the red cross girl-第15部分

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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。　There　will　be　no　moon。　The
very　heavens　fight　for　us；　and　by　sunrise　our　outposts　will
be　twenty　miles　inland！〃

At　lunch…time　Carl　Schultz　carefully；　obsequiously　waited
upon　the　three　strangers。　He　gave　them　their　choice　of　soup；
thick　or　clear；　of　gooseberry　pie　or　Half…Pay　pudding。　He
accepted　their　shillings　gratefully；　and　when　they　departed
for　the　links　he　bowed　them　on　their　way。　And　as　their　car
turned　up　Jetty　Street；　for　one　instant；　he　again　allowed　his
eyes　to　sweep　the　dull　gray　ocean。　Brown…sailed　fishing…boats
were　beating　in　toward　Cromer。　On　the　horizon　line　a
Norwegian　tramp　was　drawing　a　lengthening　scarf　of　smoke。
Save　for　these　the　sea　was　empty。

By　gracious　permission　of　the　manageress　Carl　had　obtained　an
afternoon　off；　and；　changing　his　coat；　he　mounted　his　bicycle
and　set　forth　toward　Overstrand。　On　his　way　he　nodded　to　the
local　constable；　to　the　postman　on　his　rounds；　to　the　driver
of　the　char　？banc。　He　had　been　a　year　in　Cromer　and　was　well
known　and　well　liked。

Three　miles　from　Cromer；　at　the　top　of　the　highest　hill　in
Overstrand；　the　chimneys　of　a　house　showed　above　a　thick
tangle　of　fir…trees。　Between　the　trees　and　the　road　rose　a
wall；　high；　compact；　forbidding。　Carl　opened　the　gate　in　the
wall　and　pushed　his　bicycle　up　a　winding　path　hemmed　in　by
bushes。　At　the　sound　of　his　feet　on　the　gravel　the　bushes　new
apart；　and　a　man　sprang　into　the　walk　and　confronted　him。
But；　at　sight　of　the　head…waiter；　the　legs　of　the　man　became
rigid；　his　heels　clicked　together；　his　hand　went　sharply　to
his　visor。

Behind　the　house；　surrounded　on　every　side　by　trees；　was　a
tiny　lawn。　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　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　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　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。〃