Tregarthen and Stockton had barely fifteen hours ashore at Malta, but not a minute was wasted. Gerald had a previous knowledge of the island, and was thus able to pilot his chum. His chief object in making the trip was to procure a lieutenant's uniform. Now that the Admiralty had given the sanction to Gerald's presence on the Olive Branch he felt he could with propriety wear the uniform of his rank. So directly he landed at Valetta he hurried to a naval outfitter's, where by dint of promises of liberal payment he prevailed upon the Maltese tailor to have the uniform ready at the expiration of twelve hours.
"There's no time to be lost if we are to stop this business," was Captain Brookes's greeting on Gerald's return. "The Turkish fleet has cleared the Dardanelles at last. Turn in and take a good night's rest, for I'm sure you want it."
"One moment, sir—how's the airman?"
"Oh, he's a nuisance. Makes out he can't get his engine to work smoothly. I believe it's only an excuse to hang on. However, it can't be helped; I can't pitch him out at a minute's notice, so I've had the monoplane unrigged and stowed away beneath the armoured deck. After this business is over we can land him if he's still unable to fly. Look, there he is, talking to Palmer. By the bye, he seems very fond of that young fellow. Now, off you go, Mr. Tregarthen, for by sunrise to-morrow we may be cleared for action."
[Illustration: CHAPTER XXI]
THE MISSING WIRELESS GEAR
THE narrow waters of the strait between Negropont and Andros presented an unwonted spectacle to the crew of the Olive Branch as they stood at general quarters.
Straining and grinding at their utmost speed of nine knots were four Turkish battleships—the Azizieh, Mahmoudieh, Orkanieh, and Osmanieh, while on their flanks were the cruisers Abdul Medjid, Fezibahri, and Hamidieh, compelled, for defensive purposes, to reduce their speed to that of their consorts. By dint of strenuous exertions—so incomprehensible to the kismet-abiding Turk—the battleships had been cleaned of the deposit of barnacles that had encrusted their hulls during years of idleness in the Golden Horn, and were about to try conclusions with the smaller, yet more serviceable, warships of Greece.