“I wonder how our friends Adolph Tuessig and Carl Potzfeldt will be able to move around London?” ventured Tom, as if a little amused at the thought.
“We don’t know for certain whether Adolph was aboard our boat, do we?” Jack suggested.
“Well, we saw a man all muffled up come ashore, and take a taxi as soon as he could pass the customs officers. And somehow he seemed to strike me as just about as tall as Tuessig.”
“I’m glad I had a chance to wave good-bye to Bessie Gleason. I wonder if we’ll ever meet her again?”
“You never can tell. Queer things sometimes happen in this world. Neighbors who lived side by side for years in New York City and never even spoke to each other, have met face to face on the top of the pyramids. Yes, and almost hugged each other, they were so tickled to see somebody from home.”
“Anyway, she told me how a letter to her would be apt to reach her sooner or later,” Jack said, with a grin. “I like that little girl. She’s a smart one! But I’m afraid she’s bound to have a hard time of it with that scowling guardian.”
In due time the two chums reached London. They had been posted as to what they should do and had already engaged a room at a good small hotel.
London is in some ways pretty much the same to-day as in years past. There is the noise of the streets, and the great crowds to be met with everywhere. Of course the one remarkable change lies in the multitude of uniforms and the constant sight of wounded soldiers who have been sent over from the Continent to recover from their injuries.
All that afternoon the two young Americans went about to see what they could of the vast human bee-hive, of which they had heard so much. Jack in particular seemed never satisfied; the more he saw the greater his appetite for further experiences, and their time was fully occupied in this way up to twilight.
When they returned to their hotel, hungry and tired after a most energetic day, intending to dress before going to the restaurant for dinner, a sudden fresh feeling of alarm took possession of Jack.