the red cross girl-第13章

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soon　as　he　read　the　book　he　mailed　it　to　the　German
Ambassador　in　London；　and　under　separate　cover　sent　him　a
letter。　In　this　he　said：　〃I　suggest　your　Excellency　bring
this　book　to　the　notice　of　a　certain　royal　personage；　and　of
the　Strategy　Board。　General　Bolivar　said；　'When　you　want
arms；　take　them　from　the　enemy。'　Does　not　this　also　follow
when　you　want　ideas？〃

What　the　Strategy　Board　thought　of　the　plan　is　a　matter　of
history。　This　was　in　1910。　A　year　later；　during　the
coronation　week；　Lester　Ford　went　to　Clarkson's　to　rent　a
monk's　robe　in　which　to　appear　at　the　Shakespeare　Ball；　and
while　the　assistant　departed　in　search　of　the　robe；　Ford　was
left　alone　in　a　small　room　hung　with　full…length　mirrors　and
shelves；　and　packed　with　the　uniforms　that　Clarkson　rents　for
Covent　Garden　balls　and　amateur　theatricals。　While　waiting；
Ford　gratified　a　long；　secretly　cherished　desire　to　behold
himself　as　a　military　man；　by　trying　on　all　the　uniforms　on
the　lower　shelves；　and　as　a　result；　when　the　assistant
returned；　instead　of　finding　a　young　American　in　English
clothes　and　a　high　hat；　he　was　confronted　by　a　German　officer
in　a　spiked　helmet　fighting　a　duel　with　himself　in　the
mirror。　The　assistant　retreated　precipitately；　and　Ford；
conscious　that　he　appeared　ridiculous；　tried　to　turn　the
tables　by　saying；　〃　Does　a　German　uniform　always　affect　a
Territorial　like　that？〃

The　assistant　laughed　good…naturedly。

〃It　did　give　me　quite　a　turn；〃　he　said。　〃It's　this　talk　of
invasion；　I　fancy。　But　for　a　fact；　sir；　if　I　was　a　Coast
Guard；　and　you　came　along　the　beach　dressed　like　that；　I'd
take　a　shot　at　you；　just　on　the　chance；　anyway。〃

〃And；　quite　right；　too！〃　said　Ford。

He　was　wondering　when　the　invasion　did　come　whether　he　would
stick　at　his　post　in　London　and　dutifully　forward　the　news　to
his　paper；　or　play　truant　and　as　a　war　correspondent　watch
the　news　in　the　making。　So　the　words　of　Mr。　Clarkson's
assistant　did　not　sink　in。　But　a　few　weeks　later　young　Major
Bellew　recalled　them。　Bellew　was　giving　a　dinner　on　the
terrace　of　the　Savoy　Restaurant。　His　guests　were　his　nephew；
young　Herbert；　who　was　only　five　years　younger　than　his
uncle；　and　Herbert's　friend　Birrell；　an　Irishman；　both　in
their　third　term　at　the　university。　After　five　years'　service
in　India；　Bellew　had　spent　the　last　〃Eights〃　week　at　Oxford；
and　was　complaining　bitterly　that　since　his　day　the
undergraduate　had　deteriorated。　He　had　found　him　serious；
given　to　study；　far　too　well　behaved。　Instead　of　Jorrocks；　he
read　Galsworthy；　instead　of　〃wines〃　he　found　pleasure　in
debating　clubs　where　he　discussed　socialism。　Ragging；
practical　jokes；　ingenious　hoaxes；　that　once　were　wont　to　set
England　in　a　roar；　were　a　lost　art。　His　undergraduate　guests
combated　these　charges　fiercely。　His　criticisms　they　declared
unjust　and　without　intelligence。

〃You're　talking　rot！〃　said　his　dutiful　nephew。　〃Take　Phil
here；　for　example。　I've　roomed　with　him　three　years　and　I　can
testify　that　he　has　never　opened　a　book。　He　never　heard　of
Galsworthy　until　you　spoke　of　him。　And　you　can　see　for
yourself　his　table　manners　are　quite　as　bad　as　yours！〃

〃Worse！〃　assented　Birrell　loyally。

〃And　as　for　ragging！　What　rags；　in　your　day；　were　as　good　as
ours；　as　the　Carrie　Nation　rag；　for　instance；　when　five
hundred　people　sat　through　a　temperance　lecture　and　never
guessed　they　were　listening　to　a　man　from　Balliol？〃

〃And　the　Abyssinian　Ambassador　rag！〃　cried　Herbert。　〃What
price　that？　When　the　DREADNOUGHT　manned　the　yards　for　him　and
gave　him　seventeen　guns。　That　was　an　Oxford　rag；　and　carried
through　by　Oxford　men。　The　country　hasn't　stopped　laughing
yet。　You　give　us　a　rag！〃　challenged　Herbert。　〃　Make　it　as
hard　as　you　like；　something　risky；　something　that　will　make
the　country　sit　up；　something　that　will　send　us　all　to　jail；
and　Phil　and　I　will　put　it　through　whether　it　takes　one　man
or　a　dozen。　Go　on；〃　he　persisted；　〃And　I　bet　we　can　get　fifty
volunteers　right　here　in　town　and　all　of　them
undergraduates。〃

〃Give　you　the　idea；　yes！〃　mocked　Bellew；　trying　to　gain　time。
〃That's　just　what　I　say。　You　boys　to…day　are　so　dull。　You
lack　initiative。　It's　the　idea　that　counts。　Anybody　can　do
the　acting。　That's　just　amateur　theatricals！〃

〃Is　it！〃　snorted　Herbert。　〃If　you　want　to　know　what　stage
fright　is；　just　go　on　board　a　British　battle…ship　with　your
face　covered　with　burnt　cork　and　insist　on　being　treated　like
an　ambassador。　You'll　find　it's　a　little　different　from　a
first　night　with　the　Simla　Thespians！〃

Ford　had　no　part　in　the　debate。　He　had　been　smoking
comfortably　and　with　well…timed　nods；　impartially　encouraging
each　disputant。　But　now　he　suddenly　laid　his　cigar　upon　his
plate；　and；　after　glancing　quickly　about　him；　leaned　eagerly
forward。　They　were　at　the　corner　table　of　the　terrace；　and；
as　it　was　now　past　nine　o'clock；　the　other　diners　had
departed　to　the　theatres　and　they　were　quite　alone。　Below
them；　outside　the　open　windows；　were　the　trees　of　the
embankment；　and　beyond；　the　Thames；　blocked　to　the　west　by
the　great　shadows　of　the　Houses　of　Parliament；　lit　only　by
the　flame　in　the　tower　that　showed　the　Lower　House　was　still
sitting。

〃I'LL　give　you　an　idea　for　a　rag；〃　whispered　Ford。　〃One　that
is　risky；　that　will　make　the　country　sit　up；　that　ought　to
land　you　in　Jail？　Have　you　read　'The　Riddle　of　the　Sands'？〃

Bellew　and　Herbert　nodded；　Birrell　made　no　sign。

〃　Don't　mind　him；〃　exclaimed　Herbert　impatiently。　〃HE　never
reads　anything！　Go　on！〃

〃It's　the　book　most　talked　about；〃　explained　Ford。　〃And　what
else　is　most　talked　about？〃　He　answered　his　own　question。
〃The　landing　of　the　Germans　in　Morocco　and　the　chance　of　war。
Now；　I　ask　you；　with　that　book　in　everybody's　mind；　and　the
war　scare　in　everybody's　mind；　what　would　happen　if　German
soldiers　appeared　to…night　on　the　Norfolk　coast　just　where
the　book　says　they　will　appear？　Not　one　soldier；　but　dozens
of　soldiers；　not　in　one　place；　but　in　twenty　places？〃

〃What　would　happen？〃　roared　Major　Bellew　loyally。　〃The　Boy
Scouts　would　fall　out　of　bed　and　kick　them　into　the　sea！〃

〃Shut　up！〃　snapped　his　nephew　irreverently。　He　shook　Ford　by
the　arm。　〃How？〃　he　demanded　breathlessly。　〃How　are　we　to　do
it？　It　would　take　hundreds　of　men。〃

〃Two　men；〃　corrected　Ford；　〃And　a　third　man　to　drive　the　car。
I　thought　it　out　one　day　at　Clarkson's　when　I　came　across　a
lot　of　German　uniforms。　I　thought　of　it　as　a　newspaper　story；
as　a　trick　to　find　out　how　prepared　you　people　are　to　meet
invasion。　And　when　you　said　just　now　that　you　wanted　a　chance
to　go　to　jail　〃

〃What's　your　plan？〃　interrupted　Birrell。

〃We　would　start　just　before　dawn〃　began　Ford。

〃We？〃　demanded　Herbert。　〃Are　you　in　this？〃

〃Am　I　in　it？〃　cried　Ford　indignantly。　〃It's　my　own　private
invasion！　I'm　letting　you　boys　in　on　the　ground　floor。　If　I
don't　go；　there　won　t　be　any　invasion！〃

The　two　pink…cheeked　youths　glanced　at　each　other　inquiringly
and　then　nodded。

〃We　accept　your　services；　sir；〃　said　Birrell　gravely。　〃What's
your　plan？〃

In　astonishment　Major　Bellew　glanced　from　one　to　the　other
and　then　slapped　the　table　with　his　open　palm。　His　voice
shook　with　righteous　indignation。

〃Of　all　the　preposterous；　outrageousAre　you　mad？〃　he
demanded。　〃Do　you　suppose　for　one　minute　I　will　allow〃

His　nephew　shrugged　his　shoulders　and；　rising；　pushed　back
his　chair。

〃Oh；　you　go　to　the　devil！〃　he　exclaimed　cheerfully。　〃Come　on；
Ford；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　find　some　place　where　uncle　can't　hear
us。〃

Two　days　later　a　touring　car　carrying　three　young　men；　in　the
twenty…one　miles　between　Wells　and　Cromer；　broke　down　eleven
times。　Each　time　this　misfortune　befell　them　one　young　man
scattered　tools　in　the　road　and　on　his　knees　hammered
ostentatiously　at　the　tin　hood；　and　the　other　two　occupants
of　the　car　sauntered　to　the　beach。　There　they　chucked　pebbles
at　the　waves　and　then　slowly　retraced　their　steps。　Each　time
the　route　by　which　they　returned　was　different　from　the　one
by　which　they　had　set　forth。　Sometimes　they　followed　the
beaten　path　down　the　cliff　or；　as　it　chanced　to　be；　across
the　marshes；　sometimes　they　slid　down　the　face　of　the　cliff；
sometimes　they　lost　themselves　behind　the　hedges　and　in　the
lanes　of　the　villages。　But　when　they　again　reached　the　car
the　procedure　of　each　was　alikeeach　produced　a　pencil　and
on　the　face　of　his　〃Half　Inch〃　road　map　traced　strange；
fantastic　signs。

At　lunch…time　they　stopped　at　the　East　Cliff　Hotel　at　Cromer
and　made　numerous　and　trivial　inquiries　about　the　Cromer　golf
links。　They　had　come；　they　volunteered；　from　Ely　for　a　day
of　sea…bathing　and　golf；　they　were　returning　after　dinner。
The　head…waiter　of　the　East　Cliff　Hotel　gave　them　the
information　they　desired。　He　was　an　intelligent　head…waiter；
young；　and　of　pleasant；　not　to　say　distinguished；　bearing。　In
a　frock　coat　he　might　easily　have　been　mistaken　for　something
even　more　important　than　a　head…waiterfor　a　German　riding…
master；　a　leader　of　a　Hungarian　band；　a　manager　of　a　Ritz
hotel。　But　he　was　not　above　his　station。　He　even　assisted　the
porter　in　carrying　the　coats　and　golf　bags　of　the　gentlemen
from　the　car　to　the　coffee…room　where；　with　the　intuition　of
the　homing　pigeon；　the　three　strangers　had；　unaided；　found
their　way。　As　Carl　Schultz　followed；　carrying　the　dust…coats；
a　road　map　fell　from　the　pocket　of　one　of　them　to　the　floor。
Carl　Schultz　picked　it　up；　and　was　about　to　replace　it；　when
his　eyes　were　held　by　notes　scrawled　roughly　in　pencil。　With
an　expression　that　no　longer　was　that　of　a　head…waiter；　Carl
cast　one　swift　glance　about　him　and　then　slipped　into　the
empty　coat…room　and　locked　the　door。　Five　minutes　later；　with
a　smile　that　played　uneasily　over　a　face　grown　gray　with
anxiety；　Carl　presented　the　map　to　the　tallest　of　the　three
strangers。　It　was　open　so　that　the　pencil　marks　were　most
obvious。　By　his　accent　it　was　evident　the　tallest　of　the
three　strangers　was　an　American。

〃What　the　devil！〃　he　protested；　〃which　of　you　boys　has　been
playing　hob　with　my　map？〃

For　just　an　instant　the　two　pink…cheeked　ones　regarded　him
with　disfavor；　until；　for　just　an　instant；　his　eyebrows　rose
and；　with　a　glance；　he　signified　the　waiter。

〃Oh；　that！〃　exclaimed　the　younger　one。　〃The　Automobile　Club
asked　us　to　mark　down　petrol　stations。　Those　marks　mean
that's　where　you　can　buy　petrol。〃

The　head…waiter　breathed　deeply。　With　an　assured　and　happy
countenance；　he　departed　and；　for　the　two…hundredth　time　that
day；　looked　from　the　windows　of　the　dining…room　out　over　the
tumbling　breakers　to　the　gray　stretch　of　sea。　As　though
fearful　that　his　face　would　expose　his　secret；　he　glanced
carefully　about　him　and　then；　assured　he　was　alone；　leaned
eagerly　forward；　scanning　the　empty；　tossing　waters。

In　his　mind's　eye　he　beheld　rolling　tug…boats　straining
against　long　lines　of　scows；　against　the　dead　weight　of
field…guns；　against　the　pull　of　thousands　of　motionless；
silent　figures；　each　in　khaki；　each　in　a　black　leather
helmet；　each　with　one　hundred　and　fifty　rounds。

In　his　own　language　Carl　Schultz　reproved　himself。

〃Patience；〃　he　muttered；　〃patience！　By　ten　to…night　all　will
be　dark。　There　will　be　no　stars。　The