按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 coast； from which the transport
was drawing rapidly away。
〃Well； I can't see her coming just now；〃 he said。 〃But she
will；〃 he added。
〃You let me know at once when she comes。〃
〃Why； cert'nly； of course；〃 said the steward。
Three trained nurses came over the side just before the transport
started North。 One was a large； motherly…looking woman； with a
German accent。 She had been a trained nurse； first in Berlin；
and later in the London Hospital in Whitechapel； and at Bellevue。
The nurse was dressed in white； and wore a little silver medal at
her throat； and she was strong enough to lift a volunteer out of
his cot and hold him easily in her arms； while one of the
convalescents pulled his cot out of the rain。 Some of the men
called her 〃nurse；〃 others； who wore scapulars around their
necks； called her 〃Sister；〃 and the officers of the medical staff
addressed her as Miss Bergen。
Miss Bergen halted beside the cot of the Lieutenant and
asked； 〃Is this the fever case you spoke about； Docto