peace manoeuvres-第3节

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Red　Army　were　picked　men。〃

〃What　does　it　matter？〃　exclaimed　Lathrop。　　〃It's　just　as
humiliating　to　be　captured　by　a　ballroom　boy　as　by　a　mere
millionaire！　　I　can't　insist　on　the　invading　army　being　entirely
recruited　from　Harvard　graduates。〃

The　two　Reds　either　had　reached　a　decision；　or　agreed　that　they
could　not　agree；　for　they　ceased　whispering；　and　crossed　to　where
Lathrop　stood。

〃We　been　talking　over　your　case；〃　explained　the　sergeant；　〃and　we
see　we　are　in　wrong。　　We　see　we　made　a　mistake　in　taking　you
prisoner。　　We　had　ought　to　shot　you　dead。　　So　now　we're　going　to
shoot　you　dead。〃

〃You　can't！〃　objected　Lathrop。　　〃It's　too　late。　　You　should　have
thought　of　that　sooner。〃

〃I　know；〃　admitted　the　sergeant；　〃but　a　prisoner　is　a　hell　of　a
nuisance。　　If　you　got　a　prisoner　to　look　after　you　can't　do　your
own　work；　you　got　to　keep　tabs　on　him。　　And　there　ain't　nothing　in
it　for　the　prisoner；　neither。　　If　we　take　you；　you'll　have　to　tramp
all　the　way　to　our　army；　and　all　the　way　back。　　But；　if　you're
dead；　how　different！　　You　ain't　no　bother　to　anybody。　　You　got　a
half　holiday　all　to　yourself；　and　you　can　loaf　around　the　camp；　so
dead　that　they　can't　make　you　work；　but　not　so　dead　you　can't　smoke
or　eat。〃　　The　sergeant　smiled　ingratiatingly。　　In　a　tempting　manner
he　exhibited　his　rifle。　　〃Better　be　dead；〃　he　urged。

〃I'd　like　to　oblige　you；〃　said　Lathrop；　〃but　it's　against　the
rules。　　You　CAN'T　shoot　a　prisoner。〃

The　rat…faced　soldier　uttered　an　angry　exclamation。　　〃To　hell　with
the　rules！〃　he　cried。　　〃We　can't　waste　time　on　him。　　Turn　him
loose！〃

The　older　man　rounded　on　the　little　one　savagely。　　The　tone　in
which　he　addressed　him　was　cold；　menacing；　sinister。　　His　words
were　simple；　but　his　eyes　and　face　were　heavy　with　warning。

〃Who　is　running　this？〃　he　asked。

The　little　soldier　muttered；　and　shuffled　away。　　From　under　the
brim　of　his　campaign　hat；　his　eyes　cast　furtive　glances　up　and　down
the　road。　　As　though　anxious　to　wipe　out　the　effect　of　his
comrade's　words；　the　sergeant　addressed　Lathrop　suavely　and　in　a
tone　of　conciliation。

〃You　see；〃　he　explained；　〃him　and　me　are　scouts。　　We're　not
supposed　to　waste　time　taking　prisoners。　　So；　we'll　set　you　free。〃
He　waved　his　hand　invitingly　toward　the　bicycle。　　〃You　can　go！〃　he
said。

To　Miss　Farrar's　indignation　Lathrop；　instead　of　accepting　his
freedom；　remained　motionless。

〃I　can't！〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　on　post。　　My　captain　ordered　me　to　stay
in　front　of　this　house　until　I　was　relieved。〃

Miss　Farrar；　amazed　at　such　duplicity；　exclaimed　aloud：

〃He　is　NOT　on　post！〃　she　protested。　　〃He's　a　scout！　　He　wants　to
stop　here；　becausebecausehe's　hungry。　　I　wouldn't　have　let　you
take　him　prisoner；　if　I　had　not　thought　you　would　take　him　away
with　you。〃　　She　appealed　to　the　sergeant。　　〃PLEASE　take　him　away；〃
she　begged。

The　sergeant　turned　sharply　upon　his　prisoner。

〃Why　don't　you　do　what　the　lady　wants？〃　he　demanded。

〃Because　I've　got　to　do　what　my　captain　wants；〃　returned　Lathrop；
〃and　he　put　me　on　sentry…go；　in　front　of　this　house。〃

With　the　back　of　his　hand；　the　sergeant　fretfully　scraped　the　three
days'　growth　on　his　chin。　　〃There's　nothing　to　it；〃　he　exclaimed；
〃but　for　to　take　him　with　us。　　When　we　meet　some　more　Reds　we'll
turn　him　over。　　Fall　in！〃　he　commanded。

〃No！〃　protested　Lathrop。　　〃I　don't　want　to　be　turned　over。　　I've
got　a　much　better　plan。　　YOU　don't　want　to　be　bothered　with　a
prisoner。　　I　don't　want　to　be　a　prisoner。　　As　you　say；　I　am　better
dead。　　You　can't　shoot　a　prisoner；　but　if　he　tries　to　escape　you
can。　　I'll　try　to　escape。　　You　shoot　me。　　Then　I　return　to　my　own
army；　and　report　myself　dead。　　That　ends　your　difficulty　and　saves
me　from　a　court…martial。　　They　can't　court…martial　a　corpse。〃

The　face　of　the　sergeant　flashed　with　relief　and　satisfaction。　　In
his　anxiety　to　rid　himself　of　his　prisoner；　he　lifted　the　bicycle
into　the　road　and　held　it　in　readiness。

〃You're　all　right！〃　he　said；　heartily。　　〃You　can　make　your　getaway
as　quick　as　you　like。〃

But　to　the　conspiracy　Miss　Farrar　refused　to　lend　herself。

〃How　do　you　know；〃　she　demanded；　〃that　he　will　keep　his　promise？
He　may　not　go　back　to　his　own　army。　　He　can　be　just　as　dead　on　my
lawn　as　anywhere　else！〃

Lathrop　shook　his　head　at　her　sadly。

〃How　you　wrong　me！〃　he　protested。　　〃How　dare　you　doubt　the　promise
of　a　dying　man？　　These　are　really　my　last　words；　and　I　wish　I　could
think　of　something　to　say　suited　to　the　occasion；　but　the　presence
of　strangers　prevents。〃

He　mounted　his　bicycle。　　〃'If　I　had　a　thousand　lives　to　give；'〃　he
quoted　with　fervor；　〃'I'd　give　them　all　to'〃　he　hesitated；　and
smiled　mournfully　on　Miss　Farrar。　　Seeing　her　flushed　and　indignant
countenance；　he　added；　with　haste；　〃to　the　Commonwealth　of
Massachusetts！〃

As　he　started　on　his　wheel　slowly　down　the　path；　he　turned　to　the
sergeant。

〃I'm　escaping；〃　he　explained。　　The　Reds；　with　an　enthusiasm
undoubtedly　genuine；　raised　their　rifles；　and　the　calm　of　the
Indian　summer　was　shattered　by　two　sharp　reports。　　Lathrop；　looking
back　over　his　shoulder；　waved　one　hand　reassuringly。

〃Death　was　instantaneous；〃　he　called。　　He　bent　his　body　over　the
handle…bar；　and　they　watched　him　disappear　rapidly　around　the　turn
in　the　road。

Miss　Farrar　sighed　with　relief。

〃Thank　you　very　much；〃　she　said。

As　though　signifying　that　to　oblige　a　woman　he　would　shoot　any
number　of　prisoners；　the　sergeant　raised　his　hat。

〃Don't　mention　it；　lady；〃　he　said。　　〃I　seen　he　was　annoying　you；
and　that's　why　I　got　rid　of　him。　　Some　of　them　amateur　soldiers；　as
soon　as　they　get　into　uniform；　are　too　fresh。　　He　took　advantage　of
you　because　your　folks　were　away　from　home。　　But　don't　you　worry
about　that。　　I'll　guard　this　house　until　your　folks　get　back。〃

Miss　Farrar　protested　warmly。

〃Really！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃I　need　no　one　to　guard　me。〃

But　the　soldier　was　obdurate。　　He　motioned　his　comrade　down　the
road。

〃Watch　at　the　turn；〃　he　ordered；　〃he　may　come　back　or　send　some　of
the　Blues　to　take　us。　　I'll　stay　here　and　protect　the　lady。〃

Again　Miss　Farrar　protested；　but　the　sergeant；　in　a　benign　and
fatherly　manner；　smiled　approvingly。　　Seating　himself　on　the　grass
outside　the　fence；　he　leaned　his　back　against　the　gatepost；
apparently　settling　himself　for　conversation。

〃Now；　how　long　might　it　have　been；〃　he　asked；　〃before　we　showed　up；
that　you　seen　us？〃

〃I　saw　you；〃　Miss　Farrar　said；　〃when　Mr。when　that　bicycle　scout
was　talking　to　me。　　I　saw　the　red　bands　on　your　hats　among　the
bushes。〃

The　sergeant　appeared　interested。

〃But　why　didn't　you　let　on　to　him？〃

Miss　Farrar　laughed　evasively。

〃Maybe　because　I　am　from　New　York；　too；〃　she　said。　　〃Perhaps　I
wanted　to　see　soldiers　from　my　city　take　a　prisoner。〃

They　were　interrupted　by　the　sudden　appearance　of　the　smaller
soldier。　　On　his　rat…like　countenance　was　written　deep　concern。

〃When　I　got　to　the　turn；〃　he　began；　breathlessly；　〃I　couldn't　see
him。　　Where　did　he　go？　　Did　he　double　back　through　the　woods；　or
did　he　have　time　to　ride　out　of　sight　before　I　got　there？〃

The　reappearance　of　his　comrade　affected　the　sergeant　strangely。
He　sprang　to　his　feet；　his　under　jaw　protruding　truculently；　his
eyes　flashing　with　anger。

〃Get　back；〃　he　snarled。　　〃Do　what　I　told　you！〃

Under　his　breath　he　muttered　words　that；　to　Miss　Farrar；　were
unintelligible。　　The　little　rat…like　man　nodded；　and　ran　from　them
down　the　road。　　The　sergeant　made　an　awkward　gesture　of　apology。

〃Excuse　me；　lady；〃　he　begged；　〃but　it　makes　me　hot　when　them
rookies　won't　obey　orders。　　You　see；〃　he　ran　on　glibly；　〃I'm　a
reg'lar；　served　three　years　in　the　Philippines；　and　I　can't　get
used　to　not　having　my　men　do　what　I　say。〃

Miss　Farrar　nodded；　and　started　toward　the　house。　　The　sergeant
sprang　quickly　across　the　road。

〃Have　you　ever　been　in　the　Philippines；　Miss？〃　he　called。　　〃It's　a
great　country。〃

Miss　Farrar　halted　and　shook　her　head。　　She　was　considering　how　far
politeness　required　of　her　to　entertain　unshaven　militiamen；　who
insisted　on　making　sentries　of　themselves　at　her　front　gate。

The　sergeant　had　plunged　garrulously　into　a　confusing　description
of　the　Far　East。　　He　was　clasping　the　pickets　of　the　fence　with　his
hands；　and　his　eyes　were　fastened　on　hers。　　He　lacked　neither
confidence　nor　vocabulary；　and　not　for　an　instant　did　his　tongue
hesitate　or　his　eyes　wander；　and　yet　in　his　manner　there　was
nothing　at　which　she　could　take　offence。　　He　appeared　only　amiably
vain　that　he　had　seen　much　of　the　world；　and　anxious　to　impress
that　fact　upon　another。　　Miss　Farrar　was　bored；　but　the　man　gave
her　no　opportunity　to　escape。　　In　consequence　she　was　relieved　when
the　noisy　approach　of　an　automobile　brought　him　to　an　abrupt　pause。
Coming　rapidly　down　the　road　was　a　large　touring…car；　filled　with
men　in　khaki。　　The　sergeant　gave　one　glance　at　it；　and　leaped
across　the　road；　taking　cover　behind　the　stone　wall。　　Instantly　he
raised　his　head　above　it　and　shook　his　fist　at　Miss　Farrar。

〃Don't　tell；〃　he　commanded。　　〃They're　Blues　in　that　car！　　Don't
tell！〃　　Again　he　sank　from　sight。

Miss　Farrar　now　was　more　than　bored；　she　was　annoyed。　　Why　g