“Wait here until I return!”
The Greek guide whispered these words in Jack’s ear, thus recognizing the fact that he knew which of the two boys could be accounted the leader.
Without explaining what he meant to do he left them, and his form was speedily swallowed up in the gloom. Amos hardly knew what it meant, though, of course, knowing that Arturus had not basely deserted them thus.
“What’s up, Jack?” he asked, cautiously.
“He believes there is a large body of Turks on the road ahead, and has gone to find out,” Jack told him after he had placed his lips close to the other’s ear.
Amos only grunted. No doubt he was beginning to believe there never could have been a more difficult undertaking than the one they were now
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 engaged upon. Troubles seemed to be following quick and fast on each other’s heels—first that battery, then the task of passing around it, and now something else.
Crouching there, they waited as patiently as they could for Arturus’ return. In the meantime they listened, and could catch sounds that told of many men being close by, a fact that seemed to prove Jack’s conclusion sound. The Turks must be gathering a force with the intention of making a night attack on the little New Zealand contingent beyond, expecting to take them by surprise and sweep them into the sea.
He did not tell Amos this, not wanting to discourage the other, who had already met with so many disappointments. It stood to reason, though, that if the “Kiwis” were dislodged, and either captured, or forced to take to their boats, the aviator must vacate his little field where he had held forth, venturing on so many daring trips.
The minutes dragged terribly. Every now and then Amos would let fall a great big sigh, proving
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 how this delay was cutting him to the heart. Surely Arturus must have had ample time by now to find out all he wanted to know, and should be back with his companions again. But Jack refused to let himself suspect anything like treachery on the part of the guide, whose measure he had taken in the start, and in whom he put the utmost trust.
Presently he was relieved to hear a slight sound as of someone approaching. It came from the proper direction, and he felt sure Arturus was returning.
A figure could now be dimly made out; still neither of the boys so much as moved a finger. They were waiting for something more definite to identify the other.
“Jack, Amos!”
When they heard their names breathed ever so softly they knew it was all right, and that Arturus had come back; so they immediately hastened to join him.
“It is even worse than I believed,” was the first thing he told them.
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“They are Turks, of course?” asked Amos, never forgetting for a moment the need of extreme caution when making any communication.
“Yes, hundreds of them gathered there,” he was told. “It is their intention to creep around and attack the camp from the east. Already many of them have started up among the rocks, and the rest expect to follow.”
“Oh! we must manage some way or other to warn the troops, or they may be caught napping, and all of them killed,” Amos went on to say.
“What is the best plan of campaign, Arturus?” asked Jack in his customary direct way; for he knew that action alone could secure the end they had in view.
“We can wait until all have left the road and then pass on,” explained Arturus; “or if we please we might reach the beach, and proceed that way.”
“They may happen to leave a few men behind them to watch the road,” suggested Jack. “On the whole, I think it our best plan to take to the shore.”
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“Just as you say, and I myself believe that is the safest way,” admitted Arturus.
“Then let’s be moving right away,” begged Amos.
There was no objection to his plea, and consequently they turned to the left, for the water lay in that quarter. Once more they lowered themselves down the little bluff, and if a few stones were dislodged they expected that the sounds would, even if heard by the nearby Turks, not be deemed suspicious, or worthy of investigation.
Once they struck the sandy strip where the little waves came running up close to their feet, all of them felt vastly relieved. If only they could creep past the danger spot, they would very likely be on the home stretch, and could reach their destination without further trouble.
The voices of the Turks reached them more plainly as they pushed on. It meant that some of them were squatting on the very bluff overhead; so that if the trio expected to pass unobserved they must continue to be exceedingly careful.
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All Jack hoped for was that none of the Turks would happen to be down by the edge of the water. If that proved to be the case they would be compelled to postpone their passage until the last of the followers of Mahomet had withdrawn, following the rest of the detachment up the hill.
Jack placed implicit confidence in Arturus, and the Greek did not fail them. He kept as close to the bluff as possible, while advancing all the while; and quite naturally the two boys copied his example, recognizing the value of it.
In this way they gradually managed to creep past the spot where the Turks on the little bluff above kept up their low-toned conversation. Possibly Arturus understood what they said, but it was useless for either of the others to try and grasp the meaning, since the Turkish tongue was a sealed book to them.
When this had been accomplished, and they could feel that they were safely by, both boys felt pleased. A heavy load was taken from the chest of Amos, so that once again he could encourage himself with fresh hopes.
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Their progress was now more speedy, though Arturus still kept on his guard. Jack admired the fellow more and more as he saw him work. He felt sure Arturus must be a born scout, and in the service of the Allies ashore on Gallipoli would prove himself to be a valuable man indeed.
From this time onward all of them were keenly on the watch for some sign ahead to indicate the presence of the Territorials. They did not mean to take any chance of being shot at by some vigilant sentry, who may have discovered their coming from his post in the darkness, and mistaken them for a straggling party of the enemy.
As it was no longer possible to advance any further along the beach, owing to their having reached a place where the waves ran up against the rocks direct, the guide had once more led them to the forsaken shore road, and they were now moving along that.
It was about this time that Jack sniffed the air. He had caught a whiff of tobacco smoke, it seemed to him. Possibly one of the sentries had
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 managed in some way to roll a cigarette, and was enjoying a few puffs, hiding the light as well as he could with his hands.
Arturus, too, must have caught the same odor for he had come to a pause; and all of them seemed to be trying to pierce the black curtain ahead in hopes of picking up a tiny speck of fire that would betray the presence of the soldier. After all, it was Amos whose sharp eyes discovered what they sought. He gripped Jack&rsquo............