Explore "Captain Kettle on the War-Path" by Cutcliffe Hyne on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
We will call him Plough -- Lieutenant John B. Plough, R. N. -- because that name is not in the Navy List, and his own is. He had been on special leave at Marienbad "on urgent private affairs," which in less technical English might be explained as an expedition to that German health resort with a view of inspecting a girl he had danced with twice at home, and trying to persuade her that her mission in life was to become Mrs. Plough. And from this idyllic occupation he had been torn by a bald telegram which commanded him to "Rejoin at Once."
He wondered vaguely what was up. He had not seen an English paper for a week, and could not read German, and had heard no word about the threatened war. But he was too good an officer to question such an order. He packed his traps, saw the girl, explained the case to her in ten words, kissed her rapturously, much to her surprise, and just caught the 5.40, without having time to register his luggage. Thereafter began his troubles.