Frank Forester: A Story of the Dardanelles Page 7

  CHAPTER VII

  TEMPTATION

  Frank felt that while things might have been worse, they were quite badenough. The ostensible reason of his imprisonment being that he was ofmilitary age, he foresaw the possibility of his remaining a prisoneruntil the end of the war--perhaps a year, for while he had a greatrespect for Germany's military power, he did not think it likely thatshe could withstand the forces of the Triple Entente for more thantwelve months.

  At first he had no great hardship to endure. His own servants had beendismissed, but he had been given as personal attendant an old Arab namedHussein who combined the natural courtesy of his race with anotherEastern characteristic--a keen appetite for bakshish. Frank had beenallowed to keep his ready money, and was thus able to purchase manycomforts to supplement the prisoner's fare supplied him. Hussein, ofcourse, made a handsome profit out of every transaction in which he wasthus employed, and Frank soon saw the necessity of self-restraint, formoney would not last for ever, and there was no chance of obtainingmore.

  Hussein was talkative and intelligent, always polite, and, Franksuspected, sly. It was from him that Frank learnt, after a few days,that Joseph had been released from the common jail and had left thetown. The Turks were straining every nerve to collect supplies fortheir campaign in the Caucasus, and Joseph's father the contractor wastoo useful a man to be alienated. It was not long before Frank had proofof Hussein's slyness.

  "The days are getting colder, effendim," he said one day. "There wassnow in the night."

  "Very uncomfortable for the army," said Frank.

  "True. Our winter is very long, very bitter. It is not so in yourcountry, effendim?"

  "Not so bitter, perhaps, but quite as long as we like it."

  "Wallahy! This country is not a healthy place for Englishmen in thewinter. Hundreds of them have left Turkey, so it is told me. Of atruth Turkey is not a healthy place for them now! A pity you are notgone too, effendim."

  "Well, I am certainly not here by my own wish."

  "A wish is the father of an action, effendim. You have but to wish,and----"

  "What are you driving at?" said Frank as the Arab paused.

  "There was a man of Trebizond who being falsely accused and unjustlycast into prison, nevertheless after taking thought confessed with tearsthat he was guilty of that crime; whereupon the heart of his jailer wassoftened and his hand was opened to receive the slight gifts that werethe tokens of the prisoner's repentance, and within a little that manwas free, and able to sin again or to lead a virtuous life as so pleasedhim."

  "A parable, Hussein?" said Frank with a smile.

  "For the ears of the wise, effendim. Wallahy! what are a man's goods incomparison with his freedom?"

  "Which being interpreted means that you will let me go in exchange forwhat you call a few slight gifts?"

  "Truly such gifts, here a little, there a little, will unlock prisondoors and unbar city gates. But there is first one small matter, andthat is that you breathe in my ear the nook where those few paltry rugslie hid. Wallahy! what are a few threads of wool against the open roadand the boundless sky?"

  "Oho, friend Hussein! I must contrive a double debt to pay, is that it?The pipe sings sweetly when the fowler is snaring a bird, but thisparticular bird, I assure you, is not to be snared. You will waste yourbreath, Hussein."

  "Allah is great!" said the Arab, as he made the salam and left the room.

  A few days passed. Frank noticed that there was a slight deteriorationin the quality of his food. Then one morning he had a visit fromWonckhaus.

  "Good-morning, Mr. Forester," said the German pleasantly. "What anunfortunate thing this is!"

  Frank made no answer. After a pause the German went on:

  "We have been rivals in business, and now, through an unfortunatemisunderstanding between our Governments, we are enemies. But theenmity is official, not personal, I assure you. We have crossed eachother in business, but business men do not quarrel. And there is onecircumstance that should make us friends. After all, you and I areEuropeans among Orientals; that is a bond between us; and you will nottake amiss advice honestly given by one European to another. You maynot credit it" (Frank didn't), "but up to the present I have stoodbetween the Turks and you. But for me your life would not have beenworth a snap. Now I am about to leave the city for the front. TheTurkish army, led by German officers, is about to deal a smashing blowto the barbarous Russians in the Caucasus, and to occupy Batum. BeforeI leave, it would give me great pleasure to see you in a safer position.It merely needs the exercise of your capital English principle ofgive-and-take. Why not disclose the whereabouts of your useless stock?In return, I would contrive that you should be sent to Constantinopleand ultimately released."

  Frank did not speak. His fingers were drumming on the table, his eyesfixed on the German's.

  "I merely drop you a friendly hint," Wonckhaus resumed. "Things arelooking very serious. The Turks are making a beginning with theArmenians: when the appetite for blood is whetted, they may easily failto discriminate between Armenians and other enemies. You will notforget that you are in a very remote place. Erzerum is notConstantinople. Take a friend's advice and get back to civilisation. Iwill act as a go-between. If you will confide in me, I will make yourpeace with the Turks."

  "What guarantee do you offer?" asked Frank, opening his lips at last.

  "My word; you will not require more; the word of a German and anofficer."

  "But surely, Herr Wonckhaus, unless I am mistaken your word has nothitherto been accepted even by your allies the Turks. Pardon me forasking what has happened to give it value."

  "You insult me!" snapped the German.

  "Really I don't think so; I merely state a fact. You offer me somethingof no value as security for something of considerable value. That isnot a business proposition."

  Wonckhaus, stung as much by Frank's scornful tone as by his words,flushed darkly, and took a step forward, laying his hand on his sword.

  "You English swine!" he cried. "You dare to insult me--me, an officerof the Kaiser?"

  Frank had sprung up, and seized the handiest weapon available--a smallthree-legged stool. Keeping the table between himself and the German,he grasped the stool by one leg, and said:

  "Keep your distance!"

  Wonckhaus, whether daunted by Frank's threatening attitude or for somereason of policy, stood still, glaring venomously. Then he banged hishalf-drawn sword into its scabbard, and swung round. At the door heturned suddenly.

  "Before your English carcase is flung to the dogs of Erzerum," hesputtered, "you will have time to--to repent your insolence."

  He swung round again, slammed the door behind him, ordered Husseinoutside to lock it, and clattered down the steps.

  Frank dropped the stool and sat down, smiling at the feeble end of theGerman's explosive sentence. But the smile soon passed. His Englishspirit would not allow him to be cowed by Wonckhaus's threat, butremembering his isolated situation he could not help feeling uneasy. Itwas well for his peace of mind that he was not aware of what Germanfrightfulness had already accomplished in Belgium.

  It was not long before he began to feel the effects of Wonckhaus'smalice. The cold weather had set in, and the Armenian winter isexcessively cold. His apartment had been warmed by a nargal or charcoalstove. This was not replenished.

  "The fire has gone out," he said to the Arab, when he brought hisdinner.

  "Fuel is very dear, effendim."

  "I have still some money; I will pay."

  "It cannot be bought, effendim. It is all required for the troops, whoare slaying tens of thousands of Russians in the bleak mountains."

  "Buy me some blankets, then."

  "That also is impossible, effendim. Our brave soldiers need all theblankets in the frosty heights. Why does not your nobility send forthose wasted rugs?"

  The man's sly look made Frank itch to thra
sh him. It was clear from hismanner that he was acting under instructions. Frank noticed, too, thathis food was being reduced in quantity as well as poorer in quality, andsuspected that this was directly due to Wonckhaus; the Turks as a ruledo not treat their prisoners inhumanely. More than once he had thoughtof trying to escape, and with his increasing hardships his mind recurredto it again and again. To get out of the building might not be verydifficult; Orientals are notoriously slack in guard; the lock of hisroom might be forced, and the soldiers in the rooms below evaded. Butthen the real difficulties would begin. He would be recognised in thestreets as a European; even before he could reach the walls discoveryand arrest were certain. Escape was impossible without assistance fromoutside, and he had no means of communicating with friends, nor was itprobable that any European friends remained in the town.

  Tortured by cold and hunger, Frank spent the most wretched month of hislife during December. Strong though he was in constitution, he feltthat he was growing weaker. For a time he tried to keep himself incondition by daily physical exercises; but insufficient food and lack offresh air--he was allowed to mount to the roof for an hour aday--gradually reduced his energy. There was nothing to alleviate thetedium of his imprisonment: no newspapers, no books, nothing to occupyhis mind. He was often tempted to purchase his freedom by surrenderinghis secret; but his native resolution and the mental picture ofWonckhaus's triumph kept him steadfast. And it was no ordinary willthat could have withstood day after day Hussein's sly reminders of howeasy it would be to command all the comforts he lacked.

  One day early in January he heard unusual sounds on the staircase--aseries of heavy clumping blows slowly ascending towards his room. Thedoor opened, and Wonckhaus hobbled in on a crutch, assisted by anorderly, who stood in the doorway as if on guard, motionless, withexpressionless face. The German looked pale and worn. He was swathed inheavy furs.

  "I had not thought to revisit you so soon, Mr. Forester," he said, "buta Russian bullet has enforced me to return to the city for a short time,and I felt bound to see how you were faring."

  Frank was silent; he was, in fact, amazed that Wonckhaus should havecared to show his face again after what had passed at their lastinterview. "The Germans must have uncommonly tough hides," he thought.

  "Is there anything I can do for your comfort?" Wonckhaus continued."You are not looking very well. I have some influence, a very little,with the Turks."

  The German's manner was so subdued, his tone so courteous, that Frankwondered whether after all he had misjudged him. Perhaps he had beenover hasty; perhaps there was some decent feeling in the man, which hisown uncompromising attitude had prevented from showing itself before.

  "I want warmth and good food," he said.

  "Not warm enough?" exclaimed Wonckhaus. "Yet it does not appear cold.Indeed, I am too warm." He unloosed his fur coat. "And food, too; why,what do they give you?"

  Frank saw that the German was playing with him. In a revulsion offeeling he flushed hotly, and was about to give utterance to histhoughts, but he restrained himself with an effort and remained silent.

  "Call Hussein," said Wonckhaus to the orderly, whom Frank had seenwithout observing.

  The Arab entered. The orderly followed him, and stood in thebackground. Frank just glanced at him, and was surprised to see himraise a finger to his lips, then drop his hand quickly and standmotionless as before, looking, however, hard at Frank. Wonckhaus andthe Arab had turned towards each other, or they might have noticed theslight start and the enquiring glance into which Frank had beensurprised by the orderly's movement.

  "The effendi complains of his food," said Wonckhaus. "What does heget?"

  While Hussein, with a look of sly enjoyment, was retailing the list ofthe meagre rations supplied, the orderly drew from his tunic a watch,apparently of cheap European or American make. He did not look at it,but held it up, then glanced at the window in the wall above his head onthe left. Wonckhaus, following Frank's eyes, turned round. The orderlywas affecting to look at the time.

  "You surprise me, Hussein," said the German. "The diet is more thanliberal. How often during the past month should I and my brave men havebeen grateful for such rations! Ah! these luxurious English! They havelived on the fat of the land. And what is the result? They aredegenerate; they have fed the body and starved the mind. They arelearning their mistake. That will do, Hussein."

  The Arab left the room. The orderly returned the watch to his pocket,holding it significantly suspended by the chain for a moment. Then hestared straight in front of him, unintelligent, impassive.

  "Well now, Mr. Forester," said Wonckhaus, "the lot of a prisoner cannever be quite comfortable, though it is preferable to the hard lot ofthe fighting man. If you feel discomfort, the remedy is in your ownhands. I need not repeat the explanations which you received sochurlishly at our last meeting. I will give you another week forreflection. At the end of that time--well, we shall see!"