CHAPTER V
SIGNS OF COMING TROUBLE
All day long the powerboat kept constantly moving down the reaches ofthe Danube River. Many were the interesting sights the boys looked uponfrom time to time. Nor did they see any particular signs of overhangingtrouble. War may have been declared by Austria-Hungary upon Serbia andRussia, backing up the action of her ally, Germany, but the indicationsof it were not immediately apparent.
It was true that in several towns which they passed on that morning'srun they could see that groups were in the streets, and there seemed tobe many men in uniform hurrying this way or that. Once they also saw afield battery of glistening guns disappearing up a steep road that ledto the south.
"You can see what's in the wind, all right," Josh remarked, as theywatched a group of uniformed horsemen galloping along the river road asthough bound for some distant point of mobilization. "In a few daysafter the call to the colors, as they say, has gone out for manyclasses of reserves, the whole country will be swarming with men inuniform."
"I only wish we could hold over and see what goes on," grumbled George."It's a chance in a lifetime to be a looker-on in a foreign country,with war breaking out; and I think it's a shame that we are going tomiss it."
Jack took him to task for saying that.
"We ought to thank our lucky stars, on the other hand, George," was theway he put it, "that we have a chance to get out of Austria before everyexit is closed. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of tourists have thetime of their lives escaping, because, you see, every train will betaken over by the Government for carrying soldiers, guns, ammunition,horses, stores and such army necessities."
"Yes," added Buster, "that's what I say, Jack. For one I want to tellyou I'm mighty thankful to be on board this old boat right now. I onlyhope they won't want to commandeer it for carrying soldiers down to theSerbian border."
"Oh, they wouldn't want to bother with such a mosquito craft as this, Ishould think," remarked Josh uneasily.
"Our little flag seems to attract a heap of attention," Buster continued,with a vein of pride in his voice, for that small edition of Old Glorywas his private possession, it may be remembered.
"Where we landed at noon to see if we could buy some eggs and milk atthat farm house," Josh observed, "those peasant girls were examining it.I rather think they must have somebody over in our country, for when Isaid the word 'America' and pointed to the flag and then myself theylaughed and nodded their heads."
"And don't forget to mention, please, George, that we got the eggs allright," suggested Buster; "likewise a bumper mug of fresh milk apiece,and some butter that didn't have a bit of salt in it, which I thinkqueer."
"Oh, so far as that goes," explained Jack, "there's lots of that madeand sold over here. They call it sweet butter, and most people like it.You'd get used to it in time."
"Four dozen eggs, and whoppers at that," Buster went on to say,gloatingly; "which I consider a splendid investment; and we didn't haveto pay half what they'd cost us in the States either. I'm going to havea couple fried for my supper, and anybody else that likes them that waycan get what they want by giving the tip now."
They continued to chatter in this manner as the afternoon wore away. Ithad been decided that while there was a full moon that night they hadbetter not attempt navigating the river after the sun had set. None ofthem knew what they might run up against; and besides, since war hadcome, possibly there would be strict rules enforced prohibiting such athing during the night. None of them felt like taking chances.
Buster, it seems, must have been thinking of some of his previousexploits in the times that were gone, for later on he was seen to belooking over some fishing tackle he produced from his pack.
"Hey! what's in the wind now, Buster?" sang out Josh upon discoveringwhat the fat chum was doing.
"Oh, nothing much," replied the other easily, "only it struck me thatthere might be some kind of eatable fish in this same blue Danube, andI'm looking over my lines. To-night, if I can find any fat grubs orworms, I might set a line and see what happens. You know I've had moreor less success about grabbing big fish out of fresh and salt water."
That seemed to make the others laugh, as though certain humorousmemories were refreshed. Buster joined them, for he was a jolly fellowand could even enjoy a joke when it was on himself.
"I mean to drop one of these lines over as we go along, so as to soakthe snell of the hook, for if it's too dry it might break," Busterexplained.
"Well, here's wishing that you meet with good luck," said Josh, "becauseI'd enjoy a supper of fresh fish pretty good."
"Don't make up your mouth for it, then," warned George, "because younever can tell about such things. Fish are what some people would callnotionate; they bite well one day and then given you the grand laugh thenext one."
"About how far do you think we've come since leaving Budapest, Jack?"Buster asked, not deigning to continue the discussion with George.
"I should think something like fifty to sixty miles," was the reply.
"Whew! as much as that?" whiffed George.
"Well, this current must be all of four miles an hour, and the old boatwhen going with it ought to average ten. Counting for our stops and allthat, we've certainly covered sixty miles if we have one."
"I agree with you, Jack," said Josh; "George is only saying that to becontrary."
"Oh, I am, eh?" grinned George, who seemed to take especial delight instirring Josh up.
"It's been a pretty good day for August, with the sun shining overheadmost of the time, and not so very hot at that," Buster continued."There's no sign of such a thing as a storm that I can see--great guns!what in the mischief can that queer-looking thing be over yonder? Dothey have birds shaped like a fat cigar in the Danube country?"
Of course, every one immediately twisted his head around to take a look,and all sorts of exclamations announced that they were about as muchastonished as Buster.
Low down toward the horizon they saw an object outlined against the skythat was undoubtedly moving, for they could notice that it passed asmall cloud with considerable speed. Just as Buster had said, it lookedvery much in the distance like a fat cigar, and was of a neutral tint,not very easily distinguished against the heavens.
"Why, that must be one of those German Zeppelins we've read so muchabout!" exclaimed Jack, after taking a second look.
"A war dirigible, you mean, don't you?" demanded Josh.
"Nothing else," he was told. "I've seen pictures of them often, butnever thought I'd set eyes on one. Yes, it's a Zeppelin, all right, andheading due south, too."
"What d'ye mean by saying that last?" asked Josh.
"Well, you remember what that officer said about the Serbians andAustrians on the Danube down below, where it acts as a boundary line,being ready to fight at the drop of the hat? Perhaps they're alreadyhaving it hot and heavy. Perhaps the word has been flashed over thewires for one of the Zeppelins to come down and get busy there."
"What would they use it for, Jack?" questioned Buster, as all of themcontinued to watch the steady movement of the fast dirigible in thewest.
"I believe the main thing for Zeppelins to do is to carry explosives anddrop bombs from a great height on forts and barracks occupied by theenemy forces. But they can be also used for scouting and bringing backinformation of value. That may be what they want this one down along theDanube for."
So fast was the dirigible going that in a quarter of an hour more it hadpassed beyond the range of their vision.
"Looks like things are going to happen right along over in old Europethese days," remarked Josh.
"Yes, but we'll know next to nothing about it all," George went on tosay; "for we can't buy a paper, and even if we did none of us could readMagyar. This thing of knocking around in a foreign country may be allvery good when there's no war on, but there are times when you'd like tobe able to buy an extra and learn all that's happening."
"There's a good landing by that tree yonder, Jac
k," remarked Josh.
"But we're not quite ready to pull in yet a while," the commodoreannounced.
"What's the hurry, Josh?" asked Buster, again working at his long andstrong fish line.
"Oh, I thought George wanted to get out and start right away back,"answered the other with a dry chuckle. "He'll never be happy until hecan have all the comforts of home, including the afternoon extra toread."
"Forget it!" snapped George. "I've always been able to take things asthey came as well as the next one, and I reckon I can stand what youfellows do. Because I grumble a little once in a great while, that's nosign I'm not having a good time. Some of my folks must have beensailors, I guess, and it runs in the blood. Don't pay any attentionwhen you hear me complain."
"We'll try not to, George," promised Josh blithely; "we'll have toremember the source, and then forget it."
"There, now, I've got the silly old line untangled," announced Buster;"and I'll let the hook and sinker trail after us, just to make believeI'm fishing. It'll do me a heap of good to feel the twirl as the hookgoes around with the swivel--sort of revive old memories like."
He lay there by the broad stern of the boat amusing himself after hisfashion. Josh could not resist the temptation to warn him.
"Better look out for yourself, Buster," he remarked seriously. "Somehungry fish might snap at your bare hook and get caught. If you weretaken off your guard the next thing you knew you'd be overboard."
"It wouldn't be the first time, either," mentioned George.
"Aw, no danger of that happening," retorted Buster good-naturedly. "Evenover here in Austria-Hungary the fish have their eye-teeth cut, andwouldn't be so green as to bite at a bare hook. If I had anything tobait it with I'd watch my steps, you may be sure. But don't worryyourself about me, either of you. I can take care of myself."
No more was said just then with reference to the subject, something elsecoming up to catch their attention.
The afternoon was nearing its close, and Jack knew that before a greatwhile they must be on the lookout for a place to haul up for the night.Whether they had better select a retired nook for their camp, as hadbeen their habit when cruising down home rivers, or land near some farm,he had not yet decided. Of course, it would be unwise to stop over atany town, since they might have more or less trouble getting away againif the authorities chose to be exacting.
"There goes a long train over there, heading south, too," remarked Josh,pointing as he spoke.
"Seems like nearly everything is going the same way we are, for a fact,"added George.
"It strikes me it must be a troop train," Jack was saying, "for, whileI'm not dead sure, I think I can see men in uniform leaning from thewindows of the carriages, as they call the cars over here."
"Well, what else could we expect?" Buster wanted to know. "If Austriameans to give little Serbia a licking she'll need a lot of her soldiersdown there, many more than she's got along the lower Danube now. Yes,they're soldiers, all right, Jack. I can see them plainly in thesunlight."
"The plot is thickening," remarked George solemnly; "and right now Iwouldn't be surprised if the Germans were having a hot time over inBelgium, if they've really started to cross the little kingdom. They saythose Belgians are fighters to the backbone, and will never stand by tolet the Kaiser cross their neutral country to strike at France."
George was deeply interested in all that was going on. He took pridein his knowledge of things connected with the aspirations of thesecountries, big and little, of Europe, and especially of the turbulentBalkan States. While George undoubtedly has his failings, as what boyhas not, as a rule he seemed well informed, and could argue on almostany point.
"A lot of those fine chaps will like as not never come back," saidBuster, as he gave the fish line another idle hitch around his wrist,preparatory to winding it in; "they start out full of enthusiasm andlife, and are brought home again wrecks, fit for only the scrap heap."
"Listen to Buster, will you?" chuckled Josh; "he's getting to be aregular old philosopher these days."
"Well, it always did hurt me more or less when it came to parting withany one I cared for a heap," admitted the fat chum, trying to lookserious, though that was always a difficult task with him, becausenature had made his round features to bear the stamp of a jovialdisposition; "you may remember that it took me two whole days to recoverwhen we left home. I'm of a clinging nature, you see, and this thing ofsevering the bonds goes against my grain."
He had just said this when something happened that astounded the others.Buster seemed to be dragged from the end of the moving powerboat asthough an octopus had suddenly flung one of its long tendrils up andclasped him.
The others heard Buster give one loud howl of fright, and then the soundwas swallowed up in a splash as he disappeared in the river.
As Jack hastily stopped the engine and prepared to back up, he had aglimpse of the stout chum struggling desperately in the water. If hisfrantic actions counted for anything, it would seem as though Bustermust be engaged in a life-and-death struggle with some marine monsterthat had pulled him from the after deck of the powerboat and into theriver.