“Well, I only hope our luck holds good, so that we may see how they bombard the old Turkish forts,” wished Amos. “We’ve been on the firing line in Belgium, had a chance to visit the French war trenches, and see some action there; and if only we could watch the battle fleet at work, I’d be satisfied.”
“Leave that for another day,” advised Jack, preparing for bed.
Despite all that had come to them of late in the way of excitement, as well as the peculiar conditions by which they were even then surrounded, both boys managed to drop asleep soon after their heads struck the pillows. If the waves arose in the night, and the heavy battleship wallowed somewhat as she progressed slowly this way and that, so as to keep on the move, they knew nothing of it, for they had proved their right of being called good sailors.
When they did awaken they found that the day had come. Yes, and the vessel was in motion, going at a fair rate of speed. Amos was thrilled with the thought that there might be something in the wind.
As he hastily dressed, his talk was all in the line of action. He certainly hoped there was work cut out for the Thunderer that same day.
“I’m just crazy to hear those big twelve-inch guns boom,” he told his companion, “though I guess it’ll nearly deafen us at first. We must find out what the men do to soften the sound. I’ve heard that standing on your toes helps a whole lot; and then holding your hands over your ears is a good thing.”
“I’ve got some cotton that we can use to stop our ears up if it’s necessary, so don’t bother your head about that part of it,” Jack told him.
Having hastily finished their dressing, the two boys made their way to the deck. They excited considerable interest among such of the crew as they met, and unaware of what rank the two young chaps might hold many of these saluted them as though they were officers.
Looking ahead in the early morning the boys could see the distant jaws of land that doubtless marked the entrance to the Dardanelles Straits; numerous other big and little war vessels dotted the surface of the heaving sea.