Evening star., 1917-12-23
A Story of 1914
By LOUIS TRACY
THE DAY OF WRATH s. s.

take all this trouble" said the doctor.
Tive lost my job with the departure
of our troops, so I had to md some
thing to do" smiled the other
A feet OF Belgian armorsd cars
cleared n road through the stream OF
fugttives: and Dalroy kept close in
rear. 90 he made FAST return journey.
Dashing past the town station, near
which the steam tram would d.sgorge
its freight. he headed straight Tor the
Care Maritime. It was now dusk, but
ing the entrance W , denser and moro
frantic than ever. though the last
steamer whose departure was an
nounced ofncially had left early in the
He Ascertained from a helpless police
man that tho rumor had gone round OF
q vessel coming in; the sullen, apa-
thetic multitude. waiting there for II
knew not what chance of rescue. had
suddenly become dangerous.
The American consul, who has
worked hard all day. has had TO give II
up" added the man. He is closing his
ONCE"
Just then a harbor official, minus his
cap. and with coat badly torn during a
violent passage through the mob.
strobe by breathiess. but hurried.
Dairoy recognized him. having had
much business with the port authori-
ties during the preceding week.
IT'S It true that steamer is in sfghtg'
he asked.
Monsieur. what am I to say" and
tho accompanying gesture was elo-
ouent. TT IN only little cargo boat,
an English coaster. If she nears the
haps Thousands of lives lost. The har-
bormaster has cent me to ask the may
or II he should not signal her to an
chor outside until daylight"
Prompt decision and steadfast action
were Dalroy's chief qualities. II luck
project on foot before the mayors
messenger burked it by civic order
He thanked the man and rode of
Happily the tram came from Blank
enberge without undue delay. He had
only dismounted when the engine
clanked into the station square. Al
ready his soldiers eye had noted that
the Gordons and some of the Belgian
soldiers had retained their r.Aes and
bayonets.
Get your crowd into motion a.
once" he said to the doctor. as soon
as tho latter aiighted. Nothing you
have gone through during the last two
months will equal the excitement oi
the next quarter Of an hour But. II
your cripples can Ak bayonets and show
n bold front. we have fighting chance
no more And unless We leave Ostend
before tomorrow morning it1l be a
German prison Tor you and Hiring
party for me"
Men who have smelt war and death
not once. but many times, do not hesi-
tate and argue when a stan Officer
talks in that strain.
With an almost marvellous rapidity
the members of the mission and the
wounded able to walk were formed UP
stretchers were lifted, and the marcl
began. Dalroy and the doctor headed
the procession with the Gordons. and
the mere appearance OF Highlander
enforces awe in any part of Europe
went. and impressed on the escort ths
absolute necessity OF showing a deter
mined front. On nearing the packed
mass of people clamoring outside the
sharp orders. the rifles came from the
slope" to the ready" and those or
the outskirts of the throng saw a num-
ber of war-stained kiities advancing
on them with threatening mien.
BY some magic way was opened
to act. and faced about when the mai,
gates were reached. Here there was 3
hitch. but threat to nre a wolfe,
through the bars was efrectua,. ano
even the hardened doctors looked grave
when they heard the wall of anguish
that went up from the multitude with.
out as the gates clashed against fur.
ther inEress.
OF course. as might be expected. ther.
were hundreds of influential people
both British subjects and Belgians, al
ready inside. To them Dalroy gave n,
immediate heed. Merely requesting tn.
doctor to keep his contingent togethel
and distinct, he sought the harbor
master t~sp
No orders had been received as yef
from the mayor, and the incom .nt
steamer. quite small craft. was al
ready in the channel.
The harbormaster. a decent fellow
whose sole anxiety was to act for the
best. readily agreed to Dalroy's plan
30 the vessel. whose skipper had &C.
tually brought her to Ostend that even.
ing "on Spec" as he put it, was mooret
at distance Of some ten feet from
the quay.
How many people can you carry?'
was Dalroys first question to the cap
tain.
Well. SIR" came the surprising an
swer. we're licensed by the board OF
trade to carry forty five passengers ir
summer. but. in a pinch like this. II
try and stow away two hundred"
After that there was no pinch. A
gangway was fxed in position, the
armed guard were disposed around IT
and the doctors and Dalroy, with a
arrived later. constituted themselves a
committee of selection. The hospital
staff and their patients were placed or
board first. Wounded soldiers picked
up in Ostend itself were given the next
claim. Then British subjects, and
finally. Belgian refugees. were admit
ted