interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第23节
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bread。 Tall soldiers and little ones； all dirty； all weary； almost all smiling；
they peered over each other's shoulders； to catch； if might be； a glimpse of
Marie's face。
When they came too close she poked an elbow into some hulking
fellow and sent him back。
〃Elbow…room； in the name of God；〃 she would beg。 Over all the room
hung the warm steam from the kettles； and a delicious odor； and peace。
Sara Lee had never heard of the word morale。 She would have been
astonished to have been told that she was helping the morale of an army。
But she gave each night in that little house of mercy something that
nothing else could give … warmth and welcome； but above all a touch of
home。
That night Henri did not come back。 She stood by her table bandaging；
washing small wounds； talking her bits of French； until one o'clock。 Then；
the last dressing done； she went to the kitchen。 Marie was there； with
Maurice； the miller's son。
〃Has the captain returned？〃 she asked。
〃Not yet； mademoiselle。〃
〃Leave a warm fire；〃 Sara Lee said。 〃He will probably come in later。〃
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
Maurice went away； with a civil good night。 Sara Lee stood in the
doorway after he had gone； looking out。 Farther along the line there was a
bombardment going on。 She knew now what a bombardment meant and
her brows contracted。 Somewhere there in the trenches men were enduring
that； while Henri …
She said a little additional prayer that night； which was that she should
have courage to say to him what she felt … that there were big things to do；
and that it should not all be left to these smiling； ill…clad peasant soldiers。
At that moment Henri； in his gray…green uniform； was cutting wire
before a German trench； one of a party of German soldiers； who could not
know in the darkness that there had been a strange addition to their group。
Cutting wire and learning many things which it was well that he should
know。
Now and then； in perfect German； he whispered a question。 Always he
received a reply。 And stowed it away in his tenacious memory for those it
most concerned。
At daylight he was asleep by Sara Lee's kitchen fire。 And at daylight
Sara Lee was awakened by much firing； and putting on a dressing gown
she went out to see what was happening。 Rene was in the street looking
toward the poplar trees。
〃An attack；〃 he said briefly。
〃You mean … the Germans？〃
〃Yes； mademoiselle。〃
She went back into the little ruined house； heavy…hearted。 She knew
now what it meant； an attack。 That night there would be ambulances in the
street； and word would come up that certain men were gone … would never
seek warmth and shelter in her kitchen or beg like children for a second
bowl of soup。
On the kitchen floor by the dying fire Henri lay asleep。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
CHAPTER XIII
Much has been said of the work of spies … said and written。 Here is a
woman in Paris sending forbidden messages on a marked coin。 Men are
tapped on the shoulder by a civil gentleman in a sack suit； and walk away
with him； never to be seen again。
But of one sort of spy nothing has been written and but little is known。
Yet by him are battles won or lost。 On the intelligence he brings attacks
are prepared for and counter…attacks launched。 It is not always the airman；
in these days of camouflage； who brings word of ammunition trains or of
new batteries。
In the early days of the war the work of the secret service at the Front
was of the gravest importance。 There were fewer air machines； and
observation from the air was a new science。 Also trench systems were
incomplete。 Between them； known to a few； were breaks of solid land；
guarded from behind。 To one who knew； it was possible； though dangerous
beyond words； to cross the inundated country that lay between the Belgian
Front and the German lines； and even with good luck to go farther。 Henri；
for instance； on that night before had left the advanced trench at the
railway line； had crawled through the Belgian barbed wire； and had
advanced； standing motionless as each star shell burst overhead； and then
moving on quickly。 The inundation was his greatest difficulty。 Shallow in
most places； it was full of hidden wire and crisscrossed with irrigation
ditches。 Once he stumbled into one； but he got out by swimming。 Had he
been laden with a rifle and equipment it might have been difficult。
He swore to himself as his feet touched ground again。 For a star shell
was hanging overhead； and his efforts had sent wide and ever increasingly
widening circles over the placid surface of the lagoon。 Let them lap to the
German outposts and he was lost。
Henri's method was peculiar to himself。 Where there was dry terrain
he did as did the others； crouched and crept。 But here in the salt marshes；
where the sea had been called to Belgium's aid； he had evolved a system
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
of moving； neck deep in water； stopping under the white night lights；
advancing in the darkness。 There was no shelter。 The country was flat as a
hearth。
He would crawl out at last in the darkness and lie flat； as the dead lie。
And then； inch by inch； he would work his way forward； by routes that he
knew。 Sometimes he went entirely through the German lines； and
reconnoitered on the roads behind。 They were shallow lines then； for the
inundation made the country almost untenable； and a charge in force from
the Belgians across was unlikely。
Henri knew his country well； as well as he loved it。 In a farmhouse
behind the German lines he sometimes doffed his wet gray…green uniform
and put on the clothing of a Belgian peasant。 Trust Henri then for being a
lout； a simple fellow who spoke only Flemish … but could hear in many
tongues。 Watch him standing at crossroads and marveling at big guns that
rumble by。
At first Henri had wished； having learned of an attack； to be among
those who repelled it。 Then one day his King had sent for him to come to
that little viilage which was now his capital city。
He had been sent in alone and had found the King at the table； writing。
Henri bowed and waited。 They were not unlike； these two men； only Henri
was younger and lighter； and where the King's eyes were gray Henri's
were blue。 Such a queer setting for a king it was … a tawdry summer home；
ill…heated and cheaply furnished。 But by the presence of Belgium's man of
all time it became royal。
So Henri bowed and waited； and soon the King got up and shook
hands with him。 As a matter of fact they knew each other rather well； but
to explain more would be to tell that family name of Henri's which must
never be known。
〃Sit down；〃 said the King gravely。 And he got a box of cigars from the
mantelpiece and offered it。 〃I sent for you because I want to talk to you。
You are doing valuable work。〃
〃I am glad you think it so； sire；〃 said Henri rather unhappily； because
he felt what was coming。 〃But I cannot do it all the time。 There are
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intervals…〃
An ordinary mortal may not interrupt a king； but a king may interrupt
anything； except perhaps a German bombardment。
〃Intervals； of course。 If there were not you would be done in a month。〃
〃But I am a soldier。 My place is …〃
〃Your place is where you are most useful。〃
Henri was getting nothing out of the cigar。 He flung it away and got
up。
〃I want to fight too；〃 he said stubbornly。 〃We need every man； and I
am … rather a good shot。 I do this other because I can do it。 I speak their
infernal tongue。 But it's dirty business at the best； sire。 He remembered to
put in the sire； but rather ungraciously。 Indeed he shot it out like a bullet。
〃Dirty business！〃 said the King thoughtfully。 〃I see what you mean。 It
is； of course。 But … not so dirty as the things they have done； and are
doing。〃
He sat still and let Henri stamp up and down； because； as has been said；
he knew the boy。 And he had never been one to insist on deference； which
was why he got so much of it。 But at last he got up and when Henri st
