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202 WITH THE GERMAN ARMIES IN THE WEST
" Good ; when does the train start ?
"
" Now, immediately. But it isn’t exactly a train, only
four coupled locomotives ordered from Jemelle."
I have indulged in many modes of locomotion, from the
camels of Takla-makan to the rickshaws of Kioto, but it is
a solemn fact that I had never yet travelled on a locomotive,
and I therefore accepted the offer with the greatest alacrity.
So I took farewell of the excellent Dr. Fröhlich, and was
conducted with my baggage by a lantern-bearing Landsturm
man across a few railway tracks to the four locomotives.
The leading engine, which I climbed on to, had the tender
in front. I thus had a clear view of the line and of the landscape
which by degrees unfolded itself before me. But it was a
cold and draughty journey. A thin coating of hoar-frost lay
over the ground and its whiteness was emphasised by the
moon, which cold and solemn floated above the tormented
earth.
The driver and fireman were sturdily built fellows, de-
liberate and imperturbable. Their sooty faces betrayed no
emotion, no anxiety, but they kept their eyes glued on to
the line ahead, ready to stop the engine on the slightest sus-
picion. They were not exactly overworked, for lately their
duties had been reduced considerably ; but a little while
previously they assured me that they had had to work forty-
eight hours without a break. The firing of franctireurs along
the line had ceased. They could now travel with a certain
sense of security, but had nevertheless to be careful.
The night is calm and still. We meet long military trains,
looking weird and fantastic in the unaccustomed perspective,
and the stations, at Hatrival, at Merwart, are encumbered
with endless goods trains, now empty. Day gradually begins
to dawn. Gardens and woods begin to take shape, and the
leafy crowns of trees become more plainly outlined against
the sky and the white ground. We pass over a wrecked bridge
which has been repaired by German -pioniers. Here comes
Grupont with its arched bridge. It grows lighter and lighter.
I begin to long for the sun and its warmth. The landscape is
exceedingly pretty, with its wavy undulations and its little
coppices and meadows dotted about. The driver offers me
a little three-legged stool, and as the fireman opens the furnace
door to throw in a few shovelfuls of coal, he smiles at me when
I take the opportunity of warming my hands a moment.
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