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。