on the firing line-第31部分

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〃No。〃　The　syllable　was　quiet；　deliberate。　Then　Weldon　roused　himself　and　sat　up　to　speak　with　sudden　energy。　〃Promise　me　this；　Carew；　that　while　the　matter　is　hanging　fire；　you　won't　mention　this　V。　C。　business　to　any　one。〃

Carew　stared　at　him　in　unmixed　surprise。

〃What's　the　matter　now？〃　he　asked　blankly。

〃Nothing；　only　that　I　want　you　to　promise。〃

〃Not　to〃

〃Not　to　a　living　soul。〃

〃Why？　What's　the　use？〃

〃No　use；　but　my　wish。　If　it　comes　off；　let　it　be　as　a　joyous　surprise。　If　it　misses　fire；　as　it　quite　well　may；　then　there'll　be　no　harm　done。　In　either　case；　it　is　best　to　keep　still。　My　own　notion　is　that　I'll　not　get　it。　As　a　rule；　one　doesn't　get　the　V。　C。　for　shinning　up　the　side　of　a　hill；　no　matter　how　steep　it　is。〃

Carew　made　no　attempt　to　discuss　the　chances。　Instead；　he　merely　asked；

〃Mayn't　I　tell　Miss　Mellen？〃

Weldon　shook　his　head。　It　was　exactly　to　prevent　the　inevitable　consequences　of　Alice　Mellen's　knowing　the　story　that　he　was　seeking　to　extort　the　promise　from　Carew。　To　protect　his　motive；　however；　he　took　a　sudden　resolution。

〃I　shall　not　even　tell　my　mother；〃　he　answered；　with　slow　emphasis。

Carew　raised　his　brows。

〃Then　I　suppose　that　ties　my　tongue。　I　am　sorry。　What's　the　use　of　being　so　confoundedly　modest；　Weldon？〃

〃Do　you　promise？〃

〃I　suppose　I　must。〃

〃On　your　honor？〃

〃On　my　honor。〃

Weldon　stretched　himself　out　at　full　length　once　more。

〃So　be　it。　Give　me　a　light。　You　took　my　last　match；〃　he　said　as　unconcernedly　as　if　they　had　merely　been　talking　of　the　weather。

Indeed；　the　weather　might　well　have　been　the　subject　of　their　talk。　The　earth　was　baked　until　it　cracked　beneath　the　parching　sun　and　wind。　There　had　been　no　rain　for　weeks；　but；　to…day；　the　raw　wind　sent　the　lead…colored　clouds　flying　over　the　sky；　and　the　lead…　colored　clouds　were　heavy　with　rain。　All　the　morning　and　till　mid…　afternoon；　the　column　had　been　camping　not　far　away；　while　their　weary；　hungry　mounts　had　been　turned　out　on　the　veldt　to　graze。　For　men　and　mounts；　the　halt　was　needed。

The　fight　about　the　laager　had　been　no　easy　victory。　Twelve　hundred　half…starved　Britons　are　no　match　for　fifteen　hundred　Boers　fat　with　easy　living。　Weldon's　hold　on　the　crest　had　decided　the　game；　but　the　game　had　not　played　itself　out　without　wounds　for　some　and　utter　weariness　for　all。　War　mad；　yet　half…dazed　in　all　other　respects；　Weldon　had　watched　the　reinforcements　come　swarming　up　the　hill　to　his　relief；　had　heard　their　cheers　mingling　themselves　with　the　sound　of　his　name。　Then；　listless；　but　with　his　arm　still　about　Paddy's　shoulders；　he　had　seen　the　fight　move　to　its　destined　finish。　He　came　down　from　the　hilltop；　feeling　that　something　had　taken　yet　one　more　turn　in　the　evertightening　coil　of　his　brain。　For　one　instant；　as　they　were　laying　Paddy　into　the　narrow　grave　scooped　out　of　the　veldt；　the　coil　relaxed。　Then；　as　the　lumps　of　earth　closed　over　his　plucky；　loyal　little　comrade；　it　tightened　again　and　pressed　on　him　more　closely　than　ever。

And　that　was　a　week　ago；　and　the　week　between　had　been　one　long　trek　in　search　of　errant　Boers。　Weldon　still　rode　in　the　front　of　the　column。　He　had　been　ordered　into　hospital；　but；　bracing　himself；　he　had　looked　the　doctor　steadily　between　the　eyes　and　had　refused　to　obey。　The　hospital　was　not　for　himas　yet。　〃By　Jove！〃　Carew　was　remarking　deliberately。　〃Look　at　the　horses！〃

Noses　in　air；　tails　lashing　and　eyes　staring　wildly；　the　frightened　groups　had　swept　together　and　were　rushing　down　upon　them　in　one　mad　stampede。　Straight　towards　the　two　troopers　they　came　dashing　along；　swerved　slightly　and　went　sweeping　past　them；　wrapped　in　a　thick　column　of　dust　which　parted；　just　as　the　horde　rushed　by；　before　the　fierce　impact　of　the　breaking　storm。　From　zenith　to　horizon；　the　leaden　sky　was　marked　with　wavering　lines　of　golden　fire；　but　the　shock　of　the　thunder　was　outborne　by　the　clash　of　falling　hail。　Half　a　mile　away；　the　tents　were　riddled　by　the　egg…sized　lumps　of　ice；　and；　out　on　the　open　veldt；　Carew　threw　himself　on　the　earth；　face　downward；　and　buried　his　head　in　his　sheltering　arms。　But　Weldon　staggered　to　his　feet。　In　the　thick　of　the　flying　troop　of　horses；　he　had　seen　the　little　gray　broncho；　and　now；　before　she　swept　on　out　of　hearing；　he　turned　his　back　to　the　gale　and　gave　a　high；　shrill　whistle。　It　was　months；　now；　since　Piggie　had　learned　that　call。　Again　and　again　she　had　come　trotting　up　to　him；　to　rub　her　muzzle　against　his　neck　in　token　that　she　had　heard　and　understood。　There　was　scant　chance　that　the　call　would　be　carried　to　her　by　the　boisterous　wind；　scanter　chance　still　that；　hearing　it　now　in　that　mad　rout；　she　would　heed。　Nevertheless；　Weldon　took　the　chance。　Obviously　stampeded　by　the　enemy；　the　missing　horses　would　leave　the　column　powerless　to　repel　the　attack　which　was　imminent。　If　Piggie　could　be　recalled；　there　was　still　a　chance　to　regain　the　other　mounts。　Yet；　even　while　he　was　weighing　all　the　chances；　he　smiled　to　himself　as　he　recalled　the　ineffectual　little　whistle　that　had　gone　out　on　the　whistling　wind。　The　chance　was　gone。　Like　Carew；　he　would　lie　down　and　seek　what　shelter　he　could　get　from　the　earth　and　from　his　own　clasping　arms。

The　hail；　falling　thickly；　shut　down　about　the　troop　of　horses　and　took　them　from　his　sight。　If　his　eyes　could　have　followed　them；　he　would　have　seen　one　little　gray　head　toss　itself　upward　from　the　heart　of　the　throng；　one　sturdy　little　gray　back　move　more　and　more　slowly；　turn　slightly；　then　weave　its　patient　way　in　and　out　between　its　frightened　companions　until；　free　from　the　press　of　the　crowd；　it　stood　alone　on　the　hail…lashed　plain。　Ten　minutes　later；　Weldon　felt　a　soft；　wet　muzzle　poking　its　way　between　his　tight…locked　arms。　The　rest　was　simple。　It　amounted　to　riding　back　to　the　column　to　give　warning　of　the　enemy　who　rode　close　in　the　rear；　to　summoning　Kruger　Bobs　and　The　Nig；　and　then；　without　stopping　for　a　saddle；　to　go　galloping　away　to　the　sky…line　to　round　up　the　stampeded　herd。　The　first　dash　of　hail　over；　the　rain　fell　fast　upon　them；　but；　above　its　roar；　they　could　hear　the　steady　firing　of　the　pom　pom　behind　them　and　the　crackle　of　musketry　mingled　with　the　heavier　fire。

Four　o'clock　had　brought　the　stampede　and　the　storm。　Seven　o'clock　brought　Weldon　and　Kruger　Bobs；　drenched　to　the　skin；　back　into　a　demoralized　camp。　Nine　o'clock　found　Weldon　still　in　the　saddle；　his　teeth　chattering；　his　brown　cheeks　ablaze　and　his　eyes　hot　with　fever；　while　he　waited　for　the　pitching　of　his　tattered　tent。　Then；　even　before　its　soggy；　torn　folds　were　stretched　and　pegged　into　position；　he　turned　and　rode　off　in　search　of　a　doctor。

〃Sorry；〃　he　said　briefly；　〃but　I　think　I've　a　touch　of　fever。　Can　you　put　me　to　bed　somewhere？〃

The　next　morning；　he　greeted　Kruger　Bobs　by　the　name　of　a　girl　cousin　who　had　died；　ten　years　before。




CHAPTER　TWENTY…FOUR


For　two　weeks；　the　fever　held　Weldon　in　its　grip。　For　two　weeks；　he　was　prostrate；　first　with　the　halting　column；　then　at　the　base　hospital　at　Kroonstad。　The　fever　was　never　very　high；　nor　was　it　intermittent。　It　merely　hung　about　him　and　ate　away　his　strength。　For　the　time　being；　he　was　content　to　lie　quiet　and　stare　up　at　the　electric　lights　scattered　through　the　tent　and　wonder　about　Ethel。　Now　and　then　some　sight　in　the　hospital　set　him　to　thinking　about　the　Captain；　wondering　if　he　were　happy　in　his　new　life　of　rest　and　peace；　he　who　had　so　often　been　in　the　thick　of　the　fiercest　fight。　Or　he　thought　of　Paddy；　brave；　merry　little　Irishman　who；　fighting　like　an　angry　wolf；　had　died　with　a　joke　still　hanging　on　his　lips。　Then　his　mind　went　back　again　to　Ethel。

In　vain　they　urged　him　to　sleep；　in　vain　they　gave　him　bromides。　The　body　was　at　rest；　but　the　wheels　of　the　brain　whirred　as　busily　as　ever；　and　as　logically。　No　hint　of　delirium　mingled　with　his　thought　processes。　It　might　have　saved　something　if　there　had。

Then；　one　day；　Weldon　sat　up　for　an　hour。　The　next　day；　he　was　put　into　his　clothes　and；　three　days　later；　supported　on　the　strong　arm　of　Kruger　Bobs；　he　crawled　into　a　hospital　train　bound　for　Cape　Town。　It　was　an　order；　and　he　obeyed。　Nevertheless；　he　shrank　from　the　very　mention　of　Cape　Town。　It　had　been　the　core　of　his　universe；　but　now　the　core　had　gone　bad。　But　his　time　of　service　had　expired。　Red　tape　demanded　that　he　receive　the　papers　for　his　discharge　from　the　Cape　Town　citadel。　That　done；　he　would　take　the　first　outgoing　steamer　for　London。　Afterwards；　he　would　leave　his　life　in　the　hands　of　Fate。　He　took　no　note　of　the　fact　that　Fate　might　step　into　the　game　earlier　than　he　then　foresaw。

For　full　seven　hundred　miles；　the　train　lumbered　on　to　the　southward。　It　was　tedious；　exhausting；　yet　Weldon　found　a　certain　interest　in　the　jar　of　the　rolling　wheels　to　which　he　fitted　the　measure　of　his　whirring　thoughts。　As　long　as　the　rhythm　of　the　wheels　lasted；　his　thoughts　slowed　down　to　meet　their　time。　When　the　train　halted；　his　thoughts　dashed　off　again；　but　they　resumed　their　slower　course　as　soon　as　the　wheels　began　once　more。　He　took　no　note　of　the　country　about　him；　as　they　passed　from　veldt　to　karroo；　from　karroo　to　the　coast　plateau；　and　from　the　coast　plateau　down　across　the　Cape　Flats；　sparsely　covered　with　pipe　grass　and　acacias。　Then；　as　Table　Mountain　and　the　Devil's　Peak　lifted　themselves　on　his　right　hand；　he　knew　that　Cape　Town　was　near；　and　he　braced　himself　to　go　through　what　was　before　him。

Kruger　Bobs　eyed　him　anxiously。

〃Boss　sick；〃　he　announced　for　the　dozenth　time；　as　the　train　drew　in　at　the　Adderley　Street　station。　〃Boss　berry　sick　mans。　Boss　go　hotel　soon。〃

But　Weldon　shook　his　head。　Even　now；　rest　had　scant　space　in　his　plans；　least　of　all；　rest　in　Cape　Town。

〃I　can　do　it；〃　he　asserted　resolutely。　〃Steady　me　till　I　get　started；　Kruger　Bobs。　Then　I　shall　astonish　you　by　my　agility。〃

〃Boss　go　hotel；〃　Kruger　Bobs　muttered　in　low…voiced　mutiny。　〃Boss　too　sick　to　trek。〃

〃No　fear。　Did　you　ever　know　me　to　give　out；　when　there　was　something　still　to　be　done；　Kruger　Bobs？〃

〃What　Boss　do？〃

〃My　discharge。　My　banker。　My　passage　home。〃

The　arm　of　Kruger　Bobs　tightened　about　the　bony　figure　of　his　master；　but　the　pressure　of　his　strong　arm