The Fight for Constantinople: A Story of the Gallipoli Peninsula

apti

ng what I was doi

d to the door?"

ed had his ear glued to the keyhole. He's not listening

d the midshipma

no more Ahmed Djezzar than mine is. He's a German. You noticed he was very persis

well boomed him off. He d

of his rig as a Turkish bluejacket, that he hasn't been at all successful at pumping us, up to the present, but that he means

u propose t

ould be all right for half a dozen rounds. I think I could alter the shape of his

could not see immediately overhead, they had a fairly compre

approaching air-craft. Most of them had their rifles and were preparing to open fire, while u

n pursuit, I think," obs

ht. Hello-here's th

visible, but the observer had faced about and was firing with a rifle at the

right-hand main plane. The sea-plane started to bank, slipped, and fell sideways like a wo

, till their line of descent was hidden by the intervening buildings; but th

aft plunged almost vertically downwards into the courtyard. With a fearful crash it landed twenty yards from the window at which the Sub and his companion had taken stand. T

almost shouted

lane. The motor had been switched off, for the crew had vol-planed

he main planes were clearly visible. "Hope he'll drop a couple of heavy bombs up

for the crews of the anti-aircraft guns, they scurried off without letting fly a single round. The two German officers who had been conversing with the so-called Ahmed tried to restrain them, bu

mpt to drop any bombs. Apparently its mission had been to chase the inquisitive Turkish monoplane, and to observe the nature of the defences of Fort

elters in swarms, and for five minutes-long after the French air-craft was out of ran

was-had made himself scarce. Nor did he put in an appearance during

. Their walk was limited to the extent of the courtyard, so that the Sub had no opportunity of taking mental notes of the de

en him by the corporal in charge of the party. At the expiration of the time the prisoners were

dn't see much of you yesterday. I thought perhaps you had been

ppressed an exclamation the commencement of

ese odder Ottomans then?

ellow's tone gave

the submarine aft

ugged his

soldier what tell you about de Englis sailors wh

estion the other day. Now I want to ask you one. What hap

suspiciously at

many Englismans come to fight us on land. P'laps if dey too many we

during the conversation. Now he

done. You haven't the pluck to sail under your own colours: you must needs pretend you're a Turk-and a precious rotten pretence it is. You told your pals you were going to

dressing-down". His mouth worked as if he were trying to utter some malediction. Then, cowed by

he paused, with h

!" he shouted. "You'l

ck and the midshipman the German

arked Dick. "Now for

e thought of the fellow's discomfiture. "But, by Jove,

ost. Naturally our fellows wouldn't let a thing like that remain in the hands of the enemy, and by that Teuton's admission it is

door was unlocked, and a party of Turkish soldiers, headed by a German in the u

d to the door. Acting upon this mute order the soldiers removed

them of their uniforms. In five minutes Dick and his companion wer

Sub. "Meagre rations and a Spartan existence. I ho

f the German officer, who, under the mistaken impression that an Englishman exists simply for the sake of eating roa

illing under their German officers and non-coms. The latter drove the Ottomans almost beyond the limits of endurance. Blows and kicks were

. They would swagger across the courtyard, the Turkish troops saluting with an alertness that vied with the smartness

tillery. A number of field-guns had just arrived at the fort, and the major was in charge of the battery. It seemed as if the German instructors, knowing the terrific damage done by the British naval guns ag

imple Swedish drill in order to keep their muscles in good condition, for, as Farnworth observed, "one ne

imed Farnwort

inute he added; "No; by Jove, it's the real thing! W

Medjidieh, being out of the scope of the operations, made no att

adly knocked about. From six to sunset wounded Turkish troops began to pour into the fort, some hardly able to walk. Yet no attempt was made to alleviate

themselves upon their straw beds. Being unprovided with lights, th

and the yellow stains of lyddite, their faces were grimed with smoke and dust. Each wore a sword under his coat, with the hilt projecting through a vertical slit. The Major also carried a revolver in a holster slung across his left shoulder, and

which contrasted with the jargon which he had used in his r

h us," added

e. We quickly sent them to the right-about, and they had to re-embark in disorder. Unfortunately for us, during the operations two Turkish officers of high

then," s

diately telegraphed that we should offer two British in exchange. Would you be willing to sign

t," declared the

urred to me: a thousand pardons. Now here is a statement for the British Admiral. All you have to do is for both

the breast pocket of his greatcoat, whi

u sign?" aske

ck. "The writing is i

e Major suavely; "but that does not

igerents is in French, Herr Major," said the Sub. "Unde

man in a puzzled tone.

I won'

s who would be only too pleased to do

"No, don't get excited," he added, as the German's hand flew to his sword-hi

nion. It was enough to confirm Dick's suspicions, f

fist squarely upon the point of the Major's chin. With

CTED BLOW DICK PL

ON THE POINT OF

n different, for before the blow could fall the stalwart British officer gripped him round the waist, then with a sudden heave thr

llow's coat off and see how it fits you. We'll borr