Part 38 (1/2)
This seemed incredible; people stared at one another aghast, and boldly declared that ”it was just a bazaar shave and a mistake,” for out in the Far, Far East there had been no preliminary muttering of the storm which was about to burst and drown half the world in tears.
Nevertheless, the news was horribly true. ”War” had come; war, after so many years of European peace and prosperity; and newly aroused, startled countries found themselves face to face with the malignity of the unknown.
Presently the Lieutenant-Governor reappeared and verified the whisper.
Wires were already active; the 29th Punjaub Infantry had been ordered from Mandalay; guests pressed round, eagerly s.n.a.t.c.hing at sc.r.a.ps of information; Germans and British glanced curiously at one another, and presently the gathering dissolved--to talk, to write, and to cable.
For several days nothing remarkable occurred, save that the outgoing mail carried a number of British who had booked their pa.s.sages at the last moment. Officers on leave were recalled, a few big business houses were closed and, in the District, many German mills and a large influx of stalwart young employes, who had been working in them and could not speak a word of English, suddenly flocked in, prepared to embark for Europe, to fight for the Fatherland.
Every berth in the _Blanks.h.i.+re_ had been secured, and the night before she sailed the well-known German Club gave its parting dinner; a wild affair, with unlimited quant.i.ties of champagne, loud patriotic speeches, songs and shouts of ”Deutschland uber Alles,” and finally a smas.h.i.+ng of gla.s.s, a breaking of furniture, and the customary wrecking of the premises.
In her frequent journeys from Rangoon, the popular _Blanks.h.i.+re_ had never been so crowded as on the present occasion; every berth was taken, chiefly by German pa.s.sengers, who had also bespoken the chief seats at table and the best positions for their deck chairs; such was the crush that there would be no room whatever for casual travellers from Colombo or Port Said. The British, who were in a comparatively small minority, realised what a very bad time lay before them, when they and their country's enemies must pa.s.s weeks and weeks in close proximity. Many had caught the previous steamer, but the remnant included Mrs. Gregory, Sophy, Shafto and MacNab--who was actually paying the pa.s.sage out of his h.o.a.rded funds, and sternly resolved to join the Cameronians. The party were figuratively swamped by the mult.i.tude of Teutons, who had swarmed on board, already looking truculent, arrogant and victorious--drinking and toasting one another noisily in vast libations at the bar. On the wharf an immense gathering of natives a.s.sembled to speed numbers of kind and generous patrons, who (with an eye to the future) had distributed a considerable amount of largesse and flattery, as well as silk and satin finery.
What with the Germans and their native friends, egress from and ingress to the steamer were almost impossible; the gangway was choked, and the shouting and hurrahing actually drowned the noise of the donkey-engine.
Many friends had come to see the last of Mrs. Gregory and her party; the military and official element were bound to remain in Rangoon.
Sophy was talking to Miss Maitland and Ella Pomeroy, when a fresh influx of joyous and exultant Germans came pouring down the gangway with the force and violence of a human cataract. Sophy and her friends were thrust rudely apart and, from where she had been pushed against the bulwarks, she saw Frau Wurm pa.s.s by, also Frau Muller, who threw her a glance that seemed to distil hatred. She was immediately followed by Bernhard, looking extraordinarily elated and deeply flushed. Catching sight of Sophy he halted, clicked his heels together, and said, with a sort of savage courtesy:
”Ach, so here we are again, you and I, Miss Leigh, on the old s.h.i.+p that brought us out! I am delighted to have your company.”
Sophy looked round for some means of escape, but she was helpless, being tightly wedged in between two bulwarks--the bulwark of the _Blanks.h.i.+re_ and Bernhard's solid form--and separated from Mrs. Gregory by a seething crowd of jubilant Teutons.
”So 'Der Tag' has come at last!” he continued, staring into her face with arrogant blue eyes; ”and we are on the eve of great events. I am about to join my Brandenburger regiment--every German is a soldier--we have several hundred reservists on board.”
Sophy at last found her voice and murmured: ”No doubt!”
”I caught sight of Shafto just now. Why is _he_ going home?”
”To serve his country.”
”Ah, bah! Better stick to his pen; it takes two years to make a soldier; in ten days we shall be in Paris, in a month in London. And why not? You have no army; we are a nation of fighting men, and you are a nation of shopkeepers!”
”Of course we are not prepared; we would not listen to Lord Roberts; and, on the other hand, you have been arming and drilling and s.h.i.+pbuilding for the last forty years!”
”Ah, well, meine liebe fraulein, we must spread our borders! Who could expect the greatest nation in the world to remain cooped up in the North Sea? We demand and we will have s.p.a.ce, power, and the sun. We understand patriotism and the love of country.”
”The love of other people's countries,” interposed Sophy sharply. ”You Germans are everywhere--like the sparrows.”
”To other nations we bring valuable lessons in industry and Kulture, prudence, thrift, and energy; other countries are only too fortunate to receive us. We have brains, bold hearts, and discipline--and know how to use them. Old Blucher, who won Waterloo, may yet find his aspirations fulfilled.”
”Ah, you mean the sack and plunder of London?”
He nodded an impressive a.s.sent, and then said:
”When I am there I shall call on you, and show you my loot!” As he spoke he lent towards her, his eyes exultant, his breath heavy with champagne. Sophy instinctively recoiled and said:
”Pray do not trouble.”
Bernhard gave a loud, boisterous laugh.
”It will be 'Missy can't see.' By the way, talking of loot, do you know that Herr Krauss is dead?”