The Fight for Constantinople: A Story of the Gallipoli Peninsula

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on leave and having missed the "liberty boat". One thing they regretted was not being able to smoke, since the glimmer of a match might draw the enemy

consider matters, it is not surprising." And he pointed to the turmoil of broken water in Yenikeui Bay. "It is just possible that the Adm

ill clear out at sunrise, and we will be able to see if the boat's

lmost due south, now it's sou'-east. Unless I'm much mistaken it will settle down

then,

ould imagine it to be a felucca. They're fine, weatherly craft, and with the wind abea

the men to attention, he briefly outlined his plan of operation. Were it not for the necessity for silence, the seamen would have cheered; instead

le search-light was switched off. "Those fellows evide

r an interval of five minutes, during which time there were no signs of activity on the part of the Turks-for their rifle-fire had died away sh

y, the stinging rain adding to their discomforts. Already the small streams through which they had previously waded with

der him. Making a vain and frantic attempt to obtain a grip, he fell a distance of six or seven fe

distinguished the figures of

ng back. Over the ledge they dropped, and, as Dick regained his feet, the

he bullets ringing overhead. Not caring to wait for cold steel tha

the beach and from the summit of the cliff. In the succession of lurid flashes Di

eys that completely deceived the enemy as to the number th

amen obeyed. A tough tussle, an interchange of bayonet thrusts, and the Turks momen

un, sir?" a stalwart bluejacket. "

g rays. Almost simultaneously came the tap-tap-tap of a Maxim, and a sheaf of b

uted Dick. "Take the t

g the steel bar above his head, the man brought it down with tremendous force upon the out-swung piece of mechanism. The interrupted thread, deeply dent

dge behind: a barrier that had to be surmounted if escape were contemplated in that direction. To remain where they were meant being under a galling fire

picked up the rifle and bayonet of one of the

al cover the men pressed forward, firing as rapidl

s part of a landing in force, the Turks gave way until their retrograde movement

ighting Turk in the opposing movement of the disorganiz

like a young Berserk. A blow from the butt-end of a Turkish rifle shattered his bayonet close to the hilt. Gripping his

ree tall and muscular Turks, while a few feet away from the midshipman was a German officer in t

ing the weapon, the Sub dashed it into the Turk's face, then drawing his r

ighting's sake. He bore no particular animosity against any of his Moslem antagonists, but the sight of the German standing out of immediate dang

longer standing. The lad had been overcome b

ng it at the near-most of his foes, the Sub stooped to regain his rifle. As he did so a stalwart Bashi Bazouk struck him a heav

large, whitewashed room, the walls of which were of immense thickness and pierced o

beside him was Midshipman Farnworth,

ish seaman-jumper and trousers very similar to those worn by the British tar, and a dar

ed, seeing that Dick

I?" demand

Medjidieh. Me good man. Help

en," said Dick, for his throa

got," declared the

ts drink nothing but beer," thought the Sub. "No, I don't want

ng his hand over his heart and bowing subserviently, he noiselessly

he's right; but there's one thing to be said: up to the present they have treated me pretty decently. Th

rtion of one of the fortresses actually on The Narrows, and roughly twenty-one miles from Yenikeui. During the interval between the times of his having been rendered uncon

conclusion that, fearing a landing in force to the south of Kum Kale, they had removed t

s intense disappointment he heard no sounds of guns-not even a

ed officers; and why Ahmed Djezzar had so vehemently expressed himself as being a friend. These and a hundred other thoughts flashed through his mind,

kly dismissed, since he recognized that if his captors had wished to dispose of him they had already had ample opportun

to find that young Farnworth was sitting u

he remarked. "You've been sleeping

u feeling?"

ike a block of wood. But it isn't that: it's the beastl

jolly stiff

y humiliating being collared like this, and not knowing how t

made a point of stating that he was

wearily. "Of course I don't know whether he's telling the truth or n

te derisively. "Captured? N

nutes. The fellow swears that the submarine was stranded, and that they've captured of

able does happen, yet he could not understand how a British submarine could

tter, although unable to speak English, could converse fluently in French,

Farnworth, chatting affably the while on all kinds of subjects, the war excepted. Try as he would, witho

clared. "By the day after to-morrow you

cal man left than Ahme

e the Germans. We fight. Why? Because they make us. All fault of Young

g that his listeners showed no signs of enthusiasm over his plans fo

n dey was in the Ottoman Navy. All g

nderful knowledge of the Engli

dered you plis'ners to be sent to Skutari. Telim Pasha, he say 'no'. Telim Pasha

brows inquiringly. T

ow," he rep

twenty t

the faint

Ahmed showed signs

e soon?"

feel nettled by the fellow's inquisitivene

d, crossed the room, and placed his ear to the keyhole. Hearing nothing, he peered through the narrow slit; then with a grim sm

ter. He hastened to one of the windows, while Farnworth, walking unsteadil

iers, lolling about in the courtyard within the fort, overcame their lethar

. It was flying low-at about two hundred feet. On the under side of the main

soldiers hurried from the buildings.

rds to clank noisily over the stones, they walked towards the opposite side of t

ent someone

their movements. Not altogether to his surprise he discovered that the owner of the peremptory voice was the

ool and a subsequent "roasting" at Osborne and Dartmouth, Dick could follow, with comparative ease. "No luck. T