at guns--Allah preserve us!" said many more who had talked
revolution for a while. This, truly, was a bloodless climax to the
schemes of Germany, Turkey, and the Khedive.

Along the sun-baked road to Mena marched the Australians. They were
treading a road made by a great Khedive for the Empress Eugenie to see
the Pyramids in comfort. When they halted they were beneath the shade
of the historic piles of stones. Napoleon's soldiers had been there,
so had Gordon's and Kitchener's heroes. Now these sons of the
Motherland found themselves at the beginning of another historic
mission.

"There's been a lot of overtime on that job," said Bill Buster to his
pals when nearing the Pyramids.

"Wha built them?" inquired Sandy of Claud.

"Rameses built one."

"What for?"

"To keep his fellows from getting tired."

"Sure now," said Paddy, "there's a dog wid a woman's head."

"That's a Sphinx," remarked Claud with a smile.

These ancient things and the general surroundings made all open their
eyes in wonder, and feel that there were more things on earth than
their own little cabbage patch.

They settled down quickly, and having received an enormous haul of cash
in the form of arrears of pay, the Kangaroo Marines and every other
corps set out on donkeys, motor-cars, cabs, camels and carts to see the
sights of Cairo.

"Gee whiz! this is some town," said Bill, on reaching the gay and
dazzling city. The wide streets, oriental buildings, the weird
bazaars, gaily-lit cafes, and veiled women, amazed these simple
Bushmen. It was like "The Arabian Nights," wonderful, alluring,
seductive and strange. All were gripped by the subtle atmosphere of
things. Their blood tingled with the sensuous aroma of the East.
Cheap wine in the cafes of the Greeks let the devil loose, and so they
fell an easy prey to the lures of the bold and handsome wantons of
Cairo. Thus many were duped and robbed.

Australians when wronged must have revenge. An eye for an eye is the
law of the bush. The revenge came in an unexpected way. In one of the
streets where the wantons live an injustice had been done to one of the
boys. The exact reason was never told. But Cairo was soon alarmed by
the shrieks of women, the shouts of fire, and the galloping of mounted
police. Through the glare and smoke could be seen a little army of men
wreaking revenge. Windows were being smashed, a piano was crashed from
above to the ground, doors were torn down, cr