Bob was in great spirits at tea that day. He had won his match, and
proved himself a stronger player than Trevanion. Nancy, who sat by his
side, was radiant with smiles, while evidently the Admiral looked on
him with greater favour than ever before.
"A remarkable feat, my boy," he said again and again. "To be five down
to a man like Trevanion, and then to beat him, means not only skill,
but nerve. That's the thing I like about it--the nerve, the pluck."
"A game is never lost until it's won, sir," said Bob sententiously.
"That's it, my boy. Stick to that. What did I hear about your plan to
go into Parliament? Do you mean it?"
"If I have good luck, sir."
"A great career, my lad, and you should do well. I am so glad you've
given up the idea of being a book-worm. Of course your scholarship
will come handy to you in Parliament, so perhaps you've been wise to
stick to your books. But the country wants men who can _do_ things."
"I mean to do them too, sir."
"Trelawney blood," laughed the old man. "Well, there's no reason in
the world why you shouldn't do big things. I always had hoped that
Roger would go into Parliament; indeed, he was as good as nominated for
St. Ia. But he was killed in the Boer War, poor fellow. A fine lad
too, as fine a lad as ever stepped in shoeleather," and his eyes became
moist. "Thank God we are at peace now!" he added.
"You are coming back with me to Penwennack?" he went on, when presently
the party were leaving the Club House.
"I'd love to, sir, but I can't. I must get back. I promised mother."
"Ah well, stick to your mother. A lad who keeps his promise to his
mother seldom goes wrong. But come up to dinner to-morrow night, and
bring your mother with you."
"You may depend on me," cried Bob. "Thanks very much, Admiral, we
shall be delighted."
"Bob," said Nancy, "you've done more to soften dad to-day, and to
prepare the way for me, than if you had got ten fellowships. He loves
a plucky fight, and hates a coward."
"And I'll fight," cried Bob, "because I shall fighting for you, Nancy."
"I wish you were going to spend the evening with us," she said
ruefully. "I do want you with me."
"And don't I wish it too! But I told you how things stood. Till
to-morrow then."
"Be sure to come early," cried Nancy, as she drove away.
Bob made his way over the Towans towards St. Ia, as happy as a king.
Everywhere the sun seemed to be shining. At his feet the wild thyme
grew in profusion. Acres upon acres were made purple by this modest
flower. The sea was glorious with many coloured hues, the whole
country-side was beautiful beyond words. What wonder that he was
happy! He was young and vigorous, the best and most beautiful girl in
the world loved him, and his future was rosy hued.
In order to reach his mother's house, he had to pass through St. Ia,
and he had barely entered the little town when he saw Count von Weimer,
who had expressed his congratulations so fervently on the golf links.
"Ah, this is lucky!" cried the Count. "I was wondering if I should haf
the good fortune to meet you again. May I walk with you? That is
goot!"
"You are a stranger to St. Ia," said Bob.
"Yes. I have been drawn here by the beauty of the place, and--and
because I want peace." He still spoke in broken English, although I
will no longer try to reproduce it.
"You love peace?" Bob ventured.
"Love it! Ah, young sir, you little know. I am one of those
unfortunate men who are placed in an awful position. I am, although I
bear a German name, French on my mother's side. I love France too, and
am at heart a Frenchman. But then my house is in Alsace--Alsace, you
understand. France under German Government. I can say here, what I
could not say there. I hate Germany, I hate her government, her
militarism, her arrogance. The Germans suspect my loyalty, and so I
have come to England."
"And you like England?"
"Ah, who can help loving it? Your British flag means liberty, wherever
it flies. It stands for peace, brotherhood, progress. That is why I
think of buying a house near St. Ia, and settling down. Realising my
position in Alsace, you can understand. Besides, what can be more
beautiful than this?" and he waved his hand toward the sunlit bay.
"Yes, it's the most beautiful spot on earth!" cried Bob.
"It is indeed, and I love its peace. I love the quiet ways of the
people. I saw a house yesterday which captivated, charmed me.
Tre-Trelyon, yes, that's it; Trelyon, I was told it was called, and I
hear it is for sale, or to let, I don't know which."
"Yes, it is, and it is one of the finest places in the district. Why,
it belongs to Admiral Tresize, whom perhaps you saw on the links this
afternoon."
"What, that stout, hearty, John Bull gentleman? Oh, yes, I saw him!
What a splendid specimen of your British thoroughness. It belongs to
him, eh?"
"Yes, it formerly belonged to his wife's family, the Trelyons. I'm
sure he'd be glad of a good tenant."
"Ah, but that is pleasant. I could perhaps deal with him personally?
I am, I suppose, what you would call a rich man, but I hate dealing
with agents, and lawyers, and that kind of thing. He is--friendly,
this, what do you call him, Admiral----"
"Oh, yes, he's most friendly."
"He's in the Navy, I suppose?"
"He's retired from active service, but he is still one of the most
influential men in our Admiralty."
"Ah, yes, but I'm afraid I have but little knowledge of these things.
I am a man of peace. I hate war of every sort. I am at one with what
you English people call--Quakers. But ah, it looks like war again now."
"You mean the Servian trouble?"
"Yes. At first I thought the Austrians were going to be kind and
reasonable. But they have Germany behind them, and now, I suppose,
they've sent impossible demands to Servia. It is here in the evening
paper. It seems, too, that Russia is going to back up Servia, and that
will mean trouble."
"How?"
"I am not an authority on European politics, but I am sure that if
Russia espouses the cause of Servia, Germany will throw in her lot with
Austria. Don't you see what follows?"
"You mean that Germany would declare war on Russia too?"
"Yes, and that is not all. France, my own country, although I am an
Alsatian, is bound to be dragged in. And I am a man of peace. I hate
war."
"I am with you there," cried Bob eagerly. "War was born in hell."
"Ah, you say so, and you are a young man! That is good! But still you
need not fear. England, in spite of the _Entente Cordiale_, holds to
her policy of splendid isolation. She will not be dragged into the
turmoil?"
"No, I think that is impossible. You see we are not a military nation,
in spite of a section of the community. Our Army is small, and will, I
hope, remain small."
"Stick to that, my friend--stick to that. Big armies only breed war,
and war is a crime. But about my desire to buy Tre-Trelyon--ah, your
English names are hard to pronounce--do you, who know the owner, this
bluff John Bull, Admiral--what do you call him?"
"Admiral Tresize."
"Admiral Tresize, yes. Do you think it would be possible for me to see
him?"
"I'm quite sure it would be," replied Bob, who remembered what the
Admiral had said. "I'm dining at his house to-morrow night. I'll tell
him what you have said."
"Ah, that is kind, friendly of you; but I must not detain you longer.
Good evening."
"What a friendly old fellow," reflected Bob, as he walked away. "Yes,
I can quite imagine how one who is a Frenchman at heart would be
treated in Alsace," and then he forgot all about him.
As day followed day, disquieting news came from the Near East. It
seemed as though the cloud which at first was no bigger than a man's
hand was covering the whole Eastern sky. Disturbing news flashed
across the Channel, even while it was generally felt that the tragedy
of Sarajevo could never lead to open hostilities. About the middle of
July, as all the world knows, it was believed that Austria had accepted
Servia's assurance that her attitude towards the greater Power was
altogether pacific, and that full justice should be meted out to all
who had participated in the ghastly murders.
On July 24, even in the quiet neighbourhood of St. Ia, much
apprehension was felt by many who took an interest in foreign affairs
at the announcement of the presentation of the Austro-Hungarian Note to
the Servian Government, especially when we read the terms of the Note.
They were so brutal, so arrogant, that we could not see how any
self-respecting people could accept them. Still, we reflected that
Servia who had only lately been much weakened and impoverished by her
war with Turkey, might be humble.
On the morning of July 25, Admiral Tresize received a letter from a
friend who lived in Vienna, which caused him to be greatly perturbed.
"Things look very black here," ran the letter. "Many of us, until a
day or so ago, believed that the Austro-Servian difficulty would be
amicably settled. As a matter of fact, I know that Austria was
prepared to let Servia down rather lightly, but since then new forces
have been at work. I am in a position to state that Germany, and by
Germany I mean the Kaiser and the War Party generally, whose word is,
of course, law in Germany, has instructed the Emperor Franz-Josef to
send Servia practically impossible demands. What is in the Kaiser's
mind it is impossible to say, but, as is very well known, he has been
using almost superhuman efforts in perfecting his army and navy, until
Germany has become the greatest fighting machine in the world. It is
well known, too, that the Kaiser believes that Russia is so
impoverished and enfeebled by her war with Japan that she is no longer
dangerous, and he considers France altogether unprepared for war. This
being so, it is the general opinion in diplomatic circles that the
Kaiser's purpose in sending Servia impossible conditions is intended to
arouse hostilities. Only to-day I had a chat with a man who moves in
the inner circle of things, and he told me, that if Russia defends
Servia, as he hopes she will, and that if France prepares to help
Russia, as she is sure to do, Austria can keep Servia and Russia busy,
while Germany fulfils her long-held determination to bring France to
her knees, and to make her practically her vassal. No one believes
that England would interfere. My own belief is that Germany is using
the present occasion as the first step towards carrying out her
long-cherished ambitions. When once she has conquered France, and
commands her sea-board and her navy, she will then be able to crush
England, which is her ultimate aim."
When the Admiral showed me this letter, I suppose I smiled
incredulously, for the old man broke out into violent language.
"I believe it's true," he cried. "The Kaiser, for all his pious
hypocrisies, is a war devil. He hates the thought that England should
be such a World Power, while Germany is only an European Power."
"But the Kaiser isn't such a fool," I replied. "He knows England and
her strength."
"Yes, but he's drunk with pride and arrogance. He thinks Germany is
destined to rule the world."
A day or so later news came that Servia had consented to all Austria's
demands with the exception of two points, and suggested that these
should be submitted to the mediation of the Great Powers.
"Ah, that clears the air!" I thought; "nothing can be more reasonable."
Much to the surprise of every one, news came on July 26 that Austria
regarded Servia's answer as unsatisfactory, and that the
Austro-Hungarian Minister, with the Legation Staff, had left Belgrade
on the previous day.
On July 28 I called at Mrs. Nancarrow's house, where I saw Bob reading
the newspaper with a smile on his face.
"This is fine," he cried--"just fine. What a splendid fellow Sir
Edward Grey is! It was he who proposed a Conference in the
Turco-Balkan difficulty, and now it is he again who is going to settle
this."
"I am afraid the Turco-Balkan Conference didn't help much," I replied.
"Ah, but this will. After all, what's the heart of the quarrel? The
murder of the heir to the Austrian throne. A ghastly affair, I'll
admit, but everything can be settled."
"Has Admiral Tresize mentioned a letter which he received from Vienna a
day or two ago?" I asked.
"Yes," replied Bob, "but of course it was pure imagination. Do you
know, I admire the Kaiser. He's a good man, a religious man."
I coughed.
"Of course it is easy to imagine a case against him," he went on
lightly; "but it has no foundation in fact. I told the Admiral so. We
had quite an argument about it, and I maintained that whatever the
circumstances, England had no occasion to be dragged in, and that it
would be criminal on the part of our statesmen if they allowed it.
Evidently Sir Edward Grey thinks the same. Of course you've seen that
he has proposed a Conference. He has suggested that Germany, France,
Italy, and Great Britain, who are not directly connected with the
quarrel, should meet, and settle it."
"Will Germany accept?"
"Of course she will," replied Bob confidently, "we shall soon hear that
the trouble is at an end."
"I hope you are right, but if the Kaiser holds the views expressed by
the Admiral's friend, I very much doubt it," was my rejoinder.
When we read that a Russian Cabinet Council was held, and regarded the
Austrian demands as an indirect challenge to Russia, and when we also
read that Austria, without giving Servia any chance for further
consideration, had declared war upon her, and seized certain of her
vessels which happened to be on the Danube, we began to fear trouble,
although even then we in St. Ia never seriously believed that England
would be directly implicated in it.
I am stating these things here, not that they are not known to every
one, but because they will help to make the story I am writing clearer
to the reader, especially when it reaches the later stages.
Later the news came to us that there was partial Russian mobilisation
along the Austrian frontier, and that as a consequence a Council was
held in Berlin. Of course we knew nothing of what was said in that
Council, but when we heard that Russia's partial mobilisation had
become general, we began to shudder at the gradual darkening of the
European sky.
As all the world knows now, Germany declared war on Russia on August 1,
and I remember meeting Bob outside the St. Ia post office that day.
"You see you were not right about Germany," I said. "Both France and
Italy accepted Sir Edward Grey's suggestion, and consented to join in a
Conference; but Germany refused. Nothing can be plainer than that. If
Germany had wanted peace, she could easily have secured it. Austria
would not have opposed her in any case, but she would not even join in
a Conference in order to secure peace."
Bob shook his head. "You know the reason Germany gave for refusing,"
he said.
"About the most arrogant, but the most characteristic possible. Fancy
saying that Austria as a Great Power could not think of allowing
mediation as though she were a small Balkan state."
"Yes, it's terrible enough," replied Bob. "But, thank heaven, we are
not likely to be dragged into it."
"I hope and pray not," I replied.
"Why? Do you think it possible?" he cried.
"Anything is possible. You've seen that Germany has invaded Luxemburg.
As you know, Luxemburg is a small neutral state, and has been promised
the protection of the Powers. Germany was a party to this promise, and
yet she has violated everything."
"That's only hearsay," was his reply.
"It is more than hearsay," I answered; but Bob did not appear to be
convinced.
"I am almost glad dear old father is dead," he went on presently. "The
Boer War nearly broke his heart, while this business threatens to be so
ghastly, that it would have driven him mad. It is simply hellish."
After this we almost feared to open our newspapers, and events followed
so rapidly that we were unable to keep count of them.
Never shall I forget the look on Admiral Tresize's face when he read
Sir Edward Grey's momentous speech. His ruddy face became almost pale,
and his hands trembled.
"Sir Edward has done all mortal man can do," he declared. "Whose ever
hands are clean of this bloody business, his are. He has simply
laboured night and day for peace."
"Seemingly all in vain," was my reply.
"I have been informed on unimpeachable authority that the Kaiser, in
spite of his pious harangues, has been preparing for this, planning for
this, for years."
"Still there is no necessity for us to be dragged in," I urged.
"Of course there is the _Entente_ between ourselves and France," he
replied. "France will be bound to help Russia on account of their
alliance, and the question will naturally arise as to whether we can
stand aside while the German fleet bombards France's shores and while
German armies cross her frontier."
"But think of war, Admiral."
"Yes, God knows I think of it. I didn't sleep last night for thinking
of it. I know what war is, know of its bloody horrors. War is hell, I
know that; but I would rather that my country should go through hell,
than allow a Power like Germany to crush her."
"But Germany couldn't crush us. She has no desire to crush us."
The Admiral looked at me angrily, but did not speak for some seconds.
"I cannot say all I know," he said presently, "but, mark my words, in a
few days you will know by the most incontestable proofs that all this
is a part of Germany's plans; that she has used these Sarajevo murders
as a pretext for causing European war, that she thinks we shall do
nothing, and that her ultimate plan is to crush England, and to
dominate the world."
Every one knows the thrill that went through England when war was
declared. The shadow of war had closed the Stock Exchange, and
paralysed business, but the declaration of war moved the nation to its
very depths.
Bob Nancarrow was at Penwennack when the call came to the young men of
England to rise and help their country in her need. Several young
people had met there for a tennis party, and Bob was among them.
"I'm going to send in my name," cried George Tresize. "I was in the
O.T.C. at Rugby."
"I shall join my regiment right away," said Dick quietly. "Trevanion's
gone. Of course you'll join, Bob?"
"No," replied Bob quietly, "I shall not join."