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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/25152-8.txt b/25152-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bdc9308 --- /dev/null +++ b/25152-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9823 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, All for a Scrap of Paper, by Joseph Hocking + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: All for a Scrap of Paper + A Romance of the Present War + + +Author: Joseph Hocking + + + +Release Date: April 23, 2008 [eBook #25152] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALL FOR A SCRAP OF PAPER*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +ALL FOR A SCRAP OF PAPER + +A Romance of the Present War + +by + +JOSEPH HOCKING + +Author of +"Dearer Than Life," "The Curtain of Fire," "The Path of Glory," Etc. + +Fifteenth Edition + + + + + + + +Hodder and Stoughton +London ---- New York ---- Toronto +MCMXVIII + + + + +JOSEPH HOCKING'S GREAT WAR STORIES + + + THE PATH OF GLORY + THE CURTAIN OF FIRE + DEARER THAN LIFE + TOMMY + TOMMY AND THE MAID OF ATHENS + + +OTHER STORIES BY JOSEPH HOCKING + + Facing Fearful Odds + O'er Moor and Fen + The Wilderness + Rosaleen O'Hara + The Soul of Dominic Wildthorne + Follow the Gleam + David Baring + The Trampled Cross + + + + +"I then said that I should like to go and see the Chancellor. . . I +found the Chancellor very agitated. His Excellency began a harangue +which lasted about twenty minutes. He said that the step taken by His +Majesty's Government was terrible to a degree; just for a word, +'neutrality'--a word which in war time had also often been +disregarded--just for a scrap of paper. . . . I protested +strongly. . . . I would wish him to understand it was a matter, so to +speak, of 'life and death' for the honour of Great Britain that she +should keep her solemn engagement. The Chancellor said, 'But at what +price will that compact have to be kept? Has the British Government +thought of that?' I hinted to his Excellency as plainly as I could +that fear of consequences could hardly be regarded as an excuse for +breaking solemn engagements."--_Extract of Report from Sir E. Goschen +to Sir Edward Grey, August 8, 1914._ + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Events have moved so rapidly in our little town of St. Ia, that it is +difficult to set them down with the clearness they deserve. We Cornish +people are an imaginative race, just as all people of a Celtic origin +are, but we never dreamed of what has taken place. One week we were +sitting idly in our boats in the bay, the next our lads had heard the +call of their country, and had hurried away in its defence. One day we +were at peace with the world, the next we were at war with one of the +greatest fighting nations in the world. At the end of July, little +knowing of the correspondence taking place between Sir Edward Grey and +the Ambassadors of Europe, we tended our flocks, prepared to garner our +harvest, and sent out our fishing-boats; at the beginning of August we +had almost forgotten these things in the wild excitement with which the +news of war filled us. Placards headed by the Royal Arms were posted +at public places, calling up Army and Navy Reserves, and fervent +appeals were made to all our boys old enough to bear arms, to bid +good-bye to home and loved ones, in order to help England to maintain +her plighted word, and support her honour. + +Not that we were in a state of panic, or fear, thank God. There was +nothing of that. Neither were we in doubt as to the ultimate issue. +We believed we had right on our side, and as our forefathers had fought +in every stage of our country's history, we were prepared to fight +again. But we Cornish are a quiet, Peace-loving people, and many of us +hated, and still hate with a deadly hatred, the very thought of the +bloody welter, the awful carnage, and the untold misery and suffering +which war means. + +But it is not of these things I have to write. My work is to tell the +story of a lad I know, and love; the story, too, of a maid who loved +him, and what this great war, which even yet seems only to have just +begun, has meant to them. + + +It was on Monday, the twenty-ninth day of June in this present year, +that Robert, or, as he is generally spoken of by his friends, Bob +Nancarrow, got out his two-seater Renaud, and prepared to drive to +Penwennack, the home of Admiral Tresize. Bob had but just "come down" +from Oxford, and was now in great good spirits at the prospect before +him. + +This was scarcely to be wondered at, for Nancy Tresize had asked him to +take her to Gurnard's Head, which, as all Cornish people know, is near +to the town of St. Ia, and one of the most favoured spots in the +county. Perhaps, too, the coast scenery around Gurnard's Head is among +the finest in Cornwall, while Gurnard's Head itself, the great rock +which throws itself, grim, black, and majestic, far out into the sea, +challenges comparison with even Land's End itself. + +But Bob was not thinking of scenery as he got out his car. His mind +and heart were full of the thought that he was going to spend the +afternoon with Nancy Tresize, the fairest girl in a county of fair +women. + +For years Bob had loved her--loved her with a love which seemed to him +all the greater because it appeared to be hopeless. As far as he could +remember, Nancy had never given him one shadow of hope, never by word +or action suggested that she cared for him in any way other than that +of a lifelong playmate and friend. But then, as Bob reflected, Nancy +was not like other girls. She was just a bundle of contradictions, and +was, as her brothers had often said, "always breaking out in new +places." + +"Of course she'll not give me a chance to tell her what is in my +heart," he reflected, as the car spun along a winding lane, the hedges +of which rose high above his head; "but then I shall be with her. +That's something, anyhow." + +Presently the grey, lichen-covered, weather-beaten walls of Penwennack, +Nancy's home, appeared, and Bob looked eagerly towards it as though he +were trying to discover something. + +"I hope nothing has turned up to hinder her," he reflected. "I know +that Captain Trevanion is coming to dinner to-night, and people have it +that the Admiral favours him as--as a----" + +But he would not, even in his mind, finish the sentence that was born +there. It was too horrible to contemplate, for to Bob, Nancy was the +only girl in the world. She might be wilful and unreasonable, she +might change her mind a dozen times in a day, she might at times seem +flippant, and callous to the feelings of others, she might even be "a +little bit of a flirt"--it made no difference to him. He knew that she +had not a mean fibre in her nature, and that a more honourable girl +never lived. Besides, even if she were, what in his moments of anger +and chagrin he called her, she was still Nancy, the only girl he had +ever loved and ever could love. + +"Of course there's no chance for me," he reflected. "Trevanion is +always there, and any one can see he's madly in love with her. He +bears one of the oldest names in England too, he's heir to an old +title, and he's Captain in one of the crack regiments. And Nancy loves +a soldier. She comes of a fighting race, and thinks there's no +profession in the world worthy of being compared with the army." + +Bob Nancarrow was the only son of Dr. Nancarrow, a man much respected +in St. Ia, but whom Admiral Tresize regarded as a crank. For Dr. +Nancarrow was a Quaker, and although he did not parade his faith, it +was well known that he held fast by those principles for which the +Society of Friends is known. For one thing, he hated war. To him it +was utterly opposed to the religion which England was supposed to +believe, and he maintained that it seemed to him an impossibility for +Christianity and war to be reconciled. + +Admiral Tresize and he had had many arguments about this, and when the +Boer War broke out, the condemnation of the doctor was so strong that +it seemed almost inevitable that he and the Admiral should quarrel. +Indeed, a coolness did spring up between them, and but for the fact +that Mrs. Nancarrow had been a Miss Trelawney, and a direct descendant +of the most important family in the county, it is probable that the +coolness would have ended in an estrangement. + +Bob, although he inherited his mother's looks, was greatly influenced +by his father's opinions. Dr. Nancarrow died when he was quite a boy, +yet his father's memory became one of the most potent influences in his +life. + +His mother sent him to Clifton College, and although to please her he +joined the Officers' Training Corps, he held by his father's opinion +that war and Christianity were a direct contradiction to each other. + +Bob was one of those boys who throw their hearts into everything they +take in hand, and although soldiering as a profession was repugnant to +him, he made such progress in the O.T.C. that he quite distinguished +himself. Indeed, he did so well, that Captain Pringle, with whom he +became very friendly, urged him to become a soldier. + +"You would do well," urged the Captain; "you have the makings of a +first-class soldier, and if a war broke out, you'd be a valuable man." + +"Not a bit in my line, I assure you," was Bob's reply. "I went in for +this thing only to please my mater, and, to tell the truth, I regard it +as little more than waste of time." + +"It wouldn't be waste of time if we went to war," said Captain Pringle. + +"War! who are we going to war with?" + +"We may be on the brink of it now." + +"Excuse me, but I don't believe in all these war scares. We are not a +military nation, and there's not a shadow of reason for believing that +while our Statesmen have level heads we shall be so mad as to embroil +ourselves." + +"It may be forced upon us. Think of the Boer War." + +Bob laughed. His father had often spoken of the Boer War as a crime +against humanity. As something wholly unnecessary, as a waste of life +and treasure, waged on behalf of Jew financiers rather than for any +great principle. In the doctor's eyes it had been a violation of +Christianity, and a disgrace to the country, and Bob, boy though he had +been at the time, felt that his father was right. + +"I think the less we say about that the better," was his reply. +"Certainly I would never fight in such a war." + +"You mean that?" + +"Certainly, I do. I doubt if war can be justified anyhow; but _that_ +war!" . . . + +"Anyhow, the Germans are aching to be at us," replied Captain Pringle, +who, although he was regarded as a good officer, was not deeply versed +in politics. + +"Who says so?" + +"Everybody. They are jealous of us, and they'll be at it on the +slightest pretext." + +"Don't you think the German bogey is very silly?" was Bob's retort. "I +was in Germany last summer with my mother, and we had a great time. +She knew some German families there, and we became great friends with +them. They don't want war any more than we do. All they desire is to +develop their own resources and to live their lives quietly." + +"Then what is the meaning of their huge army? Why are they trying to +build a navy that shall out-match ours?" + +"Of course there is a large war party in Germany just as there is in +England; but, as a people, they are as peace-loving as we are. Why, a +war with Germany is unthinkable, and it would be the greatest crime in +history to draw our sword against them. Even supposing we had a +quarrel with them, nothing could be more revolting to humanity than to +settle it by blood." + +"I don't wonder that you will not go into the Army if those are your +views," replied Captain Pringle. "You talk like a peace-at-any-price +parson." + +From Clifton Bob went on to Oxford, where he became known as a "reading +man." His ostensible purpose was to read for the Bar, after taking his +degree; but he secretly hoped to obtain a Fellowship at his college, +and settle down to a scholastic life. + +While he was at Oxford Bob became acquainted with a Professor, named +Dr. Renthall, who had been an undergraduate there with his father. +Professor Renthall was also a Friend, and it was perhaps this fact that +first drew them together. For while Bob did not in any way profess +adherence to the Society of Friends, he greatly admired those of that +persuasion. In addition to this, too, his father's influence was still +strong upon him. The boy revered his father's memory, and treasured in +his heart those faiths by which Dr. Nancarrow had steered his life. +Indeed, during his Oxford days he often declared that the Quakers were +nearer to the ideal of Christianity than any other body. + +"My father was logical at all events," he often reflected, "and as a +consequence his life was a benediction. On the other hand, religion +among most people, whether churchmen or nonconformists, seems to mean +nothing. We attend so many 'chapels' as a matter of necessity, and are +glad when they are over. As to religion having any effect on our +lives, it seems to be out of the question." + +Dr. Renthall had a great influence over Bob. Although he was nearing +fifty, he was a keen sportsman. He played a scratch game at golf, and +during the cricket season he could keep his end up with the best of the +younger men. This appealed to the young fellow strongly. But, more +than this, he was one of the greatest authorities on history in the +University. He was a saint too, although he made little profession of +Christianity. He went regularly to the Meeting House, but never spoke, +while his theology was of too latitudinarian a nature, to be "sound." + +Robert often went to Dr. Renthall's house, and it was during his many +visits that his hatred of war grew. + +"War," said the Professor to him more than once, "cannot obtain where +there is real Christianity. That is why Christianity is dying in this +country. We are being more and more filled with the spirit of +militarism, which means the death of religion; while every new +Dreadnought, which drains the nation of its treasure, is another nail +driven into the Cross of Christ." + +When Bob returned to St. Ia this summer, the influence of his father's +life, and his association with Dr. Renthall, had done their work. He +detested militarism, and he hated the thought of war. Not that the +thought of war loomed largely in the horizon. The country was at +peace, and as far as he could judge no war-cloud hung in the sky. + +"Ah, there she is!" Bob exclaimed, as presently the car drew up in +front of the door of the great house, and a few seconds later he was +talking eagerly with old Admiral Tresize, at the same time casting +fervent glances towards Nancy. + +It was no wonder that Bob loved her, for no fairer or better girl lived +in the land of Tre, Pol, and Pen. I, who have known her all her life, +can testify to this, and as she stood there that day, young, happy, and +beautiful, it was no wonder that his heart burned with a great love. + +"You'll almost have time for a run to Land's End," said the Admiral, +looking at his watch, "and it's a glorious afternoon." + +"No, we are going to picnic in the good old-fashioned way," said Nancy. +"We are going to have tea on the headland, after which we are going to +quarrel about things generally. We always do." + +The Admiral laughed. He had not the slightest hesitation about +allowing Bob and Nancy to go to Gurnard's Head together. They had been +playfellows and friends all their lives, as for their being anything +else, the thought never occurred to him. + +"Off you go," he said, "and mind you take great care of her, Bob." + +Admiral Tresize liked Bob very much, and always welcomed him to +Penwennack. He remembered that he had Trelawney blood in his veins, +and, although his father had been a Quaker doctor, he made no secret of +the fact that he liked the boy, and he often spoke of him as a nice, +quiet, clever lad. + +"Fine-looking chap too," he would add; "just the build for a soldier. +Six feet in his stockings, and forty inches around the chest. But +there, although he has the looks of a Trelawney, he has the views of +his Quaker father, and it's no use talking about it. But it's a pity +all the same, a great pity." + +"Well, Bob, I hear you have done great things at Oxford. Astonished +the professors, swept everything before you, and all that sort of +thing," said Nancy, as presently they stood on the headland. + +Bob laughed, and looked rather shamefaced. He was very sensitive about +his scholastic achievements, besides which he knew that Nancy thought +far more of a "blue" than of a classical scholar. + +"You are fairly clever, you know, Bob," and the girl laughed as she +spoke. + +"That does not count much with you, Nancy." + +"How do you know? It doesn't follow that because I don't like dressing +like a frump, and because I love hunting and dancing, that I don't +admire cleverness." + +"It's not that at all, Nancy. I know you admire clever people. What I +meant was," and he stammered painfully, "that--that it's--a matter of +indifference to you whether I, personally, am dull or clever." + +"What reason have you for saying that?" + +"Hundreds," replied Bob. "That is--you see, you are always laughing at +my desire to be 'a fusty bookworm,' as you call it, and--and, well, all +that sort of thing." + +"Does that prove indifference?" she replied, and Bob thought he noted a +tremor in her voice. + +"You know it does," he went on, hating himself for talking in such a +fashion, and yet unable to control his words. "Only yesterday, when we +were talking together at tea, and some one said that I should die an +old bachelor, you said that I was far more likely to die an old maid. +Then, although you saw you wounded me, you went off with Captain +Trevanion." + +"Hadn't you, just before, refused to stay the evening, although I went +out of my way to persuade you? And you gave as your excuse that you +had some reading to do. As though your--your books----" + +"Did you want me to stay?" asked Bob eagerly. "Nancy--did you really +care?" + +The girl did not speak, but turned her eyes toward the great heaving +sea. + +Robert's heart beat wildly as he looked at her. Never did he love her +as he loved her now, never had she seemed so fair to him. It was no +wonder he had fallen in love with her, for he knew that, in spite of +her love of pleasure, and her sometimes flippant way of talking, she +was one of the sweetest, truest girls that ever breathed. Although she +might be wilful, and passionate, and sometimes seemed careless whether +she gave pain or pleasure, she would give her last farthing to help any +one in difficulty. + +He had been surprised when she suggested his motoring her to Gurnard's +Head that afternoon, little thinking that she did it to atone for what +she had said two days before. + +"Nancy, did you want me to stay?" he repeated. "If--if I thought you +really----" + +"Did it vex you that I asked Captain Trevanion to show me his new +horse?" she interrupted. + +The flush on her face and the tremor of her lips set his heart beating +more wildly than ever. All caution went to the winds. The mad passion +which for years he had been trying to crush again mastered him. He +knew that his hour had come, and that he must speak and know his fate. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +"Nancy," repeated Bob, "you know what is in my heart, don't you? Know +I've loved you for years?" + +"You've never told me so," and there was a suggestion of a laugh in +Nancy's voice. + +"Because I was afraid. How could I dare to--to tell you--when--when +you never gave a sign, and when--you seemed to like others better? +Others have wanted you, I know that; fellows--better looking than I, +more--more attractive than I, and with far better prospects. I am not +your sort of fellow--I know that; but--you've known all along that I +loved you. I've been afraid to tell you so, but I would willingly shed +my life's blood for you." + +"I hate a coward!" cried the girl. + +"Yes, I've known that; but then, how dared I speak when a fellow like +Trevanion, heir to a title, and captain in a crack regiment, would give +his life to get you? What chance had I?" + +"Then why do you tell me this now?" + +"Because I can't help myself. Because--Nancy, is there any chance? I +know your father would be mad, but I wouldn't mind that a bit. Nancy, +is there any hope for me?" + +Again the girl's lips became tremulous as she looked at the waves +lashing themselves to foam on the great black rocks, while the +sea-birds soared overhead. It was easy to see she was greatly moved, +although it was her nature to hide her feelings. + +"I don't know, Bob." + +It did not seem like Nancy's voice at all. It was almost hoarse, and +she had a difficulty in speaking. + +"Don't know?" he repeated. "Then--then----" + +"I want to speak plainly. Bob. I may hurt you, although--I'll try not +to. Yes, I have believed that--you cared for me. I suppose I've seen +it, and I expect I've been vexed that you've never told me. I--I +wanted you to." + +"Wanted me to!" cried Bob. "You have never given me a chance. +And--and you always seemed to care for--for those other fellows." + +"I wanted you to make your chances. If--if a man loves a girl, he +should dare anything to get her. Anything. What do I care about +Hector Trevanion? He hasn't a thought in his head above his latest +horse and his newest uniform. But how could I help being friendly with +him, when you--have always on the slightest pretext been ready to leave +me with him." + +"And you wanted me all the time!" There was a note of joy and triumph +in his voice. + +"I don't know," replied the girl. "I'll be absolutely frank with you, +Bob. You are not the sort of man I wanted to love. Yes, I'll admit +it--I wanted to love a soldier, a sailor, a man of action. I can never +admire a man who will be content to spend his days in a library poring +over old dusty books. That's why I have been angry when I've heard you +glorifying these useless old fossils. And yet--oh, Bob!" and the girl +concluded with a sob. + +"Do you mean," and Bob's voice was tremulous, "that you cared for me +all the time, although you--you didn't like my plans for my future? +That you preferred me to Trevanion? Oh, Nancy!" + +"As though a girl must care for six feet of flesh without brains +because she isn't a blue-stocking. Why--why--couldn't you see, Bob?" + +"And I say--oh, Nancy, does this mean that you care for me--love me?" + +"I'm afraid I do," she half-laughed, half-sobbed. + +"Afraid?" + +"Yes, don't you see? You are not in the least like the man I wanted to +love. You could have won your blue as a cricketer, but you wouldn't +take the trouble to get it. A man in Oxford told me that you could be +the best three-quarter in the 'Varsity Rugby team, but that you were +too lazy to play. You've been a sort of negative creature, while I +love a man of action. What are old shrivelled manuscripts worth to the +world to-day? Who cares about the sayings of some old dead and +forgotten German, or some obscure passages in _Bede's Ecclesiastical +History_, when there's a great surging life all around us to-day? +History is only a record of what took place in the past; I love the +thought of a man who wants to make history, who sets his ideas to +action. And you, Bob, you have told me again and again that you want +to spend your life in historical research, or some such useless thing." + +"But--but, Nancy, what does all that matter when I love you--love you +with all my life? Besides----" + +"I come of a race of fighters," cried the girl. "When Philip of Spain +sent over his Great Armada, to rob us of our liberty, one of my +ancestors fought the Dons. He gave ships and men to our country, and +helped to save us from oppression. When Napoleon cast a shadow over +Europe, and threatened to destroy our country, men of my name were +among the foremost in fighting him. My grandfather represented St. Ia +in Parliament, and he roused the country. While you--oh, Bob, forgive +me, but your ideal seems to be to sit in a library in Oxford, wearing a +dirty old dressing-gown and iron-rimmed spectacles, reading or writing +books which will be of no use to any one! Is that a life for a man?" + +"But if his mind is cast in that mould?" + +"I haven't finished yet," went on the girl. "Forgive me, Bob, for +talking so much. I wouldn't only--oh, Bob, can't you see? Why, at our +last dance--when--when I had kept four for you, you never even asked +for them. And I--I wanted to dance them too; but--but I had to sit +them out, and when other men begged me to let them put their names down +on my card, I said I was tired. Then, when I heard afterwards that you +had gone into the library, and were reading some old book which hadn't +been opened for years, I just--cried." + +"Oh, Nancy, I never dreamt of such a thing! I--I never thought you +wanted me. I was just aching for you all the time, but I thought--why, +you've always laughed at my dancing. But there, now I know, I can do +anything, be anything. And there's nothing I won't do for you?" + +"You are not vexed with me, are you?" + +"I couldn't be vexed with you, Nancy. I'd let myself be cut in bits +for you. And you love me, don't you? Oh, it's too good to be true! +but say you do, tell me that in spite of everything you love me?" + +"Haven't I been telling you so all the time? And--and yet you haven't +asked me to--to----" + +"What, Nancy?" + +"Oh, I do hate a coward!" + +"But what haven't I asked you?" + +"Bob, isn't there something you want very much?" + +"Yes, there is," replied Bob. "Something--that---- Nancy, you won't +be vexed with me if I ask you?" + +"Risk my being vexed," laughed the girl. + +"Then I want to take you in my arms, and kiss you--kiss you a hundred +times." + +"Then, why don't you?" + +Bob looked around him, like one afraid. They were beneath the shadow +of a great rock. At their feet was headland grass, wind-swept and +grey, but peeping through the grass were thousands upon thousands of +wild thyme, giving the little plateau a purple hue. They were hidden +from the gaze of any who might be on the great rock. His heart beat so +that his breath came with difficulty; he was trembling with a new-found +joy--a joy so great that it almost gave him pain. + +"Oh, my love!--my love!" he cried, as he took her in his arms, and his +kisses were as pure as those with which a young mother lasses her +firstborn. + + +"What haven't I asked you?" he said, a few minutes later. + +They were sitting beneath the shadow of the rock now, and Nancy was +rearranging her hat. She did not reply, but her eyes were full of +gladsome mischief as she looked at him. + +"I mean just now, when--when you said you had been telling me that you +loved me, but I hadn't asked for something. What was it?" + +"You've made up for it since," and there was a laugh in her voice. + +"Do you mean that you wanted me to kiss you? Oh, you are right, Nancy, +I am an awful coward, but I'll make up for lost time now." + +The sea continued to roll on the great rugged rock, which threw its +mighty head far out into its depths. Overhead the sea-birds hovered, +sailing with graceful motion over the silvery waters, and uttering +their mournful cry, while far out vessels ploughed their way up and +down the Atlantic; but neither noticed. They were happy in each +other's love. Nancy had forgotten the fact that Robert Nancarrow was +not the kind of man she had meant to love, while he was far too happy +to care for the lecture she had given him. Her kisses were warm upon +his lips, her words of love rung in his ears. They were in the +dreamland of happy lovers, while the sky of their lives was as free +from clouds as the great dome of blue overhead. He was the only man +she had ever loved, or ever could love, while to him the maid, wilful +and passionate though she might be, was perfect. What were books, +learning, and the fame of scholarship to him now? He had won the love +of the girl whom for years he had loved, and ever despaired of winning. +She, who had seemed so far away from him, so far above him, had come to +his arms, willingly, gladly. She, with her proud old name, and almost +lordly wealth, had chosen him, and forgotten everything in her choice. + +It seemed too wonderful to be true, and he looked at her again and +again in his wonder, proud beyond all words, yet almost afraid to +believe in his good fortune. + +"Oh, Nancy, you are beautiful!" + +The light of joy flashed from her eyes. What girl is there beneath the +all-beholding heavens who does not long to know that the man she loves +thinks her beautiful?--Who does not long for him to tell her? + +"And what a lovely dress you are wearing." + +"I've worn it three times since you came down from Oxford, and you've +never once mentioned it." + +"I never saw it as I see it now. I never saw as I see you now. Nancy, +there's no one like. Bless you, my love, for loving me." + +But I must not dwell on that happy hour, much as I would love to. We +who are older may laugh at "Love's young dream," and grow cynical about +its transitory nature. We may say that lovers live in a fool's +paradise, and that the dream of lovers ends in the tragedies of later +years. Still, there's nothing sweeter or purer on God's green earth +than the love of a clean-minded honest lad for the maid he has chosen +from all others. It keeps the world young and hopeful; humanly +speaking, it is life's greatest joy, and the man who can throw scorn +upon its joys and utter cynical words about its reality has himself +lost the pearl of great price. It is he who is to be pitied, and not +the lovers. They hear the birds of paradise singing in the bowers of +Eden, while he hears only the croaking of the raven. + +They got back to realities presently. Bob's new-found joy had led him +to the realisation of the future. + +"I'm going to speak to your father to-night, Nancy. I know he'll be +angry, but that I don't mind a bit." + +"No, Bob, you must not speak to him--at least not yet." + +"Why?" + +"Because he'll refuse, and you mustn't speak to him until you can make +him consent." + +"I don't understand, Nancy." + +"You see, he has exactly the same feeling that I have about men. He +would never consent to my being the wife of a book-worm." + +"Oh, I've thought that all out while I've been here," replied Bob +confidently. "Yes, I know I've been unpractical--a dreamer, in fact. +But I'm going to alter all that. Now you've told me--that--that you +love me, I feel I must become a man of action. You've wakened +something in me that I didn't know existed. I haven't been half alive. +I've imagined that only thoughts, ideas mattered; now I know +differently. I've lived only half-life. Mark you, I don't altogether +go back upon my faith--I only add a new element to it. I've always +said that we owe everything to thought. I've said that thoughts +covered the seas with floating cities, and converted the world into a +whispering-gallery. That thoughts have belted the globe with electric +currents, and given us untold blessings. Now I know that I've stated +only half a truth. The man who is simply a man of ideas, is like a +bird trying to fly with one wing. There must be action to put the +ideas into use. Oh, yes, I see it all." + +"Yes, yes, Bob; and what are you going to do?" + +"I'm going to study for the Bar. I'm going to set about it right away. +And then I'm going into Parliament. I've big ideas, Nancy--big ideas +about governments, and about reforms in our laws. There are great +things that want doing, and I'm going to do them. I'm going to get at +the helm of government, and destroy abuses. I am not going to be +content by writing books about what is needed; I'm going to see that my +ideas take shape in the laws of the country, and effect the betterment +of the world." + +Please do not smile at Robert Nancarrow's somewhat highfalutin talk, +and set him down as a conceited prig. Every young fellow who has ever +done or been anything in the world, has at some time in his life had +such thoughts. Sad will it be for England as a nation when our boys do +not dream impossible dreams, and think thoughts which wiseacres call +foolishness. + +"That's splendid, Bob!" cried Nancy, her eyes sparkling. "I should +love you to go into Parliament--love to hear you speak in the House of +Commons. Why, you might be elected for St. Ia! Dad has at great deal +of influence there too, and could get you nominated. But what things +would you advocate?" + +"I know," cried Bob. "I am going to create a peace party in England. +Yes, I know some of your people have been soldiers, while my mother +glories in the fact that many of the Trelawneys have been and are in +the Army. But think of the horrors of war. Even now Europe is said to +be sitting on a powder-barrel. Every nation in Europe is being bled to +death, in order to pay war taxes, even although at present there isn't +a shadow of war in the sky. Money that might be spent, and should be +spent, on the betterment of the lives of the people and destroying, the +possibility of poverty and want, is spent in Dreadnoughts and weapons +to kill. Hundreds of millions are being spent on the Army and Navy, +while paltry sums are grudged for education and all those things which +go to make up the manhood of the nation." + +"Yes, I know war is terrible, ghastly. But how can you stop it? You +wouldn't advocate the destruction of our Army and Navy. It would be +madness, it would----" + +"Not yet," interrupted Bob eagerly. "I would labour for a great +European movement. Take Germany for example. The Germans are worse +taxed than we are to pay for armaments, but the people don't want war. +They are a peace-loving people. The Kaiser doesn't want war. He's +said so a hundred times. The Czar of Russia doesn't want war. And yet +hundreds upon hundreds of millions of money are being spent on war +implements, while the people want bread. Besides, a ghastly, warlike, +unchristian spirit is kept alive by this eternal talk about the +possibilities of war. What is wanted is an agreement among the +Governments of nations that there shall be no war. We want to create +an anti-war spirit in the hearts of the people, and so kill the +terrible thing at the fountain-head." + +"Yes, yes," cried the girl, "if all the nations could be persuaded to +disarm, it would be splendid! But, but----" + +"It can be done," cried Bob. "I will give my life to it. Everybody +hates war in the abstract, but no one seems to throw himself heart and +soul into a great peace crusade. Even the Peace Society is +half-hearted. The cause of Peace hasn't been voiced of late years. +That's it," and Bob rose to his feet excitedly; "I see my work, Nancy. +Neither your father nor any one else shall say that I'm unpractical, or +that I sit still and do nothing. Think of the glory of such a cause! +Think of destroying for ever the ghastly horrors of war, of helping to +bring about universal peace." + +"Yes," replied Nancy, "it would be glorious, simply glorious. I was +only very little when the Boer War broke out, and when my eldest +brother Roger went away to it, father gave a dinner, and all our +friends came to bid him good-bye. Although I was only a kiddie, I was +allowed to sit up to it, and I remember some of the speeches that were +made. They promised him that he should be made a colonel and all that +sort of thing, and there was such laughing and shouting. Every one +imagined it would be over in a few weeks; it seemed such a little thing +to crush a few Boer farmers. After that I used to watch dad's face as +he read his newspaper, and wondered what he was so sad about. Then one +day some one brought him a letter which almost killed him. I shall +never forget it. He staggered as though some one had struck him a +blow, and groaned as if he were in agony. Roger was killed. It added +years to dad's life, and he's never been the same since." + +"War is that kind of thing multiplied thousands of times," said Bob. +"There were unnumbered homes in England, yes, and in South Africa too, +desolated by that war, when--when it ought to have been avoided. Yes, +my mind's made up. I'm going into Parliament, and I'm going to make +war against war. The holiest and most Christlike work a man can +undertake. Shan't I tell your father to-night, Nancy?" + +"No, no, not yet. I'm afraid he might---- I'll prepare him little by +little, and then, when the proper time comes, I'll tell you. But, +Bob," and the girl laughed gaily, "I had almost to propose to you, +hadn't I?" + +"No," replied Bob. "I did the proposing, and you did the lecturing. +That's what it'll be all our lives, I expect; but what do I care, as +long as I have you?" + +"I--I was afraid you were going to be a coward, though." + +"And you don't like cowards?" + +She became serious in a moment. "If there's anything I hate and +despise, it's cowardice," she cried. "I think I could forgive anything +but that. It's--it's beneath even contempt. Hark, what's that?" + +They heard a rustling sound behind them, and saw, close by, a newspaper +blown towards them by the light summer breeze. + +Bob put out his hand and caught it. "It's to-day's paper," he said. +"I haven't looked at mine to-day." + +He read it almost mechanically. Neither dreamed that this paper, +carelessly dropped by a man who had come to see the famous rock, +contained news on which depended not only the future of their own +lives, but which altered the destinies of nations, and which turned a +great part of Europe into a shambles. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +This is what he read: + + + TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN BOSNIA. + + ASSASSINATION OF THE HEIR PRESUMPTIVE TO THE + AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN THRONE. + + BOMB THROWN INTO THE CAR OF THE ARCHDUKE + FERDINAND AND HIS CONSORT, THE DUCHESS OF + HOHENBERG. + + OVERWHELMING INDIGNATION IN VIENNA. + GRIEF OF THE AGED EMPEROR. + + +These were the staring headlines which riveted the gaze of both, and +for the moment made them silent. + +"Good heavens, how terrible!" cried Nancy presently. + +"Ghastly beyond words," was Bob's reply. "It has come like a +thunderbolt. As I told you, I did not look at my paper this morning, +and, as I have not been to St. Ia to-day, I saw no announcements." + +"And our papers were late this morning. I have not seen them," +rejoined Nancy. "Fancy the grief of the poor old Emperor! Who did +it?--and why was it done?" + +"Evidently it was done by two young men, both anarchists, and both said +to be Servians." + +"Aren't these anarchists terrible? No king or queen in Europe seems to +be safe." + +"This doesn't appear to have been done by anarchists in the usual sense +of the term after all," said Bob, who hastily scanned the paper. "It +seems there are suspicions of political causes. This paper suggests +that these fellows were agents of the Servian Government, who have a +special grudge against the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, who was +heir-presumptive to the Austrian Throne. Are you interested in +European politics, Nancy?" + +"Not a bit. I always skip foreign news." + +"If it is as this paper suggests, it might lead to serious +complications. You see, it was hoped by the Servians that at the close +of the Balkan War they would be able to obtain a naval port on the +Adriatic, and it is said they would have got it but for the Archduke. +It is also commonly believed that a School of Servian Patriots have for +years been struggling to make Bosnia and Herzegovina part of Greater +Servia, owing to the preponderance of Serb population. These two +provinces, in spite of Russia, belong to Austria." + +"I suppose the Servians are awful people. Always quarrelling and +fighting, and that kind of thing," and Nancy crept closer to Bob as she +spoke. + +"It's a wonderfully interesting part of Europe, although it was so +little known before the war of the Balkan States with the Turks. I +say, Nancy, wouldn't it be fun to go there for our honeymoon?" + +"It would be like going into a savage country." + +"Oh, no, not so bad as that. I was talking a few weeks ago with a man +who was a war correspondent during their squabble, and he told me a lot +about Montenegro and Servia and Roumania. He fairly fired my +imagination, and made me long to go. It would be great fun." + +Nancy shook her head. "No, Bob," she said, with a blush, "when that +time comes, we'll go to some lovely spot somewhere on the Rhine, where +we shall be among civilised people, and where there will be no +possibility of meeting these half-civilised races. But what do you +think the Austrians will do?" + +"Oh, of course, if this murder is simply a revolt of the anarchists, +the murderers will be executed, and I suppose that will be the end of +it; but if there is evidence which goes to show that they were +emissaries of the Servian Government, it will lead to all sorts of +complications." + +"What complications?" + +"Well, of course, Austria will want an explanation from Servia, and if +Servia doesn't give a satisfactory reply, there will be trouble. It's +common knowledge that Austria doesn't like Slav influence, and she'll +use this as an excuse for crushing all Slav ideals. It might end in +Austria practically administering Servian affairs." + +"That would be the best way, wouldn't it? Austria is a civilised +country, while the Servians are savages. One of the girls I went to +school with, spent a winter in Vienna, and she had a lovely time. She +says that Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and +the Austrians are such charming people." + +"That would be easier said than done," replied Bob, smiling at her +school-girl fashion of settling European difficulties. "You see, +directly Austria tried to do this, Russia would step in. Russia is +practically under a contract to protect the Servians, and to help them +in need. Russia, which is a great Slav Empire, wouldn't stand by and +see Austria swallow up Slav Servia." + +"And then there might be a war between Russia and Austria? And Russia, +with her countless hordes of men, would crush Austria?" + +"That wouldn't suit Germany's book," was Bob's reply. "You see, there +is a close alliance between Austria and Germany, and Germany wouldn't +allow Austria to be put under." + +"Oh, it would be horrible!" gasped the girl. "But there, we won't talk +about it any more. It can't affect us, can it? England has nothing to +do with Servians murdering an Austrian Archduke. I'm awfully sorry for +the poor old Austrian Emperor, but--but----" + +"It can't affect us, or our happiness," cried Bob, taking her +outstretched hand. "No, thank God! but I say, Nancy, this is an awful +commentary on what we were saying just now, isn't it? It makes me more +than ever determined to throw myself into a movement that shall make +war impossible. But oh, my dear girl, I do wish you'd let me speak to +your father to-night! I want my happiness assured. I want everybody +to know that I've won you--that you've promised to be my wife." + +A thoughtful look came into her eyes. It might seem as though she were +fighting a battle between inclination and judgment. + +"No, Bob," she said at length, "it won't do. I'm sure dad wouldn't +consent. The truth is----" she hesitated. + +"What?" asked Bob eagerly. + +"Dad's awfully fond of Captain Trevanion. I--I believe he's set his +mind on it." + +"On what? On your marrying him!" + +"Now, don't be jealous." + +"I'm not jealous. How could I be when"--he held her to him, and kissed +her passionately--"when you've told me you love me." + +"He'll be terribly mad when he knows at first. You see, he's always +looked on you as a--well, to put it mildly, a useless bookworm. And he +likes Hector Trevanion because, although he's a fool in many things, +he's a good soldier. He says he's very young for a captain, and with +his name and prospects--he'll be sure to be a major and afterwards a +colonel in a very short time, especially if a war breaks out. And--and +he's very ambitious for me. That's why I shall have to break it to him +by degrees. I shall begin by talking about your successes at Oxford, +and then I shall tell him that you are going to study for the Bar, as a +preliminary to going into Parliament. You are so clever, that you +won't be long before you are called to the Bar, will you?" + +"I'll do it in record time," cried Bob. "There are a number of dinners +to eat, and certain examinations to pass; but I can manage them all +right. Don't think I'm conceited, Nancy; lots of the Professors told +me that the Bar exams. would be comparatively easy to me." + +"Of course they will be," said Nancy confidently, "and meanwhile you +could be on the look out for a constituency, couldn't you?" + +"Ye-es," replied Bob doubtfully. "Of course, I'd rather get called +first, but it could be managed. As it happens, I'm comfortably off, +and so I need not be dependent on my profession." + +"Anyhow, we must say nothing about our--our----" + +"Engagement," suggested Bob, as Nancy hesitated. + +"Call it what you like, but we must keep it quiet for the present, and +be very circumspect and all that. So, as we've been here for quite a +long while, we had better be getting home." + +Bob crumpled up the newspaper and threw it over the cliff. + +"It's horrible, isn't it?" she said, as they watched it falling from +rock to rock until it fell into the sea; "but it can't affect us, can +it, Bob?" + +"No," replied Bob, "it can't affect us. Nothing shall affect us, +Nancy, and nothing shall come between us. I feel as though I could do +anything now, and there's nothing I won't do to win a position worthy +of you. I'll work like a slave. I'll map out my programme to the +minutest detail, and I'll win all along the line. Edward VII was +called a peacemaker, and everybody admired him for it. But I'll do +more than he ever did. Just think of it! To be known throughout the +country, and throughout the world, as the man who made war on war, and +made it impossible. I'll give my life to it, Nancy--my whole life!" + +"And where do I come in?" she asked, with mock sorrow. + +"You! You come in everywhere. You are everything. You are my love, +my inspiration; but for you everything would be impossible. One more +kiss, Nancy, while no one can see us." + +When Bob Nancarrow returned home that night he was the happiest man in +Cornwall. More than he had ever hoped for had come to pass. Nancy had +promised to wait for him because she loved him. She had preferred him +to all others, and sacrificed brilliant prospects because of her love +for him. The sky of his life seemed cloudless. Nothing, as far as he +could see, stood in the way of his attaining his highest hopes. The +plan which had so suddenly been born in his mind and heart grew in +attractiveness. He had the most glorious objective in the world. He +saw an outlet for his energies, while the cause for which he would +stand appealed to all that was noblest within him. + +War against war! + +The thing had become a passion with him. Here was the great work +which, unknown to himself, he had all along wanted. Even when he had +dreamed of becoming an Oxford Don, and of spending his life in a kind +of cultured seclusion, there had always been something wanting. He had +fighting blood in his veins; the old fire for which the Trelawneys had +been famous had constantly made its appeal. And now Nancy had shown +him how his life could be a positive one. Now he could be true to the +principles which he had inherited from his father, and to which he held +with strong tenacity, and at the same time satisfy his desires to +participate in the struggles and battles of the great world. + +"A noble cause demands your zeal!" + +He found himself humming the words as he turned on the lights. And he +had a noble cause, the noblest, the most Christlike on earth. Warfare! +Yes, in spite of his peace principles he loved warfare. Man was a +fighting animal, and he was a man, every inch of him. And he was +called on to fight--to fight the War-god which had lifted its head so +arrogantly and brutally. But his warfare was to be for peace--the +peace of the world. It was to be for man's salvation, and not for his +destruction. Not for pillage, carnage, cruelty, mad hatred, +overwhelming ambition, lust for blood; but brotherhood, kindliness, +love, mercy. This was the battle of the Lord; this was the cause of +Christ. + +In this way he could be true to his father's teaching, true to the +Christianity in which he believed; but more, he could by this means +make himself worthy of Nancy, and make a place in the world, in which +even her father would rejoice. + +His heart beat with wild joy. Even now Nancy's kisses were warm on his +lips, her words of love rang in his ears. + +Yes, his plan of life was plain, his work arose before him, alluring, +ennobling, inspiring. And Nancy loved him! What more could he desire? + +He looked around the room with a long tremulous sigh of contentment. +Life was indeed beautiful, glorious. Around him were thousands of +books. His father had been an omnivorous reader, and had amassed a +large library. Nearly every inch of wall-space was covered with +book-shelves. Only one space, above the mantelpiece, was uncovered, +and there hung what was even dearer than the books. It was an oil +painting of his father. + +Robert Nancarrow looked at it long and steadily, and as he did so his +eyes became moist. + +"Dear old father!" he murmured; "the noblest man that ever breathed." + +It was a fine face he saw. Rather serious on the whole, but still with +a smile lurking around the lips and shining in the eyes. The face of a +good--almost a great man. No one could associate it with meanness or +impurity. An intellectual face too, with a broad forehead and large, +speaking eyes. A face which suggested conscientiousness, which +proclaimed the fact that its owner must do whatever conscience told him +to do, no matter what it might cost. + +It seemed to Bob as he looked that his father smiled on him. + +"Yes, it is what he would most desire," reflected the young fellow. +"It was the passion of his life, and it shall be mine." + +He went to a bookcase, and took therefrom a small volume. It was +entitled _Thoughts on the Boer War_, by Robert Nancarrow, M.D. + +The young man opened it, and began to read; but his mind was too full +of his plans to concentrate his attention. + +"Father would love Nancy," he reflected, and then he arose from his +chair and went close to the picture. "He does love her," he reflected. +"He is alive, he knows, and he is pleased. I feel as though he were +here now, and giving me his blessing on my love, and on my work." + +The house was very silent. Every one had long since gone to bed, and +not a sound was to be heard. The night was almost windless too, and +not even the murmur of the waves in the Bay of St. Ia, which could be +faintly heard outside, reached him. He felt himself alone with his +father. + +"Good night, father," he said aloud, still looking the picture. "I +love her as my life, and I am very happy. I have your blessing, +haven't I?" + +Again it seemed to him that his father smiled on him. He was sure he +saw the quiet humour in his eyes which he remembered so well. + +Bob was in a strange humour that night. The day had been eventful +beyond all the days of his life. He had entered into a happiness of +which he had never dreamed before; he had seen visions of the future of +which hitherto he had been blind. He had been carried away by his love +and his enthusiasm; his nature had been moved to its depths. Now the +memory of it all, the quietness of the house, caused thoughts to come +to his mind, and moved him to feelings to which he had been a stranger. + +"It's what you would wish me to do, father, isn't it?" he still +continued aloud. "To go into Parliament, and then work and fight for +the peace of the world? To destroy the ghastly nightmare of war, to +fight against the War-god, to put an end to this eternal making of +implements of death. I have your consent, and your blessing, haven't +I?" + +Yes, he was sure his father was smiling on him, and giving him his +blessing. There was something sacred, holy, in the thought. + +He turned out the lights, but the beams of the moon streamed through +the window, and rested on the picture. + +"Good night, father," he said. "I'll try to be a true man," and then +he left the room, feeling as if indeed he had been talking to his +father. + +"Is that you, Bob?" + +He was passing his mother's bedroom door, as the words reached his ears. + +"Yes, mother. I thought you would have been asleep hours ago." + +"No, I couldn't sleep till I heard you come in. Come in, and kiss me +good night." + +Bob entered his mother's room, and went towards the bed. Mrs. +Nancarrow was still a young woman, and looked almost like a girl as she +lay on the snowy pillows. + +"Whom was that you were talking to?" + +"I--I was thinking, mother." + +"Thinking? Thinking aloud?" + +"I suppose so." + +"What about?" + +"About father." + +There was a silence for a few seconds. Both felt they were on sacred +ground. + +"Mother," said Bob, remembering what Nancy had said to him, "I want to +tell you something. But you won't breathe a word, will you? It's a +profound secret. I mean that you must not mention it to _any one_, +must not speak about it to any one, under any circumstances." + +"Of course I won't, if you don't wish it. What is it?" + +"I'm engaged to Nancy Tresize." + +"What!" + +Bob repeated the news. + +"Aren't you pleased, mother?" + +She lifted herself up in the bed and threw her arms around his neck. + +"You don't mean it really, Bob? Why, I never dreamed that such a thing +was possible." + +"Neither did I until to-day. I--I--mother, what are you crying about? +Aren't you pleased?" + +"Of course I am; but oh, my dear boy! Oh, if only your father had +lived!" + +"He knows. I've been telling him," said Bob, who had a strain of the +mystic in his nature. "I'm sure I have his blessing." + +"Nancy is the finest, sweetest girl in Cornwall," she cried; "I +couldn't have wished for anything better. I've always loved her. But +I never thought that----" + +"Neither did I," interrupted Bob. "It seems too good to be true, but +it is true. I motored Nancy over to Gurnard's Head this afternoon, +and--and it is all settled. She's the dearest girl in the world, +mother." + +"Of course she is," sobbed Mrs. Nancarrow. "There, wait a minute until +I dry my eyes. I never expected such a thing, and--and oh, Bob, my +dear, dear boy!" + +"You mustn't imagine that you aren't still dear to me, mother, or that +I love you one whit the less. I don't, you know, and Nancy loves you +too." + +"Yes, yes, I know that. It isn't that, my boy! But--but--you'll never +know what a woman feels when she first learns that her only boy loves +another woman better than he loves his mother. It isn't sorrow. Bob, +oh no! I'm as glad as glad, and I couldn't wish for anything better. +But what about the Admiral? Will he consent? I know he wants Nancy to +marry Captain Trevanion." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +For the next few days Bob lived in happy dreamland. It is true he did +not see Nancy much alone, and no suggestion of their betrothal was made +known. But he found an excuse for going to Penwennack every day, and +Admiral Tresize, never imagining what was in his mind, always gave him +a hearty welcome. Nancy had two brothers nearly of Bob's age, one of +whom had been to Clifton with him; and although he was on the military +side of the college, they saw much of each other. Dick Tresize was +fond of Bob, in spite of the dissimilarity in their tastes, and as Bob +evinced a sudden love and efficiency for tennis, he became in great +demand. He also raised himself in the Admiral's estimation by +challenging Captain Trevanion, who was a scratch man at golf, to a +match on the Leiant Links. + +"How many strokes do you expect me to give you?" rather scornfully +demanded Trevanion, who had not been at all pleased at Nancy's constant +disinclination for his society and her sudden preference for Bob's. + +"Oh, we'll play level!" was Bob's reply. + +"I like a game when I play," said the Captain who joined heartily in +the laugh at Bob's expense. + +"I'll try to give you a game," was Bob's reply. + +"Good old Bob," cried Dick Tresize, "and the loser shall stand tea at +the Club House for the whole bally lot of us. And it must be a good +tea too. We'll have a dish of cream and all sorts of cakes. We can +easily arrange it, for Thursday is a quiet day, and the crowds of +visitors haven't made their appearance yet. Have you plenty of money +with you, Bob." + +"Oceans," replied Bob, pulling out a handful of change. "I'm only +thinking about the state of Trevanion's finances." + +"They are all right," replied Trevanion. "And I propose that we play +for a box of balls into the bargain." + +"How many of you are going?" asked Bob quietly. + +Several hands went up, including that of the Admiral, who had become +enthusiastic about forming what he called "a gallery." + +"Good, Admiral. I'm glad you are going. That'll make twelve +altogether. No, Trevanion, we won't play for the balls. The tea will +be enough for you to pay for. I am told that the Army pays junior +officers very badly." + +"That's why I want to play for a box of balls. My stock is running +low, and I want to get some on the cheap." + +"Come, let's be off!" cried Dick. "I'll tell the men to bring out the +cars, and we'll start right away. Where are your clubs, Bob?" + +"They are in my locker at the Club. I haven't seen them since the +Easter Vac." + +"But you've played at Oxford?" + +"No; been too busy." + +Dick held up his hands in mock horror, at which several of the party +laughed. + +"Trevanion will wipe the floor with you," he said woefully. "He's on +the links at least three days a week, and he plays a good scratch game." + +"Aren't you in practice, Bob?" asked Nancy, when they had a few seconds +alone together. + +"Scarcely played for a year." + +"Then why did you challenge Captain Trevanion?" + +"Because I was mad," replied Bob. "He's been trying to raise a laugh +against me all the morning and so--well, there it is." + +"But he'll be sure to beat you?" + +"No, he won't," and there was a confident ring in his voice. + +Half an hour later they had reached the Club House, and much laughter +and many pleasantries were exchanged as they teed their balls. Captain +Trevanion's clubs were shining, while Bob's were rusty through disuse. + +"They 'a'an't a bin clained for months," said the caddy, who was +vigorously rubbing them with emery paper. + +Captain Trevanion won the toss, and took the honour. He was a tall, +athletic fellow, and showed by his practice swing that he was master of +his tools. He hit his ball straight and clean, and it fell a few yards +behind the great grass mound which guards the first green. Bob, on the +other hand, felt nervous and awkward. He was out of practice, and knew +his disadvantage. He played the ball badly, and while it cleared the +rough, he had an awkward stance for his second. In playing the odd, +too, he miscalculated the distance, and found himself in the rough, on +the offside of the green. Captain Trevanion holed out in four and +although Bob got a five, he lost the hole. + +"One up to the Army," laughed the Admiral. + +The second hole, which can easily be reached by a good iron shot, +Captain Trevanion played perfectly. His ball soared over a high +mountain of sand, and plumped down comfortably a few yards from the +hole. Bob topped his ball, and it landed half way up the sand-hill in +a bad place. Again it took him five to hole out, while Trevanion was +down in three. + +At the third the Captain drove a perfect ball, while Bob, who though he +got just as far, landed in the churchyard, out of bounds. The result +was that he lost this hole also. + +"This is what I call a grand procession," remarked some one. + +"Come, Bob," laughed the Admiral, "this looks as though you will have +to pay for the tea." + +"I hope it'll be a good one anyhow," replied Bob quietly. "I'm working +up a fine appetite." + +At the next hole Captain Trevanion drove short, and landed in the +bunker guarding the green. Bob, on the other hand, sent his ball +straight and true over the guiding-post. + +"Fine shot," was the general remark. + +"Too far," said Dick Tresize. "That ball's over the green and gone +down the cliff. I'd rather be where Trevanion is." + +He proved to be right. Bob had got into a well-nigh impossible place +and lost another hole. + +"Beastly luck," remarked Dick. "That's not a fair hole." + +"Rub of the green," was all Bob said. + +"Yes, but it makes you four down," said the Admiral. "Trevanion has +done every hole in bogey so far, and he's not likely to make mistakes." + +It seemed as though Bob were destined to bad luck, for although he +seemed to play the next hole perfectly, he made too much allowance for +the wind, and his second shot went over a high bank which guarded the +green, and fell among the shingle, near which some old boats were lying. + +"Five up to the Military," shouted the Admiral. + +"The same grand procession," giggled a girl who was a great admirer of +Trevanion. + +"I say, Bob, I thought you were going to give Trevanion a game," said +George Tresize, Nancy's younger brother. + +Captain Trevanion laughed confidently. He felt certain of victory now, +and regarded the match as a walk over. + +"Five down is a big handicap," said Bob. "Still the match is young +yet." + +"He's had beastly luck at the last two holes," grumbled Dick Tresize, +who was evidently deeply chagrined. + +The next hole was halved in bogey. Bob got his four easily, but +Trevanion only halved his by a long and uncertain putt. + +"Five up at the sixth," shouted the Admiral. "Come, Bob, that's +better, you've halved a hole at last." + +Bob said nothing, but cast a look at Nancy, who was pale with +excitement. He could see how anxious she was, and noted the confident +air with which Trevanion approached the next tee. Although his +position seemed almost hopeless, a feeling of confidence came into his +heart. He had measured his opponent by this time, and he knew he had +got to his old mastery of his clubs. He felt sure, too, that he could +play the stronger game, even although he had lost hole after hole in +succession. + +Trevanion again drove, but this time his ball was off the line and +landed in a huge basin of sand. Bob's, on the other hand, was +perfectly straight. It carried the bunker a hundred and forty yards +from the tee, and was well on its way to the green. As a consequence, +although the bogey was five, Bob did it in four and won the hole. + +"You played that well, Nancarrow," said Trevanion. + +"The wind helped me," replied Bob. + +The next hole was also a five bogey; but again Bob, who reached the +green in two, got out in four, while Trevanion took five. He had +reduced the difference between them to three. The ninth hole was +halved. + +"Three up at the turn for the Army," shouted the Admiral. + +The tenth hole, as all who have played on the Leiant Links know, is +very difficult. If the player has a long drive, he can, if he has a +good second, land on the green in two; but in order to do so he has to +carry a very difficult piece of country, which, if he gets into it, is +generally fatal. Bob's drive was short, and it seemed impossible for +him to carry the tremendous hazard with his second shot. Trevanion, on +the other hand, was in an easy position. When he saw Bob's short drive +he laughed contentedly. + +"I'm wanting my tea badly," he said to Nancy. + +"That's a pity," replied the girl. "It'll take another hour to play +the next nine holes." + +"It looks as though the match will be over before then," he replied +confidently. "I'll bet you a box of chocolates that we shall finish at +the fourteenth." + +"Done!" cried the girl, and there was a flash of anger in her eyes. + +"Of course Bob'll have to play short here," grumbled Dick Tresize. "He +ought to have insisted on Trevanion giving him strokes. By George, +he's surely not going to be such a fool as to risk a brassy!" + +The next minute there was great cheering. Bob's ball had surely +mounted all difficulties and apparently landed on the green. + +"A magnificent shot!" cried the Admiral. "By gad, Bob, but Vardon +couldn't have done it better!" + +It was easy to see that Trevanion was annoyed as well as surprised at +Bob's shot. The bogey for the hole was five, and Bob had to all +appearance made a four possible by a very fine brassy shot. Trevanion +had driven thirty yards further than Bob, but he had still a big +sand-hill, covered with long grass, to carry. Whether Bob's shot had +made him fear that, after being five up, he might yet be beaten, it is +impossible to say, certain it is that he missed his ball, and Bob won +the hole. + +"Military down to two," cried the Admiral. "It's going to be a close +match, after all." + +The rest of the spectators became silent; they felt that things were +becoming serious, and that they must not talk, especially as Trevanion +had looked angrily at some one who had spoken as he was addressing his +ball for the next drive. The eleventh and the twelfth holes were +halved, and so the game stood at two up for Trevanion and six to play. + +"I've won my box of chocolates, Captain Trevanion," Nancy could not +help saying, as they walked to the thirteenth tee. "Even if you win +the next two holes you can only be dormy at the fourteenth." + +"I shall buy the chocolates with all the pleasure in the world," +replied the Captain. "You see, I didn't reckon on that brassy of +Nancarrow's at the tenth." + +"I think you are going to have an expensive afternoon," she laughed. + +Bob, who still retained the honour, addressed his ball. A strong cross +wind was blowing, but he made up his mind to carry the green, although +it was considerably over two hundred yards, and guarded by a high +mound. If he could do so he stood a good chance of a three, and might +rob his opponent of another hole. He hit the ball clean and true, and +as it left his club the spectators gave a gasp. It looked as though it +would strike the guiding-post, but to the relief of all, and especially +of Nancy, it rose a foot above it, and was soon lost to sight. + +"By gosh, Bob, I believe you've driven the green!" said Dick to Bob, in +a whisper. "If you have, you stand a good chance. You drive a longer +ball than Trevanion." + +It was easy to see by the change that had come over the Captain's face +that he was becoming anxious. He hit his ball with perfect precision, +but it dropped on the tee side of the high mound. Dick Tresize turned +towards the green. + +"You are on, old chap," he said, as his friend came up. "It's at the +corner of the green, but you should do it." + +Trevanion played a good approach shot, and then Bob laid his approach +putt dead. His three was safe. If Trevanion could not hole out, there +would be but one hole between them. Trevanion did his best, but the +ball did not reach the hole by a few inches, and was not quite straight. + +"The Army down to one," said the Admiral. + +By this time several people had been attracted by the news of the +match, and among the new spectators was an amiable-looking gentleman +who wore large, round spectacles. He had been seemingly much impressed +by Bob's last drive, and had loudly expressed himself to that effect. + +"I tell you," he said, "I haf seen Vardon, and Braid, and all ze rest +of zem play, but I neffer saw a finer shot, neffer. It vas great." + +He spoke so loudly that, when they were walking to the fourteenth tee, +Trevanion, who was slightly ruffled, said: + +"Excuse me, sir, but if you knew the etiquette of golf, you would know +that it is bad form to talk while people are playing." + +The stranger lifted his hat, and bowed profoundly. "I apologise, sir," +he said; "nothing was further from my mind than to interfere with your +play. I vill take much care not to offend again. I hope I did not +offend you, sir," he added, bowing to Bob. + +"Not the slightest," replied Bob. + +The stranger bowed again, and from that time was silent, although he +followed the party at a distance. + +The next three holes were halved, and there remained but two more to +play. Bob was very quiet, Trevanion looked grim and determined, the +colour came and went on Nancy's face. It seemed to her as though Bob's +future and her own depended on the result of the next few minutes. + +"One up to the Military, and two to play," cried the Admiral. + +"If you halve this, you'll be dormy, Captain Trevanion," said George +Tresize, who seemed very anxious for him to win. + +The Captain did not reply. Evidently he was in no mood for talk; as +for the rest of the crowd, a deadly silence rested on it. + +Like nearly all the holes on the Leiant Links, the seventeenth is +blind, although it is just possible to see the top of the flag. It is +not an easy hole to play, as I know to my cost. The green is guarded +on the right by a hedge, which if you get over it, makes your case +desperate. If you go too far, you are caught by a bunker; while if you +play to the left, the ground is so hummocky, that it is very difficult +to lay your ball dead. That is why, although the hole is barely two +hundred yards long, the committee have given it a four bogey. + +Bob took an iron, and played straight for the pin. + +"Good shot, but a bit short, I'm afraid," whispered Dick, as Bob stood +aside for Trevanion to drive. Trevanion also hit his ball clean, but +it was a trifle to the left. A little later they saw that both balls +were on the green, although Bob's was several yards the nearer. +Trevanion examined the ground carefully. He felt that much depended on +the approach putt. If he laid himself dead, he was sure he could not +be beaten. Every one stood breathless while the ball ran over the +hummocky ground. + +"By gosh, it's too merry!" gasped George Tresize. But he had not +accounted for a steep ascent. The ball rested less than two feet from +the hole; Trevanion's three was safe. + +Bob also carefully examined his ground, and then played his ball. It +went to the lip of the hole, and then half-hanging over, stopped. For +a second the little company held its breath, and then gave a gasp. The +ball fell in. + +"Beastly fluke!" muttered Trevanion, between his set teeth. + +"A great putt!" cried Dick. + +"All square and one to play," cried the Admiral. + +Bob felt his heart bound as he addressed the ball for the last drive. +What if after all he should miss it! A mist hung before his eyes. But +no, he would not miss, and a second later he watched the ball as it +soared over the hazard. Trevanion's was only a few yards behind. It +required but a chip shot to reach the green, which lay in a hollow just +over a turf-grown hedge, and guarded by a bunker. They had now reached +the final stage of the game. One shot might win or lose the match. + +Evidently Trevanion realised this as he took his mashie. More than one +saw his cigarette tremble between his lips; there could be no doubt +that he was greatly excited. Perhaps his nerves played him tricks, or +perhaps in his anxiety he looked up before he hit his ball. Anyhow he +missed it, and he found himself badly bunkered. Bob's chance had come, +and he took advantage of it. His ball pitched over the hedge, and then +rolled towards the hole. He had a possible three. Trevanion, on the +other hand, failed to get out of the bunker at the first shot, and got +too far with the second. Bob had won the match. + +"Jolly hard luck, getting into the bunker, Trevanion," he said; but the +other did not speak. For the moment he was too chagrined. + +"Nancarrow wins the match on the last green; now for tea," shouted the +Admiral. "Bob, my boy, you've played a great game. I congratulate +you." + +"A very fine game, Nancarrow," said Trevanion, who, like the sportsman +he was, had got over his disappointment. "You played the last fourteen +holes like a book." + +"Pardon me," said a voice, "I hope I shall not be considered to +indrude, but may I alzo congratulate you, sir. I am not English, I am +sorry to say, but I take advantage of the _Entente Cordiale_. You haf +given me much pleasure in watching you." + +The stranger bowed as he spoke, and produced his card. "Allow me," he +continued, as he presented it to Bob. + +"Thank you, Count von Weimer," replied Bob, as he read the card. "It +is very kind of you." + +"Forgive me as a stranger in speaking to you," went on the Count, "but +I felt I must. Never haf I seen such a feat of skill, and I cannot be +silent. I take advantage of the _Entente Cordiale_. I bear a German +name, but I am from Alsace, and my heart beats warm to you and your +country," then with another bow he walked away. + +"Who is that old buffer?" asked Dick. + +"You know as much about him as I," replied Bob; "evidently he wanted to +be friendly." + +"What did you say he was called?" asked the Admiral. + +"Count von Weimer, Château Villar, Alsace, and Continental Club, +London," said Bob, reading the card. + +"Von Weimer is a good name," said the Admiral, "and the Continental is +a good club; I've been there several times. I shall be civil to him if +I meet him again. But now for tea. By Jove, Trevanion, but the boy +has given you a twisting!" + +"Oh, Bob, I am glad!" whispered Nancy, as they went towards the Club +House. "At one time I--I; oh, Bob, I _am_ glad you've beaten him." + +"So am I," replied Bob, "but I'm not thinking so much about the golf." + +"Now for tea," said Trevanion, with a laugh. "You've won on this field +of battle, but in the next my turn will come." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +Bob was in great spirits at tea that day. He had won his match, and +proved himself a stronger player than Trevanion. Nancy, who sat by his +side, was radiant with smiles, while evidently the Admiral looked on +him with greater favour than ever before. + +"A remarkable feat, my boy," he said again and again. "To be five down +to a man like Trevanion, and then to beat him, means not only skill, +but nerve. That's the thing I like about it--the nerve, the pluck." + +"A game is never lost until it's won, sir," said Bob sententiously. + +"That's it, my boy. Stick to that. What did I hear about your plan to +go into Parliament? Do you mean it?" + +"If I have good luck, sir." + +"A great career, my lad, and you should do well. I am so glad you've +given up the idea of being a book-worm. Of course your scholarship +will come handy to you in Parliament, so perhaps you've been wise to +stick to your books. But the country wants men who can _do_ things." + +"I mean to do them too, sir." + +"Trelawney blood," laughed the old man. "Well, there's no reason in +the world why you shouldn't do big things. I always had hoped that +Roger would go into Parliament; indeed, he was as good as nominated for +St. Ia. But he was killed in the Boer War, poor fellow. A fine lad +too, as fine a lad as ever stepped in shoeleather," and his eyes became +moist. "Thank God we are at peace now!" he added. + +"You are coming back with me to Penwennack?" he went on, when presently +the party were leaving the Club House. + +"I'd love to, sir, but I can't. I must get back. I promised mother." + +"Ah well, stick to your mother. A lad who keeps his promise to his +mother seldom goes wrong. But come up to dinner to-morrow night, and +bring your mother with you." + +"You may depend on me," cried Bob. "Thanks very much, Admiral, we +shall be delighted." + +"Bob," said Nancy, "you've done more to soften dad to-day, and to +prepare the way for me, than if you had got ten fellowships. He loves +a plucky fight, and hates a coward." + +"And I'll fight," cried Bob, "because I shall fighting for you, Nancy." + +"I wish you were going to spend the evening with us," she said +ruefully. "I do want you with me." + +"And don't I wish it too! But I told you how things stood. Till +to-morrow then." + +"Be sure to come early," cried Nancy, as she drove away. + +Bob made his way over the Towans towards St. Ia, as happy as a king. +Everywhere the sun seemed to be shining. At his feet the wild thyme +grew in profusion. Acres upon acres were made purple by this modest +flower. The sea was glorious with many coloured hues, the whole +country-side was beautiful beyond words. What wonder that he was +happy! He was young and vigorous, the best and most beautiful girl in +the world loved him, and his future was rosy hued. + +In order to reach his mother's house, he had to pass through St. Ia, +and he had barely entered the little town when he saw Count von Weimer, +who had expressed his congratulations so fervently on the golf links. + +"Ah, this is lucky!" cried the Count. "I was wondering if I should haf +the good fortune to meet you again. May I walk with you? That is +goot!" + +"You are a stranger to St. Ia," said Bob. + +"Yes. I have been drawn here by the beauty of the place, and--and +because I want peace." He still spoke in broken English, although I +will no longer try to reproduce it. + +"You love peace?" Bob ventured. + +"Love it! Ah, young sir, you little know. I am one of those +unfortunate men who are placed in an awful position. I am, although I +bear a German name, French on my mother's side. I love France too, and +am at heart a Frenchman. But then my house is in Alsace--Alsace, you +understand. France under German Government. I can say here, what I +could not say there. I hate Germany, I hate her government, her +militarism, her arrogance. The Germans suspect my loyalty, and so I +have come to England." + +"And you like England?" + +"Ah, who can help loving it? Your British flag means liberty, wherever +it flies. It stands for peace, brotherhood, progress. That is why I +think of buying a house near St. Ia, and settling down. Realising my +position in Alsace, you can understand. Besides, what can be more +beautiful than this?" and he waved his hand toward the sunlit bay. + +"Yes, it's the most beautiful spot on earth!" cried Bob. + +"It is indeed, and I love its peace. I love the quiet ways of the +people. I saw a house yesterday which captivated, charmed me. +Tre-Trelyon, yes, that's it; Trelyon, I was told it was called, and I +hear it is for sale, or to let, I don't know which." + +"Yes, it is, and it is one of the finest places in the district. Why, +it belongs to Admiral Tresize, whom perhaps you saw on the links this +afternoon." + +"What, that stout, hearty, John Bull gentleman? Oh, yes, I saw him! +What a splendid specimen of your British thoroughness. It belongs to +him, eh?" + +"Yes, it formerly belonged to his wife's family, the Trelyons. I'm +sure he'd be glad of a good tenant." + +"Ah, but that is pleasant. I could perhaps deal with him personally? +I am, I suppose, what you would call a rich man, but I hate dealing +with agents, and lawyers, and that kind of thing. He is--friendly, +this, what do you call him, Admiral----" + +"Oh, yes, he's most friendly." + +"He's in the Navy, I suppose?" + +"He's retired from active service, but he is still one of the most +influential men in our Admiralty." + +"Ah, yes, but I'm afraid I have but little knowledge of these things. +I am a man of peace. I hate war of every sort. I am at one with what +you English people call--Quakers. But ah, it looks like war again now." + +"You mean the Servian trouble?" + +"Yes. At first I thought the Austrians were going to be kind and +reasonable. But they have Germany behind them, and now, I suppose, +they've sent impossible demands to Servia. It is here in the evening +paper. It seems, too, that Russia is going to back up Servia, and that +will mean trouble." + +"How?" + +"I am not an authority on European politics, but I am sure that if +Russia espouses the cause of Servia, Germany will throw in her lot with +Austria. Don't you see what follows?" + +"You mean that Germany would declare war on Russia too?" + +"Yes, and that is not all. France, my own country, although I am an +Alsatian, is bound to be dragged in. And I am a man of peace. I hate +war." + +"I am with you there," cried Bob eagerly. "War was born in hell." + +"Ah, you say so, and you are a young man! That is good! But still you +need not fear. England, in spite of the _Entente Cordiale_, holds to +her policy of splendid isolation. She will not be dragged into the +turmoil?" + +"No, I think that is impossible. You see we are not a military nation, +in spite of a section of the community. Our Army is small, and will, I +hope, remain small." + +"Stick to that, my friend--stick to that. Big armies only breed war, +and war is a crime. But about my desire to buy Tre-Trelyon--ah, your +English names are hard to pronounce--do you, who know the owner, this +bluff John Bull, Admiral--what do you call him?" + +"Admiral Tresize." + +"Admiral Tresize, yes. Do you think it would be possible for me to see +him?" + +"I'm quite sure it would be," replied Bob, who remembered what the +Admiral had said. "I'm dining at his house to-morrow night. I'll tell +him what you have said." + +"Ah, that is kind, friendly of you; but I must not detain you longer. +Good evening." + +"What a friendly old fellow," reflected Bob, as he walked away. "Yes, +I can quite imagine how one who is a Frenchman at heart would be +treated in Alsace," and then he forgot all about him. + +As day followed day, disquieting news came from the Near East. It +seemed as though the cloud which at first was no bigger than a man's +hand was covering the whole Eastern sky. Disturbing news flashed +across the Channel, even while it was generally felt that the tragedy +of Sarajevo could never lead to open hostilities. About the middle of +July, as all the world knows, it was believed that Austria had accepted +Servia's assurance that her attitude towards the greater Power was +altogether pacific, and that full justice should be meted out to all +who had participated in the ghastly murders. + +On July 24, even in the quiet neighbourhood of St. Ia, much +apprehension was felt by many who took an interest in foreign affairs +at the announcement of the presentation of the Austro-Hungarian Note to +the Servian Government, especially when we read the terms of the Note. +They were so brutal, so arrogant, that we could not see how any +self-respecting people could accept them. Still, we reflected that +Servia who had only lately been much weakened and impoverished by her +war with Turkey, might be humble. + +On the morning of July 25, Admiral Tresize received a letter from a +friend who lived in Vienna, which caused him to be greatly perturbed. + +"Things look very black here," ran the letter. "Many of us, until a +day or so ago, believed that the Austro-Servian difficulty would be +amicably settled. As a matter of fact, I know that Austria was +prepared to let Servia down rather lightly, but since then new forces +have been at work. I am in a position to state that Germany, and by +Germany I mean the Kaiser and the War Party generally, whose word is, +of course, law in Germany, has instructed the Emperor Franz-Josef to +send Servia practically impossible demands. What is in the Kaiser's +mind it is impossible to say, but, as is very well known, he has been +using almost superhuman efforts in perfecting his army and navy, until +Germany has become the greatest fighting machine in the world. It is +well known, too, that the Kaiser believes that Russia is so +impoverished and enfeebled by her war with Japan that she is no longer +dangerous, and he considers France altogether unprepared for war. This +being so, it is the general opinion in diplomatic circles that the +Kaiser's purpose in sending Servia impossible conditions is intended to +arouse hostilities. Only to-day I had a chat with a man who moves in +the inner circle of things, and he told me, that if Russia defends +Servia, as he hopes she will, and that if France prepares to help +Russia, as she is sure to do, Austria can keep Servia and Russia busy, +while Germany fulfils her long-held determination to bring France to +her knees, and to make her practically her vassal. No one believes +that England would interfere. My own belief is that Germany is using +the present occasion as the first step towards carrying out her +long-cherished ambitions. When once she has conquered France, and +commands her sea-board and her navy, she will then be able to crush +England, which is her ultimate aim." + +When the Admiral showed me this letter, I suppose I smiled +incredulously, for the old man broke out into violent language. + +"I believe it's true," he cried. "The Kaiser, for all his pious +hypocrisies, is a war devil. He hates the thought that England should +be such a World Power, while Germany is only an European Power." + +"But the Kaiser isn't such a fool," I replied. "He knows England and +her strength." + +"Yes, but he's drunk with pride and arrogance. He thinks Germany is +destined to rule the world." + +A day or so later news came that Servia had consented to all Austria's +demands with the exception of two points, and suggested that these +should be submitted to the mediation of the Great Powers. + +"Ah, that clears the air!" I thought; "nothing can be more reasonable." + +Much to the surprise of every one, news came on July 26 that Austria +regarded Servia's answer as unsatisfactory, and that the +Austro-Hungarian Minister, with the Legation Staff, had left Belgrade +on the previous day. + +On July 28 I called at Mrs. Nancarrow's house, where I saw Bob reading +the newspaper with a smile on his face. + +"This is fine," he cried--"just fine. What a splendid fellow Sir +Edward Grey is! It was he who proposed a Conference in the +Turco-Balkan difficulty, and now it is he again who is going to settle +this." + +"I am afraid the Turco-Balkan Conference didn't help much," I replied. + +"Ah, but this will. After all, what's the heart of the quarrel? The +murder of the heir to the Austrian throne. A ghastly affair, I'll +admit, but everything can be settled." + +"Has Admiral Tresize mentioned a letter which he received from Vienna a +day or two ago?" I asked. + +"Yes," replied Bob, "but of course it was pure imagination. Do you +know, I admire the Kaiser. He's a good man, a religious man." + +I coughed. + +"Of course it is easy to imagine a case against him," he went on +lightly; "but it has no foundation in fact. I told the Admiral so. We +had quite an argument about it, and I maintained that whatever the +circumstances, England had no occasion to be dragged in, and that it +would be criminal on the part of our statesmen if they allowed it. +Evidently Sir Edward Grey thinks the same. Of course you've seen that +he has proposed a Conference. He has suggested that Germany, France, +Italy, and Great Britain, who are not directly connected with the +quarrel, should meet, and settle it." + +"Will Germany accept?" + +"Of course she will," replied Bob confidently, "we shall soon hear that +the trouble is at an end." + +"I hope you are right, but if the Kaiser holds the views expressed by +the Admiral's friend, I very much doubt it," was my rejoinder. + +When we read that a Russian Cabinet Council was held, and regarded the +Austrian demands as an indirect challenge to Russia, and when we also +read that Austria, without giving Servia any chance for further +consideration, had declared war upon her, and seized certain of her +vessels which happened to be on the Danube, we began to fear trouble, +although even then we in St. Ia never seriously believed that England +would be directly implicated in it. + +I am stating these things here, not that they are not known to every +one, but because they will help to make the story I am writing clearer +to the reader, especially when it reaches the later stages. + +Later the news came to us that there was partial Russian mobilisation +along the Austrian frontier, and that as a consequence a Council was +held in Berlin. Of course we knew nothing of what was said in that +Council, but when we heard that Russia's partial mobilisation had +become general, we began to shudder at the gradual darkening of the +European sky. + +As all the world knows now, Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, +and I remember meeting Bob outside the St. Ia post office that day. + +"You see you were not right about Germany," I said. "Both France and +Italy accepted Sir Edward Grey's suggestion, and consented to join in a +Conference; but Germany refused. Nothing can be plainer than that. If +Germany had wanted peace, she could easily have secured it. Austria +would not have opposed her in any case, but she would not even join in +a Conference in order to secure peace." + +Bob shook his head. "You know the reason Germany gave for refusing," +he said. + +"About the most arrogant, but the most characteristic possible. Fancy +saying that Austria as a Great Power could not think of allowing +mediation as though she were a small Balkan state." + +"Yes, it's terrible enough," replied Bob. "But, thank heaven, we are +not likely to be dragged into it." + +"I hope and pray not," I replied. + +"Why? Do you think it possible?" he cried. + +"Anything is possible. You've seen that Germany has invaded Luxemburg. +As you know, Luxemburg is a small neutral state, and has been promised +the protection of the Powers. Germany was a party to this promise, and +yet she has violated everything." + +"That's only hearsay," was his reply. + +"It is more than hearsay," I answered; but Bob did not appear to be +convinced. + +"I am almost glad dear old father is dead," he went on presently. "The +Boer War nearly broke his heart, while this business threatens to be so +ghastly, that it would have driven him mad. It is simply hellish." + +After this we almost feared to open our newspapers, and events followed +so rapidly that we were unable to keep count of them. + +Never shall I forget the look on Admiral Tresize's face when he read +Sir Edward Grey's momentous speech. His ruddy face became almost pale, +and his hands trembled. + +"Sir Edward has done all mortal man can do," he declared. "Whose ever +hands are clean of this bloody business, his are. He has simply +laboured night and day for peace." + +"Seemingly all in vain," was my reply. + +"I have been informed on unimpeachable authority that the Kaiser, in +spite of his pious harangues, has been preparing for this, planning for +this, for years." + +"Still there is no necessity for us to be dragged in," I urged. + +"Of course there is the _Entente_ between ourselves and France," he +replied. "France will be bound to help Russia on account of their +alliance, and the question will naturally arise as to whether we can +stand aside while the German fleet bombards France's shores and while +German armies cross her frontier." + +"But think of war, Admiral." + +"Yes, God knows I think of it. I didn't sleep last night for thinking +of it. I know what war is, know of its bloody horrors. War is hell, I +know that; but I would rather that my country should go through hell, +than allow a Power like Germany to crush her." + +"But Germany couldn't crush us. She has no desire to crush us." + +The Admiral looked at me angrily, but did not speak for some seconds. + +"I cannot say all I know," he said presently, "but, mark my words, in a +few days you will know by the most incontestable proofs that all this +is a part of Germany's plans; that she has used these Sarajevo murders +as a pretext for causing European war, that she thinks we shall do +nothing, and that her ultimate plan is to crush England, and to +dominate the world." + +Every one knows the thrill that went through England when war was +declared. The shadow of war had closed the Stock Exchange, and +paralysed business, but the declaration of war moved the nation to its +very depths. + +Bob Nancarrow was at Penwennack when the call came to the young men of +England to rise and help their country in her need. Several young +people had met there for a tennis party, and Bob was among them. + +"I'm going to send in my name," cried George Tresize. "I was in the +O.T.C. at Rugby." + +"I shall join my regiment right away," said Dick quietly. "Trevanion's +gone. Of course you'll join, Bob?" + +"No," replied Bob quietly, "I shall not join." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +"What!" + +"Not going to join! Why, you were in the O.T.C. while you were at +Clifton! Not going to join!" + +Bob's face was very pale, but he shook his head. + +"You are joking, man! Haven't you read Kitchener's call? He wants +half a million men. It's said he'll need a million before long. You +can't stand out. No decent fellow can. You don't mean it!" + +"Yes, I mean it." + +"But why?" + +"I'm afraid I couldn't make you understand." + +"No, I don't think you could," and there was a sneer in George +Tresize's voice. + +It happened at that moment that the girls had gone into the house, and +had not heard the conversation, but the half-dozen young men who were +there looked at Bob as though he were a kind of reptile. + +"I say, Bob," said Dick Tresize, who had been always his close friend, +"you can't mean it! You are joking. Have--have you read the papers? +Have you read what led up to our being in it? Have you seen the white +paper?" + +"Yes, I've read everything." + +"Then you must know that the war is right." + +"No war is right," was Bob's answer. "It's opposed to every law, human +and divine. How can a fellow who is trying to be a--a Christian," his +voice trembled as he spoke, "deliberately enlist for the purpose of +killing his fellow-man? If I have a quarrel with a man, and I murder +him, I am guilty of the most terrible deed a man _can_ be guilty of. +If I did it, I should be branded with the mark of Cain, and you would +shudder at the mention of my name. A nation is a combination of +individuals, and if nations in order to settle their quarrel go to war, +and murder, not by ones, but by thousands, does it cease to be the +crime of Cain? Does it cease to be murder?" + +"Yes, of course it does," replied a young fellow, named Poldhu, who had +arranged to leave for his regiment on the following morning. + +"How?" + +Poldhu was silent for a moment, then he cried out, "Is a hangman a +murderer, for hanging a devil? Is a judge a murderer for condemning a +fellow like Crippen to death?" + +"And you mean to say you are going to funk it?" There was something +ominous in Dick Tresize's voice. + +"I am not going to enlist." + +"I say, you fellows," said Dick, looking towards the others, "the +climate's not healthy here. What do you say to a stroll?" + +Without a word each one walked away, leaving Bob alone. They had gone +only a few steps when there was a sound of many voices at the front +door, and a bevy of girls appeared in their light summer dresses. A +few seconds later the girls and boys were talking eagerly together, and +before long were casting furtive looks towards Bob, who, miserable +beyond words, sat watching them. + +"No," he heard one say, "I'm not going to play with him." + +"Oh, but there's a mistake somewhere! He's all right." + +"Is he? Then what did he mean by----" + +Bob got up and walked to the other end of the lawn; he had been playing +the part of an eavesdropper in spite of himself. He knew what they +were talking about--knew that in the future he would be treated as a +pariah. They were good fellows, all of them. Clean-minded, healthy +young Englishmen. Tom Poldhu, Dick and George Tresize, Harry Lorrimer, +and the others were among the best products of English public schools, +and although they had their failings, each had his code of honour which +is generally held sacred by the class to which he belonged. All of +them, too, had been reared in a military atmosphere. Most of them, I +imagine, would, with a certain amount of reservation, drink to the old +toast, "My country. In all her relations with other nations, may she +be in the right. But right or wrong, my country." They did not +trouble about the deeper ethics of international quarrels. It was +enough for them to know that England was in danger; for them, forgetful +of everything else, to offer their lives, if need be, for the land of +their birth. + +They could not understand Bob. They simply could not see from his +point of view. Only one thing was plain to them. Their country was at +war. The King's soldiers were going to defend their nation's word of +honour, and to crush a Power, which they had no doubt meant to rob +England of her glory, and conquer her. Beyond that they troubled +little. Neither of them understood much about the cause of the +trouble. But that did not matter. They had heard the call, "Your King +and Country need you," and that was enough. To remain quietly at home +after that was the act of a poltroon and a coward. + +"Bob, are you there?" + +He had gone from the lawn into a shrubbery, where he was completely +hidden. He felt as though he must get out of the sight of every one. + +It was Nancy's voice, and every nerve in his body thrilled as he heard +it. Yes, Nancy would understand him; he could make everything plain to +her. + +"Yes, Nancy." He tried to speak cheerfully, but his heart was like +lead. + +"Bob," and there was a tone in her voice which he had never heard +before. "What Dick has been telling us isn't true, is it?" + +She had reached his side by this time, and, in spite of her pallor, and +the peculiar light in her eyes, he had never seen her look so beautiful. + +"What has he been telling you?" he asked, feeling ashamed of himself +for asking the question. He knew quite well. + +"That--all the rest of them have offered themselves for their country, +and you--you----" + +"Let me explain, Nancy," he cried eagerly. "Let me tell you why I +can't----" + +"I don't want any explanations," and there was anger in her voice. +"Lord Kitchener has called for volunteers. He has asked for half a +million men, so that we may stand by our word of honour, and save our +country. What I want to know is, are you going to play the coward?" + +"You know my principles, Nancy. You know what we said to each other +down at Gurnard's Head, and----" + +"I don't want to hear anything more about that," she interrupted +impatiently. "I want to know what you are going to _do_. Please +answer me." + +She had ceased to be pale now, although her lips quivered and her hands +trembled. A pink spot burnt on each cheek, and her eyes burned like +fire. Bob knew that she would not be satisfied with subterfuges, or +contented with evasions. Neither, indeed, did he wish to shelter +himself behind them. + +"I'm going to do nothing," he replied. "That is I'm going to carry out +the plan we agreed on. Look here, Nancy----" + +But again she interrupted him. She was angry beyond words, but she +kept herself in check. + +"That's all I wanted to know. Thank you. We are not going to play +tennis for a little while. We are all going for a walk. Good +afternoon." + +"You mean that you do not wish me to go with you." + +"I do not think you--you would enjoy coming. You see the others----" + +She did not complete the sentence, but hurried away, leaving him alone. + +Bob felt as though the heavens had become black. He had expected to be +misunderstood, sneered at, despised; but he had never dreamed that +Nancy would turn from him like this. He knew she hated war. He +remembered her telling him about her eldest brother who had been killed +in the Boer War, and how it had darkened her home, and added years to +her father's life. She had encouraged him in the career he had marked +out too; she had agreed with him that the work he had at heart was the +noblest any man could do. As a consequence, he thought she would +understand him, sympathise with him. + +Bob had not come to his decision carelessly, or with a light heart. He +had gone over the ground inch by inch. Yes, England was in the right. +He did not believe that Germany had planned the war, and he blamed the +Czar as much as he blamed the Kaiser. No doubt Germany had broken +treaties. It was wrong for her to invade Luxemburg, and then to send +her ultimatum to Belgium, after she had been a party to the treaty to +maintain Belgium's integrity and neutrality. Of course, the King of +the Belgians had made a strong case when he had called upon England to +protect her. + +But war! + +He thought of what it meant, for his father's teaching and influence +were not forgotten. Generations of Quaker influence and blood were not +without effect. War was born in hell. It was an act of savagery, and +not of Christian nations. He pictured the awful carnage, the +indescribable butchery, the untold horror which were entailed. He saw +hordes of men fighting like devils; realised the lust for blood which +was ever the concomitant of war. Besides, they settled nothing. Wars +always bred wars, one always sowed the seeds of another. When this +bloody welter came to an end, what then? After the nation's wealth had +been wasted, after tens of thousands of the most promising lives had +been sacrificed, after innumerable homes had been laid waste, after all +the agony, what then? Would we be any nearer justice? Would wrong be +righted, and love take the place of hatred? + +But this was not all, neither did it touch the depths of the question. +War, ghastly as it was, might superficially be justified. More than +once, when he thought of England's plighted word to defend a small, +neighbouring state, when he heard of tens of thousands of England's +most stalwart sons leaving home and country, not for aggrandisement, +nor gain of any sort, but out of desire to keep England's plighted +word, to maintain her honour unsullied, and defend the weak, he felt +that he must cast everything aside, and offer himself for the fray. +But then he had called himself a Christian, he believed in the teaching +of the Prince of Peace. How could a man, believing in the lessons of +the Sermon on the Mount, accepting the dictum, "Bless them that curse +you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them that despitefully use +you and persecute you," do his utmost to murder men who believed in the +same Lord as he did? + +No, no, it would not do. If Christianity were right, war was wrong. +Either Christianity was a foolish thing, an impossible dream, and all +our profession of it so much empty cant, or war was something which +every Christian should turn from with loathing and horror. + +Bob had made no outward profession of Christianity. He had been so far +influenced by the spirit of the age, that he seldom spoke about +religion, and perhaps many would have regarded him as by no means an +exemplary Christian. Nevertheless, deep down in his life was a +reverence for Christ and His words. Humanly speaking, the most potent +influence in his life was his dead father. Bob, although he had never +been inside a Friends' Meeting House, and was not in any way regarded +as a member of their community, was one at heart. Either Christ's +teaching must be taken to mean what it said, or it was of no value; and +Bob took it seriously. Hitherto, it had not clashed with what people +had expected of him; but now it seemed to him he must either give up +the faith his father had held, or he must hold aloof from this war, and +fight for peace. + +For days he had seen the trend of affairs, and what they would lead to, +and although he had said nothing to any one, he had decided upon the +course of his life. Thus it was, when at the tennis party the other +men had asked him what he was going to do, he told them. + +But he had never dreamed that Nancy would turn from him, never imagined +that his decision would separate them. Yes, that was what it meant. +If he held fast to his principles, then Nancy was lost to him. + +He heard shouts of laughter near by. Those fellows had no doubts, no +struggles. They saw the way of duty clearly, and were going to follow +it, while he must go in the opposite direction, and thereby lose--oh +God, he could not bear it! + +He felt himself a pariah. He was no longer wanted, his presence would +no longer be tolerated. Even his friend, Dick Tresize, would turn his +back on him if he attempted to join him. + +"I was tempted to bring my evening clothes, and spend the evening as +the Admiral asked me," he reflected; "I'm glad I didn't. I should be +frozen out of the house." + +He made his way through the gardens towards the garage, where he had +left his car; on his way he came across an old gardener, whom he had +known for years. + +"Well, Master Bob, we be in for a 'ot job." + +"I'm afraid we are, Tonkin." + +"I wish I was twenty 'ear younger. I'd be off like a shot." + +"Where, Tonkin?" + +"Off to fight they Germans, to be sure. Why, no young chap worthy of +the naame caan't stay 'ome, tha's my veelin'. Tell 'ee wot, they +Germans 'ave bin jillus o' we for 'ears, and tes a put-up job. They do +'ate we, and main to wipe us off the faace of the globe. I d' 'ear +that the Kaiser ev got eight millyen sodgers. Every able-bodied man +'ave bin trained for a sodger, jist to carry out that ould Kaiser's +plans. A cantin' old 'ippycrit, tha's wot 'ee es. But we bean't +fear'd ov'm, Maaster Bob. One Englishman es wuth five Germans, 'cos +every Englishman es a volunteer, an' a free man. Aw I do wish I wos +twenty 'ear younger. Of course you'll be off with the rest of the +young gen'lemen?" + +But Bob did not reply. He did not want to enter into an argument with +the plain-spoken old Cornishman. + +When he arrived home, he found that his mother had gone out, and would +not return till dinner-time. He was glad for this. He did not want to +explain to her why he had come home so early. He felt he could not do +so. Besides, her absence gave him an opportunity to think out the +whole question again. + +Yes, his choice was plain enough. Nancy, the daughter of an English +sailor, the child of many generations of fighters, had been carried +away by the tide of feeling that swept over the country. Having +fighting blood in her veins, she could not understand his feelings. To +her it was the duty, the sacred duty, of every healthy young Englishman +to defend his country, and none but shirkers, cowards, would stay +behind. Therefore, if he stood by his principles, she would cast him +off with scorn and contempt. If he continued to hold by what he +regarded as the foundation of the teachings of the Prince of Peace, he +would lose the girl who was as dear to him as his own life. + +Oh, how he longed to join the fray! Pride of race, and pride in the +history of that race surged up within him. He, too, had fighting blood +in his veins, and he longed to share in the fight. He did not fear +death. Once accept the theory of war as right, and death on the +battlefield, especially in such a cause, would be glorious. He was +young too, and his blood ran warm. What nobler cause could there be +than to defend a small people, and to crush the fighting hordes of the +Kaiser? And besides all that, there was Nancy. He had been dreaming +love's young dream, he had been living in the land of bliss, he loved +with a pure, devoted love the fairest girl in the county. + +And he could keep her love! From signs which seemed to him infallible, +he judged that the Admiral during the last few days had learnt his +secret, and had not discouraged him from visiting the house, while +Nancy had hinted to him that the time was nearly ripe for him to +approach her father, and ask for his consent to their engagement. + +But how could he? There were things in the world deeper, more sacred, +even than love for a woman--principle, conscience, faith. Could he +sacrifice these? Could he trample on the Cross of Christ, in order to +embrace the sword, and hold to his heart the woman he loved? + +He looked towards the mantelpiece, and saw the picture of his father, +whom he had idealised as the noblest man who ever lived. He remembered +his teaching, remembered that to him the true man was he who sacrificed +everything to principle, to conscience. He looked around among the +many books, and noted those his father loved. He took from the table a +New Testament, and instinctively turned to the Sermon on the Mount. + +"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of +God." + +"Ye have heard it hath been said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a +tooth. But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil, but whosoever +shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." + +And so on and on. How could a man believing in this, grasp the sword +to take away the lives of others. The Germans were Christians just as +we were; Germany was the home of the Reformation, the home of religious +liberty. Was it not Luther who, standing before the greatest tribunal +the world had ever known, and having to choose between conscience and +death, cried out: + +"It is neither safe nor wise for any man to do aught against his own +conscience. Here stand I; I can do no other, God help me!"? + +No, no, he simply could not. Though he were boycotted, scorned, held +up to derision, he could not change. He must be true to his conscience. + +But Nancy! + +Yes, he must lose Nancy, and the very thought of it made him groan in +agony; but he must sacrifice his love rather than his Lord. + +He heard his mother come in, and, although he dreaded her coming, he +steeled his heart to tell her the truth. + +She, too, was full of war news; it had been the common talk at the +houses where she had called. + +"Bob," she said; and her face was pale, her lips tremulous. "Bob, the +thought of it is terrible; but you'll have to go. It is your +duty--your country needs you." + +She, too, had been fighting a hard battle. A battle between love for +her only boy, fear for his safety, and what she believed her duty to +her country. The struggle had been hard, but she had determined to +make her sacrifice. + +"No, I'm not going, mother." + +"What, you are going to allow those Germans to crush France and +Belgium, and finally conquer and crush us, and never lift a hand in +defence?" + +Bob was silent. + +"You can't mean it, my dear. It's like tearing my heartstrings out to +let you go, but you must. I know; you are thinking of me; but I shall +be all right. You must do your duty." + +"Would _he_ have me go?" and Bob nodded towards his father's picture. + +"Your father was a Quaker," she said. + +"He was a Christian," and Bob's voice was very low. "That was why he +hated war, and denounced it. That is why I am not going to fight." + +"Then every brave, true Englishman will despise you." + +"That's nothing," replied Bob; and his voice sounded as though he were +weary. + +"And what of Nancy?" + +"Yes, what of her?" + +"I know what she feels, I know that----" + +"Mother," Bob interrupted, "I can't bear any more just now; and it's no +use talking, my mind's made up." + +He left the room as he spoke, and soon after, left the house. He did +not have any dinner that night, but spent hours tramping the wild moors +at the back of the house. The next day he was in misery. Again and +again he reviewed the situation, but he could not change. He could not +offer himself to be a legalised murderer, for that was how his +country's call appealed to him. It was a battle between Calvary and +Militarism, and he could not take the side of Militarism. + +When he reached the house in the evening, after a long, lonely walk, +his mother pointed to a letter lying on the table. + +"It's from Admiral Tresize," he said, after he had read it. "He wants +me to go up there to dinner, or as soon afterwards as possible." + +"You'll go, of course," said the mother eagerly. + +"Yes, I'll go. Of course it is too late for me to get there in time +for dinner, but I'll go directly afterwards." + +"That's right." + +An hour later Bob got out his car, and drove towards Penwennack, with a +sad heart. He dreaded what he felt sure was coming, and his heart beat +wildly with the hope that he might perhaps see Nancy, and make her +understand. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +When Bob knocked at the door of the house, he realised that he was +expected. Without delay the servant opened the door, and without +question at once ushered him into the room which went by the name of +"the library," though there was but little indication that the +apartment was used as a storehouse for books. Nautical charts, globes, +pictures of Dreadnoughts, and things appertaining to naval warfare +practically filled up all the available space. + +As Bob entered, he saw the Admiral seated at a table, with a map of +Europe spread before him. + +"Ah! Bob," cried the Admiral, "glad to see you. I hoped you would +have come in for dinner, but I suppose you were busy. I wanted a chat +with you, my boy." + +The old man spoke with an obvious endeavour to retain his old friendly +footing, but it was evident that he was anxious and somewhat nervous. + +"This is a terrible business, my boy," he went on; "who would have +thought it a month ago? I, who always believed that the Germans meant +war, never imagined it would come upon us like this. But, by gad, they +have found us ready this time! Never was the mobilisation of the Army +and Navy managed with such speed; everything has gone like +clockwork--just clockwork. Of course you know that Dick and George are +gone?" + +"I heard they were going," said Bob. + +"Yes, the young rascals were just mad to go. Naturally I expected it +of Dick, who had just finished his training at Sandhurst; but George +was just as keen. I am proud of them too. Yes, my boy, I have lost +one son in war, and God only knows what it meant to me; but I would +rather lose these two as well, than that England should not play her +part." + +Bob was silent; he knew what the Admiral had in his mind, and what he +was leading up to. + +"I have been thinking a good deal about you, Bob," went on the old man. +"Of course you have been almost one of the family for years; your +mother's people and mine have been friends for centuries. Ah! my lad, +let the Radicals say what they will, but it's grand to come of a good +family. You have to go a long way back in English history before you +come to the time when the Trelawneys and Tresizes were not known. They +have fought in a hundred battles for their country, and, thank God, +their descendants are ready to do it again. It is a great thing to +have a good name, eh, my boy?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Bob. + +"You told me some time ago that you were in the O.T.C. while you were +at Clifton College, and Dick says that you quite distinguished +yourself. I am very glad of that; I have some influence in military +quarters, although I am a naval man, and I can arrange for you to have +your commission right away. Of course it will be in a Cornish +regiment." He did not refer to the conversation which had passed +between the young men two days before, although Bob felt sure he knew +of it, but was assuming his enlistment as a matter of course. + +"I have not made up my mind to join," said Bob. + +"Not made up your mind to join! Then it is time you should. Every +young fellow should join in these days. Of course it will break in +upon your law studies and the other things you have in your mind, but, +God willing, we shall get all this business over in a few months, and +then you'll be able to come back to your work. You'll not suffer for +it, my boy--you'll not suffer." + +"It is not that at all, sir," replied the young fellow. + +"What is it, then?" + +"You knew my father, sir?" + +"Knew him--of course I did! A good fellow and an honest man, but, you +will excuse me for saying so, a crank." + +Bob was silent; he did not dare let himself speak. + +"Your father was a Quaker," went on the Admiral, "but your mother was a +Trelawney. She told me only a few days ago that if war came, hard as +it would be for her, she would not move a finger to keep you from +going, even if it meant your going to your death. Come now, I will do +all I can to push things forward for you." + +"Thank you, sir," replied Bob, "but--but I have made up my mind that I +can't." + +"In heaven's name, why?" + +"Admiral," said Bob, and his voice became tremulous, "do you think it +right for a man to undertake anything which his conscience condemns?" + +"No, of course not; what has that to do with it?" + +"Everything, sir, to me. War is brutal and devilish, opposed to +everything I have been taught to believe." + +"Do you mean to say," cried the Admiral, "that you are not convinced of +the righteousness of this war? Why, my lad, the thing is as plain as +the nose on your face. Have you gone through the papers? Have you +read the correspondence between the various ambassadors?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then do you not think that Germany has been planning this war for +years, and that she has checked every movement for peace?" + +"That is debatable, isn't it, sir?" + +"Debatable? No! You are not such a fool as to believe that this war +is on account of the Servian assassination? That is a mere flimsy +pretext--one of the flimsiest ever known. I have read all about it +to-day. Austria had practically agreed to live at peace with Servia, +to allow Servia to retain her independence. The trouble was, to all +intents and purposes, patched up, and then Germany insisted on an +impossible ultimatum. Austria would never have declared war on Servia +had not Germany given her orders to do so. Here is a letter written by +Sir Maurice de Bunsen, on July 26. He states plainly that Germany +wanted war, that she had schemes in Asia Minor which she wanted to +carry out. She believed that by war with Servia she would be able to +accomplish her purposes. She believed that Russia would keep quiet +during the time Austria worked her will, and as de Bunsen says, +'Germany knew very well what she was about in backing up +Austria-Hungary in this matter.'" + +"Yes, sir, that is all very well, but that does not make war right. +Personally, I find it easy to believe that Germany was the aggressor in +this case; I believe, too, that Russia decided to stand by Servia not +for the sake of the Servians, but for her own interests; that does not +justify her in dragging the whole of Europe into war." + +"Yes, but are you mad, my boy? The Servian business was only the +beginning of it. Of course, when Russia prepared to protect Servia, +Germany, knowing that the war she had been trying to bring about must +come some time, declared war on Russia. Then, without giving France a +chance, she invaded Luxemburg and French territory; don't you see?" + +"I do not see how that makes war right, sir." + +"No, but when Germany invaded Belgium, broke all treaty rights, and +Belgium asked us to protect her what were we to do?" + +"Admiral," said Bob, "I believe you pretend to be a Christian." + +"Yes, of course I do, but what has that to do with it?" + +"Do you happen to believe in 'The Sermon on the Mount'?" + +"Good Lord, yes! Isn't it our Lord's own words?" + +"Then I want to ask you how a man can reconcile the teaching of 'The +Sermon on the Mount' with bloody warfare such as this is to be?" + +The Admiral was nonplussed for a moment; he was a simple seaman, and +not versed in the philosophy of ethics. + +"Look here, my boy!" he cried passionately, "if I know anything about +Christianity, it teaches a man to be honourable, truthful, and to keep +his word. I would not give a fig for any Christian who did not keep +his word. Well, we gave our word to Belgium. The Germans did so, too, +but, like the brutes they are, they violated theirs, and when Belgium +appealed to us, and asked us to keep our word, could we refuse? Could +any Christian refuse? No, by gad, no!" + +"But, Admiral, don't you see that----" + +"Look here, Bob, I want no more talking. Are you going to back out of +your duty, or are you going to play the game like a man?" + +"I am going to try to be true to my conscience, sir. As I told you, +war to me is unchristian, devilish, and if I enlisted, I should, by so +doing, become a paid murderer." + +The Admiral rose to his feet, his eyes blazing. For a moment his +temper had got the better of him, and, had he been able to speak, he +would have hurled at Bob words for which he would have been sorry +afterwards. Luckily, he could not. Presently he had gained command +over himself. + +"I do not think we had better say any more," he said quietly. "I am +sorry I have been mistaken in you; sorry that you should have accepted +the hospitality of a Pagan home like this. Of course you are not +renewing your visits here?" + +"But, Admiral!" cried Bob, angry with himself for not weighing his +words before uttering them. "I--I----" + +"Excuse me," said the old man, "it is no use saying any more. Good +night." + +He did not offer to shake hands, but went to the bell push. A second +later a servant appeared, to whom the Admiral nodded. Without +hesitation the man opened the door and held it while Bob passed out, +and then led the way to the front entrance. When he had gone, the +Admiral threw himself into an arm-chair and heaved a deep sigh; it was +like saying good-bye to his own son. + +As Bob walked down the hall he felt as if an end had come to all his +dreams, and that he was being turned out of the house which he had +always looked upon as a kind of second home. Of course Nancy would be +aware of the interview, and would learn the result. In bidding +good-bye to the house, he was also bidding good-bye to her. The +servant had his hand upon the door-knob when he heard the rustle of a +woman's dress, and Nancy, pale and eager-eyed, came from an adjoining +room. + +"Jenkins," she said, "Mr. Nancarrow will not go yet; you need not +wait." The man left without a word, and Nancy led the way into the +room where she had been sitting. + +"I felt, perhaps, that I was not fair to you yesterday, and I thought I +would give you another chance of--explaining yourself." Her voice was +hoarse and trembling--indeed it did not sound like Nancy's voice at all. + +"Oh, Nancy," he said, "I was afraid I should not see you! Thank you +for speaking." + +"Father told me he had written you," she went on. "I--I hope +everything is arranged all right. Bob, do you mean what you said? Do +you mean that you are going to play the coward?" + +"I am doing the hardest thing I ever did in my life," he blurted out. + +"In taking a coward's part?" + +"Call it that if you like," was his reply. + +They were alone by this time, and the door closed behind them. + +"I am trying to be calm," said Nancy. "You know all we had hoped and +planned, but--but I don't want to be foolish; there must be deeper +reasons than those you mentioned the other day. I do not think you can +have realised the circumstances. Since you left, I have done nothing +but read--and try to understand. I have been very ignorant about such +matters, and I thought, perhaps, my ignorance kept me from +understanding you. I have read all the papers which father has been +able to obtain, all the miserable story which led up to this war. Have +you?" + +"Yes," said Bob; "all!" + +"Then surely you do not hold to what you said?" + +"I am afraid I do." + +"Then perhaps you will explain." + +"That is what I want to do," cried Bob. "Oh, Nancy, you don't know +what I have been through since I left you!--you don't know how I have +longed to enlist, longed to take part in the fray--but--there it is. +Look here, Nancy, I was never one to talk much about these things, but +you knew my father, knew that he was a Quaker, a Christian, in a very +real sense of the word. When he died, my mother and others told me +they hoped I should be worthy of him, and--I have tried to be. It is +difficult to talk about such matters, Nancy, and I am not one of those +fellows who parade their piety and that sort of thing. I would not say +what I am going to now, but for the circumstances. I have tried to +understand what Christianity means. I have read the New Testament, +especially the Gospels, again and again. I have tried to realise what +Jesus Christ said, what He lived for, what He died for, and I think I +have tried to follow him. No, I am not namby-pamby, and this is not +empty talk. I expect there are hundreds of young fellows who never +talk about religion, but who are trying, honestly and squarely, to live +Christian lives. Anyhow, that is what I have tried to do. When this +war seemed to be inevitable, I went into the whole business. I read +everything I could,--newspapers, state papers, correspondence between +the ambassadors, and all that kind of thing. You see, I felt what was +coming; and, Nancy, I simply cannot square Christianity with war. +Either Jesus Christ was mistaken, and Christianity is an empty dream; +or war is wrong--wrong under any circumstances. It is hellish, and I +can't stand for it--I can't!" + +The girl looked at him with wide open eyes, and her lips trembled, but +she did not speak. + +"Yes," he went on, "I know what it means. I shall be boycotted, +sneered at, called a coward, and all that; but that is nothing, is it? +What is much more terrible to me is the fact that I shall--that I shall +lose you! You drove me away the other day, Nancy. You did not mean +it, did you? You would not have me go against my conscience?" + +"Conscience!" there was a world of scorn in her voice. She seemed to +be hesitating whether she should not open the door and tell him to +leave the house. Perhaps there was something in the tone of his voice, +in the expression of his eyes, which kept her from doing this. +"Perhaps you have not thought of the other side," she tried to say +calmly. "Have you ever thought what it would mean if Germany conquered +England--Germany with her militarism and her savagery? Have you +thought how she would treat us, what would become of us, and all that +we hold most dear?" + +"Yes, I have thought of that." + +"And would it not be right, if, to save our country, and all our +country stands for, if need be, to deluge Europe in blood? Oh, Bob, +can't you see?" + +"It is never right to do wrong," said Bob. "Is it right to tell a lie +that truth may come? Is it right to tell a lie to save any one from +pain? Is it right to commit murder to save some one from an even +greater calamity? That's nothing but the old Jesuit doctrine of the +end justifying the means. But, Nancy, don't let's talk anything more +about it. I am tired, weary of it! You love me, I love you. Can't +you let me live my own life, carry out the projects I have in my mind, +and trust to Providence?" + +"What right have we to trust in Providence," asked the girl +passionately, "when we stand by and do nothing? Suppose at the end of +this war we come off victorious, I suppose that you, who have never +lifted your finger to save your country, will think it your right to +enter into the benefits which others have won for you? That is your +idea of Christianity, I suppose?" + +"But war cannot be right." + +"I don't know about war in the abstract," cried the girl, "but I do +know that this war is. I am not a sophist, and I can't put into words +what is in my mind. I am only an ordinary girl; but, Bob"--she raised +her voice as she spoke--"if you can stand by while your country is in +danger, if you can turn a deaf ear to her call, if you refuse to help, +and go on working at your law books while other young men are fighting +for their country's honour and safety, then--then--don't you see? We +live in different worlds, we breathe different air, and--there is an +end to everything." + +"Have we tried to understand the German position?" said Bob. "Germany +is a Christian country as much as England is; the German people are +what Thomas Carlyle calls them, a brave, quiet, patient people. Are we +right in attributing evil motives to them?" + +"But do you not believe," cried Nancy, "that the Emperor and his +ministers planned all this?--that they depended upon the neutrality of +England, thinking we would stand by and see a little nation crushed? +Everything proves that their object and desire is to crush England, and +to dominate the world. You say you have read all about it. Surely you +do not believe that Germany is going to war to crush Servia because of +the assassination of an Austrian prince? You do not believe in that +flimsy pretext?" + +"No," said Bob, "I can't say I do." + +"And have you thought of this?" said the girl. "When this war was +declared, it was not at the time the Crown Prince was assassinated, but +when things seemed to be favourable to the Kaiser's plans of +aggression. Any one can see how everything fits in. A speech had been +made in the French Senate about the unreadiness of that country for +war, and then when the President and Foreign Secretary of the French +Republic were staying in Russia and could not get back for days, +Germany hurled out her ultimatum. War was declared at a time, too, +when Russia was believed to be confronted with revolutionary strikes, +and was almost bled to death by her war with Japan. It was declared at +a time when England was believed to be on the eve of civil war on +account of her Irish troubles, and when it seemed that she must, of +necessity, remain neutral. Can't you see the fiendishness of the plot? +The Kaiser and his creatures thought the time had come when they could +begin the war for which they had been preparing." + +"Is not that a pure hypothesis?" exclaimed Bob; nevertheless, he was +struck with the girl's evident knowledge of affairs. + +"Hypothesis!" cried the girl. "Are you mad, Bob? Isn't everything +plain? What sense of honour has Germany shown? What desire for peace? +She had her plans ready, and she determined to carry them out at +whatever cost. To little Luxemburg she promised protection, and yet +without even saying 'by your leave,' invaded Luxemburg. Belgium, also, +was protected by treaty. Germany, as well as other countries, had +plighted her word that Belgium's neutrality and integrity should be +respected; yet she sent that infamous ultimatum to Belgium that if the +German troops were not allowed to march through the country without +opposition, she would be treated as an enemy. Can you think of +anything more dishonourable? Why," and Nancy's voice trembled with +pain, "I was just mad when I read it in the newspapers, and when +afterwards dad showed me the official reports about it, I could +scarcely contain myself. The Chancellor of Germany said, 'Yes, we know +we have done wrong; we have broken our word to Luxemburg, and violated +the treaty we signed; but necessity knows no law. It was a part of our +plan to do it, and we did it. We know we signed a treaty that +Belgium's neutrality and integrity should be maintained, but you see it +did not suit our plans to keep our word, so we broke it. We will make +it up to the Belgians afterwards, if they will do what we tell them; +but if they will not, we will crush them.' What is honour to a country +like that? Can't you see that all along Germany intended to dominate +Europe, and because she thought the present time propitious, she was +willing to cover herself with dishonour in order to do the thing she +wanted?" + +"Is there not another side to that?" interjected Bob. + +"Another side? How can there be another side? When our Ambassador met +the German Chancellor, what took place? The Chancellor had the +audacity to make what our Prime Minister called an 'infamous proposal.' +He suggested that we should break our word to Belgium, and remain +neutral so that Germany could crush France. Then when our Ambassador +asked, as any gentleman would ask, 'But what about the treaty we +signed?' he replied, 'What is a treaty? A thing to be broken! A scrap +of paper! Will you go to war for that?'" + +"But consider what war means!" cried Bob. "Does it follow that because +the Germans are willing to plunge Europe into war, we should do +likewise? Does anything, _anything_, justify the violation of every +law, human and divine?" + +"Bob, do please just call to mind what that horrible German, who had +not even the first instincts of a gentleman, said, 'Have you counted +the cost, and still stand by your honour and plighted word?' As if an +English gentleman could ever count the cost when his plighted word was +given!" + +"Yes," said Bob, "but any statesman ought to count the cost. Think of +what it will all mean, Nancy; think of all the hatred, the feelings of +devilish revenge, the mad passions that will be roused; think of +countries lying waste, think of the whole spirit of war, of the untold +misery and horror of it all, and then ask if anything justifies war. I +know you have a strong case, but two wrongs cannot make a right. +Suppose a man broke his word to me, outraged my feelings, did me great +wrong; would that justify my driving a knife into his heart? I should +be called a murderer if I did it, and be hanged for my deed. Besides, +to come back to where we were just now, Nancy, how could I pretend to +be a Christian, if I enlisted, and went to the war for the purpose of +killing my fellow-men? Christ said, 'Love your enemies, do good to +them that hate you, pray for them that despitefully use you and +persecute you. If a man smite thee on thy right cheek turn to him the +other.' Oh, Nancy, can't you see how utterly opposed Christianity is +to the whole ghastly thing? Here is the German Emperor saying to his +soldiers, 'Go to church and pray--we are fighting God's battle.' Here +are our clergymen saying to our people, 'Go to church and pray--we are +fighting God's battle.' How can God answer both our prayers? They +believe they are in the right, we believe we are in the right, and so +to uphold what we both believe to be right we engage in this hellish +business." + +"And that is your explanation," she said. + +"Yes, Nancy; I cannot, I simply cannot be a soldier and a Christian at +the same time. But you will not let this come between us, will you? I +am trying to be true to my conscience, to act in accordance with the +teaching of the New Testament, and I cannot reconcile Christianity with +war." + +"Do you believe that we shall win in this fight?" and the girl's voice +became hard as she asked the question. + +"Yes," said Bob. "Yes, I believe we shall in the end. After rivers of +blood have been shed, after horrors worse than can be described have +been realised, after tens and tens of thousands of men have been +killed, after a whole continent has been desolated, I believe we shall +win. We shall be stronger than the Germans because we have such vast +numbers of men in reserve; yes, I expect that in the long run we shall +be able to dictate terms of peace; yes, I expect that." + +"But you believe that no war can be justified?" + +Bob shook his head. + +"Think," said the girl, "think of the sixteenth century, when Philip of +Spain made such great preparations to conquer and subdue England. If +he had succeeded, our religion would have been destroyed, our homes +taken away from us, our liberty torn from us, our existence as a nation +would have been practically wiped out. Do you believe God meant Drake +and Hawkins and the rest of them to sit down quietly while the +Spaniards invaded our land and destroyed our liberties? Do you believe +that?" + +Bob was silent. + +"No, you do not believe it. You know that had Philip II succeeded +there would be no England to-day such as we know. Well, now it comes +to this: A greater and a more terrible power than Spain seeks to crush +us; but our men, thank God, have not ceased to be Englishmen, and they +will safeguard our liberties, and keep for us still the England we +love. When the war is over, and all danger is gone, I suppose that +you, who stand idly by, and talk about the ethics of war, will think it +your right to enjoy the liberties which these brave fellows suffer and +die to give you. Is that it?" + +"Nancy, that's not fair." + +"I want to be fair. Tell me, is that your attitude? It is un-English, +and it is cowardly. Is it yours?" + +"I will not try to answer you, Nancy--I should be sorry afterwards, +perhaps; but--but--Nancy, is everything over between us?" + +"That's for you to say." + +"For me?" + +"Yes, you. You have your choice. I--I had nearly overcome +dad's--objections to you." + +"But, Nancy, do you mean to say that----" + +"I can never marry a man who shrinks from his duty at such a time as +this? Yes, I mean that." + +"Nancy, you make it a choice between you and my conscience." + +For a few seconds she looked at him without speaking. Her lips were +quivering, and her hands were trembling. It was easy to see that she +was greatly wrought upon. + +"No, that is not the choice," she said, and her voice had a hard ring +in it. + +"What is it, then?" + +"A choice between me and cowardice." + +He staggered as if some one had struck him. "Do you mean that?" he +asked hoarsely. + +"Yes, I mean that." + +Without speaking another word, he staggered blindly out of the house. +Nancy heard him close the front door behind him, and then, throwing +herself into a chair, sobbed as though her heart would break. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +For the next few days St. Ia was completely under the influence of the +war fever. Although we have only about three thousand inhabitants, +three hundred of our men belonging to the Naval Reserve left in one +day, while many who were away in their fishing-boats were expected to +join their vessels as soon as they could return home. Young +territorials left the neighbourhood by the score, and many a lad who +had previously been laughed at, when wearing his uniform, was looked +upon as a kind of hero, and everywhere one turned, the only subject of +conversation was the war. + +Each morning at eight o'clock, the time at which our newspapers usually +arrive, there was such a rush for the train, in order to obtain early +copies, as I had never seen before; and presently, when the news came +that an army consisting of one hundred thousand men had landed on +French soil without even a hitch or casualty, we cheered wildly. +Evidently our War-office machinery was in good order, and our soldiers, +perhaps the best armed and equipped that ever left our shores, would, +we were sure, give a good account of themselves. + +Among the older and more staid people the inwardness of the situation +was more and more realised. It seemed so strange that the German +nation, which a few weeks before was looked upon as a nation of +friends, was now spoken of as "the enemy." We held our breaths when we +read of the bombardment of Liége, and cheered wildly at the thought of +the brave Belgian army holding the forts against the opposing forces, +and driving back the hordes of Huns with such valour. "How long will +the English take to get there?" we asked again and again. "When shall +we come to close grips with them?" Many a mother grew pale as she +thought of her boy in the line of battle. + +Presently news came of the fall of Liége and the victorious march of +the Germans towards Brussels. The terror of the whole thing got hold +of us, as we thought of the unfortified capital being seized by the +advancing hosts of a great military Power. We troubled very little +about French successes or losses in Alsace and Lorraine. We knew that +the French, true to their characters, had yielded to sentiment rather +than to strategy in making what seemed to us a foolish attempt to win +back these provinces. Of course it was only forty-four years ago that +they had been taken from them by their conquerors in the Franco-German +war. We knew too that, ever since, they had been longing for revenge, +longing to win back what they felt to be part of their own country. +Naturally we sympathised with the French in this, and tears came to our +eyes, and sobs to our throats, when we read how old Frenchmen who had +been through the Franco-German war, welcomed the soldiers with wild and +tumultuous joy. Nevertheless we knew that victory could not be won by +sentiment, and that if the carefully trained German soldiers were to be +driven back, there must be strategy on our side equal to theirs, and +that the armies must be led, not only courageously, but intelligently. +Thus, although we had no proof of the rumour, we rejoiced when we heard +that Lord Kitchener had gone to Paris, and by his wise counsels and +tremendous personality had altered the whole course of the campaign. + +"He's the man!" one would say to another; "he's like the Iron Duke in +Boney's time. Nerves like steel, a mind like a razor, and the heart of +a lion." + +Nevertheless day by day our hearts grew heavier and heavier as we read +of the steady German advance towards Paris. "If the capital is taken," +men said, "Isn't everything done for?" and then we weighed the pros and +cons with all the wisdom of a rustic population. + +Another thing added to our discomfort. The lads of Cornwall were not +responding as we thought they should, to the call of their country. +From all parts of England young men were coming forward, and London was +enlisting volunteers at the rate of a thousand a day. Yorkshire and +Lancashire proved their devotion and their loyalty. Devon, too, our +sister county, more than maintained her traditions. We read how in one +little village where only thirty young men lived, twenty-five of them +had volunteered. "It is because our boys don't understand, don't +realise what we are fighting for," said one to another; and then we +heard with delight that Admiral Tresize and the Member of Parliament +for St. Ia were arranging for a public meeting, at which truth should +be made known. + +During this time Bob Nancarrow was much alone. He seldom left the +house, neither was he to be seen in any of his old favourite haunts. +No one followed the fortunes of the war more closely than he. With +almost feverish eagerness he read every item of news, although, by his +own decision, he was an outsider. He was torn by two opposing forces. +One was the love of his country and his own people, and the other was +the voice of his conscience. He thought, when he happened to go into +the little town, that people nudged each other significantly as he +passed, and made unflattering remarks about him. As a matter of fact, +however, no such thing happened. True, there were some who wondered +why he remained at home, while all his schoolfellows and friends had +volunteered; but many more remembered that he was the son of Dr. +Nancarrow, a man who, to the time of his death, was an apostle of +peace. Of course the inner circle of his acquaintances knew the truth, +but they only talked of it among their own set, and thus Bob's fears +were groundless. + +One day he was attracted by a large placard which appeared on all the +public hoardings headed by the Royal Coat of Arms: "'Your King and +Country Need You!' A great meeting will be held in the Public Hall on +Thursday night in order to explain why this war has taken place, and +why it is the duty of every man to help." It announced also that +Admiral Tresize was to take the chair, while, in addition to the local +Member, the meeting was to be addressed by Captain Trevanion, who was +coming down from Plymouth for this purpose, just before leaving for the +front. + +"Of course I shan't go," said Bob to himself. "I know the reasons for +the war, and I should be in utter misery if I went." Nevertheless he +found himself making plans for going. + +For several days Mrs. Nancarrow had been cold and uncommunicative, and +he knew that a cloud of reserve hung between them. He felt that his +mother despised him. He felt sure, too, that she knew all that had +taken place at Penwennack--that he was henceforth to be treated, in +what he had regarded as his second home, as worse than a stranger. + +"There is to be a great meeting at the Public Hall to-night," said Mrs. +Nancarrow, on the day of the meeting. "Are you going?" + +Bob shook his head. + +"There seems to be tremendous enthusiasm about Captain Trevanion's +coming down, although, of course, he is no speaker," went on Mrs. +Nancarrow. "But you see, the fact of his starting for the front in a +day or so, makes him of special interest. I understand that Nancy +Tresize is going away as a Red Cross nurse, almost at once." + +Bob's heart fluttered wildly as he heard her name. + +"Captain Trevanion stayed at Penwennack last night. Naturally the +Admiral admires him more than ever. The Captain and Nancy motored to +Land's End yesterday afternoon." + +Her every word was like a sword thrust into the young fellow's heart. +He knew what she meant--knew too, that the Admiral had always favoured +Trevanion as a suitor for his daughter. How could it be otherwise, +when Trevanion was a man after the Admiral's own heart? _He_ had +showed no hesitation about the right of defending his country; rather +he had throughout been enthusiastic to a degree, while Bob had hung +back. Mad jealousy filled his heart as he realised what might possibly +be taking place. Even then, Nancy, in her scorn for the man whom she +believed to have been unworthy of her love, might be listening to the +pleadings of one who was worthy. + +"I expect Nancy will be at the meeting," went on Mrs. Nancarrow. "As +you know, she goes almost everywhere with her father, and as the +Admiral will take the chair, I expect she will be on the platform." + +Bob conjured up the scene. He fancied he saw Trevanion, in his +uniform, speaking in a soldier-like fashion about the duty of defending +his country, the crowd cheering wildly, while Nancy, carried away by +her admiration of the man who accorded with her ideals of how an +Englishman should act, would yield to the gallant soldier the love for +which he would give his life. + +That night, with a kind of savage love for self-torture, Bob made his +way to the Public Hall. He got there half an hour before the announced +time, and found the place nearly full. All round the walls hung +bunting, characteristic of the county. The Cornish Coat of Arms hung +over the chairman's table, while the chorus of the old Cornish song: + + And shall they scorn Tre, Pol, and Pen, + And shall Trelawney die? + Then twenty thousand Cornishmen + Will know the reason why. + +was printed in large letters, and hung in a prominent place. At the +back of the platform some one had written, "Cornwall has never failed +her country yet. Shall she be unworthy of the names of Trelawney, +Killigrew, Boscawen, Carew, Tresize, and Trevanion? Never!" + +To Bob's chagrin he was led to a seat close to the platform. Evidently +the man who took him there, wanted him, as the son of one who had been, +perhaps, the most respected man in the town, to have a place of honour. + +In a few minutes the audience was singing patriotic songs. It was true +that there was something jingoistic about them, nevertheless Bob's +heart thrilled. Perhaps there are no people in the whole country whose +voices are sweeter than those of the dwellers in our most Western +county. His heart caught fire as he listened. Yes, there was +something in fighting for home and fatherland, something sublime in +dying for a noble cause. Then again the horror of war, the brutal +butchery, the senseless hatred, the welter of blood, the blighted lives +and homes, arose before him. He knew that the meeting would have no +message for him. + +Precisely at the time announced the speakers appeared on the platform +amidst a tumult of shouting, and then Bob's heart gave a great leap, +for he saw that Nancy Tresize, with several other ladies, followed the +old Admiral. In spite of himself his eyes were drawn towards her as if +by a magnet. He tried to look away from her, but could not, and then, +when he least expected it, her gaze caught his. It was only for a +second, but that second plunged him into the deepest darkness. He saw +the flush that mounted to her cheeks, the smile of derision that passed +her lips, and the look of scorn and contempt that expressed itself on +her face. He knew then what Nancy felt about him, and that he had lost +her--lost her for ever. + +I am not going to try to describe the speeches at length--there is no +need. The Admiral spoke in a bluff, hearty way about the causes which +led up to the war, and then told of the part which the county had +always played, and of her great names which had gone down to history. +Spoke, too, of the need of men at the present time, and then made his +appeal. + +After him came the Member for St. Ia. He evidently tried to speak as a +statesman on the question. He was listened to respectfully, but +without enthusiasm. He was little fitted to explain the intricacies of +international politics. Bob felt, during the whole time he was +speaking, that he did not know the A.B.C. of his subject, felt that if +he had been in his place he would have made a far stronger case for the +country and the cause. + +Then some one got up and recited some doggerel by a London journalist +which was said to be very popular in various parts of the country, but +which did not appeal to our Cornish boys at all. + +Up to this point the meeting could not be pronounced a success. Crowds +were there, and the people were waiting to be caught on fire; but the +right spark had not been struck. It only wanted a little to rouse the +whole audience to white heat; the train was laid, the powder was set, +but no one seemed able to ignite the match. People looked at one +another doubtfully. The youths who had been expected to enlist +remained cold and almost jeeringly critical. Then the Admiral called +for Captain Trevanion. + +A feeling of envy came into Bob's heart as the Captain rose. He was +wearing his regimentals and looked a soldier, every inch of him; tall, +stalwart, straight as a rule. Young and handsome, he bore proudly a +name which might be found in the remotest history of his county. + +"I am no speaker," he began, "and never pretend to speak; in fact, this +is almost the first time that I have tried to address a meeting. I am +a soldier; I start in a few days for the front, and I have only come to +tell you why I am going." + +There was evidence of sincerity in his words, and they were spoken in +such a hearty and convincing way that they appealed to every one +present. Bob felt it more than any one else. Yes, he envied him. Oh, +if he could only take his place! If he could say, "I am going to the +front in a few days!" + +"I have been working hard, these last weeks," went on Trevanion; +"drilling, drilling; training, training; preparing for the fray, and +waiting and longing to, hear the command, 'Up, lads, and at them!' +Thank heaven the command has at last come!" + +His voice rang out clearly, and as he spoke a new light came into the +eyes of many. + +"And why am I going?" he cried. "Why are tens of thousands of the +brave lads from all over the Empire going to France at this time? I'll +tell you!" + +He was not eloquent. He had no great command of language, but he +stirred the hearts of the people, because he told a simple story, +which, while from the standpoint of the cold critic it might appear +unconvincing, was, when listened to by patriotic Englishmen, full of +appeal and power. + +He drew two pictures, and although he did it crudely he did it well. +He described first a meeting of Cabinet Ministers in Whitehall. These +men had for a long time been labouring night and day for peace, and now +the final stage had come. They had sent what was in some senses an +ultimatum to Germany, and they were now waiting for the answer. War +and peace hung in the balance. The time was approaching midnight, and +the hour when the final decision was to be made was near at hand. The +question they had asked Germany was this: "Will you keep your word to +Belgium, or will you violate the treaty you have signed?" + +"The Belgians," said Trevanion, "had the promise of the Kaiser to +maintain their country's neutrality and integrity. Was that promise to +be trusted, or was it a sham and a lie? 'We Britons gave our word,' +our statesmen had said, 'and, like Britons, we are going to keep it. +What are you going to do? If you prove false, we are going to stand by +our promise, if it cost us our last man and our last pound. + +"Presently the sound of Big Ben at Westminster boomed across the city. +The Germans had not replied. This meant that the Kaiser had played the +traitor, that he had torn up the treaty he had signed; and thus when +the last stroke of Big Ben sounded across London, the four statesmen +looked at each other, and said, 'This means war.' Could they have done +any other?" cried the Captain--"could they? No!" + +From the hall, rose the many-throated reply, "No, by God, no!" + +"Now for another picture," he went on. "It is not in London, not in +Whitehall this time; it is in Germany, at Berlin. Our Ambassador +there, was speaking to a representative of the German Kaiser, the +mouthpiece of the German nation. 'What will you do?' asked the German. +'Surely you English will be neutral?' + +"'That depends,' said the Englishman. + +"'On what?' queried the German. + +"'It depends whether you Germans are going to be true to the treaty you +have signed, true to your plighted word.' + +"'And if not?' the German asked. + +"'In that case,' replied the Englishman, 'we are not going to stand by +and see a little state wronged and ruined, because a great nation like +Germany, who should keep her word, is playing Belgium false.' + +"'Treaty,' questioned the German, 'what is a treaty? Will you go to +war with us for that--just for a scrap of paper?' + +"'But that scrap of paper means our nation's honour,' the Englishman +said. + +"'Have you counted the cost?' asked the German, thinking to frighten +the Englishman. + +"'We English,' replied the British Ambassador, 'are not likely to go +back on our word because of fear.' + +"The German left him in a passion, and the Englishman said in his +heart, 'It is war.' + +"Would you have had him give another answer?" + +And again a mighty shout from the hall, "No, by God, no!" + +"Then do your duty--help us in the fight," cried the Captain. The +right note was struck now, and it had been struck by Bob's rival. Oh, +how he envied him! He saw that Nancy's eyes were ablaze with joy, that +she was moved to the depth of her being; and the man who had moved her +to enthusiasm and admiration was the man who wanted the woman Bob +loved, and whom he had lost. + +"Can any Englishman," went on Captain Trevanion, "stand by after that? +If he can, what is he worth? Of course he will make paltry excuses, he +will say this and that and the other thing, but what are his excuses +worth? I have heard of young fellows, men who have been trained in our +public schools, who stand by and refuse to help; what shall we say of +them? And you young chaps, healthy, strong, unmarried, without home +ties, what if you refuse to respond to the call of your country? I +will tell you what I think of you: you are white-livered cowards." + +Again the audience cheered, and Captain Trevanion, fired by the +enthusiasm he had roused, became almost eloquent. He knew he had the +grip of his audience, and his words came more easily. + +"I want to appeal to you girls," he went on. "Your sweethearts are +sitting by you: well, a fellow who is such a coward as to refuse to +fight for his country isn't worth having. Tell him so, shame him into +being a man!" he cried, and his voice rang out, as though he were +giving orders on parade. + +"What shall we do?" shouted a voice in the hall. + +"Make them feel what cowards they are. Here," and he laughed as he +spoke, "I have in a basket a lot of white feathers; I think they might +be of use. Any of you girls who know men who are hanging back from +cowardice, just give them a white feather, and never speak to them +again until they have wiped away their disgrace." He took up the +basket and held it out. "There," he said, "I have finished my speech: +men and women do your duty!" + +As he sat down the whole meeting was in a state of wild uproarious +enthusiasm. + +A few minutes later the hall began to empty itself, although a number +of people remained behind to discuss the situation. An old retired +sergeant of seventy years of age stayed with a number of young fellows +who lingered behind, and as they stood near to Bob he could hear every +word that was said. + +"Come, you chaps," said the sergeant, "aren't you going to be men? +aren't you going to fight the Germans?" + +"Why shud us?" they asked. "What 'ave we got 'ginst the Germans?" + +"Would you like the Germans to conquer your country? would you like to +have the Kaiser for a king?" + +"Dunnaw: why shudden us?" replied one. + +"Laive they that want to fight the Germans, fight 'em--we bean't goin' +to," said another. "Why shud we all git killed to plaise Members of +Parliament?" + +"I be sheamed ov 'ee," cried an old man near; "you bean't worthy to be +called Englishmen." + +"Why bean't us?" + +"'Cos you be cowards. Wud 'ee like to be traited like they Germans be?" + +"From oal accounts they be a darned sight better on than we be," was +the reply. + +"Wot do 'ee main?" + +"Why," laughed a young fellow, "at the last general election one of the +spaikers, I doan' know who 'twas, but the one that talked Tariff +Reform, zaid that the Germans was a lot better off than we be. He zaid +that the Germans was fat, and that we was lean, and that the Germans +had better times, shorter hours, and higher wages than we've got. Ef +tha's so, we'd be a lot better off under the Germans than we be now." + +"Bean't 'ee Englishmen?" cried the old man. "Bean't 'ee goin' to fight +and keep 'em from England?" + +"I bean't goin' over there to git killed--not me. I knaw trick worth +two of that"; and then shamefacedly the whole lot of them left the hall +without enlisting. + +Bob's anger rose as he listened. "What mean cowards they are!" he said +to himself; "I feel almost ashamed to be a Cornishman. Of course +scores of our boys are playing the game like men, but these creatures +make one sick." A moment later his face became crimson with shame. +Was he not doing the same? Yes; his reasons were different, and of +course he could have made a better case for himself than they did, but +was he not a shirker just as much as they were? Then all such thoughts +were driven from his mind in a second, for down the platform steps, +with the evident intention of passing into the hall, came Admiral +Tresize, Captain Trevanion, and several ladies, among whom was Nancy. +At first he felt as if he must rush out of the hall, but his feet +seemed rooted, he could not move. Captain Trevanion and Nancy came +towards him. + +"Now then, Nancarrow, have you enlisted yet?" asked Trevanion. "You +should, as an old O.T.C. man. I find that hosts of the fellows from +Clifton College have enlisted. Aren't you going to?" + +Bob did not speak, he could not. He heard the sneer in the Captain's +voice, saw the look of contempt on his face, and he knew why he spoke. +But he could not understand why Nancy stood waiting as if with the +intention of speaking to him. He knew that he cut a poor figure +compared with Trevanion, and that to Nancy he must seem a slacker, a +wastrel. Still he could not speak nor move. He felt that the girl's +eyes were upon him, felt contempt in her every gesture, her every +movement. She came up close to him. + +"Aren't you going to help to uphold your country's honour?" she said, +and her voice quivered with excitement. Evidently she was deeply moved. + +He felt as if the room were whirling round. He thought he noted a sign +of pleading in her voice, and that her eyes became softer. It seemed +to him that she was giving him his last chance. He could not speak, he +could only shake his head. + +"Then allow me to present you with this," she went on, and she held out +a white feather. "I am sure you must be proud of it, and that you will +wear it honourably, especially at such a time as this." + +The insult pierced his heart like a poisoned arrow. He knew that her +intention was to heap upon him the greatest ignominy of which she was +capable. There were not many people in the room, but there were some +who must have seen her action. As for Trevanion he turned away his +head with a laugh. + +"Come, Captain Trevanion," said Nancy, "we must be going." She took +hold of his arm, and they walked out of the hall together. + +Bob made a stride forward as if to follow them. He wanted to hurl +defiance at them, wanted to tell her that her action was mean and +contemptible, unworthy of an Englishwoman. Wanted to--God knows what +he wanted. His brain was whirling, everything seemed to be mad +confusion, but he only took one step; the uselessness of it all +appealed to him. What could he do, what could he say? He had made his +decision, taken his stand, and must be ready to suffer. + +Then he remembered what Captain Trevanion had said at the close of the +golf match: + +"In this field of battle you have beaten me, but in the next I shall be +the conqueror." + +"Yes," said Bob, and he silently made his way home. "I have lost her. +I have lost everything, but what could I do?" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +"Mother," said Bob, on his return home, "I shall be leaving St. Ia +to-morrow morning." + +"What! going away, Eh?" said Mrs. Nancarrow, looking at him +searchingly. For days she had been hoping that he would see it his +duty to offer himself to his country, and yet all the time dreading the +thought of parting from him. + +"Where are you going?" + +"To Oxford," he replied. + +"Then you are not going to enlist?" + +He shook his head. "I am going to Oxford," he repeated. + +"Bob, my dear, we have not seemed to understand each other just lately. +I am afraid I spoke unkindly to you the other day, and as a consequence +there has been a lack of trust. Won't you tell me all about it?" + +"There is nothing to tell, mother; I simply cannot do what you expect +me to, that is all. You see I believe in what my father taught me," +and he looked towards the fireplace, over which hung Dr. Nancarrow's +picture. "Perhaps it is in my blood, perhaps---- I don't know; +anyhow, I think my hand would shrivel up if I tried to sign my name as +a soldier." + +"But you have a mother, Bob, a mother whose name was Trelawney, and the +Trelawneys have never failed in time of need. Are you going to be the +first to fail, Bob? Oh, please don't think I do not dread the thought +of your going to the front, and perhaps being killed; but I cannot bear +the thought that my boy should shirk his duty to his country. Tell me, +Bob, why do you want to play the coward?" + +"Play the coward! Great God, mother! don't you understand me? I +simply long to go. It seems to me as though everything in life worth +having depends on my doing what you and others want me to do. But how +can I! I hate talking about it, it sounds so pharisaical, but my +father wanted me to be a Christian, and you know what Christianity +meant to him. As I have said again and again, it comes to this--either +war is wrong and hellish, or Christianity is a fable. Both cannot be +right. And if I went as a soldier I should have to renounce my +Christianity--at least that is how it seems, to me. If I went to a +recruiting station I should have to go there over Calvary; that is the +whole trouble." + +Mrs. Nancarrow sighed. + +"Think, mother," went on Bob, and again he looked towards his father's +picture. "Do you believe he would have me go?" + +"Why are you going to Oxford?" she asked. + +"I want to see my father's old friend Renthall." + +"And get strengthened in your Quaker opinions, I suppose?" + +"I have heard nothing about them lately, at all events," said Bob, and +his voice became almost bitter. "It would seem as though we had +accepted a new Gospel which has taken the place of the New Testament. +Big guns are believed in rather than the Cross. But there is no use +talking any more. Good night." + +The following morning Bob made his way to the little station at St. Ia +in order to catch an early train for London. When he arrived there he +saw that it was the scene of unusual excitement. A great crowd of +people had gathered, many of whom evidently had no intention of +travelling by train. A few minutes later he saw the reason for this. +Admiral Tresize's motor-car was driving up, containing not only the +Admiral himself, but Captain Trevanion and Nancy. No sooner did the +people see them, than there was a wild shout. Evidently the Captain, +since the meeting, had become a kind of hero, and the fact that he was +starting for the front added fresh lustre to his name. + +"We'll see you back again by Christmas," some one shouted. "The +Germans will be licked by that time, and you will be a Colonel at +least. Oh, we don't fear for you--you will be all right." + +"It was a fine speech you gave, Trevanion," said another. "By George, +that idea of giving a white feather to all the shirkers was just fine. +I hear that the basket is nearly empty." + +"I am afraid I cannot claim the credit for that," laughed the Captain. + +"Who suggested it, then?" + +"Oh, it was Miss Tresize here. She thinks it such a disgrace for any +man to shirk at such a time as this, that she thought they should be +shamed to some sense of decency and pluck." + +"Three cheers for Miss Tresize!" shouted some one, and a minute later, +Nancy, half-angry and half-pleased, was blushing at the shouts of her +friends. + +Bob felt himself to be a complete outsider. He too was going by that +train, but no one thought of cheering him--indeed, no one spoke to him. +He was what the people called a shirker. He would have given anything +he possessed to have gone up to Trevanion, and said, "I'll go with +you," but he could not. If he did, he would have to uproot the Faith +of a lifetime. + +The Captain moved towards the carriage which was close to his own, +Nancy accompanying him. Bob knew that the girl saw him, but he might +not have existed as far as she was concerned. She spoke gaily, and her +face was wreathed with smiles, but the smiles were not for him, they +were for the man who was going to fight for his country. + +The Admiral and the Captain also saw him, but neither spoke. They +seemed to regard him as one who henceforth could not be one of +themselves. + +"A man must pay his price, I suppose," reflected Bob. "If he does not +shout with the crowd, he is despised by it. I knew that when I made up +my mind, but I never thought it would be so hard. She thinks I am a +coward--the cowardice would lie in doing what she wants me to do." + +"Well, good-bye, Captain: a fine time to you; come back safe to us. +You shall have a great homecoming," shouted the Admiral. "There, +another cheer, lads; he is going to fight for his country," and amidst +wild shouting Trevanion entered the carriage, while only looks of +derision and scornful glances were directed towards Bob. + +Arrived in London, Bob caught the first train for Oxford, and before it +was dark entered that classic city. But it was not the Oxford he knew; +an indescribable change had come over everything. When he had left it, +the streets were full of undergraduates, who with merry jest and +laughter had thronged the public places. The colleges then were all on +the point of breaking up, and the students, wearing their short, absurd +little gowns, made Oxford what it ordinarily is in term time. Now the +streets were comparatively empty, many of the colleges had been taken +by the Government in order to be made ready to receive wounded +soldiers. There were no shouts of jubilation, for the news in the +papers that day saddened the hearts of the people. The German army was +steadily driving back the Allied forces towards Paris. Whispers were +heard about the French Government's being shifted to Bordeaux. It +seemed as though Germany were going to repeat the victories of +forty-four years before, when the great _débâcle_ of the French nation +startled Europe. Business was at a standstill. How could the city be +gay when the English soldiers were being driven back with enormous +losses? + +"They called it a strategical retreat," Bob heard some one say as he +stood outside the door of The Mitre. "I do not believe in strategical +retreats--it is not like the English to run away." + +"Ah! but General French is only carrying out his plans," said another. + +"Well then, they're mighty poor plans," was the response. + +It seemed to Bob as though a cloud of gloom hung over this old +university town. + +His luggage having been taken to the hotel, he found his way into the +dining-room, and the waiter, whom he had known for years, came up to +him and spoke familiarly. + +"Bad times, Mr. Nancarrow," he said. "Oxford won't be a university +town now, it'll be a barracks town. I suppose you have come up for +training. Yes, hosts of the young gentlemen have. We shall send out +one of the finest Companies in the British Army, from Oxford. It's +grand, sir, it's grand, the way you young gentlemen come up at this +time. After all, your learning is no good at a time like this; it do +not save the country, sir. We want fighting chaps." + +Bob sat down at a little table and picked up the menu. + +"Yes, sir," went on the waiter. "It is splendid, the way the young +gentlemen are coming up, and I say a man isn't a man if he stays at +home at a time like this. I wish I was ten years younger, I'd be off +like a bird." + +"It's the same everywhere," reflected Bob, "wherever I go I seem to +have poisoned arrows shot at me. I don't care what this fellow thinks +about me, and yet I am ashamed to tell him that I have not come up for +training, at all." + +"By the way," he said to the waiter in order to stop his garrulous +talk, which was becoming painful to him, "will you ring up Dr. +Renthall, and ask him if he can see me in about an hour's time?" + +A little later Bob was out in the streets again, on his way to Dr. +Renthall's house. It was a relief to him to feel that here, at least, +was one man who would understand his position. After the experiences +of the last two or three weeks the Professor's study would be indeed a +haven of rest. + +Bob was not kept waiting at the door. The Professor's old serving-man +knew him well, and showed him into the study without any delay whatever. + +"I am glad to see you, Nancarrow," said the Professor. "Oxford has +been a strange city to me these last few weeks; even here, in my den, I +cannot get away from the strife and turmoil. Tell me what you have +been doing, and how you have been getting on." + +"I have been like one in an enemy's country," was the young fellow's +reply, and then he briefly told him what had taken place. + +"The thing that troubles me," said the Professor, "is the utter failure +of Christianity. All our old ideas seem to have gone by the board. +Even many of my Quaker friends have got the war spirit and are no +longer sane. It is true we have placards all over the town calling us +to prayer, but as far as Christianity is concerned it seems as dead as +Queen Anne." + +"Then what is your attitude?" asked Bob. + +A few minutes later the Professor was explaining the beliefs which he +had for long held so strongly, and Bob listened greedily. He spoke not +only of the horror of war, but of its unrighteousness and of its +futility. + +"We talk about the country going into war for the sake of honour," he +said warmly. "But has there ever been a war in which we have not made +the same plea, and how much honour has there been in it all? What +honour was there in the Boer War? What honour has there been in half +the wars we have made? In the main it has all been a miserable game of +grab. How much was the Founder of Christianity considered when we +bombarded Alexandria? How much of the Sermon on the Mount was +considered when we went to war with those Boer farmers?" + +"Yes, yes, I know," replied Bob. "But isn't this war different? I am +not thinking now of the righteousness or unrighteousness of many of the +wars of the past; the thing which troubles me is just this: Is it ever +right to go to war? Can a nation, according to Christian principles, +draw the sword? Mind you, I have gone into this business as carefully +as I have been able. I have read everything that I can get hold of +which bears on it, and I cannot close my eyes to the fact that as far +as justice and righteousness go we are in the right. I have but little +doubt that the Kaiser is playing his own game; he wants some of the +French Colonies, he also wants to extend his power in Asia Minor. In +order to do this he has for years been perfecting his army and +strengthening his navy. But here is the question: Can a nation like +England, according to Christian principles, engage in a bloody war in +order to crush any one or anything?" + +"Impossible!" cried the Professor. + +"Then, according to you," went on Bob, "the Kaiser should be allowed to +work his will without protest? He should be allowed to crush France, +to violate his promises to Belgium, and to carry out his purposes, +whatever they may be, without resistance on our part." + +"I do not say that," replied the Professor. "I only say that war is +never a remedy, and that by trusting in the sword we only add wrong to +wrong, and thus keep back the day of universal brotherhood. Think what +this war has done, even although it has scarcely begun. It has +destroyed the good work of centuries. A few months ago, we in England +had only kind feelings towards the Germans. We regarded them as +friends. We spoke of them as a great Protestant people. To-day, the +bitterness and hatred of all England is roused against them. On every +hand the Germans are being distrusted and abused. Think what this +means? It has put back the clock of Christianity, it has aroused +hatred instead of love, and the whole country is being carried off its +feet by militarism. Even from the pulpit has gone forth the cry of +battle. Militarism has overwhelmed Calvary, and Christ and all that He +stood for have been swept away amidst the clash of arms." + +"Yes," was Bob's reply. "But that does not seem to me to solve the +present difficulty. My point is this: What ought one to do at the +present time? Of course, it is easy to say that this war ought never +to have begun. Easy to believe, too, that all wars mean hell let loose +upon earth. We can urge that those old treaties ought never to have +been signed, that alliances ought never to have been formed. But that +does not help us forward. We have to face the situation as it is. We +did sign the treaty and promise our support. There is an _Entente +Cordiale_ between us and France. On the other hand, there is very +little doubt that Germany means to crush France. She means also to +dominate the life of the world. War has been declared, Germany has +marched across Luxemburg, through Belgium, into France. England, in +response to the plea of Belgium, is fulfilling her promise, and scores +of thousands of our soldiers are fighting on the side of the French. +The cry is for more men. On every hand one is appealed to to join the +Army. Now then, what ought one who is trying to be a Christian, to do?" + +"There is only one thing to do, it seems to me," was Professor +Renthall's reply. "That is for him to follow the leadings of his +conscience and leave results to God. When Jesus Christ called His +disciples, He made them no alluring promises; in accepting His call, +they simply followed Him regardless of consequences. That, it seems to +me, is the position to-day. We have nothing to do with this wild war +spirit. There are a few men in England, thank God, who protest against +war, and it is for them to be true to the light that is within them, no +matter what the result may be. Of course, we are told that if we do +not crush Germany our liberties will be destroyed and our Empire taken +from us. What have we to do with that? We believe in an over-ruling +Providence. Believing that, and knowing that Christ is the Prince of +Peace, we must absolutely refuse to meet force with force, bloodshed +with bloodshed." + +Bob stayed a long time with the Professor, and when he left he was more +than ever convinced that he had done right. A Christian could not +participate in this war, and still be true to his Christianity. + +In spite of this, however, there was something at the back of his mind +which told him that the Professor was not right. He could not tell +what it was; nevertheless, it was there. + +It was eleven o'clock when he left Dr. Renthall's house, and then, +instead of going back to his hotel, he wandered away in the opposite +direction towards the country. + +Heedless of time, and forgetful of everything in the maze of his own +thoughts, he went farther than he had intended, and presently, when he +heard the sound of a clock striking midnight, he realised that he was +staying at an hotel, and ought to have been back long since. + +No sooner had he turned, however, than he was startled by a cry of fear +and pain. It was the cry of a woman's voice too, and, acting upon the +impulse of the moment, he rushed to the spot whence the sound came. + +Near by was a little village, every house of which was in darkness. At +first he could see nothing, then he heard the sound of struggling +coming from a lonely lane close by the village. + +"Give it me, I say, or I'll murder you." + +It was a man's voice, raucous and brutal. + +"No, no, you may kill me if you like, but I won't," a woman's voice +replied. + +Bob saw the man lift his hand to strike her, but before it fell he had +rushed upon him, and hurled him aside. + +"Who are you, and what do yer want?" cried the fellow, interlarding his +question with foul epithets. + +"No matter who I am, or what I want," replied Bob. "Leave that woman +alone." + +The man eyed Bob for a moment, stealthily, and then without warning +rushed upon him. + +A minute later the two men were struggling wildly. The man was +strongly but clumsily built, and lacked the agility and muscular force +of the young athlete. But Bob's victory did not come easily. Again +and again the fellow renewed his attack, while the woman stood by with +a look of terror in her eyes. + +"Save me," she cried, again and again, "or he will kill me." + +At length, by a well-planted blow, Bob sent his opponent staggering to +the ground. The man was stunned for a second, but only for a second. +He raised himself to his feet slowly. + +"All right, guv'ner, you have beaten me," he said. "It wasn't my +fault; if she weren't so b---- obstinate, there would have been no +trouble." + +Then evidently hearing some one near by, he shouted aloud: "I say, +Bill, come here;" and Bob realised that a new danger was at hand. + +"Wait a minute, guv'ner," said the fellow, "I just want to ask your +advice." But Bob was too alert to be caught in this way. Believing +that there must be a police station in the village, he, too, shouted +aloud. + +"Help!--help!" + +A minute later he found his position doubly dangerous. The one man he, +after a severe struggle, had been able to overcome, but he knew that he +would be no match for the two, and that the woman would be at their +mercy. + +"Get away while you can," he said to her; but the woman did not appear +to heed him--she seemed spellbound by what was taking place. + +Both men rushed on him madly, and only by a trick which he had learned +as a boy did he save himself. Tripping one of them up, he was able at +the same time to parry the other's blow, and keep him at bay. + +His position, however, was desperate, for the second man had again +risen to his feet, and prepared for another attack. + +Then suddenly it was all over, the heavy thud of a policeman's +truncheon was heard, and a few minutes later, with Bob's help, the two +men were led away to the police station. + +"Lucky for you I was near by, sir," said the constable. + +"Lucky for the poor woman too," was Bob's rejoinder. + +"I've had my eye on these two blackguards for a day or two," replied +the policeman. "They are a bad lot, and I do not think the woman is +much better than they are. Tell me exactly what happened, sir?" + +The policeman nodded his head sagely when Bob had finished his story. + +"Yes, sir," he said, "you have done a good night's work. I am afraid I +shall have to take your name and address, because you will be called +upon as witness against them. You have helped me to put my hand upon a +nice little plot, and if these fellows don't get six months, I am very +much mistaken." + +When Bob got back to his hotel that night, and was able to think calmly +of what had taken place, he was considerably perturbed. + +Of course the incident in itself was sordid enough. The woman was +supposed to be the wife of one of these men, and Bob by his +intervention had hindered what might have been a brutal tragedy. + +But that wasn't all. The thing was a commentary on his conversation +with Dr. Renthall. + +Two days later Bob appeared at the police court against these men, and +heard with satisfaction the Magistrates sentence them both to severe +punishment. + +There is no need for me to tell the whole story here, a story of +cruelty and theft. The fellows received less than their due in the +sentence that was pronounced, and Bob felt that he had freed society, +for some time at all events, of two dangerous characters. + +The local papers made quite a feature of the case and spoke with great +warmth of Bob's courage, and the benefit he had rendered the community. + +"I say, Nancarrow," said Dr. Renthall, when next they met, "they are +making quite a hero of you. I must congratulate you." + +"On what?" asked Bob. + +"On the part you played in that affair." + +"I am all at sea," was the young man's rejoinder. "It seems to me that +according to Christian principles I should have done nothing. If I had +literally interpreted the dictum: 'If a man strike thee on thy right +cheek, turn to him the other also,' I should have allowed the fellow to +work his will without opposition. But you see, I could not stand by +and see that fellow ill-treat the woman. That was why, before I knew +what I was about, I was fighting for life. Do you think I did right?" + +"I see what you are driving at," replied the Professor, "and I admit +you were in a difficult position." + +"You said the other night," said Bob, "that force was no remedy. +Perhaps it is not a remedy, but it seems to me necessary. After all, +if you come to think about it, the well-being of the community rests +upon force. But for force that brute would perhaps have killed the +woman. But for force the two fellows would have killed me, but it so +happened that the police came up and saved me, and a policeman +represents force, both moral and physical. No, force may not be a +remedy, but without it, while society is as it is, everything would be +chaos and mad confusion." + +"You are thinking about the war, I suppose," said Dr. Renthall. + +"One can scarcely think about anything else," replied Bob. "I am all +at sea, Professor--simply all at sea. Oh! I confess it frankly--I +admit that I acted on impulse the other night. My one thought was to +master that fellow, and if I had been driven to extremes, I should have +stopped at nothing, to keep him from harming the woman. For the moment +there was no thought of love, no thought of brotherly feeling in my +heart, I simply yielded to the impulse of my nature. The man +threatened to kill his wife, and if I had not defended her I should +have been unworthy to be called a man. How does that square with +Christianity? Was I wrong?" + +"I think you were right," said the Professor slowly. "Yes, I am sure +you were." + +"Then, if I were right," replied Bob, "and Germany is acting in the +same spirit as that fellow was acting, is not England right in going to +war? We promised to defend the Belgians, and Germany with brutal +arrogance swept into their country." + +"Yes," replied Renthall; "but would it not have been better for Belgium +to have acted on the spirit of non-resistance? If they had, Liége +would never have been bombarded. All the atrocities at Louvain would +never have been heard of." + +"You mean, then," said Bob, "that they should have allowed a bully like +Germany to have swept through their country, without resistance, in +order that they might crush France? Don't you see? If it were right +for me to defend the woman against a brute; if I were right in knocking +down that fellow; if the police were right in taking them both to the +police station; if the Magistrates were right in sending them to +prison; was not England right in attacking Germany? Nay, was she not +acting in a Christian spirit in saying: 'This bully shall be crushed.'" + +"Have you read the papers to-day?" asked the Professor. + +"Yes." + +"Did you come across that account of the correspondent who described +what he had seen on the stricken field? Did you get at the inwardness +of it all? You are a fellow with imagination, Nancarrow; didn't you +feel a ghastly terror of war?" + +"Yes," replied Bob, "but that does not clear up the question. +Meanwhile, Germany is marching towards Paris and Lord Kitchener is +calling for more men. What ought I to do?" + +"Read your New Testament," said the Professor, "remember the words of +our Lord just before He was crucified, 'My Kingdom is not of this +world, else would My servants fight.'" + +"Yes," cried Bob, "but----" + +"I really cannot stay any longer now," interrupted the Professor, and +he slipped away, leaving Bob alone. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +The next day Bob was in London. He had engaged chambers in the Temple +in order to prepare for his examinations. In spite of what he had said +to Professor Renthall, his old opinions remained unshaken. It might be +right, it undoubtedly was right, to defend the weak against brutal +strength in the way he had done, but war between nations was different. +He simply could not participate in it. + +He had been stigmatised as a coward, and as a traitor to his country, +but still he must be true to his conscience. + +Law and order were different from the arbitrament of the sword. War +was a violation of all that was best and noblest in humanity, and he +must walk along the lines he had marked out. + +Still he could not get away from the spirit of the times. The one +subject talked about in restaurants, in clubs, in offices, and in the +streets was this bloody carnage which was convulsing Europe. Almost +every vehicle that passed was placarded with a call to war. Every +newspaper he opened was full of news of the war. Even the religious +papers seemed to have forgotten that the Gospel of Christ was the +Gospel of Peace. + +It was true that here and there were letters from correspondents +protesting against the whole horrible business, but these were in the +main, at a discount. + +After he had been in London a few days, he happened to get hold of a +German newspaper, and there he read the German side of the question. +This newspaper pleaded that the Kaiser never wanted war. That he had +struggled against war, and that during the whole of his reign, war had +been kept at arm's length. If the Kaiser loved war, the paper urged, +the country would not have remained at peace so long, seeing that never +since 1870 had Germany drawn the sword. Now that war was forced upon +them, the people were only doing what they were obliged to do. + +One evening he dined at a small hotel, and, having found his way to the +smoke-room after dinner, he met a man from Cornwall with whom he was +slightly acquainted. + +They talked about other things at first, but were eventually led to the +one subject of the times. + +"Do you know," said the man from Cornwall, Richards by name, "that I +heard a strange story the other day?" + +"What story?" + +"A man with whom I am acquainted, a financier from Alsace, told me that +he, with two other bankers, were some weeks ago dining with the Kaiser; +and the Kaiser spoke to them about the mission of Germany. He said +that a great part of Europe was paralysed by materialism, that +immorality had eaten out the best life of France, and was fast finding +its way into the vitals of England. That Germany was called by God to +purify Europe, and that he who was anointed by God to reign over +Germany, felt it his duty to fight against this scourge of materialism +and immorality. In no other way could Europe be saved from infidelity +and ruin, and that he, the Kaiser, was raised up as a scourge of God. +That just as Jesus Christ drove the hucksters and money-lenders out of +the Temple when He was on earth, so was he, the Kaiser, called upon to +cleanse Europe, and that this war was God's crusade to bring back +Europe to purity and righteousness." + +"Your informant told you this?" + +"Yes. He said that the Kaiser was undoubtedly sincere, and was one of +the most religious men he had ever met. Of course the man is mad, but +there is not the slightest doubt but that he believes this." + +When Mr. Richards had gone, Bob felt very lonely. He wanted to get +away from his sad thoughts, wanted to blot from his memory the facts +which had seemingly blighted his life. He was alone in London; he had +no friend to whom he could go. Of course a hundred places of amusement +were open, but he did not feel in the humour to go to them. He dreaded +the thought of going back to his chambers, while the streets repelled +him. + +He glanced around the smoke-room, and noticed that it was peculiarly +shaped, and then, looking behind a huge palm, he saw an alcove which he +had not hitherto noticed. Sitting in it, he would be completely hidden +from the rest of the room, and yet could command a view of a great part +of it. The place was quite empty, and, although in the heart of +London, singularly quiet. Acting on impulse, he threw himself into a +chair behind the palm, and prepared to light another cigar. + +He had scarcely taken his seat in the alcove when two men entered and +summoned a waiter. The man fulfilled their orders and left the room. + +One of the men got up and looked around. "We are lucky," he said; +"there's not a soul here." + +"Yes, we have an opportunity for our chat. Not that there's much +difficulty anywhere. The English people are the most unsuspicious in +the world. No matter what nationality a man may be, he is absolutely +free to go where he likes, and do what he likes." + +"Except the Germans and Austrians," and the other laughed meaningly. + +"Yes, yes, and aren't their precautions silly? Because our parents +thought it wise to educate us in England, we speak the language like +natives, and are looked upon as thorough John Bulls. Heavens, if they +only knew!" + +Bob's pulses began to quicken. Surely he had seen one of them before. +Where, he could not tell, but both face and voice were familiar. + +Evidently they had no idea that he was near. Even if they looked +towards him, he was hidden from them by the huge palm fronds. + +"Yes," responded the other. "Of all the guileless people in the world, +these British fools are the worst. Here are you and I regarded as +English people. We do what we like, we go where we like, and they +welcome us. It is true, since the war broke out, they have taken all +sorts of precautions against what they call German spies. But, bah! +they are as easy to deceive as children. Why, only a week or two ago, +by the simplest ruse imaginable, I obtained some valuable information +down in Cornwall." + +Again Bob looked at the face, and wondered. The speaker was a +middle-aged man, and spoke without the slightest suggestion of a +foreign accent. He would pass anywhere as an Englishman. He had an +air of assurance too, as though it were his habit to move in good +society. Dress, manner, and general appearance suggested an Englishman +of good standing and yet he spoke as an enemy to the country. + +"In Cornwall, eh? That's an out-of-the-way part of the country." + +"Yes, in Cornwall. It was at a little fishing village called St. Ia. +I laugh when I think of it, the whole thing was so amusing." + +Bob gave a start. He knew who was speaking now. His whole appearance +had changed, but he could not help penetrating his disguise. It was +the man who had called himself Count von Weimer--an Alsatian whose +sympathies were so strongly French, and who had come to Cornwall for +peace. The simplicity, and yet the audacity, of his action made Bob +wonder. + +Forgetful of the fact that he was playing the part of an eavesdropper, +he sat still, and listened. + +"Yes, I promised I'd tell you about it," the man went on, "although, +strictly speaking, I ought to say nothing. Still, the matter is over +and done with now, and the information lodged in the right quarter; +besides we, to an extent, work together, so it will be all right. As +you know, I was instructed to obtain information on certain naval +matters, and I had a great difficulty in getting it. You see, I +couldn't get introduced in the right quarters. By and by I discovered +that a retired Admiral who was in the secrets of the Admiralty lived in +a little out-of-the-way place in Cornwall. I learnt all that was +possible about his fads and prejudices, and then went down there as an +Alsatian." + +"An Alsatian, eh?" + +"Yes, as an Alsatian, who, although bearing a German name, was a +suspect by the Germans on account of his love of France. It was a move +which presented certain difficulties, but, having considered +everything, I thought it best to risk it. You see, I went down as a +lover of peace, as one who was tired of the militarism of Germany and +wanted the quiet and rest which only such a place could afford." + +Both of the men laughed heartily at this. + +"Of course I looked the part. I adopted the circular spectacles, and +assumed the manner befitting my role. I knew that a Count von Weimer +lived in Alsace, knew also that this old fool of an Admiral had heard +of him. So I went to the golf links." + +"Golf links?" + +"Yes. I knew that a young chap called Nancarrow often played there, +and that he was very friendly with the Admiral's family. A worshipper +of his daughter in fact. This Nancarrow is of Quaker descent on his +father's side, and is a sort of peace-at-any-price fellow. Rather a +nice chap, but brought up with his father's notions. As luck would +have it, a match had been arranged between Nancarrow and a rival for +the Admiral's daughter's affections, and the old man was present. You +see, my star was in the ascendant. Of course I followed the match as +an ignorant but ardent admirer of the game." + +"I see. Spare me the details." + +"Pooh! the tricks of a child! I feel almost ashamed of them! Of +course I made no attempt to get introduced to the old fool just then, +but in Continental fashion I praised the prowess of the young one. I, +the simple foreigner, thought him wonderful! Eh?" + +"Just so." + +"Naturally I met him later--of course by accident. I played my cards +carefully. I was a rich man charmed by the place, and was on the look +out for a house to buy. What could one want more? Eh?" + +"Exactly." + +"Of course I had seen a house of the Admiral's that was for sale, and I +hated dealing with house agents. Would it be possible to deal direct +with the Admiral? The little fly walked into my parlour at the first +invitation, and two or three days later I was introduced to the +Admiral. Your line of work has not drawn you into contact with this +class of man. A typical John Bull, my dear chap. Blunt, +straightforward, above board. No diplomacy, no _arrière pensée_, but +loud-voiced and hearty. Proud as Lucifer in one way, but as gullible +as a hedgehog. English, quite English, you know, with a proper scorn +for everything that isn't English. The British Navy, you know--the +British Navy can defy the world! + +"Of course I was ignorant of the British Navy. I was not anxious to +hear anything about it. I was keen to buy or rent his house, and I was +able to refer to the names of men who were just slightly above the +Admiral in social position. Of course one can't take a house without +some palaver, and one meeting led to another. Naturally I offered my +cheque as a deposit, and a guarantee of my good faith. I was invited +to dinner, and then, without the old buffer suspecting anything, I drew +the truth from him as easily as a wine waiter draws the cork out of a +champagne bottle. I learnt man--I learnt----" and his voice became so +low that Bob could not catch what he said. + +"By Jove, that was a haul!" + +"A haul! I should think it was. It told me what our people were +willing to give their eyes to know. And the best of it was, he did not +think he was telling me anything! Ah, you should have seen me, the +mild-eyed Alsatian pleading the uselessness of a big navy, and he, to +prove me in the wrong, giving me all sorts of information. Of, course, +when I had sucked him dry, I hooked it. I paid him for my information; +all the same, I got it cheaply. A year's rent for his house! I expect +he is wondering why I don't come and take possession." + +"The British are fools!" + +The other laughed. "Fools, yes, but arrogant fools, proud fools, +dangerous fools too, in a way. They are what we are not, and what we +are destined to be--a World Power. But the reckoning day has come." + +"Do you think so? That is, do you think this is the right moment for +the war? Of course it had to come--we had made up our minds to that; +but don't you think William forced the pace too soon? Surely he meant +to crush France, and control her navy before he angered the little dog +which calls itself the British Lion. I had always reckoned England's +turn would come about 1920." + +"Perhaps you are right; but the result will be the same. Austria will +deal with Russia and the Balkan States while William marches to Paris; +then, when we have a repetition of 1870, we can go back and settle +Russia." + +"The English generally put up a good fight!" + +"A pricked bubble, my dear fellow. It took the whole British Empire +four years to deal with about 70,000 Boer farmers; how then can it do +anything against us? Aren't facts speaking aloud? In about three +weeks we have armies within twenty miles of Paris. In another week +that capital will be in our hands. What is the use of Kitchener's +absurd army? Before it can do anything, England will be on its knees. +As for the French! Bah!" + +"And meanwhile we play our little game here." + +"Yes, John Bull may have the heart of a lion, but he hasn't the brains +of a water-hen. Oh, John is hospitable, very hospitable. You and I, +my dear Charles, with hundreds more, go around as Englishmen. Doesn't +John scorn a spy? That's why we can go everywhere. At present I am +London born, never having been out of England in my life. I know the +Stock Exchange inside and out. I am a city man! And who suspects? +There are over 20,000 Germans in London, all registered, yes, _all_ +registered. Meanwhile--eh?" + +"But if we are beaten!" + +"We can't be. It is impossible. The time-table will be kept. But oh, +I can't help laughing! They never suspected our designs, never +imagined the game we have been playing. They were just contented with +their contemptible little army, and they allowed us to learn their +secrets, not dreaming that England will be a vassal state to Germany, +and that all her colonies will be ours. But there is that other +matter. I want to speak about it. You remember that at the close of +the Boer War----" + +During the whole time Bob had listened like a man in a dream. He felt +as though he were standing on the brink of a precipice. His eyes were +opened to truths that he never dreamt of. He saw that for years there +had been a deliberate plot to conquer England, that the Kaiser had not +only made Germany an armed camp, and had strained every nerve to +construct the greatest and most powerful and complete fighting machine +the world had ever known, but he had sent an army of spies to the +country to learn her secrets and fasten upon her weaknesses. He +realised that the Kaiser had been our enemy during all the years he had +been pretending to be our friend. He had been spending vast sums of +money on men and women who were willing to do the dirtiest kind of +work, in order that he might cause our downfall. + +His honest, straightforward nature revolted at it. These two men were +spies, traitors. He wondered at their speaking so freely, that they +had not taken greater precaution to make sure no one was near. But the +room was peculiarly shaped, and it was difficult for them to see the +recess in which he sat, hidden as it was by the huge palm. To all +appearance the place was empty. + +Again he acted on impulse. Forgetting the rights and wrongs of the +situation, he felt he must act. Looking through the fronds of the +palm, he saw that the two men were conversing eagerly. Behind him was +a door, but where it led he did not know. He must get out without +their being aware of his presence. + +Silently he opened the door, and soon found himself in the domestic +portion of the little hotel. A waiter looked at him questioningly. +Bob held up his finger to command silence. + +"Show me to the manager, at once," he said. + +The waiter instinctively felt how much in earnest he was, and obeyed +him. + +"This way, sir," he whispered. + +"There are two German spies in the smoke-room," Bob said to the manager +a minute later, and he explained how he had been led to this conclusion. + +"Did you serve two men in the smoking-room?" asked the manager, turning +to the waiter. + +"Yes, sir, I served them each with a whisky-and-soda. But they are not +Germans, sir, I'll swear to that." + +"We'll see, anyhow," was the manager's response. "You guard your door +carefully, and I'll go in at the public entrance. Will you come with +me, sir." + +The manager led Bob to the door by which he had first entered the room, +and then they both entered silently. + +The room was empty; the two men had gone. + +"But can't we do anything?" asked Bob. + +"What can we do, sir? If you were mistaken, then no harm is done. If +you were not, they must have seen you leave the room, and then made +their way out. I'll speak to the hall-porter. There are very few +people here to-night, and he will know how many people have gone out +during the last five minutes." + +"Yes," the hall-porter declared a few seconds later, "two gentlemen +have just gone out in a hurry. They said they were late for an +appointment, and had to make haste." + +"Did you recognise them?" asked the manager. + +"I've seen them here once or twice before," was the porter's reply, +"but I know nothing about them." + +The manager looked at Bob in despair. "You see how it is, sir. I +daresay you are right. London is just infested with them, and in spite +of all our precautions they just laugh at us." + +Bob went back to his chambers and tried to reflect on what he had +heard. On reconsideration he supposed there was not so much in it all, +but he was much disturbed nevertheless. He supposed every government +had its secret information service, but the fact that this man calling +himself Count von Weimer had by lies and fraud found his way into +Admiral Tresize's house, and thereby obtained valuable information +about our Navy, staggered him. From the conversation of the two men, +moreover, it was evident that Germany had always meant to go to war +with England, and had for years been preparing for it. The German army +had evidently been built up for the express purpose, not of defence, +but aggression. They had been waiting for years for a favourable +opportunity, and then, when the time was ripe, to force the pace. + +Oh, the madness, the criminal madness of it all! + +But it was worse than madness. There was an awful danger about it all. + +He opened the evening paper he had just bought, and read the staring +headlines. + + GERMAN ARMY WITHIN A FEW MILES OF PARIS. + FRENCH GOVERNMENT REMOVED TO BORDEAUX. + + +Of course all sorts of theories were propounded. This was all strategy +on the part of General Joffre and Sir John French. They were trying to +draw the Germans from their base of supplies, and that done, would +pounce upon them, and annihilate them. + +All this, however, was very unsatisfactory. The truth was, the German +Legions were sweeping all before them. + +He turned to an article copied from an American paper, written by a man +who had been admitted into the German lines, and who had gone into the +very heart of the German Headquarters. Bob found his muscles hardening +as he read. The article in graphic language described the countless +hordes in the German army. It told how the writer rode hour after hour +in a swiftly moving motor-car, always through this great seething mass +of the best-trained soldiers in the world. They were not ill-fed +weaklings, either; but young, stalwart, well-fed, strong, the flower of +the German nation. + +The camp was a vast moving city of fighting men. Everything was +perfectly arranged to the minutest detail. Nothing was lacking. Every +need was supplied as if by magic. The discipline and order were +perfect. The soldiers were confident and happy. + +How could these legions be overcome? Were they not, as the German +General had said, invincible? + +"See the accuracy of our big guns," said the General to the newspaper +correspondent. "You see that windmill three miles away. Now watch." + +An order was given, and then as if by magic a great gun was directed +towards the distant object. A few seconds later there was a tremendous +explosion, and the windmill was shattered to atoms. + +That was it! Germany was a huge fighting machine, and with it the +Kaiser and his minions intended to rule the world! + +And if he did? Supposing Germany won in the war, as she was determined +to win? What would be the result? Where would all Bob's dreams and +visions of Universal Peace be? + +"No, no!" cried Bob aloud, as if he were answering some pleading voice +of his own heart, "I tell you I can't. The whole thing is ghastly, +hellish! It would be to fight the devil with the devil's weapons. If +I did, I should have to give up my faith in Christ and His salvation. +The sword would take the place of the Cross. I should have to say that +the life and work of Christ are a miserable fiasco, that He Himself was +an idle dreamer. There is no possibility for a man who believes in the +New Testament to take part in this hellish business!" + +But if he only could! + +All his patriotism, his love of home and country, called to him. For a +moment the longing to take his part in helping England to drive back +this huge fighting octopus, which was longing to stretch out its +tentacles all over Europe, became a passion. + +But no, he could not, he simply could not. He was trying to be a +Christian, and no man who followed the Christ Who said "Love your +enemies; . . . if a man strike thee on the right cheek, turn to him the +other also," could volunteer to take part in this bloody welter of the +nations! He had been true to his principles so far, and he would +continue to be true. + +But the cost! + +Yes, he had counted the cost, and paid it. He had sacrificed the +dearest thing on earth, he had lost the woman he loved. Nancy could +never be his now. She had driven him from her mind and heart, because +she believed him to be a shirker, a recreant, a coward. + +He took from his pocket-book the white feather she had given him, and +looked at it. Yes, that was what she thought of him. A coward! And +all the time he would have given anything to be able to offer himself +for the front. + +A knock came at the door, and a servant entered bearing a letter. + +"It's from my mother," said Bob to himself, as he broke the seal. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Evidently some one had sent Mrs. Nancarrow an Oxford newspaper, for her +letter was in the main about what Bob had done there. + +"I am proud of you," she wrote. "People down here have been saying +that you are a coward, and that you ran away from home because you did +not dare to meet the people who knew of your action in relation to the +war. What you did at Oxford at least shows that is untrue. I am +delighted that you defended the poor creature, and thrashed the +wretches badly. I see that one of them is still suffering from the +blow you struck him. I have written to Oxford for fifty copies of the +paper, and shall send them to all our friends. I cannot bear, I simply +cannot bear people to think of you as a coward; and I have also +arranged with our local paper to insert a full account of what you did. +I was glad yesterday to see that one of the Cornish papers had a full +report of it, and in its bill of contents printed the following: + + "'PLUCKY CONDUCT OF A YOUNG CORNISHMAN IN OXFORD + + "'MR. ROBERT NANCARROW THRASHES TWO BLACKGUARDS AND + HANDS THEM OVER TO THE POLICE.' + + +"But, Bob, I don't understand you. In spite of your Quaker principles +you felt it right to thrash these villains. What is the difference +between thrashing the wretches who would harm a weak and defenceless +woman, and helping your country to thrash that German bully who is a +menace to Europe? If it was your duty to do one, it is surely your +duty to do the other? The same principle is involved. + +"By the way, Nancy Tresize has been accepted for Nursing work abroad. +You remember that years ago she took a full certificate as a Nurse, and +through the Admiral's influence she has obtained a post in France--at a +French hospital, I expect. Perhaps she thinks she will thus be nearer +Captain Trevanion, to whom report says she is going to be, if she is +not already, engaged, If he is wounded, it might be that she would be +able to nurse him. + +"Oh, Bob, my boy, my boy, you've lost her. I am told that she despises +you beyond words, while the Admiral regrets having given you free +access to his house and called you his friend. All this is an awful +grief to me. If you went to the front I should of course live in daily +and hourly dread of anything happening to you, but all the same I +should be proud beyond words to know that my son had offered his life +for his country. But now--well, before I received this Oxford paper I +felt ashamed to meet my friends." + +Bob closed the letter with a sigh. He was wounded in the house of his +friends. If it were only right, if it were Christian to----; but no, +it was not. It was a violation of every known principle of Christ. +Because the Germans used murderous means to make Europe a hell, it did +not follow that England should do the same. Two wrongs could not make +a right Besides, how much peace and good-will was there in it all? + +The next day he saw an announcement that a great meeting was to be held +that same night at the Imperial Opera House, to be addressed by certain +well-known statesmen. The purpose of the meeting was to instruct the +public as to the real causes of the war, and to point out the nation's +duty. Bob made up his mind to go. Throughout the day he applied +himself to his work, and then after an early dinner he left the Temple, +and going out by way of the Temple Church found himself in Fleet Street. + +Everywhere the evidences of the war were manifest. On every conveyance +was a call to arms. Newsboys were eagerly shouting the contents of the +papers, people were talking in the streets of the one prevailing topic. + +Presently he stopped at a bookshop, and was immediately struck with the +changed character of the literature in the window. There were no +"latest novels," no "new and important biographies"; instead every +shelf was weighted with books about the war. + +"GERMANY AND THE NEXT WAR, by General von Bernhardi. Startling +disclosures of Germany's aims and plans, by a well-known German +General," he read. "This is one of the most popular books in Germany, +and is recommended by the Kaiser and the Crown Prince of Germany, as a +book which every patriot should read. It explains why we are at war +to-day." + +Side by side were others of a similar description, all written by men +who bore the greatest German names. + +Prince von Bülow, ex-German Chancellor, Nietzsche, Trietschke, and +similar great names were given as the authors of the books. + +Bob entered the shop, and having selected three which he thought +promised to give him the best idea of Germany's aims and methods, +ordered the bookseller to send them to his chambers. + +When he reached the Great Opera House, early as it was, he found a vast +concourse of people. After some little difficulty he found a seat in a +good position for viewing the audience. He was immediately struck by +the fact that here was no thoughtless, irresponsible crowd; rather one +largely made up of men of grim determination and iron will. They were +intelligent, well-read men too. They knew the history of their +country, knew its weakness, and realised its faults. Nevertheless they +loved it. + +They were not saints. They were just commonplace people, who lived +commonplace lives, amidst commonplace surroundings. But they had a +sense of right and wrong, and in spite of their failings they had an +inherent love of right. They were Englishmen who instinctively hated +war, and would do anything in their power to avoid it. But there were, +to them, worse things than war. Breach of faith was one; the +destruction of truth, honour, and the nation's good name was another. +If England had made a promise, no matter what it cost her, she must +keep it. England could not stand by and see a little nation whom she +had promised to protect, crushed: + +But above all, they were Englishmen. Love of country was a tremendous +factor. The homeland was dearer than their own lives. They could not +stand by and see it filched from them. + +Of course there were a lot of patriotic songs in which the whole +audience joined. Some of them were silly doggerel, but there was +nothing coarse or unworthy in them. + +"Yes," thought Bob, "there is something almost divine in this love of +home and country. It is eternal in the human heart. One can't get +away from that." + +Presently the speakers came on the stage, amidst great cheering and +waving of handkerchiefs. + +The chief speaker, one who held the supreme position in Naval matters, +spoke first. It was a masterly speech, every sentence of which was +carefully prepared and tellingly delivered. He did not appeal to +passion, but in cold, measured terms spoke of the causes which led to +the war, and then passed on to the success of the Navy and the Army. + +"Yes," reflected Bob, as the young statesman sat down amidst the +thundering applause of the multitude, "as far as a war can be +righteous, this is. If ever a war were justified, this is. But can a +resort to brute force and instruments of murder ever be justified? +That is the question. No, it is not right that these Germans should be +a menace to Europe and the world; but do we not believe in God? Can we +not trust Him? Must blood be washed out by blood, must brutal +arrogance be swept away at the cost of carnage and infinite misery?" + +The second speaker, although he had not the same weight, deepened the +impression the other had made by his brilliance and rhetoric. He too +told the story of the English Ambassador in Berlin who was asked +whether England would go to war for "a scrap of paper." + +That was the question which he asked amidst the cheers of the crowd, +and then waited a second. + +"Yes," and his voice rang clearly through the great building, "when +that scrap of paper meant England's honour and faithfulness." + +Before Bob knew what he was doing, he found himself cheering wildly. A +man, a nation should fight for its honour, its plighted word. + +Then the old question came back. But how could it do so in the name of +Christ? Should not the weapons of Christ be used? Should not an +appeal be made to the Founder of the Christian religion? Would not the +Kaiser, he who professed to be a Christian, have laid down the sword if +he had been appealed to in the name of the Prince of Peace? How could +a bloody war be waged by those who believed in Christ? It was all +confusing, maddening! + +The last speaker was a Labour Member of Parliament. He used no +polished phrases, no brilliant epigrams. He had no knowledge of the +classics, and could not illustrate his arguments by quotations from +great writers. But he had something better--a homely wit, a great +human sympathy. He had a ready tongue, too, and the crowd roared at +his homely humour. + +"Six years ago," he said, "I went to Berlin. I was a delegate at a +Peace Conference in that capital. I was one of many sent there by all +the nations of Europe. Our aim was to discuss means whereby national +quarrels could be settled without an appeal to the sword--by brotherly +counsel, by friendly arrangement, by arbitration. + +"What happened? Remember this was in Berlin, the capital of the German +Empire. We had met there in the interests of the peace of the world. +Surely the noblest, the most Christ-like purpose for which any +conference could meet." + +Bob's heart grew warm at this. It was the dream of his own life, it +accorded with the teaching of Hint Who died for the world. + +"What happened?" went on the speaker. "This happened. No sooner had +the President of the Conference got on his feet to address the +delegates, before a single sentence had been spoken, than a number of +soldiers rushed in, sent there by the German Government, and brutally +broke up the Conference. We were not allowed even to discuss the means +whereby the nations might live at peace, there in the German capital. +What would become of the liberties of England if we were conquered by a +nation like that?" + +Bob had no knowledge of what took place at the meeting after that. The +incident told, as it was, in homely, yet forcible fashion, seemed +unbelievable. Yet, he thought, the man would not dare to tell it if it +were not true. It was not a matter of hearsay; the thing had been +seen, experienced by the speaker. Not only did the Germans not desire +peace, but they made it impossible even to discuss means of maintaining +it. That was Germany! War they could engage in proudly, but even +friendly discussion among lovers of peace, to obtain peace, was made +impossible by the soldiers of the Kaiser. + +Bob left the meeting bewildered. The brilliant speeches were forgotten +in the recital of this single incident. Surely there must be some +mistake! It could not be! It was opposed to, nay, it was the grossest +violation of the first elements of Christianity. And it had, been done +by the Government of the Kaiser. + +No, no, the Kaiser did not know, he could not know! But this must have +been because of the law of the land, and the Kaiser must be cognisant +of it. + +As he entered the door of the building where his chambers were, he saw +a young fellow whom he knew slightly. + +"I say, have you seen this, Nancarrow?" he said. + +"What is it?" + +"It is an order given to his army by the Kaiser. It was sent me by a +man who actually saw it. Just read it. It is the sweetest thing I +have seen yet." + +Bob read what has since become public property, but which was at the +time but little known:-- + +"_It is my Royal and Imperial Command, that you concentrate your +energy, for the immediate present, upon me single purpose, and that is +that you address all your skill, and all the valour of my soldiers, to +exterminate first the treacherous English, and walk over General +French's contemptible little Army._ + +"HEADQUARTERS, + "AIX-LA-CHAPELLE, + "_August_ 19." + + +"Pretty, isn't it?" + +Bob's heart grew hot. The arrogance, the self-glory, the mountebankism +of the order aroused all the fighting spirit of the old Trelawneys. + +"But they haven't done it yet, neither will they," went on the young +fellow. "Thank Heaven the tables are being turned, and we are driving +them back. No, by Jove, French's 'contemptible little Army' has given +them something to do already. Even when the Kaiser poured the flower +of his army upon them, when they were five to one at Mons, they +couldn't break our ranks. Our chaps faced the fire without a squirm, +and coolly told as afterwards that their shooting was rotten. For that +matter I'm told by the German prisoners that but for the English they'd +be in Paris before now." + +"Have you talked with them?" + +"Yes, I was admitted into one of the prisoners' camps. I know one of +the men in authority. According to their account the soldiers +themselves scarcely knew why they were fighting; but they were promised +a sort of picnic. Instead of which the British gave them hell. Oh, +they have tremendous respect for us now!" + +"I wonder you haven't enlisted." + +"Heavens, don't I wish I could! I've tried again and again, but my +eyes are bad. I have to wear tremendously powerful glasses. When are +you off?" + +Bob did not reply. He would have given anything to say, "To-morrow," +but he felt as though a weight were on his tongue. + +He made his way to his chambers. It was still early--not more than +half-past nine. He was excited beyond measure, and it was madness to +think of going to bed. What should he do? + +Looking around, he saw a parcel, on which was the label of the +bookseller at whose shop he had called. + +"It's the books I bought," he reflected. "I can't do any law work +to-night; I'll read them." Almost feverishly he untied the parcel. A +few minutes later he was reading hard. + +The book he opened first was _Germany and the Next War_, by General von +Bernhardi. He had heard it spoken of, but had no idea of its contents. +At that time it was but little known. The publishers had just brought +out a cheap edition, and although it was beginning to be talked about, +the world at large was almost ignorant of it. + +It has been said that on more than one occasion a speech or a book has +altered the history of nations; that some of the utterances of our +great statesmen have altered the destinies of an Empire. Doubtless +such sayings have much truth behind them, and it would not be difficult +to quote instances in proof of them. Sometimes even a song has moved a +whole nation, and made what seemed impossible, an accomplished fact. +What influence had the Marseillaise on the French Revolution? Let +French historians tell us. + +When Bob opened Von Bernhardi's book, he expected to be interested, and +perhaps enlightened; but he certainly did not expect it to +revolutionise his thoughts. + +At first he read with only half his mind. He had been greatly excited +by the meeting he had attended, and for the first few minutes +constantly found himself thinking rather of the speeches than of the +book. + +Presently, however, a sentence gripped him, and then he forgot +everything else. He realised that he was reading, not simply the +opinions and sentiments of a single individual, but of the ruling caste +of the German Empire. As he read, he rubbed his eyes. He could not +believe that he saw aright. He had expected windy vapourings, instead +he found cold, reasoned statements--a kind of Machiavellian philosophy. + +Hour after hour he read, regardless of time, his mind absorbing the +author's arguments as a sponge sucks up water. + +An hour after midnight he rose from his chair and flung the book from +him as though it were something unclean. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +It is not my purpose to analyse the book which moved Bob so profoundly, +and I am only referring to it because of its effect on his thoughts. +It must be remembered that he had been reared to regard war as +something born in hell, something which meant, in the words of the +Prime Minister of England, "Hell let loose." He had never heard any +one speak of it as something to be desired. At best it was only a +"ghastly necessity," something which should not be resorted to until +"all the resources of civilisation were exhausted." + +Here, however, he found war not only gloried in, but set forth as a +necessity to the well-being of nations. War was not only a necessity, +it was a virtuous thing, it was the will of God, it was taught by +Christ. + +A score of sentences burnt like flames of fire before his eyes. +Sentences, not written in the heat of passion, but in cold, measured +terms. And they were accepted as the Gospel of Germany. + +"_Without war,_" said the writer, "_inferior and decaying nations would +easily choke the growth of healthy and budding elements, and universal +decadence would follow. . . ._ + +"_It is not the possessor, but the victor who has the right. . . ._ + +"_Might is at once the supreme right_, AND THE DISPUTE AS TO WHAT IS +RIGHT IS SETTLED BY THE ARBITRAMENT OF WAR. . . . + +"_Reflection shows that not only is war an unqualified necessity, but +that it is justifiable from every point of view. . . ._ + +"_If we sum up our arguments, we shall see that from the most opposite +aspects the efforts directed towards the abolition of war must not only +be termed foolish, but_ ABSOLUTELY IMMORAL, _and must be stigmatised as +unworthy of the human race. . . ._ + +"_According to peace treaties, 'the weak nation is to have the same +right to live as the powerful and vigorous nation.' . . . this is +absolutely immoral. . . ._ + +"_Efforts for peace would, if they attained their goal, not merely lead +to general degeneration, but would have a damaging and unnerving +effect. . . ._ + +"_Every means must be employed to oppose those who work for +peace. . . ._" + +As Bob came to this last passage, he understood why the German soldiers +entered the Peace Convention in Berlin and broke it up by force of +arms. He felt that the Germans lived in a different world from that in +which other nations lived. What to him was a duty, was to them a +crime. What to him was the goal of every Christian and humane man, was +to the German something to be destroyed root and branch. They lived in +different worlds, worshipped a different God. Christianity was not the +same thing to them as to us. We had no common ground on which to meet. +He understood now why the Hague Conference was a failure. Germany had +made it a failure. What other nations longed for, they discarded with +scorn. + +They had an utterly different religion. In spite of whatever +militarism there might be in England, the people believed in and +worshipped the Prince of Peace. In Germany Christ was crucified, and +in his place was set up a WAR GOD before which they fell down and which +they adored. All the policy of the Empire was directly controlled by +this War God, and they could not understand being governed by any other +power. + +It was all overwhelming, bewildering. This Gospel of the Germans +completely revolutionised his whole intellectual outlook. The idea of +living at peace with such a people was impossible. One might as well +think of living at peace with a mad dog. They had no common morality +to which one could appeal. One could not appeal in the Name of the +Prince of Peace, because to them the Gospel of Peace was immoral. + +Then the arrogance of their Creed was revolting. This man Bernhardi, +and Treitschke, and Nietzsche, and the rest of them lived, and acted on +one assumption. They compressed their thoughts into a syllogism: + +The people with the highest civilisation and the highest culture should +become dominant throughout the world. + +Germany had the highest civilisation, and boasted the highest culture. + +Therefore Germany had the right, and not only the right, but the duty +to make war in order that Germany might be dominant. Of course she +must wait for a favourable opportunity, and when that opportunity came, +she must make war regardless of all the misery and bloodshed that it +must cause. + +"The great Elector," said Bernhardi, "laid the foundations of Prussia's +power by deliberately incurred wars." + +In the light of all this Bob called to mind the German Emperor's speech +to his soldiers when on their way to the front. + +"_Remember that the German people are the chosen of God. On me, on me +as the German Emperor, the Spirit of God has descended. I am His +weapon, his sword, and his vizard. Woe to the disobedient! Death to +the cowards and unbelievers!_" + +It would be laughable if it were not so terrible. + +Of course the Emperor was sincere and conscientious in all this +mountebankism, but he was a menace and a blighting danger all the same. + +Mohammed was earnest and sincere when he led his wild armies forward +crying, "Death or conversion!" Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain were +earnest and conscientious when they roasted the Moors of Spain in the +name of the Holy Church and Jesus the Saviour of the world. Torquemada +was earnest and conscientious as the Grand Inquisitor who burnt +heretics who could not accept his doctrines. + +But that did not make this German menace any the less dangerous. +Rather it increased the danger. The military caste, the ruling caste +in Germany, they who had been planning and preparing for war, and +looked upon it as a duty, had no moral standard to which a Christian +could appeal. Their right was our wrong. It would be as easy to argue +with a virus-toothed tiger as to argue with them. They had accepted +the terrible religion of the duty of war as the faith of the nation, +and nothing but equal or superior force would stop them in their onward +march. + +This explained the terrible stories in which Bob had not hitherto been +able to believe. The ghastly outrages at Louvain, the unspeakable +deeds at Malines. They were all a part of the same ghastly creed. + +"A sacrifice made to an alien nation," said Treitschke, "is +immoral. . . . + +"Among all political sins, the sin of feebleness is the most +contemptible. It is the political sin against the Holy Ghost." + +It also explained their violation of the Belgian treaty. Bernhardi +argued most earnestly, that if a treaty placed a difficulty in the way +of a great nation's realising its purposes, then it was not only +justifiable, but the duty of that nation to break that treaty. + +"We must not hold back in the hard struggle for the sovereignty of the +world," he argued. + +Every nation that stood in their way must be swept aside. For that +Germany had been for years building up her "invincible army," and +filling her war chests. Protection was no part of her policy; it was +for ever and always, aggression, aggression. How can Germany obtain +the sovereignty of the world? + +Again Bob found that these Germans regarded England as their greatest +hindrance to the fulfilment of their dreams. Therefore the question +arose as to how England could be swept aside. It was all a matter of +calculation. Laying down the basic principles that war was a necessity +and a duty, and that Germany must dominate the world, all the rest +followed as a natural consequence. + +The nations of Europe were like so many pieces on a chessboard. They +must be made strong, or destroyed just as the occasion fitted in with +Germany's plans. Thus for the present Italy must be strengthened, and +Turkey must be supported, but the power of France must be destroyed. +Why? What harm was France doing? That was not the question. France +stood in the way of Germany's ambitions, therefore France must be +crushed. + +"_In one way or another,_" said Bernhardi, "_we must square our account +with France. This is the first and foremost condition of a sound +German policy. This must be settled by force of arms_. FRANCE MUST BE +SO COMPLETELY CRUSHED THAT SHE CAN NEVER AGAIN COME ACROSS OUR PATH." + +As I said, Bob had arisen from his chair and thrown the book from him. +It in itself was a crime. The cold, calculating immorality of its +teaching was revolting. He felt as though he had been wading through +filth. + +"There is nothing for it," he cried, "but to destroy it root and +branch. Great God, this is a Holy War. It is Christ's war!" + +He saw everything in a new light. Yes, war was a crime, it was "hell +let loose," but by no other means could this poisonous lust for war be +destroyed. + +"He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one!" + +Who said that? + +He remembered that they were the words of Jesus just before His +crucifixion. They were not uttered lightly, they contained the essence +of a great truth. + +What did Jesus mean? + +Again He said, "I came not to bring peace on earth, but a sword." + +Bob walked to and fro in the room in his excitement. Did not Christ +have such a problem as now faced him in His mind when He uttered these +words? + +Here was a great military caste which threatened, nay, destroyed, the +peace of the world. That caste was so poisoned by the virus of war, +that to reason with it was impossible. To appeal to it on moral +grounds was a waste of breath, simply because there was no common +ground of appeal. + +What then? Must this great immoral force be allowed to menace the +world? + +He thought of his long-cherished dream. _War against war_. Why, every +sword drawn in this war was drawn in the interests of peace? Overthrow +this great War God, and this might be the last European war. + +He thought of all his old arguments. "I say unto you, love your +enemies, do good to them that hate you." The spirit of it all was, +Live by the law of Love. + +He did not hate the Germans. Millions of them were quiet, industrious, +honest people. Left alone, they would pursue peaceful avocations, +kindly, and with good intent. But they were under the reign of the War +God, they were turned into killing-machines to satisfy the ambition of +a great military caste which ruled the Empire and enforced its will. + +The practical effect of love was service. It would be the greatest +blessing that could befall this German people if this War God could be +destroyed, crushed to atoms. Then the people would be free to live +their own lives. + +"I'll enlist!" he cried excitedly. "It is a great duty! It's service +for Christ!" + +The thought staggered him. Where were all his old qualms and +objections? He hated war as much as ever. He still longed for peace +with a consuming passion; and it was because he longed for peace, and +because he was trying to be a Christian, that he felt the call of God! + +This war caste in Germany was like a great cancer growing in the heart +of Europe. Its poisonous roots had found their way into the vitals of +the German Empire, and the thing threatened to destroy the best life of +the world. If the Kaiser and his hosts won in this war, it would keep +the spirit of war more alive than ever. It would mean the destruction +of liberty, it would mean the impossibility of peace; and more, it +would mean that in future every country would be forced to increase its +armaments, to the ruin of the best life of the people, in order to +protect themselves from this evil power. + +German culture! What was it worth in the last analysis? It was a +resort to barbarism and savagery, and brutal arrogance. + +No, no, the poisonous cancer must be cut out. The power of the German +war caste must be destroyed so that the people might live in peace. + +Christianity stood for brotherhood, purity, truth, honour, love, +mercy--it stood for the peace of the world, while this War God of +Germany stood like a great Colossus making all these things impossible. + +Bob felt as though a great burden had fallen from him! His eyes were +opened! His duty was clear! + +The next morning he found his way to a recruiting station which he had +previously noticed. All hesitation had gone. Not a suggestion of his +old qualms occurred to him. He had no more doubt about his duty to +fight in this quarrel than he would have doubted about his duty if a +mad dog were in the district. + +When he arrived at the station, a number of young men had gathered. +Some belonged to the poorest and most uneducated classes; but in the +main they were clerks, assistants in shops, and young tradesmen. A few +of them, Bob judged, were of the professional class. They were in a +group by themselves, and did not seem at home amidst their present +surroundings. They looked curiously towards Bob as he came up, and +seemed to be carefully summing him up. + +Bob nodded in a friendly way. + +"Joining?" asked one. + +"Yes," replied Bob. + +"Had any previous training?" + +"O.T.C." + +"While you were at school?" + +"Yes." + +"Which?" + +"Clifton." + +"Good! I know some of the chaps there. I was at Marlborough. We used +to play cricket and football with Clifton. What years were you there?" + +Bob was about to reply, when a motor-car drove up, and a tall, +military-looking man got out. + +He looked around him, and then seemed to be about to pass into the +building when his eyes rested on Bob. He immediately came towards him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +"That you, Nancarrow?" + +"Yes, Captain Pringle," replied Bob, whom by this time he had +recognised. + +"What are you doing here?" asked Captain Pringle, with a smile. + +"I want to enlist, sir." + +The Captain lifted his eyebrows; perhaps he remembered their last +conversation together. + +"Will you come this way," he said; "I should like a chat with you." + +Bob followed the Captain, while the other fellows looked envyingly +towards him. + +Captain Pringle led the way to a small room which he evidently used as +an office. To all appearance he was in authority at the station. + +"I'm rather surprised to see you here, Nancarrow," he said, when he had +taken his seat behind a business-looking desk, and pointed Bob to a +chair. + +"I'm rather surprised myself, sir." + +"What have you been doing since I saw you last?" + +Bob told him. + +"And now you want to enlist?" + +"If I can, sir." + +"What as?" + +"Anything, sir. For the front, if it is possible. I want to be at it." + +The Captain smiled at Bob's eagerness. + +"But, my dear chap," he said, "this is surely a big change for you. If +I remember aright, you joined the O.T.C. only to please your mother, +and you hated soldiering and all its doings as you hated the devil." + +"I expect I do still, sir; but--but I am afraid it would take too long +to explain why--why I feel I must go to the front. I've had a bad time +in one way and another. You see, my father was a Quaker, and I was +brought up to believe in his teachings. I do still, for that matter. +War is hell, there's no doubt about that. But I've gone through the +whole business, and now I want to be at it. I don't want to stay in +England five minutes longer than I can help. I must get to the +firing-line. I feel like a man who wants to kill a mad dog." + +"Commissions aren't so easily obtained." + +"I'm not troubling about a commission, sir. We can't be all officers, +and I feel that all I ever learnt about soldiering would come back to +me in a week. If I can help it, I don't want to be idling around in a +barracks, or in camp; I just want to go to France as soon as ever I +can. I'll do anything, be anything; I don't care what, so long as I +can get into action." + +"That's the spirit," replied Captain Pringle; "and I can't tell you how +glad I am to see you here. Of course I remember you when you were in +the O.T.C. You did jolly well--distinguished yourself, in fact. You +remember what I said to you." + +"Yes, sir, I remember very well." + +The Captain was silent for a few seconds. He seemed to be thinking +deeply, as if he were uncertain what to say. + +"Naturally you know that even although you took a kind of double first +in the O.T.C., in the ordinary course of things you would have to have +further training before you could go into active service as a private." + +"That's what's bothering me, sir. I did think of joining one of the +Public School or University Corps, but from what I can find out, they +are kept down at Epsom or some such place. I suppose they are having a +great time, and all that sort of thing; but, don't you see, that's not +what I want! I mean business, Captain Pringle." + +The Captain started from his chair, and took two or three turns up and +down the room. + +"You are really anxious for active service?" he said presently. + +"I am. I feel that I've waited too long, and I want to make up for +lost time. It's several weeks now since the war commenced, and +although, heaven knows, I thought I was doing the right thing, I feel +now as though I have been playing the sneak and the coward. Other +chaps have been fighting while I have been sitting in an arm-chair +theorising on the ethics of the business. Now, however, I see my duty, +and my way is clear. But I want to make up for lost time. I want to +be in the thick of it. Of course, if I can't, I can't, and, as I said, +I'm willing and anxious to do whatever I am told. But I _do_ want to +go to the front; I don't care in what capacity, but somewhere where I +can help to kill this Mad Mullah who is threatening the best life of +Europe." + +"You want to help to smash Germany?" laughed the Captain. + +"Yes, that's it!" + +"But why?" asked the Captain curiously. + +"Because Germany, that is, official Germany, the Germany that holds in +thraldom millions of people, is the spirit of war. It worships the God +of War, and I want to go to war in order to kill war. You can't argue +with it, you can't appeal to it, because what is right to you is simple +madness to them. There's nothing for it but to crush it, destroy it +root and branch." + +"But what about your religious views?" laughed the Captain. "Don't you +still believe in prayer and in that kind of thing?" + +"It's because I _do_ believe in it that I've been led to think as I do +think. But it would be mocking the Almighty to pray to be kept from +starvation when you refused to work; blasphemy to pray for good health +while your drains are foul; madness to pray that no robbers might enter +your house, when you left your doors unlocked, knowing that all the +time fellows were waiting to come in and rob you. Just the same it +would be mockery to pray that Germany may be kept from going to war, +when she believes that Christ encourages it, that it is her duty to +force war, and as a consequence has been for twenty years preparing for +it, and waiting for a favourable opportunity to begin her hellish work, +without doing all one can. We've got to crush, to kill this War God of +theirs, and make war impossible for the future. Forgive me, sir, for +talking like this; I didn't mean to. I've been a long time in getting +to this point, but now it has become a kind of passion with me, because +I feel it to be the Call of God." + +"By gad, Nancarrow, but you've touched the spot this time, and you've +put it well too! I'm not much at religion, I'm afraid, and I've had no +scruples. I'm an Englishman, and an Englishman must stand by his +promises, and help the weak. That's enough for me. All the same, I've +thought, as I suppose every one else has, how any war can be squared +with Christianity. But as you've put it--yes, I see--you mean that out +of love for the German people themselves, this War God, as you call it, +must be thrown down and crushed to powder!" + +"Yes, that's it." + +"Yes, and then there is another question--but no, I'll not go into that +now. As you said, you mean business, and I've spent a good quarter of +an hour, or more, talking. But still, old times are old times, after +all, and we were friends in the old days. But to business now. I'm as +keen as you are that you shall get into the thick of it. As a matter +of fact, I expect to go to the front myself in a week, and I want to do +what I can for you. You are willing to do anything, you say?" + +"Anything." + +"Look here, can you ride--well, I mean? No modesty, now. Speak +plainly." + +"I can ride anything, sir. I can stick on a horse galloping, with my +face to its tail." + +"Good! Know anything about motoring?" + +"I've had a car for years, and always driven it myself. I do my own +repairing, and I know every inch of it, inside and out." + +"Good again! Know anything about motorbikes?" + +"Ridden one for years. After the last Easter Vac., I went from +Cornwall to Oxford on an old Humber. When I got there, I took it all +to pieces, repaired some of the parts, and turned it into a good +machine. Excuse me for talking so much about myself. I wouldn't have +done it, had you not asked me. Besides, I'm anxious to show you that +I'm not helpless." + +"Helpless, by George! You are a useful man. You ride like a Centaur, +and you know all about motor-cars and motor-bikes. In addition to all +this, you did jolly well in the O.T.C. Yes, you certainly must be made +use of." + +Again Captain Pringle was silent for a few seconds. + +"You've got your licence and all that sort of thing for motoring?" + +"Certainly, sir." + +"Ever been to France?" + +"Often, sir; also Germany." + +"Know the lingo?" + +"Passably." + +"That is, you can understand what a Frenchman or a German says?" + +"Everything, sir." + +"Good! I'll speak to my Colonel right away. But let's strike while +the iron is hot. You came here to enlist as a private, you say. In +that case let's get through the medical business at once." + +"I'm all right, sir." + +"That must be proved. You are big enough, Heaven knows! Six feet +high, aren't you?" + +"Just a trifle above that." + +"And forty inches around the chest, I should think. Come this way." + +A few minutes later Bob had been overhauled by a doctor. + +"Sound as a bell," was the doctor's verdict. + +Next he had to submit himself to an oculist, who tested Bob's eyes. + +"All right?" asked Captain Pringle, who was present during the +examination, and told the doctors that Bob was an old friend of his. + +"Should be a good shot," replied the oculist. "He's all right." + +"Good!" said Captain. "How are your teeth, Nancarrow?" + +Bob opened his mouth with a laugh. He was in high spirits. + +"They look all right," said Captain Pringle; "but you must be properly +examined. A week or two ago hundreds of fellows were taken on without +any real examination at all. Only yesterday, when I was down at S----, +I was talking with a doctor there, and he told me that a fellow had +actually been passed who had a weak spine, and wore instruments to +support his back. Of course he was sent home at once, but it shows +how, under the new conditions, things were conducted in a loose +fashion. However, that's all over now. We are taking only sound men. +Here you are." + +Bob was quickly dismissed by the dentist, and pronounced "all right." + +"I suppose you are ready at once?" asked Pringle. + +"Give me a couple of hours to settle up about my chambers, and a few +things like that, and I shall be ready, sir." + +"Right. Of course there are the papers to sign and all that kind of +thing, but that's nothing. Be here at three o'clock this afternoon." + +"Very good, _mon capitaine_," and Bob saluted military fashion, while +the other laughed. + +"I don't know quite what to do with you yet, Nancarrow," said Pringle. +"You see, you are too good a man for a private--beside, you want to go +straight to the front. Naturally, too, at such times as these we can't +do everything by cast-iron rule. Exceptional cases demand exceptional +treatment. I can't say any more than that until I see my Colonel. You +will go with me to see him this evening. As you will see, I'm not +treating you quite like an ordinary recruit." + +"I should think not, sir. I did not expect such favours." + +When Bob got back to his chambers, he wrote to his mother. + +"I expect this letter will come as a great surprise to you, mother," he +wrote. "This morning I enlisted! Of course you are rubbing your eyes +by this time, especially when you remember how I regard war. I haven't +altered my opinions in the slightest about its horror, and all that. +In fact, that's why I _have_ enlisted. I'm not going to enter into any +explanations of my change of belief and conduct. I'm only going to sy +that I believe it is my Christian duty to fight as long as God gives me +health against this War God which Germany has set up. I'm not sorry I +have gone through what I have gone through, even although I've lost +nearly everything I treasure most, and have lived in hell for weeks. +If I had enlisted when you wanted me to, I should have been no good. I +should have been feeling all the time that I was not doing right. I +should have been like a paralysed man trying to walk. Now everything +is different. I am eager to be in the thick of it. I am just longing +to be at those Germans. Not that I have anything against the German +people, but I want to help to kill the system that has gripped them +body and soul. It seems that nothing but war will cut out this +poisonous cancer of militarism, and it is the call of God to cut it out. + +"That's why I've pleaded to be sent to the front right away. I met +Captain Pringle this morning (you remember him), and he's going to do +his best for me. He's off to the firing line in about a week's time, +and I'm in hopes that I shall be able to go with him. In what capacity +I don't know as yet; possibly only as a private, but I don't mind that. +We can't all be officers, and I'm eager, anxious to be _anything_ +whereby I can help the cause. It is possible, therefore, that in a +week or two's time I shall be out of England, on my way to, if not in +the very midst of action. + +"Please don't talk about this. God knows it's too serious to be talked +about. Fancy a doctor going to perform an operation which may kill not +only the patient but himself, and you have a hint of my feelings at +this moment. Let the people think what they will of me--I'm beyond all +that now. I'll write you in a day or two telling you exactly what has +taken place." + +When Bob arrived at S---- that afternoon, Captain Pringle went straight +to Colonel Sapsworth. In a few minutes the Colonel knew the main +outlines of Bob's career. + +"I should have advised him to join one of the Public School Corps," +said the Captain, "but in that case he would have been months before he +could have gone into active service. You see he's as keen as mustard +to be at the front, and remembering my last conversation with you, I +thought I'd bring him down. We shall be sadly in need of men of his +stamp. He will provide his own motor-bike, which he knows inside and +out; he speaks French and German almost like a native, he's as plucky +as they make 'em, he's eager to get to work; in addition to which he +was the best lad we had in the O.T.C. with which I was connected." + +"Does he want a commission?" asked the Colonel. + +"Yes, I should think so--naturally. You see he's been well brought up, +and is well off. On his mother's side he belongs to one of the best +families in the West of England, and--and--well, Tommies are having to +rough it just now." + +"And none the worse for it," snapped the Colonel. + +"Exactly; and he's quite prepared to enlist as a private. I was only +answering your question." + +"Just so: let's see him." + +A few minutes later Bob was undergoing a severe cross-examination by +the Colonel, who had the reputation of being somewhat eccentric in his +methods. Bob, who of course knew that he was being subjected to +special treatment, did not know whether the old officer was pleased +with him or not. He only knew that he was asked keen, searching +questions in a brusque, military fashion, and that he was finally +dismissed without knowing what was to become of him. + +For some time after this Bob knew what it meant to be a Tommy; he soon +found out, moreover, that his experiences in the O.T.C. did not prepare +him for those he was now undergoing. Each morning he was up at +half-past five, and then for several hours a day he was submitted to +the severest drilling. He quite understood the necessity for men being +physically fit before being drafted into the army at war time. When he +lay down at night in the company of men whom in ordinary times he would +never think of associating with, he was so tired that he forgot the +uncomfortable surroundings and uncongenial society. Never in his life +had he slept as he slept now. Never did he imagine he would have to +put up with such privations. + +In one sense he found that, as far as the privates went, the army was a +great democracy. One man was as good as another. The sons of +well-to-do families rubbed shoulders with colliers and farm labourers. +Tommy was Tommy, whether he was "Duke's Son" or "Cook's Son." And yet, +in another sense, education and social status were recognised. He +found that in spite of themselves, and in spite of the fact that all +distinctions were technically sunk between them, those who came from +labourers' cottages found themselves almost instinctively paying +deference to the men who did not belong to their class. + +There were some half a dozen men in Bob's company who had come from +good homes, and while general comradeship existed, these men naturally +drifted together. + +One of the great hardships to Bob was the food. The rancid butter, the +coarse bread, the almost uneatable bacon, the tough meat, tried him +sorely. At first he could scarcely swallow it. He got used to it at +length, however, and found that he was none the worse for it. He also +longed for the luxury of a private bath. Oh! just for half an hour in +the porcelain bath in his mother's house! Just to have the exquisite +pleasure of feeling the sting of cold pure water around his body! + +But things were not to be. As he laughed to himself, "I am a full +private, and I must take my chance like the rest of them!" +Nevertheless, to a lad reared amidst all the refinements of a good home +the change was so great that had he not felt it a bounden duty to be +where he was, he would have felt like running away. Still he was not +there for fun, neither had he anticipated an easy time. Sometimes, it +is true, he was more than disgusted by what he saw. Many of the men +did not seem to understand the ordinary decencies of life, and acted in +such a fashion as to grate sorely upon his sensitive nature. Their +language was often unprintable, while their ideas of life and conduct +often made him sick. + +How could such fellows as these fight for honour and truth? Some of +them seemed to have no sense of honour or decency. He saw presently, +however, that even these, who were not by any means representative of +the whole, had far higher standards than he had at first thought. They +were coarse, and some times brutal, but they were kind to their pals, +and would put themselves to any trouble to do another chap a good turn. + +One night it was very cold, although it had been very warm during the +day. They had all been drilling hard, and were dog-tired. One of the +men was evidently very seedy. He complained of a sick headache, and he +was shivering with the cold. + +"Bit off colour, mite?" said one. + +"Jist orful, Bill. Gawd, I wish I was 'ome. The graand is so ---- +hard too, and I'm as sore as if some one had been a-beatin' me with a +big stick." + +"Ere mitey, you just 'ave my blanket. I don't want it. And let me +mike my old overcoat into a bit of a pillow for yer." + +"You are bloomin' kind, Bill, and I don't like----" + +"Oh, stow it, it's nothink. Anything you'd like, mitey?" + +"No, that is----" + +"Come, out with it you ----. Wot is it? Shall I fetch the doctor?" + +"Ee ain't no use! besides, you'd get into a ---- row if you went to him +now. When I wos 'ome and like this my mother used to go to a chemist +and git me some sweet spirits of nitre, and it always made me as right +as a trivet. But there ain't no such ---- luck 'ere." + +"Wot yer call it? Sweet spirits o' mitre? Never 'eerd on it afore. +'Ow do you tike it?" + +"Oh, you just puts it in 'ot water; but there, I can't 'ave it. Good +night, Bill, and thank you for the blanket." + +Bill, without a word, tired as he was, left the tent, and half an hour +afterwards returned with the medicine. + +"Gawd, Bill," said the sick man, "but you ain't a ----" + +"Not so much chin music. There, tike it, and go to sleep." + +Such little acts of kindness as these were constantly taking place, and +they were by no means confined to men who belonged to the better-class +but were more frequently seen among the roughest and coarsest. + +Bob found out, too, that there was a rough sense of honour among them. +Some of them seemed to revel in filthy language, but if a man did a +mean thing, or didn't play the game according to their standard, he was +in for a bad time. Indeed, he soon found out that, in a certain sense, +the same code of honour which prevailed at Clifton, with exceptions, +operated in this newly-formed camp. + +Day after day and week after week passed, and still Bob knew nothing of +what was to happen to him. He had enlisted as a private, but on +Captain Pringle's advice had put down his name for a commission. From +the first day, however, he had heard nothing more of it. From early +morning till late in the day it was nothing but hard, tiring work. + +It was all wonderfully strange to him, this intermingling with a mixed +humanity, working like a slave for that which he had hitherto hated, +and which he still hated. Still, he threw his whole heart into it, and +he could not help knowing that he was progressing rapidly. After the +first few days his tiredness and soreness passed away, and he could go +through the most arduous duties without feeling tired. There was +something in it all, too, which inspired him. The military precision +of everything appealed to him, and the shouts, and laughter of hundreds +of voices made life gay in spite of everything. As the days passed by, +moreover, he could not help seeing that the association with +clean-minded, healthy-bodied, educated men, was having a good effect +upon the coarse-fibred portion of the strange community. They did not +indulge so frequently in coarse language, neither was their general +conduct so objectionable. It seemed as though they had something to +live up to. + +"Shut up, mate, and don't be a beast," Bob heard one man say to another +one day. + +"You are mighty squeamish, you son of a swine," was the rejoinder; "wot +are you so partic'ler about?" + +"'Cos I don't want to tell them 'ere fellers that we're a low lot." + +"We're as good as they are, thet's wot we are. We're just all equals +'ere. They are Tommies just as we are. That's wot _I_ ses." + +"We may be all equals as soldiers; but we cawn't git away from it, +Bill, some of 'em are gentlemen. Thet's wot they are. Some of 'em +just make me ashamed of myself sometimes. No, I ain't a puttin' on no +side; but I just want to let 'em see that we workin' chaps can behave +as well as they can. Thet's all. See?" + +Meanwhile, good news came from the front. The Allies had driven the +Germans back over the Marne, and were making progress all along the +line. + +The men cheered wildly as they heard the news. + +"They'll git licked afore we get a smack at 'em," some ventured. + +But in the main they knew better. They realised that the war was going +to be long and bloody, and although going to the front possibly meant +their death, there were very few who did not want to get there. + +No one felt this more than Bob. He had now been three weeks in camp, +and it seemed to him possible that it might be months before his time +for action came. Of Captain Pringle he had heard nothing since he +enlisted, and he was afraid he had gone to the front without having +been able to do anything for him. + +One evening he was sitting outside his tent, smoking his pipe. It had +been a hot, sweltering day, although the summer was now over. Around +him, as far as he could see, was a sea of bell-shaped tents. +Everywhere was a great seething mass of men in khaki. Horses of all +sorts abounded. Many of the men were bandying jokes one with another, +others were at the canteen, while many more had gone to the nearest +town. Bob himself had earlier in the day gone to the town to indulge +in a "good square well-cooked meal," as he called it; and now, early as +it was, although he little relished the thought of sleeping so-many in +a tent, he was just thinking of going to bed. Near him a number of +soldiers were singing gaily. + +"Nancarrow!" + +Bob turned his head, and saw a fellow soldier beckoning. + +"What's up?" + +"You are wanted." + +"Where?" + +"Officers' quarters." + +As Bob obeyed the summons, he caught the song in which a great mass of +men had joined. + + "It's a long way to Tipperary, + It's a long way to go; + It's a long way to Tipperary, + To the sweetest girl I know. + Good-bye, Piccadilly; + Farewell, Leicester Square. + It's a long, long way to Tipperary. + But my heart's right there." + + +As he reached the officers' quarters, he was surprised to see Captain +Pringle. + +"I've news for you, Nancarrow." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"You've got your commission." + +"That's great. Thank you. I'm sure I owe it to you." + +"Nonsense. Come this way. You've to go to Colonel Sapsworth. But +that's not all. You start for the front almost immediately." + +For a moment Bob could not speak. It was not fear that overwhelmed +him, it was something more terrible. Every nerve in his body quivered, +while his heart beat wildly. + +"It's what you wanted, isn't it?" + +"Yes, Captain. By Jove, that's great!" + +And that was all Bob could say. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +"I was afraid--that is, I thought you might be at the front," Bob +stammered at length. "You told me, the day I enlisted, that you +expected to go in a week." + +"Yes, I know, but fresh orders came from headquarters. However, it +can't be long now, thank Heaven! You were surprised at not seeing or +hearing from me, I expect." + +"I was a bit." + +"Yes--well, that was by order." + +Bob looked up inquiringly. + +"You don't know Colonel Sapsworth," went on Captain Pringle. "He's +what some of us call a holy terror. A fine officer, but has methods of +his own. He's jolly good to us all, but he's determined to have no +mugs about him. When I first brought you to him, I thought he didn't +like you, but I found I was mistaken. All the same, he wanted to see +the stuff you were made of. The truth is, he hasn't much of an opinion +of O.T.C. men. He says that a lot of whipper-snappers from the public +schools pass their exams, in the O.T.C., who are no more fit for +officers than girls from a boarding-school. So, seeing you were +willing to enlist as a private, he took you at your word. In fact, if +Sapsworth had his way, he would have every officer in the Army rise +from the ranks. No man, he maintains, can be a good officer unless he +knows what it is to be a private. That was why you were sent here. He +gave special instructions about you, however, and told the drill +sergeant to keep his eye on you. He wanted to see what sort of stuff +you were made of." + +"I satisfied him, I hope?" + +"You've got your Lieutenancy. That's the answer. Here we are." + +Bob felt very uncomfortable during the next half-hour. As Pringle +said, the Colonel was not a man who would stand any nonsense. He gave +Bob some wholesome advice in no honeyed terms; he asked him many +searching questions, after which he shook hands with him, and wished +him good luck. + +If Bob had worked hard as a private, he worked still harder as an +officer. The work was, of course, different, yet it was essentially +the same. Every day he expected orders to go to the front, but day +followed day without the order being given. Meanwhile it seemed as +though he were doing three days' work in one. + +Of course the circumstances were somewhat more pleasant than they had +been, the society was more congenial, and, instead of sleeping twelve +in a tent, there were only two. Still the life was rough and hard. + +"I wonder when we shall be off!" thought Bob, after what seemed to him +an interminable number of days. "Pringle said we were to start +immediately, and yet we are still hanging around here." + +At length the orders arrived, and one night Bob found himself in a +closely packed train bound for the South Coast. He wondered at what he +called his good fortune in being allowed to start so soon, but +reflected that he owed it to Captain Pringle's good offices and to what +were called the Colonel's eccentricities. He rejoiced now, although he +had been very reluctant at the time, that he had joined the O.T.C. +This, of course, had made it possible for him to get to the front so +soon. + +Eager as he was to be in action, he could not help being saddened as he +watched the men making their way to the trains. Splendid young fellows +most of them were. The cream of England's manhood. They were almost +without exception ruddy with health, and as hard as nails: straight, +muscular men, who laughed at hardships, and who seemed to look at the +whole business as a joke. They might have been going to a picnic, so +merry were they. And yet, as Bob looked more closely, it was easy to +see by the compressed lips, and the steely looks in their eyes, that +they realised what they were doing. + + "Good-bye, Piccadilly, + Farewell Leicester Square, + It's a long, long way to Tipperary, + But my heart's right there." + + +They sang, and perhaps as they sang they pictured the homes to which +they would never again return; they saw, as in a vision, the girls to +whom they had said "Good-bye," perhaps for ever. + +In a few days, perhaps, many of those light-hearted boys would be lying +in the trenches, or in some ditch, stark and dead, or in some hospital +maimed and crippled for life. + +Yes, war was a ghastly, hellish business, and it should never be +possible in Christian countries. This war, Bob felt, was one of the +greatest crimes ever known, and all through which he had been passing +ought only to be able to exist in troublous dreams. + +Still he had no doubts about his duty. England's hands were clean, and +England's path was clearly marked out. We were not fighting for gain +or territory. With us it was a war of sacrifice, a war of duty. We +were going in order to keep our word with a small state, to crush +tyranny and slavery. But more, we were going to overthrow the war +devil which the Germans had set up as a god. That was the thought that +stirred Bob's heart and hardened his muscles. It was a war against +war; he was really taking his part in a great mission on behalf of +peace. Yes, it must be a fight to the finish. The sword must never be +sheathed until this military god, which had turned all Europe into an +armed camp, and which had made Germany a menace to the world, should +never be able to lift its ghastly head again. + +"I say, Nancarrow, you look mighty grim." + +"I'm in for grim work, Pringle." + +"By gad, yes. How many of these chaps will be singing 'It's a long way +to Tipperary' in a month from now? How many aching hearts are there +because of this business? Yes, Nancarrow, you were right, war was born +in hell, but we must see it through." + +When they landed on French soil, they were received with great +jubilation. + +"_Vive les anglais!_" was the cry on every hand. Old men with tears in +their eyes welcomed them; old women vied with each other in showering +blessings upon them; young girls followed them with shouts of laughter, +yet with sobs in their laughter, and wished them every blessing. + +"Yes, monsieur," cried an old dame to Bob, as he entered a fruit-shop, +"take what you will. You English are our friends, our saviours. We +French did not want to fight, but the Germans forced us. And then, +voilà! You came forward like the friends you are, and you say, 'Down +with the German eagle. France shall have fair play.' No, no, I will +take no payment. Take what you will." + +"But you are, perhaps, poor, madame!" urged Bob. "This war has made it +hard for you." + +"Hard! Ah, you say the truth. We have a garden near by. My husband +and sons worked in it--now they are all gone. My husband and four sons +went, but two of my sons are dead--killed." + +"Perhaps they are only taken prisoners." + +"And is not that death? What is life in a German prison but death? +But, never mind, I have my husband and two sons still alive--but no, I +will not take your money. Perhaps you have a mother, young monsieur?" + +"Yes," replied Bob, and the picture of his mother sitting alone in the +old home at St. Ia flashed before his eyes. + +"Ah, yes, I see," said the old woman. "I see. But perhaps you have +brothers, sisters?" + +"No, I am her only son." + +"And she grieves to part with you?" + +"Yes, but she wanted me to go. She was angry with me for keeping back +so long." + +"Ah, that is the true woman. She hates the Germans?" + +"No, we have friends there. But she wanted me to be here for duty's +sake, and for England's honour." + +"Ah, yes--England's honour. You promised Belgium, didn't you? And +then there is the _Entente Cordiale_. _Vive l'Entente Cordiale_, +monsieur! Ah, must you go? There is nothing else you will take?" + +"Nothing, madame. Good-bye. God be with you." + +"If you meet my husband, Alphonse Renaud is his name, or my two sons, +Jean and Albert, you will tell them you saw me, spoke to me." + +"But certainly, madame." + +"And when the war is over, and if you return this way, you will call +and see me, won't you? Adieu, monsieur, and the good God be with you." + +Bob felt all the better for the old woman's simple talk. She was only +a commonplace old dame, but a kindly heart beat in her bosom. After +all, this war, ghastly as it was, was bringing a thousand noble +qualities to light, and it was certainly bringing the French and the +English more closely together. There was a bond of sympathy, of +brotherhood, existing, which was never felt before. + +When they left the town, they were followed by shouts of thanks and +good fellowship. Laughter and merry words were heard too. France was +being baptized with molten iron and blood, but she was still light of +heart. She was still true to her characteristics. + +"Here, Nancarrow," said Captain Pringle, as they watched the men board +a train. "You can talk this blessed lingo like a native. I can't get +my tongue around the words, and they talk so fast that I can't +understand them. Here's an old chap wants to say something," and he +turned towards an old military-looking man, who saluted Bob, and then +bowed profoundly. + +"Monsieur," said the old man, "I only wanted to bid you God speed. +Yes, yes, you English have saved us. But for you they, the German +pigs, bah! would have been in Paris before now. They would have +repeated 1870. I was in that _débâcle_, monsieur, and I know what I +felt. If we had been willing to violate our treaty and had fallen back +on Belgian territory, we might have saved ourselves. But no, a treaty +was a treaty, and our word was given. Death rather than dishonour, +monsieur! But they haven't had another Sedan this time. And why? It +was because you English turned the scales. Ah, but you English can +fight, and you are good comrades. Monsieur, I salute you! We shall +win, _mon capitaine_." + +"We'll give them a run for their money, anyhow," said Bob, dropping +into colloquial French. + +"Good, monsieur; that's it. And you are doing it for honour's sake. +We lost in 1870, because we would not violate what those German pigs +called a 'scrap of paper,' and now you are going to save us for the +same thing. All for 'a scrap of paper.' They do not know what honour +is! They cannot understand. But we shall win. We are driving them +back. They are nearly at Mézières now. They will soon be over the +border. And then!" + +"And then---- Yes, then we shall see what we shall see. But thank you +for your good wishes, monsieur." + +Train after train moved slowly out, while old women waved their +handkerchiefs and young girls threw kisses, and all poured out their +blessings. The thing that seemed to impress them was that England, who +had nothing to gain, and who needed not have taken any part in the war, +was throwing all her great weight on their side for the sake of the +_Entente Cordiale_, and for the sake of our honour. + +A few hours later Bob found himself in Paris. Several of the trains +had gone by another route, but both Bob and Captain Pringle, with many +others, were ordered to Paris. Here they stayed one day, and then went +on to the front. + +Although he had often heard how the British soldier was loved in Paris, +Bob had no conception of the truth until he got there. The attention +which he and Captain Pringle received was embarrassing. Wherever they +went they were watched and followed, while remarks of the most +complimentary nature were made about them. Even in the restaurant +where they went for dinner a number of Frenchmen entered with them, and +insisted on paying for their repast. + +"No, no, messieurs," they exclaimed, when Bob protested; "but you are +our guests. You come as our friends, you come to help us to fight our +battles. Your visit must cost you nothing. _Vive l'Angleterre!_" + +Both men and women vied with each other in courteous acts. They +insisted on shaking hands again and again, they plied them with +cigarettes, while Bob was very much confused by two elderly dames, both +of whom insisted on kissing him on both cheeks. + +"What would you?" they cried. "We are each old enough to be your +mother. Besides--ah, the good God knows what is in our hearts; have we +not sons fifty miles away, fighting for France? We shall win, +monsieur! Do you not think so? With such gallant men as you to help +us we cannot fail. The Germans are pigs, devils; but we have driven +them back, back! Soon they will be out of France." + +In the streets it was sometimes difficult for them to get along. On +every hand people came up and insisted on shaking hands. But few of +them could speak English, and they imagined that Bob was just as +ignorant of French. + +Again and again they received slaps on the back, while cries of "Good +old Sport!" reached them. + +Indeed, this was the popular form of salutation. It was nearly all the +English many of them knew, and appearing to believe that this was the +British form of salutation, they indulged in it freely. + +At length their duties in Paris were at an end, and then Bob, with a +strange feeling at heart, mounted a train which was to take him to +within a short distance of the line of battle. + +They had not long left the French capital, before Bob realised that he +was passing through country which not long before had been the scene of +carnage. The train passed slowly along, and was often held up owing to +the terrible exigencies of war. + +"Do you see that, Nancarrow?" said Pringle, pointing to a field in +which wheat had been planted, but which had never been garnered. +Indeed it would be impossible to garner it. It had been trampled under +foot by tens of thousands of hurrying feet. + +Here and there they saw trenches that had been hastily dug, and then +discarded when they were no longer of use. Repeatedly they saw the +ruins of villages, some of which had been wantonly, barbarously +destroyed by the invading foe. + +It was a warm day, windless and clear, and as the train stopped at +roadside stations or drew up at sidings, they could not help being +impressed by the peace which seemed to reign. The birds still sang on +the tree branches, cattle still lowed in the fields, and peasants still +worked on their little farms. + +"If one closed one's eyes, it would seem as though war were +impossible," said Bob. + +"Yes, but you'd be quickly undeceived when you opened them," replied +Pringle. "Look at those trees!" and he pointed to a small wood, where +charred trunks of trees, splintered branches, and blackened leaves told +their story. + +"I expect some of our men were there, or the Germans thought they +were," said Pringle, "and so they----" and he shrugged his shoulders +significantly. + +"Perhaps some poor beggars may be lying wounded around there even yet," +suggested Bob. + +"I don't think so. As far as I can learn, the whole line has been +carefully searched, and every man that could be saved has been. But, +by God, the thought of it is awful!" + +"Yes, no one knows what may have happened in a firing-line hundreds of +miles long. It must have been hell." + +What struck them forcibly, however, was the cheerfulness of the +peasantry. At the little roadside stations the people crowded around +the trains and cheered the soldiers. + +"Yes, monsieur," said one old farmer, "my little house was +destroyed--burnt to the ground. I had lived there ever since I was +married, and all my children were born there. Two of them, _grace à +Dieu_, are at the front now. Where do we live? Ah, monsieur, they +spared a barn, and we are there now. It's not so bad as it might be, +and we are cheerful." + +"And your harvest?" asked Bob. + +"Ah, that was saved. It was in the fields in small stacks, and not yet +brought to the yard. Had it been, it would have been burnt with the +house. The turnips and the mangolds are still in the field, badly +trampled, but not destroyed. Oh yes, it might have been worse, much +worse--with us. Thank God, we had no daughter at the house." + +"Why do you thank God for that?" + +"Need you ask, monsieur? Those Germans are devils, devils! Ah, here +is Jules Viney; let him tell you what he has had to suffer." + +And then an elderly man told a story which I will not here set down. +It was too horrible, too heart-rending. Bob's heart sickened as he +heard it, and he found his teeth becoming set as he vowed to fight long +as God gave him breath. + +"She was but little more than a child, either," cried the man, who was +trembling with passion, "and had only a year or two ago made her First +Communion. As fair and as pure a child as ever God made. But, thank +God, she is dead!" + +"Dead?" + +"Dead, yes! How could she live after those devils from the deepest +hell---- But she took her own life, and she is with the saints." + +"And this is the fruits of the German culture, when it is overruled by +the War God," thought Bob. "Great God, I did not believe that these +stories could be true!" + +About two o'clock the train stopped at a siding, where an official told +them they must remain for at least an hour. + +"Things have been terrible here," said the man; "a terrible battle was +fought all around," and he waved his arms significantly. + +"Let's get out," said Bob. "I see some trenches over yonder. I +remember reading about an engagement here." + +A few minutes later they were face to face with evidences of battle. +The whole country-side was devastated. Everything had been swept away +by the hordes who breathed out death. Sickening _débris_ was seen on +every hand. Swarms of flies and insects had fastened upon heaps of +filthy garbage. Nothing was seen of comfortable homesteads but +charred, smoke-begrimed walls. Exploded shells lay around. Great +excavations, the work of huge bombs, were seen on every hand. All +around, too, they could see the carcases of horses, killed in battle, +the bones of which were beginning to appear. The smells were horrible. + +"Let's get away from this!" said Pringle; "it's worse than any hell I +ever dreamed of." + +But Bob refused to move. He seemed to be fascinated by what he saw. +He loathed the sickening sights which met his gaze, but he could not +tear himself away. + +"See the hundreds of little mounds!" he cried. "They will be the +graves of the fellows who fell here. Don't you remember what we read +in the papers? When the Germans retreated, a number of men were left +behind to dig little graves, and throw the dead into them." + +"Come away, I tell you!" shouted Pringle. + +"This is the beginning of war's aftermath, only the beginning--but, +great God, think of it! What is that?" + +"What?" + +"Surely that's some one alive over there! Don't you see? In the ditch +yonder." + +As if by a magnet the two men were drawn to the spot to which Bob had +pointed. + +"It's a man, anyhow," said Pringle. + +"No, there are two." + +"They are alive." + +"No, they are dead." + +A few seconds later they reached the spot, and saw what they will never +forget, if they live twice the years allotted to man. + +In a dry ditch, locked in each other's embrace, were two dead soldiers, +one a Frenchman, the other a German. Both had evidently been wounded, +but they had engaged in a death struggle. They had fought to the +deaths without either conquering the other, and they had died in each +other's arms. + +There was no look of fury or hatred in the face of either. The hand of +death had smoothed away all traces of this. Nevertheless, it had been +a duel to the death. + +They were little more than boys, perhaps about twenty-four, and both +were privates. Their faces proclaimed their nationalities even more +plainly than their uniforms. + +"I expect they had never seen each other before," said Bob, like one +thinking aloud; "they bore no enmity towards each other." + +"Except that one was French and the other German," said Pringle. "That +was enough for them. Somehow they found themselves together, and +fought it out. I expect it was at night time. By God, it's ghastly, +isn't it? And this is war!" + +"No, it's only the shadow of it, the aftermath. There are no groans +here, no suffering. It's peace, but it's the peace of horrible, +unnatural death. We shall see real war presently." + +"Come, let's get away. It's sickening." + +"The Prime Minister was right. It's hell let loose. All the same, I'm +aching to be at it. I never hated it as I hated it now. God helping +us, this shall be Europe's last war." + +They slowly returned towards the railway siding when in the distance +they saw the train standing still. + +"Look," said Pringle, "there's been a fire here. It looks as though +they had a meal. Here's an empty wine bottle, and a crust of bread." + +"Yes, and here's a pipe half full of tobacco. It might have been +thrown down in a hurry, as though some chap were having a quiet smoke, +and was suddenly called to duty. Look, it's an English-made pipe. It +must have belonged to one of our men. I wonder where he is now. I'll +take it as a souvenir." + +As they drew near to the siding they heard the soldiers singing lustily: + + "It's a long way to Tipperary." + + +Both of them were strangely silent as the train crawled slowly towards +its destination. Their visit to one little corner of the stricken +field had made them realise the meaning of war as they had never +realised it before. Before the afternoon was over their eyes were +still more widely opened by a passing train to the meaning of the work +that lay before them. + +It was going slowly, more slowly than their own, and Bob saw that it +was full of wounded soldiers. How many there were he could not +estimate, but it seemed to him that there must be hundreds. Some were +laughing and talking cheerfully, while others lay with their eyes +closed. More than one brave fellow held a wounded comrade's head on +his knees. + +It was only a minute, and the train had passed them. One trainload +going to the front full of strong, stalwart men, hale and hearty, +another returning full of the wounded. And this was war! + +And why? + +It was all because a war devil reigned in Germany, which the military +caste worshipped as a kind of Deity. + +Presently the train stopped. They had reached their destination. They +were close to the front. + +"Listen," said some one, and all the men were strangely silent. + +Boom! Boom! Boom! + +It was the great iron-mouthed messengers of death which sent molten +lead into great masses of flesh and blood. It was the voice of the +great guns--the contributions of science to the ghastly crime of war. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Captain Trevanion did not go to the front as soon as he had expected. +That was why, although few people in St. Ia knew anything about it, he +again found himself at Penwennack. As chance would have it, he found +Nancy at home. The Admiral had been called to London on Admiralty +business, and so the girl, who had not yet undertaken the duties for +which she had offered herself, was alone when the Captain arrived. + +"Nancy," said Trevanion, who had been a friend of the family for years, +"forgive me, but I could not help coming. The date of our starting has +been put off for a day or two, so I found myself with a few hours to +spare. You do not seem pleased to see me. Why?" + +"I am sorry you should think so," was Nancy's reply. "But, you see, I +did not expect you. Wouldn't it be--that is--isn't it a sort of +anti-climax to come down here like this, after the great send-off St. +Ia gave you?" + +She laughed nervously as she spoke, and, although a faint flush tinged +her cheeks, it was easy to see that she was far from well. + +"What do I care about climaxes or anti-climaxes?" cried Trevanion. "I +came because I couldn't help it. I knew you hadn't gone abroad, and I +came just on the chance of seeing you. I caught the early train at +Plymouth, and here I am. I must get back to-night." + +"I'm afraid I'm no good at tennis or golf just now," said Nancy, "still +I'll----" + +"Hang tennis and golf!" interrupted Trevanion. "I didn't come all the +way from Plymouth for that. I came because--because--but you know why? +I say," he went on hurriedly, "you know Gossett of the Engineers, don't +you? He goes to-morrow, and--and he was married yesterday. Both he +and--and his wife felt they couldn't wait any longer. I suppose her +people tried to dissuade her from getting married at such a time as +this; but she wouldn't listen to them. 'I'm going to get married +because Jack is going to the front,' was her reply to the croakers. 'I +want him to feel that he has a wife waiting at home for him.' 'But +suppose he should be killed?' said an old dame. 'Then I'd rather be +his widow than his fiancée,' was her reply. Plucky, wasn't it?" + +Nancy did not reply. + +"Hosts of chaps have done the same thing," went on Trevanion hurriedly. +"They had meant to have waited for months, but when the war came on +they determined to marry right away." + +"Are you thinking of getting married?" Nancy was angry with herself +the moment she had spoken, but she was excited beyond measure, and the +words escaped her almost unconsciously. + +"Would to God I could!" cried Trevanion excitedly. "I'd give--heavens, +what wouldn't I give for the chance! I say, Nancy, you know why I've +come down, don't you? You--you didn't give me a chance to speak the +other day, but now I feel as though I can't be silent any longer. You +know how I love you, Nancy--you must know, you must have seen it for +months--and--and--perhaps in a way it's cowardly of me to come to you +like this, when I'm possibly going to my death. But I couldn't help +myself, Nancy. If--if--you could only give me a little hope!" + +Nancy did not reply--indeed, for the moment she was unable to speak. +The last three weeks had tried her sorely. She had as she had thought +decided to link her fate with that of Bob Nancarrow. She had, in spite +of herself, confessed her love for him, and had promised to be his +wife. Then suddenly the heavens had become black. The great war had +broken out, and then when almost every young man she knew had offered +himself for his country, the man she loved had proved a coward, and had +sought to hide his cowardice behind pious platitudes. She blushed with +shame as she thought of it. She hated herself for having loved a man +who was unworthy to call himself an Englishman. And yet she had told +him that she loved him. She had allowed him to hold her in his arms, +while he had rained kisses on her lips. She, the daughter of Admiral +Tresize, she, who bore a name which had ever been honoured among people +who had fought for their country's safety and honour, had promised +herself to a poltroon, a coward! The thought was maddening, and yet +she had not been able to drive her love from her heart. In spite of +his cowardice she still loved him. Even when she sought to insult him +at the recruiting meeting she loved him. She constantly found herself +trying to make excuses for him. But the fact remained. He had held +back in the time of his country's peril, he had refused to listen when +the King had sent out his call! Even when she had given him the white +feather, his manhood had not been aroused. He had stood like a sulky +school-boy, ashamed of his cowardice, but still a coward. + +Yes, all was over between herself and Bob Nancarrow. How could it be +otherwise? She had given him every chance to explain himself, and she +had listened to his reasons for holding back. And such reasons! How +could she, Nancy Tresize, who came from a race of fighters, accept such +paltry excuses? Christianity to her meant the highest code of honour: +it meant faithfulness to promise, it meant honour, it meant truth, it +meant defending the weak--and in all this Bob had failed. + +And yet she loved him. In her heart of hearts she did not believe he +was a coward; as for meanness and dishonour, they were alien to his +nature. + +Of course she knew why Captain Trevanion had come, even before he had +spoken. She had not been blind during the past year, and therefore, +could not mistake the meaning of his attentions. She admired him too. +He was just the kind of man she had always admired. He was the son of +one of the oldest and most honoured families in the land; he was +generous, chivalrous, brave, handsome. What more could she want? How +the people cheered at the recruiting meeting! And what wonder? He had +touched their hearts by his burning words, and he was just off to fight +for his country. + +Every selfish interest, every tradition of her family pleaded for him. +She was fond of him too. She had always liked him as a friend; she had +always admired him as a loyal gentleman and a soldier. Of course, he +was not clever. He was no lover of books, and, compared with Bob, he +was an ignoramus; but what did that matter? He was a brave man--a +gentleman. + +As for Bob, all their former relations were ended. He himself had +closed and bolted the door between them. The choice had been between +her and honour on the one hand, and selfish ease and cowardice on the +other. And Bob had chosen to be a coward. What could she do, +therefore, but drive him from her mind, and crush all affection for +him? Was it not her duty to her father, her family, and to herself to +accept Trevanion? + +"You are not vexed with me, are you?" went on Trevanion, after he had +waited a few seconds. + +"No, not vexed." + +"Then--then, can't you give me a word of hope? I--I don't even ask you +to make a definite promise, although I'd give my eyes if you could; but +if you could tell me that you liked no one better, and that I--I may +speak again--if--if I come back, I could go away with a braver heart. +I should feel all the time as if I were fighting for you. Just say +something to cheer me, won't you, Nancy?" + +"I'm afraid I can't," the girl's voice was hoarse as she spoke. +Evidently his words had moved her greatly. + +"Why? There is no one else, is there?" + +"No, yes, that is----" + +"Some one else! But, Nancy----" + +"No, there is no one else." + +"Then, Nancy, promise me something. Give me an inkling of hope." + +She shook her head. + +"But why?" + +"Because--because it would not be fair to you." + +"Anything would be fair to me if you'd give me some hope." + +"Even if I could only offer you half my heart?" + +"Give me half, and I'd quickly gain the rest," laughed Trevanion. +"Why, why, I should be in heaven if you could say even so much." + +"Do you care so much?" and there was a touch of wistfulness in her +voice. + +"So much! Why, you know. You have been the only thing I've cared +for--for months. Why, you---you are everything to me. I'm not a +clever fellow, I know that--but--but--I can fight, Nancy. And it's all +for you." + +Nancy stood still a few seconds, evidently fighting with herself. She +knew she could not in honour promise even what Trevanion had asked for +without telling him the truth. And this was terribly difficult. She +felt that he had a right to know, and yet it was like sacrilege to tell +him. + +"You see," went on the Captain, "your father----!" + +"Stop!" cried the girl; "before you say any more, I must tell you +something. It's very hard, but I must. I said there was no one else, +but that's not--true." + +"Not true! Then, then----" + +"There was some one else, although it's--all over." + +"But, but who? No, forgive me for asking. I've no right to ask. +Besides, you say--that--that it's a thing of the past." + +"You have a right to ask if--if----" + +"If what? Tell me who--if you think it fair of me to ask." + +"Can't you guess?" + +"There can be no one, except--I say, Nancy, you can't mean Nancarrow?" + +She nodded her head. + +"But, Nancy--that--that----" + +"Don't, please. I loved him--at least I thought I did, and--and we +were engaged. If--if--that is, but for the war, he would have spoken +to father by this time, and--and everything would have been made known. +When--he played the coward, I found out my mistake, and I told him so." + +"Great heavens, yes! It was, of course, only a foolish fancy. A girl +like you could never seriously care for that class of man." + +"I am ashamed of myself when I think of him," and Nancy's voice was +hoarse as she spoke. "In a way I feel contaminated. If there is +anything under heaven that I despise, it's a coward. I want to forget +that I--I ever thought of him. I want to drive him from my mind." + +"And that is what keeps you from promising me anything. But surely you +do not care for him now. Why--why, you couldn't! The fellow who could +show the white feather at such a time as this, and then try and cover +up his cowardice by all that religious humbug, is not of your class, +Nancy. He's a rank outsider. I'm sorry I was ever friends with him. +Your father told me he was mad with himself for ever allowing him +inside the house." + +"That's why I'm so ashamed of----" + +"We'll drive him from our minds, Nancy. There, he's done with. He's +not worthy of a thought. You owe it to yourself, to your name, your +country, to banish it from your mind." + +For the moment Nancy was angry with Trevanion. She wanted to defend +Bob. She wanted to tell him that Bob was braver than he. But she +could not. She had spoken truly when she said that she was ashamed of +herself for having allowed herself to think of him. + +"Give me even the shadow of a promise," went on Trevanion, "and all +thought of him will be for ever gone." + +"No," said Nancy, "I can promise nothing--now." + +"But will you try--to--to care for me?" + +"Yes," said the girl, "I'll promise that, if--if it will be of any +comfort to you." + +"I don't fear now," cried Trevanion. "Everything will be right. What +you have been telling me is nothing--just a passing fancy which will +be--nothing. Give me a kiss, Nancy, and----" + +"No," said the girl, and she shrank back almost instinctively, "not +that; but the other--yes, I'll promise to try." + +"I'm the happiest man in England with only that," laughed Trevanion; +"what shall I be when--when the war is over, and I come back to claim +my own. I shall find you waiting for me, shan't I?" + +"I--I don't know. I may not come back. It what the papers say is +true, even the nurses are not safe." + +"But have you really settled to go abroad as a nurse?" + +"I thought you understood that when you were here last. I go to London +the day after to-morrow, and in a week from now I expect to be in one +of the French hospitals." + +"I had hoped you'd given up that," said the Captain moodily. + +"Why should you hope that? If it's your duty to go, it is mine. There +are plenty of nurses for the English hospitals, but there are fewer +volunteers for Belgium and France. I suppose the most hopeful cases +are sent home to England. Those who are dangerously wounded remain in +France or Belgium. That's where I want to be." + +Trevanion looked at her with admiring eyes. Even while he hoped she +would remain in England, he admired her determination to go and nurse +the worst cases. + +"What a wife she'll be!" he reflected. "Proud as Lucifer and +honourable to the finger tips. Yes, I've got her. She'll regard even +this shadow of a promise as binding on her. As for Nancarrow, he's +done with for ever. Thank heaven for that! By Jove, I'm a lucky +beggar!" + +"Perhaps we may meet in France, Nancy," he said aloud; "I may be +wounded, and----" + +"Don't!" she said, with a shudder. + +"Heavens, she loves me!" thought the Captain. "She can't bear the idea +of my being wounded." + +"Anyhow, the man who has you as a nurse may thank his lucky stars," he +said aloud, "and of this you may be sure, if there's any chance of our +meeting, I shall make the most of it. Trust me for that." + +That same day Trevanion made his way back to Plymouth with a glad +heart. He regarded his engagement with Nancy as good as settled, for +he knew that she regarded even the suggestion of a promise as sacred. +Besides, he had everything in his favour. He knew that the old Admiral +favoured his suit, and would do his best to remove any doubts which +might exist in Nancy's mind. As for Bob Nancarrow, he was a negligible +quantity. Nancy had driven him out of the house with scorn and anger +in her heart. How could it be otherwise? The fellow was an outsider, +a poltroon, a coward. He knew how Nancy despised such; knew that even +if she loved him, she would regard it as a sacred duty to crush a love +which to her would be a disgrace to the name she bore. + +Thus it came about that all three found themselves on French soil. The +Captain went at the head of a Cornish regiment, brave and fearless, +determined to do his duty as a soldier should. The ethics of the war +had never cost him a moment's thought. England was at war, and that +was enough for him. He was needed in the firing-line, and he, without +a question or a reason, save that he was a soldier, must be there. + +Nancy, on the other hand, went because she wanted to nurse--to save. +It was a woman's work--the noblest any woman could do. She was not +allowed to fight herself, although she would gladly have done so; but +even although she could not fight, she would be near the line of +battle. She would do all in her power for the brave fellows who had +fallen in fighting their country's battles. + +As for Bob, he was there because he had listened to what he was sure +was the Call of God. He hated war, he hated the soldiers' calling, +and, because he hated it, he was there. Not one in the whole of His +Majesty's Army was more eager to be in the thick of the fight than he, +because he wanted to take his part in killing the war devil which had +turned a great part of Europe into a hell. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +September was nearly at an end when Bob, alighting at a little station, +heard the booming of guns. The country-side seemed quiet and peaceful +but for this. There were evidences that fighting had been going on, +but at present no fighting was to be seen. The sky was a great dome of +blue, the air was pure and sweet. It was as though great Mother Nature +were defying the War God to disturb her tranquillity. Scarcely a +breath of wind stirred; bird and beast and flower were composing +themselves for their nightly sleep. + +And yet to Bob the atmosphere was tense with excitement. The very calm +of the evening was unnatural. He felt as though lightnings should be +flashing, the wind roaring. + +"Boom! Boom! Boom!" + +The great War God was roaring, and from his mouth death came. With +every boom of the guns men were falling, souls were going home to God. + +Bob felt a shiver to the centre of his being. It seemed to him as +though the foundations of his life were shaken. He had never +experienced such a feeling before. He did not think it was fear; +rather it was awesomeness. For a moment he regarded life, his own +life, from a new standpoint. He was only a pawn on a chess-board, one +of a million of human beings, none of whom had any personality, any +will. Life and death were nothing. Each had to fill his place, and to +do what was allotted to him, regardless of consequences. + +He found himself thinking of lines from "The Charge of the Light +Brigade": + + "Theirs not to make reply, + Theirs not to reason why, + Theirs but to do and die, + Into the valley of Death + Rode the six hundred." + + +Suddenly he found himself alert. The men were forming into marching +order, and almost unconsciously he was performing the duties allotted +to him. + +Bob saw that a large mass of men had gathered. Other trains had +arrived before the one by which he had come, and each had brought its +quota from England. + +He realised, as he had never realised before, how efficiently, quietly, +and at the same time wonderfully, the forces at home were working. He, +like others, had read several weeks before, that something like a +hundred thousand men had landed on French soil without a casualty, +without a mishap. It had come to him, as it had come to us all, as a +kind of surprise, that such a mass of humanity, with horses, +accoutrements, and provisions, could have been sent to France with so +little noise, and without the nation's knowing anything about it. Yet +so it was. While we were wondering, the work was done. + +But that was not all. While the country was asleep, or while it was +pursuing its usual avocations, tens of thousands of men were leaving +our shores, taking the places of those who had fallen or adding to the +force already there, while tens of thousands more were preparing to +leave. The heart of the Empire was moved, and her sons were offering +themselves, many thousands every day, to fight her battles. + +"How many men have we at the front?" we often asked. + +No one knew, although we hazarded many guesses. But we knew that we +were doing what we could, that a great river of humanity was flowing +into France, and that hundreds of thousands of our bravest hearts were +beating on foreign soil, and that no matter how many men fell wounded +or dead, ten times their number could and would be supplied. + +Bob's heart thrilled as he thought of it. He was only an obscure +youth, who had first fought his battle on the solitary battlefield of +his own soul, and then, as a consequence, could no longer keep himself +from throwing himself into this great light against tyranny and +militarism. + +They were marching towards the firing-line! The boom of the guns +sounded more and more near. Sometimes above the steady tramp, tramp of +the soldiers they thought they heard the ghastly whistle of the shells +as they went on their mission of death. + +Bob looked on the faces of the men as they marched. Yes, it was easy +to see by the steely glitter of their eyes, the tightly compressed +lips, that every nerve was in tension, that they knew they were +entering the danger zone. Many were praying who had not prayed for +years, while others, careless of life or death, marched forward, with a +laugh on their lips. + +It is not for me to describe what took place during the next few days. +Indeed, I could not if I would. First, the news which has reached me +concerning them is scanty--so scanty that even if I recorded every word +of it, it would add but little interest to the narrative I am writing. +More than that, I am utterly ignorant of the art of war, and if I tried +to describe in anything like detail the events which have been related +to me, I should, doubtless, fall into many mistakes, and convey +altogether wrong impressions. Besides, I am not so much writing the +story of the war, as the story of Robert Nancarrow, and of what has +befallen him these last few weeks. + +For the first fortnight after Bob joined the British forces at the +front, he was disappointed at not being placed in the fighting-line. +Moreover, his duties seemed to him of an unimportant nature, such as +could have been performed by the most unintelligent. He saw others +take the places which he longed to occupy, while he had to attend to +merely mechanical duties. + +Still he did not complain. The work he was doing had to be done, and +since some one must do it, why not he as well as another? The great +fact which cheered him was that little by little the Allies were slowly +gaining ground in this "Battle of the Rivers," even although he saw but +little of it. Neither, for that matter, did he know very much of the +progress which was being made generally. He was so situated that he +heard very little of what was being done. People in England were far +better informed of what was taking place than the soldiers, except in +some little corner of the great battlefield where they were +individually engaged. + +He saw enough, however, to realise the horror all around him, and to +become inured to the life he was living. + +"Oh, to be in the thick of it!" he cried again and again, as day after +day passed, and he was continually delegated to what seemed to him +unimportant duties. He little realised that his time was coming, and +that he was to be baptized with a baptism of fire more terrible than +befell many, even in that time of horrible carnage. + +It was on a Sunday morning in October, in this year of our Lord, 1914, +that the events which I have now to describe, began. In England I +remember it was like a summer day, while in France it was even warmer, +and more cloudless. The night had been comparatively still, and the +enemies' guns had scarcely been heard since sunset. + +The sentries had reported all well, and when the morning came, it +seemed to be generally believed that it would be a quiet day. On the +distant hills, several miles away, the German hordes were entrenched +and alert. The day previous the Allies had been less harried, and tens +of thousands who had been well-nigh worn out by continuous fighting had +gained some measure of respite. + +Bob awoke just before dawn. All along the lines were watchful +sentinels; but many thousands, assured by the reports of those on +outpost duty that all was well, were asleep. Presently the _réveillé_ +sounded, and then, what had seemed an uninhabited tract of country, was +peopled by a great armed host. Men in khaki were everywhere. On every +hand were preparations for breakfast; laughter and shouts were heard on +every hand. As the light increased, Bob saw thousands upon thousands +of men. They literally swarmed everywhere. + +"Colonel Sapsworth wants you, sir." + +Bob turned and saw a soldier saluting him as delivered his message. + +"I wonder what that means," thought Bob, as he found his way towards +the spot where the Colonel was. A minute later his heart was beating +high with joy and excitement. He was informed that he was appointed to +a post of responsibility, which might be of importance. A number of +men were to be placed under his command, and great events might be +taking place in a few hours. + +"I shall know definitely soon," Colonel Sapsworth said, when he had +given him some general directions. "Meanwhile you know what to do." + +He had scarcely spoken, when a man came to the a tent and asked for +admission; a second later he had entered, bearing a despatch. + +Colonel Sapsworth read it hastily. + +"By God!" he muttered under his breath; "but I expected it!" + +It was a despatch sent from the General of the Division telling him +that an attack on his forces would possibly be made that day--that men +in the Flying Corps had been able to see the general movements of the +enemy, and had brought the news that before long great masses of men +would be upon them. + +A few minutes later everything was in order. The officers had each +received his instructions, and were on the _qui vive_. + +It was only half an hour past daylight, and the dewdrops were still +glistening on the grass and shining on the tree-tops. It seemed as if +some occult influences were at work, and that the men were conscious of +the fact that the atmosphere was laden with tragedy, for instead of +laughter and merry jest, a strange silence prevailed. + +Only one sound broke the great stillness which had fallen on the camp. +It was the sound of a body of men singing: + + "O God, our help in ages past, + Our hope for years to come, + Our shelter from the stormy blast, + And our eternal home." + + +Bob had heard both hymn and tune a hundred times in St. Ia. He +thought, too, from the intonation of the men's voices, that they were +Cornish lads who sang. For the moment he forgot where he was, and was +oblivious to the fact that he was in the midst of a great armed host, +and that tens of thousands of men were all around him, each armed with +implements of death. He was in Cornwall again, and he was breathing +the Sabbath morning air. He heard the church bells ringing in the +distance, while the hymn he heard came from some humble Meeting House +where simple people met together for prayer and praise. + + "A thousand ages in Thy sight + Are like an evening----" + + +"Some religious swabs," laughed one. + +"Boom! boom! Crack, crack, boom!" + +The hymn was broken off in the middle. The sound of guns was nearer +than Bob had ever heard it before. The enemy had evidently decided +upon a surprise attack. + +A horrible screech rent the air, and, looking up, Bob saw an explosion. +It was as though a bouquet of fire were falling on them; and then he +heard noises such as he had never heard before. It was the groans of +the wounded; the cries of men pierced by arrows of fire; the moaning of +brave fellows torn and mutilated for life. + +The British guns answered the fire of the enemy, while all around +quick, decisive commands were given. + +For some hours after this Bob had only a vague remembrance of what took +place. He knew that the position they now occupied had been captured +from the enemy, who had receded only with the idea of endeavouring to +take it again. Evidently they had kept the secret of their plans well, +for from all the reports given on the previous night there had been no +likelihood of an early attack. But for the Flying Corps they would +have been utterly surprised, and even as it was their preparations had +to be hurriedly made. + +"Boom! boom!" bellowed forth the big guns. + +"Crack! crack!" said the voices of a thousand rifles. + +Bob's remembrance was that he was calmly fulfilling the orders that had +been given to him, and that he was strangely oblivious of danger. + +Event after event seemed to follow each other, like so many pictures in +a cinema performance. + +He remembered his men in their trenches coolly firing, while shot and +shell fell thick around them. + +Later, they moved forward, and took cover under some raised ground, +where they lay silently and warily watching. + +He was watching too. In his eagerness he had risen to his feet, and +thus exposed himself to the sight of the enemy. The ground was torn up +at his feet, and he felt something burning hot graze his arm, as if +some one had touched him with a burning knife. + +But he was unhurt! He knew that a bullet had only touched his arm. An +inch to the right, and it would have missed him altogether; two inches +to the left, and his arm would have been shattered; a foot to the left, +and he would, in all probability, have been killed. + +He saw a body of men in German uniform moving nearer to them. It was a +great mass of soldiers, who came on in great blocks of sixty or eighty, +four deep. The British waited silently, awaiting the word of command. +Eagerly they longed for the word, "Fire!" + +At last it came, and almost as if by magic a thousand rifles went off +at the same moment, leaving great gaps in the German ranks which had a +few seconds before been filled with a living, breathing humanity. + +Again the crack of rifles, and again gaps were made. But still the +enemy came forward. Bob even thought he heard the cry of "_Vorwärts! +Vorwärts!_" + +Now and then above the din he heard what seemed like the sound of +singing. It sounded like the tune he had heard early in the morning. + +Meanwhile the cannonade continued to rage. The heavens were full of +bursting shells, even the very skies seemed like hell. + +Hour after hour the fusillade continued, and presently there was a halt +in the enemies' progress. They were falling back. + +"Now at them! Give 'em ----" + +There was a wild rush forward. How long it continued Bob could not +tell. Behind them the big English guns were booming, and he knew that +our artillery was pounding at the German trenches a long distance away. + +Forward! forward! + +Shot and shell were dropping thickly around, while on the right and +left men were falling. In the distance lay the German trenches. Could +they be reached? Yes, a few minutes later our men were in them. For a +time at all events Bob's company was in comparative safety. + +Panting aloud the hardy lads threw themselves into position. They had +gained their immediate object, but could they hold it? + +Suddenly amid the din a musical note rang out; it pierced the very +heavens, it was more penetrating than the boom of the big guns, the +screech of shells, or the crack of rifles. + +From the distant heather, perhaps half a mile away, men with clear +sight could see great masses of humanity in grey rise, seemingly out of +the earth, and Bob heard the distant sound of fifes and drums. + +"They are going to charge us!" + +Who said this no one knew, but it did not matter. All knew it was +true. Strong stalwart men they were who rushed madly forward. They +were commanded to do so, and they must not disobey. Every step meant +death to many, but Germany was careless about her losses. They must +win the victory, they must get back the position they had lost, no +matter what it might cost. + +"We are lost!" thought Bob: "what are we against so many?" + +But even before the thought had passed his mind, out from their cover +came the British--sections, companies, battalions. + +Then, almost before Bob realised what was taking place, a great +hand-to-hand carnage began. Shrieks, groans, cries filled the heavens. +From that time Bob ceased to be the quiet student who had aspirations +after a serene scholastic life. He was an Englishman doing battle with +a huge fighting machine. He was one of the many who determined to cut +out the great cancer of Europe. England and all she stood for was at +stake. Honour, faithfulness to promise, liberty, religion, all must be +maintained! + +He found himself facing a huge German. The German hesitated a second, +and rushed on him. It was that moment's hesitation to which Bob owed +his life. With all the strength of his right arm he parried the +fearful lunge of the German, who rushed on him with fixed bayonet. A +second later the man fell. + +Bob shuddered as he saw him fall. What had he against the man he had +killed? Nothing. Even at that moment he would gladly have helped him +had he been able. Possibly, probably he had a wife or sweetheart +somewhere, probably too he was a quiet, inoffensive fellow who had no +desire to harm any one. In spite of the war fever which raged, the +English had no personal animus against the Germans. But then they were +not fighting against Germans, they were fighting against the War God +which dominated Germany, they were fighting a system which threatened +the liberty, the peace, the religion of Europe--the world. + +All this killing was hellish, but the cancer had to be cut out. If it +were allowed to remain it would poison the life of the world. + +"At 'em! at 'em!" + +Blood and carnage everywhere; earth made hell at the bidding of a +bully, a madman who declared himself to be the vicegerent of God. Yes, +the horrors of war could not be described in human language, but it had +to be waged in order to destroy the hellish doctrine that might was +right, the hideous creed of "blood and iron." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +The English army had, for the time being, occupied the trenches from +which they had driven the Germans, and for a moment they were safe. +The enemy was moving away towards a distant hill, but a huge rearguard +was on the alert. + +The commanding officer knew that although a slight advantage had been +gained, pursuit would be madness, so, taking advantage of the enemies' +trenches, they decided to await further events. + +To Bob, the whole day seemed like a dream. His encounter with the +German private was like the memory of some event which had taken place +long, long ago. All the same, it was a wonder to him that he was alive +and unwounded. + +All around him lay men in various positions; some never to rise again; +some, even if they recovered, to be mutilated for life. Only now and +then did the rearguard of the enemy's army reveal its whereabouts, but +all knew that thousands of men were waiting for any advantage which +might be given to them. + +The day was fast dying, and whatever little wind there had been had +nearly sunk to rest. + +"Hello, Nancarrow! you here?" + +"Pickford! Great heavens, man, whoever thought of seeing you!" + +It was an old school-fellow who spoke to Bob. They had been four years +together at Clifton, and Pickford had been on the military side of the +school. + +When Bob had gone up to Oxford, Pickford had left for Sandhurst. They +had last seen each other on what they called their breaking-up row at +the school. Both of them had been as wild as March hares, and they +with a hundred others had yelled like mad at the thought of their +school days being over. + +Now they had met on French soil, amidst carnage and the welter of +blood, at the close of a day which would ever live in Bob's memory. + +"I heard you had refused to enlist, Nancarrow." + +"Who told you?" + +"Trevanion: he said you had shown the white feather over the whole +business, and pretended to excuse yourself by religious scruples." + +Bob was silent for a moment; he scarcely knew how to reply. + +"I told Trevanion he was altogether mistaken in you," went on Pickford; +"but he gave such details of your refusal, and described in such +graphic language what others had said about you, that it seemed +impossible for him to be mistaken. Some girl gave you a white feather, +didn't she, at the Public Hall in St. Ia?" + +"Did Trevanion tell you that?"--and there was anger in Bob's voice. + +"I thought it was scarcely a sportsmanlike thing to do," said Pickford, +noticing the look on Bob's face; "I told him so, too. We were talking +about you only last night." + +"Is Trevanion here, then?" + +"Yes: didn't you know? He has been in the thick of it the whole day. +As you know, he is Captain of the Royal West--a fine lot of men he has, +too." + +"And he thinks I am still in Cornwall?" asked Bob. + +"I suppose so. You see it was this way: we were talking about certain +swabs of whom we were ashamed, and he mentioned you." + +"Don't tell him I am here," said Bob quietly. + +"Why?" + +"Never mind--don't; I daresay he will find out soon enough." + +"Anyhow," said Pickford, "he is awfully popular with himself just now; +I hear he is certain to be a Major in a few days, and will be Colonel +in no time. You know he is engaged?" + +"Engaged? To whom?" + +"You know her--old Tresize's daughter; Nancy, I think her name is. Of +course you know her: Penwennack, her father's place, is close by St. +Ia." + +"And--and is he engaged to her?" + +"Yes," replied Pickford. + +"Did he tell you so himself?" + +"No, not in so many words; but he spoke of her to one of the other men +as his _fiancée_." + +Bob's heart sank like lead; the worst he had feared had come to pass. +This, then, was his reward for his fidelity to his conscience. He +could not understand it. He knew Nancy was angry with him--angry at +what she had called his cowardice, at his refusal to obey the call of +his country. But he was sure she loved him: had she not told him +so?--and now, to become engaged within only a few weeks, to the man she +had spoken of, almost with scorn, was simply unbelievable. + +For the moment he had become heedless of his surroundings; the fact +that thousands of soldiers were crouching in the trenches waiting for +any possible advance of the enemy, the groans of men who were wounded +and perhaps dying, did not exist to him. + +At that moment the issue of battles was less to him than the action of +the woman he loved. + +"I used to imagine you were gone on her," went on Pickford; "I suppose +it was only a boy-and-girl affair." + +Bob did not reply; he could not discuss the tragedy of his life with +his old school-fellow. + +"Where is Trevanion now?" he asked presently. + +"He must be close by," was the reply. "I saw him less than an hour +ago, when the Germans were beginning to give way. Of course I have +always known him to be a fine soldier, but I never knew he had so much +of the fighting devil in him. Man, you should have seen his eyes burn +red--he was just like a wild savage. I think he forgot his duties as +an officer and gave himself up to the lust of fighting." + +Pickford had scarcely uttered the words when a man came up to him. "I +say, Trevanion's missing," he said. + +"Trevanion missing? I was telling Nancarrow here that I saw him less +than an hour ago." + +"Yes, so did I; but we have had later reports. Sergeant Beel says he +saw him fall; I think he was wounded by a bullet. Beel was at that +time so hard pressed that he could do nothing for him." + +In spite of himself a feeling of joy shot into Bob's heart. If +Trevanion were wounded, perhaps he--then . . . but he would not allow +himself to complete the thought which had been born in his mind. + +Bob found himself amidst a group of officers. "It is impossible to do +anything for him," he heard one say: "I know where he is, but no man's +life would be worth a pin's purchase who tried to get at him. The +Germans are not more than 500 yards away, and whoever shows himself to +them is a dead man. Only a few minutes ago some men were trying to get +from one trench to another, and they were just mowed down like grass." + +"But Trevanion may not be killed," urged another, "and if he is badly +wounded it might mean death to him if nothing is done for him. +Besides, daylight will be gone in less than an hour, and if he is not +got at at once, it will be impossible to find him in the dark." + +"And the man who tries to get at him in the light," said another, "will +find himself full of bullets." + +Bob listened eagerly to every word that was said, and again he could +not help rejoicing at what seemed Trevanion's fate. The fact that he +had discussed his, Bob's, cowardice with fellows with whom he had been +at school had roused his anger against him; and when he was told that +Trevanion was engaged to Nancy Tresize, a feeling of mad hatred +mastered him. + +"By God," said one, "but we cannot leave him out there without trying +to get at him! Isn't there one of us who will make the attempt?" + +"It would be a madman's act," cried another. "You know they are +waiting for us, and, if any one dares to go out in the open, he is a +dead man." + +"You say you know where he is now?" said Bob. + +"I know where Sergeant Beel said he saw him," was the reply. + +"I should like to speak to Beel," and Bob's voice was very quiet as he +spoke. + +Instantly an order was given, and a few minutes later Sergeant Beel was +saluting him. + +"You say you saw Captain Trevanion fall?" said Bob. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Can you point out the spot?" + +"Yes, sir." + +A few minutes later Bob was in possession of all the information which +the Sergeant could give. + +"Heavens, you are not going, Nancarrow?" + +"I'm going to have a try," was Bob's reply. + +In the few seconds which it took Sergeant Beel to tell his story, Bob +had been fighting the greatest battle of his life. It seemed to him as +though thousands of devils were pleading with him to let his rival die, +and all the time every particle of manhood he possessed was telling him +where his duty lay. + +If Nancy Tresize had promised Trevanion to be his wife, she must love +him, and if she loved him, the death of her lover would be like death +to her. Anyhow, it was for him to make the attempt. + +He crept from his place of safety, and threw himself flat on the +ground, while the others, with whispered exclamations of surprise, +watched him. + +Keeping his body as close as he could to the ground, he crawled +forward. When he had been a boy, he, like thousands of other English +boys, had played at fighting Indians, and the old trick of crawling +close to the ground served him well now; but it was painfully slow, and +every yard he took he expected to hear the whistle of bullets--to feel +the baptism of fire. + +When he had crawled perhaps one hundred yards, a rifle shot rang out, +and he heard a bullet cut its way through the leaves of the trees in +the near distance. Was it aimed at him? He didn't know, but he did +know that the nearer he went to the enemies' lines, the greater chance +they would have of seeing him. + +"Why should I go any further?" he asked himself. "It is a madman's +trick I am playing. No one but an idiot would take such a risk; +besides, it is useless--I can never reach him. Even if I get to the +spot Beel described, I may not find him, and then I shall have simply +thrown away my life for nothing." Then for the first time that day he +really felt what fear meant. + +Since early morning he had been in the midst of the fray, now directing +his soldiers, now fighting hand-to-hand battles, but never once had he +felt fear; even when his comrades on his right hand and on his left had +fallen, he had not felt even a tremor. His nerves had been wrought up +to such a pitch that fear was almost impossible; rather he had known a +kind of mad joy in fighting. When in answer to the German charge the +English soldiers had rushed forward, bayonets fixed, to meet them, he +knew he had become almost a savage in his lust for blood. More than +once he had laughed aloud as slowly, amidst cries of pain, savage yells +of joy, and feverish passion, they had fought their way, inch by inch, +and driven the Germans back; but now he felt fear. + +It was one thing to rush forward amidst the clash of arms and the +cheers of his comrades; it was another to crawl along like an Indian +savage, in the silence of the dying day. And for what purpose? To +save a man who, half an hour before, he had wished dead. + +But he knew he could not go back. Something, he could not explain +what, urged him forward. How could he go back with his purpose +unfulfilled? What would the others say? In spite of the fact that he +had undertaken what every man of them had said was a madman's act, they +would in their heart of hearts scorn him for having played the coward. + +Every muscle in his body ached; his hands were torn and bleeding; it +seemed to him as if there were hammers striking his temples; sparks of +fire were in his eyes,--still he struggled forward. + +He lifted his head and looked around. Yes, he was near the spot which +Sergeant Beel had described. Daylight was now falling, and half an +hour later darkness would be upon them. If his mission were not +accomplished whilst the light lasted, the Captain would have to lie +until the morning, and if he were wounded, he might during those hours +die from loss of blood. + +Again there was a crack of rifles, and he heard the whistle of bullets +as they passed by him; one of these was not more than a yard away. +What the Germans meant, he did not know, neither could he tell whether +he had been seen, but he was sure that his life was not worth a pin's +purchase. + +He had left his sword behind--that was of no use to him now and would +be only an encumbrance--but he had his revolver ready to hand. + +Feverishly he looked around him, but nowhere could he see the man he +sought. Still, he had done his duty; he could go back to Pickford and +the other fellows and tell them he had done his best and had failed. + +But he stayed where he was. + +He realised that he was faint and hungry. Since, early that Sunday +morning he had scarcely partaken of food; all day long there had been +mad fighting and deadly carnage, and in his excitement he had forgotten +hunger; now he thought he was going to faint. Then suddenly every +nerve became tense again. He saw not more than a dozen yards away a +man in German uniform; like lightning his hand flew to his revolver, +and he held himself in readiness. Scarcely had he done so, when he +heard a groan. The German also evidently heard it, for he quickly made +his way towards the spot from which the sound came. + +A moment later Bob heard the German give a low laugh as if he were +pleased, but the laugh died in its birth; before it was finished, a +bullet from Bob's revolver had pierced his brain. Forgetful of danger, +he rushed forward, and saw that he had not been a moment too soon. The +German was about to drive his sword into the body of a prostrate man. + +"It is he!" cried Bob, in a hoarse whisper; he had found the man he had +come to seek. There, partly hidden by a small bush, lay Captain +Trevanion, and on his face was a pallor like the pallor of death. + +"He is alive," reflected Bob; "I heard him groan just now." + +He put his ear close to Trevanion's heart and listened. Yes, he was +faintly breathing, but his clothes were saturated with blood. + +With trembling hands Bob undid the other's uniform, and was not long in +finding a wound from which oozed his life's blood. He called to mind +all the medical knowledge he had, and set to work to stop the bleeding; +in a few minutes had partially succeeded. + +But how to get him back to the English lines! That was the question. +He did not think Trevanion was in any immediate danger now. All he +could do was to wait until the daylight was gone, and then carry the +wounded man to a place of safety. But he dared not wait. The wound +began bleeding again. Trevanion was a heavy man, almost as heavy as +Bob himself, and in carrying him he knew that he must expose himself to +the German fire; but that risk must be taken. + +He thought he might carry him two or three hundred yards before being +shot, and by that time he would be near enough to the English lines to +enable those who were watching, to reach them. + +Bob could never call clearly to mind any details of the next few +minutes. He knew that he was stumbling along in the twilight, bearing +a heavy burden--knew, too, that bullets whizzed by him; but, heedless +of everything, he plodded forward. He had a vague idea, too, that he +must be seen; but all thought of danger had gone. + +If he were killed, he was killed, and that was all. + +Then suddenly cheers reached him. It seemed to him as though a +thousand arms were around him, and wild excited cries filled the air. +After that he knew no more. + +When he came to himself again, he was lying in a tent, and bending over +him was a face he had never seen before. + +"There, you'll do now; you're all right." + +"Who are you?" asked Bob. + +"I'm Doctor Grey; but that doesn't matter. You haven't a wound or a +scratch, my dear chap; you just fainted--that was all. How the devil +you got through, I don't know; but there it is, you're as right as +rain." + +"Have I been long here?" + +"Not more than five minutes. Heavens, man, it was the maddest thing I +ever heard of! Trevanion is in a bad way; whether he'll pull through +or not, I don't know; but if he does, he'll owe his life to you. He +was slowly bleeding to death, and of course your getting him here +didn't help him. Still, he's in good hands." + +"He's alive, then?" + +"Oh, yes, he's alive, and I think he'll live; still, he'll have a bad +time. Oh, yes, you can get up, if you want; you're all right. When +did you have food last?" + +"I don't think I remember," said Bob. "It must have been about midday, +I think." + +"I thought so. Now drink this. Do you mind seeing the fellows? +That's right; here they come. Now, Pringle--oh, yes, and Colonel +Sapsworth too--no wonder you are proud of your subaltern; there are men +who've got the Victoria Cross for less." + +Colonel Sapsworth caught Bob's hand and wrung it without a word. + +Bob saw his lips tremble beneath his grey moustache, saw too that his +eyes were filled with tears; but Colonel Sapsworth was a man who didn't +talk much. "You're a plucky young devil," he said, "but I thought you +had it in you. There, there, do you feel better now? By Jove, you're +the talk of the whole division! Yes, Trevanion will do all right--at +least, I hope so," and then the Colonel rubbed his eyes. + +"That is enough," said Dr. Grey. "I'm chief in command here; he wants +a few hours' rest, and then he'll be as right as ever. Meanwhile, let +him alone; the young beggar has had a hard day." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +After the incidents I have just recorded, Bob had no longer reason to +complain that he was kept out of the firing-line. Event after event +followed quickly in what is now generally spoken of as "The Battle of +the Rivers." + +Position after position was taken by the English, only to be lost +again; now the Germans were driven back, and again, although on the +whole progress was made, the English were driven back, but all the time +carnage and bloodshed continued. + +Every day and all through the days the great guns poured forth red-hot +death. Every day the welter of blood went on. + +We in England read in our newspapers that a great flanking movement was +taking place which was eventually either to wipe out or capture General +von Kluck's Army, and for this, day after day, we waited in vain. + +We were told that the Germans were surrounded by a ring of steel, from +which, except a miracle took place, they could not escape; but somehow +there was an opening in the ring of steel, and nothing decisive took +place. In the minds of many, conviction grew that it might be years +before the war, brought about by the Germans, would come to an end. + +The soldiers at the front knew little of this. I, who have received +letters from more than one of them, learned that they, who were in the +very thick of the fighting, knew practically nothing of the trend of +the war. The interest of each regiment was largely confined to the +little space it occupied. + +All the soldiers knew was that they were advancing slowly, and that +instead of the German army's reaching Paris, it was steadily going +backward. + +Tragedy ceased to be tragedy, because it became so commonplace; death +was an everyday event, and men grew almost careless of it. "It may be +my turn to-day," they said one to another, with a grim laugh; and some +of them, even when they were wounded, jested about their sufferings. + +This, however, Bob could not help noticing; he was more and more +trusted by his Colonel, and, although he was in a subordinate position, +work of importance was often entrusted to him. Especially was this the +case after an incident, which, in one form or another, was repeated all +along the battle-line. + +One morning a young officer came to him saying that he had been +requested to obtain information which Bob had gathered the day before, +and concerning which a new line of action had to be taken. + +This young officer was an utter stranger to Bob, but, seeing he +possessed the necessary papers, he spoke to him freely. + +"We had a great day yesterday," he said. + +"We shall have a greater to-morrow," was Bob's reply. + +A few minutes later the two were eagerly discussing what would probably +take place, and Bob found himself giving away information of great +importance. + +"I wish I could talk German," said the young officer presently. "I had +heaps of chances whilst I was at school, but, like a fool, I neglected +them." + +"Why, what would you do?" asked Bob. + +"I would find my way to the enemies' camp," was the reply; "and I would +learn what they are up to; it would be a great advantage to us. It is +said that our lines are filled with German spies." + +"I suppose spies are necessary," was Bob's reply; "but, somehow, spying +does not fall in with our ideas; still, I suppose we have to use them." + +"Those Germans are such mean devils," was Captain Rivers' retort; +"there's no dirty work they aren't prepared to do; still, if I only +knew German, I would be a match for 'em. I suppose you do not happen +to know German?" + +Bob did not reply, but he looked at the other keenly, noticing his +fair, smooth, ruddy face and altogether innocent appearance. Then a +suspicion was born in his mind. "Wait a minute, will you?" he said, +and then, calling a soldier, told him to fetch Lieutenant Proctor, as +he wished to speak to him. + +"What's up, Nancarrow?" said Proctor, when he came. + +"I want to know how poor Trevanion is getting on have you heard +anything?" + +"He has been removed to a hospital at C----," replied Proctor; "as you +know, he was not well enough to be sent back to England. I'm afraid it +will be a long time before he is well again." + +"Let's see, who is taking his place?" + +"Captain Tremaine. Didn't you know? Promotions are rapid in these +days." + +"Oh, he has got his captaincy, has he? By the way, there is something +else I want to ask you," and Bob, knowing that Proctor had spent some +time in Germany, spoke to him in German. + +While Proctor was replying, he gave a quick glance at Rivers, and then +moved towards him. It was no time for hesitation or parley. + +"Rivers," said Bob--"if that is your name--you're a liar. You know +German, and, if I'm not mistaken, you're a German spy. At him, +Proctor." The last words came out like a shot from a pistol, and he +saw Rivers draw a revolver from his pocket as if he intended to shoot +him. A few seconds later he was fast bound, and Bob and Proctor +escorted Rivers towards General Fortescue's tent. + +"General," said Bob, "this man tells me he was sent to me from you; is +that true?" + +"Heavens, no! I never saw the fellow before, but I am inclined to +think we have put our hands upon a spy," he said, when Bob had recorded +what had taken place. + +Ten minutes later the guilt of the _soi-disant_ Rivers was proved up to +the hilt. + +Notes were found on his person proving not only the fact that he had +come from the German lines, but that he had for some time been +gathering information in the British lines, with the evident intention +of conveying it to the enemy. + +This information, moreover, was of such vital import, and it had been +kept with such secrecy, that it seemed miraculous that he could have +obtained it; still, obtained it he had, and a dozen proofs of his +treachery were found upon him. To all questions, however, he +maintained a rigid silence; evidently he was faithful to his own +country. + +"And did the blackguard tell you he did not know German?" asked the +General. + +"That's what aroused my suspicions, sir," replied Bob. "He was like a +character in Hamlet--he protested too much; this made me send for +Proctor, to whom I could speak German in a natural sort of way. As I +watched his face, I saw that he understood every word that was being +said, and I took steps accordingly." + +"A jolly sensible thing to do," was the General's response. "Still, we +have spotted him, and, what is more, the biter's bitten; not only will +he fail to carry back the information he has gained, to the enemy, but +his papers reveal their intentions, and so you have rendered us a great +service." + +A little later on, the man who had called himself Rivers, but whose +real name, according to his papers, was Werter, was shot. + +"That Nancarrow is a useful man," said Colonel Sapsworth to the +General, not long after, when they were discussing the situation. + +"He certainly seems to have behaved very well," was the General's +response. + +"I have had my eye upon him for weeks," said the Colonel. "From the +first time I saw him, I felt he had the makings of a good soldier, and +I gave special instructions about him. Of course, I had to be careful, +and I saw to it that he was tested in various ways; but he's as plucky +as they make 'em. Of course, it was a mad thing to do to creep out +into the open, as he did, and bring back Trevanion, but it was a fine +thing all the same." + +"He seems quite intelligent too," said the General. + +"Yes, the way he nabbed that German was just fine; he had very little +data upon which to go, and it seems that this man Werter has been on +the loose for weeks. Nancarrow, however, spotted him, and now he will +not do any more spying. If Nancarrow doesn't get killed, he will be of +great service to us." + +"We'll give him every chance," was the General's reply, "and if what +you have told me is a true indication of his quality, he shall not lack +for opportunity." + +This was probably why, a few days later, Bob was placed in command of a +number of men to do outpost duty in the direction of the enemies' lines. + +For three days the English had been preparing for an attack which they +hoped might be of considerable importance, but it was vital to the +fulfilment of their plans that they should not be in any way surprised +before they were ready. + +It was well known that the Germans were in strong force close by, and +that any false step might prove disastrous. + +It was late in the evening when Bob and the men placed under his +command found themselves at the post which had been allotted to them. +All round them was wooded country, which made observation difficult, +but which also sheltered them from the enemies' fire. + +"Anything may happen here, sir," said a young non-commissioned officer +to Bob. + +"Still things seem pretty quiet; we may as well feed now." + +Bob was on good terms with his men, and while he never slackened +discipline in the slightest degree, he tried to be friendly with all. +He ate the same food and partook of the same danger--never in any +degree commanding them to do what he himself shirked. + +The little meal was nearly over, and Bob was taking his last drink of +tea out of a tin can, when he caught a sound which brought him quickly +to his feet. + +Ten seconds later every soldier was on the alert, ready for action. +Then in the light of the dying day they saw a number of men marching +from behind the trees. + +"They look like our own men," said Corporal West; "still, them blessed +Germans' uniform seems just the same colour as our own in this light." + +A minute later some English words rang out in the still evening air. + +"We're the Lancashire Fusiliers," said a voice. + +"Wait a minute," said Bob to the corporal. "I am going to see who they +are before taking any risks." + +He covered the intervening space in less than a minute, and saw that +the other party was not quite so large as his own, but still of +considerable strength. They wore, as far as he could judge, the +English uniform, and gave evidence that they were our own soldiers. + +Barely had he reached the man whom he supposed to be the officer, +however, than from behind the trees a dozen more rushed to him, whom he +had not hitherto seen. A second later, he was surrounded. + +"Speak one word, and you're a dead man," was the cry. Bob knew what +this meant. If his soldiers remained in ignorance, and were unable to +give alarm to the general army, the enemy could easily surprise them +and have them at advantage. Without a second's hesitation, however, +and unmindful of his own danger, he shouted aloud: + +"They're Germans. Fire!" + +Almost at the same moment there was a crash of rifle shots, and the men +around him fell by scores. It seemed almost miraculous that he himself +was untouched, but, before he had time to say another word, a huge +German struck him with the butt-end at his revolver, and he felt +himself hastily dragged away. + +For some time after this he little knew what was taking place; he had a +vague idea, however, that he was in the hands of the enemy, but, from +the fact that they were going away from the English lines, he hoped +that his action had not been in vain. + +As his senses returned to him, he saw that he was accompanied by a +dozen German soldiers, and that he was being hastily dragged towards +the German lines. + +"We've got _you_, anyhow," said one by his side. + +"Where are you taking me?" asked Bob. + +"You'll soon know," was the reply. + +"I fancy I spoiled your little game, anyhow," and Bob was able to +laugh, in spite of the fact that the world seemed to be swimming around +him. + +"Yes, our trick nearly succeeded; but, thanks to you, it has been +spoiled," was the German's grim reply. "Still, better luck next time." + +"I fancy you have lost heavily," said Bob. + +"Yes," replied the German, "every man except ourselves is either killed +or taken prisoner. Still, we've got you." + +"That doesn't matter much," replied Bob. "Your little plans are +spoiled, and by this time all the information will be in the right +quarters." + +The German with whom he had this conversation spoke English almost like +a native; indeed, but for certain intonations, he might easily pass as +an Englishman. The others were evidently ignorant of our language, but +spoke to each other freely in their own tongue. Apparently they +imagined that their prisoner was entirely ignorant of what they said, +and Bob was not long in gathering the importance of what had taken +place. But for his little company, which had surprised and overwhelmed +them, they would have been able to carry out their plans without our +Army's knowing anything of their whereabouts. It was evident, too, +that they were in considerable apprehension as to how they would be +treated when they reported their failure. They had not only failed to +accomplish their purpose, but they had lost a large number of men. As +Bob thought over the matter, he realised that had he hesitated a second +before speaking, he would have been silenced altogether, and that they +would have been able to accomplish their purpose. + +Half an hour later he found himself in the German camp. + +Night had now fallen, but in the light of the moon he saw that he was +surrounded by vast hordes of men. No one spoke to him, however; but he +saw by the many glances that were cast at him, that he was an abject of +great interest. + +Some time later he came to the conclusion that he had reached the +quarters of officers in high position. He was evidently away from the +main army, and from the nature of his surroundings he came to the +conclusion that he was to be questioned by those in high places. + +The officer who had captured him and who spoke English, made his way to +a large tent, and was evidently making his report of what had taken +place. + +Bob could not catch a word of what was being said, but he noted that +the officers constantly threw glances towards him. + +A few minutes later he found himself amongst a number of men, whom he +couldn't help realising occupied important commands. + +To his surprise these men seemed to speak to him quite freely, and +appeared to desire to be on friendly terms. They told him they were +naturally chagrined at the failure of their plans, but congratulated +him on his coolness and courage in giving warning to his men. After +this, they tried to draw him into conversation about the numbers of the +Allies, and of their plans of warfare. As may be imagined, however, +Bob was very careful of what he said, and gave them only the vaguest +generalities. + +One thing, however, struck him very forcibly; instead of being treated +harshly, each seemed to vie with the other in showing him kindnesses. +Good food was brought to him, and excellent wine was placed before him. + +He, like others, had heard of the harshness with which English +prisoners were treated; thus, when he found himself regarded rather as +an honoured guest than as a prisoner of war, his astonishment was great. + +Nearly all the officers spoke English, and they laughed and chatted +with him freely. They told him that all the reports he had heard about +the bitterness of the Germans towards the English were so many lies. +Of course, they said, now they were at war they meant to fight it out +to the end, but it was impossible for them to feel bitterly towards the +English, with whom they had for so many years been friendly. They also +pretended to speak freely of their plans, evidently with the intention +of leading him to copy their example. + +To his surprise, moreover, he found himself a little later in a +well-appointed tent of his own, and whilst it was guarded jealously, he +was surrounded with comforts which he had never expected. + +It was nearly midnight, and he was just on the point of falling asleep +when an officer came to him. + +"Follow me," he said brusquely, and ere long he found himself again in +the open, walking between lines of soldiers. + +As he thought of it afterwards, his experiences that night seemed to +him almost like a dream. He was passed from guard to guard, seemingly +without reason, yet according to some pre-arranged plan. After what +appeared to him an interminable time, he was ushered into the presence +of a grave-looking military man, whose uniform bespoke the fact that he +was of the highest rank. + +This man was quickly joined by another, and a whispered conversation +took place between them, and Bob saw that keen, searching glances were +constantly directed towards himself. + +"He's only a lieutenant," he heard one say. + +"It's no use; he will have it so," replied the other; "after he had +heard the report, he gave his orders, and there's nothing else for it." + +The other shrugged his shoulders, as if impatient at something, and +then Bob was again commanded to move forward to another place. + +Eventually he found himself in what seemed to him like an ante-room of +some apartment of extreme importance. Here he waited for nearly half +an hour; still on each side of him stood a soldier, erect, motionless, +silent. + +Then some curtains were drawn aside, and Bob found himself in what +might have been a richly appointed room of an old French mansion. + +Seated at a desk, covered with documents of all sorts, his face almost +hidden from the light, sat a man--alone. He did not look up at Bob's +entrance, but went on reading quietly, now and then making a note on +the margin of the papers which he was examining. + +He was clad in an officer's uniform, but what rank he held, Bob was +unable to determine; that he was in high command, there could be no +doubt. + +Minute after minute passed, and still this lonely figure sat reading +and examining. + +The silence was intense; they might have been away in the heart of the +country, far from the rush and clamour of life. Had not Bob passed +through innumerable hordes of men, he would have thought himself in an +uninhabited region. + +A little clock on a kind of sideboard ticked distinctly, and as minute +after minute passed by, the ticking strangely affected his nerves. On +his right hand and on his left, men on guard still stood silent, +motionless. + +Presently the lonely figure at the desk lifted his head and gave Bob a +keen, searching glance. In so doing, although the young man was unable +to distinguish any particular feature, he caught a glimpse of the face. +As far as he could judge, it was grave and deeply lined. He noticed, +too, that the hair was grey, while over the temples it was nearly white. + +But what impressed him most was the peculiar quality of the eyes--he +did not remember ever having seen such eyes before; they were not +large, neither was there anything particular in their colour--and yet, +they held him like a magnet. Instinctively he knew that here was a +master of men. + +Those eyes which looked into his--not large, light, steely grey in +colour--spoke of domination--of power; they seemed hard and glittering. + +A second later he gave a nod to the officers on guard, whereupon they +silently backed out of the apartment, leaving Bob alone with the grave, +solitary figure at the desk. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +"Your name is Robert Nancarrow?" The words came suddenly, not in the +form of a question, but as an assertion. + +The voice was light, almost thin; the eyes were the eyes of a +commander; the face, to Bob, suggested weakness. + +He spoke English almost as an Englishman might; there was scarcely the +suggestion of a German accent. + +"Yes, sir," was Bob's reply. + +"You are under General Fortescue, and to-night were placed on outpost +duty. By your quick, decisive action you gave your men alarm and +frustrated the plans of those you call your enemy?" + +"I'm very proud to think so, sir," replied Bob. + +Again those piercing eyes rested on him. Bob felt a shiver run down +his spine as he saw them. Evidently the man at the desk was reading +him like an open book; he was estimating his quality--his position. + +"You wear a lieutenant's uniform, I see?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Were you trained as a soldier?" + +"No, sir." + +"How long have you been in the Army?" + +"Only a few weeks, sir." + +"And yet they made you a lieutenant?" and the suggestion of a smile +passed his lips--a smile that was almost a sneer. + +"You may know, sir," said Bob, "that in England we have what is called +an 'Officers Training Corps'; men who join that corps do not +necessarily go into the Army, but they join it so that in time of need +officers may be forthcoming. When I was at school at Clifton, I joined +the Officers' Training Corps, and qualified. That accounts for what +would seem a rapid promotion." + +"I see; and you come from what is called a good family in England, I +suppose?" + +"I can claim to have that honour, sir," and again the lonely figure was +silent, and appeared to be reexamining the papers before him. His face +was still in the shade, but, as far as Bob could judge, he appeared to +be thinking deeply. "Who is he, and what does he want with me, I +wonder?" he reflected. "I am nobody; why have I been treated in this +wonderful fashion?" + +"You Englishmen think you are winning in this war, I suppose?" + +Again the words came suddenly, and still in the same, almost light, +weak voice. + +"We do not think, sir--we are sure." + +"Ah, how? why?" + +For a moment Bob felt afraid to speak; the silence of the room, save +for the ticking of the little clock, and the occasional rustle of +papers, together with the experiences through which he had been +passing, almost unnerved him; besides, there was something uncanny, +almost ghostly, about the silent, lonely figure there. + +"You would have me speak freely, sir?" + +"I command you to do so." + +"We shall win, sir, because God is always on the side of right." + +"God! Do you believe in God?" + +"I believe in nothing else so much." + +"Right! Then you think you are in the right?" + +"What doubt can there be? We stand for liberty against tyranny; for +faithfulness to our promises; but, more than all, we stand for peace +against war,--that is why God will be on our side." + +Again the lonely figure looked at Bob intently; the young man's words +seemed to have caused him some surprise. + +"Nonsense!" he said presently. "I suppose you are thinking of the +Belgian Treaty? What do you English care about the Belgian Treaty?" + +"Enough to risk our very existence, sir." + +"Come, tell me frankly--of course, you cannot speak for your +statesmen--but do you know anything of the English people as a whole? +I was informed just now that you seemed intelligent; perhaps you are. +It will be interesting to hear what you regard as the general feeling +in England about this war." + +"The English hate it, sir--hate it as they hate the devil; they think +it is the greatest crime in history. The English are a peace-loving +people; they want only peace." + +"Ah, then they hate this war?" + +"Bitterly." + +"And, as a consequence, they do not support it." + +"On the contrary, sir, never was so much enthusiasm shown about any war +in the history of the nation as is shown about this." + +"And yet they hate it. Why then are they enthusiastic?" + +"Because they believe it to be war against war; against the spirit of +war; against the doctrines that might is right, and that force is the +will of God." + +"How? I do not understand. Tell me." + +"Since you command me to speak plainly, sir, I will, and perhaps I can +best tell you what I mean by recounting my own history. My father +belonged to a Community in England who believe that all war is sinful, +and I was brought up to accept his doctrine; he took the teaching of +our Lord literally." + +"What teaching of our Lord?" + +"What we call the Sermon on the Mount: 'Ye have heard it hath been +said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; but I say unto you, +that if a man strike thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other +also. Ye have heard it hath been said, thou shalt love thy neighbour +and hate thine enemy; but I say unto you, love your enemies'; I was +taught to believe that, sir, and to regard all war as a crime. + +"For some time after this war was declared I refused to volunteer. I +was trying to be a Christian, and I did not see how a man who wanted to +be a Christian could be a soldier." + +His interrogator looked at him, evidently in surprise: "You believe +that?" + +"In a deep vital sense I believe it still, sir." + +"Well, go on." + +"That was why I refused to volunteer for the Army, when Lord Kitchener +sent out his appeal that he wanted half a million men immediately." + +"Why have you changed your mind? It might be interesting to hear," and +again there was the suggestion of a sneer in the voice. + +"I read some German books, and got to know what the Germans actually +thought; I realised the ideas which lay at the heart of Germany, and +then I knew that if Germany won this war, all liberty would be gone, +all our free institutions would be destroyed, and that the spirit of +war would reign more and more throughout the world. I saw that what to +the Germans was right, was to us wrong; that the Germans' Gospel was +different from ours." + +"Different! How?" + +"I saw that the Germans gloried in war; that they regarded it as +necessary; that to them those who asked for peace committed a crime. I +heard one of our Members of Parliament say that he had been in Berlin +at a Peace Conference, but that Conference was broken up by the order +of the German Government. I read the works of authors whose words are +accepted as gospel by the dominant party in Germany, I realised the +Germans' aim and ambitions, and I knew that if they succeeded, peace +would for ever be impossible in the world. Then I knew I had a call +from God, and then I no longer hesitated." + +"Ah, you are a dreamer, I see. So you joined the Army; but are your +beliefs common in England, may I ask?" + +"Throughout the major portion of England they are common," replied Bob. +"The great feeling in the hearts of the English throughout the whole +country is--we must destroy this War God of Germany. Against Germans +as individuals we feel nothing but kindness, but this War God, before +which the people fall down and worship, is a devil." + +"And you say that is the belief throughout England?" + +"That is so, especially among thoughtful people." + +"Then why is it you have so few volunteers?" + +"Few volunteers, sir! I do not understand." + +"Why is it, in spite of Lord Kitchener's call, only a few thousands of +the offscouring of the country have joined his Army in spite of huge +bribes?" + +"Your question shows that you are misinformed, sir. Instead of a few +thousands of the off-scouring, as you call them, there has simply been +a rush to the English recruiting stations; not only of the poorer +classes, but of every class--from our public schools, from the +Universities, from our middle-class families, the flower of our young +manhood have come." + +"Do you mean that your well-born people have been willing to join as +privates?" + +"I mean, sir, that there are tens of thousands of the sons of our best +families, who have joined, side by side with privates with labourers +and colliers. In three weeks after the call, half a million +volunteered." + +"Half a million!" this with a contemptuous shrug, "and what then?" + +"The call for the second half-million came," was Bob's reply; "and that +second half-million has responded." + +"From England alone?" + +"From the British Isles." + +"But the Empire as a whole has not responded." + +"The Germans thought our Empire was a rope of sand--that it would fall +to pieces at the first touch of war; instead of that, from Canada, from +Africa, from India, from Australia, men volunteered by thousands--by +hundreds of thousands." + +"And you believe that these can stand against the Army through which +you passed?" + +"I don't believe--I am sure, sir." + +"And that is the feeling of your nation?" + +"That is the conviction of our nation, sir." + +"But do you realise that Germany has millions of trained soldiers?" + +"Yes, sir; but every German is forced to be a soldier. We have in +England to-day hundreds upon hundreds of thousands who are soldiers +because they long to be at the front. If a man doesn't pass the +doctor's examination, he is disappointed beyond measure, because he is +longing to fight. Ours is not a conscript army, sir, but an army which +pleads to be at the front." + +"You are sure of this?" + +"I'm absolutely certain, sir." + +Again the lonely man turned to some papers before him and read eagerly. + +"And when your first million is killed, what then?" He again spoke +suddenly. + +"Another million will come forward, sir, and, if need be, another, and +another, and another. Rather than that Germany should conquer, the +whole nation will come forward--the whole Empire will fight." + +"And what have the English thought of the German victories?" + +"That they are merely passing phases," was Bob's reply; "but this I +will tell you: the greatest impetus to volunteers coming forward has +been the news of a German victory. Officers have repeatedly told me +that our new volunteers, eagerly do more work in a week and learn more +of the art of war in a few days than the men learned in six months in +time of peace. In England we have no need for conscription, because +the best manhood of our nation pleads to be allowed to fight for the +country." + +"And yet the English hate war?" Again there was a sneer in the voice. + +"That is why we are eager to fight," was Bob's reply, "and we shall +never rest until German militarism is destroyed root and branch; until +this War God which dominates Germany is thrown down, and crushed to +atoms; until this poisonous cancer of war which has thrown its venomous +roots into the heart of Europe is cut out for ever. We shall never +cease fighting until that is done, and when that is done, we shall have +peace." + +Bob had almost forgotten where he was by this time--forgotten the +circumstances under which he spoke, and to whom he spoke; he did not +seem to realise that he was in the heart of the German camp--that he +was speaking to one in high command in the German army; he had got away +from the mere material aspect of the question--he was dealing with +spiritual things. + +"And if you win"--and still there was a sneer in the other's +voice--"what do you expect to gain?" + +"As a nation, sir?" + +"As a nation." + +"Nothing, sir; I've never heard of an Englishman speaking of any gain +that might be ours when we win." + +"Then what do you suppose will happen?" + +"Justice and peace will come, sir; Belgium will have justice." + +"Belgium! If she had obeyed our commands, she need never have +suffered." + +"But why should she obey your commands, sir? You had promised her +neutrality and independence, and you broke your promise; she had +depended upon you, and you failed her. Then she turned to England, and +England will never rest until Belgium has justice." + +"And what is to become of Germany?" + +"This is to be a fight to the end, sir; and Germany will never have +power to make war again." + +"You would rob us of our country, I suppose?" + +"No, sir, we do not want to rob you of your country. We hope that when +the war is over, the German people--many of whom hate war--will come +back to their peaceful life; but we shall never rest until the War God +of Germany is destroyed and is powerless to make war again. That is +why we are fighting, and will fight for the peace of the world." + +"But, surely, that is not the feeling of England as a whole?" + +"It is the feeling of England as a whole, and we shall never cease +fighting until our object is accomplished." + +"And the Kaiser, what think you of him? What is the feeling in Britain +about him?" + +"We believe the Kaiser to be sincere, sir, but obsessed with the war +spirit, and that because of it he is full of arrogance and conceit; +many believe him mad--that he suffers from a kind of megalomania. +Evidently he, like the rest of the war party in Germany, believes that +war is a good thing--a virtuous thing, a necessity; and, because of it, +he regards himself as a kind of Deity. We believe that his great +ambition is to make Germany the dominant power in the world, and that +war is the means by which he hopes to accomplish this. That is why we +are fighting, sir--and will fight." + +While Bob was speaking, he saw that the other's hand moved nervously +among the papers on the desk; he saw too that he fidgeted uneasily in +his chair, as though with difficulty he restrained himself. + +"And you think the Kaiser is responsible for this war?" + +"We believe that he has been preparing for it for years. For a long +time we fought against the belief, and a great part of the country held +that those who regarded him as a kind of War god were mistaken: now we +know otherwise. Doubtless, in many respects, he is a great man--a +strong man; but he is mad." + +Again the man in the chair started: then he touched the bell, and the +officers who brought Bob there again returned. The man at the desk +nodded to them and they led Bob out. As he withdrew, the last sight +which met his gaze was that of the lonely figure seated at the desk, +his face still largely in obscurity, but the eyes plain to be +seen--light, steely, penetrating--the eyes of a master of men. + +A few minutes later Bob heard two of the officers, with whom he had +been previously brought into contact, conversing in their own tongue: + +"It was unlike him to give an audience to a subaltern like that," said +one. + +"Yes," was the reply; "but he said he was dissatisfied with the reports +of the spies; he wanted to see England's position through English eyes. +I wonder what the young cuckoo said to him." + +Still between his guards, Bob walked away from the house where he had +been for more than an hour; he was oblivious of the fact that he was +passed from sentry to sentry, from guard to guard; his mind was full of +the strange scene in which he had taken part. + +The figure of the lonely man at the desk, who was thinking and working +while others were asleep, haunted him, and he wondered. + +As he came to the tent from which he had been led more than an hour +before, he again saw the officer who had given the command which had +ended in the scene we have just described. + +"Whom have I been speaking to?" he asked, as the officer entered the +tent with him. + +"Didn't you recognise him?" + +"I fancied I did, but I dared not think I was right." + +"You've been speaking to the Emperor of Germany," was the reply. + +"I'm glad I spoke my mind," Bob said. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +During the three days which followed the one on which he was captured, +Bob's experiences were difficult to explain. He found himself being +moved farther and farther away from the English lines; but he knew +nothing of what was taking place, neither could he understand why he +was treated with such kindness and consideration. + +He had expected to be immediately forwarded to some dirty German +prison, where he would suffer the same fate as many of his English +comrades. Instead of which, however, he might almost have been a guest +of honour. + +For this reason he could not help coming to the conclusion that this +special treatment was for some purpose. + +On the second day after the interview mentioned in the last chapter, he +was closely questioned by some German officers. They evidently +believed that he was possessed of information which would be valuable +to them, and for that reason did not treat him like an ordinary +prisoner. + +Although he knew but little of what was going on in the German camp, +his experience there was of great interest; it gave him an insight into +the life of the German army which he had never hoped for. He realised +at once the different atmosphere which obtained there from that which +obtained in the English army. + +He saw that the German discipline was more severe and more unbending; +that not the slightest feeling of friendship or comradeship could be +found between officers and men. + +He saw too that the German private was scarcely regarded as a human +being, but as a pawn on a chessboard; the officer looked upon himself +as living in a different world from that of his men. + +One day Bob saw that one of the soldiers failed to salute an officer +with sufficient promptness to please him, and immediately the officer +struck the man across the face with a whip. + +Bob saw the great red mark rise on the man's face, where the officer +had struck him. He knew that the pain he suffered must be great, but +he made no sign; he simply bore the punishment as if he were without +feeling. + +That same evening he was admitted into the circle of a number of the +officers. Bob mentioned the incident he had seen, and asked whether +this treatment was common. + +"What would you?" replied the German. "The man did not salute quickly, +therefore he must be punished." + +"And if he had cast a look of disrespect?" asked Bob. + +The German shrugged his shoulders. + +"We do not allow disrespect from men to their officers," was the reply. +"In time of war he would be shot like a dog." + +"And in peace?" asked Bob. + +"Ah--in peace, he would be treated in such a fashion that he would not +soon offend again." + +It was at that time, too, that Bob realised the terrible disappointment +among the German troops at the progress of the war. It had been given +out during its early stages, that the German Army would be in Paris by +the end of August. At first their boasts seemed likely to be +fulfilled, but as the days went by--as August passed and September came +to an end, and then, not only did they not find themselves in Paris, +but were driven back mile by mile, until they were nearing their own +borders--they were not only dismayed, but astonished. It seemed +impossible to them that anything could stand before the German Army. + +"It's you English," said one to him. "In 1870 we crushed the French +Army in six weeks, and we should have done the same now but for you." + +"And the contemptible little army has given you a great deal of +trouble?" said Bob. + +"That was one of the Kaiser's jokes, but we will pay you out for it." + +Upon this they turned the conversation into such a channel that Bob was +not slow to see their purpose. They were trying to obtain information +from him, and, as may be imagined, he did not fall readily into their +trap; indeed, they soon began to regard him as a hopeless case. + +He saw, too, that his position was becoming desperate. The German +officers were not cheerful and gay as our own were. Even in spite of +the most terrible fighting and awful suffering the English had kept +cheerful. + +It was as though the Germans felt themselves on the losing side. +Almost hourly they were pressed back, while great masses of wounded +soldiers were being brought from the battle-lines and hurried off to +the hospitals. + +"This does not seem like another Sedan," Bob heard one officer say to +another. "It is all those English; they fight like devils, and yet +they are as cool as men on parade. Instead of advancing, we are going +backward. Unless there is a change, we shall be driven out of the +country." + +"They shall pay for it later, never fear," said another. "When we have +once beaten them, France will be ours, and England crushed like an +empty eggshell." + +"When we have beaten them," was the doubtful response. + +What Bob suffered it is impossible to say; how he longed to be back +among his comrades in the fighting-line, I cannot put into words. + +He knew by the questions which were constantly asked him that they +thought he would be in a position to render them invaluable service; +that was why he had special treatment. + +At the end of three days, however, he knew that this special treatment +was over, and by the looks that were cast towards him, he felt sure +that the doom he expected would be his. He would be packed off to a +German prison. + +"What is to become of me?" he asked one of the officers, who had +constantly been plying him with questions. + +"You'll know to-morrow morning," was the curt reply. + +As may be imagined, Bob had, during the whole time, sought eagerly for +a means of escape; but this seemed impossible. All around him were +vast hordes of men, and he knew that any movement towards liberty on +his part would mean instant death. Yet he determined to try, and hour +by hour had formulated his plans. + +Up to the present no alteration had taken place in his treatment. It +seemed to him madness that the Germans should spare two men +continuously to guard him and watch him; yet they did. + +Then, inadvertently, he learned that the august personage with whom he +had had such a long conversation on the night of his capture had given +special orders concerning him, as it was his intention to speak with +him again. + +In view, however, of the significant words of the officer who had told +him that some change would take place on the following morning, he +imagined that this determination had been abandoned. + +Bob's opportunity of escape seemed to him afterwards almost like a +miracle. One night, as chance would have it, only one of the guards +was on duty, and he determined to take advantage of the circumstance. +If he were to escape, a bold, almost mad, endeavour must be made. +Failure would mean death; but, with all the enthusiasm of youth, he +decided to risk it. + +The guard was a man about his own height and build, and, under ordinary +circumstances, would be his match in physical strength. + +Of course a hand-to-hand struggle was out of the question; a cry from +the German soldier would mean arousing hundreds of others, and then +Bob's fate would be sealed. But if----and his brain almost reeled at +the madness of the plan which had been so suddenly born in his mind. + +Seizing his opportunity, and taking full advantage of the fact that he +had been allowed the use of his limbs, he suddenly struck his guard a +heavy blow, which, for the time, stunned him; then, seizing the man's +rifle, he struck him a blow on the head which left him senseless. +Quick as lightning, he pulled the man's clothes from off his prostrate +body, and a minute later he was himself, to all appearances, a German +soldier. + +As he reflected afterwards, the thing happened so quickly and under +such strange circumstances, that it seemed to him impossible. + +To overpower a German guard in the midst of thousands of German +soldiers, and then to appear among the others in a German uniform, +seemed absolutely impossible; yet he did it. + +It was for him, now, to find his way through the German lines without +revealing his identity. One thing was in his favour--that was a fact +which he had kept rigorously secret--he spoke German almost like a +German. + +I will not weary the reader with Bob's experiences during the next few +hours. In the letter he wrote to me about them, he gave but few +details. Nevertheless, he told me enough to make me realise that for +hours he was within an ace of detection and death. + +All around him shot and shell were falling, for although night had +come, a continuous bombardment was taking place. Each army was sending +forth its missiles of death; the guns of each were pounding to the +other's trenches. + +Before daylight came Bob had, in the darkness, passed the advance lines +of the enemy, and was making his way towards his own people. But even +yet his danger was not at an end; indeed, he was in more immediate +peril than when he was a prisoner in the German camp. Clad as he was +in the enemies' uniform, he knew that at first sight he would be shot +down. Still he must take his risk and press forward. + +Moreover, he knew that anything like hesitation must end in disaster. + +Daylight had just begun to appear when he heard the murmur of voices. +He felt sure he was some distance from the main line of the English, +and yet he thought he heard some English voices. "It will be some men +on outpost duty," he thought; "at any rate, I will have a try." Hiding +behind some bushes, he listened intently. "Yes," he thought, "they are +our own chaps." + +"Who goes there?" + +Bob knew it was a question which must be answered promptly. + +"I say, you fellows," he cried, "wait a minute." + +A dozen rifles were pointed towards him. Evidently the men who held +the rifles waited for the word of command to fire. + +"It's some German spy," he heard some one say. + +Bob threw up his arms as a sign of surrender, and immediately he was +seized. A few minutes later he told his story, which at first was not +believed; but when he told who he was, and asked to be taken +immediately to either General Fortescue or Colonel Sapsworth, the +sergeant in command of the little company of Englishmen opened his eyes +wide with astonishment. + +"By George, he talks like an Englishman, anyhow!" said the puzzled +sergeant; "and I did hear some talk three days ago about a Lieutenant +Nancarrow giving the alarm to his own soldiers at the risk of his own +life; anyhow, we've got him." + +Hours later Bob found himself in the presence of his own superior +officers. + +"Talk about miracles," said Colonel Sapsworth; "but you're about the +biggest miracle of this war. Nancarrow, we had all mourned for you as +dead, although your name was sent to England as missing. I never knew +the General so cut up as when he was told what had taken place; he +seemed to think it mean of Providence to allow you to be taken when you +had acted in the way you did. By gad, man, do you mean to tell me that +you escaped from those infernal Germans?" + +"You see, I robbed the poor beggar of his uniform," was Bob's answer, +"and I knew their lingo; I had a near shave several times, but it was +bluff that did it." + +"You're a plucky young beggar, anyhow," and the Colonel laughed almost +merrily as he spoke. "Yes, yes, my boy, you'll get mentioned in +despatches. It was a great thing you did, and Sir John French will +hear of it." + +As may be imagined, Bob was questioned closely concerning his +experiences in the German lines, and when he told of his conversation +with the Kaiser, they listened to him with opened mouths. + +"Good, good!" they cried again and again, as he repeated what he had +said to the Kaiser. "By George, Nancarrow, if you could get back to +England now, you would be interviewed by all the newspapers in the +country. You would be a God-send to the English Press." + +But times were too stirring for more than a passing notice to be taken +of the young Cornishman's experiences. + +A little later he was back at his post of duty again, little realising +that although a man might be fortune's favourite on one day, the next +might bring him dire disaster. + +The next day it was evident, as appeared in Sir John French's +despatches, which we read in England later, that the German Army were +determined to throw all their strength into one crushing blow, for a +phase of the battle began, which was continued night and day, in that +part of the British Army where Bob was situated, with scarcely any +intermission. + +During these four days and nights, Bob, with thousands of others, had +scarcely time to eat or sleep. + +Weary hour after weary hour our men lay in the trenches, amidst pain +which amounted to torture, incessantly firing, or again, at the word of +command, ready to rush forward to meet the onset of the enemy. + +Hundreds upon hundreds were killed; thousands upon thousands were +wounded. Never did Bob realise, as he realised then, the meaning of +the Prime Minister's words that "war was hell let loose." On his right +hand and on his left his comrades fell--some never to speak again; +others groaning in agony; others still laughing amidst their pain. +Strange as it may seem, when the carnage was at its most awful stage, +and when the heavens were rent with the booming of guns and the +clashing of arms, Bob could not help picturing this same France, as he +had passed through it years before. + +Then it was fair and smiling and peaceful; now it was the scene of +untold tragedies, such as he had never dreamt of before. Around him +was the smoke of burning villages. Homesteads, which a few months +before had been peaceful and prosperous, were now laid waste by the +grim horrors of war. Mile after mile of fair country-side were made a +vast cemetery. Every man fought his duel to the death. These men had +no personal enmity against each other, and yet they rejoiced to see the +enemy fall. + +As Bob thought of it all, even in the midst of the fever of war which +possessed him, he became almost mad. Those Germans in whose camp he +had been, were, many of them, brave, patient, kindly men. They had +their homes and their loved ones just as the English and the French +had. They had left behind them sweethearts, wives, children, just as +our men had; but because they were overruled by a vast military system, +which had at its head the German Emperor, all this had taken place. + +To this man, his own ambition was everything. What cared he for the +lives of a million men, as long as his power could be extended and his +ambitions, satisfied? + +France was in the way of his advancement, therefore France must be +crushed. + +England was his great rival, and therefore England must be swept aside. + +Germany must be a World Power, and nothing must stop her in fulfilling +her destiny. To this end he had made the country a great war-camp, and +for this the gospel of war had been preached. Mercy--love--brotherly +kindness--peace, must all be sacrificed for the overwhelming ambitions +and vain-glory of this man and his followers; this caused hell to be +let loose upon earth. + +That was why he and millions of others were fighting; that was why tens +of thousands of the flower of young English manhood; as well as the +best life of France, were being crushed in the dust. That was why +homes were being made desolate--hearts broken. + +Still the carnage went on; still fire and flame; still the boom of +cannon; the groanings of dying men. Fight, fight; slay, slay, and no +quarter. + +Towards the evening of the fourth day after Bob's escape from the +German lines, came a cry which had become almost familiar to him, and +he found himself with his company making a bayonet charge on the enemy. + +To a distant spectator, not knowing the meaning of the war, this charge +must have seemed like some mad Bedlam let loose. Strong men lunging, +stabbing, fighting, with only death in their hearts--and this was war! + +All around was the crack of rifle shots, the boom of cannon, and still +they pressed on, fighting their way inch by inch. + +Suddenly Bob found himself bereft of his sword; his revolver was in his +left hand, but in the mad struggle his sword had been stricken from the +right. + +Words of command could scarcely be heard amidst the din and clamour; on +his right hand a soldier fell with the bayonet in his chest of a +German, who at the same time fell from a wound which the Englishman had +inflicted on him. Scarcely had the Englishman fallen, when he saw the +bayonets of the enemy directed towards himself. + +Seizing the Englishman's rifle--the bayonet fixed at the end of which +was red with blood--he sought to defend himself. Directing his +attention to the man who rushed upon him, he fought with all the +strength he possessed: "I have mastered him," was the thought which +came into his mind, as the German staggered back, but before he could +make his victory sure, a blow, whence he did not know, struck him on +the collar-bone; a hot, burning pain passed through his side, as he +felt himself falling; a moment later there was a stampede over his body. + +"It's all over with me," he said, and then he felt himself becoming +unconscious. + +In a hazy kind of fashion he thought our men were pressing forward, and +that the Germans were falling back from them; but this was an +impression rather than a thought. Presently it seemed to him that +silence reigned. He felt very weary, but suffered no pain. He thought +he heard the sound of distant guns; but they were no longer guns, they +were the waves which beat upon the great rocks around Gurnard's Head, +while he and Nancy sat in the shade, under the cliff, while he told her +the story of his love. He was repeating to her the resolves which had +been so suddenly born in his mind. + +"Yes, Nancy," he said aloud, "I've found my mission; I am going in for +war--war against war; that is the noblest work a man can do." + +It was all very unreal; all far, far away. "The night is falling fast; +how can Nancy and I get home?" he reflected. Then he heard some one +singing close by him; it was the song popular amongst the soldiers--a +song in which he himself had joined a hundred times: + + "It's a long way to Tipperary, + It's a long, long way to go." + + +He turned his head, and saw a soldier at his side. He too, had been +stricken down in the battle; he, too was unconscious of what he was +doing. + +"Yes, it's a long, long way to Tipperary," he murmured, and that was +all, . . . a great darkness fell upon him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +When Bob awoke to consciousness again, the scene was altogether +unfamiliar to him; he was lying in a big barn-like building, while +around him were scores of beds, on each of which lay a wounded man. + +He felt weak and languid; but this he would not have minded, it was the +awful pain just below his neck that troubled him--a gnawing, maddening +pain. + +He lifted his hand to try and touch the spot; but this he could not +do--it seemed to him as though he caused a fire inside it as he moved. + +"I'm not dead, anyhow," he reflected. "What is this, I wonder?" + +There were cheerful voices all round him, and he saw forms moving +around the beds; but they were very dim--in fact, nothing seemed real +at all: "Still I'm not dead, anyhow," he repeated; "as soon as I can, I +must tell mother that; as for Nancy, she'll not want to know." That +was all; it was like a scene in a play, and it passed away suddenly. + +When he awoke again, his mind was clearer. It was the same scene he +saw, just a number of beds on which men were lying. + +What he took to be a soldier, wearing an officer's uniform, came and +stood by him. This man felt his pulse; then he did something to his +chest, which gave him a great deal of pain. He didn't trouble much +about it, it didn't matter, nothing mattered. + +"You'll do all right," said the man; "you'll get better now." + +"I'm very tired," said Bob; "I should like to sleep, if I can." + +"Then sleep, my dear fellow." + +Again he awoke to consciousness; the clouds had altogether gone, and +the scene was absolutely clear. + +He was lying in an improvised hospital; those men lying on the beds all +round were wounded like himself; the man who had spoken to him was the +doctor; those figures moving around the beds were nurses--each wore a +red cross. + +Although everything was clear, he was strangely indifferent to what was +taking place. What did it matter to him? He supposed that he would +never fight again; his arm was useless. He felt sure of that--his +right arm. Still, he had done his work, and at least he had done his +best. Then a thought flashed through his mind. + +"Oh, but the war is not over yet, and they need me; I must get well." + +He threw off the kind of lethargy that possessed him, and presently, +when a nurse came to bring him some food, he looked up into her kindly +face. She was a Frenchwoman, who was doing all that a woman could, to +help; she was not there to kill, but to save. + +"Mademoiselle, you're very kind." + +"I'm not mademoiselle," was the woman's reply in French; "I am madame." +Her voice trembled as she spoke: "I was married just before the war, +and my husband was called away to fight." + +"Where is he now?" + +"I don't know; I have not heard for weeks, but I live in hope. I pray +that he will come back; meanwhile, I am doing what I can." + +"I wish I could fight again," said Bob. + +"Ah, but you will; the doctor told me. Ah, here is the doctor!" + +"I'm not done for, doctor?" asked Bob. + +"Done for? My dear chap, no; you've had a bad time--collar-bone +broken, two ribs broken, nasty wound in your side--but in a few weeks +you'll be all right again. Is there any one to whom I could write, so +that their minds may be relieved about you?" + +"Yes," said Bob, "write to my mother," and he told the doctor his +mother's name and address. + +"Can friends come to see me?" asked Bob. + +"To-morrow or the next day, yes, certainly; in a few days you'll be +convalescent." + +Away in another part of the hospital a man sat smoking a cigarette; he +had, during the early part of the day been taking exercise, and, +although he felt no pain, he was tired after his exertions. + +"In another week I shall be at it again," he reflected. "Heavens, life +is a curious whirligig of a business. Fancy, after all I said to him, +his coming to the front in this way! A kind of strange irony of fate +that he, of all men, should pull me out of the very jaws of death. Of +course, he didn't know who I was, or he wouldn't have done it. It was +a plucky thing, anyhow; and--and--by Jove, there she is!" + +He rose quickly from his chair as he spoke, and went out into the +autumn sunshine, where a woman, wearing a nurse's uniform, was talking +with a doctor. + +"Nancy," said the man, when presently she came towards him, "I haven't +seen you for days; this is a lucky chance." + +"I haven't much time for anything," she replied; "fifty poor fellows +were brought here from the front this morning, and ever since every one +of us has been hard at it. Are you all right?" + +"Yes, I shall soon be well. In another week, the doctor tells me, I +shall be at the front again. But for the thought of leaving you, I +shall be jolly glad. We little thought, Nancy, when we parted in +Cornwall, and when I told you you might have to nurse me, that it would +actually take place." + +"No," replied the girl; "but, somehow, the world seems altogether +different now; I feel as though ten years had been added to my life. +When the war broke out, I was almost happy about it; it seemed so +splendid for those I knew to be able to go to the front and fight for +their country; war was something glorious. I shall never think about +it in that way again. Poor Lieutenant Russell died this morning. Oh, +yes, I know it was wonderful the way he bore up to the end; he thought +he was back on the battlefield, and he kept on crying, 'We're gaining +ground--we're gaining ground! That's it, lad, at 'em; we'll save +England from those beastly Germans.' And then he died; yes, it was a +glorious death. But all war is horrible, horrible! Do you know, +Captain Trevanion, I never cease wondering at the way you were rescued." + +"Don't speak to me like that. Surely I am not 'Captain Trevanion' to +you; I'm 'Hector.' You've never called me by my name yet; why won't +you? I say, Nancy, can't you promise me anything definite before I go +back?" + +The girl almost shuddered: "Don't talk about that now," she said. +"I--I--it's too horrible. You never described your escape to me. Tell +me all about it, will you?" + +"I can't," replied Trevanion; "you see, I was unconscious." + +"I got an English paper to-day," went on the girl; "I only read it a +few minutes ago." + +"Read what?" There was an anxious tone in the Captain's voice. + +"Here it is," she said. "Haven't you seen it?" + +"No. What is it?" + +"Oh, it says all sorts of fine things about you. Of course, you'll +soon be promoted as a consequence. But don't you see, the paper says +that a Lieutenant Nancarrow, learning of your danger, went right out +into the open, braving the German fire in order to get at you. It is +spoken of as one of the bravest deeds of the war. Didn't you know +about it? You tell me nothing." + +"You see, I was unconscious," repeated Trevanion; "all I know is that +some fellow, unknown to me, did a splendid deed and brought me back to +the English lines." + +"Then you never saw your rescuer?" + +"No," replied the Captain quietly; "I was packed off here. Of course, +it was fine on the part of that fellow, whoever he was. Some day I +hope I shall have the chance of thanking him." + +The girl looked away across the peaceful countryside, and, as she did +so, a tremulous sigh escaped her. + +"What are you thinking about?" asked Trevanion. + +"Oh--nothing--that is, it doesn't matter. It seems strange, though, +doesn't it, that the man who saved you from death should be called +Nancarrow; it is a Cornish name too." + +"And--and you are thinking of that fellow?" said Captain Trevanion, +almost angrily. + +"Have you heard anything about Bob?--that is, do you know where--what +he did when he left St. Ia?" + +Trevanion did not look at Nancy's face; he couldn't. He knew what he +ought to do, he, who always prided himself upon being a sportsman--he +ought to tell her that the man who had saved him was the one of whom +she was thinking; but he could not--he was afraid. He, who had faced +death calmly day by day; he, who had been noted for his bravery on the +field, and who had been mentioned in despatches, was now a coward. + +In a way he wondered at himself, and he realised that there was more +than one kind of courage. He, himself, had called Bob Nancarrow a +coward, because he refused to enlist. Now he realised that there was +more courage in Bob Nancarrow's cowardice than in his own bravery. Oh, +it was all an awful muddle! He ought to tell Nancy what Lieutenant +Proctor had related to him just before he was taken away to the +hospital; but he couldn't. If he did, he would forfeit his own chance, +and he might--yes, he was sure--he would lose Nancy altogether. + +"Of course, it couldn't be he," and Nancy seemed to be speaking to +herself; "you see, according to the paper, you were rescued by a +Lieutenant Nancarrow who belonged to a London regiment. Even if Bob +had joined the Army, he couldn't have been promoted so quickly," and +the girl sighed again. + +"Nancy," said the Captain, "I--I shouldn't be surprised if it were Bob +Nancarrow," and the heroism in those words was greater than that of +many deeds for which he had been praised. In that moment Trevanion had +won a greater battle than he realised. It had caused him little effort +to lead his men against the charges of the German infantry, but he felt +as though his heart were being pulled out as he uttered the words I +have recorded. + +The girl's face became pale: "What do you mean?" she asked. "Have you +heard anything?" + +Still Trevanion could not speak freely; even yet he wondered if there +were not some way whereby doubt could be kept in the girl's mind. + +"You see," he said presently, "Nancarrow was in the O.T.C. at Clifton, +and, I suppose, did very well there. Captain Pringle spoke to me more +than once about him, and--and I heard after he left Cornwall that he +joined a London regiment; of course, it was only hearsay, and I paid +but very little attention to it--in fact, I didn't believe it! Still, +it might be he." + +The girl's lips became tremulous: "Do you mean that, after all, Bob +joined?" + +"He might have," admitted Trevanion, and his voice was almost husky as +he spoke, and his eyes became hard. + +"No, no," she cried, "It couldn't have been he. If he had, he would +have told me--I am sure he would." + +"Would he?" asked Trevanion. + +She stood silent for a few seconds without speaking. She remembered +the circumstances under which she had parted from Bob; she called to +mind the time when she had given him a white feather in the Public Hall +at St. Ia, and her face crimsoned with shame at the thought of it. No +one could offer a more deadly insult than she had offered Bob. She had +branded him as a coward, regardless of who might be looking on. No, +no, even if he had joined, he would not have told her; his heart would +be too bitter against her. Why--why, he must hate her now! + +"I say, Nancy," and Trevanion's voice was hoarse with pain, "you don't +mean to tell me that you care anything about him still? You know what +you said; you told me you despised him, and--and, why, you almost told +me to hope! Don't you remember?" + +The girl's face was set and stern; she did not hear Trevanion's last +words; she was wondering with a great wonder. + +"Do you know anything besides what you have told me?" she asked. + +"I don't understand," he stammered. + +"You said it might be he, as though there were a doubt about it; don't +you know for certain? You've seen Captain Pringle; did you see him +after you recovered consciousness, that is, after you were rescued?" + +"Yes, but of course I scarcely knew what was said to me." + +"And did Captain Pringle tell you it was--was--the Nancarrow we knew?" + +"He said it was Nancarrow from Clifton, and--and that he had done the +bravest thing since the war began; but everything was vague to me. +I--I, of course, didn't believe it was Nancarrow; you know what he +said? But, I say, Nancy, all this makes no difference to us, does it? +You didn't raise my hopes only to dash them to the ground! I shall be +off to the front again in a few days, and--oh, if you could give me +just a word--just a word, Nancy, everything would be different! Hang +it all, even if it is he, and, of course, if it is, I shall not be slow +in acknowledging it, I haven't a bad record myself, and I shall go back +as major, you know." + +But the girl did not answer. Slowly she walked across the yard outside +the improvised hospital, without even bidding him "good-day." + +"I'm glad I told her, anyhow," reflected Trevanion; "it was beastly +hard--one of the hardest things I ever did. Good God, it seems the +very irony of fate that he should be the man to save me! I wonder if +he knew that it was I? Perhaps though he knows nothing of what passed +between us. I wonder where he is now. Anyhow, he shall never have +her; there's no other woman in the world for me, and--oh, yes, I'm all +right." + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile, Bob still lay in bed, weak as a child, but still on the +highway to recovery. He had no fever, and his wounds were beginning to +heal. + +Hundreds of men lay around him in the huge building which had been +commandeered as a hospital; French and English soldiers were carefully +nursed without a thought as to their nationality. It seemed as though +all the old enmity between France and England had gone for ever, and +that this terrible war made the two nations as one. + +Men lay side by side, without knowing each other's language; yet, +because they were fighting the same enemy, felt themselves as brothers. + +"Ah, yes," said a young French officer, who had been wounded on the day +when Bob had been stricken down, "we're at the beginning of a new era. +Yes, we have had compulsory military service in France; we have been +obliged to have it. We knew all the time that the Germans were waiting +to pounce upon us and crush us; that was why we wanted to be ready. +But the day is dawning, _mon ami_; we French have been a fighting +nation, but we love war no longer. When the Germans are crushed, as +they will be crushed; when their army and their navy are destroyed and +they are forbidden ever to have others,--then the day of peace will +come; then our nation will no longer be bled to pay for millions of +soldiers. Yes, we Frenchmen realise it, and we will fight for it to +the very last. It is not so much that Germany is an enemy to France +and an enemy to England; it is that she is an enemy to peace, to +goodwill, to fraternity--that is why we must fight. I had almost given +up a belief in Providence, but, mon Dieu, I believe in it now; the good +God is on our side." + +"I thought France had largely given up the belief in God?" said Bob. + +"No, no, there was a superficial scepticism, and what wonder? Have you +read the story of France? Ah, yes, the faith is coming back. This +last twenty years, _mon ami_, a change has come about. There is a new +force working. People are beginning to believe again that there is +something behind everything--something which cannot be explained away +by a shallow philosophy. We have a mission, monsieur--the good God has +given us and you a mission; it is to fight for peace. Who knows but +this is perhaps the last war that Europe will ever know?" + +Two days later, when Bob was much stronger, two events took place which +must be recorded. One was the arrival of a letter from his mother. +The doctor's letter, telling her of Bob's doings, had reached her and +so she immediately sent a letter to him full of pride and affection: +"Oh, my boy," she wrote, "if once I was ashamed of you, my pride in you +now is beyond all words! Everybody knows about you and is talking +about you in St. Ia. I simply cannot realise it, and I am crying with +joy as I write this. You are spoken of as a hero; the story of your +splendid deed in rescuing Captain Trevanion is the talk of the county. +I think Captain Pringle met a London journalist in France and told him +all about it. Oh, my dear boy, my heart simply aches to be with you, +and if it is at all possible I shall get across to France to see you. +Meanwhile, I am constantly praying for you. It is all so wonderful, +that my boy should do this because of what he believes to be call of +God. + +"By the way," the letter continued, "I suppose you have heard nothing +of Nancy Tresize. I am told she is a nurse in a French hospital, but +where, I haven't the slightest idea. Even the Admiral, whom I saw only +a few days ago, told me he didn't know where she was, but he hinted to +me that her engagement with Captain Trevanion was now practically +settled. The Admiral also told me that the Captain's promotion is +bound to be very rapid, and that if he lived he would doubtless come +back a Colonel; and so, my boy, although my heart is full of joy at +what you have done, I cannot help being sad because I am afraid you +have lost the best girl in Cornwall. Still, as your father used to say +to me, there is nothing higher in the world than to be true to one's +conscience." + +After Bob had read this letter he lay for a long time in deep thought. +Yes, in spite of everything, his sky was black. This ghastly war had +wrecked his life's happiness; but for it he and Nancy might have been +together, living a life of happiness and making plans for a life of +usefulness. War was hell; still he had no doubt about his duty. The +God of War must be killed, and this menace to the peace of Europe must +be destroyed. It was a divine call, and he must fight to make war +impossible. + +While he lay thinking of the letter, he saw coming towards him, +accompanied by the doctor, a tall, clean-shaven, handsome man, who was +evidently deeply interested in what he saw. + +"Yes," Bob heard him say to the doctor, "this is the greatest crime in +history. Here we are, nearly two thousand years after the birth of our +Lord, engaged in the ghastliest war known in the history of the world. +The discoveries of science, instead of being devoted to the good of +mankind, have been devoted to the work of the devil. I, for years, +hoped to be one of the first inventors of a flying-machine; and now I +curse the day when the flying-machine was invented. We have conquered +the heavens, only to make hell." + +The doctor laughed at the other's words: "Perhaps there's another side +to the question, Mr. Scarsfield," he said. "If you had seen what I +have seen here during the last few weeks, you would know that the war +has brought out many noble traits." + +"Yes, yes, that may be so, and I have come all the way from the States +to see for myself. You see, we are a neutral country, and what I have +seen has made me determined to go back home and take a lecturing tour +right through America denouncing the crime of war." + +"Here is Lieutenant Nancarrow," said the doctor, nodding to Bob's bed. + +"Yes, I want to see him," said Mr. Hiram Scarsfield; "I read the +account of what he did in the papers, and I am mighty glad that the +authorities have allowed me to come here. I want to shake him by the +hand." + +"Sir," he said, coming up to Bob, "whatever may be my views about war, +I admire brave men, and you risked your life to save another. When I +read it in the papers, tears came into my eyes, and when I heard that +you were here, I just made up my mind to see you, and what I want to +ask you, is this: You saved one man; how many have you killed?" + +"I don't know," replied Bob. + +"Many?" + +"I hope so." + +"Ah, that is the terror of the whole business! And when you get well +again, are you going back to the front?" + +"I hope so," was Bob's reply. + +"To kill more, I guess?" + +"If it is in my power." + +"Young man, don't you feel the hellishness of the thought?" + +"Yes," replied Bob, "I shudder at the thought of it." + +"Then my advice to you is--desert. When you get well enough, get out +of France and come to America where you can live in peace. Yes, I know +that sounds bad, but then I hate war; it just puts back the clock of +the world; it crucifies our Lord afresh." + +Bob looked at the other's face attentively, and he saw immediately that +it was the face of a strong man. There was no suggestion of the +fanatic about it; rather, it was sane and sincere. + +"Then you believe in peace--peace at any price?" was Bob's query. + +"I guess that is so; I guess there is nothing under heaven worth making +hell for, and that is what I have seen these last few weeks. I haven't +been right up to the fighting-line--I haven't been allowed--but I have +seen enough to make my heart bleed." + +"I agree with every word you say," and Bob's voice was almost tremulous. + +"Then why are you a soldier?" + +"Look here, Mr. Scarsfield," said Bob. "Supposing that the French and +the English and the Belgians and the Russians were all to disarm, what +would happen, do you think?" + +"There would be peace," said the American. + +"And what kind of peace?" + +"There would be a cessation of bloodshed, anyhow. Mind you, I would +rather see all nationalities cease than that war should continue. +Let's all sheathe our swords and trust in God. That is my mission now, +as long as I live. I am going back to America, and I am going to rouse +the whole country to this feeling. It may be that this is because I +have Quaker blood in my veins. I am afraid I am not worthy of my +Quaker forbears, but now I am convinced that they were right." + +"Yes," replied Bob, "I too have Quaker blood in my veins, and I too am +convinced in my heart they are right." + +"And still you are a soldier," said the other, in astonishment. + +"Yes, I am a soldier, until this war is over. Look here, Mr. +Scarsfield, do you believe you could ever convert Germany to your way +of thinking? Have you ever read the works of those German writers--men +like Bernhardi and Treitschke and Nietzsche, and others of that school? +Do you know that their teaching is the religion of the war party in +Germany, and that that war party rules the Empire? Do you know that it +is the avowed determination of Germany to conquer the world by the +sword? You do know it? For thirty years Germany has been building up +her army and her navy for this purpose. She believes that war is a +virtue, and that Germany is called by God to go to war; she worships +the War God; she rejoices in it; lives for it. It is preached from her +pulpits; it is taught in her schools; it is interwoven into the warp +and woof of German life. Because of this they have altered the New +Testament. Instead of preaching, 'Blessed are the peace-makers,' they +preach, 'Blessed are the war-makers,' and they believe that the +Almighty intends them to make war." + +"Yes," replied Mr. Scarsfield, "I must admit that. I have read those +writers you mention; read them with a sad heart." + +"When I read them," said Bob, "I was obliged to throw them away from +me, as if I had been touching unclean things. I too was brought up to +believe in peace at any price, and I hated war as I hate hell itself; +so much did I hate it, that I refused to enlist in the English Army and +alienated those who were dearest to me. Before I enlisted, I fought +the biggest battle of my life. Presently I realised the meaning of the +German creed; I saw the inwardness and ghastliness of their so-called +Gospel of War; I saw that to carry out their purpose they were willing +to sacrifice honour and to crush humanity. I saw that they professed +friendship in order to betray us; I saw that while they accepted our +hospitality in England, they filled our country with spies in the hope +that when the time was ready, and they made war upon us, they would use +those spies for our destruction. I saw that they regarded a treaty as +something that could be thrown off like an old garment, and I saw they +were determined on war. What could we do? You do not believe, I +suppose, that the murder of the Crown Prince of Austria was the cause +of this war? No one believes that it was anything but a pretext. +Germany made war--a war for which she had been preparing for a quarter +of a century. She signed the Treaty to protect Belgium; she gave her +word of honour as a nation that Belgium's neutrality and integrity +should be maintained. Then she signed her ultimatum to Belgium, and +told her that if she did not allow the German Army to pass through +Belgium country in order to crush France, she should be treated as an +enemy. When our Ambassador in Berlin pleaded that Germany had signed a +treaty to protect Belgium, what was the reply? 'Will you go to war +with us just for a scrap of paper?' That is what the war spirit means +in Germany. They cannot understand how the honour of a nation could +stand in the way of her ambition. And so Germany entered Belgium. +What was mercy? What was honour? What was purity? Read the story of +Louvain, of Malines; think of the outrages, cruelties, blasphemies, and +then ask yourself, what could we have done?" + +"Yes," said the American; "but war--think of what it has meant." + +"Is not there something worse than war?" said Bob. + +"What can be worse?" asked Mr. Hiram Scarsfield. + +"Violation of honour, of truth, of purity," said the young man +earnestly. "That is worse; yes, and it is worse than war to allow a +cancer like the German war-spirit to live in the very heart of a +continent, making peace and goodwill impossible." + +"Yes, young man," replied the American; "you make out a strong case, +and I have no doubt that if a war could be just, England is fighting a +just war. But no war can be just, because every war is born in hell. +As for me, I'm going back to America on my crusade of peace." + +"Mr. Scarsfield," said Bob, "may I suggest something to you?" + +"Yes; what is it?" + +"That you go back to America, and arouse that great Continent to come +and help us in this war for peace. I know your President professes to +be a peace man. But think! You who could do so much to kill war, are +standing by, supine and neutral, while we are shedding our blood to +make war impossible. To me, it is the call of God to every young man +and to every man who has health and strength, to give his life to kill +this war devil at the heart of Europe. And I tell you this, until it +is killed, your talk about peace will be so much wind and useless +sound. America could, if she would, put an end to this war." + +"How?" cried the American. + +"By, raising an army of millions of men, well accoutred and armed and +provisioned, to come over to help us. If America placed all her mighty +weight on the side of England at this moment, it would paralyse the +German Army. If America said, as we are saying, that this war should +never cease until Germany was powerless ever to make war again, you +would do more for peace than if all the talkers in America were to go +round preaching peace. That is why, Quaker as I am, I am a soldier, +and will remain a soldier as long as God gives me breath, to make peace +not a dream, but a reality." + +"But what about the Sermon on the Mount, young man?" said the American. + +"What did our Lord mean," urged Bob, "when He said, 'I came not to +bring peace but a sword?' And what did He mean when He said to His +disciples, 'He that hath no sword, let him go and buy one?' Mind you, +we do not hate the Germans in all this; we do not violate the command +'Love your enemy.' It would be the greatest blessing ever known to the +German people if the Kaiser and all his war-fiends were crushed for +ever, for then could peace be made possible." + +"Now, Nancarrow," said the doctor, "you have talked enough. You're +getting excited as it is, and we want you back at the front." + +"I will say this," said the American, holding out his hand to Bob, "you +have given me something to think about, and I will tell the Americans +what you have said." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +"Nancarrow, it's a nice day; it might be summer. I want you to get +out." It was the doctor who spoke. "Yes, I know you feel weak, but +one hour in the sunshine will do you more good than all the medicine +ever invented." + +"I can hardly bear to move my arm yet," said Bob; "and I am as weak as +a kitten." + +"Yes, I know; but, come, you must get out." + +Five minutes later Bob had been taken to a sheltered spot, where he sat +rejoicing in the warm rays of the sun. Close by was the great +barn-like building, in which many hundreds of wounded men lay, and +where scores of brave women were giving their lives to nurse the men +who had been fighting for their country. + +In the near distance, too, he saw several like himself who were +convalescent, and who were drinking in the pure country air and +rejoicing in the warm sunlight. + +During the last three days he had been able to read, and found that +people in the home country had been thinking of those away at the war. +Literally tons of periodicals, novels, and other light literature had +been forwarded to them; while on every hand were evidences of the fact +that millions at home, although they were unable to fight, were anxious +to help those who could. + +Although it was a scene of suffering, and although many of the sights +in the hospital were terrible beyond words, all was cheerfulness and +hope. Laughter was heard on every hand; jests were bandied in every +direction; all thoughts of differences in nationality were sunk in the +common cause of humanity. + +"A week or two more," thought Bob, "and I shall be at it again." + +A copy of an English newspaper, several days old, lay by his side. He +took it up and began to read listlessly. The paper had been sent from +Lancashire and contained letters from soldiers who had gone from that +county. One letter struck him forcibly: it was headed "Back to Hell." +"Dear mother," the soldier wrote, "I am alive and well, but I have had +a terrible time. Four days and nights I have been fighting without +ever having time to change my clothes. Never once during that time did +I take off my shoes. It was simply fight, fight, all the time. Our +chaps were just worn out, and so were ordered away to rest for a day or +two. That is why I am here and have time to write to you. To-morrow I +am going back to Hell; but I am going willingly, because I know I am +wanted there." + +The tears started to Bob's eyes as he read. There was a touch of +heroism, and more than heroism, in the simple lad's letter: "I am going +back to Hell, and I am going willingly, because I know I am wanted +there." + +"Yes," thought Bob; "that just hits off the situation." + +At that moment a laugh rang out which caused him to start violently and +his pulses to quicken; there was not another voice in the world like +that; it was a laugh he had heard a hundred times. He remembered it as +it sounded above the singing of the waves down by the Cornish sea; he +remembered it on the tennis courts at Penwennack, and on the golf links +at Leiant. In another second the laugh was lost in a hoarse, excited +cry. The eyes of the two met, but neither spoke a word. + +"I--I--this is a surprise," stammered Bob presently. + +"Why didn't you tell me?" + +It was not a bit what either of them wanted to say, but it didn't +matter; words at that moment meant very little. + +"I never heard you were here," he went on, after a few seconds. "I've +been in the hospital such a long time, too, but no one ever told me." + +He tried to speak naturally, but the girl heard the tremor in his +voice. "It is because he is so weak," she thought. "How pale he +looks!" + +"Were you wounded badly?" she asked. + +"I got out of it jolly easily, I suppose," he replied; "and I was lucky +too--all the bones were set before I recovered consciousness." + +"He doesn't tell me he is glad to see me," she reflected. "Of course, +he hates me now. How can it be otherwise? When we last met, I was +just cruel to him, and I hurt him all I was able." + +"I am so glad you are better," she said aloud. + +"It's awfully good of you. Won't you sit down?" + +They might have been mere acquaintances from the way they spoke, but +each felt that the moment was tragic. + +"The doctor tells me that in a week, or a fortnight at the outside, I +shall be ready to go back," Bob continued. "There's nothing the matter +with me now, except weakness." + +He knew that all this was not what he wanted to say, or what he ought +to say, but somehow the right words would not come. He felt awkward +and constrained in her presence. "If she's engaged to Trevanion," he +reflected, "it must be painful for her to see me. I wonder if she +knows nothing about Trevanion. I wonder if--if she knows what I did." + +Nancy did not sit down as he had asked her, but stood awkwardly; she +was picking a scrap of lint to pieces, nervously, and with twitching +fingers. + +"Bob," she said presently, "I want you to forgive me. I insulted you +down in Cornwall--you remember that night at the Public Hall. You see, +I didn't know that you intended to enlist." + +"I didn't," replied Bob; "nothing was further from my mind than +enlisting at that moment." + +Everything seemed unreal between them. Neither of them was saying what +was in their hearts; they seemed to be speaking only for the purpose of +making conversation. + +"Have you seen Captain Trevanion?" he asked, after an awkward silence. +"I heard--that is, I was given to understand, he was wounded; not +dangerously, you know, but still, wounded. The doctor assured me he +would get better." + +He saw a quick flush rise to the girl's pale face, as he spoke; he saw +her lips tremble too, but she did not answer him. His heart became as +heavy as lead: "Then it is true," he reflected. "Mother was right; +they are engaged. Still, I must bear up as best I can. I will not +give her pain by telling her what it means to me." + +"Oh, Bob, will you forgive me?" she burst out suddenly. + +"I--of course, there's nothing to forgive," he answered. "What have I +to forgive?" + +"I called you a coward," she cried; "I insulted you, and all the time +you were braver than I dreamed of. Why, you actually saved him, and in +doing so you risked your life in the most horrible way. It was +wonderful of you--just wonderful; and I--I---- Oh, I'm so ashamed, +Bob!" + +"I see what she means," thought Bob; "she's trying to tell me how +thankful she is to me for having saved her lover for her." + +"I hope you are not worrying about that," he said, and by this time he +was able to speak calmly. "I was awfully lucky, and, after all, it was +not so difficult; I came back quite safe--not a shot touched me." + +"He simply won't see what I mean," was the thought that burned its way +into her brain, "or else he hates me. Yes, that is it; he must hate +me. How could it be otherwise, when I insulted him in the Public Hall, +when I made him the laughing-stock of the whole town?" + +"It's awfully fine of you," went on Bob, "to come out here like this. +I sometimes think that nurses need more courage than the soldiers. I +cannot understand how refined, sensitive women like you can bear to see +the horrible sights which are so common in places like this; it is just +splendid of you--just splendid. You say you have not seen Trevanion?" + +Again her cheeks, which had become pale again, crimsoned. + +"Oh, yes," she replied, "he has been in this hospital; I--I have helped +to nurse him." + +"It seems strange that I never heard of it," said Bob; "but there, +after all, it's not so strange--there are thousands of men and scores +of nurses here; so it is no wonder that I never heard of either of you +being here." + +"He went back to the front yesterday," said Nancy. "He's quite well +and strong again now. He told me that it was you who rescued him from +death. Oh, Bob, it was splendid of you! It's all so strange too. +Would you mind telling me why you altered your mind and came to the +war?" + +"I learned that it was my duty," said Bob simply. "No, I haven't +altered my mind about war, or about soldiering at all; but I had to +come. You see, after I left you, I learned things to which I had been +blind before; it is difficult to explain, but I saw that war could only +be killed by war. I saw that the Gospel of Peace meant nothing to +Germany, and that if she were allowed to go on unmolested, the ghastly +creed of war, and the glory of war, would be established for ever; that +was why I became a soldier. I wanted to help to cut it out; destroy +it, root and branch--and we must never stop until that has been done. +But, I'm so glad Captain Trevanion is better, and has been able to go +back; he's a brave man; he's a great soldier. You're engaged to him, +aren't you?" + +The question came out suddenly, and for a moment it staggered her. She +was not engaged to him, and yet, in a way, she was bound to him; she +had said that which made Trevanion hope. Her promise was as thin as a +gossamer thread, yet it seemed to bind, her like a steel chain. + +"Forgive my impertinence in asking," said Bob quickly, noting the look +on her face. "Of course, I'd no right to ask." + +Still she could not speak; she felt as though she would have given +worlds to deny all thought of an engagement to Trevanion, but she +couldn't--neither could she bring herself to tell him the story; the +words she wanted to speak seemed to seal her lips. A long and awkward +silence fell between them--a silence that was painful; both had so much +to say, and yet neither could say anything. + +"Has any one told you I'm engaged to Captain Trevanion?" and her voice +was indistinct and hoarse. + +"Yes," he replied, "Proctor told me. He was at Clifton with me, you +know, and Trevanion told him." + +"Did Mr. Proctor say that?" + +"I think so--yes; and then, as soon as mother heard I was here, she +wrote to me and told me about it. I suppose your father is very +pleased?" + +"How he must hate me!" she thought. "It is only a few weeks ago since +I promised to be his wife, and then only a week or two later I insulted +him, and now he thinks I am engaged to Captain Trevanion. How mean, +how contemptible he must think me! He must look upon me as a common +flirt; he must believe that my promises to him were just a mockery; it +is no wonder he speaks to me like that, and I--oh, I wish I could tell +him!" + +A French soldier hobbled across the open space. "If you please, +mademoiselle, you're wanted," he said; "another train load of wounded +men has just arrived, and all the nurses are needed." He saluted Bob, +who wore his lieutenant's uniform, and then he hobbled away again. + +"This war is a terrible business, isn't it?" he queried, and there was +a plaintive smile on his lips. + +"It has upset everything, just everything; I hate it!" she cried--"I +hate it! Oh, Bob, don't you feel how I hate it?" + +She wanted him to understand more than her words conveyed; wanted him +to feel that it was not the horrors of the war that moved her so +greatly, but the fact that it had separated them. + +"Yes, I know what you feel," said Bob; "but you must go through with +it, Nancy. I'm sure you will be brave. When it is over, your reward +will come. There--go back, and don't mind me." + +"I won't go back!" she cried. "Bob, you can't forgive me, because I +was so mean, so contemptible; I called you a coward; I insulted you; +I--I . . . and now you can't forgive me--and I don't wonder." + +"That was nothing," said Bob. "Of course, I did seem like a coward, I +suppose, and I don't wonder at your doing what you did; but that's +nothing. You'll be happy when it's all over; and really, he's a fine +soldier, Nancy; and a fine fellow too; all his men just worship him." + +"Oh, Bob, can't you understand?" her voice was almost inaudible. + +"Yes, yes, I understand, but don't trouble about me one little bit; I +shall be all right. There--go now, they want you." + +"Do you really wish me to go, Bob?" + +"Of course I do; it's your duty, and duty is everything in these days; +it's hard and stern now, but by and by it'll become joyful." + +"And when the war is over?" she stammered--"I--I . . ." + +"It won't be over yet for a long time; still, we must keep a brave +heart. You remember those lines of William Blake, Nancy? I used to +laugh at them because he mixed his metaphors, but I see their meaning +now: + + "I will not cease from mental strife, + Nor shall the sword sleep in my hand, + Till I have built Jerusalem, + In England's good and pleasant land." + +There, get back Nancy; perhaps we shall see each other again, before I +go?" + +Without another word she went back to her grim and horrible work; her +feet seemed like lead as she dragged them across the open space which +lay between her and the great, gaunt building. + +"He will not see," she said to herself; "he doesn't want to see, and he +hates me." + +As for Bob, he sat a long while alone, in silence. "It's jolly hard on +her," he said presently, "and I can't understand it; but she didn't +deny that she was engaged to him, and, after all, he's a better man +than I." + +Day followed day, and he didn't see Nancy again; he was far removed +from her in another part of the great hospital. Train load after train +load of wounded men were brought there, and she had to be at her post +almost night and day. He longed to seek her out and to speak to her +amidst the loathsome work she had to do, but the discipline which +obtained forbade him to do so; besides, as he reflected, he could do no +good; it would only make the wound in his heart bleed more than ever. + +Presently he was pronounced fit for duty again, and orders came that he +must make his way to the front. Fifty men besides himself who were +also recovered from their wounds were to accompany him. + +The train was waiting at the little station close by, and at noon that +day he was to leave the hospital. By this time he had become +accustomed to the place, and knew several of the nurses whose duty lay +at his end of the hospital; he also had become on good terms with many +of the men. + +An hour before the time had come for him to go he had gone out in the +open space where he had seen Nancy, in the hopes of finding her, but +she was nowhere to be seen. + +All his arrangements were made, and nothing was left for him to do +until the time came for his departure. + +He wandered aimlessly and heedlessly around; his heart ached for just +another sight of the woman he loved, and whom he believed he had lost +for ever. + +He looked at the watch on his wrist: "A quarter of an hour more," he +reflected. He had longed to ask boldly to be allowed to see her, but +he was afraid to do so; if she wanted to see him, she would have given +him a hint, surely. + +Then, when all hope had gone from his heart, she came from that part of +the hospital where a number of the most dangerously wounded men lay, +and ran towards him: + +"I heard you were going this morning, Bob," she said, "and I have just +crept away like a deserter; I felt I must; I didn't make things plain +to you the other day. Bob, you have forgiven me, haven't you?" + +"There was nothing to forgive," said Bob, and his heart beat madly. + +"You aren't a coward," she said; "you're just--just the bravest man I +ever knew. You believe I think that of you, don't you?" + +He laughed nervously; he wanted to say a great deal, but the words +wouldn't come. + +"And--and, Bob, you know what you said to me, what that man Proctor and +your mother told you?" + +He looked at her in a puzzled way; even yet, he did not dare to hope. + +"And--and, Bob"--with the words came a sob--"there's no one in the +world but you." + +"Nancy," he cried, "You don't mean . . . ?" + +At that moment he was summoned to his duty. Still she stood before +him--half sobbing, the same light in her eyes which he remembered +seeing down by the Cornish sea. + +A command from his superior officer was given; he must go. Close by, +the soldiers stood in marching order. They had been wounded, but now +they were ready for duty again; they were in great good humour, and +discipline even yet was somewhat relaxed. They were laughing and +talking gaily; they were going back to fight, but they were going with +a laugh upon their lips. + +A minute later some one had started a song--the song which he had heard +often in the trenches, when shot and shell were falling thickly: + + "It's a long way to Tipperary, + It's a long, long way to go; + It's a long way to Tipperary, + To the sweetest girl I know." + + +"Nancy," he cried eagerly, "do you mean that . . . ?" + +Before her reply had come, even before he had finished his sentence, he +had to leave her, and in a minute more he was on his way to the front. + +Hours later he heard the booming of the great guns again, and was met +with sight and sound which told him of his duty, but through it all and +beyond it all he saw Nancy's face; he heard the music of her voice; he +remembered the look in her eyes--eyes that were filled with tears, yet +shining like stars, and he thought again and again of her words: +"There's no one in the world but you." + + + + +NOTE + +I had just finished reading the proofs of the aforegoing, when I +received a letter from my friend, a part of which I have decided to +insert here. + + +"It is now some time since you heard from me, and I am scribbling this +hurried note to tell you that I am still alive and well. That I am +able to say this seems to me nothing less than miraculous, for I have +been in the thick of the fighting ever since I left the hospital. When +I have time to write fully, I shall have some wonderful things to tell +you concerning the heroism of our Army, and of the marvellous way in +which we have not only held our own, but advanced. As you will see, I +am now in Belgium, and we are in the midst of one of the most deadly +struggles ever known in history. Nothing but the almost superhuman +courage of our men could have saved us. It has been simply miraculous. +Again and again have the Germans hurled themselves upon us, only to +fail. There are signs now that their attacks are weakening, and their +defence more feeble. If we only had more men, we could put them to +rout and that right quickly. That is our great need. More men like +the London Scottish, who have simply covered themselves with glory. + +"It is said here that recruiting in England is slackening somewhat. +Such news is simply appalling. You should hear what the men at the +front are saying about the shirkers who are hanging back. They are a +disgrace to the country, and deserve to be flogged. Let the nation be +true to itself now, and we shall for ever cut out this cancer of German +militarism, and bring in the time of universal peace. + +"Have the shirkers at home ever thought, I wonder, of what would happen +if Germany should conquer! The very suggestion of it drives me almost +mad. Everything depends on the loyalty and enthusiasm of to-day. For, +God's sake do something to stir the people up, to make them feel how +pressing is the need. + +"If ever God called volunteers to fight in a Holy War, it is now. You +know what a 'peace man' I have always been, and it is because I am a +'peace man' still, that I say this. On every hand the Almighty is +calling us to fight for peace. It is not against the Germans that we +are fighting, but against the mad, devilish spirit which they have +deified. Let us be true now, and we shall surely strangle that spirit. + +"You have heard of the story of Thoreau and Emerson. Thoreau went to +suffering and prison for the sake of truth and conscience. + +"'Why are you here?' asked Emerson. + +"'Why are you _not_ here?' retorted Thoreau. + +"That is what I want to say to the young men of England. 'Why are you +not here, or why are you not training to come here?' + +"Shall I live through it all I wonder, and shall I ever see my native +land again? I hope so, I pray so, for I have so much to live for, more +even than I dare to tell you. But even if I do not, even if I die, as +thousands of the brave men here are dying, I shall be glad to lay down +my life for the cause of honour, and liberty, and peace. + +"I wonder if it is possible for you to get across to France or Belgium +and get near the fighting-line? I wish you could. There are stories I +could tell you that would set your heart on fire. Come, if you can!" + +The remainder of Bob's letter is not for publication, interesting +though it is. But this I will say: if I can get near the fighting-line +I shall, and then, perhaps I shall be able to complete the story, which +is only just begun. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALL FOR A SCRAP OF PAPER*** + + +******* This file should be named 25152-8.txt or 25152-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/1/5/25152 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/25152-8.zip b/25152-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c15c728 --- /dev/null +++ b/25152-8.zip diff --git a/25152.txt b/25152.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..245969f --- /dev/null +++ b/25152.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9823 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, All for a Scrap of Paper, by Joseph Hocking + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: All for a Scrap of Paper + A Romance of the Present War + + +Author: Joseph Hocking + + + +Release Date: April 23, 2008 [eBook #25152] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALL FOR A SCRAP OF PAPER*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +ALL FOR A SCRAP OF PAPER + +A Romance of the Present War + +by + +JOSEPH HOCKING + +Author of +"Dearer Than Life," "The Curtain of Fire," "The Path of Glory," Etc. + +Fifteenth Edition + + + + + + + +Hodder and Stoughton +London ---- New York ---- Toronto +MCMXVIII + + + + +JOSEPH HOCKING'S GREAT WAR STORIES + + + THE PATH OF GLORY + THE CURTAIN OF FIRE + DEARER THAN LIFE + TOMMY + TOMMY AND THE MAID OF ATHENS + + +OTHER STORIES BY JOSEPH HOCKING + + Facing Fearful Odds + O'er Moor and Fen + The Wilderness + Rosaleen O'Hara + The Soul of Dominic Wildthorne + Follow the Gleam + David Baring + The Trampled Cross + + + + +"I then said that I should like to go and see the Chancellor. . . I +found the Chancellor very agitated. His Excellency began a harangue +which lasted about twenty minutes. He said that the step taken by His +Majesty's Government was terrible to a degree; just for a word, +'neutrality'--a word which in war time had also often been +disregarded--just for a scrap of paper. . . . I protested +strongly. . . . I would wish him to understand it was a matter, so to +speak, of 'life and death' for the honour of Great Britain that she +should keep her solemn engagement. The Chancellor said, 'But at what +price will that compact have to be kept? Has the British Government +thought of that?' I hinted to his Excellency as plainly as I could +that fear of consequences could hardly be regarded as an excuse for +breaking solemn engagements."--_Extract of Report from Sir E. Goschen +to Sir Edward Grey, August 8, 1914._ + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Events have moved so rapidly in our little town of St. Ia, that it is +difficult to set them down with the clearness they deserve. We Cornish +people are an imaginative race, just as all people of a Celtic origin +are, but we never dreamed of what has taken place. One week we were +sitting idly in our boats in the bay, the next our lads had heard the +call of their country, and had hurried away in its defence. One day we +were at peace with the world, the next we were at war with one of the +greatest fighting nations in the world. At the end of July, little +knowing of the correspondence taking place between Sir Edward Grey and +the Ambassadors of Europe, we tended our flocks, prepared to garner our +harvest, and sent out our fishing-boats; at the beginning of August we +had almost forgotten these things in the wild excitement with which the +news of war filled us. Placards headed by the Royal Arms were posted +at public places, calling up Army and Navy Reserves, and fervent +appeals were made to all our boys old enough to bear arms, to bid +good-bye to home and loved ones, in order to help England to maintain +her plighted word, and support her honour. + +Not that we were in a state of panic, or fear, thank God. There was +nothing of that. Neither were we in doubt as to the ultimate issue. +We believed we had right on our side, and as our forefathers had fought +in every stage of our country's history, we were prepared to fight +again. But we Cornish are a quiet, Peace-loving people, and many of us +hated, and still hate with a deadly hatred, the very thought of the +bloody welter, the awful carnage, and the untold misery and suffering +which war means. + +But it is not of these things I have to write. My work is to tell the +story of a lad I know, and love; the story, too, of a maid who loved +him, and what this great war, which even yet seems only to have just +begun, has meant to them. + + +It was on Monday, the twenty-ninth day of June in this present year, +that Robert, or, as he is generally spoken of by his friends, Bob +Nancarrow, got out his two-seater Renaud, and prepared to drive to +Penwennack, the home of Admiral Tresize. Bob had but just "come down" +from Oxford, and was now in great good spirits at the prospect before +him. + +This was scarcely to be wondered at, for Nancy Tresize had asked him to +take her to Gurnard's Head, which, as all Cornish people know, is near +to the town of St. Ia, and one of the most favoured spots in the +county. Perhaps, too, the coast scenery around Gurnard's Head is among +the finest in Cornwall, while Gurnard's Head itself, the great rock +which throws itself, grim, black, and majestic, far out into the sea, +challenges comparison with even Land's End itself. + +But Bob was not thinking of scenery as he got out his car. His mind +and heart were full of the thought that he was going to spend the +afternoon with Nancy Tresize, the fairest girl in a county of fair +women. + +For years Bob had loved her--loved her with a love which seemed to him +all the greater because it appeared to be hopeless. As far as he could +remember, Nancy had never given him one shadow of hope, never by word +or action suggested that she cared for him in any way other than that +of a lifelong playmate and friend. But then, as Bob reflected, Nancy +was not like other girls. She was just a bundle of contradictions, and +was, as her brothers had often said, "always breaking out in new +places." + +"Of course she'll not give me a chance to tell her what is in my +heart," he reflected, as the car spun along a winding lane, the hedges +of which rose high above his head; "but then I shall be with her. +That's something, anyhow." + +Presently the grey, lichen-covered, weather-beaten walls of Penwennack, +Nancy's home, appeared, and Bob looked eagerly towards it as though he +were trying to discover something. + +"I hope nothing has turned up to hinder her," he reflected. "I know +that Captain Trevanion is coming to dinner to-night, and people have it +that the Admiral favours him as--as a----" + +But he would not, even in his mind, finish the sentence that was born +there. It was too horrible to contemplate, for to Bob, Nancy was the +only girl in the world. She might be wilful and unreasonable, she +might change her mind a dozen times in a day, she might at times seem +flippant, and callous to the feelings of others, she might even be "a +little bit of a flirt"--it made no difference to him. He knew that she +had not a mean fibre in her nature, and that a more honourable girl +never lived. Besides, even if she were, what in his moments of anger +and chagrin he called her, she was still Nancy, the only girl he had +ever loved and ever could love. + +"Of course there's no chance for me," he reflected. "Trevanion is +always there, and any one can see he's madly in love with her. He +bears one of the oldest names in England too, he's heir to an old +title, and he's Captain in one of the crack regiments. And Nancy loves +a soldier. She comes of a fighting race, and thinks there's no +profession in the world worthy of being compared with the army." + +Bob Nancarrow was the only son of Dr. Nancarrow, a man much respected +in St. Ia, but whom Admiral Tresize regarded as a crank. For Dr. +Nancarrow was a Quaker, and although he did not parade his faith, it +was well known that he held fast by those principles for which the +Society of Friends is known. For one thing, he hated war. To him it +was utterly opposed to the religion which England was supposed to +believe, and he maintained that it seemed to him an impossibility for +Christianity and war to be reconciled. + +Admiral Tresize and he had had many arguments about this, and when the +Boer War broke out, the condemnation of the doctor was so strong that +it seemed almost inevitable that he and the Admiral should quarrel. +Indeed, a coolness did spring up between them, and but for the fact +that Mrs. Nancarrow had been a Miss Trelawney, and a direct descendant +of the most important family in the county, it is probable that the +coolness would have ended in an estrangement. + +Bob, although he inherited his mother's looks, was greatly influenced +by his father's opinions. Dr. Nancarrow died when he was quite a boy, +yet his father's memory became one of the most potent influences in his +life. + +His mother sent him to Clifton College, and although to please her he +joined the Officers' Training Corps, he held by his father's opinion +that war and Christianity were a direct contradiction to each other. + +Bob was one of those boys who throw their hearts into everything they +take in hand, and although soldiering as a profession was repugnant to +him, he made such progress in the O.T.C. that he quite distinguished +himself. Indeed, he did so well, that Captain Pringle, with whom he +became very friendly, urged him to become a soldier. + +"You would do well," urged the Captain; "you have the makings of a +first-class soldier, and if a war broke out, you'd be a valuable man." + +"Not a bit in my line, I assure you," was Bob's reply. "I went in for +this thing only to please my mater, and, to tell the truth, I regard it +as little more than waste of time." + +"It wouldn't be waste of time if we went to war," said Captain Pringle. + +"War! who are we going to war with?" + +"We may be on the brink of it now." + +"Excuse me, but I don't believe in all these war scares. We are not a +military nation, and there's not a shadow of reason for believing that +while our Statesmen have level heads we shall be so mad as to embroil +ourselves." + +"It may be forced upon us. Think of the Boer War." + +Bob laughed. His father had often spoken of the Boer War as a crime +against humanity. As something wholly unnecessary, as a waste of life +and treasure, waged on behalf of Jew financiers rather than for any +great principle. In the doctor's eyes it had been a violation of +Christianity, and a disgrace to the country, and Bob, boy though he had +been at the time, felt that his father was right. + +"I think the less we say about that the better," was his reply. +"Certainly I would never fight in such a war." + +"You mean that?" + +"Certainly, I do. I doubt if war can be justified anyhow; but _that_ +war!" . . . + +"Anyhow, the Germans are aching to be at us," replied Captain Pringle, +who, although he was regarded as a good officer, was not deeply versed +in politics. + +"Who says so?" + +"Everybody. They are jealous of us, and they'll be at it on the +slightest pretext." + +"Don't you think the German bogey is very silly?" was Bob's retort. "I +was in Germany last summer with my mother, and we had a great time. +She knew some German families there, and we became great friends with +them. They don't want war any more than we do. All they desire is to +develop their own resources and to live their lives quietly." + +"Then what is the meaning of their huge army? Why are they trying to +build a navy that shall out-match ours?" + +"Of course there is a large war party in Germany just as there is in +England; but, as a people, they are as peace-loving as we are. Why, a +war with Germany is unthinkable, and it would be the greatest crime in +history to draw our sword against them. Even supposing we had a +quarrel with them, nothing could be more revolting to humanity than to +settle it by blood." + +"I don't wonder that you will not go into the Army if those are your +views," replied Captain Pringle. "You talk like a peace-at-any-price +parson." + +From Clifton Bob went on to Oxford, where he became known as a "reading +man." His ostensible purpose was to read for the Bar, after taking his +degree; but he secretly hoped to obtain a Fellowship at his college, +and settle down to a scholastic life. + +While he was at Oxford Bob became acquainted with a Professor, named +Dr. Renthall, who had been an undergraduate there with his father. +Professor Renthall was also a Friend, and it was perhaps this fact that +first drew them together. For while Bob did not in any way profess +adherence to the Society of Friends, he greatly admired those of that +persuasion. In addition to this, too, his father's influence was still +strong upon him. The boy revered his father's memory, and treasured in +his heart those faiths by which Dr. Nancarrow had steered his life. +Indeed, during his Oxford days he often declared that the Quakers were +nearer to the ideal of Christianity than any other body. + +"My father was logical at all events," he often reflected, "and as a +consequence his life was a benediction. On the other hand, religion +among most people, whether churchmen or nonconformists, seems to mean +nothing. We attend so many 'chapels' as a matter of necessity, and are +glad when they are over. As to religion having any effect on our +lives, it seems to be out of the question." + +Dr. Renthall had a great influence over Bob. Although he was nearing +fifty, he was a keen sportsman. He played a scratch game at golf, and +during the cricket season he could keep his end up with the best of the +younger men. This appealed to the young fellow strongly. But, more +than this, he was one of the greatest authorities on history in the +University. He was a saint too, although he made little profession of +Christianity. He went regularly to the Meeting House, but never spoke, +while his theology was of too latitudinarian a nature, to be "sound." + +Robert often went to Dr. Renthall's house, and it was during his many +visits that his hatred of war grew. + +"War," said the Professor to him more than once, "cannot obtain where +there is real Christianity. That is why Christianity is dying in this +country. We are being more and more filled with the spirit of +militarism, which means the death of religion; while every new +Dreadnought, which drains the nation of its treasure, is another nail +driven into the Cross of Christ." + +When Bob returned to St. Ia this summer, the influence of his father's +life, and his association with Dr. Renthall, had done their work. He +detested militarism, and he hated the thought of war. Not that the +thought of war loomed largely in the horizon. The country was at +peace, and as far as he could judge no war-cloud hung in the sky. + +"Ah, there she is!" Bob exclaimed, as presently the car drew up in +front of the door of the great house, and a few seconds later he was +talking eagerly with old Admiral Tresize, at the same time casting +fervent glances towards Nancy. + +It was no wonder that Bob loved her, for no fairer or better girl lived +in the land of Tre, Pol, and Pen. I, who have known her all her life, +can testify to this, and as she stood there that day, young, happy, and +beautiful, it was no wonder that his heart burned with a great love. + +"You'll almost have time for a run to Land's End," said the Admiral, +looking at his watch, "and it's a glorious afternoon." + +"No, we are going to picnic in the good old-fashioned way," said Nancy. +"We are going to have tea on the headland, after which we are going to +quarrel about things generally. We always do." + +The Admiral laughed. He had not the slightest hesitation about +allowing Bob and Nancy to go to Gurnard's Head together. They had been +playfellows and friends all their lives, as for their being anything +else, the thought never occurred to him. + +"Off you go," he said, "and mind you take great care of her, Bob." + +Admiral Tresize liked Bob very much, and always welcomed him to +Penwennack. He remembered that he had Trelawney blood in his veins, +and, although his father had been a Quaker doctor, he made no secret of +the fact that he liked the boy, and he often spoke of him as a nice, +quiet, clever lad. + +"Fine-looking chap too," he would add; "just the build for a soldier. +Six feet in his stockings, and forty inches around the chest. But +there, although he has the looks of a Trelawney, he has the views of +his Quaker father, and it's no use talking about it. But it's a pity +all the same, a great pity." + +"Well, Bob, I hear you have done great things at Oxford. Astonished +the professors, swept everything before you, and all that sort of +thing," said Nancy, as presently they stood on the headland. + +Bob laughed, and looked rather shamefaced. He was very sensitive about +his scholastic achievements, besides which he knew that Nancy thought +far more of a "blue" than of a classical scholar. + +"You are fairly clever, you know, Bob," and the girl laughed as she +spoke. + +"That does not count much with you, Nancy." + +"How do you know? It doesn't follow that because I don't like dressing +like a frump, and because I love hunting and dancing, that I don't +admire cleverness." + +"It's not that at all, Nancy. I know you admire clever people. What I +meant was," and he stammered painfully, "that--that it's--a matter of +indifference to you whether I, personally, am dull or clever." + +"What reason have you for saying that?" + +"Hundreds," replied Bob. "That is--you see, you are always laughing at +my desire to be 'a fusty bookworm,' as you call it, and--and, well, all +that sort of thing." + +"Does that prove indifference?" she replied, and Bob thought he noted a +tremor in her voice. + +"You know it does," he went on, hating himself for talking in such a +fashion, and yet unable to control his words. "Only yesterday, when we +were talking together at tea, and some one said that I should die an +old bachelor, you said that I was far more likely to die an old maid. +Then, although you saw you wounded me, you went off with Captain +Trevanion." + +"Hadn't you, just before, refused to stay the evening, although I went +out of my way to persuade you? And you gave as your excuse that you +had some reading to do. As though your--your books----" + +"Did you want me to stay?" asked Bob eagerly. "Nancy--did you really +care?" + +The girl did not speak, but turned her eyes toward the great heaving +sea. + +Robert's heart beat wildly as he looked at her. Never did he love her +as he loved her now, never had she seemed so fair to him. It was no +wonder he had fallen in love with her, for he knew that, in spite of +her love of pleasure, and her sometimes flippant way of talking, she +was one of the sweetest, truest girls that ever breathed. Although she +might be wilful, and passionate, and sometimes seemed careless whether +she gave pain or pleasure, she would give her last farthing to help any +one in difficulty. + +He had been surprised when she suggested his motoring her to Gurnard's +Head that afternoon, little thinking that she did it to atone for what +she had said two days before. + +"Nancy, did you want me to stay?" he repeated. "If--if I thought you +really----" + +"Did it vex you that I asked Captain Trevanion to show me his new +horse?" she interrupted. + +The flush on her face and the tremor of her lips set his heart beating +more wildly than ever. All caution went to the winds. The mad passion +which for years he had been trying to crush again mastered him. He +knew that his hour had come, and that he must speak and know his fate. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +"Nancy," repeated Bob, "you know what is in my heart, don't you? Know +I've loved you for years?" + +"You've never told me so," and there was a suggestion of a laugh in +Nancy's voice. + +"Because I was afraid. How could I dare to--to tell you--when--when +you never gave a sign, and when--you seemed to like others better? +Others have wanted you, I know that; fellows--better looking than I, +more--more attractive than I, and with far better prospects. I am not +your sort of fellow--I know that; but--you've known all along that I +loved you. I've been afraid to tell you so, but I would willingly shed +my life's blood for you." + +"I hate a coward!" cried the girl. + +"Yes, I've known that; but then, how dared I speak when a fellow like +Trevanion, heir to a title, and captain in a crack regiment, would give +his life to get you? What chance had I?" + +"Then why do you tell me this now?" + +"Because I can't help myself. Because--Nancy, is there any chance? I +know your father would be mad, but I wouldn't mind that a bit. Nancy, +is there any hope for me?" + +Again the girl's lips became tremulous as she looked at the waves +lashing themselves to foam on the great black rocks, while the +sea-birds soared overhead. It was easy to see she was greatly moved, +although it was her nature to hide her feelings. + +"I don't know, Bob." + +It did not seem like Nancy's voice at all. It was almost hoarse, and +she had a difficulty in speaking. + +"Don't know?" he repeated. "Then--then----" + +"I want to speak plainly. Bob. I may hurt you, although--I'll try not +to. Yes, I have believed that--you cared for me. I suppose I've seen +it, and I expect I've been vexed that you've never told me. I--I +wanted you to." + +"Wanted me to!" cried Bob. "You have never given me a chance. +And--and you always seemed to care for--for those other fellows." + +"I wanted you to make your chances. If--if a man loves a girl, he +should dare anything to get her. Anything. What do I care about +Hector Trevanion? He hasn't a thought in his head above his latest +horse and his newest uniform. But how could I help being friendly with +him, when you--have always on the slightest pretext been ready to leave +me with him." + +"And you wanted me all the time!" There was a note of joy and triumph +in his voice. + +"I don't know," replied the girl. "I'll be absolutely frank with you, +Bob. You are not the sort of man I wanted to love. Yes, I'll admit +it--I wanted to love a soldier, a sailor, a man of action. I can never +admire a man who will be content to spend his days in a library poring +over old dusty books. That's why I have been angry when I've heard you +glorifying these useless old fossils. And yet--oh, Bob!" and the girl +concluded with a sob. + +"Do you mean," and Bob's voice was tremulous, "that you cared for me +all the time, although you--you didn't like my plans for my future? +That you preferred me to Trevanion? Oh, Nancy!" + +"As though a girl must care for six feet of flesh without brains +because she isn't a blue-stocking. Why--why--couldn't you see, Bob?" + +"And I say--oh, Nancy, does this mean that you care for me--love me?" + +"I'm afraid I do," she half-laughed, half-sobbed. + +"Afraid?" + +"Yes, don't you see? You are not in the least like the man I wanted to +love. You could have won your blue as a cricketer, but you wouldn't +take the trouble to get it. A man in Oxford told me that you could be +the best three-quarter in the 'Varsity Rugby team, but that you were +too lazy to play. You've been a sort of negative creature, while I +love a man of action. What are old shrivelled manuscripts worth to the +world to-day? Who cares about the sayings of some old dead and +forgotten German, or some obscure passages in _Bede's Ecclesiastical +History_, when there's a great surging life all around us to-day? +History is only a record of what took place in the past; I love the +thought of a man who wants to make history, who sets his ideas to +action. And you, Bob, you have told me again and again that you want +to spend your life in historical research, or some such useless thing." + +"But--but, Nancy, what does all that matter when I love you--love you +with all my life? Besides----" + +"I come of a race of fighters," cried the girl. "When Philip of Spain +sent over his Great Armada, to rob us of our liberty, one of my +ancestors fought the Dons. He gave ships and men to our country, and +helped to save us from oppression. When Napoleon cast a shadow over +Europe, and threatened to destroy our country, men of my name were +among the foremost in fighting him. My grandfather represented St. Ia +in Parliament, and he roused the country. While you--oh, Bob, forgive +me, but your ideal seems to be to sit in a library in Oxford, wearing a +dirty old dressing-gown and iron-rimmed spectacles, reading or writing +books which will be of no use to any one! Is that a life for a man?" + +"But if his mind is cast in that mould?" + +"I haven't finished yet," went on the girl. "Forgive me, Bob, for +talking so much. I wouldn't only--oh, Bob, can't you see? Why, at our +last dance--when--when I had kept four for you, you never even asked +for them. And I--I wanted to dance them too; but--but I had to sit +them out, and when other men begged me to let them put their names down +on my card, I said I was tired. Then, when I heard afterwards that you +had gone into the library, and were reading some old book which hadn't +been opened for years, I just--cried." + +"Oh, Nancy, I never dreamt of such a thing! I--I never thought you +wanted me. I was just aching for you all the time, but I thought--why, +you've always laughed at my dancing. But there, now I know, I can do +anything, be anything. And there's nothing I won't do for you?" + +"You are not vexed with me, are you?" + +"I couldn't be vexed with you, Nancy. I'd let myself be cut in bits +for you. And you love me, don't you? Oh, it's too good to be true! +but say you do, tell me that in spite of everything you love me?" + +"Haven't I been telling you so all the time? And--and yet you haven't +asked me to--to----" + +"What, Nancy?" + +"Oh, I do hate a coward!" + +"But what haven't I asked you?" + +"Bob, isn't there something you want very much?" + +"Yes, there is," replied Bob. "Something--that---- Nancy, you won't +be vexed with me if I ask you?" + +"Risk my being vexed," laughed the girl. + +"Then I want to take you in my arms, and kiss you--kiss you a hundred +times." + +"Then, why don't you?" + +Bob looked around him, like one afraid. They were beneath the shadow +of a great rock. At their feet was headland grass, wind-swept and +grey, but peeping through the grass were thousands upon thousands of +wild thyme, giving the little plateau a purple hue. They were hidden +from the gaze of any who might be on the great rock. His heart beat so +that his breath came with difficulty; he was trembling with a new-found +joy--a joy so great that it almost gave him pain. + +"Oh, my love!--my love!" he cried, as he took her in his arms, and his +kisses were as pure as those with which a young mother lasses her +firstborn. + + +"What haven't I asked you?" he said, a few minutes later. + +They were sitting beneath the shadow of the rock now, and Nancy was +rearranging her hat. She did not reply, but her eyes were full of +gladsome mischief as she looked at him. + +"I mean just now, when--when you said you had been telling me that you +loved me, but I hadn't asked for something. What was it?" + +"You've made up for it since," and there was a laugh in her voice. + +"Do you mean that you wanted me to kiss you? Oh, you are right, Nancy, +I am an awful coward, but I'll make up for lost time now." + +The sea continued to roll on the great rugged rock, which threw its +mighty head far out into its depths. Overhead the sea-birds hovered, +sailing with graceful motion over the silvery waters, and uttering +their mournful cry, while far out vessels ploughed their way up and +down the Atlantic; but neither noticed. They were happy in each +other's love. Nancy had forgotten the fact that Robert Nancarrow was +not the kind of man she had meant to love, while he was far too happy +to care for the lecture she had given him. Her kisses were warm upon +his lips, her words of love rung in his ears. They were in the +dreamland of happy lovers, while the sky of their lives was as free +from clouds as the great dome of blue overhead. He was the only man +she had ever loved, or ever could love, while to him the maid, wilful +and passionate though she might be, was perfect. What were books, +learning, and the fame of scholarship to him now? He had won the love +of the girl whom for years he had loved, and ever despaired of winning. +She, who had seemed so far away from him, so far above him, had come to +his arms, willingly, gladly. She, with her proud old name, and almost +lordly wealth, had chosen him, and forgotten everything in her choice. + +It seemed too wonderful to be true, and he looked at her again and +again in his wonder, proud beyond all words, yet almost afraid to +believe in his good fortune. + +"Oh, Nancy, you are beautiful!" + +The light of joy flashed from her eyes. What girl is there beneath the +all-beholding heavens who does not long to know that the man she loves +thinks her beautiful?--Who does not long for him to tell her? + +"And what a lovely dress you are wearing." + +"I've worn it three times since you came down from Oxford, and you've +never once mentioned it." + +"I never saw it as I see it now. I never saw as I see you now. Nancy, +there's no one like. Bless you, my love, for loving me." + +But I must not dwell on that happy hour, much as I would love to. We +who are older may laugh at "Love's young dream," and grow cynical about +its transitory nature. We may say that lovers live in a fool's +paradise, and that the dream of lovers ends in the tragedies of later +years. Still, there's nothing sweeter or purer on God's green earth +than the love of a clean-minded honest lad for the maid he has chosen +from all others. It keeps the world young and hopeful; humanly +speaking, it is life's greatest joy, and the man who can throw scorn +upon its joys and utter cynical words about its reality has himself +lost the pearl of great price. It is he who is to be pitied, and not +the lovers. They hear the birds of paradise singing in the bowers of +Eden, while he hears only the croaking of the raven. + +They got back to realities presently. Bob's new-found joy had led him +to the realisation of the future. + +"I'm going to speak to your father to-night, Nancy. I know he'll be +angry, but that I don't mind a bit." + +"No, Bob, you must not speak to him--at least not yet." + +"Why?" + +"Because he'll refuse, and you mustn't speak to him until you can make +him consent." + +"I don't understand, Nancy." + +"You see, he has exactly the same feeling that I have about men. He +would never consent to my being the wife of a book-worm." + +"Oh, I've thought that all out while I've been here," replied Bob +confidently. "Yes, I know I've been unpractical--a dreamer, in fact. +But I'm going to alter all that. Now you've told me--that--that you +love me, I feel I must become a man of action. You've wakened +something in me that I didn't know existed. I haven't been half alive. +I've imagined that only thoughts, ideas mattered; now I know +differently. I've lived only half-life. Mark you, I don't altogether +go back upon my faith--I only add a new element to it. I've always +said that we owe everything to thought. I've said that thoughts +covered the seas with floating cities, and converted the world into a +whispering-gallery. That thoughts have belted the globe with electric +currents, and given us untold blessings. Now I know that I've stated +only half a truth. The man who is simply a man of ideas, is like a +bird trying to fly with one wing. There must be action to put the +ideas into use. Oh, yes, I see it all." + +"Yes, yes, Bob; and what are you going to do?" + +"I'm going to study for the Bar. I'm going to set about it right away. +And then I'm going into Parliament. I've big ideas, Nancy--big ideas +about governments, and about reforms in our laws. There are great +things that want doing, and I'm going to do them. I'm going to get at +the helm of government, and destroy abuses. I am not going to be +content by writing books about what is needed; I'm going to see that my +ideas take shape in the laws of the country, and effect the betterment +of the world." + +Please do not smile at Robert Nancarrow's somewhat highfalutin talk, +and set him down as a conceited prig. Every young fellow who has ever +done or been anything in the world, has at some time in his life had +such thoughts. Sad will it be for England as a nation when our boys do +not dream impossible dreams, and think thoughts which wiseacres call +foolishness. + +"That's splendid, Bob!" cried Nancy, her eyes sparkling. "I should +love you to go into Parliament--love to hear you speak in the House of +Commons. Why, you might be elected for St. Ia! Dad has at great deal +of influence there too, and could get you nominated. But what things +would you advocate?" + +"I know," cried Bob. "I am going to create a peace party in England. +Yes, I know some of your people have been soldiers, while my mother +glories in the fact that many of the Trelawneys have been and are in +the Army. But think of the horrors of war. Even now Europe is said to +be sitting on a powder-barrel. Every nation in Europe is being bled to +death, in order to pay war taxes, even although at present there isn't +a shadow of war in the sky. Money that might be spent, and should be +spent, on the betterment of the lives of the people and destroying, the +possibility of poverty and want, is spent in Dreadnoughts and weapons +to kill. Hundreds of millions are being spent on the Army and Navy, +while paltry sums are grudged for education and all those things which +go to make up the manhood of the nation." + +"Yes, I know war is terrible, ghastly. But how can you stop it? You +wouldn't advocate the destruction of our Army and Navy. It would be +madness, it would----" + +"Not yet," interrupted Bob eagerly. "I would labour for a great +European movement. Take Germany for example. The Germans are worse +taxed than we are to pay for armaments, but the people don't want war. +They are a peace-loving people. The Kaiser doesn't want war. He's +said so a hundred times. The Czar of Russia doesn't want war. And yet +hundreds upon hundreds of millions of money are being spent on war +implements, while the people want bread. Besides, a ghastly, warlike, +unchristian spirit is kept alive by this eternal talk about the +possibilities of war. What is wanted is an agreement among the +Governments of nations that there shall be no war. We want to create +an anti-war spirit in the hearts of the people, and so kill the +terrible thing at the fountain-head." + +"Yes, yes," cried the girl, "if all the nations could be persuaded to +disarm, it would be splendid! But, but----" + +"It can be done," cried Bob. "I will give my life to it. Everybody +hates war in the abstract, but no one seems to throw himself heart and +soul into a great peace crusade. Even the Peace Society is +half-hearted. The cause of Peace hasn't been voiced of late years. +That's it," and Bob rose to his feet excitedly; "I see my work, Nancy. +Neither your father nor any one else shall say that I'm unpractical, or +that I sit still and do nothing. Think of the glory of such a cause! +Think of destroying for ever the ghastly horrors of war, of helping to +bring about universal peace." + +"Yes," replied Nancy, "it would be glorious, simply glorious. I was +only very little when the Boer War broke out, and when my eldest +brother Roger went away to it, father gave a dinner, and all our +friends came to bid him good-bye. Although I was only a kiddie, I was +allowed to sit up to it, and I remember some of the speeches that were +made. They promised him that he should be made a colonel and all that +sort of thing, and there was such laughing and shouting. Every one +imagined it would be over in a few weeks; it seemed such a little thing +to crush a few Boer farmers. After that I used to watch dad's face as +he read his newspaper, and wondered what he was so sad about. Then one +day some one brought him a letter which almost killed him. I shall +never forget it. He staggered as though some one had struck him a +blow, and groaned as if he were in agony. Roger was killed. It added +years to dad's life, and he's never been the same since." + +"War is that kind of thing multiplied thousands of times," said Bob. +"There were unnumbered homes in England, yes, and in South Africa too, +desolated by that war, when--when it ought to have been avoided. Yes, +my mind's made up. I'm going into Parliament, and I'm going to make +war against war. The holiest and most Christlike work a man can +undertake. Shan't I tell your father to-night, Nancy?" + +"No, no, not yet. I'm afraid he might---- I'll prepare him little by +little, and then, when the proper time comes, I'll tell you. But, +Bob," and the girl laughed gaily, "I had almost to propose to you, +hadn't I?" + +"No," replied Bob. "I did the proposing, and you did the lecturing. +That's what it'll be all our lives, I expect; but what do I care, as +long as I have you?" + +"I--I was afraid you were going to be a coward, though." + +"And you don't like cowards?" + +She became serious in a moment. "If there's anything I hate and +despise, it's cowardice," she cried. "I think I could forgive anything +but that. It's--it's beneath even contempt. Hark, what's that?" + +They heard a rustling sound behind them, and saw, close by, a newspaper +blown towards them by the light summer breeze. + +Bob put out his hand and caught it. "It's to-day's paper," he said. +"I haven't looked at mine to-day." + +He read it almost mechanically. Neither dreamed that this paper, +carelessly dropped by a man who had come to see the famous rock, +contained news on which depended not only the future of their own +lives, but which altered the destinies of nations, and which turned a +great part of Europe into a shambles. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +This is what he read: + + + TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN BOSNIA. + + ASSASSINATION OF THE HEIR PRESUMPTIVE TO THE + AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN THRONE. + + BOMB THROWN INTO THE CAR OF THE ARCHDUKE + FERDINAND AND HIS CONSORT, THE DUCHESS OF + HOHENBERG. + + OVERWHELMING INDIGNATION IN VIENNA. + GRIEF OF THE AGED EMPEROR. + + +These were the staring headlines which riveted the gaze of both, and +for the moment made them silent. + +"Good heavens, how terrible!" cried Nancy presently. + +"Ghastly beyond words," was Bob's reply. "It has come like a +thunderbolt. As I told you, I did not look at my paper this morning, +and, as I have not been to St. Ia to-day, I saw no announcements." + +"And our papers were late this morning. I have not seen them," +rejoined Nancy. "Fancy the grief of the poor old Emperor! Who did +it?--and why was it done?" + +"Evidently it was done by two young men, both anarchists, and both said +to be Servians." + +"Aren't these anarchists terrible? No king or queen in Europe seems to +be safe." + +"This doesn't appear to have been done by anarchists in the usual sense +of the term after all," said Bob, who hastily scanned the paper. "It +seems there are suspicions of political causes. This paper suggests +that these fellows were agents of the Servian Government, who have a +special grudge against the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, who was +heir-presumptive to the Austrian Throne. Are you interested in +European politics, Nancy?" + +"Not a bit. I always skip foreign news." + +"If it is as this paper suggests, it might lead to serious +complications. You see, it was hoped by the Servians that at the close +of the Balkan War they would be able to obtain a naval port on the +Adriatic, and it is said they would have got it but for the Archduke. +It is also commonly believed that a School of Servian Patriots have for +years been struggling to make Bosnia and Herzegovina part of Greater +Servia, owing to the preponderance of Serb population. These two +provinces, in spite of Russia, belong to Austria." + +"I suppose the Servians are awful people. Always quarrelling and +fighting, and that kind of thing," and Nancy crept closer to Bob as she +spoke. + +"It's a wonderfully interesting part of Europe, although it was so +little known before the war of the Balkan States with the Turks. I +say, Nancy, wouldn't it be fun to go there for our honeymoon?" + +"It would be like going into a savage country." + +"Oh, no, not so bad as that. I was talking a few weeks ago with a man +who was a war correspondent during their squabble, and he told me a lot +about Montenegro and Servia and Roumania. He fairly fired my +imagination, and made me long to go. It would be great fun." + +Nancy shook her head. "No, Bob," she said, with a blush, "when that +time comes, we'll go to some lovely spot somewhere on the Rhine, where +we shall be among civilised people, and where there will be no +possibility of meeting these half-civilised races. But what do you +think the Austrians will do?" + +"Oh, of course, if this murder is simply a revolt of the anarchists, +the murderers will be executed, and I suppose that will be the end of +it; but if there is evidence which goes to show that they were +emissaries of the Servian Government, it will lead to all sorts of +complications." + +"What complications?" + +"Well, of course, Austria will want an explanation from Servia, and if +Servia doesn't give a satisfactory reply, there will be trouble. It's +common knowledge that Austria doesn't like Slav influence, and she'll +use this as an excuse for crushing all Slav ideals. It might end in +Austria practically administering Servian affairs." + +"That would be the best way, wouldn't it? Austria is a civilised +country, while the Servians are savages. One of the girls I went to +school with, spent a winter in Vienna, and she had a lovely time. She +says that Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and +the Austrians are such charming people." + +"That would be easier said than done," replied Bob, smiling at her +school-girl fashion of settling European difficulties. "You see, +directly Austria tried to do this, Russia would step in. Russia is +practically under a contract to protect the Servians, and to help them +in need. Russia, which is a great Slav Empire, wouldn't stand by and +see Austria swallow up Slav Servia." + +"And then there might be a war between Russia and Austria? And Russia, +with her countless hordes of men, would crush Austria?" + +"That wouldn't suit Germany's book," was Bob's reply. "You see, there +is a close alliance between Austria and Germany, and Germany wouldn't +allow Austria to be put under." + +"Oh, it would be horrible!" gasped the girl. "But there, we won't talk +about it any more. It can't affect us, can it? England has nothing to +do with Servians murdering an Austrian Archduke. I'm awfully sorry for +the poor old Austrian Emperor, but--but----" + +"It can't affect us, or our happiness," cried Bob, taking her +outstretched hand. "No, thank God! but I say, Nancy, this is an awful +commentary on what we were saying just now, isn't it? It makes me more +than ever determined to throw myself into a movement that shall make +war impossible. But oh, my dear girl, I do wish you'd let me speak to +your father to-night! I want my happiness assured. I want everybody +to know that I've won you--that you've promised to be my wife." + +A thoughtful look came into her eyes. It might seem as though she were +fighting a battle between inclination and judgment. + +"No, Bob," she said at length, "it won't do. I'm sure dad wouldn't +consent. The truth is----" she hesitated. + +"What?" asked Bob eagerly. + +"Dad's awfully fond of Captain Trevanion. I--I believe he's set his +mind on it." + +"On what? On your marrying him!" + +"Now, don't be jealous." + +"I'm not jealous. How could I be when"--he held her to him, and kissed +her passionately--"when you've told me you love me." + +"He'll be terribly mad when he knows at first. You see, he's always +looked on you as a--well, to put it mildly, a useless bookworm. And he +likes Hector Trevanion because, although he's a fool in many things, +he's a good soldier. He says he's very young for a captain, and with +his name and prospects--he'll be sure to be a major and afterwards a +colonel in a very short time, especially if a war breaks out. And--and +he's very ambitious for me. That's why I shall have to break it to him +by degrees. I shall begin by talking about your successes at Oxford, +and then I shall tell him that you are going to study for the Bar, as a +preliminary to going into Parliament. You are so clever, that you +won't be long before you are called to the Bar, will you?" + +"I'll do it in record time," cried Bob. "There are a number of dinners +to eat, and certain examinations to pass; but I can manage them all +right. Don't think I'm conceited, Nancy; lots of the Professors told +me that the Bar exams. would be comparatively easy to me." + +"Of course they will be," said Nancy confidently, "and meanwhile you +could be on the look out for a constituency, couldn't you?" + +"Ye-es," replied Bob doubtfully. "Of course, I'd rather get called +first, but it could be managed. As it happens, I'm comfortably off, +and so I need not be dependent on my profession." + +"Anyhow, we must say nothing about our--our----" + +"Engagement," suggested Bob, as Nancy hesitated. + +"Call it what you like, but we must keep it quiet for the present, and +be very circumspect and all that. So, as we've been here for quite a +long while, we had better be getting home." + +Bob crumpled up the newspaper and threw it over the cliff. + +"It's horrible, isn't it?" she said, as they watched it falling from +rock to rock until it fell into the sea; "but it can't affect us, can +it, Bob?" + +"No," replied Bob, "it can't affect us. Nothing shall affect us, +Nancy, and nothing shall come between us. I feel as though I could do +anything now, and there's nothing I won't do to win a position worthy +of you. I'll work like a slave. I'll map out my programme to the +minutest detail, and I'll win all along the line. Edward VII was +called a peacemaker, and everybody admired him for it. But I'll do +more than he ever did. Just think of it! To be known throughout the +country, and throughout the world, as the man who made war on war, and +made it impossible. I'll give my life to it, Nancy--my whole life!" + +"And where do I come in?" she asked, with mock sorrow. + +"You! You come in everywhere. You are everything. You are my love, +my inspiration; but for you everything would be impossible. One more +kiss, Nancy, while no one can see us." + +When Bob Nancarrow returned home that night he was the happiest man in +Cornwall. More than he had ever hoped for had come to pass. Nancy had +promised to wait for him because she loved him. She had preferred him +to all others, and sacrificed brilliant prospects because of her love +for him. The sky of his life seemed cloudless. Nothing, as far as he +could see, stood in the way of his attaining his highest hopes. The +plan which had so suddenly been born in his mind and heart grew in +attractiveness. He had the most glorious objective in the world. He +saw an outlet for his energies, while the cause for which he would +stand appealed to all that was noblest within him. + +War against war! + +The thing had become a passion with him. Here was the great work +which, unknown to himself, he had all along wanted. Even when he had +dreamed of becoming an Oxford Don, and of spending his life in a kind +of cultured seclusion, there had always been something wanting. He had +fighting blood in his veins; the old fire for which the Trelawneys had +been famous had constantly made its appeal. And now Nancy had shown +him how his life could be a positive one. Now he could be true to the +principles which he had inherited from his father, and to which he held +with strong tenacity, and at the same time satisfy his desires to +participate in the struggles and battles of the great world. + +"A noble cause demands your zeal!" + +He found himself humming the words as he turned on the lights. And he +had a noble cause, the noblest, the most Christlike on earth. Warfare! +Yes, in spite of his peace principles he loved warfare. Man was a +fighting animal, and he was a man, every inch of him. And he was +called on to fight--to fight the War-god which had lifted its head so +arrogantly and brutally. But his warfare was to be for peace--the +peace of the world. It was to be for man's salvation, and not for his +destruction. Not for pillage, carnage, cruelty, mad hatred, +overwhelming ambition, lust for blood; but brotherhood, kindliness, +love, mercy. This was the battle of the Lord; this was the cause of +Christ. + +In this way he could be true to his father's teaching, true to the +Christianity in which he believed; but more, he could by this means +make himself worthy of Nancy, and make a place in the world, in which +even her father would rejoice. + +His heart beat with wild joy. Even now Nancy's kisses were warm on his +lips, her words of love rang in his ears. + +Yes, his plan of life was plain, his work arose before him, alluring, +ennobling, inspiring. And Nancy loved him! What more could he desire? + +He looked around the room with a long tremulous sigh of contentment. +Life was indeed beautiful, glorious. Around him were thousands of +books. His father had been an omnivorous reader, and had amassed a +large library. Nearly every inch of wall-space was covered with +book-shelves. Only one space, above the mantelpiece, was uncovered, +and there hung what was even dearer than the books. It was an oil +painting of his father. + +Robert Nancarrow looked at it long and steadily, and as he did so his +eyes became moist. + +"Dear old father!" he murmured; "the noblest man that ever breathed." + +It was a fine face he saw. Rather serious on the whole, but still with +a smile lurking around the lips and shining in the eyes. The face of a +good--almost a great man. No one could associate it with meanness or +impurity. An intellectual face too, with a broad forehead and large, +speaking eyes. A face which suggested conscientiousness, which +proclaimed the fact that its owner must do whatever conscience told him +to do, no matter what it might cost. + +It seemed to Bob as he looked that his father smiled on him. + +"Yes, it is what he would most desire," reflected the young fellow. +"It was the passion of his life, and it shall be mine." + +He went to a bookcase, and took therefrom a small volume. It was +entitled _Thoughts on the Boer War_, by Robert Nancarrow, M.D. + +The young man opened it, and began to read; but his mind was too full +of his plans to concentrate his attention. + +"Father would love Nancy," he reflected, and then he arose from his +chair and went close to the picture. "He does love her," he reflected. +"He is alive, he knows, and he is pleased. I feel as though he were +here now, and giving me his blessing on my love, and on my work." + +The house was very silent. Every one had long since gone to bed, and +not a sound was to be heard. The night was almost windless too, and +not even the murmur of the waves in the Bay of St. Ia, which could be +faintly heard outside, reached him. He felt himself alone with his +father. + +"Good night, father," he said aloud, still looking the picture. "I +love her as my life, and I am very happy. I have your blessing, +haven't I?" + +Again it seemed to him that his father smiled on him. He was sure he +saw the quiet humour in his eyes which he remembered so well. + +Bob was in a strange humour that night. The day had been eventful +beyond all the days of his life. He had entered into a happiness of +which he had never dreamed before; he had seen visions of the future of +which hitherto he had been blind. He had been carried away by his love +and his enthusiasm; his nature had been moved to its depths. Now the +memory of it all, the quietness of the house, caused thoughts to come +to his mind, and moved him to feelings to which he had been a stranger. + +"It's what you would wish me to do, father, isn't it?" he still +continued aloud. "To go into Parliament, and then work and fight for +the peace of the world? To destroy the ghastly nightmare of war, to +fight against the War-god, to put an end to this eternal making of +implements of death. I have your consent, and your blessing, haven't +I?" + +Yes, he was sure his father was smiling on him, and giving him his +blessing. There was something sacred, holy, in the thought. + +He turned out the lights, but the beams of the moon streamed through +the window, and rested on the picture. + +"Good night, father," he said. "I'll try to be a true man," and then +he left the room, feeling as if indeed he had been talking to his +father. + +"Is that you, Bob?" + +He was passing his mother's bedroom door, as the words reached his ears. + +"Yes, mother. I thought you would have been asleep hours ago." + +"No, I couldn't sleep till I heard you come in. Come in, and kiss me +good night." + +Bob entered his mother's room, and went towards the bed. Mrs. +Nancarrow was still a young woman, and looked almost like a girl as she +lay on the snowy pillows. + +"Whom was that you were talking to?" + +"I--I was thinking, mother." + +"Thinking? Thinking aloud?" + +"I suppose so." + +"What about?" + +"About father." + +There was a silence for a few seconds. Both felt they were on sacred +ground. + +"Mother," said Bob, remembering what Nancy had said to him, "I want to +tell you something. But you won't breathe a word, will you? It's a +profound secret. I mean that you must not mention it to _any one_, +must not speak about it to any one, under any circumstances." + +"Of course I won't, if you don't wish it. What is it?" + +"I'm engaged to Nancy Tresize." + +"What!" + +Bob repeated the news. + +"Aren't you pleased, mother?" + +She lifted herself up in the bed and threw her arms around his neck. + +"You don't mean it really, Bob? Why, I never dreamed that such a thing +was possible." + +"Neither did I until to-day. I--I--mother, what are you crying about? +Aren't you pleased?" + +"Of course I am; but oh, my dear boy! Oh, if only your father had +lived!" + +"He knows. I've been telling him," said Bob, who had a strain of the +mystic in his nature. "I'm sure I have his blessing." + +"Nancy is the finest, sweetest girl in Cornwall," she cried; "I +couldn't have wished for anything better. I've always loved her. But +I never thought that----" + +"Neither did I," interrupted Bob. "It seems too good to be true, but +it is true. I motored Nancy over to Gurnard's Head this afternoon, +and--and it is all settled. She's the dearest girl in the world, +mother." + +"Of course she is," sobbed Mrs. Nancarrow. "There, wait a minute until +I dry my eyes. I never expected such a thing, and--and oh, Bob, my +dear, dear boy!" + +"You mustn't imagine that you aren't still dear to me, mother, or that +I love you one whit the less. I don't, you know, and Nancy loves you +too." + +"Yes, yes, I know that. It isn't that, my boy! But--but--you'll never +know what a woman feels when she first learns that her only boy loves +another woman better than he loves his mother. It isn't sorrow. Bob, +oh no! I'm as glad as glad, and I couldn't wish for anything better. +But what about the Admiral? Will he consent? I know he wants Nancy to +marry Captain Trevanion." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +For the next few days Bob lived in happy dreamland. It is true he did +not see Nancy much alone, and no suggestion of their betrothal was made +known. But he found an excuse for going to Penwennack every day, and +Admiral Tresize, never imagining what was in his mind, always gave him +a hearty welcome. Nancy had two brothers nearly of Bob's age, one of +whom had been to Clifton with him; and although he was on the military +side of the college, they saw much of each other. Dick Tresize was +fond of Bob, in spite of the dissimilarity in their tastes, and as Bob +evinced a sudden love and efficiency for tennis, he became in great +demand. He also raised himself in the Admiral's estimation by +challenging Captain Trevanion, who was a scratch man at golf, to a +match on the Leiant Links. + +"How many strokes do you expect me to give you?" rather scornfully +demanded Trevanion, who had not been at all pleased at Nancy's constant +disinclination for his society and her sudden preference for Bob's. + +"Oh, we'll play level!" was Bob's reply. + +"I like a game when I play," said the Captain who joined heartily in +the laugh at Bob's expense. + +"I'll try to give you a game," was Bob's reply. + +"Good old Bob," cried Dick Tresize, "and the loser shall stand tea at +the Club House for the whole bally lot of us. And it must be a good +tea too. We'll have a dish of cream and all sorts of cakes. We can +easily arrange it, for Thursday is a quiet day, and the crowds of +visitors haven't made their appearance yet. Have you plenty of money +with you, Bob." + +"Oceans," replied Bob, pulling out a handful of change. "I'm only +thinking about the state of Trevanion's finances." + +"They are all right," replied Trevanion. "And I propose that we play +for a box of balls into the bargain." + +"How many of you are going?" asked Bob quietly. + +Several hands went up, including that of the Admiral, who had become +enthusiastic about forming what he called "a gallery." + +"Good, Admiral. I'm glad you are going. That'll make twelve +altogether. No, Trevanion, we won't play for the balls. The tea will +be enough for you to pay for. I am told that the Army pays junior +officers very badly." + +"That's why I want to play for a box of balls. My stock is running +low, and I want to get some on the cheap." + +"Come, let's be off!" cried Dick. "I'll tell the men to bring out the +cars, and we'll start right away. Where are your clubs, Bob?" + +"They are in my locker at the Club. I haven't seen them since the +Easter Vac." + +"But you've played at Oxford?" + +"No; been too busy." + +Dick held up his hands in mock horror, at which several of the party +laughed. + +"Trevanion will wipe the floor with you," he said woefully. "He's on +the links at least three days a week, and he plays a good scratch game." + +"Aren't you in practice, Bob?" asked Nancy, when they had a few seconds +alone together. + +"Scarcely played for a year." + +"Then why did you challenge Captain Trevanion?" + +"Because I was mad," replied Bob. "He's been trying to raise a laugh +against me all the morning and so--well, there it is." + +"But he'll be sure to beat you?" + +"No, he won't," and there was a confident ring in his voice. + +Half an hour later they had reached the Club House, and much laughter +and many pleasantries were exchanged as they teed their balls. Captain +Trevanion's clubs were shining, while Bob's were rusty through disuse. + +"They 'a'an't a bin clained for months," said the caddy, who was +vigorously rubbing them with emery paper. + +Captain Trevanion won the toss, and took the honour. He was a tall, +athletic fellow, and showed by his practice swing that he was master of +his tools. He hit his ball straight and clean, and it fell a few yards +behind the great grass mound which guards the first green. Bob, on the +other hand, felt nervous and awkward. He was out of practice, and knew +his disadvantage. He played the ball badly, and while it cleared the +rough, he had an awkward stance for his second. In playing the odd, +too, he miscalculated the distance, and found himself in the rough, on +the offside of the green. Captain Trevanion holed out in four and +although Bob got a five, he lost the hole. + +"One up to the Army," laughed the Admiral. + +The second hole, which can easily be reached by a good iron shot, +Captain Trevanion played perfectly. His ball soared over a high +mountain of sand, and plumped down comfortably a few yards from the +hole. Bob topped his ball, and it landed half way up the sand-hill in +a bad place. Again it took him five to hole out, while Trevanion was +down in three. + +At the third the Captain drove a perfect ball, while Bob, who though he +got just as far, landed in the churchyard, out of bounds. The result +was that he lost this hole also. + +"This is what I call a grand procession," remarked some one. + +"Come, Bob," laughed the Admiral, "this looks as though you will have +to pay for the tea." + +"I hope it'll be a good one anyhow," replied Bob quietly. "I'm working +up a fine appetite." + +At the next hole Captain Trevanion drove short, and landed in the +bunker guarding the green. Bob, on the other hand, sent his ball +straight and true over the guiding-post. + +"Fine shot," was the general remark. + +"Too far," said Dick Tresize. "That ball's over the green and gone +down the cliff. I'd rather be where Trevanion is." + +He proved to be right. Bob had got into a well-nigh impossible place +and lost another hole. + +"Beastly luck," remarked Dick. "That's not a fair hole." + +"Rub of the green," was all Bob said. + +"Yes, but it makes you four down," said the Admiral. "Trevanion has +done every hole in bogey so far, and he's not likely to make mistakes." + +It seemed as though Bob were destined to bad luck, for although he +seemed to play the next hole perfectly, he made too much allowance for +the wind, and his second shot went over a high bank which guarded the +green, and fell among the shingle, near which some old boats were lying. + +"Five up to the Military," shouted the Admiral. + +"The same grand procession," giggled a girl who was a great admirer of +Trevanion. + +"I say, Bob, I thought you were going to give Trevanion a game," said +George Tresize, Nancy's younger brother. + +Captain Trevanion laughed confidently. He felt certain of victory now, +and regarded the match as a walk over. + +"Five down is a big handicap," said Bob. "Still the match is young +yet." + +"He's had beastly luck at the last two holes," grumbled Dick Tresize, +who was evidently deeply chagrined. + +The next hole was halved in bogey. Bob got his four easily, but +Trevanion only halved his by a long and uncertain putt. + +"Five up at the sixth," shouted the Admiral. "Come, Bob, that's +better, you've halved a hole at last." + +Bob said nothing, but cast a look at Nancy, who was pale with +excitement. He could see how anxious she was, and noted the confident +air with which Trevanion approached the next tee. Although his +position seemed almost hopeless, a feeling of confidence came into his +heart. He had measured his opponent by this time, and he knew he had +got to his old mastery of his clubs. He felt sure, too, that he could +play the stronger game, even although he had lost hole after hole in +succession. + +Trevanion again drove, but this time his ball was off the line and +landed in a huge basin of sand. Bob's, on the other hand, was +perfectly straight. It carried the bunker a hundred and forty yards +from the tee, and was well on its way to the green. As a consequence, +although the bogey was five, Bob did it in four and won the hole. + +"You played that well, Nancarrow," said Trevanion. + +"The wind helped me," replied Bob. + +The next hole was also a five bogey; but again Bob, who reached the +green in two, got out in four, while Trevanion took five. He had +reduced the difference between them to three. The ninth hole was +halved. + +"Three up at the turn for the Army," shouted the Admiral. + +The tenth hole, as all who have played on the Leiant Links know, is +very difficult. If the player has a long drive, he can, if he has a +good second, land on the green in two; but in order to do so he has to +carry a very difficult piece of country, which, if he gets into it, is +generally fatal. Bob's drive was short, and it seemed impossible for +him to carry the tremendous hazard with his second shot. Trevanion, on +the other hand, was in an easy position. When he saw Bob's short drive +he laughed contentedly. + +"I'm wanting my tea badly," he said to Nancy. + +"That's a pity," replied the girl. "It'll take another hour to play +the next nine holes." + +"It looks as though the match will be over before then," he replied +confidently. "I'll bet you a box of chocolates that we shall finish at +the fourteenth." + +"Done!" cried the girl, and there was a flash of anger in her eyes. + +"Of course Bob'll have to play short here," grumbled Dick Tresize. "He +ought to have insisted on Trevanion giving him strokes. By George, +he's surely not going to be such a fool as to risk a brassy!" + +The next minute there was great cheering. Bob's ball had surely +mounted all difficulties and apparently landed on the green. + +"A magnificent shot!" cried the Admiral. "By gad, Bob, but Vardon +couldn't have done it better!" + +It was easy to see that Trevanion was annoyed as well as surprised at +Bob's shot. The bogey for the hole was five, and Bob had to all +appearance made a four possible by a very fine brassy shot. Trevanion +had driven thirty yards further than Bob, but he had still a big +sand-hill, covered with long grass, to carry. Whether Bob's shot had +made him fear that, after being five up, he might yet be beaten, it is +impossible to say, certain it is that he missed his ball, and Bob won +the hole. + +"Military down to two," cried the Admiral. "It's going to be a close +match, after all." + +The rest of the spectators became silent; they felt that things were +becoming serious, and that they must not talk, especially as Trevanion +had looked angrily at some one who had spoken as he was addressing his +ball for the next drive. The eleventh and the twelfth holes were +halved, and so the game stood at two up for Trevanion and six to play. + +"I've won my box of chocolates, Captain Trevanion," Nancy could not +help saying, as they walked to the thirteenth tee. "Even if you win +the next two holes you can only be dormy at the fourteenth." + +"I shall buy the chocolates with all the pleasure in the world," +replied the Captain. "You see, I didn't reckon on that brassy of +Nancarrow's at the tenth." + +"I think you are going to have an expensive afternoon," she laughed. + +Bob, who still retained the honour, addressed his ball. A strong cross +wind was blowing, but he made up his mind to carry the green, although +it was considerably over two hundred yards, and guarded by a high +mound. If he could do so he stood a good chance of a three, and might +rob his opponent of another hole. He hit the ball clean and true, and +as it left his club the spectators gave a gasp. It looked as though it +would strike the guiding-post, but to the relief of all, and especially +of Nancy, it rose a foot above it, and was soon lost to sight. + +"By gosh, Bob, I believe you've driven the green!" said Dick to Bob, in +a whisper. "If you have, you stand a good chance. You drive a longer +ball than Trevanion." + +It was easy to see by the change that had come over the Captain's face +that he was becoming anxious. He hit his ball with perfect precision, +but it dropped on the tee side of the high mound. Dick Tresize turned +towards the green. + +"You are on, old chap," he said, as his friend came up. "It's at the +corner of the green, but you should do it." + +Trevanion played a good approach shot, and then Bob laid his approach +putt dead. His three was safe. If Trevanion could not hole out, there +would be but one hole between them. Trevanion did his best, but the +ball did not reach the hole by a few inches, and was not quite straight. + +"The Army down to one," said the Admiral. + +By this time several people had been attracted by the news of the +match, and among the new spectators was an amiable-looking gentleman +who wore large, round spectacles. He had been seemingly much impressed +by Bob's last drive, and had loudly expressed himself to that effect. + +"I tell you," he said, "I haf seen Vardon, and Braid, and all ze rest +of zem play, but I neffer saw a finer shot, neffer. It vas great." + +He spoke so loudly that, when they were walking to the fourteenth tee, +Trevanion, who was slightly ruffled, said: + +"Excuse me, sir, but if you knew the etiquette of golf, you would know +that it is bad form to talk while people are playing." + +The stranger lifted his hat, and bowed profoundly. "I apologise, sir," +he said; "nothing was further from my mind than to interfere with your +play. I vill take much care not to offend again. I hope I did not +offend you, sir," he added, bowing to Bob. + +"Not the slightest," replied Bob. + +The stranger bowed again, and from that time was silent, although he +followed the party at a distance. + +The next three holes were halved, and there remained but two more to +play. Bob was very quiet, Trevanion looked grim and determined, the +colour came and went on Nancy's face. It seemed to her as though Bob's +future and her own depended on the result of the next few minutes. + +"One up to the Military, and two to play," cried the Admiral. + +"If you halve this, you'll be dormy, Captain Trevanion," said George +Tresize, who seemed very anxious for him to win. + +The Captain did not reply. Evidently he was in no mood for talk; as +for the rest of the crowd, a deadly silence rested on it. + +Like nearly all the holes on the Leiant Links, the seventeenth is +blind, although it is just possible to see the top of the flag. It is +not an easy hole to play, as I know to my cost. The green is guarded +on the right by a hedge, which if you get over it, makes your case +desperate. If you go too far, you are caught by a bunker; while if you +play to the left, the ground is so hummocky, that it is very difficult +to lay your ball dead. That is why, although the hole is barely two +hundred yards long, the committee have given it a four bogey. + +Bob took an iron, and played straight for the pin. + +"Good shot, but a bit short, I'm afraid," whispered Dick, as Bob stood +aside for Trevanion to drive. Trevanion also hit his ball clean, but +it was a trifle to the left. A little later they saw that both balls +were on the green, although Bob's was several yards the nearer. +Trevanion examined the ground carefully. He felt that much depended on +the approach putt. If he laid himself dead, he was sure he could not +be beaten. Every one stood breathless while the ball ran over the +hummocky ground. + +"By gosh, it's too merry!" gasped George Tresize. But he had not +accounted for a steep ascent. The ball rested less than two feet from +the hole; Trevanion's three was safe. + +Bob also carefully examined his ground, and then played his ball. It +went to the lip of the hole, and then half-hanging over, stopped. For +a second the little company held its breath, and then gave a gasp. The +ball fell in. + +"Beastly fluke!" muttered Trevanion, between his set teeth. + +"A great putt!" cried Dick. + +"All square and one to play," cried the Admiral. + +Bob felt his heart bound as he addressed the ball for the last drive. +What if after all he should miss it! A mist hung before his eyes. But +no, he would not miss, and a second later he watched the ball as it +soared over the hazard. Trevanion's was only a few yards behind. It +required but a chip shot to reach the green, which lay in a hollow just +over a turf-grown hedge, and guarded by a bunker. They had now reached +the final stage of the game. One shot might win or lose the match. + +Evidently Trevanion realised this as he took his mashie. More than one +saw his cigarette tremble between his lips; there could be no doubt +that he was greatly excited. Perhaps his nerves played him tricks, or +perhaps in his anxiety he looked up before he hit his ball. Anyhow he +missed it, and he found himself badly bunkered. Bob's chance had come, +and he took advantage of it. His ball pitched over the hedge, and then +rolled towards the hole. He had a possible three. Trevanion, on the +other hand, failed to get out of the bunker at the first shot, and got +too far with the second. Bob had won the match. + +"Jolly hard luck, getting into the bunker, Trevanion," he said; but the +other did not speak. For the moment he was too chagrined. + +"Nancarrow wins the match on the last green; now for tea," shouted the +Admiral. "Bob, my boy, you've played a great game. I congratulate +you." + +"A very fine game, Nancarrow," said Trevanion, who, like the sportsman +he was, had got over his disappointment. "You played the last fourteen +holes like a book." + +"Pardon me," said a voice, "I hope I shall not be considered to +indrude, but may I alzo congratulate you, sir. I am not English, I am +sorry to say, but I take advantage of the _Entente Cordiale_. You haf +given me much pleasure in watching you." + +The stranger bowed as he spoke, and produced his card. "Allow me," he +continued, as he presented it to Bob. + +"Thank you, Count von Weimer," replied Bob, as he read the card. "It +is very kind of you." + +"Forgive me as a stranger in speaking to you," went on the Count, "but +I felt I must. Never haf I seen such a feat of skill, and I cannot be +silent. I take advantage of the _Entente Cordiale_. I bear a German +name, but I am from Alsace, and my heart beats warm to you and your +country," then with another bow he walked away. + +"Who is that old buffer?" asked Dick. + +"You know as much about him as I," replied Bob; "evidently he wanted to +be friendly." + +"What did you say he was called?" asked the Admiral. + +"Count von Weimer, Chateau Villar, Alsace, and Continental Club, +London," said Bob, reading the card. + +"Von Weimer is a good name," said the Admiral, "and the Continental is +a good club; I've been there several times. I shall be civil to him if +I meet him again. But now for tea. By Jove, Trevanion, but the boy +has given you a twisting!" + +"Oh, Bob, I am glad!" whispered Nancy, as they went towards the Club +House. "At one time I--I; oh, Bob, I _am_ glad you've beaten him." + +"So am I," replied Bob, "but I'm not thinking so much about the golf." + +"Now for tea," said Trevanion, with a laugh. "You've won on this field +of battle, but in the next my turn will come." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +Bob was in great spirits at tea that day. He had won his match, and +proved himself a stronger player than Trevanion. Nancy, who sat by his +side, was radiant with smiles, while evidently the Admiral looked on +him with greater favour than ever before. + +"A remarkable feat, my boy," he said again and again. "To be five down +to a man like Trevanion, and then to beat him, means not only skill, +but nerve. That's the thing I like about it--the nerve, the pluck." + +"A game is never lost until it's won, sir," said Bob sententiously. + +"That's it, my boy. Stick to that. What did I hear about your plan to +go into Parliament? Do you mean it?" + +"If I have good luck, sir." + +"A great career, my lad, and you should do well. I am so glad you've +given up the idea of being a book-worm. Of course your scholarship +will come handy to you in Parliament, so perhaps you've been wise to +stick to your books. But the country wants men who can _do_ things." + +"I mean to do them too, sir." + +"Trelawney blood," laughed the old man. "Well, there's no reason in +the world why you shouldn't do big things. I always had hoped that +Roger would go into Parliament; indeed, he was as good as nominated for +St. Ia. But he was killed in the Boer War, poor fellow. A fine lad +too, as fine a lad as ever stepped in shoeleather," and his eyes became +moist. "Thank God we are at peace now!" he added. + +"You are coming back with me to Penwennack?" he went on, when presently +the party were leaving the Club House. + +"I'd love to, sir, but I can't. I must get back. I promised mother." + +"Ah well, stick to your mother. A lad who keeps his promise to his +mother seldom goes wrong. But come up to dinner to-morrow night, and +bring your mother with you." + +"You may depend on me," cried Bob. "Thanks very much, Admiral, we +shall be delighted." + +"Bob," said Nancy, "you've done more to soften dad to-day, and to +prepare the way for me, than if you had got ten fellowships. He loves +a plucky fight, and hates a coward." + +"And I'll fight," cried Bob, "because I shall fighting for you, Nancy." + +"I wish you were going to spend the evening with us," she said +ruefully. "I do want you with me." + +"And don't I wish it too! But I told you how things stood. Till +to-morrow then." + +"Be sure to come early," cried Nancy, as she drove away. + +Bob made his way over the Towans towards St. Ia, as happy as a king. +Everywhere the sun seemed to be shining. At his feet the wild thyme +grew in profusion. Acres upon acres were made purple by this modest +flower. The sea was glorious with many coloured hues, the whole +country-side was beautiful beyond words. What wonder that he was +happy! He was young and vigorous, the best and most beautiful girl in +the world loved him, and his future was rosy hued. + +In order to reach his mother's house, he had to pass through St. Ia, +and he had barely entered the little town when he saw Count von Weimer, +who had expressed his congratulations so fervently on the golf links. + +"Ah, this is lucky!" cried the Count. "I was wondering if I should haf +the good fortune to meet you again. May I walk with you? That is +goot!" + +"You are a stranger to St. Ia," said Bob. + +"Yes. I have been drawn here by the beauty of the place, and--and +because I want peace." He still spoke in broken English, although I +will no longer try to reproduce it. + +"You love peace?" Bob ventured. + +"Love it! Ah, young sir, you little know. I am one of those +unfortunate men who are placed in an awful position. I am, although I +bear a German name, French on my mother's side. I love France too, and +am at heart a Frenchman. But then my house is in Alsace--Alsace, you +understand. France under German Government. I can say here, what I +could not say there. I hate Germany, I hate her government, her +militarism, her arrogance. The Germans suspect my loyalty, and so I +have come to England." + +"And you like England?" + +"Ah, who can help loving it? Your British flag means liberty, wherever +it flies. It stands for peace, brotherhood, progress. That is why I +think of buying a house near St. Ia, and settling down. Realising my +position in Alsace, you can understand. Besides, what can be more +beautiful than this?" and he waved his hand toward the sunlit bay. + +"Yes, it's the most beautiful spot on earth!" cried Bob. + +"It is indeed, and I love its peace. I love the quiet ways of the +people. I saw a house yesterday which captivated, charmed me. +Tre-Trelyon, yes, that's it; Trelyon, I was told it was called, and I +hear it is for sale, or to let, I don't know which." + +"Yes, it is, and it is one of the finest places in the district. Why, +it belongs to Admiral Tresize, whom perhaps you saw on the links this +afternoon." + +"What, that stout, hearty, John Bull gentleman? Oh, yes, I saw him! +What a splendid specimen of your British thoroughness. It belongs to +him, eh?" + +"Yes, it formerly belonged to his wife's family, the Trelyons. I'm +sure he'd be glad of a good tenant." + +"Ah, but that is pleasant. I could perhaps deal with him personally? +I am, I suppose, what you would call a rich man, but I hate dealing +with agents, and lawyers, and that kind of thing. He is--friendly, +this, what do you call him, Admiral----" + +"Oh, yes, he's most friendly." + +"He's in the Navy, I suppose?" + +"He's retired from active service, but he is still one of the most +influential men in our Admiralty." + +"Ah, yes, but I'm afraid I have but little knowledge of these things. +I am a man of peace. I hate war of every sort. I am at one with what +you English people call--Quakers. But ah, it looks like war again now." + +"You mean the Servian trouble?" + +"Yes. At first I thought the Austrians were going to be kind and +reasonable. But they have Germany behind them, and now, I suppose, +they've sent impossible demands to Servia. It is here in the evening +paper. It seems, too, that Russia is going to back up Servia, and that +will mean trouble." + +"How?" + +"I am not an authority on European politics, but I am sure that if +Russia espouses the cause of Servia, Germany will throw in her lot with +Austria. Don't you see what follows?" + +"You mean that Germany would declare war on Russia too?" + +"Yes, and that is not all. France, my own country, although I am an +Alsatian, is bound to be dragged in. And I am a man of peace. I hate +war." + +"I am with you there," cried Bob eagerly. "War was born in hell." + +"Ah, you say so, and you are a young man! That is good! But still you +need not fear. England, in spite of the _Entente Cordiale_, holds to +her policy of splendid isolation. She will not be dragged into the +turmoil?" + +"No, I think that is impossible. You see we are not a military nation, +in spite of a section of the community. Our Army is small, and will, I +hope, remain small." + +"Stick to that, my friend--stick to that. Big armies only breed war, +and war is a crime. But about my desire to buy Tre-Trelyon--ah, your +English names are hard to pronounce--do you, who know the owner, this +bluff John Bull, Admiral--what do you call him?" + +"Admiral Tresize." + +"Admiral Tresize, yes. Do you think it would be possible for me to see +him?" + +"I'm quite sure it would be," replied Bob, who remembered what the +Admiral had said. "I'm dining at his house to-morrow night. I'll tell +him what you have said." + +"Ah, that is kind, friendly of you; but I must not detain you longer. +Good evening." + +"What a friendly old fellow," reflected Bob, as he walked away. "Yes, +I can quite imagine how one who is a Frenchman at heart would be +treated in Alsace," and then he forgot all about him. + +As day followed day, disquieting news came from the Near East. It +seemed as though the cloud which at first was no bigger than a man's +hand was covering the whole Eastern sky. Disturbing news flashed +across the Channel, even while it was generally felt that the tragedy +of Sarajevo could never lead to open hostilities. About the middle of +July, as all the world knows, it was believed that Austria had accepted +Servia's assurance that her attitude towards the greater Power was +altogether pacific, and that full justice should be meted out to all +who had participated in the ghastly murders. + +On July 24, even in the quiet neighbourhood of St. Ia, much +apprehension was felt by many who took an interest in foreign affairs +at the announcement of the presentation of the Austro-Hungarian Note to +the Servian Government, especially when we read the terms of the Note. +They were so brutal, so arrogant, that we could not see how any +self-respecting people could accept them. Still, we reflected that +Servia who had only lately been much weakened and impoverished by her +war with Turkey, might be humble. + +On the morning of July 25, Admiral Tresize received a letter from a +friend who lived in Vienna, which caused him to be greatly perturbed. + +"Things look very black here," ran the letter. "Many of us, until a +day or so ago, believed that the Austro-Servian difficulty would be +amicably settled. As a matter of fact, I know that Austria was +prepared to let Servia down rather lightly, but since then new forces +have been at work. I am in a position to state that Germany, and by +Germany I mean the Kaiser and the War Party generally, whose word is, +of course, law in Germany, has instructed the Emperor Franz-Josef to +send Servia practically impossible demands. What is in the Kaiser's +mind it is impossible to say, but, as is very well known, he has been +using almost superhuman efforts in perfecting his army and navy, until +Germany has become the greatest fighting machine in the world. It is +well known, too, that the Kaiser believes that Russia is so +impoverished and enfeebled by her war with Japan that she is no longer +dangerous, and he considers France altogether unprepared for war. This +being so, it is the general opinion in diplomatic circles that the +Kaiser's purpose in sending Servia impossible conditions is intended to +arouse hostilities. Only to-day I had a chat with a man who moves in +the inner circle of things, and he told me, that if Russia defends +Servia, as he hopes she will, and that if France prepares to help +Russia, as she is sure to do, Austria can keep Servia and Russia busy, +while Germany fulfils her long-held determination to bring France to +her knees, and to make her practically her vassal. No one believes +that England would interfere. My own belief is that Germany is using +the present occasion as the first step towards carrying out her +long-cherished ambitions. When once she has conquered France, and +commands her sea-board and her navy, she will then be able to crush +England, which is her ultimate aim." + +When the Admiral showed me this letter, I suppose I smiled +incredulously, for the old man broke out into violent language. + +"I believe it's true," he cried. "The Kaiser, for all his pious +hypocrisies, is a war devil. He hates the thought that England should +be such a World Power, while Germany is only an European Power." + +"But the Kaiser isn't such a fool," I replied. "He knows England and +her strength." + +"Yes, but he's drunk with pride and arrogance. He thinks Germany is +destined to rule the world." + +A day or so later news came that Servia had consented to all Austria's +demands with the exception of two points, and suggested that these +should be submitted to the mediation of the Great Powers. + +"Ah, that clears the air!" I thought; "nothing can be more reasonable." + +Much to the surprise of every one, news came on July 26 that Austria +regarded Servia's answer as unsatisfactory, and that the +Austro-Hungarian Minister, with the Legation Staff, had left Belgrade +on the previous day. + +On July 28 I called at Mrs. Nancarrow's house, where I saw Bob reading +the newspaper with a smile on his face. + +"This is fine," he cried--"just fine. What a splendid fellow Sir +Edward Grey is! It was he who proposed a Conference in the +Turco-Balkan difficulty, and now it is he again who is going to settle +this." + +"I am afraid the Turco-Balkan Conference didn't help much," I replied. + +"Ah, but this will. After all, what's the heart of the quarrel? The +murder of the heir to the Austrian throne. A ghastly affair, I'll +admit, but everything can be settled." + +"Has Admiral Tresize mentioned a letter which he received from Vienna a +day or two ago?" I asked. + +"Yes," replied Bob, "but of course it was pure imagination. Do you +know, I admire the Kaiser. He's a good man, a religious man." + +I coughed. + +"Of course it is easy to imagine a case against him," he went on +lightly; "but it has no foundation in fact. I told the Admiral so. We +had quite an argument about it, and I maintained that whatever the +circumstances, England had no occasion to be dragged in, and that it +would be criminal on the part of our statesmen if they allowed it. +Evidently Sir Edward Grey thinks the same. Of course you've seen that +he has proposed a Conference. He has suggested that Germany, France, +Italy, and Great Britain, who are not directly connected with the +quarrel, should meet, and settle it." + +"Will Germany accept?" + +"Of course she will," replied Bob confidently, "we shall soon hear that +the trouble is at an end." + +"I hope you are right, but if the Kaiser holds the views expressed by +the Admiral's friend, I very much doubt it," was my rejoinder. + +When we read that a Russian Cabinet Council was held, and regarded the +Austrian demands as an indirect challenge to Russia, and when we also +read that Austria, without giving Servia any chance for further +consideration, had declared war upon her, and seized certain of her +vessels which happened to be on the Danube, we began to fear trouble, +although even then we in St. Ia never seriously believed that England +would be directly implicated in it. + +I am stating these things here, not that they are not known to every +one, but because they will help to make the story I am writing clearer +to the reader, especially when it reaches the later stages. + +Later the news came to us that there was partial Russian mobilisation +along the Austrian frontier, and that as a consequence a Council was +held in Berlin. Of course we knew nothing of what was said in that +Council, but when we heard that Russia's partial mobilisation had +become general, we began to shudder at the gradual darkening of the +European sky. + +As all the world knows now, Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, +and I remember meeting Bob outside the St. Ia post office that day. + +"You see you were not right about Germany," I said. "Both France and +Italy accepted Sir Edward Grey's suggestion, and consented to join in a +Conference; but Germany refused. Nothing can be plainer than that. If +Germany had wanted peace, she could easily have secured it. Austria +would not have opposed her in any case, but she would not even join in +a Conference in order to secure peace." + +Bob shook his head. "You know the reason Germany gave for refusing," +he said. + +"About the most arrogant, but the most characteristic possible. Fancy +saying that Austria as a Great Power could not think of allowing +mediation as though she were a small Balkan state." + +"Yes, it's terrible enough," replied Bob. "But, thank heaven, we are +not likely to be dragged into it." + +"I hope and pray not," I replied. + +"Why? Do you think it possible?" he cried. + +"Anything is possible. You've seen that Germany has invaded Luxemburg. +As you know, Luxemburg is a small neutral state, and has been promised +the protection of the Powers. Germany was a party to this promise, and +yet she has violated everything." + +"That's only hearsay," was his reply. + +"It is more than hearsay," I answered; but Bob did not appear to be +convinced. + +"I am almost glad dear old father is dead," he went on presently. "The +Boer War nearly broke his heart, while this business threatens to be so +ghastly, that it would have driven him mad. It is simply hellish." + +After this we almost feared to open our newspapers, and events followed +so rapidly that we were unable to keep count of them. + +Never shall I forget the look on Admiral Tresize's face when he read +Sir Edward Grey's momentous speech. His ruddy face became almost pale, +and his hands trembled. + +"Sir Edward has done all mortal man can do," he declared. "Whose ever +hands are clean of this bloody business, his are. He has simply +laboured night and day for peace." + +"Seemingly all in vain," was my reply. + +"I have been informed on unimpeachable authority that the Kaiser, in +spite of his pious harangues, has been preparing for this, planning for +this, for years." + +"Still there is no necessity for us to be dragged in," I urged. + +"Of course there is the _Entente_ between ourselves and France," he +replied. "France will be bound to help Russia on account of their +alliance, and the question will naturally arise as to whether we can +stand aside while the German fleet bombards France's shores and while +German armies cross her frontier." + +"But think of war, Admiral." + +"Yes, God knows I think of it. I didn't sleep last night for thinking +of it. I know what war is, know of its bloody horrors. War is hell, I +know that; but I would rather that my country should go through hell, +than allow a Power like Germany to crush her." + +"But Germany couldn't crush us. She has no desire to crush us." + +The Admiral looked at me angrily, but did not speak for some seconds. + +"I cannot say all I know," he said presently, "but, mark my words, in a +few days you will know by the most incontestable proofs that all this +is a part of Germany's plans; that she has used these Sarajevo murders +as a pretext for causing European war, that she thinks we shall do +nothing, and that her ultimate plan is to crush England, and to +dominate the world." + +Every one knows the thrill that went through England when war was +declared. The shadow of war had closed the Stock Exchange, and +paralysed business, but the declaration of war moved the nation to its +very depths. + +Bob Nancarrow was at Penwennack when the call came to the young men of +England to rise and help their country in her need. Several young +people had met there for a tennis party, and Bob was among them. + +"I'm going to send in my name," cried George Tresize. "I was in the +O.T.C. at Rugby." + +"I shall join my regiment right away," said Dick quietly. "Trevanion's +gone. Of course you'll join, Bob?" + +"No," replied Bob quietly, "I shall not join." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +"What!" + +"Not going to join! Why, you were in the O.T.C. while you were at +Clifton! Not going to join!" + +Bob's face was very pale, but he shook his head. + +"You are joking, man! Haven't you read Kitchener's call? He wants +half a million men. It's said he'll need a million before long. You +can't stand out. No decent fellow can. You don't mean it!" + +"Yes, I mean it." + +"But why?" + +"I'm afraid I couldn't make you understand." + +"No, I don't think you could," and there was a sneer in George +Tresize's voice. + +It happened at that moment that the girls had gone into the house, and +had not heard the conversation, but the half-dozen young men who were +there looked at Bob as though he were a kind of reptile. + +"I say, Bob," said Dick Tresize, who had been always his close friend, +"you can't mean it! You are joking. Have--have you read the papers? +Have you read what led up to our being in it? Have you seen the white +paper?" + +"Yes, I've read everything." + +"Then you must know that the war is right." + +"No war is right," was Bob's answer. "It's opposed to every law, human +and divine. How can a fellow who is trying to be a--a Christian," his +voice trembled as he spoke, "deliberately enlist for the purpose of +killing his fellow-man? If I have a quarrel with a man, and I murder +him, I am guilty of the most terrible deed a man _can_ be guilty of. +If I did it, I should be branded with the mark of Cain, and you would +shudder at the mention of my name. A nation is a combination of +individuals, and if nations in order to settle their quarrel go to war, +and murder, not by ones, but by thousands, does it cease to be the +crime of Cain? Does it cease to be murder?" + +"Yes, of course it does," replied a young fellow, named Poldhu, who had +arranged to leave for his regiment on the following morning. + +"How?" + +Poldhu was silent for a moment, then he cried out, "Is a hangman a +murderer, for hanging a devil? Is a judge a murderer for condemning a +fellow like Crippen to death?" + +"And you mean to say you are going to funk it?" There was something +ominous in Dick Tresize's voice. + +"I am not going to enlist." + +"I say, you fellows," said Dick, looking towards the others, "the +climate's not healthy here. What do you say to a stroll?" + +Without a word each one walked away, leaving Bob alone. They had gone +only a few steps when there was a sound of many voices at the front +door, and a bevy of girls appeared in their light summer dresses. A +few seconds later the girls and boys were talking eagerly together, and +before long were casting furtive looks towards Bob, who, miserable +beyond words, sat watching them. + +"No," he heard one say, "I'm not going to play with him." + +"Oh, but there's a mistake somewhere! He's all right." + +"Is he? Then what did he mean by----" + +Bob got up and walked to the other end of the lawn; he had been playing +the part of an eavesdropper in spite of himself. He knew what they +were talking about--knew that in the future he would be treated as a +pariah. They were good fellows, all of them. Clean-minded, healthy +young Englishmen. Tom Poldhu, Dick and George Tresize, Harry Lorrimer, +and the others were among the best products of English public schools, +and although they had their failings, each had his code of honour which +is generally held sacred by the class to which he belonged. All of +them, too, had been reared in a military atmosphere. Most of them, I +imagine, would, with a certain amount of reservation, drink to the old +toast, "My country. In all her relations with other nations, may she +be in the right. But right or wrong, my country." They did not +trouble about the deeper ethics of international quarrels. It was +enough for them to know that England was in danger; for them, forgetful +of everything else, to offer their lives, if need be, for the land of +their birth. + +They could not understand Bob. They simply could not see from his +point of view. Only one thing was plain to them. Their country was at +war. The King's soldiers were going to defend their nation's word of +honour, and to crush a Power, which they had no doubt meant to rob +England of her glory, and conquer her. Beyond that they troubled +little. Neither of them understood much about the cause of the +trouble. But that did not matter. They had heard the call, "Your King +and Country need you," and that was enough. To remain quietly at home +after that was the act of a poltroon and a coward. + +"Bob, are you there?" + +He had gone from the lawn into a shrubbery, where he was completely +hidden. He felt as though he must get out of the sight of every one. + +It was Nancy's voice, and every nerve in his body thrilled as he heard +it. Yes, Nancy would understand him; he could make everything plain to +her. + +"Yes, Nancy." He tried to speak cheerfully, but his heart was like +lead. + +"Bob," and there was a tone in her voice which he had never heard +before. "What Dick has been telling us isn't true, is it?" + +She had reached his side by this time, and, in spite of her pallor, and +the peculiar light in her eyes, he had never seen her look so beautiful. + +"What has he been telling you?" he asked, feeling ashamed of himself +for asking the question. He knew quite well. + +"That--all the rest of them have offered themselves for their country, +and you--you----" + +"Let me explain, Nancy," he cried eagerly. "Let me tell you why I +can't----" + +"I don't want any explanations," and there was anger in her voice. +"Lord Kitchener has called for volunteers. He has asked for half a +million men, so that we may stand by our word of honour, and save our +country. What I want to know is, are you going to play the coward?" + +"You know my principles, Nancy. You know what we said to each other +down at Gurnard's Head, and----" + +"I don't want to hear anything more about that," she interrupted +impatiently. "I want to know what you are going to _do_. Please +answer me." + +She had ceased to be pale now, although her lips quivered and her hands +trembled. A pink spot burnt on each cheek, and her eyes burned like +fire. Bob knew that she would not be satisfied with subterfuges, or +contented with evasions. Neither, indeed, did he wish to shelter +himself behind them. + +"I'm going to do nothing," he replied. "That is I'm going to carry out +the plan we agreed on. Look here, Nancy----" + +But again she interrupted him. She was angry beyond words, but she +kept herself in check. + +"That's all I wanted to know. Thank you. We are not going to play +tennis for a little while. We are all going for a walk. Good +afternoon." + +"You mean that you do not wish me to go with you." + +"I do not think you--you would enjoy coming. You see the others----" + +She did not complete the sentence, but hurried away, leaving him alone. + +Bob felt as though the heavens had become black. He had expected to be +misunderstood, sneered at, despised; but he had never dreamed that +Nancy would turn from him like this. He knew she hated war. He +remembered her telling him about her eldest brother who had been killed +in the Boer War, and how it had darkened her home, and added years to +her father's life. She had encouraged him in the career he had marked +out too; she had agreed with him that the work he had at heart was the +noblest any man could do. As a consequence, he thought she would +understand him, sympathise with him. + +Bob had not come to his decision carelessly, or with a light heart. He +had gone over the ground inch by inch. Yes, England was in the right. +He did not believe that Germany had planned the war, and he blamed the +Czar as much as he blamed the Kaiser. No doubt Germany had broken +treaties. It was wrong for her to invade Luxemburg, and then to send +her ultimatum to Belgium, after she had been a party to the treaty to +maintain Belgium's integrity and neutrality. Of course, the King of +the Belgians had made a strong case when he had called upon England to +protect her. + +But war! + +He thought of what it meant, for his father's teaching and influence +were not forgotten. Generations of Quaker influence and blood were not +without effect. War was born in hell. It was an act of savagery, and +not of Christian nations. He pictured the awful carnage, the +indescribable butchery, the untold horror which were entailed. He saw +hordes of men fighting like devils; realised the lust for blood which +was ever the concomitant of war. Besides, they settled nothing. Wars +always bred wars, one always sowed the seeds of another. When this +bloody welter came to an end, what then? After the nation's wealth had +been wasted, after tens of thousands of the most promising lives had +been sacrificed, after innumerable homes had been laid waste, after all +the agony, what then? Would we be any nearer justice? Would wrong be +righted, and love take the place of hatred? + +But this was not all, neither did it touch the depths of the question. +War, ghastly as it was, might superficially be justified. More than +once, when he thought of England's plighted word to defend a small, +neighbouring state, when he heard of tens of thousands of England's +most stalwart sons leaving home and country, not for aggrandisement, +nor gain of any sort, but out of desire to keep England's plighted +word, to maintain her honour unsullied, and defend the weak, he felt +that he must cast everything aside, and offer himself for the fray. +But then he had called himself a Christian, he believed in the teaching +of the Prince of Peace. How could a man, believing in the lessons of +the Sermon on the Mount, accepting the dictum, "Bless them that curse +you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them that despitefully use +you and persecute you," do his utmost to murder men who believed in the +same Lord as he did? + +No, no, it would not do. If Christianity were right, war was wrong. +Either Christianity was a foolish thing, an impossible dream, and all +our profession of it so much empty cant, or war was something which +every Christian should turn from with loathing and horror. + +Bob had made no outward profession of Christianity. He had been so far +influenced by the spirit of the age, that he seldom spoke about +religion, and perhaps many would have regarded him as by no means an +exemplary Christian. Nevertheless, deep down in his life was a +reverence for Christ and His words. Humanly speaking, the most potent +influence in his life was his dead father. Bob, although he had never +been inside a Friends' Meeting House, and was not in any way regarded +as a member of their community, was one at heart. Either Christ's +teaching must be taken to mean what it said, or it was of no value; and +Bob took it seriously. Hitherto, it had not clashed with what people +had expected of him; but now it seemed to him he must either give up +the faith his father had held, or he must hold aloof from this war, and +fight for peace. + +For days he had seen the trend of affairs, and what they would lead to, +and although he had said nothing to any one, he had decided upon the +course of his life. Thus it was, when at the tennis party the other +men had asked him what he was going to do, he told them. + +But he had never dreamed that Nancy would turn from him, never imagined +that his decision would separate them. Yes, that was what it meant. +If he held fast to his principles, then Nancy was lost to him. + +He heard shouts of laughter near by. Those fellows had no doubts, no +struggles. They saw the way of duty clearly, and were going to follow +it, while he must go in the opposite direction, and thereby lose--oh +God, he could not bear it! + +He felt himself a pariah. He was no longer wanted, his presence would +no longer be tolerated. Even his friend, Dick Tresize, would turn his +back on him if he attempted to join him. + +"I was tempted to bring my evening clothes, and spend the evening as +the Admiral asked me," he reflected; "I'm glad I didn't. I should be +frozen out of the house." + +He made his way through the gardens towards the garage, where he had +left his car; on his way he came across an old gardener, whom he had +known for years. + +"Well, Master Bob, we be in for a 'ot job." + +"I'm afraid we are, Tonkin." + +"I wish I was twenty 'ear younger. I'd be off like a shot." + +"Where, Tonkin?" + +"Off to fight they Germans, to be sure. Why, no young chap worthy of +the naame caan't stay 'ome, tha's my veelin'. Tell 'ee wot, they +Germans 'ave bin jillus o' we for 'ears, and tes a put-up job. They do +'ate we, and main to wipe us off the faace of the globe. I d' 'ear +that the Kaiser ev got eight millyen sodgers. Every able-bodied man +'ave bin trained for a sodger, jist to carry out that ould Kaiser's +plans. A cantin' old 'ippycrit, tha's wot 'ee es. But we bean't +fear'd ov'm, Maaster Bob. One Englishman es wuth five Germans, 'cos +every Englishman es a volunteer, an' a free man. Aw I do wish I wos +twenty 'ear younger. Of course you'll be off with the rest of the +young gen'lemen?" + +But Bob did not reply. He did not want to enter into an argument with +the plain-spoken old Cornishman. + +When he arrived home, he found that his mother had gone out, and would +not return till dinner-time. He was glad for this. He did not want to +explain to her why he had come home so early. He felt he could not do +so. Besides, her absence gave him an opportunity to think out the +whole question again. + +Yes, his choice was plain enough. Nancy, the daughter of an English +sailor, the child of many generations of fighters, had been carried +away by the tide of feeling that swept over the country. Having +fighting blood in her veins, she could not understand his feelings. To +her it was the duty, the sacred duty, of every healthy young Englishman +to defend his country, and none but shirkers, cowards, would stay +behind. Therefore, if he stood by his principles, she would cast him +off with scorn and contempt. If he continued to hold by what he +regarded as the foundation of the teachings of the Prince of Peace, he +would lose the girl who was as dear to him as his own life. + +Oh, how he longed to join the fray! Pride of race, and pride in the +history of that race surged up within him. He, too, had fighting blood +in his veins, and he longed to share in the fight. He did not fear +death. Once accept the theory of war as right, and death on the +battlefield, especially in such a cause, would be glorious. He was +young too, and his blood ran warm. What nobler cause could there be +than to defend a small people, and to crush the fighting hordes of the +Kaiser? And besides all that, there was Nancy. He had been dreaming +love's young dream, he had been living in the land of bliss, he loved +with a pure, devoted love the fairest girl in the county. + +And he could keep her love! From signs which seemed to him infallible, +he judged that the Admiral during the last few days had learnt his +secret, and had not discouraged him from visiting the house, while +Nancy had hinted to him that the time was nearly ripe for him to +approach her father, and ask for his consent to their engagement. + +But how could he? There were things in the world deeper, more sacred, +even than love for a woman--principle, conscience, faith. Could he +sacrifice these? Could he trample on the Cross of Christ, in order to +embrace the sword, and hold to his heart the woman he loved? + +He looked towards the mantelpiece, and saw the picture of his father, +whom he had idealised as the noblest man who ever lived. He remembered +his teaching, remembered that to him the true man was he who sacrificed +everything to principle, to conscience. He looked around among the +many books, and noted those his father loved. He took from the table a +New Testament, and instinctively turned to the Sermon on the Mount. + +"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of +God." + +"Ye have heard it hath been said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a +tooth. But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil, but whosoever +shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." + +And so on and on. How could a man believing in this, grasp the sword +to take away the lives of others. The Germans were Christians just as +we were; Germany was the home of the Reformation, the home of religious +liberty. Was it not Luther who, standing before the greatest tribunal +the world had ever known, and having to choose between conscience and +death, cried out: + +"It is neither safe nor wise for any man to do aught against his own +conscience. Here stand I; I can do no other, God help me!"? + +No, no, he simply could not. Though he were boycotted, scorned, held +up to derision, he could not change. He must be true to his conscience. + +But Nancy! + +Yes, he must lose Nancy, and the very thought of it made him groan in +agony; but he must sacrifice his love rather than his Lord. + +He heard his mother come in, and, although he dreaded her coming, he +steeled his heart to tell her the truth. + +She, too, was full of war news; it had been the common talk at the +houses where she had called. + +"Bob," she said; and her face was pale, her lips tremulous. "Bob, the +thought of it is terrible; but you'll have to go. It is your +duty--your country needs you." + +She, too, had been fighting a hard battle. A battle between love for +her only boy, fear for his safety, and what she believed her duty to +her country. The struggle had been hard, but she had determined to +make her sacrifice. + +"No, I'm not going, mother." + +"What, you are going to allow those Germans to crush France and +Belgium, and finally conquer and crush us, and never lift a hand in +defence?" + +Bob was silent. + +"You can't mean it, my dear. It's like tearing my heartstrings out to +let you go, but you must. I know; you are thinking of me; but I shall +be all right. You must do your duty." + +"Would _he_ have me go?" and Bob nodded towards his father's picture. + +"Your father was a Quaker," she said. + +"He was a Christian," and Bob's voice was very low. "That was why he +hated war, and denounced it. That is why I am not going to fight." + +"Then every brave, true Englishman will despise you." + +"That's nothing," replied Bob; and his voice sounded as though he were +weary. + +"And what of Nancy?" + +"Yes, what of her?" + +"I know what she feels, I know that----" + +"Mother," Bob interrupted, "I can't bear any more just now; and it's no +use talking, my mind's made up." + +He left the room as he spoke, and soon after, left the house. He did +not have any dinner that night, but spent hours tramping the wild moors +at the back of the house. The next day he was in misery. Again and +again he reviewed the situation, but he could not change. He could not +offer himself to be a legalised murderer, for that was how his +country's call appealed to him. It was a battle between Calvary and +Militarism, and he could not take the side of Militarism. + +When he reached the house in the evening, after a long, lonely walk, +his mother pointed to a letter lying on the table. + +"It's from Admiral Tresize," he said, after he had read it. "He wants +me to go up there to dinner, or as soon afterwards as possible." + +"You'll go, of course," said the mother eagerly. + +"Yes, I'll go. Of course it is too late for me to get there in time +for dinner, but I'll go directly afterwards." + +"That's right." + +An hour later Bob got out his car, and drove towards Penwennack, with a +sad heart. He dreaded what he felt sure was coming, and his heart beat +wildly with the hope that he might perhaps see Nancy, and make her +understand. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +When Bob knocked at the door of the house, he realised that he was +expected. Without delay the servant opened the door, and without +question at once ushered him into the room which went by the name of +"the library," though there was but little indication that the +apartment was used as a storehouse for books. Nautical charts, globes, +pictures of Dreadnoughts, and things appertaining to naval warfare +practically filled up all the available space. + +As Bob entered, he saw the Admiral seated at a table, with a map of +Europe spread before him. + +"Ah! Bob," cried the Admiral, "glad to see you. I hoped you would +have come in for dinner, but I suppose you were busy. I wanted a chat +with you, my boy." + +The old man spoke with an obvious endeavour to retain his old friendly +footing, but it was evident that he was anxious and somewhat nervous. + +"This is a terrible business, my boy," he went on; "who would have +thought it a month ago? I, who always believed that the Germans meant +war, never imagined it would come upon us like this. But, by gad, they +have found us ready this time! Never was the mobilisation of the Army +and Navy managed with such speed; everything has gone like +clockwork--just clockwork. Of course you know that Dick and George are +gone?" + +"I heard they were going," said Bob. + +"Yes, the young rascals were just mad to go. Naturally I expected it +of Dick, who had just finished his training at Sandhurst; but George +was just as keen. I am proud of them too. Yes, my boy, I have lost +one son in war, and God only knows what it meant to me; but I would +rather lose these two as well, than that England should not play her +part." + +Bob was silent; he knew what the Admiral had in his mind, and what he +was leading up to. + +"I have been thinking a good deal about you, Bob," went on the old man. +"Of course you have been almost one of the family for years; your +mother's people and mine have been friends for centuries. Ah! my lad, +let the Radicals say what they will, but it's grand to come of a good +family. You have to go a long way back in English history before you +come to the time when the Trelawneys and Tresizes were not known. They +have fought in a hundred battles for their country, and, thank God, +their descendants are ready to do it again. It is a great thing to +have a good name, eh, my boy?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Bob. + +"You told me some time ago that you were in the O.T.C. while you were +at Clifton College, and Dick says that you quite distinguished +yourself. I am very glad of that; I have some influence in military +quarters, although I am a naval man, and I can arrange for you to have +your commission right away. Of course it will be in a Cornish +regiment." He did not refer to the conversation which had passed +between the young men two days before, although Bob felt sure he knew +of it, but was assuming his enlistment as a matter of course. + +"I have not made up my mind to join," said Bob. + +"Not made up your mind to join! Then it is time you should. Every +young fellow should join in these days. Of course it will break in +upon your law studies and the other things you have in your mind, but, +God willing, we shall get all this business over in a few months, and +then you'll be able to come back to your work. You'll not suffer for +it, my boy--you'll not suffer." + +"It is not that at all, sir," replied the young fellow. + +"What is it, then?" + +"You knew my father, sir?" + +"Knew him--of course I did! A good fellow and an honest man, but, you +will excuse me for saying so, a crank." + +Bob was silent; he did not dare let himself speak. + +"Your father was a Quaker," went on the Admiral, "but your mother was a +Trelawney. She told me only a few days ago that if war came, hard as +it would be for her, she would not move a finger to keep you from +going, even if it meant your going to your death. Come now, I will do +all I can to push things forward for you." + +"Thank you, sir," replied Bob, "but--but I have made up my mind that I +can't." + +"In heaven's name, why?" + +"Admiral," said Bob, and his voice became tremulous, "do you think it +right for a man to undertake anything which his conscience condemns?" + +"No, of course not; what has that to do with it?" + +"Everything, sir, to me. War is brutal and devilish, opposed to +everything I have been taught to believe." + +"Do you mean to say," cried the Admiral, "that you are not convinced of +the righteousness of this war? Why, my lad, the thing is as plain as +the nose on your face. Have you gone through the papers? Have you +read the correspondence between the various ambassadors?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then do you not think that Germany has been planning this war for +years, and that she has checked every movement for peace?" + +"That is debatable, isn't it, sir?" + +"Debatable? No! You are not such a fool as to believe that this war +is on account of the Servian assassination? That is a mere flimsy +pretext--one of the flimsiest ever known. I have read all about it +to-day. Austria had practically agreed to live at peace with Servia, +to allow Servia to retain her independence. The trouble was, to all +intents and purposes, patched up, and then Germany insisted on an +impossible ultimatum. Austria would never have declared war on Servia +had not Germany given her orders to do so. Here is a letter written by +Sir Maurice de Bunsen, on July 26. He states plainly that Germany +wanted war, that she had schemes in Asia Minor which she wanted to +carry out. She believed that by war with Servia she would be able to +accomplish her purposes. She believed that Russia would keep quiet +during the time Austria worked her will, and as de Bunsen says, +'Germany knew very well what she was about in backing up +Austria-Hungary in this matter.'" + +"Yes, sir, that is all very well, but that does not make war right. +Personally, I find it easy to believe that Germany was the aggressor in +this case; I believe, too, that Russia decided to stand by Servia not +for the sake of the Servians, but for her own interests; that does not +justify her in dragging the whole of Europe into war." + +"Yes, but are you mad, my boy? The Servian business was only the +beginning of it. Of course, when Russia prepared to protect Servia, +Germany, knowing that the war she had been trying to bring about must +come some time, declared war on Russia. Then, without giving France a +chance, she invaded Luxemburg and French territory; don't you see?" + +"I do not see how that makes war right, sir." + +"No, but when Germany invaded Belgium, broke all treaty rights, and +Belgium asked us to protect her what were we to do?" + +"Admiral," said Bob, "I believe you pretend to be a Christian." + +"Yes, of course I do, but what has that to do with it?" + +"Do you happen to believe in 'The Sermon on the Mount'?" + +"Good Lord, yes! Isn't it our Lord's own words?" + +"Then I want to ask you how a man can reconcile the teaching of 'The +Sermon on the Mount' with bloody warfare such as this is to be?" + +The Admiral was nonplussed for a moment; he was a simple seaman, and +not versed in the philosophy of ethics. + +"Look here, my boy!" he cried passionately, "if I know anything about +Christianity, it teaches a man to be honourable, truthful, and to keep +his word. I would not give a fig for any Christian who did not keep +his word. Well, we gave our word to Belgium. The Germans did so, too, +but, like the brutes they are, they violated theirs, and when Belgium +appealed to us, and asked us to keep our word, could we refuse? Could +any Christian refuse? No, by gad, no!" + +"But, Admiral, don't you see that----" + +"Look here, Bob, I want no more talking. Are you going to back out of +your duty, or are you going to play the game like a man?" + +"I am going to try to be true to my conscience, sir. As I told you, +war to me is unchristian, devilish, and if I enlisted, I should, by so +doing, become a paid murderer." + +The Admiral rose to his feet, his eyes blazing. For a moment his +temper had got the better of him, and, had he been able to speak, he +would have hurled at Bob words for which he would have been sorry +afterwards. Luckily, he could not. Presently he had gained command +over himself. + +"I do not think we had better say any more," he said quietly. "I am +sorry I have been mistaken in you; sorry that you should have accepted +the hospitality of a Pagan home like this. Of course you are not +renewing your visits here?" + +"But, Admiral!" cried Bob, angry with himself for not weighing his +words before uttering them. "I--I----" + +"Excuse me," said the old man, "it is no use saying any more. Good +night." + +He did not offer to shake hands, but went to the bell push. A second +later a servant appeared, to whom the Admiral nodded. Without +hesitation the man opened the door and held it while Bob passed out, +and then led the way to the front entrance. When he had gone, the +Admiral threw himself into an arm-chair and heaved a deep sigh; it was +like saying good-bye to his own son. + +As Bob walked down the hall he felt as if an end had come to all his +dreams, and that he was being turned out of the house which he had +always looked upon as a kind of second home. Of course Nancy would be +aware of the interview, and would learn the result. In bidding +good-bye to the house, he was also bidding good-bye to her. The +servant had his hand upon the door-knob when he heard the rustle of a +woman's dress, and Nancy, pale and eager-eyed, came from an adjoining +room. + +"Jenkins," she said, "Mr. Nancarrow will not go yet; you need not +wait." The man left without a word, and Nancy led the way into the +room where she had been sitting. + +"I felt, perhaps, that I was not fair to you yesterday, and I thought I +would give you another chance of--explaining yourself." Her voice was +hoarse and trembling--indeed it did not sound like Nancy's voice at all. + +"Oh, Nancy," he said, "I was afraid I should not see you! Thank you +for speaking." + +"Father told me he had written you," she went on. "I--I hope +everything is arranged all right. Bob, do you mean what you said? Do +you mean that you are going to play the coward?" + +"I am doing the hardest thing I ever did in my life," he blurted out. + +"In taking a coward's part?" + +"Call it that if you like," was his reply. + +They were alone by this time, and the door closed behind them. + +"I am trying to be calm," said Nancy. "You know all we had hoped and +planned, but--but I don't want to be foolish; there must be deeper +reasons than those you mentioned the other day. I do not think you can +have realised the circumstances. Since you left, I have done nothing +but read--and try to understand. I have been very ignorant about such +matters, and I thought, perhaps, my ignorance kept me from +understanding you. I have read all the papers which father has been +able to obtain, all the miserable story which led up to this war. Have +you?" + +"Yes," said Bob; "all!" + +"Then surely you do not hold to what you said?" + +"I am afraid I do." + +"Then perhaps you will explain." + +"That is what I want to do," cried Bob. "Oh, Nancy, you don't know +what I have been through since I left you!--you don't know how I have +longed to enlist, longed to take part in the fray--but--there it is. +Look here, Nancy, I was never one to talk much about these things, but +you knew my father, knew that he was a Quaker, a Christian, in a very +real sense of the word. When he died, my mother and others told me +they hoped I should be worthy of him, and--I have tried to be. It is +difficult to talk about such matters, Nancy, and I am not one of those +fellows who parade their piety and that sort of thing. I would not say +what I am going to now, but for the circumstances. I have tried to +understand what Christianity means. I have read the New Testament, +especially the Gospels, again and again. I have tried to realise what +Jesus Christ said, what He lived for, what He died for, and I think I +have tried to follow him. No, I am not namby-pamby, and this is not +empty talk. I expect there are hundreds of young fellows who never +talk about religion, but who are trying, honestly and squarely, to live +Christian lives. Anyhow, that is what I have tried to do. When this +war seemed to be inevitable, I went into the whole business. I read +everything I could,--newspapers, state papers, correspondence between +the ambassadors, and all that kind of thing. You see, I felt what was +coming; and, Nancy, I simply cannot square Christianity with war. +Either Jesus Christ was mistaken, and Christianity is an empty dream; +or war is wrong--wrong under any circumstances. It is hellish, and I +can't stand for it--I can't!" + +The girl looked at him with wide open eyes, and her lips trembled, but +she did not speak. + +"Yes," he went on, "I know what it means. I shall be boycotted, +sneered at, called a coward, and all that; but that is nothing, is it? +What is much more terrible to me is the fact that I shall--that I shall +lose you! You drove me away the other day, Nancy. You did not mean +it, did you? You would not have me go against my conscience?" + +"Conscience!" there was a world of scorn in her voice. She seemed to +be hesitating whether she should not open the door and tell him to +leave the house. Perhaps there was something in the tone of his voice, +in the expression of his eyes, which kept her from doing this. +"Perhaps you have not thought of the other side," she tried to say +calmly. "Have you ever thought what it would mean if Germany conquered +England--Germany with her militarism and her savagery? Have you +thought how she would treat us, what would become of us, and all that +we hold most dear?" + +"Yes, I have thought of that." + +"And would it not be right, if, to save our country, and all our +country stands for, if need be, to deluge Europe in blood? Oh, Bob, +can't you see?" + +"It is never right to do wrong," said Bob. "Is it right to tell a lie +that truth may come? Is it right to tell a lie to save any one from +pain? Is it right to commit murder to save some one from an even +greater calamity? That's nothing but the old Jesuit doctrine of the +end justifying the means. But, Nancy, don't let's talk anything more +about it. I am tired, weary of it! You love me, I love you. Can't +you let me live my own life, carry out the projects I have in my mind, +and trust to Providence?" + +"What right have we to trust in Providence," asked the girl +passionately, "when we stand by and do nothing? Suppose at the end of +this war we come off victorious, I suppose that you, who have never +lifted your finger to save your country, will think it your right to +enter into the benefits which others have won for you? That is your +idea of Christianity, I suppose?" + +"But war cannot be right." + +"I don't know about war in the abstract," cried the girl, "but I do +know that this war is. I am not a sophist, and I can't put into words +what is in my mind. I am only an ordinary girl; but, Bob"--she raised +her voice as she spoke--"if you can stand by while your country is in +danger, if you can turn a deaf ear to her call, if you refuse to help, +and go on working at your law books while other young men are fighting +for their country's honour and safety, then--then--don't you see? We +live in different worlds, we breathe different air, and--there is an +end to everything." + +"Have we tried to understand the German position?" said Bob. "Germany +is a Christian country as much as England is; the German people are +what Thomas Carlyle calls them, a brave, quiet, patient people. Are we +right in attributing evil motives to them?" + +"But do you not believe," cried Nancy, "that the Emperor and his +ministers planned all this?--that they depended upon the neutrality of +England, thinking we would stand by and see a little nation crushed? +Everything proves that their object and desire is to crush England, and +to dominate the world. You say you have read all about it. Surely you +do not believe that Germany is going to war to crush Servia because of +the assassination of an Austrian prince? You do not believe in that +flimsy pretext?" + +"No," said Bob, "I can't say I do." + +"And have you thought of this?" said the girl. "When this war was +declared, it was not at the time the Crown Prince was assassinated, but +when things seemed to be favourable to the Kaiser's plans of +aggression. Any one can see how everything fits in. A speech had been +made in the French Senate about the unreadiness of that country for +war, and then when the President and Foreign Secretary of the French +Republic were staying in Russia and could not get back for days, +Germany hurled out her ultimatum. War was declared at a time, too, +when Russia was believed to be confronted with revolutionary strikes, +and was almost bled to death by her war with Japan. It was declared at +a time when England was believed to be on the eve of civil war on +account of her Irish troubles, and when it seemed that she must, of +necessity, remain neutral. Can't you see the fiendishness of the plot? +The Kaiser and his creatures thought the time had come when they could +begin the war for which they had been preparing." + +"Is not that a pure hypothesis?" exclaimed Bob; nevertheless, he was +struck with the girl's evident knowledge of affairs. + +"Hypothesis!" cried the girl. "Are you mad, Bob? Isn't everything +plain? What sense of honour has Germany shown? What desire for peace? +She had her plans ready, and she determined to carry them out at +whatever cost. To little Luxemburg she promised protection, and yet +without even saying 'by your leave,' invaded Luxemburg. Belgium, also, +was protected by treaty. Germany, as well as other countries, had +plighted her word that Belgium's neutrality and integrity should be +respected; yet she sent that infamous ultimatum to Belgium that if the +German troops were not allowed to march through the country without +opposition, she would be treated as an enemy. Can you think of +anything more dishonourable? Why," and Nancy's voice trembled with +pain, "I was just mad when I read it in the newspapers, and when +afterwards dad showed me the official reports about it, I could +scarcely contain myself. The Chancellor of Germany said, 'Yes, we know +we have done wrong; we have broken our word to Luxemburg, and violated +the treaty we signed; but necessity knows no law. It was a part of our +plan to do it, and we did it. We know we signed a treaty that +Belgium's neutrality and integrity should be maintained, but you see it +did not suit our plans to keep our word, so we broke it. We will make +it up to the Belgians afterwards, if they will do what we tell them; +but if they will not, we will crush them.' What is honour to a country +like that? Can't you see that all along Germany intended to dominate +Europe, and because she thought the present time propitious, she was +willing to cover herself with dishonour in order to do the thing she +wanted?" + +"Is there not another side to that?" interjected Bob. + +"Another side? How can there be another side? When our Ambassador met +the German Chancellor, what took place? The Chancellor had the +audacity to make what our Prime Minister called an 'infamous proposal.' +He suggested that we should break our word to Belgium, and remain +neutral so that Germany could crush France. Then when our Ambassador +asked, as any gentleman would ask, 'But what about the treaty we +signed?' he replied, 'What is a treaty? A thing to be broken! A scrap +of paper! Will you go to war for that?'" + +"But consider what war means!" cried Bob. "Does it follow that because +the Germans are willing to plunge Europe into war, we should do +likewise? Does anything, _anything_, justify the violation of every +law, human and divine?" + +"Bob, do please just call to mind what that horrible German, who had +not even the first instincts of a gentleman, said, 'Have you counted +the cost, and still stand by your honour and plighted word?' As if an +English gentleman could ever count the cost when his plighted word was +given!" + +"Yes," said Bob, "but any statesman ought to count the cost. Think of +what it will all mean, Nancy; think of all the hatred, the feelings of +devilish revenge, the mad passions that will be roused; think of +countries lying waste, think of the whole spirit of war, of the untold +misery and horror of it all, and then ask if anything justifies war. I +know you have a strong case, but two wrongs cannot make a right. +Suppose a man broke his word to me, outraged my feelings, did me great +wrong; would that justify my driving a knife into his heart? I should +be called a murderer if I did it, and be hanged for my deed. Besides, +to come back to where we were just now, Nancy, how could I pretend to +be a Christian, if I enlisted, and went to the war for the purpose of +killing my fellow-men? Christ said, 'Love your enemies, do good to +them that hate you, pray for them that despitefully use you and +persecute you. If a man smite thee on thy right cheek turn to him the +other.' Oh, Nancy, can't you see how utterly opposed Christianity is +to the whole ghastly thing? Here is the German Emperor saying to his +soldiers, 'Go to church and pray--we are fighting God's battle.' Here +are our clergymen saying to our people, 'Go to church and pray--we are +fighting God's battle.' How can God answer both our prayers? They +believe they are in the right, we believe we are in the right, and so +to uphold what we both believe to be right we engage in this hellish +business." + +"And that is your explanation," she said. + +"Yes, Nancy; I cannot, I simply cannot be a soldier and a Christian at +the same time. But you will not let this come between us, will you? I +am trying to be true to my conscience, to act in accordance with the +teaching of the New Testament, and I cannot reconcile Christianity with +war." + +"Do you believe that we shall win in this fight?" and the girl's voice +became hard as she asked the question. + +"Yes," said Bob. "Yes, I believe we shall in the end. After rivers of +blood have been shed, after horrors worse than can be described have +been realised, after tens and tens of thousands of men have been +killed, after a whole continent has been desolated, I believe we shall +win. We shall be stronger than the Germans because we have such vast +numbers of men in reserve; yes, I expect that in the long run we shall +be able to dictate terms of peace; yes, I expect that." + +"But you believe that no war can be justified?" + +Bob shook his head. + +"Think," said the girl, "think of the sixteenth century, when Philip of +Spain made such great preparations to conquer and subdue England. If +he had succeeded, our religion would have been destroyed, our homes +taken away from us, our liberty torn from us, our existence as a nation +would have been practically wiped out. Do you believe God meant Drake +and Hawkins and the rest of them to sit down quietly while the +Spaniards invaded our land and destroyed our liberties? Do you believe +that?" + +Bob was silent. + +"No, you do not believe it. You know that had Philip II succeeded +there would be no England to-day such as we know. Well, now it comes +to this: A greater and a more terrible power than Spain seeks to crush +us; but our men, thank God, have not ceased to be Englishmen, and they +will safeguard our liberties, and keep for us still the England we +love. When the war is over, and all danger is gone, I suppose that +you, who stand idly by, and talk about the ethics of war, will think it +your right to enjoy the liberties which these brave fellows suffer and +die to give you. Is that it?" + +"Nancy, that's not fair." + +"I want to be fair. Tell me, is that your attitude? It is un-English, +and it is cowardly. Is it yours?" + +"I will not try to answer you, Nancy--I should be sorry afterwards, +perhaps; but--but--Nancy, is everything over between us?" + +"That's for you to say." + +"For me?" + +"Yes, you. You have your choice. I--I had nearly overcome +dad's--objections to you." + +"But, Nancy, do you mean to say that----" + +"I can never marry a man who shrinks from his duty at such a time as +this? Yes, I mean that." + +"Nancy, you make it a choice between you and my conscience." + +For a few seconds she looked at him without speaking. Her lips were +quivering, and her hands were trembling. It was easy to see that she +was greatly wrought upon. + +"No, that is not the choice," she said, and her voice had a hard ring +in it. + +"What is it, then?" + +"A choice between me and cowardice." + +He staggered as if some one had struck him. "Do you mean that?" he +asked hoarsely. + +"Yes, I mean that." + +Without speaking another word, he staggered blindly out of the house. +Nancy heard him close the front door behind him, and then, throwing +herself into a chair, sobbed as though her heart would break. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +For the next few days St. Ia was completely under the influence of the +war fever. Although we have only about three thousand inhabitants, +three hundred of our men belonging to the Naval Reserve left in one +day, while many who were away in their fishing-boats were expected to +join their vessels as soon as they could return home. Young +territorials left the neighbourhood by the score, and many a lad who +had previously been laughed at, when wearing his uniform, was looked +upon as a kind of hero, and everywhere one turned, the only subject of +conversation was the war. + +Each morning at eight o'clock, the time at which our newspapers usually +arrive, there was such a rush for the train, in order to obtain early +copies, as I had never seen before; and presently, when the news came +that an army consisting of one hundred thousand men had landed on +French soil without even a hitch or casualty, we cheered wildly. +Evidently our War-office machinery was in good order, and our soldiers, +perhaps the best armed and equipped that ever left our shores, would, +we were sure, give a good account of themselves. + +Among the older and more staid people the inwardness of the situation +was more and more realised. It seemed so strange that the German +nation, which a few weeks before was looked upon as a nation of +friends, was now spoken of as "the enemy." We held our breaths when we +read of the bombardment of Liege, and cheered wildly at the thought of +the brave Belgian army holding the forts against the opposing forces, +and driving back the hordes of Huns with such valour. "How long will +the English take to get there?" we asked again and again. "When shall +we come to close grips with them?" Many a mother grew pale as she +thought of her boy in the line of battle. + +Presently news came of the fall of Liege and the victorious march of +the Germans towards Brussels. The terror of the whole thing got hold +of us, as we thought of the unfortified capital being seized by the +advancing hosts of a great military Power. We troubled very little +about French successes or losses in Alsace and Lorraine. We knew that +the French, true to their characters, had yielded to sentiment rather +than to strategy in making what seemed to us a foolish attempt to win +back these provinces. Of course it was only forty-four years ago that +they had been taken from them by their conquerors in the Franco-German +war. We knew too that, ever since, they had been longing for revenge, +longing to win back what they felt to be part of their own country. +Naturally we sympathised with the French in this, and tears came to our +eyes, and sobs to our throats, when we read how old Frenchmen who had +been through the Franco-German war, welcomed the soldiers with wild and +tumultuous joy. Nevertheless we knew that victory could not be won by +sentiment, and that if the carefully trained German soldiers were to be +driven back, there must be strategy on our side equal to theirs, and +that the armies must be led, not only courageously, but intelligently. +Thus, although we had no proof of the rumour, we rejoiced when we heard +that Lord Kitchener had gone to Paris, and by his wise counsels and +tremendous personality had altered the whole course of the campaign. + +"He's the man!" one would say to another; "he's like the Iron Duke in +Boney's time. Nerves like steel, a mind like a razor, and the heart of +a lion." + +Nevertheless day by day our hearts grew heavier and heavier as we read +of the steady German advance towards Paris. "If the capital is taken," +men said, "Isn't everything done for?" and then we weighed the pros and +cons with all the wisdom of a rustic population. + +Another thing added to our discomfort. The lads of Cornwall were not +responding as we thought they should, to the call of their country. +From all parts of England young men were coming forward, and London was +enlisting volunteers at the rate of a thousand a day. Yorkshire and +Lancashire proved their devotion and their loyalty. Devon, too, our +sister county, more than maintained her traditions. We read how in one +little village where only thirty young men lived, twenty-five of them +had volunteered. "It is because our boys don't understand, don't +realise what we are fighting for," said one to another; and then we +heard with delight that Admiral Tresize and the Member of Parliament +for St. Ia were arranging for a public meeting, at which truth should +be made known. + +During this time Bob Nancarrow was much alone. He seldom left the +house, neither was he to be seen in any of his old favourite haunts. +No one followed the fortunes of the war more closely than he. With +almost feverish eagerness he read every item of news, although, by his +own decision, he was an outsider. He was torn by two opposing forces. +One was the love of his country and his own people, and the other was +the voice of his conscience. He thought, when he happened to go into +the little town, that people nudged each other significantly as he +passed, and made unflattering remarks about him. As a matter of fact, +however, no such thing happened. True, there were some who wondered +why he remained at home, while all his schoolfellows and friends had +volunteered; but many more remembered that he was the son of Dr. +Nancarrow, a man who, to the time of his death, was an apostle of +peace. Of course the inner circle of his acquaintances knew the truth, +but they only talked of it among their own set, and thus Bob's fears +were groundless. + +One day he was attracted by a large placard which appeared on all the +public hoardings headed by the Royal Coat of Arms: "'Your King and +Country Need You!' A great meeting will be held in the Public Hall on +Thursday night in order to explain why this war has taken place, and +why it is the duty of every man to help." It announced also that +Admiral Tresize was to take the chair, while, in addition to the local +Member, the meeting was to be addressed by Captain Trevanion, who was +coming down from Plymouth for this purpose, just before leaving for the +front. + +"Of course I shan't go," said Bob to himself. "I know the reasons for +the war, and I should be in utter misery if I went." Nevertheless he +found himself making plans for going. + +For several days Mrs. Nancarrow had been cold and uncommunicative, and +he knew that a cloud of reserve hung between them. He felt that his +mother despised him. He felt sure, too, that she knew all that had +taken place at Penwennack--that he was henceforth to be treated, in +what he had regarded as his second home, as worse than a stranger. + +"There is to be a great meeting at the Public Hall to-night," said Mrs. +Nancarrow, on the day of the meeting. "Are you going?" + +Bob shook his head. + +"There seems to be tremendous enthusiasm about Captain Trevanion's +coming down, although, of course, he is no speaker," went on Mrs. +Nancarrow. "But you see, the fact of his starting for the front in a +day or so, makes him of special interest. I understand that Nancy +Tresize is going away as a Red Cross nurse, almost at once." + +Bob's heart fluttered wildly as he heard her name. + +"Captain Trevanion stayed at Penwennack last night. Naturally the +Admiral admires him more than ever. The Captain and Nancy motored to +Land's End yesterday afternoon." + +Her every word was like a sword thrust into the young fellow's heart. +He knew what she meant--knew too, that the Admiral had always favoured +Trevanion as a suitor for his daughter. How could it be otherwise, +when Trevanion was a man after the Admiral's own heart? _He_ had +showed no hesitation about the right of defending his country; rather +he had throughout been enthusiastic to a degree, while Bob had hung +back. Mad jealousy filled his heart as he realised what might possibly +be taking place. Even then, Nancy, in her scorn for the man whom she +believed to have been unworthy of her love, might be listening to the +pleadings of one who was worthy. + +"I expect Nancy will be at the meeting," went on Mrs. Nancarrow. "As +you know, she goes almost everywhere with her father, and as the +Admiral will take the chair, I expect she will be on the platform." + +Bob conjured up the scene. He fancied he saw Trevanion, in his +uniform, speaking in a soldier-like fashion about the duty of defending +his country, the crowd cheering wildly, while Nancy, carried away by +her admiration of the man who accorded with her ideals of how an +Englishman should act, would yield to the gallant soldier the love for +which he would give his life. + +That night, with a kind of savage love for self-torture, Bob made his +way to the Public Hall. He got there half an hour before the announced +time, and found the place nearly full. All round the walls hung +bunting, characteristic of the county. The Cornish Coat of Arms hung +over the chairman's table, while the chorus of the old Cornish song: + + And shall they scorn Tre, Pol, and Pen, + And shall Trelawney die? + Then twenty thousand Cornishmen + Will know the reason why. + +was printed in large letters, and hung in a prominent place. At the +back of the platform some one had written, "Cornwall has never failed +her country yet. Shall she be unworthy of the names of Trelawney, +Killigrew, Boscawen, Carew, Tresize, and Trevanion? Never!" + +To Bob's chagrin he was led to a seat close to the platform. Evidently +the man who took him there, wanted him, as the son of one who had been, +perhaps, the most respected man in the town, to have a place of honour. + +In a few minutes the audience was singing patriotic songs. It was true +that there was something jingoistic about them, nevertheless Bob's +heart thrilled. Perhaps there are no people in the whole country whose +voices are sweeter than those of the dwellers in our most Western +county. His heart caught fire as he listened. Yes, there was +something in fighting for home and fatherland, something sublime in +dying for a noble cause. Then again the horror of war, the brutal +butchery, the senseless hatred, the welter of blood, the blighted lives +and homes, arose before him. He knew that the meeting would have no +message for him. + +Precisely at the time announced the speakers appeared on the platform +amidst a tumult of shouting, and then Bob's heart gave a great leap, +for he saw that Nancy Tresize, with several other ladies, followed the +old Admiral. In spite of himself his eyes were drawn towards her as if +by a magnet. He tried to look away from her, but could not, and then, +when he least expected it, her gaze caught his. It was only for a +second, but that second plunged him into the deepest darkness. He saw +the flush that mounted to her cheeks, the smile of derision that passed +her lips, and the look of scorn and contempt that expressed itself on +her face. He knew then what Nancy felt about him, and that he had lost +her--lost her for ever. + +I am not going to try to describe the speeches at length--there is no +need. The Admiral spoke in a bluff, hearty way about the causes which +led up to the war, and then told of the part which the county had +always played, and of her great names which had gone down to history. +Spoke, too, of the need of men at the present time, and then made his +appeal. + +After him came the Member for St. Ia. He evidently tried to speak as a +statesman on the question. He was listened to respectfully, but +without enthusiasm. He was little fitted to explain the intricacies of +international politics. Bob felt, during the whole time he was +speaking, that he did not know the A.B.C. of his subject, felt that if +he had been in his place he would have made a far stronger case for the +country and the cause. + +Then some one got up and recited some doggerel by a London journalist +which was said to be very popular in various parts of the country, but +which did not appeal to our Cornish boys at all. + +Up to this point the meeting could not be pronounced a success. Crowds +were there, and the people were waiting to be caught on fire; but the +right spark had not been struck. It only wanted a little to rouse the +whole audience to white heat; the train was laid, the powder was set, +but no one seemed able to ignite the match. People looked at one +another doubtfully. The youths who had been expected to enlist +remained cold and almost jeeringly critical. Then the Admiral called +for Captain Trevanion. + +A feeling of envy came into Bob's heart as the Captain rose. He was +wearing his regimentals and looked a soldier, every inch of him; tall, +stalwart, straight as a rule. Young and handsome, he bore proudly a +name which might be found in the remotest history of his county. + +"I am no speaker," he began, "and never pretend to speak; in fact, this +is almost the first time that I have tried to address a meeting. I am +a soldier; I start in a few days for the front, and I have only come to +tell you why I am going." + +There was evidence of sincerity in his words, and they were spoken in +such a hearty and convincing way that they appealed to every one +present. Bob felt it more than any one else. Yes, he envied him. Oh, +if he could only take his place! If he could say, "I am going to the +front in a few days!" + +"I have been working hard, these last weeks," went on Trevanion; +"drilling, drilling; training, training; preparing for the fray, and +waiting and longing to, hear the command, 'Up, lads, and at them!' +Thank heaven the command has at last come!" + +His voice rang out clearly, and as he spoke a new light came into the +eyes of many. + +"And why am I going?" he cried. "Why are tens of thousands of the +brave lads from all over the Empire going to France at this time? I'll +tell you!" + +He was not eloquent. He had no great command of language, but he +stirred the hearts of the people, because he told a simple story, +which, while from the standpoint of the cold critic it might appear +unconvincing, was, when listened to by patriotic Englishmen, full of +appeal and power. + +He drew two pictures, and although he did it crudely he did it well. +He described first a meeting of Cabinet Ministers in Whitehall. These +men had for a long time been labouring night and day for peace, and now +the final stage had come. They had sent what was in some senses an +ultimatum to Germany, and they were now waiting for the answer. War +and peace hung in the balance. The time was approaching midnight, and +the hour when the final decision was to be made was near at hand. The +question they had asked Germany was this: "Will you keep your word to +Belgium, or will you violate the treaty you have signed?" + +"The Belgians," said Trevanion, "had the promise of the Kaiser to +maintain their country's neutrality and integrity. Was that promise to +be trusted, or was it a sham and a lie? 'We Britons gave our word,' +our statesmen had said, 'and, like Britons, we are going to keep it. +What are you going to do? If you prove false, we are going to stand by +our promise, if it cost us our last man and our last pound. + +"Presently the sound of Big Ben at Westminster boomed across the city. +The Germans had not replied. This meant that the Kaiser had played the +traitor, that he had torn up the treaty he had signed; and thus when +the last stroke of Big Ben sounded across London, the four statesmen +looked at each other, and said, 'This means war.' Could they have done +any other?" cried the Captain--"could they? No!" + +From the hall, rose the many-throated reply, "No, by God, no!" + +"Now for another picture," he went on. "It is not in London, not in +Whitehall this time; it is in Germany, at Berlin. Our Ambassador +there, was speaking to a representative of the German Kaiser, the +mouthpiece of the German nation. 'What will you do?' asked the German. +'Surely you English will be neutral?' + +"'That depends,' said the Englishman. + +"'On what?' queried the German. + +"'It depends whether you Germans are going to be true to the treaty you +have signed, true to your plighted word.' + +"'And if not?' the German asked. + +"'In that case,' replied the Englishman, 'we are not going to stand by +and see a little state wronged and ruined, because a great nation like +Germany, who should keep her word, is playing Belgium false.' + +"'Treaty,' questioned the German, 'what is a treaty? Will you go to +war with us for that--just for a scrap of paper?' + +"'But that scrap of paper means our nation's honour,' the Englishman +said. + +"'Have you counted the cost?' asked the German, thinking to frighten +the Englishman. + +"'We English,' replied the British Ambassador, 'are not likely to go +back on our word because of fear.' + +"The German left him in a passion, and the Englishman said in his +heart, 'It is war.' + +"Would you have had him give another answer?" + +And again a mighty shout from the hall, "No, by God, no!" + +"Then do your duty--help us in the fight," cried the Captain. The +right note was struck now, and it had been struck by Bob's rival. Oh, +how he envied him! He saw that Nancy's eyes were ablaze with joy, that +she was moved to the depth of her being; and the man who had moved her +to enthusiasm and admiration was the man who wanted the woman Bob +loved, and whom he had lost. + +"Can any Englishman," went on Captain Trevanion, "stand by after that? +If he can, what is he worth? Of course he will make paltry excuses, he +will say this and that and the other thing, but what are his excuses +worth? I have heard of young fellows, men who have been trained in our +public schools, who stand by and refuse to help; what shall we say of +them? And you young chaps, healthy, strong, unmarried, without home +ties, what if you refuse to respond to the call of your country? I +will tell you what I think of you: you are white-livered cowards." + +Again the audience cheered, and Captain Trevanion, fired by the +enthusiasm he had roused, became almost eloquent. He knew he had the +grip of his audience, and his words came more easily. + +"I want to appeal to you girls," he went on. "Your sweethearts are +sitting by you: well, a fellow who is such a coward as to refuse to +fight for his country isn't worth having. Tell him so, shame him into +being a man!" he cried, and his voice rang out, as though he were +giving orders on parade. + +"What shall we do?" shouted a voice in the hall. + +"Make them feel what cowards they are. Here," and he laughed as he +spoke, "I have in a basket a lot of white feathers; I think they might +be of use. Any of you girls who know men who are hanging back from +cowardice, just give them a white feather, and never speak to them +again until they have wiped away their disgrace." He took up the +basket and held it out. "There," he said, "I have finished my speech: +men and women do your duty!" + +As he sat down the whole meeting was in a state of wild uproarious +enthusiasm. + +A few minutes later the hall began to empty itself, although a number +of people remained behind to discuss the situation. An old retired +sergeant of seventy years of age stayed with a number of young fellows +who lingered behind, and as they stood near to Bob he could hear every +word that was said. + +"Come, you chaps," said the sergeant, "aren't you going to be men? +aren't you going to fight the Germans?" + +"Why shud us?" they asked. "What 'ave we got 'ginst the Germans?" + +"Would you like the Germans to conquer your country? would you like to +have the Kaiser for a king?" + +"Dunnaw: why shudden us?" replied one. + +"Laive they that want to fight the Germans, fight 'em--we bean't goin' +to," said another. "Why shud we all git killed to plaise Members of +Parliament?" + +"I be sheamed ov 'ee," cried an old man near; "you bean't worthy to be +called Englishmen." + +"Why bean't us?" + +"'Cos you be cowards. Wud 'ee like to be traited like they Germans be?" + +"From oal accounts they be a darned sight better on than we be," was +the reply. + +"Wot do 'ee main?" + +"Why," laughed a young fellow, "at the last general election one of the +spaikers, I doan' know who 'twas, but the one that talked Tariff +Reform, zaid that the Germans was a lot better off than we be. He zaid +that the Germans was fat, and that we was lean, and that the Germans +had better times, shorter hours, and higher wages than we've got. Ef +tha's so, we'd be a lot better off under the Germans than we be now." + +"Bean't 'ee Englishmen?" cried the old man. "Bean't 'ee goin' to fight +and keep 'em from England?" + +"I bean't goin' over there to git killed--not me. I knaw trick worth +two of that"; and then shamefacedly the whole lot of them left the hall +without enlisting. + +Bob's anger rose as he listened. "What mean cowards they are!" he said +to himself; "I feel almost ashamed to be a Cornishman. Of course +scores of our boys are playing the game like men, but these creatures +make one sick." A moment later his face became crimson with shame. +Was he not doing the same? Yes; his reasons were different, and of +course he could have made a better case for himself than they did, but +was he not a shirker just as much as they were? Then all such thoughts +were driven from his mind in a second, for down the platform steps, +with the evident intention of passing into the hall, came Admiral +Tresize, Captain Trevanion, and several ladies, among whom was Nancy. +At first he felt as if he must rush out of the hall, but his feet +seemed rooted, he could not move. Captain Trevanion and Nancy came +towards him. + +"Now then, Nancarrow, have you enlisted yet?" asked Trevanion. "You +should, as an old O.T.C. man. I find that hosts of the fellows from +Clifton College have enlisted. Aren't you going to?" + +Bob did not speak, he could not. He heard the sneer in the Captain's +voice, saw the look of contempt on his face, and he knew why he spoke. +But he could not understand why Nancy stood waiting as if with the +intention of speaking to him. He knew that he cut a poor figure +compared with Trevanion, and that to Nancy he must seem a slacker, a +wastrel. Still he could not speak nor move. He felt that the girl's +eyes were upon him, felt contempt in her every gesture, her every +movement. She came up close to him. + +"Aren't you going to help to uphold your country's honour?" she said, +and her voice quivered with excitement. Evidently she was deeply moved. + +He felt as if the room were whirling round. He thought he noted a sign +of pleading in her voice, and that her eyes became softer. It seemed +to him that she was giving him his last chance. He could not speak, he +could only shake his head. + +"Then allow me to present you with this," she went on, and she held out +a white feather. "I am sure you must be proud of it, and that you will +wear it honourably, especially at such a time as this." + +The insult pierced his heart like a poisoned arrow. He knew that her +intention was to heap upon him the greatest ignominy of which she was +capable. There were not many people in the room, but there were some +who must have seen her action. As for Trevanion he turned away his +head with a laugh. + +"Come, Captain Trevanion," said Nancy, "we must be going." She took +hold of his arm, and they walked out of the hall together. + +Bob made a stride forward as if to follow them. He wanted to hurl +defiance at them, wanted to tell her that her action was mean and +contemptible, unworthy of an Englishwoman. Wanted to--God knows what +he wanted. His brain was whirling, everything seemed to be mad +confusion, but he only took one step; the uselessness of it all +appealed to him. What could he do, what could he say? He had made his +decision, taken his stand, and must be ready to suffer. + +Then he remembered what Captain Trevanion had said at the close of the +golf match: + +"In this field of battle you have beaten me, but in the next I shall be +the conqueror." + +"Yes," said Bob, and he silently made his way home. "I have lost her. +I have lost everything, but what could I do?" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +"Mother," said Bob, on his return home, "I shall be leaving St. Ia +to-morrow morning." + +"What! going away, Eh?" said Mrs. Nancarrow, looking at him +searchingly. For days she had been hoping that he would see it his +duty to offer himself to his country, and yet all the time dreading the +thought of parting from him. + +"Where are you going?" + +"To Oxford," he replied. + +"Then you are not going to enlist?" + +He shook his head. "I am going to Oxford," he repeated. + +"Bob, my dear, we have not seemed to understand each other just lately. +I am afraid I spoke unkindly to you the other day, and as a consequence +there has been a lack of trust. Won't you tell me all about it?" + +"There is nothing to tell, mother; I simply cannot do what you expect +me to, that is all. You see I believe in what my father taught me," +and he looked towards the fireplace, over which hung Dr. Nancarrow's +picture. "Perhaps it is in my blood, perhaps---- I don't know; +anyhow, I think my hand would shrivel up if I tried to sign my name as +a soldier." + +"But you have a mother, Bob, a mother whose name was Trelawney, and the +Trelawneys have never failed in time of need. Are you going to be the +first to fail, Bob? Oh, please don't think I do not dread the thought +of your going to the front, and perhaps being killed; but I cannot bear +the thought that my boy should shirk his duty to his country. Tell me, +Bob, why do you want to play the coward?" + +"Play the coward! Great God, mother! don't you understand me? I +simply long to go. It seems to me as though everything in life worth +having depends on my doing what you and others want me to do. But how +can I! I hate talking about it, it sounds so pharisaical, but my +father wanted me to be a Christian, and you know what Christianity +meant to him. As I have said again and again, it comes to this--either +war is wrong and hellish, or Christianity is a fable. Both cannot be +right. And if I went as a soldier I should have to renounce my +Christianity--at least that is how it seems, to me. If I went to a +recruiting station I should have to go there over Calvary; that is the +whole trouble." + +Mrs. Nancarrow sighed. + +"Think, mother," went on Bob, and again he looked towards his father's +picture. "Do you believe he would have me go?" + +"Why are you going to Oxford?" she asked. + +"I want to see my father's old friend Renthall." + +"And get strengthened in your Quaker opinions, I suppose?" + +"I have heard nothing about them lately, at all events," said Bob, and +his voice became almost bitter. "It would seem as though we had +accepted a new Gospel which has taken the place of the New Testament. +Big guns are believed in rather than the Cross. But there is no use +talking any more. Good night." + +The following morning Bob made his way to the little station at St. Ia +in order to catch an early train for London. When he arrived there he +saw that it was the scene of unusual excitement. A great crowd of +people had gathered, many of whom evidently had no intention of +travelling by train. A few minutes later he saw the reason for this. +Admiral Tresize's motor-car was driving up, containing not only the +Admiral himself, but Captain Trevanion and Nancy. No sooner did the +people see them, than there was a wild shout. Evidently the Captain, +since the meeting, had become a kind of hero, and the fact that he was +starting for the front added fresh lustre to his name. + +"We'll see you back again by Christmas," some one shouted. "The +Germans will be licked by that time, and you will be a Colonel at +least. Oh, we don't fear for you--you will be all right." + +"It was a fine speech you gave, Trevanion," said another. "By George, +that idea of giving a white feather to all the shirkers was just fine. +I hear that the basket is nearly empty." + +"I am afraid I cannot claim the credit for that," laughed the Captain. + +"Who suggested it, then?" + +"Oh, it was Miss Tresize here. She thinks it such a disgrace for any +man to shirk at such a time as this, that she thought they should be +shamed to some sense of decency and pluck." + +"Three cheers for Miss Tresize!" shouted some one, and a minute later, +Nancy, half-angry and half-pleased, was blushing at the shouts of her +friends. + +Bob felt himself to be a complete outsider. He too was going by that +train, but no one thought of cheering him--indeed, no one spoke to him. +He was what the people called a shirker. He would have given anything +he possessed to have gone up to Trevanion, and said, "I'll go with +you," but he could not. If he did, he would have to uproot the Faith +of a lifetime. + +The Captain moved towards the carriage which was close to his own, +Nancy accompanying him. Bob knew that the girl saw him, but he might +not have existed as far as she was concerned. She spoke gaily, and her +face was wreathed with smiles, but the smiles were not for him, they +were for the man who was going to fight for his country. + +The Admiral and the Captain also saw him, but neither spoke. They +seemed to regard him as one who henceforth could not be one of +themselves. + +"A man must pay his price, I suppose," reflected Bob. "If he does not +shout with the crowd, he is despised by it. I knew that when I made up +my mind, but I never thought it would be so hard. She thinks I am a +coward--the cowardice would lie in doing what she wants me to do." + +"Well, good-bye, Captain: a fine time to you; come back safe to us. +You shall have a great homecoming," shouted the Admiral. "There, +another cheer, lads; he is going to fight for his country," and amidst +wild shouting Trevanion entered the carriage, while only looks of +derision and scornful glances were directed towards Bob. + +Arrived in London, Bob caught the first train for Oxford, and before it +was dark entered that classic city. But it was not the Oxford he knew; +an indescribable change had come over everything. When he had left it, +the streets were full of undergraduates, who with merry jest and +laughter had thronged the public places. The colleges then were all on +the point of breaking up, and the students, wearing their short, absurd +little gowns, made Oxford what it ordinarily is in term time. Now the +streets were comparatively empty, many of the colleges had been taken +by the Government in order to be made ready to receive wounded +soldiers. There were no shouts of jubilation, for the news in the +papers that day saddened the hearts of the people. The German army was +steadily driving back the Allied forces towards Paris. Whispers were +heard about the French Government's being shifted to Bordeaux. It +seemed as though Germany were going to repeat the victories of +forty-four years before, when the great _debacle_ of the French nation +startled Europe. Business was at a standstill. How could the city be +gay when the English soldiers were being driven back with enormous +losses? + +"They called it a strategical retreat," Bob heard some one say as he +stood outside the door of The Mitre. "I do not believe in strategical +retreats--it is not like the English to run away." + +"Ah! but General French is only carrying out his plans," said another. + +"Well then, they're mighty poor plans," was the response. + +It seemed to Bob as though a cloud of gloom hung over this old +university town. + +His luggage having been taken to the hotel, he found his way into the +dining-room, and the waiter, whom he had known for years, came up to +him and spoke familiarly. + +"Bad times, Mr. Nancarrow," he said. "Oxford won't be a university +town now, it'll be a barracks town. I suppose you have come up for +training. Yes, hosts of the young gentlemen have. We shall send out +one of the finest Companies in the British Army, from Oxford. It's +grand, sir, it's grand, the way you young gentlemen come up at this +time. After all, your learning is no good at a time like this; it do +not save the country, sir. We want fighting chaps." + +Bob sat down at a little table and picked up the menu. + +"Yes, sir," went on the waiter. "It is splendid, the way the young +gentlemen are coming up, and I say a man isn't a man if he stays at +home at a time like this. I wish I was ten years younger, I'd be off +like a bird." + +"It's the same everywhere," reflected Bob, "wherever I go I seem to +have poisoned arrows shot at me. I don't care what this fellow thinks +about me, and yet I am ashamed to tell him that I have not come up for +training, at all." + +"By the way," he said to the waiter in order to stop his garrulous +talk, which was becoming painful to him, "will you ring up Dr. +Renthall, and ask him if he can see me in about an hour's time?" + +A little later Bob was out in the streets again, on his way to Dr. +Renthall's house. It was a relief to him to feel that here, at least, +was one man who would understand his position. After the experiences +of the last two or three weeks the Professor's study would be indeed a +haven of rest. + +Bob was not kept waiting at the door. The Professor's old serving-man +knew him well, and showed him into the study without any delay whatever. + +"I am glad to see you, Nancarrow," said the Professor. "Oxford has +been a strange city to me these last few weeks; even here, in my den, I +cannot get away from the strife and turmoil. Tell me what you have +been doing, and how you have been getting on." + +"I have been like one in an enemy's country," was the young fellow's +reply, and then he briefly told him what had taken place. + +"The thing that troubles me," said the Professor, "is the utter failure +of Christianity. All our old ideas seem to have gone by the board. +Even many of my Quaker friends have got the war spirit and are no +longer sane. It is true we have placards all over the town calling us +to prayer, but as far as Christianity is concerned it seems as dead as +Queen Anne." + +"Then what is your attitude?" asked Bob. + +A few minutes later the Professor was explaining the beliefs which he +had for long held so strongly, and Bob listened greedily. He spoke not +only of the horror of war, but of its unrighteousness and of its +futility. + +"We talk about the country going into war for the sake of honour," he +said warmly. "But has there ever been a war in which we have not made +the same plea, and how much honour has there been in it all? What +honour was there in the Boer War? What honour has there been in half +the wars we have made? In the main it has all been a miserable game of +grab. How much was the Founder of Christianity considered when we +bombarded Alexandria? How much of the Sermon on the Mount was +considered when we went to war with those Boer farmers?" + +"Yes, yes, I know," replied Bob. "But isn't this war different? I am +not thinking now of the righteousness or unrighteousness of many of the +wars of the past; the thing which troubles me is just this: Is it ever +right to go to war? Can a nation, according to Christian principles, +draw the sword? Mind you, I have gone into this business as carefully +as I have been able. I have read everything that I can get hold of +which bears on it, and I cannot close my eyes to the fact that as far +as justice and righteousness go we are in the right. I have but little +doubt that the Kaiser is playing his own game; he wants some of the +French Colonies, he also wants to extend his power in Asia Minor. In +order to do this he has for years been perfecting his army and +strengthening his navy. But here is the question: Can a nation like +England, according to Christian principles, engage in a bloody war in +order to crush any one or anything?" + +"Impossible!" cried the Professor. + +"Then, according to you," went on Bob, "the Kaiser should be allowed to +work his will without protest? He should be allowed to crush France, +to violate his promises to Belgium, and to carry out his purposes, +whatever they may be, without resistance on our part." + +"I do not say that," replied the Professor. "I only say that war is +never a remedy, and that by trusting in the sword we only add wrong to +wrong, and thus keep back the day of universal brotherhood. Think what +this war has done, even although it has scarcely begun. It has +destroyed the good work of centuries. A few months ago, we in England +had only kind feelings towards the Germans. We regarded them as +friends. We spoke of them as a great Protestant people. To-day, the +bitterness and hatred of all England is roused against them. On every +hand the Germans are being distrusted and abused. Think what this +means? It has put back the clock of Christianity, it has aroused +hatred instead of love, and the whole country is being carried off its +feet by militarism. Even from the pulpit has gone forth the cry of +battle. Militarism has overwhelmed Calvary, and Christ and all that He +stood for have been swept away amidst the clash of arms." + +"Yes," was Bob's reply. "But that does not seem to me to solve the +present difficulty. My point is this: What ought one to do at the +present time? Of course, it is easy to say that this war ought never +to have begun. Easy to believe, too, that all wars mean hell let loose +upon earth. We can urge that those old treaties ought never to have +been signed, that alliances ought never to have been formed. But that +does not help us forward. We have to face the situation as it is. We +did sign the treaty and promise our support. There is an _Entente +Cordiale_ between us and France. On the other hand, there is very +little doubt that Germany means to crush France. She means also to +dominate the life of the world. War has been declared, Germany has +marched across Luxemburg, through Belgium, into France. England, in +response to the plea of Belgium, is fulfilling her promise, and scores +of thousands of our soldiers are fighting on the side of the French. +The cry is for more men. On every hand one is appealed to to join the +Army. Now then, what ought one who is trying to be a Christian, to do?" + +"There is only one thing to do, it seems to me," was Professor +Renthall's reply. "That is for him to follow the leadings of his +conscience and leave results to God. When Jesus Christ called His +disciples, He made them no alluring promises; in accepting His call, +they simply followed Him regardless of consequences. That, it seems to +me, is the position to-day. We have nothing to do with this wild war +spirit. There are a few men in England, thank God, who protest against +war, and it is for them to be true to the light that is within them, no +matter what the result may be. Of course, we are told that if we do +not crush Germany our liberties will be destroyed and our Empire taken +from us. What have we to do with that? We believe in an over-ruling +Providence. Believing that, and knowing that Christ is the Prince of +Peace, we must absolutely refuse to meet force with force, bloodshed +with bloodshed." + +Bob stayed a long time with the Professor, and when he left he was more +than ever convinced that he had done right. A Christian could not +participate in this war, and still be true to his Christianity. + +In spite of this, however, there was something at the back of his mind +which told him that the Professor was not right. He could not tell +what it was; nevertheless, it was there. + +It was eleven o'clock when he left Dr. Renthall's house, and then, +instead of going back to his hotel, he wandered away in the opposite +direction towards the country. + +Heedless of time, and forgetful of everything in the maze of his own +thoughts, he went farther than he had intended, and presently, when he +heard the sound of a clock striking midnight, he realised that he was +staying at an hotel, and ought to have been back long since. + +No sooner had he turned, however, than he was startled by a cry of fear +and pain. It was the cry of a woman's voice too, and, acting upon the +impulse of the moment, he rushed to the spot whence the sound came. + +Near by was a little village, every house of which was in darkness. At +first he could see nothing, then he heard the sound of struggling +coming from a lonely lane close by the village. + +"Give it me, I say, or I'll murder you." + +It was a man's voice, raucous and brutal. + +"No, no, you may kill me if you like, but I won't," a woman's voice +replied. + +Bob saw the man lift his hand to strike her, but before it fell he had +rushed upon him, and hurled him aside. + +"Who are you, and what do yer want?" cried the fellow, interlarding his +question with foul epithets. + +"No matter who I am, or what I want," replied Bob. "Leave that woman +alone." + +The man eyed Bob for a moment, stealthily, and then without warning +rushed upon him. + +A minute later the two men were struggling wildly. The man was +strongly but clumsily built, and lacked the agility and muscular force +of the young athlete. But Bob's victory did not come easily. Again +and again the fellow renewed his attack, while the woman stood by with +a look of terror in her eyes. + +"Save me," she cried, again and again, "or he will kill me." + +At length, by a well-planted blow, Bob sent his opponent staggering to +the ground. The man was stunned for a second, but only for a second. +He raised himself to his feet slowly. + +"All right, guv'ner, you have beaten me," he said. "It wasn't my +fault; if she weren't so b---- obstinate, there would have been no +trouble." + +Then evidently hearing some one near by, he shouted aloud: "I say, +Bill, come here;" and Bob realised that a new danger was at hand. + +"Wait a minute, guv'ner," said the fellow, "I just want to ask your +advice." But Bob was too alert to be caught in this way. Believing +that there must be a police station in the village, he, too, shouted +aloud. + +"Help!--help!" + +A minute later he found his position doubly dangerous. The one man he, +after a severe struggle, had been able to overcome, but he knew that he +would be no match for the two, and that the woman would be at their +mercy. + +"Get away while you can," he said to her; but the woman did not appear +to heed him--she seemed spellbound by what was taking place. + +Both men rushed on him madly, and only by a trick which he had learned +as a boy did he save himself. Tripping one of them up, he was able at +the same time to parry the other's blow, and keep him at bay. + +His position, however, was desperate, for the second man had again +risen to his feet, and prepared for another attack. + +Then suddenly it was all over, the heavy thud of a policeman's +truncheon was heard, and a few minutes later, with Bob's help, the two +men were led away to the police station. + +"Lucky for you I was near by, sir," said the constable. + +"Lucky for the poor woman too," was Bob's rejoinder. + +"I've had my eye on these two blackguards for a day or two," replied +the policeman. "They are a bad lot, and I do not think the woman is +much better than they are. Tell me exactly what happened, sir?" + +The policeman nodded his head sagely when Bob had finished his story. + +"Yes, sir," he said, "you have done a good night's work. I am afraid I +shall have to take your name and address, because you will be called +upon as witness against them. You have helped me to put my hand upon a +nice little plot, and if these fellows don't get six months, I am very +much mistaken." + +When Bob got back to his hotel that night, and was able to think calmly +of what had taken place, he was considerably perturbed. + +Of course the incident in itself was sordid enough. The woman was +supposed to be the wife of one of these men, and Bob by his +intervention had hindered what might have been a brutal tragedy. + +But that wasn't all. The thing was a commentary on his conversation +with Dr. Renthall. + +Two days later Bob appeared at the police court against these men, and +heard with satisfaction the Magistrates sentence them both to severe +punishment. + +There is no need for me to tell the whole story here, a story of +cruelty and theft. The fellows received less than their due in the +sentence that was pronounced, and Bob felt that he had freed society, +for some time at all events, of two dangerous characters. + +The local papers made quite a feature of the case and spoke with great +warmth of Bob's courage, and the benefit he had rendered the community. + +"I say, Nancarrow," said Dr. Renthall, when next they met, "they are +making quite a hero of you. I must congratulate you." + +"On what?" asked Bob. + +"On the part you played in that affair." + +"I am all at sea," was the young man's rejoinder. "It seems to me that +according to Christian principles I should have done nothing. If I had +literally interpreted the dictum: 'If a man strike thee on thy right +cheek, turn to him the other also,' I should have allowed the fellow to +work his will without opposition. But you see, I could not stand by +and see that fellow ill-treat the woman. That was why, before I knew +what I was about, I was fighting for life. Do you think I did right?" + +"I see what you are driving at," replied the Professor, "and I admit +you were in a difficult position." + +"You said the other night," said Bob, "that force was no remedy. +Perhaps it is not a remedy, but it seems to me necessary. After all, +if you come to think about it, the well-being of the community rests +upon force. But for force that brute would perhaps have killed the +woman. But for force the two fellows would have killed me, but it so +happened that the police came up and saved me, and a policeman +represents force, both moral and physical. No, force may not be a +remedy, but without it, while society is as it is, everything would be +chaos and mad confusion." + +"You are thinking about the war, I suppose," said Dr. Renthall. + +"One can scarcely think about anything else," replied Bob. "I am all +at sea, Professor--simply all at sea. Oh! I confess it frankly--I +admit that I acted on impulse the other night. My one thought was to +master that fellow, and if I had been driven to extremes, I should have +stopped at nothing, to keep him from harming the woman. For the moment +there was no thought of love, no thought of brotherly feeling in my +heart, I simply yielded to the impulse of my nature. The man +threatened to kill his wife, and if I had not defended her I should +have been unworthy to be called a man. How does that square with +Christianity? Was I wrong?" + +"I think you were right," said the Professor slowly. "Yes, I am sure +you were." + +"Then, if I were right," replied Bob, "and Germany is acting in the +same spirit as that fellow was acting, is not England right in going to +war? We promised to defend the Belgians, and Germany with brutal +arrogance swept into their country." + +"Yes," replied Renthall; "but would it not have been better for Belgium +to have acted on the spirit of non-resistance? If they had, Liege +would never have been bombarded. All the atrocities at Louvain would +never have been heard of." + +"You mean, then," said Bob, "that they should have allowed a bully like +Germany to have swept through their country, without resistance, in +order that they might crush France? Don't you see? If it were right +for me to defend the woman against a brute; if I were right in knocking +down that fellow; if the police were right in taking them both to the +police station; if the Magistrates were right in sending them to +prison; was not England right in attacking Germany? Nay, was she not +acting in a Christian spirit in saying: 'This bully shall be crushed.'" + +"Have you read the papers to-day?" asked the Professor. + +"Yes." + +"Did you come across that account of the correspondent who described +what he had seen on the stricken field? Did you get at the inwardness +of it all? You are a fellow with imagination, Nancarrow; didn't you +feel a ghastly terror of war?" + +"Yes," replied Bob, "but that does not clear up the question. +Meanwhile, Germany is marching towards Paris and Lord Kitchener is +calling for more men. What ought I to do?" + +"Read your New Testament," said the Professor, "remember the words of +our Lord just before He was crucified, 'My Kingdom is not of this +world, else would My servants fight.'" + +"Yes," cried Bob, "but----" + +"I really cannot stay any longer now," interrupted the Professor, and +he slipped away, leaving Bob alone. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +The next day Bob was in London. He had engaged chambers in the Temple +in order to prepare for his examinations. In spite of what he had said +to Professor Renthall, his old opinions remained unshaken. It might be +right, it undoubtedly was right, to defend the weak against brutal +strength in the way he had done, but war between nations was different. +He simply could not participate in it. + +He had been stigmatised as a coward, and as a traitor to his country, +but still he must be true to his conscience. + +Law and order were different from the arbitrament of the sword. War +was a violation of all that was best and noblest in humanity, and he +must walk along the lines he had marked out. + +Still he could not get away from the spirit of the times. The one +subject talked about in restaurants, in clubs, in offices, and in the +streets was this bloody carnage which was convulsing Europe. Almost +every vehicle that passed was placarded with a call to war. Every +newspaper he opened was full of news of the war. Even the religious +papers seemed to have forgotten that the Gospel of Christ was the +Gospel of Peace. + +It was true that here and there were letters from correspondents +protesting against the whole horrible business, but these were in the +main, at a discount. + +After he had been in London a few days, he happened to get hold of a +German newspaper, and there he read the German side of the question. +This newspaper pleaded that the Kaiser never wanted war. That he had +struggled against war, and that during the whole of his reign, war had +been kept at arm's length. If the Kaiser loved war, the paper urged, +the country would not have remained at peace so long, seeing that never +since 1870 had Germany drawn the sword. Now that war was forced upon +them, the people were only doing what they were obliged to do. + +One evening he dined at a small hotel, and, having found his way to the +smoke-room after dinner, he met a man from Cornwall with whom he was +slightly acquainted. + +They talked about other things at first, but were eventually led to the +one subject of the times. + +"Do you know," said the man from Cornwall, Richards by name, "that I +heard a strange story the other day?" + +"What story?" + +"A man with whom I am acquainted, a financier from Alsace, told me that +he, with two other bankers, were some weeks ago dining with the Kaiser; +and the Kaiser spoke to them about the mission of Germany. He said +that a great part of Europe was paralysed by materialism, that +immorality had eaten out the best life of France, and was fast finding +its way into the vitals of England. That Germany was called by God to +purify Europe, and that he who was anointed by God to reign over +Germany, felt it his duty to fight against this scourge of materialism +and immorality. In no other way could Europe be saved from infidelity +and ruin, and that he, the Kaiser, was raised up as a scourge of God. +That just as Jesus Christ drove the hucksters and money-lenders out of +the Temple when He was on earth, so was he, the Kaiser, called upon to +cleanse Europe, and that this war was God's crusade to bring back +Europe to purity and righteousness." + +"Your informant told you this?" + +"Yes. He said that the Kaiser was undoubtedly sincere, and was one of +the most religious men he had ever met. Of course the man is mad, but +there is not the slightest doubt but that he believes this." + +When Mr. Richards had gone, Bob felt very lonely. He wanted to get +away from his sad thoughts, wanted to blot from his memory the facts +which had seemingly blighted his life. He was alone in London; he had +no friend to whom he could go. Of course a hundred places of amusement +were open, but he did not feel in the humour to go to them. He dreaded +the thought of going back to his chambers, while the streets repelled +him. + +He glanced around the smoke-room, and noticed that it was peculiarly +shaped, and then, looking behind a huge palm, he saw an alcove which he +had not hitherto noticed. Sitting in it, he would be completely hidden +from the rest of the room, and yet could command a view of a great part +of it. The place was quite empty, and, although in the heart of +London, singularly quiet. Acting on impulse, he threw himself into a +chair behind the palm, and prepared to light another cigar. + +He had scarcely taken his seat in the alcove when two men entered and +summoned a waiter. The man fulfilled their orders and left the room. + +One of the men got up and looked around. "We are lucky," he said; +"there's not a soul here." + +"Yes, we have an opportunity for our chat. Not that there's much +difficulty anywhere. The English people are the most unsuspicious in +the world. No matter what nationality a man may be, he is absolutely +free to go where he likes, and do what he likes." + +"Except the Germans and Austrians," and the other laughed meaningly. + +"Yes, yes, and aren't their precautions silly? Because our parents +thought it wise to educate us in England, we speak the language like +natives, and are looked upon as thorough John Bulls. Heavens, if they +only knew!" + +Bob's pulses began to quicken. Surely he had seen one of them before. +Where, he could not tell, but both face and voice were familiar. + +Evidently they had no idea that he was near. Even if they looked +towards him, he was hidden from them by the huge palm fronds. + +"Yes," responded the other. "Of all the guileless people in the world, +these British fools are the worst. Here are you and I regarded as +English people. We do what we like, we go where we like, and they +welcome us. It is true, since the war broke out, they have taken all +sorts of precautions against what they call German spies. But, bah! +they are as easy to deceive as children. Why, only a week or two ago, +by the simplest ruse imaginable, I obtained some valuable information +down in Cornwall." + +Again Bob looked at the face, and wondered. The speaker was a +middle-aged man, and spoke without the slightest suggestion of a +foreign accent. He would pass anywhere as an Englishman. He had an +air of assurance too, as though it were his habit to move in good +society. Dress, manner, and general appearance suggested an Englishman +of good standing and yet he spoke as an enemy to the country. + +"In Cornwall, eh? That's an out-of-the-way part of the country." + +"Yes, in Cornwall. It was at a little fishing village called St. Ia. +I laugh when I think of it, the whole thing was so amusing." + +Bob gave a start. He knew who was speaking now. His whole appearance +had changed, but he could not help penetrating his disguise. It was +the man who had called himself Count von Weimer--an Alsatian whose +sympathies were so strongly French, and who had come to Cornwall for +peace. The simplicity, and yet the audacity, of his action made Bob +wonder. + +Forgetful of the fact that he was playing the part of an eavesdropper, +he sat still, and listened. + +"Yes, I promised I'd tell you about it," the man went on, "although, +strictly speaking, I ought to say nothing. Still, the matter is over +and done with now, and the information lodged in the right quarter; +besides we, to an extent, work together, so it will be all right. As +you know, I was instructed to obtain information on certain naval +matters, and I had a great difficulty in getting it. You see, I +couldn't get introduced in the right quarters. By and by I discovered +that a retired Admiral who was in the secrets of the Admiralty lived in +a little out-of-the-way place in Cornwall. I learnt all that was +possible about his fads and prejudices, and then went down there as an +Alsatian." + +"An Alsatian, eh?" + +"Yes, as an Alsatian, who, although bearing a German name, was a +suspect by the Germans on account of his love of France. It was a move +which presented certain difficulties, but, having considered +everything, I thought it best to risk it. You see, I went down as a +lover of peace, as one who was tired of the militarism of Germany and +wanted the quiet and rest which only such a place could afford." + +Both of the men laughed heartily at this. + +"Of course I looked the part. I adopted the circular spectacles, and +assumed the manner befitting my role. I knew that a Count von Weimer +lived in Alsace, knew also that this old fool of an Admiral had heard +of him. So I went to the golf links." + +"Golf links?" + +"Yes. I knew that a young chap called Nancarrow often played there, +and that he was very friendly with the Admiral's family. A worshipper +of his daughter in fact. This Nancarrow is of Quaker descent on his +father's side, and is a sort of peace-at-any-price fellow. Rather a +nice chap, but brought up with his father's notions. As luck would +have it, a match had been arranged between Nancarrow and a rival for +the Admiral's daughter's affections, and the old man was present. You +see, my star was in the ascendant. Of course I followed the match as +an ignorant but ardent admirer of the game." + +"I see. Spare me the details." + +"Pooh! the tricks of a child! I feel almost ashamed of them! Of +course I made no attempt to get introduced to the old fool just then, +but in Continental fashion I praised the prowess of the young one. I, +the simple foreigner, thought him wonderful! Eh?" + +"Just so." + +"Naturally I met him later--of course by accident. I played my cards +carefully. I was a rich man charmed by the place, and was on the look +out for a house to buy. What could one want more? Eh?" + +"Exactly." + +"Of course I had seen a house of the Admiral's that was for sale, and I +hated dealing with house agents. Would it be possible to deal direct +with the Admiral? The little fly walked into my parlour at the first +invitation, and two or three days later I was introduced to the +Admiral. Your line of work has not drawn you into contact with this +class of man. A typical John Bull, my dear chap. Blunt, +straightforward, above board. No diplomacy, no _arriere pensee_, but +loud-voiced and hearty. Proud as Lucifer in one way, but as gullible +as a hedgehog. English, quite English, you know, with a proper scorn +for everything that isn't English. The British Navy, you know--the +British Navy can defy the world! + +"Of course I was ignorant of the British Navy. I was not anxious to +hear anything about it. I was keen to buy or rent his house, and I was +able to refer to the names of men who were just slightly above the +Admiral in social position. Of course one can't take a house without +some palaver, and one meeting led to another. Naturally I offered my +cheque as a deposit, and a guarantee of my good faith. I was invited +to dinner, and then, without the old buffer suspecting anything, I drew +the truth from him as easily as a wine waiter draws the cork out of a +champagne bottle. I learnt man--I learnt----" and his voice became so +low that Bob could not catch what he said. + +"By Jove, that was a haul!" + +"A haul! I should think it was. It told me what our people were +willing to give their eyes to know. And the best of it was, he did not +think he was telling me anything! Ah, you should have seen me, the +mild-eyed Alsatian pleading the uselessness of a big navy, and he, to +prove me in the wrong, giving me all sorts of information. Of, course, +when I had sucked him dry, I hooked it. I paid him for my information; +all the same, I got it cheaply. A year's rent for his house! I expect +he is wondering why I don't come and take possession." + +"The British are fools!" + +The other laughed. "Fools, yes, but arrogant fools, proud fools, +dangerous fools too, in a way. They are what we are not, and what we +are destined to be--a World Power. But the reckoning day has come." + +"Do you think so? That is, do you think this is the right moment for +the war? Of course it had to come--we had made up our minds to that; +but don't you think William forced the pace too soon? Surely he meant +to crush France, and control her navy before he angered the little dog +which calls itself the British Lion. I had always reckoned England's +turn would come about 1920." + +"Perhaps you are right; but the result will be the same. Austria will +deal with Russia and the Balkan States while William marches to Paris; +then, when we have a repetition of 1870, we can go back and settle +Russia." + +"The English generally put up a good fight!" + +"A pricked bubble, my dear fellow. It took the whole British Empire +four years to deal with about 70,000 Boer farmers; how then can it do +anything against us? Aren't facts speaking aloud? In about three +weeks we have armies within twenty miles of Paris. In another week +that capital will be in our hands. What is the use of Kitchener's +absurd army? Before it can do anything, England will be on its knees. +As for the French! Bah!" + +"And meanwhile we play our little game here." + +"Yes, John Bull may have the heart of a lion, but he hasn't the brains +of a water-hen. Oh, John is hospitable, very hospitable. You and I, +my dear Charles, with hundreds more, go around as Englishmen. Doesn't +John scorn a spy? That's why we can go everywhere. At present I am +London born, never having been out of England in my life. I know the +Stock Exchange inside and out. I am a city man! And who suspects? +There are over 20,000 Germans in London, all registered, yes, _all_ +registered. Meanwhile--eh?" + +"But if we are beaten!" + +"We can't be. It is impossible. The time-table will be kept. But oh, +I can't help laughing! They never suspected our designs, never +imagined the game we have been playing. They were just contented with +their contemptible little army, and they allowed us to learn their +secrets, not dreaming that England will be a vassal state to Germany, +and that all her colonies will be ours. But there is that other +matter. I want to speak about it. You remember that at the close of +the Boer War----" + +During the whole time Bob had listened like a man in a dream. He felt +as though he were standing on the brink of a precipice. His eyes were +opened to truths that he never dreamt of. He saw that for years there +had been a deliberate plot to conquer England, that the Kaiser had not +only made Germany an armed camp, and had strained every nerve to +construct the greatest and most powerful and complete fighting machine +the world had ever known, but he had sent an army of spies to the +country to learn her secrets and fasten upon her weaknesses. He +realised that the Kaiser had been our enemy during all the years he had +been pretending to be our friend. He had been spending vast sums of +money on men and women who were willing to do the dirtiest kind of +work, in order that he might cause our downfall. + +His honest, straightforward nature revolted at it. These two men were +spies, traitors. He wondered at their speaking so freely, that they +had not taken greater precaution to make sure no one was near. But the +room was peculiarly shaped, and it was difficult for them to see the +recess in which he sat, hidden as it was by the huge palm. To all +appearance the place was empty. + +Again he acted on impulse. Forgetting the rights and wrongs of the +situation, he felt he must act. Looking through the fronds of the +palm, he saw that the two men were conversing eagerly. Behind him was +a door, but where it led he did not know. He must get out without +their being aware of his presence. + +Silently he opened the door, and soon found himself in the domestic +portion of the little hotel. A waiter looked at him questioningly. +Bob held up his finger to command silence. + +"Show me to the manager, at once," he said. + +The waiter instinctively felt how much in earnest he was, and obeyed +him. + +"This way, sir," he whispered. + +"There are two German spies in the smoke-room," Bob said to the manager +a minute later, and he explained how he had been led to this conclusion. + +"Did you serve two men in the smoking-room?" asked the manager, turning +to the waiter. + +"Yes, sir, I served them each with a whisky-and-soda. But they are not +Germans, sir, I'll swear to that." + +"We'll see, anyhow," was the manager's response. "You guard your door +carefully, and I'll go in at the public entrance. Will you come with +me, sir." + +The manager led Bob to the door by which he had first entered the room, +and then they both entered silently. + +The room was empty; the two men had gone. + +"But can't we do anything?" asked Bob. + +"What can we do, sir? If you were mistaken, then no harm is done. If +you were not, they must have seen you leave the room, and then made +their way out. I'll speak to the hall-porter. There are very few +people here to-night, and he will know how many people have gone out +during the last five minutes." + +"Yes," the hall-porter declared a few seconds later, "two gentlemen +have just gone out in a hurry. They said they were late for an +appointment, and had to make haste." + +"Did you recognise them?" asked the manager. + +"I've seen them here once or twice before," was the porter's reply, +"but I know nothing about them." + +The manager looked at Bob in despair. "You see how it is, sir. I +daresay you are right. London is just infested with them, and in spite +of all our precautions they just laugh at us." + +Bob went back to his chambers and tried to reflect on what he had +heard. On reconsideration he supposed there was not so much in it all, +but he was much disturbed nevertheless. He supposed every government +had its secret information service, but the fact that this man calling +himself Count von Weimer had by lies and fraud found his way into +Admiral Tresize's house, and thereby obtained valuable information +about our Navy, staggered him. From the conversation of the two men, +moreover, it was evident that Germany had always meant to go to war +with England, and had for years been preparing for it. The German army +had evidently been built up for the express purpose, not of defence, +but aggression. They had been waiting for years for a favourable +opportunity, and then, when the time was ripe, to force the pace. + +Oh, the madness, the criminal madness of it all! + +But it was worse than madness. There was an awful danger about it all. + +He opened the evening paper he had just bought, and read the staring +headlines. + + GERMAN ARMY WITHIN A FEW MILES OF PARIS. + FRENCH GOVERNMENT REMOVED TO BORDEAUX. + + +Of course all sorts of theories were propounded. This was all strategy +on the part of General Joffre and Sir John French. They were trying to +draw the Germans from their base of supplies, and that done, would +pounce upon them, and annihilate them. + +All this, however, was very unsatisfactory. The truth was, the German +Legions were sweeping all before them. + +He turned to an article copied from an American paper, written by a man +who had been admitted into the German lines, and who had gone into the +very heart of the German Headquarters. Bob found his muscles hardening +as he read. The article in graphic language described the countless +hordes in the German army. It told how the writer rode hour after hour +in a swiftly moving motor-car, always through this great seething mass +of the best-trained soldiers in the world. They were not ill-fed +weaklings, either; but young, stalwart, well-fed, strong, the flower of +the German nation. + +The camp was a vast moving city of fighting men. Everything was +perfectly arranged to the minutest detail. Nothing was lacking. Every +need was supplied as if by magic. The discipline and order were +perfect. The soldiers were confident and happy. + +How could these legions be overcome? Were they not, as the German +General had said, invincible? + +"See the accuracy of our big guns," said the General to the newspaper +correspondent. "You see that windmill three miles away. Now watch." + +An order was given, and then as if by magic a great gun was directed +towards the distant object. A few seconds later there was a tremendous +explosion, and the windmill was shattered to atoms. + +That was it! Germany was a huge fighting machine, and with it the +Kaiser and his minions intended to rule the world! + +And if he did? Supposing Germany won in the war, as she was determined +to win? What would be the result? Where would all Bob's dreams and +visions of Universal Peace be? + +"No, no!" cried Bob aloud, as if he were answering some pleading voice +of his own heart, "I tell you I can't. The whole thing is ghastly, +hellish! It would be to fight the devil with the devil's weapons. If +I did, I should have to give up my faith in Christ and His salvation. +The sword would take the place of the Cross. I should have to say that +the life and work of Christ are a miserable fiasco, that He Himself was +an idle dreamer. There is no possibility for a man who believes in the +New Testament to take part in this hellish business!" + +But if he only could! + +All his patriotism, his love of home and country, called to him. For a +moment the longing to take his part in helping England to drive back +this huge fighting octopus, which was longing to stretch out its +tentacles all over Europe, became a passion. + +But no, he could not, he simply could not. He was trying to be a +Christian, and no man who followed the Christ Who said "Love your +enemies; . . . if a man strike thee on the right cheek, turn to him the +other also," could volunteer to take part in this bloody welter of the +nations! He had been true to his principles so far, and he would +continue to be true. + +But the cost! + +Yes, he had counted the cost, and paid it. He had sacrificed the +dearest thing on earth, he had lost the woman he loved. Nancy could +never be his now. She had driven him from her mind and heart, because +she believed him to be a shirker, a recreant, a coward. + +He took from his pocket-book the white feather she had given him, and +looked at it. Yes, that was what she thought of him. A coward! And +all the time he would have given anything to be able to offer himself +for the front. + +A knock came at the door, and a servant entered bearing a letter. + +"It's from my mother," said Bob to himself, as he broke the seal. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Evidently some one had sent Mrs. Nancarrow an Oxford newspaper, for her +letter was in the main about what Bob had done there. + +"I am proud of you," she wrote. "People down here have been saying +that you are a coward, and that you ran away from home because you did +not dare to meet the people who knew of your action in relation to the +war. What you did at Oxford at least shows that is untrue. I am +delighted that you defended the poor creature, and thrashed the +wretches badly. I see that one of them is still suffering from the +blow you struck him. I have written to Oxford for fifty copies of the +paper, and shall send them to all our friends. I cannot bear, I simply +cannot bear people to think of you as a coward; and I have also +arranged with our local paper to insert a full account of what you did. +I was glad yesterday to see that one of the Cornish papers had a full +report of it, and in its bill of contents printed the following: + + "'PLUCKY CONDUCT OF A YOUNG CORNISHMAN IN OXFORD + + "'MR. ROBERT NANCARROW THRASHES TWO BLACKGUARDS AND + HANDS THEM OVER TO THE POLICE.' + + +"But, Bob, I don't understand you. In spite of your Quaker principles +you felt it right to thrash these villains. What is the difference +between thrashing the wretches who would harm a weak and defenceless +woman, and helping your country to thrash that German bully who is a +menace to Europe? If it was your duty to do one, it is surely your +duty to do the other? The same principle is involved. + +"By the way, Nancy Tresize has been accepted for Nursing work abroad. +You remember that years ago she took a full certificate as a Nurse, and +through the Admiral's influence she has obtained a post in France--at a +French hospital, I expect. Perhaps she thinks she will thus be nearer +Captain Trevanion, to whom report says she is going to be, if she is +not already, engaged, If he is wounded, it might be that she would be +able to nurse him. + +"Oh, Bob, my boy, my boy, you've lost her. I am told that she despises +you beyond words, while the Admiral regrets having given you free +access to his house and called you his friend. All this is an awful +grief to me. If you went to the front I should of course live in daily +and hourly dread of anything happening to you, but all the same I +should be proud beyond words to know that my son had offered his life +for his country. But now--well, before I received this Oxford paper I +felt ashamed to meet my friends." + +Bob closed the letter with a sigh. He was wounded in the house of his +friends. If it were only right, if it were Christian to----; but no, +it was not. It was a violation of every known principle of Christ. +Because the Germans used murderous means to make Europe a hell, it did +not follow that England should do the same. Two wrongs could not make +a right Besides, how much peace and good-will was there in it all? + +The next day he saw an announcement that a great meeting was to be held +that same night at the Imperial Opera House, to be addressed by certain +well-known statesmen. The purpose of the meeting was to instruct the +public as to the real causes of the war, and to point out the nation's +duty. Bob made up his mind to go. Throughout the day he applied +himself to his work, and then after an early dinner he left the Temple, +and going out by way of the Temple Church found himself in Fleet Street. + +Everywhere the evidences of the war were manifest. On every conveyance +was a call to arms. Newsboys were eagerly shouting the contents of the +papers, people were talking in the streets of the one prevailing topic. + +Presently he stopped at a bookshop, and was immediately struck with the +changed character of the literature in the window. There were no +"latest novels," no "new and important biographies"; instead every +shelf was weighted with books about the war. + +"GERMANY AND THE NEXT WAR, by General von Bernhardi. Startling +disclosures of Germany's aims and plans, by a well-known German +General," he read. "This is one of the most popular books in Germany, +and is recommended by the Kaiser and the Crown Prince of Germany, as a +book which every patriot should read. It explains why we are at war +to-day." + +Side by side were others of a similar description, all written by men +who bore the greatest German names. + +Prince von Buelow, ex-German Chancellor, Nietzsche, Trietschke, and +similar great names were given as the authors of the books. + +Bob entered the shop, and having selected three which he thought +promised to give him the best idea of Germany's aims and methods, +ordered the bookseller to send them to his chambers. + +When he reached the Great Opera House, early as it was, he found a vast +concourse of people. After some little difficulty he found a seat in a +good position for viewing the audience. He was immediately struck by +the fact that here was no thoughtless, irresponsible crowd; rather one +largely made up of men of grim determination and iron will. They were +intelligent, well-read men too. They knew the history of their +country, knew its weakness, and realised its faults. Nevertheless they +loved it. + +They were not saints. They were just commonplace people, who lived +commonplace lives, amidst commonplace surroundings. But they had a +sense of right and wrong, and in spite of their failings they had an +inherent love of right. They were Englishmen who instinctively hated +war, and would do anything in their power to avoid it. But there were, +to them, worse things than war. Breach of faith was one; the +destruction of truth, honour, and the nation's good name was another. +If England had made a promise, no matter what it cost her, she must +keep it. England could not stand by and see a little nation whom she +had promised to protect, crushed: + +But above all, they were Englishmen. Love of country was a tremendous +factor. The homeland was dearer than their own lives. They could not +stand by and see it filched from them. + +Of course there were a lot of patriotic songs in which the whole +audience joined. Some of them were silly doggerel, but there was +nothing coarse or unworthy in them. + +"Yes," thought Bob, "there is something almost divine in this love of +home and country. It is eternal in the human heart. One can't get +away from that." + +Presently the speakers came on the stage, amidst great cheering and +waving of handkerchiefs. + +The chief speaker, one who held the supreme position in Naval matters, +spoke first. It was a masterly speech, every sentence of which was +carefully prepared and tellingly delivered. He did not appeal to +passion, but in cold, measured terms spoke of the causes which led to +the war, and then passed on to the success of the Navy and the Army. + +"Yes," reflected Bob, as the young statesman sat down amidst the +thundering applause of the multitude, "as far as a war can be +righteous, this is. If ever a war were justified, this is. But can a +resort to brute force and instruments of murder ever be justified? +That is the question. No, it is not right that these Germans should be +a menace to Europe and the world; but do we not believe in God? Can we +not trust Him? Must blood be washed out by blood, must brutal +arrogance be swept away at the cost of carnage and infinite misery?" + +The second speaker, although he had not the same weight, deepened the +impression the other had made by his brilliance and rhetoric. He too +told the story of the English Ambassador in Berlin who was asked +whether England would go to war for "a scrap of paper." + +That was the question which he asked amidst the cheers of the crowd, +and then waited a second. + +"Yes," and his voice rang clearly through the great building, "when +that scrap of paper meant England's honour and faithfulness." + +Before Bob knew what he was doing, he found himself cheering wildly. A +man, a nation should fight for its honour, its plighted word. + +Then the old question came back. But how could it do so in the name of +Christ? Should not the weapons of Christ be used? Should not an +appeal be made to the Founder of the Christian religion? Would not the +Kaiser, he who professed to be a Christian, have laid down the sword if +he had been appealed to in the name of the Prince of Peace? How could +a bloody war be waged by those who believed in Christ? It was all +confusing, maddening! + +The last speaker was a Labour Member of Parliament. He used no +polished phrases, no brilliant epigrams. He had no knowledge of the +classics, and could not illustrate his arguments by quotations from +great writers. But he had something better--a homely wit, a great +human sympathy. He had a ready tongue, too, and the crowd roared at +his homely humour. + +"Six years ago," he said, "I went to Berlin. I was a delegate at a +Peace Conference in that capital. I was one of many sent there by all +the nations of Europe. Our aim was to discuss means whereby national +quarrels could be settled without an appeal to the sword--by brotherly +counsel, by friendly arrangement, by arbitration. + +"What happened? Remember this was in Berlin, the capital of the German +Empire. We had met there in the interests of the peace of the world. +Surely the noblest, the most Christ-like purpose for which any +conference could meet." + +Bob's heart grew warm at this. It was the dream of his own life, it +accorded with the teaching of Hint Who died for the world. + +"What happened?" went on the speaker. "This happened. No sooner had +the President of the Conference got on his feet to address the +delegates, before a single sentence had been spoken, than a number of +soldiers rushed in, sent there by the German Government, and brutally +broke up the Conference. We were not allowed even to discuss the means +whereby the nations might live at peace, there in the German capital. +What would become of the liberties of England if we were conquered by a +nation like that?" + +Bob had no knowledge of what took place at the meeting after that. The +incident told, as it was, in homely, yet forcible fashion, seemed +unbelievable. Yet, he thought, the man would not dare to tell it if it +were not true. It was not a matter of hearsay; the thing had been +seen, experienced by the speaker. Not only did the Germans not desire +peace, but they made it impossible even to discuss means of maintaining +it. That was Germany! War they could engage in proudly, but even +friendly discussion among lovers of peace, to obtain peace, was made +impossible by the soldiers of the Kaiser. + +Bob left the meeting bewildered. The brilliant speeches were forgotten +in the recital of this single incident. Surely there must be some +mistake! It could not be! It was opposed to, nay, it was the grossest +violation of the first elements of Christianity. And it had, been done +by the Government of the Kaiser. + +No, no, the Kaiser did not know, he could not know! But this must have +been because of the law of the land, and the Kaiser must be cognisant +of it. + +As he entered the door of the building where his chambers were, he saw +a young fellow whom he knew slightly. + +"I say, have you seen this, Nancarrow?" he said. + +"What is it?" + +"It is an order given to his army by the Kaiser. It was sent me by a +man who actually saw it. Just read it. It is the sweetest thing I +have seen yet." + +Bob read what has since become public property, but which was at the +time but little known:-- + +"_It is my Royal and Imperial Command, that you concentrate your +energy, for the immediate present, upon me single purpose, and that is +that you address all your skill, and all the valour of my soldiers, to +exterminate first the treacherous English, and walk over General +French's contemptible little Army._ + +"HEADQUARTERS, + "AIX-LA-CHAPELLE, + "_August_ 19." + + +"Pretty, isn't it?" + +Bob's heart grew hot. The arrogance, the self-glory, the mountebankism +of the order aroused all the fighting spirit of the old Trelawneys. + +"But they haven't done it yet, neither will they," went on the young +fellow. "Thank Heaven the tables are being turned, and we are driving +them back. No, by Jove, French's 'contemptible little Army' has given +them something to do already. Even when the Kaiser poured the flower +of his army upon them, when they were five to one at Mons, they +couldn't break our ranks. Our chaps faced the fire without a squirm, +and coolly told as afterwards that their shooting was rotten. For that +matter I'm told by the German prisoners that but for the English they'd +be in Paris before now." + +"Have you talked with them?" + +"Yes, I was admitted into one of the prisoners' camps. I know one of +the men in authority. According to their account the soldiers +themselves scarcely knew why they were fighting; but they were promised +a sort of picnic. Instead of which the British gave them hell. Oh, +they have tremendous respect for us now!" + +"I wonder you haven't enlisted." + +"Heavens, don't I wish I could! I've tried again and again, but my +eyes are bad. I have to wear tremendously powerful glasses. When are +you off?" + +Bob did not reply. He would have given anything to say, "To-morrow," +but he felt as though a weight were on his tongue. + +He made his way to his chambers. It was still early--not more than +half-past nine. He was excited beyond measure, and it was madness to +think of going to bed. What should he do? + +Looking around, he saw a parcel, on which was the label of the +bookseller at whose shop he had called. + +"It's the books I bought," he reflected. "I can't do any law work +to-night; I'll read them." Almost feverishly he untied the parcel. A +few minutes later he was reading hard. + +The book he opened first was _Germany and the Next War_, by General von +Bernhardi. He had heard it spoken of, but had no idea of its contents. +At that time it was but little known. The publishers had just brought +out a cheap edition, and although it was beginning to be talked about, +the world at large was almost ignorant of it. + +It has been said that on more than one occasion a speech or a book has +altered the history of nations; that some of the utterances of our +great statesmen have altered the destinies of an Empire. Doubtless +such sayings have much truth behind them, and it would not be difficult +to quote instances in proof of them. Sometimes even a song has moved a +whole nation, and made what seemed impossible, an accomplished fact. +What influence had the Marseillaise on the French Revolution? Let +French historians tell us. + +When Bob opened Von Bernhardi's book, he expected to be interested, and +perhaps enlightened; but he certainly did not expect it to +revolutionise his thoughts. + +At first he read with only half his mind. He had been greatly excited +by the meeting he had attended, and for the first few minutes +constantly found himself thinking rather of the speeches than of the +book. + +Presently, however, a sentence gripped him, and then he forgot +everything else. He realised that he was reading, not simply the +opinions and sentiments of a single individual, but of the ruling caste +of the German Empire. As he read, he rubbed his eyes. He could not +believe that he saw aright. He had expected windy vapourings, instead +he found cold, reasoned statements--a kind of Machiavellian philosophy. + +Hour after hour he read, regardless of time, his mind absorbing the +author's arguments as a sponge sucks up water. + +An hour after midnight he rose from his chair and flung the book from +him as though it were something unclean. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +It is not my purpose to analyse the book which moved Bob so profoundly, +and I am only referring to it because of its effect on his thoughts. +It must be remembered that he had been reared to regard war as +something born in hell, something which meant, in the words of the +Prime Minister of England, "Hell let loose." He had never heard any +one speak of it as something to be desired. At best it was only a +"ghastly necessity," something which should not be resorted to until +"all the resources of civilisation were exhausted." + +Here, however, he found war not only gloried in, but set forth as a +necessity to the well-being of nations. War was not only a necessity, +it was a virtuous thing, it was the will of God, it was taught by +Christ. + +A score of sentences burnt like flames of fire before his eyes. +Sentences, not written in the heat of passion, but in cold, measured +terms. And they were accepted as the Gospel of Germany. + +"_Without war,_" said the writer, "_inferior and decaying nations would +easily choke the growth of healthy and budding elements, and universal +decadence would follow. . . ._ + +"_It is not the possessor, but the victor who has the right. . . ._ + +"_Might is at once the supreme right_, AND THE DISPUTE AS TO WHAT IS +RIGHT IS SETTLED BY THE ARBITRAMENT OF WAR. . . . + +"_Reflection shows that not only is war an unqualified necessity, but +that it is justifiable from every point of view. . . ._ + +"_If we sum up our arguments, we shall see that from the most opposite +aspects the efforts directed towards the abolition of war must not only +be termed foolish, but_ ABSOLUTELY IMMORAL, _and must be stigmatised as +unworthy of the human race. . . ._ + +"_According to peace treaties, 'the weak nation is to have the same +right to live as the powerful and vigorous nation.' . . . this is +absolutely immoral. . . ._ + +"_Efforts for peace would, if they attained their goal, not merely lead +to general degeneration, but would have a damaging and unnerving +effect. . . ._ + +"_Every means must be employed to oppose those who work for +peace. . . ._" + +As Bob came to this last passage, he understood why the German soldiers +entered the Peace Convention in Berlin and broke it up by force of +arms. He felt that the Germans lived in a different world from that in +which other nations lived. What to him was a duty, was to them a +crime. What to him was the goal of every Christian and humane man, was +to the German something to be destroyed root and branch. They lived in +different worlds, worshipped a different God. Christianity was not the +same thing to them as to us. We had no common ground on which to meet. +He understood now why the Hague Conference was a failure. Germany had +made it a failure. What other nations longed for, they discarded with +scorn. + +They had an utterly different religion. In spite of whatever +militarism there might be in England, the people believed in and +worshipped the Prince of Peace. In Germany Christ was crucified, and +in his place was set up a WAR GOD before which they fell down and which +they adored. All the policy of the Empire was directly controlled by +this War God, and they could not understand being governed by any other +power. + +It was all overwhelming, bewildering. This Gospel of the Germans +completely revolutionised his whole intellectual outlook. The idea of +living at peace with such a people was impossible. One might as well +think of living at peace with a mad dog. They had no common morality +to which one could appeal. One could not appeal in the Name of the +Prince of Peace, because to them the Gospel of Peace was immoral. + +Then the arrogance of their Creed was revolting. This man Bernhardi, +and Treitschke, and Nietzsche, and the rest of them lived, and acted on +one assumption. They compressed their thoughts into a syllogism: + +The people with the highest civilisation and the highest culture should +become dominant throughout the world. + +Germany had the highest civilisation, and boasted the highest culture. + +Therefore Germany had the right, and not only the right, but the duty +to make war in order that Germany might be dominant. Of course she +must wait for a favourable opportunity, and when that opportunity came, +she must make war regardless of all the misery and bloodshed that it +must cause. + +"The great Elector," said Bernhardi, "laid the foundations of Prussia's +power by deliberately incurred wars." + +In the light of all this Bob called to mind the German Emperor's speech +to his soldiers when on their way to the front. + +"_Remember that the German people are the chosen of God. On me, on me +as the German Emperor, the Spirit of God has descended. I am His +weapon, his sword, and his vizard. Woe to the disobedient! Death to +the cowards and unbelievers!_" + +It would be laughable if it were not so terrible. + +Of course the Emperor was sincere and conscientious in all this +mountebankism, but he was a menace and a blighting danger all the same. + +Mohammed was earnest and sincere when he led his wild armies forward +crying, "Death or conversion!" Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain were +earnest and conscientious when they roasted the Moors of Spain in the +name of the Holy Church and Jesus the Saviour of the world. Torquemada +was earnest and conscientious as the Grand Inquisitor who burnt +heretics who could not accept his doctrines. + +But that did not make this German menace any the less dangerous. +Rather it increased the danger. The military caste, the ruling caste +in Germany, they who had been planning and preparing for war, and +looked upon it as a duty, had no moral standard to which a Christian +could appeal. Their right was our wrong. It would be as easy to argue +with a virus-toothed tiger as to argue with them. They had accepted +the terrible religion of the duty of war as the faith of the nation, +and nothing but equal or superior force would stop them in their onward +march. + +This explained the terrible stories in which Bob had not hitherto been +able to believe. The ghastly outrages at Louvain, the unspeakable +deeds at Malines. They were all a part of the same ghastly creed. + +"A sacrifice made to an alien nation," said Treitschke, "is +immoral. . . . + +"Among all political sins, the sin of feebleness is the most +contemptible. It is the political sin against the Holy Ghost." + +It also explained their violation of the Belgian treaty. Bernhardi +argued most earnestly, that if a treaty placed a difficulty in the way +of a great nation's realising its purposes, then it was not only +justifiable, but the duty of that nation to break that treaty. + +"We must not hold back in the hard struggle for the sovereignty of the +world," he argued. + +Every nation that stood in their way must be swept aside. For that +Germany had been for years building up her "invincible army," and +filling her war chests. Protection was no part of her policy; it was +for ever and always, aggression, aggression. How can Germany obtain +the sovereignty of the world? + +Again Bob found that these Germans regarded England as their greatest +hindrance to the fulfilment of their dreams. Therefore the question +arose as to how England could be swept aside. It was all a matter of +calculation. Laying down the basic principles that war was a necessity +and a duty, and that Germany must dominate the world, all the rest +followed as a natural consequence. + +The nations of Europe were like so many pieces on a chessboard. They +must be made strong, or destroyed just as the occasion fitted in with +Germany's plans. Thus for the present Italy must be strengthened, and +Turkey must be supported, but the power of France must be destroyed. +Why? What harm was France doing? That was not the question. France +stood in the way of Germany's ambitions, therefore France must be +crushed. + +"_In one way or another,_" said Bernhardi, "_we must square our account +with France. This is the first and foremost condition of a sound +German policy. This must be settled by force of arms_. FRANCE MUST BE +SO COMPLETELY CRUSHED THAT SHE CAN NEVER AGAIN COME ACROSS OUR PATH." + +As I said, Bob had arisen from his chair and thrown the book from him. +It in itself was a crime. The cold, calculating immorality of its +teaching was revolting. He felt as though he had been wading through +filth. + +"There is nothing for it," he cried, "but to destroy it root and +branch. Great God, this is a Holy War. It is Christ's war!" + +He saw everything in a new light. Yes, war was a crime, it was "hell +let loose," but by no other means could this poisonous lust for war be +destroyed. + +"He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one!" + +Who said that? + +He remembered that they were the words of Jesus just before His +crucifixion. They were not uttered lightly, they contained the essence +of a great truth. + +What did Jesus mean? + +Again He said, "I came not to bring peace on earth, but a sword." + +Bob walked to and fro in the room in his excitement. Did not Christ +have such a problem as now faced him in His mind when He uttered these +words? + +Here was a great military caste which threatened, nay, destroyed, the +peace of the world. That caste was so poisoned by the virus of war, +that to reason with it was impossible. To appeal to it on moral +grounds was a waste of breath, simply because there was no common +ground of appeal. + +What then? Must this great immoral force be allowed to menace the +world? + +He thought of his long-cherished dream. _War against war_. Why, every +sword drawn in this war was drawn in the interests of peace? Overthrow +this great War God, and this might be the last European war. + +He thought of all his old arguments. "I say unto you, love your +enemies, do good to them that hate you." The spirit of it all was, +Live by the law of Love. + +He did not hate the Germans. Millions of them were quiet, industrious, +honest people. Left alone, they would pursue peaceful avocations, +kindly, and with good intent. But they were under the reign of the War +God, they were turned into killing-machines to satisfy the ambition of +a great military caste which ruled the Empire and enforced its will. + +The practical effect of love was service. It would be the greatest +blessing that could befall this German people if this War God could be +destroyed, crushed to atoms. Then the people would be free to live +their own lives. + +"I'll enlist!" he cried excitedly. "It is a great duty! It's service +for Christ!" + +The thought staggered him. Where were all his old qualms and +objections? He hated war as much as ever. He still longed for peace +with a consuming passion; and it was because he longed for peace, and +because he was trying to be a Christian, that he felt the call of God! + +This war caste in Germany was like a great cancer growing in the heart +of Europe. Its poisonous roots had found their way into the vitals of +the German Empire, and the thing threatened to destroy the best life of +the world. If the Kaiser and his hosts won in this war, it would keep +the spirit of war more alive than ever. It would mean the destruction +of liberty, it would mean the impossibility of peace; and more, it +would mean that in future every country would be forced to increase its +armaments, to the ruin of the best life of the people, in order to +protect themselves from this evil power. + +German culture! What was it worth in the last analysis? It was a +resort to barbarism and savagery, and brutal arrogance. + +No, no, the poisonous cancer must be cut out. The power of the German +war caste must be destroyed so that the people might live in peace. + +Christianity stood for brotherhood, purity, truth, honour, love, +mercy--it stood for the peace of the world, while this War God of +Germany stood like a great Colossus making all these things impossible. + +Bob felt as though a great burden had fallen from him! His eyes were +opened! His duty was clear! + +The next morning he found his way to a recruiting station which he had +previously noticed. All hesitation had gone. Not a suggestion of his +old qualms occurred to him. He had no more doubt about his duty to +fight in this quarrel than he would have doubted about his duty if a +mad dog were in the district. + +When he arrived at the station, a number of young men had gathered. +Some belonged to the poorest and most uneducated classes; but in the +main they were clerks, assistants in shops, and young tradesmen. A few +of them, Bob judged, were of the professional class. They were in a +group by themselves, and did not seem at home amidst their present +surroundings. They looked curiously towards Bob as he came up, and +seemed to be carefully summing him up. + +Bob nodded in a friendly way. + +"Joining?" asked one. + +"Yes," replied Bob. + +"Had any previous training?" + +"O.T.C." + +"While you were at school?" + +"Yes." + +"Which?" + +"Clifton." + +"Good! I know some of the chaps there. I was at Marlborough. We used +to play cricket and football with Clifton. What years were you there?" + +Bob was about to reply, when a motor-car drove up, and a tall, +military-looking man got out. + +He looked around him, and then seemed to be about to pass into the +building when his eyes rested on Bob. He immediately came towards him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +"That you, Nancarrow?" + +"Yes, Captain Pringle," replied Bob, whom by this time he had +recognised. + +"What are you doing here?" asked Captain Pringle, with a smile. + +"I want to enlist, sir." + +The Captain lifted his eyebrows; perhaps he remembered their last +conversation together. + +"Will you come this way," he said; "I should like a chat with you." + +Bob followed the Captain, while the other fellows looked envyingly +towards him. + +Captain Pringle led the way to a small room which he evidently used as +an office. To all appearance he was in authority at the station. + +"I'm rather surprised to see you here, Nancarrow," he said, when he had +taken his seat behind a business-looking desk, and pointed Bob to a +chair. + +"I'm rather surprised myself, sir." + +"What have you been doing since I saw you last?" + +Bob told him. + +"And now you want to enlist?" + +"If I can, sir." + +"What as?" + +"Anything, sir. For the front, if it is possible. I want to be at it." + +The Captain smiled at Bob's eagerness. + +"But, my dear chap," he said, "this is surely a big change for you. If +I remember aright, you joined the O.T.C. only to please your mother, +and you hated soldiering and all its doings as you hated the devil." + +"I expect I do still, sir; but--but I am afraid it would take too long +to explain why--why I feel I must go to the front. I've had a bad time +in one way and another. You see, my father was a Quaker, and I was +brought up to believe in his teachings. I do still, for that matter. +War is hell, there's no doubt about that. But I've gone through the +whole business, and now I want to be at it. I don't want to stay in +England five minutes longer than I can help. I must get to the +firing-line. I feel like a man who wants to kill a mad dog." + +"Commissions aren't so easily obtained." + +"I'm not troubling about a commission, sir. We can't be all officers, +and I feel that all I ever learnt about soldiering would come back to +me in a week. If I can help it, I don't want to be idling around in a +barracks, or in camp; I just want to go to France as soon as ever I +can. I'll do anything, be anything; I don't care what, so long as I +can get into action." + +"That's the spirit," replied Captain Pringle; "and I can't tell you how +glad I am to see you here. Of course I remember you when you were in +the O.T.C. You did jolly well--distinguished yourself, in fact. You +remember what I said to you." + +"Yes, sir, I remember very well." + +The Captain was silent for a few seconds. He seemed to be thinking +deeply, as if he were uncertain what to say. + +"Naturally you know that even although you took a kind of double first +in the O.T.C., in the ordinary course of things you would have to have +further training before you could go into active service as a private." + +"That's what's bothering me, sir. I did think of joining one of the +Public School or University Corps, but from what I can find out, they +are kept down at Epsom or some such place. I suppose they are having a +great time, and all that sort of thing; but, don't you see, that's not +what I want! I mean business, Captain Pringle." + +The Captain started from his chair, and took two or three turns up and +down the room. + +"You are really anxious for active service?" he said presently. + +"I am. I feel that I've waited too long, and I want to make up for +lost time. It's several weeks now since the war commenced, and +although, heaven knows, I thought I was doing the right thing, I feel +now as though I have been playing the sneak and the coward. Other +chaps have been fighting while I have been sitting in an arm-chair +theorising on the ethics of the business. Now, however, I see my duty, +and my way is clear. But I want to make up for lost time. I want to +be in the thick of it. Of course, if I can't, I can't, and, as I said, +I'm willing and anxious to do whatever I am told. But I _do_ want to +go to the front; I don't care in what capacity, but somewhere where I +can help to kill this Mad Mullah who is threatening the best life of +Europe." + +"You want to help to smash Germany?" laughed the Captain. + +"Yes, that's it!" + +"But why?" asked the Captain curiously. + +"Because Germany, that is, official Germany, the Germany that holds in +thraldom millions of people, is the spirit of war. It worships the God +of War, and I want to go to war in order to kill war. You can't argue +with it, you can't appeal to it, because what is right to you is simple +madness to them. There's nothing for it but to crush it, destroy it +root and branch." + +"But what about your religious views?" laughed the Captain. "Don't you +still believe in prayer and in that kind of thing?" + +"It's because I _do_ believe in it that I've been led to think as I do +think. But it would be mocking the Almighty to pray to be kept from +starvation when you refused to work; blasphemy to pray for good health +while your drains are foul; madness to pray that no robbers might enter +your house, when you left your doors unlocked, knowing that all the +time fellows were waiting to come in and rob you. Just the same it +would be mockery to pray that Germany may be kept from going to war, +when she believes that Christ encourages it, that it is her duty to +force war, and as a consequence has been for twenty years preparing for +it, and waiting for a favourable opportunity to begin her hellish work, +without doing all one can. We've got to crush, to kill this War God of +theirs, and make war impossible for the future. Forgive me, sir, for +talking like this; I didn't mean to. I've been a long time in getting +to this point, but now it has become a kind of passion with me, because +I feel it to be the Call of God." + +"By gad, Nancarrow, but you've touched the spot this time, and you've +put it well too! I'm not much at religion, I'm afraid, and I've had no +scruples. I'm an Englishman, and an Englishman must stand by his +promises, and help the weak. That's enough for me. All the same, I've +thought, as I suppose every one else has, how any war can be squared +with Christianity. But as you've put it--yes, I see--you mean that out +of love for the German people themselves, this War God, as you call it, +must be thrown down and crushed to powder!" + +"Yes, that's it." + +"Yes, and then there is another question--but no, I'll not go into that +now. As you said, you mean business, and I've spent a good quarter of +an hour, or more, talking. But still, old times are old times, after +all, and we were friends in the old days. But to business now. I'm as +keen as you are that you shall get into the thick of it. As a matter +of fact, I expect to go to the front myself in a week, and I want to do +what I can for you. You are willing to do anything, you say?" + +"Anything." + +"Look here, can you ride--well, I mean? No modesty, now. Speak +plainly." + +"I can ride anything, sir. I can stick on a horse galloping, with my +face to its tail." + +"Good! Know anything about motoring?" + +"I've had a car for years, and always driven it myself. I do my own +repairing, and I know every inch of it, inside and out." + +"Good again! Know anything about motorbikes?" + +"Ridden one for years. After the last Easter Vac., I went from +Cornwall to Oxford on an old Humber. When I got there, I took it all +to pieces, repaired some of the parts, and turned it into a good +machine. Excuse me for talking so much about myself. I wouldn't have +done it, had you not asked me. Besides, I'm anxious to show you that +I'm not helpless." + +"Helpless, by George! You are a useful man. You ride like a Centaur, +and you know all about motor-cars and motor-bikes. In addition to all +this, you did jolly well in the O.T.C. Yes, you certainly must be made +use of." + +Again Captain Pringle was silent for a few seconds. + +"You've got your licence and all that sort of thing for motoring?" + +"Certainly, sir." + +"Ever been to France?" + +"Often, sir; also Germany." + +"Know the lingo?" + +"Passably." + +"That is, you can understand what a Frenchman or a German says?" + +"Everything, sir." + +"Good! I'll speak to my Colonel right away. But let's strike while +the iron is hot. You came here to enlist as a private, you say. In +that case let's get through the medical business at once." + +"I'm all right, sir." + +"That must be proved. You are big enough, Heaven knows! Six feet +high, aren't you?" + +"Just a trifle above that." + +"And forty inches around the chest, I should think. Come this way." + +A few minutes later Bob had been overhauled by a doctor. + +"Sound as a bell," was the doctor's verdict. + +Next he had to submit himself to an oculist, who tested Bob's eyes. + +"All right?" asked Captain Pringle, who was present during the +examination, and told the doctors that Bob was an old friend of his. + +"Should be a good shot," replied the oculist. "He's all right." + +"Good!" said Captain. "How are your teeth, Nancarrow?" + +Bob opened his mouth with a laugh. He was in high spirits. + +"They look all right," said Captain Pringle; "but you must be properly +examined. A week or two ago hundreds of fellows were taken on without +any real examination at all. Only yesterday, when I was down at S----, +I was talking with a doctor there, and he told me that a fellow had +actually been passed who had a weak spine, and wore instruments to +support his back. Of course he was sent home at once, but it shows +how, under the new conditions, things were conducted in a loose +fashion. However, that's all over now. We are taking only sound men. +Here you are." + +Bob was quickly dismissed by the dentist, and pronounced "all right." + +"I suppose you are ready at once?" asked Pringle. + +"Give me a couple of hours to settle up about my chambers, and a few +things like that, and I shall be ready, sir." + +"Right. Of course there are the papers to sign and all that kind of +thing, but that's nothing. Be here at three o'clock this afternoon." + +"Very good, _mon capitaine_," and Bob saluted military fashion, while +the other laughed. + +"I don't know quite what to do with you yet, Nancarrow," said Pringle. +"You see, you are too good a man for a private--beside, you want to go +straight to the front. Naturally, too, at such times as these we can't +do everything by cast-iron rule. Exceptional cases demand exceptional +treatment. I can't say any more than that until I see my Colonel. You +will go with me to see him this evening. As you will see, I'm not +treating you quite like an ordinary recruit." + +"I should think not, sir. I did not expect such favours." + +When Bob got back to his chambers, he wrote to his mother. + +"I expect this letter will come as a great surprise to you, mother," he +wrote. "This morning I enlisted! Of course you are rubbing your eyes +by this time, especially when you remember how I regard war. I haven't +altered my opinions in the slightest about its horror, and all that. +In fact, that's why I _have_ enlisted. I'm not going to enter into any +explanations of my change of belief and conduct. I'm only going to sy +that I believe it is my Christian duty to fight as long as God gives me +health against this War God which Germany has set up. I'm not sorry I +have gone through what I have gone through, even although I've lost +nearly everything I treasure most, and have lived in hell for weeks. +If I had enlisted when you wanted me to, I should have been no good. I +should have been feeling all the time that I was not doing right. I +should have been like a paralysed man trying to walk. Now everything +is different. I am eager to be in the thick of it. I am just longing +to be at those Germans. Not that I have anything against the German +people, but I want to help to kill the system that has gripped them +body and soul. It seems that nothing but war will cut out this +poisonous cancer of militarism, and it is the call of God to cut it out. + +"That's why I've pleaded to be sent to the front right away. I met +Captain Pringle this morning (you remember him), and he's going to do +his best for me. He's off to the firing line in about a week's time, +and I'm in hopes that I shall be able to go with him. In what capacity +I don't know as yet; possibly only as a private, but I don't mind that. +We can't all be officers, and I'm eager, anxious to be _anything_ +whereby I can help the cause. It is possible, therefore, that in a +week or two's time I shall be out of England, on my way to, if not in +the very midst of action. + +"Please don't talk about this. God knows it's too serious to be talked +about. Fancy a doctor going to perform an operation which may kill not +only the patient but himself, and you have a hint of my feelings at +this moment. Let the people think what they will of me--I'm beyond all +that now. I'll write you in a day or two telling you exactly what has +taken place." + +When Bob arrived at S---- that afternoon, Captain Pringle went straight +to Colonel Sapsworth. In a few minutes the Colonel knew the main +outlines of Bob's career. + +"I should have advised him to join one of the Public School Corps," +said the Captain, "but in that case he would have been months before he +could have gone into active service. You see he's as keen as mustard +to be at the front, and remembering my last conversation with you, I +thought I'd bring him down. We shall be sadly in need of men of his +stamp. He will provide his own motor-bike, which he knows inside and +out; he speaks French and German almost like a native, he's as plucky +as they make 'em, he's eager to get to work; in addition to which he +was the best lad we had in the O.T.C. with which I was connected." + +"Does he want a commission?" asked the Colonel. + +"Yes, I should think so--naturally. You see he's been well brought up, +and is well off. On his mother's side he belongs to one of the best +families in the West of England, and--and--well, Tommies are having to +rough it just now." + +"And none the worse for it," snapped the Colonel. + +"Exactly; and he's quite prepared to enlist as a private. I was only +answering your question." + +"Just so: let's see him." + +A few minutes later Bob was undergoing a severe cross-examination by +the Colonel, who had the reputation of being somewhat eccentric in his +methods. Bob, who of course knew that he was being subjected to +special treatment, did not know whether the old officer was pleased +with him or not. He only knew that he was asked keen, searching +questions in a brusque, military fashion, and that he was finally +dismissed without knowing what was to become of him. + +For some time after this Bob knew what it meant to be a Tommy; he soon +found out, moreover, that his experiences in the O.T.C. did not prepare +him for those he was now undergoing. Each morning he was up at +half-past five, and then for several hours a day he was submitted to +the severest drilling. He quite understood the necessity for men being +physically fit before being drafted into the army at war time. When he +lay down at night in the company of men whom in ordinary times he would +never think of associating with, he was so tired that he forgot the +uncomfortable surroundings and uncongenial society. Never in his life +had he slept as he slept now. Never did he imagine he would have to +put up with such privations. + +In one sense he found that, as far as the privates went, the army was a +great democracy. One man was as good as another. The sons of +well-to-do families rubbed shoulders with colliers and farm labourers. +Tommy was Tommy, whether he was "Duke's Son" or "Cook's Son." And yet, +in another sense, education and social status were recognised. He +found that in spite of themselves, and in spite of the fact that all +distinctions were technically sunk between them, those who came from +labourers' cottages found themselves almost instinctively paying +deference to the men who did not belong to their class. + +There were some half a dozen men in Bob's company who had come from +good homes, and while general comradeship existed, these men naturally +drifted together. + +One of the great hardships to Bob was the food. The rancid butter, the +coarse bread, the almost uneatable bacon, the tough meat, tried him +sorely. At first he could scarcely swallow it. He got used to it at +length, however, and found that he was none the worse for it. He also +longed for the luxury of a private bath. Oh! just for half an hour in +the porcelain bath in his mother's house! Just to have the exquisite +pleasure of feeling the sting of cold pure water around his body! + +But things were not to be. As he laughed to himself, "I am a full +private, and I must take my chance like the rest of them!" +Nevertheless, to a lad reared amidst all the refinements of a good home +the change was so great that had he not felt it a bounden duty to be +where he was, he would have felt like running away. Still he was not +there for fun, neither had he anticipated an easy time. Sometimes, it +is true, he was more than disgusted by what he saw. Many of the men +did not seem to understand the ordinary decencies of life, and acted in +such a fashion as to grate sorely upon his sensitive nature. Their +language was often unprintable, while their ideas of life and conduct +often made him sick. + +How could such fellows as these fight for honour and truth? Some of +them seemed to have no sense of honour or decency. He saw presently, +however, that even these, who were not by any means representative of +the whole, had far higher standards than he had at first thought. They +were coarse, and some times brutal, but they were kind to their pals, +and would put themselves to any trouble to do another chap a good turn. + +One night it was very cold, although it had been very warm during the +day. They had all been drilling hard, and were dog-tired. One of the +men was evidently very seedy. He complained of a sick headache, and he +was shivering with the cold. + +"Bit off colour, mite?" said one. + +"Jist orful, Bill. Gawd, I wish I was 'ome. The graand is so ---- +hard too, and I'm as sore as if some one had been a-beatin' me with a +big stick." + +"Ere mitey, you just 'ave my blanket. I don't want it. And let me +mike my old overcoat into a bit of a pillow for yer." + +"You are bloomin' kind, Bill, and I don't like----" + +"Oh, stow it, it's nothink. Anything you'd like, mitey?" + +"No, that is----" + +"Come, out with it you ----. Wot is it? Shall I fetch the doctor?" + +"Ee ain't no use! besides, you'd get into a ---- row if you went to him +now. When I wos 'ome and like this my mother used to go to a chemist +and git me some sweet spirits of nitre, and it always made me as right +as a trivet. But there ain't no such ---- luck 'ere." + +"Wot yer call it? Sweet spirits o' mitre? Never 'eerd on it afore. +'Ow do you tike it?" + +"Oh, you just puts it in 'ot water; but there, I can't 'ave it. Good +night, Bill, and thank you for the blanket." + +Bill, without a word, tired as he was, left the tent, and half an hour +afterwards returned with the medicine. + +"Gawd, Bill," said the sick man, "but you ain't a ----" + +"Not so much chin music. There, tike it, and go to sleep." + +Such little acts of kindness as these were constantly taking place, and +they were by no means confined to men who belonged to the better-class +but were more frequently seen among the roughest and coarsest. + +Bob found out, too, that there was a rough sense of honour among them. +Some of them seemed to revel in filthy language, but if a man did a +mean thing, or didn't play the game according to their standard, he was +in for a bad time. Indeed, he soon found out that, in a certain sense, +the same code of honour which prevailed at Clifton, with exceptions, +operated in this newly-formed camp. + +Day after day and week after week passed, and still Bob knew nothing of +what was to happen to him. He had enlisted as a private, but on +Captain Pringle's advice had put down his name for a commission. From +the first day, however, he had heard nothing more of it. From early +morning till late in the day it was nothing but hard, tiring work. + +It was all wonderfully strange to him, this intermingling with a mixed +humanity, working like a slave for that which he had hitherto hated, +and which he still hated. Still, he threw his whole heart into it, and +he could not help knowing that he was progressing rapidly. After the +first few days his tiredness and soreness passed away, and he could go +through the most arduous duties without feeling tired. There was +something in it all, too, which inspired him. The military precision +of everything appealed to him, and the shouts, and laughter of hundreds +of voices made life gay in spite of everything. As the days passed by, +moreover, he could not help seeing that the association with +clean-minded, healthy-bodied, educated men, was having a good effect +upon the coarse-fibred portion of the strange community. They did not +indulge so frequently in coarse language, neither was their general +conduct so objectionable. It seemed as though they had something to +live up to. + +"Shut up, mate, and don't be a beast," Bob heard one man say to another +one day. + +"You are mighty squeamish, you son of a swine," was the rejoinder; "wot +are you so partic'ler about?" + +"'Cos I don't want to tell them 'ere fellers that we're a low lot." + +"We're as good as they are, thet's wot we are. We're just all equals +'ere. They are Tommies just as we are. That's wot _I_ ses." + +"We may be all equals as soldiers; but we cawn't git away from it, +Bill, some of 'em are gentlemen. Thet's wot they are. Some of 'em +just make me ashamed of myself sometimes. No, I ain't a puttin' on no +side; but I just want to let 'em see that we workin' chaps can behave +as well as they can. Thet's all. See?" + +Meanwhile, good news came from the front. The Allies had driven the +Germans back over the Marne, and were making progress all along the +line. + +The men cheered wildly as they heard the news. + +"They'll git licked afore we get a smack at 'em," some ventured. + +But in the main they knew better. They realised that the war was going +to be long and bloody, and although going to the front possibly meant +their death, there were very few who did not want to get there. + +No one felt this more than Bob. He had now been three weeks in camp, +and it seemed to him possible that it might be months before his time +for action came. Of Captain Pringle he had heard nothing since he +enlisted, and he was afraid he had gone to the front without having +been able to do anything for him. + +One evening he was sitting outside his tent, smoking his pipe. It had +been a hot, sweltering day, although the summer was now over. Around +him, as far as he could see, was a sea of bell-shaped tents. +Everywhere was a great seething mass of men in khaki. Horses of all +sorts abounded. Many of the men were bandying jokes one with another, +others were at the canteen, while many more had gone to the nearest +town. Bob himself had earlier in the day gone to the town to indulge +in a "good square well-cooked meal," as he called it; and now, early as +it was, although he little relished the thought of sleeping so-many in +a tent, he was just thinking of going to bed. Near him a number of +soldiers were singing gaily. + +"Nancarrow!" + +Bob turned his head, and saw a fellow soldier beckoning. + +"What's up?" + +"You are wanted." + +"Where?" + +"Officers' quarters." + +As Bob obeyed the summons, he caught the song in which a great mass of +men had joined. + + "It's a long way to Tipperary, + It's a long way to go; + It's a long way to Tipperary, + To the sweetest girl I know. + Good-bye, Piccadilly; + Farewell, Leicester Square. + It's a long, long way to Tipperary. + But my heart's right there." + + +As he reached the officers' quarters, he was surprised to see Captain +Pringle. + +"I've news for you, Nancarrow." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"You've got your commission." + +"That's great. Thank you. I'm sure I owe it to you." + +"Nonsense. Come this way. You've to go to Colonel Sapsworth. But +that's not all. You start for the front almost immediately." + +For a moment Bob could not speak. It was not fear that overwhelmed +him, it was something more terrible. Every nerve in his body quivered, +while his heart beat wildly. + +"It's what you wanted, isn't it?" + +"Yes, Captain. By Jove, that's great!" + +And that was all Bob could say. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +"I was afraid--that is, I thought you might be at the front," Bob +stammered at length. "You told me, the day I enlisted, that you +expected to go in a week." + +"Yes, I know, but fresh orders came from headquarters. However, it +can't be long now, thank Heaven! You were surprised at not seeing or +hearing from me, I expect." + +"I was a bit." + +"Yes--well, that was by order." + +Bob looked up inquiringly. + +"You don't know Colonel Sapsworth," went on Captain Pringle. "He's +what some of us call a holy terror. A fine officer, but has methods of +his own. He's jolly good to us all, but he's determined to have no +mugs about him. When I first brought you to him, I thought he didn't +like you, but I found I was mistaken. All the same, he wanted to see +the stuff you were made of. The truth is, he hasn't much of an opinion +of O.T.C. men. He says that a lot of whipper-snappers from the public +schools pass their exams, in the O.T.C., who are no more fit for +officers than girls from a boarding-school. So, seeing you were +willing to enlist as a private, he took you at your word. In fact, if +Sapsworth had his way, he would have every officer in the Army rise +from the ranks. No man, he maintains, can be a good officer unless he +knows what it is to be a private. That was why you were sent here. He +gave special instructions about you, however, and told the drill +sergeant to keep his eye on you. He wanted to see what sort of stuff +you were made of." + +"I satisfied him, I hope?" + +"You've got your Lieutenancy. That's the answer. Here we are." + +Bob felt very uncomfortable during the next half-hour. As Pringle +said, the Colonel was not a man who would stand any nonsense. He gave +Bob some wholesome advice in no honeyed terms; he asked him many +searching questions, after which he shook hands with him, and wished +him good luck. + +If Bob had worked hard as a private, he worked still harder as an +officer. The work was, of course, different, yet it was essentially +the same. Every day he expected orders to go to the front, but day +followed day without the order being given. Meanwhile it seemed as +though he were doing three days' work in one. + +Of course the circumstances were somewhat more pleasant than they had +been, the society was more congenial, and, instead of sleeping twelve +in a tent, there were only two. Still the life was rough and hard. + +"I wonder when we shall be off!" thought Bob, after what seemed to him +an interminable number of days. "Pringle said we were to start +immediately, and yet we are still hanging around here." + +At length the orders arrived, and one night Bob found himself in a +closely packed train bound for the South Coast. He wondered at what he +called his good fortune in being allowed to start so soon, but +reflected that he owed it to Captain Pringle's good offices and to what +were called the Colonel's eccentricities. He rejoiced now, although he +had been very reluctant at the time, that he had joined the O.T.C. +This, of course, had made it possible for him to get to the front so +soon. + +Eager as he was to be in action, he could not help being saddened as he +watched the men making their way to the trains. Splendid young fellows +most of them were. The cream of England's manhood. They were almost +without exception ruddy with health, and as hard as nails: straight, +muscular men, who laughed at hardships, and who seemed to look at the +whole business as a joke. They might have been going to a picnic, so +merry were they. And yet, as Bob looked more closely, it was easy to +see by the compressed lips, and the steely looks in their eyes, that +they realised what they were doing. + + "Good-bye, Piccadilly, + Farewell Leicester Square, + It's a long, long way to Tipperary, + But my heart's right there." + + +They sang, and perhaps as they sang they pictured the homes to which +they would never again return; they saw, as in a vision, the girls to +whom they had said "Good-bye," perhaps for ever. + +In a few days, perhaps, many of those light-hearted boys would be lying +in the trenches, or in some ditch, stark and dead, or in some hospital +maimed and crippled for life. + +Yes, war was a ghastly, hellish business, and it should never be +possible in Christian countries. This war, Bob felt, was one of the +greatest crimes ever known, and all through which he had been passing +ought only to be able to exist in troublous dreams. + +Still he had no doubts about his duty. England's hands were clean, and +England's path was clearly marked out. We were not fighting for gain +or territory. With us it was a war of sacrifice, a war of duty. We +were going in order to keep our word with a small state, to crush +tyranny and slavery. But more, we were going to overthrow the war +devil which the Germans had set up as a god. That was the thought that +stirred Bob's heart and hardened his muscles. It was a war against +war; he was really taking his part in a great mission on behalf of +peace. Yes, it must be a fight to the finish. The sword must never be +sheathed until this military god, which had turned all Europe into an +armed camp, and which had made Germany a menace to the world, should +never be able to lift its ghastly head again. + +"I say, Nancarrow, you look mighty grim." + +"I'm in for grim work, Pringle." + +"By gad, yes. How many of these chaps will be singing 'It's a long way +to Tipperary' in a month from now? How many aching hearts are there +because of this business? Yes, Nancarrow, you were right, war was born +in hell, but we must see it through." + +When they landed on French soil, they were received with great +jubilation. + +"_Vive les anglais!_" was the cry on every hand. Old men with tears in +their eyes welcomed them; old women vied with each other in showering +blessings upon them; young girls followed them with shouts of laughter, +yet with sobs in their laughter, and wished them every blessing. + +"Yes, monsieur," cried an old dame to Bob, as he entered a fruit-shop, +"take what you will. You English are our friends, our saviours. We +French did not want to fight, but the Germans forced us. And then, +voila! You came forward like the friends you are, and you say, 'Down +with the German eagle. France shall have fair play.' No, no, I will +take no payment. Take what you will." + +"But you are, perhaps, poor, madame!" urged Bob. "This war has made it +hard for you." + +"Hard! Ah, you say the truth. We have a garden near by. My husband +and sons worked in it--now they are all gone. My husband and four sons +went, but two of my sons are dead--killed." + +"Perhaps they are only taken prisoners." + +"And is not that death? What is life in a German prison but death? +But, never mind, I have my husband and two sons still alive--but no, I +will not take your money. Perhaps you have a mother, young monsieur?" + +"Yes," replied Bob, and the picture of his mother sitting alone in the +old home at St. Ia flashed before his eyes. + +"Ah, yes, I see," said the old woman. "I see. But perhaps you have +brothers, sisters?" + +"No, I am her only son." + +"And she grieves to part with you?" + +"Yes, but she wanted me to go. She was angry with me for keeping back +so long." + +"Ah, that is the true woman. She hates the Germans?" + +"No, we have friends there. But she wanted me to be here for duty's +sake, and for England's honour." + +"Ah, yes--England's honour. You promised Belgium, didn't you? And +then there is the _Entente Cordiale_. _Vive l'Entente Cordiale_, +monsieur! Ah, must you go? There is nothing else you will take?" + +"Nothing, madame. Good-bye. God be with you." + +"If you meet my husband, Alphonse Renaud is his name, or my two sons, +Jean and Albert, you will tell them you saw me, spoke to me." + +"But certainly, madame." + +"And when the war is over, and if you return this way, you will call +and see me, won't you? Adieu, monsieur, and the good God be with you." + +Bob felt all the better for the old woman's simple talk. She was only +a commonplace old dame, but a kindly heart beat in her bosom. After +all, this war, ghastly as it was, was bringing a thousand noble +qualities to light, and it was certainly bringing the French and the +English more closely together. There was a bond of sympathy, of +brotherhood, existing, which was never felt before. + +When they left the town, they were followed by shouts of thanks and +good fellowship. Laughter and merry words were heard too. France was +being baptized with molten iron and blood, but she was still light of +heart. She was still true to her characteristics. + +"Here, Nancarrow," said Captain Pringle, as they watched the men board +a train. "You can talk this blessed lingo like a native. I can't get +my tongue around the words, and they talk so fast that I can't +understand them. Here's an old chap wants to say something," and he +turned towards an old military-looking man, who saluted Bob, and then +bowed profoundly. + +"Monsieur," said the old man, "I only wanted to bid you God speed. +Yes, yes, you English have saved us. But for you they, the German +pigs, bah! would have been in Paris before now. They would have +repeated 1870. I was in that _debacle_, monsieur, and I know what I +felt. If we had been willing to violate our treaty and had fallen back +on Belgian territory, we might have saved ourselves. But no, a treaty +was a treaty, and our word was given. Death rather than dishonour, +monsieur! But they haven't had another Sedan this time. And why? It +was because you English turned the scales. Ah, but you English can +fight, and you are good comrades. Monsieur, I salute you! We shall +win, _mon capitaine_." + +"We'll give them a run for their money, anyhow," said Bob, dropping +into colloquial French. + +"Good, monsieur; that's it. And you are doing it for honour's sake. +We lost in 1870, because we would not violate what those German pigs +called a 'scrap of paper,' and now you are going to save us for the +same thing. All for 'a scrap of paper.' They do not know what honour +is! They cannot understand. But we shall win. We are driving them +back. They are nearly at Mezieres now. They will soon be over the +border. And then!" + +"And then---- Yes, then we shall see what we shall see. But thank you +for your good wishes, monsieur." + +Train after train moved slowly out, while old women waved their +handkerchiefs and young girls threw kisses, and all poured out their +blessings. The thing that seemed to impress them was that England, who +had nothing to gain, and who needed not have taken any part in the war, +was throwing all her great weight on their side for the sake of the +_Entente Cordiale_, and for the sake of our honour. + +A few hours later Bob found himself in Paris. Several of the trains +had gone by another route, but both Bob and Captain Pringle, with many +others, were ordered to Paris. Here they stayed one day, and then went +on to the front. + +Although he had often heard how the British soldier was loved in Paris, +Bob had no conception of the truth until he got there. The attention +which he and Captain Pringle received was embarrassing. Wherever they +went they were watched and followed, while remarks of the most +complimentary nature were made about them. Even in the restaurant +where they went for dinner a number of Frenchmen entered with them, and +insisted on paying for their repast. + +"No, no, messieurs," they exclaimed, when Bob protested; "but you are +our guests. You come as our friends, you come to help us to fight our +battles. Your visit must cost you nothing. _Vive l'Angleterre!_" + +Both men and women vied with each other in courteous acts. They +insisted on shaking hands again and again, they plied them with +cigarettes, while Bob was very much confused by two elderly dames, both +of whom insisted on kissing him on both cheeks. + +"What would you?" they cried. "We are each old enough to be your +mother. Besides--ah, the good God knows what is in our hearts; have we +not sons fifty miles away, fighting for France? We shall win, +monsieur! Do you not think so? With such gallant men as you to help +us we cannot fail. The Germans are pigs, devils; but we have driven +them back, back! Soon they will be out of France." + +In the streets it was sometimes difficult for them to get along. On +every hand people came up and insisted on shaking hands. But few of +them could speak English, and they imagined that Bob was just as +ignorant of French. + +Again and again they received slaps on the back, while cries of "Good +old Sport!" reached them. + +Indeed, this was the popular form of salutation. It was nearly all the +English many of them knew, and appearing to believe that this was the +British form of salutation, they indulged in it freely. + +At length their duties in Paris were at an end, and then Bob, with a +strange feeling at heart, mounted a train which was to take him to +within a short distance of the line of battle. + +They had not long left the French capital, before Bob realised that he +was passing through country which not long before had been the scene of +carnage. The train passed slowly along, and was often held up owing to +the terrible exigencies of war. + +"Do you see that, Nancarrow?" said Pringle, pointing to a field in +which wheat had been planted, but which had never been garnered. +Indeed it would be impossible to garner it. It had been trampled under +foot by tens of thousands of hurrying feet. + +Here and there they saw trenches that had been hastily dug, and then +discarded when they were no longer of use. Repeatedly they saw the +ruins of villages, some of which had been wantonly, barbarously +destroyed by the invading foe. + +It was a warm day, windless and clear, and as the train stopped at +roadside stations or drew up at sidings, they could not help being +impressed by the peace which seemed to reign. The birds still sang on +the tree branches, cattle still lowed in the fields, and peasants still +worked on their little farms. + +"If one closed one's eyes, it would seem as though war were +impossible," said Bob. + +"Yes, but you'd be quickly undeceived when you opened them," replied +Pringle. "Look at those trees!" and he pointed to a small wood, where +charred trunks of trees, splintered branches, and blackened leaves told +their story. + +"I expect some of our men were there, or the Germans thought they +were," said Pringle, "and so they----" and he shrugged his shoulders +significantly. + +"Perhaps some poor beggars may be lying wounded around there even yet," +suggested Bob. + +"I don't think so. As far as I can learn, the whole line has been +carefully searched, and every man that could be saved has been. But, +by God, the thought of it is awful!" + +"Yes, no one knows what may have happened in a firing-line hundreds of +miles long. It must have been hell." + +What struck them forcibly, however, was the cheerfulness of the +peasantry. At the little roadside stations the people crowded around +the trains and cheered the soldiers. + +"Yes, monsieur," said one old farmer, "my little house was +destroyed--burnt to the ground. I had lived there ever since I was +married, and all my children were born there. Two of them, _grace a +Dieu_, are at the front now. Where do we live? Ah, monsieur, they +spared a barn, and we are there now. It's not so bad as it might be, +and we are cheerful." + +"And your harvest?" asked Bob. + +"Ah, that was saved. It was in the fields in small stacks, and not yet +brought to the yard. Had it been, it would have been burnt with the +house. The turnips and the mangolds are still in the field, badly +trampled, but not destroyed. Oh yes, it might have been worse, much +worse--with us. Thank God, we had no daughter at the house." + +"Why do you thank God for that?" + +"Need you ask, monsieur? Those Germans are devils, devils! Ah, here +is Jules Viney; let him tell you what he has had to suffer." + +And then an elderly man told a story which I will not here set down. +It was too horrible, too heart-rending. Bob's heart sickened as he +heard it, and he found his teeth becoming set as he vowed to fight long +as God gave him breath. + +"She was but little more than a child, either," cried the man, who was +trembling with passion, "and had only a year or two ago made her First +Communion. As fair and as pure a child as ever God made. But, thank +God, she is dead!" + +"Dead?" + +"Dead, yes! How could she live after those devils from the deepest +hell---- But she took her own life, and she is with the saints." + +"And this is the fruits of the German culture, when it is overruled by +the War God," thought Bob. "Great God, I did not believe that these +stories could be true!" + +About two o'clock the train stopped at a siding, where an official told +them they must remain for at least an hour. + +"Things have been terrible here," said the man; "a terrible battle was +fought all around," and he waved his arms significantly. + +"Let's get out," said Bob. "I see some trenches over yonder. I +remember reading about an engagement here." + +A few minutes later they were face to face with evidences of battle. +The whole country-side was devastated. Everything had been swept away +by the hordes who breathed out death. Sickening _debris_ was seen on +every hand. Swarms of flies and insects had fastened upon heaps of +filthy garbage. Nothing was seen of comfortable homesteads but +charred, smoke-begrimed walls. Exploded shells lay around. Great +excavations, the work of huge bombs, were seen on every hand. All +around, too, they could see the carcases of horses, killed in battle, +the bones of which were beginning to appear. The smells were horrible. + +"Let's get away from this!" said Pringle; "it's worse than any hell I +ever dreamed of." + +But Bob refused to move. He seemed to be fascinated by what he saw. +He loathed the sickening sights which met his gaze, but he could not +tear himself away. + +"See the hundreds of little mounds!" he cried. "They will be the +graves of the fellows who fell here. Don't you remember what we read +in the papers? When the Germans retreated, a number of men were left +behind to dig little graves, and throw the dead into them." + +"Come away, I tell you!" shouted Pringle. + +"This is the beginning of war's aftermath, only the beginning--but, +great God, think of it! What is that?" + +"What?" + +"Surely that's some one alive over there! Don't you see? In the ditch +yonder." + +As if by a magnet the two men were drawn to the spot to which Bob had +pointed. + +"It's a man, anyhow," said Pringle. + +"No, there are two." + +"They are alive." + +"No, they are dead." + +A few seconds later they reached the spot, and saw what they will never +forget, if they live twice the years allotted to man. + +In a dry ditch, locked in each other's embrace, were two dead soldiers, +one a Frenchman, the other a German. Both had evidently been wounded, +but they had engaged in a death struggle. They had fought to the +deaths without either conquering the other, and they had died in each +other's arms. + +There was no look of fury or hatred in the face of either. The hand of +death had smoothed away all traces of this. Nevertheless, it had been +a duel to the death. + +They were little more than boys, perhaps about twenty-four, and both +were privates. Their faces proclaimed their nationalities even more +plainly than their uniforms. + +"I expect they had never seen each other before," said Bob, like one +thinking aloud; "they bore no enmity towards each other." + +"Except that one was French and the other German," said Pringle. "That +was enough for them. Somehow they found themselves together, and +fought it out. I expect it was at night time. By God, it's ghastly, +isn't it? And this is war!" + +"No, it's only the shadow of it, the aftermath. There are no groans +here, no suffering. It's peace, but it's the peace of horrible, +unnatural death. We shall see real war presently." + +"Come, let's get away. It's sickening." + +"The Prime Minister was right. It's hell let loose. All the same, I'm +aching to be at it. I never hated it as I hated it now. God helping +us, this shall be Europe's last war." + +They slowly returned towards the railway siding when in the distance +they saw the train standing still. + +"Look," said Pringle, "there's been a fire here. It looks as though +they had a meal. Here's an empty wine bottle, and a crust of bread." + +"Yes, and here's a pipe half full of tobacco. It might have been +thrown down in a hurry, as though some chap were having a quiet smoke, +and was suddenly called to duty. Look, it's an English-made pipe. It +must have belonged to one of our men. I wonder where he is now. I'll +take it as a souvenir." + +As they drew near to the siding they heard the soldiers singing lustily: + + "It's a long way to Tipperary." + + +Both of them were strangely silent as the train crawled slowly towards +its destination. Their visit to one little corner of the stricken +field had made them realise the meaning of war as they had never +realised it before. Before the afternoon was over their eyes were +still more widely opened by a passing train to the meaning of the work +that lay before them. + +It was going slowly, more slowly than their own, and Bob saw that it +was full of wounded soldiers. How many there were he could not +estimate, but it seemed to him that there must be hundreds. Some were +laughing and talking cheerfully, while others lay with their eyes +closed. More than one brave fellow held a wounded comrade's head on +his knees. + +It was only a minute, and the train had passed them. One trainload +going to the front full of strong, stalwart men, hale and hearty, +another returning full of the wounded. And this was war! + +And why? + +It was all because a war devil reigned in Germany, which the military +caste worshipped as a kind of Deity. + +Presently the train stopped. They had reached their destination. They +were close to the front. + +"Listen," said some one, and all the men were strangely silent. + +Boom! Boom! Boom! + +It was the great iron-mouthed messengers of death which sent molten +lead into great masses of flesh and blood. It was the voice of the +great guns--the contributions of science to the ghastly crime of war. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Captain Trevanion did not go to the front as soon as he had expected. +That was why, although few people in St. Ia knew anything about it, he +again found himself at Penwennack. As chance would have it, he found +Nancy at home. The Admiral had been called to London on Admiralty +business, and so the girl, who had not yet undertaken the duties for +which she had offered herself, was alone when the Captain arrived. + +"Nancy," said Trevanion, who had been a friend of the family for years, +"forgive me, but I could not help coming. The date of our starting has +been put off for a day or two, so I found myself with a few hours to +spare. You do not seem pleased to see me. Why?" + +"I am sorry you should think so," was Nancy's reply. "But, you see, I +did not expect you. Wouldn't it be--that is--isn't it a sort of +anti-climax to come down here like this, after the great send-off St. +Ia gave you?" + +She laughed nervously as she spoke, and, although a faint flush tinged +her cheeks, it was easy to see that she was far from well. + +"What do I care about climaxes or anti-climaxes?" cried Trevanion. "I +came because I couldn't help it. I knew you hadn't gone abroad, and I +came just on the chance of seeing you. I caught the early train at +Plymouth, and here I am. I must get back to-night." + +"I'm afraid I'm no good at tennis or golf just now," said Nancy, "still +I'll----" + +"Hang tennis and golf!" interrupted Trevanion. "I didn't come all the +way from Plymouth for that. I came because--because--but you know why? +I say," he went on hurriedly, "you know Gossett of the Engineers, don't +you? He goes to-morrow, and--and he was married yesterday. Both he +and--and his wife felt they couldn't wait any longer. I suppose her +people tried to dissuade her from getting married at such a time as +this; but she wouldn't listen to them. 'I'm going to get married +because Jack is going to the front,' was her reply to the croakers. 'I +want him to feel that he has a wife waiting at home for him.' 'But +suppose he should be killed?' said an old dame. 'Then I'd rather be +his widow than his fiancee,' was her reply. Plucky, wasn't it?" + +Nancy did not reply. + +"Hosts of chaps have done the same thing," went on Trevanion hurriedly. +"They had meant to have waited for months, but when the war came on +they determined to marry right away." + +"Are you thinking of getting married?" Nancy was angry with herself +the moment she had spoken, but she was excited beyond measure, and the +words escaped her almost unconsciously. + +"Would to God I could!" cried Trevanion excitedly. "I'd give--heavens, +what wouldn't I give for the chance! I say, Nancy, you know why I've +come down, don't you? You--you didn't give me a chance to speak the +other day, but now I feel as though I can't be silent any longer. You +know how I love you, Nancy--you must know, you must have seen it for +months--and--and--perhaps in a way it's cowardly of me to come to you +like this, when I'm possibly going to my death. But I couldn't help +myself, Nancy. If--if--you could only give me a little hope!" + +Nancy did not reply--indeed, for the moment she was unable to speak. +The last three weeks had tried her sorely. She had as she had thought +decided to link her fate with that of Bob Nancarrow. She had, in spite +of herself, confessed her love for him, and had promised to be his +wife. Then suddenly the heavens had become black. The great war had +broken out, and then when almost every young man she knew had offered +himself for his country, the man she loved had proved a coward, and had +sought to hide his cowardice behind pious platitudes. She blushed with +shame as she thought of it. She hated herself for having loved a man +who was unworthy to call himself an Englishman. And yet she had told +him that she loved him. She had allowed him to hold her in his arms, +while he had rained kisses on her lips. She, the daughter of Admiral +Tresize, she, who bore a name which had ever been honoured among people +who had fought for their country's safety and honour, had promised +herself to a poltroon, a coward! The thought was maddening, and yet +she had not been able to drive her love from her heart. In spite of +his cowardice she still loved him. Even when she sought to insult him +at the recruiting meeting she loved him. She constantly found herself +trying to make excuses for him. But the fact remained. He had held +back in the time of his country's peril, he had refused to listen when +the King had sent out his call! Even when she had given him the white +feather, his manhood had not been aroused. He had stood like a sulky +school-boy, ashamed of his cowardice, but still a coward. + +Yes, all was over between herself and Bob Nancarrow. How could it be +otherwise? She had given him every chance to explain himself, and she +had listened to his reasons for holding back. And such reasons! How +could she, Nancy Tresize, who came from a race of fighters, accept such +paltry excuses? Christianity to her meant the highest code of honour: +it meant faithfulness to promise, it meant honour, it meant truth, it +meant defending the weak--and in all this Bob had failed. + +And yet she loved him. In her heart of hearts she did not believe he +was a coward; as for meanness and dishonour, they were alien to his +nature. + +Of course she knew why Captain Trevanion had come, even before he had +spoken. She had not been blind during the past year, and therefore, +could not mistake the meaning of his attentions. She admired him too. +He was just the kind of man she had always admired. He was the son of +one of the oldest and most honoured families in the land; he was +generous, chivalrous, brave, handsome. What more could she want? How +the people cheered at the recruiting meeting! And what wonder? He had +touched their hearts by his burning words, and he was just off to fight +for his country. + +Every selfish interest, every tradition of her family pleaded for him. +She was fond of him too. She had always liked him as a friend; she had +always admired him as a loyal gentleman and a soldier. Of course, he +was not clever. He was no lover of books, and, compared with Bob, he +was an ignoramus; but what did that matter? He was a brave man--a +gentleman. + +As for Bob, all their former relations were ended. He himself had +closed and bolted the door between them. The choice had been between +her and honour on the one hand, and selfish ease and cowardice on the +other. And Bob had chosen to be a coward. What could she do, +therefore, but drive him from her mind, and crush all affection for +him? Was it not her duty to her father, her family, and to herself to +accept Trevanion? + +"You are not vexed with me, are you?" went on Trevanion, after he had +waited a few seconds. + +"No, not vexed." + +"Then--then, can't you give me a word of hope? I--I don't even ask you +to make a definite promise, although I'd give my eyes if you could; but +if you could tell me that you liked no one better, and that I--I may +speak again--if--if I come back, I could go away with a braver heart. +I should feel all the time as if I were fighting for you. Just say +something to cheer me, won't you, Nancy?" + +"I'm afraid I can't," the girl's voice was hoarse as she spoke. +Evidently his words had moved her greatly. + +"Why? There is no one else, is there?" + +"No, yes, that is----" + +"Some one else! But, Nancy----" + +"No, there is no one else." + +"Then, Nancy, promise me something. Give me an inkling of hope." + +She shook her head. + +"But why?" + +"Because--because it would not be fair to you." + +"Anything would be fair to me if you'd give me some hope." + +"Even if I could only offer you half my heart?" + +"Give me half, and I'd quickly gain the rest," laughed Trevanion. +"Why, why, I should be in heaven if you could say even so much." + +"Do you care so much?" and there was a touch of wistfulness in her +voice. + +"So much! Why, you know. You have been the only thing I've cared +for--for months. Why, you---you are everything to me. I'm not a +clever fellow, I know that--but--but--I can fight, Nancy. And it's all +for you." + +Nancy stood still a few seconds, evidently fighting with herself. She +knew she could not in honour promise even what Trevanion had asked for +without telling him the truth. And this was terribly difficult. She +felt that he had a right to know, and yet it was like sacrilege to tell +him. + +"You see," went on the Captain, "your father----!" + +"Stop!" cried the girl; "before you say any more, I must tell you +something. It's very hard, but I must. I said there was no one else, +but that's not--true." + +"Not true! Then, then----" + +"There was some one else, although it's--all over." + +"But, but who? No, forgive me for asking. I've no right to ask. +Besides, you say--that--that it's a thing of the past." + +"You have a right to ask if--if----" + +"If what? Tell me who--if you think it fair of me to ask." + +"Can't you guess?" + +"There can be no one, except--I say, Nancy, you can't mean Nancarrow?" + +She nodded her head. + +"But, Nancy--that--that----" + +"Don't, please. I loved him--at least I thought I did, and--and we +were engaged. If--if--that is, but for the war, he would have spoken +to father by this time, and--and everything would have been made known. +When--he played the coward, I found out my mistake, and I told him so." + +"Great heavens, yes! It was, of course, only a foolish fancy. A girl +like you could never seriously care for that class of man." + +"I am ashamed of myself when I think of him," and Nancy's voice was +hoarse as she spoke. "In a way I feel contaminated. If there is +anything under heaven that I despise, it's a coward. I want to forget +that I--I ever thought of him. I want to drive him from my mind." + +"And that is what keeps you from promising me anything. But surely you +do not care for him now. Why--why, you couldn't! The fellow who could +show the white feather at such a time as this, and then try and cover +up his cowardice by all that religious humbug, is not of your class, +Nancy. He's a rank outsider. I'm sorry I was ever friends with him. +Your father told me he was mad with himself for ever allowing him +inside the house." + +"That's why I'm so ashamed of----" + +"We'll drive him from our minds, Nancy. There, he's done with. He's +not worthy of a thought. You owe it to yourself, to your name, your +country, to banish it from your mind." + +For the moment Nancy was angry with Trevanion. She wanted to defend +Bob. She wanted to tell him that Bob was braver than he. But she +could not. She had spoken truly when she said that she was ashamed of +herself for having allowed herself to think of him. + +"Give me even the shadow of a promise," went on Trevanion, "and all +thought of him will be for ever gone." + +"No," said Nancy, "I can promise nothing--now." + +"But will you try--to--to care for me?" + +"Yes," said the girl, "I'll promise that, if--if it will be of any +comfort to you." + +"I don't fear now," cried Trevanion. "Everything will be right. What +you have been telling me is nothing--just a passing fancy which will +be--nothing. Give me a kiss, Nancy, and----" + +"No," said the girl, and she shrank back almost instinctively, "not +that; but the other--yes, I'll promise to try." + +"I'm the happiest man in England with only that," laughed Trevanion; +"what shall I be when--when the war is over, and I come back to claim +my own. I shall find you waiting for me, shan't I?" + +"I--I don't know. I may not come back. It what the papers say is +true, even the nurses are not safe." + +"But have you really settled to go abroad as a nurse?" + +"I thought you understood that when you were here last. I go to London +the day after to-morrow, and in a week from now I expect to be in one +of the French hospitals." + +"I had hoped you'd given up that," said the Captain moodily. + +"Why should you hope that? If it's your duty to go, it is mine. There +are plenty of nurses for the English hospitals, but there are fewer +volunteers for Belgium and France. I suppose the most hopeful cases +are sent home to England. Those who are dangerously wounded remain in +France or Belgium. That's where I want to be." + +Trevanion looked at her with admiring eyes. Even while he hoped she +would remain in England, he admired her determination to go and nurse +the worst cases. + +"What a wife she'll be!" he reflected. "Proud as Lucifer and +honourable to the finger tips. Yes, I've got her. She'll regard even +this shadow of a promise as binding on her. As for Nancarrow, he's +done with for ever. Thank heaven for that! By Jove, I'm a lucky +beggar!" + +"Perhaps we may meet in France, Nancy," he said aloud; "I may be +wounded, and----" + +"Don't!" she said, with a shudder. + +"Heavens, she loves me!" thought the Captain. "She can't bear the idea +of my being wounded." + +"Anyhow, the man who has you as a nurse may thank his lucky stars," he +said aloud, "and of this you may be sure, if there's any chance of our +meeting, I shall make the most of it. Trust me for that." + +That same day Trevanion made his way back to Plymouth with a glad +heart. He regarded his engagement with Nancy as good as settled, for +he knew that she regarded even the suggestion of a promise as sacred. +Besides, he had everything in his favour. He knew that the old Admiral +favoured his suit, and would do his best to remove any doubts which +might exist in Nancy's mind. As for Bob Nancarrow, he was a negligible +quantity. Nancy had driven him out of the house with scorn and anger +in her heart. How could it be otherwise? The fellow was an outsider, +a poltroon, a coward. He knew how Nancy despised such; knew that even +if she loved him, she would regard it as a sacred duty to crush a love +which to her would be a disgrace to the name she bore. + +Thus it came about that all three found themselves on French soil. The +Captain went at the head of a Cornish regiment, brave and fearless, +determined to do his duty as a soldier should. The ethics of the war +had never cost him a moment's thought. England was at war, and that +was enough for him. He was needed in the firing-line, and he, without +a question or a reason, save that he was a soldier, must be there. + +Nancy, on the other hand, went because she wanted to nurse--to save. +It was a woman's work--the noblest any woman could do. She was not +allowed to fight herself, although she would gladly have done so; but +even although she could not fight, she would be near the line of +battle. She would do all in her power for the brave fellows who had +fallen in fighting their country's battles. + +As for Bob, he was there because he had listened to what he was sure +was the Call of God. He hated war, he hated the soldiers' calling, +and, because he hated it, he was there. Not one in the whole of His +Majesty's Army was more eager to be in the thick of the fight than he, +because he wanted to take his part in killing the war devil which had +turned a great part of Europe into a hell. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +September was nearly at an end when Bob, alighting at a little station, +heard the booming of guns. The country-side seemed quiet and peaceful +but for this. There were evidences that fighting had been going on, +but at present no fighting was to be seen. The sky was a great dome of +blue, the air was pure and sweet. It was as though great Mother Nature +were defying the War God to disturb her tranquillity. Scarcely a +breath of wind stirred; bird and beast and flower were composing +themselves for their nightly sleep. + +And yet to Bob the atmosphere was tense with excitement. The very calm +of the evening was unnatural. He felt as though lightnings should be +flashing, the wind roaring. + +"Boom! Boom! Boom!" + +The great War God was roaring, and from his mouth death came. With +every boom of the guns men were falling, souls were going home to God. + +Bob felt a shiver to the centre of his being. It seemed to him as +though the foundations of his life were shaken. He had never +experienced such a feeling before. He did not think it was fear; +rather it was awesomeness. For a moment he regarded life, his own +life, from a new standpoint. He was only a pawn on a chess-board, one +of a million of human beings, none of whom had any personality, any +will. Life and death were nothing. Each had to fill his place, and to +do what was allotted to him, regardless of consequences. + +He found himself thinking of lines from "The Charge of the Light +Brigade": + + "Theirs not to make reply, + Theirs not to reason why, + Theirs but to do and die, + Into the valley of Death + Rode the six hundred." + + +Suddenly he found himself alert. The men were forming into marching +order, and almost unconsciously he was performing the duties allotted +to him. + +Bob saw that a large mass of men had gathered. Other trains had +arrived before the one by which he had come, and each had brought its +quota from England. + +He realised, as he had never realised before, how efficiently, quietly, +and at the same time wonderfully, the forces at home were working. He, +like others, had read several weeks before, that something like a +hundred thousand men had landed on French soil without a casualty, +without a mishap. It had come to him, as it had come to us all, as a +kind of surprise, that such a mass of humanity, with horses, +accoutrements, and provisions, could have been sent to France with so +little noise, and without the nation's knowing anything about it. Yet +so it was. While we were wondering, the work was done. + +But that was not all. While the country was asleep, or while it was +pursuing its usual avocations, tens of thousands of men were leaving +our shores, taking the places of those who had fallen or adding to the +force already there, while tens of thousands more were preparing to +leave. The heart of the Empire was moved, and her sons were offering +themselves, many thousands every day, to fight her battles. + +"How many men have we at the front?" we often asked. + +No one knew, although we hazarded many guesses. But we knew that we +were doing what we could, that a great river of humanity was flowing +into France, and that hundreds of thousands of our bravest hearts were +beating on foreign soil, and that no matter how many men fell wounded +or dead, ten times their number could and would be supplied. + +Bob's heart thrilled as he thought of it. He was only an obscure +youth, who had first fought his battle on the solitary battlefield of +his own soul, and then, as a consequence, could no longer keep himself +from throwing himself into this great light against tyranny and +militarism. + +They were marching towards the firing-line! The boom of the guns +sounded more and more near. Sometimes above the steady tramp, tramp of +the soldiers they thought they heard the ghastly whistle of the shells +as they went on their mission of death. + +Bob looked on the faces of the men as they marched. Yes, it was easy +to see by the steely glitter of their eyes, the tightly compressed +lips, that every nerve was in tension, that they knew they were +entering the danger zone. Many were praying who had not prayed for +years, while others, careless of life or death, marched forward, with a +laugh on their lips. + +It is not for me to describe what took place during the next few days. +Indeed, I could not if I would. First, the news which has reached me +concerning them is scanty--so scanty that even if I recorded every word +of it, it would add but little interest to the narrative I am writing. +More than that, I am utterly ignorant of the art of war, and if I tried +to describe in anything like detail the events which have been related +to me, I should, doubtless, fall into many mistakes, and convey +altogether wrong impressions. Besides, I am not so much writing the +story of the war, as the story of Robert Nancarrow, and of what has +befallen him these last few weeks. + +For the first fortnight after Bob joined the British forces at the +front, he was disappointed at not being placed in the fighting-line. +Moreover, his duties seemed to him of an unimportant nature, such as +could have been performed by the most unintelligent. He saw others +take the places which he longed to occupy, while he had to attend to +merely mechanical duties. + +Still he did not complain. The work he was doing had to be done, and +since some one must do it, why not he as well as another? The great +fact which cheered him was that little by little the Allies were slowly +gaining ground in this "Battle of the Rivers," even although he saw but +little of it. Neither, for that matter, did he know very much of the +progress which was being made generally. He was so situated that he +heard very little of what was being done. People in England were far +better informed of what was taking place than the soldiers, except in +some little corner of the great battlefield where they were +individually engaged. + +He saw enough, however, to realise the horror all around him, and to +become inured to the life he was living. + +"Oh, to be in the thick of it!" he cried again and again, as day after +day passed, and he was continually delegated to what seemed to him +unimportant duties. He little realised that his time was coming, and +that he was to be baptized with a baptism of fire more terrible than +befell many, even in that time of horrible carnage. + +It was on a Sunday morning in October, in this year of our Lord, 1914, +that the events which I have now to describe, began. In England I +remember it was like a summer day, while in France it was even warmer, +and more cloudless. The night had been comparatively still, and the +enemies' guns had scarcely been heard since sunset. + +The sentries had reported all well, and when the morning came, it +seemed to be generally believed that it would be a quiet day. On the +distant hills, several miles away, the German hordes were entrenched +and alert. The day previous the Allies had been less harried, and tens +of thousands who had been well-nigh worn out by continuous fighting had +gained some measure of respite. + +Bob awoke just before dawn. All along the lines were watchful +sentinels; but many thousands, assured by the reports of those on +outpost duty that all was well, were asleep. Presently the _reveille_ +sounded, and then, what had seemed an uninhabited tract of country, was +peopled by a great armed host. Men in khaki were everywhere. On every +hand were preparations for breakfast; laughter and shouts were heard on +every hand. As the light increased, Bob saw thousands upon thousands +of men. They literally swarmed everywhere. + +"Colonel Sapsworth wants you, sir." + +Bob turned and saw a soldier saluting him as delivered his message. + +"I wonder what that means," thought Bob, as he found his way towards +the spot where the Colonel was. A minute later his heart was beating +high with joy and excitement. He was informed that he was appointed to +a post of responsibility, which might be of importance. A number of +men were to be placed under his command, and great events might be +taking place in a few hours. + +"I shall know definitely soon," Colonel Sapsworth said, when he had +given him some general directions. "Meanwhile you know what to do." + +He had scarcely spoken, when a man came to the a tent and asked for +admission; a second later he had entered, bearing a despatch. + +Colonel Sapsworth read it hastily. + +"By God!" he muttered under his breath; "but I expected it!" + +It was a despatch sent from the General of the Division telling him +that an attack on his forces would possibly be made that day--that men +in the Flying Corps had been able to see the general movements of the +enemy, and had brought the news that before long great masses of men +would be upon them. + +A few minutes later everything was in order. The officers had each +received his instructions, and were on the _qui vive_. + +It was only half an hour past daylight, and the dewdrops were still +glistening on the grass and shining on the tree-tops. It seemed as if +some occult influences were at work, and that the men were conscious of +the fact that the atmosphere was laden with tragedy, for instead of +laughter and merry jest, a strange silence prevailed. + +Only one sound broke the great stillness which had fallen on the camp. +It was the sound of a body of men singing: + + "O God, our help in ages past, + Our hope for years to come, + Our shelter from the stormy blast, + And our eternal home." + + +Bob had heard both hymn and tune a hundred times in St. Ia. He +thought, too, from the intonation of the men's voices, that they were +Cornish lads who sang. For the moment he forgot where he was, and was +oblivious to the fact that he was in the midst of a great armed host, +and that tens of thousands of men were all around him, each armed with +implements of death. He was in Cornwall again, and he was breathing +the Sabbath morning air. He heard the church bells ringing in the +distance, while the hymn he heard came from some humble Meeting House +where simple people met together for prayer and praise. + + "A thousand ages in Thy sight + Are like an evening----" + + +"Some religious swabs," laughed one. + +"Boom! boom! Crack, crack, boom!" + +The hymn was broken off in the middle. The sound of guns was nearer +than Bob had ever heard it before. The enemy had evidently decided +upon a surprise attack. + +A horrible screech rent the air, and, looking up, Bob saw an explosion. +It was as though a bouquet of fire were falling on them; and then he +heard noises such as he had never heard before. It was the groans of +the wounded; the cries of men pierced by arrows of fire; the moaning of +brave fellows torn and mutilated for life. + +The British guns answered the fire of the enemy, while all around +quick, decisive commands were given. + +For some hours after this Bob had only a vague remembrance of what took +place. He knew that the position they now occupied had been captured +from the enemy, who had receded only with the idea of endeavouring to +take it again. Evidently they had kept the secret of their plans well, +for from all the reports given on the previous night there had been no +likelihood of an early attack. But for the Flying Corps they would +have been utterly surprised, and even as it was their preparations had +to be hurriedly made. + +"Boom! boom!" bellowed forth the big guns. + +"Crack! crack!" said the voices of a thousand rifles. + +Bob's remembrance was that he was calmly fulfilling the orders that had +been given to him, and that he was strangely oblivious of danger. + +Event after event seemed to follow each other, like so many pictures in +a cinema performance. + +He remembered his men in their trenches coolly firing, while shot and +shell fell thick around them. + +Later, they moved forward, and took cover under some raised ground, +where they lay silently and warily watching. + +He was watching too. In his eagerness he had risen to his feet, and +thus exposed himself to the sight of the enemy. The ground was torn up +at his feet, and he felt something burning hot graze his arm, as if +some one had touched him with a burning knife. + +But he was unhurt! He knew that a bullet had only touched his arm. An +inch to the right, and it would have missed him altogether; two inches +to the left, and his arm would have been shattered; a foot to the left, +and he would, in all probability, have been killed. + +He saw a body of men in German uniform moving nearer to them. It was a +great mass of soldiers, who came on in great blocks of sixty or eighty, +four deep. The British waited silently, awaiting the word of command. +Eagerly they longed for the word, "Fire!" + +At last it came, and almost as if by magic a thousand rifles went off +at the same moment, leaving great gaps in the German ranks which had a +few seconds before been filled with a living, breathing humanity. + +Again the crack of rifles, and again gaps were made. But still the +enemy came forward. Bob even thought he heard the cry of "_Vorwaerts! +Vorwaerts!_" + +Now and then above the din he heard what seemed like the sound of +singing. It sounded like the tune he had heard early in the morning. + +Meanwhile the cannonade continued to rage. The heavens were full of +bursting shells, even the very skies seemed like hell. + +Hour after hour the fusillade continued, and presently there was a halt +in the enemies' progress. They were falling back. + +"Now at them! Give 'em ----" + +There was a wild rush forward. How long it continued Bob could not +tell. Behind them the big English guns were booming, and he knew that +our artillery was pounding at the German trenches a long distance away. + +Forward! forward! + +Shot and shell were dropping thickly around, while on the right and +left men were falling. In the distance lay the German trenches. Could +they be reached? Yes, a few minutes later our men were in them. For a +time at all events Bob's company was in comparative safety. + +Panting aloud the hardy lads threw themselves into position. They had +gained their immediate object, but could they hold it? + +Suddenly amid the din a musical note rang out; it pierced the very +heavens, it was more penetrating than the boom of the big guns, the +screech of shells, or the crack of rifles. + +From the distant heather, perhaps half a mile away, men with clear +sight could see great masses of humanity in grey rise, seemingly out of +the earth, and Bob heard the distant sound of fifes and drums. + +"They are going to charge us!" + +Who said this no one knew, but it did not matter. All knew it was +true. Strong stalwart men they were who rushed madly forward. They +were commanded to do so, and they must not disobey. Every step meant +death to many, but Germany was careless about her losses. They must +win the victory, they must get back the position they had lost, no +matter what it might cost. + +"We are lost!" thought Bob: "what are we against so many?" + +But even before the thought had passed his mind, out from their cover +came the British--sections, companies, battalions. + +Then, almost before Bob realised what was taking place, a great +hand-to-hand carnage began. Shrieks, groans, cries filled the heavens. +From that time Bob ceased to be the quiet student who had aspirations +after a serene scholastic life. He was an Englishman doing battle with +a huge fighting machine. He was one of the many who determined to cut +out the great cancer of Europe. England and all she stood for was at +stake. Honour, faithfulness to promise, liberty, religion, all must be +maintained! + +He found himself facing a huge German. The German hesitated a second, +and rushed on him. It was that moment's hesitation to which Bob owed +his life. With all the strength of his right arm he parried the +fearful lunge of the German, who rushed on him with fixed bayonet. A +second later the man fell. + +Bob shuddered as he saw him fall. What had he against the man he had +killed? Nothing. Even at that moment he would gladly have helped him +had he been able. Possibly, probably he had a wife or sweetheart +somewhere, probably too he was a quiet, inoffensive fellow who had no +desire to harm any one. In spite of the war fever which raged, the +English had no personal animus against the Germans. But then they were +not fighting against Germans, they were fighting against the War God +which dominated Germany, they were fighting a system which threatened +the liberty, the peace, the religion of Europe--the world. + +All this killing was hellish, but the cancer had to be cut out. If it +were allowed to remain it would poison the life of the world. + +"At 'em! at 'em!" + +Blood and carnage everywhere; earth made hell at the bidding of a +bully, a madman who declared himself to be the vicegerent of God. Yes, +the horrors of war could not be described in human language, but it had +to be waged in order to destroy the hellish doctrine that might was +right, the hideous creed of "blood and iron." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +The English army had, for the time being, occupied the trenches from +which they had driven the Germans, and for a moment they were safe. +The enemy was moving away towards a distant hill, but a huge rearguard +was on the alert. + +The commanding officer knew that although a slight advantage had been +gained, pursuit would be madness, so, taking advantage of the enemies' +trenches, they decided to await further events. + +To Bob, the whole day seemed like a dream. His encounter with the +German private was like the memory of some event which had taken place +long, long ago. All the same, it was a wonder to him that he was alive +and unwounded. + +All around him lay men in various positions; some never to rise again; +some, even if they recovered, to be mutilated for life. Only now and +then did the rearguard of the enemy's army reveal its whereabouts, but +all knew that thousands of men were waiting for any advantage which +might be given to them. + +The day was fast dying, and whatever little wind there had been had +nearly sunk to rest. + +"Hello, Nancarrow! you here?" + +"Pickford! Great heavens, man, whoever thought of seeing you!" + +It was an old school-fellow who spoke to Bob. They had been four years +together at Clifton, and Pickford had been on the military side of the +school. + +When Bob had gone up to Oxford, Pickford had left for Sandhurst. They +had last seen each other on what they called their breaking-up row at +the school. Both of them had been as wild as March hares, and they +with a hundred others had yelled like mad at the thought of their +school days being over. + +Now they had met on French soil, amidst carnage and the welter of +blood, at the close of a day which would ever live in Bob's memory. + +"I heard you had refused to enlist, Nancarrow." + +"Who told you?" + +"Trevanion: he said you had shown the white feather over the whole +business, and pretended to excuse yourself by religious scruples." + +Bob was silent for a moment; he scarcely knew how to reply. + +"I told Trevanion he was altogether mistaken in you," went on Pickford; +"but he gave such details of your refusal, and described in such +graphic language what others had said about you, that it seemed +impossible for him to be mistaken. Some girl gave you a white feather, +didn't she, at the Public Hall in St. Ia?" + +"Did Trevanion tell you that?"--and there was anger in Bob's voice. + +"I thought it was scarcely a sportsmanlike thing to do," said Pickford, +noticing the look on Bob's face; "I told him so, too. We were talking +about you only last night." + +"Is Trevanion here, then?" + +"Yes: didn't you know? He has been in the thick of it the whole day. +As you know, he is Captain of the Royal West--a fine lot of men he has, +too." + +"And he thinks I am still in Cornwall?" asked Bob. + +"I suppose so. You see it was this way: we were talking about certain +swabs of whom we were ashamed, and he mentioned you." + +"Don't tell him I am here," said Bob quietly. + +"Why?" + +"Never mind--don't; I daresay he will find out soon enough." + +"Anyhow," said Pickford, "he is awfully popular with himself just now; +I hear he is certain to be a Major in a few days, and will be Colonel +in no time. You know he is engaged?" + +"Engaged? To whom?" + +"You know her--old Tresize's daughter; Nancy, I think her name is. Of +course you know her: Penwennack, her father's place, is close by St. +Ia." + +"And--and is he engaged to her?" + +"Yes," replied Pickford. + +"Did he tell you so himself?" + +"No, not in so many words; but he spoke of her to one of the other men +as his _fiancee_." + +Bob's heart sank like lead; the worst he had feared had come to pass. +This, then, was his reward for his fidelity to his conscience. He +could not understand it. He knew Nancy was angry with him--angry at +what she had called his cowardice, at his refusal to obey the call of +his country. But he was sure she loved him: had she not told him +so?--and now, to become engaged within only a few weeks, to the man she +had spoken of, almost with scorn, was simply unbelievable. + +For the moment he had become heedless of his surroundings; the fact +that thousands of soldiers were crouching in the trenches waiting for +any possible advance of the enemy, the groans of men who were wounded +and perhaps dying, did not exist to him. + +At that moment the issue of battles was less to him than the action of +the woman he loved. + +"I used to imagine you were gone on her," went on Pickford; "I suppose +it was only a boy-and-girl affair." + +Bob did not reply; he could not discuss the tragedy of his life with +his old school-fellow. + +"Where is Trevanion now?" he asked presently. + +"He must be close by," was the reply. "I saw him less than an hour +ago, when the Germans were beginning to give way. Of course I have +always known him to be a fine soldier, but I never knew he had so much +of the fighting devil in him. Man, you should have seen his eyes burn +red--he was just like a wild savage. I think he forgot his duties as +an officer and gave himself up to the lust of fighting." + +Pickford had scarcely uttered the words when a man came up to him. "I +say, Trevanion's missing," he said. + +"Trevanion missing? I was telling Nancarrow here that I saw him less +than an hour ago." + +"Yes, so did I; but we have had later reports. Sergeant Beel says he +saw him fall; I think he was wounded by a bullet. Beel was at that +time so hard pressed that he could do nothing for him." + +In spite of himself a feeling of joy shot into Bob's heart. If +Trevanion were wounded, perhaps he--then . . . but he would not allow +himself to complete the thought which had been born in his mind. + +Bob found himself amidst a group of officers. "It is impossible to do +anything for him," he heard one say: "I know where he is, but no man's +life would be worth a pin's purchase who tried to get at him. The +Germans are not more than 500 yards away, and whoever shows himself to +them is a dead man. Only a few minutes ago some men were trying to get +from one trench to another, and they were just mowed down like grass." + +"But Trevanion may not be killed," urged another, "and if he is badly +wounded it might mean death to him if nothing is done for him. +Besides, daylight will be gone in less than an hour, and if he is not +got at at once, it will be impossible to find him in the dark." + +"And the man who tries to get at him in the light," said another, "will +find himself full of bullets." + +Bob listened eagerly to every word that was said, and again he could +not help rejoicing at what seemed Trevanion's fate. The fact that he +had discussed his, Bob's, cowardice with fellows with whom he had been +at school had roused his anger against him; and when he was told that +Trevanion was engaged to Nancy Tresize, a feeling of mad hatred +mastered him. + +"By God," said one, "but we cannot leave him out there without trying +to get at him! Isn't there one of us who will make the attempt?" + +"It would be a madman's act," cried another. "You know they are +waiting for us, and, if any one dares to go out in the open, he is a +dead man." + +"You say you know where he is now?" said Bob. + +"I know where Sergeant Beel said he saw him," was the reply. + +"I should like to speak to Beel," and Bob's voice was very quiet as he +spoke. + +Instantly an order was given, and a few minutes later Sergeant Beel was +saluting him. + +"You say you saw Captain Trevanion fall?" said Bob. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Can you point out the spot?" + +"Yes, sir." + +A few minutes later Bob was in possession of all the information which +the Sergeant could give. + +"Heavens, you are not going, Nancarrow?" + +"I'm going to have a try," was Bob's reply. + +In the few seconds which it took Sergeant Beel to tell his story, Bob +had been fighting the greatest battle of his life. It seemed to him as +though thousands of devils were pleading with him to let his rival die, +and all the time every particle of manhood he possessed was telling him +where his duty lay. + +If Nancy Tresize had promised Trevanion to be his wife, she must love +him, and if she loved him, the death of her lover would be like death +to her. Anyhow, it was for him to make the attempt. + +He crept from his place of safety, and threw himself flat on the +ground, while the others, with whispered exclamations of surprise, +watched him. + +Keeping his body as close as he could to the ground, he crawled +forward. When he had been a boy, he, like thousands of other English +boys, had played at fighting Indians, and the old trick of crawling +close to the ground served him well now; but it was painfully slow, and +every yard he took he expected to hear the whistle of bullets--to feel +the baptism of fire. + +When he had crawled perhaps one hundred yards, a rifle shot rang out, +and he heard a bullet cut its way through the leaves of the trees in +the near distance. Was it aimed at him? He didn't know, but he did +know that the nearer he went to the enemies' lines, the greater chance +they would have of seeing him. + +"Why should I go any further?" he asked himself. "It is a madman's +trick I am playing. No one but an idiot would take such a risk; +besides, it is useless--I can never reach him. Even if I get to the +spot Beel described, I may not find him, and then I shall have simply +thrown away my life for nothing." Then for the first time that day he +really felt what fear meant. + +Since early morning he had been in the midst of the fray, now directing +his soldiers, now fighting hand-to-hand battles, but never once had he +felt fear; even when his comrades on his right hand and on his left had +fallen, he had not felt even a tremor. His nerves had been wrought up +to such a pitch that fear was almost impossible; rather he had known a +kind of mad joy in fighting. When in answer to the German charge the +English soldiers had rushed forward, bayonets fixed, to meet them, he +knew he had become almost a savage in his lust for blood. More than +once he had laughed aloud as slowly, amidst cries of pain, savage yells +of joy, and feverish passion, they had fought their way, inch by inch, +and driven the Germans back; but now he felt fear. + +It was one thing to rush forward amidst the clash of arms and the +cheers of his comrades; it was another to crawl along like an Indian +savage, in the silence of the dying day. And for what purpose? To +save a man who, half an hour before, he had wished dead. + +But he knew he could not go back. Something, he could not explain +what, urged him forward. How could he go back with his purpose +unfulfilled? What would the others say? In spite of the fact that he +had undertaken what every man of them had said was a madman's act, they +would in their heart of hearts scorn him for having played the coward. + +Every muscle in his body ached; his hands were torn and bleeding; it +seemed to him as if there were hammers striking his temples; sparks of +fire were in his eyes,--still he struggled forward. + +He lifted his head and looked around. Yes, he was near the spot which +Sergeant Beel had described. Daylight was now falling, and half an +hour later darkness would be upon them. If his mission were not +accomplished whilst the light lasted, the Captain would have to lie +until the morning, and if he were wounded, he might during those hours +die from loss of blood. + +Again there was a crack of rifles, and he heard the whistle of bullets +as they passed by him; one of these was not more than a yard away. +What the Germans meant, he did not know, neither could he tell whether +he had been seen, but he was sure that his life was not worth a pin's +purchase. + +He had left his sword behind--that was of no use to him now and would +be only an encumbrance--but he had his revolver ready to hand. + +Feverishly he looked around him, but nowhere could he see the man he +sought. Still, he had done his duty; he could go back to Pickford and +the other fellows and tell them he had done his best and had failed. + +But he stayed where he was. + +He realised that he was faint and hungry. Since, early that Sunday +morning he had scarcely partaken of food; all day long there had been +mad fighting and deadly carnage, and in his excitement he had forgotten +hunger; now he thought he was going to faint. Then suddenly every +nerve became tense again. He saw not more than a dozen yards away a +man in German uniform; like lightning his hand flew to his revolver, +and he held himself in readiness. Scarcely had he done so, when he +heard a groan. The German also evidently heard it, for he quickly made +his way towards the spot from which the sound came. + +A moment later Bob heard the German give a low laugh as if he were +pleased, but the laugh died in its birth; before it was finished, a +bullet from Bob's revolver had pierced his brain. Forgetful of danger, +he rushed forward, and saw that he had not been a moment too soon. The +German was about to drive his sword into the body of a prostrate man. + +"It is he!" cried Bob, in a hoarse whisper; he had found the man he had +come to seek. There, partly hidden by a small bush, lay Captain +Trevanion, and on his face was a pallor like the pallor of death. + +"He is alive," reflected Bob; "I heard him groan just now." + +He put his ear close to Trevanion's heart and listened. Yes, he was +faintly breathing, but his clothes were saturated with blood. + +With trembling hands Bob undid the other's uniform, and was not long in +finding a wound from which oozed his life's blood. He called to mind +all the medical knowledge he had, and set to work to stop the bleeding; +in a few minutes had partially succeeded. + +But how to get him back to the English lines! That was the question. +He did not think Trevanion was in any immediate danger now. All he +could do was to wait until the daylight was gone, and then carry the +wounded man to a place of safety. But he dared not wait. The wound +began bleeding again. Trevanion was a heavy man, almost as heavy as +Bob himself, and in carrying him he knew that he must expose himself to +the German fire; but that risk must be taken. + +He thought he might carry him two or three hundred yards before being +shot, and by that time he would be near enough to the English lines to +enable those who were watching, to reach them. + +Bob could never call clearly to mind any details of the next few +minutes. He knew that he was stumbling along in the twilight, bearing +a heavy burden--knew, too, that bullets whizzed by him; but, heedless +of everything, he plodded forward. He had a vague idea, too, that he +must be seen; but all thought of danger had gone. + +If he were killed, he was killed, and that was all. + +Then suddenly cheers reached him. It seemed to him as though a +thousand arms were around him, and wild excited cries filled the air. +After that he knew no more. + +When he came to himself again, he was lying in a tent, and bending over +him was a face he had never seen before. + +"There, you'll do now; you're all right." + +"Who are you?" asked Bob. + +"I'm Doctor Grey; but that doesn't matter. You haven't a wound or a +scratch, my dear chap; you just fainted--that was all. How the devil +you got through, I don't know; but there it is, you're as right as +rain." + +"Have I been long here?" + +"Not more than five minutes. Heavens, man, it was the maddest thing I +ever heard of! Trevanion is in a bad way; whether he'll pull through +or not, I don't know; but if he does, he'll owe his life to you. He +was slowly bleeding to death, and of course your getting him here +didn't help him. Still, he's in good hands." + +"He's alive, then?" + +"Oh, yes, he's alive, and I think he'll live; still, he'll have a bad +time. Oh, yes, you can get up, if you want; you're all right. When +did you have food last?" + +"I don't think I remember," said Bob. "It must have been about midday, +I think." + +"I thought so. Now drink this. Do you mind seeing the fellows? +That's right; here they come. Now, Pringle--oh, yes, and Colonel +Sapsworth too--no wonder you are proud of your subaltern; there are men +who've got the Victoria Cross for less." + +Colonel Sapsworth caught Bob's hand and wrung it without a word. + +Bob saw his lips tremble beneath his grey moustache, saw too that his +eyes were filled with tears; but Colonel Sapsworth was a man who didn't +talk much. "You're a plucky young devil," he said, "but I thought you +had it in you. There, there, do you feel better now? By Jove, you're +the talk of the whole division! Yes, Trevanion will do all right--at +least, I hope so," and then the Colonel rubbed his eyes. + +"That is enough," said Dr. Grey. "I'm chief in command here; he wants +a few hours' rest, and then he'll be as right as ever. Meanwhile, let +him alone; the young beggar has had a hard day." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +After the incidents I have just recorded, Bob had no longer reason to +complain that he was kept out of the firing-line. Event after event +followed quickly in what is now generally spoken of as "The Battle of +the Rivers." + +Position after position was taken by the English, only to be lost +again; now the Germans were driven back, and again, although on the +whole progress was made, the English were driven back, but all the time +carnage and bloodshed continued. + +Every day and all through the days the great guns poured forth red-hot +death. Every day the welter of blood went on. + +We in England read in our newspapers that a great flanking movement was +taking place which was eventually either to wipe out or capture General +von Kluck's Army, and for this, day after day, we waited in vain. + +We were told that the Germans were surrounded by a ring of steel, from +which, except a miracle took place, they could not escape; but somehow +there was an opening in the ring of steel, and nothing decisive took +place. In the minds of many, conviction grew that it might be years +before the war, brought about by the Germans, would come to an end. + +The soldiers at the front knew little of this. I, who have received +letters from more than one of them, learned that they, who were in the +very thick of the fighting, knew practically nothing of the trend of +the war. The interest of each regiment was largely confined to the +little space it occupied. + +All the soldiers knew was that they were advancing slowly, and that +instead of the German army's reaching Paris, it was steadily going +backward. + +Tragedy ceased to be tragedy, because it became so commonplace; death +was an everyday event, and men grew almost careless of it. "It may be +my turn to-day," they said one to another, with a grim laugh; and some +of them, even when they were wounded, jested about their sufferings. + +This, however, Bob could not help noticing; he was more and more +trusted by his Colonel, and, although he was in a subordinate position, +work of importance was often entrusted to him. Especially was this the +case after an incident, which, in one form or another, was repeated all +along the battle-line. + +One morning a young officer came to him saying that he had been +requested to obtain information which Bob had gathered the day before, +and concerning which a new line of action had to be taken. + +This young officer was an utter stranger to Bob, but, seeing he +possessed the necessary papers, he spoke to him freely. + +"We had a great day yesterday," he said. + +"We shall have a greater to-morrow," was Bob's reply. + +A few minutes later the two were eagerly discussing what would probably +take place, and Bob found himself giving away information of great +importance. + +"I wish I could talk German," said the young officer presently. "I had +heaps of chances whilst I was at school, but, like a fool, I neglected +them." + +"Why, what would you do?" asked Bob. + +"I would find my way to the enemies' camp," was the reply; "and I would +learn what they are up to; it would be a great advantage to us. It is +said that our lines are filled with German spies." + +"I suppose spies are necessary," was Bob's reply; "but, somehow, spying +does not fall in with our ideas; still, I suppose we have to use them." + +"Those Germans are such mean devils," was Captain Rivers' retort; +"there's no dirty work they aren't prepared to do; still, if I only +knew German, I would be a match for 'em. I suppose you do not happen +to know German?" + +Bob did not reply, but he looked at the other keenly, noticing his +fair, smooth, ruddy face and altogether innocent appearance. Then a +suspicion was born in his mind. "Wait a minute, will you?" he said, +and then, calling a soldier, told him to fetch Lieutenant Proctor, as +he wished to speak to him. + +"What's up, Nancarrow?" said Proctor, when he came. + +"I want to know how poor Trevanion is getting on have you heard +anything?" + +"He has been removed to a hospital at C----," replied Proctor; "as you +know, he was not well enough to be sent back to England. I'm afraid it +will be a long time before he is well again." + +"Let's see, who is taking his place?" + +"Captain Tremaine. Didn't you know? Promotions are rapid in these +days." + +"Oh, he has got his captaincy, has he? By the way, there is something +else I want to ask you," and Bob, knowing that Proctor had spent some +time in Germany, spoke to him in German. + +While Proctor was replying, he gave a quick glance at Rivers, and then +moved towards him. It was no time for hesitation or parley. + +"Rivers," said Bob--"if that is your name--you're a liar. You know +German, and, if I'm not mistaken, you're a German spy. At him, +Proctor." The last words came out like a shot from a pistol, and he +saw Rivers draw a revolver from his pocket as if he intended to shoot +him. A few seconds later he was fast bound, and Bob and Proctor +escorted Rivers towards General Fortescue's tent. + +"General," said Bob, "this man tells me he was sent to me from you; is +that true?" + +"Heavens, no! I never saw the fellow before, but I am inclined to +think we have put our hands upon a spy," he said, when Bob had recorded +what had taken place. + +Ten minutes later the guilt of the _soi-disant_ Rivers was proved up to +the hilt. + +Notes were found on his person proving not only the fact that he had +come from the German lines, but that he had for some time been +gathering information in the British lines, with the evident intention +of conveying it to the enemy. + +This information, moreover, was of such vital import, and it had been +kept with such secrecy, that it seemed miraculous that he could have +obtained it; still, obtained it he had, and a dozen proofs of his +treachery were found upon him. To all questions, however, he +maintained a rigid silence; evidently he was faithful to his own +country. + +"And did the blackguard tell you he did not know German?" asked the +General. + +"That's what aroused my suspicions, sir," replied Bob. "He was like a +character in Hamlet--he protested too much; this made me send for +Proctor, to whom I could speak German in a natural sort of way. As I +watched his face, I saw that he understood every word that was being +said, and I took steps accordingly." + +"A jolly sensible thing to do," was the General's response. "Still, we +have spotted him, and, what is more, the biter's bitten; not only will +he fail to carry back the information he has gained, to the enemy, but +his papers reveal their intentions, and so you have rendered us a great +service." + +A little later on, the man who had called himself Rivers, but whose +real name, according to his papers, was Werter, was shot. + +"That Nancarrow is a useful man," said Colonel Sapsworth to the +General, not long after, when they were discussing the situation. + +"He certainly seems to have behaved very well," was the General's +response. + +"I have had my eye upon him for weeks," said the Colonel. "From the +first time I saw him, I felt he had the makings of a good soldier, and +I gave special instructions about him. Of course, I had to be careful, +and I saw to it that he was tested in various ways; but he's as plucky +as they make 'em. Of course, it was a mad thing to do to creep out +into the open, as he did, and bring back Trevanion, but it was a fine +thing all the same." + +"He seems quite intelligent too," said the General. + +"Yes, the way he nabbed that German was just fine; he had very little +data upon which to go, and it seems that this man Werter has been on +the loose for weeks. Nancarrow, however, spotted him, and now he will +not do any more spying. If Nancarrow doesn't get killed, he will be of +great service to us." + +"We'll give him every chance," was the General's reply, "and if what +you have told me is a true indication of his quality, he shall not lack +for opportunity." + +This was probably why, a few days later, Bob was placed in command of a +number of men to do outpost duty in the direction of the enemies' lines. + +For three days the English had been preparing for an attack which they +hoped might be of considerable importance, but it was vital to the +fulfilment of their plans that they should not be in any way surprised +before they were ready. + +It was well known that the Germans were in strong force close by, and +that any false step might prove disastrous. + +It was late in the evening when Bob and the men placed under his +command found themselves at the post which had been allotted to them. +All round them was wooded country, which made observation difficult, +but which also sheltered them from the enemies' fire. + +"Anything may happen here, sir," said a young non-commissioned officer +to Bob. + +"Still things seem pretty quiet; we may as well feed now." + +Bob was on good terms with his men, and while he never slackened +discipline in the slightest degree, he tried to be friendly with all. +He ate the same food and partook of the same danger--never in any +degree commanding them to do what he himself shirked. + +The little meal was nearly over, and Bob was taking his last drink of +tea out of a tin can, when he caught a sound which brought him quickly +to his feet. + +Ten seconds later every soldier was on the alert, ready for action. +Then in the light of the dying day they saw a number of men marching +from behind the trees. + +"They look like our own men," said Corporal West; "still, them blessed +Germans' uniform seems just the same colour as our own in this light." + +A minute later some English words rang out in the still evening air. + +"We're the Lancashire Fusiliers," said a voice. + +"Wait a minute," said Bob to the corporal. "I am going to see who they +are before taking any risks." + +He covered the intervening space in less than a minute, and saw that +the other party was not quite so large as his own, but still of +considerable strength. They wore, as far as he could judge, the +English uniform, and gave evidence that they were our own soldiers. + +Barely had he reached the man whom he supposed to be the officer, +however, than from behind the trees a dozen more rushed to him, whom he +had not hitherto seen. A second later, he was surrounded. + +"Speak one word, and you're a dead man," was the cry. Bob knew what +this meant. If his soldiers remained in ignorance, and were unable to +give alarm to the general army, the enemy could easily surprise them +and have them at advantage. Without a second's hesitation, however, +and unmindful of his own danger, he shouted aloud: + +"They're Germans. Fire!" + +Almost at the same moment there was a crash of rifle shots, and the men +around him fell by scores. It seemed almost miraculous that he himself +was untouched, but, before he had time to say another word, a huge +German struck him with the butt-end at his revolver, and he felt +himself hastily dragged away. + +For some time after this he little knew what was taking place; he had a +vague idea, however, that he was in the hands of the enemy, but, from +the fact that they were going away from the English lines, he hoped +that his action had not been in vain. + +As his senses returned to him, he saw that he was accompanied by a +dozen German soldiers, and that he was being hastily dragged towards +the German lines. + +"We've got _you_, anyhow," said one by his side. + +"Where are you taking me?" asked Bob. + +"You'll soon know," was the reply. + +"I fancy I spoiled your little game, anyhow," and Bob was able to +laugh, in spite of the fact that the world seemed to be swimming around +him. + +"Yes, our trick nearly succeeded; but, thanks to you, it has been +spoiled," was the German's grim reply. "Still, better luck next time." + +"I fancy you have lost heavily," said Bob. + +"Yes," replied the German, "every man except ourselves is either killed +or taken prisoner. Still, we've got you." + +"That doesn't matter much," replied Bob. "Your little plans are +spoiled, and by this time all the information will be in the right +quarters." + +The German with whom he had this conversation spoke English almost like +a native; indeed, but for certain intonations, he might easily pass as +an Englishman. The others were evidently ignorant of our language, but +spoke to each other freely in their own tongue. Apparently they +imagined that their prisoner was entirely ignorant of what they said, +and Bob was not long in gathering the importance of what had taken +place. But for his little company, which had surprised and overwhelmed +them, they would have been able to carry out their plans without our +Army's knowing anything of their whereabouts. It was evident, too, +that they were in considerable apprehension as to how they would be +treated when they reported their failure. They had not only failed to +accomplish their purpose, but they had lost a large number of men. As +Bob thought over the matter, he realised that had he hesitated a second +before speaking, he would have been silenced altogether, and that they +would have been able to accomplish their purpose. + +Half an hour later he found himself in the German camp. + +Night had now fallen, but in the light of the moon he saw that he was +surrounded by vast hordes of men. No one spoke to him, however; but he +saw by the many glances that were cast at him, that he was an abject of +great interest. + +Some time later he came to the conclusion that he had reached the +quarters of officers in high position. He was evidently away from the +main army, and from the nature of his surroundings he came to the +conclusion that he was to be questioned by those in high places. + +The officer who had captured him and who spoke English, made his way to +a large tent, and was evidently making his report of what had taken +place. + +Bob could not catch a word of what was being said, but he noted that +the officers constantly threw glances towards him. + +A few minutes later he found himself amongst a number of men, whom he +couldn't help realising occupied important commands. + +To his surprise these men seemed to speak to him quite freely, and +appeared to desire to be on friendly terms. They told him they were +naturally chagrined at the failure of their plans, but congratulated +him on his coolness and courage in giving warning to his men. After +this, they tried to draw him into conversation about the numbers of the +Allies, and of their plans of warfare. As may be imagined, however, +Bob was very careful of what he said, and gave them only the vaguest +generalities. + +One thing, however, struck him very forcibly; instead of being treated +harshly, each seemed to vie with the other in showing him kindnesses. +Good food was brought to him, and excellent wine was placed before him. + +He, like others, had heard of the harshness with which English +prisoners were treated; thus, when he found himself regarded rather as +an honoured guest than as a prisoner of war, his astonishment was great. + +Nearly all the officers spoke English, and they laughed and chatted +with him freely. They told him that all the reports he had heard about +the bitterness of the Germans towards the English were so many lies. +Of course, they said, now they were at war they meant to fight it out +to the end, but it was impossible for them to feel bitterly towards the +English, with whom they had for so many years been friendly. They also +pretended to speak freely of their plans, evidently with the intention +of leading him to copy their example. + +To his surprise, moreover, he found himself a little later in a +well-appointed tent of his own, and whilst it was guarded jealously, he +was surrounded with comforts which he had never expected. + +It was nearly midnight, and he was just on the point of falling asleep +when an officer came to him. + +"Follow me," he said brusquely, and ere long he found himself again in +the open, walking between lines of soldiers. + +As he thought of it afterwards, his experiences that night seemed to +him almost like a dream. He was passed from guard to guard, seemingly +without reason, yet according to some pre-arranged plan. After what +appeared to him an interminable time, he was ushered into the presence +of a grave-looking military man, whose uniform bespoke the fact that he +was of the highest rank. + +This man was quickly joined by another, and a whispered conversation +took place between them, and Bob saw that keen, searching glances were +constantly directed towards himself. + +"He's only a lieutenant," he heard one say. + +"It's no use; he will have it so," replied the other; "after he had +heard the report, he gave his orders, and there's nothing else for it." + +The other shrugged his shoulders, as if impatient at something, and +then Bob was again commanded to move forward to another place. + +Eventually he found himself in what seemed to him like an ante-room of +some apartment of extreme importance. Here he waited for nearly half +an hour; still on each side of him stood a soldier, erect, motionless, +silent. + +Then some curtains were drawn aside, and Bob found himself in what +might have been a richly appointed room of an old French mansion. + +Seated at a desk, covered with documents of all sorts, his face almost +hidden from the light, sat a man--alone. He did not look up at Bob's +entrance, but went on reading quietly, now and then making a note on +the margin of the papers which he was examining. + +He was clad in an officer's uniform, but what rank he held, Bob was +unable to determine; that he was in high command, there could be no +doubt. + +Minute after minute passed, and still this lonely figure sat reading +and examining. + +The silence was intense; they might have been away in the heart of the +country, far from the rush and clamour of life. Had not Bob passed +through innumerable hordes of men, he would have thought himself in an +uninhabited region. + +A little clock on a kind of sideboard ticked distinctly, and as minute +after minute passed by, the ticking strangely affected his nerves. On +his right hand and on his left, men on guard still stood silent, +motionless. + +Presently the lonely figure at the desk lifted his head and gave Bob a +keen, searching glance. In so doing, although the young man was unable +to distinguish any particular feature, he caught a glimpse of the face. +As far as he could judge, it was grave and deeply lined. He noticed, +too, that the hair was grey, while over the temples it was nearly white. + +But what impressed him most was the peculiar quality of the eyes--he +did not remember ever having seen such eyes before; they were not +large, neither was there anything particular in their colour--and yet, +they held him like a magnet. Instinctively he knew that here was a +master of men. + +Those eyes which looked into his--not large, light, steely grey in +colour--spoke of domination--of power; they seemed hard and glittering. + +A second later he gave a nod to the officers on guard, whereupon they +silently backed out of the apartment, leaving Bob alone with the grave, +solitary figure at the desk. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +"Your name is Robert Nancarrow?" The words came suddenly, not in the +form of a question, but as an assertion. + +The voice was light, almost thin; the eyes were the eyes of a +commander; the face, to Bob, suggested weakness. + +He spoke English almost as an Englishman might; there was scarcely the +suggestion of a German accent. + +"Yes, sir," was Bob's reply. + +"You are under General Fortescue, and to-night were placed on outpost +duty. By your quick, decisive action you gave your men alarm and +frustrated the plans of those you call your enemy?" + +"I'm very proud to think so, sir," replied Bob. + +Again those piercing eyes rested on him. Bob felt a shiver run down +his spine as he saw them. Evidently the man at the desk was reading +him like an open book; he was estimating his quality--his position. + +"You wear a lieutenant's uniform, I see?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Were you trained as a soldier?" + +"No, sir." + +"How long have you been in the Army?" + +"Only a few weeks, sir." + +"And yet they made you a lieutenant?" and the suggestion of a smile +passed his lips--a smile that was almost a sneer. + +"You may know, sir," said Bob, "that in England we have what is called +an 'Officers Training Corps'; men who join that corps do not +necessarily go into the Army, but they join it so that in time of need +officers may be forthcoming. When I was at school at Clifton, I joined +the Officers' Training Corps, and qualified. That accounts for what +would seem a rapid promotion." + +"I see; and you come from what is called a good family in England, I +suppose?" + +"I can claim to have that honour, sir," and again the lonely figure was +silent, and appeared to be reexamining the papers before him. His face +was still in the shade, but, as far as Bob could judge, he appeared to +be thinking deeply. "Who is he, and what does he want with me, I +wonder?" he reflected. "I am nobody; why have I been treated in this +wonderful fashion?" + +"You Englishmen think you are winning in this war, I suppose?" + +Again the words came suddenly, and still in the same, almost light, +weak voice. + +"We do not think, sir--we are sure." + +"Ah, how? why?" + +For a moment Bob felt afraid to speak; the silence of the room, save +for the ticking of the little clock, and the occasional rustle of +papers, together with the experiences through which he had been +passing, almost unnerved him; besides, there was something uncanny, +almost ghostly, about the silent, lonely figure there. + +"You would have me speak freely, sir?" + +"I command you to do so." + +"We shall win, sir, because God is always on the side of right." + +"God! Do you believe in God?" + +"I believe in nothing else so much." + +"Right! Then you think you are in the right?" + +"What doubt can there be? We stand for liberty against tyranny; for +faithfulness to our promises; but, more than all, we stand for peace +against war,--that is why God will be on our side." + +Again the lonely figure looked at Bob intently; the young man's words +seemed to have caused him some surprise. + +"Nonsense!" he said presently. "I suppose you are thinking of the +Belgian Treaty? What do you English care about the Belgian Treaty?" + +"Enough to risk our very existence, sir." + +"Come, tell me frankly--of course, you cannot speak for your +statesmen--but do you know anything of the English people as a whole? +I was informed just now that you seemed intelligent; perhaps you are. +It will be interesting to hear what you regard as the general feeling +in England about this war." + +"The English hate it, sir--hate it as they hate the devil; they think +it is the greatest crime in history. The English are a peace-loving +people; they want only peace." + +"Ah, then they hate this war?" + +"Bitterly." + +"And, as a consequence, they do not support it." + +"On the contrary, sir, never was so much enthusiasm shown about any war +in the history of the nation as is shown about this." + +"And yet they hate it. Why then are they enthusiastic?" + +"Because they believe it to be war against war; against the spirit of +war; against the doctrines that might is right, and that force is the +will of God." + +"How? I do not understand. Tell me." + +"Since you command me to speak plainly, sir, I will, and perhaps I can +best tell you what I mean by recounting my own history. My father +belonged to a Community in England who believe that all war is sinful, +and I was brought up to accept his doctrine; he took the teaching of +our Lord literally." + +"What teaching of our Lord?" + +"What we call the Sermon on the Mount: 'Ye have heard it hath been +said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; but I say unto you, +that if a man strike thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other +also. Ye have heard it hath been said, thou shalt love thy neighbour +and hate thine enemy; but I say unto you, love your enemies'; I was +taught to believe that, sir, and to regard all war as a crime. + +"For some time after this war was declared I refused to volunteer. I +was trying to be a Christian, and I did not see how a man who wanted to +be a Christian could be a soldier." + +His interrogator looked at him, evidently in surprise: "You believe +that?" + +"In a deep vital sense I believe it still, sir." + +"Well, go on." + +"That was why I refused to volunteer for the Army, when Lord Kitchener +sent out his appeal that he wanted half a million men immediately." + +"Why have you changed your mind? It might be interesting to hear," and +again there was the suggestion of a sneer in the voice. + +"I read some German books, and got to know what the Germans actually +thought; I realised the ideas which lay at the heart of Germany, and +then I knew that if Germany won this war, all liberty would be gone, +all our free institutions would be destroyed, and that the spirit of +war would reign more and more throughout the world. I saw that what to +the Germans was right, was to us wrong; that the Germans' Gospel was +different from ours." + +"Different! How?" + +"I saw that the Germans gloried in war; that they regarded it as +necessary; that to them those who asked for peace committed a crime. I +heard one of our Members of Parliament say that he had been in Berlin +at a Peace Conference, but that Conference was broken up by the order +of the German Government. I read the works of authors whose words are +accepted as gospel by the dominant party in Germany, I realised the +Germans' aim and ambitions, and I knew that if they succeeded, peace +would for ever be impossible in the world. Then I knew I had a call +from God, and then I no longer hesitated." + +"Ah, you are a dreamer, I see. So you joined the Army; but are your +beliefs common in England, may I ask?" + +"Throughout the major portion of England they are common," replied Bob. +"The great feeling in the hearts of the English throughout the whole +country is--we must destroy this War God of Germany. Against Germans +as individuals we feel nothing but kindness, but this War God, before +which the people fall down and worship, is a devil." + +"And you say that is the belief throughout England?" + +"That is so, especially among thoughtful people." + +"Then why is it you have so few volunteers?" + +"Few volunteers, sir! I do not understand." + +"Why is it, in spite of Lord Kitchener's call, only a few thousands of +the offscouring of the country have joined his Army in spite of huge +bribes?" + +"Your question shows that you are misinformed, sir. Instead of a few +thousands of the off-scouring, as you call them, there has simply been +a rush to the English recruiting stations; not only of the poorer +classes, but of every class--from our public schools, from the +Universities, from our middle-class families, the flower of our young +manhood have come." + +"Do you mean that your well-born people have been willing to join as +privates?" + +"I mean, sir, that there are tens of thousands of the sons of our best +families, who have joined, side by side with privates with labourers +and colliers. In three weeks after the call, half a million +volunteered." + +"Half a million!" this with a contemptuous shrug, "and what then?" + +"The call for the second half-million came," was Bob's reply; "and that +second half-million has responded." + +"From England alone?" + +"From the British Isles." + +"But the Empire as a whole has not responded." + +"The Germans thought our Empire was a rope of sand--that it would fall +to pieces at the first touch of war; instead of that, from Canada, from +Africa, from India, from Australia, men volunteered by thousands--by +hundreds of thousands." + +"And you believe that these can stand against the Army through which +you passed?" + +"I don't believe--I am sure, sir." + +"And that is the feeling of your nation?" + +"That is the conviction of our nation, sir." + +"But do you realise that Germany has millions of trained soldiers?" + +"Yes, sir; but every German is forced to be a soldier. We have in +England to-day hundreds upon hundreds of thousands who are soldiers +because they long to be at the front. If a man doesn't pass the +doctor's examination, he is disappointed beyond measure, because he is +longing to fight. Ours is not a conscript army, sir, but an army which +pleads to be at the front." + +"You are sure of this?" + +"I'm absolutely certain, sir." + +Again the lonely man turned to some papers before him and read eagerly. + +"And when your first million is killed, what then?" He again spoke +suddenly. + +"Another million will come forward, sir, and, if need be, another, and +another, and another. Rather than that Germany should conquer, the +whole nation will come forward--the whole Empire will fight." + +"And what have the English thought of the German victories?" + +"That they are merely passing phases," was Bob's reply; "but this I +will tell you: the greatest impetus to volunteers coming forward has +been the news of a German victory. Officers have repeatedly told me +that our new volunteers, eagerly do more work in a week and learn more +of the art of war in a few days than the men learned in six months in +time of peace. In England we have no need for conscription, because +the best manhood of our nation pleads to be allowed to fight for the +country." + +"And yet the English hate war?" Again there was a sneer in the voice. + +"That is why we are eager to fight," was Bob's reply, "and we shall +never rest until German militarism is destroyed root and branch; until +this War God which dominates Germany is thrown down, and crushed to +atoms; until this poisonous cancer of war which has thrown its venomous +roots into the heart of Europe is cut out for ever. We shall never +cease fighting until that is done, and when that is done, we shall have +peace." + +Bob had almost forgotten where he was by this time--forgotten the +circumstances under which he spoke, and to whom he spoke; he did not +seem to realise that he was in the heart of the German camp--that he +was speaking to one in high command in the German army; he had got away +from the mere material aspect of the question--he was dealing with +spiritual things. + +"And if you win"--and still there was a sneer in the other's +voice--"what do you expect to gain?" + +"As a nation, sir?" + +"As a nation." + +"Nothing, sir; I've never heard of an Englishman speaking of any gain +that might be ours when we win." + +"Then what do you suppose will happen?" + +"Justice and peace will come, sir; Belgium will have justice." + +"Belgium! If she had obeyed our commands, she need never have +suffered." + +"But why should she obey your commands, sir? You had promised her +neutrality and independence, and you broke your promise; she had +depended upon you, and you failed her. Then she turned to England, and +England will never rest until Belgium has justice." + +"And what is to become of Germany?" + +"This is to be a fight to the end, sir; and Germany will never have +power to make war again." + +"You would rob us of our country, I suppose?" + +"No, sir, we do not want to rob you of your country. We hope that when +the war is over, the German people--many of whom hate war--will come +back to their peaceful life; but we shall never rest until the War God +of Germany is destroyed and is powerless to make war again. That is +why we are fighting, and will fight for the peace of the world." + +"But, surely, that is not the feeling of England as a whole?" + +"It is the feeling of England as a whole, and we shall never cease +fighting until our object is accomplished." + +"And the Kaiser, what think you of him? What is the feeling in Britain +about him?" + +"We believe the Kaiser to be sincere, sir, but obsessed with the war +spirit, and that because of it he is full of arrogance and conceit; +many believe him mad--that he suffers from a kind of megalomania. +Evidently he, like the rest of the war party in Germany, believes that +war is a good thing--a virtuous thing, a necessity; and, because of it, +he regards himself as a kind of Deity. We believe that his great +ambition is to make Germany the dominant power in the world, and that +war is the means by which he hopes to accomplish this. That is why we +are fighting, sir--and will fight." + +While Bob was speaking, he saw that the other's hand moved nervously +among the papers on the desk; he saw too that he fidgeted uneasily in +his chair, as though with difficulty he restrained himself. + +"And you think the Kaiser is responsible for this war?" + +"We believe that he has been preparing for it for years. For a long +time we fought against the belief, and a great part of the country held +that those who regarded him as a kind of War god were mistaken: now we +know otherwise. Doubtless, in many respects, he is a great man--a +strong man; but he is mad." + +Again the man in the chair started: then he touched the bell, and the +officers who brought Bob there again returned. The man at the desk +nodded to them and they led Bob out. As he withdrew, the last sight +which met his gaze was that of the lonely figure seated at the desk, +his face still largely in obscurity, but the eyes plain to be +seen--light, steely, penetrating--the eyes of a master of men. + +A few minutes later Bob heard two of the officers, with whom he had +been previously brought into contact, conversing in their own tongue: + +"It was unlike him to give an audience to a subaltern like that," said +one. + +"Yes," was the reply; "but he said he was dissatisfied with the reports +of the spies; he wanted to see England's position through English eyes. +I wonder what the young cuckoo said to him." + +Still between his guards, Bob walked away from the house where he had +been for more than an hour; he was oblivious of the fact that he was +passed from sentry to sentry, from guard to guard; his mind was full of +the strange scene in which he had taken part. + +The figure of the lonely man at the desk, who was thinking and working +while others were asleep, haunted him, and he wondered. + +As he came to the tent from which he had been led more than an hour +before, he again saw the officer who had given the command which had +ended in the scene we have just described. + +"Whom have I been speaking to?" he asked, as the officer entered the +tent with him. + +"Didn't you recognise him?" + +"I fancied I did, but I dared not think I was right." + +"You've been speaking to the Emperor of Germany," was the reply. + +"I'm glad I spoke my mind," Bob said. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +During the three days which followed the one on which he was captured, +Bob's experiences were difficult to explain. He found himself being +moved farther and farther away from the English lines; but he knew +nothing of what was taking place, neither could he understand why he +was treated with such kindness and consideration. + +He had expected to be immediately forwarded to some dirty German +prison, where he would suffer the same fate as many of his English +comrades. Instead of which, however, he might almost have been a guest +of honour. + +For this reason he could not help coming to the conclusion that this +special treatment was for some purpose. + +On the second day after the interview mentioned in the last chapter, he +was closely questioned by some German officers. They evidently +believed that he was possessed of information which would be valuable +to them, and for that reason did not treat him like an ordinary +prisoner. + +Although he knew but little of what was going on in the German camp, +his experience there was of great interest; it gave him an insight into +the life of the German army which he had never hoped for. He realised +at once the different atmosphere which obtained there from that which +obtained in the English army. + +He saw that the German discipline was more severe and more unbending; +that not the slightest feeling of friendship or comradeship could be +found between officers and men. + +He saw too that the German private was scarcely regarded as a human +being, but as a pawn on a chessboard; the officer looked upon himself +as living in a different world from that of his men. + +One day Bob saw that one of the soldiers failed to salute an officer +with sufficient promptness to please him, and immediately the officer +struck the man across the face with a whip. + +Bob saw the great red mark rise on the man's face, where the officer +had struck him. He knew that the pain he suffered must be great, but +he made no sign; he simply bore the punishment as if he were without +feeling. + +That same evening he was admitted into the circle of a number of the +officers. Bob mentioned the incident he had seen, and asked whether +this treatment was common. + +"What would you?" replied the German. "The man did not salute quickly, +therefore he must be punished." + +"And if he had cast a look of disrespect?" asked Bob. + +The German shrugged his shoulders. + +"We do not allow disrespect from men to their officers," was the reply. +"In time of war he would be shot like a dog." + +"And in peace?" asked Bob. + +"Ah--in peace, he would be treated in such a fashion that he would not +soon offend again." + +It was at that time, too, that Bob realised the terrible disappointment +among the German troops at the progress of the war. It had been given +out during its early stages, that the German Army would be in Paris by +the end of August. At first their boasts seemed likely to be +fulfilled, but as the days went by--as August passed and September came +to an end, and then, not only did they not find themselves in Paris, +but were driven back mile by mile, until they were nearing their own +borders--they were not only dismayed, but astonished. It seemed +impossible to them that anything could stand before the German Army. + +"It's you English," said one to him. "In 1870 we crushed the French +Army in six weeks, and we should have done the same now but for you." + +"And the contemptible little army has given you a great deal of +trouble?" said Bob. + +"That was one of the Kaiser's jokes, but we will pay you out for it." + +Upon this they turned the conversation into such a channel that Bob was +not slow to see their purpose. They were trying to obtain information +from him, and, as may be imagined, he did not fall readily into their +trap; indeed, they soon began to regard him as a hopeless case. + +He saw, too, that his position was becoming desperate. The German +officers were not cheerful and gay as our own were. Even in spite of +the most terrible fighting and awful suffering the English had kept +cheerful. + +It was as though the Germans felt themselves on the losing side. +Almost hourly they were pressed back, while great masses of wounded +soldiers were being brought from the battle-lines and hurried off to +the hospitals. + +"This does not seem like another Sedan," Bob heard one officer say to +another. "It is all those English; they fight like devils, and yet +they are as cool as men on parade. Instead of advancing, we are going +backward. Unless there is a change, we shall be driven out of the +country." + +"They shall pay for it later, never fear," said another. "When we have +once beaten them, France will be ours, and England crushed like an +empty eggshell." + +"When we have beaten them," was the doubtful response. + +What Bob suffered it is impossible to say; how he longed to be back +among his comrades in the fighting-line, I cannot put into words. + +He knew by the questions which were constantly asked him that they +thought he would be in a position to render them invaluable service; +that was why he had special treatment. + +At the end of three days, however, he knew that this special treatment +was over, and by the looks that were cast towards him, he felt sure +that the doom he expected would be his. He would be packed off to a +German prison. + +"What is to become of me?" he asked one of the officers, who had +constantly been plying him with questions. + +"You'll know to-morrow morning," was the curt reply. + +As may be imagined, Bob had, during the whole time, sought eagerly for +a means of escape; but this seemed impossible. All around him were +vast hordes of men, and he knew that any movement towards liberty on +his part would mean instant death. Yet he determined to try, and hour +by hour had formulated his plans. + +Up to the present no alteration had taken place in his treatment. It +seemed to him madness that the Germans should spare two men +continuously to guard him and watch him; yet they did. + +Then, inadvertently, he learned that the august personage with whom he +had had such a long conversation on the night of his capture had given +special orders concerning him, as it was his intention to speak with +him again. + +In view, however, of the significant words of the officer who had told +him that some change would take place on the following morning, he +imagined that this determination had been abandoned. + +Bob's opportunity of escape seemed to him afterwards almost like a +miracle. One night, as chance would have it, only one of the guards +was on duty, and he determined to take advantage of the circumstance. +If he were to escape, a bold, almost mad, endeavour must be made. +Failure would mean death; but, with all the enthusiasm of youth, he +decided to risk it. + +The guard was a man about his own height and build, and, under ordinary +circumstances, would be his match in physical strength. + +Of course a hand-to-hand struggle was out of the question; a cry from +the German soldier would mean arousing hundreds of others, and then +Bob's fate would be sealed. But if----and his brain almost reeled at +the madness of the plan which had been so suddenly born in his mind. + +Seizing his opportunity, and taking full advantage of the fact that he +had been allowed the use of his limbs, he suddenly struck his guard a +heavy blow, which, for the time, stunned him; then, seizing the man's +rifle, he struck him a blow on the head which left him senseless. +Quick as lightning, he pulled the man's clothes from off his prostrate +body, and a minute later he was himself, to all appearances, a German +soldier. + +As he reflected afterwards, the thing happened so quickly and under +such strange circumstances, that it seemed to him impossible. + +To overpower a German guard in the midst of thousands of German +soldiers, and then to appear among the others in a German uniform, +seemed absolutely impossible; yet he did it. + +It was for him, now, to find his way through the German lines without +revealing his identity. One thing was in his favour--that was a fact +which he had kept rigorously secret--he spoke German almost like a +German. + +I will not weary the reader with Bob's experiences during the next few +hours. In the letter he wrote to me about them, he gave but few +details. Nevertheless, he told me enough to make me realise that for +hours he was within an ace of detection and death. + +All around him shot and shell were falling, for although night had +come, a continuous bombardment was taking place. Each army was sending +forth its missiles of death; the guns of each were pounding to the +other's trenches. + +Before daylight came Bob had, in the darkness, passed the advance lines +of the enemy, and was making his way towards his own people. But even +yet his danger was not at an end; indeed, he was in more immediate +peril than when he was a prisoner in the German camp. Clad as he was +in the enemies' uniform, he knew that at first sight he would be shot +down. Still he must take his risk and press forward. + +Moreover, he knew that anything like hesitation must end in disaster. + +Daylight had just begun to appear when he heard the murmur of voices. +He felt sure he was some distance from the main line of the English, +and yet he thought he heard some English voices. "It will be some men +on outpost duty," he thought; "at any rate, I will have a try." Hiding +behind some bushes, he listened intently. "Yes," he thought, "they are +our own chaps." + +"Who goes there?" + +Bob knew it was a question which must be answered promptly. + +"I say, you fellows," he cried, "wait a minute." + +A dozen rifles were pointed towards him. Evidently the men who held +the rifles waited for the word of command to fire. + +"It's some German spy," he heard some one say. + +Bob threw up his arms as a sign of surrender, and immediately he was +seized. A few minutes later he told his story, which at first was not +believed; but when he told who he was, and asked to be taken +immediately to either General Fortescue or Colonel Sapsworth, the +sergeant in command of the little company of Englishmen opened his eyes +wide with astonishment. + +"By George, he talks like an Englishman, anyhow!" said the puzzled +sergeant; "and I did hear some talk three days ago about a Lieutenant +Nancarrow giving the alarm to his own soldiers at the risk of his own +life; anyhow, we've got him." + +Hours later Bob found himself in the presence of his own superior +officers. + +"Talk about miracles," said Colonel Sapsworth; "but you're about the +biggest miracle of this war. Nancarrow, we had all mourned for you as +dead, although your name was sent to England as missing. I never knew +the General so cut up as when he was told what had taken place; he +seemed to think it mean of Providence to allow you to be taken when you +had acted in the way you did. By gad, man, do you mean to tell me that +you escaped from those infernal Germans?" + +"You see, I robbed the poor beggar of his uniform," was Bob's answer, +"and I knew their lingo; I had a near shave several times, but it was +bluff that did it." + +"You're a plucky young beggar, anyhow," and the Colonel laughed almost +merrily as he spoke. "Yes, yes, my boy, you'll get mentioned in +despatches. It was a great thing you did, and Sir John French will +hear of it." + +As may be imagined, Bob was questioned closely concerning his +experiences in the German lines, and when he told of his conversation +with the Kaiser, they listened to him with opened mouths. + +"Good, good!" they cried again and again, as he repeated what he had +said to the Kaiser. "By George, Nancarrow, if you could get back to +England now, you would be interviewed by all the newspapers in the +country. You would be a God-send to the English Press." + +But times were too stirring for more than a passing notice to be taken +of the young Cornishman's experiences. + +A little later he was back at his post of duty again, little realising +that although a man might be fortune's favourite on one day, the next +might bring him dire disaster. + +The next day it was evident, as appeared in Sir John French's +despatches, which we read in England later, that the German Army were +determined to throw all their strength into one crushing blow, for a +phase of the battle began, which was continued night and day, in that +part of the British Army where Bob was situated, with scarcely any +intermission. + +During these four days and nights, Bob, with thousands of others, had +scarcely time to eat or sleep. + +Weary hour after weary hour our men lay in the trenches, amidst pain +which amounted to torture, incessantly firing, or again, at the word of +command, ready to rush forward to meet the onset of the enemy. + +Hundreds upon hundreds were killed; thousands upon thousands were +wounded. Never did Bob realise, as he realised then, the meaning of +the Prime Minister's words that "war was hell let loose." On his right +hand and on his left his comrades fell--some never to speak again; +others groaning in agony; others still laughing amidst their pain. +Strange as it may seem, when the carnage was at its most awful stage, +and when the heavens were rent with the booming of guns and the +clashing of arms, Bob could not help picturing this same France, as he +had passed through it years before. + +Then it was fair and smiling and peaceful; now it was the scene of +untold tragedies, such as he had never dreamt of before. Around him +was the smoke of burning villages. Homesteads, which a few months +before had been peaceful and prosperous, were now laid waste by the +grim horrors of war. Mile after mile of fair country-side were made a +vast cemetery. Every man fought his duel to the death. These men had +no personal enmity against each other, and yet they rejoiced to see the +enemy fall. + +As Bob thought of it all, even in the midst of the fever of war which +possessed him, he became almost mad. Those Germans in whose camp he +had been, were, many of them, brave, patient, kindly men. They had +their homes and their loved ones just as the English and the French +had. They had left behind them sweethearts, wives, children, just as +our men had; but because they were overruled by a vast military system, +which had at its head the German Emperor, all this had taken place. + +To this man, his own ambition was everything. What cared he for the +lives of a million men, as long as his power could be extended and his +ambitions, satisfied? + +France was in the way of his advancement, therefore France must be +crushed. + +England was his great rival, and therefore England must be swept aside. + +Germany must be a World Power, and nothing must stop her in fulfilling +her destiny. To this end he had made the country a great war-camp, and +for this the gospel of war had been preached. Mercy--love--brotherly +kindness--peace, must all be sacrificed for the overwhelming ambitions +and vain-glory of this man and his followers; this caused hell to be +let loose upon earth. + +That was why he and millions of others were fighting; that was why tens +of thousands of the flower of young English manhood; as well as the +best life of France, were being crushed in the dust. That was why +homes were being made desolate--hearts broken. + +Still the carnage went on; still fire and flame; still the boom of +cannon; the groanings of dying men. Fight, fight; slay, slay, and no +quarter. + +Towards the evening of the fourth day after Bob's escape from the +German lines, came a cry which had become almost familiar to him, and +he found himself with his company making a bayonet charge on the enemy. + +To a distant spectator, not knowing the meaning of the war, this charge +must have seemed like some mad Bedlam let loose. Strong men lunging, +stabbing, fighting, with only death in their hearts--and this was war! + +All around was the crack of rifle shots, the boom of cannon, and still +they pressed on, fighting their way inch by inch. + +Suddenly Bob found himself bereft of his sword; his revolver was in his +left hand, but in the mad struggle his sword had been stricken from the +right. + +Words of command could scarcely be heard amidst the din and clamour; on +his right hand a soldier fell with the bayonet in his chest of a +German, who at the same time fell from a wound which the Englishman had +inflicted on him. Scarcely had the Englishman fallen, when he saw the +bayonets of the enemy directed towards himself. + +Seizing the Englishman's rifle--the bayonet fixed at the end of which +was red with blood--he sought to defend himself. Directing his +attention to the man who rushed upon him, he fought with all the +strength he possessed: "I have mastered him," was the thought which +came into his mind, as the German staggered back, but before he could +make his victory sure, a blow, whence he did not know, struck him on +the collar-bone; a hot, burning pain passed through his side, as he +felt himself falling; a moment later there was a stampede over his body. + +"It's all over with me," he said, and then he felt himself becoming +unconscious. + +In a hazy kind of fashion he thought our men were pressing forward, and +that the Germans were falling back from them; but this was an +impression rather than a thought. Presently it seemed to him that +silence reigned. He felt very weary, but suffered no pain. He thought +he heard the sound of distant guns; but they were no longer guns, they +were the waves which beat upon the great rocks around Gurnard's Head, +while he and Nancy sat in the shade, under the cliff, while he told her +the story of his love. He was repeating to her the resolves which had +been so suddenly born in his mind. + +"Yes, Nancy," he said aloud, "I've found my mission; I am going in for +war--war against war; that is the noblest work a man can do." + +It was all very unreal; all far, far away. "The night is falling fast; +how can Nancy and I get home?" he reflected. Then he heard some one +singing close by him; it was the song popular amongst the soldiers--a +song in which he himself had joined a hundred times: + + "It's a long way to Tipperary, + It's a long, long way to go." + + +He turned his head, and saw a soldier at his side. He too, had been +stricken down in the battle; he, too was unconscious of what he was +doing. + +"Yes, it's a long, long way to Tipperary," he murmured, and that was +all, . . . a great darkness fell upon him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +When Bob awoke to consciousness again, the scene was altogether +unfamiliar to him; he was lying in a big barn-like building, while +around him were scores of beds, on each of which lay a wounded man. + +He felt weak and languid; but this he would not have minded, it was the +awful pain just below his neck that troubled him--a gnawing, maddening +pain. + +He lifted his hand to try and touch the spot; but this he could not +do--it seemed to him as though he caused a fire inside it as he moved. + +"I'm not dead, anyhow," he reflected. "What is this, I wonder?" + +There were cheerful voices all round him, and he saw forms moving +around the beds; but they were very dim--in fact, nothing seemed real +at all: "Still I'm not dead, anyhow," he repeated; "as soon as I can, I +must tell mother that; as for Nancy, she'll not want to know." That +was all; it was like a scene in a play, and it passed away suddenly. + +When he awoke again, his mind was clearer. It was the same scene he +saw, just a number of beds on which men were lying. + +What he took to be a soldier, wearing an officer's uniform, came and +stood by him. This man felt his pulse; then he did something to his +chest, which gave him a great deal of pain. He didn't trouble much +about it, it didn't matter, nothing mattered. + +"You'll do all right," said the man; "you'll get better now." + +"I'm very tired," said Bob; "I should like to sleep, if I can." + +"Then sleep, my dear fellow." + +Again he awoke to consciousness; the clouds had altogether gone, and +the scene was absolutely clear. + +He was lying in an improvised hospital; those men lying on the beds all +round were wounded like himself; the man who had spoken to him was the +doctor; those figures moving around the beds were nurses--each wore a +red cross. + +Although everything was clear, he was strangely indifferent to what was +taking place. What did it matter to him? He supposed that he would +never fight again; his arm was useless. He felt sure of that--his +right arm. Still, he had done his work, and at least he had done his +best. Then a thought flashed through his mind. + +"Oh, but the war is not over yet, and they need me; I must get well." + +He threw off the kind of lethargy that possessed him, and presently, +when a nurse came to bring him some food, he looked up into her kindly +face. She was a Frenchwoman, who was doing all that a woman could, to +help; she was not there to kill, but to save. + +"Mademoiselle, you're very kind." + +"I'm not mademoiselle," was the woman's reply in French; "I am madame." +Her voice trembled as she spoke: "I was married just before the war, +and my husband was called away to fight." + +"Where is he now?" + +"I don't know; I have not heard for weeks, but I live in hope. I pray +that he will come back; meanwhile, I am doing what I can." + +"I wish I could fight again," said Bob. + +"Ah, but you will; the doctor told me. Ah, here is the doctor!" + +"I'm not done for, doctor?" asked Bob. + +"Done for? My dear chap, no; you've had a bad time--collar-bone +broken, two ribs broken, nasty wound in your side--but in a few weeks +you'll be all right again. Is there any one to whom I could write, so +that their minds may be relieved about you?" + +"Yes," said Bob, "write to my mother," and he told the doctor his +mother's name and address. + +"Can friends come to see me?" asked Bob. + +"To-morrow or the next day, yes, certainly; in a few days you'll be +convalescent." + +Away in another part of the hospital a man sat smoking a cigarette; he +had, during the early part of the day been taking exercise, and, +although he felt no pain, he was tired after his exertions. + +"In another week I shall be at it again," he reflected. "Heavens, life +is a curious whirligig of a business. Fancy, after all I said to him, +his coming to the front in this way! A kind of strange irony of fate +that he, of all men, should pull me out of the very jaws of death. Of +course, he didn't know who I was, or he wouldn't have done it. It was +a plucky thing, anyhow; and--and--by Jove, there she is!" + +He rose quickly from his chair as he spoke, and went out into the +autumn sunshine, where a woman, wearing a nurse's uniform, was talking +with a doctor. + +"Nancy," said the man, when presently she came towards him, "I haven't +seen you for days; this is a lucky chance." + +"I haven't much time for anything," she replied; "fifty poor fellows +were brought here from the front this morning, and ever since every one +of us has been hard at it. Are you all right?" + +"Yes, I shall soon be well. In another week, the doctor tells me, I +shall be at the front again. But for the thought of leaving you, I +shall be jolly glad. We little thought, Nancy, when we parted in +Cornwall, and when I told you you might have to nurse me, that it would +actually take place." + +"No," replied the girl; "but, somehow, the world seems altogether +different now; I feel as though ten years had been added to my life. +When the war broke out, I was almost happy about it; it seemed so +splendid for those I knew to be able to go to the front and fight for +their country; war was something glorious. I shall never think about +it in that way again. Poor Lieutenant Russell died this morning. Oh, +yes, I know it was wonderful the way he bore up to the end; he thought +he was back on the battlefield, and he kept on crying, 'We're gaining +ground--we're gaining ground! That's it, lad, at 'em; we'll save +England from those beastly Germans.' And then he died; yes, it was a +glorious death. But all war is horrible, horrible! Do you know, +Captain Trevanion, I never cease wondering at the way you were rescued." + +"Don't speak to me like that. Surely I am not 'Captain Trevanion' to +you; I'm 'Hector.' You've never called me by my name yet; why won't +you? I say, Nancy, can't you promise me anything definite before I go +back?" + +The girl almost shuddered: "Don't talk about that now," she said. +"I--I--it's too horrible. You never described your escape to me. Tell +me all about it, will you?" + +"I can't," replied Trevanion; "you see, I was unconscious." + +"I got an English paper to-day," went on the girl; "I only read it a +few minutes ago." + +"Read what?" There was an anxious tone in the Captain's voice. + +"Here it is," she said. "Haven't you seen it?" + +"No. What is it?" + +"Oh, it says all sorts of fine things about you. Of course, you'll +soon be promoted as a consequence. But don't you see, the paper says +that a Lieutenant Nancarrow, learning of your danger, went right out +into the open, braving the German fire in order to get at you. It is +spoken of as one of the bravest deeds of the war. Didn't you know +about it? You tell me nothing." + +"You see, I was unconscious," repeated Trevanion; "all I know is that +some fellow, unknown to me, did a splendid deed and brought me back to +the English lines." + +"Then you never saw your rescuer?" + +"No," replied the Captain quietly; "I was packed off here. Of course, +it was fine on the part of that fellow, whoever he was. Some day I +hope I shall have the chance of thanking him." + +The girl looked away across the peaceful countryside, and, as she did +so, a tremulous sigh escaped her. + +"What are you thinking about?" asked Trevanion. + +"Oh--nothing--that is, it doesn't matter. It seems strange, though, +doesn't it, that the man who saved you from death should be called +Nancarrow; it is a Cornish name too." + +"And--and you are thinking of that fellow?" said Captain Trevanion, +almost angrily. + +"Have you heard anything about Bob?--that is, do you know where--what +he did when he left St. Ia?" + +Trevanion did not look at Nancy's face; he couldn't. He knew what he +ought to do, he, who always prided himself upon being a sportsman--he +ought to tell her that the man who had saved him was the one of whom +she was thinking; but he could not--he was afraid. He, who had faced +death calmly day by day; he, who had been noted for his bravery on the +field, and who had been mentioned in despatches, was now a coward. + +In a way he wondered at himself, and he realised that there was more +than one kind of courage. He, himself, had called Bob Nancarrow a +coward, because he refused to enlist. Now he realised that there was +more courage in Bob Nancarrow's cowardice than in his own bravery. Oh, +it was all an awful muddle! He ought to tell Nancy what Lieutenant +Proctor had related to him just before he was taken away to the +hospital; but he couldn't. If he did, he would forfeit his own chance, +and he might--yes, he was sure--he would lose Nancy altogether. + +"Of course, it couldn't be he," and Nancy seemed to be speaking to +herself; "you see, according to the paper, you were rescued by a +Lieutenant Nancarrow who belonged to a London regiment. Even if Bob +had joined the Army, he couldn't have been promoted so quickly," and +the girl sighed again. + +"Nancy," said the Captain, "I--I shouldn't be surprised if it were Bob +Nancarrow," and the heroism in those words was greater than that of +many deeds for which he had been praised. In that moment Trevanion had +won a greater battle than he realised. It had caused him little effort +to lead his men against the charges of the German infantry, but he felt +as though his heart were being pulled out as he uttered the words I +have recorded. + +The girl's face became pale: "What do you mean?" she asked. "Have you +heard anything?" + +Still Trevanion could not speak freely; even yet he wondered if there +were not some way whereby doubt could be kept in the girl's mind. + +"You see," he said presently, "Nancarrow was in the O.T.C. at Clifton, +and, I suppose, did very well there. Captain Pringle spoke to me more +than once about him, and--and I heard after he left Cornwall that he +joined a London regiment; of course, it was only hearsay, and I paid +but very little attention to it--in fact, I didn't believe it! Still, +it might be he." + +The girl's lips became tremulous: "Do you mean that, after all, Bob +joined?" + +"He might have," admitted Trevanion, and his voice was almost husky as +he spoke, and his eyes became hard. + +"No, no," she cried, "It couldn't have been he. If he had, he would +have told me--I am sure he would." + +"Would he?" asked Trevanion. + +She stood silent for a few seconds without speaking. She remembered +the circumstances under which she had parted from Bob; she called to +mind the time when she had given him a white feather in the Public Hall +at St. Ia, and her face crimsoned with shame at the thought of it. No +one could offer a more deadly insult than she had offered Bob. She had +branded him as a coward, regardless of who might be looking on. No, +no, even if he had joined, he would not have told her; his heart would +be too bitter against her. Why--why, he must hate her now! + +"I say, Nancy," and Trevanion's voice was hoarse with pain, "you don't +mean to tell me that you care anything about him still? You know what +you said; you told me you despised him, and--and, why, you almost told +me to hope! Don't you remember?" + +The girl's face was set and stern; she did not hear Trevanion's last +words; she was wondering with a great wonder. + +"Do you know anything besides what you have told me?" she asked. + +"I don't understand," he stammered. + +"You said it might be he, as though there were a doubt about it; don't +you know for certain? You've seen Captain Pringle; did you see him +after you recovered consciousness, that is, after you were rescued?" + +"Yes, but of course I scarcely knew what was said to me." + +"And did Captain Pringle tell you it was--was--the Nancarrow we knew?" + +"He said it was Nancarrow from Clifton, and--and that he had done the +bravest thing since the war began; but everything was vague to me. +I--I, of course, didn't believe it was Nancarrow; you know what he +said? But, I say, Nancy, all this makes no difference to us, does it? +You didn't raise my hopes only to dash them to the ground! I shall be +off to the front again in a few days, and--oh, if you could give me +just a word--just a word, Nancy, everything would be different! Hang +it all, even if it is he, and, of course, if it is, I shall not be slow +in acknowledging it, I haven't a bad record myself, and I shall go back +as major, you know." + +But the girl did not answer. Slowly she walked across the yard outside +the improvised hospital, without even bidding him "good-day." + +"I'm glad I told her, anyhow," reflected Trevanion; "it was beastly +hard--one of the hardest things I ever did. Good God, it seems the +very irony of fate that he should be the man to save me! I wonder if +he knew that it was I? Perhaps though he knows nothing of what passed +between us. I wonder where he is now. Anyhow, he shall never have +her; there's no other woman in the world for me, and--oh, yes, I'm all +right." + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile, Bob still lay in bed, weak as a child, but still on the +highway to recovery. He had no fever, and his wounds were beginning to +heal. + +Hundreds of men lay around him in the huge building which had been +commandeered as a hospital; French and English soldiers were carefully +nursed without a thought as to their nationality. It seemed as though +all the old enmity between France and England had gone for ever, and +that this terrible war made the two nations as one. + +Men lay side by side, without knowing each other's language; yet, +because they were fighting the same enemy, felt themselves as brothers. + +"Ah, yes," said a young French officer, who had been wounded on the day +when Bob had been stricken down, "we're at the beginning of a new era. +Yes, we have had compulsory military service in France; we have been +obliged to have it. We knew all the time that the Germans were waiting +to pounce upon us and crush us; that was why we wanted to be ready. +But the day is dawning, _mon ami_; we French have been a fighting +nation, but we love war no longer. When the Germans are crushed, as +they will be crushed; when their army and their navy are destroyed and +they are forbidden ever to have others,--then the day of peace will +come; then our nation will no longer be bled to pay for millions of +soldiers. Yes, we Frenchmen realise it, and we will fight for it to +the very last. It is not so much that Germany is an enemy to France +and an enemy to England; it is that she is an enemy to peace, to +goodwill, to fraternity--that is why we must fight. I had almost given +up a belief in Providence, but, mon Dieu, I believe in it now; the good +God is on our side." + +"I thought France had largely given up the belief in God?" said Bob. + +"No, no, there was a superficial scepticism, and what wonder? Have you +read the story of France? Ah, yes, the faith is coming back. This +last twenty years, _mon ami_, a change has come about. There is a new +force working. People are beginning to believe again that there is +something behind everything--something which cannot be explained away +by a shallow philosophy. We have a mission, monsieur--the good God has +given us and you a mission; it is to fight for peace. Who knows but +this is perhaps the last war that Europe will ever know?" + +Two days later, when Bob was much stronger, two events took place which +must be recorded. One was the arrival of a letter from his mother. +The doctor's letter, telling her of Bob's doings, had reached her and +so she immediately sent a letter to him full of pride and affection: +"Oh, my boy," she wrote, "if once I was ashamed of you, my pride in you +now is beyond all words! Everybody knows about you and is talking +about you in St. Ia. I simply cannot realise it, and I am crying with +joy as I write this. You are spoken of as a hero; the story of your +splendid deed in rescuing Captain Trevanion is the talk of the county. +I think Captain Pringle met a London journalist in France and told him +all about it. Oh, my dear boy, my heart simply aches to be with you, +and if it is at all possible I shall get across to France to see you. +Meanwhile, I am constantly praying for you. It is all so wonderful, +that my boy should do this because of what he believes to be call of +God. + +"By the way," the letter continued, "I suppose you have heard nothing +of Nancy Tresize. I am told she is a nurse in a French hospital, but +where, I haven't the slightest idea. Even the Admiral, whom I saw only +a few days ago, told me he didn't know where she was, but he hinted to +me that her engagement with Captain Trevanion was now practically +settled. The Admiral also told me that the Captain's promotion is +bound to be very rapid, and that if he lived he would doubtless come +back a Colonel; and so, my boy, although my heart is full of joy at +what you have done, I cannot help being sad because I am afraid you +have lost the best girl in Cornwall. Still, as your father used to say +to me, there is nothing higher in the world than to be true to one's +conscience." + +After Bob had read this letter he lay for a long time in deep thought. +Yes, in spite of everything, his sky was black. This ghastly war had +wrecked his life's happiness; but for it he and Nancy might have been +together, living a life of happiness and making plans for a life of +usefulness. War was hell; still he had no doubt about his duty. The +God of War must be killed, and this menace to the peace of Europe must +be destroyed. It was a divine call, and he must fight to make war +impossible. + +While he lay thinking of the letter, he saw coming towards him, +accompanied by the doctor, a tall, clean-shaven, handsome man, who was +evidently deeply interested in what he saw. + +"Yes," Bob heard him say to the doctor, "this is the greatest crime in +history. Here we are, nearly two thousand years after the birth of our +Lord, engaged in the ghastliest war known in the history of the world. +The discoveries of science, instead of being devoted to the good of +mankind, have been devoted to the work of the devil. I, for years, +hoped to be one of the first inventors of a flying-machine; and now I +curse the day when the flying-machine was invented. We have conquered +the heavens, only to make hell." + +The doctor laughed at the other's words: "Perhaps there's another side +to the question, Mr. Scarsfield," he said. "If you had seen what I +have seen here during the last few weeks, you would know that the war +has brought out many noble traits." + +"Yes, yes, that may be so, and I have come all the way from the States +to see for myself. You see, we are a neutral country, and what I have +seen has made me determined to go back home and take a lecturing tour +right through America denouncing the crime of war." + +"Here is Lieutenant Nancarrow," said the doctor, nodding to Bob's bed. + +"Yes, I want to see him," said Mr. Hiram Scarsfield; "I read the +account of what he did in the papers, and I am mighty glad that the +authorities have allowed me to come here. I want to shake him by the +hand." + +"Sir," he said, coming up to Bob, "whatever may be my views about war, +I admire brave men, and you risked your life to save another. When I +read it in the papers, tears came into my eyes, and when I heard that +you were here, I just made up my mind to see you, and what I want to +ask you, is this: You saved one man; how many have you killed?" + +"I don't know," replied Bob. + +"Many?" + +"I hope so." + +"Ah, that is the terror of the whole business! And when you get well +again, are you going back to the front?" + +"I hope so," was Bob's reply. + +"To kill more, I guess?" + +"If it is in my power." + +"Young man, don't you feel the hellishness of the thought?" + +"Yes," replied Bob, "I shudder at the thought of it." + +"Then my advice to you is--desert. When you get well enough, get out +of France and come to America where you can live in peace. Yes, I know +that sounds bad, but then I hate war; it just puts back the clock of +the world; it crucifies our Lord afresh." + +Bob looked at the other's face attentively, and he saw immediately that +it was the face of a strong man. There was no suggestion of the +fanatic about it; rather, it was sane and sincere. + +"Then you believe in peace--peace at any price?" was Bob's query. + +"I guess that is so; I guess there is nothing under heaven worth making +hell for, and that is what I have seen these last few weeks. I haven't +been right up to the fighting-line--I haven't been allowed--but I have +seen enough to make my heart bleed." + +"I agree with every word you say," and Bob's voice was almost tremulous. + +"Then why are you a soldier?" + +"Look here, Mr. Scarsfield," said Bob. "Supposing that the French and +the English and the Belgians and the Russians were all to disarm, what +would happen, do you think?" + +"There would be peace," said the American. + +"And what kind of peace?" + +"There would be a cessation of bloodshed, anyhow. Mind you, I would +rather see all nationalities cease than that war should continue. +Let's all sheathe our swords and trust in God. That is my mission now, +as long as I live. I am going back to America, and I am going to rouse +the whole country to this feeling. It may be that this is because I +have Quaker blood in my veins. I am afraid I am not worthy of my +Quaker forbears, but now I am convinced that they were right." + +"Yes," replied Bob, "I too have Quaker blood in my veins, and I too am +convinced in my heart they are right." + +"And still you are a soldier," said the other, in astonishment. + +"Yes, I am a soldier, until this war is over. Look here, Mr. +Scarsfield, do you believe you could ever convert Germany to your way +of thinking? Have you ever read the works of those German writers--men +like Bernhardi and Treitschke and Nietzsche, and others of that school? +Do you know that their teaching is the religion of the war party in +Germany, and that that war party rules the Empire? Do you know that it +is the avowed determination of Germany to conquer the world by the +sword? You do know it? For thirty years Germany has been building up +her army and her navy for this purpose. She believes that war is a +virtue, and that Germany is called by God to go to war; she worships +the War God; she rejoices in it; lives for it. It is preached from her +pulpits; it is taught in her schools; it is interwoven into the warp +and woof of German life. Because of this they have altered the New +Testament. Instead of preaching, 'Blessed are the peace-makers,' they +preach, 'Blessed are the war-makers,' and they believe that the +Almighty intends them to make war." + +"Yes," replied Mr. Scarsfield, "I must admit that. I have read those +writers you mention; read them with a sad heart." + +"When I read them," said Bob, "I was obliged to throw them away from +me, as if I had been touching unclean things. I too was brought up to +believe in peace at any price, and I hated war as I hate hell itself; +so much did I hate it, that I refused to enlist in the English Army and +alienated those who were dearest to me. Before I enlisted, I fought +the biggest battle of my life. Presently I realised the meaning of the +German creed; I saw the inwardness and ghastliness of their so-called +Gospel of War; I saw that to carry out their purpose they were willing +to sacrifice honour and to crush humanity. I saw that they professed +friendship in order to betray us; I saw that while they accepted our +hospitality in England, they filled our country with spies in the hope +that when the time was ready, and they made war upon us, they would use +those spies for our destruction. I saw that they regarded a treaty as +something that could be thrown off like an old garment, and I saw they +were determined on war. What could we do? You do not believe, I +suppose, that the murder of the Crown Prince of Austria was the cause +of this war? No one believes that it was anything but a pretext. +Germany made war--a war for which she had been preparing for a quarter +of a century. She signed the Treaty to protect Belgium; she gave her +word of honour as a nation that Belgium's neutrality and integrity +should be maintained. Then she signed her ultimatum to Belgium, and +told her that if she did not allow the German Army to pass through +Belgium country in order to crush France, she should be treated as an +enemy. When our Ambassador in Berlin pleaded that Germany had signed a +treaty to protect Belgium, what was the reply? 'Will you go to war +with us just for a scrap of paper?' That is what the war spirit means +in Germany. They cannot understand how the honour of a nation could +stand in the way of her ambition. And so Germany entered Belgium. +What was mercy? What was honour? What was purity? Read the story of +Louvain, of Malines; think of the outrages, cruelties, blasphemies, and +then ask yourself, what could we have done?" + +"Yes," said the American; "but war--think of what it has meant." + +"Is not there something worse than war?" said Bob. + +"What can be worse?" asked Mr. Hiram Scarsfield. + +"Violation of honour, of truth, of purity," said the young man +earnestly. "That is worse; yes, and it is worse than war to allow a +cancer like the German war-spirit to live in the very heart of a +continent, making peace and goodwill impossible." + +"Yes, young man," replied the American; "you make out a strong case, +and I have no doubt that if a war could be just, England is fighting a +just war. But no war can be just, because every war is born in hell. +As for me, I'm going back to America on my crusade of peace." + +"Mr. Scarsfield," said Bob, "may I suggest something to you?" + +"Yes; what is it?" + +"That you go back to America, and arouse that great Continent to come +and help us in this war for peace. I know your President professes to +be a peace man. But think! You who could do so much to kill war, are +standing by, supine and neutral, while we are shedding our blood to +make war impossible. To me, it is the call of God to every young man +and to every man who has health and strength, to give his life to kill +this war devil at the heart of Europe. And I tell you this, until it +is killed, your talk about peace will be so much wind and useless +sound. America could, if she would, put an end to this war." + +"How?" cried the American. + +"By, raising an army of millions of men, well accoutred and armed and +provisioned, to come over to help us. If America placed all her mighty +weight on the side of England at this moment, it would paralyse the +German Army. If America said, as we are saying, that this war should +never cease until Germany was powerless ever to make war again, you +would do more for peace than if all the talkers in America were to go +round preaching peace. That is why, Quaker as I am, I am a soldier, +and will remain a soldier as long as God gives me breath, to make peace +not a dream, but a reality." + +"But what about the Sermon on the Mount, young man?" said the American. + +"What did our Lord mean," urged Bob, "when He said, 'I came not to +bring peace but a sword?' And what did He mean when He said to His +disciples, 'He that hath no sword, let him go and buy one?' Mind you, +we do not hate the Germans in all this; we do not violate the command +'Love your enemy.' It would be the greatest blessing ever known to the +German people if the Kaiser and all his war-fiends were crushed for +ever, for then could peace be made possible." + +"Now, Nancarrow," said the doctor, "you have talked enough. You're +getting excited as it is, and we want you back at the front." + +"I will say this," said the American, holding out his hand to Bob, "you +have given me something to think about, and I will tell the Americans +what you have said." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +"Nancarrow, it's a nice day; it might be summer. I want you to get +out." It was the doctor who spoke. "Yes, I know you feel weak, but +one hour in the sunshine will do you more good than all the medicine +ever invented." + +"I can hardly bear to move my arm yet," said Bob; "and I am as weak as +a kitten." + +"Yes, I know; but, come, you must get out." + +Five minutes later Bob had been taken to a sheltered spot, where he sat +rejoicing in the warm rays of the sun. Close by was the great +barn-like building, in which many hundreds of wounded men lay, and +where scores of brave women were giving their lives to nurse the men +who had been fighting for their country. + +In the near distance, too, he saw several like himself who were +convalescent, and who were drinking in the pure country air and +rejoicing in the warm sunlight. + +During the last three days he had been able to read, and found that +people in the home country had been thinking of those away at the war. +Literally tons of periodicals, novels, and other light literature had +been forwarded to them; while on every hand were evidences of the fact +that millions at home, although they were unable to fight, were anxious +to help those who could. + +Although it was a scene of suffering, and although many of the sights +in the hospital were terrible beyond words, all was cheerfulness and +hope. Laughter was heard on every hand; jests were bandied in every +direction; all thoughts of differences in nationality were sunk in the +common cause of humanity. + +"A week or two more," thought Bob, "and I shall be at it again." + +A copy of an English newspaper, several days old, lay by his side. He +took it up and began to read listlessly. The paper had been sent from +Lancashire and contained letters from soldiers who had gone from that +county. One letter struck him forcibly: it was headed "Back to Hell." +"Dear mother," the soldier wrote, "I am alive and well, but I have had +a terrible time. Four days and nights I have been fighting without +ever having time to change my clothes. Never once during that time did +I take off my shoes. It was simply fight, fight, all the time. Our +chaps were just worn out, and so were ordered away to rest for a day or +two. That is why I am here and have time to write to you. To-morrow I +am going back to Hell; but I am going willingly, because I know I am +wanted there." + +The tears started to Bob's eyes as he read. There was a touch of +heroism, and more than heroism, in the simple lad's letter: "I am going +back to Hell, and I am going willingly, because I know I am wanted +there." + +"Yes," thought Bob; "that just hits off the situation." + +At that moment a laugh rang out which caused him to start violently and +his pulses to quicken; there was not another voice in the world like +that; it was a laugh he had heard a hundred times. He remembered it as +it sounded above the singing of the waves down by the Cornish sea; he +remembered it on the tennis courts at Penwennack, and on the golf links +at Leiant. In another second the laugh was lost in a hoarse, excited +cry. The eyes of the two met, but neither spoke a word. + +"I--I--this is a surprise," stammered Bob presently. + +"Why didn't you tell me?" + +It was not a bit what either of them wanted to say, but it didn't +matter; words at that moment meant very little. + +"I never heard you were here," he went on, after a few seconds. "I've +been in the hospital such a long time, too, but no one ever told me." + +He tried to speak naturally, but the girl heard the tremor in his +voice. "It is because he is so weak," she thought. "How pale he +looks!" + +"Were you wounded badly?" she asked. + +"I got out of it jolly easily, I suppose," he replied; "and I was lucky +too--all the bones were set before I recovered consciousness." + +"He doesn't tell me he is glad to see me," she reflected. "Of course, +he hates me now. How can it be otherwise? When we last met, I was +just cruel to him, and I hurt him all I was able." + +"I am so glad you are better," she said aloud. + +"It's awfully good of you. Won't you sit down?" + +They might have been mere acquaintances from the way they spoke, but +each felt that the moment was tragic. + +"The doctor tells me that in a week, or a fortnight at the outside, I +shall be ready to go back," Bob continued. "There's nothing the matter +with me now, except weakness." + +He knew that all this was not what he wanted to say, or what he ought +to say, but somehow the right words would not come. He felt awkward +and constrained in her presence. "If she's engaged to Trevanion," he +reflected, "it must be painful for her to see me. I wonder if she +knows nothing about Trevanion. I wonder if--if she knows what I did." + +Nancy did not sit down as he had asked her, but stood awkwardly; she +was picking a scrap of lint to pieces, nervously, and with twitching +fingers. + +"Bob," she said presently, "I want you to forgive me. I insulted you +down in Cornwall--you remember that night at the Public Hall. You see, +I didn't know that you intended to enlist." + +"I didn't," replied Bob; "nothing was further from my mind than +enlisting at that moment." + +Everything seemed unreal between them. Neither of them was saying what +was in their hearts; they seemed to be speaking only for the purpose of +making conversation. + +"Have you seen Captain Trevanion?" he asked, after an awkward silence. +"I heard--that is, I was given to understand, he was wounded; not +dangerously, you know, but still, wounded. The doctor assured me he +would get better." + +He saw a quick flush rise to the girl's pale face, as he spoke; he saw +her lips tremble too, but she did not answer him. His heart became as +heavy as lead: "Then it is true," he reflected. "Mother was right; +they are engaged. Still, I must bear up as best I can. I will not +give her pain by telling her what it means to me." + +"Oh, Bob, will you forgive me?" she burst out suddenly. + +"I--of course, there's nothing to forgive," he answered. "What have I +to forgive?" + +"I called you a coward," she cried; "I insulted you, and all the time +you were braver than I dreamed of. Why, you actually saved him, and in +doing so you risked your life in the most horrible way. It was +wonderful of you--just wonderful; and I--I---- Oh, I'm so ashamed, +Bob!" + +"I see what she means," thought Bob; "she's trying to tell me how +thankful she is to me for having saved her lover for her." + +"I hope you are not worrying about that," he said, and by this time he +was able to speak calmly. "I was awfully lucky, and, after all, it was +not so difficult; I came back quite safe--not a shot touched me." + +"He simply won't see what I mean," was the thought that burned its way +into her brain, "or else he hates me. Yes, that is it; he must hate +me. How could it be otherwise, when I insulted him in the Public Hall, +when I made him the laughing-stock of the whole town?" + +"It's awfully fine of you," went on Bob, "to come out here like this. +I sometimes think that nurses need more courage than the soldiers. I +cannot understand how refined, sensitive women like you can bear to see +the horrible sights which are so common in places like this; it is just +splendid of you--just splendid. You say you have not seen Trevanion?" + +Again her cheeks, which had become pale again, crimsoned. + +"Oh, yes," she replied, "he has been in this hospital; I--I have helped +to nurse him." + +"It seems strange that I never heard of it," said Bob; "but there, +after all, it's not so strange--there are thousands of men and scores +of nurses here; so it is no wonder that I never heard of either of you +being here." + +"He went back to the front yesterday," said Nancy. "He's quite well +and strong again now. He told me that it was you who rescued him from +death. Oh, Bob, it was splendid of you! It's all so strange too. +Would you mind telling me why you altered your mind and came to the +war?" + +"I learned that it was my duty," said Bob simply. "No, I haven't +altered my mind about war, or about soldiering at all; but I had to +come. You see, after I left you, I learned things to which I had been +blind before; it is difficult to explain, but I saw that war could only +be killed by war. I saw that the Gospel of Peace meant nothing to +Germany, and that if she were allowed to go on unmolested, the ghastly +creed of war, and the glory of war, would be established for ever; that +was why I became a soldier. I wanted to help to cut it out; destroy +it, root and branch--and we must never stop until that has been done. +But, I'm so glad Captain Trevanion is better, and has been able to go +back; he's a brave man; he's a great soldier. You're engaged to him, +aren't you?" + +The question came out suddenly, and for a moment it staggered her. She +was not engaged to him, and yet, in a way, she was bound to him; she +had said that which made Trevanion hope. Her promise was as thin as a +gossamer thread, yet it seemed to bind, her like a steel chain. + +"Forgive my impertinence in asking," said Bob quickly, noting the look +on her face. "Of course, I'd no right to ask." + +Still she could not speak; she felt as though she would have given +worlds to deny all thought of an engagement to Trevanion, but she +couldn't--neither could she bring herself to tell him the story; the +words she wanted to speak seemed to seal her lips. A long and awkward +silence fell between them--a silence that was painful; both had so much +to say, and yet neither could say anything. + +"Has any one told you I'm engaged to Captain Trevanion?" and her voice +was indistinct and hoarse. + +"Yes," he replied, "Proctor told me. He was at Clifton with me, you +know, and Trevanion told him." + +"Did Mr. Proctor say that?" + +"I think so--yes; and then, as soon as mother heard I was here, she +wrote to me and told me about it. I suppose your father is very +pleased?" + +"How he must hate me!" she thought. "It is only a few weeks ago since +I promised to be his wife, and then only a week or two later I insulted +him, and now he thinks I am engaged to Captain Trevanion. How mean, +how contemptible he must think me! He must look upon me as a common +flirt; he must believe that my promises to him were just a mockery; it +is no wonder he speaks to me like that, and I--oh, I wish I could tell +him!" + +A French soldier hobbled across the open space. "If you please, +mademoiselle, you're wanted," he said; "another train load of wounded +men has just arrived, and all the nurses are needed." He saluted Bob, +who wore his lieutenant's uniform, and then he hobbled away again. + +"This war is a terrible business, isn't it?" he queried, and there was +a plaintive smile on his lips. + +"It has upset everything, just everything; I hate it!" she cried--"I +hate it! Oh, Bob, don't you feel how I hate it?" + +She wanted him to understand more than her words conveyed; wanted him +to feel that it was not the horrors of the war that moved her so +greatly, but the fact that it had separated them. + +"Yes, I know what you feel," said Bob; "but you must go through with +it, Nancy. I'm sure you will be brave. When it is over, your reward +will come. There--go back, and don't mind me." + +"I won't go back!" she cried. "Bob, you can't forgive me, because I +was so mean, so contemptible; I called you a coward; I insulted you; +I--I . . . and now you can't forgive me--and I don't wonder." + +"That was nothing," said Bob. "Of course, I did seem like a coward, I +suppose, and I don't wonder at your doing what you did; but that's +nothing. You'll be happy when it's all over; and really, he's a fine +soldier, Nancy; and a fine fellow too; all his men just worship him." + +"Oh, Bob, can't you understand?" her voice was almost inaudible. + +"Yes, yes, I understand, but don't trouble about me one little bit; I +shall be all right. There--go now, they want you." + +"Do you really wish me to go, Bob?" + +"Of course I do; it's your duty, and duty is everything in these days; +it's hard and stern now, but by and by it'll become joyful." + +"And when the war is over?" she stammered--"I--I . . ." + +"It won't be over yet for a long time; still, we must keep a brave +heart. You remember those lines of William Blake, Nancy? I used to +laugh at them because he mixed his metaphors, but I see their meaning +now: + + "I will not cease from mental strife, + Nor shall the sword sleep in my hand, + Till I have built Jerusalem, + In England's good and pleasant land." + +There, get back Nancy; perhaps we shall see each other again, before I +go?" + +Without another word she went back to her grim and horrible work; her +feet seemed like lead as she dragged them across the open space which +lay between her and the great, gaunt building. + +"He will not see," she said to herself; "he doesn't want to see, and he +hates me." + +As for Bob, he sat a long while alone, in silence. "It's jolly hard on +her," he said presently, "and I can't understand it; but she didn't +deny that she was engaged to him, and, after all, he's a better man +than I." + +Day followed day, and he didn't see Nancy again; he was far removed +from her in another part of the great hospital. Train load after train +load of wounded men were brought there, and she had to be at her post +almost night and day. He longed to seek her out and to speak to her +amidst the loathsome work she had to do, but the discipline which +obtained forbade him to do so; besides, as he reflected, he could do no +good; it would only make the wound in his heart bleed more than ever. + +Presently he was pronounced fit for duty again, and orders came that he +must make his way to the front. Fifty men besides himself who were +also recovered from their wounds were to accompany him. + +The train was waiting at the little station close by, and at noon that +day he was to leave the hospital. By this time he had become +accustomed to the place, and knew several of the nurses whose duty lay +at his end of the hospital; he also had become on good terms with many +of the men. + +An hour before the time had come for him to go he had gone out in the +open space where he had seen Nancy, in the hopes of finding her, but +she was nowhere to be seen. + +All his arrangements were made, and nothing was left for him to do +until the time came for his departure. + +He wandered aimlessly and heedlessly around; his heart ached for just +another sight of the woman he loved, and whom he believed he had lost +for ever. + +He looked at the watch on his wrist: "A quarter of an hour more," he +reflected. He had longed to ask boldly to be allowed to see her, but +he was afraid to do so; if she wanted to see him, she would have given +him a hint, surely. + +Then, when all hope had gone from his heart, she came from that part of +the hospital where a number of the most dangerously wounded men lay, +and ran towards him: + +"I heard you were going this morning, Bob," she said, "and I have just +crept away like a deserter; I felt I must; I didn't make things plain +to you the other day. Bob, you have forgiven me, haven't you?" + +"There was nothing to forgive," said Bob, and his heart beat madly. + +"You aren't a coward," she said; "you're just--just the bravest man I +ever knew. You believe I think that of you, don't you?" + +He laughed nervously; he wanted to say a great deal, but the words +wouldn't come. + +"And--and, Bob, you know what you said to me, what that man Proctor and +your mother told you?" + +He looked at her in a puzzled way; even yet, he did not dare to hope. + +"And--and, Bob"--with the words came a sob--"there's no one in the +world but you." + +"Nancy," he cried, "You don't mean . . . ?" + +At that moment he was summoned to his duty. Still she stood before +him--half sobbing, the same light in her eyes which he remembered +seeing down by the Cornish sea. + +A command from his superior officer was given; he must go. Close by, +the soldiers stood in marching order. They had been wounded, but now +they were ready for duty again; they were in great good humour, and +discipline even yet was somewhat relaxed. They were laughing and +talking gaily; they were going back to fight, but they were going with +a laugh upon their lips. + +A minute later some one had started a song--the song which he had heard +often in the trenches, when shot and shell were falling thickly: + + "It's a long way to Tipperary, + It's a long, long way to go; + It's a long way to Tipperary, + To the sweetest girl I know." + + +"Nancy," he cried eagerly, "do you mean that . . . ?" + +Before her reply had come, even before he had finished his sentence, he +had to leave her, and in a minute more he was on his way to the front. + +Hours later he heard the booming of the great guns again, and was met +with sight and sound which told him of his duty, but through it all and +beyond it all he saw Nancy's face; he heard the music of her voice; he +remembered the look in her eyes--eyes that were filled with tears, yet +shining like stars, and he thought again and again of her words: +"There's no one in the world but you." + + + + +NOTE + +I had just finished reading the proofs of the aforegoing, when I +received a letter from my friend, a part of which I have decided to +insert here. + + +"It is now some time since you heard from me, and I am scribbling this +hurried note to tell you that I am still alive and well. That I am +able to say this seems to me nothing less than miraculous, for I have +been in the thick of the fighting ever since I left the hospital. When +I have time to write fully, I shall have some wonderful things to tell +you concerning the heroism of our Army, and of the marvellous way in +which we have not only held our own, but advanced. As you will see, I +am now in Belgium, and we are in the midst of one of the most deadly +struggles ever known in history. Nothing but the almost superhuman +courage of our men could have saved us. It has been simply miraculous. +Again and again have the Germans hurled themselves upon us, only to +fail. There are signs now that their attacks are weakening, and their +defence more feeble. If we only had more men, we could put them to +rout and that right quickly. That is our great need. More men like +the London Scottish, who have simply covered themselves with glory. + +"It is said here that recruiting in England is slackening somewhat. +Such news is simply appalling. You should hear what the men at the +front are saying about the shirkers who are hanging back. They are a +disgrace to the country, and deserve to be flogged. Let the nation be +true to itself now, and we shall for ever cut out this cancer of German +militarism, and bring in the time of universal peace. + +"Have the shirkers at home ever thought, I wonder, of what would happen +if Germany should conquer! The very suggestion of it drives me almost +mad. Everything depends on the loyalty and enthusiasm of to-day. For, +God's sake do something to stir the people up, to make them feel how +pressing is the need. + +"If ever God called volunteers to fight in a Holy War, it is now. You +know what a 'peace man' I have always been, and it is because I am a +'peace man' still, that I say this. On every hand the Almighty is +calling us to fight for peace. It is not against the Germans that we +are fighting, but against the mad, devilish spirit which they have +deified. Let us be true now, and we shall surely strangle that spirit. + +"You have heard of the story of Thoreau and Emerson. Thoreau went to +suffering and prison for the sake of truth and conscience. + +"'Why are you here?' asked Emerson. + +"'Why are you _not_ here?' retorted Thoreau. + +"That is what I want to say to the young men of England. 'Why are you +not here, or why are you not training to come here?' + +"Shall I live through it all I wonder, and shall I ever see my native +land again? I hope so, I pray so, for I have so much to live for, more +even than I dare to tell you. But even if I do not, even if I die, as +thousands of the brave men here are dying, I shall be glad to lay down +my life for the cause of honour, and liberty, and peace. + +"I wonder if it is possible for you to get across to France or Belgium +and get near the fighting-line? I wish you could. There are stories I +could tell you that would set your heart on fire. Come, if you can!" + +The remainder of Bob's letter is not for publication, interesting +though it is. But this I will say: if I can get near the fighting-line +I shall, and then, perhaps I shall be able to complete the story, which +is only just begun. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALL FOR A SCRAP OF PAPER*** + + +******* This file should be named 25152.txt or 25152.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/1/5/25152 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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