CHAPTER II
THE NEWS OF WAR AT BUDAPEST
When Jack made this astounding statement the other three stared at himas though they could hardly believe he was not joking. But then Jackseldom attempted to play a practical prank; besides, they could see thathe was seriously disposed, and evidently grappling with one of thelargest propositions that had ever faced him.
"Then it means a world war has begun, does it?" gasped Buster presently,when he could catch his breath again.
"That's what it's bound to result in," Jack told him. "The cry of 'wolf'has been heard for the last time, and now the beast has come!"
"But will Great Britain and all the other nations jump in?" demandedGeorge.
"Not jump in, but find themselves dragged in, in spite of their horrorof war. This thing has been hanging fire a long while, but every littlewhile there would be signs of what lay under the surface. Lots of peoplepredicted it was bound to come sooner or later, and that the destiniesof every world power would have to be settled once and for all by thesword."
"Then all other wars will be baby play beside this one," Josh declared,"with the wonderful modern arms they've got. Millions of men must bekilled before the end comes, and old Europe will never know herself,such great changes in border lines are bound to take place."
"But what of us?" asked George.
"That's what we've got to decide right away," Jack announced. "We livethousands of miles away from the scene of hostilities, and our neutralcountry may not be pulled into the whirlpool; but here we are inAustria-Hungary that is now in a state of war with Serbia, Montenegro,Russia and France, with other countries to hear from. What ought we doabout it?"
"Let's tell the Kaiser we won't stand for any of this funny business,"Buster went on to say, pretending to look very important, though therewas a quizzical gleam in his eyes at the same time; "let him know he'sgot to sheathe that sword of his in double-quick time, or America willget mad."
"Much the Kaiser would care for a dozen Americas," jeered George."Germany armed can defy the whole world, and as for our great bigcountry, we're only a second China, don't you know--plenty of people,much talk, but able to do next door to nothing."
"I say it would be a beastly shame if we had to quit now before hardlygetting started," asserted Josh, indignantly.
"Go on, the rest of you, for I want to hear everybody's opinion," urgedJack.
"But if the whole of Austria is on a war footing, what chance would wehave to continue our lovely voyage?" George wanted to know. "As like asnot we'd be arrested, because they'd call us spies trying to find a wayto invade the country through the back door."
"One for keeping on, and another against it, which is a stand-off,"remarked Jack; "how about you, Buster?"
"Gee whilikens! I hardly know where I'm at," muttered the fat chum,rubbing the tip of his nose in bewilderment; "fact is I'm about ready todo whatever the rest of you say."
"In other words, you're on the fence, I take it," sneered George; "ifthere's anything I dislike it's to run across a _jellyfish_, somethingthat has no opinions of its own. There, that's one for you fellowscalling me swine. But how about you, Jack? We ought to know what youthink about it all."
"That's right," agreed Josh eagerly, for he could see that their futuremovements were likely to be controlled by whatever Jack said, since witha tie his vote would be the deciding factor.
"I'll be frank with you fellows," Jack continued soberly. "We've gone toa whole lot of trouble and expense to get started on this cruise, and Ihate like everything to give it up."
"Hear! hear!" came from Josh, with a tinge of growing triumph in hisvoice.
"When I think of all that we'd have to go through with to get back toLondon the way we came I feel like saying we ought to try and keep righton down the river. The greatest danger to us would come from approachingthe fighting region around Northern France and Belgium."
Even George seemed to be hanging on Jack's words as though, after all,his ideas of prudence might be undergoing a change.
"We could go ashore right away," Jack continued, "and buy what stuff weneed, for I see Bumpus is holding a list in his hand, and we know himwell enough to feel sure he's omitted nothing worth while having."
"That settles it, then," burst out Josh. "You hear, George, you'reoutvoted three to one. We go on our way, snapping our fingers under thenose of every Magyar who feels like questioning our right to cruisedown the beautiful blue Danube."
"Oh, well, move we make it unanimous then," snapped George, which provedthat, after all, his objections could only have been skin-deep, and wereoffered more in a spirit of contrariness than seriously.
"Here are letters for every one," remarked Jack; "but if you take myadvice you'll keep them until after we've had supper. There's a wholelot to be done before night settles down."
"Jack, you've been ashore, and mebbe now you happened to notice a goodgrocery store where we could pick up what we need in the line of grub,"and as he asked this Buster waved his formidable list before him.
"It happens that I did just that same thing, and, better still, theplace is only a short distance away from here. From the glance I took atit I reckon we could get about everything we want, provided we'rewilling to take them in the Hungarian style of putting up the packages."
"Oh," decided Buster, "so far as that goes, a rose by any other namewould smell just as sweet. I'd be willing to forget the trade names ofthe oatmeal, hominy, and such things I'm used to seeing, if the contentsof the packages turned out to be as good."
"All right, Buster," continued the other, "suppose we start out rightaway and do our shopping. I suppose if we buy for cash they'll send thethings around here to this boat builder's wharf where we had permissionto tie up during our stay here."
Everybody looked pleased. It was as if a dreadful load had been suddenlylifted from their hearts. They would never have been fully satisfied toabandon their trip down the Danube on such short notice. In times tocome they would very likely call themselves silly to be frightened offso easily by what might turn out to be only a shadow of coming trouble.
Buster proved himself willing enough by scrambling ashore. In fact, whenthe question of eating was concerned no one could ever accuse the fatboy of shirking his duty; as Josh said, "When the dinner horn blewBuster was always Johnny-on-the-spot," though truth to tell the saidJosh often ran a race with his comrade at table.
"I don't suppose you'll be needing a German scholar along with you to dothe bargaining?" suggested George pompously.
Buster chuckled at hearing that.
"Don't you worry about us, George," he advised the other, "we can getthrough all right. As long as I've got eyes and can _smell_ things Ireckon I'll be able to pick out what we want most. And money talks,George, better than some people's German."
"Oh, well, they say a prophet never is appreciated in his own country,"sighed George; "but all the same I'm going to practice up in my German,because it may serve us well sooner or later. If you fellows getpinched, send us word and I'll hurry around to the police station toexplain matters."
"How kind you are, George; but I'm afraid after they heard your fineGerman they'd put _you_ behind the bars for murdering the language."
With that parting shot Buster hurried away, leaving Josh shaking hissides with laughter, for they did love to get a crack at George, who wasalways complaining and throwing cold water on every plan.
Jack led the way, for, having been already over the ground, he couldserve in the capacity of pilot.
"Listen, Buster," he said impressively as they walked along toward thenearby street, "from now on we want to let everybody know that we'reAmerican boys, and not English, you understand."
"What's the idea, Jack? Up to now a lot of people have taken us forEnglish, and we've let it go at that without taking the bother toexplain, because there's always been a warm friendly feeling betweenthe Austrians and the English."
"That's right, Buster, but if Great Britain gets into this bi
g scrap youcan see that she'll be up against the soldiers of Austria-Hungary aswell as those of the Kaiser. So from now on stand up for your colors.We're Americans every time, and don't you forget it."
Buster evidently saw the point, for he promised to faithfully observethe counsel of his mate, in whom he placed the utmost reliance.
They soon reached the store which Jack had noticed. It was quite anextensive establishment, and there could be little doubt but thateverything needful on Buster's list might be procured there. If some ofthe items chanced to be lacking, their place could be filled with othersequally attractive, Jack felt sure.
By great good luck the proprietor could speak and read English. Thismade it very easy for the purchasers. He also promised to have the goodsdelivered inside of an hour, and said he knew the boatyard well.
When Jack went to pay for their purchases he had only English money. Hethought the merchant looked at him a little more closely, and consideredthat this was a very good opportunity to prove their nationality. So hetook out a letter he had just received, which bore the home postmarkacross in America. This he showed, as well as one Buster also produced,as proof of his assertion that they were Americans, and not English.
"Nothing like getting your hand in," he told Buster later on when theywere making their way back to where the boat was tied up.
"And come to think of it," added the other with sudden vehemence, "Ibelieve I've got a little silk edition of Old Glory stowed away somewherein my bundle. I just chucked the same in, thinking we might want tofasten it to our boat; but up to this minute it's slipped my mind. How'dit do to make use of it, Jack?"
"Splendid idea," commented the other.
"As long as that waves in the breeze nobody can mistake our nationality;even if George keeps on trying to talk that silly German of his. Hemakes such a mess of it that some of these people may think we're spiesout to learn all about the fortifications of the lower Danube."
Upon their arrival at the boat the others questioned them concerning thesuccess of their undertaking. Josh also wanted to know if they hadmanaged to pick up any further news concerning the great struggle thathad begun.
"We went after grub," Buster told him severely, "and that being thecase, you needn't expect that we would waste our precious time jabberingabout a silly old war, would you? If you do you've got another guesscoming. And say, we got everything on my list, would you believe it, orsomething that was just as good."
"Huh! I can see why you're grinning so happily, Buster," sneered George;"you're contemplating many a fine feed ahead."
"We're all in the same boat, George," sang out Buster blithely; "andwhen the tocsin calls us to supper I notice that as a rule you're neverhanging far in the rear. Considering the difference in our heft, I takeit I've got a bird's appetite compared with you and Josh here--pound forpound."
"Well, it's getting twilight, so suppose we start in with that samesupper," Jack ventured to say. "For one I'm willing to admit that anafternoon humming down the river has given me a ferocious appetite; andI'm not ashamed to declare it, either."
Buster needed no second invitation. Time had been when the fat boyhardly knew how to cook a rasher of bacon properly; but his love ofeating had inspired him to pick up fresh knowledge, with the result thathe now stood in a class by himself.
Perhaps Josh and George, wishing to shirk much of their share of theculinary operations, flattered Buster more than was really necessary.They imposed upon his good nature in this way outrageously; but sincethe stout youth seemed to really enjoy handling the saucepans andskillet, Jack interposed no objections.
Supper was soon ready, though they had to light the lanterns beforethey could sit down at the little adjustable table, which, when notin use, could be slung up against the wall of the cabin and the spaceit occupied utilized as sleeping quarters for one of the crew.
After that they sat around talking in low tones and covering a widerange of subjects as usual in their conversation, from the folks athome, numerous former escapades that came to mind, to the terribleconflict that apparently promised to engulf the whole of Europe in itsthrall.
Then a vehicle came into the boatyard and the stores were taken aboard.When they had been stowed away in temporary places Jack declared that hemeant to open his letter from home and enjoy the contents.
Of course, this reminded the others that they too had news from thosedear ones now so far away, and for a long time the four sat there, lostin contemplation of distant scenes brought close to them by thoseenvelopes and their contents.
Later on they lay down to secure what sleep was possible. As a rule,after the first night afloat all of them had little difficulty aboutsleeping; but it seemed that on this occasion they turned and tossedconsiderably more than usual before settling down. Perchance it was thethrilling news they had heard that afternoon that made them so restless;or it may have been a premonition of coming difficulties that kept themawake; but morning came and found them far from refreshed.