Webumpedandbouncedhorribly，andwereshakenaboutlikepeasinabladder。Ibegantobeacutelyanxiousabouttheoldboneshaker，themoreasweseemedalongwayshortofthevillageIhadproposedtospendthenightin。Twilightwasfallingandwewerestillinanunfeaturedwaste，crossingtheshallowglenofastream。
Therewasabridgeatthebottomofaslope—abridgeoflogsandearthwhichhadapparentlybeenfreshlystrengthenedforheavytraffic。Asweapproacheditatagoodpacethecarceasedtoanswertothewheel。
Istruggleddesperatelytokeepitstraight，butitswervedtotheleftandweplungedoverabankintoamarshyhollow。Therewasasickeningbumpaswestruckthelowerground，andthewholepartywereshotoutintothefrozenslush。Idon’tyetknowhowI
escaped，forthecarturnedoverandbyrightsIshouldhavehadmybackbroken。Butnoonewashurt。Peterwaslaughing，andBlenkiron，aftershakingthesnowoutofhishair，joinedhim。FormyselfIwasfeverishlyexaminingthemachine。Itwasaboutasuglyasitcouldbe，forthefrontaxlewasbroken。
Herewasapieceofhopelessbadluck。WewerestuckinthemiddleofAsiaMinorwithnomeansofconveyance，fortogetanewaxletherewasaslikelyastofindsnowballsontheCongo。Itwasallbutdarkandtherewasnotimetolose。Igotoutthepetroltinsandsparetyresandcachedthemamongsomerocksonthehillside。ThenwecollectedourscantybaggagefromthederelictStudebaker。OuronlyhopewasHussin。Hehadgottofindussomelodgingforthenight，andnextdaywewouldhaveatryforhorsesoraliftinsomepassingwagon。Ihadnohopeofanothercar。EveryautomobileinAnatoliawouldnowbeatapremium。
Itwassodisgustingamishapthatwealltookitquietly。Itwastoobadtobehelpedbyhardswearing。HussinandPetersetoffondifferentsidesoftheroadtoprospectforahouse，andBlenkironandIshelteredunderthenearestrockandsmokedsavagely。
Hussinwasthefirsttostrikeoil。Hecamebackintwentyminuteswithnewsofsomekindofdwellingacoupleofmilesupthestream。HewentofftocollectPeter，and，humpingourbaggage，BlenkironandIploddedupthewaterside。Darknesshadfallenthickbythistime，andwetooksomebadtossesamongthebogs。
WhenHussinandPeterovertookustheyfoundabetterroad，andpresentlywesawalighttwinkleinthehollowahead。
Itprovedtobeawretchedtumble—downfarminagroveofpoplars—afoul—smelling，muddyyard，atwo—roomedhovelofahouse，andabarnwhichwastolerablydryandwhichweselectedforoursleeping—place。Theownerwasabrokenoldfellowwhosesonswereallatthewar，andhereceiveduswiththeprofoundcalmofonewhoexpectsnothingbutunpleasantnessfromlife。
Bythistimewehadrecoveredourtempers，andIwastryinghardtoputmynewKismetphilosophyintopractice。Ireckonedthatifriskswereforeordained，soweredifficulties，andbothmustbetakenaspartoftheday’swork。Withtheremainsofourprovisionsandsomecurdledmilkwesatisfiedourhungerandcurledourselvesupamongthepeasestrawofthebarn。Blenkironannouncedwithahappysighthathehadnowbeenfortwodaysquitofhisdyspepsia。
Thatnight，Iremember，Ihadaqueerdream。Iseemedtobeinawildplaceamongmountains，andIwasbeinghunted，thoughwhowasaftermeIcouldn’ttell。Iremembersweatingwithfright，forI
seemedtobequitealoneandtheterrorthatwaspursuingmewasmorethanhuman。Theplacewashorriblyquietandstill，andtherewasdeepsnowlyingeverywhere，sothateachstepItookwasheavyaslead。Averyordinarysortofnightmare，youwillsay。Yes，buttherewasonestrangefeatureinthisone。Thenightwaspitchdark，butaheadofmeinthethroatofthepasstherewasonepatchoflight，anditshowedarumlittlehillwitharockytop:whatwecallinSouthAfricaa_castrolorsaucepan。IhadanotionthatifI
couldgettothat_castrolIshouldbesafe，andIpantedthroughthedriftstowardsitwiththeavengerofbloodatmyheels。Iwoke，gasping，tofindthewintermorningstrugglingthroughthecrackedrafters，andtohearBlenkironsaycheerilythathisduodenumhadbehavedallnightlikeagentleman。Ilaystillforabittryingtofixthedream，butitalldissolvedintohazeexceptthepictureofthelittlehill，whichwasquiteclearineverydetail。Itoldmyselfitwasareminiscenceoftheveld，somespotdownintheWakkerstroomcountry，thoughforthelifeofmeIcouldn’tplaceit。
Ipassoverthenextthreedays，fortheywereoneuninterruptedseriesofheart—breaks。HussinandPeterscouredthecountryforhorses，BlenkironsatinthebarnandplayedPatience，whileI
hauntedtheroadsidenearthebridgeinthehopeofpickingupsomekindofconveyance。Mytaskwasperfectlyfutile。Thecolumnspassed，castingwonderingeyesonthewreckedcaramongthefrozenrushes，buttheycouldoffernohelp。MyfriendtheTurkishofficerpromisedtowiretoAngorafromsomeplaceorotherforafreshcar，but，rememberingthestateofaffairsatAngora，Ihadnohopefromthatquarter。Carspassed，plentyofthem，packedwithstaff—officers，TurkishandGerman，buttheywereinfartoobigahurryeventostopandspeak。TheonlyconclusionIreachedfrommyroadsidevigilwasthatthingsweregettingverywarmintheneighbourhoodofErzerum。Everybodyonthatroadseemedtobeinmadhasteeithertogetthereortogetaway。
Hussinwasthebestchance，for，asIhavesaid，theCompanionshadaveryspecialandpeculiargraftthroughouttheTurkishEmpire。Butthefirstdayhecamebackempty—handed。Allthehorseshadbeencommandeeredforthewar，hesaid;andthoughhewascertainthatsomehadbeenkeptbackandhiddenaway，hecouldnotgetontheirtrack。Theseconddayhereturnedwithtwo—miserablescrewsanddeplorablyshortinthewindfromadietofbeans。Therewasnodecentcornorhayleftinthecountryside。ThethirddayhepickedupanicelittleArabstallion:inpoorcondition，itistrue，butperfectlysound。
Forthesebeastswepaidgoodmoney，forBlenkironwaswellsuppliedandwehadnotimetosparefortheinterminableOrientalbargaining。
Hussinsaidhehadcleanedupthecountryside，andIbelievedhim。Idarednotdelayanotherday，eventhoughitmeantleavinghimbehind。Buthehadnonotionofdoinganythingofthekind。
Hewasagoodrunner，hesaid，andcouldkeepupwithsuchhorsesasoursforever。Ifthiswasthemannerofourprogress，IreckonedwewouldbeweeksingettingtoErzerum。
Westartedatdawnonthemorningofthefourthday，aftertheoldfarmerhadblessedusandsoldussomestalerye—bread。BlenkironbestrodetheArab，beingtheheaviest，andPeterandIhadthescrews。Myworstforebodingsweresoonrealized，andHussin，lopingalongatmyside，hadaneasyjobtokeepupwithus。Wewereaboutasslowasanox—wagon。Thebruteswereunshod，andwiththeroughroadsIsawthattheirfeetwouldverysoongotopieces。Wejoggedalonglikeatinker’scaravan，aboutfivemilestothehour，asfecklessapartyaseverdisgracedahighroad。
Theweatherwasnowadrizzle，whichincreasedmydepression。
Carspassedusanddisappearedinthemist，goingatthirtymilesanhourtomockourslowness。Noneofusspoke，forthefutilityofthebusinesscloggedourspirits。Ibithardonmyliptocurbmyrestlessness，andIthinkIwouldhavesoldmysoulthereandthenforanythingthatcouldmovefast。Idon’tknowanysorertrialthantobemadforspeedandhavetocrawlatasnail’space。Iwasgettingripeforanykindofdesperateventure。
Aboutmiddaywedescendedonawideplainfullofthemarksofrichcultivation。Villagesbecamefrequent，andthelandwasstuddedwitholivegrovesandscarredwithwaterfurrows。FromwhatI
rememberedofthemapIjudgedthatwewerecomingtothatchampagnecountrynearSiwas，whichisthegranaryofTurkey，andthehomeofthetrueOsmanlistock。
Thenattheturningoftheroadwecametothecaravanserai。
Itwasadingy，batteredplace，withthepinkplasterfallinginpatchesfromitswalls。Therewasacourtyardabuttingontheroad，andaflat—toppedhousewithabigholeinitsside。Itwasalongwayfromanybattle—ground，andIguessedthatsomeexplosionhadwroughtthedamage。Behindit，afewhundredyardsoff，adetachmentofcavalrywereencampedbesideastream，withtheirhorsestiedupinlonglinesofpickets。
Andbytheroadside，quitealoneanddeserted，stoodalargenewmotor—car。
Inalltheroadbeforeandbehindtherewasnomantobeseenexceptthetroopsbythestream。Theowners，whoevertheywere，mustbeinsidethecaravanserai。
IhavesaidIwasinthemoodforsomedesperatedeed，andloandbeholdprovidencehadgivenmethechance！IcovetedthatcarasIhavenevercovetedanythingonearth。Atthemomentallmyplanshadnarroweddowntoafeverishpassiontogettothebattle—
field。WehadtofindGreenmantleatErzerum，andoncethereweshouldhaveHildavonEinem’sprotection。Itwasatimeofwar，andafrontofbrasswasthesurestsafety。But，indeed，Icouldnotfigureoutanyplanworthspeakingof。Isawonlyonething—afastcarwhichmightbeours。
Isaidawordtotheothers，andwedismountedandtetheredourhorsesatthenearendofthecourtyard。Iheardthelowhumofvoicesfromthecavalrymenbythestream，buttheywerethreehundredyardsoffandcouldnotseeus。Peterwassentforwardtoscoutinthecourtyard。Inthebuildingitselftherewasbutonewindowlookingontheroad，andthatwasintheupperfloor。
MeantimeIcrawledalongbesidethewalltowherethecarstood，andhadalookatit。Itwasasplendidsix—cylinderaffair，brandnew，withthetyreslittleworn。Therewereseventinsofpetrolstackedbehindaswellassparetyres，and，lookingin，Isawmap—
casesandfield—glassesstrewnontheseatsasiftheownershadonlygotoutforaminutetostretchtheirlegs。
Petercamebackandreportedthatthecourtyardwasempty。
’Therearemenintheupperroom，’hesaid;’morethanone，forI
heardtheirvoices。Theyaremovingaboutrestlessly，andmaysoonbecomingout。’
Ireckonedthattherewasnotimetobelost，soItoldtheotherstoslipdowntheroadfiftyyardsbeyondthecaravanseraiandbereadytoclimbinasIpassed。Ihadtostarttheinfernalthing，andtheremightbeshooting。
IwaitedbythecartillIsawthemreachtherightdistance。I
couldhearvoicesfromthesecondfloorofthehouseandfootstepsmovingupanddown。Iwasinafeverofanxiety，foranymomentamanmightcometothewindow。ThenIflungmyselfonthestartinghandleandworkedlikeademon。
Thecoldmadethejobdifficult，andmyheartwasinmymouth，forthenoiseinthatquietplacemusthavewokethedead。Then，bythemercyofHeaven，theenginestarted，andIsprangtothedrivingseat，releasedtheclutch，andopenedthethrottle。Thegreatcarshotforward，andIseemedtohearbehindmeshrillvoices。A
pistolbulletboredthroughmyhat，andanotherburieditselfinacushionbesideme。
InasecondIwasclearoftheplaceandtherestofthepartywereembarking。Blenkirongotonthestepandrolledhimselflikeasackofcoalsintothetonneau。Peternippedupbesideme，andHussinscrambledinfromthebackoverthefoldsofthehood。Wehadourbaggageinourpocketsandhadnothingtocarry。
Bulletsdroppedroundus，butdidnoharm。ThenIheardareportatmyear，andoutofacornerofmyeyesawPeterlowerhispistol。Presentlywewereoutofrange，and，lookingback，Isawthreemengesticulatinginthemiddleoftheroad。
’Maythedevilflyawaywiththispistol，’saidPeterruefully。’I
nevercouldmakegoodshootingwithalittlegun。HadIhadmyrifle……’
’Whatdidyoushootfor？’Iaskedinamazement。’We’vegotthefellows’car，andwedon’twanttodothemanyharm。’
’ItwouldhavesavedtroublehadIhadmyrifle，’saidPeter，quietly。’ThelittlemanyoucallRastawasthere，andheknewyou。
Iheardhimcryyourname。Heisanangrylittleman，andIobservethatonthisroadthereisatelegraph。’
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
TroublebyTheWatersofBabylonFromthatmomentIdatethebeginningofmymadness。SuddenlyI
forgotallcaresanddifficultiesofthepresentandfutureandbecamefoolishlylight—hearted。Wewererushingtowardsthegreatbattlewheremenwerebusyatmypropertrade。IrealizedhowmuchI
hadloathedthelonelydaysinGermany，andstillmorethedawdlingweekinConstantinople。NowIwasclearofitall，andboundfortheclashofarmies。Itdidn’ttroublemethatwewereonthewrongsideofthebattleline。Ihadasortofinstinctthatthedarkerandwilderthingsgrewthebetterchanceforus。
’Seemstome，’saidBlenkiron，bendingoverme，’thatthisjoy—
rideisgoingtocometoanuntimelyendprettysoon。Peter’sright。
Thatyoungmanwillsetthetelegraphgoing，andwe’llbeheldupatthenexttownship。’
’He’sgottogettoatelegraphofficefirst，’Ianswered。’That’swherewehavethepullonhim。He’swelcometothescrewsweleftbehind，andifhefindsanoperatorbeforetheeveningI’mtheworstkindofaDutchman。I’mgoingtobreakalltherulesandbucketthiscarforwhatshe’sworth。Don’tyouseethatthenearerwegettoErzerumthesaferweare？’
’Idon’tfollow，’hesaidslowly。’AtErzerumIreckonthey’llbewaitingforuswiththehandcuffs。Whyinthundercouldn’tthosehairyragamuffinskeepthelittlecusssafe？Yourrecord’sabittooprecipitous，Major，forthemostinnocent—mindedmilitaryboss。’
’DoyourememberwhatyousaidabouttheGermansbeingopentobluff？Well，I’mgoingtoputupthesteepestsortofbluff。Ofcoursethey’llstopus。Rastawilldohisdamnedest。ButrememberthatheandhisfriendsarenotverypopularwiththeGermans，andMadamevonEinemis。We’reherproteges，andthebiggertheGermanswellIgetbeforethesaferI’llfeel。We’vegotourpassportsandourorders，andhe’llbeaboldmanthatwillstopusoncewegetintotheGermanzone。ThereforeI’mgoingtohurryasfastasGodwillletme。’
Itwasaridethatdeservedtohaveanepicwrittenaboutit。Thecarwasgood，andIhandledherwell，thoughIsayitwhoshouldn’t。
Theroadinthatbigcentralplainwasfair，andoftenIknockedfiftymilesanhouroutofher。Wepassedtroopsbyacircuitovertheveld，wherewetooksomeawfulrisks，andonceweskiddedbysometransportwithouroffwheelsalmostoverthelipofaravine。
WewentthroughthenarrowstreetsofSiwaslikeafire—engine，whileIshoutedoutinGermanthatwecarrieddespatchesforheadquarters。Weshotoutofdrizzlingrainintobriefspellsofwintersunshine，andthenintoasnowblizzardwhichallbutwhippedtheskinfromourfaces。Andalwaysbeforeusthelongroadunrolled，withsomewhereattheendofittwoarmiesclinchedinadeath—grapple。
Thatnightwelookedfornolodging。Weateasortofmealinthecarwiththehoodup，andfeltourwayoninthedarkness，fortheheadlightswereinperfectorder。Thenweturnedofftheroadforfourhours’sleep，andIhadagoatthemap。Beforedawnwestartedagain，andcameoverapassintothevaleofabigriver。Thewinterdawnshoweditsgleamingstretches，ice—boundamongthesprinkledmeadows。IcalledtoBlenkiron:
’IbelievethatriveristheEuphrates，’Isaid。
’So，’hesaid，acutelyinterested。’Thenthat’sthewatersofBabylon。Greatsnakes，thatIshouldhavelivedtoseethefieldswhereKingNebuchadnezzargrazed！Doyouknowthenameofthatbighill，Major？’
’Ararat，aslikeasnot，’Icried，andhebelievedme。
Wewereamongthehillsnow，great，rocky，blackslopes，and，seenthroughsideglens，ahinterlandofsnowypeaks。IrememberI
keptlookingforthe_castrolIhadseeninmydream。Thethinghadneverleftoffhauntingme，andIwasprettyclearnowthatitdidnotbelongtomySouthAfricanmemories。Iamnotasuperstitiousman，butthewaythatlittle_kranzclungtomymindmademethinkitwasawarningsentbyProvidence。IwasprettycertainthatwhenIclappedeyesonitIwouldbeinforbadtrouble。
Allmorningwetravelledupthatbroadvale，andjustbeforenoonitspreadoutwider，theroaddippedtothewater’sedge，andI
sawbeforemethewhiteroofsofatown。Thesnowwasdeepnow，andlaydowntotheriverside，buttheskyhadcleared，andagainstaspaceofblueheavensomepeakstothesouthroseglitteringlikejewels。Thearchesofabridge，spanningtwoforksofthestream，showedinfront，andasIsloweddownatthebendasentry’schallengerangoutfromablock—house。WehadreachedthefortressofErzingjan，theheadquartersofaTurkishcorpsandthegateofArmenia。
Ishowedthemanourpassports，buthedidnotsaluteandletusmoveon。Hecalledanotherfellowfromtheguardhouse，whomotionedustokeeppacewithhimashestumpeddownasidelane。
Attheotherendwasabigbarrackswithsentriesoutside。ThemanspoketousinTurkish，whichHussininterpreted。Therewassomebodyinthatbarrackswhowantedbadlytoseeus。
’BythewatersofBabylonwesatdownandwept，’quotedBlenkironsoftly。’Ifear，Major，we’llsoonberememberingZion。’
Itriedtopersuademyselfthatthiswasmerelytheredtapeofafrontierfortress，butIhadaninstinctthatdifficultieswereinstoreforus。IfRastahadstartedwiringIwaspreparedtoputupthebrazenestbluff，forwewerestilleightymilesfromErzerum，andatallcostsweweregoingtobelandedtherebeforenight。
Afussystaff—officermetusatthedoor。Atthesightofushecriedtoafriendtocomeandlook。
’Herearethebirdssafe。AfatmanandtwoleanonesandasavagewholookslikeaKurd。Calltheguardandmarchthemoff。
There’snodoubtabouttheiridentity。’
’Pardonme，Sir，’Isaid，’butwehavenotimetospareandwe’dliketobeinErzerumbeforethedark。Iwouldbegyoutogetthroughanyformalitiesassoonaspossible。Thisman，’andI
pointedtothesentry，’hasourpassports。’
’Composeyourself，’hesaidimpudently;’you’renotgoingonjustyet，andwhenyoudoitwon’tbeinastolencar。’Hetookthepassportsandfingeredthemcasually。Thensomethinghesawtheremadehimcockhiseyebrows。
’Wheredidyoustealthese？’heasked，butwithlessassuranceinhistone。
Ispokeverygently。’Youseemtobethevictimofamistake，sir。
Theseareourpapers。WeareunderorderstoreportourselvesatErzerumwithoutanhour’sdelay。WhoeverhindersuswillhavetoanswertoGeneralvonLiman。WewillbeobligedifyouwillconductusatoncetotheGovernor。’
’Youcan’tseeGeneralPosselt，’hesaid;’thisismybusiness。I
haveawirefromSiwasthatfourmenstoleacarbelongingtooneofEnverDamad’sstaff。Itdescribesyouall，andsaysthattwoofyouarenotoriousspieswantedbytheImperialGovernment。Whathaveyoutosaytothat？’
’Onlythatitisrubbish。MygoodSir，youhaveseenourpasses。
Ourerrandisnottobecriedonthehousetops，butfiveminuteswithGeneralPosseltwillmakethingsclear。Youwillbeexceedinglysorryforitifyoudelayanotherminute。’
Hewasimpressedinspiteofhimself，andafterpullinghismoustacheturnedonhisheelandleftus。PresentlyhecamebackandsaidverygrufflythattheGovernorwouldseeus。Wefollowedhimalongacorridorintoabigroomlookingoutontheriver，whereanoldishfellowsatinanarm—chairbyastove，writingletterswithafountainpen。
ThiswasPosselt，whohadbeenGovernorofErzerumtillhefellsickandAhmedFevzitookhisplace。Hehadapeevishmouthandbigbluepouchesbelowhiseyes。HewassupposedtobeagoodengineerandtohavemadeErzerumimpregnable，butthelookonhisfacegavemetheimpressionthathisreputationatthemomentwasabitunstable。
Thestaff—officerspoketohiminanundertone。
’Yes，yes，Iknow，’hesaidtestily。’Arethesethemen？Theylookaprettylotofscoundrels。What’sthatyousay？Theydenyit。Butthey’vegotthecar。Theycan’tdenythat。Here，you，’andhefixedonBlenkiron，’whothedevilareyou？’
Blenkironsmiledsleepilyathim，notunderstandingoneword，andItookuptheparable。
’Ourpassports，Sir，giveourcredentials，’Isaid。Heglancedthroughthem，andhisfacelengthened。
’They’rerightenough。Butwhataboutthisstoryofstealingacar？’
’Itisquitetrue，’Isaid，’butIwouldprefertouseapleasanterword。Youwillseefromourpapersthateveryauthorityontheroadisdirectedtogiveusthebesttransport。Ourowncarbrokedown，andafteralongdelaywegotsomewretchedhorses。ItisvitallyimportantthatweshouldbeinErzerumwithoutdelay，soI
tookthelibertyofappropriatinganemptycarwefoundoutsideaninn。Iamsorryforthediscomfortoftheowners，butourbusinesswastoogravetowait。’
’Butthetelegramsaysyouarenotoriousspies！’
Ismiled。’Whosentthetelegram？
’IseenoreasonwhyIshouldn’tgiveyouhisname。ItwasRastaBey。You’vepickedanawkwardfellowtomakeanenemyof。’
Ididnotsmilebutlaughed。’Rasta！’Icried。’He’soneofEnver’ssatellites。Thatexplainsmanythings。Ishouldlikeawordwithyoualone，Sir。’
Henoddedtothestaff—officer，andwhenhehadgoneIputonmymostBiblefaceandlookedasimportantasaprovincialmayorataroyalvisit。
’Icanspeakfreely，’Isaid，’forIamspeakingtoasoldierofGermany。ThereisnolovelostbetweenEnverandthoseIserve。I
neednottellyouthat。ThisRastathoughthehadfoundachanceofdelayingus，soheinventsthistrashaboutspies。ThoseComitadjishavespiesonthebrain……EspeciallyhehatesFrauvonEinem。’
Hejumpedatthename。
’Youhaveordersfromher？’heasked，inarespectfultone。
’Why，yes，’Ianswered，’andthoseorderswillnotwait。’
Hegotupandwalkedtoatable，whenceheturnedapuzzledfaceonme。’I’mtornintwobetweentheTurksandmyowncountrymen。IfIpleaseoneIoffendtheother，andtheresultisadamnableconfusion。YoucangoontoErzerum，butIshallsendamanwithyoutoseethatyoureporttoheadquartersthere。
I’msorry，gentlemen，butI’mobligedtotakenochancesinthisbusiness。Rasta’sgotagrievanceagainstyou，butyoucaneasilyhidebehindthelady’sskirts。Shepassedthroughthistowntwodaysago。’
TenminuteslaterwewerecoastingthroughtheslushofthenarrowstreetswithastolidGermanlieutenantsittingbesideMe。
TheafternoonwasoneofthoseraredayswheninthepausesofsnowyouhaveaspellofweatherasmildasMay。Irememberedseverallikeitduringourwinter’straininginHampshire。Theroadwasafineone，wellengineered，andwellkepttoo，consideringtheamountoftraffic。Wewerelittledelayed，foritwassufficientlybroadtoletuspasstroopsandtransportwithoutslackeningpace。
Thefellowatmysidewasgood—humouredenough，buthispresencenaturallyputthelidonourconversation。Ididn’twanttotalk，however。Iwastryingtopiecetogetheraplan，andmakingverylittleofit，forIhadnothingtogoupon。WemustfindHildavonEinemandSandy，andbetweenuswemustwrecktheGreenmantlebusiness。Thatdone，itdidn’tmattersomuchwhathappenedtous。
AsIreasoneditout，theTurksmustbeinabadway，and，unlesstheygotafillipfromGreenmantle，wouldcrumpleupbeforetheRussians。IntheroutIhopedwemightgetachancetochangeoursides。Butitwasnogoodlookingsofarforward;thefirstthingwastogettoSandy。
NowIwasstillinthemoodofrecklessbravadowhichIhadgotfrombaggingthecar。Ididnotrealizehowthinourstorywas，andhoweasilyRastamighthaveabiggraftatheadquarters。IfIhad，I
wouldhaveshotouttheGermanlieutenantlongbeforewegottoErzerum，andfoundsomewayofgettingmixedupintheruckofthepopulation。Hussincouldhavehelpedmetothat。IwasgettingsoconfidentsinceourinterviewwithPosseltthatIthoughtIcouldbluffthewholeoutfit。
Butmymainbusinessthatafternoonwaspurenonsense。Iwastryingtofindmylittlehill。AteveryturnoftheroadIexpectedtoseethe_castrolbeforeus。YoumustknowthateversinceIcouldstandIhavebeencrazyabouthighmountains。MyfathertookmetoBasutolandwhenIwasaboy，andIreckonIhavescrambledoveralmosteverybitofuplandsouthoftheZambesi，fromtheHottentotsHollandtotheZoutpansberg，andfromtheuglyyellowkopjesofDamaralandtothenoblecliffsofMontauxSources。OneofthethingsIhadlookedforwardtoincominghomewasthechanceofclimbingtheAlps。ButnowIwasamongpeaksthatI
fanciedwerebiggerthantheAlps，andIcouldhardlykeepmyeyesontheroad。Iwasprettycertainthatmy_castrolwasamongthem，forthatdreamhadtakenanalmightyholdonmymind。Funnilyenough，Iwasceasingtothinkitaplaceofevilomen，foronesoonforgetstheatmosphereofnightmare。ButIwasconvincedthatitwasathingIwasdestinedtosee，andtoseeprettysoon。
Darknessfellwhenweweresomemilesshortofthecity，andthelastpartwasdifficultdriving。Onbothsidesoftheroadtransportandengineers’storeswereparked，andsomeofitstrayedintothehighway。Inoticedlotsofsmalldetails—machine—gundetachments，signallingparties，squadsofstretcher—bearers—whichmeanthefringeofanarmy，andassoonasthenightbeganthewhitefingersofsearchlightsbegantogropeintheskies。
Andthen，abovethehumoftheroadside，rosethevoiceofthegreatguns。Theshellswereburstingfourorfivemilesaway，andthegunsmusthavebeenasmanymoredistant。Butinthatuplandpocketofplaininthefrostynighttheysoundedmostintimatelynear。Theykeptuptheirsolemnlitany，withaminute’sintervalbetweeneach—no_rafalewhichrumbleslikeadrum，butthesteadypersistenceofartilleryexactlyrangedonatarget。Ijudgedtheymustbebombardingtheouterforts，andoncetherecamealoudexplosionandaredglareasifamagazinehadsuffered。
ItwasasoundIhadnotheardforfivemonths，anditfairlycrazedme。IrememberedhowIhadfirsthearditontheridgebeforeLaventie。ThenIhadbeenhalf—afraid，half—solemnized，buteverynervehadbeenquickened。Thenithadbeenthenewthinginmylifethatheldmebreathlesswithanticipation;nowitwastheoldthing，thethingIhadsharedwithsomanygoodfellows，myproperwork，andtheonlytaskforaman。AtthesoundofthegunsIfeltthatIwasmovinginnaturalaironcemore。IfeltthatIwascominghome。
Wewerestoppedatalonglineoframparts，andaGermansergeantstaredatustillhesawthelieutenantbesideme，whenhesalutedandwepassedon。Almostatoncewedippedintonarrowtwistingstreets，chokedwithsoldiers，whereitwashardbusinesstosteer。Therewerefewlights—onlynowandthentheflareofatorchwhichshowedthegreystonehouses，witheverywindowlatticedandshuttered。Ihadputoutmyheadlightsandhadonlysidelamps，sowehadtopickourwaygingerlythroughthelabyrinth。
IhopedwewouldstrikeSandy’squarterssoon，forwewereallprettyempty，andafrosthadsetinwhichmadeourthickcoatsseemasthinaspaper。
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