The boys expected that they would be taken back to where they had left their companions in misfortune, but this was evidently not the plan of their guide and custodian. Instead, they proceeded straight to Golden Horn Harbor, where they boarded the same steamer that had brought them up from Marmora.
“Let’s ask his nibs what’s on the carpet now,” suggested Billy, as they stood on the deck of the vessel then getting under way.
“Might as well try to open a can of sardines with a wooden toothpick as to get anything out of that fellow. But there is no harm in making another attempt, just to while away the time.”
To the surprise of Henri, he missed his guess on the silent Turk this time. The boys’ reception at the palace had raised their standing. The officer told them that they were to repair the damaged aircraft as soon as it could be done, and then pilot both war-planes to the capital. Turkey needed all the aeroplanes it could get, and these had come cheaply.
“Now let me tell you, Buddy,” confided Henri, “we are not going to contract to work around these diggings any longer than we can help; the job doesn’t appeal to me.”
“Right you are, pard,” agreed Billy, “we’ve been pulled and hauled enough; I’d just like to volunteer to do something on my own account, for a change.”
After several days of scientific tinkering, Henri, ably assisted by his chum, succeeded in reducing the fracture at the propeller end of the crippled war-plane, and the machine again worked like a watch.
“What a rattling good chance to steal away in one of these machines if we could somehow get rid of the busy watchers ever at our elbows.”
“That’s a great idea, Henri, but it would be catching a weasel asleep to dodge that boss Turk who is charged with our keeping. If there has been a waking moment for a week that he hasn’t had his face within arm’s reach of us, I don’t recollect it. And, Buddy, it has just occurred to me that it wouldn’t be a very joyful return, after all, pulling in without the men who rode behind us into this trap.”
“That’s a thought that missed me,” regretted Henri; “we’ll just wait and put something across that will count us all in.”