Boy Scouts in Front of Warsaw; Or, In the Wake of War

by G. Harvey Ralphson

  CHAPTER XI

  THE RED CROSS CAR

  When Warren was dismissed from the hospital, he found himself beingstared at by Ivan in a very perplexing manner. Finally he demanded thereason. Ivan laughed.

  "You look so clean," he said. "Your face does not go with the rest ofyou, those ragged clothes and all that. Besides, I have not seen whatyour natural face looked like for a few days. I had forgotten just whatyou did look like."

  Warren smiled.

  "Just the same, it did seem good to clean up little," he said. "However,just to oblige you I'll put on a few frills." He stooped and rubbed hishands in some plaster dust, and transferred it to his face. Ivan studiedthe change.

  "That's better," he said. "As long as we have to wear these clothes, Ithink we had better look the part. There is one thing certain though. Weare dressed exactly as we were in Warsaw, when we were visiting ourfriends, the thieves. I wish we could get some other clothes."

  "I hadn't thought of that," said Warren. "I wish we could change, buthow can we?"

  "I don't know," said Ivan. "Certainly we can't risk having those peoplesee us. We will have to be cautious."

  "Where shall we go, I wonder?" mused Warren.

  "I don't suppose it matters now," said Ivan. "It is so late in theafternoon. Tomorrow morning we will have to watch the market. They willbe sure to come for more provisions."

  "True enough," said Warren. "Let's go down to the central station andsee if the trains are running again."

  The boys sauntered down through the streets without being molested bythe sharp-eyed soldiers who patrolled the way. They found the station abusy place. The trains were once more running, on broken schedules ofcourse, but everything was so nearly adjusted to the usual order thatthere was transportation for the hundreds who were eagerly seekingpassage. There were a great many foreigners carefully clutching theirtransports and hurrying out of the country. At the back of the stationstood an automobile, a low, racing roadster.

  "We had a ride in her last night," said Warren, as he approached andrecognized the machine. "And it was some ride, wasn't it, Ivan?"

  "It certainly was," said Ivan, smiling. "What's the red cross flag on itI wonder?"

  "The Princess has given it over to the hospital, I suppose," saidWarren. "No one will stop it now. Wonder who drives it? I'm sorry foranyone who rides with the crazy guy who tried to run it last night."

  "Here is the chauffeur now," said Ivan, stepping back as a dark, burlyman approached the machine and took a package from the tool-box.

  "He is a new one," said Warren.

  They wandered around the corner of the building and mingled with thethrongs waiting for the train. It came puffing in, and as the crowdpressed forward, Warren heard a familiar, coarse, whining voice behindhim. He looked; and as he did so, he was conscious of Ivan who, with thequickness of a bird, slipped between two people, and was out of sight.Instantly Warren followed him. They met behind a truck loaded withboxes.

  Warren was shaking. "Did you see?" he asked.

  "Yes," said Ivan in a low voice. "Elinor and Rika, too! What are wegoing to do?"

  "I don't know," said Warren. "Just do what we have to do when the timecomes. Don't risk them another hour. Elinor looks half dead. Keep out ofsight and watch for a chance. Don't let the girls see you, any more thanthe women. They would give it away, sure. Come on!"

  He slipped quickly through the crowd, only a boy, and unnoticed. Behind,at his heels, came a thin lad, soiled and ragged. It was Prince Ivan,Prince of one of the greatest houses in Warsaw, but his own father wouldnot have recognized him. Together they slyly watched the two women infront of them who, each with a child, begged pitifully of the travelers.The woman who had Rika held her in her arms, but poor little Elinor, onfoot, reached a tiny hand toward the passing throng, and fearfullyglanced at her ugly jailer as she did so.

  The train remained on the track. It was evidently going to make up asection. The women wandered here and there, and finally approached a bigpacking case near the station door. Here they stood, evidentlyconsulting. One woman slyly, showed the other a handkerchief full ofkopeks. Then while the boys scarcely dared to breathe, they seated thetwo children on the box, and with a fearful threat which caused the faceof Elinor to turn even paler, they hurried into the waiting room, andturned towards the ticket window.

  "Now!" said Warren, "and be quick!"

  He ran up to the children, and taking his sister in his arms, pressedhis hand over her mouth until he had spoken a word in her ear. Thenfollowed by Ivan carrying Rika, he walked steadily round the corner ofthe platform.

  Before him stood the roadster, with the Red Cross flag. Without aninstant's hesitation, he slipped into the driver's seat, Elinor still inhis arms. He thrust her between his knees, as Ivan took the other seat,and tucked little Rika out of sight in the same manner.

  As he did so, they heard a series of hoarse screams, and the two women,beating the air and wringing their hands, came rushing around thecorner. Warren started the car full speed, and they started with a jerkthat almost threw them out. Looking behind, Ivan saw the women point tothe car and to his dismay a soldier on a motorcycle jumped from hismachine and ran up to them. As the car sped down the long avenue, Ivansaw a last glimpse of the man returning to his machine. They werefollowed.

  "They are after us!" he said to Warren.

  "What with?" asked Warren, his eyes on the road. "There was no othermachine."

  "A soldier on a motorcycle. Make the first turn you can."

  Warren whipped the little racer round one curve and then another. He wasthinking deeply.

  Elinor commenced to cry.

  "Don't let them get me, Warry!" she begged.

  "You are all right, dear," he answered. Then to Ivan:

  "I have it. Didn't you say you knew that Princess what-is-her-name thatowns this car?"

  "Yes, a little," said Ivan.

  "Well, you could make her recognize whose son you are, couldn't you?"

  "Of course!" said Ivan.

  "Well," said Warren, "we can't get anywhere with the car, and the onlything for us to do is to go to the hospital as quickly as we can, andyou get hold of that Princess, and do some explaining. You see shestands in with both sides because of the hospital. It's her own sister'shouse, isn't it?"

  "Yes," said Ivan, "and that's the only thing to do. This is a Red Crosscar now, and there will be a big fuss about it."

  "Where are we, anyway?" said Warren, slowing down to regulation speed.

  "Turn to your left and ahead for three blocks, then once to the right,and you will see the palace in the distance," said Ivan.

  They swept on, reached the marble steps of the building, stopped thecar, and Warren leaped to the ground.

  He looked at his little sister. He could not speak, but held out hisarms, and she sprang into them. She clung to him trembling, and callinghis name over and over while he pressed kisses on her pale littlecheeks. With Ivan still holding Rika, they hurried up the steps just asthe soldier on the motorcycle whirled to the curb.

  He leaped from his seat and followed them, talking furiously in German,but the boys were so close to the open door that they slipped insidebefore the man could lay a hand on them. A nurse came up and a doctor,and the boys commenced, both at once, one in Polish and the other inEnglish, to explain matters. The doctor looked grave. No one would dreamthat the two thin, pale, ragged little girls were anything but thebeggars they looked to be, and the doctor shook his head.

  Ivan stamped his foot. "I want the Princess!" he said. "She willstraighten this out. Send someone for the Princess!" he demanded.

  "I think she is out," said the nurse; "but I will send." She gave amessage to an assistant, and they waited in silence while the girl wasgone. She returned in a moment.

  "The Princess is not here," she said, "but Madame, her sister, iscoming." As she spoke, the door opened, and the lovely face of PrincessOlga appeared.

  "What is the trouble?" she asked of the doctor, an
d glanced at the groupbefore her.

  One low cry she gave; one spring, and little Rika was folded to herbreast. The baby arms were close around her neck, the little face hiddenwhile the Princess murmured loving names and strained the little formclose to her heart.

  Warren was the first to speak. He turned to Ivan.

  "Well, what do you know about that?" he said solemnly in English.

  The doctor turned to Ivan and plied him with questions.

  Presently the Princess looked up.

  "Who are you?" she asked, noting the pale child at his side.

  "My name is Morris, Warren Morris," said Warren. He would have explainedfarther, but the Princess, rising, lifted her head and lookingreverently up, said simply, "God is good! Come with me!" Imperiously sheled the way down the great hall, now full of cots, and to a narrow door.She opened this and pushed Warren through ahead of her.

  And Evelyn, poor heart-broken Evelyn, saw him as he came. Then she hadhim in her arms; and for once Warren could not kiss her enough or hugher hard enough. But he had to be shared with Elinor who commenced tolook happy once more.

  "Where is father?" asked Warren doubtfully, when Evelyn seemed assuredthat he was real, and that she actually had Elinor back again.

  "Out with the Princess," said Evelyn. Then for the first time shenoticed that the Princess was gone, and the door shut, and they werealone.

  "Warren, you must be very good to father," said Evelyn gently. "He hassuffered more than I ever knew anyone could. He takes all the blame foreverything."

  "Well,--" said Warren stubbornly, "a lot of it has been his fault."

  "That doesn't matter now," said Evelyn. "Father is not to blame for theforgetfulness and selfishness in his work that we find so hard to bear.His parents are the ones to blame. They thought because he was such abright child that everything should be made secondary to his needs. Andthen our dear mother went right on spoiling him. So now we, who are hischildren, can't expect to make him over. We have just got to rememberthat he is a truly great man--in his own line, and we are very proud ofhim. We are older now, and things won't be so hard for us."

  "You bet we are older!" said Warren. "I don't expect to feel any olderwhen I am ninety than I do now. But you are right about father. I havefelt pretty sore, sis, I confess, and when I thought you were dead, andElinor lost for good, it didn't seem as though I could forgive him. Youare right about his people. Folks have no right to let a kid run thewhole place like that, even if it is to develop his brain. I'll tell youone thing, if ever I have any kids of my own, I'm going to bring them upafter a plan of my own."

  Evelyn smiled. "I hope it will work, Warry," she said.

  Warren looked savage. "It will, you can bet," he said. "I will make themgo to school, of course, but they will begin to qualify for the BoyScouts when they are about three years old; and they will learn toshoot, and know first aid when they are about four, and a lot of otherthings when they are five or so."

  Evelyn groaned. "I'm sorry for those children, Warren," she laughed.

  "Well, perhaps I will give them a little more time, but they have got tounderstand that efficiency is as necessary when they are sixteen as whenthey are sixty. Do you remember those chaps we saw in Switzerland? Theywere way up in their studies. You know I went to school with a fellowone day, but when school was out they were doing things worth while. Andthe fellow I knew had the dandiest rifle I ever saw. He said it was aprize from the government for target shooting. And he knew how to handlethat gun, too. He said there was a fine for carelessness with firearms.

  "Then these Germans. I've seen dozens of fellows no older than I am.They are hard as nails and fit every minute. Say, what's father going todo?" he demanded. "Are we going to spend our lives here, or are we goinghome?"

  "Father does not know yet that you are here, you know," Evelyn remindedhim. "He ought to be here soon now."

  "Let's get him to go home as soon as we can," said Warren.

  "I've seen about all I can stand of these horrors." He put his armaround Evelyn's shoulders and embraced both dear sisters.

  "Evelyn, we will never be the same children again," he said sadly. "Oh,I'm homesick for America! I want to go home to Princeton. I want to haveit come Fourth of July and hear the crackers go off and see the flaghanging out of store windows, and upside down and wrong side to onpeople's lawns the way they most always hang it. I want to hooray for'Mericky.' I am dead, dead sick of this, sissy. I want to go where Ibelong."

  "Poor old Warren!" said Evelyn. "I know how you feel. I want to go, too.But you can't shake the dust of Europe off like that, you know. We havemade friends, good friends here, and you will have to keep in touch withthe Polish Boy Scouts. You can't shirk that, you know."

  "No, of course not," agreed Warren. "I just want to go home and soak upon America for awhile. I've got a lot of things to tell those fellows,too!" he said solemnly.

  "Well, we could go right away if father is willing, and if we could getpassports and transportation," said Evelyn. "Only I've got to go backand get the baby."

  "The WHAT!" shouted Warren.

  "Why, the baby," said Evelyn. "The baby you brought me; the one youbrought me from its dead mother."

  "Sure enough!" said Warren. "Well, where is it, anyway?"

  "Back in Warsaw," said Evelyn. "I left it with the woman who lived inthe corner house. When the soldiers took us away, she came out to seewhat the disturbance was, and she offered to keep the baby."

  "A baby!" said Warren. "So you are going to take it home! Well, thatdoes seem almost the last straw! You don't suppose your friend in Warsawwould like to keep it?"

  "No, I don't," said Evelyn firmly. "That woman has six, and her husbandwas killed, and she is ruined. She will have hard enough work feedingher own. She is an angel to keep it so, long. We have dozens ofrelatives over home, and they are all going to have the privilege ofhelping to care for our little war baby. I shall name her for thePrincess."

  "All right," said Warren. He went to the window and looked out. "I wishfather would come," he said. "Is Jack with him? Suppose I go and lookfor them?"

  "You will stay right here," said Evelyn. "I don't want one of you out ofmy sight from now on. Jack is with father. They went out to go to themarket. Father has been helping a lot here. He has given the hospitalall sorts of things that were badly needed. The Princess will send himin as soon as she comes. Isn't it like a fairy tale to think that we hadlittle Rika all the time?"

  "I wish you would begin at the beginning and tell me all that happenedafter you were arrested," said Warren. "I have had such a lot ofscraps."

  "All right," said Evelyn. She looked down at the little sister in herarms. "See," she said, "she has gone to sleep. The darling isexhausted."

  Warren looked grave. "She has had the worst experience of all," he said."We won't know for a good while just what she has undergone. I would notwant to question her. It will have to come out in bits. And I think thebaby will be a good thing after all. It will help occupy Elinor'sattention and make her forget. Yes, we have got to get out of here assoon as we can on her account. Now go on."

  Evelyn cuddled the sleeping child more closely, and commencing at themoment when the soldiers broke down the door, she told her brother thethrilling and almost unbelievable story of their adventure. Finally shereached the end. Warren had made no comments, but the stern and anxiousexpression of his face betrayed his feelings. Evelyn paused.

  "And to think that I was right on the other side of that door when youwere crying yesterday! Poor little sister, I hope you will never, neverhave to cry for me again."

  There was a sound of rapid steps at the door. It was flung open and Jackrushed in, closely followed by the Professor.

  Trouble and danger and separation change our viewpoint. There had been atime not long past when Warren regarded any demonstration of affectionas unmanly, but now he found himself in his father's arms and only tooglad to be there.

  CHAPTER XII

  OVER THE SEA
r />   Evelyn had told the truth. Professor Morris was a changed man. For thefirst time in all his orderly humdrum student existence, he had had toface war and death and murder, and all the crimes that stalk through aland at such times.

  It had accomplished what all the arguments, all the lecturing, all theentreaties in the world would never have accomplished. Professor Morrishad been shaken out of himself. There had been sleepless nights when hislife had looked very poor and thin and useless. What was his book, a drything of many pages, when he compared it to the needs of the dearchildren who had been so loyal and so true to him? It came to him thatculture may be made as selfish and as harmful as any vice there is.

  But Benjamin Morris was, after all, a man; and late as it was, it wasnot too late for him to humbly resolve to be a better father, and a morevaluable citizen. And he kept his word.

  Presently Ivan returned. The boy had purposely kept away until thereunited family had had time to talk everything all over. When heentered, Professor Morris sat looking at him, with his eyes narrowed anda puzzled look on his face. Evelyn knew that look, and wondered what waspassing in her father's mind. He sat quite silent, and after a littleleft the room. When he returned, he brought the Princess Olga, who wasleading the little Rika as though she dared not leave her out of hersight.

  "We have been talking things over," said Princess Olga. "Of course theonly reasonable thing for Professor Morris to do is to return to Americawithout delay. He has no right to remain here and possibly endanger thelives of so many young people, and there is nothing that he can do forus. Some day we will want help, and then we know that you will all cometo our aid. Ivan, we have been talking it all over with my husband, thePrince, and we have decided that the best thing for you to do is to goalso. Wait," she said as Ivan shook his head. "My boy, our country is inruins. Your father is at the front, we know not where. You can not servehim by remaining here where you are, every moment in danger of beingarrested and held as a prisoner or worse. Your estates are in ruins; butnot withstanding, you are, after your father, the head of your house.You owe to Poland the one thing you can now do for her. You mustpreserve and safeguard your life. And you must go to the Universitywhere Professor Morris is such an eminent instructor. You must learnstatesmanship. Some day, Ivan, Poland will need you. What chance haveyou here now in this stricken land?

  "I want you to go, Ivan. We will take the responsibility. And I want youto take these jewels, and use them for your expenses and education!" Sheheld out a glittering handful of priceless gems.

  "No," said Professor Morris firmly. "Princess, you will need all youhave. It happens that I have plenty of money, and we live very simply,so there is enough and to spare for the two children we hope to takewith us."

  "Two?" said the Princess.

  "The baby," said the Professor. "I confess the needs of an infant seemtoo complex and difficult for me to cope with, but my daughterentertains no fears, and insists upon taking the little fellow with us."

  "It's a girl, father," corrected Evelyn.

  "Ah, yes," said the Professor, bowing. "I believe you did say that he isa girl."

  "I have told him at least a dozen times," said Evelyn in a whisper toWarren.

  "I suppose we have got to take her along, no matter what he is," Warrenwhispered back.

  "However," said the Professor, glancing reprovingly at the children,"there is plenty of money, in reason, and if Ivan prefers, we will keepan account of his educational expenses, and at some future date he canrepay what I shall deem necessary to expend for him."

  "That is better," said the Princess. She turned to Ivan.

  "You will go, Ivan."

  "Yes," said Ivan. Then sadly, "But I wish I could see my father."

  "It is indeed hard," said the Princess. "We feel that he must be unhurthowever, and I know that he will be so relieved, and glad to know thatyou are in a place of safety. So that is settled." She smiled.

  "Now there is one more thing to be done. I have here a permit from theGeneral in charge of the city. It gives us safe conduct on the roads toWarsaw and return, to get the baby. I have arranged for one of thenurses to go with the new chauffeur and Warren. I will take part of herduties, and Evelyn may assist me. She will get the baby and bring ithere to us. They can go tonight, and return tomorrow. All will then beready for your departure, if in the meantime Professor Morris canarrange to get your passports and your sailing privileges."

  "It sounds easy," said Warren to Evelyn. "When do you suppose we willstart?"

  "As soon as the car is ready," said the Princess. "Get wraps foryourself, Warren. The nurse is ready, and she has everything needful forthe baby."

  "Oh, Warren, be careful, begged Evelyn. I declare I have half a mind togo with you!"

  Warren laughed. "I have a whole mind that you will not!" he said,patting her shoulder. "You stay right here and don't go out of theplace, and keep father and Ivan and Elinor where you can see them allthe time. And if we are not back by noon tomorrow, don't begin to worry.Just lay our delay to a puncture or something of that sort. We won't bemolested. The paper from the General is as good as a regiment of men.You had better believe that no one would dare hurt us, or even detain uswhile I have that to show them."

  "Well, be careful just the same," begged Evelyn.

  "I surely will," promised Warren.

  Everything went as smoothly as Warren had anticipated. The trip toWarsaw was without a hitch. Again and again they were stopped bysoldiers, and each time the paper from the Commanding General acted likemagic. Indeed, they were more than once assisted on their way, ordirected to short cuts. In Warsaw it was the same. Warren, however,avoided that part of the city where he thought he might come in contactwith Captain Handel, and driving by another route, approached the houseof the neighbor who had so kindly taken care of the homeless littlewaif. The child was safe and well, having suffered less than they hadfeared from its terrible experience. With a thousand thanks and promisesto write, Warren left the good, motherly woman and started on the returntrip.

  They slept at an obscure little village that night in peace. The townhad been overlooked in the tempest of war, and was untouched.

  At the inn they found good food and plenty of it. In the morning, whenthey started, they found every available part of the car crammed withofferings for the wounded soldiers. The chauffeur had spent a busyevening talking to the horrified villagers and it is to be believed thatthe terrors he had witnessed in Lodz and elsewhere did not lose in thetelling. So there were all sorts of offerings for the wounded; bread anddried fish and cheese; and money, sometimes gold, sometimes a singlekopek wrapped in scraps of paper, written over with heartfelt prayers ofpity. There was scarcely room for the passengers to crowd in the car.

  Warren took the wheel, and the chauffeur, still the hero of theoccasion, stood on the running board and waved his cap and called hisfarewells as long as they were in sight.

  The baby slept most of the time. It was a good baby, and Warren began toregard it with less distrust. They reached Lodz without accident and asthey drew up at the palace, now only a hospital, Warren's watch stood attwelve. It had been a wonderful trip.

  Everything was going well. The Prince was stronger, and his wife, thebeautiful Princess, was smiling happily.

  All that day and the next the Professor and the three boys went fromoffice to office and back again to the army headquarters, getting thenecessary papers.

  It was a difficult matter to get everything adjusted, but finally it wasdone, and there was no longer any reason for them to remain.

  They said good-bye to the Princess and her children, and at last startedon the journey home.

  It was a time to be remembered as long as they lived. All of Europe wasplunged in gloom. Even the neutral countries they touched or crossed intheir roundabout way were oppressed by such sorrow that it was almost asbad as war.

  Reaching a seaport at last, they secured passage on a slow Americanboat, and it was not until they watched the shore receding from
theirview that they actually believed that they were on the way home.

  "Just the things we have seen coming over from Lodz would fill a book,"said Warren to the group at the rail.

  "I wouldn't want to read it," said Jack, shuddering.

  "Nor I!" said Evelyn. "Oh, boys, you don't know how funny you look inthe clothes you have on!"

  "What's the matter with my clothes?" said Warren, looking down at thevery short trousers and very long coat he was wearing. "I don't see butwhat I am all right, but doesn't Jack look cuty-cute? Kind of LordFauntleroy effect!"

  Everyone stared at Jack, who looked himself over in surprise. "It is allthey had at that store we went to that would fit me. I try to turn thosepants up, but they keep coming down." Everyone laughed as Jack stoopedand once more tried to turn up the loose trousers which enveloped hisslim legs. Left to themselves, they reached half way to his ankles, soJack, who was used to knickerbockers, had carefully rolled them to hisknee. The result was that most of the time one leg or the other hungdismally down its full length. His jacket was a short roundabout,something like an Eton jacket, and his shirt was soft and frilled.

  "I don't see why we didn't just wear the things we had on," hecomplained.

  "I guess not!" said Warren. "Those work clothes? Why, Jack, see howdressy we are now! We look like somebody; a bunch of 'em! We have gotsample clothes from half the countries in Europe. See how neutral thatmakes us! Take yourself, Jack. Your feet are Polish, and your pants areGerman, and the top of you looks Dutch. Is it?"

  "My cap came from home," said Jack furiously, "and so did my face! Theminute we get out here a way, I am going to yell Hurrah for America asloud as ever I can."

  "Wow!" said Warren. "Excuse me, Jack, old fellow, I didn't mean to bedisrespectful. We are all in the same fix as far as clothes go. EvenEvelyn looks a little queer. 'All the world is a little queer,' hequoted, 'and thee is a little queer.'"

  Safe on board ship, our party found that they were utterly tired out.They slept hour after hour; they were furiously hungry. The days wentswiftly, without accident. Professor Morris, true to his newresolutions, spent a great part of each day with his children, and theyfound him a most delightful and amusing companion. He developed analarming fondness for the baby, which he persisted in calling "him." Hewas fond of holding the quiet little creature, but after one of hislapses into the forgetfulness of the past, he happened to think ofsomething he wanted to do so he laid his newspaper in Evelyn's lap, andbefore she could stop him placed the baby firmly in a waste paper boxhead down.

  After that Evelyn watched him. They had brought a young refugee withthem as nurse for the baby, so Evelyn was not burdened with too muchcare.

  The boys played games and made plans and wrote letters. Ivan commenced adiary. He said he would never be able to remember every single thingthat was happening, and going to happen, and he didn't want to forgetit. Warren planned to have an evening with the home Scouts and tell themall that had occurred.

  "And you will be Exhibit A," he declared, clapping Ivan on the shoulder.

  The voyage drew to an end, as all fortunate voyages will. The last nightcame clear and fine. There was a stir of joyful anticipation on thegreat ship. Everybody packed up what trifles they had been able to bringaway with them. Everybody talked and exchanged addresses and saidgood-bye. The day of landing is always too, full and confused foranything of that sort. Once more the Professor's manuscript seemed tohim to be a thing of value. He picked it up and put it down a thousandtimes. It was a relief to everyone when the hour grew so late that eventhe most restless turned in, and went to sleep or at least tried to.

  At gray dawn Ivan was aroused by Warren shaking him.

  "Get up, Ivan, get up!" he cried. "I can see it!" The boy was shakingviolently, and his teeth chattered.

  "What ails you?" said Ivan, speaking in Polish. "See what?"

  Warren answered in English. "America. Home, the little old UnitedStates!" A dry sob choked him. "Oh!" he said, "I didn't know I felt likethis! Hurry up, old Scout! Dress and let's get out!"

  Voices sounded through the ship; people stirred and hurried with theirdressing. It was as though a shock of electricity had stirred them.Certainly there had been no spoken call.

  As the boys hurried to the deck, the risen sun, a ball of gold, blazedlike a celestial blessing, a flood of glory on the marvelous shore lineahead. Warren rushed forward.

  But Ivan, without a look, turned and made his solitary way to the sternof the ship, and there, all alone, looked away over the empty sea.

  For long he gazed. His eyes were filled with tears.

  "Good-bye, my father," he said. "Good-bye, my country. I will come backto you." He flung his hand out in a passionate gesture of farewell. Thenwith a last look, Prince Ivan, homeless, countryless, and fatherless,slowly turned, and, the boy Ivan went soberly to join Warren, who, crazywith joy, hung yelling over the rail at the prow.

  Before them, like the vision of an enchanted land, rose the wonderfulshore line of the harbor; and before them, nearer and nearer, clearerand clearer, the Statue of Liberty, wise, strong, majestic, with theonly true majesty of earth on her beautiful brow, the majesty of Freedomand of Truth.

  They had reached America.

  THE END