Onthehighroadtheremightbeawkwardquestions。
WhenIstartedoutagainIfeltverystiffandthecoldseemedtobegrowingintense。Thispuzzledme，forIhadnotmindeditmuchuptonow，and，beingwarm—bloodedbynature，itneverusedtoworryme。Asharpwinternightonthehigh—veldwasalongsightchillierthananythingIhadstrucksofarinEurope。Butnowmyteethwerechatteringandthemarrowseemedtobefreezinginmybones。
Thedayhadstartedbrightandclear，butawrackofgreycloudssooncoveredthesky，andawindfromtheeastbegantowhistle。
AsIstumbledalongthroughthesnowyundergrowthIkeptlongingforbrightwarmplaces。Ithoughtofthoselongdaysontheveldwhentheearthwaslikeagreatyellowbowl，withwhiteroadsrunningtothehorizonandatinywhitefarmbaskingintheheartofit，withitsbluedamandpatchesofbrightgreenlucerne。I
thoughtofthosebakingdaysontheeastcoast，whentheseawaslikemother—of—pearlandtheskyoneburningturquoise。ButmostofallIthoughtofwarmscentednoonsontrek，whenonedozedintheshadowofthewagonandsniffedthewood—smokefromthefirewheretheboyswerecookingdinner。
FromthesepleasantpicturesIreturnedtothebeastlypresent—
thethicksnowywoods，theloweringsky，wetclothes，ahuntedpresent，andadismalfuture。Ifeltmiserablydepressed，andI
couldn’tthinkofanymerciestocount。ItstruckmethatImightbefallingsick。
AboutmiddayIawokewithastarttothebeliefthatIwasbeingpursued。Icannotexplainhoworwhythefeelingcame，exceptthatitisakindofinstinctthatmengetwhohavelivedmuchinwildcountries。Mysenses，whichhadbeennumbed，suddenlygrewkeen，andmybrainbegantoworkdoublequick。
IaskedmyselfwhatIwoulddoifIwereStumm，withhatredinmyheart，abrokenjawtoavenge，andprettywelllimitlesspowers。
Hemusthavefoundthecarinthesandpitandseenmytracksinthewoodopposite。Ididn’tknowhowgoodheandhismenmightbeatfollowingaspoor，butIknewthatanyordinaryKaffircouldhavenoseditouteasily。Buthedidn’tneedtodothat。Thiswasacivilizedcountryfullofroadsandrailways。Imustsometimeandsomewherecomeoutofthewoods。Hecouldhavealltheroadswatched，andthetelephonewouldseteveryoneonmytrackwithinaradiusoffiftymiles。Besides，hewouldsoonpickupmytrailinthevillageIhadvisitedthatmorning。FromthemapIlearnedthatitwascalledGreif，anditwaslikelytoliveuptothatnamewithme。
PresentlyIcametoarockyknollwhichroseoutoftheforest。
KeepingwellinshelterIclimbedtothetopandcautiouslylookedaroundme。AwaytotheeastIsawthevaleofariverwithbroadfieldsandchurch—spires。Westandsouththeforestrolledunbrokeninawildernessofsnowytree—tops。Therewasnosignoflifeanywhere，notevenabird，butIknewverywellthatbehindmeinthewoodsweremenmovingswiftlyonmytrack，andthatitwasprettywellimpossibleformetogetaway。
TherewasnothingforitbuttogoontillIdroppedorwastaken。Ishapedmycoursesouthwithashadeofwestinit，forthemapshowedmethatinthatdirectionIwouldsooneststriketheDanube。WhatIwasgoingtodowhenIgotthereIdidn’ttroubletothink。Ihadfixedtheriverasmyimmediategoalandthefuturemusttakecareofitself。
IwasnowcertainthatIhadfeveronme。Itwasstillinmybones，asalegacyfromAfrica，andhadcomeoutonceortwicewhenIwaswiththebattalioninHampshire。TheboutshadbeenshortforIhadknownoftheircominganddosedmyself。ButnowI
hadnoquinine，anditlookedasifIwereinforaheavygo。Itmademefeeldesperatelywretchedandstupid，andIallbutblunderedintocapture。
ForsuddenlyIcameonaroadandwasgoingtocrossitblindly，whenamanrodeslowlypastonabicycle。LuckilyIwasintheshadeofaclumpofholliesandhewasnotlookingmyway，thoughhewasnotthreeyardsoff。Icrawledforwardtoreconnoitre。Isawabouthalfamileofroadrunningstraightthroughtheforestandeverytwohundredyardswasabicyclist。Theyworeuniformandappearedtobeactingassentries。
Thiscouldonlyhaveonemeaning。Stummhadpicketedalltheroadsandcutmeoffinanangleofthewoods。Therewasnochanceofgettingacrossunobserved。AsIlaytherewithmyheartsinking，Ihadthehorriblefeelingthatthepursuitmightbefollowingmefrombehind，andthatatanymomentIwouldbeenclosedbetweentwofires。
FormorethananhourIstayedtherewithmychininthesnow。
Ididn’tseeanywayout，andIwasfeelingsoillthatIdidn’tseemtocare。Thenmychancecamesuddenlyoutoftheskies。
Thewindrose，andagreatgustofsnowblewfromtheeast。InfiveminutesitwassothickthatIcouldn’tseeacrosstheroad。AtfirstI
thoughtitanewadditiontomytroubles，andthenveryslowlyIsawtheopportunity。Islippeddownthebankandmadereadytocross。
Ialmostblunderedintooneofthebicyclists。Hecriedoutandfelloffhismachine，butIdidn’twaittoinvestigate。AsuddenaccessofstrengthcametomeandIdartedintothewoodsonthefartherside。IknewIwouldbesoonswallowedfromsightinthedrift，andIknewthatthefallingsnowwouldhidemytracks。SoI
putmybestfootforward。
Imusthaverunmilesbeforethehotfitpassed，andIstoppedfromsheerbodilyweakness。Therewasnosoundexceptthecrushoffallingsnow，thewindseemedtohavegone，andtheplacewasverysolemnandquiet。ButHeavens！howthesnowfell！Itwaspartlyscreenedbythebranches，butallthesameitwaspilingitselfupdeepeverywhere。Mylegsseemedmadeoflead，myheadburned，andtherewerefierypainsoverallmybody。Istumbledonblindly，withoutanotionofanydirection，determinedonlytokeepgoingtothelast。ForIknewthatifIoncelaydownIwouldneverriseagain。
WhenIwasaboyIwasfondoffairytales，andmostofthestoriesIrememberedhadbeenaboutgreatGermanforestsandsnowandcharcoalburnersandwoodmen’shuts。OnceIhadlongedtoseethesethings，andnowIwasfairlyinthethickofthem。Therehadbeenwolves，too，andIwonderedidlyifIshouldfallinwithapack。Ifeltmyselfgettinglight—headed。Ifellrepeatedlyandlaughedsillilyeverytime。OnceIdroppedintoaholeandlayforsometimeatthebottomgiggling。Ifanyonehadfoundmethenhewouldhavetakenmeforamadman。
Thetwilightoftheforestgrewdimmer，butIscarcelynoticedit。
Eveningwasfalling，andsoonitwouldbenight，anightwithoutmorningforme。Mybodywasgoingonwithoutthedirectionofmybrain，formymindwasfilledwithcraziness。Iwaslikeadrunkmanwhokeepsrunning，forheknowsthatifhestopshewillfall，andIhadasortofbetwithmyselfnottoliedown—notatanyratejustyet。IfIlaydownIshouldfeelthepaininmyheadworse。
OnceIhadriddenforfivedaysdowncountrywithfeveronmeandtheflatbushtreeshadseemedtomeltintoonebigmirageanddancequadrillesbeforemyeyes。ButthenIhadmoreorlesskeptmywits。NowIwasfairlydaft，andeveryminutegrowingdafter。
ThenthetreesseemedtostopandIwaswalkingonflatground。
itwasaclearing，andbeforemetwinkledalittlelight。Thechangerestoredmetoconsciousness，andsuddenlyIfeltwithhorridintensitythefireinmyheadandbonesandtheweaknessofmylimbs。Ilongedtosleep，andIhadanotionthataplacetosleepwasbeforeme。Imovedtowardsthelightandpresentlysawthroughascreenofsnowtheoutlineofacottage。
Ihadnofear，onlyanintolerablelongingtoliedown。VeryslowlyImademywaytothedoorandknocked。MyweaknesswassogreatthatIcouldhardlyliftmyhand。
Therewerevoiceswithin，andacornerofthecurtainwasliftedfromthewindow。Thenthedooropenedandawomanstoodbeforeme，awomanwithathin，kindlyface。
’GrussGott，’shesaid，whilechildrenpeepedfrombehindherskirts。
’GrussGott，’Ireplied。Ileanedagainstthedoor—post，andspeechforsookme。
Shesawmycondition。’Comein，Sir，’shesaid。’Youaresickanditisnoweatherforasickman。’
Istumbledafterherandstooddrippinginthecentreofthelittlekitchen，whilethreewonderingchildrenstaredatme。Itwasapoorplace，scantilyfurnished，butagoodlog—fireburnedonthehearth。
Theshockofwarmthgavemeoneofthoseminutesofself—
possessionwhichcomessometimesinthemiddleofafever。
’Iamsick，mother，andIhavewalkedfarinthestormandlostmyway。IamfromAfrica，wheretheclimateishot，andyourcoldbringsmefever。Itwillpassinadayortwoifyoucangivemeabed。’
’Youarewelcome，’shesaid;’butfirstIwillmakeyoucoffee。’
Itookoffmydrippingcloak，andcrouchedclosetothehearth。
Shegavemecoffee—poorwashystuff，butblessedlyhot。PovertywasspelledlargeineverythingIsaw。Ifeltthetidesoffeverbeginningtooverflowmybrainagain，andImadeagreatattempttosetmyaffairsstraightbeforeIwasovertaken。WithdifficultyI
tookoutStumm’spassfrommypocket—book。
’Thatismywarrant，’Isaid。’IamamemberoftheImperialSecretServiceandforthesakeofmyworkImustmoveinthedark。Ifyouwillpermitit，mother，IwillsleeptillIambetter，butnoonemustknowthatIamhere。Ifanyonecomes，youmustdenymypresence。’
Shelookedatthebigsealasifitwereatalisman。
’Yes，yes，’shesaid，’youwillhavethebedinthegarretandbeleftinpeacetillyouarewell。Wehavenoneighboursnear，andthestormwillshuttheroads。Iwillbesilent，Iandthelittleones。’
Myheadwasbeginningtoswim，butImadeonemoreeffort。
’Thereisfoodinmyrucksack—biscuitsandhamandchocolate。
Praytakeitforyouruse。AndhereissomemoneytobuyChristmasfareforthelittleones。’AndIgavehersomeoftheGermannotes。
Afterthatmyrecollectionbecomesdim。Shehelpedmeupaladdertothegarret，undressedme，andgavemeathickcoarsenightgown。Iseemtorememberthatshekissedmyhand，andthatshewascrying。’ThegoodLordhassentyou，’shesaid。’NowthelittleoneswillhavetheirprayersansweredandtheChristkindwillnotpassbyourdoor。’
CHAPTEREIGHT
TheEssenBargesIlayforfourdayslikealoginthatgarretbed。Thestormdieddown，thethawsetin，andthesnowmelted。Thechildrenplayedaboutthedoorsandtoldstoriesatnightroundthefire。Stumm’smyrmidonsnodoubtbeseteveryroadandtroubledthelivesofinnocentwayfarers。Butnoonecamenearthecottage，andthefeverworkeditselfoutwhileIlayinpeace。
Itwasabadbout，butonthefifthdayitleftme，andIlay，asweakasakitten，staringattheraftersandthelittleskylight。Itwasaleaky，draughtyoldplace，butthewomanofthecottagehadheapeddeerskinsandblanketsonmybedandkeptmewarm。Shecameinnowandthen，andonceshebroughtmeabrewofsomebitterherbswhichgreatlyrefreshedme。AlittlethinporridgewasallthefoodIcouldeat，andsomechocolatemadefromtheslabsinmyrucksack。
Ilayanddozedthroughtheday，hearingthefaintchatterofchildrenbelow，andgettingstrongerhourly。Malariapassesasquicklyasitcomesandleavesamanlittletheworse，thoughthiswasoneofthesharpestturnsIeverhad。AsIlayIthought，andmythoughtsfollowedcuriouslines。OnequeerthingwasthatStummandhisdoingsseemedtohavebeenshotbackintoalumber—roomofmybrainandthedoorlocked。Hedidn’tseemtobeacreatureofthelivingpresent，butadistantmemoryonwhichI
couldlookcalmly。Ithoughtagooddealaboutmybattalionandthecomedyofmypresentposition。YouseeIwasgettingbetter，forIcalleditcomedynow，nottragedy。
ButchieflyIthoughtofmymission。Allthatwilddayinthesnowithadseemedthemerestfarce。ThethreewordsHarryBullivanthadscribbledhaddancedthroughmyheadinacrazyfandango。
Theywerepresenttomenow，butcoollyandsanelyinalltheirmeagreness。
IrememberthatItookeachoneseparatelyandchewedonitforhours。_Kasredin—therewasnothingtobegotoutofthat。_Cancer—
thereweretoomanymeanings，allblind。_V。_I—thatwastheworstgibberishofall。
BeforethisIhadalwaystakentheIastheletterofthealphabet。I
hadthoughtthev。muststandforvon，andIhadconsideredtheGermannamesbeginningwithI—Ingolstadt，Ingeburg，Ingenohl，andalltherestofthem。IhadmadealistofaboutseventyattheBritishMuseumbeforeIleftLondon。
NowIsuddenlyfoundmyselftakingtheIasthenumeralOne。
Idly，notthinkingwhatIwasdoing，IputitintoGerman。
ThenInearlyfelloutofthebed。VonEinem—thenameIhadheardatGaudian’shouse，thenameStummhadspokenbehindhishand，thenametowhichHildawasprobablytheprefix。Itwasatremendousdiscovery—thefirstrealbitoflightIhadfound。HarryBullivantknewthatsomemanorwomancalledvonEinemwasattheheartofthemystery。StummhadspokenofthesamepersonagewithrespectandinconnectionwiththeworkIproposedtodoinraisingtheMoslemAfricans。IfIfoundvonEinemIwouldbegettingverywarm。WhatwasthewordthatStummhadwhisperedtoGaudianandscaredthatworthy？Ithadsoundedlike_uhnmantl。IfIcouldonlygetthatclear，Iwouldsolvetheriddle。
Ithinkthatdiscoverycompletedmycure。Atanyrateontheeveningofthefifthday—itwasWednesday，the29thofDecember—Iwaswellenoughtogetup。Whenthedarkhadfallenanditwastoolatetofearavisitor，Icamedownstairsand，wrappedinmygreencape，tookaseatbythefire。
Aswesatthereinthefirelight，withthethreewhite—headedchildrenstaringatmewithsaucereyes，andsmilingwhenIlookedtheirway，thewomantalked。HermanhadgonetothewarsontheEasternfront，andthelastshehadheardfromhimhewasinaPolishbogandlongingforhisdrynativewoodlands。Thestrugglemeantlittletoher。ItwasanactofGod，athunderboltoutofthesky，whichhadtakenahusbandfromher，andmightsoonmakeherawidowandherchildrenfatherless。Sheknewnothingofitscausesandpurposes，andthoughtoftheRussiansasagiganticnationofsavages，heathenswhohadneverbeenconverted，andwhowouldeatupGermanhomesifthegoodLordandthebraveGermansoldiersdidnotstopthem。ItriedhardtofindoutifshehadanynotionofaffairsintheWest，butshehadn’t，beyondthefactthattherewastroublewiththeFrench。IdoubtifsheknewofEngland’sshareinit。Shewasadecentsoul，withnobitternessagainstanybody，noteventheRussiansiftheywouldspareherman。
ThatnightIrealizedthecrazyfollyofwar。WhenIsawthesplinteredshellofYpresandheardhideoustalesofGermandoings，IusedtowanttoseethewholelandoftheBochegivenuptofireandsword。IthoughtwecouldneverendthewarproperlywithoutgivingtheHunssomeoftheirownmedicine。Butthatwoodcutter’scottagecuredmeofsuchnightmares。Iwasforpunishingtheguiltybutlettingtheinnocentgofree。ItwasourbusinesstothankGodandkeepourhandscleanfromtheuglyblunderstowhichGermany’smadnesshaddrivenher。WhatgoodwoulditdoChristianfolktoburnpoorlittlehutslikethisandleavechildren’sbodiesbythewayside？Tobeabletolaughandtobemercifularetheonlythingsthatmakemanbetterthanthebeasts。
Theplace，asIhavesaid，wasdesperatelypoor。Thewoman’sfacehadtheskinstretchedtightoverthebonesandthattransparencywhichmeansunder—feeding;Ifanciedshedidnothavetheliberalallowancethatsoldiers’wivesgetinEngland。Thechildrenlookedbetternourished，butitwasbytheirmother’ssacrifice。Ididmybesttocheerthemup。ItoldthemlongyarnsaboutAfricaandlionsandtigers，andIgotsomepiecesofwoodandwhittledthemintotoys。Iamfairlygoodwithaknife，andIcarvedverypresentablelikenessesofamonkey，aspringbok，andarhinoceros。Thechildrenwenttobedhuggingthefirsttoys，Iexpect，theyeverpossessed。
ItwascleartomethatImustleaveassoonaspossible。Ihadtogetonwithmybusiness，andbesides，itwasnotfairtothewoman。
AnymomentImightbefoundhere，andshewouldgetintotroubleforharbouringme。IaskedherifsheknewwheretheDanubewas，andheranswersurprisedme。’Youwillreachitinanhour’swalk，’shesaid。’Thetrackthroughthewoodrunsstraighttotheferry。’
NextmorningafterbreakfastItookmydeparture。Itwasdrizzlingweather，andIwasfeelingverylean。BeforegoingIpresentedmyhostessandthechildrenwithtwosovereignsapiece。’ItisEnglishgold，’Isaid，’forIhavetotravelamongourenemiesanduseourenemies’money。Butthegoldisgood，andifyougotoanytowntheywillchangeitforyou。ButIadviseyoutoputitinyourstocking—footanduseitonlyifallelsefails。Youmustkeepyourhomegoing，forsomedaytherewillbepeaceandyourmanwillcomebackfromthewars。’
Ikissedthechildren，shookthewoman’shand，andwentoffdowntheclearing。Theyhadcried’AufWiedersehen，’butitwasn’tlikelyIwouldeverseethemagain。
Thesnowhadallgone，exceptinpatchesinthedeephollows。
Thegroundwaslikeafullsponge，andacoldraindriftedinmyeyes。Afterhalfanhour’ssteadytrudgethetreesthinned，andpresentlyIcameoutonaknuckleofopengroundcloakedindwarfjunipers。Andtherebeforemelaytheplain，andamileoffabroadbrimmingriver。
Isatdownandlookeddismallyattheprospect。Theexhilarationofmydiscoverythedaybeforehadgone。Ihadstumbledonaworthlesspieceofknowledge，forIcouldnotuseit。HildavonEinem，ifsuchapersonexistedandpossessedthegreatsecret，wasprobablylivinginsomebighouseinBerlin，andIwasaboutaslikelytogetanythingoutofherastobeaskedtodinewiththeKaiser。Blenkironmightdosomething，butwhereonearthwasBlenkiron？IdaredsaySirWalterwouldvaluetheinformation，butIcouldnotgettoSirWalter。IwastogoontoConstantinople，runningawayfromthepeoplewhoreallypulledtheropes。ButifI
stayedIcoulddonothing，andIcouldnotstay。ImustgoonandI
didn’tseehowIcouldgoon。Everycourseseemedshuttome，andIwasinasprettyatangleasanymaneverstumbledinto。
ForIwasmorallycertainthatStummwouldnotletthethingdrop。Iknewtoomuch，andbesidesIhadoutragedhispride。Hewouldbeatthecountrysidetillhegotme，andheundoubtedlywouldgetmeifIwaitedmuchlonger。ButhowwasItogetovertheborder？Mypassportwouldbenogood，forthenumberofthatpasswouldlongerethishavebeenwiredtoeverypolice—stationinGermany，andtoproduceitwouldbetoaskfortrouble。WithoutitIcouldnotcrossthebordersbyanyrailway。MystudiesoftheTourists’GuidehadsuggestedthatonceIwasinAustriaImightfindthingsslackerandmoveabouteasier。IthoughtofhavingatryattheTyrolandIalsothoughtofBohemia。Buttheseplaceswerealongwayoff，andtherewereseveralthousandchanceseachdaythatIwouldbecaughtontheroad。
ThiswasThursday，the30thofDecember，thesecondlastdayoftheyear。IwasdueinConstantinopleonthe17thofJanuary。
Constantinople！IhadthoughtmyselfalongwayfromitinBerlin，butnowitseemedasdistantasthemoon。
Butthatbigsullenriverinfrontofmeledtoit。AndasIlookedmyattentionwascaughtbyacurioussight。Onthefareasternhorizon，wherethewaterslippedroundacornerofhill，therewasalongtrailofsmoke。Thestreamersthinnedout，andseemedtocomefromsomeboatwellroundthecorner，butIcouldseeatleasttwoboatsinview。Thereforetheremustbealongtrainofbarges，withatugintow。
Ilookedtothewestandsawanothersuchprocessioncomingintosight。Firstwentabigriversteamer—itcan’thavebeenmuchlessthan1，000tons—andaftercameastringofbarges。Icountednolessthansixbesidesthetug。Theywereheavilyloadedandtheirdraughtmusthavebeenconsiderable，buttherewasplentyofdepthinthefloodedriver。
Amoment’sreflectiontoldmewhatIwaslookingat。OnceSandy，inoneofthediscussionsyouhaveinhospital，hadtoldusjusthowtheGermansmunitionedtheirBalkancampaign。TheywereprettycertainofdishingSerbiaatthefirstgo，anditwasuptothemtogetthroughgunsandshellstotheoldTurk，whowasrunningprettyshortinhisfirstsupply。Sandysaidthattheywantedtherailway，buttheywantedstillmoretheriver，andtheycouldmakecertainofthatinaweek。Hetoldushowendlessstringsofbarges，loadedupatthebigfactoriesofWestphalia，weremovingthroughthecanalsfromtheRhineortheElbetotheDanube。
OncethefirstreachedTurkey，therewouldberegulardelivery，yousee—asquickastheTurkscouldhandlethestuff。Andtheydidn’treturnempty，Sandysaid，butcamebackfullofTurkishcottonandBulgarianbeefandRumaniancorn。Idon’tknowwhereSandygottheknowledge，buttherewastheproofofitbeforemyeyes。
Itwasawonderfulsight，andIcouldhavegnashedmyteethtoseethoseloadsofmunitionsgoingsnuglyofftotheenemy。I
calculatedtheywouldgiveourpoorchapshellinGallipoli。Andthen，asIlooked，anideacameintomyheadandwithitaneighthpartofahope。
TherewasonlyonewayformetogetoutofGermany，andthatwastoleaveinsuchgoodcompanythatIwouldbeaskednoquestions。Thatwasplainenough。IfItravelledtoTurkey，forinstance，intheKaiser’ssuite，Iwouldbeassafeasthemail;butifI
wentonmyownIwasdone。Ihad，sotospeak，togetmypassportinsideGermany，tojoinsomecaravanwhichhadfreemarchingpowers。Andtherewasthekindofcaravanbeforeme—theEssenbarges。
Itsoundedlunacy，forIguessedthatmunitionsofwarwouldbeasjealouslyguardedasoldHindenburg’shealth。Allthesafer，I
repliedtomyself，onceIgetthere。Ifyouarelookingforadeserteryoudon’tseekhimatthefavouriteregimentalpublic—house。Ifyou’reafterathief，amongtheplacesyou’dbeapttoleaveunsearchedwouldbeScotlandYard。
Itwassoundreasoning，buthowwasItogetonboard？Probablythebeastlythingsdidnotstoponceinahundredmiles，andStummwouldgetmelongbeforeIstruckahalting—place。AndevenifI
didgetachancelikethat，howwasItogetpermissiontotravel？
Onestepwasclearlyindicated—togetdowntotheriverbankatonce。SoIsetoffatasharpwalkacrosssquelchyfields，tillIstruckaroadwheretheditcheshadoverflowedsoasalmosttomeetinthemiddle。TheplacewassobadthatIhopedtravellersmightbefew。
AndasItrudged，mythoughtswerebusywithmyprospectsasastowaway。IfIboughtfood，Imightgetachancetoliesnugononeofthebarges。Theywouldnotbreakbulktilltheygottotheirjourney’send。
SuddenlyInoticedthatthesteamer，whichwasnowabreastme，begantomovetowardstheshore，andasIcameoveralowrise，I
sawonmyleftastragglingvillagewithachurch，andasmalllanding—stage。Thehousesstoodaboutaquarterofamilefromthestream，andbetweenthemwasastraight，poplar—fringedroad。
Soontherecouldbenodoubtaboutit。Theprocessionwascomingtoastandstill。Thebigtugnosedherwayinandlayupalongsidethepier，whereinthatseasonoffloodtherewasenoughdepthofwater。Shesignalledtothebargesandtheyalsostartedtodropanchors，whichshowedthattheremustbeatleasttwomenaboardeach。Someofthemdraggedabitanditwasratheracock—
eyedtrainthatlayinmid—stream。Thetuggotoutagangway，andfromwhereIlayIsawhalfadozenmenleaveit，carryingsomethingontheirshoulders。
Itcouldbeonlyonething—adeadbody。Someoneofthecrewmusthavedied，andthishaltwastoburyhim。IwatchedtheprocessionmovetowardsthevillageandIreckonedtheywouldtakesometimethere，thoughtheymighthavewiredaheadforagravetobedug。Anyhow，theywouldbelongenoughtogivemeachance。
ForIhaddecideduponthebrazencourse。Blenkironhadsaidyoucouldn’tcheattheBoche，butyoucouldbluffhim。Iwasgoingtoputupthemostmonstrousbluff。IfthewholecountrysidewashuntingforRichardHannay，RichardHannaywouldwalkthroughasapalofthehunters。ForIrememberedthepassStummhadgivenme。Ifthatwasworthatinker’scurseitshouldbegoodenoughtoimpressaship’scaptain。
Ofcoursetherewereathousandrisks。Theymighthaveheardofmeinthevillageandtoldtheship’spartythestory。ForthatreasonIresolvednottogotherebuttomeetthesailorswhentheywerereturningtotheboat。Orthecaptainmighthavebeenwarnedandgotthenumberofmypass，inwhichcaseStummwouldhavehishandsonmeprettysoon。OrthecaptainmightbeanignorantfellowwhohadneverseenaSecretServicepassanddidnotknowwhatitmeant，andwouldrefusemetransportbytheletterofhisinstructions。InthatcaseImightwaitonanotherconvoy。
IhadshavedandmademyselfafairlyrespectablefigurebeforeI
leftthecottage。Itwasmycuetowaitforthemenwhentheyleftthechurch，waitonthatquarter—mileofstraighthighway。Ijudgedthecaptainmustbeintheparty。Thevillage，Iwasgladtoobserve，seemedveryempty。IhavemyownnotionsabouttheBavariansasfightingmen，butIamboundtosaythat，judgingbymyobservations，veryfewofthemstayedathome。
Thatfuneraltookhours。Theymusthavehadtodigthegrave，forIwaitedneartheroadinaclumpofcherry—trees，withmyfeetintwoinchesofmudandwater，tillIfeltchilledtothebone。I
prayedtoGoditwouldnotbringbackmyfever，forIwasonlyonedayoutofbed。Ihadverylittletobaccoleftinmypouch，butI
stoodmyselfonepipe，andIateoneofthethreecakesofchocolateIstillcarried。
Atlast，wellaftermidday，Icouldseetheship’spartyreturning。
TheymarchedtwobytwoandIwasthankfultoseethattheyhadnovillagerswiththem。Iwalkedtotheroad，turnedupit，andmetthevanguard，carryingmyheadashighasIknewhow。
’Where’syourcaptain？’Iasked，andamanjerkedhisthumboverhisshoulder。Theothersworethickjerseysandknittedcaps，buttherewasonemanattherearinuniform。
Hewasashort，broadmanwithaweather—beatenfaceandananxiouseye。
’MayIhaveawordwithyou，HerrCaptain？’Isaid，withwhatI
hopedwasajudiciousblendofauthorityandconciliation。
Henoddedtohiscompanion，whowalkedon。
’Yes？’heaskedratherimpatiently。
Iprofferedhimmypass。ThankHeavenhehadseenthekindofthingbefore，forhisfaceatoncetookonthatcuriouslookwhichonepersoninauthorityalwayswearswhenheisconfrontedwithanother。Hestudieditcloselyandthenraisedhiseyes。
’Well，Sir？’hesaid。’Iobserveyourcredentials。WhatcanIdoforyou？’
’ItakeityouareboundforConstantinople？’Iasked。
’TheboatsgoasfarasRustchuk，’hereplied。’Therethestuffistransferredtotherailway。’
’AndyoureachRustchukwhen？’
’Intendays，baraccidents。Letussaytwelvetobesafe。’
’Iwanttoaccompanyyou，’Isaid。’Inmyprofession，HerrCaptain，itisnecessarysometimestomakejourneysbyotherthanthecommonroute。Thatisnowmydesire。Ihavetherighttocalluponsomeotherbranchofourcountry’sservicetohelpme。Hencemyrequest。’
Veryplainlyhedidnotlikeit。
’Imusttelegraphaboutit。Myinstructionsaretoletnooneaboard，notevenamanlikeyou。Iamsorry，Sir，butImustgetauthorityfirstbeforeIcanfallinwithyourdesire。Besides，myboatisill—found。YouhadbetterwaitforthenextbatchandaskDreysertotakeyou。IlostWaltertoday。Hewasillwhenhecameaboard—
adiseaseoftheheart—buthewouldnotbepersuaded。Andlastnighthedied。’
’Wasthathimyouhavebeenburying？’Iasked。
第7章