第14章

Webumpedandbouncedhorribly，andwereshakenaboutlikepeasinabladder。Ibegantobeacutelyanxiousabouttheoldboneshaker，themoreasweseemedalongwayshortofthevillageIhadproposedtospendthenightin。Twilightwasfallingandwewerestillinanunfeaturedwaste，crossingtheshallowglenofastream。

Therewasabridgeatthebottomofaslope—abridgeoflogsandearthwhichhadapparentlybeenfreshlystrengthenedforheavytraffic。Asweapproacheditatagoodpacethecarceasedtoanswertothewheel。

Istruggleddesperatelytokeepitstraight，butitswervedtotheleftandweplungedoverabankintoamarshyhollow。Therewasasickeningbumpaswestruckthelowerground，andthewholepartywereshotoutintothefrozenslush。Idon’tyetknowhowI

escaped，forthecarturnedoverandbyrightsIshouldhavehadmybackbroken。Butnoonewashurt。Peterwaslaughing，andBlenkiron，aftershakingthesnowoutofhishair，joinedhim。FormyselfIwasfeverishlyexaminingthemachine。Itwasaboutasuglyasitcouldbe，forthefrontaxlewasbroken。

Herewasapieceofhopelessbadluck。WewerestuckinthemiddleofAsiaMinorwithnomeansofconveyance，fortogetanewaxletherewasaslikelyastofindsnowballsontheCongo。Itwasallbutdarkandtherewasnotimetolose。Igotoutthepetroltinsandsparetyresandcachedthemamongsomerocksonthehillside。ThenwecollectedourscantybaggagefromthederelictStudebaker。OuronlyhopewasHussin。Hehadgottofindussomelodgingforthenight，andnextdaywewouldhaveatryforhorsesoraliftinsomepassingwagon。Ihadnohopeofanothercar。EveryautomobileinAnatoliawouldnowbeatapremium。

Itwassodisgustingamishapthatwealltookitquietly。Itwastoobadtobehelpedbyhardswearing。HussinandPetersetoffondifferentsidesoftheroadtoprospectforahouse，andBlenkironandIshelteredunderthenearestrockandsmokedsavagely。

Hussinwasthefirsttostrikeoil。Hecamebackintwentyminuteswithnewsofsomekindofdwellingacoupleofmilesupthestream。HewentofftocollectPeter，and，humpingourbaggage，BlenkironandIploddedupthewaterside。Darknesshadfallenthickbythistime，andwetooksomebadtossesamongthebogs。

WhenHussinandPeterovertookustheyfoundabetterroad，andpresentlywesawalighttwinkleinthehollowahead。

Itprovedtobeawretchedtumble—downfarminagroveofpoplars—afoul—smelling，muddyyard，atwo—roomedhovelofahouse，andabarnwhichwastolerablydryandwhichweselectedforoursleeping—place。Theownerwasabrokenoldfellowwhosesonswereallatthewar，andhereceiveduswiththeprofoundcalmofonewhoexpectsnothingbutunpleasantnessfromlife。

Bythistimewehadrecoveredourtempers，andIwastryinghardtoputmynewKismetphilosophyintopractice。Ireckonedthatifriskswereforeordained，soweredifficulties，andbothmustbetakenaspartoftheday’swork。Withtheremainsofourprovisionsandsomecurdledmilkwesatisfiedourhungerandcurledourselvesupamongthepeasestrawofthebarn。Blenkironannouncedwithahappysighthathehadnowbeenfortwodaysquitofhisdyspepsia。

Thatnight，Iremember，Ihadaqueerdream。Iseemedtobeinawildplaceamongmountains，andIwasbeinghunted，thoughwhowasaftermeIcouldn’ttell。Iremembersweatingwithfright，forI

seemedtobequitealoneandtheterrorthatwaspursuingmewasmorethanhuman。Theplacewashorriblyquietandstill，andtherewasdeepsnowlyingeverywhere，sothateachstepItookwasheavyaslead。Averyordinarysortofnightmare，youwillsay。Yes，buttherewasonestrangefeatureinthisone。Thenightwaspitchdark，butaheadofmeinthethroatofthepasstherewasonepatchoflight，anditshowedarumlittlehillwitharockytop:whatwecallinSouthAfricaa_castrolorsaucepan。IhadanotionthatifI

couldgettothat_castrolIshouldbesafe，andIpantedthroughthedriftstowardsitwiththeavengerofbloodatmyheels。Iwoke，gasping，tofindthewintermorningstrugglingthroughthecrackedrafters，andtohearBlenkironsaycheerilythathisduodenumhadbehavedallnightlikeagentleman。Ilaystillforabittryingtofixthedream，butitalldissolvedintohazeexceptthepictureofthelittlehill，whichwasquiteclearineverydetail。Itoldmyselfitwasareminiscenceoftheveld，somespotdownintheWakkerstroomcountry，thoughforthelifeofmeIcouldn’tplaceit。

Ipassoverthenextthreedays，fortheywereoneuninterruptedseriesofheart—breaks。HussinandPeterscouredthecountryforhorses，BlenkironsatinthebarnandplayedPatience，whileI

hauntedtheroadsidenearthebridgeinthehopeofpickingupsomekindofconveyance。Mytaskwasperfectlyfutile。Thecolumnspassed，castingwonderingeyesonthewreckedcaramongthefrozenrushes，buttheycouldoffernohelp。MyfriendtheTurkishofficerpromisedtowiretoAngorafromsomeplaceorotherforafreshcar，but，rememberingthestateofaffairsatAngora，Ihadnohopefromthatquarter。Carspassed，plentyofthem，packedwithstaff—officers，TurkishandGerman，buttheywereinfartoobigahurryeventostopandspeak。TheonlyconclusionIreachedfrommyroadsidevigilwasthatthingsweregettingverywarmintheneighbourhoodofErzerum。Everybodyonthatroadseemedtobeinmadhasteeithertogetthereortogetaway。

Hussinwasthebestchance，for，asIhavesaid，theCompanionshadaveryspecialandpeculiargraftthroughouttheTurkishEmpire。Butthefirstdayhecamebackempty—handed。Allthehorseshadbeencommandeeredforthewar，hesaid;andthoughhewascertainthatsomehadbeenkeptbackandhiddenaway，hecouldnotgetontheirtrack。Theseconddayhereturnedwithtwo—miserablescrewsanddeplorablyshortinthewindfromadietofbeans。Therewasnodecentcornorhayleftinthecountryside。ThethirddayhepickedupanicelittleArabstallion:inpoorcondition，itistrue，butperfectlysound。

Forthesebeastswepaidgoodmoney，forBlenkironwaswellsuppliedandwehadnotimetosparefortheinterminableOrientalbargaining。

Hussinsaidhehadcleanedupthecountryside，andIbelievedhim。Idarednotdelayanotherday，eventhoughitmeantleavinghimbehind。Buthehadnonotionofdoinganythingofthekind。

Hewasagoodrunner，hesaid，andcouldkeepupwithsuchhorsesasoursforever。Ifthiswasthemannerofourprogress，IreckonedwewouldbeweeksingettingtoErzerum。

Westartedatdawnonthemorningofthefourthday，aftertheoldfarmerhadblessedusandsoldussomestalerye—bread。BlenkironbestrodetheArab，beingtheheaviest，andPeterandIhadthescrews。Myworstforebodingsweresoonrealized，andHussin，lopingalongatmyside，hadaneasyjobtokeepupwithus。Wewereaboutasslowasanox—wagon。Thebruteswereunshod，andwiththeroughroadsIsawthattheirfeetwouldverysoongotopieces。Wejoggedalonglikeatinker’scaravan，aboutfivemilestothehour，asfecklessapartyaseverdisgracedahighroad。

Theweatherwasnowadrizzle，whichincreasedmydepression。

Carspassedusanddisappearedinthemist，goingatthirtymilesanhourtomockourslowness。Noneofusspoke，forthefutilityofthebusinesscloggedourspirits。Ibithardonmyliptocurbmyrestlessness，andIthinkIwouldhavesoldmysoulthereandthenforanythingthatcouldmovefast。Idon’tknowanysorertrialthantobemadforspeedandhavetocrawlatasnail’space。Iwasgettingripeforanykindofdesperateventure。

Aboutmiddaywedescendedonawideplainfullofthemarksofrichcultivation。Villagesbecamefrequent，andthelandwasstuddedwitholivegrovesandscarredwithwaterfurrows。FromwhatI

rememberedofthemapIjudgedthatwewerecomingtothatchampagnecountrynearSiwas，whichisthegranaryofTurkey，andthehomeofthetrueOsmanlistock。

Thenattheturningoftheroadwecametothecaravanserai。

Itwasadingy，batteredplace，withthepinkplasterfallinginpatchesfromitswalls。Therewasacourtyardabuttingontheroad，andaflat—toppedhousewithabigholeinitsside。Itwasalongwayfromanybattle—ground，andIguessedthatsomeexplosionhadwroughtthedamage。Behindit，afewhundredyardsoff，adetachmentofcavalrywereencampedbesideastream，withtheirhorsestiedupinlonglinesofpickets。

Andbytheroadside，quitealoneanddeserted，stoodalargenewmotor—car。

Inalltheroadbeforeandbehindtherewasnomantobeseenexceptthetroopsbythestream。Theowners，whoevertheywere，mustbeinsidethecaravanserai。

IhavesaidIwasinthemoodforsomedesperatedeed，andloandbeholdprovidencehadgivenmethechance！IcovetedthatcarasIhavenevercovetedanythingonearth。Atthemomentallmyplanshadnarroweddowntoafeverishpassiontogettothebattle—

field。WehadtofindGreenmantleatErzerum，andoncethereweshouldhaveHildavonEinem’sprotection。Itwasatimeofwar，andafrontofbrasswasthesurestsafety。But，indeed，Icouldnotfigureoutanyplanworthspeakingof。Isawonlyonething—afastcarwhichmightbeours。

Isaidawordtotheothers，andwedismountedandtetheredourhorsesatthenearendofthecourtyard。Iheardthelowhumofvoicesfromthecavalrymenbythestream，buttheywerethreehundredyardsoffandcouldnotseeus。Peterwassentforwardtoscoutinthecourtyard。Inthebuildingitselftherewasbutonewindowlookingontheroad，andthatwasintheupperfloor。

MeantimeIcrawledalongbesidethewalltowherethecarstood，andhadalookatit。Itwasasplendidsix—cylinderaffair，brandnew，withthetyreslittleworn。Therewereseventinsofpetrolstackedbehindaswellassparetyres，and，lookingin，Isawmap—

casesandfield—glassesstrewnontheseatsasiftheownershadonlygotoutforaminutetostretchtheirlegs。

Petercamebackandreportedthatthecourtyardwasempty。

’Therearemenintheupperroom，’hesaid;’morethanone，forI

heardtheirvoices。Theyaremovingaboutrestlessly，andmaysoonbecomingout。’

Ireckonedthattherewasnotimetobelost，soItoldtheotherstoslipdowntheroadfiftyyardsbeyondthecaravanseraiandbereadytoclimbinasIpassed。Ihadtostarttheinfernalthing，andtheremightbeshooting。

IwaitedbythecartillIsawthemreachtherightdistance。I

couldhearvoicesfromthesecondfloorofthehouseandfootstepsmovingupanddown。Iwasinafeverofanxiety，foranymomentamanmightcometothewindow。ThenIflungmyselfonthestartinghandleandworkedlikeademon。

Thecoldmadethejobdifficult，andmyheartwasinmymouth，forthenoiseinthatquietplacemusthavewokethedead。Then，bythemercyofHeaven，theenginestarted，andIsprangtothedrivingseat，releasedtheclutch，andopenedthethrottle。Thegreatcarshotforward，andIseemedtohearbehindmeshrillvoices。A

pistolbulletboredthroughmyhat，andanotherburieditselfinacushionbesideme。

InasecondIwasclearoftheplaceandtherestofthepartywereembarking。Blenkirongotonthestepandrolledhimselflikeasackofcoalsintothetonneau。Peternippedupbesideme，andHussinscrambledinfromthebackoverthefoldsofthehood。Wehadourbaggageinourpocketsandhadnothingtocarry。

Bulletsdroppedroundus，butdidnoharm。ThenIheardareportatmyear，andoutofacornerofmyeyesawPeterlowerhispistol。Presentlywewereoutofrange，and，lookingback，Isawthreemengesticulatinginthemiddleoftheroad。

’Maythedevilflyawaywiththispistol，’saidPeterruefully。’I

nevercouldmakegoodshootingwithalittlegun。HadIhadmyrifle……’

’Whatdidyoushootfor？’Iaskedinamazement。’We’vegotthefellows’car，andwedon’twanttodothemanyharm。’

’ItwouldhavesavedtroublehadIhadmyrifle，’saidPeter，quietly。’ThelittlemanyoucallRastawasthere，andheknewyou。

Iheardhimcryyourname。Heisanangrylittleman，andIobservethatonthisroadthereisatelegraph。’

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

TroublebyTheWatersofBabylonFromthatmomentIdatethebeginningofmymadness。SuddenlyI

forgotallcaresanddifficultiesofthepresentandfutureandbecamefoolishlylight—hearted。Wewererushingtowardsthegreatbattlewheremenwerebusyatmypropertrade。IrealizedhowmuchI

hadloathedthelonelydaysinGermany，andstillmorethedawdlingweekinConstantinople。NowIwasclearofitall，andboundfortheclashofarmies。Itdidn’ttroublemethatwewereonthewrongsideofthebattleline。Ihadasortofinstinctthatthedarkerandwilderthingsgrewthebetterchanceforus。

’Seemstome，’saidBlenkiron，bendingoverme，’thatthisjoy—

rideisgoingtocometoanuntimelyendprettysoon。Peter’sright。

Thatyoungmanwillsetthetelegraphgoing，andwe’llbeheldupatthenexttownship。’

’He’sgottogettoatelegraphofficefirst，’Ianswered。’That’swherewehavethepullonhim。He’swelcometothescrewsweleftbehind，andifhefindsanoperatorbeforetheeveningI’mtheworstkindofaDutchman。I’mgoingtobreakalltherulesandbucketthiscarforwhatshe’sworth。Don’tyouseethatthenearerwegettoErzerumthesaferweare？’

’Idon’tfollow，’hesaidslowly。’AtErzerumIreckonthey’llbewaitingforuswiththehandcuffs。Whyinthundercouldn’tthosehairyragamuffinskeepthelittlecusssafe？Yourrecord’sabittooprecipitous，Major，forthemostinnocent—mindedmilitaryboss。’

’DoyourememberwhatyousaidabouttheGermansbeingopentobluff？Well，I’mgoingtoputupthesteepestsortofbluff。Ofcoursethey’llstopus。Rastawilldohisdamnedest。ButrememberthatheandhisfriendsarenotverypopularwiththeGermans，andMadamevonEinemis。We’reherproteges，andthebiggertheGermanswellIgetbeforethesaferI’llfeel。We’vegotourpassportsandourorders，andhe’llbeaboldmanthatwillstopusoncewegetintotheGermanzone。ThereforeI’mgoingtohurryasfastasGodwillletme。’

Itwasaridethatdeservedtohaveanepicwrittenaboutit。Thecarwasgood，andIhandledherwell，thoughIsayitwhoshouldn’t。

Theroadinthatbigcentralplainwasfair，andoftenIknockedfiftymilesanhouroutofher。Wepassedtroopsbyacircuitovertheveld，wherewetooksomeawfulrisks，andonceweskiddedbysometransportwithouroffwheelsalmostoverthelipofaravine。

WewentthroughthenarrowstreetsofSiwaslikeafire—engine，whileIshoutedoutinGermanthatwecarrieddespatchesforheadquarters。Weshotoutofdrizzlingrainintobriefspellsofwintersunshine，andthenintoasnowblizzardwhichallbutwhippedtheskinfromourfaces。Andalwaysbeforeusthelongroadunrolled，withsomewhereattheendofittwoarmiesclinchedinadeath—grapple。

Thatnightwelookedfornolodging。Weateasortofmealinthecarwiththehoodup，andfeltourwayoninthedarkness，fortheheadlightswereinperfectorder。Thenweturnedofftheroadforfourhours’sleep，andIhadagoatthemap。Beforedawnwestartedagain，andcameoverapassintothevaleofabigriver。Thewinterdawnshoweditsgleamingstretches，ice—boundamongthesprinkledmeadows。IcalledtoBlenkiron:

’IbelievethatriveristheEuphrates，’Isaid。

’So，’hesaid，acutelyinterested。’Thenthat’sthewatersofBabylon。Greatsnakes，thatIshouldhavelivedtoseethefieldswhereKingNebuchadnezzargrazed！Doyouknowthenameofthatbighill，Major？’

’Ararat，aslikeasnot，’Icried，andhebelievedme。

Wewereamongthehillsnow，great，rocky，blackslopes，and，seenthroughsideglens，ahinterlandofsnowypeaks。IrememberI

keptlookingforthe_castrolIhadseeninmydream。Thethinghadneverleftoffhauntingme，andIwasprettyclearnowthatitdidnotbelongtomySouthAfricanmemories。Iamnotasuperstitiousman，butthewaythatlittle_kranzclungtomymindmademethinkitwasawarningsentbyProvidence。IwasprettycertainthatwhenIclappedeyesonitIwouldbeinforbadtrouble。

Allmorningwetravelledupthatbroadvale，andjustbeforenoonitspreadoutwider，theroaddippedtothewater’sedge，andI

sawbeforemethewhiteroofsofatown。Thesnowwasdeepnow，andlaydowntotheriverside，buttheskyhadcleared，andagainstaspaceofblueheavensomepeakstothesouthroseglitteringlikejewels。Thearchesofabridge，spanningtwoforksofthestream，showedinfront，andasIsloweddownatthebendasentry’schallengerangoutfromablock—house。WehadreachedthefortressofErzingjan，theheadquartersofaTurkishcorpsandthegateofArmenia。

Ishowedthemanourpassports，buthedidnotsaluteandletusmoveon。Hecalledanotherfellowfromtheguardhouse，whomotionedustokeeppacewithhimashestumpeddownasidelane。

Attheotherendwasabigbarrackswithsentriesoutside。ThemanspoketousinTurkish，whichHussininterpreted。Therewassomebodyinthatbarrackswhowantedbadlytoseeus。

’BythewatersofBabylonwesatdownandwept，’quotedBlenkironsoftly。’Ifear，Major，we’llsoonberememberingZion。’

Itriedtopersuademyselfthatthiswasmerelytheredtapeofafrontierfortress，butIhadaninstinctthatdifficultieswereinstoreforus。IfRastahadstartedwiringIwaspreparedtoputupthebrazenestbluff，forwewerestilleightymilesfromErzerum，andatallcostsweweregoingtobelandedtherebeforenight。

Afussystaff—officermetusatthedoor。Atthesightofushecriedtoafriendtocomeandlook。

’Herearethebirdssafe。AfatmanandtwoleanonesandasavagewholookslikeaKurd。Calltheguardandmarchthemoff。

There’snodoubtabouttheiridentity。’

’Pardonme，Sir，’Isaid，’butwehavenotimetospareandwe’dliketobeinErzerumbeforethedark。Iwouldbegyoutogetthroughanyformalitiesassoonaspossible。Thisman，’andI

pointedtothesentry，’hasourpassports。’

’Composeyourself，’hesaidimpudently;’you’renotgoingonjustyet，andwhenyoudoitwon’tbeinastolencar。’Hetookthepassportsandfingeredthemcasually。Thensomethinghesawtheremadehimcockhiseyebrows。

’Wheredidyoustealthese？’heasked，butwithlessassuranceinhistone。

Ispokeverygently。’Youseemtobethevictimofamistake，sir。

Theseareourpapers。WeareunderorderstoreportourselvesatErzerumwithoutanhour’sdelay。WhoeverhindersuswillhavetoanswertoGeneralvonLiman。WewillbeobligedifyouwillconductusatoncetotheGovernor。’

’Youcan’tseeGeneralPosselt，’hesaid;’thisismybusiness。I

haveawirefromSiwasthatfourmenstoleacarbelongingtooneofEnverDamad’sstaff。Itdescribesyouall，andsaysthattwoofyouarenotoriousspieswantedbytheImperialGovernment。Whathaveyoutosaytothat？’

’Onlythatitisrubbish。MygoodSir，youhaveseenourpasses。

Ourerrandisnottobecriedonthehousetops，butfiveminuteswithGeneralPosseltwillmakethingsclear。Youwillbeexceedinglysorryforitifyoudelayanotherminute。’

Hewasimpressedinspiteofhimself，andafterpullinghismoustacheturnedonhisheelandleftus。PresentlyhecamebackandsaidverygrufflythattheGovernorwouldseeus。Wefollowedhimalongacorridorintoabigroomlookingoutontheriver，whereanoldishfellowsatinanarm—chairbyastove，writingletterswithafountainpen。

ThiswasPosselt，whohadbeenGovernorofErzerumtillhefellsickandAhmedFevzitookhisplace。Hehadapeevishmouthandbigbluepouchesbelowhiseyes。HewassupposedtobeagoodengineerandtohavemadeErzerumimpregnable，butthelookonhisfacegavemetheimpressionthathisreputationatthemomentwasabitunstable。

Thestaff—officerspoketohiminanundertone。

’Yes，yes，Iknow，’hesaidtestily。’Arethesethemen？Theylookaprettylotofscoundrels。What’sthatyousay？Theydenyit。Butthey’vegotthecar。Theycan’tdenythat。Here，you，’andhefixedonBlenkiron，’whothedevilareyou？’

Blenkironsmiledsleepilyathim，notunderstandingoneword，andItookuptheparable。

’Ourpassports，Sir，giveourcredentials，’Isaid。Heglancedthroughthem，andhisfacelengthened。

’They’rerightenough。Butwhataboutthisstoryofstealingacar？’

’Itisquitetrue，’Isaid，’butIwouldprefertouseapleasanterword。Youwillseefromourpapersthateveryauthorityontheroadisdirectedtogiveusthebesttransport。Ourowncarbrokedown，andafteralongdelaywegotsomewretchedhorses。ItisvitallyimportantthatweshouldbeinErzerumwithoutdelay，soI

tookthelibertyofappropriatinganemptycarwefoundoutsideaninn。Iamsorryforthediscomfortoftheowners，butourbusinesswastoogravetowait。’

’Butthetelegramsaysyouarenotoriousspies！’

Ismiled。’Whosentthetelegram？

’IseenoreasonwhyIshouldn’tgiveyouhisname。ItwasRastaBey。You’vepickedanawkwardfellowtomakeanenemyof。’

Ididnotsmilebutlaughed。’Rasta！’Icried。’He’soneofEnver’ssatellites。Thatexplainsmanythings。Ishouldlikeawordwithyoualone，Sir。’

Henoddedtothestaff—officer，andwhenhehadgoneIputonmymostBiblefaceandlookedasimportantasaprovincialmayorataroyalvisit。

’Icanspeakfreely，’Isaid，’forIamspeakingtoasoldierofGermany。ThereisnolovelostbetweenEnverandthoseIserve。I

neednottellyouthat。ThisRastathoughthehadfoundachanceofdelayingus，soheinventsthistrashaboutspies。ThoseComitadjishavespiesonthebrain……EspeciallyhehatesFrauvonEinem。’

Hejumpedatthename。

’Youhaveordersfromher？’heasked，inarespectfultone。

’Why，yes，’Ianswered，’andthoseorderswillnotwait。’

Hegotupandwalkedtoatable，whenceheturnedapuzzledfaceonme。’I’mtornintwobetweentheTurksandmyowncountrymen。IfIpleaseoneIoffendtheother，andtheresultisadamnableconfusion。YoucangoontoErzerum，butIshallsendamanwithyoutoseethatyoureporttoheadquartersthere。

I’msorry，gentlemen，butI’mobligedtotakenochancesinthisbusiness。Rasta’sgotagrievanceagainstyou，butyoucaneasilyhidebehindthelady’sskirts。Shepassedthroughthistowntwodaysago。’

TenminuteslaterwewerecoastingthroughtheslushofthenarrowstreetswithastolidGermanlieutenantsittingbesideMe。

TheafternoonwasoneofthoseraredayswheninthepausesofsnowyouhaveaspellofweatherasmildasMay。Irememberedseverallikeitduringourwinter’straininginHampshire。Theroadwasafineone，wellengineered，andwellkepttoo，consideringtheamountoftraffic。Wewerelittledelayed，foritwassufficientlybroadtoletuspasstroopsandtransportwithoutslackeningpace。

Thefellowatmysidewasgood—humouredenough，buthispresencenaturallyputthelidonourconversation。Ididn’twanttotalk，however。Iwastryingtopiecetogetheraplan，andmakingverylittleofit，forIhadnothingtogoupon。WemustfindHildavonEinemandSandy，andbetweenuswemustwrecktheGreenmantlebusiness。Thatdone，itdidn’tmattersomuchwhathappenedtous。

AsIreasoneditout，theTurksmustbeinabadway，and，unlesstheygotafillipfromGreenmantle，wouldcrumpleupbeforetheRussians。IntheroutIhopedwemightgetachancetochangeoursides。Butitwasnogoodlookingsofarforward;thefirstthingwastogettoSandy。

NowIwasstillinthemoodofrecklessbravadowhichIhadgotfrombaggingthecar。Ididnotrealizehowthinourstorywas，andhoweasilyRastamighthaveabiggraftatheadquarters。IfIhad，I

wouldhaveshotouttheGermanlieutenantlongbeforewegottoErzerum，andfoundsomewayofgettingmixedupintheruckofthepopulation。Hussincouldhavehelpedmetothat。IwasgettingsoconfidentsinceourinterviewwithPosseltthatIthoughtIcouldbluffthewholeoutfit。

Butmymainbusinessthatafternoonwaspurenonsense。Iwastryingtofindmylittlehill。AteveryturnoftheroadIexpectedtoseethe_castrolbeforeus。YoumustknowthateversinceIcouldstandIhavebeencrazyabouthighmountains。MyfathertookmetoBasutolandwhenIwasaboy，andIreckonIhavescrambledoveralmosteverybitofuplandsouthoftheZambesi，fromtheHottentotsHollandtotheZoutpansberg，andfromtheuglyyellowkopjesofDamaralandtothenoblecliffsofMontauxSources。OneofthethingsIhadlookedforwardtoincominghomewasthechanceofclimbingtheAlps。ButnowIwasamongpeaksthatI

fanciedwerebiggerthantheAlps，andIcouldhardlykeepmyeyesontheroad。Iwasprettycertainthatmy_castrolwasamongthem，forthatdreamhadtakenanalmightyholdonmymind。Funnilyenough，Iwasceasingtothinkitaplaceofevilomen，foronesoonforgetstheatmosphereofnightmare。ButIwasconvincedthatitwasathingIwasdestinedtosee，andtoseeprettysoon。

Darknessfellwhenweweresomemilesshortofthecity，andthelastpartwasdifficultdriving。Onbothsidesoftheroadtransportandengineers’storeswereparked，andsomeofitstrayedintothehighway。Inoticedlotsofsmalldetails—machine—gundetachments，signallingparties，squadsofstretcher—bearers—whichmeanthefringeofanarmy，andassoonasthenightbeganthewhitefingersofsearchlightsbegantogropeintheskies。

Andthen，abovethehumoftheroadside，rosethevoiceofthegreatguns。Theshellswereburstingfourorfivemilesaway，andthegunsmusthavebeenasmanymoredistant。Butinthatuplandpocketofplaininthefrostynighttheysoundedmostintimatelynear。Theykeptuptheirsolemnlitany，withaminute’sintervalbetweeneach—no_rafalewhichrumbleslikeadrum，butthesteadypersistenceofartilleryexactlyrangedonatarget。Ijudgedtheymustbebombardingtheouterforts，andoncetherecamealoudexplosionandaredglareasifamagazinehadsuffered。

ItwasasoundIhadnotheardforfivemonths，anditfairlycrazedme。IrememberedhowIhadfirsthearditontheridgebeforeLaventie。ThenIhadbeenhalf—afraid，half—solemnized，buteverynervehadbeenquickened。Thenithadbeenthenewthinginmylifethatheldmebreathlesswithanticipation;nowitwastheoldthing，thethingIhadsharedwithsomanygoodfellows，myproperwork，andtheonlytaskforaman。AtthesoundofthegunsIfeltthatIwasmovinginnaturalaironcemore。IfeltthatIwascominghome。

Wewerestoppedatalonglineoframparts，andaGermansergeantstaredatustillhesawthelieutenantbesideme，whenhesalutedandwepassedon。Almostatoncewedippedintonarrowtwistingstreets，chokedwithsoldiers，whereitwashardbusinesstosteer。Therewerefewlights—onlynowandthentheflareofatorchwhichshowedthegreystonehouses，witheverywindowlatticedandshuttered。Ihadputoutmyheadlightsandhadonlysidelamps，sowehadtopickourwaygingerlythroughthelabyrinth。

IhopedwewouldstrikeSandy’squarterssoon，forwewereallprettyempty，andafrosthadsetinwhichmadeourthickcoatsseemasthinaspaper。