9月28日，桅杆上飘动着美国国旗和红十字会旗帜的“阿拉贝拉”快艇驶入了英吉利海峡。英国官员坚持要搜查这艘船。事情并非大家想象中那般一帆风顺，因为这里并没有多少伤员需要救助，于是戈瑞医生建议一同前往不远处的另一个地方。他们真的会改变行程吗？
On September twenty—eighth they entered the English Channel and were promptly signalled by a British warship，so they were obliged to lay to while a party of officers came aboard.The Arabella was flying the American flag and the Red Cross flag，but the English officer courteously but firmly persisted in searching the ship.What he found seemed to interest him，as did the papers and credentials presented for his perusala.
"And which side have you come to assist？"he asked.
"No side at all，sir，"replied Jones，as master of the Arabella."The wounded，the sick and helpless，whatever uniform they chance to wear，will receive our best attention.But we are bound for Calais and intend to follow the French army."The officer nodded gravely.
"Of course，"said he，"you are aware that the channel is full of mines and that progress is dangerous unless you have our maps to guide you.I will furnish your pilot with a diagram，provided you agree to keep our secret and deliver the diagram to the English officer you will meet at Calais."They agreed to this and after the formalitiesb were concluded the officer prepared to depart.
"I must congratulate you，"he remarked on leaving，"on having the best equipped hospital ship it has been my fortune to see.There are many in the service，as you know，but the boats are often mere tubs and the fittings of the simplest description.The wounded who come under your care will indeed be fortunate.It is wonderful to realize that you have come all the way from America，and at so great an expense，to help the victims of this sad war.For the Allies I thank you，and—good—bye！"They remembered this kindly officer long afterward，forhe proved more generous than many of the English they met.
Captain Carg now steamed ahead，watching his chart carefully to avoid the fields of mines，but within two hours he was again hailed，this time by an armored cruisera.The first officer having vised the ship's papers，they were spared the delay of another search and after a brief examination were allowed to proceed.They found the channel well patrolled by war craft and no sooner had they lost sight of one，than another quickly appeared.
At Cherbourg a French dreadnaughtb halted them and an officer came aboard to give them a new chart of the mine fields between there and Calais and full instructions how to proceed safely.This officer，who spoke excellent English，asked a thousand questions and seemed grateful for their charitable assistance to his countrymen.
"You have chosen a dangerous post，"said he，"but the Red Cross is respected everywhere—even by the Germans.Have you heard the latest news？We have driven them back tothe Aisne and are holding the enemy well in check.Antwerp is under siege，to be sure，but it can hold out indefinitely.The fighting will be all in Belgium soon，and then in Germany.Our watchworda is 'On to Berlin！'""Perhaps we ought to proceed directly to Ostend，"said Uncle John.
"The Germans still hold it，monsieur.In a few days，perhaps，when Belgium is free of the invaders，you will find work enough to occupy you at Ostend；but I advise you not to attempt to go there now."In spite of the friendly attitude of this officer and of the authorities at Cherbourg，they were detained at this port for several days before finally receiving permission to proceed.The delay was gallingb but had to be endured until the infinite maze of red tape was at an end.They reached Calais in theearly evening and just managed to secure an anchorage among the fleet of warships in the harbor.
Again they were obliged to show their papers and passports，now vised by representatives of both the English and French navies，but this formality being over they were given a cordial welcome.
Uncle John and Ajo decided to go ashore for the latest news and arrived in the city between nine and ten o'clock that same evening.They found Calais in a state of intense excitement.The streets were filled with British and Frenchsoldiery，with whom were mingled groups of citizens，all eagerly discussing the war and casting uneasy glances at the black sky overhead for signs of the dreaded German Zeppelins."How about Antwerp？"Jones asked an Englishman theyfound in the lobby of one of the overcrowded hotels.
The man turned to stare at him；he looked his questioner up and down with such insolence that the boy's fists involuntarilya doubled；then he turned his back and walked away.A bystander laughed with amusement.He also was an Englishman，but wore the uniform of a subalternb.
"What can you expect，without a formal introduction？"he asked young Jones."But I'll answer your question，sir；Antwerp is doomed.""Oh；do you really think so？"inquired Uncle Johnuneasily.
"It's a certainty，although I hate to admit it.We at the rear are not very well posted on what is taking place over in Belgium，but it's said the bombardment of Antwerp began yesterday and it's impossible for the place to hold out for long.Perhaps even now the city has fallen under the terrific bombardmentc."There was something thrilling in the suggestion."And then？"asked Jones，almost breathlessly.The man gave a typical British shrug.