In the Track of the Troops

  CHAPTER THREE.

  AN INTERVIEW WITH MEN IN POWER.

  There is something peculiarly exhilarating in bright sunshine and calmweather. This is no doubt a truism; but there are some truths of whichone never tires, and in regard to which one feels ever-recurringfreshness. Who ever wearied of a balmy breeze, or a bright sunrise?Even a glorious noon cannot pall upon us unless it be too hot.

  When bright sunshine is associated with good health, pleasant company, asuccessful courtship, and the prospect of light on a favourite study,the reader will understand how it was that my mother and I, withNicholas and Bella, formed a peculiarly happy quartette as weperambulated the streets of London prior to my visit to the Admiralty.

  It was a Friday forenoon, and there were many holiday-keepers hasteningto trains. At the corner of one of the main thoroughfares a crowdpartly blocked the road. The cause of it became apparent to us when thehead and arched neck of a black charger appeared, and then the whiteplume and polished cuirass of a Life Guardsman. We stood on adoor-step, so that Bella might see the troop.

  As they passed before us, with that stately bearing of man and horsewhich has always seemed to me peculiar to the Life Guards, and the sunflashed in dazzling gleams from breasts and helmets, I glanced at myfriend Naranovitsch. His soldierlike form was drawn up to its fullheight, while the flashing eye, flushed countenance, distended nostrils,and compressed but slightly smiling lips told, I thought, of a strongfeeling of martial joy. Doubtless he was thinking at the moment of hisown regiment, to which he had been but recently appointed, and of hiscomrades-in-arms.

  "Fine-looking fellows!" I whispered.

  "Splendid! glorious!" he said, in a deep, low voice.

  Bella looked quickly up at him, displaying an anxious, sorrowing face,and bright eyes, dimmed with ill-suppressed tears.

  "You are not ill, Bella?" he whispered, bending down with a look oftenderness, not unmixed with surprise.

  "No; oh, no," she replied, in a low tone; "but the sight of the Guardshas made me very sad."

  I knew full well the cause of her emotion, but the crowded street wasnot a suitable place for explanation.

  "Come, follow me," I said, and walked quickly along in the direction ofthe Strand, where I turned abruptly into one of those quiet courts whichform, as it were, harbours of refuge from the rattle and turmoil of thegreat city. Here, sauntering slowly round the quiet precincts of thecourt, with the roar of the street subdued to a murmur like that of adistant cataract, Bella told Nicholas, in tones of the deepest pathos,how a German lady, Elsie Goeben, one of her dearest friends, had beenmarried to the handsomest and best of men in one of the Prussian cavalryregiments. How, only six months after their union, the Franco-Prussianwar broke out, and Elsie's husband Wilhelm was sent with his regiment tothe frontier; how in many engagements he had distinguished himself; andhow, at last, he was mortally wounded during one of the sorties at thesiege of Metz.

  "They did not find him till next day," continued my sister, "for he hadfallen in a part of the field so far in advance of the ground on whichhis dead comrades lay, that he had been overlooked. He was riddled withbullets, they say, and his noble face, which I had so often seen beamingwith affection on his young wife, was so torn and disfigured that hisfriends could scarcely recognise him. He was still alive when found,and they knew his voice. When they raised him, he merely exclaimed,`_At last_, thank God!' with a deep sigh, as if of relief. The wordswere few, but they had terrible significance, for they told of a long,long night of agony and dreadful solitude; but he was not quite alone,"my sister added, in a low voice, "for he was a Christian. He diedbefore reaching the tents of his division."

  Bella's voice faltered as she said, after a moment's pause, "Dear Elsienever recovered the shock. She joined her husband in heaven two monthsafterwards."

  "Truly," said I, "war is a terrible curse."

  "I hate it! I detest it!" cried Bella, with a sudden tone and look ofenergy, that was all the more impressive because of her naturalcharacter being gentle and retiring.

  I saw that Nicholas was surprised and pained. He would fain havecomforted Bella, but knew not what to say, for he had been trained totalk of "martial glory," and to look on war through the medium of thathalo of false glitter with which it has been surrounded by too manyhistorians in all ages. The young Russian had hitherto dwelt chiefly onone aspect of war. He had thought of noble and heroic deeds in defenceof hearth and home, and all that man holds sacred. To fight for hiscountry was to Nicholas an idea that called up only the thoughts ofdevotion, self-sacrifice in a good cause, duty, fidelity, courage,romance; while, in regard to the minor things of a warrior's life, ahazy notion of dash, glitter, music, and gaiety floated through hisbrain. Of course he was not _ignorant_ of some of the darker shades ofwar. History, which told him of many gallant deeds, also recordednumberless dreadful acts. But these latter he dismissed as beingdisagreeable and unavoidable accompaniments of war. He simply acceptedthings as he found them, and, not being addicted to very closereasoning, did not trouble himself much as to the rectitude or wisdom ofwar in the abstract. Neither did he distinguish between righteous andunrighteous war--war of self-defence and war of aggression. Sufficientfor him that he served his country faithfully. This was a good generalprinciple, no doubt, for a youthful officer; but as one who expected torise to power and influence in his native land, something more definitewould ultimately be required of him. As yet, he had neither experiencedthe excitement, beheld the miseries, nor bathed in the so-called "glory"of war; and now that a corner of the dark cloud was unexpectedly flungover him in Bella's sorrow, he felt deeply sympathetic but helpless. Asad look, however, and a gentle pressure of the hand that rested on hisarm, was quite sufficient for Bella.

  To relieve my friend from his embarrassment, I pulled out my watch andurged that we should walk in the direction of the Admiralty, as the hourfor my interview had nearly arrived.

  At Charing-Cross we parted, and I proceeded on my mission with the planof my torpedo, which Nicholas styled the "infernal machine," in mypocket, and a rather anxious heart in my breast, for although I wasquite certain that my invention was superior to all others, inasmuch asit fulfilled several conditions which were not fulfilled by othertorpedoes, I did not feel sure that the Lords of the Admiralty wouldtake the same view of it that I did. Besides, the machine had only beentried as a model, and might not act perfectly when tested in actualwarfare. But, of course, I knew that my inventive powers would readilyovercome each weak point as it cropped into view in practice.

  I met with a very gracious reception from the first Lord. Beside himwere seated two elderly gentlemen, whom I judged to be brother Lords.

  It were needless to recount all that passed during that memorableinterview. Suffice it to say, that after I had given a most careful andclear explanation of my invention, to which the three Lords listenedwith marked attention, the first Lord said, with a bland smile--

  "But what, Mr Childers, is the peculiar point of superiority over othertorpedoes which you claim for yours?"

  I confess that the question damped me a little, for I had beenremarkably explicit in my explanations, which lasted nearly an hour.However, with the utmost alacrity, I went again over the chief points.

  "You observe, my Lord," said I, pointing to my drawing, which lay spreadout on the table, "that this watch-work arrangement in the heart of themachine is so intimately connected with that lever and screw on itsexterior, that in passing out of the case from which it is launched intothe sea, the machinery is set in motion, and the first act of thetorpedo is to set or regulate itself for the special purpose for whichit is designed. Thus it may be styled an automatic torpedo. Thecelebrated Whitehead fish-torpedo, beautiful and cleverly contrivedthough it be, can only advance straight to its object at a certain depthbelow the surface; but mine, as you see, by this arrangement of the mainpneumatic engine, which connects the watch-work regulator with aneccentric wheel or fin outside, causes the torp
edo to describe a curveof any size, and in any direction, during its progress. Thus, if youwish to hit an enemy's vessel, but cannot venture to fire because of afriendly ship happening to lie between, you have only to set theeccentric indicator to the required curve, and send the torpedo on itsmission of destruction right under the bottom of the friendly ship; orby laying the torpedo on its side, it will easily go round it, andafterwards hit the enemy."

  "Ah! I see," said the first Lord, with a grave nod; "you have at lastsucceeded in making that which has so long been held impossible; aninstrument which will shoot round the corner."

  "Well, a--; yes, my Lord, although I confess it had not struck me inthat light before. But," I continued, feeling my enthusiasm rise as thefirst Lord became more appreciative, "the weapon may be used even inattacking fortresses from the sea, for by making what I may call theinverted trajectory of the curve very high, the torpedo may be made torush under the surface of the water, gradually curve upwards, then shootright out of its native element, and go straight into a fort or town ona hill, at least a hundred feet above the level of the sea."

  "Indeed!" exclaimed the first Lord.

  I observed that the other two Lords were gazing at me, with looks fromwhich were banished every expression except that of intense surprise.Regarding this as a sign that the merits of my invention were beginningto tell on them, I went on--

  "Yes, my Lord, the action of the thing is absolutely certain, if thedistance of the object aimed at be ascertained to a nicety, and thearrangements of the watch-work indicator adjusted to those of theeccentric wheel and the pneumatic engine with mathematical precision.This, of course, in these days of thorough education, can be easily doneby even the youngest officer in a ship. I should have mentioned,however, that if it were required to send the torpedo into a citadel orfortress on a hill, it would be necessary to use a stronger explosivethan any yet known,--gun-cotton and dynamite being too weak, andnitro-glycerine too dangerous, therefore inadmissible."

  "Ha!" exclaimed the first Lord, "and where is such an explosive to befound?"

  "In my laboratory down in Devonshire, my Lord," I answered, with a lookof diffidence, feeling uncertain how he would take the announcement.

  For a few moments he contemplated me in perfect silence, and I observedthat the other two Lords smiled. I felt perplexed, but the awkwardnessof the moment was quickly removed by the first Lord asking what my newcompound was made of.

  "That, my Lord," said I, "is a secret."

  "Just so, and you wish to sell your secret to Government?"

  "No, my Lord," I replied, with dignity; "I wish to let my Governmentpossess any slight gift which it lies in my power to present to it, inaddition to that of a loyal heart; but I cannot afford to let my secretbe known, unless I have some assurance that it shall be heldinviolable."

  "That assurance you have," said the first Lord, "but I should havesupposed that to so loyal a subject the character of the BritishAdmiralty would have been sufficient guarantee, and that nothing furtherwould have been required from me."

  "I do _not_ require further assurance, my Lord," said I, hastily; "Imerely wish you to understand how important it is that secrecy should beobserved. I will reveal it to you."

  Here I rose and whispered in the first Lord's ear. He turned pale, as Isat down, and whispered to the other two Lords, who looked very grave,from which I augured good fortune to my invention. At the same time Iwas surprised, for my communication to him was in no way alarming,though connected with explosives.

  Presently the first Lord touched a bell. A servant in uniform appeared,and after a few words, disappeared. I was puzzled, but silent.

  "Mr Childers," said the first Lord, "I shall give your invention mybest attention; but I must tell you that there are many others in thiscountry, as well as yourself, who are exerting their minds to discoverthe most effectual method of spreading wholesale devastation among theirfellow-creatures, and--"

  "Forgive my interrupting you, my Lord," I exclaimed, with a look ofhorror, "but I repudiate entirely any intention to destroy myfellow-creatures. My motives in this matter have been purelyscientific."

  "I have no doubt of it," returned the first Lord, with a smile,"nevertheless the tendency of your labours is towards destruction; andmy reference to the fact is merely for the purpose of informing you thatthere are many other inventors who have claimed my attention to theirdesigns, and that you must not expect an immediate decision in regard toyours."

  With this I was politely bowed out, and as I passed down the corridor, Icould not help feeling disappointed at the rather faint success of myvisit. The idea, too, that I was a would-be destroyer of my species hadnever before occurred to me, my whole soul and faculties having hithertobeen engrossed in the simple idea of perfecting a chemical explosive anda mechanical contrivance. Thus, unintentionally, do we sometimes lendourselves to that from which our hearts revolt.

  I noticed, too, that the servant who had been summoned by the first Lordwhile we were discussing the torpedo, was particularly attentive to me,and very careful in seeing me off the premises; and then, for the firsttime, it flashed across my mind that I had been taken for a madman.

  I was so tickled with the idea, that I burst into a sudden fit of heartylaughter, an act which induced a little boy, a policeman, and an oldwoman, who chanced to be passing, to imbibe the erroneous view of thefirst Lord.

  However, although grievously disheartened, I was not subdued. Hope,which tells so many flattering tales, told me that after properconsideration the Admiralty would infallibly perceive the value of myinvention; and in regard to the destruction of my fellow-creatures, Iconsoled myself with the reflection that torpedoes were much morecalculated for defensive than offensive warfare.

  Before quitting this subject, I may state that from that day to this, Ihave never heard from the Admiralty in reference to my invention. Thisfact gives me no pain now, although it did at first. I will explainwhy.

  There is a friend of mine--a grave, kindly, young man, yet withalsarcastic and eccentric--who met me immediately after my visit to theAdmiralty. He is a strange being this friend, who crops up at all sortsof unexpected times, and in divers places, when one least expects him.His name is U. Biquitous.

  "My dear Childers," said he, when I had explained matters, "you are avictim;--you are the victim of self-delusion. You were victimised byself-delusion when I first met you, at the time you thought you haddiscovered perpetual motion. Your torpedo, as you have just describedit to me, is an impossibility, and you yourself are--"

  "An ass?" said I, looking up in his face.

  "No, by no means," returned Biquitous, earnestly; "but you are anenthusiast without ballast. Enthusiasm is a fine, noble quality. Thewant of ballast is a grievous misfortune. Study mechanics, my boy, alittle more than you have yet done, before venturing on furtherinventions, and don't theorise too much. You have been revelling oflate in the regions of fancy. Take my advice, and don't do it."

  "I wont," said I, fervently, "but I cannot give up my cherishedpursuits."

  "There is no reason that you should," returned my friend, grasping myhand, "and my earnest advice to you is to continue them; but lay in someballast if possible."

  With these cheery words ringing in my ears, I rejoined my mother andsister, and went off to Portsmouth.

  It is well, however, to state here that my personal investigations inthe matter of explosives had at this time received a death-blow. Iwent, indeed, with intense interest to see the display of our nationaldestructive powers at Portsmouth, but I never again ventured to add myown little quota to the sum of human knowledge on such subjects; and thereader may henceforth depend upon it, that in all I shall hereafterwrite, there shall be drawn a distinct and unmistakable line between theregion of fact and fancy.