Ned declared he knocked one man down, a man who spoke3 with a very pronounced German accent, until Ned rather spoiled the accent by contriving4 to have his fist collide with the mouth of the person who was muttering something about “Der Tag.”
“His day came right then and there,” explained Ned afterward. “Only it was good night for his.”
As for Bob, he declared that, in the dark, he was struck on all sides at once.
In the dark no one could tell whom he was hitting. The fight kept up, the din5 growing greater until it was deafening6, until a cry for order, led by several men in concert, came. These men were the soldiers.
[80]
Some one managed to light a solitary7 gas jet in a corner of the hall, and by the gleam the swaying, struggling mass could be observed. Fortunately the women and girls had gotten out, or they might have been hurt. As it was, they stood outside and screamed, probably because of fear for their men relatives inside. Then some one switched on all the lights, and with that the fight stopped.
There were a few bloody8 noses, and some eyes that, in the process of time, would turn black, blue and other hues9, there were torn collars and garments, while a number of chairs were overturned.
But when Ned, Bob and Jerry looked toward the stage it was deserted10. The chairs that had been filled with honorary vice-chairmen, were empty. Mr. Pfeiffer was absent. So was Mr. Schaeffer. In fact, of all the German-Americans who had undertaken to conduct the meeting not one was in sight. They had sneaked11 off in the confusion and the darkness. The meeting was most effectively broken up.
“Well, things came off as we expected,” remarked Jerry, tying his handkerchief around his injured hand.
“But not in just the way we had counted on,” said Ned.
This was true, for the boys had planned that one of them should call for three cheers for the[81] flag, and demand that the band play the national anthem12.
It was expected that this would be objected to by those in charge of the meeting, and then there would be a good chance to denounce those responsible, and an opportunity for breaking up the gathering13. This had been Colonel Wentworth’s plan, but events had shaped themselves differently. The putting out of the lights had not been planned by the motor boys.
With the withdrawal14 of the leading pro-Germans, their sympathizers in the audience soon went out, leaving the place well filled with loyal citizens. Colonel Wentworth, seeing a chance to make a speech, at once took charge of matters, and organized a patriotic15 meeting then and there. This was turning the tables on the pro-Germans with a vengeance16.
Ned, Bob and Jerry remained for a while, and then, as Jerry’s hand was getting painful, the motor boys left and went to a near-by drug store.
As might be expected, the breaking up of the pro-German meeting created a stir in the town. On all sides, save among those who might, because of their nationality, be expected to differ, there were heard words of commendation. And when Ned, Bob and Jerry called on Lieutenant17 Riker, to get some final instructions about their enlistment19, the soldier grinned broadly as he asked:
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“Any more meetings of the ‘Friends of Liberty’ scheduled for your town?”
“Not just at present,” laughed Jerry.
There was some talk, on the part of those who had called the meeting, of proceeding20 against those who had broken it up. Mr. Pfeiffer, the lawyer, was loudest in this talk.
But he did nothing, and his talk finally ceased with conspicuous21 abruptness22, probably, as Jerry remarked, on the advice of more prudent23 friends. At the same time there was a noticeable cessation in the activities of the pro-Germans.
“But I don’t suppose you’ll dare go to call on Helena now,” said Ned to Bob one day.
“No,” was the somewhat disconsolate24 answer. “I don’t believe it would be just the thing.”
“Especially if Mr. Schaeffer were at home,” observed Jerry.
The breaking up of the meeting had one good effect. Though a stickler25 for strict justice might condemn26 the method used, there followed, nevertheless, a stimulation27 to recruiting. When it became known that Ned, Bob and Jerry had enlisted28 and expected soon to be sent to the nearest training station, there was a wave of patriotism29 in Cresville, and many mothers and fathers were in despair on account of very young boys who wanted to join the colors.
It required no little tact30 to get such off the[83] notion, but to the credit of the home-folk be it said that in no case, where a boy was physically31 fit, and of the proper age, did he have to hold back because of the objection of parents.
Those were stirring days, and events moved swiftly. Once the motor boys had made up their minds that it was the right thing to enlist18, they were eager to be off to the training camp.
Lieutenant Riker told them they would probably be sent to a cantonment in one of the Southern states, which shall be called Camp Dixton, for a period of training.
“How long will that last?” asked Ned. “When can we go to France and do some real fighting?”
“You’ll go as soon as you are fit,” answered the experienced soldier. “It would be a mistake to send you abroad now. You would do more harm than good—I mean raw troops in the aggregate32. You must be trained, and taught how to take care of yourselves. Why, even the period of training in how to meet gas attacks alone will take some time. Don’t be in too much of a hurry. Learn the business of war and fighting first, and then you’ll be able to deal the Boche so much harder blows.”
This was good advice, and the boys, in their calmer moments, appreciated it; but it was hard to be inactive. At last the day came when they[84] were to part from their parents and friends in Cresville. They did not need to take much with them, for they would be fitted out in camp.
Up to this time nothing more had been heard concerning the gold watch and the diamond brooch lost in the fire, nor had anything more been learned of the French engraver’s money or of the mysterious Crooked33 Nose.
“It’s good-bye to our motor boat and auto34 and aeroplane for a while,” said Ned, with a sigh, as the boys made their way to the station, having parted with their parents at home.
“Yes, but what we know about running them may come in handy later,” remarked Jerry.
On their way to the station they met other boy friends who had also enlisted, and as they reached the depot35 they saw a crowd there to give them a send-off.
“And look who’s here to kiss little Bob good-bye!” exclaimed Ned.
“Who is it?” asked Chunky.
“Miss Helena Schaeffer,” was the answer. “Oh, Bob! Oh, boy! Go to it!”
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1
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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4
contriving
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| （不顾困难地）促成某事( contrive的现在分词 )； 巧妙地策划，精巧地制造（如机器）； 设法做到 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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6
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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8
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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9
hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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11
sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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12
anthem
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| n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌 | |
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13
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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14
withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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15
patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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18
enlist
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| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
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enlistment
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| n.应征入伍，获得，取得 | |
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20
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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22
abruptness
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| n. 突然，唐突 | |
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23
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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stickler
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| n.坚持细节之人 | |
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26
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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stimulation
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| n.刺激，激励，鼓舞 | |
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28
enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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29
patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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30
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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31
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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32
aggregate
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| adj.总计的，集合的；n.总数；v.合计；集合 | |
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33
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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34
auto
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| n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车 | |
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35
depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
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