T COAST or France started as a thin line of mist on the horizon. It was mid-morning when it became clear in the circle of Jobin's binoculars. The country behind the coastline was flat, for there were no hills to be seen, but there were a lot ot rolling dunes and wide beaches, stretching for this alien alien shore John saw a group of houses the beach, the sea-sid side end of a small town
They were still following the route of many companion ships and boats. They had coene much facther north than had expected, going round the Goodwin sands, and striking southeast towards France, John supposed that Germain gans at Calais had closed the more direct mute Now they were moving in southwards, and a great loud of black smoke a few miles to the night must mask the port of Dunkirk
The was shining. The whale scene looked like one of those great paintings of sea-battles, with modern ships instead of galleons. All around them, up and down the coast as far as they could see, there were ships of all sizes. Big naval Dig naval ships painted silver-grey were standing offshore, and a among them a motley collection of cargo and and passenger ships Beyond then was a stretch of patchy water, blue ve and indigo and green in the warm light. And across these wide shallows hundreds of little ships were swarming. There e wrecka small boats capsic psized and drifting, and larger ones rounded and unashed. They sawed through a great patch of Boating oil, which stuck to Dolphin's paint. And there seemed to be a lot of oil washed up the beaches, irregular dark shiny patches spreading over the sands to the water's edge The beach was littered with abandoned lomies and tanks. It all looked very confused. But it was deat enough what the small boats were doing
they were ferrying to and fro between the shore and the big great ships which could not get farther in. They took Dolphin close under the bows of a great destrover riding at anchor in the lanes, and moved towards the that the dark patches on the beaches Then they moving, flowing slowly like spilt water or a fiat plese won't of it was great crowds of men. They stood in wide ses on the sande, and the sun struck a dull metallic glänt off their steel helmets. Great groups of them moved slowly down towards the water's edge. Long lines of them snaked. from behind the dunes, and the herd of some of the lines. stretched out into the water. They had waded out shoulder deep, and they stood there, quietly, looking all one way anewards.
Joho took Coplus in towands one of these lines of They could bear the distant noise of guns- a low ruzable ru and then a big b bia bars Instant noise of guns a low rumble and barg, muilled by by distance. But mewhere overhend there was also a droning sound. It got uder and nearer. Looking up, John saw a great swarm of ck planes coming from the landward sky. In the beaches were running for shelter among the dunes, or flinging themselves on their faces in the sand. The planes swooped down, diving low, and flying along the line of the beaches John saw the black bombs falling in diagonal formation from fountain-like upward helpless men. From the heart of each jet of sand came a flash of fire, and clouds of thick black smoke. A man with his body stiffly spreadeagled was thrown high in the air, and shot backwards twenty yards from shot backwards twenty yards from one of them. Then the noise of the explosions crashed round Dolphin, wiping all rashed round Dolphin, wiping all other sounds out entirely, and the beach they were hem for disappeared bebind a thick blanket of smoke, which rolled across the water them. A great blast of amote Dolpion, and rocked her violently, and then they were wrapped in blinding, choking smoke.
They coughed and rubbed their eyes. Pat was saying something, but there was only a deatening ringing noise an John's cars. Helplesaly he watched Pat's lips moving. The smoke rolled over them anil away. They could see to the left now flashes of lire from the muzzes of skyward guns behind the long mole of Dunkirk harbour. A long mote extended seawards on the near sice of the harbour, and lage ships were tied up there. From the decks of these great shipe avenging guns stammered angry setorts into the sky.
On the beaches men getting to theit feet again, and stumbling formation. From atmong them a number of pairs o vere tramping wearily up the beach towards line of buildings, h pair with a limp body extended Ietween them. The sun broke through the smoke in misty patches over them
planes did not go when they had dropped their bombs. They came back again and again, flying low over the beaches and the shallows, machine-gunning the soldiers and the little boots. A hissing line of bullets spattered the water just in front of Dolphin's prow
John's hands were clenched on the wheed, but his arms were shaking violently from shoulder to wrist. He could hear his teeth chattering, and hear his teeth chuttering, and a hard lump had grown in his ribs, so that he had to against his rib stomach, and was pressing against the ribs, so that he had e himself to breathe. He stood at the wheel, shaking Delphin moved steadily in towards the A smoky haze blurred the whole scene, A choking, bitter smell of burning smarted in John's nosträs at every breath. Pat had gone white, and was crouched down against the bench. His pale eyes looked dark: the pupils were widened with fear. John fixed his eyes on a point on the beach ahead, and tried to steer for it, though he could scarcely make his trembling arme move his clenched fisis. A lifeboat, full of soldiers, was ove his clenched fists. A lifeboat, full of soldier just being pushed out into the ahead of him. steered to come in beside
planes were coming back again. The noise of their engines as they plunged low over the sande roared in his ears. He looked, and saw one of them conung straight towards Dolphin, He flang himself on the cockpit floor, and I the same moment Pat dropped down beside him, and the of noise and the sharp cracking of the plane's machine live. They up over and past them. They were
Where the lifebout had been there was a blazing wall of lame on the water. Someone was screaming. The flame floated oated towards towards them, them, and and sank John took the wheel, and course again. She chugged slowly rough charred lamps of floating drdtwood, until a gentle had grounded. The and a stretch of shallow water still lay between engine out of gear. The two boys stood and looked mand. The water was full of floating bodies. They stained the froth the waves with faictly visible red streaks. They rolled to and the in the sard. Some of the soldiers waiting in line on the beach had run forward. Don's keel and the sand. John
and were dragging limp wounded figures from the water. The hard lump in Joban's stomach suddenly lured up his thrust. He staggered to the side, doubled up, and vomited into the water. As he hung there the body of a man with no face floated by, snelling of charred flesh. He was instantly doubled doubled up up again, retching retching on on an an empty empty stomach. Then Pat's hand was on has shoulder, der, palling him up. "Snap out of it, mate. Here's some poor bastards wanting a lift out of this" Pat's voice came from far away, sounding right, and unduly loud
A group of soldiers were weding out towards them, hoiding their guns over their heads. They came right up to Dolphm, and stood waiting waist deep in the sea. Pat took their guns, and John told two of them to hang on to one side, to steady Dogsties, while others scrambled over the other side. The water poured from their clothes on to the cockpit Boor. They hey took eight on board, and then John sught they were enough in the water, and turned the others away. The men who were left pushed Dolpior off the grunting under the strain, for she was weighed down now, and tumed scramble through the waves to the beach agam
An agoni gonized expression crossed Pat's face as they "We'll come back for you!" he called to their retre hacks
"If you don't get sent to the bottom first said one of ti
soodiers beside him
John was getting used to the different feel of Ziplus with het heavy load on board. She was sluggish, and slower sa respond to the wheel. Still, when he gave her fall power she roared away from the terrible beach towards the tall destroye wer waiting off shore Over the side of the destroyer hung great swathes of
oarse rope netting, draping her wall of rooted plates from stem to stern. Small boats bobbed alongside her all the way, out of them swarms of soldiers scrambled up the netting, to be pulled over the rails to the decka, John tack Doiphis up alongside, nosing carefully between two criften, from whose crowded decks hundreds of climbers were slowly and jerkily heaving themselves away. Dolphin's eight men clambered out of her, making her rock and sway with their movements, and merged with the throng
Gently John hacked Dolphin away. When he was clear he gave the wheel to l'at, and looked back at the destroyer through his binoculars. Absurdly, he caught himself trying to find the men they had just put safely on board, but of course on the thickly crowded I deces d he could not find them. He picked out somewhere amidships a little board with the in brass letters. At her bows she carried name WAKEFUL code number, painted in huge white letters, John regarded her with satisfaction, She was big, and strong, and armed with her own guns, and the men on board her going safely home.
As they went back towards the beach, leaving a foaming wake behind them, the attack began again. But this time it was different. John felt oddiy numb, almost lightheaded. He the exposed position of his own body, sitting in Polyun's cockpit, as though he were outside himself, seeing anger from a sate place a little way off. It wasn't really eing tired at, he somebody els the danger from a sate place a little way off melang him beu omebody he didn't reaily care about much. Pat held the wheel quite steady, and John could hear him in the brief gaps between deafening noise of exploding shells, cursing volubly in everyday voice. John listened the stream of foul language with admiration. He himself knew very rude
The continued shattering noise, the confusion, and this strange feeling of being outside himsell, numbed, moving in a daze, blurred John's memories of the hours that followed. that he could remember them only in parches, and could not have said clearly exactly what they did. They did what all the others were doing, they went in to the beach, picked up a load of men, and took them out to the Wakef. They id it again and again, for hours on end, and John's memory would not one journey from another, they
emembered heaving wet bodies over the side into the ckpit. He remembered how they made Dolphin take eight two on each frank, two on the cabin floor, two on the benches round the cockpit. Pat kept wanting to pack men in standing up, and so take more, but John was worried about the possibility of capsizing or foundering, if they loaded her too much as it was she hadn't been built to take eight.
Remembered the roar of the engine, and the swoosh of water as they raced out to the destroyer. Then the grey towering wall of riveted steel , the swinging nets and ladders ,the dipping and rocking of dolphin as tired men dragged themselves clumsily out of her and up the side of their home ward - bound ship . And then they went back for more.
Sometimes they went in sunlight sometimers in black smoke . There were hundreds of other boats bustling along, loaded with men. Standing so thick of their number into the water. The buzzing planes overhead did their best to thin them out .john remembered seeing men falling form the decks of a drifter which was getting prepared with bullets .
He felt a wave of anger against the German pilots who shot down such helpless victims. Then he realised that our own pilots would to the same . If the positions of the two armies were reversed. And it stuck him suddenly that it was this sort of thing which Andrew had refused to do . For the first time a glimmer of understanding of andrews ideas enterd his head . But he had no time to think about it .the next späntering noise of Dohshin's mbers sent him scrambling forward. There was no bad damage done, but a line of holes disfigured the foredeck Pat made an obscene gesture at the sky He looked extremely cheerful and quite unafraid. There is at least as mine. More wege in his bucket, John thought,
Although i for the sake of all those soldiers that they were there at all, John remembered least of all about the boatloads of men. They were all tired, and wet and coid Tired most of all. Not the tredness which makes are sleepy. but a terrible weariness of body and mind, which made them slow in all their movements, and glazed the eyes, and made their faces blank. Pat was very good at managing them. He called the men "Matel" and the officers "gaffer!" and he shouted "One more inside!" and "Hold tight!" just like the conductor of a Londen bus. He raised grins on tired faces, and nobody mind doing what he told
Of course, so the passengers caught John's atten tion, and so be remembered them later. One officer said to him, "T've got a boy about your age, your age, and produced a swowking soaking wet snapshot to show him. It was of a boy in scout's uniform. There was one group wh who came aboard every one still carrying pack and e unike most. In charge of thees very qui quiet officer, and a very fierce sergeant, with a round baby face, who yelled at them as though he had them on parade. They waded into the water in a line as straight as a ruler, and they were much more cheerful than most. They
even sing as pou took them across to safety in the Wakys. The song was about the round-faced sergeant. It went to the tune of 'It's a long way to Tipperary The words made even Pat raise his eyebrows,
Towards evening, in one of Pat's spells at the wheel John poured some of Crossman's soup into mugs for supper They drank soup and ste bescuits without hand was enough to nd te bescuits without sopping στην hand was enough ugh to steady [lphin's wheel. They had got used to noise, and the gumshot, and the blast from bombe and shells. They didn't jump any more, they just carted But the evening seemed long. They were very tired now. at last duak crept upon them.
And with the dusk, slowly, so that they hardly noticed at first, the fighting died down. No more planes came over the guns on shore fired only sporadically, and there was a the unaccustomed They went back to the beach quiet, straining their eyes in the hall-light. A small motor cruiser which had worked beside them all day s going in the same direction a little way off on the port side. Looking towards her John saw a dark round shadow boboing in the front of her. The next instant the had struck water
Je struggled realize what had happened A great hea The explosion stunned John. He and had washed over Duplios, and he was standing in a lew inches of
water "Pat" he called "Pat, where are you?"
"Here," said a voice at his feet. Pat had been knocked ov by the blasz. He scrambled up again, and they looked for the little cruiser. There was not the smallest trace of her. Pat was looking at John in alaren. And John realized that there was a nasty hot, wet feeling in his left arm. He looked donen at it and saw that he was pouring with blood. He felt faint and
Pat did not panic. He got john lying on a bunk, and pulled has arm out of the sleeve of his sweater. He opened the first aid box Crossman had given them. There was a ragged piece of metal stuck in John's upper arm. It was blerding profusely Somehow Pat got the thing out. john was looking the other way, biting his lip. It didn't hurt as mach feared; it was still numb, but the iodine used to clean up with hurt so much he could hardly stup himself crying out. Pat put a lot of bandage round his arm, and then got the brandy bottle, and insisted that John drank some.
out "I'll be all right now," said John, getting to his feet. "Thank goodness it was my left arm, and not my right." A he spoke they heard shouting, coming from just outside. Dolphin had been drifting, and had nearly run aground on the beach. And a mob of soldiers were ac run aground on towards her, shouting board were scrambling
John John grabbed grabbed the the wheel, wheel, and and swing swung it hard round. The prow turned away from the beach, bringing her sideways on the shore. A stab of pain from inis shoulder stopped John's hand halfway to the switch to put the engine on. A duzen hands grabbed Dolphin. She illied down towards them. A mbble of hysterical men were all trying to board her at once.
"Let go!" cried John. "You'll capsize her" Pat grabbed a saucepan from the galley, and laid about him like a fabwife, smashing at the knuckles tive raiders, banging them till they let go Cries and curses rang through the growing darkness
Suddenly a voice from the shore cried, "Let go that hoat!" he still had his gun. One of the mob had succeeded in
getting aboard. The newcomer looked at hir "You're an officer, aren't you? Where are your men There was no answer. Then, very slowly, the officer got over the side, and let himself down into water. He waded away towards the beach
"Right. One at a time now. The private got them aboard at gan point. "Had a rough time, this lot," he observed to Pat, as though talking about the weather. But now they were aboard they seemed just like the rest: tired, silent, wes, with that expresation half-way between blankness and
patience on their faces John pat Dolphin full spoed ahead, and made for Wakeful again You all right asked Pat anxiously.
ADVENTURE STORIES
the cabin. He woke floating. The water he felt must be in the cabin. abruptly, and sat up. She was sinking!
He looked at the dry floor boards of the cabin for severa seconds before be realized that it was only the bedding in the banic he lay in which wet. The damp had soaked through his own clothes to his skin, and he was slovering in his clammy garb
He got out of the bunk. But the sense of danger had not left him, hadn't there been boarders? No, the dragging a his arm was only the tightness of the bandages on the sore woand. The nouse of the scrabbling, grasping, hands was only a light scratching tapping noise on the side of the bull Suddenly he remembered the mine which had blown up the motor boat yesterday. His heart was pounding and at yesterday. His heart was pounding and his
tongue had gone dry. He went to loc look what it was Outside, it was light, but a white mist hung over shutting everything out of sight. None the ships had been anchored around them the night before wa visible. The noise on the side of the boat was made by a drowned man, washing gently against her. He floated face upwards, and the water lapped into his staring eyes, John Belt a surge of relief, but the glint in the man's eyes made him turn away shuddering. He fended him off with the boat book than grey light filtered through cabin dou
Back in the cobin Pat was still sleeping soundly, Johs opened the flask of coffee Crossaan had given them. What remained in it was cold and horrid. He sloppe opped it out of th a kettle on the perthole, and put a kettle on the stove. There was a small cker in the galley, where food was kept when the family Dolphin sailing, Jolin found three cold, battered Th some lump sugar lying in it. He made tea in a big cepan, refilled the flask and poured two cups from pan. He worked clumsily, using only one hand, his hurt arm now very stiff. And the quietness quickly got on ha wrves, so that he was glad when the excuse to wake Pat. made
IN CROSSING
90
"Fine," said John. But his ann hurt, and he let Pat take the wheel. Pat managed it well. edging up to the side of the destroyer. tricky euvre
"Don't take long observed. John grinned. "Wait till you drive these things, he some real weather!" he
When they reached Welefid, her officers were leaning the rail. "Last few now, they calling down. "We can't take any more. We'll be back tomorrow, God willing!" Pat helped their parsengers on to the ladders. Looking up
to see them go, John saw stars pricking the wide black sky. His legs felt soft and bendy. He sat down. Under his instructione Pat took Dolphin out half a mile, to the sand-har which bounded the sea-rond along the shore. Here the water was shallow, and they let out the sea anchor among a group of drifters and tugs, whose crews were also taking a brief rest, under cover of the welcome night.
They drank some more of Crossman's soup, and ate soup of the funny coarse biscuit with guava jam. It all plenty of the tonny coarse bisch hen they lay down on bunks to get some sleep. The bedding was sunking wet um having been sat on by all those soldiers, but john too exhausted to care. He was asleep almost as soon as he lay down
John dreamed that they were surrounded by frantic men trying to climb on board; one of them had han by the arm, and was dragging at him, trying to pull himself up. The boat seemed already to be full of water, he felt wet and cold. Then he opened his eyes. Above him was the root strut of lptor's cabin. He feit homself floating gently. ij was almost still, quietly riding on transl almost still, quantly riding oon tranquil we water, but the the slight. lovements her hull gave him sensation of floating. The water he felt must be in the cabin. abruptly, and sat up. She was sinking!
He looked at the dry floor boards of the cabin for severa seconds before be realized that it was only the bedding in the banic he lay in which wet. The damp had soaked through his own clothes to his skin, and he was slovering in his clammy garb
He got out of the bunk. But the sense of danger had not left him, hadn't there been boarders? No, the dragging a his arm was only the tightness of the bandages on the sore woand. The nouse of the scrabbling, grasping, hands was only a light scratching tapping noise on the side of the bull Suddenly he remembered the mine which had blown up the motor boat yesterday. His heart was pounding and at yesterday. His heart was pounding and his
tongue had gone dry. He went to loc look what it was Outside, it was light, but a white mist hung over shutting everything out of sight. None the ships had been anchored around them the night before wa visible. The noise on the side of the boat was made by a drowned man, washing gently against her. He floated face upwards, and the water lapped into his staring eyes, John Belt a surge of relief, but the glint in the man's eyes made him turn away shuddering. He fended him off with the boat book than grey light filtered through cabin dou
Back in the cobin Pat was still sleeping soundly, Johs opened the flask of coffee Crossaan had given them. What remained in it was cold and horrid. He sloppe opped it out of th a kettle on the perthole, and put a kettle on the stove. There was a small cker in the galley, where food was kept when the family Dolphin sailing, Jolin found three cold, battered Th some lump sugar lying in it. He made tea in a big cepan, refilled the flask and poured two cups from pan. He worked clumsily, using only one hand, his hurt arm now very stiff. And the quietness quickly got on ha wrves, so that he was glad when the excuse to wake Pat. made you hear that bang in the night? drank tea, and chewed more hiscuit "What bang
"Cor, if you had heard it, you wouldn't need to ask. hellava bang, tinere was. You must have been out like a light it would have woken you otherwise." "A big bomb, I suppose."
"Came from out at seu somewhere."
"Oh Jaln couldn't summon much interest in it. "You reckon we ought to scarper off home?" asked Fat "No, not yet. Unless you've had enough, Pat. I woulder't blame you. Don't be afraid to say.
"Not me. And there are a hell of a lot of soldiers still on that beach. I'd bet they'sw had enough. I was thinking of your arm, mate.
I'm OK. Buty at you'll have to manage the boat most of the I don't think I can handle the wheel much. My arm's very stiff this morning."
"That's all sight I can stere your boat easy enough." "If we have another ctim day thought John to himself. There was still nothing but mast outside. They had to use the compass to work out which way to head for the beach, although when they looked up they could see a pale blue sky with some clouds in it. The mist was only a few yards thick only a haze on the surface sof the water. "It's good cover, anyway, send Pat.
It It muffled muttled sound sound as as well well as sight. They were quite near in before they heard the guanfire rolling from unfire ralling from the hinterland be hind the beaches. But they had not heard it for many minutes before they knew that it was nearer than it had been yesterday) the rearguard had given a few miles. It proved impossible to wor's as they had done yesterday, because there were no hig ships there to take on men. With i'at at the wheel Dophin nosed up and down the co coastline a mile or so both ways, but there was no doubt about it, there were no big ships about "They've all gone off home, and haven't gut back yet."
could hang around for and see if one turns up. I suppene it would be worth waiting till noon, but we have to start back early in the afternoon, we mastn't tisk running out of petrol in mid-Channel.
Hanging around wasn't much fun. They couldn't see far in the wreathing sea-mist, and they decided to save petrol by switching the engine off, and just letting her drift genth P'at smoked a lot of the cigarettes Crossman had given them. John just sat. It was very nasty, being so close to danger. and having nothing to do to take one's mind off it. But the didn't have to wait till noon; long before then a füthy battered coal-carrying tramp ship antved in the sea lanesc battered cat)-carrying tram ship ng bed and appearing minacalously out of the dissolving mist, began to ply between handful shere and the
relieved to John turned on Deqtur's engine, and Pat took her towards the beach at random. They hey were both oth immensely able to get to work again. The mast had dissolved inte hazy sunlight, and the noise of battle growing
They found a change in the beach. The men had built themselves a makeshift pier, by pushing a line of lornes out into the water, and making a footway of planks laid over them. Men were scrambling dryshod over this gangwar and getting into boats drawn up at the end of it. A lifebeat and a small trawler were loading up, tied to I trawler were loading up, tied to either side the last lorr last lorry, which was so deep that the waves washed over its roof. Dolphin joined them. It much easier getting men aboard from the makeshift jetty than it had yesterday, but it was harder getting them onto the ship. The tramp ship had no nets, only ladders, up wi had in climb in single file, painfully slowly. Pat bec nearly frantic with impatience while they waited for their under the ladder, then waited whid ecame theit men to
climb out one by one "Steady Pat," said John to him at last. "We are doing We could get another whole boatload out here in the time it's taking us to get them on to that bloody ladcier "We won't do any better if we get worked up about it." "At last!" sakl Pat, swinging Delphie away as soon as the
last man got one foot on the first rung of the ladder. "Watch it, mate said johe protesting. "You searly gave him a ducking,
"We're in a hurry!" "Don't be a fool, lat. We aren't in a hurry. We just take it steadily, and keep calm." Pat flushed, "Oh, yea. It doesn't matter how
doesn't matter how many Pat flushed, "O leave on them flaming beaches. We just keep calm!" I don't know what makes you think it matters lese san to you. Anger made John's voice stiff and cold.
"The way you went on about them. England needs. soldiers you said. Save our army so they can fight again Just push them around the country like they was toy's on your map. I don't give a damn whether they can fight again, I just want to get them out of here! One of the poor bastards what has to get left behind might be my dad
John's anger disappeared at once. He waited a long time before arawering, "Well, can you think of anything we can do to work faster? be asse "No, blast it. I can't," said Pat. He grinned at John. His
anger too had blown over hin pulled up again at the jetty. But before anyone got un board an officer appeared, and hailed them. He was currying despatchen, and he wanted a fast boat to take hien north, and land him on some beach there, quickly, "We'll be moving into heavy fire. You're free to refuse." he said curtly
"Op in, codger, returned Pat disrespectfully. "As fast as she'll go, please," said the offer, getting in. "My turn at the wheel new, Pat," said John, slightly alarmed at the thought of Pat's inexperienced hard taking Dopios at ball speed. He found he could use his stiff arms if he really tried Dolphin spring away, cutting a path between two walls of form. The officer was looking from one to another of them.
"la the name of heaven, how old are you?" he asked. a "Old enough to handle a boat, sir," said Jobn
You'd better put me down at once, and get home," said the officer angrily. "This isn't a playground!"
"Thought you a hurry," said Pat. The officer looked at them again. Their faces were streaked with black from the smoke, the set of their mouths, had they but known it, showed the tiredness, the strain "How long have you been here?" he asked in a changed tone uf voice.
"Sinav yesterday morning, sir," said John. Overhead they heard the droning noise of oncoming planes "Don't look up, they won't be ours," said the officer with
bitternessin his voice. "Not a single one of our blasted air force to stop them murdening us. "Ther in has normal tone. "Nearly at La Panne now. Can you get close inshore and put me off?" The beaches here were being heavily shelled from the the same bedlam of smoke and norse that e same bedlam of smoke and neese that umbness had worn shore It was the yesterday had been. But the protecting num esterday had be off. John was very frightened again, and l'at too was jumpy. They took the officer in to shallow water. Just before he jumped over the side he said. "Enough's enough. You've done your hit, and more. Get home now. I hope you make it. Then he was gone, wading towards the terrible infermo on the beach
"He's right," said John, looking at his watch. "We'll have to get back now, if we're to be sure our petrol will see safely home." "You mean just quit, now?
"Well, we aren't going home empty. Take her back to that crummy jetty, and we'll pick up a load of men to take with us." Johr had had as much as he could take of manag Atill wheel, he gave it back to Pat. They went back to Bray, where the crazy little jetty of hald submerged lorries crowded with men. The coal sisip however had gone, the horizon was empty
On the end lorry someone was directing the line of men. They came up in order, and scrambled down into Delphin Pat held the wheel steady, and John, with his good arm, took such pacios and rifles as the men still had. them where to sit. A little way down the line pushing and scuffling. "Right. That's all now," said John.
"Another bus along in a minute! called Pat. A faint int grin appeared on some of the weary faces in the row. Then the pushing arrived at the top of the line. It was caused by two
men carrying an offiorr un a stretcher. "Can you take him?" they asked John.
"I'm sorry, no," said Jotun firmly. "We're full up." The stretcher bearers were tired. They looked around at the dark sea
"He should be in hospital," one of them said. A great silence had fallen over the waiting line of Nobody moved, nobody spoke. The man directing operations looked down at the water, as though it were no affair of his Then suddenly the man on the stretcher groaned. He
stuffened, and tossed his head. "Right, bring him down," said Pat. "We'll fit him somehow.
"I'm sorry, Pat, but we can't," said John. "Oh, have a heart, mate! We can the the stretcher on the
cabin roof of soumething. But we can't just leave him to rot" "We can't take him. down in the water as heuvier can't possibly. Dlphin's του far We can't risk making her any
We "One can't make much difference," said l'at. His mouth was set in a stubborn line. "If it's a risk, let's taker plenty already."
"I'm sorry but no. We have eight men on board, and ounelves. We can't risk ten lives for ane. It isn't fair to ask
"It's a risk we got to take. You ain't really y saying saying you you can look at that poor de devil and say we're going to leave him? Ain't you human
You're a flaming idiot cried John in in exasperation "The bout won't take any more, and that's that!" "We've carried him for these days," said a voice from the
jetty. "The morphia bus worr off. He needs a doctor. don't see why we can't put his on top of the cabin."
only been in a boat for a few hours, Pat, and it's been the almest day for yours. If a bit of wind gets up we'll be shipping water, and in bad trouble. We are chancing a lot on the hope that there won't be a swell in the Chancel as
"It would be all right, then, if I get out?" said of the soldiers from behind him. John turned to look at him. He was a lanky young man, with a cut on one cheek. He looked tired, and the empty expression on his face was unchanged as he spoke John nodded
"Rightie lho. L'in off then," said the soldier, scrambling up the side of the nearest jorry. Several hands were extended to help him up, and to pat him on the back when he got there. Nobody said anything
The stretcher was lowered down towards them. The man it screamed when it hit the deck with a jerk. With a little
difficulty they made room e stretcher in the calun, on at the bunks. Then at last l'at book Dolphin chugging away from the jetty, and maring across the bay John was of admiration for the unknown soldier who had given up has place, full of concern for ham. "Hupe amatier boat soo he thought.
the But when they were speeding up the sea-lane forth, well out to sna, out of range of the guns at La Panne, and the sun shone through the grey afternoon, a great surge of reliet and joy listed Jotun's heart. They had done it, and what was more, it was over. They would be home in a couple of hours they were out of ganrarge already. The thought of home, with real food, and safety, and hearing things on the wireless instead of living through thes seemed heaven on earth .