Part 19 (1/2)

”What do you think about your action, then?”

”I think what fools you all were and are,” and Waterman laughed insolently. ”I and others have laughed when you have played into our hands. Why,” and here there was a touch of pa.s.sion in his voice, ”your country is simply riddled with friends of Germany. Do you think that because a German becomes naturalised he ceases to be a German? Do you think that, although he protests his loyalty to England, and his desire to help England, that he is the less a German at heart? Do you think that a German, whether naturalised or not, stops at anything in order to serve his country? You have hundreds of Germans in your army to-day, while your public offices are full of men, and women too for that matter, of German parentage and with German sympathies. Yes, you may kill me,” and he threw back his shoulders proudly, ”but that will not stop us from conquering your country and being your masters.”

For a moment he almost seemed to dominate the room. He stood erect, haughty, scornful; it might seem as though he were the accuser and not the accused.

”Of course you know the consequence of your deed?” said the President presently.

Waterman shrugged his shoulders. ”I have counted the cost, and am willing to pay the price,” was his reply.

When he was led away there was a silence in the room for some seconds.

Whatever else he had done he had given his judges to see that he was a brave man; that to him the victory of his country was more than life; that for what he had called the Fatherland he had trampled under his feet all ordinary conventions, all accepted rules of honour and truth.

Germany was first, everything else came afterwards.

The Englishman always admires courage, no matter in what form it may appear, and there could be no doubt that Waterman was courageous.

”It is no wonder,” said the General, as if speaking to himself, ”that they are such terrible enemies.” No man spoke, but each knew what was in the other's mind.

Of course, there was no doubt about the verdict; Waterman had been guilty of the worst possible crime, and but for the quick wit and prompt action of the Lancas.h.i.+re lad he would doubtless have continued to help the enemy. The paper which Waterman had thrown towards the German lines contained the details of the next plan of attack; details which, known to the Germans, would have nullified the British action, and possibly have led to disaster.

”That young Pollard is a plucky young beggar,” remarked the President presently, ”he is a lad of brains, too, and has behaved splendidly. Of course what he has done must not be lost sight of.”

There was a general a.s.sent to this.

He ought to be recommended for his D.C.M. was the general verdict.

Early next morning Waterman was led out to a wall not far from the room where he had been judged. He walked steadily and proudly towards the place of his execution, and then stood erect like a soldier at attention. He faced his dread ordeal with a look of pride on his face.

”Fire!”

Several shots rang out, and he fell heavily to the ground.

”Yon' chap'll never do any more spying,” said one soldier to another a little later.

”If I had my way,” said the other, ”he should not have had such a death as that. When I think of the dirty meanness of these German swine; when I think of spies like that; when I think of poisonous gas, and of all their treachery, I feel as though nothing's too bad for them Germans. At first, when the war commenced I had nowt but kindly feelings towards the soldiers, as soldiers; but now----”

CHAPTER X

It was late in November when the events just recorded took place, and a few days later the English newspapers contained special paragraphs headed ”Heroism of a Lancas.h.i.+re Lad.” Few details were given about Waterman, but Tom's bravery was fully commented on.

More than one journalist who had obtained details of what Tom had done made special reference to him and spoke of him in glowing terms. Mrs.

Pollard received many applications for Tom's photograph, and presently when she learnt that it appeared in newspapers all over the country, she gave expression to remarks more forcible than elegant.

”Our Tom an 'ero, eh?” she laughed. ”Weel, I never knowed it afore. I always looked upon him as a bit of a coward, but it's this 'ere sodgering as has done it, I suppose. 'Appen there's summat in th'

uniform. When a lad's got sodger's clothes on, I reckon as aa' it makes him feel c.o.c.ky. But it's a pity he's still such a fool as to keep on wi' Polly Powell. I wrote him a letter a while sin' telling him as aa' Polly wur walking out wi' other lads, but she still boasts as aa' Tom's faithful to her, and that she's got him under her thumb.”

”'Appen he will give her the sack now,” said a neighbour.

”Nay, our Tom wur always a fool. He might have had Alice Lister if he hadn't been such a ninny, but she's engaged to Harry Briarfield now. I wrote and told him about it only last week. I suppose George Lister is fairly suited about it.”