CHAPTER XVII
THE BURNING MUNITION SHIP
"How about a few hours ashore?" asked Sub-Lieutenant Farrar. "There's a boat at seven bells, I hear."
"Only too delighted," replied Eric Greenwood. "It looks an interesting old show."
Five weeks had elapsed since the events recorded in the previous chapter. The two chums, appointed to the "Zenodorus," were proceeding to Malta on a transport for the purpose of joining their new ship. Owing to the intricate route taken by the "Timon," the transport conveying eight hundred troops to Salonika, fifteen days had elapsed since the two young officers sailed from Plymouth, and at the present rate of progress the "Timon" might, with luck, drop anchor in the Grand Harbour at Valletta in about another five days' time.
At present she was lying off Arezzo, a seaport on the Italian coast between Genoa and Naples, occupying a mooring close to the well-guarded entrance to the natural harbour. At another buoy a cable's length astern (the transport was lying head to wind in the tideless waters) was a large grey-hulled merchantman flying the Italian flag. Alongside one of the wharfs were two submarines displaying the red, white, and green ensign of Italy, and another with the tricolour of France. A Greek dispatch boat and half a dozen patrol craft completed the number of Allied vessels in the harbour of Arezzo.
"A whacking lump of a boat," remarked the A.P., indicating the merchantman. "Wonder why she's here? I should think there's hardly enough water for a vessel of her draught."
"She's the 'Giuseppe,' I understand," replied Farrar. "Chock-a-block with American-manufactured munitions for the Italian front. Water? She's in eleven fathoms at the very least. Hullo, ready? The steam-boat's alongside."
In the company of about a dozen naval and military officers the two chums descended the accommodation-ladder and entered the waiting boat, their departure being followed by the envious glances of hundreds of Tommies, to whom the opportunity of setting foot on Italian soil was denied.
"Not much of a show," commented Greenwood after the two officers had explored the narrow street that formed the principal thoroughfare of the town of Arezzo. "The place looks jolly picturesque at a distance, but on a closer acquaintance one's enthusiasm is apt to fall flat."