peace manoeuvres-第3章
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〃WE took you；〃 exclaimed the sergeant。
〃What regiment？〃 demanded Lathrop； sharply。 〃I have to report who
took me； and you probably don't know it； but your collar ornaments
are upside down。〃 With genuine exasperation he turned to Miss
Farrar。
〃Lord！〃 he exclaimed； 〃isn't it bad enough to be taken prisoner；
without being taken by raw recruits that can't put on their
uniforms？〃
The Reds flushed； and the younger； a sandy…haired； rat…faced youth；
retorted angrily： 〃Mebbe we ain't strong on uniforms； beau；〃 he
snarled； 〃but you've got nothing on us yet； that I can see。 You
look pretty with your hands in the air； don't you？〃
〃Shut up；〃 commanded the other Red。 He was the older man； heavily
built； with a strong； hard mouth and chin； on which latter sprouted
a three days' iron…gray beard。 〃Don't you see he's an officer？
Officers don't like being took by two…spot privates。〃
Lathrop gave a sudden start。 〃Why；〃 he laughed； incredulously；
〃don't you know〃 He stopped； and his eyes glanced quickly up and
down the road。
〃Don't we know what？〃 demanded the older Red； suspiciously。
〃I forgot；〃 said Lathrop。 〃II must not give information to the
enemy〃
For an instant there was a pause； while the two Reds stood
irresolute。 Then the older nodded the other to the side of the
road； and in whispers they consulted eagerly。
Miss Farrar laughed； and Lathrop moved toward her。
〃I deserve worse than being laughed at；〃 he said。 〃I made a
strategic mistake。 I should not have tried to capture you and an
army corps at the same time。〃
〃You；〃 she taunted； 〃who were always so keen on soldiering； to be
taken prisoner；〃 she lowered her voice； 〃and by men like that！
Aren't they funny？〃 she whispered； 〃and East Side and Tenderloin！
It made me homesick to hear them！ I think when not in uniform the
little one drives a taxicab； and the big one is a guard on the
elevated。〃
〃They certainly are very 'New York；'〃 assented Lathrop； 〃and very
tough。〃
〃I thought；〃 whispered Miss Farrar； 〃those from New York with the
Red Army were picked men。〃
〃What does it matter？〃 exclaimed Lathrop。 〃It's just as
humiliating to be captured by a ballroom boy as by a mere
millionaire！ I can't insist on the invading army being entirely
recruited from Harvard graduates。〃
The two Reds either had reached a decision； or agreed that they
could not agree； for they ceased whispering； and crossed to where
Lathrop stood。
〃We been talking over your case；〃 explained the sergeant； 〃and we
see we are in wrong。 We see we made a mistake in taking you
prisoner。 We had ought to shot you dead。 So now we're going to
shoot you dead。〃
〃You can't！〃 objected Lathrop。 〃It's too late。 You should have
thought of that sooner。〃
〃I know；〃 admitted the sergeant； 〃but a prisoner is a hell of a
nuisance。 If you got a prisoner to look after you can't do your
own work； you got to keep tabs on him。 And there ain't nothing in
it for the prisoner； neither。 If we take you； you'll have to tramp
all the way to our army； and all the way back。 But； if you're
dead； how different！ You ain't no bother to anybody。 You got a
half holiday all to yourself； and you can loaf around the camp； so
dead that they can't make you work； but not so dead you can't smoke
or eat。〃 The sergeant smiled ingratiatingly。 In a tempting manner
he exhibited his rifle。 〃Better be dead；〃 he urged。
〃I'd like to oblige you；〃 said Lathrop； 〃but it's against the
rules。 You CAN'T shoot a prisoner。〃
The rat…faced soldier uttered an angry exclamation。 〃To hell with
the rules！〃 he cried。 〃We can't waste time on him。 Turn him
loose！〃
The older man rounded on the little one savagely。 The tone in
which he addressed him was cold； menacing； sinister。 His words
were simple； but his eyes and face were heavy with warning。
〃Who is running this？〃 he asked。
The little soldier muttered； and shuffled away。 From under the
brim of his campaign hat； his eyes cast furtive glances up and down
the road。 As though anxious to wipe out the effect of his
comrade's words； the sergeant addressed Lathrop suavely and in a
tone of conciliation。
〃You see；〃 he explained； 〃him and me are scouts。 We're not
supposed to waste time taking prisoners。 So； we'll set you free。〃
He waved his hand invitingly toward the bicycle。 〃You can go！〃 he
said。
To Miss Farrar's indignation Lathrop； instead of accepting his
freedom； remained motionless。
〃I can't！〃 he said。 〃I'm on post。 My captain ordered me to stay
in front of this house until I was relieved。〃
Miss Farrar； amazed at such duplicity； exclaimed aloud：
〃He is NOT on post！〃 she protested。 〃He's a scout！ He wants to
stop here； becausebecausehe's hungry。 I wouldn't have let you
take him prisoner； if I had not thought you would take him away
with you。〃 She appealed to the sergeant。 〃PLEASE take him away；〃
she begged。
The sergeant turned sharply upon his prisoner。
〃Why don't you do what the lady wants？〃 he demanded。
〃Because I've got to do what my captain wants；〃 returned Lathrop；
〃and he put me on sentry…go； in front of this house。〃
With the back of his hand； the sergeant fretfully scraped the three
days' growth on his chin。 〃There's nothing to it；〃 he exclaimed；
〃but for to take him with us。 When we meet some more Reds we'll
turn him over。 Fall in！〃 he commanded。
〃No！〃 protested Lathrop。 〃I don't want to be turned over。 I've
got a much better plan。 YOU don't want to be bothered with a
prisoner。 I don't want to be a prisoner。 As you say； I am better
dead。 You can't shoot a prisoner； but if he tries to escape you
can。 I'll try to escape。 You shoot me。 Then I return to my own
army； and report myself dead。 That ends your difficulty and saves
me from a court…martial。 They can't court…martial a corpse。〃
The face of the sergeant flashed with relief and satisfaction。 In
his anxiety to rid himself of his prisoner； he lifted the bicycle
into the road and held it in readiness。
〃You're all right！〃 he said； heartily。 〃You can make your getaway
as quick as you like。〃
But to the conspiracy Miss Farrar refused to lend herself。
〃How do you know；〃 she demanded； 〃that he will keep his promise？
He may not go back to his own army。 He can be just as dead on my
lawn as anywhere else！〃
Lathrop shook his head at her sadly。
〃How you wrong me！〃 he protested。 〃How dare you doubt the promise
of a dying man？ These are really my last words； and I wish I could
think of something to say suited to the occasion； but the presence
of strangers prevents。〃
He mounted his bicycle。 〃'If I had a thousand lives to give；'〃 he
quoted with fervor； 〃'I'd give them all to'〃 he hesitated； and
smiled mournfully on Miss Farrar。 Seeing her flushed and indignant
countenance； he added； with haste； 〃to the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts！〃
As he started on his wheel slowly down the path； he turned to the
sergeant。
〃I'm escaping；〃 he explained。 The Reds； with an enthusiasm
undoubtedly genuine； raised their rifles； and the calm of the
Indian summer was shattered by two sharp reports。 Lathrop； looking
back over his shoulder； waved one hand reassuringly。
〃Death was instantaneous；〃 he called。 He bent his body over the
handle…bar； and they watched him disappear rapidly around the turn
in the road。
Miss Farrar sighed with relief。
〃Thank you very much；〃 she said。
As though signifying that to oblige a woman he would shoot any
number of prisoners； the sergeant raised his hat。
〃Don't mention it； lady；〃 he said。 〃I seen he was annoying you；
and that's why I got rid of him。 Some of them amateur soldiers； as
soon as they get into uniform； are too fresh。 He took advantage of
you because your folks were away from home。 But don't you worry
about that。 I'll guard this house until your folks get back。〃
Miss Farrar protested warmly。
〃Really！〃 she exclaimed； 〃I need no one to guard me。〃
But the soldier was obdurate。 He motioned his comrade down the
road。
〃Watch at the turn；〃 he ordered； 〃he may come back or send some of
the Blues to take us。 I'll stay here and protect the lady。〃
Again Miss Farrar protested； but the sergeant； i
