nailedbrownboots，Peterapairofthosemustard—colouredabominationswhichthePortugueseaffectandwhichmadehimhobblelikeaChineselady。Hehadascarletsatintiewhichyoucouldhearamileoff。Mybeardhadgrowntoquitearespectablelength，andI
trimmeditlikeGeneralSmuts’。Peter’swasthekindoflooseflappingthingthe_taakhaarloves，whichhasscarcelyeverbeenshaved，andiscombedonceinabluemoon。Imustsaywemadeaprettysolidpair。AnySouthAfricanwouldhavesetusdownasaBoerfromtheback—veldwhohadboughtasuitofclothesintheneareststore，andhiscousinfromsomeone—horsedorpwhohadbeentoschoolandthoughthimselfthedevilofafellow。Wefairlyreekedofthesub—continent，asthepaperscallit。
Itwasafinemorningaftertherain，andwewanderedaboutinthestreetsforacoupleofhours。Theywerebusyenough，andtheshopslookedrichandbrightwiththeirChristmasgoods，andonebigstorewhereIwenttobuyapocket—knifewaspackedwithcustomers。Onedidn’tseeverymanyyoungmen，andmostofthewomenworemourning。Uniformswereeverywhere，buttheirwearersgenerallylookedlikedug—outsorofficefellows。WehadaglimpseofthesquatbuildingwhichhousedtheGeneralStaffandtookoffourhatstoit。ThenwestaredattheMarinamt，andI
wonderedwhatplotswerehatchingtherebehindoldTirpitz’swhiskers。
Thecapitalgaveoneanimpressionofuglycleannessandasortofdrearyeffectiveness。AndyetIfounditdepressing—moredepressingthanLondon。Idon’tknowhowtoputit，butthewholebigconcernseemedtohavenosoulinit，tobelikeabigfactoryinsteadofacity。Youwon’tmakeafactorylooklikeahouse，thoughyoudecorateitsfrontandplantrose—bushesallroundit。
Theplacedepressedandyetcheeredme。ItsomehowmadetheGermanpeopleseemsmaller。
Atthreeo’clockthelieutenanttookustoaplainwhitebuildinginasidestreetwithsentriesatthedoor。Ayoungstaffofficermetusandmadeuswaitforfiveminutesinanante—room。ThenwewereusheredintoabigroomwithapolishedflooronwhichPeternearlysatdown。Therewasalogfireburning，andseatedatatablewasalittlemaninspectacleswithhishairbrushedbackfromhisbrowlikeapopularviolinist。Hewastheboss，forthelieutenantsalutedhimandannouncedournames。Thenhedisappeared，andthemanatthetablemotionedustositdownintwochairsbeforehim。
’HerrBrandtandHerrPienaar？’heasked，lookingoverhisglasses。
Butitwastheothermanthatcaughtmyeye。Hestoodwithhisbacktothefireleaninghiselbowsonthemantelpiece。Hewasaperfectmountainofafellow，sixandahalffeetifhewasaninch，withshouldersonhimlikeashorthornbull。Hewasinuniformandtheblack—and—whiteribbonoftheIronCrossshowedatabuttonhole。Histunicwasallwrinkledandstrainedasifitcouldscarcelycontainhishugechest，andmightyhandswereclaspedoverhisstomach。Thatmanmusthavehadthelengthofreachofagorilla。Hehadagreat，lazy，smilingface，withasquarecleftchinwhichstuckoutbeyondtherest。Hisbrowretreatedandthestubbybackofhisheadranforwardtomeetit，whilehisneckbelowbulgedoutoverhiscollar。Hisheadwasexactlytheshapeofapearwiththesharpendtopmost。
HestaredatmewithhissmallbrighteyesandIstaredback。I
hadstrucksomethingIhadbeenlookingforforalongtime，andtillthatmomentIwasn’tsurethatitexisted。HerewastheGermanofcaricature，therealGerman，thefellowwewereupagainst。Hewasashideousasahippopotamus，buteffective。Everybristleonhisoddheadwaseffective。
Themanatthetablewasspeaking。Itookhimtobeacivilianofficialofsorts，prettyhighupfromhissurroundings，perhapsanUnder—Secretary。HisDutchwasslowandcareful，butgood—toogoodforPeter。Hehadapaperbeforehimandwasaskingusquestionsfromit。Theydidnotamounttomuch，beingprettywellarepetitionofthoseZornhadaskedusatthefrontier。Iansweredfluently，forIhadallourliesbyheart。
Thenthemanonthehearthrugbrokein。’I’lltalktothem，Excellency，’hesaidinGerman。’Youaretooacademicforthoseoutlandswine。’
Hebeganinthetaal，withthethickgutturalaccentthatyougetinGermanSouthWest。’Youhaveheardofme，’hesaid。’IamtheColonelvonStummwhofoughttheHereros。’
Peterprickeduphisears。’_Ja，Baas，youcutoffthechiefBaviaan’sheadandsentitinpickleaboutthecountry。Ihaveseenit。’
Thebigmanlaughed。’YouseeIamnotforgotten，’hesaidtohisfriend，andthentous:’SoItreatmyenemies，andsowillGermanytreathers。You，too，ifyoufailmebyafractionofaninch。’Andhelaughedloudagain。
Therewassomethinghorribleinthatboisterousness。Peterwaswatchinghimfrombelowhiseyelids，asIhaveseenhimwatchalionabouttocharge。
Heflunghimselfonachair，puthiselbowsonthetable，andthrusthisfaceforward。
’Youhavecomefromadamnedmuddledshow。IfIhadMaritzinmypowerIwouldhavehimfloggedatawagon’send。Foolsandpig—dogs，theyhadthegameintheirhandsandtheyflungitaway。
WecouldhaveraisedafirethatwouldhaveburnedtheEnglishintothesea，andforlackoffueltheyletitdiedown。Thentheytrytofanitwhentheashesarecold。’
Herolledapaperpelletandflickeditintotheair。’ThatiswhatI
thinkofyouridiotgeneral，’hesaid，’andofallyouDutch。Asslowasafatvrouwandasgreedyasanaasvogel。’
Welookedveryglumandsullen。
’Apairofdumbdogs，’hecried。’AthousandBrandenburgerswouldhavewoninafortnight。Seitzhadn’tmuchtoboastof，mostlyclerksandfarmersandhalf—castes，andnosoldierworththenametoleadthem，butittookBothaandSmutsandadozengeneralstohunthimdown。ButMaritz！’Hisscorncamelikeagustofwind。
’Maritzdidallthefightingtherewas，’saidPetersulkily。’Atanyratehewasn’tafraidofthesightofthekhakilikeyourlot。’
’Maybehewasn’t，’saidthegiantinacooingvoice;’maybehehadhisreasonsforthat。YouDutchmenhavealwaysafeather—bedtofallon。Youcanalwaysturntraitor。MaritznowcallshimselfRobinson，andhasapensionfromhisfriendBotha。’
’That，’saidPeter，’isaverydamnedlie。’
’Iaskedforinformation，’saidStummwithasuddenpoliteness。
’Butthatisallpastanddonewith。MaritzmattersnomorethanyouroldCronjesandKrugers。Theshowisover，andyouarelookingforsafety。Foranewmasterperhaps？But，man，whatcanyoubring？Whatcanyouoffer？YouandyourDutcharelyinginthedustwiththeyokeonyournecks。ThePretorialawyershavetalkedyouround。Youseethatmap，’andhepointedtoabigoneonthewall。’SouthAfricaiscolouredgreen。NotredfortheEnglish，oryellowfortheGermans。Somedayitwillbeyellow，butforalittleitwillbegreen—thecolourofneutrals，ofnothings，ofboysandyoungladiesandchicken—hearts。’
Ikeptwonderingwhathewasplayingat。
ThenhefixedhiseyesonPeter。’Whatdoyoucomeherefor？
Thegame’supinyourowncountry。WhatcanyouofferusGermans？Ifwegaveyoutenmillionmarksandsentyoubackyoucoulddonothing。Stirupavillagerow，perhaps，andshootapoliceman。SouthAfricaiscountedoutinthiswar。Bothaisacleverishmanandhasbeatenyoucalves’—headsofrebels。Canyoudenyit？’
Petercouldn’t。Hewasterriblyhonestinsomethings，andthesewereforcertainhisopinions。
’No，’hesaid，’thatistrue，Baas。’
’ThenwhatinGod’snamecanyoudo？’shoutedStumm。
PetermumbledsomefoolishnessaboutnobblingAngolaforGermanyandstartingarevolutionamongthenatives。Stummflunguphisarmsandcursed，andtheUnder—Secretarylaughed。
Itwashightimeformetochipin。IwasbeginningtoseethekindoffellowthisStummwas，andashetalkedIthoughtofmymission，whichhadgotoverlaidbymyBoerpast。Itlookedasifhemightbeuseful。
’Letmespeak，’Isaid。’Myfriendisagreathunter，buthefightsbetterthanhetalks。Heisnopolitician。Youspeaktruth。SouthAfricaisacloseddoorforthepresent，andthekeytoitiselsewhere。
HereinEurope，andintheeast，andinotherpartsofAfrica。Wehavecometohelpyoutofindthekey。’
Stummwaslistening。’Goon，mylittleBoer。Itwillbeanewthingtoheara_taakhaaronworld—politics。’
’Youarefighting，’Isaid，’inEastAfrica;andsoonyoumayfightinEgypt。AlltheeastcoastnorthoftheZambesiwillbeyourbattle—ground。TheEnglishrunabouttheworldwithlittleexpeditions。
Idonotknowwheretheplacesare，thoughIreadoftheminthepapers。ButIknowmyAfrica。YouwanttobeatthemhereinEuropeandontheseas。Therefore，likewisegenerals，youtrytodividethemandhavethemscatteredthroughouttheglobewhileyoustickathome。Thatisyourplan？’
’AsecondFalkenhayn，’saidStumm，laughing。
’Well，EnglandwillnotletEastAfricago。ShefearsforEgyptandshefears，too，forIndia。IfyoupressherthereshewillsendarmiesandmorearmiestillsheissoweakinEuropethatachildcancrushher。ThatisEngland’sway。ShecaresmoreforherEmpirethanforwhatmayhappentoherallies。SoIsaypressandstillpressthere，destroytherailwaytotheLakes，burnhercapital，penupeveryEnglishmaninMombasaisland。AtthismomentitisworthforyouathousandDamaralands。’
ThemanwasreallyinterestedandtheUnder—Secretary，too，prickeduphisears。
’Wecankeepourterritory，’saidtheformer;’butasforpressing，howthedevilarewetopress？TheaccursedEnglishholdthesea。
Wecannotshipmenorgunsthere。SoutharethePortugueseandwesttheBelgians。Youcannotmoveamasswithoutalever。’
’Theleveristhere，readyforyou，’Isaid。
’ThenforGod’ssakeshowitme，’hecried。
Ilookedatthedoortoseethatitwasshut，asifwhatIhadtosaywasverysecret。
’Youneedmen，andthemenarewaiting。Theyareblack，buttheyarethestuffofwarriors。Allroundyourbordersyouhavetheremainsofgreatfightingtribes，theAngoni，theMasai，theManyumwezi，andabovealltheSomalisofthenorth，andthedwellersontheupperNile。TheBritishrecruittheirblackregimentsthere，andsodoyou。Buttogetrecruitsisnotenough。Youmustsetwholenationsmoving，astheZuluunderTchakaflowedoverSouthAfrica。’
’Itcannotbedone，’saidtheUnder—Secretary。
’Itcanbedone，’Isaidquietly。’Wetwoareheretodoit。’
Thiskindoftalkwasjollydifficultforme，chieflybecauseofStumm’sasidesinGermantotheofficial。Ihad，aboveallthings，togetthecreditofknowingnoGerman，and，ifyouunderstandalanguagewell，itisnotveryeasywhenyouareinterruptednottoshowthatyouknowit，eitherbyadirectanswer，orbyreferringtotheinterruptioninwhatyousaynext。Ihadtobealwaysonmyguard，andyetitwasuptometobeverypersuasiveandconvincethesefellowsthatIwouldbeuseful。SomehoworotherIhadtogetintotheirconfidence。
’IhavebeenforyearsupanddowninAfrica—UgandaandtheCongoandtheUpperNile。IknowthewaysoftheKaffirasnoEnglishmandoes。WeAfrikandersseeintotheblackman’sheart，andthoughhemayhateushedoesourwill。YouGermansareliketheEnglish;youaretoobigfolktounderstandplainmen。
\"Civilize，\"youcry。\"Educate，\"saytheEnglish。Theblackmanobeysandputsawayhisgods，butheworshipsthemallthetimeinhissoul。Wemustgethisgodsonourside，andthenhewillmovemountains。WemustdoasJohnLaputadidwithSheba’snecklace。’
’That’sallintheair，’saidStumm，buthedidnotlaugh。
’Itissobercommonsense，’Isaid。’Butyoumustbeginattherightend。Firstfindtheracethatfearsitspriests。Itiswaitingforyou—theMussulmansofSomalilandandtheAbyssinianborderandtheBlueandWhiteNile。Theywouldbelikedriedgrassestocatchfireifyouusedtheflintandsteeloftheirreligion。LookwhattheEnglishsufferedfromacrazyMullahwhoruledonlyadozenvillages。Oncegettheflamesgoingandtheywilllickupthepagansofthewestandsouth。ThisisthewayofAfrica。Howmanythousands，thinkyou，wereintheMahdi’sarmywhoneverheardoftheProphettilltheysawtheblackflagsoftheEmirsgoingintobattle？’
Stummwassmiling。Heturnedhisfacetotheofficialandspokewithhishandoverhismouth，butIcaughthiswords。Theywere:
’ThisisthemanforHilda。’Theotherpursedhislipsandlookedalittlescared。
Stummrangabellandthelieutenantcameinandclickedhisheels。HenoddedtowardsPeter。’Takethismanawaywithyou。
Wehavedonewithhim。Theotherfellowwillfollowpresently。’
PeterwentoutwithapuzzledfaceandStummturnedtome。
’Youareadreamer，Brandt，’hesaid。’ButIdonotrejectyouonthataccount。Dreamssometimescometrue，whenanarmyfollowsthevisionary。Butwhoisgoingtokindletheflame？’
’You，’Isaid。
’Whatthedevildoyoumean？’heasked。
’Thatisyourpart。Youarethecleverestpeopleintheworld。
YouhavealreadyhalftheMussulmanlandsinyourpower。Itisforyoutoshowushowtokindleaholywar，forclearlyyouhavethesecretofit。Neverfearbutwewillcarryoutyourorder。’
’Wehavenosecret，’hesaidshortly，andglancedattheofficial，whostaredoutofthewindow。
Idroppedmyjawandlookedthepictureofdisappointment。’I
donotbelieveyou，’Isaidslowly。’Youplayagamewithme。I
havenotcomesixthousandmilestobemadeafoolof。’
’Discipline，byGod，’Stummcried。’Thisisnoneofyourraggedcommandos。’Intwostrideshewasabovemeandhadliftedmeoutofmyseat。Hisgreathandsclutchedmyshoulders，andhisthumbsgougedmyarmpits。IfeltasifIwereinthegripofabigape。Thenveryslowlyheshookmesothatmyteethseemedloosenedandmyheadswam。HeletmegoandIdroppedlimplybackinthechair。
’Now，go！_Futsack！AndrememberthatIamyourmaster。I，UlricvonStumm，whoownsyouasaKaffirownshismongrel。
Germanymayhavesomeuseforyou，myfriend，whenyoufearmeasyouneverfearedyourGod。’
AsIwalkeddizzilyawaythebigmanwassmilinginhishorribleway，andthatlittleofficialwasblinkingandsmilingtoo。Ihadstruckadashedqueercountry，soqueerthatIhadhadnotimetorememberthatforthefirsttimeinmylifeIhadbeenbulliedwithouthittingback。WhenIrealizeditInearlychokedwithanger。ButIthankedheavenIhadshownnotemper，forI
rememberedmymission。Luckseemedtohavebroughtmeintousefulcompany。
CHAPTERFIVE
FurtherAdventuresoftheSameNextmorningtherewasatouchoffrostandanipintheairwhichstirredmybloodandputmeinbuoyantspirits。IforgotmyprecariouspositionandthelongroadIhadstilltotravel。Icamedowntobreakfastingreatform，tofindPeter’seventemperbadlyruffled。
HehadrememberedStumminthenightanddislikedthememory;
thishemutteredtomeaswerubbedshouldersatthedining—roomdoor。PeterandIgotnoopportunityforprivatetalk。Thelieutenantwaswithusallthetime，andatnightwewerelockedinourrooms。
Peterdiscoveredthisthroughtryingtogetouttofindmatches，forhehadthebadhabitofsmokinginbed。
Ourguidestartedonthetelephone，andannouncedthatweweretobetakentoseeaprisoners’camp。IntheafternoonIwastogosomewherewithStumm，butthemorningwasforsight—seeing。
’Youwillsee，’hetoldus，’howmercifulisagreatpeople。YouwillalsoseesomeofthehatedEnglishinourpower。Thatwilldelightyou。Theyaretheforerunnersofalltheirnation。’
Wedroveinataxithroughthesuburbsandthenoverastretchofflatmarket—garden—likecountrytoalowriseofwoodedhills。
Afteranhour’srideweenteredthegateofwhatlookedlikeabigreformatoryorhospital。Ibelieveithadbeenahomefordestitutechildren。Thereweresentriesatthegateandmassiveconcentriccirclesofbarbedwirethroughwhichwepassedunderanarchthatwasletdownlikeaportcullisatnightfall。Thelieutenantshowedhispermit，andweranthecarintoabrick—pavedyardandmarchedthroughalotmoresentriestotheofficeofthecommandant。
Hewasawayfromhome，andwewerewelcomedbyhisdeputy，apaleyoungmanwithaheadnearlybald。TherewereintroductionsinGermanwhichourguidetranslatedintoDutch，andalotofelegantspeechesabouthowGermanywasforemostinhumanityaswellasmartialvalour。Thentheystoodussandwichesandbeer，andweformedaprocessionforatourofinspection。Thereweretwodoctors，bothmild—lookingmeninspectacles，andacoupleofwarders—under—officersofthegoodoldburly，bullyingsortI
knewwell。ThatwasthecementwhichkepttheGermanArmytogether。Hermenwerenothingtoboastofontheaverage;nomoreweretheofficers，evenincrackcorpsliketheGuardsandtheBrandenburgers;buttheyseemedtohaveaninexhaustiblesupplyofhard，competentN。C。O。s。
Wemarchedroundthewash—houses，therecreation—ground，thekitchens，thehospital—withnobodyinitsaveonechapwiththe’flu。’Itdidn’tseemtobebadlydone。Thisplacewasentirelyforofficers，andIexpectitwasashowplacewhereAmericanvisitorsweretaken。IfhalfthestoriesoneheardweretruethereweresomeprettyghastlyprisonsawayinSouthandEastGermany。
Ididn’thalflikethebusiness。Tobeaprisonerhasalwaysseemedtomeabouttheworstthingthatcouldhappentoaman。
ThesightofGermanprisonersusedtogivemeabadfeelinginside，whereasIlookedatdeadBocheswithnothingbutsatisfaction。
Besides，therewastheoff—chancethatImightberecognized。SoI
keptverymuchintheshadowwheneverwepassedanybodyinthecorridors。Thefewwemetpassedusincuriously。Theysalutedthedeputy—commandant，butscarcelywastedaglanceonus。NodoubttheythoughtwewereinquisitiveGermanscometogloatoverthem。Theylookedfairlyfit，butalittlepuffyabouttheeyes，likemenwhogettoolittleexercise。Theyseemedthin，too。Iexpectthefood，forallthecommandant’stalk，wasnothingtoboastof。Inoneroompeoplewerewritingletters。Itwasabigplacewithonlyatinystovetowarmit，andthewindowswereshutsothattheatmospherewasacoldfrowst。Inanotherroomafellowwaslecturingonsomethingtoadozenhearersanddrawingfiguresonablackboard。Somewereinordinarykhaki，othersinanyoldthingtheycouldpickup，andmostworegreatcoats。Yourbloodgetsthinwhenyouhavenothingtodobuthopeagainsthopeandthinkofyourpalsandtheolddays。
Iwasmovingalong，listeningwithhalfaneartothelieutenant’sprattleandtheloudexplanationsofthedeputy—commandant，whenIpitchforkedintowhatmighthavebeentheendofmybusiness。
Weweregoingthroughasortofconvalescentroom，wherepeopleweresittingwhohadbeeninhospital。Itwasabigplace，alittlewarmerthantherestofthebuilding，butstillabominablyfuggy。
Therewereabouthalfadozenmenintheroom，readingandplayinggames。Theylookedatuswithlack—lustreeyesforamoment，andthenreturnedtotheiroccupations。BeingconvalescentsIsupposetheywerenotexpectedtogetupandsalute。
Allbutone，whowasplayingPatienceatalittletablebywhichwepassed。Iwasfeelingverybadaboutthething，forIhatedtoseethesegoodfellowslockedawayinthisinfernalGermanholewhentheymighthavebeengivingtheBochehisdesertsatthefront。
ThecommandantwentfirstwithPeter，whohaddevelopedagreatinterestinprisons。Thencameourlieutenantwithoneofthedoctors;thenacoupleofwarders;andthentheseconddoctorandmyself。Iwasabsent—mindedatthemomentandwaslastinthequeue。
ThePatience—playersuddenlylookedupandIsawhisface。I’mhangedifitwasn’tDollyRiddell，whowasourbrigademachine—
gunofficeratLoos。IhadheardthattheGermanshadgothimwhentheyblewupamineattheQuarries。
Ihadtoactprettyquick，forhismouthwasagape，andIsawhewasgoingtospeak。Thedoctorwasayardaheadofme。
Istumbledandspilthiscardsonthefloor。ThenIkneeledtopickthemupandgrippedhisknee。HisheadbenttohelpmeandI
spokelowinhisear。
’I’mHannayallright。ForGod’ssakedon’twinkaneye。I’mhereonasecretjob。’
Thedoctorhadturnedtoseewhatwasthematter。Igotafewmorewordsin。’Cheerup，oldman。We’rewinninghandsdown。’
ThenIbegantotalkexcitedDutchandfinishedthecollectionofthecards。Dollywasplayinghispartwell，smilingasifhewasamusedbytheanticsofamonkey。Theotherswerecomingback，thedeputy—commandantwithanangrylightinhisdulleye。’Speakingtotheprisonersisforbidden，’heshouted。
Ilookedblanklyathimtillthelieutenanttranslated。
’Whatkindoffellowishe？’saidDollyinEnglishtothedoctor。
’HespoilsmygameandthenjabbersHigh—Dutchatme。’
OfficiallyIknewEnglish，andthatspeechofDolly’sgavememycue。IpretendedtobeveryangrywiththeverydamnedEnglishman，andwentoutoftheroomclosebythedeputy—commandant，grumblinglikeasickjackal。AfterthatIhadtoactabit。Thelastplacewevisitedwastheclose—confinementpartwhereprisonerswerekeptasapunishmentforsomebreachoftherules。Theylookedcheerlessenough，butIpretendedtogloatoverthesight，andsaidsotothelieutenant，whopasseditontotheothers。Ihaverarelyinmylifefeltsuchacad。
Onthewayhomethelieutenantdiscoursedalotaboutprisonersanddetention—camps，foratonetimehehadbeenondutyatRuhleben。Peter，whohadbeeninquodmorethanonceinhislife，wasdeeplyinterestedandkeptonquestioninghim。Amongotherthingshetolduswasthattheyoftenputbogusprisonersamongtherest，whoactedasspies。Ifanyplottoescapewashatchedthesefellowsgotintoitandencouragedit。Theyneverinterferedtilltheattemptwasactuallymadeandthentheyhadthemontoast。TherewasnothingtheBochelikedsomuchasanexcuseforsendingapoordevilto’solitary’。
ThatafternoonPeterandIseparated。HewasleftbehindwiththelieutenantandIwassentofftothestationwithmybaginthecompanyofaLandsturmsergeant。Peterwasverycross，andI
didn’tcareforthelookofthings;butIbrightenedupwhenIheardIwasgoingsomewherewithStumm。Ifhewantedtoseemeagainhemustthinkmeofsomeuse，andifhewasgoingtousemehewasboundtoletmeintohisgame。IlikedStummaboutasmuchasadoglikesascorpion，butIhankeredforhissociety。
Atthestationplatform，wheretheornamentoftheLandsturmsavedmeallthetroubleabouttickets，Icouldnotseemycompanion。
Istoodwaiting，whileagreatcrowd，mostlyofsoldiers，swayedpastmeandfilledallthefrontcarriages。Anofficerspoketomegrufflyandtoldmetostandasidebehindawoodenrail。I
obeyed，andsuddenlyfoundStumm’seyeslookingdownatme。
’YouknowGerman？’heaskedsharply。
’Adozenwords，’Isaidcarelessly。’I’vebeentoWindhukandlearnedenoughtoaskformydinner。Peter—myfriend—speaksitabit。’
’So，’saidStumm。’Well，getintothecarriage。Notthatone！
There，thickhead！’
IdidasIwasbid，hefollowed，andthedoorwaslockedbehindus。Theprecautionwasneedless，forthesightofStumm’sprofileattheplatformendwouldhavekeptoutthemostbrazen。IwonderedifIhadwokenuphissuspicions。ImustbeonmyguardtoshownosignsofintelligenceifhesuddenlytriedmeinGerman，andthatwouldn’tbeeasy，forIknewitaswellasIknewDutch。
Wemovedintothecountry，butthewindowswereblurredwithfrost，andIsawnothingofthelandscape。Stummwasbusywithpapersandletmealone。Ireadonanoticethatonewasforbiddentosmoke，sotoshowmyignoranceofGermanIpulledoutmypipe。Stummraisedhishead，sawwhatIwasdoing，andgrufflybademeputitaway，asifhewereanoldladythatdislikedthesmelloftobacco。
InhalfanhourIgotverybored，forIhadnothingtoreadandmypipewas_verboten。Peoplepassednowandtheninthecorridors，butnooneofferedtoenter。Nodoubttheysawthebigfigureinuniformandthoughthewasthedeuceofastaffswellwhowantedsolitude。Ithoughtofstretchingmylegsinthecorridor，andwasjustgettinguptodoitwhensomebodyslidthedoorbackandabigfigureblockedthelight。
Hewaswearingaheavyulsterandagreenfelthat。HesalutedStumm，wholookedupangrily，andsmiledpleasantlyonusboth。
’Say，gentlemen，’hesaid，’haveyouroominhereforalittleone？
IguessI’maboutsmokedoutofmycarbyyourbravesoldiers。
I’vegottenadelicatestomach……’
Stummhadrisenwithabrowofwrath，andlookedasifheweregoingtopitchtheintruderoffthetrain。Thenheseemedtohaltandcollecthimself，andtheother’sfacebrokeintoafriendlygrin。
’Why，it’sColonelStumm，’hecried。（Hepronounceditlikethefirstsyllablein’stomach’。）’Verypleasedtomeetyouagain，Colonel。IhadthehonourofmakingyouracquaintanceatourEmbassy。IreckonAmbassadorGerarddidn’tcottontoourconversationthatnight。’
Andthenew—comerplumpedhimselfdowninthecorneroppositeme。
IhadbeenprettycertainIwouldrunacrossBlenkironsomewhereinGermany，butIdidn’tthinkitwouldbesosoon。Therehesatstaringatmewithhisfull，unseeingeyes，rollingoutplatitudestoStumm，whowasnearlyburstinginhisefforttokeepcivil。I
lookedmoodyandsuspicious，whichItooktobetherightline。
’ThingsaregettingabitdeadatSalonika，’saidMrBlenkiron，bywayofaconversationalopening。
Stummpointedtoanoticewhichwarnedofficerstorefrainfromdiscussingmilitaryoperationswithmixedcompanyinarailwaycarriage。
’Sorry，’saidBlenkiron，’Ican’treadthattombstonelanguageofyours。ButIreckonthatthatnoticetotrespassers，whateveritsignifies，don’tapplytoyouandme。Itakeitthisgentlemanisinyourparty。’
Isatandscowled，fixingtheAmericanwithsuspiciouseyes。
’HeisaDutchman，’saidStumm;’SouthAfricanDutch，andheisnothappy，forhedoesn’tliketohearEnglishspoken。’
’We’llshakeonthat，’saidBlenkironcordially。’ButwhosaidI
spokeEnglish？It’sgoodAmerican。Cheerup，friend，foritisn’tthecallthatmakesthebigwapiti，astheysayoutwestinmycountry。I
hateJohnBullworsethanapoisonrattle。TheColonelcantellyouthat。’
Idaresayhecould，butatthatmoment，wesloweddownatastationandStummgotuptoleave。’Gooddaytoyou，HerrBlenkiron，’
hecriedoverhisshoulder。’Ifyouconsideryourcomfort，don’ttalkEnglishtostrangetravellers。Theydon’tdistinguishbetweenthedifferentbrands。’
Ifollowedhiminahurry，butwasrecalledbyBlenkiron’svoice。