第8章
加入书架 A- A+
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  \"Sergeantmajor,letmeintroduceyoutomyfriend,Mr。BarryDunbar,\"saidCaptainNeilwithagrin。

  \"Isay,dad,\"saidBarry,stillunabletoassociatehisfatherwiththisN。C。O。inuniformwhostoodbeforehim。\"Isay,dad,wheredidyougetallthatmilitarystuff?\"

  \"I’mveryrusty,myboy,veryrusty!Ihopetobrushup,though。

  Themenareimproving,Ithink,sir。\"

  \"I’msureofit,\"saidCaptainNeil。\"HowisthatwildmanfromAthabascadoing?\"

  \"Heisfindingithardwork,sir,I’mafraid。Hefindsitdifficulttoconnectupthisdrillbusinesswiththebusinessofwar。HewantstogorightoffandkillGermans。Butheismakinganefforttoputupwithme。\"

  \"Andyou,withhim,eh,sergeantmajor?Butturnthemloose。Theyhavedoneenoughforto—day,andIknowyoursonwantstotakeyouoffwithhim,andgetyoutoexplainhowyougointothearmy。\"

  Theexplanationcameastheywerewalkinghometogether。

  \"Yousee,boy,Ifeltkeenlyyourdisappointmentinbeingrejectedfromthefightingforcesofthecountry。Ifelttoothatourfamilyoughttoberepresentedinthefightingline,sowhenCaptainFraserfoundhimselfinneedofadrillsergeant,Icouldhardlyrefuse。Iwouldhavelikedtohaveconsultedyou,myboy,but——\"

  \"Notatall,dad;youdidperfectlyright。Itwasjustfineofyou。I’masproudasPunch。IonlywishIcouldgowithyou。I’dliketobeinyoursquad。Butnevermind,I’vetwojobsopentomenow,andIsorelyneedyouradvice。\"

  Togethertheytalkedoverthesuperintendent’sofferofthepositionofchaplain。

  \"Ican’tseemyselfachaplain,dad。Thepositioncallsforanolderman,amanofwiderexperience。Manyofthesemenwouldbealmosttwicemyage。Nowthesuperintendenthimselfwouldbethemanforthejob。Yououghttoseehimathisworkwiththesoldiers。Ireallycan’tthinkI’mfit。\"

  Inthisopinionhisfatherratherconcurred。

  \"Anoldermanwouldbebetter,Barry——amanofmoreexperiencewouldbeofmoreservice,and,yetIdon’tknow。OnethingIamsureof,ifyouaccepttheposition,Ibelieveyouwillfillitworthily。Afterall,ineverydepartment,thiswarisayoungman’sjob。\"

  \"Ofcourse,\"saidBarry。\"IfIwentaschaplain,itwouldbeinyourunit,dad,andthatwouldbealtogetherglorious。\"

  \"Idohopeso。Butwemustnotallowthat,however,toinfluenceourdecision,\"repliedhisfather。

  \"Iknow,Iknow!\"hurriedlyagreedBarry。\"ItrustIwouldnotbeundulyinfluencedbypersonalconsiderations。\"

  Thishope,however,wasrudelydashedbyanunexpectedcallforadraftofrecruitsfromCaptainNeil’scompanythatcamethroughfromColonelKavanaghtoreplaceadraftsuddenlydispatchedtomakeuptostrengthanotherwesternregiment。Attachedtothecalltherewasaspecificrequest,whichamountedtoademandforthesergeantmajor,forwhosespecialqualificationsasphysicalandmilitaryinstructortherewasapparentlyseriousneedinColonelKavanagh’sregiment。

  Withgreatreluctance,andwiththeexpenditureofconsiderableprofanity,CaptainNeilFraserdispatchedhisdraftandagreedtothesurrenderofhissergeantmajor。

  ThechangecameasashocktobothBarryandhisfather。Forsomedaystheyhadindulgedthehopethattheywouldbothbeattachedtothesamemilitaryunit,andunconsciouslythishadbeenweighingwithBarryinhisconsiderationofhisprobableappointmentaschaplain。

  ThedisappointmentoftheirhopewasthemorebitterwhenitwasannouncedthatColonelKavanagh’sbattalionwaswarnedforimmediateserviceoverseas,andthefurtherannouncementthatinallprobabilitythenewbattalion,towhichtheWapiticompanywouldbeattached,mightnotbedispatcheduntilsometimeinthespring。

  \"ButyoumaycatchusupinEngland,Barry,\"saidhisfather,whenBarrywasdeploringtheirillluck。\"Nooneknowswhatourmovementswillbe。Idowish,however,thatyourpositionweredefinitelysettled。\"

  Thedecisioninthismattercamequickly,andwas,withouthiswillordesire,materiallyhastenedbyBarryhimself。

  ColonelKavanagh’sbattalionbeingunderorderstodepartwithintendays,afinalChurchParadewasordered,atwhichonlysoldiersandtheirkinwerepermittedtobepresent。Thepreacherforthedayfallingillfromanoverweightofwarwork,andBarrybeinginthecitywithnothingtodo,thedutyofpreachingatthisParadeServicewassuddenlythrustuponhim。

  Tohisownamazementandtothatofhisfather,Barryacceptedwithoutanyfearorhesitationthisdutywhichinothercircumstanceswouldhaveoverwhelmedhimwithdismay。ButtoBarrytheoccasionwasofsuchsurpassingmagnitudeandimportancethatallpersonalconsiderationswereobliterated。

  Thewar,withitshorrors,itslosses,itsoverwhelmingsacrifice,itsvastandeternalissues,wasthesinglefactthatfilledhismind。Itwasthisthatdeliveredhimfromthatnervousself—

  consciousness,thepreacher’scurse,thatparalysesthementalactivities,chillsthepassions,andcloggstheimagination,sothathissermonbecomesalifelessrepetitionofwords,previouslyprepared,correct,evenbeautiful,itmaybeinform,logicalinargument,soundinphilosophy,butdead,dullandimpotent,bereftofthefirethatkindlesthepowersofthesoul,theemotionthaturgestoaction,theimaginationthatlurestohighendeavour。

  \"Ibeseechyoutherefore,brethren,bythemerciesofGod,thatyepresentyourbodiesalivingsacrifice,holy,acceptableuntoGod,whichisyourreasonableservice。\"

  Thevoice,clear,vibrant,melodious,arrestedwithitsfirstwordtheeyesandheartsofhishearers,andsoheldthemtotheend。

  Withtheearnestvoicetherewasthefascinationofafacealightwithanoblebeauty,eyesglowingaswithlambentflame。

  Asecondtimehereadtheappealingwords,thenpausedandallowedhiseyestowanderquietlyoverthecongregation。Theyrepresentedtohiminthathourthemanhoodandwomanhoodofhiscountry。

  Sincerely,withnoattemptatrhetoricandwithnoemploymentofanyofitstricks,hebeganhissermon。

  \"Thiswar,\"hesaid,\"isaconflictofidealseternallyopposed。

  Ourambitiousandruthlessenemyhasmadetheissueandhasdeterminedthemethodofsettlement。Itisawarofsouls,butthemethodofsettlementisnotthatofreasonbutthatofforce——aforcethatfindsexpressionthroughyourbodies。ThereforetheappealoftheApostlePaul,thisold—worldhero,tothemenofhistimereachesdowntousinthisday,andatthiscrisisoftheworld’shistory。Offeryourbodies——theselivingbodies——thesesacredbodies——offertheminsacrificetoGod。\"

  Therewaslittlediscussionofthecausesofthewar。Whatneed?

  Theyknewthatthiswarwasneitheroftheirdesiringnoroftheirmaking。Therewasnoattempttoincitehatredorrevenge。Therewaslittlereferencetothehorrorsofwar,toitsgriefs,itsdreadfulagonies,itsirreparablelosses。

  Fromthefirstwordheliftedhisaudiencetothehighplaneofsacramentandsacrifice。Theywerecalledupontoofferuponthealtaroftheworld’sfreedomallthattheyhelddearinlife——yea,lifeitself!Itwastheancientsacrificethatthenoblestoftheracehadalwaysbeencalledupontomake。Ingivingthemselvestothiscausetheyweregivingthemselvestotheircountry。TheywereofferingthemselvestoGod。Insimplediction,andinclearflowingspeech,thesermonproceededwithoutpauseorstumblingtotheend。Thepreacherclosedwithanappealtothesoldierspresenttomakethissacrificeoftheirsatonceworthyandcomplete。Thesebodiesoftheirsweresacredandweredevotedtothiscause。Itwastheirdutytokeepthemcleanandfit。

  Forafewbriefmoments,heturnedtotheotherspresentattheservice——thefathers,mothers,wivesandsweetheartsofthesoldiers,andremindedthemintonesthrillingwithtendernessandsympathythatthoughnotprivilegedtoshareinthesoldiers’

  serviceinthefrontlines,nonethelessmighttheyshareinthissacrifice,bypatientenduranceoftheseparationandloss,byacheerfulsubmissiontotrial,andbycontinualremembranceinprayertoAlmightyGodofthesacredcauseanditsdefenderstheymighthelptobringthiscausetovictory。

  Inthebriefprayerthatfollowedthesermon,inwordstender,simple,heart—moving,heledthepeopleinsolemndedicationofthemselves,soulandbody,totheircountry,totheircause,totheirGod。

  Theeffectofthesermonandprayerwasoverpowering。Therewerenotears,butmenwalkedoutwithheadsmoreerect,becauseoftheexaltationofspiritwhichwastheirs。Andwomen,fearfulofthecominghourofparting,felttheirheartsgrowstrongwithinthemwiththethoughtthattheywerevoluntarilysendingtheirmenaway。

  Uponthewholecongregationlayanewandsolemnsenseofduty,anewandupliftingsenseofprivilegeinmakingthesacrificeofallthattheycountedpreciousforthisholycause。

  ItwasthesermonthatbroughtthedecisioninthematterofBarry’sappointment。

  \"Whatdoyouthinkofthat,ColonelKavanagh?\"askedCaptainNeilFraser,whocameinfortheservice。

  \"Averyfinesermon!Averynotablesermon!\"saidthecolonel。

  \"Whoishe?\"

  \"Heismyownminister,\"saidCaptainNeil,\"andhegaveme,to—

  day,thesurpriseofmylife。Ididn’tknowitwasinhim。I

  understandthereisachanceofhisbeingourchaplain。HeisSergeantDunbar’sson。\"

  \"IwishtoHeavenwecouldtakehimwithus!Whataboutit,Fraser?We’vegotthefather,whynottheson,too?They’dbothlikeit。\"

  \"Isay,Colonel,forHeaven’ssake,haveaheart。Ihatedtosurrendermycompanysergeantmajor。Idon’tthinkIoughttobeaskedtosurrenderourchaplain。\"

  \"Allright,Fraser,sobeit。Butyouhavegotawonderfulchaplaininthatboy。Whataface!Whatavoice!Andthat’sthekindofaspiritwewantinourmen。\"

  Thatveryafternoon,CaptainNeilwentstraightawaytoColonelLeighton,theofficercommandingthenewregimenttowhichCaptainNeil’scompanybelonged。Tothecolonelhegaveanenthusiasticreportofthesermon,withColonelKavanagh’sjudgmentthereon。

  \"Iwouldsuggest,sir,thatyouwireOttawaonthematter,\"heurged。\"IfColonelKavanaghthoughthehadachance,hewouldnothesitate。Wereallyoughttogetthisfixed。Iassureyouhe’safind。\"

  \"Gotoit,then,Fraser。I’mratherinterestedtoseeyourearnestdesireforachaplain。TheLordknowsyouneedone!GouptoHeadquartersandusemyname。Saywhatyoulike。\"

  ThusitcamethatthefollowingdayBarrywasinformedbywireofhisappointmentaschaplainofthenewregimentofAlbertarangers。

  \"It’satleastarelieftohavethemattersettled,\"saidhisfather,towhomBarrybroughthiswire。\"Barry,I’mgladoftheopportunitytotellyouthatsinceyesterday,mymindhasundergoneconsiderablechange。Iamnotsurebutthatyouhavefoundyourplaceandyourworkinthewar。\"

  \"No,dad,\"answeredBarry,\"Iwasn’tresponsibleforthatsermonyesterday。Thewarwasverynearandveryrealtome。Thoseboyswerelookingupatme,andyouwerethere,dad。Youdrewthatsermonstuffoutofme。\"

  \"Ifonce,whynotagain?Atanyrate,itgreatlyrejoicedmetoknowthatitwasthereinyou。Idon’tsayIwasproudofyou,myboy。Iwasproudofyou,butthatisnotthewordthatIshouldliketouse。IwasprofoundlygratefulthatIwasprivilegedtohearasermonlikethatfromasonofmine。Now,Barry,\"continuedhisfather,\"thisisourlastdaytogetherforsomemonths,perhapsforever,\"headdedinalowtone。

  \"Don’t,daddy,don’t,\"criedBarry,\"Ican’tbeartothinkofthatto—day。\"

  \"Allright,Barry,butwhynot?Itisreallyfarbetterthatweshouldfaceallthepossibilities。Butnowthatwehavethisday——

  andwhataperfectdayitis——forourlastdaytogether,whatshallwedowithit?\"

  \"Iknow,dad——Ithinkyouwouldwishthatwetakeourrideintothefoothillsto—day。\"

  \"Itwasinmymind,myboy。Ihesitatedtosuggestit。Soletusgo。\"

  ItwasoneofthoserareNovemberdaysthatonlyAlbertaknows,mellowwiththewarmsun,andyetwithanipinitthatsuggestedthecomingfrost,withoutarippleofthewindthatalmostconstantlysweepstheAlbertaranges。Intheblueskyhungmotionless,likewhiteshipsatsea,bitsofcloud。Thelonggrass,brown,yellowandgreeninahundredshades,laylikeacarpetovertherollinghillsandwidespreadingvalleys,reachinguponeverysidetothehorizon,excepttowardthewest,whereitfadedintotheblueofthefoothillsatthebasesofthemightyRockies。

  Upthelongtrail,resilienttotheirhorses’feet,theycanteredwherethegoingwasgood,orpickedtheirwaywithslowandcarefultreadwheretherockyridgesjuttedthroughtheblacksoil。

  Theymadenoefforttorepulsethethoughtthatthiswastheirlastdaytogether,nordidtheyseektobanishthefactofthewar。

  Withcalmcourageandhopetheyfacedthefactsoftheirenvironment,seekingtoaideachotherinreadjustingtheirlivestothosefacts。

  Theywereresolutelycheerful。Thedaywasnottobespoiledwithtearsandlamentations。Alreadyeachinhisownplaceandtimehadmadehissacrificeofacomradeshipthatwasfardearerthanlife。

  Theagonyofthathour,eachhadborneinsilenceandalone。Noshadowshouldfallacrossthissunnyday。

  Bythesideofthegrave,initslittlepalisadedenclosure,theylingered,thefatherrecallingthedaysofhisearliermanhood,whichhadbeenbrightenedbyalovewhosefragrancehehadcherishedandsharedwithhissonthroughtheiryearstogether,Barrylisteningwithreverentattentionandtendersympathy。

  \"IhadalwaysplannedthatItooshouldbelaidhere,Barry,\"saidhisfather,astheypreparedtotaketheirdeparture,\"butdoyouknow,boy,thiswarhasmademanychangesinmeandthisisone。

  Itseemstomeaverylittlethingwheremybodylies,ifitbeoffered,asyouweresayingsobeautifullyyesterday,insacrificetoourcause。\"

  Barrycouldonlynodhisheadinreply。Hewasdeeplymoved。

  \"Youareyoung,Barry,\"saidhisfather,notinghisemotion,\"andlifeisverydeartoyou,myboy。\"

  \"No,dad,no!Notlife,\"saidBarrybrokenly。\"Notlife,onlyyou,dad。Ijustwantyou,and,ohdad!\"continuedtheboy,losingholdofhimselfandmakingnoefforttocheckorhidethetearsthatrandownhisface,\"ifoneofusistogointhiswar,——asislikelyenough,——Ionlywantthattheothershouldbethereatthetime。Itwouldbe——terribly——lonely——dad——togooutmyself——

  withoutyou。Ortohaveyougoout——alone。——Wehavealwaysbeentogether——andyouhavebeen——soverygoodtome,dad。Ican’thelpthis,dad,——Itry——butIamnotstrongenough——I’mnotholdingbackfromthesacrifice,dad,\"hurryinghiswords,——\"No,no,notthat,butperhapsyouunderstand。\"

  Foranswer,hisfatherputbothhisarmsaroundhisson,drewhisheaddowntohisbreast,asifhehadbeenachild。

  \"There,there,laddie,\"hesaid,pattinghimontheshoulder,\"I

  know,Iknow!OhGod,howIknow。Wehavelivedtogetherveryclosely,withoutashadoweverbetweenus,andmyprayer,sincethiswarbegan,hasbeenthatindeath,ifithadtobe,wemightbetogether,and,Barry,somehowIbelieveGodwillgiveusthat。\"

  \"Goodolddad,goodoldboy!Whatabrickyouare!Icouldn’thelpthat,dad。Forgivemeforbeingababy,andspoilingtheday——\"

  \"Forgiveyou,boy,\"stillwithhisarmsaroundhisson,\"Barry,I

  loveyouforit。You’veneverbroughtmeonesorrownorwillyou。

  To—dayandeverydayIthankGodforyou,myson。\"

  Theyrodebackthroughtheeveningtowardthecamp。Bythetimetheyarrivedthere,thesunhadsunkbehindthemountains,andthequietstarswereridingserenelyabovethebroken,floatingclouds,andintheirheartswaspeace。

  CHAPTERVIII

  AQUESTIONOFNERVE

  \"Gentlemen,mayIintroduceCaptainDunbar,yoursky—pilot,padre,chaplain,anythingyoulike?Theysayhe’sadevilofagoodpreacher。TheLordknowsyouneedone。\"

  SoBarry’scommandingofficerintroducedhimtothemess。

  Hebowedindifferentdirectionstothegroupofofficerswho,intheante—roomofthemess,werehavingapre—prandialcocktail。

  Barryfoundaplacenearthefootofthetableandforafewminutessatsilent,gettinghisbearings。

  Someoftheofficerswereknowntohim。Hehadmetthecommandingofficer,ColonelLeighton,atypical,burlyEnglishman,theownerofanAlbertahorseranch,who,welltodotobeginwith,hadmademoneyduringhisfiveyearsinthecountry。Hehadthereputationofbeingasportingman,ofeasymorality,fondofhisglassandofgoodliving。Heowedhispresentposition,partlytopoliticalinfluence,andpartlytohispreviousmilitaryexperienceintheSouthAfricanwar。Hispopularitywithhisofficerswasduelargelytohiseasydiscipline,andtotheabsenceofthatrigidityofmannerwhichissupposedtogowithhighmilitarycommand,andwhichciviliansarewonttofindsoirksome。

  BarryhadalsometMajorBustead,theSeniorMajoroftheBattalion,andPresidentofthemess,aneasternCanadian,withnomilitaryexperiencewhatever,butwithaboundingenergyandambition;theclosefriendandbooncompanionofColonelLeighton,henaturallyhadbecomehissecondincommand。BarrywasespeciallydelightedtoobserveMajorBayne,whomhehadnotseensincehisfirstmeetingwithhimsomemonthsagoontheRedPineTrail。CaptainNeilFraserandLieutenantStewartDuffweretheonlyofficersaboutthetablewhomherecognised,exceptthat,amongthejuniorlieutenants,hecaughtthefaceofyoungDuncanCameron,theoldestsonofhissuperintendent,andafine,clean—lookingyoungfellowheappeared。

  AltogetherBarrywasstronglyattractedbytheclean,strongfacesabouthim。Hewouldsurelysoonfindgoodfriendsamongthem,andheonlyhopedhemightbeabletobeofsomeservicetothem。

  TheyoungfellowonhisrightintroducedhimselfasCaptainHopeton。HewasayoungEnglishpublicschoolboy,who,thoughafailureasarancher,hadprovedanimmensesuccessinthesocialcirclesofthecity。Becauseofthis,andalsoofhisfamilyconnections\"athome,\"hehadbeenappointedtoaCivilServiceposition。Aratherboredmannerandasuperciliousairspoiledwhatwouldotherwisehavebeenahandsomeandattractiveface。

  Afterasingleremarkaboutthe\"beastlybore\"ofmilitaryduty,HopetonignoredBarry,givingsuchattentionashehadtosparefromhisdinnertoamanacrossthetable,withwhom,apparently,hehadsharedsomeratherexcitingsocialexperiencesinthecity。

  Forthefirsthalfhourofthemeal,theconversationwasofthemosttrivialnature,andwastoBarrysupremelyuninteresting。

  \"Shoptalk\"wasstrictlytaboo,andalsoallreferencetothewar。

  Thethinstreamofconversationthattrickledfromliptolipranthegamutofsport,spicedsomewhathighlywithsocietyscandalwhich,eveninthatlittlecity,appearedtoflourish。

  ToBarryitwasasifhewereinastrangelandandamongpeopleofastrangetongue。Ofsport,asunderstoodbytheseyoungchaps,heknewlittle,andofscandalhewasentirelyinnocent;somuchsothatmanyofthereferencesthatexcitedthemostmerrimentweretohimutterlyobscure。Aftersomeattemptstointroducetopicsofconversationwhichhethoughtmightbeofmutualinterest,butwhichhadfallenquiteflat,Barrygaveup,andsatsilentwithadesolatingsenseoflonelinessgrowinguponhisspirit。

  \"Aftertheport,\"whensmokingwaspermitted,hewasofferedacigarettebyHopeton,andsurprisedthatyoungmanmightilybysayingthatheneversmoked。Thissurprise,itistobefeared,deepenedintodisgustwhen,afewmomentslater,hedeclinedadrinkfromHopeton’swhiskybottle,whichaservantbroughthim。

  Liquorswerenotprovidedatthemess,butofficerswerepermittedtoorderwhattheydesired。

  Asthebottlescirculated,tongueswereloosened。Therewasnothingfoulinthetalk,butmoreandmoreprofanity,withfrequentapologytothechaplain,begantodecoratetheconversation。Consciousofadeepeningdisgustwithhisenvironment,andofanoverwhelmingsenseofisolation,Barrycastvainlyaboutforameansofescape。Ofmilitaryetiquettehewasignorant;hencehecouldonlywaitindeepeningdisgustfortheO。C。togivethesignaltorise。Howlonghecouldhaveenduredisdoubtful,butreleasecameinastartling,and,tomostofthemembersofthemess,atrulyhorrifyingmanner。

  Inoneofthosestrangesilencesthatfalluponeventhenoisiestofcompanies,ColonelLeighton,undertheinfluenceofasomewhatliberalindulgenceinhiswhiskybottle,begantherelationofataleofverydoubtfulflavour。Inthemidstofthelaughterthatfollowedthetale,Barryrosetohisfeet,hisfacewhiteandhiseyesaflame,andinavoicevibratingwithpassion,said:

  \"MayIbeexcused,sir?\"

  \"Why,certainly,\"saidthecolonelpleasantly,addingafteramoment’shesitation,\"isthereanythingwrong,Dunbar?Areyouill?\"

  \"No,sir。\"Barry’svoicehadtheresonantqualityofacellostring。\"Imean,yes,sir,\"hecorrected。\"Iamill。Theatmospheresurroundingsuchataleisnauseatingtome。\"

  Inthehorrifiedsilencethatfollowedhisremark,hewalkedoutfromtheroom。Uponhisears,ashestoodintheante—room,tremblingwiththeviolenceofhispassion,aburstoflaughterfell。Asuddenwrathlikeahotflameswepthisbody。Hewheeledinhistracks,toreopenthedoor,andwithheadhighandfaceset,strodetohisplaceatthetableandsatdown。

  Astonishmentbeyondallwordsheldthecompanyintensestillness。

  FromBarry’sfacetheylookedtowardthecolonel,who,toodumfoundedforspeechoraction,satgazingathischaplain。ThenfromtheendofthetableafewplacesdownfromBarry,avoicewasheard。

  \"Feelbetter,Dunbar?\"Thecool,clearvoicecutthroughthetensesilencelikethezipofasword。

  \"Ido,thankyou,sir,\"lookinghimstraightintheeye。

  \"Thefreshair,doubtless,\"continuedthecoolvoice。\"Ialwaysfindmyselfthatevenawhiffoffreshairisaveryeffectiveantidoteforthreateningvertigo。Irememberonce——\"continuedthespeaker,droppingintoaconversationaltone,andleaningacrossthetableslightlytowardBarry,\"Iwasintheroomwithacompanyofmen——\"Andthespeakerentereduponalongandnonetoointerestingrelationofanexperienceofhis,thepointofwhichnoonegrasped,buttheeffectofwhicheveryonewelcomedwiththeprofoundestrelief。Hewastheregimentalmedicalofficer,atall,slightman,withakeeneye,apleasantfacecrownedbyatopknotofflaminghair,andwithalittledabofhairoflikecolouruponhisupperlip,whichhefondlycherished,asanimportantiteminhismilitaryequipment。

  \"Say,theolddocisalifesaver,sureenough,\"saidayoungsubaltern,answeringtothenameof\"Sally,\"colloquialforSalford,ashestoodamidacircleofofficersgatheredinthesmokingroomafewminuteslater。\"Alifesaver,\"repeatedSally,withemphasis。\"HecanhavemeforhislaboratorycollectionafterI’mthrough。\"

  \"Heisonesuresingingbird,\"saidanothersub,astout,overgrownboybythenameofBooth。\"Thenerveofhim,\"addedBoothinadmiration。

  \"Nerve!\"echoedayoungcaptain,\"butwhataboutthepilot’snerve?\"

  \"Suigeneris,Train,Ishouldsay,\"drawledHopeton。

  \"Suey,whodidyousay?\"inquiredSally。\"What’shersecondname?

  ButletmetellyouIcouldhavefallenonhisneckandburstintotearsofgratitude。Forme,\"continuedSally,glancingabouttheroom,\"Idon’tholdwiththatdirtstuffatmess。Itisn’tnecessary。\"

  \"Beastlybadform,\"saidHopeton,\"but,goodLord!YourCommandingOfficer,Sally!There’ssuchathingasdiscipline,youknow。\"

  \"WhatextraordinarythingisitthatSallyknows?\"inquiredMajorBustead,wholoungeduptothegroup。

  \"Wewerediscussingthepadre’sbreak,Major,whichformypart,\"

  drawledHopeton,\"Iconsiderrottendiscipline。\"

  \"Discipline!\"snortedthemajor。\"ByGad,itwasapieceofthemostdamnablecheekIhaveeverheardatamesstable。HeoughttobesenttoCoventry。IonlyhopetheO。C。willgethimexchanged。\"

  Themajormadenoefforttosubduehisvoice,whichwasplainlyaudiblethroughouttheroom。

  \"Hush,forGod’ssake,\"warnedCaptainTrain,asBarryenteredthedoor。\"Hereheis。\"

点击下载App,搜索"The Sky Pilot in No Man’s Land",免费读到尾