the red cross girl-第17节

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of　the　char　？banc。　He　had　been　a　year　in　Cromer　and　was　well
known　and　well　liked。

Three　miles　from　Cromer；　at　the　top　of　the　highest　hill　in
Overstrand；　the　chimneys　of　a　house　showed　above　a　thick
tangle　of　fir…trees。　Between　the　trees　and　the　road　rose　a
wall；　high；　compact；　forbidding。　Carl　opened　the　gate　in　the
wall　and　pushed　his　bicycle　up　a　winding　path　hemmed　in　by
bushes。　At　the　sound　of　his　feet　on　the　gravel　the　bushes　new
apart；　and　a　man　sprang　into　the　walk　and　confronted　him。
But；　at　sight　of　the　head…waiter；　the　legs　of　the　man　became
rigid；　his　heels　clicked　together；　his　hand　went　sharply　to
his　visor。

Behind　the　house；　surrounded　on　every　side　by　trees；　was　a
tiny　lawn。　In　the　centre　of　the　lawn；　where　once　had　been　a
tennis　court；　there　now　stood　a　slim　mast。　From　this　mast
dangled　tiny　wires　that　ran　to　a　kitchen　table。　On　the　table；
its　brass　work　shining　in　the　sun；　was　a　new　and　perfectly
good　wireless　outfit；　and　beside　it；　with　his　hand　on　the
key；　was　a　heavily　built；　heavily　bearded　German。　In　his
turn；　Carl　drew　his　legs　together；　his　heels　clicked；　his
hand　stuck　to　his　visor。

〃I　have　been　in　constant　communication；〃　said　the　man　with
the　beard。　〃They　will　be　here　just　before　the　dawn。　Return　to
Cromer　vand　openly　from　the　post…office　telegraph　your　cousin
in　London：　'Will　meet　you　to…morrow　at　the　Crystal　Palace。'
On　receipt　of　that；　in　the　last　edition　of　all　of　this
afternoon's　papers；　he　will　insert　the　final　advertisement。
Thirty　thousand　of　our　own　people　will　read　it。　They　will
know　the　moment　has　come！〃

As　Carl　coasted　back　to　Cromer　he　flashed　past　many　pretty
gardens　where；　upon　the　lawns；　men　in　flannels　were　busy　at
tennis　or；　with　pretty　ladies；　deeply　occupied　in　drinking
tea。　Carl　smiled　grimly。　High　above　him　on　the　sky…line　of
the　cliff　he　saw　the　three　strangers　he　had　served　at
luncheon。　They　were　driving　before　them　three　innocuous　golf
balls。

〃A　nation　of　wasters；〃　muttered　the　German；　〃sleeping　at
their　posts。　They　are　fiddling　while　England　falls！〃

Mr。　Shutliffe；　of　Stiffkey；　had　led　his　cow　in　from　the
marsh；　and　was　about　to　close　the　cow…barn　door；　when　three
soldiers　appeared　suddenly　around　the　wall　of　the　village
church。　They　ran　directly　toward　him。　It　was　nine　o'clock；
but　the　twilight　still　held。　The　uniforms　the　men　wore　were
unfamiliar；　but　in　his　day　Mr。　Shutliffe　had　seen　many
uniforms；　and　to　him　all　uniforms　looked　alike。　The　tallest
soldier　snapped　at　Mr。　Shutliffe　fiercely　in　a　strange
tongue。

〃Du　bist　gefangen！〃　he　announced。　〃Das　Dorf　ist　besetzt。　Wo
sind　unsere　Leute？〃　he　demanded。

〃You'll　'ave　to　excuse　me；　sir；〃　said　Mr。　Shutliffe；　〃but　I
am　a　trifle　'ard　of　'earing。〃

The　soldier　addressed　him　in　English。

〃What　is　the　name　of　this　village？〃　he　demanded。

Mr。　Shuttiffe；　having　lived　in　the　village　upward　of　eighty
years；　recalled　its　name　with　difficulty。

〃Have　you　seen　any　of　our　people？〃

With　another　painful　effort　of　memory　Mr。　Shutliffe　shook　his
head。

〃Go　indoors！〃　commanded　the　soldier；　〃And　put　out　all　lights；
and　remain　indoors。　We　have　taken　this　village。　We　are
Germans。　You　are　a　prisoner！　Do　you　understand？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　thank'ee；　sir；　kindly；〃　stammered　Mr。　Shutliffe。
〃May　I　lock　in　the　pigs　first；　sir？〃

One　of　the　soldiers　coughed　explosively；　and　ran　away；　and
the　two　others　trotted　after　him。　When　they　looked　back；　Mr。
Shutliffe　was　still　standing　uncertainly　in　the　dusk；　mildly
concerned　as　to　whether　he　should　lock　up　the　pigs　or　obey
the　German　gentleman。

The　three　soldiers　halted　behind　the　church　wall。

〃That　was　a　fine　start！〃　mocked　Herbert。　〃Of　course；　you　had
to　pick　out　the　Village　Idiot。　If　they　are　all　going　to　take
it　like　that；　we　had　better　pack　up　and　go　home。〃

〃The　village　inn　is　still　open；〃　said　Ford。　〃We'll　close　It。〃

They　entered　with　fixed　bayonets　and　dropped　the　butts　of
their　rifles　on　the　sanded　floor。　A　man　in　gaiters　choked
over　his　ale　and　two　fishermen　removed　their　clay　pipes　and
stared。　The　bar…maid　alone　arose　to　the　occasion。

〃Now；　then；〃　she　exclaimed　briskly；　〃What　way　is　that　to　come
tumbling　into　a　respectable　place？　None　of　your　tea…garden
tricks　in　here；　young　fellow；　my　lad；　or　〃

The　tallest　of　the　three　intruders；　in　deep　guttural　accents；
interrupted　her　sharply。

〃We　are　Germans！〃　he　declared。　〃This　village　is　captured。　You
are　prisoners　of　war。　Those　lights　you　will　out　put；　and
yourselves　lock　in。　If　you　into　the　street　go；　we　will
shoot！〃

He　gave　a　command　in　a　strange　language；　so　strange；　indeed；
that　the　soldiers　with　him　failed　to　entirely　grasp　his
meaning；　and　one　shouldered　his　rifle；　while　the　other
brought　his　politely　to　a　salute。

〃You　ass！〃　muttered　the　tall　German。　〃　Get　out！〃

As　they　charged　into　the　street；　they　heard　behind　them　a
wild　feminine　shriek；　then　a　crash　of　pottery　and　glass；　then
silence；　and　an　instant　later　the　Ship　Inn　was　buried　in
darkness。

〃That　will　hold　Stiffkey　for　a　while！〃　said　Ford。　〃Now；　back
to　the　car。〃

But　between　them　and　the　car　loomed　suddenly　a　tall　and
impressive　figure。　His　helmet　and　his　measured　tread　upon　the
deserted　cobble…stones　proclaimed　his　calling。

〃The　constable！〃　whispered　Herbert。　〃He　must　see　us；　but　he
mustn't　speak　to　us。〃

For　a　moment　the　three　men　showed　themselves　in　the　middle　of
the　street；　and　then；　as　though　at　sight　of　the　policeman
they　had　taken　alarm；　disappeared　through　an　opening　between
two　houses。　Five　minutes　later　a　motor…car；　with　its　canvas
top　concealing　its　occupants；　rode　slowly　into　Stiffkey's
main　street　and　halted　before　the　constable。　The　driver　of
the　car　wore　a　leather　skull…cap　and　goggles。　From　his　neck
to　his　heels　he　was　covered　by　a　raincoat。

〃Mr。　Policeman；〃　he　began；　〃　when　I　turned　in　here　three
soldiers　stepped　in　front　of　my　car　and　pointed　rifles　at　me。
Then　they　ran　off　toward　the　beach。　What's　the　idea
manoeuvres？　Because；　they've　no　right　to〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　the　policeman　assured　him　promptly；　〃I　saw　them。
It's　manoeuvres；　sir。　Territorials。〃

〃They　didn't　look　like　Territorials；〃　objected　the　chauffeur。
〃They　looked　like　Germans。〃

Protected　by　the　deepening　dusk；　the　constable　made　no　effort
to　conceal　a　grin。

〃Just　Territorials；　sir；〃　he　protested　soothingly；
〃skylarking　maybe；　but　meaning　no　harm。　Still；　I'll　have　a
look　round；　and　warn　'em。〃

A　voice　from　beneath　the　canvas　broke　in　angrily：

〃I　tell　you；　they　were　Germans。　It's　either　a　silly　joke；　or
it's　serious；　and　you　ought　to　report　it。　It's　your　duty　to
warn　the　Coast　Guard。〃

The　constable　considered　deeply。

〃I　wouldn't　take　it　on　myself　to　wake　the　Coast　Guard；〃　he
protested；　〃not　at　this　time　of　the　night。　But　if　any
Germans'　been　annoying　you；　gentlemen；　and　you　wish　to　lodge
a　complaint　against　them；　you　give　me　your　cards〃

〃Ye　gods！〃　cried　the　man　in　the　rear　of　the　car。　〃Go　on！〃　he
commanded。

As　the　car　sped　out　of　Stiffkey；　Herbert　exclaimed　with
disgust：

〃What's　the　use！〃　he　protested。　〃You　couldn't　wake　these
people　with　dynamite！　I　vote　we　chuck　it　and　go　home。〃

〃They　little　know　of　England　who　only　Stiffkey　know；〃　chanted
the　chauffeur　reprovingly。　〃Why；　we　haven't　begun　yet。　Wait
till　we　meet　a　live　wire！〃

Two　miles　farther　along　the　road　to　Cromer；　young　Bradshaw；
the　job…master's　son　at　Blakeney；　was　leading　his　bicycle　up
the　hill。　Ahead　of　him　something　heavy　flopped　from　the　bank
into　the　roadand　in　the　light　of　his　acetylene　lamp　he　saw
a　soldier。　The　soldier　dodged　across　the　road　and　scrambled
through　the　hedge　on　the　bank　opposite。　He　was　followed　by
another　soldier；　and　then　by　a　third。　The　last　man　halted。

〃Put　out　that　light；〃　he　commanded。　〃　Go　to　your　home　and
tell　no　one　what　you　have　seen。　If　you　attempt　to　give　an
alarm　you　will　be　shot。　Our　sentries　are　placed　every　fifty
yards　along　this　road。〃

The　soldier　disappeared　from　in　front　of　the　ray　of　light　and
followed　his　comrades；　and　an　instant　later　young　Bradshaw
heard　them　sliding　over　the　cliff's　edge　and　the　pebbles
clattering　to　the　beach　below。　Young　Bradshaw　stood　quite
still。　In　his　heart　was　much　fearfear　of　laughter；　of
ridicule；　of　failure。　But　of　no　other　kind　of　fear。　Softly；
silently　he　turned　his　bicycle　so　that　it　faced　down　the　long
hill　he　had　just　climbed。　Then　he　snapped　off　the　light。　He
had　been　reliably　informed　that　in　ambush　at　every　fifty
yards　along　the　road　to　Blakeney；　sentries　were　waiting　to
fire　on　him。　And　he　proposed　to　run　the　gauntlet。　He　saw　that
it　was　for　this　moment　that；　first　as　a　volunteer　and　later
as　a　Territorial；　he　had　drilled　in　the　town　hall；　practiced
on　the　rifle　range；　and　in　mixed　manoeuvres　slept　in　six
inches　of　mud。　As　he　threw　his　leg　across　his　bicycle；
Herbert；　from　the　motor…car　farther　up　the　hill；　fired　two
shots　over　his　head。　These；　he　explained　to　Ford；　were
intended　to　give　〃　verisimilitude　to　an　otherwise　bald　and
unconvincing　narrative。〃　And　the　sighing　of　the　bullets　gave
young　Bradshaw　exactly　what　he　wantedthe　assurance　that　he
was　not　the　victim　of　a　practical　joke。　He　threw　his　weight
forward　and；　lifting　his　feet；　coasted　downhill　at　f