on the firing line-第26节
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ossoms now； and where； in the shady western end； would sit a tall girl with hair the color of the yellow flame。 Strangely enough； to his honest； straightforward mind it never occurred to doubt that she was thinking of him； sending a Christmas wish in his direction。 More than once she had given proof of her liking for him； her interest in his concerns。 Her blue eyes had met his eyes steadily； kindly。 Weldon had certain old…fashioned notions of womanhood which not all of his social life had been able to beat out of him。 Far back in his boyhood； his mother； still a social leader at home； had told him it was unmanly to flirt。 A good and loyal woman would have no share in flirtation； women of the other sort could have no share in his life。 Weldon was no Galahad。 He had danced and dined with many women； had given sympathy to some； chaff to others； nevertheless； his relations with them had been curiously direct and simple。 Quite unconsciously to himself； his mother's code had become ingrained in the very fibre of his being。 And now he was ready to stand or fall by his judgment that Ethel Dent； Cooee as he called her in his secret heart； was as good and loyal as a woman could be。 The future seemed to him so obvious that he made no effort to forecast it。 He was content to wait。
〃Christmas is nearly over； Weldon。〃
He roused himself abruptly； as Captain Frazer dropped down at his side。
〃Yes； but the revel will outlast the day；〃 he answered； laughing。 〃Tommy is in his glory now； and it will take more than taps to make him subside。〃
〃Perhaps。 He has rioted most joyously。 Christmas has been no empty mockery to him。〃 Weldon's quick ear detected a ring of melancholy in the Captain's voice。
〃Has it to you？〃
The Captain sat silent for a moment； his eyes fixed on the winking fires。
〃Not really。 Of course； we all have been a bit homesick； and I can see no shame in confessing it。 Besides； after one gets out of his windsor…tie stage of life； these especial holidays seem to mark time so。 One thinks back to this time； last year； and one has to wonder a bit where he will be； a year from now。 A good deal can happen in a year。〃
〃For better； or for worse；〃 Weldon added。
The words caught the Captain's ear。
〃Yes； for better or for worse；〃 he repeated； 〃in sickness and in health。 A year is a long time。 Tell me； have you heard lately from Miss Dent？〃
Long afterwards； the question came back to Weldon； with the obvious association of ideas。 Now he answered； with perfect unconcern；
〃Not for three or four weeks。〃
〃I have heard since you； then。 She wrote； last week； and sent greeting to you and Mr。 Carew。〃
〃Thank you。 Give mine back to her； that is； if you are writing。〃
〃I shall write； to…night；〃 the Captain said briefly。
〃Then please send her my wishes for Christmas and New Year's both。 You might also remind her to write to me。 She writes wonderfully good letters。〃 Turning his eyes from the fire； the Captain watched him steadily for a moment。 Unconscious of his companion's gaze； Weldon was staring out across the camp； his lips framed to a noiseless whistling； his face full of dreamy content。 The Captain studied the happy； resolute young face； drew a deep breath and then turned to the fire once more。
〃Yes；〃 he assented。 〃But you would know that； from hearing her talk。〃
Suddenly； Weldon's lips straightened； and he faced the Captain directly。
〃I like Miss Dent；〃 he said frankly。 〃Of course； you know that。 But； moreover； I have always felt I owed her a debt of gratitude for introducing me to you。 I know one doesn't usually say such things； Captain Frazer；〃 he laughed； in sudden boyish embarrassment； 〃but it is a little different on Christmas night； you know。 Next year； we may be miles apart； and so； if you don't mind； I'd like to say that you have been wonderfully good to me； this year； and that I appreciate it。〃
Captain Frazer took the outstretched hand； slim； but hard now； and a bit stubby about the nails。
〃Thank you； Weldon；〃 he answered。 〃This may be our only Christmas together； and I am glad you told me。〃
The silence about them was broken by the voices of the soldiers singing around the camp fires and by the bagpipes playing somewhere across the distance。 Then； after a little； they fell to talking of other things； with the natural antipathy of healthy men to any recurrence of a momentary outburst of sentiment。
Around them； the fires flared and flamed across the darkness； beyond them； the veldt stretched away； sinister； mysterious； and from above the stars twinkled down upon them； smiling a Christmas blessing alike on those who were doomed to glory and those who were doomed to death。 For an instant； the sudden pause in the singing and laughter seemed typical of the short； sudden pause in their active lives。 Then； as the Captain rose； the singing broke out once more； Carew's voice leading。
〃Good…night； Weldon。 I must go back to my quarters。〃
〃And to your letters？〃
〃Yes； to my letters。 And may next Christmas be good to us both！〃
Weldon rose and saluted； then stood looking after his companion as he walked away； head and shoulders erect and his lips smiling slightly； as if in anticipation of the task before him。 And； meanwhile； from the fire near by came the lusty chorus；
〃A little brown cot； a shady green spot； No happier home I find。 My heart's fairly gone； for I love only one； She's the gi…irl I le…eft behind。〃
The voices； rollicking even in their sentimentality； dropped away into silence； the fire flared up and then suddenly died away into darkness。 But； even in the darkness； Weldon could see the dim outline of the Captain's figure； moving steadily forward along his self…appointed way。
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Lord Kitchener； one night in early February； was sitting on the apex of a vast triangle in the northern end of the Orange River Colony。 Two sides of the triangle were made up of long lines of blockhouses； strung on a chain of barbed…wire fencing。 The blockhouses were of loop…holed stone or iron with iron roofs； and they were separated from each other by only a few hundred yards。 The barbed…wire chain which strung together these zigzag lines was five strands wide； and it was edged with a five…foot trench and now and then with an additional length of stone wall。 Beyond the fences were the railroad lines； and up and down over the tracks armored trains carrying search…lights were running to and fro； to shed all possible light upon the fences and upon the enclosure beyond。 The third side of the triangle consisted of an infinite number of men in khaki； and its density varied entirely according to its position。 At first； it opened out to a thin line of troopers scattered over the arc of an immense circle； then it drew in until an army stood in fighting array straight across the veldt from Heilbron to Kroonstad。 And Wolvehoek was the apex of the triangle。
Experience had taught the master brain of the British army that it was useless longer to chase De Wet up and down over the face of the earth。 The Boer general was familiar with every crack and cranny of that earth。 He knew where to hide； where to dodge； where to scurry away as fast as his convoy train could bear him company。 Behind him； plucky； but totally in ignorance of the natural advantages of the country； toiled and perspired and skirmished the British army。 Horses were exhausted； men were killed and supply wagons were captured； all to little or no purpose。 If the quarry could not be taken by direct pursuit； it was needful to have recourse to the methods of the ranch。 Pursuit failing； it was time for a round…up。
To this end； the Orange River Colony had been marked off into sections by the rows of blockhouses strung upon barbed wire。 Drive after drive had been made into these enclosures； and every drive had brought its bag of game。 But still the general himself had eluded them。 Early in February； however； a giant drive had been planned； directed away from the enclosure in order that； once De Wet took refuge in his usual trick of doubling back upon his pursuers； he should find himself caught in the open trap。 And； secure in the ultimate success of his plan； Lord Kitchener waited at Wolvehoek in expectation of its end。
The drive had been made； De Wet had doubled； and now the base of the triangle was flowing in upon him； fully confident of success at last。 And the base was in part made up of the South African Light Horse； and Carew and Weldon were of that Horse； and they rejoiced accordingly。
Nightfall of the sixth found the quarry well inside the triangle； and the South African Light Horse drawn up in a straight line running westward from Lindley。 The officers slept in their boots； that night； and every trooper held himself tense in his blankets； ready to cease snoring at an instant's notice。 And far away to the northward； the moving search…lights carved the frosty darkness with their blinding cones of light。
Weldon was ordered out on picket duty； that night。 All day long； he had ridden hard； until even the zeal of Piggie had begun to flag。 Nevertheless； as the broad stripe of yellow reluctantly died out of the western sky； his excited brain denied to his tired muscles the sleep which they demande
