“Too bad! If they would give us wireless that sort of thing wouldn’t happen,” he concluded. They were also looking for us because they wanted us to go to Alexandria, where we arrived the day before yesterday. We don’t yet know why, but I believe it is because of an expedition in the direction of Constantinople. Fourgues is rather pleased, for, he says, it will be amusing to anchor as a conqueror where he has anchored so many times with a lot of junk. I only hope it may be so! He spends his time now telling me about the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles where I have never been. He says that with nerve the thing is possible--that we should take them by surprise and go right in, and then in three days the Turks would be done for. “Only,” he adds, “it isn’t enough to talk about going; you must go!” Meanwhile we’re having a rest. The English are charming and they don’t worry at Alexandria. The crew are improving the opportunity! We’ve had a few broken heads, but Fourgues shuts his eyes because they have worked like dogs for three months and this is the first time there has been any chance of a beano. I took the chance of writing some letters as you see. I wish I had some books. Since August I have been doing a lot of thinking, especially as Fourgues has made me see what a lot of things there are that I don’t know. Before, I never read anything but the papers, but now I need something more serious, if only to make conversation with him. Send me a list of books, old man, on nautical subjects and European history, and some classics too. I will buy them in France. If you aren’t sick at my having abandoned you for so long, ship me a parcel of books you’ve done with and don’t need any more. Here’s wishing you a happy New Year. PART TWO NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND, _April 8, 1915_. Well, old man, we have just been through something special in the way of foul weather, up north of Scotland. You must wonder what we are doing up there, as I wrote from Egypt that the _Pamir_ was going to transport men to the Dardanelles. As you shall see, it’s quite simple.