the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第17章
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In the centre of the lawn； where once had been a tennis court； there now
stood a slim mast。 From this mast dangled tiny wires that ran to a kitchen
table。 On the table； its brass work shining in the sun； was a new and
perfectly good wireless outfit； and beside it； with his hand on the key； was
a heavily built； heavily bearded German。 In his turn； Carl drew his legs
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together； his heels clicked； his hand stuck to his visor。
〃I have been in constant communication；〃 said the man with the beard。
〃They will be here just before the dawn。 Return to Cromer vand openly
from the post…office telegraph your cousin in London： 'Will meet you to…
morrow at the Crystal Palace。' On receipt of that； in the last edition of all
of this afternoon's papers； he will insert the final advertisement。 Thirty
thousand of our own people will read it。 They will know the moment has
come！〃
As Carl coasted back to Cromer he flashed past many pretty gardens
where； upon the lawns； men in flannels were busy at tennis or； with pretty
ladies； deeply occupied in drinking tea。 Carl smiled grimly。 High above
him on the sky…line of the cliff he saw the three strangers he had served at
luncheon。 They were driving before them three innocuous golf balls。
〃A nation of wasters；〃 muttered the German； 〃sleeping at their posts。
They are fiddling while England falls！〃
Mr。 Shutliffe； of Stiffkey； had led his cow in from the marsh； and was
about to close the cow…barn door； when three soldiers appeared suddenly
around the wall of the village church。 They ran directly toward him。 It was
nine o'clock； but the twilight still held。 The uniforms the men wore were
unfamiliar； but in his day Mr。 Shutliffe had seen many uniforms； and to
him all uniforms looked alike。 The tallest soldier snapped at Mr。 Shutliffe
fiercely in a strange tongue。
〃Du bist gefangen！〃 he announced。 〃Das Dorf ist besetzt。 Wo sind
unsere Leute？〃 he demanded。
〃You'll 'ave to excuse me； sir；〃 said Mr。 Shutliffe； 〃but I am a trifle 'ard
of 'earing。〃
The soldier addressed him in English。
〃What is the name of this village？〃 he demanded。
Mr。 Shuttiffe； having lived in the village upward of eighty years；
recalled its name with difficulty。
〃Have you seen any of our people？〃
With another painful effort of memory Mr。 Shutliffe shook his head。
〃Go indoors！〃 commanded the soldier； 〃And put out all lights； and
remain indoors。 We have taken this village。 We are Germans。 You are a
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prisoner！ Do you understand？〃
〃Yes； sir； thank'ee； sir； kindly；〃 stammered Mr。 Shutliffe。 〃May I lock
in the pigs first； sir？〃
One of the soldiers coughed explosively； and ran away； and the two
others trotted after him。 When they looked back； Mr。 Shutliffe was still
standing uncertainly in the dusk； mildly concerned as to whether he should
lock up the pigs or obey the German gentleman。
The three soldiers halted behind the church wall。
〃That was a fine start！〃 mocked Herbert。 〃Of course； you had to pick
out the Village Idiot。 If they are all going to take it like that； we had better
pack up and go home。〃
〃The village inn is still open；〃 said Ford。 〃We'll close It。〃
They entered with fixed bayonets and dropped the butts of their rifles
on the sanded floor。 A man in gaiters choked over his ale and two
fishermen removed their clay pipes and stared。 The bar…maid alone arose
to the occasion。
〃Now； then；〃 she exclaimed briskly； 〃What way is that to come
tumbling into a respectable place？ None of your tea…garden tricks in here；
young fellow； my lad； or 〃
The tallest of the three intruders； in deep guttural accents； interrupted
her sharply。
〃We are Germans！〃 he declared。 〃This village is captured。 You are
prisoners of war。 Those lights you will out put； and yourselves lock in。 If
you into the street go； we will shoot！〃
He gave a command in a strange language； so strange； indeed； that the
soldiers with him failed to entirely grasp his meaning； and one shouldered
his rifle； while the other brought his politely to a salute。
〃You ass！〃 muttered the tall German。 〃 Get out！〃
As they charged into the street； they heard behind them a wild
feminine shriek； then a crash of pottery and glass； then silence； and an
instant later the Ship Inn was buried in darkness。
〃That will hold Stiffkey for a while！〃 said Ford。 〃Now； back to the
car。〃
But between them and the car loomed suddenly a tall and impressive
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figure。 His helmet and his measured tread upon the deserted cobble…stones
proclaimed his calling。
〃The constable！〃 whispered Herbert。 〃He must see us； but he mustn't
speak to us。〃
For a moment the three men showed themselves in the middle of the
street； and then； as though at sight of the policeman they had taken alarm；
disappeared through an opening between two houses。 Five minutes later a
motor…car； with its canvas top concealing its occupants； rode slowly into
Stiffkey's main street and halted before the constable。 The driver of the car
wore a leather skull…cap and goggles。 From his neck to his heels he was
covered by a raincoat。
〃Mr。 Policeman；〃 he began； 〃 when I turned in here three soldiers
stepped in front of my car and pointed rifles at me。 Then they ran off
toward the beach。 What's the idea manoeuvres？ Because； they've no right
to〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 the policeman assured him promptly； 〃I saw them。 It's
manoeuvres； sir。 Territorials。〃
〃They didn't look like Territorials；〃 objected the chauffeur。 〃They
looked like Germans。〃
Protected by the deepening dusk； the constable made no effort to
conceal a grin。
〃Just Territorials； sir；〃 he protested soothingly； 〃skylarking maybe； but
meaning no harm。 Still； I'll have a look round； and warn 'em。〃
A voice from beneath the canvas broke in angrily：
〃I tell you； they were Germans。 It's either a silly joke； or it's serious；
and you ought to report it。 It's your duty to warn the Coast Guard。〃
The constable considered deeply。
〃I wouldn't take it on myself to wake the Coast Guard；〃 he protested；
〃not at this time of the night。 But if any Germans' been annoying you；
gentlemen； and you wish to lodge a complaint against them； you give me
your cards〃
〃Ye gods！〃 cried the man in the rear of the car。 〃Go on！〃 he
commanded。
As the car sped out of Stiffkey； Herbert exclaimed with disgust：
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〃What's the use！〃 he protested。 〃You couldn't wake these people with
dynamite！ I vote we chuck it and go home。〃
〃They little know of England who only Stiffkey know；〃 chanted the
chauffeur reprovingly。 〃Why； we haven't begun yet。 Wait till we meet a
live wire！〃
Two miles farther along the road to Cromer； young Bradshaw； the job…
master's son at Blakeney； was leading his bicycle up the hill。 Ahead of him
something heavy flopped from the bank into the roadand in the light of
his acetylene lamp he saw a soldier。 The soldier dodged across the road
and scrambled through the hedge on the bank opposite。 He was followed
by another soldier； and then by a third。 The last man halted。
〃Put out that light；〃 he commanded。 〃 Go to your home and tell no one
what you have seen。 If you attempt to give an alarm you will be shot。 Our
sentries are placed every fifty yards along this road。〃
The soldier disappeared from in front of the ray of light and followed
his comrades； and an instant later young Bradshaw heard them sliding
over the cliff's edge and the pebbles clattering to the beach below。 Young
Bradshaw stood quite still。 In his heart was much fearfear of laughter； of
ridicule； of failure。 But of no other kind of fear。 Softly； silently he turned
his bicycle so that it faced down the long hill he had just climbed。 Then he
snapped off the light。 He had been reliably informed that in ambush at
every fifty yards along the road to Blakeney； sentries were waiting to fire
on him。 And he proposed to run the gauntlet。 He saw that it was for this
moment that； first as a volunteer and later as a Territorial； he had drilled in
the town hall； practiced on the rifle range； and in mixed manoeuvres slept
in six inches of mud。 As he threw his leg across his bicycle； Herbert； from
the motor…car farther up the hill； fired two shots over his head。 These； he
explained to Ford； were intended to give 〃 verisimilitude to an otherwise
bald and unconvincing narrative。〃 And the sighing of the bullets gave
young Bradshaw exactly what he wantedthe assurance that he was not
the victim of a practical joke。 He threw his weight forward and； lifting his
feet； coasted downhill at forty miles an hour into the main street of
Blakeney。 Ten minutes later； when the car followed； a mob of men so
completely blocked the water…front that Ford was forced to stop。 His head…
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lights illuminated hundreds of faces； anxious； sceptical； eager。 A
gentleman with a white mustache and a look of a retired army officer
pushed his way toward Ford； the crowd making room for him； and then
closing in his wake。
〃Have you seen anyany soldiers？〃 he demanded。
〃German soldiers！〃 Ford answered。 〃They tried to catch us； but when I
saw who they were； I ran through them to warn you。 They fired and〃
〃How manyand where？〃
〃A half…company at Stiffkey and a half…mile farther on a regiment。 We
didn't know then they were Germa
