The Luck of Thirteen Part 38

The steamer rocked on the sea, waiting for an escort through the mine field, lights were sparkling in the distance, and now and then flashlights cut the dark blue of the sky. Great black s.h.i.+ps surged by in the gloom, s.h.i.+ps with insistent queries as to who we were and whence we came.

At last an escort came: we were berthed and lay about waiting for the dawn.

Long after day came the doctor, who pa.s.sed us, and we stepped ash.o.r.e saying--

"Thank G.o.d we are back in Europe once again."

Two days later San Giovanni was bombarded by an Austrian cruiser, and all the s.h.i.+pping was sunk, _Benedetto_ and all.

We were heartily welcomed in Brindisi by the English colony, and at the consul's office learned that the submarine was an Austrian, and that the cruiser had made the sweep to chase it away. Jo, Miss Brindley, and Jan went to Rome, where they ere feasted by more English, while at Milan--where the rest of the party spent the night--a whole theatre stood and cheered them when they came in.

Jan won his bet by four minutes.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Route Map of the Authors' Wanderings]

THE END