’Evenso。Hewasagoodmanandmywife’scousin，andnowI
　　havenoengineer。OnlyafoolofaboyfromHamburg。Ihavejustcomefromwiringtomyownersforafreshman，butevenifhecomesbythequickesttrainhewillscarcelyovertakeusbeforeViennaorevenBuda。’
　　Isawlightatlast。
　　’Wewillgotogether，’Isaid，’andcancelthatwire。Forbehold，HerrCaptain，Iamanengineer，andwillgladlykeepaneyeonyourboilerstillwegettoRustchuk。’
　　Helookedatmedoubtfully。
　　’Iamspeakingtruth，’Isaid。’BeforethewarIwasanengineerinDamaraland。Miningwasmybranch，butIhadagoodgeneraltraining，andIknowenoughtorunariver—boat。Havenofear。I
　　promiseyouIwillearnmypassage。’
　　Hisfacecleared，andhelookedwhathewas，anhonest，good—
　　humouredNorthGermanseaman。
　　’CometheninGod’sname，’hecried，’andwewillmakeabargain。Iwillletthetelegraphsleep。IrequireauthorityfromtheGovernmenttotakeapassenger，butIneednonetoengageanewengineer。’
　　Hesentoneofthehandsbacktothevillagetocancelhiswire。
　　IntenminutesIfoundmyselfonboard，andtenminuteslaterwewereoutinmid—streamandourtowswerelumberingintoline。
　　Coffeewasbeingmadereadyinthecabin，andwhileIwaitedforitIpickedupthecaptain’sbinocularsandscannedtheplaceIhadleft。
　　Isawsomecuriousthings。OnthefirstroadIhadstruckonleavingthecottagethereweremenonbicyclesmovingrapidly。
　　Theyseemedtowearuniform。Onthenextparallelroad，theonethatranthroughthevillage，Icouldseeothers。Inoticed，too，thatseveralfiguresappearedtobebeatingtheinterveningfields。
　　Stumm’scordonhadgotbusyatlast，andIthankedmystarsthatnotoneofthevillagershadseenme。Ihadnotgotawaymuchtoosoon，forinanotherhalf—hourhewouldhavehadme。
　　CHAPTERNINE
　　TheReturnoftheStragglerBeforeIturnedinthateveningIhaddonesomegoodhours’workintheengine—room。Theboatwasoil—fired，andinveryfairorder，somydutiesdidnotlookasiftheywouldbeheavy。Therewasnobodywhocouldbeproperlycalledanengineer;only，besidesthefurnace—men，acoupleofladsfromHamburgwhohadbeenayearagoapprenticesinaship—buildingyard。Theywerecivilfellows，bothofthemconsumptive，whodidwhatItoldthemandsaidlittle。Bybedtime，ifyouhadseenmeinmybluejumper，apairofcarpetslippers，andaflatcap—allthepropertyofthedeceasedWalter—youwouldhaveswornIhadbeenbredtothefiringofriver—boats，whereasIhadacquiredmostofmyknowledgeononerundowntheZambesi，whentheproperengineergotdrunkandfelloverboardamongthecrocodiles。
　　Thecaptain—theycalledhimSchenk—wasoutofhisbearingsinthejob。HewasaFrisianandafirst—classdeep—waterseaman，but，sinceheknewtheRhinedelta，andbecausetheGermanmercantilemarinewaslaidontheicetilltheendofwar，theyhadturnedhimontothisshow。Hewasboredbythebusiness，anddidn’tunderstanditverywell。Theriverchartspuzzledhim，andthoughitwasprettyplaingoingforhundredsofmiles，yethewasinaperpetualfidgetaboutthepilotage。YoucouldseethathewouldhavebeenfarmoreinhiselementsmellinghiswaythroughtheshoalsoftheEmsmouth，orbeatingagainstanortheasterintheshallowBaltic。Hehadsixbargesintow，buttheheavyfloodoftheDanubemadeitaneasyjobexceptwhenitcametogoingslow。
　　Thereweretwomenoneachbarge，whocameaboardeverymorningtodrawrations。Thatwasafunnybusiness，forweneverlaytoifwecouldhelpit。Therewasadinghybelongingtoeachbarge，andthemenusedtorowtothenextandgetaliftinthatbarge’sdinghy，andsoforth。Sixmenwouldappearinthedinghyofthebargenearestusandcarryoffsuppliesfortherest。ThemenweremostlyFrisians，slow—spoken，sandy—hairedlads，verylikethebreedyoustrikeontheEssexcoast。
　　ItwasthefactthatSchenkwasreallyadeep—watersailor，andsoanovicetothejob，thatmademegetonwithhim。Hewasagoodfellowandquitewillingtotakeahint，sobeforeIhadbeentwenty—
　　fourhoursonboardhewastellingmeallhisdifficulties，andIwasdoingmybesttocheerhim。Anddifficultiescamethick，becausethenextnightwasNewYear’sEve。
　　IknewthatthatnightwasaseasonofgaietyinScotland，butScotlandwasn’tinitwiththeFatherland。EvenSchenk，thoughhewasinchargeofvaluablestoresandwasvoyagingagainsttime，wasquiteclearthatthemenmusthavepermissionforsomekindofbeano。justbeforedarknesswecameabreastafair—sizedtown，whosenameIneverdiscovered，anddecidedtolietoforthenight。
　　Thearrangementwasthatonemanshouldbeleftonguardineachbarge，andtheothergetfourhours’leaveashore。Thenhewouldreturnandrelievehisfriend，whoshouldproceedtodothesamething。Iforesawthattherewouldbesomefunwhenthefirstbatchreturned，butIdidnotdaretoprotest。IwasdesperatelyanxioustogetpasttheAustrianfrontier，forIhadahalf—notionwemightbesearchedthere，butSchenktookhis_SylvesterabendbusinesssoseriouslythatIwouldhaveriskedarowifIhadtriedtoargue。
　　TheupshotwaswhatIexpected。Wegotthefirstbatchaboardaboutmidnight，blindtotheworld，andtheothersstraggledinatallhoursnextmorning。Istucktotheboatforobviousreasons，butnextdayitbecametooserious，andIhadtogoashorewiththecaptaintotryandroundupthestragglers。Wegotthemallinbuttwo，andIaminclinedtothinkthesetwohadnevermeanttocomeback。IfIhadasoftjoblikeariver—boatIshouldn’tbeinclinedtorunawayinthemiddleofGermanywiththecertaintythatmybestfatewouldbetobescoopedupforthetrenches，butyourFrisianhasnomoreimaginationthanahaddock。Theabsenteeswerebothwatchmenfromthebarges，andIfancythemonotonyofthelifehadgotontheirnerves。
　　Thecaptainwasinaragingtemper，forhewasshort—handedtobeginwith。Hewouldhavestartedapress—gang，buttherewasnosuperfluityofmeninthattownship:nothingbutboysandgrandfathers。
　　AsIwashelpingtorunthetripIwasprettyannoyedalso，andIsluiceddownthedrunkardswithicyDanubewater，usingalltheworstlanguageIknewinDutchandGerman。Itwasarawmorning，andasweragedthroughtheriver—sidestreetsIrememberIheardthedrycrackleofwildgeesegoingoverhead，andwishedI
　　couldgetashotatthem。Itoldonefellow—hewasthemosttroublesome—thathewasadisgracetoagreatEmpire，andwasonlyfittofightwiththefilthyEnglish。
　　’GodinHeaven！’saidthecaptain，’wecandelaynolonger。Wemustmakeshiftthebestwecan。Icanspareonemanfromthedeckhands，andyoumustgiveuponefromtheengine—room。’
　　Thatwasarranged，andweweretearingbackrathershortinthewindwhenIespiedafiguresittingonabenchbesidethebooking—
　　officeonthepier。Itwasaslimfigure，inanoldsuitofkhaki:somecast—offdudswhichhadlonglostthesemblanceofauniform。Ithadagentleface，andwassmokingpeacefully，lookingoutupontheriverandtheboatsandusnoisyfellowswithmeekphilosophicaleyes。IfIhadseenGeneralFrenchsittingthereandlookinglikenothingonearthIcouldn’thavebeenmoresurprised。
　　Themanstaredatmewithoutrecognition。Hewaswaitingforhiscue。
　　IspokerapidlyinSesutu，forIwasafraidthecaptainmightknowDutch。
　　’Wherehaveyoucomefrom？’Iasked。
　　’Theyshutmeupin_tronk，’saidPeter，’andIranaway。Iamtired，Cornelis，andwanttocontinuethejourneybyboat。’
　　’RememberyouhaveworkedformeinAfrica，’Isaid。’YouarejusthomefromDamaraland。YouareaGermanwhohaslivedthirtyyearsawayfromhome。Youcantendafurnaceandhaveworkedinmines。’
　　ThenIspoketothecaptain。
　　’Hereisafellowwhousedtobeinmyemploy，CaptainSchenk。
　　It’salmightyluckwe’vestruckhim。He’sold，andnotverystronginthehead，butI’llgobailhe’sagoodworker。Hesayshe’llcomewithusandIcanusehimintheengine—room。’
　　’Standup，’saidtheCaptain。
　　Peterstoodup，lightandslimandwiryasaleopard。Asailordoesnotjudgemenbygirthandweight。
　　’He’lldo，’saidSchenk，andthenextminutehewasreadjustinghiscrewsandgivingthestrayedrevellerstheroughsideofhistongue。Asitchanced，Icouldn’tkeepPeterwithme，buthadtosendhimtooneofthebarges，andIhadtimefornomorethanfivewordswithhim，whenItoldhimtoholdhistongueandliveuptohisreputationasahalf—wit。Thataccursed_Sylvesterabendhadplayedhavocwiththewholeoutfit，andthecaptainandIwerewearymenbeforewegotthingsstraight。
　　Inonewayitturnedoutwell。ThatafternoonwepassedthefrontierandIneverknewittillIsawamaninastrangeuniformcomeaboard，whocopiedsomefiguresonaschedule，andbroughtusamail。Withmydirtyfaceandgeneralairofabsorptioninduty，Imusthavebeenanunsuspiciousfigure。Hetookdownthenamesofthemeninthebarges，andPeter’snamewasgivenasitappearedontheship’sroll—AntonBlum。
　　’Youmustfeelitstrange，HerrBrandt，’saidthecaptain，’tobescrutinizedbyapoliceman，youwhogiveorders，Idoubtnot，tomanypolicemen。’
　　Ishruggedmyshoulders。’Itismyprofession。Itismybusinesstogounrecognizedoftenbymyownservants。’IcouldseethatI
　　wasbecomingratherafigureinthecaptain’seyes。HelikedthewayIkeptthemenuptotheirwork，forIhadn’tbeenanigger—driverfornothing。
　　LateonthatSundaynightwepassedthroughagreatcitywhichthecaptaintoldmewasVienna。Itseemedtolastformilesandmiles，andtobeasbrightlylitasacircus。Afterthat，wewereinbigplainsandtheairgrewperishingcold。Peterhadcomeaboardonceforhisrations，butusuallyheleftittohispartner，forhewaslyingverylow。Butonemorning—Ithinkitwasthe5thofJanuary，whenwehadpassedBudaandweremovingthroughgreatsoddenflatsjustsprinkledwithsnow—thecaptaintookitintohisheadtogetmetooverhaulthebargeloads。Armedwithamightytype—
　　writtenlist，Imadeatourofthebarges，beginningwiththehindmost。
　　Therewasafineoldstockofdeadlyweapons—mostlymachine—gunsandsomefield—pieces，andenoughshellstoblowuptheGallipolipeninsula。Allkindsofshellwerethere，fromthebig14—inchcrumpstoriflegrenadesandtrench—mortars。Itmademefairlysicktoseeallthesegoodthingspreparingforourownfellows，andIwonderedwhetherIwouldnotbedoingmybestserviceifIengineeredabigexplosion。HappilyIhadthecommonsensetoremembermyjobandmydutyandtosticktoit。
　　Peterwasinthemiddleoftheconvoy，andIfoundhimprettyunhappy，principallythroughnotbeingallowedtosmoke。Hiscompanionwasanox—eyedlad，whomIorderedtothelook—outwhilePeterandIwentoverthelists。
　　’Cornelis，myoldfriend，’hesaid，’therearesomeprettytoyshere。WithaspannerandacoupleofclearhoursIcouldmakethesemaximsaboutasdeadlyasbicycles。Whatdoyousaytoatry？’
　　’I’veconsideredthat，’Isaid，’butitwon’tdo。We’reonabiggerbusinessthanwreckingmunitionconvoys。Iwanttoknowhowyougothere。’
　　HesmiledwiththatextraordinarySunday—schooldocilityofhis。
　　’Itwasverysimple，Cornelis。Iwasfoolishinthecafe—buttheyhavetoldyouofthat。YouseeIwasangryanddidnotreflect。
　　Theyhadseparatedus，andIcouldseewouldtreatmeasdirt。
　　Therefore，mybadtempercameout，for，asIhavetoldyou，IdonotlikeGermans。’
　　PetergazedlovinglyatthelittlebleakfarmswhichdottedtheHungarianplain。
　　’AllnightIlayin_tronkwithnofood。Inthemorningtheyfedme，andtookmehundredsofmilesinatraintoaplacewhichI
　　thinkiscalledNeuburg。Itwasagreatprison，fullofEnglishofficers……Iaskedmyselfmanytimesonthejourneywhatwasthereasonofthistreatment，forIcouldseenosenseinit。Iftheywantedtopunishmeforinsultingthemtheyhadthechancetosendmeofftothetrenches。Noonecouldhaveobjected。IftheythoughtmeuselesstheycouldhaveturnedmebacktoHolland。I
　　couldnothavestoppedthem。ButtheytreatedmeasifIwereadangerousman，whereasalltheirconducthithertohadshownthattheythoughtmeafool。Icouldnotunderstandit。
　　’ButIhadnotbeenonenightinthatNeuburgplacebeforeI
　　thoughtofthereason。Theywantedtokeepmeunderobservationasacheckuponyou，Cornelis。Ifigureditoutthisway。Theyhadgivenyousomeveryimportantworkwhichrequiredthemtoletyouintosomebigsecret。Sofar，good。Theyevidentlythoughtmuchofyou，evenyonStummman，thoughhewasasrudeasabuffalo。Buttheydidnotknowyoufully，andtheywantedtocheckonyou。ThatchecktheyfoundinPeterPienaar。Peterwasafool，andiftherewasanythingtoblab，soonerorlaterPeterwouldblabit。Thentheywouldstretchoutalongarmandnipyoushort，whereveryouwere。
　　ThereforetheymustkeepoldPeterundertheireye。’
　　’Thatsoundslikelyenough，’Isaid。
　　’ItwasGod’struth，’saidPeter。’AndwhenitwasallcleartomeIsettledthatImustescape。PartlybecauseIamafreemananddonotliketobeinprison，butmostlybecauseIwasnotsureofmyself。Somedaymytemperwouldgoagain，andImightsayfoolishthingsforwhichCorneliswouldsuffer。SoitwasverycertainthatImustescape。
　　’Now，Cornelis，Inoticedprettysoonthatthereweretwokindsamongtheprisoners。Thereweretherealprisoners，mostlyEnglishandFrench，andtherewerehumbugs。Thehumbugsweretreated，apparently，liketheothers，butnotreally，asIsoonperceived。
　　TherewasonemanwhopassedasanEnglishofficer，anotherasaFrenchCanadian，andtheotherscalledthemselvesRussians。Noneofthehonestmensuspectedthem，buttheywerethereasspiestohatchplotsforescapeandgetthepoordevilscaughtintheact，andtowormoutconfidenceswhichmightbeofvalue。ThatistheGermannotionofgoodbusiness。IamnotaBritishsoldiertothinkallmenaregentlemen。Iknowthatamongstmentherearedesperate_skellums，soIsoonpickedupthisgame。Itmademeveryangry，butitwasagoodthingformyplan。ImademyresolutiontoescapethedayIarrivedatNeuburg，andonChristmasDayIhadaplanmade。’
　　’Peter，you’reanoldmarvel。Doyoumeantosayyouwerequitecertainofgettingawaywheneveryouwanted？’
　　’Quitecertain，Cornelis。Yousee，Ihavebeenwickedinmytimeandknowsomethingabouttheinsideofprisons。Youmaybuildthemlikegreatcastles，ortheymaybelikeabackveld_tronk，onlymudandcorrugatediron，butthereisalwaysakeyandamanwhokeepsit，andthatmancanbebested。IknewIcouldgetaway，butI
　　didnotthinkitwouldbesoeasy。Thatwasduetothebogusprisoners，myfriends，thespies。
　　’Imadegreatpalswiththem。OnChristmasnightwewereveryjollytogether。IthinkIspottedeveryoneofthemthefirstday。I
　　braggedaboutmypastandallIhaddone，andItoldthemIwasgoingtoescape。Theybackedmeupandpromisedtohelp。NextmorningIhadaplan。Intheafternoon，justafterdinner，Ihadtogotothecommandant’sroom。Theytreatedmealittledifferentlyfromtheothers，forIwasnotaprisonerofwar，andIwenttheretobeaskedquestionsandtobecursedasastupidDutchman。
　　Therewasnostrictguardkeptthere，fortheplacewasonthesecondfloor，anddistantbymanyyardsfromanystaircase。Inthecorridoroutsidethecommandant’sroomtherewasawindowwhichhadnobars，andfourfeetfromthewindowthelimbofagreattree。Amanmightreachthatlimb，andifhewereactiveasamonkeymightdescendtotheground。BeyondthatIknewnothing，butIamagoodclimber，Cornelis。
　　’Itoldtheothersofmyplan。Theysaiditwasgood，butnooneofferedtocomewithme。Theywereverynoble;theydeclaredthattheschemewasmineandIshouldhavethefruitofit，forifmorethanonetried，detectionwascertain。Iagreedandthankedthem—
　　thankedthemwithtearsinmyeyes。Thenoneofthemverysecretlyproducedamap。Weplannedoutmyroad，forIwasgoingstraighttoHolland。Itwasalongroad，andIhadnomoney，fortheyhadtakenallmysovereignswhenIwasarrested，buttheypromisedtogetasubscriptionupamongthemselvestostartme。AgainIwepttearsofgratitude。ThiswasonSunday，thedayafterChristmas，andIsettledtomaketheattemptontheWednesdayafternoon。
　　’Now，Cornelis，whenthelieutenanttookustoseetheBritishprisoners，youremember，hetoldusmanythingsaboutthewaysofprisons。Hetoldushowtheylovedtocatchamanintheactofescape，sothattheycouldusehimharshlywithaclearconscience。I
　　thoughtofthat，andcalculatedthatnowmyfriendswouldhavetoldeverythingtothecommandant，andthattheywouldbewaitingtobottlemeontheWednesday。TillthenIreckonedIwouldbeslacklyguarded，fortheywouldlookonmeassafeinthenet……
　　’SoIwentoutofthewindownextday。ItwastheMondayafternoon……’
　　’Thatwasaboldstroke，’Isaidadmiringly。
　　’Theplanwasbold，butitwasnotskilful，’saidPetermodestly。’I
　　hadnomoneybeyondsevenmarks，andIhadbutonestickofchocolate。Ihadnoovercoat，anditwassnowinghard。Further，I
　　couldnotgetdownthetree，whichhadatrunkassmoothandbranchlessasabluegum。ForalittleIthoughtIshouldbecompelledtogivein，andIwasnothappy。
　　’ButIhadleisure，forIdidnotthinkIwouldbemissedbeforenightfall，andgiventimeamancandomostthings。ByandbyI
　　foundabranchwhichledbeyondtheouterwalloftheyardandhungabovetheriver。ThisIfollowed，andthendroppedfromitintothestream。Itwasadropofsomeyards，andthewaterwasveryswift，sothatInearlydrowned。IwouldratherswimtheLimpopo，Cornelis，amongallthecrocodilesthanthaticyriver。
　　YetImanagedtoreachtheshoreandgetmybreathlyinginthebushes……
　　’Afterthatitwasplaingoing，thoughIwasverycold。IknewthatIwouldbesoughtonthenorthernroads，asIhadtoldmyfriends，fornoonecoulddreamofanignorantDutchmangoingsouthawayfromhiskinsfolk。ButIhadlearnedenoughfromthemaptoknowthatourroadlaysouth—east，andIhadmarkedthisbigriver。’
　　’Didyouhopetopickmeup？’Iasked。
　　’No，Cornelis。Ithoughtyouwouldbetravellinginfirst—classcarriageswhileIshouldbeploddingonfoot。ButIwassetongettingtotheplaceyouspokeof（howdoyoucallit？ConstantNople？），whereourbigbusinesslay。IthoughtImightbeintimeforthat。’
　　’You’reanoldTrojan，Peter，’Isaid;’butgoon。Howdidyougettothatlanding—stagewhereIfoundyou？’
　　’Itwasahardjourney，’hesaidmeditatively。’Itwasnoteasytogetbeyondthebarbed—wireentanglementswhichsurroundedNeuburg—
　　yes，evenacrosstheriver。ButintimeIreachedthewoodsandwassafe，forIdidnotthinkanyGermancouldequalmeinwildcountry。Thebestofthem，eventheirforesters，arebutbabesinveldcraftcomparedwithsuchasme……Mytroublescameonlyfromhungerandcold。ThenImetaPeruviansmouse，andsoldhimmyclothesandboughtfromhimthese。[PetermeantaPolish—Jewpedlar。]Ididnotwanttopartwithmyown，whichwerebetter，buthegavemetenmarksonthedeal。AfterthatIwentintoavillageandateheavily。’
　　’Wereyoupursued？’Iasked。
　　’Idonotthinkso。Theyhadgonenorth，asIexpected，andwerelookingformeattherailwaystationswhichmyfriendshadmarkedforme。Iwalkedhappilyandputaboldfaceonit。IfIsawamanorwomanlookatmesuspiciouslyIwentuptothematonceandtalked。Itoldasadtale，andallbelievedit。IwasapoorDutchmantravellinghomeonfoottoseeadyingmother，andIhadbeentoldthatbytheDanubeIshouldfindthemainrailwaytotakemetoHolland。Therewerekindpeoplewhogavemefood，andonewomangavemehalfamark，andwishedmeGodspeed……ThenonthelastdayoftheyearIcametotheriverandfoundmanydrunkards。’
　　’Wasthatwhenyouresolvedtogetononeoftheriver—boats？’
　　’_Ja，Cornelis。AssoonasIheardoftheboatsIsawwheremychancelay。ButyoumighthaveknockedmeoverwithastrawwhenIsawyoucomeonshore。Thatwasgoodfortune，myfriend……IhavebeenthinkingmuchabouttheGermans，andIwilltellyouthetruth。Itisonlyboldnessthatcanbafflethem。Theyareamostdiligentpeople。Theywillthinkofalllikelydifficulties，butnotofallpossibleones。Theyhavenotmuchimagination。Theyarelikesteamengineswhichmustkeeptopreparedtracks。Theretheywillhuntanymandown，butlethimtrekforopencountryandtheywillbeataloss。Thereforeboldness，myfriend;foreverboldness。Rememberasanationtheywearspectacles，whichmeansthattheyarealwayspeering。’
　　Peterbrokeofftogloatoverthewedgesofgeeseandthestringsofwildswansthatwerealwayswingingacrossthoseplains。Histalehadbuckedmeupwonderfully。Ourluckhadheldbeyondallbelief，andIhadakindofhopeinthebusinessnowwhichhadbeenwantingbefore。Thatafternoon，too，Igotanotherfillip。
　　Icameondeckforabreathofairandfounditprettycoldaftertheheatoftheengine—room。SoIcalledtooneofthedeckhandstofetchmeupmycloakfromthecabin—thesameIhadboughtthatfirstmorningintheGreifvillage。
　　_’Der_grune_mantel？’themanshoutedup，andIcried，’Yes’。Butthewordsseemedtoechoinmyears，andlongafterhehadgivenmethegarmentIstoodstaringabstractedlyoverthebulwarks。
　　Histonehadawakenedachordofmemory，or，tobeaccurate，theyhadgivenemphasistowhatbeforehadbeenonlyblurredandvague。ForhehadspokenthewordswhichStummhadutteredbehindhishandtoGaudian。Ihadheardsomethinglike’Uhnmantl，’
　　andcouldmakenothingofit。NowIwasascertainofthosewordsasofmyownexistence。Theyhadbeen’_Grune_mantel’。_Grune_mantel，whateveritmightbe，wasthenamewhichStummhadnotmeantmetohear，whichwassometalismanforthetaskIhadproposed，andwhichwasconnectedinsomewaywiththemysteriousvonEinem。
　　Thisdiscoveryputmeinhighfettle。Itoldmyselfthat，consideringthedifficulties，Ihadmanagedtofindoutawonderfulamountinaveryfewdays。Itonlyshowswhatamancandowiththeslenderestevidenceifhekeepschewingandchewingonit……
　　TwomorningslaterwelayalongsidethequaysatBelgrade，andItooktheopportunityofstretchingmylegs。Peterhadcomeashoreforasmoke，andwewanderedamongthebatteredriversidestreets，andlookedatthebrokenarchesofthegreatrailwaybridgewhichtheGermanswereworkingatlikebeavers。Therewasabigtemporarypontoonaffairtotaketherailwayacross，butIcalculatedthatthemainbridgewouldbereadyinsideamonth。Itwasaclear，cold，blueday，andasonelookedsouthonesawridgeafterridgeofsnowyhills。Theupperstreetsofthecitywerestillfairlywhole，andtherewereshopsopenwherefoodcouldbegot。I
　　rememberhearingEnglishspoken，andseeingsomeRedCrossnursesinthecustodyofAustriansoldierscomingfromtherailwaystation。
　　Itwouldhavedonemealotofgoodtohavehadawordwiththem。Ithoughtofthegallantpeoplewhosecapitalthishadbeen，howthreetimestheyhadflungtheAustriansbackovertheDanube，andthenhadonlybeenbeatenbytheblacktreacheryoftheirso—calledallies。SomehowthatmorninginBelgradegavebothPeterandmeanewpurposeinourtask。Itwasourbusinesstoputaspokeinthewheelofthismonstrousbloodyjuggernautthatwascrushingthelifeoutofthelittleheroicnations。
　　Wewerejustgettingreadytocastoffwhenadistinguishedpartyarrivedatthequay。Therewereallkindsofuniforms—German，Austrian，andBulgarian，andamidthemonestoutgentlemaninafurcoatandablackfelthat。Theywatchedthebargesup—anchor，andbeforewebegantojerkintolineIcouldheartheirconversation。
　　ThefurcoatwastalkingEnglish。
　　’Ireckonthat’sprettygoodnoos，General，’itsaid;’iftheEnglishhaverunawayfromGally—polywecanusethesenooconsignmentsforthebiggergame。Iguessitwon’tbelongbeforeweseetheBritishlionmovingoutofEgyptwithsorepaws。’
　　Theyalllaughed。’Theprivilegeofthatspectaclemaysoonbeours，’wasthereply。
　　Ididnotpaymuchattentiontothetalk;indeedIdidnotrealizetillweekslaterthatthatwasthefirsttidingsofthegreatevacuationofCapeHelles。WhatrejoicedmewasthesightofBlenkiron，asblandasabarberamongthoseswells。Hereweretwoofthemissionarieswithinreasonabledistanceoftheirgoal。
　　CHAPTERTEN
　　TheGarden—HouseofSulimantheRedWereachedRustchukonJanuary10th，butbynomeanslandedonthatday。Somethinghadgonewrongwiththeunloadingarrangements，ormorelikelywiththerailwaybehindthem，andwewerekeptswingingalldaywelloutintheturbidriver。OnthetopofthisCaptainSchenkgotanague，andbythateveningwasablueandshiveringwreck。Hehaddonemewell，andIreckonedIwouldstandbyhim。SoIgothisship’spapers，andthemanifestsofcargo，andundertooktoseetothetrans—shipment。Itwasn’tthefirsttimeIhadtackledthatkindofbusiness，andIhadn’tmuchtolearnaboutsteamcranes。I
　　toldhimIwasgoingontoConstantinopleandwouldtakePeterwithme，andhewasagreeable。HewouldhavetowaitatRustchuktogethisreturncargo，andcouldeasilyinspanafreshengineer。
　　Iworkedaboutthehardesttwenty—fourhoursofmylifegettingthestuffashore。ThelandingofficerwasaBulgarian，quiteacompetentmanifhecouldhavemadetherailwaysgivehimthetrucksheneeded。TherewasacollectionofhungryGermantransportofficersalwaysputtingintheiroars，andbeinginfernallyinsolenttoeverybody。Itookthehighandmightylinewiththem;and，asIhadtheBulgariancommandantonmyside，afterabouttwohours’blasphemygotthemquieted。
　　ButthebigtroublecamethenextmorningwhenIhadgotnearlyallthestuffaboardthetrucks。
　　AyoungofficerinwhatItooktobeaTurkishuniformrodeupwithanaide—de—camp。InoticedtheGermanguardssalutinghim，soIjudgedhewasratheraswell。HecameuptomeandaskedmeverycivillyinGermanfortheway—bills。Igavehimthemandhelookedcarefullythroughthem，markingcertainitemswithabluepencil。Thenhecoollyhandedthemtohisaide—de—campandspoketohiminTurkish。
　　’Lookhere，Iwanttheseback，’Isaid。’Ican’tdowithoutthem，andwe’venotimetowaste。’
　　’Presently，’hesaid，smiling，andwentoff。
　　Isaidnothing，reflectingthatthestuffwasfortheTurksandtheynaturallyhadtohavesomesayinitshandling。Theloadingwaspracticallyfinishedwhenmygentlemanreturned。Hehandedmeaneatlytypednewsetofway—bills。Oneglanceatthemshowedthatsomeofthebigitemshadbeenleftout。
　　’Here，thiswon’tdo，’Icried。’Givemebacktherightset。Thisthing’snogoodtome。’
　　Foranswerhewinkedgently，smiledlikeaduskyseraph，andheldouthishand。InitIsawarollofmoney。
　　’Foryourself，’hesaid。’Itistheusualcustom。’
　　Itwasthefirsttimeanyonehadevertriedtobribeme，anditmademeboiluplikeageyser。Isawhisgameclearlyenough。
　　TurkeywouldpayforthelottoGermany:probablyhadalreadypaidthebill:butshewouldpaydoubleforthethingsnotontheway—bills，andpaytothisfellowandhisfriends。ThisstruckmeasrathersteepevenforOrientalmethodsofdoingbusiness。
　　’Nowlookhere，Sir，’Isaid，’Idon’tstirfromthisplacetillIgetthecorrectway—bills。Ifyouwon’tgivemethem，Iwillhaveeveryitemoutofthetrucksandmakeanewlist。ButacorrectlistIhave，orthestuffstaysheretillDoomsday。’
　　Hewasaslim，foppishfellow，andhelookedmorepuzzledthanangry。
　　’Iofferyouenough，’hesaid，againstretchingouthishand。
　　AtthatIfairlyroared。’Ifyoutrytobribeme，youinfernallittlehaberdasher，I’llhaveyouoffthathorseandchuckyouintheriver。’
　　Henolongermisunderstoodme。Hebegantocurseandthreaten，butIcuthimshort。