the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第20节
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they volunteered； from Ely for a day of sea…bathing and golf； they were
returning after dinner。 The head…waiter of the East Cliff Hotel gave them
the information they desired。 He was an intelligent head…waiter； young；
and of pleasant； not to say distinguished； bearing。 In a frock coat he might
easily have been mistaken for something even more important than a
head…waiterfor a German riding… master； a leader of a Hungarian band； a
manager of a Ritz hotel。 But he was not above his station。 He even assisted
the porter in carrying the coats and golf bags of the gentlemen from the car
to the coffee…room where； with the intuition of the homing pigeon； the
three strangers had； unaided； found their way。 As Carl Schultz followed；
carrying the dust…coats； a road map fell from the pocket of one of them to
the floor。 Carl Schultz picked it up； and was about to replace it； when his
eyes were held by notes scrawled roughly in pencil。 With an expression
that no longer was that of a head…waiter； Carl cast one swift glance about
him and then slipped into the empty coat…room and locked the door。 Five
minutes later； with a smile that played uneasily over a face grown gray
with anxiety； Carl presented the map to the tallest of the three strangers。 It
was open so that the pencil marks were most obvious。 By his accent it was
evident the tallest of the three strangers was an American。
〃What the devil！〃 he protested； 〃which of you boys has been playing
hob with my map？〃
For just an instant the two pink…cheeked ones regarded him with
disfavor； until； for just an instant； his eyebrows rose and； with a glance； he
signified the waiter。
〃Oh； that！〃 exclaimed the younger one。 〃The Automobile Club asked
us to mark down petrol stations。 Those marks mean that's where you can
buy petrol。〃
The head…waiter breathed deeply。 With an assured and happy
countenance； he departed and； for the two…hundredth time that day； looked
from the windows of the dining…room out over the tumbling breakers to
the gray stretch of sea。 As though fearful that his face would expose his
secret； he glanced carefully about him and then； assured he was alone；
leaned eagerly forward； scanning the empty； tossing waters。
In his mind's eye he beheld rolling tug…boats straining against long
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lines of scows； against the dead weight of field…guns； against the pull of
thousands of motionless； silent figures； each in khaki； each in a black
leather helmet； each with one hundred and fifty rounds。
In his own language Carl Schultz reproved himself。
〃Patience；〃 he muttered； 〃patience！ By ten to…night all will be dark。
There will be no stars。 There will be no moon。 The very heavens fight for
us； and by sunrise our outposts will be twenty miles inland！〃
At lunch…time Carl Schultz carefully； obsequiously waited upon the
three strangers。 He gave them their choice of soup； thick or clear； of
gooseberry pie or Half…Pay pudding。 He accepted their shillings gratefully；
and when they departed for the links he bowed them on their way。 And as
their car turned up Jetty Street； for one instant； he again allowed his eyes
to sweep the dull gray ocean。 Brown…sailed fishing…boats were beating in
toward Cromer。 On the horizon line a Norwegian tramp was drawing a
lengthening scarf of smoke。 Save for these the sea was empty。
By gracious permission of the manageress Carl had obtained an
afternoon off； and； changing his coat； he mounted his bicycle and set forth
toward Overstrand。 On his way he nodded to the local constable； to the
postman on his rounds； to the driver 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
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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
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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
