on the firing line-第20部分

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e　print　of　every　finger　was　still　distinctly　visible。

Weldon　watched　him　sympathetically。　Thanks　to　the　efforts　of　Kruger　Bobs；　his　own　clothing　was　slightly　less　filled　with　dust；　and　his　abandoned　socks　came　back　to　him　in　a　state　of　comparative　cleanliness。　Satisfied　with　the　fact；　he　made　no　effort　to　inquire　into　the　method　of　its　achievement。

Carew；　meanwhile；　his　coat　off；　his　sleeves　rolled　to　his　elbows；　was　grappling　with　his　efforts　to　produce　laundry　effect　from　a　wooden　bucket　and　a　few　quarts　of　dingy　water。　Beyond　splashing　his　putties　and　giving　himself　a　pain　in　the　hinges　of　his　back；　he　accomplished　little。　The　garments　were　very　wet；　but　their　griminess　was　increased；　rather　than　diminished。　Carew's　face　fell；　as　he　lifted　them　one　by　one。　Then　he　shook　his　head。

〃They　certainly　aren't　cleaner；　but　they　may　be　a　bit　fresher　for　being　irrigated；〃　he　observed　hopefully。　〃Look　out！〃

Weldon　dodged　out　of　range；　as　a　sock；　squeezed　from　the　ankle　downward；　yielded　up　its　irrigation　in　a　sudden　spurt　through　the　toe。

〃Hold　on；　Carew；　I'm　no　candidate　for　baptism；〃　he　adjured　his　friend。　〃Let　your　things　soak　for　a　while；　and　I'll　send　Kruger　Bobs　over　to　take　them　in　hand；　as　soon　as　he　gets　through　polishing　off　The　Nig。〃

Carew　straightened　his　aching　back。

〃I'll　change　work　with　him；〃　he　suggested　promptly。　〃A　horse　is　on　your　own　level；　it's　degrading　to　run　a　Chinese　laundry。〃

Weldon　glanced　from　the　wooden　bucket　to　the　soaked　wrists　and　splashed　putties　of　his　companion。

〃I　wish　Miss　Mellen　could　see　you　now；　Carew；〃　he　remarked　unkindly。

With　unexpected　suddenness；　Carew　mounted　his　dignity。

〃Unfortunately　Miss　Mellen　is　at　Johannesburg。　Moreover；　Miss　Mellen　has　probably　seen　men　in　this　mess　before　now；〃　he　answered　a　little　shortly。

〃Doubtless。　She　may　have　been　in　a　similar　fix；　herself。　If　she　were；　I　suspect　she　would　put　it　through　and　come　out　on　top；〃　Weldon　replied；　with　an　accent　of　hearty　and　respectful　admiration　which　mollified　his　companion。　〃There's　my　call。　I　must　go　to　inspect　my　day　nursery。〃　And；　leaving　Carew　beside　his　amateur　wash…　tub；　he　went　striding　away　to　the　farther　side　of　the　camp　where　a　hollow　between　the　hills　had　been　converted　into　a　monstrous　kraal。　Involuntarily　he　smiled；　as　he　walked　off　to　his　duty。　Carew　had　been　an　edifying　spectacle；　as　he　had　sacrificed　himself　upon　the　altar　of　cleanliness。　He　had　been　neither　deft；　dignified　nor　devout；　and；　in　all　truth；　Alice　Mellen　would　have　found　it　hard　to　recognize　her　finical　patient　in　the　dusty；　unshaven　man　whose　hair　bore　unmistakable　signs　of　having　been　pruned　with　a　pair　of　pocket　scissors。　Little　of　Carew's　past　month　had　been　spent　in　the　base　camp　at　Springfontein。　With　hundreds　of　other　men；　he　had　gone　galloping　up　and　down　the　Free　State　on　the　slippery　heels　of　De　Wet；　now　being　shot　at　by　prowling　Boers；　now　engaged　in　a　lively　skirmish　from　which　he　never　made　his　exit　totally　unscathed；　now　riding　for　weary；　dusty　miles　upon　a　scent　which　ultimately　proved　to　be　a　false　one。　And；　meanwhile；　not　a　postbag　came　into　camp　without　a　letter　for　Carew；　bearing　the　mark　of　Johannesburg。　It　was　not　altogether　resultless　that　Carew's　foot　had　been　obstinately　slow　in　its　healing。

To　Weldon；　a　fixture　in　camp；　fell　the　care　of　receiving　Carew's　mail。　At　last；　when　one　day　the　bag　brought　in　two　letters　addressed　in　the　same　dashing；　angular　handwriting；　he　forsook　his　principles　and　made　open　comment。

〃There　is　a　slight　monotony　about　your　mail；　in　these　latter　days；　Carew；〃　he　observed　dispassionately。　And　Carew　had　answered；　with　perfect　composure；

〃Yes；　in　view　of　my　chronic　trick　of　being　potted　at；　I　find　it　wise　to　keep　on　good　terms　with　my　nurse。　It　may　prove　handy　in　case　of　accident；　like　an　insurance　policy；　you　know。　Is　that　all？〃　And；　cramming　the　letters　into　his　pocket；　he　walked　away　to　his　tent。

And　Weldon；　as　he　watched　him；　nodded　contentedly　to　himself。　He　liked　Carew；　he　also　liked　Alice　Mellen。　Beyond　that；　he　made　no　effort　to　go。　Just　now；　he　cared　to　penetrate　the　thoughts　of　but　one　woman。　The　others　he　was　willing　to　take　on　trust。　Nevertheless；　it　would　have　caused　him　some　surprise；　could　he　have　reviewed　all　the　mental　processes　of　Alice　Mellen；　during　the　past　ten　months。　For　Weldon；　the　days　at　Springfontein　differed　not　one　whit；　one　from　another；　yet　each　day　was　full　of　an　excitement　which　sent　his　blood　stinging　through　his　veins。　Every　man　in　the　regiment　could　ride　a　broken　horse；　but；　for　many　of　them　their　attainments　stopped　there；　and　broken　horses　were　few　and　far　between。　With　the　increasing　need　of　troopers　for　the　guerrilla　raiding　into　which　the　war　was　degenerating；　with　the　inevitable　losses　of　a　long　campaign；　mounts　of　any　kind　were　scarce。　Nevertheless；　consternation　had　descended　upon　the　camp；　one　day；　when　three　hundred　kicking；　squealing　American　bronchos　had　been　detrained　and　placed　at　their　service。　The　next　day；　casualties　were　frequent；　on　the　day　after　that；　there　was　made　announcement　that　mounted　parade　would　be　omitted。　Weldon　read　the　notice；　smiled　and　went　in　search　of　his　captain。　He　was　tired　of　inaction；　and　he　felt　his　muscles　growing　soft。　They　hardened　speedily；　however。

Day　after　day；　he　went　striding　into　the　kraal　whence；　after　a　skirmish　which　was　more　or　less　prolonged；　he　emerged　astride　a　mount　which；　with　shrieking　voice　and　rampant　hoofs；　gave　notice　to　all　that　such　a　liberty　could　not　be　permitted。　Nevertheless；　it　was　permitted。　Sometimes；　the　final　contest　took　place　miles　away　from　the　point　of　its　beginning。　Sometimes　horse　and　rider　settled　the　matter　in　the　course　of　a　few　concentric　circles　of　an　hundred…yard　radius；　sometimes　it　bucked；　sometimes　it　rolled；　and　sometimes　it　merely　sat　down　upon　its　haunches；　dog…wise；　and　refused　to　budge。　Almost　invariably；　it　came　out　from　the　contest；　unscarred　save　for　its　dignity　and　its　temper。　Weldon's　lips　shut　tight；　but　his　eyes　rarely　blazed。　These　wild；　frightened　creatures　taxed　his　patience　and　his　resource；　but　they　hardly　touched　his　temper　in　the　least。

〃What's　the　use　of　thrashing　a　beast　that's　mad　with　terror？〃　he　answered　one　critical　amateur　who　had　watched　the　game　from　a　safe　distance。　〃The　creature　is　in　a　funk；　as　it　is；　there's　no　use　in　adding　to　it。　All　I'm　after　is　to　teach　'em　that　saddles　and　bridles　don't　bite。　Treat　'em　decently　and　sit　tight；　and　they'll　come　right　and　learn　to　trust　you　in　the　end。〃

And；　as　mount　after　mount　was　delivered　over　to　the　waiting　authorities；　it　came　to　be　a　matter　of　general　belief　that　the　regimental　rough…rider　knew　his　business；　albeit　he　accomplished　it　more　by　dint　of　urging　than　by　many　blows。　Six　weeks　of　this　work　had　told　upon　him；　told　in　the　right　direction。　Under　the　brown　skin；　the　muscles　stood　out　like　knotted　cords；　his　nerves　were　steady；　he　ate　like　a　wolf　and　slept　the　dreamless　sleep　of　a　healthy　child。　To　the　outward　eye；　his　face　changed　but　little。　Its　outlines　were　more　rugged；　the　curves　of　his　lips　a　bit　more　resolute；　but　that　was　all。

Now　and　then；　amid　the　merry　group　at　the　camp　fire；　he　sat　silent；　while　he　let　his　mind　range　away　to　the　southward。　Somewhere　there；　in　the　green…ringed　town　in　the　mountain's　shelter；　was　a　tall　girl　with　yellow　hair　and　eyes　which　matched　the　zenith　when　it　darkens　after　the　dropping　of　the　sun。　His　fancy　painted　her　in　every　conceivable　situation：　walking；　riding；　resting　at　noonday　in　the　shaded　western　end　of　the　veranda；　or　pouring　tea　for　relays　of　thirsty　guests。　As　a　rule；　the　Captain's　figure　was　in　the　background　of　these　pictures；　and　Weldon　was　content　to　have　it　so。　In　all　South　Africa；　these　were　his　two　best　friends；　it　was　good　that　they　could　be　together。　And　the　Captain　was　an　older　man；　much　older。　When　one　lives　in　the　open　air　during　twenty…four　hours　of　every　day；　jealousy　has　scant　place　in　his　mind。　The　smaller　vices　are　for　the　cramped　town；　not　for　the　limitless；　unbroken　veldt。

And　now　and　then　a　day　brought　with　it　a　letter；　frank；　friendly　and　full　of　news。　Those　days　Weldon　marked　with　a　white　stone；　but　his　sleep；　on　those　nights；　was　as　quiet　and　dreamless　as　ever。　Facts　were　facts。　Theories　and　hopes　were　for　the　future；　and　no　man　looks　much　to　the　future　in　a　time　of　war。

Besides　the　letters；　there　were　minor　events；　too；　events　which　went　to　fill　up　the　letters　of　reply。　Now　it　was　a　hospital　train　which　halted　at　the　camp　on　the　way　southward；　and　each　red…taped　nurse　had　reminded　him　of　Alice　Mellen；　and　of　those　last　days　in　Johannesburg。　Now　it　was　a　two…day　trek；　as　escort　for　a　convoy　train　whose　long　lines　of　bullock…drawn　wagons　marked　the　brown　veldt　with　a　wavering　stripe　of　duller　brown。　Again　a　wounded　picket　came　straying　back　to　camp；　bleeding　and　dazed；　to　report　the　inevitable　sniping　which　furnished　the　running　accompaniment　to　most　other　events；　or　an　angry　squad　came　riding　in；　to　tell　of　the　shots　which　had　followed　close　upon　the　raising　of　the　white　flag；　or　of　the　score　of　armed　men　who　had　suddenly　leaped　out　from　the　safe　shelter　of　a　Red…Cross　ambulance。　And；　on　one　occasion；　he　had　been　in　the　thick　of　a　similar　fray。　Hand　to　hand；　he　had　fought　on　the　doorsteps　of　a　farmhouse　to　which　he　and　his　five　comrades　had　been　bidden　by　a　sprightly　Boer　in　gown　and　sunbonnet。　At　the　door；　the　bonnet　had　been　cast　from　the　cropped　head；　and　the　gown　had　been　pushed　back　to　give　access　to　the　bandolier　beneath；　while　a　dozen　shots　from　an　upper　window　had　driven　them　from　the　dooryard　into　the　comparative　shelter　of　the　lower　rooms。　The　skirmish　had　ended　with　a　charge　up　the　stairway。　Weldon；　that　same　night；　had　written　to　Ethel　a　wholly　humorous　account　of　the　whole　affair；　and　it　was　not　until　long　afterwards　that　she　had　learned　from　Carew；　who　had　been　of　the　party；　which　was　the　trooper　who　had　mounted　guard　over　the　room　where　the　aged　grandmother　had　tucked　herself　away　under　her　bed。　The　old　Dutch　vrouw　had　bidden　him　to　share　her　shelter；　but　he　had　taken　note　of　her　dimensions；　and　had　declined　her　hospitality。　Later　on；　when　the　fight　was　over　and　she　had　painfully　wriggled　her　way　out　from　her　trap；　he　had　also　declined　certain　of　her　manifestat