d
were working at the local barracks; while here and there the more
adventurous of the operatives found their way to recruiting stations.
But the response was not large; partly for the reason that the reality
of their country's call had not come to them with its full meaning.

One evening Tom found himself talking with young Waterman, who had been
away from Brunford for some weeks.

"Hullo, Pollard," said Waterman, "I see you have not enlisted."

"Nay, I am not bound to enlist; there's enough gone to lick the Germans
already. Don't you think so?" asked Tom.

A bright light came into Waterman's eyes. "I am going to enlist," he
said--"that is, my people are getting me a commission. I have had some
training, you know."

"But we shall quickly lick them, don't you think so?" asked Tom.
"You've been in Germany a goodish bit. You went to school and college
there, so you ought to know."

Waterman laughed. "We English are fools," he said.

"How's that?"

"Of course I am going to do my bit," said Waterman. "As an Englishman
I must; but we shall never lick the Germans."

"Why? Think of the millions the Russians have got; think of the
French; think of our Navy."

"Ay, think of it all," replied Waterman, "but you don't know what the
Germans are. I do. In that country every man is a soldier. Look at
Brunford; here are thousands upon thousands of fellows who are hanging
back, and who are worth nothing in a time of war. If this had been a
German town every man you see would be a soldier. Then see how much in
advance of us the Germans are in scientific matters. They have got
mountains of guns and ammunition. Besides, they have made a science of
war, while Englishmen are only amateurs. Think of what they have done
already; nearly the whole of Belgium belongs to them, and a great slice
of France."

"But do you mean to say," cried Tom, "that they will lick us? Why,
think of our Navy; think of----"

Waterman did not wait to hear the end of Tom's sentence; he crossed the
road and was lost to sight.

One event took place, however, which somewhat opened the people's eyes,
and is talked of even to-day. A young German who had come to Brunford
a few years before, and who had succeeded in amassing a fortune, was
called home by his Government. So popular had he become in the town,
and so little had the realities of the war laid hold of the people,
that some of the leading townsmen decided to give him a dinner. Th