active service-第17章
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d trouble enough with endless official communications without being hounded about private affairs by a confident young man in khaki。 But Coleman at last unearthed six cablegrams which collective said that the Eclipse wondered why they did not hear from him； that Walkley had been relieved from duty in London and sent to join the army of the crown prince； that young Point； the artist； had been shipped to Greece； that if he； Coleman； succeeded in finding the Wainwright party the paper was prepared to make a tremendous uproar of a celebration over it and； finally； the paper wondered twice more why they did not hear from him。
When Coleman went forth to enquire if anybody knew of the whereabouts of the Wainwright party he thought first of his fellow correspondents。 He found most of them in a cafe where was to be had about the only food in the soldier…laden town。 It was a slothful den where even an ordinary boiled egg could be made unpalatable。 Such a common matter as the salt men watched with greed and suspicion as if they were always about to grab it from each other。 The proprietor； in a dirty shirt； could always be heard whining； evidently telling the world that he was being abused； but he had spirit enough remaining to charge three prices for everything with an almost Jewish fluency。
The correspondents consoled themselves largely upon black … bread and the native wines。 Also there were certain little oiled fishes； and some green odds and ends for salads。 The correspondents were practically all Englishmen。 Some of them were veterans of journalism in the Sudan； in India； in South Africa； and there were others who knew as much of war as they could learn by sitting at a desk and editing the London stock reports。 Some were on their own hook； some had horses and dragomen and some had neither the one nor the other； many knew how to write and a few had it yet to learn。 The thing in common was a spirit of adventure which found pleasure in the extraordinary business of seeing how men kill each other。
They were talking of an artillery duel which had been fought the previous day between the Greek batteries above the town and the Turkish batteries across the river。 Coleman took seat at one of the long tables； and the astute dragoman got somebody in the street to hold the horses in order that he might be present at any feasting。
One of the experienced correspondents was remarking that the fire of the Greek batteries in the engagement had been the finest artillery practice of the century。 He spoke a little loudly； perhaps； in the wistful hope that some of the Greek officers would understand enough English to follow his meaning； for it is always good for a correspondent to admire the prowess on his own side of the battlefield。 After a time Coleman spoke in a lull； and describing the supposed misfortunes of the Wainwright party； asked if anyone had news of them。 The correspondents were surprised； they had none of them heard even of the existence of a Wainwright party。 Also none of them seemed to care exceedingly。 The conversation soon changed to a discussion of the probable result of the general Greek advance announced for the morrow。
Coleman silently commented that this remarkable appearance of indifference to the mishap of the Wainwrights； a little party； a single group； was a better definition of a real condition of war than that bit of long…range musketry of the morning。 He took a certain despatch out of his pocket and again read it。 〃 Find Wainwright party at all hazards； much talk here； success means red fire by ton。 Eclipse。〃 It was an important matter。 He could imagine how the American people； vibrating for years to stories of the cruelty of the Turk； would tremble…indeed； was now trembling…while the newspapers howled out the dire possibilities。 He saw all the kinds of people； from those who would read the Wainwright chapters from day to day as a sort of sensational novel； to those who would work up a gentle sympathy for the woe of others around the table in the evenings。 He saw bar keepers and policemen taking a high gallery thrill out of this kind of romance。 He saw even the emotion among American colleges over the tragedy of a professor and some students。 It certainly was a big affair。 Marjory of course was everything in one way； but that； to the world； was not a big affair。 It was the romance of the Wainwright party in its simplicity that to the American world was arousing great sensation； one that in the old days would have made his heart leap like a colt。
Still； when batteries had fought each other savagely； and horse； foot and guns were now about to make a general advance； it was difficult； he could see； to stir men to think and feel out of the present zone of action； to adopt for a time in fact the thoughts and feelings of the other side of the world。 It made Coleman dejected as he saw clearly that the task was wholly on his own shoulders。
Of course they were men who when at home manifested the most gentle and wide…reaching feelings； most of them could not by any possibility have slapped a kitten merely for the prank and yet all of them who had seen an unknown man shot through the head in battle had little more to think of it than if the man had been a rag…baby。 Tender they might be； poets they might be； but they were all horned with a provisional； temporary； but absolutely essential callouse which was formed by their existence amid war with its quality of making them always think of the sights and sounds concealed in their own direct future。
They had been simply polite。 〃 Yes ？ 〃 said one to Coleman。 〃How many people in the party？ Are they all Americans？ Oh； I suppose it will be quite right。 Your minister in Constantinople will arrange that easily。 Where did you say？ At Nikopolis？ Well； we conclude that the Turks will make no stand between here and Pentepigadia。 In that case your Nikopolis will be uncovered unless the garrison at Prevasa intervenes。 That garrison at Prevasa； by the way； may make a deal of trouble。 Remember Plevna。〃
〃 Exactly how far is it to Nikopolis？ 〃 asked Coleman。
〃 Oh； I think it is about thirty kilometers；〃 replied the others。 〃 There is a good miltary road as soon as you cross the Louros river。 I've got the map of the Austrian general staff。 Would you like to look at it？〃
Coleman studied the map； speeding with his eye rapidly to and fro between Arta and Nikopolis。 To him it was merely a brown lithograph of mystery； but he could study the distances。
He had received a cordial invitation from the com… mander of the cavalry to go with him for another ride into Turkey； and he inclined to believe that his project would be furthered if he stuck close to the cavalry。 So he rode back to the cavalry camp and went peacefully to sleep on the sod。 He awoke in the morning with chattering teeth to find his dragoman saying that the major had unaccountably withdrawn his loan of the two troop horses。 Coleman of course immediately said to himself that the dragoman was lying a…gain in order to prevent another expedition into ominous Turkey； but after all if the commander； of the cavalry had suddenly turned the light of his favour from the correspondent it was only a proceeding consistent with the nature which Coleman now thought he was beginning to discern； a nature which can never think twice in the same place； a gageous mind which drifts； dissolves； combines； vanishes with the ability of an aerial thing until the man of the north feels that when he clutches it with full knowledge of his senses he is only the victim of his ardent imagination。 It is the difference in standards； in creeds； which is the more luminous when men call out that they are all alike。
So Coleman and his dragoman loaded their traps and moved out to again invade Turkey。 It was not yet clear daylight； but they felt that they might well start early since they were no longer mounted men。
On the way to the bridge； the dragoman； although he was curiously in love with his forty francs a day and his opportunities； ventured a stout protest； based apparently upon the fact that after all this foreigner； four days out from Athens was somewhat at his mercy。 〃 Meester Coleman；〃 he said； stopping suddenly； 〃 I think we make n
