President
presently, "he is a lad of brains, too, and has behaved splendidly. Of
course what he has done must not be lost sight of."

There was a general assent to this.

He ought to be recommended for his D.C.M. was the general verdict.

Early next morning Waterman was led out to a wall not far from the room
where he had been judged. He walked steadily and proudly towards the
place of his execution, and then stood erect like a soldier at
attention. He faced his dread ordeal with a look of pride on his face.

"Fire!"

Several shots rang out, and he fell heavily to the ground.

"Yon' chap'll never do any more spying," said one soldier to another a
little later.

"If I had my way," said the other, "he should not have had such a death
as that. When I think of the dirty meanness of these German swine;
when I think of spies like that; when I think of poisonous gas, and of
all their treachery, I feel as though nothing's too bad for them
Germans. At first, when the war commenced I had nowt but kindly
feelings towards the soldiers, as soldiers; but now----"

CHAPTER X

It was late in November when the events just recorded took place, and a
few days later the English newspapers contained special paragraphs
headed "Heroism of a Lancashire Lad." Few details were given about
Waterman, but Tom's bravery was fully commented on.

More than one journalist who had obtained details of what Tom had done
made special reference to him and spoke of him in glowing terms. Mrs.
Pollard received many applications for Tom's photograph, and presently
when she learnt that it appeared in newspapers all over the country,
she gave expression to remarks more forcible than elegant.

"Our Tom an 'ero, eh?" she laughed. "Weel, I never knowed it afore. I
always looked upon him as a bit of a coward, but it's this 'ere
sodgering as has done it, I suppose. 'Appen there's summat in th'
uniform. When a lad's got sodger's clothes on, I reckon as aa' it
makes him feel cocky. But it's a pity he's still such a fool as to
keep on wi' Polly Powell. I wrote him a letter a while sin' telling
him as aa' Polly wur walking out wi' other lads, but she still boasts
as aa' Tom's faithful to her, and that she's got him under her thumb."

"'Appen he will give her the sack now," said a neighbour.

"Nay, our Tom wur always a fool. He might have had Alice Lister if he
hadn't been such a ninny, but she's engaged to Harry Briarfield now. I
wrot