Part 37 (1/2)
He strode off like Sir Galahad in football shorts, and was passed through the gate by the sentry alone more than fifteen minutes, and came back at last with his ears crimson
Nor would he answer our questions
”Shall I go?” suggested Fred
”Not unless you like insolence! We passed the caround, it seems, on our way in We've leave to pitch tents there We'd better be ”
So we trailed back the e had coe at the junction of three roads There were several srass-roofed shelters with open sides in there, and two tents already pitched, but ere not sufficiently interested just then to see ned the other tents We pitched our own--stowed the loads in one of the shelters--gave our porters money for board and rations--and sent them to find quarters in the town Another of the shelters we took over for a kitchen, and while our servants were cooking a an to question Will again
”They've got a fine place in there,” he said ”Neat as a new pin
Officers' etable garden Jail--looks like a fine jail--hold a couple of hundred Govern fine
The officers were all sitting s on a veranda
”'Is one of you the doctor?' I asked in Gerhty mean face turned his head to squint at me: but he didn't take his feet off the rail He looked inquisitive, that's all
”'Are you the doctor?' I asked hieon,' he answered 'What do you want?'
”I told him about your wound, and hoe'd eta question, and when I'd done he said curtly that the hospital opens for out-patients at eight in thewas so rotten that youHe didn't even look interested
I piled it on thicker and told him about the poisoned spear He didn't bat an eyelid or make aBelieve uessed I owned! A ward-heeler cadging votes for a Milwaukee aldererly I called hieon' and mentioned the well-known skill of German medicos, and the keen sense of duty of the German ar at eight!' was all the answer I got froan to get rattled I pulled out money and showed it He looked the other way, and when I went on talking he turned his back I suspect he didn't dare keep on lookin' at money almost within reach Anyhow, then I opened on hiuns I dared him to sit there, with a patient in need of prompt attention less than two hundred yards away I called hiovernment and the United States papers about him I told him I'd have his job if it cost me all my money and a lifetime's trouble He was just about ready to shoot--I'd just about got the red blood rising on his neck and ears--when along ca Muanza--a swag-bellied ruffian with a beard and a beery look in his eye, but a voice like adown three stories with all the fire-irons
”'What do you want?' he de mistaken me for one of his own countrymen Then I told hiht o'clock!' he snapped, after he'd had a ith the medico 'Meanwhile, round for the use of foreigners You and your party go to it!
If you do any dae there you will hear from me later!'
”I didn't cos about Germany and Germans, and what I'd do to help his personal reputation with the houessed he had his craw as near full as he could stand it without havingYankee-doodle And say--Fred! Where's that concertina of yours?”
Fred patted it His beloved instrument was never far frolish tunes you know to-night? Play and sing 'eia--My Country 'tis of Thee--The Marseillaise--The Battle Hy you know that Squareheads won't like Let's 'lar--hello--see who's here!”
Fred had begun fingering the keys already and the first strains of Marching Through Georgia began to awake the neighborhood to recognition of the fact that foreigners were present who held no especial brief for German rule The tent-door darkened Brown leapt to his feet and swore
”Gassharanized instantly ”That tune sounds good! I've lived in the States! I'et his own country's tunes so easily!”
Cool and i for an invitation, took a seat on a load of canned food Brown grabbed the nearest rifle (it happened to be Fred's)--snapped open the breach--discovered it was loaded--and took aim Coutlass did not even blink He was either sure Fred and Will would interfere, or else at the end of his tether and indifferent to death
”Don't be an ass, Brown!”