CHAPTER XXI. THE HIDDEN BATTERY ON THE SHORE.

Talking was not to be encouraged during this secret night trip up along the strip of coast stretching between the camps of the Australian and the New Zealand contingents of the fighting Territorials. If there arose any necessity for exchanging remarks, great care was to be taken to whisper in the lowest tone possible.

Arturus, the Greek guide, had told the boys there was every likelihood of their meeting detachments of the Turks somewhere on the way. The enemy moved about more or less, seeking new positions which they believed would be to their advantage. More than this, they were very fond of night attacks, and would go to great trouble to surprise the entrenched invaders.

On this account, then, the boys had made up their minds to be surprised at nothing. They hoped to get through in safety, and would do everything in their power to bring about such a desirable result.

Several things favored them, they had figured. In the first place the night was rather dark, though when their eyes became accustomed to their surroundings they were able to see fairly well. Then there was the fact that both boys were good at this sort of thing, being well up in most of the rules of woodcraft; so that they were not apt to stumble clumsily along, and constantly threaten to betray their presence to any lurking foe.

Best of all, Jack considered, was the fact that they had engaged the services of a skillful guide in the person of Arturus. He knew every foot of the ground, for most of his life had been spent on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Consequently they would have the advantage of being led around certain gullies that might have proved barriers or traps to anyone unacquainted with the vicinity.

Jack had amused himself during the afternoon in seeking a position that was a little elevated, where he could get something of a view of the territory beyond. Here, with the aid of his binoculars, he had tried to figure out what might be the easiest way of advancing.

When, soon after they had departed from the camp, he found that the guide was beginning to turn toward the edge of the water, Jack was not much surprised. Indeed, he had wondered why this might not prove the easiest method of covering the space separating the two camps.

Upon mentioning his belief to Arturus, Jack had learned that part of the trail did lead along the sandy stretch that hugged the shore. The only trouble was that some of the Turks were in the habit of coming down to the water during the night, and this being the case they were likely to stumble upon the enemy at any minute.

A sharp lookout was necessary to prevent discovery. No matter how lonely their surroundings might seem they must not be off their guard. Amos had been duly impressed with the fact that silence was golden in this case, and all comments he might feel inclined to make would have to be left until another time.

Presently they could hear the sound of the waves running up on the sandy beach. It chanced to be an unusually quiet night. Even out on the deep water there seemed to be nothing doing, though far away the boys could catch the flitting gleam of searchlights playing at tag with the darkness, as the vessels of the fleet stood guard.

Had the wind chosen to rise and rattle the leaves of the stumpy trees, as well as dash the rollers against the shore with more or less of a resounding clamor, it would have served their purpose much better. Still, they had to take conditions as they found them, and make the best of it.

Every rod placed behind them counted. Arturus had assured them it was not more than a mile and a half at the most which they had to cover before reaching the vicinity of the other camp.

Now a distance like that may seem a mere trifle when the road is good, and the traveler has daylight to show him what obstacles he must surmount. When he finds it necessary to grope his way along over the roughest of ground, avoiding many threatening pitfalls, listening constantly for signs of lurking foes, and meeting with every conceivable manner of trouble, the case becomes a more serious one.

Amos had started with a light heart. He fancied they would certainly be able to tide over the gap inside of an hour or two. Looking back he could remember several instances when he and Jack had done such a caper as this without exerting themselves unduly. He therefore felt that before the end came they would surprise the guide with the abundance of their knowledge concerning Indian ways. Darkness had little terror for Amos at starting time.

They had not gone very far, however, when he began to realize that he was up against a pretty hard proposition, a much tougher one than he had imagined could confront them.

There seemed to be some sort of rough road along the shore. It could not have been much of a thoroughfare in its palmiest days, and long neglect had caused it to become a hollow mockery, had one attempted to drive any sort of vehicle that way.

For a short time after leaving the camp Arturus had been leading them along this road. Now he dropped down and sought the shallow beach, and Jack guessed that the going would be better there.

In this he found himself correct, though they had to keep close to the little bluff, and stop to listen every minute or so for signs of hostile forces ahead.

Amos was trying to figure out what distance they had covered. The only way he knew of accomplishing this was according to the steps they took. He had worked that all out, knew the number of feet in a mile, and counting two to a step believed he could tell when they had passed the half-way mark.

When, according to his deductions, they had actually made one-third of the distance, his hopes began to mount higher. Why, after all, this was not so very bad; he felt positive they could get to their destination in due course of time; and thinking thus Amos was actually patting himself--figuratively of course--upon his back.

Then something happened as usual to throw down all these fine castles in the air. Arturus came to a sudden pause. He held out both hands as though to prevent either of his charges from advancing another step.

Standing or half crouching there they strained their ears to listen. Low sounds reached them as the night air took a new slant just then, striking directly in their faces.

There was the mutter of voices for one thing, and then came a queer clinking noise, followed by more grumbling sounds. Jack jumped to the conclusion that they must have stumbled upon a nest of the enemy, who for some reason had taken up a position at this particular spot where the scrub grew thickest, and they could more easily lie in ambush.

The boy wondered what reason the Turks could have for hiding here; and what that strange clinking sound meant. Possibly Arturus, who was better acquainted with such things, would be able to understand it all. He had hardly come to this conclusion when he felt the Greek guide pushing him gently back. This Jack knew meant they must retreat for a consultation; and taking hold of his chum’s arm, he commenced a retrograde movement.

Amos did not like it. He evidently feared the Greek guide had been seized with what might be termed in boy’s parlance, “cold feet,” and meant to give up the undertaking. That showed how poorly Amos had sized up the young Greek; Jack knew better, and was perfectly willing to continue to trust the pilot of the secret expedition to the end.

When they had gone back a little way Arturus bade them halt, and in a low whisper started to explain what it all meant.

“It appears that the Turks have brought one of their biggest guns down to the shore here since I was over the trail last,” he told them. “It is a battery hidden in the rocks and brush. Some time they hope that a warship it come close to the shore in the daytime. Then a shot from the big gun sink her easy. So they hide here, and wait their time.”

“But does that spoil our trip, Arturus?” asked Amos fretfully.

“Not at all. We must only go around instead of following the beach, or the old trail. It takes us longer, to be sure, but after all what is time when we have the rest of the night before us? You come along with me, and I show you how it can be done.”

Of course this intelligence pleased Amos immensely. His heart grew light again. After all it was going to be only one of those little troubles which they must surmount before they could hope to attain their cherished end. The more they had to battle with these impediments the sweeter victory would be finally.

They accordingly climbed up the little bluff, taking care not to make too much noise, though Arturus did not seem to believe the Turks manning the hidden big gun battery could be very watchful.

Having accomplished this part of their task, the guide led them further back from the shore line. It was fearfully rough. At times they were almost compelled to get down on their hands and knees in order to make progress; but in spite of all this they persisted diligently, and in the end reached what Arturus must have considered a reasonably safe distance from the battery.

Here he changed his course, and once more headed up the shore, intending thus to make a half circuit, so as to come out upon the neglected road above the enemy’s position.

By this time Amos had changed his mind not a little. He figured that when everything was considered this night’s adventure would take its place among his most difficult feats. Truth to tell, he could not remember the time when he had undergone such a strenuous “crawl” as this was turning out to be. His hands were scratched by thorns and sharp-pointed rocks, while his knees threatened to be placed in the same category. In spite of it all, Amos did not venture to complain--he only shut his teeth tightly together, and mentally vowed to keep up the fight until he dropped; for he believed the goal to be near at hand now, and victory was worth all that he suffered and even more.

After a long siege of it the boys noticed that again their course was changed. This seemed to tell them they must have passed the battery in the brush and detached rocks, so that it would be safe to edge their way down to where the going would be somewhat better.

Once they arrived at that long disused road, it was to be hoped they might continue along it to the end, for it would likely fetch them to the camp which the New Zealand troops had succeeded in making above. This they knew was close to the water’s edge, for thus far it had not been possible to improve the position the Territorials had seized on first landing.

Finally they struck the old road, and Amos mentally shook hands with himself as he figured on easier progress. This certainly was a night long to be remembered. He wondered if there could be any other queer experience awaiting them before the goal was attained.

Hardly had Amos allowed himself to think along these lines when there came a sudden glare of white light. It was as though a dozen full moons had been uncovered from dense clouds overhead, sending their concentrated rays down upon the lonely shore of Gallipoli.

Looking up in a startled way they could see a moving object faintly outlined against the star-studded heavens. A constantly increasing shaft of dazzling light poured down from this hovering object, and seemed to center upon a spot just a little way in their rear.

Jack guessed what it meant almost instantly. He realized that it must be some kind of aeroplane carrying a searchlight, though he had not known of such a thing before. Swiftly Jack figured out the rest of it. During the day just passed, while soaring over the peninsula before or after the battle for the trenches, this air-pilot must have discovered the hidden battery in spite of the care the Turks had taken to conceal the big gun.

No doubt the necessary information had been sent to the commander of the fleet who could arrange plans looking to the smashing of the battery while darkness lay upon land and sea.

Out there a mile or two, doubtless, a battleship was ready to open fire at the proper time. The aeroplane hovering above was signaling to show just where the battery lay. Imagine the sudden fright of those Turkish gunners when that astonishing glow so suddenly fell around them, and remained stationary.

Before Jack could open his lips to mention what had flashed through his active mind there came a flash and a dreadful boom far out at sea. The unseen war vessel had discharged one of her guns, having the exact range, and being guided by the friendly light from above.

Amos involuntarily dropped down flat on the ground, in which action he was immediately copied by the two others. They were none too soon, for the earth fairly quaked under the mighty explosion that followed. The shell had burst very close by, and Jack was of the opinion that the estimations of the British gunner must have been remarkably accurate.

If the Turkish battery had managed to escape that first explosion there would very likely be more coming along. The intense white light from above continued to cover the spot in a most tantalizing way; and there was no means for shutting it off. The guide called out just then:

“Come, we must make off as fast as we can before another shell falls. This time it may be closer to us, and we may be torn to pieces. Hasten, everyone. Do not mind little things like that,” he added, as Amos in his extreme haste fell over some obstacle, and measured his length on the rough ground.

They had not gone much more than forty feet when again came that flash out at sea. Once more they threw themselves flat in hopes of being able to escape the flying missiles better when in this recumbent position. The dreadful explosion was as awe-inspiring as the first had been; and Jack noticed that if anything this shell landed closer to where that big Turkish gun had been hidden from sight, with the intention of some day surprising an incautious vessel of the Allied fleet.