the lion and the unicorn-第8章

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pulled　back　the　fingers　one　by　one；　saying；　〃Easy　now；
Lieutenanteasy。〃

The　ragged　palms　and　the　sea　and　block…house　were　swallowed　up　in
a　black　fog；　and　his　body　touched　the　canvas　cot　again　with　a
sense　of　home…coming　and　relief　and　rest。　　He　wondered　how　he
could　have　cared　to　escape　from　it。　　He　found　it　so　good　to　be
back　again　that　for　a　long　time　he　wept　quite　happily；　until　the
fiery　pillow　was　moist　and　cool。

The　world　outside　of　the　iron　bars　was　like　a　scene　in　a　theatre
set　for　some　great　event；　but　the　actors　were　never　ready。　　He
remembered　confusedly　a　play　he　had　once　witnessed　before　that
same　scene。　　Indeed；　he　believed　he　had　played　some　small　part　in
it；　but　he　remembered　it　dimly；　and　all　trace　of　the　men　who　had
appeared　with　him　in　it　was　gone。　　He　had　reasoned　it　out　that
they　were　up　there　behind　the　range　of　mountains；　because　great
heavy　wagons　and　ambulances　and　cannon　were　emptied　from　the
ships　at　the　wharf　above　and　were　drawn　away　in　long　lines　behind
the　ragged　palms；　moving　always　toward　the　passes　between　the
peaks。　　At　times　he　was　disturbed　by　the　thought　that　he　should
be　up　and　after　them；　that　some　tradition　of　duty　made　his
presence　with　them　imperative。　　There　was　much　to　be　done　back　of
the　mountains。　　Some　event　of　momentous　import　was　being　carried
forward　there；　in　which　he　held　a　part；　but　the　doubt　soon　passed
from　him；　and　he　was　content　to　lie　and　watch　the　iron　bars
rising　and　falling　between　the　block…house　and　the　white
surf。

If　they　had　been　only　humanely　kind；　his　lot　would　have　been
bearable；　but　they　starved　him　and　held　him　down　when　he　wished
to　rise；　and　they　would　not　put　out　the　fire　in　the　pillow；　which
they　might　easily　have　done　by　the　simple　expedient　of　throwing
it　over　the　ship's　side　into　the　sea。　　He　himself　had　done　this
twice；　but　the　keeper　had　immediately　brought　a　fresh　pillow
already　heated　for　the　torture　and　forced　it　under　his　head。

His　pleasures　were　very　simple；　and　so　few　that　he　could　not
understand　why　they　robbed　him　of　them　so　jealously。　　One　was　to
watch　a　green　cluster　of　bananas　that　hung　above　him　from　the
awning　twirling　on　a　string。　　He　could　count　as　many　of　them　as
five　before　the　bunch　turned　and　swung　lazily　back　again；　when　he
could　count　as　high　as　twelve；　sometimes　when　the　ship　rolled
heavily　he　could　count　to　twenty。　　It　was　a　most　fascinating
game；　and　contented　him　for　many　hours。　　But　when　they　found　this
out　they　sent　for　the　cook　to　come　and　cut　them　down；　and　the
cook　carried　them　away　to　his　galley。

Then；　one　day；　a　man　came　out　from　the　shore；　swimming　through
the　blue　water　with　great　splashes。　　He　was　a　most　charming　man；
who　spluttered　and　dove　and　twisted　and　lay　on　his　back　and
kicked　his　legs　in　an　excess　of　content　and　delight。　　It　was　a
real　pleasure　to　watch　him；　not　for　days　had　anything　so　amusing
appeared　on　the　other　side　of　the　prison…bars。　　But　as　soon　as
the　keeper　saw　that　the　man　in　the　water　was　amusing　his
prisoner；　he　leaned　over　the　ship's　side　and　shouted；　〃Sa…ay；
you；　don't　you　know　there's　sharks　in　there？〃

And　the　swimming　man　said；　〃The　hll　there　is！〃　and　raced　back
to　the　shore　like　a　porpoise　with　great　lashing　of　the　water；　and
ran　up　the　beach　half…way　to　the　palms　before　he　was　satisfied　to
stop。　　Then　the　prisoner　wept　again。　　It　was　so　disappointing。　
Life　was　robbed　of　everything　now。　　He　remembered　that　in　a
previous　existence　soldiers　who　cried　were　laughed　at　and　mocked。

But　that　was　so　far　away　and　it　was　such　an　absurd　superstition
that　he　had　no　patience　with　it。　　For　what　could　be　more
comforting　to　a　man　when　he　is　treated　cruelly　than　to　cry。　
It　was　so　obvious　an　exercise；　and　when　one　is　so　feeble　that　one
cannot　vault　a　four…railed　barrier　it　is　something　to　feel　that
at　least　one　is　strong　enough　to　cry。

He　escaped　occasionally；　traversing　space　with　marvellous
rapidity　and　to　great　distances；　but　never　to　any　successful
purpose；　and　his　flight　inevitably　ended　in　ignominious　recapture
and　a　sudden　awakening　in　bed。　　At　these　moments　the　familiar　and
hated　palms；　the　peaks　and　the　block…house　were　more　hideous　in
their　reality　than　the　most　terrifying　of　his　nightmares。

These　excursions　afield　were　always　predatory；　he　went　forth
always　to　seek　food。　　With　all　the　beautiful　world　from　which　to
elect　and　choose；　he　sought　out　only　those　places　where　eating
was　studied　and　elevated　to　an　art。　　These　visits　were　much　more
vivid　in　their　detail　than　any　he　had　ever　before　made　to　these
same　resorts。　　They　invariably　began　in　a　carriage；　which　carried
him　swiftly　over　smooth　asphalt。　　One　route　brought　him　across　a
great　and　beautiful　square；　radiating　with　rows　and　rows　of
flickering　lights；　two　fountains　splashed　in　the　centre　of　the
square；　and　six　women　of　stone　guarded　its　approaches。　　One　of
the　women　was　hung　with　wreaths　of　mourning。　　Ahead　of　him　the
late　twilight　darkened　behind　a　great　arch；　which　seemed　to　rise
on　the　horizon　of　the　world；　a　great　window　into　the　heavens
beyond。　　At　either　side　strings　of　white　and　colored　globes　hung
among　the　trees；　and　the　sound　of　music　came　joyfully　from
theatres　in　the　open　air。　　He　knew　the　restaurant　under　the　trees
to　which　he　was　now　hastening；　and　the　fountain　beside　it；　and
the　very　sparrows　balancing　on　the　fountain's　edge；　he　knew　every
waiter　at　each　of　the　tables；　he　felt　again　the　gravel　crunching
under　his　feet；　he　saw　the　maitre　d'hotel　coming　forward
smiling　to　receive　his　command；　and　the　waiter　in　the　green　apron
bowing　at　his　elbow；　deferential　and　important；　presenting　the
list　of　wines。　　But　his　adventure　never　passed　that　point；　for　he
was　captured　again　and　once　more　bound　to　his　cot　with　a　close
burning　sheet。

Or　else；　he　drove　more　sedately　through　the　London　streets　in
the　late　evening　twilight；　leaning　expectantly　across　the　doors
of　the　hansom　and　pulling　carefully　at　his　white　gloves。　　Other
hansoms　flashed　past　him；　the　occupant　of　each　with　his　mind
fixed　on　one　ideadinner。　　He　was　one　of　a　million　of　people　who
were　about　to　dine；　or　who　had　dined；　or　who　were　deep　in　dining。

He　was　so　famished；　so　weak　for　food　of　any　quality；　that　the
galloping　horse　in　the　hansom　seemed　to　crawl。　　The　lights　of　the
Embankment　passed　like　the　lamps　of　a　railroad　station　as　seen
from　the　window　of　an　express；　and　while　his　mind　was　still　torn
between　the　choice　of　a　thin　or　thick　soup　or　an　immediate　attack
upon　cold　beef；　he　was　at　the　door；　and　the　chasseur　touched
his　cap；　and　the　little　chasseur　put　the　wicker　guard　over　the
hansom's　wheel。　　As　he　jumped　out　he　said；　〃Give　him　half…a…
crown；〃　and　the　driver　called　after　him；　〃Thank　you；　sir。〃

It　was　a　beautiful　world；　this　world　outside　of　the　iron　bars。　
Every　one　in　it　contributed　to　his　pleasure　and　to　his　comfort。　
In　this　world　he　was　not　starved　nor　manhandled。　　He　thought
of　this　joyfully　as　he　leaped　up　the　stairs；　where　young　men　with
grave　faces　and　with　their　hands　held　negligently　behind　their
backs　bowed　to　him　in　polite　surprise　at　his　speed。　　But　they　had
not　been　starved　on　condensed　milk。　　He　threw　his　coat　and　hat　at
one　of　them；　and　came　down　the　hall　fearfully　and　quite　weak　with
dread　lest　it　should　not　be　real。　　His　voice　was　shaking　when　he
asked　Ellis　if　he　had　reserved　a　table。　　The　place　was　all　so
real；　it　must　be　true　this　time。　　The　way　Ellis　turned　and　ran
his　finger　down　the　list　showed　it　was　real；　because　Ellis　always
did　that；　even　when　he　knew　there　would　not　be　an　empty　table　for
an　hour。　　The　room　was　crowded　with　beautiful　women；　under　the
light　of　the　red　shades　they　looked　kind　and　approachable；　and
there　was　food　on　every　table；　and　iced　drinks　in　silver　buckets。

It　was　with　the　joy　of　great　relief　that　he　heard　Ellis　say　to
his　underling；　〃Numero　cinq；　sur　la　terrace；　un　couvert。〃　　It　was
real　at　last。　　Outside；　the　Thames　lay　a　great　gray　shadow。　　The
lights　of　the　Embankment　flashed　and　twinkled　across　it；　the
tower　of　the　House　of　Commons　rose　against　the　sky；　and　here；
inside；　the　waiter　was　hurrying　toward　him　carrying　a　smoking
plate　of　rich　soup　with　a　pungent　intoxicating　odor。

And　then　the　ragged　palms；　the　glaring　sun；　the　immovable　peaks；
and　the　white　surf　stood　again　before　him。　　The　iron　rails　swept
up　and　sank　again；　the　fever　sucked　at　his　bones；　and　the　pillow
scorched　his　cheek。

One　morning　for　a　brief　moment　he　came　back　to　real　life　again
and　lay　quite　still；　seeing　everything　about　him　with　clear　eyes
and　for　the　first　time；　as　though　he　had　but　just　that　instant
been　lifted　over　the　ship's　side。　　His　keeper；　glancing　up；　found
the　prisoner's　eyes　considering　him　curiously；　and　recognized　the
change。　　The　instinct　of　discipline　brought　him　to　his　feet　with
his　fingers　at　his　sides。

〃Is　the　Lieutenant　feeling　better？〃

The　Lieutenant　surveyed　him　gravely。

〃You　are　one　of　our　hospital　stewards。〃

〃Yes；　Lieutenant。〃

〃Why　ar'n't　you　with　the　regiment？〃

〃I　was　wounded；　too；　sir。　　I　got　it　same　time　you　did；
Lieutenant。〃

〃Am　I　wounded？　　Of　course；　I　remember。　　Is　this　a　hospital　ship？〃

The　steward　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃She's　one　of　the
transports。　　They　have　turned　her　over　to　the　fever　cases。〃

The　Lieutenant　opened　his　lips　to　ask　another　question；　but　his
own　body　answered　that　one；　and　for　a　moment　he　lay　silent。

〃Do　they　know　up　North　that　Ithat　I'm　all　right？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　the　papers　had　it　inthere　was　pictures　of　the
Lieutenant　in　some　of　them。〃

〃Then　I've　been　ill　some　time？〃

〃Oh；　about　eight　days。〃

The　soldier　moved　uneasily；　and　the　nurse　in　him　became
uppermost。

〃I　guess　the　Lieutenant　hadn't　better　talk　any　more；〃　he　said。　
It　was　his　voice　now　which　held　authority。

The　Lieutenant　looked　out　at　the　palms　and　the　silent　gloomy
mountains　and　the　empty　coast…line；　where　the　same　wave　was
rising　and　falling　with　weary　persistence。

〃Eight　days；〃　he　said。　　His　eyes　shut　quickly；　as　though　with　a
sudden　touch　of　pain。　　He　turned　his　head　and　sought　for　the
figure　at　the　foot　of　the　cot。　　Already　the　figure　had　grown
faint　and　was　receding　and　swaying。

〃Has　any　one　written　or　cabled？〃　the　Lieutenant　spoke；　hurriedly。

He　was　fearful　lest　the　figure　should　disappear　altogether　before
he　could　obtain　his　answer。　　〃Has　any　one　come？〃

〃Why；　they　couldn't　get　here；　Lieutenant；　not　yet。〃

The　voice　came　very　faintly。　　〃You　go　to　sleep　now；　and　I'll　run
and　fetch　some　letters　and　telegrams。　　When　you　wake　up；　may　be
I'll　have　a　lot　for　you。〃

But　the　Lieutenant　caught　the　nurse　by　the　wrist；　and　crushed　his
hand　in　his　own　thin　fingers。　　They　were　hot；　and　left　the
steward's　skin　wet　with　perspiration。　　The　Lieutenant　laughed
gayly。

〃You　see；　Doctor；〃　he　said；　briskly；　〃that　you　can't　kill　me。　　I
can't　die。　　I've　got　to　live；　you　understand。　　Because；　sir；　she
said　she　would　come。　　She　said　if　I　was　wounded；　or　if　I　was　ill；
she　would　come　to　me。　　She　didn't　care　what　people　thought。　　She
would　come　any　way　and　nurse　mewell；　she　will　come。

〃So；　Doctorold　man〃　　He　plucked　at　the　steward's　sleeve；　and
stroked　his　hand　eagerly；　〃old　man〃　he　began　again；
beseechingly；　〃y