Читать книгу The Day, or The Passing of a Throne - Fred M. White - Страница 14

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The German struggled on, secure now in the protection of Hallett and his friends and the disguise of the long overcoat. He had been told where his destination was and Hallett did not notice that his prisoner was perfectly familiar with the way and turned to the right or left without any guidance from the others.

"This is not your first visit to London," Hallett smiled. "By the way, you have not told us what your name is?"

"I am Lieutenant von Kemp," the German explained. "I am a Bavarian from Munich. For four years I was in the engineering department of your Local Government Board. I am a civil engineer, you see. There is probably no man in London who knows more about underground London than myself. Your telephone mains, your gas and electric light and sewerage conduits are to me an open book. I know them all, and when I say that with a little assistance I could cut off London's water supply for weeks, I do not boast."

Von Kemp spoke quite simply and with the air of a man who is calmly convinced of his power. But he said no more until Hallett's rooms were reached and a wash and a complete change of clothing had been found for him. Then he ate wolfishly, like a man who has been deprived of food for days.

"Take a cigarette," Hallett said hospitably. "Of course, this is all wrong. After what you have told me it is my plain duty to hand you over to the authorities to deal with. But, as you are doubtless very well aware—"

"It is not the English way," von Kemp said quietly. "My dear sir, there is no one who has a greater admiration for England than myself. But you are too trustful, you are too anxious always to play the game. Why, at the present moment there must be at least a thousand trained spies in London. They are in all ranks of life. I know it because I helped to organise the campaign. At one time I was proud to do so. Ah, there are many millions of fools like myself in Germany. And you would be fools too if you had been fed on lies and deceit from your cradle as I have. Ach, we are the greatest people on earth. The most brave and warlike, the most civilised and progressive. They preach it in the churches. It was told us from the pulpits that we were destined to rule the white people of the world. And I believed it. I believed that after 'The Day' was over and the war finished that millions upon millions of people would thank God on their knees for the blessing of German rule. That was one of my delusions. I was mad enough to think that all this spying and treachery was part of the scheme which God had whispered in the ear of the Kaiser. I weep to think of it."

"Go on," Hallett said as the speaker paused.

"It was going to be a humane war," von Kemp proceeded. "We were going to make friends all the way. No burning towns, no terrified women and children, and no slaughter except those who opposed us. But my eyes were soon opened. I saw my fellow-countrymen slaughtered by the thousand. I saw that our Prussian rulers cared no more for our blood than they would care for the blood of so many rabbits. They hurled us on to destruction, they forced us to try impossible things, knowing that we should never come back again. And I saw murder and pillage and the destruction of open towns, and this was not the result of blood fury on our part. We were commanded to do it. We were driven to do this so as to inspire the terror of the German name. I tell you that some of us revolted at it. We grew to hate the name of Prussia and cursed the Junkers who had ground us down under the iron heel. Now there's a fine confession for a German officer to make. And there came a time when our spent and weary troops lay in the trenches cursing the Kaiser and ripe for revolt had there been anyone to lead them. They fed us with lies, too, lies about German victories. But I knew better. I had my own way of getting hold of the English newspapers, and before the end of a month I knew that Germany was doomed. Unless—"

Von Kemp seemed to hesitate for a moment.

"Well, unless she can be saved through herself," he went on. "You can take it from me that more than half the German army are Socialists. They know now what slaves they are. In their heart of hearts they have no hatred for this country. All they want is to be left in peace to cultivate their trade, and be happy and prosperous. You don't want to destroy us. Your one desire is to wipe out Prussian Militarism once and for all. I know you would help us to form a German Republic and that your resources would be at our disposal. You are not blind to the future, you know that your allies of to-day may be your foes in ten years' time, and then you will be glad that your foresight and generosity saved mid-Europe from being submerged by France and Russia. Do you know what my ambition is?"

"No doubt a laudable one," Hallett smiled.

"I want to be a pioneer of the German Republic. If Berlin knew the truth at this present moment, if they knew the real sentiments of the British people, half a million resolute men would start the struggle for freedom to-morrow. When I was taken prisoner and brought to this country I made up my mind that I would escape at the first possible moment and tell your authorities all that I know. Had I got away before, I could have thwarted the Zeppelin attack to-night. Bah, how childlike and futile it all is! A building destroyed here, a life lost there, but it is so much waste of energy. Still, it pleases the childish mind of the Kaiser. To blow up one of your public buildings, say for instance the Tower Bridge. Ah!"

Von Kemp jumped to his feet excitedly.

"I had forgotten," he cried. "My troubles have made me morbid. To-night under cover of the Zeppelin attack a raid is to be made on the Tower Bridge. It only needs three or four resolute men and a stick or two of dynamite and the thing is done."

Hallett and the others were on their feet in an instant. The telephone was set going, a taxi was summoned to the door. Hallett turned to the German and bade him be seated.

"Stay there," he said sternly. "I believe all that you say, but I can take no risks. I am going to lock you in."

Von Kemp raised no objection. A minute or two later and the cab swayed along eastward in the direction of the Tower Bridge. The City was quiet enough now, for the danger was over for the moment, and the only thing that remained of it were the lights of an airship and the aeroplanes circling far above in the cold grey sky. The cab pulled up presently under the shadow of the Tower, and here four men armed and ready came quietly forward and joined the party. There was no reason to tell them what was happening, for they had already been advised of the threatened attack by telephone. They moved forward now taking advantage of every patch of shadow until they came at length in sight of the bridge. They stood there just for a moment watching for the first sign of trouble, straining their ears to catch the faintest sound. A moment or two later a shadow darted from the doorway of a warehouse and sped rapidly in the direction of the bridge. Almost immediately afterwards there came a murmur from the warehouse that sounded like a call for help.

There was risk in it, but Hallett and those under his command moved forward. Something that looked like two dark stacks lay in the doorway, and these turned out to be a sergeant of police and a constable firmly gagged and bound. They had been fallen upon by half a dozen men in the guise of dock labourers, and had been violently assaulted and overcome before they could cry for assistance.

Beyond doubt these desperadoes were now down amongst the mechanism which works the bridge laying their mines for its destruction. On the bridge itself was a night watchman and two mechanics also gagged and bound, and showing unmistakable signs of cruel usage. Down below the spies could be heard at work. They were apparently sure of their ground, for they were going about their task boldly enough, and Hallett smiled grimly as he pictured these men being taken in the act.

Then from somewhere near by a whistle sounded and the noise below broke off abruptly. At the sane instant a revolver began to speak, and a dash was made behind cover of a perfect fusillade of shots. As Hallett hurriedly advanced, his foot caught in some wire entanglement, and he pitched forward on his face. He was up again in a minute, hacking furiously at the wire, with a pair of champagne nippers which formed part of his pocket knife. He did not need anyone to tell him that he had stumbled over the wire connecting the battery to the mine, and he smiled grimly to himself when he realised that the danger had been averted. Whatever happened now the dynamite would not be fired, and the little party could give themselves up with an easy mind to the capture of the Germans.

It was no light task, for the foe fought with the courage of despair and the certain knowledge that their lives were forfeit in any case. Shots were exchanged freely enough but no material damage was done, and at the end of ten breathless minutes the foe was disarmed and handcuffed.

"That was petty smart work," Hallett gasped as he wiped his heated face. "I suppose you can manage without us now."

The inspector of police was sure of it. Montague turned and addressed a remark to Pascoe, but the latter was eagerly watching something that was taking place under the gas-lamps a little way off. He saw a woman's figure dart across the road: he heard the hum of a car as it flashed by them. With nothing more than a word of challenge Hallett fired three shots, and the car pulled up. The woman driving stepped out, and came smilingly forward.

"You quite frightened me," she said. "Oh, it's Mr. Hallett. I came out in the car by myself on a tour of inspection—mad thing to do, of course, but I love adventure—"

An exclamation of surprise came from Hallett's lips.

"Good gracious!" he cried. "It's Lady Loxton!"