u and are hostile.' I therefore
said: 'Boom-boom' and pointed to the warship. At all events, I
set up my machine guns and made preparations for a skirmish. But,
thank God, one of the Arabs understood the word 'Germans'; that
was good.

"Soon a hundred Arabs came and helped us and as we marched into
Hodeida the Turkish soldiers who had been called out against us
saluted us as Allies and friends. To be sure, there was not a trace
of a railway, but we were received very well and they assured us
we could get through by land. Therefore, I gave red-star signals
at night, telling the _Choising_ to sail away, since the enemy
was near by. Inquiries and deliberations concerning a safe journey
by land proceeded. I also heard that in the interior about six
days' journey away, there was healthy highland where our fever
invalids could recuperate. I therefore determined to journey next
to Sana. On the kaiser's birthday we held a great parade in common
with the Turkish troops--all this under the noses of the Frenchmen.
On the same day we marched away from Hodeida to the highland.

"Two months later we again put to sea. The time spent in the highland
of Sana passed in lengthy inquiries and discussions that finally
resulted in our foregoing the journey by land through Arabia, for
religious reasons. But the time was not altogether lost. The men
who were sick with malaria had, for most part, recuperated in the
highland air.

"The Turkish Government placed at our disposal two sambuks (sailing
ships), of about twenty-five tons, fifteen meters long and four
wide. But, in fear of English spies, we sailed from Jebaua, ten
miles north of Hodeida. That was on March 14, 1915. At first we
sailed at a considerable distance apart, so that we would not both
be captured if an English gunboat caught us. Therefore, we always
had to sail in coastal water. That is full of coral reefs, however."

Captain Muecke had charge of the first sambuk. Everything went well
for three days. On the third day the order was given for the sambuks
to keep near together because the pilot of the first one was sailing
less skillfully than the other. Suddenly, in the twilight the men
in the second sambuk felt a shock, then another, and a third. The
water poured into it rapidly. It had run upon the reef of a small
island, where the smaller sambuk had been able to pass on account
of its lighter draft. Soon the stranded boat began to list over,
and the twenty-eight men aboar