Drewitt's dream : a story

Front matter

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Class T2^5

Chapter I

The midnight streets of the sleeping town were black and silent. There was no moon, and the low brooding clouds shut out the stars. The night was cold, and the mud that had made the pavements slippery during the day had stiffened into ridges. No breath of wind was stirring, and the heavy air stagnated in the foul streets and the damp fields. The sparse and feeble lamps shed small round pools of dull light on the pavements below them. Elsewhere their rays were blunted and turned back by thick darkness. Groups of Thessalian refugees, foot-sore, ragged and starving, were huddled in open doorways, and under the cavernous arched entrances to courtyards. On the steps of the Government building a Greek sentinel was sitting. His rifle lay across his knees, and his head rested bent and drowsy on his hand. North of the town, on the summit of the ridge held by the Greek army, a dying camp-fire glowed faintly, like a dim aurora. There was to be a battle on the morrow, so every one believed, and the trembling and foreboding town had gone to sleep, as the criminal who sleeps soundly and heavily the night before his execution.

Suddenly the crash of the Turkish cannon jarred the dense air. The guns had accepted the foolish challenge of the unextinguished camp-fire, and were shelling the ridge. The drowsy sentinel sprang to his feet, and after a moment of hesitation, threw away his rifle and rushed down the street. From every doorway the dazed sleepers poured out. Men, women and children, half dressed, or nearly naked, fled toward the Southern gate of the town. In a few moments the streets were crowded with fugitives. The earliest were those who were too terrified to listen to anything except the instinct to escape. Then came those who had waited long enough to seize such of their miserable possessions as their hands could carry. Following these were the horsemen and carts, inextricably mixed with the flying mob. Already in the distance could be heard the tramp and murmur of the Greek sol-

V diers who had deserted the ridge without waiting to fire a shot.

Outside of the gate, through which three converging streets had each poured its stream of fugitives, the narrowness of the road, bordered with stone walls, crowded them into a struggling mass mad with terror. The stronger flung aside or trampled on the weaker without thought of mercy. When a woman or child fell, feet and hoofs and wheels passed over the crushed body. There were men who shouted aimlessly, and children who cried in their wild terror, but for the most part the mob was a silent one, for the intense, absorbing desire to escape the pursuers, who were thought to be close at hand, left no room for thought or speech. Yet there were wretches in whom the habit of plunder was still strong. They snatched the bundles carried by old men and women, and tore the crusts of bread from the hands of children. Those who were despoiled made no protest. For them the end of the world had come, and it was only natural that kindness and honesty and decency should vanish in the universal wreck. The stony path cut the bare feet of women who either did not own shoes, or had fled without a thought of them, but they did not notice the pain of their torn feet. The damp night air pierced through and through the half-naked, the old, and the ailing, but they seemed unconscious of it. In that panic-stricken mob the terror of the Turks had swallowed up the universe.

Swept along with the other fugitives was a young Englishman on horseback. He had reached the town late in the afternoon, on his way to witness the coming battle. The solitary inn was to the last degree uninviting, but hunger and weariness made him decide to stop for the night and to make his way to the Greek lines in the morning. He was sleeping fully dressed, and wrapped in his blanket — for any closer acquaintance with the bed was out of the question — when he was awakened by the sound of the cannon. He reached the courtyard just in time to rescue his horse, which the landlord was on the point of mounting; and on riding into the street with the intention of reaching the battlefield, he was caught in a torrent of human beings which it was impossible to stem. On reflection he judged that his wisest course would be to fly with the rest. He did not doubt that the Turks were in pursuit, and knew that if he were overtaken he would be cut down without regard to his nationality or the plea that he was a non-combatant. Still, his thoughts were more occupied with the abject cowardice of the Greeks than with his own safety. It was the first time that he had ever seen men in a panic, and the sight filled him with contempt, as well as horror. It did not occur to him that panic has no nationality, and that panic-stricken Frenchmen or Englishmen act very much like panic-stricken Greeks or Armenians.

An uproar behind him made him fancy that the Turks were at hand; and he found himself wondering whether a lance or a sabre would be the weapon of his death. The uproar increased, and presently a gun — the only one the Greek artillerists had carried away in their flight — ^burst through the mob. The gunners lashed their horses, driving straight forward as ruthlessly as if they were driving through a field of grain. The crowd, warned by the shouts of those in the rear, made frantic efforts to avoid the dumb, sullen cannon, that was doing far more deadly work than the blatant guns of the Turks had so far done; but at every yard men, women, and children were knocked down by the horses, or crushed by the gun-wheels. As the gun rolled by, grazing the Englishman’s horse, the wheels of the caisson passed directly over the face of a prostrate old woman, who had been knocked down by the horses. The gleam of a lanthorn fell directly on the ghastly wreck of mangled features, and the Englishman, losing control of himself, struck the nearest gunner a heavy blow on the head with the handle of his riding whip. The man never moved a muscle, and apparently did not notice the blow. His lips were parted, his eyes staring, his cheeks drawn. His face might have been the face of one who had died in the utmost agony. He saw nothing but his horses in front; heard nothing but the Turks behind. All other sensations had been swallowed up by the measureless sea of panic. He was frozen into statuesque insensibility by fear.

“ Damned cowards ! ” exclaimed the Englishman, scowling after the gunners, as the crowd closed again behind them.

“Thank God! You are English. Oh! let me keep with you! ”

It was the voice of a woman speaking in English — a voice so wonderfully sympathetic that it would have sounded clear and distinct to him had it been the merest whisper. He turned his head, and close to his left stirrup he saw the woman’s upturned face. She was young and beautiful. He had seen many young and beautiful women, but this one stood apart from all others. As their eyes met the blood rushed into his face. He knew that he loved her, even though at the self-same moment the madness of the thing was plain to him. How was it possible that he could love a woman whom he had seen but a few seconds, and who had spoken only half a dozen words! Had the madness of the mob seized him? Had the recklessness that made the fugitives to the last degree brutal mastered him in another shape, and made him capable of the wildest folly? Should he yield to this inexplicable passion and let the current sweep him whither it would, or should he call on all the forces of his nature, and thrust the woman back among all the other women whom he had known or seen? In the infinitesimal time that these thoughts flashed through his brain he made his decision. He answered her, as if without an instant’s hesitation: “Yes, but it must be forever.”

“ It shall be,” she replied, and the infinite meaning of her answer shone in her eyes.

“ Give me your hand,” he said. Put your foot on mine. So! Now spring up behind me. Are you seated? Then put both arms round my waist and hold tight.”

'' I’m in no danger of falling. Only do not let me hamper you. Will your horse carry two? ”

He will have to, whether he likes it or not. This is no time for consulting his inclinations.”

She was silent for a few moments, and then she said: “ Can not we get out of this horrible crowd? If we could get away and die quietly it would be better than this.”

There ought to be an opening in the wall somewhere near here,” he answered. “ I noticed it yesterday. Now that it is getting lighter, we may possibly find it and get through into the open field.”

As if awakened by the cannon, the night breathed softly, and then with a long-drawn moan. The startled clouds slunk away in search of peaceful skies. The stars came out, and looked cold, contemptuous, and passionless on the panic and rage of men. In the east the first suggestion of the dawn was visible.

With skill and patience the Englishman urged his horse nearer and nearer to the left wall of the road. The fields on either hand stretched dim and desolate in the faint light. The madness of the panic was shown in nothing more clearly than in the fact that not one of the fugitives thought of climbing the wall, and seeking safety in the open country. The instinct to keep together and to press forward that is found in panic-stricken cattle dominated them. They would rush on till they fell exhausted, or were cut down by the Turks. They had lost all vestige of self-control and reason. For the time they were simply wild beasts.

It was not long before the gap in the wall came in sight. The Englishman easily made his horse leap the low barrier of crumbling stone. No one followed him. His disappearance was not even noticed. Once over the wall he walked the horse cautiously over the rough ground in a direction at right angles to the road he had just left. The lights of the town were on his left, and he knew that the direction he was taking must bring him finally to the sea. There was the imminent risk of meeting a troop of Turkish irregulars, or a band of Greek volunteers, but at least the chances of escape were greater than in the crowded road. Its terrible sights had been left behind, and in the fields he and his companion were safe for the moment. Daylight might bring what it would. It could bring nothing worse than the night that was nearly ended.

As they rode on, the sound of the flying multitude faded. The Turkish cannon had for some time ceased to boom, but near at hand, between the town and the rear of the fugitives, the tramp of horses was plainly heard. The Turkish cavalry, from the dread of which the mob had fled, was at last in full pursuit, and the dropping fire of their carbines drew nearer; while the bullets, as they rushed through the air, cried out sharply and pitilessly for their victims.

The farther we can get away from the road the better,” said the Englishman. I hardly think those fellows will follow us so long as they find enough to do in chasing the Greeks, but they may send a few bullets after us if they see us.”

They were now crossing a rough, stony plain, bounded by a steep hill that rose immediately in front of them. On the top of the hill stood a low stone house, but there was no sign of life near it.

I know that house,” said the Englishman.

It is a block-house, and the Greek flag flew over

DREVVITT’S DREAM

1 1

it yesterday. I think we could not do better than to try to reach it before we are seen by the Turks. It is probably empty now, and if we could stop there till night, we should have more chance than we will have if we keep on during the day. Sit tight, and we will risk riding a little faster.”

They rode on toward the foot of the hill. The day was now close at hand, and objects for miles around were growing sharp and defined against the gray sky. As they rode on together the woman clung closer to the man. He felt the round firm pressure of her breasts against him, and her breath warmed and caressed his neck. He had never sung in his life, but the impulse to sing was now strong upon him. The intoxication of happiness, which merges instinctively into singing, had mastered him for the first time in his life. He remembered to have heard that soldiers in a desperate battle often charge with fierce inarticulate yells. He found himself wondering why the strongest passions should scorn language, and seek expression in rhythmic or meaningless sounds.

Just at that moment the Turks perceived them, and half a dozen shots were fired at them. One of the bullets struck the horse in the head, and he fell heavily, with his head between his shoulders. The woman was not injured, but the man was stunned. He had felt a sharp pain as though he had been struck heavily over the head from behind, and then his senses had failed him.

When he came to himself he was lying on the ground with his head in the woman’s lap. He rose to his feet, and after putting his hand to his head, and finding nothing worse than a scalp wound, he decided that he was virtually unhurt, though he still felt somewhat shaken.

I’m all right,” he exclaimed in reply to his companion’s earnest questions. “ I must have fallen on my head, and stunned myself. The horse’s neck is broken, and I’m glad it was not his leg, for in that case I must have shot him, and the sound of the revolver would have been sure to bring the Turks after us. After all, we should have been compelled to leave the horse at the foot of the hill, and we might as well leave him dead as alive. I hope you won’t let this accident frighten you.”

“ I was afraid when you went down,” said the woman, “ but I am not in the least afraid now. I was never happier in my life. I have been waiting for you all these years, and now I have found you.”

“ Twenty minutes ago I did not dream of

your existence,” said the man; “ and now ”

And now you are mine and I am yours. Oh ! I know that I am quite mad, but I know, too, that you are the same. We love each other. I saw it in your face and felt it in your voice when you turned in the saddle and spoke to me. And you saw, too, that I belonged to you.”

“ Yes, I love you. I know it, though I do not understand it. What does it mean, and why has it come to me? And you! How can you care for me? You do not even know my name.”

‘‘ I do not want to know it until we are safe — if safety comes to us. You are my lover. I do not want to think of you by any other name.”

They left the dead horse, and carrying his saddle-bags on his arm, the man walked by the woman’s side. It was a rough walk, even while they were on level ground, but when they began to ascend the hill, the loose stones gave under them, and the climb became toilsome.

When they stopped to breathe, he asked:

When did you first see me? I never noticed you until you spoke.”

“ I had been near you for some time, but I thought you were a Greek, and that it would be a waste of time to ask your help.”

Then our knowledge of each other’s existence really begins from the moment that I swore at those brutes.”

“ Yes! but that was years ago. I have known you all my life, or rather I never lived till I met you.”

“ I, too, was thinking that there never could have been a time when I did not know you. There must have been, for I was not born last night, but nothing but you seems real to me now. I wonder if I am dreaming.”

“ Then I, too, must be dreaming, and two people can not dream the same dream together. Besides,” she added, laughing, “ I am sure that I have not dreamed my shoes half full of stones. They are frightfully real.”

She sat down and took off one shoe after the other to free it from the sharp bits of stone that had found their way into it. He watched her, admiring the delicate shapeliness of her foot, and thinking that he must get her a new pair of shoes should they ever escape to civilization. Before they resumed their way she turned from him a bREWITT’S DREAT^r moment to draw up a disarranged stocking. The simple act rhymed with the sense of long intimacy that he felt so strongly. “ Have I always been married to this woman,” he thought, “ and have I just waked up to find it true? ”

Again he heard the faint crackling of distant rifle fire, and by the jets of smoke marked the course of a troop of Turkish cavalry scouring the open field. As he watched them he saw the glint of the first sunbeams on their carbines. They were clearly coming toward the hill.

“ Are you tired? ” he asked.

I am tired,” she replied, but what of that. I can walk any distance with you.”

“ Then we must be getting on. The Turks must have finished with the ruck in the road, for they have taken to the fields. They may see us at any moment if we don’t get under shelter.”

He put his arm around her waist to help her up the hill. She was plainly tired, for her breath came quickly, and he could feel the rapid heaving of her chest. But her courage never faltered for an instant. Whenever their eyes m*et there came a smile to her lips. Sometimes she would lean her head against his shoulder, and the caress seemed to envelop him body and soul.

l6 DREWITT’S DREAM

They reached the house at the summit of the hill without being noticed by the enemy, so far as they could judge. The walls were of stone a foot thick. There were two doors, one in front and one in the rear, both of which stood open. The place was lighted by a window at each end, high above the ground, and the front and side walls were loopholed. The Englishman looked out of the back door before he closed and barred it. The rear wall was only a few yards from a nearly precipitous descent, down which it would be extremely difficult for any one, except an active mountaineer, to climb. Escape in that direction was hardly to be thought of.

The Greeks had evidently abandoned the place hurriedly. There were half a dozen magazine rifles thrown together in one corner, and the same number of military caps of the pattern issued by the Greek Revolutionary Society. These caps constituted the sole attempt at uniform among certain of the Greek volunteers, and it was obvious that the garrison before running away had rid themselves of the evidences of their martial character by throwing away their arms and caps.

The rifles proved to be loaded. The magazines of two were filled, and those of the others contained a single cartridge each. There was besides a box of ammunition filled to the top, and standing open near the huddled rifles. In the fire-place were the ashes of the last night’s fire, and the empty pot in which the soup had been heated. The Englishman smiled as he thought of the possibility of English soldiers abandoning without a blow a position that a squad of brave men could have held against a regiment unprovided with artillery.

“ I wish the Greeks, before they fell back from here to take up their stronger position, had left something for us to eat,” he said.

His companion was sitting on a wooden bench, and her eyes had followed him while he was examining the room.

“I am hungry,” she replied, “but it would choke me to eat anything those wretches had left behind them. Even I know enough of war to know that this place could have been defended by a half dozen determined women, and yet these sons of Leonidas have run away.”

“ The house is altogether too strong for our purpose. I wish it was a straw hut instead of a stone fort.”

i8

Why SO?”

'' Because a place like this can not be passed by unnoticed by the Turks. Its strength does us no good, for we do not propose to defend it, and it only invites a visit from our friends in the plain yonder.”

“Why should we not defend it?” she exclaimed. “ I am a good rifle shot. If the Turks come here they will kill us, whether we fight or not, and we might as well die fighting as in any other way.”

“ But we are non-combatants,” he urged. “ I am a foreigner who simply came to see a battle, and you are a woman. They can not kill us except in violation of the laws of war.”

“ Do you really think they will trouble themselves with laws of any sort? ”

“ Frankly, I don't,” he answered. “ If they come it will be all over with us, and if I were alone I might prefer to take it fighting rather than lying down. But I must not take away from you any possible chance of safety, however slight it may be. If there is a German in command of the attacking party he may think it decent to restrain his men.”

He glanced out of a loophole and saw that the Turks were riding straight toward them. In a few moments they would reach the foot of the hill, and if they intended to make an attack, would dismount and leave their horses. Watching them closely he saw them halt, dismount, picket the horses, and begin the ascent of the hill.

They are coming,” he said, as he barred the massive door, and strengthened it by bracing the wooden bench against it. “ I need not tell you to keep cool. You have plenty of courage, and besides, it is far from absolutely certain that they will molest you.”

“ Perhaps I know the Turks better than you do. You might as well expect a Greek to be honest as a Turk to be merciful.”

We have yet fifteen or twenty minutes before they can reach here, and then they won’t be in a hurry to try the door until they know whether the place is deserted or not.”

And when they do get in they will take us both for Greek volunteers, and think that each of us wore three caps and carried three rifles.”

“ If we don’t run away, they can’t make the mistake of supposing us to be Greeks,” said the Englishman sardonically.

She picked up a rifle and threw open the breech in a way that showed she was familiar with the weapon.

Don’t shoot yourself,” he cried. '' That rifle is loaded; though to be sure you seem to know all about it.”

'' I can shoot better than most men,” she replied. Why should we not try to hold the place. We two can make a good defence, and perhaps the Greeks may find courage to come to our rescue. There was a regiment of Evzones in the town yesterday, and they are not all cowards.”

We could keep those fellows out for an hour or two; but if you are found with a rifle you throw away the one chance that your sex gives you.”

''And you! What chance would you throw away? ”

" None. I haven’t a ghost of a chance, no matter what we do. But at least leave me the opportunity of pleading for you before they make un end of me.”

" Do you want to separate yourself from me? You are to die, so you say. Can you think that I would live without you? ”

He took another loaded rifle in his hand and stood irresolutely looking out over the hill.

The Turks were now close to the summit, climbing rapidly and stealthily up the slope, with their carbines slung across their backs. The very way in which they advanced had something cruel and feline in its aspect.

“ Come,’’ she cried, “ I will decide for you.” She thrust her rifle through the loophole and aiming rapidly fired. One of the foremost Turks fell headlong, and remained motionless. He had been shot through the head. The others halted and threw themselves on the ground, where they were for the most part out of range.

You have certainly settled the question,” said the Englishman. ''We shall have to fight now, and I am not sorry for it.”

The light of battle kindled his face. He felt himself driven to bay, and that there was nothing left for him and his companion but to sell their lives as dearly as possible. After all, this was better than the weary uncertainty of waiting for the possible mercy of a barbarous enemy.

The Turks had evidently hoped to find the block-house deserted, and now in their ignorance of the Strength of the garrison, were uncertain what course to pursue. The woman put down her rifle and came to the loophole where the Englishman was standing. The Turks had begun to fire at the loopholes, but none of their bullets entered. It was probable that they would continue to amuse themselves in that way until they decided to rush the place.

He looked at her as she stood for a moment silent before him. He noticed that she wore a dark blue dress, and that a large Greek cross hung at her breast. For an instant he wondered if he could be mistaken in thinking her English, and if she was a Greek after all.

“ I am sorry,’’ she said. “ It was not my place to make the decision. Tell me that you are not displeased with me.”

“You have done right. It is better to die like men — and you have the courage of a man — than to die like cowards. Besides, we shall die together.”

“ And you will love me in that other world where we are going? And I shall never be without you? ”

He took her in his arms. Her face looked up to his with a smile.

'‘You have never kissed me,” she said. “ Kiss me now before it is too late.”

“ I shall love you through all eternity,” he cried. “ Did I not say last night that it should be forever? The words were sent to me as you were sent to me. It is not possible that we were made to meet for a few hours and then to be parted forever.”

“ Will you kiss me to-morrow — after we have done with the world? I do not care to be loved as they say the angels love. I want your warm lips as well as your heart. I want the pressure of your arms.”

“ Either we shall live or we shall sleep. If we live we shall love as we love now, for we shall be the same. I was a man here, and I shall be a man hereafter, if there is any hereafter.”

“ Tell me that you trust me absolutely. I do not doubt it, but I long to hear you say it.”

“ I trust you absolutely. I believe in you completely. Neither distrust nor death can come between us.”

“ And you can say this to a woman who came to you out of the dark, and whose name and story you do not know? ”

“ I can say it with my whole heart. Dearest,

I have always loved to live, and dreaded to die. I think I have been afraid to die; but now death seems nothing. I will not live a moment if you are killed first. We will make the journey hand in hand.”

She put her arms around his neck and drew his lips down to hers. One more kiss and we shall be ready to die,” she exclaimed. “ Good-bye till we meet again.”

She went to her loophole. Scarcely had she reached it when the Turks sprang to their feet, and rushed in a disorderly crowd, straight toward the door of the house. The two rifles of the defenders rang out together. Five shots from one loophole, and four from the other, were fired before the enemy reached the door. All but one of the shots took effect, and the Turks, who had lost nearly a third of their number, after a faint attempt to break down the door, retreated beyond the crest of the hill, and lying down, resumed their scattered firing at the loopholes. The Turkish leader was by this time convinced that, although the number of the defenders must be very small, it was both futile and costly to expose his men, unless he had the means of breaking open the door when once it had been reached.