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A Maker of History

A Maker of History

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Chapter 1 AN ACCIDENTAL SPY

Word Count: 2403    |    Released on: 30/11/2017

s, no pleasant smell of coffee-none of the small luxuries to which he was accustomed. On the contrary, he had slept all night upon a be

struggling to his feet when he became aware of certain changed conditions in his surroundings. Some instinct,

tree-tops in the far distance seemed to touch, and the rails themselves to vanish into the black heart of the close-growing pines. For miles he had limped along the painfully rough track without seeing the slightest sign of any break in the woods, or any human being. At

als of scarcely twenty paces up and down the line, as far as he could see, soldiers were stationed like sentries. They were looking sharply about in all directions, and he could e

e from his hiding-place and claim the hospitality of these people. He was a quite harmless person, with proper credentials, and an adequate explanation of his presence there. On the other hand, the spirit of adve

a shrill whistle, a puff of white smoke in the distance,

escended. One of these approached rapidly, and saluted the central figure of those who had been talking together in the track. After a few moments' conversation

was watching these

n he caught sight of a particularly fierce-looking soldier with his finger

which they had been sitting was opened, and the third man was visible, standing before a small table and arranging s

he hat. It fluttered out of the window and lay for a moment upon the side of the track. No one noticed it, and in a second or two it

o the watcher, the two groups of men separated and climbed into their respective trains. As soon as ev

it into his pocket. Then he commenced an anxious search for smoking materials,

claimed, lighting up.

st. Pheasants and rabbits and squirrels continually crossed in front of him. Once a train passed, and

e remarked to himself in an aggrieved tone.

his day. He was well dressed in tweed clothes, cut by a good tailor, a little creased by his night out of doors,

chalet at one end-but a very welcome sight confronted him. A little pile of lu

ible chap," he exclaimed.

his hat, and produced a phrase book from his pocket. He ignored the stream of w

laying one hand upon the pil

. He waxed eloquent again, but the Eng

otel?" he

glishman was getting pleased with himself. Outside was a weird-looking carriage, and on the box seat, fast asleep, was a very fa

el, carriage!

e Englishman and his luggage were stored away in the carriage. His ticket had been examined by the station-master, and smilingly accepted. There

eign country with a phrase book and your wits,

ah and his brethren. An astonished innkeeper, whose morning attire apparently consisted of trousers,

vociferously. "Wan

r, who had lost no time, was already there, with a long glass of beer before him. Guy produced a mark, laid it on the table

eper and his wife busied themselves with the breakfast, and Guy made remarks every now and then from his phrase book, which were usually incomprehensible, except when they concerned a further supply of beer.

de into the room with clanking of spurs, and the driver and innkeeper alike stood up in respect.

f German speak!" h

ecame furious. Guy took advantage of the moment to slip the cigar into his pocket, and

driver announced

," the innke

hat it meant interpreter. He devoted himself the

nstituted himself host, and Guy, with a shout of laughter, sat down where he was, and ate. In the midst of the meal the officer reappeared, ushe

exclaimed. "Y

to train polo ponies for the Prince of Ha

my breakfast, do you? What's it all about? Who's the gentlema

ervice," the man answered. "You have been reported

en miles off this place, and I got down to stretch my legs. I understood them to say that we could not go on for half a

to the officer,

y declared.

y between the two. Then t

here at midnight, and that you

o sleep. I didn't know how far it was

now whether many trains

very soundly, and I never opened m

her you saw anything unusual upo

answered coolly. "Bit

n came closer

your passport, s

so a letter of credit an

hy you were going t

t's all!" Guy answered. "You tell him I'm a perfec

credit. Then he departed with a formal salute, and they heard his horse's hoofs ring

much by being upon the line last night. There have been some rumors going about

one," Guy declare

ordinary tourist, sir,-as I have no doubt you are,-let this man drive you to Streuen, and ta

e next place I was going to, anyhow. You t

e rapidly to

h you. The railway last night for twenty miles back was held up for State purposes. We none of us know why, a

sum!" the boy ans

what it used to, sir,"

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