May 20, 2023 • 23 mins
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Naguib Mahfouz, Egyptian literature, existentialism, identity, love, relationships, social commentary, cultural norms, social class, personal growth, literary style, literary legacy, literary analysis, literary adaptation, literary criticism, Cairo, modernity, cultural influence, societal expectations, individualism, human nature, psychological analysis, Arab culture, family, urbanization
Naguib Mahfouz, Egyptian literature, existentialism, identity, love, relationships, social commentary, cultural norms, social class, personal growth, literary style, literary legacy, literary analysis, literary adaptation, literary criticism, Cairo, modernity, cultural influence, societal expectations, individualism, human nature, psychological analysis, Arab culture, family, urbanization
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(00:00):
Chapter ten. The end of herchase came so unexpectedly that her wits were
completely scattered. Now that she wasface to face with the tall soldier,
she had nothing to say for herpresence there. What would he think of
her? How could she explain hercoming? She had undertaken the whole thing
in such haste that she had notplanned ahead. Now she knew that from
(00:23):
the start, she had understood thatshe must not explain how she came to
be possessed of any information concerning him. She felt a kind of responsible shame
for her old playmate Harry Wainwright,and a certain loyalty toward her own social
set that prevented her from that theonly possible explanation that could make her coming
justifiable. So now, in thebrief interval before he had recognized them,
(00:47):
she must stage the next act,and she found herself unable to speak,
her throat dry, her lips,for the instant paralyzed. It was the
jubilant little mother that stepped into thecrisis and did the most natural thing in
the world. John, Oh,John, it's really you. We've caught
you, she cried, and thetroubled young soldier, peering into the dusk
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to discover if here was a vehiclehe might presume to commandeer to help him
out of his predicament. Lifted startledeyes to the two faces in the car,
and strode forward, abandoning with aclang the wrench with which he had
been working on the car. Mother, he said, a shade of deep
anxiety in his voice. What isthe matter? How came you to be
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here? Why I came after you? She said, laughing like a girl.
We're going to see that you getto camp in time. We've made
pretty good time so far. Jumpin quick, and we'll tell you the
rest on the way. We mustn'twaste time. Cameron's startled gaze turned on
Ruth now, and a great wonderand a light sprang up in his eyes.
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It was like the day when hewent away on the train, only
more so, and it brought arich flush into Ruth's cheeks as she felt
the hot waves. She was gladthat she was sitting behind the light.
What you, he breathed, wonderingly. But this is too much, and
after the way I treated you,His mother looked wonderingly from one to the
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other. Get in, John,quick, We mustn't lose a minute,
something might delay us later. Itwas plain she was deeply impressed with the
necessity for the soldier not to befound, wanting. Yes, please get
in quickly and let us start.Then we can talk, said Ruth,
casting an anxious glance toward the othercar. His hand went out to the
(02:35):
door to open it, the wonderstill shining in his face, when a
low murmur, like a growl wentup behind him. Ruth looked up,
and there, in the full glareof the lights stood two burly civilians and
a big soldier. Oh, Isay, drawled the soldier in no very
pleasant tone. You're not going todesert us that way, not after pass
came out of his way for us. I didn't think you had a yellow
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streak. Cameron paused, and atroubled look came into his face. He
glanced at the empty back seat witha repression of his disappointment in the necessity.
There's another fellow here that has toget back at the same time I
do, he said, looking atRuth hesitatingly, certainly ask him, of
course. Ruth's voice was hearty,and put the whole car at his disposal.
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There's room for you too, Chalmers, he said, with relief and
passmore will be glad to get ridof us. I suspect he'll be able
to get home soon. There isn'tmuch the matter with that engine. If
you do what I told you tothat carburetor, you'll find it will go
all right. Come on, Chalmers, we ought to hurry. No thanks,
I stick to my friends, saidthe soldier. Shortly, as you
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please, said Cameron, stepping onthe running board. Not as you please,
said a gruff voice. I'm runningthis party, and we all go
together. See. A heavy handcame down upon Cameron's shoulders with a mighty
grip. Cameron landed a smashing blowunder the man's chin, which sent him
reeling and sprang inside as Ruth threwin the clutch and sent her car leaping
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forward. The two men in frontwere taken by surprise and barely got out
of the way in time, butinstantly recovered their senses and sprang after the
car. The one nearest her reachingfor the wheel. Cameron, leaning forward,
sent him rolling down the gully,and Ruth turned the car sharply to
avoid the other car, which wasoccupying as much of the road as possible,
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and left the third man scrambling tohis knees behind her. It was
taking a big chance to dash pastthat car in the narrow space over rough
ground, but Ruth was not consciousof anything but the necessity of getting away.
In an instant, they were backin the road and flashing along through
the dark. Mother, you betterlet me help you back here, said
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her son, leaning forward and almostlifting his mother into the back seat,
then stepping over to take her placebeside Ruth. Better turn out your back
lights, he said, in aquiet, steady voice. They might follow
you. No, they're in anugly mood. They've been drinking. Then
the car isn't really out of commission. Not seriously, we're not on the
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right road. Did you know thisroad goes to the Pine Tree Inn and
Singleton. Cameron gave a low exclamation. Then they're headed for more liquor.
I thought something was up. Isthere a cross road back to the pike?
I'm not sure. Probably, Iknow there is about three miles farther
on, almost to the inn.This is an awful mess to have got
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you into. I'd rather have beenin the guard house than have this happened
to you. Please don't said Ruth, earnestly. It's an adventure. I'm
enjoying it. I'm not a dollto be kept in cotton wool, I
should say not, said Cameron,with deep admiration in his tone. You
haven't shown yourself much of a dollto night, some doll to run a
car the way you did in theface of all that. I'll tell you
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better what I think when we getout of this. They are coming,
I believe, said Ruth, glancingback. Don't you see a light?
Look, missus? Cameron was lookingtoo through the little back window. Now,
she spoke quietly. Wouldn't it bebetter to get out and slip up
in the woods till they have goneby? No, mother, said Cameron
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quickly. Just you sit quiet whereyou are and trust us something awful might
happen. John, No, mother, don't you worry, he said in
his gentlemanly tone. Then to Ruth, there's a big barn a hood there
on your left. Keep your eyeout for a road around behind it.
If we could disappear, it's toodark for them to know where we are.
Would you care to turn out allthe lights and let me run the
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car. I don't want to boast, but there isn't much of anything I
can't do with a car when Ihave to. Instantly, Ruth switched out
every light, and with a relievedplease, gave up the wheel to him.
They made the change swiftly and silently, and Ruth took the post of
lookout. Yes, I can seetwo lights. It might be someone else,
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mightn't it? Not likely on thisroad, but were not taking any
chances. And with that the carbumped down across a gully and lurched up
to a grassy approach to a bigstone barn that loomed above them, then
slid down another bank and passed closeto a great haystack, whose clutching straw
fingers reached out to brush their faces, and so swept softly around to the
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rear of the barn and stopped.Cameron shut off the engine instantly, and
they sat in utter silence, listeningto the oncoming car. It's they all
right, whispered Cameron softly. That'sPassmore's voice. He converses, almost wholly
in choice profanity. His mother's handstole out to touch his shoulder, and
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he reached around and held it close. Don't tremble, mother, We're all
safe. He whispered in a toneso tender that Ruth felt a shiver of
pleasure pass over her for the motherwho had such a son. Also,
there was the instant thought that aman could not be wholly rotten when he
could speak to his mother in thattone. There was a breathless space when
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the car paused on the road notfar away, and their pursuers stood up
and looked around, shouting to oneanother. There was no mistaking their identity.
Now Ruth shivered visibly. One ofthem got out of the car and
came toward the barn. They couldhear him stepping over the stony roadside.
Cameron laid a quiet hand of reassuringprotection on her arm that steadied her and
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made her feel wonderfully safe once more, and strange to say, she found
herself lifting up another queer little kindof a prayer. It had never been
her habit to pray much, exceptin form her heart, had seldom needed
anything that money could not supply.The man had stumbled across the gully and
up toward the barn. They couldhear him swearing at the unevenness of the
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ground, and Ruth held her breathand prayed again a moment more, and
he was fumbling about for the barndoor and calling for a flashlight. Then,
like the distant sound of a mightyangel of deliverance, came the rumble
of a car in the distance.The men heard it and took it for
their cory on ahead. They climbedinto their car again and were gone like
a flash. John Cameron did notwait for them to get far away.
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He set the car in motion assoon as they were out of sight,
and its expensive mechanism obeyed his directionalmost silently, as he guided it around
the barn, behind the haystack,and back again into the road over which
they had just come. Now,he said, as he put the car
to its best speed and switched onits headlights again. Now we can beat
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them to it, I guess ifthey come back this way, which I
don't think they will. The cardashed over the ground, and the three
sat silent while they passed into thewoods and over the place where they had
first met Cameron. Ruth felt herselftrembling again, and her teeth beginning to
chatter from the strain. Cameron seemedto realize her feeling and turned toward her.
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You've been wonderful, he said,flashing a warm look at her,
And you too, mother, liftinghis voice a little and turning his head
toward the back seat. I don'tbelieve any other two women in brine Haven
could have gone through a scene likethat and kept absolutely still. You were
great. There was that in hisvoice that lifted Ruth's heart more than any
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praise she had ever received for anything. She wanted to make some acknowledgement,
but she found, to her surprisethat tears were choking her throat so that
she could not speak. It wasthe excitement, of course, she told
herself, and struggled to get controlof her emotion. They emerged from the
woods and in sight of the pikeat last, and Cameron drew a long
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breath of relief. There. Iguess we can hold our own with any
one now, he said, settlingback in his seat but relaxing none of
his vigilance toward the car, whichsped along the highway like a winged thing.
But it's time I heard how youcame to be here. I haven't
been able to explain it during theintervals when I've had any chance at all
to think about it. Oh,I just called up your mother to know
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if it would help you any tobe taken to your train, said Ruth
quickly, and she mentioned that shewas worried lest you would miss it.
So I suggested that we try tocatch you and to take you on to
Wilmington or Baltimore, or wherever youhave to go. I do hope this
delay hasn't spoiled it all. Howlong does it take to go from Baltimore
to Camp. I've taken the Baltimoretrip myself in five hours. It's only
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quarter past six yet. Do youthink we can make it? But you
can't go all the way to Baltimore? He exclaimed? What would you and
mother do at that time of nightalone? After I go to camp?
You see, it isn't as ifI could stay and come back with you.
Oh, we'll just go to ahotel in Baltimore, won't we,
miss Cameron. We'll be all rightif we only get you safe to camp.
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Do you think we can do it? Oh? Yes, we can
do it all right with this car. But I'm quite sure I ought not
to let you do it just forme. What will your people think?
I've left word that I've gone toa friend in trouble, twinkled Ruth.
I'll call them up when I getto Baltimore and make it all right with
Auntie. She will trust me.Cameron turned and looked at her wonderingly,
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reverently. It's wonderful that you shoulddo this for me, he said,
in a low tone, quite lowso that the watching wistful mother could not
even guess what he was saying.It's not in the least wonderful, said
Ruth, brightly. Remember the hedgeand Chuck Woodcock. She was beginning to
get her self possession again. Youare paying that old score back in compound
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interest, said Cameron. That wasa wonderful ride, rushing along beneath the
stars, going back to childhood's daysand getting acquainted again where they left off.
Ruth forgot all about the cause ofher wild chase and the two young
men she had left disconsolate in herlibrary at home. Forgot her own world
in this new, beautiful one whereinher spirit really communed with another spirit,
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forgot utterly what Wainwright had said aboutCameron. As more and more through their
talk she came to see the finenessof his character. They flashed on from
one little village to another, leavingone clustering glimmer of lights in the distance,
only to pass to other clustering groups. It was in their favor that
there were not many other travelers todispute their way, and they were hindered
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very little. Cameron had made thetrip many times and knew the roads well,
they did not have to hesitate andinquire the way. They made good
time. The clocks were striking tenwhen they reached the outskirts of Baltimore,
now, said Ruth in a sweetlyimperious tone, consulting her time piece to
be sure she counted the clock strokescorrectly. Do you know what you are
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going to do, mister corporal.You are going to land your mother and
me at the nearest hotel and takethe car with you back to camp,
you said. One of the fellowshad his car down there, so I'm
sure you'll be able to find aplace to put it overnight. If you
find a way to send the carback to us in the morning, well
and good. If not, yourmother and I will go home by train
and the chauffeur can come down tomorrowand bring back the car, or better
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still, you can drive yourself upthe next time you get leave off.
There was much argument about the matterwithin a brief space of time, but
in the end, which came infive minutes, Ruth had her way,
and the young soldier departed for hiscamp in the gray car with ample time
to make the short trip, leavinghis mother and Ruth at a Baltimore hotel
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after having promised to call up inthe morning and let them know what he
could do about the car. Ruthselected a large double room and went at
once to the telephone to call upher aunt. She found, to her
relief that that good lady had notyet returned from her day with a friend
in the city, so that noexplanations would be necessary. That night,
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she left word with a servant thatshe was in Baltimore with a friend and
would probably be at home the nextday. Sometime. Then she turned to
find, to her dismay that hercompanion was sitting in a low armed chair
with tears running down her cheeks.Oh my dear, she exclaimed, rushing
over to her. You are allworn out out, not a bit of
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it, sobbed the mother with asmile like sunshine through her tears. I
was so happy. I couldn't keepfrom crying. Don't you ever get that
way. I've just been watching youand thinking what a dear, beautiful child
you are, and how wonderful Godhas been to send you to help my
boy. Oh, it was sodreadful to me to think of him going
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down to camp with those men,My dear, I smelt liquor on their
breath when they came for him,and I was just crying and praying about
it when you called me up.Of course, I knew my boy wouldn't
drink, but so many accidents canhappen with automobiles when the driver is drunk,
My dear, I never can thankyou enough. They were both too
excited to sleep soon, but longafter the mother was asleep, Ruth lay
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awake, going over the whole dayand wondering there were so many things about
the incident of the afternoon and evening, now that they were over, that
were utterly out of accord with herwhole life. Heretofore, she felt intuitively
that her aunt would never understand ifshe were to explain the whole proceeding.
There were so many laws of herlittle world of conventionalities that she had transgressed
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and so many qualms of a belatedconscience about whether she ought to have done
it at all? What would Cameronthink of her anyway? Her cheeks burned
hot in the dark over that question. Strange she had not thought of it
at all, either beforehand or whileshe sat beside him during that wonderful ride.
And now the thing that Wainwright hadsaid shouted itself out to her ears.
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Rotten, rotten, rotten, likea dirge. Suppose he were.
It couldn't be true, It justcouldn't. But suppose he were, well,
suppose he were. How was shehurt by doing a kind act?
Having taken a stand against all herformer ideas. Ruth had instant peace and
drifted into dreams of what she hadbeen enjoying the way, suddenly lit by
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a sleepy remembrance of Weatherall's declaration,he won't drink. You can't make him.
It's been tried again and again.There was evidence in his favor.
Why hadn't she remembered that before andhis mother? She had been so sure
of him. The telephone bell wakenedher with a message from Camp. His
voice greeted her pleasantly with the wordthat it was all right. He had
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reached camp in plenty of time,found a good place for the car,
and it would be at the hotelat nine o'clock. Ruth turned from the
phone with a vague disappointment. Hehad not said a word of thanks,
or goodbye or anything, only thathe must hurry, not even a word
to his mother. But then,of course men did not think of those
little things, perhaps as women did, and maybe it was just as well
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for him to take it all.As a matter of course, it made
it less embarrassing for her. Butwhen they went down to the car,
behold he was in it. Igot leave off for the morning, he
explained, smiling. I told mycaptain all about how you got me back
in time when i'd missed the rain, and he told me to see you
as far as Wilmington and catch thenoon train back from there. He's a
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peach of a captain. If mylieutenant had been there, I wouldn't have
got a chance to ask him.I was afraid of that last night,
But for good luck, the lieutenanthas a two days leave this time.
He's a mess. Ruth looked athim musingly. Was Harry Wainwright the lieutenant?
They had a golden morning together andtalked of many things that welded a
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friendship already well begun. Weren't youat all frightened last night? Asked Cameron,
once looking at the delicate beauty ofthe face beside him, and noting
the strength and sweetness of it.Missus Cameron was dozing in the back seat,
and they felt quite alone and free. Ruth looked up at him frankly.
Why, yes, I think Iwas for a minute or two while
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we were behind that barn. Butdid you ever pray when you were in
a trying situation? He looked downearnestly into her face, half startled at
her words. Why, I don'tknow that I ever did. I'm not
quite sure if it was praying.Well, I don't know that I ever
did before, she went on thoughtfully, But last night, when those men
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got out of their car in frontof the barn, so near us again,
I found myself praying. She droppedher eyes, half embarrassed, just
as if I were a frightened littlechild. I found myself saying, God
help us, God help us.And right away we heard that other car
coming and the men went away.It somehow seemed well strange I wonder if
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anybody else ever had an experience likethat. I've heard of them, said
Cameron gravely. I've wondered sometimes myself. Do you believe in God? Oh?
Yes, said Ruth quite firmly.Of course, what use would there
be in anything if there wasn't agod? But do you believe we humans
can ever really well find him onthis earth? I mean why, I
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don't know that I ever thought aabout it, she answered, bewildered.
Find him in what way? Doyou mean? Why? Get in touch
with him, get to know him, perhaps beyond such terms with him that
one could call out in a timelike last night, you know, or
well, say, in a battle. I've been thinking a lot about that
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lately, naturally, oh, gaspedRuth softly. Of course I hadn't thought
about that much either. We've beenso thoughtless and and sort of happy,
you know, just like butterflies,we girls. I haven't realized that men
were going out to face death.It isn't that I'm afraid to die,
said Cameron, proudly, lifting hischin, as if dying were a small
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matter, not just the dying part. I reckon, I've been through worse
than that A dozen times that wouldn'tlast long. It's the other part.
I have a feeling there'll be alittle something more expected of me than just
to have tried to get the mostfun out of life. I've been thinking,
if there is a God, he'dexpect us to find it out and
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make things straight between us somehow.I suppose I don't make myself very plain.
I don't believe i've known myself justwhat I mean. I think I
understand just a little, said Ruth. I have never thought about it before,
but I'm going to now. It'ssomething we ought to think about.
I guess in a sense, it'ssomething that each one of us has to
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think, whether we are going intobattle or not, isn't it. I
suppose it is only we never realizeit when things are going along, all
right, said Cameron. It seemsqueer that everybody that's ever lived on this
earth has had this question to facesooner or later, and most of them
haven't done much about it. Thefew people who profess to have found a
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way to meet it we call cranks, or else pick flaws in the way
they live. Although it does seemto me that if I really found God,
so I was sure he was thereand cared about me. I'd manage
to live a little decenter life thansome do. They drifted into other topics,
and all too soon they reached Wilmingtonand had to say goodbye. But
the thought stayed with Ruth more orless during the days that followed, and
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crept into her letters when she wroteto Corporal Cameron, as she did quite
often in these days. And stillno solution had come to the great question,
which was so like the one ofold, what shall I do to
be saved? It came and wentduring the days that followed, and now
and again the fact that it hadoriginated in a talk with Cameron clashed badly
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in her mind with that word rottenthat Wainwright had used about him, so
that at last she resolved to talkto her cousin, Captain LaRue. The
next time he came up, cousin, Captain, she said, do you
know a boy at your camp frombrine Haven named John Cameron? Indeed I
do, said the captain. Whatkind of a man is he? The
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best young man I know in everyway? Answered the captain promptly. If
the world were made up of menlike him, it would be a pretty
good place in which to live.Do you know him a little? Said
Ruth evasively, with a satisfied smileon her lips. His mother is in
our red Cross. Now she thinkshe's about right, of course, but
mothers usually do. I guess I'llhave to tell her what you said.
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It will please her. He usedto be in school with me years ago.
I haven't seen much of him since. Well, all I have to
say is improve your acquaintance if youget the chance. He's worth ten to
one of your society youths that lallaround here almost every time I come.
Now, cousin Captain chided Ruth,but she went off smiling, and she
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kept all his words in her heart. End of Chapter ten
Chapter ten. The end of herchase came so unexpectedly that her wits were
completely scattered. Now that she wasface to face with the tall soldier,
she had nothing to say for herpresence there. What would he think of
her? How could she explain hercoming? She had undertaken the whole thing
in such haste that she had notplanned ahead. Now she knew that from
(00:23):
the start, she had understood thatshe must not explain how she came to
be possessed of any information concerning him. She felt a kind of responsible shame
for her old playmate Harry Wainwright,and a certain loyalty toward her own social
set that prevented her from that theonly possible explanation that could make her coming
justifiable. So now, in thebrief interval before he had recognized them,
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she must stage the next act,and she found herself unable to speak,
her throat dry, her lips,for the instant paralyzed. It was the
jubilant little mother that stepped into thecrisis and did the most natural thing in
the world. John, Oh,John, it's really you. We've caught
you, she cried, and thetroubled young soldier, peering into the dusk
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to discover if here was a vehiclehe might presume to commandeer to help him
out of his predicament. Lifted startledeyes to the two faces in the car,
and strode forward, abandoning with aclang the wrench with which he had
been working on the car. Mother, he said, a shade of deep
anxiety in his voice. What isthe matter? How came you to be
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here? Why I came after you? She said, laughing like a girl.
We're going to see that you getto camp in time. We've made
pretty good time so far. Jumpin quick, and we'll tell you the
rest on the way. We mustn'twaste time. Cameron's startled gaze turned on
Ruth now, and a great wonderand a light sprang up in his eyes.
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It was like the day when hewent away on the train, only
more so, and it brought arich flush into Ruth's cheeks as she felt
the hot waves. She was gladthat she was sitting behind the light.
What you, he breathed, wonderingly. But this is too much, and
after the way I treated you,His mother looked wonderingly from one to the
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other. Get in, John,quick, We mustn't lose a minute,
something might delay us later. Itwas plain she was deeply impressed with the
necessity for the soldier not to befound, wanting. Yes, please get
in quickly and let us start.Then we can talk, said Ruth,
casting an anxious glance toward the othercar. His hand went out to the
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door to open it, the wonderstill shining in his face, when a
low murmur, like a growl wentup behind him. Ruth looked up,
and there, in the full glareof the lights stood two burly civilians and
a big soldier. Oh, Isay, drawled the soldier in no very
pleasant tone. You're not going todesert us that way, not after pass
came out of his way for us. I didn't think you had a yellow
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streak. Cameron paused, and atroubled look came into his face. He
glanced at the empty back seat witha repression of his disappointment in the necessity.
There's another fellow here that has toget back at the same time I
do, he said, looking atRuth hesitatingly, certainly ask him, of
course. Ruth's voice was hearty,and put the whole car at his disposal.
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There's room for you too, Chalmers, he said, with relief and
passmore will be glad to get ridof us. I suspect he'll be able
to get home soon. There isn'tmuch the matter with that engine. If
you do what I told you tothat carburetor, you'll find it will go
all right. Come on, Chalmers, we ought to hurry. No thanks,
I stick to my friends, saidthe soldier. Shortly, as you
(03:44):
please, said Cameron, stepping onthe running board. Not as you please,
said a gruff voice. I'm runningthis party, and we all go
together. See. A heavy handcame down upon Cameron's shoulders with a mighty
grip. Cameron landed a smashing blowunder the man's chin, which sent him
reeling and sprang inside as Ruth threwin the clutch and sent her car leaping
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forward. The two men in frontwere taken by surprise and barely got out
of the way in time, butinstantly recovered their senses and sprang after the
car. The one nearest her reachingfor the wheel. Cameron, leaning forward,
sent him rolling down the gully,and Ruth turned the car sharply to
avoid the other car, which wasoccupying as much of the road as possible,
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and left the third man scrambling tohis knees behind her. It was
taking a big chance to dash pastthat car in the narrow space over rough
ground, but Ruth was not consciousof anything but the necessity of getting away.
In an instant, they were backin the road and flashing along through
the dark. Mother, you betterlet me help you back here, said
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her son, leaning forward and almostlifting his mother into the back seat,
then stepping over to take her placebeside Ruth. Better turn out your back
lights, he said, in aquiet, steady voice. They might follow
you. No, they're in anugly mood. They've been drinking. Then
the car isn't really out of commission. Not seriously, we're not on the
(05:08):
right road. Did you know thisroad goes to the Pine Tree Inn and
Singleton. Cameron gave a low exclamation. Then they're headed for more liquor.
I thought something was up. Isthere a cross road back to the pike?
I'm not sure. Probably, Iknow there is about three miles farther
on, almost to the inn.This is an awful mess to have got
(05:29):
you into. I'd rather have beenin the guard house than have this happened
to you. Please don't said Ruth, earnestly. It's an adventure. I'm
enjoying it. I'm not a dollto be kept in cotton wool, I
should say not, said Cameron,with deep admiration in his tone. You
haven't shown yourself much of a dollto night, some doll to run a
car the way you did in theface of all that. I'll tell you
(05:53):
better what I think when we getout of this. They are coming,
I believe, said Ruth, glancingback. Don't you see a light?
Look, missus? Cameron was lookingtoo through the little back window. Now,
she spoke quietly. Wouldn't it bebetter to get out and slip up
in the woods till they have goneby? No, mother, said Cameron
(06:13):
quickly. Just you sit quiet whereyou are and trust us something awful might
happen. John, No, mother, don't you worry, he said in
his gentlemanly tone. Then to Ruth, there's a big barn a hood there
on your left. Keep your eyeout for a road around behind it.
If we could disappear, it's toodark for them to know where we are.
Would you care to turn out allthe lights and let me run the
(06:36):
car. I don't want to boast, but there isn't much of anything I
can't do with a car when Ihave to. Instantly, Ruth switched out
every light, and with a relievedplease, gave up the wheel to him.
They made the change swiftly and silently, and Ruth took the post of
lookout. Yes, I can seetwo lights. It might be someone else,
(06:57):
mightn't it? Not likely on thisroad, but were not taking any
chances. And with that the carbumped down across a gully and lurched up
to a grassy approach to a bigstone barn that loomed above them, then
slid down another bank and passed closeto a great haystack, whose clutching straw
fingers reached out to brush their faces, and so swept softly around to the
(07:18):
rear of the barn and stopped.Cameron shut off the engine instantly, and
they sat in utter silence, listeningto the oncoming car. It's they all
right, whispered Cameron softly. That'sPassmore's voice. He converses, almost wholly
in choice profanity. His mother's handstole out to touch his shoulder, and
(07:39):
he reached around and held it close. Don't tremble, mother, We're all
safe. He whispered in a toneso tender that Ruth felt a shiver of
pleasure pass over her for the motherwho had such a son. Also,
there was the instant thought that aman could not be wholly rotten when he
could speak to his mother in thattone. There was a breathless space when
(07:59):
the car paused on the road notfar away, and their pursuers stood up
and looked around, shouting to oneanother. There was no mistaking their identity.
Now Ruth shivered visibly. One ofthem got out of the car and
came toward the barn. They couldhear him stepping over the stony roadside.
Cameron laid a quiet hand of reassuringprotection on her arm that steadied her and
(08:20):
made her feel wonderfully safe once more, and strange to say, she found
herself lifting up another queer little kindof a prayer. It had never been
her habit to pray much, exceptin form her heart, had seldom needed
anything that money could not supply.The man had stumbled across the gully and
up toward the barn. They couldhear him swearing at the unevenness of the
(08:43):
ground, and Ruth held her breathand prayed again a moment more, and
he was fumbling about for the barndoor and calling for a flashlight. Then,
like the distant sound of a mightyangel of deliverance, came the rumble
of a car in the distance.The men heard it and took it for
their cory on ahead. They climbedinto their car again and were gone like
a flash. John Cameron did notwait for them to get far away.
(09:07):
He set the car in motion assoon as they were out of sight,
and its expensive mechanism obeyed his directionalmost silently, as he guided it around
the barn, behind the haystack,and back again into the road over which
they had just come. Now,he said, as he put the car
to its best speed and switched onits headlights again. Now we can beat
(09:28):
them to it, I guess ifthey come back this way, which I
don't think they will. The cardashed over the ground, and the three
sat silent while they passed into thewoods and over the place where they had
first met Cameron. Ruth felt herselftrembling again, and her teeth beginning to
chatter from the strain. Cameron seemedto realize her feeling and turned toward her.
(09:50):
You've been wonderful, he said,flashing a warm look at her,
And you too, mother, liftinghis voice a little and turning his head
toward the back seat. I don'tbelieve any other two women in brine Haven
could have gone through a scene likethat and kept absolutely still. You were
great. There was that in hisvoice that lifted Ruth's heart more than any
(10:11):
praise she had ever received for anything. She wanted to make some acknowledgement,
but she found, to her surprisethat tears were choking her throat so that
she could not speak. It wasthe excitement, of course, she told
herself, and struggled to get controlof her emotion. They emerged from the
woods and in sight of the pikeat last, and Cameron drew a long
(10:31):
breath of relief. There. Iguess we can hold our own with any
one now, he said, settlingback in his seat but relaxing none of
his vigilance toward the car, whichsped along the highway like a winged thing.
But it's time I heard how youcame to be here. I haven't
been able to explain it during theintervals when I've had any chance at all
to think about it. Oh,I just called up your mother to know
(10:54):
if it would help you any tobe taken to your train, said Ruth
quickly, and she mentioned that shewas worried lest you would miss it.
So I suggested that we try tocatch you and to take you on to
Wilmington or Baltimore, or wherever youhave to go. I do hope this
delay hasn't spoiled it all. Howlong does it take to go from Baltimore
to Camp. I've taken the Baltimoretrip myself in five hours. It's only
(11:18):
quarter past six yet. Do youthink we can make it? But you
can't go all the way to Baltimore? He exclaimed? What would you and
mother do at that time of nightalone? After I go to camp?
You see, it isn't as ifI could stay and come back with you.
Oh, we'll just go to ahotel in Baltimore, won't we,
miss Cameron. We'll be all rightif we only get you safe to camp.
(11:39):
Do you think we can do it? Oh? Yes, we can
do it all right with this car. But I'm quite sure I ought not
to let you do it just forme. What will your people think?
I've left word that I've gone toa friend in trouble, twinkled Ruth.
I'll call them up when I getto Baltimore and make it all right with
Auntie. She will trust me.Cameron turned and looked at her wonderingly,
(12:01):
reverently. It's wonderful that you shoulddo this for me, he said,
in a low tone, quite lowso that the watching wistful mother could not
even guess what he was saying.It's not in the least wonderful, said
Ruth, brightly. Remember the hedgeand Chuck Woodcock. She was beginning to
get her self possession again. Youare paying that old score back in compound
(12:24):
interest, said Cameron. That wasa wonderful ride, rushing along beneath the
stars, going back to childhood's daysand getting acquainted again where they left off.
Ruth forgot all about the cause ofher wild chase and the two young
men she had left disconsolate in herlibrary at home. Forgot her own world
in this new, beautiful one whereinher spirit really communed with another spirit,
(12:50):
forgot utterly what Wainwright had said aboutCameron. As more and more through their
talk she came to see the finenessof his character. They flashed on from
one little village to another, leavingone clustering glimmer of lights in the distance,
only to pass to other clustering groups. It was in their favor that
there were not many other travelers todispute their way, and they were hindered
(13:13):
very little. Cameron had made thetrip many times and knew the roads well,
they did not have to hesitate andinquire the way. They made good
time. The clocks were striking tenwhen they reached the outskirts of Baltimore,
now, said Ruth in a sweetlyimperious tone, consulting her time piece to
be sure she counted the clock strokescorrectly. Do you know what you are
(13:35):
going to do, mister corporal.You are going to land your mother and
me at the nearest hotel and takethe car with you back to camp,
you said. One of the fellowshad his car down there, so I'm
sure you'll be able to find aplace to put it overnight. If you
find a way to send the carback to us in the morning, well
and good. If not, yourmother and I will go home by train
and the chauffeur can come down tomorrowand bring back the car, or better
(13:58):
still, you can drive yourself upthe next time you get leave off.
There was much argument about the matterwithin a brief space of time, but
in the end, which came infive minutes, Ruth had her way,
and the young soldier departed for hiscamp in the gray car with ample time
to make the short trip, leavinghis mother and Ruth at a Baltimore hotel
(14:18):
after having promised to call up inthe morning and let them know what he
could do about the car. Ruthselected a large double room and went at
once to the telephone to call upher aunt. She found, to her
relief that that good lady had notyet returned from her day with a friend
in the city, so that noexplanations would be necessary. That night,
(14:39):
she left word with a servant thatshe was in Baltimore with a friend and
would probably be at home the nextday. Sometime. Then she turned to
find, to her dismay that hercompanion was sitting in a low armed chair
with tears running down her cheeks.Oh my dear, she exclaimed, rushing
over to her. You are allworn out out, not a bit of
(15:01):
it, sobbed the mother with asmile like sunshine through her tears. I
was so happy. I couldn't keepfrom crying. Don't you ever get that
way. I've just been watching youand thinking what a dear, beautiful child
you are, and how wonderful Godhas been to send you to help my
boy. Oh, it was sodreadful to me to think of him going
(15:22):
down to camp with those men,My dear, I smelt liquor on their
breath when they came for him,and I was just crying and praying about
it when you called me up.Of course, I knew my boy wouldn't
drink, but so many accidents canhappen with automobiles when the driver is drunk,
My dear, I never can thankyou enough. They were both too
excited to sleep soon, but longafter the mother was asleep, Ruth lay
(15:46):
awake, going over the whole dayand wondering there were so many things about
the incident of the afternoon and evening, now that they were over, that
were utterly out of accord with herwhole life. Heretofore, she felt intuitively
that her aunt would never understand ifshe were to explain the whole proceeding.
There were so many laws of herlittle world of conventionalities that she had transgressed
(16:08):
and so many qualms of a belatedconscience about whether she ought to have done
it at all? What would Cameronthink of her anyway? Her cheeks burned
hot in the dark over that question. Strange she had not thought of it
at all, either beforehand or whileshe sat beside him during that wonderful ride.
And now the thing that Wainwright hadsaid shouted itself out to her ears.
(16:32):
Rotten, rotten, rotten, likea dirge. Suppose he were.
It couldn't be true, It justcouldn't. But suppose he were, well,
suppose he were. How was shehurt by doing a kind act?
Having taken a stand against all herformer ideas. Ruth had instant peace and
drifted into dreams of what she hadbeen enjoying the way, suddenly lit by
(16:56):
a sleepy remembrance of Weatherall's declaration,he won't drink. You can't make him.
It's been tried again and again.There was evidence in his favor.
Why hadn't she remembered that before andhis mother? She had been so sure
of him. The telephone bell wakenedher with a message from Camp. His
voice greeted her pleasantly with the wordthat it was all right. He had
(17:18):
reached camp in plenty of time,found a good place for the car,
and it would be at the hotelat nine o'clock. Ruth turned from the
phone with a vague disappointment. Hehad not said a word of thanks,
or goodbye or anything, only thathe must hurry, not even a word
to his mother. But then,of course men did not think of those
little things, perhaps as women did, and maybe it was just as well
(17:42):
for him to take it all.As a matter of course, it made
it less embarrassing for her. Butwhen they went down to the car,
behold he was in it. Igot leave off for the morning, he
explained, smiling. I told mycaptain all about how you got me back
in time when i'd missed the rain, and he told me to see you
as far as Wilmington and catch thenoon train back from there. He's a
(18:04):
peach of a captain. If mylieutenant had been there, I wouldn't have
got a chance to ask him.I was afraid of that last night,
But for good luck, the lieutenanthas a two days leave this time.
He's a mess. Ruth looked athim musingly. Was Harry Wainwright the lieutenant?
They had a golden morning together andtalked of many things that welded a
(18:26):
friendship already well begun. Weren't youat all frightened last night? Asked Cameron,
once looking at the delicate beauty ofthe face beside him, and noting
the strength and sweetness of it.Missus Cameron was dozing in the back seat,
and they felt quite alone and free. Ruth looked up at him frankly.
Why, yes, I think Iwas for a minute or two while
(18:48):
we were behind that barn. Butdid you ever pray when you were in
a trying situation? He looked downearnestly into her face, half startled at
her words. Why, I don'tknow that I ever did. I'm not
quite sure if it was praying.Well, I don't know that I ever
did before, she went on thoughtfully, But last night, when those men
(19:11):
got out of their car in frontof the barn, so near us again,
I found myself praying. She droppedher eyes, half embarrassed, just
as if I were a frightened littlechild. I found myself saying, God
help us, God help us.And right away we heard that other car
coming and the men went away.It somehow seemed well strange I wonder if
(19:32):
anybody else ever had an experience likethat. I've heard of them, said
Cameron gravely. I've wondered sometimes myself. Do you believe in God? Oh?
Yes, said Ruth quite firmly.Of course, what use would there
be in anything if there wasn't agod? But do you believe we humans
can ever really well find him onthis earth? I mean why, I
(19:57):
don't know that I ever thought aabout it, she answered, bewildered.
Find him in what way? Doyou mean? Why? Get in touch
with him, get to know him, perhaps beyond such terms with him that
one could call out in a timelike last night, you know, or
well, say, in a battle. I've been thinking a lot about that
(20:18):
lately, naturally, oh, gaspedRuth softly. Of course I hadn't thought
about that much either. We've beenso thoughtless and and sort of happy,
you know, just like butterflies,we girls. I haven't realized that men
were going out to face death.It isn't that I'm afraid to die,
said Cameron, proudly, lifting hischin, as if dying were a small
(20:41):
matter, not just the dying part. I reckon, I've been through worse
than that A dozen times that wouldn'tlast long. It's the other part.
I have a feeling there'll be alittle something more expected of me than just
to have tried to get the mostfun out of life. I've been thinking,
if there is a God, he'dexpect us to find it out and
(21:02):
make things straight between us somehow.I suppose I don't make myself very plain.
I don't believe i've known myself justwhat I mean. I think I
understand just a little, said Ruth. I have never thought about it before,
but I'm going to now. It'ssomething we ought to think about.
I guess in a sense, it'ssomething that each one of us has to
(21:22):
think, whether we are going intobattle or not, isn't it. I
suppose it is only we never realizeit when things are going along, all
right, said Cameron. It seemsqueer that everybody that's ever lived on this
earth has had this question to facesooner or later, and most of them
haven't done much about it. Thefew people who profess to have found a
(21:45):
way to meet it we call cranks, or else pick flaws in the way
they live. Although it does seemto me that if I really found God,
so I was sure he was thereand cared about me. I'd manage
to live a little decenter life thansome do. They drifted into other topics,
and all too soon they reached Wilmingtonand had to say goodbye. But
the thought stayed with Ruth more orless during the days that followed, and
(22:08):
crept into her letters when she wroteto Corporal Cameron, as she did quite
often in these days. And stillno solution had come to the great question,
which was so like the one ofold, what shall I do to
be saved? It came and wentduring the days that followed, and now
and again the fact that it hadoriginated in a talk with Cameron clashed badly
(22:30):
in her mind with that word rottenthat Wainwright had used about him, so
that at last she resolved to talkto her cousin, Captain LaRue. The
next time he came up, cousin, Captain, she said, do you
know a boy at your camp frombrine Haven named John Cameron? Indeed I
do, said the captain. Whatkind of a man is he? The
(22:52):
best young man I know in everyway? Answered the captain promptly. If
the world were made up of menlike him, it would be a pretty
good place in which to live.Do you know him a little? Said
Ruth evasively, with a satisfied smileon her lips. His mother is in
our red Cross. Now she thinkshe's about right, of course, but
mothers usually do. I guess I'llhave to tell her what you said.
(23:17):
It will please her. He usedto be in school with me years ago.
I haven't seen much of him since. Well, all I have to
say is improve your acquaintance if youget the chance. He's worth ten to
one of your society youths that lallaround here almost every time I come.
Now, cousin Captain chided Ruth,but she went off smiling, and she
(23:37):
kept all his words in her heart. End of Chapter ten
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