Captured at Tripoli: A Tale of Adventure

Contents. CHAP. I. OFF TO THE SEAT OF WAR II. UNDER FIRE III. PRISONERS IV. THE SHEIKH'S SALT V. THE SANDSTORM VI. THE ESCAPE VII. THE FIGHT IN THE DESERT VIII. A DISCOVERY IX. THE MIRAGE X. CHALLENGED XI. THE MEDIAEVAL CITY XII. SIR JEHAN DE VALX XIII. THE MOSLEM HOST XIV. THE DASH FOR THE GUN XV. THE STRUGGLE AT THE BREACH XVI. SIR JEHAN'S SUCCESSOR XVII. THE FLIGHT FROM CROIXILIA XVIII. REEVES'S RUSE XIX. THE PERILS OF THE RIVER XX. RUNNING THE LAST GAUNTLET. HAPTER I. Off to the Seat of War. WELL we've seen something of the fun exclaimed Hugh Frazer asthe last of the 89th Regiment of Infantry filed through thejealously-guarded gateway of the Naval Yard at Naples. Come onlet's get back to the front and we may see the transports leave thebay.. Hugh Frazer and his stanch companion Gerald Kit-by were stayingwith the former's parents at the Hôtel des Etrangers. Both lads hadbeen spending their summer holidays in Italy and were leaving forEngland at the end of the week. They ought to have been already atschool but a slight attack of malaria which with the utmostimpartiality had affected both boys had prevented them fromreturning to Rossall at the commencement of the term.. Hugh more generally known to his companion as Rags a nicknamebestowed upon him by reason of his hot-headed impulsiveness wasfifteen years of age tall well-proportioned and dark-featured.Gerald on the other hand was three inches shorter slightlyinclined to stoutness and of a fresh ruddy complexion. His facealmost invariably wore a smile with the result that hisschoolfellows promptly dubbed him Sunny Jim a nickname thateventually was fined down to Jim. He was six months younger thanHugh and so even-tempered that he seemed eminently suited to hiscompanion's impulsive and masterful nature.. Threading their way through the dense crowd of enthusiasticNeapolitans who still pressed round the now fast-closed gates thetwo lads set off at a quick pace in spite of the sweltering heat ofthat October afternoon.