"He is clever, honest and earnest.

The poor man can't help his mutilations, which are the result of many unfortunate adventures." "Sounds like just the man we wanted," declared Ajo, and afterward he had no reason to recall that assertion.
A week is a small time in which to equip a big ship, but money and energy can accomplish much and the news from the seat of war was so eventful that they felt every moment to be precious and so they worked with feverish haste.

The tide of German success had turned and their great army, from Paris to Vitry, was now in full retreat, fighting every inch of the way and leaving thousands of dead and wounded in its wake.
"How long will it take us to reach Calais ?" they asked Captain Carg eagerly.
"Eight or nine days," said he.
"We are not as fast as the big passenger steamers," explained young Jones, "but with good weather the _Arabella_ may be depended upon to make the trip in good shape and fair time." On the nineteenth of September, fully equipped and with her papers in order, the beautiful yacht left her anchorage and began her voyage.

The weather proved exceptionally favorable.

During the voyage the girls busied themselves preparing their modest uniforms and pumping Dr.Gys for all sorts of information, from scratches to amputations.