the major- 第58部分

It　was　a　strange　crowd　that　gathered　about　the　entrance　to　the　drill　hall；　not　the　usual　assemblage　of　noisy；　idly　curious　folk　of　the　lighter　weight　that　are　wont　to　follow　a　marching　battalion　or　gather　to　the　sound　of　a　band。　　It　was　composed　of　substantial　and　solid　people；　serious　in　face　and　quiet　in　demeanour。　　They　were　there　on　business；　a　business　of　the　gravest　character。　　As　the　girls　stood　waiting　they　heard　far　down　Broadway　the　throbbing　of　drums。

〃Listen；　Ethel；〃　cried　Jane。　　〃The　Pipes！〃

〃The　Pipes　！〃　echoed　Ethel　in　great　excitement。　　〃The　Kilties！〃

Above　the　roll　and　rattle　of　the　drums　they　caught　those　high；　heart…thrilling　sounds　which　for　nearly　two　hundred　years　have　been　heard　on　every　famous　British　battlefield；　and　which　have　ever　led　Scotland's　sons　down　the　path　of　blood　and　death　to　imperishable　glory。

A　young　Ninetieth　officer；　intent　on　seeing　that　the　way　was　kept　clear　for　the　soldiers；　came　striding　out　of　the　armoury。

〃Oh；　there's　Frank　Smart；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃I　wish　he　would　see　us。〃

As　if　in　answer　to　her　wish；　Smart　turned　about　and　saw　them　in　the　crowd。　　Immediately　he　came　to　them。

〃I　didn't　know　you　were　a　soldier；　Frank；〃　said　Jane；　greeting　him　with　a　radiant　smile。

〃I　had　almost　forgotten　it　myself；〃　said　Frank。　　〃But　I　was　at　church　yesterday　and　I　went　home　and　looked　up　my　uniform　and　here　I　am。〃

〃You　are　not　going　across；　Frank；　are　you？〃　said　Ethel。

〃If　I　can。　　There　is　very　strong　competition　between　both　officers　and　men。　　I　have　been　paying　little　attention　to　soldiering　for　a　year　or　so；　I　have　been　much　too　busy。　　But　now　things　are　different。　　If　I　can　make　it；　I　guess　I　will　go。〃

〃Oh；　Frank；　YOU　don't　need　to　go；　said　Ethel。　　I　mean　there　are　heaps　of　men　all　over　Canada　wanting　to　go。　　Why　should　YOU　go？〃

〃The　question　a　fellow　must　ask　himself　is　rather　why　should　he　stay；〃　replied　the　young　officer。　　〃Don't　you　think　so；　Jane？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Jane；　drawing　in　her　breath　sharply　but　smiling　at　him。

〃Do　you　want　to　go　in？〃　asked　Frank。

〃Oh；　do　let's　go　in；〃　said　Ethel。

But　Jane　shrank　back。　　〃I　don't　like　to　go　through　all　those　men；〃　she　said；　〃though　I　should　like　greatly　to　see　Kellerman；〃　she　added。　　〃I　wonder　if　I　could　see　him。〃

〃Kellerman？〃

〃Yes；　he's　Jane's　special；　you　know；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃They　ran　close　together　for　the　German　prize；　you　remember。　　You　don't　know　him？　A　little　Jew　chap。〃

〃No；　I　don't　know　him；〃　said　Smart。　　〃But　you　can　certainly　see　him　if　you　wish。　　Just　come　with　me；　I　will　get　you　in。　　But　first　I　have　got　to　see　that　this　way　is　kept　clear　for　the　Highlanders。〃

〃Oh；　let's　wait　to　see　them　come　up；〃　said　Ethel。

〃Well；　then；　stand　here；〃　said　Frank。　　〃There　may　be　a　crush；　but　if　you　don't　mind　that　we　will　follow　right　after　them。　　Here　they　come。　　Great　lads；　aren't　they？〃

〃And　they　have　their　big　feather　bonnets　on；　too；〃　said　Ethel。

Down　the　street　the　Highlanders　came　in　column　of　fours；　the　pipe　band　leading。

〃Aren't　they　gorgeous？〃　said　Smart　with　generous　praise　for　a　rival　battalion。　　〃Chesty…looking　devils；　eh？〃　he　added　as　they　drew　near。　　〃You　would　think　that　Pipe　Major　owned　at　least　half　of　Winnipeg。〃

〃And　the　big　drummer　the　other　half；〃　added　Ethel。　　〃Look　at　his　sticks。　　He's　got　a　classy　twirl；　hasn't　he？〃

Gorgeous　they　were；　their　white　spats　flashing　in　time　with　their　step；　their　kilts　swaying　free　over　their　tartan　hose　and　naked　knees；　their　white　tunics　gleaming　through　the　dusk　of　the　evening；　and　over　all　the　tossing　plumes　of　their　great　feather　bonnets　nodding　rhythmically　with　their　swinging　stride。

〃Mighty　glad　we　have　not　to　fight　those　boys；〃　said　Frank　as　the　column　swung　past　into　the　armoury。

The　crowd　which　on　other　occasions　would　have　broken　into　enthusiastic　cheers　to…night　stood　in　silence　while　the　Highlanders　in　all　their　gorgeous　splendour　went　past。　　That　grave　silence　was　characteristic　of　the　Winnipeg　crowds　those　first　days　of　war。　Later　they　found　voice。

〃Now　we　can　go　in。　　Come　right　along；〃　said　Smart。　　〃Stand　clear　there；　boys。　　You　can't　go　in　unless　you　have　an　order。〃

〃We　ar…r…e　wantin'　tae　join；〃　said　a　Scotch　voice。

〃You　are；　eh？　　Come　along　then。　　Fall　into　line　there。〃　　The　men　immediately　dropped　into　line。　　〃Ah；　you　have　been　there　before；　I　see；〃　said　Smart。

〃Aye；　ye'er…r…r　right　ther…r…re；　sir…r…r；〃　answered　the　voice。

〃You　will　be　for　the　Kilties；　boys？〃　said　Frank。

〃Aye。　　What　else？〃　asked　the　same　man　in　surprise。

〃There　is　only　one　regiment　for　the　Scotchman　apparently；〃　said　Frank；　leading　the　way　to　the　door。　　〃Just　hold　these　men　here　until　I　see　what's　doing；　will　you？〃　he　said　to　the　sentry　as　he　passed　in。　　〃Now；　then；　young　ladies；　step　to　your　right　and　await　me　in　that　corner。　　I　must　see　what's　to　be　done　with　these　recruits。　　Then　I　shall　find　Kellerman　for　you。〃

But　he　had　no　need　to　look　for　Kellerman；　for　before　he　returned　the　little　Jew　had　caught　sight　of　the　young　ladies　and　had　made　his　way　to　them。

〃Why；　how　splendid　you　look；　Mr。　Kellerman；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃I　did　not　know　you　were　in　the　Ninetieth。〃

〃I　wasn't　until　Friday。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　say　you　joined　up　to　go　away？〃　inquired　Ethel。

〃That's　what；〃　said　Kellerman。

〃But　you　areI　meanI　do　not　see〃　　Ethel　stopped　in　confusion。

〃What　you　mean；　Miss　Murray；　is　that　you　are　surprised　at　a　Jew　joining　a　military　organisation；〃　said　Kellerman　with　a　quiet　dignity　quite　new　to　him。　　Formerly　his　normal　condition　was　one　of　half　defiant；　half　cringing　nervousness　in　the　presence　of　ladies。　To…night　he　carried　himself　with　an　easy　self…possession；　and　it　was　due　to　more　than　the　uniform。

〃I　am　afraid　you　are　right。　　It　is　horrid　of　me　and　I　am　awfully　sorry；〃　said　Ethel；　impulsively　offering　him　her　hand。

〃Why　did　you　join；　Mr。　Kellerman？〃　said　Jane　in　her　quiet　voice。

〃Why；　I　hardly　know　if　I　can　tell　you。　　I　will；　though；〃　he　added　with　a　sudden　impulse；　〃if　you　care　to　hear。〃

〃Oh；　do　tell　us；〃　said　Ethel。　　But　Kellerman　looked　at　Jane。

〃If　you　care　to　tell；　Mr。　Kellerman；〃　she　said。

The　little　Jew　stood　silent　a　few　minutes；　leaning　upon　his　rifle　and　looking　down　upon　the　ground。　　Then　in　a　low；　soft　voice　he　began：　　〃I　was　born　in　PolandGerman　Poland。　　The　first　thing　I　remember　is　seeing　my　mother　kneeling；　weeping　and　wringing　her　hands　beside　my　father's　dead　body　outside　the　door　of　our　little　house　in　our　village。　　He　was　a　student；　a　scholar；　and　a　patriot。〃　Kellerman's　voice　took　on　a　deeper　and　firmer　tone。　　〃He　stood　for　the　Polish　language　in　the　schools。　　There　was　a　riot　in　our　village。　　A　German　officer　struck　my　father　down　and　killed　him　on　the　ground。　　My　mother　wiped　the　blood　off　his　white　faceI　can　see　that　white　face　nowwith　her　apron。　　She　kept　that　apron；　she　has　it　yet。　　We　got　somehow　to　London　soon　after　that。　　The　English　people　were　good　to　us。　　The　German　people　are　tyrants。　　They　have　no　use　for　free　peoples。〃　　The　little　Jew's　words　snapped　through　his　teeth。　　〃When　war　came　a　week　ago　I　could　not　sleep　for　two　nights。　　On　Friday　I　joined　the　Ninetieth。　　That　night　I　slept　ten　hours。〃　　As　he　finished　his　story　the　lad　stood　staring　straight　before　him　into　the　moving　crowd。　　He　had　forgotten　the　girls　who　with　horror…stricken　faces　had　been　listening　to　him。　　He　was　still　seeing　that　white　face　smeared　with　blood。

〃And　your　mother？〃　said　Jane　gently　as　she　laid　her　hand　upon　his　arm。

The　boy　started。　　〃My　mother？　　Oh；　my　mother；　she　went　with　me　to　the　recruiting　office　and　saw　me　take　the　oath。　　She　is　satisfied　now。〃

For　some　moments　the　girls　stood　silent；　unable　to　find　their　voices。　　Then　Jane　said；　her　eyes　glowing　with　a　deep　inner　light；　〃Mr。　Kellerman；　I　am　proud　of　you。〃

〃Thank　you；　Miss　Brown；　it　does　me　good　to　hear　you　say　that。　　But　you　have　always　been　good　to　me。〃

〃And　I　want　you　to　come　and　see　me　before　you　go；〃　said　Jane　as　she　gave　him　her　hand。　　〃Now　will　you　take　us　out　through　the　crowd？　We　must　get　along。〃

〃Certainly；　Miss　Brown。　　Just　come　with　me。〃　　With　a　fine；　soldierly　tread　the　young　Jew　led　them　through　the　crowd　and　put　them　on　their　way。　　He　did　not　shake　hands　with　them　as　he　said　good…bye；　but　gave　them　instead　a　military　salute；　of　which　he　was　apparently　distinctly　proud。

〃Tell　me；　Jane；〃　said　Ethel；　as　they　set　off　down　the　street；　〃am　I　awake？　　Is　that　little　Kellerman；　the　greasy　little　Jew　whom　we　used　to　think　such　a　beast？〃

〃Isn't　he　splendid？〃　said　Jane。　　〃Poor　little　Kellerman！　　You　know；　Ethel；　he　had　not　one　girl　friend　in　college？　　I　am　sorry　now　we　were　not　better　to　him。〃

The　streets　were　full　of　people　walking　hurriedly　or　gathered　here　and　there　in　groups；　all　with　grave；　solemn　faces。　　In　front　of　The　Times　office　a　huge　concourse　stood　before　the　bulletin　boards　reading　the　latest　despatches。　　These　were　ominous　enough：　　〃The　Germans　Still　Battering　Liege　FortsKaiser's　Army　Nearing　BrusselsFour　Millions　of　Men　Marching　on　FranceRussia　Hastening　Her　MobilisationKitchener　Calls　for　One　Hundred　Thousand　Men　Canada　Will　Send　Expeditionary　Force　of　Twenty…five　Thousand　Men　Camp　at　Valcartier　Nearly　ReadyParliament　Assembles　Thursday。〃　Men　read　the　bulletins　and　talked　quietly　to　each　other。　　They　had　not　yet　reached　clearness　in　their　thinking　as　to　how　this　dread　thing　had　fallen　upon　their　country　so　far　from　the　storm　centre；　so　remote　in　all　vital　relations。　　There　was　no　cheeringthe　cheering　days　came　laterno　ebullient　emotion；　but　the　tightening　of　lip　and　jaw　in　their　stern；　set　faces　was　a　sufficient　index　of　the　tensity　of　feeling。　　Canadians　were　thinking　things　out；　thinking　keenly　and　swiftly；　for　in　the　atmosphere　and　actuality　of　war　mental　processes　are　carried　on　at　high　pressure。

As　the　girls　stood　at　the　corner　of　Portage　Avenue　and　Main　waiting　for　a　crossing；　an　auto　held　up　in　the　traffic　drew　close　to　their　side。

〃Hello；　Ethel！　　Won't　you　get　in？〃　said　a　voice　at　their　ear。

〃Hello；　Lloyd！　　Hello；　Helen！〃　cried　Ethel。　　〃We　will；　most　certainly。　　Are　you　joying；　or　what？〃

〃Both；〃　said　Lloyd　Rushbrooke；　who　was　at　the　wheel。　　〃Helen　wanted　to　see　the　soldiers。　　She　is　interested　in　the　Ninetieth　but　he　wasn't　there　and　I　am　just　taking　her　about。〃

〃