“Three, two American boys, and the Greek guide, Arturus,” Jack replied, thinking it might hurry things somewhat if he explained in a satisfactory manner in the start.
“Advance one at a time, and remember that any sign of treachery will mean your death!” came the gruff voice, evidently belonging to a sergeant.
Jack stepped out first, and quickly found himself in the company of half a dozen men in khaki, great, tall fellows they were, such as so many of the Territorials seemed to be, as though they grew giants out there in the Eastern Seas.
Faces were thrust close to Jack. One man even struck a match the better to see.
“He is a boy, all right!” affirmed this party, as the match went out.
“We are just what we told you, two American boys, and the Greek, Arturus,” Jack repeated, impressively. “We must see your commander without a minute’s delay. You are in great peril, and the news we bring is of vast importance. Besides, we have a letter for him from the colonel commanding the Australian forces in the lower camp. So please hurry up.”
The sergeant was apparently fully satisfied by this time that it could not be a cunning trick engineered by some of those Germans whom they knew to be among the Turks. So he told them to follow him, and ordered several of his giants to trot along in the rear with their guns held ready.
Amos cared little for all this. The main thing in his mind was that, after all, their perilous undertaking seemed to have reached a point of success. He only felt a cold hand clutching at his heart occasionally when he feared that Frank might never have been on Gallipoli after all, and that the daring aviator whose work they had watched and cheered was a total stranger.
Presently they found themselves in the camp of the New Zealanders. The khaki-colored tents had been erected here and there in places that seemed to afford the highest degree of safety. Doubtless there were also cavities in the rocks into which the men retreated like conies whenever there was danger of the camp being under shell fire from some distant Turkish redoubt or trenches.
Straight up to one of the tents they were conducted. Several men were sitting on camp stools, smoking their pipes, and apparently engaged in quietly discussing the plans of campaign that had been laid out for their guidance, because Jack saw immediately that they were officers.