s, each like Burns' birthplace,
grouped on the shelving side of a stony cliff. The bay itself is
semi-circular, with a long cape jutting out to the south, the extremity
of which almost always is floating in the air, owing to the mirage. In
the bay were two rusty steamers--one the _Benedetto_, which had been
promised to us by the Italian governor--several old wooden sailers, and
a lot of smallish fishing smacks very brightly painted and with raised
poop and prow. A group of Albanians were toiling at sacks which cumbered
the little wooden jetty.

We immediately hunted out Captain Fabiano, the Italian commander of the
wireless telegraph, and found him in a little house at the northern horn
of the bay. He received us gaily. He spoke an excellent French, so that
the Serbian captain could not butt in and interfere, as was his habit.
Fabiano said that it would take a long time to get a wire to Brindisi,
where we had heard were several ships of the English fleet, very bored
and craving for something to do; we had hoped to get into communication
with them. Then Jan had a brain wave.

"Is not the wind good for Durazzo?" asked he.

"Splendid," said Fabiano, "and no submarines to-day."

"Could we not get a fishing boat?"

"I will send and see."

While we were waiting he told us that he was sheltering the crew of the
ship which had been transporting the English mission's kit. The captain
of the little transport had set fire to the benzine which his boat was
carrying, which act so enraged the submarine captain that he fired three
torpedoes into her, and afterwards mounted his conning tower and fired
ten full clips from his revolver at the swimming men. Luckily revolver
shooting requires much practice. The men had clung to an overturned boat
and had all eventually reached shore, after which they had to march a
day and a half without boots or food, often fording rivers which came to
their waists. Fabiano said that he was going to send them home on the
_Benedetto_.

The captain of the port sent back word that we could have a boat
immediately--much to Fabiano's surprise. But most of the party were at
Alessio. We hurried off to see the captain of the port. Explanations,
certainly when the luggage came; and off went Jan with a guide to get
pack ponies. Halfway back to Alessio was the stable, but the steeds were
not ready, so Jan was ushered up into a top room where was a huge fire,
over which an Albanian was stewing a cormorant wit