Читать книгу The Fall of a Dictator - Arthur Gask - Страница 4

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ARRIVING in Sheerness, Brendon was taken to a building upon the dock-side, and there, in a small room, everything he was wearing was taken from him, and, in exchange, he received a complete outfit of Cyranian origin. His intimate personal belongings, too, his watch, his pocket-knife, his pencil, and his cigarettes and a box of matches were exchanged for like articles from the same country.

The change completed, he found himself attired as a working man in decidedly foreign-looking clothes and with a cap of most un-English design. The suit was worn and shiny, but still serviceable.

"Now, about money," said his mentor, Major Hay, who was still in attendance, "and, as I have told you, it will not be wise to carry much in case you should be held up and searched, when any large amount would excite suspicion. So, here's the equivalent, in Cyranian notes, of nearly seven pounds. As I have explained to you, when you are out of the country again you can be put in funds at any of our consulates over the frontier."

He looked Brendon critically up and down. "Yes, you'll do. Then come along and I'll take you straight on board the destroyer. It's ready for immediate departure, outside."

Five minutes later, Brendon was seated in a small motor launch making swiftly out of the mouth of the Medway for the open sea.

It was a beautifully fine night and, to Brendon's great satisfaction, the sea was perfectly smooth.

Not a word was spoken until the side of a long, lean destroyer loomed out of the darkness and the launch began to slow down. Then the Major whispered. "You're being highly favored. She's the 'Cuckoo,' one of the newest type, and she'll keep up at about 40 knots the whole time you're on her."

"Do they know all about me?" whispered back Brendon, with a catch in his breath.

"No, no, nothing at all," replied the Major quickly. "They just know they're taking a passenger somewhere, and that's all. They're under sealed orders, and until the commander opens the dispatch I'm bringing him, which he won't do until they're well out to sea, they will have no idea where they're to go."

They mounted the deck of the destroyer, and the Major shook hands with a grave-faced officer, in the early thirties, who was waiting to receive them.

"Your passenger, Commander," he said, indicating Brendon, "and here are the orders." He turned to Brendon and speaking in Cyranian wished him good luck and a quick return. Then, with a wave of his band, he made his way down the side of the destroyer, and the launch was speedily swallowed up in the darkness.

Brendon was shown to a cabin, and immediately the screws began to revolve. Pitch dark as the night was he would have liked to go up on deck, but having heard what dreadful boats destroyers could be in bad weather, he thought it best to get off to sleep when he could. So he undressed quickly and, to his surprise, soothed rather than disturbed by the motion of the boat, he soon found himself dropping off to sleep.

He slept heavily all night and did not wake until a steward appeared in the morning to tell him where he could have a bath, and that his breakfast would be served in an adjoining cabin. He thought the man eyed him curiously.

After the meal he went up on deck and, clinging to the rail, was thrilled at the fearful speed with which the destroyer seemed to be going. The sea was perfectly smooth and the boat surged ruthlessly into its placid calmness, leaving behind a great angry wake of foam. There was no land in sight and not another ship was viable.

Hour after hour, fascinated by his surroundings and quite content to be left to himself, Brendon kept his position by the rails. But he was rather surprised that no one spoke to him. During the morning quite a number of the crew passed by, as well as several of the officers, but none of them so much as glanced in his direction, and, for all the notice they took of him he might not have been there.

Gradually he began to feel rather amused, for this ignoring of him by everyone could only have been done by order. Naturally, he thought the officers were very mystified about him, but, of course, he told himself, they would not be disposed to be particularly friendly with anyone, dressed as he was, as a working man. In his time he had met plenty of officers of the Royal Navy, and, although they were jolly and free-and-easy companions when on shore, he had always heard they took themselves very seriously when on duty.

At mid-day he was called down to another meal and the afternoon passed in much the same manner as the morning, except that now he took to walking up and down the deck and inspecting the guns and fittings of the vessel as he passed.

Then he became aware that he was evidently exciting a little more interest, for every time he approached the vicinity of the bridge, in the course of his promenade, out of the tail of his eye he saw that whoever was up there was watching him. But they did it in a stealthy sort of manner and directly he looked up they turned their eyes away.

He smiled as the humour of the situation appealed to him, for, however high an estimation of themselves the officers might have, he knew that beyond all question, he himself was the most important person on board. For him alone this long voyage was being undertaken and the expense being incurred for this travelling at high speed over these many hundreds of miles of sea.

So, out of bravado, he drew himself proudly up to his full height and put just the faintest swagger in his walk as he continued to march up and down. And surely he was justified, he thought, for whatever these fine fellows might be thinking of themselves, in the service of his country, he was about to incur every bit as much risk and danger as they would ever be called upon to bear, and in not nearly as heartening circumstances either. They would always be fighting shoulder to shoulder, and cheered on by one another's company, whereas he—he made a little grimace here—was to be thrown into a hostile country to do all his fighting on his own.

So now, whenever he approached the bridge, he looked up and scrutinised everyone upon it with his jaw set and the bold stare of one who thought himself as good as anybody. Also, when an officer passed him he took to looking him squarely in the face, as if inviting some return of interest. But, as before, the officers invariably kept their eyes straight in front of them and never gave him so much as a glance.

"Getting a bit monotonous," he told himself at length. "I'd like to have a bit of a yarn with someone and learn what some of these gadgets on this boat are for." He grinned. "Now, what if I walked boldly up on to the bridge? They'd have to say something to me then." He nodded. "Really, I'm half inclined to do it, just to see what they'll do."

But at that moment he heard voices behind him, and, turning quickly, saw two officers approaching him along the deck. One of them he recognised at once as the Commander who had received them the previous night and, with something of a start, he realised that the face of the other, too, was familiar. For the moment he could not place this second officer and then, in a flash he remembered him as the brother of one of his old college chums. His name was Monteith and he had met him some years ago when staying in Devonshire.

He smiled delightedly and, pulling his weird-looking cap lower then ever upon his forehead, chuckled that someone was now going to get a great surprise.

The officers came on, but, approaching near to where he was standing, broke off their conversation and, with eyes fixed straight before them were obviously intending to take no more notice of him than had anyone else done during the day.

But Brendon, with a sodden movement, stepped away from the rail and planted himself sparely in front of them.

"Hullo, Doc!" he called out familiarly. "Just fancy meeting you here! Now, don't say you can't remember me! We met in Torquay, at old Colonel Denbigh's!"

Both officers had scowled when Brendon had moved forward to intercept them, but, at his greeting, the expression upon the face of the one whom he had addressed changed instantly to one of incredulous amazement.

"Come now," went on Brendon laughingly. "I'm Ashleigh Brendon and you are Charlie Monteith. I was a friend of your brother Jim, at Balliol, and I met you about three years ago just after you had qualified at Bart's. Don't you remember going shooting with me one day on Dartmoor and the hiding I gave you the same night with the gloves."

Just for a few seconds Surgeon Monteith hesitated and then his face broke into a delighted smile and he stretched out and shook hands warmly with Brendon.

"Gad!" he exclaimed fervently, "of course I remember you, but who the blazes could be expected to recognise you in those dreadful clothes!" He turned to the Commander. "It's as he says, sir. He's an old 'Varsity man and as good as gold." He laughed merrily. "But he always was a young dare-devil and he got gaoled once for poaching." His face sobered down. "Gad!" he exclaimed again, "he's the very man for the job he's going to."

Then, much to the astonishment of all who saw them, the three talked animatedly together for some minutes until his friend took Brendon by the arm and led him away.

"Now, you come down with me young fellow," he said, "and I'll stand you a drink." Then, when a few minutes later they were duly drinking to each other's health, the surgeon remarked half apologetically——

"You see, Brendon, from Major Hay's last words to you, the old man made sure you were a Cyranian yourself, and that's why no one spoke to you." He frowned. "We know that secret service agents have to be employed, but we can never quite stomach a man spying in his own country."

After that Brendon had a most enjoyable time, and everyone on board tried to show their friendliness towards him. He messed with the officers and they made quite a fuss of him.

The weather continued fine and the sea smooth, and, all things propitious, he revelled in the happy camaraderie of those about him. But no one spoke of his mission, and not a single question was asked him about it until late on the last night.

Then, when it was not far off midnight, and they were now only just creeping along with all lights out and he was standing upon the bridge beside the commander, the latter asked curiously, "And is this your first tryout, Brendon?"

"Yes," laughed Brendon lightly, although there was a sinking feeling at the pit of his stomach. "I haven't been blooded yet."

"Then you keep your eyes well skinned, my son," said the commander gravely, "for they don't allow two mistakes in this country you're going to. One slip and you'll never be heard of again. In dear, stupid old England, if one of their agents is caught he gets a fair and open trial, with probably one of the best K.C.'s we've got to defend him." He pointed into the darkness. "But over there it's just savagery. There's no trial that we ever heard of and"—he hesitated—"well, God knows what happened. We never do, for a person who's been caught never comes back to tell."

"Are their lot pretty active in England, do you know?" asked Brendon.

"Oh, Lord, yes!" was the reply. "It's an open secret in official quarters that they were responsible for those eleven deaths that occurred from that explosion in the dockyard at Devonport last month. We know for certain it was no accident, but unhappily their man managed to get away."

A long silence followed, then Brendon, straining his eyes into the darkness before him, asked, "But are you quite sure well find the submarine?"

The commander laughed softly. "She's close to us now. We can tell that by our detector down below. In a few minutes you'll see a blue light showing somewhere."

And within five minutes, a blue light appeared straight ahead. A boat was lowered from the destroyer and after many handshakes and whispered good-byes, Brendon was rowed over to the submarine.

"Quick, please," came a sharp voice, and almost before he could realise what had happened, Brendon found himself bundled below with the submarine submerging with all speed.

"So you're English and a friend of theirs," smiled the happy-faced and very youthful officer who commanded the submarine, looking up from the letter Brendon had brought from the commander of the destroyer. "And I'm to land you upon that old jetty in Thole Bay!" He elevated his eyebrows. "The devil! They've had a patrol boat about there every night lately, and the searchlight's been working like blazes."

"Then how long will it be before you land me?" asked Brendon with a little catch in his voice.

"In less than two hours," replied the officer. He smiled cheerfully. "Unless, of course, they get us with a depth charge!"

"Then we're not very far from the coast," frowned Brendon.

"No, well under twenty miles, but as we get nearer I'll have to go dead slow because of that patrol boat. Tonight she's been flashing her search-light, on and off, ever since before ten o'clock."

As upon the destroyer, Brendon was treated in the most friendly manner, and once, when the search-light of the patrol boat was sweeping round over the sea in every direction, he was invited to look through the periscope.

"And if they only knew we were here," commented the officer with a grin, "you'd have some excitement, young man. They'd probably not get us, but it's no joke when those depth charges are exploding, even half a mile away."

"But won't there be some risk when you have to come to the surface to land me?" asked Brendon.

The young fellow laughed happily. "Sure, a darned big risk, but we'll have to take it!" His eyes twinkled. "But we are running risks every hour of our blooming lives in this old sardine box, and they are part of our daily bread. Now this bigger risk tonight is like a dollop of jam on the bread, and there's not a man aboard who isn't getting a good thrill out of it." He nodded. "But it's nearly high water, and I shall have to go up to within twenty yards of that jetty before I come to the surface, and then, with any luck, we'll have got the boat out and have landed you and have the boat back again and be submerging, all within three minutes."

And when the supreme moment came Brendon's breath was almost taken away with the speed with which everything was done. He was out of the submarine and being rowed away in the collapsible boat in almost seconds of time. He was given a push up on to the side of the ruined jetty and then, as he gained the top and turned to see where the little boat was, all he saw was a faint blur in the darkness.

For a long minute he remained crouching where he was and then he sighed in great relief as he knew the submarine would now have time to submerge in safety.

His thoughts turned to his own position, which for the moment he had quite forgotten, and his heart beat violently. He was alone in the enemy's country, he was a spy and every man's hand would be against him!

Even now, he might be in the gravest danger with the whole coastline, as he had heard, so closely patrolled, and at any moment, too, that great search-light might blaze out and come sweeping round.

The night was very dark, with the air so still that he knew sound would carry easily. They had warned him of that in the submarine and had given him a pair of thick socks to pull over his boots, so that when he was landed upon the jetty his footsteps would be quite noiseless.

The darkness was very confusing and, to get his bearings, he closed his eyes tightly for a few seconds and tried to recall every feature of the photograph of the bay he had studied in England.

He remembered the jetty he was now upon to be about thirty yards long, and then came the road which ran along the shore and was only just above the beach! There were no cliffs anywhere! He had to climb a big hill which lay straight before him but, for half a mile, because of the broken ground and the big rocks upon the hillside, he must keep to the road until he had passed the last of the seventeen scattered fishermen's huts!

Opening his eyes and straining them into the darkness he began quickly to put thought into action, but it was upon hands and knees only that he was able to make his way up the jetty. There were great gaps in the stonework, and as he crawled along he could hear the sea gurgling underneath.

He reached the road, and, starting away at a quick run, was congratulating himself how silent his footsteps were, when, before he had even gone a dozen paces he saw a small bright light bobbing up and down in the distance, and in a few seconds had realised it meant someone upon a bicycle who was coming towards him.

His breathing choked in his dismay and he was half minded to dart back to the jetty and hide among the buttresses. But, seeing a low ditch upon the land side of the road, he threw himself down close to where he was and, with his heart beating like a sledge hammer, waited for the bicycle to pass.

It came nearer and nearer to him and then, just as it was almost level, he heard sounds upon the road, in the other direction, as of someone running hard.

"Sergeant, Sergeant," came in loud panting tones, and it was evident the newcomer was calling out to the man upon the bicycle, "I'm sure there's a submarine about, and I believe they've just landed someone on the jetty."

"What," yelled the man on the bicycle, as he jumped on to the road, "you've seen a submarine!"

"No, but I've heard one," panted the second man, and by the lamp upon the bicycle, to his horror, Brendon now saw that both men were soldiers.

The sergeant was evidently both a quick thinker and a man of action, for in the fraction of a second he had turned his bicycle round, and was running it back until its light was throwing its rays along the jetty. Then he tugged an electric torch from his belt and flashed it round. But he got nothing for his pains.

"Now then," he snarled to his subordinate, "tell me what's happened, quick."

"Well, it was dreadfully hot Sergeant," began the man uncomfortably, "and up there by the headland I thought there would be no harm in my having a bit of a dip to get cooler. So I stripped and went in. Then, the moment my head was under the water, I heard the vibrations of a screw going very slowly. I was sure of it, but with my eyes at the level of the water I could see no vessel about. With my head again under the water I could still hear the vibrations. Then they stopped suddenly. I dressed like lightning, and as I was standing up I'd swear I saw against the sky a figure standing at the end of this jetty here. I——"

"How long ago was this?" snarled the sergeant.

"Not five minutes. I've raced back all the way."

The sergeant pushed his bicycle sharply towards the man. "Go back on this," he roared. "Tell them to radio the Brabrant instantly. She can't be far away. And bring every man of them here at the run. Go like lightning and I'll keep watch on this jetty." And with one hand he held an automatic pistol at the ready and with the other continued to flash his torch.

Then followed dreadful moments for Brendon. He was not ten traces from the sergeant and had the latter but turned his attention for five seconds behind him the game would have been all up. But the sergeant had only eyes for the jetty.

Then suddenly Brendon realised it was no good to continue lying where he was, for, with the coming of the help that had been sent for it was certain he would be discovered in the end.

So, resolutely turning his back upon the sergeant and expecting every moment to hear the crack of the pistol and feel a bullet ploughing into him, with infinite precautions, he began to crawl away along the shallow ditch.

By inches only did he make progress at first, and long before he had gone a dozen yards he was covered in a dreadful sweat. But a great hope filled him as he drew farther and farther away and then, at last venturing to look round, he saw he must be at least a hundred yards from the still flashing torch.

He was hesitating as to whether it was now safe to rise and make a bolt, when sounds of shouting in the distance decided him. The help that had been sent for was arriving.

So, throwing off his fears, he sprang boldly to his feet and began racing along the road at his utmost speed, heartening himself once again that his muffled footsteps made no sound.

He judged he had run a quarter of a mile when to his terror the great search-light flashed out from over seawards, and in a majestic arc swept round upon every yard of sea. Then for about five seconds it picked up the curving road above the shore and every object upon it stood out as clear as day.

Only for those few seconds was it focused upon the road, but they were dire enough in their consequence for the fugitive, and he heard yells of delight behind him before the light was turned away.

He realised at once that he had been seen, and knew from their bobbing lamps that five or six soldiers on bicycles were coming after him!

Now in after years Brendon always prided himself that at that seemingly hopeless moment he did absolutely the right thing, for he darted down over the few yards of shingle between the road and the narrow strip of sand by the sea and started to run in the direction of the men who were pursuing him. It was in his mind to double back to the jetty, for there, least of all places, would they be expecting to find him now.

He soon drew level with the oncoming cyclists, but they, remembering where they had seen him running when the search-light had picked him out to them, did not attempt to flash their torches upon the sands until they had gone well past him.

He was within a hundred and fifty yards of the jetty when his wind began to give out, and he had to slow down almost to a walk to regain his breath.

Then he almost ran into a fisherman's boat which was drawn up upon the shingle just above high-water. A moment's hesitation and he threw himself down beside it. He had a dreadful stitch in his side and for the time was too exhausted to run a yard farther.

Then he found he was lying upon a small and not very deep patch of seaweed, and at once, he began covering himself with it.

He was only just in time, for the search-light out to sea began playing upon the shore again, and notwithstanding the danger he was in, it flashed through him with great relief that the submarine must have got away in safety as he had heard no sounds of any explosions.

Then, no doubt following upon instructions, for fully half an hour the search-light was played upon the beach, the road and the side of the big hill, enabling Brendon not only to cover himself more effectively with the seaweed—and there was not too much of it—but also to make out exactly where he was.

Very much to his mortification, he found he was lying right in front of the first of the fishermen's huts upon the other side of the road, and was, indeed, so near to it that he could distinctly hear the crying of a young baby.

Half an hour passed and streaks of light appearing in the sky, the search-light was shut off abruptly and the dawn began to break quickly. Through his screen of seaweed, Brendon saw there were men stationed all along the road, while others were going in and out of the fishermen's huts and, upon the hillside, a long line of soldiers were methodically beating up to the top. Every now and then, too, he saw other soldiers flitting about among the trees of the wood through which he had been told to pass upon his way to the town of Thole.

The sun rose to a perfect morning, and, with a pang Brendon soon began to realise he was in for a very uncomfortable time. There was only enough seaweed near him to cover his body very lightly and he knew it would be but a poor protection when the sun was at its full strength.

And he was quite right, for the heat very soon became almost unbearable. He was tormented, too, by myriads of small beetles which crawled all over him, and, worst of all, a dreadful thirst was soon assailing him. He began to feel sick and giddy.

About 10 o'clock he saw the soldiers coming down the hill and then those about the road began to walk away. It was evident, he realised, that the intensive search was being given up, although he could see there were still watchers posted at various points of vantage overlooking the bay. In the distance he saw a number of corrugated iron buildings which he took to be the barracks and, above them, was a high wireless aerial.

By noon he felt utterly exhausted and as if he were being baked alive. His mouth was now so parched that his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth and his misery was so intense that it was with difficulty he prevented himself from plunging, clothed as he was, into the sea that was now lapping only a few yards from him.

Then suddenly, as if in a dream he heard footsteps crunching upon the stones near him and the sound of someone humming a bright little air and, in a fever of apprehension, he twisted his head round so that he could see what was happening.

A woman was walking down the beach and she had evidently come from the fisherman's hut across the road, as the door there was now wide open.

The woman was young and comely and clothed in a coarse frock. Her feet were bare and she carried a big basket.

To Brendon's terror she came straight to the boat and, plumping down the basket inside, stood for quite a long minute shading her eyes with her hand and looking out to sea. She was then not three paces from him. Subconsciously he took in every detail of her appearance. She had big, long-lashed dark eyes, a complexion of flawless ivory, a wealth of dark-brown hair, and her figure was supple and well-proportioned. Her feet, too, he saw were small and shapely. The sleeves of her frock were rolled up and her arms bared to above the elbows.

She turned at length and, waking quickly into action, began bailing out some water that was in the boat.

Then as in a dream again, Brendon heard her speak in a soft and melodious voice. "Pull your feet in, my friend," she said very quietly. "They are both sticking out below the seaweed, and if anyone looks down they can see them plainly from the road."

Brendon made no comment. The working of his mind was too paralysed to speak. Then he felt a bump beside him and the girl went on. "There, I've dropped a bottle of water for you, and the cork will come out quite easily. Yes, you can reach out and take it. There's no one about for the moment and it will be quite safe. Here's a piece of cheese, too."

Neglectful of caution, with the moan of a stricken animal, Brendon threw the seaweed off his head and, making a lightning grab at the bottle, snatched out the cork and gulped down the water in big, fierce gulps.

"Thank you, oh, thank you, I'm so grateful," he murmured when the bottle was empty. "I was almost dead with thirst."

"I thought you would be," said the girl and then she asked. "But who are you?"

Brendon did not answer. His brain was still in a whirl, but now his caution was returning.

"Who are you?" repeated the girl, and then she added sharply. "Have some sense, please. You must realise I'm your friend. I know you are the man who was landed from the submarine last night, and I've been watching you all the morning through some glasses. I could have given you away any time had I wanted to."

Brendon knew it was quite useless to deny anything. "I can't tell you who I am," he said painfully through his cracked lips. "You ought to understand that."

A short silence followed and the girl bailed on vigorously. Then she said. "Yes, I suppose I should."

The bailer clanged on to the bottom of the boat. "Well, you're in great danger now," she said, "like so many in this unhappy country, but I'll try to help you." She spoke very distinctly. "My brother is Rex, the fisherman, in that little house there and when, tonight, it has been dark for about an hour and you hear the clatter of a pail falling upon the floor, creep up and go round to the back door. I'll let you in and see what we can do. At any rate you shall have something to eat. Good-bye, things won't be so bad for you soon. You'll be in the shade in a few minutes," and off she strolled up the beach.

Brendon felt a great hope surging through him. He knew he was in most deadly peril but the draught of water and the cheese had revived him and he could now think and reason again. He never for a moment doubted that the girl was friendly disposed for, if she had been going to betray him as she had said, she would have done so already.

The day dragged wearily on but the terrible heat had gone, for not only was he now on the shady side of the boat, but the sky had clouded and a breeze sprang up from the sea. He noticed there were still soldiers stationed on the hill and every now and then one cycled by along the road.

At last night fell, and he began to move about and rub his legs vigorously. If he had not given them this attention he knew he would be so stiff that he would be unable to walk when the summons came.

One hour passed and, according to his watch, nearly two when he heard the faint clang of iron upon some hard substance and took it, rightly, for the signal. So, with his heart beating violently, and his limbs so cramped that he walked with great difficulty, he crawled up the beach.

Proceeding round to the back of the hut, he tapped gently upon the door and the girl opened it at once. She beckoned him inside, and putting her finger upon her lips, led him through a bedroom where, by the light of a small lamp, he saw a woman and a baby were sleeping.

Then, when in the further room, the room facing the sea, she closed the door softly behind them, and pointing to a man who was mending a net, introduced him as her brother. The man scowled and regarded Brendon by no means too pleasantly.

"She's risking all our lives by bringing you here," he growled. "It means I'll be shot within twenty-four hours if they learnt we've helped you."

"Be quiet, Rex," reproved the girl sharply. "We had to help him and he'll be gone in two minutes." She handed Brendon a small parcel. "Here's some food for you, but how you'll get away I don't know. My brother says the soldiers are certain you are still here and they're guarding all the roads." She looked very troubled. "They're brought extra men from Thole and they are sure they'll catch you when you come out of your hiding place and think you are safe when you've got to the other side of the hill."

Brendon's heart sank but he asked quite coolly. "Have you any idea what I'd best do."

"My brother thinks if you go back and hide under the jetty they'll never dream of searching there again. Then tomorrow——"

But her sentence was never finished for, suddenly, they heard a loud thud and a lot of banging just outside the hut door, and then a man swore angrily.

The girl and her brother looked terrified, but Brendon had all his wits about him, and, after a lightning glance round the room, sprang to some long nets that were hanging upon the wall and flattened himself behind them. Then he put his head out and nodded reassuringly to the girl.

He had been only just in time, for the door was opened sharply and, with no ceremony, a man strode into the room. "Damn you!" he swore to the fisherman. "What do you leave your oars outside for? I nearly broke my neck over them and my bicycle as well."

Between the meshes of the net, Brendon could see everything quite plainly. The man was in uniform and had a coarse and bullying face. By his voice Brendon instantly knew him to be the sergeant who had waited by the jetty the previous night.

"I'm sorry, Sergeant," said the fisherman meekly, "but I usually keep my oars there. Of coarse, I didn't know anyone was coming."

"No, of course, you didn't," jeered the sergeant significantly. He turned and pointed his finger at the girl. "I want to know who this wench is," his voice hardened, "and no lies, now."

"She's my sister and——" began Rex.

"No lies, I said," roared the sergeant. "I know that's the tale you've been telling everyone, but"—he jeered again—"she's no sister of yours. I've noticed her several times, and she's of quite a different breed to you." He strode up to the girl. "Show me your hands."

The girl's dark eyes flashed angrily and her lips quivered ever so little, but she held out her hands as ordered and the sergeant's face at once broke into a smile.

"Exactly," he said, now speaking quite amiably, as he fixed his eyes intently upon her, "the hands of a little lady and you keep them as a lady does."

"I'm a nurse," said the girl quietly, "and I have to take care of my hands. I'm here to look after my sister-in-law. She's just had a little child."

"And where do you come from?" was the next question.

"Marleck, that is my home."

"And your name?"

"Vonda Rex."

The sergeant nodded scoffingly. "You're a charming little liar, Vonda, and that you're here for no good purpose I'll stake my oath." He made his face hard and stern. "Well, you'll come along straightaway with me to the guard-house and the captain shall just ask you a few questions himself." His eyes were greedy and mocking. "If you're a good girl you may perhaps be back in half an hour."

"Don't you go, Vonda," burst out the fisherman instantly. "You stay where you are. If the captain wants to question you I'll go up with you in the morning."

The sergeant turned on him in a flash. "You miserable herring! You——" but then without the slightest warning his fist shot out and striking the unready Rex full in the face, the latter went down with a groan. The infuriated sergeant stood over him. "Want any more?" and he raised his heavy boot as if about to follow the blow with a kick.

But the girl had lugged him back by his jacket. "You brute!" she panted. "Leave him alone!"

"Leave him alone?" queried the sergeant. He laughed slily. "Well, that depends on you, my dear, for if you don't come outside with me without any bother or fuss I'll break every rib in his body," and then, with a sudden movement, he reached out and pulling her to him, kissed her ardently upon the lips.

"And that's only to begin with, my pretty one," he went on. "Outside we'll see if——"

But he never finished what he was intending to say, for Brendon had got him by the collar and was shaking him like a terrier with a rat. Then he turned him round and with a savage undercut knocked him senseless on to the floor. "And that'll keep you quiet for some time," he snarled. "You beast!"

The girl was spitting fiercely. "Kill him," she panted. "He's bruised my lips!" Her voice broke. "But that's nothing. They'll shoot Rex, now," and she burst into tears.

"Yes, kill him!" urged the fisherman who was now trying to sit up. "Kill him while he's unconscious. There's a dagger over there on the shelf."

Brendon was the coolest of the three. "But wait a moment," he said, shaking his head. "This wants considering. What can we do with him. Is there anywhere where he can be hidden?"

Rex struggled to his feet and leant shakily against the wall. "We can't throw him in the sea," he said shakily. "They might hear us going down over the beach. The tide's beating in, too." His eyes opened very wide and he nodded with all the strength he had. "But there's a gravel pit not far behind the guard-house. If we could throw him in there, he mightn't be found for months. They searched it today and they're not likely to go there again."

"But is it likely we could get to this pit without being seen?" asked Brendon sharply.

"More likely to get there than any other place," replied Rex. "As my sister told you, they are waiting to catch you much farther away, now."

Brendon considered for a few moments and then suddenly moved across the room and stood over the prostrate man. He seemed to be measuring him up with his eye. Then be turned to Vonda and pointed to the other room.

"Go out through there," he said quickly, "and wheel his bicycle round to the other side of the house," and then as the girl at once moved off to do as he had bidden, he added sharply, "And don't come back until we call you. We'll be busy for a minute or two."

The moment the girl had gone he turned to the fisherman. "Quick, help me take off his uniform. I'll get away in that. We'll cover him in those sacks to carry him to this pit you talk about."

Five minutes later there was perfect silence in the fisherman's hut and the place was in darkness again. In the living-room, however, the girl was leaning by the open window, peering into the night and straining her ears for sounds she was expecting every moment to hear. The dagger that had been upon the shelf was no longer there.

Nearly an hour passed, and then the front door of the hut opened softly, and Brendon and the fisherman tiptoed into the room. The former was wearing the sergeant's uniform, and the fit did not appear to be a bad one.

Rex lit the lamp again and produced a bottle of wine and two cups from a cupboard. He seemed now quite cheerful.

"We are very grateful to you, my friend," he said earnestly, "for that brute would have got my sister in the end. Only a month back he fancied a man's wife here and got her after he had shot the husband as a spy. He said he had caught the man flashing signals from his hut, which was a lie." He shrugged his shoulders. "But we are quite helpless against the soldiers. Their word is always taken against ours."

Brendon was tying up his old clothes in a piece of sacking the fisherman had given him. "Well, he'll worry no one any more," he said grimly, and then he added curtly, "Fetch your," he hesitated—"the young lady. I'd like to speak to her before I go."

The girl came in, trying hard to appear perfectly at ease, but her quickened breathing and the dark shadows under her eyes belied her composure. She had evidently been warned by Rex what to expect, for she expressed no surprise at seeing Brendon dressed as he was.

Just for a few seconds Brendon regarded her critically. She was undeniably very beautiful, and he had not the slightest doubt that, as the sergeant had said, she was no relation of the rough fisherman whom she was claiming as a brother.

But if Brendon had been taking her in, she had also been considering him. From the first moment of his appearance in the hut she had been profoundly impressed by his quick decisions and the masterly manner in which he had taken command of the whole situation. Now she regarded the man himself. He was decidedly good-looking, she thought, and, in uniform, his whole bearing suggested something very different to what it had been when he was in the coarse clothes of a working man.

She saw the admiration is his eyes, and for some reason it pleased her.

She held out her hand prettily and could feel that she was blushing.

"Thank you, so much, for coming to my help," she began. "It was——"

"But who wouldn't have come?" smiled Brendon, taking her hand and pressing it ever so lightly. His smile broadened, and he pointed to his uniform. "Besides, look what it has brought me. A pass to the open road, and a good bicycle that will take me fifty miles or more away before the sun rises. I shall escape quite safely now, and it is all due to you." He bowed. "It is I who am the grateful party."

"Then that dreadful man," she exclaimed, her voice beginning to tremble again, "he is——"

"——dreadful no more," smiled Brendon. "Not only did we carry him to the right place, but we also heaped gravel over him, so that he may never be found." He picked up his bundle and spoke hastily. "But I must be going, now. We must not tempt fortune one second longer." Then, suddenly, he reached out and, lifting up her hand, brushed it lightly with his lips. "Good-bye, you beautiful creature," he said fervently. "I shall remember you all my life."

The girl's face crimsoned hotly. "Good-bye," she whispered, "perhaps, one day, we may meet again!"

"And pray heaven we do," commented Brendon smilingly, and the fisherman, dimming the light, opened the door for him to pass into the night.