A moment later
he could be heard shouting from outside his quarters to his servant
to be ready for him.
He certainly bathed, for the noise of the tub overturning when he
was done with it was unmistakable. And eight minutes after his
departure he was back again, dressed, cloaked and ready.
"Got your pistol, sir?"
"Yes," said Kirby.
"Thought I'd bring mine along. You never know, you know."
Together they climbed into the colonel's dog-cart, well smothered
under waterproofs. Kirby touched up another of his road-devouring
walers, the sais grabbed at the back seat and jumped for his life,
and they shot out of the compound, down the line of useless cannon
and out into the street, taking the corner as the honor of the
regiment required. Then the two big side-lamps sent their shafts of
light straight down the metaled, muddy road, and the horse settled
down between them to do his equine "demdest"; there was a touch on
the reins he recognized.
* * * * *
They reached the edge of the bazaar to find the crowd stirring,
although strangely mute.
"They'll have got the news in an hour from now," said Kirby. "They
can smell it already."
"Wonder how much truth there is in all this talk about German
merchants and propaganda."
"_H-rrrrr-ummm_!" said Kirby.
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