"And not a chance of a bath," chimed in another. "The brigands on the engine rush you half a lire for hot water for shaving, so I'm growing a beard. Wish I'd taken the chance to go home by boat. I'd jump at it now—U-boats and other side-shows included."
"Cheer up, Shortie!" exclaimed another. "Bear your burden like a proper foot-slogging subaltern. You're going home. All aboard, you fellows; Old Paulo is going to take us another mile on our long trek to Blighty."
The guard hurried along the platform, gesticulating violently. The tired but indomitable Tommies suffered themselves to be returned to their comfortless carriages, and with a succession of labouring grunts and jolts the leave-train steamed out of the station.
Half an hour later, as Farrar and the A.P. were making for the quay, they became aware of a babel of voices coming from the direction of the harbour. Presently wildly excited men, women, and children began to stream in the direction of the two officers, until the usually sleepy street was packed with a mob of Italians, who bore every sign of being in a state of complete panic.
"What's the commotion, I wonder?" remarked Greenwood. "Austrian aircraft, or has a U-boat barged into the harbour?"
"Something fairly exciting. Let's hurry, old bird."
Hurrying was no easy matter, owing to the press. Several times excited individuals grasped the officers' arms, and by words and signs indicated that they should avoid some unknown danger. It was not until the British officers gained the end of the Strada Marina, and came within view of the harbour, that the nature of the peril became apparent.
The munitions ship "Giuseppe" was ablaze from stem to stern. The flames had secured a firm hold upon the boat and spar decks, but, for some unexplained reason the fire had not yet eaten its way downwards, where thousands of tons of explosives were stored.
With the results of the fearful catastrophe at Halifax fresh in their minds, the inhabitants of Arezzo were flying from the town in the hope of being able to put a safe distance between them and the source of the impending explosion. The Italian senior naval officer had behaved with coolness and promptitude, hoisting a peremptory signal for all shipping to leave the port and steam seawards.
Already the "Timon," the patrol boats, and destroyer, and most of the merchantmen, had obeyed the order, while the Italian submarines were hurrying towards the open sea in order to submerge until the danger was over.