Part 16 (2/2)

”It will not be I who will be court martialled,” panted Tom. ”Ah, you swine!” for at that moment Waterman had pulled out his pistol, and had not Tom struck his arm a bullet would have gone through his brain.

”I say, what's this?”

”A German spy!” cried Tom hoa.r.s.ely, ”he tried to shoot me, sir!”

”A German spy!” said the new-comer. ”You must be mad.”

”I am not mad, sir. I saw him.”

”He _is_ mad!” said Waterman. ”I'm here on duty and the fellow attacked me. Pull him off, Lieutenant Penrose, he's strangling me!”

Tom recognised the new-comer although he had not seen him for months.

It was Penrose who had been with him in Lancas.h.i.+re, and who had received his commission immediately after his arrival in Surrey.

”You know me, sir!” cried Tom, still holding on to the other; ”you know I would not do a thing without reason, sir! Make him a prisoner, he's been giving information to the enemy!”

”Prove it!” said Waterman.

”Yes, I will prove it!” panted Tom. ”Make him a prisoner, sir; I tell you he's been communicating with the enemy. I saw him not a minute ago!”

”What has he done?” asked Penrose.

”I saw him take a piece of paper from his pocket which was fastened to something heavy; then he threw it over the sand-bags towards the German lines. I tell you, sir, I saw him do it! Make him a prisoner.”

By this time others had come up, and Waterman, whom Tom had released somewhat, laughed uneasily. ”He's either a fool or a madman,” he said; ”he attacked me without a moment's warning, and without the slightest reason.”

”Hold him fast, sir,” cried Tom. ”I'll soon prove to you whether it's without the slightest reason. Promise me you won't let him go, sir?”

Penrose, who had grasped the situation, replied quickly: ”Of course I shall not let him go, but you must prove your accusation, Pollard.

Where are you going?”

”I am going to get the paper he threw towards the German trenches,”

cried Tom. ”That's it, sir, hold him fast!”

Tom was so excited that he had forgotten all about military rules and regulations. He acted just as he would have acted had he caught any one doing an outrageous deed before the war.

Waterman began to shout aloud, but Penrose was too quick for him. He placed his hand on the other's mouth, and said quietly, ”No you don't, sir.”

”Do you know what you are doing, Lieutenant?” said Waterman. ”You are attacking your superior officer. Take away your men and let me go at once.”

”Not until I get at the bottom of this,” said Penrose quietly.

”I tell you the man is either a madman or a fool.” Waterman was stammering painfully now.

”That will have to be proved,” and Penrose gripped his arm tightly.

”That's it, Jackson; take his revolver. As it happens,” he went on to Waterman, ”I know Pollard; he's a level-headed lad, and he would not have done this without reason. Ah, Major Blundell, will you come here a minute, sir,” for by this time the Major, having heard the sound of voices, had rushed up.

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