第16章

’_Ja。Iwastheman。Therearemorewaysofgettingintokraalsthantherearewaysofkeepingpeopleout。’

’Willyoutakethischance？’

’Forcertain，Dick。Iamgettingstiffwithdoingnothing，andifI

sitinhousesmuchlongerIshallgrowold。AmanbetmefivepoundsontheshipthatIcouldnotgetthroughatrench—line，andiftherehadbeenatrench—linehandyIwouldhavetakenhimon。

Iwillbeveryhappy，Dick，butIdonotsayIwillsucceed。Itisnewcountrytome，andIwillbehurried，andhurrymakesbadstalking。’

IshowedhimwhatIthoughtthelikeliestplace—inthespursofthePalantukenmountains。Peter’swayofdoingthingswasallhisown。Hescrapedearthandplasteroutofacornerandsatdowntomakealittlemodelofthelandscapeonthetable，followingthecontoursofthemap。Hediditextraordinarilyneatly，for，likeallgreathunters，hewasasdeftasaweaverbird。Hepuzzledoveritforalongtime，andconnedthemaptillhemusthavegotitbyheart。Thenhetookhisfield—glasses—averygoodsingleZeisswhichwaspartofthespoilsfromRasta’smotor—car—andannouncedthathewasgoingtofollowmyexampleandgetontothehouse—top。

Presentlyhislegsdisappearedthroughthetrap，andBlenkironandI

werelefttoourreflections。

Petermusthavefoundsomethinguncommoninteresting，forhestayedontheroofthebetterpartoftheday。Itwasadulljobforus，sincetherewasnolight，andBlenkironhadnoteventheconsolationofagameofPatience。Butforallthathewasingoodspirits，forhehadhadnodyspepsiasinceweleftConstantinople，andannouncedthathebelievedhewasatlastgettingevenwithhisdarnedduodenum。AsformeIwasprettyrestless，forIcouldnotimaginewhatwasdetainingSandy。ItwasclearthatourpresencemusthavebeenkeptsecretfromHildavonEinem，forshewasapalofStumm’s，andhemustbynowhaveblownthegaffonPeterandme。Howlongcouldthissecrecylast，Iaskedmyself。Wehadnownosortofprotectioninthewholeoutfit。RastaandtheTurkswantedourblood:sodidStummandtheGermans;andoncetheladyfoundweweredeceivinghershewouldwantitmostofall。

OuronlyhopewasSandy，andhegavenosignofhisexistence。I

begantofearthatwithhim，too，thingshadmiscarried。

AndyetIwasn’treallydepressed，onlyimpatient。IcouldneveragaingetbacktothebeastlystagnationofthatConstantinopleweek。Thegunskeptmecheerful。Therewasthedevilofabombardmentallday，andthethoughtthatourAllieswerethunderingtherehalfadozenmilesoffgavemeaperfectlygroundlesshope。IftheyburstthroughthedefenceHildavonEinemandherprophetandallourenemieswouldbeoverwhelmedinthedeluge。AndthatblessedchancedependedverymuchonoldPeter，nowbroodinglikeapigeononthehouse—tops。

ItwasnottillthelateafternoonthatHussinappearedagain。HetooknonoticeofPeter’sabsence，butlitalanternandsetitonthetable。Thenhewenttothedoorandwaited。Presentlyalightstepfellonthestairs，andHussindrewbacktoletsomeoneenter。HepromptlydepartedandIheardthekeyturninthelockbehindhim。

Sandystoodthere，butanewSandywhomadeBlenkironandmejumptoourfeet。Thepeltsandskin—caphadgone，andheworeinsteadalonglinentunicclaspedatthewaistbyabroadgirdle。A

strangegreenturbanadornedhishead，andashepusheditbackI

sawthathishairhadbeenshaved。Helookedlikesomeacolyte—awearyacolyte，fortherewasnospringinhiswalkornerveinhiscarriage。Hedroppednumblyonthedivanandlaidhisheadinhishands。Thelanternshowedhishaggardeyeswithdarklinesbeneaththem。

’GoodGod，oldman，haveyoubeensick？’Icried。

’Notsick，’hesaidhoarsely。’Mybodyisrightenough，butthelastfewdaysIhavebeenlivinginhell。’

Blenkironnoddedsympathetically。Thatwashowhehimselfwouldhavedescribedthecompanyofthelady。

Imarchedacrosstohimandgrippedbothhiswrists。

’Lookatme，’Isaid，’straightintheeyes。’

Hiseyeswerelikeasleep—walker’s，unwinking，unseeing。’Greatheavens，man，you’vebeendrugged！’Isaid。

’Drugged，’hecried，withawearylaugh。’Yes，Ihavebeendrugged，butnotbyanyphysic。Noonehasbeendoctoringmyfood。Butyoucan’tgothroughhellwithoutgettingyoureyesred—hot。’

Ikeptmygriponhiswrists。’Takeyourtime，oldchap，andtellusaboutit。BlenkironandIarehere，andoldPeter’sontheroofnotfaroff。We’lllookafteryou。’

’Itdoesmegoodtohearyourvoice，Dick，’hesaid。’Itremindsmeofclean，honestthings。’

’They’llcomeback，neverfear。We’reatthelastlapnow。Onemorespurtandit’sover。You’vegottotellmewhatthenewsnagis。Isitthatwoman？’

Heshiveredlikeafrightenedcolt。’Woman！’hecried。’Doesawomandragamanthroughthenether—pit？She’sashe—devil。Oh，itisn’tmadnessthat’swrongwithher。She’sassaneasyouandascoolasBlenkiron。Herlifeisaninfernalgameofchess，andsheplayswithsoulsforpawns。Sheisevil—evil—evil。’Andoncemoreheburiedhisheadinhishands。

ItwasBlenkironwhobroughtsenseintothishecticatmosphere。

Hisslow，beloveddrawlwasanantisepticagainstnerves。

’Say，boy，’hesaid，’Ifeeljustlikeyouaboutthelady。Butourjobisnottoinvestigatehercharacter。HerMakerwilldothatgoodandsuresomeday。We’vegottofigurehowtocircumventher，andforthatyou’vegottotelluswhatexactly’sbeenoccurringsincewepartedcompany。’

Sandypulledhimselftogetherwithagreateffort。

’GreenmantlediedthatnightIsawyou。Weburiedhimsecretlybyherorderinthegardenofthevilla。Thencamethetroubleabouthissuccessor……ThefourMinisterswouldbenopartytoaswindle。Theywerehonestmen，andvowedthattheirtasknowwastomakeatombfortheirmasterandprayfortherestoftheirdaysathisshrine。Theywereasimmovableasagranitehillandsheknewit……Thenthey，too，died。’

’Murdered？’Igasped。

’Murdered……allfourinonemorning。Idonotknowhow，butIhelpedtoburythem。Oh，shehadGermansandKurdstodoherfoulwork，buttheirhandswerecleancomparedtohers。Pityme，Dick，forIhaveseenhonestyandvirtueputtotheshamblesandhaveabettedthedeedwhenitwasdone。Itwillhauntmetomydyingday。’

Ididnotstoptoconsolehim，formymindwasonfirewithhisnews。

’Thentheprophetisgone，andthehumbugisover，’Icried。

’Theprophetstilllives。Shehasfoundasuccessor。’

Hestoodupinhislinentunic。

’WhydoIweartheseclothes？BecauseIamGreenmantle。Iamthe_Kaaba—i—hurriyehforallIslam。Inthreedays’timeIwillrevealmyselftomypeopleandwearonmybreastthegreenephodoftheprophet。’

Hebrokeoffwithanhystericallaugh。

’Onlyyousee，Iwon’t。Iwillcutmythroatfirst。’

’Cheerup！’saidBlenkironsoothingly。’We’llfindsomeprettierwaythanthat。’

’Thereisnoway，’hesaid;’nowaybutdeath。We’redonefor，allofus。HussingotyououtofStumm’sclutches，butyou’reindangereverymoment。Atthebestyouhavethreedays，andthenyou，too，willbedead。’

Ihadnowordstoreply。ThischangeintheboldandunshakeableSandytookmybreathaway。

’Shemademeheraccomplice，’hewenton。’Ishouldhavekilledheronthegravesofthoseinnocentmen。ButinsteadIdidallsheaskedandjoinedinhergame……Shewasverycandid，youknow……ShecaresnomorethanEnverforthefaithofIslam。Shecanlaughatit。Butshehasherowndreams，andtheyconsumeherasasaintisconsumedbyhisdevotion。Shehastoldmethem，andifthedayinthegardenwashell，thedayssincehavebeentheinnermostfiresofTophet。Ithink—itishorribletosayit—thatshehasgotsomekindofcrazylikingforme。WhenwehavereclaimedtheEastIamtobebyhersidewhensheridesonhermilk—whitehorseintoJerusalem……Andtherehavebeenmoments—onlymoments，I

sweartoGod—whenIhavebeenfiredmyselfbyhermadness……’

Sandy’sfigureseemedtoshrinkandhisvoicegrewshrillandwild。ItwastoomuchforBlenkiron。HeindulgedinatorrentofblasphemysuchasIbelievehadneverbeforepassedhislips。

’I’mblessedifI’lllistentothisGod—darnedstuff。Itisn’tdelicate。

Yougetbusy，Major，andpumpsomesenseintoyourafflictedfriend。’

Iwasbeginningtoseewhathadhappened。Sandywasamanofgenius—asmuchasanybodyIeverstruck—buthehadthedefectsofsuchhigh—strung，fancifulsouls。Hewouldtakemorethanmortalrisks，andyoucouldn’tscarehimbyanyordinaryterror。Butlethisoldconsciencegetcross—eyed，lethimfindhimselfinsomesituationwhichinhiseyesinvolvedhishonour，andhemightgostarkcrazy。

Thewoman，whorousedinmeandBlenkirononlyhatred，couldcatchhisimaginationandstirinhim—forthemomentonly—anunwillingresponse。Andthencamebitterandmorbidrepentance，andthelastdesperation。

Itwasnotimetomincematters。’Sandy，youoldfool，’Icried，’bethankfulyouhavefriendstokeepyoufromplayingthefool。

YousavedmylifeatLoos，andI’mjollywellgoingtogetyouthroughthisshow。I’mbossingtheoutfitnow，andforallyourconfoundedpropheticmanners，you’vegottotakeyourordersfromme。Youaren’tgoingtorevealyourselftoyourpeople，andstilllessareyougoingtocutyourthroat。Greenmantlewillavengethemurderofhisministers，andmakethatbedlamitewomansorryshewasborn。We’regoingtogetclearaway，andinsideofaweekwe’llbehavingteawiththeGrandDukeNicholas。’

Iwasn’tbluffing。PuzzledasIwasaboutwaysandmeansIhadstilltheblindbeliefthatweshouldwinout。AndasIspoketwolegsdangledthroughthetrapandadustyandblinkingPeterdescendedinourmidst。

Itookthemapsfromhimandspreadthemonthetable。

’First，youmustknowthatwe’vehadanalmightypieceofluck。

LastnightHussintookusforawalkovertheroofsofErzerum，andbytheblessingofProvidenceIgotintoStumm’sroom，andbaggedhisstaffmap……Lookthere……d’youseehisnotes？That’sthedanger—pointofthewholedefence。OncetheRussiansgetthatfort，KaraGubek，they’veturnedthemainposition。Anditcanbegot;Stummknowsitcan;forthesetwoadjacenthillsarenotheld……Itlooksamadenterpriseonpaper，butStummknowsthatitispossibleenough。Thequestionis:WilltheRussiansguessthat？I

sayno，notunlesssomeonetellsthem。Therefore，byhookorbycrook，we’vegottogetthatinformationthroughtothem。’

Sandy’sinterestinordinarythingswasbeginningtoflickerupagain。Hestudiedthemapandbegantomeasuredistances。

’Peter’sgoingtohaveatryforit。Hethinksthere’sasportingchanceofhisgettingthroughthelines。Ifhedoes—ifhegetsthismaptotheGrandDuke’sstaff—thenStumm’sgooseiscooked。InthreedaystheCossackswillbeinthestreetsofErzerum。’

’Whatarethechances？’Sandyasked。

IglancedatPeter。’We’rehard—bittenfellowsandcanfacethetruth。Ithinkthechancesagainstsuccessareaboutfivetoone。’

’Twotoone，’saidPetermodestly。’Notworsethanthat。Idon’tthinkyou’refairtome，Dick，myoldfriend。’

Ilookedatthatlean，tightfigureandthegentle，resoluteface，andIchangedmymind。’I’mhangedifIthinkthereareanyodds，’

Isaid。’Withanybodyelseitwouldwantamiracle，butwithPeterI

believethechancesarelevel。’

’Twotoone，’Peterpersisted。’IfitwasevensIwouldn’tbeinterested。’

’Letmego，’Sandycried。’Italkthelingo，andcanpassasaTurk，andI’mamilliontimeslikeliertogetthrough。ForGod’ssake，Dick，letmego。’

’Notyou。You’rewantedhere。Ifyoudisappearthewholeshow’sbustedtoosoon，andthethreeofusleftbehindwillbestrungupbeforemorning……No，myson。You’regoingtoescape，butitwillbeincompanywithBlenkironandme。We’vegottoblowthewholeGreenmantlebusinesssohighthatthebitsofitwillnevercometoearthagain……First，tellmehowmanyofyourfellowswillstickbyyou？ImeantheCompanions。’

’Thewholehalf—dozen。Theyareveryworriedalreadyaboutwhathashappened。Shemademesoundtheminherpresence，andtheywerequitereadytoacceptmeasGreenmantle’ssuccessor。Buttheyhavetheirsuspicionsaboutwhathappenedatthevilla，andthey’venoloveforthewoman……They’dfollowmethroughhellifIbadethem，buttheywouldratheritwasmyownshow。’

’That’sallright，’Icried。’ItistheonethingI’vebeendoubtfulabout。Nowobservethismap。Erzerumisn’tinvestedbyalongchalk。TheRussiansarerounditinabroadhalf—moon。Thatmeansthatallthewest，south—west，andnorth—westisopenandundefendedbytrenchlines。Thereareflanksfarawaytothenorthandsouthinthehillswhichcanbeturned，andoncewegetroundaflankthere’snothingbetweenusandourfriends……I’vefiguredoutourroad，’

andItraceditonthemap。’Ifwecanmakethatbigcircuittothewestandgetoverthatpassunobservedwe’reboundtostrikeaRussiancolumnthenextday。It’llbearoughroad，butIfancywe’veallriddenasbadinourtime。Butonethingwemusthave，andthat’shorses。Canweandyoursixruffiansslipoffinthedarknessonthebestbeastsinthistownship？Ifyoucanmanagethat，we’lldothetrick。’

Sandysatdownandpondered。Thankheaven，hewasthinkingnowofactionandnotofhisownconscience。

’Itmustbedone，’hesaidatlast，’butitwon’tbeeasy。Hussin’sagreatfellow，butasyouknowwell，Dick，horsesrightupatthebattle—frontarenoteasytocomeby。TomorrowI’vegotsomekindofinfernalfasttoobserve，andthenextdaythatwomanwillbecoachingmeformypart。We’llhavetogiveHussintime……Iwishtoheavenitcouldbetonight。’Hewassilentagainforabit，andthenhesaid:’Ibelievethebesttimewouldbethethirdnight，theeveoftheRevelation。She’sboundtoleavemealonethatnight。’

’Right—o，’Isaid。’Itwon’tbemuchfunsittingwaitinginthiscoldsepulchre;butwemustkeepourheadsandrisknothingbybeinginahurry。Besides，ifPeterwinsthrough，theTurkwillbeabusymanbythedayaftertomorrow。’

ThekeyturnedinthedoorandHussinstoleinlikeashade。ItwasthesignalforSandytoleave。

’Youfellowshavegivenmeanewleaseoflife，’hesaid。’I’vegotaplannow，andIcansetmyteethandstickitout。’

HewentuptoPeterandgrippedhishand。’Goodluck。You’rethebravestmanI’veevermet，andI’veseenafew。’Thenheturnedabruptlyandwentout，followedbyanexhortationfromBlenkironto’Getbusyaboutthequadrupeds。’

ThenwesetaboutequippingPeterforhiscrusade。Itwasasimplejob，forwewerenotrichinproperties。Hisget—up，withhisthickfur—collaredgreatcoat，wasnotunliketheordinaryTurkishofficerseeninadimlight。ButPeterhadnointentionofpassingforaTurk，orindeedofgivinganybodythechanceofseeinghim，andhewasmoreconcernedtofitinwiththelandscape。Sohestrippedoffthegreatcoatandpulledagreysweaterofmineoverhisjacket，andputonhisheadawoollenhelmetofthesamecolour。Hehadnoneedofthemapforhehadlongsincegothisroutebyheart，andwhatwasoncefixedinthatmindstucklikewax;butImadehimtakeStumm’splanandpaper，hiddenbelowhisshirt。Thebigdifficulty，Isaw，wouldbegettingtotheRussianswithoutgettingshot，assuminghepassedtheTurkishtrenches。HecouldonlyhopethathewouldstrikesomeonewithasmatteringofEnglishorGerman。Twiceheascendedtotheroofandcamebackcheerful，fortherewaspromiseofwildweather。

Hussinbroughtinoursupper，andPetermadeupaparceloffood。

BlenkironandIhadbothsmallflasksofbrandyandIgavehimmine。

Thenheheldouthishandquitesimply，likeagoodchildwhoisgoingofftobed。ItwastoomuchforBlenkiron。Withlargetearsrollingdownhisfaceheannouncedthat，ifweallcamethrough，hewasgoingtofithimintothesoftestberththatmoneycouldbuy。I

don’tthinkhewasunderstood，foroldPeter’seyeshadnowthefarawayabsorptionofthehunterwhohasfoundgame。Hewasthinkingonlyofhisjob。

Twolegsandapairofveryshabbybootsvanishedthroughthetrap，andsuddenlyIfeltutterlylonelyanddesperatelysad。Thegunswerebeginningtoroaragainintheeast，andintheintervalscamethewhistleoftherisingstorm。

CHAPTERTWENTY

PeterPienaarGoestotheWarsThischapteristhetalethatPetertoldme—longafter，sittingbesideastoveinthehotelatBergen，wherewewerewaitingforourboat。

Heclimbedontheroofandshinneddownthebrokenbricksoftheouterwall。Theoutbuildingwewerelodgedinabuttedonaroad，andwasoutsidetheproper_enceinteofthehouse。AtordinarytimesIhavenodoubtthereweresentries，butSandyandHussinhadprobablymanagedtoclearthemoffthisendforalittle。Anyhowhesawnobodyashecrossedtheroadanddivedintothesnowyfields。

Heknewverywellthathemustdothejobinthetwelvehoursofdarknessaheadofhim。Theimmediatefrontofabattleisabittoopublicforanyonetoliehiddeninbyday，especiallywhentwoorthreefeetofsnowmakeeverythingkenspeckle。NowhurryinajobofthiskindwasabhorrenttoPeter’ssoul，for，likeallBoers，histasteswereforslownessandsureness，thoughhecouldhustlefastenoughwhenhastewasneeded。Ashepushedthroughthewinterfieldshereckonedupthethingsinhisfavour，andfoundtheonlyonethedirtyweather。Therewasahigh，gustywind，blowingscudsofsnowbutnevercomingtoanygreatfall。Thefrosthadgone，andthelyingsnowwasassoftasbutter。Thatwasalltothegood，hethought，foraclear，hardnightwouldhavebeenthedevil。

Thefirstbitwasthroughfarmlands，whichwereseamedwithlittlesnow—filledwater—furrows。Nowandthenwouldcomeahouseandapatchoffruittrees，buttherewasnobodyabroad。Theroadswerecrowdedenough，butPeterhadnouseforroads。Icanpicturehimswingingalongwithhisbentback，stoppingeverynowandthentosniffandlisten，alertfortheforeknowledgeofdanger。

Whenhechosehecouldcovercountrylikeanantelope。

Soonhestruckabigroadfulloftransport。ItwastheroadfromErzerumtothePalantukenpass，andhewaitedhischanceandcrossedit。Afterthatthegroundgrewroughwithbouldersandpatchesofthorn—trees，splendidcoverwherehecouldmovefastwithoutworrying。Thenhewaspulledupsuddenlyonthebankofariver。Themaphadwarnedhimofit，butnotthatitwouldbesobig。

Itwasatorrentswollenwithmeltingsnowandrainsinthehills，anditwasrunningfiftyyardswide。Peterthoughthecouldhaveswumit，buthewasveryaversetoadrenching。’Awetmanmakestoomuchnoise，’hesaid，andbesides，therewastheoff—chancethatthecurrentwouldbetoomuchforhim。Sohemovedupstreamtolookforabridge。

Intenminuteshefoundone，anew—madethingoftrestles，broadenoughtotaketransportwagons。Itwasguarded，forheheardthetrampofasentry，andashepulledhimselfupthebankheobservedacoupleoflongwoodenhuts，obviouslysomekindofbillets。

Thesewereonthenearsideofthestream，aboutadozenyardsfromthebridge。Adoorstoodopenandalightshowedinit，andfromwithincamethesoundofvoices……Peterhadasenseofhearinglikeawildanimal，andhecoulddetectevenfromtheconfusedgabblethatthevoiceswereGerman。

Ashelayandlistenedsomeonecameoverthebridge。Itwasanofficer，forthesentrysaluted。Themandisappearedinoneofthehuts。PeterhadstruckthebilletsandrepairingshopofasquadofGermansappers。

Hewasjustgoingruefullytoretracehisstepsandtrytofindagoodplacetoswimthestreamwhenitstruckhimthattheofficerwhohadpassedhimworeclothesverylikehisown。He，too，hadhadagreysweaterandaBalaclavahelmet，forevenaGermanofficerceasestobedressyonamid—winter’snightinAnatolia。TheideacametoPetertowalkboldlyacrossthebridgeandtrusttothesentrynotseeingthedifference。

Heslippedroundacornerofthehutandmarcheddowntheroad。Thesentrywasnowatthefarend，whichwaslucky，foriftheworstcametotheworsthecouldthrottlehim。Peter，mimickingthestiffGermanwalk，swungpasthim，hisheaddownasiftoprotecthimfromthewind。

Themansaluted。Hedidmore，forheofferedconversation。Theofficermusthavebeenagenialsoul。

’It’saroughnight，Captain，’hesaidinGerman。’Thewagonsarelate。PrayGod，Michaelhasn’tgotashellinhislot。They’vebegunputtingoversomebigones。’

PetergruntedgoodnightinGermanandstrodeon。Hewasjustleavingtheroadwhenheheardagreathalloobehindhim。

Therealofficermusthaveappearedonhisheels，andthesentry’sdoubtshadbeenstirred。Awhistlewasblown，and，lookingback，Petersawlanternswavinginthegale。Theywerecomingouttolookfortheduplicate。

Hestoodstillforasecond，andnoticedthelightsspreadingoutsouthoftheroad。Hewasjustabouttodiveoffitonthenorthsidewhenhewasawareofadifficulty。Onthatsideasteepbankfelltoaditch，andthebankbeyondboundedabigflood。Hecouldseethedullruffleofthewaterunderthewind。

Ontheroaditselfhewouldsoonbecaught;southofitthesearchwasbeginning;andtheditchitselfwasnoplacetohide，forhesawalanternmovingupit。Peterdroppedintoitallthesameandmadeaplan。Thesidebelowtheroadwasalittleundercutandverysteep。Heresolvedtoplasterhimselfagainstit，forhewouldbehiddenfromtheroad，andasearcherintheditchwouldnotbelikelytoexploretheunbrokensides。ItwasalwaysamaximofPeter’sthatthebesthiding—placewastheworst，theleastobvioustothemindsofthosewhowerelookingforyou。

Hewaiteduntilthelightsbothintheroadandtheditchcamenearer，andthenhegrippedtheedgewithhislefthand，wheresomestonesgavehimpurchase，dugthetoesofhisbootsintothewetsoilandstucklikealimpet。Itneededsomestrengthtokeepthepositionforlong，butthemusclesofhisarmsandlegswerelikewhipcord。

Thesearcherintheditchsoongottired，fortheplacewasverywet，andjoinedhiscomradesontheroad。Theycamealong，running，flashingthelanternsintothetrench，andexploringalltheimmediatecountryside。

Thenroseanoiseofwheelsandhorsesfromtheoppositedirection。

Michaelandthedelayedwagonswereapproaching。Theydashedupatagreatpace，drivenwildly，andforonehorridsecondPeterthoughttheyweregoingtospillintotheditchattheveryspotwherehewasconcealed。Thewheelspassedsoclosetotheedgethattheyalmostgrazedhisfingers。Somebodyshoutedanorderandtheypulledupayardortwonearerthebridge。Theotherscameupandtherewasaconsultation。

Michaelsworehehadpassednooneontheroad。

’ThatfoolHannushasseenaghost，’saidtheofficertestily。’It’stoocoldforthischild’splay。’

Hannus，almostintears，repeatedhistale。’ThemanspoketomeingoodGerman，’hecried。

’Ghostornoghostheissafeenoughuptheroad，’saidtheofficer。’KindGod，thatwasabigone！’Hestoppedandstaredatashell—burst，forthebombardmentfromtheeastwasgrowingfiercer。

Theystooddiscussingthefireforaminuteandpresentlymovedoff。Petergavethemtwominutes’lawandthenclamberedbacktothehighwayandsetoffalongitatarun。Thenoiseoftheshellingandthewind，togetherwiththethickdarkness，madeitsafetohurry。

Helefttheroadatthefirstchanceandtooktothebrokencountry。ThegroundwasnowrisingtowardsaspurofthePalantuken，onthefarslopeofwhichweretheTurkishtrenches。Thenighthadbegunbybeingprettynearlyasblackaspitch;eventhesmokefromtheshellexplosions，whichisoftenvisibleindarkness，couldnotbeseen。Butasthewindblewthesnow—cloudsathwarttheskypatchesofstarscameout。Peterhadacompass，buthedidn’tneedtouseit，forhehadakindof’feel’forlandscape，aspecialsensewhichisborninsavagesandcanonlybeacquiredafterlongexperiencebythewhiteman。Ibelievehecouldsmellwherethenorthlay。Hehadsettledroughlywhichpartofthelinehewouldtry，merelybecauseofitsnearnesstotheenemy。Buthemightseereasontovarythis，andashemovedhebegantothinkthatthesafestplacewaswheretheshellingwashottest。Hedidn’tlikethenotion，butitsoundedsense。

Suddenlyhebegantopuzzleoverqueerthingsintheground，and，ashehadneverseenbiggunsbefore，ittookhimamomenttofixthem。PresentlyonewentoffathiselbowwitharoarliketheLastDay。ThesewereAustrianhowitzers—nothingovereight—inch，Ifancy，buttoPetertheylookedlikeleviathans。Here，too，hesawforthefirsttimeabigandquiterecentshell—hole，fortheRussiangunsweresearchingouttheposition。Hewassointerestedinitallthathepokedhisnosewhereheshouldn’thavebeen，anddroppedplumpintothepitbehindagun—emplacement。

Gunnersalltheworldoverarethesame—shypeople，whohidethemselvesinholesandhibernateandmortallydislikebeingdetected。

Agruffvoicecried’_Wer_da？’andaheavyhandseizedhisneck。

Peterwasreadywithhisstory。HebelongedtoMichael’swagon—teamandhadbeenleftbehind。Hewantedtobetoldthewaytothesappers’camp。Hewasveryapologetic，nottosayobsequious。

’ItisoneofthosePrussianswinefromtheMartabridge，’saidagunner。’Landhimakicktoteachhimsense。Beartoyourright，manikin，andyouwillfindaroad。Andhaveacarewhenyougetthere，fortheRusskoesareregisteringonit。’

Peterthankedthemandboreofftotheright。Afterthathekeptawaryeyeonthehowitzers，andwasthankfulwhenhegotoutoftheirareaontotheslopesupthehill。Herewasthetypeofcountrythatwasfamiliartohim，andhedefiedanyTurkorBochetospothimamongthescrubandboulders。Hewasgettingonverywell，whenoncemore，closetohisear，cameasoundlikethecrackofdoom。

Itwasthefield—gunsnow，andthesoundofafield—guncloseathandisbadforthenervesifyouaren’texpectingit。Peterthoughthehadbeenhit，andlayflatforalittletoconsider。Thenhefoundtherightexplanation，andcrawledforwardverywarily。

PresentlyhesawhisfirstRussianshell。Itdroppedhalfadozenyardstohisright，makingagreatholeinthesnowandsendingupamassofmixedearth，snow，andbrokenstones。Peterspatoutthedirtandfeltverysolemn。Youmustrememberthatneverinhislifehadheseenbigshelling，andwasnowbeinglandedinthethickofafirst—classshowwithoutanypreparation。Hesaidhefeltcoldinhisstomach，andverywishfultorunaway，iftherehadbeenanywheretorunto。Buthekeptontothecrestoftheridge，overwhichabigglowwasbroadeninglikesunrise。Hetrippedonceoverawire，whichhetookforsomekindofsnare，andafterthatwentverywarily。Byandbyhegothisfacebetweentwobouldersandlookedoverintothetruebattle—field。

HetoldmeitwasexactlywhatthepredikantusedtosaythatHellwouldbelike。AboutfiftyyardsdowntheslopelaytheTurkishtrenches—theyweredarkagainstthesnow，andnowandthenablackfigurelikeadevilshowedforaninstantanddisappeared。