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—