the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第21节
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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
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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：
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〃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 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…
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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！
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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
