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relieved； however； by the childish delight of Victory and Thirty…six in the
novel experience of riding safely upon the bosom of the water； and of
being so far from land。
With the possible exception of Snider； the little party appeared in the
best of spirits； laughing and joking； or interestedly discussing the
possibilities which the future held for us： what we should find upon the
continent； and whether the inhabitants would be civilized or barbarian
peoples。
Victory asked me to explain the difference between the two； and when
I had tried to do so as clearly as possible； she broke into a gay little laugh。
〃Oh；〃 she cried； 〃then I am a barbarian！〃
I could not but laugh； too； as I admitted that she was； indeed； a
barbarian。 She was not offended； taking the matter as a huge joke。 But
some time thereafter she sat in silence； apparently deep in thought。
Finally she looked up at me； her strong white teeth gleaming behind her
smiling lips。
〃Should you take that thing you call 'razor；'〃 she said； 〃and cut the hair
from the face of Thirty…six； and exchange garments with him； you would
be the barbarian and Thirty…six the civilized man。 There is no other
difference between you； except your weapons。 Clothe you in a wolfskin；
give you a knife and a spear； and set you down in the woods of Grabritin
of what service would your civilization be to you？〃
Delcarte and Taylor smiled at her reply； but Thirty…six and Snider
laughed uproariously。 I was not surprised at Thirty… six； but I thought
that Snider laughed louder than the occasion warranted。 As a matter of
fact； Snider； it seemed to me； was taking advantage of every opportunity；
however slight； to show insubordination； and I determined then that at the
first real breach of discipline I should take action that would remind
Snider； ever after； that I was still his commanding officer。
I could not help but notice that his eyes were much upon Victory； and I
did not like it； for I knew the type of man he was。 But as it would not be
necessary ever to leave the girl alone with him I felt no apprehension for
her safety。
After the incident of the discussion of barbarians I thought that
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Victory's manner toward me changed perceptibly。 She held aloof from
me； and when Snider took his turn at the wheel； sat beside him； upon the
pretext that she wished to learn how to steer the launch。 I wondered if
she had guessed the man's antipathy for me； and was seeking his company
solely for the purpose of piquing me。
Snider was； too； taking full advantage of his opportunity。 Often he
leaned toward the girl to whisper in her ear； and he laughed much； which
was unusual with Snider。
Of course； it was nothing at all to me； yet； for some unaccountable
reason； the sight of the two of them sitting there so close to one another
and seeming to be enjoying each other's society to such a degree irritated
me tremendously； and put me in such a bad humor that I took no pleasure
whatsoever in the last few hours of the crossing。
We aimed to land near the site of ancient Ostend。 But when we
neared the coast we discovered no indication of any human habitations
whatever； let alone a city。 After we had landed； we found the same
howling wilderness about us that we had discovered on the British Isle。
There was no slightest indication that civilized man had ever set a foot
upon that portion of the continent of Europe。
Although I had feared as much； since our experience in England； I
could not but own to a feeling of marked disappointment； and to the
gravest fears of the future； which induced a mental depression that was in
no way dissipated by the continued familiarity between Victory and
Snider。
I was angry with myself that I permitted that matter to affect me as it
had。 I did not wish to admit to myself that I was angry with this
uncultured little savage； that it made the slightest difference to me what
she did or what she did not do； or that I could so lower myself as to feel
personal enmity towards a common sailor。 And yet； to be honest； I was
doing both。
Finding nothing to detain us about the spot where Ostend once had
stood； we set out up the coast in search of the mouth of the River Rhine；
which I purposed ascending in search of civilized man。 It was my
intention to explore the Rhine as far up as the launch would take us。 If
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we found no civilization there we would return to the North Sea； continue
up the coast to the Elbe； and follow that river and the canals of Berlin。
Here； at least； I was sure that we should find what we soughtand； if not；
then all Europe had reverted to barbarism。
The weather remained fine； and we made excellent progress； but
everywhere along the Rhine we met with the same disappointmentno
sign of civilized man； in fact； no sign of man at all。
I was not enjoying the exploration of modern Europe as I had
anticipatedI was unhappy。 Victory seemed changed； too。 I had
enjoyed her company at first； but since the trip across the Channel I had
held aloof from her。
Her chin was in the air most of the time； and yet I rather think that she
regretted her friendliness with Snider； for I noticed that she avoided him
entirely。 He； on the contrary； emboldened by her former friendliness；
sought every opportunity to be near her。 I should have liked nothing
better than a reasonably good excuse to punch his head； yet； paradoxically；
I was ashamed of myself for harboring him any ill will。 I realized that
there was something the matter with me； but I did not know what it was。
Matters remained thus for several days； and we continued our journey
up the Rhine。 At Cologne； I had hoped to find some reassuring
indications； but there was no Cologne。 And as there had been no other
cities along the river up to that point； the devastation was infinitely greater
than time alone could have wrought。 Great guns； bombs； and mines must
have leveled every building that man had raised； and then nature；
unhindered； had covered the ghastly evidence of human depravity with her
beauteous mantle of verdure。 Splendid trees reared their stately tops where
splendid cathedrals once had reared their domes； and sweet wild flowers
blossomed in simple serenity in soil that once was drenched with human
blood。
Nature had reclaimed what man had once stolen from her and defiled。
A herd of zebras grazed where once the German kaiser may have reviewed
his troops。 An antelope rested peacefully in a bed of daisies where；
perhaps； two hundred years ago a big gun belched its terror…laden
messages of death； of hate； of destruction against the works of man and
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God alike。
We were in need of fresh meat； yet I hesitated to shatter the quiet and
peaceful serenity of the view with the crack of a rifle and the death of one
of those beautiful creatures before us。 But it had to be donewe must eat。
I left the work to Delcarte； however； and in a moment we had two antelope
and the landscape to ourselves。
After eating； we boarded the launch and continued up the river。 For
two days we passed through a primeval wilderness。 In the afternoon of
the second day we landed upon the west bank of the river； and； leaving
Snider and