He turned to the German.  The latter lay still enough—­so still that at first Ken thought he was dead.  But presently he saw that the man was still breathing.

‘A hospital case,’ muttered Ken in puzzled tones.  ’What the mischief am I to do with him?’

‘Ken—­Ken, where are you?’

The anxious question came from overhead, and glancing up Ken saw Dave Burney’s head appearing over the edge of the bluff.

‘I’m all right,’ he answered.  ‘What about you?’

‘We’ve nobbled our little lot,’ Dave answered with justifiable pride.  ’My word, but I’m glad to see you.  I thought you’d gone right over into the sea.’

‘I wasn’t far off it,’ said Ken.  ’I say, is there any way up to the top again.  This is nothing but a ledge?’

‘Can’t you climb the bluff.  It’s not so steep a little way to your right?’

’I could, but my German friend isn’t exactly in climbing trim.  He’s rather badly bust up by the look of him.’

Dave glanced round.

[Illustration:  ’"My German friend isn’t exactly in climbing trim."’]

’It looks to me as if the ledge you’re on broadens a good bit to my left.  You wait where you are, and Roy and I will come round and give you a hand.’

Dave’s head disappeared, and Ken sat down, with his back against the bluff.  He had had a bad shake up, and was glad of a few moments’ rest.  He was quite safe where he was, for the bluff protected him from stray Turkish bullets.

Down below, through the mist, boats were shooting landwards from the transports, bringing more men, stores of all kinds, ammunition, and materials for setting up a wireless installation.  He saw that they were under constant fire from the snipers on the cliffs above, and though for the moment the haze protected them, the mist was fast rising.  It was going to be precious awkward when the full light came.

In a much shorter time than he had expected, his two companions appeared in sight around the curve of the ledge.  In the dawn light he could see that their khaki was torn and covered with stains, while their faces were scratched and bleeding.  But both were in splendid spirits.

‘My word!’ exclaimed Roy.  ’This is what you might call a night out with a vengeance.’

‘The night’s all right,’ returned Ken, ’but it’s getting a jolly sight too near day to suit me.  If we don’t get back to our trench before this fog goes we shall be a target for half the Turkish army.’

‘It’s not far,’ said Dave consolingly.

‘Far enough, by the time we’ve carried in this Johnny,’ replied Ken, pointing to the German.

Dave looked doubtfully at the corpulent form of the Prussian.

’He’s not exactly a featherweight, by the look of him.  However, here goes.’  He stooped as he spoke and took the officer by the shoulders.

‘Catch hold of his legs, Roy,’ he said to Horan.  ‘No, Ken,’ as Carrington stepped forward, ’you’ve done your bit.  Roy and I will tote your stout prisoner back.’