CHAPTER XXX.
OFF FOR EGYPT.
“The reverend sir tells me that this country of Palestine is only 140 miles long and about 80 miles wide,” said Henri, who had entered the information in his ragged notebook, to which he had clung like grim death from the day he had entered the war zone.
“My Aunt Melissa would tell you,” stated Canby, “that nearly all the events in the accounts of Israel that are recorded in the Old Testament happened within this space. From the days of Abraham to our own times there’s been a mighty lot of history made here.”
“Pity we could not have gone about a little bit more,” remarked Billy, “but warriors and war-planes must get to the front.”
“If it pleases your honor,” slyly intimated Macauley, “Canby and I could walk the rest of the way.”
“I’ve got a picture of you doing it,” retorted the Bangor boy; “the war would be over by the time you got anywhere. You were built for riding, my bold captain.”
“Listen to the wasp,” laughed Canby.
The stillness of evening pervaded the garden, and the four fell into the brooding silence of the hour. The liquid notes of a nightingale contributed to the dreamy effect of the oriental surroundings. With the morning the vision of the Holy Land would fade.
Up betimes, again alert and eager to proceed, the air travelers had once more the kindly greeting of the venerable host, and once more partook of his generous hospitality. At his order the war-planes were wheeled into the open, and followed by a blessing the pilots, fully advised of the route, sent the machines buzzing away to the south, along the Mediterranean coast line.
Their fixed destination was El Arish, on the border of Palestine and Egypt, the key to the fighting zone in the land of Suez and the Nile, where General Maxwell, in command of the British forces, was matching wits with the Ottoman commanders, urged to best effort by the presence of Enver Pasha, the young “war lord” of Turkey.
While fully ten miles away from the border, Macauley declared that he could scent gunpowder, and as the distance rapidly lessened, numerous enough were the signs of military occupation to convince Billy that the soldier’s nose had not gone back on him.
A half hour later the war-planes were down, and Macauley and Canby had found their own again; if not, indeed, the “old Seventh,” just the same kind of fighting blood under the Union Jack.
While Billy and Henri got busy in overhauling the war-planes and reducing in the machines some of the effects of rough usage and continuous journeying, the two soldiers were equally active in getting into the campaign. Well set up again in khaki uniforms and with pith helmets on their heads, “Daring Dan” and Canby looked like ten-time winners. The boys also had ceased to be “Turks,” by the courtesy of the quartermaster.
“Guess we’ll have to shake you for a while, and sorry for it, my young friends. We have your gauge for a dandy pair, and the breed to which anyone may safely tie; so I am just wanting to say that I hope we will meet many times and often in the future, the nearer the better.”
“What’s the occasion?” questioned Billy.
“Marching orders for the morning,” continued Macauley; “not a flying assignment this time, or you boys would be on the front seats. Just plain footing it for the present.”
The speaker gave each of the boys a hearty grip and a look of strong liking, Canby following suit with equal fervor.
When the soldiers turned away to join the regiment to which they had been assigned, the lads climbed to an elevation on the sea front and looked out upon the rolling blue of the Mediterranean.
“Many the hard parting we’ve had, Buddy,” murmured Billy; “how I would love to go back over the trail and greet the good friends and true comrades again, one by one. Mayhap some of the warm hands are cold by now, some of the great hearts stilled. My prayer is that this be not so. And I’ve been asking myself if there is any pledge behind us that we have broken?”
“I don’t believe there’s a single shortage there,” exclaimed Henri—“why, yes, there is, too, come to think twice—Stanny’s belt.”
“Not so much of a fracture there, after all,” said the Bangor boy—“only delayed delivery. We couldn’t help that.”
“Let’s call the past a fairly clean slate, then,” conceded Henri. “Faces to the front, old pard; we’re not through yet!”
The boy was right; there were still strenuous days in the mist-veiled future, and in territory all unknown to them.
A message to Port Said was in the making, and no wires to convey it; what next to the electric flash for lightning speed? The aeroplane!
The call was sudden, but no less prompt the response.
Billy Barry and Henri Trouville saluted a pair of shoulder straps, received the word to go—and, forthwith, went!
Their flight carries them into the continuing record of adventure: “Our Young Aeroplane Scouts in Turkey; or, Bringing the Light to Yusef.”
THE BOY SCOUTS ON STURGEON ISLAND; or, Marooned Among the Game Fish Poachers.
Through a queer freak of fate. Thad Brewster and his comrades of the Silver Fox Patrol find themselves in somewhat the same predicament that confronted dear old Robinson Crusoe: only it is on the Great Lakes that they are wrecked instead of the salty sea. You will admit that those Cranford scouts are a lively and entertaining bunch of fellows.
THE BOY SCOUTS DOWN IN DIXIE; or, The Strange Secret of Alligator Swamp.
New and startling experiences awaited the tried comrades of camp and trail, when they visit the Southland. But their knowledge of woodcraft enabled them to meet and overcome all difficulties.
THE BOY SCOUTS’ FIRST CAMP FIRE; or, Scouting with the Silver Fox Patrol.
This book is brimming over with thrilling adventure, woods lore and the story of the wonderful experiences that befell the Cranford troop of Boy Scouts when spending a part of their vacation in the wilderness.
THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE BLUE RIDGE; or, Marooned Among the Moonshiners.
Those lads who have read The Boy Scouts’ First Camp Fire will be delighted to read this story. It tells of the strange and mysterious adventures that happened to the Patrol in their trip through the “mountains of the sky” in the Moonshiners’ Paradise of the old Tar Heel State. North Carolina.
THE BOY SCOUTS ON THE TRAIL; or, Scouting through the Big Game Country.
The story recites the many adventures that befell the members of the Silver Fox Patrol with wild animals of the forest trails, as well as the desperate men who had sought a refuge in this lonely country.
THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAINE WOODS; or, The New Test for the Silver Fox Patrol.
In the rough field of experience the tenderfoots and greenhorns of the Silver Fox Patrol are fast learning to take care of themselves when abroad. Thad and his chums have a wonderful experience when they are employed by the State of Maine to act as Fire Wardens.
THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER; or, The Search for the Lost Tenderfoot.
A serious calamity threatens the Silver Fox Patrol when on one of their vacation trips to the wonderland of the great Northwest. How apparent disaster is bravely met and overcome by Thad and his friends, forms the main theme of the story, which abounds in plenty of humor, and hairbreadth escapes.
THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES; or, The Secret of the Hidden Silver Mine.
By this time the boys of the Silver Fox Patrol have learned through experience how to rough it upon a long hike. Their tour takes them into the wildest region of the great Rocky Mountains, and here they meet with many strange adventures.
THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA. A story of Burgoyne’s defeat in 1777.
A series of excellent stories of adventure on sea and land, selected from the works of popular writers; each volume designed for boys’ reading.
In this series of remarkable stories by Wilmer M. Ely are described the adventures of two boy chums—Charley West and Walter Hazard—in the great swamps of interior Florida and among the cays off the Florida Coast, and through the Bahama Islands. These are real, live boys, and their experiences are well worth following.
THE BOY CHUMS ON INDIAN RIVER; or, The Boy Partners of the Schooner “Orphan.”
In this story Charley West and Walter Hazard meet deadly rattlesnakes; have a battle with a wild panther; are attacked by outlaws: their boat is towed by a swordfish; they are shipwrecked by a monster manatee fish, and pass safely through many exciting scenes of danger. This book should be read first.
THE BOY CHUMS ON HAUNTED ISLAND; or, Hunting for Pearls in the Bahama Islands.
This book tells the story of the boy chums’ adventures on the schooner “Eager Quest,” hunting for pearls among the Bahama Islands. Their hairbreadth escapes from the treacherous quicksands and dangerous waterspouts, and their rescue from the wicked wreckers are fully told.
THE BOY CHUMS IN THE FOREST; or, Hunting for Plume Birds in the Florida Everglades.
The story of the boy chums hunting the blue herons and the pink and white egrets for their plumes in the forests of Florida is full of danger and excitement. In this story is fully told how the chums encountered the Indians; their battles with the escaped convicts; their fight with the wild boars and alligators; and many exciting encounters and escapes. This is the third story of the boy chums’ adventures.
THE BOY CHUMS’ PERILOUS CRUISE; or, Searching for Wreckage on the Florida Coast.
This story of the boy chums’ adventures on and off the Florida Coast describes many scenes of daring and adventure, in hunting for ships stranded and cargoes washed ashore. The boy chums passed through many exciting scenes, their conflicts with the Cuban wreckers; the loss of their vessel, the “Eager Quest,” they will long remember. This is the fourth book of adventures which the boy chums experienced.
THE BOY CHUMS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO; or, a Dangerous Cruise with the Greek Spongers.
This story of the boy chums hunting for sponges is filled with many adventures. The dangers of gathering sponges are fully described; the chums meet with sharks and alligators: and they are cast away on a desert island. Their rescue and arrival home make a most interesting story. This is the fifth book of adventures of the boy chums.
THE BOY CHUMS CRUISING IN FLORIDA WATERS; or, the Perils and Dangers of the Fishing Fleet.
In this story Charley West and Walter Hazard embark upon a new and dangerous quest for fortune. With their old and tried comrades, Captain Westfield and the little negro, Chris, they join the great army of fishermen that yearly search the Florida seas for the thousands of kinds of rare fish and water creatures that abound there. The Florida waters hide many strange and unknown dangers. The perils the chums encounter from weird fishes and creatures of the sea and the menace of hurricane and shipwreck, make very interesting and instructive reading. This is the sixth book of adventures of the boy chums.
A carefully selected series of books for girls, written by popular authors. These are charming stories for young girls, well told and full of interest. Their simplicity, tenderness, healthy, interesting motives, vigorous action, and character painting will please all girl readers.