"Only me 'ummin', sir." "I see. All quiet?" "Yessir! Nothin' doin' at all!" "Well"—Second-Lieutenant Shaw had not yet shed his youthful pride at being in the thick of things, and puffed himself out a little and became most impressive—"you want to keep an extra sharp look-out from now until we stand-to at dusk. We've an idea that something's going to happen. Probably Fritz will try a raid. This quiet is very suspicious." He passed on with the sergeant. As soon as he was well out of earshot, Alf recalled the spirit, who looked so hurt that his Master felt that an apology was due to him. "Sorry, Eustace, but if the orficer 'ad seen you talkin' to me, there'd 'ave been trouble. Civilians ain't allowed in the trenches, 'cept with a special pass; so when anybody comes, you must 'op it without waitin' for orders. See?" Eustace bowed gravely. "Now, look 'ere," continued Alf, gazing earnestly over the parapet as he spoke, "I just bin[Pg 45] thinkin' about yer. If you could only get out o' this 'abit o' practical jokin' an' so on, you might be quite a useful sort o' feller. Now, tell me fair, what can you do? I don't mean larkin' with airyplanes, but serious things." [Pg 45] "My Lord hath but to command." "Yes, it's easy enough to say that, but I can't think o' things.... Now, s'posin' ... that is.... Look 'ere, what I really want is something to keep me safe if the blighted Boche comes over. Now, what can you show me?" "Master, I comprehend not thy speech." "Lumme, I speak plain enough English, I 'ope. I say, what I want is something to keep me safe if the Boche comes over. The Boche, you know! Fritz! The 'Un! The fellers across there, you blinkin' image! The Germans!" "My Lord desires protection from his enemies." "That's better, Eustace. Think it out, and you'll get there in time." "It shall be so. Behold!" An object appeared in the Spirit's hand.
Prev.
Back
Top