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Chapter 10
Therewasaclickasifaleverhadbeenpulled.Thencamealowrumblingfar,farbelowtheground,andthroughthewindowIsawacloudofchalkydustpouringoutoftheshaftofthestairway.
Someoneswitchedonthelight.
Theoldmanwaslookingatmewithblazingeyes.
“Heissafe,”hecried.“Youcannotfollowintime....Heisgone....Hehastriumphed....DerSchwarzeSteinistinderSiegeskrone.”
Therewasmoreinthoseeyesthananycommontriumph.Theyhadbeenhoodedlikeabirdofprey,andnowtheyflamedwithahawk’spride.Awhitefanaticheatburnedinthem,andIrealizedforthefirsttimetheterriblethingIhadbeenupagainst.Thismanwasmorethanaspy;inhisfoulwayhehadbeenapatriot.
AsthehandcuffsclinkedonhiswristsIsaidmylastwordtohim.
“IhopeFranzwillbearhistriumphwell.IoughttotellyouthattheAriadneforthelasthourhasbeeninourhands.”
Sevenweekslater,asalltheworldknows,wewenttowar.IjoinedtheNewArmythefirstweek,andowingtomyMatabeleexperiencegotacaptain’scommissionstraightoff.ButIhaddonemybestservice,Ithink,beforeIputonkhaki.
