“He believes there is a large body of Turks on the road ahead, and has gone to find out,” Jack told him after he had placed his lips close to the other’s ear.
Amos only grunted. No doubt he was beginning to believe there never could have been a more difficult undertaking than the one they were now engaged upon. Troubles seemed to be following quick and fast on each other’s heels—first that battery, then the task of passing around it, and now something else.
Crouching there, they waited as patiently as they could for Arturus’ return. In the meantime they listened, and could catch sounds that told of many men being close by, a fact that seemed to prove Jack’s conclusion sound. The Turks must be gathering a force with the intention of making a night attack on the little New Zealand contingent beyond, expecting to take them by surprise and sweep them into the sea.
He did not tell Amos this, not wanting to discourage the other, who had already met with so many disappointments. It stood to reason, though, that if the “Kiwis” were dislodged, and either captured, or forced to take to their boats, the aviator must vacate his little field where he had held forth, venturing on so many daring trips.
The minutes dragged terribly. Every now and then Amos would let fall a great big sigh, proving how this delay was cutting him to the heart. Surely Arturus must have had ample time by now to find out all he wanted to know, and should be back with his companions again. But Jack refused to let himself suspect anything like treachery on the part of the guide, whose measure he had taken in the start, and in whom he put the utmost trust.
Presently he was relieved to hear a slight sound as of someone approaching. It came from the proper direction, and he felt sure Arturus was returning.
A figure could now be dimly made out; still neither of the boys so much as moved a finger. They were waiting for something more definite to identify the other.
“Jack, Amos!”
When they heard their names breathed ever so softly they knew it was all right, and that Arturus had come back; so they immediately hastened to join him.
“It is even worse than I believed,” was the first thing he told them.