"A quarter of a million cigarettes!" gasped Beth.

"Too few," asserted the doctor in a tone of raillery, "but we'll make
them go as far as possible. And the thermos cases are also valuable.
Cool water to parched lips means a glimpse of heaven. Hot coffee will
save many from exhaustion. You've done well, my boy."




CHAPTER V

NEARING THE FRAY


On September twenty-eighth they entered the English Channel and were
promptly signalled by a British warship, so they were obliged to lay to
while a party of officers came aboard. The _Arabella_ was flying the
American flag and the Red Cross flag, but the English officer
courteously but firmly persisted in searching the ship. What he found
seemed to interest him, as did the papers and credentials presented for
his perusal.

"And which side have you come to assist?" he asked.

"No side at all, sir," replied Jones, as master of the _Arabella_. "The
wounded, the sick and helpless, whatever uniform they chance to wear,
will receive our best attention. But we are bound for Calais and intend
to follow the French army."