prisoner； he leaned over the ship's side and shouted； 〃Sa…ay；
you； don't you know there's sharks in there？〃
And the swimming man said； 〃The hll there is！〃 and raced back
to the shore like a porpoise with great lashing of the water； and
ran up the beach half…way to the palms before he was satisfied to
stop。 Then the prisoner wept again。 It was so disappointing。
Life was robbed of everything now。 He remembered that in a
previous existence soldiers who cried were laughed at and mocked。
But that was so far away and it was such an absurd superstition
that he had no patience with it。 For what could be more
comforting to a man when he is treated cruelly than to cry。
It was so obvious an exercise； and when one is so feeble that one
cannot vault a four…railed barrier it is something to feel that
at least one is strong enough to cry。
He escaped occasionally； traversing space with marvellous
rapidity and to great distances； but never to any successful
purpose； and his flight inevitably ended in ignominious recapture
and a sudden awakening in bed。 At these moments the familiar and
hated palms； the peaks and the block…house were more hideous in
their reality than the most terrifying of his nightmares。
These excursions afield were always predatory； he went forth
always to seek food。 With all the beautiful world from which to
elect and choose； he sought out only those places where eating
was studied and elevated to an art。 These visits were much more
vivid in their detail than any he had ever before made to these
same resorts。 They invariably began in a carriage； which carried
him swiftly over smooth asphalt。 One route brought him across a
great and beautiful square； radiating with rows and rows of
flickering lights； two fountains splashed in the centre of the
square； and six women of stone guarded its approaches。 One of
the women was hung with wreaths of mourning。 Ahead of him the
late twilight darkened behind a great arch； which seemed to rise
on the horizon of the world； a great window into the heavens
beyond。 At either side strings of white and colored globes hung
among the trees； and the sound of music came joyfully from
theatres in the open air。 He knew the restaurant under the trees
to which he was now hastening； and the fountain beside it； and
the very sparrows balancing on the fountain's edge； he knew every
waiter at each of the tables； he felt again the gravel crunching
under his feet； he saw the maitre d'hotel coming forward
smiling to receive his command； and the waiter in the green apron
bowing at his elbow； deferential and important； presenting the
list of wines。 But his adventure never passed that point； for he
was captured again and once more bound to his cot with a close
burning sheet。
Or else； he drove more sedately through the London streets in
the late evening twilight； leaning expectantly across the doors
of the hansom and pulling carefully at his white gloves。 Other
hansoms flashed past him； the occupant of each with his mind
fixed on one ideadinner。 He was one of a million of people who
were about to dine； or who had dined； or who were deep in dining。
He was so famished； so weak for food of any quality； that the
galloping horse in the hansom seemed to crawl。 The lights of the
Embankment passed like the lamps of a railroad station as seen
from the window of an express； and while his mind was still torn
between the choice of a thin or thick soup or an immediate attack
upon cold beef； he was at the door； and the chasseur touched
his cap； and the little chasseur put the wicker guard over the
hansom's wheel。 As he jumped out he said； 〃Give him half…a…
crown；〃 and the driver called after him； 〃Thank you； sir。〃
It was a beautiful world； this world outside of the iron bars。
Every one in it contributed to his pleasure and to his comfort。
In this world he was not starved nor manhandled。 He thought
of this joyfully as he leaped up the stairs； where young men with
grave faces and with their hands held negligently behind their
backs bowed to him in polite surprise at his speed。 But they had
not been starved on condensed milk。 He threw his coat and hat at
one of them； and came down the hall fearfully and quite weak with
dread lest it should not be real。 His voice was shaking when he
asked Ellis if he had reserved a table。 The place was all so
real； it must be true this time。 The way Ellis turned and ran
his finger down the list showed it was real； because Ellis always
did that； even when he knew there would not be an empty table for
an hour。 The room was crowded with beautiful women； under the
light of the red shades they looked kind and approachable； and
there was food on every table； and iced drinks in silver buckets。
It was with the joy of great relief that he heard Ellis say to
his underling； 〃Numero cinq； sur la terrace； un couvert。〃 It was
real at last。 Outside； the Thames lay a great gray shadow。 The
lights of the Embankment flashed and twinkled across it； the
tower of the House of Commons rose against the sky； and here；
inside； the waiter was hurrying toward him carrying a smoking
plate of rich soup with a pungent intoxicating odor。
And then the ragged palms； the glaring sun； the immovable peaks；
and the white surf stood again before him。 The iron rails swept
up and sank again； the fever sucked at his bones； and the pillow
scorched his cheek。
One morning for a brief moment he came back to real life again
and lay quite still； seeing everything about him with clear eyes
and for the first time； as though he had but just that instant
been lifted over the ship's side。 His keeper； glancing up； found
the prisoner's eyes considering him curiously； and recognized the
change。 The instinct of discipline brought him to his feet with
his fingers at his sides。
〃Is the Lieutenant feeling better？〃
The Lieutenant surveyed him gravely。
〃You are one of our hospital stewards。〃
〃Yes； Lieutenant。〃
〃Why ar'n't you with the regiment？〃
〃I was wounded； too； sir。 I got it same time you did；
Lieutenant。〃
〃Am I wounded？ Of course； I remember。 Is this a hospital ship？〃
The steward shrugged his shoulders。 〃She's one of the
transports。 They have turned her over to the fever cases。〃
The Lieutenant opened his lips to ask another question； but his
own body answered that one； and for a moment he lay silent。
〃Do they know up North that Ithat I'm all right？〃
〃Oh； yes； the papers had it inthere was pictures of the
Lieutenant in some of them。〃
〃Then I've been ill some time？〃
〃Oh； about eight days。〃
The soldier moved uneasily； and the nurse in him became
uppermost。
〃I guess the Lieutenant hadn't better talk any more；〃 he said。
It was his voice now which held authority。
The Lieutenant looked out at the palms and the silent gloomy
mountains and the empty coast…line； where the same wave was
rising and falling with weary persistence。
〃Eight days；〃 he said。 His eyes shut quickly； as though with a
sudden touch of pain。 He turned his head and sought for the
figure at the foot of the cot。 Already the figure had grown
faint and was receding and swaying。
〃Has any one written or cabled？〃 the Lieutenant spoke； hurriedly。
He was fearful lest the figure should disappear altogether before
he could obtain his answer。 〃Has any one come？〃
〃Why； they couldn't get here； Lieutenant； not yet。〃
The voice came very faintly。 〃You go to sleep now； and I'll run
and fetch some letters and telegrams。 When you wake up； may be
I'll have a lot for you。〃
But the Lieutenant caught the nurse by the wrist； and crushed his
hand in his own thin fingers。 They were hot； and left the
steward's skin wet with perspiration。 The Lieutenant laughed
gayly。
〃You see； Doctor；〃 he said； briskly； 〃that you can't kill me。 I
can't die。 I've got to live； you understand。 Because； sir； she
said she would come。 She said if I was wounded； or if I was ill；
she would come to me。 She didn't care what people thought。 She
would come any way and nurse mewell； she will come。
〃So； Doctorold man〃 He plucked at the steward's sleeve； and
stroked his hand eagerly； 〃old man〃 he began again；
beseechingly； 〃you'll not let me die until she comes； will you？
What？ No； I know I won't die。 Nothing made by man can kill me。
No； not until she comes。 Then； after thateight days； she'll be
here soon； any moment？ What？ You think so； too？ Don't you？
Surely； yes； any moment。 Yes； I'll go to sleep now； and when you
see her rowing out from shore you wake me。 You'll know her； you
can't make a mistake。 She is likeno； there is no one like
herbut you can't make a mistake。〃
That day strange figures began to mount the sides of the ship；
and to occupy its every turn and angle of space。 Some of them
fell on their knees and slapped the bare deck with their hands；
and laughed and cried out； 〃Thank God； I'll see God's country
again！〃 Some of them were regulars； bound in bandages； some were
volunteers； dirty and hollow…eyed； with long beards on boys'
faces。 Some came on crutches； others with their arms around
the shoulders of their comrades； staring ahead of them with a
fixed smile； their lips drawn back and their teeth protruding。
At every second step they stumbled； and the face of each was
swept by swift ripples of pain。
They lay on cots so close together that the nurses could not walk
between them。 They lay on the wet decks； in the scuppers； and
along the transoms and hatches。 They were like shipwrecked
mariners clinging to a raft； and they asked nothing more than
that the ship's bow be turned toward home。 Once satisfied as to
that； they relaxed into a state of self…pity and miserable
oblivion to their environment； from which hunger nor nausea nor
aching bones could shake them。
The hospital steward touched the Lieutenant lightly on the
shoulder。
〃We are going North； sir；〃 he said。 〃The transport's ordered
North to New York； with these volunteers and the sick and
wounded。 Do you hear me； sir？〃
The Lieutenant opened his eyes。 〃Has she come？〃 he asked。
〃Gee！〃 exclaimed the hospital steward。 He glanced impatiently at
the blue mountains and the yellow coa