We wormed our way round the corner, out of the square all right, and then we lost ourselves, and were wedged in among an awful crowd of people, carts and mules, cavalry and artillery all jumbled up together, jostling and shoving and cursing. We could hardly move at all, or see where we were going.
We did get along presently, and kept looking down the side streets to try and see all those flags over the Club gate, but we'd forgotten exactly which turning it was. We'd work our way to the outside of the crowd and dart down a side street, looking for the flags and those two sentries, and dart back again into the main street, holding on to each other so as not to get separated, and push and push till we got to the next side street. It was awfully hot work; we couldn't find it and I simply felt terrified about Billums, when we ran into those four Hercules mids. whom we'd upset in the morning. I'd never been so glad to see any one before.
'Hello! Coal lighters! What's the hurry?' they sang out. 'Looking for coal?'
We didn't mind that in the least.
'Where's the Club?' we gasped. 'Quick! tell us! Our Sub's been arrested, and we want to find our Skipper.'
'We've just come from there,' they shouted. 'My aunt! what a lark! Come along!' and they turned back and all six of us pushed our way along. It was hot work, if you like.
'What's he been up to?' one of them asked me.
'They think he's an insurgent; he is just like his brother who is one.'
We saw the flags almost directly, dashed through the gateway into the Club, the Hercules mids. after us, and saw Mr. Perkins sitting under a punkah trying to get cool.
'Where's the Captain, sir?' we asked.