"Sorry I didn't know before that you were staying in Naples. I should have liked to have had a yarn with your pater, Rags," he remarked. "Look here; it's not too late. Cut off back to the hotel and ask him, to come on board. Bring your chum with you. I'll take you across to Capri--you will enjoy it--and there are plenty of boatmen to run you back." "I will," replied Hugh, as the cab came to a halt at the quay. "But where shall we see you?" "I will be on board the _Victor Strozzi_. Get a man to row you off. Don't forget--five sharp, if you're coming." "No one would think that you lads were recovering from a bout of malaria," exclaimed Mr. Frazer, as Hugh and Gerald, hot and breathless with running, burst into the loggia of the Hôtel des Etrangers. "What are you so excited about?" "Whom do you think we met, Dad? Mr. Reeves! He's off to the front." "What front?" "Why, Tripoli, of course. He sent us to ask if we--that is you, Gerald, and I--could go with him a part of the way." "Bless my soul--go part of the way to Tripoli! Of course it's impossible. I should like to have seen him, though. Ask him up to dine with us this evening." "He's leaving at five," glancing at the clock, the hands of which pointed to a quarter to three. "Besides, he's only going as far as Capri to-day." "Oh, that's different!" replied Mr. Frazer. "That's only that little island out in the bay. Yes, you can go." "But won't you go too, Pater?" "I'm afraid I cannot. Signor Calasso has an appointment with me at six. By the by, what vessel is Reeves going in? Perfectly safe, I hope?" "He didn't say," replied Hugh. "I remember that he mentioned her name. It was the----" "_Victor_ something," added Gerald. "Not the _Victor Stroggia_, by any chance? She's quite a large steamer." "That's the name," replied Hugh confidently. "I always heard that Reeves would never let money stand in his way," remarked Mr. Frazer. "There's one thing--he has a sound Concern behind him. Well, if you're going, you had better be off. You have money with you?" "About ten lire." "Then take other twenty. You may not require that amount, but it is best to be on the safe side." Bidding Mr. Frazer goodbye, the lads scampered off. At the quay they had no difficulty in finding a boat, for their appearance was hailed by a chorus of shouts from a score of watermen. "To the _Victor Stroggia_, as fast as you can," said Hugh, addressing an old man who seemed less importunate than the rest of his fellows. "_Si, signor._" The lads stepped into the high-prowed craft, and the boatman, turning his back on his youthful fares, stood up as he urged the boat towards the centre of the bay. There were nearly twenty large ships at anchor with steam up, while a fleet of smaller craft, mostly sailing vessels, lay closer inshore.