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diff --git a/11513-h/11513-h.htm b/11513-h/11513-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f7edb8c --- /dev/null +++ b/11513-h/11513-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5338 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <title>ON LAND AND SEA AT THE DARDANELLES</title> + <meta name="generator" + content="HTML Tidy for Linux/x86 (vers 1st November 2002), see www.w3.org" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> + <link href="dardan_files/dardan.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /> + </head> + <body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of On Land And Sea At The Dardanelles +by Thomas Charles Bridges + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: On Land And Sea At The Dardanelles + +Author: Thomas Charles Bridges + +Release Date: March 8, 2004 [EBook #11513] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON LAND AND SEA AT THE DARDANELLES *** + + + + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Leonard D Johnson and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + + + + + +</pre> + + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a id="figfnt" name="figfnt"></a><a href="dardan_files/figfnt.jpg"><img + width="100%" src="dardan_files/figfnt.jpg" alt="" /></a> + <h2>Our splendid Indian troops stood ready at Alexandria to embark for the + Dardanelles.</h2> + </div> + <h1>ON LAND AND SEA</h1> + <h1>AT THE</h1> + <h1>DARDANELLES</h1> + <h3>T.C. BRIDGES</h3> + <div class="figure" style="width:50%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/figttl.jpg"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/figttl.jpg" + alt="" /></a> + </div> + <h2>CONTENTS</h2> + <div class="toc"> + <p>CHAP.</p> + <p><a href="#I">I. THE OPEN PORT</a></p> + <p><a href="#II">II. THE LAST OF THE 'CARDIGAN CASTLE'</a></p> + <p><a href="#III">III. THE LANDING</a></p> + <p><a href="#IV">IV. A RUSE OF WAR</a></p> + <p><a href="#V">V. PROMOTION</a></p> + <p><a href="#VI">VI. GUNS!</a></p> + <p><a href="#VII">VII. 'LIZZIE' LETS LOOSE</a></p> + <p><a href="#VIII">VIII. THE HUNTERS HUNTED</a></p> + <p><a href="#IX">IX. THE BATTLE BY ROCKS</a></p> + <p><a href="#X">X. PRISONERS</a></p> + <p><a href="#XI">XI. THE FIRING PARTY</a></p> + <p><a href="#XII">XII. ABOVE THE NARROWS</a></p> + <p><a href="#XIII">XIII. THE SWEEPERS</a></p> + <p><a href="#XIV">XIV. G 2</a></p> + <p><a href="#XV">XV. KEN MEETS AN OLD FRIEND</a></p> + <p><a href="#XVI">XVI. TACKLING THE TROOPER</a></p> + <p><a href="#XVII">XVII. THE BOARDING PARTY</a></p> + <p><a href="#XVIII">XVIII. RUNNING THE GAUNTLET</a></p> + <p><a href="#XIX">XIX. IN THE NICK OF TIME</a></p> + </div> + <h2>LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS</h2> + <div class="toc"> + <p><a href="#figfnt">INDIAN TROOPS AT ALEXANDRIA</a></p> + <p><a href="#fig017">A FRIENDLY SALUTE</a></p> + <p><a href="#fig018">LANDING PARTY AT SARI BAIR</a></p> + <p><a href="#fig035">LANDING ON THE BEACH</a></p> + <p><a href="#fig036">AN ADVANCE INLAND</a></p> + <p><a href="#fig069">No. 1 FORT AT CAPE HELLES</a></p> + <p><a href="#fig070">ASLEEP ON A BED OF LIVE SHELLS</a></p> + <p><a href="#fig088">BARBED WIRE FOR BOMBS</a></p> + <p><a href="#fig089">THE TRIUMPHANT SUBMARINE</a></p> + <p><a href="#fig122">BRINGING IN A TURKISH SNIPER</a></p> + <p><a href="#fig123">TURKISH ARTILLERY REINFORCEMENTS</a></p> + <p><a href="#fig140">SEA-BATHING</a></p> + <p><a href="#fig141">ALLIED HEROES IN PLAY-TIME</a></p> + </div> + <h1>At the Dardanelles</h1> + <h2><a id="I" name="I">CHAPTER I</a><br /> + THE OPEN PORT</h2> + <p>'Fun!' said Ken Carrington, as he leaned over the rail of the transport, 'Cardigan + Castle,' and watched the phosphorescent waters of the Aegean foaming white through + the darkness against her tall side. 'Fun!' he repeated rather grimly. 'You won't + think it so funny when you find yourself crawling up a cliff with quick-firers + barking at you from behind every rock, and a strand of barbed wire to cut each five + yards, to say nothing of snipers socking lead at you the whole time. No, Dave, I'll + lay, whatever you think, you won't consider it funny.'</p> + <p>Dave Burney, the tall young Australian who was standing beside Ken Carrington, + turned his head slowly towards the other.</p> + <p>'You talk as if you'd seen fighting,' he remarked in his soft but pleasant + drawl.</p> + <p>Ken paused a moment before replying.</p> + <p>'I have,' he said quietly.</p> + <p>Burney straightened his long body with unusual suddenness.</p> + <p>'The mischief, you have! My word, Ken, you're a queer chap. Here you and I have + been training together these six months, and you've never said a word of it to me or + any of the rest of the crowd.'</p> + <p>'Come to that, I don't quite know why I have now,' answered Ken Carrington + dryly.</p> + <p>Burney wisely made no reply, and after a few moments the other spoke again.</p> + <p>'You see, Dave, it wasn't anything to be proud of, so far as I'm concerned, and it + brings back the most rotten time I ever had. So it isn't much wonder I don't talk + about it.'</p> + <p>'Don't say anything now unless you want to,' said Burney, with the quiet courtesy + which was part of him.</p> + <p>'But I do want to. And I'd a jolly sight sooner tell you than any one else. That + is, if you don't mind listening.'</p> + <p>'I'd like to hear,' said Burney simply. 'It's always been a bit of a puzzle to me + how a chap like you came to be a Tommy in this outfit. With your education, you ought + to be an officer in some home regiment.'</p> + <p>'That's all rot,' returned Ken quickly. 'I'd a jolly sight sooner be in with this + crowd than any I know of. And as for a commission, that's a thing which it seems to + me a chap ought to win instead of getting it as a gift.</p> + <p>'But I'm gassing. I was going to tell you how it was that I'd seen fighting. My + father was in the British Navy. He rose to the rank of Captain, and then had an offer + from the Turkish Government of a place in the Naval Arsenal at Constantinople.'</p> + <p>'From the Turks!' said Burney in evident surprise.</p> + <p>'Yes. Lots of our people were in Turkey in those days. It was a British officer, + Admiral Gamble, who managed all the Turkish naval affairs. That was before the + Germans got their claws into the wretched country.'</p> + <p>'I've heard of Admiral Gamble,' put in Burney. 'Well, what happened then?'</p> + <p>'My father took the job, and did jolly well until the Germans started their games. + Finally they got hold of everything, and five years ago Admiral Gamble gave up. So + did my father, but he had bought land in Turkey and had a lot of friends there, so he + did not go back to England.</p> + <p>'It was that same year, 1910, that he found coal on his land, and applied for a + concession to work it. The Turks liked him. They'd have given it him like a shot. But + the Germans got behind his back, and did him down. The end was that they refused to + let him work his coal.</p> + <p>'Of course he was awfully sick, but not half so sick as when a German named Henkel + came along and offered to buy him out at about half the price he had originally paid + for the place.</p> + <p>'Father had a pretty hot temper, there was a flaming row, and Henkel went off, + vowing vengeance.</p> + <p>'He got it, too. A couple of years later, came the big row in the Balkans, and the + war had hardly started before dad was arrested as a spy.'</p> + <p>'Henkel did that?' put in Burney.</p> + <p>'Henkel did it;' young Carrington's voice was very grim. 'Pretty thoroughly too, + as I heard afterwards. They took him to Constantinople, and—and I've never seen him + since.'</p> + <p>There was silence for some moments while the big ship ploughed steadily + north-eastwards through the night.</p> + <p>'And you?' said Burney at last.</p> + <p>'I—I'd have shared the same fate if it hadn't been for old Othman Pasha. He was a + pal of ours, as white a man as you want to meet, and he got me away and over the + border into Greece. It was in Thrace that I saw fighting. I came right through it, + and got mixed up in two pretty stiff skirmishes.'</p> + <p>'My word, you've seen something!' said Burney. 'And—and, by Jove, I suppose you + understand the language.'</p> + <p>'Yes,' said Carrington quietly. 'I know the language and the people. And you can + take it from me that the Turks are not as black as they're painted. It's Enver Bey + and his crazy crowd who have rushed them into this business. Three-quarters of 'em + hate the war, and infinitely prefer the Britisher to the Deutscher.'</p> + <p>'And how do you come to be in with us?' asked Burney.</p> + <p>'I joined up in Egypt,' Carrington answered. 'I went there two years ago and got a + job in the irrigation department. I've been there ever since.'</p> + <p>Again there was a pause.</p> + <p>'And what about Henkel?' asked Burney. 'Have you ever heard of him since?'</p> + <p>'Not a word. But'—Ken's voice dropped a tone—'I mean to. If he's alive I'll find + him, and—'</p> + <p>He stopped abruptly, and suddenly gripped Burney's arm.</p> + <p>'There's some one listening,' he whispered. 'I heard some one behind that boat. + No, stay where you are. If we both move, he'll smell a rat.'</p> + <p>'Well, good-night, Dave,' he said aloud. 'I must be getting below.'</p> + <p>Turning, he walked away in the direction opposite to that of the boat, but as soon + as he thought he was out of sight in the darkness, he turned swiftly across the deck + and made a wide circle.</p> + <p>He heard a rustle, and was just in time to see a dark figure dart forward, the + feet evidently shod in rubber soles which moved soundlessly over the deck.</p> + <p>He dashed in pursuit, but it was too late. Being war time, the decks were of + course in darkness, and the man, whoever he was, disappeared—probably down the + forward hatch.</p> + <p>Ken came back to Burney.</p> + <p>'No good,' he said vexedly. 'The beggar was too quick for me.'</p> + <p>'Then there was some one there?'</p> + <p>'You bet. I saw him bolt.'</p> + <p>'Any notion who it was?'</p> + <p>Ken hesitated a moment.</p> + <p>'I'm not sure,' he answered in a low voice, 'but I've got my suspicions. I think + it was Kemp.'</p> + <p>'What—that steward?'</p> + <p>'Yes, the chap who looks after the baths.'</p> + <p>'My word, I wouldn't wonder,' said Burney thoughtfully. 'He's an ugly looking + varmint. But why should he be spying on you?'</p> + <p>'Haven't a notion. But I've spotted him watching me more than once since we left + Alexandria. I'm going to keep my eye on him pretty closely the rest of the way.'</p> + <p>'Not much time left, old son. They say we'll be in Mudros Bay to-morrow + morning.'</p> + <p>'Yes, I heard that. Which reminds me. I'm going down to get a warm bath. It may be + the last chance for some time to come.'</p> + <p>This time Ken Carrington said good-night in earnest, and went below.</p> + <p>It was early for turning in, and nearly all of the troops aboard were still on the + mess deck. Ken got his things from his bag and went down the passage to the bathroom. + The 'Cardigan Castle' had been a swagger liner until she was impounded by Government + to act as troopship, and she was provided with splendid bathrooms.</p> + <p>Carrington opened the door quietly, and was feeling for the switch of the + electric, when he noticed, to his great surprise, that a port hole opposite was + open.</p> + <p>Needless to say, this was absolutely forbidden. In war time a ship shows no lights + at all, and it is a fixed rule that everything below must be kept closed and + curtained.</p> + <p>Before he could recover from his first surprise he got a second shock. A tiny + pencil of light—just a single beam, no more than a few inches in diameter—struck + through the darkness and formed a small luminous circle upon the white-painted wall + above his head.</p> + <p>It only lasted an instant, then a dark figure rose between him and the open port, + and instantly the beam was intercepted, and all was dark as before.</p> + <p>Through the gloom he vaguely saw the arm of the man who stood in front of the port + raised to a level with his head, while his hand moved rapidly.</p> + <p>Instantly he knew what was happening. This man was signalling. Carrington had + heard of the German signalling lamp which, by means of ingeniously arranged lenses, + throws one tiny ray which can be caught and flung back by a specially constructed + mirror. That was what was happening before his very eyes. A glow of rage sent the + blood boiling through his veins, and forgetting all about the switch he sprang + forward.</p> + <p>As ill luck had it, there was a wooden grating in the middle of the cement floor. + In the darkness, he failed to see this, and catching his toe, stumbled and fell with + a crash on hands and knees.</p> + <p>He heard a terrified yelp, and the man made a dash past him for the door.</p> + <p>But the door was closed. Carrington had shut it behind him. Before the fellow + could get it open, Ken was on his feet again, and had flung himself on the + signaller.</p> + <p>With a snarl like that of a trapped cat, the man wrenched one arm free.</p> + <p>'Take that!' he hissed, and next instant Ken felt the sting of steel grazing his + left shoulder. The sharp pain maddened him, and his grip tightened so fiercely that + he heard the breath whistle from his opponent's lungs.</p> + <p>At the same time he flung all his weight forward, and the other, thrown off his + balance, went over backwards and came with a hollow crash against the door.</p> + <p>The two fell to the floor together, and rolled over, fighting like wild cats.</p> + <p>Ken's adversary was smaller than he, but he seemed amazingly strong and active. He + wriggled like an eel, all the time making frantic efforts to get his right hand free, + and use his knife again.</p> + <p>But Ken, aware of his danger, managed to get hold of the fellow's wrist with his + own left hand, and held it in a grip which the other, struggle as he might, could not + break. At the same time, Ken was doing all he knew to get his knee on his enemy's + chest.</p> + <p>It was the darkness that foiled him—this and the eel-like struggles of his + adversary. At last, in desperation, he let go with his right hand, and drove his fist + at the other's head. He missed his face, but hit him somewhere, for he heard his + skull rap on the floor, while the knife flew out of his hand, and tinkled away across + the cement floor.</p> + <p>Ken felt a thrill of triumph as he heaved himself up, and getting his knees on his + adversary's chest, seized him with both hands by the throat.</p> + <p>Before he could tighten his grip came a tremendous shock, and he was flung off the + other as if by a giant's hand. As he rolled across the floor, followed a crash as + though the very heavens were falling. The whole ship seemed to lift beneath him, at + the same time stopping short as though she had hit a cliff.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:70%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig011.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig011.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'Ken flung himself on the signaller.'</h3> + </div> + <p>For an instant there was dead silence. Then from the decks above came shouts and a + pounding of feet. Half stunned, Ken struggled to his feet, and staggered towards the + door. As he did so, he heard the click of the latch, and before he could reach it, it + was banged in his face.</p> + <p>Groping in the darkness, he found the handle. He turned it, but the door would not + open. In a flash the truth blazed upon him. He was locked in. The spy had locked the + door on the outside. He was a helpless prisoner in a torpedoed and probably sinking + ship.</p> + <h2><a id="II" name="II">CHAPTER II</a><br /> + THE LAST OF THE 'CARDIGAN CASTLE'</h2> + <p>Ken's head whirled. For the moment he was unable to collect his ideas. He stood, + grasping the door handle, listening to the thunder of feet overhead and the shouted + orders which came dimly to his ears.</p> + <p>He heard distinctly the creaking of winches, and knew that the boats were being + lowered. His worst suspicions were true; the ship was actually sinking.</p> + <p>This lasted only a few seconds. Ken Carrington was not the sort to yield weakly to + panic. He pulled himself together, and felt for the switch.</p> + <p>It clicked over, but nothing happened. The shock of the explosion had evidently + thrown the dynamo out of gear. Then he remembered the little electric torch which he + always carried, and in an instant had it out of his pocket, and switched it on.</p> + <p>He flashed the little beam across the floor, and its light fell upon the wooden + grating over which he had stumbled in his first rush at the enemy signaller. This lay + alongside the bath. It was about six feet long and made of four heavy slats nailed on + a framework.</p> + <p>It took Ken just about five seconds to lay down his lamp and heave up the + grating.</p> + <p>Short as the time had been since the first shock of the torpedo, the ship was + already beginning to list heavily. The floor of the bathroom now sloped upwards + steeply to the door.</p> + <p>The grating was very heavy, but in his excitement Ken swung it up as though it had + been no more than a feather. Balancing it, he charged straight at the door.</p> + <p>The end of the grating struck the woodwork with a loud crash, but the result was + not what Ken had hoped. Hinges and lock remained firm. One panel, however, was + cracked and splintered.</p> + <p>He retreated again to make another attempt. But the list was growing heavier every + moment. It was all he could do to keep his feet. Ugly, sucking noises down below told + him that the water was rushing in torrents into the hold of the doomed ship.</p> + <p>There was no question of making a second charge. Balancing himself as best he + could opposite the door, he pounded frantically at the cracked panel, and at the + third blow it broke away, leaving a jagged hole.</p> + <p>But this was not large enough for him to put his head through—let alone his body. + His one chance was that the key might still be in the lock.</p> + <p>Small blame to him that his heart was going like a trip-hammer as he dropped the + useless grating and snatched up his lamp.</p> + <p>The list was now so heavy that he had to cling to the door, as he thrust his arm + through the gap.</p> + <p>A gasp of relief escaped his lips as his fingers closed on the key. It turned, but + even then the door would not open. It was wedged.</p> + <p>Ken made a last desperate effort, and managed to force it open. As he clawed his + way through into the passage, the sea water came bursting up through the floor of the + bathroom behind him.</p> + <p>Somehow he managed to scramble along the passage, and up the companion to the mess + deck. There was not a soul in sight, and the ship now lay over at such an angle that + every moment it seemed as though she must capsize.</p> + <p>Up another ladder. He was forced to go on hands and feet, clinging like a + squirrel. Then he was on the boat deck, in a glare of white light flung on the + sinking ship by the searchlight of a British cruiser which had rushed up to the + rescue.</p> + <p>The sea seemed thick with boats pulling steadily away, and in every direction the + searchlights of the escorting destroyers wheeled and flashed, as they rushed in + circles, hunting for the submarine which had struck the blow.</p> + <p>But the 'Cardigan Castle' was empty and deserted. With that marvellous speed which + only perfect discipline ensures, every soul had already been got away into the boats. + So far as he could see, Ken was left alone on the fast sinking ship.</p> + <p>Even so, he was not ungrateful. If he had to perish, it was far better to drown in + the open than to come to his end like a trapped rat down below.</p> + <p>'Ken! Ken!'</p> + <p>Some one came rushing up into the searchlight's glare.</p> + <p>It was Dave Burney.</p> + <p>'I've been hunting the ship out for you,' exclaimed Dave breathlessly.</p> + <p>'I got locked in the bathroom,' Ken answered quickly. 'No time to explain now. + Tell you afterwards. I say, old man, it was jolly good of you to wait for me, but I'm + afraid you've overdone it. All the boats are away.'</p> + <p>'Hang the boats! Here—put this on. Sharp, for she won't last more'n a couple of + minutes.'</p> + <p>As he spoke, he flung Ken one of the life-saving waistcoats which are now used + instead of the old-fashioned lifebelts.</p> + <p>'It's all right,' he added, as he saw Ken glance at him sharply. 'I've got one, + too.'</p> + <p>Ken did not waste a moment in slipping on the queer garment, and blowing it + up.</p> + <p>'This way,' said Dave, as he scrambled up the steep deck to the weather rail. Ken + followed, and they had barely reached the rail when the big liner rolled slowly over + on to her side.</p> + <p>Dave sprang out on to her steel side which was now perfectly level.</p> + <p>'Hurry!' he shouted. 'She'll pull us down if we're not clear before she + sinks.'</p> + <p>He sprang out into the water. Ken followed his example, and the two paddled + vigorously away. Luckily for them, the ship did not sink at once. She lay upon her + beam ends for four or five minutes, and gave them time to get to a safe distance. + They were perhaps forty yards away when there came a loud, hissing, gurgling + sound.</p> + <p>'She's going!' cried Ken. Turning, he saw her stern tilt slowly upwards. Then, + with hardly a sound, the fine ship slid slowly downwards, and a minute later there + was no sign of her except a great eddy in which swung a tangled mass of timber, + lifebelts, canvas chairs, and all sorts of floating objects from the decks.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:60%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig015.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig015.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'He sprang into the water.'</h3> + </div> + <p>'The brutes!' growled Dave. 'This means that the Turks have got submarines.'</p> + <p>'I doubt it. That was probably the work of an Austrian or German craft. Well, + thank goodness, they only got the ship and not the men.'</p> + <p>'Ay, we'll get our own back for this before we're through,' growled Dave. 'My + word, but it's cold! Hope they're not going to be long picking us up.'</p> + <p>'No. Here comes a boat,' Ken answered, as the searchlight showed a boat pulling + hard towards them. A couple of minutes later they were hauled aboard, and in a very + short time found themselves on the British destroyer 'Teaser.'</p> + <p>'Any more of you in the water?' asked her commander, Lieutenant Carey, a keen, + hard-bitten young man of about twenty-eight.</p> + <p>'No, sir, I think not,' Ken answered. 'I believe every one else got off in the + boats.'</p> + <p>'Yes, I don't think our German friends have much to boast of,' said the other with + a smile. 'We can build fresh ships all right, and so far as I know they haven't got a + single man. But you fellows look perished. Down with you to the engine-room. + Coxswain, get out some lammies for them, and see they have cocoa.'</p> + <p>'Ay, ay, sir,' answered the coxswain.</p> + <p>But Ken paused.</p> + <p>'I have a report to make before I go below, sir.'</p> + <p>The commander looked a little surprised.</p> + <p>'All right. But quick about it. You'll be a hospital case if you stick about in + those wet togs much longer.'</p> + <p>Ken wasted no time in telling what he had seen in the bathroom of the 'Cardigan + Castle,' just before she was sunk.</p> + <p>Commander Carey listened with interest.</p> + <p>'Who was this fellow?' he demanded.</p> + <p>'I never saw his face, sir, but by his voice I am pretty sure he was Kemp, a + steward.'</p> + <p>'Hm, it was rotten bad management, allowing a fellow like that to be aboard a + transport,' growled Carey. 'Very well, Carrington, I shall report the matter at once + by wireless, and if he is aboard any of the other ships, you may be sure he'll be + attended to. And I congratulate you on getting out alive. Now go below and get a warm + and a change. I'll land you and your friend in Mudros Bay if I can, and if I have + other orders I'll tranship you.'</p> + <p>Feeling very shivery and tired, Ken was escorted below to the genial warmth of the + engine-room, where he found Dave already changed, and engaged in putting away a great + mugful of hot Navy cocoa.</p> + <p>The coxswain, big Tom Tingle, fished him out a suit of lammies, the warm gray + woollen garments which are the regular cold weather wear of the British Navy, and, as + soon as he had got into them, put a mug of steaming cocoa into his hands.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a id="fig017" name="fig017"></a><a href="dardan_files/fig017.jpg"><img + width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig017.jpg" alt="" /></a> + <h3>A friendly salute in passing.</h3> + </div> + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a id="fig018" name="fig018"></a><a href="dardan_files/fig018.jpg"><img + width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig018.jpg" alt="" /></a> + <h3>The landing party at Sari Bair reached the beach covered by the fire of their + own guns.</h3> + </div> + <p>'Prime stuff, ain't it, Ken?' said Dave, and Ken, as he felt the grateful warmth + creeping through his chilled frame, nodded. Then he and Dave were given a couple of + blankets apiece, and with the beat of the powerful engines as a lullaby were soon + sleeping soundly.</p> + <p>When they awoke, the gray dawn light was stealing through the hatch overhead, and + the smart little ship lay at anchor, rocking peacefully to the lift of a gentle + swell.</p> + <p>'Rouse out, you chaps,' came Tingle's voice. 'Rouse out, if you want some + breakfast. The old man's going to put you aboard the 'Charnwood' to finish your + voyage. You'll find some of your pals in her, I reckon.'</p> + <p>'Did they get the submarine?' was Ken's first question.</p> + <p>Tingle's honest face darkened.</p> + <p>'No, by gosh. She slipped away in the dark, and never a one of us set eyes on her. + What are ye to do with a thing like that? It's like trying to tackle a shark with a + shot gun.'</p> + <p>'Here's your khaki,' he continued, 'dry and warm. Shift as sharp as ye can. The + old man, he don't wait for nobody.'</p> + <p>Ken and Dave changed in quick order, and as soon as they had finished were + conducted for'ard for breakfast. Biscuit, butter out of a tin, sardines, and cocoa. + War fare, but all the best of its kind, and the boys did justice to it.</p> + <p>The 'old man'—that is, Commander Carey—was on the bridge when they came on deck. + He greeted them kindly, and Ken ventured to ask if anything had been heard of + Kemp.</p> + <p>'Not a word,' was the answer. 'He's not been picked up, so far as any one knows. + Probably he's food for the fishes by this time. Well, good-bye to you. Wish you + luck.'</p> + <p>'Thank you, sir,' said Ken and Dave together. Then they were over the side into + the collapsible, and were pulled straight across to the wall-sided 'Charnwood' which + lay at anchor less than half a mile away.</p> + <p>Mudros Bay, which is a great inlet in the south of the island of Lemnos, was alive + with craft of all sorts. Warships and transports by the dozen, British and French, + were lying at anchor in every direction, and in and out among them, across the + brilliant, sunlit waters, dashed picket boats and all sorts of small craft.</p> + <p>'My word, this looks like business!' said Dave, as he glanced round at the busy + scene.</p> + <p>'It does,' agreed Ken. 'Last time I was here, there were two tramps and an old + Turkish gunboat. Not a darned thing else.'</p> + <p>A couple of minutes later they were alongside the big 'Charnwood,' to be greeted + with shouts of delight from a number of their Australian comrades who were leaning + over the side.</p> + <p>They said good-bye to the destroyer men who had ferried them across, and climbed + the ladder to the deck, where they were immediately surrounded and smacked on the + back, and generally congratulated. The two were very popular with the whole of their + battalion, and their comrades were unfeignedly glad to find that they had not lost + the number of their mess.</p> + <p>Pushing through the throng, they went aft to report themselves to their commanding + officer, Colonel Conway. He had, of course, already heard of Ken's adventure with the + spy in the bathroom, but took him aside to get further particulars.</p> + <p>'No, nothing has been heard of him,' he said. 'I do not think it possible that he + can have been picked up.</p> + <p>'And yet,' he added, 'that's odd, for he must have had plenty of time to get on + deck, and, so far as we can learn, we have not lost a man.'</p> + <p>'Do you think the submarine could have picked him up, sir?'</p> + <p>'Not a chance of it. She went under the very moment she had fired her torpedo. If + she had not, the destroyers would have got her.'</p> + <p>'I ought to have got Kemp, sir,' said Ken, rather ruefully.</p> + <p>'You did your best, Carrington,' the other answered kindly. 'And you are to be + congratulated that Kemp did not get you.'</p> + <p>Ken went back to join his friends forward, and answer a score of questions as to + the struggle in the bathroom. By the remarks of his companions who had, one and all, + lost everything they possessed, except what they stood up in, it was clear that Kemp, + if still alive, would stand a pretty thin chance should any of these lusty + Australians set eyes on him again.</p> + <p>There was no shore leave. No orders were out yet, but the rumour was everywhere + that they were to sail that very day.</p> + <p>Presently a tug came alongside with fresh provisions. She also brought a quantity + of rifles and ammunition to replace those lost in the sunken 'Cardigan Castle.' Spare + uniforms, overcoats, and other kit were also put aboard, and shared up among the + shipwrecked troops.</p> + <p>'The old country's waked up this time,' said Dave to Ken, as he tried the sights + of a new rifle. 'There's stuff ashore here for an army corps, they tell me. It's no + slouch of a job to fit us all out fresh in a few hours. They'd never have done it in + the Boer War.'</p> + <p>'My dear chap, the Boer War was child's play compared with this. Willy has set the + whole world ablaze. All the same, I agree with you that England is getting her eyes + open at last. But it's a pity the people at home didn't realise first off that + forcing the Dardanelles was almost as important as keeping the Germans out of Calais. + If they'd sent us here two months ago instead of fooling round trying to get warships + through the Straits, the job would have been done by now. As it is, they've given the + Turks a chance to fortify all the landing places, and I'll bet they've done it + too.'</p> + <p>'What sort of landing places are they?' asked Dave.</p> + <p>'Just beaches—little bays with cliffs behind them. And the cliffs are covered with + scrub, and so are the hills inland. Ideal ground for the defence, and rotten to + attack.'</p> + <p>'You talk as if you'd been there?'</p> + <p>The speaker was a big, good-looking young New Zealander, with a face burnt almost + saddle colour by wind and sun. His dark blue eyes gleamed with a merry, + devil-may-care expression which took Ken's fancy at once.</p> + <p>'Yes, I've been there,' Ken answered modestly, and was at once surrounded by a + crowd all eager for any information he could give. Luckily for him, at that very + minute some one shouted.</p> + <p>'We're off, boys. There's the signal to weigh anchor.'</p> + <p>Instantly all was excitement; the cable began to clank home, smoke poured from the + funnels, and in a very short time the whole fleet of transports was moving in a long + line out of the harbour, escorted by a bevy of busy, black destroyers.</p> + <p>As the 'Charnwood' passed into her place, the men lined the sides and cheered for + all they were worth.</p> + <p>'What day is this?' said Ken to Dave, as the big transport passed out of the mouth + of the bay.</p> + <p>'Friday, the twenty-third,' was the answer.</p> + <p>'Twenty-third of April,' said Ken. 'St. George's Day. Then I tell you what, Dave, + this is going to be a Sunday job.'</p> + <p>'You mean we'll be landed on Sunday?'</p> + <p>Ken nodded.</p> + <p>'That's about it,' he answered.</p> + <h2><a id="III" name="III">CHAPTER III</a><br /> + THE LANDING</h2> + <p>'Hallo, what's up?' asked Dave Burney. 'We're off again.'</p> + <p>It was the night of Saturday the 24th of April. For the greater part of the day + the 'Charnwood' had been lying off Cape Helles, which is the southernmost point of + the Gallipoli Peninsula, while the people listened to the thunder of guns, and + watched the shrapnel bursting in white puffs over the scrub-clad heights of the + land.</p> + <p>Now, about midnight, she had got quietly under way, and was steaming steadily in a + nor'-westerly direction.</p> + <p>'What's up?' Dave repeated in a puzzled tone. 'This ain't the way to + Constantinople.'</p> + <p>'Don't you be too sure of that, sonny,' remarked Roy Horan, the big New Zealander + who was standing with the two chums at the starboard rail. 'We ain't going home + anyhow. I'll lay old man Hamilton's got something up his sleeve.'</p> + <p>'That's what I'm asking,' said Dave. 'What's the general up to? So far as I can + see, there are only three other transports going our way. The rest are staying right + here. What's your notion, Ken?'</p> + <p>'I don't know any more than you chaps,' Ken answered. 'But I'll give you my + opinion for what it's worth. I think we're going to do a sort of flank attack. The + main landing will probably be down here at the Point. Then when the Turks are busy, + trying to hold 'em up, we shall be slipped in somewhere up the coast so as to create + a sort of diversion.'</p> + <p>'What—and miss all the fun!' exclaimed Dave in a tone of intense disgust.</p> + <p>'You won't miss anything to signify,' Ken answered dryly. 'There are more than a + hundred thousand Turks planted on the Peninsula, and you can bet anything you've got + left from the wreck that there isn't one yard of beach that isn't trenched and + guarded.'</p> + <p>'Where do ye think we'll land?' asked Horan eagerly.</p> + <p>Ken shrugged his shoulders. 'Haven't a notion,' he said. 'There are a lot of small + bays up the west coast. Probably we shall nip into some little cove not very far up. + There's a big ridge called Achi Baba which runs right across the Peninsula about four + miles north. It'll be somewhere behind that, I expect. But mind you, this is all + guess work. I don't know any more than you do.'</p> + <p>'You know the country anyhow,' said Horan. 'And that's worth a bit. See here, + Carrington, if we can manage it, let's all three stick together. We ought to see some + fun—what?'</p> + <p>Ken laughed. 'I'm sure I'm agreeable. But you see we're not in the same regiment. + You're New Zealand, Dave and I are Australians. Still, I dare say we shall all be + pretty much bunched when it comes to the fighting.'</p> + <p>Dave, who had been peering out into the night, turned to the others at this + moment.</p> + <p>'Yes, there are only four transports altogether in our lot, and so far as I can + make out three battleships and four destroyers taking care of us.'</p> + <p>'Now, you men, come below and turn in,' broke in a voice.</p> + <p>It was their sergeant, O'Brien, who had come up behind them.</p> + <p>'Oh, I say, sergeant, can't we stay and look at the pretty scenery?' said Roy + Horan plaintively.</p> + <p>'No, ye can't,' was the gruff retort. 'Orders are that all the men are to turn in + and take what rest they can. Faith, it's mighty little slape any of ye will get, once + you're ashore. Go down now and ate your suppers and rest. I'm thinking ye'll be + taking tay with the Turks before you're a dale older.'</p> + <p>'Are we going to land, sergeant?' asked Horan eagerly.</p> + <p>'Am I your general?' retorted O'Brien. 'Get along wid ye, and if ye want to know + what it is we're going to do, faith ye'd best go and ask the colonel.'</p> + <p>Orders were orders. The three obediently went below, and, although at first he was + too excited to sleep, Ken soon dropped off, and never moved until he felt a hand + shaking him by the shoulder.</p> + <p>'Up wid ye, lad,' said O'Brien's voice in his ear, and like a shot Ken was out of + his blanket and on his feet.</p> + <p>The screw had ceased to revolve. The ship lay quiet, rocking ever so lightly in + the small swell. There was not a light to be seen anywhere, yet all was bustle, and + the very air seemed charged with a curious thrill of excitement.</p> + <p>According to orders, Ken had lain down, fully dressed, with all his kit ready + beside him. Within a very few moments he was equipped and ready. Then he and his + companions were ordered down to the lower deck where the electrics were still + burning, and there hot coffee and bread and butter were served out. Also each man + received rations for twenty-four hours.</p> + <p>Officers passed among the men, scrutinising their equipment with keen eyes, and + presently Colonel Conway himself came along.</p> + <p>He glanced round and his eyes kindled as they rested on the ranks of long, lean + colonials.</p> + <p>'Men,' he said, and though he hardly raised his voice it carried to the very ends + of the big flat. 'You know as well as I do what you have been training for during the + past six months. The day you have been waiting for has come. See that you make the + most of it. Speed and silence—these are the qualities required of you to-night. The + boats are waiting.'</p> + <p>Ken repressed with difficulty a violent desire to cheer. Next moment came a + low-voiced order from his company commander, and he found himself one of a long line + hurrying up the companion to the deck.</p> + <p>There was no moon, but the stars were bright, and it was not too dark to see the + cliffs that seemed to rise abruptly out of the sea, about half a mile away to the + eastward. They, like the ships, were dark and silent.</p> + <p>Without one unnecessary word, the troops dropped quietly down the ladder into the + waiting boats, and presently were being pulled rapidly inshore. Boat after boat came + stealing out of the gloom, all loaded down to the gunwales with fighting men, yet all + moving with a silence that was positively uncanny. The oars were carefully muffled + and no one spoke aloud.</p> + <p>Dave sat next to Ken, but Horan was not with them. He had been ordered into + another boat with his company.</p> + <p>Dave put his mouth close to Ken's ear.</p> + <p>'Don't believe there's a Turk in the country,' he muttered. 'Looks to me as + peaceful as a picnic'</p> + <p>'Looks are precious deceitful sometimes,' Ken whispered back. 'For all you or I + know, that brush is stiff with the enemy.'</p> + <p>'Then why don't they fire at us?'</p> + <p>'A fat lot of good that would be in this light. No, Dave, they know their job as + well as we do, and perhaps better. I shall be pleasantly surprised if we're allowed + to land without opposition.'</p> + <p>But the boat neared the shore, and still there was no sign from those silent + cliffs and thickets. As soon as her bow grated on the shingle, the men were out of + her, wading knee deep to the shore. They were as eager as terriers. The only anxiety + of their officers was lest they should get out of hand and start before the order to + advance was given.</p> + <p>Boat after boat glided up, and men by scores formed up at high tide mark.</p> + <p>'Told you we'd fooled 'em,' whispered Dave. 'This is going to be one o' your + bloodless victories.'</p> + <p>The words were hardly out of his mouth before there was a loud hissing sound, and + right out of the centre of the precipitous slope facing them something like a + gigantic rocket shot high into the air and burst into a brilliant white flame.</p> + <p>It lit up the whole beach like day, throwing up the long lines of troops in + brilliant relief. Next instant there was a crash of musketry, and rifles spat fire + and lead from a long semicircle behind the spot from which the star shell had + risen.</p> + <p>The man next but one to Ken threw up his arms and dropped without a sound. A score + of others fell.</p> + <p>'Gee, but you were right, Ken!' muttered Dave. 'Fix bayonets!' Colonel Conway's + voice rang like a trumpet above the crackle of the firing.</p> + <p>Instantly came the clang of steel as the bayonets slipped into their sockets. Men + were falling fast, but the rest stood straining forward like greyhounds on a + leash.</p> + <p>'Not a shot, mind you. Give 'em the steel. At the double. Advance!'</p> + <p>Almost before the words were out of his mouth the whole line rushed forward. A + second star shell hissed skywards, but before it broke the men had reached the base + of the cliff. Its white glare showed the long-legged athletes from the sheep ranges + and cattle runs sprinting up the steep hill-side.</p> + <p>The enemy rifles rattled in one long, terrible roll. Men dropped by dozens and + scores. Some fell where they lay, others rolled helplessly back down the steep slope + to the beach. But those left never paused or hesitated. They scrambled desperately + upwards through the pelting storm of lead, guided by the flashes from the muzzles of + the Turkish rifles.</p> + <p>Ken was conscious of nothing but a fierce desire to get to close quarters, and he + and Dave Burney went up side by side at the very top of their speed.</p> + <p>Before they knew it, a dark hollow loomed before them. A rifle snapped almost in + Ken's face—so close that he felt the scorch of the powder. Without an instant's + hesitation he drove his bayonet at a dark figure beneath him, at the same time + springing down into the trench. The whole weight of his body was behind his thrust, + and the Turk, spitted like a fowl, fell dead beneath him.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig027.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig027.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'He drove his bayonet at a dark figure.'</h3> + </div> + <p>With an effort he dragged the blade loose. Only just in time, for a burly man in a + fez was swinging at his head with a rifle butt. Ken ducked under his arm, turned + smartly and bayoneted him in the side.</p> + <p>The whole trench was full of struggling men. The Turks fought well, but good men + as they are, they were no match for the long, lean six footers who were upon them. + Inside three minutes it was all over. Most of the Turks were dead, the few survivors + were prisoners.</p> + <p>'Lively while it lasted,' panted Dave's voice at Ken's elbow.</p> + <p>'You, Dave. Are you all right?'</p> + <p>'Lost my hat and my wind. Nothing else missing so far as I know. Are you + chipped?'</p> + <p>'Not a touch. But keep your head down. This is only the first act. There's another + trench above this one.'</p> + <p>During the struggle in the trench the firing had ceased entirely, but now that it + was over a pestilence of bullets began to pour again from higher up the slope, and + Ken's warning was useful—to say the least of it.</p> + <p>'What comes next?' asked Dave, as the two crouched together against the rubbly + wall of the trench.</p> + <p>'Get our second wind and tackle the next trench,' said Ken briefly.</p> + <p>His prophecy was correct. A couple of minutes later the order was passed down to + advance again.</p> + <p>In grim silence the men sprang out of their shelter and dashed forward. There were + no more star shells, but from up above began the ugly knocking of a quick-firer. It + sounded like a giant running a stick along an endless row of palings, and the bullets + squirted like water from a hose through the thinning ranks of the Colonials.</p> + <p>It was worse than the first charge, for not only was the slope steeper, but the + face of the hill was covered with low, tough scrub, the tangled roots of which caught + the men's feet as they ran, and brought many down. The result was that the line was + no longer level. Some got far ahead of the others.</p> + <p>Among the leaders were Ken and Dave, who struggled along, side by side, still + untouched amid the pelting storm of lead.</p> + <p>But although the ranks were sadly thinned, the attackers were not to be denied. In + a living torrent, they poured into the second trench.</p> + <p>There followed a grim five minutes. The Turks who were in considerable force, made + a strong effort to hold their ground, shortening their bayonets and stabbing upwards + at the attackers. It was useless. The Australians and New Zealanders, savage at the + loss of so many of their comrades, fought like furies. Ken had a glimpse of a giant + next him, literally pitchforking a Turk out of the trench, lifting him like a gaffed + salmon on the end of his bayonet.</p> + <p>It was soon over, but this time there were very few prisoners. Almost every man in + the trench, with the exception of about a dozen who had bolted at the first onset, + was killed.</p> + <p>'That's settled it,' said Dave gleefully, as he plunged his bayonet into the earth + to clean it from the ugly stains which darkened the steel.</p> + <p>'That's begun it,' corrected Ken.</p> + <p>'What do you mean?'</p> + <p>'That we've got to hold what we've won. You don't suppose the Turks are going to + leave us in peaceful possession, do you?'</p> + <p>'I—I thought we'd finished this little lot,' said Dave rather ruefully.</p> + <p>'My dear chap, I've told you already that Enver Bey has at least a hundred + thousand men on the Peninsula. By this time the news of our landing has been + telephoned all over the shop, and reinforcements are coming up full tilt. There'll be + a couple of battalions or more on the top of the cliff in an hour or two's time.'</p> + <p>'Then why don't we shove along and take up our position on the top?'</p> + <p>'We're not strong enough yet. We must wait for reinforcements. If I'm not mistaken + the next orders will be to dig ourselves in.'</p> + <p>'But we are dug in. We hold the trench.'</p> + <p>'Fat lot of use that is in its present condition. All the earthworks are on the + seaward side. We have little or no protection on the land side.</p> + <p>'Ah, I thought so,' he continued, as the voice of Sergeant O'Brien made itself + heard.</p> + <p>'Dig, lads! dig! Make yourselves some head cover. They'll be turning guns on us + an' blowing blazes out of us as soon as the day dawns.'</p> + <p>Blown and weary as they were, the men set to work at once with their entrenching + spades. It was in Egypt they had learnt the art of trench-making, but they found this + rocky clay very different stuff to shift from desert sand.</p> + <p>The order came none too soon, for in a very few minutes snipers got to work again. + There were scores of them. Every little patch of scrub held its sharpshooter, and + although the darkness was still against accurate shooting there were many + casualties.</p> + <p>'They're enfilading us,' said Ken. 'They've got men posted up on the cliff to the + left who can fire right down this trench. It's going to be awkward when daylight + comes.'</p> + <p>It was awkward enough already. The Red Cross men were kept busy, staggering away + downhill with stretchers laden with the wounded. There was no possibility of + returning the enemy's fire, and in the darkness the ships could not help. All the + Colonials could do was to crouch as low as possible, flattening themselves against + the landward wall of the trench.</p> + <p>'Those snipers are the very deuce, sergeant.'</p> + <p>The voice was that of Colonel Conway, who was making his way down the trench, to + see how his men were faring.</p> + <p>'They are that, sorr,' replied O'Brien. ''Tis them over on the bluff to the left + as is doing the damage. I'm thinking they've got the ranges beforehand.</p> + <p>As he spoke a man went down within five yards of where he stood. He was shot clean + through the head.</p> + <p>'It's Standish,' said Ken. And then, on the spur of the moment,—</p> + <p>'Sergeant, couldn't some of us go and clear them out?'</p> + <p>There was a moment's pause broken only by the intermittent crackle of firing from + above.</p> + <p>'Who was that spoke?' demanded Colonel Conway.</p> + <p>'I, sir,' answered Ken, saluting. 'Carrington.'</p> + <p>'Aren't you the man who knows this country?'</p> + <p>'I have been in the Peninsula before, sir.'</p> + <p>'Hm, and do you think you could find those snipers?'</p> + <p>'I do, sir.' Ken spoke very quietly, but inwardly he was trembling with eagerness. + Was it possible that his impulsive remark was going to be taken up in earnest?</p> + <p>The colonel spoke in a whisper to O'Brien, and the sergeant answered. Then he + turned to Ken.</p> + <p>'You may pick three men and try it. You'll have to stalk them, of course. If you + can't reach them come back. No one will think any the worse of you if you fail.'</p> + <p>'Thank you, sir,' said Ken, his heart almost bursting with gratitude. His chance + had come, and he meant to make the most of it.</p> + <h2><a id="IV" name="IV">CHAPTER IV</a><br /> + A RUSE OF WAR</h2> + <p>'Dave, will you come?' said Ken.</p> + <p>'Will a terrier hunt rats?' was Dave's answer.</p> + <p>'And I want Roy Horan, sergeant, if he's alive. He's a New Zealander.'</p> + <p>'Pass the word for Horan,' said the sergeant, and the whisper went rapidly down + the long trench.</p> + <p>'Who'll be the fourth?' Ken asked of Dave.</p> + <p>'Take Dick Norton. He's a Queensland ex-trooper. He's been in with the black + trackers, and moves like a dingo.'</p> + <p>'The very man,' said Ken. 'Where is he?'</p> + <p>Norton, as it happened, was only a few yards away. He came up eagerly, a slim, + dark man with keen gray eyes and a nose like a hawk's beak.</p> + <p>A moment later, and Roy Horan's giant form came slipping rapidly up to the little + group, and Ken at once explained what was wanted.</p> + <p>'Carrington, you're an angel in khaki,' said Horan rejoicingly. 'I'm your debtor + for life.'</p> + <p>'Which same will not be a long one if ye don't kape that big body o'yours under + cover,' said O'Brien dryly, as a bullet, striking the parapet, spattered earth all + over them.</p> + <p>'Have ye revolvers?' he asked of Ken.</p> + <p>None of them had, but these were at once provided, together with plenty of + ammunition.</p> + <p>'Ye'd best lave your rifles,' said O'Brien. ''Tis a creeping, crawling job before + ye, and the lighter ye go, the better. At close quarters the pistols will do the job + better than anything else ye can carry. Now get along wid ye. The sky's lightening + over Asia yonder, and 'tis small chance ye'll have if the dawn catches ye.'</p> + <p>'Lucky beggars!' growled a big Tasmanian, as they passed him on their way to the + north end of the trench. All their comrades were consumed with envy, but like the + good fellows they were, they only wished them luck.</p> + <p>A few moments later they had all four crawled out of the trench, and bending + double were making steadily uphill towards the spot from which the enfilading fire + proceeded.</p> + <p>'We'll go straight,' whispered Ken. 'Less risk, really, for they'll be shooting + over our heads.'</p> + <p>There was plenty of cover, for the whole of the steep hill-side was dotted with + thick bunches of dense scrub. Barring a chance shot from up above, there was not much + risk for the present. That would come later, when they reached the nest of snipers. + For the present the great thing was to keep their heads down and escape + observation.</p> + <p>Nearer and nearer they came to the spot whence the flashes darted thickest, and + all the time the bullets whirred over their heads. At last Ken was able to see + through the gloom a low parapet of earth which was evidently the front of a regular + rifle pit.</p> + <p>He stopped and beckoned to the others to do the same.</p> + <p>'There must be at least half a dozen of them,' he whispered, 'and very likely + more. You chaps wait here under this bush while I go forward. No, you needn't grouse, + Dave. I'm not going to do you out of your share. All I want is to make out which side + it will be best to make our attack. I'll be back in a minute.'</p> + <p>He crept forward, and as he did so there was a sudden lull in the firing. For a + moment he feared that the men in the pit had spotted him or his companions, and he + flattened himself breathlessly on the ground.</p> + <p>Next moment he heard a voice. Some one in the rifle pit was speaking.</p> + <p>'I would that they would hasten with that ammunition,' said the man speaking in + the Anatolian dialect, which Ken could understand fairly well. 'Allah, but these + infidels take lead as though it were no more than water!'</p> + <p>'They are brave men, Achmet,' answered another, 'but even so they will not stand + when Mahmoud brings up the guns. Then, as the German says, we shall sweep them back + into the sea from which they came.'</p> + <p>'Guns!' muttered Ken. 'This is news.' He lay still and listened eagerly.</p> + <p>'Does the German himself bring the guns?' asked the first speaker.</p> + <p>'He does, brother. They are two of the best which were sent from Constantinople to + Maidos. Most like, they are already in position on the heights above us, ready to + rain their shrapnel upon the unbelievers.'</p> + <p>Ken had heard enough. This was news which the colonel must learn at once. Snipers + were bad enough, but if the two German 77-millimetre field-pieces were got into + position, the trench would be untenable. He waited only long enough to get the lie of + the land around the rifle pit, then crept quietly back to his companions.</p> + <p>It took him just about thirty seconds to tell them what he had heard.</p> + <p>'And one of you must go back and tell the colonel,' he added.</p> + <p>There was silence. Not unnaturally no one volunteered.</p> + <p>'It's up to you, Norton,' said Ken.</p> + <p>'Why not rush the pit first?' suggested Norton, 'then we could all go back + together.'</p> + <p>'Or all stay here,' answered Ken. 'No, I'm frightfully sorry, Norton, but you're + the best scout of the lot of us, and the most likely to get back safely. You must go + and tell the colonel.'</p> + <p>Norton was too good a soldier to argue. With a sigh he turned about and vanished + in the gloom.</p> + <p>'And now for the rifle pit,' said Ken. 'We must go up on the right-hand side, and + take it from the rear. As I've told you, the fellows holding it are out of + cartridges. If we can get in on 'em quietly, before they can use their bayonets, we + ought not to have much trouble.'</p> + <p>Ken's heart beat hard as he led the way to the rifle pit. The thought that his + colonel had given him a job on his own filled him with pride, and though he was + nothing but a private leading two other privates, he felt like a captain with a + company behind him.</p> + <p>The critical moment came as they reached the front of the pit, and had to swing + off to the right. There was little or no cover, and it was necessary to crawl flat on + their stomachs. To make matters worse, the ground was rough and stony, and every time + a pebble rolled, Ken's heart was in his mouth.</p> + <p>But the snipers were keeping no sort of watch. Of course none of them had the + faintest notion that any enemy was nearer than the trench, quite a couple of hundred + yards away. As they snaked along, the attacking party could hear them talking in the + low, measured tones peculiar to the Turk.</p> + <p>At last Ken gained his vantage point. He paused and drew his revolver. The others + did the same.</p> + <p>Ken sprang to his feet, and with two bounds was in the pit.</p> + <p>There were five men there, and the attack took them utterly by surprise. Before + they knew what was happening two were pistolled and one knocked silly by a blow from + the butt of Horan's revolver. The two others fought gamely, but they were no match + for the three Britishers. In less time than it takes to tell they were both laid + out.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a id="fig035" name="fig035"></a><a href="dardan_files/fig035.jpg"><img + width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig035.jpg" alt="" /></a> + <h3>Stores, horses, and munitions were being landed on V. beach.</h3> + </div> + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a id="fig036" name="fig036"></a><a href="dardan_files/fig036.jpg"><img + width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig036.jpg" alt="" /></a> + <h3>Magnificent work was done by the landing parties in their advance inland.</h3> + </div> + <p>'Hurrah!' cried Horan gleefully.</p> + <p>'Shut up, you ass!' snapped Ken. 'Do you want to bring every Turk within half a + mile down on us. Look out. There's one chap moving. Tie him up, and, Dave, gather + their rifles. I must go through their pockets. There's always a chance of useful + information.'</p> + <p>'Lively now!' he added. 'They were expecting ammunition, and we shall have + visitors in pretty short order.'</p> + <p>'My word, here they are already,' muttered Dave Burney. 'Half a dozen of 'em.'</p> + <p>Ken looked up quickly. A number of figures were just visible, coming along the + ridge to the right.</p> + <p>'There are more than half a dozen,' he whispered sharply. 'More like double that + number. And that looks like an officer with them.'</p> + <p>'We'd best make ourselves scarce,' suggested Dave quietly.</p> + <p>'Too late for that,' answered Ken. 'They're bound to see us. Besides, if they find + the pit empty they'll only put fresh men here, and all the work will be to do + again.'</p> + <p>'Let's tackle 'em then,' said Roy Horan recklessly.</p> + <p>'Odds are too long,' replied Ken. He paused a moment, and glanced round.</p> + <p>'I've an idea,' he said swiftly. 'I believe we can fool them. Quick! Take the + coats off the dead men, and put them on. Their fezzes, too. In this light they'll + never know the difference.'</p> + <p>'But if they talk to us?' objected Roy.</p> + <p>'Then I'll talk back. I know the language.'</p> + <p>As he spoke, Ken was swiftly stripping one of the dead Turks of his overcoat. The + others did the same, and within an incredibly short time all three were wearing dead + men's clothes. The coats sat oddly on their long frames, but fortunately there was as + yet very little light, and in the gray gloom they presented a tolerable resemblance + to the late tenants of the rifle pit.</p> + <p>They had hardly completed the change when the officer who was leading the party + reached the edge of the pit.</p> + <p>'Why are you not firing?' he demanded, and by his harsh guttural voice Ken knew + him at once for a German.</p> + <p>'We are out of ammunition,' he answered readily.</p> + <p>'Schweine Hund! Do you not know enough to say "Sir" to an officer when he + addresses you?'</p> + <p>'Your pardon, sir,' said Ken gruffly. 'The light is so bad, and my eyes sting with + the powder smoke.'</p> + <p>'They will sting worse if you do not mend your manners,' retorted the German + brutally.</p> + <p>Ken, boiling inwardly, had yet wisdom enough to hang his head and make no + reply.</p> + <p>'How many are there of you in the pit?' continued the officer.</p> + <p>'Only three, sir,' Ken answered.</p> + <p>'You will retire to higher ground and construct a new pit. This position is + required for a mitrailleuse. You understand, blockhead?'</p> + <p>'Yes, sir.'</p> + <p>The officer turned to the men behind him.</p> + <p>'Bring up the gun,' he ordered.</p> + <p>'Come on,' said Ken to Dave in the lowest possible whisper. He climbed quietly out + of the hollow as he spoke, and the two others followed.</p> + <p>'Up the hill there—by those bushes,' said the German curtly. 'And be sharp. + Ammunition will be brought you. Understand, your work is to command the beach and + prevent supplies being brought to those dogs in the trenches.'</p> + <p>'So that's the little game, is it?' said Roy, as the three gained the shelter of a + patch of scrub out of sight of the German. 'A quick firer to enfilade the trench, and + snipers for the beach. Say, Carrington, can't we do anything to put the hat on that + Prussian Johnny's scheme?'</p> + <p>'We've got to,' Ken answered quickly. 'Once they get that quick-firer posted, it's + all up with our lads down below. They'll rake the trench from end to end.'</p> + <p>'Let's wait till it's in place, and rush it,' suggested Horan recklessly. 'We + ought to be able to wipe out the gun crew before they nobble us.'</p> + <p>'What's the use of that?' retorted Ken. 'It's the gun itself we want to wreck—not + the crew. They can easily get a score of men to work the Q.-F., but it would take + some time to get another gun. Jove, if I only had just one stick of dynamite.'</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:60%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig039.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig039.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'"How many are there of you in the pit?"'</h3> + </div> + <p>'But they had no dynamite, and the outlook seemed extremely gloomy. Worst of all, + it was rapidly getting light, and although a mist hung over the sea and the shore, + this would no doubt melt away as soon as the sun was well up.</p> + <p>Shots came from a patch of scrub behind and above them, whistling over their + heads, and evidently directed at the boats which were bringing ammunition and + reinforcements from the ships.</p> + <p>Ken crouched lower, and as he did so some bulky object in the pocket of the + Turkish overcoat which he was wearing made itself felt. He slipped his hand in and + drew out a black metal globe, about the size of a cricket ball. It had a length of + dark cord-like stuff projecting from a hole in it.</p> + <p>It was all he could do to repress a yell of delight.</p> + <p>'What luck!' he muttered. 'Oh, I say, what luck!'</p> + <p>'What the mischief have you got there?' inquired Dave. 'What is it?'</p> + <p>'A bomb. One of the German hand grenades. Quick! See if there are any in your + pockets?'</p> + <p>Hastily the others thrust their hands into their pockets and each hand came back + with a similar bomb.</p> + <p>'That settles it,' said Ken happily. 'Two for the men, and one for the gun. We've + got 'em now—got 'em on toast.'</p> + <p>As he spoke he crept out of the bush, and took a cautious peep in the direction of + the rifle pit.</p> + <p>'They're just setting the gun up,' he muttered. 'And the German beggar has gone + back the way he came. So far as I can see, there are not more than four or five men + with the gun.'</p> + <p>'That's all right,' said Roy Horan in a tone of considerable satisfaction. 'What + do we do, Carrington—just wallop these grenades in on top of 'em?'</p> + <p>'No, they're not percussion—worse luck! We've got to light the fuses before we + chuck them. That's awkward for two reasons. They may see our matches, and then we've + got to be pretty nippy about using them. If we're not, it's we who'll get the bust + up—not the Turks.'</p> + <p>'Sounds, interesting,' remarked Roy coolly. 'See here, Carrington, the best thing, + so far as I can see, is for us to slip down to our old place, right under the parapet + of the pit. That's our only chance of getting to close quarters.'</p> + <p>'A frontal attack,' put in Dave. 'What price our heads if they start shooting off + the gun?'</p> + <p>'They probably won't start until they have light enough to see where they're + shooting,' returned Ken. 'Horan's notion is all right. Come on.'</p> + <p>'But mind you,' he whispered urgently, 'we must keep one bomb for the gun. You'd + best throw yours first, Horan, and as soon as it's gone off, let 'em have it with + your pistol. Then, if there are any of 'em left, you whack yours in, Dave.'</p> + <p>He crept away, the others followed, and a few moments later they found themselves + crouching close together under the low parapet of the rifle pit. There was light + enough for them to see—just above their heads—the ugly gray muzzle of the + mitrailleuse peeping out through an embrasure in the earthen bank.</p> + <p>All of a sudden, without the slightest warning, a tongue of flame spat from the + muzzle, and with a deafening rattle a hail of bullets sprayed out over their heads, + directed at the trench a bare two hundreds yards away.</p> + <p>'Quick!' cried Ken. 'We must stop that,' and with all speed he pulled out his + match-box. The crackle of the firing drowned his words, but that did not matter. The + others understood.</p> + <p>Ken struck a match, and Roy held out the fuse of his bomb. Luckily there was no + wind. The fuse caught and instantly began to hiss and splutter.</p> + <p>With reckless disregard for danger, Roy sprang upon the parapet. Ken had one + glimpse of the tall figure towering over him, one hand raised high overhead.</p> + <p>Then the arm flashed forward as Roy dashed the grenade full into the centre of the + pit.</p> + <p>There followed a stunning report—a noise so loud that Ken felt as though his very + ear-drums were cracked. At the same time Horan staggered back off the parapet, and + the quick-firer ceased firing.</p> + <p>'Now, yours, Dave,' said Ken, and without delay Dave lobbed his grenade, the fuse + of which Ken had already lighted, into the pit.</p> + <p>But by this time the survivors from the first explosion had pulled themselves + together and collected their wits. Before the second grenade could explode, it was + hurled back. It went right over Dave's head and rolling down the hill exploded with a + deafening roar.</p> + <p>On top of the grenade three burly Turks came leaping out of the pit and fell on + Ken and Dave.</p> + <p>Ken just managed to get out his pistol in time, and his first shot finished the + leader of the three Turks. But a second man came at him with a clubbed musket, and + Ken only saved his skull by a rapid duck.</p> + <p>'Dog!' roared his assailant, as he made another savage swing.</p> + <p>Ken leaped away, and the Turk overbalanced himself with the force of his blow. + Before he could recover Ken's heavy revolver barrel crashed upon his skull and felled + him like a log.</p> + <p>Ken glanced across at Dave, and saw him kneeling on the chest of the third Turk, + his long fingers gripping the man's throat. Just beyond, Roy, recovering slowly from + the stunning effect of his own bomb, was scrambling dazedly to his feet.</p> + <p>Farther off, he heard the sound of running feet. It was clear that the sound of + the two explosions had aroused the suspicions of some supporting party. + Reinforcements were coming up at the double.</p> + <p>If the gun was to be put out of service this would have to be done quickly. + Without a moment's delay he sprang over into the pit.</p> + <p>The place was a regular shambles. Ken was amazed at the ruin wrought by the one + small bomb. Three men lay dead in the bottom. One had his head almost blown off. + Fortunately, perhaps, Ken had no time to dwell on such horrors. With all possible + speed he got the remaining bomb out, and with a handkerchief tied it to the breech of + the quick-firer.</p> + <p>Then he lighted the fuse, and waiting only long enough to see that it was burning + properly, made a wild leap out of the pit.</p> + <p>'It's all right. I've fixed the gun. Come on, you chaps,' he said sharply to the + others.</p> + <p>The words were hardly out of his mouth before a flash of flame rose from the pit + and the loud report of the last bomb sent the echoes flying along the cliffs. + Fragments of the broken gun shot high into the air, the pieces falling in every + direction.</p> + <p>'That's done the trick,' said Dave gleefully.</p> + <p>'Don't talk. Come on. There's a big party of Turks coming up. Are you game to run, + Horan?'</p> + <p>'You bet. I'm all right now. But those bombs are oners. I never reckoned such a + small thing would make such a dust up. Gosh, it nearly blinded me, and my head still + rings like a bell.'</p> + <p>Ken did not answer. All his energies were needed to steer a course through the + scrub which covered the steep hill-side. The morning mist lay thick and clammy. It + was impossible to see more than a few yards ahead, and it would be the easiest thing + in the world to miss the way back to the trench, and either go over the steep edge to + the beach or get in among the enemy snipers to the left.</p> + <p>'Look out!' cried Roy Horan suddenly, and as he spoke four men rose up out of the + thick scrub right in their path. And one of them was a German officer, the very same + whom they had encountered twenty minutes earlier.</p> + <p>'Stop!' he snarled. 'Stop, you fools. Where are you going?'</p> + <h2><a id="V" name="V">CHAPTER V</a><br /> + PROMOTION</h2> + <p>The officer was armed with a repeating pistol while his men all had rifles. For + the moment Ken was filled with wonder as to why they had not at once used their + weapons.</p> + <p>Then he remembered. It was their Turkish greatcoats which had saved them. In the + dim light the German still took them for Turkish soldiers.</p> + <p>But discovery could only be a matter of a few seconds. Even as he watched, he saw + suspicion dawn in the pig-like eyes of the Prussian.</p> + <p>'At 'em!' roared Ken, and without an instant's hesitation flung himself upon the + officer.</p> + <p>The man tried to fire, but Ken caught his wrist in time, and closed. The two + wrestled furiously together, the German breathing out savage threats in his own + language.</p> + <p>He was not tall, but a stocky, powerful man, and it was all Ken could do to hold + his own. Vaguely he heard shouts and shots, and knew that Dave and Roy were hotly + engaged with the three Turks. But he had no attention to spare for them. All his + energies were needed to cope with his own opponent.</p> + <p>Ken's first object was to deprive the other of his pistol, and he forced the man's + right arm back with all his strength. Stamping and panting, the two worked gradually + back down the slope until they had passed the clump of scrub from behind which the + German had appeared.</p> + <p>Ken, though breathing hard, was still cool and collected, while the German, on the + other hand, had utterly lost his temper. His big heavy face was a rich plum colour, + and the breath whistled through his teeth.</p> + <p>At last Ken gained his first object. His fierce grip upon the German's wrist + paralysed the muscles of the man's hand, and the pistol dropped from his nerveless + fingers.</p> + <p>Instantly Ken tightened his hold, and tried to back-heel his adversary. Before he + could succeed in this manoeuvre, he felt the ground crumbling beneath his feet.</p> + <p>It was too late to do anything to save himself. Next moment the earth gave way and + he and the German, locked in one another's arms, went flying through the air.</p> + <p>Followed a crash and a thud, and for some moments Ken lay stunned and breathless, + though not actually insensible.</p> + <p>In boxing there is nothing more painful than a blow on the 'mark.' It knocks all + the breath out of the body, and for some time the lungs seem paralysed. This was + practically what had happened to Ken. He had fallen full on his chest, and though his + senses remained clear enough, he simply could not get his breath back.</p> + <p>When at last he succeeded in doing so he felt as weak as a cat, and deadly sick + into the bargain. It was some moments before he could even manage to roll off the + body of the man beneath him.</p> + <p>He struggled to his feet and found that he was at the bottom of a bluff about + twenty feet high. To the right was a sheer drop to the sea. He shivered as he glanced + over to the fog-shrouded waves, full eighty feet below. The ledge on which he had + landed was only four or five yards wide. A very little more, and he and his enemy + together must have gone clean over the cliff.</p> + <p>He turned to the German. The latter lay still enough—so still that at first Ken + thought he was dead. But presently he saw that the man was still breathing.</p> + <p>'A hospital case,' muttered Ken in puzzled tones. 'What the mischief am I to do + with him?'</p> + <p>'Ken—Ken, where are you?'</p> + <p>The anxious question came from overhead, and glancing up Ken saw Dave Burney's + head appearing over the edge of the bluff.</p> + <p>'I'm all right,' he answered. 'What about you?'</p> + <p>'We've nobbled our little lot,' Dave answered with justifiable pride. 'My word, + but I'm glad to see you. I thought you'd gone right over into the sea.'</p> + <p>'I wasn't far off it,' said Ken. 'I say, is there any way up to the top again. + This is nothing but a ledge?'</p> + <p>'Can't you climb the bluff. It's not so steep a little way to your right?'</p> + <p>'I could, but my German friend isn't exactly in climbing trim. He's rather badly + bust up by the look of him.'</p> + <p>Dave glanced round.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:60%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig046.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig046.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'"My German friend isn't exactly in climbing trim."'</h3> + </div> + <p>'It looks to me as if the ledge you're on broadens a good bit to my left. You wait + where you are, and Roy and I will come round and give you a hand.'</p> + <p>Dave's head disappeared, and Ken sat down, with his back against the bluff. He had + had a bad shake up, and was glad of a few moments' rest. He was quite safe where he + was, for the bluff protected him from stray Turkish bullets.</p> + <p>Down below, through the mist, boats were shooting landwards from the transports, + bringing more men, stores of all kinds, ammunition, and materials for setting up a + wireless installation. He saw that they were under constant fire from the snipers on + the cliffs above, and though for the moment the haze protected them, the mist was + fast rising. It was going to be precious awkward when the full light came.</p> + <p>In a much shorter time than he had expected, his two companions appeared in sight + around the curve of the ledge. In the dawn light he could see that their khaki was + torn and covered with stains, while their faces were scratched and bleeding. But both + were in splendid spirits.</p> + <p>'My word!' exclaimed Roy. 'This is what you might call a night out with a + vengeance.'</p> + <p>'The night's all right,' returned Ken, 'but it's getting a jolly sight too near + day to suit me. If we don't get back to our trench before this fog goes we shall be a + target for half the Turkish army.'</p> + <p>'It's not far,' said Dave consolingly.</p> + <p>'Far enough, by the time we've carried in this Johnny,' replied Ken, pointing to + the German.</p> + <p>Dave looked doubtfully at the corpulent form of the Prussian.</p> + <p>'He's not exactly a featherweight, by the look of him. However, here goes.' He + stooped as he spoke and took the officer by the shoulders.</p> + <p>'Catch hold of his legs, Roy,' he said to Horan. 'No, Ken,' as Carrington stepped + forward, 'you've done your bit. Roy and I will tote your stout prisoner back.'</p> + <p>'First, take off those Turkey carpets you're wearing,' said Ken quickly. 'If you + don't, it's our chaps will fill you with lead.'</p> + <p>They all peeled off their Turkish overcoats, then carrying the German they started + along the ledge. Rounding the curve, Ken found that the ledge widened and merged in + the scrub-clad slope opposite the head of the little bay.</p> + <p>He stopped and glanced round. The Turkish snipers were still busy, and the sharp + crack of cordite echoed from scores of different hiding-places along the hills. He + and his companions had about one hundred and fifty yards to go before reaching the + trench held by their battalions, and the light was growing stronger every moment.</p> + <p>In spite of his anxiety to bring in his prisoner, it seemed clear that the risk + was too great. Their only chance of crossing the open in safety was to duck and + crawl.</p> + <p>'It's no use,' he said regretfully. 'We'll have to leave this chap behind. We'll + all be shot as full of holes as a sieve if we try to carry him.'</p> + <p>'Rats, Carrington!' retorted Roy Horan. 'Go home without our prisoner? Never! + Besides, the Turks won't shoot their own officer. Come on, Dave,' he said, and before + Ken could say another word the two were off as hard as they could go, carrying their + heavy burden.</p> + <p>Ken had many doubts as to the Turks refraining from shooting, for fear of hitting + the German. In fact, knowing as he did the feeling which existed between the bullying + Prussian and the placid Turk, he rather thought the case would be exactly the + opposite.</p> + <p>Whatever the reason, at any rate they had covered nearly half the distance before + they began to draw fire. Then bullets began to ping ominously close, and little jets + of dust to rise from the dry soil all around them.</p> + <p>Suddenly Ken's hat flew from his head, and as he stooped quickly to recover it, + the fat German gave a yell like a stuck pig, and kicked out so convulsively that his + bearers incontinently dropped him.</p> + <p>In an instant he was on his feet, and running like a rabbit, at the same time + giving vent to a series of sharp yelps like a beaten puppy.</p> + <p>'The blighter! He was shamming!' roared Roy, darting off in pursuit, regardless of + the bullets.</p> + <p>'It was a bullet woke him up anyhow,' exclaimed Dave, as he scurried after.</p> + <p>The Prussian was beside himself with pain. He had been shot through one hand, and + there is no more agonising injury. He ran blindly, and as it chanced almost in a + straight line for the trench.</p> + <p>A score of heads popped up to see what was happening, and when their owners + realised the truth a roar of laughter burst out all down the trench.</p> + <p>It was not until the German was on the very edge of the trench that he realised + where he was. He spun round to bolt.</p> + <p>But Roy was at his heels.</p> + <p>'No, ye don't, fatty,' said the big New Zealander, and catching the man by the + scruff of the neck, gave him a tremendous push which sent him flying over into the + trench. Roy sprang down after him, and a moment later, Dave and Ken hurled themselves + into cover.</p> + <p>'Is it steeplechasing ye are, or what fool's game is it ye are playing?' demanded + Sergeant O'Brien, while the rest shrieked with laughter.</p> + <p>'He—he's my prisoner,' panted Ken. 'And—and, sergeant, did Norton get back?'</p> + <p>'He did. Come along wid ye, and make your report to the colonel.'</p> + <p>Colonel Conway, who had been on foot all night, was taking a few minutes' much + needed rest in a rough dug-out. But at sight of Ken, he was on his feet again in a + moment.</p> + <p>'I am very glad to see you, Carrington,' he said cordially. 'I had begun to be + afraid that you and your companions would not get back. And yet I knew you had + succeeded in your enterprise, for the enfilading fire ceased very shortly after you + left.'</p> + <p>Standing at attention, Ken gave his report. He made much of the doings of Dave and + Roy, but modestly suppressed his own. The colonel, however, was not deceived.</p> + <p>'You have done very well indeed,' he said, with a warmth that brought the colour + to Ken's cheeks. 'Your destruction of the machine gun was a particularly plucky and + useful piece of work. I shall see that your conduct and that of all your companions + is mentioned in the proper quarter. Meantime, you are promoted to corporal.'</p> + <p>Ken's heart was very nearly bursting with pride.</p> + <p>'Thank you, sir,' he said with a gulp, and saluting again turned away.</p> + <p>The colonel stopped him.</p> + <p>'You had better get some food,' he said. 'We shall be moving out of this very + shortly.'</p> + <p>'Faith, ye didn't do so badly after all, lad,' said O'Brien. 'Ate quickly now, for + I'm thinking 'tis us for the top of the cliff before we're a dale older.'</p> + <p>Bread, bully beef, and a drink of water out of their bottles. That was the simple + bill of fare. But Ken's exertions during the night had put a sharp edge on his + appetite, and he enjoyed the plain meal.</p> + <p>The fog was fast disappearing under the rays of the newly risen sun, and the + firing grew heavier every minute. The hills all round were alive with snipers, but + their fire was directed not so much on the trench held by the Australians as on the + boats which were landing reinforcements on the beach below.</p> + <p>It was in the boats and on the beach that the casualties were heaviest. The troops + that were landed had to run the gauntlet for fully fifty yards before reaching the + cover of the scrub on the cliff, and matters were worse still for the bluejackets + pulling the empty boats back to the ships. They were potted at without a chance of + returning the enemy fire.</p> + <p>But they stuck it out finely, and already all the wounded had been taken off, + while reinforcements had reached the upper trench, sufficient in number to make up + for the first losses.</p> + <p>'What's the colonel waiting for?' asked Dave. 'Why don't we go on up and smoke out + those blighted snipers?'</p> + <p>'It's ammunition, I fancy. And there's a couple of maxims coming up. We shall need + those if we have to dig ourselves in under fire.'</p> + <p>'More digging—oh, Christmas!' growled Dave. 'I didn't come here to dig. I could do + that in my old dad's garden at home.'</p> + <p>Ken chuckled. 'You'll find the spade'll do as much to win this war as the guns and + rifles. There's heaps of trenching in store for us, I can tell you.'</p> + <p>There was some delay about the maxims, and time went on without any order to move. + The men began to grumble. It was hard indeed to lie and watch their comrades below + being picked off, one after another, by these abominable sharpshooters, without a + chance of hitting back.</p> + <p>'Look at that!' growled Roy Horan, pointing to a stalwart bluejacket who had just + dropped at his oar as the boat pushed off the beach. 'It's murder! That's what it is. + Sheer murder! Why the blazes can't the ships turn loose?'</p> + <p>'Because they've got nothing to fire at. You can't chuck away 6-inch shells on the + off chance of killing one sniper. You wait until the Turks appear in force. Then + you'll see what naval guns can do.'</p> + <p>'I don't believe the swine will ever appear in force,' said Roy, who had lost all + his good humour and was looking absolutely savage. 'It breaks me all up to see our + chaps shot down like rabbits without a chance of getting their own back.'</p> + <p>There was worse to come. From somewhere high up among the scrub-clad heights came + a dull heavy crash, and almost instantly the clear air above the beach was filled + with puffs of gray white smoke which floated like balls of cotton wool.</p> + <p>'The guns! The beggars have got those guns up,' ran a mutter along the trench.</p> + <p>'About time for the ships to get to work,' growled Roy, his big handsome face + knitted in a scowl.</p> + <p>'Ay, if they only knew where the guns were,' replied Ken. 'But that's the deuce of + it. They can't spot 'em without planes, and there are no planes here yet.'</p> + <p>Crash! A second gun spoke, and another shell burst above the beach. From that time + on the firing was continuous. The whole beach was scourged with shrapnel, and landing + operations became perilous in the extreme.</p> + <p>The men in the trenches fidgeted and swore beneath their breath. There is nothing + more trying to troops than to see their comrades suffering and yet be unable to help + them.</p> + <p>'Can't we do something?' muttered Dave, as he saw a boat from one of the ships + smashed to matchwood by a blast of shrapnel, and her crew and contents scattered into + the sea. 'Can't we do something? It's enough to drive one loony to watch this sort of + thing.'</p> + <p>Almost as he spoke there was a sudden flutter of excitement, as an order was + passed from man to man down the trench.</p> + <p>They were to advance and take up a new position on the top of the slope.</p> + <h2><a id="VI" name="VI">CHAPTER VI</a><br /> + GUNS!</h2> + <p>There was no bugle note, no cheer, but at a whistle the men swarmed out of their + trench and went uphill as hard as every they could go.</p> + <p>Their appearance was the signal for a tremendous outburst of firing on the part of + the Turkish snipers, and a moment later the two 77-millimetre German guns which had + been brought from Gaba Tepe changed the direction of their fire from the beach to the + advancing troops.</p> + <p>As the Australians went bursting through the scrub, snipers who had crept in close + during the night and hidden in the bushes and behind rocks broke like rabbits out of + gorse when the terriers are put in.</p> + <p>They were hunted down remorselessly, and not one of them escaped. Those who were + not killed outright were taken prisoners.</p> + <p>It was very fine while it lasted, and the men would have given anything to go on. + But Colonel Conway knew the risk too well, and as soon as they had gained the summit + of the cliff whistle signals from the sergeants stopped them, and the order came to + dig themselves in with all speed.</p> + <p>It is one thing to occupy a trench already made, quite another to dig one under + fire. There is no question of standing up and wielding the shovel as if one were + digging a garden. Men must lie down and scratch and scrape until they get head cover, + then gradually open up a narrow ditch into which they sink slowly.</p> + <p>'I didn't enlist as a blooming navvy,' grunted Roy Horan, who had stuck by Ken and + Dave. 'Phew, but it's hot as a North Island beach on Christmas Day!'</p> + <p>As he spoke came an earth-shaking thud, and Ken, who was next to Roy, grabbed him + by the collar and pulled him down flat on the ground.</p> + <p>Just in time, too, for next instant the earth three yards away in front burst + upwards in a fountain of stones and pieces of broken steel. Ken felt a blast of heat + and stinging sand across the back of his neck, while the concussion made his head + ring.</p> + <p>'What the blazes?' muttered Roy, as he lifted his head and looked round + dazedly.</p> + <p>'It was blazes all right,' answered Ken dryly. 'A high explosive shell, my lad. + Lucky that it went pretty deep before it burst.'</p> + <p>'And lucky for me that you pulled my head down in time,' answered Roy soberly. + 'Thanks, old man. I shan't forget that.'</p> + <p>The next shell burst behind the line, and the third still farther back. + Fortunately for the Australians, the German gunners had not got the exact range, or + the losses would have been fearful. High explosive of the kind the Germans use will + pulverise the parapet of a trench and kill every one within reach.</p> + <p>The ground was hard, the sun hot, but the men dug like beavers, and within an hour + had made themselves pretty safe. But there was no letting up. Colonel Conway insisted + upon a regular trench of the latest pattern with proper traverses, and deep enough to + give plenty of head room. The men grumbled, but some, like Ken, realised that the + game was well worth the candle.</p> + <p>'He's looking for an attack in force later on,' Ken told Dave and Roy Horan. 'You + may be jolly sure that the Turks are bringing up reinforcements.'</p> + <p>'There are quite enough of the beggars already,' said Dave. 'Just listen to the + bullets coming over. That scrub in front of us fairly hums with snipers.'</p> + <p>By the time that the trench was finished it was nearly midday. The men were given + a rest, and dinner was served out. In spite of the enemy's fire the Army Service men + had managed to bring their stores right up to the trench, and there was fresh bread, + butter, cheese, and jam for the hungry fighters.</p> + <p>Down below, engineers were at work, making a path up the cliff, while boats + travelled up and down with a dogged and admirable persistence.</p> + <p>The enemy fire in front of the new position grew steadily heavier. If a cap was + put up on a cleaning rod over the parapet, it was sometimes struck by two or three + bullets at once. It seemed clear that the Germans who led the Turks were + concentrating their forces in front of the trench, but whether they were new men or + not it was impossible to say. The broken nature of the ground and the heavy scrub hid + all that was going on a very little way inland.</p> + <p>'This is getting a bit thick,' said Roy Horan, as a fresh crackle of rifle fire + burst from a wooded height about a quarter of a mile inland. A maxim carefully + emplaced behind sandbags in the trench replied with a storm of bullets, but it was a + poor job, firing at an enemy who were quite invisible, and a feeling of slight + depression had begun to settle on the occupants of the trench.</p> + <p>'The colonel's having a pow-wow with the other officers,' said Dave. 'Something's + going to happen before long.'</p> + <p>Something did happen. Presently the whistles trilled, and a sigh of relief went + up.</p> + <p>'Cold steel, bhoys,' said Sergeant O'Brien. 'Don't any of ye wait to shoot. And + open order, mind ye!'</p> + <p>Eagerly the men scrambled out of their trench and plunged into the scrub. In a + long yet level line they went charging through it.</p> + <p>The snipers had not expected another advance. That was clear enough. By twos and + threes and dozens, they sprang up out of their hiding-places, and bolted like + rabbits. With exulting shouts the Colonials charged after them, ran them down and + bayoneted them.</p> + <p>The slaughter was fearful. As the khaki-clad line swept onwards they left the + ground behind them thick with dead bodies. They themselves lost, of course, but only + slightly. Their attack was such a complete surprise, and they moved so quickly, that + for a time they had matters all their own way. The Turks had no relish for bayonet + fighting, and the few who did turn to bay soon paid the penalty.</p> + <p>For a quarter of a mile or more the Colonials continued their career, clearing the + whole of the scrub of the plague of snipers. Then, just in the moment of victory, + came such a blast of firing that the whole line reeled and swayed, and men fell by + the dozen.</p> + <p>'Down with you!' shouted Ken to Dave, who was on his left. 'Down with you!'</p> + <p>As he spoke, he himself dropped behind a boulder which thrust its weather-stained + head out of the thin grass. He glanced round and saw that his companions had followed + his example.</p> + <p>A bullet struck the stone just above his head and spattered off in a shower of + shrieking fragments. The whole air was thick with lead. It was clear that they had + run into a very strong enemy force, no doubt the reinforcements which had been + brought up from the east.</p> + <p>'Where are they?' sang out Dave, who was lying in a little hollow with Roy Horan, + a few yards to their left.</p> + <p>'There's a ravine ahead. That's where they are. Look out! Here they come!'</p> + <p>The hill-side opposite seemed suddenly to vomit men. They came sweeping out in + masses, hundreds strong.</p> + <p>'Rapid fire!' sang out Ken to his squad.</p> + <p>There was no need for his advice. Every man of the Colonials let loose at once, + and few fired less than fifteen aimed rounds to the minute. The execution was awful. + The attacking force reeled and writhed like a monster in agony.</p> + <p>But the officers behind, in their ugly greenish-gray German uniforms, drove them + forward, and though the leading files fell by scores the rest swept onwards. To his + dismay, Ken saw more pouring out behind in support. The odds were at least ten to + one. It was impossible to withstand such an attack in the open.</p> + <p>Colonel Conway knew it too. Next moment the whistles shrilled again, giving the + order to retire.</p> + <p>Slowly the men began to fall back. Their steadiness was wonderful. Raw troops can + be trusted to charge, but, as a rule, it takes veterans to retire successfully. These + Australians, hardly one of whom had ever been under fire before the previous night, + retreated in such magnificent order as made their officers' hearts thrill with + admiration.</p> + <p>Every bit of cover was made full use of, the men dropping and firing, then rising + again, and gliding back to the next stone or bush. They lost, of course—lost + heavily—but for each Australian who fell, four Turks went down.</p> + <p>Ken, dodging and shooting with the best, still managed to keep an eye on his two + friends, and saw with relief that neither was hit. Slowly they worked back until they + were within fifty yards of their trench.</p> + <p>Here was open ground with practically no cover at all.</p> + <p>'Come on!' shouted Ken. 'A last sprint.'</p> + <p>He saw Dave spring to his feet and make a dash. Then suddenly he stumbled, flung + out his arms and fell flat on his face. At the same moment two Turks, big, + black-bearded fellows, came leaping out of a patch of scrub, barely twenty yards + behind Dave.</p> + <p>Ken spun round, and taking quick aim at the nearest, pulled the trigger. There was + no report. He had finished the last cartridge in his magazine.</p> + <p>There was no time to reload. Dave, hurt but not killed, was trying to crawl away + on hands and knees, but it was clear that in another moment he would be a + prisoner.</p> + <p>Without an instant's hesitation, Ken charged straight at the two Turks.</p> + <p>They, intent on their prisoner, failed to see him until he was almost on them. + Then one, uttering a hoarse cry, sprang forward, stabbing at him with his + bayonet.</p> + <p>Ken's blade clashed against the other's as he parried, then side-stepping like a + flash, he drove his bayonet into the man's ribs, and with a choking sob he fell + dead.</p> + <p>Something whizzed past Ken's head, and a heavy blow on the left shoulder brought + him to his knees. The second Turk had struck at him with his rifle butt, and missing + his head, caught him on the shoulder. He saw a savage grin on the man's face as he + raised his rifle again to finish the job and avenge his comrade. It looked all odds + on Ken's brains being scattered the next instant.</p> + <p>Before the rifle could descend a shadow flashed across, and something crashed upon + the Turk's head with such fearful force as cracked his skull like an egg-shell. For a + moment his body remained upright, then it swayed and fell sideways like a log to the + ground.</p> + <p>'Gosh, but I thought I was too late!' panted Roy Horan. 'And confound it all, I've + cracked the stock of my rifle.'</p> + <p>'You saved my head from being cracked anyhow,' answered Ken. 'But Dave's hit. Give + us a hand back with him.'</p> + <p>'I'll carry him,' said Roy quickly, and dropping his useless rifle, he quickly + hoisted Burney on his broad back, and set off at a run for the trench. Ken, whose + shoulder felt quite numb, followed, and a moment later all three tumbled safely back + into the trench.</p> + <p>Roy laid Dave down gently on the ground.</p> + <p>'Afraid he's got it bad,' he whispered, as he pointed to an ugly stain on the back + of Dave's tunic. 'We must get the doctor as soon as we can.'</p> + <p>'Let's see if we can't stop that bleeding. The doctor's full up with work.' As Ken + spoke, he bent down and began stripping off Dave's uniform, so as to get at the + wound.</p> + <p>Tunic and shirt were both sodden with blood. Ken's heart sank. It looked as if his + chum must have been shot clean through the body.</p> + <p>'He's bleeding like a pig,' muttered Roy, as he unwound a bandage.</p> + <p>By this time Ken had bared Dave's back, and with a handkerchief mopped away the + blood.</p> + <p>'Well, I'm blessed!' he exclaimed. 'Look at that!'</p> + <p>The two stared, for instead of the blue-edged puncture which a bullet makes as it + enters, there was nothing but a shallow cut about three inches long.</p> + <p>'I see,' said Ken suddenly. 'The bullet struck the leather of his braces, and + glanced. I say, Dave, old chap, you may thank your stars for those bullock-hide + braces of yours. They've saved you this time, and no mistake. It's only a flesh wound + which a strip of plaster will put right in a day or two.'</p> + <p>'Thanks be for that, anyhow,' said Dave earnestly. 'It would have broken me all up + to lose the rest of the fun. But,' he added thoughtfully, 'I'm sorry my braces are + gone up. I'll never get another pair like 'em.'</p> + <p>Roy burst out laughing.</p> + <p>'You ungrateful beggar. Here, I've got a bit of string, and we'll soon put 'em to + rights. Now Carrington, let's have a squint at your shoulder.'</p> + <p>Ken's shoulder was badly bruised, but nothing worse, and he and Dave soon forgot + their injuries in the excitement of a big frontal attack by the Turks. For ten + minutes they loaded and fired until their rifle barrels were almost red hot; then the + survivors of the attacking party took to their heels and ran.</p> + <p>After that there was peace for a little except for shell fire. This, however, grew + heavier. Fresh guns had been brought up, and at least three were devoting their whole + attention to the trench. They had got the range, too, and the shrapnel was bursting + right over the gallant Colonials. Casualties became very heavy, and the doctor and + stretcher-bearers were kept busy the whole time.</p> + <p>To make matters worse, another machine gun had been mounted on rising ground to + the north and its fire was enfilading the trench. If it had not been for the + traverses on which the colonel had insisted, the position would have become + untenable.</p> + <p>Ken, flattened against the clay face of the trench, began to feel very uneasy. + They had no more reinforcements, and if the Turks got more guns, it began to look as + though the whole business would end in failure.</p> + <p>'About time we did another sally to look for that machine gun,' said big Roy Horan + in his ear.</p> + <p>'Not in the daylight,' answered Ken, shaking his head. 'We shouldn't have a dog's + chance of reaching it.'</p> + <p>'Well, something's got to happen pretty soon,' answered Roy, ducking, as a shell + burst almost overhead. 'Something's got to happen, or there won't be enough of us + left to hold this blessed dug-out.'</p> + <p>'Things don't look healthy, and that's a fact,' allowed Ken. 'Our only chance is + to get some guns to work. And that's just what we haven't got.'</p> + <p>'And can't get, either, until that path up the cliff is finished.'</p> + <p>At that moment a shell pitched full into the next traverse, blowing its two + occupants to fragments, and scattering their torn remains far and wide.</p> + <p>'That's poor old Carroll,' growled Roy. 'The swine! How I'd like to get back on + 'em!'</p> + <p>Ken did not reply. The horror of it had made him feel quite sick.</p> + <p>At that moment the firing burst out more hotly than ever. It seemed as if every + gun and rifle in the enemy's hands spoke at once.</p> + <p>'What's up now?' muttered Roy.</p> + <p>Ken gave a sharp exclamation, and pointed upwards. Looking up, Roy saw a big + bi-plane soaring high overhead. It looked like a silver bird as it skimmed across the + rich blue of the afternoon sky.</p> + <p>'Hurrah, a plane at last!' said Ken joyfully. 'That means business. She's spotting + for the ships,' he explained. 'You'll see something pretty soon, you chaps, or hear + it anyhow.'</p> + <p>All around the plane, the air was full of the white puffs of bursting shrapnel, + but the dainty man-bird flirted through them unscathed. The eager Australians, all + staring skywards, saw her bank steeply, and at the same time a long white streak shot + downwards from her, like a ribbon unrolling in mid air. Then she had turned and was + going seawards again at a terrific speed.</p> + <p>'Now look out!' cried Ken, and almost as the words left his lips the battleships + outside let loose.</p> + <p>A score of 6-inch guns spoke out at once with a ringing clamour which absolutely + drowned all other sounds, and their great 100-pound shells came hurtling inland with + a series of long-drawn shrieks.</p> + <p>'Look! Look!' cried Ken again, as great fountains of earth and gravel spurted from + the side of a hill a mile and a half away to the left. That's plastering them. Now + we're getting a little of our own back.'</p> + <p>There was no doubt about it. The German guns shut up like a knife, but whether + they were actually hit or merely silenced, it was, of course, impossible to say.</p> + <p>For twenty solid minutes the grim battleships and cruisers poured forth their + storm of shells, until the whole hill-side where the German guns had been posted + gaped with brown craters. Then they ceased, and the saucy aeroplane came buzzing + inland again to observe and report upon the damage done.</p> + <p>What its extent was the Colonials could not, of course, know, but at any rate the + enfilading guns remained silent and the worst danger was at an end.</p> + <p>'That's saved our bacon,' said Ken, with a sigh of relief. 'We'll get a little + rest now, perhaps.'</p> + <p>'Maybe ye will, and maybe ye won't,' said Sergeant O'Brien, who came past at that + moment and overheard Ken's words. 'But if ye want forty winks, bhoys, now's your time + to snatch 'em. There'll be mighty little slape this night for any of us.'</p> + <p>'Why so, sergeant?' asked Dave.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:60%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig061.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig061.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'"Hurrah, a plane at last!" said Ken.'</h3> + </div> + <p>'Because so soon as ever it's dark we'll have the Turks buzzing round us like + bees. And the ships can't help us then, remember,' he added significantly.</p> + <h2><a id="VII" name="VII">CHAPTER VII</a><br /> + 'LIZZIE' LETS LOOSE</h2> + <p>Sergeant O'Brien was soon proved a true prophet. Darkness had hardly fallen before + the scrub in front was alive with Turks, who came on with a rush, intent on driving + the Colonials out of their position.</p> + <p>'Steady, boys!' cried the sergeant. 'Don't fire till ye can see them. Let every + cartridge tell.'</p> + <p>Every officer and every non-com. down the long length of the trench was giving the + same advice, and the Turks were allowed to approach until their squat forms loomed + clear in the starlight.</p> + <p>'Now let 'em have it. Pump it into 'em, lads!' came O'Brien's voice again.</p> + <p>With one crash every rifle spoke at once, and at the same time the maxims turned + loose their hose-pipe streams of lead. The Turks seemed to melt and vanish under the + concentrated storm of fire. Not one reached the trench.</p> + <p>'Socked 'em that time,' remarked Dave, with great satisfaction.</p> + <p>'Sure, that was only the overture!' answered O'Brien. 'They were just thrying + their luck, so to spake.'</p> + <p>Again he was right. As soon as the survivors of the first attack had retreated the + air became thick with the shriek and moan of shrapnel, and the vicious whizz of + Mauser bullets. This went on for nearly an hour, then a second attack + materialised.</p> + <p>It was in heavier force than the first, and though the steady fire of the + Colonials did tremendous execution, some of the Turks actually reached the trench and + came plunging in, stabbing wildly with their short bayonets.</p> + <p>Not one of them ever got out again, but they did a good deal of damage, and during + the lull that followed the stretcher-bearers were busy. Five separate times during + the hours of darkness did fresh masses of Turks sweep down upon the worn and weary + Colonials, and twice parties of the latter counter-attacked and drove the survivors + helter-skelter before them.</p> + <p>'Jove, I never was gladder to see daylight,' said Ken hoarsely, as a pale yellow + light began to dim the stars. His eyes stung with powder smoke, his mouth was sour + with fatigue, and every muscle in his body ached.</p> + <p>'Well, lad, we've made good, anyway,' said O'Brien with a smile on his blackened + face. 'Just take a peep over, and see what ye can see.'</p> + <p>Ken raised his head cautiously and peered through the embrasure in front. The + sight that met his eyes was a terrible one. The scrub for nearly a hundred yards in + front of the trench had almost vanished. It had been literally mown down by the storm + of bullets which had raged across it all night long. And all the open space was paved + with the bodies of dead and wounded men. There were hundreds of them, some on their + faces, some on their backs, most of them still enough, a few trying to crawl away, + and others moaning feebly.</p> + <p>It was a horrible sight, and for the moment Ken felt almost sick.</p> + <p>'They'll not thry it again just yet,' said O'Brien quietly. 'The next attack will + be one in force, and for that they'll need more men than they've left here.'</p> + <p>'And we'll be ready for them then, eh, sergeant?' said Roy Horan cheerfully. + 'There's more than ourselves been busy during the night.'</p> + <p>As he spoke he pointed over in the other direction, and Ken, with difficulty + withdrawing his eyes from the scene of slaughter in front, looked back down the + cliff.</p> + <p>A cry of delight escaped him. A regular road had been made, curving all the way up + the cliff, and two field guns had been brought up, and set in position. In spite of + the enemies' fire, all sorts of stores had come ashore in the night, and the camp + cooks were already busy preparing breakfast.</p> + <p>It was the first hot meal that any of the men had had for thirty-six hours, and it + did them all the good in the world. When it was over they were told to take what + sleep they could.</p> + <p>Ken and his two chums needed no second order. They simply pitched themselves down, + and no one ever slept better on a spring mattress than Ken did in the muddy bottom of + that trench.</p> + <p>What woke him at last was a crash which made the solid hill-side quiver, and + dwarfed to insignificance anything that he had previously heard.</p> + <p>In a flash he was up and on his feet.</p> + <p>'Go aisy, lad,' said O'Brien, who was standing up, with a pair of glasses to his + eyes and a smile on his lips. Go aisy. 'Tis only Lizzie opening the ball.'</p> + <p>'Lizzie?' muttered Ken, still half dazed with the prodigious explosion.</p> + <p>Again came an enormous roar, followed by a sound like a train rushing through the + sky. Then from a hill to the left and a mile or so inland a geyser of rocks and soil + spouted, and was followed by the same earth-shaking crash which had wakened him.</p> + <p>Ken looked out to sea. Some three miles off shore lay the biggest battleship he + had ever set eyes on. Even at that distance her immense turrets, with their grinning + gun muzzles, were clearly visible.</p> + <p>'The "Queen Elizabeth!"' he gasped.</p> + <p>'That's what,' said Roy Horan, who had got up and joined Ken. 'They've sent her + along to lend us a hand. Oh, I tell you, she's no slouch. Watch her now! Gee, but + she's giving Young Turkey something to chew on.'</p> + <p>'Why, there's a regular fleet!' exclaimed Ken, rubbing the last of the sleep from + his eyes. 'This is something like. Some of those sniping gentlemen are going to be + sorry for themselves.'</p> + <p>No fewer than seven warships were lying off the coast, every one of them smashing + their broadsides into the Turkish positions. The noise was incredible, but every + sound was dwarfed when the great super-Dreadnought fired her 15-inch guns. The + shells, the length of a tall man and weighing very nearly a ton, were charged with + shrapnel, carrying no fewer than twenty thousand bullets apiece. Exploding over the + enemy's position, each deluged a couple of acres of ground with a torrent of + lead.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:60%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig065.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig065.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'"'Tis only Lizzie opening the ball."'</h3> + </div> + <p>It was a most amazing sight. The whole sky was full of the smoke of bursting + shells—smoke so heavy that the light breeze could not break it, as it swam in masses + that seemed quite solid until they struck against the higher ground far inland.</p> + <p>Hour after hour the tremendous bombardment continued. At first the Turkish field + pieces endeavoured to reply, but one by one they were silenced, and when at last, + late in the afternoon, the thunder of the guns ceased, the silence was only broken by + a faint crackle of musketry.</p> + <p>'Now's our chance!' exclaimed O'Brien, who seemed to have an uncanny faculty for + understanding beforehand exactly what was in the colonel's mind.</p> + <p>'A charge, you mean?' said Ken eagerly.</p> + <p>'That's it, sonny. Before they've got over the effects of that swate little + pasting.'</p> + <p>Sure enough, a minute later came the order for advance, and, refreshed by their + long rest, the Australians and New Zealanders came pouring over their parapet, and + with bayonets flashing in the evening sun, rushed forward through the scrub.</p> + <p>For the first two hundred yards there was hardly a check, then all of a sudden the + scattered fire thickened.</p> + <p>'They're in the ravine, bhoys,' shouted O'Brien. 'Don't be waiting to shoot. Give + thim the steel.'</p> + <p>The firing grew heavier. Many of the gallant Colonials dropped, but the only + effect upon the rest was to make them race forward at greater speed.</p> + <p>Ken saw before him a dark line seamed with spits and flashes of flame. A bullet + clipped past his ear so close that he felt the wind of it. He never paused. Next + moment he was over the lip of the shallow ravine in which the Turks had entrenched + themselves.</p> + <p>On the two previous occasions when he and his comrades had attacked Turkish + trenches, the enemy had defended themselves bravely. Now they seemed no longer to + have any stomach for the fight. As the Colonials poured like an avalanche into the + ravine the Turks turned, and scrambling wildly up the far side, bolted for their + lives.</p> + <p>But the Colonials, with the bitter memory in their minds of all they had suffered + during the previous night and day, were not minded to let them escape so easily. With + loud shouts they gave chase. The Turks, good marchers but poor runners, stood no + earthly chance in this terrible race, and by scores and hundreds were bayoneted or + seized and dragged back as prisoners.</p> + <p>Filled with mad excitement, Ken raced onwards in the forefront of the line. His + bayonet was dripping, a red mist clouded his eyes, for the moment he was fighting + mad.</p> + <p>He stumbled over a log and nearly fell. He realised that he was in a small wood of + low-growing trees with wide spreading branches. To his right he heard shouts and + shrieks and the sound of shots, but for the moment there was not another soul in + sight.</p> + <p>His throat was like a lime kiln. He stopped a moment to take a swallow of water + from his felt-covered flask, then went forward again.</p> + <p>He came to an open space, and as he reached its edge saw four men with a + quick-firer hurrying frantically across the open to the trees on the far side.</p> + <p>Three were Turks, but the fourth wore the gray-green of a German officer. The + latter was short and—for a German—slight. Something about him seemed vaguely + familiar.</p> + <p>At that moment he turned and glanced round, and Ken saw his face. He could hardly + believe his eyes. The man was Kemp, ex-steward of the 'Cardigan Castle.' There could + be no doubt about it. That sallow complexion, the low forehead, and the thick black + eyebrows which met above his nose were quite unmistakable.</p> + <p>Without an instant's hesitation Ken flung up his rifle and fired straight at the + man. But blown with long running, his hand shook. At any rate, he missed, and next + instant the German, the Turks, and their gun vanished into the trees opposite.</p> + <p>Footsteps came crashing through the dead leaves and dry sticks behind Ken.</p> + <p>'We've got 'em on toast, Carrington,' came the deep voice of Roy Horan. The big + fellow was splashed with blood and dripping with perspiration, but in his eyes was a + gleam which told of his delight at the result of the charge.</p> + <p>Ken gave a gasp of joy.</p> + <p>'The very man, Horan! Kemp and three Turkish gunners have just gone into the trees + opposite. They've got a quick-firer. Are you game to hunt 'em down?'</p> + <p>'Kemp?' exclaimed Roy, who had of course heard the story of the treachery aboard + the 'Cardigan Castle.' 'Kemp, that spy scoundrel—are you sure?'</p> + <p>'Dead certain, though I can't imagine how he got here.'</p> + <p>'More can I, but by the Lord Harry, we'll have his scalp all right. Which way did + they go?'</p> + <p>Ken pointed and began to run. Roy raced alongside.</p> + <p>It was the maddest enterprise, and if either had stopped to think they would have + realised this fact. Two against four, and the latter armed with a quick-firer! And by + way of improving matters, the two had outrun all their companions and were far out in + a country swarming with enemy troops.</p> + <p>But Ken thought only of vengeance against the traitor Kemp, and as for Roy, he was + the sort to fight till he dropped, and laugh at any odds.</p> + <p>'Where's Dave?' asked Ken, as they tore along, side by side.</p> + <p>'All right when I last saw him about half a mile back,' was the answer. 'Which way + have those blighters gone?'</p> + <p>Ken, alone, might have been at a loss to follow, but this was where Roy came in. + Brought up on a great cattle run, he could track a stray beast over miles of ranges. + It was child's play to him to trace the heavy footmarks over the leaf-strewn floor of + the wood.</p> + <p>'Go as quietly as you can,' he whispered to Ken. 'Kemp's quite cute enough to + ambush us if he thinks we're on his track.'</p> + <p>It was wonderful how quietly the young giant could move, and Ken, naturally + light-footed, followed his example easily. The tracks led uphill, and presently the + trees began to thin, and the ground to become more stony.</p> + <p>Then the trees gave out altogether, and they found themselves on the side of a + great hill seamed with gullies and covered with low scrub and loose stones.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a id="fig069" name="fig069"></a><a href="dardan_files/fig069.jpg"><img + width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig069.jpg" alt="" /></a> + <h3>Within No. 1 Fort at Cape Helles in the Dardanelles.</h3> + </div> + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a id="fig070" name="fig070"></a><a href="dardan_files/fig070.jpg"><img + width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig070.jpg" alt="" /></a> + <h3>Tired out, the soldier was sleeping on a bed of live shells.</h3> + </div> + <p>'There they are!' said Ken in a low voice, pointing to heads just visible over the + edge of one of the shallow gullies. 'I tell you what they're after. They're going to + emplace that gun somewhere up on the hill-side, and pepper our people on their way + back.'</p> + <p>Roy nodded.</p> + <p>'That's about the size of it. Well, it's up to us to spoil their little game. We + must work up along the next gully parallel with them and get a slap at 'em over the + edge.'</p> + <p>'That's the tip,' said Ken, 'but mind, we've got to bust up the gun itself as well + as the men with it.'</p> + <p>Bending double so as not to be seen, the two scurried up the parallel gully until + they reckoned that they must be on a level with the gun and its crew.</p> + <p>'It's going to be a stalk now,' whispered Roy, and dropping on hands and knees, + crept cautiously over the side of the gully.</p> + <p>On the ridge he stopped.</p> + <p>'Hang the luck!' he muttered. 'They've gone a lot farther than I reckoned. They're + a couple of hundred yards away, and still moving. What's worse, the two gullies bend + away from one another, and there's no cover to speak of.'</p> + <p>Ken crept up alongside, and took a look.</p> + <p>'It's a bit awkward,' he admitted. 'But they're taking it easy. We ought to be + able to make fair practice from here.'</p> + <p>Roy nodded.</p> + <p>'All right. You take the left-hand man. I'll try for the right.'</p> + <p>A couple of seconds pause, then the two rifles spoke at once. Ken's man went down + like a log, but Roy apparently missed his.</p> + <p>Roy gave an angry exclamation and took a rapid second shot.</p> + <p>'Hurrah—nailed him that time,' as he saw the man go over like a shot rabbit.</p> + <p>The remaining Turk, seeing his companions down, turned and made a dead bolt. Kemp, + with a cry of rage which came plainly to their ears, rushed after him, apparently + with the idea of bringing him back.</p> + <p>Ken and Roy both loosed off at once, but without success, and next instant their + quarry was out of sight over the far ridge.</p> + <p>'Rotten luck! It was Kemp we wanted,' growled Roy.</p> + <p>'We want the gun worse,' Ken answered grimly.</p> + <p>Springing up, he dropped into the far gully and began to run towards the gun.</p> + <p>'Watch out for Kemp,' sang out Roy, as he followed. 'He may be laying for us just + over the ridge.'</p> + <p>'I thought of that,' answered Ken. 'I'll slip across and have a look.'</p> + <p>Both crept together over the second ridge, but there was no sign of Kemp or of the + third Turk. They might have sunk into the ground for all that could be seen of + them.</p> + <p>'Now for the gun,' said Ken, as he dropped back into the gully.</p> + <p>They wasted no time at all in reaching it. Beside it lay the two Turks. They were + both quite dead.</p> + <p>'Pity we can't take the gun back with us,' said Ken regretfully.</p> + <p>'Why shouldn't we? I'll sling it on my back. It don't weigh more than sixty + pounds.'</p> + <p>Ken shook his head.</p> + <p>'It's too far, old chap. We're all of a mile from our own lines. No, I'll take the + breech block off, and if you can find a good-sized stone we'll smash the rest of it + enough to make it useless.'</p> + <p>Roy at once hove up a rock the size of his head, and raising it high in air + brought it down with a shattering crash on the gun. The stout steel barrel twisted + under the tremendous shock, the water jacket burst.</p> + <p>'That suit you?' he said.</p> + <p>Ken glanced at the ruins, and smiled.</p> + <p>'Take Krupps all their time to make that serviceable again,' he remarked, and the + words were hardly out of his mouth before there came a sudden rush of feet, and Kemp, + accompanied by no fewer than eight sturdy-looking Turks, came scrambling over the + ridge from the right.</p> + <p>'Don't kill them,' shouted Kemp in Turkish. 'Don't kill them. Take them alive. Ten + marks apiece to you if you take them alive.'</p> + <p>The men were on them instantly. There was no time to shoot. Stooping swiftly, Roy + swung up the broken barrel of the quick-firer, and with a shout sprang at the Turks, + whirling the weighty length of steel around his head.</p> + <p>In his powerful hands it was a fearful weapon. The Turks went down like ninepins. + Ken, who grasped his rifle by the barrel was in no way behind his chum. The Turks had + not been prepared for such a resistance. Inside ten seconds five of them were down, + and the three others had had all they wanted. They ran for their lives.</p> + <p>Kemp had taken no part in the battle. He was standing a little aloof on the upper + ground. Roy, having disposed of his assailant, whirled round and made for the + man.</p> + <p>Kemp whipped out a repeating pistol and levelled it at his head.</p> + <p>'Drop that or I shoot,' he said viciously.</p> + <p>'No, you don't,' cried Ken.</p> + <p>Ken had seen the pistol in Kemp's hand, and had just had time to get his own rifle + to his shoulder, the muzzle levelled full at Kemp's head.</p> + <p>'Drop that pistol, or I'll blow your head off,' he said curtly.</p> + <p>Kemp's lips parted in a snarl, showing his white teeth. For a moment it looked as + though he would shoot Roy and take his chances.</p> + <p>But his pluck was not quite equal to it, and the grim, determined look on Ken's + face daunted him. With a muttered oath, he dropped the pistol.</p> + <p>'And a very pretty toy, too!' said Roy, springing forward and picking it up. 'A + nice new automatic, Roy. We'll keep that as spoils of war.'</p> + <p>'Don't waste time over the pistol,' said Ken sharply. 'Collar the chap himself. + He'll be better worth bringing back than a cart load of pistols.'</p> + <p>In an instant Roy's great arms were round Kemp, and lifting him clean off his feet + he popped him down in front of Ken.</p> + <p>'Tie him,' said Ken.</p> + <p>'I am an officer,' said Kemp haughtily. 'I will not be bound like a common + criminal.'</p> + <p>'You were an English ship's steward when I last saw you,' Ken retorted. 'And + engaged in the charming occupation of signalling out of the bathroom port to an enemy + submarine.'</p> + <p>It was evidently no news to Kemp that Kenneth Carrington was his adversary of the + bathroom. Dark as it had been, he must somehow have recognised him. He glared back + defiantly.</p> + <p>'I was serving my country,' he answered with a lofty air.</p> + <p>'And what do you think would have happened to a Britisher who had been caught on a + German ship, engaged in an act of such abominable treachery?' returned Ken hotly.</p> + <p>Kemp merely shrugged his shoulders.</p> + <p>'Well, it's not for me to deal with you,' said Ken. 'We'll take him back, Roy, and + he'll stand a proper court-martial. Still, as he calls himself an officer, I suppose + I must take his parole.'</p> + <p>'Do you give it?' he demanded of Kemp.</p> + <p>Kemp's sallow face had gone white, but whether from fear or rage was doubtful. + 'Yes,' he said in a low voice, 'I give my parole.'</p> + <p>They turned, and with Kemp between them, set out at a sharp pace in the direction + from which they had come.</p> + <p>From the distance rifles still snapped, and a couple of miles away to the + south-west field-guns were booming. But all around was strangely quiet. Ken began to + feel a trifle uneasy. He realised that they had got a long way ahead of their + comrades, and that the latter had already been recalled.</p> + <p>'Quite nice and peaceful up here, eh, Ken?' said Roy with his cheerful grin.</p> + <p>Before Ken could reply there came a shot from somewhere quite close at hand, and + with a sharp cry Ken dropped his rifle.</p> + <p>'Winged, old chap?' said Roy, turning quickly.</p> + <p>As he did so Kemp made a dash, and hurled himself up the slope to the left.</p> + <p>'Never mind me!' cried Ken. 'Catch Kemp. Shoot him. Stop him anyhow.'</p> + <p>Roy flung up his rifle and took a snap shot.</p> + <p>He missed, and before he could pull the trigger a second time, the ex-steward had + dived like a weasel into a clump of scrub and was gone.</p> + <p>Roy dashed up the bank in hot pursuit. The moment he showed himself a regular + volley of rifle shots rang out, and spinning round he sprang back into the + hollow.</p> + <p>'There's about twenty Turks coming hard up the next gully,' he panted. 'We've got + to bunk like blazes if we want to save our skins.'</p> + <h2><a id="VIII" name="VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a><br /> + THE HUNTERS HUNTED</h2> + <p>Ken was standing, looking half dazed. His rifle was on the ground, and he was + holding his left arm with his right hand.</p> + <p>'Are you hurt, Ken?' asked Roy, and there was real concern in his voice. The two + had known one another less than a week, yet each had come to respect and like the + other.</p> + <p>'No. I'm not hit. The bullet struck the barrel of my rifle. It numbed my arm for + the moment. I'm quite all right, but my rifle's done for, so far as firing goes. + Rotten luck, losing Kemp.'</p> + <p>'Never mind Kemp,' said Roy, serious for once. 'These Turkish Johnnies are between + us and home. And they're after us. It'll take us all our time to get clear. Which way + are we to go?'</p> + <p>As he spoke a shout came from the next gully. It was Kemp's voice, and he was + evidently calling his men up to pursue the two Britishers.</p> + <p>Ken glanced round quickly. He saw at once that it was out of the question to make + straight back for their own lines. They would be cut off for a dead certainty. The + two other alternatives were to make off to the right or to go straight back up the + gully.</p> + <p>But going to the right meant that they would have to climb the right-hand wall of + the gully, which was much steeper and higher than that to the left. The result would + be that they would be exposed against the sky line to the enemy's fire.</p> + <p>All this flashed through his mind in a couple of seconds, and he instantly took + his decision.</p> + <p>'We must go back up the gully, Roy,' he said sharply. 'It's absolutely our only + chance.'</p> + <p>'Any way, so long as we don't drop into the clutches of that swine Kemp,' said + Roy. 'I fancy I see him giving us any parole.'</p> + <p>He whipped round as he spoke, and the two set to running steadily up the gully. As + they passed the scene of their late encounter where the bodies of the dead Turks lay + by the broken machine gun, Ken stooped quickly and picked up one of their rifles, and + helped himself also to a bandolier of cartridges.</p> + <p>This caused only a few seconds delay, yet before they were under way again, there + came a crackle of shots from below, and bullets whizzed uncomfortably close about + their ears.</p> + <p>Luckily for them, a few yards farther up was a bend in the course of the ravine, + and once round that they were safe for the moment.</p> + <p>Safe for the moment—yes—but the prospect before them was not exactly inviting, and + Ken's lips tightened as he and Roy strained onwards up the hill-side, which grew + steeper with every yard.</p> + <p>They were going straight away from their own people, right into the heart of the + enemy country, and rack his brains as he might, Ken could see no plan for getting + back. There was nothing for it but to try to shake off their pursuers and trust to + chance for the rest.</p> + <p>Neither of them was very fresh, for they had been fighting and running for the + better part of two hours. Even so, they managed to keep ahead of the Turks, and + though every now and then a few shots came rattling up from below they had got far + enough ahead to be out of easy range.</p> + <p>They were now at a considerable height, but still a long way from the top of the + hill. The scrub was thinning out and the ground becoming more and more stony. The + worst of it was that the ravine up which they were travelling was getting steadily + more shallow. A very little farther, and it ended altogether. Beyond, was nothing but + bare hill-side, where they would—barring the scattered rocks—be in full view of the + enemy.</p> + <p>Ken dropped to a walk.</p> + <p>'This won't do, Roy. Once we're out in the open, we shall be the very finest kind + of targets.'</p> + <p>Roy shrugged his great shoulders.</p> + <p>'There's nothing else for it. We can't make a ravine. What price taking up a + position here behind these rocks and trying to fight 'em off? We've got plenty of + cartridges.'</p> + <p>Ken shook his head.</p> + <p>'No earthly use. They could get round above us. We shouldn't have a dog's + chance.'</p> + <p>'Then we'd best shift on topside,' replied Roy coolly. 'They can't get above us + there unless they raise a balloon. Come on, old man, we can dodge in and out among + these rocks.'</p> + <p>Ken glanced back down the hill. Already the first of their pursuers were in sight + round the curve of the ravine, barely three hundred yards away. They were jogging + along quite steadily. It was clear that they felt absolutely sure of their men—so + sure that there was no need to hurry. Kemp, conspicuous in his ugly German khaki, was + shepherding them upwards.</p> + <p>Ken bit his lip. Inwardly he vowed that he would never be taken alive by the + ex-steward. He had a pretty shrewd idea of what his fate and Roy's would be if they + fell into Kemp's clutches.</p> + <p>'Come on, then,' he said desperately, and springing up over the shallow bank of + the ravine made a rush for the spot where the rocks seemed to be thickest.</p> + <p>A shout from below told them that their manoeuvre was observed.</p> + <p>'They're spreading out,' said Roy, looking back over his shoulder.</p> + <p>'They're not shooting, anyhow,' answered Ken, as, bent double, he ran hard + alongside his companion.</p> + <p>'I suppose they think they've got us anyhow,' said Roy. 'Ken, I'd give a lot to + disappoint the dear Kemp.'</p> + <p>Up and up they went, bearing a little to the right because it was on that side + that the stones lay thickest. They were still both going strong, and were, if + anything, increasing the distance between themselves and their pursuers. A little + spark of hope began to dawn in Ken's breast. It seemed just possible that they might + still outrun the slower-going Turks, and crossing the ridge, find shelter in the + valley below. There was one point in their favour. The sun was dropping low in the + west. It would be dark in little more than an hour.</p> + <p>Roy seemed to guess his thoughts.</p> + <p>'We'll do 'em down yet, Ken,' he said.</p> + <p>Almost as he spoke he pulled up short, and flung out his arm just in time to stop + Ken from plunging right over the sheer edge of a tremendous gorge that gashed the + face of the mountain like a slice from a giant's knife.</p> + <p>For an instant both stood breathing hard, staring down into the darksome depths + below. Then Ken turned to Roy.</p> + <p>'That's why they weren't hurrying,' he said bitterly.</p> + <p>For once Roy seemed cooler than Ken. Throwing himself flat on his face, he + wriggled forward till nearly half his body was over the edge.</p> + <p>'Hold my legs,' he said, and Ken, horrified at the other's rashness, obeyed.</p> + <p>A moment later he was on his feet again. There was a queer glimmer in his + eyes.</p> + <p>'There's a chance yet. I've spotted a ledge. Don't count on it. I don't know + whether we can reach it. But it's worth trying. Come on.'</p> + <p>He hurried back down the edge of the cliff for about thirty paces, then looked + over again.</p> + <p>'Here it is. It's a goodish way down. But I've tackled places as bad in the North + Island mountains. Will you risk it?'</p> + <p>'I'd risk anything rather than Kemp,' Ken answered curtly.</p> + <p>'Then I'll go first. Lie down on your face, and give me your hands. Quickly. Those + beggars mustn't see us.'</p> + <p>Ken obeyed instantly. He knew nothing of mountaineering himself, but realised that + Roy did. Without a moment's hesitation Roy turned round with his back to the ravine, + and catching Ken's hands, let himself drop quietly till his long body dangled at full + length against the face of the cliff.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:60%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig080.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig080.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'The strain on Ken's arms was awful.'</h3> + </div> + <p>The strain on Ken's arms was awful. The depths below made his head swim. But he + set his teeth, dug his toes into the earth, and held on like grim death.</p> + <p>'Let go,' said Roy briefly.</p> + <p>To Ken it seemed as though he were dropping his friend into the awful abyss. But + he obeyed without hesitation.</p> + <p>There was a second of ghastly suspense. Then Roy was standing on the almost + invisible ledge, balancing himself, spreadeagled against the face of the rock.</p> + <p>His hands moved slowly, the fingers groping for a hold. He found it, and clutching + tightly with his left, raised his right hand.</p> + <p>'My bayonet,' he said quickly.</p> + <p>Ken slipped it out of its socket and gave it him.</p> + <p>Roy took it and carefully and deliberately drove it into a crevice in the rock on + a level with his head.</p> + <p>'Chuck the rifles over,' he said. 'You mustn't leave them.'</p> + <p>Ken obeyed. A hollow crash came up from the black depths.</p> + <p>'Now I'm ready for you,' said Roy. His voice was so cool and steady that it gave + Ken some confidence. 'Get as good a grip as you can and let go when I tell you.'</p> + <p>For a moment it seemed to Ken that he could not do what was asked. In any matter + of fighting he was Roy's equal—indeed his superior, for he was better able to keep + his head in the thick of it.</p> + <p>But he had had no experience of heights, and the blood ran cold in his veins at + the idea of dropping over this terrific precipice. It seemed to him the only possible + result must be that he would knock Roy off his narrow perch, and that they would go + crashing together into the yawning depths of the abyss.</p> + <p>'You're not scared, are you?'</p> + <p>The contempt in Roy's tones stung Ken to the quick. He hesitated no longer. + Turning quickly, he clutched the rocky ledge and recklessly swung himself down.</p> + <p>'Good man! I knew you could do it. Steady now! I've got you. Let go!'</p> + <p>Once more Ken obeyed. He fully believed that he was going to his doom. Instead, to + his intense surprise, he found himself balancing on the ledge beside Roy.</p> + <p>Roy gave a low laugh.</p> + <p>'Sorry I insulted you, old man. I just had to. I know the sort of funk that takes + you the first time you try this kind of game. And I give you my word there are + precious few chaps would have stuck it at all.'</p> + <p>'Now I'll tell you something to console you,' he continued. 'The ledge widens to + my right, and runs in under a big overhang. Once we're under that, we're as safe as + rats in a granary. No one can see us from up above or from anywhere else, so far as + that goes.'</p> + <p>Ken hardly heard. It seemed as if every energy he possessed was needed just to + cling where he was, flattened like a dead mole nailed on a keeper's gibbet.</p> + <p>Roy went on talking in a low quiet voice, which gradually brought back Ken's + confidence, and though his heart was thumping, and he felt as though it was + impossible to draw a full breath, he presently managed to follow his companion along + the ledge.</p> + <p>As Roy had said, it gradually widened, and after going very carefully for a matter + of twenty feet it grew broad enough to walk on with some degree of safety.</p> + <p>A minute later, and they were in a deep hollow—almost a cave and absolutely hidden + from all inquisitive eyes.</p> + <p>Roy laughed softly as he dropped to a sitting position.</p> + <p>'Gosh, I'd love to see Kemp's face this minute,' he remarked in a low voice. + 'He'll be just about fit to tie.'</p> + <p>Ken did not answer. He had dropped down and sat with his back against the river + side of the cavity, breathing hard. His face was very white, and big drops of + perspiration beaded his forehead.</p> + <p>Roy glanced at him with some anxiety. Then he fumbled in the pocket of his tunic + and brought out a small leather-covered flask.</p> + <p>'I've carried this ever since I left home,' he said. 'I reckoned it would come in + useful some time. Take a sip of it.'</p> + <p>It was fine old Australian brandy, and although Ken took no more than a mouthful + the effects were immediate. A tinge of colour came back to his cheeks, and his heart + steadied at once.</p> + <p>'Proper stuff, eh?' smiled Roy, as Ken handed back the flask.</p> + <p>Ken held up his hand sharply. 'Listen!' he whispered.</p> + <p>Above their heads they heard heavy footsteps. Then came Kemp's voice.</p> + <p>'What's he saying?' whispered Roy.</p> + <p>'He's telling 'em to hunt among the rocks,' answered Ken in an equally low voice. + 'He seems to be annoyed. He's using all the bad language he knows, and chucking in + German swears where he can't remember the Turkish ones.'</p> + <p>'Must be a bit of a facer for him,' chuckled Roy.</p> + <p>'There's one of the Turks answering him,' said Ken. 'Says we must have jumped over + to escape them.'</p> + <p>'Oh, that's Kemp again,' continued Ken. 'He's telling 'em to go down and see.'</p> + <p>'And what's the Turk say?' Roy asked eagerly.</p> + <p>'He says no one has ever been to the bottom, and couldn't get there if they wanted + to. He calls it the ditch of Shaitan—in other words, the Devil's Dyke. By Jove, he's + started Kemp cursing again. Wonderful flow of language the chap's got.'</p> + <p>Presently the voices above died away.</p> + <p>'So far as I can make out, they're going to have a try farther up the hill,' said + Ken. 'It's lucky they didn't think of looking for our tracks. If they'd used their + eyes they must have seen the place where we got over. I know I dug my toes in a good + two inches when I was hanging on to you.'</p> + <p>Roy grinned.</p> + <p>'Thank goodness, tracking is about the last thing that would occur to a German. + All the same, Kemp is quite cute enough to leave a guard posted here to watch for + us.'</p> + <p>Ken looked rather startled.</p> + <p>'I hadn't thought of that, but it's very likely. Then it looks as if we should + have to stay here all night.'</p> + <p>'I'd made up my mind to that already,' Roy answered. 'But it might be worse. We've + got shelter and we're absolutely safe. Also we have our emergency rations, so we + shan't starve. We ought to get a decent sleep for once in a way.'</p> + <p>'What—sleep on the edge of this precipice!'</p> + <p>'Why not? I've slept in worse places before now.'</p> + <p>'Supposing one rolled over in one's sleep?' said Ken with a slight shiver as he + peered over into the awesome depths below.</p> + <p>Roy laughed softly.</p> + <p>'Don't worry. You shall sleep between me and the rock. It'll take you all your + time to roll over me.'</p> + <p>The sun was down, darkness was already shrouding the depths of space beneath them. + The Turks seemed to have left. At any rate, Ken and Roy could hear no more of them. + The evening silence was broken only by the mysterious whisper of the evening breeze + as it stole down the cañon, and by a faint and distant popping of rifle shots.</p> + <p>Roy stretched his long legs and yawned.</p> + <p>'I'm for supper,' he observed, as he took his iron ration out of his haversack. + 'We'll share this to-night, Ken, and breakfast off yours in the morning. Luckily I've + still got some water in my bottle.'</p> + <p>The emergency or iron ration consists mainly of concentrated beef, biscuit, and + chocolate. There is not much of it, so far as bulk goes, but it is very sustaining. + Roy carefully divided his into two lots, and they ate slowly, and finished their slim + repast with a drink of water.</p> + <p>Then, after chatting a while, they stretched themselves out to sleep. Roy, + according to his promise, made Ken take the inner side, and in spite of his + nervousness, he slept like a log.</p> + <p>Ken roused at earliest dawn. A thin mist floated beneath them, hiding the depths + of the ravine. Musketry still crackled in the distance, but all around was very + still.</p> + <p>Ken shivered slightly, for the morning air bit chill. He sat up and shook Roy, who + was still sleeping peacefully.</p> + <p>'Daylight,' said Ken briefly. 'Time to get out of this.'</p> + <p>Roy sat up and stretched his great frame.</p> + <p>'What a life!' he said with a laugh. 'Yes, I suppose we'd best be shifting.'</p> + <p>'Shall we breakfast now, or wait till we get up topside?' asked Ken.</p> + <p>Roy gave him a quick look.</p> + <p>'It might be as well to feed now,' he said quietly. 'You see, I haven't a notion + how we're going to get out of this.'</p> + <p>Ken stared. Such a point of view had never occurred to him. He had such implicit + faith in Roy's mountaineering capacity that he had taken it absolutely for granted + that Roy could find a way back to firm ground.</p> + <h2><a id="IX" name="IX">CHAPTER IX</a><br /> + THE BATTLE BY ROCKS</h2> + <p>Roy saw Ken's dismay.</p> + <p>'Sorry, old chap,' he said simply. 'I thought you understood.'</p> + <p>Ken smiled back.</p> + <p>'I'm afraid I took it for granted that you had it all pat. You see, I don't know + the first thing about mountaineering myself. Can't we get back the same way we + came?'</p> + <p>Roy shook his head.</p> + <p>'It's too big a reach. But don't worry. We'll find some way out. Stop here a + minute and I'll go and have a squint round.'</p> + <p>Ken looked at him.</p> + <p>'You'll be careful, Roy? Hadn't I better come and give you a hand?'</p> + <p>'I'll call you if I want you,' said Roy. 'I'm going to see where this ledge + leads.'</p> + <p>He strolled off as calmly as though walking along a twelve-inch ledge over a two + hundred foot drop was as simple as a promenade down the sunny side of Piccadilly. + Ken, feeling anything but happy, watched him until he was hidden behind a shoulder of + rock.</p> + <p>It was quite five minutes before he came back.</p> + <p>'It's all right,' he said cheerfully. 'True, we can't get up, but I think we can + get down. This ledge drops a long way, and there seems to be another below it. Let's + have our grub and go along.'</p> + <p>He ate his share of Ken's rations with evident appetite, and Ken did his best to + follow his example. But it would be idle to say that Ken felt happy. Glancing down + into the tremendous depths that yawned below, he felt that he would infinitely rather + charge a score of Turks, single-handed, than try to make his way down the face of the + gigantic wall of rock.</p> + <p>Roy finished his food, brushed the crumbs from his tunic, and taking the bayonet + which—with the automatic pistol captured from Kemp—were the only weapons they had, + walked off along the ledge.</p> + <p>Ken set his teeth and followed.</p> + <p>'Look up, not down,' said Roy quietly, and Ken did his best to obey.</p> + <p>The ledge, though narrow, did not really present any particular difficulties. As + Roy said, 'If it wasn't for the big drop below, you wouldn't think twice about + it.'</p> + <p>Ken knew this was true, and tried hard to keep it in his mind.</p> + <p>Presently, however, the ledge began to narrow again, and the only way to tackle it + was to flatten themselves, limpet-like, against the cliff face, and claw their way + onwards, gripping every possible little projection which gave any sort of hand + hold.</p> + <p>At last Roy pulled up.</p> + <p>'Capital!' he said. 'You're doing first-rate, Ken. That's as far as we can go on + this ledge. We've got to drop to the lower one now. Don't worry. It's not as bad as + that first drop we had to do last night.'</p> + <p>As he spoke, he stooped, gripped the edge of the ledge with his hands, and let + himself down gently. There was a knob of rock about seven feet down. He got his feet + on this, then reached up for the bayonet which Ken held.</p> + <p>As before, he jammed this into a crevice so as to give himself something to hold + by, then signalled Ken to follow.</p> + <p>Ken's heart was in his mouth. The projection seemed hardly large enough for one + pair of feet, let alone two. But when he reached it he found that Roy had left it all + for him. He himself had stepped off, driving his toes into a mere crevice + alongside.</p> + <p>'Keep hold of the bayonet till I tell you to move,' came Roy's quiet voice. + 'Afraid we'll have to leave it where it is. We can't shift it again. That's + right.'</p> + <p>'Now get your fingers into that crack to the right. I'm going to move your feet + for you.'</p> + <p>What Roy was doing Ken could not tell, and he dared not look. But a moment later + he felt the big fellow's hands shifting his feet.</p> + <p>There came a sharp rattle of falling stones, a quick gasp.</p> + <p>A spasm of fright clutched him. For the moment he fully believed that Roy had + fallen.</p> + <p>'Roy! he cried sharply. 'Roy!'</p> + <p>'All right, old man. It's quite all right. Just a chunk of rock broken out. The + stuff's a bit rotten, but I've got good hand hold.'</p> + <p>A pause. Then, 'Now you can move.'</p> + <p>Again Roy's strong hands shifted his feet. Twice more this happened; then just as + he began to feel that he could stand the strain no longer, he heard Roy's jolly + laugh.</p> + <p>'We've done it. One step more, and you're on the ledge.'</p> + <p>A moment later, and they stood together on a ledge nearly a yard wide. It seemed + like a turnpike road compared to the one above.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a id="fig088" name="fig088"></a><a href="dardan_files/fig088.jpg"><img + width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig088.jpg" alt="" /></a> + <h3>Tins and barbed wire are cut up in the Dardanelles as 'filling' for bombs.</h3> + </div> + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a id="fig089" name="fig089"></a><a href="dardan_files/fig089.jpg"><img + width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig089.jpg" alt="" /></a> + <h3>Our gallant bluejackets cheered the return of the triumphant submarine after + her wonderful achievement.</h3> + </div> + <p>Roy drew a long breath.</p> + <p>'That was a bad bit,' he said. 'As bad as anything I ever struck. Don't mind + telling you now, Ken, that I was in a blue funk.'</p> + <p>'You didn't show it,' Ken answered rather breathlessly. 'If you had, I believe I + should have crocked.'</p> + <p>'You didn't, anyhow. That's the main thing. And I wouldn't ask a better man to go + climbing with. You kept your head, and did what you were told. Well, now I think the + worst is over. This looks like a regular fault in the strata, and it ought to take us + to the bottom.</p> + <p>Roy's judgment was correct. There were still some nasty places, but nothing like + what they had already tackled, and within another quarter of an hour they had reached + the bottom of the gorge.</p> + <p>A little stream ran down the centre, finding its way among piled masses of fallen + rock. On each side the cliffs towered so high that only a mere slit of sky was + visible. It was as wild and gloomy a spot as Ken had ever seen.</p> + <p>'I've seen better walking,' observed Roy, as a flat stone slipped under his foot, + and nearly pitched him over into the bed of the brook.</p> + <p>'It's better than that abominable cliff, anyhow,' returned Ken. 'But I'd give + something to know where we're going.'</p> + <p>'I can tell you. The sea. If we follow the stream we're bound to reach salt + water.'</p> + <p>'But where?' said Ken—'where? I don't know that I've got the points of the compass + very clear in my head, and there's no sun visible yet, but if I'm not mistaken, this + brook runs east, not west.'</p> + <p>Roy pulled up with a puzzled expression on his face.</p> + <p>'Pon my Sam, I believe you're right. In that case, this is the head waters of some + stream that runs out into the Straits.'</p> + <p>'That's my notion, and consequently we're still going plumb in the wrong + direction.'</p> + <p>'We can't help it,' said Roy. 'It's no use trying to climb up the far side over + the top of the hill.'</p> + <p>'Not a bit. The first thing to do is to get out of this gorge. After that we must + see if we can't skirt round the base of the hill, and get back somehow.'</p> + <p>Roy nodded, and for some distance they continued on their uncomfortable way in + silence.</p> + <p>'Not much more of it,' said Roy at last. 'We're getting near the mouth now.'</p> + <p>'And that's where our troubles are going to begin,' said Ken with a smile. 'It + looks to me as if we were the best part of three miles inland.'</p> + <p>'Which means that we've got to get through the whole bunch of the Turks,' answered + Roy. 'I say, don't you wish we'd got our whole crowd up here? We'd take the enemy in + the rear and play old Harry with them.'</p> + <p>'No use wishing that. But I'll tell you what, Roy. If we ever do get back we'll + have some useful information for the colonel.'</p> + <p>Roy nodded, as he scrambled on to the top of a big rock.</p> + <p>'I can see out of the mouth of the gorge from here,' he said, as he stood on the + summit, 'and by the look of the country you're about right as to the course of this + brook. We're the other side of the water-shed altogether.'</p> + <p>Ken clambered up beside him. A couple of hundred yards farther down the gorge + ended, or rather turned into a shallow ravine, down which the stream found its way + into a broad valley below. A rough track crossed this valley, and Ken pointed to + figures looking no bigger than dolls in the distance, which moved along it.</p> + <p>'Reinforcements coming up,' he said. 'They'll be from Kojadere. We must keep clear + of that road. Seems to me the best thing we can do is to swing to the right and work + round the shoulder of the hill.'</p> + <p>'Yes, if we can find cover. Well, there's nothing to stop us from climbing up + here. The bank don't amount to anything.'</p> + <p>He was right, and turning at once they scrambled up the steep rocky slope. It was + broken with projecting crags, and almost covered with brush, which gave them ample + cover. Reaching the top, they got a sight of the sun, and found that they were facing + almost due east. The guns were still thundering behind them, but their sound was + deadened by the great mass of hill which lay between them and the sea.</p> + <p>The hill-side was thick with scrub and there was no difficulty about getting + forward. They went on steadily, and had travelled about half a mile when they entered + a little wood. Passing through this, they were dismayed to find themselves on the + edge of a steep bank about sixty feet high, with the track running at the bottom of + it, and, beyond, a wide space of open valley rising again to a hill opposite.</p> + <p>'This is no use,' said Roy. 'We're bound to be spotted if we try to cross that + open.'</p> + <p>'No, we must keep on this side for the present,' answered Ken, as he turned back + into the trees.</p> + <p>Presently they heard a tramping of feet, and peering through the leaves saw a body + of Turkish troops, about a hundred strong, marching stolidly along beneath them.</p> + <p>'My word, if we only had a maxim!' muttered Roy, as he stared at the + closely-formed column. 'Couldn't we make hay of 'em?'</p> + <p>Ken did not answer. He watched the men pass on until they were out of sight around + a curve in the track. Then he and Roy moved on again.</p> + <p>Round the next bend, they found themselves at the end of the friendly wood, and + the ground beyond was a deal more open than seemed healthy.</p> + <p>'We'll have to wait until those chaps are well out of the way,' said Ken, and + calmly sat himself down on a big stone, one of many which lay among the tree + trunks.</p> + <p>'Hope they'll hurry,' said Roy rather viciously. 'I'm infernally hungry. I want to + get back to my dinner.'</p> + <p>While Ken rested Roy stood staring out through the tree trunks.</p> + <p>Presently he turned to Ken. 'Tell you what, Ken, I believe there's a chance for us + now. There's another patch of wood less than a quarter of a mile away, and if we + watched our chance we might slip across without being spotted. Beyond it, the ground + rises again, with a lot of rocks and scrub. Plenty of cover at any rate. What do you + think?'</p> + <p>Ken got up and took a long and careful survey.</p> + <p>'It looks all right,' he said at last. 'I'm game to try it anyhow.'</p> + <p>'Then the sooner the better. Those Turks have topped the rise.'</p> + <p>They were on the point of starting when Ken heard a sound which made him seize + Roy's arm.</p> + <p>'Steady a minute! There's something else coming up the track.'</p> + <p>They dropped flat and lay waiting. Sure enough, there was a low rumble of wheels, + and after a few minutes a team of mules came into sight around the left-hand curve, + dragging a field-piece, and accompanied by about a dozen Turkish gunners.</p> + <p>'Just as well we waited,' whispered Roy. 'We shouldn't have stood much show if + we'd dropped down under their noses, eh?'</p> + <p>Ken did not answer. He was staring fixedly at the gun. His eyes were very + bright.</p> + <p>He turned to Roy.</p> + <p>'That's going to be used to smash our chaps, Roy. Jove, if we could only stop + it!'</p> + <p>'Stop it?' repeated Roy in amazement. 'My dear chap, we haven't even got our + rifles. They're lying smashed up at the bottom of the gorge. The only weapon we've + got left is this automatic.'</p> + <p>'We've got something better than bullets,' Ken answered very quietly. He laid his + hand as he spoke upon one of the big loose boulders which lay in front of him.</p> + <p>'See here,' he went on, 'they'll come right underneath us. If we could get this + rock down on the team, it would probably stampede the mules. Then before the men have + recovered from their confusion, we ought to be able to give them a couple more. If we + could land one on top of the gun itself, it would damage it pretty badly, even if it + doesn't smash the mountings and make it useless. What do you say?'</p> + <p>'Say—why that it's the greatest scheme ever hatched, and I'm with you every time,' + Roy answered, his face glowing with excitement. 'And, by Jingo,' he added, 'if we'd + picked the spot for bringing it off, we couldn't have done better.'</p> + <p>This was true enough. The spot where they were perched was fully sixty feet above + the road, and the slope below was next door to perpendicular. For another thing, the + supply of boulders was unlimited.</p> + <p>The one to which Ken had pointed weighed perhaps a quarter of a ton and was shaped + rather like a gigantic egg. He put his weight against it, and found that it rocked, + but even so, he could not be quite certain that their combined efforts could start it + over the edge.</p> + <p>'Wait!' whispered Roy, and turning slipped away into the thick of the trees. He + was back in a minute, carrying a heavy piece of dead timber.</p> + <p>'This ought to do the trick,' he said softly. Ken nodded.</p> + <p>Meantime the Turks below, all unsuspicious of what was brewing, came slowly and + steadily along the road. Slowly, because not only is a 77-millimetre gun with its + caisson a heavy weight, but also because the road was merely an apology for one. It + was nothing but a deeply rutted track thick with sand and loose stones.</p> + <p>The men were in charge of a non-commissioned officer, a Turk like themselves, and + consequently were taking it very easy, strolling along, smoking and chatting.</p> + <p>Roy drove his stake deep under the big rock, and gave a slight heave.</p> + <p>'She'll shift all right,' he whispered in a tone of quiet satisfaction.</p> + <p>'All right. Wait till I give the word,' said Ken, with his eyes fixed upon the + long gray gun which came jogging slowly onwards, its grim muzzle swaying and lurching + as the wheels took the ruts in the road.</p> + <p>It seemed a long time before it came opposite. Then at last Ken gave one word.</p> + <p>'Now!'</p> + <p>In an instant they were both on their feet, Roy tugging on the lever, Ken bracing + all his weight on the big rock.</p> + <p>It moved, it rolled slowly over, seemed to pause a moment on the edge of the bank, + then suddenly shot forward. Ten feet below, it alighted on the slope, rebounded, and + at the same time started half a dozen other stones. In a moment a rock avalanche was + roaring down the steep. The great stone led the way. In a series of gigantic leaps, + each longer than the last, it thundered downwards, at each jump starting fresh tons + of the loose shale which covered the bank.</p> + <p>A cloud of dust rose like smoke, and hid all below. Then from out the cloud came + squeals and shrieks.</p> + <p>In their excitement, Ken and Roy actually forgot to send fresh stones to follow + the first. There was no need. When the dust cloud cleared, one mule which had broken + loose was galloping madly across country, the rest were down and dead.</p> + <p>The gun, dismounted, was half buried in a pile of shale which lay feet deep across + the road. Of the men, not one remained. Most were not only dead, but buried. Two only + lay clear, and to all appearance they were as dead as their companions.</p> + <p>Roy looked at Ken.</p> + <p>'What you might call a clean bit of work,' he said, but though he tried to smile, + there was something like awe in his voice.</p> + <p>'Yes. A ten-inch shell could hardly have done more,' Ken answered. 'Poor beggars! + It's rather ghastly wiping 'em out like that, but one has got to remember that that + gun would have probably finished ten times the number of our chaps if they'd got it + into position.</p> + <p>'We'd better go down,' he added. 'We may find a couple of rifles, and I'll lay we + shall need them before we reach our own lines.'</p> + <p>It was an awkward job to get down the bank, for the shale was so loose it kept + breaking away under their feet. They had to go quickly, too, for there was every + chance of fresh reinforcements or more guns coming up the road.</p> + <p>Fortunately no one else appeared, and in a very few minutes they were busy hunting + among the pile of rocks for rifles that had escaped injury. They found three, but + only one was serviceable. The sights of the others were damaged. They also found + food. It was bread, dark-looking and very stale, and goats' milk cheese.</p> + <p>But they were far too hungry to be particular. They stuffed it into their + pockets.</p> + <p>At that moment came a deep groan from among the rocks.</p> + <p>Ken swung round sharply.</p> + <p>'There's one of 'em alive in there,' he said quickly, 'we can't leave the poor + beggar to die by inches.'</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:60%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig096.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig096.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'A rock avalanche was roaring down the steep.'</h3> + </div> + <p>He began rolling the stones aside, and guided by the groans he and Roy soon pulled + out a youngish Turk and laid him on the side of the road.</p> + <p>Ken examined him quickly.</p> + <p>'He's got off cheaply,' he said. 'Nothing broken—nothing the matter, so far as I + can see, except bruises and a cut on the head. Give him a drop of your brandy, + Roy.'</p> + <p>As Roy unscrewed the stopper, the Turk's eyes opened, and he stared up at his + rescuers in blank amazement.</p> + <p>'Englishmen!' he muttered.</p> + <p>Roy put the flask to his lips, but he shook his head.</p> + <p>'Water,' he said in Turkish.</p> + <p>'It's against his religion to drink wine or spirits,' Ken explained to Roy, and + put his own water-bottle to the man's lips.</p> + <p>'I thank you,' said the Turk with grave courtesy. He sat up and looked round at + the ruin on the road.</p> + <p>'We did not know that your guns were near enough to drop shell upon us,' he said. + 'Nor had we any notion that your troops had advanced so far inland.</p> + <p>'Well, it is Allah's will,' he continued resignedly. 'And our fate for being + driven into an unjust war. I am your prisoner.'</p> + <p>'We don't want any prisoners,' Ken answered with a smile, and at his fluent + Turkish the man's dark eyes opened in evident surprise. 'You are free.'</p> + <p>The Turk stared.</p> + <p>'Then you are separated from your own regiment,' he said keenly, and by his accent + and language, Ken realised that he was a man of some education.</p> + <p>Ken did not answer.</p> + <p>'Your pardon, effendi,' said the Turk. 'I did not mean to ask idle questions. I + thank you for your kindness, and I wish you happiness.'</p> + <p>'Come on, Ken,' broke in Roy, who was scanning the country uneasily. 'We are right + out in the open here. That chap will be all right. Let's get into that wood as sharp + as we can.'</p> + <p>'One moment,' said Roy, and turned to the Turk.</p> + <p>'If you care to do us a good turn, tell us the nearest way back to Gaba Tepe.'</p> + <p>The Turk pointed up the road.</p> + <p>'That is the nearest way, but, I need not tell you, the most dangerous. Our lines + lie between here and the British. You must wait for the darkness of the night or you + will for a certainty be captured. My advice to you is to conceal yourselves among the + trees in the wood, and wait until the sun shall have set.'</p> + <p>'I thank you,' said Ken courteously. 'Is there anything else in which we can + assist you?'</p> + <p>'There is nothing, I thank you. I will rest a while, then move onwards. In the + name of the Prophet, I wish you a safe journey.'</p> + <p>'What tale was he pitching you?' said Roy impatiently, as he set off at a great + rate for the wood opposite.</p> + <p>'He advised us to lie up for the rest of the day, and try to slip through their + lines at night.'</p> + <p>Roy grunted. 'And I suppose he'll watch where we go and set his pals on us as soon + as they come along.'</p> + <p>'He will do nothing of the sort,' Ken answered rather hotly. 'For goodness' sake, + don't go judging the Turk by the German, Roy. That fellow considers that we have done + him a favour, and nothing would induce him to betray us.'</p> + <p>'Sorry I spoke,' said Roy briefly, 'but you were so long I was getting into a + horrid stew. Even now, one can't tell whether we've been spotted, and it isn't likely + that the next German who comes along is going to be kind to us when he sees what + we've done to his nice new gun.'</p> + <p>No more was said until they reached the wood and flung themselves panting under + the shade of a scrubby live oak.</p> + <p>'Now we can take a bit of a breather,' said Roy. 'And a bit of lunch, too. Here, + catch!' He flung a chunk of bread across to Ken.</p> + <p>But Ken had sprung up. He was listening keenly.</p> + <p>'Bunk!' he muttered. 'There's cavalry coming.'</p> + <h2><a id="X" name="X">CHAPTER X</a><br /> + PRISONERS</h2> + <p>Roy was on his feet like a flash, for he too had caught the thud of horses' hoofs + and the jingle of stirrups. For a moment the two stood, side by side, behind the + trunk of the live oak, peering out over the sunbaked plain. Across it a patrol of + cavalry, smart in a gray-blue uniform, were cantering sharply.</p> + <p>'They're making straight for the wood,' said Ken quickly. 'They must be after us. + Come!'</p> + <p>They both set off at a run, dodging and ducking under the low-growing trees. For a + moment they thought they were unobserved, but next instant a shout rudely shattered + that illusion. They scurried on as hard as they could go, but the wood was so open + and the trees so far apart that it gave mighty little shelter. The patrol had broken + into a gallop. The thud of the horses' hoofs grew nearer every moment.</p> + <p>'That thicket over there,' panted Ken breathlessly. 'We'll dodge them yet if we + can reach it.'</p> + <p>But between them and it was a good hundred yards of almost open ground, and the + leader of the patrol saw their manoeuvre, and shouted an order. His men split out + fan-wise and before Ken and Roy were half way across the open, came a thunder of + hoofs, and half a dozen of the troopers came galloping upon them from the left.</p> + <p>Ken flung up his captured rifle, and fired slap at the first. The bullet caught + the horse between the eyes and down he came with a crash, flinging his rider far over + his head.</p> + <p>But the next was too close to dodge. Ken caught the flash of sun on a lancehead + bearing straight down upon him. He sprang aside, the lancehead missed him by inches, + then the shoulder of the horse caught him with stunning force and hurled him to the + ground.</p> + <p>Before he could pick himself up, three of the troopers were off their horses, and + had flung themselves upon him. He was hauled roughly to his feet, his rifle snatched + from his hand, and his cartridge-pouch torn away. A few yards away, Roy, his face + bleeding, was the centre of another group who were disarming him in spite of his + struggles.</p> + <p>Ken glanced at his captors. He saw that they were Turkish constabulary, and his + heart sank. These men, trained by Germans, paid by them, and soaked in their brutal + tenets, were among the small minority of Turks who had really come to share the + German hatred of the British.</p> + <p>They glared fiercely at their prisoners.</p> + <p>'British swine!' growled one, and spat in contempt.</p> + <p>'They are spies,' said another. 'We find them three miles behind our lines. Why do + we waste time taking them prisoners? Let us hang them and be done with them.'</p> + <p>'Why not let them run and ride them down?' suggested another. 'Sticking with a + lance is a fit fate for hogs.'</p> + <p>But the sergeant, a tall, swarthy faced man with a pair of fierce black eyes, + pushed his way forward.</p> + <p>'Fools, these are the men who escaped last night from Captain Hartmann. We have + his orders to bring them before him. It will go hard with you if you disobey. Shackle + them both, and send them to him under guard.'</p> + <p>He flung down two pairs of handcuffs, and one of the men who was holding Ken + picked them up, while another seized his wrists.</p> + <p>It was on the tip of Ken's tongue to protest fiercely against this indignity, but + he checked himself. It would be better, he remembered, that these men should not know + that he spoke their language.</p> + <p>Roy was fighting like a fury. Three of the troopers had their work cut out to hold + him. As it was, he managed to get one hand loose, and before the others could seize + it again one of their number lay insensible on the ground with his nose broken and + flattened against his face.</p> + <p>'Steady, Roy!' cried Ken. 'These swabs are no better than Germans. They'll only + frog-march us or something equally beastly if we resist.'</p> + <p>'But handcuffs!' roared Roy in a fury. 'D'ye think I'm going to be handcuffed like + a common criminal?'</p> + <p>'They think we're spies,' Ken answered. 'They're going to take us to headquarters. + It's no use resisting. We must wait our chance.'</p> + <p>Sullenly Roy ceased struggling, and the handcuffs were snapped on his wrists. The + sergeant who seemed in a hurry, gave brief orders, and galloped on with most of his + patrol, leaving a lower grade officer, probably a corporal, with half a dozen + men.</p> + <p>These mounted.</p> + <p>'March!' ordered the corporal, an undersized, vicious-looking fellow, giving Ken a + prick with his lance. 'And keep going, or, by Allah, it will be more than a prick you + will get next time.'</p> + <p>Side by side, Ken and Roy stumbled forward, while their captors cursed or jeered + them in language which Roy fortunately could not understand, although to Ken every + word of it was only too plain. From something the corporal let drop, he learnt that + they were being taken, not to Kojadere, but to Eski Keni, which lies in the middle of + the peninsula, about half-way between Gaba Tepe and Maidos.</p> + <p>He told this to Roy, speaking in an undertone, as they tramped rapidly onwards + under the threat of the lance-points behind them.</p> + <p>'And the man they are taking us before seems to be Kemp,' said Ken. 'Only they + call him Hartmann. It appears he was cute enough to suspect that we had hidden + ourselves somewhere last night, and these fellows were sent out to look for us.'</p> + <p>'And I wish we had both gone over the cliff before they found us,' Roy answered, + gritting his teeth. The disgrace of the handcuffs was biting deep into his soul. Ken + had never seen him in such a mood before.</p> + <p>Ken himself was none too happy. It took all his pluck and philosophy to keep going + at all. He was aching in every bone, his mouth and throat were parched, and his + tongue like a dry stick in his mouth. The dust rose around them in choking clouds, + flies bit and stung, yet he could not lift a hand to brush them from his face. What + was hardest of all to bear were the jeers and insults flung at them by their + captors.</p> + <p>But they trudged on doggedly, refusing to pay the slightest attention to the + taunts or blows showered upon them, and in spite of everything, Ken used his eyes to + take in every feature of the country through which they travelled. Small hope as he + had of ever seeing again his own lines, yet he missed nothing of importance, storing + up each hill, valley, clump of trees, and track in his tenacious memory.</p> + <p>At last they came within sight of a group of squalid hovels in a valley.</p> + <p>'That's Keni,' Ken told Roy.</p> + <p>The brutal corporal caught the word.</p> + <p>'That's Keni,' he repeated in his own language, 'and, by the beard of the Prophet, + you shall soon see how spies are dealt with.'</p> + <p>The village swarmed with soldiers, many of them wounded, who stared at the two + British prisoners with lack-lustre eyes. The narrow street of the place reeked with + filth and foul odours, and swarmed with a pestilence of flies. The two youngsters + were thrust roughly into a dirty hovel, and with a final jeer from their brutal + jailer, the door was locked behind them.</p> + <p>For a moment Roy stood straight, towering in the centre of the low-roofed room. + There was a very ugly light in his eyes.</p> + <p>'Wait, my friend, wait!' he said hoarsely. 'I'll be even with you before I've + finished.'</p> + <p>'Steady, old chap!' said Ken quietly. 'Steady! Take it easy while you can. + Remember, we've got that little interview with Kemp before us.'</p> + <p>Roy flung himself down with a gasp.</p> + <p>'It's all right, Ken. I'll calm down after a bit. But heaven pity that + black-moustached blighter if I ever get my hands on him.'</p> + <p>Ken tried to answer, but suddenly dropped flat on the bare earthen floor. His eyes + closed. Instantly he was sound asleep. Roy stared at him vaguely, yawned, and before + he knew it had slipped down and followed his example.</p> + <p>So they lay, happily oblivious of their troubles, all through the blazing + afternoon. The sun was setting when the door was flung open and the sharp-faced + corporal strode in.</p> + <p>He roused them with a kick apiece.</p> + <p>'Get up, British dogs,' he ordered. 'Captain Hartmann awaits you.'</p> + <p>The sleep had refreshed them, and though stiff and sore they were both in + condition so fit and hard that they were little the worse for their trying + experiences of the night and morning.</p> + <p>Under charge of a guard, they were marched rapidly up the street to where a few + larger flat-topped houses stood on slightly higher ground. Through an open door they + were driven along a passage and out into a courtyard open to the sky, with a fountain + in the centre.</p> + <p>At a table, under the shade of a grape arbour, sat two German officers, one of + whom was a typical Prussian, fair, with hard blue eyes and close cropped hair, while + the other was their old friend, the ex-steward Kemp, otherwise Hartmann.</p> + <p>An ugly light shone in his deep-set, narrow eyes as they fell on the two + prisoners.</p> + <p>'Soh!' he said, with a evil smile, 'my young friends, the spies! Achmet'—this to + the corporal—'you have done well. I will see that your conduct and that of your + sergeant is recommended in the proper quarter.'</p> + <p>He turned to his companion.</p> + <p>'Ober-lieutenant von Steegman,' he said formally. 'The prisoners are those of whom + I spoke last night to Colonel Henkel. Disguised in the overcoats of Turkish soldiers, + they contrived to destroy one of our quick-firers, and to-day they were discovered + hiding in a wood behind our lines. They had, it appears, been plundering our wounded, + for food and a Turkish rifle were found in their possession.'</p> + <p>Ken could not speak German, but he knew enough of the language to gather the + meaning of the man's infamous accusations. 'Liar!' he burst in. 'We were never in + Turkish uniform. As for the gun, we took it in fair fight, and as—'</p> + <p>At a sign from Hartmann, Achmet, the corporal, struck Ken across the mouth.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:60%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig104.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig104.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'Roy brought them down on the man's head.'</h3> + </div> + <p>It was probably the last thing he ever did in his life, for Roy, raising his + shackled hands, brought them down upon the man's head with such fearful force that he + dropped like a log, the blood gushing from his mouth and ears.</p> + <p>Instantly all was confusion. Hartmann sprang to his feet, shouting out furious + orders. Two of the guard seized Roy and flung him to the ground, two more laid hands + on Ken. Another drew his bayonet, and Ken saw it flash in the evening sunlight before + his very eyes.</p> + <p>It was Von Steegman who sprang forward and seized the man's arm just in time.</p> + <p>'No. Leave him alone,' he cried harshly. 'The colonel has left express orders that + he wishes to see these men before they are executed. Stand aside! It is only a short + delay. They will both be shot at sundown.'</p> + <p>Von Steegman, if a brute, had ten times the physical power and moral force of + Hartmann. The man obeyed at once, and in a few moments order was restored. Two men + carried away the insensible form of Achmet, Roy watching with a grim smile.</p> + <p>Ken had hardly thought of his own danger. His lips were bleeding, and the foul + blow had for the moment rendered him perfectly reckless.</p> + <p>'Is this the way you treat prisoners? he thundered, his eyes blazing. 'Small + wonder a people who do such things are despised by every other nation on earth!'</p> + <p>'Himmel, you dare to talk like that?' snarled back Hartmann. 'You, a private + soldier, venture such insolence to an officer?'</p> + <p>Ken was already ashamed of his outburst.</p> + <p>'An officer!' he said with bitter contempt, 'or do you mean a bathroom + steward?'</p> + <p>Hartmann's sallow face went livid with excess of rage. He bit his lip till the + blood showed upon it in a thin red line.</p> + <p>'You will sing a different song when you stand before the muzzles of the firing + party,' he said in a grating voice.</p> + <p>Von Steegman, who seemed to be the only man among them to remain quite unmoved, + raised his hand.</p> + <p>'All this is highly irregular,' he said harshly. 'Captain Hartmann, it is our duty + to interrogate these prisoners.'</p> + <p>'What's the use of interrogating us if you have already made up your mind to shoot + us?' retorted Ken.</p> + <p>Von Steegman glared at him.</p> + <p>'Because,' he answered in his harsh German English, 'it is bossible that, by + giving us certain information, you may yed save der lives which you haf justly + forfeited.'</p> + <p>Ken stared back, and there was something in his face which made even the German's + bold eyes drop.</p> + <p>'I don't advise you to say any more,' he answered grimly. 'You'd better proceed at + once with your firing party, you miserable German murderer.'</p> + <p>Von Steegman's hand dropped to his sword hilt, his face went the colour of a ripe + plum, for a moment Ken thought—hoped that he was going to have a fit.</p> + <p>Before he could speak there came a stir behind, the door leading from the house to + the yard opened sharply, and a stout, coarse-looking man in the uniform of a colonel + in the Prussian Army, strode heavily in.</p> + <p>Hartmann and Von Steegman rose like two ramrods, and saluted him. They stood at + the salute while he came across to the table.</p> + <p>'So these are the two prisoners,' he said in a thick guttural voice, as he seated + himself, 'the two who were captured spying behind our lines.'</p> + <p>He stared first at Roy, then at Ken. As his bloodshot eyes fell upon the latter he + started ever so slightly. At the same moment Ken seemed to recognise him, for a look + of disgust crossed his face.</p> + <h2><a id="XI" name="XI">CHAPTER XI</a><br /> + THE FIRING PARTY</h2> + <p>Hartmann spoke.</p> + <p>'These are the spies, Herr Colonel,' he said with an air of deference. 'They were + captured more than two miles behind our lines. We have interrogated them, but they + refuse information.'</p> + <p>The colonel looked at Ken.</p> + <p>'Have you nothing to say for yourselves?' he demanded.</p> + <p>'Plenty, but not to you, Colonel Henkel,' replied Ken with a sarcasm he did not + trouble to conceal.</p> + <p>Henkel, however, did not lose his temper as Von Steegman had done. He turned to + Hartmann and Von Steegman and spoke to them both in a low voice.</p> + <p>'As you wish, Herr Colonel,' said Hartmann presently, but there was an air of + distinct disappointment about him.</p> + <p>'Corporal,' said Henkel to the non-com, who had taken the place of the brute whom + Roy had finished, 'take the prisoners back and lock them up securely. Set a guard + over them.'</p> + <p>'Mind this—that you are responsible for them,' he added harshly.</p> + <p>The man saluted, and Ken and Roy, who had hardly expected to leave the place + alive, found themselves marched back down the evil-smelling street and shut up once + more in the same hovel as before.</p> + <p>Roy turned to Ken as the key clicked in the lock behind them.</p> + <p>'This is a rum go,' he said in great astonishment. 'What's it mean? Who is the + Johnny with the fat tummy and the bloodshot eyes? Why was he so quiet with you? + What—?'</p> + <p>'Steady, old man!' cut in Ken. 'One question at a time. Didn't you hear his + name?'</p> + <p>'What—Henkel? Yes.'</p> + <p>He broke off with a gasp.</p> + <p>'You don't mean to say he is the sweep that tried to swindle your father out of + his coal mine?'</p> + <p>'You've hit it, Roy—hit it in once. That's the very same chap, though I never knew + before that he was a colonel. He recognised me as soon as I spotted him.'</p> + <p>'But what's his game?' demanded Roy. 'I should have thought he would have been + only too pleased to get you shot out of hand. If your father is dead, you're next + heir to the coal.'</p> + <p>'I'm not very clear what he is after,' Ken answered in a puzzled voice. 'But it's + something to do with our property, you may be sure of that. This much I do know—that + Henkel was awfully in debt when I last saw him. And I know this, too—that our friend, + old Othman Pacha, who is Bey in that part of the country, would refuse to let the + property pass without proper title deeds.'</p> + <p>'Then it's clear as mud,' said Roy quickly. 'Henkel wants to get the deeds out of + you.'</p> + <p>'That may be it. But anyhow I'm not of age. I couldn't sign anything.'</p> + <p>'Don't, anyhow,' said Roy. 'He can't do worse than shoot us.'</p> + <p>But Ken looked very grave. Inwardly, he was thinking that, if Henkel did actually + mean to make terms, he had no right to sacrifice Roy's life as well as his own.</p> + <p>At this moment the corporal came in with a platter of food and a pitcher of water. + He planked them down without a word, and went out again.</p> + <p>'No use starving ourselves,' said Roy with his usual cheeriness. 'It's a case of + "let us eat and drink for to-morrow we die."'</p> + <p>His pluck was wonderful, and they set to as well as their manacled hands + permitted, on the coarse barley-meal bread and goats' milk cheese. They had had + nothing since their 'emergency' breakfast and they finished the food to the last + crumb.</p> + <p>'That's better,' said Roy. 'Now I'm ready for anything.' As he spoke the key + turned in the lock, the door opened, and in stumped Henkel. He closed the door behind + him, and stood facing the two young fellows.</p> + <p>'So we meet again, Kenneth Carrington,' he said. Like most German officers, he + spoke excellent English, though with a thick, unpleasant accent.</p> + <p>Ken did not answer. It did not seem worth while. He stood facing the other, + watching him with a slightly contemptuous expression in his clear blue eyes.</p> + <p>'We meet under different conditions from the last time,' continued Henkel. 'There + is now no Othman Pacha to protect you from your just fate.'</p> + <p>Ken shrugged his shoulders.</p> + <p>'Why talk that sort of rot? You know just as well as I do that the last thing we + shall get is justice.'</p> + <p>Henkel flushed slightly, but he kept his temper.</p> + <p>'What! Do you not shoot spies in your own army?'</p> + <p>'We are not spies. We went too far in the charge yesterday when we smashed up your + people. We could not get back. We are prisoners of war and should be treated as + such.'</p> + <p>'That is your story,' replied Henkel. 'We have plenty of evidence to the contrary. + Any commanding officer would be justified in shooting you out of hand.'</p> + <p>'The evidence against us,' said Ken, 'is that of Kemp, late bathroom steward + aboard the "Cardigan Castle," a man who has a personal grudge against me because I + caught him signalling to an enemy submarine.'</p> + <p>'Again your unsupported statement,' said Henkel.</p> + <p>'It's the truth,' growled Roy from the background.</p> + <p>'Your evidence in a case like this is valueless,' said Henkel shortly. He turned + to Ken again.</p> + <p>'Have you heard from your father since you last saw him?' he asked suddenly.</p> + <p>The question took Ken unawares.</p> + <p>'From my father?' he said, with sudden eagerness. 'No. Is he alive?'</p> + <p>There was a gleam of triumph in Henkel's prominent eyes.</p> + <p>'Yes,' he answered. 'He is alive and—under the circumstances—well.'</p> + <p>'I—I thought' began Ken and stopped.</p> + <p>'You thought that he had been shot,' said Henkel grimly. 'That would indeed have + been his fate but for my interference. I used my influence to get his sentence + altered to a term of imprisonment.'</p> + <p>Ken changed colour. He found it desperately difficult to keep a cool head. The + news that his father was alive had filled him with burning excitement. The two had + always been the best of chums, more like an elder and younger brother than father and + son.</p> + <p>'Where is he?' he asked sharply.</p> + <p>'At present in Constantinople,' replied Henkel, who was watching Ken keenly. 'But + it is likely that he will presently be sent elsewhere.'</p> + <p>'What—into Asia Minor?' said Ken in dismay. Constantinople was bad enough, but + nothing to the horrors of the Turkish prisons in Asia.</p> + <p>'Not so far as that. He is to be moved, with others of the British and French, to + Gallipoli.'</p> + <p>Ken's cheeks went white. His eyes were full of horror.</p> + <p>'You are perhaps aware,' continued Henkel, 'that the Turkish Government has + decided upon this step as a response to the bombardment of unfortified places by your + fleet. If Turkish civilians are to be killed, it is only fair that enemy civilians + should share their fate.'</p> + <p>'Enver Bey seems to have learnt his German pretty thoroughly,' put in Roy + sarcastically.</p> + <p>Henkel's eyes glared as he turned upon him.</p> + <p>'Be silent!' he ordered, with a fury he could hardly repress.</p> + <p>Roy merely smiled, and Henkel turned again to Ken.</p> + <p>'It lies with you whether your father goes to Gallipoli or not,' he said curtly. + 'I have sufficient influence to prevent his being sent there.'</p> + <p>'How do you mean?' Ken asked thickly.</p> + <p>'I will tell you plainly. Your father still holds the title deeds of certain + property near Ipsala. This property he has, of course, forfeited since his + conviction. I wish to purchase this land from the Turkish Government, but owing to + the absence of the deeds, which are, apparently, in a London bank, there are + difficulties as to the transfer.</p> + <p>'What I require is a letter from you to your father, asking him to authorise the + return of these deeds. In return for this small service I will arrange for you and + your companion to be treated as prisoners of war and sent to Constantinople, where + you will remain until the end of the war, as will also your father.'</p> + <p>He stopped, and stood watching Ken keenly.</p> + <p>Ken was in an agony of indecision. So far as he himself was concerned, he would + not have hesitated a moment in refusing the terms offered by Henkel. But there was + his father to think of—and Roy.</p> + <p>His voice was strained and harsh as he spoke again.</p> + <p>'How do you know that my father would agree to any such letter, even if I was to + write it?' he asked.</p> + <p>'Because,' answered Henkel, 'your life will depend upon a favourable answer.'</p> + <p>Ken paused again.</p> + <p>'Don't do it, Ken,' broke in Roy. 'I don't know your father, but I'm mighty sure + he wouldn't stick for this kind of blackmail.'</p> + <p>Henkel swung round on him in a fury.</p> + <p>'Potztausend! Keep silence, fool! Your own life as well as two others depends upon + Carrington's answer.'</p> + <p>'I wouldn't give sixpence for my life if I had to keep it on terms like those,' + retorted Roy.</p> + <p>'Nor would I,' said Ken sharply. 'And I know my father would say the same. + Whatever happens, he would never consent to letting you blackmail him, Colonel + Henkel.'</p> + <p>'Blackmail, schelm! What are you talking about? Don't I tell you that by his + sentence your father has forfeited all right to any landed property under the Turkish + Government?'</p> + <p>'Yes, but that country won't be Turkish any more after the war. And then my + younger brother, who is at school at home, will inherit. No, we are not going to cut + him out and leave him penniless. Do your worst, Henkel.'</p> + <p>Henkel's great coarse face went livid. He burst into a storm of savage + profanity.</p> + <p>'Enough!' he cried at last. 'You have brought your fate upon yourselves. You have + sealed your own death warrant. You shall be shot within an hour, and as for your + father, he shall be taken to Gallipoli within the week, and if he survives, the fire + of your own warships, I shall find other means of dealing with him.'</p> + <p>He rushed out, slamming the door behind him.</p> + <p>'Got his monkey up pretty thoroughly,' said Roy with a laugh. Then seeing how + grave Ken's face was.</p> + <p>'Don't worry, dear chap. You couldn't possibly have done anything else. And as for + a bullet in the heart, what is it? It don't take long and it don't hurt, and we can + always feel we've played the game.'</p> + <p>As he spoke he came closer and laid his shackled hands on Ken's shoulder.</p> + <p>'Thank you, Roy,' said Ken in a very low voice. 'You—you've helped me a lot. + It—it's father I'm thinking of.'</p> + <p>'I know. But after all he isn't dead yet. And like as not this swab Henkel may get + wiped out before he has the chance of doing him down.'</p> + <p>Silence fell between them. They sat with their backs against the wall, their + hearts too full to talk. Ken's thoughts were with his father and his younger brother + Anthony; Roy's were back in New Zealand, picturing the sunny plains and wild ranges + around his home, the brawling rivers and the white sheep grazing on the great grass + lands.</p> + <p>The last rays of the sun shone through the one small window of the hut, and + presently came the tramp of men outside.</p> + <p>The corporal opened the door, the boys walked out, and guarded on either side were + marched once more up the foul, narrow street to the higher ground above.</p> + <p>Beyond the house where their mock trial had taken place was a vineyard surrounded + by a stone wall. Against this they were posted while the firing party was + detailed.</p> + <p>Henkel, his bloodshot eyes aflame with ill-suppressed rage, stalked up to + them.</p> + <p>'I give you a last chance,' he said harshly to Ken. 'I have told the others that + you have certain information which I will take in exchange for your lives. Give me + your word that you will write that letter, and all will be well.'</p> + <p>'You have had my answer,' said Ken quietly. 'Now go and watch us being + murdered.'</p> + <p>Henkel bit his lip savagely.</p> + <p>'Your blood is on your own heads,' he said hoarsely. 'I have given you every + chance.'</p> + <p>He stamped away, and as he did so took a handkerchief out of his pocket.</p> + <p>'When I drop this, fire,' he said curtly to the eight Turks who composed the + firing party.</p> + <p>'Good-bye, old chap,' said Ken to Roy.</p> + <p>'Oh, I don't know,' Roy answered. 'After all, we're going together.'</p> + <p>Ken hardly heard. He was still tortured with the feeling that it was through him + that Roy Horan and his father were to lose their lives. He knew he was right, and + yet—'</p> + <p>A sound like a maxim gun in the distance smote upon his ears. It grew louder every + instant. All, even Henkel, glanced upwards.</p> + <p>'Only an aeroplane, Ken,' said Roy in a whisper. 'By Jove, though, it's one of our + chaps.'</p> + <p>Across the rich blue of the evening sky a great Farman biplane came sailing like a + gigantic bird. She was barely five hundred feet up, and heading straight for the + village. What was more, she was actually coming lower every moment.</p> + <p>Henkel, the other officer, the firing party, the bystanders—all stood with their + eyes fixed upon the plane. The cool insolence of her pilot held them spellbound. For + the moment Ken and Roy were absolutely forgotten.</p> + <p>Henkel was the first to recover himself.</p> + <p>'Shoot it down!' he bellowed. 'Shoot it down!' And the Turks, perhaps not + altogether sorry to find some other use for their bullets than the slaughter of two + helpless prisoners, raised their muzzles to the sky, and began blazing away + furiously. Even Henkel, Hartmann, and Von Steegman hauled out their pistols from + their belt holsters and fired for all they were worth.</p> + <p>But a plane travelling at a mile a minute is not the easiest thing in the world to + hit, especially when it seems to be coming right at you. Possibly some of the bullets + pierced the widespread wings, but no harm was done to the observer or his pilot.</p> + <p>Suddenly Ken seized Roy with his manacled hands.</p> + <p>'Down!' he cried sharply. 'Down!'</p> + <p>Roy understood and flung himself flat upon the ground, and Ken instantly followed + his example.</p> + <p>Only just in time. Next second a black streak darted from the plane and shot + earthwards. Followed an earth-shaking roar, and a blinding flash of flame.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:60%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig114.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig114.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'All, even Henkel, glanced upwards.'</h3> + </div> + <p>Ken, flat on his face, felt the blast of it, and covered his head with his arms. + Earth, small stones, debris of all kinds rained upon him, then followed silence, + broken only by the rapidly diminishing roar of the engine exhaust.</p> + <p>Ken ventured to roll over. This is what he saw.</p> + <p>Between him and the spot where the firing party had stood, but nearer to the + latter, was a great cavity in the ground, a hole ten feet across and perhaps a yard + deep. Beyond, half buried in the mass of rubbish flung up by the explosion, were the + broken remains of the firing party. All but one were dead, and most were blasted to + fragments. The one survivor lay helpless and groaning.</p> + <p>Farther away the three officers were prone and still upon the ground, but whether + dead or merely damaged, Ken could not tell. He hoped the former. Farther still, half + a dozen other Turkish soldiers lay, twisted in ugly fashion, covered with blood. They + had been badly cut by the jagged fragments of stone flung up by the bursting bomb. + The survivors, a score or so in number, were running in blind panic towards the + village.</p> + <p>'Roy, Roy! Quickly! We've a chance still,' cried Ken, his voice tense with + excitement.</p> + <p>He sprang up as he spoke, and Roy staggered dazedly to his feet.</p> + <p>'This way!' said Ken, and in spite of the hampering handcuffs he managed to + scramble over the low wall into the vineyard.</p> + <p>Roy followed.</p> + <p>'It's no use, Ken,' he said. 'We can't run with these beastly handcuffs, and + they'll be after us in two twos.'</p> + <p>'Not they! Look!'</p> + <p>He pointed to the plane. It had circled wide over the town and was now coming + back. The faint popping of rifles was followed by another terrific crash. A second + bomb had dropped clean upon one of the larger houses, and exploding on the flat roof + had scattered the whole building as a man's foot might scatter an ant's nest. With a + roar half the house toppled outwards into the street, blocking it completely.</p> + <p>'Fine! Oh, fine!' cried Roy. 'That chap knows his business. Gee, but I wish we + were alongside him.'</p> + <p>'Much use that would be! A plane can't carry four. But don't you see? He has + spotted us. Those bombs are meant to give us our chance. It's up to us to take it. + Hurry, Roy! If we can reach that wood yonder, we may be able to hide till dark.'</p> + <p>To run at all with tied hands is no easy matter. To make any sort of pace over + rough ground, in such condition, is well-nigh impossible. Yet Ken and Roy, knowing + absolutely that their lives depended on reaching that wood before their disappearance + was realised, did manage to run and to run pretty fast.</p> + <p>Once more they heard the crashing explosion of a bomb, then suddenly the sound of + the plane grew louder until the engine rattled almost overhead.</p> + <p>Ken stopped and looked up. The plane was passing no more than two hundred feet + above them.</p> + <p>Over the edge of the fuselage a face appeared, a white dot framed in a khaki + flying hood. An arm was thrust out, something dropped from it. There was a quick wave + of a hand, then with the speed of a frightened wild duck, the plane shot away, came + round in a finely banked curve, and disappeared in a south-easterly direction.</p> + <p>'Roy!' gasped Ken, breathless. 'Did you see that?'</p> + <p>'I saw him drop something—I saw it fall. There—there it is.'</p> + <p>Hurrying on for about fifty yards, he stooped swiftly and picked up something + small but heavy.</p> + <p>'The daisy! Oh, the daisy!' panted Roy. 'I'll love that fellow to the end of my + life.'</p> + <p>He held up the object which the airman had flung down. It was a hammer and a cold + chisel tied together, with a leaf from a notebook under the string.</p> + <p>There was an ancient olive tree against the far wall of the vineyard. Cowering + under its shelter, Roy tore the string off with his strong white teeth, then picked + up the paper. These were the hurried words scrawled in pencil:— 'Sorry! All we can do + for you. Make east. Your only chance.'</p> + <p>'East? That means the Straits. Why is that our only chance?' muttered Ken.</p> + <p>'Never mind that now,' Roy answered hastily. 'We must get our hands free. Confound + it! We can't use the chisel. But here's a stone with a sharp edge. Try what you can + do with the hammer, Ken.'</p> + <p>Ken took one quick glance in the direction of the village, but there was no one in + sight. He caught hold of the hammer in both hands and brought it down with all his + force on the link between Roy's handcuffs.</p> + <p>More by chance than skill the blow fell absolutely true, and the steel, either + flawed or over-tempered, snapped.</p> + <p>Roy gave a cry of delight, and snatching the hammer from Ken took up the chisel + and set to work on his bonds. His powerful hands made short work of the link, and + within less than three minutes from the time the man in the plane had dropped the + tools, they were both free.</p> + <p>With a deep sigh of relief, Roy sprang to his feet. 'We're our own men again, Ken. + Come on.' He leaped lightly over the wall and raced away towards the trees. Ken + followed.</p> + <p>They had no food, no weapons, they were miles from their own people, in the heart + of the enemy country. Yet, for all that, there were not at that moment two lighter + hearts in the whole of the Gallipoli Peninsula.</p> + <h2><a id="XII" name="XII">CHAPTER XII</a><br /> + ABOVE THE NARROWS</h2> + <p>An intermittent thunder of guns had been growing heavier for the past hour. Now, + as the two fugitives crouched on the eastern side of a steeply sloping hill, they + were so near that they could distinctly see the flashes from the muzzles through the + darkness of the night.</p> + <p>'That's either Fort Degetman or Kilid Bahr,' said Ken in a low voice. 'Ah, there + are two. The right-hand one—the one to the south—is Kilid Bahr.'</p> + <p>"Then we're opposite the Narrows," Roy answered breathlessly.</p> + <p>"Just so," said Ken, but though he spoke quietly enough, he, too, felt a thrill. + For five long hours they had been pushing east, or rather south-eastwards. They had + crossed the main road leading to Great Maidos, they had had hairbreadth escapes + sufficient to last most folk for a lifetime, and now at a little after one in the + morning, they had crossed the whole peninsula, and were facing the famous Narrows, + with their double cordon of forts on both sides of the Straits, the nut which for so + many weeks all the Powers of the British and French combined had been engaged in + trying to crack.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:60%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig118.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig118.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>"That's either Fort Degetman or Kalis Bahr."</h3> + </div> + <p>Opposite, a few scattered lights showed where lay the town of Chanak on the + Asiatic side of the Narrows. From forts along that coast also, there now and then + darted a spit of flame, while half a minute or so later the dull roar of the report + would reverberate through the night.</p> + <p>"We've gone east," said Roy slowly. "We've done what that chap in the plane told + us to do. But I'm hanged if I can see how we're to go any farther."</p> + <p>'Unless,' he added thoughtfully, 'we are going to swim for it.'</p> + <p>'A bit far for that,' said Ken. 'We are just thirteen miles from the mouth of the + Straits, and though they say the current runs down at four miles an hour, I don't + think either of us could stand three hours in the water.'</p> + <p>'Not me!' replied Roy with a shiver. 'Too jolly cold!'</p> + <p>'We must get hold of a boat,' said Ken with decision. 'That's our only + chance.'</p> + <p>'Lead on, sonny,' said Roy—'that is, if you know where to find one.'</p> + <p>'I haven't much more notion than you, Roy. But there's just this in our + favour—that I know there's a little cove south of Kilid Bahr. And as all the coast on + either side is cliffs, the chances are that boats, if there are any, will be lying in + that cove.'</p> + <p>'So will half the Turkish Army, most probably,' said Roy recklessly. 'Not that I + care. The only thing I mind is handcuffs. I'm going to slay the first chap who + suggests them.'</p> + <p>Ken was not listening. He was staring out towards the Straits, trying to get the + lie of the land. The coast itself he knew well, for he had been up and down the + Dardanelles a number of times. But of the land he was ignorant, and it is no joke to + find one's way by night over such a country as the Gallipoli Peninsula.</p> + <p>'Come on, then,' he said presently, and turned due south down the hill-side.</p> + <p>Not a yard of their journey had been without its risks, but now they had to be + more careful than ever. The whole shore of the Straits was, they knew, a network of + forts and hidden defences. There was no saying when they might blunder upon something + of the kind.</p> + <p>Half-way down the hill, Ken, who was leading, pulled up.</p> + <p>'Look out!' he muttered. 'There's a pit of some sort just in front of us. Wait, + I'll see what it is.'</p> + <p>He dropped on hands and knees and crawled forward. He was away for only a few + moments.</p> + <p>'Nothing but a shell hole,' he explained, 'but it's a regular crater. Must have + been done by one of our twelve-inch guns. Two dead Turks alongside it.'</p> + <p>'Rum place for a shell to fall,' Roy answered, straining his eyes through the + gloom.</p> + <p>'It means there's a fort somewhere near,' said Ken. 'Our people don't waste shells + on empty hill-sides, I can tell you.'</p> + <p>'Wish it wasn't so infernally dark,' growled Roy.</p> + <p>'I'm jolly glad it is,' answered Ken emphatically. 'Put it any way you like, it + helps us more than the enemy.'</p> + <p>They saw nothing of the fort, if there was one, and after crossing some very + broken ground came down into a narrow valley, in the centre of which was the bed of a + water-course, now dry.</p> + <p>'That's better,' whispered Ken, as he dropped down into it. 'This ought to bring + us out on the beach.'</p> + <p>The bottom was sun-baked mud and dry stones which, together, formed about as + unpleasant a combination for walking over as could well be imagined, especially since + it was absolutely necessary to move without a sound. Both were deeply grateful when + at last the torrent bed widened, and they heard the lap of ripples on a beach.</p> + <p>'I feel like those old Greek Johnnies,' said Roy, 'the ones who'd been wandering + for a year over there in Asia, and who chucked their helmets into the air and yelled + when they saw the sea.'</p> + <p>'Well, don't try any tricks of that sort here, old man,' Ken answered dryly. 'Wait + a jiffy. I'm going forward to get a squint at the beach.'</p> + <p>He crept away, bent double, and was gone for so long that Roy began to get uneasy. + But at last he saw Ken stealing back.</p> + <p>'What luck?' he whispered.</p> + <p>'None,' Ken answered in a tone of bitter disappointment.</p> + <p>'What—no boats?'</p> + <p>'Plenty of boats, but there are men behind them. I don't know how many, but quite + a lot. I don't even know whether they are troops. They are sitting about on the + shingle, talking and smoking. Anyhow there are too many for us to tackle.'</p> + <p>Roy grunted. 'That's bad. But, see here, Ken, we've got to have a boat some way or + other.'</p> + <p>'We're going to,' said Ken fiercely, 'but I'm afraid it means crawling all the way + back up that beastly water-course.'</p> + <p>'Up the water-course?' repeated Roy. 'Great Ghost, there are no boats up + there.'</p> + <p>'It's not boats I'm after in the first place, it's a disguise. See here. You know + I told you there were two dead Turks alongside that shell hole. My notion is to take + their uniforms or just their overcoats, and then walk boldly down to the beach, and + tell the chaps there that we have a despatch to take across to Ghanak.'</p> + <p>'Put up a bluff,' Roy answered. 'I see. But surely they have a cable across.'</p> + <p>'They had, but the "Sapphire" cut it. And since it's gone, why I should fancy the + only way of getting messages across is by boat.'</p> + <p>'But what about the password?' suggested Roy.</p> + <p>'We'll have to chance that. There are not likely to be any officers about on the + beach at night. It isn't as if there was any danger of attack here. They are right + under the forts of the Narrows.'</p> + <p>'Well,' said Roy, rising with a sigh, 'it sounds a pretty good scheme. But I'd + give more than sixpence to get out of crawling back up that abominable gully.</p> + <p>'I'm afraid there's no help for it,' replied Ken, as he started.</p> + <p>Both were tired with their long tramp across country, and they were sadly in need + of food and rest. It was wretchedly disappointing, after they had at last made the + sea, to have to turn back again inland. They were a very silent pair as they toiled + back over the cracked clay and loose stones.</p> + <p>There was worse to come. In the darkness they missed the exact spot where they had + first entered the gully, and when they reached the hill-side found that they were + lost. Neither of them had the least idea of the whereabouts of the shell hole with + the bodies of the two dead Turks.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a id="fig122" name="fig122"></a><a href="dardan_files/fig122.jpg"><img + width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig122.jpg" alt="" /></a> + <h3>Our boys bring in a Turkish sniper, who by the ample use of foliage has turned + himself into a sort of Jack-in-the-Green.</h3> + </div> + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a id="fig123" name="fig123"></a><a href="dardan_files/fig123.jpg"><img + width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig123.jpg" alt="" /></a> + <h3>Reinforcements of Turkish artillery and machine gun batteries to bar the + passage of our boys in khaki.</h3> + </div> + <p>A good half-hour they wasted in vain search, then Ken dropped behind the shelter + of a small bush.</p> + <p>'It's no use, Roy,' he said desperately. 'I can't find it. We're simply wasting + time.'</p> + <p>Instead of answering, Roy took hold of Ken's arm with a grip that was like that of + a steel vice.</p> + <p>'Hush!' he whispered, and pointed.</p> + <p>Two figures had risen in front, apparently out of the very depths of the earth. + They were not more than twenty paces away.</p> + <p>The boys crouched, breathless. A moment later, two other figures loomed through + the darkness, coming down the slope. They came straight up to the first two.</p> + <p>'By Eblis, but thou hast not hurried thyself Ali!' said one of the latter, + speaking in Turkish. 'Hassan and I were about to come and seek thee.'</p> + <p>One of the others gave a laugh.</p> + <p>'I am sorry, brother. We slept and no one awaked us. Is all well?'</p> + <p>'All is well. What else should it be? Who but a dog of an unbelieving German would + waste men's time in guarding such a place as this?'</p> + <p>'Of a truth it is foolishness,' said the man named Ali. 'The British are far + enough away, Allah knows.'</p> + <p>'A good watch to thee,' said Hassan in rather a surly tone. Then he and his + companion tramped away uphill, and Ali and the other sank down into what was + evidently a trench.</p> + <p>Hastily Ken translated what he had heard for Roy.</p> + <p>'They are sentries,' he said, 'and I suppose there is some underground work here + which they have been set to guard.'</p> + <p>'And by the looks of it, they are the only men there,' Roy replied eagerly. 'Ken, + I think I see those coats materialising.'</p> + <p>'It might be done,' said Ken. 'As you say, they are probably the only men in the + place, whatever it is. And clearly they take their job pretty easily. If we can catch + them napping we ought to be able to polish them off.'</p> + <p>'We will catch them napping, and we will polish them off,' Roy said grimly. 'Mind + you, Ken, they mustn't shoot.'</p> + <p>He began to creep forward on hands and knees. Ken kept abreast. A minute later, + they found themselves at the sloping entrance of what was evidently a communication + trench.</p> + <p>'We'd best keep on top,' whispered Roy. 'You go one side, I'll take the other. + When we get above them, we must both drop together. Jump right on them, and put 'em + out before they know what's up.'</p> + <p>There was no doubt about this being the best plan, and they started at once. Roy + went off with his usual confidence, but Ken, more highly strung, felt his heart + thumping as he crawled along the rough edge of the deep, dark ditch.</p> + <p>It seemed to him that they went a very long way before he saw Roy stop and lift + one hand. He himself peered over cautiously. The stars gave just enough light to see + the two Turkish sentries.</p> + <p>They were leaning carelessly against the wall of the trench. One was smoking, the + other apparently rolling a cigarette. They were chatting in low voices, and so far as + Ken could make out, neither held his rifle.</p> + <p>Roy pointed to the one nearest Ken. Ken nodded, and rose very quietly to his + feet.</p> + <p>The Turk firmly believes that certain places, bare hill-sides especially, are + haunted by unpleasant bogies which he calls Djinns and Afrits. If ever any Turk was + fully convinced that a Djinn had him, it must have been the sentry that Ken jumped + on.</p> + <p>He landed absolutely straight on the man's shoulders, and down he went flat on his + face, with Ken on top of him. His forehead struck the opposite wall of the trench, + and though Ken wasted no time at all in getting hold of his throat, this was quite + unnecessary. The wretched Turk was limp as a wet dish-rag and quite insensible.</p> + <p>'Good business, Ken!' said Roy, and glancing round Ken saw his chum kneeling on + the chest of the second man, one big hand compressing his wind-pipe. 'Good business! + We've got them both, and no fuss about it. Confound it! These fellows don't run to + handkerchiefs. Wait a jiffy. I must get his belt off.'</p> + <p>Neither of the Turks was in condition to put up any resistance, and in a very few + moments they were stripped of overcoats, shakos, and haversacks. They were then tied + and carefully gagged.</p> + <p>Roy pulled on the overcoat of the bigger man.</p> + <p>'I've seen better fits,' he remarked. 'But it will do in this light. Now for that + boat.'</p> + <p>'One minute!' said Ken, 'let's just see what they were guarding.'</p> + <p>He slipped along the trench, Roy after him, and a few yards farther on it sloped + downwards, then widened into a deepish semicircular excavation. In the middle of this + was a great lump of something which, as they came nearer, resolved itself into a gun + of some sort. It was very thick, very short, it stood on a concrete platform, and its + squat muzzle pointed almost straight up into the air.</p> + <p>'It's a howitzer,' said Ken.</p> + <p>'Rummiest looking howitzer I ever saw,' Roy answered. 'Looks as if it came out of + the Ark.'</p> + <p>'Came out of the Crimea, I expect. They used this kind of thing sixty years ago. + It's a muzzle loader, you see.'</p> + <p>'And shoots real cannon balls,' said Roy, pointing to a pyramid of huge iron + globes, each about fourteen inches in diameter.</p> + <p>'I wonder where the powder is,' said Ken with sudden eagerness.</p> + <p>'What's up now?' demanded Roy.</p> + <p>'I've got it,' said Ken quickly, as he began pulling a tarpaulin off a pile of + canvas bags. 'A rare lot of it too!'</p> + <p>'You're not thinking by any chance of lobbing shot into Maidos, are you?' asked + Roy sarcastically.</p> + <p>'Not that,' said Ken. 'Hardly that. But what about setting off this little lot? My + notion is this. If we could put a slow match to the powder and then clear out and get + down to the mouth of the water-course before it goes off, I believe those loafers + down on the beach would all come running up here to see what had happened. That would + give us our chance to collar a boat and clear.'</p> + <p>Roy gave a low chuckle.</p> + <p>'Not a bad notion, old son. Not half a bad idea. Yes, it certainly would wake some + of 'em up. But what about the slow match? We've got no fuse.'</p> + <p>Ken held out an old-fashioned candle lantern.</p> + <p>'I bagged this from the sentry. There's just half an inch of candle in it. We've + nothing to do but lay a train of loose powder up to it.'</p> + <p>Roy chuckled again.</p> + <p>'You're a bad 'un to beat, Ken. Yes, that ought to work. Let's get at it.'</p> + <p>The powder was just as old-fashioned as the rest of the outfit. Common black + stuff, large grained, coarser even than blasting powder. Once they got a bag open it + did not take them long to lay the train to the lantern, which Ken placed in a little + excavation kicked out right under the front wall of the earthwork.</p> + <p>'Don't think any one will see it there,' he said, as he cut the candle down a + trifle and lit it cautiously with a sputtering sulphur match, part of the spoil from + the Turkish sentry.</p> + <p>'I suppose those sentries are far enough off to be all right,' he added, as he + rose hastily to his feet.</p> + <p>'Bless you, yes. This stuff isn't like high explosive. It'll only go up with a + bang and a fizz like a big firework. Skip. We've got to be at the beach by the time + she goes off.'</p> + <p>They knew their way by now, and in spite of the darkness, wasted very little time + in reaching the ravine. All was very quiet. The Turkish guns, which had been firing + probably at some mine-sweeper, were silent again. The only sounds of war were an + occasional boom far to the south where the British and French faced the Turks + entrenched on the heights of Achi Baba.</p> + <p>Bent double, the two scurried across the waste of cracked clay and loose stones, + and in less than half the time they had taken for their first journey, reached the + point where it debouched upon the open beach.</p> + <p>Ken dropped, panting slightly, and Roy slipping down beside him, caught a glint of + dark water rippling under the starlight.</p> + <p>From somewhere to the left came a murmur of voices, and the breeze brought to his + nostrils a faint odour of tobacco smoke.</p> + <p>Seconds dragged like minutes as they lay waiting. The suspense was very hard to + bear.</p> + <p>Roy put his mouth close to Ken's ear.</p> + <p>'Afraid your contraption's gone wrong, old son. Don't seem to hear that bust up + you promised.'</p> + <p>'Unless the powder was damp—' began Ken. His sentence was cut short by a + thunderous boom. The earth quivered beneath them, and sky, sea, even the tall cliffs + opposite flared crimson.</p> + <p>The great glow passed as swiftly as it had come, there followed a rattle of + falling rubbish, then silence dropped. Silence, however, which lasted no longer than + the flash. Almost instantly burst out a hubbub of excited voices, there was a rattle + of sandalled feet on shingle and a sound of men running hard.</p> + <p>Roy sprang to his feet, but Ken caught him by the arm.</p> + <p>'Steady! Don't hurry, or you'll give the show away. It's not likely they're all + gone.'</p> + <p>'Every man Jack of 'em,' Roy answered, as he walked boldly out on to the + beach.</p> + <p>Ken glanced round sharply. It seemed as though Roy were right. So far as he could + see, the whole population of the beach had departed for the scene of the + explosion.</p> + <p>'There are the boats,' said Roy. 'Three, four—yes, half a dozen of them. Now we + shan't be long.' 'They're great clumsy brutes of things,' Ken answered. Hang it all! + There isn't one we can manage between us.'</p> + <p>'Wait. There's a smaller one beyond. That might do us.' muttered Roy, hurrying + forward.</p> + <p>Ken followed quickly. As Roy had said, this boat which lay by itself was decidedly + smaller than the others. It had, however, been pulled clear of the water.</p> + <p>'Good, she's got a pair of oars,' said Roy. 'Give us a hand to launch her, + Ken.'</p> + <p>She was a considerable weight, and the shingle was deep and soft. There is no tide + in these waters, so the beaches are dry like those of a lake. In spite of their best + efforts, it took them some little time to get her afloat.</p> + <p>They had only just succeeded and Ken was scrambling aboard, when rapid steps came + hurrying down the beach.</p> + <p>'Halt!' came a sharp voice speaking in Turkish. 'Who goes there?'</p> + <h2><a id="XIII" name="XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a><br /> + THE SWEEPERS</h2> + <p>'Hurry!' hissed Roy.</p> + <p>'No use,' was the low-voiced answer. 'He'd get us both before we were out of + range.' As he spoke, Ken turned and stepped swiftly back to the beach.</p> + <p>'Friend,' he answered, speaking in the same language. 'Despatches for Chanak from + Colonel Gratz.'</p> + <p>The sentry, a burly Turk, armed with a Mauser rifle, pulled up opposite Ken.</p> + <p>'Despatches,' he repeated suspiciously. 'Why are they being sent by boat? And who + gave you leave to use this boat?'</p> + <p>In a flash Roy saw that this was a man of more intelligence than the average run + of Turkish soldiers, and that it would be useless to try and bluff him. The only + chance was to put him out.</p> + <p>'We had our orders,' he said. 'You can look at them if you wish.' He pretended to + take something out of his pocket, at the same time stepping forward. Then, like a + flash, he drove his fist with all his might into the Turk's face.</p> + <p>The man reeled backwards, but did not fall. Next moment he uttered a shout that + rang through the night.</p> + <p>'We've done it now,' growled Roy, as he leaped past Ken, and caught the wretched + sentry by the throat with a grip that effectually prevented any further sound.</p> + <p>'Take his rifle, Ken,' he said sharply. 'It's all right. I'll gag him. You get + into the boat.'</p> + <p>How he did it Ken did not know, but within an incredibly short time Roy had sprung + into the water, pushed the boat off, and scrambled aboard.</p> + <p>'I'll take the oars,' he said unceremoniously, and Ken, though himself a useful + man with sculls, made no objection. Roy's strength, he knew, was greater than his + own.</p> + <p>In a trice Roy had flung off his Turkish overcoat and British tunic. The blades + bent as he sent the boat hissing through the water.</p> + <p>There was no tiller, but Ken found a broken scull at the bottom of the boat with + which he contrived to steer. He kept her head due south, but fairly close in shore, + and what between Roy's powerful efforts, and the strong current which always flows + out of the Sea of Marmora into the Aegean, they were soon going almost as fast as a + man could run.</p> + <p>'It'll be Heaven's own luck if no one heard that yell,' muttered Roy, as he bent + all his giant strength to the oars.</p> + <p>'I wish it had been your fist and not mine,' Ken replied with some bitterness.</p> + <p>'But I couldn't have got near him,' Roy answered simply. 'You see, I don't speak + the lingo.'</p> + <p>The vicious crack of a rifle interrupted the conversation, and a bullet slapped + the water just astern, and went skipping away in a series of ducks and drakes.</p> + <p>'They're on to us,' muttered Ken between set teeth. Roy said nothing. He only + pulled a little harder. By the way the oars bent, Ken almost feared they would + snap.</p> + <p>Another spit of white flame from the beach, another, and another. Still they were + unhit, and every moment the distance was increasing. They had got beyond the low + beach, and were under the cliffs to the southward.</p> + <p>'We may do it yet,' muttered Ken. 'They can't see us in this light. And there are + not more than two chaps firing.'</p> + <p>There was a moment's pause in the firing. Ken's spirits rose. He thought—hoped + that the Turks had given it up as a bad job. Then, just as it seemed as though they + were really out of range, there rang out a regular volley, and all around them the + water splashed in little jets of pale foam. There came a thud, the boat quivered + slightly, and white splinters flew near Ken's feet, one cutting him slightly on the + shin.</p> + <p>'Hit?' panted Roy, as he saw Ken wince.</p> + <p>'Nothing. It's the boat,' answered Ken briefly, as he bent to examine the + damage.</p> + <p>A few seconds later, and they had rounded the projecting point of rock on which + stands the old lighthouse. The firing ceased.</p> + <p>Roy slackened a little.</p> + <p>'Much damage?' he asked curtly.</p> + <p>'Holed her badly,' Ken answered. 'She's leaking like a sieve.'</p> + <p>'Rotten luck!' growled Roy. 'And just as we'd dodged the blighters. Can you do + anything with it?'</p> + <p>'Ram a handkerchief in—that's all. Of course, I can bale.'</p> + <p>'Well, keep her afloat as long as you can. It won't be exactly healthy if we have + to land anywhere here. All forts, isn't it?'</p> + <p>'Yes, down as far as Tekeh. Not that the forts will do us any harm, even if + they're warned. We're too small and too close in for gun fire. But there's no place + to land for nearly two miles—not until you get to what they call the Fountain.'</p> + <p>Apparently the forts were not warned. As the 'Triumph' had been slamming 12-inch + shells into them only the previous night, the chances were that the telephone wires + were cut. Roy kept going with long steady strokes, while Ken, working even harder, + baled frantically the whole time.</p> + <p>So they drove on without speaking for about a quarter of an hour.</p> + <p>At last Ken straightened his aching back. 'It's no use, Roy. The water's gaining. + I can't keep it down.'</p> + <p>'You needn't tell me that. I've been over my ankles the last five minutes, and + she's pulling like a sunk log.'</p> + <p>'What are we going to do?' said Ken—'Try for the Fountain landing?'</p> + <p>'Might as well, I suppose. Any chance of picking up another boat, d'ye think?'</p> + <p>'Pretty slim, I fancy,' answered Ken. 'There are sure to be sentries there. You + see, it's the sort of place where our people might attempt a landing.'</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:60%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig132.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig132.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'"She's leaking like a sieve."'</h3> + </div> + <p>'Could we try for the other side?' suggested Roy.</p> + <p>'Out of the question,' said Ken. 'We're opposite Sari Siglar Bay. The Straits are + nearly three miles wide here.'</p> + <p>Roy gave a short laugh. 'Looks as if we should have to swim for it after all,' he + said. 'Well, the only thing is to keep going until she sinks under us. Then we must + scramble ashore and take our chances.'</p> + <p>He pulled on again, and Ken betook himself to his everlasting task of baling. He + was mortally tired and desperately sleepy. His eyes almost closed as he dipped and + dipped in the salt water which, in spite of all his efforts, grew steadily deeper in + the bottom of the boat. The lower she sank, the more quickly the water spurted in. + Each minute that passed brought the inevitable end closer.</p> + <p>Once he glanced up to see, if possible, where they were. To the right tall black + cliffs towered against the night sky, to the left the stars twinkled in the ripples + of the deep and wide Straits.</p> + <p>Roy pulled like a machine, but the weight of water made his efforts almost + useless. The boat sogged slowly forward like a dead thing.</p> + <p>'She won't last another five minutes,' said Ken.</p> + <p>'And there's no landing place, old chap. We're right up against it.'</p> + <p>'Tell you what there is, though,' said Ken keenly. 'There's a craft of some sort + out there. Don't you hear her engines?'</p> + <p>Roy stopped pulling a moment. In the silence a faint chug, chug reached their + ears.</p> + <p>'What do you think she is—one of our warships?' he asked in a whisper.</p> + <p>'Haven't a notion. But she's probably British or French. The Turks haven't got + much in the way of craft—at least not this side of Gallipoli.'</p> + <p>'Then I vote for trying to make her,' said Roy. 'Right you are,' Ken answered, and + began baling harder than ever Roy, pulling on his left-hand oar, got the boat round, + and made a last spurt in the direction of the sound.</p> + <p>It seemed a very forlorn hope. They could not even see the craft—whatever she + was—and their boat manifestly had but a short time to live. If she sank out in + mid-straits there was no earthly chance of reaching the shore. Drowning was + certain.</p> + <p>Three minutes passed. The water in the boat was nearly knee deep. Pull as he + might, Roy could hardly keep her moving. Ken raised his head and peered out through + the gloom.</p> + <p>'I see her,' he said with sudden eagerness. He pointed as he spoke to a dim shape + not more than a couple of hundred yards away.</p> + <p>Roy glanced back over his shoulder. 'She's very small,' he said, 'and she's + working upstream. Hallo, there's another just beyond her—a pair of 'em.'</p> + <p>'Two, are there? Then I tell you what they are—trawlers.'</p> + <p>'Trawlers!' echoed Roy. 'What—catching herrings for the Admiral's breakfast?'</p> + <p>'No, you ass—mines. They're mine-sweepers of course.' Roy gave a low whistle.</p> + <p>'I'd sooner catch herrings,' he said. 'But never mind. So long as they're British, + that's all that matters.' And he set to pulling again with all the energy left + him.</p> + <p>The trawlers were creeping along at very slow speed, and without a light of any + sort showing. There was not even the usual glow from the funnel top. Lucky it was for + Roy and Ken that they were going so slowly, for they were still some little distance + from the nearest trawler when the ripples began to wash over the gunwale of the + water-logged boat.</p> + <p>'Help!' shouted Roy hoarsely. 'Help!'</p> + <p>'Pull on!' said Ken, as he still baled frantically. 'Pull on! They can't come + round if they've got their sweeping cable out.'</p> + <p>Roy made a last effort, and whether it was Roy's shout or the sound of the oars, + some one aboard the trawler heard them.</p> + <p>'Who are you?' came a gruff voice, half-muffled, as though afraid of being + overheard on shore.</p> + <p>'Friends—British,' answered Ken. 'Our boat's sinking.'</p> + <p>There came a sharp order echoed from the farther ship. The trawlers both slackened + speed.</p> + <p>'Come alongside, if you can. We can't pull out to you,' called the same voice that + Ken had heard previously.</p> + <p>A few more strokes, then just as the boat was actually sinking under them, a rope + came whizzing across. Roy caught it and a moment later, wet and draggled, they were + standing on the deck of the trawler.</p> + <p>'Well, I'll be everlastingly jiggered,' exclaimed a gruff voice. 'Where in all + that's wonderful did you fellers spring from?' The speaker was a short, square man, + but it was so dark that all they could see of his face was that it was round and + clean-shaven.</p> + <p>'Out of the Dardanelles last, and before that from Kilid Bahr,' Ken answered. + 'We're escaped prisoners.'</p> + <p>'Gosh, you've been in warm places, young fellers,' said the other, 'but I kind o' + think it's a case of out of the frying pan into the fire.'</p> + <p>'Fire's better than water, specially when it's as cold as the Straits,' said Roy + with a shiver.</p> + <p>'Well, maybe that's so,' replied the other. 'Get you gone below, the both o' you. + You'll find a fire in the galley and the cook'll give ye some hot cocoa.'</p> + <p>'Thanks awfully,' said Ken and Roy in one breath, and hurried off at once.</p> + <p>The cook, a lean, solemn-faced man named Lemuel Gill, showed no surprise whatever + at the sudden apparition of two half-drowned strangers. But if he asked no questions + he was not stingy with the cocoa, and Roy and Ken put away a quart of it between + them, and openly declared they had never tasted anything so good in all their + lives.</p> + <p>Their praise seemed to please Gill, for he proceeded to cut some gigantic + sandwiches out of stale bread and excellent cold boiled pork, and to these also the + hungry youngsters did justice.</p> + <p>'What ship is this?' asked Ken, when the first pangs of hunger had been + satisfied.</p> + <p>'"Maid o' Sker." Mine—sweeper. Skipper, Seth Grimball,' was the brief answer. + Then, after a pause, 'Where did you blokes come from?'</p> + <p>Ken told him, or rather began to, for before he had finished, the steady beat of + the engines suddenly slackened.</p> + <p>'Cotched one, I reckon,' remarked Gill briefly, and hurried on deck followed by + the two boys.</p> + <p>The 'Maid of Sker' was the ordinary type of North Sea trawler, and so far as Ken + and Roy could see, her fellow, whose name Gill told them was the 'Swan of Avon,' was + her double. They were moving exactly parallel, at a distance of about a cable (220 + yards) apart. Between them towed a thin steel hawser set to a depth just sufficient + to catch the mooring cables of the mines which were plentifully strewn in the + channel.</p> + <p>'Caught one, you say?' whispered Ken in Gill's ear. 'A mine, you mean?'</p> + <p>'Ay. Look at the cable. She's foul of it all right.'</p> + <p>Certainly the cable was sagging in a curious fashion.</p> + <p>'What do you do with them?' asked Roy.</p> + <p>But Gill had already run aft to assist. Low-voiced orders were heard, and the + 'Maid of Sker' began to forge slowly ahead.</p> + <p>'I think they're going to tow it out of the channel,' Ken said to Roy. 'That's + what I believe they do.'</p> + <p>'But I thought the beastly things exploded when you touched 'em,' said Roy.</p> + <p>'Some do. That's the sort with steel whiskers on them. The others are what they + call tilting mines. They blow up when their balance is upset.'</p> + <p>'And which is this?'</p> + <p>'I don't know any more than you, and I don't suppose the skipper does, either. All + these mines swim some way under the surface.'</p> + <p>'What's the betting on her going off?' said the irrepressible Roy.</p> + <p>'She won't,' said Ken confidently. 'These chaps know how to handle her. She—'</p> + <p>He stopped short, and involuntarily flung up his hands before his eyes. A cone of + blinding white light had sprouted suddenly from the Asiatic shore, and in its cold + brilliance the outlines of the two trawlers, the people on their decks, the cable + towing between them, and a wide patch of rippling water stood out as clearly as in + the broadest daylight. It was a searchlight from Kephez Point at the southern angle + of Sari Siglar Bay.</p> + <p>'Haul up there. Haul on that cable. Sharp now!' bellowed Captain Grimball, and his + men sprang to obey. He himself dashed into the little deckhouse and was out again in + an instant with a rifle in his hand.</p> + <p>In the dazzling glare a great bulbous mass of dark-coloured metal heaved slowly up + out of the water midway between the two trawlers. It was hardly in sight before + Grimball had flung his rifle to his shoulder and fired.</p> + <p>Followed instantly an explosion so terrific that Ken distinctly felt the deck of + the trawler lift under his feet. A cloud of thick black smoke shot high into the air, + and as it rose a very waterspout descended upon the little ship.</p> + <p>Roy and Ken staggered back, half deafened by the appalling concussion.</p> + <p>'Got that one, anyway,' they heard Grimball exclaim, as he dashed back to the + bridge and rang the engine bell for full steam. 'Got him all right. Next question is + whether the blighters will get us.'</p> + <p>Both trawlers seemed actuated by the same impulse. Both at the same time surged + ahead, while the sweeping cable was either cut or cast loose.</p> + <p>But the searchlight's brilliant beam followed relentlessly, and as the two smart + little craft cleared from the area of the black smoke cloud, there came the ringing + report of a 6-inch gun followed by the familiar whirr of a heavy shell.</p> + <p>'Rotten shot!' snapped Grimball, as the shell, sailing well over the mast top, + plunged into the sea two hundred yards or more beyond.</p> + <p>'Hard aport!' he shouted, and the 'Maid' came spinning round almost as smartly as + a sailing dinghy. Next minute she and her consort were legging it southwards at the + very top of their speed.</p> + <p>For a moment they were clear of the dazzling radiance of the searchlight, but only + for a moment. Then the long pencil of glaring whiteness found them again, and now the + guns began to bark in earnest.</p> + <p>The 'Maid' seemed to know her peril. She squattered down into the water, and the + foaming wake lengthened, trailing far behind her. Forgetful of their own danger, Roy + and Ken watched breathless while the trawlers ran the gauntlet of the forts.</p> + <p>A shell struck the water right under the bows of the 'Maid,' flinging up a + fountain which rose as high as the mainmast, and deluging the decks for a second + time.</p> + <p>'Mighty wet job this,' said Roy, shaking himself like a great dog. 'Rotten luck we + can't shoot back, eh, Ken?'</p> + <p>'Can't even do much running,' said Ken. 'Twelve knots is about our top speed. 'Pon + my soul, these chaps have got pluck.'</p> + <p>'The "Swan's" drawing ahead,' said Roy.</p> + <p>Almost as the words left his lips there came a shattering crash and a sheet of + flame leapt up from the other trawler. A shell had pitched full upon her armoured + wheel-house, and exploding had not only blown it away, with the steersman, but opened + up the whole deck. The poor little trawler, with her steering gear smashed, swung + round to starboard, and it was only by the smartest seamanship that the 'Maid' + avoided running her down.</p> + <p>'She's done,' said Roy, as he ran forward. 'She's sinking!'</p> + <p>He was right. The big shell had knocked her all to pieces. Grimball saw this too, + and in response to his rapid order, the 'Maid's' engines stopped, and four stalwart + fellows ran to the dinghy which lay in chocks on her deck.</p> + <p>In a trice they had flung her over the low rail into the sea; two sprang in and + pulled hard for the rapidly sinking 'Swan.'</p> + <p>All the time the guns ashore were rapping and roaring. The sea was thick with + spouts of foam as shells big and little struck the surface.</p> + <p>'This infernal searchlight!' growled Roy. 'They're rotten shots, but they're + getting the range now.'</p> + <p>They were. Just as the dinghy drew alongside the 'Swan,' another 6-inch plunged + straight into her, amidships. It must have exploded in the engine-room. The 'Swan' + and all in her vanished from the face of the waters, and when the smoke cloud lifted, + the dinghy, upside down, with one man clinging to it, was all that was left.</p> + <p>'A rope. Give us a rope!' shouted Roy. Some one ran forward, but even as they did + so a smaller shell caught the funnel of the 'Maid' and carried two thirds of it away. + With it went the man with the rope.</p> + <p>At the same moment the survivor who was clinging to the dinghy let go his hold. + Stunned by the concussion of the previous shell, he was sinking into the depths.</p> + <p>'I can't stand that,' cried Roy, and with one spring was overboard and striking + out hard for the drowning man.</p> + <p>The racket and roar were appalling. Some field batteries behind Kephez had joined + in, and the whole night echoed with the quick crashes of the guns, while the air was + full of the train-like rattle of flying shells.</p> + <p>But in all the confusion Ken kept his head. Catching sight of a coil of line on + the deck close by the forward hatch, he sprang for it, made one end fast to a + bollard, and with a shout flung the other towards Roy.</p> + <p>It fell short, but Roy saw it and with a great effort reached it.</p> + <p>'Hang on!' roared Ken at the top of his voice. 'I'll pull you in.'</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a id="fig140" name="fig140"></a><a href="dardan_files/fig140.jpg"><img + width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig140.jpg" alt="" /></a> + <h3>When the men return from the trenches, they find sea-bathing most + pleasant.</h3> + </div> + <div class="figure" style="width:100%;"> + <a id="fig141" name="fig141"></a><a href="dardan_files/fig141.jpg"><img + width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig141.jpg" alt="" /></a> + <h3>French and British sailors are friends in play-time as in war-time.</h3> + </div> + <p>He had hardly began to haul when the end came. A shell bigger than any yet took + the 'Maid of Sker' amidships. There was a fearful explosion, Ken felt himself hurled + forward, and next moment the chill waters of the Dardanelles closed over his + head.</p> + <h2><a id="XIV" name="XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a><br /> + G 2</h2> + <p>Gasping with the sudden shock, Ken struck out and got his head above water. Only a + few yards away, he saw Roy still clinging tightly to the survivor of the dinghy's + crew. He swam hard towards him and managed to reach him.</p> + <p>'You!' gasped Roy, who hardly seemed to have realised what had happened.</p> + <p>'The trawler's gone,' panted Roy, as he lifted one hand and dashed the salt water + from his eyes. 'Big shell got her. See, she's still afloat, but sinking fast.'</p> + <p>Roy gave a groan. He seemed to be nearly at the end of his strength.</p> + <p>'The brutes!' he muttered.</p> + <p>'We must get hold of the dinghy again. It's our one chance,' said Ken. 'Here, let + me help you with that chap.'</p> + <p>'Why, it's Gill,' he exclaimed, as he caught the man by the other arm, and started + paddling hard towards the dinghy, which, caught in the current, was drifting steadily + away southwards.</p> + <p>It was at this moment that the searchlight switched suddenly off. Darkness shut + down around them, leaving nothing in sight but the overturned boat, a dim bulk among + the dull ripples.</p> + <p>Roy was almost done as the result of the exertions he had made in holding up Gill, + and Gill himself weighted them terribly. For two minutes or more Ken thought they + would never reach the boat.</p> + <p>At last they managed it, and then they had only just strength enough left to haul + Gill up across it and, each with an arm across the keel, cling and let themselves + drift where the current took them.</p> + <p>'The skipper said it was out of the frying pan into the fire,' said Roy, with a + weak attempt at a laugh. 'He wasn't far out, eh, Ken?'</p> + <p>'He wasn't,' Ken agreed. 'I say, Roy, he had pluck, hadn't he? It took grit to + stand by the "Swan" under a fire like that.'</p> + <p>'It did,' said Roy. 'God rest his soul,' he added softly.</p> + <p>Silence fell between them. Ken's spirits were sinking in spite of his best efforts + to keep them up. The sea was deadly cold, and the boat so small that they were only + just able to keep their heads above water. And they knew, both of them, that their + chances of life were not one in a thousand.</p> + <p>They were right out in mid-straits, they were still fully nine miles from the + southern entrance, and even if a British warship should come up to see what had + happened to the trawlers, the odds were enormous against her people spotting + them.</p> + <p>Ken strained his eyes through the gloom, but could neither see nor hear any other + craft. The waters were bare and silent.</p> + <p>'Roy,' he said at last, and it was all he could do to keep his teeth from + chattering. 'Roy, can't we manage to right the dinghy?'</p> + <p>'You and I might. But what about Gill?'</p> + <p>The question was unanswerable. It would take all their united strength to turn the + dinghy over. And who was to hold Gill meantime?</p> + <p>No, the case was absolutely desperate. There was nothing for it but to hang on and + continue hanging on until at last the deadly cold had done its work, and they dropped + off and sank into the darksome depths beneath them. It was a miserable end, and Ken's + whole soul rebelled against it.</p> + <p>The guns had ceased firing, there were no lights anywhere to be seen, the only + sound was the monotonous slap of the ripples against the hull of the overturned boat + and—far in the distance—the dull mutter of the guns down by Sedd-el-Bahr.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:70%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig144.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig144.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'"Hallo! Hallo! Who's that?"'</h3> + </div> + <p>Ken felt a dull stupor creeping over him, a curious sense of unreality. His + thoughts began to wander. So much so that at first he hardly noticed the curious + sucking splash which came from the water some little distance to the left.</p> + <p>It was Roy who called his attention to it.</p> + <p>'Ken, there's a thundering great fish out there. Do they keep sharks in these + waters?'</p> + <p>Before Ken could reply, the splash was followed by a slight grating sound, then a + dull clank, like two metal plates being lightly struck together.</p> + <p>Hope dawned suddenly in Ken's heart, sending a tingling shock through the whole of + his perishing body.</p> + <p>'That's no fish,' he muttered. 'That's no fish.' Then raising himself as high as + he could out of the water he sent a sharp cry for help pealing through the + darkness.</p> + <p>'Hallo! Hallo! Who's that?'</p> + <p>Never had Ken been happier to hear the sound of a human voice.</p> + <p>'Three survivors from the "Maid of Sker,"' he answered. 'Our boat's upset.'</p> + <p>'Hang on!' came the quick reply. 'We'll have you out in a jiffy.'</p> + <p>There came low voiced orders, the low purr of an engine, and a low dark bulk + topped by a curious square-looking turret came gliding towards them.</p> + <p>'What is it?' muttered Roy in a dazed tone.</p> + <p>'A submarine,' Ken answered gladly. 'That's her conning tower. Here she comes. + Hang on to Gill, or the wash will take him off.'</p> + <p>A moment later, and the long gray craft swam up right alongside of the dinghy. It + was the most beautiful bit of steering imaginable. A hand reached out and pulled the + dinghy close against the hull, and strong arms gripped and lifted the three + aboard.</p> + <p>Ken felt himself swung gently up the conning tower, then he was lowered with equal + ease and skill through the open hatch. Within an incredibly short time he was flat on + a mattress laid on the throbbing steel floor of the submarine.</p> + <p>A keen-faced officer stood beside him.</p> + <p>'Both the sweepers gone?' he asked gravely.</p> + <p>'I'm afraid so, sir. The "Swan" was knocked all to bits, and we saw the "Maid" + sink. I believe we are the only survivors.'</p> + <p>'We heard the firing, but couldn't get here sooner. But you're in khaki. How's + that?'</p> + <p>'Horan and I are escaped prisoners, sir. We stole a boat up by Kilid Bahr, and + were picked up by the "Maid." Gill is the only man left from the trawler. He was one + of the crew of the "Maid's" dinghy that went to help the "Swan's" people.'</p> + <p>'And you?'</p> + <p>'Horan and I were trying to save him when the "Maid" was hit.'</p> + <p>The other nodded approvingly.</p> + <p>'Ah, you're Australians. Good men! But I see you're about all in. I shan't bother + you with any more questions now. Williams, see these men have a change, and a tot of + rum. And some of you give 'em a good rub down. They're stiff with cold.'</p> + <p>He nodded again and went off.</p> + <p>Williams, a burly torpedo coxswain, at once took charge of Ken. His big hands were + as tender as a woman's as he stripped off the boy's soaking clothes and substituted + for them a fresh suit of warm lammies. Before putting them on, he gave Ken such a + rubbing with a rough towel as sent the stagnant blood tingling through every + vein.</p> + <p>'Thanks awfully,' said Ken gratefully. 'I say, how's Gill? He got knocked silly + with the blast of the shell that sunk the "Swan." Is he hurt?'</p> + <p>'He ain't hit, anyway,' said Williams. 'He's swallowed a bit more salt water than + suits his innards, but he'll pull round all right, never you fear.</p> + <p>'Here, drink this down,' he continued, handing Ken a thick mug full of some + steaming mixture. Ken swallowed it obediently. It was thick Navy cocoa, laced with a + dash of rum.</p> + <p>It sent a grateful warmth through every inch of Ken's body, but its immediate + effect was to make him so drowsy that his eyes began to close.</p> + <p>'That's all right,' he heard Williams remark in a satisfied voice. 'Forty winks + won't do you no manner of harm.' The last thing Ken remembered was being wrapped in a + blanket. Then he dropped back on the mattress and almost before his head reached it + was sound asleep.</p> + <p>He woke to the purr of engines and a warm thick atmosphere smelling strongly of + oil and illuminated by white electric lamps. For the moment he could not imagine + where he was nor what had happened. It was not until he rolled over and saw Roy lying + stretched on another mattress beside him, and Gill a little beyond, that any sort of + recollection came back to him.</p> + <p>He stretched himself. He was sore all over, but otherwise fit enough and very + hungry. Then he sat up.</p> + <p>A burly figure came towards him, walking with that curiously light-footed tread + which becomes second habit in a submarine. It was Williams, the coxswain.</p> + <p>'Well, young fellow me lad,' he remarked genially, 'how goes it?'</p> + <p>'Top hole, thanks. A bit empty. That's all.'</p> + <p>'If that's your only trouble, we'll soon fix it. Can you walk?'</p> + <p>'You bet.'</p> + <p>'Then come along forrard, and we'll see what cooky can do for you.'</p> + <p>Cooky's efforts consisted in biscuit, butter, sardines, jam, and lashings of hot + strong tea, to all of which Ken did the fullest justice.</p> + <p>'And how d'ye like life under the ocean wave?' asked Williams, who was watching + Ken's progress with the eye of a connoisseur.</p> + <p>'First time I ever tried it,' said Ken, glancing round the long, narrow interior + which seemed merely a packing case for a maze of intricate machinery. 'What is she? + What class I mean?'</p> + <p>'She's G 2, sonny, and don't you forget it. The last word in submarine gadgets. + Twenty knots on the surface, and twelve submerged. Carries eight o' the biggest and + best torpedoes, any one o' which is warranted to knock the stuffing out o' the + "Goeben" or any other o' Weeping Willy's super-skulkers.'</p> + <p>'Where are we now?' inquired Ken with interest.</p> + <p>'Couldn't say precisely. But somewheres about ten fathom below the shinin' surface + of the Dardanelles.'</p> + <p>Ken felt a queer thrill. There was something uncanny in the thought that they were + spinning along, sixty feet below the sea-level, cut off from all the living + world.</p> + <p>'Pass the word the commander wishes to see Carrington,' came a voice.</p> + <p>'Lootenant Strang wants you,' said Williams. 'Go right aft. Sentry'll show you. + And go careful, mind you. Submarines ain't the sort o' shops for foot races.'</p> + <p>Ken went cautiously back past the amazing tangle of spinning, whirling machinery. + Where the long interior narrowed to the stern hung a thick curtain. The sentry + silently parted it, and Ken found himself in the officer's quarters of G2. They were + as plain as the steerage on a liner. Just two bunks and in the middle a table at + which Lieutenant Strang sat, busily writing.</p> + <p>He glanced up as Ken entered, and, saluting, stood to attention. Ken noticed, with + inward approval, the strength and intelligence in the clean-cut features of the + commanding officer.</p> + <p>'Feeling better, Carrington?'</p> + <p>'Quite all right, sir, thank you.'</p> + <p>'Had breakfast?'</p> + <p>'Yes, sir.'</p> + <p>'I want to hear what you've been doing. Let's have the whole yarn.'</p> + <p>Ken told him. He put it as shortly as he could, but gave his story clearly and + well. Lieutenant Strang listened with the deepest attention.</p> + <p>''Pon my word, you and your chum have been going it some!' he remarked when Ken at + last finished. 'So you're a son of Captain Carrington? How is it you did not take a + commission?'</p> + <p>'I didn't think I had any right to it, sir,' Ken answered simply. 'It seemed to me + it was the sort of thing one ought to win.'</p> + <p>'Just so. I dare say you are right. I hope you'll get one anyhow. But see here, I + can't put you ashore. We're going north, not south.'</p> + <p>'Going up through the Straits, sir?' exclaimed Ken. 'We've gone. We're opposite + Bulair this minute, so far as I can judge.'</p> + <h2><a id="XV" name="XV">CHAPTER XV</a><br /> + KEN MEETS AN OLD FRIEND</h2> + <p>'Then—then you're bound for Constantinople?' said Ken eagerly.</p> + <p>Strang laughed.</p> + <p>'Not necessarily. No, I am not particularly anxious to charge into the Golden + Horn. It's a deal of risk, and not much to be got out of it. Our mission is to cruise + in the Marmora and look out for Turkish transports and store ships.'</p> + <p>'Why, what's the matter?' he broke off, noticing how Ken's face had fallen.</p> + <p>'I beg your pardon, sir. It was my father I was thinking of. You see he is in + Constantinople—at least, so that scoundrel Henkel told me. I thought I might have a + chance of getting ashore and helping him.'</p> + <p>'My good fellow, you must be crazy. Apart from the fact that I should have the + greatest difficulty in putting you ashore, you would, of course, at once be arrested + and shot as a spy.'</p> + <p>'I don't think so, sir. You see I know the place well, and have friends there. And + I talk the language as well as I do English. I know some Arabic, too.'</p> + <p>'The deuce you do!' said the commander, staring at him keenly. 'Then it's possible + that you may be uncommonly useful to me during our present trip. No, I shall tell you + no more just now. And pray put out of your head any such mad idea as landing at + Constantinople.'</p> + <p>'Very well, sir,' Ken answered quietly. And saluting again, he left the cabin.</p> + <p>Going forward again, he found Roy tucking into an enormous breakfast with every + evidence of enjoyment. Williams was acting as host, and listening with interest to + Roy's account of their wanderings across the peninsula.</p> + <p>Ken asked for Gill, and heard that he was doing very well, but only fit to lie up + for the present.</p> + <p>Roy rose, brushed the crumbs from his lammies and stretched his tall frame.</p> + <p>'Heigh ho, I wish we could get back to our chaps,' he remarked regretfully.</p> + <p>'Well, of all the ungrateful beggars!' said Ken with a laugh. 'Talk of buying a + ham and seeing life, you won't see as much in the trenches in a month as you'll see + here in a day.'</p> + <p>'Any one can have this steel box for me,' retorted Roy. 'I like to fight where I + can see what's coming.'</p> + <p>'Maybe you'll see more'n you want before you're finished with this trip, ye long + grouser,' put in Williams. 'This ain't no pleasure picnic, let me tell you. Our old + man's hot stuff, he is, and if I knows anything about it, it won't be long before he + starts handing out surprise packets to them Turks.'</p> + <p>'Hallo,' he broke off, 'we're for the surface.'</p> + <p>As he spoke, G 2's bow began to rise and the whole long hull took a gentle + slope.</p> + <p>'Pretty quick!' exclaimed Ken. 'I thought you had to do a lot of pumping + first.'</p> + <p>'Bless you, no,' said Williams with a superior grin. 'Not with these 'ere modern + craft. They works with horizontal rudders, sort o' fins along the side. Blime, G 2 + can pop up and down mighty nigh as quick as a dab chick.'</p> + <p>'There now,' he continued, as the vessel came back to an even keel. 'She's + floating just submerged. I reckon her periscopes is just out o' the water.'</p> + <p>'Could we have a look?' asked Ken eagerly.</p> + <p>'Ay, I dare say. You wait a minute and I'll see.'</p> + <p>He was back in a minute, and beckoned them to come.</p> + <p>There were two periscopes. It was the forward one they were called to. They saw a + circular table from which a tube ran up through the top of the submarine. A man in + shirt-sleeves—he was the other coxswain—got up from a stool and motioned Ken to take + his seat and look through what seemed like a pair of binoculars.</p> + <p>Ken gave a cry of surprise. Instead of the hot, stuffy interior of the submarine + with its pale electrics and maze of machinery, he was gazing at a wide circle of + small-crested waves which shone gloriously blue under a brilliant sky. Now and then a + white-winged gull swooped across the view, but apart from these, there was no sign of + life or of land.</p> + <p>'Here, let's have a squint,' said Roy eagerly, and Ken gave way.</p> + <p>'Why, it's like a living picture show,' declared Roy. 'Gosh, I could sit and watch + it all day. But I say, can't other craft spot the periscope in all this + sunshine?'</p> + <p>'Not with this bobble on. At least not very easy,' said the observer, as he took + his place again.</p> + <p>'Where are we?' asked Roy.</p> + <p>'Somewheres in the Sea o' Marmora,' Williams answered. 'Just in the mouth o' it, + so to speak. I expect the old man'll keep pushing along up the north coast, awaiting + for them transports out o' the Bosphorus.'</p> + <p>'And you talk about its being dull, Roy?' said Ken with a laugh.</p> + <p>'Well, perhaps I spoke a bit hastily,' allowed Roy. 'I'll grant I'd like to see us + get our own back on some of those Turkish blighters. I haven't forgotten last night + yet, I can tell you.'</p> + <p>'You wait till we get our eyes on one, that's all,' said Williams,' and you won't + wait much longer.'</p> + <p>But the wait lasted longer than Ken and Roy expected. All that day G2 cruised + slowly back and forth between the big island of Marmora, where the marble quarries + are, and the high coast of the European mainland, yet nothing rewarded her vigilant + watch.</p> + <p>There was nothing to do but sit about and yarn, and more than once Roy told Ken + that he wouldn't be a submarine sailor for any amount of 'hard lying' money.</p> + <p>It was about four in the afternoon, and Ken had been taking a quiet nap, for he + had a lot of arrears of sleep to make up, when he was roused by a sudden sharp order + from Lieutenant Strang.</p> + <p>In an instant the drowsy interior of G2 wakened into sudden life, and Ken, + springing to his feet, moved forward to where Williams was standing near the forward + periscope.</p> + <p>'What's up?' he asked in a quick undertone.</p> + <p>'Craft in sight. Can't tell what she is yet.'</p> + <p>'A warship?'</p> + <p>'Transport, most like, but can't say yet. Sit tight. I'll tell ye when I can see + her a bit plainer.'</p> + <p>By the deeper hum of the engines, Ken knew that they had quickened their speed. + There was a sort of suppressed eagerness about all the twenty-five men who composed + the crew of the submarine. Ken longed to have a peep through the camera of the + periscope, but knew it was impossible.</p> + <p>'She isn't much,' said Williams at last. 'Just a tramp of twelve or fourteen + hundred tons. Still, she may ha' got troops aboard, and if she ain't, it's grub or + munitions for them beggars in the peninsula.'</p> + <p>'Are we going to torpedo her?' asked Ken.</p> + <p>'Not likely. We ain't like Germans, as chucks away a thousand pound torpedo on a + pore little fishing smack.'</p> + <p>'But we shan't let her go, surely?'</p> + <p>Williams chuckled. 'Bless your innocence, no! A couple o' shells from our little + popper up topside will settle her hash all right.'</p> + <p>Another order echoed from aft. Strang's voice had a curious hollow sound, like a + shout in a tunnel. Ken felt the vessel rising beneath him.</p> + <p>Men sprang up the steel ladder leading to the conning tower. A moment later the + hatch flew open with a hollow clang, and the sea air gushed in, freshening + delightfully the thick oily atmosphere below.</p> + <p>At the same moment power was switched off the electric engines, and the petrol + motor broke into life with an appalling racket. The long, cigar-like vessel trembled + under the increased power.</p> + <p>'Can't we go up on deck?' muttered Roy who had joined Ken.</p> + <p>Ken shook his head. He knew that this was impossible, yet all the same it was + intolerably irksome to remain below without being able to see or take a hand in what + was going on.</p> + <p>More orders, and presently the submarine came to rest, and lay, with hardly a + movement, on the surface.</p> + <p>Williams turned and beckoned to Ken, and next moment Ken had his eyes glued to the + binoculars. In the circle of sea thrown on the mirror, the first thing he saw was an + untidy looking tramp, her rusty plates showing as she rolled slowly to the slight + sea.</p> + <p>Aboard her all was wild excitement. Turkish sailors were hurriedly launching + boats. Ken almost fancied he could hear the davits squeal as the boats were hastily + lowered to the level of the sea. Evidently the men were in a desperate fright, for + seldom had Ken seen the slack, leisurely Turks move with such speed.</p> + <p>We ain't hurrying 'em,' said Williams in Ken's ear. 'We've give 'em twenty + minutes.' Here, let your chum have a squint.'</p> + <p>Ken made way for Roy, and as he did so there was a shout from aft.</p> + <p>'Commander wants Carrington.'</p> + <p>'You lucky beggar,' cried Roy, but Ken was gone like a flash.</p> + <p>'Get along up on deck, soldier,' said a bluejacket. ''E's up there.'</p> + <p>Ken was up the ladder almost before the man had finished speaking, and swinging + out through the hatch dropped down on to the narrow deck beneath.</p> + <p>There were four men on the deck, namely Lieutenant Strang, his second in command, + Sub-Lieutenant Hotham, and two who stood by the gun, a 12-pounder which had been + raised from its snug niche in the deck, and was pointed full on the steamer.</p> + <p>The latter was nearer than Ken had thought, and by this time it seemed that her + whole crew were in the boats, and the ship herself entirely deserted.</p> + <p>'Ah, Carrington,' said the commander. 'You're the man who talks Turkish. I can't + quite make out whether the skipper of this old tub thinks his boats can make the + shore or whether he wants a tow. Ask him, will you?'</p> + <p>The Turkish skipper, a greasy-looking ruffian, was in a boat close by. He was + gesticulating wildly.</p> + <p>Ken at once hailed him, and asked the necessary question. The man burst into + violent speech.</p> + <p>Ken listened, and there was a smile on his face as he turned to the commander.</p> + <p>'He's only swearing at us, sir, and asking what right we have to sink his + ship.'</p> + <p>'Tell him he'd better inquire of Enver Bey,' was the grim reply, and Ken + faithfully repeated the remark, only to hear a volley of curses called down on + Enver's head as well as on his own.</p> + <p>'He can't do anything but swear, sir,' said Ken.</p> + <p>'Well, we've no time to waste,' said the officer impatiently. 'Tell him to clear + out as quick as he can. I'm not going to waste shells on that thing. A charge of + gun-cotton in her hold is all she's worth.'</p> + <p>With much bad language, the Turkish skipper cleared off, and the three boats + containing himself and his crew pulled away in the direction of the land, which was + just visible on the almost before the words left the commander's lips, and pulling + like fury for the steamer.</p> + <p>'Make for the bows,' he heard Strang shout, and he did so.</p> + <p>The distance was nothing—merely a couple of hundred yards. He glanced round over + his shoulder, and saw the rusty bows towering above him—saw, too, to his intense + relief, that the old man had realised that he was to be rescued and was moving + forward.</p> + <p>Ken shipped his sculls. The dinghy glided in under the tall side of the tramp. Ken + stood up, and looked round for a rope. He could not see one. There seemed no way of + climbing the perpendicular side of the vessel, yet it was quite clear that the old + man could not get down unaided.</p> + <p>Ken saw his face appear over the rail. A gasp of astonishment came from his + lips.</p> + <p>'Othman!' he exclaimed. 'It's Othman Pacha!'</p> + <p>It was Othman Pacha, his old friend, the very man who had saved him when his + father was arrested. How had he come here? How was it he had been left alone to + perish by the crew of the steamer? What did it all mean? These and a dozen other + thoughts darted through Ken's brain with the swiftness of a lightning flash. But + above them all came the desperate resolve to save the old man at all costs.</p> + <p>Othman could do nothing to help himself. That was clear on the face of it. Old and + apparently ill, he seemed quite confused and helpless.</p> + <p>Just above his head Ken saw an open port. Standing on the thwart he just managed + to reach it. With a desperate effort he drew himself up, and succeeded in getting + foothold on the lower rim. There was no way of securing the boat. He had to trust to + luck that she would remain where he had left her.</p> + <p>Quickly yet cautiously he raised himself again, and his clutching fingers met the + stays of the foremast. Another big pull, and he was level with the rail.</p> + <p>The old Turk stood staring at him, but did not seem to recognise him, and + naturally Ken did not wait to explain. Every instant he expected to see the decks + burst upwards, and the whole ship fly to pieces. He knew that it could be only a + matter of seconds before the explosion took place.</p> + <p>A rope—that was what he wanted most just at that moment, and luckily he had not + far to go for one. An untidy coil of line lay close beside the forward hatch.</p> + <p>He sprang for it, whipped it up, and in a trice had put a loop in it, and made a + double bight around Othman's body.</p> + <p>'Over you go, Pacha!' he said with a sharpness which at last reached the muddled + brains of the poor old Turk.</p> + <p>Somehow he bundled him over the rail, and lowered him quickly yet carefully into + the boat which fortunately remained where he had left it alongside.</p> + <p>'Cast off the rope, Pacha,' he shouted in an agony of impatience, and Othman + fumblingly tried to obey. Ken saw that he would never do it in time, so rapidly made + fast his own end to the rail, and giving one pull to tighten the knot, sprang + over.</p> + <p>Fifteen seconds more and he would have been safe. But hardly were his legs over + the rail when the explosion came. There was a stunning shock, the whole ship seemed + to melt beneath him. A blast of hot air struck him, and the next thing he knew was + struggling in the water.</p> + <p>For a second or two he felt half paralysed, and as if he could not use his + muscles. He realised that he was sinking, and this gave him such a shock that somehow + he managed to pull himself together and strike out.</p> + <p>He came to the surface, dashed the water from his eyes, and the first thing he saw + was the dinghy. By a miracle, she was floating unharmed among a mass of wreckage, but + Othman was not in her.</p> + <p>Ken looked round, and saw the old Pacha dangling in the water alongside the + swaying steamer. He was tied to her by the rope of which one end was around his body, + while the other was still fast to the ship's rail.</p> + <p>It was a ghastly fix, for it was clear that the steamer was sinking fast. Another + moment, and down she would go, dragging the unfortunate old man with her and Ken too. + He knew well enough that, as she sank, she was bound to pull him also down into the + vortex, and that from this great eddy he would never have the strength to rise. His + one chance for life was to swim away as hard as he could go.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:40%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig157.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig157.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'Ken sprang over.'</h3> + </div> + <p>But Ken was not the sort to leave a job half-done. It was both or neither, and + treading water he fumbled frantically in his pockets for his knife.</p> + <p>With a sigh of relief, his fingers closed upon it; he whipped it out, and opening + it with his teeth struck out with all his strength for Othman.</p> + <p>It is no easy matter to cut a slack rope with a small clasp knife, especially when + the blade is none too sharp. Ken felt as though he would never get it through.</p> + <p>He heard shouts from the submarine, but could not distinguish words. The steamer + was settling fast. Already her rail was almost level with the water.</p> + <p>The last strand parted, and dropping the knife, Ken seized Othman, who by this + time was quite insensible, and made for the dinghy with all his remaining + strength.</p> + <p>He reached it, and got one arm over the stern. But that was all he could do. It + was out of the question for him to lift Othman into the boat. He could not even climb + in himself. He was completely done, and could only hang on, panting so that every + breath he drew was pain.</p> + <p>From the steamer came the sound of a fresh explosion. The air, confined below, was + forcing up her decks. Ken knew that now it was only a question of seconds before she + sank, knew, too, that escape was out of the question. The dinghy was bound to be + drawn down, and it was not as if the submarine had a second boat which she could send + to the rescue.</p> + <p>'All right, Ken. Hold tight. I've got you!'</p> + <p>It was Roy's cheery voice, and Ken suddenly realised that he was there in the + water alongside.</p> + <p>'Look out!' Ken managed to gasp. 'You'll only be dragged down too.'</p> + <p>'Not a bit of it,' Roy answered, as he raised himself and caught hold of the boat. + 'Don't you worry, old man. I've a rope round me. I'll hold her.'</p> + <p>'Ah, there she goes!' he exclaimed, and as he spoke there was a queer sucking + sound, and Ken felt the boat whirl away in the direction of the sinking steamer.</p> + <p>For some seconds it seemed as if he, Othman, and all would be ripped away from the + boat by the tremendous suction. Great eddies boiled and swirled in every direction, + and a thick scum of oil and coal dust rose and covered the surface of the sea.</p> + <p>'Hold on!' he heard Roy shout again, and somehow he did, though his right arm felt + as though it were being torn from its socket.</p> + <p>At last the commotion ceased, the eddies disappeared, and the strain + slackened.</p> + <p>'Thank goodness, that's the last of her,' said Roy, with a sigh of relief. 'Jove, + but I couldn't have stuck it much longer. That rope round my waist has nearly cut me + in two. How are you making it, old man?'</p> + <p>'I'm all right,' Ken answered, but his voice was so weak it scared Roy.</p> + <p>'Here, hand over his Nibs,' he said, as he moved round and took Othman from Ken. + 'Now,' he said, 'just hang on a few minutes longer, and they'll pull us in.'</p> + <p>He raised one arm as a signal, the rope tightened gently, and the dinghy and the + three holding to it were towed quickly back to the submarine.</p> + <p>Roy handed up Othman and scrambled out himself but they had to lift Ken out of the + water. Once on deck, however, he insisted on scrambling to his feet.</p> + <p>'Not damaged?' inquired Lieutenant Strang with a touch of anxiety in his + voice.</p> + <p>'Not a bit, sir,' Ken answered.</p> + <p>'I congratulate you, Carrington. It was an uncommon good and plucky bit of work, + and I shall see that it is reported to your own commanding officer.'</p> + <p>Ken went below, tingling with a pleasure which made him forget his aching joints + and muscles.</p> + <h2><a id="XVI" name="XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a><br /> + TACKLING THE TROOPER</h2> + <p>'Yes, come in.'</p> + <p>Lieutenant Strang, busy plotting out something on a chart, looked up as the sentry + parted the curtains of his cabin.</p> + <p>'Can Corporal Carrington see you, sir?' asked the man.</p> + <p>'Certainly. Send him in.'</p> + <p>Ken, looking more like himself in his khaki, which was now thoroughly dried, + entered and saluted.</p> + <p>'Well, Carrington, what is it?' The commander's tone was quick, almost curt, yet + there was a smile on his keen face as his eyes fell on Ken's upright figure.</p> + <p>'I've been talking to Othman Pacha, sir,' began Ken.</p> + <p>'Othman Pacha—who the deuce is he?'</p> + <p>'The Turk we rescued, sir. He's a friend of mine. I mentioned his name to you this + morning. It was he who got me away into Greece when my father was arrested.'</p> + <p>'Of course. I remember now. But this is a most extraordinary coincidence—to find + him on that tramp.'</p> + <p>'Not so much so as you might think, sir. You see he is known to be no friend to + Enver Bey and the Young Turks. He was in danger of arrest, so he took the first + opportunity of clearing out. He was going over to Adramyti on the Asiatic side, so as + to get out of it all.'</p> + <p>'I see. Well, did he tell you anything useful?'</p> + <p>'He did, sir. You have heard that Enver Bey has informed our Chief Command that he + intends to send French and British subjects to Gallipoli, so that they will be the + first sufferers when we bombard the place.'</p> + <p>'Yes, I've heard that,' Strang answered, staring keenly at Ken.</p> + <p>'Well, sir, the Pacha says that the first lot is to leave Constantinople + to-morrow. They are going with a batch of troops in a transport called the + "Bergaz."'</p> + <p>'And,' he added—'my father will be with them.'</p> + <p>The commander of G2 pursed his lips in a soundless whistle.</p> + <p>'By Jove,' he said slowly, 'this is worth hearing. This is most interesting.'</p> + <p>He gave a low chuckle. 'Rather a smack in the eye for friend Enver if we can bring + it off. Tell me, Carrington, did the Pacha say whether this trooper would have an + escort?'</p> + <p>'I asked him that, sir, but he did not know. And he said this—That he would not + have told us at all except for the fact that he thinks it brutal of Enver to send + civilians into the firing line, and that he hopes, in case you find it necessary to + sink the trooper, that you will allow the men to escape with their lives.'</p> + <p>Strang nodded thoughtfully.</p> + <p>'Hm, yes, I suppose I shall have to do that. After all, they won't be much use + without rifles or kit, and the chances are that most of 'em will desert as soon as + they reach the shore.</p> + <p>'But we mustn't count our chickens before they're hatched, eh, Carrington? We've + got to find that transport before we can deal with her.'</p> + <p>He asked a few more questions, then dismissed Ken.</p> + <p>'You can tell the Pacha I shall respect his wishes,' he said, as Ken left his + cabin.</p> + <p>All that night G2 cruised on the surface, going only at half speed so as to + economise petrol, and at the same time re-charge her dynamos. As for Ken, tired out + with his exertions, he lay upon the throbbing steel floor, wrapped in a blanket, and + slept as peacefully as he had ever slept in his life.</p> + <p>It was broad day when he woke, feeling more refreshed than for days past, and + quite ready for the plain though plentiful breakfast that was served out.</p> + <p>A glance which Williams allowed him through the periscope showed an expanse of + bright blue sea sparkling under a clear sky and a light breeze, but with no sail in + sight, and shortly afterwards G2 was submerged until nothing but her periscope + remained above the surface.</p> + <p>By this time the rumour of the expected trooper was all through the little ship, + and there was an air of subdued excitement on every face.</p> + <p>'Where are we now?' asked Ken of Williams.</p> + <p>'Somewhere between Marmora Island and Rodosto. Whatever comes out o' the Bosphorus + for the Dardanelles is bound to run past us, and then—' A wink said more than + words.</p> + <p>The hours dragged by, and Roy began to growl again at the tediousness of life + beneath the ocean wave. Dinner time passed and still there was no sign of the + trooper.</p> + <p>'Looks to me as if news had got abroad that we're a waiting for 'em,' growled + Williams at last. 'Them chaps as got to land last night must ha' wired to + headquarters.'</p> + <p>The other coxswain who was at the periscope at the moment, looked up.</p> + <p>'Then the wires must ha' been down, Joe. She's a coming right now.'</p> + <p>'Let's have a look,' exclaimed Williams, springing across.</p> + <p>'Ay, you're right, Bill. There she is. A big un, too!'</p> + <p>'And, lumme,' he added with a growl, 'a blighted torpedo boat a escorting of + her!'</p> + <p>''Tis only one o' them tin Turkish rattle-traps,' said Bill with a pitying air. + 'The old man'll slap a tin fish into her afore she knows what's hit her.'</p> + <p>As he spoke, the engines were already quickening, and G2 had begun to glide away + at the top speed of her powerful electrics. The deep hum of the dynamos filled the + long interior, and on every face was a look of eager expectancy.</p> + <p>As for Ken, his heart was throbbing like the dynamos themselves. The feeling that + his father, whom he had hardly hoped ever to see again, was within a mile or so, had + plunged him into such a state of tense excitement that it was all he could do to + control it.</p> + <p>He turned to speak to Williams, but the latter had gone forward, and was standing + by the torpedo in the fore tube.</p> + <p>The other coxswain, too, had gone to his place, and Sub-Lieutenant Hotham had + taken his seat at the forward periscope.</p> + <p>For four minutes, which seemed to Ken like four hours, the submarine drove onwards + in silence. Then came a sharp order from the commander, and she began to rise.</p> + <p>'What's she coming up for?' asked Roy of Ken in a low voice.</p> + <p>'She's got to, so as to fire her torpedo. You can't fire so long as you're + submerged.'</p> + <p>'But if they see us, they'll let loose with their guns.'</p> + <p>'They've only got the periscopes to shoot at. Take more than Turkish gunners to + hit them.'</p> + <p>'Stand by!' came the crisp order from Commander Strang. 'Three points to port—one + more. Don't miss her, whatever you do, Williams. She's got the legs of us, and we + shan't get a second shot.'</p> + <p>'That's right. Steady now. Shut down! Let go!'</p> + <p>Ken heard a sharp hiss as the compressed air drove the long gray Whitehead out of + its tube, and sent it flashing away on its deadly errand. Young Hotham sat still as a + statue, his eyes glued to the periscope. The rest of the crew seemed hardly to + breathe. As for Ken, his mouth was dry. To him, more than to any one else aboard, the + success or failure of the shot meant much.</p> + <p>Five, ten, fifteen seconds—then Hotham gave a sharp cry.</p> + <p>'Got her. Got her, by the living jingo! Oh, good shot, Williams!'</p> + <p>As he spoke a dull shock made the whole hull of G2 quiver.</p> + <p>'Hurrah!' shouted Ken, and the cheer was echoed by a score of voices.</p> + <p>'Struck her just aft the engines,' exclaimed Hotham jubilantly. 'Settled her hash + all right. Gad, they've got pluck. They're still shooting. Ah, did you hear that, + Carrington?'—as the submarine quivered again slightly. 'That was a shell. It struck + the water not ten yards away.'</p> + <p>'But that's the last,' he continued. 'She's cocking her bows up. Phew, the whole + bottom's knocked out of her. There she goes. She's sinking. Poor beggars, they + haven't time to get out a boat, and we'll never reach 'em in time to save any of + them.'</p> + <p>'Her stern's under. Bow's straight up in the air!' He paused a moment.</p> + <p>'All over,' he added quietly. 'She's gone.' Commander Strang's voice rang out from + farther aft. Ken felt the vessel rising, and a few moments later a slight swaying + told that she was on the surface. Up went the hatch, and the terrible clatter of the + petrol engines replaced the deep purr of the dynamos.</p> + <p>'I'd give a finger to be on deck,' said Ken to Roy, and for once Roy did not jeer. + He merely nodded, for he knew how desperately anxious Ken was about his father.</p> + <p>Ken had not long to wait. A few minutes later, an order was passed for Carrington + to go up, and Ken darted up the steel ladder like a lamplighter.</p> + <p>Outside, he found the sun gone, the sky covered with clouds, and a threat of rain + in the cool air. But it was not the weather he thought of. His eyes were at once + fixed upon a large steamer about two miles off to the southward. Clouds of sooty + smoke were pouring from her funnels, and a yeasty wake trailed away behind her. + Taking warning by the fate of her escort, she was doing all she knew to escape.</p> + <p>'Will she beat us? Will she get away?' Ken asked anxiously of one of the gun + crew.</p> + <p>'Will she spread her little wings an' turn into a waterplane?' replied the man + with a grin. 'Bless you, soldier, she couldn't do more'n fourteen knots when she come + out o' the builder's yard, and that's two more'n she's going now. You watch an' see + how far she gets away.'</p> + <p>A very few moments' watching was enough to convince Ken that G2 was overhauling + her prey hand over fist. Within less than a quarter of an hour a mile of the + steamer's lead had gone. Another five minutes and the distance between the two was + barely twelve hundred yards.</p> + <p>'Hallo, they're getting gay!' remarked the big bluejacket, as rifles began to spit + and bullets to throw up little jets of spray around the rushing submarine.</p> + <p>Presently one clanged against the conning tower itself. Commander Strang gave an + order, and a little row of bunting ran up on the tiny mast of the submarine.</p> + <p>'"Heave to, or I'll sink you," that means,' observed Ken's friend.</p> + <p>The only response was a thicker hail of bullets. But the low deck of G2, flying + onwards as she was at about twenty-two land miles an hour, made a poor target, and + the Turks failed to do any damage beyond knocking a little paint off.</p> + <p>'Confound 'em!' growled Strang. 'They haven't got sense enough to come in out of + the rain. Give 'em a shell, Watson.'</p> + <p>The long gray 12-pounder was ready. Her vicious-looking muzzle swung round. There + was a ringing bang, and the shell, small but charged with deadly lyddite, spun away + on its errand.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:80%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig165.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig165.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'A black-browed officer came to the rail.'</h3> + </div> + <p>Ken, watching eagerly, saw a bright flash light the side of the steamer, close + under her stern, and as a cloud of smoke floated up, the crash of the explosion came + back to his ears.</p> + <p>The big steamer staggered and yawed right out of her course.</p> + <p>'Capital!' said Strang with strong approval. 'That's hashed her steering. Signal + 'em to heave to, or the next will be in their engine-room.'</p> + <p>There were a few more scattering rifle shots, but the officers on the transport + soon stopped that. The transport herself, with her rudder in rags, was out of all + control. Her engines were stopped, and she lay sullenly waiting for her saucy little + enemy.</p> + <p>Strang gave a sigh of relief.</p> + <p>'Glad they had the sense to shut up,' he said to Ken. 'If they'd gone on shooting + I should have had to sock it into them, and I didn't want to break my promise to your + old Pacha.'</p> + <p>The submarine, smartly handled as usual, glided up close under the tall side of + the transport, and Strang hailed her in French.</p> + <p>A black-browed officer, with angry eyes, came to the rail, and answered in the + same language.</p> + <p>'You have British and French prisoners aboard,' said Strang sharply. 'You will be + good enough to put them all into a boat and send them across.'</p> + <p>'And if I refuse?' retorted the other.</p> + <p>'I shall shell you until you think better of it,' was the calm reply.</p> + <p>The other bit his lips. 'Very well,' he said sullenly. 'I have no choice.'</p> + <p>'Look out for treachery, sir,' said Ken in a low voice. 'That man means mischief, + I believe.'</p> + <p>'He is an ugly looking beggar. But what can he do?'</p> + <p>The words were hardly out of his mouth before the black-browed officer flung up + his arm, with a pistol gripped in his fist, and fired straight at Commander Strang's + head.</p> + <p>Quick as he was, Ken was quicker. As the man's arm came up, so did Ken's, and + seizing Strang by the wrist, he jerked him back.</p> + <p>Before the man could fire a second time, one of the bluejackets had raised his + rifle and shot him through the body.</p> + <p>'Thank you, Carrington,' said the commander, glancing at the gray splash of lead + on the deck, just where he had been standing the previous moment, 'You were right, + and I was wrong.</p> + <p>'Speak to them in their own language,' he continued coolly. 'Tell them I'll blow + them out of the water if they try any more tricks of that sort.'</p> + <p>Ken's announcement was followed by dead silence aboard the steamer. Then a second + officer appeared at the rail. He had both hands up.</p> + <p>'We surrender,' he said.</p> + <p>''Bout time, too,' growled the big bluejacket.</p> + <p>Strang repeated his former orders, and this time they were obeyed without + hesitation. Ken's heart beat thickly as he watched the prisoners hurrying into the + boat which had been lowered from her davits to a level with the deck.</p> + <p>'Do you see your father yet?' Strang asked.</p> + <p>'Not yet, sir,' Ken answered, with his eyes fixed on the fast-filling boat.</p> + <p>'Sixteen—seventeen—eighteen,' he counted mechanically. Suddenly a slight cry + escaped his lips, and he started forward.</p> + <p>'Father!' he shouted loudly.</p> + <p>An upright man with keen blue eyes, a man of about fifty, but whose hair and + moustache were almost white, was in the act of getting to the boat. At Ken's cry, he + started violently, stopped short and stared incredulously in the direction of the + sound.</p> + <p>'Father!' shouted Ken again.</p> + <p>'You, Ken?' The tone was one of utter amazement.</p> + <p>'It's me all right, dad,' Ken answered in a voice which shook a little in spite of + himself.</p> + <p>Before their eyes the other seemed to shake off ten years of age. He sprang into + the boat as lightly as a boy. Three more followed, making twenty-two in all. Then the + blocks creaked, and the boat was rapidly lowered to the water.</p> + <p>Oars began to ply vigorously, and she shot across the intervening space, and a + minute later was alongside the submarine.</p> + <p>'You must wait there, please, gentlemen,' said Strang courteously. 'I have to deal + with the troops at once. Keep well astern.'</p> + <p>Ken was aching to greet his father, but there was plenty for him to do for the + moment. He had to translate the commander's orders, which were that all those aboard + the steamer should get away at once in the boats. He gave them twenty minutes for the + operation.</p> + <p>They were the longest twenty minutes Ken every knew, but they were over at last. + The crowded boats pulled slowly away in a northerly direction, the big steamer + floated empty and helpless.</p> + <p>'Do we board her, sir?' asked young Hotham of Strang.</p> + <p>'Yes, I'll save my torpedoes while I can. Put a good charge of gun-cotton in her + hold. Quick as you can, Hotham. We may have a destroyer down on us any minute. You + may be sure they had plenty of time to use their wireless.'</p> + <p>He turned to the boatful of released prisoners. They were of every sort, young and + old—French, English, with even one or two Russians and Belgians.</p> + <p>'Gentlemen,' he said briefly, 'I can't ask you all aboard. The reason is obvious. + In a submarine there is only room for a certain number, and I am already three beyond + my proper complement. The question is, what I am to do with you for your safety, and + I should be obliged if two of you would come aboard to discuss matters with me. One + whom I will specially ask is Captain Carrington.'</p> + <p>Ken's breath came quickly as he watched his father step across out of the boat on + to the steel deck of G2, but like the trained soldier that he was, he did not move. + Strang, however, had not forgotten him.</p> + <p>'You shall have your father to yourself as soon as we have settled things,' he + said, as he passed him.</p> + <p>Mr Ramsay, who had been manager of a British bank at Constantinople, was the other + delegate from the boat. He and Ken's father both shook hands with Strang.</p> + <p>'We are most deeply indebted to you, Commander Strang,' said Captain Carrington.' + We never hoped for such luck as to find a British vessel already in the Marmora.</p> + <p>'Ours is unfortunately the only sort that can get through at present, sir,' said + Strang with a smile.' And after all, I don't know that you have much cause for + gratitude. I can't ferry you home through the Straits, for in the first place I can't + carry you, and in the second I have my job to do up here. There is only one thing I + can think of.' Here he lowered his voice, so that Ken could hear no more. But + presently he saw the others nod, evidently agreeing to the proposal, whatever it + was.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:80%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig169.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig169.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'Ken's hand gripped that of father.'</h3> + </div> + <p>Mr Ramsay went back to the boat, and she was at once taken in tow. The screws + began to revolve again, and G2 swung round in a half circle, and headed due east, + running on the surface.</p> + <p>Next minute Ken's hand gripped that of his father.</p> + <p>For a moment neither of them could speak. They had not seen one another for two + long years, and both had so much to say that they did not know where to begin.</p> + <p>Strang, with his usual kindly tact, touched Ken on the shoulder.</p> + <p>'Take your father for'ard of the conning tower. You can talk there without + interruption. We shall be on the surface for the present.'</p> + <p>Ken thanked him gratefully, and they both went forward, and there, leaning against + the gray steel of the little turret, with the small waves lapping over the + turtle-back forward, Ken told his father how their strange meeting had come + about.</p> + <p>Then Captain Carrington gave his son a brief sketch of his two years' + imprisonment. It had not been as bad as it might, for the kindly Othman Pacha had + used what interest he possessed to get his friend shut up in a fortress instead of + the usual horrible Turkish jail. Still it had been bad enough, and the worst of it, + the deep anxiety he had felt for Ken.</p> + <p>'Well, that's all over, dad, thank goodness,' said Ken. 'Everything will be all + right now. It's only a matter of time before we force the Dardanelles, and——'</p> + <p>'A matter of time,' broke in the other with the quizzical smile that Ken + remembered so well. 'Just so, my boy, but I'm afraid you are forgetting something. + What are we to do meanwhile? Here we are, in the heart of Turkish territory, and no + way out. It's rather early to say that our troubles are all over, isn't it?'</p> + <p>Ken's face fell. In his delight at meeting his father again, he had quite + forgotten the difficulties still before them.</p> + <p>'But—but I thought that Lieutenant Strang had a plan,' he stammered. 'He's towing + the boat somewhere.'</p> + <p>His father nodded.</p> + <p>'Yes, I suppose it need be no secret from you. He is taking us, or trying to take + us, to a certain cave on the south shore of the sea. It is one of the hidden petrol + bases which are supplied by friendly Armenians. But, even if we get there safely, + there is always the risk of discovery by the enemy, as well as difficulties of + provisioning so many of us. And we may not even get there. Supposing that an enemy + ship appears in chase, and the submarine has to submerge, what then?'</p> + <p>Ken gazed at his father blankly. Before he could speak again a sharp hail came + from the look-out in the conning tower.</p> + <p>'Ship in sight, sir!'</p> + <h2><a id="XVII" name="XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a><br /> + THE BOARDING PARTY</h2> + <p>Ken and his father were both on their feet in an instant. While they had been + talking it had turned misty. It was only a haze, but it blurred the horizon so that + at first they could not see the vessel.</p> + <p>But presently Ken pointed.</p> + <p>'There she is. Do you see, dad?'</p> + <p>Captain Carrington nodded.</p> + <p>'I see her, Ken, but my eyes are not what they were. I can't tell what she + is.'</p> + <p>At this moment Lieutenant Strang stepped up to them.</p> + <p>'It's just as I was afraid, sir,' he said quietly. 'There appears to be something + after us. It's so thick I can hardly make out what she is yet, but in any case it's + precious awkward.'</p> + <p>'Very awkward indeed,' admitted Captain Carrington. 'Alone, you would be all + right, for you could submerge of course, but if so you leave us prisoners to be + picked up again. Still, of course, there is no choice. You must not risk your + ship.'</p> + <p>Strang bit his lip. He knew that Captain Carrington was right. But it went + bitterly against the grain to abandon the people whom he had rescued with so much + trouble. As for Ken, the idea of losing his father again just after he had found him + sent his spirits down to zero.</p> + <p>After a moment's thought, Strang spoke again. 'I might leave the boat, sir, and + tackle this fellow, whoever he is. It's on the cards I might sink him and come back + again and pick you up.'</p> + <p>'That might be worth trying,' answered Captain Carrington. And he spoke as calmly + as if the upshot was of absolutely no consequence to him whatever.</p> + <p>Ken, who had been staring hard at the approaching craft, turned quickly to the + commander.</p> + <p>'Couldn't you capture her, sir?' he said eagerly.</p> + <p>Strang stared as if he thought that Ken had suddenly taken leave of his + senses.</p> + <p>'Capture her?' he repeated.</p> + <p>'Yes, sir. Then you could put all the prisoners aboard her, and they could find + their own way to the hiding place. And Horan and myself, too, perhaps.'</p> + <p>Strang gave a low whistle.</p> + <p>''Pon my soul, it's an idea. Especially as, being an enemy ship, she wouldn't be + so likely to be searched.'</p> + <p>'It would be very nice for us if it could be managed,' said Captain Carrington + with a smile. 'But I suppose it is quite out of the question, Mr Strang?'</p> + <p>'It all depends on what she is, sir,' replied Strang, as he put up his binoculars + and focused them on the indistinct patch on the misty horizon.</p> + <p>Presently he put them down.</p> + <p>'She's nothing but a launch,' he said quickly. 'Armed, of course, but probably + only a 6-pounder. I'm hanged if I don't try it.'</p> + <p>'Very good,' said Captain Carrington, speaking as calmly as ever. 'I will go back + into the boat, and tell my friends. By the bye, how would it do to use us as bait for + the trap? If you were merely to submerge, and lie close by with only your periscopes + showing, it seems to me that you might manage to take them unawares.'</p> + <p>'I've got a better plan than that, sir,' broke in Ken quickly. 'Put Horan and + myself in the boat. Give us some pistols. We'll sham shipwrecked. Most of us can hide + in the bottom of the boat. The launch won't have much of a crew. With a rush we might + overpower them.'</p> + <p>The boldness of Ken's suggestion made both men gasp. Strang was the first to + speak.</p> + <p>'It's a big risk, but it might work. Are you willing, Captain Carrington?'</p> + <p>A grim smile parted the lips of Ken's father.</p> + <p>'Willing! It would make me young again.'</p> + <p>Strang's decision was taken like a flash.</p> + <p>'It goes, then. And I'll lend you a couple of my men as well. Williams and + Johnston. Hefty chaps in a scrimmage, and both equal to engines of any kind. But we + must be smart. This must be done before the Turks get any notion of what is up.'</p> + <p>He dashed back to the conning tower, and orders flew like hail. The men were + equally quick to obey. Williams and Johnston came tumbling up, and Roy hard at their + heels.</p> + <p>'What's up?' demanded Roy eagerly of Ken, and when Ken had quickly explained, the + big New Zealander's face fairly glowed with delight.</p> + <p>'Fine, oh fine!' he cried. 'I began to think we were never going to get another + chance. 'It's the greatest scheme you ever thought of, Ken.'</p> + <p>Two more bluejackets rushed up, with armfuls of cutlasses.</p> + <p>'Commander says these are the jokers for a scrimmage,' one told Ken, as they + hurriedly passed them across to the people in the boat.</p> + <p>'He's right,' said Roy, 'but we shall want a pistol or two as well.'</p> + <p>'Plenty here, Horan,' said Williams, the torpedo coxswain, holding up a couple of + the big regulation Navy revolvers. 'It's all right. We've got all we want. Come along + in, you two soldiers.'</p> + <p>Ken and Roy tumbled aboard the boat, other three of the ex-prisoners, who were too + old or infirm to be any use as fighters, were hastily transferred to the + submarine.</p> + <p>Inside of three minutes all was ready, the warp was cast off, and the steel hatch + in the conning tower dropped with a clang. In a trice G2 began to sink, and within an + incredibly short space of time she had dipped out of sight beneath the sea, and the + boat lay alone on the surface, rocking slightly to the send of the small gray + waves.</p> + <p>For the first time Ken had leisure to glance round at his companions. Including + Roy, himself, Williams, and Johnston, the full number was twenty-three, and of them + all there was not one who did not look keen and eager for the fray. All had suffered + at the hands of the enemy, some had lost all they had in the world. Every man was + anxious to get a little of his own back. By the way they gripped the cutlasses that + had been served out, by their grim faces, and eager eyes, Ken felt certain that there + would be no hesitation when the critical moment arrived.</p> + <p>'What is the craft?' asked Roy, who was crowding close beside him.</p> + <p>'Nothing but a launch,' Ken answered.</p> + <p>'She looks pretty big for a launch,' said Roy, staring at the vessel which was now + near enough to see the shape of her.</p> + <p>'Oh, I dare say she's a fifty-footer. And no doubt she carries a good few men. And + a gun, too. It's not going to be any picnic, old chap. Our only chance is a + surprise.'</p> + <p>'And there won't be much surprise about it, if we let them see how many men we + have aboard,' cut in Captain Carrington briskly. The years had dropped away from him, + and he was again the naval officer.</p> + <p>'Get down, Ken, and you too, Horan. Williams and Johnston, hide yourselves under + that tarpaulin forward.'</p> + <p>Very shortly all the younger men of the party were stowed away, some under the + thwarts, others under a couple of tarpaulins which Strang had put in for the purpose. + All weapons were carefully hidden, and the dozen older men, who were all that were + left in sight, were directed to loll about, as though suffering from long exposure or + fatigue.</p> + <p>The haze was thickening, so there was little danger of the people aboard the + launch noticing the manoeuvre.</p> + <p>The launch had, however, sighted the boat. There was no doubt about that, for she + had altered her course, and was coming straight towards them.</p> + <p>'Beastly fuggy under here!' growled Roy in Ken's ear.</p> + <p>'Take it easy, old chap. We shan't have long to wait.'</p> + <p>Ken's father heard, and bent down.</p> + <p>'She's within a mile. Mind you don't move till I give the word.'</p> + <p>'All right, dad,' came the muffled response from under the tarpaulin. 'How big is + she?'</p> + <p>'A good size. She looks as if she carried a score of men. And there's a 6-pounder + in her bows.'</p> + <p>Soon she was so near that Ken clearly heard the beat of her engine. His breath + came quick and short. The critical moment was very near.</p> + <p>The revolutions slackened, and a man hailed from the launch, speaking, to Ken's + dismay, in harsh German.</p> + <p>'Who are you? What are you doing there?' the speaker demanded suspiciously.</p> + <p>'We are British and French from Constantinople,' answered Captain Carrington, + using the same language. 'We were aboard the Turkish transport "Bergaz" which was + sunk earlier in the day by a British submarine.'</p> + <p>'Blitzen!' exclaimed the German angrily. 'Then the message was true after all. + Those verdomde British have managed to pass the mine-fields.</p> + <p>'And where is the submarine?' he demanded savagely.</p> + <p>'She was forced to abandon us. One of your warships hove in sight.'</p> + <p>The German paused a moment. His eyes scanned the surface in every direction. But + there was no sign of G 2's periscopes. Either she had gone under altogether, or + withdrawn to such a distance that her periscopes were invisible in the mist.</p> + <p>'Train the gun on them,' growled the German officer. Then, raising his voice, 'If + this is a trap, every one of you will pay for it with your lives.'</p> + <p>'I have told you the literal truth,' said Captain Carrington coldly. 'You can take + us or leave us as you wish.'</p> + <p>Again the German hesitated.</p> + <p>'The safest way will be to haul off and sink them,' he said to a Turk who stood + beside him. He spoke in Turkish, but Ken, of course, understood, and knowing the + brutality of the average German officer, felt anything but happy.</p> + <p>Apparently the Turkish officer had different views, for after a short conversation + the German gave an order, and the launch moved forward again.</p> + <p>Ken, though he could not see what was happening, heard the beat of her screw, and + every nerve in his body tingled. As for Captain Carrington and the rest, they sat in + their places, not moving an inch, and doing their best to convey the idea that they + were quite worn out, and cared not at all whether they were retaken or not.</p> + <p>Yet, under his coat, or in his pocket, each man gripped his revolver, while his + cutlass lay handy at his feet.</p> + <p>The launch came on slowly, and her crew fortunately were hardly noticing the boat. + Their eyes were busy, searching the misty surface for the periscope of their deadly + enemy.</p> + <p>Only the German seemed to have any suspicion concerning those in the boat. When + the launch was within about half a dozen yards, he spoke again.</p> + <p>'You there, Englishman, stand up!' he ordered sharply. 'You, I mean, the one who + speaks German.'</p> + <p>Captain Carrington rose leisurely to his feet.</p> + <p>'You will be the first to pay for treachery,' said the German fiercely. 'Put your + hands up.'</p> + <p>Ken quivered. To him it sounded as though his father's death warrant had been + sounded. At the first sign of attack the German would shoot him. Yet he had his + orders, and he dared not move.</p> + <p>It seemed an age before he felt a slight jar. It was the launch touching the + boat.</p> + <p>'What's under that tarpaulin?' came the sharp question from the German.</p> + <p>Crack! Crack! Two shots rang out simultaneously. There was a scream and the sound + of a heavy splash.</p> + <p>Ken waited no longer. Like a flash he flung aside the tarpaulin, and leaped to his + feet. The German was gone, he was struggling in the water and one of their own men + was lying writhing in the bottom of the boat.</p> + <p>'Up and at 'em!' came a hurricane yell from Williams, and with one bound the big + coxswain had leaped aboard the launch, and was laying about him with his cutlass.</p> + <p>Ken waited just long enough to make sure that his father was not hurt, then + followed.</p> + <p>He heard the Turkish officer shout an order for full steam ahead. The launch + darted forward, but it was too late. Johnston and another man detailed for the + purpose had already flung grappling irons across. The launch drew the boat with her, + close alongside.</p> + <p>'Out, ye black-faced blighter!' roared Williams, as he cut down a great burly Turk + who was swinging at him with a rifle butt.</p> + <p>Inside ten seconds every mother's son in the boat had reached the deck of the + launch, and a regular hand-to-hand battle raged.</p> + <p>The launch was heavily manned, and after their first surprise the Turks pulled + themselves together and fought desperately. Though the launch was a big one, yet + there was not much room on her decks for nearly fifty fighting men, and Ken found + himself literally wedged in the centre of a tight-packed mob, which swayed from side + to side as the fighters struggled frantically for elbow room.</p> + <p>In a way this told in favour of the Britishers. The short, heavy Navy cutlasses + were much better adapted for a mêlée of this sort than the rifles and bayonets with + which the Turks were armed.</p> + <p>Ken found himself up against a tall, brown-faced fellow who looked like an Arab + and was armed with a long sword. He made a fearful slash at Ken, and though Ken saved + his head by a guard with his cutlass, he was beaten to his knees.</p> + <p>Up went the Arab's sword again, Ken saw the glitter in his savage eyes, and + thought it was all over when, in the very nick of time, a revolver spat and turned + the fierce face into a blood-stained horror.</p> + <p>Struggling up, he saw Roy leap past and fire a second time at a man who was + swinging at him with a rifle butt. The latter, hit in the shoulder, staggered, caught + his heels in the rail, and went backwards into the sea.</p> + <p>On every side revolvers were cracking, there was a confused medley of blows, + yells, and oaths. And all the time the launch, with no one at the tiller, and the + boat fast alongside, charged wildly across the sea.</p> + <p>Man for man, the Turks were better fighters than the boarders, most of whom were + civilians and unaccustomed to the use of weapons. But the latter were fighting for + their lives and were splendidly led by Captain Carrington, Ken, Roy, and the two big + sailor men. It was really the latter five who carried the day. They were everywhere + at once, slashing and shooting like demons, and by degrees the Turks fell back before + them.</p> + <p>Half a dozen or more were driven over the side into the sea, and left perforce to + drown.</p> + <p>At last the Turks broke and gave way. Some dropped their weapons and flung up + their hands in token of surrender.</p> + <p>'They've surrendered!' cried Captain Carrington. 'Give them quarter.'</p> + <p>At that moment Ken saw a Turkish officer, his face covered with blood, spring out + of the crowd aft and rush forward.</p> + <p>'Look out there!' he shouted, and wrenching himself loose from the press, raced + after the man.</p> + <p>The officer, however, had a long start, and before Ken could catch him, had + reached the gun and was swinging it round.</p> + <p>'Look out!' yelled Ken again, as he realised what the man was after. He was + desperate, and meant to turn the gun full upon the packed crowd, destroying friend + and foe alike.</p> + <p>He had got the gun round, his finger was almost on the button when Ken reached + him, and going at him head down, like a Rugby tackier, flung both arms around his + waist.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:80%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig179.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig179.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'On every side revolvers were cracking.'</h3> + </div> + <p>With a fierce exclamation, the man hit out with his fist, but the blow fell + harmlessly on Ken's back. Then, twining both hands in Ken's collar, he made a frantic + effort to break his grip and fling him aside.</p> + <p>Ken held on like grim death. If he failed, it meant death for all his friends. The + other was a powerful, wiry man in the prime of life, while Ken had not yet come to + his full strength. For some seconds they struggled fiercely, the Turk exerting every + effort to reach the gun, Ken straining frantically to hold him off.</p> + <p>Ken's heel caught in a ring bolt. He felt himself falling, but managed to drag the + other down with him. But his own head struck the deck with such force as to half stun + him, and he felt his grip relaxing.</p> + <p>'Dog, you shall die with the rest!' hissed the other, as at last he tore himself + free, and sprang to the gun.</p> + <p>But Ken was not done yet. He had fallen almost under the gun, and swiftly lifting + one foot he kicked out desperately at the gray barrel above him.</p> + <p>There was a crash which nearly deafened him, and for a moment he believed that the + madman had succeeded in his awful purpose. Then a tall figure sprang across him, and + with a shout Roy drove his fist into the Turk's face.</p> + <p>Up went the man's arms, he staggered back and fell into the sea.</p> + <p>'Well done, Ken!' cried Roy. 'That's finished it.'</p> + <p>Ken scrambled to his feet and stared round in amazement.</p> + <p>'W—Where did the shell go?' he stammered.</p> + <p>'Somewhere in the direction of Constantinople,' was the reply. 'Your kick did it, + Ken.'</p> + <p>'It's all right,' he added jubilantly.' The rest of the chaps have given in. The + launch is ours.'</p> + <h2><a id="XVIII" name="XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a><br /> + RUNNING THE GAUNTLET</h2> + <p>'It seemed shabby to leave you to do all the fighting, but if I had come into it + I'm afraid you'd have been left without a ship.'</p> + <p>The speaker was Lieutenant Strang, who stood on the deck of G2, which had risen + again and was lying alongside the launch.</p> + <p>'It was your fellows who won the battle for us,' answered Captain Carrington + cheerfully. 'I wish to congratulate you on the possession of two such men as Williams + and Johnston.' Williams stepped forward and touched his cap.</p> + <p>'If you please, sir, the captain here and his son and Horan, they did as much as + any. But all on 'em fought like good 'uns.'</p> + <p>'What are your losses, sir?' asked the lieutenant of Captain Garrington.</p> + <p>'Two killed, three rather badly wounded.'</p> + <p>'You got off lightly. There don't seem to be many Turks left.'</p> + <p>'Only nine alive, and of those four are wounded.'</p> + <p>'Are the launch's engines all right?'</p> + <p>'Nothing wrong with them,' answered the captain, 'so Williams tells me.'</p> + <p>'Well, it's getting late and very thick. You had better follow me, and I will + escort you to the place we spoke of. The Turks who are sound can take the boat and be + towed until we are off one of the islands, when we can cast them off and they can + land.'</p> + <p>Ken stepped up to his father, and said something in a low voice. A slightly + startled expression appeared on the captain's face.</p> + <p>'You think it possible, Ken?' he said sharply.</p> + <p>'I do. I believe we could get through.'</p> + <p>'Then I will suggest it to Lieutenant Strang.</p> + <p>'Lieutenant Strang,' he called. 'Before we start I have a suggestion to make. I + will come across if you will permit me.'</p> + <p>'Certainly, sir.'</p> + <p>The launch lay so close to the submarine that it was easy for the Captain to + spring across. Strang met him, and for some moments the two talked in whispers.</p> + <p>At first the commander of the submarine seemed unwilling to agree to the captain's + proposal, but presently Ken, who was watching breathlessly, saw him nod his head.</p> + <p>Then the captain smiled, and turning leaped lightly back on to the launch.</p> + <p>'It's all right, Ken,' he said. 'We are going to try it.'</p> + <p>'Hurrah!' cried Ken in high delight.</p> + <p>'Try what?' demanded Roy. 'Hang it all! Don't keep us in the dark. What's all the + mystery about?' Ken glanced at his father.</p> + <p>'All right,' said the latter. 'Every one must know and agree before we start.'</p> + <p>'Gentlemen,' he said, addressing the anxious crowd who surrounded him, 'my son has + suggested that we might do something better than go and lie up for an indefinite time + in the hiding-place which would be our only possible refuge on these shores, and + where we should be in constant danger from the enemy. His idea is that we might make + a dash back down the Straits.'</p> + <p>'Mais, it would be ze madness!' exclaimed an elderly Frenchman, with a gray + imperial and a blood-stained bandage around his head. 'Zey would sink us.'</p> + <p>'So they would under ordinary circumstances,' agreed the captain. 'But the night + and—more than that—the fog are in our favour. Besides this launch is Turkish, and we + have several people aboard who can speak the language.'</p> + <p>'But ze mines!' objected the Frenchman.</p> + <p>'There again we are fairly safe. The launch is of such shallow draught that she + will easily pass over the mine-fields. Floating mines we must of course risk, but + there are not likely to be many about, for the Turks only send them down when an + attack is expected. One other point is in our favour. This launch is fast. With any + luck, we shall be through the Straits and in safety long before daylight.'</p> + <p>The Frenchman nodded.</p> + <p>'Vair well, Monsieur le Capitaine. For me, I am satisfied.'</p> + <p>'I think we all are,' said an elderly Englishman named Symons.</p> + <p>The captain looked round, but no one offered any objection.</p> + <p>'Then it is decided,' he said quietly, and proceeded to issue his orders as + briskly as he had done, years before, on his own quarter-deck.</p> + <p>The Turks were transferred to the empty boat, and taken in tow by the submarine. + Johnston went back to G2, but Williams remained as engineer in charge of the launch. + The dead Turks were put overboard, and the traces of the fight quickly removed.</p> + <p>Then Strang bade them farewell and good luck, the engines began to move, the screw + churned the water, and the prize, heading westwards, sped rapidly towards the mouth + of the Straits.</p> + <p>Williams, who was the sort of man who could tackle anything in the way of + machinery, from a sewing machine to a Dreadnought's turbines, soon got the hang of + the launch's engines.</p> + <p>'They're a bit of all right,' he said to Ken and Roy, who had volunteered as + stokers and oilers. 'Blowed if I thought them Turks had anything as good. But I + reckon this here craft come from Germany.'</p> + <p>'She certainly can leg it,' observed Ken, as he noticed how the whole fabric of + the little craft quivered under the drive of the rapidly revolving screw.</p> + <p>'Ay, and I reckon we'll need all she's got afore we're through,' replied Williams + dryly, as he squirted oil into a bearing.</p> + <p>'We ought to be all right if the fog holds,' said Ken.</p> + <p>'Ay, if it does. I'll allow it's thick enough up here, but there ain't no saying + what it'll be down in them straits. Fogs is uncertain things at best and you never + can tell when you'll run out o' one into clear weather.'</p> + <p>Williams's warning made Ken feel distinctly uneasy, and every few minutes he kept + looking out to see what the weather was doing. But so far from clearing, the mist + seemed to thicken, until it was as gray and wet as the Channel on a late autumn day. + Night, too, was closing down, and soon it was so dark that one end of the vessel + could not be seen from the other.</p> + <p>The distance to the mouth of the Straits was about thirty miles, and the Straits + themselves have a length of thirty-five. The launch was good for fifteen knots, and + though it would not be possible to go at full speed through the Narrows, they hoped, + barring accidents, to do the journey in about five hours.</p> + <p>Having done two hours' work, Ken and Roy were relieved, and after a much needed + wash, went into the cabin for a mouthful of food. Then Ken went forward, to find his + father, wearing a rough black oilskin, combining the duties of look-out and skipper. + At the wheel was a young Englishman named Morgan, an amateur yachtsman who knew the + Straits like the palm of his hand.</p> + <p>'Where are we now, dad?' asked Ken.</p> + <p>'Opposite Bulair.'</p> + <p>'What—in the Straits?'</p> + <p>'At their mouth, Ken.'</p> + <p>'We haven't wasted much time, then.'</p> + <p>'Indeed we haven't. But I am afraid we shall have to slow a bit now. The fog is + thicker than ever, there are no lights, and we don't want to come to an ignominious + end by piling ourselves up on the cliffs.</p> + <p>'Still the fog's our best friend,' he continued, 'and we have plenty of time + before us. If we average no more than half-speed we should be clear before + daylight.'</p> + <p>For another twenty minutes they carried on at full speed through the choking + smother, then Captain Carrington rang to reduce speed.</p> + <p>'We're off Gallipoli now,' he said. 'That's where I should have been by this time, + Ken, if G 2 had not popped up just at the proper moment.'</p> + <p>'It isn't exactly a salubrious spot,' Ken answered with a smile. 'The "Lizzie" has + been chucking her 15-inchers into the town whenever she hadn't anything else to + do.'</p> + <p>For the next two hours the launch nosed her way cautiously south-westwards, + through the wet smother. Most of the time she kept fairly close under the Asiatic + shore. There were fewer forts that side, and less danger therefore of attracting + attention.</p> + <p>During the whole of that time she never sighted so much as a rowing boat. The + Straits were as empty as a country lane on a winter night.</p> + <p>About eleven Ken, who had done another spell of stoking, went forward again to + where his father kept his ceaseless watch.</p> + <p>'Getting near the Narrows, aren't we?' he asked in a low voice.</p> + <p>'We are, Ken. If my reckoning is right Nagara Point is almost on our port + bow.'</p> + <p>'There's a light of some sort just ahead, sir,' said Morgan from the wheel.</p> + <p>'I see it too,' said Ken quickly. 'Can it be from the fort?'</p> + <p>Quickly the captain rang to slow still more. With barely steerage way the launch + moved noiselessly forward. There followed some moments of breathless silence, while + the three stared at the dull mysterious glow which was now almost exactly ahead.</p> + <p>'It's a craft of some sort,' said Ken in a sharp whisper. 'The light's + moving.'</p> + <p>'You're right. Starboard a trifle, Morgan.'</p> + <p>Again a pause. Then Ken spoke again.</p> + <p>'It's a tug, father. She's towing a string of barges. She's going across to + Maidos.'</p> + <p>'Then I know what they're doing,' said Morgan.' They're taking stores across from + the Asiatic side. I heard they had started that game since our submarines began to + worry them in the Marmora.'</p> + <p>'I thought as much,' Captain Carrington answered quietly. 'Then it is up to us to + stop it.'</p> + <p>Ken glanced quickly at his father, but there was not light to see his face. It was + Morgan who voiced his thought.</p> + <p>'We shall bring the fire of all the batteries down on us,' he said.</p> + <p>'Of course,' Captain Carrington's voice was calm as ever. 'Starboard another + point, Morgan. Ken, call Dimmock. He's an ex-gunnery lieutenant, and can handle the + 6-pounder.'</p> + <p>'I'm here already, sir,' came a voice out of the gloom. I saw the light, and + guessed what was up.'</p> + <p>'I can help, father,' said Ken. 'Ah, and here's Roy.'</p> + <p>All three sprang forward to the gun. It had already been loaded and a dozen spare + shells were ready alongside.</p> + <p>'This is luck,' said Roy in a gleeful whisper, as he ranged himself alongside the + gun. He, like the rest, was perfectly well aware that the first shot they fired would + bring down on them the concentrated fire of all the batteries on both shores, and + that their chances of escape were hardly worth considering. But this did not weigh + for a moment, if they were able to strike a blow for the Empire.</p> + <p>The revolutions were increasing, the launch moved more rapidly down upon her + quarry.</p> + <p>'Three barges!' exclaimed Roy. 'Big 'uns, too! I say, there must be tons of stuff + aboard. Jove, won't the Turks be sick?'</p> + <p>'We must get the tug first,' said Dimmock, who, though a man of forty, was as keen + as a boy. 'If we can slap it into her first, we can deal with the barges at our + leisure.'</p> + <p>As he spoke he was squinting along the barrel, his right hand busy with the + sighting screw.</p> + <p>'Hang this fog!' he muttered. 'I can hardly see what I'm shooting at.'</p> + <p>The launch was now within little more than a hundred yards of the tug which was + puffing noisily along, her string of barges tailing heavily down the current, and her + crew utterly unaware of the hidden danger gliding down upon them through the fog.</p> + <p>'I'm beastly rusty,' continued Dimmock. 'Still, I hardly think I can miss her at + this range.'</p> + <p>As he spoke his finger pressed the electric button, and the gun barked with that + ear-splitting crack peculiar to the 6-pounder.</p> + <p>The tug staggered and rang like an iron drum.</p> + <p>'Not much miss about that!' cried Roy triumphantly. 'You must have got her slap in + the boilers.'</p> + <p>'No, it was too high,' said Dimmock in a discontented tone.' This gun jumps a bit. + Sharp there, with that other shell.'</p> + <p>Roy slipped it in as though it were a toy, the breech-block snicked to, and five + seconds later a second report roused the echoes.</p> + <p>'That's better,' said Dimmock, as a flash of flame rose from the midships section + of the tug. 'Ah, there goes her funnel! She's a goner.'</p> + <p>He was right. The tug swung round to the current, and, with engines stopped, + drifted idly down the Straits.</p> + <p>'What's the matter? They haven't begun to fire yet,' said Roy quickly, as he + thrust a third shell into the open breech.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:80%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig187.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig187.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'Up shot a sheet of crimson flame.'</h3> + </div> + <p>'So much the better for us,' Ken answered. 'Mr Dimmock, this one ought to do for + the nearest barge.'</p> + <p>Hastily Dimmock sighted again at the blunt, low-lying object which loomed dimly + ahead in the wet darkness.</p> + <p>Once more the smart little gun spoke, but the crack of the report had hardly + sounded before it was drowned by the most appalling crash. Up from the stricken barge + shot a sheet of crimson flame, a blaze of fire which mounted a hundred feet into the + murky air, and in spite of fog and mist flung its glare upon the iron cliffs on + either side the narrow straits.</p> + <p>The launch shuddered as though she had struck a reef, and the blast from the + explosion flung every soul who was standing up flat upon her decks.</p> + <p>Hard upon the roar came a wave, a wave which rose high over the bows of the long, + slim craft, and swept across her in a torrent of cold, salt water.</p> + <p>It washed Ken back against the rail, which he clutched at desperately, and so + saved himself from going overboard.</p> + <p>Dazed and confused, he struggled to his feet.</p> + <p>'Roy!' he cried thickly, 'Roy!'</p> + <p>'All right. We're all right,' came a hoarse reply, and Roy's tall figure rose from + close under the opposite rail, and grasping Dimmock, lugged him to his feet.</p> + <p>'Gad, that's done the trick!' he panted. 'The other barges are gone. So's the tug. + We've bust the whole caboodle.'</p> + <p>From aft came Captain Carrington's voice, shouting for 'Full speed ahead!'</p> + <p>Time, too, for the gunners in the forts, recovering from their paralysed + amazement, were already getting busy and the roar of great guns was followed by the + rocket-like hiss of shells.</p> + <p>Like a frightened hare the launch gathered speed and darted away downstream. + Shells, each big enough to smash her to kindling, fell on every side, but the gunners + on both sides were firing too high, and by a series of miracles the launch was not + touched.</p> + <p>Searchlights sprang out, their white fingers feeling through the murk. But no + searchlight ever made will penetrate a thousand yards of fog, and the dull glares + only served to warn the steersman of the launch of dangers to be avoided.</p> + <p>'Jove, we'll do it yet, Ken,' cried Roy, shouting so as to be heard above the + thunderous din of the guns.</p> + <p>'It will be a miracle if we do,' Ken answered. 'Remember we have to run the + gauntlet all the way down.'</p> + <p>'It doesn't follow,' Roy said quickly. 'They haven't seen us, and they'll take it + for granted that it must have been a submarine. Why, even the sweepers haven't + ventured up here.'</p> + <p>'I only hope you're right,' replied Ken fervently.</p> + <p>'Ah!' he broke off, as a shell whizzed over so near they felt the wind of it. + 'That was close.'</p> + <p>By this they had passed Nagara, and turning due south were rushing past the big + fort of Kosi Kale. For the moment the tempest of shell had died away behind them.</p> + <p>'I told you so,' said Roy jubilantly. 'They've chucked it. If we don't whack into + a beastly mine we shall get clear.'</p> + <p>Indeed, it almost seemed as though he was right. The firing slackened, then + stopped completely, and the launch, still untouched, sped through the gloom. Her + crew, almost unable to credit such amazing luck, stood about the decks staring out + into the darkness, occasionally exchanging a word or two in low voices.</p> + <p>'We're in the Narrows,' said Ken. 'See that luminous patch over to the left. + That's Chanak.'</p> + <p>'Almost the same spot where the trawlers were scuppered,' answered Roy.</p> + <p>'Just so. If Fort Hamidieh doesn't open out, we ought really to be all right. We + shall be in broader waters.' He took out his watch and glanced at its luminous + dial.</p> + <p>'In three minutes we shall know one way or the other,' he added.</p> + <p>For the next hundred and eighty seconds there was no sound but the steady swish of + the bow wave and the beat of the powerful engines.</p> + <p>Ken shut his watch with a snap.</p> + <p>'All right. We're past.'</p> + <p>The words were not out of his mouth before there came a ringing report, and a + shell, screaming through the air, smacked into the water about a length astern.</p> + <p>'A twelve-pounder!' said Ken sharply, as he turned. 'Ah!' as a blaze of light + sprang out about half a mile aft, 'that's why they stopped firing. There's a + destroyer after us.'</p> + <h2><a id="XIX" name="XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a><br /> + IN THE NICK OF TIME</h2> + <p>Ken was right. That was why the firing had stopped. A destroyer, which must have + been lying in some cove up the Straits, had been summoned by wireless to take revenge + on the bold intruder. She was now dashing headlong in pursuit.</p> + <p>Roy stared at the dull white glare which came momentarily nearer.</p> + <p>'Rotten luck!' he observed disgustedly. 'None of the "conquering hero" in ours, + I'm afraid, old man.'</p> + <p>'Afraid not,' Ken answered resignedly. 'The brute's got the legs of us, and it'll + only take one o' those twelve-pounders to settle our hash. Still, it's no use crying + till we're hurt, and the Turks ain't the best gunners in the world.'</p> + <p>'Crash!' Another shell screamed out of the mist.</p> + <p>'Nearer!' said Roy grimly, as the ugly missile fell alongside, sending up a + fountain of brine.</p> + <p>'Watch her, doing the outside edge!' he continued, as the launch curved swiftly to + port. 'That'll throw 'em off their shooting. Ah, I told you so'—as the third shell + went wide.</p> + <p>'We can't shoot back,' growled Dimmock. 'That's the worst of these rotten little + bow guns.'</p> + <p>'No, it's simply a matter of running and dodging,' said Ken, and turning went back + to where his father was standing.</p> + <p>'Poor luck, Ken,' said the latter with his usual calmness. 'The beggar's gaining + hand over fist. She's at least five knots faster than we.'</p> + <p>'Well, we've hurt the Turks a jolly sight worse than they can hurt us, that's one + comfort, dad,' Ken replied. 'They can't replace that ammunition.'</p> + <p>Before his father could answer, a shell from the destroyer passed so close + overhead that the wind of it flung them both down. There was a splintering crash, and + the launch quivered all over.</p> + <p>'Hurt, father?' cried Ken, springing up.</p> + <p>'Not a bit, thanks. But I'm afraid the launch is.'</p> + <p>'She's still moving anyhow. No, it's only carried away a bit of the cabin top. + We're all right still.'</p> + <p>The searchlight grew clearer every moment. Already the hull of the flying launch + began to show up in the misty radiance. Her steersman sent her shooting in wide + curves, and so succeeded in upsetting the aim of the Turkish gunners. But it was only + putting off the inevitable end, and that was clear to every soul aboard.</p> + <div class="figure" style="width:60%;"> + <a href="dardan_files/fig191.png"><img width="100%" src="dardan_files/fig191.png" + alt="" /></a> + <h3>'The deck-house melted in a shower of splinters.'</h3> + </div> + <p>'It's no use, dad,' said Ken, as another shell cut away the top of the stumpy + funnel. We can't get away. Let's finish, fighting.'</p> + <p>'Turn and try to ram her?'</p> + <p>'Yes, and Dimmock might by luck get a shell into her. He's a pretty nippy shot in + spite of being out of practice.'</p> + <p>'All right, Ken. I'd rather die fighting than running.'</p> + <p>He raised his voice.</p> + <p>'Mr Morgan, put her hard aport! Dimmock, here's your chance for a last shot.'</p> + <p>Round came the launch, turning on her keel like a racing yacht, and straight she + sped for her big pursuer. The latter was evidently taken aback by this unexpected + manoeuvre, and for a moment her searchlight lost the launch.</p> + <p>The moment the glare was gone the hull of the destroyer showed up dark against the + mist.</p> + <p>'Now's your chance, Dimmock!' cried Ken, and almost instantly the little gun + spoke, and the crash was followed by a flash which lit the destroyer's deck.</p> + <p>'Oh, good shot, Dimmock!' exclaimed the captain. 'That shell exploded right under + her bridge.</p> + <p>For a moment the destroyer yawed right off her course, but she was under control + again in a few seconds, and her forward gun spoke once more.</p> + <p>The flash was followed by a tremendous shock, and the launch, with her rudder and + part of her stern carried away, spun round helplessly, and began to drift + downstream.</p> + <p>'That's finished it,' groaned Roy.</p> + <p>Again the destroyer's gun roared, and the deckhouse melted in a shower of + splinters. Ken, struck on the leg by one of them, toppled over helplessly. His leg + felt numb, he could not move. There was nothing for it now but to await the + inevitable end.</p> + <p>Crash! Vaguely Ken realised that this was a heavier gun than the 12-pounders of + the destroyer. He heard a shell roar overhead, then from the destroyer, now no more + than a hundred yards away, rose a blinding flash.</p> + <p>'Hurrah!' he heard Roy shout, but the reason he could not imagine. He made a + desperate effort to struggle up, felt the blood gush hot from his wound. His head + spun, he fell back and knew no more.</p> + <p>Coming back to consciousness after being knocked out is always a slow and painful + business. The first thing that Ken's muddled brain took in was the surprising fact + that he was lying in a real bed between beautifully clean sheets.</p> + <p>He had not been in such a bed for more than six months, and he could not + understand it at all.</p> + <p>Slowly he opened his eyes, and looked up at a whitewashed ceiling. Through a + window opposite the sun was shining and a warm breeze blowing.</p> + <p>'I suppose I'm dreaming,' he said at last, and was surprised to hear how weak and + husky his voice seemed.</p> + <p>Some one rose quickly from a chair beside the bed.</p> + <p>'My dear lad,' came his father's voice.</p> + <p>Ken stared at him.</p> + <p>'Is it real?' he asked vaguely. 'Where am I?'</p> + <p>'Absolutely genuine, my boy,' answered Captain Carrington, smiling. 'You are in + hospital in Lemnos, and here you've been for two days. We began to think you were + never coming round again.'</p> + <p>'I'm sorry I frightened you,' said Ken, 'but I wish you'd tell me how I got here. + I had a sort of impression that I ought to be at the bottom of the Dardanelles.'</p> + <p>'The marvel is that we were not all there,' answered his father gravely. 'It was + the cruiser "Carnelian" that saved us at the very last moment by putting a six-inch + shell into the Turkish destroyer.'</p> + <p>'But how on earth did she come to be there, right up the Straits?' Ken asked + amazedly.</p> + <p>'That was Strang's doing. The good chap sent a wireless asking them to look out + for us.'</p> + <p>'Jove, that was smart of him,' Ken said smilingly. 'But Roy, dad? Is Roy all + right?'</p> + <p>'Quite right. He has rejoined his regiment.'</p> + <p>Ken's face fell.</p> + <p>'What about me, dad? Don't say I shan't be able to do the same.'</p> + <p>'There is no need to say anything of the sort, my boy,' replied his father + quickly. 'The only trouble with you is that you lost more blood than was good for + you. The splinter cut a small artery. I have no doubt whatever that you will be able + to rejoin in a month or so.'</p> + <p>'A month! It may be all over by then.'</p> + <p>'It won't,' said the other gravely. 'It will take more than a month to open the + Dardanelles. You'll get your fill of fighting before this business is over. Those who + know best say that it will take three months at least to beat the Turks.'</p> + <p>'That's all right,' said Ken, with reckless disregard for the hopes of the British + Empire. 'I want a chance of doing my bit in the trenches alongside Dave and Roy.'</p> + <p>For a moment or two Captain Carrington watched his son in silence.</p> + <p>'You'll be doing your bit under rather different conditions in future,' he said + quietly.</p> + <p>Ken stared. 'What do you mean, dad?'</p> + <p>For answer his father picked up the khaki tunic which hung over the end of the + bed, and showed Ken the sleeve.</p> + <p>On it was the star indicating the rank of Second-Lieutenant in His Majesty's + Army.</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of On Land And Sea At The Dardanelles +by Thomas Charles Bridges + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON LAND AND SEA AT THE DARDANELLES *** + +***** This file should be named 11513-h.htm or 11513-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/5/1/11513/ + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Leonard D Johnson and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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