by Anthology
"It don't look very far to shore," the Captain suggested.
"It's not," Mabel agreed. "But most of the way you'll have fifteen feet of water under you. Eve can't swim any too well and we neither of us can do much in these clothes. Besides, the storm's pretty sure to break when we're about halfway over."
Merriam kicked off his pumps rapidly and began tugging at the collar of his dress shirt.
"You'd better come with me, Mabs," he ordered briefly. "I'm not as good a swimmer as Les and you can swim better than Eve. It's our only chance and if we don't hurry, it won't be even that much."
Evelyn, confused by the sudden rush of events, did not notice that the Captain had quickly followed his friend's example. But now he stood before her on the treacherous ledge, clad only in his shirt and trousers, the water up to his ankles. She understood the silent command in his eyes and giving him her hands, stepped over the low gunwale of the boat into the warm water. He grasped her firmly by the arm and led her forward into the gathering darkness. Once he called to the pair ahead, "Does it go off suddenly?"
And when the answer came back, "No, it shelves off," he said to her, "When we get into deeper water, do you think you could get rid of your skirt?"
She shook her head mutely and trembled very much as she felt the wet caress of the water rise to her knees, then to her waist, then to her breast. Then the Captain stopped and she heard his voice, quiet and steady, in her ear. "Put your hand on my shoulder and hold tight. Whatever happens, don't try to get your arms around my neck. You understand?"
She was too frightened to reply, but her silence seemed to satisfy him. She felt him draw her hand over his shoulder and her fingers instinctively gripped the folds of his shirt. Then her feet were lifted off the rocky floor of the reef, and she floated helplessly on the black void.
At that instant, the storm broke.
Chapter II
The Men Who Rule The World
LONDON. A high, vaulted room into which the daylight streams through many tall, pointed windows. The bare stone walls are wainscotted halfway up and on the dark woodwork hang many paintings, all depicting events connected with the founding of the International Federation. There is the "Signing of the Treaty of Geneva" by Fortier, the obscure French artist, who became famous in a single day. There is Hartmann's celebrated group of the "First Commissioners of the Federation." There is even that much-discussed picture "The Peace of Berlin" by an unknown hand, which brought ever-increasing sums at the sales until Greene, the American capitalist, presented it to the High Commission. At one end of the long hall, over the great bronze doors, Commerce gazes with stony eyes at the scene below. At the other end, Justice and Peace stand on either side of the huge fireplace. Over the fireplace itself are the arms of the Federation in hammered steel taken from the last gun to be fired in the War of the Nations.
Down the centre of the hall runs a long table of polished mahogany at which are seated twenty-five men. To the careful observer, their faces are of much interest, for among them can be seen the lofty forehead of the thinker and the keen eyes of the man of affairs, the placid countenance of the dreamer and the furrowed features of the scientist, the baffling mask of the diplomat and the firm, set mouth of one accustomed to command. Every race is represented here, from the fairest of the Saxons to the darkest of the Latins, for these are the High Commissioners of the International Federation of civilised nations — the men who rule the world.
If the reader were familiar with the usual calm which presided over the meetings of this august assemblage, he could not fail to observe that today a spirit of restlessness seemed to pervade the gathering. Only the voice of the President, an iron-grey man of over seventy years, continued calm and unhurried through the routine business of the day. Presently when the mass of papers at the upper end of the long table had melted away to a few scattered sheets, a watchful secretary deposited a small pile of documents before the President and a slight stir ran through the throng as though an event long waited for had arrived.
"We have now to consider, gentlemen," went on the steady voice; "the question of reducing the body known as the International Police, which, as you are aware, is the active agent of this Commission and of the International Federation. A referendum has been held in six of the most powerful members of the Federation, to wit: Great Britain, the United States of America, France, Prussia, the South American Confederation, and Russia, recommending for our consideration and report this important matter." He paused for an instant as if considering what his next words were to be, and several of the Commissioners shifted uneasily in their chairs. "It is known to you all," resumed the President, "that we have no power to enforce our decisions upon the nations. We can only deliberate upon the matters brought to our attention and recommend a certain course of action resulting from these deliberations. It is also known to you that in no recorded instance have the nations which we represent failed to accept our recommendations."
A little ripple of excitement was plainly evident among the Commissioners. Feet moved upon the floor and glances were exchanged, for since the early days of the Commission no presiding officer had ever spoken thus. The President's words seemed to heighten the gravity of the event and increase the tremendous burden of responsibility, which each man felt upon him, thirty fold. But the President had taken up the topmost of the pile of papers in front of him and was continuing in his usual, unhurried tone.
"I have here," he said, "a memorandum of the present strength of the International Police, as provided for in the Constitution of the Federation. It is not necessary for me to refer to this in detail, since the complete report of the Police General Staff is accessible to each one of you. In view, however, of the discussion upon which we are about to embark, I will remind you that the Military Division numbers about 800,000 officers and men, including all branches of the service, and the Naval Division has in its first line some thirty-eight first-class and ten second-class battleships, and in addition, a large fleet of first, second, and third-class cruisers, destroyers, and submarines and the necessary auxiliary and supply ships." The President laid the paper at one side and took up another.
"The suggestions contained in the referendums of the six powers mentioned," he resumed, "are too varied to furnish an accurate guide to the desire of the world at large. The United States wishes an arbitrary reduction made to half the present strength within a year's time. Great Britain suggests a gradual reduction extending over a number of years and eliminating, in all, about one-third of the present force. Prussia submits a detailed plan for reorganisation on a much smaller basis, but leaves the method of bringing this about to the judgment of this Commission. The other plans present even greater differences."
He pushed the mass of papers away and leaned back in his chair.
"The important point for us to consider at this time," he continued," is whether or not a reduction of any nature is advisable. Gentlemen, the matter is now open for discussion."
There was an interval of silence after the President had spoken the formal words which opened the deliberations of the Commission on any question. A feeling of tension was in the air which, to the unenlightened observer, would appear greater than even a subject of so much importance warranted, and each man looked at his neighbour as if striving to see who had the courage to take the initiative. In the dead stillness of the Council Hall, the tramp of the sentry on the walk below the windows could be plainly heard. Suddenly a slight, dark man, seated near the centre of the long table, arose.
"Your Excellency," he began, bowing to the President, "and fellow-members of the High Commission, it is true that for very many years this strong force of which we have the direction has been for the most part idle. Now people complain, and with much justice, that to keep this great, idle force efficient there is a drain upon the nations of money and men that could be put to better uses. The world points backward to the long, peaceful years since the War of the Nations. 'We have had no need of these many ships and these
many men in the past,' says the world, 'why should they continue to burden us? Peace breeds peace. Education, enlightenment, the teachings of our religion, with their rapid strides are swiftly sweeping away the last remnants of opposition to the great mission of our Federation. If we have had peace in the past, can we not all the more surely trust in its continuance for all time?' Thus speaks the world. Am I not right, fellow-members of the High Commission?"
He looked about him as if appealing for support and more than one head in the assembly nodded assent.
"Now hear me!" resumed the Italian, leaning forward on the table and speaking with more vehemence, "I have given you the voice of the world and I say that that voice is wrong! Do you believe that this building, because it has stood for so many years, will stand forever? No, my friends, we do not. The weather will wear it away little by little and unless we constantly guard it and constantly renew it, it will some day fall. So we must constantly guard and constantly renew the strength of our great Federation, or it too will fall and carry with it the last hope of the human race. Do you believe because for so many years the western world has lived in harmony and accord that the fierce and terrible ambition of race and race rule is dead? Ah, my friends, if you trust in this you are blind — blind — blind! Countless millions who do not share our dreams and are not of our religion of love grow greedy of our wealth and power. They say that with wealth and power we will grow overconfident and careless in our seeming security and when the hour of our weakness comes, they will be ready. My friends," he stretched out his hands appealingly, "I do not plead with you for mere ships and men, but I do beseech you not to betray the guardianship of the world which the world has placed in your hands. The world has chosen us from many millions to watch over it, because it trusts us better than it can trust itself. The hour of our weakness is at hand. Pray God we see it in time!"
Once more a subdued rustle was heard and again glances were exchanged, but the grey President sat motionless and only his eyes searched keenly among the faces grouped about the table. Another man rose slowly to his feet, a man with snow-white hair, but whose lean, hard features showed none of the weakness expected from his many years.
"Your Excellency and gentleman," he said, "this is too important a matter to leave to the guidance of mere conviction, however sincere that may be. We must consider the facts of the case and the facts alone if we are to arrive at any sane conclusion — or any safe one," he added as an afterthought. "For many years we have heard of the supposed menace of the Eastern races and it is a popular belief that our splendid International Police has been kept at its present strength in deference to this world-wide superstition. In fact, I do not doubt that this belief has been shared by many of you. Let us see, now, in just what this supposed danger consists. Since the founding of our federation, we have had treaties with China, Japan, and the Mohammedan countries by the terms of which our teachers, our missionaries, and our industrial representatives have been free to come and go in the nations of the orient, carrying the benefits of our civilisation to all who would accept them. At present the different nations of our Federation have established over fifty colleges where the higher branches of learning are taught in the Chinese Republic alone, besides schools without number. Our missionaries report nearly a third of the entire population converted to the doctrines of Christianity. Our business houses have branches and connections throughout the East. The detailed facts will be placed before you in the complete report of this session. Even more to the point is a letter recently received by me from a high dignitary of the Chinese Republic. In substance, this is as follows: 'The benefits we have received from the International Federation are so great and wide-spread that they are recognised not only by the more enlightened classes of the Republic, but by the common folk as well. We are doing our best to imitate, but we must struggle constantly against the forces of bigotry and superstition. But the time will come, and I believe that it is not far off, when China will be ready to join her sister nations of the western world.' My observations are not confined to China alone. You will find in the statistics I have prepared that similar conditions exist in all the other nations outside of the Federation. I do not wish at this time to make any definite proposal for decreasing or maintaining our International Police. I wish merely to say that if we have kept up this huge armament to protect us from a visionary storm cloud in the East, we have been carrying a useless weight for many years."
There was a deep-toned assent from the other side of the table. "I also," said the Prussian representative, "I haf myself prepared figures which all this will prove."
Many other Commissioners spoke at more or less length, some taking one side of the question, some the other, but as the session wore on it was easy to see that the alarmists were losing in strength. The sunset glow faded from the tall windows long before the last speaker had finished and the hall shone with the many cunningly hidden electrics when the President spoke the final words which dissolved the Commission for the day.
"You will be furnished, gentlemen," he said, shading his tired eyes with his heavy hand; "with a full report of the session, including all the facts and figures cited, as usual. You will study this at your leisure and be prepared to vote upon the question thirty days from today. This is the extreme limit granted to us under the Constitution of the Federation. If a majority at any time desire that the matter be brought before a meeting of the Commission for further discussion, this will be granted. The session is closed."
A golden chime pealed through the hall and the great bronze doors opened, revealing a double line of men in the grey-green uniforms of the International Police standing with the immobility of the stone statues in the Council Chamber. The Commissioners thronged out hurriedly, passing between the lines of the Police, who presented arms with a single rattle of their rifles, and when the last man had passed, broke into column and tramped resoundingly down the corridor. Only the grey President remained motionless in his chair after the others had gone and standing at a little distance, respectfully waiting, the Italian who had made the opening speech of the session. When the noise in the corridor had died away, the President stirred and addressed the waiting Commissioner. "You wish to speak with me, Signor?"
"I wished to ask, your Excellency," exclaimed the Italian impulsively, "if you favoured this horrible crime against civilisation which the High Commission in its unaccountable blindness seems determined to perpetrate?"
"It is not permitted to me under the Constitution," said the President evenly, "to show favour or disfavour. My duty is to guide the machinery of the High Commission — nothing more."
"But at least, your Excellency," urged the other, "one may have an opinion. That is a right allowed by nature to every human being and even the Constitution of the International Federation cannot take it away."
"To have an opinion is permitted — yes," returned the President, "but to express such an opinion to any member of the High Commission — no!"
The Italian half turned away with a helpless gesture of his thin, nervous hands. For several seconds he stood hesitating, while all the while the keen eyes of the grey old man in the lofty chair studied his dark, expressive features. Suddenly he raised his head proudly, the light of his conviction shining in his eyes.
"Hear me, your Excellency," he began, "I was but a child when the War of the Nations tore my unhappy country from end to end. All that I held most dear was swept away in that awful turmoil, and for long years thereafter I with my fellow-countrymen remained crushed to the earth without help and without hope. Then a dream came to me in the darkness wherein I lay — the dream of a world united in the bonds of an everlasting peace — the dream of great nations putting the sword from their hands and joining surely and firmly in an irresistible march towards a higher civilisation than the earth had yet beheld. When the first faint whisper of the formation of an International Federation reached my ears, I hailed it as the first great proof that my dream would be fulfilled. With this assurance burnin
g like a sacred fire in my breast, I drew Italy among the first into the great Federation. Ah, your Excellency, many men have mocked at me for being a dreamer — a visionary — pursuing shining bubbles and letting go the solid, material affairs of the world. But can any say that in this instance I dreamed to no purpose?" He paused and looked appealingly at the motionless figure in the great chair, but it remained immovable and seemingly oblivious, save for the restless movements of the keen, grey eyes.
"With the accomplishment of my early vision," the Italian pursued, "another came to me. I saw the great nations of the earth, untroubled in their onward progress, grow careless and unmindful that their mission was still unfinished. Long years of peace brought false confidence in a seemingly impregnable security. The nations have grown insolent in their power and blind to the fires which still smoulder on the borders of civilisation. They believe that their command alone is sufficient to turn the forces of the earth as they desire. Your Excellency, can a word check the raging fire in the forest when once it is unloosed? I have no facts and figures to amuse the plodding world" — he threw out his hands with an indescribable gesture of impatience and disgust — "I have no long columns of statistics to prove whatever I wish to prove. But I know the world and the heart of the world. I can see the mighty powers of the East lulling us to a fatal sleep with smooth promises and many words — and if we sleep, we are lost!"
For the first time the President stirred as if moved by the words of the speaker. For a brief space he seemed to deliberate with himself, but at length he rose and advancing to the younger man put a kindly hand upon his shoulder.
"Come with me," he said, and led the way out of the Council Chamber and down the long corridor to an oaken door at which stood a rigid sentry. The door opened to the pressure of a spring, and passing through a small anteroom, where two officers of the International Police rose in salute, the pair entered a low room, the walls of which were completely covered with quaintly carven woodwork, dark with great age. A large desk stood against one wall and at this the President seated himself, motioning his companion to a capacious armchair placed nearby.