the red cross girl-第18节

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was　not　the　victim　of　a　practical　joke。　He　threw　his　weight
forward　and；　lifting　his　feet；　coasted　downhill　at　forty
miles　an　hour　into　the　main　street　of　Blakeney。　Ten　minutes
later；　when　the　car　followed；　a　mob　of　men　so　completely
blocked　the　water…front　that　Ford　was　forced　to　stop。　His
head…lights　illuminated　hundreds　of　faces；　anxious；
sceptical；　eager。　A　gentleman　with　a　white　mustache　and　a
look　of　a　retired　army　officer　pushed　his　way　toward　Ford；
the　crowd　making　room　for　him；　and　then　closing　in　his　wake。

〃Have　you　seen　anyany　soldiers？〃　he　demanded。

〃German　soldiers！〃　Ford　answered。　〃They　tried　to　catch　us；
but　when　I　saw　who　they　were；　I　ran　through　them　to　warn　you。
They　fired　and〃

〃How　manyand　where？〃

〃A　half…company　at　Stiffkey　and　a　half…mile　farther　on　a
regiment。　We　didn't　know　then　they　were　Germans；　not　until
they　stopped　us。　You'd　better　telephone　the　garrison；　and〃

〃Thank　you！〃　snapped　the　elderly　gentleman。　〃I　happen　to　be
in　command　of　this　district。　What　are　your　names？〃

Ford　pushed　the　car　forward；　parting　the　crowd。

〃I've　no　time　for　that！〃　he　called。　〃We've　got　to　warn　every
coast　town　in　Norfolk。　You　take　my　tip　and　get　London　on　the
long　distance！〃

As　they　ran　through　the　night　Ford　spoke　over　his　shoulder。

〃We've　got　them　guessing；〃　he　said。　〃Now；　what　we　want　is　a
live　wire；　some　one　with　imagination；　some　one　with　authority
who　will　wake　the　countryside。〃

〃Looks　ahead　there；〃　said　Birrell；　〃as　though　it　hadn't　gone
to　bed。〃

Before　them；　as　on　a　Mafeking　night；　every　window　in　Cley
shone　with　lights。　In　the　main　street　were　fishermen；
shopkeepers；　〃trippers〃　in　flannels；　summer　residents。　The
women　had　turned　out　as　though　to　witness　a　display　of
fireworks。　Girls　were　clinging　to　the　arms　of　their　escorts；
shivering　in　delighted　terror。　The　proprietor　of　the　Red　Lion
sprang　in　front　of　the　car　and　waved　his　arms。

〃What's　this　tale　about　Germans？〃　he　demanded　jocularly。

〃You　can　see　their　lights　from　the　beach；〃　said　Ford。
〃They've　landed　two　regiments　between　here　and　Wells。
Stiffkey　is　taken；　and　they've　cut　all　the　wires　south。〃

The　proprietor　refused　to　be　〃had。〃

〃Let　'em　all　come！〃　he　mocked。

〃All　right；〃　returned　Ford。　〃Let　'em　come；　but　don't　take　it
lying　down！　Get　those　women　off　the　streets；　and　go　down　to
the　beach；　and　drive　the　Germans　back！　Gangway；〃　he　shouted；
and　the　car　shot　forward。　〃We　warned　you；〃　he　called；　〃And
it's　up　to　you　to〃

His　words　were　lost　in　the　distance。　But　behind　him　a　man's
voice　rose　with　a　roar　like　a　rocket　and　was　met　with　a
savage；　deep…throated　cheer。

Outside　the　village　Ford　brought　the　car　to　a　halt　and　swung
in　his　seat。

〃This　thing　is　going　to　fail！〃　he　cried　petulantly。　〃They
don't　believe　us。　We've　got　to　show　ourselvesmany　times
in　a　dozen　places。〃

〃The　British　mind　moves　slowly；〃　said　Birrell；　the　Irishman。
〃Now；　if　this　had　happened　in　my　native　land〃

He　was　interrupted　by　the　screech　of　a　siren；　and　a　demon　car
that　spurned　the　road；　that　splattered　them　with　pebbles；
tore　past　and　disappeared　in　the　darkness。　As　it　fled　down
the　lane　of　their　head…lights；　they　saw　that　men　in　khaki
clung　to　its　sides；　were　packed　in　its　tonneau；　were　swaying
from　its　running　boards。　Before　they　could　find　their　voices
a　motor　cycle；　driven　as　though　the　angel　of　death　were　at
the　wheel；　shaved　their　mud…guard　and；　in　its　turn；　vanished
into　the　night。

〃Things　are　looking　up！〃　said　Ford。　〃Where　is　our　next　stop？
As　I　said　before；　what　we　want　is　a　live　one。〃

Herbert　pressed　his　electric　torch　against　his　road　map。

〃We　are　next　billed　to　appear；〃　he　said；　〃about　a　quarter　of
a　mile　from　here；　at　the　signal…tower　of　the　Great　Eastern
Railroad；　where　we　visit　the　night　telegraph　operator　and
give　him　the　surprise　party　of　his　life。〃

The　three　men　had　mounted　the　steps　of　the　signal…tower　so
quietly　that；　when　the　operator　heard　them；　they　already
surrounded　him。　He　saw　three　German　soldiers　with　fierce
upturned　mustaches；　with　flat；　squat　helmets；　with　long　brown
rifles。　They　saw　an　an鎚ic；　pale…faced　youth　without　a　coat
or　collar；　for　the　night　was　warm；　who　sank　back　limply　in
his　chair　and　gazed　speechless　with　wide…bulging　eyes。

In　harsh；　guttural　tones　Ford　addressed　him。　〃You　are　a
prisoner；〃　he　said。　〃We　take　over　this　office　in　the　name　of
the　German　Emperor。　Get　out！〃

As　though　instinctively　seeking　his　only　weapon　of　defence；
the　hand　of　the　boy　operator　moved　across　the　table　to　the
key　of　his　instrument。　Ford　flung　his　rifle　upon　it。

〃No；　you　don't！〃　he　growled。　〃Get　out！〃

With　eyes　still　bulging；　the　boy　lifted　himself　into　a
sitting　posture。

〃My　paymy　month's　pay？〃　he　stammered。　〃Can　I　take　It？〃

The　expression　on　the　face　of　the　conqueror　relaxed。

〃Take　it　and　get　out；〃　Ford　commanded。

With　eyes　still　fixed　in　fascinated　terror　upon　the　invader；
the　boy　pulled　open　the　drawer　of　the　table　before　him　and
fumbled　with　the　papers　inside。

〃Quick！〃　cried　Ford。

The　boy　was　very　quick。　His　hand　leaped　from　the　drawer　like
a　snake；　and　Ford　found　himself　looking　into　a　revolver　of
the　largest　calibre　issued　by　a　civilized　people。　Birrell
fell　upon　the　boy's　shoulders；　Herbert　twisted　the　gun　from
his　fingers　and　hurled　it　through　the　window；　and　almost　as
quickly　hurled　himself　down　the　steps　of　the　tower。　Birrell
leaped　after　him。　Ford　remained　only　long　enough　to　shout：
〃Don't　touch　that　instrument！　If　you　attempt　to　send　a
message　through；　we　will　shoot。　We　go　to　cut　the　wires！〃

For　a　minute；　the　boy　in　the　tower　sat　rigid；　his　ears
strained；　his　heart　beating　in　sharp；　suffocating　stabs。
Then；　with　his　left　arm　raised　to　guard　his　face；　he　sank　to
his　knees　and；　leaning　forward　across　the　table；　inviting　as
he　believed　his　death；　he　opened　the　circuit　and　through　the
night　flashed　out　a　warning　to　his　people。

When　they　had　taken　their　places　in　the　car；　Herbert　touched
Ford　on　the　shoulder。

〃Your　last　remark；〃　he　said；　〃　was　that　what　we　wanted　was　a
live　one。〃

〃Don't　mention　it！〃　said　Ford。　〃He　jammed　that　gun　half　down
my　throat。　I　can　taste　it　still。　Where　do　we　go　from　here？〃

〃According　to　the　route　we　mapped　out　this　afternoon；〃　said
Herbert；　〃We　are　now　scheduled　to　give　exhibitions　at　the
coast　towns　of　Salthouse　and　Weybourne；　but〃

〃Not　with　me！〃　exclaimed　Birrell　fiercely。　〃Those　towns　have
been　tipped　off　by　now　by　Blakeney　and　Cley；　and　the　Boy
Scouts　would　club　us　to　death。　I　vote　we　take　the　back　roads
to　Morston；　and　drop　in　on　a　lonely　Coast　Guard。　If　a　Coast
Guard　sees　us；　the　authorities　will　have　to　believe　him；　and
they'll　call　out　the　navy。〃

Herbert　consulted　his　map。

〃There　is　a　Coast　Guard；〃　he　said；　〃stationed　just　the　other
side　of　Morston。　And；〃　he　added　fervently；　〃let　us　hope　he's
lonely。〃

They　lost　their　way　in　the　back　roads；　and　when　they　again
reached　the　coast　an　hour　had　passed。　It　was　now　quite　dark。
There　were　no　stars；　nor　moon；　but　after　they　had　left　the
car　in　a　side　lane　and　had　stepped　out　upon　the　cliff；　they
saw　for　miles　along　the　coast　great　beacon　fires　burning
fiercely。

Herbert　came　to　an　abrupt　halt。

〃Since　seeing　those　fires；〃　he　explained；　〃I　feel　a　strange
reluctance　about　showing　myself　in　this　uniform　to　a　Coast
Guard。〃

〃Coast　Guards　don't　shoot！〃　mocked　Birrell。　〃They　only　look
at　the　clouds　through　a　telescope。　Three　Germans　with　rifles
ought　to　be　able　to　frighten　one　Coast　Guard　with　a
telescope。〃

The　whitewashed　cabin　of　the　Coast　Guard　was　perched　on　the
edge　of　the　cliff。　Behind　it　the　downs　ran　back　to　meet　the
road。　The　door　of　the　cabin　was　open　and　from　it　a　shaft　of
light　cut　across　a　tiny　garden　and　showed　the　white　fence　and
the　walk　of　shells。　v

〃We　must　pass　in　single　file　in　front　of　that　light；〃
whispered　Ford；　〃And　then；　after　we　are　sure　he　has　seen　us；
we　must　run　like　the　devil！〃

〃I'm　on　in　that　last　scene；〃　growled　Herbert。

〃Only；〃　repeated　Ford　with　emphasis；　〃We　must　be　sure　he　has
seen　us。〃

Not　twenty　feet　from　them　came　a　bursting　roar；　a　flash；　many
roars；　many　flashes；　many　bullets。

〃He's　seen　us！〃　yelled　Birrell。

After　the　light　from　his　open　door　had　shown　him　one　German
soldier　fully　armed；　the　Coast　Guard　had　seen　nothing
further。　But　judging　from　the　shrieks　of　terror　and　the
sounds　of　falling　bodies　that　followed　his　first　shot；　he　was
convinced　he　was　hemmed　in　by　an　army；　and　he　proceeded　to
sell　his　life　dearly。　Clip　after　clip　of　cartridges　he
emptied　into　the　night；　now　to　the　front；　now　to　the　rear；
now　out　to　sea；　now　at　his　own　shadow　in　the　lamp…light。　To
the　people　a　quarter　of　a　mile　away　at　Morston　it　sounded
like　a　battle。

After　running　half　a　mile；　Ford；　bruised　and　breathless；　fell
at　full　length　on　the　grass　beside　the　car。　Near　it；　tearing
from　his　person　the　last　vestiges　of　a　German　uniform；　he
found　Birrell。　He　also　was　puffing　painfully。

〃What　happened　to　Herbert？〃　panted　Ford。

〃I　don't　know；〃　gasped　Birrell；　〃When　I　saw　him　last　he　was
diving　over　the　cliff　into　the　sea。　How　many　times　did　you
die？〃

〃About　twenty！〃　groaned　the　American；　〃And；　besides　being
dead；　I　am