’The Turk we rescued, sir.  He’s a friend of mine.  I mentioned his name to you this morning.  It was he who got me away into Greece when my father was arrested.’

’Of course.  I remember now.  But this is a most extraordinary coincidence—­to find him on that tramp.’

’Not so much so as you might think, sir.  You see he is known to be no friend to Enver Bey and the Young Turks.  He was in danger of arrest, so he took the first opportunity of clearing out.  He was going over to Adramyti on the Asiatic side, so as to get out of it all.’

‘I see.  Well, did he tell you anything useful?’

’He did, sir.  You have heard that Enver Bey has informed our Chief Command that he intends to send French and British subjects to Gallipoli, so that they will be the first sufferers when we bombard the place.’

‘Yes, I’ve heard that,’ Strang answered, staring keenly at Ken.

’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.

‘You can tell the Pacha I shall respect his wishes,’ he said, as Ken left his cabin.

All that night G2 cruised on the surface, going only at half speed so as to economise petrol, and at the same time re-charge her dynamos.  As for Ken, tired out with his exertions, he lay upon the throbbing steel floor, wrapped in a blanket, and slept as peacefully as he had ever slept in his life.

It was broad day when he woke, feeling more refreshed than for days past, and quite ready for the plain though plentiful breakfast that was served out.

A glance which Williams allowed him through the periscope showed an expanse of bright blue sea sparkling under a clear sky and a light breeze, but with no sail in sight, and shortly afterwards G2 was submerged until nothing but her periscope remained above the surface.