"I wonder if I’m afraid?" he asked himself.
Then he thought of the people in the houses near him, and of his duty as a Scout. If the danger should come nearer, how could he give help? He remembered the refuge trench which he had helped to dig in Mrs. Daplin-Gennery’s garden. Now most surely was a time for it to be used!
He ran in at the gateway and up the gravelled drive. The window blinds were down, the front door was shut. He went round to the back entrance and was about to hammer at the kitchen door when it was flung open.
Mrs. Daplin-Gennery stood in the passage, wearing a blue dressing-gown. Her long, black hair hung loose over her shoulders, making her face look very white. Her arms were bare, and he saw that she held a revolver in her right hand. Behind her were other women—her lady’s maid, the Irish cook, the parlourmaid, and two others.
Seth Newruck raised his hand in the Scouts’ salute.
"You’d better all get into the trench, ma’am," he advised. "There’s a lot of German warships out there beyond the sandbank."
Even as he spoke there came the loud, whistling rush of a shell overhead and a terrific explosion rent the air as the thing fell somewhere in the fields beyond. The servants screamed. Mrs. Daplin-Gennery alone was calm.
"Are there troopships and Zeppelins with them?" she questioned. "Are they going to land? Is it an invasion?"
"No." Seth shook his head. "I don’t think so. But, anyhow, you’d better take shelter in the dug-out."
Mrs. Daplin-Gennery stood aside, thrusting the others in advance of her. They had more than once rehearsed this scene. One by one they obediently and very quickly rushed forward and disappeared into the sap trench. Their mistress followed, but hesitated half-way down the sunken ladder.
"You must come, too," she called to Seth. "There is plenty of room."
Seth drew back a step and turned as if to leave.
"As soon as you’re all safe in the dug-out," he responded quietly, "I’m going to run home, to look after my mother and sisters. Father’s out with the Fleet."
There was another loud boom of a gun; but this time it came from the direction of Buremouth.
"Quick! Come into the trench!" urged Mrs. Daplin-Gennery, now at the foot of the ladder and out of sight. "You’ll get killed if you don’t. And if they land troops—if it’s an invasion—you must stay and defend us helpless women. You’re the only male person here. Besides, you’re a Scout; you know what to do if any of us are wounded."