“We will be having breakfast before long,” he remarked to the two boys on passing, “and I shall expect you to be my guests for the time being. While we eat our scanty2 meal you can tell me all you wish me to know.”
Here and there the fires had been built up again, and preparations were proceeding3 for the morning meal. This interested the boys. They had their customary appetites with them; and, besides, were amused to see how differently these men from the other side of the world went about certain things in connection with cooking.
It was not long before enticing4 odors began to arrive that caused Amos to express himself:
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“They know how to cook, let me tell you, Jack5, even if their way of building a camp fireplace does look queer to us. I suppose different people have different ways of doing things. The result is, after all, the main thing, and if these splendid whiffs I’m getting mean anything I’ve got something to learn still.”
It was broad daylight when the Colonel came out of his tent again. Jack thought he looked as though he had had good news from home, for his eyes sparkled, and a smile could be seen on his bronzed face.
“Now, if you young chaps will sit down with me here at my camp table, we can talk while we eat,” he remarked as he joined them.
No one seemed to be at mess with the Colonel. Perhaps this was because they had duties elsewhere; or else he had let it be understood that he wished to be alone with the two American boys who had come from the Thunderer, bent6 on some mysterious errand that was yet to be made plain to him.
For a short time the conversation was on
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general topics. The officer asked many questions, for he had not been in touch with the great outside world for weeks, and was naturally deeply interested in what might be going on across the Atlantic.
“I have been through your wonderful country years back,” he explained, as if to let them know why he took such an interest in America; “and I think it leads the whole world in many things. Most of us are hoping and praying that in this terrible world war that means everything to those who come after us, the Allies have the sympathy of the vast majority of your mixed people. Of course we recognize that nearly all who have Teuton blood in their veins7 would naturally side with our enemies.”
The boys assured him that as far as they knew that was the way things stood at the time they left home.
“And now,” continued the officer, kindly8, “all I know about you is your names, so if you feel disposed to tell me what the Vice-Admiral wishes me to do for you I shall gladly take the matter
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up, and act upon it, after today sees us through what we have laid out to perform.”
This was an invitation to begin at the start so as to tell him about Frank Turner, and how it happened he came to be turned out of his home some years back. Jack took it upon himself to be the spokesman, for Amos had insisted on this arrangement. He knew that Jack could gain more favors through his winning manner than he might ever expect to have come to him.
Jack did not enter too deeply into particulars. There was no need for them. When he spoke9 of Amos’ father having known Lord Kitchener long ago, and then handed the Territorial10 officer that wonderful paper which was now almost going to tatters through long handling, just as both boys expected, the result was all they could have hoped for.
After that Jack told how they had made their way along through that section of Belgium held by the Allies; and then, learning that Frank had gone to Northern France, searched for him there also.
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No doubt the Colonel was astute11 enough to realize that the chums must have undergone many hardships, and encountered numerous perils12 while trying to get on the track of the missing Frank. He did not ask for incidents, however. If, later on, the boys cared to go deeper into details he would be only too well pleased to listen; but just now the rough outlines of the case satisfied him.
How his eyes sparkled when Jack modestly told of their latest adventure. Like most others who were in the Dardanelles fight, the Colonel had heard wonderful stories concerning the blockade-runner, Captain Zenos; and it astonished him beyond measure to hear Jack tell how he and his chum had trapped the cunning Greek, and finally turned his cargo13 and powerboat over to the Allies.
Before the story had been barely finished he was insisting on shaking hands with the two American lads, after his breezy fashion.
“I am more than proud to have met you, to shake hands with you!” he declared. “You are
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boys after my own heart. I can conceive of nothing finer than the trick you played on Zenos; and the only thing I regret is that you didn’t see fit to hand him over to our people. That man has carried a vast amount of shells to the enemy. Many of the Allies have lost their lives just because of him; and he would never have run the blockade again, you can rest assured.”
“That was what we feared,” said Jack, “and it bothered us to know what we ought to do. Circumstances settled it for us. You see, he was shut up below, with all that explosive stuff. If he believed we meant to hand him over to the British the chances were that, in a fit of desperation, he might have blown the boat up, and all of us would have perished with her.”
“And you made a bargain with him, did you, promising14 to let him go free on condition that he behaved himself? Well, my son, after all is said and done that seems to have been a wise move on your part. Zenos is a reckless scoundrel, and he knows what would happen to him if caught.”
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The story had now been finished, and the boys eagerly waited to hear what the Territorial officer would have to say. He seemed to be considering matters, since he remained silent for quite some time.
“As I understand it, Amos,” he finally remarked, turning upon the other as he spoke, “you have good reason to believe this dashing brother of yours is now with our force out here at the Dardanelles?”
“We know he started this way, and the chances are ten to one Frank has been doing some of his usual daring work here. We watched the aeroplanes and seaplanes soaring over the Turkish forts and batteries while the fleet was bombarding in the lower part of the straits yesterday, and something seemed to tell me that the one who dropped bombs into a fort, and blew up the magazine, must have been my brother.”
“Very possibly,” agreed the other, with a smile, “although we have some gallant15 fliers of our own stock who would hesitate at nothing.
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Then your plan is to try and find out as soon as possible if Frank is here?”
“We were given to understand that possibly one or more of the aviators16 had found a convenient base on the peninsula, though the main body had their headquarters on one of the Greek islands some twenty miles or more away from here. What we planned to do was to first of all learn whether Frank could be the one ashore18, as that would just be like his venturesome ways; if it turned out to be another flier, then the Vice-Admiral told us to get back to the Thunderer as soon as we could, and he would send us to the island.”
The Colonel was rubbing his chin after the manner of a man who might be trying to figure something out. Feeling sure that he would do everything possible to further their cause, the boys waited patiently to hear what he might have to say when his mind was made up.
“I have been given to understand,” he finally told them, “that there is one of our aviators who has found some place where he can drop down
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and rise again, on the shore of Gallipoli; but I am sorry to say I have not myself seen him. I made inquiries19 only yesterday and one of my men, who has been at the camp of the New Zealanders a mile or more above us, told me he had seen and talked with the birdman. So I understand that he is taking advantage of the protection they are able to give him. The ground must differ radically20 from what we have here, because outside of one little exposed plateau there is absolutely no place an aeroplane could make a run to get a start when about to rise.”
Amos looked pleased.
“Oh! did he go so far as to describe the aviator17, Colonel?” he asked. “See, here is a picture of my brother taken some years ago; perhaps he might be able to tell me from that, if we’re on the right track at last.”
“I’ll put you in touch with the man as soon as we are done with breakfast,” advised the obliging officer. “The chances are you will learn the facts, one way or another.”
“And if he seems inclined to say it is the same
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person, how can we manage to get up to the other camp, Colonel?” asked Amos.
“Well, it would be utterly21 out of the question to think of trying such a game in broad daylight,” he was told. “We have no boats, you understand, and when this private was sent off on a mission to our fellows in the upper camp he was guided by a Greek named Arturus, who knows every foot of the way. He is still with us, and might be influenced to undertake to lead you there.”
“Oh! I’m not afraid in the least that he will refuse, after my cousin has had a chance to talk with him,” said Amos, at which the officer laughed.
“I believe your faith is not misplaced, for Jack certainly has a winning way about him,” he assured Amos. “Even if my mind had not already been made up to help you in every way possible, I think I would have fallen a victim to his arguments. I have a boy at home who is as much like Jack here as two peas in a pod—not in looks alone but manners as well.”
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That partly explained why the doughty22 Colonel of the Territorials23 had looked so earnestly and often at Jack Maxfield. The sight of the resolute24 face of the American boy had put him in mind of his own son far away across the seas.
“When can we expect to take this venture, then, sir?” asked Jack, partly to hide his confusion, for compliments of any kind always made him turn red in the face, and feel uneasy.
“If tonight offers a fair chance you shall make the attempt,” he was told. “In the meantime you can meet the soldier who saw this aviator in the camp above, and also arrange with Arturus. I shall let the Greek know that I am giving my full permission to the enterprise, and you can make your own terms with him.”
“He is to be depended on, sir?” asked Jack, whose recent experience with Greek treachery somehow did not make him feel kindly disposed toward the inhabitants of the Hellenic islands.
“He is as true as steel, you can count on it. That slippery customer of a Zenos is an exception to the rule. We look on the Greeks as our
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allies-to-be sooner or later, when the proper time comes. And while you are here today you will be given an opportunity to see something of the vigorous kind of fighting we have to engage in.”
“Then you mean to tackle the Turks again I take it, sir?” asked Amos, eagerly, for somehow he had become possessed25 of an ardent26 desire to see how these Australians fought, knowing as he did that their ways were radically different from those of the regular British troops; just as their habits of dress seemed to be.
“Yes, but I want you to promise me that you will keep far in the rear, and not run any unnecessary chances of getting hurt,” the Colonel proceeded. “While as a rule these Turks are poor marksmen, there are men among them, perhaps Germans it may be, who can hit the bullseye, and we have learned this to our sorrow.”
“We promise you, sir, not to expose ourselves, for you know we are neutral in this awful business,” Amos hastily remarked.
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1
seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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2
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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enticing
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| adj.迷人的；诱人的 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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6
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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7
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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8
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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9
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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10
territorial
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| adj.领土的，领地的 | |
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astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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12
perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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13
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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14
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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15
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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16
aviators
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| 飞机驾驶员，飞行员( aviator的名词复数 ) | |
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17
aviator
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| n.飞行家，飞行员 | |
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18
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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19
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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20
radically
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| ad.根本地，本质地 | |
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21
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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22
doughty
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| adj.勇猛的，坚强的 | |
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territorials
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| n.（常大写）地方自卫队士兵( territorial的名词复数 ) | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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25
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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