Red Fleece | Page 8

very natty--more perfect than we see in the streets, as if drawn from ideal. He was stabbing the bear with a long pole, leisurely--"
"It was a rifle and bayonet," said Peter. "We both saw it, but didn't speak until now. He was churning the bayonet around in the great paunch as if feeling for the vitals. The bear looked large and helpless."
Fallows' bronzed head had sunk upon his chest. His eyes, red with firelight, seemed lost to all expression. "I was thinking it would happen in Germany first," he said.
A moment afterward he added: "There's a time when a man wants to die for what he believes, and another time when he's afraid he will die before he gets a chance to make his life count."
Again he paused, and then looked up to Mowbray. "It's a good omen. That's the real war.... And was it your cup?"
"Yes."
"You say that you are going out for the Galician service?"
"Yes, possibly with Kohlvihr's column."
"You will see much service," said Fallows. "That used to be our dream --to see service. It will be easier seen with the Russians. They are not so modern in method as the French or Germans, or even the Japanese. Of course, war is the same. The nation at the end will win on the fields, not in the skies. The sky fulfillment is reserved for a better utility than war. But war belongs under the sea.... You will not be suppressed so rigidly with the Russians. You will see the side of the war which will have the most bearing on the future. I do not believe France and Germany are in the future as Russia is--"
"And England?" Peter asked quickly.
"The key to that is the wealth of the Indies--as of yore."
"You mean if India remains loyal?"
"If India remains under the yoke."
"But, if Britain should preserve her tenure in India with the Japanese troops--" Peter suggested.
Fallows shuddered. "As yet I can see no philosophy under heaven to cover that."
"And you think Britain and Russia are enemies in spite of this alliance?"
"Enemies, temperamental and structural--enemies, past and future."
Peter recurred to this point: "You think that India would not remain loyal if she had arms?"
"I was in a little village of the Punjab two years ago," Fallows replied, "and there was a lad of sixteen there, wonderful in promise-- a mind, a spirit. They could not raise in the village enough money to send him across the seas steerage for his education. A single rifle costs nearly three pounds. It is hard for us to realize how poor India is."
Peter stood fast against this in his mind; his intellect would not accept.... "Are you going to take the field again, Mr. Fallows?"
"Not in a newspaper way. I shall nurse wounded soldiers. At least they have accepted me.... These are fearful and amazing days. We have all been in a kind of long feeding dream, like the insects, accumulating energy and terrible power for these days. Such death as we shall see!"
There was silence.
"I wonder how they are taking it in America?" Fallows mused.
"Doubtless as an opportunity for world-trade," said Peter.
"Oh, I hope not!" the exile said passionately. "There must be another America."
Fallows placed his hands on Berthe's shoulders, looking down: "You make me think of a young woman I once knew," he said. "Not that you look like her--but that you have the same zeal for something.... You are a very true daughter of your father--"
"You knew him?" she said huskily.
"We all knew him--we who dare to think we look ahead. When he died, his courage came to all of us. We were changed. If it had not been a pure and durable thing--his courage would have died with him. It is wonderful for me to be here with you. And this man loves you."
It was not a question, just a fragmentary utterance of a fine moment. Fallows said it as a man who has passed on, and yet loves to study the lives and loves of younger men. Even to Mowbray the feeling came for an instant that he was part of the solution to which they gave themselves.
"I have not told him of my father. He does not know my name," Berthe said. "But I am going to tell him--before he goes."
"He is safe," said Fallows. "I felt free with him--almost immediately --and that picture in the tea-cup!... Peter Mowbray, Peter Mowbray. It is a good name. And you are going out on the big story of the war for The States. You will see great things--best of all with the Russian columns. There will be an Austerlitz every day--a Liaoyang every day. I was in Manchuria with a man who made that his battle. I wonder if he will come out this time--to find how his dream of