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diff --git a/23036.txt b/23036.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e7149c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/23036.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7703 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Dave Darrin After The Mine Layers, by H. Irving Hancock + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dave Darrin After The Mine Layers + +Author: H. Irving Hancock + +Release Date: October 14, 2007 [EBook #23036] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE DARRIN AFTER THE MINE LAYERS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Brian Janes and the booksmiths +at http://www.eBookForge.net + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "Unbolt the door!" _Frontispiece_] + +Dave Darrin +After The Mine Layers + +OR + +Hitting the Enemy a Hard +Naval Blow + +By + +H. IRVING HANCOCK + +Author of "Dave Darrin at Vera Cruz," "Dave Darrin on +Mediterranean Service," "Dave Darrin's South American + Cruise," "Dave Darrin on the Asiatic + Station," "Dave Darrin and the + German Submarines," + etc., etc. + +Illustrated + +P H I L A D E L P H I A +HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY + +COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY +HOWARD E. ALTEMUS + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I--WEIGHING ANCHOR FOR THE GREAT CRUISE 11 + Dan is a business man. Sea orders in a jiffy. Anchors a-weigh. The + mine-sweepers at work. In the torpedo's path. The Hun that slipped + away. An indignant neutral skipper. "You vill do vat ve you + tell--yes!" + +CHAPTER II--"THE ACCURSED POWER OF GOLD!" 30 + Dave dares Fate. A new "boss." Secret of the after-hold. Dave is + disgusted. "Vat? Can't proof it you?" Sweeping for more evidence. + The prize crew. The vanishing periscope. + +CHAPTER III--A FIGHT OF THE GOOD OLD KIND 41 + A fair hit. Distant firing. A real sea fight. The "Grigsby" turns + tail. "Circle!" At deadly close quarters. Dan Dalzell scores. A + stern chase. With the wounded. + +CHAPTER IV--WHAT A FLOATING MINE DID 55 + The liner in trouble. The flash of a mine. True to his trust. + Seaman Streeter is busy. A deaf jacky. Not present or accounted + for. Rescue work. Dan protests. Dave sets the pace. Out for + sterner work. + +CHAPTER V--EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR 63 + Why the flash was seen. The "blimp" sighted. A question out of the + air. New help. The sea hornet. A narrow squeak. "Laid an egg in + your path." Blimp and limp. Seaman Hedgeby enjoys himself. + "British hot air," and Dave gets a pal's share indeed. The story + of a capture. In deadly peril. + +CHAPTER VI--IN THE TEETH OF THE CHANNEL GALE 78 + Dave turns real helper. "I thought we were goners!" Making the + grapple again. The day's work of a mine-sweeper. In a boiling sea. + Life lines up. "Commanding officer overboard!" + +CHAPTER VII--IN THE HOUR OF DESPAIR 84 + The vanishing destroyer. Hope, then despair. The meeting of + searchlights. Fighting pluck. The rope from somewhere. Looped! + "Ugh!" The big sleep. The "Rigsdak." A cowboy Dane. + +CHAPTER VIII--DAVE MEETS THE FATE OF THE SEA 95 + From the pages of the Arabian Nights. Mr. and Mrs. Launce. The + shattering jar. To the boats! No enemy in sight. The gray tower. + The hail and a bad time of it. Dave stands revealed. A German + prisoner at last! + +CHAPTER IX--THREATS TO A PRISONER 103 + What the Danes "got." The chorus of terror. The ober-lieutenant + talks. The inquisition. Talk of courtesy. Dave turns stiff. "Where + have I heard that name before?" "Things will go badly with you + when you arrive in Germany!" + +CHAPTER X--LIKE THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH 109 + Captain Kennor is polite. A look-in at the periscope. "Yankee + meat." Dave is tricky. Shots and a threatened ramming. "You + idiot!" Dave plays for his own finish. + +CHAPTER XI--A VICTIM OF COURTESY 115 + What of the woman? Mrs. Launce speaks for herself. The game of + cross-bluff. An invitation bluntly refused. The turn of the + prisoners. On the surface. "You are eager for death." The mystery + of the Launces. "You are the Countess of Denby!" "Save your + denials for use before a German court." Dave invited on deck. "You + are a good boaster." Something to interest him. + +CHAPTER XII--GERMAN BRUTALITY AT ITS WORST 126 + Radio direct to Germany. Could any woman love this fellow? Dave + expresses thanks to the enemy. "My card." The same as confession. + "A pleasant evening for four!" The wild brutes of the sea. + +CHAPTER XIII--FACING THE PLANNED DEATH 135 + The dropping platform. Adrift! Captain Kennor, sea scout. A + splendid inspiration. A bully for safety. The tantalizing craft. A + glow-worm of the waves. And then--! Like a dream. A bad report. + +CHAPTER XIV--DAVE PLEDGES HIS WORD FOR RESULTS 146 + Just hospital. A treat for Dave's eyes. Days of bliss. "You little + patriot!" Back to duty. "The Germans are beating us." The council + of war. Dave's campaign map. Planning the Big Hunt. Something + new--results. + +CHAPTER XV--DARRIN SUSPECTS THE GERMAN PLAN 155 + Sweeping as a fine art. Nosing out the unseen. The "Grigsby" + nearly blown out of the water. A wild Yankee cheer. Touching off a + nest of "sea eggs." The job of the divers. The double find. + Guessing the mine-layers' trick. The "Reed" starts something. + +CHAPTER XVI--HITTING CLOSE TO THE SALT TRAIL 164 + The non-fighting Huns. A tame capture. Not so tame! What the + search showed. "Spot the stupid ones." Questioning Herr Dull-wit. + The trap that worked. German bad language. + +CHAPTER XVII--TRYING OUT THE BIG, NEW PLAN 173 + The admiral approves. Off for the real thing. Stirring up a tidal + wave. Knowing how to get the thrills out of life. Trying to run up + the score. The traveller in the haze. A ship of mystery and shots. + +CHAPTER XVIII--STRIKING A REAL SURPRISE 183 + "Leave the steamship to me." The shot across the bow. A shooting + game for two. "You're dealing with the United States Navy!" Darrin + proves himself. Irons for three. The summons that worked. A tough + lot to handle. Juno of the Cabin. A deadly one, too. + +CHAPTER XIX--THE GOOD WORK GOES ON 192 + Dave takes a chance. So does Juno. The all-right cargo. Who can + the woman be? Dalzell has a fine report. Story of the sub-hold. + Mother and daughter no longer mysteries. "The best in a + six-month!" + +CHAPTER XX--DARRIN TURNS THE TABLES 204 + Weather the ship master dreads. "Look at that!" Getting the drop + on Fritz. Old acquaintances. Dave is angry. The German whine. Not + man enough to play the game. "Why do you hate us Germans so?" Ever + at Fate's orders. + +CHAPTER XXI--ON A MISSION OF GREAT TRUST 215 + The sport of kings. "Don't shoot!" begs Danny Grin. The dull wait + and the sharp dash. Out to meet the hospital ship. "One of the + passengers is Mrs. Darrin." "A special interest." + +CHAPTER XXII--THE RED CROSS TRAGEDY 222 + The Navy and family matters. Under treble lookout. Sighted. Big + pay for a periscope. A wail of anguish. The race of rescue. S. O. + S. The sight of Belle. Crowded decks. Two compartments smashed in. + "No use, sir." + +CHAPTER XXIII--A NOBLE FIGHT WITHOUT WEAPONS 230 + Marine patchwork. Not enough rescue to go around. "Those Red Cross + women ought to be saved." But they decline. Dave approves. An + answer to S. O. S. The fight to survive. The nurses admit defeat. + The lurking peril. + +CHAPTER XXIV--CONCLUSION 244 + + +DAVE DARRIN + +AFTER THE MINE LAYERS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +WEIGHING ANCHOR FOR THE GREAT CRUISE + + +"IT sounds like the greatest cruise ever!" declared Danny Grin, +enthusiastically, as he rose and began to pace the narrow limits of the +chart-room of the destroyer commanded by his chum, Lieutenant-Commander +Dave Darrin. + +"It is undoubtedly the most dangerous work we've ever undertaken," Darrin +observed thoughtfully. + +"All the better!" answered Dan lightly. + +"In our drive against the submarines off the Irish coast," Dave +continued, "we met perils enough to satisfy the average salt water man. +But this----" + +"Is going to prove the very essence and joy of real fighting work at +sea!" Dan interposed. + +"Oh, you old fire-eater!" laughed Darrin. + +"Not a bit of a fire-eater," declared Dalzell with dignity. "I'm a +business man, Davy. Our business, just now, is to win the war by killing +Germans, and I've embarked upon that career with all the enthusiasm that +goes with it. That's all." + +"And quite enough," Darrin added, soberly. "I agree with you that it's +our business to kill Germans, yet I could wish that the Germans +themselves were in better business, for then we wouldn't have to do any +killing." + +"You talk almost like a pacifist," snorted Dan Dalzell. + +"After this war has been won by our side, but not before, I hope to find +it possible to be a pacifist for at least a few years," smiled Darrin, +rising from his seat at the chart table. + +Dan stood looking out through the starboard porthole. His glance roved +over other craft of war tugging at their anchors in the goodly harbor of +a port on the coast of England. As the destroyer swung lazily at her +moorings the little port town came into view. On all sides were signs of +war. Forts upreared their grim walls. Earthen redoubts screened guns that +alert artillerymen could bring into play at a moment's notice. Overhead, +dirigibles floated and airplanes buzzed dinfully to and fro. + +Readers of the preceding volume in this series know how Dave Darrin came +to be ordered to the command of the brand-new, big and up-to-the-minute +destroyer, "Asa Grigsby," while Dan Dalzell, reaching the grade of +lieutenant-commander, had been ordered to the command of the twin +destroyer, "Joseph Reed." + +At the door there sounded a knock so insistent that Darrin knew +instantly that it was a summons. Springing from his chair, reaching for +his uniform cap and setting it squarely on his head, he drew the curtains +aside. + +"Special signal for the 'Grigsby,' sir, from the flagship," reported an +orderly. + +Returning the young seaman's salute, Dave, with Dalzell close at his +heels, darted up the steps to the bridge. + +"Signal 'Ready to receive,'" was Darrin's command to his signalman, who +stood waiting, signal flags in hand. + +Rapidly the two flags moved, then paused. Dave's eyes, like Dan's, were +turned toward the United States battleship that had lately acted as +flagship for the destroyers and other small Yankee craft assembled in +this port. + +Brief indeed were the motions of the signalman on the bridge of the +battleship, but the signal, translated, read: + +"Proceed to sea in an hour, under instructions already received by you. +Am proceeding to new station. Report to British admiral, this port, +hereafter. No additions to these orders." + +Instantly Darrin ordered the signal wigwagged back: + +"Understood." + +Immediately following this the flagship signalled the "Reed," Dan's ship, +giving the same order, which Dan's executive officer, from the bridge of +the other destroyer, acknowledged. + +"Now, Darry, if you'll have your man signal for my gig," Dan urged, in a +low voice, "I'll return to my ship. You and I are to cruise in company, +as far as it may be done, and you are ranking officer. I am to part +company from you only on your order." + +"That is the admiral's order," Darrin acquiesced. + +"Good-bye, old chap!" said Dan, with more than his wonted fervor, +gripping his brother officer's hand. "And may we have the best of luck!" + +"The best of a 'business' kind," smiled Dave. + +"That's it!" laughed Dan, as he started down the steps. "I'm hoping for +'big business' this time!" + +Dalzell had used the word "gig" in a figurative sense. It was a power +launch that put smartly away from the "Reed" and was speedily alongside. +Dan waved his hand to his chum, who was leaning over the bridge rail. + +Dave did not return to the chart-room. He received the report of his +chief engineer at the bridge telephone, then gazed musingly out over the +crowded waters of the port. It was a busy scene, bristling with war +activities. + +Having compared his watch with the clock on the bridge, Dave glanced +frequently at that time-keeper. Five minutes before the hour was up he +gave a quiet order to the watch officer, who telephoned to the +engine-room and then issued brisk deck orders. At this time Lieutenant +Fernald, executive officer, joined the group on the bridge, as did also +the navigation officer. + +Promptly to the minute the "Grigsby," anchor up, turned and steamed +slowly out of the harbor. As she passed, none of the other craft made +signals. As though unnoticed Dave's ship slipped out of port, the "Reed" +following. + +Then out upon the Channel the two destroyers moved, into the lane now +followed by all craft that sailed between England and the continent. + +"All clear hereabouts," signalled the master of a small mine-sweeping +craft, meaning that the destroyers, while in that immediate vicinity, +might feel secure against the hidden mines with which the enemy were wont +to strew these waters. + +"A few miles from here," Dave murmured to Fernald, "we shall have to look +after our own security. It is going to be lively work." + +"Yes, sir?" Fernald inquired, with a rising inflection, for he did not +know the purpose of this cruise. + +Turning to make sure that the signalman could not overhear, Darrin went +on, in a lower voice: + +"Our orders take us out to wage war against the German mine-layers!" + +"A great work, sir!" replied the executive officer with enthusiasm. +"There is sure to be plenty of sport. Then the enemy mine-layers have +been working more industriously of late?" + +"The waters to the north are more thickly strewn with mines than at any +time previously," Dave continued. "Six British mine-sweeping craft have +been sent north to do all they can to remove those hidden perils from the +paths of transports and freighters. Our first mission is to protect the +mine-sweepers as far as possible, but we are also to keep a sharp lookout +for German submarines; and especially submarines of the mine-laying +kind." + +"I understand, sir," Fernald nodded. The tone of enthusiasm had faded +from his voice. Now he displayed only the grave interest of the +professional sea-fighter. + +"All officers and men will have to work twice as hard as usual," Darrin +went on. "There will be some chance to sleep, but no other leisure. Meals +will be taken in the least possible time. Our entire crew must be at all +times ready for instant response to the call to quarters." + +"That will not be hard in such times, sir," answered Fernald. "All +officers and men laid in a good supply of sleep while in port. A few +added waking hours in each day won't hurt any of us." + +"Direct all officers to see that they and their men are fully awake and +alert at all times when they are on duty," continued Dave. "Otherwise, we +are not likely to make port again. Dalzell and I have been intrusted with +keeping down the mine-laying peril as close to zero as possible." + +"Very good, sir," replied Lieutenant Fernald. That capable executive +officer had nothing more to say at present, for his quick mind was +already devising methods for keeping the crew unusually alert. + +An hour and a half after sailing night had settled down. The English +shore was but a vague, distant line. A short, choppy sea was running. In +the sky was a new moon that would set early. + +The watch had changed, but Dave and his executive officer remained on the +bridge. Down in the wardroom such officers as were off duty were stowing +away food in record time. + +Half a mile off to the west steamed the "Reed." Suddenly the lookouts on +both craft reported a vessel ahead. Orders quietly given sent the men to +gun stations. All eyes were turned on the approaching craft. Then her +identification signal shone forth in the night. The stranger was a +British scout cruiser racing back to port from some errand. + +In almost the same instant Dave and Dan displayed recognition signals, +yet the two Yankee craft closely watched the stranger until she moved +between them, when she was fully recognized as one of John Bull's +friendly sea-racers. + +"Any enemy signs?" Dave signalled. + +"No," came the answer. + +Soon the British scout cruiser had passed on into the night and vanished, +but the Yankee lookouts kept vigil even more zealously than before. + +Half an hour later an English patrol boat, after exchange of signals, +passed near by on Dave's port side. Twenty minutes after that two British +mine-sweepers were found at work combing the seas with their wire +sweepers. If those wires should touch a hidden mine it would be quickly +known to the seamen who operated the mine-detecting device, and the mine +would be hauled up and taken aboard the mine-sweeping craft, provided it +did not explode in the meantime. + +As these two mine-sweepers were under Darrin's command, at need, he +steamed near one of the pair, and, ordering a navy launch over the side, +went to visit one of the Britons. + +"There's not very much in the way of catches to-night, sir," reported the +commander of the sweeper, a ruddy-faced, square-shouldered young +Englishman in his twenties, who had been watch officer on a steamship at +the outbreak of the war. "Sometimes the fishing is much better." + +"This is the area in which we have been ordered to make a strict search," +Dave observed. + +"I know, sir. But, according to my experience, we may search for hours +and find nothing at all, and then, of a sudden, run into a mine field and +take up a score of the pests." + +"What is your present course?" + +The commander of the mine-sweeper named it, adding the distance he had +been ordered to go. + +"And the other sweeper sticks near by you?" + +"Yes, sir. In that way there's a much better chance of one of us striking +a regular mine field. Then again, sir, if one of us gets into trouble, as +sometimes happens, the other craft can stand by promptly." + +"What is the most common trouble?" + +"First," explained the Englishman, "being torpedoed by a submarine; +second, touching off a mine by bad handling; third, being sunk by some +raiding German destroyer." + +"Then you often hit mines?" + +"Since the war began, sir," replied the young Englishman, "we've lost--" +He named the number of mine-sweepers that had disappeared without leaving +a trace, and the number that were definitely known to have been torpedoed +or to have hit floating mines. + +"As you see, sir," the Englishman went on, "it's no simple thing that we +have to do. I lay it to sheer luck that I've escaped so long, but my +turn may come at any moment. I've lost a number of friends in this same +branch of the service, sir." + +"Then you would call mine-sweeping the most dangerous kind of naval +service performed to-day?" Dave suggested. + +"I don't know that I'd say that, sir, but it's dangerous enough." + +Many more pointers did Darrin pick up from this young officer of long +experience in mine-hunting. + +"I'm going farther north," said Dave. "If you run into anything and need +help, send up rocket signals and we'll steam back to you at top speed." + +Before ten o'clock that night Darrin had encountered and spoken with or +signalled to the commanders of not less than a dozen mine-sweeping craft. +What struck Dave as the most prominent feature of these small, +unpretentious craft was the slow, systematic way in which they performed +their duty. + +"It's a wonderful work," Dave explained to Fernald. "If it were not for +these dingy, stub-nosed little craft, and the fine spirit of their crews, +hundreds of steamships would probably be blown up in these waters in a +month. The Hun sneaks through these waters, laying mines, mostly from +submarines built for the purpose, and these patient mine-sweeper +commanders go along after them, removing most of the mines from the paths +of navigation." + +Having cruised as far north as his instructions directed him to do, +Darrin ordered the "Grigsby" and the "Reed" to turn about and nose their +way back under bare headway. + +Every mine-sweeper carried a radio outfit for sending messages. Each +craft was also supplied with the mast-head "blinkers" for flashing night +signals. When the craft signalled to, however, was near enough, colored +lights operated from the deck were used instead, that the messages might +not be sent far enough into the night to be picked up by skulking enemy +craft. + +"It looks like a night of tame sport, sir," said Fernald, just before he +went below for a nap. + +"It has been quiet so far," Darrin agreed. "But the most striking thing +in naval service is that whatever starts comes without warning. We might +have a whole week as quiet as to-night has been, and then run into +twenty-four hours of work that would give both of us gray hair." + +An hour after Fernald went below Dave had a steamer chair brought to the +bridge, also a rug. The chair was placed where a canvas wind-shield would +protect the sitter from the keen edge of the wind. + +"I'm going to doze right here, Mr. Ormsby," Dave explained to the ensign +who was on bridge watch. "I'm to be called the instant anything turns +up." + +Accustomed to such sleeps Darrin had barely closed his eyes when he was +off in the Land o' Nod. Some time afterwards the sharp orders of Ensign +Andrews, new officer of the bridge watch, caused Darrin to open his eyes, +cast aside the rug and spring to his feet all in the same instant. + +"Torpedo coming on our starboard bow, sir," reported Mr. Andrews, turning +and finding his chief at his post. + +At that instant the "Grigsby" gave a sharp turn to port and sprang ahead +under quickened speed. + +Bump! Swift as the discovery had been made, quickly as the saving orders +had been given, the oncoming torpedo bumped the hull of the "Grigsby" +with a crash audible to those within a hundred feet of the point of +impact. But it did not strike full on, the contact being only glancing, +like that of a boat going alongside a landing stage. The watchers from +the bridge saw the torpedo's wake as the deflected projectile continued +on its harmless way. + +"We couldn't have had a much narrower squeak than that!" Dave ejaculated. +"Andrews, I congratulate you." + +"I'm naturally interested in saving the ship, sir, and my own skin as +well," replied Ensign Andrews with a grin. + +Dave, not having taken his eyes from the faint streak on the water, +called for highest speed and a complete turn. Then, ordering the rays of +the searchlight to play over the water, Darrin sent the "Grigsby" racing, +bow-on, toward the spot from which he judged the torpedo to have been +launched. In the meantime Dalzell's "Reed" had turned her prow in the +same general direction, steaming slowly after the "Grigsby." + +"The Hun can't be located," Dave confessed, a few minutes later. "That +chap is like most of the other Hun submarine commanders. He'll launch a +torpedo by stealth, but as soon as he knows the destroyer is after him he +hunts depth and runs away." + +Dave's next order was to send a wireless message, warning all +mine-sweepers and other craft that an enemy submarine had been discovered +in that location. + +Though no word had been passed for Lieutenant Fernald, that executive +officer, awakened by the bump and the abrupt change in the destroyer's +course, hurried to the bridge. + +"Did you get a good rest, Fernald?" Dave queried, half an hour later. + +"Fine, sir." + +"Then I am going to the chart-room to rest for a while. I got chilled +dozing in that chair. Set the bell going in the chart-room if I'm +wanted." + +Then Dave slept on, without call, for a few hours, well knowing that +Lieutenant Fernald could well fill his place. The first signs of dawn +awakened Darrin. He sprang up, reaching for the bridge telephone. + +"All secure, sir," reported Fernald, from the bridge. + +Dave therefore delayed long enough to make his toilet--a none too +frequent luxury aboard a destroyer in the danger zone. Then, fully +refreshed and ruddy, Darrin drew on his tunic and over that his sheepskin +coat. Placing his uniform cap on his head he stepped out on deck before +the sun had begun to rise up above the sea. + +In the distance, in three different directions, as many British +mine-sweepers could be seen patiently combing the seas for mines. + +"What number recovered?" Dave signalled. + +"Three," replied one craft. "Five," said another. "One," came from the +third sweeper. + +"Nine in all," Dave remarked to Fernald. "We're in a mine field, then. We +shall need to be vigilant." + +The sun soon rose, strong and brilliant, only to pass behind a bank of +clouds and leave the air damp and chilly. An hour later a fog settled +over the English Channel, soon becoming so dense that one could not see +beyond about three hundred yards. + +Dave went below to a hurried breakfast. Returning, he sent Lieutenant +Fernald to his meal and rest. + +"I'll remain on the bridge all day, unless this fog lifts," Darrin +decided. He increased the number of lookouts and ordered slow speed, so +that the long, narrow destroyer, capable of racing rapidly over the +waves, now merely crept along. + +When the watch was changed Dave barely returned the salutes of the +departing and oncoming watch officers, for his whole attention was +centered on the sea. Half an hour after that he started slightly, then +stared hard. + +Off the starboard bow he thought he made out something moving as slowly +as the "Grigsby" herself was proceeding. + +"Pick that up, Mr. Ormsby, and see if it's anything more than a dream," +ordered Dave, pointing. + +Instantly the course of the destroyer was changed several points to +starboard and speed increased a trifle. + +Through the haze there soon developed the outlines of a steam craft, set +low in the water, and of not more than two thousand tons. She was not a +handsome craft, but, on the contrary, appeared ghostlike as she stood +only half-revealed through the fog. + +Undoubtedly the stranger had a lookout up forward, but no sign of one +could be made out as the "Grigsby" gained on her. + +Her markings indicated that she belonged to one of the neutral countries +to the northward. The wet flag that she flew drooped so tightly around +the staff that nothing could be learned from that bit of bunting. + +"One of the neutral traders," remarked Ensign Ormsby. + +"She must give an account of herself," Dave answered. "Whatever she is, +or carries, she doesn't look like a craft to be entrusted with a valuable +cargo." + +As the "Grigsby" ranged up alongside, an officer stepped out from the +stranger's wheelhouse and came to the rail. + +"What craft is that?" Dave demanded. + +The skipper, if such he was, replied in broken English, naming a neutral +country, and adding that the vessel was the "Olga," bound for an English +port with a cargo of wood pulp. + +"I knew she couldn't carry a costly cargo," Dave muttered, then +commanded, through a megaphone: + +"Lie to and stand by to be inspected." + +"Vat?" demanded the foreign skipper, in evident amazement. + +Dave repeated the order. + +"But ve all right are," insisted the skipper, "vot I told you iss our +cargo." + +"Lie to, just the same," Dave commanded. "We'll be aboard at once." + +That made the skipper angry, but he dared not resist. The muzzles of two +of the "Grigsby's" three-inch guns were pointed straight at him now, so +the clumsy craft stopped and lay tossing on the choppy sea. + +Ensign Burton and a boarding crew were told off for one of the power +launches. At the last instant Dave decided to go with the party and took +his place in the launch. He was first aboard the stranger when the launch +had been made fast alongside. + +It was now a younger officer who met him at the rail. + +"Where is your skipper?" Darrin demanded. + +"He me has given der papers to you show," replied the younger officer. +"Come mit me to der cabin, please." + +"I must see this craft's master, and at once," Darrin insisted. + +"He here cannot be at dis minute," replied the foreign mate. "To de cabin +mit me come, please." + +"Your cargo is wood pulp, you say?" Dave continued. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Where is it?" + +"In our hold, already, sir," answered the mate. + +"Throw off that hatch," Dave directed, pointing. "I am going to inspect +your cargo." + +The hatch was promptly uncovered. Leaving Burton and his men on deck, +Dave descended into the hold by a ladder, followed by the mate and two of +the "Olga's" seamen. A brief inspection proved that the hold was well +filled with a cargo of wood pulp. + +"Now, you vill go to de after hold, please?" asked the mate, as Darrin +climbed up to the deck. + +"Yes," Dave nodded, and went aft, followed by four of his men, while +Burton and the others remained forward. Here in the after hold the same +kind of cargo was found. The "Olga" looked like a straight enough craft, +but there was something in the manner of the mate that made Darrin +suspicious. + +Calling two of his seamen below Dave produced a tape measure. + +"Get the distance from the hatchway to the after end of this hold," he +directed. + +Then, wheeling, he noted that the mate's face had turned to a greenish +color. + +"What ails you, man?" Darrin demanded, eyeing the fellow sharply. + +"N-n-nutten, sir," stammered the mate. + +One of the seamen reported the measurement he had taken. + +"Now, go on deck and measure aft from the hatchway," Dave commanded. + +The instant that Darrin was left alone with the mate a pair of muscular +arms encircled the throat of the young American naval commander from +behind. In the same instant the mate sprang at him. The two assailants, +taking him so by surprise, overcame Darrin with comparative ease. In the +same moment they backed him through a small doorway opening into the hold +forward. + +Down on his back Dave Darrin was thrown, the skipper sitting on his +chest, while the mate swiftly drew the door to and securely bolted it. In +this stuffy apartment, lighted only by two swinging lanterns, Darrin +realized that he must fight promptly if he expected to escape. + +A steel tube was pressed against one of Dave's temples, while a hoarse, +low voice proclaimed: + +"Say a vord, and you die shall!" + +It was the skipper who was holding a revolver to Darrin's head, and the +returning mate bent over with an iron hatch bar in his right hand. + +"You do vill vat we tell you--yes!" insisted the skipper, his breath +coming fast. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +"THE ACCURSED POWER OF GOLD!" + + +DAVE made no struggle. + +"You're a pair of fools!" he declared, somewhat hoarsely, for the effects +of the severe choking were still present. + +"Fools, maybe," assented the skipper of the "Olga." "But if ve must +trouble have den you die shall." + +"What do you want me to do?" Darrin demanded. + +"You send your men to your ship back," declared the big fellow. "Den your +ship it must out of sight go yet. Ve shall sail back vonce. If your ship, +or any udder ship to stop us try, den you die shall already--on deck, in +sight your friends of." + +"You big chump!" uttered Darrin. + +"Vy you call me dot?" + +"Because, no matter what you do or don't do to me, you are going to be +taken and punished. Do you think my ship would sail without me?" + +"Maybe, sooner dan see you killed vonce," glowered the skipper of the +"Olga." + +"You idiot, my subordinates, their suspicions aroused, are bound to take +this craft, no matter what happens to me. They must do their duty without +consideration for my safety." + +"So?" uttered the skipper, looking at Dave dully. + +"So!" Darrin assured him. + +"But den you die must vonce." + +"Go ahead and kill me," Darrin dared him. + +"But if you vill to reason yet listen--" + +"You're wasting time and breath," Darrin assured him, coolly. + +Just then something happened. Darrin, using a trick that he had learned +on the wrestling mat and had since perfected, threw both his arms around +the left arm of the "Olga's" skipper. Clasping his hands and pressing his +arms against the skipper's left arm, Dave gave a great heave and rolled +to his own left. The trick depended upon speed. + +The skipper crashed over on his head. The revolver was discharged in the +overturn, but the bullet went wild. + +In the twinkling of an eye Dave had grabbed the weapon, and leaped to his +feet just in time to dodge the hatch bar that the mate tried to smash +down on his head. + +"Back, unless you want yours right now!" Darrin challenged. Swiftly he +changed the revolver into his left hand as he still covered the pair. +Then he reached for his own automatic, throwing off the safety device. + +"Now, you, Mr. Mate, slip around and unbolt the door, throwing it open," +Dave ordered. "Any sign of a trick will end your life on the spot!" + +Seemingly cowed, the mate obeyed. + +"Open the door--throw it wide open," Dave commanded. + +The door was thrust ajar just as the two seamen with the tape reached the +bottom of the ladder coming from the deck. These two seamen stared in +astonishment at the stuffy apartment off the after hold. + +"Men, take charge of these two rascals!" Darrin commanded, briskly. "Step +lively, both of you!"--this last to skipper and mate, who obeyed as +though dazed. + +"Pass them up on deck as prisoners," ordered Darrin, and this was done, +the two seamen drawing their revolvers and standing by the "Olga's" +discomfited officers. + +"Now, for your report," Darrin went on. One of the sailors reported the +deck-length from hatchway to stern-post. + +"A difference of twenty-one feet," smiled Dave, darkly, pointing aft in +the hold. "You see, men, there are a good many feet of length to be +accounted for, which means that there is another compartment aft of this +hold. You," turning to one of the sailors, "go forward and request Ensign +Burton, with my compliments, to take charge of this steamer. He will +round up the crew and place them under guard. Then the ensign will leave +a petty officer in charge of deck and prisoners and report to me here." + +Within a very short time Mr. Burton had so reported. Dave, in the +meantime, having worked his way over the cargo, had found a cleverly +concealed door at the after end of the hold. + +"There should be a key to this door, sir," said Ensign Burton, "but if +there is a key-hole we are unable to find it. If this really be a door it +must be operated by a hidden spring." + +"Perhaps an axe will work as well as either key or spring," Darrin +suggested. "Pass the word for one." + +The axe was brought by a heavily built seaman, who prepared to swing it +against the door panelling. + +"Break away the boards as gently as possible," continued Dave. "There may +be an explosive device on the other side of the panelling. For that +reason I'll stand by you, to take equal risk." + +"If there is any risk, I'd rather you wouldn't take it, sir," urged the +sailor. + +"Thank you, but I'll stand by. Swing the axe," ordered Dave. + +A few blows knocked in the panelling, revealing, beyond, a room of +considerable size. Into this stepped the two officers, followed by the +seamen with them. Unlike any part of the ship they had previously seen, +this place was lighted by electricity. Burton found the switch, and +turning it on, let in a flood of light. + +"Sir, did you ever!" gasped the ensign. + +The purpose of this room was all too plain. It was fitted with +compressors, leading to a tube that left the ship under water. A small +but powerful crane was in place over a closed hatchway. The latter, when +opened, was found to lead down into a second hold, also electrically +lighted. The two officers explored this second hold. + +"Mines were kept here," Dave nodded, "and were hoisted above as needed. +They were dropped astern by means of a compressed air apparatus which, +when the mine tube was open, kept the sea from entering. This ugly +looking little steamer, outwardly a wood pulp carrier, is really a very +capable mine-layer. She has been busy, too, on this cruise to England, +but had sown all her mines before we overhauled her." + +"It's plain enough, sir," agreed Ensign Burton. + +"Confound this rascally skipper!" blazed Darrin, wrathfully. "While naval +craft have been searching everywhere for submarine mine-layers, this +skipper has been sailing openly on the seas and sowing mines right under +the eyes of our allies! The accursed power of gold! This skipper, his +mate and crew have been selling their very souls to the Hun for a bit of +his miserable money!" + +"They won't do it again, sir!" uttered Burton, grimly. + +"Mr. Burton, you will remain aboard as prize officer, and take the 'Olga' +into the nearest British port and turn her over to the British Admiralty +authorities. On receiving competent orders you will rejoin." + +"Very good, sir." + +"And now we'll hurry above and try to get hold of this ship's papers +before any rascal has a chance to destroy them." + +Boatswain's Mate Runkle had kept the officers and crew of the "Olga" +under such close guard that they were unable to get at their papers, +which were quickly found by Darrin in the cabin to which he had first +been invited on boarding the "Olga." + +Out on deck, herded forward, were master and mate, seamen, engineers and +stokers, a motley-looking outfit of twenty-one men all told. + +"Bring that fellow here," Dave directed, coming on deck after having +examined the ship's papers and then turning them over to Ensign Burton. + +The master, purple-faced and ugly-looking, his eyes cast down, was +brought before Darrin. + +"Well, sir," announced Dave Darrin, eyeing the man grimly, "we have seen +the cargo you have on board, and we have been able to judge the character +of the cargo that you have dropped overboard." + +The skipper started, but did not make any reply in words. + +"How could you ever bring yourself to commit such villainy?" Darrin +demanded, sternly. "You are not a German?" + +"No," assented the other, shifting his weight from his right foot to his +left. + +"You are a subject of a neutral country." + +"Dot is true," admitted the skipper. + +"And yet, for hire, you and your men have been engaged in sowing mines, +and have taken pay from Germany for your crimes." + +"Mines? No! Ve do it not any. Ve never any had," declared the skipper. + +"Tell that to an Admiralty court-martial," Darrin retorted. "You will +have difficulty in clearing yourself. Fellow, you will find that you and +your men will be charged with piracy, for you have been sowing death and +destruction in the seas. Indeed, there can be no estimating how many +ships you have already helped send to the bottom, no guessing how many +lives your infamous work has cost. And you a neutral! Piracy!" + +Skipper, mate and chief engineer turned pale at this significant speech. +The rest of the crew looked on in stolid wonder, for they understood no +word of English. + +"Vat? You proof it can't!" quivered the skipper. + +"Wait!" + +Dave gave Ensign Burton an order in an undertone. The ensign hurried to +the bridge and almost immediately from the "Olga's" whistle a series of +sharp blasts struck out on the air. + +From the distance came an answering whistle. The "Olga's" whistle sounded +again, and continued at minute intervals, until the outlines of another +craft came up out of the mist and proved to be one of the mine-sweepers. + +Dave had already reasoned out the probable course of the neutral +country's freighter in the last hour before he had overhauled it. As the +mine-sweeper slowly came abreast, Darrin, a megaphone at his lips, +shouted an order for the course to be taken by his small helper, and +added: + +"Sweep thoroughly, and try to find some mines near by." + +"Aye, aye, sir." + +Within fifteen minutes a distant whistle came up from the fog. + +"They've picked up one mine," Darrin announced. + +Ten minutes later the sweeper's signal whistle was repeated. + +"Two mines," he added, and the "Olga's" skipper shivered slightly. + +Twenty minutes later came a whistle that was barely heard. + +"Three mines," clicked Dave, and ordered the recall sounded, to be by +direction signals at minute intervals. + +"You make dot noise too much den have us all torpedoed yet," protested +the "Olga's" skipper. + +"If that happens, we have a rescue craft near at hand," retorted Darrin, +meaning the "Grigsby," though the destroyer was now hidden by the fog. +"That was more than you knew when you planted mines to destroy vessels on +the high seas." + +"I did noddings do," growled the skipper. + +In time the mine-sweeper came up into view, again reporting that she had +picked up three mines by sweeping broadly over the course that the "Olga" +was believed to have taken. Then a junior officer from the sweeper came +aboard with the measurements of the captured mines. These dimensions were +quickly found to correspond with those of the planting device installed +in the secret compartment of the "Olga." + +"Which proves, or doesn't prove, that the 'Olga' sowed the mines," Dave +declared. "That remains for the court-martial to decide. But the three +mines just swept up will be interesting evidence for the court to +consider." + +Learning that the commander of the mine-sweeper would be glad to furnish +some members for a prize crew, and to convoy the prize into port, Dave +decided to leave Ensign Burton aboard with only three men from the +"Grigsby," filling out the prize crew with English sailors. This was +accordingly done. Dave's own ship was then signalled and located by +whistle, and the launch started on its return. + +"Keep that captured crew under strict guard. Don't give them any chance +to recapture their vessel!" was Dave's last warning to Ensign Burton. + +The "Olga" quickly faded away in the fog and then the "Grigsby" was +picked up and boarded. + +"Great work, sir, I'd call it!" declared Lieutenant Fernald, when he +heard the details of what had taken place. + +"The scoundrel, to sail as a neutral, and do such dirty work for the Huns +for mere pay!" uttered Dave, indignantly. "Fernald, do you know that +there were moments when I had to restrain myself to keep from kicking +that scoundrel about his own deck?" + +"I can understand the temptation," nodded the executive officer. + +"On second thought, though," Darrin continued, "the skipper is certainly +being much worse punished by the suspense of mind in which his present +plight places him. He knows that, if convicted, the finding of the court +will be 'piracy,' and he knows the punishment for that crime." + +"It used to be hanging," nodded Fernald. "It seems almost a pity that +this war has introduced the swifter and more merciful punishment of death +by shooting." + +"And as he looks around at his crew he knows that they must face the same +fate with him, and he knows, too, that they know that he has brought the +penalty upon them." + +"But is it possible that the crew were ignorant, or most of them +ignorant, of what he was doing in addition to really carrying wood pulp +cargoes?" asked Fernald. + +"That will be another question for the court-martial to decide," Darrin +answered. "It doesn't seem possible that any member of the crew could +really be in ignorance of the mine-laying work." + +A long blast from either the invisible "Olga" or the equally invisible +mine-sweeper now announced that the prize was proceeding on her way. The +"Grigsby" did not answer, for on a sea infested by hidden enemies it was +not wise to use too many whistle signals. + +The "Grigsby" now returned to her course and former speed, and again +started on her way. Barely ten minutes had passed when from a bow lookout +came the sharp hail: + +"'Ware submarine, dead ahead, sir!" + +Sharp eyes, indeed, that had made out the presence of the enemy craft by +sighting the slender, almost pencil-like periscope that projected some +few feet above the water. + +At the instant it was discovered the periscope sank down below the +surface. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A FIGHT OF THE GOOD OLD KIND + + +FULL speed ahead! Then ahead she leaped. Ere the destroyer had gained +full momentum her bow struck something under the water. Men were thrown +from their feet by force of the shock, and the destroyer lurched heavily. + +"Hope we haven't torn our bottom out," muttered Darrin as he joined the +bow lookouts. + +On the water appeared a patch of oil which rapidly broadened. A wooden +stool and other floating objects were visible. + +"That looks like a fair score," declared the young lieutenant-commander, +at which the on-looking seamen grinned broadly. + +Over the spot the destroyer again steamed, but nothing passing under her +keel was noticed. The sea was clear before her. + +It was hours later when Darrin received, in a special code of the British +Admiralty, word that the "Olga" and her convoy had reached port, and the +"Olga's" officers and crew had been turned over to the Admiralty +officials. + +In the meantime Dan Dalzell and the "Reed," as learned by occasional +wireless messages, had been separated at no time by more than two miles, +though neither craft was visible from the other. + +Towards the end of the afternoon the fog began to lift. By nightfall it +had disappeared. The stars came out and the crescent moon hung near the +western horizon. Both destroyers had again turned north, the two craft +having drawn in within half a mile of each other. + +Dave, after a two-hour nap, went to the bridge at about two bells--nine +o'clock. He had been there some ten minutes, chatting with Ensign Ormsby +in low tones, when of a sudden he broke off, listening intently. + +"Sounds like distant firing, sir, two points off the port bow," hailed +one of the bow lookouts. + +In a silence, broken only by the wash of the waters and the jar of the +engines, distant rumbling sounds were again heard. + +"That's gun-fire," Dave declared. "Mr. Ormsby, have the signals shown so +that word may be conveyed to the 'Reed' to keep with us at full speed." + +In another moment both destroyers dashed forward with a great roaring of +machinery and dense clouds of smoke trailing behind from the four stacks +of each. + +When some miles had been covered, with the gun-fire sounding with much +greater distinctness, Darrin felt that he could judge the distance +properly. Turning on a screened light he consulted the chart. + +"It's just about there," Darrin declared, placing his finger on a spot on +the map. "Ormsby, I believe that enemy craft are bombarding the little +fishing village of Helston. It's an unfortified, small port." + +"That's the kind the Huns would prefer," returned the ensign, with a +savage smile. + +"Ask the chief engineer if a bit more speed is obtainable; then sound the +bell in Mr. Fernald's cabin." + +A knot an hour more was soon forced from the "Grigsby's" engines, though +at that racing gait it would have been difficult for an amateur observer +to have detected the fact that speed had been gained. The "Reed," too, +leaped forward. + +Minute after minute of breathless racing followed. Presently the flashes +of guns could be made out ahead against the darkness of the night. +Helston showed no lights, but the sound of bursting shells located the +fishing village to those on the bridges of the approaching destroyers. + +"The hounds!" blazed Dave, indignantly. "Up to their old and favorite +game of killing defenseless people!" + +Long ago the crew had been called to quarters. Everything was in +readiness to attack the enemy. + +"Three of them, and all destroyers, judging by the size of the flash of +their guns," Darrin judged. + +Throughout the war it has been a favorite trick of the enemy, when the +opportunity offered, to send these swift craft out on night attacks. No +other craft on the seas, except Entente destroyers, are capable of +pursuing and overtaking German destroyers when they flee. + +"Open fire when we do," was the signal flashed to the "Reed." + +"We're ready," came back the instant answer. + +Two minutes later one of Darrin's forward guns flashed out into the +night. From the "Reed" there came a similar flash. + +"Let 'em have it, fast and hard!" ordered Dave. + +As the two destroyers sprang forward, firing at full capacity, the three +German craft turned and steamed toward them. + +"They outnumber us, and think we'll turn tail!" exulted Dave. "They may +sink us, but if we do go down at least we'll try to carry our own weight +in enemy ships down with us!" + +Though he did not make an unnecessary movement, all of Darrin's calm had +vanished. He watched every one of the "Grigsby's" shots, his eyes +flashing, breath indrawn. When he saw a hit his glance was snapping. Many +of the shells, however, splashed in the water only, for now the five +engaged craft were circling about each other in a life-and-death +struggle. + +As they circled and zigzagged the German craft did not offer a very +certain mark. Darrin and Dalzell were maneuvering in similar fashion. + +"If we lose, we lose gamely," thought Fernald under his breath. "Was +there ever a better or braver commander than Darry? He will ask no odds, +but is ever willing to give them!" + +"Ah!" The exclamation, half sigh, broke from Dave's lips as he saw the +burst of flame and smoke as a shell landed on the superstructure of the +leading German destroyer. + +Then another shell from the "Grigsby" struck the same enemy's mast, +smashing the crow's-nest and hurling German seamen, dead or crippled, +into the sea. + +Three enemy shells landed on the "Grigsby," causing no serious damage. +But the fourth hit dismounted one of Darrin's forward guns, killing three +men and wounding five. Hardly an instant later another German shell +landed on the bridge, reducing some of the metal work to a mass of +twisted junk and ripping out part of the deck. + +Shell fragments and flying splinters flew on all sides, yet out of this +hurricane of destruction emerged Darrin, Fernald and the watch officer, +all uninjured. + +An instant later Darrin shouted his orders in Fernald's ear, then gained +the deck below in a series of leaps. + +With one of her forward guns dismounted, the "Grigsby" was to that extent +out of business. Preferring not to trust to his torpedo tubes, at this +juncture Darrin raced aft, just as the destroyer began to execute a swift +turn. + +And now Dave's craft turned tail and ran for it, the young commander +directing personally the service of the after guns as the foremost German +destroyer gave chase. + +Two more hits were scored by the enemy, with the result that two more of +Dave's hardy young seamen were killed and four wounded. Matters were +beginning to look decidedly serious. + +As for Dan Dalzell, when he saw the "Grigsby" turn tail and flee, his +heart gave a great bound. + +"Good old Darry didn't do that unless he had to," Dan told himself. "I +must cover his retreat somehow." + +So, his guns barking, and men standing by at the torpedo tubes, Dalzell +darted straight for the second of the German destroyers. + +Fortunately there was plenty of sea-room, for Dave Darrin was not in +reality running away. He was still alert to win the fight, but he wanted +to win with the smallest possible loss among his own men. + +The Hun craft pursuing him was the slowest of the three enemies. This +Dave had already guessed. He allowed the other craft to gain for half a +mile, then suddenly shot ahead. By this time several hits had been scored +by both combatants, and the third enemy destroyer was maneuvering for a +position from which she could render herself effective to send Darrin and +his men to the bottom. + +Just when it happened Lieutenant Fernald hardly knew, but once more +Darrin stood on the bridge at his side. + +"Circle!" Dave shouted. "The shortest circle we can make, so as not to +show our broadside longer than we must." + +Running under full speed, and with a helm that she minded, the "Grigsby" +swung around. So unlooked for was this maneuver that the pursuing Hun +craft did not succeed in making a direct hit on the Yankee ship during +the turn. + +And then, just as the turn brought him where he wished to be, and at +deadly close quarters, Darrin gave his next order. + +Forward leaped the American destroyer. Too late the astonished German +commander saw the purpose of the maneuver. + +With knife-like prow the "Grigsby" crashed into the German vessel, the +blow striking just forward of amidships. + +As the butcher's cleaver passes through the bone, so did the bow of the +Yankee destroyer go through the Hun. + +Yet in the moment of impact Darrin rang the bridge signal to the +engine-room for full speed astern. Nor was this command executed an +instant too soon. Just in the nick of time Dave's gallant little ship +drew back out of the fearful hole that she had torn in the enemy. + +Aboard the Hun craft the yells of dying men rose on the air, for the +enemy destroyer had been all but cut in two. + +Listing before an irresistible inrush of water, the German destroyer +almost turned turtle, then sank quickly beneath the waves. + +To the northward a muffled roar sounded, followed instantly by another. +Dalzell had let go with both forward torpedo tubes, and both had scored. +The second stricken enemy ship began to fill and sink slowly. + +"Shall we stop to pick up men?" called Fernald. + +"Too bad, but we cannot linger while one of the enemy craft still +floats," Darrin replied, calmly. "Our first business is to sink enemy +ships. We cannot be humane just yet. Give full chase, Mr. Fernald!" + +The German survivor had already turned tail, for these Yankee fighters +were altogether too swift in their style of combat. Dalzell, whose craft +was nearer the fugitive, was now first in pursuit. + +To avoid firing over his chum's craft Darrin steered obliquely to +starboard, then joined in the chase, firing frequently with his remaining +forward three-inch gun. + +As to speed it proved a losing race. The German craft that had survived +proved to be a shade more speedy than either the "Grigsby" or the "Reed," +so the two craft in chase endeavored to make up for the difference with +active fire. + +Some direct hits were made. In a little more than half an hour, however, +the Hun destroyer was out of range of the Yankee guns. + +"We'll drive her back to her base port, anyway," Darrin signalled +Dalzell. + +So two narrow ribbons of searchlight glow played over the sea, keeping +the enemy in sight as long as possible. + +Presently the German's hull vanished below the horizon; then the lower +parts of her masts and stacks went out of sight. Still the two Yankee +destroyers hung on, in a race that they knew they could not win. + +Only when Darrin's knowledge of these waters told him that the fleeing +destroyer was safe did he signal the "Reed" to "abandon chase." + +Reluctantly Dan Dalzell's little ship swung around, heading to keep the +"Grigsby" company on the new course. + +"Tackled superior numbers, and sank two out of three," Dave commented, +calmly. "Not what one would call a poor evening's work, gentlemen." + +"It was splendidly done, sir," glowed Lieutenant Fernald. + +"We won't take too much credit to ourselves," Dave proposed. "Let us give +some of the credit to luck." + +"Not with you in command, sir," protested the executive officer. + +"But we did have a lot of luck," Dave insisted. + +"The luck that you planned and schemed for, with your mind working like +lightning," Fernald retorted. + +He was too much of a man to try to flatter his chief. Fernald spoke from +the depths of complete conviction. He had known Dave Darrin's reputation +at sea even before he had come to serve under this swift-thinking young +officer. + +Dave's first care, now, was to inspect the dismounted gun. Only a few +moments did he need to convince himself that the piece was a wreck that +could never be put in use again. + +He then descended to the sick bay, where the surgeon and four baymen were +giving tender attention to the wounded men. + +"It was a good fight, men," Dave said, as he passed through the bay. + +"Then I'm not kicking at what I found," cried one young sailor lad, +cheerily. + +"Nor I," added another. "It was worth something, sir, to take part in a +fight like that. Ouch! O-o-o-h!" + +Dave paused to bend over the sufferer, resting a hand on his nearer +shoulder. + +"I beg pardon, sir," said the lad. "I didn't mean to make such a fuss. +You'll think me a regular baby, sir." + +"No one is to be blamed for yelling, with a pair of shell fragment wounds +like yours," broke in the surgeon, bending over and examining. "My boy, +you have regular man's-size wounds." + +"Not going to croak me, are you, sir?" asked the young sailor, looking up +into Medico's eyes. + +"Oh, no; not this trip, my lad." + +"Then I don't care," returned the young seaman. "Wouldn't care much, +anyway, but there's a mother at home who would! Ouch! There I go again. +My mother'd be ashamed of me." + +"No, she wouldn't," smiled the surgeon. "Look here, what I took out of +that hole in your leg." + +He held up a jagged fragment of shell. It was somewhat oval-shaped, about +an inch and a half in length and half as wide. + +"It hurt you more when I took that out than it would to pull a dozen of +your teeth at once. Let's look at this other hole, the one on the other +thigh. That's going to be a tougher job. I'll give you a few whiffs of +chloroform, so you won't notice anything." + +"Do I have to have the chloroform, sir?" demanded the sailor lad, who was +not more than eighteen. + +"You don't have to, Bassett, but it will be for your comfort," replied +Medico. + +"Then don't ask me to smell the stuff, sir. When this war is over I want +to look back and think of myself as a fighting man--not as a chap who had +to be gassed every time the sawbones looked at him. Beg your pardon, +sir." + +But Medico merely smiled at being called sawbones. + +"Chloroform or not, just as you like, lad," the surgeon went on. "Either +way, you can always look back with satisfaction on your record as a +fighting man, for your grit is all of the right kind." + +"Much obliged to you, sir, for saying that," replied the young sailor. +"Ouch! Wait, please, sir. Let me get a grip on the cot frame with both +hands. Now, I'm all ready, sir." + +"Same old breed of Yankee sailor as always," Darrin smiled down into the +lad's face while the surgeon began the painful work of extracting another +shell fragment. This one being more deeply imbedded, the surgeon was +obliged to make a selection of scalpel and tissue scissors and do some +nerve-racking cutting. But the seaman, his hands tightly gripped on the +edges of the operating table, which he had termed a cot, did not once cry +out, though ice-cold sweat beaded his forehead under Darrin's warm hand. + +Then a bayman washed down the enameled surface of the table, rinsing the +blood away, and another attendant skilfully dressed and bandaged the +second wound as he had done the first. Two baymen brought a stretcher and +the lad was taken to a bunk. Here he was given a drink that, after five +minutes, caused him to doze and dream fitfully of the battle through +which he had lately passed. + +By this time nearly all of the wounded had received first attention. +Dave Darrin, followed by a junior officer, went forward to another, still +smaller room, where he gazed down with heaving breast at the forms of the +seamen who had given up their lives under the Stars and Stripes in the +gallant work of that night. + +Over the face of each dead man lay a cloth. Each cloth was removed in +turn by a sailor as Darrin passed along. + +"A good fighting man and a great romp on shore," said Dave, looking down +at the face of one man. "One of the best fellows we ever had on any ship +I've ever served on," he said, glancing at another face. "A new lad," he +said, of a third, "but he joined on so recently that I know only that he +was a brave young American!" And so on. + +It was just as the sailor was laying the cloth back over the features of +the last one in the row that a seaman sprang into the room precipitately. + +"Beg pardon, sir," he called excitedly, "but telephone message, with +compliments of executive officer, and commanding officer's presence is +desired on the bridge--instantly!" + +That surely meant business! + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +WHAT A FLOATING MINE DID + + +AS Dave reached the deck he caught a fleeting glimpse of a big steamship +ahead, which was revealed in the glare of the destroyer's searchlight. + +But he did not stop to linger there. Up to the damaged bridge he ran as +fast as he could go. + +Evidently putting on her best effort at speed the steamship was moving +forward fast in a zig-zagging course. + +"She was working her radio and blowing her whistle, all in the same +moment, sir," Lieutenant Fernald explained. "She must have seen a torpedo +that passed by her. There must be a submarine somewhere, but we haven't +picked up a sign of it as yet." + +The ship was nearly two miles away. Having seen the destroyer's +searchlight the big craft's whistle was again blowing. + +"Her master hardly expects to get away from the submarine," Dave +observed, and instantly turned his night glass on the dark waters to try +to pick up some sign of the Hun pirate craft that was causing all this +excitement aboard a respectable neutral liner. + +"She's a Dutch craft," Dave commented. "Head in, Mr. Fernald, as that +will give us a better chance to try to find out on which side of her the +pest is operating. Ask her which side." + +Promptly the signal flashed out from the blinkers of the "Grigsby." +Plainly the excited skipper of the liner hadn't thought of offering that +important bit of information. + +"Starboard side, probably eight hundred yards away," came back the +Dutchman's blinker response. + +Dave accordingly ordered the "Grigsby" laid over to starboard and raced +on to place the Yankee ship between the pirate and the intended victim. + +Hardly had the course been altered, however, in the roughening sea, when +a dull lurid flash some twelve or fifteen feet high was seen just under +the liner's starboard bow. A cloud of smoke rose, the lower half of which +was promptly washed out by a rising wave. + +"That was a mine, no torpedo!" cried Dave, his eyes snapping. "Full speed +ahead, Mr. Fernald, and prepare to clear away our launches. That ship +cannot float long!" + +Through the night glass it could be seen that throngs of passengers were +rushing about the deck of the Dutch vessel. Ship's officers were trying +to quell the panic that was quite natural, for the mine, if it were such +a thing, had torn a huge hole in the bow, and the liner was settling by +the head. + +Up raced the "Grigsby," the "Reed" arriving less than a minute afterward. +Both destroyers had manned their launches, and these were now lowered and +cleared away. + +Even though the passengers appeared to have lost their heads, the Dutch +skipper proved true to his trust. He was lowering his own boats and rafts +as rapidly as he could, and making swift work of getting human beings +away from the stricken ship. + +Fully two-score passengers of either sex jumped. Striking the water they +bobbed up again, for they had not neglected their life-belts. + +In the hurry one lifeboat was overturned just before it reached the +water. The "Grigsby's" leading launch raced to the spot. Half a dozen +jackies promptly dove over into the icy water to give a hand to +passengers too frightened to realize the importance of getting quickly +away from the sinking liner. + +"No more men go overboard," sternly ordered Ensign Andrews, as he saw +more of his men moving to the side of the launch. "Stand by to haul the +rescued aboard!" + +All care was needed, for the liner was a big one, and doomed soon to take +her final plunge. The suction effect on small boats would be tremendous, +if they were caught too close to the scene of the foundering. + +Lines were cast to jackies who were towing frightened passengers. Rescue +moved along swiftly, the launches from both destroyers backing slowly +away from the settling craft. + +"Here y'are, lady!" coaxed one seaman from the first launch, catching a +line at twenty feet and placing it in the hands of a frightened woman +whose teeth chattered and who was nearly dead from the cold that the icy +water sent through to the marrow of her bones. "Think y' can hold on, +lady? If y' can, I can go back and help some one else." + +The woman, though she spoke no English, guessed the meaning of the +question, and shrieked with terror. + +"Oh, all right, ma'am," the sailor went on, in a tone of good-humored +resignation. "I'll make sure of you, and hope that some one else won't +drown." + +With one arm around her, the other hand holding tight to the rope the +jacky allowed himself to be hauled in alongside the launch. + +"Take this lady in, quick!" ordered Jacky. "She's about all in with the +cold." + +"Better come on board, too, Streeter," advised a petty officer on the +launch. + +"Too much to be done," replied Seaman Streeter, shoving off and starting +to swim back. + +"Your teeth are chattering now," called the petty officer, but Seaman +Streeter, with lusty strokes, was heading for a hatless, white-haired old +man whom he made out, under the searchlight glare, a hundred yards away. +This man, too chilled to swim for himself, though buoyed up by a belt, +Streeter brought in. + +"Come on board, Streeter," insisted the same petty officer. + +But surely that jacky was deaf, for he turned and once more struck out. +By the time that the liner had been down four minutes, and the last +visible and living person in the water had been rescued, Seaman Streeter +had brought in six men and women, five of whom would surely have died of +the cold had he not gone to their aid. And he had turned to swim back +after a possible seventh. + +Nearly six hundred passengers and members of the sunken liner's crew had +been saved. Of these the greatest sufferers were taken aboard the +"Grigsby" and the "Reed" and the remainder were left in the boats, which +were towed astern. + +Dave decided that the rescued ones should be landed at an English port +twenty-two miles away. This port had rail communication and prompt, +effective care could be given to these hundreds of people. + +As soon as the start had been made for port, roll-call was held of those +who had put off in the launches. Seaman Streeter was not present, nor +even accounted for. Promptly Darrin ordered the course changed and the +two destroyers went back, making careful search under the searchlights of +the surface of the sea near the scene of the foundering. No trace of the +missing seaman was found. + +Seaman Streeter did not die in battle. He perished in the gentler but no +less useful field of saving human life! An orphaned sister in Iowa, his +only living near relative, gazes to-day at the appreciative letter she +has received from the Navy Department at Washington. Then she turns to a +longer and more glowing letter written by the, to her, strange hand of +David Darrin, Lieutenant-Commander, United States Navy. + +In less than two hours the destroyers, with their respective strings of +towed boats, arrived at the British port and the work of transferring the +rescued to shore began. Dan's dead and wounded were also sent ashore. + +It was afterward reported that nine human beings were unaccounted for. +Four more died in the boats on the way to land. + +While the transfers to shore were being made Dan Dalzell came aboard the +"Grigsby" to greet his chum. They chatted while the damaged bridge was +being repaired. + +"Danny-boy," Dave remarked seriously, "that exploding mine showed us +clearly what is expected of us. It is our task to see that all these +near-by waters are cleared of such dangerous objects." + +"Surely we cannot get every mine that the Huns plant," objected Dalzell. + +"We must get as many of them as we can. I know that all the British +mine-sweepers are constantly on the job, but if necessary we must have +more mine-sweepers. We must keep the paths of navigation better cleared +than proved to be the case to-night." + +"Oh, say!" expostulated Dalzell, his eyes wide open, "we simply cannot, +even with twice as many mine-sweepers, find every blooming mine that the +Huns choose to sow in the Channel and North Sea." + +"To find and take up every mine should be our standard," Dave insisted, +"and we must live as close to that standard as we possibly can." + +"Then we did wrong to go after the destroyers this night?" Dan demanded, +curtly. + +"Of course not, for that bombardment of that defenseless little town, +carried on longer, might have cost as many lives as are likely to be lost +in the case of a steamship hitting a floating mine." + +"We can't do everything at the same time," Dan contended. + +"Then we must strive to do ninety-nine per cent. of everything," Darrin +urged, his jaws set. "Danny-boy, I feel as badly as you do when a single +innocent life is lost in the area that we are held responsible for." + +"How soon do you put for sea?" Dalzell asked. + +"As soon as our boats return and are hoisted on board." + +Darrin was as good as his word. Twenty-one minutes later, while dawn was +still invisible, the two Yankee destroyers turned seaward again. There +was more work, and sterner, for them to do, and it lurked just beyond! + + + + +CHAPTER V + +EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR + + +DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more +than a mile apart. + +Within sight of the bridges of the two craft were eight small, snub-nosed +mine-sweepers. Frequently changing their course, these little craft were +doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just +far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing +vessels. + +"I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding +floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald. "The sea was so +rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, +happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water." + +"Yes," nodded Fernald. "Had the waves been longer, the mine would have +sunk to its usual depth. Had it not cost lives and a good ship, it would +have been a sight worth seeing. As it was, since the lives and the ship +had to be lost, I am glad that I was there to see it." + +It was broad daylight now. Red streaks off in the east indicated that the +sun would soon appear. But from the southwest something of at least equal +interest appeared in the sky. + +At the lookout's call Fernald turned to study the object in the sky +through his glass. + +"It's an airship, a dirigible," announced the executive officer. + +"If an English dirigible, then it's all right," Dave nodded. "But, if it +happens to be a German Zeppelin returning from a raid over England, then +it will become our solemn duty to get the anti-aircraft gun in position +and pray for a chance to take a fair shot." + +"It's a craft of the smaller English dirigible pattern," Fernald +announced, still studying the distant speck in the sky, which, of course, +looked much larger in the field of his glass. "Yes, it's an unmistakable +'blimp'." + +This latter is the slang name given to the British dirigibles. + +"Better have the air-craft gun men at their station," advised Dave, and +this was done. + +Ten minutes later, however, the "blimp" was so close at hand that there +could be no mistaking its identity. It belonged, beyond a question, to +one of the squadrons of the Royal Naval Air Service. + +"Radio message from the 'blimp,' sir," called a messenger, darting from +the doorway of the wireless room. "Do you wish a written copy, sir?" + +Lieutenant Fernald glanced at Dave, who shook his head. + +"Let's have the message orally," Fernald called down to the deck. + +"'Blimp' wants to know, sir, if these two craft are the 'Grigsby' and +'Reed.'" + +"Tell the operator to admit the fact," Fernald ordered. + +"Officer in charge of the 'blimp,' sir, says that he was to report and +help you yesterday, but that the weather was too foggy." + +"Tell the operator to send back: 'Good morning. Glad to have you with us. +Signature, Darrin,'" Dave directed. + +The seamen and petty officer at the anti-aircraft gun left their station. +Straight onward came the "blimp," dropping much lower just as it passed +over. From the car beneath the big gas-bag several men leaned over to +wave friendly hands, a greeting that was instantly responded to by Dave's +and Dan's jackies, for the dirigible, after sailing over the "Grigsby," +turned and floated over the "Reed." + +"Message from the 'blimp,' sir," again iterated the messenger on the +deck. "Message says: 'We're to keep near you and try to spot submarines +for you.'" + +"More power to your vision," was the message sent back by Dave. + +"You're working northward, toward the shoals?" asked "Blimp." + +"Yes," Darrin acknowledged. + +"That's a likely place to find one or two of the Hun pirates resting," +"Blimp" continued. + +"Always a good hunting ground," Dave assented, in a radio message. + +This took place while the dirigible was flying back and forth, ahead and +astern, between the destroyers and to either side of their course. + +"It's a fine thing to be able to move at aircraft speed," said Lieutenant +Fernald, rather enviously. "If we could only make such speed, sir!" + +"If we could build ships that would steam sixty to a hundred miles an +hour, then the enemy could build them also," Dave returned. "There would +be little, if any, net gain for us. But if we could find the secret of +doubling the speed of aircraft, and keep said secret from the boches, +that would be an achievement that would soon end the war." + +For ten miles the sweepers proceeded, with a total "catch" of only three +mines, which must have been left-overs from other cruises. By this time +the little fleet was approaching the nearest of the shoals, some three +miles from shore. + +"Blimp" was now well ahead, presently signalling back. + +"Found a sea-hornet for you, resting in the mud." + +"Good enough! We'll draw his sting," the "Grigsby's" radio reply +promised. + +Darrin caused a signal to be made to two of the mine-sweepers to come in +close to him. The "Reed" still continued on her way further out. + +Aircraft are of the greatest help in discovering submerged submarines. +Depending on the altitude at which they fly, air observers are able to +see, in reasonably smooth water, submarines that are moving at from +eighty to a hundred feet beneath the surface. A submarine that is +"resting" with her nose in the mud close to shore has more to fear from +aircraft than from all other possible foes. + +The aircraft men, though they can drop bombs upon such lurking craft, +cannot do so with anything like the accuracy that is possible to the +crews of vessels on the surface. Hence when aircraft and destroyers hunt +together it is almost always left to the surface craft to give the "grace +blow" to the resting submarine, as also to a submarine in motion beneath +the waves. + +As the "blimp" moved over the shoal in question a smoke bomb left the car +and hovered almost motionless in the air, though briefly. This indicated +that the submarine lay on the bottom directly underneath the smoke bomb. + +"And the commander of that Hun craft knows that we are approaching," +Darrin commented, as the "Grigsby" raced roaringly forward. "He can hear +the noise of our propellers. If his engines are ready, he'll likely back +off into deeper water." + +Thrice more the "blimp" passed over the submarine that was invisible to +surface eyes, and each time let loose a smoke bomb. + +"Now, you're directly in line," came the radio message from above. "Move +dead ahead. Will tell you when you are passing over. We'll signal the +word 'drop'." + +The meaning of "drop" would be clear enough. It would mean that the +"Grigsby" was instantly to release, over the stern, a depth bomb. + +As the "Grigsby" neared the spot speed was considerably reduced. Overhead +hovered the "blimp," ready for instant signalling of one word. The +command had already been passed to the men stationed by the depth bomb to +let go as soon as the messenger gave the word from the operator. + +As Darrin glanced upward he saw the "blimp" nearly overhead. + +Suddenly the messenger's startled voice roared out the message passed by +the radio operator: + +"_Full speed astern!_" + +In the same instant Lieutenant Fernald repeated the order over the +engine-room telegraph. There was a jolting jar as the "Grigsby" +shivered, then glided back in her own wake. + +"Jove! That was a narrow squeak!" came down from the sky. "That hornet +laid an egg in your path. It came within an ace of bumping your keel." + +"Never did speed pay a prompter profit, then," uttered Darrin, his cheeks +paling slightly. + +For the Englishman's laconic message meant that the submarine had just +proved herself to be of the mine-laying variety. Further, the Hun craft, +hearing the destroyer's propellers almost overhead, had judged the moment +at which to let loose a mine, which, rising to its proper level under +water, would have struck the hull of the advancing destroyer. + +Had that happened, the career of the "Grigsby" would have been over, and +several officers' and seamen's names would have been added to the war's +list of dead. + +"Going to try again, sir?" asked Lieutenant Fernald, quietly, as Dave +himself changed the full-speed-astern order. + +"It's out of our line, I guess," Darrin confessed, with a smile. "Signal +yonder mine-sweeper to close in on the job." + +As a result of the message, and aided by the "blimp" overhead, the +snub-nosed mine-sweeper steamed into position. First, her wire sweeper +picked up the mine that had been sprung for the "Grigsby's" undoing, and +backed away. + +Then, under Dave's further order, after the mine had been hoisted on +board, the snub-nosed craft moved in with a different type of sweeper. To +different wires of this implement were attached small but powerful +contact bombs. Jauntily the snub-nosed craft moved over the lurking place +of the submarine, and passed on ahead. + +From the depths came muffled sounds, followed by a big and growing spread +of oil on the water. + +"Enemy done for!" signalled the "blimp." + +"Thank you, sir. We know it," the "Grigsby" wirelessed back. + +The mine-sweeper, having passed on ahead, now circled back, her crew +grinning at sight of the mass of floating oil. + +The contact bombs dangling from the sweep wires had struck against the +submarine's hull and exploded, letting in the water at several points. +The Hun seamen were even now drowning, caught without a show for their +lives, just as they had probably sent many souls to graves in the ocean. + +For some minutes more the dirigible moved back and forth through the air, +her observers watching for the presence of hidden enemy craft. Then, +without warning, came the message: + +"Sorry, but engine trouble threatens and will compel our return to land, +and to our base if possible." + +"The best of luck to you," Dave ordered wirelessed back to these British +comrades. "We'll stand by until we're as close to shore as we can go." + +For he knew that, near shore, the shoals became dangerous shallows at +this point on the coast. + +Away limped the "blimp," the "Grigsby" following, and standing ready to +do rescue work should the dirigible need assistance. + +But the "blimp" not only made her way over to shore, but vanished slowly +in the distance. + +All of the mine-sweepers that had come up were ordered by signal to +continue sweeping over the shoals. + +"I want to see more of this work personally," Dave told his executive +officer, who was now to be left in command. "Clear away one of the power +launches. I'll take Mr. Ormsby with me." + +So Dave was taken over to one of the mine-sweeping, snub-nosed craft that +had formerly been a steam trawler on the Dogger Banks. The commanding +officer, Hartley, proved most glad to welcome them. + +"We'll make you as comfortable as we can," promised Hartley. + +"Now, please don't do anything of the sort," Darry protested. "Let us be +mere spectators, or pupils, and have no fuss made over us. Instruct your +men, if you'll be good enough, to omit salutes and to chat with us, if +they have a chance, like comrades or pals. We want to see your real +working ways, not a demonstration." + +"All right, then," sighed Mr. Hartley, and passed the orders. + +"When do you men sleep?" Dave inquired of a sailor who paused to light a +pipe as he stood well up in the bow. + +"When the blooming ship is hin dry-dock, sir," answered the British tar. + +"Don't you have regular watches?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"How long are the watches?" + +"Usually twenty-four hours in each day, sir." + +Darry laughed, for he knew no living man could stand working twenty-four +hours a day for any length of time. + +"You were a trawler before you came into this branch of the service?" +Ormsby asked. + +"No, sir. Hi was a chimney sweep; that's wot made me good for this bally +old business, sir." + +"You like this work?" Ormsby next asked. + +"Yes, sir, hit's the next best thing to being killed, sir," was the +solemn response. + +"Have you seen any mine-sweepers destroyed while at work?" + +Instantly the sailor dropped his bantering tone, his face becoming solemn +in his expression. + +"You may well say that, sir," he answered. "More mine-sweepers are lost +than any other kind of naval craft." + +"Why is that?" + +"Principally, sir, because we 'ave only a trawler's speed, and everything +else that floats, including the National Debt, can overtake us." + +"Is there any scarcity of men for this sort of work?" Ormsby queried. + +"No, sir, it's the 'eight hof a British sailorman's ambition, sir, to die +early and be buried, sir, in water a mile deep. We fairly long for hit, +sir." + +"Hedgeby!" came, indignantly, from Mr. Hartley, who had approached +unnoticed. "What do you mean by chaffing these American officers so +outrageously." + +"Must 'ave mistook my horders, sir," returned Hedgeby, saluting his +commander. "Some blooming bloke told as 'ow these gentlemen wanted to be +treated like pals." + +"The fault is mine, I guess," admitted Mr. Hartley, turning to Darrin and +Ormsby. "These men are always chaffing each other, and they thought you +wanted some of the same thing." + +"We don't object," Dave smiled. "If hot air is the motive power that +drives these men, then we want to sample it." + +Hedgeby regarded this last speaker with a puzzled expression. + +"If you're talking about fuel, sir," he went on, as Mr. Hartley moved +away, "Hi'll say that 'ot air engines wouldn't be no good wotever on +these 'ere craft. Gasoline is what we use, mostly, for our engines, sir, +though some of the biggest use petroleum." + +"Hot air is furnished by the men themselves," Dave explained. "It's a +favorite fuel at sea." + +"Maybe, sir, maybe," admitted Hedgeby, slowly, looking as solemn as an +owl. "Of course you know, sir, wot's used on the Yankee boats, anyway, +sir, and if your Admiralty recommends 'ot air then no doubt hit's because +you Yankees know 'ow to use it better than other fuel." + +"And the joke of it is," muttered Ormsby, as Hedgeby sprang to obey an +order, "one can't tell whether a chap like that is laughing at us, or +trying to sympathize with our ignorance." + +Dave laughed, then soon forgot the chaffing, for he was greatly +interested in what he saw of the work that was being carried on. +Certainly, for such a comparatively slow craft, a large area of sea +surface could be covered in a forenoon. + +Presently Hedgeby came back to them, and Ormsby tried once more to +extract some real information. + +"With the amount of speed you can command," he resumed, "what does a +craft like this do, Hedgeby, if a German destroyer comes racing along +after you?" + +"We just shut off speed, sir, and the blooming destroyer goes by so fast +that nine times hout of ten she doesn't see us at all." + +"But if the destroyer sees you and stops to engage, what then?" + +Once more the quizzical expression faded from the British sailorman's +eyes. He stepped back, resting one hand on a light gun mounted on a +swivel pedestal. + +"We do hour best with this piece, sir." + +"An unequal combat, Hedgeby!" + +"You may well say it, sir, but hat least we come hout of the fracas as +well as does the submarine that our sweep locates on the bottom." + +"Have you known of any case in which a mine-sweeper had any show at all +against a German destroyer?" + +"Yes, sir; this very craft was the boat, sir. The destroyer 'eld 'er fire +and come hup close, sir, to 'ave fun teasing us. Only one shot we fired, +sir, from our after gun, at the houtset, sir, but that one shot carried +away the destroyer's rudder just below the water line. It was hall a +piece of luck, sir." + +"And then?" pressed Ormsby, for at last Hedgeby seemed to be imparting +real information. + +"Well, of course, sir, the 'Uns started hin at once to rig a jury rudder +with timbers and canvas." + +"Yes?" + +"Naturally, sir, we didn't give 'em any time or chance we could 'elp, +sir. We sailed round and round 'er, taking position so that we could play +both guns on 'er at the same time. She couldn't steer, sir, to back 'er +aim, that 'ere 'Un, so we banged away at 'er stacks and her water line +until she was worse than 'elpless." + +"Did you sink her?" + +"No, sir. She was captured." + +"By whom?" + +"By two of 'is majesty's destroyers, sir, that came up. And maybe you +think Hi'm joking, sir, w'en Hi tell you that the destroyers were +credited with the capture because they made the 'Un strike 'is colors and +take a prize crew." + +Subsequently Dave and Ormsby learned from Mr. Hartley that this account +was a true one. + +"But we got a bit of credit in the public press," Hartley added, +modestly. + +Right after that it was reported that one of the wire sweeps had located +a bomb. Instantly several men were rushed to aid in landing the prize. +Dave and Ormsby hurried to join the group and watch a mine being taken +aboard. + +On account of its weight the deadly thing was handled by tackle. +Carefully the men proceeded to hoist the mine aboard. + +"You'll note the little horns standing out from the top of the mine," +explained Mr. Hartley, pointing to the circular mine. "These horns are +usually called studs. Hit one of these studs even a light blow with a +tack hammer, gentlemen, and the mine would explode. A mine like this is +more deadly than the biggest shell carried by a super-dreadnaught. Let +this mine explode, for instance, under our hull forward, and it would +tear us to pieces in a way that would leave us afloat for hardly sixty +seconds. Moreover, it would kill any man standing at or near the rail +over the point of contact." + +He had no more than finished speaking, while the mine was being hoisted +aboard, than a terrified gasp escaped the workers. + +For the mine slipped from its tackle, and slipped back toward the water, +striking the side hull in its downward course! + +Dave Darrin did not move. He knew there would not be time to escape! + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +IN THE TEETH OF THE CHANNEL GALE + + +SPLASH! + +The mine sank below the surface. + +A quick turn by the helmsman at the wheel, and the course changed +violently on the instant. + +"No stud struck or scraped the side as the mine went down!" exclaimed Mr. +Hartley, in a voice as cool as though he were discussing the weather. +"That was what saved us." + +"That, and the presence of mind displayed by your man at the wheel," Dave +calmly supplemented. "That quick turn of the wheel saved your hull under +the water line from striking against the infernal thing." + +"I thought we were goners!" exclaimed Ormsby. + +"So did I," Dave nodded, "until I saw the thing sink and then realized +how prompt the helmsman had been to act without orders." + +"The helmsman's act was almost routine," Hartley continued. "On a craft +like this every man instinctively knows what should be done in any moment +of escapable peril." + +Dave now withdrew the elbow which, up to now, he had leaned against the +rail. He knew that he had been within a hair's breadth of instant death, +but there was nothing in his bearing to betray the fact. + +Hartley quickly gave the order to put about. + +"Another try for that slippery customer, eh?" queried Ormsby. + +"I'd feel like a murderer, if I knowingly left that thing in the sea, to +destroy some fine craft," declared Mr. Hartley, gravely. "Once we've +located a mine we never leave it. We'll make the 'catch' again, but we'll +inspect our tackle before we try to take it aboard. I think you gentlemen +had better step back well out of the way." + +"Of course we will, sir, if we are really in the way," Darrin smiled. + +"You're not in our way," Hartley promptly denied. "But you will hardly +care, should the tackle still be defective, to be loitering at the point +of danger." + +"I want to see you repair the tackle," Dave replied. "Then I want to see +you make the grapple again and bring the mine safely on board." + +"All right, gentlemen, if you love danger well enough to take the risk +twice when you're only spectators," Hartley answered, with a shrug of his +shoulders. + +Again the mine was caught, grappled, and this time successfully hoisted +on board. + +All of this Darrin and his junior officer noted carefully, even giving a +hand at the work. + +Through the day at least one of the mine-sweepers continued over this +line of shoal, trying constantly with the sweeps. Farther out to sea +Dalzell and the "Reed" accompanied others of the craft. By nightfall it +was reported that more than sixty mines had been picked up. + +"The mine-layers must be actively at work in these waters," said Dave. +"Undoubtedly they plant the mines at night, then toward daylight move in +toward the shoal and hide there during the day. We'll try that shoal +again after daylight to-morrow morning--weather permitting." + +This last Darrin said because there were now lurking indications of a +coming storm. Dave returned to his own craft in time. + +By nine o'clock that night, or an hour after the new watch had gone on, +the wind was howling through the rigging in a way that made conversation +difficult on the bridge. + +"Mr. Fernald, at the rate the weather is thickening I shall be on the +bridge all night. I shall be glad, therefore, if after your last rounds +of the ship, and after you have turned in your report, you will seek your +berth and get all the sleep you can until you're called." + +"Very good, sir," agreed the executive officer. + +He would have liked to stand watch in Darrin's place, but he knew that, +with a gale coming, Darrin would not consent. + +By this time the destroyer was rolling at such an angle that the order +was passed for the life-lines. Soon after that a second order was issued +that all men on outside duty must don life-belts. Even up on the bridge, +with an abundance of hand-holds, Dave and Ensign Andrews wore the belts. + +With a nearly head wind from the northeast the "Grigsby" labored in the +running seas, spray dashing over the bridge and against the rubber coats +and sou'westers of the two officers. Below, on the deck, the water was +sometimes several inches deep, gorging the scuppers in its flow +overboard. Officers and men alike wore rubber boots. + +"All secure, sir," reported Lieutenant Fernald, returning after his last +rounds. "A nasty time you'll have of it, sir, to-night." + +"Like some other times that I've known since I took to the sea," Dave +shouted back through the gale. + +Wild, indeed, was the night, yet the stars remained visible. The wind had +increased still more by eight bells (midnight), when the watch again +changed. + +"Is the weather bad enough for you to have to remain here, sir?" asked +Ensign Ormsby, respectfully. + +"Yes," Darrin nodded. "I am charged with the safety of this craft." + +Having gone the limit of her northerly patrol, the "Grigsby" had now +headed about, dipping and lunging ahead of the wind and rolling as though +the narrow craft would like nothing better than to turn turtle. + +Owing to the fact that neither craft carried lights in these dangerous +waters Dalzell had pulled far off. At this moment Danny Grin and the +"Reed" were four miles nearer the mainland of Europe than the "Grigsby" +was. + +After an especially heady plunge, followed by some wild rolling from side +to side, Dave shouted in his watch officer's ear: + +"Ormsby, I'm going to make the round of the deck, to make sure that the +life lines are all up and secure." + +The ensign nodded. He would have preferred to go himself, but his place +as watch officer was on the bridge. + +As Dave went down the steps from the bridge a seaman on watch sprang to +seize his arm and steady him. + +"I've my sea-legs on," Darrin smiled at the sailor. + +Then, holding the brim of his sou'-wester down before his face, the +other hand on a life-line, Darrin cautiously made his way aft. The lines +along the starboard side were secure. + +At the stern stood two men, gripping the sturdy lines with both hands. +Here the decks were flooded with seas coming over constantly. + +Dave stood with the men for a few minutes, observing the combers that +rolled against the stern, the tops breaking over the side. + +"I'll have the stern watch changed every hour," he shouted at the seamen +above the gale. "It's too wet to stand a full trick here. Remember, on +coming off, or just before going on, to go to the galley and get your +coffee." + +"Thank you, sir," replied one of the men, touching the brim of his +headgear. + +Dave released the sternmost life-line to take a quick, oblique step +toward the port lines. At that very instant a huge comber climbed aboard +over the stern, the great bulk of water lifting Dave as though he were +but a chip. + +As he struggled for his footing he had a brief glimpse of one of the +sailors battling toward him. Then a continuation of the wave carried him +obliquely forward, lifting him clear of the port rail at the quarter and +driving him over into the sea. + +Instantly a hoarse yell rose and was repeated: "Commanding officer +overboard astern, sir!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +IN THE HOUR OF DESPAIR + + +DAVE did not hear the wild, hoarse alarm. A mass of water pounded in his +ears. He felt himself going down as though headed for the bottom of the +sea. + +During what seemed an interminable interval Darrin kept his mouth tightly +shut. He did not struggle to rise to the surface, for he knew that as +soon as the driving force of the water over him had expended itself his +belt would carry him up to air. + +And so it did. As Darrin shook the spray from his eyes he made out the +"Grigsby" only as a dark mass far ahead. Then a wave blotted her out. +When next he looked he saw nothing. The third time he made out a still +more indistinct mass, which, he judged, was turning to come back and look +for him. + +"Steady, boy!" he urged himself. "The outfit aboard that craft will make +every possible effort to find me. Ah, I knew it!" + +For now the ray of the searchlight streamed out, trying to pierce the +murkiness of the night. + +[Illustration: "Commanding officer overboard!"] + +By the shifting of the ray, too, he saw that the "Grigsby" was putting +about. + +"They'll pick me up soon with that light," he told himself. + +He did not permit himself to reflect that, if the startled officers and +men on the destroyer located him it would be by the sheerest good luck. A +human head rolling among waves on a black night is a difficult object to +pick up with the searchlight. + +Dave now struck out enough to keep his face turned toward the light. He +did not attempt to swim toward the destroyer. That long, narrow craft +circled about, bringing a second searchlight to bear. + +Then Dave saw the blinkers at the foremast head gleam out dully. He even +read the signal: + +"Lieutenant Commander Darrin overboard. Not yet located." + +"That's for Dalzell's benefit," Dave told himself. "Poor old Danny-boy +will be wild, and will come steaming over here at full speed. +But--confound it! The 'Grigsby' is circling farther south. Evidently +Fernald thinks he came back too far on his wake." + +Farther and farther south went the destroyer, still sweeping the sea with +her two searchlights. + +Then Dave beheld, after minutes, another searchlight beam crossing the +others, and knew that Dan Dalzell, aboard the "Reed," was making anxious +quest for his floating chum. + +Both craft, after the "Reed" had once come within a quarter of a mile, +began operating further away. There was nothing on the black, roaring +waters by which to locate the spot where the "Grigsby" had been when her +commander was hurled overboard. + +Twenty minutes passed after the "Reed" had come up. There was more +talking with the blinkers between the two craft. The destroyers moved in +ever widening, and then contracting, circles, but not once did either +come near enough to pick up a glimpse of that one face that held +occasionally above the rolling waves. + +After an hour of searching there was a sorrowful conference between the +officers directing the signals on the two destroyers. They decided that +every possible effort had been made, and that Lieutenant Commander Darrin +was surely lost. + +Indeed, at about that time Dave, though he was too far away and dashed +with too much spray to read the signals, had about given up hope. + +Chilled to the bone by the icy waters, he had at first striven to keep +himself warm by such exercise as he could apply. But now he was +weakening. + +Had it not been for the unusual vigor of his constitution he would have +been dead by this time. It was now only a question of a little more time +when he must freeze to death. + +"All right, Davy-boy," he reflected, almost drowsily. "While you were +alive you managed to do a few things! But poor Belle! I hope this isn't +going to upset her too much!" + +Even the thought of his loved young wife did not stir him much, which +showed, indeed, that Darrin was near the end of his vital resources and +that he must soon give up his struggle. + +After a while the instinct of desperation seized him. With a last +summoning of his strength he began fighting for his life. + +"I won't freeze!" he cried, between grinding teeth. "I can keep moving a +good while yet. I won't allow myself to die here. That would be no better +than suicide!" + +For a few minutes more he continued to use arms and feet in a determined +effort to warm his blood against the numbing cold. + +"Ha, here comes one of the destroyers, right now," Dave laughed, +hysterically, as a form loomed up in the night and came toward him. + +Indeed, that dark mass, which presently resolved itself into the hull of +a steamship battling with the gale, seemed bent on running him down. + +Nearer and nearer it came. Dave tried to shout, but found his voice too +weak to be heard above the roar of wind and wave. Though he fought +desperately to get out of the course of the oncoming hull, the rolling +waters washed him back. + +His efforts, however, had availed him somewhat, for, though he was so +close that he could almost touch the hull as the bow passed him, Darrin +felt that he could avoid being run down by the ship. + +He tried to shout again, but only hoarse noises came from his throat. +Then something splashed close to him as it struck the water. A wave +washed Darrin against a rope. With all the force left in his hands he +twined his fingers around the strands. + +Then, though Dave did not see it, a face peered over the rail above. +There came a tug at the rope, but Dave would not let go. He found himself +being dragged slowly along with the hull of this craft that was battling +a head wind. + +When the man above found that he could not haul up the rope he peered +down at the water, then set up a yell in some strange jargon. + +An instant later a second face appeared behind the first. The bright +gleam of a pocket flash-lamp cut the blackness to the water. There was a +second exclamation, quickly followed by a command. + +A third man joined the other two at the rail. Dave blinked upward at the +pocket flash-lamp. He saw something descending, heard a faint whish +above the noise of the gale, and felt a noose drop down over his head and +shoulders. + +Just how he did it Darrin cannot remember, even now, but he managed to +slip that noose first under one arm pit, then the other, all the time +keeping a desperate hold of the trailing rope. + +A pull from above, then a dull throb of hope sent the blood through +Darrin's frame as he felt the noose gather tightly under his arms. +Slowly, his body bumping against the rolling hull, he felt himself moving +upward. + +Ready hands seized and hauled him in over the rail. At that instant +Dave's senses forsook him. He collapsed on the deck, a limp, huddled, +drenched human form. + +Nor could he judge how much later it was when he opened his eyes again. +But cold? Not a bit of it! He felt as though he were in a furnace room. +Stripped, he lay in a berth, two stalwart sailors rubbing him under the +direction of a third person, while a fourth was slowly forcing a hot +drink down his throat. It was a strangling cough, on account of some of +the fluid entering his wind-pipe, that had brought him back to +consciousness. + +Opening his eyes, Dave lay quietly, enjoying the warmth after his bitter +experience. He noticed that the sailors who were rubbing him were +dripping with perspiration. Indeed, they had a right to drip, for the +steam in this little cabin had been turned on through two separate +services. + +Dave tried to speak, but all he could say was: + +"Ugh!" + +"Good! You don't feel chilled, now?" questioned the man who held the hot +drink to his lips. + +"Gracious, no!" Darrin whispered, hoarsely. "I'm roasting." + +The man spoke to the sailors, who stopped their rubbing and spread a few +thicknesses of blanket over him. + +Dave's next realization was that this unknown craft did not roll so +heavily as might be expected. He reasoned that the ship must be a +freighter of broad beam. + +Languor was stealing over him as the questioner asked: + +"How do you feel?" + +"Like having a big sleep," Dave whispered drowsily. His eyes closed and +he dozed even before he could think to wonder if his brother officers on +the "Grigsby" and "Reed" knew that he was all right. + +Putting down the cup of hot drink, the man who had done the talking +dismissed the three others, seated himself on the edge of the berth and +placed a finger on one of Dave's unresisting wrists. + +The same man was there, seated on a locker and smoking a pipe, when Dave +Darrin again opened his eyes. + +This time Dave sat up rather nimbly, then turned, supporting his head on +one hand. + +"Hullo, there!" Dave hailed, cheerily. + +"Getting your strength back, aren't you?" queried the stranger. + +"Yes, sir! But tell me. Is this the same night I was picked up and +introduced on board, so to speak?" + +"The same night." + +"About how many hours ago?" + +"Five, I guess." + +"Then it must be near daylight." + +"Yes." + +"Any American destroyers sighted hereabouts, do you know?" + +"Not at last accounts. We have been keeping a lookout, too, for your +uniform proclaimed you to be a Yankee naval officer." + +"What ship is this?" + +"The 'Rigsdak.'" + +"Norwegian?" Dave inquired. + +"Danish freighter, homebound from Hartlepool." + +"And you're the ship's doctor?" + +"Yes. Unless we meet one of your own country's ships you'll be ashore in +Denmark before noon today. But the sea is so rough that I do not believe +we could transfer you, even if we met one of your own craft." + +"Denmark isn't such a bad country," Dave laughed, pleasantly. "I've been +there. And you're mighty quick people. It didn't take you long to rope +and haul me on board." + +"Because our second officer had a man in his watch who used to be a +cowboy in your country, and he can handle a lariat well. Travelling +through these dangerous waters we always carry a line forward with a +noose at one end. You're the third man we've roped out of the water in +six months." + +"But what was that first line that was thrown overboard--I mean the one I +grabbed and held on to?" + +"There was a bucket at the end of that rope," the ship's surgeon informed +Dave. "The deck-hose is out of order, and a sailor threw the bucket over +to haul up water with which to wash down the passageway." + +"I'm thankful he made the cast just at that instant," Dave murmured. + +"Providence must have directed the cast," replied the doctor. "And it +wasn't your time to die." + +"I've no right to die, if I can possibly prevent it!" Dave rejoined +warmly. "I'm only a small-fry officer, to be sure, but even at that I'm +needed, like every other trained American officer, until Germany has +been taught the great lesson of law and morality." + +"Amen to that!" agreed the doctor, fervently. + +"You're not pro-German, then, like so many of your countrymen?" Dave +asked, with a smile. + +"There are few of us who are pro-German in Denmark," replied the ship's +surgeon. "Though, until your Entente allies can protect us against +powerful Germany's wrath it is not prudent for us to be too outspoken in +favor of England, France and America." + +"From your accent you've been in our country?" Dave hinted. + +"I took my degree in an American medical school, but I am a Dane. And +now, sir, your name?" + +"David Darrin, lieutenant-commander, United States Navy." + +"And I am Dr. Valpak. And now, Mr. Darrin, I advise that you rest your +mind, eat what I am going to order sent here, and then take another nap." + +Dave gladly ate of the sea biscuit and soup that were brought to him, +after which Dr. Valpak felt his pulse, administered a drink of something +with an unfamiliar taste, then uttered the professional command: + +"Sleep!" + +Dr. Valpak closed the door from outside. Dave closed his eyes, and +enjoyed the luxury of another nap. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +DAVE MEETS THE FATE OF THE SEA + + +IT was almost nine o'clock in the morning when Darrin awoke. He at once +realized how refreshed he was. His had been a close call, but fortunate +accident and his own strong body had pulled him through. + +There on the floor were his rubber boots, on the locker his +underclothing, while on knobs against the cabin wall hung the garments +that comprised his uniform. + +Rising, Dave was delighted to find himself still strong. Without ado he +drew off and tossed across the berth the coarse nightgown that some one +had put on him. Then he began to dress. + +Everything was dry--indeed, laundered. These new Danes of the sea knew +how to be hospitable. So Darrin dressed, and, when he rang for hot water, +a steward appeared with the ship's barber, who aided in Darrin's toilet. +Before this had been finished Dr. Valpak thrust his head in to inquire: + +"Do I intrude?" + +"Only as a personage from the pages of 'Arabian Nights,' Doctor," Darrin +laughed. "Come in." + +Not only did the doctor come in, but soon, also, a waiter, who set up a +small table made fast to the wall, and on it spread such a breakfast as +made Dave's heart rejoice. + +Wind and sea had abated much. The broad "Rigsdak" now rode the water with +comparatively little roll. Dave sat down to enjoy his breakfast, and Dr. +Valpak soon withdrew. + +Just after the finish of the meal the surgeon returned, bringing with him +this time the ship's master, one Kennor, who spoke with a strong accent. +Dave expressed his thanks for the fine care that had been given him. + +"And you muss der mate meet," declared Captain Kennor, beaming. "He it +vass who show der light in your face, und den der noose was over you +drop." + +So presently Dave followed these new friends to the deck, where he was +introduced to the mate. He also, through Dr. Valpak, thanked the sailor +who had cast the bucket-line overboard. The seaman who had dropped the +noose around him spoke English fluently. Dave shook hands with both +sailors. He then followed Captain Kennor and the mate to the bridge. + +"You carry only freight?" Dave asked. + +"Somedimes passengers," replied Captain Kennor. "Two we have dis time. An +English lawyer und hiss young vife." + +The pair just mentioned were seen walking on the spar deck forward. The +man was well past middle age, of fine, rather sharp features and with +thick gray hair. The woman did not appear to be above the age of +twenty-five. + +Captain Kennor escorted Dave down and introduced him to Mr. and Mrs. +Caleb Launce. + +"One doesn't often hear a story like that of your rescue," said Mr. +Launce. + +"It would have killed you, had you been an ordinary man," shivered Mrs. +Launce. + +"Thank you for the inference," Darrin laughed. + +"But I have met several of your American naval officers," Mrs. Launce +continued. "You are splendidly big, enduring men." + +"Again I must thank you." + +"A man accustomed to indoor life could not have lived half as long as you +did before you were picked up," added the lawyer. + +"Do you feel your full strength yet?" asked his wife. + +"Not--quite, I'll admit," Dave answered. + +"Then it will be well if you find a seat, inside, too, I should think," +continued the Englishwoman. "Shall we all go inside? The air is cold out +here." + +Truth to tell, though he was not by any means in a fainting condition, +Dave Darrin did feel that a seat inside, where it was warm, would be much +to his liking. + +So Captain Kennor led them to a small dining cabin, where the white +cloths had been removed from the tables and homely red ones substituted. + +"Dr. Valpak told me you expected to make port by noon," said Dave. + +"Dot vass der hope, but last night's vinds held us back more dan ve +knew," replied Captain Kennor. "Id vill be two dis afternoon before ve +make--" + +He was interrupted by a shattering jar that made the ship stagger. It was +accompanied by a crashing explosion. + +Uttering a cry of fright Mrs. Launce sprang to her feet. + +"Can that be--" she began. + +"Yes, madam, a torpedo," Dave replied, rising more slowly. "It was +evidently a hard hit, but this twenty-eight-hundred-ton ship should +remain afloat at least half an hour, unless another torpedo be launched. +There is plenty of time. Will you permit me?" + +There were life-belts at hand. Dave quickly and deftly fastened Mrs. +Launce's life-belt about her, then performed a similar office for her +husband. This done he went to his recent cabin, where he donned his own +belt and stepped out on the deck, joining his fellow passengers. + +Struck on the port side, just forward of her boilers, the "Rigsdak" was +already listing considerably to that side. + +"The captain and the first officer are below," hailed Dr. Valpak. "They +will examine the ship's injuries and decide. It may not be necessary to +abandon ship." + +Mrs. Launce turned to Darrin, who had just turned back from the port +rail. She looked at him so imperatively that he nodded and replied: + +"We shall have to take to the boats. This ship is not going to float. Her +pumps will not save her, for the hole in the side is beyond temporary +repairs." + +Within two or three minutes Captain Kennor and his mate appeared, +confirming Dave's verdict. + +Darrin had already looked out over the sea, but he had been unable to +make out any sign of the presence of a submarine. + +"Could it have been a mine?" demanded Mr. Launce. + +"No, sir," Dave answered, promptly. "Had we struck a mine the explosion +would have been much more violent." + +"Then a torpedo provides sufficient experience of this sort of thing," +cried Mrs. Launce, making a face. + +"Der passengers vill my boat go in!" called Captain Kennor. "Dere vill +time be." + +Again Mrs. Launce glanced inquiringly at Darrin, who nodded his +confirmation. + +Three boats were cleared away, carrying most of the crew and all the +officers except the master. The boats were safely launched, and +fortunately the sea was not too rough for them. + +Then Captain Kennor appeared, carrying a bag and his navigating +instruments. + +"Are your ship's papers and instruments intended for the Germans, sir?" +Dave inquired, significantly. + +"No; you be right," admitted Captain Kennor, opening his eyes wide, after +a brief moment's thought. + +Going to the rail he tossed bag and instruments over into the sea. + +Then the last boat was lowered, the seamen who remained behind jumping as +soon as their work was completed, and being picked up from the water. + +"Ve shall but a few hours of rowing haff," declared Captain Kennor. "It +vill not so hard be upon uss." + +Dave was thinking of another prospect, but did not voice his thought. The +men in the captain's boat gave way at the oars, Kennor steering. The +other boats had already pulled well clear of the coming foundering, and +now the captain's boat followed. The "Rigsdak" was likely to remain +afloat for some minutes yet. + +"I thought so," muttered Darrin, pointing to where a gray conning tower +was emerging from the sea. + +Captain Kennor gave an order in his native tongue, and the men in his +boat ceased rowing. + +"Dey vill uss hail, so ve need not be too far avay," he explained to his +passengers. + +After the conning tower the gray back of the sea pest rose into view. The +manhole of the tower was opened and an officer appeared, followed to the +deck by a few seamen, two of whom stationed themselves by a gun that +popped up into view. + +"Come alongside!" shouted the officer, in English, through a megaphone. + +Again Captain Kennor's oarsmen gave way, their skipper heading for the +submarine. + +"That will do. Cease rowing," commanded the German officer. "What ship is +that yonder?" + +"Der Danish freighter, 'Rigsdak,'" replied Captain Kennor. + +"And its master?" + +"Dat iss me." + +"Come aboard." + +At the order Dave, who had quietly loosened his belt and holster +containing his automatic revolver, quickly dropped them overboard on the +side farthest from the German craft. + +There was sufficient sea running to make the task of getting close +alongside a difficult one. A German sailor reached out to catch Kennor's +arm and aid him aboard the submarine. + +"And your instruments and papers," ordered the German officer, sharply. + +"I did not dem with me bring," replied Kennor. + +"Perhaps that will be so much the worse for you," was the scowling reply. +"We want the papers, and we have need, especially, of ship's +instruments." + +The German eyed Dave Darrin curiously. The American officer's uniform was +concealed under his sou'-wester, rubber coat and boots, but after a +moment's inspection, the German said curtly: + +"You, too, will come aboard." + +As refusal would have been absurd under the circumstances Darrin promptly +obeyed. Instantly the German officer snatched a fold of Darrin's rubber +coat, pulling it aside and thus revealing a glimpse of the uniform +beneath. + +"Take off that rubber coat!" the Hun ordered, brusquely. + +Flushing slightly, Dave obeyed, his uniform now being fully revealed. + +"Ha!" snarled the Hun. "I suspected something of the sort. You two will +go down through the manhole. And this man and woman are passengers? They +will come aboard." + +Captain Kennor led the way below, Mr. and Mrs. Launce following. Dave, as +he reached the manhole, turned to see the "Rigsdak" vanish beneath the +waters. + +Then Dave Darrin stepped inside the conning tower and began to descend +the ladder--a German prisoner at last! + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THREATS TO A PRISONER + + +AS for the seamen in the boat, the officer, after a scowling stare in +their direction, ordered them also on board, where he had them lined up +forward. + +"Take off those life-belts," he ordered, still in English, and a seaman +who understood interpreted to his fellow-Danes. + +Off came the life-belts, which were dropped to the deck. German sailors +then kicked them all overboard. + +Now the submarine began to move slowly. A shot was fired from the forward +gun into the lifeboat, wrecking and sinking her. This done, the German +seamen followed their officer in through the manhole, which was closed. + +For at least two miles the submarine moved along on the surface, then, +slowly, began to submerge. One of the Danish sailors on deck set up a +howl of fright when he found his shoes six inches under water. The cry +was taken up by the other sailors with him. + +The water rose to their knees--higher. The conning tower settled down +into the sea, and the wretched sailors of the captain's boat were left +floundering in the water, without life-belts or anything buoyant to keep +them afloat. + +The last vestige of the submarine vanished, leaving more than a dozen +despairing men to flounder and to die, for the "Rigsdak's" other boats +were now too far distant to see what had happened. + +Going below, Dave and his friends from the "Rigsdak" were conducted into +a tiny wardroom behind the mess table at which sat a frowning, leering +German ober-lieutenant. + +"A ship's master who did not like us well enough to bring his papers and +his instruments," barked this commanding officer of the sea-hornet. "An +Englishman and his young wife, eh? But we have here--?" + +"An American naval officer," replied the younger German officer. + +For some reason the ober-lieutenant's manner changed. He looked Dave over +curiously, but without the same ferocity. + +"Be good enough to be seated," he said, with a wave of the hand toward a +chair. "Let these swine stand!" + +But Dave chose to remain on his feet. Again the ober-lieutenant turned to +him, though with comparative courtesy. + +"I offered you a seat, sir. I trust you will avail yourself of the +invitation." + +"I cannot seat myself, sir," Darrin answered, stiffly, "while a lady is +forced to stand." + +"Then the woman will have a seat too," replied the ober-lieutenant, with +a contemptuous glance in Mrs. Launce's direction. But that young +Englishwoman met his look of contempt with a glance that beat the German +at his own game, and remained on her feet. + +"Oh, very well," said the German commander, carelessly. "Now, I will +enter in my log the name and other particulars concerning the master of +the 'Rigsdak.'" + +Captain Kennor accordingly supplied the particulars, which were written +down. + +"The English cattle next!" ordered the ober-lieutenant, gruffly. + +Mr. Launce therefore stated the names, ages and residence of himself and +wife. + +"Your reason for travelling?" rasped the German commander, looking up +from his record. + +"Health," replied the Englishman, stiffly. + +"Whose?"--sneeringly. + +"Mine." + +"You do not look ill." + +"That cannot be helped," replied Mr. Launce, as stiffly as ever. + +"You must have passports, since you are travelling," suggested the +ober-lieutenant. + +"Yes; we have," admitted Mr. Launce. + +"Turn them over to me." + +Receiving the documents in question, the German commander looked them +over carefully. Without comment, he handed them to a younger officer, who +left the room with them, but soon returned. + +"Take these people away," ordered the ober-lieutenant. "And see that you +obey all orders without question," he added, to Kennor and the English +couple. + +When they had been left alone the ober-lieutenant rose to his feet, +holding out his hand to Darrin though a bit stiffly. + +"We are brothers in arms, it seems, though just now we are enemies," said +the German. + +"We are enemies, yes," Dave admitted, ignoring the outstretched hand. At +this the German flushed, allowing his proffered hand to fall. + +"You shall have all permissible courtesy while you are my prisoner, and I +trust you will show the same," said the ober-lieutenant. + +"I bespeak no courtesy, sir," Dave replied coolly, though without direct +affront. "I quite understand that I am a prisoner of war, and, as I +cannot help the fact, I will not resent it. You are going to confine me, +I take it?" + +"No," said the ober-lieutenant, again seating himself and picking up his +pen. "You will be given quarters, and allowed some freedom as long as you +do not forfeit it. You may even eat at table with us." + +"Thank you," said Darrin, bowing stiffly. + +"I have not yet entered your name. Be good enough to supply me with it." + +"David Darrin." + +"Rank?" + +"Lieutenant commander." + +"Yankee Navy?" + +"United States Navy, sir." + +"Present detail?" + +"Commanding officer of a torpedo boat destroyer." + +"Her name?" demanded the ober-lieutenant, writing. + +"I decline to state." + +"Name of the destroyer?" insisted the German. + +"You heard my answer to that," Darrin returned, his lips tightening. "I +refuse to reveal the name of the destroyer." + +"Her present station?" + +"I decline to answer." + +"Your reason for being away from your craft and being aboard the +'Rigsdak'?" queried the German, glancing up. + +"I was washed overboard in a gale, and rescued by the crew of the +'Rigsdak'," Dave answered, truthfully, without going into details. + +"Were you washed overboard from the craft of which you are commanding +officer?" pressed the German. + +"Again I must decline to answer." + +"Oh, very good," said the ober-lieutenant, carelessly. "I shall find that +out presently." + +Then, as he scanned the information he had written down, the German +asked: + +"Darrin? Darrin? Where have I heard that name before?" + +Picking up another book from the table, the ober-lieutenant turned +rapidly through some indexed pages. Suddenly a gleam came into his eyes. + +"Ah, here I have it. Darrin, David. Responsible for the capture and +recognition of Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold. Witness against von +Bechtold, who was executed in England as a spy. Ha! So you are the +Darrin, eh?" + +"I may be," half-assented Dave, feeling the other's burning gaze. + +"Then I am glad to have you here, Lieutenant-Commander Darrin!" cried the +German officer, "but I am afraid things will go badly indeed with you +when you arrive in Germany!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +LIKE THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH + + +"INDEED?" asked Dave, raising his eyebrows slightly. + +"You cannot expect that the people of the Fatherland will feel any great +kindness toward you," pursued the ober-lieutenant. + +"Why should they dislike me?" + +"Because you brought about the death of von Bechtold, and he was an +officer most valuable to our government." + +"If you caught an American spy in Germany would you arrest him?" + +"Assuredly," admitted the German officer. + +"And do your best to prove your charge against him and have him +executed." + +"Again, assuredly." + +"That was what I did, in the case of von Bechtold." + +"Bah, you are like the French and English!" snapped the ober-lieutenant. +"You can never get it through your heads that a German is more important +than one of your kinds of people." + +"No," Dave agreed, "I am afraid that we cannot appreciate that fact, or +even admit it to be a fact." + +"And now, before you leave me," broke in the German officer, quickly, +"tell me the name of your destroyer and the station on which you last +served." + +Dave smiled, but did not answer in words. The ober-lieutenant regarded +him frowningly. + +"Oh, very good," said the German, at last. "There are those in Germany +who know how and possess the means to make you talk. Your record shall be +completed there. And now--!" + +Going to the wardroom door the ober-lieutenant called: + +"Lieutenant von Schellen!" + +The same younger officer came to the door. + +"Be good enough to show Lieutenant Commander Darrin to his quarters and +extend to him any courtesies that you properly may. It is not fitting +that a man of his rank should have to receive orders from a seaman." + +"This way," directed von Schellen, briefly. He led the way down the +narrow passage to a curtained doorway. + +"In here you will find your home until we reach Germany," said von +Schellen. "If you wish exercise you may leave your sleeping cabin and +walk back and forth in this passage-way. If the ober-lieutenant should +decide to be gracious enough to invite you to the wardroom, then you will +also have the freedom of that room--at meal hours only. You will not go +to any other part of this craft." + +With a curt nod the young lieutenant left Dave. Perhaps von Schellen had +done his best to be courteous. + +Pulling back the curtain Dave looked in. It was a stuffy little place, +just long enough to hold two berths, one above the other, against the +outer shell of the submarine. In the upper berth Captain Kennor lay at +full length, a hand over his eyes. + +"We are cabin-mates, then?" Dave asked, gently. + +"Yes, so I been told," the Dane answered gloomily. + +"And you in the upper berth? Why did you not take the lower one? It is +more comfortable." + +"I vould no so presume!" protested the Dane. "Not wid a man of your +rank." + +"I haven't rank enough in our naval service to feel conceited about it," +Darry smiled, "and you are considerably older than I. Any difference +there may be in comfort is your due. Will you kindly exchange?" + +Not without some difficulty did Dave succeed in inducing Captain Kennor +to change to the lower, broader berth of the two. Dave, after removing +his boots and some of his clothing, climbed to the upper berth, spreading +a blanket over himself and lying down, for he felt that rest was +absolutely needed. + +At the noon-meal hour the ober-lieutenant sent an orderly to invite +Darrin to the table, though the same invitation was not to be extended to +Captain Kennor, who would be expected to eat with the German petty +officers. But, as Dave and Captain Kennor were asleep at the time, the +orderly departed without waking them. + +It was past the middle of the afternoon when Dave Darrin at last awoke +sufficiently to decide upon rising. Getting to the floor, and noting that +Captain Kennor was still asleep, Dave dressed almost by stealth. + +While he was still so engaged there came a slight knock at the door. A +German petty officer looked in. + +"The ober-lieutenant sends his compliments," announced the fellow, in +English. "He will be pleased to have you join him. I will lead the way." + +Dave followed, down the passage and out into the main cabin. There, at a +table under the conning tower, sat the ober-lieutenant and the same +younger officer. + +"We will raise the periscope and show you what we are about to do," said +the ober-lieutenant, with a half-malicious smile. + +Von Schellen, his hand on the wheel of the periscope mechanism, awaited a +nod from his chief. Receiving it, the younger officer turned the wheel, +sending the periscope up a foot above water. + +On the white surface of the shaded table beneath Dave saw the image of a +vessel. + +"The fellow yonder has not yet sighted us," said the ober-lieutenant, +grimly. "We are about to send him a torpedo. Yonder craft is to be our +game--Yankee steel and Yankee meat!" + +As for Dave, as he stared in horror at the image on the table he +recognized in the ship mirrored there Dan Dalzell's own command, the +"Reed." + +Forcing himself to speak calmly, and to act a part Dave begged: + +"One moment longer, please! Let me see whether I can recognize the doomed +craft." + +"Doomed, indeed," chuckled the ober-lieutenant. "We are in position and I +am about to fire. Be ready to drop the 'scope, von Schellen!" + +But Dave Darrin, knocking von Schellen's hand away, seized the lever, +forcing the periscope to rise to its full height above the conning tower. +Nor did he stop there. With the mightiest twist and wrench of which he +was capable he jammed the lever so that it could not be promptly operated +to lower the periscope. + +"Stop!" thundered von Schellen, leaping to his feet, his face purple with +rage. + +"I've stopped," assented Darry, smilingly, as he stepped back. + +"Do you realize what you have done, scoundrelly Yankee?" hissed the +ober-lieutenant, also rising and drawing his revolver. + +"Of course I do," Dave smilingly assented. + +"You have jammed the periscope. But at least we can dive when we need, +for--there!" + +With deft manipulation of a small device the German commander added: + +"I have closed the valves of the 'scope, which will now admit no water if +we dive. You did not succeed, Herr Darrin. But you will draw upon us the +Yankee fire if yonder commander is now able to sight our scope." + +As if to verify the statement a muffled sound came to them through the +water. Glancing down swiftly at the table von Schellen saw that reflected +which caused him to exclaim: + +"The Yankee destroyer has opened upon us with her forward port gun. And +there goes the starboard gun!" + +Von Schellen, at a nod from his chief, signalled the orders for diving. +The ober-lieutenant saw the "Reed," as pictured on the white table, come +steaming toward the submarine at full speed. + +"You idiot!" raged the German commander. "Your treachery has betrayed us, +and now the Yankee will do his best to sink us and drown all on board +here." + +"That's what I'm praying right now he'll do!" cried Dave Darrin, his face +radiant with the glory of the thought. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A VICTIM OF COURTESY + + +"AND what about the woman we have on board?" demanded the +ober-lieutenant, hurriedly. "Would you destroy her, too--cause her, if +you could, to die the death of drowning helplessly?" + +"I--I had forgotten her," Dave confessed. + +But from the passageway came a prompt response. + +"Never mind me," called Mrs. Launce. "I have heard, and I, also, pray to +see this pirate craft destroyed before it can accomplish any more +wickedness and destruction. My own death does not matter!" + +"Silence, woman!" cried the ober-lieutenant, glaring at Mrs. Launce. + +"Mrs. Launce has spoken, and has no more to say," broke in the unruffled +voice of Caleb Launce. + +"Is that the way you address women when they are helpless?" Dave +demanded, tauntingly. + +"When they take part in conversations without being asked," the German +answered, curtly. + +"I have heard it was a way with the naval men of your country," Dave +drove back, tauntingly. + +Von Schellen reported: + +"We are now sixty feet below the surface, and headed west by southwest. +Any further orders?" + +"None," replied the commander. "Keep to the course until I direct it to +be changed." + +With a stiff salute von Schellen turned and vanished. + +"Your Yankee friend shall not catch us this time," jeered the +ober-lieutenant. "Listen! Can you hear his propellers? We are going +directly away from him." + +"He will catch you, in the end," Darrin retorted, "or some other comrade +will. I know how many of your craft our Navy has put out of commission, +and I know how many our Allies have destroyed." + +"But you do not know how many submarines we have left, nor how fast we +are building them," mocked the German commander. + +"Do not be too sure of that," Dave retorted. "It may be that our +information is more exact than you suspect." + +"Have you anything definite to say on that subject?" demanded the +ober-lieutenant, regarding his prisoner attentively. + +"Naturally not." + +"Then, as I shall be busy, will you be good enough to return to the +bounds set for you?" + +Dave bowed, turned and re-entered the passage-way. The German naval +officer's manner toward him had not been insulting. There was an evident +effort to treat Darrin with the outward show of respect that should be +accorded to a prisoner of his rank. Yet Dave knew that his enemy hated +him. + +Mr. and Mrs. Launce were in the passage-way, and Captain Kennor could be +heard stirring in his cabin. + +"Mr. Darrin, we are now at good depth under water?" inquired Mr. Launce. + +"Yes, sir; I believe so. We are not to be caught and destroyed just yet." + +"That I am sorry to hear," replied the lawyer, gravely. + +"And, I, too, am sorry," spoke up Mrs. Launce. "Life has been sweet to +me, but I would much rather be dead than a captive in Germany. I condole +with you, Mr. Darrin, that it was not possible for you to bring about the +destruction of this wretched craft." + +"It will, before long, go the way of the other German submarines," Dave +assured her, hoping that there were enemy eavesdroppers who would +overhear and understand. + +At best exercise in this narrow short passage was a farce, though it was +often more agreeable to be out here than sitting in the cramped space of +one of the tiny sleeping cabins. The four prisoners rested, or moved +listlessly about, until the evening meal was ready. Then Captain Kennor +was summoned to eat with the petty officers, while Dave and his English +companions received word to join the craft's officers in the tiny +wardroom. + +Mr. Launce glanced at Dave with a questioning look. + +"Really, Mr. Darrin, I would as soon starve as eat with those German +officer fellows, and my wife feels as I do about it." + +"And my idea is the same," Dave answered. + +So Mr. Launce turned to the German mess servant, delivering in German a +message to the effect that the three prisoners did not care to join the +officers at mess. + +Thereupon von Schellen came out. + +"What is the matter?" he asked. + +"We don't care to eat with you, sir," Mr. Launce replied, bluntly. + +"Oh, very well," replied the junior officer, carelessly. "You three, +then, may eat at second table after we are pleased to be through." + +Clicking his heels and wheeling, the junior officer went back to the +wardroom. The three prisoners waited more than an hour before the same +mess attendant came and beckoned them to enter. + +They were alone, now, save for the presence of the ober-lieutenant, who +was seated at one end of the table writing. He did not look up as they +entered and seated themselves. + +The meal set out was a coarse one, in quality of food, but there was +plenty of it. The three prisoners ate slowly, almost in silence, nor did +they address their host. + +Before the meal was over the German commander left the room without word +or sign to his guests. + +"Why, the boat has stopped!" exclaimed Mrs. Launce, in a low voice, some +three minutes later. "Are we resting on the bottom?" + +"I think I shall soon be able to answer you," Darrin replied. + +Soon machinery began to rumble. + +"We are on the surface," said Dave, laying down knife and fork. "We are +recharging batteries." + +Mrs. Launce leaned forward to whisper: + +"Then surely there is some chance that one of our own craft will hear the +racket. We may be fired upon and sunk, do you not think?" + +"You are eager for death?" Dave asked, studying her face. + +"Yes. I prefer death to being taken to Germany." + +"And I, too," Dave nodded. + +"Have they anything against you there?" Mrs. Launce whispered, after +glancing about her. + +"Only, I believe, that I brought about the capture and execution of one +of their most valuable spies." + +"That would be enough," whispered Mr. Launce. "For that the Germans would +not openly try and execute you, but they will find other ways to bring +about your death." + +Instantly it occurred to Darrin that, evidently, some one in official +Germany knew of something to bring against Mrs. Launce, for her question +to Darrin had indicated as much. + +As they sat there at the table the young American officer noted that the +submarine rolled hardly at all. It was plain that the recent gale had +subsided, for the slight rocking of the boat indicated only a gentle +swell on the surface of the sea. + +In the doorway appeared Lieutenant von Schellen. In his right hand, +steadied by his left, was what looked like an album. Glancing up from a +page the junior officer remarked, with quick speech and decided emphasis: + +"You are the Countess of Denby." + +By a great effort the Englishwoman turned slowly, glancing at the German. + +"Ah!" she exclaimed. "You have another woman prisoner? You are bringing +her here. I am sorry that she is in your hands." + +"_You_ are the Countess of Denby!" von Schellen charged again, once more +levelling his accusing finger at her. "And you, sir," shifting the +direction of his finger to point at the supposed Mr. Launce, "are the +Earl of Denby!" + +"I have risen in the world since I went to sea!" jested the Englishman. + +"We know who you are, now," von Schellen continued, with brutal +bluntness, "and we know as much more about you as we need. We know of the +Admiralty office that you visited, and we know the information that you +two were expected to gather along the Kiel Canal when you should have +entered Germany! Oh, you will soon understand that we have most excellent +information from England! You journeyed to Denmark on a poor old tramp +steamer, under assumed names and with fraudulent passports furnished by +your government. From Denmark you were to work your way to Holland, and +thence into Germany, which country you would enter with still other +passports furnished you in Holland. We know all about the noble pair of +Denby! Of course you will deny this, but save your denials for use before +a German court!" + +Having said which von Schellen turned and left them. The Englishman and +woman gave each other a swift, horrified glance, then lowered their eyes. +As they looked up again Dave sent them a swift glance of sympathy, but +there was a look of defiant pride on the Englishwoman's face. + +The same thought was in the minds of all three. Von Schellen or some +other German had been eavesdropping near enough to hear the whispered +conversation that had taken place. + +That was a fair ruse for use in war-time. Darrin, as he looked at the +English pair, felt sure that they really were the Earl and Countess of +Denby. + +From the cabin under the conning tower came a chorus of hoarse laughter. +The Englishwoman's swift look said plainly: + +"They are laughing over the discovery that they have made." + +After that, gloom fell upon the trio. Darrin had never heard, before, of +the Earl of Denby. Later he learned that the Earl had led a recluse's +life among books until the war began. About that time he had married a +young noblewoman, and the pair had gone promptly into effective war work, +though not in ways that caused their portraits to be published in the +illustrated weeklies. + +Von Schellen re-appeared five minutes later, casting first a look of +triumph at the English couple, next turning to Dave. + +"The American officer may take the air briefly on deck if he so desires," +said the German. "It is by gracious permission of the commanding +officer." + +Darrin's first impulse was to decline, unless his companions were +included. He changed his mind, however, for he had an intense desire to +find out, if possible, in what waters the craft now was. So he rose, +bowing to his table companions, and followed von Schellen to the conning +tower ladder. Here he passed Herr Ober-Lieutenant and bowed stiffly. + +"I am trusting you on deck," said the latter, with a frown. "It is a +courtesy. Do not abuse it by any untoward conduct." + +Then Dave followed his conductor up into the tower, von Schellen all the +while keeping sharp lookout to see that Darrin did not attempt to do any +damage to the levers on the indicator board. + +Von Schellen, preceding him to the deck, turned to say, as Darrin reached +the platform: + +"Observe. Your desperate trick did not harm us for long. You will note +that the periscope is again lowered. In fact, a new one has been put in +its place. We have tested the new periscope and its bearings, and have +found that they work perfectly. Your treachery, with which you repaid the +commanding officer's courtesy, did not avail you much." + +Darrin did not reply. Instead, he turned to survey the night on all +sides. Overhead were heavy clouds, obscuring the light of the moon, +which, in its present phase, would have furnished considerable light over +the waters. There was a fine mist in the air, but the sixth sense of the +sailor warned Dave not to expect rain tonight. + +Despite the cloudiness, however, one could see for a considerable +distance over the slightly rolling sea. There was no other craft in +sight. + +"You do not see much hope," mocked von Schellen. "We have chosen a quiet +part of the sea, as you will notice." + +"You usually try to do that, don't you?" Dave asked, in a tone of +ordinary curiosity. + +"You must know," laughed the junior officer. "You have spent months +pursuing our submarines." + +"And have had some success in catching them," Dave answered. + +Von Schellen's laugh was bitter as he rejoined: + +"Ah! You are a good boaster! But do not go too far, Herr Darrin! Do not +make me wish to strike you!" + +"I wouldn't care how soon you struck me," Darrin smiled, "provided I +could be assured of a fair field and no favor in defending myself. But I +think we are going too far in our talk, are we not, when one considers +the consideration that a captor must show to a prisoner of war. As a +gentleman you cannot strike me; nor, as a gentleman, can I seek to +provoke you to do so. The situation is one calling for tact, Herr +Lieutenant." + +"And I cannot forget that you are taking occasion to remind me of the +fact," retorted von Schellen, a dark look coming into his face. + +"Then may I, as the prisoner of war, ask that the subject be changed?" +Dave Darrin suggested. + +"By all means," von Schellen returned, quickly, though he was able to +perceive that the American had again succeeded in putting him in the +wrong. + +Just a moment later a petty officer appeared on deck. Taking two or three +steps toward the junior officer he halted, saluted, and then remained +standing at attention, as though waiting. + +Von Schellen stepped over to the man, and a conversation followed in low +tones, but did not last long. + +"If you care to remain on deck and watch," said the junior lieutenant, +"you will see something that may interest you." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +GERMAN BRUTALITY AT ITS WORST + + +JUST behind the conning tower a jointed steel mast was raised and stepped +by three seamen who came at the petty officer's order. + +Farther astern a narrow, ledge-like trapdoor of steel was raised, and +from this was taken and stepped another steel jointed mast. The seamen +now worked quickly in rigging aerial wires in place. In a very short time +the work was completed, and the petty officer saluted von Schellen. + +"You cannot fail to understand what we are doing," hinted the young +German officer. + +"You are about to send or receive radio messages, I take it," Dave +replied. + +"You have been told, of course, that we always report our whereabouts +after dark?" + +"Yes, it is common knowledge with the Allies," Dave admitted. "And also +that you receive instructions from the home offices of your Admiralty." + +There was a crackling sound on the aerials, followed by others, some +short, some long. + +"A wonderful invention, is it not?" asked von Schellen, with +satisfaction. + +"Yes, and first developed outside of Germany," Dave bantered, +good-humoredly. + +"True enough, but we have known how to take the radio and adapt it to all +our needs," retorted von Schellen. + +"Your operator is now reporting your whereabouts, of course." + +"That would seem likely, wouldn't it?" the other demanded. + +"And then you will receive information." + +"Yes; and sometimes we have even messages for our men from their homes," +laughed von Schellen. "More! I have even had tender messages from my +sweetheart! And have answered them in kind!" + +For a moment Dave stared in astonishment. He knew von Schellen for a +truly heartless brute. The idea that any woman could love this fellow +came almost as a shock. And that Schellen could have any tender feelings! +Wonders would never cease. + +"Of what are you thinking, if I may ask?" the German went on. + +"After information coming to you," Darrin hinted, "it almost goes without +saying that you receive your orders." + +"Surely we receive them," nodded the German, "if we happen to need any. +But in our line of professional work, after we have received information +we do not often need orders. We know how to use our information." + +"Of course," Dave went on, "any other radio operator who is within +hearing distance can pick up your messages, so you do not send them in +open German but use a code, or rather, a series of codes." + +"If your radio men have ever picked up any of our messages," retorted the +young German, "you must know that you were not able to decipher their +meaning." + +"We could not always decipher them," Darrin admitted. + +"What do you mean by that?" + +"Why, it is possible, of course, that sometimes we and our Allies have +some keys to the German use of code messages." + +"You assert that?" questioned von Schellen, rather eagerly. + +"No, and I do not deny it, either," Dave smiled. + +"You are interesting, but discreet," complained the German, banteringly. + +"And I may say as much of you," Dave continued. "Naturally, you know +some things that you would not tell me, and I know a few things that I +would not dream of telling you." + +"And, instead, you hint at things that are not so, and perhaps I do about +the same thing," returned von Schellen. + +After that silence fell for some minutes. Dave walked back and forth, the +junior officer watching him keenly. + +Overhead the crackling at the aerials continued, with occasional +intervals of silence when the operator below was busy receiving messages. + +Again a petty officer approached von Schellen, saluting and reporting in +an undertone. + +"It is time for you to go below," announced von Schellen, turning to +Dave. + +"I appreciate very much this opportunity to take the fresh air," Dave +said, politely, as he turned toward the conning tower. + +"Oh, I guess you're welcome," said the lieutenant, shortly, and with a +meaning smile, "though sometimes there is such a thing as too much +outdoor life." + +To Darrin's mild astonishment, as he stepped below, a folding table had +been set up, and around this were seated the ober-lieutenant and two +other officers, one of them an engineer. Von Schellen, at a nod from his +chief, made the fourth at the table. + +Into this cabin were brought the English couple and the Danish master. +Several sailors stood about. The occasion began to take on a formal look, +which was heightened when the ober-lieutenant laid on the table a small +sheaf of papers. + +"First of all, you, Herr Darrin," began the ober-lieutenant. "There can +be no doubt that you are Darrin?" + +Dave thrust a hand in under his sheepskin, bringing to light a card-case. +From it he withdrew a pasteboard which he laid on the table. + +"That is my card," he said. + +The ober-lieutenant studied it deliberately, then passed it to another +officer as he continued: + +"And you do not deny that it was you who captured Ober-Lieutenant von +Bechtold of the Imperial German Navy. You were the principal witness +against him when he was tried in Britain for being a spy?" + +"I do not deny it, sir." + +"That is all. You may step back." + +As Darrin drew back he could not escape the feeling that two of the +seamen near him regarded him as being their especial prisoner. + +"And now, the Earl and Countess of Denby," called the ober-lieutenant. + +The English couple remained as motionless and appeared as unconcerned as +though they had not heard. + +"You two, I mean," insisted the ober-lieutenant, turning to them. + +"Oh," said the man, and stepped forward, his wife following him. + +The ober-lieutenant eyed the pair impressively before he asked them: + +"You do not deny that you are the Earl and Countess of Denby?" + +"No," replied the man. + +"Ah! Then you admit it?" + +"No," he said, promptly. + +"But either you must be, or you cannot be, the noble couple whom I have +named. Which is it?" + +"That is for you to determine," replied the man. + +"But what do you say yourselves?" + +"Nothing." + +"But you must answer my question!" the commanding officer insisted +angrily. + +"You fatigue me," declared the man. + +"You have not answered my question, and won't?" + +"We have nothing to say." + +Frowning, the ober-lieutenant whispered to a petty officer, who had +placed on the table the same album that von Schellen had brought to the +wardroom door. The commanding officer opened the album, pointing to two +photographs that adorned a page. + +"These are your photographs, are they not?" he demanded, glancing up at +the pair. But no reply came from them. + +"At least," said the ober-lieutenant, stiffly, "you have been given +abundant opportunity to deny, and have declined to do so. Our imperial +government has had sufficient information that you two have recently +entered the British secret service. It is even known to the imperial +government that you two recently undertook to penetrate into Germany, +under even another assumed name than Launce, and that you planned to spy +upon what was to be learned along the Kiel Canal. You even had some of +your arrangements made for performing that seemingly very difficult piece +of spy work. You have been charged, and you refuse to deny. It is the +same as a confession on your parts. The Earl and Countess of Denby will +stand aside." + +Two sailors, at a sign from the ober-lieutenant, drew the English pair +back. + +"Martin Kennor, once master of the Danish freight steamer 'Rigsdak!'" +called the commander. + +Promptly the Danish skipper stood forward. + +"There can be no doubt at all that you answer the description just +given?" demanded the ober-lieutenant. + +"None vatever," agreed Kennor. + +"The only fault to be found with you," continued the ober-lieutenant, +"is that you had the misfortune to be found in such company, and that +later on your tongue might prove too long and ready. That is all!" + +Von Schellen, again on his feet, signalled to some of the seamen, then +said: + +"The prisoners will follow me." + +To the amazement of all he led the way to the conning tower. After him +the sailors herded the four prisoners of war. They ascended the ladder, +the Englishwoman being the last of the four. Her husband and Captain +Kennor assisted her as she stepped through the manhole to the deck +outside. + +"But this is unkind," she declared, with a shiver. "My husband and I have +not our outer wraps, and the night is chilly." + +"I will mention the matter," replied von Schellen, stiffly. + +The wireless masts and aerials had disappeared. As the four passengers +stood on the deck and wondered, the seamen entered the submarine through +the manhole in the wake of von Schellen. When the last of them had gone +into the conning tower the junior lieutenant re-appeared at the manhole +to call: + +"A pleasant evening for four!" + +Then the manhole cover was closed and there came to those on deck a +muffled sound connected with fastening it on the inside. + +"What does this new insolence mean?" cried the Englishwoman. + +"If you do not guess, you must soon know," replied her husband, throwing +an arm about her. It was then that Mrs. Launce understood. She turned +pale, but did not cry out. + +Perhaps a full minute passed before the submarine began to move forward. +Dave Darrin, familiar with the sounds from below, knew that the rumble of +machinery coming to his ears was caused, not by the engines used in +surface running, but by the electric motors employed when running under +water. + +"The brutes are going to drown us, as they did the hapless sailors they +took from our boat!" gasped the Englishwoman. + +"Yes, my dear," replied her husband, "and you have said that you would +prefer drowning to being a prisoner in Germany." + +"I still say it," she answered quietly. + +"We are to have our wish," said her husband. + +Dave Darrin remained immobile; Captain Kennor shrugged his shoulders +without speaking. + +The prow of the craft dipped into the water, which soon came creeping up +around their ankles. The forward deck was now out of sight, the water in +which they stood rising toward their knees. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +FACING THE PLANNED DEATH + + +TURNING to Darrin the Englishman held out his hand. + +"Good-bye" he said, simply. "You have been a good comrade. I trust you +have not been disappointed in us, either." + +"Let's not say good-bye yet," urged Dave cheerfully. "Surely we are not +going to give up and drown, merely because a lot of German rascals so +will it." + +"But we cannot last long in the water," protested the Englishman, mildly. + +"At least, sir," Dave suggested, "we shall not die until we have to. You +swim?" + +"Once I did." + +"Then you can swim now. The sea is nearly smooth. Let us try to keep +together. And you, Captain Kennor? You swim?" + +"Yes." + +"Good. We'll keep together as long as we can." + +At this moment the Englishwoman, the shortest of the quartette, gave a +little cry as she found her footing giving way beneath her. + +"All together!" cried Darrin, with a cheeriness he did not feel, as he +gripped the woman's left arm. + +Another drop of the deck sent them all adrift. The Englishman supported +his wife on her right. Captain Kennor, nearly silent, but undaunted, swam +slightly behind the others that he might offer aid wherever needed. + +Strangely enough, though the swimmers spoke to each other occasionally, +none now referred to the dastardly conduct of the enemy in setting them +thus adrift to drown. + +"You are cold, my dear, I know," said the Englishman to his wife. "Are +you suffering otherwise?" + +"No; but though I would not willingly drown myself, I shall not be sorry +when we give up and go down." + +"Had I felt that way the last time I found myself in the water," spoke up +Dave, "I would not be here now." + +"You had on a life belt. Now none of us has," answered the Englishwoman, +her teeth chattering. "We cannot last long." + +"After my last experience, madam," Dave assured her, "I shall never dare +say that as long as life lasts." + +"Why not face facts calmly?" she asked. "Probably I shall last a quarter +of an hour before I die of cold. I may survive for twenty minutes or a +little longer. You are strong, and may keep up for an hour or more. What +can possibly come to our aid in that short time?" + +"Who can say?" was Dave's counter-question. + +For some time, they swam in silence. They did not attempt to make +progress. Motion enough to keep afloat was all that was called for. + +All at once Dave wondered whether his eyes were playing him tricks, or +whether he really saw the top of a conning tower approaching him. It was +not likely that the enemy would remain about, and come back to see how it +fared with the victims of their cruelty. + +Then the something in the water took on another vague shape. Darrin shook +his head in an effort to get the water out of his eyes. He peered again. +The shape, whatever it was, and if it really existed, was beginning to +get on his nerves. It seemed to come nearer. + +"Captain Kennor!" called Darrin, sharply. + +"Aye!" responded the Dane. + +"Are you still swimming strongly?" + +"Aye!" + +"Then will you swim ahead and see what it is that my eyes show me on the +water?" + +"Oh, aye!" + +With lusty strokes the Dane swam around him, and then ahead. + +"A little more to the left!" called Dave. + +Then Captain Kennor believed that he saw it, too, and headed straight for +the object. Getting nearer he sent back a real cheer. + +"What is it?" Darrin called. + +"A spar!" + +"Any size?" + +"Large enough us to hold all up! Swim dis vay! Alone, can I hardly push +it to you." + +Neither Dave nor the Englishman needed urging. They swam, still bearing +the woman between them. The sight of the Dane ahead of them holding to +the spar with one arm, and holding up the other hand, heartened them +wonderfully. + +Soon all three had gained the spar, and Captain Kennor, drawing a cord +from his pocket, soon succeeded in lashing the Englishwoman so securely +to the spar that she could not slip away and perish. + +"Now, you will remember what I said about not giving up," Dave reminded +his companions. + +"Why, yes, I am buoyed up, and perhaps you men can manage to hold on, +also," admitted the woman. "Yet we must freeze to death." + +"We will still dare to hope," Darrin replied, calmly. + +"You are a splendid inspiration, Mr. Darrin!" declared the Englishman, +heartily. "I wish I could believe that you are a true prophet, as well." + +"Oh, well," spoke Dave, with a lightness that was deceptive, "I've really +been in several worse scrapes than the present one." + +But to himself he added: + +"May I be forgiven for uttering what seems to me to be a possibly helpful +lie!" + +Though they were now safely afloat for some time to come, their situation +rapidly became worse, owing to the increasing cold. Especially was this +noticeable in the case of the Englishwoman. + +From time to time her eyes closed. When spoken to she had to exert +considerable effort to shake off her languor before she could reply. She +became still more drowsy; evidently she was on the verge of freezing to +death. From speaking kindly her husband dropped into sharp tones for the +sole purpose of keeping her awake. Presently he was forced to resort to +light blows in order to bully her into wakefulness. Once she fell soundly +asleep she would not again awake. + +As for Captain Kennor, he held on almost dumbly. He seldom spoke, his +eyes mournfully regarding the woman whose battle for life was slowly +being lost. + +"This is awful!" cried the Englishman, hoarsely, after another effort to +rouse his wife from slumber. + +"For all of us," Darrin admitted, "though there is still hope." + +"Where?" inquired Captain Kennor. + +"I do not know," Dave confessed. "Yes, I do, too, though! Look yonder! +No, in that direction!" + +At first the others could not make it out. Captain Kennor was the first +to see what Dave had found. It was only a low, dark cloud on the horizon, +and it looked as though smaller clouds detached themselves and sailed +away on the low-hanging sky. + +"I see it, too!" cried the Englishman, at last. "But what is it?" + +"A ship," Dave answered. "To be more exact, it looks like a destroyer, +and it looks too as though it might pass within a quarter of a mile of +us." + +"Look, my dear--look!" the Englishman urged his wife, shaking her in his +eagerness to have her realize the thread of hope that dangled before +their eyes. "A ship coming! We are to be saved." + +Her eyes opened at last; the woman struggled bravely to show interest in +the sight that half-cheered the others, but she could not. She was too +far gone, and her eyes closed again. + +"Keep your wife awake, sir, if you have to begin to pull her hair from +her head!!" It was a command. "See how near that craft is getting. Jove, +sir! I believe it is one of our own Yankee ships!" + +"But they will not come close enough to see us," objected Captain Kennor, +with the practiced eyes of the veteran seaman. "They are not using their +searchlight, and we have no way of signalling to them." + +Without speaking Darrin tried a desperate hope. In one of his hands +something gleamed out into the night. + +"What is it?" demanded the Dane. "Himmel! Der flashlight! Vere or ven did +you by dat come?" + +"I found it in the locker of our sleeping cabin, and hid it in my +clothes," Dave answered, as he again tested the light. "I did not want to +speak of it unless there should come some hope to us. This light was +evidently left by some German who had used that cabin. It's waterproof, +too. When I found it I had a hope that it might come in handy before I +got through with this adventure. And now!" + +Waiting only a minute or two longer, Dave, clinging to the spar with one +arm, held the other hand as high aloft as he could. + +"Help!" he signalled by flashes in the Morse code. "Help!" + +"It is such a tiny glow, to carry so far!" sighed the Englishman. + +"Maybe id vill seen be," said Captain Kennor. + +Dave continued to signal until, to his great joy, there came an +answering signal from a blinker light which asked: + +"Who are you?" + +"Four castaways, clinging to a spar. Help before we freeze!" Dave flashed +back, desperately. + +"If only the commander of that boat does not suspect us of being a German +submarine springing a trap!" cried the Englishwoman. + +A searchlight flashed up, then its broad beam stretched across the waters +as the operator tried to pick up the floating ones. + +Dave threw the flash into a continuous light while the searchlight beam +continued groping. Then, in a blessed instant, the beam struck almost +blindingly across the spar and the four human beings held up by it. + +"Now, they've spotted us," Dave cried, exultingly. "They won't run away +and leave us without a look-in." + +Holding the spar with the searchlight beam, the destroyer changed its +course, bearing down rapidly upon them. Then it stopped and a motor +launch was lowered from davits. + +With a burst of speed the launch came alongside the spar. Busy hands were +outstretched. The Englishwoman was the first to be taken aboard, after a +few quick slashes had freed her from the binding cord. + +[Illustration: "Help!"] + +"Why, here's Lieutenant Commander Darrin!" exclaimed a voice. Dave, +almost too weak to speak, was hustled into the boat, then the other two +men were taken over. + +Blankets were wrapped about the rescued ones, and the launch dashed back +to her ship. + +"A woman, Lieutenant Commander Darrin and two other men!" the officer in +charge of the launch hailed the destroyer. + +"Darrin!" cried a voice. There was even greater bustle at the top of the +gangway that had been lowered as the launch ran alongside. As swiftly as +possible the four rescued ones were rushed up the side. + +"Old Darry himself, eh?" cried a joyous voice, as Danny Grin hurried up. +"Has the woman any relative in the party?" + +"Yes; her husband," Dave answered weakly, then collapsed. + +"Take the woman and her husband to my quarters," Dalzell directed. "Have +a cot put in and lashed for the husband, and put the woman in the berth. +Mr. Darrin and the other man will go to the sick bay." + +Willing hands bore the rescued ones as ordered. Dan himself followed +Dave's bearers down to the sick bay and there supervised the treatment +given Dave and Captain Kennor, while the medical officer went to Dan's +quarters, the best on the craft. + +The Englishman was soon more comfortable. His wife, however, required +serious attention. Dalzell shook his head over Dave, who appeared all in +and not able to talk. + +"Was he in the water longer than the rest of you?" asked Dalzell, as soon +as Captain Kennor was able to talk. + +"No; but he vas der water in vonce before," was the reply. "Der second +time he could stand not so well." + +That gave Dan the clue. As soon as the medical officer could be spared +from the care of the Englishwoman for a few moments he was ordered to the +sick bay. + +"Mr. Darrin may pull through, but I won't guarantee anything," said the +surgeon, after an examination. "The chances are all against him. I am +afraid the woman is going to die also." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +DAVE PLEDGES HIS WORD FOR RESULTS + + +THAT double report helped Dan Dalzell to make up his mind. + +"Run straight for port," he ordered the executive officer, naming the +nearest British haven that offered rail connection. + +In an hour and a half the destroyer had dropped anchor at the port. + +More medical aid was brought aboard, including a trained nurse for the +Englishwoman. + +A few hours after daylight the woman had recovered sufficiently to +warrant her removal to a hospital on shore. No strong hopes were yet +entertained of keeping her alive for more than a day or two. Her husband +had stood the watery ordeal much better. + +Captain Kennor, who, with Dave, was taken to the hospital later in the +day, had nearly recovered by the day following. + +But for Dave Darrin there followed black hours. According to the doctors +a severe case of pneumonia was about the best that could be predicted for +him. + +On the day after he was taken ashore Darrin opened his eyes with a light +of recognition in them. At the foot of the cot, in a chair, sat a +stalwart, youthful figure. Dan Dalzell, whose orders took him to sea +again that night, was waiting to the last for better news. + +"Dan," Dave called, softly, and Dalzell was instantly bending over him. + +"David, little giant, did you know that the 'Reed' had the good luck to +pick you up?" asked Dan, eagerly. + +"I had a notion of it, but I was too dazed to know really," Darrin +answered. + +"I've been here about all the time ever since," Dan went on. "I wanted to +know the news of you as soon as it could be had. But you're going to be +all right, now." + +"Of course I am," agreed Dave, feebly. + +Unseen by the man on the hospital cot, Dan signalled with one hand. Down +the ward came a doctor, followed by a young woman wearing the blue cape +ulster of the Red Cross. There was a quick, glad cry; soft lips touched +Dave's face. + +"Belle!" gasped Dave, delightedly. + +"I'm going to be allowed to sit by you quite a bit, dear, if you don't +try to talk to me," replied the steady voice of Belle Darrin. Summoned by +cable sent by Dan, Belle had journeyed swiftly from France. + +"And now I'm off and back to my ship, Belle," said Dan. "But I know +you'll find a way to get a radio message through to me when Dave is +improved enough to warrant it. Good-bye, Darry, old chap!" + +And Dan was off, not because he didn't want to stay, but because he knew +his chum would want to see the most of Belle. As for that young woman, +who held none too positive hopes of Darrin's recovery after what the +doctors had told her, she forced herself to be calm and smiling and sat +close by, her hand on Dave's forehead when he dropped off into a +feverish, troubled sleep. + +The next day Belle chatted with her husband a little, in a cool, steady +voice. Two days after that Dave was actually permitted to sit up. + +On the sixth day after he had been taken to the hospital Dave was mending +so rapidly that Belle, who was obliged to leave that afternoon for her +Red Cross post in France, felt wholly easy in mind as to his condition. + +"It was a lucky chain of events, my two swims in the channel," Darrin +told her before they parted. + +"Lucky, when the experience nearly cost you your life?" exclaimed Belle. + +"It gave you an excuse for coming to me, and gave me the time and leisure +to be with you." + +"Dave Darrin, you don't mean any such thing! You are needed aboard your +ship, and I am needed for my work in France, and nothing can be called +really good luck that takes either of us away from his post of duty in +war-time." + +"You little patriot!" Dave laughed, jestingly. + +"You believe it just as much as I do," Belle maintained stoutly. "I'm +glad to have been here with you, dear, but I shall be glad to find myself +back at my post. And you know you are glad that you will return to your +ship tomorrow." + +"If she comes in," Darrin amended. + +"Dave, aren't you nearly wild to get back to duty?" she persisted. + +"Yes, I am, for as you say, dear, we are all needed at the posts assigned +to us. There is another reason why I must get back. The work that has +been cut out for us is not proceeding as it should. We have made some +good 'catches' in the way of mines, yet the fact is that mines are being +planted much faster than we have been taking them up. I must get back to +duty and see if I can find out what is wrong." + +Buttoning his overcoat tightly Dave Darrin walked with Belle to the +railway station. The train left so soon after their arrival that there +were not many moments left the young couple for leave-taking. After the +train had started Dave watched it out of sight. There had been something +uncomfortable in his throat, but as he turned away the lump vanished and +his jaws set squarely. + +"Now, my work is cut out for me," he told himself. "I can do only one +man's part in this war, but I must do that to the limit and try to make +the world a safe place of residence for that little woman and all others +like her!" + +No sooner was the "Grigsby" in port, the next forenoon, than Lieutenant +Fernald came ashore and straight to the hospital. + +"Going on board today, sir?" was Fernald's greeting. + +"You couldn't keep me ashore any longer," Darrin declared. + +"Good enough!" said the executive officer, heartily. "We need you, sir! +We've been doing our best, but the enemy has been gaining on us. Last +night two ships struck mines and went down before rescue could reach +them. The Germans are beating us at this mine game, and something must be +done, which, of course, sir, is another way of saying that a way must be +found to do the right and necessary thing." + +"I've been thinking that over for twenty-four hours," Darrin went on. "As +soon as we are aboard I want to talk the whole situation over with you. +Will Dalzell be in today?" + +"In about an hour, sir, I think. He needs fuel and some food supplies." + +"Then we'll hold a council of war in the chart-room," Dave decided, as he +buttoned up his coat. "I'm ready, Fernald." + +Dave had already thanked the hospital authorities, and taken leave of +them, so the two young naval officers passed outside, made their way down +to the water front, and soon thereafter stepped aboard the "Grigsby," +reporting their arrival on board to the watch officer. Dave also saw that +the forward gun damaged in the fight with the German destroyers had been +replaced by a new one. From the gangway they went direct to the +chart-room. + +"I'll hear the reports on the work now, Fernald," Dave announced. + +Two of the papers that came under Dave's hand especially interested him. +One was a detailed list of the ships that had struck mines during the +last week in the waters in which he and Dalzell had been operating. The +other document contained a report on the discovery and sinking of one +fighting submarine and one submarine mine-layer. + +From these reports Dave turned to the charts of the local waters. When +Fernald came back with Dan Dalzell, Dave was still poring over the +charts. + +"From the rapid way in which German mines are being planted in these +waters," Dave told his brother officers, "I am satisfied that the enemy +submarines do not usually go all the way back to the base port. I believe +that the mine-layers are often met by other craft that supply them with +mines, and that the submarine mine-layers return quickly to the job of +planting mines. Now, the sea area in which the mines are planted leads me +to feel certain that the mine-layers rest frequently on these three +shoals." + +Dave pointed on the chart to the shoals in question. + +"How many mine-sweeping craft have we now under our orders?" he inquired. + +"Nine," said Dan, promptly. + +"How many of them can we spare from mine-sweeping?" + +"None," Dalzell replied, positively. + +"Either we must spare some, or we must have some sweeper craft added to +our fleet," Dave went on. "There are three of these shoals, and hereafter +I want two mine-sweepers to spend their time dragging their wires over +each shoal. That will take six craft, and these will not have time to do +any sweeping in the open sea. We cannot clean up the mines themselves +with three craft, can we?" + +"Plainly not," Dan agreed, "since, with all nine, we have not been able +to find and take up all the mines we should have located." + +"Then we shall have to have more craft," Dave nodded. "Yet if we cannot +have more craft assigned to this work, we must go ahead with what we have +and do more work. But I believe that the hunt over the shoals should be +kept up day and night, without rest, for I am satisfied that the enemy +mine-layers rest on these shoals more frequently than we have supposed." + +After some further conversation Dave had his launch cleared away and went +over to a British battleship for a conference with the British admiral in +command in those waters. The best the admiral could do was to supply him +with three of the hundred-and-ten-foot patrol boats. These, however, were +provided with sweepers and possessed good speed. + +"I hope you're right, Mr. Darrin," said the admiral, at the close of the +interview. "To be frank with you, your predecessor in the work of +cleaning up enemy mines in this area was a British naval officer, +considerably older than yourself. He is a very capable man in many ways, +but we felt that he had been so long on coast work that he was growing +much too stale. So, when I decided to transfer him to other duties I +thought of trying one of your American officers, a young man, full of +spirit, and fresh for this work. So I asked your admiral for some one, +and he sent Dalzell and yourself." + +"So far," said Dave, "I have not done any better than my English +predecessor, sir?" + +"Frankly you have not, yet we must remember to deduct your very necessary +week in hospital. However, you have done some other excellent things. The +capture of the mine-laying neutral, the 'Olga,' for instance, was a +splendid bit of work. The fight that you and Mr. Dalzell had with the +three enemy destroyers was a fine job. But the mines in these waters +continue to be as much of a menace as before." + +"They won't be, by this time next week, sir. I promise that," said Dave, +rising. "How soon can the commanders of the three patrol boats report to +me?" + +"At once. All three are here in the harbor, and, I am told, they are +ready to put to sea." + +"Then, sir, I propose, within a week, to hand you a wholly satisfactory +report," Darrin went on. "I had to put in some time on the ground, and it +was necessary to study a new problem. Then came a series of adventures +that took me out of the work for a while. But now, sir, I hope to show +you something new--results!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +DARRIN SUSPECTS THE GERMAN PLAN + + +THE three shoals selected by Darrin extended over a length of about +thirty miles along the coast. It was the center one of these shoals on +which he had had previous experience. + +Further, it was arranged that Dalzell should, in general, cruise along +the lower fifteen miles of this stretch, while the "Grigsby" should cover +the upper half. From time to time the two destroyers would meet. + +After sending three mine-sweepers and the three patrol boats to the +shoals, two craft to each shoal, Darrin saw to it that the other six were +assigned to duty in the deeper waters off shore. + +Then, with a hearty signal to the "Reed," the "Grigsby" started +northward. She steamed by the southernmost shoal, and was passing the +second when Darrin was called to the bridge by Ensign Ormsby. + +"That patrol boat in there signals that she has made a find, sir, so I +have changed the course and am heading in." + +Dave's eyes gleamed as he made out the next signal from the patrol, which +was: + +"Soundings show her to be a big craft. Shall we rig the small bombs on +the sweep wires?" + +"Wait until we arrive," was the answering signal from the "Grigsby." + +In a few minutes the destroyer was within hailing distance of the patrol +boat, which was lying to in the neighborhood of the find. + +"The enemy submarine appears to be at least 275 feet long, sir," reported +the patrol boat commander. + +"Then a depth bomb should do the business better," Dave shouted back +through the megaphone. "Sail over the craft with your sweep, and I'll +follow. Signal when you judge us to be squarely over her." + +Under bare headway the "Grigsby" fell in behind the now slow-moving +patrol boat. Almost at once the wire sweeps discovered the hull of the +hiding monster. + +Ahead steamed the patrol boat, the destroyer following. Aft two men stood +by the depth bomb apparatus. Down came the white flag of the British +signalman on the smaller craft. + +Dave's hand rested on the telegraph lever to the engine-room. He +signalled for full speed ahead, then at the proper moment he shouted: + +"Let her go!" + +An instant later the bomb splashed into the water. + +Immediately following the splash there came a sullen, rending roar under +water. A great column of water leaped up from the sea, a heavy volume of +it landing on the after deck of the destroyer, all but washing overboard +one of the lookouts. The pressure of water fairly lifted the stern of the +"Grigsby" until her bow dipped far in. + +Ensign Ormsby was thrown flat, almost rolling from the bridge. Dave, +fortunately, had taken a grip that saved him from falling. + +It seemed as though the destroyer herself had been blown up, but she +quickly settled and scooted ahead at a furious rate. + +"Half speed ahead," Darrin signalled, as soon as he could let go his +grip, and the "Grigsby" slowed down. At the same time she swung around. + +Even at that distance the huge spread of oil on the surface could be +seen. A wild Yankee cheer rose, which was promptly echoed by the British +tars of the patrol boat. + +"No depth bomb ever made that upheaval," Dave gasped, as soon as he could +speak, and Mr. Ormsby, much shaken, had picked himself up. "The bombs are +ugly affairs, but that felt like the explosion of about ten of them." + +"Did you notice, sir, that the explosion lasted more than twice as long +as we've ever known one to last before?" the watch officer asked. + +"Yes." + +"Then what happened, sir?" + +"Either our explosion touched off a torpedo, which does not seem likely, +or else--" + +For an instant what he was about to say sounded so absurd that Darrin +hesitated. + +"Well, sir--?" queried Ormsby. + +"Or else that was a mine-layer, with a full cargo of mines aboard, all +ready for business, and--But you'll think I've gone daffy." + +"No, I won't, sir; not after the way this ship rose out of the water," +the watch officer declared. "You mean, sir, that our bomb went off right +over that craft's cargo of mines, and that the shock must have set off +the mines." + +"That's certainly the way it looks to me," Darrin nodded. + +"I believe it, sir." + +Just a few moments later the patrol boat came within hail. Through his +megaphone Darrin stated what he believed had taken place. + +"It's the only thing to account, sir, for such a tremendous explosion," +replied the commander of the patrol. "I've been on hand to see a lot of +depth bombs go off, and I never saw an upheaval like the one you +produced, sir." + +"Have soundings taken, Mr. Ormsby," Darrin directed. The depth of the +water was quickly reported. Dave glanced at the sky. + +"The light will be strong enough for another hour," he decided. "Have +our two divers prepare to go down at once." + +A launch, cleared away with the divers on board, was anchored in the +middle of the oil spot. Two divers went over the side. Presently they +signalled for extra cables. When these were let down they attached pieces +of metal and gave the signal to haul away. + +By the time that the hour was up Darrin had abundant evidence to prove +that he had destroyed a mine-layer, and that his bomb had blown up +several mines stored on the craft. This evidence took the form of +fragments of mines. + +"Some of these pieces must even have been driven up against our hull," +Darrin declared. "It is a wonder that we were not sunk." + +"The counter pressure of the water would lessen the force of these +fragments, especially after they had been blown out through the shell of +the submarine," Lieutenant Fernald argued. "But I agree with you, sir, +that it's a wonder the 'Grigsby' suffered nothing worse than a shaking." + +Other evidence, too, the divers sent up. The destroyed craft had surely +been a mine-laying submarine. The divers measured the length of the +wrecked hull, finding it to be close to three hundred feet. They +reported, too, that scores of German dead lay in the wreckage. + +For hours nothing more happened. Just before ten o'clock that night the +mine-sweeper's blinkers signalled a call to the "Grigsby," then about +four miles distant. + +"They've found something," Darrin chuckled, when he reached the bridge on +a call from Lieutenant Fernald. + +As the "Grigsby" was heading in toward the shoal, and had some minutes +still to go, Darrin asked: + +"Mr. Fernald, you had a second and even more thorough inspection of the +hull made, as I directed?" + +"Yes, sir; and found the hull so secure that I did not wake you to tell +you, sir. There has been no strain of the plates sufficient to start any +of them." + +"I'm thankful to hear that," Darrin acknowledged. "Even with the big, +elastic cushion of water between us and that awful explosion, it seems +almost incredible that we did not wreck ourselves as well as the enemy." + +"You've found another submarine?" Dave shouted through the megaphone, as +he rang for slow speed and ran parallel with the waiting snub-nosed +craft. + +"We've found two somethings, sir," came back the reply. "They lie about +four hundred feet apart and heading in the same direction. I can find +them again, sir, but I didn't go back over them for fear they'd take the +alarm and run for it." + +"Perhaps they have," Darrin suggested. + +"I've dropped small buoys, sir, and can lead you over them." + +"Then do so, and travel at full speed. Be prepared to get out of our way +if we come fast after dropping." + +Even the two cool-headed sailors who stood by the depth bomb apparatus +stiffened themselves as they found the "Grigsby" following in the wake of +the mine-sweeper. The after lookouts lashed themselves fast against +injury by any such surprise as that of the afternoon. + +As the signal flashed from the mine-sweeper ahead Dave passed the order +for the bomb instantly after ordering full speed. + +There was an explosion, but an ordinary one, such as this crew of the +destroyer was accustomed to. + +At full speed, too, Dave tried for the second hidden enemy boat. There +was barely time to have the second bomb in place when signal and order +came. + +Another terrific explosion, like that of the afternoon! It seemed as +though the waters must divide! Yet the "Grigsby," moving fast all the +time, felt the shock severely, but not like the one of the afternoon. + +About the destroyer came, playing her searchlight on the waters. The +tell-tale oil patches were there, showing only too plainly that two +submarine craft had been destroyed. + +"Apparently one craft carried no mines, while the other was loaded with +them," said Dave to his executive officer. "Fernald, I think I'm +beginning to get an idea of the way the enemy are working their +mine-laying game. If I'm right we'll make a record along this patch of +shoals while the hunting lasts." + +Patiently Fernald listened and waited, but did not speak. He hoped to +hear what his chief's idea was, but it was not the executive officer's +place to ask for it. + +"I may even be able to figure out when the best time would be for hunting +these lazy rascals resting on the bottom," Darrin continued. + +Mr. Fernald began to show signs of a more active curiosity. + +"But I won't say much about it," Darrin smiled, "until I've more data to +work on and have proved some part of my theory." + +Lieutenant Fernald looked so much like a man who wished to speak that +Dave laughed. + +"Out with it, Fernald," he urged good-humoredly. "You've an idea, too. +You may tell me if you wish." + +"Why, sir," replied the executive officer, "I've about concluded that the +enemy mine-laying submarines do not go back to base port for more mines. +They have some method for delivering them near here, and thus the +mine-layers are able to keep more steadily at work." + +"That fits in excellently with my idea," Darrin nodded. + +"And that would account for the great numbers of mines that the enemy is +able to lay hereabouts, and yet not have many of the craft caught by us," +Lieutenant Fernald continued. + +"Exactly," Dave agreed. "Moreover, the mine-layers take on their new +supplies at night, and do their resting here at night, and get away from +these shoals just before daylight." + +"Of course," Fernald agreed. "If they rested here much in the daytime the +aircraft would discover and destroy them." + +"We'll both keep at work on our ideas, Fernald," Dave proposed. "Besides, +we can take time to find facts to support our theories. Then we can get +together and start in the biggest smashing of mine-laying craft on +record." + +Both paused in their talk to listen to the sudden boom of guns. Judged by +the sound and the wind, the firing was some six miles away. + +"Lookout there!" Darrin sang out. "Do you see anything?" + +"Yes, sir," came the reply from aloft. "It must be the 'Reed,' sir. She +must have gotten into something stiff, for she's moving shoreward at +slow speed and firing as fast as she can serve her guns. She's firing in +shoreward, sir." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +HITTING CLOSE TO THE SALT TRAIL + + +"GIVE us a rocket signal if you need help," Dave signalled the attendant +mine-sweeper. + +Then to the officer of the watch: + +"Give us full speed, and we'll run down to see if the 'Reed' has work +enough for two of our kind." + +A little further south he signalled same orders to the patrol boat that +he had given to the mine-sweeper. + +Then the "Grigsby" rushed onward as if she scented something of which she +did not wish her crew to be deprived. + +As soon as Darrin discovered that Dalzell was using his searchlight he +ordered the "Grigsby's" also to be used. Over the waters the bar of light +swept until it picked up a sight that made the officers on the bridge +gasp for sheer astonishment. + +Two submarines, some five hundred yards apart, lay on the surface of the +sea. + +Strangest part of all, neither craft was serving its guns. Why they +neither fought nor dived puzzled the "Grigsby's" officers until the +"Reed's" guns ceased firing and her blinkers signalled to Dave: + +"Don't fire on them unless I do. They're helpless." + +The "Reed," first to approach the submarines, steamed in between them. +Then as the "Grigsby" raced up, she received this message from Dalzell: + +"Wish you would take charge of the nearer submarine. I'll handle the +other." + +On both enemy craft, as seen under the searchlight, the German crews had +come out on deck. It was clear that they wished to surrender without +further loss of life. + +So Dave ordered a launch cleared away, with a prize crew armed to the +teeth, Ensign Andrews in command. + +"You men get as far forward as possible," Andrews shouted to the huddled +enemy. "Be careful not to have any weapons about you. We'll accept you as +prisoners of war, but any attempt at treachery will be sternly punished!" + +As he spoke the ensign rested one hand on the barrel of a machine gun in +the launch's bow. Instantly the Germans began to move forward, only their +four officers remaining near the conning tower. + +"Stand by to catch a line and make fast," called the ensign, as the +launch, under headway, lay in close. + +Though they plainly understood, not one of the German officers made a +move to catch a rope. Instead, one of them called to the huddled seamen, +two of whom came back to take the line. + +Making fast, Andrews stepped aboard, followed by some of his armed crew. + +"You are the only officers of this craft?" Andrews demanded. + +"Yes," sullenly replied the ober-lieutenant. + +"Be good enough to hold up your hands while we search you." + +Though their eyes flashed their rage, the German officers raised their +hands while a petty officer "frisked" them one after the other. + +"None of them armed, sir," was the report. + +"Then into the launch with them. Next, order the seamen and +engine-tenders aft and search them. The launch will carry about twenty +prisoners on the first trip." + +Soon the score of prisoners had been delivered aboard the "Grigsby." A +second lot was sent over, after which Andrews decided that he could take +charge of the remainder on their own craft. He now had force enough with +him to keep this unarmed remainder in subjection. + +Heading an armed party the ensign went below in the submarine to make an +inspection. He had already noted a shell-hole through the hull which had +made it impossible for this submarine to dive without drowning the crew. +But he found other matters to interest him. This was a mine-layer craft, +and at the present moment she had more than twenty mines on board. + +One of Dalzell's junior officers, searching the other submarine, found +her to be a mine-layer, too, but with only two mines on board. This +second craft, also, had been pierced through the hull in such fashion +that there had been no chance for her to escape by submerging. + +On each craft forward a crane had been set up, and still stood. Dan +Dalzell's report, when made, shed a good deal of light on German methods. + +The "Reed" had been barely drifting when two submarines had come up +within two miles of the destroyer. It was the noise of erecting the +cranes that had warned Dalzell's watch officer of their presence there on +the dark sea. + +Suddenly, through night glasses, Dan, who had been called to the bridge, +discovered what was taking place. On the quiet waters of this night the +two craft had managed to get near enough to each other to attempt to +transfer mines from one to the other. + +Then it was that the "Reed" had opened fire with her guns, had turned on +her searchlight and had rushed in. + +As soon as the German commanders found their boats punctured into +helplessness they had signalled their surrender. + +"But I was glad indeed when I saw you bearing down on us," Dan announced, +when he visited his chum a little later. "The enemy had surrendered, but +I know enough of German treachery to realize that they might let me drive +in close and then try to torpedo me. I needn't have worried, but of +course I could not afford to take chances." + +Sending for Boatswain's Mate Runkle, Dave inquired: + +"Do you speak German?" + +"I know about six words, sir; not as many as eight." + +"Then you are the man for the job, Runkle. Go down among the prisoners +that have been sent on board, the seamen, I mean, not the officers. Act +as though you were there on duty, but not very busy. Use your six words +of German and make English do for the rest. The German sailors won't +understand you, unless some of them speak English. That will be all the +better, for as soon as you discover that some of the men don't know what +you are saying you will be able to judge which of those who speak no +English are the most stupid, or the most likely to talk and tell us the +truth. Spot three or four of these stupid ones, and then bring one of +them here to the chart-room." + +"Now, what on earth does the 'Old Man' want?" wondered Runkle, as he +started away on this errand. "But never mind. Even if I can't guess what +he wants it's a cinch that he knows. The stupidest one, eh? I wonder why +any Fritz wouldn't do, then!" + +Runkle found his man within five minutes, detached him from the other +prisoners, and led him to the chart-room. Darrin tried his own German on +the fellow, asking: + +"Your craft had just arrived from the base port?" + +The man stared, then slowly nodded. + +"How many mines did you have on board when you left the base port?" + +"Thirty, I heard." + +"You planted some on the way?" + +"A few, so I heard." + +"Most of the mines you were to deliver here tonight?" + +"Yes." + +"How many trips a week has your craft been making between here and the +base port?" + +"Usually about four." + +"Did you always deliver, here, to the same mine-layer?" + +"No; that was as it happened. Sometimes to one boat, sometimes to +another." + +"How many mines could your craft carry?" + +"Thirty." + +As this agreed with the information supplied by Ensign Andrews, Dave +believed that the seaman was telling the truth. + +"Did your craft always come to these same waters to deliver mines to +mine-layers?" + +"Always, since I have been aboard, to some one of the shoals in this +stretch of them," replied the sailor. + +"Do you know how many mine-layers wait over here on the English side to +have mines delivered to them?" + +"No, but they are not so many." + +"A few, supplied four times a week, can plant a lot of mines," quizzed +Darrin. + +"Oh, yes." + +"And the craft you were aboard was one of the smaller ones that brought +cargoes of mines. Your people have some that carry much larger numbers of +mines?" + +"Yes, and the larger boats that bring mines over to the real mine-layers +travel faster under water than our boat did." + +"So that these larger boats can make at least five round trips a week?" +Dave asked. + +"Oh, yes." + +"You have not told me the name of your base port," Darrin went on. + +"And I don't intend to," retorted the seaman. "You are asking me too +many questions. I should not have said as much as I did, and I shall not +answer any more questions." + +"You do not need to," Dave assured him. "I already know the answers to a +lot of questions that I might have asked you. But you look like a +reasonable fellow, and also like a fellow fond of some of the good things +of life. Had I found you more ready to talk I might have arranged for you +to have a pleasanter time in the English prison than your mates will +have." + +"A pleasanter time until the hangman called for us?" demanded the German, +a cunning look coming into his eyes. + +"The hangman?" Darrin repeated. + +"Oh, yes! I know! We all know. The English hang the crews of German +submarines. Our officers have told us all about it. You are wrong, too, +to hang us, for it is the knowledge that the English will hang us that +makes us fight more desperately when we are attacked." + +"But the English will not hang you. You and your mates will be treated as +prisoners of war," Darrin assured him. "You will be well fed. You will +have some amusements. When spring comes you will have gardens to work in +and the flowers or vegetables that you raise will belong to you. It is a +stupid lie to tell you that the English hang you all. You will soon be on +shore, and in an English prison camp, and then you will know that you +have been lied to. You will enjoy finding yourself on shore, for you were +not often allowed to go ashore when you got back from these trips to take +on your next mine cargo at--" + +It was a simple trap, but as Darrin paused, the seaman replied: + +"No, we were not often allowed ashore in ----," naming the port. + +The port that the seaman mentioned was the one Darrin had been trying to +get him to name. The German had unwittingly allowed himself to name the +base port from which the mines were shipped. As soon as the German +realized his blunder he used some bad language. + +"That is all," said Dave Darrin. "You may go back to your mates, and by +daylight you will know that an English military prison is not at all a +bad place." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +TRYING OUT THE BIG, NEW PLAN + + +"YOU see," Dave nodded to his brother officers, "the theory we had worked +out about the method of supplying mines to the submarine layers was the +right one. I think that we shall be able to show some results to the +admiral." + +Dan was then instructed to remain to keep watch over the shoals, while +the "Grigsby" soon afterwards started for port, escorting the two prizes. + +Before daylight the captured under-sea boats were duly turned over to the +British authorities. Darrin then sought the admiral, and, despite the +lateness of the hour, he was soon admitted. + +"What do you need for your enterprise?" inquired the admiral after +listening attentively to the plan Dave had unfolded to him. + +"Nothing but a dirigible, commanded by the right man," Dave explained. + +"That ought not to be difficult," declared the British officer. "You +shall have what you want. Now, suppose we go over the chart, to make sure +that I understand just what you propose to do." + +On the map Darrin traced the course that he felt sure the German +underseas craft pursued when bringing cargoes of mines to the other +submarines that were laying mines in British waters. + +"That would be the natural course for such craft to take," agreed Admiral +Wheatleigh. "I trust that you are right in your surmises. If you are, we +should have some excellent results within the next few days." + +"I shall know, sir, within forty-eight hours, and I think it likely that +the enemy will also hear something about it within the next few days. At +least, sir, the German admiralty should be able to guess." + +Dave took his leave, hastening back to the "Grigsby," which, an hour +later, weighed anchor and stood out to sea. By that time Dave was sound +asleep, for he had been through a great deal and was sorely in need of +rest before he reached the scene of his intended activities. + +Some hours later he was called, and was soon on the bridge. + +"You are at the point at which you wished to be called," said Fernald +when Dave reached the bridge. + +"And you will do well to seek your own rest now, Mr. Fernald," Darrin +answered. "You can be called, if needed." + +Half an hour later Darrin made out, in the sky astern, a tiny speck that +rapidly came closer, and proved to be the dirigible sent at his request. + +As the dirigible came nearer signals were rapidly exchanged. The course +for the aircraft was made plain. As for the "Grigsby," her speed was +slowed down to mere headway and she loafed over the waters. + +Two hours passed during which the "blimp" aloft sailed rapidly to and fro +in the sky, zig-zagging over the course in a way that covered several +square miles in an hour. + +"She's found something, sir!" cried Ensign Andrews. + +"She has sighted a craft, bound over the course we had suspected," said +Darrin, as signals broke out rapidly from the car under the big gas bag. +"We'll let the submarine get by us before we start in chase." + +Another half hour passed, for, though the dirigible moved swiftly, the +underseas craft she was watching was moving only at submerged speed. + +Then the chase led on past the "Grigsby." Purposely Darrin allowed it to +go by him by about a mile ere he joined in the pursuit. Starting at half +speed ahead he soon changed it to full speed. + +And now the dirigible had slowed down, until she was travelling, as her +signals stated, at just the speed of the submerged craft directly under +her. + +"We'll go in by the stern and try to make a quick job of it," Darrin +proposed, as he gave Andrews final instructions, and turned to see that +the signalman with his flag stood well aft on the superstructure. + +As the destroyer raced in almost under the dirigible Darrin raised his +right hand. The signalman with the flag did the same. + +Just as the "Grigsby's" bridge passed in under the tail of the aircraft +Dave Darrin read the signal for which he had waited. The airmen were +telling him that the bridge of his craft was almost over the bow of the +hidden enemy beneath. + +Down came Dave's raised hand. Seeing it fall, the signalman let his flag +drop. + +In that same instant the depth bomb was released for its course over the +"Grigsby's" stern. + +Almost in the same second there sounded a terrific if muffled report +under the surface. The water rose in three distinct columns, lifting the +stern of the "Grigsby" and almost burying her bow under. + +It was as though a great geyser and an earthquake had met. Columns like +waterspouts hurled themselves across and over the reeling destroyer. Even +when the "Grigsby's" nose came out and up once more the destroyer rocked +in the near tidal wave that the swift series of explosions had produced. + +"Pardon me, sir," begged Ensign Andrews, when he had regained control of +himself. "I feel constrained to remark, sir, that you appear to know how +to get all the thrills out of life." + +"We must have landed right over a mine cargo once more," Dave answered +smiling. "There were several explosions, but they came nearly together. +One of these days we'll start something like that that will send us up +half a mile into the air. But it's great sport, Andrews, especially when +you pause to think what it all means." + +"Great sport for us, but too sudden for the Huns," rejoined the watch +officer. "They cannot have had the satisfaction, even, of realizing that +anything had hit them." + +Satisfied that there would be no more underseas explosions, Darrin gave +the order to come about. + +That the underseas craft had been struck was indicated clearly enough by +the patches of oil on the water. The force of the explosion told the +Yankee tars that the craft must have been blown into bits. + +"Best thing I ever saw done!" signalled the British officer in command of +the "blimp." + +"Find us another, and we'll try to show you something just as good," +Darrin caused to be signalled back. + +Fernald, who had been called, having reported, was sent with the chief +engineer to make a hull inspection below decks. Though some of the hull +plates had been dented inward enough to attract attention, no leak could +be found. The "Grigsby" was as seaworthy as ever, though after that +rocking shock this seemed a marvel. + +Off in the distance the "blimp" soon became a mere speck to the watchful +eyes of those on the destroyer. + +Dave directed that the aircraft be followed at cruising speed so long as +she remained in sight. When the dirigible was at last lost to view the +destroyer lay to, her lookouts using their glasses. + +"Think the aircraft is coming back, sir," reported a lookout from the +military mast. + +From where he stood on the bridge Darrin could make out nothing for +several minutes, though in the interval the lookout aloft reported that +he could make out the "blimp" with surety, and that she appeared to be +flying a signal, though he could not see what it was. + +Then from the bridge the "blimp" became visible. A little later, too, the +flag signal could be seen and read. + +"Following another submarine," was what the signal said. + +Going to starboard of the course Darrin advanced at ordinary speed to +meet the "blimp," which, as in the former case, was flying just barely +astern of the hidden monster, so that the forward British airman lookout +could discern the shape of the craft that was being pursued. + +Dave waited until the dirigible had passed. He then gave the order, "Full +speed ahead," and came about behind the "blimp." + +Leaping forward the "Grigsby" gave chase, the "blimp" at the same time +moving up directly over the intended prey. + +At the drop of the flag above, Darrin let go his right hand, the +signalman transmitted the order, and the bomb rolled overboard. + +As Dave's hand fell the watch officer advanced the lever of the +engine-room telegraph. An extra jump was put into the speed. + +Again a column of water rose astern, but this time there was only the +normal explosion of the depth bomb. + +"Good hit," said the dirigible, by radio, and the message was called up +to the bridge. "Saw her stagger. She's done for." + +The "blimp" veered off once more, going back over her late course. As the +"Grigsby" went about Darrin made out the tell-tale spread of oil on the +waves. + +"This is the real form of hunting," he exclaimed. + +"Too bad, sir, that none of us thought of it before," remarked Ensign +Andrews. + +"We had to wait and learn," Dave explained. "That's the way that all +progress in this war has been registered. We are fighting an ingenious +enemy. Destroying the submarine mine-carriers, as we are doing today, +won't end the planting of German mines. As soon as the enemy finds out +how we are checkmating him he'll invent another scheme, which we'll have +to discover before we can beat it." + +Half an hour later the British aircraft located a third submarine. + +"A big one, too," she signalled. "Following the same course." + +"Mr. 'Blimp' might try a bomb himself," suggested Ensign Andrews. "I +believe he carries a few." + +"Not as powerful ones as we carry," Darrin answered. "Besides, he has to +be at a greater altitude, when hunting submarines, than it's handy to +drop a bomb from. There is too much margin of chance that the enemy craft +will graze by when the bomb is dropped from the air. In our case, if we +drop when directly over the Hun, there can hardly be a miss, and it's the +dirigible's business to tell us when we are directly over the enemy." + +In the meantime, on board the destroyer, all was made ready, and Dave +followed the same tactics as before. This time, too, there was a normal +explosion, though a solid hit was made and the submarine destroyed. Apart +from the "blimp's" report there could be no doubt as to the destruction. +The spread of oil on the surface of the sea told the story. + +"If you and we hurry, we may bag another before dark," Dave sent by +wireless, as the aircraft started back again. + +"We'll do our best, believe us!" came back the word. + +In the late afternoon a slight haze came up, which gradually deepened. + +Darrin followed for a few miles, keeping the "blimp" in sight. She was +some six miles away when a radio message came from her in code in these +words: + +"Can you see steamship about four knots north-west of us?" + +Dave challenged the lookout on the military mast, but that seaman +reported the weather a bit too thick to enable him to make out the +steamship. Darrin accordingly wirelessed back this information. + +"Looks like a tramp steamer," came the next message, "but she acted +suspiciously when she sighted us. Her skipper appears perturbed, which he +would hardly be if his business is honest. Weather is thickening so we +may lose him in the haze. Better close in." + +"Will do so," Dave replied. + +Then followed explicit directions as to the course the destroyer must +follow. + +The next code message from the airship was: + +"Skipper of steamship so bothered that he appears to be rigging +anti-aircraft gun. Am about to signal him to stop for search." + +Despite the haze over the sea the "blimp's" movements could still be made +out from the deck of the destroyer. Mast lookouts and those on bridge and +deck followed the "blimp's" movements with keen interest. + +"He maneuvers as if he were closing in on the steamship," declared Ensign +Andrews. + +"If the steamer's skipper uses anti-aircraft guns the dirigible's +commander will be justified in dropping bombs," Dave returned. "It's a +stupid piece of business for any lightly armed steamer to attempt to +resist a 'blimp.' But of course the steamer's skipper does not know that +there is a warship so close." + +"The rascal's firing on us," reported the "blimp." + +"If you'll keep back we'll close in and talk to the stranger," Darrin +suggested, by wireless. + +"We're hit," almost instantly came the report from the airship. + +"Badly?" Dave asked by radio. + +"Investigating. Report soon." + +"That ship must be up to something extremely desperate to dare to fire on +a British 'blimp'!" exclaimed Dave Darrin. "But we're getting close, and +soon ought to know what we have to tackle!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +STRIKING A REAL SURPRISE + + +"ARE we heading straight course?" was Dave's next question through the +air. + +"You're going straight," came the cheering information. + +"Found out your hurt?" + +"Yes; gas-bag intact, and we've withdrawn out of easy range. One motor +damaged more than we can repair in air. Can limp home, however." + +"Leave the steamship to me," Darrin wirelessed back. + +Inside of another minute and a half, Darrin made out the mast-tops of the +stranger sticking up from the fringe of haze as the cloudy, reddish +curtain shifted. + +If Dave had sighted his intended prey, so had the stranger caught sight +of the destroyer. The steamship cut a wide circle and turned tail. + +"He's going at nineteen knots, we judge," came the radio report from the +"blimp." + +"That won't do him any good!" was the laconic answer that Darrin +returned, this time in plain English instead of code. + +The lower masts, the stack and then the hull of the stranger became +visible as Darrin gained on him. + +Bang! A shell struck the water ahead of the stranger, the war-ship's +world-wide signal to halt. + +Instead, the stranger appeared to be trying to crowd on more speed. + +"Give him one in the stern-post," Darrin ordered. + +The shell fell just a few feet short. The third one landed on the +after-part of the stranger's deck-house. + +And now there went fluttering up the top of the destroyer's mast the +international code signal: + +"Stop or we'll sink you!" + +It took another shell, this one crashing through the stern of the +stranger, to convince her skipper that the destroyer was in deadly +earnest. + +By this time the "Grigsby" was a bare half-mile away, and going fast. + +"We're bringing to bear on you to blow you out of the water," Darrin +signalled this time. "Will you stop?" + +If he had made any plan to die fighting the fleeing skipper must have +lost his nerve at that point, for he suddenly swung his bow around, +reduced speed and moved ahead at mere steerage-way. + +"Call Ensign Peters to clear away a launch with an armed crew," Darrin +directed. "I will accompany him, for I must see what reason that craft +had for firing on a British dirigible." + +On either bow of the strange steamship was painted the national flag of +the same neutral nation to which the "Olga" had appeared to belong. She +flew no bunting. + +"Stand by to receive boarding party," a signalman on the "Grigsby's" +bridge wigwagged as the launch started toward the water. + +The two craft lay now not more than five hundred yards apart. Across the +water sped the fast power launch and came up alongside of the unknown +steamship, which displayed no name. + +Not a human being was now visible on her deck. An undersized watch +officer had appeared on the bridge, but he now vanished. + +"Who commands that destroyer?" demanded a voice in English, though it had +the broken accent of a German-born speaker. + +"I do," Darrin replied. + +"Then stay where you are, for you're covered!" ordered the same voice in +a frenzied tone. "We're not going to have you aboard. Signal the +destroyer to make off at top speed and we'll leave you when she is out of +sight. Refuse, and we kill you at once. Refuse, and you lose your life." + +"Lower your gangway, and stop your nonsense," Dave ordered, angrily. +"You're dealing with the United States Navy, and your orders cannot +control our conduct." + +"Then you are a dead man, at once!" declared the voice of the unseen +speaker. + +Unnoticed by others, Darrin had given a hand signal to a petty officer in +the bow of the launch. + +"If you do not lower your side gangway at once, we shall find our own +means for boarding," Dave shouted, wrathfully. "Instantly, sir!" + +Thereupon half a dozen heads appeared over a bulwark above. As many rifle +muzzles were thrust over the edge of the bulwark and a prompt fire began. + +Disdaining to draw his automatic Darrin stood up in the launch, the +center of such a hail of bullets that his continued existence seemed +incredible. Above the reports of the rifles could be heard the voice of +Ensign Peters as he directed the swinging around of the launch. + +R-r-r-r-rip! The launch's machine gun came swiftly into play. Bullets +rattled against the iron sides of the ship. + +Four of the six seamen on her deck were seen to fall back; the remaining +two fled as fast as they could go. + +Then the muzzle of the machine gun was swung, and a hundred little +missiles were driven through the wheel-house. + +At an unspoken signal the launch moved in until a sailor in the bow +could hurl upward an iron grappling hook. At the first cast it caught on +at the top of the rail, while the machine gunners trained their weapon to +"get" any one who endeavored to cast off the grapple. + +"Up with you!" shouted Darrin. One after another half a dozen sailors +raced up the rope, swinging over to the deck. + +Dave followed next, then more seamen. All were armed and ready for +instant work of the sternest kind. + +Two sailors lay dead, rifles beside them. Pools of blood showed that at +least two more wounded men had been there, but had fled. No one else +belonging to the ship was in sight on deck. + +"Boatswain's mate, take the bridge," ordered Dave, as more men came up on +board. "Put two men in the wheel-house. Take command of the deck with +such men as I do not take with me." + +Calling half a dozen seamen, and ordering them to draw their automatic +revolvers, Darrin proceeded to the chart-room. He tried the door, but +found it locked. + +"Break it down," he ordered, and in a jiffy the thing had been done. But +the chart-room proved to be empty. + +Further aft Darrin went along the deck-house. The cabins of the captain +and two mates were found to be empty. + +"We'll soon know where the crew have gone to," he remarked. + +In the dining-room were found three men in dingy blue uniforms, who +appeared to be ship's officers. The oldest, who scowled hardest at the +same time, Dave took to be the skipper. + +"You command this ship?" Darrin inquired. + +"If you say so," replied the man addressed. + +"You must, for you are the fellow who ordered me to send my ship away," +Darrin smiled grimly. "Are you a German?" + +"None of your business. Why have you killed two of our crew and hurt +others?" + +"Drop that nonsense," Darrin retorted, sternly. "You know why we fired on +you. And your men slightly wounded two of mine." + +"We had a right to," scowled the other. + +"You'll know better, by the time you've reached a British prison," Dave +rejoined. "Men, place these three fellows under arrest. Search them." + +Only the man who appeared to be the craft's master resisted being +searched. He swung at one of the sailors, but Darrin jumped in, knocking +him down and holding him to the floor. + +"Put irons on this scoundrel," he ordered, sharply, a command so quickly +obeyed that almost instantly the defiant one found himself manacled. Then +Dave yanked the fellow to his feet. + +"You are a bully," growled the prisoner. + +"I am," mocked Dave, "when I have fellows of your stripe to handle. Men, +you'd better iron that pair, too. They belong to the same outfit." + +None of the three proved to have any arms on his person. + +"Now, where are the members of your crew?" Dave demanded of the manacled +skipper. + +"Find them!" came the surly retort. + +"In what business is this ship engaged?" + +"Find out!" + +"Bring these prisoners out on deck," Darrin commanded. Then, as the order +was obeyed, Darrin made his way to the bridge. + +"Boatswain's mate, pipe all hands on deck," he directed. + +Shrilly the whistle sounded at the lips of the petty officer. But no men +came to answer. + +"We'll try other tactics, then," Darrin smiled. + +Stepping to the wheel-house door he pulled it open. Inside was evidence +of the havoc that the machine gun fire had worked there. Everything had +been riddled, including the helmsman, who lay dead on the floor. + +At this moment, however, Dave had no time to do more than glance at the +dead man. Reaching for the whistle he blew a long blast, and caused the +fire bell to be rung, the signal to stand by to abandon ship. + +That brought seamen and stokers trooping to the deck, until more than +thirty had so appeared. + +"Does any man among you understand English?" Darrin called down as he +leaned over the rail in front of the wheel-house. + +"I do," came from one of the crew. + +"Then inform your mates that this craft has been seized as lawful prize +of the United States Navy. Where is your boatswain?" + +"That's me," said the same speaker, gruffly. + +"Very good. Deliver my message to the crew. Then make sure that all hands +are on deck. If you deceive me you will be held sternly to account for +trickery." + +"All here," reported the boatswain, after a quick count, "except the cook +and his helpers." + +"Send for them, and tell them to report here at once." + +When the ship's force had been summoned, save for the two sailors known +to be dead on the starboard side of the ship, Darrin continued: + +"There were some wounded men." + +"Two," said the boatswain. + +"Where are they?" + +"Below. One is badly hurt. The other is binding his wounds." + +Dave had by this time walked down on to the deck. There was a forecastle +large enough to hold the crew, and he ordered all of the men into it, +except the boatswain, whom he sent with three of his own men to find the +wounded. These latter two were brought to the captain's cabin. The two +dead seamen, after Darrin had gained their names from the boatswain, were +picked up and thrown overboard into the sea. The boatswain was then sent +to join the prisoners. + +"Four of you men come with me, and we'll search the rest of the cabin +part of the ship," Darrin directed. + +Off the dining room were four doors that Dave believed opened into +sleeping cabins. The first door that Darrin tried proved to be locked. +One of his men carried a sledge-hammer that had been found in the +wheel-house. + +"Batter down the door!" Dave ordered. + +Ere this order could be carried out the door flew open. A tall young +woman, barely more than twenty years of age, stood in the doorway, her +head thrown back, cheeks flushed, her look proud and disdainful. In her +right hand she held a revolver. + +"Go away from here!" she ordered. "Else I shall kill you!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE GOOD WORK GOES ON + + +"YOU will have to lower that pistol, young lady," warned Dave, calmly, as +he walked toward her. The sailors had drawn back to either side of the +doorway, but the young woman stood where she could aim at anyone in the +American party. + +The seaman nearest the revolver glanced quickly at Darrin, as if to +inquire whether he should make an attempt to seize her pistol wrist and +wrench the weapon away. + +But Dave ignored the man's glance as he stepped up, eyeing the young +woman coolly. + +"Lower the pistol," he warned, again. "If you tried to use it, it would +tell against you hard, before an English court, and these are wartimes, +you know." + +He was now within two feet of the weapon, which was pointed at his head. + +"I shall kill you if you try to come near me," the young woman insisted +desperately. + +But Dave took another step. She pulled the trigger. There was a bright +flash, a loud report. + +[Illustration: "Lower that pistol!"] + +Dave, however, had been watching that trigger finger. As he saw it +stiffen he dropped suddenly almost to his knees, the bullet passing over +his head and embedding itself in woodwork across the cabin. + +Darrin sprang up unharmed. His cap had caught a powder burn; that was +all. He gripped the woman's wrist in a hand of steel. With his other hand +he coolly took the pistol away from her, then dropped her wrist. + +Bursting into a fit of hysterical weeping the woman drew back, +endeavoring to close the cabin door. But Darrin's foot across the sill +defeated her purpose. + +"You are a brute!" she panted, frantically trying to close the door. + +"At least," he assured her, "I have saved you from a crime that would +have cost you your own life. Look out, please, for I am going to throw +your door wide open." + +"You--you coward!" she panted, and struggled to close the door. + +"Stand back! I am sorry to have to use force, but you compel it." + +As she refused to give ground Darrin gave the door a push that forced her +back, crowding her against a berth. Then he stepped into the little +cabin. + +In a lower berth lay a middle-aged woman whose piercing black eyes +snapped as she surveyed the young naval officer. + +"You are a wretch, to intrude here!" cried the older woman. + +"One must often do disagreeable things in the line of war duty," Darrin +answered, gravely. "For one thing, I must place you both in arrest. Then +I shall be obliged to have your cabin searched." + +"Oh, if I but had a weapon!" cried the older woman. + +"If you had, and were quick enough," Dave assured her, "you might succeed +in killing me, but that would not affect our duty here, for there are +other officers at hand. Madam, I perceive that you are fully dressed, so +I must ask you to rise and leave this cabin, for a few minutes, at +least." + +"I shall not do it," she snapped. + +"Then you will oblige me to call my men in, and they will remove you, +using no unnecessary violence, you may be sure, yet employing force just +the same." + +"You coward!" + +The younger woman, too, started in to berate him, but Dave remained calm. + +"Will you, at least, not leave the room until I have risen?" demanded the +older woman. + +Darrin, who had a notion that the women wanted to conceal or destroy +something, nodded his assent, but signed to two of the seamen to enter. +Under his instructions they took the door off its hinges, carried it +outside and laid it on the floor of the dining cabin. + +"Now, ladies," Dave called, as he stepped outside, "you will be good +enough to come out at once." + +"We will come at our good convenience!" snapped the older woman. + +"Wrong again. As I am discharging my duty here, you will necessarily come +out at once. I shall not be patient if my instructions are defied." + +Plainly furious that the door could not be closed, the younger woman +assisted the older one to rise from the berth. Then, both expressing +their resentment in their glances, the two women came out of the cabin. + +"Mother and daughter," guessed Dave. + +"Where will you have us sit, Brute?" demanded the younger woman. + +"Take any seat in this dining cabin that you please," he replied. "You +must sit together, and one of my men will stand before you." + +Seats having been taken by the women, Darrin, calling one of the sailors +to him, entered the little cabin. The only baggage there, beyond a hand +satchel, appeared to be a locked steamer trunk under the lower berth. + +"Take that outside," Dave directed. "It need not be investigated until we +reach port." + +Two dressing sacks and a few toilet articles were all the personal +belongings that could be found there, though Darrin did not stop until he +and the seaman had inspected pillows, mattresses and all other places +that might have concealed papers or other little belongings. + +Coming outside after some minutes Darrin asked: + +"Ladies, do you wish to remain in the dining room, or will you go back to +your sleeping cabin?" + +"We will remain here for the present," replied the older woman. "If we +wish to return to our own cabin later on we will do so." + +"Wrong again," Dave informed her. "You must remain in one place. There +can be no roaming about. This seaman who is your guard will see that you +remain where you are for the present. I cannot permit you to leave this +part of the dining room. Ladies, I regret being obliged to be so +disagreeable, but I beg to assure you that your rights will be respected, +and that you shall come to no harm if you obey instructions." + +Then he looked into the other three cabins, but found them empty. With +that Darrin left the dining room, after detailing another seaman to +remain on duty there with the guard over the two women. + +Darrin's next care was to inspect the holds. Here he found a cargo that +appeared to consist of hundreds of cases of dried fish. At random he +selected one of the cases, had it carried to the deck, and ordered that +it be opened. Its contents proved to be dried fish. + +"There is something worse than that on board, or the skipper would not +have acted so much like a lunatic," Dave told himself. + +Next inspecting the engine room and stoke hole he found these departments +in order, though the fires under the boilers would soon need attention. + +Going above, Dave called the stokers and engineers out from among the +prisoners, told them that he intended to send them to their posts, and +asked them if they would pledge themselves to obey all orders and bridge +signals, and not attempt any treachery. + +This promise was quickly given. + +"I hope you will all keep your word," Dave added, firmly, "for, if any of +you attempts treachery, he will be shot down where he stands. I shall +post guards." + +He posted two of his men in the engine-room, and four in the stoke-hole. + +"Be vigilant, and don't stand any nonsense," he ordered. + +Returning to deck he gave his final orders to Ensign Peters, who had come +on board and relieved the boatswain's mate. + +"We are going to take this ship through to our base port," he informed +the ensign. "You will command, and will use the petty officers as you +need them. I shall require but three of the launch crew to take me back +to the 'Grigsby.' You have sufficient force here, Mr. Peters, but we +shall stand by and so be ready to give any assistance you may need. Keep +yourself informed as to the comfort and conduct of the women prisoners in +the dining cabin, and do not permit them to be annoyed by your men. They +must have no chance, though, to destroy or conceal any papers they may +have on their persons." + +With that Darrin went over the side. The launch took him back to his own +craft. + +Overhead the "blimp" moved slowly about. While her commander was sure he +could reach England safely he preferred to remain in company that could +rescue his crew and himself if it became necessary. + +"Who can the women be?" Lieutenant Fernald wondered, when he had heard +Dave's account of the visit to the steamship. + +"I don't know. But their conduct, like the skipper's, is the main cause +of their predicament. Had they behaved naturally I would have guessed +them to be passengers from a neutral port to England. All I can say is +that, though they speak English well, I am sure that they are not +Englishwomen." + +"The younger woman is a beauty, you say?" + +"Yes, and her mother, if the older woman be such, is not at all +unprepossessing." + +The two ships and their aerial companion were now headed toward Darrin's +base port, traveling at a good rate of speed. + +It was well along in the evening when they passed the "Reed." In code +Dalzell exultantly reported that an unusually large number of mines had +been swept and removed from the water, and that two submarines had been +located on the middle shoal and destroyed. + +"Good work!" Dave wirelessed back. + +Late that night, the "blimp" still leading the way, the destroyer and her +prize entered the base port. + +As soon as they had come to anchor Darrin communicated with the British +flag-ship. Officials promptly went aboard the steamer to attend to the +removal to a prison on shore of the officers and crew of the steamship, +and of the women passengers as well. + +Immediately after that the ship was subjected to a systematic search by +seamen and longshoremen acting under the direction of British naval +officers. + +A name-plate, ready to fit to the front of the wheel-house, was found. +The craft proved to be the "Louisa," well known in a certain British +port at which she had been accustomed to call with cargoes of dried +fish. The fish now on board was taken off rapidly into lighters. And then +it was that, in a sub-hold under the cargo deck, a more significant cargo +was found. + +From that sub-hold were removed nearly six hundred floating mines of the +commonest German pattern. All had been packed with extreme care, and all +were ready for transferring to German submarine mine-layers at sea. + +It was after two in the morning when Captain Allaire, an officer of the +British military intelligence department, came on board the "Grigsby," +requesting that her commander be called. Dave received Captain Allaire in +the chart-room. Allaire had come to seek information as to the speech and +conduct of the two women at the time of their arrest. + +Dave answered these questions carefully, then added: + +"I shall be glad, indeed, if I brought in women prisoners of real +importance along with the other prisoners." + +"There are very few pairs whom we would rather have in our prisons," +answered Captain Allaire. "The older woman is the notorious Sophia +Weiner; the younger is her daughter, Anna Weiner. They use various other +names, though. Every intelligence and secret service officer in Great +Britain knows of their exploits, and is ever on the lookout for them." + +"Then I am astonished that they should have embarked on a steamship bound +for England," Dave returned. "They must have faced certain arrest on +landing." + +"I don't believe they intended coming to England," Allaire answered. +"Probably they were on their way to Spain. It may have been that no +German submarine was leaving for the Spanish coast just at the time, and +it was imperative that they reach Spain early. So, I take it, they +journeyed to the neutral country and embarked on the 'Louisa,' knowing +that the skipper could transfer them to a submarine bound for Spain. We +are amazed at this fellow, Hadkor, skipper of the 'Louisa.' We had +believed him to be all right, and he had ready access to our ports with +his cargoes. But his ship has been found to be fitted with all facilities +for transferring mines at sea, and also with an anti-aircraft gun and a +stock of rifles and ammunition. The work must have been excellently paid +for by the Germans, for the crew were assuredly in the secret, and ready +even to fight, and they surely had to be paid for their risks." + +"Then it was a very important catch that the 'blimp' ran us into." + +"One of the best in a six-month," replied Captain Allaire. "And yet that +skipper fellow and his crew must be lunatics, for their conduct lays them +liable to being hanged as pirates." + +When the "Grigsby" put out to sea before daylight Dave Darrin lay asleep. +He slept extremely well, too, in the consciousness of a day's duties well +done. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +DARRIN TURNS THE TABLES + + +BOTH commanding officers were asleep when the "Grigsby" and the "Reed" +passed each other that morning, the "Grigsby" proceeding on to her +station. + +Dave would have gone back on the same water route he had hunted over the +day before, but the dirigible, which had reached England safely, had not +yet been put in shape for further service, and there was at present no +other dirigible that could be spared for his service. + +Therefore it was a matter of back to the shoals for temporary duty, yet +of a kind that was very important. + +At ten o'clock he was called, as that was the hour he had named for +relieving Lieutenant Fernald. + +The executive officer had come into the chart-room to call him, and +remained while Darrin performed his hasty toilet. + +"What's the weather?" Darrin asked. + +"Misty, sir," replied the executive officer. "There's a fine drizzle, +mixed with some fog. For the last half hour it has been impossible to +see more than six hundred yards. That is why we are running at half +speed. We're close to the middle shoal and I was afraid we'd run down one +of our own mine-sweepers." + +"The kind of weather every ship's master dreads," Dave remarked. + +"Yes, sir, and the weather bites you through to the marrow. The +temperature isn't very low, but I think you'll find yourself more +comfortable if you dress warmly. I found it so cold as to be necessary to +wear the sheepskin under my heaviest rain-coat." + +In finishing his dressing Darrin bore this suggestion in mind. In a few +minutes he stepped out on deck. The weather proved to be as unpleasant as +Fernald had asserted, and Dave was glad that he was warmly clad, for the +wind, though not strong, was piercing. + +"Sighted any mine-sweeper on the shoal?" Dave asked of Ensign Ormsby, the +watch officer, as soon as he reached the deck. + +"Only on the first shoal, which is in the 'Reed's' station, sir," Mr. +Ormsby replied. "Those belonging to our station must be farther north. +And we've sighted none out in deeper water. We couldn't in this thick +weather, anyway." + +"The view is so limited that this doesn't look like a promising day for +us," Dave mused aloud, as he gazed around at as much of the water as he +could see. + +"It really doesn't, sir." + +"Better reduce to one-quarter speed. The less speed the less chance there +will be of the enemy hearing us." + +Accordingly the "Grigsby" rolled along slowly, the splash and ripple of +the water along her sides being a soothing accompaniment. + +For an hour they proceeded thus, without sighting a ship. They had passed +the middle shoal, and were somewhat north of it when the two officers on +the bridge observed that the sun was struggling feebly through the clouds +and mist. A minute later, as if by magic, it burst out brightly, and the +mist began to fade away. + +"By Jove, sir, look at that!" almost whispered Ensign Ormsby. + +Some seven hundred yards away from them, motionless on the water, her +deck fully exposed, lay a submarine. + +Neither deck gun was above decks. At least a dozen of the crew stood near +the conning tower, and, of all things in the world, fishing. + +"Quick work, there!" Dave called through the bridge telephone to the +gunners forward. "Let number one gun send a shell over the craft. Don't +hit her at the first shot. We'll capture that fellow, if possible!" + +So quickly did the shot come that it was the first intimation the German +seamen had of enemy presence. + +From aloft the signal broke out: + +"Don't try to fire a shot, or to turn, or we'll sink you!" + +An officer's head popped up through the manhole of the conning tower, +then almost as quickly was withdrawn. + +As the "Grigsby," obeying her engines, leaped forward, the men behind +both forward guns stood ready to fire at the word. + +For the submarine crew to bring either gun into place would be the signal +for the destroyer to open fire at a range constantly decreasing. Nor +could the enemy craft employ her torpedo tubes without turning, which +would have been instant signal for Darrin to order his gunners to fire on +the submarine. + +Through the manhole of the enemy craft leaped a signalman, flags in hand. +Using the international code he wigwagged rapidly this message: + +"We will make a grace of necessity and surrender." + +"That doesn't necessarily mean that they do surrender," Dave 'phoned to +the officer in charge of the forward gun division. "If the enemy makes a +move to bring a gun into view, or to swing so that a torpedo tube could +be used, fire without order and fire to sink!" + +The German commander evidently understood that this would be the course +of the Yankees, for as the "Grigsby" bore down upon the submarine not a +threatening move was visible. + +Instead, the Hun crew, unarmed so far as the watchers on the destroyer +could see, emerged from the conning tower and moved well up forward. + +"Prepare to lower two boats," Dave called, and added instructions for a +large crew for each launch. As the "Grigsby" came about and lay to, the +launches were lowered. In the bow of each small craft was mounted a +machine gun ready for instant action. The double prize crew was permitted +to board the submarine without sign of opposition. At the command, German +seamen began to file past two petty officers, submitting to search for +hidden weapons, then passing on into the launches alongside. + +Last of all four officers came through the manhole, preparatory to +enduring the same search. When all the prisoners had been taken aboard, +the launches started back to the "Grigsby." + +Dave Darrin caught sight of the officers, as the launches approached the +destroyer, and felt like rubbing his eyes. + +"The ober-lieutenant and von Schelling!" he exclaimed with a start. "They +haven't recognized me yet. When they do that ober-lieutenant is going to +wish that he had voted for going to the bottom of the sea!" + +Not, indeed, until the officers came up over the side of the "Grigsby," +and found Dave Darrin waiting on the deck, did the quartette of officers +discover who their captor was. + +"_You?_" gasped the ober-lieutenant! "Impossible!" + +"Yes; you didn't expect to see me again, did you?" + +"I--I--I thought you were----" + +The German checked himself. + +"You thought you had sent me to the bottom of the sea," Dave went on. "It +wasn't your fault that you didn't, but you missed your guess." + +Dave then gave the order for housing the prisoners below. + +"Are you sending the officers to the same place of detention that you are +sending my men?" demanded the ober-lieutenant, a spark of assertiveness +in his manner. + +"Unfortunately, I am obliged to do so," Dave answered. "I am aware that +German officers consider themselves to be of a brand of clay much +superior to that used in making their men." + +"But we officers are gentlemen!" retorted the ober-lieutenant, drawing +himself up stiffly. + +"It's a point that might be argued," returned Darrin, lightly. "Yet +there is no other course, for we have no detention space apart from the +main one on board, so it is the only place that we can use for confining +German officers--and gentlemen." + +"May I request the privilege of a few words with you before you send me +below?" requested the ober-lieutenant, unbending a trifle. + +"Certainly," Dave assured him, and the guard that was marshaling the +prisoners below permitted the recent German commander to step out of the +line. + +"I will see you in my chart-room," said Dave. Lieutenant Fernald, who had +been standing by, caught Dave's signal and entered with his chief. + +Once inside Ober-Lieutenant Dreiner turned and gazed at Fernald. + +"I had expected a private interview, Herr Darrin," he said, rather +stiffly. + +"Lieutenant Fernald is my executive officer, and nothing goes on board +with which he is not familiar," Darrin replied. "Have a seat, Herr +Ober-Lieutenant." + +"And must I speak before--before your subordinate?" asked the German, as +he dropped into the chair that had been indicated. + +"If you speak at all," Darrin answered. + +"But will Herr Fernald keep inviolate what I have to say?" + +"In that," Darrin promised, "he will be governed by circumstances." + +Dreiner hesitated for a few seconds before he began: + +"I--I--er--I have to refer to an incident that followed our last words +together on a former occasion." + +"You mean, of course, the time, when you assembled on the deck of your +craft four prisoners, of whom I was one, then closed your manhole and +submerged, leaving us floundering in the water, and, as you expected, to +die by drowning?" + +"I have not admitted that any such thing took place," Herr Dreiner cried, +hastily, with a side glance at Lieutenant Fernald. + +"It will make no difference, Herr Dreiner, whether you admit or deny that +inhuman attempt to murder four helpless prisoners," Dave rejoined. "It so +happened that all four of us kept alive until rescued, and we are all +four ready, at any time, to appear against you. So there is no use in +evasion." + +"Then you intend to bring the charge against me?" asked Dreiner, in a +voice husky with either emotion or dread. + +"I can make neither promises nor threats as to that," Darrin countered. + +"The stern British military courts would sentence me to death on that +charge." + +"Probably," Dave agreed. + +"And I have a very particular reason for wanting to live," Dreiner went +on. + +"Yes?" + +"I have eight young children at home, and their sole dependence is on +what I earn," the German continued. "I do not mind dying, for myself, but +in that event what will become of my poor little children?" + +"You Germans fill me with disgust!" Dave Darrin exclaimed, rising, as +though to terminate the interview. "It seems to be a rule with you +fellows, when you find yourselves facing death, to whine about the +children you must leave behind to starve. Before you set out to murder me +in an especially brutal manner, did you take the trouble to ask me +whether _I_ had any children who would starve? Did you ask Mr. and Mrs. +Launce whether they had children that were not provided for? And what +about that honest old sea-dog, Captain Kennor? Did you pause to inquire +whether he was leaving hungry children behind? For that matter, have any +of you wild beasts on German submarines ever worried yourselves about the +families you orphaned by your inhuman crimes at sea? Even in the case of +the 'Lusitania,' did _that_ submarine commander ask himself, or any one +else, what would happen to the women and children who were pitched into +the sea? You are wild to murder innocent, harmless people belonging to +an enemy nation, yet when you yourselves are brought face to face with +death you are all alike. You whine! You beg! Dreiner, you are not man +enough to play the game! Your appeal in the name of your eight children, +who, for that matter, may not even exist, falls on deaf ears when you +address me. I hope that you will be summoned before a British court and +that you may be sentenced to pay the full penalty for your crimes!" + +Dreiner's face went ashen-gray as he staggered to his feet. Probably he +really was concerned for the fate of his children, but his was not the +sort of record that invited pity. + +"I will not detain you here," Dave finished coldly. "If I did, I might be +tempted to abuse a prisoner, and that is something no American fighting +man can really do. Orderly!" + +As the orderly stepped in, saluting, Dreiner tried a last appeal: + +"Why do you hate us Germans so?" he whined. "I know that you do not hate +me especially, but that you hate all of our race!" + +"Why do we hate you?" Darrin echoed. "The reason is that, from all we +hear, fellows like yourself appear to be fair samples of the German +officer, on land and afloat. If that does not answer your question fully, +I can think of other reasons to give you. I would rather not, for it +brings me perilously close to the offense of abusing a prisoner, and that +I do not wish to do. Orderly, call two men and instruct them to take +Ober-Lieutenant Dreiner below to join the other prisoners." + +As the German stepped past the Yankee commander he glared into Dave's +face, hissing: + +"To-day it is your chance to humiliate and condemn a German. It may not +be long ere your turn comes, and a German officer tells you what your end +is to be!" + +"I am ever at Fate's orders," Darrin answered, with a bow. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +ON A MISSION OF GREAT TRUST + + +WHEN the "Grigsby," in broad daylight, steamed into the base port with a +captured submarine and her crew, and a German commanding officer who was +liable for a dastardly crime at sea, there was great rejoicing both on +the other naval vessels and on shore. + +If the German prisoners expected a stormy reception when they were landed +and placed under a guard of soldiers, they were disappointed, for nothing +of the sort awaited them. + +The British populace, though it turned out to see the captives marched +through the streets, proved to be too good sportsmen to make a violent +demonstration against their now helpless enemies. + +Darrin had no sooner turned over the prize and made his report to the +British admiral than he was ready for sea once more. + +"Mr. Darrin," said the admiral, heartily, "when you went out the other +day you promised to show me results. I take this opportunity to assure +you that you have. You yourself have made some notable captures, and have +destroyed some enemies whom you could not capture. Mr. Dalzell's record +has also been a splendid one. The plan by which you are catching +mine-layers on or near the shoals before they start out on new +mine-laying work is one that has enabled our mine-sweeping craft to +accomplish more than they have hitherto been able to do. The record of +mines discovered and swept out of the paths of navigation is a fine one, +but you have done even better work in blocking the enemy so thoroughly in +their operation of laying the mines in the first instance. Your successes +are assuming extremely notable proportions. To-morrow the dirigible will +be ready to start out again to aid in finding mine-cargo-carrying +submarines bound for these waters." + +"Sir," Dave replied, "I greatly appreciate your words of praise, and I +can speak in the same vein for Mr. Dalzell. Now, as he has had no share +in destroying the submarines that bring over cargoes of mines I intend to +detail him for that work to-morrow." + +"That fits in with my plans," nodded the admiral. "If you will put to sea +and find the 'Reed,' and then return to this port, dropping anchor, but +keeping up steam, I shall have for you, to-night or to-morrow, a special +task of the greatest importance." + +"Very good, sir. Is that all for the present?" + +"Yes. Your further instructions will be given to you when the time +comes." + +"Very good, sir. Thank you." + +Saluting, Darrin left the flagship, returning at once to the "Grigsby," +which soon put to sea. The weather being now comparatively clear, Darrin +raced away at nearly full speed. Not long afterward he overhauled and +boarded the "Reed," informing Dalzell of his chance to go on the hunt for +the submarine mine-carrying craft on the morrow. + +"I had been wondering if I was to have a little share in that sport of +kings," said Dan, with one of his grins. + +"You prevaricator!" Darrin uttered, sternly. "When did I ever hog all of +the best sport and leave you the rind?" + +"Kamerad! Don't shoot!" begged Dan, with another grin. + +"Kamerad" (comrade) is the word the German soldiers employ when offering +to surrender to Allied troops. But "Kamerad" does not always mean as much +as it conveys, for instances have been numerous when Germans have +pretended so to surrender, then have whipped out hitherto hidden weapons +and slain their captors. + +Returning to port before dark, Darrin put in that night in catching up +with his sleep. He slumbered almost without stirring, for it had been +long since he had enjoyed more than a part of his needed rest at sea. + +Officers and men, too, made the most of their opportunity to sleep that +night. Only one officer at a time kept deck watch, and only one engineer +officer down below. The "Grigsby" was ready to put to sea almost on an +instant's notice from the flagship, but no word came. + +Fully refreshed, and in the best of condition, Dave Darrin enjoyed a +famously good breakfast the next morning, as did every officer and man on +the destroyer. Still the orders for special duty had not arrived, and +Dave was beginning to chafe under the delay. + +"If it were the first of April I might suspect the bluff old admiral were +playing a joke on us," Dave confided to Lieutenant Fernald. "I might +think this was his way of affording us all a chance to get even with our +rest. I am wondering much what the special duty is to be." + +"You will know, sir, in the same breath that you are ordered away to that +duty," smiled the executive officer. + +"Yes, this is war-time and advance information is very rare," Darrin +admitted. + +It was, in fact, nearly eleven o'clock when a man of the deck watch +reported that a boat had put off from the flagship and was apparently +heading for the "Grigsby." + +"I'll go out to receive the visitor," said Fernald, rising and leaving +the chart-room. + +The boat was, indeed, heading for the destroyer. It soon came alongside, +bringing a staff officer from the admiral. Lieutenant Fernald received +the visitor, conducted him to the chart-room, presented the officer +caller to Dave, then discreetly withdrew. + +"The admiral's compliments, Mr. Darrin. He spoke to you yesterday of +special duty of a most important nature. I have the honor to bear his +final instructions." + +"Then you are doubly welcome," smiled Dave, "for we have been chafing a +bit, fearing that the admiral's plans might have been changed." + +"There has been considerable activity on the part of German submarines in +these waters of late," continued the British naval staff officer. "As a +rule the Huns keep out of the channel, but they have been so active +lately that we fear for the safety of the hospital ship 'Gloucester,' +which is bringing home about two thousand wounded men. It was the +admiral's plan to have you leave port, under full speed, an hour before +the sailing time of the 'Gloucester' from France." + +"Is there still time for us to get that hour's start?" asked Darrin, +rising. + +"Unfortunately, the orders were misunderstood, Mr. Darrin. The +'Gloucester' actually sailed about an hour ago. You will find her exact +course written on this paper, and you are directed by the admiral to +reach her with all speed and convoy her----" + +"One moment, please!" + +Darrin broke off the conversation long enough to telephone the executive +officer, instructing him to transmit the needful orders to the engineer +officer on duty, and to pipe all hands on deck. + +"I am listening, sir," Darrin resumed, wheeling about. + +"Outside you will find two of our fastest mine-sweepers," continued the +staff officer. "They are to follow you as closely as possible, and, on +nearing the 'Gloucester,' they are to turn and sweep the course ahead of +the hospital ship, while you are to be extremely alert for submarines." + +"I understand, sir," Darrin nodded. "Are there any further orders?" + +"No, Mr. Darrin. Whatever else comes up must be left to your own +discretion to handle. The admiral bade me state that he has the fullest +confidence in your proven ability to handle circumstances as they arise." + +"My thanks to the admiral for his good opinion, and to yourself for +informing me of it," smiled Dave, still on his feet and moving slowly +toward the door. + +"I--er--have some further information, Mr. Darrin, that will prove of +considerable interest to you," resumed the naval staff officer, also +moving toward the door. + +"Yes?" + +"It possesses a personal interest for you. There are, of course, nurses +on board, and other Red Cross workers. One of them is Mrs. Darrin." + +Dave's quick smile of happiness was reflected in the staff officer's +ruddy face. + +"So, you see, Mr. Darrin, you have more than a professional interest in +meeting the hospital ship and bringing her through safely, for in doing +so you will also be guarding your wife. It is rather an unusual stimulus +to duty, isn't it?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE RED CROSS TRAGEDY + + +"NO, sir!" said Dave, promptly. "I love my wife, and it will not surprise +you to hear me say it, but in the discharge of my duty Mrs. Darrin has +exactly the same status as a stranger. I shall be glad, for my own sake, +to bring through in safety any ship on which she sails, but I shall be +just as glad to be able to insure the safety of any wounded Tommy Atkins +on the 'Gloucester' who is longing for a sight of his loved ones at +home." + +"By Jove, that's a bully attitude, and I know you mean it!" cried the +staff officer, holding out his hand. "I must not delay you. Good-bye, +Darrin, and the best of good luck to you!" + +A moment later the British officer was over the side and being borne back +to the flagship, while quick orders rang out on the "Grigsby." In as +short a time as the thing could be done the anchor was stowed, and the +destroyer was on her way out of port at half speed. + +Just beyond the harbor Darrin gave the order for full speed ahead. From +the bridge, three miles farther out on the course, he made out the two +mine-sweepers. + +"All starts well," commented Dave to Lieutenant Fernald. "May all end as +well! By the way, Mrs. Darrin is said to be on board the 'Gloucester'." + +"Congratulations," said Fernald, heartily. "And you may look, sir, for +every officer and man aboard this craft to redouble his efforts to make +the day's task a complete success." + +"I don't want it for that reason, although I expect from all on board the +fullest efficiency. Fernald, I'm not running an American naval vessel +primarily for the safety of my family." + +For this trip the lookouts were trebled. They stood at every point of +vantage from which anything on the sea might be sighted. + +Mile after mile the "Grigsby" logged, plunging and dipping in the sea, +her decks running water and spray dashing continuously over the bridge. +It was wet work, and over all was the roaring racket of the ship's +powerful machinery. To Darrin it was music; the dash and the sense of +responsibility thrilled him. + +At last came the anxiously awaited hail from the lookout aloft: + +"Topmasts of a ship almost dead ahead, sir." + +"Keep her constantly in sight, and as soon as you can make out the hull +report whether she displays the hospital Red Cross," the watch officer +called back. + +"Aye, aye, sir." + +To those on the bridge the mastheads were soon visible. After that came +the lookout's hail: + +"She's a hospital ship, sir. I can make out the Red Cross plainly through +the glass." + +"It must be the 'Gloucester,' then," remarked Lieutenant Fernald. + +"Pass the word that the first man really to sight a periscope or a +conning tower shall have a fortnight's shore leave extra," Dave ordered. + +He smiled as he heard the scattering cheer that greeted that +announcement. + +"The real way to the sailorman's heart lies through extra shore leave," +he told Fernald. + +"I wouldn't mind winning that prize myself," muttered the executive +officer. "That is, if I were sure that I could honestly accept the leave +without prejudice to duty." + +"Find the periscope, then," smiled Darrin. "I am sure I can win the +promised reward, even for the executive officer." + +Not long afterward they were in plain sight of the "Gloucester." On she +came, the smoke pouring from her pair of funnels. A fast craft, the +hospital ship was making about her best time in her hurry to get safely +across with her precious human cargo. + +Then the "Grigsby" swung far out to port, cut a part of a circle, and +came back on the hospital ship's port bow, darting ahead again, cutting +across the hospital ship's bow far ahead and to port, then turning and +crossing once more. + +After the two craft had proceeded some distance farther the two +mine-sweepers were sighted well ahead. These craft would soon turn and +sweep the waters for mines ahead of the hospital ship. + +Not mere fancy capers was the "Grigsby" cutting. As she crossed the +"Gloucester's" bows time and again her lookouts were able to keep sharp +watch to port and starboard of the ship that bore a human cargo of pain +and suffering. It was the only way for a solitary destroyer to keep +effective watch on both sides of the ship she was convoying. + +Twice Dave used his glass to glance along the nearer rail of the +steamship in search of Belle Darrin. He did not find her thus, and did +not try again, for he must not fail in his unceasing watch for the ship's +safety. + +The mine-sweepers signalled their message of greeting, then turned and +swung into place. From this point the "Gloucester" and her escort slowed +down speed to accommodate that of the smaller craft. + +The vessel wearing the emblem of the Red Cross had not yet reached the +spot at which the sweepers had turned. + +Over the sea came a sullen, significant roar. The "Gloucester" shivered +from stem to stern. A wail of anguish went up in concert from the +soldiers on board the hospital ship who were worst wounded. + +It had come so suddenly that, for an instant, Dave Darrin was dazed. + +"That wasn't a torpedo!" he cried, hoarsely, a second or two later. + +"She hit a mine, sir," reported Lieutenant Fernald. "It wasn't the fault +of the sweepers, either, for they hadn't time to get that far. But it's +awful--awful! There'll be hundreds of the poor fellows drowned!" + +Dave quickly recovered his presence of mind. As the "Gloucester" shut off +speed Darrin turned and dashed at full speed to the aid of the stricken +craft. + +Even as the race of rescue began Darrin sent to the radio operator this +message to send broadcast through the air: + +"S. O. S.! Hospital ship 'Gloucester' has struck mine and must founder +soon. Rush at best speed to give aid. S. O. S.!" + +In the message Darrin included also the exact position of the stricken +vessel. + +Two launches were swung outward on the davits. Darrin sprang down to the +deck to personally select the men to man the launches. Into the launches +were thrown several rolls of heavy canvas and rolls of cordage, as well +as such tools as might be needed. + +By the time that the "Grigsby" had shut off speed and lain to, the decks +of the "Gloucester" were observed to be crowded with people. + +The two launches, with Dave Darrin in one of them, shoved off and were +quickly alongside the hospital ship. Two ship's ladders were let down +over the side. Up these went the two boarding parties as rapidly as they +could move. Lines came swirling down, and canvas rolls and other supplies +were hoisted to the deck. This work was all quickly done. + +Not a second must be lost. Dave ordered Ensign Peters and several men +forward to the bow of the hospital ship. With the remainder, Dave, +carrying a roll of canvas over one shoulder, and all hands carrying some +burden, started to go below. + +With a group of Red Cross nurses who stood silently and calmly by the +patients who were being borne to the deck, Darrin was sure that he caught +sight of Belle. + +But he did not look a second time. There was too much to be done now when +seconds were precious. Nor did Belle look up from the work that she was +doing among the wounded on stretchers. + +A member of the crew led the American party below. Here Dave found two +mates and a score of sailors already at work. They were trying to +accomplish the very thing Darrin had come prepared to do--to rig canvas +over the hole in the hull to shut out as much of the water as was +possible. + +If this could be accomplished, and if the "Gloucester's" pumps could +drive out most of the water that got in past the canvas patch, then it +might be possible for the hospital ship to keep afloat until other rescue +craft could reach the scene. + +"We'll take your orders, sir," spoke up one of the mates, saluting, as +Dave and his party reached a forward hold where, despite the flimsy +canvas patch already rigged, the water was almost waist-deep. + +"We'll work together," returned Dave, briefly. "It may turn out that the +ship can be kept afloat for an hour or two." + +"The bulkheads were shut, sir," the mate explained, hurriedly, "but +fragments of the mine entered this first water-tight compartment, and +also the second. You'd better go down into the second compartment, too, +sir." + +Darrin hurried up to the deck, followed by the mates and their men. The +hole in the first compartment extended some six inches below water line +and some two feet above. It was a long, jagged hole. Trying to descend +into the second compartment with the chief mate, Darrin found that the +hole here extended at least a foot below water line. + +"It's going to be no use, sir," said the mate, sorrowfully. "I don't +believe the ship can be kept afloat more than ten minutes before she goes +down by the head. These are our two biggest compartments." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A NOBLE FIGHT WITHOUT WEAPONS + + +NOR was the mate's warning a panicky one. There seemed not one chance in +a hundred of closing the gaps sufficiently to keep the hospital ship +afloat long enough to save many of its wounded passengers. + +Dave had made his plans while coming alongside. By this time the repair +material he had brought along lay on the deck. He called his own men to +help him, and the chief officer sent two score more of British seamen to +his aid. + +The engine-room fires being as yet untouched by water, the pumps were +working with tremendous force. + +"Unroll that canvas, there. Run it out lively," Darrin ordered. + +In a twinkling the first patch was ready. Dave himself helped with +weighting what was intended for the lower edge of the patch, and with +reeving in ropes at the sides and top. + +"Over with it!" + +Lowered down into place, the patch was fitted to the hole. It still had +to be made fast. + +Both port and starboard gangways had been lowered, and launches from the +destroyer were alongside, receiving badly wounded men who had been taken +over the side on stretchers. The "Grigsby's" cutters were also alongside, +picking up such of the wounded men as could jump in life belts. The +"Gloucester's" own boats swung out after being loaded. The mine-sweepers +had come up and had lowered their boats and sent them to the rescue. +Several hundred men and women were reasonably sure of being saved, but +unless Darrin succeeded in what he was undertaking, from twelve to +fifteen hundred other human beings were surely doomed. + +Badly as boats were needed, Dave had to commandeer two of the smallest. +Himself going in one of these, he superintended the making fast of the +canvas patches below from the water. Seamen over the hull's side in +slings, acting under the second mate, did valiant service at the same +time. + +With a single outside canvas patch over the forward hole, Darrin moved +back to the second breach. Here, too, a patch was quickly put in place. + +By this time the "Grigsby" and the mine-sweepers had received nearly as +many rescued passengers as they could hold. The small boats were +returning for more. + +Up to Dave rushed Captain Senby of the "Gloucester." + +"Captain," he called, addressing Dave Darrin by that courtesy title, +"these Red Cross women ought to be saved while there's time, but they +refuse to go over the side until their patients are safe." + +"Did you expect they would desert their patients?" Darrin asked quietly, +his gaze still on the work that he was directing. + +"But, Captain, we must save the women folks, anyway! Won't you use your +persuasion to help me?" + +"No," came Dave's quick response. "These women are asserting their right +to prove the stuff that is in them. In this war, in their own fields, the +women fight as bravely as the men." + +"In a time like this the women ought to be saved!" the British master +insisted. + +"Not at the expense of their best sense of duty," Darrin answered. + +For an instant Senby regarded the young naval officer with amazement +before he blurted: + +"Captain, I don't believe you have any women folks of your own!" + +"My wife is one of the Red Cross women on board," Darrin answered, +quietly. Then, raising his voice, he added: + +"That patch is ready! Over with it!" + +Thus was the second patch fitted over the forward hole, and men were busy +completing another for the second hole. + +And now with the small boats filled, Darrin anxiously surveyed the sea. +No ships were yet in sight. + +"Get more patches ready!" he shouted. + +He then descended to the first compartment, stepping down into the water +to take its depth. He judged it to be of about the same depth as before. + +Four patches were over each hole by the time that the first trail of +smoke was observed far down on the horizon. A steamship was coming to +their aid, but would it arrive in time? + +Another inspection showed that the pumps had made a slight gain on the +water. It was going out of the compartments faster than it could get in +past the canvas. But Dave knew that ship pumps, working to furious +capacity, were likely to give out at any moment. + +He stationed a seaman with lead and line on the stairs leading down to +each compartment, with instructions to take frequent soundings and to +report sharply to the deck. + +The "Gloucester's" rafts, too, were now overboard. On these huddled those +of the wounded or convalescing soldiers who were better able to take care +of themselves. + +But not a single Red Cross woman had yet gone over the side. Much as some +of the wounded might need attendance on the rescue craft or in the small +boats, those left helpless behind needed the women of mercy still more! + +A slow gain was still being made on the water in the two compartments. If +the pumps held out, and if the patches did not give way, there might yet +be a fair chance to save life. But Dave knew the dangers that confronted +all hands left behind, even when he could make out the hull of the +oncoming steamship, and saw that she was moving at fullest speed. + +"We should win out, don't you think?" demanded Captain Senby, anxiously. +"I've never lost a ship." + +"At least we stand a fair chance to win out," Dave answered, frankly. +"Any one of three or four things might happen to us yet and send us to +the bottom." + +Darrin spent most of his time inspecting the canvas patches. Between +times he anxiously watched the relief ship. He could see, by glass, when +she was four miles away, that her davits were swung out and her +boat-crews in place. + +"All depends on how we hold together for the next half or three-quarters +of an hour," he told Captain Senby. + +There were still some two hundred patients who would have to be moved on +stretchers. These were brought to the upper deck until the stretchers all +but blocked passage. + +What a cheer went up from those at the rail as the steamship, an Italian +craft, lay to and began to lower her boats! The small boats from the +hospital ship, the "Grigsby" and the mine-sweepers had already gone +forward to meet her. As fast as they could move in to either side gangway +these boats discharged their temporary passengers, then quickly returned +to the "Gloucester." + +For an hour all the small boats plied back and forth, the rescuers using +all their nerve and muscle power in their efforts at speed. + +Shivering, for he was drenched up to the waist, Dave stood by, receiving +the reports of the leadsmen in the two compartments. The best work of the +canvas patches had been done. They were slowly yielding to the fearful +pressure of the water without and it was impossible to rig additional, +fresh patches over them. The water was rising, inch by inch, in both +compartments. + +"How long do you think we can keep afloat?" asked Captain Senby, +miserably. + +"Your judgment will be as good as mine, sir," Dave answered. "It is +impossible to name the number of moments we can hope to keep above water, +but we both know it cannot be for long." + +At last the decks were cleared of litters. There were no more to be +brought out. The last boats had taken away many besides the stretcher +patients. + +"Give us ten minutes more," said Darrin, as he watched the boats +discharging at the Italian steamer, and returning, "and we shall all be +safe." + +"They will be the longest, most anxious ten minutes that I ever lived!" +sighed Captain Senby. + +"Man, you're white and you look ill," Dave cried. "Buck up! You've done +splendidly, and the discipline on board has been perfect. You have +nothing with which to reproach yourself." + +"Do you really think so?" Senby asked, with a wan smile. "I thank you, +but it seems to me I should have done better." + +"You could do better than you're doing now, for you've lost your nerve," +Darrin warned him, in a low voice. "Yet while you needed your nerve you +kept it." + +"You won't mind saying that in your report, will you?" asked the master, +eagerly. "I'd hate to have my family hear anything that would make them +feel I had broken down." + +"The discipline on this ship shows what you have done," Dave rejoined. +"You're suffering, now, on account of the people who may be lost, and +you're thinking of the Red Cross women who are stubborn enough to do +their duty like men. But you've trained your crew well, you have the +respect of your officers and men, and you've given all help possible in +the shortest amount of time. A ship's master can be judged, instantly, by +the discipline that prevails on his craft. Your family will hear nothing +about your conduct that won't please 'em." + +At this the British master "bucked up" wonderfully, but he still watched +the Red Cross women with wistful eyes. + +"Here are the first boats coming back to take the last of us off," Darrin +said encouragingly. "Now, clear all hands off lively." + +"The women first?" almost pleaded Captain Senby. + +"Of course!" Dave nodded. "They've done their full duty, and done it +splendidly. Now, insist." + +Galvanized into action by these cheering words, Captain Senby cleared his +throat, then roared in a fog-horn voice: + +"All hands stand by to abandon ship! Be lively, please, ladies. No man +stir over the side until the last woman has gone over!" + +Some of the Red Cross women smilingly obeyed the order; others hung back. + +"There are still some wounded men on board," pleaded one of them. "Let +the last wounded man go over the side, then we'll go." + +"I'll kill any man on this deck who tries to go over until the last +woman is taken care of!" shouted Senby, drawing a revolver. + +Some of the nurses still demurred, but the master was obdurate. + +"Ladies," he called out, "this craft can't keep afloat much longer. Those +of you who hang back keep the men from their last chance to get away. I +tell you, and I mean it, that no man stirs over the side until the last +woman is on her way to a boat. Don't hold us all back, ladies!" + +That swept aside the last reluctance of the nurses. They trooped forward, +to one side gangway or the other, and were quickly on their way into the +waiting boats. + +One of them, however, drew back, then smiled and crossed the deck. + +"I shall remain with you, Dave," announced a clear, firm voice, and Dave +turned to find Belle's steady hand resting on his arm. + +"Are you going over the side, madam?" inquired Captain Senby, pleadingly. + +"You must make an exception in my case, sir," Belle Darrin answered +smilingly. "I can hardly be expected to leave my husband at a time like +this." + +"Oh!" gasped the Briton, understandingly. "Madam, you make me anxious, +but your devotion makes me proud of your sex!" + +"Men, now!" shouted the Briton when he saw the last skirt flutter at the +top of a companionway. + +"Now, you'll go over the side, sir, won't you?" asked the master, +anxiously, as two orderly files of men stepped to the sides. + +"As the two commanders here," Dave answered, easily, "I believe that +tradition requires you and me to go over last of all, Captain Senby." + +"But your wife, sir----" + +"Is an American, Captain, who has taken the oath of service to her +country's flag just as you and I have done." + +"But, madam, you----" began the Briton, turning to Belle. + +"My husband has spoken, sir," smiled Belle. "Surely, Captain Senby, you +do not believe in mutiny." + +The soldier patients who had remained behind when the nurses went over +the side were all men who could walk without assistance. These were now +going over, too. While this was going on the chief mate and the boatswain +had mustered the last of the crew and the roll had been called. All were +on hand who were not in the small boats. + +After the soldiers and the hospital men had gone down into boats, and +other small craft had moved in to replace them, the crew went over, the +chief mate being the last to go except the trio who stood in the middle +of the upper deck. + +"There's a boat left with room for all of you!" the mate called, lifting +his hat. + +With a last swift look around at the ship he had loved, the Briton almost +reluctantly followed the Darrins. His legs trembled under him a bit as he +descended the steps of the side companionway, but it was from neither +exhaustion nor fear. + +Last of all the Briton took his seat in the row-boat. He tried to clear +his throat and give the order, but could not speak. + +"Shove off!" called Dave to the boat-tenders, as he faced the men sitting +with their oars out. "Give way! One, two, one two!" + +The boat belonged to one of the mine-sweepers. With true British +precision and rhythm the men pulled away. Darrin ceased counting and +turned to his smiling wife. + +"Not such a bad time, was it?" he asked. + +"As it turned out, no. But I was afraid, Dave. Had a few hundred of the +brave fellows been drowned, the horror would not have left me as long as +I lived." + +"Then you must steel your nerves a bit, Belle, dear. War, at the least, +is a grewsome thing, but this war contains more horrors than any other +war of which man has knowledge. The vast numbers engaged make it certain +that the losses will be heavy, and heavier, until the struggle is over. +If you work up near the front, within range of the big guns, you will +necessarily have to become accustomed to seeing the visible evidence of +huge losses daily." + +"I shall grow to it," Belle Darrin declared, confidently. + +And now Captain Senby was speaking to him. + +"It's a great load off my mind, Captain Darrin. I was the merchant marine +master of the 'Gloucester,' but she was taken and refitted so quickly +that we were sent to sea without change of status. On our return from +this voyage the mates and I had orders to take examination for +commissions in the naval reserves. Then we were to continue aboard the +'Gloucester.' But she will be at the bottom in an hour and my chances of +making the naval reserves will go down with her." + +"I don't see why," Dave returned, heartily. "You and your mates are no +less capable than you were." + +Then, in an undertone that reached only Senby's ear, Darrin added: + +"Man, you've been a bit unstrung, but you've gotten away without the loss +of a life. Bring your nerve back from this moment! Don't let it spoil +your life or your career. Pull yourself together and smile. Smile! Don't +let any one see that you've a single doubt of yourself! Smile, and go up +for your examination to-morrow. All that ails you is that you worry for +the safety of others--a most commendable fault in a skipper!" + +From that instant Captain Senby gave at least a very good imitation of a +man who was modestly satisfied with his achievement, though he realized +that he owed most of the success of the last two hours to Lieutenant +Commander Dave Darrin, U. S. N. + +Arriving at the Italian vessel, Darrin transferred Belle and himself to a +launch from the "Grigsby" and promptly rejoined his craft. + +Taking Belle to his own seldom-occupied quarters on the destroyer, Dave +left her there, and then went to the bridge and signalled his orders to +the mine-sweepers and to the Italian steamship. + +The mine-sweepers were ordered to move in advance of the rescue vessel to +sweep any hidden mine from her path. + +"And you, Mr. Fernald, will cross the course continually ahead of the +steamship and keep the most vigilant guard against submarine attack!" + +Dave next went to the chart-room, his teeth chattering from his soaked, +chilled condition. + +Here he stripped and gave himself as vigorous a rub-down as he could +administer, after which he attired himself in dry clothing throughout and +sent orders to the mess kitchen for a pot of hot coffee. + +Over this warmer Dave lingered long enough to gulp down three cups of the +steaming beverage. + +Then pulling on a dry sheepskin coat and turning up the fur collar +against the wintry blast, he went to the bridge. + +"All's secure, and no sign of trouble so far, sir," reported Lieutenant +Fernald. + +Yet, unknown to any on the destroyer, the "Grigsby," driving ahead +obliquely from port to starboard well ahead of the steamship, was heading +straight toward a mine that lurked beneath the surface of the water. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +CONCLUSION + + +"SHALL I order the helm to starboard, sir?" asked Ensign Ormsby. "We're +due to sail too close to that mine-sweeper." + +Though the two craft were separated by several hundreds of yards, +Darrin's quick, trained eye took in the fact that the mine-sweeper, by +the time the "Grigsby" crossed her course, would be a safe distance +ahead. + +"No," he decided; "keep to the course and she'll clear us." + +Ensign Ormsby nodded and remained silent. Neither could know of the +hidden mine that lay in her path. + +Yet less than half a minute later a signalman raced to the stern of the +mine sweeper, wigwagging frantically this message: + +"Hard a-starboard! We have just picked up a mine!" + +The little craft had slowed down; she was maneuvering around that mine to +get hold and land it on her deck. + +Ormsby read the signal with his chief. Not even waiting, now, for +Darrin's word, the watch officer changed the course. + +Right in the course that they had been going the mine-sweeper now blocked +the way. Had her sweep been thirty feet either side she would have gone +on past and the destroyer would have struck the mine. + +As the "Grigsby" went astern and to starboard of the little craft, then +turned and darted port-wise across her bows on a new oblique, officers +and men on the destroyer saw the British crew hoisting from the water the +mine that would have destroyed one of the latest prides of Uncle Sam's +big war fleet. + +It was all over, so far as that mine was concerned, and for a moment or +two Darrin found himself shaking from a chill that had not been caused by +his recent soaking. + +The thought of other probable dangers ahead caused him to steel himself +once more. To his subordinate officers he presented the confident, +smiling face to which they were accustomed. + +Several craft of the British Navy and two other American war vessels had +received his S. O. S. radio message and had started on their way. But all +would have been too late, for some ten minutes after the rescuing fleet +started for England the "Gloucester" had lowered her nose under the +water. Soon after there was a violent explosion as the sea water reached +glowing furnace fires and the boilers, and the hospital ship went down, +another victim of inhumane warfare that respects not even the rights of +the wounded and sick. + +Dave Darrin did not leave the bridge until he had seen his little fleet +enter the base port. + +Then, pausing for only a word with Belle, he ordered a launch lowered and +went direct to the British admiral, reporting his work for the afternoon +in greater detail, for he had already sent in the main facts in a radio +code message. + +"You have done magnificently, Mr. Darrin," exclaimed the admiral. "It was +a wonderful performance to keep the 'Gloucester' afloat under such +conditions until every human being on board had been transferred to +safety." + +"That was made possible largely by the nature of the holes in the ship's +hull, sir. I cannot say positively, but from my examination of the holes +I believe that the mine that the 'Gloucester' struck was not moored as +securely to her anchoring device as is usually the case. It was not the +bow of the hospital ship, but the side of her hull forward that struck +the mine. Two fragments or two groups of fragments of the exploding mine +struck the hull, but from my hurried inspection it is my belief that the +mine, not being securely moored, was brushed somewhat aside by the +impact, and therefore the injury was not as great as it would have been +had the anchoring device held the mine more firmly in place. So the ship +was not as badly hurt as one would have expected her to be. That much for +the mine, sir. Then I had the gallant, splendid help of Captain Senby and +his mates and crew. I shall mention their performance in my written +report." + +"Better put it in early, then," advised the admiral, "for Senby and his +mates go up for examination day after tomorrow. I can forward to the +board an extract from your report." + +"They are to be examined just the same, sir, though the 'Gloucester' is +no more?" + +"Oh, yes; England has a few more ships left," smiled the admiral, "and we +cannot get along with a reduced number of hospital craft." + +So, though Dave Darrin, on his return, escorted Belle to the chart-room +and chatted with her a few moments, and even allowed her to remain while +he worked, he sent for a yeoman and to him dictated an official report of +the disaster, parts of which document did not fail to do justice to +Captain Senby and his mates. + +"Type that for two copies to be transmitted, and one to be filed here, as +early as you can, and bring to me for signature," Dave directed. "I wish +to go ashore after signing and sending off the reports." + +For, at their parting, Admiral Wheatleigh had said: + +"Darrin, you and your officers and men have been overworked for some +time. You have done splendidly, but now you all need a short rest or your +nerves will snap. You will therefore remain in port a few days, and I +would recommend you to be liberal in the matter of shore leave." + +Even before the typed reports had come in Lieutenant Fernald reported +with a written list of the names of officers and men whom he recommended +for shore leave beginning that evening. + +As a matter of form Darrin glanced down through the list, then signed it. + +"The last four men on the list report that they would like shore leave, +but are out of funds, sir," hesitated Lieutenant Fernald. + +Drawing his purse, Dave extracted four five-dollar bills. + +"Lend this to them until pay-day," he directed, thrusting the money into +the executive officer's hand. "They are dependable men, and will come to +no harm. Up to eleven o'clock I shall be found at the Blank Hotel if +wanted. At eleven I shall leave to come aboard, so you may send in a +launch for me, Mr. Fernald." + +As soon as he had received and signed the typed report in duplicate, and +had taken steps to forward them, Darrin and Belle went ashore. + +At ten o'clock that evening Dan Dalzell joined them. + +"How was the hunting, Danny Grin?" Dave inquired, jovially. + +"May I speak of such awful subjects before Mrs. Darrin?" Dan asked. + +"I am sure you may, and do not delay gratifying my curiosity," Belle put +in. + +"Well, then," murmured Dalzell, delightedly, "all I can say is that the +hunting proved wonderfully good. With the indispensable aid of the +dirigible I located four submarines headed for this coast, and sank them +all. I believe that each of the submarines was carrying a cargo of mines +to enemy submarine mine-layers off this coast. Do you call that a day of +good sport?" + +"For every one but the Germans," Dave nodded, beamingly. + +But Dan glanced at Belle to see how she took such joyous comments on the +sudden deaths of enemies. + +"I could feel sorry for the people of some nations, if we were at war +with them," Belle Darrin stated, calmly. "But when I hear of the deaths +of German submarine officers and sailors I feel a sense of relief at the +thought that more of the loathsome beasts have been removed from a decent +world." + +Dan, too, and the other officers and the crew of the "Reed" were granted +several days in port. In fact, there was no need of their services in the +same line for some time to come, for a temporary but effective stop had +been put to German mine-laying in the North Sea and the Channel. + +The masters, mates and crews of the "Olga" and the "Louisa" were tried +and sentenced to death, and later were executed. Ober-Lieutenant Dreiner, +for his cowardly attempt to murder Dave and his three new friends, was +also sentenced to death. + +Before his leave in port was ended Dave and Belle met "Mr. and Mrs. +Launce" and learned that they were really the Earl and Countess of Denby. +After her awful experience in the water the countess's health remained +impaired for months, so the noble couple gave up the idea of spy work and +turned their energies toward Red Cross work in France and Italy. + +Sophia Weiner and her daughter were convicted of espionage in that they +had sailed for England with false passports. They are now confined in +some prison in England, and will remain there for some years after the +war closes. + +Captain Kennor reached home safely, where he learned that the other boats +from the "Rigsdak" had reached a friendly shore. It was some months +before the Danish master went to sea again. + +The British admiral's report, sent through channels to the Vice Admiral +of the American destroyer fleet, and by him referred to the Secretary of +the Navy, was of such character that Dave and Dan received the highest +praise direct from Washington by cable, and afterwards by letter. + +They had done their work in the finest American naval style, and had made +a ten-strike against the German mine-layers. + +But they took their honors easily, and had need to, for there was still +greater work ahead of them after Belle had used up her few days' leave +and had sailed back to France. + + +THE END + + + + +HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY'S + +Best and Least Expensive Books for Boys and Girls + + * * * * * + +The Motor Boat Club Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + +The keynote of these books is manliness. The stories are wonderfully +entertaining, and they are at the same time sound and wholesome. 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DURHAM + +1 THE SUBMARINE BOYS ON DUTY; + Or, Life on a Diving Torpedo Boat. +2 THE SUBMARINE BOYS' TRIAL TRIP; + Or, "Making Good" as Young Experts. +3 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE MIDDIES; + Or, The Prize Detail at Annapolis. +4 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SPIES; + Or, Dodging the Sharks of the Deep. +5 THE SUBMARINE BOYS' LIGHTNING CRUISE; + Or, The Young Kings of the Deep. +6 THE SUBMARINE BOYS FOR THE FLAG; + Or, Deeding Their Lives to Uncle Sam. +7 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SMUGGLERS; + Or, Breaking Up the New Jersey Customs Frauds. + + * * * * * + +The Square Dollar Boys Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + +1 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS WAKE UP; + Or, Fighting the Trolley Franchise Steal. +2 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS SMASH THE RING; + Or, In the Lists Against the Crooked Land Deal. + + * * * * * + +The College Girls Series + +By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A.M. + +1 GRACE HARLOWE'S FIRST YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE. +2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SECOND YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE. +3 GRACE HARLOWE'S THIRD YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE. +4 GRACE HARLOWE'S FOURTH YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE. +5 GRACE HARLOWE'S RETURN TO OVERTON CAMPUS. +6 GRACE HARLOWE'S PROBLEM. +7 GRACE HARLOWE'S GOLDEN SUMMER. + + * * * * * + +All these books are bound in Cloth and will be sent postpaid on receipt +of only 75 cents each. + + * * * * * + +Pony Rider Boys Series + +By FRANK GEE PATCHIN + +These tales may be aptly described the best books for boys and girls. + + 1 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ROCKIES; Or, The Secret of the Lost + Claim.--2 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN TEXAS; Or, The Veiled Riddle of + the Plains.--3 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN MONTANA; Or, The Mystery of + the Old Custer Trail.--4 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE OZARKS; Or, + The Secret of Ruby Mountain.--5 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE + ALKALI; Or, Finding a Key to the Desert Maze.--6 THE PONY RIDER + BOYS IN NEW MEXICO; Or, The End of the Silver Trail.--7 THE PONY + RIDER BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON; Or, The Mystery of Bright Angel + Gulch. + +Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 75c. + + * * * * * + +The Boys of Steel Series + +By JAMES R. MEARS + +Each book presents vivid picture of this great industry. Each story is +full of adventure and fascination. + + 1 THE IRON BOYS IN THE MINES; Or, Starting at the Bottom of the + Shaft--2 THE IRON BOYS AS FOREMEN; Or, Heading the Diamond Drill + Shift.--3 THE IRON BOYS ON THE ORE BOATS; Or, Roughing It on the + Great Lakes.--4 THE IRON BOYS IN THE STEEL MILLS; Or, Beginning + Anew in the Cinder Pits. + +Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 75c. + + * * * * * + +The Madge Morton Books + +By AMY D. V. CHALMERS + +1 MADGE MORTON--CAPTAIN OF THE MERRY MAID. +2 MADGE MORTON'S SECRET. +3 MADGE MORTON'S TRUST. +4 MADGE MORTON'S VICTORY. + +Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 75c. + + * * * * * + +West Point Series + +By H. 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Naval Academy. +2 DAVE DARRIN'S SECOND YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; + Or, Two Midshipmen as Naval Academy "Youngsters." +3 DAVE DARRIN'S THIRD YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; + Or, Leaders of the Second Class Midshipmen. +4 DAVE DARRIN'S FOURTH YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; + Or, Headed for Graduation and the Big Cruise. + +Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 75c. + + * * * * * + +The Young Engineers Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + +The heroes of these stories are known to readers of the High School Boys +Series. In this new series Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton prove worthy of +all the traditions of Dick & Co. + +1 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN COLORADO; + Or, At Railroad Building in Earnest. +2 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN ARIZONA; + Or, Laying Tracks on the "Man-Killer" Quicksand. +3 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN NEVADA; + Or, Seeking Fortune on the Turn of a Pick. +4 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN MEXICO; + Or, Fighting the Mine Swindlers. + +Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 75c. + + * * * * * + +Boys of the Army Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + +These books breathe the life and spirit of the United States Army of +to-day, and the life, just as it is, is described by a master pen. + +1 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE RANKS; + Or, Two Recruits in the United States Army. +2 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS ON FIELD DUTY; + Or, Winning Corporal's Chevrons. +3 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS SERGEANTS; + Or, Handling Their First Real Commands. +4 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE PHILIPPINES; + Or, Following the Flag Against the Moros. +6 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS LIEUTENANTS; + Or, Serving Old Glory as Line Officers. +7 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS WITH PERSHING; + Or, Dick Prescott at Grips with the Boche. +8 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS SMASH THE GERMANS; + Or, Winding Up the Great War. + + * * * * * + +Dave Darrin Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + +1 DAVE DARRIN AT VERA CRUZ; + Or, Fighting With the U. S. Navy in Mexico. +2 DAVE DARRIN ON MEDITERRANEAN SERVICE. +3 DAVE DARRIN'S SOUTH AMERICAN CRUISE. +4 DAVE DARRIN ON THE ASIATIC STATION. +5 DAVE DARRIN AND THE GERMAN SUBMARINES. +6 DAVE DARRIN AFTER THE MINE LAYERS; + Or, Hitting the Enemy a Hard Naval Blow. + + * * * * * + +The Meadow-Brook Girls Series + +By JANET ALDRIDGE + +1 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS UNDER CANVAS. +2 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS COUNTRY. +3 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS AFLOAT. +4 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS IN THE HILLS. +5 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS BY THE SEA. +6 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ON THE TENNIS COURTS. + + * * * * * + +All these books are bound in Cloth and will be sent postpaid on receipt +of only 75 cents each. + + * * * * * + +High School Boys Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + +In this series of bright, crisp books a new note has been struck. + +Boys of every age under sixty will be interested in these fascinating +volumes. + +1 THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN; + Or, Dick & Co.'s First Year Pranks and Sports. +2 THE HIGH SCHOOL PITCHER; + Or, Dick & Co. on the Gridley Diamond. +3 THE HIGH SCHOOL LEFT END; + Or, Dick & Co. Grilling on the Football Gridiron. +4 THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM; + Or, Dick & Co. Leading the Athletic Vanguard. + +Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 75c. + + * * * * * + +Grammar School Boys Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + +This series of stories, based on the actual doings of grammar school +boys, comes near to the heart of the average American boy. + +1 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY; + Or, Dick & Co. Start Things Moving. +2 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SNOWBOUND; + Or, Dick & Co. at Winter Sports. +3 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN THE WOODS; + Or, Dick & Co. Trail Fun and Knowledge. +4 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER ATHLETICS; + Or, Dick & Co. Make Their Fame Secure. + +Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 75c. + + * * * * * + +High School Boys' Vacation Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + +"Give us more Dick Prescott books!" + +This has been the burden of the cry from young readers of the country +over. Almost numberless letters have been received by the publishers, +making this eager demand; for Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin, Tom Reade, and +the other members of Dick & Co. are the most popular high school boys in +the land. Boys will alternately thrill and chuckle when reading these +splendid narratives. + +1 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' CANOE CLUB; + Or, Dick & Co.'s Rivals on Lake Pleasant. +2 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER CAMP; + Or, The Dick Prescott Six Training for the Gridley Eleven. +3 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' FISHING TRIP; + Or, Dick & Co. in the Wilderness. +4 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' TRAINING HIKE; + Or, Dick & Co. Making Themselves "Hard as Nails." + +Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 75c. + + * * * * * + +The Circus Boys Series + +By EDGAR B. P. DARLINGTON + +Mr. Darlington's books breathe forth every phase of an intensely +interesting and exciting life. + +1 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS; + Or, Making the Start in the Sawdust Life. +2 THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT; + Or, Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark. +3 THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND; + Or, Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South. +4 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI; + Or, Afloat with the Big Show on the Big River. + +Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 75c. + + * * * * * + +The High School Girls Series + +By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A.M. + +These breezy stories of the American High School Girl take the reader +fairly by storm. + +1 GRACE HARLOWE'S PLEBE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; + Or, The Merry Doings of the Oakdale Freshman Girls. +2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SOPHOMORE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; + Or, The Record of the Girl Chums in Work and Athletics. +3 GRACE HARLOWE'S JUNIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; + Or, Fast Friends in the Sororities. +4 GRACE HARLOWE'S SENIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; + Or, The Parting of the Ways. + +Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 75c. + + * * * * * + +The Automobile Girls Series + +By LAURA DENT CRANE + +No girl's library--no family book-case can be considered at all complete +unless it contains these sparkling twentieth-century books. + + 1 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT NEWPORT; Or, Watching the Summer + Parade.--2 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS IN THE BERKSHIRES; Or, The Ghost + of Lost Man's Trail.--3 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS ALONG THE HUDSON; + Or, Fighting Fire in Sleepy Hollow.--4 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT + CHICAGO; Or, Winning Out Against Heavy Odds.--5 THE AUTOMOBILE + GIRLS AT PALM BEACH; Or, Proving Their Mettle Under Southern + Skies.--6 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT WASHINGTON; Or, Checkmating the + Plots of Foreign Spies. + +Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 75c. + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Page 155, "prevous" changed to "previous" +Page 181, "mask" changed to "mast" +Page 210, "nothing goes on on" changed to "nothing goes on" + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dave Darrin After The Mine Layers, by +H. 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