’Didhethwartyou？’sheasked。
’Why，yes。Hethwartedmesome。Hisheadisabitswelled，andanhourortwoontheshelfwilldohimgood。’
’Heisapowerfulman，’shesaid，’ajackalofEnver’s。Youhavemadeadangerousenemy。’
’Idon’tvaluehimattwocents，’saidI，thoughIthoughtgrimlythatasfarasIcouldseethevalueofhimwaslikelytobeaboutthepriceofmyneck。
’Perhapsyouareright，’shesaidwithseriouseyes。’Inthesedaysnoenemyisdangeroustoaboldman。Ihavecometonight，MrHanau，totalkbusinesswithyou，astheysayinyourcountry。I
haveheardwellofyou，andtodayIhaveseenyou。Imayhaveneedofyou，andyouassuredlywillhaveneedofme……’
Shebrokeoff，andagainherstrangepotenteyesfellonmyface。
Theywerelikeaburningsearchlightwhichshowedupeverycrannyandcrackofthesoul。Ifeltitwasgoingtobehorriblydifficulttoactapartunderthatcompellinggaze。Shecouldnotmesmerizeme，butshecouldstripmeofmyfancydressandsetmenakedinthemasquerade。
’Whatcameyouforthtoseek？’sheasked。’YouarenotlikethestoutAmericanBlenkiron，aloverofshoddypowerandadevoteeofafeeblescience。Thereissomethingmorethanthatinyourface。
Youareonourside，butyouarenotoftheGermanswiththeirhankeringsforarococoEmpire。YoucomefromAmerica，thelandofpiousfollies，wheremenworshipgoldandwords。Iask，whatcameyouforthtoseek？’
AsshespokeIseemedtogetavisionofafigure，likeoneoftheoldgodslookingdownonhumannaturefromagreatheight，afiguredisdainfulandpassionless，butwithitsownmagnificence。Itkindledmyimagination，andIansweredwiththestuffIhadoftencogitatedwhenIhadtriedtoexplaintomyselfjusthowacasecouldbemadeoutagainsttheAlliedcause。
’Iwilltellyou，Madam，’Isaid。’Iamamanwhohasfollowedascience，butIhavefolloweditinwildplaces，andIhavegonethroughitandcomeoutattheotherside。Theworld，asIseeit，hadbecometooeasyandcushioned。Menhadforgottentheirmanhoodinsoftspeech，andimaginedthattherulesoftheirsmugcivilizationwerethelawsoftheuniverse。Butthatisnottheteachingofscience，anditisnottheteachingoflife。Wehaveforgottenthegreatervirtues，andwewerebecomingemasculatedhumbugswhosegodswereourownweaknesses。Thencamewar，andtheairwascleared。Germany，inspiteofherblundersandhergrossness，stoodforthasthescourgeofcant。Shehadthecouragetocutthroughthebondsofhumbugandtolaughatthefetishesoftheherd。ThereforeIamonGermany’sside。ButIcamehereforanotherreason。IknownothingoftheEast，butasIreadhistoryitisfromthedesertthatthepurificationcomes。Whenmankindissmotheredwithshamsandphrasesandpaintedidolsawindblowsoutofthewildtocleanseandsimplifylife。Theworldneedsspaceandfreshair。Thecivilizationwehaveboastedofisatoy—shopandablindalley，andIhankerfortheopencountry。’
Thisconfoundednonsensewaswellreceived。Herpaleeyeshadthecoldlightofthefanatic。WithherbrighthairandthelongexquisiteovalofherfaceshelookedlikesomedestroyingfuryofaNorselegend。AtthatmomentIthinkIfirstreallyfearedher;
beforeIhadhalf—hatedandhalf—admired。ThankHeaven，inherabsorptionshedidnotnoticethatIhadforgottenthespeechofCleveland，Ohio。
’YouareoftheHouseholdofFaith，’shesaid。’Youwillpresentlylearnmanythings，fortheFaithmarchestovictory。MeantimeI
haveonewordforyou。Youandyourcompaniontraveleastward。’
’WegotoMesopotamia，’Isaid。’Ireckontheseareourpassports，’
andIpointedtotheenvelope。
Shepickeditup，openedit，andthentoreitinpiecesandtosseditinthefire。
’Theordersarecountermanded，’shesaid。’Ihaveneedofyouandyougowithme。NottotheflatsoftheTigris，buttothegreathills。Tomorrowyouwillreceivenewpassports。’
Shegavemeherhandandturnedtogo。Atthethresholdshepaused，andlookedtowardstheoakcupboard。’TomorrowIwillrelieveyouofyourprisoner。Hewillbesaferinmyhands。’
Sheleftmeinaconditionofprettyblankbewilderment。Weweretobetiedtothechariot—wheelsofthisfury，andstartedonanenterprisecomparedtowhichfightingagainstourfriendsatKutseemedtameandreasonable。Ontheotherhand，IhadbeenspottedbyRasta，andhadgottheenvoyofthemostpowerfulmaninConstantinoplelockedinacupboard。AtallcostswehadtokeepRastasafe，butIwasverydeterminedthatheshouldnotbehandedovertothelady。Iwasgoingtobenopartytocold—bloodedmurder，whichIjudgedtobeherexpedient。Itwasaprettykettleoffish，butinthemeantimeImusthavefood，forIhadeatennothingforninehours。SoIwentinsearchofPeter。
IhadscarcelybegunmylongdeferredmealwhenSandyentered。
Hewasbeforehistime，andhelookedassolemnasasickowl。I
seizedonhimasadrowningmanclutchesaspar。
HeheardmystoryofRastawithalengtheningface。
’That’sbad，’hesaid。’Yousayhespottedyou，andyoursubsequentdoingsofcoursewouldnotdisillusionhim。It’saninfernalnuisance，butthere’sonlyonewayoutofit。Imustputhiminchargeofmyownpeople。Theywillkeephimsafeandsoundtillhe’swanted。Onlyhemustn’tseeme。’Andhewentoutinahurry。
IfetchedRastafromhisprison。Hehadcometohissensesbythistime，andlayregardingmewithstony，malevolenteyes。
’I’mverysorry，Sir，’Isaid，’forwhathashappened。Butyouleftmenoalternative。I’vegotabigjobonhandandIcan’thaveitinterferedwithbyyouoranyone。You’repayingthepriceofasuspiciousnature。Whenyouknowalittlemoreyou’llwanttoapologizetome。I’mgoingtoseethatyouarekeptquietandcomfortableforadayortwo。You’venocausetoworry，foryou’llsuffernoharm。IgiveyoumywordofhonourasanAmericancitizen。’
TwoofSandy’smiscreantscameinandborehimoff，andpresentlySandyhimselfreturned。WhenIaskedhimwherehewasbeingtaken，Sandysaidhedidn’tknow。’They’vegottheirorders，andthey’llcarrythemouttotheletter。There’sabigunknownareainConstantinopletohideaman，intowhichthe_Khafiyehneverenter。’
Thenheflunghimselfinachairandlithisoldpipe。
’Dick，’hesaid，’thisjobisgettingverydifficultandverydark。
Butmyknowledgehasgrowninthelastfewdays。I’vefoundoutthemeaningofthesecondwordthatHarryBullivantscribbled。’
’_Cancer？’Iasked。
’Yes。Itmeansjustwhatitreadsandnomore。Greenmantleisdying—hasbeendyingformonths。ThisafternoontheybroughtaGermandoctortoseehim，andthemangavehimafewhoursoflife。Bynowhemaybedead。’
Thenewswasastaggerer。ForamomentIthoughtitclearedupthings。’Thenthatbuststheshow，’Isaid。’Youcan’thaveacrusadewithoutaprophet。’
’IwishIthoughtitdid。It’stheendofonestage，butthestartofanewandblackerone。Doyouthinkthatwomanwillbebeatenbysuchasmallthingasthedeathofherprophet？She’llfindasubstitute—oneofthefourMinisters，orsomeoneelse。She’sadevilincarnate，butshehasthesoulofaNapoleon。Thebigdangerisonlybeginning。’
Thenhetoldmethestoryofhisrecentdoings。HehadfoundoutthehouseofFrauvonEinemwithoutmuchtrouble，andhadperformedwithhisragamuffinsintheservants’quarters。Theprophethadalargeretinue，andthefameofhisminstrels—fortheCompanionswereknownfarandwideinthelandofIslam—
camespeedilytotheearsoftheHolyOnes。Sandy，aleaderinthismostorthodoxcoterie，wastakenintofavourandbroughttothenoticeofthefourMinisters。Heandhishalf—dozenretainersbecameinmatesofthevilla，andSandy，fromhisknowledgeofIslamicloreandhisostentatiouspiety，wasadmittedtotheconfidenceofthehousehold。FrauvonEinemwelcomedhimasanally，fortheCompanionshadbeenthemostdevotedpropagandistsofthenewrevelation。
Ashedescribedit，itwasastrangebusiness。Greenmantlewasdyingandofteningreatpain，buthestruggledtomeetthedemandsofhisprotectress。ThefourMinisters，asSandysawthem，wereunworldlyascetics;theprophethimselfwasasaint，thoughapracticalsaintwithsomenotionsofpolicy;butthecontrollingbrainandwillwerethoseofthelady。Sandyseemedtohavewonhisfavour，evenhisaffection。Hespokeofhimwithakindofdesperatepity。
’Ineversawsuchaman。Heisthegreatestgentlemanyoucanpicture，withadignitylikeahighmountain。Heisadreamerandapoet，too—ageniusifIcanjudgethesethings。IthinkIcanassesshimrightly，forIknowsomethingofthesouloftheEast，butitwouldbetoolongastorytotellnow。TheWestknowsnothingofthetrueOriental。Itpictureshimaslappedincolourandidlenessandluxuryandgorgeousdreams。Butitisallwrong。The_Kafheyearnsforisanausterething。ItistheausterityoftheEastthatisitsbeautyanditsterror……Italwayswantsthesamethingsatthebackofitshead。TheTurkandtheArabcameoutofbigspaces，andtheyhavethedesireofthemintheirbones。Theysettledownandstagnate，andbythebytheydegenerateintothatappallingsubtletywhichistheirrulingpassiongonecrooked。Andthencomesanewrevelationandagreatsimplifying。TheywanttolivefacetofacewithGodwithoutascreenofritualandimagesandpriestcraft。Theywanttoprunelifeofitsfoolishfringesandgetbacktothenoblebarenessofthedesert。Remember，itisalwaystheemptydesertandtheemptyskythatcasttheirspelloverthem—
these，andthehot，strong，antisepticsunlightwhichburnsupallrotanddecay。—。Itisn’tinhuman。It’sthehumanityofonepartofthehumanrace。Itisn’tours，itisn’tasgoodasours，butit’sjollygoodallthesame。TherearetimeswhenitgripsmesohardthatI’minclinedtoforswearthegodsofmyfathers！
’Well，Greenmantleistheprophetofthisgreatsimplicity。HespeaksstraighttotheheartofIslam，andit’sanhonourablemessage。
Butforoursinsit’sbeentwistedintopartofthatdamnedGermanpropaganda。Hisunworldlinesshasbeenusedforacunningpoliticalmove，andhiscreedofspaceandsimplicityforthefurtheranceofthelastwordinhumandegeneracy。MyGod，Dick，it’slikeseeingStFrancisrunbyMessalina。’
’Thewomanhasbeenheretonight，’Isaid。’SheaskedmewhatI
stoodfor，andIinventedsomeinfernalnonsensewhichsheapprovedof。ButIcanseeonething。Sheandherprophetmayrunfordifferentstakes，butit’sthesamecourse。’
Sandystarted。’Shehasbeenhere！’hecried。’Tellme，Dick，whatdoyouthinkofher？’
’Ithoughtshewasabouttwopartsmad，butthethirdpartwasuncommonlikeinspiration。’
’That’saboutright，’hesaid。’IwaswrongincomparinghertoMessalina。She’ssomethingadashedsightmorecomplicated。Sherunstheprophetjustbecausesheshareshisbelief。Onlywhatinhimissaneandfine，inherismadandhorrible。Yousee，Germanyalsowantstosimplifylife。’
’Iknow，’Isaid。’Itoldherthatanhourago，whenItalkedmorerottothesecondthananynormalmaneverachieved。Itwillcomebetweenmeandmysleepfortherestofmydays。’
’Germany’ssimplicityisthatoftheneurotic，nottheprimitive。ItismegalomaniaandegotismandtheprideofthemanintheBiblethatwaxedfatandkicked。Buttheresultsarethesame。Shewantstodestroyandsimplify;butitisn’tthesimplicityoftheascetic，whichisofthespirit，butthesimplicityofthemadmanthatgrindsdownallthecontrivancesofcivilizationtoafeaturelessmonotony。
Theprophetwantstosavethesoulsofhispeople;Germanywantstoruletheinanimatecorpseoftheworld。Butyoucangetthesamelanguagetocoverboth。AndsoyouhavethepartnershipofStFrancisandMessalina。Dick，didyoueverhearofathingcalledtheSuperman？’
’Therewasatimewhenthepaperswerefullofnothingelse，’
Ianswered。’IgatheritwasinventedbyasportsmancalledNietzsche。’
’Maybe，’saidSandy。’OldNietzschehasbeenblamedforagreatdealofrubbishhewouldhavediedratherthanacknowledge。Butit’sacrazeofthenew，fattedGermany。It’safancytypewhichcouldneverreallyexist，anymorethantheEconomicManofthepoliticians。Mankindhasasenseofhumourwhichstopsshortofthefinalabsurdity。Thereneverhasbeen，andtherenevercouldbearealSuperman……ButtheremightbeaSuperwoman。’
’You’llgetintotrouble，mylad，ifyoutalklikethat，’Isaid。
’It’strueallthesame。Womenhavegotaperilouslogicwhichweneverhave，andsomeofthebestofthemdon’tseethejokeoflifeliketheordinaryman。Theycanbefargreaterthanmen，fortheycangostraighttotheheartofthings。ThereneverwasamansonearthedivineasJoanofArc。ButIthink，too，theycanbemoreentirelydamnablethananythingthateverwasbreeched，fortheydon’tstopstillnowandthenandlaughatthemselves……
ThereisnoSuperman。Thepoorolddonkeysthatfancythemselvesinthepartareeithercrackbrainedprofessorswhocouldn’truleaSunday—schoolclass，orbristlingsoldierswithpint—potheadswhoimaginethattheshootingofaDucd’EnghienmadeaNapoleon。
ButthereisaSuperwoman，andhername’sHildavonEinem。’
’Ithoughtourjobwasnearlyover，’Igroaned，’andnowitlooksasifithadn’twellstarted。Bullivantsaidthatallwehadtodowastofindoutthetruth。’
’Bullivantdidn’tknow。Nomanknowsexceptyouandme。Itellyou，thewomanhasimmensepower。TheGermanshavetrustedherwiththeirtrumpcard，andshe’sgoingtoplayitforallsheisworth。There’snocrimethatwillstandinherway。Shehassettheballrolling，andifneedbeshe’llcutallherprophets’throatsandruntheshowherself……Idon’tknowaboutyourjob，forhonestlyIcan’tquiteseewhatyouandBlenkironaregoingtodo。ButI’mveryclearaboutmyownduty。She’sletmeintothebusiness，andI’mgoingtosticktoitinthehopethatI’llfindachanceofwreckingit……We’removingeastwardtomorrow—withanewprophetiftheoldoneisdead。’
’Whereareyougoing？’Iasked。
’Idon’tknow。ButIgatherit’salongjourney，judgingbythepreparations。Anditmustbetoacoldcountry，judgingbytheclothesprovided。’
’Well，whereveritis，we’regoingwithyou。Youhaven’theardtheendofouryarn。BlenkironandIhavebeenmovinginthebestcirclesasskilledAmericanengineerswhoaregoingtoplayOldHarrywiththeBritishontheTigris。I’mapalofEnver’snow，andhehasofferedmehisprotection。ThelamentedRastabroughtourpassportsforthejourneytoMesopotamiatomorrow，butanhouragoyourladytorethemupandputtheminthefire。Wearegoingwithher，andshevouchsafedtheinformationthatitwastowardsthegreathills。’
Sandywhistledlongandlow。’Iwonderwhatthedeuceshewantswithyou？Thisthingisgettingdashedcomplicated，Dick……
Where，morebytoken，isBlenkiron？He’sthefellowtoknowabouthighpolitics。’
ThemissingBlenkiron，asSandyspoke，enteredtheroomwithhisslow，quietstep。Icouldseebyhiscarriagethatforoncehehadnodyspepsia，andbyhiseyesthathewasexcited。
’Say，boys，’hesaid，’I’vegotsomethingprettyconsiderableinthewayofnoos。There’sbeenbigfightingontheEasternborder，andtheBuzzardshavetakenabadknock。’
Hishandswerefullofpapers，fromwhichheselectedamapandspreaditonthetable。
’Theykeepmumaboutthisthinginthecapital，butI’vebeenpiecingthestorytogethertheselastdaysandIthinkI’vegotitstraight。AfortnightagooldmanNicholasdescendedfromhismountainsandscupperedhisenemiesthere—atKuprikeui，wherethemainroadeastwardscrossestheAraxes。Thatwasonlythebeginningofthestunt，forhepressedononabroadfront，andthegentlemancalledKiamil，whocommandsinthoseparts，wasnotuptothejobofholdinghim。TheBuzzardswereshepherdedinfromnorthandeastandsouth，andnowtheMuscoviteissittingdownoutsidethefortsofErzerum。Icantellyouthey’reprettymiserableaboutthesituationinthehighestquarters……EnverissweatingbloodtogetfreshdivisionstoErzerumfromGally—poly，butit’salongroadanditlooksasiftheywouldbetoolateforthefair……
YouandI，Major，startforMesopotamytomorrow，andthat’saboutthemeanestbitofbadluckthateverhappenedtoJohnS。
We’remissingthechanceofseeingthegoriestfightofthiscampaign。’
Ipickedupthemapandpocketedit。Mapsweremybusiness，andIhadbeenlookingforone。
’We’renotgoingtoMesopotamia，’Isaid。’Ourordershavebeencancelled。’
’ButI’vejustseenEnver，andhesaidhehadsentroundourpassports。’
’They’reinthefire，’Isaid。’Therightoneswillcomealongtomorrowmorning。’
Sandybrokein，hiseyesbrightwithexcitement。
’Thegreathills！……We’regoingtoErzerum……Don’tyouseethattheGermansareplayingtheirbigcard？They’resendingGreenmantletothepointofdangerinthehopethathiscomingwillrallytheTurkishdefence。Thingsarebeginningtomove，Dick，oldman。Nomorekickingtheheelsforus。We’regoingtobeinituptotheneck，andHeavenhelpthebestman……Imustbeoffnow，forI’vealottodo。_Au_revoir。Wemeetsometimeinthehills。’
Blenkironstilllookedpuzzled，tillItoldhimthestoryofthatnight’sdoings。Ashelistened，allthesatisfactionwentoutofhisface，andthatfunny，childishairofbewildermentcreptin。
’It’snotformetocomplain，forit’sinthestraightlineofourdooty，butIreckonthere’sgoingtobebigtroubleaheadofthiscaravan。It’sKismet，andwe’vegottobow。ButIwon’tpretendthatI’mnotconsiderablescaredattheprospect。’
’Oh，soamI，’Isaid。’Thewomanfrightensmeintofits。We’reupagainstitthistimeallright。AllthesameI’mgladwe’retobeletintotherealstarmetropolitanperformance。Ididn’trelishtheideaoftouringtheprovinces。’
’Iguessthat’scorrect。ButIcouldwishthatthegoodGodwouldseefittotakethatlovelyladytoHimself。She’stoomuchforaquietmanatmytimeoflife。Whensheinvitesustogoinontheground—floorIfeelliketakingtheelevatortotheroof—garden。’
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
TheBatteredCaravanseraiTwodayslater，intheevening，wecametoAngora，thefirststageinourjourney。
Thepassportshadarrivednextmorning，asFrauvonEinemhadpromised，andwiththemaplanofourjourney。More，oneoftheCompanions，whospokealittleEnglish，wasdetailedtoaccompanyus—awiseprecaution，fornooneofushadawordofTurkish。
Thesewerethesumofourinstructions。IheardnothingmoreofSandyorGreenmantleorthelady。Weweremeanttotravelinourownparty。
WehadtherailwaytoAngora，averycomfortableGerman_Schlafwagen，tackedtotheendofatroop—train。Therewasn’tmuchtobeseenofthecountry，forafterwelefttheBosporusweranintoscudsofsnow，andexceptthatweseemedtobeclimbingontoabigplateauIhadnonotionofthelandscape。Itwasamarvelthatwemadesuchgoodtime，forthatlinewascongestedbeyondanythingIhaveeverseen。TheplacewascrawlingwiththeGallipolitroops，andeverysidingwaspackedwithsupplytrucks。Whenwestopped—whichwedidonanaverageaboutonceanhour—youcouldseevastcampsonbothsidesoftheline，andoftenwestruckregimentsonthemarchalongtherailwaytrack。Theylookedafine，hardylotofruffians，butmanyweredeplorablyragged，andI
didn’tthinkmuchoftheirboots。IwonderedhowtheywoulddothefivehundredmilesofroadtoErzerum。
BlenkironplayedPatience，andPeterandItookahandatpicquet，butmostlywesmokedandyarned。Gettingawayfromthatinfernalcityhadcheeredusupwonderfully。Nowwewereoutontheopenroad，movingtothesoundoftheguns。Attheworst，weshouldnotperishlikeratsinasewer。Wewouldbealltogether，too，andthatwasacomfort。Ithinkwefeltthereliefwhichamanwhohasbeenonalonelyoutpostfeelswhenheisbroughtbacktohisbattalion。Besides，thethinghadgonecleanbeyondourpowertodirect。Itwasnogoodplanningandscheming，fornoneofushadanotionwhatthenextstepmightbe。Wewerefatalistsnow，believinginKismet，andthatisacomfortablefaith。
AllbutBlenkiron。ThecomingofHildavonEinemintothebusinesshadputaveryuglycomplexiononitforhim。Itwascurioustoseehowsheaffectedthedifferentmembersofourgang。
Peterdidnotcarearush:man，woman，andhippogriffwerethesametohim;hemetitallascalmlyasifheweremakingplanstoroundupanoldlioninapatchofbush，takingthefactsastheycameandworkingatthemasiftheywereasuminarithmetic。
SandyandIwereimpressed—it’snogooddenyingit:horriblyimpressed—butweweretoointerestedtobescared，andweweren’tabitfascinated。Wehatedhertoomuchforthat。ButshefairlystruckBlenkirondumb。Hesaidhimselfitwasjustlikearattlesnakeandabird。
Imadehimtalkabouther，forifhesatandbroodedhewouldgetworse。Itwasastrangethingthatthisman，themostimperturbableand，Ithink，aboutthemostcourageousIhaveevermet，shouldbeparalysedbyaslimwoman。Therewasnodoubtaboutit。
Thethoughtofhermadethefuturetohimasblackasathundercloud。Ittookthepoweroutofhisjoints，andifshewasgoingtobemucharound，itlookedasifBlenkironmightbecountedout。
Isuggestedthathewasinlovewithher，butthishevehementlydenied。
’No，Sir;Ihaven’tgotnosortofaffectionforthelady。Mytroubleisthatsheputsmeoutofcountenance，andIcan’tfitherinasanantagonist。IguessweAmericanshaven’tgottherightpoisefordealingwiththatkindoffemale。We’veexaltedourwomenfolkintolittletingods，andatthesametimeleftthemoutoftherealbusinessoflife。Consequently，whenwestrikeoneplayingthebiggestkindofman’sgamewecan’tplaceher。Wearen’tusedtoregardingthemasanythingexceptangelsandchildren。IwishIhadhadyouboys’upbringing。’
AngorawaslikemynotionofsomeplacesuchasAmiensintheretreatfromMons。Itwasonemassoftroopsandtransport—theneckofthebottle，formorearrivedeveryhour，andtheonlyoutletwasthesingleeasternroad。ThetownwaspandemoniumintowhichdistractedGermanofficersweretryingtointroducesomeorder。Theydidn’tworrymuchaboutus，fortheheartofAnatoliawasn’talikelyhunting—groundforsuspiciouscharacters。Wetookourpassporttothecommandant，whovisaedthemreadily，andtoldushe’ddohisbesttogetustransport。Wespentthenightinasortofhotel，whereallfourcrowdedintoonelittlebedroom，andnextmorningIhadmyworkcutoutgettingamotor—car。Ittookfourhours，andtheuseofeverygreatnameintheTurkishEmpire，toraiseadingysortofStudebaker，andanothertwotogetthepetrolandsparetyres。Asforachauffeur，loveormoneycouldn’tfindhim，andIwascompelledtodrivethethingmyself。
Weleftjustaftermiddayandswungoutintobarebleakdownspatchedwithscrubbywoodlands。Therewasnosnowhere，butawindwasblowingfromtheeastwhichsearchedthemarrow。
Presentlyweclimbedupintohills，andtheroad，thoughnotbadlyengineeredtobeginwith，grewasroughasthechannelofastream。
Nowonder，forthetrafficwaslikewhatonesawonthatawfulstretchbetweenCasselandYpres，andtherewerenogangsofBelgianroadmakerstomenditup。WefoundtroopsbythethousandsstridingalongwiththeirimpassiveTurkishfaces，oxconvoys，muleconvoys，wagonsdrawnbysturdylittleAnatolianhorses，and，cominginthecontrarydirection，manyshabbyRedCrescentcarsandwagonsofthewounded。Wehadtocrawlforhoursonend，tillwegotpastablock。justbeforethedarkeningweseemedtooutstripthefirstpress，andhadaclearrunforabouttenmilesoveralowpassinthehills。Ibegantogetanxiousaboutthecar，foritwasapooroneatthebest，andtheroadwasguaranteedsoonerorlatertoknockevenaRolls—Royceintoscrapiron。
Allthesameitwasglorioustobeoutintheopenagain。Peter’sfaceworeanewlook，andhesniffedthebitterairlikeastag。Therefloatedupfromlittlewaysidecampstheodourofwood—smokeanddung—fires。That，andthecuriousacridwintersmellofgreatwind—
blownspaces，willalwayscometomymemoryasIthinkofthatday。Everyhourbroughtmepeaceofmindandresolution。IfeltasIhadfeltwhenthebattalionfirstmarchedfromAiretowardsthefiring—line，akindofkeying—upandwildexpectation。I’mnotusedtocities，andloungingaboutConstantinoplehadslackenedmyfibre。Now，asthesharpwindbuffetedus，Ifeltbracedtoanykindofrisk。Wewereonthegreatroadtotheeastandtheborderhills，andsoonweshouldstanduponthefarthestbattle—frontofthewar。
Thiswasnocommonplaceintelligencejob。Thatwasallover，andweweregoingintothefiring—zone，goingtotakepartinwhatmightbethedownfallofourenemies。Ididn’treflectthatwewereamongthoseenemies，andwouldprobablysharetheirdownfallifwewerenotshotearlier。Thetruthis，Ihadgotoutofthewayofregardingthethingasastrugglebetweenarmiesandnations。Ihardlybotheredtothinkwheremysympathieslay。Firstandforemostitwasacontestbetweenthefourofusandacrazywoman，andthispersonalantagonismmadethestrifeofarmiesonlyadimly—feltbackground。
Wesleptthatnightlikelogsonthefloorofadirtykhan，andstartednextmorninginapowderofsnow。Weweregettingveryhighupnow，anditwasperishingcold。TheCompanion—hisnamesoundedlikeHussin—hadtravelledtheroadbeforeandtoldmewhattheplaceswere，buttheyconveyednothingtome。Allmorningwewriggledthroughabiglotoftroops，abrigadeatleast，whoswungalongatagreatpacewithafinefreestridethatIdon’tthinkIhaveeverseenbettered。ImustsayItookafancytotheTurkishfightingman:Irememberedthetestimonialourfellowsgavehimasacleanfighter，andIfeltverybitterthatGermanyshouldhaveluggedhimintothisdirtybusiness。Theyhaltedforameal，andwestopped，too，andlunchedoffsomebrownbreadanddriedfigsandaflaskofverysourwine。IhadafewwordswithoneoftheofficerswhospokealittleGerman。HetoldmetheyweremarchingstraightforRussia，sincetherehadbeenagreatTurkishvictoryintheCaucasus。’WehavebeatentheFrenchandtheBritish，andnowitisRussia’sturn，’hesaidstolidly，asifrepeatingalesson。Butheaddedthathewasmortallysickofwar。
Intheafternoonweclearedthecolumnandhadanopenroadforsomehours。Thelandnowhadatilteastward，asifweweremovingtowardsthevalleyofagreatriver。Soonwebegantomeetlittlepartiesofmencomingfromtheeastwithanewlookintheirfaces。Thefirstlotsofwoundedhadbeentheordinarythingyouseeoneveryfront，andtherehadbeensomepretenceatorganization。
Butthesenewlotswereverywearyandbroken;theywereoftenbarefoot，andtheyseemedtohavelosttheirtransportandtobestarving。Youwouldfindagroupstretchedbytheroadsideinthelaststagesofexhaustion。Thenwouldcomeapartylimpingalong，sotiredthattheyneverturnedtheirheadstolookatus。
Almostallwerewounded，somebadly，andmostwerehorriblythin。IwonderedhowmyTurkishfriendbehindwouldexplainthesighttohismen，ifhebelievedinagreatvictory。Theyhadnottheairofthebackwashofaconqueringarmy。
EvenBlenkiron，whowasnosoldier，noticedit。
’Theseboyslookmightybad，’heobserved。’We’vegottohustle，Major，ifwe’regoingtogetseatsforthelastact。’
Thatwasmyownfeeling。Thesightmadememadtogetonfaster，forIsawthatbigthingswerehappeningintheEast。IhadreckonedthatfourdayswouldtakeusfromAngoratoErzerum，butherewasthesecondnearlyoverandwewerenotyetathirdoftheway。Ipressedonrecklessly，andthathurrywasourundoing。
IhavesaidthattheStudebakerwasarottenoldcar。Itssteering—gearwasprettydicky，andthebadsurfaceandcontinualhairpinbendsoftheroaddidn’timproveit。Soonwecameintosnowlyingfairlydeep，frozenhardandruttedbythebigtransport—wagons。