwithmyselfnottoliedown—notatanyratejustyet。IfIlaydownIshouldfeelthepaininmyheadworse。

OnceIhadriddenforfivedaysdowncountrywithfeveronmeandtheflatbushtreeshadseemedtomeltintoonebigmirageanddancequadrillesbeforemyeyes。ButthenIhadmoreorlesskeptmywits。NowIwasfairlydaft，andeveryminutegrowingdafter。

ThenthetreesseemedtostopandIwaswalkingonflatground。

itwasaclearing，andbeforemetwinkledalittlelight。Thechangerestoredmetoconsciousness，andsuddenlyIfeltwithhorridintensitythefireinmyheadandbonesandtheweaknessofmylimbs。Ilongedtosleep，andIhadanotionthataplacetosleepwasbeforeme。Imovedtowardsthelightandpresentlysawthroughascreenofsnowtheoutlineofacottage。

Ihadnofear，onlyanintolerablelongingtoliedown。VeryslowlyImademywaytothedoorandknocked。MyweaknesswassogreatthatIcouldhardlyliftmyhand。

Therewerevoiceswithin，andacornerofthecurtainwasliftedfromthewindow。Thenthedooropenedandawomanstoodbeforeme，awomanwithathin，kindlyface。

’GrussGott，’shesaid，whilechildrenpeepedfrombehindherskirts。

’GrussGott，’Ireplied。Ileanedagainstthedoor—post，andspeechforsookme。

Shesawmycondition。’Comein，Sir，’shesaid。’Youaresickanditisnoweatherforasickman。’

Istumbledafterherandstooddrippinginthecentreofthelittlekitchen，whilethreewonderingchildrenstaredatme。Itwasapoorplace，scantilyfurnished，butagoodlog—fireburnedonthehearth。

Theshockofwarmthgavemeoneofthoseminutesofself—

possessionwhichcomessometimesinthemiddleofafever。

’Iamsick，mother，andIhavewalkedfarinthestormandlostmyway。IamfromAfrica，wheretheclimateishot，andyourcoldbringsmefever。Itwillpassinadayortwoifyoucangivemeabed。’

’Youarewelcome，’shesaid;’butfirstIwillmakeyoucoffee。’

Itookoffmydrippingcloak，andcrouchedclosetothehearth。

Shegavemecoffee—poorwashystuff，butblessedlyhot。PovertywasspelledlargeineverythingIsaw。Ifeltthetidesoffeverbeginningtooverflowmybrainagain，andImadeagreatattempttosetmyaffairsstraightbeforeIwasovertaken。WithdifficultyI

tookoutStumm’spassfrommypocket—book。

’Thatismywarrant，’Isaid。’IamamemberoftheImperialSecretServiceandforthesakeofmyworkImustmoveinthedark。Ifyouwillpermitit，mother，IwillsleeptillIambetter，butnoonemustknowthatIamhere。Ifanyonecomes，youmustdenymypresence。’

Shelookedatthebigsealasifitwereatalisman。

’Yes，yes，’shesaid，’youwillhavethebedinthegarretandbeleftinpeacetillyouarewell。Wehavenoneighboursnear，andthestormwillshuttheroads。Iwillbesilent，Iandthelittleones。’

Myheadwasbeginningtoswim，butImadeonemoreeffort。

’Thereisfoodinmyrucksack—biscuitsandhamandchocolate。

Praytakeitforyouruse。AndhereissomemoneytobuyChristmasfareforthelittleones。’AndIgavehersomeoftheGermannotes。

Afterthatmyrecollectionbecomesdim。Shehelpedmeupaladdertothegarret，undressedme，andgavemeathickcoarsenightgown。Iseemtorememberthatshekissedmyhand，andthatshewascrying。’ThegoodLordhassentyou，’shesaid。’NowthelittleoneswillhavetheirprayersansweredandtheChristkindwillnotpassbyourdoor。’

CHAPTEREIGHT

TheEssenBargesIlayforfourdayslikealoginthatgarretbed。Thestormdieddown，thethawsetin，andthesnowmelted。Thechildrenplayedaboutthedoorsandtoldstoriesatnightroundthefire。Stumm’smyrmidonsnodoubtbeseteveryroadandtroubledthelivesofinnocentwayfarers。Butnoonecamenearthecottage，andthefeverworkeditselfoutwhileIlayinpeace。

Itwasabadbout，butonthefifthdayitleftme，andIlay，asweakasakitten，staringattheraftersandthelittleskylight。Itwasaleaky，draughtyoldplace，butthewomanofthecottagehadheapeddeerskinsandblanketsonmybedandkeptmewarm。Shecameinnowandthen，andonceshebroughtmeabrewofsomebitterherbswhichgreatlyrefreshedme。AlittlethinporridgewasallthefoodIcouldeat，andsomechocolatemadefromtheslabsinmyrucksack。

Ilayanddozedthroughtheday，hearingthefaintchatterofchildrenbelow，andgettingstrongerhourly。Malariapassesasquicklyasitcomesandleavesamanlittletheworse，thoughthiswasoneofthesharpestturnsIeverhad。AsIlayIthought，andmythoughtsfollowedcuriouslines。OnequeerthingwasthatStummandhisdoingsseemedtohavebeenshotbackintoalumber—roomofmybrainandthedoorlocked。Hedidn’tseemtobeacreatureofthelivingpresent，butadistantmemoryonwhichI

couldlookcalmly。Ithoughtagooddealaboutmybattalionandthecomedyofmypresentposition。YouseeIwasgettingbetter，forIcalleditcomedynow，nottragedy。

ButchieflyIthoughtofmymission。Allthatwilddayinthesnowithadseemedthemerestfarce。ThethreewordsHarryBullivanthadscribbledhaddancedthroughmyheadinacrazyfandango。

Theywerepresenttomenow，butcoollyandsanelyinalltheirmeagreness。

IrememberthatItookeachoneseparatelyandchewedonitforhours。_Kasredin—therewasnothingtobegotoutofthat。_Cancer—

thereweretoomanymeanings，allblind。_V。_I—thatwastheworstgibberishofall。

BeforethisIhadalwaystakentheIastheletterofthealphabet。I

hadthoughtthev。muststandforvon，andIhadconsideredtheGermannamesbeginningwithI—Ingolstadt，Ingeburg，Ingenohl，andalltherestofthem。IhadmadealistofaboutseventyattheBritishMuseumbeforeIleftLondon。

NowIsuddenlyfoundmyselftakingtheIasthenumeralOne。

Idly，notthinkingwhatIwasdoing，IputitintoGerman。

ThenInearlyfelloutofthebed。VonEinem—thenameIhadheardatGaudian’shouse，thenameStummhadspokenbehindhishand，thenametowhichHildawasprobablytheprefix。Itwasatremendousdiscovery—thefirstrealbitoflightIhadfound。HarryBullivantknewthatsomemanorwomancalledvonEinemwasattheheartofthemystery。StummhadspokenofthesamepersonagewithrespectandinconnectionwiththeworkIproposedtodoinraisingtheMoslemAfricans。IfIfoundvonEinemIwouldbegettingverywarm。WhatwasthewordthatStummhadwhisperedtoGaudianandscaredthatworthy？Ithadsoundedlike_uhnmantl。IfIcouldonlygetthatclear，Iwouldsolvetheriddle。

Ithinkthatdiscoverycompletedmycure。Atanyrateontheeveningofthefifthday—itwasWednesday，the29thofDecember—Iwaswellenoughtogetup。Whenthedarkhadfallenanditwastoolatetofearavisitor，Icamedownstairsand，wrappedinmygreencape，tookaseatbythefire。

Aswesatthereinthefirelight，withthethreewhite—headedchildrenstaringatmewithsaucereyes，andsmilingwhenIlookedtheirway，thewomantalked。HermanhadgonetothewarsontheEasternfront，andthelastshehadheardfromhimhewasinaPolishbogandlongingforhisdrynativewoodlands。Thestrugglemeantlittletoher。ItwasanactofGod，athunderboltoutofthesky，whichhadtakenahusbandfromher，andmightsoonmakeherawidowandherchildrenfatherless。Sheknewnothingofitscausesandpurposes，andthoughtoftheRussiansasagiganticnationofsavages，heathenswhohadneverbeenconverted，andwhowouldeatupGermanhomesifthegoodLordandthebraveGermansoldiersdidnotstopthem。ItriedhardtofindoutifshehadanynotionofaffairsintheWest，butshehadn’t，beyondthefactthattherewastroublewiththeFrench。IdoubtifsheknewofEngland’sshareinit。Shewasadecentsoul，withnobitternessagainstanybody，noteventheRussiansiftheywouldspareherman。

ThatnightIrealizedthecrazyfollyofwar。WhenIsawthesplinteredshellofYpresandheardhideoustalesofGermandoings，IusedtowanttoseethewholelandoftheBochegivenuptofireandsword。IthoughtwecouldneverendthewarproperlywithoutgivingtheHunssomeoftheirownmedicine。Butthatwoodcutter’scottagecuredmeofsuchnightmares。Iwasforpunishingtheguiltybutlettingtheinnocentgofree。ItwasourbusinesstothankGodandkeepourhandscleanfromtheuglyblunderstowhichGermany’smadnesshaddrivenher。WhatgoodwoulditdoChristianfolktoburnpoorlittlehutslikethisandleavechildren’sbodiesbythewayside？Tobeabletolaughandtobemercifularetheonlythingsthatmakemanbetterthanthebeasts。

Theplace，asIhavesaid，wasdesperatelypoor。Thewoman’sfacehadtheskinstretchedtightoverthebonesandthattransparencywhichmeansunder—feeding;Ifanciedshedidnothavetheliberalallowancethatsoldiers’wivesgetinEngland。Thechildrenlookedbetternourished，butitwasbytheirmother’ssacrifice。Ididmybesttocheerthemup。ItoldthemlongyarnsaboutAfricaandlionsandtigers，andIgotsomepiecesofwoodandwhittledthemintotoys。Iamfairlygoodwithaknife，andIcarvedverypresentablelikenessesofamonkey，aspringbok，andarhinoceros。Thechildrenwenttobedhuggingthefirsttoys，Iexpect，theyeverpossessed。

ItwascleartomethatImustleaveassoonaspossible。Ihadtogetonwithmybusiness，andbesides，itwasnotfairtothewoman。

AnymomentImightbefoundhere，andshewouldgetintotroubleforharbouringme。IaskedherifsheknewwheretheDanubewas，andheranswersurprisedme。’Youwillreachitinanhour’swalk，’shesaid。’Thetrackthroughthewoodrunsstraighttotheferry。’

NextmorningafterbreakfastItookmydeparture。Itwasdrizzlingweather，andIwasfeelingverylean。BeforegoingIpresentedmyhostessandthechildrenwithtwosovereignsapiece。’ItisEnglishgold，’Isaid，’forIhavetotravelamongourenemiesanduseourenemies’money。Butthegoldisgood，andifyougotoanytowntheywillchangeitforyou。ButIadviseyoutoputitinyourstocking—footanduseitonlyifallelsefails。Youmustkeepyourhomegoing，forsomedaytherewillbepeaceandyourmanwillcomebackfromthewars。’

Ikissedthechildren，shookthewoman’shand，andwentoffdowntheclearing。Theyhadcried’AufWiedersehen，’butitwasn’tlikelyIwouldeverseethemagain。

Thesnowhadallgone，exceptinpatchesinthedeephollows。

Thegroundwaslikeafullsponge，andacoldraindriftedinmyeyes。Afterhalfanhour’ssteadytrudgethetreesthinned，andpresentlyIcameoutonaknuckleofopengroundcloakedindwarfjunipers。Andtherebeforemelaytheplain，andamileoffabroadbrimmingriver。

Isatdownandlookeddismallyattheprospect。Theexhilarationofmydiscoverythedaybeforehadgone。Ihadstumbledonaworthlesspieceofknowledge，forIcouldnotuseit。HildavonEinem，ifsuchapersonexistedandpossessedthegreatsecret，wasprobablylivinginsomebighouseinBerlin，andIwasaboutaslikelytogetanythingoutofherastobeaskedtodinewiththeKaiser。Blenkironmightdosomething，butwhereonearthwasBlenkiron？IdaredsaySirWalterwouldvaluetheinformation，butIcouldnotgettoSirWalter。IwastogoontoConstantinople，runningawayfromthepeoplewhoreallypulledtheropes。ButifI

stayedIcoulddonothing，andIcouldnotstay。ImustgoonandI

didn’tseehowIcouldgoon。Everycourseseemedshuttome，andIwasinasprettyatangleasanymaneverstumbledinto。

ForIwasmorallycertainthatStummwouldnotletthethingdrop。Iknewtoomuch，andbesidesIhadoutragedhispride。Hewouldbeatthecountrysidetillhegotme，andheundoubtedlywouldgetmeifIwaitedmuchlonger。ButhowwasItogetovertheborder？Mypassportwouldbenogood，forthenumberofthatpasswouldlongerethishavebeenwiredtoeverypolice—stationinGermany，andtoproduceitwouldbetoaskfortrouble。WithoutitIcouldnotcrossthebordersbyanyrailway。MystudiesoftheTourists’GuidehadsuggestedthatonceIwasinAustriaImightfindthingsslackerandmoveabouteasier。IthoughtofhavingatryattheTyrolandIalsothoughtofBohemia。Buttheseplaceswerealongwayoff，andtherewereseveralthousandchanceseachdaythatIwouldbecaughtontheroad。

ThiswasThursday，the30thofDecember，thesecondlastdayoftheyear。IwasdueinConstantinopleonthe17thofJanuary。

Constantinople！IhadthoughtmyselfalongwayfromitinBerlin，butnowitseemedasdistantasthemoon。

Butthatbigsullenriverinfrontofmeledtoit。AndasIlookedmyattentionwascaughtbyacurioussight。Onthefareasternhorizon，wherethewaterslippedroundacornerofhill，therewasalongtrailofsmoke。Thestreamersthinnedout，andseemedtocomefromsomeboatwellroundthecorner，butIcouldseeatleasttwoboatsinview。Thereforetheremustbealongtrainofbarges，withatugintow。

Ilookedtothewestandsawanothersuchprocessioncomingintosight。Firstwentabigriversteamer—itcan’thavebeenmuchlessthan1，000tons—andaftercameastringofbarges。Icountednolessthansixbesidesthetug。Theywereheavilyloadedandtheirdraughtmusthavebeenconsiderable，buttherewasplentyofdepthinthefloodedriver。

Amoment’sreflectiontoldmewhatIwaslookingat。OnceSandy，inoneofthediscussionsyouhaveinhospital，hadtoldusjusthowtheGermansmunitionedtheirBalkancampaign。TheywereprettycertainofdishingSerbiaatthefirstgo，anditwasuptothemtogetthroughgunsandshellstotheoldTurk，whowasrunningprettyshortinhisfirstsupply。Sandysaidthattheywantedtherailway，buttheywantedstillmoretheriver，andtheycouldmakecertainofthatinaweek。Hetoldushowendlessstringsofbarges，loadedupatthebigfactoriesofWestphalia，weremovingthroughthecanalsfromtheRhineortheElbetotheDanube。

OncethefirstreachedTurkey，therewouldberegulardelivery，yousee—asquickastheTurkscouldhandlethestuff。Andtheydidn’treturnempty，Sandysaid，butcamebackfullofTurkishcottonandBulgarianbeefandRumaniancorn。Idon’tknowwhereSandygottheknowledge，buttherewastheproofofitbeforemyeyes。

Itwasawonderfulsight，andIcouldhavegnashedmyteethtoseethoseloadsofmunitionsgoingsnuglyofftotheenemy。I

calculatedtheywouldgiveourpoorchapshellinGallipoli。Andthen，asIlooked，anideacameintomyheadandwithitaneighthpartofahope。

TherewasonlyonewayformetogetoutofGermany，andthatwastoleaveinsuchgoodcompanythatIwouldbeaskednoquestions。Thatwasplainenough。IfItravelledtoTurkey，forinstance，intheKaiser’ssuite，Iwouldbeassafeasthemail;butifI

wentonmyownIwasdone。Ihad，sotospeak，togetmypassportinsideGermany，tojoinsomecaravanwhichhadfreemarchingpowers。Andtherewasthekindofcaravanbeforeme—theEssenbarges。

Itsoundedlunacy，forIguessedthatmunitionsofwarwouldbeasjealouslyguardedasoldHindenburg’shealth。Allthesafer，I

repliedtomyself，onceIgetthere。Ifyouarelookingforadeserteryoudon’tseekhimatthefavouriteregimentalpublic—house。Ifyou’reafterathief，amongtheplacesyou’dbeapttoleaveunsearchedwouldbeScotlandYard。

Itwassoundreasoning，buthowwasItogetonboard？Probablythebeastlythingsdidnotstoponceinahundredmiles，andStummwouldgetmelongbeforeIstruckahalting—place。AndevenifI

didgetachancelikethat，howwasItogetpermissiontotravel？

Onestepwasclearlyindicated—togetdowntotheriverbankatonce。SoIsetoffatasharpwalkacrosssquelchyfields，tillIstruckaroadwheretheditcheshadoverflowedsoasalmosttomeetinthemiddle。TheplacewassobadthatIhopedtravellersmightbefew。

AndasItrudged，mythoughtswerebusywithmyprospectsasastowaway。IfIboughtfood，Imightgetachancetoliesnugononeofthebarges。Theywouldnotbreakbulktilltheygottotheirjourney’send。

SuddenlyInoticedthatthesteamer，whichwasnowabreastme，begantomovetowardstheshore，andasIcameoveralowrise，I

sawonmyleftastragglingvillagewithachurch，andasmalllanding—stage。Thehousesstoodaboutaquarterofamilefromthestream，andbetweenthemwasastraight，poplar—fringedroad。

Soontherecouldbenodoubtaboutit。Theprocessionwascomingtoastandstill。Thebigtugnosedherwayinandlayupalongsidethepier，whereinthatseasonoffloodtherewasenoughdepthofwater。Shesignalledtothebargesandtheyalsostartedtodropanchors，whichshowedthattheremustbeatleasttwomenaboardeach。Someofthemdraggedabitanditwasratheracock—

eyedtrainthatlayinmid—stream。Thetuggotoutagangway，andfromwhereIlayIsawhalfadozenmenleaveit，carryingsomethingontheirshoulders。

Itcouldbeonlyonething—adeadbody。Someoneofthecrewmusthavedied，andthishaltwastoburyhim。IwatchedtheprocessionmovetowardsthevillageandIreckonedtheywouldtakesometimethere，thoughtheymighthavewiredaheadforagravetobedug。Anyhow，theywouldbelongenoughtogivemeachance。

ForIhaddecideduponthebrazencourse。Blenkironhadsaidyoucouldn’tcheattheBoche，butyoucouldbluffhim。Iwasgoingtoputupthemostmonstrousbluff。IfthewholecountrysidewashuntingforRichardHannay，RichardHannaywouldwalkthroughasapalofthehunters。ForIrememberedthepassStummhadgivenme。Ifthatwasworthatinker’scurseitshouldbegoodenoughtoimpressaship’scaptain。

Ofcoursetherewereathousandrisks。Theymighthaveheardofmeinthevillageandtoldtheship’spartythestory。ForthatreasonIresolvednottogotherebuttomeetthesailorswhentheywerereturningtotheboat。Orthecaptainmighthavebeenwarnedandgotthenumberofmypass，inwhichcaseStummwouldhavehishandsonmeprettysoon。OrthecaptainmightbeanignorantfellowwhohadneverseenaSecretServicepassanddidnotknowwhatitmeant，andwouldrefusemetransportbytheletterofhisinstructions。InthatcaseImightwaitonanotherconvoy。

IhadshavedandmademyselfafairlyrespectablefigurebeforeI

leftthecottage。Itwasmycuetowaitforthemenwhentheyleftthechurch，waitonthatquarter—mileofstraighthighway。Ijudgedthecaptainmustbeintheparty。Thevillage，Iwasgladtoobserve，seemedveryempty。IhavemyownnotionsabouttheBavariansasfightingmen，butIamboundtosaythat，judgingbymyobservations，veryfewofthemstayedathome。

Thatfuneraltookhours。Theymusthavehadtodigthegrave，forIwaitedneartheroadinaclumpofcherry—trees，withmyfeetintwoinchesofmudandwater，tillIfeltchilledtothebone。I

prayedtoGoditwouldnotbringbackmyfever，forIwasonlyonedayoutofbed。Ihadverylittletobaccoleftinmypouch，butI

stoodmyselfonepipe，andIateoneofthethreecakesofchocolateIstillcarried。

Atlast，wellaftermidday，Icouldseetheship’spartyreturning。

TheymarchedtwobytwoandIwasthankfultoseethattheyhadnovillagerswiththem。Iwalkedtotheroad，turnedupit，andmetthevanguard，carryingmyheadashighasIknewhow。

’Where’syourcaptain？’Iasked，andamanjerkedhisthumboverhisshoulder。Theothersworethickjerseysandknittedcaps，buttherewasonemanattherearinuniform。

Hewasashort，broadmanwithaweather—beatenfaceandananxiouseye。

’MayIhaveawordwithyou，HerrCaptain？’Isaid，withwhatI

hopedwasajudiciousblendofauthorityandconciliation。

Henoddedtohiscompanion，whowalkedon。

’Yes？’heaskedratherimpatiently。

Iprofferedhimmypass。ThankHeavenhehadseenthekindofthingbefore，forhisfaceatoncetookonthatcuriouslookwhichonepersoninauthorityalwayswearswhenheisconfrontedwithanother。Hestudieditcloselyandthenraisedhiseyes。

’Well，Sir？’hesaid。’Iobserveyourcredentials。WhatcanIdoforyou？’

’ItakeityouareboundforConstantinople？’Iasked。

’TheboatsgoasfarasRustchuk，’hereplied。’Therethestuffistransferredtotherailway。’

’AndyoureachRustchukwhen？’

’Intendays，baraccidents。Letussaytwelvetobesafe。’

’Iwanttoaccompanyyou，’Isaid。’Inmyprofession，HerrCaptain，itisnecessarysometimestomakejourneysbyotherthanthecommonroute。Thatisnowmydesire。Ihavetherighttocalluponsomeotherbranchofourcountry’sservicetohelpme。Hencemyrequest。’

Veryplainlyhedidnotlikeit。

’Imusttelegraphaboutit。Myinstructionsaretoletnooneaboard，notevenamanlikeyou。Iamsorry，Sir，butImustgetauthorityfirstbeforeIcanfallinwithyourdesire。Besides，myboatisill—found。YouhadbetterwaitforthenextbatchandaskDreysertotakeyou。IlostWaltertoday。Hewasillwhenhecameaboard—

adiseaseoftheheart—buthewouldnotbepersuaded。Andlastnighthedied。’

’Wasthathimyouhavebeenburying？’Iasked。