“Well?”
“There is a line there that connects with Cairo. From the latter city we can go to visit the great Pyramids. Several of the men are going. I have talked to them about it. I guess shore leave will be extended to-morrow, and we may get as many as three days off, as the ships are going to coal.”
“That’s a good time to get away from them,” said Herc; “it is like living in a black snow storm.”
“Yonder is Suez, lads, over the port bow,” said a master’s-mate who was passing.
The boys scampered over and beheld a picture that they never forgot. Against the blazing red and gold of the evening sky, the dome and minarets of the ancient city stood out blackly like fret-work cut out of ebony. The mellow sound of bells and gongs calling to evening prayer could be heard and combined to make the picture a memorable one.
The ships came to anchor as dusk fell, and lights began to twinkle ashore. Strange-looking pirogues and other native boats began to dart about among the steel leviathans like so many fire-flies. Sounds of drums and weird Oriental music floated off the shore to the ships. Now and then would be heard the wailing cry of some worshiper high in a minaret. This mingled with laughter and tinkling sounds of stringed instruments in the boats that glided about in the harbor, their occupants intent on seeing the wonderful fighting ships of the great Western nation.
The bugles that commanded “Hammocks up!” disturbed the peaceful scene rudely.
“Come, Herc, time to turn in,” reminded Ned.
“Oh, bother the bugle, I could stand here all night. It beats Coney Island.”
“Is that the best comparison you can find? Come on. We must be out early to-morrow and get ashore in the first boats.”