the lion and the unicorn-第9章

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〃So；　Doctorold　man〃　　He　plucked　at　the　steward's　sleeve；　and
stroked　his　hand　eagerly；　〃old　man〃　he　began　again；
beseechingly；　〃you'll　not　let　me　die　until　she　comes；　will　you？　
What？　　No；　I　know　I　won't　die。　　Nothing　made　by　man　can　kill　me。　
No；　not　until　she　comes。　　Then；　after　thateight　days；　she'll　be
here　soon；　any　moment？　　What？　　You　think　so；　too？　　Don't　you？　
Surely；　yes；　any　moment。　　Yes；　I'll　go　to　sleep　now；　and　when　you
see　her　rowing　out　from　shore　you　wake　me。　　You'll　know　her；　you
can't　make　a　mistake。　　She　is　likeno；　there　is　no　one　like
herbut　you　can't　make　a　mistake。〃

That　day　strange　figures　began　to　mount　the　sides　of　the　ship；
and　to　occupy　its　every　turn　and　angle　of　space。　　Some　of　them
fell　on　their　knees　and　slapped　the　bare　deck　with　their　hands；
and　laughed　and　cried　out；　〃Thank　God；　I'll　see　God's　country
again！〃　　Some　of　them　were　regulars；　bound　in　bandages；　some　were
volunteers；　dirty　and　hollow…eyed；　with　long　beards　on　boys'
faces。　　Some　came　on　crutches；　others　with　their　arms　around
the　shoulders　of　their　comrades；　staring　ahead　of　them　with　a
fixed　smile；　their　lips　drawn　back　and　their　teeth　protruding。　
At　every　second　step　they　stumbled；　and　the　face　of　each　was
swept　by　swift　ripples　of　pain。

They　lay　on　cots　so　close　together　that　the　nurses　could　not　walk
between　them。　　They　lay　on　the　wet　decks；　in　the　scuppers；　and
along　the　transoms　and　hatches。　　They　were　like　shipwrecked
mariners　clinging　to　a　raft；　and　they　asked　nothing　more　than
that　the　ship's　bow　be　turned　toward　home。　　Once　satisfied　as　to
that；　they　relaxed　into　a　state　of　self…pity　and　miserable
oblivion　to　their　environment；　from　which　hunger　nor　nausea　nor
aching　bones　could　shake　them。

The　hospital　steward　touched　the　Lieutenant　lightly　on　the
shoulder。

〃We　are　going　North；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃The　transport's　ordered
North　to　New　York；　with　these　volunteers　and　the　sick　and
wounded。　　Do　you　hear　me；　sir？〃

The　Lieutenant　opened　his　eyes。　　〃Has　she　come？〃　he　asked。

〃Gee！〃　exclaimed　the　hospital　steward。　　He　glanced　impatiently　at
the　blue　mountains　and　the　yellow　coast；　from　which　the　transport
was　drawing　rapidly　away。

〃Well；　I　can't　see　her　coming　just　now；〃　he　said。　　〃But　she
will；〃　he　added。

〃You　let　me　know　at　once　when　she　comes。〃

〃Why；　cert'nly；　of　course；〃　said　the　steward。

Three　trained　nurses　came　over　the　side　just　before　the　transport
started　North。　　One　was　a　large；　motherly…looking　woman；　with　a
German　accent。　　She　had　been　a　trained　nurse；　first　in　Berlin；
and　later　in　the　London　Hospital　in　Whitechapel；　and　at　Bellevue。

The　nurse　was　dressed　in　white；　and　wore　a　little　silver　medal　at
her　throat；　and　she　was　strong　enough　to　lift　a　volunteer　out　of
his　cot　and　hold　him　easily　in　her　arms；　while　one　of　the
convalescents　pulled　his　cot　out　of　the　rain。　　Some　of　the　men
called　her　〃nurse；〃　others；　who　wore　scapulars　around　their
necks；　called　her　〃Sister；〃　and　the　officers　of　the　medical　staff
addressed　her　as　Miss　Bergen。

Miss　Bergen　halted　beside　the　cot　of　the　Lieutenant　and
asked；　〃Is　this　the　fever　case　you　spoke　about；　Doctorthe　one
you　want　moved　to　the　officers'　ward？〃　　She　slipped　her　hand　up
under　his　sleeve　and　felt　his　wrist。

〃His　pulse　is　very　high；〃　she　said　to　the　steward。　　〃When　did　you
take　his　temperature？〃　　She　drew　a　little　morocco　case　from　her
pocket　and　from　that　took　a　clinical　thermometer；　which　she　shook
up　and　down；　eying　the　patient　meanwhile　with　a　calm；　impersonal
scrutiny。　　The　Lieutenant　raised　his　head　and　stared　up　at　the
white　figure　beside　his　cot。　　His　eyes　opened　and　then　shut
quickly；　with　a　startled　look；　in　which　doubt　struggled　with
wonderful　happiness。　　His　hand　stole　out　fearfully　and　warily
until　it　touched　her　apron；　and　then；　finding　it　was　real；　he
clutched　it　desperately；　and　twisting　his　face　and　body　toward
her；　pulled　her　down；　clasping　her　hands　in　both　of　his；　and
pressing　them　close　to　his　face　and　eyes　and　lips。　　He　put　them
from　him　for　an　instant；　and　looked　at　her　through　his　tears。

〃Sweetheart；〃　he　whispered；　〃sweetheart；　I　knew　you'd　come。〃

As　the　nurse　knelt　on　the　deck　beside　him；　her　thermometer
slipped　from　her　fingers　and　broke；　and　she　gave　an　exclamation
of　annoyance。　　The　young　Doctor　picked　up　the　pieces　and　tossed
them　overboard。　　Neither　of　them　spoke；　but　they　smiled
appreciatively。　　The　Lieutenant　was　looking　at　the　nurse　with　the
wonder　and　hope　and　hunger　of　soul　in　his　eyes　with　which　a　dying
man　looks　at　the　cross　the　priest　holds　up　before　him。　　What　he
saw　where　the　German　nurse　was　kneeling　was　a　tall；　fair　girl
with　great　bands　and　masses　of　hair；　with　a　head　rising　like　a
lily　from　a　firm；　white　throat；　set　on　broad　shoulders　above　a
straight　back　and　sloping　breasta　tall；　beautiful　creature；
half…girl；　half…woman；　who　looked　back　at　him　shyly；　but
steadily。

〃Listen；〃　he　said。

The　voice　of　the　sick　man　was　so　sure　and　so　sane　that　the　young
Doctor　started；　and　moved　nearer　to　the　head　of　the　cot。　
〃Listen；　dearest；〃　the　Lieutenant　whispered。　　〃I　wanted　to　tell
you　before　I　came　South。　　But　I　did　not　dare；　and　then　I　was
afraid　something　might　happen　to　me；　and　I　could　never　tell　you；
and　you　would　never　know。　　So　I　wrote　it　to　you　in　the　will　I
made　at　Baiquiri；　the　night　before　the　landing。　　If　you　hadn't
come　now；　you　would　have　learned　it　in　that　way。　　You　would　have
read　there　that　there　never　was　any　one　but　you；　the　rest　were
all　dream　people；　foolish；　sillymad。　There　is　no　one　else　in
the　world　but　you；　you　have　been　the　only　thing　in　life　that　has
counted。　　I　thought　I　might　do　something　down　here　that　would
make　you　care。　　But　I　got　shot　going　up　a　hill；　and　after　that　I
wasn't　able　to　do　anything。　　It　was　very　hot；　and　the　hills　were
on　fire；　and　they　took　me　prisoner；　and　kept　me　tied　down　here；
burning　on　these　coals。　　I　can't　live　much　longer；　but　now　that　I
have　told　you　I　can　have　peace。　　They　tried　to　kill　me　before　you
came；　but　they　didn't　know　I　loved　you；　they　didn't　know　that　men
who　love　you　can't　die。　　They　tried　to　starve　my　love　for　you；　to
burn　it　out　of　me；　they　tried　to　reach　it　with　their　knives。　　But
my　love　for　you　is　my　soul；　and　they　can't　kill　a　man's　soul。　
Dear　heart；　I　have　lived　because　you　lived。　　Now　that　you
knownow　that　you　understandwhat　does　it　matter？〃

Miss　Bergen　shook　her　head　with　great　vigor。　　〃Nonsense；〃　she
said；　cheerfully。　　〃You　are　not　going　to　die。　　As　soon　as　we　move
you　out　of　this　rain；　and　some　food　cook〃

〃Good　God！〃　cried　the　young　Doctor；　savagely。　　〃Do　you　want　to
kill　him？〃

When　she　spoke　the　patient　had　thrown　his　arms　heavily　across　his
face；　and　had　fallen　back；　lying　rigid　on　the　pillow。

The　Doctor　led　the　way　across　the　prostrate　bodies；　apologizing
as　he　went。　　〃I　am　sorry　I　spoke　so　quickly；〃　he　said；　〃but　he
thought　you　were　real。　　I　mean　he　thought　you　were　some　one　he
really　knew〃

〃He　was　just　delirious；〃　said　the　German　nurse；　calmly。

The　Doctor　mixed　himself　a　Scotch　and　soda　and　drank　it　with　a
single　gesture。

〃Ugh！〃　he　said　to　the　ward…room。　　〃I　feel　as　though　I'd　been
opening　another　man's　letters。〃


The　transport　drove　through　the　empty　seas　with　heavy；　clumsy
upheavals；　rolling　like　a　buoy。　　Having　been　originally
intended　for　the　freight…carrying　trade；　she　had　no　sympathy
with　hearts　that　beat　for　a　sight　of　their　native　land；　or　for
lives　that　counted　their　remaining　minutes　by　the　throbbing　of
her　engines。　　Occasionally；　without　apparent　reason；　she　was
thrown　violently　from　her　course：　but　it　was　invariably　the　case
that　when　her　stern　went　to　starboard；　something　splashed　in　the
water　on　her　port　side　and　drifted　past　her；　until；　when　it　had
cleared　the　blades　of　her　propeller；　a　voice　cried　out；　and　she
was　swung　back　on　her　home…bound　track　again。

The　Lieutenant　missed　the　familiar　palms　and　the　tiny　block…
house；　and　seeing　nothing　beyond　the　iron　rails　but　great　wastes
of　gray　water；　he　decided　he　was　on　board　a　prison…ship；　or　that
he　had　been　strapped　to　a　raft　and　cast　adrift。　　People　came　for
hours　at　a　time　and　stood　at　the　foot　of　his　cot；　and　talked　with
him　and　he　to　thempeople　he　had　loved　and　people　he　had　long
forgotten；　some　of　whom　he　had　thought　were　dead。　　One　of　them　he
could　have　sworn　he　had　seen　buried　in　a　deep　trench；　and　covered
with　branches　of　palmetto。　　He　had　heard　the　bugler；　with
tears　choking　him；　sound　〃taps；〃　and　with　his　own　hand　he　had
placed　the　dead　man's　campaign　hat　on　the　mound　of　fresh　earth
above　the　grave。　　Yet　here　he　was　still　alive；　and　he　came　with
other　men　of　his　troop　to　speak　to　him；　but　when　he　reached　out
to　them　they　were　gonethe　real　and　the　unreal；　the　dead　and　the
livingand　even　She　disappeared　whenever　he　tried　to　take　her
hand；　and　sometimes　the　hospital　steward　drove　her　away。

〃Did　that　young　lady　say　when　she　was　coming　back　again？〃　he
asked　the　steward。

〃The　young　lady！　　What　young　lady？〃　asked　the　steward；　wearily。

〃The　one　who　has　been　sitting　there；〃　he　answered。　　He　pointed
with　his　gaunt　hand　at　the　man　in　the　next　cot。

〃Oh；　that　young　lady。　　Yes；　she's　coming　back。　　She's　just　gone
below　to　fetch　you　some　hard…tack。〃

The　young　volunteer　in　the　next　cot　whined　grievously。

〃That　crazy　man　gives　me　the　creeps；〃　he　groaned。　　〃He's　always
waking　me　up；　and　looking　at　me　as　though　he　was　going　to　eat
me。〃

〃Shut　your　head；〃　said　the　steward。　　〃He's　a　better　man　crazy
than　you'll　ever　be　with　the　little　sense　you've　got。　　And　he　has
two　Mauser　holes　in　him。　　Crazy；　eh？　　It's　a　damned　good　thing
for　you　that　there　was　about　four　thousand　of　us　regulars　just　as
crazy　as　him；　or　you'd　never　seen　the　top　of　the　hill。〃

One　morning　there　was　a　great　commotion　on　deck；　and　all　the
convalescents　balanced　themselves　on　the　rail；　shivering　in　their
pajamas；　and　pointed　one　way。　　The　transport　was　moving　swiftly
and　smoothly　through　water　as　flat　as　a　lake；　and　making　a　great
noise　with　her　steam…whistle。　　The　noise　was　echoed　by　many　more
steam…whistles；　and　the　ghosts　of　out…bound　ships　and　tugs　and
excursion　steamers　ran　past　her　out　of　the　mist　and　disappeared；
saluting　joyously。　　All　of　the　excursion　steamers　had　a　heavy
list　to　the　side　nearest　the　transport；　and　the　ghosts　on　them
crowded　to　that　rail　and　waved　handkerchiefs　and　cheered。　　The
fog　lifted　suddenly；　and　between　the　iron　rails　the
Lieutenant　saw　high　green　hills　on　either　side　of　a　great　harbor。

Houses　and　trees　and　thousands　of　masts　swept　past　like　a
panorama；　and　beyond　was　a　mirage　of　three　cities；　with　curling
smoke…wreaths　and　sky…reaching　buildings；　and　a　great　swinging
bridge；　and　a　giant　statue　of　a　woman　waving　a　welcome　home。

The　Lieutenant　surveyed　the　spectacle　with　cynical　disbelief。　　He
was　far　too　wise　and　far　too　cunning　to　be　bewitched　by　it。　　In
his　heart　he　pitied　the　men　about　him；　who　laughed　wildly；　and
shouted；　and　climbed　recklessly　to　the　rails　and　ratlines。　　He
had　been　deceived　too　often　not　to　know　that　it　was　not　real。　　He
knew　from　cruel　experience　that　in　a　few　moments　the　tall
buildings　would　crumble　away；　the　thousands　of　columns　of　white
smoke　that　f