'Well, sir, the Pacha says that the first lot is to leave Constantinople to-morrow. They are going with a batch of troops in a transport called the "Bergaz."'
'And,' he added—'my father will be with them.'
The commander of G2 pursed his lips in a soundless whistle.
'By Jove,' he said slowly, 'this is worth hearing. This is most interesting.'
He gave a low chuckle. 'Rather a smack in the eye for friend Enver if we can bring it off. Tell me, Carrington, did the Pacha say whether this trooper would have an escort?'
'I asked him that, sir, but he did not know. And he said this—That he would not have told us at all except for the fact that he thinks it brutal of Enver to send civilians into the firing line, and that he hopes, in case you find it necessary to sink the trooper, that you will allow the men to escape with their lives.'
Strang nodded thoughtfully.
'Hm, yes, I suppose I shall have to do that. After all, they won't be much use without rifles or kit, and the chances are that most of 'em will desert as soon as they reach the shore.
'But we mustn't count our chickens before they're hatched, eh, Carrington? We've got to find that transport before we can deal with her.'
He asked a few more questions, then dismissed Ken.