Ihailedoneoftheadjacentruffians，andgotintohisrowboat，withmykit。Wereachedthevessel—theycalledherthe_Henrythe_Navigator—justasthefirstshore—boatwasleaving。ThecrowdinitwereallPortuguese，whichsuitedmybook。
ButwhenIwentuptheladderthefirstmanImetwasoldPeterPienaar。
Herewasapieceofsheermonumentalluck。Peterhadopenedhiseyesandhismouth，andhadgotasfaras’_Allemachtig’，whenI
shuthimup。
’Brandt，’Isaid，’CornelisBrandt。That’smynamenow，anddon’tyouforgetit。Whoisthecaptainhere？IsitstilloldSloggett？’
’_Ja，’saidPeter，pullinghimselftogether。’Hewasspeakingaboutyouyesterday。’
Thiswasbetterandbetter。IsentPeterbelowtogetholdofSloggett，andpresentlyIhadafewwordswiththatgentlemaninhiscabinwiththedoorshut。
’You’vegottoentermynameintheship’sbooks。IcameaboardatMossamedes。Andmyname’sCornelisBrandt。’
AtfirstSloggettwasforobjecting。Hesaiditwasafelony。ItoldhimthatIdaredsayitwas，buthehadgottodoit，forreasonswhichIcouldn’tgive，butwhichwerehighlycreditabletoallparties。Intheendheagreed，andIsawitdone。IhadapullonoldSloggett，forIhadknownhimeversinceheownedadissolutetug—
boatatDelagoaBay。
ThenPeterandIwentashoreandswaggeredintoLisbonasifweownedDeBeers。Weputupatthebighoteloppositetherailwaystation，andlookedandbehavedlikeapairoflowbredSouthAfricanshomeforaspree。Itwasafinebrightday，soIhiredamotor—carandsaidIwoulddriveitmyself。Weaskedthenameofsomebeauty—spottovisit，andweretoldCintraandshowntheroadtoit。Iwantedaquietplacetotalk，forIhadagooddealtosaytoPeterPienaar。
IchristenedthatcartheLusitanianTerror，anditwasamarvelthatwedidnotsmashourselvesup。Therewassomethingimmortallywrongwithitssteeringgear。Halfadozentimesweslewedacrosstheroad，invitingdestruction。Butwegotthereintheend，andhadluncheoninanhoteloppositetheMoorishpalace。Thereweleftthecarandwandereduptheslopesofahill，where，sittingamongscrubveryliketheveld，ItoldPeterthesituationofaffairs。
ButfirstawordmustbesaidaboutPeter。HewasthemanthattaughtmeallIeverknewofveld—craft，andagooddealabouthumannaturebesides。HewasoutoftheOldColony—
Burgersdorp，Ithink—buthehadcometotheTransvaalwhentheLydenburggoldfieldsstarted。Hewasprospector，transport—rider，andhunterinturns，butprincipallyhunter。Inthoseearlydayshewasnonetoogoodacitizen。HewasinSwazilandwithBobMacnab，andyouknowwhatthatmeans。ThenhetooktoworkingoffbogusgoldpropositionsonKimberleyandJohannesburgmagnates，andwhathedidn’tknowaboutsaltingaminewasn’tknowledge。AfterthathewasintheKalahari，whereheandScottySmithwerefamiliarnames。AneraofcomparativerespectabilitydawnedforhimwiththeMatabeleWar，whenhediduncommongoodscoutingandtransportwork。CecilRhodeswantedtoestablishhimonastockfarmdownSalisburyway，butPeterwasanindependentdevilandwouldcallnomanmaster。Hetooktobig—gamehunting，whichwaswhatGodintendedhimfor，forhecouldtrackatsessebeinthickbush，andwasfarthefinestshotIhaveseeninmylife。HetookpartiestothePungweflats，andBarotseland，anduptoTanganyika。ThenhemadeaspecialityoftheNgamiregion，whereIoncehuntedwithhim，andhewaswithmewhenIwentprospectinginDamaraland。
WhentheBoerWarstarted，Peter，likemanyoftheverygreathunters，tooktheBritishsideanddidmostofourintelligenceworkintheNorthTransvaal。Beyerswouldhavehangedhimifhecouldhavecaughthim，andtherewasnolovelostbetweenPeterandhisownpeopleformanyaday。Whenitwasalloverandthingshadcalmeddownabit，hesettledinBulawayoandusedtogowithmewhenIwentontrek。AtthetimewhenIleftAfricatwoyearsbefore，Ihadlostsightofhimformonths，andheardthathewassomewhereontheCongopoachingelephants。HehadalwaysagreatideaofmakingthingshumsoloudinAngolathattheUnionGovernmentwouldhavetostepinandannexit。AfterRhodesPeterhadthebiggestnotionssouthoftheLine。
Hewasamanofaboutfivefootten，verythinandactive，andasstrongasabuffalo。Hehadpaleblueeyes，afaceasgentleasagirl’s，andasoftsleepyvoice。Fromhispresentappearanceitlookedasifhehadbeenlivinghardlately。HisclotheswereofthecutyoumightexpecttogetatLobitoBay，hewasasleanasarake，deeplybrownedwiththesun，andtherewasalotofgreyinhisbeard。Hewasfifty—sixyearsold，andusedtobetakenforforty。
Nowhelookedabouthisage。
Ifirstaskedhimwhathehadbeenuptosincethewarbegan。Hespat，intheKaffirwayhehad，andsaidhehadbeenhavinghell’stime。
’IgothungupontheKafue，’hesaid。’WhenIheardfromoldLetsitelathatthewhitemenwerefightingIhadabrightideathatI
mightgetintoGermanSouthWestfromthenorth。YouseeI
knewthatBothacouldn’tlongkeepoutofthewar。Well，IgotintoGermanterritoryallright，andthena_skellumofanofficercamealong，andcommandeeredallmymules，andwantedtocommandeermewiththemforhisfoolarmy。Hewasaveryuglymanwithayellowface。’Peterfilledadeeppipefromakudu—skinpouch。
’Wereyoucommandeered？’Iasked。
’No。Ishothim—notsoastokill，buttowoundbadly。Itwasallright，forhefiredfirstonme。Gotmetoointheleftshoulder。Butthatwasthebeginningofbadtrouble。Itrekkedeastprettyfast，andgotovertheborderamongtheOvamba。Ihavemademanyjourneys，butthatwastheworst。FourdaysIwentwithoutwater，andsixwithoutfood。ThenbybadluckIfellinwith’Nkitla—youremember，thehalf—castechief。HesaidIowedhimmoneyforcattlewhichIboughtwhenIcametherewithCarowab。Itwasalie，butheheldtoit，andwouldgivemenotransport。SoIcrossedtheKalaharionmyfeet。Ugh，itwasasslowasavrouwcomingfrom_nachtmaal。Ittookweeksandweeks，andwhenIcametoLechwe’skraal，IheardthatthefightingwasoverandthatBothahadconqueredtheGermans。That，too，wasalie，butitdeceivedme，andI
wentnorthintoRhodesia，whereIlearnedthetruth。ButbythenI
judgedthewarhadgonetoofarformetomakeanyprofitoutofit，soIwentintoAngolatolookforGermanrefugees。BythattimeIwashatingGermansworsethanhell。’
’Butwhatdidyouproposetodowiththem？’Iasked。
’IhadanotiontheywouldmaketroublewiththeGovernmentinthoseparts。Idon’tspeciallylovethePortugoose，butI’mforhimagainsttheGermanseveryday。Well，therewastrouble，andI
hadamerrytimeforamonthortwo。Butbyandbyitpeteredout，andIthoughtIhadbetterclearforEurope，forSouthAfricawassettlingdownjustasthebigshowwasgettingreallyinteresting。SohereIam，Cornelis，myoldfriend。IfIshavemybeardwilltheyletmejointheFlyingCorps？’
IlookedatPetersittingtheresmoking，asimperturbableasifhehadbeengrowingmealiesinNatalallhislifeandhadrunhomeforamonth’sholidaywithhispeopleinPeckham。
’You’recomingwithme，mylad，’Isaid。’We’regoingintoGermany。’
Petershowednosurprise。’KeepinmindthatIdon’tliketheGermans，’wasallhesaid。’I’maquietChristianman，butI’vethedevilofatemper。’
ThenItoldhimthestoryofourmission。
’YouandIhavegottobeMaritz’smen。WewentintoAngola，andnowwe’retrekkingfortheFatherlandtogetabitofourownbackfromtheinfernalEnglish。NeitherofusknowsanyGerman—
publicly。We’dbetterplanoutthefightingwewerein—Kakamaswilldoforone，andSchuitDrift。YouwereaNgamilandhunterbeforethewar。Theywon’thaveyour_dossier，soyoucantellanylieyoulike。I’dbetterbeaneducatedAfrikander，oneofBeyers’sbrightlads，andapalofoldHertzog。Wecanletourimaginationlooseaboutthatpart，butwemuststicktothesameyarnaboutthefighting。’
’_Ja，Cornelis，’saidPeter。（HehadcalledmeCorneliseversinceIhadtoldhimmynewname。Hewasawonderfulchapforcatchingontoanygame。）’ButafterwegetintoGermany，whatthen？
Therecan’tbemuchdifficultyaboutthebeginning。Butoncewe’reamongthebeer—swillersIdon’tquiteseeourline。We’retofindoutaboutsomethingthat’sgoingoninTurkey？WhenIwasaboythepredikantusedtopreachaboutTurkey。IwishIwasbettereducatedandrememberedwhereaboutsinthemapitwas。’
’Youleavethattome，’Isaid;’I’llexplainitalltoyoubeforewegetthere。Wehaven’tgotmuchofaspoor，butwe’llcastabout，andwithluckwillpickitup。I’veseenyoudoitoftenenoughwhenwehuntedkuduontheKafue。’
Peternodded。’DowesitstillinaGermantown？’heaskedanxiously。’Ishouldn’tlikethat，Cornelis。’
’WemovegentlyeastwardtoConstantinople，’Isaid。
Petergrinned。’Weshouldcoveralotofnewcountry。Youcanreckononme，friendCornelis。I’vealwayshadahankeringtoseeEurope。’
Herosetohisfeetandstretchedhislongarms。
’We’dbetterbeginatonce。God，Iwonderwhat’shappenedtooldSollyMaritz，withhisbottleface？YonwasafinebattleatthedriftwhenIwassittinguptomyneckintheOrangeprayingthatBrits’ladswouldtakemyheadforastone。’
Peterwasasthoroughamountebank，whenhegotstarted，asBlenkironhimself。AllthewaybacktoLisbonheyarnedaboutMaritzandhisadventuresinGermanSouthWesttillIhalfbelievedtheyweretrue。Hemadeaverygoodstoryofourdoings，andbyhisconstantharpingonitIprettysoongotitintomymemory。
ThatwasalwaysPeter’sway。Hesaidifyouweregoingtoplayapart，youmustthinkyourselfintoit，convinceyourselfthatyouwereit，tillyoureallywereitanddidn’tactbutbehavednaturally。
Thetwomenwhohadstartedthatmorningfromthehoteldoorhadbeenbogusenough，butthetwomenthatreturnedweregenuinedesperadoesitchingtogetashotatEngland。
Wespenttheeveningpilingupevidenceinourfavour。SomekindofrepublichadbeenstartedinPortugal，andordinarilythecafeswouldhavebeenfullofpoliticians，butthewarhadquietedalltheselocalsquabbles，andthetalkwasofnothingbutwhatwasdoinginFranceandRussia。Theplacewewenttowasabig，well—
lightedshowonamainstreet，andtherewerealotofsharp—eyedfellowswanderingaboutthatIguessedwerespiesandpoliceagents。
IknewthatBritainwastheonecountrythatdoesn’tbotheraboutthiskindofgame，andthatitwouldbesafeenoughtoletourselvesgo。
ItalkedPortuguesefairlywell，andPeterspokeitlikeaLourencoMarquesbar—keeper，withalotofShangaanwordstofillup。Hestartedoncuracao，whichIreckonedwasanewdrinktohim，andpresentlyhistongueranfreely。Severalneighboursprickeduptheirears，andsoonwehadasmallcrowdroundourtable。
WetalkedtoeachotherofMaritzandourdoings。Itdidn’tseemtobeapopularsubjectinthatcafe。Onebigblue—blackfellowsaidthatMaritzwasadirtyswinewhowouldsoonbehanged。Peterquicklycaughthisknife—wristwithonehandandhisthroatwiththeother，anddemandedanapology。Hegotit。TheLisbon_boulevardiershavenotlostanylions。
Afterthattherewasabitofasquashinourcorner。Thoseneartouswereveryquietandpolite，buttheouterfringemaderemarks。
WhenPetersaidthatifPortugal，whichheadmittedheloved，wasgoingtosticktoEnglandshewasbackingthewronghorse，therewasamurmurofdisapproval。Onedecent—lookingoldfellow，whohadtheairofaship’scaptain，flushedalloverhishonestface，andstooduplookingstraightatPeter。IsawthatwehadstruckanEnglishman，andmentionedittoPeterinDutch。
Peterplayedhispartperfectly。Hesuddenlyshutup，and，withfurtivelooksaroundhim，begantojabbertomeinalowvoice。Hewastheverypictureoftheoldstageconspirator。
Theoldfellowstoodstaringatus。’Idon’tverywellunderstandthisdamnedlingo，’hesaid;’butifsobeyoudirtyDutchmenaresayin’anythingagainstEngland，I’llaskyoutorepeatit。AndifsobeasyourepeatsitI’lltakeeitherofyouonandknockthefaceoffhim。’
Hewasachapaftermyownheart，butIhadtokeepthegameup。IsaidinDutchtoPeterthatwemustn’tgetbrawlinginapublichouse。’Rememberthebigthing，’Isaiddarkly。Peternodded，andtheoldfellow，afterstaringatusforabit，spatscornfully，andwalkedout。
’ThetimeiscomingwhentheEnglanderwillsingsmall，’I
observedtothecrowd。Westooddrinkstooneortwo，andthenswaggeredintothestreet。Atthedoorahandtouchedmyarm，and，lookingdown，Isawalittlescrapofamaninafurcoat。
’Willthegentlemenwalkastepwithmeanddrinkaglassofbeer？’hesaidinverystiffDutch。
’Whothedevilareyou？’Iasked。
’_Gott_strafe_England！’washisanswer，and，turningbackthelapelofhiscoat，heshowedsomekindofribboninhisbuttonhole。
’Amen，’saidPeter。’Leadon，friend。Wedon’tmindifwedo。’
Heledustoabackstreetandthenuptwopairsofstairstoaverysnuglittleflat。Theplacewasfilledwithfineredlacquer，andI
guessedthatart—dealingwashisnominalbusiness。Portugal，sincetherepublicbrokeuptheconventsandsoldupthebigroyalistgrandees，wasfullofbargainsinthelacquerandcurioline。
HefilledustwolongtankardsofverygoodMunichbeer。
’_Prosit，’hesaid，raisinghisglass。’YouarefromSouthAfrica。
WhatmakeyouinEurope？’
Webothlookedsullenandsecretive。
’That’sourownbusiness，’Ianswered。’Youdon’texpecttobuyourconfidencewithaglassofbeer。’
’So？’hesaid。’ThenIwillputitdifferently。FromyourspeechinthecafeIjudgeyoudonotlovetheEnglish。’
Petersaidsomethingaboutstampingontheirgrandmothers，aKaffirphrasewhichsoundedgruesomeinDutch。
Themanlaughed。’ThatisallIwanttoknow。YouareontheGermanside？’
’Thatremainstobeseen，’Isaid。’IftheytreatmefairI’llfightforthem，orforanybodyelsethatmakeswaronEngland。Englandhasstolenmycountryandcorruptedmypeopleandmademeanexile。
WeAfrikandersdonotforget。Wemaybeslowbutwewinintheend。Wetwoaremenworthagreatprice。GermanyfightsEnglandinEastAfrica。WeknowthenativesasnoEnglishmencaneverknowthem。TheyaretoosoftandeasyandtheKaffirslaughatthem。Butwecanhandletheblackssothattheywillfightlikedevilsforfearofus。Whatisthereward，littleman，forourservices？Iwilltellyou。
Therewillbenoreward。Weasknone。WefightforhateofEngland。’
Petergruntedadeepapproval。
’Thatisgoodtalk，’saidourentertainer，andhisclose—seteyesflashed。’ThereisroominGermanyforsuchmenasyou。Whereareyougoingnow，Ibegtoknow。’
’ToHolland，’Isaid。’ThenmaybewewillgotoGermany。Wearetiredwithtravelandmayrestabit。Thiswarwilllastlongandourchancewillcome。’
’Butyoumaymissyourmarket，’hesaidsignificantly。’AshipsailstomorrowforRotterdam。Ifyoutakemyadvice，youwillgowithher。’
ThiswaswhatIwanted，forifwestayedinLisbonsomerealsoldierofMaritzmightdropinanydayandblowthegaff。
’Irecommendyoutosailinthe_Machado，’herepeated。’ThereisworkforyouinGermany—ohyes，muchwork;butifyoudelaythechancemaypass。Iwillarrangeyourjourney。Itismybusinesstohelpthealliesofmyfatherland。’
HewrotedownournamesandanepitomeofourdoingscontributedbyPeter，whorequiredtwomugsofbeertohelphimthrough。HewasaBavarian，itseemed，andwedranktothehealthofPrinceRupprecht，thesameblighterIwastryingtodoinatLoos。ThatwasanironywhichPeterunfortunatelycouldnotappreciate。Ifhecouldhewouldhaveenjoyedit。
Thelittlechapsawusbacktoourhotel，andwaswithusthenextmorningafterbreakfast，bringingthesteamertickets。Wegotonboardabouttwointheafternoon，butonmyadvicehedidnotseeusoff。Itoldhimthat，beingBritishsubjectsandrebelsatthat，wedidnotwanttorunanyrisksonboard，assumingaBritishcruisercaughtusupandsearchedus。ButPetertooktwentypoundsoffhimfortravellingexpenses，itbeinghisrulenevertomissanopportunityofspoilingtheEgyptians。
AsweweredroppingdowntheTaguswepassedtheold_Henry_the_Navigator。
’ImetSloggettinthestreetthismorning，’saidPeter，’andhetoldmealittleGermanmanhadbeenoffinaboatatdaybreaklookingupthepassengerlist。Yonwasarightnotionofyours，Cornelis。IamgladwearegoingamongGermans。Theyarecarefulpeoplewhomitisapleasuretomeet。’
CHAPTERFOUR
AdventuresofTwoDutchmenontheLooseTheGermans，asPetersaid，areacarefulpeople。AmanmetusonthequayatRotterdam。IwasabitafraidthatsomethingmighthaveturnedupinLisbontodiscreditus，andthatourlittlefriendmighthavewarnedhispalsbytelegram。Butapparentlyallwasserene。
PeterandIhadmadeourplansprettycarefullyonthevoyage。
WehadtalkednothingbutDutch，andhadkeptupbetweenourselvestheroleofMaritz’smen，whichPetersaidwastheonlywaytoplayapartwell。Uponmysoul，beforewegottoHollandIwasnotveryclearinmyownmindwhatmypasthadbeen。Indeedthedangerwasthattheothersideofmymind，whichshouldbebusywiththegreatproblem，wouldgetatrophied，andthatIshouldsoonbementallyonaparwiththeordinarybackvelddesperado。
WehadagreedthatitwouldbebesttogetintoGermanyatonce，andwhentheagentonthequaytoldusofatrainatmiddaywedecidedtotakeit。
Ihadanotherfitofcoldfeetbeforewegotoverthefrontier。AtthestationtherewasaKing’sMessengerwhomIhadseeninFrance，andawarcorrespondentwhohadbeentrottingroundourpartofthefrontbeforeLoos。Iheardawomanspeakingprettyclean—cutEnglish，whichamidthehoarseDutchjabbersoundedlikealarkamongcrows。TherewerecopiesoftheEnglishpapersforsale，andEnglishcheapeditions。Ifeltprettybadaboutthewholebusiness，andwonderedifIshouldeverseethesehomelysightsagain。
Butthemoodpassedwhenthetrainstarted。Itwasaclearblowingday，andaswecrawledthroughtheflatpasturesofHollandmytimewastakenupansweringPeter’squestions。HehadneverbeeninEuropebefore，andformedahighopinionofthefarming。
Hesaidhereckonedthatsuchlandwouldcarryfoursheepamorgen。WewerethickintalkwhenwereachedthefrontierstationandjoltedoveracanalbridgeintoGermany。
Ihadexpectedabigbarricadewithbarbedwireandentrenchments。
ButtherewasnothingtoseeontheGermansidebuthalfadozensentriesinthefield—greyIhadhuntedatLoos。Anunder—
officer，withtheblack—and—goldbuttonoftheLandsturm，hoickedusoutofthetrain，andwewereallshepherdedintoabigbarewaiting—roomwherealargestoveburned。Theytookustwoatatimeintoaninnerroomforexamination。IhadexplainedtoPeterallaboutthisformality，butIwasgladwewentintogether，fortheymadeusstriptotheskin，andIhadtocursehimprettyseriouslytomakehimkeepquiet。Themenwhodidthejobwerefairlycivil，buttheyweremightythorough。Theytookdownalistofallwehadinourpocketsandbags，andallthedetailsfromthepassportstheRotterdamagenthadgivenus。
Weweredressingwhenamaninalieutenant’suniformcameinwithapaperinhishand。Hewasafresh—facedladofabouttwenty，withshort—sightedspectacledeyes。
’HerrBrandt，’hecalledout。
Inodded。
’AndthisisHerrPienaar？’heaskedinDutch。
Hesaluted。’Gentlemen，Iapologize。IamlatebecauseoftheslownessoftheHerrCommandant’smotor—car。HadIbeenintimeyouwouldnothavebeenrequiredtogothroughthisceremony。
Wehavebeenadvisedofyourcoming，andIaminstructedtoattendyouonyourjourney。ThetrainforBerlinleavesinhalfanhour。Praydomethehonourtojoinmeinabock。’
Withafeelingofdistinctionwestalkedoutoftheordinaryruckofpassengersandfollowedthelieutenanttothestationrestaurant。
Heplungedatonceintoconversation，talkingtheDutchofHolland，whichPeter，whohadforgottenhisschool—days，foundabithardtofollow。Hewasunfitforactiveservice，becauseofhiseyesandaweakheart，buthewasadesperatefire—eaterinthatstuffyrestaurant。ByhiswayofitGermanycouldgobbleuptheFrenchandtheRussianswhenevershecared，butshewasaimingatgettingalltheMiddleEastinherhandsfirst，sothatshecouldcomeoutconquerorwiththepracticalcontrolofhalftheworld。
’YourfriendstheEnglish，’hesaidgrinning，’willcomelast。
Whenwehavestarvedthemanddestroyedtheircommercewithourunder—seaboatswewillshowthemwhatournavycando。Forayeartheyhavebeenwastingtheirtimeinbragandpolitics，andwehavebeenbuildinggreatships—oh，somany！MycousinatKiel—’
andhelookedoverhisshoulder。
ButweneverheardaboutthatcousinatKiel。Ashortsunburntmancameinandourfriendsprangupandsaluted，clickinghisheelslikeapairoftongs。
’ThesearetheSouthAfricanDutch，HerrCaptain，’hesaid。
Thenew—comerlookedusoverwithbrightintelligenteyes，andstartedquestioningPeterinthetaal。Itwaswellthatwehadtakensomepainswithourstory，forthismanhadbeenyearsinGermanSouthWest，andkneweverymileoftheborders。Zornwashisname，andbothPeterandIthoughtwerememberedhearinghimspokenof。
Iamthankfultosaythatwebothshowedupprettywell。Petertoldhisstorytoperfection，notpitchingittoohigh，andaskingmenowandthenforanameortoverifysomedetail。CaptainZornlookedsatisfied。
’Youseemtherightkindoffellows，’hesaid。’Butremember’—
andhebenthisbrowsonus—’wedonotunderstandslimnessinthisland。Ifyouarehonestyouwillberewarded，butifyoudaretoplayadoublegameyouwillbeshotlikedogs。Yourracehasproducedovermanytraitorsformytaste。’
’Iasknoreward，’Isaidgruffly。’WearenotGermansorGermany’sslaves。ButsolongasshefightsagainstEnglandwewillfightforher。’
’Boldwords，’hesaid;’butyoumustbowyourstiffneckstodisciplinefirst。DisciplinehasbeentheweakpointofyouBoers，andyouhavesufferedforit。Youarenomoreanation。InGermanyweputdisciplinefirstandlast，andthereforewewillconquertheworld。Offwithyounow。Yourtrainstartsinthreeminutes。WewillseewhatvonStummwillmakeofyou。’
Thatfellowgavemethebest’feel’ofanyGermanIhadyetmet。
HewasawhitemanandIcouldhaveworkedwithhim。Ilikedhisstiffchinandsteadyblueeyes。
MychiefrecollectionofourjourneytoBerlinwasitscommonplaceness。Thespectacledlieutenantfellasleep，andforthemostpartwehadthecarriagetoourselves。Nowandagainasoldieronleavewoulddropin，mostofthemtiredmenwithheavyeyes。Nowonder，poordevils，fortheywerecomingbackfromtheYserortheYpressalient。Iwouldhavelikedtotalktothem，butofficiallyofcourseIknewnoGerman，andtheconversationI
overhearddidnotsignifymuch。Itwasmostlyaboutregimentaldetails，thoughonechap，whowasinbetterspiritsthantherest，observedthatthiswasthelastChristmasofmisery，andthatnextyearhewouldbeholidayingathomewithfullpockets。Theothersassented，butwithoutmuchconviction。
Thewinterdaywasshort，andmostofthejourneywasmadeinthedark。Icouldseefromthewindowthelightsoflittlevillages，andnowandthentheblazeofironworksandforges。Westoppedatatownfordinner，wheretheplatformwascrowdedwithdraftswaitingtogowestward。Wesawnosignsofanyscarcityoffood，suchastheEnglishnewspaperswroteabout。Wehadanexcellentdinneratthestationrestaurant，which，withabottleofwhitewine，costjustthreeshillingsapiece。Thebread，tobesure，waspoor，butIcanputupwiththeabsenceofbreadifIgetajuicyfilletofbeefandasgoodvegetablesasyouwillseeintheSavoy。
Iwasalittleafraidofourgivingourselvesawayinoursleep，butIneedhavehadnofear，forourescortslumberedlikeahogwithhismouthwideopen。AsweroaredthroughthedarknessIkeptpinchingmyselftomakemyselffeelthatIwasintheenemy’slandonawildmission。Theraincameon，andwepassedthroughdrippingtowns，withthelightsshiningfromthewetstreets。Aswewenteastwardthelightingseemedtogrowmoregenerous。AfterthemurkofLondonitwasqueertoslipthroughgarishstationswithahundredarclightsglowing，andtoseelonglinesoflampsrunningtothehorizon。Peterdroppedoffearly，butIkeptawaketillmidnight，tryingtofocusthoughtsthatpersistentlystrayed。
ThenI，too，dozedanddidnotawaketillaboutfiveinthemorning，whenweranintoagreatbusyterminusasbrightasmidday。ItwastheeasiestandmostunsuspiciousjourneyIevermade。
Thelieutenantstretchedhimselfandsmoothedhisrumpleduniform。
Wecarriedourscantyluggagetoa_droschke，forthereseemedtobenoporters。Ourescortgavetheaddressofsomehotelandwerumbledoutintobrightlylitemptystreets。
’Amightydorp，’saidPeter。’OfatruththeGermansareagreatpeople。’
Thelieutenantnoddedgood—humouredly。
’Thegreatestpeopleonearth，’hesaid，’astheirenemieswillsoonbearwitness。’
Iwouldhavegivenalotforabath，butIfeltthatitwouldbeoutsidemypart，andPeterwasnotofthewashingpersuasion。Butwehadaverygoodbreakfastofcoffeeandeggs，andthenthelieutenantstartedonthetelephone。Hebeganbybeingdictatorial，thenheseemedtobeswitchedontohigherauthorities，forhegrewmorepolite，andattheendhefairlycrawled。Hemadesomearrangements，forheinformedusthatintheafternoonwewouldseesomefellowwhosetitlehecouldnottranslateintoDutch。I
judgedhewasagreatswell，forhisvoicebecamereverentialatthementionofhim。
HetookusforawalkthatmorningafterPeterandIhadattendedtoourtoilets。Wewereanoddpairofscallywagstolookat，butasSouthAfricanasawait—a—bitbush。Bothofushadready—
madetweedsuits，greyflannelshirtswithflannelcollars，andfelthatswithbroaderbrimsthantheylikeinEurope。Ihadstrong—