[Gutenberg 44487] • Captured at Tripoli: A Tale of Adventure

CHAPTER I. Off to the Seat of War

"WELL, we've seen something of the fun," exclaimed Hugh Frazer, as the last of the 89th Regiment of Infantry filed through the jealously-guarded gateway of the Naval Yard at Naples. "Come on, let's get back to the front, and we may see the transports leave the bay."Hugh

Hugh Frazer and his stanch companion, Gerald Kit-by, were staying with the former's parents at the Hôtel des Etrangers. Both lads had been spending their summer holidays in Italy, and were leaving for England at the end of the week. They ought to have been already at school, but a slight attack of malaria, which with the utmost impartiality had affected both boys, had prevented them from returning to Rossall at the commencement of the term.

Hugh, more generally known to his companion as "Rags", a nickname bestowed upon him by reason of his hot-headed impulsiveness, was fifteen years of age, tall, well-proportioned, and dark-featured. Gerald, on the other hand, was three inches shorter, slightly inclined to stoutness, and of a fresh, ruddy complexion. His face almost invariably wore a smile, with the result that his schoolfellows promptly dubbed him "Sunny Jim", a nickname that eventually was fined down to "Jim". He was six months younger than Hugh, and so even-tempered that he seemed eminently suited to his companion's impulsive and masterful nature.

Threading their way through the dense crowd of enthusiastic Neapolitans who still pressed round the now fast-closed gates, the two lads set off at a quick pace, in spite of the sweltering heat of that October afternoon.

"Look out, Rags!" shouted Gerald, pulling his chum backwards just in time to escape being run down by a motor car that, packed with officers of the Bersaglieri, was pelting down the Strada Marina at a break-neck pace. The lads drew back, and found themselves under the noses of a couple of mules, which a fluent-voiced Neapolitan cabby was urging in the opposite direction. Lustily tugging at the ropes that did duty for reins, the man succeeded in pulling up, to the accompaniment of a volley of abuse directed towards the cause of the obstruction. The sudden halt caused the sole occupant of the ramshackle cab to thrust his head through the open window in order to ascertain the reason for the delay, and to Hugh Frazer's surprise he recognized an old friend of his family, Arthur Reeves.

"Whoever would have thought of meeting you in Naples, Hugh?" exclaimed Mr. Reeves genially. "Jump in—your friend too, of course—and tell me as much as you can in less than a minute. My time's precious just now."

CONTENTS

OFF TO THE SEAT OF WAR

UNDER FIRE

PRISONERS

THE SHEIKH'S SALT

THE SANDSTORM

THE ESCAPE

THE FIGHT IN THE DESERT

A DISCOVERY

THE MIRAGE

CHALLENGED

THE MEDIAEVAL CITY

SIR JEHAN DE VALX

THE MOSLEM HOST

THE DASH FOR THE GUN

THE STRUGGLE AT THE BREACH

SIR JEHAN'S SUCCESSOR

THE FLIGHT FROM CROIXILIA

REEVES'S RUSE

THE PERILS OF THE RIVER

RUNNING THE LAST GAUNTLET

Illustrations

WHY, IT'S THE RIVER!' EXCLAIMED GERALD

THE APPROACH OF THE MONOPLANE

THE CITY OF CHARLETON

THE SECOND GUN TEST

A GOOD SHOT