Part 22 (1/2)

”We're almost at the camp of the Strangers,” said Captain Creville.

”None could ever mistake it, because their debate this morning upon their respective merits is uncommonly spirited. Listen!”

”I tell you, Wharton, you Yankees have no discipline. By Gad, sir, your lack of it is startling.”

”We don't need it, Carstairs, because we were always able to lick you English without it.”

”Lick us, you boasters! Where did you ever lick us?”

”Wherever we were able to find you.”

”My histories tell me that you never looked for us much.”

”But those histories were written by Englishmen. I'll lay you a good five-dollar bill against one of your s.h.i.+lling-short pounds that I beat you into Berlin.”

”As a prisoner, yes. I've no doubt of it.”

”Gentlemen,” said Creville, as he took a step forward, and looked into a little dip, ”I bring you a new comrade.”

Within the dip lay at least two hundred youths and young men. Nearly all were fair, and they were unmistakably Americans and English. The two who had been carrying on the violent controversy were stretched flat on the gra.s.s almost at the feet of Creville. But they sat up, when they heard him, and John saw that they were uncommonly handsome and athletic, their age about his own. They stepped forward at once, and extended to John the hand of fellows.h.i.+p. Captain Creville made the introductions.

”He wishes to enlist with you,” he said.

”He'll be welcome, I know,” said the Englishman, Carstairs. ”Our commander, Captain Colton, is not here at this moment, but we expect him in a half hour. How did you arrive, Mr. Scott?”

”He dropped down,” replied Creville for John. ”Dropped down. I don't understand you, Captain?”

Creville pointed straight up into the heavens.

”He came like the bird,” he said. ”He sailed through the air, seeking his nest. As soon as he saw us he said: 'Here is the perfect place; here I can dwell with the kindest and best people in the world; and down he swooped at once.'”

”I suppose you mean that he's an airman and that he came in a flying machine,” said the American, Wharton. ”Carstairs will arrive at that conclusion, too, if you give him time, but being an Englishman, time he must have.”

”But when I arrive at the conclusion it will be right,” said Carstairs.

”It's true that Mr. Scott came by machine,” said Captain Creville, who was now speaking in excellent English. ”He arrived with our great young aviator, Philip Lannes, and he has had many and thrilling adventures, of which he will tell you later. I suppose you will take your part in these English and American controversies, Mr. Scott, but your new captain will have nothing to do with them.”

”Is he an Englishman or an American?”

”You can decide that for yourself. He was born in England. His mother was American and his father English. He was taken to America when he was three years old, and was educated there, but, after finis.h.i.+ng at Harvard, he spent a year at Oxford. It seemed to all of us that his appointment as captain of this troop was most happy. The English are sure that he's English, the American know that he's American, he himself says nothing, and so all are happy. Ah, here he comes now, ahead of time!”

Daniel Coulton, a tall fair young man with a fine, open face, entered the dip, and Captain Creville at once turned John over to him.

”We're glad to have you, Mr. Scott,” said Colton, ”but the service will be hard and full of danger.”

”I expect it, sir.”

”These young men are serving France for love, and nearly all of them are privates. Carstairs and Wharton are in the ranks and you'll have to take a place with them.”

”I accept gladly, sir.”

”The right spirit. Wharton, you and Carstairs get him a uniform and arms, and he'll stay with you until further orders.”