“H--m,” he said, “that’s a curious passport, but I think it will do. We don’t want to stop boys, anyway.” Then turning to Captain Foster, “Your papers are all right, captain.” And he added significantly, as he went down the side, “I think there is going to be a storm; don’t let it catch you in the Straits, or you might be wrecked.” As soon as the Turkish officer had left the ship, Captain Foster sprang to the signal-button for the engine-room and rang full speed ahead. The Princess Mary’s screws churned the water furiously, and she was soon throwing the spray back from her bows. But the captain did not appear to be satisfied; he told the man at the wheel to keep her well in the middle of the stream, and rang for greater speed. In obedience to his demands dense black smoke poured from the funnel, and the little vessel ploughed through the water faster than the boys had supposed could be possible. “You see the Princess Mary is good for something, if she is old,” said Captain Foster proudly as he returned to the boys. “She can’t go too fast to suit me, captain,” said Sidney, watching with pleasure the shores as they glided past. “Nor me either,” said the captain. “That officer is an old friend of mine, and he meant for me to sit up and take notice when he gave me that warning.” “About the storm?” asked Raymond. “I wondered what he meant. It doesn’t look now as though it would ever storm.” “He meant something worse than a windstorm,” said the captain. “But if I can have until to-morrow morning, they may do what they please.” “Do you think Turkey is going into the war?” asked Sidney. “I think that’s what they’re getting ready for,” replied the captain. “Which side will they join?” “Well, it won’t be England; I’m sure of that. They would just love to kick up a fuss in Egypt.” Captain Foster kept close watch of the Princess Mary’s speed, and did not allow the engines to subside in the least. So long as they were threading the narrow Strait of the Bosporus, the boys were kept fully occupied in watching the various interesting sights on either side, and the numerous shipping which they met. After a time, however, the ship drew out into the Sea of Marmora, and then there was less of interest to be seen. The captain, too, appeared distrait, and was not so good company as he had been while they were traversing the Black Sea. So the boys felt rather dull, and when night came they went to bed early. In the morning when the boys looked out of their porthole of a window, they thought the ship must be still in the Sea of Marmora, for there was only water to be seen on either side. “I wish this old tub could go faster,” said Raymond grumblingly. “We’ll never get to Venice at this rate.” “She seems to be making good speed,” said Sidney, as he watched the water surge past the side of the boat. “I don’t understand why we aren’t farther along; perhaps they were obliged to lie to for some reason in the night.”