watch his girls moving around the deck in their sober uniforms and white
caps.

Jones endured the voyage splendidly and by this time had convinced
himself that he was not again to be subject to the mal-de-mer of his
first ocean trip. As they drew near to their destination an atmosphere
of subdued excitement pervaded the _Arabella_, for even the sailors had
caught the infection of the girls' eagerness and were anxious to get
into action at the earliest moment.

It was now that Uncle John began to busy himself with his especial
prize, a huge motor ambulance he had purchased in New York and which had
been fully equipped for the requirements of war. Indeed, an enterprising
manufacturer had prepared it with the expectation that some of the
belligerent governments would purchase it, and Mr. Merrick considered
himself fortunate in securing it. It would accommodate six seriously
wounded, on swinging beds, and twelve others, slightly wounded, who
might be able to sit upon cushioned seats. The motor was very powerful
and the driver was protected from stray bullets by an armored hood.

In addition to this splendid machine, Mr. Merrick had secured a smaller
ambulance that had not the advantage of the swinging beds but could be
rushed more swiftly to any desired location. Both ambulances were
decorated on all sides with the emblem of the Red Cross and would be
invaluable in bringing the wounded to the _Arabella_. The ship carried a
couple of small motor launches for connecting the shore with her
anchorage.

They had purposely brought no chauffeurs with them, as Uncle John
believed foreign drivers, who were thoroughly acquainted with the