第2章

Muchofit，Ishouldhavethought，wasinstarkdefianceoftheDefenceoftheRealmActs，butifanywiseScotlandYardofficerhadlistenedtoithewouldprobablyhaveconsidereditharmlessbecauseofitscontradictions。Itwasfullofafierceearnestness，anditwasfullofhumour-long-drawnAmericanmetaphorsatwhichthatmostcriticalaudienceroaredwithlaughter。Butitwasnotthekindofthingthattheywereaccustomedto，andIcouldfancywhatWakewouldhavesaidofit。TheconvictiongrewuponmethatBlenkironwasdeliberatelytryingtoprovehimselfanhonestidiot。

Ifso，itwasahugesuccess。Heproducedononetheimpressionofthetypeofsentimentalrevolutionarywhoruthlesslyknifeshisopponentandthenweepsandpraysoverhistomb。

justattheendheseemedtopullhimselftogetherandtotryalittleargument。HemadeagreatpointoftheAustriansocialistsgoingtoStockholm，goingfreelyandwiththeirGovernment\'sassent，fromacountrywhichitscriticscalledanautocracy，whilethedemocraticwesternpeoplesheldback。\'IadmitIhaven\'tanyrealwater-tightproof，\'hesaid，\'butIwillbetmybottomdollarthattheinfluencewhichmovedtheAustrianGovernmenttoallowthisembassyoffreedomwastheinfluenceofGermanyherself。AndthatisthelandfromwhichtheAlliedPhariseesdrawintheirskirtslesttheirgarmentsbedefiled！\'

Hesatdownamidagooddealofapplause，forhisaudiencehadnotbeenbored，thoughIcouldseethatsomeofthemthoughthispraiseofGermanyabitsteep。ItwasallrightinBiggleswicktoproveBritaininthewrong，butitwasaslightlydifferentthingtoextoltheenemy。Iwaspuzzledabouthislastpoint，foritwasnotofapiecewiththerestofhisdiscourse，andIwastryingtoguessathispurpose。Thechairmanreferredtoitinhisconcludingremarks。

\'Iaminaposition，\'hesaid，\'tobearoutallthatthelecturerhassaid。Icangofurther。Icanassurehimonthebestauthoritythathissurmiseiscorrect，andthatVienna\'sdecisiontosenddelegatestoStockholmwaslargelydictatedbyrepresentationsfromBerlin。I

amgiventounderstandthatthefacthasinthelastfewdaysbeenadmittedintheAustrianPress。\'

Avoteofthankswascarried，andthenIfoundmyselfshakinghandswithIverywhileBlenkironstoodayardoff，talkingtooneoftheMissesWeekes。ThenextmomentIwasbeingintroduced。

\'MrBrand，verypleasedtomeetyou，\'saidthevoiceIknewsowell。\'MrIveryhasbeentellingmeaboutyou，andIguesswe\'vegotsomethingtosaytoeachother。We\'rebothfromnoocountries，andwe\'vegottoteachtheoldnationsalittlehorse-sense。\'

MrIvery\'scar-theonlyoneleftintheneighbourhood-carriedustohisvilla，andpresentlywewereseatedinabrightly-litdining-

room。Itwasnotaprettyhouse，butithadtheluxuryofanexpensivehotel，andthesupperwehadwasasgoodasanyLondonrestaurant。Goneweretheolddaysoffishandtoastandboiledmilk。Blenkironsquaredhisshouldersandshowedhimselfanobletrencherman。

\'Ayearago，\'hetoldourhost，\'Iwasthemeanestkindofdyspeptic。Ihadtheloveofrighteousnessinmyheart，butIhadthedevilinmystomach。ThenIheardstoriesabouttheRobsonBrothers，thestarsurgeonswayoutwestinWhiteSprings，Nebraska。Theywerereckonedtheneatesthandsintheworldatcarvingupamanandremovingdevilmentsfromhisintestines。

Now，sir，I\'vealwaysfoughtprettyshyofsurgeons，forIconsideredthatourMakerneverintendedHishandiworktobereconstructedlikeabankruptDagorailway。ButbythattimeIwasfeelingsoalmightywretchedthatIcouldhavepaidamantoputabulletthroughmyhead。“There\'snootherway，“Isaidtomyself。“Eitheryouforgetyourreligionandyourmiserablecowardiceandgetcutup，orit\'syoufortheGoldenShore。“SoIsetmyteethandjourneyedtoWhiteSprings，andtheBrothershadalookatmyduodenum。Theysawthatthedarnedthingwouldn\'tdo，sotheysidetrackeditandmadeanoorouteformynoo-tritiontraffic。ItwasthecunningestpieceofsurgerysincetheLordtookariboutofthesideofourFirstParent。They\'vegotamightyfinewayofcharging，too，fortheytakefivepercentofaman\'sincome，andit\'sallonetothemwhetherhe\'saMeatKingoraclerkontwentydollarsaweek。IcantellyouItooksometroubletobeaveryrichmanlastyear。\'

AllthroughthemealIsatinakindofstupor。IwastryingtoassimilatethenewBlenkiron，anddrinkinginthecomfortofhisheavenlydrawl，andIwaspuzzlingmyheadaboutIvery。IhadaridiculousnotionthatIhadseenhimbefore，but，delveasImightintomymemory，Icouldn\'tplacehim。Hewastheincarnationofthecommonplace，acomfortablemiddle-classsentimentalist，whopatronizedpacificismoutofvanity，butwasverycarefulnottodiphishandstoofar。HewasalwaysdampingdownBlenkiron\'svolcanicutterances。\'Ofcourse，asyouknow，theothersidehaveanargumentwhichIfindratherhardtomeet……\'\'Icansympathizewithpatriotism，andevenwithjingoism，incertainmoods，butIalwayscomebacktothisdifficulty。\'\'Ouropponentsarenotill-meaningsomuchasill-judging，\'-thesewerethesortofsentenceshekeptthrowingin。Andhewasfullofquotationsfromprivateconversationshehadhadwitheverysortofperson-

includingmembersoftheGovernment。IrememberthatheexpressedgreatadmirationforMrBalfour。

Ofallthattalk，Ionlyrecalledonethingclearly，andIrecalleditbecauseBlenkironseemedtocollecthiswitsandtrytoargue，justashehaddoneattheendofhislecture。Hewasspeakingaboutastoryhehadheardfromsomeone，whohadhearditfromsomeoneelse，thatAustriainthelastweekofJuly1914hadacceptedRussia\'sproposaltoholdherhandandnegotiate，andthattheKaiserhadsentamessagetotheTsarsayingheagreed。AccordingtohisstorythistelegramhadbeenreceivedinPetrograd，andhadbeenre-

written，likeBismarck\'sEmstelegram，beforeitreachedtheEmperor。Heexpressedhisdisbeliefintheyarn。\'Ireckonifithadbeentrue，\'hesaid，\'we\'dhavehadtherighttextoutlongago。

They\'dhavekeptacopyinBerlin。AllthesameIdidhearasortofrumourthatsomekindofmessageofthatsortwaspublishedinaGermanpaper。\'

MrIverylookedwise。\'Youareright，\'hesaid。\'Ihappentoknowthatithasbeenpublished。Youwillfinditinthe_Wieser_Zeitung。\'

\'Youdon\'tsay？\'hesaidadmiringly。\'IwishIcouldreadtheoldtombstonelanguage。ButifIcouldtheywouldn\'tletmehavethepapers。\'

\'Ohyestheywould。\'MrIverylaughedpleasantly。\'Englandhasstillagoodshareoffreedom。Anyrespectablepersoncangetapermittoimporttheenemypress。I\'mnotconsideredquiterespectable，fortheauthoritieshaveanarrowdefinitionofpatriotism，buthappilyIhaverespectablefriends。\'

Blenkironwasstayingthenight，andItookmyleaveastheclockstrucktwelve。Theybothcameintothehalltoseemeoff，and，asI

washelpingmyselftoadrink，andmyhostwaslookingformyhatandstick，IsuddenlyheardBlenkiron\'swhisperinmyear。\'London……thedayaftertomorrow，\'hesaid。Thenhetookaformalfarewell。

\'MrBrand，it\'sbeenanhonourforme，asanAmericancitizen，tomakeyouracquaintance，sir。Iwillconsidermyselffortunateifwehaveanearlyreunion。IamstoppingatClaridge\'sHo-tel，andI

hopetobeprivilegedtoreceiveyouthere。\'

CHAPTERTHREE

TheReflectionsofaCuredDyspepticThirty-fivehourslaterIfoundmyselfinmyroomsinWestminster。

Ithoughttheremightbeamessageformethere，forIdidn\'tproposetogoandcallopenlyonBlenkironatClaridge\'stillIhadhisinstructions。Buttherewasnomessage-onlyalinefromPeter，sayinghehadhopesofbeingsenttoSwitzerland。Thatmademerealizethathemustbeprettybadlybrokenup。

Presentlythetelephonebellrang。ItwasBlenkironwhospoke。

\'GodownandhaveatalkwithyourbrokersabouttheWarLoan。

Arrivethereabouttwelveo\'clockanddon\'tgoupstairstillyouhavemetafriend。You\'dbetterhaveaquickluncheonatyourclub，andthencometoTraill\'sbookshopintheHaymarketattwo。YoucangetbacktoBiggleswickbythe5。16。\'

IdidasIwasbid，andtwentyminuteslater，havingtravelledbyUnderground，forIcouldn\'traiseataxi，IapproachedtheblockofchambersinLeadenhallStreetwheredwelttherespectedfirmwhomanagedmyinvestments。Itwasstillafewminutesbeforenoon，andasIsloweddownafamiliarfigurecameoutofthebanknextdoor。

Iverybeamedrecognition。\'Upfortheday，MrBrand？\'heasked。

\'Ihavetoseemybrokers，\'Isaid，\'readtheSouthAfricanpapersinmyclub，andgetbackbythe5。16。Anychanceofyourcompany？\'

\'Why，yes-that\'smytrain。_Au_revoir。Wemeetatthestation。\'

Hebustledoff，lookingverysmartwithhisneatclothesandaroseinhisbutton-hole。

Ilunchedimpatiently，andattwowasturningoversomenewbooksinTraill\'sshopwithaneyeonthestreet-doorbehindme。Itseemedapublicplaceforanassignation。Ihadbeguntodipintoabigillustratedbookonflower-gardenswhenanassistantcameup。

\'Themanager\'scompliments，sir，andhethinkstherearesomeoldworksoftravelupstairsthatmightinterestyou。\'Ifollowedhimobedientlytoanupperfloorlinedwitheverykindofvolumeandwithtableslitteredwithmapsandengravings。\'Thisway，sir，\'hesaid，andopenedadoorinthewallconcealedbybogusbook-

backs。Ifoundmyselfinalittlestudy，andBlenkironsittinginanarmchairsmoking。

Hegotupandseizedbothmyhands。\'Why，Dick，thisisbetterthangoodnoos。I\'veheardallaboutyourexploitssincewepartedayearagoonthewharfatLiverpool。We\'vebothbeenbusyonourownjobs，andtherewasnowayofkeepingyouwiseaboutmydoings，forafterIthoughtIwascuredIgotworsethanhellinside，and，asItoldyou，hadtogetthedoctor-mentodigintome。AfterthatIwasplayingaprettydarkgame，andhadtogetdownandoutofdecentsociety。But，holyMike！I\'manewman。Iusedtodomyworkwithasickheartandatasteinmymouthlikeagraveyard，andnowI

caneatanddrinkwhatIlikeandfrolicroundlikeacolt。IwakeupeverymorningwhistlingandthankthegoodGodthatI\'malive，ItwasabaddayforKaiserwhenIgotonthecarsforWhiteSprings。\'

\'Thisisarumplacetomeet，\'Isaid，\'andyoubroughtmebyaroundaboutroad。\'

Hegrinnedandofferedmeacigar。

\'Therewerereasons。Itdon\'tdoforyouandmetoadvertiseouracquaintanceinthestreet。Asfortheshop，I\'veowneditforfiveyears。I\'veatasteforgoodreading，thoughyouwouldn\'tthinkit，anditticklesmetohanditoutacrossthecounter……First，IwanttohearaboutBiggleswick。\'

\'Thereisn\'tagreatdealtoit。Alotofignorance，alargesliceofvanity，andapinchortwoofwrong-headedhonesty-thesearetheingredientsofthepie。Notmuchrealharminit。There\'soneortwodirtyliterarygentswhoshouldbeinanavvies\'battalion，butthey\'reaboutasdangerousasyellowKaffirdogs。I\'velearnedalotandgotalltheargumentsbyheart，butyoumightplantaBiggleswickineveryshireanditwouldn\'thelptheBoche。Icanseewherethedangerliesallthesame。Thesefellowstalkedacademicanarchism，butthegenuinearticleissomewhereaboutandtofindityou\'vegottolookinthebigindustrialdistricts。WehadfaintechoesofitinBiggleswick。Imeanthatthereallydangerousfellowsarethosewhowanttocloseupthewaratonceandsogetonwiththeirblessedclasswar，whichcutsacrossnationalities。Asforbeingspiesandthatsortofthing，theBiggleswickladsaretoocallow。\'

\'Yes，\'saidBlenkironreflectively。\'Theyhaven\'tgotasmuchsenseasGodgavetogeese。You\'resureyoudidn\'thitagainstanyheaviermetal？\'

\'Yes。There\'samancalledLauncelotWake，whocamedowntospeakonce。Ihadmethimbefore。Hehasthemakingsofafanatic，andhe\'sthemoredangerousbecauseyoucanseehisconscienceisuneasy。IcanfancyhimbombingaPrimeMinistermerelytoquiethisowndoubts。\'

\'So，\'hesaid。\'Nobodyelse？\'

Ireflected。\'There\'sMrIvery，butyouknowhimbetterthanI。I

shouldn\'tputmuchonhim，butI\'mnotpreciselycertain，forI

neverhadachanceofgettingtoknowhim。\'

\'Ivery，\'saidBlenkironinsurprise。\'Hehasahobbyforhalf-

bakedyouth，justasanotherrichmanmightfancyorchidsorfasttrotters。Yousurecanplacehimrightenough。\'

\'Idaresay。OnlyIdon\'tknowenoughtobepositive。\'

Hesuckedathiscigarforaminuteorso。\'Iguess，Dick，ifItoldyouallI\'vebeendoingsinceIreachedtheseshoresyouwouldcallmearo-mancer。I\'vebeenwaydownamongthetoilers。IdidaspellasunskilleddilootedlabourintheBarrowshipyards。Iwasbarmaninaho-telonthePortsmouthRoad，andIputinablackmonthdrivingataxicabinthecityofLondon。ForawhileIwastheaccreditedcorrespondentoftheNooYorkSentinelandusedtogowiththerestofthebunchtothepow-wowsofunder-secretariesofStateandWarOfficegenerals。Theycensoredmystuffsocruelthatthepaperfiredme。ThenIwentonawalking-tourroundEnglandandsatforafortnightinalittlefarminSuffolk。ByandbyIcamebacktoClaridge\'sandthisbookshop，forIhadlearnedmostofwhatIwanted。

\'Ihadlearned，\'hewenton，turninghiscurious，full，ruminatingeyesonme，\'thattheBritishworking-manisaboutthesoundestpieceofhumanityonGod\'searth。HegrumblesabitandjibsabitwhenhethinkstheGovernmentaregivinghimacrookeddeal，buthe\'sgottenthepatienceofjobandthesandofagamecock。

Andhe\'sgottenhumourtoo，thatticklesmetodeath。There\'snotmuchtroubleinthatquarterforit\'sheandhiskindthat\'sbeatingtheHun……ButIpickedupathingortwobesidesthat。\'

Heleanedforwardandtappedmeontheknee。\'IreverencetheBritishIntelligenceService。Fliesdon\'tsettleonittoanyconsiderableextent。It\'sgotamightyfinemesh，butthere\'soneholeinthatmesh，andit\'sourjobtomendit。There\'sahigh-poweredbraininthegameagainstus。IstruckitacoupleofyearsagowhenIwashuntingDumbaandAlbert，andIthoughtitwasinNooYork，butitwasn\'t。IstruckitsworkingagainathomelastyearandlocateditsheadofficeinEurope。SoItriedSwitzerlandandHolland，butonlybitsofitwerethere。ThecentreofthewebwheretheoldspidersitsisrighthereinEngland，andforsixmonthsI\'vebeenshadowingthatspider。There\'sagangtohelp，abiggang，andaclevergang，andpartlyaninnocentgang。Butthere\'sonlyonebrain，andit\'stomatchthatthattheRobsonBrotherssettledmyduodenum。\'

Iwaslisteningwithaquickenedpulse，fornowatlastIwasgettingtobusiness。

\'Whatishe-internationalsocialist，oranarchist，orwhat？\'

Iasked。

\'Pure-bloodedBocheagent，butthebiggest-sizedbrandinthecatalogue-biggerthanSteinmeieroroldBismarck\'sStaubier。

ThankGodI\'vegothimlocated……Imustputyouwiseaboutsomethings。\'

Helaybackinhisrubbedleatherarmchairandyarnedfortwentyminutes。HetoldmehowatthebeginningofthewarScotlandYardhadhadaprettycompleteregisterofenemyspies，andwithoutmakinganyfusshadjusttidiedthemaway。Afterthat，thecoveyhavingbeenbrokenup，itwasaquestionofpickingoffstraybirds。

Thathadtakensomedoing。Therehadbeenallkindsofinflammatorystuffaround，RedMasonsandinternationalanarchists，and，worstofall，internationalfinance-touts，buttheyhadmostlybeenordinarycranksandrogues，thetoolsoftheBocheagentsratherthanagentsthemselves。However，bythemiddleOf1915mostofthestragglershadbeengatheredin。Butthereremainedlooseends，andtowardsthecloseoflastyearsomebodywasverybusycombiningtheseendsintoanet。Funnycasescroppedupoftheleakageofvitalinformation。

TheybegantobebadaboutOctober1916，whentheHunsubmarinesstartedonaspecialracket。Theenemysuddenlyappearedpossessedofaknowledgewhichwethoughttobesharedonlybyhalfadozenofficers。Blenkironsaidhewasnotsurprisedattheleakage，forthere\'salwaysalotofpeoplewhohearthingstheyoughtn\'tto。

Whatsurprisedhimwasthatitgotsoquicklytotheenemy。

ThenafterlastFebruary，whentheHunsubmarineswentinforfrightfulnessonabigscale，thethinggrewdesperate。Leakagesoccurredeveryweek，andthebusinesswasmanagedbypeoplewhoknewtheirwayabout，fortheyavoidedallthetrapssetforthem，andwhenbogusnewswasreleasedonpurpose，theyneversentit。

Aconvoywhichhadbeenkeptadeadlysecretwouldbeattackedattheoneplacewhereitwashelpless。Acarefullyprepareddefensiveplanwouldbecheckmatedbeforeitcouldbetried。Blenkironsaidthattherewasnoevidencethatasinglebrainwasbehinditall，fortherewasnosimilarityinthecases，buthehadastrongimpressionallthetimethatitwastheworkofoneman。Wemanagedtoclosesomeofthebolt-holes，butwecouldn\'tputourhandsnearthebigones。

\'Bythistime，\'saidhe，\'IreckonedIwasaboutreadytochangemymethods。Ihadbeenworkingbywhatthehighbrowscallinduction，tryingtoargueupfromthedeedstothedoer。NowI

triedanewlay，whichwastocalculatedownfromthedoertothedeeds。Theycallitdeduction。IopinedthatsomewhereinthisislandwasagentlemanwhomwewillcallMrX，andthat，pursuingthelineofbusinesshedid，hemusthavecertaincharacteristics。I

consideredverycarefullyjustwhatsortofpersonagehemustbe。I

hadnoticedthathisdevicewasapparentlytheDoubleBluff。Thatistosay，whenhehadtwocoursesopentohim，AandB，hepretendedhewasgoingtotakeB，andsogotusguessingthathewouldtryA。

ThenhetookBafterall。SoIreckonedthathiscamouflagemustcorrespondtothislittleidiosyncrasy。BeingaBocheagent，hewouldn\'tpretendtobeaheartypatriot，anhonestoldblood-and-

bonesTory。ThatwouldbeonlytheSingleBluff。Iconsideredthathewouldbeapacifist，cunningenoughjusttokeepinsidethelaw，butwiththeeyesofthepoliceonhim。Hewouldwritebookswhichwouldnotbeallowedtobeexported。Hewouldgethimselfdislikedinthepopularpapers，butallthemugwumpswouldadmirehismoralcourage。IdrewamightyfinepicturetomyselfofjustthemanIexpectedtofind。ThenIstartedouttolookforhim。\'

Blenkiron\'sfacetookontheairofadisappointedchild。\'Itwasnogood。Ikeptbarkingupthewrongtreeandworemyselfoutplayingthesleuthonwhite-souledinnocents。\'

\'Butyou\'vefoundhimallright，\'Icried，asuddensuspicionleapingintomybrain。

\'He\'sfound，\'hesaidsadly，\'butthecreditdoesnotbelongtoJohnS。Blenkiron。Thatchildmerelymuddiedthepond。Thebigfishwasleftforayoungladytohook。\'

\'Iknow，\'Icriedexcitedly。\'HernameisMissMaryLamington。\'

Heshookadisapprovinghead。\'You\'veguessedright，myson，butyou\'veforgottenyourmanners。Thisisaroughbusinessandwewon\'tbringinthenameofagentlyrearedandpure-mindedyounggirl。Ifwespeaktoheratallwecallherbyapetnameoutofthe_Pilgrim\'s_Progress……Anyhowshehookedthefish，thoughheisn\'tlanded。D\'youseeanylight？\'

\'Ivery，\'Igasped。

\'Yes。Ivery。Nothingmuchtolookat，yousay。Acommon，middle-aged，pie-faced，golf-playinghigh-brow，thatyouwouldn\'tkeepoutofaSundayschool。Atouchofthedrummer，too，toshowhehasnodealingswithyoureffetearistocracy。Alanguishingsilver-tonguethatadoresthesoundofhisownvoice。Asmild，you\'dsay，ascurdsandcream。\'

Blenkirongotoutofhischairandstoodaboveme。\'Itellyou，Dick，thatmanmakesmyspinecold。Hehasn\'tadropofgoodredbloodinhim。ThedirtiestapacheisaChristiangentlemancomparedtoMoxonIvery。He\'sascruelasasnakeandasdeepashell。But，byGod，he\'sgotabrainbelowhishat。He\'shookedandwe\'replayinghim，butLordknowsifhe\'lleverbelanded！\'

\'Whyonearthdon\'tyouputhimaway？\'Iasked。

\'Wehaven\'ttheproof-legalproof，Imean；thoughthere\'sbucketsoftheotherkind。Icouldputupamorallycertaincase，buthe\'dbeatmeinacourtoflaw。AndhalfahundredsheepwouldgetupinParliamentandbleataboutpersecution。HehasagraftwitheverycollectionofcranksinEngland，andwithallthegeesethatcackleaboutthelibertyoftheindividualwhentheBocheisrangingabouttoenslavetheworld。No，sir，that\'stoodangerousagame！

Besides，I\'veabetterinhand，MoxonIveryisthebest-accreditedmemberofthisState。His_dossieristhecompletestthingoutsidetheRecordingAngel\'slittlenote-book。We\'vetakenuphisreferencesineverycorneroftheglobeandthey\'reallasrightasMorgan\'sbalancesheet。Fromtheseitappearshe\'sbeenahigh-

tonedcitizeneversincehewasinshort-clothes。HewasraisedinNorfolk，andtherearepeoplelivingwhorememberhisfather。HewaseducatedatMeltonSchoolandhisname\'sintheregister。HewasinbusinessinValparaiso，andthere\'senoughevidencetowritethreevolumesofhisinnocentlifethere。Thenhecamehomewithamodestcompetencetwoyearsbeforethewar，andhasbeeninthepubliceyeeversince。HewasLiberalcandidateforaLondonconstitooencyandhehasdecoratedtheboardofeveryinstitootionformedfortheameliorationofmankind。He\'sgotenoughalibistochokeaboaconstrictor，andthey\'rewater-tightandcopper-

bottomed，andthey\'remostlydamnedlies……Butyoucan\'tbeathimatthatstunt。Theman\'sthesuperbestactorthateverwalkedtheearth。Youcanseeitinhisface。Itisn\'taface，it\'samask。HecouldmakehimselflooklikeShakespeareorJuliusCaesarorBillySundayorBrigadier-GeneralRichardHannayifhewantedto。Hehasn\'tgotanypersonalityeither-he\'sgotfifty，andthere\'snoonehecouldcallhisown。Ireckonwhenthedevilgetsthehandlingofhimatlasthe\'llhavetoputsandonhisclawstokeephimfromslippingthrough。\'

Blenkironwassettledinhischairagain，withoneleghoistedovertheside。

\'We\'veclosedafairnumberofhischannelsinthelastfewmonths。No，hedon\'tsuspectme。Theworldknowsnothingofitsgreatestmen，andtohimI\'monlyaYankeepeace-crank，whogivesbigsubscriptionstoloonysocietiesandwilltravelahundredmilestoletoffsteambeforeanykindofaudience。He\'sbeentoseemeatClaridge\'sandI\'vearrangedthatheshallknowallmyrecord。A

darnedbadrecorditistoo，fortwoyearsagoIwasviolentpro-

BritishbeforeIfoundsalvationandwasrequestedtoleaveEngland。

WhenIwashomelastIwasofficiallyanti-war，whenIwasn\'tstretcheduponabedofpain。MrMoxonIverydon\'ttakeanystockinJohnS。Blenkironasaseriousproposition。AndwhileI\'vebeenhereI\'vebeensolowdowninthesocialscaleandworkinginsomanydeviouswaysthathecan\'tconnectmeup……AsIwassaying，we\'vecutmostofhiswires，butthebiggestwehaven\'tgotat。He\'sstillsendingstuffout，andmightycompromisingstuffitis。

Nowlistenclose，Dick，forwe\'recomingnearyourownbusiness。\'

ItappearedthatBlenkironhadreasontosuspectthatthechannelstillopenhadsomethingtodowiththeNorth。Hecouldn\'tgetcloserthanthat，tillheheardfromhispeoplethatacertainAbelGressonhadturnedupinGlasgowfromtheStates。ThisGressonhediscoveredwasthesameasoneWrankester，whoasaleaderoftheIndustrialWorkersoftheWorldhadbeenmixedupinsomeuglycasesofsabotageinColorado。Hekepthisnewstohimself，forhedidn\'twantthepolicetointerfere，buthehadhisownlotgetintotouchwithGressonandshadowhimclosely。Themanwasverydiscreetbutverymysterious，andhewoulddisappearforaweekatatime，leavingnotrace。Forsomeunknownreason-

hecouldn\'texplainwhy-BlenkironhadarrivedattheconclusionthatGressonwasintouchwithIvery，sohemadeexperimentstoproveit。

\'Iwantedvariouscross-bearingstomakecertain，andIgotthemthenightbeforelast。MyvisittoBiggleswickwasgoodbusiness。\'

\'Idon\'tknowwhattheymeant，\'Isaid，\'butIknowwheretheycamein。OnewasinyourspeechwhenyouspokeoftheAustriansocialists，andIverytookyouupaboutthem。Theotherwasaftersupperwhenhequotedthe_Wieser_Zeitung。\'

\'You\'renofool，Dick，\'hesaid，withhisslowsmile。\'You\'vehitthemarkfirstshot。Youknowmeandyoucouldfollowmyprocessofthoughtinthoseremarks。Ivery，notknowingmesowell，andhavinghisheadfullofjustthatsortofargument，sawnothingunusual。ThosebitsofnooswerepumpedintoGressonthathemightpassthemon。Andhedidpassthemon-toivery。

Theycompletedmychain。\'

\'Buttheywerecommonplaceenoughthingswhichhemighthaveguessedforhimself。\'

\'No，theyweren\'t。Theywerethenicesttit-bitsofpoliticalnooswhichallthecrankshavebeenreachingafter。\'

\'Anyhow，theywerequotationsfromGermanpapers。Hemighthavehadthepapersthemselvesearlierthanyouthought。\'

\'Wrongagain。Theparagraphneverappearedinthe_Wieser_Zeitung。

Butwefakedupatornbitofthatnoospaper，andaveryprettybitofforgeryitwas，andGresson，who\'sakindofascholar，wasallowedtohaveit。Hepassediton。Iveryshoweditmetwonightsago。NothinglikeiteversulliedthecolumnsofBochejournalism。

No，itwasaperfectlyfinalproof……Now，Dick，it\'suptoyoutogetafterGresson。\'

\'Right，\'Isaid。\'I\'mjollygladI\'mtostartworkagain。I\'mgettingfatfromlackofexercise。IsupposeyouwantmetocatchGressonoutinsomepieceofblackguardismandhavehimandIverysnuglyputaway。\'

\'Idon\'twantanythingofthekind，\'hesaidveryslowlyanddistinctly。\'You\'vegottoattendveryclosetoyourinstructions，I

cherishthesetwobeautiesasiftheyweremyownwhite-headedboys。Iwouldn\'tfortheworldinterferewiththeircomfortandliberty。Iwantthemtogooncorrespondingwiththeirfriends。I

wanttogivethemeveryfacility。\'

Heburstoutlaughingatmymystifiedface。

\'Seehere，Dick。HowdowewanttotreattheBoche？Why，tofillhimupwithallthecunningestliesandgethimtoactonthem。

NowhereisMoxonIvery，whohasalwaysgiventhemgoodinformation。Theytrusthimabsolutely，andwewouldbefoolstospoiltheirconfidence。Only，ifwecanfindoutMoxon\'smethods，wecanarrangetousethemourselvesandsendnoosinhisnamewhichisn\'tquitesogenooine。EverywordhedispatchesgoesstraighttotheGrandHighSecretGeneralStaff，andoldHindenburgandLudendorffputtowelsroundtheirheadsandcipheritout。

Wewanttoencouragethemtogoondoingit。We\'llarrangetosendtruestuffthatdon\'tmatter，soasthey\'llcontinuetotrusthim，andafewselectedfalsehoodsthat\'llmatterlikehell。It\'sagameyoucan\'tplayforever，butwithluckIproposetoplayitlongenoughtoconfuseFritz\'slittleplans。\'

Hisfacebecameseriousandworetheairthatourcorpscommanderusedtohaveatthebigpow-wowbeforeapush。

\'I\'mnotgoingtogiveyouinstructions，foryou\'remanenoughtomakeyourown。ButIcangiveyouthegeneralhangofthesituation。YoutellIveryyou\'regoingNorthtoinquireintoindustrialdisputesatfirsthand。Thatwillseemtohimnaturalandinlinewithyourrecentbehaviour。He\'lltellhispeoplethatyou\'reaguilelesscolonialwhofeelsdisgruntledwithBritain，andmaycomeinuseful。You\'llgotoamanofmineinGlasgow，ared-hotagitatorwhochoosesthatwayofdoinghisbitforhiscountry。It\'sadarnedhardwayanddarneddangerous。Throughhimyou\'llgetintouchwithGresson，andyou\'llkeepalongsidethatbrightcitizen。

Findoutwhatheisdoing，andgetachanceoffollowinghim。Hemustneversuspectyou，andforthatpurposeyoumustbeveryneartheedgeofthelawyourself。Yougoupthereasanunabashedpacifistandyou\'lllivewithfolkthatwillturnyourstomach。

Maybeyou\'llhavetobreaksomeofthesetwo-centrulestheBritishGovernmenthaveinventedtodefendtherealm，andit\'suptoyounottogetcaughtout……Remember，you\'llgetnohelpfromme。

you\'vegottowiseupaboutGressonwiththewholeforcesoftheBritishStatearrayedofficiallyagainstyou。Iguessit\'sasteepproposition，butyou\'remanenoughtomakegood。\'

Asweshookhands，headdedalastword。\'Youmusttakeyourowntime，butit\'snotacaseforslouching。Everydaythatpassesiveryissendingouttheworstkindofpoison。TheBocheisblowingupforabigcampaigninthefield，andabigefforttoshakethenerveandconfusethejudgementofourcivilians。Thewholeearth\'swar-weary，andwe\'veaboutreachedthedanger-point。There\'sprettybigstakeshangonyou，Dick，forthingsaregettingmightydelicate。\'

IpurchasedanewnovelintheshopandreachedStPancrasintimetohaveacupofteaatthebuffet。Iverywasatthebookstallbuyinganeveningpaper。Whenwegotintothecarriageheseizedmy_Punchandkeptlaughingandcallingmyattentiontothepictures。

AsIlookedathim，Ithoughtthathemadeaperfectpictureofthecitizenturnedcountryman，goingbackofaneveningtohisinnocenthome。Everythingwasright-hisneattweeds，hislightspats，hisspottedneckcloth，andhisAquascutum。

NotthatIdaredlookathimmuch。WhatIhadlearnedmademeeagertosearchhisface，butIdidnotdareshowanyincreasedinterest。Ihadalwaysbeenalittleoff-handwithhim，forIhadnevermuchlikedhim，soIhadtokeeponthesamemanner。Hewasasmerryasagrig，fullofchatandveryfriendlyandamusing。I

rememberhepickedupthebookIhadbroughtoffthatmorningtoreadinthetrain-thesecondvolumeofHazlitt\'s_Essays，thelastofmyEnglishclassics-anddiscoursedsowiselyaboutbooksthatI

wishedIhadspentmoretimeinhiscompanyatBiggleswick。

\'HazlittwastheacademicRadicalofhisday，\'hesaid。\'Heisalwayslashinghimselfintoastateoftheoreticalfuryoverabuseshehasneverencounteredinperson。Menwhoareupagainsttherealthingsavetheirbreathforaction。\'

ThatgavememycuetotellhimaboutmyjourneytotheNorth。I

saidIhadlearnedalotinBiggleswick，butIwantedtoseeindustriallifeatclosequarters。\'OtherwiseImightbecomelikeHazlitt，\'Isaid。

Hewasveryinterestedandencouraging。\'That\'stherightwaytosetaboutit，\'hesaid。\'Wherewereyouthinkingofgoing？\'

ItoldhimthatIhadhalfthoughtofBarrow，butdecidedtotryGlasgow，sincetheClydeseemedtobeawarmcorner。

\'Right，\'hesaid。\'IonlywishIwascomingwithyou。It\'lltakeyoualittlewhiletounderstandthelanguage。You\'llfindagooddealofsenselessbellicosityamongtheworkmen，forthey\'vegotparrot-criesaboutthewarastheyusedtohaveparrot-criesabouttheirlabourpolitics。Butthere\'splentyofshrewdbrainsandsoundheartstoo。Youmustwriteandtellmeyourconclusions。\'

Itwasawarmeveningandhedozedthelastpartofthejourney。

IlookedathimandwishedIcouldseeintothemindatthebackofthatmask-likeface。Icountedfornothinginhiseyes，notevenenoughforhimtowanttomakemeatool，andIwassettingouttotrytomakeatoolofhim。Itsoundedaforlornenterprise。AndallthewhileIwaspuzzledwithapersistentsenseofrecognition。I

toldmyselfitwasidiocy，foramanwithafacelikethatmusthavehintsofresemblancetoathousandpeople。Buttheideakeptnaggingatmetillwereachedourdestination。

AsweemergedfromthestationintothegoldeneveningIsawMaryLamingtonagain。ShewaswithoneoftheWeekesgirls，andaftertheBiggleswickfashionwasbareheaded，sothatthesunglintedfromherhair。Iveryswepthishatoffandmadeheraprettyspeech，whileIfacedhersteadyeyeswiththeexpressionlessnessofthestageconspirator。

\'Acharmingchild，\'heobservedaswepassedon。\'Notwithoutatouchofseriousness，too，whichmayyetbetouchedtonobleissues。\'

Iconsidered，asImademywaytomyfinalsupperwiththejimsons，thatthesaidchildwaslikelytoproveasufficientlyseriousbusinessforMrMoxonIverybeforethegamewasout。

CHAPTERFOUR

AndrewAmosItookthetrainthreedayslaterfromKing\'sCrosstoEdinburgh。I

wenttothePentlandHotelinPrincesStreetandleftthereasuit-casecontainingsomecleanlinenandachangeofclothes。Ihadbeenthinkingthethingout，andhadcometotheconclusionthatI

musthaveabasesomewhereandafreshoutfit。Theninwell-worntweedsandwithnomoreluggagethanasmalltrenchkit-bag，I

descendeduponthecityofGlasgow。

IwalkedfromthestationtotheaddresswhichBlenkironhadgivenme。Itwasahotsummerevening，andthestreetswerefilledwithbareheadedwomenandweary-lookingartisans。AsImademywaydowntheDumbartonRoadiwasamazedatthenumberofable-bodiedfellowsabout，consideringthatyoucouldn\'tstiramileonanyBritishfrontwithoutbumpingupagainstaGlasgowbattalion。

ThenIrealizedthatthereweresuchthingsasmunitionsandships，andIwonderednomore。

Astoutanddishevelledladyataclose-mouthdirectedmetoMrAmos\'sdwelling。\'Twastairsup。Andrawillbeinnoo，havin\'histea。He\'snoyinforovertime。He\'sgenerallyhameonthechapofsix。\'Iascendedthestairswithasinkingheart，forlikeallSouthAfricansIhaveahorrorofdirt。Theplacewasprettyfilthy，butateachlandingthereweretwodoorswithwell-polishedhandlesandbrassplates。OnoneIreadthenameofAndrewAmos。

Amaninhisshirt-sleevesopenedtome，alittleman，withoutacollar，andwithanunbuttonedwaistcoat。ThatwasallIsawofhiminthedimlight，butheheldoutapawlikeagorilla\'sanddrewmein。

Thesitting-room，whichlookedovermanychimneystoapaleyellowskyagainstwhichtwofactorystalksstoodoutsharply，gavemelightenoughtoobservehimfully。Hewasaboutfivefeetfour，broad-shouldered，andwithagreattowsyheadofgrizzledhair。Heworespectacles，andhisfacewaslikesomeold-fashionedScotsminister\'s，forhehadheavyeyebrowsandwhiskerswhichjoinedeachotherunderhisjaw，whilehischinandenormousupperlipwereclean-shaven。Hiseyesweresteelygreyandverysolemn，butfullofsmoulderingenergy。Hisvoicewasenormousandwouldhaveshakenthewallsifhehadnothadthehabitofspeakingwithhalf-closedlips。Hehadnotasoundtoothinhishead。

Asaucerfullofteaandaplatewhichhadoncecontainedhamandeggswereonthetable。HenoddedtowardsthemandaskedmeifIhadfed。

\'Ye\'llnoeatonything？Well，somewouldofferyeadram，butthishouseisstaunchteetotal。Idoorye\'llhavetotrythenearestpublicifye\'rethirsty。\'

Idisclaimedanybodilywants，andproducedmypipe，atwhichhestartedtofillanoldclay。\'MrBrand\'syourname？\'heaskedinhisgustyvoice。\'Iwasexpectin\'ye，butDod！manye\'relate！\'

Heextricatedfromhistrouserspocketanancientsilverwatch，andregardeditwithdisfavour。\'Thedashedthinghasstoppit。

Whatdoyemakethetime，MrBrand？\'

Heproceededtopriseopenthelidofhiswatchwiththeknifehehadusedtocuthistobacco，and，asheexaminedtheworks，heturnedthebackofthecasetowardsme。OntheinsideIsawpastedMaryLamington\'spurple-and-whitewafer。

Iheldmywatchsothathecouldseethesametoken。Hiskeeneyes，raisedforasecond，notedit，andheshuthisownwithasnapandreturnedittohispocket。Hismannerlostitswarinessandbecamealmostgenial。

\'Ye\'vecomeuptoseeGlasgow，MrBrand？Well，it\'sasteerin\'

bit，andthere\'shonestfolkbidesinit，andsomenotsohonest。

Theytellmeye\'refromSouthAfrica。That\'salonggaitaway，butI

kensomethingabootSouthAfrica，forIhadacousin\'ssonootthereforhislungs。HewasinashopinMainStreet，Bloomfountain。

TheycalledhimPeterDobson。Yewouldmaybemindofhim。\'

ThenhediscoursedoftheClyde。Hewasanincomer，hetoldme，fromtheBorders，hisnativeplacebeingthetownofGalashiels，or，ashecalledit，\'Gawly\'。\'IbeganasapowerloomtunerinStavert\'smill。Thenmyfatherdee\'dandItookuphistradeofjiner。Butit\'snoworldnowadaysforthesma\'independentbusiness，soIcamtotheClydeandlearnedashipwright\'sjob。ImaysayI\'vebecomealeaderinthetrade，forthoughI\'mnoanofficialoftheUnion，andnotlikelytobe，there\'snoman\'swordcarriesmoreweightthanmine。AndtheGoavernmentkensthat，forthey\'vesentmeoncommissionsupanddownthelandtolookatwudsandreportonthenatureofthetimber。Bribery，theythinkitis，butAndrewAmosisnottobebribit。He\'llhavehissayaboutanyGoavernmentonearth，andtellthemtotheirfacewhathethinksofthem。Ay，andhe\'llfightthecaseoftheworkingmanagainsthisoppressor，shoulditbetheGoavernmentorthefattedcalvestheyca\'LabourMembers。Ye\'llhaveheardtello\'theshopstewards，MrBrand？\'

IadmittedIhad，forIhadbeenwellcoachedbyBlenkironinthecurrenthistoryofindustrialdisputes。

\'Well，I\'mashopsteward。Werepresenttherankandfileagainstoffice-bearersthathavelosttheconfidenceo\'theworkingman。ButI\'mnosocialist，andIwouldhaveyekeepmindofthat。I\'myino\'

theoldBorderradicals，andI\'mnotliketochange。I\'mforindividuallibertyandequalrightsandchancesforallmen。I\'llnomorebowdownbeforeaDagonofaGoavernmentofficialthanbeforetheBaalofafecklessTweedsidelaird。I\'vetokeepmyviewstomysel\'，forthaeyoungladsarealldrucken-daftwiththeirweebooksaboutCawpitalandCollectivismandawheenlongsenselesswordsIwouldnafylemytonguewith。Themandtheirsocialism！

There\'smoregumptioninapageofJohnStuartMillthaninallthatforeigntrash。But，asIsay，I\'vegottokeepaquietsough，fortheworldisgettin\'socialismnowlikethemeasles。Itallcomesofadefectiveeddication。\'

\'AndwhatdoesaBorderradicalsayaboutthewar？\'Iasked。

Hetookoffhisspectaclesandcockedhisshaggybrowsatme。

\'I\'lltellye，MrBrand。AllthatwasbadinallthatI\'veeverwrestledwithsinceIcamtoyearso\'discretion-ToriesandlairdsandmanufacturersandpublicansandtheAuldKirk-allthatwasbad，Isay，fortherewereorrabitsofdecency，ye\'llfindintheGermansfullmeasurepresseddownandrunningover。Whenthewarstarted，Iconsideredthesubjectcalmlyforthreedays，andthenIsaid:

“AndraAmos，ye\'vefoundtheenemyatlast。Theonesyefoughtbeforewereinamannero\'speakin\'justmisguidedfriends。It\'seitheryouortheKaiserthistime，myman！“\'

Hiseyeshadlosttheirgravityandhadtakenonasombreferocity。\'Ay，andI\'venotwavered。IgotawordearlyinthebusinessastothewayIcouldservemycountrybest。It\'snotbeenaneasyjob，andthere\'splentyofhonestfolkthedaywillgivemeabadname。TheythinkI\'mstirrin\'upthemenathomeanddesertin\'

thecauseo\'theladsatthefront。Man，I\'mkeepin\'themstraight。IfIdidnafighttheirbattlesonasoundeconomicisshue，theywouldtakethedortsandbeatthemercyofthefirstblagyirdthatpreachedrevolution。Meandmylikearesafety-valves，ifyefollowme。Anddinnayoumakeonymistake，MrBrand。Thementhatareagitatingforariseinwagesarenotforpeace。They\'refightingfortheladsoverseasasmuchasforthemselves。There\'snotyininathousandthatwouldnasweathimselfblindtobeattheGermans。TheGoavernmenthasmademistakes，andmaunbemadetopayforthem。Ifitwerenotso，themenwouldfeellikeamooseinatrap，fortheywouldhavenowaytomaketheirgrievancefelt。WhatforshouldthebigmandoublehisprofitsandthesmallmanbeillsettogethishamandeggonSabbathmornin\'？That\'sthemeaningo\'Labourunrest，astheycallit，andit\'sagoodthing，saysI，forifLabourdidnagetitslegoverthetracesnowandthen，thespunko\'thelandwouldbedeadinit，andHindenburgcouldsqueezeitlikearottenaipple。\'

Iaskedifhespokeforthebulkofthemen。

\'Forninetypercentinonyballot。Idon\'tsaythatthere\'snotplentyofriff-raff-thepint-and-a-dramgentryandthesoft-headsthatareayereadingbitsofnewspapers，andmuddlin\'theirwitswithforeignwhigmaleeries。ButtheaveragemanontheClyde，liketheaveragemaninitherplaces，hatesjustthreethings，andthat\'stheGermans，theprofiteers，astheycallthem，andtheIrish。ButhehatestheGermansfirst。\'

\'TheIrish！\'Iexclaimedinastonishment。

\'Ay，theIrish，\'criedthelastoftheoldBorderradicals。\'Glasgow\'sstinkin\'nowadayswithtwothings，moneyandIrish。ImindthedaywhenIfollowedMrGladstone\'sHomeRulepolicy，andusedtothreepaboutthenoble，generous，warm-heartedsisternationheldinaforeignbondage。MyGoad！I\'mnotspeakin\'aboutUlster，whichisadour，ill-naturedden，butourownfolkallthesame。Butthementhatwillnotdoahand\'sturntohelpthewarandtakethechanceofournecessitiestosetupabawbeerebellionarehatefultoGoadandman。Wetreatedthemlikepetlambsandthat\'sthethanksweget。They\'recomingoverhereinthousandstotakthejobsoftheladsthataredoingtheirduty。Iwasspeakin\'lastweektoawidowwomanthatkeepsaweedairydowntheDalmarnockRoad。Shehastwosons，andbothintheairmy，oneintheCameroniansandoneaprisonerinGermany。Shewastellingmethatshecouldnotkeepgoin\'anymore，lackingthehelpoftheboys，thoughshehadworkedherfingerstothebone。“Surelyit\'sacrooljob，MrAmos，“shesays，“thattheGoavernmentshouldtakbaithmyladdies，andI\'llmaybeneverseethemagain，andlettheIrishgangfreeandtakthebreadfraeourmouth。AtthegasworksacrosstheroadtheytookonahundredIrishlastweek，andeveryyino\'

themasyoungandwellsetupasyouwouldasktosee。AndmyweeDavie，himthat\'sinGermany，hadayeaweakchest，andJimmywastroubledwi\'abowelcomplaint。That\'ssurelynojustice！“……\'

Hebrokeoffandlitamatchbydrawingitacrosstheseatofhistrousers。\'It\'stimeIgotthegaslichtit。There\'ssomemencominghereathalf-ten。\'

Asthegassquealedandflickeredinthelighting，hesketchedformethecomingguests。\'There\'sMacnabandNiven，twoo\'mycolleagues。

Andthere\'sGilkisonoftheBoiler-fitters，andaladWilkie-he\'sgotconsumption，andwritesweebitsinthepapers。Andthere\'saqueerchapo\'thenameo\'Tombs-theytellmehecomesfraeCambridge，andisakindofaprofessorthere-anywayhe\'smorestuffedwi\'

haversthananeggwi\'meat。Hetelledmehewasheretogetatthehearto\'theworkingman，andIsaidtohimthathewouldhaetolookabitfurtherthanthesleeveo\'theworkin\'-man\'sjaicket。There\'snomuckleinhishead，poorsoul。Thenthere\'llbeTamNorie，himthateditsourweeklypaper-_Justice_for_All。Tam\'sahumoristandgreatonRobertBurns，buthehasnathebalanceo\'adwinin\'teetotum……Ye\'llunderstand，MrBrand，thatIkeepmymouthshutinsuchcompany，anddon\'texpressmyownviewsmorethanisabsolutelynecessary。I

criticizewhiles，andthatgivesmeanameofwhunstanecommon-sense，butIneverletmytonguewag。Thefecko\'theladscomin\'thenightarenottherealworkingman-they\'rejustthefrothonthepot，butit\'sthefroththatwillbeusefultoyou。Rememberthey\'veheardtello\'yealready，andye\'vesomesorto\'reputationtokeepup。\'

\'WillMrAbelGressonbehere？\'Iasked。

\'No，\'hesaid。\'Notyet。HimandmehavenayetgottothepointO\'payin\'visits。ButthementhatcomewillbeGresson\'sfriendsandthey\'llspeakofyetohim。It\'sthebestkindofintroductionyecouldseek。\'

Theknockersounded，andMrAmoshastenedtoadmitthefirstcomers。ThesewereMacnabandWilkie:theoneadecentmiddle-

agedmanwithafresh-washedfaceandacelluloidcollar-，theotheraround-shoulderedyouth，withlankhairandthelargeeyesandluminousskinwhicharethemarksofphthisis。\'ThisisMrBrandboys，fromSouthAfrica，\'wasAmos\'spresentation。PresentlycameNiven，abeardedgiant，andMrNorie，theeditor，afatdirtyfellowsmokingarankcigar。GilkisonoftheBoiler-fitters，whenhearrived，provedtobeapleasantyoungmaninspectacleswhospokewithaneducatedvoiceandclearlybelongedtoaslightlydifferentsocialscale。LastcameTombs，theCambridge\'professor，aleanyouthwithasourmouthandeyesthatremindedmeofLauncelotWake。

\'Ye\'llnobeamawgnate，MrBrand，thoughyecomefromSouthAfrica，\'saidMrNoriewithagreatguffaw。

\'Notme。I\'maworkingengineer，\'Isaid。\'MyfatherwasfromScotland，andthisismyfirstvisittomynativecountry，asmyfriendMrAmoswastellingyou。\'

Theconsumptivelookedatmesuspiciously。\'We\'vegottwo-

threeofthecomradesherethatthecawpitalistGovernmentexpelledfromtheTransvaal。Ifye\'reourwayofthinking，yewillmaybekenthem。\'

IsaidIwouldbeoverjoyedtomeetthem，butthatatthetimeoftheoutrageinquestionIhadbeenworkingonamineathousandmilesfurthernorth。

Thenensuedanhourofextraordinarytalk。Tombsinhissing-

songnamby-pambyUniversityvoicewasconcernedtogetinformation。

Heaskedendlessquestions，chieflyofGilkison，whowastheonlyonewhoreallyunderstoodhislanguage。IthoughtIhadneverseenanyonequitesofluentandsofutile，andyettherewasakindoffeebleviolenceinhimlikeadementedsheep。Hewasengagedinventingsomeprivateacademicspiteagainstsociety，andIthoughtthatinarevolutionhewouldbetheclassofladIwouldpersonallyconducttothenearestlamp-post。AndallthewhileAmosandMacnabandNivencarriedontheirownconversationabouttheaffairsoftheirsociety，whollyimpervioustothetornadoragingaroundthem。

ItwasMrNorie，theeditor，whobroughtmeintothediscussion。

\'OurSouthAfricanfriendisveryblate，\'hesaidinhisboisterousway。\'Andra，ifthisplaceofyourswasn\'tsodamnedteetotalandwehadadramapiece，wemightgethistongueloosened。Iwanttohearwhathe\'sgottosayaboutthewar。Youtoldmethismorninghewassoundinthefaith。\'

\'Isaidnosuchthing，\'saidMrAmos。\'Asyekenwell，TamNorie，Idon\'tjudgesoundnessonthatmatterasyoujudgeit。I\'mforthewarmyself，subjecttocertainconditionsthatI\'veoftenstated。IknownothingofMrBrand\'sopinions，exceptthathe\'sagooddemocrat，whichismorethanIcansayofsomeo\'yourfriends。\'

\'HeartoAndra，\'laughedMrNorie。\'He\'sthinkin\'theinspectorintheSocialistStatewouldbeawaurkindofawristocratthentheDukeofBuccleuch。Weel，there\'smaybesomethinginthat。Butaboutthewarhe\'swrong。Yekenmyviews，boys。Thiswarwasmadebythecawpitalists，andithasbeenfoughtbytheworkers，andit\'stheworkersthatmaunhavetheendingofit。Thatday\'scomin\'verynear。TherearethosethatwanttospinitouttillLabouristhatweakitcanbepitinchainsfortheresto\'time。

That\'sthemanoeuvrewe\'reouttoprevent。We\'vegottobeattheGermans，butit\'stheworkersthathastherighttojudgewhentheenemy\'sbeatenandnotthecawpitalists。Whatdoyousay，MrBrand？\'

MrNoriehadobviouslypinnedhiscolourstothefence，buthegavemethechanceIhadbeenlookingfor。Iletthemhavemyviewswithavengeance，andtheseviewswerethatforthesakeofdemocracythewarmustbeended。IflattermyselfIputmycasewell，forIhadgotupeveryrottenargumentandIborrowedlargelyfromLauncelotWake\'sarmoury。ButIdidn\'tputittoowell，forIhadaveryexactnotionoftheimpressionIwantedtoproduce。Imustseemtobehonestandinearnest，justabitofafanatic，butprincipallyahard-headedbusinessmanwhoknewwhenthetimehadcometomakeadeal。Tombskeptinterruptingmewithimbecilequestions，andIhadtositonhim。AttheendMrNoriehammeredwithhispipeonthetable。

\'That\'llsortye，Andra。Ye\'reentertain\'anangelunawares。Whatdoyesaytothat，myman？\'

MrAmosshookhishead。\'I\'llnodenythere\'ssomethinginit，butI\'mnotconvincedthattheGermanshavegotenoughofawheepin\'。\'Macnabagreedwithhim；theotherswerewithme。

Noriewasforgettingmetowriteanarticleforhispaper，andtheconsumptivewantedmetoaddressameeting。

\'Wullyesaya\'thatoveragainthemorn\'snightdownatourhallinNewmilnsStreet？We\'vegotalodgemeetingo\'theI。W。B。，andI\'llmakethempityeintheprogramme。\'Hekepthisluminouseyes，likeasickdogs，fixedonme，andIsawthatIhadmadeoneally。ItoldhimIhadcometoGlasgowtolearnandnottoteach，butIwouldmissnochanceoftestifyingtomyfaith。

\'Now，boys，I\'mformybed，\'saidAmos，shakingthedottlefromhispipe。\'MrTombs，I\'llconductyethemornovertheBrigendworks，butI\'vehadenoughclaversforoneevening。I\'mamanthatwantshiseighthours\'sleep。\'

Theoldfellowsawthemtothedoor，andcamebacktomewiththeghostofagrininhisface。

\'Aqueercrowd，MrBrand！Macnabdidnalikewhatyesaid。HehadaladdiekilledinGallypoly，andhe\'snolookin\'forpeacethissidethegrave。He\'smybestfriendinGlasgow。He\'sanelderintheGaelickirkintheCowcaddens，andI\'mwhatyecallafree-thinker，butwe\'rewonderfulagreedonthefundamentals。Yespokeyourbitverrawell，Imustadmit。Gressonwillheartellofyeasapromisingrecruit。\'

\'It\'sarottenjob，\'Isaid。

\'Ay，it\'sarottenjob。Ioftenfeellikevomitingoveritmysel\'。

Butit\'snoforustocomplain。There\'swaurjobsootinFranceforbettermen……Awordinyourear，MrBrand。Couldyenotlookabitmoresheepish？Yestarefolkowerstraightintheeen，likeaHielandsergeant-majorupatMaryhillBarracks。\'Andhewinkedslowlyandgrotesquelywithhislefteye。

Hemarchedtoacupboardandproducedablackbottleandglass。\'I\'mblue-ribbonmyself，butye\'llbethebetterofsomethingtotakthetasteoutofyourmouth。There\'sLochKatrinewateratthepipethere……AsIwassaying，there\'snotmuchillinthatlot。

Tombsisablackoffence，butadominie\'sadominiealltheworldover。TheymaycrackabouttheirIndustrialWorkersandthebrawthingsthey\'regoingtodo，butthere\'sawholesomedampnessaboutthetinderonClydeside。TheyshouldtryIreland。\'

Supposing，\'Isaid，\'therewasareallyclevermanwhowantedtohelptheenemy。Youthinkhecoulddolittlegoodbystirringuptroubleintheshopshere？\'

\'I\'mpositive。\'

\'Andifhewereashrewdfellow，he\'dsoontumbletothat？\'

\'Ay。\'

\'Thenifhestillstayedonherehewouldbeafterbiggergame-

somethingreallydangerousanddamnable？\'

Amosdrewdownhisbrowsandlookedmeintheface。\'Iseewhatye\'reettlin\'at。Ay！Thatwouldbemyconclusion。Icametoitweekssyneaboutthemanye\'llmaybemeetthemorn\'snight。\'

Thenfrombelowthebedhepulledaboxfromwhichhedrewahandsomeflute。\'Ye\'llforgiveme，MrBrand，butIayelikeatunebeforeIgotomybed。Macnabsayshisprayers，andIhaveatuneontheflute，andtheprincipleisjustthesame。\'

Sothatsingulareveningclosedwithmusic-verysweetandtruerenderingsofoldBordermelodieslike\'MyPeggyisayoungthing\'，and\'Whenthekyecomehame\'。IfellasleepwithavisionofAmos，hisfaceallpuckeredupatthemouthandawanderingsentimentinhiseye，recapturinginhisdingyworldtheemotionsofaboy。

Thewidow-womanfromnextdoor，whoactedashouse-keeper，cook，andgeneralfactotumtotheestablishment，broughtmeshavingwaternextmorning，butIhadtogowithoutabath。WhenI

enteredthekitchenIfoundnoonethere，butwhileIconsumedtheinevitablehamandegg，Amosarrivedbackforbreakfast。Hebroughtwithhimthemorning\'spaper。

\'The_Heraldsaysthere\'sbeenabigbattleatEepers，\'

heannounced。

ItoreopenthesheetandreadofthegreatattackOf31Julywhichwasspoiledbytheweather。\'MyGod！\'Icried。\'They\'vegotStJulienandthatdirtyFrezenbergridge……andHooge……andSanctuaryWood。Iknoweveryinchofthedamnedplace……\'

\'MrBrand，\'saidawarningvoice，\'that\'llneverdo。IfourfriendslastnightheardyetalklikethatyemightaswelltakthetrainbacktoLondon……They\'respeakin\'aboutyeintheyardsthismorning。

ye\'llgetagoodturnoutatyourmeetingthenight，butthey\'reSaYin\'thatthepoliswillinterfere。Thatmightnabeabadthing，butItrustyetoshowdiscretion，forye\'llnotbemuckleusetoonybodyiftheyjyleyeinDukeStreet。IhearGressonwillbetherewithafraternalmessagefromhislunaticsinAmerica……I\'vearrangedthatyegodowntoTamNoriethisafternoonandgivehimahandwithhisbitpaper。Tamwilltellyethewholeclasho\'theWestcountry，andIlooktoyetokeephimoffthedrink。He\'sayearguin\'thatwritin\'anddrinkin\'gangthegither，andquotin\'RobertBurns，butthecreaturehasawifeandfivebairnsdependin\'onhim。\'

Ispentafantasticday。FortwohoursIsatinNorie\'sdirtyden，whilehesmokedandorated，and，whenherememberedhisbusiness，tookdowninshorthandmyimpressionsoftheLaboursituationinSouthAfricaforhisrag。Theywerefinebreezyimpressions，basedonthemostwhole-heartedignorance，andiftheyeverreachedtheRandIwonderwhatmyfriendstheremadeofCorneliusBrand，theirauthor。Istoodhimdinnerinanindifferenteating-houseinastreetofftheBroomielaw，andthereafterhadadrinkwithhiminapublic-house，andwasintroducedtosomeofhislessreputablefriends。

Abouttea-timeIwentbacktoAmos\'slodgings，andspentanhourorsowritingalonglettertoMrIvery。IdescribedtohimeverybodyIhadmet，IgavehighlycolouredviewsoftheexplosivematerialontheClyde，andIdeploredthelackofclearheadednessintheprogressiveforces。IdrewanelaboratepictureofAmos，anddeducedfromitthattheRadicalswerelikelytobeabartotrueprogress。\'Theyhaveswitchedtheiroldmilitancy，\'Iwrote，\'ontoanothertrack，forwiththemitisamatterofconsciencetobealwaysmilitant。\'Ifinishedupwithsomeverycruderemarksoneconomicsculledfromthetable-talkoftheegregiousTombs。ItwasthekindofletterwhichIhopedwouldestablishmycharacterinhismindasanindustriousinnocent。

Seveno\'clockfoundmeinNewmilnsStreet，whereIwasseizeduponbyWilkie。Hehadputonacleancollarfortheoccasionandhadpartiallywashedhisthinface。Thepoorfellowhadacoughthatshookhimlikethewallsofapower-housewhenthedynamosaregoing。

HewasveryapologeticaboutAmos。\'Andrabelongstoapastworrld，\'hesaid。\'Hehasabigreputationinhissociety，andhe\'safinefighter，buthehasnokindofVision，ifyeunderstandme。He\'sanauldGladstonian，andthat\'sdoneanddamnedinScotland。He\'snotaModern，MrBrand，likeyouandme。Buttonightye\'llmeetoneortwochapsthat\'llbeworthyourwhiletoken。Ye\'llmaybenogoquiteasfarasthem，butye\'reonthesameroad。I\'mhopingforthedaywhenwe\'llhaveoorCouncilsofWorkmenandSoldiersliketheRussiansalloverthelandanddictateourtermstothepawrasitesinPawrliament。Theytellme，too，theboysinthetrenchesarecomin\'roundtoourside。\'

Weenteredthehallbyabackdoor，andinalittlewaiting-roomI

wasintroducedtosomeofthespeakers。Theywereascratchlotasseeninthatdingyplace。Thechairmanwasashop-stewardinoneoftheSocieties，afiercelittleratofaman，whospokewithacockneyaccentandaddressedmeas\'Comrade\'。Butoneofthemrousedmyliveliestinterest。IheardthenameofGresson，andturnedtofindafellowofaboutthirty-five，rathersprucelydressed，withaflowerinhisbuttonhole。\'MrBrand，\'hesaid，inarichAmericanvoicewhichrecalledBlenkiron\'s。\'Verypleasedtomeetyou，sir。WehaveComefromremotepartsoftheglobetobepresentatthisgathering。\'Inoticedthathehadreddishhair，andsmallbrighteyes，andanosewithadrooplikeaPolishjew\'s。

AssoonaswereachedtheplatformIsawthattherewasgoingtobetrouble。Thehallwaspackedtothedoor，andinallthefronthalftherewasthekindofaudienceIexpectedtosee-working-

menofthepoliticaltypewhobeforethewarwouldhavethrongedtopartymeetings。Butnotallthecrowdatthebackhadcometolisten。Somewerescallawags，somelookedlikebetter-classclerksoutforaspree，andtherewasafairquantityofkhaki。Therewerealsooneortwogentlemennotstrictlysober。

Thechairmanbeganbyputtinghisfootinit。HesaidweweretheretonighttoprotestagainstthecontinuationofthewarandtoformabranchofthenewBritishCouncilofWorkmenandSoldiers。

Hetoldthemwithafinemixtureofmetaphorsthatwehadgottotakethereinsintoourownhands，forthemenwhowererunningthewarhadtheirownaxestogrindandweremarchingtooligarchythroughthebloodoftheworkers。HeaddedthatwehadnoquarrelwithGermanyhalfasbadaswehadwithourowncapitalists。HelookedforwardtothedaywhenBritishsoldierswouldleapfromtheirtrenchesandextendthehandoffriendshiptotheirGermancomrades。

\'Nome！\'saidasolemnvoice。\'I\'mnotseekin\'abulletinmywame，\'-atwhichtherewaslaughterandcat-calls。

Tombsfollowedandmadeaworsehashofit。Hewasdeterminedtospeak，ashewouldhaveputit，todemocracyinitsownlanguage，sohesaid\'hell\'severaltimes，loudlybutwithoutconviction。

Presentlyheslippedintothemannerofthelecturer，andtheaudiencegrewrestless。\'Iproposetoaskmyselfaquestion-\'hebegan，andfromthebackofthehallcame-\'Andadamnedsullyanswerye\'llget。\'AfterthattherewasnomoreTombs。

Ifollowedwithextremenervousness，andtomysurprisegotafairhearing。Ifeltasmeanasamangydogonacoldmorning，forI

hatedtotalkrotbeforesoldiers-especiallybeforeacoupleofRoyalScotsFusiliers，who，forallIknew，mighthavebeeninmyownbrigade。Mylinewastheplain，practical，patrioticman，justcomefromthecolonies，wholookedatthingswithfresheyes，andcalledforanewdeal。Iwasverymoderate，buttojustifymyappearancethereIhadtoputinawildpatchortwo，andIgotthesebyimpassionedattacksontheMinistryofMunitions。ImixedupalittlemildpraiseoftheGermans，whomIsaidIhadknownallovertheworldfordecentfellows。Ireceivedlittleapplause，butnomarkeddissent，andsatdownwithdeepthankfulness。

Thenextspeakerputthelidonit。Ibelievehewasanotedagitator，whohadalreadybeendeported。Towardshimtherewasnolukewarmness，foronehalfoftheaudiencecheeredwildlywhenherose，andtheotherhalfhissedandgroaned。Hebeganwithwhirlwindabuseoftheidlerich，thenofthemiddle-classes(hecalledthemthe\'richman\'sflunkeys\')，andfinallyoftheGovernment。

Allthatwasfairlywellreceived，foritisthefashionoftheBritontorundowneveryGovernmentandyettobeveryaversetopartingfromit。Thenhestartedonthesoldiersandslangedtheofficers(\'gentrypups\'washisnameforthem)，andthegenerals，whomheaccusedofidleness，ofcowardice，andofhabitualintoxication。

Hetoldusthatourownkithandkinweresacrificedineverybattlebyleaderswhohadnotthegutstosharetheirrisks。TheScotsFusilierslookedperturbed，asiftheywereindoubtofhismeaning。Thenheputitmoreplainly。\'Willanysoldierdenythatthemenarethebarragetokeeptheofficers\'skinswhole？\'

\'That\'sabloodylee，\'saidoneoftheFusilierjocks。

Themantooknonoticeoftheinterruption，beingcarriedawaybythetorrentofhisownrhetoric，buthehadnotallowedforthepersistenceoftheinterrupter。Thejockgotslowlytohisfeet，andannouncedthathewantedsatisfaction。\'Ifyeopenyourdirtygabtoblagyirdhonestmen，I\'llcomeupontheplatformandwringyourneck。\'

Atthattherewasafineoldrow，somecryingout\'Order\'，some\'Fairplay\'，andsomeapplauding。ACanadianatthebackofthehallstartedasong，andtherewasanuglypressforward。

Thehallseemedtobemovingupfromtheback，andalreadymenwerestandinginallthepassagesandrighttotheedgeoftheplatform。Ididnotlikethelookintheeyesofthesenew-comers，andamongthecrowdIsawseveralwhowereobviouslyplain-clothespolicemen。

Thechairmanwhisperedawordtothespeaker，whocontinuedwhenthenoisehadtemporarilydieddown。HekeptoffthearmyandreturnedtotheGovernment，andforalittlesluicedoutpureanarchism。Buthegothisfootinitagain，forhepointedtotheSinnFeinersasexamplesofmanlyindependence。Atthat，pandemoniumbrokeloose，andheneverhadanotherlookin。Therewereseveralfightsgoingoninthehallbetweenthepublicandcourageoussupportersoftheorator。

ThenGressonadvancedtotheedgeoftheplatforminavainendeavourtoretrievetheday。Imustsayhedidituncommonlywell。Hewasclearlyapractisedspeaker，andforamomenthisappeal\'Now，boys，let\'scooldownabitandtalksense，\'hadaneffect。Butthemischiefhadbeendone，andthecrowdwassurgingroundthelonelyredoubtwherewesat。Besides，Icouldseethatforallhisclevertalkthemeetingdidnotlikethelookofhim。Hewasasmildasaturtledove，buttheywouldn\'tstandforit。Amissilehurtledpastmynose，andIsawarottencabbageenvelopthebaldishheadoftheex-deportee。Someonereachedoutalongarmandgrabbedachair，andwithittookthelegsfromGresson。Thenthelightssuddenlywentout，andweretreatedingoodorderbytheplatformdoorwithayellingcrowdatourheels。

Itwasherethattheplain-clothesmencameinhandy。Theyheldthedoorwhiletheex-deporteewassmuggledoutbysomesideentrance。Thatclassofladwouldsoonceasetoexistbutfortheprotectionofthelawwhichhewouldabolish。Therestofus，havinglesstofear，weresufferedtoleakintoNewmilnsStreet。I

foundmyselfnexttoGresson，andtookhisarm。Therewassomethinghardinhiscoatpocket。

Unfortunatelytherewasabiglampatthepointwhereweemerged，andthereforourconfusionweretheFusilierjocks。Bothwerestrungtofightingpitch，andweredeterminedtohavesomeone\'sblood。Ofmetheytooknonotice，butGressonhadspokenaftertheirirehadbeenroused，andwasmarkedoutasavictim。Withahowlofjoytheyrushedforhim。

Ifelthishandstealtohisside-pocket。\'Letthatalone，youfool，\'

Igrowledinhisear。

\'Sure，mister，\'hesaid，andthenextsecondwewereinthethickofit。

ItwaslikesomanystreetfightsIhaveseen-animmensecrowdwhichsurgeduparoundus，andyetleftaclearring。GressonandI

gotagainstthewallontheside-walk，andfacedthefurioussoldiery。

Myintentionwastodoaslittleaspossible，butthefirstminuteconvincedmethatmycompanionhadnoideahowtousehisfists，andIwasmortallyafraidthathewouldgetbusywiththeguninhispocket。Itwasthatfearthatbroughtmeintothescrap。Thejocksweresportsmeneverybitofthem，andonlyoneadvancedtothecombat。HehitGressonacliponthejawwithhisleft，andbutforthewallwouldhavelaidhimout。IsawinthelamplighttheviciousgleamintheAmerican\'seyeandthetwitchofhishandtohispocket。ThatdecidedmetointerfereandIgotinfrontofhim。

Thisbroughtthesecondjockintothefray。Hewasabroad，thicksetfellow，oftheadorablebandy-leggedstockytypethatIhadseengothroughtheRailwayTriangleatArrasasthoughitwereblotting-paper。Hehadsomenotionoffighting，too，andgavemearoughtime，forIhadtokeepedgingtheotherfellowoffGresson。

\'Gohome，youfool，\'Ishouted。\'Letthisgentlemanalone。I

don\'twanttohurtyou。\'