The Day of Wrath E-Book

Louis Tracy

• Herausgeber: Louis Tracy
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

Louis Tracy (1863 - 1928) was a British journalist, and prolific writer of fiction. He used the pseudonyms Gordon Holmes and Robert Fraser, which were at times shared with M. P. Shiel, a collaborator from the start of the twentieth century. He was born in Liverpool to a well-to-do middle-class family. At first he was educated at home and then at the French Seminary at Douai. Around 1884 he became a reporter for a local paper - 'The Northern Echo' at Darlington, circulating in parts of Durham and North Yorkshire]; later he worked for papers in Cardiff and Allahabad. During 1892-1894 he was closely associated with Arthur Harmsworth, in 'The Sun' and 'The Evening News and Post' (font: Wikipedia)

Leseprobe

The Day of Wrath

Louis Tracy

CONTENTS

I THE LAVA-STREAM

II IN THE VORTEX

III FIRST BLOOD

IV THE TRAGEDY OF VISÉ

V BILLETS

VI THE FIGHT IN THE MILL

VII THE WOODMAN'S HUT

VIII A RESPITE

IX AN EXPOSITION OF GERMAN METHODS

X ANDENNE

XI A TRAMP ACROSS BELGIUM

XII AT THE GATES OF DEATH

XIII THE WOODEN HORSE OF TROY

XIV THE MARNEAND AFTER

XV "CARRY ON!"

CHAPTER I

THE LAVA-STREAM

"For God's sake, if you are an Englishman, help me!"

That cry of despair, so subdued yet piercing in its intensity, reached Arthur Dalroy as he pressed close on the heels of an all-powerful escort in Lieutenant Karl von Halwig, of the Prussian Imperial Guard, at the ticket-barrier of the Friedrich Strasse Station on the night of Monday, 3rd August 1914.

An officer's uniform is a passe-partout in Germany; the showy uniform of the Imperial Guard adds awe to authority. It may well be doubted if any other insignia of rank could have passed a companion in civilian attire so easily through the official cordon which barred the chief railway station at Berlin that night to all unauthorised persons.

Von Halwig was in front, impartially cursing and shoving aside the crowd of police and railway men. A gigantic ticket-inspector, catching sight of the Guardsman, bellowed an order to "clear the way;" but a general officer created a momentary diversion by choosing that forbidden exit. Von Halwig's heels clicked, and his right hand was raised in a salute, so Dalroy was given a few seconds wherein to scrutinise the face of the terrified woman who had addressed him. He saw that she was young, an Englishwoman, and undoubtedly a lady by her speech and garb.

"What can I do for you?" he asked.

"Get me into a train for the Belgian frontier. I have plenty of money, but these idiots will not even allow me to enter the station."

He had to decide in an instant. He had every reason to believe that a woman friendless and alone, especially a young and good-looking one, was far safer in Berlinwhere some thousands of Britons and Americans had been caught in the lava-wave of red war now flowing unrestrained from the Danube to the North Seathan in the train which would start for Belgium within half-an-hour. But the tearful indignation in the girl's voiceeven her folly in describing as "idiots" the hectoring jacks-in-office, any one of whom might have understood herled impulse to triumph over saner judgment.

"Come along! quick!" he muttered. "You're my cousin, Evelyn Fane!"

With a self-control that was highly creditable, the young lady thrust a hand through his arm. In the other hand she carried a reticule. The action surprised Dalroy, though feminine intuition had only displayed common-sense.

"Have you any luggage?" he said.

"Nothing beyond this tiny bag. It was hopeless to think of"

Von Halwig turned at the barrier to insure his English friend's safe passage.

"Hallo!" he cried. Evidently he was taken aback by the unexpected addition to the party.

"A fellow-countrywoman in distress," smiled Dalroy, speaking in German. Then he added, in English, "It's all right. As it happens, two places are reserved."