The Nilghai commanded silence in vain. 'That's for my sake,' Dick said bitterly. 'The birds are getting ready to fly, and they wouldn't tell me. Ican hear Morten-Sutherland and Mackaye. Half the War Correspondents in London are there;--and I'm out of it.'
He stumbled across the landing and plunged into Torpenhow's room. He could feel that it was full of men. 'Where's the trouble?' said he. 'In the Balkans at last? Why didn't some one tell me?'
'We thought you wouldn't be interested,' said the Nilghai, shamefacedly.
'It's in the Soudan, as usual.'
'You lucky dogs! Let me sit here while you talk. I shan't be a skeleton at the feast.--Cassavetti, where are you? Your English is as bad as ever.'
Dick was led into a chair. He heard the rustle of the maps, and the talk swept forward, carrying him with it. Everybody spoke at once, discussing press censorships, railway-routes, transport, water-supply, the capacities of generals,--these in language that would have horrified a trusting public,--rangint, asserting, denouncing, and laughing at the top of their voices. There was the glorious certainty of war in the Soudan at any moment. The Nilghai said so, and it was well to be in readiness. The Keneu had telegraphed to Cairo for horses; Cassavetti had stolen a perfectly inaccurate list of troops that would be ordered forward, and was reading it out amid profane interruptions, and the Keneu introduced to Dick some man unknown who would be employed as war artist by the Central Southern Syndicate. 'It's his first outing,' said the Keneu. 'Give him some tips--about riding camels.'
'Oh, those camels!' groaned Cassavetti. 'I shall learn to ride him again, and now I am so much all soft! Listen, you good fellows. I know your military arrangement very well. There will go the Royal Argalshire Sutherlanders. So it was read to me upon best authority.'
A roar of laughter interrupted him.
'Sit down,' said the Nilghai. 'The lists aren't even made out in the War Office.'
'Will there be any force at Suakin?' aid a voice.
Then the outcries redoubled, and grew mixed, thus: 'How many Egyptian troops will they use?--God help the Fellaheen!--There's a railway in Plumstead marshes doing duty as a fives-court.--We shall have the Suakin-Berber line built at last.--Canadian voyageurs are too careful. Give me a half-drunk Krooman in a whale-boat.--Who commands the Desert column?--No, they never blew up the big rock in the Ghineh bend. We shall have to be hauled up, as usual.--Somebody tell me if there's an Indian contingent, or I'll break everybody's head.--Don't tear the map in two.--It's a war of occupation, I tell you, to connect with the African companies in the South.--There's Guinea-worm in most of the wells on that route.' Then the Nilghai, despairing of peace, bellowed like a fog-horn and beat upon the table with both hands.
'But what becomes of Torpenhow?' said Dick, in the silence that followed.
'Torp's in abeyance just now. He's off love-making somewhere, Isuppose,' said the Nilghai.
'He said he was going to stay at home,' said the Keneu.
'Is he?' said Dick, with an oath. 'He won't. I'm not much good now, but if you and the Nilghai hold him down I'll engage to trample on him till he sees reason. He'll stay behind, indeed! He's the best of you all. There'll be some tough work by Omdurman. We shall come there to stay, this time.
But I forgot. I wish I were going with you.'
'So do we all, Dickie,' said the Keneu.
'And I most of all,' said the new artist of the Central Southern Syndicate.
'Could you tell me----'
'I'll give you one piece of advice,' Dick answered, moving towards the door. 'If you happen to be cut over the head in a scrimmage, don't guard.
Tell the man to go on cutting. You'll find it cheapest in the end. Thanks for letting me look in.'
'There's grit in Dick,' said the Nilghai, an hour later, when the room was emptied of all save the Keneu.
'It was the sacred call of the war-trumpet. Did you notice how he answered to it? Poor fellow! Let's look at him,' said the Keneu.
The excitement of the talk had died away. Dick was sitting by the studio table, with his head on his arms, when the men came in. He did not change his position.
'It hurts,' he moaned. 'God forgive me, but it hurts cruelly; and yet, y'know, the world has a knack of spinning round all by itself. Shall I see Torp before he goes?'
'Oh, yes. You'll see him,' said the Nilghai.
