CHAPTER XXV.FOUND AT LAST.
For fear lest the revengeful Turks might seek to shell the camp after their recent serious defeat it was deemed unwise to use much light. Men went about with electric hand torches, where they had them, and sought out the wounded. Then these were placed on stretchers and carried down to where a temporary field hospital had been arranged, so that their injuries might be cared for.
As the Territorials had for the most part fought within the line of their own trenches it was not difficult to find those who were in need of tender care. Jack and Amos were surprised at the number, for they had not imagined the fight to be of such a desperate nature. Evidently the Turks had attacked with their customary dash and recklessness, even throwing themselves into the enemy trenches to grapple with the invaders of Islam territory.
There were also quite a number of gallant fellows who would never again, alas, return to their far-distant native shores. They had yielded up their young lives in the great cause for which they believed the Allies were fighting—universal freedom from the horrible idea of militarism. The boys felt sad when they gazed upon these victims of the Turks’ ferocity; and deep down in their hearts both of them fervently hoped and prayed that the sacrifice of so many valuable lives on both sides would not have been made in vain.
They soon found themselves busily engaged. Having already had considerable experience in handling a stretcher, they knew just how to go about the caring for the wounded. Indeed, it was doubtful whether any of those among whom they took their place carried themselves more admirably.
Back and forth they went, their feet dragging a little, for they were very tired, but determined not to flinch while another poor fellow remained to be taken to where he could be looked after.
So, by degrees, the last of the wounded had been found out. The boys had come down with a poor chap whom they had found trying to keep from bleeding to death after having made a rude tourniquet of his large silk bandana handkerchief, possibly a last present from his girl at home. Being somewhat experienced themselves in the surgical arts, the boys had hastened first of all to rearrange this, so that it would do its work better; after which they had placed him on the litter, and made their way down to the emergency hospital with their burden, the man having fainted in the meantime from utter weakness and exhaustion.
There was really no need of them climbing the rise again, for word had been passed around that all the wounded had now been taken care of.
Jack could give a pretty good guess what was on the mind of his chum when he saw Amos begin to glance eagerly around as soon as they found themselves amidst the busy scenes of the field hospital.
“He is thinking of Frank, and the chance oflearning something about him here,” was what flitted through the brain of Jack as they bore their groaning burden toward the place where several army surgeons were working steadily.
To tell the truth the closer Amos came to realizing his ambition, which as we know was to find his brother, the greater his fears arose. He dreaded lest after all his long search he might discover Frank just a little too late. The daring aviator was accustomed to taking such fearful chances in his chosen vocation that there must always be heavy odds against his coming through alive.
And when Amos saw the steady stream of men in khaki being carried to the operating tables he stared hard at each and every one as though really afraid deep down in his brotherly heart he was fated to find Frank there, a mangled wreck, and utterly beyond the task of going back home to say good-bye to the father who yearned to receive his forgiveness.
Jack had an idea just then, which he hastened to communicate to his chum.
“Take your chance and ask the head surgeon about Frank,” was his suggestion.
“I believe I will,” replied the other, not without a perceptible shudder. “He might know of him, for of course most of the news of the camp is heard at the headquarters of the surgical staff. Thank you for speaking about it, Jack.”
They soon found means to dispose of their burden, and both boys were relieved when they heard that by now the field had been well scoured by men with stretchers, and that apparently the last of the wounded had been brought in.
The Turks really behaved better than the boys had dreamed would be the case. Indeed, many times they heard some of the Allies speak in terms of respect and admiration for the generosity of the Turkish soldiers, and often bitterly comparing it with the ferocity and apparent cruelty they had met with on the part of others among the Central Powers fighters.
So Amos, watching for an opportunity, presently approached the head surgeon. This party was a grizzled veteran who doubtless had seenmuch service in his vocation, and at the outbreak of the Great War had only too gladly placed his knowledge at the disposition of the King.
He must have noticed the recent work of the two lads at the time they bore in the wounded Australian, for, as Amos approached, the fatigued surgeon actually smiled and held out his hand.
At another time Amos might have shuddered at seeing signs of blood on the fingers extended in hospitable greeting; but by now he had gone through so much that was terrible and nerve stretching that the experience had hardened him to such things. Besides the boy was rapidly becoming what might be called philosophical, as happens to all those who are brought in close contact with varied scenes of suffering.
“I’m glad you’ve given me the chance to thank you, my brave lad, for your assistance,” said the head surgeon as he grasped the hand of Amos. “I do not know who you two boys are, for somehow you are different from our English lads, butthere’s little doubt your hearts are with us in this terrible carnage.”
“We are both American boys,” said Amos hastily, his eyes sparkling with pleasure at this friendly and hearty greeting, which was so different from what a good many Britishers would have exhibited, for they seem to repress their feelings until outsiders come to look upon them as cold-blooded people, which is not the case at all.
“That pleases me again,” said the surgeon, “for my wife was of your country, and I have spent many happy months visiting America. But pardon my curiosity, please; what can have brought two lads of your age over here in the midst of the fighting, and particularly on Gallipoli Peninsula, where one would least expect to meet you?”
That gave the anxious Amos the opening he wanted, and so he immediately started in to tell of his long search for his brother, and just why, at that particular time above all others, it was of the greatest importance that Frank should returnhome with him, even though he meant to come back to his duty again.
“Tell me his name,” said the surgeon, “possibly I may happen to know of him even if I have never met him personally.”
His surprise was great when the boy proudly let it be known that the brother whom he sought had established a wonderful reputation for valor among the Allies—indeed, that he even had a price set on his head by the Germans, who had learned to fear him above all the dashing birdmen who served in the ranks of the French and the British.
“Indeed, you astonish me,” remarked the kindly head surgeon; “it must give you great satisfaction to hear on every side that this wonderful brother of yours is accounted the best aviator we have. Far and near I have heard his praises sung, and if any class of men can appreciate true bravery surely soldiers may. I heard only yesterday that he was working with us now on Gallipoli, but as yet I have not had the pleasure of making his acquaintance. In a way that may beaccounted fortunate for him, since many come to me who would rather not.”
Amos was, of course, a bit disappointed. He had anticipated meeting with better success than this.
“I thank you very much for what you have said, Doctor,” he remarked, controlling his emotion. “We expect to make inquiries, and before a great while I shall hope to run across Frank, who can hardly hide his light under a bushel here, for he will be either with the fleet at some island rendezvous, or else on shore;” and as the surgeon’s services were required just then nothing more could be said.
Amos still lingered, not that he liked to see the gruesome sights, but from some reason he himself could hardly have explained had he been asked.
Just then two men who had an empty stretcher came in. Evidently they had searched in vain for a last victim, and failing to find any meant to give up the task.
One of them strode over to an army surgeonwho, with shirt sleeves rolled up, had been industriously at work, though just then business seemed slack. Jack noticed that this person was a young fellow with a face well tanned by the air and sun. He had a rough bandage around his arm, which was stained by blood, and it was evident that while wounded slightly himself he had insisted on making use of his undoubted strength to carry some of the boys to the hospital.
The surgeon greeted him as though he looked on him as some sort of hero; for he began to quickly undo the hastily placed bandage so as to examine the cut made by a bayonet or flying shrapnel.
Amos uttered a little cry that made his chum turn and stare at him. He found the other focussing his eyes on the darkened face of the young man, while his hands were closed fiercely.
“Frank! oh! Frank!” almost shouted Amos.
At that the other whirled around and stared at the boy, who was now advancing towards him with outstretched hands.
“Don’t you know me, Frank?” cried Amoshoarsely. “It’s—your—own—brother—Amos!”
“Don’t you know me, Frank?” cried Amos.—Page 308
“Don’t you know me, Frank?” cried Amos.—Page 308
“Don’t you know me, Frank?” cried Amos.—Page 308
At hearing that astounding assertion, the young aviator looked as though he believed himself dreaming. To meet his younger brother here in the midst of bloody scenes, Amos, the “kid” whom he only remembered as a little fellow, was almost beyond his comprehension.
But in another moment Amos had reached his side, and putting out his arms, Frank hugged the lad to his heart, regardless of the pain such a movement must have caused him.
“What brought you over here, boy?” he demanded, as soon as he could catch his breath.
“Oh! we have been searching for you everywhere,” replied Amos, beaming upon the brother of whom he was so proud. “All the way across Belgium, and most of the way along the lines of battle in France, always arriving just too late to meet you. Get your arm looked after, Frank, and then I’ve got a thousand things to tell you. I’m so happy I feel as if I were flying through space, just as we saw you do when you threw those bombs on the Turks yesterday.”
“What, were you there with the Australians through the fierce battle?” demanded Frank, hardly able to believe his ears, for to his mind Amos was still the same “kid” the latter had been when he left home some years back, and he could not realize that the boy had grown to be so tall and stout.
“Yes, and we helped carry in the wounded afterwards; but you shall hear it all, only on condition that you let the surgeon attend to your wound, which looks like a bad one, too.”
“The only tough thing about it is I need that arm every time I go up, and it’s going to cripple me for some time, I’m afraid,” complained Frank, bitterly.
“Then you must take a vacation, and go back home with me, if only for a visit,” said Amos, in a thrilling tone. “Father is nearing his end, we fear, Frank, and he is crazy to see you just once again before he dies. You surely wouldn’t refuse him the last chance to ask you to forgive him; for, Frank, what was lost has been foundjust lately, back of the drawer in the desk where it lay all these years!”
Upon hearing how his name had been cleared, Frank seemed to draw in a long breath. It evidently meant much to him to have that stern father know he was innocent of the crime that had been laid at his door. He put a hand to his head—the army surgeon was already busily engaged with the other arm.
“I’d rather wait until I hear the whole story, Amos, before deciding,” he said, presently. “Though I want to tell you right now I’m sorely inclined to do what you are asking of me. With this wound I’d be of little use here for some time; and it wouldn’t take more than a month or so to run over and come back. Yes, I own up that I would never forgive myself if father passed away, and I refused to give him a chance to see me again after all these years. Most of the bitterness has left my heart in the passage of time, and if I survived this war I would probably have made the first advances toward patching up a peace with father.”
This made Amos smile broadly. After all he had undergone, victory seemed only the sweeter to the boy. He introduced Jack to his brother, who, it seemed, remembered the cousin. Then, later on, the three sought a secure nook where the story could be told.
Frank listened with amazement when he heard the many adventures that had befallen the two brave American boys during their long continued search for him. Many times did he stop the narrator to ask questions. He even viewed the wonderful paper signed by K. of K. with due reverence; for like most of the soldiers fighting for King George and the cause of the Allies, he had come to believe Kitchener the mainstay of the whole war, and the one whose tactics would eventually win out.
At last there was really nothing else to say, and Amos waited to hear Frank’s final decision. The other thrust out his hand to his younger brother.
“After the wonderful way you’ve followed me over the most of Europe, Amos, my dear brother, it would be a crime for me to refuse your request.Yes, I’ll start back home with you as soon as we can get away. Perhaps they may show me some few favors in return for what I’ve done, and the road will be made easier. But remember, I must come back again when I’ve seen my father. There is yet work for me here, and my heart is in it!”
Upon hearing these words, Amos, boy fashion, jumped up and threw his hat into the air. From that moment, the future looked rosy. Little did our heroes guess, when last on Gallipoli, that the daring enterprise would be frustrated—long before this reaches the eye of the reader—by the steady current which swiftly flowed from the Sea of Marmora toward the Mediterranean. It was this current that enabled the shrewd German engineers to float innumerable mines which wrecked or destroyed many a battleship attempting to force the narrow passage.
Jack, Amos and Frank left for England, having been accorded a passage on a returning collier, thanks to the influence of some of Frank’s admirers. As has been said, no one then dreamedof failure; indeed, the American aviator was entreated to hasten back to his field of duty unless he wanted to arrive too late and find everything carried in a glorious rush.
In this happy condition we will say good-bye to the American boys whose fortunes we have followed through the battlefields of war-stricken Europe. It may be our good fortune to meet them again in the pages of some future volume; but for the present we must be patient and wait.
THE END.
FOOTNOTE:[1]See “Two American Boys with the Allied Armies,” and “Two American Boys in the French War Trenches.”
[1]See “Two American Boys with the Allied Armies,” and “Two American Boys in the French War Trenches.”
[1]See “Two American Boys with the Allied Armies,” and “Two American Boys in the French War Trenches.”