CHAPTER XXI
A HALF-WAY STOP
Time passed, and the motorboat continued to swing along with the currenthour after hour. Jack did not attempt to make great speed. There was nonecessity, and such a move would be doubly dangerous, on account ofpossible snags, and also discovery from the shore.
In spite of their resolve to stay awake, Buster and Josh and Georgeseemed to be enjoying a pretty healthy nap. The wounded stranger alsolay very quiet. Jack hoped he was not in too great pain.
It was a long, dreary spell of duty for the boy at the wheel. Whenfinally George did manage to awaken and, sitting up, asked Jack if hemeant to let him take a turn, he was considerably astonished to hear theother say:
"I hardly think it would be worth while for me to lie down just now,George, because, you see, the night is nearly gone, and any minute wemay have to be turning in to the shore to look for a cove where we canstay during the day."
Both of them watched closely for an opening. If the Danube was anythinglike the rivers they were accustomed to in their home land an occasionallittle bayou was likely to occur, an indentation in the shore line wherepossibly some creek emptied its waters into the greater stream.
If only they could find some such a friendly harbor it was Jack's ideato push the motorboat in and remain secreted during the entire day. Hehad an idea that the region they were now passing through was ratherwild and not settled very thickly, which fact was apt to please themconsiderably.
Josh happened to wake up about this time and wanted to know what wasgoing on. When he was told that morning was not far distant he couldhardly believe it until Jack asked him to notice where the moon hadgotten far over in the west, for it was possible to locate the heavenlyluminary behind the clouds.
"All right, then," he remarked, after George had informed him what theywere bent on doing, "there's your little crook in the shore just aheadof us."
"You've certainly got the eyes of a cat, Josh," George told him;"because it is what we're looking for, as sure as anything."
Jack was already making use of the setting-pole to urge the motorboattoward the shore. As the current proved very mild close in, he did nothave much difficulty in doing this.
They managed to enter the cove, for such it proved to be. As far as theycould see in the wretched light it was surrounded by thickets and lushgrass.
"Just the sort of place we wanted to run across," remarked George; "andthe celebrated Stormways luck still holds good, it seems."
They soon had the boat fast to the bank. It was then that Buster sat upand commenced yawning at a terrific rate.
"Here, what's going on out there?" he asked cautiously. "Have we gotfast on a sandbar? Do you want any help pushing off?"
When he crawled out from the cabin he stared around him as though hecould not understand it.
"What! gone ashore so soon, after all, Jack?" he remarked reproachfully.
"So soon?" echoed Josh. "Why, do you know it's nearly morning, boy? Allof us just slept like logs and let Jack do the work. I feel like kickingmyself, that's what."
"Let me do it for you then, Josh?" asked Buster. "It'll help wake me upgood and plenty, you know."
"Thank you, but I'm capable of doing my own kicking most of the time.But Jack, now that we've landed, you get in under the shelter and makeyourself comfortable right away. We'll wake you up later on when we'vegot breakfast ready."
"That's right, sure we will," added Buster vehemently, though he lookeddisappointed because Josh placed such little confidence in him.
"Of course, I needn't ask you fellows to look out for our passenger,"remarked Jack. "He seemed to sleep a part of the time, though I heardhim groaning once or twice, poor chap. Be sure to cook enough breakfastfor an extra boarder when you're about it, Buster."
With that Jack consented to lie down. He was asleep before five minuteswent by, being fairly well exhausted. When they aroused him two hourslater it was long since full day. The clouds, too, were breakingoverhead, promising fair weather, a fact that pleased them all verymuch.
Breakfast was ready, and the odors gave promise of an appetizing meal.Jack discovered that George had looked again at the arm of the injuredAustrian, though not removing the bandage, as everything seemed to begetting along nicely. The man appeared to be rather cheerful. He couldsay a few words of English, and managed to understand that they wereAmerican boys to whom he found himself indebted perhaps for his verylife, certainly for the many comforts he was now enjoying.
After they had partaken of breakfast and satisfied their keen appetites,the boys sat around and talked in low tones. Josh, while Buster wasgetting the meal, had gone ashore and roamed around a little. Hereported that so far as he could see the place was quite lonely.
"I discovered the house of a Serb peasant," he explained. "There areonly an old man and woman home, as their boys have been called to thecolors to fight. They seem to be well disposed and can speak someEnglish. I told them who we were and what we were doing on the river. Ialso took pains to speak of the Serbian boy and girl we helped getthrough the lower part of Austria and landed near Belgrade. They say weare all of fifty miles away from the capital now."
"I figured we must have covered something like that last night," saidJack confidently; "and another similar turn would take us to where wewould have no need of feeling worried. I was thinking that perhaps wemight influence this couple to take our patient off our hands and keephim until he can get across the river again. A couple of dollars wouldbe something worth while to them, you know."
"We'll try it, anyhow," ventured Josh. "Another thing, fellows; Ibargained with them to have a chicken killed and dressed for our dinner.If we do have to hold over here, there's no reason why we should go onhalf rations."
As the morning advanced they began to hear the far distant sound ofheavy firing again. This, of course, held their attention more or less,for they had come to take a personal interest in the warfare between thewould-be invaders and the gallant Serbs, who stood ready to defend theirshore from attack.
Not feeling just like lying down again, Jack accompanied Josh over tothe humble cabin home of the old peasants. They managed to talk withthem, partly through the sign language, by means of which so much can beexchanged between two people neither of whom can speak the other'stongue.
Jack found that the old people were not at all bitter toward Austriansas citizens, their resentment being only for those in high places, whothey believed desired the ultimate annexation of all Serbia in order tolink the Teutonic races with Turkey and the East, where Germany believedthe star of destiny was drawing her, with the rich booty of India inher eye.
They readily agreed to care for the wounded engineer corps man untilsuch time as he could get across the river again to his own country.Later in the day the boys brought the Austrian to the cabin and saw himinstalled there. George had made a stout sling for his wounded arm, andon the whole the man felt that these young Americans had treated himsplendidly.
So they had again "cleared the decks," as Josh put it. First the Serbbrother and sister, and next the injured bridge-builder who had beenswept away in that hurricane of fire when the concealed Serbs smashedthe pontoon structure.
All they meant to wait for now was the coming of night. They could eatan early dinner, for Buster had that fowl all cut up and ready for thefrying pan. With the coming of darkness after the gloaming they meant tostart forth, take the middle of the river, and make as fast time as theconditions warranted.
All of them were glad to see the sun sinking toward the western hills.During the afternoon there had been no vigorous firing in the distance,though once in a while they would catch a faint boom. It was just asthough the contestants wanted each other to know they were stillwatchfully waiting.
No doubt the Austrians would have other plans to try and carry out.Because the first pontoon bridge had been wrecked was no reason theywould not exert themselves to effect a crossing. History tells us thatin the end they did succeed in transporting an a
rmy to Serbia, and forsome time pressed the men of the valiant old King Peter back along thevalley of the Morava; but once among the hills and wilder country sosuited to their style of fighting, the Serbs, with the old king at theirhead, struck heavy blows that brought consternation upon their enemies.In the end the Austrians were compelled to begin a retreat that savoredalmost of a rout, so that for months afterwards not a single invaderremained on Serbian territory.
Buster had supper ready on time, and it was a royal feast. He had goneashore to where the obliging Josh had built a splendid cooking fire, andhere Buster had an opportunity to spread himself.
By the time supper had been finished and everything cleaned up it wasbeginning to actually grow dark. Jack was keeping track of the time, andalso of the attendant conditions.
"We ought to leave here in ten minutes or so," he said. "The moon, beingsome past the full, isn't to be looked for until about nine o'clock orlater to-night. That's going to give us an hour and more of darkness tomake our first run. After that we'll have to take Hobson's choice."
"The moon is going to shine bright enough," observed Josh; "but as theriver is getting pretty wide down here, and we can keep to the middle,it's small chance of our being seen from ashore. Besides, there are fewsoldiers around this part of the country, the old man said."
When the ten minutes mentioned by Jack had passed the word was given,and once more the motorboat began descending the dark waters of theDanube.
CHAPTER XXII
CONSTANTINOPLE AT LAST--CONCLUSION
That was another night of constant watchfulness. Some one would have tobe on duty every minute of the time they were in motion, to handle thewheel and keep the motorboat as near the middle of the big river aspossible.
The moon shone brightly at times, and again hid her face behind friendlyclouds. But they were at a good distance from either shore, and objectseven in the full of the moon are never distinct. A peculiar little haze,too, hung over the water, making things seem very romantic, and helpingJack and his chums wonderfully.
Jack changed his plan of campaign on this second night. He decided tosit out the first hour or two and then resign in favor of George, who inturn might be followed by Josh, though the last mentioned was not asmuch of a skipper as the occasion called for.
The worst of the danger Jack believed was past. It lay in that quarterwhere the Austrians had expected to force a passage of the Danube bymeans of a pontoon bridge, over which, their heavy guns could be taken.There would undoubtedly be more or less peril all along the border, fornot a mile but would have its watchers, eager to report any activity onthe other side. Still Jack hoped to pass almost unnoticed, if fortunewere kind.
This programme then was carried out, George being put in charge of thewheel about ten o'clock, with orders to call the skipper if anythingsuspicious came to pass. This might consist of any one of a dozendifferent things; and George felt that his honor was at stake when hetook command of the expedition, so it could easily be understood he waswide awake.
Just two hours afterwards Jack sat up. He had been sound asleep all thattime, and, considerably to the surprise of the wheelsman, awoke at thevery time he said he would.
They sat and chatted in low tones for a long time. Nothing happened toalarm them, and the boat kept constantly descending the widening Danube.At times the shores came closer together as the country assumed awilder aspect, with mountains bordering the romantic looking stream.Occasionally they could see dim lights on one side or the other, whichwould indicate that they were passing some village or town.
It was well toward morning when Jack awoke the others. Long beforethis George, who had been yawning tremendously, decided that it wasunnecessary for him to try and sit Jack out. If the skipper were bent onkeeping the wheel constantly, what was the need of any one else losingtheir full quota of sleep? And so George had lain down again, thoughprotesting to the last that he didn't think it quite fair.
When Jack awoke them it was with a word of caution.
"We've got to the Iron Gate, fellows," was what he told them, "and Ithought you would be sorry if you didn't have a chance to see foryourselves. Besides, there's more or less danger for us in the next halfhour, so I concluded you ought to be on deck. No talking now, please,but watchful waiting."
They sat there and counted the minutes as the boat passed between whatseemed like high bluffs. George could easily understand now why theplace was called the Iron Gate. Bulgaria's nearest border lay onlythirty miles away, but the intervening country was so rocky and wildthat an army would have a frightful time trying to force its way acrossthe strip, especially when such valiant fighters as the Serbians mannedthe heights.
Nothing happened, however, and later on Jack calmly announced that theyhad made the turn in safety upon which so much depended.
Instead of Austria, they now had Rumania on their left, and as thatcountry was at peace with Serbia, there was little occasion forbelieving the shores would be manned by troops or batteries.
Jack consented to go and lie down as the faint streaks of coming dawnbegan to appear in the east. He had been under a heavy strain, althoughhis manner was so cheerful that one would never suspect it; and hecertainly needed a good long rest.
They did not wake him up for breakfast, acting on his orders. Thisfrugal meal Buster prepared while they were going at full speed down theconstantly widening river.
So the morning passed. At noon Jack made his appearance and announcedthat he felt like a new man again. George, who had been skipper for thetime being, refused to resign his post of honor until dinner time hadcome and gone. Tired of being on board, they found a good retired placeand went ashore to prepare this meal, as well as "loaf" for an hour ortwo in the heat of the day.
Long before night came on they had left turbulent Serbia far behind andfound themselves running between Bulgaria and Rumania.
Two days later found them at the bustling Bulgarian river city ofRustchuk, and here they rested for fully twenty-four hours, laying in afew more stores and trying to learn something of the great events thatwere happening in other parts of Europe.
It was here they heard that the Belgians had stood like a stone wall infront of the Kaiser's legions, ten times their strength, delaying theadvance for days at terrible cost to themselves, so that possibly theGerman hosts might find their long arranged plan for taking Paris nippedin the bud.
The boys also learned of other great events, beginning with the newsthat Great Britain was now at war with the Teuton allies, together withword of a Russian advance into East Prussia.
All these things interested them intensely. Being right there on theground, and having lately actually been in the whirlpool of the war,they could understand and appreciate the tremendous nature of theworld-wide struggle much better than any of their friends, who wereseparated from the theatre of conflict by thousands of miles and couldread of battles without a thrill.
The voyage was resumed after a time spent in the Bulgarian city, andpresently they found themselves headed almost due north, such are thevagaries of the wonderful blue Danube in its long journey from thenorthern border of Switzerland all the way to the Black Sea.
They were now in Rumania proper, and four days later arrived at theimportant city of Galatz. Here they expected to say good-by to themotorboat that had served them so well on their long and eventful trip.Arrangements had been made for turning the same over to a certaindealer, who was instructed to repay Jack the amount of security the boyshad been compelled to put up against possible loss of the charteredcraft.
Two days later they took passage on a small steamer that was bound forConstantinople. They made the passage of the lower Danube by daylight,so it was possible for them to see every phase of the wonderful riverbefore it was wedded to the famous Black Sea.
It took them the better part of a week to reach their port, for thesteamer was what might be called a coasting trader, stopping at numeroustowns on the Bulgarian and Rumanian shores for half a day at a time.
Nevertheless the boys enjoyed it immensely, though one night a littlestorm did come along and give Buster quite a scare. Fortunately, it dieddown before any damage had been done, though showing them how savage asea could arise in short order in this inland body of water.
Finally they reached the entrance to the Bosphorus, and found themselvespassing along a narrow stretch of water that filled them with delight.It was bordered with green groves, white buildings of rich Turks,occasional fortresses, and in places arose the domes of magnificentmosques, with their accompanying minarets, where at certain hours the_meuzzen's_ loud call to prayer could be heard, summoning the faithfulMahometans to worship.
Then came Constantinople, where they meant to spend several days beforestarting for London _via_ Italy.
Here they had the time of their lives, prying into all sorts of strangeplaces, and seeing just how the red-fezzed Turks lived. All of themenjoyed it to the full, and no doubt laid up a treasure of recollectionsthat would haunt them the balance of their lives.
Buster was wild to see the inside of a mosque the first thing, andmanaged to accomplish it with his mates, though all of them had toremove their shoes and put on ridiculous red slippers without heels,for the sacred interior of the temple would be profaned if shoes wereworn.
Josh had gotten it in his head that he would love to see what a haremlooked like, and came near getting into serious difficulty in pursuingthis fad; but he never reached his goal, and had to give it up.
All the same, the boys looked upon a myriad of strange sights, such asthey had read about in books like the Arabian Nights, but never reallyexpected to see with their own eyes.
Jack noticed that there were a great many Germans in Constantinople, andhe expressed the opinion that sooner or later he believed Turkey wouldalign herself with the Teuton powers against her old-time friendsand backers, Great Britain and France. His prediction was later onfulfilled, as events proved, and eventually Turkey took the mad plungeinto war at the behest of her master, Germany, to submit her lastslender grip on European territory to the test of the sword.
Here in the wonderful city on the Golden Horn we will say good-by to thefour Motorboat Boys. They fully expected to start for Italy in two days,and were now only filling in the time waiting for a certain steamshipto arrive that would convey them through the Sea of Marmora, along thehistorical Dardanelles into the AEgean Sea, and finally to Naples, wherethey could at their pleasure sail for London and home.
No doubt our adventurous young friends, whose fortunes we have followedwith so much pleasure in this and previous volumes, are bound to meetwith further stirring experiences, which in due time we shall hope tolay before the reader. Until that time arrives we shall have to drop thecurtain and write the words
THE END.
Transcriber's Notes:
--Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).
--Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.
--Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.
--Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.
--The name of the Irish lad, known alternatively as Jimmy and Andy, has been retained as in the original.
--The name of the fat lad, known alternatively as Nick/Buster and Bumpus, has been retained as in the original.
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends