Aid and Comfort to the Enemy 



they so much as crowd around her in their maneu- 

 vering for place, she administers a reprimand by 

 kick or butt. Such autocracy is not to be endured. 

 Insubordination follows and in a few days by 

 mass formation they reduce her to the ranks. 

 The old marching order gives place to a wild 

 charge in which all leadership is gained by wind. 

 And as I recognize myself as the object of this 

 jostling tumult, I make a swift retreat behind my 

 breastwork and receive it with a solid wall 

 between. 



From now on my effort is to conceal my per- 

 fidy. I cannot teach the enemy that ours is a 

 secret treaty and to be pursued by stealth. They 

 are barbarians, innocent of diplomatic knowledge, 

 and at a glimpse of me they will proclaim con- 

 spiracy to the four winds. Let it be borne from 

 the south and it will reach headquarters. I shall 

 be court-martialed, broke, confined. So it is that 

 I attempt to silence their accusing voice. 



And indeed I might weU silence it forever. 

 For as peas grow scarce, I reenf orce myself with 

 apples, early wind-falls crammed into bulging 

 pockets. Dangerous fare they look, as I bring 



[225] 



