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He swore to himself as his feet touched ground again。 For a star shell
was hanging overhead； and his efforts had sent wide and ever increasingly
widening circles over the placid surface of the lagoon。 Let them lap to the
German outposts and he was lost。
Henri's method was peculiar to himself。 Where there was dry terrain
he did as did the others； crouched and crept。 But here in the salt marshes；
where the sea had been called to Belgium's aid； he had evolved a system
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of moving； neck deep in water； stopping under the white night lights；
advancing in the darkness。 There was no shelter。 The country was flat as a
hearth。
He would crawl out at last in the darkness and lie flat； as the dead lie。
And then； inch by inch； he would work his way forward； by routes that he
knew。 Sometimes he went entirely through the German lines； and
reconnoitered on the roads behind。 They were shallow lines then； for the
inundation made the country almost untenable； and a charge in force from
the Belgians across was unlikely。
Henri knew his country well； as well as he loved it。 In a farmhouse
behind the German lines he sometimes doffed his wet gray…green uniform
and put on the clothing of a Belgian peasant。 Trust Henri then for being a
lout； a simple fellow who spoke only Flemish … but could hear in many
tongues。 Watch him standing at crossroads and marveling at big guns that
rumble by。
At first Henri had wished； having learned of an attack； to be among
those who repelled it。 Then one day his King had sent for him to come to
that little viilage which was now his capital city。
He had been sent in alone and had found the King at the table； writing。
Henri bowed and waited。 They were not unlike； these two men； only Henri
was younger and lighter； and where the King's eyes were gray Henri's
were blue。 Such a queer setting for a king it was … a tawdry summer home；
ill…heated and cheaply furnished。 But by the presence of Belgium's man of
all time it became royal。
So Henri bowed and waited； and soon the King got up and shook
hands with him。 As a matter of fact they knew each other rather well； but
to explain more would be to tell that family name of Henri's which must
never be known。
〃Sit down；〃 said the King gravely。 And he got a box of cigars from the
mantelpiece and offered it。 〃I sent for you because I want to talk to you。
You are doing valuable work。〃
〃I am glad you think it so； sire；〃 said Henri rather unhappily； because
he felt what was coming。 〃But I cannot do it all the time。 There are
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intervals…〃
An ordinary mortal may not interrupt a king； but a king may interrupt
anything； except perhaps a German bombardment。
〃Intervals； of course。 If there were not you would be done in a month。〃
〃But I am a soldier。 My place is …〃
〃Your place is where you are most useful。〃
Henri was getting nothing out of the cigar。 He flung it away and got
up。
〃I want to fight too；〃 he said stubbornly。 〃We need every man； and I
am … rather a good shot。 I do this other because I can do it。 I speak their
infernal tongue。 But it's dirty business at the best； sire。 He remembered to
put in the sire； but rather ungraciously。 Indeed he shot it out like a bullet。
〃Dirty business！〃 said the King thoughtfully。 〃I see what you mean。 It
is； of course。 But … not so dirty as the things they have done； and are
doing。〃
He sat still and let Henri stamp up and down； because； as has been said；
he knew the boy。 And he had never been one to insist on deference； which
was why he got so much of it。 But at last he got up and when Henri stood
still； rather ashamed of himself； he put an arm over the boy's shoulders。
〃I want you to do this thing； for me。 And this thing only；〃 he said。 〃It is
the work you do best。 There are others who can fight； but … I do not know
any one else who can do as you have done。〃
Henri promised。 He would have promised to go out and drown himself
in the sea； just beyond the wind…swept little garden； for the tall grave man
who stood before him。 Then he bowed and went out； and the King went
back to his plain pine table and his work。 That was the reason why Sara
Lee found him asleep on the floor by her kitchen stove that morning； and
went back to her cold bed to lie awake and think。 But no explanation came
to her。
The arrival of Marie roused Henri。 The worst of the bombardment was
over； but there was far…away desultory firing。 He listened carefully before；
standing outside in the cold； he poured over his head and shoulders a pail
of cold water。 He was drying himself vigorously when he heard Sara Lee's
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voice in the kitchen。
The day began for Henri when first he saw the girl。 It might be
evening； but it was the beginning for him。 So he went in when he had
finished his toilet and bowed over her hand。
〃You are cold； mademoiselle。〃
〃I think I am nervous。 There was an attack this morning。〃
〃Yes？〃
Marie had gone into the next room； and Sara Lee raised haggard eyes
to his。
〃Henri；〃 she said desperately … it was the first time she had called him
that …〃 I have something to say to you； and it's not very pleasant。〃
〃You are going home？〃 It was the worst thing he could think of。 But
she shook her head。
〃You will think me most ungrateful and unkind。〃
〃You？ Kindness itself！〃
〃But this is different。 It is not for myself。 It is because I care a great
deal about … about …〃
〃Mademoiselle！〃
〃About your honor。 And somehow this morning； when I found you
here asleep； and those poor fellows in the trenches fighting …〃
Henri stared at her。 So that was it！ And he could never tell her。 He was
sworn to secrecy by every tradition and instinct of his work。 He could
never tell her； and she would go on thinking him a shirker and a coward。
She would be grateful。 She would be sweetness itself。 But deep in her
heart she would loathe him； as only women can hate for a failing they
never forgive。
〃But I have told you；〃 he said rather wildly； 〃I am not idle。 I do certain
things … not much； but of a degree of importance。〃
〃You do not fight。〃
In Sara Lee's defense many things may be urged … her ignorance of
modern warfare； the isolation of he