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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/26641-8.txt b/26641-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5203a36 --- /dev/null +++ b/26641-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9682 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Submarine Hunters, by Percy F. Westerman + +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: The Submarine Hunters + A Story of the Naval Patrol Work in the Great War + +Author: Percy F. Westerman + +Illustrator: E. S. Hodgson + +Release Date: March 17, 2013 [EBook #26641] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SUBMARINE HUNTERS *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + +[Frontispiece: "THE BLACK CROSS FLAG WAS HAULED DOWN, + AND REHOISTED UNDER THE WHITE ENSIGN"] + + + + + + +The Submarine Hunters + + + A Story of Naval Patrol + Work in the Great War + + +BY + +PERCY F. WESTERMAN + + + + Author of + + "Rounding Up the Raider" + "The Dispatch-Riders" + "The Fight for Constantinople" + &c. &c. + + + +_Illustrated by E. S. Hodgson_ + + + + +BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED + +LONDON GLASGOW AND BOMBAY + +1918 + + + + +Contents + + + CHAP. + + I. THE MYSTERIOUS MEETING ON ST. MENA'S ISLAND + II. THE TABLES TURNED + III. KIDNAPPED + IV. THE AWAKENING + V. ABOARD U75 + VI. THE TRAMP + VII. ON THE BED OF THE SEA + VIII. BALKED BY A SEA-PLANE + IX. THE LANDING AT PORT TREHERNE + X. A TREACHEROUS PLOT + XI. PREPARATIONS + XII. THE WHITE FLAG--AND AFTERWARDS + XIII. THE ARM OF THE LAW + XIV. A FRUITLESS QUEST + XV. THE ADMIRAL WORKS THE ORACLE + XVI. H.M.S. "CAPELLA" + XVII. A DOUBLE BAG + XVIII. THE SMOKE-SIGNALS + XIX. THAT FRIDAY NIGHT + XX. TO THE RESCUE + XXI. ADRIFT IN THE CHANNEL + XXII. AN UNEXPECTED CAPTURE + XXIII. MINED + XXIV. "SHRAP" + XXV. OFF THE BELGIAN COAST + XXVI. DISABLED IN MID-AIR + XXVII. NOT ON PAROLE + XXVIII. ALMOST RECAPTURED + XXIX. BOUND FOR THE BALTIC + XXX. THE AFFAIR OFF KIEL + + + + +Illustrations + + +"THE BLACK CROSS FLAG WAS HAULED DOWN AND + RE-HOISTED UNDER THE WHITE ENSIGN" . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +THE INTERVIEW WITH THE GERMAN CAPTAIN (missing from book) + +"'D'YE KEN YON?' ASKED THE BRITISH SKIPPER, AS HE + EYED THE PODGY GERMAN LEUTNANT WITH CONTEMPT" + +"THE 'TREMENDOUS' WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THE DOOMED SUBMARINE" + +THE SINKING OF THE "ORONTABELLA" (missing from book) + +"THE WORK OF DEMOLITION WAS ACCOMPLISHED" + + + + +THE SUBMARINE HUNTERS + + +CHAPTER I + +The Mysterious Meeting on St. Mena's Island + +"We've made a proper mess of things this time!" ejaculated Ross +Trefusis--"or rather I have." + +"It can't be helped," rejoined his chum, Vernon Haye. "We've done our +level best to get her off. How long is it before the tide floats her?" + +"A matter of seven or eight hours, worse luck. You see, it was only +half ebb when we landed." + +Ross bent down to remove a streak of bluish-grey mud from his ankle. + +"I wish we'd taken the rowing-boat instead of this heavy old tub," he +continued. "We'll be pretty peckish before we get back to the Hall, +and dinner's at seven-thirty." + +Vernon laughed. + +"It wouldn't be the first time I've had to go without grub," he +remarked. "If you don't mind, I don't." + +"Then it's no use standing here," said Ross. "Let's get on our shoes +and go for a stroll." + +Vernon Haye was a broad-shouldered lad of fifteen, with clear-cut +features and dark hair. His companion was of about the same age, but a +good two inches taller. His complexion was florid, his hair of an +auburn tint that narrowly escaped coming within the category of red or +ginger. His features were full and rounded. In short, he was a +typical Cornish youth. + +Ross's father, Admiral Paul Trefusis, lived at Killigwent Hall, a +large, rambling, sixteenth-century house, standing within a mile of the +sea on the North Cornish coast. + +Both lads went to the same public school, but owing to the fact that +Vernon's father, Captain Haye, was on active service with the Grand +Fleet, young Haye was spending the summer holidays with his chum at +Killigwent Hall. + +That afternoon the lads had taken a small sailing-boat and had made for +St. Mena's Island, a small rocky piece of land lying about a mile off +shore, and nearly five miles from Killigwent Cove. The island was +roughly three-quarters of a mile in length, and four hundred yards wide +in the broadest part. The north and west sides were precipitous, but +on the side nearest to the mainland the ground sloped gradually, and +was indented by several narrow tidal coves. + +The glamour of romance lay thickly around that rocky pile. Centuries +ago it was the abode of a hermit, who, amongst his various self-imposed +tasks, had built a chapel on the summit, from the tower of which a wood +fire was kindled nightly to warn mariners of the treacherous reefs in +the vicinity of the island. + +In course of time, St. Mena's Island became the haunt of wreckers and +smugglers. The chapel, in spite of its massive construction, fell a +victim to the ravages of wind and weather, but still served as a +convenient shelter for the lawless Cornishmen who profited by the +misfortunes of honest seamen. Immune from interference, by reason of +the superstitious awe in which the island was held by the country-folk, +the smugglers and wreckers thrived exceedingly until late in the +eighteenth century, when stern measures were taken to suppress their +misdeeds. From that time St. Mena's Island was deserted, except for +the casual visits of tourists and summer visitors from the neighbouring +towns of Padstow and Newquay, and countless numbers of sea-birds that +take up their abode in crannies in the almost inaccessible cliffs. + +Ross Trefusis was right in taking the blame of their misfortunes upon +himself. He knew better, but, neglecting to take ordinary precautions, +he had allowed the boat to be left high and dry by the falling tide. +Upon returning to the cove the lads had found the heavy craft lying on +its bilge in the stiff bluish clay, with a ridge of jagged rocks +cutting her off from the sea. + +"Perhaps," suggested Vernon, "some other boat will put off to the +island, and we can get them to put us ashore." + +"Hardly likely," was the reply. "Anyway, we'll keep a look-out. Which +would you prefer to do--explore the Smugglers' Cave and Dead Man's +Cave, or climb up to the ruins?" + +"The ruins," decided young Haye eagerly. "I like fooling about old +ruins, and I've already seen the caves. Besides, we can see if there +are any boats about. It's almost like being shipwrecked on a desert +island." + +"Hard lines if we were," commented Ross. "Suppose we take an inventory +of our possessions? Let the see: one pocket-knife, a silver watch that +has refused duty, a notebook and pencil, and five shillings and three +halfpence. What have you to add to the common stock?" + +"A knife, a pocket compass, my watch--which does go; it's now +five-and-twenty to four--and sixteen shillings and eightpence in paper +money and hard coin." + +"Not a morsel of grub between the pair of us, then," declared Ross. +"Outlook beastly unpromising. Faced with starvation unless we make up +our minds to knock over some gulls. They are horribly fishy to eat, I +believe, and we've nothing to make a fire." + +"It makes you pine for the flesh-pots of Kllligwent Hall, old man," +exclaimed Vernon laughingly. "Never mind, let's make a move. I vote +we get rid of these sweaters. It is frightfully hot." + +Stripping off their woollen garments, and placing them for safety under +a gorse bush, the two lads made their way up the steep ascent to the +ruins, till, hot and well-nigh breathless in spite of being "in +training", they reached the summit of the island. + +"What a jolly view!" exclaimed Vernon, turning and taking in the +panorama of rocky coast-line, an expanse of jagged, frowning, brownish +cliffs topped by the brilliant green of the Cornish moorland. + +"Not bad," agreed Ross complaisantly, for the view was no stranger to +him. "See that cliff shaped like the head and shoulders of a bearded +man? That's Hidden Money Cove that I was speaking to you about last +night. We'll go there next week, all being well. You see, there's not +a sail in sight, so our chances of getting back to dinner are very +remote. What's more, unless I'm very much mistaken, there's a +rain-storm coming. See that dark cloud working up against the wind?" + +"Yes," assented Haye. "What of it? A little rain won't hurt." + +"It's the after effect," said Ross. "It's quite possible it may blow +hard before night, in which case we're done for. I've known it +impossible to approach Killigwent Cove for a week at a time." + +Vernon whistled. + +"Sounds lively," he remarked. + +"Of course that is in the winter," his chum hastened to remind him. +"These summer gales don't last very long, but we'll be feeling precious +hungry by the time we get home, I guess." + +"Look here," said Vernon after a while. "I vote we get those sweaters. +We don't want to be soaked." + +"Very well," assented Ross. "But there's no great hurry." + +Having retrieved the sweaters, the chums leisurely retraced their way +to the ruins. For half an hour or more they wandered around the +remains, descending into the dark crypt, and running considerable risk +in climbing to the summit of the tower. Since the spiral stone steps +had vanished long ago, the only means of getting to the top was by +climbing the gnarled stem of the ivy which grew profusely on the face +of the building. The tower was roofless, a low, partly demolished +parapet encircling it on three sides, while a couple of weather-worn +oak-beams supporting a few planks formed a kind of platform where the +roof formerly existed. + +"Think it's safe?" asked Vernon anxiously, as his chum, having got +astride the parapet, was about to lower himself upon the decrepit +woodwork. + +"I've done it scores of times," said Ross confidently. "That's right, +I'll guide your foot. Now let go." + +"By Jove!" suddenly exclaimed Haye; "there's a fellow coming towards +the ruin. How on earth did he get here?" + +"Goodness only knows," said Trefusis inconsequently. "He may have +landed in Main Beach Cove. Anyhow, he's at perfect liberty to do so. +I suppose he's interested in ruins." + +"Let's drop a bit of stone and give him a shock when he gets here," +suggested Vernon. "We'll apologize afterwards. Ten to one he'll give +us a passage back." + +"I'm not so keen on dropping chunks of stone," objected Ross. "I vote +we lie low for a bit at any rate, and see what he's up to." + +"Why, do you think he's a spy?" asked his companion. Trefusis grunted +scoffingly. + +"Spy?" he repeated. "What object would a spy have on St. Mena's +Island? This part of Cornwall is well outside the military area. +There's nothing in the fortification line for miles. No, it's not +that. But _cave_, here he comes." + +The lads crouched behind the crumbling parapet, and by means of +conveniently placed gaps in the masonry watched the stranger's approach. + +There was nothing about the man's appearance to suggest that he was +anything but an ordinary holiday-maker. He was slightly above average +height, rather heavily built, and inclined to flabbiness. His +complexion was undoubtedly florid, although his face and hands were +tanned a deep brown. + +He was dressed in a light-grey lounge suit, with a straw hat and brown +shoes, while in his right hand he carried a thick Malacca cane. + +The exertion of climbing up the hill on which the ruined chapel stood +apparently told upon him, for he was considerably out of breath when he +passed under the ivy-clad arch. Here he stopped to wipe his face with +a handkerchief, and while doing so dropped his cane. + +It fell upon the stones with a dull thud. + +At the same time the stranger gave vent to an exclamation that +certainly was not English. + +The lads exchanged glances. Here was the beginning of a mystery. The +heaviest Malacca cane would not have made that dull metallic sound in +falling, while it was evident by the careful examination the stranger +made of the retrieved article that he was more than considerate for its +appearance. + +The man made no attempt to explore the ruins. The weather-worn fane +had no attractions for him. It was apparently only a rendezvous, as +far as he was concerned, for at frequent intervals he would walk +stealthily through the archway, and look attentively down the hill +leading to the coves on the side facing the mainland. + +It had now begun to rain--big drops that were the precursors of a heavy +shower. The lads, in their exposed position on the tower, paid scant +heed. Their interest and attention were centred upon the anxiously +awaiting stranger fifty feet beneath them. + +Presently Ross happened to glance towards the stretch of water that +separated St. Mena's Island from the mainland. A boat was approaching. +Already it was more than half-way across. It was a rowing-boat, +containing only one person. What object would anyone have in rowing +across on a wet afternoon like this? wondered the lad. + +Just then the stranger began rubbing his hands with ill-concealed +satisfaction. Although he had been frequently on the look-out, he had +evidently only just caught sight of the approaching boat. + +The lads watched the little craft till it was hidden by the intervening +high ground, but already Ross felt certain that it was making for Main +Beach Cove. + +There were three landing-places on St. Mena's Island--Half Tide Cove, +where the lads had left their stranded boat; Main Beach Cove, a little +to the north-east; and Deadman's Cove, farther away. Of these, only +Main Beach was available between one hour on either side of low water. +The fact that the boat was making for it, and had already successfully +skirted the submerged reef lying off it, proved that its occupant had +local knowledge. + +Some considerable time elapsed between the temporary disappearance of +the boat and the appearance of the new-comer; but at length he came +into view, walking rapidly up the steep incline without showing +anything of the physical strain that the first stranger had betrayed. + +Suddenly Ross Trefusis recognized the man. He almost felt inclined to +laugh at his suspicions. It was Dr. Ramblethorne, the medical +practitioner at St. Bedal--a town of considerable importance about +seven miles from Killigwent Hall. The doctor was a frequent guest of +Admiral Trefusis, and was generally considered a good, all-round +sportsman. He was about thirty years of age, over six feet in height, +of sinewy frame and of great muscular power. He was the wildest +motorist in that part of Cornwall, as the endorsements on his driver's +licence testified. A keen golfer, good shot, and fisherman, he was +also a botanist; and that, perhaps, thought Ross, might account for his +presence on St. Mena's Island, although it was difficult to reconcile +the fact that Ramblethorne had an appointment with a stranger at this +desolate spot. If a joint botanic expedition had been fixed up, why +had not the two men met on the mainland? + +The unknown made no attempt to advance to meet the doctor. Instead, he +remained within the ruins until Ramblethorne entered. + +Their greeting was a surprise even to the lads, for the doctor, holding +out his hand, exclaimed in German: + +"Well met, von Ruhle! Let us hope that your arrangements will prove +satisfactory." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +The Tables Turned + +Both Ross Trefusis and Vernon Haye understood and could speak German. +Ross was especially good in his knowledge of the language of the modern +Hun, for in his early youth he had been inflicted with a German +governess. Since German is one of the subjects for Sandhurst--for +which both lads were preparing--their knowledge had been considerably +improved under the cast-iron rule of a native professor. + +"Eminently satisfactory," replied von Ruhle. "We will go into details +later. You had no difficulty in coming here, I hope?" + +"None whatever." + +"No suspicions?" asked von Ruhle anxiously. + +Ramblethorne smiled. + +"My dear von Ruhle," he replied. "A medical practitioner is above +suspicion. He is free to go anywhere at any hour of the day or night +without question. No man would suspect----" + +"You are clever, von Hauptwald----" + +"Ssh!" interrupted the doctor. "Call me Ramblethorne, if you please. +Of course there is no danger here, but at other times and in other +places you might incautiously give the show away. You had a good +passage?" + +"Excellent," replied von Ruhle. "I am getting well-known to the +strafed English custom-house officers at Queenboro' and Harwich. They +recognize me by my stick, I believe, but they little know that it is a +new one every time. What do you think of this? I have brought it as a +specimen for you to see. Just fancy! every time I cross to Holland +twenty kilogrammes of good copper are on their way to the Fatherland. +By this time Herr Stabb of Essen is well acquainted with my Malacca +canes." + +"A good weight to carry about," remarked Ramblethorne, wielding the +disguised bar of copper. "I wonder you troubled." + +"Mein Gott! I could not leave it," declared von Ruhle. "Someone might +take a fancy to it, and then the secret would be out. But tell me: +have you succeeded in getting that commission you spoke of?" + +"I am still living in hopes," replied Ramblethorne. "Of course I could +have obtained a post of temporary surgeon in the British Navy, but it +wasn't good enough. It's no fun running the risk of being torpedoed by +our own Submarines. The English Army offers a wider scope. Believe +me, I am worth more than a division to the Emperor. I'll get a +commission, never you fear, for I have heaps of influence. Then, of +course, I will do my utmost to fight against a terrible epidemic that +will mysteriously break out amongst the troops." + +Ramblethorne, otherwise von Hauptwald, threw back his shoulders and +laughed uproariously. + +"Careful!" hissed his companion. "You will be heard over the whole +island." + +"What matters? There is not another soul in sight besides ourselves. +How much petrol have you?" + +"Fifty two-gallon tins. I expect some more by boat to-morrow. It's +safely stored in a cave on the side of the creek. It is a nuisance it +is raining. I do not fancy a night's work in weather like this. +Himmel, what's that?" + +Accidentally Vernon's foot had dislodged a small piece of stone. + +"Nerves, my dear von Ruhle," said Ramblethorne, with his usual +good-natured smile. "A bit of masonry has fallen from the tower. See, +the floor is covered with similar pieces." + +"If anyone should be up there----" suggested von Ruhle, pointing to the +top of the tower. + +The lads could feel their hearts thumping against their ribs. Through +a small crack in the planking they could see the eyes of the two +Germans directed upwards. + +"Impossible; there are no steps," declared Ramblethorne. "Besides, +what object would anyone have in ascending a tower on a day like this? +I fully appreciate the danger of being overheard, of course. We've +said enough to find ourselves faced by a firing-party in the Tower of +London, my friend." + +"Don't!" expostulated von Ruhle, closing his eyes as if to shut out the +unpleasant mental vision. Then: "You have the signalling apparatus, I +hope?" + +"Trust me for that, von Ruhle," replied his companion, tapping his +breast-pocket. "All we have to do is to wait until yonder lighthouse +exposes its light. Really the ways of these English pass +understanding. They rigorously forbid the showing of lights in private +houses on shore, imagining that our agents would be so foolish as to +start blinking with a lamp; yet they allow these lighthouses to work as +usual, and obligingly enable us to communicate to our hearts' content." + +Von Hauptwald was not far wrong in his remarks, for the instrument he +had enabled him to flash a message to a confederate without having to +be in possession of a lamp. The flash was obtained from any distant +and visible light by means of a complicated system of mirrors. The +reflected rays could then be projected in any desired direction so as +to be quite invisible except on a certain bearing. It was one of the +carefully-thought-out plans adopted by the German Government to permit +its spies to communicate with their submarines without running any +great risk of detection. + +"It's two hours to sunset," remarked the doctor; "three before we +commence operations. I would suggest that we adjourn to the cave and +partake of refreshment. You see, I have not omitted to make suitable +provision." + +"Very good!" agreed von Ruhle; "but I only wish I had a waterproof. +The rain is most annoying." + +Arm-in-arm the two men left the building, and presently disappeared +from view behind a slight rise in the ground. + +"I say!" exclaimed Ross; "we've tumbled on something this time. Fancy +Ramblethorne a rotten German spy. I always thought he was a rattling +good chap." + +"Evidently he isn't," rejoined Vernon. "But the point is: what do you +propose to do? It's beastly wet here." + +"It is, now I come to think of it," agreed his chum. "The fact is, +that until you mentioned it I was hardly aware that it was raining. +We'll discuss this knotty point." + +"I vote we make tracks for the boat," suggested Haye. "The tide must +be rising by this time. We can then slip off and raise the alarm." + +Ross shook his head. + +"No go," he decided. "We might get nabbed ourselves. Besides, who +would be able to lay these chaps by the heels? There's only that +motor-boat chap at Penydwick Cove, and he's precious little use. There +are no soldiers nearer than at St. Bedal. I propose we hang on here. +There's a snug, sheltered hole in these ruins, just big enough for us +to lie hidden. Then we stand a good chance of hearing more of the +conversation between those beggars." + +"Three hours more, remember." + +"Yes, I know. In the meanwhile we might slip down to Main Beach Cove. +There's plenty of cover amongst the rocks." + +"What for?" asked Vernon. + +"To see what these fellows are up to. I'm rather anxious to renew my +slight acquaintance with friend Copperstick. By Jove, what a cute move +to get contraband metal into Germany!" + +"Not much at a time. It shows how hard up the Germans must be for +copper when it pays a fellow to carry over about half a hundredweight +at a time." + +"Well, let's get a move on," said Ross. "Be careful how you descend. +The ivy will be fairly slippery with the wet." + +Cautiously the two lads descended, reaching the ground without mishap. + +"Our sweaters!" exclaimed Vernon. + +"Dash it all! Yes," agreed his companion. "I had forgotten all about +them." + +The sweaters, carefully rolled up, had been placed for security in one +corner of the chapel. Unless anyone actually came close to the spot, +they were hidden from sight. + +"Neither of those fellows stood about here, I think," remarked Ross as +the chums retrieved and donned the additional clothing. "It's jolly +lucky, or they would have smelt a rat." + +Trefusis and his companion went out into the rain, walking rapidly +towards a slight mound capped by a few irregularly shaped stones. It +was behind this rise of ground that the two spies had gone. Up to this +point, Ross argued, there was little need for caution; beyond, it would +be necessary to keep well under cover until they reached Main Beach. + +"'Ware the skyline," cautioned Ross as the chums approached the hillock. + +"Ay; 'ware the skyline," said a deep voice mockingly, "It's bad +strategy." + +Turning, the lads made the disconcerting discovery that Ramblethorne +and von Ruhle were within five yards of their would-be trackers. + +Ross realized that he and his chum had been badly outmanoeuvred. +Evidently the Germans suspected that they had been overheard, and +ostentatiously leaving the ruins for Main Beach Cove, they had made a +detour from the hillock, and had waited until Ross and Vernon had +emerged from the chapel. Then, taking advantage of the wet grass that +effectually deadened the sound of their footsteps, they had turned the +tables on their shadowers. + +So completely taken aback were the two lads that they stood stock-still +as if rooted to the earth. + +"Not a nice evening to be out, Trefusis," continued the doctor. "What +brings you on St. Mena's Island at this late hour of the day?" + +"Our boat was left high and dry by the tide, so we had to wait and take +shelter," replied Ross. + +"And so you chose a place where there was no shelter," remarked +Ramblethorne. "Idiotic thing to do--very idiotic. Now tell me: what +were you doing on the top of the tower?" + +Ross did not hesitate in his reply. Perhaps it would have been better +had he done so, for he had never betrayed his knowledge of German to +the doctor on any of their previous meetings, and it would have been +judicious to keep up the deception. + +"What were we doing? Listening to your precious schemes," he retorted +boldly. "Now we know all about you, and it will be our duty to report +you as spies to the authorities. We are expecting a search-party from +Killigwent Hall at any moment, you see." + +"So that's the line of defence you propose to adopt, eh?" sneered +Ramblethorne. "Well, look out!" + +With a sudden spring the athletic man flung himself upon Ross, while +von Ruhle with equal promptitude made a rush to secure Vernon. + +Strong and active though he was, Ross was no match for his huge and +powerful antagonist. Knowing that flight was impossible, the lad +feinted, and aimed a blow with his left straight for the doctor's chin. +This Ramblethorne parried easily, and grasping the lad's wrist, held it +as in a vice, and in such a manner that rendered fruitless any attempt +on Trefusis' part to make use of his right arm. + +Having thus secured his opponent, Ramblethorne watched the result of +the encounter between his fellow-spy and young Haye. + +Von Ruhle had opened the attack by brandishing his heavy stick, and +calling upon Vernon to surrender. + +Haye returned the compliment by closing, and dealing the German such a +terrific blow upon the chest that von Ruhle recoiled quite a couple of +yards. The lad's onslaught had only missed the German's solar plexus +by a few inches; had it not, the chances were that von Ruhle would have +lost all interest in life for the next quarter of an hour. + +But instead of following up his initial success Vernon, seeing Ross +helpless in the doctor's grip, rushed to his chum's aid. For a few +seconds he feinted, striving to find an opening, while Ramblethorne, +dragging his captive with him, pivoted in order to keep his front +towards his new antagonist. + +Those few seconds were Vernon's undoing. + +Quickly recovering himself, von Ruhle sprang forward with the agility +of a panther. The imitation Malacca cane descended with a dull thud +upon the lad's head, and like a felled ox Vernon fell inertly upon the +sodden grass. + +"Hold him--so," exclaimed Ramblethorne, handing Ross over to the +custody of von Ruhle. Then drawing a small hypodermic syringe from a +case, the former inserted the needle into the lad's forearm. + +Five seconds later Ross Trefusis lay unconscious beside his companion +in misfortune. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Kidnapped + +"I thought you had killed him, von Ruhle," said the doctor, bending +over Vernon and making a cursory examination of the unconscious lad. + +"I thought I had," was the unconcerned reply. "Dead men tell no tales." + +"There I beg to differ," protested Ramblethorne. "Corpses have a nasty +way of turning up at inopportune moments. These youngsters are worth +more to us alive than dead." + +"How so?" + +"One is a son of Admiral Trefusis; his companion is, I believe, also a +son of a distinguished English naval officer." + +"Well, and what of it?" asked von Ruhle. + +"Hostages," replied the doctor briefly. "Later I will explain. +Meanwhile we'll carry them to the cave. It's farther than back to the +ruins; but perhaps, as young Trefusis said, there may be a +search-party, and the ruins would be one of the first objects of +investigation." + +Although, with the exception of periodical visits abroad, Dr. +Ramblethorne had lived in England all his life and was a fully +qualified medical man, he was a highly trusted and talented agent of +the German Secret Service. Months before the outbreak of war, he had +been ordered to report upon the defences of Devonport, and in order to +do this he had bought a practice on the outskirts of Plymouth. Upon +the commencement of hostilities, he was detailed to keep under +observation the military preparations of the Duchy of Cornwall, and +also to take necessary steps for communicating with German submarines +that, under von Tirpitz's prearranged scheme, were to operate in the +Bristol Channel. Von Ruhle was one of the few subordinates he actually +knew. There were others with whom he communicated only through an +intermediary, and who knew him only by a number. + +Von Ruhle was almost as mentally clever as his superior. +Ostentatiously he was an Englishman. Sometimes he posed as a mining +engineer; at others as a commercial traveller; as an accredited +representative of the British Red Cross Society he was in the habit of +making frequent journeys to Holland, presumably in connection with work +at Groningen Internment Camp. At the present time, his activities were +centred upon the formation of a secret petrol depot for the supply of +fuel to unterseebooten operating in the Bristol Channel and off the +south coast of Ireland. + +A couple of slight incidents had served to put the cautious +Ramblethorne on his guard during his interview with von Ruhle in the +ruined chapel. + +Although he verbally deprecated his subordinate's alarm when the lads +accidentally dislodged a stone from the tower, it was merely to disarm +possible eavesdroppers of any suspicion that their presence was +suspected. + +The ability to control his feelings was one of the super-spy's chief +assets. Suspicion once aroused, he proceeded without the faintest sign +to investigate his surroundings. His keen eye soon lighted upon the +lads' sweaters. Then it was that an adjournment was suggested to Main +Beach Cove. + +This was simply and solely a "blind", for on gaining the cover of the +boulder-strewn hillock the doctor communicated his suspicions to his +companion. The pair then crouched behind the rocks, whence they were +able to command a view of the tower. + +It was not long before their enterprise met with success. They saw +Trefusis and his chum cautiously descend by means of the ivy; then, +directly the lads set out upon their ill-starred tracking expedition, +the Germans, as before related, succeeded in outflanking them and +effecting their capture. + +"Time!" announced Ramblethorne, consulting his watch. + +"Are these safe?" asked von Ruhle, stirring Vernon's unconscious form +with his foot. + +"Quite; though, perhaps, to make sure I will give this youngster a +slight injection. Pity you hadn't held him with the double arm-lock +instead of cracking him over the head. Herr Kapitan Schwalbe won't +want to be troubled with a passenger with a swollen head." + +Leaving their senseless victims in the cave, the two Germans again +ascended the hill to St. Mena's Chapel. As they breasted the summit, +they could see the fixed white light of Black Bull Head showing +momentarily brighter and brighter against the rapidly failing daylight. + +Setting a prismatic compass in position upon the sill of one of the +glazeless windows, Ramblethorne took a careful bearing in a seaward +direction. This done, he pointed the projector of the signalling +apparatus in precisely the same direction, and threw a waterproofed +cloth over the instrument. + +"Too early yet, von Ruhle," he remarked. "Nevertheless it is advisable +to fix our bearings while twilight lasts. A light might spell +disaster." + +"A deucedly unpleasant night for such a task," grumbled von Ruhle. + +"On the contrary, it is just the very thing," replied the doctor. "It +is not thick enough to be dangerous, but the rain is just sufficient to +assist in the screening of U75. Do not think of your personal comfort, +my dear von Ruhle, when urgent work for the Fatherland has to be +undertaken." + +For another half-hour the two men paced the grass-grown stones. Their +choice of St. Mena's Island as a secret signalling station was an +excellent one. It was isolated, and, being slightly greater in +elevation than the cliffs of the mainland in the immediate vicinity, +would effectually screen any ray of light sent landwards from the +expected German submarine. Thus all danger of the narrow gleam of +reflected light being detected by the none too smart members of the +coast patrol was entirely obviated. + +"Time!" exclaimed the doctor, consulting the luminous face of his watch. + +Dexterously, and without disturbing the position of the instrument, von +Ruhle whipped off the covering. Although there were no visible signs +that anything was taking place, both men knew that a beam of light, +reflected from the distant lighthouse on Black Bull Head, was being +directed seawards. + +In silence the two men peered through the driving rain, von Ruhle +making use of a pair of powerful night-glasses. + +Suddenly, after an interval of almost five minutes, a faint pin-prick +of light flickered from the surface of the sea. + +Instantly Ramblethorne stepped a dozen paces to the right. + +"I can see nothing from here," he announced in a low voice. "Can you?" + +"Yes," replied his companion. + +"Good: that's friend Schwalbe." + +The doctor was right. From the deck of the unterseeboot a signalling +apparatus similar to that employed by the spies was in use. By an +ingenious automatic arrangement it projected a beam of light, derived +from the same sources as that on St. Mena's Island, rigidly in a fixed +direction, regardless of the "lift" of the submarine under the action +of the waves. + +For several minutes a rapid exchange of signals was maintained; then +the two spies, folding up their apparatus, walked rapidly towards Main +Beach Cove. + +They had not long to wait before the faint sound of oars was borne to +their ears. + +"Himmel! They have arrived already," exclaimed von Ruhle. + +"So it appears," replied Ramblethorne dryly. "I pride myself that I +have exceptionally good eyesight, but I fail to see her. The neutral +colour of the submarine is indeed excellent for night work." + +They descended the sandy and shingly beach until further progress was +barred by the lapping wavelets of the rising tide. + +Through the mirk loomed up the outlines of a canvas collapsible boat +crowded with men. At two lengths from the shore the rowers laid on +their oars. One of the men gave vent to a low whistle resembling the +call of a curlew. + +"All clear," replied Ramblethorne. + +The boat's keel rasped on the shingle. A cloaked figure in the +stern-sheets made his way for'ard and leapt ashore. + +"Herr von Hauptwald?" he asked. + +"The same," replied the doctor. "And Kapitan Schwalbe?" + +"The captain is still on board," replied the officer. "It is hard to +resist the opportunity of getting ashore after being cooped up there +for more than a fortnight. But the petrol?" + +"We have not so much as we hoped to obtain," replied von Ruhle. + +The Leutnant muttered an oath. + +"And how is business?" asked Ramblethorne, with a view of distracting +the officer's thoughts from the shortage of fuel. + +The Leutnant muttered another oath. + +"Bad!" he replied savagely. "Only one wretched little tramp steamer, +which we fell in with about twenty miles from the Stacks. She gave us +a run for our money, but we had her at last. Even then she tried to +ram us. One has to be most cautious also. These accursed English have +been far too active with their new-fangled contrivances. We called up +U71 early this morning. She replied. Again at noon we called her, but +there was no reply. U70 we have lost all touch with since Monday, yet +she was under orders to assist in the blockade of the Bristol Channel +until we, as senior unterseeboot, gave instructions to return to +Wilhelmshaven." + +"Lost, I suppose," remarked Ramblethorne. + +The Leutnant had walked to a distance of nearly ten yards from his men, +who were drawn up in military order awaiting their officer's commands. + +He lowered his voice. + +"Although I am sorry to say it," he declared, "I am afraid she has gone +too. Our losses are not only serious--they are appalling. Submarine +work is now a continual nightmare. We do our duty, but before long, if +we are sufficiently fortunate to escape the toils that these English +cast about us, we shall all be physical wrecks." + +The man's agitation increased as he spoke. Obviously he was labouring +under a severe strain. + +"And this petrol?" he asked anxiously. "What quantity?" + +Ramblethorne told him. + +"Not enough," declared the Leutnant. "Himmel, it is not enough to get +us round Cape Wrath. On board we have only sufficient for six hours' +surface running, while our batteries are not far short of running down. +You had better see the captain and explain." + +Leaving von Ruhle to direct the seamen to the secret petrol store in +the cave, Ramblethorne accompanied the Leutnant to the submarine. + +The U75 was one of the latest type of Germany's submarines. Over three +hundred feet in length, there was little about her in common with the +accepted idea of under-water craft. Her deck ran in one continuous +sweep for almost her entire length, and rose nearly six feet above the +surface. The visible part of her sides was perpendicular, the bulging +sections being entirely beneath the surface. Her conning-tower was +surrounded by a platform as long as the navigation-bridge of a modern +destroyer. The two periscopes were "housed", but two slender +"wireless" masts gave the boat the appearance of a swift torpedo craft. + +Acknowledging a salute from a burly quartermaster, Ramblethorne gained +the deck, and was escorted aft by the Leutnant. Pacing the tapering +platform was a broad-shouldered, fair-haired man of about thirty, +although a carefully trimmed blonde beard made him look much older. + +He lacked the natural elastic stride of the British naval officer. His +movements resembled those of a thoroughly drilled soldier, yet ever and +anon he would glance furtively in the direction of the open sea as if +in constant dread of sudden and unknown peril. + +"Greetings, Herr von Hauptwald!" he exclaimed, when the Leutnant had +formally introduced his visitor. "You are well known to me by repute, +but I doubt whether we have met before." + +"I fancy so," rejoined the doctor. "Do you not remember that little +affair in the Strauer Platz? Ah, I thought you would! But to come to +the point. We have been unable to obtain the requisite quantity of +petrol." + +"Somehow I thought it," replied Kapitan Schwalbe. "How much have you?" + +Ramblethorne told him. + +"Enough, with what we have left on board, for only eight hundred miles +run. It will not take us home, and we are under orders not to leave +these waters before Friday next. We have been let down badly." + +"I know that it is useless to express regrets," said Ramblethorne +boldly. "I can only hope that other means of supplying the requisite +fuel will be forthcoming. But here is another matter. We have had to +secure two English lads, both sons of distinguished naval officers. +Unfortunately they overheard a conversation between von Ruhle and +myself. In the interests of the Secret Service it is absolutely +necessary that they are kept out of the way for at least a couple of +months. I am averse to doing them personal injury." + +"Then what do you wish?" asked Kapitan Schwalbe. + +"Take them on board with you. If possible, land them at a German port. +If this be possible, you will realize that we have a strong tool to +work with." + +"I fail to understand," said the Kapitan of U75. + +"They could be made good use of as hostages," resumed Ramblethorne. +"If these English persist in talking about reprisals, we can hint +that--well, it is unnecessary to go into details." + +"I see," remarked Kapitan Schwalbe. "But if it is impossible to land +them?" + +"Then you must put them on board the first outward-bound tramp steamer +you fall in with--provided she is bound for South American ports, or +anywhere that will mean a long voyage." + +"Very well," assented the submarine officer. "I quite understand your +anxiety to get them out of the way." + +"Temporarily, mind," added Ramblethorne. + +"Precisely. Herr Rix," he exclaimed, addressing the Leutnant. "Take +four men and go ashore. Von Ruhle will tell you where these English +boys are; have them brought on board." + +"One moment," interrupted Ramblethorne. "They came to the island in a +boat. There is nothing unusual in that, I admit, but the fact remains +that the boat is still lying in the cove next to this. You might order +the men to set the boat adrift." + +"Water-logged, and with sails set and the main-sheet made fast. +Another deplorable accident. Ach! It shall be so." + +Half an hour later Ross Trefusis and Vernon Haye, still unconscious +under the action of the anaesthetic injection, were brought on board +U75 and passed below. Their boat, lying on its beam-ends, was drifting +slowly in the direction of Black Bull Head. Ramblethorne and von +Ruhle, their work for the present done, were already on the way to the +mainland. + +Meanwhile, alarmed at the non-appearance of the young heir to +Killigwent Hall and his guest, a party had set off to search St. Mena's +Island. + +Just as the boat's keel grounded on the beach of Half Tide Cove, the +German submarine slipped quietly through the blurr of misty rain, and +under cover of darkness headed towards the mouth of Bristol Channel. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The Awakening + +"Dash it all! What am I doing here?" muttered Ross Trevor drowsily, as +he opened his eyes. + +For the moment he quite imagined that he was in his dormitory at +school, and that by an oversight the rest of his chums had left him in +bed. The suggestion was strengthened by the sound of gurgling water, +as if the bathroom tap were running. Then he became aware that +everything was pitching up and down. Once before he had experienced a +similar sensation--when he had had a violent headache following a +slight touch of sunstroke. + +It puzzled him, too, that he was almost in darkness. Somewhere +without, and partly screened by some projection, an electric light was +burning. The reflected rays were just sufficient to enable him to take +stock of his surroundings. + +No, he was not back in the school dormitory. True, he had a headache, +but that would not account for the actual motion. He fumbled, his +fingers came in contact with a curved board that served to prevent the +occupant of the bed--or, rather, bunk--from falling on the floor. + +Almost mechanically he rolled out, and stood supporting himself by +grasping the ledge of the bunk. The swaying, due partly to dizziness +and partly to an unaccountable see-saw motion, would have thrown him to +the floor but for the assistance afforded by the side of the bunk. + +Gradually he became aware that there was a similar sleeping-place +immediately beneath the one he had been occupying. Someone was lying +there, breathing heavily. There was sufficient light for Ross to +recognize him. It was his chum Vernon. + +Just then a bell clanged noisily. The sound of running water was +outvoiced by the loud din of machinery in motion. A wave of hot air +that reminded the lad of the atmosphere of a Tube station wafted past +him. The whole fabric trembled under the powerful pulsations of the +mechanism. + +With his legs trembling through sheer physical weakness, Ross hung on +grimly. He wanted to shout, but no sound came from his parched tongue. +He was bewildered. It seemed as if he were in the throes of a terrible +nightmare, and that he would awake on finding himself falling into a +bottomless abyss. + +The reflected light was obscured as a broad-shouldered man made his way +along the narrow corridor in which the bunks were placed. As he did so +he caught sight of the lad. Without a word he seized Ross in his arms, +not roughly, but nevertheless unceremoniously, and lifted him back into +the bunk. There was something so peremptory in the action that Ross +lay still and closed his eyes. All his will power seemed to have +deserted him. + +"Make a dash for it, old man!" exclaimed a muffled voice that Trefusis +hardly recognized as his chum's. "Make a dash for it. Don't let them +collar us." + +It was Vernon rambling in his sleep. The words were sufficient to give +Ross a key to the hitherto baffling problem. + +Like a flash he recalled the episode of their adventure on St. Mena's +Island. He remembered himself being held in the grasp of the powerful +Ramblethorne until unconsciousness overcame him. He was still a +prisoner, but with the qualifying knowledge that he was not alone. +Vernon Haye was sharing his captivity, wherever it might be. + +"We're afloat then," he muttered. "What has happened?" + +Moistening his lips, Ross leant over the side of the bunk and called +his chum by name. His voice sounded strangely unfamiliar. He could +only just hear himself above the clamorous noise of the engines. + +It was not long before another man appeared at the end of the corridor. +As he did so he switched on a lamp almost above the lad's head. For a +few seconds Ross was temporarily blinded by the sudden transition from +artificial twilight to the intense brilliancy of electric light. + +"So! You are now awake, hein?" asked a guttural voice. "How you vos +feel?" + +"Rotten!" replied Ross emphatically. His reply was brief and to the +point. It summed up his sensations during the last ten minutes. + +The man laughed. + +"So you look. You better soon will be. You know where you now vos?" + +"On board a ship," answered the lad. He was still hoping against hope +that his questioner was anything but a German. There was a small +chance that he had by some means been picked up at sea by a Dutch or a +Swedish vessel. + +The man's announcement "put the lid on" that possibility. + +"Sheep--goot!" he chuckled. "German unterseeboot--vot you vos call +submarine. No danger to you boys if you yourselves behave. Much to +see--ach! plenty much." + +The lad's eyes had now become more accustomed to the light. He could +see that his visitor was a broad-shouldered, muscular man of average +height, florid-featured, and with light-yellow hair and a fair +moustache. He was dressed in a uniform that was apparently a bad copy +of that worn by executive officers of the British Navy. On the breast +of his coat he wore an Iron Cross. + +"Me Hermann Rix, Ober-leutnant of unterseeboot," he announced. "Der +Kapitan send me to see how you get better. Goot! I tell seaman to +bring food quick. In one hour you go on deck. Den you feel all well." + +The German Leutnant bent and peered into the lower cot. + +"Fat head," he remarked seriously. "Bad knock, but he get well soon." + +With that the officer went away, leaving the light switched on. + +Scrambling out of his bunk, Ross approached his chum. Vernon was now +sleeping quietly. His face, however, was flushed, while it was quite +evident that he had received a fairly heavy blow across the skull, for +the top of his head was swollen to a considerable extent. + +Before Ross had finished his examination a sailor entered, bearing a +tray on which were three slices of rye bread, some tinned beef, and a +bottle of Rhenish wine. + +"Sprechen Sie deutsch?" he asked. + +For an instant Trefusis hesitated before replying. To profess +ignorance of the German language would be an immense advantage while on +board the submarine, provided he could control his facial expressions +and listen without betraying himself. Then, on the other hand, he +reflected that Ramblethorne, the spy, might have been instrumental in +getting him into this predicament. More than likely the Captain of the +submarine had been informed of the fact that his unconscious passengers +were well acquainted with the tongue-twisting language of the +Fatherland. + +"Here is food for you," said the man, placing the tray on the floor. +"You had better take hold of the bottle before it upsets. We are +rolling a bit. When your friend open his eyes, call me. I am in +yonder compartment. It would be well for you to dress. I will bring +your clothes to you very soon." + +Ross made a sorry meal. The food was not at all appetizing. His +throat was in no condition to enable him to swallow easily. A feeling +of nausea, due either to the motion, the hot, confined air, or the +after effects of the stupefying injection--perhaps a little of all +three--was still present. + +He was actually on board a German submarine--one of Tirpitz's +twentieth-century pirates. He racked his brains to find a reason. +With its limited accommodation an unterseeboot seemed the last type of +craft that would receive a pair of prisoners--and +non-combatants--within its steel-clad hull. It must have been at +Ramblethorne's instigation; yet why had not the spy knocked the pair of +luckless eavesdroppers over the head and tumbled them into the sea? It +seemed by far the easiest solution; yet, in spite of that, Ross and +Vernon were being carried to an unknown destination in one of the +"mystery-craft" of the Imperial German Navy. + +The reappearance of the seaman bearing Ross's clothes cut short the +latter's unsolved meditations. Without a word the man laid the neatly +folded garments on the bunk--a pair of flannel trousers, cricket shirt, +underclothes, and the sweater that had been the cause of the lads' +undoing; but in place of his shoes a pair of half-boots, reeking with +tallow, had been provided. + +Ross proceeded to dress. As he did so a voice that he hardly +recognized asked: + +"Hulloa, Trefusis, where are we?" + +It was Haye. His companion was now awake, but hardly conscious of his +surroundings. + +"Better?" asked Ross laconically. He could not at that moment bring +himself to answer the question. + +"Didn't know that I was ill," remonstrated Vernon. Then, after a vain +attempt to raise his head--perhaps fortunately, since the bottom of +Ross's cot was within a few inches of his face--he added: + +"Dash it all! I remember. That beastly German gave me a crack over +the head with his copper walking-stick. Where are we?" + +"In a rotten hole, old man. We're in a German submarine, bound +goodness knows where." + +"Where are my clothes?" asked Haye, this time successfully getting out +of his bunk. "Since you have yours, there seems to be no reason why I +shouldn't have mine. Hang it! What's the matter with me? +Everything's spinning round like a top." + +Mindful of the seaman's words, and with a docility that would have +surprised him in different circumstances, Ross staggered along the +corridor. The passage was about thirty feet in length. On one side +the metal wall was flat, on the other it had a pronounced curve. +Against it were six bunks arranged in pairs. Four were used as +stowing-places for baggage, the remaining ones had been given up to the +two prisoners. The roof was almost hidden by numerous pipes, most of +them running fore and aft, while a few branched off through the walls. +The flat bulkhead evidently formed one of the walls of the engine-room, +for, as the lad placed his hand against it to steady himself, he could +feel a distinct tremor, quite different from the vibration under his +feet. The floor was of steel, with a raised chequer pattern in order +to give a better grip to one's feet. At frequent intervals there were +circular places, similar to those covering the coal-shoots in the +pavement of residential thoroughfares. Walls, ceiling, and floor were +covered with beads of moisture, but whether from condensation or +leakage Ross could not decide. + +At the end of the corridor or alley-way was a steel water-tight door, +running in gun-metal grooves packed with india-rubber. The door was +closed. + +Seizing the lever that served as a handle, Trefusis tried to turn it, +but without success. Failing that, he kicked the steelwork with his +heavy half-boots, yet no response came to his appeal. + +"The fellow told me to call," he muttered airily. "What did he want to +play the fool for?" + +Retracing his steps, Ross went to the other end of the alley-way. +There was barely room to pass his companion as he did so. The place +from which he had previously seen the reflected light was now shut off +by a door similarly constructed to the one that he had vainly attempted +to open. He was locked in a steel tomb that was itself a metal box +within a metal box--a water-tight compartment of the submarine. + +"They might just as well have switched off the light while they were +about it," he exclaimed bitterly; then at the next instant he wildly +regretted his words. The idea of being imprisoned in that cheerless +compartment without a light of any description appalled him. + +Almost frantically he returned to the door that had previously baffled +him. As he did so he became aware that the submarine was tilting +longitudinally. Since he was unaware of the direction of the craft, +and which was the bow or stern, he was unable to judge whether the +unterseeboot was diving, or ascending to the surface. + +The incline became so great that he had to grasp the door-lever for +support. Turning his head, he saw that Vernon was hanging on grimly to +the partition between the tiers of bunks. + +Then, as the vessel regained an even keel, silently and smoothly the +door slid back in its grooves, revealing a small space barely six feet +in length and five in breadth, and separated from the rest of the +vessel by a closed water-tight panel. Part of the compartment was +occupied by a bend, at which the seaman to whom he had previously +spoken was busily engaged in mending a rent in an oilskin coat. + +"My friend is now awake," announced Ross. + +The man laid aside his work. + +"Good!" he replied. "He is just in time. I will bring him his food +and his clothes. After that you will both go on deck for fresh air +before you are interviewed by Herr Kapitan Schwalbe. See that door? +Beyond that you must not pass without permission. It is forbidden. If +you do so, you will not have another opportunity in a hurry." + +"What are they going to do with us?" asked Ross. + +The sailor shook his head. + +"It is forbidden to ask questions," he said sternly. "Whatever is +necessary that you should know will be told you." + +He turned his back upon his questioner, signifying in a plain manner +that it was useless for Trefusis to say more. Taking the hint the lad +returned to his chum, wondering deeply at the fate that had thrown them +into the hands of the enemy. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +Aboard U75 + +Like Ross, Vernon Haye made a poor meal. He had barely finished when a +petty officer appeared and curtly ordered the lads to follow him. +Since he did so in German it was fairly certain that Trefusis' +admission had been communicated to both officers and crew. + +Staggering, they passed along the alley-way into a broad subdivision +that extended completely athwartships. It was one of the two broadside +torpedo-rooms, and contained two tubes of slightly greater diameter +than the British 21-inch. In "launching-trays" by the side of the +tubes were eight torpedoes with their deadly war-heads attached. Both +transverse bulkheads were almost hidden by indicators, voice-tubes, and +pipes for transmitting the compressed air from the air-flasks to the +torpedo-tubes. + +Passing through another water-tight door the prisoners found themselves +in yet another compartment. On one side was an "air-lock", with its +complement of life-saving helmets; on the other was an oval-shaped door +forming means of communication with the small room built against the +curved sides of the submarine. Ross guessed, and rightly as it +afterwards transpired, that the door led into a space that could be +flooded at will, and which in turn enabled a diver to operate from the +U-boat while submerged. + +Confronting the lads was an almost perpendicular steel ladder +communicating with the conning-tower. Their guide was about to ascend +when a stern voice exclaimed in German: + +"Not that, you idiotic clodhopper! Have you lost your reason? The +forward hatchway, don't you know?" + +"Pardon, Herr Leutnant," said the petty officer, abjectly apologetic, +and, backing down the ladder, he passed through another door entering +into an alley-way between the officers' cabins. Here was the bowl of a +supplementary periscope, so that a vision of what was taking place +could be obtained without going into the conning-tower. + +The alley-way terminated at another broadside torpedo-room, the pairs +of tubes pointing in the opposite direction to those the lads had just +seen. + +Beyond were the living-quarters of the crew, kept spotlessly clean and +tidy, yet Spartan-like in their simplicity. Two of the men were sound +asleep in their bunks. Three more, who were playing cards at a plain +deal table, glanced up from their game as the British lads passed by; +but their interest was of brief duration, and stolidly they resumed +their play. + +Stooping down to avoid a large metal trough--the "house" for the +for'ard 105-millimetre disappearing gun--Ross and his chum arrived at +the ladder by which they were to gain the open air. + +The hatch-cover was thrown back. For the first time during their +captivity they made the discovery that it was night. Looking upwards, +they could see a rectangle of dark sky twinkling with stars that, with +the slight motion of the submarine, appeared to sway to and fro. + +The cool night breeze fanned their heated foreheads as they gained the +deck. For some time, coming suddenly from the glare of the +electrically lighted interior, their eyes were blinded. They could see +nothing but an indistinct blurr of star-lit, gently heaving water. + +Gradually the sense of vision returned. They found themselves on the +fore-deck of the unterseeboot. They had made up their minds to see a +turtle-back deck with a narrow level platform in the centre; instead +they found that the deck was almost flat and, in nautical parlance, +flush, save where it was broken by the elongated conning-tower topped +by the twin periscopes and slender wireless mast. + +Lying on the deck in all conceivable attitudes were most of the +U-boat's crew, taking advantage of a brief spell on the surface to +breathe deeply of the ozone-laden atmosphere. + +Not a light was visible on board. Even the hatchway by which the lads +had gained the deck was constructed to trap any stray beam from the +brilliant glare below. + +Miles away, and low down upon the horizon, a white light blinked +solemnly; then after a brief interval it was succeeded by a red gleam. +This in turn was followed by white again. + +Trefusis, with a sailor's inborn instinct, began to count the +intervals. Although having no means of consulting the only +time-recording watch in the possession of the two captives, he had a +fair idea of counting seconds. At fourteen from the disappearance of +the red light the white appeared. An almost identical space of time +occurred before the red reappeared. + +"It's the Wolf Light," mentally ejaculated the lad. + +His next step was to fix the bearing of the lighthouse. This he did by +looking for the Great Bear, and then, following the Pointers, the North +Star. + +"Phew!" he muttered softly. "Nor'-nor'-west. This brute of a +submarine is right in the chops of the Channel--the main highway for +vessels making for London and the south coast ports." + +"What's that?" asked Vernon, who heard his chum speaking, but had +failed to grasp the significance of his words. + +"Nothing," replied Ross almost in a whisper. "I'll tell you later." + +The cool air had revived both lads wonderfully. They had been left to +their own devices, for the petty officer had gone aft. Those of the +crew who were on deck seemed as apathetic as the men below concerning +the presence of the kidnapped youths. They looked like men utterly +worn out by fatigue and nervous strain. + +Grasping the flexible wire hand-rail Ross continued his survey of the +horizon, all of which was visible except a small portion obscured by +the rise of the conning-tower. The air was remarkably clear. Taking +into consideration the refraction of the atmosphere, the navigation +lamps of a vessel shown at twenty feet above the sea would be visible +from the low-lying deck of the submarine at a distance of six to seven +miles. + +But there were no signs of any vessels in the vicinity. The German +submarine rolled lazily in complete isolation, waiting, like a snake in +the grass, for its prey. + +"Herr Kapitan would see you," exclaimed the guttural voice of the petty +officer. "Come aft. Remember, when you are addressed, to remove your +caps." + +The man led the way, making no attempt to avoid the recumbent limbs and +bodies of the crew who impeded his passage. Treading with discretion +Ross and Vernon followed till, after skirting the base of the +conning-tower, they found themselves in the presence of +Lieutenant-Commander Schwalbe, the Kapitan of U75. + +Schwalbe was sitting in a small arm-chair which had been brought from +his cabin. He was smoking a cigar. At his elbow stood his satellite, +Hermann Rix, who was also smoking. This luxury was denied the crew, +the officers being permitted to smoke only when the submarine was +running awash or resting on the surface. + +[Illustration: THE INTERVIEW WITH THE GERMAN CAPTAIN (missing from +book)] + +"So you have recovered from your little involuntary rest," exclaimed +Schwalbe in excellent English. He was a remarkably good linguist, for +previous to the outbreak of the war he had been the skipper of a +North-German-Lloyd boat. By sheer good luck he had reached a home port +the day after the momentous declaration of hostilities, having narrowly +escaped capture by a British destroyer. + +Owing to the great expansion of the German submarine service, and its +equally rapid reduction at the hands of the British Navy, the supply of +specially trained officers of the Imperial Navy for this branch had run +out. More had been transferred from the pent-up High Seas Fleet, while +others had been absorbed from the now useless German Mercantile Marine, +and hastily put through a course of instruction. Schwalbe was one of +these, and after less than two months' hazardous work in the capacity +of Unter-leutnant found himself in command of U75, one of the "last +words" of von Tirpitz's piratical fleet. + +Neither Ross nor Vernon replied. They could form no suitable answer. +It was no doubt very considerate on the part of the Kapitan to enquire +after their healths, but somehow the lads felt that the skipper of U75 +was responsible for their presence on board. + +"Come, come," continued Schwalbe. "Don't be sulky." + +"We are not," expostulated Ross. + +"I'm glad to hear it," rejoined the Kapitan, with a grin that had the +effect of letting his cigar fall to the deck. He stooped to retrieve +it, but, suddenly remembering that it was beneath his dignity, changed +his mind and kicked the glowing stump on one side. Having taken +another from a gun-metal case, he lit it with a device that merely +smouldered instead of giving a bright light. + +"It is as well we understand each other," he continued. "Do you know +why you are on board U75?" + +"No, sir," replied Ross. + +"Neither do I," rejoined Schwalbe with astonishing candour. "I wish I +had not been honoured with your company." + +"The remedy is in your hands then, sir," said Trefusis. "You can land +us the next time you put in at St. Mena's Island for petrol, or else +put us on board the first fishing craft we fall in with." + +"I beg to differ," was the rejoinder. "Unfortunately you are on board, +and you must make the best of it, I understand from my friend--shall I +say Dr. Ramblethorne--that you are both very inquisitive. +Inquisitiveness is a bad trait in ones so young. You see, it has got +you into trouble. The doctor has strong reasons for getting me to take +care of you for some considerable time, so you will have an opportunity +of seeing how we Germans make war. No half-measures, mark you. It is +useless to make war with a velvet glove. You English people call us +pirates, I believe?" + +"It certainly looks like piracy when German submarines sink harmless +merchantmen without warning," declared Vernon. + +"For my part I have never sent a merchant vessel to the bottom without +warning," said Schwalbe. "As a seaman I regret having to sink any ship +of commerce. As an officer of the German Navy I have to obey orders +unquestionably. Nevertheless I have always given the crews of British +ships a chance of escape, and have never sunk any vessel until the men +are safely in the boats, unless she attempts to show fight or to run +away." + +"Would you blame a skipper for trying to save his ship?" asked Ross. + +"You do not understand," exclaimed Schwalbe. "We are at war. A +blockade has been declared upon the British Islands. If, after full +warning, merchantmen persist in taking the risk, it is their look-out, +not mine. However, to return to a more personal matter: having been +saddled with you, I must endure your presence. You will be well fed, +as far as the resources at our command will allow. You will be free to +go wherever you wish on board, with the exception of the conning-tower, +motor- and torpedo-rooms. I am not ungrateful, for my brother, who had +the misfortune to be in the _Ariadne_, was captured by your fleet. He +is being well treated somewhere in England. Hence I give privileges to +the son of Admiral Trefusis and the son of Commander Haye so long as +they are my compulsory guests. But bear in mind: you will be watched. +Should you commit any fault, however slight, you will pay dearly for +it. If you are foolish enough to attempt any act of treachery, death +will be the penalty. Have I made myself perfectly clear?" + +"Yes, sir," replied both lads. + +"Very well. Is there anything you would like me to do within the +bounds of reason?" + +"Could we communicate with our parents?" asked Ross. + +"No," replied Schwalbe decisively. "There are strong objections. And, +while I am on the subject, should you fall in with the crews of +destroyed ships you are strictly forbidden to communicate with them +either by word or gesture. That will be a punishable offence of the +second degree. Anything more?" + +"My friend has had a nasty knock on the head," said Trefusis. "Have +you a doctor on board?" + +Again Kapitan Schwalbe smiled broadly. + +"No," he replied. "There is no need. Cases of illness must wait till +we return to port. The only injuries we are likely to sustain would +put us beyond all medical aid. But several of the men are fairly +skilled in rough surgery, so I will----" + +"Vessel on the port bow, sir; she's showing no lights," announced a +voice. + +"All hands to stations!" ordered the skipper. + +"Down below with you!" hissed the petty officer, who during the +interview had stood rigidly at attention at two paces to the rear of +his charges. + +Already the hitherto recumbent men were alert. Quickly, yet in order, +they disappeared down the fore hatchway, and amongst them were Ross and +Vernon. + +The officers had taken their places inside the shelter of the +conning-tower. Everything was battened down from within, and with a +gentle purr the electric motors were set in motion, while at the same +time water ballast was admitted into the trimming-tanks. + +Swift and stealthy had been their preparations, but the presence of the +submarine was betrayed by the phosphorescent swirl of the water caused +by the churning of the twin propellers as she slipped beneath the +surface. + +Twenty seconds later a swift vessel that looked suspiciously like a +trawler, although her speed belied her, tore over the place where U75 +had disappeared. Bare inches only separated the top of the latter's +conning-tower from the massive keel plates of the craft that had all +but accomplished its mission. + +The watch-dogs of the British Navy were at work. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +The Tramp + +Like a startled hare the unterseeboot fled for shelter. Not until she +reached a depth of fifteen fathoms did she check her diagonally +downward course. At intervals a dull booming, audible above the rattle +of the motors, proclaimed the unpleasant fact that her antagonist was +circling around the spot marked by the phosphorescent swirl and the +iridescence of escaped oil, and was firing explosive grapnels in the +hope of ripping open the U-boat's hull. + +Kapitan Schwalbe, looking very grey in the artificial light, was +standing behind the quartermaster. His hands were clenched in +momentary apprehension. Beads of perspiration stood out upon his +forehead. He was experiencing a foretaste of the torment of the lost. + +As a submarine officer of the Imperial German Navy he was a failure. +Only sheer luck had hitherto saved him from the fate that had overtaken +scores of his brother officers in that branch of the service. Skilled +as he was in the handling of a huge liner, he lacked the iron nerve +that is essential to the man who has to risk his life in a steel box +that, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, offers no means of escape +in the event of a catastrophe. + +Yet he had to do his duty, notwithstanding his utter distaste for +submarine work. He had had no option. The officers of the British +Navy volunteer for submarine duties; those of the German Navy are +simply told off whether they want to or not. + +The nerve-racking work was beginning to tell upon him. His orders +condemned him to a forlorn hope, for the English Channel was known to +be a death-trap for the under-sea blockaders. The sight of a trawler +filled him with feelings akin to terror. The possibility, nay +probability, of a merchantman carrying guns made him approach his +intended prey with the utmost caution; yet, as he had remarked to Ross +Trefusis, he had never torpedoed any vessel flying the red ensign +without giving her warning. + +But it was not chivalry that prompted Schwalbe to act with +consideration. Had he been untrammelled he would have sent his prey to +the bottom without compunction, for he had all the brutal instincts of +the kultured Hun. It was a superstitious fear that held his +frightfulness in check--a presentiment based upon the Mosaic Law, an +eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. + +Having placed a considerable distance between him and his attacker, +Kapitan Schwalbe ordered the electric motors to be stopped. The +ballast tanks were "blown", and cautiously U75 rose to the surface. + +It was the best course open to her. The depth of the water was much +too great to allow her to rest on the bed of the sea. On the other +hand, in order to keep submerged, the motors would have to be in +motion. No one knew better than Schwalbe that the British patrol-boats +would be in a position to locate with uncanny certitude the presence of +their quarry, unless the strictest silence were maintained by the +fugitive. + +So, ready to dive at the first alarm, U75 floated awash until such +times as were considered favourable for getting under way. Decidedly +this part of the English Channel was, for the time being at least, +unhealthy; and Kapitan Schwalbe resolved to make for the Bristol +Channel, where the dangers of being destroyed by modern mosquitoes were +more remote. + +Meanwhile Ross and Vernon had been sent back to the quarters in the +alley-way, by the side of the motor-room. Not knowing the reason for +the U-boat's sudden submergence, and consequently unaware of the danger +that threatened her, they formed the erroneous impression that the +submarine was about to attack. + +"The old fellow gave us a pretty straight tip," remarked Vernon, when +the chums found themselves alone. "All the same, I vote we get out of +it at the first opportunity, favourable or otherwise." + +"'Ssh," whispered Ross. "Someone might be listening. I don't see how +you propose to clear out, though." + +"We were on deck just now." + +"We were," agreed Trefusis. + +"It was fairly dark. All the men up for'ard were lying down. It would +have been an easy matter to have dived overboard and swum for it, if we +hadn't been twenty miles or more from land." + +"There was a bright look-out kept, all the same," objected Ross. "And +I wouldn't mind saying that if the submarine were closer inshore, +getting a supply of petrol, for example, we should be closely watched. +All the same, I'm with you if we get the ghost of a chance. But it's a +rummy affair altogether. Fancy that chap knowing our names and the +rank of our respective fathers." + +"Ramblethorne must have told him that," said Vernon. + +"I suppose so; but for what reason? By Jove, if we get out of this +mess all right, we'll have something to talk about--having been +prisoners on a German submarine!" + +The lads were not allowed on deck again that night. Acting upon Haye's +suggestion they "turned in", and slept fitfully until awakened by the +noise of the watch being relieved. + +The seaman, Hans Koppe, brought them their breakfast. The meal +consisted of fish, coffee, and the usual black bread. By this time the +captives had practically recovered from the effects of the injection. +Haye's head was still painful, although the headache had left him. + +They ate with avidity, owing possibly to the atmosphere of the confined +space, which was highly charged with oxygen. + +"What is the Captain's name?" asked Ross, when the man came to remove +the breakfast things. + +The sailor told him. + +"Where are we now?" enquired Vernon. + +The man winked solemnly. + +"Afloat," he replied. "Be content with that." + +Just then there were unmistakable signs of activity on the part of the +submarine crew. Several men hurried along the alley-way, each with a +set purpose. They paid little heed to the Englanders as they passed. + +At their heels came Herr Rix, the Leutnant of the submarine. He was +beaming affably. + +"Goot mornings!" he exclaimed. "You come mit me, den I show you how we +blockade." + +He led the way to the compartment in which the bowl of the +supplementary periscope was placed. It was now broad daylight, and +consequently the bowl showed a distinct image. A junior officer was +standing by, but on seeing Rix approach he saluted and moved aside. + +"Look!" exclaimed the Leutnant. + +Both lads peered into the bowl. On its dull sides, an expanse of sea +and sky was portrayed. Beyond that they could see nothing, until Rix +called their attention to a small dark object. + +"Englische sheep!" he declared. "Now you vos watch." + +He touched a metal stud. Instantly an arrangement of telescopic lenses +came into play within the tube of the periscope, with the result that a +small portion of the view was greatly magnified upon the object card. +It revealed a tramp of about nine hundred tons. She had a single +funnel painted black, with two broad red bands; two stumpy masts, with +derricks, and a lofty bridge and chart-house abaft the funnel. She was +wall-sided. Her rusty hull was originally painted black. Here and +there were squares of red lead, showing that her crew had been engaged +in trying to smarten her up before she reached port. Aft, frayed and +dirty with the smoke that poured from her funnel, floated the red +ensign. + +The submarine began to rise. Although she tilted abruptly, the image +of the tramp steamer still remained upon the object bowl. By an +ingenious arrangement, the lenses were constructed to compensate for +any deviation of the tube of the periscope from the vertical. The lads +could see the bows of the U-boat shaking clear of the water, throwing +cascades of foam off on either side as the passing craft forged ahead +at at least eighteen knots. + +Now, for the first time, the skipper of the tramp saw the danger. He +was a short, thick-set man, with white hair and an iron-grey moustache, +and a face the colour of mahogany. For an instant he grasped the +bridge-rails and looked towards the submarine, then gesticulated +violently to the man at the wheel. + +The spikes ran through the helmsman's hands, as he rapidly revolved the +wheel actuating the steam steering-gear. The tramp swung hard to port, +with the idea of baffling the momentarily expected torpedo. + +Kapitan Schwalbe acted up to his principles. In any case he was loath +to use a torpedo upon a comparatively small vessel. In response to an +order, half a dozen of the submarine's crew swarmed on deck, three +going for'ard and three aft. Within forty-five seconds the two +disappearing guns were raised from the water-tight "houses". + +Ross, Vernon, and the German Leutnant remained gazing into the bowl of +the periscope. The vision so absorbed the attention of the two lads +that they hardly heeded the presence of Herr Rix, who occasionally +emitted grunts of satisfaction or annoyance as the scene was enacted. + +The bow gun spat viciously. The range was but three hundred yards. +The missile passed a few feet in front of the tramp's bows, and, +throwing up a shower of spray that burst inboard on the British +vessel's fo'c'sle, ricochetted a mile or so away. + +The tramp's skipper showed his mettle. Round swung the vessel, listing +heavily as she did so. By this time the call for more steam had been +responded to, and dense clouds of black smoke belched from her funnel, +mingled with puffs of white vapour as the siren bleated loudly for aid. + +Running awash, U75 had a great advantage of speed; overtaking her prey +she was able to send half a dozen shells into the lofty target +presented as she slid by. + +Holes gaped in the thin plating close to the waterline. A shell, +passing completely through the funnel, demolished the siren. Being +without wireless, the tramp was now without means of long-distance +signalling. + +Another missile hit the chart-house and, exploding, swept the frail +structure overboard in a thousand fragments. The old skipper, hit by a +splinter of wood, fell inertly upon the bridge; but the next instant he +staggered to his feet, bawling to the crew to get the hand-steering +gear connected. + +"He's down again!" exclaimed Ross breathlessly, as the brave old man +dropped upon the shattered planking of the bridge. "Hurrah! He's +still alive." + +The skipper had deliberately taken cover behind the slender shelter +afforded by the metal side-light boards. By the frantic movement of +his arm, it was evident that he was exhorting his men to "stick it" +like Britons. + +The hail of shells continued. Already fire had broken out on board in +several places. A sliver of metal sheered through the ensign staff. +Without hesitation one of the crew rushed off, retrieved the +weather-worn bunting, and made his way to the mainmast. + +Slowly and deliberately he re-hoisted the ensign until it fluttered +proudly from the truck, then with apparent unconcern the man +disappeared below. + +By this time the tramp was again under control, with a course shaped +for land, which lay about ten miles to the S.S.E. It was, however, a +foregone conclusion that unless help were speedily forthcoming the +vessel was doomed. + +The tramp began to heel, almost imperceptibly at first, then with +increasing speed. She had received her _coup de grâce_. + +Still the engines were kept going full speed ahead. The dauntless +skipper remained on the bridge, with a look of grim resolution on his +weather-beaten features. + +Slowly the vessel's way diminished. Her bow-wave, owing to the +gradually increasing draught, was greater, but less sharp than before. +In a few minutes the water would be pouring over her fore-deck. + +Seeing that their work was completed, the pirates ceased fire, the +guns' crews standing with folded arms and stolidly watching the tramp +as she struggled in her death-throes. + +Presently a vast cloud of steam issued from her engine-room. The +inrush of water had damped her furnaces. The engineer and firemen, +their faces black with coal-dust and streaming with moisture, hurried +on deck. + +For another quarter of a mile the doomed vessel carried way, then came +to a sudden stop. As she did so she gave a quick list to starboard, +until only a few inches of bulwark amidships showed above the waves. + +Then, and only then, did the skipper give orders for the boats to be +lowered. In an orderly manner the crew manned the falls, and the task +of abandoning the ship began. + +Without undue haste, the crew dropped into the waiting boats, each man +with a bundle containing his scanty personal effects wrapped up in a +handkerchief. The Captain was the last to leave. He did so +reluctantly, his left hand tightly grasping the ship's papers. + +Having rowed a safe distance from the foundering vessel, the men rested +on their oars, and waited in silence for the end. It was not long in +coming. + +The tramp was heeling more and more, and slightly down by the bows. +Suddenly she almost righted; then, amid a smother of foam as the +compressed air burst open her hatches, she flung her stern high in the +air. + +Even then she seemed in no hurry. The after part from the mainmast +remained in view, the now motionless propeller being well clear of the +water. + +For quite a minute she remained thus, then with a quick yet almost +gentle movement slid under the waves. The last seen of her was the +weather-worn red ensign still fluttering from the truck. + +The periscope's bowl showed nothing but an expanse of sea and sky, and +the two boats rising buoyantly to the waves. + +A grim chuckle brought Ross and Vernon back to their surroundings. +Herr Rix was rubbing his hands and grunting with evident satisfaction. + +"Goot!" he ejaculated. "Now, how you like dat? Now you see how we +German make blockade, hein?" + +"A brave deed," replied Ross scornfully, and, gripping Vernon by the +arm, led him back to their uncomfortable quarters in the alley-way. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +On the Bed of the Sea + +For the next twenty-four hours nothing exciting occurred. The U-boat +kept to the surface as much as possible, running under her petrol +motors at fifteen knots. To exceed that pace would mean too great a +consumption of fuel, and already the vessel was short of petrol. + +Kapitan Schwalbe was prone to act on the side of extreme caution. +Having sunk one vessel, he would not tackle another in the same +vicinity. He invariably put at least a hundred miles between him and +the scene of his latest ignominious exploit before attempting another +act of kultur. + +Three times during that twenty-four hours he dived: twice on sighting +what were unquestionably Bristol Channel pilot-boats, and on the third +occasion when a Penzance lugger under motor-power (for it was a dead +calm) crossed his track. + +All this time a regular stream of shipping was passing up and down the +Bristol Channel, as unconcernedly as in the piping days of peace. To +anyone but a bumptious German, the sight would have told its own tale; +for the British Mercantile Marine, used to danger and difficulties, was +not to be deterred by the "frightfulness" of von Tirpitz's blockade. +On the contrary, the possibility of falling in with a hostile submarine +gave an unwonted spice to the everyday routine of the toilers of the +sea. + +After breakfast on the following morning Ross and Vernon were told to +go on deck. The sea was still calm, and the submarine, now running +awash at full speed, was cleaving the water with practically dry decks. + +The lads soon realized what was in progress. A couple of miles away +was a large ocean cargo-boat, outward bound, and U75 was in pursuit. + +Trefusis and his chum were not allowed for'ard, where the quick-firer +was already in position for opening fire. They were ordered abaft the +conning-tower, the hatch of which was open. + +Kapitan Schwalbe's head and shoulders could be seen projecting above +the opening. On the raised grating surrounding the conning-tower, +stood a boyish-looking Unter-leutnant. Hermann Rix was nowhere to be +seen. Apparently his duties compelled him to remain below. + +Presently the quick-firer barked, and a projectile struck the water +about a hundred yards from the starboard side of the pursued vessel. +With the discharge of the gun, a sailor hoisted the black cross ensign +of Germany from a small flagstaff aft, while a signal in the +International Code ordering the British vessel to heave to instantly +fluttered from the light mast immediately abaft the conning-tower. + +The only response from the chase was the hoisting of the red ensign, +for previously she had shown no colours. Slowly, defiantly, the +bunting was hauled close up, and ironically "dipped" three times. + +Again and again the submarine's bow-chaser fired. The shells were well +aimed as regards direction, but all fell short. Imperceptibly the +merchantman had increased distance. + +"Look at the fools!" Ross heard the Kapitan remark, as he kept his +binoculars focused on his intended prey. "They are trying to snapshot +us. Are all Englishmen so blind to peril?" + +"Are you sure they haven't a couple of quick-firers mounted aft, sir?" +asked the Unter-leutnant. "There are several men gathered round +something on the poop." + +"Himmel, I hope not!" ejaculated Schwalbe. "But no; had they any guns +they would have opened fire before now. What is the matter with our +gun-layer? It is about time he got a shell home." + +The Unter-leutnant lowered himself on the foredeck, and shouted angrily +at the seaman whose duty it was to "lay" the bow-chasers. The man +again bent over the sights. + +This time the shell pitched ahead of the chase, but slightly to port. +Some of the spray thrown up by the projectile fell on board. + +"Is that the best you can do, you brainless idiot?" shouted Schwalbe +wrathfully. Now that he was in pursuit he was loath to be baffled, but +at the same time he realized that the submarine was using a lot of +precious fuel and a prodigious amount of ammunition without any +definite result. + +In the midst of his torrent of abuse directed upon the luckless +gun-layer, Kapitan Schwalbe suddenly stopped. Gripping the rim of the +oval hatchway he gazed, horror-stricken, at two objects bobbing in the +water directly in the path of the submarine. Then, recovering his +voice, he shouted to the quartermaster to port helm. + +The fellow obeyed promptly, but it was too late. Practically +simultaneously, two barrels swung round and crashed alongside the +submarine's hull. + +Officers and men, expecting momentarily to find themselves blown into +the air, stood stock-still. Then, as nothing so disastrous occurred, +Schwalbe gave orders for easy astern. + +The barrels, connected by a span of grass rope, had been thrown +overboard from the pursued vessel, in the hope that the submarine would +foul her propellers in the tangle of line. Once a blade picked up that +trailing rope, the latter would coil round the boss as tightly as a +band of flexible steel. + +The plan all but succeeded; only the metal guards protecting the +propellers saved them from being hopelessly jammed. Yet the attempt +was attended with good results as far as the British ship was +concerned, for by the time U75 had lost way and had cautiously backed +away from the obstruction, the swift cargo-vessel had gained a distance +that put her beyond all chance of being overhauled. + +Infuriated by his failure, Kapitan Schwalbe went aft and descended into +his cabin. He was hardly conscious of the presence of his two +involuntary guests as he passed. He was thinking of the fate that had +consigned him to a perilous and uncongenial task. Without doubt the +vessel he had been pursuing was equipped with wireless, and by this +time a number of those dreaded hornets would be tearing towards the +spot. To add to his discomfiture it was reported to him that the +reserve of fuel on board had seriously dwindled. In order to remain +effective it was necessary that U75 should replenish her tanks before +another forty-eight hours had passed. + +According to his customary tactics, Schwalbe ordered the submarine to +dive to sixty feet. At that depth she would be safe from any +possibility of being rammed. Provided she could avoid the under-water +obstructions with which the British naval authorities had sown the bed +of the sea at almost every point likely to be frequented by lurking +hostile submarines, she was in no actual danger. + +Gaining his diminutive cabin, Schwalbe by sheer force of habit +consulted the aneroid. The mercury was falling rapidly. Since he last +looked, barely two hours previously, it had dropped 764 to 734 +millimetres, or an inch and two-tenths. That meant that the +anti-cyclone was rapidly breaking up, and that a severe gale was +approaching with considerable swiftness. + +U75 must submerge and seek shelter. It was impossible for her to keep +at a uniform depth unless she maintained steerage-way; that meant a +great demand upon her storage batteries. She could not remain on the +bottom of the sea in a heavy gale, owing to the constant "pumping" or +up-and-down movements caused by the varying pressure of passing waves, +unless she sought a sheltered roadstead--and sheltered roadsteads were +generally mined, or guarded by some ingenious device that had already +accounted for several of U75's consorts. + +Producing a chart of the Bristol Channel, Schwalbe unfolded and spread +it upon a table. Then, in conjunction with a translation of the latest +British Admiralty guide to the west coast of England, he proceeded to +select what he hoped would be a snug shelter during the coming storm. + +"Herr Rix!" he shouted. "I'll make for this anchorage. There's every +indication of a strong blow from the nor'-east." + +"This" was Helwick Channel, a deep, almost blind passage between the +Glamorgan coast and an outlying submerged reef known as the East and +West Helwick. In fine weather it was a short cut for traders plying +between Llanelly and Swansea. In bad weather it was a place to be +avoided, as far as sailing vessels were concerned. Sheltered by the +bold outlines of Worm's Head, it ought to prove an ideal lurking-place +until the gale had blown itself out, for there was little danger of the +place being used as an anchorage, since vessels preferred to give the +rock-bound coast a wide berth. On this account, it was also highly +probable that the Helwick channel had not been safe-guarded by the +British naval authorities. + +Just before sunset, U75, having made the passage unobserved, brought up +in twelve fathoms of water, resting evenly on the firm, hard sands at +the bottom. + +Ross and his chum turned in early. There was nothing for them to do. +They held aloof from the crew; there were no books to entertain them, +no games to amuse them. The submarine was now motionless, sufficient +water ballast having been taken in to allow her to settle firmly upon +the bottom; but, in order to be prepared, the anchor was let go. Thus +not the slightest movement of the hull was apparent. The rest, after +hours of erratic movement on the oily swell, was a welcome one. + +The lads had set their joint watch by the submarine's time, which, +being mid-European standard, was one hour fast of Greenwich. + +For several hours they slept soundly and undisturbed. Suddenly they +were both awakened by the muffled tramp of men in heavy sea-boots. The +solitary light in the alley-way was switched off; the water-tight doors +were firmly closed. Already the air in the confined space was stifling. + +"What has happened?" asked Vernon anxiously, for the vessel, instead of +resting immovably upon the bed of the channel, was now rolling +sluggishly. Yet she could not be under way, for the motors were silent. + +Springing from his bunk, Ross felt for the switch of the electric +light. It was already down, yet the flow of current was interrupted. + +"Let's find out," he said. "Come along." + +The lads, before turning in, had carefully laid out their clothes, so +as to be ready to slip into them at a moment's notice, yet it was a +matter of considerable difficulty to dress in the dark. + +"The door's closed," announced Ross as the lads groped their way to the +end of the alley-way. + +"I believe the submarine's holed," suggested Haye. + +"No; she wouldn't lift as she's doing. Besides, the crew are moving +about. Let's bang on the door with our boots." + +For several minutes they hammered, but without result. The air, never +very fresh, was now almost unbearable, owing to lack of ventilation. +The imprisoned youths began to get desperate. + +Then, without warning, the door slid back. The alley-way was flooded +with brilliant light. + +"Make haste!" shouted a voice which the lads recognized as that of Hans +Koppe. At the same time he grasped Ross by the shoulder and literally +dragged him across the steel threshold. Vernon followed quickly, but +barely had he gained the compartment beyond than the massive steel door +shot back again. + +"Didn't you hear the order all hands for'ard?" asked Hans, not +unkindly, for the white faces of the English lads told their own tale. + +"No," replied Ross. "Besides, we are not included in the 'hands', are +we?" + +"You'll have to bear the consequences if you don't obey," rejoined +Koppe. "I'm supposed to be looking after you, but how was I to know +you hadn't turned out? Fortunately for you, I heard your knocking, and +asked Herr Kapitan to open the doors. He was angry, but did so." + +"What has happened then?" asked Trefusis, for the seaman seemed in a +communicative mood. + +"A shift of wind. It's blowing great guns up aloft, and there's a +terrific tumble into this channel. We've dragged, or, rather, swung +round our anchor." + +"But we are safe enough?" asked Vernon. + +"Yes, safe," replied Hans. "Too safe; we cannot break out our anchor. +They are sending a diver to see what is amiss." + +Evidently the diving arrangements on board were not considered to be of +a confidential nature, for Hans led the way to the compartment under +the fore-hatch, without the lads being sent back by the significant +word "verboten". + +A man was preparing for a submarine walk. He was already dressed in an +india-rubber suit, with leaden weights attached to his chest, back, and +boots. Two others were standing by, ready to place the helmet over his +head, when Leutnant Rix had finished giving him minute directions. + +The officer spoke rapidly and in a low tone. Ross could not catch all +he said, but the words "gefährliche Strömungen" (dangerous currents) +and "Der Wendepunkt der Flut" (slack water) and "Drei Viertel funf" (a +quarter to five) occurred frequently. + +Vernon glanced at his watch. It was then a minute after four. +Apparently Rix was impressing upon the man that he must clear the +anchor at slack water, which occurred at a quarter to five. + +The two attendants then proceeded to place the diver's helmet on his +head. The lads noticed that it had neither air-tube nor telephone +wire. Nor was there a life-line attached to his waist. Fresh air was +obtained from a metal case strapped to his back. The man was able to +work independently, and without having to rely upon his air supply from +the submarine. + +The oval door in the diving-chamber was thrown open. The diver +entered, and the water-tight panel was quickly replaced. One of the +seamen thrust over a short lever, and immediately water rushed into the +small compartment. As soon as the space was filled the diver was able +to open a similar door in the outer plating of the submarine, and thus +gain the bed of the sea. + +Presently Leutnant Rix turned, and saw for the first time that Ross and +Vernon were discreetly standing in the background. + +"Go away. It is forbidden!" he shouted angrily. + +They obeyed promptly, retreating to the space allotted to the crew, +since it was neither desirable nor possible to return to their bunks. + +For some minutes the luckless Hans Koppe was subjected to a severe +dressing-down by his hot-headed officer, and when at length the seaman +rejoined the lads he was in no humour to resume conversation. + +Slowly the minutes sped. The submarine was still rolling sluggishly, +in spite of the fact that more water had been admitted into the ballast +tanks. + +The men were talking seriously amongst themselves. From scraps of +conversation that drifted to the lads' ears, it was evident that they +had grave doubts concerning the ability of the diver to perform his +task, and even of his chances of regaining the submarine, owing to the +violent disturbances of the water. + +Presently the motion of the anchored submarine became more acute. A +weird grating sound--the noise made by the hull rasping over the bed of +the sea--was distinctly audible. + +One of the seamen produced a pocket compass. His startled exclamation +brought other members of the crew around him. The magnetic needle was +apparently describing a semicircle. U75 was swinging round her anchor. + +Just then a bell tinkled, and a disc oscillated on the indicator board +on the bulkhead. Instantly the two men who had been told off as +attendants upon the diver hurried aft, while their companions crowded +expectantly around the door. + +The two men came back, staggering under the weight of the diver. They +had already removed his head-dress and leaden weights. Water dropped +from his rubber suit. His face was livid, his eyes wide open and +rolling. One of his bare hands was streaked with blood that flowed +sullenly from a cut in his numbed flesh. + +Kapitan Schwalbe and Leutnant Rix followed him into the crew-space. It +was not through feelings of compassion that they had come for'ard. It +was acute anxiety to hear the diver's report. + +The luckless man was laid upon the mess-table. His attendants divested +him of his diving-suit, and rubbed his body with rough towels. A petty +officer poured half a glass of brandy down his throat. + +"What is amiss?" Kapitan Schwalbe kept on repeating. + +With a great effort the diver sat up. + +"An anchor, sir," he gasped feebly. "An anchor--an English naval +pattern one--has been dropped right over ours. A very big one." + +Then his eyes closed, and he fell back unconscious. + +"Gott in Himmel!" ejaculated Rix. "We are trapped!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Balked by a Sea-plane + +"How so?" demanded Kapitan Schwalbe. "If we keep quiet, the +cruiser--for cruiser she must be, judging by the fellow's +description--will weigh and proceed." + +"When she does weigh we are undone," said Rix despondently. "We are +swinging round our anchor. For all we know, our cable has taken a turn +round hers. As soon as they heave up their anchor, our anchor and +cable will be brought up with it, and then the game is up. Either the +strain will overcome our dead weight and we will be hauled to the +surface, or else they'll lower one of their brutal explosive charges." + +"The situation is serious," admitted Schwalbe in a low tone, for his +Leutnant's words had produced a demoralizing effect upon the men. "How +much cable have we inboard?" + +Rix repeated the question. A petty officer doubled forward to consult +the cable indicator. U75's anchor, when under way, was housed in a +trough on the under side of the submarine's forefoot. The cable was +automatically ranged in a compartment between the inner and outer +skins, the space being always filled with water. The inboard end of +the cable was not shackled; but to prevent its being able to take +charge and run out, an indicator was placed on the bulkhead nearest to +the cable tier. The amount of chain let go was regulated by a +compressor, which was actuated from within the hull by means of levers +and cranks, watertight glands being provided to prevent any leakage +into the interior of the submarine. + +"Seventy-five fathoms," reported the petty officer. "When we commenced +to swing we paid out the length we had taken on board when we hove +short." + +"We must sacrifice the lot, Herr Rix," decided Kapitan Schwalbe. +"There is no time to lose. Storm or no storm, we must slip and run for +it." + +It was U75's only chance, but it left her with only a small stockless +kedge-anchor and chain, insufficient to withstand a heavy strain. + +The compressor was released. With a loud rumble, for every sound was +magnified within the confined space, the rest of the cable was allowed +to take charge. It did so promptly, the end of the chain giving the +hull a defiant smack as it did so. U75, no longer held by her anchor, +began to drift with the tide, scraping dismally over the bed of Helwich +Channel. + +Schwalbe was now back at his post in the conning-tower. He dare not +take the submarine to the surface until he had put a safe distance +between him and the anchored British warship. Nor did he care to order +the ballast tanks to be blown. Rather than allow the "pumping" of the +seas to hammer the submerged craft upon the hard sand, he preferred to +take the risk of letting her drag. + +Fortunately the tide set evenly along the bed of the channel. A +cross-current would have set the submarine upon the jagged rocks of the +hidden West Helwick Ridge. Nevertheless there was always the danger of +being hurled violently against a detached rock, or of fouling a live +mine if by chance the British had laid obstructions in the channel. + +Both Ross and Vernon knew the danger, but, manfully concealing their +misgivings, they watched the faces of those of the crew who were "watch +below". Most of the men were Frisians, broad-shouldered, +blonde-featured, and generally devoid of fear. Yet the ceaseless +strain upon the nerves had already begun to tell. As hardy fishermen, +they would not have hesitated to launch their open boats in a storm to +go to the rescue of a hapless vessel aground on the grim sand-banks of +the Frisian shore. As the conscript crew of the submarine, compelled +to keep within the limits of a steel box that almost momentarily +threatened to be their tomb, their natural bravery was quenched. + +Many of them sat upon their lockers, stolid-faced men who had already +tasted of the bitterness of death. Others showed unmistakable signs of +excitement, bordering on frenzy. They dreaded their life of modern +piracy. The idea of sinking hapless merchantmen was repugnant to them, +for they understood the brotherhood of the sea. It would be different +if they were called upon to attack an armed British ship of war. They +had no option but to obey their junker officers, who in turn were +compelled to accept the misguided orders of the arch-pirate, von +Tirpitz. + +They were disheartened, too, for reports, in spite of the vigilance of +the officers to conceal them, had reached them of the losses inflicted +upon other unterseebooten. Occasionally they heard of a submarine crew +being saved, but generally it was a case of total loss of all on board, +by some hitherto unknown means, at the hands of the British Navy. + +A hand touched Ross lightly on the shoulder. Turning, he saw Hans +Koppe standing in a darkened corner of the compartment. + +"Can you tell me this, mein herr?" asked the seaman in a low tone. "Is +it true that the English give no quarter to German seamen in +submarines?" + +"I shouldn't think that they would refuse to do so," replied Trefusis. +"Of course, I can quite understand that an opportunity doesn't often +occur; but I've heard of several instances in which your U-boats have +surrendered, and the crews have been treated exactly the same as other +prisoners of war." + +"I have heard differently," said Hans, "but I hope it's a mistake. I +have a feeling that we won't see Wilhelmshaven again. And I have a +wife and six children at Flensburg. Our Kapitan, too, expects that we +might be denied quarter, because we have sunk your merchantmen. +Believe me, I regret having done so, but we have orders. Do you know +why Kapitan Schwalbe took you on board?" + +"Because a certain German agent wanted us out of the way, I suppose," +replied Ross. + +"Perhaps," admitted Hans Koppe. "But in the event of our being +captured he thinks that his good treatment of you will be in his +favour. We are, I do not mind telling you, in a very tight corner. +Our fuel supply is almost run out. We cannot hope to return home by +way of the Straits of Dover. Not one of our submarines has tried that +passage of late without meeting with disaster--at least, so I heard der +Kapitan tell der Leutnant. Ach! It is deplorable, this war." + +The rapid ringing of a gong was the signal for the watch below to turn +out. A peculiar hissing noise proclaimed the fact that the ballast +tanks were being emptied. U75 no longer grated over the bottom; her +motors were running almost dead slow. + +Although submerged, the submarine was "pumping" violently. Seasoned +men were prostrate with sea-sickness. The air, in spite of chemical +purifiers, was becoming almost intolerable. Everything movable was +being thrown about in utter disorder, while to add to the discomfort of +the crew the covering-plates of one of the lubricating-oil tanks had +been strained, and at every jerk jets of viscous fluid would squirt +through the fracture and trickle sullenly over the floor of the +crew-space. + +Since the watertight doors were still closed, Ross and Vernon were +unable to get back to their bunks. Feeling thoroughly wretched, they +were glad to accept Hans Koppe's offer to lie down on a long locker. + +At noon, U75 came to the surface. The storm, being short forecasted, +had quickly blown itself out, but the waves still ran high. + +It was a prearranged plan on the part of the three U-boats operating in +the English and Bristol Channels to communicate with each other by +wireless at noon and at midnight. U75's wireless had a range of about +180 miles, and although it could be "jammed", the call could not be +tapped by vessels other than the one for which it was intended. To +make doubly sure, the messages were sent in code. + +For nearly ten minutes U75 "made her number" without eliciting any +reply. Perhaps it was well that Kapitan Schwalbe did not know what had +happened to her consorts. U74 was at that moment lying on her side at +the bottom of a Welsh harbour, her crew poisoned by the chlorine fumes +from her batteries--the result of a rash curiosity on the part of her +Lieutenant-Commander to investigate the approaches to the anchorage. +As for U77, she was flying blindly for safety, with a couple of +destroyers hard on her track, and a naval sea-plane overhead to direct +them in their search. + +Foiled in her efforts to get in touch with her consorts, U75 remained +awash. The heave of the sea made it most difficult for her to use her +periscope with certainty, for she had chosen a bad pitch on her +ascent--the furious "overfalls" or "tide-rips" to the west of Lundy +Island. + +"We'll pay another visit to St. Mena's Island, Herr Rix," decided +Kapitan Schwalbe, after the two officers had discussed the sinister +matter of their futile attempt to make use of the wireless. "To-night +at nine o'clock ought to suit. If we cannot get von Ruhle to see our +signals--for my own part, I doubt whether he is in these parts--we'll +have to do our best to get ashore. Meanwhile, keep a bright look-out. +If we see any likely vessel coming this way, we'll try our luck once +more." + +"Message just received, mein herr," announced the wireless operator. + +"From whom?" enquired Kapitan Schwalbe eagerly. He was devoutly hoping +that either U74 or U77 had been able to "call up". + +"I cannot say, sir," replied the man as he handed a code message to his +superior. + +Decoded, the "wireless" was as follows: + +"Station 41 to unterseebooten. Two hundred gallons of fuel available +here. Will be on the look-out for signals at 1 a.m." + +The message was a "general call" for a secret petrol depot to any +German submarine operating in the vicinity. Reference to the list of +stations showed that "41" was at Port Treherne, a remote cove on the +North Cornish coast about fifty miles from St. Mena's Island. + +"I suppose it's safe," remarked Rix. + +"With due precautions--yes," rejoined Kapitan Schwalbe. "At any rate, +petrol we must have. Where's the chart? Ah, there we are! It looks a +fairly easy place to approach, don't you think? The only danger from a +navigation point is apparently this ledge of rocks--Lost Chance Reef, +it's called. What unpleasant names these Englishmen give to their +coasts!" + +At that moment the Unter-leutnant, who happened to be at the +conning-tower periscope, reported that a large vessel was bearing down +towards them. + +Kapitan Schwalbe hurried to the conning-tower. The object depicted was +that of a modern tank-vessel about four hundred feet in length. She +was low in the water, showing that she was well laden. In place of +masts she had four stumpy poles supporting derricks. Right aft was the +single funnel. The navigation bridge was well for'ard, connected with +another bridge just in front of the funnel by a long slender gangway. + +"An oil-tank homeward bound!" exclaimed Kapitan Schwalbe. "Just what +we want to fall in with. All being well, there will be no necessity to +visit either Port Treherne or St. Mena's Island. Ach! When we have +taken what we require we will set fire to the ship, and the English +will have a splendid view of a maritime bonfire." + +The crew were ordered to their stations, the ballast tanks "blown", and +U75 rose to the surface instead of "running awash", since the Kapitan +had resolved to stop the tank by gun-fire. + +Even then the waves were running so high that the guns' crews were +almost constantly up to their knees in water. + +Somewhat to the surprise of the submarine's officers and crew, the +tank-steamer made no attempt to escape. The firing of a shot across +her bows and the display of the black cross ensign were enough to cause +the skipper to reverse her engines. + +In less than five minutes, the oil-vessel was rolling in the trough of +the sea and drifting slowly to leeward. Yet it was a somewhat +remarkable circumstance that no attempt was made to lower the red +ensign that was proudly displayed at the stern. + +Kapitan Schwalbe, with his intimate knowledge of navigation, knew that +the only way possible to board the prize was to run to leeward of her, +and let the hull of the large vessel serve as a breakwater. He also +knew that the submarine would have to be constantly under way during +the boarding operations, otherwise the tank-vessel, offering +considerable resistance to the wind, would drift down upon U75, whose +leeway was almost unappreciable. + +"Send a boat, and lower your accommodation ladder," ordered Kapitan +Schwalbe, who, as the submarine ranged up half a cable's length to +leeward of the tank-vessel, had left the shelter of the conning-tower +and was standing on the platform in its wake. + +"Aye, aye," was the prompt response. + +"Board her, Herr Rix," said the Leutnant's superior officer. "Bring +back her papers with you. Order them to pump heavy oil both to +windward and leeward. We will then be able to run close alongside and +receive her hoses." + +A boat containing two seamen and an apprentice was lowered from the +tank's quarter and rowed to the submarine. Into it dropped Leutnant +Rix and half a dozen armed men. With them they took two incendiary +bombs fitted with time-fuses. + +Rix smiled grimly as he gained the oil-steamer's deck. The captain and +first mate were at the head of the accommodation ladder to receive him. +Most of the crew were already mustering on deck, each with a bundle +containing his private effects. + +"You prize to German boat," announced the Leutnant. "Make you no +trouble and we you will not harm. First we will haf much +oil--petroleum, is it not? Order your engineer to get steam to +donkey-engine, and your men--the--the---- Hein! Ach, I haf it--the +hoses to get ready. When we fill up, then twenty minutes we give you +to clear out. You onderstan'?" + +"Perfectly," replied the British skipper, a tall, raw-boned Scot, as he +eyed the podgy German Leutnant with grim contempt. "But d'ye ken yon?" + +[Illustration: "'D'YE KEN YON?' ASKED THE BRITISH SKIPPER, AS HE EYED +THE PODGY GERMAN LEUTNANT WITH CONTEMPT"] + +He pointed skywards. Less than five hundred feet up, yet sufficiently +far from the tank-vessel to enable the latter to screen her from the +unterseeboot, was a large naval sea-plane. It was to deaden the noise +of her motors that the ship's steam-pipe was continually blowing off +steam from the time that U75 made her peremptory demand. + +The eyes of the Leutnant and his six men followed the direction +indicated by the British skipper's outstretched hand. + +At that instant the sea-plane was visible above the towering sides of +the British vessel. + +U75 was still forging slowly ahead. In a trice Kapitan Schwalbe +decided how to act. Ordering the men on deck to their diving stations, +he dropped agilely into the conning-tower and gave the word for the +helm to be ported. + +Thus, while the quick-firers were being housed, the submarine had drawn +close under the oil-tank's quarter. Here she was comparatively safe +from the sea-plane, as the latter could not drop any bombs without risk +of exploding the highly inflammable cargo of the British vessel. + +In ten seconds the sea-plane was over and beyond her quarry. She had +then to turn and circle overhead, awaiting the chance of shattering her +enemy as she dived. + +U75 was already disappearing beneath the waves. + +She dived at a very oblique angle, steeper than she had ever done +before. + +Ross and Vernon, unaware of what was taking place, thought for a moment +that the submarine was plunging headlong to the bed of the Bristol +Channel. They had to cling desperately to the nearest object to hand +to prevent themselves from sliding violently against a transverse +bulkhead. + +Even as they clung they heard two muffled detonations in quick +succession, followed by a distinct quiver of the submarine's hull--a +movement that bore a marked difference to the vibrations under the +pulsations of the motors. + +The sea-plane had dropped two bombs, both of which very nearly attained +their object. + +Kapitan Schwalbe did not bring the submarine to a horizontal position +until she had reached a depth of fifteen fathoms. At that depth he was +safe, both from explosives dropped from the sea-plane and also from +observation. The water being still agitated, made it impossible for +the observer on the biplane to follow the movements of a dark shadow +fathoms deep. For once, the rough seas had been kind to U75; but the +fact remained that she was still badly in want of fuel, while his last +attempt had resulted in the loss of an officer and six men, who could +not well be spared. + +Although the sea-plane had failed to achieve her object by pulverizing +the U-boat's hull, the moral and material result was none the less +effective. + +The explosion of the bombs had started several of U75's plates. +Numerous jets of water were spurting through the seams, the inrush +requiring all the mechanical appliances at the command of the modern +pirate to keep the leaks under control, while the badly-jarred nerves +of Kapitan Schwalbe and his crew warned them of the grave risks they +ran in attempting to try conclusions with even an apparently harmless +craft displaying the Red Ensign of Britain's Mercantile Marine. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +The Landing at Port Treherne + +"I wonder if they'll let us go on deck," remarked Vernon Haye. "If so, +I vote we have a shot at getting ashore. What sort of show is Port +Treherne?" + +"I know it fairly well," replied Ross. "It's the most forsaken crib +you are ever likely to meet along the coast. It's a deep gully in the +cliffs. There's only one small landing-place--a flat rock. Years ago +there used to be a tramway down to the rock, and they shipped copper +ore by means of derricks into lighters, which were towed across in fine +weather to Swansea. But the mine closed down, the village is now +deserted, and I don't believe there are any fishermen there. They say +that the stream that flows into the port is still heavily charged with +mundic. At all events the water is of a bright-red colour for several +hundred yards from shore, and no fish will stick that." + +It was close on the midnight following the disastrous attempt on the +part of U75 to capture the oil-tank. The submarine was running awash, +proceeding very slowly and cautiously towards Port Treherne--Station 41 +of the secret petrol depots established by German agents along the +coast of the British Islands. + +The lads had been informed of the destination of the submarine, but had +not been told why. Nevertheless it was an easy conjecture that U75 was +going there to pick up stores that she had been unable to obtain in +sufficient quantities at St. Mena's Island. + +The Unter-leutnant was in charge of the submarine. Kapitan Schwalbe +had taken the advantage of the opportunity of a few hours' sleep. +Under-officered and undermanned, the strain on the personnel was a +severe one. It was only on rare occasions that Schwalbe could in +future descend from his post in the conning-tower. + +At midnight, according to custom, the submarine called up her consorts +by wireless. Judging by the previous attempt it seemed a useless task, +but to the Operator's surprise he received a reply from U77, which was +then lying off the Scillies. + +Kapitan Schwalbe, aroused from his sleep, eagerly awaited the decoding +of the message. It was to the effect that the commander of U77 had +received information that H.M.S. _Tremendous_, one of the earlier +Dreadnoughts, was leaving Gibraltar for Rosyth. The _Tremendous_, he +knew, had been engaged in the Dardanelles operations. U77 therefore +suggested that the two unterseebooten should meet at a rendezvous off +The Lizard, and attempt a _coup de main_, the success of which would go +towards atoning for the blunders and losses sustained by the German +submarines in their endeavour to blockade the British Isles. + +"Good!" exclaimed Kapitan Schwalbe. "Tell them that I purpose to +rendezvous twenty kilometres S.W. by W. of The Lizard, on Thursday at +10 p.m. I am now about to take in fuel. Will communicate again at +noon to-morrow. Ask them if they have picked up a wireless from U74." + +Some time elapsed before the message could be coded by the sender and +translated by the receiving submarine. When the reply confirming the +rendezvous was received, a message was added to the effect that U77 had +heard nothing of U74 for three days. It was presumed, however, that +she was now on her way back to Wilhelmshaven, and was already out of +wireless range. + +Kapitan Schwalbe knew better. As senior officer of the three +submarines detached to operate in these waters, he was aware that U74 +would not have left her station without orders from him. That part of +the message had been sent merely as a "blind", so that the crews of the +remaining unterseebooten should not be discouraged. It was safe to +conclude, decided Kapitan Schwalbe, that another of the blockaders had +gone to the bottom for the last time. + +It was close on one o'clock when the "wirelessing" terminated. U75, +which had hitherto been running awash, was now trimmed for surface work. + +Most of the crew went on deck. Amongst them were Ross and Vernon, no +one offering any objection. + +The sea was no longer rough. A long oily swell took the place of the +white-crested wave. The night was dark. Only a few stars were +visible. Away to the S.E., the black outlines of the Cornish coast +reared themselves like an enormous wall against the gloomy sky. + +Suddenly Vernon touched his chum's elbow, as a faint pin-prick of light +glimmered twice. It was the shore agent's signal that the coast was +clear. + +Barely carrying steerage-way, U75 stood in towards the as yet invisible +Port Treherne. Already her crew had brought the collapsible canvas +boat from below, "man-handling" it through the fore hatch. The men, +having opened it out and shipped the felt-lined and well-greased +rowlocks, stood by to launch it. + +Gradually the towering cliffs enclosing the creek became +distinguishable against the loftier background of gaunt hills. Into +the gap the submarine crept with the utmost caution, until it seemed as +if she were on the point of running her nose against the sheer face of +the granite wall. The water bubbled slightly as her motors were +reversed; then, turning in her own length, she brought up, with her +bows pointing seawards. + +Three of the crew grasped the canvas boat and pushed it gently into the +water on the port side. One of them clambered in and shipped the oars +in the row-locks. + +The two lads were cautiously scanning the shores of the inlet. Ross +could sniff the unmistakable Cornish air. The call of home seemed +irresistible. It looked a comparatively easy matter to slip quietly +over the starboard side, and swim with noiseless strokes towards the +weed-covered rocks that showed six feet or more above the sea. It was +half ebb-tide; there was little or no drift out of the cove. Under the +shadow of those dark cliffs detection seemed almost impossible, unless +the submarine went to the risky expedient of switching on her +search-light. + +They moved stealthily towards the light wire railing on the starboard +side just abaft the conning-tower. Everything seemed in their favour. +Kapitan Schwalbe and the Unter-leutnant were on the navigation +platform, peering through their night-glasses towards the flat rock +that served as a landing-place. Two of the seamen were engaged in +coiling down a hand-lead line; the rest of the men on deck were +devoting their attention to the now departing canvas boat. + +"Not so fast, my friends," exclaimed a low deep voice, which the lads +recognized as that of Kapitan Schwalbe. "Remember I have a pistol +ready to hand." + +"How in the name of goodness did he know what we were up to?" thought +Ross. + +The chums stood stock-still. They felt much like children found out in +some petty escapade. + +"Koppe! Where are you?" asked the Kapitan in a loud whisper. + +"Here, sir," replied the seaman. + +"I hold you responsible for these Englishmen. Now they are trying to +give us the slip. Take them below. But hold on. Secure them to a +stanchion. Chain them up, and bring me the key." + +The seaman approached the lads almost apologetically, and led them to +the port side just for'ard of the conning-tower. A light steel chain +was hitched round Ross's right ankle and Vernon's left, and deftly +padlocked round one of the uprights supporting the hand-rail. + +"It is of no use trying any of your pranks here," commented Kapitan +Schwalbe, still in a low tone. "You are only looking for trouble." + +For several moments all was still, save for the screech of a benighted +gull. Overhead a meteor passed swiftly across the sky, throwing a pale +gleam upon-the lurking submarine. + +"Wer da?" + +The words, although uttered in an undertone, travelled distinctly over +the placid waters of the cove. + +The sailor in the boat muttered some inaudible reply. The listeners in +the submarine could detect the sound of his oars as he laid them across +the thwarts. Then, after further conversation, could be heard the +rumble of metal as the tins of petrol were rapidly placed in the boat. + +"How many are there?" asked Kapitan Schwalbe eagerly as the men +returned with the first load. + +"Forty here, Herr Kapitan. Altogether there are over two hundred." + +"Then be sharp and whip them on board. Was there any communication for +me?" + +"A bundle of English newspapers, sir, and this letter." + +The man drew the documents from the inside of his jumper and passed +them to a seaman, who in turn handed them to the skipper. + +"I may have to land, sir," continued the seaman. "The rest of the cans +are in a cove at some distance from the landing-place. Can Max go with +me to mind the boat? There is a slight ground-swell at times, and she +might have a hole through her canvas if she is allowed to grind against +the rocks." + +Receiving an affirmative reply, the man told his comrade to get on +board, and once more the boat vanished into the darkness. + +Another twenty minutes elapsed, then came the sounds of muffled +footsteps, and of volatile spirit surging inside the petrol cans. Then +one of the men must have slipped, for there was a slight scuffling, +followed by the loud crash of a can clattering over the rocks. + +"'Alt! Who goes there?" shouted a hoarse and unmistakably English +voice. + +"Freund," promptly replied the German sailor. + +It would have been far wiser on his part if he had waited for his +fellow-worker, the German agent, to reply, since his knowledge and +pronunciation of English were almost perfect. But unfortunately it was +the spy who had fallen, and, half-winded by coming in contact with one +of the tins, was gasping for breath and at the same time rubbing a +barked shin. + +"Not good enough for me, old sport," rejoined the challenger, and +without further ado he let loose "five rounds rapid". + +A loud yell announced that one of the bullets had at least taken +effect. It was the prostrate spy who received a dose of nickel through +the fleshy part of his thigh. + +The seaman, dropping his cans, fled for his life. Recklessly he leapt +from the landing-place into the canvas boat, which his comrade had been +keeping at oar's length from the shore. The sudden impetus was too +much for the frail craft. She capsized, and, being only +single-skinned, sank like a stone. + +Already men, members of a picket, were hastening to the sentry's +support, their progress marked by a lantern held by a stout and sleepy +sergeant. + +By this time U75 was making for the open sea. Kapitan Schwalbe was +cursing loudly; not because the luckless agent had been hit--it was his +fault for not making sure of his ground; not so much on account of the +loss of two more men, nor of the sinking of the only boat belonging to +the submarine. His anger was aroused at the knowledge that once again +his efforts to obtain fuel had been balked. The quantity contained in +forty tins was a mere fraction of the amount he required in order to +carry out his ambitious programme. Bitterly he realized that, like +those of transgressors, the ways of modern pirates are hard. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A Treacherous Plot + +A ragged volley of musketry followed the departing submarine. One +bullet mushroomed itself against the steel conning-tower; another +zipped through one of the guard-rails. The rest either flew harmlessly +overhead or ricochetted from the surface of the placid water. + +Nevertheless the firing was a signal for the crew to hasten below. +Kapitan Schwalbe and the Unter-leutnant disappeared with ignominious +speed within the conning-tower. The men, bending low, bolted for the +fore hatch. In twenty seconds the deck of U75 was deserted save for +Ross and Vernon, who, padlocked to the stanchion, were unable to move +six inches in either direction. They were only partly screened by the +rise of the conning-tower. A sharp splinter from the bullet that had +splayed against the steel wall cut cleanly through Vernon's coat sleeve +and inflicted a slight gash in the lad's forearm, yet in the excitement +he hardly noticed it. + +"I say, old man," exclaimed Ross, as a wave slapping against the +submarine's bow threw a shower of spray over the two prisoners. "What +will happen if they submerge? It seems to me as if old Schwalbe has +forgotten us." + +"He would have dived before this if he intended so doing," replied +Haye. "Ten to one he's going to pay us out for attempting to take +French, or rather German, leave. It's jolly cold and mighty +uncomfortable, but we'll keep a stiff upper lip and show him what we +are made of." + +"With all due deference to you, old chap," rejoined Trefusis, his teeth +chattering as the keen wind played upon his saturated garments, "I +would far rather be without this badge of German kultur." He indicated +the chain that encircled his ankle. "I don't think that you can hold a +brief for Kapitan Schwalbe. I am not so sure about it that he is not +going to dive." + +U75 dipped as he spoke, submerging her fore deck almost to the base of +the conning-tower. Then, with a double cascade of water pouring from +her, she shook herself free, throwing her bows high above the surface. + +A man, gripping the stanchion-rail as he made his way knee-deep in +water, came towards the two prisoners. It was Hans Koppe. He had +obtained the Kapitan's permission to release his charges from their +uncomfortable position. + +"Hold on tightly as you go aft," he cautioned. "There is hot coffee +waiting for you below." + +It was impracticable to descend by means of the fore hatch. That means +of communication had already been closed and battened down, owing to +the constant flow of water over the bows. Even the after hatch, in +spite of the protection afforded by the conning-tower and the raised +coaming, was admitting water into the interior of the submarine. + +Cold, exhausted, and hungry, the lads were glad to be able to eat and +drink, discard their wringing-wet garments, and turn in. Without +waking they slept solidly for ten hours. It was one in the afternoon +when they turned out. U75 was rounding Land's End. She was submerged, +steering a compass course, but frequently showing her periscope to +ascertain her whereabouts. Already the Longships Lighthouse was broad +on the port beam. + +It was a tedious, discomforting run from Land's End to The Lizard. The +Mounts Bay fishing fleets were out, a circumstance that compelled the +submarine to keep below the surface. Kapitan Schwalbe knew that once +the alert skippers of these boats sighted even the tip of the +periscope, the news of the presence of a hostile submarine would be +quickly sent to the naval authorities at Devonport. The necessity for +secrecy also prevented him from making use of the wireless: not that +the message would be deciphered, but because the origin of the message +could be fixed with comparative certainty by any of the British +wireless stations that "picked up" her call. + +The approaches to Plymouth Sound, too, gave Kapitan Schwalbe a bad +time. Far beyond the Eddystone, and from Looe Island to Bigbury Bay, +armed trawlers and torpedo-boats patrolled incessantly, their movements +aided by sea-planes. It was almost a matter of impossibility for a +hostile submarine to approach Plymouth Sound by daylight, since the +aeroplanes were able to discern any sinister object moving under the +comparatively shallow and clear waters between Rame Head and Stoke +Point; while at night the precautions taken were of such an elaborate +and efficient description as to seal the fate of any submarine rash +enough to run her head into a noose. + +Accordingly U75 gave the Eddystone a wide berth, shaping a course to +pass twenty miles to the south'ard of the far-famed lighthouse. Here +she was in the thick of the Channel traffic, a stream of mercantile +ships passing up and down as unconcernedly as if such a thing as a +German submarine did not exist. + +Although there were plenty of opportunities, Kapitan Schwalbe made no +attempt to molest the ships. For one thing, experience had taught him +that the British merchant skipper possessed a bull-dog tenacity, and a +courage not to be daunted by the sight of a hostile periscope appearing +from nowhere in the midst of a waste of water. For another, he was now +on the look-out for more important game--his chance to retrieve his +already vanishing prestige. + +However, one of the merchant vessels served him a good purpose, +although unknown to her. Marking a large ocean tramp bound up-Channel, +U75 dived deeply, so as to be free from any danger of being hit by her +forefoot. + +With the noise of the tramp's propeller to guide her, U75 followed, +unsuspected, in her wake as she made for the Lizard Light. + +Arriving safely at the rendezvous, Kapitan Schwalbe waited until it was +dark, and then cautiously brought the submarine awash. Punctually at +ten o'clock a feeble violet light blinked through the night. It was +U77's call to her consort. + +"What's the game, I wonder?" asked Vernon, as a hail in German was +borne faintly to their ears. + +The chums had turned in. There was nothing else for them to do, since +they had been ordered to leave the quarters allotted to the crew. As +there was no furniture of any description in the alley-way that had +been made their sleeping compartment, they had climbed into their +bunks. Here they could maintain an almost uninterrupted conversation. + +"Hist!" exclaimed Ross warningly. He had been lying with his ear +almost touching one of the many voice-tubes that led from the +conning-tower to various parts of the submarine. Quite by accident, he +discovered that the pipes formed an excellent conductor of sound in a +manner that had not been intended. + +"What are you doing?" asked Haye curiously. + +"Jam your ear against the centre one of these three pipes," said his +chum. + +Vernon did so. It required very little movement on his part, since the +bunks were rather narrow. The same voice-tube that Ross was "tapping" +ran vertically past Haye's bunk, which was immediately underneath the +one Trefusis had appropriated from the time when he had been laid upon +it under the influence of the injection. + +This particular pipe formed a means of vocal communication between the +conning-tower and Kapitan Schwalbe's cabin. For some reason the +whistle had been removed from the cabin end, and consequently sounds +from the Kapitan's quarters were conveyed with tolerable clearness. + +There were two men engaged in conversation. One was Kapitan Schwalbe; +the other, who spoke in a lower key, and so rapidly that Ross had great +difficulty in mentally translating his words, was the +Lieutenant-Commander of U77. He had been put aboard U75 only a few +minutes previously. + +"My dear von Hoffner," Kapitan Schwalbe was saying. "Your plan is all +very well as far as you are concerned; but where do we come in? +Understand that while we are on the surface our risks are increased +ten-fold. Suppose, for instance, the battleship does not notice, or +affects not to notice, the white flag?" + +"She will, right enough," assured the Lieutenant-Commander of U77. +"These English are such fools that in their anxiety to observe the +rules of warfare" (here von Hoffner laughed sardonically) "they play +into our hands. More than a twelvemonth of war has not taught them +that the hitherto recognized observances of war are no longer binding. +This is not a petty squabble between two nations. It is a struggle for +existence; consequently it is where our frightfulness scores." + +"It hasn't up to the present, according to my experience," objected +Kapitan Schwalbe gloomily. "These Englishmen simply won't be +frightened. But to return once more to the point: what steps do you +propose to take to minimize my risk?" + +"There must be risk, of course," remarked von Hoffner. "According to +latest reports, it seems pretty certain that we cannot hope to +intercept the _Tremendous_ during the hours of darkness. Consequently +we have to make use of a ruse. Directly I spot her I dive, keeping as +much as possible close to her track, say three hundred metres off." + +"Yes, you dive," commented Schwalbe caustically. "That is quite +feasible. But what of U75?" + +"She will keep on the surface almost exactly in the indicated path of +the battleship. You will strike your ensign and hoist a large white +flag in its place. It will mean scrapping your best tablecloth, mein +herr. With the wind in its present quarter the flag will blow athwart +the battleship's course, so there is no risk of it not being seen. You +and your crew will, of course, form up aft. That will give more colour +to the deception." + +"Perhaps it will work," said Kapitan Schwalbe. + +"Perhaps? Of course it will," declared von Hoffher sanguinely. "Then +the rest is child's play. Directly the _Tremendous_ slows down--it's +the speed of these battleships that has caused us to miss hitherto--I +will let loose two torpedoes. There will be no bungling, I assure you. +I'll take good care to hit her close to the magazine, and there will be +no opportunity for her to use her quick-firers. + +"By the by, I've two English boys on board," said the Kapitan of U75. +In a few words he related the circumstances in which they were made +prisoners. "I suppose they ought to line up on deck with the hands?" + +"Certainly," replied von Hoffher, with one of his cold-blooded +sniggers. "It will heighten the illusion. It will do them good to see +what one of our unterseebooten can do. But it is highly important that +there be no survivors from the torpedoed battleship. The ruse is a +grand one, and can be employed over and over again, provided that the +secret does not leak out. After all, I don't think I would bring these +English youths on deck." + +"They are safe enough," protested Schwalbe. "If we return to +Wilhelmshaven, they will be locked up in safe custody until the end of +the war. If we do not, then I fancy there will be no survivors from +U75 as well as from the English battleship _Tremendous_." + +The two treacherous officers conversed in a similar strain for several +minutes longer. Then came the sound of glasses being clinked as an +accompaniment to a boastful toast. Talking boisterously, the two +officers left the cabin, and presently the lads heard the sound of oars +as von Hoffner was rowed back to his command. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Preparations + +"The brutes!" ejaculated Vernon savagely. He was violently excited. +Perspiration was pouring off his face at the thought of the almost +unparalleled act of wanton treachery that was about to be enacted. "If +we could only prevent them!" + +"I can't see how," rejoined Ross gloomily. "We cannot give an alarm. +If we could control the valves for half a minute, I'd sink this blessed +craft with all on board, myself included, for good and all. But it is +no use talking of the impossibly heroic." + +"I have a plan," announced Vernon, after thinking deeply for a few +minutes. + +"Well, out with it!" + +"We have to pass through one of the broadside torpedo-rooms as we go on +deck. We could each snatch a spanner and give the war-heads a terrific +blow. You'll remember that there are half a dozen torpedoes in the +cages against the bulkhead. It would mean certain death for us, but it +would save nearly a thousand lives." + +Ross shook his head. + +"There's no certainty of success," he objected. "Those torpedoes are +very much like our own Whiteheads. The striker in the head is +protected against accidental discharge by a small propeller. Until the +torpedo travels a certain distance through the water--sufficient for +the resistance against the blades to cause the safety device to +unthread and leave the striker free to hit the primer--the danger of +premature explosion is almost negligible. We shouldn't have time to +revolve the safety blades enough, and I'm pretty certain that even a +heavy blow on the war-head itself would not explode the charge." + +"Then I'm done," said Vernon dejectedly. "Think of something, old +man--something that will hold water." + +Silence ensued for nearly ten minutes, broken only by the tapping of +the waves against the sides of the submarine, and the gentle purr of +the dynamos for supplying light to the interior of the vessel. + +Suddenly Ross leapt out of his bunk. He dared not trust himself to +speak above a whisper for fear of being overheard. + +"Dash it all, old man!" exclaimed Vernon, when his chum had confided +his plans; "it ought to work. If it doesn't, nothing else will. I'm +on it, happen what may!" + +"We'll want our knives for the job," continued Ross. "Yours will open +easily, I hope? Good! Sharp? We'll run no risks. A sharp blade is +absolutely necessary." + +They drew the knives and whetted the blades upon the soles of their +boots. At Vernon's suggestion they kept open the big blades, making a +hole through the lining of their pockets in order to keep the knives in +a horizontal position and ready to hand. + +"Now let's turn in properly," suggested the practical Ross. "We want +to be fairly fresh for the job in front of us." + +Soon after sunrise on the morrow all hands were mustered aft on deck, +Ross and Vernon included. It was a bright morning. The sun had risen +seemingly out of the sea, or in nautical parlance it was a "low dawn". +There was a chilliness in the air that made the lads wish that they had +been wearing overcoats. + +They looked in vain for U75's consort. The unterseeboot that was to +deal the coward's blow was not to be seen. Her presence was to be kept +a secret from the crew of the decoy. + +Kapitan Schwalbe, accompanied by his Unter-leutnant, made his way aft. +He looked pale and care-worn. He had lost his military manner. His +gait suggested that of a man recovering from a long illness. + +"My men," he exclaimed, "circumstances over which I have no control +make it necessary to bring our cruise to a speedy termination. U75 is +no longer in a state of efficiency, either for offence or flight. It +therefore remains for us to save our lives by surrendering to the first +English ship of war that we fall in with. It is a humiliating and +distasteful step to take, but there is no option." + +The crew heard this lying speech in silence. They hardly knew what to +make of it. The majority mentally decided that it was better to be +imprisoned in England than to rot on the bed of the sea. Kapitan +Schwalbe had no faith in his men's histrionic abilities; he was also +afraid that they would oppose the scheme that he himself had deprecated +as being too risky. + +Hiding their indignation, Ross and his chum saw the Kapitan hand a +petty officer a white flag. The man took it, and lashed short pieces +of cord to two adjacent corners. + +Hans Koppe sidled up to his charges. + +"You will soon be free," he remarked. "Ach! but you do not seem +overjoyed. You English are indeed a queer race." + +Receiving no reply, the man went below to follow the example of his +comrades, who were getting together their personal belongings. Many of +them thought of the times when they had seen non-belligerents do +likewise. It was the boot on the other foot with a vengeance. + +Ross gave another glance across the horizon. Nothing was in sight. +Gripping his chum's arm, he led him for'ard. U75 was motionless. The +deck was deserted. A quartermaster stood on the navigation platform in +front of the conning-tower. Kapitan Schwalbe and his Unter-leutnant +had likewise vanished. + +As Ross passed the conning-tower, he pulled out his knife and deftly +severed the lashings of a couple of buoys secured to the hand-rail. It +was the first act of the lad's plan of operations. + +"Vessel on the port bow, sir!" shouted the quartermaster. + +Kapitan Schwalbe was on deck in a trice, closely followed by his +subordinate. For a few moments, he kept his binoculars focused upon +the indistinct grey object, then three miles off. + +"It is the _Tremendous_," he announced in an undertone to the +Unter-leutnant. "Another ten minutes will see the business through." + +He spoke with confidence, but it was a confidence inspired by a liberal +dose of brandy. He felt that he had already passed the Rubicon. There +could be no turning back. + +A whistle trilled shrilly. At the signal the men again doubled aft, +and joined up in a double line. + +"Where are the English boys?" enquired Kapitan Schwalbe. + +"Coming," replied Ross. For the first time on board he omitted to add +the word "sir". His omission was deliberate. Utter contempt for the +German captain consumed him. Schwalbe, too, noticed the manner in +which he had replied. He smiled grimly, imagining that now the lads +thought themselves about to be free they could afford to be curt. + +As the chums passed the lifebuoys, they deftly heaved them overboard. +They fell with hardly a splash, dropping close to the side of the +motionless submarine. + +No one noticed the act. The attention of the crew was centred upon a +little ceremony that was taking place. Bareheaded, the men stood at +attention. Their voices broke into the song of "Die Wacht am Rhein" as +the emblem of German sea-power was slowly lowered from the ensign staff. + +The men sang sonorously and in perfect cadence. They firmly believed +that it was their last tribute as free men to their Fatherland. As the +last bar terminated, the petty officer smartly hoisted the white flag. +For an instant it hung limply, confined by one of the halliards; then +like a square of stretched canvas it blew out in the steady breeze--a +modern counterpart of the kiss of Judas. + +And standing just behind the Kapitan, within arm's reach of the ensign +staff, were Ross Trefusis and Vernon Haye. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The White Flag--and Afterwards + +H.M.S. _Tremendous_, super-Dreadnought of 24,000 tons displacement, and +mounting ten 13.5-inch guns as her principal armament, was tearing +up-Channel at 21 knots. + +She looked far different from the spick-and-span battleship which had +left Portsmouth only six weeks previously. + +Her armoured sides still showed unmistakable traces of the impact of +Turkish shells. Her grey paint was blotched, blistered, and stained. +Her after funnel had plates of sheet-iron riveted to it to hide a +gaping hole large enough to drive a stage-coach through. Her guns were +worn out by sheer hard work. It was mainly on this account that she +was homeward bound: to have the gigantic weapons "re-lined" in order +that she might again take her place as an effective unit of the Grand +Fleet. + +The middle watch was about to relieve the morning watch. The mess +decks were a seething mass of humanity. In spite of the apparent +confusion everyone was in high good humour, for another few hours +(D.V.) would find H.M.S. _Tremendous_ at Pompey--as Portsmouth has from +time immemorial been termed by the Navy. + +On the fire-control platform sleepy-eyed officers were awaiting their +reliefs. Around the 12-pounders, the muzzles of which grinned +menacingly from apparently haphazard positions in the superstructure, +men were grouped, ready at the first alarm to train the weapons upon a +possible foe. Day after day ceaseless vigilance was maintained. One +and all realized that a moment's negligence might result in destruction +by one of the most horrible creations of modern science. + +"Submarine on the starboard bow, sir!" + +For an instant all was tense silence. Then a bugle blared, followed by +the clear trills of the bos'n's mates' pipes and the hurried tramp of +men's feet. + +The officer of the watch brought his telescope to bear ahead. He was a +junior lieutenant, Bourne by name, and in receipt of a private income +of eight hundred a year. On that sum he might have lived the life of a +man of leisure, but he vastly preferred a strenuous life as a +commissioned officer in the Royal Navy. Not once had he regretted his +choice, and upon the outbreak of war he was ready to execute a hornpipe +of sheer delight at the prospect of "being in the big scrap". + +"She's flying the white flag, by Jove!" he ejaculated. "Funny, +deucedly funny!" + +He had to act, and act promptly, for a battleship travelling at 21 +knots does not give a man time to think for any length of time. +Already a messenger had been despatched to inform the "skipper", but +before the captain could gain the navigation bridge (more than likely +he was in his bath) the _Tremendous_ would have covered the intervening +distance. + +The quartermaster looked enquiringly at the Lieutenant. Bourne stepped +hastily to the engine-room telegraph indicator, half inclined to ring +down for "half-speed", or even "stop both engines". + +He stopped abruptly. + +"Steady on your helm, quartermaster." + +"Steady it is, sir," replied the petty officer. + +The telegraph indicator remained untouched. With undiminished speed +H.M.S. _Tremendous_ held on, under the propelling force of turbine +engines of 30,000 indicated horse-power. + +A midshipman, standing by the side of the officer of the watch, had +been keeping the submarine under observation by means of his telescope. + +"By Jove, sir!" he exclaimed. "There's something wrong there. The +white flag's down, and two fellows in mufti have leapt overboard." + +"Torpedo on the port bow, sir!" sang out half a dozen lusty voices in +chorus. + +"Hard-a-port, quartermaster!" ordered Bourne. + +The spokes of the steam steering-gear revolved quicker than they had +ever done before. Listing heavily to port, the _Tremendous_ turned +with a rapidity that belied her huge bulk and apparent unhandiness. A +double track of ever-diverging foam marked the progress of the deadly +missile. Another followed almost in its wake, both torpedoes +travelling at the speed of an express train. + +For four seconds all on board who watched these messages of death stood +with bated breath. Then a general roar of relief went up as the two +"tinfish" glided harmlessly past the ship, the nearest at a distance of +less than twenty feet, and parallel to the new course of the battleship. + +Half a dozen quick-firers spat viciously. A 6-inch, two of which for +some obscure reason the designers had placed on the main deck abreast +of the after 15-inch guns, added to the din. A chaos of smoke, flame, +and spray marked the spot beneath which U77 had lurked to launch her +cowardly and treacherous bolt. + +"That's blinded her, at least," thought Bourne. + +He knew that even if the hidden submarine had escaped injury, a minute +at least would elapse before she could be conned into a position to +discharge another torpedo. That minute would be enough for his purpose. + +"Starboard!" he ordered. "Ram her, quartermaster!" + +Round swung the 24,000 tons of dead weight, steadied, and bore down +upon the motionless U75. Cries of terror burst from the doomed crew, +many of whom leapt overboard in a vain attempt to swim clear of the +vengeful leviathan. + +Bourne gripped the guard-rail, half expecting to be thrown violently by +the force of the impact. He was mistaken. + +With hardly a tremor the bows of the _Tremendous_ crashed into the +unterseeboot, hitting her just abaft the conning-tower. The bow +portion sank like a stone. The after part reared itself high in the +air, revealing the curiously shaped stern, the two propellers, and the +complication of rudders. Then, before the cloud of smoke and spray had +time to drift inboard, the _Tremendous_ was over and beyond the +ever-widening circle of iridescent oil that marked the ocean grave of +yet another of the would-be blockaders of Britain's shores. + +Even in the midst of his great responsibility Bourne's keen eye +discerned two heads bobbing up and down in the water. The midshipman +noticed them too. + +"They are those fellows who hauled down the white flag, sir," he +exclaimed. "They are quite youngsters, too, and we daren't stop." + +"No, we dare not," agreed the Lieutenant. For aught he knew, another +unterseeboot might be in the vicinity, reserving her torpedoes in the +hope that the battleship would slow down to investigate. "Pass the +word to the sentry to let go the Kisbie. It's the best we can do." + +With a splash the patent lifebuoy was dropped from the cage at the +extremity of the navigation-bridge. It bobbed up again under the +battleship's quarter, emitting a dense cloud of calcium smoke as it did +so. By the time the marine had dropped the Kisbie the ship was a +quarter of a mile away from the two swimmers. + +"It's the best we can do," repeated Bourne as he closed the eyepiece of +his telescope. "They may fetch it, they are swimming strongly." + +"Well done, Mr. Bourne!" exclaimed a deep voice. + +Turning, the Lieutenant faced the Captain standing beside him. + +"A smart manoeuvre!" continued the skipper approvingly. "We can now +only carry on; but we'll wireless the Commander-in-Chief Devonport, and +report that there are survivors from the rammed submarine. He'll have +a destroyer patrol on the spot within an hour, and I hope it won't be +too late." + +Bourne stepped to the extremity of the bridge and glanced astern. His +effort to distinguish the heads of the two swimmers was fruitless, for +a thin haze, the smoke from the ship's funnel, spread far in her wake, +completely obliterating the spot where Ross Trefusis and Vernon Haye +were swimming for dear life. + + +It will be necessary to set back the hands of the clock in order to +follow the fortunes of Ross and his chum. + +"Is she slowing down?" whispered Vernon anxiously, as they stood on the +deck of U75 awaiting the approach of the _Tremendous_. + +"I don't think so," replied Ross. "But now's our time." + +The attention of Schwalbe and his crew was centred upon the battleship; +the Kapitan momentarily expecting to see the huge vessel reel under the +impact of the terrible torpedo, while the men began to entertain grave +doubts as to whether the British ship would accept their token of +surrender. The fact that the super-Dreadnought showed no signs of +slowing down revived Kapitan Schwalbe's doubts. Knowing the difficulty +of hitting, even at a comparatively short range, a swiftly moving +target, he began to wonder whether he did the right thing in falling in +with von Hoffner's diabolical plan. + +His hurried thoughts were suddenly interrupted by some light object +enveloping his head and shoulders. Before he could tear the fabric +away he heard two distinct splashes, followed by shouts of astonishment +from the crew; for with one clean sweep with his knife Ross had severed +the halliards of the ensign staff. + +The lads dived deep, swimming the while with long, powerful strokes, +for both were accomplished in the art of natation. They were longer in +coming to the surface than they anticipated, owing to the weight of +their half-boots, which they had been unable to remove without risk of +causing suspicion. + +When at length their heads emerged almost simultaneously, they found +themselves nearly fifteen yards from the doomed U75. + +"Strike out!" spluttered Ross. "Get as far away from her as you can. +Never mind about old Schwalbe. He can't hurt us." + +Ross was right, for however much the Kapitan wanted to wreak his +vengeance upon his former prisoners, he was unable to do so. In his +rôle as that of an officer waiting to surrender, the possession of a +revolver would tend to "give the show away". He had left his pistol in +his cabin--an example that his Unter-leutnant had followed. And now +his attention was directed upon the British battleship. + +Meanwhile, the lads, swimming strongly, saw the _Tremendous_ heel as +she ported helm. For a minute, not knowing how a ship behaves when the +helm is suddenly put hard over, they thought that the treacherous +unterseeboot had successfully carried out her cold-blooded plan. Yet +no explosion occurred, and the battleship recovered her normal trim. + +With their eyes only a few inches above the surface, the lads could see +nothing of the track of the torpedoes. They had no indication that +they had been fired until the _Tremendous_ let fly with her 12-pounders. + +"I think we've saved her," said Vernon. "Now there'll be trouble for +us. Schwalbe will certainly have a shot at recapturing us after the +battleship has cleared off. Why doesn't she settle U75, I wonder?" + +The lads both expressed astonishment that the motionless unterseeboot +had escaped the attention of the super-Dreadnought's quick-firers. It +seemed as if the latter were ignoring U75 altogether and was sheering +off at full speed. + +Suddenly Ross gave a whoop of delight, which ended in his swallowing a +mouthful of salt water. The _Tremendous_ was turning once more, and +heading straight for the doomed submarine. + +[Illustration: "THE _TREMENDOUS_ WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THE DOOMED +SUBMARINE"] + +Mentally Ross compared the on-coming battleship with an express train, +as shown on a cinematograph screen, in the act of approaching the +audience. At one moment the ship was visible from her water-line to +the truck of her top-mast; at the next her bulk had suddenly expanded +and seemed to fill the complete field of vision. It looked as if the +two lads, in spite of the distance they had put between themselves and +the motionless submarine, would yet be in the way of the vengeful +battleship, whose extreme beam was not less than ninety feet. + +Yet neither of the two chums made the slightest effort to swim farther +away. Mechanically treading water, they waited and watched. + +They could see the terror-stricken attitudes of the crew of the doomed +U75. They heard the shouts of consternation as the massive steel bows +bore down upon her. Then, in a second it seemed, there was a hideous +crash that outvoiced the yells and shouts of despair as the +unterseeboot was rent in twain. + +Of what happened during the next minute the lads had but a very hazy +idea. Caught by the irresistible bow wave as the _Tremendous_ tore +past, they were hurled aside like feathers and buried a couple of +fathoms down under the breaking, foaming mass of water. Vaguely they +heard the whirring of the four propellers--very near, it seemed; then, +caught by an eddy caused by the cavitation in the wake of the monstrous +vessel, they were separated and flung to the surface, half-breathless +and dazed. + +Ross opened his eyes. The _Tremendous_ had already covered nearly a +quarter of a mile. Twenty yards away he saw his chum's head, as +Vernon, puffing like a grampus, was striking out towards him. + +Where the submarine had dived for the last time was an ever-widening +circle of oil. Those of the German crew who had not been carried down +by the sinking unterseeboot were too shaken by the concussion to make +any great effort to save their lives. Attempting to keep afloat in +that oil-covered water added to their difficulties, for whenever the +head of a swimmer disappeared he did not rise again. + +"Kick off your boots, old man," exclaimed Ross. + +"Where are the lifebuoys?" asked Vernon as he carried out his friend's +advice. + +One buoy had disappeared; the other was supporting a seaman, the only +survivor of the crew. + +"A case of finding's are keeping's," announced Ross. "We can't sling +him out of it. It might support two people. We could take turns at +hanging on." + +"Stop!" exclaimed Vernon as Ross began to strike out towards the buoy. +"There'll be trouble if we get mixed up in that oil. It's much lighter +than water. I doubt whether we could swim in it. Do you think the +_Tremendous_ will put back?" + +"Not likely," replied Trefusis. + +He looked in the direction of the fast-vanishing battleship, half +hoping that she would slow down and lower a boat. As he did so, +something caught his eye: a cloud of grey smoke apparently issuing from +the sea. + +"What's that?" he asked, pointing in that direction. + +"Torpedo, perhaps; one that has finished her run," suggested Vernon; +but his chum waved aside the explanation. + +"If U77 did fire a torpedo, you can bet your bottom dollar it wasn't +one with a dummy head!" he said. "Only practice torpedoes send up a +calcium light when their compressed air has given out. By Jove, I +believe it's one of those patent buoys! Let's make for it." + +The lads swam strongly, making powerful and comparatively slow +breast-strokes. The water was warm. They were in no immediate danger +of cramp. + +As they skirted the patch of oil they noticed that the seaman holding +on to the buoy had turned round. His face was now in their direction. +The man was Hans Koppe. + +"Are you all right, Hans?" shouted Ross. + +"Yes, mein herr," replied the man. "I've found a buoy." + +"Thanks to us," thought Trefusis; then raising his voice: "You had +better kick out and get clear of the oil," he advised. "We are making +for yonder buoy." + +By the time the swimmers reached the Kisbie the emission of calcium +smoke had ceased. They found that not only did the buoy support them +both, but that it was so constructed as to allow them to maintain a +sitting position without having to hold on with both hands. Glad of a +seat they waited, watching the approach of Hans Koppe, and also looking +for the undesired reappearance of U77. + +"Ach! My wife and children!" exclaimed Hans Koppe disconsolately, as +he brought his lifebuoy close alongside. "I shall never see them +again." + +"Cheer up, Hans!" replied Vernon. "At any moment U77 might come to the +surface and take you on board. We don't mind, so long as they let us +alone. We've had enough of your unterseebooten." + +"U77?" gasped the German incredulously. "How do you know that?" + +Briefly Haye related the story of the ill-fated Kapitan Schwalbe's +treachery. As he proceeded Han's face bore a surprised expression that +presently changed to one of fear. + +"If we are picked up by an English ship," he remarked, "they will shoot +me for abuse of the white flag. And I am innocent. Ach! my poor wife." + +"They won't," replied Ross reassuringly. "We can swear that you knew +nothing about it." + +The minutes passed slowly. There was no sign of U77. Little did the +three survivors know that she lay within a quarter of a mile of her +consort, on the bed of the English Channel--to add to the +ever-increasing roll of unterseebooten that were fated never to enter a +German port again. + +The sun rose higher and higher, its rays gathering strength as it did +so. The heads of the three survivors were exposed to the solar heat; +their bodies and limbs were numbed by prolonged immersion. The desire +for conversation had long since passed. Almost exhausted they hung to +their supports, listless and torpid. A few sea-gulls, struck with the +silence of the three men, hovered overhead, and swooped with shrill +cries to settle on the water within close distance of what appeared to +be a possible meal. One bolder than the rest perched upon Trefusis' +head. + +Raising his arm, Ross dealt the bird a furious blow. It missed, but +had the effect of scattering the gulls. Apathetically the lad watched +them as they flew off. As he did so he caught sight of three vessels +being driven at high speed. + +"Hurrah!" he exclaimed feebly. "The destroyers, old man; we are saved!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +The Arm of the Law + +"Hulloa! What the deuce have we got here?" enquired Commander Devereux +of H.M. torpedo-boat destroyer _Yealm_, as three dripping figures were +transferred from the destroyer's dinghy to the deck. "One strafed Hun, +right enough; but who are these fellows in mufti?" + +"Can't say, sir," replied the coxswain. "They sort o' collapsed +directly we got 'em into the boat." + +"Then take them below," continued Devereux. "I say, Fanshawe, there's +a job for you at last, my festive sawbones." + +Fanshawe, lately a young country practitioner with a scattered "panel" +connection, had but recently entered the Navy as a surgical probationer +R.N.V.R. He joined purely through patriotic motives, having sacrificed +a fairly substantial income in order to do so. Up to the present his +work had been almost a sinecure. The _Yealm_ had not had the faintest +chance of taking part in an engagement. Her crew--to use Fanshawe's +own words--were "that beastly healthy, don't you know", that, out of +sheer anxiety to do something, he was learning navigation from the +Sub-lieutenant. + +The medico undertook his first important professional task on board the +_Yealm_ with great alacrity, and it was not long before Ross and Vernon +were in a fit state to be questioned. Hans Koppe was in a bad plight. +So utterly shaken were his nerves that he seemed on the point of +collapse. + +"So you are the son of Admiral Trefusis," said the +Lieutenant-Commander. "I can't say that I know him personally, +although I know of him. But how did you get on board the submarine?" + +Ross explained. He felt hurt at having to do so. The +Lieutenant-Commander's ignorance of the disappearance of the two chums +from St. Mena's Island "took all the wind out of his sails". In +pre-War days the principal papers would have devoted at least half a +column to the supposed deaths by drowning, off the Cornish coast, of +two well-connected youths. Nowadays editors had neither space nor +inclination to devote to such a comparatively trivial matter. +Consequently Devereux could be exonerated of all lack of knowledge of +the supposed accident. Yet his interest grew as Ross proceeded with +his narrative. + +"Look here," he remarked. "We've got to dodge around for a few hours +in case your pal U77 does put in an appearance. But I'll wireless the +Admiral and ask for a telegram to be sent to your homes, to let your +people know you are still alive and kicking." + +"Better not, sir," objected Ross. + +Devereux looked curiously at the lad. + +"And why not?" he asked. + +"Well, you see," explained Trefusis, "a telegram is not such a +confidential matter as one would like it to be, especially in a remote +country district." + +"It's good news though," remarked the Lieutenant-Commander. + +"Yes," admitted Ross; "but it is absolutely necessary to keep it dark +for a while. A few hours won't make very much difference one way or +the other to my people, but it would make a thumping lot to our friend +Dr. Ramblethorne, otherwise von Hauptwald. If he were to hear that we +were alive, he'd do a bunk. The same with that other spy, von Ruhle. +They must be arrested promptly, and within a few hours of each other, +in case one of them scents trouble and clears out." + +"I see your point," admitted Devereux. "I won't send a wireless at +present. You must be feeling peckish. I'll get my steward to bring +you in some grub. Excuse me, I must be off again. We've a lot to +attend to, you know." + +The Lieutenant-Commander went on deck to conduct operations. He was +temporarily senior officer, and it fell to him to issue orders to his +two consorts relating to the investigation of the scene of the +battleship's exploit. + +For two hours the three destroyers cruised over the spot where the two +submarines were supposed to have sunk. At length wreckage was found by +means of grapnels. It was, of course, much too deep to send a diver +down to report; but the spot was buoyed, and served as a base while +sweeping operations were proceeded with in the hope of locating the +hull of the second unterseeboot. In a very short space of time two +operations undertaken for the purpose of destroying the sunken +submarine were highly satisfactorily carried out. The first resulted +in the release of a small quantity of buoyant wreckage, amongst which +was the flagstaff of U75. The second brought to the surface a quantity +of oil, showing that a submarine had been sunk there, but the injuries +she previously received had not been sufficient to liberate the +contents of the heavy oil-tanks. The explosive charge had completed +the destruction of U77. + +Just before five in the afternoon, the _Yealm_ and her consorts passed +the eastern arm of the breakwater in Plymouth Sound and brought up in +the Hamoaze. Ross and Vernon, arrayed in borrowed clothes and +accompanied by Lieutenant-Commander Devereux, lost no time in going +ashore and proceeding to the offices of the Commander-in-Chief. + +"You are acting with remarkable discretion," observed the Admiral, when +Ross reiterated his desire not to communicate with his home until the +spies were safely under lock and key. "Fortunately there ought to be +no undue delay, as we have two expert Scotland Yard men investigating a +case in the Dockyard. I'll telephone to the Superintendent of Police, +and get him to send the officers here at once." + +Within ten minutes the officers were ushered into the +Commander-in-Chief's presence. Ross and Vernon looked at them with +considerable curiosity. It had not before fallen to their lot to come +into contact with two real representatives of the famous Scotland Yard. +Yet there was little about the appearance to occasion comment. They +were not in any way disguised. The taller of the two, who was +introduced as Detective-Inspector Ferret, was about forty years of age. +His closely cut hair was dark-brown, with a plentiful sprinkling of +grey hairs. He wore a beard trimmed naval or "torpedo" fashion, with a +moustache. He was dressed in a grey lounge suit, with dark-brown boots +and a golfing cap. There was nothing of a piercing nature about his +eyes, which were of a deep-grey tint. He seemed to be perpetually +beaming; the lines on his face gave one that impression. + +His companion, Detective Hawke, was a short, thick-set man of about +thirty-five. He was clean-shaven. His features were ruddy and heavy. +There was a bulldog look about his jaw that proclaimed him to be a +tough customer. His rough, brown, Harris-tweed suit and bowler hat +gave him the appearance of a prosperous yeoman rather than a successful +tracker of criminals. + +"Now, young gentlemen," began Mr. Hawke briskly, after the +introductions had been made, "we'll get to business. With your +permission, sir" (addressing the Admiral), "I will ask Mr. Trefusis to +give me his version of the affair. To save time, I feel certain that +Mr. Haye will have no objection to going with my colleague and telling +him his story. That, I must explain, is the best way to eliminate any +discrepancies. We prefer to make a fair start, and then all ought to +go well." + +During the next hour Detective-inspector Hawke was very busy. He made +no written notes. He relied solely upon his marvellous retentive +memory, and it was not long before he was in full possession of the +facts of the case. + +His next step was to telephone to St. Bedal. From the police there, he +learnt that Dr. Ramblethorne was medical officer to the 4th battalion +of a west-country regiment, but that he was temporarily detailed to act +on the recruiting staff at Wellington. + +Hawke thereupon telegraphed to Harwich. The Customs officers there +informed him that the Harwich-Flushing boat service had been suspended +for nearly a week, owing to the discovery of a hostile mine-field off +the Dutch coast. Sailings were to be resumed that night. A man who +gave himself out to be a Dutchman, but who answered to the description +of von Ruhle, had applied that morning for a permit to leave the +country by the night boat. His berth had been booked under the name of +Cornelius Vanderhuit. + +"Which one ought we to nab first?" asked Ferret. "We'll have to be +very sharp, or one of them, finding that he is no longer in +communication with his accomplice, would smell a rat and clear out." + +"Under normal conditions I would reply, 'Collar the principal first'," +replied Hawke. "It is evident that Ramblethorne, _alias_ von +Hauptwald, is the master-spy. Directly he's laid by the heels, the +whole of the organization immediately under his control goes by the +board. But there's this Harwich business. Von Ruhle crosses the North +Sea to-night, unless otherwise prevented. We comprise the otherwise, I +hope." + +"Then it would mean catching the midday express to Waterloo," remarked +Ferret. + +"Could we go with you?" asked Ross. + +The police officers looked rather astonished at the cool request. Like +most professional men, they scouted the idea of amateur assistance when +the main issue was at stake. + +"Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea," remarked Hawke. "You have already +shown great discretion in the matter. Most fellows would have made a +bee-line to the nearest telegraph office and given the whole show away. +The only difficulty is--I suppose, by the way, you are not feeling too +done up after your trying experiences?--the only difficulty is, I was +remarking, that von Ruhle might spot you. Look here, Ferret; suppose +you take these young gentlemen, and proceed to Harwich by an ordinary +train? Keep well out of sight when you arrive at Parkeston Quay, but +keep a sharp eye on the boat. I'll travel from Liverpool Street by the +boat train, and see if I can pick out our quarry amongst the +passengers." + +It was a tedious journey from Plymouth to Harwich. Arriving at +Waterloo, Ferret took the lads to a quiet hotel and ordered lunch; +while Hawke, excusing himself, called in at "the Yard" to report his +new case to the Chief, and to wait for the Great Eastern boat train. + +The weather had changed completely during the run from the West, for +when Ferret and the two lads arrived at Parkeston Quay it was raining +heavily, accompanied by half a gale of wind from the east'ard. + +"We've a long wait," commented Ferret. "Fortunately I know several of +the Customs officials very well. I'll get them to let you take shelter +in their shed. It's almost opposite the berth where the steamer +generally makes fast. You'll be able to watch everyone who goes up the +gangway. I'll go on board and speak to the steward. I don't suppose +we'll spot friend von Ruhle until the boat train arrives, and by that +time perhaps Hawke will have marked his man." + +Undoubtedly, the wisest course would have been to send other officers +to Wellington to arrest Dr. Ramblethorne; but Hawke was out for +"kudos". Only a short while ago he had let a wanted man slip through +his fingers, and had been rapped over the knuckles for it. With the +professional assistance of Ferret, he hoped to carry out a double +_coup_ and arrest both German Secret Service agents, thereby recovering +his lost prestige. + +Arriving at Liverpool Street he took his ticket, and spent the time +until the departure of the boat train in walking up and down the +platform. He had the knack of observing without being observed. He +would look at a man in quite a casual way; there was no gleam of +intelligence in his eyes as he did so, but little escaped his notice. +An hour or two later he could accurately describe his appearance, +dress, and mannerisms. + +A minute before the train started, a man answering von Ruhle's +description hurried down the platform. He carried a new cane under his +left arm. In his right hand he held an attaché case with the initials +C. V. + +Hawke waited until he had entered a carriage, then strolled to the +other end of the corridor coaches and took his seat. He knew that the +run was supposed to be a non-stop one. + +The train started. The detective took his time. He waited for nearly +twenty minutes before he made his way along the corridor, and entered +the smoking-compartment occupied by the suspect. + +Presently Hawke made a commonplace remark. The stranger replied +stiffly and in rather a deep voice, with a slight foreign accent. + +"An assumed voice," soliloquized the detective; but undaunted by the +chilliness of his reception he again made some remark about the weather. + +Before the train ran through Witham station, conversation was +proceeding briskly. Hawke assumed the rôle of a commercial traveller, +and volunteered the information that his brother had just returned from +the Front. + +The stranger showed no hesitation in discussing the war. Emboldened, +the detective tackled the subject of East Coast defences and the futile +German blockade. + +"He's giving me absolutely false information," he thought. "Perhaps +he's trying to throw me off the scent. I'll put a few questions that +no one but an ignoramus would ask in good faith. If he's trying to +bluff me, I'll beat him at that game." + +Presently his fellow-passenger excused himself and, without removing +his luggage, went into the corridor. As soon as he was out of sight +Hawke took hold of the cane that the stranger had left in the rack. +With a grunt of satisfaction he found that it was certainly not a +Malacca, but made of metal. + +The train began to slow down. Lifting the blind, Hawke looked out of +the window. He could just discern a fairly big town, completely in +darkness. + +"Manningtree Junction," said Hawke to himself. "Something on the line, +I suppose. H'm, we're stopping." + +With a jerk the train pulled up at the station. The platform was +almost deserted, for no train was due at that time to stop there. A +door slammed. Again the detective pulled aside the blind. He was just +in time to see his fellow-traveller, accompanied by the guard, +disappear into the station waiting-room. + +"He's tumbled to it!" exclaimed Hawke. "He's making off. He's tipped +the guard to set him down. I'm after him!" + +He made his way swiftly and stealthily down the platform, and with a +quick movement threw open the waiting-room door. + +The sudden transition from the semi-darkness of the platform to the +brilliantly lighted interior of the room temporarily dazzled his eyes. +Dimly he was aware that the place was occupied by khaki-clad soldiers +struggling into their equipment, and that in their midst was the guard +and the man of whom he was in search. + +"At any rate there is plenty of assistance," thought Hawke as he +advanced to tap the suspect on the shoulder; but before he could attain +his object a deep, stern voice exclaimed: + +"Arrest him, men!" + +The next instant Detective-inspector Hawke was seized by half a dozen +muscular hands. + +"What's this tomfoolery?" he demanded angrily. "I'm a Scotland Yard +officer, and----" + +A roar of laughter burst from the Tommies. Even the subaltern in +command smiled broadly. + +The stranger spoke again. + +"Take him to the guard-room. He is arrested under the Defence of the +Realm Act for attempting to elicit information prejudicial to the +welfare of the State. I won't detain the train any longer, guard, +although I'll ask you to drop my gear on the platform." + +Still protesting vehemently but ineffectually, the detective was +unceremoniously hustled into an ante-room, used since the outbreak of +the war as a guard-room for the military in charge of the line. The +door was locked upon him. He heard the train rumble out of the station. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A Fruitless Quest + +From their places of concealment Ross and Vernon watched the boat train +run alongside the steamer. At last the weary vigil was a thing of the +past. All fatigue was forgotten at the prospect of witnessing the +capture of one of the active members of the German spy system at work +in this country. + +For a quarter of an hour everything was in a state of bustle. There +was a continuous stream of passengers and porters, the latter bending +under the weight of trunks and boxes as they hurried up the steeply +sloping gangway. + +At length the throng thinned. As yet there was no sign either of von +Ruhle or of Detective-inspector Hawke. + +A man with his coat collar turned up ran through the driving rain and +entered the shed. It was Ferret. + +"Something's gone wrong," he declared. "I've just had a telephone +message from my colleague. I'm off to the post-office. If you want me +during the next ten minutes you'll find me there." + +Hawke had at length managed to get a word with his former +fellow-traveller, who happened to be a staff-officer of the Eastern +command. The detective had been under a misapprehension. The officer +had good reason for ordering his arrest; but the comedy threatened to +take a serious development. Even when the detective showed his +credentials the officer was not satisfied. He proposed telegraphing to +Scotland Yard, but Hawke, mindful of a former failure, induced him not +to do so. The detective, who had occasion to contrast unfavourably the +summary powers of arrest under the Defence of the Realm Act with those +allowed by the Civil Power, was eventually allowed to communicate with +his brother officer at Parkeston Quay. And then the military +authorities required a considerable amount of convincing. It looked as +if Detective-inspector Hawke would have to remain under arrest until +next morning. + +While Ferret was losing time and patience in his efforts to release his +confrère, Ross and Vernon noticed a man hurrying along the quay. He +was short and thick-set. He wore a long mackintosh, the collar of +which was turned up and helped, with the peak of his cap, to hide his +features. + +Suddenly the man's foot tripped over a ring-bolt. He cursed under his +breath, but sufficiently loudly for the lads to overhear. + +Ross gripped his companion's arm. The fellow was swearing in German. + +"Von Ruhle!" he whispered. He made a movement as if to issue from his +place of concealment, but Haye restrained him. + +"Hold on!" he cautioned in a low voice. + +The man paused on the gangway. A partly shaded electric light threw a +glare upon his face. He wore a heavy beard and moustache. + +"You're wrong," whispered Vernon. + +"He's a German, anyhow," persisted Trefusis. + +The man still hesitated. Then he hailed a seaman. + +"Where is the post office?" he asked. "I wish to telegraph. Is there +time before the boat sails?" + +Receiving an affirmative reply the man hurried off. + +"Come on!" exclaimed Ross. + +Neither of the lads had now any doubts as to the man's identity. The +beard and moustache were false, but the voice was the same--von Ruhle's. + +Keeping close to the wall of the line of sheds, the lads followed the +spy at a distance of about fifty feet. More than once von Ruhle +glanced furtively over his shoulder, as if suspecting that he was being +tracked. + +Presently a man, reeling along the quay, approached. The spy made no +effort to avoid him. As the inebriated one rolled past he whispered a +few words. The effect was instantaneous. Instead of continuing his +way towards the post office, von Ruhle turned and made off abruptly in +the direction of the gate of the Company's premises. + +"An accomplice," whispered Vernon. "He's been warned." + +They had to wait until the man who had feigned drunkenness had +disappeared. By this time the German had gained a considerable +distance. To get the assistance of the detective was out of the +question. + +"Come on!" exclaimed Ross, breaking into a run. + +Concealment was no longer necessary. Should occasion arise, there +would be plenty of help forthcoming, for there were several dock +policemen and soldiers on duty close at hand. + +Von Ruhle had increased his pace into a brisk walk when he heard the +noise of his pursuers. Then he, too, began to run. + +"Stop him!" shouted Trefusis, calling to a group of uniformed men +standing in front of an abattoir. + +Turning, the German made towards the quay-side. He was no match in +speed for his youthful pursuers; but he gained the water's edge before +Ross headed him off. + +"Give in, von Ruhle!" he challenged. + +The spy recognized the voice of the British lad whom he imagined to be +miles away, on board an unterseeboot. + +With a quick movement, the spy plucked a leather case from his coat +pocket and hurled it over the edge of the quay, then, throwing up his +arms, he dropped lifeless upon the rain-sodden ground. + +Rapidly a crowd collected. Amongst them was Detective-inspector +Ferret, who, having finished his conversation with his luckless +confrère, was leaving the post office when he heard the commotion. + +"Well, what's all this?" he asked brusquely. He bent over the body of +the spy and flashed a pocket-lamp upon his face. "It's our man," he +continued, addressing the lads in an undertone. This remark was +needless, since they were already certain upon that point. "He's done +us out of a job. Heart disease? No fear: it's poison. Don't wait +here. Your work in this direction is done. I have still a few +unpleasant tasks to perform. Cut off to the hotel and await me there. +I may be an hour." + +"One moment," protested Vernon. "We saw von Ruhle heave something over +the quay. It might float; if so, there might be a chance to pick it up +by means of a boat. The tide is almost slack. If it has sunk it will +be a diver's task to recover it." + +"'Something' is always unsatisfactory," remarked Ferret reprovingly. +"Was it large, small, heavy, or light?" + +"He was so jolly quick that I could hardly see it," replied Haye. "I +should think it was about the size of a cigar-case." + +Directing two policemen to remove and take charge of the body, the +Detective-inspector accompanied the lads to the edge of the quay. It +was dead low water. There was hardly sufficient current coming down +the Stour to swing the anchored craft against the wind. Then the +investigators made a discovery. Although there was a good depth of +water at the greater extent of the quay, at this spot the mud was +uncovered at the base of the wall, while almost at their feet was a +flight of stone steps. + +Ferret descended cautiously and switched on the light of the torch. +Almost within arm's length, and partly buried in the slime, was the +object which the spy had thrown away. + +As the detective hooked at it with his stick a hoarse voice shouted: + +"Ahoy there! What are you doing with that light?" + +Apparently from nowhere a boat ploughed through the mud until its bows +were within a couple of feet of the steps. The next instant Ferret and +his companions were covered by a revolver. + +It was a naval guard-boat, the watchful eye of the officer in charge +having discovered what he took to be surreptitious signalling. +Explanations followed, and were accepted. Ferret, holding the +recovered prize, ascended the steps, followed by Ross and Vernon, while +the boat backed noiselessly away. It was but one more example of the +ceaseless vigilance of the great, silent Navy. + +Almost dead-beat, Trefusis and his chum made their way to the hotel, +had supper, and went straight to bed. Ferret, they decided, could wait +until morning. + +At 6 a.m. Hawke, having secured his release, arrived at Parkeston, +having engaged a motor-car to bring him from Manningtree. Already his +vindictiveness towards the military had vanished. He had taken a +sensible view of the situation. He had played and lost, and the staff +officer was justified in the circumstances. As for the soldiers, they +had to obey orders. + +Nevertheless he was chagrined when he heard his confrère's report. It +was galling to think that their spy had outwitted him by taking his own +life. The whole energies of the two detectives must, for the present, +be concentrated upon the capture of the master-spy, Von Hauptwald, +otherwise Dr. Ramblethorne. + +Ross and Vernon met Hawke again at breakfast. He was now quite +cheerful. + +"You managed to get hold of von Ruhle so well," he remarked, "that I +think you really ought to bear a hand with friend Ramblethorne,--that +is, unless you've had enough of man-hunting?" + +"We'll do our best," said Ross. "It's our duty." + +"When do you start?" asked Vernon. + +"Almost at once," he declared. "Ramblethorne might be alarmed if no +telegram arrives from his fellow-spy. Again, the man who communicated +with von Ruhle on the quay last night might have given Ramblethorne +warning. It's not at all surprising to me, since what you told us, Mr. +Trefusis, that there has been an alarming outbreak of enteric at St. +Bedal camp." + +He turned over several pages of a complex timetable. + +"Here we are," he announced. "We must get to Paddington in time to +catch the 10.20 for Wellington. One thing, young gentlemen, you'll be +nearly home. Ferret has arranged about the inquest on von Ruhle. Your +evidence will be taken down in writing, and in that case you won't have +to put in an appearance at that grim farce." + +Hawke spoke feelingly and from experience. In his opinion, based upon +circumstantial evidence, "crowner's quests" were a form of legal +absurdity. + +The train journey to Liverpool Street was undertaken almost in silence, +as far as the four travellers were concerned. Hawke buried himself in +his paper; Ferret was poring over some document found in von Ruhle's +pocket-book, trying to unravel the complex code that, if deciphered, +would be of the utmost importance to the country. Ross and Vernon, +still feeling tired, tried to make up for arrears of sleep. + +Taking a taxi across London, they were just in time to catch the Great +Western express, which would take them to Taunton. Arriving at that +place, they changed into a slow train that eventually landed them at +the little Somersetshire town nestling under the Black Down Hills. + +Without delay the party proceeded to the regimental depot. Enquiries +for Captain Ramblethorne, R.A.M.C., only resulted in looks of +perplexity. He was unknown to the authorities. + +"But we heard from St. Bedal that Captain Ramblethorne was ordered to +Wellington for recruiting duties," persisted Hawke. + +The orderly-room clerk smiled sadly. + +"Are you quite sure that it was this Wellington?" he asked. "We've had +similar mistakes before." + +Detective-inspector Hawke felt like kicking himself. He, too, was +aware of the existence of the Shropshire Wellington, but, without +giving the possibility any consideration, he had rashly jumped to the +conclusion that the place to which Ramblethorne had been appointed was +the one nearest to St. Bedal. + +Sorrowfully the four marched out of the office. More delay ensued +while a wire was dispatched to St. Bedal, asking for further details. + +It took two hours before the reply came. "Regret not to have added +Salop to Captain Ramblethorne's address.--C.O." + +"It's a long lane that has no turning," observed Ferret as they made +for the railway station. + +Hawke bit his lip. He knew that had the spy been warned promptly he +might be out of the country by this time. + +It was dark when, after a tedious journey, the four travellers alighted +at Wellington, Salop. Here, guarded enquiries elicited the information +that Captain Ramblethorne had gone to Bridgnorth to examine men "roped +in" at a recruiting meeting. He had left for Bridgnorth two hours +previously. + +"There are no trains to-night," announced Hawke. "We'll have to get a +car." + +Ten minutes later, Ross and his companions were speeding over the +horribly rough and hilly road between Wellington and Bridgnorth. Past +ironworks and coal-fields, over or under a network of railway lines, +the car tore; then, leaving the mining district behind, it entered the +picturesque valley of the Severn, where the road skirts a range of +towering limestone crags. + +In spite of their fatigue, the lads could not restrain an exclamation +of surprise and delight as the town of Bridgnorth, bathed in moonlight, +appeared in sight--a cluster of houses perched upon a bold rock, and +dominated by the scanty ruins of the old castle. At the foot of the +cliff the Severn meandered placidly. In the midst of the greatest war +the world has ever known, Bridgnorth appeared to retain all the +characteristics of complete peace. + +The recruiting office was closed for the night. With unerring instinct +the detective made for the principal hotel. Here they found that +Captain Ramblethorne had engaged a room, but the manager showed them a +telegram that had just reached him. + +"Took wrong train cancel room arriving to-morrow morning Ramblethorne." + +"A blind," mentally ejaculated Ferret. "He has been warned." + +The telegram had been dispatched from Shrewsbury. Ferret was again at +fault, for the mistake was a genuine one. It so happened that the two +trains left Wellington at precisely the same time, the one for +Bridgnorth starting from a side platform. Before he realized his +mistake Ramblethorne found himself well on the way to Shrewsbury, for +the train stopped at no intermediate station. + +"Shrewsbury, as hard as you can go!" ordered Hawke, addressing the +chauffeur. + +At a pace averaging fifty miles an hour the powerful car bounded over +the road. Without mishap it gained the outskirts of the county town of +Shropshire, when an involuntary halt occurred. + +It was on the English Bridge, a comparatively narrow structure crossing +the Severn. A belated drover was driving a herd of refractory cattle +into the town when a motor-bicycle whizzed down the hill. + +The cattle stampeded. With a jerk that almost threw Ferret and Vernon +from the seat, the car brought up. At the same time the motor-bicycle +slowed down, and dexterously avoiding a huge bullock, glided past the +stationary car. + +The moonbeams shone directly upon the rider's face as Ross thrust his +head out of the window. The motor-cyclist was Ramblethorne the spy. + +The recognition was mutual. The spy, cool and collected, gave no sign +of recognition. The next moment he was travelling "all out" along the +Much Wenlock road. + +"That's Ramblethorne!" exclaimed Ross excitedly. + +"Botheration take him!" ejaculated Ferret. "Are we to get no rest +to-night?" + +He opened the window in front of him. Hawke was sitting with the +chauffeur. Quickly the detectives arrived at their decision. + +"After that chap!" exclaimed Hawke, addressing the chauffeur; "that +motor-cyclist who has just passed. Ten pounds if you overhaul and stop +him." + +It was the bright moonlight that had tempted Ramblethorne to go for a +midnight ride. He was a keen out-of-door man. He could handle almost +any make of car or motor-cycle with the utmost skill. Finding himself +at Shrewsbury, he hired a motor-cycle from an agent, intending to have +a run along the road following the banks of the Severn as far as +Ironbridge. It was his practice, whenever in a strange place, speedily +to become conversant with the locality. It was, in fact, part of his +training as a spy. + +Ramblethorne was somewhat taken aback when he saw Ross's face in the +moonlight, although he betrayed no sign of surprise. In an instant he +realized that, by some means, young Trefusis had escaped from U75; +more, he was with a party of men evidently hard on his track. + +Quickly he made up his mind. His career as a medical officer to the +British Service was ended. He could no longer hope to serve the German +Government in that direction. Before morning a hue and cry would be +raised. + +As he swung along the broad, level road he thought out his plans. He +would ride as hard as he could until his supply of petrol gave out--a +matter of about seventy or eighty miles. Then he would abandon and +hide the motor-cycle, and make his way on foot to the Essex coast. +There, he had means to get on board a nominally British fishing-boat, +which would run him over to a Dutch port. + +Although the motor-cycle was travelling at close on forty miles an +hour, Ramblethorne glanced back over his shoulder. He hardly expected +to be pursued. If the car had turned to attempt to overhaul him, it +would almost to a certainty take the wider of the two fork roads--that +leading to Wellington. + +Disagreeably surprised, the spy saw the two powerful head-lights of the +car less than a mile behind him. + +The chauffeur of the pursuing vehicle had set his heart on winning the +promised guerdon. "All out" the car bounded along the road, leaving in +its trail a dense cloud of dust that slowly dispersed in the moon-lit +air. + +Hanging on desperately to the sides of the swaying car, Ferret and the +two lads knelt upon the front seat of the coupe and peered through the +dust-flecked glass at the solitary motor-cyclist in front. They were +gaining--rapidly at first, but now the gap between lessened almost +imperceptibly. + +At that tremendous rate, the bursting of a tyre would result in +complete disaster, yet not one thought did the pursuers give to the +danger they were running. Their sole attention was centred upon the +spy. + +A sharp bend close to the village of Cressage enabled the car to get +within fifty yards of the motor-cyclist. Hawke drew a revolver from +his pocket. The chauffeur noticed the action out of the corner of his +eye. Purposely he toyed with the sensitive steering-wheel, causing the +car to swerve erratically. + +"Put it up, sir!" he exclaimed, shouting in order to make himself heard +above the roar of the wind over the screen. "If you bring him down +we'll smash up on top of him before we can pull up. We'll have him on +Harley Bank right enough." + +A sharp run down through the village of Harley brought the car within +sight of a very steep hill, up which the road wound like a silver +thread against the black slope. This was Harley Bank, one of the +steepest of many stiff Shropshire hills, its gradient averaging one in +seven. + +Up mounted the motor-cycle. Ramblethorne was attempting to take it on +high gear. + +The chauffeur of the car took no risks. He promptly dropped into +second gear, with the result that the gap between them increased to +nearly a hundred yards. Then the motor-cycle began to falter. Perhaps +Ramblethorne was not thoroughly acquainted with the mechanism of the +two-speed. By the time he got the friction-clutch into action the car +had more than regained the lost distance--and the fugitive had not yet +reached the stiffest part of the hill. + +"Head him off--jam him up against that bank!" ordered Hawke. + +"What for, sir?" asked the chauffeur. He had no objection to taking +part in a midnight chase, but his sense of prudence told him that it +was not advisable to deliberately smash up another vehicle. + +"He's a spy," replied Hawke. "Don't hesitate. I will take all risks." + +Fifteen seconds later the near front wheel of the car was abreast of +Ramblethorne's back wheel. Hawke leant sideways with the intention of +gripping the motor-cyclist by the collar, since the relative speeds +were practically the same. At the same moment the car edged a little +closer to the left-hand side of the road. + +Ramblethorne realized the danger. A collision would with almost +certainty result in his receiving a broken neck; capture meant +ignominious death at the hands of a firing-party. There was yet a +third alternative--a dash for safety. + +He threw out the clutch and applied both brakes, at the same time +bringing the motor-cycle on to the grassy bank. He alighted on all +fours, but almost immediately regained his feet. The car was already +twenty yards on ahead and still in gear. + +He grasped his cycle by the handle-bars and raised it from its +recumbent position. One look showed that the glancing impact had bent +the front forks. The machine was no longer rideable. Without +hesitation he sprang up the bank. As he did so he heard the footfalls +of his pursuers. + +"Be steady!" cautioned Ferret, as Ross and Vernon alighted from the +car. "He may be armed. We're the people to take the brunt of it--not +you." + +They were now within a few feet of the summit of the road, which at +this spot ran through the hill by means of a cutting. Close by were +three excavations. Someone had evidently attempted to commence +quarrying there, but had abandoned the undertaking. As far as the +detective could conclude, these pits formed the only possible +hiding-place in the vicinity. + +"Hist!" exclaimed Hawke, holding up one hand to enjoin silence. + +All was still. No sound of stealthily retreating footsteps reached +their ears. Hawke knelt down and placed one ear to the ground. + +"Someone breathing pretty hard," he whispered. "He can't be very far +away; in one of these holes most likely. Perhaps he's hurt himself." + +An investigation of the first possible hiding-place produced no result. +At the second Ross heard a long-drawn sigh, emanating from a patch of +bushes and tall grass. + +"Here you are!" he exclaimed. + +The place was in shadow, yet he could discern some dark object lying at +full length in the midst of the grass. + +In a trice the two detectives threw themselves upon their prey. For an +instant the man struggled wildly. Ross and his chum joined in the +fray, each hanging on desperately to his plunging legs. Ignominiously +he was dragged from his place of concealment into the bright moonlight. + +Ferret was the first to give a gasp of astonishment. Their victim was +not Ramblethorne the spy, but a powerfully built tramp, who, finding +himself released, began to expostulate with alarming vehemence. + +"Stop that!" exclaimed Hawke authoritatively. "We are police officers. +If you don't behave we'll take you in charge for sleeping out without +visible means." + +The fellow, cowed into silence, slunk away. + +"Confound it!" ejaculated Ferret. "We've let Ramblethorne slip away +under our very noses. He'll be clear by this time." + +"I'm afraid so," agreed Hawke ruefully; then turning to the chauffeur +he told him to drive into the nearest village, which happened to be +Much Wenlock. + +Here Ross and Vernon were able to secure a room at an inn, while the +Scotland Yard men were busy at the little police station, getting a +description of the spy issued through the countryside. + +Next morning the lads set out on their return journey to Killigwent +Hall. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +The Admiral Works the Oracle + +"Look here, old man; what do you say about having a shot for the Naval +Reserve?" asked Ross. "In ordinary circs I would be prepared to go +through Sandhurst, but this isn't ordinary circs. Before we pass out, +the war will be over perhaps." + +"I'd rather like to see something of the fun," agreed Vernon. + +"As if we hadn't already," added his chum. "But I know what you mean. +Instead of being cooped up in an unterseeboot and hunted by our +fellows, we want to have a hand in rounding up the German submarines. +I vote we write to our respective governors about it." + +This conversation occurred two days after the lads' return to +Killigwent Hall. They had been given up as lost, and their unexpected +return had caused unbounded rejoicings. Pressmen thronged the Hall to +gather "exclusive" information of the manner of their seemingly +miraculous rescue, but both Ross and Vernon were determined not to +satisfy outside curiosity. They even kept the story of how the white +flag fluttered down from the signalling mast of U75 from their +immediate friends. + +"It will take a long time for us to get a reply," objected Vernon. "By +the time the letters hang about at the G.P.O., before they are sent to +the fleet, a week will elapse, and before we get a reply bang goes a +whole fortnight. Let's get hold of a Navy List and see what the +qualifications are." + +A careful perusal of the regulations resulted in a setback. Midshipmen +in the R.N.R., they found, had to be between 16 and 18 years of age, +and must either have passed through a course of instruction for two +years on board an "approved" training ship, or else one year on board a +first-class British merchant ship. + +"That's put the hat on it," declared Ross. + +"One minute," interposed Vernon. "Why not write to Admiral Garboard? +He's an old shipmate of my governor's, and I know he's a bit of a pot +up at Whitehall, although he's on the Retired List." + +"He was with my pater in the old _Rhodaphlare_ on the China station," +added Ross. "We'll try; the wheeze might work." + +Accordingly Vernon wrote to the Admiral, who lived about twenty miles +from Killigwent Hall. Promptly came Sir Peter Garboard's reply: + + +"TRELANGKERRICK," + CORNWALL. + +"DEAR VERNON, + +"In reply to your letter I am sorry that I cannot help you in the +matter to which you refer, unless you and your friend can produce +sufficient evidences of qualifications for the desired posts. + +"On principle I object to influence in any shape or form. Entry into +any branch of the Service should, like promotion, depend solely upon +the aptitude and ability of a candidate. This has been my standpoint +throughout the whole of my career, and I see no reason why I should now +depart from it. + +"If, however, you think you have strong reasons for pressing your +claims, and you care to see me, we will go more fully into the matter. + +"Believe me, + "Yours faithfully, + "PETER GARBOARD." + + +"Not so dusty," commented Ross. "He does leave us a loophole, although +I'm afraid we'll have to blow our own trumpets. I vote we cycle over +at once. We'll catch him in just before lunch." + +"Better wait until after he's had his grub," said Vernon. "That's +always the time to get a man in a good humour." + +"We'll risk that," declared young Trefusis. "Come on." + +It was a very hilly twenty miles run across the moors to +Trelangkerrick. Starting at ten in the morning it took the lads two +hours and a quarter, in the face of a strong south-westerly breeze, to +cover the distance. + +Half-way up the drive, they saw the Admiral and a companion emerging +from a path leading from the kennels. + +"Hulloa!" exclaimed Sir Peter cordially, as he recognized Vernon Haye. +"So you haven't marked time in coming to see me. This is young +Trefusis, I presume? Glad to meet you. Knew your father very well +back in the 'eighties. Hope to renew the acquaintance soon, you know. +If it hadn't been for the war----" + +Admiral Garboard had taken Trelangkerrick only since the declaration of +hostilities; consequently he had had no opportunity of meeting Admiral +Trefusis, who, since July of the previous year, had been continuously +"somewhere in the North Sea". + +"Cecil, my boy," he continued, addressing his companion, a tall, +sunburnt man, in shooting garb although his clean-shaven features and +slightly rolling gait proclaimed him to be a sailor. "Let me introduce +the sons of two of my old shipmates to you. Ross Trefusis and Vernon +Haye--my nephew, Cecil Bourne. You'll stay to lunch, of course. +Cecil's on three days' leave. He's not satisfied with hunting German +submarines, but must needs go after my rabbits." + +They walked towards the house, Ross and Bourne leading, and the Admiral +and Vernon bringing up the rear. + +"We'll discuss this little matter after lunch, my boy," remarked the +Admiral. + +The meal proceeded without a hitch, the Admiral in his breezy way +relating anecdote after anecdote of the Service in the good old days. + +"By the by," he remarked, "what's this yarn I hear about your +neighbour, Dr. Ramblethorne? There's a report that a warrant has been +issued for his arrest." + +"For espionage, I believe," replied Vernon. + +"Bless my soul! Is that a fact? One doesn't know whom to trust in +these days. No details, I suppose. A decent fellow, too, from what I +saw of him. No, I don't think you've met him, Cecil, at least not +here. By the by, you might tell the boys about your little adventure +up-Channel in the _Tremendous_." + +Ross and Vernon turned very red in the face, but as they sat with their +backs to the window the change of colour passed unnoticed. + +"Oh, that submarine business!" remarked Lieutenant Bourne modestly. +"Just an ordinary occurrence, don't you know, except for one thing. I +was officer of the watch at the time. We spotted a strafed +unterseeboot flying a white flag. Have to be jolly careful, you see. +Either give the thing a wide berth, and wireless the destroyers to take +possession of the prize, or else cut the brute in two. Anyhow, +something funny did happen. There were two fellows in mufti standing +close to the skipper on the submarine's deck. Goodness only knows why +they did it, but I saw one of them----" + +"Cut the halliards and let the white flag down," interposed Vernon. + +There was dead silence in the room. Only intense excitement was +responsible for young Haye's lapse of manners. The words had slipped +from him almost unconsciously. Ross barked his shin as a gentle +reminder. + +"By Jove! How did you know that?" demanded Bourne. "Shouldn't have +thought that the yarn had had time to travel very far. Hope I haven't +been boring you?" + +Vernon took his courage in his hands. + +"It was Ross who cut the halliards," he announced. "We were both on +board, and jumped overboard just in time, and got hold of a lifebuoy +dropped from the _Tremendous_ as she passed." + +"By Jove!" ejaculated the Lieutenant. "I am surprised. I wondered +whether you were picked up. It was a jolly plucky action. But how did +you get on board the unterseeboot?" + +"Aye, out with it!" added the Admiral. "I heard that you were missing, +of course, and also of your return. Truth to tell, I thought when I +got your letter that the pair of you had been acting the goat, and had +run away to sea and had thought better of it." + +"We didn't run, sir, we were carried," explained Ross. "And Dr. +Ramblethorne was responsible for it." + +Admiral Sir Peter Garboard was not satisfied until he had heard the +complete story of his young friends' adventures. When they had +finished he turned to his nephew. + +"Young Haye and his chum came to see me on a private matter," he +remarked, "but I don't think they will object to your hearing what we +have to say." + +"Are you quite sure you won't?" asked Bourne, addressing the lads. + +"Both Trefusis and Haye are supposed to be going in for Sandhurst," +continued Sir Peter. "Although, candidly speaking, I don't see why a +naval man should want to put his son in the Army." + +"In my case it is only following a family precedent," said Ross. "For +generations back the eldest son has alternately been in the Navy and +Army." + +"And in my case it is the force of circumstances," added Vernon. "When +I was of the age to be sent to Osborne I was a puny little chap. The +doctor wouldn't pass me." + +"You've altered a bit since then, I can see," remarked Bourne. "You +look as strong as a young horse now." + +"Yes, I've grown out of my early ailments, I think," said Vernon. + +"Pity the doctor hadn't passed you," said Sir Peter bluntly. "Ten or +eleven is too young an age for any medical man to express a final +opinion upon. I remember a fellow in the Service who was nearly blind +on one eye and almost as deaf as a post. He got through the +medical--influence, I expect. Anyway the Navy was none the worse for +it. You'll remember him by name, Cecil: he was my secretary on the +China Station. Funny thing about him was that he couldn't see to read +red figures unless he looked through a green glass. Do you know that +when I received your letter I imagined that your temporary +disappearance had something to do with your running away to sea?" +reiterated the Admiral. "The idea, I believe, comes to most boys +almost as a matter of course; something like measles, in fact." + +"Well, now we've had a taste of submarine work, we feel that it is high +time we had a hand at helping to collar the German unterseebooten," +explained Ross. + +"I think it could be arranged," remarked the Admiral. "You haven't had +actual experience, of course----" + +"Eh!" exclaimed Bourne. "By Jove, Uncle, I should say they had!" + +"From a strictly professional standpoint, I ought to have said, only +you didn't give me time," added Sir Peter. "I'll write off to the +Admiralty to-night and see if I can get you both into the R.N.R. You +are too young to receive commissions as Sub-lieutenants, but no doubt +you can be taken on as midshipmen. Stringent regulations go by the +board in war-time. Isn't that so, Cecil?" + +"They would probably be appointed to an armed liner for patrol duty," +observed Bourne. "There are, I believe, no midshipmen on the trawlers +and motor-boats in submarine-hunting." + +"We must take what we can get," said Vernon, "but we would rather----" + +"Yes, yes," interrupted the Admiral. "I know. You leave that to me." + +Accordingly Ross and Vernon "left it to" the genial Sir Peter, with the +result that within a week they were specially appointed as temporary +midshipmen to the motor-patrol ship _Capella_. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +H.M.S. "Capella" + +With the least possible delay the two chums joined the _Capella_ at +Southampton. She was one of an entirely new class of vessel, built for +the express purpose of ridding the high seas of the presence of the +modern pirates. Looking at her as she lay in the Empress Dock, there +was little about her to attract the eye. A raised fo'c'sle and poop, +and a low superstructure abaft the funnel, two stumpy masts and +grey-coloured "wall" sides, gave her the appearance of a trawler. It +was only when one had an opportunity of seeing her in dry dock, where +her graceful under-body, with its fine "entry" and clean run aft, was +visible, that any idea of her speed could be arrived at. Further +details would be undesirable. Sufficient to add, to quote a Yankee +journalist who had been given an opportunity of paying a visit to the +Grand Fleet and inspecting the component units of the greatest armada +that the world has yet seen, the class to which she belonged were "some +boats". The exigencies of the hitherto unprecedented method of +carrying out the naval side of the Great War had demanded the creation +of large flotillas of small motor-driven hornets. In the initial +stages the want was temporarily supplied through the patriotism of +owners of private motor-boats. These craft, good in their way, were +handicapped by a lack of uniformity. Nevertheless they served as an +excellent training-school until the Admiralty with remarkable celerity +produced the novel type of craft to which the _Capella_ belonged. + +The _Capella_ carried a large crew in proportion to her size--four +officers and twenty-four men. Her skipper was Stanley Syllenger, who +held the rank of Lieutenant-Commander, R.N.R. He was a big, bluff man +of about thirty-five, a strict disciplinarian, and a stickler for duty. +He could be very outspoken when he wanted, which was fairly frequently, +but withal he was of a thoroughly good-natured disposition. + +There were two Sub-lieutenants, R.N.R. The senior was John Barry, a +very mild type of young officer. He usually spoke in a very soft +voice, except when occasion warranted, when he could bellow in a way +that would take a stranger entirely by surprise. It seemed incredible +that such a bull voice could belong to such a dapper little man as John +Barry. + +The other Sub was Noel Fox--a tall, deep-chested fellow of twenty, +boisterous, and full of spirits. In five crowded years he had gained a +good knowledge of three oceans, and a nodding acquaintance with the +remaining two. Beginning his career on board a five-masted sailing +ship, he had served in tramps, "intermediates", and mail steamers until +the outbreak of the war, when he found himself appointed to an armed +liner that abruptly terminated her existence by trying conclusions with +a German mine. + +Captain Syllenger and Sub-lieutenant Barry were pacing the diminutive +quarter-deck of the _Capella_ as she lay alongside the quay. The +skipper had heard officially that morning of the appointment of two +temporary midshipmen to the craft under his command. "Hanged if I can +understand it, Barry!" he exclaimed in his outspoken manner. "What's +the idea of turning the _Capella_ into a nursery, I should like to +know! These youngsters are somebody's pigeons, I suppose. The usual +yarn. Influence up topsides does the trick, and we're saddled with two +raw lubbers." + +"There is no mention of their having had previous sea-service, sir?" +remarked Barry. "But perhaps they'll turn out fairly smart." + +"They will," added the Lieutenant-Commander grimly; "that is, if I have +anything to do with them for any length of time. But, by Jove! here +they are, unless I'm much mistaken." + +Looking rather self-conscious in their brand-new uniforms, Ross and +Vernon doubled down the steeply sloping gangway. As they came aboard, +Syllenger noted with professional satisfaction that they both saluted +the quarter-deck. The action showed, by one thing at least, they were +not the greenhorns he expected to receive. + +"You have had no previous experience, I believe?" he asked, after the +midshipmen had introduced themselves. + +"Very little, beyond knocking about in yachts and boats," replied Ross. + +"That's something," decided the skipper. "A fellow who starts his +career in a small boat has the makings of a good seaman. It is rare +indeed that a man who goes straight to sea in a steamship makes a smart +man in a boat. If ever you go on patrol duty you'll find your +experience of value. By the by, I suppose you know our particular job?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Ross. "Hunting submarines." + +"Ever seen one?" asked Syllenger abruptly. + +"Several of the D and E classes manoeuvring in Plymouth Sound." + +"But a German one?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Where?" + +"We've both spent nearly a week on board an unterseeboot, sir." + +The skipper sternly regarded the two midshipmen. + +"Look here," he said. "If you think you've come on board to gammon me, +the sooner you get that idea out of your heads the better. There's no +room on the _Capella_ for a pair of modern Ananiases." + +Ross said nothing. From the outside left breast-pocket of his +"undress" coat he produced a white foolscap envelope, bearing in blue +the "foul anchor" badge of the Admiralty. + +The Lieutenant-Commander took the proffered envelope somewhat +suspiciously. He more than half expected that it was a letter of +introduction from a high official at Whitehall, on the strength of +which the two midshipmen felt inclined to "put on side". + +Instead, he found that it contained an autograph letter from the +Admiralty, thanking the lads for their bravery and presence of mind, +whereby they materially assisted in the preservation of H.M.S. +_Tremendous_ and in the destruction of two of the enemy submarines. +The document finished by congratulating Ross and Vernon on their escape +from U75, and trusted that their career as midshipmen of the R.N.R. +would be marked with success. + +Syllenger read it through carefully and slowly, deliberately returned +it to the envelope, and handed it back to Ross. Then he held out his +hand. + +"I'm sorry for what I've said," he declared simply. "Forget it, if you +can. Come and lunch with me at one bell." + +"Thank you, sir," replied Ross in answer to the invitation; then, after +a pause, he added: "we didn't want to brag about it, but you made us." + +"So I understand," said the skipper. "I've misjudged the pair of you, +but the least said about my part of it the better, I fancy." + +He hailed a couple of men, instructing them to strike the midshipmen's +luggage down the companion-ladder. Ross and Vernon followed, to be +introduced to their new quarters. + +Owing to the _Capella's_ shallow draught, the cabin space was rather +limited. The Captain's quarters were a double cabin, comprising a +state-room and sleeping-room, in a deck-house under the bridge. The +two Subs had each a small "dog-box", as they termed it, aft on the +starboard side. The engineer had a similar cabin on the port side. +Adjoining his quarters was another cabin, which had hitherto been used +as an overflow receptacle for officers' luggage. This had now been +cleared out, and hooks provided for the two midshipmen to sling their +hammocks. The slinging and unlashing of the hammocks was performed by +a servant, to whom Ross and Vernon had each to pay ten shillings a +month for the privilege. During the day the cabin made a fairly +comfortable room, although the furniture was Spartan-like in its +simplicity. + +At six bells (11 a.m.) the _Capella_, having replenished her fuel and +stores, and made good slight defects, was "tracked" out of the dock. +An hour later she left Southampton, bound for a rendezvous off Beachy +Head, near which a U-boat had been reported to have made an +unsuccessful attack upon a swift merchant vessel. + +The run down Southampton Water was necessarily performed at +quarter-speed, for in spite of her light displacement the _Capella's_ +wash at full speed was almost equal to that of a liner. Even as it +was, a long line of white foam lashed itself upon the mudflats several +minutes after she had passed. + +When Calshot Castle was abreast, speed was increased to 30 knots. +There was an easterly breeze blowing against the ebb-tide, with the +result that quite a choppy sea was met with outside Southampton Water. +Like a knife, the sharp cutwater of the _Capella_ cleft the waves, +sending up showers of white spray; but such was her speed that, before +the wind could carry the spindrift on deck, the swift vessel was beyond +the cascade of foam. She hardly felt the motion of the waves; indeed, +she was so steady that it was possible to place a pail of water on deck +without any of the contents being spilt by the "lift" of the ship. + +Under the guidance of Noel Fox, the midshipmen made the round of the +vessel, the Sub explaining everything to them in detail. Already the +lads had taken a great fancy to the Sub, and Fox reciprocated the +sentiment. He had a way about him that enabled him to give particulars +of the most intricate mechanism without having to resort to dry, +parrot-like instruction. + +By the time he had explained the ingenious devices used to entrap the +German unterseebooten, Ross and Vernon felt inclined to marvel how it +was they found themselves on board the _Capella_, since only sheer good +luck had saved U75 from being doomed during every hour of their brief +and involuntary detention. + +"Yes, we can mop up the German submarines quicker than they can turn +them out," said the Sub. "Of course I don't mean to say that a few of +them won't get a smack at some of our ships for some time to come; but +all the same we are giving them beans. From a strictly professional +point of view we would be sorry if Old Turps abandoned his 'effectual' +blockade. Our chances of having a high old game with the +unterseebooten would be considerably reduced." + +"There are still some in the English Channel," hazarded Vernon. + +"Yes, a few; but have you noticed how those fellows fight shy of Dover? +They shun it like the plague. It's horribly unhealthy for them. D'ye +know why? Perhaps you wouldn't have paid much attention to it, but +some months ago the Admiralty issued a 'Notice to Mariners', stating +that the Straits of Dover were heavily mined, and that all shipping was +to pass through the Downs within three miles of the Kentish coast. + +"So it's fairly safe to assume that the few stray unterseebooten that +are still lurking in the Channel have made the passage round the north +coast of Scotland. It's only a matter of time before we bag the lot, I +fancy." + +"And our submarines?" enquired Ross. + +"Have fewer opportunities since the Hun battleships and cruisers have +such a decided inclination to remain in harbour," rejoined Fox. "When +there's a chance, you can bet your bottom dollar that our fellows seize +it. Quite recently one of our submarines found herself alone and +disabled in the Bight of Heligoland. Undismayed, her +lieutenant-commander signalled to a passing German trawler, covered her +with his guns, and made the Hun tow the crippled submarine into British +waters. Then he released his involuntary benefactor, but before so +doing can you guess what he did?" + +"No," replied both lads. + +"Made the Huns line up on deck and sing the 'Hymn of Hate'. You can +imagine the surprise of the trawler's men, who, judging by the +treatment meted out to our fishermen by the German submarines, expected +nothing less than imprisonment and the loss of their boat. But it's +close on one bell," remarked Fox at length. "You're messing with the +skipper to-day, I believe. He's quite a decent sort when you know him +properly, but it takes a bit of doing." + +A seaman strode up to the bell and gave it a sharp stroke. Just then a +messenger hurried from the diminutive "wireless" room abaft the +chart-house and, leaping down the ladder at a single bound, knocked at +the door of the Captain's cabin. + +"Stow those things away, Sparkes," exclaimed Captain Syllenger. "Lunch +will have to wait." + +He dashed out of his cabin. On the way to the bridge he passed Fox and +the two midshipmen. + +"You'll have to tighten your belts, my lads," he announced. "We've +just had a message through. A strafed unterseeboot has been spotted +trying to get into Spithead. If we don't nab her within half an hour, +I'll eat my hat!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A Double Bag + +It was a sea-plane, flying at fifteen hundred feet above the Warner and +The Nab Lightships, that had detected an elongated shadow creeping +stealthily over the shingly bottom close to the Dean Tail Buoy. The +shadow was that of a German unterseeboot, since none of the British +submarines were known to be in the eastern approaches to Spithead. +Evidently she had gone out of her course, for instead of being in the +main channel she was well to the north of it. More than likely the +strong east-going tide, which hereabout surges at such a rate that it +causes the shingle 30 or 40 feet beneath the surface to emit a deep +rumble, had taken the unterseeboot in its grip. + +Promptly the sea-plane wirelessed the news, and quickly a "general +call" was sent to the patrol vessels in the vicinity. The _Capella_ +was one of the craft that picked up the welcome order. + +She was now only seven sea miles distant from the Dean Tail Buoy. +Within ten minutes of the receipt of the wireless she was on the +spot--one of the very first of a regular hornet flotilla bent upon +adding yet another of Von Tirpitz's pets to the "bag". + +For the next quarter of an hour it looked as if a novel kind of marine +waltz was in progress. Nearly a score of swift vessels were executing +fantastic movements at full speed, circling and interchanging positions +until it seemed as if collisions were impossible to avoid. + +Their object was to thoroughly bewilder the already doomed U-boat, for, +if possible, her capture in a practically intact condition was desired. +In very deep water, salvage of a sunken submarine was out of the +question; here, in a comparatively shallow depth, and close to an +important naval base, to which the prize could be taken with little +trouble, the opportunity for capture rather than instant destruction +was too good to be missed. + +Suddenly a cloud of white smoke shot up from the sea. Its appearance +was greeted by hearty cheers from the patrol vessels. It was a signal +that the U-boat, in her attempt to find deep water, had floundered +blindly into the trap. Over and over again the hunters passed, towing +non-explosive grapnels, until it was certain that the prey was helpless +in their toils. + +Then, in obedience to an order from the senior officer, the swift +vessels withdrew for nearly three cables' length from the spot where +the boat lay. Two slow but powerfully engined trawlers approached at a +cable's length abreast, towing the bight of a massive steel hawser +between. Doing little more than drift with the tide they crept past +the submerged U-boat, one on either side of the mark-buoy that +indicated her position. + +Presently the strain on the hawser increased. It was only by making +full use of the twin-screws that the trawlers were able to prevent +themselves from swinging together. The steel rope stretched until it +resembled two metal bars which bore silent testimony to the strain. + +Just then the two vessels shot ahead. Although the hawser was still +intact, it no longer took any strain. But its work was done. The +bight, engaging the conning-tower of the unterseeboot, had turned the +submarine on its side. In the space of a few seconds the deadly fumes +from the capsized batteries had almost painlessly accounted for the +crew of the U-boat, who themselves had neither pity nor consideration +for the hapless victims, men, women, and children, massacred against +all dictates of humanity and convention of civilized warfare. + +"A bit of work for the dockyard lighters to-morrow," commented +Sub-lieutenant Barry, as the _Capella_ parted company to resume her run +up-Channel. "They'll raise the U-boat, and take her into dry dock, +before the sulphuric acid has had time to do much damage to her +mechanism." + +"I shouldn't be surprised if there were another U-boat knocking +around," remarked Vernon. "From our limited experience we know that +they work either in pairs or threes." + +"Then the worse for them," rejoined Barry. "It would be a great wheeze +to bag two of them in one day. Desperate diseases need desperate +remedies, you know." + +Therein the Sub voiced the unanimous opinion of the British Navy. At +the commencement of the war, the torpedoing of several battleships and +cruisers by German submarines aroused no enmity within the hearts of +the British tars. They realized that a warship is "fair sport" to the +submarines of the opposing side. To run the risk of being blown up was +one of the excitements to undergo in the course of duty. But when it +came to torpedoing helpless merchantmen, and jeering at the +death-struggles of the unfortunate crews, Jack Tar began to regard the +unterseebooten in the light of pirates and murderers. The wanton +destruction of the _Lusitania_, accompanied by the appalling death-roll +of non-combatants, women and children, literally sounded the +death-knell of the crews of von Tirpitz's jolly-Roger-flying +submarines. In their methods of "frightfulness" they had overreached +themselves. They had sown a wind: they were now reaping a whirlwind +with a vengeance. + +And now the great silent Navy was paying back von Tirpitz in almost, +but not quite, his own coin. While the much-advertised blockade of +Great Britain was petering out, British submarines were playing havoc +with German shipping in the Baltic--a sea which the Teutons regarded as +being almost their very own. Yet what a difference marked the methods +adopted by the humane commanders of our submarines when dealing with +German mercantile shipping. A punctilious regard for the safety of the +crews of overhauled merchantmen won admiration even from the seamen of +the destroyed vessels. Humiliation and reproach seemed to haunt the +white-bearded dotard, whose hands had sought in vain to wrest the +trident from Britannia's virile grasp. + +At about five in the afternoon the _Capella_ arrived at her station off +Beachy Head, relieving her sister ship the _Markab_, that, with three +other motor-driven craft, had been engaged in a vigorous, but for the +most part uneventful, patrol. + +Day and night for a fortnight at a stretch, unless anything unforeseen +took place, the _Capella_ was to cruise up and down, keeping a smart +look-out for any sign of an object resembling a hostile periscope. In +order to economize her fuel supply her speed was reduced to 10 knots. +It was then that her bad qualities showed themselves. With her shallow +draught and high freeboard she rolled like a barrel, since speed was +essential to impart steadiness. The motion was certainly +disconcerting, although it did not imply that the _Capella_ was +unseaworthy. + +"'Fraid our chances of bagging another U-boat to-day are off," remarked +Barry to Ross. + +It was within half an hour of sunset. The chums had been temporarily +separated. It was Vernon's "watch below". The senior Sub and young +Trefusis were on the bridge. In spite of the still-prevailing east +wind it was a grand evening. Three miles away, broad on the starboard +beam, the chalk cliffs known as the Seven Sisters were beginning to be +tinted by the crimson hues of the western sky. To seaward, three large +vessels were in sight. One, a liner bound down-Channel, was pelting +along at such a pace with the wind that the smoke from her funnels was +rising almost perpendicularly. Forging ahead in the opposite direction +were two big tramps, the smoke from their funnels, beaten down by the +strong breeze, trailing across the surface of the water for a couple of +miles in their wake. + +"An object lesson," remarked Barry. "The arteries of the Empire. Hang +it all! The blockade reminds me of a pigmy treacherously stealing up +behind a giant and trying to cut his jugular vein. Instead, he merely +scratched a comparatively unimportant capillary, and feels mighty sorry +for himself when the giant turns and scruffs him by the neck." + +Leaning over the bridge-rails, the Sub startled his companion by +bellowing in a voice loud enough to be heard a mile away: + +"On look-outs! Stand by bow and stern lights!" + +The _Capella_ was making preparations for the night. Unlike the armed +merchantmen that are compelled to scour the North Sea, summer and +winter alike, without showing the faintest glimmer of a lamp, the +_Capella_ observed the rules and regulations for preventing collision +at sea. Her port, starboard, and bow lamps were lighted by +electricity, but, in order to guard against possible break-down of +current, oil lamps had also to be trimmed and lighted, ready, should +occasion serve, to take their places. + +It was part of Ross's duty to report to the officer of the watch that +these lamps were in order, and also, at regular intervals, that the +navigation lights were burning brightly. + +Presently the Sub prepared to take a cross-bearing. He was fairly +certain that the _Capella_ had reached the westernmost limit of her +patrol-ground. From that point she was to proceed due south for 10 sea +miles, and then due east for 20 miles until she fell in with her +"opposite number". + +While Barry was thus engaged, Ross noticed a sail about 2 miles distant +on the starboard quarter. + +"By Jove!" he muttered as he brought his glass to bear upon the +stranger. "That's a funny rig." + +The craft was a "two-sticker". She was square-rigged on the foremast, +carrying fore-topsail and fore-course. No jibs were set; neither, as +far as he could see, was any sail set on the mainmast. The vessel's +sides were painted green with a broad red band. + +Even as he kept the craft under observation she starboarded her helm, +shaping a course that would converge upon that of the rearmost of the +two tramps. By so doing she exposed a considerable portion of her +broadside. + +Ross gave an exclamation of astonishment. Above the green sides +appeared what was undoubtedly the conning-tower and housed periscope of +a submarine. "Submarine on the starboard quarter, sir!" he reported. + +"What!" exclaimed Barry, levelling his telescope. "By Jove, yes! What +luck!" + +The unterseeboot had, of course, noticed the _Capella_, and had +mistaken her for a trawler. She realized that she ran a risk in case +the latter might be armed, but, trusting to her disguise, she hoped to +get within torpedo range of the tramp--a vessel of over 3000 tons--sink +her, and make her escape in the confusion that was bound to ensue. On +the other hand, her Kapitan had good reasons for thinking that the +supposed trawler was not one of the armed patrol, since they usually +worked in company. By rigging canvas bulwarks and setting sail upon +dummy masts, he was able to approach with little fear of detection. + +"Action!" + +Quickly the _Capella's_ crew were at their stations. The quick-firers +were loaded, and their screens lowered so as not to impede their arc of +fire. Until these preparations were complete the vessel still held on +her course. + +Then Captain Syllenger, who had come on deck, telegraphed for full +speed ahead. Like a racehorse the _Capella_ leapt forward. + +A double, converging line of white foam marked the track of a torpedo +from the doomed U-boat. By a slight alteration of helm the _Capella_ +avoided it. The action was hardly necessary: it was merely a matter of +precaution, since the _Capella's_ peculiarities of construction made +her practically immune from torpedo attack. + +Captain Syllenger had no intention of ramming his opponent. Ramming +with a lightly built vessel, such as the _Capella_, would only be +employed as a last resource. + +At an almost point-blank range of 400 yards both bow guns were fired +simultaneously. There was no need for another shot. One of the +projectiles, hitting the U-boat at the base of the conning-tower, tore +a jagged hole a couple of feet in diameter. The other shell hit her +about 10 feet from the bows, and, with an erratic peculiarity that such +missiles have after the first impact, was deflected downward, expending +the full force of its explosive charge in the submarine's bow +torpedo-room. + +In a moment the luckless U-boat was done for. A huge column of smoke +marked the spot where she had disappeared like a stone, while flying +pieces of metal hurtled far and wide through the air. Several of the +fragments clattered upon the _Capella's_ deck as she swung round to +avoid any possibility of fouling debris. Of the crew not a man was to +be seen. Those who had not been killed by the shell-fire had been +wiped out by the explosion of their own torpedoes. + +"We've pulled off a double event to-day, after all," remarked +Sub-lieutenant Fox as he disappeared down the companion-ladder to +resume his interrupted "watch below". "Barry has got his wish." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Smoke-signals + +For the next ten days nothing occurred beyond the ordinary routine. +Even Ross and Vernon, to whom everything was at first a novelty, began +to feel the irksomeness of the constant and vigilant patrol. No +hostile submarines made their appearance; there were not even any +reports, true or otherwise, that they had been sighted. It was the +same all along the English Channel--"nothin' doing". It seemed as if +the unterseebooten had finally given up these waters as a "bad egg". + +Yet it would be most injudicious for the naval authorities to relax +their watchfulness. Areas of strategic importance must still be +closely guarded, since it was just possible that the wily Teuton would +refrain from submarine warfare in the Channel until the patrol-boats' +crews were lulled into a sense of false optimism. + +The only break in the monotony was the occasional and welcome +appearance of a motor-boat from Shoreham, bringing off fresh supplies, +newspapers and letters for the patrol vessels. + +Amongst Ross's correspondence was a letter from his father. Admiral +Trefusis gave no indication of what he was doing, merely a brief +statement that he was still "somewhere in the North Sea". He +congratulated his son upon his escape, and mentioned that he had heard +from the captain of H.M.S. _Tremendous_ with reference to his son's +action in warning the battleship. But although the Admiral did not +express himself very enthusiastically on paper, he was as pleased as +only a proud father can be at his boy's display of gallantry and +resource. "Under the circumstances," he wrote, "I think you did right +in temporarily abandoning your preparation for Sandhurst. No doubt you +will acquit yourself in your present position as a Trefusis should do. +I was certainly surprised to hear about that fellow Ramblethorne. He +always appeared to be a really decent man. It only shows how careful +one has to be when dealing with a highly organized enemy." + +Amongst Vernon's batch of correspondence was a letter from +Detective-inspector Hawke. It was couched in semi-official language, a +survival of days long ago when the Inspector was a budding constable +and had to submit countless written reports to his superiors. + +There was, he wrote, no definite news concerning Ramblethorne, +otherwise von Hauptwald. The local police had taken up the case, and, +assisted by the military, were still scouring the country. As usual, +there were inaccurate and misleading reports from various parts of the +country. It was generally accepted that the spy was being hidden by +some of his compatriots who, by indulgence of the British Government, +were still at large in the country, or else that he had succeeded in +getting away on board a neutral ship. + +The inquest on von Ruhle had taken place, with the anticipated result, +a verdict of _felo de se_ being returned by the jury. No evidence had +been submitted as to the dead man's real occupation. Under the name of +Cornelius Vanderhuit his body was handed over to the authorities for +interment. + +But the case did not end there. It remained for the competent +Authorities to decide the steps to be taken with reference to the +papers that had been found in von Ruhle's possession. + +"I am keeping von Ruhle's 'malacca' as a memento," concluded Hawke. +"It may help me to discriminate between it and a portable metal tripod, +and save me from being placed under arrest by the military. +Fortunately, upon the last occasion, I did not meet with my Waterloo." + +"The old chap feels a bit sore about it, I can see," remarked Ross. +"He's written a good deal more than he evidently intended. However, he +looks like 'making good' this time." + +"It's a pity Ramblethorne slipped through the detectives' fingers," +said Vernon, as he prepared to go on deck. "That fellow's bound to +cause trouble until he's laid by the heels." + +It was Noel Fox's "trick". The Sub was standing on the bridge with his +eye glued to his telescope. A mile or so inland, on the summit of the +South Downs where they approach Beachy Head, three columns of smoke +were rising in the still air. There was nothing extraordinary in that. +It might be a farmer burning rubbish on his fields; but what attracted +the Sub's attention was the remarkable and systematic changes in the +density of the smoke. At one moment the two outside pillars were +heavy, the centre one being little more than a thin haze; at another +the conditions would be reversed. + +Fox decided to take action. Rapidly the _Capella_ closed with the +shore, until she was within signalling distance of a coast-guard +station. + +The station in question was not manned by coast-guards. Not considered +important, its complement was depleted at the outbreak of hostilities, +most of the men joining the large armoured cruisers. A chief officer +and a boatman alone remained. These were at a later period augmented +by a party of Sea Scouts. + +As soon as the _Capella_ had "made her number", a signaller took up his +position on the roof of the chart-house. + +"Fires burning one mile inland to north-west of coast-guard station," +he semaphored. "Suspect smoke-signals. Investigate and report." + +Keeping his telescope bearing on shore, Vernon watched the result of +the signal. Promptly half a dozen Scouts, mounted on bicycles, set off +to the position indicated. Their progress was hidden by an intervening +clump of trees, but in less than a quarter of an hour they returned. +By this time the smoke had disappeared. One of their number worked the +semaphore attached to the station. + +"Fires made with damp straw. Found old blankets apparently used to +stifle smoke. Saw large car stationary; made towards Lewes on +approach; number known; have informed police." + +"Smart youngsters!" exclaimed Captain Syllenger. "They've helped to +nip some little plan in the bud. We'll have to be jolly careful for +the next few days, I expect. Did you make a note of the fog-signals, +Mr. Fox?" + +"I did, sir," replied the Sub, producing a leaf of a notebook covered +with an unintelligible number of lines. "Each of these strokes +represents a column of smoke according to its position." + +"I can make nothing of it," remarked Syllenger. "At any rate I'll send +your result to the Admiralty with the utmost dispatch. Take her in, +Mr. Fox, and bring up where you find the two-fathom mark." + +The _Capella_ headed nearer towards the shore, a leads-man sounding +until the required depth was found. One of the boats was lowered, +manned, and rowed to the coast-guard station, Sub-lieutenant Barry +being in charge, with Ross as his immediate subordinate. + +"I want this to be forwarded to the Admiralty with the least possible +delay," he announced, addressing the chief officer. "How long do you +think it will take to get through?" + +"Too late for the eleven something train from Brighton, sir," was the +reply. "There's a gentleman in the village who has a big car. He's a +member of the Volunteer Training Corps. No doubt he'll take it as far +as Lewes. Why, sir, here's the gent himself! Mr. Hyde's his name." + +The newcomer was a sparely built man of below medium height. He looked +about thirty years of age. In reality he was nearly fifty. Having +vainly attempted to obtain a commission in the R.N.R. and the Army, he +had joined the V.T.C. in the hope that, perhaps, some day his services +might be utilized in a very practical form. Now his chance was at hand. + +He had strolled down to the beach on noticing a boat putting off from +the patrol vessel. + +"Lewes? Certainly," he replied in answer to Barry's question. "I +doubt whether you'll save much. Why not let me take the message right +to the Admiralty? I'd like to do it, 'pon my word I would." + +The Sub hesitated. Perhaps the stranger might be all right; but he +might be all wrong. One had to be very careful in these times. Yet +the offer was a tempting one. If possible, it was most desirable to be +able to decipher the transcription of these mysterious columns of smoke. + +"I say, Trefusis," he said, "you've had a fairly long time afloat; what +do you say to a run up to town? I'm sure this gentleman would make no +objection to giving you a seat in his car." + +"With the greatest pleasure," declared Mr. Hyde. + +"Thanks!" rejoined Barry. "Of course the honour of delivering the +letter will be yours, sir. Mr. Trefusis accompanies you merely as a +passenger. We'll stand by to pick you up, Trefusis. I'll make it all +right with the skipper." + +The Sub accompanied Mr. Hyde and the midshipman to the garage, which +was about four minutes' walk from the coast-guard station. While the +man was getting out the car (he was his own chauffeur), Barry seized +the opportunity of telling Ross to be on his guard, in case anything +suspicious occurred. + +With a terrific bound the powerful car started on its sixty-mile +journey. Between the sea and Lewes the needle of the speed-indicator +never fell below 40 miles an hour, until at times the car was running +at 60. Village after village was passed at almost break-neck speed. +In vain, sleepy rural constables sought to hold up the reckless driver. +Discretion was the better part of valour, so they stood aside and +attempted to note the number on the identification plate of the car. +Again in vain. All they could see and swallow was a cloud of white, +chalky dust that hung thickly on the sultry air long after the car was +out of sight and hearing. + +The hills around East Grinstead it surmounted at 40 miles an hour, +dashing down the inclines at the speed of an express train, and +swerving time after time to avoid lumbering farm wagons. + +At Croydon Mr. Hyde wisely slowed down. He had covered 49 miles in +exactly fifty-five minutes, but twenty-eight minutes later the car drew +up under the Admiralty Arch. + +"Room 445 is the one I want," he explained to Ross. "I know my way +about here, you know. I've several relations at the Admiralty. Come +along: the car won't hurt where she is." + +"Your pass, sir," demanded a Metropolitan policeman who, with a naval +pensioned petty officer, was stationed at the door. + +"Haven't one," replied Mr. Hyde. "Urgent business--see?" and he +produced the envelope, bearing the words "On His Majesty's Service", in +which was enclosed Captain Syllenger's communication. + +The policeman was the essence of imperturbable dignity. + +"No use, sir; you must have a pass. They are obtainable across the +road there." + +"It will mean at least twenty minutes' delay," muttered the motorist +savagely, as he turned away. "Come on, Mr. Trefusis, let's try our +luck across the way." + +As Ross descended the short flight of stone steps leading from the +lobby to the street, he nearly cannoned into a couple of naval officers +who were about to enter the building. Suddenly remembering that he was +in uniform, the midshipman brought his right hand smartly to the peak +of his cap. As he did so, he recognized that one of the naval men was +his father. + +The recognition was mutual. + +"Hullo, pater!" + +"Hullo, Ross! What brings you here? Duty, eh? It's the same in my +case. Sorry I can't have you to lunch, but must catch the first train +north. This is the first time I've come up to town since the war +started. In any case I'm not sorry that I am not stopping the night +here. Judging by reports, it's a jolly sight too dangerous for me. +Don't fancy being run over by a taxi in a dark main thoroughfare. Give +me the North Sea any day. Well, I must be moving. Can't keep My Lords +waiting, you know. Good-bye, Ross!" + +It was Admiral Paul Trefusis' way. Whenever he had any business on +hand that kept him from his ship, he invariably spoke in short, jerky +sentences. Ross knew his parent's little mannerism. + +"One moment, pater," he exclaimed. "We're in an awful hurry too----" + +"Don't look like it," growled the Admiral good-naturedly. "You were +ambling out like an old shellback. Always execute orders at the +double: that's my advice to budding midshipmen. Well, what is it?" + +As briefly as possible, Ross told his parent of the rebuff Mr. Hyde and +he had received, and of the matter that brought them at 50 miles an +hour from a remote Sussex coast-guard station. + +Making a hurried excuse to his companion, the Admiral skipped up the +steps into the lobby, Ross and his fellow-traveller following closely. + +The policeman naturally asked for no pass from a Flag officer in +uniform, but he was on the point of stopping his companions when the +messenger recognized the Admiral as his former captain. His apologies +surprised even the stolid policeman. + +"Don't apologize for doing your duty, my man," remarked Admiral +Trefusis. "Hope you're fit. Must have a yarn with you when I've more +time. Come along, Ross." + +Having seen Mr. Hyde and Ross safely to the outside of the door of Room +445, the Admiral abruptly took his departure. + +In reply to a knock the door was opened by a very tired-looking clerk, +who was bravely bearing up under the strain of having to work ninety +hours a week, including Sundays. Having explained his business, Mr. +Hyde was shown into the presence of an official whose talent was little +short of miraculous. + +A dozen precise and pointed questions put him in full possession of all +the facts bearing upon the document that he required. He touched an +electric bell. An assistant hurried to his desk. + +"Bring me the papers on the von Ruhle case," he ordered in an undertone. + +In less than half an hour the transcription was completed, although the +_Capella's_ officer of the watch had not taken down the actual +commencement of the smoke-signal. Then, having "pressed" the paper in +order to obtain a duplicate copy, the official placed it in an +envelope, which he secured with an imposing wax seal. + +"No mistake about it, the war has bucked the civilian staff at the +Admiralty," observed Mr. Hyde to Ross as they gained the street. "I +can remember a time when all you had to do was to mention someone's +name, and you had practically a free entry. Your particular pal could +always contrive to have an hour's yarn with you, and perhaps an +interval for refreshment. They know what working at high pressure +means now." + +Hyde was more cautious on the return journey. He was well within the +limit that he had set himself. An hour and forty minutes later, the +car drew up outside the coast-guard station. + +"Captain Syllenger presents his compliments, Mr. Hyde, and requests +your company on board," said Sub-lieutenant Barry when the _Capella's_ +boat arrived to take off the midshipman. "Ton my word, you haven't +been long. We didn't expect you back before six o'clock." + +Having received his guest, Captain Syllenger led the way to his cabin, +Barry and Ross being included in the party. The skipper's face glowed +with satisfaction when he had opened the envelope, for the signal as +decoded was as follows: + +"(words missing) closely patrolled. Unable to provide stores here. +Will attempt removal of (word missing) from Station 123 on Friday +night. Will signal from Station 125 at 1 a.m. on Saturday if possible. +Transports leaving by Needles Channel at daybreak." + +Following this was an explanatory note. + +"Station 123 is stated to be in Keyhaven Marshes. Station 125 one mile +west of white house at Milford-on-Sea." + +"Humph!" ejaculated Captain Syllenger. "It looks as if there's trouble +in store for some gentlemen of marked Teutonic sympathies. I only hope +we'll have a chance of being off Station 125." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +That Friday Night + +Three hours later H.M.S. _Capella_ received the following order by +wireless:-- + +"Await relief by _Taurus_, then proceed to Rendezvous Y, Portsmouth +Command. _Capella_ to be temporarily attached to Western Inner Patrol." + +The meaning of the message was plain to all on board. The _Capella_ +was to proceed to Rendezvous Y, which according to Admiralty +instructions was off Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, where a flotilla of small +craft was patrolling day and night, as a precautionary measure in the +unlikely event of any hostile craft forcing the formidable defences of +the western entrance to the Solent. + +At eight on the following morning the _Taurus_ arrived on the station, +and with the least possible delay the _Capella_ made for the west'ard. + +Only one incident marked the run. A few miles from the Royal Sovereign +Lightship, the _Capella_ sighted a number of submarines running on the +surface. They were on Particular Service, and although opportunities +for torpedoing a hostile surface craft were very remote, the submarines +were constantly rendering yeoman service by keeping the approaches to +the German North Sea ports under close observation. On rare occasions, +when a German light-cruiser or destroyer did venture beyond the +protection of the mine-fields and guns of the land-batteries, British +submarines were not backward in seizing their chance of letting loose +"tinfish" against their quarry. + +Having arrived off Yarmouth, Captain Syllenger reported himself to the +senior officer. He came back beaming. The _Capella_ was to take part +in combined sea and land operations for the capture of the German +agents, who were supplying petrol to one of the submarines, and also +for the capture of the U-boat. + +The eventful Friday evening came at last. The _Capella_, in company +with four first-class torpedo-boats, was to be ready at a signal from +Hurst to make a dash through the North Channel. A fleet of armed +trawlers from the Poole base was to operate farther out to sea, in +order to cut off the U-boat's retreat should she be lucky enough to +escape the attentions of the _Capella_ and her consorts. + +At ten o'clock the east-going tidal stream began to set through the +Needles Channel. Half an hour later it ran with a velocity exceeding +five knots. The _Capella_, moving at a rate equal to that of the tide, +kept about half a mile from the Isle of Wight shore, with the white, +occulting light of the Needles just visible to the north of Cliff End +Fort. + +It was a perfectly calm night, overcast, but with no wind. A dull +rumble, rising and falling in volume, could be heard from the direction +of the open sea. + +"Breakers on the Shingles--a large bank on the starboard hand of the +Needles Channel," explained Barry in answer to the midshipmen's enquiry. + +"Then it means that bad weather is approaching," said Ross, who had had +plenty of opportunities of observing the phenomenon of "ground swells" +on the North Cornish coast. "If it's like this, the U-boat won't be +able to make direct communication with the shore." + +The appearance of Captain Syllenger on the bridge put an end to +conversation. The officers, by the aid of telescopes and binoculars, +kept the Hampshire shore under close observation. + +To the naked eye nothing was visible but a dark bank of trees. Not a +light was to be seen, although there were several houses in the +vicinity. The position of Lymington, in time of peace discernible by +reason of a strong blaze of light, could only be determined by the +feeble glow of the high red light marking the course up the river. + +"It's nearly midnight," observed the skipper. "If our friends the +Germans are going to shift their supplies from here to Milford, they'll +have to be pretty sharp. Seems to me like a case of 'nuthin' doing'." + +Hardly were the words out of his mouth, when the silence was broken by +a peremptory hail. The sound travelled clearly across the water, +although the person shouting must have been a mile and a half away. + +Then came the jumbled noise of men's voices, quickly followed by two +rifle-shots. The voices then died away, and, as far as the listeners +on the _Capella_ could hear, all was quiet. + +"That's soon over, whatever it was, sir," remarked Barry. + +"Hurst calling up, sir," announced a signalman, as a light blinked +rapidly from the fort guarding the Hampshire side of the narrow +channel. It was the order to proceed at full speed to the position +previously decided upon. + +Although the torpedo-boats were speedy craft, the _Capella_ left them +behind "hands down". Fortunately there were no search-lights to baffle +her quartermaster, for those of both Hurst and the batteries on the +Isle of Wight shore had been previously switched off. Since the Needle +Channel was closed to all mercantile shipping, the _Capella_ could, and +did, without risk, extinguish her navigation lights. Only the +phosphorescent spray from her sharp cutwater marked her position. + +Suddenly she ported helm, just in time to avoid a collision with a long +dark shape that proved to be an unterseeboot in the act of diving. Her +commander had detected the pulsations of the _Capella_ motors, but he +was too late. + +Round spun the patrol vessel. From her quarter, a long length of +something that resembled an exaggerated string of sausages was paid +out. At the rate that the _Capella_ was circling, it was impossible +for the U-boat to escape from her toils. Dive to a safe depth she +could not, since the maximum depth was but 5 3/4 fathoms. + +The last of the "sausages", to which was attached stout flexible wire, +disappeared beneath the water. Then a jerk upon the wire announced the +gratifying fact that the fugitive submarine had fouled the string of +sausages, which was in reality a number of gun-cotton charges, primed +and connected to a powerful battery by means of an insulated wire. + +Sub-lieutenant Fox, who was standing by the firing-key, needed no +orders. His fingers pressed the ebonite disc. A hundred yards astern +of the _Capella_ a column of water was flying high in the air, followed +by a tremendous roar. For one minute the vessel rocked violently in +the agitated waters, then, circling, she made for the spot under which +the explosion had occurred. With a splash a mark-buoy was dropped +overboard to indicate the position of the shattered U-boat. By this +time the torpedo-boats had arrived on the scene. + +"A deuce of a commotion on shore, Barry," exclaimed the skipper. + +"I should be surprised if there were not, sir," replied the Sub. "The +racket was enough to smash every window within a couple of miles of the +beach. They're signalling, sir." + +"German submarine's boat rowing off. Intercept her," was the signal +spelt out by the long and short flashes. + +"More work," remarked Barry. "It's like looking for a needle in a +bottle of hay. Shall I order the searchlight to be run, sir?" + +"Very good," replied Captain Syllenger. "But before you do so you +might signal to Hurst, and request that all available search-light be +brought to bear in this direction." + +Soon the hitherto pitch-dark sea was flooded in a blaze of light. +Giant beams from the Isle of Wight shore joined with those of Hurst +Castle to sweep slowly across the waves, supplementing the twin rays +projected from the two search-lights on the _Capella's_ bridge. + +It was indeed a brilliant spectacle. The _Capella_ and the +torpedo-boats seemed outlined in silver. Along the shore as far as +Hengistbury Head, the low line of cliffs was thrown into strong relief +against the dark background of sky. The crest of every wave seemed as +if made of delicate filigree work. Nothing afloat could hope to escape +detection within the radius of action of the concentrated millions of +candle-power search-lights. + +Less than a mile away, and about the same distance from shore, a small +black object bobbed buoyantly upon the waves. It was the ill-fated +U-boat's canvas dinghy, apparently empty. + +Down bore the _Capella_, her search-lights fixed upon the object of her +search. The boat was not deserted. Lying at full length on the bottom +boards were two men, who had adopted that position, in the vain hope of +escaping detection. + +As the patrol vessel approached, they sat up and raised dolorous cries +of "Mercy, Englishmen!" + +"Chuck it, Fritz!" shouted one of the British seamen. "You won't get +hurt. You ain't in a strafed submarine now, you know." + +"Silence!" ordered the skipper. "Stand by there. Get that boat +aboard. See they don't sling anything overboard." + +There was precious little that the German seamen could throw overboard, +for when the canvas boat was placed on the Capellus deck it was found +to contain only a pair of oars and two crutches. What the German +sailors hoped to do had they escaped detection was a matter for +conjecture, for without a compass, food, and water, and in a frail +cockle-shell with every indication of bad weather approaching, certain +death stared them in the face. + +Finding themselves well treated, the Germans grew quite communicative. +They freely admitted that they expected to obtain a considerable +quantity of petrol from their agents ashore. They did not know their +names, or if they did they professed complete ignorance on the point. +Their craft, numbered for some vague reason U7, was built at Altona, +and completed only a fortnight previously. In addition to her normal +crew of twenty-eight officers and men, she carried five officers and +ten men for instructional purposes. She was one of four that had come +round Cape Wrath and the West and South coasts of Ireland, rather than +risk the hazardous passage through the Straits of Dover, or the almost +equally dangerous North Channel between Scotland and Ireland. Two of +the five were missing; the other was supposed to be in the +neighbourhood of Cape Ushant. U7's particular mission was to intercept +transports that were known to be leaving Southampton for the French +coast. + +The men admitted that they had been tricked. A light had been flashed +seaward, and although the signal was not strictly in accordance with +the prearranged plan, it was sufficiently accurate to delude the U7's +Lieutenant-Commander. + +The German officer had shown considerable skill and audacity in closing +with the shore so close to the numerous and powerful batteries. He +dwelt upon the almost absolute certainty of the gunners devoting their +attention solely to the Needles Channel, and since it was a little past +the time of dead low water the intervening Shingles Bank, which in +places rears itself 20 feet above the sea, would afford an efficient +screen from the search-lights. + +But he had reckoned without the patrol vessels. Barely had the +U-boat's collapsible rowed a hundred yards from her parent when the +_Capella_ raced up, and promptly put another hostile submarine to her +credit. + +Early next morning, the _Capella_ having returned to her station off +Yarmouth to await orders, Vernon Haye went ashore in charge of the +whaler in order to pick up mails and secure fresh provisions. + +Arriving alongside the little stone quay, he left a boat-keeper in +charge and proceeded towards the post office, while the coxswain and +the rest of the men went in search of the much-desired commodities in +the shape of fresh butter and milk. + +Just as Vernon was about to enter the post office, he nearly collided +with a very sleepy-looking subaltern in the uniform of the Royal +Garrison Artillery. + +"By Jove, Barraclough!" he exclaimed. "I didn't expect to see you +here." + +Barraclough was an Upper Sixth man at the same school as Haye, but had +left four terms previously. On the outbreak of war he had applied for, +and had obtained, a commission, and had been stationed, somewhat to his +disappointment, at Hurst Castle. Beyond a few false alarms and a +liberal experience in target practice, his existence at that isolated +fortress bordered on the monotonous. He was simply on thorns to be +able to proceed to the Front; the probability was that he would have to +"do his bit" for his country at a spot within 20 miles of his home +until the termination of the war. + +"Bless my soul, Haye!" he rejoined. "Whoever would have thought to see +you here, and in naval get-up. How long have you been in the Service, +and what ship are you on?" + +"Only a few weeks; and I'm on the _Capella_ with Trefusis." + +"Trefusis, eh? Well, he's a lucky boy to have an Admiral for a father. +And the _Capella_? Then you were in last night's affair? I heard they +bagged the submarine." + +"Rather!" declared Vernon proudly. + +Barraclough stifled a prodigious yawn. + +"Jolly glad to hear it. 'Scuse me, but I'm beastly tired. Had a night +of it after those spies across yonder. Didn't turn in till three, and +at six I had to cross from Hurst to Vic.--that's Fort Victoria, you +know--on duty." + +"Did you collar them?" asked the midshipman eagerly. + +The subaltern yawned again. + +"No," he drawled. "Worse luck, we didn't; but we had some fun. You +know we were warned to watch Keyhaven marshes--and a dreary spot it is. +Worse than the most dismal flats on the Essex coast, which is saying a +lot. Well, before I tell you what happened, I ought to describe the +place. It's a marsh, with patches of dry ground thickly covered with +furze, that extends from Keyhaven to Lymington River--about four miles. +It is separated from the sea--or rather mud-flats, covered at high +tide--by a low bank on which is an apology for a footpath. + +"Our orders were to post a squad at a certain point where the spies +were supposed to have hidden a quantity of petrol. The place in +question was close to a rifle-butt. Men were detailed to guard all +roads leading to the marsh, and to allow all traffic, whether +motor-cars, carts, or pedestrians, to pass unchallenged. The sentries +were on no account to show themselves, except to hold up everything and +everyone coming _from_ the marsh. + +"Other men were told off to watch the three available roads between +Keyhaven and Milford, where the submarine was expected to send ashore +for her stores, so you see the U-boat didn't stand much chance of +getting what she wanted. She copped something she didn't expect. + +"As soon as it was dark, my squad left Hurst by motor-boat and landed +near the toll-house at Keyhaven. It was almost dead low water, you +know, or we might have been able to save ourselves a long tramp--you +couldn't call it a march. + +"We followed the wretched footpath, slipping on the slimy mud, and +either tumbling over each other or else side-slipping into the morass, +which was a jolly sight worse. To make a long story short, we took up +our position, which was in the middle of a circular clump of furze +within 50 yards of the butts, at ten o'clock. + +"There we stuck for nearly two mortal hours, and not so much as a +chance of having a cigarette. Of course the men were frightfully keen, +and it took me all my time to stop them from chin-wagging. Some of +them began to get jumpy, swearing they saw all manner of men and things. + +"I had just looked at my watch--luminous face, thank goodness--when my +sergeant whispered to me that someone was approaching. It was then +close on twelve. He was right. There were three men ambling +cautiously along the sea-wall. They were talking softly. Once one of +them stopped, bent under the lee of a furze bush and lit a cigarette, +which seemed a rummy thing for a spy to do unless it was a prearranged +signal. + +"We let them come on until they got within 20 yards, then up popped my +sergeant. + +"'Halt, who goes there?' he shouted, loud enough to be heard a couple +of miles away. + +"Bless me if the three fellows hadn't the cheek to answer in exactly +the same words, although they didn't sound particularly cheerful over +the job; and, instead of halting, one of them came on, holding a stick +above his head. The others didn't seem very keen to follow him, but +began jabbering away as hard as they could. + +"So I gave orders for a couple of shots to be fired over their heads, +just to let them know what to expect when they deliberately ignore a +challenge. But instead of 'hands up' they bolted, with our men after +them. + +"Then I had good reason to bless that blessed marsh, for between us and +the rifle-butt was a deep ditch filled with water, and a nice wire +fence on the other side. Half a dozen of us, myself included, were +floundering up to our waists; the others were lucky enough to avoid the +ditch by making straight for the path. But we had the fellows all +right." + +"The spies?" asked Vernon. + +Barraclough yawned, and then laughed mirthlessly. + +"Nuthin' doing," he replied. "They were three members of a local +defence corps engaged in patrolling the marshes. Goodness only knows +what for, for they hadn't any weapon with them except walking-sticks. +Perhaps 'twas as well, though, for they might have let rip in their +excitement. When a man's nerves are all upset it's not safe for him to +have his finger on the trigger of a rifle, you know." + +"But the spies?" asked Vernon. + +"Not a sign of 'em," replied the subaltern. "If they were anywhere +about, they must have sheered off pretty quickly when they heard the +racket. An hour later an orderly brought us word to return to the +fort, so we guessed that something had taken place between a +patrol-ship and the submarine. But I must be on the move. Regards to +Trefusis. If you've a chance to get ashore on the other side, look me +up." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +To the Rescue + +Twelve hours later found H.M.S. _Capella_ back on her station off +Beachy Head. + +The long-threatened gale had burst with great violence upon the South +coast. Long crested breakers surged towards the chalky cliffs, +thundering with terrific force against the sheer face of the rocks. + +Seaward, as far as the eye could reach, was nothing but a confused +tumble of foam, backed by a lowering bank of ragged and sombre clouds. + +The _Capella_ and her consorts had to "stick it". Without orders they +dare not seek shelter in Newhaven harbour. All they could do was to +forge slowly ahead, keeping bows on to the furious seas. In spite of +her shallow draught, the _Capella_ was an excellent sea boat, although +inclined to be "jumpy". Frequently green waves broke over the fo'c'sle +and surged aft as far as the deck-house under the bridge; but with +unfailing regularity the stanch vessel would shake herself clear of the +tons of water that had invaded her deck, to be ready to receive the +next contribution from the hand of King Neptune. + +Nevertheless, while the gale lasted it was a time of discomfort. One +thing for which the crew were thankful was the fact that it was still +September, and the gale was not one of those wintry varieties which are +so trying to the hardy patrollers of the North Sea. + +Everything had to be battened down. 'Tween-decks the air was stifling, +and reeked of fumes from the motors. It was impossible for a man to +stand unsupported. Anything that had not been securely lashed would be +sure to be flung across the deck by the erratic motion. No hot meals +were obtainable. Officers and crew had to eat as best they might, +without the use of articles of civilization such as plates and similar +things. + +Ross and Vernon saw very little of each other during the gale, except +for a brief interval during the changes of the watch on deck. Each +enjoyed his "trick" on deck, as he crouched behind the bulging +storm-dodgers and faced the howling wind and the stinging spray. It +was greatly to be preferred to being below, cooped up in an atmosphere +which resembled that of an underground scullery on washing-day, with +the odours of petrol and lubricating oil thrown in as extras. + +"One thing we've to be thankful for," remarked Barry, "and that is that +it's a sou'wester. It minimizes the chance of being blown up by a +derelict mine." + +"How is that?" asked Ross. + +"A sou'easter's the brute for that. Brings with it dozens of German +mines that have broken adrift from the Belgian coast. When I was +stationed at Great Yarmouth we had the same game in easterly gales. It +was nothing unusual to find twenty of the brutes lying ashore; and on +several occasions they have exploded on coming into contact with the +rocks, and then, especially at night, everyone thought that the Germans +had at last ventured to risk 'The Day'. + +"I remember one that came ashore a few miles from Lowestoft. It was a +whopper, of a different type from the rest. An Engineer officer +brought a dozen young subalterns down to see it and give them an +object-lesson. He talked for the best part of an hour, explaining its +construction, and laying particular stress upon the need of the +greatest caution when handling it. Finally he proceeded to explode it +electrically. The circuit of the battery was tested and found to be in +perfect order, and the wires were then connected with the detonator of +the mine, after the tube containing the fulminate of mercury had been +removed. + +"The whole crowd took cover. The circuit was completed, but the mine +didn't budge. They tried three times, and finally came to the +conclusion that the thing was a dud. + +"Then a squad of soldiers took pot-shots at it until it was fairly +riddled with bullet holes, but still the blessed thing wouldn't +explode. Eventually it was decided to remove the mine to a laboratory +for examination, and a team of mules was requisitioned to drag it off +the beach. + +"One of the mules suddenly took it into his head to be a little bit +premature, for he lashed out, broke away from the traces, and pelted +down the beach. When the brute came to the place where the mine lay, +he found that the tackle which the men had already rove to shift it was +in his way. Possibly the sight of a rope upset him, for he backed and +lashed out with his hind legs--and up went the mine with a terrific +bang. They never found any of the pieces of the mule." + +At length, as is invariably the case, the gale blew itself out, and, +although the sea still ran high, the absence of broken water made it +possible for the hatchways to be kept open. + +The behaviour of the _Capella_ and her consorts was a matter for +congratulation. They had stood the test remarkably well, and had +proved themselves good all-weather craft, provided that they could be +kept head to wind. + +A week later the _Capella_ returned to Southampton to replenish her +stores, and after three days in port she received orders to proceed to +the French coast and patrol off Cape Levi, where the presence of a +hostile submarine had been reported. + +This intelligence was serious. It meant that, once again, an +unterseeboot had made its way into the English Channel, and was lying +on the track of the British transports and hospital ships running +between Southampton and Rouen. + +It took the _Capella_ two hours only to run from The Nab to within +sight of the French coast. Even then her motors were not running at +the maximum number of revolutions. Extreme speed was only resorted to +when actually engaged in submarine hunting. + +As the vessel closed with the grey cliffs of Normandy, Ross suddenly +shouted: "Submarine on the port bow!" + +Less than two cables' length away could be discerned the twin +periscopes and a portion of the conning-tower. The submarine was not +forging ahead; it was simply stationary, except for a slight movement +caused by the action of the waves. It certainly was not a British +craft. It might be French. The odds were that it was German, since +submarines belonging to the allied nations were not in the habit of +keeping awash, unless in the presence of an enemy. + +Quickly the guns, which were already cleared for action, were trained +upon the visible part of the submarine; but as she made no attempt to +move, Captain Syllenger refrained from giving the order to open fire. + +Thrice the _Capella_ circled round the mysterious craft, at the same +time gradually closing, since she had nothing to fear from the +discharge of a torpedo. + +"I believe she's abandoned, sir," said Barry. + +The _Capella_ stopped. Preparations were being made for the lowering +of a boat, when one of the seamen shouted: + +"It's a dud, sir; a blessed decoy-bird!" + +The man was right. Upon investigation, the submarine was found to be +nothing more than a couple of barrels covered with painted canvas. Two +thick poles passing vertically through them, and weighted at the +lowermost ends to give the necessary stability, served as periscopes. + +"There's a real submarine knocking about, I'll swear," said the +skipper. "Put a shot into those barrels, Morgan." + +One shell was sufficient. Little more than a hundred chips floating on +the surface was left of the decoy. + +The _Capella_ was about to resume her course when a warning cry was +heard: + +"Torpedo coming, sir!" + +From a point bearing half a mile on the vessel's port quarter, the +track of the on-coming torpedo was clearly discernible. The _Capella_, +being without way, would undoubtedly have fallen a victim had it not +been for her light draught, for before she could forge ahead the +missile passed under her keel. Its track could be followed as far as +the eye could reach, which showed that it was a modern weapon propelled +with superheated air and having a range of about five miles. + +Straight for the source of the missile, tore the British craft, but her +effort to grapple with the unterseeboot was in vain. The submarine had +dived immediately. No sounds betrayed her presence in the vicinity. +Had the U-boat been moving, the churning of her propellers would have +been distinctly audible. + +"She's got away, worse luck," growled Sub-lieutenant Fox. "I wonder +how she did it? It's too deep for her to sound, and she can't be +moving under her own power." + +"We'll have her right enough," rejoined Barry, the optimist. "A light +haze and a calm sea is what we want. We'll run her down in less than a +week, you mark my words." + +Four days passed. The _Capella_ kept her station almost without +incident. Ship after ship, deeply laden with troops and munitions, +entered the sand-banked estuary of the Seine, having been escorted thus +far by destroyers. Ship after ship, more lightly burdened, left the +river, homeward bound. Amongst them were hospital ships, clearly +distinguishable by their broad green bands and conspicuous red crosses +on both bows and quarters. A big action had taken place "somewhere in +France", and the passing of the Red Cross vessels was the aftermath of +a dearly-bought victory. + +Yet nothing occurred to threaten the constant stream of shipping. It +seemed reasonable to surmise that either the U-boat had met with an +accident or else that she had transferred her energies to another area. + +Meanwhile Ross and Vernon had been working hard, improving their +seamanship. Under the instruction of the two sub-lieutenants they were +making rapid progress in navigation; they could fix their position by +the use of a sextant, were able to use the semaphore, and, generally, +competent to carry out the duties required as midshipmen of the watch. + +Captain Syllenger had long before overcome his prejudices against the +sons of Flag Officers--at least in their case--and even expressed his +willingness to grant them each a certificate of proficiency, should +they wish to transfer to one of the cruisers of the Royal Navy. + +At length the _Capella_ received orders for recall to her station off +Beachy Head. She was to put into Havre to revictual that day, leaving +at 9 a.m. on the morrow. + +The lads were heartily glad when the _Capella_ left the malodorous +_bassin à flotte_. The irksomeness of lying in the harbour at Le Havre +palled upon them, even after a few hours. They yearned for the open +sea almost from the time their ship made fast alongside the grimy quay. + +Forty minutes after leaving French waters, the _Capella_ sighted a +large cargo-boat steaming northwards. She was high in ballast and +rolling like a barrel. On bringing glasses to bear upon her, the +_Capella's_ officers found that she was the _Orontabella_, one of the +vessels chartered by the British Government and fitted as a +horse-transport ship. She was doing 16 knots to the _Capella's_ 34, +and when first sighted was nearly five miles off. + +Suddenly a low rumble was heard by the crew of the patrol-vessel. +Telescopes and binoculars that had just been laid aside were again +brought into action, and it was seen that the transport was sinking +rapidly by the stern. She had been torpedoed under the starboard +quarter. The terrific impact of the explosion had torn a large hole, +besides shattering the rudder and one of the propellers, while all her +boats in davits were rendered useless by the concussion. + +It was a matter of but a few moments before she made her final plunge. +Already signals were fluttering from her stumpy masts--the well-known +N.C. (in distress; want immediate assistance) and A.R. (boats are stove +in). + +Captain Syllenger gave a quick glance astern. There were other +vessels, but low down on the horizon. To expect succour from them was +for the present out of the question. He had a double task: to attempt +to destroy the aggressor, and to rescue the transport's crew. + +"Prepare to lower boats!" he shouted. "A midshipman and a couple of +hands in each. Guns' crews stand by!" + +Clang, chang, went the engine-room telegraph. Like a greyhound, the +_Capella_ increased her speed, until she was within a quarter of a mile +of the foundering vessel. Then reversing engines, she almost lost way +at less than a cable's length from the transport. + +By this time Ross and Vernon were in their respective boats. Before +way was off the ship the falls were paid out and the disengaging gear +cast off. + +"Give way, men," ordered Ross. + +His scanty crew, for more men could not well be spared, "gave way" with +a will, gaining a couple of lengths before his chum was able to push +off. + +With hardly a pause the _Capella_ dashed off, quickly increasing her +pace to full speed ahead, in her quest for the U-boat that had launched +the deadly torpedo. + +The _Orontabella's_ stern was now under water. She had a pronounced +list to starboard. Dense volumes of smoke and steam, pouring from her +funnels and hatchways, showed that the water had already invaded her +boiler-room. Above the hiss of the scalding vapour and the rush of +escaping air, could be heard the terrified neighing of a dozen or more +wounded horses, for whom no escape was possible. + +Clustering on the fo'c'sle were about twenty or thirty men, the +officers and crew who had survived the explosion; for the death-roll, +especially in the engine-room and stokehold, was very high, men being +overwhelmed by the inrush of water before they could scramble up the +steep ladder and through the narrow hatchway. + +The waiting men showed no signs of panic. Those who could swim had not +troubled to don their cork life-belts, but were calmly engaged in +lashing their life-saving devices round the shoulders of their less +fortunate comrades. + +[Illustration: THE SINKING OF THE "ORONTABELLA" (missing from book)] + +Ross ordered his men to back towards the foundering vessel. He +realized that at any moment the transport might plunge suddenly, and +the danger of being dragged down by the suction was a thing he had to +avoid. There was also a risk of the boat being swamped by the men as +they clambered on board. + +"Jump!" he shouted. "Not too many at a time." + +Three men accepted the invitation: two good swimmers and a non-swimmer. +The former, grasping their struggling companion by the shoulders, +struck out without much difficulty and reached Ross's boat, where they +were quickly hauled into safety. + +Setting the rescued men to take an oar each, for there were several to +spare lying on the thwarts, Ross took the whaler closer in, since he +had now more means of propulsion at his command. + +Four more followed, and were picked up by Vernon's men. Meanwhile the +bows of the _Orontabella_ were rising high out of the water, as the +stern sank correspondingly deeper, until those of the officers and crew +who still remained on board had to cling desperately to the rails to +prevent themselves slipping into the maelstrom that surged over the +submerged part of the sinking ship. + +Suddenly the vessel dived. Where a few seconds previously a towering +mass of black and red plating rose high above the boats, there hung a +cloud of smoke, steam, and spray, while all around the water was +thrashed white with foam. + +"Give way, men!" shouted Ross. + +The rowers were too late. Before the boat could pull clear of the +scene of disaster, a vicious, crested wave, so hollow that the lean +quarters of the whaler were unable to rise to it, poured into the frail +craft. + +The next instant Ross and his crew were struggling in the confusion of +the broiling sea. + +Vernon, although farther from the spot, narrowly escaped the fate of +his chum. It was surprising what a terrific commotion the +_Orontabella_ caused at the last. For some minutes he could see +nothing beyond the tips of the blades of the oars. Everything else was +enveloped in smoke, steam, and spray. + +Gradually the waves subsided and the wind dispersed the pall of vapour. +The sea was dotted with the heads of swimmers. Ross's boat, with her +stem and stern-posts just visible above the surface, was waterlogged, +yet retained sufficient buoyancy to support half a dozen men. + +Here, indeed, was a pretty pickle. At the very most, Vernon's boat +would hold fifteen or sixteen men. The _Capella_ was almost out of +sight. The whole attention of her officers and crew would be centred +upon the U-boat. So long as there was any indication of the latter's +whereabouts, the patrol-vessel would cling tenaciously to her quest. + +There was very little left floating from the sunken ship. A few +gratings, handspikes, a couple of breakers, and fragments of the +shattered boats, but nothing substantial enough to support a man above +water; and in mid-Channel, although it was only September, the sea was +too cold to enable the swimmers to keep afloat very long without almost +certain danger of cramp. + +Vernon looked around for his chum. He saw him sharing an oar with one +of the crew. + +"Come on, my lads!" shouted Ross encouragingly. "We'll hike her up. +Half a dozen of you who have life-belts come round this side, and when +I say 'All together!' lift for all you're worth." + +The men obeyed as quickly as they could in the circumstances. Finding +that they could easily keep afloat, the non-swimmers had regained their +confidence. Piloted by those who could swim, the men ranged themselves +along one gunwale of the waterlogged whaler. + +"All ready?" asked Ross, whose knowledge of how to empty a waterlogged +Canadian canoe prompted him to try a large, heavy boat. "Together!" + +Up rose the boat's gunwale as high as the men's arms could reach, but +with a dull swish the whaler resumed its former position. In lifting +one side the other had dropped deeply beneath the surface, and the +attempt to shake out the water had ended in failure. + +"Now then," ordered Vernon, taking his turn to direct operations. "All +swimmers get overboard for a few minutes. Those with life-belts get on +board, and take off your belts." + +In five minutes a dozen cork life-belts were available. Manoeuvring +his boat alongside the waterlogged whaler, Vernon gave directions for +the belts to be lashed underneath the thwarts, so that they were +completely submerged. Then taking the whaler's painter he hove taut +until, added to the lifting powers of the cork and the upward strain on +the ropes, the gunwale rose a good three inches above the water. + +This done, one of the _Capella's_ men, armed with a baler, began +throwing out the water from the whaler. In another five minutes the +boat showed sufficient buoyancy to allow two more hands to clamber on +board. They, too, baled vigorously, with the result that once more the +whaler was free from water. + +Between the two boats, all the survivors of the _Orontabella_ were +easily accommodated; but when at length the midshipmen looked for the +_Capella_, the patrol-boat was nowhere to be seen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Adrift in the Channel + +"She'll be back for us soon," declared Vernon optimistically, +addressing his chum, for the two boats were within twenty feet of each +other. "Can you see any signs of her now?" + +Ross stood upright in the stern-sheets and, shading his eyes with his +hand, gave a careful look in the direction where the _Capella_ was +supposed to be. + +"No," he answered. "And I cannot see any signs of the other vessels we +saw some time ago. We'd better let the men rest on their oars." + +Unknown to the two midshipmen, they had for the last hour and a half +been in the grip of the strong west-going tide that surges along the +French coast. In that interval they had been carried out of the course +of the vessels they had sighted, and were some four or six miles from +the spot where the _Orontabella_ had sunk. + +Another hour passed. The men who had been in the water took the +opportunity of drying their clothing in the hot sunshine. They treated +their misfortune lightly, making very little reference to the loss of +their vessel. One would have thought that being torpedoed was almost +an everyday occurrence. + +As the minutes slipped by, it began to occur to Ross and his chum that +the _Capella_ had missed them entirely. In another few hours night +would be coming on, and the prospect of spending ten hours of darkness +in a couple of open boats in mid-Channel was not at all alluring. + +Each boat was equipped with compass, lead-line, signal-book, lamp, box +of biscuits, and beaker of water. None of these articles belonging to +Ross's boat had suffered, in spite of their being immersed, except the +lamp, for the provisions were in watertight boxes. Masts and sails +were not in the boats, having been left on board the _Capella_ when the +rescuers put off hurriedly on their errand of mercy. + +"What's the best thing to be done, skipper?" asked Ross, addressing the +master of the _Orontabella_. + +"Well, sir, since you ask me," was the reply, "I'd shape a course due +north. We'd be in the track of craft making up and down Channel before +it gets dark. If we don't fall in with any vessel, we can carry on. +'Taint so very far to land, considering the number of hands we've got +in the boats." + +Quickly the available oars were manned, the men being told off in +relays to row for half an hour at a time, while the skipper of the +torpedoed boat relieved Ross at the yoke-lines. The mate, who had been +picked up by the other boat, was also able to give Vernon a spell. + +At six o'clock, a biscuit and a small quantity of water were served out +to each man, and preparations were made for the approaching night. +Vernon's boat, which possessed the only lantern that would burn, was to +take the lead as soon as darkness set in, the light enabling the whaler +to keep in touch with her consort. + +"Jolly funny where the _Capella's_ got to," remarked Ross to the +skipper. "With her speed she could search a couple of hundred square +miles by this time." + +"'Spose she wasn't torpedoed?" asked the _Orontabella's_ master. + +"No jolly fear!" replied the midshipman decidedly. "She's +torpedo-proof. We've had plenty of them fired at us, but never the +least danger of being hit." + +"It's a good thing the sea's calm," continued the skipper. "We're +doing a good four knots. Twelve hours at the very most ought to bring +us in sight of the Wight, but we've dropped a long way to lee'ard. +P'raps it's as well, for it's no joke to be in the thick of the +cross-Channel traffic at night, with only a tuppenny dip to light us. +Good heavens! What's that?" + +Less than fifty yards from the boat a pole-like object, throwing off a +double feather of spray, was forging through the water. + +"A periscope, sir!" shouted half a dozen voices. + +Ross did not require to be told that. With considerable misgivings, he +saw the metal shaft rise higher and higher out of the water; then the +tip of an ensign-staff, followed almost simultaneously by the snout and +conning-tower of a large German submarine. Finally the unterseeboot +rose to the surface, revealing her entire length, which was not less +than three hundred feet. + +She slowed down. The aperture in her conning-tower opened and a couple +of officers appeared. From hatchways fore and aft, seamen clad in grey +fearnought coats came tumbling on deck, greeting the British with jibes +and laughter. + +"So you getting on, Englishmen!" exclaimed a leutnant. "Still it is +long vay to land, hein? An' where vos der _Capella_? Suppose I tell +you: we her haf sent to der bottom. Goot night, ver' goot night. Our +ver' kind regards to Jellicoe." + +The U-boat forged ahead, then, getting way, made off at high speed. In +a quarter of an hour she was out of sight. + +"I suppose those fellows were telling the truth, old man," called out +Ross, addressing his chum. + +"'Fraid so," replied Vernon. "They had her name pat, so it looks as if +the poor old ship's done for. But, I say, what a whopper of a +submarine!" + +"One of the new type, I should fancy," said the skipper of the +_Orontabella_. "I shouldn't be surprised if she were a mine-layer as +well." + +Darkness fell upon the scene. The men rowed doggedly, Vernon setting +the course by the simple expedient of keeping the Pole Star in line +with the boat's stem. It saved the strain of peering into the compass +bowl, and in any case the boats were bound to hit the English coast, +unless they were swamped or run down. + +Throughout the long night the steady progress was maintained. It was +horribly cold. Most of the men were lightly clad in imperfectly dried +garments. Both Ross and Vernon were glad when the officers of the +_Orontabella_ relieved them, since they could take turn at the oars and +derive a certain amount of warmth from the exertion. + +Day dawned at last, a brilliant pink sky that betokened bad weather +before the day was out. Away on the starboard bow could be discerned a +grey cliff surmounted by dark hills. It was the Isle of Wight, distant +about six miles off. + +With the appearance of the sun the wind freshened, and soon developed +into a strong breeze dead in their teeth. Spray began to fly over the +bows, soon to be followed by green seas, that necessitated constant +baling. It was quite evident that every yard of that six miles meant +desperate work, with the chances of being swamped before the boat +reached land. + +The men, weakened by hunger and exposure, stuck gamely to their task, +yet after another half an hour's hard pulling the boats seemed no +nearer their object. They were barely holding their own against the +wind and waves. + +"What's to be done now?" asked Ross, consulting the experienced +skipper. Although the midshipman was in charge, he was not above +asking the advice of a man who had been to sea almost as many years as +the lad had been days. "We're hardly making headway, and the sea's +beating up fast." + +"And the men are almost done up," added the skipper. "It's bound to be +worse before it gets better. I would suggest that we ride to a +sea-anchor, and trust to luck to be picked up." + +The men quickly got to work. A triangle was composed of six oars in +pairs lashed together, two of the boat's gratings being secured between +the ash spars. To the apex the anchor was made fast, in order to make +the sea-anchor float in a vertical position, its weight compensated by +the use of the now empty water-beaker as a float. + +Secured by three spans of equal length, which in turn were bent to the +boat's painter, the sea-anchor was dropped overboard. For some +distance the whaler drifted to leeward, until held by the strain of the +painter she rode head to wind, and in comparative safety in the wake of +the floating breakwater. + +Vernon's boat then came close alongside. Her painter was caught and +secured, allowing her to ride astern. + +The crews were then at liberty to rest, with the knowledge that their +drift was little more than half a knot. Yet every two hours they would +be drifting a mile farther from shore, unless their plight were +observed by passing vessels. + +By this time the sea was running high. At one moment the whaler would +be tossing high upon the rounded crest of a wave, with the other boat +deep in the trough. At the next, nothing was to be seen from the +whaler save an incline of green water and a canopy of dark-grey sky. +On either side the crests were white with foam, yet, thanks to the +sea-anchor, hardly a drop of water was taken in over the boats' +gunwales. + +The men sat in silence, turning their backs to the keen wind. A few +who had tobacco smoked. Those who had not were glad to chew the small +quantity given them by their more fortunate comrades. As for Ross and +Vernon, they were glad to doze, lying on the damp bottom-boards with +their heads pillowed on their arms. + +Ross was almost asleep when he was aroused by one of the men announcing +that a vessel was in sight. At the prospect of rescue, all hands were +alert. The man was right, for, as the whaler rose on the crests of the +waves, a dark, grey shape could be discerned through the mirk at a +distance of about a couple of miles. + +Quickly the shape resolved itself into a large four-funnelled cruiser +pelting down-Channel at full speed. Unless she altered her course she +would pass within a hundred yards of the boats. + +"Lash a shirt to the boat-hook, lads!" ordered Ross. + +A few moments of intense anxiety followed. Then a groan of +disappointment rose from the men as the cruiser ported helm. + +She was then a couple of miles to windward. The smoke from her funnels +drifted around the boats, making it impossible for the derelict men to +see what she was doing, until the evil-smelling haze dispersed, showing +the cruiser less than two cables' length away and bearing down towards +them. + +From her after bridge a seaman was semaphoring vigorously. + +"Will slow down to windward of you," read the message. + +"Oars, lads!" ordered Ross. + +The bowman of each boat promptly cut the painter. With renewed spirit +the rowers bent to their work, and soon the boats were alongside and +under the lee of H.M.S. _Oxford_, armoured cruiser of the County class. + +By the aid of bowlines the rescued men were quickly hauled over the +side. Without delay the _Capella's_ boats were cut adrift, and the +cruiser proceeded on her way. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +An Unexpected Capture + +"I can see no possibility of landing you at present," said the officer +of the watch, after Ross had reported the events that had led up to the +rescue of the two boats. "We're under sealed orders. We have to make +for a certain rendezvous at full speed. When we arrive we shall know +where we are bound for--until then we are quite in the dark. We'll +wireless, however, and let the Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth know +that you are safe." + +"Have you any news of the _Capella_?" + +"Yes; she was mined while in pursuit of a submarine. It is a dickens +of a puzzle to know why, for our sweepers were over there early that +morning and never found a single mine. Whatever it was, it was not so +powerful as they generally are, for the _Capella_ was able to make for +shore and run aground within a few miles of Barfleur. All hands were +saved, luckily, but I'm afraid this gale will do for her entirely. +It's blowing great guns." + +"Then those fellows on the unterseeboot were wrong," remarked Vernon. +"They said she had gone down with all hands. We believe that the +submarine is a mine-layer, and perhaps it was one of her mines that the +old _Capella_ bumped against." + +"Let's hope the patrol-vessels will settle her," rejoined the officer +of the watch. "But you must be awfully knocked up. I'll introduce you +to your new messmates, and they'll give you a shake-down in the +steerage flat. The _Orontabella's_ officers can mess with the +'warrants', and the men will be berthed for'ard." + +The Lieutenant stepped to the top of the ladder from the navigation +bridge. A couple of midshipmen were standing on the superstructure, +watching with professional interest the splicing of a six-inch hawser. + +"Mr. Sefton!" sang out the officer of the watch. + +The midshipman ran up the ladder and saluted. + +"Your messmates for the time being," continued the Lieutenant, after he +had formally introduced Trefusis and Haye. "They've had a pretty rough +time, and they are jolly peckish, I know." + +Midshipman Sefton led the two chums below, and piloted them into a very +long room on the main deck. It was plainly, nay scantily furnished, +and appeared at first sight to be utterly cheerless. Possibly the idea +was heightened by the fact that frequently the scuttles were obscured +by the seas that slapped viciously against the cruiser's sides. + +"This is the gun-room," explained Sefton apologetically. "We've had to +clear it out pretty thoroughly, you know. No knick-knacks or +pretty-pretties in war time. Sorry the other fellows aren't here. +We're four one-stripers, three midshipmen R.N., and five midshipmen +R.N.R.--a jolly lively crowd of us, I can assure you." + +He touched a bell. A messman appeared. + +"Jones," ordered the midshipman, "a good square meal for two, and jolly +well look sharp about it." + +"You've got to be dead nuts on that chap if you want anything done in a +hurry," explained Sefton after the man had cleared off. "It's the only +way to check slackness. No doubt he gets his own back by giving us +plum-duff without troubling to extract the cockroaches; but we manage +to thrive on it. By the by, I'll tell my servant to sling a couple of +hammocks for you. There'll be no need to turn out before dinner." + +Sefton hastened below to acquaint the marine who, for the sum of ten +shillings a month, acted as the budding Nelson's factotum to make the +necessary preparations for his new chums. By the time he returned, a +substantial lunch had been set before Trefusis and Haye. + +"I say, you fellows," remarked the midshipman; "I notice that +Eccles--that's the officer of the watch, you know--was greasing his jaw +tackle a good bit. Did he mention where we are bound for?" + +"Nothing definite," replied Vernon. "He said that the ship was under +sealed orders." + +"Then it's no use hazarding a guess," decided Sefton. "It might be +anywhere from China to Peru. In any case, it's a change from what +we've been doing--knocking about in the North Sea, waiting for an +appointment which the Germans flatly decline to keep. Four months +solid, and I've never seen a gun discharged except at target practice." + +During the progress of the meal young Sefton was a little inclined to +patronize his guests. Perhaps he did it unconsciously. + +"My governor's a post-captain," he observed in the course of +conversation. "What's yours?" + +"Only an Admiral," replied Ross. + +"Is he, by Jove!" exclaimed Sefton. "Then why the deuce are you a +'with but after'?" + +"A what?" asked Trefusis, somewhat mystified. + +"An R.N.R. man ranks with, but after, an R.N. fellow with equal rank," +explained the midshipman. "It's a fact: look it up in the King's +Regulations. But, I say, do you play footer? We're in a match. +Gun-room versus Ward-room, coming off this week. If you play, I'll get +Cranbury--he's president of our mess--to put you in the team." + +The meal over, Ross and Vernon were taken to the steerage flat, an +electrically lighted space out of which opened the cabin of the junior +officers. At the after end of the flat, a marine sentry paced day and +night, his post extending from the stern torpedo-tube to the gun-room +door on the port side, and to the armoured door on the starboard side. +Amongst his varied and multitudinous duties, particularly strict orders +were given him not to allow anyone to put their hands on the +paintwork--one of the standing orders dating from the prehistoric days +before the war, when "spit and polish" were regarded as being +absolutely essential to the efficiency of H.M. ships. + +At three bells in the second dog-watch, the _Oxford_ having arrived at +the rendezvous, the sealed orders were opened. It was then found that, +in company with the _Guildford_ and the _Launceston_, the cruiser had +to proceed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to escort a contingent of Canadian +troops to Liverpool. + +This was but one of the manifold odd jobs performed by the British Navy +in connection with the war--necessary, but without any prospect of +excitement. The trip was regarded as a picnic, after weeks of +monotonous patrol duty, for when 800 miles west of Ireland there was +little likelihood of falling in with any hostile submarine, while other +German craft had been swept off the board months previously. + +On the third day out the football match came off. Ross and Vernon were +included in the gun-room team, and never before had they participated +in a rugger match in such strange circumstances. The _Oxford_ was +pitching slightly in the long Atlantic swell. The "ground" was the +port side of the quarter-deck, nets being rigged up to prevent the ball +getting very much in touch with the sea. The fun was fast and furious, +the referee being inclined to tolerance; and before half-time half the +players were off the field owing to minor injuries, ranging from the +smashing of the Assistant Paymaster's eyeglasses to the laying out of +the portly Engineer-Commander. + +Suddenly the _Oxford_ turned 8 degrees to starboard. The alteration of +course resulted in a break in the game. Something out of the usual had +occurred for the cruiser, which was the leading vessel in line ahead, +to break out of station. + +A bugle sharply sounded the "G"--officers' call. For'ard the bosn's +mates' pipes were turning up the hands. The Captain, Commander, and +officer of the watch were on the fore-bridge looking steadily at a dark +cloud of smoke showing beyond the horizon. + +It was a ship on fire. The alert officer of the watch had noticed the +smoke, which was much too dense to be caused by the vessel's furnaces. +On reporting the matter to the captain, the latter immediately ordered +the _Oxford_ to be steered in that direction. As senior officer, he +gave orders for the other cruisers to stand on that course. + +"She's quite a small packet, I should imagine," remarked one of the +Subs. "At any rate she's not fitted with wireless." + +In half an hour the cruiser was sufficiently near to see clearly the +distressed vessel. She was a cargo-boat of about two thousand tons. +Amidships, flames were mounting fiercely from her hatches. She had +stopped her engines, and was preparing to lower boats. Aft, she flew +the Stars and Stripes, upside down as a signal of distress. + +The ship was doomed. Fanned by the light breeze, the flames were +rapidly spreading. Her cargo undoubtedly consisted of highly +inflammable material, since it blazed freely, while the smoke smelt +strongly of burnt oil. + +The _Oxford_ stopped at four cables' length to windward of the burning +ship. She could do nothing beyond rescuing the crew on board. There +was no necessity to lower her boats, since the cargo-boat obviously had +enough for all hands. + +At length the boats of the unfortunate ship were lowered. There was no +undue haste. Men deliberately threw their bundles into the arms of +their waiting comrades before they swarmed down the falls. The captain +was the last to leave, a bulge under his coat betraying the fact that +he had taken the ship's papers with him. + +"Nothing of an explosive nature in her cargo," said Ross to his chum. +"Otherwise they would have sheered off a bit quicker. My word, how she +does burn! Isn't it a grand sight?" + +"Yes," admitted Vernon. "It's lucky there's help at hand. Knocking +about in the boats in mid-Atlantic must be ten times as bad as in the +English Channel." + +"I beg to differ," remarked one of the Subs who was standing by. +"There's not so much shipping, I'll admit, but the waves are longer and +more regular in mid-ocean. It's marvellous what an open boat can do +when she's put to it, except in very broken water." + +The boats were now approaching the _Oxford_. A monkey-ladder had been +lowered to enable the men to surmount the lofty side of the cruiser, +while the sailors, always ready to lend a hand in cases of distress, +were swarming down to the net-shelves in readiness to receive the +personal belongings of the American seamen. + +"Look!" whispered Vernon. "Isn't that chap like our old pal +Ramblethorne?" + +He pointed to a tall, bronzed man clad in canvas jumper and trousers, +and wearing a grey slouched hat. He was sitting in the stern-sheets of +the second boat, with his shoulders hunched and his face half-averted. + +"Like him?" echoed Ross. "By Jove, it's he, right enough!" + +Trefusis was right. Von Hauptwald, alias Ramblethorne, had succeeded +in evading the hue and cry after his escape on Harley Bank, and had +continued to remain hidden in the house of a naturalized German in +Cheshire until the search for him had somewhat relaxed. + +He then managed to ship as a fireman on board a vessel bound for +Montreal, knowing that his chances of getting out of Great Britain +would be greater if he made for a Dominion port rather than one in the +United States. + +At Montreal he promptly deserted, made his way across the border, and +thence to New York. Here he picked up with a German-American +shipowner, who readily agreed to help him back to Germany. + +A cargo-boat, the _Tehuantepec Girl_, was loading with a cargo +consisting of cotton, ready-made clothing, and leather equipment. +Nominally her destination was Leith. Her manifest and bill of lading +were made out to that effect, but secretly her skipper had instructions +to make for Stockholm. If he were overhauled and taken into Lerwick by +a British patrol-boat, well and good. The owners must be compensated +by the British Government, even if the _Tehuantepec Girl_ was miles out +of her course for Leith. On the other hand, if the boat succeeded in +reaching the Baltic, she would be conveniently "captured", by previous +arrangement, by a German cruiser or destroyer and taken into Kiel. + +Unfortunately the fact of keeping secret the real destination of the +_Tehuantepec Girl_ led to her undoing. A German dock-hand, who was +really in the pay of the Teutonic Government, had placed an infernal +machine in the cargo, setting it to explode two days after leaving New +York. + +In less than a quarter of an hour after the discovery of the outbreak, +the fire had taken such a firm hold that all attempts to subdue it were +hopeless. + +And now von Hauptwald, in the disguise of a Yankee deck-hand, was being +rowed towards a craft which he would have given almost anything to +avoid--a British cruiser. + +Still, he was not dismayed. The chances of detection were absurdly +small. None of the _Tehuantepec Girl's_ crew knew his true personality +except the captain, and he was to be handsomely rewarded as soon as the +spy was safe in German territory. On the other hand, there might be +one amongst the 655 forming the complement of the _Oxford_ who might +recognize the one-time doctor who had lived at Devonport. + +"Let's get out of his way," suggested Vernon. "We'll inform the +Commander, and he will order him to be put under arrest." + +"I'm not going to budge," declared Ross. "If he sees us, what can he +do?" + +"I'm not afraid of him," protested Haye. + +"Very well, then; let's stop where we are. He's got to know sooner or +later." + +The first boat had already delivered her human cargo Upon the cruiser's +quarter-deck. As each man's name was taken down by the master-at-arms +he was sent forward. The first mate remained in conversation with the +Commander until the arrival of the _Tehuantepec Girl's_ skipper. + +Von Hauptwald was one of the last men to come aboard. As he swung +himself over the rail he gave a swift glance at the group of officers. +His eye caught that of Ross Trefusis. + +For a moment the spy thought that he was mistaken, but a second glimpse +confirmed his suspicions. + +"Steady on there!" shouted the Commander. "What the deuce are you up +to?" + +Von Hauptwald had broken into a run across the quarter-deck. With a +bound he cleared the stanchion-rails, and plunged head foremost into +the sea. + +He had realized that to remain on the cruiser meant arrest and ultimate +death as a dangerous spy. Better by far to be drowned without further +delay than to experience all the horrors of lying under sentence of +death. + +He had acted spontaneously, yet there was method in his madness. By +running across to the other side of the ship there was little chance of +the boats being able to pick him up ere he sank for the last time. Not +until he rose to the surface did he realize his difficulty. He was a +strong swimmer, and the natural instinct to strike out overpowered his +determination to sink. + +There was a rush of officers and men to the ship's side to see what was +taking place. With two exceptions, they thought that the supposed +seaman had suddenly lost his reason. + +Two seamen, one a brawny specimen, the other a red-haired +middle-weight, dived after the would-be suicide. Others were on the +point of following when the Commander restrained them. + +"Away sea-boat!" was the order. + +The _Oxford_ was now forging slowly through the water. During the +rescue of the _Tehuantepec Girl's_ people, she had drifted rather too +close to the burning ship to be safe, should an explosion occur. +Already von Hauptwald was fifty yards astern, with the two seamen +swimming towards him with powerful strokes. + +His efforts to drown were a failure. He simply couldn't keep his head +under. His attempts to swallow quantities of salt water only increased +the instinctive motion of the limbs to keep himself afloat. Bitterly +he regretted that he had not picked up some heavy metal object during +his career across the cruiser's quarterdeck. + +The approach of his would-be rescuers made him realize the necessity of +self-destruction. At the encouraging shout of "Cheer up, old mate, +you're safe!" spluttered by the leading seaman, he dived, pressing his +chest with both hands in the hope that he would be able to expel the +air from his lungs. + +A horny hand gripped him by the arm. He felt himself being drawn to +the surface. As his head appeared, he swung round and dealt the seaman +a powerful blow with his fist. The man, taken completely by surprise, +relaxed his grip. Von Hauptwald's blow had almost broken his shoulder. + +"Be careful, Ginger!" he shouted to his mate. "He's fair balmy. Mind +he don't plug you." + +The second seaman swam in a circle just beyond reach of the spy's arm. +His attempt to get behind the German failed, for the simple reason that +von Hauptwald gave no opportunity for an attack in the rear. The other +sailor, floating on his back and rubbing his injured arm, was content +to shout advice and await developments. + +The red-haired man was not deficient in courage, but he did not at all +relish the idea of tackling single-handed a powerfully built +maniac--for such he took the spy to be. He wisely awaited the approach +of the _Oxford's_ sea-boat, which, manned by four rowers who were +encouraged by Midshipman Setley, was being urged rapidly towards the +scene. + +"Way enough!" shouted the middy. + +The bowman boated his oar and leant over the bows. As he did so von +Hauptwald avoided his grip, and, seizing the boat's keel, brought his +head in violent contact with the elm planking. + +Then it was that Ginger saw his chance and took it. Grabbing the +German by the legs, he hung on like grim death, shouting to his +comrades to "tackle the lubber". + +Within an ace of capsizing the boat, von Hauptwald was hauled on board. +He fought desperately. For a moment it seemed as if he would more than +hold his own against the four seamen, until one of them, seizing a +stretcher, dealt the spy a crack on the head that laid him senseless +across the thwarts. + +"Couldn't help it, sir," exclaimed the man apologetically. + +"You did perfectly right, Dickenson," said the midshipman. "He's +properly mad. Come on, you men, are you going to bathe for the rest of +the day?" + +The victim of von Hauptwald's attack had to be assisted into the boat, +which, on making the ship, was quickly hoisted and secured. + +Meanwhile the _Tehuantepec Girl_ was on the point of sinking. From +stem to stern she was a roaring furnace. Mingled with the roar of the +flames could be heard the hiss of water coming in contact with the +red-hot plates, while ever and anon came the crash of metal as the deck +beams gave way and fell into the hold. + +Suddenly she parted amidships. The flames died out, overpowered by the +inrush of water. A thick column of smoke and steam arose as the bow +and stem [Transcriber's note: stern?] portions floated apart. Then +with the roar of escaping air the remains of the Yankee cargo-boat +disappeared, to find a resting-place 7000 fathoms deep on the bed of +the Atlantic. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +Mined + +"So that accounts for the fellow's behaviour," remarked the Captain of +the _Oxford_, after Ross and Vernon had communicated their discovery to +the Commander, who in turn reported the news to the skipper. "The +doctor says he is out of danger, eh? From a medical point of view, no +doubt. Put him in the cells, Master-at-arms. We'll take good care not +to land him at Halifax." + +Upon arriving at the Nova Scotian port, whither the _Oxford's_ consorts +had preceded her, the officers and crew of the _Tehuantepec Girl_ were +landed. Forty-eight hours elapsed before the transports were ready to +leave, and thus Ross and Vernon, with most of the officers of the +cruisers, had an opportunity of a "spell ashore". + +On the homeward run nothing untoward occurred, except that, instead of +proceeding to Liverpool, the cruisers and their convoy were suddenly +ordered by wireless to make for the Clyde. + +Off the Pladda Light the transports were met by a flotilla of +destroyers, while the cruisers were ordered to proceed via Cape Wrath +to rejoin the fleet at Rosyth. Without slackening speed the three +cruisers flung about, and steered a course immediately opposed to the +one they had previously been following. Experience had told them that +speed was one of the essentials to safety, even when in land-locked +waters such as the Firth of Clyde. + +"You don't look like leaving us in a hurry," remarked Midshipman +Sefton, when he communicated the latest change of plans to Trefusis and +his chum. + +"We don't mind in the slightest," Ross hastened to assure him. "It's +jolly comfortable on board the _Oxford_." + +"Wait until we're ordered straight away for patrol work," said Sefton. +"It's more than likely that we may be pushed off to the Norwegian coast +without having so much as a sniff at Rosyth. We'll just about hit the +equinoctial gales, and in those latitudes they get ice and snow pretty +early in the autumn. But, by the by, I heard the doctor tell the +Commander that your pal, von Hauptwald, is in a pretty state of funk." + +"I shouldn't wonder," replied Ross. "A court-martial will make it +pretty hot for him." + +"It's hardly that," said Sefton. "The fellow's absolutely crazy with +fear. He's been imploring the master-at-arms and the sentry on the +cells to ask the skipper to shift him above the water-line. It's only +since the ship arrived in home waters, so it seems as if he's in mortal +dread of being cooped up below and the _Oxford_ being mined or +torpedoed." + +"And what did the Captain say?" + +"Merely told the M.A.A. to carry on. Since the cells are below the +water-line, and the King's Regulations say that prisoners are to be +placed in cells, that ends the matter." + +Passing through the Little Minch, and continually steering an erratic +course in order to baffle any unterseebooten, should they be operating +off the West coast of Scotland, the _Oxford_ rounded Cape Wrath. + +In spite of a rapidly falling glass the weather still remained fine, +although the heavy swell encountered off the coast of Sutherland and +Caithness betokened, in conjunction with the barometer, a gale at no +distant date. + +"This will be you fellows' last night on board," remarked Farnworth, +one of the Acting Sub-lieutenants, as Ross and Vernon prepared to turn +into their hammocks after a strenuous sing-song in the gun-room mess. +"We'll be at Rosyth before noon to-morrow. 'Fraid it's been a bit tame +after the _Capella_. Beyond that affair of the _Tehuantepec Girl_ +there hasn't been much doing. The small fry get all the excitement, +I'm sorry to say. These armoured cruisers seem to be neither fish, +fowl, nor good red herring in these times." + +It seemed to Ross that he had been asleep only a few minutes when he +was suddenly awakened by a terrific crash, followed by a concussion +that shook the cruiser from stem to stern. His hammock rolled so +violently that he promptly fell out on the floor of the flat. Before +he could rise, the occupant of the next hammock tried his level best to +thrust his toes into Trefusis' mouth. The rest of the midshipmen, who +were watch below, were either thrown from their hammocks or had leapt +hurriedly from them. The electric lights were out. The shock had +either shattered the carbon threads or had broken the wires. + +"Torpedoed!" exclaimed a junior midshipman. + +"Dry up!" ordered Sefton sternly. "On deck all of you; there's the +'Action' bugle--no, it's 'Collision Stations'." + +Just then a light appeared. The sentry in the steerage flat had lit +one of the bulkhead lamps, which are always in readiness for use in the +event of a break-down in the electric current. + +The cruiser was listing perceptibly to starboard. + +She was in danger of turning turtle and foundering, but even in the +face of death not one of the handful of young officers showed the +faintest sign of fear. If in their inmost minds the lads were a little +timorous, they bravely kept their feelings to themselves. They were +part and parcel of a British warship's complement. They had a +reputation to maintain--the reputation of a Navy dating back for +centuries. It was in safe keeping, for the _Oxford's_ midshipmen were +made of the right stuff. + +A few made a hasty dive into their sea-chests to make sure of some +precious article. Others scrambled into their thick coats, bantering +each other as they did so. + +Overhead, the noise of hundreds of feet could be heard as the men +doubled aft to the quarter-deck. Above the tumult rose the shrill +pipes of the bos'n's mates' whistles, and the hoarse shouts of "On +deck, every mother's son of you!" bawled by a leather-lunged petty +officer. + +"We don't want to leave you, but we fear that we must go," parodied one +of the midshipmen, giving a farewell glimpse into the gun-room that had +been his home for the last fifteen months. "Come on, you fellows, +who's going to enter for the long-distance swimming race?" + +Up the ladder swept the throng of youthful humanity, followed by the +sentry, who had received orders to abandon his post. On the half-deck, +the gun-room officers met the swarm of senior officers issuing from +their cabins, mostly clad in pyjamas and uniform caps. The +Gunnery-lieutenant was afterwards heard to declare solemnly that he had +seen the Paymaster issuing from the ship's office with the ledger on +his head, while under his left arm he held his cap. + +"Let's stick together, old man!" exclaimed Ross as the chums gained the +quarter-deck. + +The first hurried rush aft had now given place to strict discipline. +The men were falling in as calmly as if mustered for divisions. Some +were blowing up their pneumatic swimming-collars, others helping to +adjust a comrade's life-belt. A few were joking and talking, none of +the officers gainsaying them. By virtue of an unwritten law the men +were allowed to smoke, and the odour of strong tobacco wafted across +the broad quarterdeck. + +"Got a fag, Lofty?" Vernon overheard a burly stoker ask his neighbour. + +"No; I don't smoke, mate," replied the man. + +"You will soon," replied the stoker, and a roar of merriment rose from +the lips of the men within hearing. They thought the retort was a +smart bit of humour, and, when at length the implied nature of the +man's words dawned upon him, even Vernon had to smile. + +From the after bridge, search-lights were playing upon the waves. The +light quick-firers were manned ready to deal with any visible foe. On +the navigation bridge the Captain, with the officer of the watch, was +pacing calmly up and down the slightly inclined structure. + +Presently he was joined by two dark forms--the Commander and the +carpenter. A bugle sounded the "Still". A hush fell upon the swarm of +humanity, the silence being broken only by the hiss of escaping steam, +and the rush of water under the action of the powerful Downton pumps. + +"My lads!" shouted the skipper. "The old ship is holding out. We'll +get her into dock yet. Pipe down!" + +The _Oxford_ had not been struck by a torpedo. Examination showed that +she had bumped against a mine, with the result that the fore +compartments were flooded. Fortunately the transverse bulkhead and +watertight doors withstood the strain of the terrific inrush of water. +Although well down by the bows the cruiser was in no immediate danger. + +The watch below disappeared from sight; those of the officers who were +not on duty retired to their cabins, yet few of them slept again that +night. + +As Ross and his chum were about to leave the quarterdeck, the Commander +strode by. + + +"Pass the word for the master-at-arms," he ordered. "Master-at-arms +went below, sir, to release the prisoners," reported a petty officer. + +"By Jove!" whispered Ross. "I'd clean forgotten Ramblethorne. I +wonder how he liked the business?" + +"Let's wait," suggested Vernon. + +They took up their position on the leeward side of the after 7.5-inch +gun-shield. Here they were sheltered from the wind and out of sight of +the alert Commander, although they could hear what was being said. + +"Master-at-arms is in the sick-bay, sir," reported the messenger as he +came up at the double. "He's nearly done for, trying to get to the +prisoners. The ship's corporal managed to release the two ordinary +seamen, but the spy's done in, sir--I mean he's drownded." + +Almost immediately following the explosion, the master-at-arms had +hurried to the cells. The flat was in darkness. The sentry on No. 6 +post, in charge of the prisoners, was lying stunned on the floor of the +passage. Water was surging aft. Already it was up to the knees of the +master-at-arms as he plunged through the gloom towards his goal. + +The three prisoners were shouting in mad panic. They realized their +awful peril. Caged like rats in a trap, they felt certain that the +cruiser was foundering, and that they would be carried down in a living +tomb until the pressure of water burst open the comparatively strong +steel walls of the cell. + +At length the chief of the ship's police forced the door of the +nearmost cell. By sheer good luck he inserted the key into the lock +without having to fumble for the opening. The prisoner, a young seaman +who had broken out of the ship at Halifax, was too terrified to know +his way to safety. He clutched at the master-at-arms, following him to +the next cell. + +The water was now waist-deep. In trying to find the keyhole the +master-at-arms dropped the keys. It took some minutes to find them--a +loss of valuable time. + +The noise of the inrushing water was deafening. For all the petty +officer knew, the ship might be about to make her last plunge. Yet his +duty lay before him. At the risk of his life the prisoners must be set +free. + +A light appeared upon the scene. A ship's corporal, bearing a lantern, +descended to the flat with the laudable intention, of assisting his +superior. + +The door of the second cell flew open, but a rush of water on the +flood, under the movement of the stricken vessel surged and swept the +master-at-arms off his feet. His forehead came in violent contact with +the steel frame of the door, and, rendered senseless, he dropped +inertly upon the flooded floor of the passage. + +"Pull yourselves together, men!" exclaimed the corporal to the two +prisoners. "You're all right. Bear a hand here." + +Together they carried the unconscious master-at-arms out of the flat. +The corporal returned to liberate the occupier of the third cell--von +Hauptwald. But once again the keys were missing, having slipped from +the insensible man's hand. + +The water in the confined space was now shoulder-deep. The corporal +could hear the stout bulkhead groaning under the pressure. Fixing the +lantern on a bracket he dived, groping with both hands for the keys. +At length he found them, and threw open the door of the cell. + +"Out you come!" he shouted. + +There was no reply. Von Hauptwald had ceased to shout for some +minutes. The silence was ominous. + +A movement of the badly stricken ship sent the water well over the +corporal's head. He was swept off his feet. It was time for him to +get back to safety. He had done all he could. The spy was dead. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +"Shrap" + +It was late in the afternoon when the _Oxford_ arrived, under her own +steam, at Rosyth. Although the dry docks were in use, accommodation +was quickly found for the damaged cruiser by the simple expedient of +floating out a battleship that was being cleaned and recoated with +anti-fouling composition. Since speed is an absolute necessity for +efficiency in war-time, it was the practice to dock all the ships of +the battle-cruiser and armoured cruiser class in rotation, the margin +of safety being sufficient to allow this to be done without impairing +the strength of the squadrons. + +By the aid of powerful arc-lamps the dockyard hands took the crippled +_Oxford_ into dock, and, the caisson having been replaced, the water +was quickly pumped out. The damage done was found, on examination, to +be limited to a space extending 30 feet from the bows. The actual +aperture caused by the explosion measured 6 feet by 30 inches, but the +adjacent plates had been buckled and the bolts "started" under the +violent concussion. Well it was that the armoured bulkhead had +withstood the strain, otherwise nothing could have saved the ship. + +There was no delay in setting to work. Almost before the last of the +water had been pumped out of the dock, stagings were built up round the +bows, and scores of shipwrights set to work to rebuild the damaged +portion of the hull. Under normal conditions the work would have taken +a couple of months, but, by working day and night, the efficient +dockyard staff hoped to effect repairs within nine days. + +Since the commencement of the greatest war the world has ever yet seen, +it was the custom to allow the officers and crews of torpedoed or mined +ships--if they were fortunate enough to be numbered amongst the +survivors--seven days' leave. A rest on shore was necessary for the +crews to recover from the mental shock, for it was found that although +the men might escape from physical injury and appear bright and +cheerful immediately after the occurrence, the reaction was most marked +at about forty-eight hours afterwards. + +Ross and Vernon, although not borne in the books of the _Oxford_, +received permission to go on leave. Since Haye's father was somewhere +in the North Sea, and he had no near relatives, he gladly accepted +Ross's offer to sample again the hospitality of Killigwent Hall. + +It was late when their train arrived at King's Cross; so much so that +the lads realized it would be useless to attempt to catch the Cornwall +express that would land them at St. Bedal just before midnight. + +"I vote we have an evening in town," suggested Vernon. "Let's go to a +theatre. It seems ages since I was inside a music hall, or even a +picture palace." + +"All right," agreed Ross. "We'll have a jolly good square meal before +we go. I know of a decent little hotel just off the Strand." + +The two midshipmen took the Underground as far as Charing Cross. As +they emerged from the station they renewed their acquaintance with the +metropolis in war-time. The streets were plunged in almost Stygian +darkness. Omnibuses and taxicabs crawled painfully through the gloom; +pedestrians were cannoning into each other at every step. The only +relief to the blackness were the two search-lights from the Admiralty +Arch that swung like gigantic pendulums across the dark and misty sky. + +"Let's get out of it," exclaimed Ross, as he just managed to save +himself from being run down by a motor-car. "It's a jolly sight more +dangerous than keeping the middle watch on the old _Capella_." + +Five minutes later they were sitting down to an ample dinner, provided +at a cost that proved pretty conclusively the futility of the German +submarine blockade. In the well-lighted room there was little to +suggest that business was not proceeding "as usual", except perhaps the +predominance of khaki-clad officers. + +A string band was discoursing the latest operatic music, the diners +were laughing and chattering. Within, the gaiety and light-heartedness +contrasted violently with the dismal gloom inflicted upon the +metropolis as a result of precautions adopted by the triple authorities +responsible for its defence against air-craft. + +Presently the band finished one item on the programme. The comparative +silence that followed was almost immediately interrupted by a series of +sharp reports, punctuated by a deeper crash. + +"Zepps!" exclaimed a dozen voices. + +Instantly there was a rush--not for the deep cellars underneath the +building, but for the open street. The white faces of a few of the +guests showed that they had, perhaps, a little anxiety, but for the +most part an excitable curiosity took possession of the crowd. + +"Come on!" exclaimed Ross to his chum. "Let's see the fun. We haven't +had a chance of seeing a real Zepp before." + +The lad's words voiced the thoughts of nine-tenths of the dwellers of +the metropolis who were within sight of the would-be Terror of the Air. +Useless, indeed, were the official warnings as to the right thing to be +done when the Zeppelins came. One man, however, drew a respirator from +a hand-bag and proceeded to don it, until a roar of laughter from the +stream of people issuing from the hotel caused him somewhat +shamefacedly to replace the useless article. + +Into the street the lads elbowed their way. The progress through the +long corridor of the hotel reminded them of a football scrum. It was +not the blind rush of panic; merely a desire to lose nothing of the +"fun". + +A couple of thousand feet overhead, a silvery-grey, bluff-pointed +cylinder was moving with apparent slowness. Half a dozen search-lights +concentrated their beams upon it. All around were rings of smoke, +marking the bursting shells from the anti-aircraft guns; yet, +apparently untouched by the hail of bullets, the giant gas-bag passed +on, hurling out death and destruction upon the greatest city on +earth--a city that, until the present war, had only once heard the +thunder of hostile guns. + +Breathlessly the lads watched the progress of the huge Zeppelin, +momentarily expecting it to collapse and come tumbling, a tangled mass +of flaming wreckage, to the ground. Viewed from below, it seemed +impossible for the airship to escape the bursting shells. The air was +rent by the crash of falling bombs and the sharp reports of the +"anti's", while in the distance could be heard the clatter of broken +glass. The explosive bombs wrought havoc upon the homes of harmless +Londoners. Flames, too, were springing up, throwing a lurid glare upon +the sky. + +Yet, unless actually within radius of the German explosives, the +populace was remarkably calm. Men, women, and children watched the +Zeppelin, much in the same way as if they were witnessing a Brock's +display at the Crystal Palace. Once again German frightfulness had +failed--and failed badly--to attain its desired end. + +"Hurrah! She's got it properly in the neck," shouted an excited +special constable, as the Zeppelin gave a sudden lurch and began to +drop at an acute angle. + +But the next instant the silvery envelope was hidden in a cloud of +dense black smoke. Seconds passed, but no shattered wreckage streamed +earthwards. When the vapour dispersed, the Zeppelin was nowhere to be +seen. Under cover of the smoke-cloud she had dropped a large quantity +of ballast, and had soared skyward to a great altitude. + +Gradually, like the rumble of a passing thunderstorm, the reports of +the distant anti-aircraft guns died away. The Zepps had taken +themselves off, leaving half a dozen fires and hundreds of more or less +damaged buildings to impress upon the strafed English that insularity +is no longer a protection from the cowardly night-raiders of the air. + +"The show's over," declared Ross. "I vote we turn in. By Jove, +there'll be a rush to the recruiting offices to-morrow!" + +Requesting to be called at eight, the two midshipmen entered the lift +and were whisked up to their room. + +"What's that noise?" asked Vernon, pausing in the midst of unpacking +his portmanteau. + +"Something in the corridor," replied Ross. + +"I don't think so. It's something or someone under my bed. Lock the +door, old man; no, don't ring, if it's a burglar we'll tackle him." + +Haye knelt by the bedside, Ross standing behind him ready to grapple +with the intruder. Cautiously Vernon lifted the valance. As he did so +he quickly withdrew his hand, which had come in contact with something +warm and moist. + +"Dash it all!" he exclaimed. "It's a dog. Come out, sir!" + +He was right. The animal gave a low whine, but made no attempt to +budge. + +"Mind the brute doesn't fix you," cautioned Ross. + +"No fear," replied his chum confidently. "All dogs take to me. Come +along, old boy." + +Again he groped with his hand. His fingers touched the long, silky +hair on the animal's neck. Slowly he drew the creature from its place +of concealment. It was a sheep-dog pup, of about four months. + +"Pretty-looking dog," exclaimed Vernon. "I wonder how it came here? +Suppose it was frightened at the racket. It looks terrified out of its +wits. Good dog!" + +The pup fixed its large brown eyes upon Vernon's face, and attempted to +wag its stumpy tail. As it did so the lads discovered that its hind +quarters were tinged with blood. + +"Oh, you poor little beggar!" said Vernon sympathetically. "However +did you get that? I say, Ross, fill that basin with water." + +"Better send for the boots," suggested Trefusis. "He'll take it to a +vet.'s, or perhaps he'll know whose dog it is." + +"Not much chance of finding a vet. at this time of night," objected +Vernon. "Even the chemist will be busy with minor casualties. No, I +won't worry the management. I've doctored dogs before now." + +He began bathing the matted hair. The flow of blood had ceased, but +upon examining the wound he found that it was a small circular incision. + +He felt the spot. The pup, hitherto patient, uttered a low moan. + +"There's something hard there," reported Vernon. "It's only a little +way under the skin. We'll have it out. Hold his head, old man. Don't +let him yelp; keep your hand over his muzzle. I'm afraid I must hurt +the poor little beggar a bit." + +Using the little blade of a knife, Haye adroitly probed the wound. +Soft-hearted as he was, the action seemed to hurt him more than the +patient; but his efforts were rewarded by the extraction of a small +steel ball. + +"A shrapnel bullet!" exclaimed Ross. "That accounts for the poor +little brute being in such a terrible funk. Give him a drink of water. +He'll be better now. We can bandage the wound with our handkerchiefs." + +Five minutes later the dumb patient, his hind quarters swathed in +elaborate bandages, was lying contentedly upon the hearth-rug, his +stumpy tail, protruding between the folds of linen, wagging, as he +tried to express his gratitude in doggy fashion. + +"Now what's to be done?" enquired Ross. + +"Let him stop until morning," replied Vernon decisively. "There might +be a row if the hotel people know that there's a dog in the bedroom. +The owner can't be much of a chap if he doesn't make enquiries." + +"Perhaps he hasn't missed the dog," suggested Ross; "or it's just +likely he isn't stopping at the hotel. Well, here goes. I'm turning +in." + +Ten minutes later both midshipmen were fast asleep. They had no middle +watch to keep, and as for Zeppelins, they were merely a passing show. + +At daylight Vernon was awakened by something licking his face. The +pup, having shown his contempt for bandages by biting them to ribbons, +was standing on his hind legs and licking his benefactor's nose, while +his tail was wagging with the rapidity of the flag of an expert +signaller. The hardy little animal had made light of his wound. + +Having dressed, the midshipman made enquiries of the waiter, but +without satisfactory results. No one in the hotel had a dog. + +"I'll report him to the police," decided Vernon. "Ten to one the owner +won't claim him. At any rate I'll stick to him. He's awfully fond of +me already." + +After breakfast Vernon sent the obliging waiter to purchase a collar, +for the sheep-dog was wearing none. Sticking closely to Vernon's +heels, the pup followed his new master to the police station, where an +inspector took down a number of particulars. + +"Very good, sir; that's all I want. I don't fancy you'll hear any more +about it." + +"What are you going to call him?" asked Ross, as the chums were seated +in a first-class carriage, with the dog at Vernon's feet, on their way +to Cornwall. + +"Zepp," replied Vernon promptly. + +"Not patriotic," objected Ross with a laugh. + +"I think so," rejoined his chum. + +"Why?" + +"Because, like last night's Zeppelin, he turned tail when he had a +shrapnel bullet in his stern." + +"That's all very well," said Ross, "but you can't explain all that to +everyone. Why not call him Shrapnel?" + +"All right. 'Shrap' for short," agreed Vernon. "Good boy, Shrap! Wag +your tail, you little rascal." + +And Shrap obeyed promptly. Evidently the choice of a name reminiscent +of bodily injury troubled him not one jot. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +Off the Belgian Coast + +"A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross. "Of +course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be +absolutely 'it'." + +Two months had elapsed since the lads saw a hostile air-ship over +London. Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed +British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but +against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast. + +Trefusis and Haye were on board the _Capella_, lying in the outer +harbour at Dover. It was not the _Capella_ that had come off +second-best in an encounter with a floating mine, but another, similar +in almost every respect to the lost patrol-boat. She was manned, too, +by the same officers and crew--with one exception. Sub-lieutenant John +Barry had obtained his promotion, and had been appointed to H.M.S. +_Hunbilker_ in command. + +What the _Hunbilker_ was, no one on board the _Capella_ knew. The +Admiralty publications at their disposal were blank as far as that ship +was concerned. Speculation ran high: some of the officers expressing +their opinion that Barry's command was a subsidized cargo-boat; others +that she was one of the mosquito flotilla that had been evolved out of +modern naval requirements. All were wrong, as they had yet to learn +something more of the type of vessel flying the White Ensign that was +helping to sweep the seas of the Black Cross of Germany. + +"Well, old boy, how do you think you will like the racket?" asked +Vernon, stooping to pat the massive head of a healthy-looking +sheep-dog. Shrap had been allowed, by the Captain's permission, to +join the _Capella_ as a mascot--the pet of both officers and crew, and +of Vernon Haye in particular. + +Shrap winked knowingly, then trotted off to a secluded part of the +chart-room, where, under a locker, he had hidden the remains of what, +half an hour previously, had been Sub-lieutenant Fox's shaving-brush. + +The _Capella_ was by no means the only craft rolling sluggishly in the +vast artificial harbour. There were seven motor patrol-vessels, +specially detailed for the forthcoming operations as tenders to the +sea-planes. + +A strong array of monitors, craft of ugly but utilitarian design, +low-lying, and mounting two 14-inch guns, had assembled for the purpose +of making it hot for the Hun on the morrow. Only light-draughted craft +were to be employed in the attack, since they could approach within +very effective range of their guns, and at the same time stand little +chance of being torpedoed by a handful of unterseebooten that had been +transported in sections to Zeebrugge and there fitted for service. + +According to the Admiral's plan, the monitors were to approach Ostend +just after daybreak. In the offing a number of empty transports were +to assemble, protected by a powerful flotilla of destroyers. The +appearance of these transports would be taken by the Germans as an +indication of an attempted landing of a British force, and troops would +be hurriedly massed to repel the threatened invasion. + +The monitors were thereupon to fire a certain number of rounds, then, +followed in a parallel course by the transports, make for Zeebrugge. +Alternate visits to both the Belgian ports in German hands were to be +made throughout the day, thereby wearing out the German troops in +fruitless marching and counter-marching, and at the same time diverting +a strong body of men from a section of the trenches upon which the +British troops were to deliver a sudden and unexpected assault. + +At four in the morning the monitors began to leave Dover Harbour. +Thanks to the stringent military precautions taken in the +town--precautions that could with decided advantage be imitated +elsewhere--the presence of spies was almost, if not quite, a matter of +impossibility. Unheralded by the Kaiser's agents, the small yet +powerful vessels cleared the entrance to the breakwater and headed for +the Belgian coast. + +An hour later a masthead lamp blinked from the _Vega_--the senior +officer's ship of the patrol flotilla. Then, in line ahead, the swift +motor craft slipped quietly out of the harbour to overtake their slower +consorts. + +The _Capella_, like the rest of her sister ships, was cleared for +action. Stanchion-rails were unshipped; everything likely to splinter +was sent below. In the wake of the armoured protection, sandbags were +placed to reinforce the steel plating. Although the patrol-vessels +were not to take part in the bombardment, they had to be prepared in +case a forlorn hope in the shape of a few German torpedo-boats might +attempt a sudden onslaught. + +As attendants upon the sea-planes, too, it was possible that the +patrol-boats would have to approach within range of the garrison +artillery, especially in the event of one of the aerial craft being +disabled and falling into the sea, on its return from "spotting" the +hits of the monitors' guns. + +Dawn had not yet broken when the monitors, followed at two miles' +distance by the motor patrol, came in sight of the search-lights on the +low-lying Belgian coast. Beyond the limit of direct rays, yet within +range of their monster guns, the monitors were safe from detection. +All that was wanting was the presence of the sea-planes, for whose work +daylight was essential. + +Slowly a pale light spread on the north-eastern horizon. The short +wintry day was breaking. The sea was calm. The air was piercingly +cold. A thin coating of frost covered the _Capella's_ deck. Ross and +his chum were heartily glad of their thick pilot-coats, mufflers, and +woollen "mitts", as they sheltered behind the breast-work erected on +the bridge. + +Captain Syllenger slowly paced the bridge, frequently glancing at the +clock in the chart-room, since it was almost a matter of impossibility +to consult his watch, owing to his generous accumulation of clothing. +It was now nearly eight o'clock, but as yet there were no signs of the +expected sea-planes. + +Just then the dull morning light was pierced by a brilliant flash from +one of the monitors. The watchers on the _Capella's_ bridge could see +the low-lying hull give a decided jerk in a sternward direction under +the reaction of the enormous projectile. + +Long before the shell reached its objective, other 14-inch guns added +their quota, and the air was rent with the flashes of the ordnance and +the ear-splitting detonations following the discharge. + +"By Jove!" exclaimed Sub-lieutenant Fox, who with his brother officers +had had telescopes levelled upon the faintly outlined sand dunes. +"There are the sea-planes!" + +He was right. Flying at a great height the air-squadron had passed +over the warships, and had taken up their observation stations without +being seen or heard by anyone on board the patrol-vessels immediately +over the German batteries, they were cutting "figure eights" and +describing seemingly erratic circles, while the observers, coolly +wirelessing the results of the monitors' shells, hardly heeded the +furious fire directed upon them by the hostile anti-aircraft guns. + +On a point extending for nearly three miles, the shore was torn by the +terrific explosive shells. Clouds of sand, and yellow smoke mingled +marked the scene of destruction, as battery after battery was spotted +and promptly put out of action. Across the dunes could be seen swarms +of ant-like figures--German troops flying for shelter from the +devastating fire of the British guns. + +But the action was by no means a one-sided one. Guns, large and small, +replied; the heavier ordnance vigorously at first, and then gradually +slackening down as the lyddite shells sought out the fixed +emplacements. The lighter guns, mounted on armoured motor-cars, gave +more trouble, since, after every shot, each piece was moved a hundred +yards or more. + +For several minutes the lads watched the unusual spectacle through the +binoculars. Then something resembling a concentrated tornado screeched +above their heads. Instinctively they ducked, the glasses falling from +their hands. Ten seconds later Ross ventured to look up. Vernon was +still holding his hands over his face. Then slowly he, too, opened his +eyes. + +The lads smiled sadly at each other, picked up their binoculars, and +somewhat shamefacedly resumed their former positions. + +It was their baptism of heavy gun-fire. A 42-centimetre shell had +ricochetted and leapt full twenty feet above their heads. + +Captain Syllenger was standing a few paces from them. Luckily, thought +Ross, the skipper's back was turned, and he had not noticed the action +of his young subordinates. But Trefusis was wrong. The Captain had +seen them. Out of consideration, for he remembered his own sensations +when first under fire, he affected not to notice the temporary panic +that had overtaken the midshipmen. + +The _Capella_ was now running at half speed, in a direction parallel to +the shore. All around, the sea was torn by the falling projectiles, +most of which were sufficiently large to send her to the bottom like a +stone. Yet, beyond the wounding of her wireless operator, the loss of +her signalling-mast, and the shattering of one of her boats, she came +off lightly. Although not the object of the hostile guns, she narrowly +escaped several ricochets, until, at a signal from the senior officer, +the patrol-vessels withdrew to a safer distance. + +One of the monitors, too, was slowly steaming seawards, well down by +the bows and smoke issuing from her fo'c'sle, while her single funnel +was riddled like a sieve. + +"Sea-plane returning, sir!" announced Sub-lieutenant Fox. + +Flying at an altitude of about a thousand feet, one of the aerial +scouts was making towards the line of patrol-vessels. She was flying +steadily; her motor was purring rhythmically; a trail of thin bluish +smoke from her exhaust belied the suggestion of an overheated engine. +Yet something must have taken place for her to have quitted her +observation station. + +Promptly Captain Syllenger gave orders for the _Capella's_ motors to +stop, then "Easy astern" until way was off the ship. + +Making a graceful volplane, the sea-plane alighted with a faint splash +upon the surface of the water, and "taxied" to leeward of the +motionless vessel. + +The sea-plane was a "two-seater". The rearmost or observer's seat was +unoccupied. In the foremost was a young Flight-Sub-lieutenant heavily +clad, and his clean-shaven face almost hidden by an airman's helmet. +For the first time, the officers on the bridge of the _Capella_ noticed +that the light steel plating was holed in many places, while the planes +bore testimony to the accuracy of the enemy's shrapnel. + +"A casualty!" sang out the Flying officer. "My pilot's been hit. Can +you take him on board?" + +Two of the _Capella's_ crew swarmed over the side and gained the +nearmost float, whence they clambered upon the body of the sea-plane. +At the same time, one of the davits from which the _Capella's_ +shattered boat had hung was slung outboard. By dint of careful +manoeuvring, the sea-plane was brought alongside with her main planes +practically parallel to the side of the ship. + +The injured man was lying on the floor of the fuselage. A canvas band +was strapped round his waist, and, supported by the two seamen, he was +gently hoisted on board the ship by means of the davit tackle. + +The Flight-Sub swung himself over the side of the _Capella_ and +ascended the bridge. + +"Got it hot at fifteen hundred feet," he explained. "My pilot was +winged. Hit twice, I believe. Luckily the old bird kept fairly steady +until I could clamber into the pilot's seat and take control. Rough +luck, too. We were just doing a useful bit of spotting. I suppose, +sir, there's no one on board who can handle a 'plane?" + +"I'm afraid not," replied Captain Syllenger. + +"Rough luck!" exclaimed the Sub despondently. Then, brightening up, he +asked: + +"Can you lend me a 'wireless' man? I could take on the pilot's job." + +"Our man's knocked out," said the skipper. + +"That's done it!" exclaimed the Sub. "There's a particularly tough +battery that I wanted to see knocked out. No. 5 was almost on it when +we got it hot." + +Ross was thinking rapidly and deeply. He knew the Morse code well. He +had dabbled in wireless telegraphy at school. Perhaps---- + +He felt that it was almost too impertinent to offer his services, yet +the matter was urgent. It was dangerous, too, most dangerous; but the +midshipman had learnt to place duty before personal consideration. + +"Well?" asked Captain Syllenger as Trefusis stepped up and saluted +smartly. + +"I'll go if I can be of any assistance, sir," said Ross. "I can Morse +and use a buzzer, and I have a knowledge of wireless." + +"Carry on, then," replied Captain Syllenger. + +"Good man!" exclaimed the Flight-Sub-lieutenant. "Can you stick +heights?" + +"I've done a lot of cliff climbing--I am a Cornishman, you know," said +Trefusis. "I haven't had a chance of flying before." + +"You have now!" added the Flight-Sub. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +Disabled in Mid-air + +Ross climbed agilely into the observer's seat, and, at his flying +companion's suggestion, buckled a broad leather strap round his waist. +At his right hand was the wireless transmitter, together with a pair of +prismatic glasses and map. The latter was held in a transparent +celluloid case, while the glasses were secured by a cord sufficiently +long to enable the observer to use them in any direction. Everything +was attached to the sea-plane so that in the event of the machine +having to "loop the loop" nothing would be lost. + +The Sub, who for the present was to act as pilot, took his place in the +forward part of the body. Giving a few preliminary touches to the +mechanism, he announced that everything was in order. + +The self-starter was released and the motor fired, causing the twin +propellers to buzz smoothly and powerfully. + +Ross waved his hand to his chum as the sea-plane glided away from the +_Capella_, and from that moment his whole attention was centred upon +the work on which he was engaged. + +For nearly a hundred yards the sea-plane "taxied", rising lightly over +the waves; then almost imperceptibly it glided upwards with an even +motion. Ross could hardly believe he was flying until he saw the sea +apparently receding from him. + +"All right?" asked the Sub through the telephone that formed the only +audible means of communication between pilot and observer. "Not +feeling giddy?" + +"Not a bit," replied Ross. Without experiencing the faintest sensation +of vertigo, he found himself able to lean over the side of the chassis +and look down at the scene two thousand feet beneath him. + +The sea-plane was rising in a direction diverging obliquely with the +coast. She was, in fact, almost over the line of empty transports that +looked little bigger than a fleet of toy boats. Farther away could be +discerned the _Capella_ and her consorts, moving with apparent slowness +upon a perfectly calm sea, for at that altitude the waves were merged +into a flat surface. Small splashes of white--the spray thrown up by +falling shells--could be seen all around the patrol-vessels, which, in +obedience to a signal, had now taken up a position rather nearer to the +monitors. + +Presently the Flight-Sub, having gained the desired altitude, moved the +steering-plane ever so slightly. Quickly the machine answered her +helm, swinging round until she pointed towards the land. + +Three minutes later Ross found himself immediately above the British +monitors. The sea-plane was now pitching slightly in the disturbed +air, for the concussion of the heavy weapons was distinctly felt even +at seven hundred yards above the bombarding ships. Although the roar +of the concerted cannonade was deafening, Ross heard not a sound of it. +To all intents, as far as he was concerned, the guns might have been +fired with silencers attached to their muzzles. The whirr of the +sea-plane's motor and the rush of air past his ears out-voiced every +other sound. + +Five miles beyond the line of monitors, could be discerned the Belgian +coast, composed for the most part of undulating sand-dunes dotted with +clusters of buildings. + +As the sea-plane approached the land Ross could, with the aid of his +binoculars, distinguish other objects--wavy lines, dotted with ant-like +figures bunched together round something that looked like stumps of a +lead pencil. The lines were the German trenches, the "ants" +grey-coated artillerymen, and the "stumps" the heavy howitzers. + +"That's our pigeon!" spoke the Flight-Sub through the telephone. "The +battery a hundred yards to the north of that ruined church tower. Our +fellows haven't knocked it out yet. Wireless them; fifty yards over." + +Ross sent the desired information. The sea-plane, having flown over +its objective, turned, describing an elongated figure eight. As she +swung round, Ross noticed a mushroom-like cloud of white smoke a short +distance beneath, and to the left of the fuselage. Then another a +hundred feet immediately in front. At each "mushroom" the sea-plane +curtsied. Something zipped close to the lad's ear. A wire snapped, +the severed portions circling themselves into erratic spirals. A +fragment of fabric from one of the main planes flew past him, like a +scrap of tissue-paper in the grip of a boisterous wind. + +Then Ross tumbled to it. Those silent mushrooms of smoke were shrapnel +shells bursting unpleasantly close. For a moment, the young observer +felt himself seized by an almost irresistible impulse to take refuge +under the coaming surrounding his seat. He uttered an involuntary +exclamation of unwelcome surprise. + +"What's up?" asked a voice in his ear. It was the Flight-Sub, to whom +the telephone had transmitted Ross's exclamation. + +"Nothing," replied the lad. + +"Thought so," was the laconic reply. "Don't worry." + +Reasoning with himself, Ross came to the decision that the advice was +thoroughly sound. Worrying would not help him in the least; neither +would cowering inside the frail body of the sea-plane. Twice within a +very short space of time he had experienced a sensation of "funk". +Twice he was surprised to find how quickly he recovered; for, at the +next shot from the monitor for which he was "spotting", he found that +the sensation of "cold feet" had given place to one of exhilaration +when he was able to record a "direct hit". + +By this time the initial operations were terminating. The German fire +had almost ceased to be troublesome. Most of the big howitzers and +long-range guns had been knocked out. A few were still firing, but +very erratically. + +At a signal from the senior officer, the monitors drew out of range, +and steaming at the maximum speed--a bare 11 knots--kept a course +parallel with the shore, accompanied by the patrol-vessels and +transports. + +Well above effective shrapnel range, the squadron of sea-planes headed +for Zeebrugge. A number of aviatiks, which were flying over the German +new sea base, hurriedly turned tail. Previous experience had taught +them that naval air-craft could hit hard, in addition to carrying out +observation work. + +There were, however, plenty of evidences that the Germans were rushing +up thousands of troops in order to deal with the supposed landing in +force. Train after train made towards the town, crammed with soldiers. + +The sea-planes let the trains pass unhindered. It was not their +purpose to stop Germans from pouring into Zeebrugge. Once the troops +were there, then would be the time to cut their lines of communication. + +Again the monitors opened fire. Their reception was hotter than it had +been in the neighbourhood of Ostend, for, in spite of frequent and +destructive molestation, the Germans had succeeded in throwing up +numerous heavily armed and cleverly concealed batteries. + +At almost extreme range the British ships maintained a rapid high-angle +fire. In a few minutes fires had broken out in several places. +Fifteen-hundred-pound shells dropped in the canal basin, blowing to +atoms several submarines that were in the process of fitting out. The +harbour works were swept by the huge projectiles. The long curved +breakwater suffered heavily. Huge gaps appeared in the solid masonry. +Everything lying afloat in the enclosed water was either set on fire or +sunk. In an hour the havoc wrought at Zeebrugge had wiped out the work +of months. + +Ross had little time to notice the work of destruction. His particular +business was to observe the fire directed upon a large redoubt to the +north-east of the town. The first shell from the monitor fell short, +blowing an enormous crater in the grass-grown dunes. The second fell +beyond, completely demolishing a house. The third dropped fairly in +the centre of the redoubt, causing a terrific explosion that was not +due solely to the lyddite bursting-charge. The magazine had exploded. + +Skywards rushed an enormous cloud of black and yellow smoke. Caught by +the blast of the violently displaced air the sea-plane rocked, then +began dropping like a stone. + +For the moment Ross imagined that the end had come. He was no longer +afraid. A sensation of intense curiosity as to what the machine and +its occupants would look like seemed to obsess his mind. + +Then, with a jerk that reminded the midshipman of the sudden starting +of a lift, the sea-plane "flattened out" and began to climb out of the +enveloping cloud of smoke. + +The Flight-Sub turned his head and grinned broadly. His manner could +not do otherwise than inspire confidence. Although not a pilot, he was +master of the frail machine. Side-slips and nose-dives troubled him +but little, provided he was flying at a safe altitude. + +"A jolly good wipe-out!" he exclaimed. "There won't be many Bosches +left within half a mile of that battery, I'm thinking. Now watch when +the next shot lands: that will give you the objective." + +A sharp buzzing in the receiver attached to Ross's flying helmet +announced that the monitor was "calling up" her observer. Quickly the +lad seized the pencil, and gave the signal that he was ready to take +down the message. + +The Morse signal, when translated into writing, was as follows:-- + +"Register Position 47." + +"Good!" exclaimed the Plight-Sub when Ross had telephoned him the +message. He consulted his map, which was similar to the one at the +observer's disposal "Position 47: that's a railway junction." + +In the course of their work of fortifying Zeebrugge, the Huns had +constructed a double-track railway, passing within a few yards of the +Dutch frontier for several miles before heading straight for the new +submarine base. Two miles from Zeebrugge the line joined the existing +railway, the junction being recorded on British airmen's maps as +Position 47. + +The time was now ripe for the monitor which had successfully demolished +the redoubt to attempt a similar exploit, namely, to destroy the +junction. + +The sea-plane's appearance was the signal for a furious fire from the +numerous anti-aircraft guns mounted in the vicinity of the station. + +At six thousand feet the risk of being hit was small, while the height +did not prevent the observer making a fairly accurate register of the +hits. + +It was a very long range, but the monitor's 14-inch guns did excellent +work. Seven shells sufficed to reduce the station to a heap of ruins +and blow whole sections of the line to atoms. + +Again came a wireless order: + +"Sea-plane to proceed to Zwilhuit. Attempt destruction of bridge +across canal." + +Once more the Flight-Sub smiled. This was work that suited him +immensely. For the nonce "spotting" was finished with. The sea-plane +had to drop her cargo of bombs upon an important strategic position. + +"All right!" exclaimed the Flying officer. "Keep a cool head. When I +give the word, press that pedal under your right foot. Bend down and +you'll find a safety pin just above the floor. Remove it, but be jolly +careful not to touch the pedal until I give the word." + +Underneath the fuselage were six bombs hanging from an inclined steel +rod. These were released by means of a rachet operated by the pedal to +which the Flight-Sub had alluded. To prevent a premature release the +pedal was "locked" by a safety device. When this was removed, each +depression of the pedal would result in the liberation of a potent +missile of destruction. + +The sea-plane was not alone on her errand. In her wake flew two more, +for the actual bombardment had now ceased, and the air-craft were at +liberty to engage upon a raid several miles inland. + +The Huns had not constructed their strategic railway close to the Dutch +frontier without a cunning reason. Extreme care had to be exercised by +British airmen, since it was an easy matter for a bomb to drop across +the border. Nothing would please the Germans better, for at once there +would be a case of violation of Dutch territory. On the other hand, +the Huns had no scruple in mounting a battery of anti-aircraft guns, +training them in such a manner that the earthward flight of spent +shrapnel would assuredly fall upon the Dutch village of Venterloos, +which was separated from Zwilhuit by a distance of less than four +hundred yards. + +In twenty minutes the sea-plane's objective came in sight: a broad line +of railway crossing a canal by means of a steel bridge. It was evident +that the Germans meant this base to be a permanent one, for the bridge +was of massive construction, strong enough to bear the transport of the +heavy 42-centimetre guns, and yet sufficiently high above the waterway +to admit the passage of large lighters with towering deck-cargoes. + +"Stand by!" cautioned the Flight-Sub. "Keep cool. Do as well as you +have already done, and everything will go like greased lightning." + +Volplaning at an acute angle, the sea-plane swooped down upon her +quarry. Shrapnel shells burst over, in front, behind, and underneath +her. It seemed impossible that such a frail object could escape +destruction. + +At five hundred feet the Flight-Sub checked her downward course. + +"Now!" he ordered. "And again!" + +Two puffs of white smoke marked the points of explosion of the powerful +bombs. One had fallen fifty yards short of the bridge; the other had +burst almost at the junction of the railway lines. + +Round spun the sea-plane. As she turned Ross could discern the second +of the aerial raiders gliding down, while the third was still at a +great altitude. Before the one in which Ross was flying could again +soar over its target the second sea-plane had dropped three of her +missiles. All fell close to the bridge. The work of demolition was +accomplished, for when the smoke and dust cleared away the substantial +fabric had been precipitated, a mass of twisted steel, into the canal. + +[Illustration: "THE WORK OF DEMOLITION WAS ACCOMPLISHED"] + +"Two more on the station and then we've finished," exclaimed the +Flight-Sub. "Ready?" + +"Ay, ay!" replied Ross. + +He turned his head to watch the progress of the other sea-planes. One +was still maintaining a terrific altitude, and showed no signs of +making a volplane. + +The other was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps it was as well that the +midshipman had not noticed what had befallen her, for a few seconds +previously a shrapnel shell had burst close underneath the chassis. +The explosion had communicated itself to the remaining bombs, with the +result that utter annihilation had overtaken the plucky British airmen +in the moment of their triumph. + +Ross's companion had witnessed the catastrophe. More, his trained eye +had discerned half a dozen small specks in the western sky. Quickly he +brought his binoculars to bear upon them. No mistake now; the specks +revealed themselves as German aviatiks intent upon cutting off the +retreat of the two remaining British air-craft. + +Not until Ross had dropped the remaining bombs did his companion speak. + +"We've a bit of a shooting match on," he announced. "Get that rifle +ready. It's under the coaming on your right hand. Sight at three +hundred yards, and let rip when I give the word." + +Ross took up the weapon almost as a matter of course. After the +excitement of bomb-dropping and being shelled by shrapnel, the approach +of a fleet of Zeppelins would hardly disturb his equanimity. + +Already the third sea-plane, having gained a favourable altitude, was +making straight for her numerous opponents. + +The Flight-Sub now began to speed his machine up, climbing in short +spirals, so as to gain what was equivalent to the "weather-gauge" in +the sea battles of Nelson's days. + +Ross unslipped the rifle. Mechanically he set the back-sight, and +jerked open the bolt-action to assure himself that the magazine was +charged. As he did so he became aware that the cartridges were bent +and buckled. A piece of shrapnel, passing through the side of the +fuselage, had lodged in the magazine of the rifle. In addition, +although it was possible to withdraw the bolt, the striking-pin had +jammed. As a weapon the rifle was useless. By stopping the shrapnel +bullet the rifle had saved Ross from a serious and perhaps mortal wound. + +The midshipman was on the point of reporting the disablement of the +weapon, when the motor gave vent to a peculiar cough and abruptly +stopped. Unknown to the pilot the petrol-tank had been pierced almost +at its lowest point. The remaining petrol had been used up during the +spiraling process. The sea-plane was now at an altitude of three +thousand feet; propulsion, except under the force of gravity, was no +longer possible. + +The Flight-Sub was quick to act. Before the hitherto climbing +air-craft began diving tail downwards, he regulated the elevating +planes, and a long volplane ensued. The sea-plane was bound to come to +earth, but it was not on hostile soil that the airman hoped to alight. +His goal was the ground beyond the seemingly endless line of barbed +wire that marked the frontier between Belgium and Holland. + +The anti-aircraft guns had now opened fire, blazing furiously away at +the rapidly descending sea-plane. The rapidity of her descent saved +her, for, before the time-fuses could be altered to suit the +ever-varying range, the air-craft was well below the bursting-point of +the missiles. Nothing but a direct hit--a most difficult matter--could +harm her now. + +At a thousand feet she passed the border-line. Still the Archibalds +barked. Ross could see the Dutch frontier guards bolting for shelter +as the hall of bullets fell on neutral ground. Not until the sea-plane +was well over the boundary did the guns reluctantly cease fire. + +The earth appeared to leap up and meet the descending machine. It +looked as if a terrific smash were inevitable. A sea-plane alighting +upon solid ground has a thousand chances against her, for, being +unprovided with landing wheels, she is not adapted to withstand +successfully the impact with the earth. + +Cool and collected, the Flight-Sub "flattened her out" to a nicety. At +forty miles an hour the floats struck the ground. For twenty yards the +sea-plane skidded, then with a rending crash the floats and a network +of struts and tension-wires gave way under the abnormal strain. The +next instant Ross found himself sprawling on the sandy soil, the sudden +jerk tearing his securing-belt from its fastenings. + +He sat up. A multitude of dazzling lights seemed to flash before his +eyes. He was dimly aware of a tangle of wreckage, out of which a +practically undamaged plane rose at an oblique angle, lumbering the +ground quite twenty yards from where he found himself. Men were +hastening towards the wrecked sea-plane from all directions, but, thank +Heaven, they did not wear the uniform of the Hun. + +With his head still whirling, Ross was supported by two Dutch soldiers, +while a third poured a quantity of raw spirits down his throat. Blood +was streaming from a gash on his forehead, and his knees, grazed and +discoloured, were visible through rents in his trousers. + +Of what happened during the next quarter of an hour, the midshipman had +but a very hazy idea. The men had laid him on the ground, propping him +against a large stone. He felt horribly sick. The pain across his +chest, caused by the strain upon the leather belt, was acute--far worse +than the wound on his forehead which the kindly soldiers were bathing +with handkerchiefs dipped in water. + +The men were talking excitedly. He could not understand what they were +saying. He felt inclined to tell them to shut up. They irritated him +beyond measure; if only they would go away and leave him in peace he +would be deeply grateful. + +Suddenly it dawned upon him that he had been in an awful smash. The +wrecked sea-plane had not hitherto led the train of his thoughts to the +subject of the accident. Now he realized his position. + +"Where's my companion?" he asked, "Is he knocked out?" + +"Do not yourself fret," said a voice that sounded far away. "He is +hurt, but badly not at all. We him have carried away. I am a doctor. +You quiet must be, and zen recovery rapide will be." + +The doctor--a Dutch army surgeon--ran his hands lightly over the lad's +limbs. + +"Goot!" he ejaculated. "Nodings broken is." + +He gave directions to the men in attendance. A stretcher was laid on +the ground beside the lad. Two men lifted him gently upon it. Even as +they did so, Ross gave a low groan and passed into merciful oblivion. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +Not on Parole + +"Ver' goot. I understan' you no give parole?" + +"No, sir," replied the Flight-Sub firmly. + +"An' you, mynheer?" + +"I am in the same boat, sir," replied Ross. + +The camp-commandant smiled--a hearty smile, bordering on a laugh. + +"Goot, I understan' also," he reiterated. Then, shaking a podgy little +finger, he added: "Same boat, ah? English idiomatic expression? Ver' +well, it is so; but if you make escape, do not let me you catch. Zat +is all." + +A week had elapsed since the involuntary descent of the sea-plane. +Both officers were making rapid progress towards recovery, for, in +spite of the violence of the impact, neither of them had received +anything worse than contusions and bruises. + +After three days in hospital at Utrecht, the interned aviators were +transferred to a small concentration camp at the village of Koedijk, a +short distance from Alkmaar. A few miles to the westward, and beyond +an expanse of sand dunes, was the North Sea. The temptation to refuse +to give their parole was not to be wondered at, with the call of the +sea so near at hand. It was, indeed, rather remarkable that the two +officers had not been sent to the large internment camp at Groningen, +where so many of the ill-fated Naval Brigade languished, if not in +captivity, in a state of enforced and tedious detention. + +"We'll have to be doubly careful now," remarked the Flight-Sub. "The +mere fact that we have declined to give our parole will put the +commandant on his guard. Our best plan will be to mark time for a bit." + +"Marking time is always an unsatisfactory business," protested the +energetic Ross. "Nothing rusts a fellow like inaction. It wouldn't be +much of a task to tunnel our way out." + +The Flight-Sub shook his head. + +"Tunnelling's not much good in this water-logged country," he declared. +"We are not water-rats. Patience, my festive: where there's a will +there's a way." + +Their quarters consisted of a long, two-storied building. The only +other occupants beside the guards, were three British Naval officers +rescued from a mined trawler that had managed to reach Dutch waters +before foundering. Two of them had broken legs; the third was down +with double pneumonia, the legacy of many a cold, stormy night in the +North Sea. + +Surrounding the house was a high brick wall, on which had been recently +placed a triple row of barbed wire. At the entrance, an archway about +ten feet in height, stood a wooden sentry-box, where a soldier with +rifle and fixed bayonet kept guard in the leisurely manner of the +stolid Dutch menfolk. One could imagine him, a picturesque figure in +baggy trousers and coat of fantastic cut, smoking his pipe on the quay +at Volendam. The blue uniform did not form a fitting mantle for his +corpulent form. + +The sentry was one of a type. The rest of the guards--middle-aged men +called up on mobilization--were much of the same build and demeanour. +Their innate love of gossiping tempted them to be on most friendly +terms with the interned officers. One and all were violently +pro-British. They had reason to dread the German menace, for they were +level-headed enough to realize that, with the Central Powers +triumphant, the independence of Holland would be a thing of the past. + +Adjoining the grounds were the quarters occupied by interned seamen, to +the number of about sixty. They were strictly guarded; a formidable +double fence of barbed wire, between which armed sentries patrolled, +enclosed the premises. For discipline, the men were under the orders +of their own petty officers. + +"Jolly good luck to you!" exclaimed one of the wounded officers, to +whom the two new-comers confided their intention of escaping. "If we +three weren't crocked we should have been across the ditch by this +time." + +He pointed seawards as he spoke. From the upper windows of the +building the sunlit sea could be seen. Beyond the "ditch", as he +termed it, was England and freedom. + +"It's no use trying to break out," he continued. "German spies as +thick as blackberries along the coast. The most benevolent-looking +mynheer might, as likely as not, be a kultured Hun. You have to be +smuggled out. Try your blandishments on old Katje." + +"Old who?" asked the Flight-Sub. + +"Katje, the old vrouw who calls for the washing. She comes every +Tuesday and Friday with a cart drawn by dogs, and a basket big enough +to stow the pair of you. You'll want plenty of palm oil. There are +the sentries to be squared, and the fellow who provides you with a suit +of 'mufti'. Wilson, our Lieutenant-Commander, got clear about a month +ago. He made his way to Ymuiden." + +"Wasn't there a row about it?" asked Ross. + +"Naturally," replied the wounded officer. "We had a pretty strenuous +time after it--certain privileges withdrawn and all that sort of thing. +However, when we heard that Wilson had succeeded in making his way to +England we didn't mind that, and things have now recovered their normal +appearance." + +On the following Tuesday, Ross and his companion anxiously awaited the +arrival of Vrouw Katje. At length the old lady--she was nearly +eighty--drove up in style, shouting shrilly to her dogs from her perch +on top of an enormous wicker hamper. + +"More washing for you, Katje," announced one of the crippled officers. +"Two more of my countrymen. They will be very pleased to see you." + +Without further ado, Katje ascended the stairs and hammered violently +upon the door of the sitting-room. + +Her knowledge of English was good, for earlier in life she was the wife +of the skipper of a bolter that made regular voyages to Hole Haven at +the mouth of the Thames, where a large eel trade was in the hands of +the Dutch fishermen. + +"Very well; but I must ask permission of the Commandant," replied +Katje, in perfect good faith, when the Flight-Sub had broached the +subject of being conveyed from the internment camp. + +"No, no," protested the young officer in alarm; "that won't do." + +"Why not?" persisted the washerwoman. "Mynheer the Commandant is very +kind." + +"Undoubtedly," replied the Flight-Sub. "But we would much rather that +you wait until we are away from the place before you ask him. See, +here are five English sovereigns. They are yours once you get us +clear." + +The vrouw shook her head. + +"I do not care to," she replied firmly; then without a pause she +continued: "My son-in-law, Jan van Beverwijk, will. I am sure he will. +Next Friday he will come instead of me. He is mate of a steamship that +takes the bulbs from Holland to England. He returns to-morrow, and +sails on Saturday from Ymuiden." + +"That sounds excellent," commented the Flight-Sub. + +"It is excellent," agreed Katje. "It will cost you each twenty English +sovereigns." + +"But we haven't ten between us." + +The vrouw smiled till her weather-beaten face was one mass of deep +wrinkles. + +"You English have a proverb about a road," she remarked. + +"'It's a long lane that has no turning?'" quoted the officer; but Katje +shook her head. + +"'Where there's a will there's a way'," suggested Ross. + +"Ah! That is it. I knew it was something about a road or a lane. +Way, you call it. Very well; by next Friday you will find a way." + +"Artful old baggage!" exclaimed the Flight-Sub when Katje had taken her +departure. "She's mighty keen on the rhino. We'll have to have a whip +round, Trefusis, and give a note of hand." + +Their brothers in adversity willingly responded to the call, and before +the eventful Friday a sum in English and Dutch coinage, equivalent to +forty pounds, was ready to be handed to Jan van Beverwijk. + +"I wouldn't pay cash on the nail if I were you," suggested the crippled +officer who had been so useful in advising them before. "Half down, +and the rest when you land in England. Jan might object, but he'll +give in. No Dutchman of his standing would shut his eyes to twenty in +hard cash." + +At eight o'clock on Friday morning Katje's dog-team romped up; but, +instead of the old vrouw, a lean, leather-faced man with a long coat +reaching to his heels and a flat-topped peak cap strode beside the cart. + +At the gate he stopped, and spoke at considerable length with the +sentry. There was hardly any expression on the faces of the two men as +they talked. Whether the soldier fell in with the suggestion, Ross, +who was anxiously watching from the window, could not decide. + +Presently Jan stooped to fasten the strap of one of his _klompen_, or +wooden shoes; then shouting to the dogs he came towards the house. +Before he had gone very far, the sentry bent and picked up something +that was lying on the spot where Jan had been attending to his footgear. + +"Palm oil!" remarked the Flight-Sub laconically. + +"Heavy wash to-day," was Jan's greeting as he deposited his heavy +basket in the corridor. "Spot cash, down on the nail." + +"Your knowledge of English is remarkable," said the Flight-Sub affably. + +"It has to be," rejoined the Dutchman stolidly. + +"We have only twenty pounds," declared the Sub. "That we will give you +as soon as we are on board and in English waters. The balance Mr. +Brown will give you on your return, on receipt of a note from us to the +effect that we are safely home." + +"It cannot be done," said Jan. + +"Then the deal's off," remarked the Flight-Sub coolly; but he +ostentatiously poured the coins from his right hand into his left +before returning them to his pocket. + +The Dutchman capitulated. + +"Very good," he said. "I can trust an English Naval officer, although +many a time have I been done in London. Get in, one of you." + +"But the other?" enquired the Sub. + +"I am strong, but I am not a Hercules," replied the Dutchman with a +shrug of his shoulders. "One I can carry to the cart. To-day is a +heavy wash, so I must return for a second load. You twig?" + +"In you get, Trefusis," ordered his companion, in a tone that would +brook no refusal. + +By dint of hunching his shoulders and bending his knees, Ross managed +to get into the basket. The lid was shut, and Jan, assisted by the +Sub, lifted the heavy load on to his shoulders. + +Jolting over the cobble-stones, the cart proceeded at a rapid pace for +nearly a quarter of an hour. Then Jan called to the dogs to stop. The +lid was thrown back and Ross told to get out. + +He found himself outside a small cottage by the side of a canal. Katje +was on her knees washing a bundle of clothes; the operation assisted, +with disastrous results to the interned officers' effects, by means of +two large stones with which she pounded the saturated garments. +Without even turning her head to watch the midshipman's exit from the +basket, she proceeded vigorously with her task. + +Jan led him into the cottage and pointed to a heap of clothes. + +"Put these on you," he said. "I will now go for your friend." + +Before the Flight-Sub rejoined him, Ross was rigged out as a Dutch +youth, in voluminous trousers, long coat, stock, tall cylindrical hat, +green stockings, and wooden shoes. His companion had to look twice +before he recognized him. + +"Now you come with me to Mynheer Guit," said Jan. "He is a bulb +merchant, and lives just outside Ymuiden. You will then go on board a +barge that brings the boxes of bulbs from Mynheer Guit's warehouse to +the ship. I will be with you. The men in the barge will say nothing. +Before to-night you will be safe on board the _Hoorn_." + +Jan was as good as his word. That night the fugitives slept +comfortably in the cabin of the mate of the steamship _Hoorn_; and at +tide-time, early on Saturday morning while it was still dark, the +vessel glided between the breakwater of Ymuiden, and shaped a course +for the mouth of the Thames. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +Almost Recaptured + +"What's that light, Jan?" asked the Flight-Sub. + +The _Hoorn_ was now well beyond the three-mile limit. Ross and his +fellow-passenger were standing aft, sheltering from the keen +south-westerly wind. The mate of the vessel was with them, the skipper +being on the bridge. + +"Those lights?" corrected Jan. "They have been visible all the time. +They are the two white leading-lights to Ymuiden harbour." + +"No, I don't mean those," said the Flight-Sub. "Away to the south'ard, +quite a mile from the harbour. See, it's showing again." + +From the dunes a white light blinked thrice and then disappeared. + +"I do not know," answered Jan gravely. He thought for a moment and +then said: "Half a mo'. I will speak to the skipper." + +"Hanged if I like it," muttered the Flight-Sub. "I say, Trefusis, that +light blinking away looks very fishy. It would mean a fifty-pound fine +in England; but here, apparently, it is not objected to." + +The skipper and the mate were talking rapidly. Both men were leaning +over the after side of the bridge-rails, with their eyes fixed upon the +dark shore from which the mysterious light flickered at regular +intervals. + +"Light on the port bow," reported the helmsman. Both of the _Hoorn's_ +officers turned just in time to catch sight of a steady white light +before it disappeared. Whatever its meaning, it was remarkable that +from that moment the shore light ceased to blink. + +"Put out our navigation lamps, Jan," said the skipper. "Someone has +betrayed your English friends. Nevertheless I will do all in my power +to aid them. We'll steer south-west for an hour. Perhaps we may +outwit yon craft, whatever she may be, before dawn." + +Ross and his companion were quick to note the alteration of helm. They +knew, too, that the removal of the steaming-lights was for the purpose +of baffling what must be, to a dead certainty, a German craft--a +submarine, or perhaps a torpedo-boat, since the latter frequently +ventured out of Borkum and crept stealthily towards the Schelde, +keeping close to the Dutch territorial waters in order to avoid being +snapped by the vigilant British destroyer flotilla. + +Slowly the wintry day dawned. Anxiously the British officers scanned +the horizon. The low-lying Dutch coast was now invisible. All around +was a waste of grey, tumbling waves, unbroken by a sail of any +description. + +The _Hoorn_ was ploughing her way at a modest ten knots. Short, beamy, +and deep-draughted, she was pitching heavily, sending a frothy bow wave +far to leeward each time she dipped her nose into the steep seas. + +"I'd give a fiver for the sight of a good old White Ensign at the +present moment," remarked the Flight-Sub anxiously. "Good heavens, +what's that?" + +Ten seconds later he laughed mirthlessly. + +"Nerves going to blazes," he muttered. "A bit of wreckage gave me the +jumps. By Jove, don't we look a pair of comical objects?" + +They had discarded their grotesque head-dress. Ross had a woollen +muffler wrapped round his head, while his companion had been given the +loan of a red stocking-cap, but they still retained the weird garb in +which they had made their journey down the ship canal. + +Suddenly Ross gripped his companion's arm and pointed with his right +hand to a spar-like object projecting a few feet, close to the waves, +at less than a cable's length on the port quarter. + +"A periscope!" ejaculated the Flight-Sub. + +"Let's hope it's one of our own submarines," said Ross. + +"We'll soon find out," added his companion. "It's forging ahead. +Whatever it is, they've got us under observation." + +Jan, who was now on the bridge, had his attention called to the +disconcerting fact. He beckoned to his two passengers. + +"You had better go below and stow yourselves away," he suggested. "We +will be boarded before long." + +"Not I," replied the Flight-Sub. "They've marked us already. If they +do take us they won't have to dig us out of a coal-bunker." + +The submarine was emerging. At a pace that more than held its own with +the _Hoorn_, she shook herself clear of the water, although green seas +were breaking across the flat deck as far aft as the conning-tower. + +Then muffled forms clambered through the hatchway; a young, +yellow-bearded officer appeared on the navigation platform and hailed +the _Hoorn_ in Dutch to heave to instantly. + +Even then the tough old Dutch skipper was not going to give in without +a protest. + +"For what reason?" he shouted back. "This is a Netherlands ship." + +"That I do not doubt," rejoined the officer of the submarine. "But you +have two Englishmen on board who have broken their parole----" + +"You lie!" interrupted the skipper vehemently. + +"Not a word more!" exclaimed the German fiercely. "Heave to, or we +sink you!" + +Reluctantly the "old man" gave the order to stop the engines. Jan, +sliding down the bridge ladder, communicated to the British officers +the text of the conversation. + +"Some rascal of a German spy has betrayed you," he added. "If I could +lay my hands upon him----" + +There was a look on the Dutchman's face which showed that his anger was +genuine. + +"All right, Jan," said the Flight-Sub. "It's the fortune of war." + + * * * * * + +"Deucedly rotten morning," remarked Sub-lieutenant Fox as he greeted +the officer of the watch, whom he was about to relieve. + +Eccles, the Lieutenant, who had been on the _Capella's_ bridge for four +long and dreary hours, merely nodded sleepily. He was thinking, with +feelings of satisfaction, of the hot coffee and fragrant bacon and eggs +awaiting him below. Three minutes had to elapse before eight bells. +Wearily he rubbed his salt-rimmed eyelids with a heavily gloved hand. + +"_Taurus_ wirelessed twenty minutes ago," he reported, as the two +officers entered the chart-room. "She was then at the extreme limit of +her northerly course. You ought to sight her very shortly. Here's our +course"--he indicated the pencilled line on the chart. "Nothing to +report: there never is when I'm officer of the watch. It's this +infernal monotony that plays havoc with a fellow's nerves." + +Noel Fox nodded sympathetically. Although the _Capella_ had been only +six days on her new station--keeping a watch on the Dutch coast between +the Texel and the North Hinder Lightship--he, too, was mightily "fed +up" with the task of "treading on the tail of Germany's coat". + +Not so much as the periscope of a hostile submarine had been sighted. +The German torpedo-boats that occasionally sneaked southwards from +Borkum were taking an enforced holiday. Perhaps it was in sympathy +with the "High Seas Fleet" skulking in the Kiel Canal. In any case, +the six motor craft of the _Capella_ class had a full share of wintry +conditions in the North Sea without any compensating adventures to +mitigate the monotony. + +As Eccles descended from the bridge, a great-coated muffled-up figure, +followed by a large dog, swung himself up the ladder. + +"Morning, Haye," was Noel Fox's salutation, as he stooped to pat Shrap, +the chartered libertine of the _Capella_. "Dash it all, it is cold! +Makes a fellow wish he were a sheep-dog. Here, Shrap, off you go and +get your whiskers trimmed. I can see Tomkins waiting for you." + +The dog needed no second order. Every morning just after eight bells +Shrap would be taken over by the watch below. Every man took a delight +in combing the animal's long hair, until Shrap's coat was the pride of +the _Capella's_ crew and the envy of the rest of the flotilla, whose +mascots never aspired to be more than a tame rat, parrot, or canary. + +"Sail on the port bow, sir," bawled the look-out. + +The Sub and the midshipman promptly levelled their telescopes. A small +cargo-steamer was pitching and rolling as she forged slowly ahead on a +westerly course. Although she was fairly discernible against the pale +grey of the eastern sky, it could be taken for granted that from the +Dutchman's bridge the neutral-grey-painted _Capella_ would be +practically invisible. + +"She's slowing down," declared Vernon. + +"What on earth for?" enquired the Sub. "She couldn't possibly have +spotted us. Starboard your helm, quartermaster. Good! Keep her at +that. We'll get her to make her number, if nothing else." + +Again Noel Fox levelled his telescope. Then he thrust it into a rack +on the side of the chart-room, and bellowed: + +"Turn up, both watches. Action stations. Submarine ahead." + +His quick glance had discerned the after part of a large unterseeboot +as she ranged alongside the Dutchman, whose high sides screened most of +the submarine from the _Capella_, and conversely prevented the Germans +clustered amidships from noticing the approach of the swift British +patrol-vessel. + +For the next few minutes, all was bustle and orderly confusion on board +the _Capella_. Taking three steps at a time, Captain Syllenger gained +the bridge, closely followed by Eccles, to whom the sudden interruption +of a hearty breakfast came as a welcome call. + +At a terrific pace the sleuth-hound of the sea tore towards the +_Hoorn_, for such she was. Rounding under her squat counter, and +reversing engines, the _Capella_ brought up within fifty yards of the +submarine before the astonished Germans could realize their precarious +plight. + +"Surrender, or I sink you!" roared Captain Syllenger. + +The grim muzzles of the _Capella's_ 4.7's, trained at a point-blank +range, were a conclusive argument. Without waiting for orders, the +majority of the unterseeboot's crew held up their arms. For a brief +instant did her Kapitan hesitate. + +"Me surrender," he replied. + +"Very good; I accept your surrender," replied the _Capella's_ skipper. +"But understand, any attempt to open the sea-cocks will mean that no +quarter will be given. Order all hands below, and leave the hatchways +open. You will oblige me by proceeding on board His Majesty's ship +_Capella_." + +By this time the _Hoorn_ was forging ahead, since she was in danger of +drifting down upon the captured submarine. In the excitement of the +capture, no one on board noticed two grotesquely garbed men on the +_Hoorn_ whose antics resembled those of a pair of demented creatures; +nor was the presence of a couple of dejected German leutnants and five +seamen, stranded on board the Dutchman, observed, as the Huns +frantically besought the obdurate skipper of the _Hoorn_ to steam as +hard as he could towards the Dutch coast. + +It was Vernon Haye's duty to take the cutter and board the prize. It +was a hazardous piece of work, for the sea was now fairly high, and +breaking under the effect of tide against wind; but, with the exception +of a broken top-strake, the boat managed to lie sufficiently close +alongside the submarine to enable the midshipman and five seamen to +board. + +Already the German crew were below. Hatches were lowered and secured, +with the exception of the one in the after side of the conning-tower. +This could be left open without fear of the submarine being swamped, +while, to prevent the captured crew closing it and making an attempt to +dive, the steel cover was removed from its hinges and secured on deck. +The Black Cross flag was hauled down and rehoisted under the White +Ensign, and preparations were made to take the prize in tow. + +It was some time before a grass rope, to which a stout wire hawser was +bent, could be veered from the _Capella's_ quarter and taken on board +the submarine, but eventually the hawser was made fast. + +"Now, sir," said Vernon, addressing the German Kapitan. "Will you +please step into that boat? Where are the other officers?" + +"In that ship," replied the Hun sullenly, as he pointed towards the +_Hoorn_. "They will not welcome you, but there are others who will." + +Not knowing what the German meant, Vernon indicated that he should get +on board the cutter. + +"There are two German officers on board that vessel, air," reported the +midshipman, as the boat came alongside the _Capella_. "Am I to bring +them off?" + +Captain Syllenger hesitated before replying. It was a knotty problem. +To remove by force the subjects of a hostile nation from a neutral ship +was contrary to international law. However much the Germans violated +the "right of search", it was not Great Britain's policy to engage upon +reprisals. Holland, although a third-rate Power, had to be treated +with due courtesy. + +"It's all the same in the long run," replied Captain Syllenger. "Board +that vessel, Mr. Haye, and see what those fellows are doing there. If +the Dutch skipper objects to their presence on his hooker, then bundle +them into the boat. If, on the other hand, he protests against their +removal, let them remain. They will be collared as soon as the ship +enters our three-mile limit." + +The _Hoorn_ had once more come to a dead stop, at two cables' length +from the British patrol-vessel. + +As the _Capella's_ cutter came alongside, Vernon agilely scrambled up +the "monkey ladder" and gained the deck. + +"Hulloa, old man!" exclaimed a well-known voice. + +Vernon looked at the speaker. He knew the voice, but for a moment he +failed to recognize in the oddly garbed youth his chum Ross Trefusis. +Then he grinned broadly. + +"My word!" he exclaimed. "You do cut a pretty figure." + +Had they been of any nationality but British, the lads would have +fallen on each other's necks and perhaps kissed each other. Instead, +they stood a yard apart and laughed--but their mutual joy was none the +less genuine. + +"So you've come to fetch the German Leutnant and his boat's crew," said +Ross, after Haye had been introduced to the Flight-Sub. "He's +somewhere below. You'll recognize him right enough." + +"Eh?" asked Vernon incredulously. + +"Rather!" declared Ross emphatically. "You'd never guess. It's our +old pal, Hermann Rix, late of U75. No wonder he's tearing his hair, +for he must have broken his parole. He knew me directly he came over +the side, and didn't forget to rub it in. You should have seen his +face when, in the midst of his beastly gibes, the old _Capella_ came +snorting up." + +With Jan acting as interpreter, Vernon put his case before the Dutch +skipper, who seemed only too delighted at the way events had turned. +His satisfaction at getting rid of his Hunnish visitors was evident, in +spite of the stolidity of his manners. + +"I want no pirates on board the _Hoorn_," he said. "Take them and +welcome!" + +While the Flight-Sub and Ross were "squaring up" with the good-hearted +Jan, Vernon rounded up Ober-leutnant Rix and his boat's crew. Finding +that their protests to the Dutch skipper were of no avail, they +sullenly gave in. + +"Look here," said Ross, taking his chum aside. "I don't want to crow +over that fellow. It isn't cricket. You might take him to the +_Capella_ and come back for us. You'll have a pretty good load as it +is." + +"Two British officers, escaped from an internment camp, on board the +_Hoorn_, sir," reported Vernon, as he delivered his cargo of German +prisoners on board the _Capella_. "They would like to be taken off." + +"Carry on, then," replied Captain Syllenger. + +As the cutter returned from her second trip to the _Hoorn_, the +_Capella's_ crew awaited with undisguised curiosity the arrival of the +men who had contrived to escape from irksome detention in a neutral +country. + +Presently Shrap, who was sitting up on the quarterdeck, gave a bark of +delight. + +"Good old Shrap!" said Ross. "He knew me in spite of my rig-out." + +"Blow me, if it ain't Mr. Trefusis!" exclaimed one of the men. + +The next instant the first of three hearty cheers burst from the +throats of the crew, with whom Ross was a great favourite. The +Dutchmen, too, joined in, to the accompaniment of a prolonged blast +upon the _Hoorn's_ siren as she resumed her interrupted voyage. + +"It's like being home again," declared Ross, after Captain Syllenger +and the other officers had congratulated him. "But, I say, can anyone +lend me a decent suit of togs?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +Bound for the Baltic + +A fortnight had elapsed since the day on which H.M.S. _Capella_ towed +the captured unterseeboot into Harwich harbour. Since then she had +been attached to a base on the East coast of Scotland, her sphere of +usefulness in the English Channel being a thing of the past. + +The German blockade had fizzled out like a damp squib. Absolutely +afraid to risk the remaining boats in operations that would certainly +end in their being unceremoniously conveyed to Davy Jones's locker, the +German Admiralty had dispatched them to the Mediterranean, where, under +the Austrian flag, they attempted, at first with a certain degree of +success, to terrorize merchantmen by their "frightfulness". + +So the _Capella_ had been ordered to Cromarty Firth, pending the +completion of arrangements for sending a fleet of swift destroyers and +patrol-boats to operate in conjunction with the British submarines in +the Baltic. + +Almost the first duty Ross had to undertake upon arrival was to draw +money for the ship's company from the Paymaster's office at Invergordon. + +Accompanied by six seamen, wearing their side-arms and carrying three +canvas bags, the midshipman landed, and proceeded to the office. +Leaving the escort "standing easy", Ross entered the building and found +himself confronted by a door on which was painted the words, +"Accountant Officer". Underneath was a piece of cardboard on which was +written: "Don't knock--walk in". + +The midshipman accepted the invitation and entered. It was a large +room. Against one wall were three knee-hole desks, at which were +seated naval "writers"--petty officers detached for clerical work. Two +more were bending over a large tray, studiously engaged in "putting the +money up", or placing wages in the compartments of the tray in order to +facilitate the forthcoming payment to the civilian workers attached to +the establishment. At a large desk was an officer, with his head +almost touching a litter of papers. His back was turned, but Ross +could see by the gold-and-white band that he was an Assistant Paymaster. + +Hearing footsteps behind him, the A.P. broke into a torrent of abuse: + +"Of all the scatter-brained idiots that act the giddy goat, this +strafed lunatic takes the proverbial ship's biscuit!" he exclaimed. +"Just look here, Carruthers; did you ever see such a piece of arrant +tomfoolery----" + +He turned his head, and saw it was not Carruthers. + +"Sorry," he said apologetically. "Thought it was someone else. You +must have imagined that I was off my head. It's a wonder I'm not. +Look at this: here am I up to my eyes in work, and I get this sort of +thing fired at me." + +Ross looked at the tendered document. It was headed: "Queries in the +Store Ledger", and the gem to which the harassed A.P. had referred was +as follows:-- + +"4 oz. tin-tacks. Please say if these are synonymous with 'tacks +tinned'." + +The midshipman laughed. The A.P. glared. + +"Some rotten idiot drawing five hundred a year evidently doesn't +realize it's war-time," he growled. "Now, what can I do for you?" + +At length the midshipman received the necessary coin. He was about to +leave the officer when he found himself face to face with John Barry, +now a Lieutenant-Commander, R.N.R. + +"Bless my soul, Trefusis!" exclaimed Barry cordially. "I am glad to +see you. I heard the new _Capella_ was ordered round. How's everyone? +Thanks, I'm top-hole. In a deuce of a hurry! Look here, come on board +and see me to-night. The _Hunbilker_ is lying off Cromarty. Can you +manage it?" + +"I think so," replied Ross. + +"Very good; bring Haye with you. I'll send a boat at seven bells." + +Captain Syllenger readily gave the midshipmen permission. + +"It looks as if it might blow a bit before very long," he added. "If +so, remain on board until morning. It's no joke making a five-mile +trip in a steamboat on a pitch-dark night with a sea running." + +The lads were delighted at the prospect of the visit. They were both +awfully keen on John Barry; besides, they were rather anxious to see +what sort of command he had. The ship's name was enough to excite +their curiosity. She had evidently arrived later than the _Capella_, +for there was no sign of a craft bearing that name when the +patrol-vessel passed Cromarty on the previous afternoon. + +Punctually at seven bells a grey motor-boat dashed up alongside the +_Capella's_ gangway. Shrap, whose instinct told him that his young +master was leaving the ship, anticipated him by making a prodigious +bound from the side into the waiting boat, alighting upon the shoulders +of the coxswain, much to that worthy's astonishment. + +"Never mind, sir," replied the man, in answer to Vernon's apologies. +"I've a dog myself at home, very much like this one." + +"Let him come with us," suggested Ross. "He'll kick up an awful row if +you don't." + +So Shrap, coiled up in the stern-sheets, had his way. + +Having received the midshipmen, the boat turned and threshed its way in +the teeth of a strong easterly breeze. + +"Yes, sir, that's the _Hunbilker_," replied the coxswain in answer to +Vernon's query, as a large grey shape loomed through the twilight. + +"By Jove!" ejaculated Ross, absolutely taken aback. "She's a whopper. +Old Barry's got a battleship. If she isn't a sister ship to the +_Tremendous_, I'm a----" + +Fortunately for him, Ross refrained from saying what he might be, for +as things turned out he was wrong. The _Hunbilker_ commenced her +career as a 6000-ton merchantman, but no one would recognize her as +such. + +In all probability, but for the war, she would have ended her career as +such. But the Navy required her for a certain purpose, and loyally the +old tramp stepped into the breach. When, after a lapse of nine weeks, +she emerged from the repairing basin, her disguise was complete. She +looked to be what she was not. It is, therefore, no cause for +wonderment that the two midshipmen were deceived by the enormous +outlines of what appeared to be a formidable unit of the British Navy. +The _Hunbilker_ was, in short, a maritime ass in lion's skin, but her +role was none the less a responsible one. + +"I was rather doubtful whether you would turn up," remarked Barry. +"The glass is dropping like billy-ho, and there's a brute of a sea +tumbling in." + +"We need not return to-night," announced Ross. + +"That's capital," rejoined the Lieutenant-Commander. "I'll get the +hands to hoist in the boat and trice the accommodation-ladder up. We +roll like a barrel in a sea-way." + +"You've got a big command this time, sir," said Vernon. + +Barry smiled. + +"Yes," he replied. "Plenty of room, but the lighting 'tween decks is +rotten. All artificial, you know, except the little we get in through +the quarter-deck skylights. I'm expecting young Jolly; he's the A. P. +you saw ashore at Invergordon. Not a bad sort of youngster when he's +clear of his work. Would you like to look round before we go below?" + +"Of course the Germans know all about our dummy battleships," continued +Barry as he led the way. "They jeered at the scheme in the papers as +far back as last November twelvemonth." + +"Then what's the object?" asked Ross. + +"It muddles them up. They can't distinguish the _Tremendous_ from this +packet, especially in hazy weather. They've got to guess which is the +substance and which is the shadow. From actual results we know now +that the costly experiment has more than justified the expenditure." + +The Lieutenant-Commander and his young guests continued to talk shop +until it was time to go below. From that moment, conversation drifted +into other channels of more or less personal interest. + +Presently a loud whistle was heard from without. + +"That's Jolly," declared the Lieutenant-Commander. "It's the last boat +to-night, I fancy." + +A few minutes later the A. P., having divested himself of his dripping +oilies and sou'wester, was ushered into the cabin. Separated from his +duties as Accountant Officer, he was much the same as other men. Ross +could hardly believe that the jovial officer--for he did not now belie +his name--was the same explosive man who had figuratively lost his head +over four ounces of "tacks tinned". + +Dinner over, the four officers drew their chairs close to the fire and +yarned incessantly. Even the laboured rolling of the ship, the howling +of the wind overhead, and the _chouf chouf_ of the waves as they +slapped against the sides, failed to remind them that they were afloat +and in an exposed anchorage. + +"Heard from your sister recently?" enquired Barry, addressing the A. P. +He tried to ask the question in a natural tone of voice, but the +midshipmen were quick to perceive a deepening of the tan in the +Lieutenant-Commander's weather-beaten face. + +"Had a letter only this morning," replied Jolly; "a fairly long one, +too. I suppose things have quieted down a bit after the rush. My +sister's a double one, you know," he added, turning to Ross and his +chum. + +"A what?" asked Ross. + +"She's my sister, and she's a nursing sister at a naval hospital," +explained the A.P. "There's a very quaint little bit. I must read it +to you." + +He produced an envelope from his pocket. + +"'You remember Marjory May?'" he read. "'She's had her wish. She +joined here as a probationer, on the day after that terrible destroyer +affair. We had most of the cases. One of the patients was a stoker, +who had been knocked about by a shell exploding in a bunker (whatever +that is--it sounds like golf). Marjorie had her first task--to wash +him before the doctor could operate. I went to see how she was +progressing, and found the poor girl on the verge of tears. 'Oh, +sister!' she exclaimed; 'I've been scrubbing him for ten minutes, and I +can't get him clean!' It was rather dull in the ward, so I switched on +the light. Then I saw the cause of Marjory's distress. The poor +stoker was a half-caste." + +"By Jove!" ejaculated the A.P. as a particularly savage gust laid the +ship well over. "It isn't half blowing!" + +"Yes, my festive friend," agreed Barry; "it is! Fortunately you are +not due back to-night. If you were it wouldn't signify, for I wouldn't +order a boat away on a night like this. To-morrow, if it hasn't +moderated--and the worst is yet to come--we'll weigh and stand up the +Firth into smoother water." + +There was a pause in the conversation. The din without was now +terrific. One of the worst of the winter gales was approaching its +climax--a furious nor'easter. + +"Come in!" shouted Barry as a knock was heard at the cabin door. + +"Wireless message, sir," announced one of the ship's boys. + +"Very good," replied the Lieutenant-Commander. Then, after the +messenger had backed out, he started to his feet. + +"I say, you fellows!" he exclaimed. "Here's a pretty kettle of fish: +'Flag to _Hunbilker_: Proceed to sea at once. Rendezvous Lat. 5° E., +Long. 57° 30' N.' That means, whether you like it or whether you +don't, you're bound for the Baltic." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +The Affair off Kiel + +Clad in their oilskins over their greatcoats, the two midshipmen +accompanied Barry to the bridge. The A. P., on second thoughts, +decided to remain below. He had a rooted objection to getting his +glasses smothered in spray if it could be avoided. + +Steam had been raised a week ago, when the _Hunbilker_ left Newcastle +for Cromarty, so there was no delay on that account. Already the steam +capstan was clanking dolorously as fathom after fathom of chain crept +with seeming reluctance through the hawse-pipe. + +It was a night. Towering seas, sweeping in from the exposed Moray +Firth, surged madly into the more sheltered inlet where the dummy +battleship strained at her cable. The air was thick with sleet. +Overhead, black clouds scudded rapidly across the moon. + +Even though the ship was partly under the lee of the projecting ground, +the midshipmen knew that it would be hopeless to attempt to lower a +boat. For good or ill they were bound to remain on board. + +"Suppose it's all right," remarked Ross. "We may get a chance of doing +something, far more so than if we were on board the _Capella_, now this +submarine blockade fiasco is finished. At any rate it's not our fault +we're here." + +"But our good fortune," added Vernon. "Evidently there's a big affair +coming off, though I can't quite see what this vessel's going to do in +it." + +For fifteen hours of darkness the _Hunbilker_ plodded steadily onwards. +No lights were shown, yet it was a known fact that at least thirty +vessels of various types were converging upon the rendezvous. + +Captain Barry never once quitted the bridge. Although his lofty post +was constantly deluged by clouds of icy spray, and the weather side of +the bridge-rail canvas was inches deep in sleet, he braved the elements +through watch and watch, snatching a hasty meal of cocoa (which was +cold by the time it reached him) and biscuits under the lee of the +chart-house. + +Day dawned at last. Ross and Vernon, who had gone below to snatch a +few hours' sleep, came on deck to find the _Hunbilker_ at the +rendezvous. She lay in the midst of a fleet. There were the great +battle-cruisers, Dreadnoughts and their replicas, light cruisers, and a +galaxy of torpedo-boats--the latter swept from stem to stern by the +waves. + +Without any appreciable weakening of the Grand Fleet, this maritime +force had been assembled for particular service--presumably in the +Baltic, although no orders to that effect had yet been received. + +All that short January day the fleet steamed slowly eastward, while +signal flags fluttered incessantly. No hostile submarine put in an +appearance. Either the Germans feared the swift destroyers that +encircled the large vessels, or else they were in ignorance of the +presence of the British within four hours' steaming of their shores. + +It was not until night that the _Hunbilker_ received her orders. She +had to proceed in advance of the destroyers, and under cover of +darkness pass through the Great Belt. Having done so, she was to be +run aground on a shoal between the Danish island of Laaland and the +Prussian island of Fehmern, the latter being within forty miles of the +stronghold of the German Navy at Kiel. + +Then she was to await developments. If attacked by submarines, the +British destroyers would dash in; but what the British Admiral fondly +hoped was that the hostile battleships or armoured cruisers would not +be able to resist the temptation of sallying forth from Kiel to give +the supposed Dreadnought her _coup de grâce_. In this case our +submarines would "chip in", and possibly the battle-cruisers might +score with their deadly and accurate long-range salvoes. + +"It's not so risky as it looks," commented Barry as he explained the +tactics to the midshipmen. "You see, they can torpedo us as much as +they like, and blow the dummy sides of the ship to bits piecemeal. We +can't sink, since we'll be hard aground. We can't take fire--at least, +it would be quite a job to get any part of her to burn without being +able to keep the flames under control. Gunnery, of course, puts a +different aspect on the subject. If the enemy start shelling us with +their heavy guns, then the sooner we abandon ship and clear out the +better, and leave our big cruisers to mop up the Huns." + +Grey dawn was breaking when the _Hunbilker_, having made the passage +through the Great Belt, ran gently aground at the spot indicated in the +Admiral's orders. Away in the sou'west, a glare in the sky that was +rapidly fading with the growing morn indicated the search-lights of the +Kiel defences. Eastwards, two huge grey shapes loomed ghost-like in +the half-light. Whether they were British cruisers or decoys, or even +German battleships, Ross could not determine. + +The _Hunbilker_ lay with a slight list to starboard. All around her +the sea was covered with drifting ice. An utter stillness brooded over +everything. The silence was in keeping with the scene of desolation. + +Suddenly the deafening blast of the _Hunbilker's_ siren rent the air. +It was the prearranged signal that she was in readiness; it was also +her challenge to the Kiel-tied German fleet. + +Ten minutes later a lurid flash, followed by a dull booming noise, came +from the nearmost of the two vessels Ross had previously noticed. + +"Either mine or torpedo," remarked Barry casually. "It doesn't +signify. They won't sink her in a hurry." + +"What is she, sir?" asked Vernon. + +"Our opposite number, the _Snark_," replied the Lieutenant-Commander. +"See, she's steaming northwards, without any apparent injury. It will +be our turn before very long." + +At frequent intervals the siren shrieked, as if calling to the rest of +the squadron for assistance. Then out of the rising mist, for with the +break of day a thin pall of vapour rose from the ice-flecked water, +leapt two German torpedo-boats. + +"Port side, all hands!" roared Barry. + +Officers and crew put the greatest possible distance between them and +the side of the ship exposed to the hostile craft. Without slackening +speed, the torpedo-boats described a sharp curve. Their officers must +have wondered why they were not greeted by the stranded battleship's +quick-firers. As they turned, two gleaming objects flopped +ungracefully from their decks and disappeared with a splash beneath the +surface. Each boat had fired a torpedo from her broadside tubes. + +From the place where the midshipmen stood, they were not able to follow +the track of the formidable missiles; but they had not long to wait. +Both torpedoes struck almost simultaneously--one abreast of the for'ard +dummy turret, the other fifty feet farther aft. + +High in the air rose a column of water mingled with fragments of iron +plating; while in their place of hiding the two lads were smothered +with cork-dust and blackened cotton that had been blown from the space +betwixt the outer and inner hulls. + +"It's lucky for us that they didn't use their quick-firers," remarked +Barry. "They would have pulverized us before our destroyers romped up. +By Jove, Haye, that dog of yours looks as though he likes it! Hulloa! +There you are!" + +The Lieutenant-Commander pointed to the southward. A rift in the mist +disclosed a two-masted, two-funnelled armoured cruiser about two miles +off. + +"The _Prinz Heinrich_ or the _Fürst Bismarck_," declared Barry. "We've +turned 'em out. Hope to goodness our little lot will be in time to +snap them up. Unless I'm much mistaken, there are two more astern of +her." + +Almost as he spoke, a spurt of flame rent the dull sky. Then, to the +accompaniment of a vivid flash and an ear-splitting detonation, a +5.9-inch shell burst against the for'ard dummy turret of the +_Hunbilker_. + +When the smoke had cleared away, guns, turret, and conning-tower, +together with a portion of the bridge, had vanished. + +"All hands abandon ship!" ordered Barry, as a salvo of light +projectiles flew round, over, and through the decoy. + +It was quite time. Several men had been hit, since there was nothing +to afford complete protection from the hail of shells. The difficulty +was to find a boat that was seaworthy, since these suffered almost at +once from the flying fragments of metal. + +"Hurrah, sir!" shouted one of the men. "There are our destroyers." + +He was right. Seven British destroyers were tearing through the water, +intent upon giving the Germans the punishment that they had boasted to +inflict upon the strafed Englishmen--a hussar stroke. + +Instantly the galling fire ceased. The German cruiser had all her work +cut out to endeavour to beat off her wasp-like antagonists. + +The _Hunbilker_ was doomed. In spite of elaborate precautions against +fire, she was burning furiously. Her fo'c'sle was a mass of flames, +generated by the intense heat of the first shell that had struck her. +Smaller fires, too, had started in other parts of the ship. + +But help was at hand. One of the covering destroyers had witnessed her +plight. Adroitly manoeuvring, she came right alongside the burning +ship. + +"Jump, men!" shouted Barry. + +There was no time to be lost. The danger of the flames communicating +with the shells and war-heads on the destroyer's deck was to be taken +into consideration. + +"Come on, old man!" exclaimed Ross, as his chum looked anxiously about +him. + +"Where's Shrap?" asked Vernon. "He was here a minute ago." + +In the confusion, occasioned by the rush of men to leap upon the +destroyer, the dog had vanished. + +Without a word Vernon ran towards the companion leading to the +half-deck. Above the roar of the flames and the hissing of steam, he +had heard the well-known bark of his pet. + +"Silly ass!" muttered Ross; but he, too, followed his chum. + +Wreaths of thin smoke were issuing from the companion as Ross gained +the head of the ladder. Putting his muffler round his mouth, he groped +his way down. 'Tween decks the air was full of smoke. He could hear +Shrap's insistent bark, and Vernon's voice as, amidst fits of coughing, +he called to his canine companion. + +"Whatever is the matter with the brute?" thought Ross, as he fought his +way along the half-deck. + +A gaping hole in the ship's side admitted sufficient light to enable +him to discern his comrade backing from one of the cabins. Shrap was +preceding him, while Vernon was dragging something limp and heavy. It +was the body of the luckless A. P. + +Without a word, for the atmosphere was hot and choky, Ross bore a hand. +Stumbling and slipping, the two lads bore their burden to the +companion, and by dint of much exertion carried Jolly on deck. + +"Is he dead?" asked Ross, after he had refilled his lungs with less +smoke-laden air. + +"I don't think so," said Vernon. "It was good old Shrap that found +him." + +The A. P. was below when the salvo from the German cruiser struck the +ship. He had gone to the cabin temporarily allotted to him to obtain +some small but cherished belonging. A fragment from one of the shells +had inflicted a nasty scalp wound, stretching him senseless upon the +floor. + +Had it not been for the sheep-dog, whose sagacity made him recognize +that Jolly was a friend of his master's, the A. P. would have ended his +career in the burning hull of the _Hunbilker_. + +"Hurry up!" exclaimed Ross. "Let's get him aboard the destroyer." + +Between them they carried the insensible officer across the +quarter-deck, but as they reached the side abreast the wreckage of the +superstructure they came to an abrupt halt. + +The destroyer had sheered off and was out of sight. + +"Now what's to be done?" asked Vernon, aghast at the latest turn of +fortune. + +They laid the A. P. on the deck and looked over the side. Still made +fast to the falls was a whaler, with her keel ten feet above water. +When the order had been given to abandon ship, the boat had been +lowered, but the appearance of the destroyer had done away with the +necessity of having to make use of her. + +"Lower away!" ordered Ross. + +Checking the descent by taking a turn round the cleats, the lads +allowed the whaler to reach the water. To their satisfaction they +found that she leaked but very little. Oars and crutches were already +on board, together with mast and sail. + +"Down you get," said Ross. "Let go the after disengaging gear, then +stand by. I'll let Jolly down to you." + +Vernon quickly swarmed down the falls, while his chum carried the A.P. +to the now empty davit. Taking a few turns with his strong muffler +round the chest of the unconscious man, Ross engaged the hook of the +lower block, and slowly lowered him into Vernon's arms. Shrap followed +in a similar manner, since the drop was too great for him to leap +without risk of limb. Then Ross climbed down and gained the boat. He +was not a minute too soon, for the flames were drawing nearer and the +heat was becoming almost unbearable. + +Placing Jolly in the stern-sheets, the lads stepped the mast and +hoisted sail. Nothing else was in sight, although the rumble of heavy +firing was still audible. + +"I'll steer north," declared Ross, who had taken the helm, while Vernon +attended to the A.P.'s ugly wound. "If we are not picked up by one of +our own boats, we are almost bound to hit one of the Danish islands." + +There was but little wind. What there was, blew from a couple of +points abaft the beam, so that the little craft was able to lie +comfortably upon her course. + +At length Jolly opened his eyes. Somewhat to his companions' amusement +his first words were: + +"Dash it all! Where did I leave my glasses? Hulloa! I've been +plugged. Where am I?" + +He attempted to sit up, but promptly subsided upon the gratings in the +stern-sheets, and in a very short time he began to talk incoherently, +and finally dropped off into a fitful slumber. + +The fog had now increased in density, so that it was no longer possible +to see more than a hundred yards ahead. Several vessels moving at high +speed passed within hailing distance, but no reply came to the lads' +shouts. + +"There's a hail!" exclaimed Vernon. + +Again came the sound of a human voice. It was a call for aid, and was +uttered in German. + +"Steady!" cautioned Vernon, as Ross put the helm down. "We don't want +to run alongside a cargo of Huns." + +"There's only one, I should imagine," replied his chum. "At any rate +we'll have a look. If there are too many, we'll sheer off." + +Guided by the repeated calls for assistance, the midshipmen came in +sight of a disabled boat. It had been holed, and was kept afloat only +by some of its air-tanks which had escaped damage. The gunwales, +jagged by shell-fire, were showing only a few inches above the water. +The stern was almost awash, but the bows rose sufficiently high for the +forefoot to be seen. Crouching on the for'ard thwart was a German +officer. He was bareheaded. The collar of his greatcoat was turned +up. His face was blanched by the intense cold. As the whaler +approached and he saw that it was a British one, he held up his hands +in token of surrender. + +Dropping to leeward, Ross luffed smartly. The whaler lost way almost +alongside the waterlogged boat. + +Awkwardly the German clambered over the gunwale, for his limbs were +numbed. Then, as soon as he was safely on board, he drew a revolver +from the pocket of his greatcoat and fired twice in quick succession. + +Ross saw his chum throw up his arms and pitch across the centre thwart. +The next instant he felt a stinging pain in his shoulder, as if it were +pierced by a red-hot needle. + +"The brute has plugged me!" was the thought that flashed through his +mind, as he subsided heavily upon the grating by the side of the A. P. + +He was still conscious, although everything seemed misty. Up to a +certain point he remembered exactly what happened, for with a sudden +spring Shrap flew at the treacherous Teuton's throat. + +Again and again the German fired, wildly and in the air, for the +sheep-dog had him fixed in his unyielding jaws, shaking the fellow like +a rat. Unable to move a limb, Ross remained conscious until the issue +was decided and victory rested with the devoted Shrap; then his head +dropped upon his chest and everything became a blank. + + * * * * * + +Ross Trefusis recovered consciousness to find himself in hospital on +the East coast. In the next cot was Jolly, cutting a sorry figure with +his head swathed in surgical bandages. Vernon was in an adjoining +ward, making a promising recovery from the wound caused by the cowardly +German's bullet that had passed between his ribs, fortunately just +missing his lungs. + +It was not until a week later that Ross heard of the manner of his +rescue. The whaler had been picked up by a destroyer. In it they +found the three wounded British officers, and a dead German with his +throat fearfully lacerated. Not only had Shrap saved the situation, +but he had helped still further to save his master's life, for it was +owing to the warmth of the dog's body that Vernon was saved from death +by exposure. + +One of the first of visitors to Ross's bedside was John Barry, now +Commander Barry, R.N.R., D.S.O. + +"And how did the scrap come off?" asked Ross. + +"Fairly well," replied the Commander. "We bagged a cruiser and a +couple of destroyers. The old _Hunbilker_ justified her existence, you +see." + +"I'm afraid Haye and I are out of the running," remarked Ross +disconsolately. + +"Not a bit of it," replied Barry in his breezy way. "Not a bit of it. +You'll both be as fit as fiddles in a couple of months. The Navy's +pushing on with the job all right, Ross, but it's slow and sure. +You'll be at it again long before the end." + +Ross gave a sigh of satisfaction. + +"Sounds promising, sir, doesn't it?" he exclaimed. + + + + +By PERCY F. WESTERMAN + +"No boy alive will be able to peruse Mr. Westerman's pages without a +quickening of his pulses."--Outlook. + + +With Beatty off Jutland. A Romance of the Great Sea Fight. + +The Submarine Hunters. A Story of Naval Patrol Work. + +A Lively Bit of the Front. A Tale of the New Zealand Rifles on the +Western Front. + +A Sub and a Submarine. The Story of H.M. Submarine R19 in the Great +War. + +Under the White Ensign. A Naval Story of the Great War. "No one can +tell sea stories like Percy F. Westerman."--Outlook. + +The Dispatch-Riders: The Adventures of Two British Motor-cyclists with +the Belgian Forces. "No boy will find a dull page in Mr. Westerman's +story."--Bookman. + +The Sea-girt Fortress: A Story of Heligoland. "Mr. Westerman has +provided a story of breathless excitement, and boys of all ages will +read it with avidity."--Athenaeum. + +Rounding up the Raider: A Naval Story of the Great War. + +The Fight for Constantinople: A Tale of the Gallipoli Peninsula. +"Breathless adventures crowd into this thrilling story.... It teems +with enthralling episodes and vivid word-pictures."--British Weekly. +"The reader sits absolutely spellbound to the end of the +story."--Sheffield Daily Telegraph. + +Captured at Tripoli: A Tale of Adventure. + +"We cannot imagine a better gift-book than this to put into the hands +of the youthful book-lover, either as a prize or +present."--Schoolmaster. + +The Quest of the "Golden Hope": A Seventeenth-century Story of +Adventure. "The boy who is not satisfied with this crowded story must +be peculiarly hard to please."--Liverpool Courier. + +A Lad of Grit: A Story of Restoration Times. "The tale is well +written, and has a good deal of variety in the scenes and +persons."--Globe. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Submarine Hunters, by Percy F. Westerman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SUBMARINE HUNTERS *** + +***** This file should be named 26641-8.txt or 26641-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/6/4/26641/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Westerman + +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: The Submarine Hunters + A Story of the Naval Patrol Work in the Great War + +Author: Percy F. Westerman + +Illustrator: E. S. Hodgson + +Release Date: March 17, 2013 [EBook #26641] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SUBMARINE HUNTERS *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="img-cover"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-cover.jpg" ALT="Cover art" BORDER="2" WIDTH="489" HEIGHT="743"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 489px"> +Cover art +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT=""THE BLACK CROSS FLAG WAS HAULED DOWN, AND REHOISTED UNDER THE WHITE ENSIGN"" BORDER="2" WIDTH="409" HEIGHT="635"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 409px"> +"THE BLACK CROSS FLAG WAS HAULED DOWN, AND REHOISTED UNDER THE WHITE ENSIGN" +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +The Submarine Hunters +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A Story of Naval Patrol<BR> +Work in the Great War<BR> +</H4> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +PERCY F. WESTERMAN +</H2> + +<BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +Author of<BR> +<BR> +"Rounding Up the Raider"<BR> +"The Dispatch-Riders"<BR> +"The Fight for Constantinople"<BR> +&c. &c.<BR> +</H5> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Illustrated by E. S. Hodgson</I> +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED +<BR> +LONDON GLASGOW AND BOMBAY +<BR> +1918 +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Contents +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">CHAP.</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">THE MYSTERIOUS MEETING ON ST. MENA'S ISLAND</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">THE TABLES TURNED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">KIDNAPPED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">THE AWAKENING</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">ABOARD U75</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">THE TRAMP</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">ON THE BED OF THE SEA</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">BALKED BY A SEA-PLANE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">THE LANDING AT PORT TREHERNE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">A TREACHEROUS PLOT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">PREPARATIONS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">THE WHITE FLAG—AND AFTERWARDS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">THE ARM OF THE LAW</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">A FRUITLESS QUEST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">THE ADMIRAL WORKS THE ORACLE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">H.M.S. "CAPELLA"</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">A DOUBLE BAG</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">THE SMOKE-SIGNALS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">THAT FRIDAY NIGHT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">TO THE RESCUE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">ADRIFT IN THE CHANNEL</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">AN UNEXPECTED CAPTURE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">MINED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">"SHRAP"</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap25">OFF THE BELGIAN COAST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap26">DISABLED IN MID-AIR</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap27">NOT ON PAROLE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap28">ALMOST RECAPTURED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap29">BOUND FOR THE BALTIC</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap30">THE AFFAIR OFF KIEL</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Illustrations +</H2> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-front"> +"THE BLACK CROSS FLAG WAS HAULED DOWN AND<BR> +RE-HOISTED UNDER THE WHITE ENSIGN" . . . . . . . . . <I>Frontispiece</I> +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-049"> +THE INTERVIEW WITH THE GERMAN CAPTAIN (missing from book) +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-082"> +"'D'YE KEN YON?' ASKED THE BRITISH SKIPPER, AS HE<BR> + EYED THE PODGY GERMAN LEUTNANT WITH CONTEMPT" +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-110"> +"THE 'TREMENDOUS' WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THE DOOMED SUBMARINE" +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-192"> +THE SINKING OF THE "ORONTABELLA" (missing from book) +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-247"> +"THE WORK OF DEMOLITION WAS ACCOMPLISHED" +</A> +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE SUBMARINE HUNTERS +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Mysterious Meeting on St. Mena's Island +</H3> + +<P> +"We've made a proper mess of things this time!" ejaculated Ross +Trefusis—"or rather I have." +</P> + +<P> +"It can't be helped," rejoined his chum, Vernon Haye. "We've done our +level best to get her off. How long is it before the tide floats her?" +</P> + +<P> +"A matter of seven or eight hours, worse luck. You see, it was only +half ebb when we landed." +</P> + +<P> +Ross bent down to remove a streak of bluish-grey mud from his ankle. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish we'd taken the rowing-boat instead of this heavy old tub," he +continued. "We'll be pretty peckish before we get back to the Hall, +and dinner's at seven-thirty." +</P> + +<P> +Vernon laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"It wouldn't be the first time I've had to go without grub," he +remarked. "If you don't mind, I don't." +</P> + +<P> +"Then it's no use standing here," said Ross. "Let's get on our shoes +and go for a stroll." +</P> + +<P> +Vernon Haye was a broad-shouldered lad of fifteen, with clear-cut +features and dark hair. His companion was of about the same age, but a +good two inches taller. His complexion was florid, his hair of an +auburn tint that narrowly escaped coming within the category of red or +ginger. His features were full and rounded. In short, he was a +typical Cornish youth. +</P> + +<P> +Ross's father, Admiral Paul Trefusis, lived at Killigwent Hall, a +large, rambling, sixteenth-century house, standing within a mile of the +sea on the North Cornish coast. +</P> + +<P> +Both lads went to the same public school, but owing to the fact that +Vernon's father, Captain Haye, was on active service with the Grand +Fleet, young Haye was spending the summer holidays with his chum at +Killigwent Hall. +</P> + +<P> +That afternoon the lads had taken a small sailing-boat and had made for +St. Mena's Island, a small rocky piece of land lying about a mile off +shore, and nearly five miles from Killigwent Cove. The island was +roughly three-quarters of a mile in length, and four hundred yards wide +in the broadest part. The north and west sides were precipitous, but +on the side nearest to the mainland the ground sloped gradually, and +was indented by several narrow tidal coves. +</P> + +<P> +The glamour of romance lay thickly around that rocky pile. Centuries +ago it was the abode of a hermit, who, amongst his various self-imposed +tasks, had built a chapel on the summit, from the tower of which a wood +fire was kindled nightly to warn mariners of the treacherous reefs in +the vicinity of the island. +</P> + +<P> +In course of time, St. Mena's Island became the haunt of wreckers and +smugglers. The chapel, in spite of its massive construction, fell a +victim to the ravages of wind and weather, but still served as a +convenient shelter for the lawless Cornishmen who profited by the +misfortunes of honest seamen. Immune from interference, by reason of +the superstitious awe in which the island was held by the country-folk, +the smugglers and wreckers thrived exceedingly until late in the +eighteenth century, when stern measures were taken to suppress their +misdeeds. From that time St. Mena's Island was deserted, except for +the casual visits of tourists and summer visitors from the neighbouring +towns of Padstow and Newquay, and countless numbers of sea-birds that +take up their abode in crannies in the almost inaccessible cliffs. +</P> + +<P> +Ross Trefusis was right in taking the blame of their misfortunes upon +himself. He knew better, but, neglecting to take ordinary precautions, +he had allowed the boat to be left high and dry by the falling tide. +Upon returning to the cove the lads had found the heavy craft lying on +its bilge in the stiff bluish clay, with a ridge of jagged rocks +cutting her off from the sea. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps," suggested Vernon, "some other boat will put off to the +island, and we can get them to put us ashore." +</P> + +<P> +"Hardly likely," was the reply. "Anyway, we'll keep a look-out. Which +would you prefer to do—explore the Smugglers' Cave and Dead Man's +Cave, or climb up to the ruins?" +</P> + +<P> +"The ruins," decided young Haye eagerly. "I like fooling about old +ruins, and I've already seen the caves. Besides, we can see if there +are any boats about. It's almost like being shipwrecked on a desert +island." +</P> + +<P> +"Hard lines if we were," commented Ross. "Suppose we take an inventory +of our possessions? Let the see: one pocket-knife, a silver watch that +has refused duty, a notebook and pencil, and five shillings and three +halfpence. What have you to add to the common stock?" +</P> + +<P> +"A knife, a pocket compass, my watch—which does go; it's now +five-and-twenty to four—and sixteen shillings and eightpence in paper +money and hard coin." +</P> + +<P> +"Not a morsel of grub between the pair of us, then," declared Ross. +"Outlook beastly unpromising. Faced with starvation unless we make up +our minds to knock over some gulls. They are horribly fishy to eat, I +believe, and we've nothing to make a fire." +</P> + +<P> +"It makes you pine for the flesh-pots of Kllligwent Hall, old man," +exclaimed Vernon laughingly. "Never mind, let's make a move. I vote +we get rid of these sweaters. It is frightfully hot." +</P> + +<P> +Stripping off their woollen garments, and placing them for safety under +a gorse bush, the two lads made their way up the steep ascent to the +ruins, till, hot and well-nigh breathless in spite of being "in +training", they reached the summit of the island. +</P> + +<P> +"What a jolly view!" exclaimed Vernon, turning and taking in the +panorama of rocky coast-line, an expanse of jagged, frowning, brownish +cliffs topped by the brilliant green of the Cornish moorland. +</P> + +<P> +"Not bad," agreed Ross complaisantly, for the view was no stranger to +him. "See that cliff shaped like the head and shoulders of a bearded +man? That's Hidden Money Cove that I was speaking to you about last +night. We'll go there next week, all being well. You see, there's not +a sail in sight, so our chances of getting back to dinner are very +remote. What's more, unless I'm very much mistaken, there's a +rain-storm coming. See that dark cloud working up against the wind?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," assented Haye. "What of it? A little rain won't hurt." +</P> + +<P> +"It's the after effect," said Ross. "It's quite possible it may blow +hard before night, in which case we're done for. I've known it +impossible to approach Killigwent Cove for a week at a time." +</P> + +<P> +Vernon whistled. +</P> + +<P> +"Sounds lively," he remarked. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course that is in the winter," his chum hastened to remind him. +"These summer gales don't last very long, but we'll be feeling precious +hungry by the time we get home, I guess." +</P> + +<P> +"Look here," said Vernon after a while. "I vote we get those sweaters. +We don't want to be soaked." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," assented Ross. "But there's no great hurry." +</P> + +<P> +Having retrieved the sweaters, the chums leisurely retraced their way +to the ruins. For half an hour or more they wandered around the +remains, descending into the dark crypt, and running considerable risk +in climbing to the summit of the tower. Since the spiral stone steps +had vanished long ago, the only means of getting to the top was by +climbing the gnarled stem of the ivy which grew profusely on the face +of the building. The tower was roofless, a low, partly demolished +parapet encircling it on three sides, while a couple of weather-worn +oak-beams supporting a few planks formed a kind of platform where the +roof formerly existed. +</P> + +<P> +"Think it's safe?" asked Vernon anxiously, as his chum, having got +astride the parapet, was about to lower himself upon the decrepit +woodwork. +</P> + +<P> +"I've done it scores of times," said Ross confidently. "That's right, +I'll guide your foot. Now let go." +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove!" suddenly exclaimed Haye; "there's a fellow coming towards +the ruin. How on earth did he get here?" +</P> + +<P> +"Goodness only knows," said Trefusis inconsequently. "He may have +landed in Main Beach Cove. Anyhow, he's at perfect liberty to do so. +I suppose he's interested in ruins." +</P> + +<P> +"Let's drop a bit of stone and give him a shock when he gets here," +suggested Vernon. "We'll apologize afterwards. Ten to one he'll give +us a passage back." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not so keen on dropping chunks of stone," objected Ross. "I vote +we lie low for a bit at any rate, and see what he's up to." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, do you think he's a spy?" asked his companion. Trefusis grunted +scoffingly. +</P> + +<P> +"Spy?" he repeated. "What object would a spy have on St. Mena's +Island? This part of Cornwall is well outside the military area. +There's nothing in the fortification line for miles. No, it's not +that. But <I>cave</I>, here he comes." +</P> + +<P> +The lads crouched behind the crumbling parapet, and by means of +conveniently placed gaps in the masonry watched the stranger's approach. +</P> + +<P> +There was nothing about the man's appearance to suggest that he was +anything but an ordinary holiday-maker. He was slightly above average +height, rather heavily built, and inclined to flabbiness. His +complexion was undoubtedly florid, although his face and hands were +tanned a deep brown. +</P> + +<P> +He was dressed in a light-grey lounge suit, with a straw hat and brown +shoes, while in his right hand he carried a thick Malacca cane. +</P> + +<P> +The exertion of climbing up the hill on which the ruined chapel stood +apparently told upon him, for he was considerably out of breath when he +passed under the ivy-clad arch. Here he stopped to wipe his face with +a handkerchief, and while doing so dropped his cane. +</P> + +<P> +It fell upon the stones with a dull thud. +</P> + +<P> +At the same time the stranger gave vent to an exclamation that +certainly was not English. +</P> + +<P> +The lads exchanged glances. Here was the beginning of a mystery. The +heaviest Malacca cane would not have made that dull metallic sound in +falling, while it was evident by the careful examination the stranger +made of the retrieved article that he was more than considerate for its +appearance. +</P> + +<P> +The man made no attempt to explore the ruins. The weather-worn fane +had no attractions for him. It was apparently only a rendezvous, as +far as he was concerned, for at frequent intervals he would walk +stealthily through the archway, and look attentively down the hill +leading to the coves on the side facing the mainland. +</P> + +<P> +It had now begun to rain—big drops that were the precursors of a heavy +shower. The lads, in their exposed position on the tower, paid scant +heed. Their interest and attention were centred upon the anxiously +awaiting stranger fifty feet beneath them. +</P> + +<P> +Presently Ross happened to glance towards the stretch of water that +separated St. Mena's Island from the mainland. A boat was approaching. +Already it was more than half-way across. It was a rowing-boat, +containing only one person. What object would anyone have in rowing +across on a wet afternoon like this? wondered the lad. +</P> + +<P> +Just then the stranger began rubbing his hands with ill-concealed +satisfaction. Although he had been frequently on the look-out, he had +evidently only just caught sight of the approaching boat. +</P> + +<P> +The lads watched the little craft till it was hidden by the intervening +high ground, but already Ross felt certain that it was making for Main +Beach Cove. +</P> + +<P> +There were three landing-places on St. Mena's Island—Half Tide Cove, +where the lads had left their stranded boat; Main Beach Cove, a little +to the north-east; and Deadman's Cove, farther away. Of these, only +Main Beach was available between one hour on either side of low water. +The fact that the boat was making for it, and had already successfully +skirted the submerged reef lying off it, proved that its occupant had +local knowledge. +</P> + +<P> +Some considerable time elapsed between the temporary disappearance of +the boat and the appearance of the new-comer; but at length he came +into view, walking rapidly up the steep incline without showing +anything of the physical strain that the first stranger had betrayed. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Ross Trefusis recognized the man. He almost felt inclined to +laugh at his suspicions. It was Dr. Ramblethorne, the medical +practitioner at St. Bedal—a town of considerable importance about +seven miles from Killigwent Hall. The doctor was a frequent guest of +Admiral Trefusis, and was generally considered a good, all-round +sportsman. He was about thirty years of age, over six feet in height, +of sinewy frame and of great muscular power. He was the wildest +motorist in that part of Cornwall, as the endorsements on his driver's +licence testified. A keen golfer, good shot, and fisherman, he was +also a botanist; and that, perhaps, thought Ross, might account for his +presence on St. Mena's Island, although it was difficult to reconcile +the fact that Ramblethorne had an appointment with a stranger at this +desolate spot. If a joint botanic expedition had been fixed up, why +had not the two men met on the mainland? +</P> + +<P> +The unknown made no attempt to advance to meet the doctor. Instead, he +remained within the ruins until Ramblethorne entered. +</P> + +<P> +Their greeting was a surprise even to the lads, for the doctor, holding +out his hand, exclaimed in German: +</P> + +<P> +"Well met, von Ruhle! Let us hope that your arrangements will prove +satisfactory." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Tables Turned +</H3> + +<P> +Both Ross Trefusis and Vernon Haye understood and could speak German. +Ross was especially good in his knowledge of the language of the modern +Hun, for in his early youth he had been inflicted with a German +governess. Since German is one of the subjects for Sandhurst—for +which both lads were preparing—their knowledge had been considerably +improved under the cast-iron rule of a native professor. +</P> + +<P> +"Eminently satisfactory," replied von Ruhle. "We will go into details +later. You had no difficulty in coming here, I hope?" +</P> + +<P> +"None whatever." +</P> + +<P> +"No suspicions?" asked von Ruhle anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +Ramblethorne smiled. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear von Ruhle," he replied. "A medical practitioner is above +suspicion. He is free to go anywhere at any hour of the day or night +without question. No man would suspect——" +</P> + +<P> +"You are clever, von Hauptwald——" +</P> + +<P> +"Ssh!" interrupted the doctor. "Call me Ramblethorne, if you please. +Of course there is no danger here, but at other times and in other +places you might incautiously give the show away. You had a good +passage?" +</P> + +<P> +"Excellent," replied von Ruhle. "I am getting well-known to the +strafed English custom-house officers at Queenboro' and Harwich. They +recognize me by my stick, I believe, but they little know that it is a +new one every time. What do you think of this? I have brought it as a +specimen for you to see. Just fancy! every time I cross to Holland +twenty kilogrammes of good copper are on their way to the Fatherland. +By this time Herr Stabb of Essen is well acquainted with my Malacca +canes." +</P> + +<P> +"A good weight to carry about," remarked Ramblethorne, wielding the +disguised bar of copper. "I wonder you troubled." +</P> + +<P> +"Mein Gott! I could not leave it," declared von Ruhle. "Someone might +take a fancy to it, and then the secret would be out. But tell me: +have you succeeded in getting that commission you spoke of?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am still living in hopes," replied Ramblethorne. "Of course I could +have obtained a post of temporary surgeon in the British Navy, but it +wasn't good enough. It's no fun running the risk of being torpedoed by +our own Submarines. The English Army offers a wider scope. Believe +me, I am worth more than a division to the Emperor. I'll get a +commission, never you fear, for I have heaps of influence. Then, of +course, I will do my utmost to fight against a terrible epidemic that +will mysteriously break out amongst the troops." +</P> + +<P> +Ramblethorne, otherwise von Hauptwald, threw back his shoulders and +laughed uproariously. +</P> + +<P> +"Careful!" hissed his companion. "You will be heard over the whole +island." +</P> + +<P> +"What matters? There is not another soul in sight besides ourselves. +How much petrol have you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Fifty two-gallon tins. I expect some more by boat to-morrow. It's +safely stored in a cave on the side of the creek. It is a nuisance it +is raining. I do not fancy a night's work in weather like this. +Himmel, what's that?" +</P> + +<P> +Accidentally Vernon's foot had dislodged a small piece of stone. +</P> + +<P> +"Nerves, my dear von Ruhle," said Ramblethorne, with his usual +good-natured smile. "A bit of masonry has fallen from the tower. See, +the floor is covered with similar pieces." +</P> + +<P> +"If anyone should be up there——" suggested von Ruhle, pointing to the +top of the tower. +</P> + +<P> +The lads could feel their hearts thumping against their ribs. Through +a small crack in the planking they could see the eyes of the two +Germans directed upwards. +</P> + +<P> +"Impossible; there are no steps," declared Ramblethorne. "Besides, +what object would anyone have in ascending a tower on a day like this? +I fully appreciate the danger of being overheard, of course. We've +said enough to find ourselves faced by a firing-party in the Tower of +London, my friend." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't!" expostulated von Ruhle, closing his eyes as if to shut out the +unpleasant mental vision. Then: "You have the signalling apparatus, I +hope?" +</P> + +<P> +"Trust me for that, von Ruhle," replied his companion, tapping his +breast-pocket. "All we have to do is to wait until yonder lighthouse +exposes its light. Really the ways of these English pass +understanding. They rigorously forbid the showing of lights in private +houses on shore, imagining that our agents would be so foolish as to +start blinking with a lamp; yet they allow these lighthouses to work as +usual, and obligingly enable us to communicate to our hearts' content." +</P> + +<P> +Von Hauptwald was not far wrong in his remarks, for the instrument he +had enabled him to flash a message to a confederate without having to +be in possession of a lamp. The flash was obtained from any distant +and visible light by means of a complicated system of mirrors. The +reflected rays could then be projected in any desired direction so as +to be quite invisible except on a certain bearing. It was one of the +carefully-thought-out plans adopted by the German Government to permit +its spies to communicate with their submarines without running any +great risk of detection. +</P> + +<P> +"It's two hours to sunset," remarked the doctor; "three before we +commence operations. I would suggest that we adjourn to the cave and +partake of refreshment. You see, I have not omitted to make suitable +provision." +</P> + +<P> +"Very good!" agreed von Ruhle; "but I only wish I had a waterproof. +The rain is most annoying." +</P> + +<P> +Arm-in-arm the two men left the building, and presently disappeared +from view behind a slight rise in the ground. +</P> + +<P> +"I say!" exclaimed Ross; "we've tumbled on something this time. Fancy +Ramblethorne a rotten German spy. I always thought he was a rattling +good chap." +</P> + +<P> +"Evidently he isn't," rejoined Vernon. "But the point is: what do you +propose to do? It's beastly wet here." +</P> + +<P> +"It is, now I come to think of it," agreed his chum. "The fact is, +that until you mentioned it I was hardly aware that it was raining. +We'll discuss this knotty point." +</P> + +<P> +"I vote we make tracks for the boat," suggested Haye. "The tide must +be rising by this time. We can then slip off and raise the alarm." +</P> + +<P> +Ross shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"No go," he decided. "We might get nabbed ourselves. Besides, who +would be able to lay these chaps by the heels? There's only that +motor-boat chap at Penydwick Cove, and he's precious little use. There +are no soldiers nearer than at St. Bedal. I propose we hang on here. +There's a snug, sheltered hole in these ruins, just big enough for us +to lie hidden. Then we stand a good chance of hearing more of the +conversation between those beggars." +</P> + +<P> +"Three hours more, remember." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know. In the meanwhile we might slip down to Main Beach Cove. +There's plenty of cover amongst the rocks." +</P> + +<P> +"What for?" asked Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +"To see what these fellows are up to. I'm rather anxious to renew my +slight acquaintance with friend Copperstick. By Jove, what a cute move +to get contraband metal into Germany!" +</P> + +<P> +"Not much at a time. It shows how hard up the Germans must be for +copper when it pays a fellow to carry over about half a hundredweight +at a time." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, let's get a move on," said Ross. "Be careful how you descend. +The ivy will be fairly slippery with the wet." +</P> + +<P> +Cautiously the two lads descended, reaching the ground without mishap. +</P> + +<P> +"Our sweaters!" exclaimed Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +"Dash it all! Yes," agreed his companion. "I had forgotten all about +them." +</P> + +<P> +The sweaters, carefully rolled up, had been placed for security in one +corner of the chapel. Unless anyone actually came close to the spot, +they were hidden from sight. +</P> + +<P> +"Neither of those fellows stood about here, I think," remarked Ross as +the chums retrieved and donned the additional clothing. "It's jolly +lucky, or they would have smelt a rat." +</P> + +<P> +Trefusis and his companion went out into the rain, walking rapidly +towards a slight mound capped by a few irregularly shaped stones. It +was behind this rise of ground that the two spies had gone. Up to this +point, Ross argued, there was little need for caution; beyond, it would +be necessary to keep well under cover until they reached Main Beach. +</P> + +<P> +"'Ware the skyline," cautioned Ross as the chums approached the hillock. +</P> + +<P> +"Ay; 'ware the skyline," said a deep voice mockingly, "It's bad +strategy." +</P> + +<P> +Turning, the lads made the disconcerting discovery that Ramblethorne +and von Ruhle were within five yards of their would-be trackers. +</P> + +<P> +Ross realized that he and his chum had been badly outmanoeuvred. +Evidently the Germans suspected that they had been overheard, and +ostentatiously leaving the ruins for Main Beach Cove, they had made a +detour from the hillock, and had waited until Ross and Vernon had +emerged from the chapel. Then, taking advantage of the wet grass that +effectually deadened the sound of their footsteps, they had turned the +tables on their shadowers. +</P> + +<P> +So completely taken aback were the two lads that they stood stock-still +as if rooted to the earth. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a nice evening to be out, Trefusis," continued the doctor. "What +brings you on St. Mena's Island at this late hour of the day?" +</P> + +<P> +"Our boat was left high and dry by the tide, so we had to wait and take +shelter," replied Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"And so you chose a place where there was no shelter," remarked +Ramblethorne. "Idiotic thing to do—very idiotic. Now tell me: what +were you doing on the top of the tower?" +</P> + +<P> +Ross did not hesitate in his reply. Perhaps it would have been better +had he done so, for he had never betrayed his knowledge of German to +the doctor on any of their previous meetings, and it would have been +judicious to keep up the deception. +</P> + +<P> +"What were we doing? Listening to your precious schemes," he retorted +boldly. "Now we know all about you, and it will be our duty to report +you as spies to the authorities. We are expecting a search-party from +Killigwent Hall at any moment, you see." +</P> + +<P> +"So that's the line of defence you propose to adopt, eh?" sneered +Ramblethorne. "Well, look out!" +</P> + +<P> +With a sudden spring the athletic man flung himself upon Ross, while +von Ruhle with equal promptitude made a rush to secure Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +Strong and active though he was, Ross was no match for his huge and +powerful antagonist. Knowing that flight was impossible, the lad +feinted, and aimed a blow with his left straight for the doctor's chin. +This Ramblethorne parried easily, and grasping the lad's wrist, held it +as in a vice, and in such a manner that rendered fruitless any attempt +on Trefusis' part to make use of his right arm. +</P> + +<P> +Having thus secured his opponent, Ramblethorne watched the result of +the encounter between his fellow-spy and young Haye. +</P> + +<P> +Von Ruhle had opened the attack by brandishing his heavy stick, and +calling upon Vernon to surrender. +</P> + +<P> +Haye returned the compliment by closing, and dealing the German such a +terrific blow upon the chest that von Ruhle recoiled quite a couple of +yards. The lad's onslaught had only missed the German's solar plexus +by a few inches; had it not, the chances were that von Ruhle would have +lost all interest in life for the next quarter of an hour. +</P> + +<P> +But instead of following up his initial success Vernon, seeing Ross +helpless in the doctor's grip, rushed to his chum's aid. For a few +seconds he feinted, striving to find an opening, while Ramblethorne, +dragging his captive with him, pivoted in order to keep his front +towards his new antagonist. +</P> + +<P> +Those few seconds were Vernon's undoing. +</P> + +<P> +Quickly recovering himself, von Ruhle sprang forward with the agility +of a panther. The imitation Malacca cane descended with a dull thud +upon the lad's head, and like a felled ox Vernon fell inertly upon the +sodden grass. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold him—so," exclaimed Ramblethorne, handing Ross over to the +custody of von Ruhle. Then drawing a small hypodermic syringe from a +case, the former inserted the needle into the lad's forearm. +</P> + +<P> +Five seconds later Ross Trefusis lay unconscious beside his companion +in misfortune. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Kidnapped +</H3> + +<P> +"I thought you had killed him, von Ruhle," said the doctor, bending +over Vernon and making a cursory examination of the unconscious lad. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought I had," was the unconcerned reply. "Dead men tell no tales." +</P> + +<P> +"There I beg to differ," protested Ramblethorne. "Corpses have a nasty +way of turning up at inopportune moments. These youngsters are worth +more to us alive than dead." +</P> + +<P> +"How so?" +</P> + +<P> +"One is a son of Admiral Trefusis; his companion is, I believe, also a +son of a distinguished English naval officer." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, and what of it?" asked von Ruhle. +</P> + +<P> +"Hostages," replied the doctor briefly. "Later I will explain. +Meanwhile we'll carry them to the cave. It's farther than back to the +ruins; but perhaps, as young Trefusis said, there may be a +search-party, and the ruins would be one of the first objects of +investigation." +</P> + +<P> +Although, with the exception of periodical visits abroad, Dr. +Ramblethorne had lived in England all his life and was a fully +qualified medical man, he was a highly trusted and talented agent of +the German Secret Service. Months before the outbreak of war, he had +been ordered to report upon the defences of Devonport, and in order to +do this he had bought a practice on the outskirts of Plymouth. Upon +the commencement of hostilities, he was detailed to keep under +observation the military preparations of the Duchy of Cornwall, and +also to take necessary steps for communicating with German submarines +that, under von Tirpitz's prearranged scheme, were to operate in the +Bristol Channel. Von Ruhle was one of the few subordinates he actually +knew. There were others with whom he communicated only through an +intermediary, and who knew him only by a number. +</P> + +<P> +Von Ruhle was almost as mentally clever as his superior. +Ostentatiously he was an Englishman. Sometimes he posed as a mining +engineer; at others as a commercial traveller; as an accredited +representative of the British Red Cross Society he was in the habit of +making frequent journeys to Holland, presumably in connection with work +at Groningen Internment Camp. At the present time, his activities were +centred upon the formation of a secret petrol depot for the supply of +fuel to unterseebooten operating in the Bristol Channel and off the +south coast of Ireland. +</P> + +<P> +A couple of slight incidents had served to put the cautious +Ramblethorne on his guard during his interview with von Ruhle in the +ruined chapel. +</P> + +<P> +Although he verbally deprecated his subordinate's alarm when the lads +accidentally dislodged a stone from the tower, it was merely to disarm +possible eavesdroppers of any suspicion that their presence was +suspected. +</P> + +<P> +The ability to control his feelings was one of the super-spy's chief +assets. Suspicion once aroused, he proceeded without the faintest sign +to investigate his surroundings. His keen eye soon lighted upon the +lads' sweaters. Then it was that an adjournment was suggested to Main +Beach Cove. +</P> + +<P> +This was simply and solely a "blind", for on gaining the cover of the +boulder-strewn hillock the doctor communicated his suspicions to his +companion. The pair then crouched behind the rocks, whence they were +able to command a view of the tower. +</P> + +<P> +It was not long before their enterprise met with success. They saw +Trefusis and his chum cautiously descend by means of the ivy; then, +directly the lads set out upon their ill-starred tracking expedition, +the Germans, as before related, succeeded in outflanking them and +effecting their capture. +</P> + +<P> +"Time!" announced Ramblethorne, consulting his watch. +</P> + +<P> +"Are these safe?" asked von Ruhle, stirring Vernon's unconscious form +with his foot. +</P> + +<P> +"Quite; though, perhaps, to make sure I will give this youngster a +slight injection. Pity you hadn't held him with the double arm-lock +instead of cracking him over the head. Herr Kapitan Schwalbe won't +want to be troubled with a passenger with a swollen head." +</P> + +<P> +Leaving their senseless victims in the cave, the two Germans again +ascended the hill to St. Mena's Chapel. As they breasted the summit, +they could see the fixed white light of Black Bull Head showing +momentarily brighter and brighter against the rapidly failing daylight. +</P> + +<P> +Setting a prismatic compass in position upon the sill of one of the +glazeless windows, Ramblethorne took a careful bearing in a seaward +direction. This done, he pointed the projector of the signalling +apparatus in precisely the same direction, and threw a waterproofed +cloth over the instrument. +</P> + +<P> +"Too early yet, von Ruhle," he remarked. "Nevertheless it is advisable +to fix our bearings while twilight lasts. A light might spell +disaster." +</P> + +<P> +"A deucedly unpleasant night for such a task," grumbled von Ruhle. +</P> + +<P> +"On the contrary, it is just the very thing," replied the doctor. "It +is not thick enough to be dangerous, but the rain is just sufficient to +assist in the screening of U75. Do not think of your personal comfort, +my dear von Ruhle, when urgent work for the Fatherland has to be +undertaken." +</P> + +<P> +For another half-hour the two men paced the grass-grown stones. Their +choice of St. Mena's Island as a secret signalling station was an +excellent one. It was isolated, and, being slightly greater in +elevation than the cliffs of the mainland in the immediate vicinity, +would effectually screen any ray of light sent landwards from the +expected German submarine. Thus all danger of the narrow gleam of +reflected light being detected by the none too smart members of the +coast patrol was entirely obviated. +</P> + +<P> +"Time!" exclaimed the doctor, consulting the luminous face of his watch. +</P> + +<P> +Dexterously, and without disturbing the position of the instrument, von +Ruhle whipped off the covering. Although there were no visible signs +that anything was taking place, both men knew that a beam of light, +reflected from the distant lighthouse on Black Bull Head, was being +directed seawards. +</P> + +<P> +In silence the two men peered through the driving rain, von Ruhle +making use of a pair of powerful night-glasses. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly, after an interval of almost five minutes, a faint pin-prick +of light flickered from the surface of the sea. +</P> + +<P> +Instantly Ramblethorne stepped a dozen paces to the right. +</P> + +<P> +"I can see nothing from here," he announced in a low voice. "Can you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied his companion. +</P> + +<P> +"Good: that's friend Schwalbe." +</P> + +<P> +The doctor was right. From the deck of the unterseeboot a signalling +apparatus similar to that employed by the spies was in use. By an +ingenious automatic arrangement it projected a beam of light, derived +from the same sources as that on St. Mena's Island, rigidly in a fixed +direction, regardless of the "lift" of the submarine under the action +of the waves. +</P> + +<P> +For several minutes a rapid exchange of signals was maintained; then +the two spies, folding up their apparatus, walked rapidly towards Main +Beach Cove. +</P> + +<P> +They had not long to wait before the faint sound of oars was borne to +their ears. +</P> + +<P> +"Himmel! They have arrived already," exclaimed von Ruhle. +</P> + +<P> +"So it appears," replied Ramblethorne dryly. "I pride myself that I +have exceptionally good eyesight, but I fail to see her. The neutral +colour of the submarine is indeed excellent for night work." +</P> + +<P> +They descended the sandy and shingly beach until further progress was +barred by the lapping wavelets of the rising tide. +</P> + +<P> +Through the mirk loomed up the outlines of a canvas collapsible boat +crowded with men. At two lengths from the shore the rowers laid on +their oars. One of the men gave vent to a low whistle resembling the +call of a curlew. +</P> + +<P> +"All clear," replied Ramblethorne. +</P> + +<P> +The boat's keel rasped on the shingle. A cloaked figure in the +stern-sheets made his way for'ard and leapt ashore. +</P> + +<P> +"Herr von Hauptwald?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"The same," replied the doctor. "And Kapitan Schwalbe?" +</P> + +<P> +"The captain is still on board," replied the officer. "It is hard to +resist the opportunity of getting ashore after being cooped up there +for more than a fortnight. But the petrol?" +</P> + +<P> +"We have not so much as we hoped to obtain," replied von Ruhle. +</P> + +<P> +The Leutnant muttered an oath. +</P> + +<P> +"And how is business?" asked Ramblethorne, with a view of distracting +the officer's thoughts from the shortage of fuel. +</P> + +<P> +The Leutnant muttered another oath. +</P> + +<P> +"Bad!" he replied savagely. "Only one wretched little tramp steamer, +which we fell in with about twenty miles from the Stacks. She gave us +a run for our money, but we had her at last. Even then she tried to +ram us. One has to be most cautious also. These accursed English have +been far too active with their new-fangled contrivances. We called up +U71 early this morning. She replied. Again at noon we called her, but +there was no reply. U70 we have lost all touch with since Monday, yet +she was under orders to assist in the blockade of the Bristol Channel +until we, as senior unterseeboot, gave instructions to return to +Wilhelmshaven." +</P> + +<P> +"Lost, I suppose," remarked Ramblethorne. +</P> + +<P> +The Leutnant had walked to a distance of nearly ten yards from his men, +who were drawn up in military order awaiting their officer's commands. +</P> + +<P> +He lowered his voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Although I am sorry to say it," he declared, "I am afraid she has gone +too. Our losses are not only serious—they are appalling. Submarine +work is now a continual nightmare. We do our duty, but before long, if +we are sufficiently fortunate to escape the toils that these English +cast about us, we shall all be physical wrecks." +</P> + +<P> +The man's agitation increased as he spoke. Obviously he was labouring +under a severe strain. +</P> + +<P> +"And this petrol?" he asked anxiously. "What quantity?" +</P> + +<P> +Ramblethorne told him. +</P> + +<P> +"Not enough," declared the Leutnant. "Himmel, it is not enough to get +us round Cape Wrath. On board we have only sufficient for six hours' +surface running, while our batteries are not far short of running down. +You had better see the captain and explain." +</P> + +<P> +Leaving von Ruhle to direct the seamen to the secret petrol store in +the cave, Ramblethorne accompanied the Leutnant to the submarine. +</P> + +<P> +The U75 was one of the latest type of Germany's submarines. Over three +hundred feet in length, there was little about her in common with the +accepted idea of under-water craft. Her deck ran in one continuous +sweep for almost her entire length, and rose nearly six feet above the +surface. The visible part of her sides was perpendicular, the bulging +sections being entirely beneath the surface. Her conning-tower was +surrounded by a platform as long as the navigation-bridge of a modern +destroyer. The two periscopes were "housed", but two slender +"wireless" masts gave the boat the appearance of a swift torpedo craft. +</P> + +<P> +Acknowledging a salute from a burly quartermaster, Ramblethorne gained +the deck, and was escorted aft by the Leutnant. Pacing the tapering +platform was a broad-shouldered, fair-haired man of about thirty, +although a carefully trimmed blonde beard made him look much older. +</P> + +<P> +He lacked the natural elastic stride of the British naval officer. His +movements resembled those of a thoroughly drilled soldier, yet ever and +anon he would glance furtively in the direction of the open sea as if +in constant dread of sudden and unknown peril. +</P> + +<P> +"Greetings, Herr von Hauptwald!" he exclaimed, when the Leutnant had +formally introduced his visitor. "You are well known to me by repute, +but I doubt whether we have met before." +</P> + +<P> +"I fancy so," rejoined the doctor. "Do you not remember that little +affair in the Strauer Platz? Ah, I thought you would! But to come to +the point. We have been unable to obtain the requisite quantity of +petrol." +</P> + +<P> +"Somehow I thought it," replied Kapitan Schwalbe. "How much have you?" +</P> + +<P> +Ramblethorne told him. +</P> + +<P> +"Enough, with what we have left on board, for only eight hundred miles +run. It will not take us home, and we are under orders not to leave +these waters before Friday next. We have been let down badly." +</P> + +<P> +"I know that it is useless to express regrets," said Ramblethorne +boldly. "I can only hope that other means of supplying the requisite +fuel will be forthcoming. But here is another matter. We have had to +secure two English lads, both sons of distinguished naval officers. +Unfortunately they overheard a conversation between von Ruhle and +myself. In the interests of the Secret Service it is absolutely +necessary that they are kept out of the way for at least a couple of +months. I am averse to doing them personal injury." +</P> + +<P> +"Then what do you wish?" asked Kapitan Schwalbe. +</P> + +<P> +"Take them on board with you. If possible, land them at a German port. +If this be possible, you will realize that we have a strong tool to +work with." +</P> + +<P> +"I fail to understand," said the Kapitan of U75. +</P> + +<P> +"They could be made good use of as hostages," resumed Ramblethorne. +"If these English persist in talking about reprisals, we can hint +that—well, it is unnecessary to go into details." +</P> + +<P> +"I see," remarked Kapitan Schwalbe. "But if it is impossible to land +them?" +</P> + +<P> +"Then you must put them on board the first outward-bound tramp steamer +you fall in with—provided she is bound for South American ports, or +anywhere that will mean a long voyage." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," assented the submarine officer. "I quite understand your +anxiety to get them out of the way." +</P> + +<P> +"Temporarily, mind," added Ramblethorne. +</P> + +<P> +"Precisely. Herr Rix," he exclaimed, addressing the Leutnant. "Take +four men and go ashore. Von Ruhle will tell you where these English +boys are; have them brought on board." +</P> + +<P> +"One moment," interrupted Ramblethorne. "They came to the island in a +boat. There is nothing unusual in that, I admit, but the fact remains +that the boat is still lying in the cove next to this. You might order +the men to set the boat adrift." +</P> + +<P> +"Water-logged, and with sails set and the main-sheet made fast. +Another deplorable accident. Ach! It shall be so." +</P> + +<P> +Half an hour later Ross Trefusis and Vernon Haye, still unconscious +under the action of the anaesthetic injection, were brought on board +U75 and passed below. Their boat, lying on its beam-ends, was drifting +slowly in the direction of Black Bull Head. Ramblethorne and von +Ruhle, their work for the present done, were already on the way to the +mainland. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile, alarmed at the non-appearance of the young heir to +Killigwent Hall and his guest, a party had set off to search St. Mena's +Island. +</P> + +<P> +Just as the boat's keel grounded on the beach of Half Tide Cove, the +German submarine slipped quietly through the blurr of misty rain, and +under cover of darkness headed towards the mouth of Bristol Channel. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Awakening +</H3> + +<P> +"Dash it all! What am I doing here?" muttered Ross Trevor drowsily, as +he opened his eyes. +</P> + +<P> +For the moment he quite imagined that he was in his dormitory at +school, and that by an oversight the rest of his chums had left him in +bed. The suggestion was strengthened by the sound of gurgling water, +as if the bathroom tap were running. Then he became aware that +everything was pitching up and down. Once before he had experienced a +similar sensation—when he had had a violent headache following a +slight touch of sunstroke. +</P> + +<P> +It puzzled him, too, that he was almost in darkness. Somewhere +without, and partly screened by some projection, an electric light was +burning. The reflected rays were just sufficient to enable him to take +stock of his surroundings. +</P> + +<P> +No, he was not back in the school dormitory. True, he had a headache, +but that would not account for the actual motion. He fumbled, his +fingers came in contact with a curved board that served to prevent the +occupant of the bed—or, rather, bunk—from falling on the floor. +</P> + +<P> +Almost mechanically he rolled out, and stood supporting himself by +grasping the ledge of the bunk. The swaying, due partly to dizziness +and partly to an unaccountable see-saw motion, would have thrown him to +the floor but for the assistance afforded by the side of the bunk. +</P> + +<P> +Gradually he became aware that there was a similar sleeping-place +immediately beneath the one he had been occupying. Someone was lying +there, breathing heavily. There was sufficient light for Ross to +recognize him. It was his chum Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +Just then a bell clanged noisily. The sound of running water was +outvoiced by the loud din of machinery in motion. A wave of hot air +that reminded the lad of the atmosphere of a Tube station wafted past +him. The whole fabric trembled under the powerful pulsations of the +mechanism. +</P> + +<P> +With his legs trembling through sheer physical weakness, Ross hung on +grimly. He wanted to shout, but no sound came from his parched tongue. +He was bewildered. It seemed as if he were in the throes of a terrible +nightmare, and that he would awake on finding himself falling into a +bottomless abyss. +</P> + +<P> +The reflected light was obscured as a broad-shouldered man made his way +along the narrow corridor in which the bunks were placed. As he did so +he caught sight of the lad. Without a word he seized Ross in his arms, +not roughly, but nevertheless unceremoniously, and lifted him back into +the bunk. There was something so peremptory in the action that Ross +lay still and closed his eyes. All his will power seemed to have +deserted him. +</P> + +<P> +"Make a dash for it, old man!" exclaimed a muffled voice that Trefusis +hardly recognized as his chum's. "Make a dash for it. Don't let them +collar us." +</P> + +<P> +It was Vernon rambling in his sleep. The words were sufficient to give +Ross a key to the hitherto baffling problem. +</P> + +<P> +Like a flash he recalled the episode of their adventure on St. Mena's +Island. He remembered himself being held in the grasp of the powerful +Ramblethorne until unconsciousness overcame him. He was still a +prisoner, but with the qualifying knowledge that he was not alone. +Vernon Haye was sharing his captivity, wherever it might be. +</P> + +<P> +"We're afloat then," he muttered. "What has happened?" +</P> + +<P> +Moistening his lips, Ross leant over the side of the bunk and called +his chum by name. His voice sounded strangely unfamiliar. He could +only just hear himself above the clamorous noise of the engines. +</P> + +<P> +It was not long before another man appeared at the end of the corridor. +As he did so he switched on a lamp almost above the lad's head. For a +few seconds Ross was temporarily blinded by the sudden transition from +artificial twilight to the intense brilliancy of electric light. +</P> + +<P> +"So! You are now awake, hein?" asked a guttural voice. "How you vos +feel?" +</P> + +<P> +"Rotten!" replied Ross emphatically. His reply was brief and to the +point. It summed up his sensations during the last ten minutes. +</P> + +<P> +The man laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"So you look. You better soon will be. You know where you now vos?" +</P> + +<P> +"On board a ship," answered the lad. He was still hoping against hope +that his questioner was anything but a German. There was a small +chance that he had by some means been picked up at sea by a Dutch or a +Swedish vessel. +</P> + +<P> +The man's announcement "put the lid on" that possibility. +</P> + +<P> +"Sheep—goot!" he chuckled. "German unterseeboot—vot you vos call +submarine. No danger to you boys if you yourselves behave. Much to +see—ach! plenty much." +</P> + +<P> +The lad's eyes had now become more accustomed to the light. He could +see that his visitor was a broad-shouldered, muscular man of average +height, florid-featured, and with light-yellow hair and a fair +moustache. He was dressed in a uniform that was apparently a bad copy +of that worn by executive officers of the British Navy. On the breast +of his coat he wore an Iron Cross. +</P> + +<P> +"Me Hermann Rix, Ober-leutnant of unterseeboot," he announced. "Der +Kapitan send me to see how you get better. Goot! I tell seaman to +bring food quick. In one hour you go on deck. Den you feel all well." +</P> + +<P> +The German Leutnant bent and peered into the lower cot. +</P> + +<P> +"Fat head," he remarked seriously. "Bad knock, but he get well soon." +</P> + +<P> +With that the officer went away, leaving the light switched on. +</P> + +<P> +Scrambling out of his bunk, Ross approached his chum. Vernon was now +sleeping quietly. His face, however, was flushed, while it was quite +evident that he had received a fairly heavy blow across the skull, for +the top of his head was swollen to a considerable extent. +</P> + +<P> +Before Ross had finished his examination a sailor entered, bearing a +tray on which were three slices of rye bread, some tinned beef, and a +bottle of Rhenish wine. +</P> + +<P> +"Sprechen Sie deutsch?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +For an instant Trefusis hesitated before replying. To profess +ignorance of the German language would be an immense advantage while on +board the submarine, provided he could control his facial expressions +and listen without betraying himself. Then, on the other hand, he +reflected that Ramblethorne, the spy, might have been instrumental in +getting him into this predicament. More than likely the Captain of the +submarine had been informed of the fact that his unconscious passengers +were well acquainted with the tongue-twisting language of the +Fatherland. +</P> + +<P> +"Here is food for you," said the man, placing the tray on the floor. +"You had better take hold of the bottle before it upsets. We are +rolling a bit. When your friend open his eyes, call me. I am in +yonder compartment. It would be well for you to dress. I will bring +your clothes to you very soon." +</P> + +<P> +Ross made a sorry meal. The food was not at all appetizing. His +throat was in no condition to enable him to swallow easily. A feeling +of nausea, due either to the motion, the hot, confined air, or the +after effects of the stupefying injection—perhaps a little of all +three—was still present. +</P> + +<P> +He was actually on board a German submarine—one of Tirpitz's +twentieth-century pirates. He racked his brains to find a reason. +With its limited accommodation an unterseeboot seemed the last type of +craft that would receive a pair of prisoners—and +non-combatants—within its steel-clad hull. It must have been at +Ramblethorne's instigation; yet why had not the spy knocked the pair of +luckless eavesdroppers over the head and tumbled them into the sea? It +seemed by far the easiest solution; yet, in spite of that, Ross and +Vernon were being carried to an unknown destination in one of the +"mystery-craft" of the Imperial German Navy. +</P> + +<P> +The reappearance of the seaman bearing Ross's clothes cut short the +latter's unsolved meditations. Without a word the man laid the neatly +folded garments on the bunk—a pair of flannel trousers, cricket shirt, +underclothes, and the sweater that had been the cause of the lads' +undoing; but in place of his shoes a pair of half-boots, reeking with +tallow, had been provided. +</P> + +<P> +Ross proceeded to dress. As he did so a voice that he hardly +recognized asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Hulloa, Trefusis, where are we?" +</P> + +<P> +It was Haye. His companion was now awake, but hardly conscious of his +surroundings. +</P> + +<P> +"Better?" asked Ross laconically. He could not at that moment bring +himself to answer the question. +</P> + +<P> +"Didn't know that I was ill," remonstrated Vernon. Then, after a vain +attempt to raise his head—perhaps fortunately, since the bottom of +Ross's cot was within a few inches of his face—he added: +</P> + +<P> +"Dash it all! I remember. That beastly German gave me a crack over +the head with his copper walking-stick. Where are we?" +</P> + +<P> +"In a rotten hole, old man. We're in a German submarine, bound +goodness knows where." +</P> + +<P> +"Where are my clothes?" asked Haye, this time successfully getting out +of his bunk. "Since you have yours, there seems to be no reason why I +shouldn't have mine. Hang it! What's the matter with me? +Everything's spinning round like a top." +</P> + +<P> +Mindful of the seaman's words, and with a docility that would have +surprised him in different circumstances, Ross staggered along the +corridor. The passage was about thirty feet in length. On one side +the metal wall was flat, on the other it had a pronounced curve. +Against it were six bunks arranged in pairs. Four were used as +stowing-places for baggage, the remaining ones had been given up to the +two prisoners. The roof was almost hidden by numerous pipes, most of +them running fore and aft, while a few branched off through the walls. +The flat bulkhead evidently formed one of the walls of the engine-room, +for, as the lad placed his hand against it to steady himself, he could +feel a distinct tremor, quite different from the vibration under his +feet. The floor was of steel, with a raised chequer pattern in order +to give a better grip to one's feet. At frequent intervals there were +circular places, similar to those covering the coal-shoots in the +pavement of residential thoroughfares. Walls, ceiling, and floor were +covered with beads of moisture, but whether from condensation or +leakage Ross could not decide. +</P> + +<P> +At the end of the corridor or alley-way was a steel water-tight door, +running in gun-metal grooves packed with india-rubber. The door was +closed. +</P> + +<P> +Seizing the lever that served as a handle, Trefusis tried to turn it, +but without success. Failing that, he kicked the steelwork with his +heavy half-boots, yet no response came to his appeal. +</P> + +<P> +"The fellow told me to call," he muttered airily. "What did he want to +play the fool for?" +</P> + +<P> +Retracing his steps, Ross went to the other end of the alley-way. +There was barely room to pass his companion as he did so. The place +from which he had previously seen the reflected light was now shut off +by a door similarly constructed to the one that he had vainly attempted +to open. He was locked in a steel tomb that was itself a metal box +within a metal box—a water-tight compartment of the submarine. +</P> + +<P> +"They might just as well have switched off the light while they were +about it," he exclaimed bitterly; then at the next instant he wildly +regretted his words. The idea of being imprisoned in that cheerless +compartment without a light of any description appalled him. +</P> + +<P> +Almost frantically he returned to the door that had previously baffled +him. As he did so he became aware that the submarine was tilting +longitudinally. Since he was unaware of the direction of the craft, +and which was the bow or stern, he was unable to judge whether the +unterseeboot was diving, or ascending to the surface. +</P> + +<P> +The incline became so great that he had to grasp the door-lever for +support. Turning his head, he saw that Vernon was hanging on grimly to +the partition between the tiers of bunks. +</P> + +<P> +Then, as the vessel regained an even keel, silently and smoothly the +door slid back in its grooves, revealing a small space barely six feet +in length and five in breadth, and separated from the rest of the +vessel by a closed water-tight panel. Part of the compartment was +occupied by a bend, at which the seaman to whom he had previously +spoken was busily engaged in mending a rent in an oilskin coat. +</P> + +<P> +"My friend is now awake," announced Ross. +</P> + +<P> +The man laid aside his work. +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" he replied. "He is just in time. I will bring him his food +and his clothes. After that you will both go on deck for fresh air +before you are interviewed by Herr Kapitan Schwalbe. See that door? +Beyond that you must not pass without permission. It is forbidden. If +you do so, you will not have another opportunity in a hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"What are they going to do with us?" asked Ross. +</P> + +<P> +The sailor shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"It is forbidden to ask questions," he said sternly. "Whatever is +necessary that you should know will be told you." +</P> + +<P> +He turned his back upon his questioner, signifying in a plain manner +that it was useless for Trefusis to say more. Taking the hint the lad +returned to his chum, wondering deeply at the fate that had thrown them +into the hands of the enemy. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Aboard U75 +</H3> + +<P> +Like Ross, Vernon Haye made a poor meal. He had barely finished when a +petty officer appeared and curtly ordered the lads to follow him. +Since he did so in German it was fairly certain that Trefusis' +admission had been communicated to both officers and crew. +</P> + +<P> +Staggering, they passed along the alley-way into a broad subdivision +that extended completely athwartships. It was one of the two broadside +torpedo-rooms, and contained two tubes of slightly greater diameter +than the British 21-inch. In "launching-trays" by the side of the +tubes were eight torpedoes with their deadly war-heads attached. Both +transverse bulkheads were almost hidden by indicators, voice-tubes, and +pipes for transmitting the compressed air from the air-flasks to the +torpedo-tubes. +</P> + +<P> +Passing through another water-tight door the prisoners found themselves +in yet another compartment. On one side was an "air-lock", with its +complement of life-saving helmets; on the other was an oval-shaped door +forming means of communication with the small room built against the +curved sides of the submarine. Ross guessed, and rightly as it +afterwards transpired, that the door led into a space that could be +flooded at will, and which in turn enabled a diver to operate from the +U-boat while submerged. +</P> + +<P> +Confronting the lads was an almost perpendicular steel ladder +communicating with the conning-tower. Their guide was about to ascend +when a stern voice exclaimed in German: +</P> + +<P> +"Not that, you idiotic clodhopper! Have you lost your reason? The +forward hatchway, don't you know?" +</P> + +<P> +"Pardon, Herr Leutnant," said the petty officer, abjectly apologetic, +and, backing down the ladder, he passed through another door entering +into an alley-way between the officers' cabins. Here was the bowl of a +supplementary periscope, so that a vision of what was taking place +could be obtained without going into the conning-tower. +</P> + +<P> +The alley-way terminated at another broadside torpedo-room, the pairs +of tubes pointing in the opposite direction to those the lads had just +seen. +</P> + +<P> +Beyond were the living-quarters of the crew, kept spotlessly clean and +tidy, yet Spartan-like in their simplicity. Two of the men were sound +asleep in their bunks. Three more, who were playing cards at a plain +deal table, glanced up from their game as the British lads passed by; +but their interest was of brief duration, and stolidly they resumed +their play. +</P> + +<P> +Stooping down to avoid a large metal trough—the "house" for the +for'ard 105-millimetre disappearing gun—Ross and his chum arrived at +the ladder by which they were to gain the open air. +</P> + +<P> +The hatch-cover was thrown back. For the first time during their +captivity they made the discovery that it was night. Looking upwards, +they could see a rectangle of dark sky twinkling with stars that, with +the slight motion of the submarine, appeared to sway to and fro. +</P> + +<P> +The cool night breeze fanned their heated foreheads as they gained the +deck. For some time, coming suddenly from the glare of the +electrically lighted interior, their eyes were blinded. They could see +nothing but an indistinct blurr of star-lit, gently heaving water. +</P> + +<P> +Gradually the sense of vision returned. They found themselves on the +fore-deck of the unterseeboot. They had made up their minds to see a +turtle-back deck with a narrow level platform in the centre; instead +they found that the deck was almost flat and, in nautical parlance, +flush, save where it was broken by the elongated conning-tower topped +by the twin periscopes and slender wireless mast. +</P> + +<P> +Lying on the deck in all conceivable attitudes were most of the +U-boat's crew, taking advantage of a brief spell on the surface to +breathe deeply of the ozone-laden atmosphere. +</P> + +<P> +Not a light was visible on board. Even the hatchway by which the lads +had gained the deck was constructed to trap any stray beam from the +brilliant glare below. +</P> + +<P> +Miles away, and low down upon the horizon, a white light blinked +solemnly; then after a brief interval it was succeeded by a red gleam. +This in turn was followed by white again. +</P> + +<P> +Trefusis, with a sailor's inborn instinct, began to count the +intervals. Although having no means of consulting the only +time-recording watch in the possession of the two captives, he had a +fair idea of counting seconds. At fourteen from the disappearance of +the red light the white appeared. An almost identical space of time +occurred before the red reappeared. +</P> + +<P> +"It's the Wolf Light," mentally ejaculated the lad. +</P> + +<P> +His next step was to fix the bearing of the lighthouse. This he did by +looking for the Great Bear, and then, following the Pointers, the North +Star. +</P> + +<P> +"Phew!" he muttered softly. "Nor'-nor'-west. This brute of a +submarine is right in the chops of the Channel—the main highway for +vessels making for London and the south coast ports." +</P> + +<P> +"What's that?" asked Vernon, who heard his chum speaking, but had +failed to grasp the significance of his words. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing," replied Ross almost in a whisper. "I'll tell you later." +</P> + +<P> +The cool air had revived both lads wonderfully. They had been left to +their own devices, for the petty officer had gone aft. Those of the +crew who were on deck seemed as apathetic as the men below concerning +the presence of the kidnapped youths. They looked like men utterly +worn out by fatigue and nervous strain. +</P> + +<P> +Grasping the flexible wire hand-rail Ross continued his survey of the +horizon, all of which was visible except a small portion obscured by +the rise of the conning-tower. The air was remarkably clear. Taking +into consideration the refraction of the atmosphere, the navigation +lamps of a vessel shown at twenty feet above the sea would be visible +from the low-lying deck of the submarine at a distance of six to seven +miles. +</P> + +<P> +But there were no signs of any vessels in the vicinity. The German +submarine rolled lazily in complete isolation, waiting, like a snake in +the grass, for its prey. +</P> + +<P> +"Herr Kapitan would see you," exclaimed the guttural voice of the petty +officer. "Come aft. Remember, when you are addressed, to remove your +caps." +</P> + +<P> +The man led the way, making no attempt to avoid the recumbent limbs and +bodies of the crew who impeded his passage. Treading with discretion +Ross and Vernon followed till, after skirting the base of the +conning-tower, they found themselves in the presence of +Lieutenant-Commander Schwalbe, the Kapitan of U75. +</P> + +<P> +Schwalbe was sitting in a small arm-chair which had been brought from +his cabin. He was smoking a cigar. At his elbow stood his satellite, +Hermann Rix, who was also smoking. This luxury was denied the crew, +the officers being permitted to smoke only when the submarine was +running awash or resting on the surface. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-049"></A> +<H4> +[Illustration: THE INTERVIEW WITH THE GERMAN CAPTAIN (missing from book)] +</H4> + +<P> +"So you have recovered from your little involuntary rest," exclaimed +Schwalbe in excellent English. He was a remarkably good linguist, for +previous to the outbreak of the war he had been the skipper of a +North-German-Lloyd boat. By sheer good luck he had reached a home port +the day after the momentous declaration of hostilities, having narrowly +escaped capture by a British destroyer. +</P> + +<P> +Owing to the great expansion of the German submarine service, and its +equally rapid reduction at the hands of the British Navy, the supply of +specially trained officers of the Imperial Navy for this branch had run +out. More had been transferred from the pent-up High Seas Fleet, while +others had been absorbed from the now useless German Mercantile Marine, +and hastily put through a course of instruction. Schwalbe was one of +these, and after less than two months' hazardous work in the capacity +of Unter-leutnant found himself in command of U75, one of the "last +words" of von Tirpitz's piratical fleet. +</P> + +<P> +Neither Ross nor Vernon replied. They could form no suitable answer. +It was no doubt very considerate on the part of the Kapitan to enquire +after their healths, but somehow the lads felt that the skipper of U75 +was responsible for their presence on board. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, come," continued Schwalbe. "Don't be sulky." +</P> + +<P> +"We are not," expostulated Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm glad to hear it," rejoined the Kapitan, with a grin that had the +effect of letting his cigar fall to the deck. He stooped to retrieve +it, but, suddenly remembering that it was beneath his dignity, changed +his mind and kicked the glowing stump on one side. Having taken +another from a gun-metal case, he lit it with a device that merely +smouldered instead of giving a bright light. +</P> + +<P> +"It is as well we understand each other," he continued. "Do you know +why you are on board U75?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir," replied Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"Neither do I," rejoined Schwalbe with astonishing candour. "I wish I +had not been honoured with your company." +</P> + +<P> +"The remedy is in your hands then, sir," said Trefusis. "You can land +us the next time you put in at St. Mena's Island for petrol, or else +put us on board the first fishing craft we fall in with." +</P> + +<P> +"I beg to differ," was the rejoinder. "Unfortunately you are on board, +and you must make the best of it, I understand from my friend—shall I +say Dr. Ramblethorne—that you are both very inquisitive. +Inquisitiveness is a bad trait in ones so young. You see, it has got +you into trouble. The doctor has strong reasons for getting me to take +care of you for some considerable time, so you will have an opportunity +of seeing how we Germans make war. No half-measures, mark you. It is +useless to make war with a velvet glove. You English people call us +pirates, I believe?" +</P> + +<P> +"It certainly looks like piracy when German submarines sink harmless +merchantmen without warning," declared Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +"For my part I have never sent a merchant vessel to the bottom without +warning," said Schwalbe. "As a seaman I regret having to sink any ship +of commerce. As an officer of the German Navy I have to obey orders +unquestionably. Nevertheless I have always given the crews of British +ships a chance of escape, and have never sunk any vessel until the men +are safely in the boats, unless she attempts to show fight or to run +away." +</P> + +<P> +"Would you blame a skipper for trying to save his ship?" asked Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"You do not understand," exclaimed Schwalbe. "We are at war. A +blockade has been declared upon the British Islands. If, after full +warning, merchantmen persist in taking the risk, it is their look-out, +not mine. However, to return to a more personal matter: having been +saddled with you, I must endure your presence. You will be well fed, +as far as the resources at our command will allow. You will be free to +go wherever you wish on board, with the exception of the conning-tower, +motor- and torpedo-rooms. I am not ungrateful, for my brother, who had +the misfortune to be in the <I>Ariadne</I>, was captured by your fleet. He +is being well treated somewhere in England. Hence I give privileges to +the son of Admiral Trefusis and the son of Commander Haye so long as +they are my compulsory guests. But bear in mind: you will be watched. +Should you commit any fault, however slight, you will pay dearly for +it. If you are foolish enough to attempt any act of treachery, death +will be the penalty. Have I made myself perfectly clear?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied both lads. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well. Is there anything you would like me to do within the +bounds of reason?" +</P> + +<P> +"Could we communicate with our parents?" asked Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Schwalbe decisively. "There are strong objections. And, +while I am on the subject, should you fall in with the crews of +destroyed ships you are strictly forbidden to communicate with them +either by word or gesture. That will be a punishable offence of the +second degree. Anything more?" +</P> + +<P> +"My friend has had a nasty knock on the head," said Trefusis. "Have +you a doctor on board?" +</P> + +<P> +Again Kapitan Schwalbe smiled broadly. +</P> + +<P> +"No," he replied. "There is no need. Cases of illness must wait till +we return to port. The only injuries we are likely to sustain would +put us beyond all medical aid. But several of the men are fairly +skilled in rough surgery, so I will——" +</P> + +<P> +"Vessel on the port bow, sir; she's showing no lights," announced a +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"All hands to stations!" ordered the skipper. +</P> + +<P> +"Down below with you!" hissed the petty officer, who during the +interview had stood rigidly at attention at two paces to the rear of +his charges. +</P> + +<P> +Already the hitherto recumbent men were alert. Quickly, yet in order, +they disappeared down the fore hatchway, and amongst them were Ross and +Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +The officers had taken their places inside the shelter of the +conning-tower. Everything was battened down from within, and with a +gentle purr the electric motors were set in motion, while at the same +time water ballast was admitted into the trimming-tanks. +</P> + +<P> +Swift and stealthy had been their preparations, but the presence of the +submarine was betrayed by the phosphorescent swirl of the water caused +by the churning of the twin propellers as she slipped beneath the +surface. +</P> + +<P> +Twenty seconds later a swift vessel that looked suspiciously like a +trawler, although her speed belied her, tore over the place where U75 +had disappeared. Bare inches only separated the top of the latter's +conning-tower from the massive keel plates of the craft that had all +but accomplished its mission. +</P> + +<P> +The watch-dogs of the British Navy were at work. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Tramp +</H3> + +<P> +Like a startled hare the unterseeboot fled for shelter. Not until she +reached a depth of fifteen fathoms did she check her diagonally +downward course. At intervals a dull booming, audible above the rattle +of the motors, proclaimed the unpleasant fact that her antagonist was +circling around the spot marked by the phosphorescent swirl and the +iridescence of escaped oil, and was firing explosive grapnels in the +hope of ripping open the U-boat's hull. +</P> + +<P> +Kapitan Schwalbe, looking very grey in the artificial light, was +standing behind the quartermaster. His hands were clenched in +momentary apprehension. Beads of perspiration stood out upon his +forehead. He was experiencing a foretaste of the torment of the lost. +</P> + +<P> +As a submarine officer of the Imperial German Navy he was a failure. +Only sheer luck had hitherto saved him from the fate that had overtaken +scores of his brother officers in that branch of the service. Skilled +as he was in the handling of a huge liner, he lacked the iron nerve +that is essential to the man who has to risk his life in a steel box +that, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, offers no means of escape +in the event of a catastrophe. +</P> + +<P> +Yet he had to do his duty, notwithstanding his utter distaste for +submarine work. He had had no option. The officers of the British +Navy volunteer for submarine duties; those of the German Navy are +simply told off whether they want to or not. +</P> + +<P> +The nerve-racking work was beginning to tell upon him. His orders +condemned him to a forlorn hope, for the English Channel was known to +be a death-trap for the under-sea blockaders. The sight of a trawler +filled him with feelings akin to terror. The possibility, nay +probability, of a merchantman carrying guns made him approach his +intended prey with the utmost caution; yet, as he had remarked to Ross +Trefusis, he had never torpedoed any vessel flying the red ensign +without giving her warning. +</P> + +<P> +But it was not chivalry that prompted Schwalbe to act with +consideration. Had he been untrammelled he would have sent his prey to +the bottom without compunction, for he had all the brutal instincts of +the kultured Hun. It was a superstitious fear that held his +frightfulness in check—a presentiment based upon the Mosaic Law, an +eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. +</P> + +<P> +Having placed a considerable distance between him and his attacker, +Kapitan Schwalbe ordered the electric motors to be stopped. The +ballast tanks were "blown", and cautiously U75 rose to the surface. +</P> + +<P> +It was the best course open to her. The depth of the water was much +too great to allow her to rest on the bed of the sea. On the other +hand, in order to keep submerged, the motors would have to be in +motion. No one knew better than Schwalbe that the British patrol-boats +would be in a position to locate with uncanny certitude the presence of +their quarry, unless the strictest silence were maintained by the +fugitive. +</P> + +<P> +So, ready to dive at the first alarm, U75 floated awash until such +times as were considered favourable for getting under way. Decidedly +this part of the English Channel was, for the time being at least, +unhealthy; and Kapitan Schwalbe resolved to make for the Bristol +Channel, where the dangers of being destroyed by modern mosquitoes were +more remote. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Ross and Vernon had been sent back to the quarters in the +alley-way, by the side of the motor-room. Not knowing the reason for +the U-boat's sudden submergence, and consequently unaware of the danger +that threatened her, they formed the erroneous impression that the +submarine was about to attack. +</P> + +<P> +"The old fellow gave us a pretty straight tip," remarked Vernon, when +the chums found themselves alone. "All the same, I vote we get out of +it at the first opportunity, favourable or otherwise." +</P> + +<P> +"'Ssh," whispered Ross. "Someone might be listening. I don't see how +you propose to clear out, though." +</P> + +<P> +"We were on deck just now." +</P> + +<P> +"We were," agreed Trefusis. +</P> + +<P> +"It was fairly dark. All the men up for'ard were lying down. It would +have been an easy matter to have dived overboard and swum for it, if we +hadn't been twenty miles or more from land." +</P> + +<P> +"There was a bright look-out kept, all the same," objected Ross. "And +I wouldn't mind saying that if the submarine were closer inshore, +getting a supply of petrol, for example, we should be closely watched. +All the same, I'm with you if we get the ghost of a chance. But it's a +rummy affair altogether. Fancy that chap knowing our names and the +rank of our respective fathers." +</P> + +<P> +"Ramblethorne must have told him that," said Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose so; but for what reason? By Jove, if we get out of this +mess all right, we'll have something to talk about—having been +prisoners on a German submarine!" +</P> + +<P> +The lads were not allowed on deck again that night. Acting upon Haye's +suggestion they "turned in", and slept fitfully until awakened by the +noise of the watch being relieved. +</P> + +<P> +The seaman, Hans Koppe, brought them their breakfast. The meal +consisted of fish, coffee, and the usual black bread. By this time the +captives had practically recovered from the effects of the injection. +Haye's head was still painful, although the headache had left him. +</P> + +<P> +They ate with avidity, owing possibly to the atmosphere of the confined +space, which was highly charged with oxygen. +</P> + +<P> +"What is the Captain's name?" asked Ross, when the man came to remove +the breakfast things. +</P> + +<P> +The sailor told him. +</P> + +<P> +"Where are we now?" enquired Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +The man winked solemnly. +</P> + +<P> +"Afloat," he replied. "Be content with that." +</P> + +<P> +Just then there were unmistakable signs of activity on the part of the +submarine crew. Several men hurried along the alley-way, each with a +set purpose. They paid little heed to the Englanders as they passed. +</P> + +<P> +At their heels came Herr Rix, the Leutnant of the submarine. He was +beaming affably. +</P> + +<P> +"Goot mornings!" he exclaimed. "You come mit me, den I show you how we +blockade." +</P> + +<P> +He led the way to the compartment in which the bowl of the +supplementary periscope was placed. It was now broad daylight, and +consequently the bowl showed a distinct image. A junior officer was +standing by, but on seeing Rix approach he saluted and moved aside. +</P> + +<P> +"Look!" exclaimed the Leutnant. +</P> + +<P> +Both lads peered into the bowl. On its dull sides, an expanse of sea +and sky was portrayed. Beyond that they could see nothing, until Rix +called their attention to a small dark object. +</P> + +<P> +"Englische sheep!" he declared. "Now you vos watch." +</P> + +<P> +He touched a metal stud. Instantly an arrangement of telescopic lenses +came into play within the tube of the periscope, with the result that a +small portion of the view was greatly magnified upon the object card. +It revealed a tramp of about nine hundred tons. She had a single +funnel painted black, with two broad red bands; two stumpy masts, with +derricks, and a lofty bridge and chart-house abaft the funnel. She was +wall-sided. Her rusty hull was originally painted black. Here and +there were squares of red lead, showing that her crew had been engaged +in trying to smarten her up before she reached port. Aft, frayed and +dirty with the smoke that poured from her funnel, floated the red +ensign. +</P> + +<P> +The submarine began to rise. Although she tilted abruptly, the image +of the tramp steamer still remained upon the object bowl. By an +ingenious arrangement, the lenses were constructed to compensate for +any deviation of the tube of the periscope from the vertical. The lads +could see the bows of the U-boat shaking clear of the water, throwing +cascades of foam off on either side as the passing craft forged ahead +at at least eighteen knots. +</P> + +<P> +Now, for the first time, the skipper of the tramp saw the danger. He +was a short, thick-set man, with white hair and an iron-grey moustache, +and a face the colour of mahogany. For an instant he grasped the +bridge-rails and looked towards the submarine, then gesticulated +violently to the man at the wheel. +</P> + +<P> +The spikes ran through the helmsman's hands, as he rapidly revolved the +wheel actuating the steam steering-gear. The tramp swung hard to port, +with the idea of baffling the momentarily expected torpedo. +</P> + +<P> +Kapitan Schwalbe acted up to his principles. In any case he was loath +to use a torpedo upon a comparatively small vessel. In response to an +order, half a dozen of the submarine's crew swarmed on deck, three +going for'ard and three aft. Within forty-five seconds the two +disappearing guns were raised from the water-tight "houses". +</P> + +<P> +Ross, Vernon, and the German Leutnant remained gazing into the bowl of +the periscope. The vision so absorbed the attention of the two lads +that they hardly heeded the presence of Herr Rix, who occasionally +emitted grunts of satisfaction or annoyance as the scene was enacted. +</P> + +<P> +The bow gun spat viciously. The range was but three hundred yards. +The missile passed a few feet in front of the tramp's bows, and, +throwing up a shower of spray that burst inboard on the British +vessel's fo'c'sle, ricochetted a mile or so away. +</P> + +<P> +The tramp's skipper showed his mettle. Round swung the vessel, listing +heavily as she did so. By this time the call for more steam had been +responded to, and dense clouds of black smoke belched from her funnel, +mingled with puffs of white vapour as the siren bleated loudly for aid. +</P> + +<P> +Running awash, U75 had a great advantage of speed; overtaking her prey +she was able to send half a dozen shells into the lofty target +presented as she slid by. +</P> + +<P> +Holes gaped in the thin plating close to the waterline. A shell, +passing completely through the funnel, demolished the siren. Being +without wireless, the tramp was now without means of long-distance +signalling. +</P> + +<P> +Another missile hit the chart-house and, exploding, swept the frail +structure overboard in a thousand fragments. The old skipper, hit by a +splinter of wood, fell inertly upon the bridge; but the next instant he +staggered to his feet, bawling to the crew to get the hand-steering +gear connected. +</P> + +<P> +"He's down again!" exclaimed Ross breathlessly, as the brave old man +dropped upon the shattered planking of the bridge. "Hurrah! He's +still alive." +</P> + +<P> +The skipper had deliberately taken cover behind the slender shelter +afforded by the metal side-light boards. By the frantic movement of +his arm, it was evident that he was exhorting his men to "stick it" +like Britons. +</P> + +<P> +The hail of shells continued. Already fire had broken out on board in +several places. A sliver of metal sheered through the ensign staff. +Without hesitation one of the crew rushed off, retrieved the +weather-worn bunting, and made his way to the mainmast. +</P> + +<P> +Slowly and deliberately he re-hoisted the ensign until it fluttered +proudly from the truck, then with apparent unconcern the man +disappeared below. +</P> + +<P> +By this time the tramp was again under control, with a course shaped +for land, which lay about ten miles to the S.S.E. It was, however, a +foregone conclusion that unless help were speedily forthcoming the +vessel was doomed. +</P> + +<P> +The tramp began to heel, almost imperceptibly at first, then with +increasing speed. She had received her <I>coup de grâce</I>. +</P> + +<P> +Still the engines were kept going full speed ahead. The dauntless +skipper remained on the bridge, with a look of grim resolution on his +weather-beaten features. +</P> + +<P> +Slowly the vessel's way diminished. Her bow-wave, owing to the +gradually increasing draught, was greater, but less sharp than before. +In a few minutes the water would be pouring over her fore-deck. +</P> + +<P> +Seeing that their work was completed, the pirates ceased fire, the +guns' crews standing with folded arms and stolidly watching the tramp +as she struggled in her death-throes. +</P> + +<P> +Presently a vast cloud of steam issued from her engine-room. The +inrush of water had damped her furnaces. The engineer and firemen, +their faces black with coal-dust and streaming with moisture, hurried +on deck. +</P> + +<P> +For another quarter of a mile the doomed vessel carried way, then came +to a sudden stop. As she did so she gave a quick list to starboard, +until only a few inches of bulwark amidships showed above the waves. +</P> + +<P> +Then, and only then, did the skipper give orders for the boats to be +lowered. In an orderly manner the crew manned the falls, and the task +of abandoning the ship began. +</P> + +<P> +Without undue haste, the crew dropped into the waiting boats, each man +with a bundle containing his scanty personal effects wrapped up in a +handkerchief. The Captain was the last to leave. He did so +reluctantly, his left hand tightly grasping the ship's papers. +</P> + +<P> +Having rowed a safe distance from the foundering vessel, the men rested +on their oars, and waited in silence for the end. It was not long in +coming. +</P> + +<P> +The tramp was heeling more and more, and slightly down by the bows. +Suddenly she almost righted; then, amid a smother of foam as the +compressed air burst open her hatches, she flung her stern high in the +air. +</P> + +<P> +Even then she seemed in no hurry. The after part from the mainmast +remained in view, the now motionless propeller being well clear of the +water. +</P> + +<P> +For quite a minute she remained thus, then with a quick yet almost +gentle movement slid under the waves. The last seen of her was the +weather-worn red ensign still fluttering from the truck. +</P> + +<P> +The periscope's bowl showed nothing but an expanse of sea and sky, and +the two boats rising buoyantly to the waves. +</P> + +<P> +A grim chuckle brought Ross and Vernon back to their surroundings. +Herr Rix was rubbing his hands and grunting with evident satisfaction. +</P> + +<P> +"Goot!" he ejaculated. "Now, how you like dat? Now you see how we +German make blockade, hein?" +</P> + +<P> +"A brave deed," replied Ross scornfully, and, gripping Vernon by the +arm, led him back to their uncomfortable quarters in the alley-way. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +On the Bed of the Sea +</H3> + +<P> +For the next twenty-four hours nothing exciting occurred. The U-boat +kept to the surface as much as possible, running under her petrol +motors at fifteen knots. To exceed that pace would mean too great a +consumption of fuel, and already the vessel was short of petrol. +</P> + +<P> +Kapitan Schwalbe was prone to act on the side of extreme caution. +Having sunk one vessel, he would not tackle another in the same +vicinity. He invariably put at least a hundred miles between him and +the scene of his latest ignominious exploit before attempting another +act of kultur. +</P> + +<P> +Three times during that twenty-four hours he dived: twice on sighting +what were unquestionably Bristol Channel pilot-boats, and on the third +occasion when a Penzance lugger under motor-power (for it was a dead +calm) crossed his track. +</P> + +<P> +All this time a regular stream of shipping was passing up and down the +Bristol Channel, as unconcernedly as in the piping days of peace. To +anyone but a bumptious German, the sight would have told its own tale; +for the British Mercantile Marine, used to danger and difficulties, was +not to be deterred by the "frightfulness" of von Tirpitz's blockade. +On the contrary, the possibility of falling in with a hostile submarine +gave an unwonted spice to the everyday routine of the toilers of the +sea. +</P> + +<P> +After breakfast on the following morning Ross and Vernon were told to +go on deck. The sea was still calm, and the submarine, now running +awash at full speed, was cleaving the water with practically dry decks. +</P> + +<P> +The lads soon realized what was in progress. A couple of miles away +was a large ocean cargo-boat, outward bound, and U75 was in pursuit. +</P> + +<P> +Trefusis and his chum were not allowed for'ard, where the quick-firer +was already in position for opening fire. They were ordered abaft the +conning-tower, the hatch of which was open. +</P> + +<P> +Kapitan Schwalbe's head and shoulders could be seen projecting above +the opening. On the raised grating surrounding the conning-tower, +stood a boyish-looking Unter-leutnant. Hermann Rix was nowhere to be +seen. Apparently his duties compelled him to remain below. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the quick-firer barked, and a projectile struck the water +about a hundred yards from the starboard side of the pursued vessel. +With the discharge of the gun, a sailor hoisted the black cross ensign +of Germany from a small flagstaff aft, while a signal in the +International Code ordering the British vessel to heave to instantly +fluttered from the light mast immediately abaft the conning-tower. +</P> + +<P> +The only response from the chase was the hoisting of the red ensign, +for previously she had shown no colours. Slowly, defiantly, the +bunting was hauled close up, and ironically "dipped" three times. +</P> + +<P> +Again and again the submarine's bow-chaser fired. The shells were well +aimed as regards direction, but all fell short. Imperceptibly the +merchantman had increased distance. +</P> + +<P> +"Look at the fools!" Ross heard the Kapitan remark, as he kept his +binoculars focused on his intended prey. "They are trying to snapshot +us. Are all Englishmen so blind to peril?" +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure they haven't a couple of quick-firers mounted aft, sir?" +asked the Unter-leutnant. "There are several men gathered round +something on the poop." +</P> + +<P> +"Himmel, I hope not!" ejaculated Schwalbe. "But no; had they any guns +they would have opened fire before now. What is the matter with our +gun-layer? It is about time he got a shell home." +</P> + +<P> +The Unter-leutnant lowered himself on the foredeck, and shouted angrily +at the seaman whose duty it was to "lay" the bow-chasers. The man +again bent over the sights. +</P> + +<P> +This time the shell pitched ahead of the chase, but slightly to port. +Some of the spray thrown up by the projectile fell on board. +</P> + +<P> +"Is that the best you can do, you brainless idiot?" shouted Schwalbe +wrathfully. Now that he was in pursuit he was loath to be baffled, but +at the same time he realized that the submarine was using a lot of +precious fuel and a prodigious amount of ammunition without any +definite result. +</P> + +<P> +In the midst of his torrent of abuse directed upon the luckless +gun-layer, Kapitan Schwalbe suddenly stopped. Gripping the rim of the +oval hatchway he gazed, horror-stricken, at two objects bobbing in the +water directly in the path of the submarine. Then, recovering his +voice, he shouted to the quartermaster to port helm. +</P> + +<P> +The fellow obeyed promptly, but it was too late. Practically +simultaneously, two barrels swung round and crashed alongside the +submarine's hull. +</P> + +<P> +Officers and men, expecting momentarily to find themselves blown into +the air, stood stock-still. Then, as nothing so disastrous occurred, +Schwalbe gave orders for easy astern. +</P> + +<P> +The barrels, connected by a span of grass rope, had been thrown +overboard from the pursued vessel, in the hope that the submarine would +foul her propellers in the tangle of line. Once a blade picked up that +trailing rope, the latter would coil round the boss as tightly as a +band of flexible steel. +</P> + +<P> +The plan all but succeeded; only the metal guards protecting the +propellers saved them from being hopelessly jammed. Yet the attempt +was attended with good results as far as the British ship was +concerned, for by the time U75 had lost way and had cautiously backed +away from the obstruction, the swift cargo-vessel had gained a distance +that put her beyond all chance of being overhauled. +</P> + +<P> +Infuriated by his failure, Kapitan Schwalbe went aft and descended into +his cabin. He was hardly conscious of the presence of his two +involuntary guests as he passed. He was thinking of the fate that had +consigned him to a perilous and uncongenial task. Without doubt the +vessel he had been pursuing was equipped with wireless, and by this +time a number of those dreaded hornets would be tearing towards the +spot. To add to his discomfiture it was reported to him that the +reserve of fuel on board had seriously dwindled. In order to remain +effective it was necessary that U75 should replenish her tanks before +another forty-eight hours had passed. +</P> + +<P> +According to his customary tactics, Schwalbe ordered the submarine to +dive to sixty feet. At that depth she would be safe from any +possibility of being rammed. Provided she could avoid the under-water +obstructions with which the British naval authorities had sown the bed +of the sea at almost every point likely to be frequented by lurking +hostile submarines, she was in no actual danger. +</P> + +<P> +Gaining his diminutive cabin, Schwalbe by sheer force of habit +consulted the aneroid. The mercury was falling rapidly. Since he last +looked, barely two hours previously, it had dropped 764 to 734 +millimetres, or an inch and two-tenths. That meant that the +anti-cyclone was rapidly breaking up, and that a severe gale was +approaching with considerable swiftness. +</P> + +<P> +U75 must submerge and seek shelter. It was impossible for her to keep +at a uniform depth unless she maintained steerage-way; that meant a +great demand upon her storage batteries. She could not remain on the +bottom of the sea in a heavy gale, owing to the constant "pumping" or +up-and-down movements caused by the varying pressure of passing waves, +unless she sought a sheltered roadstead—and sheltered roadsteads were +generally mined, or guarded by some ingenious device that had already +accounted for several of U75's consorts. +</P> + +<P> +Producing a chart of the Bristol Channel, Schwalbe unfolded and spread +it upon a table. Then, in conjunction with a translation of the latest +British Admiralty guide to the west coast of England, he proceeded to +select what he hoped would be a snug shelter during the coming storm. +</P> + +<P> +"Herr Rix!" he shouted. "I'll make for this anchorage. There's every +indication of a strong blow from the nor'-east." +</P> + +<P> +"This" was Helwick Channel, a deep, almost blind passage between the +Glamorgan coast and an outlying submerged reef known as the East and +West Helwick. In fine weather it was a short cut for traders plying +between Llanelly and Swansea. In bad weather it was a place to be +avoided, as far as sailing vessels were concerned. Sheltered by the +bold outlines of Worm's Head, it ought to prove an ideal lurking-place +until the gale had blown itself out, for there was little danger of the +place being used as an anchorage, since vessels preferred to give the +rock-bound coast a wide berth. On this account, it was also highly +probable that the Helwick channel had not been safe-guarded by the +British naval authorities. +</P> + +<P> +Just before sunset, U75, having made the passage unobserved, brought up +in twelve fathoms of water, resting evenly on the firm, hard sands at +the bottom. +</P> + +<P> +Ross and his chum turned in early. There was nothing for them to do. +They held aloof from the crew; there were no books to entertain them, +no games to amuse them. The submarine was now motionless, sufficient +water ballast having been taken in to allow her to settle firmly upon +the bottom; but, in order to be prepared, the anchor was let go. Thus +not the slightest movement of the hull was apparent. The rest, after +hours of erratic movement on the oily swell, was a welcome one. +</P> + +<P> +The lads had set their joint watch by the submarine's time, which, +being mid-European standard, was one hour fast of Greenwich. +</P> + +<P> +For several hours they slept soundly and undisturbed. Suddenly they +were both awakened by the muffled tramp of men in heavy sea-boots. The +solitary light in the alley-way was switched off; the water-tight doors +were firmly closed. Already the air in the confined space was stifling. +</P> + +<P> +"What has happened?" asked Vernon anxiously, for the vessel, instead of +resting immovably upon the bed of the channel, was now rolling +sluggishly. Yet she could not be under way, for the motors were silent. +</P> + +<P> +Springing from his bunk, Ross felt for the switch of the electric +light. It was already down, yet the flow of current was interrupted. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's find out," he said. "Come along." +</P> + +<P> +The lads, before turning in, had carefully laid out their clothes, so +as to be ready to slip into them at a moment's notice, yet it was a +matter of considerable difficulty to dress in the dark. +</P> + +<P> +"The door's closed," announced Ross as the lads groped their way to the +end of the alley-way. +</P> + +<P> +"I believe the submarine's holed," suggested Haye. +</P> + +<P> +"No; she wouldn't lift as she's doing. Besides, the crew are moving +about. Let's bang on the door with our boots." +</P> + +<P> +For several minutes they hammered, but without result. The air, never +very fresh, was now almost unbearable, owing to lack of ventilation. +The imprisoned youths began to get desperate. +</P> + +<P> +Then, without warning, the door slid back. The alley-way was flooded +with brilliant light. +</P> + +<P> +"Make haste!" shouted a voice which the lads recognized as that of Hans +Koppe. At the same time he grasped Ross by the shoulder and literally +dragged him across the steel threshold. Vernon followed quickly, but +barely had he gained the compartment beyond than the massive steel door +shot back again. +</P> + +<P> +"Didn't you hear the order all hands for'ard?" asked Hans, not +unkindly, for the white faces of the English lads told their own tale. +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Ross. "Besides, we are not included in the 'hands', are +we?" +</P> + +<P> +"You'll have to bear the consequences if you don't obey," rejoined +Koppe. "I'm supposed to be looking after you, but how was I to know +you hadn't turned out? Fortunately for you, I heard your knocking, and +asked Herr Kapitan to open the doors. He was angry, but did so." +</P> + +<P> +"What has happened then?" asked Trefusis, for the seaman seemed in a +communicative mood. +</P> + +<P> +"A shift of wind. It's blowing great guns up aloft, and there's a +terrific tumble into this channel. We've dragged, or, rather, swung +round our anchor." +</P> + +<P> +"But we are safe enough?" asked Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, safe," replied Hans. "Too safe; we cannot break out our anchor. +They are sending a diver to see what is amiss." +</P> + +<P> +Evidently the diving arrangements on board were not considered to be of +a confidential nature, for Hans led the way to the compartment under +the fore-hatch, without the lads being sent back by the significant +word "verboten". +</P> + +<P> +A man was preparing for a submarine walk. He was already dressed in an +india-rubber suit, with leaden weights attached to his chest, back, and +boots. Two others were standing by, ready to place the helmet over his +head, when Leutnant Rix had finished giving him minute directions. +</P> + +<P> +The officer spoke rapidly and in a low tone. Ross could not catch all +he said, but the words "gefährliche Strömungen" (dangerous currents) +and "Der Wendepunkt der Flut" (slack water) and "Drei Viertel funf" (a +quarter to five) occurred frequently. +</P> + +<P> +Vernon glanced at his watch. It was then a minute after four. +Apparently Rix was impressing upon the man that he must clear the +anchor at slack water, which occurred at a quarter to five. +</P> + +<P> +The two attendants then proceeded to place the diver's helmet on his +head. The lads noticed that it had neither air-tube nor telephone +wire. Nor was there a life-line attached to his waist. Fresh air was +obtained from a metal case strapped to his back. The man was able to +work independently, and without having to rely upon his air supply from +the submarine. +</P> + +<P> +The oval door in the diving-chamber was thrown open. The diver +entered, and the water-tight panel was quickly replaced. One of the +seamen thrust over a short lever, and immediately water rushed into the +small compartment. As soon as the space was filled the diver was able +to open a similar door in the outer plating of the submarine, and thus +gain the bed of the sea. +</P> + +<P> +Presently Leutnant Rix turned, and saw for the first time that Ross and +Vernon were discreetly standing in the background. +</P> + +<P> +"Go away. It is forbidden!" he shouted angrily. +</P> + +<P> +They obeyed promptly, retreating to the space allotted to the crew, +since it was neither desirable nor possible to return to their bunks. +</P> + +<P> +For some minutes the luckless Hans Koppe was subjected to a severe +dressing-down by his hot-headed officer, and when at length the seaman +rejoined the lads he was in no humour to resume conversation. +</P> + +<P> +Slowly the minutes sped. The submarine was still rolling sluggishly, +in spite of the fact that more water had been admitted into the ballast +tanks. +</P> + +<P> +The men were talking seriously amongst themselves. From scraps of +conversation that drifted to the lads' ears, it was evident that they +had grave doubts concerning the ability of the diver to perform his +task, and even of his chances of regaining the submarine, owing to the +violent disturbances of the water. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the motion of the anchored submarine became more acute. A +weird grating sound—the noise made by the hull rasping over the bed of +the sea—was distinctly audible. +</P> + +<P> +One of the seamen produced a pocket compass. His startled exclamation +brought other members of the crew around him. The magnetic needle was +apparently describing a semicircle. U75 was swinging round her anchor. +</P> + +<P> +Just then a bell tinkled, and a disc oscillated on the indicator board +on the bulkhead. Instantly the two men who had been told off as +attendants upon the diver hurried aft, while their companions crowded +expectantly around the door. +</P> + +<P> +The two men came back, staggering under the weight of the diver. They +had already removed his head-dress and leaden weights. Water dropped +from his rubber suit. His face was livid, his eyes wide open and +rolling. One of his bare hands was streaked with blood that flowed +sullenly from a cut in his numbed flesh. +</P> + +<P> +Kapitan Schwalbe and Leutnant Rix followed him into the crew-space. It +was not through feelings of compassion that they had come for'ard. It +was acute anxiety to hear the diver's report. +</P> + +<P> +The luckless man was laid upon the mess-table. His attendants divested +him of his diving-suit, and rubbed his body with rough towels. A petty +officer poured half a glass of brandy down his throat. +</P> + +<P> +"What is amiss?" Kapitan Schwalbe kept on repeating. +</P> + +<P> +With a great effort the diver sat up. +</P> + +<P> +"An anchor, sir," he gasped feebly. "An anchor—an English naval +pattern one—has been dropped right over ours. A very big one." +</P> + +<P> +Then his eyes closed, and he fell back unconscious. +</P> + +<P> +"Gott in Himmel!" ejaculated Rix. "We are trapped!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Balked by a Sea-plane +</H3> + +<P> +"How so?" demanded Kapitan Schwalbe. "If we keep quiet, the +cruiser—for cruiser she must be, judging by the fellow's +description—will weigh and proceed." +</P> + +<P> +"When she does weigh we are undone," said Rix despondently. "We are +swinging round our anchor. For all we know, our cable has taken a turn +round hers. As soon as they heave up their anchor, our anchor and +cable will be brought up with it, and then the game is up. Either the +strain will overcome our dead weight and we will be hauled to the +surface, or else they'll lower one of their brutal explosive charges." +</P> + +<P> +"The situation is serious," admitted Schwalbe in a low tone, for his +Leutnant's words had produced a demoralizing effect upon the men. "How +much cable have we inboard?" +</P> + +<P> +Rix repeated the question. A petty officer doubled forward to consult +the cable indicator. U75's anchor, when under way, was housed in a +trough on the under side of the submarine's forefoot. The cable was +automatically ranged in a compartment between the inner and outer +skins, the space being always filled with water. The inboard end of +the cable was not shackled; but to prevent its being able to take +charge and run out, an indicator was placed on the bulkhead nearest to +the cable tier. The amount of chain let go was regulated by a +compressor, which was actuated from within the hull by means of levers +and cranks, watertight glands being provided to prevent any leakage +into the interior of the submarine. +</P> + +<P> +"Seventy-five fathoms," reported the petty officer. "When we commenced +to swing we paid out the length we had taken on board when we hove +short." +</P> + +<P> +"We must sacrifice the lot, Herr Rix," decided Kapitan Schwalbe. +"There is no time to lose. Storm or no storm, we must slip and run for +it." +</P> + +<P> +It was U75's only chance, but it left her with only a small stockless +kedge-anchor and chain, insufficient to withstand a heavy strain. +</P> + +<P> +The compressor was released. With a loud rumble, for every sound was +magnified within the confined space, the rest of the cable was allowed +to take charge. It did so promptly, the end of the chain giving the +hull a defiant smack as it did so. U75, no longer held by her anchor, +began to drift with the tide, scraping dismally over the bed of Helwich +Channel. +</P> + +<P> +Schwalbe was now back at his post in the conning-tower. He dare not +take the submarine to the surface until he had put a safe distance +between him and the anchored British warship. Nor did he care to order +the ballast tanks to be blown. Rather than allow the "pumping" of the +seas to hammer the submerged craft upon the hard sand, he preferred to +take the risk of letting her drag. +</P> + +<P> +Fortunately the tide set evenly along the bed of the channel. A +cross-current would have set the submarine upon the jagged rocks of the +hidden West Helwick Ridge. Nevertheless there was always the danger of +being hurled violently against a detached rock, or of fouling a live +mine if by chance the British had laid obstructions in the channel. +</P> + +<P> +Both Ross and Vernon knew the danger, but, manfully concealing their +misgivings, they watched the faces of those of the crew who were "watch +below". Most of the men were Frisians, broad-shouldered, +blonde-featured, and generally devoid of fear. Yet the ceaseless +strain upon the nerves had already begun to tell. As hardy fishermen, +they would not have hesitated to launch their open boats in a storm to +go to the rescue of a hapless vessel aground on the grim sand-banks of +the Frisian shore. As the conscript crew of the submarine, compelled +to keep within the limits of a steel box that almost momentarily +threatened to be their tomb, their natural bravery was quenched. +</P> + +<P> +Many of them sat upon their lockers, stolid-faced men who had already +tasted of the bitterness of death. Others showed unmistakable signs of +excitement, bordering on frenzy. They dreaded their life of modern +piracy. The idea of sinking hapless merchantmen was repugnant to them, +for they understood the brotherhood of the sea. It would be different +if they were called upon to attack an armed British ship of war. They +had no option but to obey their junker officers, who in turn were +compelled to accept the misguided orders of the arch-pirate, von +Tirpitz. +</P> + +<P> +They were disheartened, too, for reports, in spite of the vigilance of +the officers to conceal them, had reached them of the losses inflicted +upon other unterseebooten. Occasionally they heard of a submarine crew +being saved, but generally it was a case of total loss of all on board, +by some hitherto unknown means, at the hands of the British Navy. +</P> + +<P> +A hand touched Ross lightly on the shoulder. Turning, he saw Hans +Koppe standing in a darkened corner of the compartment. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you tell me this, mein herr?" asked the seaman in a low tone. "Is +it true that the English give no quarter to German seamen in +submarines?" +</P> + +<P> +"I shouldn't think that they would refuse to do so," replied Trefusis. +"Of course, I can quite understand that an opportunity doesn't often +occur; but I've heard of several instances in which your U-boats have +surrendered, and the crews have been treated exactly the same as other +prisoners of war." +</P> + +<P> +"I have heard differently," said Hans, "but I hope it's a mistake. I +have a feeling that we won't see Wilhelmshaven again. And I have a +wife and six children at Flensburg. Our Kapitan, too, expects that we +might be denied quarter, because we have sunk your merchantmen. +Believe me, I regret having done so, but we have orders. Do you know +why Kapitan Schwalbe took you on board?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because a certain German agent wanted us out of the way, I suppose," +replied Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps," admitted Hans Koppe. "But in the event of our being +captured he thinks that his good treatment of you will be in his +favour. We are, I do not mind telling you, in a very tight corner. +Our fuel supply is almost run out. We cannot hope to return home by +way of the Straits of Dover. Not one of our submarines has tried that +passage of late without meeting with disaster—at least, so I heard der +Kapitan tell der Leutnant. Ach! It is deplorable, this war." +</P> + +<P> +The rapid ringing of a gong was the signal for the watch below to turn +out. A peculiar hissing noise proclaimed the fact that the ballast +tanks were being emptied. U75 no longer grated over the bottom; her +motors were running almost dead slow. +</P> + +<P> +Although submerged, the submarine was "pumping" violently. Seasoned +men were prostrate with sea-sickness. The air, in spite of chemical +purifiers, was becoming almost intolerable. Everything movable was +being thrown about in utter disorder, while to add to the discomfort of +the crew the covering-plates of one of the lubricating-oil tanks had +been strained, and at every jerk jets of viscous fluid would squirt +through the fracture and trickle sullenly over the floor of the +crew-space. +</P> + +<P> +Since the watertight doors were still closed, Ross and Vernon were +unable to get back to their bunks. Feeling thoroughly wretched, they +were glad to accept Hans Koppe's offer to lie down on a long locker. +</P> + +<P> +At noon, U75 came to the surface. The storm, being short forecasted, +had quickly blown itself out, but the waves still ran high. +</P> + +<P> +It was a prearranged plan on the part of the three U-boats operating in +the English and Bristol Channels to communicate with each other by +wireless at noon and at midnight. U75's wireless had a range of about +180 miles, and although it could be "jammed", the call could not be +tapped by vessels other than the one for which it was intended. To +make doubly sure, the messages were sent in code. +</P> + +<P> +For nearly ten minutes U75 "made her number" without eliciting any +reply. Perhaps it was well that Kapitan Schwalbe did not know what had +happened to her consorts. U74 was at that moment lying on her side at +the bottom of a Welsh harbour, her crew poisoned by the chlorine fumes +from her batteries—the result of a rash curiosity on the part of her +Lieutenant-Commander to investigate the approaches to the anchorage. +As for U77, she was flying blindly for safety, with a couple of +destroyers hard on her track, and a naval sea-plane overhead to direct +them in their search. +</P> + +<P> +Foiled in her efforts to get in touch with her consorts, U75 remained +awash. The heave of the sea made it most difficult for her to use her +periscope with certainty, for she had chosen a bad pitch on her +ascent—the furious "overfalls" or "tide-rips" to the west of Lundy +Island. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll pay another visit to St. Mena's Island, Herr Rix," decided +Kapitan Schwalbe, after the two officers had discussed the sinister +matter of their futile attempt to make use of the wireless. "To-night +at nine o'clock ought to suit. If we cannot get von Ruhle to see our +signals—for my own part, I doubt whether he is in these parts—we'll +have to do our best to get ashore. Meanwhile, keep a bright look-out. +If we see any likely vessel coming this way, we'll try our luck once +more." +</P> + +<P> +"Message just received, mein herr," announced the wireless operator. +</P> + +<P> +"From whom?" enquired Kapitan Schwalbe eagerly. He was devoutly hoping +that either U74 or U77 had been able to "call up". +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot say, sir," replied the man as he handed a code message to his +superior. +</P> + +<P> +Decoded, the "wireless" was as follows: +</P> + +<P> +"Station 41 to unterseebooten. Two hundred gallons of fuel available +here. Will be on the look-out for signals at 1 a.m." +</P> + +<P> +The message was a "general call" for a secret petrol depot to any +German submarine operating in the vicinity. Reference to the list of +stations showed that "41" was at Port Treherne, a remote cove on the +North Cornish coast about fifty miles from St. Mena's Island. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose it's safe," remarked Rix. +</P> + +<P> +"With due precautions—yes," rejoined Kapitan Schwalbe. "At any rate, +petrol we must have. Where's the chart? Ah, there we are! It looks a +fairly easy place to approach, don't you think? The only danger from a +navigation point is apparently this ledge of rocks—Lost Chance Reef, +it's called. What unpleasant names these Englishmen give to their +coasts!" +</P> + +<P> +At that moment the Unter-leutnant, who happened to be at the +conning-tower periscope, reported that a large vessel was bearing down +towards them. +</P> + +<P> +Kapitan Schwalbe hurried to the conning-tower. The object depicted was +that of a modern tank-vessel about four hundred feet in length. She +was low in the water, showing that she was well laden. In place of +masts she had four stumpy poles supporting derricks. Right aft was the +single funnel. The navigation bridge was well for'ard, connected with +another bridge just in front of the funnel by a long slender gangway. +</P> + +<P> +"An oil-tank homeward bound!" exclaimed Kapitan Schwalbe. "Just what +we want to fall in with. All being well, there will be no necessity to +visit either Port Treherne or St. Mena's Island. Ach! When we have +taken what we require we will set fire to the ship, and the English +will have a splendid view of a maritime bonfire." +</P> + +<P> +The crew were ordered to their stations, the ballast tanks "blown", and +U75 rose to the surface instead of "running awash", since the Kapitan +had resolved to stop the tank by gun-fire. +</P> + +<P> +Even then the waves were running so high that the guns' crews were +almost constantly up to their knees in water. +</P> + +<P> +Somewhat to the surprise of the submarine's officers and crew, the +tank-steamer made no attempt to escape. The firing of a shot across +her bows and the display of the black cross ensign were enough to cause +the skipper to reverse her engines. +</P> + +<P> +In less than five minutes, the oil-vessel was rolling in the trough of +the sea and drifting slowly to leeward. Yet it was a somewhat +remarkable circumstance that no attempt was made to lower the red +ensign that was proudly displayed at the stern. +</P> + +<P> +Kapitan Schwalbe, with his intimate knowledge of navigation, knew that +the only way possible to board the prize was to run to leeward of her, +and let the hull of the large vessel serve as a breakwater. He also +knew that the submarine would have to be constantly under way during +the boarding operations, otherwise the tank-vessel, offering +considerable resistance to the wind, would drift down upon U75, whose +leeway was almost unappreciable. +</P> + +<P> +"Send a boat, and lower your accommodation ladder," ordered Kapitan +Schwalbe, who, as the submarine ranged up half a cable's length to +leeward of the tank-vessel, had left the shelter of the conning-tower +and was standing on the platform in its wake. +</P> + +<P> +"Aye, aye," was the prompt response. +</P> + +<P> +"Board her, Herr Rix," said the Leutnant's superior officer. "Bring +back her papers with you. Order them to pump heavy oil both to +windward and leeward. We will then be able to run close alongside and +receive her hoses." +</P> + +<P> +A boat containing two seamen and an apprentice was lowered from the +tank's quarter and rowed to the submarine. Into it dropped Leutnant +Rix and half a dozen armed men. With them they took two incendiary +bombs fitted with time-fuses. +</P> + +<P> +Rix smiled grimly as he gained the oil-steamer's deck. The captain and +first mate were at the head of the accommodation ladder to receive him. +Most of the crew were already mustering on deck, each with a bundle +containing his private effects. +</P> + +<P> +"You prize to German boat," announced the Leutnant. "Make you no +trouble and we you will not harm. First we will haf much +oil—petroleum, is it not? Order your engineer to get steam to +donkey-engine, and your men—the—the—— Hein! Ach, I haf it—the +hoses to get ready. When we fill up, then twenty minutes we give you +to clear out. You onderstan'?" +</P> + +<P> +"Perfectly," replied the British skipper, a tall, raw-boned Scot, as he +eyed the podgy German Leutnant with grim contempt. "But d'ye ken yon?" +</P> + +<A NAME="img-082"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-082.jpg" ALT=""'D'YE KEN YON?' ASKED THE BRITISH SKIPPER, AS HE EYED THE PODGY GERMAN LEUTNANT WITH CONTEMPT"" BORDER="2" WIDTH="410" HEIGHT="639"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 500px"> +"'D'YE KEN YON?' ASKED THE BRITISH SKIPPER, AS HE EYED<BR> +THE PODGY GERMAN LEUTNANT WITH CONTEMPT" +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +He pointed skywards. Less than five hundred feet up, yet sufficiently +far from the tank-vessel to enable the latter to screen her from the +unterseeboot, was a large naval sea-plane. It was to deaden the noise +of her motors that the ship's steam-pipe was continually blowing off +steam from the time that U75 made her peremptory demand. +</P> + +<P> +The eyes of the Leutnant and his six men followed the direction +indicated by the British skipper's outstretched hand. +</P> + +<P> +At that instant the sea-plane was visible above the towering sides of +the British vessel. +</P> + +<P> +U75 was still forging slowly ahead. In a trice Kapitan Schwalbe +decided how to act. Ordering the men on deck to their diving stations, +he dropped agilely into the conning-tower and gave the word for the +helm to be ported. +</P> + +<P> +Thus, while the quick-firers were being housed, the submarine had drawn +close under the oil-tank's quarter. Here she was comparatively safe +from the sea-plane, as the latter could not drop any bombs without risk +of exploding the highly inflammable cargo of the British vessel. +</P> + +<P> +In ten seconds the sea-plane was over and beyond her quarry. She had +then to turn and circle overhead, awaiting the chance of shattering her +enemy as she dived. +</P> + +<P> +U75 was already disappearing beneath the waves. +</P> + +<P> +She dived at a very oblique angle, steeper than she had ever done +before. +</P> + +<P> +Ross and Vernon, unaware of what was taking place, thought for a moment +that the submarine was plunging headlong to the bed of the Bristol +Channel. They had to cling desperately to the nearest object to hand +to prevent themselves from sliding violently against a transverse +bulkhead. +</P> + +<P> +Even as they clung they heard two muffled detonations in quick +succession, followed by a distinct quiver of the submarine's hull—a +movement that bore a marked difference to the vibrations under the +pulsations of the motors. +</P> + +<P> +The sea-plane had dropped two bombs, both of which very nearly attained +their object. +</P> + +<P> +Kapitan Schwalbe did not bring the submarine to a horizontal position +until she had reached a depth of fifteen fathoms. At that depth he was +safe, both from explosives dropped from the sea-plane and also from +observation. The water being still agitated, made it impossible for +the observer on the biplane to follow the movements of a dark shadow +fathoms deep. For once, the rough seas had been kind to U75; but the +fact remained that she was still badly in want of fuel, while his last +attempt had resulted in the loss of an officer and six men, who could +not well be spared. +</P> + +<P> +Although the sea-plane had failed to achieve her object by pulverizing +the U-boat's hull, the moral and material result was none the less +effective. +</P> + +<P> +The explosion of the bombs had started several of U75's plates. +Numerous jets of water were spurting through the seams, the inrush +requiring all the mechanical appliances at the command of the modern +pirate to keep the leaks under control, while the badly-jarred nerves +of Kapitan Schwalbe and his crew warned them of the grave risks they +ran in attempting to try conclusions with even an apparently harmless +craft displaying the Red Ensign of Britain's Mercantile Marine. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Landing at Port Treherne +</H3> + +<P> +"I wonder if they'll let us go on deck," remarked Vernon Haye. "If so, +I vote we have a shot at getting ashore. What sort of show is Port +Treherne?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know it fairly well," replied Ross. "It's the most forsaken crib +you are ever likely to meet along the coast. It's a deep gully in the +cliffs. There's only one small landing-place—a flat rock. Years ago +there used to be a tramway down to the rock, and they shipped copper +ore by means of derricks into lighters, which were towed across in fine +weather to Swansea. But the mine closed down, the village is now +deserted, and I don't believe there are any fishermen there. They say +that the stream that flows into the port is still heavily charged with +mundic. At all events the water is of a bright-red colour for several +hundred yards from shore, and no fish will stick that." +</P> + +<P> +It was close on the midnight following the disastrous attempt on the +part of U75 to capture the oil-tank. The submarine was running awash, +proceeding very slowly and cautiously towards Port Treherne—Station 41 +of the secret petrol depots established by German agents along the +coast of the British Islands. +</P> + +<P> +The lads had been informed of the destination of the submarine, but had +not been told why. Nevertheless it was an easy conjecture that U75 was +going there to pick up stores that she had been unable to obtain in +sufficient quantities at St. Mena's Island. +</P> + +<P> +The Unter-leutnant was in charge of the submarine. Kapitan Schwalbe +had taken the advantage of the opportunity of a few hours' sleep. +Under-officered and undermanned, the strain on the personnel was a +severe one. It was only on rare occasions that Schwalbe could in +future descend from his post in the conning-tower. +</P> + +<P> +At midnight, according to custom, the submarine called up her consorts +by wireless. Judging by the previous attempt it seemed a useless task, +but to the Operator's surprise he received a reply from U77, which was +then lying off the Scillies. +</P> + +<P> +Kapitan Schwalbe, aroused from his sleep, eagerly awaited the decoding +of the message. It was to the effect that the commander of U77 had +received information that H.M.S. <I>Tremendous</I>, one of the earlier +Dreadnoughts, was leaving Gibraltar for Rosyth. The <I>Tremendous</I>, he +knew, had been engaged in the Dardanelles operations. U77 therefore +suggested that the two unterseebooten should meet at a rendezvous off +The Lizard, and attempt a <I>coup de main</I>, the success of which would go +towards atoning for the blunders and losses sustained by the German +submarines in their endeavour to blockade the British Isles. +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" exclaimed Kapitan Schwalbe. "Tell them that I purpose to +rendezvous twenty kilometres S.W. by W. of The Lizard, on Thursday at +10 p.m. I am now about to take in fuel. Will communicate again at +noon to-morrow. Ask them if they have picked up a wireless from U74." +</P> + +<P> +Some time elapsed before the message could be coded by the sender and +translated by the receiving submarine. When the reply confirming the +rendezvous was received, a message was added to the effect that U77 had +heard nothing of U74 for three days. It was presumed, however, that +she was now on her way back to Wilhelmshaven, and was already out of +wireless range. +</P> + +<P> +Kapitan Schwalbe knew better. As senior officer of the three +submarines detached to operate in these waters, he was aware that U74 +would not have left her station without orders from him. That part of +the message had been sent merely as a "blind", so that the crews of the +remaining unterseebooten should not be discouraged. It was safe to +conclude, decided Kapitan Schwalbe, that another of the blockaders had +gone to the bottom for the last time. +</P> + +<P> +It was close on one o'clock when the "wirelessing" terminated. U75, +which had hitherto been running awash, was now trimmed for surface work. +</P> + +<P> +Most of the crew went on deck. Amongst them were Ross and Vernon, no +one offering any objection. +</P> + +<P> +The sea was no longer rough. A long oily swell took the place of the +white-crested wave. The night was dark. Only a few stars were +visible. Away to the S.E., the black outlines of the Cornish coast +reared themselves like an enormous wall against the gloomy sky. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Vernon touched his chum's elbow, as a faint pin-prick of light +glimmered twice. It was the shore agent's signal that the coast was +clear. +</P> + +<P> +Barely carrying steerage-way, U75 stood in towards the as yet invisible +Port Treherne. Already her crew had brought the collapsible canvas +boat from below, "man-handling" it through the fore hatch. The men, +having opened it out and shipped the felt-lined and well-greased +rowlocks, stood by to launch it. +</P> + +<P> +Gradually the towering cliffs enclosing the creek became +distinguishable against the loftier background of gaunt hills. Into +the gap the submarine crept with the utmost caution, until it seemed as +if she were on the point of running her nose against the sheer face of +the granite wall. The water bubbled slightly as her motors were +reversed; then, turning in her own length, she brought up, with her +bows pointing seawards. +</P> + +<P> +Three of the crew grasped the canvas boat and pushed it gently into the +water on the port side. One of them clambered in and shipped the oars +in the row-locks. +</P> + +<P> +The two lads were cautiously scanning the shores of the inlet. Ross +could sniff the unmistakable Cornish air. The call of home seemed +irresistible. It looked a comparatively easy matter to slip quietly +over the starboard side, and swim with noiseless strokes towards the +weed-covered rocks that showed six feet or more above the sea. It was +half ebb-tide; there was little or no drift out of the cove. Under the +shadow of those dark cliffs detection seemed almost impossible, unless +the submarine went to the risky expedient of switching on her +search-light. +</P> + +<P> +They moved stealthily towards the light wire railing on the starboard +side just abaft the conning-tower. Everything seemed in their favour. +Kapitan Schwalbe and the Unter-leutnant were on the navigation +platform, peering through their night-glasses towards the flat rock +that served as a landing-place. Two of the seamen were engaged in +coiling down a hand-lead line; the rest of the men on deck were +devoting their attention to the now departing canvas boat. +</P> + +<P> +"Not so fast, my friends," exclaimed a low deep voice, which the lads +recognized as that of Kapitan Schwalbe. "Remember I have a pistol +ready to hand." +</P> + +<P> +"How in the name of goodness did he know what we were up to?" thought +Ross. +</P> + +<P> +The chums stood stock-still. They felt much like children found out in +some petty escapade. +</P> + +<P> +"Koppe! Where are you?" asked the Kapitan in a loud whisper. +</P> + +<P> +"Here, sir," replied the seaman. +</P> + +<P> +"I hold you responsible for these Englishmen. Now they are trying to +give us the slip. Take them below. But hold on. Secure them to a +stanchion. Chain them up, and bring me the key." +</P> + +<P> +The seaman approached the lads almost apologetically, and led them to +the port side just for'ard of the conning-tower. A light steel chain +was hitched round Ross's right ankle and Vernon's left, and deftly +padlocked round one of the uprights supporting the hand-rail. +</P> + +<P> +"It is of no use trying any of your pranks here," commented Kapitan +Schwalbe, still in a low tone. "You are only looking for trouble." +</P> + +<P> +For several moments all was still, save for the screech of a benighted +gull. Overhead a meteor passed swiftly across the sky, throwing a pale +gleam upon-the lurking submarine. +</P> + +<P> +"Wer da?" +</P> + +<P> +The words, although uttered in an undertone, travelled distinctly over +the placid waters of the cove. +</P> + +<P> +The sailor in the boat muttered some inaudible reply. The listeners in +the submarine could detect the sound of his oars as he laid them across +the thwarts. Then, after further conversation, could be heard the +rumble of metal as the tins of petrol were rapidly placed in the boat. +</P> + +<P> +"How many are there?" asked Kapitan Schwalbe eagerly as the men +returned with the first load. +</P> + +<P> +"Forty here, Herr Kapitan. Altogether there are over two hundred." +</P> + +<P> +"Then be sharp and whip them on board. Was there any communication for +me?" +</P> + +<P> +"A bundle of English newspapers, sir, and this letter." +</P> + +<P> +The man drew the documents from the inside of his jumper and passed +them to a seaman, who in turn handed them to the skipper. +</P> + +<P> +"I may have to land, sir," continued the seaman. "The rest of the cans +are in a cove at some distance from the landing-place. Can Max go with +me to mind the boat? There is a slight ground-swell at times, and she +might have a hole through her canvas if she is allowed to grind against +the rocks." +</P> + +<P> +Receiving an affirmative reply, the man told his comrade to get on +board, and once more the boat vanished into the darkness. +</P> + +<P> +Another twenty minutes elapsed, then came the sounds of muffled +footsteps, and of volatile spirit surging inside the petrol cans. Then +one of the men must have slipped, for there was a slight scuffling, +followed by the loud crash of a can clattering over the rocks. +</P> + +<P> +"'Alt! Who goes there?" shouted a hoarse and unmistakably English +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Freund," promptly replied the German sailor. +</P> + +<P> +It would have been far wiser on his part if he had waited for his +fellow-worker, the German agent, to reply, since his knowledge and +pronunciation of English were almost perfect. But unfortunately it was +the spy who had fallen, and, half-winded by coming in contact with one +of the tins, was gasping for breath and at the same time rubbing a +barked shin. +</P> + +<P> +"Not good enough for me, old sport," rejoined the challenger, and +without further ado he let loose "five rounds rapid". +</P> + +<P> +A loud yell announced that one of the bullets had at least taken +effect. It was the prostrate spy who received a dose of nickel through +the fleshy part of his thigh. +</P> + +<P> +The seaman, dropping his cans, fled for his life. Recklessly he leapt +from the landing-place into the canvas boat, which his comrade had been +keeping at oar's length from the shore. The sudden impetus was too +much for the frail craft. She capsized, and, being only +single-skinned, sank like a stone. +</P> + +<P> +Already men, members of a picket, were hastening to the sentry's +support, their progress marked by a lantern held by a stout and sleepy +sergeant. +</P> + +<P> +By this time U75 was making for the open sea. Kapitan Schwalbe was +cursing loudly; not because the luckless agent had been hit—it was his +fault for not making sure of his ground; not so much on account of the +loss of two more men, nor of the sinking of the only boat belonging to +the submarine. His anger was aroused at the knowledge that once again +his efforts to obtain fuel had been balked. The quantity contained in +forty tins was a mere fraction of the amount he required in order to +carry out his ambitious programme. Bitterly he realized that, like +those of transgressors, the ways of modern pirates are hard. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Treacherous Plot +</H3> + +<P> +A ragged volley of musketry followed the departing submarine. One +bullet mushroomed itself against the steel conning-tower; another +zipped through one of the guard-rails. The rest either flew harmlessly +overhead or ricochetted from the surface of the placid water. +</P> + +<P> +Nevertheless the firing was a signal for the crew to hasten below. +Kapitan Schwalbe and the Unter-leutnant disappeared with ignominious +speed within the conning-tower. The men, bending low, bolted for the +fore hatch. In twenty seconds the deck of U75 was deserted save for +Ross and Vernon, who, padlocked to the stanchion, were unable to move +six inches in either direction. They were only partly screened by the +rise of the conning-tower. A sharp splinter from the bullet that had +splayed against the steel wall cut cleanly through Vernon's coat sleeve +and inflicted a slight gash in the lad's forearm, yet in the excitement +he hardly noticed it. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, old man," exclaimed Ross, as a wave slapping against the +submarine's bow threw a shower of spray over the two prisoners. "What +will happen if they submerge? It seems to me as if old Schwalbe has +forgotten us." +</P> + +<P> +"He would have dived before this if he intended so doing," replied +Haye. "Ten to one he's going to pay us out for attempting to take +French, or rather German, leave. It's jolly cold and mighty +uncomfortable, but we'll keep a stiff upper lip and show him what we +are made of." +</P> + +<P> +"With all due deference to you, old chap," rejoined Trefusis, his teeth +chattering as the keen wind played upon his saturated garments, "I +would far rather be without this badge of German kultur." He indicated +the chain that encircled his ankle. "I don't think that you can hold a +brief for Kapitan Schwalbe. I am not so sure about it that he is not +going to dive." +</P> + +<P> +U75 dipped as he spoke, submerging her fore deck almost to the base of +the conning-tower. Then, with a double cascade of water pouring from +her, she shook herself free, throwing her bows high above the surface. +</P> + +<P> +A man, gripping the stanchion-rail as he made his way knee-deep in +water, came towards the two prisoners. It was Hans Koppe. He had +obtained the Kapitan's permission to release his charges from their +uncomfortable position. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold on tightly as you go aft," he cautioned. "There is hot coffee +waiting for you below." +</P> + +<P> +It was impracticable to descend by means of the fore hatch. That means +of communication had already been closed and battened down, owing to +the constant flow of water over the bows. Even the after hatch, in +spite of the protection afforded by the conning-tower and the raised +coaming, was admitting water into the interior of the submarine. +</P> + +<P> +Cold, exhausted, and hungry, the lads were glad to be able to eat and +drink, discard their wringing-wet garments, and turn in. Without +waking they slept solidly for ten hours. It was one in the afternoon +when they turned out. U75 was rounding Land's End. She was submerged, +steering a compass course, but frequently showing her periscope to +ascertain her whereabouts. Already the Longships Lighthouse was broad +on the port beam. +</P> + +<P> +It was a tedious, discomforting run from Land's End to The Lizard. The +Mounts Bay fishing fleets were out, a circumstance that compelled the +submarine to keep below the surface. Kapitan Schwalbe knew that once +the alert skippers of these boats sighted even the tip of the +periscope, the news of the presence of a hostile submarine would be +quickly sent to the naval authorities at Devonport. The necessity for +secrecy also prevented him from making use of the wireless: not that +the message would be deciphered, but because the origin of the message +could be fixed with comparative certainty by any of the British +wireless stations that "picked up" her call. +</P> + +<P> +The approaches to Plymouth Sound, too, gave Kapitan Schwalbe a bad +time. Far beyond the Eddystone, and from Looe Island to Bigbury Bay, +armed trawlers and torpedo-boats patrolled incessantly, their movements +aided by sea-planes. It was almost a matter of impossibility for a +hostile submarine to approach Plymouth Sound by daylight, since the +aeroplanes were able to discern any sinister object moving under the +comparatively shallow and clear waters between Rame Head and Stoke +Point; while at night the precautions taken were of such an elaborate +and efficient description as to seal the fate of any submarine rash +enough to run her head into a noose. +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly U75 gave the Eddystone a wide berth, shaping a course to +pass twenty miles to the south'ard of the far-famed lighthouse. Here +she was in the thick of the Channel traffic, a stream of mercantile +ships passing up and down as unconcernedly as if such a thing as a +German submarine did not exist. +</P> + +<P> +Although there were plenty of opportunities, Kapitan Schwalbe made no +attempt to molest the ships. For one thing, experience had taught him +that the British merchant skipper possessed a bull-dog tenacity, and a +courage not to be daunted by the sight of a hostile periscope appearing +from nowhere in the midst of a waste of water. For another, he was now +on the look-out for more important game—his chance to retrieve his +already vanishing prestige. +</P> + +<P> +However, one of the merchant vessels served him a good purpose, +although unknown to her. Marking a large ocean tramp bound up-Channel, +U75 dived deeply, so as to be free from any danger of being hit by her +forefoot. +</P> + +<P> +With the noise of the tramp's propeller to guide her, U75 followed, +unsuspected, in her wake as she made for the Lizard Light. +</P> + +<P> +Arriving safely at the rendezvous, Kapitan Schwalbe waited until it was +dark, and then cautiously brought the submarine awash. Punctually at +ten o'clock a feeble violet light blinked through the night. It was +U77's call to her consort. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the game, I wonder?" asked Vernon, as a hail in German was +borne faintly to their ears. +</P> + +<P> +The chums had turned in. There was nothing else for them to do, since +they had been ordered to leave the quarters allotted to the crew. As +there was no furniture of any description in the alley-way that had +been made their sleeping compartment, they had climbed into their +bunks. Here they could maintain an almost uninterrupted conversation. +</P> + +<P> +"Hist!" exclaimed Ross warningly. He had been lying with his ear +almost touching one of the many voice-tubes that led from the +conning-tower to various parts of the submarine. Quite by accident, he +discovered that the pipes formed an excellent conductor of sound in a +manner that had not been intended. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you doing?" asked Haye curiously. +</P> + +<P> +"Jam your ear against the centre one of these three pipes," said his +chum. +</P> + +<P> +Vernon did so. It required very little movement on his part, since the +bunks were rather narrow. The same voice-tube that Ross was "tapping" +ran vertically past Haye's bunk, which was immediately underneath the +one Trefusis had appropriated from the time when he had been laid upon +it under the influence of the injection. +</P> + +<P> +This particular pipe formed a means of vocal communication between the +conning-tower and Kapitan Schwalbe's cabin. For some reason the +whistle had been removed from the cabin end, and consequently sounds +from the Kapitan's quarters were conveyed with tolerable clearness. +</P> + +<P> +There were two men engaged in conversation. One was Kapitan Schwalbe; +the other, who spoke in a lower key, and so rapidly that Ross had great +difficulty in mentally translating his words, was the +Lieutenant-Commander of U77. He had been put aboard U75 only a few +minutes previously. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear von Hoffner," Kapitan Schwalbe was saying. "Your plan is all +very well as far as you are concerned; but where do we come in? +Understand that while we are on the surface our risks are increased +ten-fold. Suppose, for instance, the battleship does not notice, or +affects not to notice, the white flag?" +</P> + +<P> +"She will, right enough," assured the Lieutenant-Commander of U77. +"These English are such fools that in their anxiety to observe the +rules of warfare" (here von Hoffner laughed sardonically) "they play +into our hands. More than a twelvemonth of war has not taught them +that the hitherto recognized observances of war are no longer binding. +This is not a petty squabble between two nations. It is a struggle for +existence; consequently it is where our frightfulness scores." +</P> + +<P> +"It hasn't up to the present, according to my experience," objected +Kapitan Schwalbe gloomily. "These Englishmen simply won't be +frightened. But to return once more to the point: what steps do you +propose to take to minimize my risk?" +</P> + +<P> +"There must be risk, of course," remarked von Hoffner. "According to +latest reports, it seems pretty certain that we cannot hope to +intercept the <I>Tremendous</I> during the hours of darkness. Consequently +we have to make use of a ruse. Directly I spot her I dive, keeping as +much as possible close to her track, say three hundred metres off." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you dive," commented Schwalbe caustically. "That is quite +feasible. But what of U75?" +</P> + +<P> +"She will keep on the surface almost exactly in the indicated path of +the battleship. You will strike your ensign and hoist a large white +flag in its place. It will mean scrapping your best tablecloth, mein +herr. With the wind in its present quarter the flag will blow athwart +the battleship's course, so there is no risk of it not being seen. You +and your crew will, of course, form up aft. That will give more colour +to the deception." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps it will work," said Kapitan Schwalbe. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps? Of course it will," declared von Hoffher sanguinely. "Then +the rest is child's play. Directly the <I>Tremendous</I> slows down—it's +the speed of these battleships that has caused us to miss hitherto—I +will let loose two torpedoes. There will be no bungling, I assure you. +I'll take good care to hit her close to the magazine, and there will be +no opportunity for her to use her quick-firers. +</P> + +<P> +"By the by, I've two English boys on board," said the Kapitan of U75. +In a few words he related the circumstances in which they were made +prisoners. "I suppose they ought to line up on deck with the hands?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly," replied von Hoffher, with one of his cold-blooded +sniggers. "It will heighten the illusion. It will do them good to see +what one of our unterseebooten can do. But it is highly important that +there be no survivors from the torpedoed battleship. The ruse is a +grand one, and can be employed over and over again, provided that the +secret does not leak out. After all, I don't think I would bring these +English youths on deck." +</P> + +<P> +"They are safe enough," protested Schwalbe. "If we return to +Wilhelmshaven, they will be locked up in safe custody until the end of +the war. If we do not, then I fancy there will be no survivors from +U75 as well as from the English battleship <I>Tremendous</I>." +</P> + +<P> +The two treacherous officers conversed in a similar strain for several +minutes longer. Then came the sound of glasses being clinked as an +accompaniment to a boastful toast. Talking boisterously, the two +officers left the cabin, and presently the lads heard the sound of oars +as von Hoffner was rowed back to his command. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Preparations +</H3> + +<P> +"The brutes!" ejaculated Vernon savagely. He was violently excited. +Perspiration was pouring off his face at the thought of the almost +unparalleled act of wanton treachery that was about to be enacted. "If +we could only prevent them!" +</P> + +<P> +"I can't see how," rejoined Ross gloomily. "We cannot give an alarm. +If we could control the valves for half a minute, I'd sink this blessed +craft with all on board, myself included, for good and all. But it is +no use talking of the impossibly heroic." +</P> + +<P> +"I have a plan," announced Vernon, after thinking deeply for a few +minutes. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, out with it!" +</P> + +<P> +"We have to pass through one of the broadside torpedo-rooms as we go on +deck. We could each snatch a spanner and give the war-heads a terrific +blow. You'll remember that there are half a dozen torpedoes in the +cages against the bulkhead. It would mean certain death for us, but it +would save nearly a thousand lives." +</P> + +<P> +Ross shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"There's no certainty of success," he objected. "Those torpedoes are +very much like our own Whiteheads. The striker in the head is +protected against accidental discharge by a small propeller. Until the +torpedo travels a certain distance through the water—sufficient for +the resistance against the blades to cause the safety device to +unthread and leave the striker free to hit the primer—the danger of +premature explosion is almost negligible. We shouldn't have time to +revolve the safety blades enough, and I'm pretty certain that even a +heavy blow on the war-head itself would not explode the charge." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I'm done," said Vernon dejectedly. "Think of something, old +man—something that will hold water." +</P> + +<P> +Silence ensued for nearly ten minutes, broken only by the tapping of +the waves against the sides of the submarine, and the gentle purr of +the dynamos for supplying light to the interior of the vessel. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Ross leapt out of his bunk. He dared not trust himself to +speak above a whisper for fear of being overheard. +</P> + +<P> +"Dash it all, old man!" exclaimed Vernon, when his chum had confided +his plans; "it ought to work. If it doesn't, nothing else will. I'm +on it, happen what may!" +</P> + +<P> +"We'll want our knives for the job," continued Ross. "Yours will open +easily, I hope? Good! Sharp? We'll run no risks. A sharp blade is +absolutely necessary." +</P> + +<P> +They drew the knives and whetted the blades upon the soles of their +boots. At Vernon's suggestion they kept open the big blades, making a +hole through the lining of their pockets in order to keep the knives in +a horizontal position and ready to hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Now let's turn in properly," suggested the practical Ross. "We want +to be fairly fresh for the job in front of us." +</P> + +<P> +Soon after sunrise on the morrow all hands were mustered aft on deck, +Ross and Vernon included. It was a bright morning. The sun had risen +seemingly out of the sea, or in nautical parlance it was a "low dawn". +There was a chilliness in the air that made the lads wish that they had +been wearing overcoats. +</P> + +<P> +They looked in vain for U75's consort. The unterseeboot that was to +deal the coward's blow was not to be seen. Her presence was to be kept +a secret from the crew of the decoy. +</P> + +<P> +Kapitan Schwalbe, accompanied by his Unter-leutnant, made his way aft. +He looked pale and care-worn. He had lost his military manner. His +gait suggested that of a man recovering from a long illness. +</P> + +<P> +"My men," he exclaimed, "circumstances over which I have no control +make it necessary to bring our cruise to a speedy termination. U75 is +no longer in a state of efficiency, either for offence or flight. It +therefore remains for us to save our lives by surrendering to the first +English ship of war that we fall in with. It is a humiliating and +distasteful step to take, but there is no option." +</P> + +<P> +The crew heard this lying speech in silence. They hardly knew what to +make of it. The majority mentally decided that it was better to be +imprisoned in England than to rot on the bed of the sea. Kapitan +Schwalbe had no faith in his men's histrionic abilities; he was also +afraid that they would oppose the scheme that he himself had deprecated +as being too risky. +</P> + +<P> +Hiding their indignation, Ross and his chum saw the Kapitan hand a +petty officer a white flag. The man took it, and lashed short pieces +of cord to two adjacent corners. +</P> + +<P> +Hans Koppe sidled up to his charges. +</P> + +<P> +"You will soon be free," he remarked. "Ach! but you do not seem +overjoyed. You English are indeed a queer race." +</P> + +<P> +Receiving no reply, the man went below to follow the example of his +comrades, who were getting together their personal belongings. Many of +them thought of the times when they had seen non-belligerents do +likewise. It was the boot on the other foot with a vengeance. +</P> + +<P> +Ross gave another glance across the horizon. Nothing was in sight. +Gripping his chum's arm, he led him for'ard. U75 was motionless. The +deck was deserted. A quartermaster stood on the navigation platform in +front of the conning-tower. Kapitan Schwalbe and his Unter-leutnant +had likewise vanished. +</P> + +<P> +As Ross passed the conning-tower, he pulled out his knife and deftly +severed the lashings of a couple of buoys secured to the hand-rail. It +was the first act of the lad's plan of operations. +</P> + +<P> +"Vessel on the port bow, sir!" shouted the quartermaster. +</P> + +<P> +Kapitan Schwalbe was on deck in a trice, closely followed by his +subordinate. For a few moments, he kept his binoculars focused upon +the indistinct grey object, then three miles off. +</P> + +<P> +"It is the <I>Tremendous</I>," he announced in an undertone to the +Unter-leutnant. "Another ten minutes will see the business through." +</P> + +<P> +He spoke with confidence, but it was a confidence inspired by a liberal +dose of brandy. He felt that he had already passed the Rubicon. There +could be no turning back. +</P> + +<P> +A whistle trilled shrilly. At the signal the men again doubled aft, +and joined up in a double line. +</P> + +<P> +"Where are the English boys?" enquired Kapitan Schwalbe. +</P> + +<P> +"Coming," replied Ross. For the first time on board he omitted to add +the word "sir". His omission was deliberate. Utter contempt for the +German captain consumed him. Schwalbe, too, noticed the manner in +which he had replied. He smiled grimly, imagining that now the lads +thought themselves about to be free they could afford to be curt. +</P> + +<P> +As the chums passed the lifebuoys, they deftly heaved them overboard. +They fell with hardly a splash, dropping close to the side of the +motionless submarine. +</P> + +<P> +No one noticed the act. The attention of the crew was centred upon a +little ceremony that was taking place. Bareheaded, the men stood at +attention. Their voices broke into the song of "Die Wacht am Rhein" as +the emblem of German sea-power was slowly lowered from the ensign staff. +</P> + +<P> +The men sang sonorously and in perfect cadence. They firmly believed +that it was their last tribute as free men to their Fatherland. As the +last bar terminated, the petty officer smartly hoisted the white flag. +For an instant it hung limply, confined by one of the halliards; then +like a square of stretched canvas it blew out in the steady breeze—a +modern counterpart of the kiss of Judas. +</P> + +<P> +And standing just behind the Kapitan, within arm's reach of the ensign +staff, were Ross Trefusis and Vernon Haye. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The White Flag—and Afterwards +</H3> + +<P> +H.M.S. <I>Tremendous</I>, super-Dreadnought of 24,000 tons displacement, and +mounting ten 13.5-inch guns as her principal armament, was tearing +up-Channel at 21 knots. +</P> + +<P> +She looked far different from the spick-and-span battleship which had +left Portsmouth only six weeks previously. +</P> + +<P> +Her armoured sides still showed unmistakable traces of the impact of +Turkish shells. Her grey paint was blotched, blistered, and stained. +Her after funnel had plates of sheet-iron riveted to it to hide a +gaping hole large enough to drive a stage-coach through. Her guns were +worn out by sheer hard work. It was mainly on this account that she +was homeward bound: to have the gigantic weapons "re-lined" in order +that she might again take her place as an effective unit of the Grand +Fleet. +</P> + +<P> +The middle watch was about to relieve the morning watch. The mess +decks were a seething mass of humanity. In spite of the apparent +confusion everyone was in high good humour, for another few hours +(D.V.) would find H.M.S. <I>Tremendous</I> at Pompey—as Portsmouth has from +time immemorial been termed by the Navy. +</P> + +<P> +On the fire-control platform sleepy-eyed officers were awaiting their +reliefs. Around the 12-pounders, the muzzles of which grinned +menacingly from apparently haphazard positions in the superstructure, +men were grouped, ready at the first alarm to train the weapons upon a +possible foe. Day after day ceaseless vigilance was maintained. One +and all realized that a moment's negligence might result in destruction +by one of the most horrible creations of modern science. +</P> + +<P> +"Submarine on the starboard bow, sir!" +</P> + +<P> +For an instant all was tense silence. Then a bugle blared, followed by +the clear trills of the bos'n's mates' pipes and the hurried tramp of +men's feet. +</P> + +<P> +The officer of the watch brought his telescope to bear ahead. He was a +junior lieutenant, Bourne by name, and in receipt of a private income +of eight hundred a year. On that sum he might have lived the life of a +man of leisure, but he vastly preferred a strenuous life as a +commissioned officer in the Royal Navy. Not once had he regretted his +choice, and upon the outbreak of war he was ready to execute a hornpipe +of sheer delight at the prospect of "being in the big scrap". +</P> + +<P> +"She's flying the white flag, by Jove!" he ejaculated. "Funny, +deucedly funny!" +</P> + +<P> +He had to act, and act promptly, for a battleship travelling at 21 +knots does not give a man time to think for any length of time. +Already a messenger had been despatched to inform the "skipper", but +before the captain could gain the navigation bridge (more than likely +he was in his bath) the <I>Tremendous</I> would have covered the intervening +distance. +</P> + +<P> +The quartermaster looked enquiringly at the Lieutenant. Bourne stepped +hastily to the engine-room telegraph indicator, half inclined to ring +down for "half-speed", or even "stop both engines". +</P> + +<P> +He stopped abruptly. +</P> + +<P> +"Steady on your helm, quartermaster." +</P> + +<P> +"Steady it is, sir," replied the petty officer. +</P> + +<P> +The telegraph indicator remained untouched. With undiminished speed +H.M.S. <I>Tremendous</I> held on, under the propelling force of turbine +engines of 30,000 indicated horse-power. +</P> + +<P> +A midshipman, standing by the side of the officer of the watch, had +been keeping the submarine under observation by means of his telescope. +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove, sir!" he exclaimed. "There's something wrong there. The +white flag's down, and two fellows in mufti have leapt overboard." +</P> + +<P> +"Torpedo on the port bow, sir!" sang out half a dozen lusty voices in +chorus. +</P> + +<P> +"Hard-a-port, quartermaster!" ordered Bourne. +</P> + +<P> +The spokes of the steam steering-gear revolved quicker than they had +ever done before. Listing heavily to port, the <I>Tremendous</I> turned +with a rapidity that belied her huge bulk and apparent unhandiness. A +double track of ever-diverging foam marked the progress of the deadly +missile. Another followed almost in its wake, both torpedoes +travelling at the speed of an express train. +</P> + +<P> +For four seconds all on board who watched these messages of death stood +with bated breath. Then a general roar of relief went up as the two +"tinfish" glided harmlessly past the ship, the nearest at a distance of +less than twenty feet, and parallel to the new course of the battleship. +</P> + +<P> +Half a dozen quick-firers spat viciously. A 6-inch, two of which for +some obscure reason the designers had placed on the main deck abreast +of the after 15-inch guns, added to the din. A chaos of smoke, flame, +and spray marked the spot beneath which U77 had lurked to launch her +cowardly and treacherous bolt. +</P> + +<P> +"That's blinded her, at least," thought Bourne. +</P> + +<P> +He knew that even if the hidden submarine had escaped injury, a minute +at least would elapse before she could be conned into a position to +discharge another torpedo. That minute would be enough for his purpose. +</P> + +<P> +"Starboard!" he ordered. "Ram her, quartermaster!" +</P> + +<P> +Round swung the 24,000 tons of dead weight, steadied, and bore down +upon the motionless U75. Cries of terror burst from the doomed crew, +many of whom leapt overboard in a vain attempt to swim clear of the +vengeful leviathan. +</P> + +<P> +Bourne gripped the guard-rail, half expecting to be thrown violently by +the force of the impact. He was mistaken. +</P> + +<P> +With hardly a tremor the bows of the <I>Tremendous</I> crashed into the +unterseeboot, hitting her just abaft the conning-tower. The bow +portion sank like a stone. The after part reared itself high in the +air, revealing the curiously shaped stern, the two propellers, and the +complication of rudders. Then, before the cloud of smoke and spray had +time to drift inboard, the <I>Tremendous</I> was over and beyond the +ever-widening circle of iridescent oil that marked the ocean grave of +yet another of the would-be blockaders of Britain's shores. +</P> + +<P> +Even in the midst of his great responsibility Bourne's keen eye +discerned two heads bobbing up and down in the water. The midshipman +noticed them too. +</P> + +<P> +"They are those fellows who hauled down the white flag, sir," he +exclaimed. "They are quite youngsters, too, and we daren't stop." +</P> + +<P> +"No, we dare not," agreed the Lieutenant. For aught he knew, another +unterseeboot might be in the vicinity, reserving her torpedoes in the +hope that the battleship would slow down to investigate. "Pass the +word to the sentry to let go the Kisbie. It's the best we can do." +</P> + +<P> +With a splash the patent lifebuoy was dropped from the cage at the +extremity of the navigation-bridge. It bobbed up again under the +battleship's quarter, emitting a dense cloud of calcium smoke as it did +so. By the time the marine had dropped the Kisbie the ship was a +quarter of a mile away from the two swimmers. +</P> + +<P> +"It's the best we can do," repeated Bourne as he closed the eyepiece of +his telescope. "They may fetch it, they are swimming strongly." +</P> + +<P> +"Well done, Mr. Bourne!" exclaimed a deep voice. +</P> + +<P> +Turning, the Lieutenant faced the Captain standing beside him. +</P> + +<P> +"A smart manoeuvre!" continued the skipper approvingly. "We can now +only carry on; but we'll wireless the Commander-in-Chief Devonport, and +report that there are survivors from the rammed submarine. He'll have +a destroyer patrol on the spot within an hour, and I hope it won't be +too late." +</P> + +<P> +Bourne stepped to the extremity of the bridge and glanced astern. His +effort to distinguish the heads of the two swimmers was fruitless, for +a thin haze, the smoke from the ship's funnel, spread far in her wake, +completely obliterating the spot where Ross Trefusis and Vernon Haye +were swimming for dear life. +</P> + +<P> +</P> + +<P> +It will be necessary to set back the hands of the clock in order to +follow the fortunes of Ross and his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"Is she slowing down?" whispered Vernon anxiously, as they stood on the +deck of U75 awaiting the approach of the <I>Tremendous</I>. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think so," replied Ross. "But now's our time." +</P> + +<P> +The attention of Schwalbe and his crew was centred upon the battleship; +the Kapitan momentarily expecting to see the huge vessel reel under the +impact of the terrible torpedo, while the men began to entertain grave +doubts as to whether the British ship would accept their token of +surrender. The fact that the super-Dreadnought showed no signs of +slowing down revived Kapitan Schwalbe's doubts. Knowing the difficulty +of hitting, even at a comparatively short range, a swiftly moving +target, he began to wonder whether he did the right thing in falling in +with von Hoffner's diabolical plan. +</P> + +<P> +His hurried thoughts were suddenly interrupted by some light object +enveloping his head and shoulders. Before he could tear the fabric +away he heard two distinct splashes, followed by shouts of astonishment +from the crew; for with one clean sweep with his knife Ross had severed +the halliards of the ensign staff. +</P> + +<P> +The lads dived deep, swimming the while with long, powerful strokes, +for both were accomplished in the art of natation. They were longer in +coming to the surface than they anticipated, owing to the weight of +their half-boots, which they had been unable to remove without risk of +causing suspicion. +</P> + +<P> +When at length their heads emerged almost simultaneously, they found +themselves nearly fifteen yards from the doomed U75. +</P> + +<P> +"Strike out!" spluttered Ross. "Get as far away from her as you can. +Never mind about old Schwalbe. He can't hurt us." +</P> + +<P> +Ross was right, for however much the Kapitan wanted to wreak his +vengeance upon his former prisoners, he was unable to do so. In his +rôle as that of an officer waiting to surrender, the possession of a +revolver would tend to "give the show away". He had left his pistol in +his cabin—an example that his Unter-leutnant had followed. And now +his attention was directed upon the British battleship. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile, the lads, swimming strongly, saw the <I>Tremendous</I> heel as +she ported helm. For a minute, not knowing how a ship behaves when the +helm is suddenly put hard over, they thought that the treacherous +unterseeboot had successfully carried out her cold-blooded plan. Yet +no explosion occurred, and the battleship recovered her normal trim. +</P> + +<P> +With their eyes only a few inches above the surface, the lads could see +nothing of the track of the torpedoes. They had no indication that +they had been fired until the <I>Tremendous</I> let fly with her 12-pounders. +</P> + +<P> +"I think we've saved her," said Vernon. "Now there'll be trouble for +us. Schwalbe will certainly have a shot at recapturing us after the +battleship has cleared off. Why doesn't she settle U75, I wonder?" +</P> + +<P> +The lads both expressed astonishment that the motionless unterseeboot +had escaped the attention of the super-Dreadnought's quick-firers. It +seemed as if the latter were ignoring U75 altogether and was sheering +off at full speed. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Ross gave a whoop of delight, which ended in his swallowing a +mouthful of salt water. The <I>Tremendous</I> was turning once more, and +heading straight for the doomed submarine. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-110"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-110.jpg" ALT=""THE _TREMENDOUS_ WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THE DOOMED SUBMARINE"" BORDER="2" WIDTH="406" HEIGHT="645"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 406px"> +"THE <I>TREMENDOUS</I> WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THE DOOMED SUBMARINE" +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Mentally Ross compared the on-coming battleship with an express train, +as shown on a cinematograph screen, in the act of approaching the +audience. At one moment the ship was visible from her water-line to +the truck of her top-mast; at the next her bulk had suddenly expanded +and seemed to fill the complete field of vision. It looked as if the +two lads, in spite of the distance they had put between themselves and +the motionless submarine, would yet be in the way of the vengeful +battleship, whose extreme beam was not less than ninety feet. +</P> + +<P> +Yet neither of the two chums made the slightest effort to swim farther +away. Mechanically treading water, they waited and watched. +</P> + +<P> +They could see the terror-stricken attitudes of the crew of the doomed +U75. They heard the shouts of consternation as the massive steel bows +bore down upon her. Then, in a second it seemed, there was a hideous +crash that outvoiced the yells and shouts of despair as the +unterseeboot was rent in twain. +</P> + +<P> +Of what happened during the next minute the lads had but a very hazy +idea. Caught by the irresistible bow wave as the <I>Tremendous</I> tore +past, they were hurled aside like feathers and buried a couple of +fathoms down under the breaking, foaming mass of water. Vaguely they +heard the whirring of the four propellers—very near, it seemed; then, +caught by an eddy caused by the cavitation in the wake of the monstrous +vessel, they were separated and flung to the surface, half-breathless +and dazed. +</P> + +<P> +Ross opened his eyes. The <I>Tremendous</I> had already covered nearly a +quarter of a mile. Twenty yards away he saw his chum's head, as +Vernon, puffing like a grampus, was striking out towards him. +</P> + +<P> +Where the submarine had dived for the last time was an ever-widening +circle of oil. Those of the German crew who had not been carried down +by the sinking unterseeboot were too shaken by the concussion to make +any great effort to save their lives. Attempting to keep afloat in +that oil-covered water added to their difficulties, for whenever the +head of a swimmer disappeared he did not rise again. +</P> + +<P> +"Kick off your boots, old man," exclaimed Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"Where are the lifebuoys?" asked Vernon as he carried out his friend's +advice. +</P> + +<P> +One buoy had disappeared; the other was supporting a seaman, the only +survivor of the crew. +</P> + +<P> +"A case of finding's are keeping's," announced Ross. "We can't sling +him out of it. It might support two people. We could take turns at +hanging on." +</P> + +<P> +"Stop!" exclaimed Vernon as Ross began to strike out towards the buoy. +"There'll be trouble if we get mixed up in that oil. It's much lighter +than water. I doubt whether we could swim in it. Do you think the +<I>Tremendous</I> will put back?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not likely," replied Trefusis. +</P> + +<P> +He looked in the direction of the fast-vanishing battleship, half +hoping that she would slow down and lower a boat. As he did so, +something caught his eye: a cloud of grey smoke apparently issuing from +the sea. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that?" he asked, pointing in that direction. +</P> + +<P> +"Torpedo, perhaps; one that has finished her run," suggested Vernon; +but his chum waved aside the explanation. +</P> + +<P> +"If U77 did fire a torpedo, you can bet your bottom dollar it wasn't +one with a dummy head!" he said. "Only practice torpedoes send up a +calcium light when their compressed air has given out. By Jove, I +believe it's one of those patent buoys! Let's make for it." +</P> + +<P> +The lads swam strongly, making powerful and comparatively slow +breast-strokes. The water was warm. They were in no immediate danger +of cramp. +</P> + +<P> +As they skirted the patch of oil they noticed that the seaman holding +on to the buoy had turned round. His face was now in their direction. +The man was Hans Koppe. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you all right, Hans?" shouted Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, mein herr," replied the man. "I've found a buoy." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks to us," thought Trefusis; then raising his voice: "You had +better kick out and get clear of the oil," he advised. "We are making +for yonder buoy." +</P> + +<P> +By the time the swimmers reached the Kisbie the emission of calcium +smoke had ceased. They found that not only did the buoy support them +both, but that it was so constructed as to allow them to maintain a +sitting position without having to hold on with both hands. Glad of a +seat they waited, watching the approach of Hans Koppe, and also looking +for the undesired reappearance of U77. +</P> + +<P> +"Ach! My wife and children!" exclaimed Hans Koppe disconsolately, as +he brought his lifebuoy close alongside. "I shall never see them +again." +</P> + +<P> +"Cheer up, Hans!" replied Vernon. "At any moment U77 might come to the +surface and take you on board. We don't mind, so long as they let us +alone. We've had enough of your unterseebooten." +</P> + +<P> +"U77?" gasped the German incredulously. "How do you know that?" +</P> + +<P> +Briefly Haye related the story of the ill-fated Kapitan Schwalbe's +treachery. As he proceeded Han's face bore a surprised expression that +presently changed to one of fear. +</P> + +<P> +"If we are picked up by an English ship," he remarked, "they will shoot +me for abuse of the white flag. And I am innocent. Ach! my poor wife." +</P> + +<P> +"They won't," replied Ross reassuringly. "We can swear that you knew +nothing about it." +</P> + +<P> +The minutes passed slowly. There was no sign of U77. Little did the +three survivors know that she lay within a quarter of a mile of her +consort, on the bed of the English Channel—to add to the +ever-increasing roll of unterseebooten that were fated never to enter a +German port again. +</P> + +<P> +The sun rose higher and higher, its rays gathering strength as it did +so. The heads of the three survivors were exposed to the solar heat; +their bodies and limbs were numbed by prolonged immersion. The desire +for conversation had long since passed. Almost exhausted they hung to +their supports, listless and torpid. A few sea-gulls, struck with the +silence of the three men, hovered overhead, and swooped with shrill +cries to settle on the water within close distance of what appeared to +be a possible meal. One bolder than the rest perched upon Trefusis' +head. +</P> + +<P> +Raising his arm, Ross dealt the bird a furious blow. It missed, but +had the effect of scattering the gulls. Apathetically the lad watched +them as they flew off. As he did so he caught sight of three vessels +being driven at high speed. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurrah!" he exclaimed feebly. "The destroyers, old man; we are saved!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Arm of the Law +</H3> + +<P> +"Hulloa! What the deuce have we got here?" enquired Commander Devereux +of H.M. torpedo-boat destroyer <I>Yealm</I>, as three dripping figures were +transferred from the destroyer's dinghy to the deck. "One strafed Hun, +right enough; but who are these fellows in mufti?" +</P> + +<P> +"Can't say, sir," replied the coxswain. "They sort o' collapsed +directly we got 'em into the boat." +</P> + +<P> +"Then take them below," continued Devereux. "I say, Fanshawe, there's +a job for you at last, my festive sawbones." +</P> + +<P> +Fanshawe, lately a young country practitioner with a scattered "panel" +connection, had but recently entered the Navy as a surgical probationer +R.N.V.R. He joined purely through patriotic motives, having sacrificed +a fairly substantial income in order to do so. Up to the present his +work had been almost a sinecure. The <I>Yealm</I> had not had the faintest +chance of taking part in an engagement. Her crew—to use Fanshawe's +own words—were "that beastly healthy, don't you know", that, out of +sheer anxiety to do something, he was learning navigation from the +Sub-lieutenant. +</P> + +<P> +The medico undertook his first important professional task on board the +<I>Yealm</I> with great alacrity, and it was not long before Ross and Vernon +were in a fit state to be questioned. Hans Koppe was in a bad plight. +So utterly shaken were his nerves that he seemed on the point of +collapse. +</P> + +<P> +"So you are the son of Admiral Trefusis," said the +Lieutenant-Commander. "I can't say that I know him personally, +although I know of him. But how did you get on board the submarine?" +</P> + +<P> +Ross explained. He felt hurt at having to do so. The +Lieutenant-Commander's ignorance of the disappearance of the two chums +from St. Mena's Island "took all the wind out of his sails". In +pre-War days the principal papers would have devoted at least half a +column to the supposed deaths by drowning, off the Cornish coast, of +two well-connected youths. Nowadays editors had neither space nor +inclination to devote to such a comparatively trivial matter. +Consequently Devereux could be exonerated of all lack of knowledge of +the supposed accident. Yet his interest grew as Ross proceeded with +his narrative. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here," he remarked. "We've got to dodge around for a few hours +in case your pal U77 does put in an appearance. But I'll wireless the +Admiral and ask for a telegram to be sent to your homes, to let your +people know you are still alive and kicking." +</P> + +<P> +"Better not, sir," objected Ross. +</P> + +<P> +Devereux looked curiously at the lad. +</P> + +<P> +"And why not?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you see," explained Trefusis, "a telegram is not such a +confidential matter as one would like it to be, especially in a remote +country district." +</P> + +<P> +"It's good news though," remarked the Lieutenant-Commander. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," admitted Ross; "but it is absolutely necessary to keep it dark +for a while. A few hours won't make very much difference one way or +the other to my people, but it would make a thumping lot to our friend +Dr. Ramblethorne, otherwise von Hauptwald. If he were to hear that we +were alive, he'd do a bunk. The same with that other spy, von Ruhle. +They must be arrested promptly, and within a few hours of each other, +in case one of them scents trouble and clears out." +</P> + +<P> +"I see your point," admitted Devereux. "I won't send a wireless at +present. You must be feeling peckish. I'll get my steward to bring +you in some grub. Excuse me, I must be off again. We've a lot to +attend to, you know." +</P> + +<P> +The Lieutenant-Commander went on deck to conduct operations. He was +temporarily senior officer, and it fell to him to issue orders to his +two consorts relating to the investigation of the scene of the +battleship's exploit. +</P> + +<P> +For two hours the three destroyers cruised over the spot where the two +submarines were supposed to have sunk. At length wreckage was found by +means of grapnels. It was, of course, much too deep to send a diver +down to report; but the spot was buoyed, and served as a base while +sweeping operations were proceeded with in the hope of locating the +hull of the second unterseeboot. In a very short space of time two +operations undertaken for the purpose of destroying the sunken +submarine were highly satisfactorily carried out. The first resulted +in the release of a small quantity of buoyant wreckage, amongst which +was the flagstaff of U75. The second brought to the surface a quantity +of oil, showing that a submarine had been sunk there, but the injuries +she previously received had not been sufficient to liberate the +contents of the heavy oil-tanks. The explosive charge had completed +the destruction of U77. +</P> + +<P> +Just before five in the afternoon, the <I>Yealm</I> and her consorts passed +the eastern arm of the breakwater in Plymouth Sound and brought up in +the Hamoaze. Ross and Vernon, arrayed in borrowed clothes and +accompanied by Lieutenant-Commander Devereux, lost no time in going +ashore and proceeding to the offices of the Commander-in-Chief. +</P> + +<P> +"You are acting with remarkable discretion," observed the Admiral, when +Ross reiterated his desire not to communicate with his home until the +spies were safely under lock and key. "Fortunately there ought to be +no undue delay, as we have two expert Scotland Yard men investigating a +case in the Dockyard. I'll telephone to the Superintendent of Police, +and get him to send the officers here at once." +</P> + +<P> +Within ten minutes the officers were ushered into the +Commander-in-Chief's presence. Ross and Vernon looked at them with +considerable curiosity. It had not before fallen to their lot to come +into contact with two real representatives of the famous Scotland Yard. +Yet there was little about the appearance to occasion comment. They +were not in any way disguised. The taller of the two, who was +introduced as Detective-Inspector Ferret, was about forty years of age. +His closely cut hair was dark-brown, with a plentiful sprinkling of +grey hairs. He wore a beard trimmed naval or "torpedo" fashion, with a +moustache. He was dressed in a grey lounge suit, with dark-brown boots +and a golfing cap. There was nothing of a piercing nature about his +eyes, which were of a deep-grey tint. He seemed to be perpetually +beaming; the lines on his face gave one that impression. +</P> + +<P> +His companion, Detective Hawke, was a short, thick-set man of about +thirty-five. He was clean-shaven. His features were ruddy and heavy. +There was a bulldog look about his jaw that proclaimed him to be a +tough customer. His rough, brown, Harris-tweed suit and bowler hat +gave him the appearance of a prosperous yeoman rather than a successful +tracker of criminals. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, young gentlemen," began Mr. Hawke briskly, after the +introductions had been made, "we'll get to business. With your +permission, sir" (addressing the Admiral), "I will ask Mr. Trefusis to +give me his version of the affair. To save time, I feel certain that +Mr. Haye will have no objection to going with my colleague and telling +him his story. That, I must explain, is the best way to eliminate any +discrepancies. We prefer to make a fair start, and then all ought to +go well." +</P> + +<P> +During the next hour Detective-inspector Hawke was very busy. He made +no written notes. He relied solely upon his marvellous retentive +memory, and it was not long before he was in full possession of the +facts of the case. +</P> + +<P> +His next step was to telephone to St. Bedal. From the police there, he +learnt that Dr. Ramblethorne was medical officer to the 4th battalion +of a west-country regiment, but that he was temporarily detailed to act +on the recruiting staff at Wellington. +</P> + +<P> +Hawke thereupon telegraphed to Harwich. The Customs officers there +informed him that the Harwich-Flushing boat service had been suspended +for nearly a week, owing to the discovery of a hostile mine-field off +the Dutch coast. Sailings were to be resumed that night. A man who +gave himself out to be a Dutchman, but who answered to the description +of von Ruhle, had applied that morning for a permit to leave the +country by the night boat. His berth had been booked under the name of +Cornelius Vanderhuit. +</P> + +<P> +"Which one ought we to nab first?" asked Ferret. "We'll have to be +very sharp, or one of them, finding that he is no longer in +communication with his accomplice, would smell a rat and clear out." +</P> + +<P> +"Under normal conditions I would reply, 'Collar the principal first'," +replied Hawke. "It is evident that Ramblethorne, <I>alias</I> von +Hauptwald, is the master-spy. Directly he's laid by the heels, the +whole of the organization immediately under his control goes by the +board. But there's this Harwich business. Von Ruhle crosses the North +Sea to-night, unless otherwise prevented. We comprise the otherwise, I +hope." +</P> + +<P> +"Then it would mean catching the midday express to Waterloo," remarked +Ferret. +</P> + +<P> +"Could we go with you?" asked Ross. +</P> + +<P> +The police officers looked rather astonished at the cool request. Like +most professional men, they scouted the idea of amateur assistance when +the main issue was at stake. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea," remarked Hawke. "You have already +shown great discretion in the matter. Most fellows would have made a +bee-line to the nearest telegraph office and given the whole show away. +The only difficulty is—I suppose, by the way, you are not feeling too +done up after your trying experiences?—the only difficulty is, I was +remarking, that von Ruhle might spot you. Look here, Ferret; suppose +you take these young gentlemen, and proceed to Harwich by an ordinary +train? Keep well out of sight when you arrive at Parkeston Quay, but +keep a sharp eye on the boat. I'll travel from Liverpool Street by the +boat train, and see if I can pick out our quarry amongst the +passengers." +</P> + +<P> +It was a tedious journey from Plymouth to Harwich. Arriving at +Waterloo, Ferret took the lads to a quiet hotel and ordered lunch; +while Hawke, excusing himself, called in at "the Yard" to report his +new case to the Chief, and to wait for the Great Eastern boat train. +</P> + +<P> +The weather had changed completely during the run from the West, for +when Ferret and the two lads arrived at Parkeston Quay it was raining +heavily, accompanied by half a gale of wind from the east'ard. +</P> + +<P> +"We've a long wait," commented Ferret. "Fortunately I know several of +the Customs officials very well. I'll get them to let you take shelter +in their shed. It's almost opposite the berth where the steamer +generally makes fast. You'll be able to watch everyone who goes up the +gangway. I'll go on board and speak to the steward. I don't suppose +we'll spot friend von Ruhle until the boat train arrives, and by that +time perhaps Hawke will have marked his man." +</P> + +<P> +Undoubtedly, the wisest course would have been to send other officers +to Wellington to arrest Dr. Ramblethorne; but Hawke was out for +"kudos". Only a short while ago he had let a wanted man slip through +his fingers, and had been rapped over the knuckles for it. With the +professional assistance of Ferret, he hoped to carry out a double +<I>coup</I> and arrest both German Secret Service agents, thereby recovering +his lost prestige. +</P> + +<P> +Arriving at Liverpool Street he took his ticket, and spent the time +until the departure of the boat train in walking up and down the +platform. He had the knack of observing without being observed. He +would look at a man in quite a casual way; there was no gleam of +intelligence in his eyes as he did so, but little escaped his notice. +An hour or two later he could accurately describe his appearance, +dress, and mannerisms. +</P> + +<P> +A minute before the train started, a man answering von Ruhle's +description hurried down the platform. He carried a new cane under his +left arm. In his right hand he held an attaché case with the initials +C. V. +</P> + +<P> +Hawke waited until he had entered a carriage, then strolled to the +other end of the corridor coaches and took his seat. He knew that the +run was supposed to be a non-stop one. +</P> + +<P> +The train started. The detective took his time. He waited for nearly +twenty minutes before he made his way along the corridor, and entered +the smoking-compartment occupied by the suspect. +</P> + +<P> +Presently Hawke made a commonplace remark. The stranger replied +stiffly and in rather a deep voice, with a slight foreign accent. +</P> + +<P> +"An assumed voice," soliloquized the detective; but undaunted by the +chilliness of his reception he again made some remark about the weather. +</P> + +<P> +Before the train ran through Witham station, conversation was +proceeding briskly. Hawke assumed the rôle of a commercial traveller, +and volunteered the information that his brother had just returned from +the Front. +</P> + +<P> +The stranger showed no hesitation in discussing the war. Emboldened, +the detective tackled the subject of East Coast defences and the futile +German blockade. +</P> + +<P> +"He's giving me absolutely false information," he thought. "Perhaps +he's trying to throw me off the scent. I'll put a few questions that +no one but an ignoramus would ask in good faith. If he's trying to +bluff me, I'll beat him at that game." +</P> + +<P> +Presently his fellow-passenger excused himself and, without removing +his luggage, went into the corridor. As soon as he was out of sight +Hawke took hold of the cane that the stranger had left in the rack. +With a grunt of satisfaction he found that it was certainly not a +Malacca, but made of metal. +</P> + +<P> +The train began to slow down. Lifting the blind, Hawke looked out of +the window. He could just discern a fairly big town, completely in +darkness. +</P> + +<P> +"Manningtree Junction," said Hawke to himself. "Something on the line, +I suppose. H'm, we're stopping." +</P> + +<P> +With a jerk the train pulled up at the station. The platform was +almost deserted, for no train was due at that time to stop there. A +door slammed. Again the detective pulled aside the blind. He was just +in time to see his fellow-traveller, accompanied by the guard, +disappear into the station waiting-room. +</P> + +<P> +"He's tumbled to it!" exclaimed Hawke. "He's making off. He's tipped +the guard to set him down. I'm after him!" +</P> + +<P> +He made his way swiftly and stealthily down the platform, and with a +quick movement threw open the waiting-room door. +</P> + +<P> +The sudden transition from the semi-darkness of the platform to the +brilliantly lighted interior of the room temporarily dazzled his eyes. +Dimly he was aware that the place was occupied by khaki-clad soldiers +struggling into their equipment, and that in their midst was the guard +and the man of whom he was in search. +</P> + +<P> +"At any rate there is plenty of assistance," thought Hawke as he +advanced to tap the suspect on the shoulder; but before he could attain +his object a deep, stern voice exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"Arrest him, men!" +</P> + +<P> +The next instant Detective-inspector Hawke was seized by half a dozen +muscular hands. +</P> + +<P> +"What's this tomfoolery?" he demanded angrily. "I'm a Scotland Yard +officer, and——" +</P> + +<P> +A roar of laughter burst from the Tommies. Even the subaltern in +command smiled broadly. +</P> + +<P> +The stranger spoke again. +</P> + +<P> +"Take him to the guard-room. He is arrested under the Defence of the +Realm Act for attempting to elicit information prejudicial to the +welfare of the State. I won't detain the train any longer, guard, +although I'll ask you to drop my gear on the platform." +</P> + +<P> +Still protesting vehemently but ineffectually, the detective was +unceremoniously hustled into an ante-room, used since the outbreak of +the war as a guard-room for the military in charge of the line. The +door was locked upon him. He heard the train rumble out of the station. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Fruitless Quest +</H3> + +<P> +From their places of concealment Ross and Vernon watched the boat train +run alongside the steamer. At last the weary vigil was a thing of the +past. All fatigue was forgotten at the prospect of witnessing the +capture of one of the active members of the German spy system at work +in this country. +</P> + +<P> +For a quarter of an hour everything was in a state of bustle. There +was a continuous stream of passengers and porters, the latter bending +under the weight of trunks and boxes as they hurried up the steeply +sloping gangway. +</P> + +<P> +At length the throng thinned. As yet there was no sign either of von +Ruhle or of Detective-inspector Hawke. +</P> + +<P> +A man with his coat collar turned up ran through the driving rain and +entered the shed. It was Ferret. +</P> + +<P> +"Something's gone wrong," he declared. "I've just had a telephone +message from my colleague. I'm off to the post-office. If you want me +during the next ten minutes you'll find me there." +</P> + +<P> +Hawke had at length managed to get a word with his former +fellow-traveller, who happened to be a staff-officer of the Eastern +command. The detective had been under a misapprehension. The officer +had good reason for ordering his arrest; but the comedy threatened to +take a serious development. Even when the detective showed his +credentials the officer was not satisfied. He proposed telegraphing to +Scotland Yard, but Hawke, mindful of a former failure, induced him not +to do so. The detective, who had occasion to contrast unfavourably the +summary powers of arrest under the Defence of the Realm Act with those +allowed by the Civil Power, was eventually allowed to communicate with +his brother officer at Parkeston Quay. And then the military +authorities required a considerable amount of convincing. It looked as +if Detective-inspector Hawke would have to remain under arrest until +next morning. +</P> + +<P> +While Ferret was losing time and patience in his efforts to release his +confrère, Ross and Vernon noticed a man hurrying along the quay. He +was short and thick-set. He wore a long mackintosh, the collar of +which was turned up and helped, with the peak of his cap, to hide his +features. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the man's foot tripped over a ring-bolt. He cursed under his +breath, but sufficiently loudly for the lads to overhear. +</P> + +<P> +Ross gripped his companion's arm. The fellow was swearing in German. +</P> + +<P> +"Von Ruhle!" he whispered. He made a movement as if to issue from his +place of concealment, but Haye restrained him. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold on!" he cautioned in a low voice. +</P> + +<P> +The man paused on the gangway. A partly shaded electric light threw a +glare upon his face. He wore a heavy beard and moustache. +</P> + +<P> +"You're wrong," whispered Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +"He's a German, anyhow," persisted Trefusis. +</P> + +<P> +The man still hesitated. Then he hailed a seaman. +</P> + +<P> +"Where is the post office?" he asked. "I wish to telegraph. Is there +time before the boat sails?" +</P> + +<P> +Receiving an affirmative reply the man hurried off. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" exclaimed Ross. +</P> + +<P> +Neither of the lads had now any doubts as to the man's identity. The +beard and moustache were false, but the voice was the same—von Ruhle's. +</P> + +<P> +Keeping close to the wall of the line of sheds, the lads followed the +spy at a distance of about fifty feet. More than once von Ruhle +glanced furtively over his shoulder, as if suspecting that he was being +tracked. +</P> + +<P> +Presently a man, reeling along the quay, approached. The spy made no +effort to avoid him. As the inebriated one rolled past he whispered a +few words. The effect was instantaneous. Instead of continuing his +way towards the post office, von Ruhle turned and made off abruptly in +the direction of the gate of the Company's premises. +</P> + +<P> +"An accomplice," whispered Vernon. "He's been warned." +</P> + +<P> +They had to wait until the man who had feigned drunkenness had +disappeared. By this time the German had gained a considerable +distance. To get the assistance of the detective was out of the +question. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" exclaimed Ross, breaking into a run. +</P> + +<P> +Concealment was no longer necessary. Should occasion arise, there +would be plenty of help forthcoming, for there were several dock +policemen and soldiers on duty close at hand. +</P> + +<P> +Von Ruhle had increased his pace into a brisk walk when he heard the +noise of his pursuers. Then he, too, began to run. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop him!" shouted Trefusis, calling to a group of uniformed men +standing in front of an abattoir. +</P> + +<P> +Turning, the German made towards the quay-side. He was no match in +speed for his youthful pursuers; but he gained the water's edge before +Ross headed him off. +</P> + +<P> +"Give in, von Ruhle!" he challenged. +</P> + +<P> +The spy recognized the voice of the British lad whom he imagined to be +miles away, on board an unterseeboot. +</P> + +<P> +With a quick movement, the spy plucked a leather case from his coat +pocket and hurled it over the edge of the quay, then, throwing up his +arms, he dropped lifeless upon the rain-sodden ground. +</P> + +<P> +Rapidly a crowd collected. Amongst them was Detective-inspector +Ferret, who, having finished his conversation with his luckless +confrère, was leaving the post office when he heard the commotion. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what's all this?" he asked brusquely. He bent over the body of +the spy and flashed a pocket-lamp upon his face. "It's our man," he +continued, addressing the lads in an undertone. This remark was +needless, since they were already certain upon that point. "He's done +us out of a job. Heart disease? No fear: it's poison. Don't wait +here. Your work in this direction is done. I have still a few +unpleasant tasks to perform. Cut off to the hotel and await me there. +I may be an hour." +</P> + +<P> +"One moment," protested Vernon. "We saw von Ruhle heave something over +the quay. It might float; if so, there might be a chance to pick it up +by means of a boat. The tide is almost slack. If it has sunk it will +be a diver's task to recover it." +</P> + +<P> +"'Something' is always unsatisfactory," remarked Ferret reprovingly. +"Was it large, small, heavy, or light?" +</P> + +<P> +"He was so jolly quick that I could hardly see it," replied Haye. "I +should think it was about the size of a cigar-case." +</P> + +<P> +Directing two policemen to remove and take charge of the body, the +Detective-inspector accompanied the lads to the edge of the quay. It +was dead low water. There was hardly sufficient current coming down +the Stour to swing the anchored craft against the wind. Then the +investigators made a discovery. Although there was a good depth of +water at the greater extent of the quay, at this spot the mud was +uncovered at the base of the wall, while almost at their feet was a +flight of stone steps. +</P> + +<P> +Ferret descended cautiously and switched on the light of the torch. +Almost within arm's length, and partly buried in the slime, was the +object which the spy had thrown away. +</P> + +<P> +As the detective hooked at it with his stick a hoarse voice shouted: +</P> + +<P> +"Ahoy there! What are you doing with that light?" +</P> + +<P> +Apparently from nowhere a boat ploughed through the mud until its bows +were within a couple of feet of the steps. The next instant Ferret and +his companions were covered by a revolver. +</P> + +<P> +It was a naval guard-boat, the watchful eye of the officer in charge +having discovered what he took to be surreptitious signalling. +Explanations followed, and were accepted. Ferret, holding the +recovered prize, ascended the steps, followed by Ross and Vernon, while +the boat backed noiselessly away. It was but one more example of the +ceaseless vigilance of the great, silent Navy. +</P> + +<P> +Almost dead-beat, Trefusis and his chum made their way to the hotel, +had supper, and went straight to bed. Ferret, they decided, could wait +until morning. +</P> + +<P> +At 6 a.m. Hawke, having secured his release, arrived at Parkeston, +having engaged a motor-car to bring him from Manningtree. Already his +vindictiveness towards the military had vanished. He had taken a +sensible view of the situation. He had played and lost, and the staff +officer was justified in the circumstances. As for the soldiers, they +had to obey orders. +</P> + +<P> +Nevertheless he was chagrined when he heard his confrère's report. It +was galling to think that their spy had outwitted him by taking his own +life. The whole energies of the two detectives must, for the present, +be concentrated upon the capture of the master-spy, Von Hauptwald, +otherwise Dr. Ramblethorne. +</P> + +<P> +Ross and Vernon met Hawke again at breakfast. He was now quite +cheerful. +</P> + +<P> +"You managed to get hold of von Ruhle so well," he remarked, "that I +think you really ought to bear a hand with friend Ramblethorne,—that +is, unless you've had enough of man-hunting?" +</P> + +<P> +"We'll do our best," said Ross. "It's our duty." +</P> + +<P> +"When do you start?" asked Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +"Almost at once," he declared. "Ramblethorne might be alarmed if no +telegram arrives from his fellow-spy. Again, the man who communicated +with von Ruhle on the quay last night might have given Ramblethorne +warning. It's not at all surprising to me, since what you told us, Mr. +Trefusis, that there has been an alarming outbreak of enteric at St. +Bedal camp." +</P> + +<P> +He turned over several pages of a complex timetable. +</P> + +<P> +"Here we are," he announced. "We must get to Paddington in time to +catch the 10.20 for Wellington. One thing, young gentlemen, you'll be +nearly home. Ferret has arranged about the inquest on von Ruhle. Your +evidence will be taken down in writing, and in that case you won't have +to put in an appearance at that grim farce." +</P> + +<P> +Hawke spoke feelingly and from experience. In his opinion, based upon +circumstantial evidence, "crowner's quests" were a form of legal +absurdity. +</P> + +<P> +The train journey to Liverpool Street was undertaken almost in silence, +as far as the four travellers were concerned. Hawke buried himself in +his paper; Ferret was poring over some document found in von Ruhle's +pocket-book, trying to unravel the complex code that, if deciphered, +would be of the utmost importance to the country. Ross and Vernon, +still feeling tired, tried to make up for arrears of sleep. +</P> + +<P> +Taking a taxi across London, they were just in time to catch the Great +Western express, which would take them to Taunton. Arriving at that +place, they changed into a slow train that eventually landed them at +the little Somersetshire town nestling under the Black Down Hills. +</P> + +<P> +Without delay the party proceeded to the regimental depot. Enquiries +for Captain Ramblethorne, R.A.M.C., only resulted in looks of +perplexity. He was unknown to the authorities. +</P> + +<P> +"But we heard from St. Bedal that Captain Ramblethorne was ordered to +Wellington for recruiting duties," persisted Hawke. +</P> + +<P> +The orderly-room clerk smiled sadly. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you quite sure that it was this Wellington?" he asked. "We've had +similar mistakes before." +</P> + +<P> +Detective-inspector Hawke felt like kicking himself. He, too, was +aware of the existence of the Shropshire Wellington, but, without +giving the possibility any consideration, he had rashly jumped to the +conclusion that the place to which Ramblethorne had been appointed was +the one nearest to St. Bedal. +</P> + +<P> +Sorrowfully the four marched out of the office. More delay ensued +while a wire was dispatched to St. Bedal, asking for further details. +</P> + +<P> +It took two hours before the reply came. "Regret not to have added +Salop to Captain Ramblethorne's address.—C.O." +</P> + +<P> +"It's a long lane that has no turning," observed Ferret as they made +for the railway station. +</P> + +<P> +Hawke bit his lip. He knew that had the spy been warned promptly he +might be out of the country by this time. +</P> + +<P> +It was dark when, after a tedious journey, the four travellers alighted +at Wellington, Salop. Here, guarded enquiries elicited the information +that Captain Ramblethorne had gone to Bridgnorth to examine men "roped +in" at a recruiting meeting. He had left for Bridgnorth two hours +previously. +</P> + +<P> +"There are no trains to-night," announced Hawke. "We'll have to get a +car." +</P> + +<P> +Ten minutes later, Ross and his companions were speeding over the +horribly rough and hilly road between Wellington and Bridgnorth. Past +ironworks and coal-fields, over or under a network of railway lines, +the car tore; then, leaving the mining district behind, it entered the +picturesque valley of the Severn, where the road skirts a range of +towering limestone crags. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of their fatigue, the lads could not restrain an exclamation +of surprise and delight as the town of Bridgnorth, bathed in moonlight, +appeared in sight—a cluster of houses perched upon a bold rock, and +dominated by the scanty ruins of the old castle. At the foot of the +cliff the Severn meandered placidly. In the midst of the greatest war +the world has ever known, Bridgnorth appeared to retain all the +characteristics of complete peace. +</P> + +<P> +The recruiting office was closed for the night. With unerring instinct +the detective made for the principal hotel. Here they found that +Captain Ramblethorne had engaged a room, but the manager showed them a +telegram that had just reached him. +</P> + +<P> +"Took wrong train cancel room arriving to-morrow morning Ramblethorne." +</P> + +<P> +"A blind," mentally ejaculated Ferret. "He has been warned." +</P> + +<P> +The telegram had been dispatched from Shrewsbury. Ferret was again at +fault, for the mistake was a genuine one. It so happened that the two +trains left Wellington at precisely the same time, the one for +Bridgnorth starting from a side platform. Before he realized his +mistake Ramblethorne found himself well on the way to Shrewsbury, for +the train stopped at no intermediate station. +</P> + +<P> +"Shrewsbury, as hard as you can go!" ordered Hawke, addressing the +chauffeur. +</P> + +<P> +At a pace averaging fifty miles an hour the powerful car bounded over +the road. Without mishap it gained the outskirts of the county town of +Shropshire, when an involuntary halt occurred. +</P> + +<P> +It was on the English Bridge, a comparatively narrow structure crossing +the Severn. A belated drover was driving a herd of refractory cattle +into the town when a motor-bicycle whizzed down the hill. +</P> + +<P> +The cattle stampeded. With a jerk that almost threw Ferret and Vernon +from the seat, the car brought up. At the same time the motor-bicycle +slowed down, and dexterously avoiding a huge bullock, glided past the +stationary car. +</P> + +<P> +The moonbeams shone directly upon the rider's face as Ross thrust his +head out of the window. The motor-cyclist was Ramblethorne the spy. +</P> + +<P> +The recognition was mutual. The spy, cool and collected, gave no sign +of recognition. The next moment he was travelling "all out" along the +Much Wenlock road. +</P> + +<P> +"That's Ramblethorne!" exclaimed Ross excitedly. +</P> + +<P> +"Botheration take him!" ejaculated Ferret. "Are we to get no rest +to-night?" +</P> + +<P> +He opened the window in front of him. Hawke was sitting with the +chauffeur. Quickly the detectives arrived at their decision. +</P> + +<P> +"After that chap!" exclaimed Hawke, addressing the chauffeur; "that +motor-cyclist who has just passed. Ten pounds if you overhaul and stop +him." +</P> + +<P> +It was the bright moonlight that had tempted Ramblethorne to go for a +midnight ride. He was a keen out-of-door man. He could handle almost +any make of car or motor-cycle with the utmost skill. Finding himself +at Shrewsbury, he hired a motor-cycle from an agent, intending to have +a run along the road following the banks of the Severn as far as +Ironbridge. It was his practice, whenever in a strange place, speedily +to become conversant with the locality. It was, in fact, part of his +training as a spy. +</P> + +<P> +Ramblethorne was somewhat taken aback when he saw Ross's face in the +moonlight, although he betrayed no sign of surprise. In an instant he +realized that, by some means, young Trefusis had escaped from U75; +more, he was with a party of men evidently hard on his track. +</P> + +<P> +Quickly he made up his mind. His career as a medical officer to the +British Service was ended. He could no longer hope to serve the German +Government in that direction. Before morning a hue and cry would be +raised. +</P> + +<P> +As he swung along the broad, level road he thought out his plans. He +would ride as hard as he could until his supply of petrol gave out—a +matter of about seventy or eighty miles. Then he would abandon and +hide the motor-cycle, and make his way on foot to the Essex coast. +There, he had means to get on board a nominally British fishing-boat, +which would run him over to a Dutch port. +</P> + +<P> +Although the motor-cycle was travelling at close on forty miles an +hour, Ramblethorne glanced back over his shoulder. He hardly expected +to be pursued. If the car had turned to attempt to overhaul him, it +would almost to a certainty take the wider of the two fork roads—that +leading to Wellington. +</P> + +<P> +Disagreeably surprised, the spy saw the two powerful head-lights of the +car less than a mile behind him. +</P> + +<P> +The chauffeur of the pursuing vehicle had set his heart on winning the +promised guerdon. "All out" the car bounded along the road, leaving in +its trail a dense cloud of dust that slowly dispersed in the moon-lit +air. +</P> + +<P> +Hanging on desperately to the sides of the swaying car, Ferret and the +two lads knelt upon the front seat of the coupe and peered through the +dust-flecked glass at the solitary motor-cyclist in front. They were +gaining—rapidly at first, but now the gap between lessened almost +imperceptibly. +</P> + +<P> +At that tremendous rate, the bursting of a tyre would result in +complete disaster, yet not one thought did the pursuers give to the +danger they were running. Their sole attention was centred upon the +spy. +</P> + +<P> +A sharp bend close to the village of Cressage enabled the car to get +within fifty yards of the motor-cyclist. Hawke drew a revolver from +his pocket. The chauffeur noticed the action out of the corner of his +eye. Purposely he toyed with the sensitive steering-wheel, causing the +car to swerve erratically. +</P> + +<P> +"Put it up, sir!" he exclaimed, shouting in order to make himself heard +above the roar of the wind over the screen. "If you bring him down +we'll smash up on top of him before we can pull up. We'll have him on +Harley Bank right enough." +</P> + +<P> +A sharp run down through the village of Harley brought the car within +sight of a very steep hill, up which the road wound like a silver +thread against the black slope. This was Harley Bank, one of the +steepest of many stiff Shropshire hills, its gradient averaging one in +seven. +</P> + +<P> +Up mounted the motor-cycle. Ramblethorne was attempting to take it on +high gear. +</P> + +<P> +The chauffeur of the car took no risks. He promptly dropped into +second gear, with the result that the gap between them increased to +nearly a hundred yards. Then the motor-cycle began to falter. Perhaps +Ramblethorne was not thoroughly acquainted with the mechanism of the +two-speed. By the time he got the friction-clutch into action the car +had more than regained the lost distance—and the fugitive had not yet +reached the stiffest part of the hill. +</P> + +<P> +"Head him off—jam him up against that bank!" ordered Hawke. +</P> + +<P> +"What for, sir?" asked the chauffeur. He had no objection to taking +part in a midnight chase, but his sense of prudence told him that it +was not advisable to deliberately smash up another vehicle. +</P> + +<P> +"He's a spy," replied Hawke. "Don't hesitate. I will take all risks." +</P> + +<P> +Fifteen seconds later the near front wheel of the car was abreast of +Ramblethorne's back wheel. Hawke leant sideways with the intention of +gripping the motor-cyclist by the collar, since the relative speeds +were practically the same. At the same moment the car edged a little +closer to the left-hand side of the road. +</P> + +<P> +Ramblethorne realized the danger. A collision would with almost +certainty result in his receiving a broken neck; capture meant +ignominious death at the hands of a firing-party. There was yet a +third alternative—a dash for safety. +</P> + +<P> +He threw out the clutch and applied both brakes, at the same time +bringing the motor-cycle on to the grassy bank. He alighted on all +fours, but almost immediately regained his feet. The car was already +twenty yards on ahead and still in gear. +</P> + +<P> +He grasped his cycle by the handle-bars and raised it from its +recumbent position. One look showed that the glancing impact had bent +the front forks. The machine was no longer rideable. Without +hesitation he sprang up the bank. As he did so he heard the footfalls +of his pursuers. +</P> + +<P> +"Be steady!" cautioned Ferret, as Ross and Vernon alighted from the +car. "He may be armed. We're the people to take the brunt of it—not +you." +</P> + +<P> +They were now within a few feet of the summit of the road, which at +this spot ran through the hill by means of a cutting. Close by were +three excavations. Someone had evidently attempted to commence +quarrying there, but had abandoned the undertaking. As far as the +detective could conclude, these pits formed the only possible +hiding-place in the vicinity. +</P> + +<P> +"Hist!" exclaimed Hawke, holding up one hand to enjoin silence. +</P> + +<P> +All was still. No sound of stealthily retreating footsteps reached +their ears. Hawke knelt down and placed one ear to the ground. +</P> + +<P> +"Someone breathing pretty hard," he whispered. "He can't be very far +away; in one of these holes most likely. Perhaps he's hurt himself." +</P> + +<P> +An investigation of the first possible hiding-place produced no result. +At the second Ross heard a long-drawn sigh, emanating from a patch of +bushes and tall grass. +</P> + +<P> +"Here you are!" he exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +The place was in shadow, yet he could discern some dark object lying at +full length in the midst of the grass. +</P> + +<P> +In a trice the two detectives threw themselves upon their prey. For an +instant the man struggled wildly. Ross and his chum joined in the +fray, each hanging on desperately to his plunging legs. Ignominiously +he was dragged from his place of concealment into the bright moonlight. +</P> + +<P> +Ferret was the first to give a gasp of astonishment. Their victim was +not Ramblethorne the spy, but a powerfully built tramp, who, finding +himself released, began to expostulate with alarming vehemence. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop that!" exclaimed Hawke authoritatively. "We are police officers. +If you don't behave we'll take you in charge for sleeping out without +visible means." +</P> + +<P> +The fellow, cowed into silence, slunk away. +</P> + +<P> +"Confound it!" ejaculated Ferret. "We've let Ramblethorne slip away +under our very noses. He'll be clear by this time." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid so," agreed Hawke ruefully; then turning to the chauffeur +he told him to drive into the nearest village, which happened to be +Much Wenlock. +</P> + +<P> +Here Ross and Vernon were able to secure a room at an inn, while the +Scotland Yard men were busy at the little police station, getting a +description of the spy issued through the countryside. +</P> + +<P> +Next morning the lads set out on their return journey to Killigwent +Hall. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Admiral Works the Oracle +</H3> + +<P> +"Look here, old man; what do you say about having a shot for the Naval +Reserve?" asked Ross. "In ordinary circs I would be prepared to go +through Sandhurst, but this isn't ordinary circs. Before we pass out, +the war will be over perhaps." +</P> + +<P> +"I'd rather like to see something of the fun," agreed Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +"As if we hadn't already," added his chum. "But I know what you mean. +Instead of being cooped up in an unterseeboot and hunted by our +fellows, we want to have a hand in rounding up the German submarines. +I vote we write to our respective governors about it." +</P> + +<P> +This conversation occurred two days after the lads' return to +Killigwent Hall. They had been given up as lost, and their unexpected +return had caused unbounded rejoicings. Pressmen thronged the Hall to +gather "exclusive" information of the manner of their seemingly +miraculous rescue, but both Ross and Vernon were determined not to +satisfy outside curiosity. They even kept the story of how the white +flag fluttered down from the signalling mast of U75 from their +immediate friends. +</P> + +<P> +"It will take a long time for us to get a reply," objected Vernon. "By +the time the letters hang about at the G.P.O., before they are sent to +the fleet, a week will elapse, and before we get a reply bang goes a +whole fortnight. Let's get hold of a Navy List and see what the +qualifications are." +</P> + +<P> +A careful perusal of the regulations resulted in a setback. Midshipmen +in the R.N.R., they found, had to be between 16 and 18 years of age, +and must either have passed through a course of instruction for two +years on board an "approved" training ship, or else one year on board a +first-class British merchant ship. +</P> + +<P> +"That's put the hat on it," declared Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"One minute," interposed Vernon. "Why not write to Admiral Garboard? +He's an old shipmate of my governor's, and I know he's a bit of a pot +up at Whitehall, although he's on the Retired List." +</P> + +<P> +"He was with my pater in the old <I>Rhodaphlare</I> on the China station," +added Ross. "We'll try; the wheeze might work." +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly Vernon wrote to the Admiral, who lived about twenty miles +from Killigwent Hall. Promptly came Sir Peter Garboard's reply: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"TRELANGKERRICK,"<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">CORNWALL.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"DEAR VERNON, +</P> + +<P> +"In reply to your letter I am sorry that I cannot help you in the +matter to which you refer, unless you and your friend can produce +sufficient evidences of qualifications for the desired posts. +</P> + +<P> +"On principle I object to influence in any shape or form. Entry into +any branch of the Service should, like promotion, depend solely upon +the aptitude and ability of a candidate. This has been my standpoint +throughout the whole of my career, and I see no reason why I should now +depart from it. +</P> + +<P> +"If, however, you think you have strong reasons for pressing your +claims, and you care to see me, we will go more fully into the matter. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"Believe me,<BR> +"Yours faithfully,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">"PETER GARBOARD."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Not so dusty," commented Ross. "He does leave us a loophole, although +I'm afraid we'll have to blow our own trumpets. I vote we cycle over +at once. We'll catch him in just before lunch." +</P> + +<P> +"Better wait until after he's had his grub," said Vernon. "That's +always the time to get a man in a good humour." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll risk that," declared young Trefusis. "Come on." +</P> + +<P> +It was a very hilly twenty miles run across the moors to +Trelangkerrick. Starting at ten in the morning it took the lads two +hours and a quarter, in the face of a strong south-westerly breeze, to +cover the distance. +</P> + +<P> +Half-way up the drive, they saw the Admiral and a companion emerging +from a path leading from the kennels. +</P> + +<P> +"Hulloa!" exclaimed Sir Peter cordially, as he recognized Vernon Haye. +"So you haven't marked time in coming to see me. This is young +Trefusis, I presume? Glad to meet you. Knew your father very well +back in the 'eighties. Hope to renew the acquaintance soon, you know. +If it hadn't been for the war——" +</P> + +<P> +Admiral Garboard had taken Trelangkerrick only since the declaration of +hostilities; consequently he had had no opportunity of meeting Admiral +Trefusis, who, since July of the previous year, had been continuously +"somewhere in the North Sea". +</P> + +<P> +"Cecil, my boy," he continued, addressing his companion, a tall, +sunburnt man, in shooting garb although his clean-shaven features and +slightly rolling gait proclaimed him to be a sailor. "Let me introduce +the sons of two of my old shipmates to you. Ross Trefusis and Vernon +Haye—my nephew, Cecil Bourne. You'll stay to lunch, of course. +Cecil's on three days' leave. He's not satisfied with hunting German +submarines, but must needs go after my rabbits." +</P> + +<P> +They walked towards the house, Ross and Bourne leading, and the Admiral +and Vernon bringing up the rear. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll discuss this little matter after lunch, my boy," remarked the +Admiral. +</P> + +<P> +The meal proceeded without a hitch, the Admiral in his breezy way +relating anecdote after anecdote of the Service in the good old days. +</P> + +<P> +"By the by," he remarked, "what's this yarn I hear about your +neighbour, Dr. Ramblethorne? There's a report that a warrant has been +issued for his arrest." +</P> + +<P> +"For espionage, I believe," replied Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my soul! Is that a fact? One doesn't know whom to trust in +these days. No details, I suppose. A decent fellow, too, from what I +saw of him. No, I don't think you've met him, Cecil, at least not +here. By the by, you might tell the boys about your little adventure +up-Channel in the <I>Tremendous</I>." +</P> + +<P> +Ross and Vernon turned very red in the face, but as they sat with their +backs to the window the change of colour passed unnoticed. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that submarine business!" remarked Lieutenant Bourne modestly. +"Just an ordinary occurrence, don't you know, except for one thing. I +was officer of the watch at the time. We spotted a strafed +unterseeboot flying a white flag. Have to be jolly careful, you see. +Either give the thing a wide berth, and wireless the destroyers to take +possession of the prize, or else cut the brute in two. Anyhow, +something funny did happen. There were two fellows in mufti standing +close to the skipper on the submarine's deck. Goodness only knows why +they did it, but I saw one of them——" +</P> + +<P> +"Cut the halliards and let the white flag down," interposed Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +There was dead silence in the room. Only intense excitement was +responsible for young Haye's lapse of manners. The words had slipped +from him almost unconsciously. Ross barked his shin as a gentle +reminder. +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove! How did you know that?" demanded Bourne. "Shouldn't have +thought that the yarn had had time to travel very far. Hope I haven't +been boring you?" +</P> + +<P> +Vernon took his courage in his hands. +</P> + +<P> +"It was Ross who cut the halliards," he announced. "We were both on +board, and jumped overboard just in time, and got hold of a lifebuoy +dropped from the <I>Tremendous</I> as she passed." +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove!" ejaculated the Lieutenant. "I am surprised. I wondered +whether you were picked up. It was a jolly plucky action. But how did +you get on board the unterseeboot?" +</P> + +<P> +"Aye, out with it!" added the Admiral. "I heard that you were missing, +of course, and also of your return. Truth to tell, I thought when I +got your letter that the pair of you had been acting the goat, and had +run away to sea and had thought better of it." +</P> + +<P> +"We didn't run, sir, we were carried," explained Ross. "And Dr. +Ramblethorne was responsible for it." +</P> + +<P> +Admiral Sir Peter Garboard was not satisfied until he had heard the +complete story of his young friends' adventures. When they had +finished he turned to his nephew. +</P> + +<P> +"Young Haye and his chum came to see me on a private matter," he +remarked, "but I don't think they will object to your hearing what we +have to say." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you quite sure you won't?" asked Bourne, addressing the lads. +</P> + +<P> +"Both Trefusis and Haye are supposed to be going in for Sandhurst," +continued Sir Peter. "Although, candidly speaking, I don't see why a +naval man should want to put his son in the Army." +</P> + +<P> +"In my case it is only following a family precedent," said Ross. "For +generations back the eldest son has alternately been in the Navy and +Army." +</P> + +<P> +"And in my case it is the force of circumstances," added Vernon. "When +I was of the age to be sent to Osborne I was a puny little chap. The +doctor wouldn't pass me." +</P> + +<P> +"You've altered a bit since then, I can see," remarked Bourne. "You +look as strong as a young horse now." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I've grown out of my early ailments, I think," said Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +"Pity the doctor hadn't passed you," said Sir Peter bluntly. "Ten or +eleven is too young an age for any medical man to express a final +opinion upon. I remember a fellow in the Service who was nearly blind +on one eye and almost as deaf as a post. He got through the +medical—influence, I expect. Anyway the Navy was none the worse for +it. You'll remember him by name, Cecil: he was my secretary on the +China Station. Funny thing about him was that he couldn't see to read +red figures unless he looked through a green glass. Do you know that +when I received your letter I imagined that your temporary +disappearance had something to do with your running away to sea?" +reiterated the Admiral. "The idea, I believe, comes to most boys +almost as a matter of course; something like measles, in fact." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, now we've had a taste of submarine work, we feel that it is high +time we had a hand at helping to collar the German unterseebooten," +explained Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"I think it could be arranged," remarked the Admiral. "You haven't had +actual experience, of course——" +</P> + +<P> +"Eh!" exclaimed Bourne. "By Jove, Uncle, I should say they had!" +</P> + +<P> +"From a strictly professional standpoint, I ought to have said, only +you didn't give me time," added Sir Peter. "I'll write off to the +Admiralty to-night and see if I can get you both into the R.N.R. You +are too young to receive commissions as Sub-lieutenants, but no doubt +you can be taken on as midshipmen. Stringent regulations go by the +board in war-time. Isn't that so, Cecil?" +</P> + +<P> +"They would probably be appointed to an armed liner for patrol duty," +observed Bourne. "There are, I believe, no midshipmen on the trawlers +and motor-boats in submarine-hunting." +</P> + +<P> +"We must take what we can get," said Vernon, "but we would rather——" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes," interrupted the Admiral. "I know. You leave that to me." +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly Ross and Vernon "left it to" the genial Sir Peter, with the +result that within a week they were specially appointed as temporary +midshipmen to the motor-patrol ship <I>Capella</I>. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +H.M.S. "Capella" +</H3> + +<P> +With the least possible delay the two chums joined the <I>Capella</I> at +Southampton. She was one of an entirely new class of vessel, built for +the express purpose of ridding the high seas of the presence of the +modern pirates. Looking at her as she lay in the Empress Dock, there +was little about her to attract the eye. A raised fo'c'sle and poop, +and a low superstructure abaft the funnel, two stumpy masts and +grey-coloured "wall" sides, gave her the appearance of a trawler. It +was only when one had an opportunity of seeing her in dry dock, where +her graceful under-body, with its fine "entry" and clean run aft, was +visible, that any idea of her speed could be arrived at. Further +details would be undesirable. Sufficient to add, to quote a Yankee +journalist who had been given an opportunity of paying a visit to the +Grand Fleet and inspecting the component units of the greatest armada +that the world has yet seen, the class to which she belonged were "some +boats". The exigencies of the hitherto unprecedented method of +carrying out the naval side of the Great War had demanded the creation +of large flotillas of small motor-driven hornets. In the initial +stages the want was temporarily supplied through the patriotism of +owners of private motor-boats. These craft, good in their way, were +handicapped by a lack of uniformity. Nevertheless they served as an +excellent training-school until the Admiralty with remarkable celerity +produced the novel type of craft to which the <I>Capella</I> belonged. +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Capella</I> carried a large crew in proportion to her size—four +officers and twenty-four men. Her skipper was Stanley Syllenger, who +held the rank of Lieutenant-Commander, R.N.R. He was a big, bluff man +of about thirty-five, a strict disciplinarian, and a stickler for duty. +He could be very outspoken when he wanted, which was fairly frequently, +but withal he was of a thoroughly good-natured disposition. +</P> + +<P> +There were two Sub-lieutenants, R.N.R. The senior was John Barry, a +very mild type of young officer. He usually spoke in a very soft +voice, except when occasion warranted, when he could bellow in a way +that would take a stranger entirely by surprise. It seemed incredible +that such a bull voice could belong to such a dapper little man as John +Barry. +</P> + +<P> +The other Sub was Noel Fox—a tall, deep-chested fellow of twenty, +boisterous, and full of spirits. In five crowded years he had gained a +good knowledge of three oceans, and a nodding acquaintance with the +remaining two. Beginning his career on board a five-masted sailing +ship, he had served in tramps, "intermediates", and mail steamers until +the outbreak of the war, when he found himself appointed to an armed +liner that abruptly terminated her existence by trying conclusions with +a German mine. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Syllenger and Sub-lieutenant Barry were pacing the diminutive +quarter-deck of the <I>Capella</I> as she lay alongside the quay. The +skipper had heard officially that morning of the appointment of two +temporary midshipmen to the craft under his command. "Hanged if I can +understand it, Barry!" he exclaimed in his outspoken manner. "What's +the idea of turning the <I>Capella</I> into a nursery, I should like to +know! These youngsters are somebody's pigeons, I suppose. The usual +yarn. Influence up topsides does the trick, and we're saddled with two +raw lubbers." +</P> + +<P> +"There is no mention of their having had previous sea-service, sir?" +remarked Barry. "But perhaps they'll turn out fairly smart." +</P> + +<P> +"They will," added the Lieutenant-Commander grimly; "that is, if I have +anything to do with them for any length of time. But, by Jove! here +they are, unless I'm much mistaken." +</P> + +<P> +Looking rather self-conscious in their brand-new uniforms, Ross and +Vernon doubled down the steeply sloping gangway. As they came aboard, +Syllenger noted with professional satisfaction that they both saluted +the quarter-deck. The action showed, by one thing at least, they were +not the greenhorns he expected to receive. +</P> + +<P> +"You have had no previous experience, I believe?" he asked, after the +midshipmen had introduced themselves. +</P> + +<P> +"Very little, beyond knocking about in yachts and boats," replied Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"That's something," decided the skipper. "A fellow who starts his +career in a small boat has the makings of a good seaman. It is rare +indeed that a man who goes straight to sea in a steamship makes a smart +man in a boat. If ever you go on patrol duty you'll find your +experience of value. By the by, I suppose you know our particular job?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied Ross. "Hunting submarines." +</P> + +<P> +"Ever seen one?" asked Syllenger abruptly. +</P> + +<P> +"Several of the D and E classes manoeuvring in Plymouth Sound." +</P> + +<P> +"But a German one?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Where?" +</P> + +<P> +"We've both spent nearly a week on board an unterseeboot, sir." +</P> + +<P> +The skipper sternly regarded the two midshipmen. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here," he said. "If you think you've come on board to gammon me, +the sooner you get that idea out of your heads the better. There's no +room on the <I>Capella</I> for a pair of modern Ananiases." +</P> + +<P> +Ross said nothing. From the outside left breast-pocket of his +"undress" coat he produced a white foolscap envelope, bearing in blue +the "foul anchor" badge of the Admiralty. +</P> + +<P> +The Lieutenant-Commander took the proffered envelope somewhat +suspiciously. He more than half expected that it was a letter of +introduction from a high official at Whitehall, on the strength of +which the two midshipmen felt inclined to "put on side". +</P> + +<P> +Instead, he found that it contained an autograph letter from the +Admiralty, thanking the lads for their bravery and presence of mind, +whereby they materially assisted in the preservation of H.M.S. +<I>Tremendous</I> and in the destruction of two of the enemy submarines. +The document finished by congratulating Ross and Vernon on their escape +from U75, and trusted that their career as midshipmen of the R.N.R. +would be marked with success. +</P> + +<P> +Syllenger read it through carefully and slowly, deliberately returned +it to the envelope, and handed it back to Ross. Then he held out his +hand. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry for what I've said," he declared simply. "Forget it, if you +can. Come and lunch with me at one bell." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, sir," replied Ross in answer to the invitation; then, after +a pause, he added: "we didn't want to brag about it, but you made us." +</P> + +<P> +"So I understand," said the skipper. "I've misjudged the pair of you, +but the least said about my part of it the better, I fancy." +</P> + +<P> +He hailed a couple of men, instructing them to strike the midshipmen's +luggage down the companion-ladder. Ross and Vernon followed, to be +introduced to their new quarters. +</P> + +<P> +Owing to the <I>Capella's</I> shallow draught, the cabin space was rather +limited. The Captain's quarters were a double cabin, comprising a +state-room and sleeping-room, in a deck-house under the bridge. The +two Subs had each a small "dog-box", as they termed it, aft on the +starboard side. The engineer had a similar cabin on the port side. +Adjoining his quarters was another cabin, which had hitherto been used +as an overflow receptacle for officers' luggage. This had now been +cleared out, and hooks provided for the two midshipmen to sling their +hammocks. The slinging and unlashing of the hammocks was performed by +a servant, to whom Ross and Vernon had each to pay ten shillings a +month for the privilege. During the day the cabin made a fairly +comfortable room, although the furniture was Spartan-like in its +simplicity. +</P> + +<P> +At six bells (11 a.m.) the <I>Capella</I>, having replenished her fuel and +stores, and made good slight defects, was "tracked" out of the dock. +An hour later she left Southampton, bound for a rendezvous off Beachy +Head, near which a U-boat had been reported to have made an +unsuccessful attack upon a swift merchant vessel. +</P> + +<P> +The run down Southampton Water was necessarily performed at +quarter-speed, for in spite of her light displacement the <I>Capella's</I> +wash at full speed was almost equal to that of a liner. Even as it +was, a long line of white foam lashed itself upon the mudflats several +minutes after she had passed. +</P> + +<P> +When Calshot Castle was abreast, speed was increased to 30 knots. +There was an easterly breeze blowing against the ebb-tide, with the +result that quite a choppy sea was met with outside Southampton Water. +Like a knife, the sharp cutwater of the <I>Capella</I> cleft the waves, +sending up showers of white spray; but such was her speed that, before +the wind could carry the spindrift on deck, the swift vessel was beyond +the cascade of foam. She hardly felt the motion of the waves; indeed, +she was so steady that it was possible to place a pail of water on deck +without any of the contents being spilt by the "lift" of the ship. +</P> + +<P> +Under the guidance of Noel Fox, the midshipmen made the round of the +vessel, the Sub explaining everything to them in detail. Already the +lads had taken a great fancy to the Sub, and Fox reciprocated the +sentiment. He had a way about him that enabled him to give particulars +of the most intricate mechanism without having to resort to dry, +parrot-like instruction. +</P> + +<P> +By the time he had explained the ingenious devices used to entrap the +German unterseebooten, Ross and Vernon felt inclined to marvel how it +was they found themselves on board the <I>Capella</I>, since only sheer good +luck had saved U75 from being doomed during every hour of their brief +and involuntary detention. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we can mop up the German submarines quicker than they can turn +them out," said the Sub. "Of course I don't mean to say that a few of +them won't get a smack at some of our ships for some time to come; but +all the same we are giving them beans. From a strictly professional +point of view we would be sorry if Old Turps abandoned his 'effectual' +blockade. Our chances of having a high old game with the +unterseebooten would be considerably reduced." +</P> + +<P> +"There are still some in the English Channel," hazarded Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, a few; but have you noticed how those fellows fight shy of Dover? +They shun it like the plague. It's horribly unhealthy for them. D'ye +know why? Perhaps you wouldn't have paid much attention to it, but +some months ago the Admiralty issued a 'Notice to Mariners', stating +that the Straits of Dover were heavily mined, and that all shipping was +to pass through the Downs within three miles of the Kentish coast. +</P> + +<P> +"So it's fairly safe to assume that the few stray unterseebooten that +are still lurking in the Channel have made the passage round the north +coast of Scotland. It's only a matter of time before we bag the lot, I +fancy." +</P> + +<P> +"And our submarines?" enquired Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"Have fewer opportunities since the Hun battleships and cruisers have +such a decided inclination to remain in harbour," rejoined Fox. "When +there's a chance, you can bet your bottom dollar that our fellows seize +it. Quite recently one of our submarines found herself alone and +disabled in the Bight of Heligoland. Undismayed, her +lieutenant-commander signalled to a passing German trawler, covered her +with his guns, and made the Hun tow the crippled submarine into British +waters. Then he released his involuntary benefactor, but before so +doing can you guess what he did?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied both lads. +</P> + +<P> +"Made the Huns line up on deck and sing the 'Hymn of Hate'. You can +imagine the surprise of the trawler's men, who, judging by the +treatment meted out to our fishermen by the German submarines, expected +nothing less than imprisonment and the loss of their boat. But it's +close on one bell," remarked Fox at length. "You're messing with the +skipper to-day, I believe. He's quite a decent sort when you know him +properly, but it takes a bit of doing." +</P> + +<P> +A seaman strode up to the bell and gave it a sharp stroke. Just then a +messenger hurried from the diminutive "wireless" room abaft the +chart-house and, leaping down the ladder at a single bound, knocked at +the door of the Captain's cabin. +</P> + +<P> +"Stow those things away, Sparkes," exclaimed Captain Syllenger. "Lunch +will have to wait." +</P> + +<P> +He dashed out of his cabin. On the way to the bridge he passed Fox and +the two midshipmen. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll have to tighten your belts, my lads," he announced. "We've +just had a message through. A strafed unterseeboot has been spotted +trying to get into Spithead. If we don't nab her within half an hour, +I'll eat my hat!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Double Bag +</H3> + +<P> +It was a sea-plane, flying at fifteen hundred feet above the Warner and +The Nab Lightships, that had detected an elongated shadow creeping +stealthily over the shingly bottom close to the Dean Tail Buoy. The +shadow was that of a German unterseeboot, since none of the British +submarines were known to be in the eastern approaches to Spithead. +Evidently she had gone out of her course, for instead of being in the +main channel she was well to the north of it. More than likely the +strong east-going tide, which hereabout surges at such a rate that it +causes the shingle 30 or 40 feet beneath the surface to emit a deep +rumble, had taken the unterseeboot in its grip. +</P> + +<P> +Promptly the sea-plane wirelessed the news, and quickly a "general +call" was sent to the patrol vessels in the vicinity. The <I>Capella</I> +was one of the craft that picked up the welcome order. +</P> + +<P> +She was now only seven sea miles distant from the Dean Tail Buoy. +Within ten minutes of the receipt of the wireless she was on the +spot—one of the very first of a regular hornet flotilla bent upon +adding yet another of Von Tirpitz's pets to the "bag". +</P> + +<P> +For the next quarter of an hour it looked as if a novel kind of marine +waltz was in progress. Nearly a score of swift vessels were executing +fantastic movements at full speed, circling and interchanging positions +until it seemed as if collisions were impossible to avoid. +</P> + +<P> +Their object was to thoroughly bewilder the already doomed U-boat, for, +if possible, her capture in a practically intact condition was desired. +In very deep water, salvage of a sunken submarine was out of the +question; here, in a comparatively shallow depth, and close to an +important naval base, to which the prize could be taken with little +trouble, the opportunity for capture rather than instant destruction +was too good to be missed. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly a cloud of white smoke shot up from the sea. Its appearance +was greeted by hearty cheers from the patrol vessels. It was a signal +that the U-boat, in her attempt to find deep water, had floundered +blindly into the trap. Over and over again the hunters passed, towing +non-explosive grapnels, until it was certain that the prey was helpless +in their toils. +</P> + +<P> +Then, in obedience to an order from the senior officer, the swift +vessels withdrew for nearly three cables' length from the spot where +the boat lay. Two slow but powerfully engined trawlers approached at a +cable's length abreast, towing the bight of a massive steel hawser +between. Doing little more than drift with the tide they crept past +the submerged U-boat, one on either side of the mark-buoy that +indicated her position. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the strain on the hawser increased. It was only by making +full use of the twin-screws that the trawlers were able to prevent +themselves from swinging together. The steel rope stretched until it +resembled two metal bars which bore silent testimony to the strain. +</P> + +<P> +Just then the two vessels shot ahead. Although the hawser was still +intact, it no longer took any strain. But its work was done. The +bight, engaging the conning-tower of the unterseeboot, had turned the +submarine on its side. In the space of a few seconds the deadly fumes +from the capsized batteries had almost painlessly accounted for the +crew of the U-boat, who themselves had neither pity nor consideration +for the hapless victims, men, women, and children, massacred against +all dictates of humanity and convention of civilized warfare. +</P> + +<P> +"A bit of work for the dockyard lighters to-morrow," commented +Sub-lieutenant Barry, as the <I>Capella</I> parted company to resume her run +up-Channel. "They'll raise the U-boat, and take her into dry dock, +before the sulphuric acid has had time to do much damage to her +mechanism." +</P> + +<P> +"I shouldn't be surprised if there were another U-boat knocking +around," remarked Vernon. "From our limited experience we know that +they work either in pairs or threes." +</P> + +<P> +"Then the worse for them," rejoined Barry. "It would be a great wheeze +to bag two of them in one day. Desperate diseases need desperate +remedies, you know." +</P> + +<P> +Therein the Sub voiced the unanimous opinion of the British Navy. At +the commencement of the war, the torpedoing of several battleships and +cruisers by German submarines aroused no enmity within the hearts of +the British tars. They realized that a warship is "fair sport" to the +submarines of the opposing side. To run the risk of being blown up was +one of the excitements to undergo in the course of duty. But when it +came to torpedoing helpless merchantmen, and jeering at the +death-struggles of the unfortunate crews, Jack Tar began to regard the +unterseebooten in the light of pirates and murderers. The wanton +destruction of the <I>Lusitania</I>, accompanied by the appalling death-roll +of non-combatants, women and children, literally sounded the +death-knell of the crews of von Tirpitz's jolly-Roger-flying +submarines. In their methods of "frightfulness" they had overreached +themselves. They had sown a wind: they were now reaping a whirlwind +with a vengeance. +</P> + +<P> +And now the great silent Navy was paying back von Tirpitz in almost, +but not quite, his own coin. While the much-advertised blockade of +Great Britain was petering out, British submarines were playing havoc +with German shipping in the Baltic—a sea which the Teutons regarded as +being almost their very own. Yet what a difference marked the methods +adopted by the humane commanders of our submarines when dealing with +German mercantile shipping. A punctilious regard for the safety of the +crews of overhauled merchantmen won admiration even from the seamen of +the destroyed vessels. Humiliation and reproach seemed to haunt the +white-bearded dotard, whose hands had sought in vain to wrest the +trident from Britannia's virile grasp. +</P> + +<P> +At about five in the afternoon the <I>Capella</I> arrived at her station off +Beachy Head, relieving her sister ship the <I>Markab</I>, that, with three +other motor-driven craft, had been engaged in a vigorous, but for the +most part uneventful, patrol. +</P> + +<P> +Day and night for a fortnight at a stretch, unless anything unforeseen +took place, the <I>Capella</I> was to cruise up and down, keeping a smart +look-out for any sign of an object resembling a hostile periscope. In +order to economize her fuel supply her speed was reduced to 10 knots. +It was then that her bad qualities showed themselves. With her shallow +draught and high freeboard she rolled like a barrel, since speed was +essential to impart steadiness. The motion was certainly +disconcerting, although it did not imply that the <I>Capella</I> was +unseaworthy. +</P> + +<P> +"'Fraid our chances of bagging another U-boat to-day are off," remarked +Barry to Ross. +</P> + +<P> +It was within half an hour of sunset. The chums had been temporarily +separated. It was Vernon's "watch below". The senior Sub and young +Trefusis were on the bridge. In spite of the still-prevailing east +wind it was a grand evening. Three miles away, broad on the starboard +beam, the chalk cliffs known as the Seven Sisters were beginning to be +tinted by the crimson hues of the western sky. To seaward, three large +vessels were in sight. One, a liner bound down-Channel, was pelting +along at such a pace with the wind that the smoke from her funnels was +rising almost perpendicularly. Forging ahead in the opposite direction +were two big tramps, the smoke from their funnels, beaten down by the +strong breeze, trailing across the surface of the water for a couple of +miles in their wake. +</P> + +<P> +"An object lesson," remarked Barry. "The arteries of the Empire. Hang +it all! The blockade reminds me of a pigmy treacherously stealing up +behind a giant and trying to cut his jugular vein. Instead, he merely +scratched a comparatively unimportant capillary, and feels mighty sorry +for himself when the giant turns and scruffs him by the neck." +</P> + +<P> +Leaning over the bridge-rails, the Sub startled his companion by +bellowing in a voice loud enough to be heard a mile away: +</P> + +<P> +"On look-outs! Stand by bow and stern lights!" +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Capella</I> was making preparations for the night. Unlike the armed +merchantmen that are compelled to scour the North Sea, summer and +winter alike, without showing the faintest glimmer of a lamp, the +<I>Capella</I> observed the rules and regulations for preventing collision +at sea. Her port, starboard, and bow lamps were lighted by +electricity, but, in order to guard against possible break-down of +current, oil lamps had also to be trimmed and lighted, ready, should +occasion serve, to take their places. +</P> + +<P> +It was part of Ross's duty to report to the officer of the watch that +these lamps were in order, and also, at regular intervals, that the +navigation lights were burning brightly. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the Sub prepared to take a cross-bearing. He was fairly +certain that the <I>Capella</I> had reached the westernmost limit of her +patrol-ground. From that point she was to proceed due south for 10 sea +miles, and then due east for 20 miles until she fell in with her +"opposite number". +</P> + +<P> +While Barry was thus engaged, Ross noticed a sail about 2 miles distant +on the starboard quarter. +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove!" he muttered as he brought his glass to bear upon the +stranger. "That's a funny rig." +</P> + +<P> +The craft was a "two-sticker". She was square-rigged on the foremast, +carrying fore-topsail and fore-course. No jibs were set; neither, as +far as he could see, was any sail set on the mainmast. The vessel's +sides were painted green with a broad red band. +</P> + +<P> +Even as he kept the craft under observation she starboarded her helm, +shaping a course that would converge upon that of the rearmost of the +two tramps. By so doing she exposed a considerable portion of her +broadside. +</P> + +<P> +Ross gave an exclamation of astonishment. Above the green sides +appeared what was undoubtedly the conning-tower and housed periscope of +a submarine. "Submarine on the starboard quarter, sir!" he reported. +</P> + +<P> +"What!" exclaimed Barry, levelling his telescope. "By Jove, yes! What +luck!" +</P> + +<P> +The unterseeboot had, of course, noticed the <I>Capella</I>, and had +mistaken her for a trawler. She realized that she ran a risk in case +the latter might be armed, but, trusting to her disguise, she hoped to +get within torpedo range of the tramp—a vessel of over 3000 tons—sink +her, and make her escape in the confusion that was bound to ensue. On +the other hand, her Kapitan had good reasons for thinking that the +supposed trawler was not one of the armed patrol, since they usually +worked in company. By rigging canvas bulwarks and setting sail upon +dummy masts, he was able to approach with little fear of detection. +</P> + +<P> +"Action!" +</P> + +<P> +Quickly the <I>Capella's</I> crew were at their stations. The quick-firers +were loaded, and their screens lowered so as not to impede their arc of +fire. Until these preparations were complete the vessel still held on +her course. +</P> + +<P> +Then Captain Syllenger, who had come on deck, telegraphed for full +speed ahead. Like a racehorse the <I>Capella</I> leapt forward. +</P> + +<P> +A double, converging line of white foam marked the track of a torpedo +from the doomed U-boat. By a slight alteration of helm the <I>Capella</I> +avoided it. The action was hardly necessary: it was merely a matter of +precaution, since the <I>Capella's</I> peculiarities of construction made +her practically immune from torpedo attack. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Syllenger had no intention of ramming his opponent. Ramming +with a lightly built vessel, such as the <I>Capella</I>, would only be +employed as a last resource. +</P> + +<P> +At an almost point-blank range of 400 yards both bow guns were fired +simultaneously. There was no need for another shot. One of the +projectiles, hitting the U-boat at the base of the conning-tower, tore +a jagged hole a couple of feet in diameter. The other shell hit her +about 10 feet from the bows, and, with an erratic peculiarity that such +missiles have after the first impact, was deflected downward, expending +the full force of its explosive charge in the submarine's bow +torpedo-room. +</P> + +<P> +In a moment the luckless U-boat was done for. A huge column of smoke +marked the spot where she had disappeared like a stone, while flying +pieces of metal hurtled far and wide through the air. Several of the +fragments clattered upon the <I>Capella's</I> deck as she swung round to +avoid any possibility of fouling debris. Of the crew not a man was to +be seen. Those who had not been killed by the shell-fire had been +wiped out by the explosion of their own torpedoes. +</P> + +<P> +"We've pulled off a double event to-day, after all," remarked +Sub-lieutenant Fox as he disappeared down the companion-ladder to +resume his interrupted "watch below". "Barry has got his wish." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Smoke-signals +</H3> + +<P> +For the next ten days nothing occurred beyond the ordinary routine. +Even Ross and Vernon, to whom everything was at first a novelty, began +to feel the irksomeness of the constant and vigilant patrol. No +hostile submarines made their appearance; there were not even any +reports, true or otherwise, that they had been sighted. It was the +same all along the English Channel—"nothin' doing". It seemed as if +the unterseebooten had finally given up these waters as a "bad egg". +</P> + +<P> +Yet it would be most injudicious for the naval authorities to relax +their watchfulness. Areas of strategic importance must still be +closely guarded, since it was just possible that the wily Teuton would +refrain from submarine warfare in the Channel until the patrol-boats' +crews were lulled into a sense of false optimism. +</P> + +<P> +The only break in the monotony was the occasional and welcome +appearance of a motor-boat from Shoreham, bringing off fresh supplies, +newspapers and letters for the patrol vessels. +</P> + +<P> +Amongst Ross's correspondence was a letter from his father. Admiral +Trefusis gave no indication of what he was doing, merely a brief +statement that he was still "somewhere in the North Sea". He +congratulated his son upon his escape, and mentioned that he had heard +from the captain of H.M.S. <I>Tremendous</I> with reference to his son's +action in warning the battleship. But although the Admiral did not +express himself very enthusiastically on paper, he was as pleased as +only a proud father can be at his boy's display of gallantry and +resource. "Under the circumstances," he wrote, "I think you did right +in temporarily abandoning your preparation for Sandhurst. No doubt you +will acquit yourself in your present position as a Trefusis should do. +I was certainly surprised to hear about that fellow Ramblethorne. He +always appeared to be a really decent man. It only shows how careful +one has to be when dealing with a highly organized enemy." +</P> + +<P> +Amongst Vernon's batch of correspondence was a letter from +Detective-inspector Hawke. It was couched in semi-official language, a +survival of days long ago when the Inspector was a budding constable +and had to submit countless written reports to his superiors. +</P> + +<P> +There was, he wrote, no definite news concerning Ramblethorne, +otherwise von Hauptwald. The local police had taken up the case, and, +assisted by the military, were still scouring the country. As usual, +there were inaccurate and misleading reports from various parts of the +country. It was generally accepted that the spy was being hidden by +some of his compatriots who, by indulgence of the British Government, +were still at large in the country, or else that he had succeeded in +getting away on board a neutral ship. +</P> + +<P> +The inquest on von Ruhle had taken place, with the anticipated result, +a verdict of <I>felo de se</I> being returned by the jury. No evidence had +been submitted as to the dead man's real occupation. Under the name of +Cornelius Vanderhuit his body was handed over to the authorities for +interment. +</P> + +<P> +But the case did not end there. It remained for the competent +Authorities to decide the steps to be taken with reference to the +papers that had been found in von Ruhle's possession. +</P> + +<P> +"I am keeping von Ruhle's 'malacca' as a memento," concluded Hawke. +"It may help me to discriminate between it and a portable metal tripod, +and save me from being placed under arrest by the military. +Fortunately, upon the last occasion, I did not meet with my Waterloo." +</P> + +<P> +"The old chap feels a bit sore about it, I can see," remarked Ross. +"He's written a good deal more than he evidently intended. However, he +looks like 'making good' this time." +</P> + +<P> +"It's a pity Ramblethorne slipped through the detectives' fingers," +said Vernon, as he prepared to go on deck. "That fellow's bound to +cause trouble until he's laid by the heels." +</P> + +<P> +It was Noel Fox's "trick". The Sub was standing on the bridge with his +eye glued to his telescope. A mile or so inland, on the summit of the +South Downs where they approach Beachy Head, three columns of smoke +were rising in the still air. There was nothing extraordinary in that. +It might be a farmer burning rubbish on his fields; but what attracted +the Sub's attention was the remarkable and systematic changes in the +density of the smoke. At one moment the two outside pillars were +heavy, the centre one being little more than a thin haze; at another +the conditions would be reversed. +</P> + +<P> +Fox decided to take action. Rapidly the <I>Capella</I> closed with the +shore, until she was within signalling distance of a coast-guard +station. +</P> + +<P> +The station in question was not manned by coast-guards. Not considered +important, its complement was depleted at the outbreak of hostilities, +most of the men joining the large armoured cruisers. A chief officer +and a boatman alone remained. These were at a later period augmented +by a party of Sea Scouts. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the <I>Capella</I> had "made her number", a signaller took up his +position on the roof of the chart-house. +</P> + +<P> +"Fires burning one mile inland to north-west of coast-guard station," +he semaphored. "Suspect smoke-signals. Investigate and report." +</P> + +<P> +Keeping his telescope bearing on shore, Vernon watched the result of +the signal. Promptly half a dozen Scouts, mounted on bicycles, set off +to the position indicated. Their progress was hidden by an intervening +clump of trees, but in less than a quarter of an hour they returned. +By this time the smoke had disappeared. One of their number worked the +semaphore attached to the station. +</P> + +<P> +"Fires made with damp straw. Found old blankets apparently used to +stifle smoke. Saw large car stationary; made towards Lewes on +approach; number known; have informed police." +</P> + +<P> +"Smart youngsters!" exclaimed Captain Syllenger. "They've helped to +nip some little plan in the bud. We'll have to be jolly careful for +the next few days, I expect. Did you make a note of the fog-signals, +Mr. Fox?" +</P> + +<P> +"I did, sir," replied the Sub, producing a leaf of a notebook covered +with an unintelligible number of lines. "Each of these strokes +represents a column of smoke according to its position." +</P> + +<P> +"I can make nothing of it," remarked Syllenger. "At any rate I'll send +your result to the Admiralty with the utmost dispatch. Take her in, +Mr. Fox, and bring up where you find the two-fathom mark." +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Capella</I> headed nearer towards the shore, a leads-man sounding +until the required depth was found. One of the boats was lowered, +manned, and rowed to the coast-guard station, Sub-lieutenant Barry +being in charge, with Ross as his immediate subordinate. +</P> + +<P> +"I want this to be forwarded to the Admiralty with the least possible +delay," he announced, addressing the chief officer. "How long do you +think it will take to get through?" +</P> + +<P> +"Too late for the eleven something train from Brighton, sir," was the +reply. "There's a gentleman in the village who has a big car. He's a +member of the Volunteer Training Corps. No doubt he'll take it as far +as Lewes. Why, sir, here's the gent himself! Mr. Hyde's his name." +</P> + +<P> +The newcomer was a sparely built man of below medium height. He looked +about thirty years of age. In reality he was nearly fifty. Having +vainly attempted to obtain a commission in the R.N.R. and the Army, he +had joined the V.T.C. in the hope that, perhaps, some day his services +might be utilized in a very practical form. Now his chance was at hand. +</P> + +<P> +He had strolled down to the beach on noticing a boat putting off from +the patrol vessel. +</P> + +<P> +"Lewes? Certainly," he replied in answer to Barry's question. "I +doubt whether you'll save much. Why not let me take the message right +to the Admiralty? I'd like to do it, 'pon my word I would." +</P> + +<P> +The Sub hesitated. Perhaps the stranger might be all right; but he +might be all wrong. One had to be very careful in these times. Yet +the offer was a tempting one. If possible, it was most desirable to be +able to decipher the transcription of these mysterious columns of smoke. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, Trefusis," he said, "you've had a fairly long time afloat; what +do you say to a run up to town? I'm sure this gentleman would make no +objection to giving you a seat in his car." +</P> + +<P> +"With the greatest pleasure," declared Mr. Hyde. +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks!" rejoined Barry. "Of course the honour of delivering the +letter will be yours, sir. Mr. Trefusis accompanies you merely as a +passenger. We'll stand by to pick you up, Trefusis. I'll make it all +right with the skipper." +</P> + +<P> +The Sub accompanied Mr. Hyde and the midshipman to the garage, which +was about four minutes' walk from the coast-guard station. While the +man was getting out the car (he was his own chauffeur), Barry seized +the opportunity of telling Ross to be on his guard, in case anything +suspicious occurred. +</P> + +<P> +With a terrific bound the powerful car started on its sixty-mile +journey. Between the sea and Lewes the needle of the speed-indicator +never fell below 40 miles an hour, until at times the car was running +at 60. Village after village was passed at almost break-neck speed. +In vain, sleepy rural constables sought to hold up the reckless driver. +Discretion was the better part of valour, so they stood aside and +attempted to note the number on the identification plate of the car. +Again in vain. All they could see and swallow was a cloud of white, +chalky dust that hung thickly on the sultry air long after the car was +out of sight and hearing. +</P> + +<P> +The hills around East Grinstead it surmounted at 40 miles an hour, +dashing down the inclines at the speed of an express train, and +swerving time after time to avoid lumbering farm wagons. +</P> + +<P> +At Croydon Mr. Hyde wisely slowed down. He had covered 49 miles in +exactly fifty-five minutes, but twenty-eight minutes later the car drew +up under the Admiralty Arch. +</P> + +<P> +"Room 445 is the one I want," he explained to Ross. "I know my way +about here, you know. I've several relations at the Admiralty. Come +along: the car won't hurt where she is." +</P> + +<P> +"Your pass, sir," demanded a Metropolitan policeman who, with a naval +pensioned petty officer, was stationed at the door. +</P> + +<P> +"Haven't one," replied Mr. Hyde. "Urgent business—see?" and he +produced the envelope, bearing the words "On His Majesty's Service", in +which was enclosed Captain Syllenger's communication. +</P> + +<P> +The policeman was the essence of imperturbable dignity. +</P> + +<P> +"No use, sir; you must have a pass. They are obtainable across the +road there." +</P> + +<P> +"It will mean at least twenty minutes' delay," muttered the motorist +savagely, as he turned away. "Come on, Mr. Trefusis, let's try our +luck across the way." +</P> + +<P> +As Ross descended the short flight of stone steps leading from the +lobby to the street, he nearly cannoned into a couple of naval officers +who were about to enter the building. Suddenly remembering that he was +in uniform, the midshipman brought his right hand smartly to the peak +of his cap. As he did so, he recognized that one of the naval men was +his father. +</P> + +<P> +The recognition was mutual. +</P> + +<P> +"Hullo, pater!" +</P> + +<P> +"Hullo, Ross! What brings you here? Duty, eh? It's the same in my +case. Sorry I can't have you to lunch, but must catch the first train +north. This is the first time I've come up to town since the war +started. In any case I'm not sorry that I am not stopping the night +here. Judging by reports, it's a jolly sight too dangerous for me. +Don't fancy being run over by a taxi in a dark main thoroughfare. Give +me the North Sea any day. Well, I must be moving. Can't keep My Lords +waiting, you know. Good-bye, Ross!" +</P> + +<P> +It was Admiral Paul Trefusis' way. Whenever he had any business on +hand that kept him from his ship, he invariably spoke in short, jerky +sentences. Ross knew his parent's little mannerism. +</P> + +<P> +"One moment, pater," he exclaimed. "We're in an awful hurry too——" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't look like it," growled the Admiral good-naturedly. "You were +ambling out like an old shellback. Always execute orders at the +double: that's my advice to budding midshipmen. Well, what is it?" +</P> + +<P> +As briefly as possible, Ross told his parent of the rebuff Mr. Hyde and +he had received, and of the matter that brought them at 50 miles an +hour from a remote Sussex coast-guard station. +</P> + +<P> +Making a hurried excuse to his companion, the Admiral skipped up the +steps into the lobby, Ross and his fellow-traveller following closely. +</P> + +<P> +The policeman naturally asked for no pass from a Flag officer in +uniform, but he was on the point of stopping his companions when the +messenger recognized the Admiral as his former captain. His apologies +surprised even the stolid policeman. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't apologize for doing your duty, my man," remarked Admiral +Trefusis. "Hope you're fit. Must have a yarn with you when I've more +time. Come along, Ross." +</P> + +<P> +Having seen Mr. Hyde and Ross safely to the outside of the door of Room +445, the Admiral abruptly took his departure. +</P> + +<P> +In reply to a knock the door was opened by a very tired-looking clerk, +who was bravely bearing up under the strain of having to work ninety +hours a week, including Sundays. Having explained his business, Mr. +Hyde was shown into the presence of an official whose talent was little +short of miraculous. +</P> + +<P> +A dozen precise and pointed questions put him in full possession of all +the facts bearing upon the document that he required. He touched an +electric bell. An assistant hurried to his desk. +</P> + +<P> +"Bring me the papers on the von Ruhle case," he ordered in an undertone. +</P> + +<P> +In less than half an hour the transcription was completed, although the +<I>Capella's</I> officer of the watch had not taken down the actual +commencement of the smoke-signal. Then, having "pressed" the paper in +order to obtain a duplicate copy, the official placed it in an +envelope, which he secured with an imposing wax seal. +</P> + +<P> +"No mistake about it, the war has bucked the civilian staff at the +Admiralty," observed Mr. Hyde to Ross as they gained the street. "I +can remember a time when all you had to do was to mention someone's +name, and you had practically a free entry. Your particular pal could +always contrive to have an hour's yarn with you, and perhaps an +interval for refreshment. They know what working at high pressure +means now." +</P> + +<P> +Hyde was more cautious on the return journey. He was well within the +limit that he had set himself. An hour and forty minutes later, the +car drew up outside the coast-guard station. +</P> + +<P> +"Captain Syllenger presents his compliments, Mr. Hyde, and requests +your company on board," said Sub-lieutenant Barry when the <I>Capella's</I> +boat arrived to take off the midshipman. "Ton my word, you haven't +been long. We didn't expect you back before six o'clock." +</P> + +<P> +Having received his guest, Captain Syllenger led the way to his cabin, +Barry and Ross being included in the party. The skipper's face glowed +with satisfaction when he had opened the envelope, for the signal as +decoded was as follows: +</P> + +<P> +"(words missing) closely patrolled. Unable to provide stores here. +Will attempt removal of (word missing) from Station 123 on Friday +night. Will signal from Station 125 at 1 a.m. on Saturday if possible. +Transports leaving by Needles Channel at daybreak." +</P> + +<P> +Following this was an explanatory note. +</P> + +<P> +"Station 123 is stated to be in Keyhaven Marshes. Station 125 one mile +west of white house at Milford-on-Sea." +</P> + +<P> +"Humph!" ejaculated Captain Syllenger. "It looks as if there's trouble +in store for some gentlemen of marked Teutonic sympathies. I only hope +we'll have a chance of being off Station 125." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +That Friday Night +</H3> + +<P> +Three hours later H.M.S. <I>Capella</I> received the following order by +wireless:— +</P> + +<P> +"Await relief by <I>Taurus</I>, then proceed to Rendezvous Y, Portsmouth +Command. <I>Capella</I> to be temporarily attached to Western Inner Patrol." +</P> + +<P> +The meaning of the message was plain to all on board. The <I>Capella</I> +was to proceed to Rendezvous Y, which according to Admiralty +instructions was off Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, where a flotilla of small +craft was patrolling day and night, as a precautionary measure in the +unlikely event of any hostile craft forcing the formidable defences of +the western entrance to the Solent. +</P> + +<P> +At eight on the following morning the <I>Taurus</I> arrived on the station, +and with the least possible delay the <I>Capella</I> made for the west'ard. +</P> + +<P> +Only one incident marked the run. A few miles from the Royal Sovereign +Lightship, the <I>Capella</I> sighted a number of submarines running on the +surface. They were on Particular Service, and although opportunities +for torpedoing a hostile surface craft were very remote, the submarines +were constantly rendering yeoman service by keeping the approaches to +the German North Sea ports under close observation. On rare occasions, +when a German light-cruiser or destroyer did venture beyond the +protection of the mine-fields and guns of the land-batteries, British +submarines were not backward in seizing their chance of letting loose +"tinfish" against their quarry. +</P> + +<P> +Having arrived off Yarmouth, Captain Syllenger reported himself to the +senior officer. He came back beaming. The <I>Capella</I> was to take part +in combined sea and land operations for the capture of the German +agents, who were supplying petrol to one of the submarines, and also +for the capture of the U-boat. +</P> + +<P> +The eventful Friday evening came at last. The <I>Capella</I>, in company +with four first-class torpedo-boats, was to be ready at a signal from +Hurst to make a dash through the North Channel. A fleet of armed +trawlers from the Poole base was to operate farther out to sea, in +order to cut off the U-boat's retreat should she be lucky enough to +escape the attentions of the <I>Capella</I> and her consorts. +</P> + +<P> +At ten o'clock the east-going tidal stream began to set through the +Needles Channel. Half an hour later it ran with a velocity exceeding +five knots. The <I>Capella</I>, moving at a rate equal to that of the tide, +kept about half a mile from the Isle of Wight shore, with the white, +occulting light of the Needles just visible to the north of Cliff End +Fort. +</P> + +<P> +It was a perfectly calm night, overcast, but with no wind. A dull +rumble, rising and falling in volume, could be heard from the direction +of the open sea. +</P> + +<P> +"Breakers on the Shingles—a large bank on the starboard hand of the +Needles Channel," explained Barry in answer to the midshipmen's enquiry. +</P> + +<P> +"Then it means that bad weather is approaching," said Ross, who had had +plenty of opportunities of observing the phenomenon of "ground swells" +on the North Cornish coast. "If it's like this, the U-boat won't be +able to make direct communication with the shore." +</P> + +<P> +The appearance of Captain Syllenger on the bridge put an end to +conversation. The officers, by the aid of telescopes and binoculars, +kept the Hampshire shore under close observation. +</P> + +<P> +To the naked eye nothing was visible but a dark bank of trees. Not a +light was to be seen, although there were several houses in the +vicinity. The position of Lymington, in time of peace discernible by +reason of a strong blaze of light, could only be determined by the +feeble glow of the high red light marking the course up the river. +</P> + +<P> +"It's nearly midnight," observed the skipper. "If our friends the +Germans are going to shift their supplies from here to Milford, they'll +have to be pretty sharp. Seems to me like a case of 'nuthin' doing'." +</P> + +<P> +Hardly were the words out of his mouth, when the silence was broken by +a peremptory hail. The sound travelled clearly across the water, +although the person shouting must have been a mile and a half away. +</P> + +<P> +Then came the jumbled noise of men's voices, quickly followed by two +rifle-shots. The voices then died away, and, as far as the listeners +on the <I>Capella</I> could hear, all was quiet. +</P> + +<P> +"That's soon over, whatever it was, sir," remarked Barry. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurst calling up, sir," announced a signalman, as a light blinked +rapidly from the fort guarding the Hampshire side of the narrow +channel. It was the order to proceed at full speed to the position +previously decided upon. +</P> + +<P> +Although the torpedo-boats were speedy craft, the <I>Capella</I> left them +behind "hands down". Fortunately there were no search-lights to baffle +her quartermaster, for those of both Hurst and the batteries on the +Isle of Wight shore had been previously switched off. Since the Needle +Channel was closed to all mercantile shipping, the <I>Capella</I> could, and +did, without risk, extinguish her navigation lights. Only the +phosphorescent spray from her sharp cutwater marked her position. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly she ported helm, just in time to avoid a collision with a long +dark shape that proved to be an unterseeboot in the act of diving. Her +commander had detected the pulsations of the <I>Capella</I> motors, but he +was too late. +</P> + +<P> +Round spun the patrol vessel. From her quarter, a long length of +something that resembled an exaggerated string of sausages was paid +out. At the rate that the <I>Capella</I> was circling, it was impossible +for the U-boat to escape from her toils. Dive to a safe depth she +could not, since the maximum depth was but 5 3/4 fathoms. +</P> + +<P> +The last of the "sausages", to which was attached stout flexible wire, +disappeared beneath the water. Then a jerk upon the wire announced the +gratifying fact that the fugitive submarine had fouled the string of +sausages, which was in reality a number of gun-cotton charges, primed +and connected to a powerful battery by means of an insulated wire. +</P> + +<P> +Sub-lieutenant Fox, who was standing by the firing-key, needed no +orders. His fingers pressed the ebonite disc. A hundred yards astern +of the <I>Capella</I> a column of water was flying high in the air, followed +by a tremendous roar. For one minute the vessel rocked violently in +the agitated waters, then, circling, she made for the spot under which +the explosion had occurred. With a splash a mark-buoy was dropped +overboard to indicate the position of the shattered U-boat. By this +time the torpedo-boats had arrived on the scene. +</P> + +<P> +"A deuce of a commotion on shore, Barry," exclaimed the skipper. +</P> + +<P> +"I should be surprised if there were not, sir," replied the Sub. "The +racket was enough to smash every window within a couple of miles of the +beach. They're signalling, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"German submarine's boat rowing off. Intercept her," was the signal +spelt out by the long and short flashes. +</P> + +<P> +"More work," remarked Barry. "It's like looking for a needle in a +bottle of hay. Shall I order the searchlight to be run, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +"Very good," replied Captain Syllenger. "But before you do so you +might signal to Hurst, and request that all available search-light be +brought to bear in this direction." +</P> + +<P> +Soon the hitherto pitch-dark sea was flooded in a blaze of light. +Giant beams from the Isle of Wight shore joined with those of Hurst +Castle to sweep slowly across the waves, supplementing the twin rays +projected from the two search-lights on the <I>Capella's</I> bridge. +</P> + +<P> +It was indeed a brilliant spectacle. The <I>Capella</I> and the +torpedo-boats seemed outlined in silver. Along the shore as far as +Hengistbury Head, the low line of cliffs was thrown into strong relief +against the dark background of sky. The crest of every wave seemed as +if made of delicate filigree work. Nothing afloat could hope to escape +detection within the radius of action of the concentrated millions of +candle-power search-lights. +</P> + +<P> +Less than a mile away, and about the same distance from shore, a small +black object bobbed buoyantly upon the waves. It was the ill-fated +U-boat's canvas dinghy, apparently empty. +</P> + +<P> +Down bore the <I>Capella</I>, her search-lights fixed upon the object of her +search. The boat was not deserted. Lying at full length on the bottom +boards were two men, who had adopted that position, in the vain hope of +escaping detection. +</P> + +<P> +As the patrol vessel approached, they sat up and raised dolorous cries +of "Mercy, Englishmen!" +</P> + +<P> +"Chuck it, Fritz!" shouted one of the British seamen. "You won't get +hurt. You ain't in a strafed submarine now, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"Silence!" ordered the skipper. "Stand by there. Get that boat +aboard. See they don't sling anything overboard." +</P> + +<P> +There was precious little that the German seamen could throw overboard, +for when the canvas boat was placed on the Capellus deck it was found +to contain only a pair of oars and two crutches. What the German +sailors hoped to do had they escaped detection was a matter for +conjecture, for without a compass, food, and water, and in a frail +cockle-shell with every indication of bad weather approaching, certain +death stared them in the face. +</P> + +<P> +Finding themselves well treated, the Germans grew quite communicative. +They freely admitted that they expected to obtain a considerable +quantity of petrol from their agents ashore. They did not know their +names, or if they did they professed complete ignorance on the point. +Their craft, numbered for some vague reason U7, was built at Altona, +and completed only a fortnight previously. In addition to her normal +crew of twenty-eight officers and men, she carried five officers and +ten men for instructional purposes. She was one of four that had come +round Cape Wrath and the West and South coasts of Ireland, rather than +risk the hazardous passage through the Straits of Dover, or the almost +equally dangerous North Channel between Scotland and Ireland. Two of +the five were missing; the other was supposed to be in the +neighbourhood of Cape Ushant. U7's particular mission was to intercept +transports that were known to be leaving Southampton for the French +coast. +</P> + +<P> +The men admitted that they had been tricked. A light had been flashed +seaward, and although the signal was not strictly in accordance with +the prearranged plan, it was sufficiently accurate to delude the U7's +Lieutenant-Commander. +</P> + +<P> +The German officer had shown considerable skill and audacity in closing +with the shore so close to the numerous and powerful batteries. He +dwelt upon the almost absolute certainty of the gunners devoting their +attention solely to the Needles Channel, and since it was a little past +the time of dead low water the intervening Shingles Bank, which in +places rears itself 20 feet above the sea, would afford an efficient +screen from the search-lights. +</P> + +<P> +But he had reckoned without the patrol vessels. Barely had the +U-boat's collapsible rowed a hundred yards from her parent when the +<I>Capella</I> raced up, and promptly put another hostile submarine to her +credit. +</P> + +<P> +Early next morning, the <I>Capella</I> having returned to her station off +Yarmouth to await orders, Vernon Haye went ashore in charge of the +whaler in order to pick up mails and secure fresh provisions. +</P> + +<P> +Arriving alongside the little stone quay, he left a boat-keeper in +charge and proceeded towards the post office, while the coxswain and +the rest of the men went in search of the much-desired commodities in +the shape of fresh butter and milk. +</P> + +<P> +Just as Vernon was about to enter the post office, he nearly collided +with a very sleepy-looking subaltern in the uniform of the Royal +Garrison Artillery. +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove, Barraclough!" he exclaimed. "I didn't expect to see you +here." +</P> + +<P> +Barraclough was an Upper Sixth man at the same school as Haye, but had +left four terms previously. On the outbreak of war he had applied for, +and had obtained, a commission, and had been stationed, somewhat to his +disappointment, at Hurst Castle. Beyond a few false alarms and a +liberal experience in target practice, his existence at that isolated +fortress bordered on the monotonous. He was simply on thorns to be +able to proceed to the Front; the probability was that he would have to +"do his bit" for his country at a spot within 20 miles of his home +until the termination of the war. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my soul, Haye!" he rejoined. "Whoever would have thought to see +you here, and in naval get-up. How long have you been in the Service, +and what ship are you on?" +</P> + +<P> +"Only a few weeks; and I'm on the <I>Capella</I> with Trefusis." +</P> + +<P> +"Trefusis, eh? Well, he's a lucky boy to have an Admiral for a father. +And the <I>Capella</I>? Then you were in last night's affair? I heard they +bagged the submarine." +</P> + +<P> +"Rather!" declared Vernon proudly. +</P> + +<P> +Barraclough stifled a prodigious yawn. +</P> + +<P> +"Jolly glad to hear it. 'Scuse me, but I'm beastly tired. Had a night +of it after those spies across yonder. Didn't turn in till three, and +at six I had to cross from Hurst to Vic.—that's Fort Victoria, you +know—on duty." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you collar them?" asked the midshipman eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +The subaltern yawned again. +</P> + +<P> +"No," he drawled. "Worse luck, we didn't; but we had some fun. You +know we were warned to watch Keyhaven marshes—and a dreary spot it is. +Worse than the most dismal flats on the Essex coast, which is saying a +lot. Well, before I tell you what happened, I ought to describe the +place. It's a marsh, with patches of dry ground thickly covered with +furze, that extends from Keyhaven to Lymington River—about four miles. +It is separated from the sea—or rather mud-flats, covered at high +tide—by a low bank on which is an apology for a footpath. +</P> + +<P> +"Our orders were to post a squad at a certain point where the spies +were supposed to have hidden a quantity of petrol. The place in +question was close to a rifle-butt. Men were detailed to guard all +roads leading to the marsh, and to allow all traffic, whether +motor-cars, carts, or pedestrians, to pass unchallenged. The sentries +were on no account to show themselves, except to hold up everything and +everyone coming <I>from</I> the marsh. +</P> + +<P> +"Other men were told off to watch the three available roads between +Keyhaven and Milford, where the submarine was expected to send ashore +for her stores, so you see the U-boat didn't stand much chance of +getting what she wanted. She copped something she didn't expect. +</P> + +<P> +"As soon as it was dark, my squad left Hurst by motor-boat and landed +near the toll-house at Keyhaven. It was almost dead low water, you +know, or we might have been able to save ourselves a long tramp—you +couldn't call it a march. +</P> + +<P> +"We followed the wretched footpath, slipping on the slimy mud, and +either tumbling over each other or else side-slipping into the morass, +which was a jolly sight worse. To make a long story short, we took up +our position, which was in the middle of a circular clump of furze +within 50 yards of the butts, at ten o'clock. +</P> + +<P> +"There we stuck for nearly two mortal hours, and not so much as a +chance of having a cigarette. Of course the men were frightfully keen, +and it took me all my time to stop them from chin-wagging. Some of +them began to get jumpy, swearing they saw all manner of men and things. +</P> + +<P> +"I had just looked at my watch—luminous face, thank goodness—when my +sergeant whispered to me that someone was approaching. It was then +close on twelve. He was right. There were three men ambling +cautiously along the sea-wall. They were talking softly. Once one of +them stopped, bent under the lee of a furze bush and lit a cigarette, +which seemed a rummy thing for a spy to do unless it was a prearranged +signal. +</P> + +<P> +"We let them come on until they got within 20 yards, then up popped my +sergeant. +</P> + +<P> +"'Halt, who goes there?' he shouted, loud enough to be heard a couple +of miles away. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless me if the three fellows hadn't the cheek to answer in exactly +the same words, although they didn't sound particularly cheerful over +the job; and, instead of halting, one of them came on, holding a stick +above his head. The others didn't seem very keen to follow him, but +began jabbering away as hard as they could. +</P> + +<P> +"So I gave orders for a couple of shots to be fired over their heads, +just to let them know what to expect when they deliberately ignore a +challenge. But instead of 'hands up' they bolted, with our men after +them. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I had good reason to bless that blessed marsh, for between us and +the rifle-butt was a deep ditch filled with water, and a nice wire +fence on the other side. Half a dozen of us, myself included, were +floundering up to our waists; the others were lucky enough to avoid the +ditch by making straight for the path. But we had the fellows all +right." +</P> + +<P> +"The spies?" asked Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +Barraclough yawned, and then laughed mirthlessly. +</P> + +<P> +"Nuthin' doing," he replied. "They were three members of a local +defence corps engaged in patrolling the marshes. Goodness only knows +what for, for they hadn't any weapon with them except walking-sticks. +Perhaps 'twas as well, though, for they might have let rip in their +excitement. When a man's nerves are all upset it's not safe for him to +have his finger on the trigger of a rifle, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"But the spies?" asked Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a sign of 'em," replied the subaltern. "If they were anywhere +about, they must have sheered off pretty quickly when they heard the +racket. An hour later an orderly brought us word to return to the +fort, so we guessed that something had taken place between a +patrol-ship and the submarine. But I must be on the move. Regards to +Trefusis. If you've a chance to get ashore on the other side, look me +up." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +To the Rescue +</H3> + +<P> +Twelve hours later found H.M.S. <I>Capella</I> back on her station off +Beachy Head. +</P> + +<P> +The long-threatened gale had burst with great violence upon the South +coast. Long crested breakers surged towards the chalky cliffs, +thundering with terrific force against the sheer face of the rocks. +</P> + +<P> +Seaward, as far as the eye could reach, was nothing but a confused +tumble of foam, backed by a lowering bank of ragged and sombre clouds. +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Capella</I> and her consorts had to "stick it". Without orders they +dare not seek shelter in Newhaven harbour. All they could do was to +forge slowly ahead, keeping bows on to the furious seas. In spite of +her shallow draught, the <I>Capella</I> was an excellent sea boat, although +inclined to be "jumpy". Frequently green waves broke over the fo'c'sle +and surged aft as far as the deck-house under the bridge; but with +unfailing regularity the stanch vessel would shake herself clear of the +tons of water that had invaded her deck, to be ready to receive the +next contribution from the hand of King Neptune. +</P> + +<P> +Nevertheless, while the gale lasted it was a time of discomfort. One +thing for which the crew were thankful was the fact that it was still +September, and the gale was not one of those wintry varieties which are +so trying to the hardy patrollers of the North Sea. +</P> + +<P> +Everything had to be battened down. 'Tween-decks the air was stifling, +and reeked of fumes from the motors. It was impossible for a man to +stand unsupported. Anything that had not been securely lashed would be +sure to be flung across the deck by the erratic motion. No hot meals +were obtainable. Officers and crew had to eat as best they might, +without the use of articles of civilization such as plates and similar +things. +</P> + +<P> +Ross and Vernon saw very little of each other during the gale, except +for a brief interval during the changes of the watch on deck. Each +enjoyed his "trick" on deck, as he crouched behind the bulging +storm-dodgers and faced the howling wind and the stinging spray. It +was greatly to be preferred to being below, cooped up in an atmosphere +which resembled that of an underground scullery on washing-day, with +the odours of petrol and lubricating oil thrown in as extras. +</P> + +<P> +"One thing we've to be thankful for," remarked Barry, "and that is that +it's a sou'wester. It minimizes the chance of being blown up by a +derelict mine." +</P> + +<P> +"How is that?" asked Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"A sou'easter's the brute for that. Brings with it dozens of German +mines that have broken adrift from the Belgian coast. When I was +stationed at Great Yarmouth we had the same game in easterly gales. It +was nothing unusual to find twenty of the brutes lying ashore; and on +several occasions they have exploded on coming into contact with the +rocks, and then, especially at night, everyone thought that the Germans +had at last ventured to risk 'The Day'. +</P> + +<P> +"I remember one that came ashore a few miles from Lowestoft. It was a +whopper, of a different type from the rest. An Engineer officer +brought a dozen young subalterns down to see it and give them an +object-lesson. He talked for the best part of an hour, explaining its +construction, and laying particular stress upon the need of the +greatest caution when handling it. Finally he proceeded to explode it +electrically. The circuit of the battery was tested and found to be in +perfect order, and the wires were then connected with the detonator of +the mine, after the tube containing the fulminate of mercury had been +removed. +</P> + +<P> +"The whole crowd took cover. The circuit was completed, but the mine +didn't budge. They tried three times, and finally came to the +conclusion that the thing was a dud. +</P> + +<P> +"Then a squad of soldiers took pot-shots at it until it was fairly +riddled with bullet holes, but still the blessed thing wouldn't +explode. Eventually it was decided to remove the mine to a laboratory +for examination, and a team of mules was requisitioned to drag it off +the beach. +</P> + +<P> +"One of the mules suddenly took it into his head to be a little bit +premature, for he lashed out, broke away from the traces, and pelted +down the beach. When the brute came to the place where the mine lay, +he found that the tackle which the men had already rove to shift it was +in his way. Possibly the sight of a rope upset him, for he backed and +lashed out with his hind legs—and up went the mine with a terrific +bang. They never found any of the pieces of the mule." +</P> + +<P> +At length, as is invariably the case, the gale blew itself out, and, +although the sea still ran high, the absence of broken water made it +possible for the hatchways to be kept open. +</P> + +<P> +The behaviour of the <I>Capella</I> and her consorts was a matter for +congratulation. They had stood the test remarkably well, and had +proved themselves good all-weather craft, provided that they could be +kept head to wind. +</P> + +<P> +A week later the <I>Capella</I> returned to Southampton to replenish her +stores, and after three days in port she received orders to proceed to +the French coast and patrol off Cape Levi, where the presence of a +hostile submarine had been reported. +</P> + +<P> +This intelligence was serious. It meant that, once again, an +unterseeboot had made its way into the English Channel, and was lying +on the track of the British transports and hospital ships running +between Southampton and Rouen. +</P> + +<P> +It took the <I>Capella</I> two hours only to run from The Nab to within +sight of the French coast. Even then her motors were not running at +the maximum number of revolutions. Extreme speed was only resorted to +when actually engaged in submarine hunting. +</P> + +<P> +As the vessel closed with the grey cliffs of Normandy, Ross suddenly +shouted: "Submarine on the port bow!" +</P> + +<P> +Less than two cables' length away could be discerned the twin +periscopes and a portion of the conning-tower. The submarine was not +forging ahead; it was simply stationary, except for a slight movement +caused by the action of the waves. It certainly was not a British +craft. It might be French. The odds were that it was German, since +submarines belonging to the allied nations were not in the habit of +keeping awash, unless in the presence of an enemy. +</P> + +<P> +Quickly the guns, which were already cleared for action, were trained +upon the visible part of the submarine; but as she made no attempt to +move, Captain Syllenger refrained from giving the order to open fire. +</P> + +<P> +Thrice the <I>Capella</I> circled round the mysterious craft, at the same +time gradually closing, since she had nothing to fear from the +discharge of a torpedo. +</P> + +<P> +"I believe she's abandoned, sir," said Barry. +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Capella</I> stopped. Preparations were being made for the lowering +of a boat, when one of the seamen shouted: +</P> + +<P> +"It's a dud, sir; a blessed decoy-bird!" +</P> + +<P> +The man was right. Upon investigation, the submarine was found to be +nothing more than a couple of barrels covered with painted canvas. Two +thick poles passing vertically through them, and weighted at the +lowermost ends to give the necessary stability, served as periscopes. +</P> + +<P> +"There's a real submarine knocking about, I'll swear," said the +skipper. "Put a shot into those barrels, Morgan." +</P> + +<P> +One shell was sufficient. Little more than a hundred chips floating on +the surface was left of the decoy. +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Capella</I> was about to resume her course when a warning cry was +heard: +</P> + +<P> +"Torpedo coming, sir!" +</P> + +<P> +From a point bearing half a mile on the vessel's port quarter, the +track of the on-coming torpedo was clearly discernible. The <I>Capella</I>, +being without way, would undoubtedly have fallen a victim had it not +been for her light draught, for before she could forge ahead the +missile passed under her keel. Its track could be followed as far as +the eye could reach, which showed that it was a modern weapon propelled +with superheated air and having a range of about five miles. +</P> + +<P> +Straight for the source of the missile, tore the British craft, but her +effort to grapple with the unterseeboot was in vain. The submarine had +dived immediately. No sounds betrayed her presence in the vicinity. +Had the U-boat been moving, the churning of her propellers would have +been distinctly audible. +</P> + +<P> +"She's got away, worse luck," growled Sub-lieutenant Fox. "I wonder +how she did it? It's too deep for her to sound, and she can't be +moving under her own power." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll have her right enough," rejoined Barry, the optimist. "A light +haze and a calm sea is what we want. We'll run her down in less than a +week, you mark my words." +</P> + +<P> +Four days passed. The <I>Capella</I> kept her station almost without +incident. Ship after ship, deeply laden with troops and munitions, +entered the sand-banked estuary of the Seine, having been escorted thus +far by destroyers. Ship after ship, more lightly burdened, left the +river, homeward bound. Amongst them were hospital ships, clearly +distinguishable by their broad green bands and conspicuous red crosses +on both bows and quarters. A big action had taken place "somewhere in +France", and the passing of the Red Cross vessels was the aftermath of +a dearly-bought victory. +</P> + +<P> +Yet nothing occurred to threaten the constant stream of shipping. It +seemed reasonable to surmise that either the U-boat had met with an +accident or else that she had transferred her energies to another area. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Ross and Vernon had been working hard, improving their +seamanship. Under the instruction of the two sub-lieutenants they were +making rapid progress in navigation; they could fix their position by +the use of a sextant, were able to use the semaphore, and, generally, +competent to carry out the duties required as midshipmen of the watch. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Syllenger had long before overcome his prejudices against the +sons of Flag Officers—at least in their case—and even expressed his +willingness to grant them each a certificate of proficiency, should +they wish to transfer to one of the cruisers of the Royal Navy. +</P> + +<P> +At length the <I>Capella</I> received orders for recall to her station off +Beachy Head. She was to put into Havre to revictual that day, leaving +at 9 a.m. on the morrow. +</P> + +<P> +The lads were heartily glad when the <I>Capella</I> left the malodorous +<I>bassin à flotte</I>. The irksomeness of lying in the harbour at Le Havre +palled upon them, even after a few hours. They yearned for the open +sea almost from the time their ship made fast alongside the grimy quay. +</P> + +<P> +Forty minutes after leaving French waters, the <I>Capella</I> sighted a +large cargo-boat steaming northwards. She was high in ballast and +rolling like a barrel. On bringing glasses to bear upon her, the +<I>Capella's</I> officers found that she was the <I>Orontabella</I>, one of the +vessels chartered by the British Government and fitted as a +horse-transport ship. She was doing 16 knots to the <I>Capella's</I> 34, +and when first sighted was nearly five miles off. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly a low rumble was heard by the crew of the patrol-vessel. +Telescopes and binoculars that had just been laid aside were again +brought into action, and it was seen that the transport was sinking +rapidly by the stern. She had been torpedoed under the starboard +quarter. The terrific impact of the explosion had torn a large hole, +besides shattering the rudder and one of the propellers, while all her +boats in davits were rendered useless by the concussion. +</P> + +<P> +It was a matter of but a few moments before she made her final plunge. +Already signals were fluttering from her stumpy masts—the well-known +N.C. (in distress; want immediate assistance) and A.R. (boats are stove +in). +</P> + +<P> +Captain Syllenger gave a quick glance astern. There were other +vessels, but low down on the horizon. To expect succour from them was +for the present out of the question. He had a double task: to attempt +to destroy the aggressor, and to rescue the transport's crew. +</P> + +<P> +"Prepare to lower boats!" he shouted. "A midshipman and a couple of +hands in each. Guns' crews stand by!" +</P> + +<P> +Clang, chang, went the engine-room telegraph. Like a greyhound, the +<I>Capella</I> increased her speed, until she was within a quarter of a mile +of the foundering vessel. Then reversing engines, she almost lost way +at less than a cable's length from the transport. +</P> + +<P> +By this time Ross and Vernon were in their respective boats. Before +way was off the ship the falls were paid out and the disengaging gear +cast off. +</P> + +<P> +"Give way, men," ordered Ross. +</P> + +<P> +His scanty crew, for more men could not well be spared, "gave way" with +a will, gaining a couple of lengths before his chum was able to push +off. +</P> + +<P> +With hardly a pause the <I>Capella</I> dashed off, quickly increasing her +pace to full speed ahead, in her quest for the U-boat that had launched +the deadly torpedo. +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Orontabella's</I> stern was now under water. She had a pronounced +list to starboard. Dense volumes of smoke and steam, pouring from her +funnels and hatchways, showed that the water had already invaded her +boiler-room. Above the hiss of the scalding vapour and the rush of +escaping air, could be heard the terrified neighing of a dozen or more +wounded horses, for whom no escape was possible. +</P> + +<P> +Clustering on the fo'c'sle were about twenty or thirty men, the +officers and crew who had survived the explosion; for the death-roll, +especially in the engine-room and stokehold, was very high, men being +overwhelmed by the inrush of water before they could scramble up the +steep ladder and through the narrow hatchway. +</P> + +<P> +The waiting men showed no signs of panic. Those who could swim had not +troubled to don their cork life-belts, but were calmly engaged in +lashing their life-saving devices round the shoulders of their less +fortunate comrades. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-192"></A> +<H4> +[Illustration: THE SINKING OF THE "ORONTABELLA" (missing from book)] +</H4> + +<P> +Ross ordered his men to back towards the foundering vessel. He +realized that at any moment the transport might plunge suddenly, and +the danger of being dragged down by the suction was a thing he had to +avoid. There was also a risk of the boat being swamped by the men as +they clambered on board. +</P> + +<P> +"Jump!" he shouted. "Not too many at a time." +</P> + +<P> +Three men accepted the invitation: two good swimmers and a non-swimmer. +The former, grasping their struggling companion by the shoulders, +struck out without much difficulty and reached Ross's boat, where they +were quickly hauled into safety. +</P> + +<P> +Setting the rescued men to take an oar each, for there were several to +spare lying on the thwarts, Ross took the whaler closer in, since he +had now more means of propulsion at his command. +</P> + +<P> +Four more followed, and were picked up by Vernon's men. Meanwhile the +bows of the <I>Orontabella</I> were rising high out of the water, as the +stern sank correspondingly deeper, until those of the officers and crew +who still remained on board had to cling desperately to the rails to +prevent themselves slipping into the maelstrom that surged over the +submerged part of the sinking ship. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the vessel dived. Where a few seconds previously a towering +mass of black and red plating rose high above the boats, there hung a +cloud of smoke, steam, and spray, while all around the water was +thrashed white with foam. +</P> + +<P> +"Give way, men!" shouted Ross. +</P> + +<P> +The rowers were too late. Before the boat could pull clear of the +scene of disaster, a vicious, crested wave, so hollow that the lean +quarters of the whaler were unable to rise to it, poured into the frail +craft. +</P> + +<P> +The next instant Ross and his crew were struggling in the confusion of +the broiling sea. +</P> + +<P> +Vernon, although farther from the spot, narrowly escaped the fate of +his chum. It was surprising what a terrific commotion the +<I>Orontabella</I> caused at the last. For some minutes he could see +nothing beyond the tips of the blades of the oars. Everything else was +enveloped in smoke, steam, and spray. +</P> + +<P> +Gradually the waves subsided and the wind dispersed the pall of vapour. +The sea was dotted with the heads of swimmers. Ross's boat, with her +stem and stern-posts just visible above the surface, was waterlogged, +yet retained sufficient buoyancy to support half a dozen men. +</P> + +<P> +Here, indeed, was a pretty pickle. At the very most, Vernon's boat +would hold fifteen or sixteen men. The <I>Capella</I> was almost out of +sight. The whole attention of her officers and crew would be centred +upon the U-boat. So long as there was any indication of the latter's +whereabouts, the patrol-vessel would cling tenaciously to her quest. +</P> + +<P> +There was very little left floating from the sunken ship. A few +gratings, handspikes, a couple of breakers, and fragments of the +shattered boats, but nothing substantial enough to support a man above +water; and in mid-Channel, although it was only September, the sea was +too cold to enable the swimmers to keep afloat very long without almost +certain danger of cramp. +</P> + +<P> +Vernon looked around for his chum. He saw him sharing an oar with one +of the crew. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, my lads!" shouted Ross encouragingly. "We'll hike her up. +Half a dozen of you who have life-belts come round this side, and when +I say 'All together!' lift for all you're worth." +</P> + +<P> +The men obeyed as quickly as they could in the circumstances. Finding +that they could easily keep afloat, the non-swimmers had regained their +confidence. Piloted by those who could swim, the men ranged themselves +along one gunwale of the waterlogged whaler. +</P> + +<P> +"All ready?" asked Ross, whose knowledge of how to empty a waterlogged +Canadian canoe prompted him to try a large, heavy boat. "Together!" +</P> + +<P> +Up rose the boat's gunwale as high as the men's arms could reach, but +with a dull swish the whaler resumed its former position. In lifting +one side the other had dropped deeply beneath the surface, and the +attempt to shake out the water had ended in failure. +</P> + +<P> +"Now then," ordered Vernon, taking his turn to direct operations. "All +swimmers get overboard for a few minutes. Those with life-belts get on +board, and take off your belts." +</P> + +<P> +In five minutes a dozen cork life-belts were available. Manoeuvring +his boat alongside the waterlogged whaler, Vernon gave directions for +the belts to be lashed underneath the thwarts, so that they were +completely submerged. Then taking the whaler's painter he hove taut +until, added to the lifting powers of the cork and the upward strain on +the ropes, the gunwale rose a good three inches above the water. +</P> + +<P> +This done, one of the <I>Capella's</I> men, armed with a baler, began +throwing out the water from the whaler. In another five minutes the +boat showed sufficient buoyancy to allow two more hands to clamber on +board. They, too, baled vigorously, with the result that once more the +whaler was free from water. +</P> + +<P> +Between the two boats, all the survivors of the <I>Orontabella</I> were +easily accommodated; but when at length the midshipmen looked for the +<I>Capella</I>, the patrol-boat was nowhere to be seen. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Adrift in the Channel +</H3> + +<P> +"She'll be back for us soon," declared Vernon optimistically, +addressing his chum, for the two boats were within twenty feet of each +other. "Can you see any signs of her now?" +</P> + +<P> +Ross stood upright in the stern-sheets and, shading his eyes with his +hand, gave a careful look in the direction where the <I>Capella</I> was +supposed to be. +</P> + +<P> +"No," he answered. "And I cannot see any signs of the other vessels we +saw some time ago. We'd better let the men rest on their oars." +</P> + +<P> +Unknown to the two midshipmen, they had for the last hour and a half +been in the grip of the strong west-going tide that surges along the +French coast. In that interval they had been carried out of the course +of the vessels they had sighted, and were some four or six miles from +the spot where the <I>Orontabella</I> had sunk. +</P> + +<P> +Another hour passed. The men who had been in the water took the +opportunity of drying their clothing in the hot sunshine. They treated +their misfortune lightly, making very little reference to the loss of +their vessel. One would have thought that being torpedoed was almost +an everyday occurrence. +</P> + +<P> +As the minutes slipped by, it began to occur to Ross and his chum that +the <I>Capella</I> had missed them entirely. In another few hours night +would be coming on, and the prospect of spending ten hours of darkness +in a couple of open boats in mid-Channel was not at all alluring. +</P> + +<P> +Each boat was equipped with compass, lead-line, signal-book, lamp, box +of biscuits, and beaker of water. None of these articles belonging to +Ross's boat had suffered, in spite of their being immersed, except the +lamp, for the provisions were in watertight boxes. Masts and sails +were not in the boats, having been left on board the <I>Capella</I> when the +rescuers put off hurriedly on their errand of mercy. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the best thing to be done, skipper?" asked Ross, addressing the +master of the <I>Orontabella</I>. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, sir, since you ask me," was the reply, "I'd shape a course due +north. We'd be in the track of craft making up and down Channel before +it gets dark. If we don't fall in with any vessel, we can carry on. +'Taint so very far to land, considering the number of hands we've got +in the boats." +</P> + +<P> +Quickly the available oars were manned, the men being told off in +relays to row for half an hour at a time, while the skipper of the +torpedoed boat relieved Ross at the yoke-lines. The mate, who had been +picked up by the other boat, was also able to give Vernon a spell. +</P> + +<P> +At six o'clock, a biscuit and a small quantity of water were served out +to each man, and preparations were made for the approaching night. +Vernon's boat, which possessed the only lantern that would burn, was to +take the lead as soon as darkness set in, the light enabling the whaler +to keep in touch with her consort. +</P> + +<P> +"Jolly funny where the <I>Capella's</I> got to," remarked Ross to the +skipper. "With her speed she could search a couple of hundred square +miles by this time." +</P> + +<P> +"'Spose she wasn't torpedoed?" asked the <I>Orontabella's</I> master. +</P> + +<P> +"No jolly fear!" replied the midshipman decidedly. "She's +torpedo-proof. We've had plenty of them fired at us, but never the +least danger of being hit." +</P> + +<P> +"It's a good thing the sea's calm," continued the skipper. "We're +doing a good four knots. Twelve hours at the very most ought to bring +us in sight of the Wight, but we've dropped a long way to lee'ard. +P'raps it's as well, for it's no joke to be in the thick of the +cross-Channel traffic at night, with only a tuppenny dip to light us. +Good heavens! What's that?" +</P> + +<P> +Less than fifty yards from the boat a pole-like object, throwing off a +double feather of spray, was forging through the water. +</P> + +<P> +"A periscope, sir!" shouted half a dozen voices. +</P> + +<P> +Ross did not require to be told that. With considerable misgivings, he +saw the metal shaft rise higher and higher out of the water; then the +tip of an ensign-staff, followed almost simultaneously by the snout and +conning-tower of a large German submarine. Finally the unterseeboot +rose to the surface, revealing her entire length, which was not less +than three hundred feet. +</P> + +<P> +She slowed down. The aperture in her conning-tower opened and a couple +of officers appeared. From hatchways fore and aft, seamen clad in grey +fearnought coats came tumbling on deck, greeting the British with jibes +and laughter. +</P> + +<P> +"So you getting on, Englishmen!" exclaimed a leutnant. "Still it is +long vay to land, hein? An' where vos der <I>Capella</I>? Suppose I tell +you: we her haf sent to der bottom. Goot night, ver' goot night. Our +ver' kind regards to Jellicoe." +</P> + +<P> +The U-boat forged ahead, then, getting way, made off at high speed. In +a quarter of an hour she was out of sight. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose those fellows were telling the truth, old man," called out +Ross, addressing his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"'Fraid so," replied Vernon. "They had her name pat, so it looks as if +the poor old ship's done for. But, I say, what a whopper of a +submarine!" +</P> + +<P> +"One of the new type, I should fancy," said the skipper of the +<I>Orontabella</I>. "I shouldn't be surprised if she were a mine-layer as +well." +</P> + +<P> +Darkness fell upon the scene. The men rowed doggedly, Vernon setting +the course by the simple expedient of keeping the Pole Star in line +with the boat's stem. It saved the strain of peering into the compass +bowl, and in any case the boats were bound to hit the English coast, +unless they were swamped or run down. +</P> + +<P> +Throughout the long night the steady progress was maintained. It was +horribly cold. Most of the men were lightly clad in imperfectly dried +garments. Both Ross and Vernon were glad when the officers of the +<I>Orontabella</I> relieved them, since they could take turn at the oars and +derive a certain amount of warmth from the exertion. +</P> + +<P> +Day dawned at last, a brilliant pink sky that betokened bad weather +before the day was out. Away on the starboard bow could be discerned a +grey cliff surmounted by dark hills. It was the Isle of Wight, distant +about six miles off. +</P> + +<P> +With the appearance of the sun the wind freshened, and soon developed +into a strong breeze dead in their teeth. Spray began to fly over the +bows, soon to be followed by green seas, that necessitated constant +baling. It was quite evident that every yard of that six miles meant +desperate work, with the chances of being swamped before the boat +reached land. +</P> + +<P> +The men, weakened by hunger and exposure, stuck gamely to their task, +yet after another half an hour's hard pulling the boats seemed no +nearer their object. They were barely holding their own against the +wind and waves. +</P> + +<P> +"What's to be done now?" asked Ross, consulting the experienced +skipper. Although the midshipman was in charge, he was not above +asking the advice of a man who had been to sea almost as many years as +the lad had been days. "We're hardly making headway, and the sea's +beating up fast." +</P> + +<P> +"And the men are almost done up," added the skipper. "It's bound to be +worse before it gets better. I would suggest that we ride to a +sea-anchor, and trust to luck to be picked up." +</P> + +<P> +The men quickly got to work. A triangle was composed of six oars in +pairs lashed together, two of the boat's gratings being secured between +the ash spars. To the apex the anchor was made fast, in order to make +the sea-anchor float in a vertical position, its weight compensated by +the use of the now empty water-beaker as a float. +</P> + +<P> +Secured by three spans of equal length, which in turn were bent to the +boat's painter, the sea-anchor was dropped overboard. For some +distance the whaler drifted to leeward, until held by the strain of the +painter she rode head to wind, and in comparative safety in the wake of +the floating breakwater. +</P> + +<P> +Vernon's boat then came close alongside. Her painter was caught and +secured, allowing her to ride astern. +</P> + +<P> +The crews were then at liberty to rest, with the knowledge that their +drift was little more than half a knot. Yet every two hours they would +be drifting a mile farther from shore, unless their plight were +observed by passing vessels. +</P> + +<P> +By this time the sea was running high. At one moment the whaler would +be tossing high upon the rounded crest of a wave, with the other boat +deep in the trough. At the next, nothing was to be seen from the +whaler save an incline of green water and a canopy of dark-grey sky. +On either side the crests were white with foam, yet, thanks to the +sea-anchor, hardly a drop of water was taken in over the boats' +gunwales. +</P> + +<P> +The men sat in silence, turning their backs to the keen wind. A few +who had tobacco smoked. Those who had not were glad to chew the small +quantity given them by their more fortunate comrades. As for Ross and +Vernon, they were glad to doze, lying on the damp bottom-boards with +their heads pillowed on their arms. +</P> + +<P> +Ross was almost asleep when he was aroused by one of the men announcing +that a vessel was in sight. At the prospect of rescue, all hands were +alert. The man was right, for, as the whaler rose on the crests of the +waves, a dark, grey shape could be discerned through the mirk at a +distance of about a couple of miles. +</P> + +<P> +Quickly the shape resolved itself into a large four-funnelled cruiser +pelting down-Channel at full speed. Unless she altered her course she +would pass within a hundred yards of the boats. +</P> + +<P> +"Lash a shirt to the boat-hook, lads!" ordered Ross. +</P> + +<P> +A few moments of intense anxiety followed. Then a groan of +disappointment rose from the men as the cruiser ported helm. +</P> + +<P> +She was then a couple of miles to windward. The smoke from her funnels +drifted around the boats, making it impossible for the derelict men to +see what she was doing, until the evil-smelling haze dispersed, showing +the cruiser less than two cables' length away and bearing down towards +them. +</P> + +<P> +From her after bridge a seaman was semaphoring vigorously. +</P> + +<P> +"Will slow down to windward of you," read the message. +</P> + +<P> +"Oars, lads!" ordered Ross. +</P> + +<P> +The bowman of each boat promptly cut the painter. With renewed spirit +the rowers bent to their work, and soon the boats were alongside and +under the lee of H.M.S. <I>Oxford</I>, armoured cruiser of the County class. +</P> + +<P> +By the aid of bowlines the rescued men were quickly hauled over the +side. Without delay the <I>Capella's</I> boats were cut adrift, and the +cruiser proceeded on her way. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +An Unexpected Capture +</H3> + +<P> +"I can see no possibility of landing you at present," said the officer +of the watch, after Ross had reported the events that had led up to the +rescue of the two boats. "We're under sealed orders. We have to make +for a certain rendezvous at full speed. When we arrive we shall know +where we are bound for—until then we are quite in the dark. We'll +wireless, however, and let the Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth know +that you are safe." +</P> + +<P> +"Have you any news of the <I>Capella</I>?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; she was mined while in pursuit of a submarine. It is a dickens +of a puzzle to know why, for our sweepers were over there early that +morning and never found a single mine. Whatever it was, it was not so +powerful as they generally are, for the <I>Capella</I> was able to make for +shore and run aground within a few miles of Barfleur. All hands were +saved, luckily, but I'm afraid this gale will do for her entirely. +It's blowing great guns." +</P> + +<P> +"Then those fellows on the unterseeboot were wrong," remarked Vernon. +"They said she had gone down with all hands. We believe that the +submarine is a mine-layer, and perhaps it was one of her mines that the +old <I>Capella</I> bumped against." +</P> + +<P> +"Let's hope the patrol-vessels will settle her," rejoined the officer +of the watch. "But you must be awfully knocked up. I'll introduce you +to your new messmates, and they'll give you a shake-down in the +steerage flat. The <I>Orontabella's</I> officers can mess with the +'warrants', and the men will be berthed for'ard." +</P> + +<P> +The Lieutenant stepped to the top of the ladder from the navigation +bridge. A couple of midshipmen were standing on the superstructure, +watching with professional interest the splicing of a six-inch hawser. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Sefton!" sang out the officer of the watch. +</P> + +<P> +The midshipman ran up the ladder and saluted. +</P> + +<P> +"Your messmates for the time being," continued the Lieutenant, after he +had formally introduced Trefusis and Haye. "They've had a pretty rough +time, and they are jolly peckish, I know." +</P> + +<P> +Midshipman Sefton led the two chums below, and piloted them into a very +long room on the main deck. It was plainly, nay scantily furnished, +and appeared at first sight to be utterly cheerless. Possibly the idea +was heightened by the fact that frequently the scuttles were obscured +by the seas that slapped viciously against the cruiser's sides. +</P> + +<P> +"This is the gun-room," explained Sefton apologetically. "We've had to +clear it out pretty thoroughly, you know. No knick-knacks or +pretty-pretties in war time. Sorry the other fellows aren't here. +We're four one-stripers, three midshipmen R.N., and five midshipmen +R.N.R.—a jolly lively crowd of us, I can assure you." +</P> + +<P> +He touched a bell. A messman appeared. +</P> + +<P> +"Jones," ordered the midshipman, "a good square meal for two, and jolly +well look sharp about it." +</P> + +<P> +"You've got to be dead nuts on that chap if you want anything done in a +hurry," explained Sefton after the man had cleared off. "It's the only +way to check slackness. No doubt he gets his own back by giving us +plum-duff without troubling to extract the cockroaches; but we manage +to thrive on it. By the by, I'll tell my servant to sling a couple of +hammocks for you. There'll be no need to turn out before dinner." +</P> + +<P> +Sefton hastened below to acquaint the marine who, for the sum of ten +shillings a month, acted as the budding Nelson's factotum to make the +necessary preparations for his new chums. By the time he returned, a +substantial lunch had been set before Trefusis and Haye. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, you fellows," remarked the midshipman; "I notice that +Eccles—that's the officer of the watch, you know—was greasing his jaw +tackle a good bit. Did he mention where we are bound for?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing definite," replied Vernon. "He said that the ship was under +sealed orders." +</P> + +<P> +"Then it's no use hazarding a guess," decided Sefton. "It might be +anywhere from China to Peru. In any case, it's a change from what +we've been doing—knocking about in the North Sea, waiting for an +appointment which the Germans flatly decline to keep. Four months +solid, and I've never seen a gun discharged except at target practice." +</P> + +<P> +During the progress of the meal young Sefton was a little inclined to +patronize his guests. Perhaps he did it unconsciously. +</P> + +<P> +"My governor's a post-captain," he observed in the course of +conversation. "What's yours?" +</P> + +<P> +"Only an Admiral," replied Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"Is he, by Jove!" exclaimed Sefton. "Then why the deuce are you a +'with but after'?" +</P> + +<P> +"A what?" asked Trefusis, somewhat mystified. +</P> + +<P> +"An R.N.R. man ranks with, but after, an R.N. fellow with equal rank," +explained the midshipman. "It's a fact: look it up in the King's +Regulations. But, I say, do you play footer? We're in a match. +Gun-room versus Ward-room, coming off this week. If you play, I'll get +Cranbury—he's president of our mess—to put you in the team." +</P> + +<P> +The meal over, Ross and Vernon were taken to the steerage flat, an +electrically lighted space out of which opened the cabin of the junior +officers. At the after end of the flat, a marine sentry paced day and +night, his post extending from the stern torpedo-tube to the gun-room +door on the port side, and to the armoured door on the starboard side. +Amongst his varied and multitudinous duties, particularly strict orders +were given him not to allow anyone to put their hands on the +paintwork—one of the standing orders dating from the prehistoric days +before the war, when "spit and polish" were regarded as being +absolutely essential to the efficiency of H.M. ships. +</P> + +<P> +At three bells in the second dog-watch, the <I>Oxford</I> having arrived at +the rendezvous, the sealed orders were opened. It was then found that, +in company with the <I>Guildford</I> and the <I>Launceston</I>, the cruiser had +to proceed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to escort a contingent of Canadian +troops to Liverpool. +</P> + +<P> +This was but one of the manifold odd jobs performed by the British Navy +in connection with the war—necessary, but without any prospect of +excitement. The trip was regarded as a picnic, after weeks of +monotonous patrol duty, for when 800 miles west of Ireland there was +little likelihood of falling in with any hostile submarine, while other +German craft had been swept off the board months previously. +</P> + +<P> +On the third day out the football match came off. Ross and Vernon were +included in the gun-room team, and never before had they participated +in a rugger match in such strange circumstances. The <I>Oxford</I> was +pitching slightly in the long Atlantic swell. The "ground" was the +port side of the quarter-deck, nets being rigged up to prevent the ball +getting very much in touch with the sea. The fun was fast and furious, +the referee being inclined to tolerance; and before half-time half the +players were off the field owing to minor injuries, ranging from the +smashing of the Assistant Paymaster's eyeglasses to the laying out of +the portly Engineer-Commander. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the <I>Oxford</I> turned 8 degrees to starboard. The alteration of +course resulted in a break in the game. Something out of the usual had +occurred for the cruiser, which was the leading vessel in line ahead, +to break out of station. +</P> + +<P> +A bugle sharply sounded the "G"—officers' call. For'ard the bosn's +mates' pipes were turning up the hands. The Captain, Commander, and +officer of the watch were on the fore-bridge looking steadily at a dark +cloud of smoke showing beyond the horizon. +</P> + +<P> +It was a ship on fire. The alert officer of the watch had noticed the +smoke, which was much too dense to be caused by the vessel's furnaces. +On reporting the matter to the captain, the latter immediately ordered +the <I>Oxford</I> to be steered in that direction. As senior officer, he +gave orders for the other cruisers to stand on that course. +</P> + +<P> +"She's quite a small packet, I should imagine," remarked one of the +Subs. "At any rate she's not fitted with wireless." +</P> + +<P> +In half an hour the cruiser was sufficiently near to see clearly the +distressed vessel. She was a cargo-boat of about two thousand tons. +Amidships, flames were mounting fiercely from her hatches. She had +stopped her engines, and was preparing to lower boats. Aft, she flew +the Stars and Stripes, upside down as a signal of distress. +</P> + +<P> +The ship was doomed. Fanned by the light breeze, the flames were +rapidly spreading. Her cargo undoubtedly consisted of highly +inflammable material, since it blazed freely, while the smoke smelt +strongly of burnt oil. +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Oxford</I> stopped at four cables' length to windward of the burning +ship. She could do nothing beyond rescuing the crew on board. There +was no necessity to lower her boats, since the cargo-boat obviously had +enough for all hands. +</P> + +<P> +At length the boats of the unfortunate ship were lowered. There was no +undue haste. Men deliberately threw their bundles into the arms of +their waiting comrades before they swarmed down the falls. The captain +was the last to leave, a bulge under his coat betraying the fact that +he had taken the ship's papers with him. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing of an explosive nature in her cargo," said Ross to his chum. +"Otherwise they would have sheered off a bit quicker. My word, how she +does burn! Isn't it a grand sight?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," admitted Vernon. "It's lucky there's help at hand. Knocking +about in the boats in mid-Atlantic must be ten times as bad as in the +English Channel." +</P> + +<P> +"I beg to differ," remarked one of the Subs who was standing by. +"There's not so much shipping, I'll admit, but the waves are longer and +more regular in mid-ocean. It's marvellous what an open boat can do +when she's put to it, except in very broken water." +</P> + +<P> +The boats were now approaching the <I>Oxford</I>. A monkey-ladder had been +lowered to enable the men to surmount the lofty side of the cruiser, +while the sailors, always ready to lend a hand in cases of distress, +were swarming down to the net-shelves in readiness to receive the +personal belongings of the American seamen. +</P> + +<P> +"Look!" whispered Vernon. "Isn't that chap like our old pal +Ramblethorne?" +</P> + +<P> +He pointed to a tall, bronzed man clad in canvas jumper and trousers, +and wearing a grey slouched hat. He was sitting in the stern-sheets of +the second boat, with his shoulders hunched and his face half-averted. +</P> + +<P> +"Like him?" echoed Ross. "By Jove, it's he, right enough!" +</P> + +<P> +Trefusis was right. Von Hauptwald, alias Ramblethorne, had succeeded +in evading the hue and cry after his escape on Harley Bank, and had +continued to remain hidden in the house of a naturalized German in +Cheshire until the search for him had somewhat relaxed. +</P> + +<P> +He then managed to ship as a fireman on board a vessel bound for +Montreal, knowing that his chances of getting out of Great Britain +would be greater if he made for a Dominion port rather than one in the +United States. +</P> + +<P> +At Montreal he promptly deserted, made his way across the border, and +thence to New York. Here he picked up with a German-American +shipowner, who readily agreed to help him back to Germany. +</P> + +<P> +A cargo-boat, the <I>Tehuantepec Girl</I>, was loading with a cargo +consisting of cotton, ready-made clothing, and leather equipment. +Nominally her destination was Leith. Her manifest and bill of lading +were made out to that effect, but secretly her skipper had instructions +to make for Stockholm. If he were overhauled and taken into Lerwick by +a British patrol-boat, well and good. The owners must be compensated +by the British Government, even if the <I>Tehuantepec Girl</I> was miles out +of her course for Leith. On the other hand, if the boat succeeded in +reaching the Baltic, she would be conveniently "captured", by previous +arrangement, by a German cruiser or destroyer and taken into Kiel. +</P> + +<P> +Unfortunately the fact of keeping secret the real destination of the +<I>Tehuantepec Girl</I> led to her undoing. A German dock-hand, who was +really in the pay of the Teutonic Government, had placed an infernal +machine in the cargo, setting it to explode two days after leaving New +York. +</P> + +<P> +In less than a quarter of an hour after the discovery of the outbreak, +the fire had taken such a firm hold that all attempts to subdue it were +hopeless. +</P> + +<P> +And now von Hauptwald, in the disguise of a Yankee deck-hand, was being +rowed towards a craft which he would have given almost anything to +avoid—a British cruiser. +</P> + +<P> +Still, he was not dismayed. The chances of detection were absurdly +small. None of the <I>Tehuantepec Girl's</I> crew knew his true personality +except the captain, and he was to be handsomely rewarded as soon as the +spy was safe in German territory. On the other hand, there might be +one amongst the 655 forming the complement of the <I>Oxford</I> who might +recognize the one-time doctor who had lived at Devonport. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's get out of his way," suggested Vernon. "We'll inform the +Commander, and he will order him to be put under arrest." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not going to budge," declared Ross. "If he sees us, what can he +do?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not afraid of him," protested Haye. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, then; let's stop where we are. He's got to know sooner or +later." +</P> + +<P> +The first boat had already delivered her human cargo Upon the cruiser's +quarter-deck. As each man's name was taken down by the master-at-arms +he was sent forward. The first mate remained in conversation with the +Commander until the arrival of the <I>Tehuantepec Girl's</I> skipper. +</P> + +<P> +Von Hauptwald was one of the last men to come aboard. As he swung +himself over the rail he gave a swift glance at the group of officers. +His eye caught that of Ross Trefusis. +</P> + +<P> +For a moment the spy thought that he was mistaken, but a second glimpse +confirmed his suspicions. +</P> + +<P> +"Steady on there!" shouted the Commander. "What the deuce are you up +to?" +</P> + +<P> +Von Hauptwald had broken into a run across the quarter-deck. With a +bound he cleared the stanchion-rails, and plunged head foremost into +the sea. +</P> + +<P> +He had realized that to remain on the cruiser meant arrest and ultimate +death as a dangerous spy. Better by far to be drowned without further +delay than to experience all the horrors of lying under sentence of +death. +</P> + +<P> +He had acted spontaneously, yet there was method in his madness. By +running across to the other side of the ship there was little chance of +the boats being able to pick him up ere he sank for the last time. Not +until he rose to the surface did he realize his difficulty. He was a +strong swimmer, and the natural instinct to strike out overpowered his +determination to sink. +</P> + +<P> +There was a rush of officers and men to the ship's side to see what was +taking place. With two exceptions, they thought that the supposed +seaman had suddenly lost his reason. +</P> + +<P> +Two seamen, one a brawny specimen, the other a red-haired +middle-weight, dived after the would-be suicide. Others were on the +point of following when the Commander restrained them. +</P> + +<P> +"Away sea-boat!" was the order. +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Oxford</I> was now forging slowly through the water. During the +rescue of the <I>Tehuantepec Girl's</I> people, she had drifted rather too +close to the burning ship to be safe, should an explosion occur. +Already von Hauptwald was fifty yards astern, with the two seamen +swimming towards him with powerful strokes. +</P> + +<P> +His efforts to drown were a failure. He simply couldn't keep his head +under. His attempts to swallow quantities of salt water only increased +the instinctive motion of the limbs to keep himself afloat. Bitterly +he regretted that he had not picked up some heavy metal object during +his career across the cruiser's quarterdeck. +</P> + +<P> +The approach of his would-be rescuers made him realize the necessity of +self-destruction. At the encouraging shout of "Cheer up, old mate, +you're safe!" spluttered by the leading seaman, he dived, pressing his +chest with both hands in the hope that he would be able to expel the +air from his lungs. +</P> + +<P> +A horny hand gripped him by the arm. He felt himself being drawn to +the surface. As his head appeared, he swung round and dealt the seaman +a powerful blow with his fist. The man, taken completely by surprise, +relaxed his grip. Von Hauptwald's blow had almost broken his shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"Be careful, Ginger!" he shouted to his mate. "He's fair balmy. Mind +he don't plug you." +</P> + +<P> +The second seaman swam in a circle just beyond reach of the spy's arm. +His attempt to get behind the German failed, for the simple reason that +von Hauptwald gave no opportunity for an attack in the rear. The other +sailor, floating on his back and rubbing his injured arm, was content +to shout advice and await developments. +</P> + +<P> +The red-haired man was not deficient in courage, but he did not at all +relish the idea of tackling single-handed a powerfully built +maniac—for such he took the spy to be. He wisely awaited the approach +of the <I>Oxford's</I> sea-boat, which, manned by four rowers who were +encouraged by Midshipman Setley, was being urged rapidly towards the +scene. +</P> + +<P> +"Way enough!" shouted the middy. +</P> + +<P> +The bowman boated his oar and leant over the bows. As he did so von +Hauptwald avoided his grip, and, seizing the boat's keel, brought his +head in violent contact with the elm planking. +</P> + +<P> +Then it was that Ginger saw his chance and took it. Grabbing the +German by the legs, he hung on like grim death, shouting to his +comrades to "tackle the lubber". +</P> + +<P> +Within an ace of capsizing the boat, von Hauptwald was hauled on board. +He fought desperately. For a moment it seemed as if he would more than +hold his own against the four seamen, until one of them, seizing a +stretcher, dealt the spy a crack on the head that laid him senseless +across the thwarts. +</P> + +<P> +"Couldn't help it, sir," exclaimed the man apologetically. +</P> + +<P> +"You did perfectly right, Dickenson," said the midshipman. "He's +properly mad. Come on, you men, are you going to bathe for the rest of +the day?" +</P> + +<P> +The victim of von Hauptwald's attack had to be assisted into the boat, +which, on making the ship, was quickly hoisted and secured. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile the <I>Tehuantepec Girl</I> was on the point of sinking. From +stem to stern she was a roaring furnace. Mingled with the roar of the +flames could be heard the hiss of water coming in contact with the +red-hot plates, while ever and anon came the crash of metal as the deck +beams gave way and fell into the hold. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly she parted amidships. The flames died out, overpowered by the +inrush of water. A thick column of smoke and steam arose as the bow +and stem [Transcriber's note: stern?] portions floated apart. Then +with the roar of escaping air the remains of the Yankee cargo-boat +disappeared, to find a resting-place 7000 fathoms deep on the bed of +the Atlantic. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Mined +</H3> + +<P> +"So that accounts for the fellow's behaviour," remarked the Captain of +the <I>Oxford</I>, after Ross and Vernon had communicated their discovery to +the Commander, who in turn reported the news to the skipper. "The +doctor says he is out of danger, eh? From a medical point of view, no +doubt. Put him in the cells, Master-at-arms. We'll take good care not +to land him at Halifax." +</P> + +<P> +Upon arriving at the Nova Scotian port, whither the <I>Oxford's</I> consorts +had preceded her, the officers and crew of the <I>Tehuantepec Girl</I> were +landed. Forty-eight hours elapsed before the transports were ready to +leave, and thus Ross and Vernon, with most of the officers of the +cruisers, had an opportunity of a "spell ashore". +</P> + +<P> +On the homeward run nothing untoward occurred, except that, instead of +proceeding to Liverpool, the cruisers and their convoy were suddenly +ordered by wireless to make for the Clyde. +</P> + +<P> +Off the Pladda Light the transports were met by a flotilla of +destroyers, while the cruisers were ordered to proceed via Cape Wrath +to rejoin the fleet at Rosyth. Without slackening speed the three +cruisers flung about, and steered a course immediately opposed to the +one they had previously been following. Experience had told them that +speed was one of the essentials to safety, even when in land-locked +waters such as the Firth of Clyde. +</P> + +<P> +"You don't look like leaving us in a hurry," remarked Midshipman +Sefton, when he communicated the latest change of plans to Trefusis and +his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"We don't mind in the slightest," Ross hastened to assure him. "It's +jolly comfortable on board the <I>Oxford</I>." +</P> + +<P> +"Wait until we're ordered straight away for patrol work," said Sefton. +"It's more than likely that we may be pushed off to the Norwegian coast +without having so much as a sniff at Rosyth. We'll just about hit the +equinoctial gales, and in those latitudes they get ice and snow pretty +early in the autumn. But, by the by, I heard the doctor tell the +Commander that your pal, von Hauptwald, is in a pretty state of funk." +</P> + +<P> +"I shouldn't wonder," replied Ross. "A court-martial will make it +pretty hot for him." +</P> + +<P> +"It's hardly that," said Sefton. "The fellow's absolutely crazy with +fear. He's been imploring the master-at-arms and the sentry on the +cells to ask the skipper to shift him above the water-line. It's only +since the ship arrived in home waters, so it seems as if he's in mortal +dread of being cooped up below and the <I>Oxford</I> being mined or +torpedoed." +</P> + +<P> +"And what did the Captain say?" +</P> + +<P> +"Merely told the M.A.A. to carry on. Since the cells are below the +water-line, and the King's Regulations say that prisoners are to be +placed in cells, that ends the matter." +</P> + +<P> +Passing through the Little Minch, and continually steering an erratic +course in order to baffle any unterseebooten, should they be operating +off the West coast of Scotland, the <I>Oxford</I> rounded Cape Wrath. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of a rapidly falling glass the weather still remained fine, +although the heavy swell encountered off the coast of Sutherland and +Caithness betokened, in conjunction with the barometer, a gale at no +distant date. +</P> + +<P> +"This will be you fellows' last night on board," remarked Farnworth, +one of the Acting Sub-lieutenants, as Ross and Vernon prepared to turn +into their hammocks after a strenuous sing-song in the gun-room mess. +"We'll be at Rosyth before noon to-morrow. 'Fraid it's been a bit tame +after the <I>Capella</I>. Beyond that affair of the <I>Tehuantepec Girl</I> +there hasn't been much doing. The small fry get all the excitement, +I'm sorry to say. These armoured cruisers seem to be neither fish, +fowl, nor good red herring in these times." +</P> + +<P> +It seemed to Ross that he had been asleep only a few minutes when he +was suddenly awakened by a terrific crash, followed by a concussion +that shook the cruiser from stem to stern. His hammock rolled so +violently that he promptly fell out on the floor of the flat. Before +he could rise, the occupant of the next hammock tried his level best to +thrust his toes into Trefusis' mouth. The rest of the midshipmen, who +were watch below, were either thrown from their hammocks or had leapt +hurriedly from them. The electric lights were out. The shock had +either shattered the carbon threads or had broken the wires. +</P> + +<P> +"Torpedoed!" exclaimed a junior midshipman. +</P> + +<P> +"Dry up!" ordered Sefton sternly. "On deck all of you; there's the +'Action' bugle—no, it's 'Collision Stations'." +</P> + +<P> +Just then a light appeared. The sentry in the steerage flat had lit +one of the bulkhead lamps, which are always in readiness for use in the +event of a break-down in the electric current. +</P> + +<P> +The cruiser was listing perceptibly to starboard. +</P> + +<P> +She was in danger of turning turtle and foundering, but even in the +face of death not one of the handful of young officers showed the +faintest sign of fear. If in their inmost minds the lads were a little +timorous, they bravely kept their feelings to themselves. They were +part and parcel of a British warship's complement. They had a +reputation to maintain—the reputation of a Navy dating back for +centuries. It was in safe keeping, for the <I>Oxford's</I> midshipmen were +made of the right stuff. +</P> + +<P> +A few made a hasty dive into their sea-chests to make sure of some +precious article. Others scrambled into their thick coats, bantering +each other as they did so. +</P> + +<P> +Overhead, the noise of hundreds of feet could be heard as the men +doubled aft to the quarter-deck. Above the tumult rose the shrill +pipes of the bos'n's mates' whistles, and the hoarse shouts of "On +deck, every mother's son of you!" bawled by a leather-lunged petty +officer. +</P> + +<P> +"We don't want to leave you, but we fear that we must go," parodied one +of the midshipmen, giving a farewell glimpse into the gun-room that had +been his home for the last fifteen months. "Come on, you fellows, +who's going to enter for the long-distance swimming race?" +</P> + +<P> +Up the ladder swept the throng of youthful humanity, followed by the +sentry, who had received orders to abandon his post. On the half-deck, +the gun-room officers met the swarm of senior officers issuing from +their cabins, mostly clad in pyjamas and uniform caps. The +Gunnery-lieutenant was afterwards heard to declare solemnly that he had +seen the Paymaster issuing from the ship's office with the ledger on +his head, while under his left arm he held his cap. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's stick together, old man!" exclaimed Ross as the chums gained the +quarter-deck. +</P> + +<P> +The first hurried rush aft had now given place to strict discipline. +The men were falling in as calmly as if mustered for divisions. Some +were blowing up their pneumatic swimming-collars, others helping to +adjust a comrade's life-belt. A few were joking and talking, none of +the officers gainsaying them. By virtue of an unwritten law the men +were allowed to smoke, and the odour of strong tobacco wafted across +the broad quarterdeck. +</P> + +<P> +"Got a fag, Lofty?" Vernon overheard a burly stoker ask his neighbour. +</P> + +<P> +"No; I don't smoke, mate," replied the man. +</P> + +<P> +"You will soon," replied the stoker, and a roar of merriment rose from +the lips of the men within hearing. They thought the retort was a +smart bit of humour, and, when at length the implied nature of the +man's words dawned upon him, even Vernon had to smile. +</P> + +<P> +From the after bridge, search-lights were playing upon the waves. The +light quick-firers were manned ready to deal with any visible foe. On +the navigation bridge the Captain, with the officer of the watch, was +pacing calmly up and down the slightly inclined structure. +</P> + +<P> +Presently he was joined by two dark forms—the Commander and the +carpenter. A bugle sounded the "Still". A hush fell upon the swarm of +humanity, the silence being broken only by the hiss of escaping steam, +and the rush of water under the action of the powerful Downton pumps. +</P> + +<P> +"My lads!" shouted the skipper. "The old ship is holding out. We'll +get her into dock yet. Pipe down!" +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Oxford</I> had not been struck by a torpedo. Examination showed that +she had bumped against a mine, with the result that the fore +compartments were flooded. Fortunately the transverse bulkhead and +watertight doors withstood the strain of the terrific inrush of water. +Although well down by the bows the cruiser was in no immediate danger. +</P> + +<P> +The watch below disappeared from sight; those of the officers who were +not on duty retired to their cabins, yet few of them slept again that +night. +</P> + +<P> +As Ross and his chum were about to leave the quarterdeck, the Commander +strode by. +</P> + +<P> +</P> + +<P> +"Pass the word for the master-at-arms," he ordered. "Master-at-arms +went below, sir, to release the prisoners," reported a petty officer. +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove!" whispered Ross. "I'd clean forgotten Ramblethorne. I +wonder how he liked the business?" +</P> + +<P> +"Let's wait," suggested Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +They took up their position on the leeward side of the after 7.5-inch +gun-shield. Here they were sheltered from the wind and out of sight of +the alert Commander, although they could hear what was being said. +</P> + +<P> +"Master-at-arms is in the sick-bay, sir," reported the messenger as he +came up at the double. "He's nearly done for, trying to get to the +prisoners. The ship's corporal managed to release the two ordinary +seamen, but the spy's done in, sir—I mean he's drownded." +</P> + +<P> +Almost immediately following the explosion, the master-at-arms had +hurried to the cells. The flat was in darkness. The sentry on No. 6 +post, in charge of the prisoners, was lying stunned on the floor of the +passage. Water was surging aft. Already it was up to the knees of the +master-at-arms as he plunged through the gloom towards his goal. +</P> + +<P> +The three prisoners were shouting in mad panic. They realized their +awful peril. Caged like rats in a trap, they felt certain that the +cruiser was foundering, and that they would be carried down in a living +tomb until the pressure of water burst open the comparatively strong +steel walls of the cell. +</P> + +<P> +At length the chief of the ship's police forced the door of the +nearmost cell. By sheer good luck he inserted the key into the lock +without having to fumble for the opening. The prisoner, a young seaman +who had broken out of the ship at Halifax, was too terrified to know +his way to safety. He clutched at the master-at-arms, following him to +the next cell. +</P> + +<P> +The water was now waist-deep. In trying to find the keyhole the +master-at-arms dropped the keys. It took some minutes to find them—a +loss of valuable time. +</P> + +<P> +The noise of the inrushing water was deafening. For all the petty +officer knew, the ship might be about to make her last plunge. Yet his +duty lay before him. At the risk of his life the prisoners must be set +free. +</P> + +<P> +A light appeared upon the scene. A ship's corporal, bearing a lantern, +descended to the flat with the laudable intention, of assisting his +superior. +</P> + +<P> +The door of the second cell flew open, but a rush of water on the +flood, under the movement of the stricken vessel surged and swept the +master-at-arms off his feet. His forehead came in violent contact with +the steel frame of the door, and, rendered senseless, he dropped +inertly upon the flooded floor of the passage. +</P> + +<P> +"Pull yourselves together, men!" exclaimed the corporal to the two +prisoners. "You're all right. Bear a hand here." +</P> + +<P> +Together they carried the unconscious master-at-arms out of the flat. +The corporal returned to liberate the occupier of the third cell—von +Hauptwald. But once again the keys were missing, having slipped from +the insensible man's hand. +</P> + +<P> +The water in the confined space was now shoulder-deep. The corporal +could hear the stout bulkhead groaning under the pressure. Fixing the +lantern on a bracket he dived, groping with both hands for the keys. +At length he found them, and threw open the door of the cell. +</P> + +<P> +"Out you come!" he shouted. +</P> + +<P> +There was no reply. Von Hauptwald had ceased to shout for some +minutes. The silence was ominous. +</P> + +<P> +A movement of the badly stricken ship sent the water well over the +corporal's head. He was swept off his feet. It was time for him to +get back to safety. He had done all he could. The spy was dead. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +"Shrap" +</H3> + +<P> +It was late in the afternoon when the <I>Oxford</I> arrived, under her own +steam, at Rosyth. Although the dry docks were in use, accommodation +was quickly found for the damaged cruiser by the simple expedient of +floating out a battleship that was being cleaned and recoated with +anti-fouling composition. Since speed is an absolute necessity for +efficiency in war-time, it was the practice to dock all the ships of +the battle-cruiser and armoured cruiser class in rotation, the margin +of safety being sufficient to allow this to be done without impairing +the strength of the squadrons. +</P> + +<P> +By the aid of powerful arc-lamps the dockyard hands took the crippled +<I>Oxford</I> into dock, and, the caisson having been replaced, the water +was quickly pumped out. The damage done was found, on examination, to +be limited to a space extending 30 feet from the bows. The actual +aperture caused by the explosion measured 6 feet by 30 inches, but the +adjacent plates had been buckled and the bolts "started" under the +violent concussion. Well it was that the armoured bulkhead had +withstood the strain, otherwise nothing could have saved the ship. +</P> + +<P> +There was no delay in setting to work. Almost before the last of the +water had been pumped out of the dock, stagings were built up round the +bows, and scores of shipwrights set to work to rebuild the damaged +portion of the hull. Under normal conditions the work would have taken +a couple of months, but, by working day and night, the efficient +dockyard staff hoped to effect repairs within nine days. +</P> + +<P> +Since the commencement of the greatest war the world has ever yet seen, +it was the custom to allow the officers and crews of torpedoed or mined +ships—if they were fortunate enough to be numbered amongst the +survivors—seven days' leave. A rest on shore was necessary for the +crews to recover from the mental shock, for it was found that although +the men might escape from physical injury and appear bright and +cheerful immediately after the occurrence, the reaction was most marked +at about forty-eight hours afterwards. +</P> + +<P> +Ross and Vernon, although not borne in the books of the <I>Oxford</I>, +received permission to go on leave. Since Haye's father was somewhere +in the North Sea, and he had no near relatives, he gladly accepted +Ross's offer to sample again the hospitality of Killigwent Hall. +</P> + +<P> +It was late when their train arrived at King's Cross; so much so that +the lads realized it would be useless to attempt to catch the Cornwall +express that would land them at St. Bedal just before midnight. +</P> + +<P> +"I vote we have an evening in town," suggested Vernon. "Let's go to a +theatre. It seems ages since I was inside a music hall, or even a +picture palace." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," agreed Ross. "We'll have a jolly good square meal before +we go. I know of a decent little hotel just off the Strand." +</P> + +<P> +The two midshipmen took the Underground as far as Charing Cross. As +they emerged from the station they renewed their acquaintance with the +metropolis in war-time. The streets were plunged in almost Stygian +darkness. Omnibuses and taxicabs crawled painfully through the gloom; +pedestrians were cannoning into each other at every step. The only +relief to the blackness were the two search-lights from the Admiralty +Arch that swung like gigantic pendulums across the dark and misty sky. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's get out of it," exclaimed Ross, as he just managed to save +himself from being run down by a motor-car. "It's a jolly sight more +dangerous than keeping the middle watch on the old <I>Capella</I>." +</P> + +<P> +Five minutes later they were sitting down to an ample dinner, provided +at a cost that proved pretty conclusively the futility of the German +submarine blockade. In the well-lighted room there was little to +suggest that business was not proceeding "as usual", except perhaps the +predominance of khaki-clad officers. +</P> + +<P> +A string band was discoursing the latest operatic music, the diners +were laughing and chattering. Within, the gaiety and light-heartedness +contrasted violently with the dismal gloom inflicted upon the +metropolis as a result of precautions adopted by the triple authorities +responsible for its defence against air-craft. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the band finished one item on the programme. The comparative +silence that followed was almost immediately interrupted by a series of +sharp reports, punctuated by a deeper crash. +</P> + +<P> +"Zepps!" exclaimed a dozen voices. +</P> + +<P> +Instantly there was a rush—not for the deep cellars underneath the +building, but for the open street. The white faces of a few of the +guests showed that they had, perhaps, a little anxiety, but for the +most part an excitable curiosity took possession of the crowd. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" exclaimed Ross to his chum. "Let's see the fun. We haven't +had a chance of seeing a real Zepp before." +</P> + +<P> +The lad's words voiced the thoughts of nine-tenths of the dwellers of +the metropolis who were within sight of the would-be Terror of the Air. +Useless, indeed, were the official warnings as to the right thing to be +done when the Zeppelins came. One man, however, drew a respirator from +a hand-bag and proceeded to don it, until a roar of laughter from the +stream of people issuing from the hotel caused him somewhat +shamefacedly to replace the useless article. +</P> + +<P> +Into the street the lads elbowed their way. The progress through the +long corridor of the hotel reminded them of a football scrum. It was +not the blind rush of panic; merely a desire to lose nothing of the +"fun". +</P> + +<P> +A couple of thousand feet overhead, a silvery-grey, bluff-pointed +cylinder was moving with apparent slowness. Half a dozen search-lights +concentrated their beams upon it. All around were rings of smoke, +marking the bursting shells from the anti-aircraft guns; yet, +apparently untouched by the hail of bullets, the giant gas-bag passed +on, hurling out death and destruction upon the greatest city on +earth—a city that, until the present war, had only once heard the +thunder of hostile guns. +</P> + +<P> +Breathlessly the lads watched the progress of the huge Zeppelin, +momentarily expecting it to collapse and come tumbling, a tangled mass +of flaming wreckage, to the ground. Viewed from below, it seemed +impossible for the airship to escape the bursting shells. The air was +rent by the crash of falling bombs and the sharp reports of the +"anti's", while in the distance could be heard the clatter of broken +glass. The explosive bombs wrought havoc upon the homes of harmless +Londoners. Flames, too, were springing up, throwing a lurid glare upon +the sky. +</P> + +<P> +Yet, unless actually within radius of the German explosives, the +populace was remarkably calm. Men, women, and children watched the +Zeppelin, much in the same way as if they were witnessing a Brock's +display at the Crystal Palace. Once again German frightfulness had +failed—and failed badly—to attain its desired end. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurrah! She's got it properly in the neck," shouted an excited +special constable, as the Zeppelin gave a sudden lurch and began to +drop at an acute angle. +</P> + +<P> +But the next instant the silvery envelope was hidden in a cloud of +dense black smoke. Seconds passed, but no shattered wreckage streamed +earthwards. When the vapour dispersed, the Zeppelin was nowhere to be +seen. Under cover of the smoke-cloud she had dropped a large quantity +of ballast, and had soared skyward to a great altitude. +</P> + +<P> +Gradually, like the rumble of a passing thunderstorm, the reports of +the distant anti-aircraft guns died away. The Zepps had taken +themselves off, leaving half a dozen fires and hundreds of more or less +damaged buildings to impress upon the strafed English that insularity +is no longer a protection from the cowardly night-raiders of the air. +</P> + +<P> +"The show's over," declared Ross. "I vote we turn in. By Jove, +there'll be a rush to the recruiting offices to-morrow!" +</P> + +<P> +Requesting to be called at eight, the two midshipmen entered the lift +and were whisked up to their room. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that noise?" asked Vernon, pausing in the midst of unpacking +his portmanteau. +</P> + +<P> +"Something in the corridor," replied Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think so. It's something or someone under my bed. Lock the +door, old man; no, don't ring, if it's a burglar we'll tackle him." +</P> + +<P> +Haye knelt by the bedside, Ross standing behind him ready to grapple +with the intruder. Cautiously Vernon lifted the valance. As he did so +he quickly withdrew his hand, which had come in contact with something +warm and moist. +</P> + +<P> +"Dash it all!" he exclaimed. "It's a dog. Come out, sir!" +</P> + +<P> +He was right. The animal gave a low whine, but made no attempt to +budge. +</P> + +<P> +"Mind the brute doesn't fix you," cautioned Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"No fear," replied his chum confidently. "All dogs take to me. Come +along, old boy." +</P> + +<P> +Again he groped with his hand. His fingers touched the long, silky +hair on the animal's neck. Slowly he drew the creature from its place +of concealment. It was a sheep-dog pup, of about four months. +</P> + +<P> +"Pretty-looking dog," exclaimed Vernon. "I wonder how it came here? +Suppose it was frightened at the racket. It looks terrified out of its +wits. Good dog!" +</P> + +<P> +The pup fixed its large brown eyes upon Vernon's face, and attempted to +wag its stumpy tail. As it did so the lads discovered that its hind +quarters were tinged with blood. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you poor little beggar!" said Vernon sympathetically. "However +did you get that? I say, Ross, fill that basin with water." +</P> + +<P> +"Better send for the boots," suggested Trefusis. "He'll take it to a +vet.'s, or perhaps he'll know whose dog it is." +</P> + +<P> +"Not much chance of finding a vet. at this time of night," objected +Vernon. "Even the chemist will be busy with minor casualties. No, I +won't worry the management. I've doctored dogs before now." +</P> + +<P> +He began bathing the matted hair. The flow of blood had ceased, but +upon examining the wound he found that it was a small circular incision. +</P> + +<P> +He felt the spot. The pup, hitherto patient, uttered a low moan. +</P> + +<P> +"There's something hard there," reported Vernon. "It's only a little +way under the skin. We'll have it out. Hold his head, old man. Don't +let him yelp; keep your hand over his muzzle. I'm afraid I must hurt +the poor little beggar a bit." +</P> + +<P> +Using the little blade of a knife, Haye adroitly probed the wound. +Soft-hearted as he was, the action seemed to hurt him more than the +patient; but his efforts were rewarded by the extraction of a small +steel ball. +</P> + +<P> +"A shrapnel bullet!" exclaimed Ross. "That accounts for the poor +little brute being in such a terrible funk. Give him a drink of water. +He'll be better now. We can bandage the wound with our handkerchiefs." +</P> + +<P> +Five minutes later the dumb patient, his hind quarters swathed in +elaborate bandages, was lying contentedly upon the hearth-rug, his +stumpy tail, protruding between the folds of linen, wagging, as he +tried to express his gratitude in doggy fashion. +</P> + +<P> +"Now what's to be done?" enquired Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"Let him stop until morning," replied Vernon decisively. "There might +be a row if the hotel people know that there's a dog in the bedroom. +The owner can't be much of a chap if he doesn't make enquiries." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps he hasn't missed the dog," suggested Ross; "or it's just +likely he isn't stopping at the hotel. Well, here goes. I'm turning +in." +</P> + +<P> +Ten minutes later both midshipmen were fast asleep. They had no middle +watch to keep, and as for Zeppelins, they were merely a passing show. +</P> + +<P> +At daylight Vernon was awakened by something licking his face. The +pup, having shown his contempt for bandages by biting them to ribbons, +was standing on his hind legs and licking his benefactor's nose, while +his tail was wagging with the rapidity of the flag of an expert +signaller. The hardy little animal had made light of his wound. +</P> + +<P> +Having dressed, the midshipman made enquiries of the waiter, but +without satisfactory results. No one in the hotel had a dog. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll report him to the police," decided Vernon. "Ten to one the owner +won't claim him. At any rate I'll stick to him. He's awfully fond of +me already." +</P> + +<P> +After breakfast Vernon sent the obliging waiter to purchase a collar, +for the sheep-dog was wearing none. Sticking closely to Vernon's +heels, the pup followed his new master to the police station, where an +inspector took down a number of particulars. +</P> + +<P> +"Very good, sir; that's all I want. I don't fancy you'll hear any more +about it." +</P> + +<P> +"What are you going to call him?" asked Ross, as the chums were seated +in a first-class carriage, with the dog at Vernon's feet, on their way +to Cornwall. +</P> + +<P> +"Zepp," replied Vernon promptly. +</P> + +<P> +"Not patriotic," objected Ross with a laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"I think so," rejoined his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because, like last night's Zeppelin, he turned tail when he had a +shrapnel bullet in his stern." +</P> + +<P> +"That's all very well," said Ross, "but you can't explain all that to +everyone. Why not call him Shrapnel?" +</P> + +<P> +"All right. 'Shrap' for short," agreed Vernon. "Good boy, Shrap! Wag +your tail, you little rascal." +</P> + +<P> +And Shrap obeyed promptly. Evidently the choice of a name reminiscent +of bodily injury troubled him not one jot. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Off the Belgian Coast +</H3> + +<P> +"A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross. "Of +course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be +absolutely 'it'." +</P> + +<P> +Two months had elapsed since the lads saw a hostile air-ship over +London. Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed +British ships could do—not against a practically defenceless town, but +against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast. +</P> + +<P> +Trefusis and Haye were on board the <I>Capella</I>, lying in the outer +harbour at Dover. It was not the <I>Capella</I> that had come off +second-best in an encounter with a floating mine, but another, similar +in almost every respect to the lost patrol-boat. She was manned, too, +by the same officers and crew—with one exception. Sub-lieutenant John +Barry had obtained his promotion, and had been appointed to H.M.S. +<I>Hunbilker</I> in command. +</P> + +<P> +What the <I>Hunbilker</I> was, no one on board the <I>Capella</I> knew. The +Admiralty publications at their disposal were blank as far as that ship +was concerned. Speculation ran high: some of the officers expressing +their opinion that Barry's command was a subsidized cargo-boat; others +that she was one of the mosquito flotilla that had been evolved out of +modern naval requirements. All were wrong, as they had yet to learn +something more of the type of vessel flying the White Ensign that was +helping to sweep the seas of the Black Cross of Germany. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, old boy, how do you think you will like the racket?" asked +Vernon, stooping to pat the massive head of a healthy-looking +sheep-dog. Shrap had been allowed, by the Captain's permission, to +join the <I>Capella</I> as a mascot—the pet of both officers and crew, and +of Vernon Haye in particular. +</P> + +<P> +Shrap winked knowingly, then trotted off to a secluded part of the +chart-room, where, under a locker, he had hidden the remains of what, +half an hour previously, had been Sub-lieutenant Fox's shaving-brush. +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Capella</I> was by no means the only craft rolling sluggishly in the +vast artificial harbour. There were seven motor patrol-vessels, +specially detailed for the forthcoming operations as tenders to the +sea-planes. +</P> + +<P> +A strong array of monitors, craft of ugly but utilitarian design, +low-lying, and mounting two 14-inch guns, had assembled for the purpose +of making it hot for the Hun on the morrow. Only light-draughted craft +were to be employed in the attack, since they could approach within +very effective range of their guns, and at the same time stand little +chance of being torpedoed by a handful of unterseebooten that had been +transported in sections to Zeebrugge and there fitted for service. +</P> + +<P> +According to the Admiral's plan, the monitors were to approach Ostend +just after daybreak. In the offing a number of empty transports were +to assemble, protected by a powerful flotilla of destroyers. The +appearance of these transports would be taken by the Germans as an +indication of an attempted landing of a British force, and troops would +be hurriedly massed to repel the threatened invasion. +</P> + +<P> +The monitors were thereupon to fire a certain number of rounds, then, +followed in a parallel course by the transports, make for Zeebrugge. +Alternate visits to both the Belgian ports in German hands were to be +made throughout the day, thereby wearing out the German troops in +fruitless marching and counter-marching, and at the same time diverting +a strong body of men from a section of the trenches upon which the +British troops were to deliver a sudden and unexpected assault. +</P> + +<P> +At four in the morning the monitors began to leave Dover Harbour. +Thanks to the stringent military precautions taken in the +town—precautions that could with decided advantage be imitated +elsewhere—the presence of spies was almost, if not quite, a matter of +impossibility. Unheralded by the Kaiser's agents, the small yet +powerful vessels cleared the entrance to the breakwater and headed for +the Belgian coast. +</P> + +<P> +An hour later a masthead lamp blinked from the <I>Vega</I>—the senior +officer's ship of the patrol flotilla. Then, in line ahead, the swift +motor craft slipped quietly out of the harbour to overtake their slower +consorts. +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Capella</I>, like the rest of her sister ships, was cleared for +action. Stanchion-rails were unshipped; everything likely to splinter +was sent below. In the wake of the armoured protection, sandbags were +placed to reinforce the steel plating. Although the patrol-vessels +were not to take part in the bombardment, they had to be prepared in +case a forlorn hope in the shape of a few German torpedo-boats might +attempt a sudden onslaught. +</P> + +<P> +As attendants upon the sea-planes, too, it was possible that the +patrol-boats would have to approach within range of the garrison +artillery, especially in the event of one of the aerial craft being +disabled and falling into the sea, on its return from "spotting" the +hits of the monitors' guns. +</P> + +<P> +Dawn had not yet broken when the monitors, followed at two miles' +distance by the motor patrol, came in sight of the search-lights on the +low-lying Belgian coast. Beyond the limit of direct rays, yet within +range of their monster guns, the monitors were safe from detection. +All that was wanting was the presence of the sea-planes, for whose work +daylight was essential. +</P> + +<P> +Slowly a pale light spread on the north-eastern horizon. The short +wintry day was breaking. The sea was calm. The air was piercingly +cold. A thin coating of frost covered the <I>Capella's</I> deck. Ross and +his chum were heartily glad of their thick pilot-coats, mufflers, and +woollen "mitts", as they sheltered behind the breast-work erected on +the bridge. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Syllenger slowly paced the bridge, frequently glancing at the +clock in the chart-room, since it was almost a matter of impossibility +to consult his watch, owing to his generous accumulation of clothing. +It was now nearly eight o'clock, but as yet there were no signs of the +expected sea-planes. +</P> + +<P> +Just then the dull morning light was pierced by a brilliant flash from +one of the monitors. The watchers on the <I>Capella's</I> bridge could see +the low-lying hull give a decided jerk in a sternward direction under +the reaction of the enormous projectile. +</P> + +<P> +Long before the shell reached its objective, other 14-inch guns added +their quota, and the air was rent with the flashes of the ordnance and +the ear-splitting detonations following the discharge. +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove!" exclaimed Sub-lieutenant Fox, who with his brother officers +had had telescopes levelled upon the faintly outlined sand dunes. +"There are the sea-planes!" +</P> + +<P> +He was right. Flying at a great height the air-squadron had passed +over the warships, and had taken up their observation stations without +being seen or heard by anyone on board the patrol-vessels immediately +over the German batteries, they were cutting "figure eights" and +describing seemingly erratic circles, while the observers, coolly +wirelessing the results of the monitors' shells, hardly heeded the +furious fire directed upon them by the hostile anti-aircraft guns. +</P> + +<P> +On a point extending for nearly three miles, the shore was torn by the +terrific explosive shells. Clouds of sand, and yellow smoke mingled +marked the scene of destruction, as battery after battery was spotted +and promptly put out of action. Across the dunes could be seen swarms +of ant-like figures—German troops flying for shelter from the +devastating fire of the British guns. +</P> + +<P> +But the action was by no means a one-sided one. Guns, large and small, +replied; the heavier ordnance vigorously at first, and then gradually +slackening down as the lyddite shells sought out the fixed +emplacements. The lighter guns, mounted on armoured motor-cars, gave +more trouble, since, after every shot, each piece was moved a hundred +yards or more. +</P> + +<P> +For several minutes the lads watched the unusual spectacle through the +binoculars. Then something resembling a concentrated tornado screeched +above their heads. Instinctively they ducked, the glasses falling from +their hands. Ten seconds later Ross ventured to look up. Vernon was +still holding his hands over his face. Then slowly he, too, opened his +eyes. +</P> + +<P> +The lads smiled sadly at each other, picked up their binoculars, and +somewhat shamefacedly resumed their former positions. +</P> + +<P> +It was their baptism of heavy gun-fire. A 42-centimetre shell had +ricochetted and leapt full twenty feet above their heads. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Syllenger was standing a few paces from them. Luckily, thought +Ross, the skipper's back was turned, and he had not noticed the action +of his young subordinates. But Trefusis was wrong. The Captain had +seen them. Out of consideration, for he remembered his own sensations +when first under fire, he affected not to notice the temporary panic +that had overtaken the midshipmen. +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Capella</I> was now running at half speed, in a direction parallel to +the shore. All around, the sea was torn by the falling projectiles, +most of which were sufficiently large to send her to the bottom like a +stone. Yet, beyond the wounding of her wireless operator, the loss of +her signalling-mast, and the shattering of one of her boats, she came +off lightly. Although not the object of the hostile guns, she narrowly +escaped several ricochets, until, at a signal from the senior officer, +the patrol-vessels withdrew to a safer distance. +</P> + +<P> +One of the monitors, too, was slowly steaming seawards, well down by +the bows and smoke issuing from her fo'c'sle, while her single funnel +was riddled like a sieve. +</P> + +<P> +"Sea-plane returning, sir!" announced Sub-lieutenant Fox. +</P> + +<P> +Flying at an altitude of about a thousand feet, one of the aerial +scouts was making towards the line of patrol-vessels. She was flying +steadily; her motor was purring rhythmically; a trail of thin bluish +smoke from her exhaust belied the suggestion of an overheated engine. +Yet something must have taken place for her to have quitted her +observation station. +</P> + +<P> +Promptly Captain Syllenger gave orders for the <I>Capella's</I> motors to +stop, then "Easy astern" until way was off the ship. +</P> + +<P> +Making a graceful volplane, the sea-plane alighted with a faint splash +upon the surface of the water, and "taxied" to leeward of the +motionless vessel. +</P> + +<P> +The sea-plane was a "two-seater". The rearmost or observer's seat was +unoccupied. In the foremost was a young Flight-Sub-lieutenant heavily +clad, and his clean-shaven face almost hidden by an airman's helmet. +For the first time, the officers on the bridge of the <I>Capella</I> noticed +that the light steel plating was holed in many places, while the planes +bore testimony to the accuracy of the enemy's shrapnel. +</P> + +<P> +"A casualty!" sang out the Flying officer. "My pilot's been hit. Can +you take him on board?" +</P> + +<P> +Two of the <I>Capella's</I> crew swarmed over the side and gained the +nearmost float, whence they clambered upon the body of the sea-plane. +At the same time, one of the davits from which the <I>Capella's</I> +shattered boat had hung was slung outboard. By dint of careful +manoeuvring, the sea-plane was brought alongside with her main planes +practically parallel to the side of the ship. +</P> + +<P> +The injured man was lying on the floor of the fuselage. A canvas band +was strapped round his waist, and, supported by the two seamen, he was +gently hoisted on board the ship by means of the davit tackle. +</P> + +<P> +The Flight-Sub swung himself over the side of the <I>Capella</I> and +ascended the bridge. +</P> + +<P> +"Got it hot at fifteen hundred feet," he explained. "My pilot was +winged. Hit twice, I believe. Luckily the old bird kept fairly steady +until I could clamber into the pilot's seat and take control. Rough +luck, too. We were just doing a useful bit of spotting. I suppose, +sir, there's no one on board who can handle a 'plane?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid not," replied Captain Syllenger. +</P> + +<P> +"Rough luck!" exclaimed the Sub despondently. Then, brightening up, he +asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Can you lend me a 'wireless' man? I could take on the pilot's job." +</P> + +<P> +"Our man's knocked out," said the skipper. +</P> + +<P> +"That's done it!" exclaimed the Sub. "There's a particularly tough +battery that I wanted to see knocked out. No. 5 was almost on it when +we got it hot." +</P> + +<P> +Ross was thinking rapidly and deeply. He knew the Morse code well. He +had dabbled in wireless telegraphy at school. Perhaps—— +</P> + +<P> +He felt that it was almost too impertinent to offer his services, yet +the matter was urgent. It was dangerous, too, most dangerous; but the +midshipman had learnt to place duty before personal consideration. +</P> + +<P> +"Well?" asked Captain Syllenger as Trefusis stepped up and saluted +smartly. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll go if I can be of any assistance, sir," said Ross. "I can Morse +and use a buzzer, and I have a knowledge of wireless." +</P> + +<P> +"Carry on, then," replied Captain Syllenger. +</P> + +<P> +"Good man!" exclaimed the Flight-Sub-lieutenant. "Can you stick +heights?" +</P> + +<P> +"I've done a lot of cliff climbing—I am a Cornishman, you know," said +Trefusis. "I haven't had a chance of flying before." +</P> + +<P> +"You have now!" added the Flight-Sub. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap26"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Disabled in Mid-air +</H3> + +<P> +Ross climbed agilely into the observer's seat, and, at his flying +companion's suggestion, buckled a broad leather strap round his waist. +At his right hand was the wireless transmitter, together with a pair of +prismatic glasses and map. The latter was held in a transparent +celluloid case, while the glasses were secured by a cord sufficiently +long to enable the observer to use them in any direction. Everything +was attached to the sea-plane so that in the event of the machine +having to "loop the loop" nothing would be lost. +</P> + +<P> +The Sub, who for the present was to act as pilot, took his place in the +forward part of the body. Giving a few preliminary touches to the +mechanism, he announced that everything was in order. +</P> + +<P> +The self-starter was released and the motor fired, causing the twin +propellers to buzz smoothly and powerfully. +</P> + +<P> +Ross waved his hand to his chum as the sea-plane glided away from the +<I>Capella</I>, and from that moment his whole attention was centred upon +the work on which he was engaged. +</P> + +<P> +For nearly a hundred yards the sea-plane "taxied", rising lightly over +the waves; then almost imperceptibly it glided upwards with an even +motion. Ross could hardly believe he was flying until he saw the sea +apparently receding from him. +</P> + +<P> +"All right?" asked the Sub through the telephone that formed the only +audible means of communication between pilot and observer. "Not +feeling giddy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit," replied Ross. Without experiencing the faintest sensation +of vertigo, he found himself able to lean over the side of the chassis +and look down at the scene two thousand feet beneath him. +</P> + +<P> +The sea-plane was rising in a direction diverging obliquely with the +coast. She was, in fact, almost over the line of empty transports that +looked little bigger than a fleet of toy boats. Farther away could be +discerned the <I>Capella</I> and her consorts, moving with apparent slowness +upon a perfectly calm sea, for at that altitude the waves were merged +into a flat surface. Small splashes of white—the spray thrown up by +falling shells—could be seen all around the patrol-vessels, which, in +obedience to a signal, had now taken up a position rather nearer to the +monitors. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the Flight-Sub, having gained the desired altitude, moved the +steering-plane ever so slightly. Quickly the machine answered her +helm, swinging round until she pointed towards the land. +</P> + +<P> +Three minutes later Ross found himself immediately above the British +monitors. The sea-plane was now pitching slightly in the disturbed +air, for the concussion of the heavy weapons was distinctly felt even +at seven hundred yards above the bombarding ships. Although the roar +of the concerted cannonade was deafening, Ross heard not a sound of it. +To all intents, as far as he was concerned, the guns might have been +fired with silencers attached to their muzzles. The whirr of the +sea-plane's motor and the rush of air past his ears out-voiced every +other sound. +</P> + +<P> +Five miles beyond the line of monitors, could be discerned the Belgian +coast, composed for the most part of undulating sand-dunes dotted with +clusters of buildings. +</P> + +<P> +As the sea-plane approached the land Ross could, with the aid of his +binoculars, distinguish other objects—wavy lines, dotted with ant-like +figures bunched together round something that looked like stumps of a +lead pencil. The lines were the German trenches, the "ants" +grey-coated artillerymen, and the "stumps" the heavy howitzers. +</P> + +<P> +"That's our pigeon!" spoke the Flight-Sub through the telephone. "The +battery a hundred yards to the north of that ruined church tower. Our +fellows haven't knocked it out yet. Wireless them; fifty yards over." +</P> + +<P> +Ross sent the desired information. The sea-plane, having flown over +its objective, turned, describing an elongated figure eight. As she +swung round, Ross noticed a mushroom-like cloud of white smoke a short +distance beneath, and to the left of the fuselage. Then another a +hundred feet immediately in front. At each "mushroom" the sea-plane +curtsied. Something zipped close to the lad's ear. A wire snapped, +the severed portions circling themselves into erratic spirals. A +fragment of fabric from one of the main planes flew past him, like a +scrap of tissue-paper in the grip of a boisterous wind. +</P> + +<P> +Then Ross tumbled to it. Those silent mushrooms of smoke were shrapnel +shells bursting unpleasantly close. For a moment, the young observer +felt himself seized by an almost irresistible impulse to take refuge +under the coaming surrounding his seat. He uttered an involuntary +exclamation of unwelcome surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"What's up?" asked a voice in his ear. It was the Flight-Sub, to whom +the telephone had transmitted Ross's exclamation. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing," replied the lad. +</P> + +<P> +"Thought so," was the laconic reply. "Don't worry." +</P> + +<P> +Reasoning with himself, Ross came to the decision that the advice was +thoroughly sound. Worrying would not help him in the least; neither +would cowering inside the frail body of the sea-plane. Twice within a +very short space of time he had experienced a sensation of "funk". +Twice he was surprised to find how quickly he recovered; for, at the +next shot from the monitor for which he was "spotting", he found that +the sensation of "cold feet" had given place to one of exhilaration +when he was able to record a "direct hit". +</P> + +<P> +By this time the initial operations were terminating. The German fire +had almost ceased to be troublesome. Most of the big howitzers and +long-range guns had been knocked out. A few were still firing, but +very erratically. +</P> + +<P> +At a signal from the senior officer, the monitors drew out of range, +and steaming at the maximum speed—a bare 11 knots—kept a course +parallel with the shore, accompanied by the patrol-vessels and +transports. +</P> + +<P> +Well above effective shrapnel range, the squadron of sea-planes headed +for Zeebrugge. A number of aviatiks, which were flying over the German +new sea base, hurriedly turned tail. Previous experience had taught +them that naval air-craft could hit hard, in addition to carrying out +observation work. +</P> + +<P> +There were, however, plenty of evidences that the Germans were rushing +up thousands of troops in order to deal with the supposed landing in +force. Train after train made towards the town, crammed with soldiers. +</P> + +<P> +The sea-planes let the trains pass unhindered. It was not their +purpose to stop Germans from pouring into Zeebrugge. Once the troops +were there, then would be the time to cut their lines of communication. +</P> + +<P> +Again the monitors opened fire. Their reception was hotter than it had +been in the neighbourhood of Ostend, for, in spite of frequent and +destructive molestation, the Germans had succeeded in throwing up +numerous heavily armed and cleverly concealed batteries. +</P> + +<P> +At almost extreme range the British ships maintained a rapid high-angle +fire. In a few minutes fires had broken out in several places. +Fifteen-hundred-pound shells dropped in the canal basin, blowing to +atoms several submarines that were in the process of fitting out. The +harbour works were swept by the huge projectiles. The long curved +breakwater suffered heavily. Huge gaps appeared in the solid masonry. +Everything lying afloat in the enclosed water was either set on fire or +sunk. In an hour the havoc wrought at Zeebrugge had wiped out the work +of months. +</P> + +<P> +Ross had little time to notice the work of destruction. His particular +business was to observe the fire directed upon a large redoubt to the +north-east of the town. The first shell from the monitor fell short, +blowing an enormous crater in the grass-grown dunes. The second fell +beyond, completely demolishing a house. The third dropped fairly in +the centre of the redoubt, causing a terrific explosion that was not +due solely to the lyddite bursting-charge. The magazine had exploded. +</P> + +<P> +Skywards rushed an enormous cloud of black and yellow smoke. Caught by +the blast of the violently displaced air the sea-plane rocked, then +began dropping like a stone. +</P> + +<P> +For the moment Ross imagined that the end had come. He was no longer +afraid. A sensation of intense curiosity as to what the machine and +its occupants would look like seemed to obsess his mind. +</P> + +<P> +Then, with a jerk that reminded the midshipman of the sudden starting +of a lift, the sea-plane "flattened out" and began to climb out of the +enveloping cloud of smoke. +</P> + +<P> +The Flight-Sub turned his head and grinned broadly. His manner could +not do otherwise than inspire confidence. Although not a pilot, he was +master of the frail machine. Side-slips and nose-dives troubled him +but little, provided he was flying at a safe altitude. +</P> + +<P> +"A jolly good wipe-out!" he exclaimed. "There won't be many Bosches +left within half a mile of that battery, I'm thinking. Now watch when +the next shot lands: that will give you the objective." +</P> + +<P> +A sharp buzzing in the receiver attached to Ross's flying helmet +announced that the monitor was "calling up" her observer. Quickly the +lad seized the pencil, and gave the signal that he was ready to take +down the message. +</P> + +<P> +The Morse signal, when translated into writing, was as follows:— +</P> + +<P> +"Register Position 47." +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" exclaimed the Plight-Sub when Ross had telephoned him the +message. He consulted his map, which was similar to the one at the +observer's disposal "Position 47: that's a railway junction." +</P> + +<P> +In the course of their work of fortifying Zeebrugge, the Huns had +constructed a double-track railway, passing within a few yards of the +Dutch frontier for several miles before heading straight for the new +submarine base. Two miles from Zeebrugge the line joined the existing +railway, the junction being recorded on British airmen's maps as +Position 47. +</P> + +<P> +The time was now ripe for the monitor which had successfully demolished +the redoubt to attempt a similar exploit, namely, to destroy the +junction. +</P> + +<P> +The sea-plane's appearance was the signal for a furious fire from the +numerous anti-aircraft guns mounted in the vicinity of the station. +</P> + +<P> +At six thousand feet the risk of being hit was small, while the height +did not prevent the observer making a fairly accurate register of the +hits. +</P> + +<P> +It was a very long range, but the monitor's 14-inch guns did excellent +work. Seven shells sufficed to reduce the station to a heap of ruins +and blow whole sections of the line to atoms. +</P> + +<P> +Again came a wireless order: +</P> + +<P> +"Sea-plane to proceed to Zwilhuit. Attempt destruction of bridge +across canal." +</P> + +<P> +Once more the Flight-Sub smiled. This was work that suited him +immensely. For the nonce "spotting" was finished with. The sea-plane +had to drop her cargo of bombs upon an important strategic position. +</P> + +<P> +"All right!" exclaimed the Flying officer. "Keep a cool head. When I +give the word, press that pedal under your right foot. Bend down and +you'll find a safety pin just above the floor. Remove it, but be jolly +careful not to touch the pedal until I give the word." +</P> + +<P> +Underneath the fuselage were six bombs hanging from an inclined steel +rod. These were released by means of a rachet operated by the pedal to +which the Flight-Sub had alluded. To prevent a premature release the +pedal was "locked" by a safety device. When this was removed, each +depression of the pedal would result in the liberation of a potent +missile of destruction. +</P> + +<P> +The sea-plane was not alone on her errand. In her wake flew two more, +for the actual bombardment had now ceased, and the air-craft were at +liberty to engage upon a raid several miles inland. +</P> + +<P> +The Huns had not constructed their strategic railway close to the Dutch +frontier without a cunning reason. Extreme care had to be exercised by +British airmen, since it was an easy matter for a bomb to drop across +the border. Nothing would please the Germans better, for at once there +would be a case of violation of Dutch territory. On the other hand, +the Huns had no scruple in mounting a battery of anti-aircraft guns, +training them in such a manner that the earthward flight of spent +shrapnel would assuredly fall upon the Dutch village of Venterloos, +which was separated from Zwilhuit by a distance of less than four +hundred yards. +</P> + +<P> +In twenty minutes the sea-plane's objective came in sight: a broad line +of railway crossing a canal by means of a steel bridge. It was evident +that the Germans meant this base to be a permanent one, for the bridge +was of massive construction, strong enough to bear the transport of the +heavy 42-centimetre guns, and yet sufficiently high above the waterway +to admit the passage of large lighters with towering deck-cargoes. +</P> + +<P> +"Stand by!" cautioned the Flight-Sub. "Keep cool. Do as well as you +have already done, and everything will go like greased lightning." +</P> + +<P> +Volplaning at an acute angle, the sea-plane swooped down upon her +quarry. Shrapnel shells burst over, in front, behind, and underneath +her. It seemed impossible that such a frail object could escape +destruction. +</P> + +<P> +At five hundred feet the Flight-Sub checked her downward course. +</P> + +<P> +"Now!" he ordered. "And again!" +</P> + +<P> +Two puffs of white smoke marked the points of explosion of the powerful +bombs. One had fallen fifty yards short of the bridge; the other had +burst almost at the junction of the railway lines. +</P> + +<P> +Round spun the sea-plane. As she turned Ross could discern the second +of the aerial raiders gliding down, while the third was still at a +great altitude. Before the one in which Ross was flying could again +soar over its target the second sea-plane had dropped three of her +missiles. All fell close to the bridge. The work of demolition was +accomplished, for when the smoke and dust cleared away the substantial +fabric had been precipitated, a mass of twisted steel, into the canal. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-247"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-247.jpg" ALT=""THE WORK OF DEMOLITION WAS ACCOMPLISHED"" BORDER="2" WIDTH="409" HEIGHT="633"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 450px"> +"THE WORK OF DEMOLITION WAS ACCOMPLISHED" +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +"Two more on the station and then we've finished," exclaimed the +Flight-Sub. "Ready?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ay, ay!" replied Ross. +</P> + +<P> +He turned his head to watch the progress of the other sea-planes. One +was still maintaining a terrific altitude, and showed no signs of +making a volplane. +</P> + +<P> +The other was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps it was as well that the +midshipman had not noticed what had befallen her, for a few seconds +previously a shrapnel shell had burst close underneath the chassis. +The explosion had communicated itself to the remaining bombs, with the +result that utter annihilation had overtaken the plucky British airmen +in the moment of their triumph. +</P> + +<P> +Ross's companion had witnessed the catastrophe. More, his trained eye +had discerned half a dozen small specks in the western sky. Quickly he +brought his binoculars to bear upon them. No mistake now; the specks +revealed themselves as German aviatiks intent upon cutting off the +retreat of the two remaining British air-craft. +</P> + +<P> +Not until Ross had dropped the remaining bombs did his companion speak. +</P> + +<P> +"We've a bit of a shooting match on," he announced. "Get that rifle +ready. It's under the coaming on your right hand. Sight at three +hundred yards, and let rip when I give the word." +</P> + +<P> +Ross took up the weapon almost as a matter of course. After the +excitement of bomb-dropping and being shelled by shrapnel, the approach +of a fleet of Zeppelins would hardly disturb his equanimity. +</P> + +<P> +Already the third sea-plane, having gained a favourable altitude, was +making straight for her numerous opponents. +</P> + +<P> +The Flight-Sub now began to speed his machine up, climbing in short +spirals, so as to gain what was equivalent to the "weather-gauge" in +the sea battles of Nelson's days. +</P> + +<P> +Ross unslipped the rifle. Mechanically he set the back-sight, and +jerked open the bolt-action to assure himself that the magazine was +charged. As he did so he became aware that the cartridges were bent +and buckled. A piece of shrapnel, passing through the side of the +fuselage, had lodged in the magazine of the rifle. In addition, +although it was possible to withdraw the bolt, the striking-pin had +jammed. As a weapon the rifle was useless. By stopping the shrapnel +bullet the rifle had saved Ross from a serious and perhaps mortal wound. +</P> + +<P> +The midshipman was on the point of reporting the disablement of the +weapon, when the motor gave vent to a peculiar cough and abruptly +stopped. Unknown to the pilot the petrol-tank had been pierced almost +at its lowest point. The remaining petrol had been used up during the +spiraling process. The sea-plane was now at an altitude of three +thousand feet; propulsion, except under the force of gravity, was no +longer possible. +</P> + +<P> +The Flight-Sub was quick to act. Before the hitherto climbing +air-craft began diving tail downwards, he regulated the elevating +planes, and a long volplane ensued. The sea-plane was bound to come to +earth, but it was not on hostile soil that the airman hoped to alight. +His goal was the ground beyond the seemingly endless line of barbed +wire that marked the frontier between Belgium and Holland. +</P> + +<P> +The anti-aircraft guns had now opened fire, blazing furiously away at +the rapidly descending sea-plane. The rapidity of her descent saved +her, for, before the time-fuses could be altered to suit the +ever-varying range, the air-craft was well below the bursting-point of +the missiles. Nothing but a direct hit—a most difficult matter—could +harm her now. +</P> + +<P> +At a thousand feet she passed the border-line. Still the Archibalds +barked. Ross could see the Dutch frontier guards bolting for shelter +as the hall of bullets fell on neutral ground. Not until the sea-plane +was well over the boundary did the guns reluctantly cease fire. +</P> + +<P> +The earth appeared to leap up and meet the descending machine. It +looked as if a terrific smash were inevitable. A sea-plane alighting +upon solid ground has a thousand chances against her, for, being +unprovided with landing wheels, she is not adapted to withstand +successfully the impact with the earth. +</P> + +<P> +Cool and collected, the Flight-Sub "flattened her out" to a nicety. At +forty miles an hour the floats struck the ground. For twenty yards the +sea-plane skidded, then with a rending crash the floats and a network +of struts and tension-wires gave way under the abnormal strain. The +next instant Ross found himself sprawling on the sandy soil, the sudden +jerk tearing his securing-belt from its fastenings. +</P> + +<P> +He sat up. A multitude of dazzling lights seemed to flash before his +eyes. He was dimly aware of a tangle of wreckage, out of which a +practically undamaged plane rose at an oblique angle, lumbering the +ground quite twenty yards from where he found himself. Men were +hastening towards the wrecked sea-plane from all directions, but, thank +Heaven, they did not wear the uniform of the Hun. +</P> + +<P> +With his head still whirling, Ross was supported by two Dutch soldiers, +while a third poured a quantity of raw spirits down his throat. Blood +was streaming from a gash on his forehead, and his knees, grazed and +discoloured, were visible through rents in his trousers. +</P> + +<P> +Of what happened during the next quarter of an hour, the midshipman had +but a very hazy idea. The men had laid him on the ground, propping him +against a large stone. He felt horribly sick. The pain across his +chest, caused by the strain upon the leather belt, was acute—far worse +than the wound on his forehead which the kindly soldiers were bathing +with handkerchiefs dipped in water. +</P> + +<P> +The men were talking excitedly. He could not understand what they were +saying. He felt inclined to tell them to shut up. They irritated him +beyond measure; if only they would go away and leave him in peace he +would be deeply grateful. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly it dawned upon him that he had been in an awful smash. The +wrecked sea-plane had not hitherto led the train of his thoughts to the +subject of the accident. Now he realized his position. +</P> + +<P> +"Where's my companion?" he asked, "Is he knocked out?" +</P> + +<P> +"Do not yourself fret," said a voice that sounded far away. "He is +hurt, but badly not at all. We him have carried away. I am a doctor. +You quiet must be, and zen recovery rapide will be." +</P> + +<P> +The doctor—a Dutch army surgeon—ran his hands lightly over the lad's +limbs. +</P> + +<P> +"Goot!" he ejaculated. "Nodings broken is." +</P> + +<P> +He gave directions to the men in attendance. A stretcher was laid on +the ground beside the lad. Two men lifted him gently upon it. Even as +they did so, Ross gave a low groan and passed into merciful oblivion. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap27"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Not on Parole +</H3> + +<P> +"Ver' goot. I understan' you no give parole?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir," replied the Flight-Sub firmly. +</P> + +<P> +"An' you, mynheer?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am in the same boat, sir," replied Ross. +</P> + +<P> +The camp-commandant smiled—a hearty smile, bordering on a laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Goot, I understan' also," he reiterated. Then, shaking a podgy little +finger, he added: "Same boat, ah? English idiomatic expression? Ver' +well, it is so; but if you make escape, do not let me you catch. Zat +is all." +</P> + +<P> +A week had elapsed since the involuntary descent of the sea-plane. +Both officers were making rapid progress towards recovery, for, in +spite of the violence of the impact, neither of them had received +anything worse than contusions and bruises. +</P> + +<P> +After three days in hospital at Utrecht, the interned aviators were +transferred to a small concentration camp at the village of Koedijk, a +short distance from Alkmaar. A few miles to the westward, and beyond +an expanse of sand dunes, was the North Sea. The temptation to refuse +to give their parole was not to be wondered at, with the call of the +sea so near at hand. It was, indeed, rather remarkable that the two +officers had not been sent to the large internment camp at Groningen, +where so many of the ill-fated Naval Brigade languished, if not in +captivity, in a state of enforced and tedious detention. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll have to be doubly careful now," remarked the Flight-Sub. "The +mere fact that we have declined to give our parole will put the +commandant on his guard. Our best plan will be to mark time for a bit." +</P> + +<P> +"Marking time is always an unsatisfactory business," protested the +energetic Ross. "Nothing rusts a fellow like inaction. It wouldn't be +much of a task to tunnel our way out." +</P> + +<P> +The Flight-Sub shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Tunnelling's not much good in this water-logged country," he declared. +"We are not water-rats. Patience, my festive: where there's a will +there's a way." +</P> + +<P> +Their quarters consisted of a long, two-storied building. The only +other occupants beside the guards, were three British Naval officers +rescued from a mined trawler that had managed to reach Dutch waters +before foundering. Two of them had broken legs; the third was down +with double pneumonia, the legacy of many a cold, stormy night in the +North Sea. +</P> + +<P> +Surrounding the house was a high brick wall, on which had been recently +placed a triple row of barbed wire. At the entrance, an archway about +ten feet in height, stood a wooden sentry-box, where a soldier with +rifle and fixed bayonet kept guard in the leisurely manner of the +stolid Dutch menfolk. One could imagine him, a picturesque figure in +baggy trousers and coat of fantastic cut, smoking his pipe on the quay +at Volendam. The blue uniform did not form a fitting mantle for his +corpulent form. +</P> + +<P> +The sentry was one of a type. The rest of the guards—middle-aged men +called up on mobilization—were much of the same build and demeanour. +Their innate love of gossiping tempted them to be on most friendly +terms with the interned officers. One and all were violently +pro-British. They had reason to dread the German menace, for they were +level-headed enough to realize that, with the Central Powers +triumphant, the independence of Holland would be a thing of the past. +</P> + +<P> +Adjoining the grounds were the quarters occupied by interned seamen, to +the number of about sixty. They were strictly guarded; a formidable +double fence of barbed wire, between which armed sentries patrolled, +enclosed the premises. For discipline, the men were under the orders +of their own petty officers. +</P> + +<P> +"Jolly good luck to you!" exclaimed one of the wounded officers, to +whom the two new-comers confided their intention of escaping. "If we +three weren't crocked we should have been across the ditch by this +time." +</P> + +<P> +He pointed seawards as he spoke. From the upper windows of the +building the sunlit sea could be seen. Beyond the "ditch", as he +termed it, was England and freedom. +</P> + +<P> +"It's no use trying to break out," he continued. "German spies as +thick as blackberries along the coast. The most benevolent-looking +mynheer might, as likely as not, be a kultured Hun. You have to be +smuggled out. Try your blandishments on old Katje." +</P> + +<P> +"Old who?" asked the Flight-Sub. +</P> + +<P> +"Katje, the old vrouw who calls for the washing. She comes every +Tuesday and Friday with a cart drawn by dogs, and a basket big enough +to stow the pair of you. You'll want plenty of palm oil. There are +the sentries to be squared, and the fellow who provides you with a suit +of 'mufti'. Wilson, our Lieutenant-Commander, got clear about a month +ago. He made his way to Ymuiden." +</P> + +<P> +"Wasn't there a row about it?" asked Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"Naturally," replied the wounded officer. "We had a pretty strenuous +time after it—certain privileges withdrawn and all that sort of thing. +However, when we heard that Wilson had succeeded in making his way to +England we didn't mind that, and things have now recovered their normal +appearance." +</P> + +<P> +On the following Tuesday, Ross and his companion anxiously awaited the +arrival of Vrouw Katje. At length the old lady—she was nearly +eighty—drove up in style, shouting shrilly to her dogs from her perch +on top of an enormous wicker hamper. +</P> + +<P> +"More washing for you, Katje," announced one of the crippled officers. +"Two more of my countrymen. They will be very pleased to see you." +</P> + +<P> +Without further ado, Katje ascended the stairs and hammered violently +upon the door of the sitting-room. +</P> + +<P> +Her knowledge of English was good, for earlier in life she was the wife +of the skipper of a bolter that made regular voyages to Hole Haven at +the mouth of the Thames, where a large eel trade was in the hands of +the Dutch fishermen. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well; but I must ask permission of the Commandant," replied +Katje, in perfect good faith, when the Flight-Sub had broached the +subject of being conveyed from the internment camp. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no," protested the young officer in alarm; "that won't do." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" persisted the washerwoman. "Mynheer the Commandant is very +kind." +</P> + +<P> +"Undoubtedly," replied the Flight-Sub. "But we would much rather that +you wait until we are away from the place before you ask him. See, +here are five English sovereigns. They are yours once you get us +clear." +</P> + +<P> +The vrouw shook her head. +</P> + +<P> +"I do not care to," she replied firmly; then without a pause she +continued: "My son-in-law, Jan van Beverwijk, will. I am sure he will. +Next Friday he will come instead of me. He is mate of a steamship that +takes the bulbs from Holland to England. He returns to-morrow, and +sails on Saturday from Ymuiden." +</P> + +<P> +"That sounds excellent," commented the Flight-Sub. +</P> + +<P> +"It is excellent," agreed Katje. "It will cost you each twenty English +sovereigns." +</P> + +<P> +"But we haven't ten between us." +</P> + +<P> +The vrouw smiled till her weather-beaten face was one mass of deep +wrinkles. +</P> + +<P> +"You English have a proverb about a road," she remarked. +</P> + +<P> +"'It's a long lane that has no turning?'" quoted the officer; but Katje +shook her head. +</P> + +<P> +"'Where there's a will there's a way'," suggested Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! That is it. I knew it was something about a road or a lane. +Way, you call it. Very well; by next Friday you will find a way." +</P> + +<P> +"Artful old baggage!" exclaimed the Flight-Sub when Katje had taken her +departure. "She's mighty keen on the rhino. We'll have to have a whip +round, Trefusis, and give a note of hand." +</P> + +<P> +Their brothers in adversity willingly responded to the call, and before +the eventful Friday a sum in English and Dutch coinage, equivalent to +forty pounds, was ready to be handed to Jan van Beverwijk. +</P> + +<P> +"I wouldn't pay cash on the nail if I were you," suggested the crippled +officer who had been so useful in advising them before. "Half down, +and the rest when you land in England. Jan might object, but he'll +give in. No Dutchman of his standing would shut his eyes to twenty in +hard cash." +</P> + +<P> +At eight o'clock on Friday morning Katje's dog-team romped up; but, +instead of the old vrouw, a lean, leather-faced man with a long coat +reaching to his heels and a flat-topped peak cap strode beside the cart. +</P> + +<P> +At the gate he stopped, and spoke at considerable length with the +sentry. There was hardly any expression on the faces of the two men as +they talked. Whether the soldier fell in with the suggestion, Ross, +who was anxiously watching from the window, could not decide. +</P> + +<P> +Presently Jan stooped to fasten the strap of one of his <I>klompen</I>, or +wooden shoes; then shouting to the dogs he came towards the house. +Before he had gone very far, the sentry bent and picked up something +that was lying on the spot where Jan had been attending to his footgear. +</P> + +<P> +"Palm oil!" remarked the Flight-Sub laconically. +</P> + +<P> +"Heavy wash to-day," was Jan's greeting as he deposited his heavy +basket in the corridor. "Spot cash, down on the nail." +</P> + +<P> +"Your knowledge of English is remarkable," said the Flight-Sub affably. +</P> + +<P> +"It has to be," rejoined the Dutchman stolidly. +</P> + +<P> +"We have only twenty pounds," declared the Sub. "That we will give you +as soon as we are on board and in English waters. The balance Mr. +Brown will give you on your return, on receipt of a note from us to the +effect that we are safely home." +</P> + +<P> +"It cannot be done," said Jan. +</P> + +<P> +"Then the deal's off," remarked the Flight-Sub coolly; but he +ostentatiously poured the coins from his right hand into his left +before returning them to his pocket. +</P> + +<P> +The Dutchman capitulated. +</P> + +<P> +"Very good," he said. "I can trust an English Naval officer, although +many a time have I been done in London. Get in, one of you." +</P> + +<P> +"But the other?" enquired the Sub. +</P> + +<P> +"I am strong, but I am not a Hercules," replied the Dutchman with a +shrug of his shoulders. "One I can carry to the cart. To-day is a +heavy wash, so I must return for a second load. You twig?" +</P> + +<P> +"In you get, Trefusis," ordered his companion, in a tone that would +brook no refusal. +</P> + +<P> +By dint of hunching his shoulders and bending his knees, Ross managed +to get into the basket. The lid was shut, and Jan, assisted by the +Sub, lifted the heavy load on to his shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +Jolting over the cobble-stones, the cart proceeded at a rapid pace for +nearly a quarter of an hour. Then Jan called to the dogs to stop. The +lid was thrown back and Ross told to get out. +</P> + +<P> +He found himself outside a small cottage by the side of a canal. Katje +was on her knees washing a bundle of clothes; the operation assisted, +with disastrous results to the interned officers' effects, by means of +two large stones with which she pounded the saturated garments. +Without even turning her head to watch the midshipman's exit from the +basket, she proceeded vigorously with her task. +</P> + +<P> +Jan led him into the cottage and pointed to a heap of clothes. +</P> + +<P> +"Put these on you," he said. "I will now go for your friend." +</P> + +<P> +Before the Flight-Sub rejoined him, Ross was rigged out as a Dutch +youth, in voluminous trousers, long coat, stock, tall cylindrical hat, +green stockings, and wooden shoes. His companion had to look twice +before he recognized him. +</P> + +<P> +"Now you come with me to Mynheer Guit," said Jan. "He is a bulb +merchant, and lives just outside Ymuiden. You will then go on board a +barge that brings the boxes of bulbs from Mynheer Guit's warehouse to +the ship. I will be with you. The men in the barge will say nothing. +Before to-night you will be safe on board the <I>Hoorn</I>." +</P> + +<P> +Jan was as good as his word. That night the fugitives slept +comfortably in the cabin of the mate of the steamship <I>Hoorn</I>; and at +tide-time, early on Saturday morning while it was still dark, the +vessel glided between the breakwater of Ymuiden, and shaped a course +for the mouth of the Thames. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap28"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Almost Recaptured +</H3> + +<P> +"What's that light, Jan?" asked the Flight-Sub. +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Hoorn</I> was now well beyond the three-mile limit. Ross and his +fellow-passenger were standing aft, sheltering from the keen +south-westerly wind. The mate of the vessel was with them, the skipper +being on the bridge. +</P> + +<P> +"Those lights?" corrected Jan. "They have been visible all the time. +They are the two white leading-lights to Ymuiden harbour." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I don't mean those," said the Flight-Sub. "Away to the south'ard, +quite a mile from the harbour. See, it's showing again." +</P> + +<P> +From the dunes a white light blinked thrice and then disappeared. +</P> + +<P> +"I do not know," answered Jan gravely. He thought for a moment and +then said: "Half a mo'. I will speak to the skipper." +</P> + +<P> +"Hanged if I like it," muttered the Flight-Sub. "I say, Trefusis, that +light blinking away looks very fishy. It would mean a fifty-pound fine +in England; but here, apparently, it is not objected to." +</P> + +<P> +The skipper and the mate were talking rapidly. Both men were leaning +over the after side of the bridge-rails, with their eyes fixed upon the +dark shore from which the mysterious light flickered at regular +intervals. +</P> + +<P> +"Light on the port bow," reported the helmsman. Both of the <I>Hoorn's</I> +officers turned just in time to catch sight of a steady white light +before it disappeared. Whatever its meaning, it was remarkable that +from that moment the shore light ceased to blink. +</P> + +<P> +"Put out our navigation lamps, Jan," said the skipper. "Someone has +betrayed your English friends. Nevertheless I will do all in my power +to aid them. We'll steer south-west for an hour. Perhaps we may +outwit yon craft, whatever she may be, before dawn." +</P> + +<P> +Ross and his companion were quick to note the alteration of helm. They +knew, too, that the removal of the steaming-lights was for the purpose +of baffling what must be, to a dead certainty, a German craft—a +submarine, or perhaps a torpedo-boat, since the latter frequently +ventured out of Borkum and crept stealthily towards the Schelde, +keeping close to the Dutch territorial waters in order to avoid being +snapped by the vigilant British destroyer flotilla. +</P> + +<P> +Slowly the wintry day dawned. Anxiously the British officers scanned +the horizon. The low-lying Dutch coast was now invisible. All around +was a waste of grey, tumbling waves, unbroken by a sail of any +description. +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Hoorn</I> was ploughing her way at a modest ten knots. Short, beamy, +and deep-draughted, she was pitching heavily, sending a frothy bow wave +far to leeward each time she dipped her nose into the steep seas. +</P> + +<P> +"I'd give a fiver for the sight of a good old White Ensign at the +present moment," remarked the Flight-Sub anxiously. "Good heavens, +what's that?" +</P> + +<P> +Ten seconds later he laughed mirthlessly. +</P> + +<P> +"Nerves going to blazes," he muttered. "A bit of wreckage gave me the +jumps. By Jove, don't we look a pair of comical objects?" +</P> + +<P> +They had discarded their grotesque head-dress. Ross had a woollen +muffler wrapped round his head, while his companion had been given the +loan of a red stocking-cap, but they still retained the weird garb in +which they had made their journey down the ship canal. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Ross gripped his companion's arm and pointed with his right +hand to a spar-like object projecting a few feet, close to the waves, +at less than a cable's length on the port quarter. +</P> + +<P> +"A periscope!" ejaculated the Flight-Sub. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's hope it's one of our own submarines," said Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll soon find out," added his companion. "It's forging ahead. +Whatever it is, they've got us under observation." +</P> + +<P> +Jan, who was now on the bridge, had his attention called to the +disconcerting fact. He beckoned to his two passengers. +</P> + +<P> +"You had better go below and stow yourselves away," he suggested. "We +will be boarded before long." +</P> + +<P> +"Not I," replied the Flight-Sub. "They've marked us already. If they +do take us they won't have to dig us out of a coal-bunker." +</P> + +<P> +The submarine was emerging. At a pace that more than held its own with +the <I>Hoorn</I>, she shook herself clear of the water, although green seas +were breaking across the flat deck as far aft as the conning-tower. +</P> + +<P> +Then muffled forms clambered through the hatchway; a young, +yellow-bearded officer appeared on the navigation platform and hailed +the <I>Hoorn</I> in Dutch to heave to instantly. +</P> + +<P> +Even then the tough old Dutch skipper was not going to give in without +a protest. +</P> + +<P> +"For what reason?" he shouted back. "This is a Netherlands ship." +</P> + +<P> +"That I do not doubt," rejoined the officer of the submarine. "But you +have two Englishmen on board who have broken their parole——" +</P> + +<P> +"You lie!" interrupted the skipper vehemently. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a word more!" exclaimed the German fiercely. "Heave to, or we +sink you!" +</P> + +<P> +Reluctantly the "old man" gave the order to stop the engines. Jan, +sliding down the bridge ladder, communicated to the British officers +the text of the conversation. +</P> + +<P> +"Some rascal of a German spy has betrayed you," he added. "If I could +lay my hands upon him——" +</P> + +<P> +There was a look on the Dutchman's face which showed that his anger was +genuine. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Jan," said the Flight-Sub. "It's the fortune of war." +</P> + +<HR ALIGN="center" WIDTH="60%"> + +<P> +"Deucedly rotten morning," remarked Sub-lieutenant Fox as he greeted +the officer of the watch, whom he was about to relieve. +</P> + +<P> +Eccles, the Lieutenant, who had been on the <I>Capella's</I> bridge for four +long and dreary hours, merely nodded sleepily. He was thinking, with +feelings of satisfaction, of the hot coffee and fragrant bacon and eggs +awaiting him below. Three minutes had to elapse before eight bells. +Wearily he rubbed his salt-rimmed eyelids with a heavily gloved hand. +</P> + +<P> +"<I>Taurus</I> wirelessed twenty minutes ago," he reported, as the two +officers entered the chart-room. "She was then at the extreme limit of +her northerly course. You ought to sight her very shortly. Here's our +course"—he indicated the pencilled line on the chart. "Nothing to +report: there never is when I'm officer of the watch. It's this +infernal monotony that plays havoc with a fellow's nerves." +</P> + +<P> +Noel Fox nodded sympathetically. Although the <I>Capella</I> had been only +six days on her new station—keeping a watch on the Dutch coast between +the Texel and the North Hinder Lightship—he, too, was mightily "fed +up" with the task of "treading on the tail of Germany's coat". +</P> + +<P> +Not so much as the periscope of a hostile submarine had been sighted. +The German torpedo-boats that occasionally sneaked southwards from +Borkum were taking an enforced holiday. Perhaps it was in sympathy +with the "High Seas Fleet" skulking in the Kiel Canal. In any case, +the six motor craft of the <I>Capella</I> class had a full share of wintry +conditions in the North Sea without any compensating adventures to +mitigate the monotony. +</P> + +<P> +As Eccles descended from the bridge, a great-coated muffled-up figure, +followed by a large dog, swung himself up the ladder. +</P> + +<P> +"Morning, Haye," was Noel Fox's salutation, as he stooped to pat Shrap, +the chartered libertine of the <I>Capella</I>. "Dash it all, it is cold! +Makes a fellow wish he were a sheep-dog. Here, Shrap, off you go and +get your whiskers trimmed. I can see Tomkins waiting for you." +</P> + +<P> +The dog needed no second order. Every morning just after eight bells +Shrap would be taken over by the watch below. Every man took a delight +in combing the animal's long hair, until Shrap's coat was the pride of +the <I>Capella's</I> crew and the envy of the rest of the flotilla, whose +mascots never aspired to be more than a tame rat, parrot, or canary. +</P> + +<P> +"Sail on the port bow, sir," bawled the look-out. +</P> + +<P> +The Sub and the midshipman promptly levelled their telescopes. A small +cargo-steamer was pitching and rolling as she forged slowly ahead on a +westerly course. Although she was fairly discernible against the pale +grey of the eastern sky, it could be taken for granted that from the +Dutchman's bridge the neutral-grey-painted <I>Capella</I> would be +practically invisible. +</P> + +<P> +"She's slowing down," declared Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +"What on earth for?" enquired the Sub. "She couldn't possibly have +spotted us. Starboard your helm, quartermaster. Good! Keep her at +that. We'll get her to make her number, if nothing else." +</P> + +<P> +Again Noel Fox levelled his telescope. Then he thrust it into a rack +on the side of the chart-room, and bellowed: +</P> + +<P> +"Turn up, both watches. Action stations. Submarine ahead." +</P> + +<P> +His quick glance had discerned the after part of a large unterseeboot +as she ranged alongside the Dutchman, whose high sides screened most of +the submarine from the <I>Capella</I>, and conversely prevented the Germans +clustered amidships from noticing the approach of the swift British +patrol-vessel. +</P> + +<P> +For the next few minutes, all was bustle and orderly confusion on board +the <I>Capella</I>. Taking three steps at a time, Captain Syllenger gained +the bridge, closely followed by Eccles, to whom the sudden interruption +of a hearty breakfast came as a welcome call. +</P> + +<P> +At a terrific pace the sleuth-hound of the sea tore towards the +<I>Hoorn</I>, for such she was. Rounding under her squat counter, and +reversing engines, the <I>Capella</I> brought up within fifty yards of the +submarine before the astonished Germans could realize their precarious +plight. +</P> + +<P> +"Surrender, or I sink you!" roared Captain Syllenger. +</P> + +<P> +The grim muzzles of the <I>Capella's</I> 4.7's, trained at a point-blank +range, were a conclusive argument. Without waiting for orders, the +majority of the unterseeboot's crew held up their arms. For a brief +instant did her Kapitan hesitate. +</P> + +<P> +"Me surrender," he replied. +</P> + +<P> +"Very good; I accept your surrender," replied the <I>Capella's</I> skipper. +"But understand, any attempt to open the sea-cocks will mean that no +quarter will be given. Order all hands below, and leave the hatchways +open. You will oblige me by proceeding on board His Majesty's ship +<I>Capella</I>." +</P> + +<P> +By this time the <I>Hoorn</I> was forging ahead, since she was in danger of +drifting down upon the captured submarine. In the excitement of the +capture, no one on board noticed two grotesquely garbed men on the +<I>Hoorn</I> whose antics resembled those of a pair of demented creatures; +nor was the presence of a couple of dejected German leutnants and five +seamen, stranded on board the Dutchman, observed, as the Huns +frantically besought the obdurate skipper of the <I>Hoorn</I> to steam as +hard as he could towards the Dutch coast. +</P> + +<P> +It was Vernon Haye's duty to take the cutter and board the prize. It +was a hazardous piece of work, for the sea was now fairly high, and +breaking under the effect of tide against wind; but, with the exception +of a broken top-strake, the boat managed to lie sufficiently close +alongside the submarine to enable the midshipman and five seamen to +board. +</P> + +<P> +Already the German crew were below. Hatches were lowered and secured, +with the exception of the one in the after side of the conning-tower. +This could be left open without fear of the submarine being swamped, +while, to prevent the captured crew closing it and making an attempt to +dive, the steel cover was removed from its hinges and secured on deck. +The Black Cross flag was hauled down and rehoisted under the White +Ensign, and preparations were made to take the prize in tow. +</P> + +<P> +It was some time before a grass rope, to which a stout wire hawser was +bent, could be veered from the <I>Capella's</I> quarter and taken on board +the submarine, but eventually the hawser was made fast. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, sir," said Vernon, addressing the German Kapitan. "Will you +please step into that boat? Where are the other officers?" +</P> + +<P> +"In that ship," replied the Hun sullenly, as he pointed towards the +<I>Hoorn</I>. "They will not welcome you, but there are others who will." +</P> + +<P> +Not knowing what the German meant, Vernon indicated that he should get +on board the cutter. +</P> + +<P> +"There are two German officers on board that vessel, air," reported the +midshipman, as the boat came alongside the <I>Capella</I>. "Am I to bring +them off?" +</P> + +<P> +Captain Syllenger hesitated before replying. It was a knotty problem. +To remove by force the subjects of a hostile nation from a neutral ship +was contrary to international law. However much the Germans violated +the "right of search", it was not Great Britain's policy to engage upon +reprisals. Holland, although a third-rate Power, had to be treated +with due courtesy. +</P> + +<P> +"It's all the same in the long run," replied Captain Syllenger. "Board +that vessel, Mr. Haye, and see what those fellows are doing there. If +the Dutch skipper objects to their presence on his hooker, then bundle +them into the boat. If, on the other hand, he protests against their +removal, let them remain. They will be collared as soon as the ship +enters our three-mile limit." +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Hoorn</I> had once more come to a dead stop, at two cables' length +from the British patrol-vessel. +</P> + +<P> +As the <I>Capella's</I> cutter came alongside, Vernon agilely scrambled up +the "monkey ladder" and gained the deck. +</P> + +<P> +"Hulloa, old man!" exclaimed a well-known voice. +</P> + +<P> +Vernon looked at the speaker. He knew the voice, but for a moment he +failed to recognize in the oddly garbed youth his chum Ross Trefusis. +Then he grinned broadly. +</P> + +<P> +"My word!" he exclaimed. "You do cut a pretty figure." +</P> + +<P> +Had they been of any nationality but British, the lads would have +fallen on each other's necks and perhaps kissed each other. Instead, +they stood a yard apart and laughed—but their mutual joy was none the +less genuine. +</P> + +<P> +"So you've come to fetch the German Leutnant and his boat's crew," said +Ross, after Haye had been introduced to the Flight-Sub. "He's +somewhere below. You'll recognize him right enough." +</P> + +<P> +"Eh?" asked Vernon incredulously. +</P> + +<P> +"Rather!" declared Ross emphatically. "You'd never guess. It's our +old pal, Hermann Rix, late of U75. No wonder he's tearing his hair, +for he must have broken his parole. He knew me directly he came over +the side, and didn't forget to rub it in. You should have seen his +face when, in the midst of his beastly gibes, the old <I>Capella</I> came +snorting up." +</P> + +<P> +With Jan acting as interpreter, Vernon put his case before the Dutch +skipper, who seemed only too delighted at the way events had turned. +His satisfaction at getting rid of his Hunnish visitors was evident, in +spite of the stolidity of his manners. +</P> + +<P> +"I want no pirates on board the <I>Hoorn</I>," he said. "Take them and +welcome!" +</P> + +<P> +While the Flight-Sub and Ross were "squaring up" with the good-hearted +Jan, Vernon rounded up Ober-leutnant Rix and his boat's crew. Finding +that their protests to the Dutch skipper were of no avail, they +sullenly gave in. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here," said Ross, taking his chum aside. "I don't want to crow +over that fellow. It isn't cricket. You might take him to the +<I>Capella</I> and come back for us. You'll have a pretty good load as it +is." +</P> + +<P> +"Two British officers, escaped from an internment camp, on board the +<I>Hoorn</I>, sir," reported Vernon, as he delivered his cargo of German +prisoners on board the <I>Capella</I>. "They would like to be taken off." +</P> + +<P> +"Carry on, then," replied Captain Syllenger. +</P> + +<P> +As the cutter returned from her second trip to the <I>Hoorn</I>, the +<I>Capella's</I> crew awaited with undisguised curiosity the arrival of the +men who had contrived to escape from irksome detention in a neutral +country. +</P> + +<P> +Presently Shrap, who was sitting up on the quarterdeck, gave a bark of +delight. +</P> + +<P> +"Good old Shrap!" said Ross. "He knew me in spite of my rig-out." +</P> + +<P> +"Blow me, if it ain't Mr. Trefusis!" exclaimed one of the men. +</P> + +<P> +The next instant the first of three hearty cheers burst from the +throats of the crew, with whom Ross was a great favourite. The +Dutchmen, too, joined in, to the accompaniment of a prolonged blast +upon the <I>Hoorn's</I> siren as she resumed her interrupted voyage. +</P> + +<P> +"It's like being home again," declared Ross, after Captain Syllenger +and the other officers had congratulated him. "But, I say, can anyone +lend me a decent suit of togs?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap29"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Bound for the Baltic +</H3> + +<P> +A fortnight had elapsed since the day on which H.M.S. <I>Capella</I> towed +the captured unterseeboot into Harwich harbour. Since then she had +been attached to a base on the East coast of Scotland, her sphere of +usefulness in the English Channel being a thing of the past. +</P> + +<P> +The German blockade had fizzled out like a damp squib. Absolutely +afraid to risk the remaining boats in operations that would certainly +end in their being unceremoniously conveyed to Davy Jones's locker, the +German Admiralty had dispatched them to the Mediterranean, where, under +the Austrian flag, they attempted, at first with a certain degree of +success, to terrorize merchantmen by their "frightfulness". +</P> + +<P> +So the <I>Capella</I> had been ordered to Cromarty Firth, pending the +completion of arrangements for sending a fleet of swift destroyers and +patrol-boats to operate in conjunction with the British submarines in +the Baltic. +</P> + +<P> +Almost the first duty Ross had to undertake upon arrival was to draw +money for the ship's company from the Paymaster's office at Invergordon. +</P> + +<P> +Accompanied by six seamen, wearing their side-arms and carrying three +canvas bags, the midshipman landed, and proceeded to the office. +Leaving the escort "standing easy", Ross entered the building and found +himself confronted by a door on which was painted the words, +"Accountant Officer". Underneath was a piece of cardboard on which was +written: "Don't knock—walk in". +</P> + +<P> +The midshipman accepted the invitation and entered. It was a large +room. Against one wall were three knee-hole desks, at which were +seated naval "writers"—petty officers detached for clerical work. Two +more were bending over a large tray, studiously engaged in "putting the +money up", or placing wages in the compartments of the tray in order to +facilitate the forthcoming payment to the civilian workers attached to +the establishment. At a large desk was an officer, with his head +almost touching a litter of papers. His back was turned, but Ross +could see by the gold-and-white band that he was an Assistant Paymaster. +</P> + +<P> +Hearing footsteps behind him, the A.P. broke into a torrent of abuse: +</P> + +<P> +"Of all the scatter-brained idiots that act the giddy goat, this +strafed lunatic takes the proverbial ship's biscuit!" he exclaimed. +"Just look here, Carruthers; did you ever see such a piece of arrant +tomfoolery——" +</P> + +<P> +He turned his head, and saw it was not Carruthers. +</P> + +<P> +"Sorry," he said apologetically. "Thought it was someone else. You +must have imagined that I was off my head. It's a wonder I'm not. +Look at this: here am I up to my eyes in work, and I get this sort of +thing fired at me." +</P> + +<P> +Ross looked at the tendered document. It was headed: "Queries in the +Store Ledger", and the gem to which the harassed A.P. had referred was +as follows:— +</P> + +<P> +"4 oz. tin-tacks. Please say if these are synonymous with 'tacks +tinned'." +</P> + +<P> +The midshipman laughed. The A.P. glared. +</P> + +<P> +"Some rotten idiot drawing five hundred a year evidently doesn't +realize it's war-time," he growled. "Now, what can I do for you?" +</P> + +<P> +At length the midshipman received the necessary coin. He was about to +leave the officer when he found himself face to face with John Barry, +now a Lieutenant-Commander, R.N.R. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my soul, Trefusis!" exclaimed Barry cordially. "I am glad to +see you. I heard the new <I>Capella</I> was ordered round. How's everyone? +Thanks, I'm top-hole. In a deuce of a hurry! Look here, come on board +and see me to-night. The <I>Hunbilker</I> is lying off Cromarty. Can you +manage it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think so," replied Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"Very good; bring Haye with you. I'll send a boat at seven bells." +</P> + +<P> +Captain Syllenger readily gave the midshipmen permission. +</P> + +<P> +"It looks as if it might blow a bit before very long," he added. "If +so, remain on board until morning. It's no joke making a five-mile +trip in a steamboat on a pitch-dark night with a sea running." +</P> + +<P> +The lads were delighted at the prospect of the visit. They were both +awfully keen on John Barry; besides, they were rather anxious to see +what sort of command he had. The ship's name was enough to excite +their curiosity. She had evidently arrived later than the <I>Capella</I>, +for there was no sign of a craft bearing that name when the +patrol-vessel passed Cromarty on the previous afternoon. +</P> + +<P> +Punctually at seven bells a grey motor-boat dashed up alongside the +<I>Capella's</I> gangway. Shrap, whose instinct told him that his young +master was leaving the ship, anticipated him by making a prodigious +bound from the side into the waiting boat, alighting upon the shoulders +of the coxswain, much to that worthy's astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind, sir," replied the man, in answer to Vernon's apologies. +"I've a dog myself at home, very much like this one." +</P> + +<P> +"Let him come with us," suggested Ross. "He'll kick up an awful row if +you don't." +</P> + +<P> +So Shrap, coiled up in the stern-sheets, had his way. +</P> + +<P> +Having received the midshipmen, the boat turned and threshed its way in +the teeth of a strong easterly breeze. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, that's the <I>Hunbilker</I>," replied the coxswain in answer to +Vernon's query, as a large grey shape loomed through the twilight. +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove!" ejaculated Ross, absolutely taken aback. "She's a whopper. +Old Barry's got a battleship. If she isn't a sister ship to the +<I>Tremendous</I>, I'm a——" +</P> + +<P> +Fortunately for him, Ross refrained from saying what he might be, for +as things turned out he was wrong. The <I>Hunbilker</I> commenced her +career as a 6000-ton merchantman, but no one would recognize her as +such. +</P> + +<P> +In all probability, but for the war, she would have ended her career as +such. But the Navy required her for a certain purpose, and loyally the +old tramp stepped into the breach. When, after a lapse of nine weeks, +she emerged from the repairing basin, her disguise was complete. She +looked to be what she was not. It is, therefore, no cause for +wonderment that the two midshipmen were deceived by the enormous +outlines of what appeared to be a formidable unit of the British Navy. +The <I>Hunbilker</I> was, in short, a maritime ass in lion's skin, but her +role was none the less a responsible one. +</P> + +<P> +"I was rather doubtful whether you would turn up," remarked Barry. +"The glass is dropping like billy-ho, and there's a brute of a sea +tumbling in." +</P> + +<P> +"We need not return to-night," announced Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"That's capital," rejoined the Lieutenant-Commander. "I'll get the +hands to hoist in the boat and trice the accommodation-ladder up. We +roll like a barrel in a sea-way." +</P> + +<P> +"You've got a big command this time, sir," said Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +Barry smiled. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," he replied. "Plenty of room, but the lighting 'tween decks is +rotten. All artificial, you know, except the little we get in through +the quarter-deck skylights. I'm expecting young Jolly; he's the A. P. +you saw ashore at Invergordon. Not a bad sort of youngster when he's +clear of his work. Would you like to look round before we go below?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course the Germans know all about our dummy battleships," continued +Barry as he led the way. "They jeered at the scheme in the papers as +far back as last November twelvemonth." +</P> + +<P> +"Then what's the object?" asked Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"It muddles them up. They can't distinguish the <I>Tremendous</I> from this +packet, especially in hazy weather. They've got to guess which is the +substance and which is the shadow. From actual results we know now +that the costly experiment has more than justified the expenditure." +</P> + +<P> +The Lieutenant-Commander and his young guests continued to talk shop +until it was time to go below. From that moment, conversation drifted +into other channels of more or less personal interest. +</P> + +<P> +Presently a loud whistle was heard from without. +</P> + +<P> +"That's Jolly," declared the Lieutenant-Commander. "It's the last boat +to-night, I fancy." +</P> + +<P> +A few minutes later the A. P., having divested himself of his dripping +oilies and sou'wester, was ushered into the cabin. Separated from his +duties as Accountant Officer, he was much the same as other men. Ross +could hardly believe that the jovial officer—for he did not now belie +his name—was the same explosive man who had figuratively lost his head +over four ounces of "tacks tinned". +</P> + +<P> +Dinner over, the four officers drew their chairs close to the fire and +yarned incessantly. Even the laboured rolling of the ship, the howling +of the wind overhead, and the <I>chouf chouf</I> of the waves as they +slapped against the sides, failed to remind them that they were afloat +and in an exposed anchorage. +</P> + +<P> +"Heard from your sister recently?" enquired Barry, addressing the A. P. +He tried to ask the question in a natural tone of voice, but the +midshipmen were quick to perceive a deepening of the tan in the +Lieutenant-Commander's weather-beaten face. +</P> + +<P> +"Had a letter only this morning," replied Jolly; "a fairly long one, +too. I suppose things have quieted down a bit after the rush. My +sister's a double one, you know," he added, turning to Ross and his +chum. +</P> + +<P> +"A what?" asked Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"She's my sister, and she's a nursing sister at a naval hospital," +explained the A.P. "There's a very quaint little bit. I must read it +to you." +</P> + +<P> +He produced an envelope from his pocket. +</P> + +<P> +"'You remember Marjory May?'" he read. "'She's had her wish. She +joined here as a probationer, on the day after that terrible destroyer +affair. We had most of the cases. One of the patients was a stoker, +who had been knocked about by a shell exploding in a bunker (whatever +that is—it sounds like golf). Marjorie had her first task—to wash +him before the doctor could operate. I went to see how she was +progressing, and found the poor girl on the verge of tears. 'Oh, +sister!' she exclaimed; 'I've been scrubbing him for ten minutes, and I +can't get him clean!' It was rather dull in the ward, so I switched on +the light. Then I saw the cause of Marjory's distress. The poor +stoker was a half-caste." +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove!" ejaculated the A.P. as a particularly savage gust laid the +ship well over. "It isn't half blowing!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, my festive friend," agreed Barry; "it is! Fortunately you are +not due back to-night. If you were it wouldn't signify, for I wouldn't +order a boat away on a night like this. To-morrow, if it hasn't +moderated—and the worst is yet to come—we'll weigh and stand up the +Firth into smoother water." +</P> + +<P> +There was a pause in the conversation. The din without was now +terrific. One of the worst of the winter gales was approaching its +climax—a furious nor'easter. +</P> + +<P> +"Come in!" shouted Barry as a knock was heard at the cabin door. +</P> + +<P> +"Wireless message, sir," announced one of the ship's boys. +</P> + +<P> +"Very good," replied the Lieutenant-Commander. Then, after the +messenger had backed out, he started to his feet. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, you fellows!" he exclaimed. "Here's a pretty kettle of fish: +'Flag to <I>Hunbilker</I>: Proceed to sea at once. Rendezvous Lat. 5° E., +Long. 57° 30' N.' That means, whether you like it or whether you +don't, you're bound for the Baltic." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap30"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Affair off Kiel +</H3> + +<P> +Clad in their oilskins over their greatcoats, the two midshipmen +accompanied Barry to the bridge. The A. P., on second thoughts, +decided to remain below. He had a rooted objection to getting his +glasses smothered in spray if it could be avoided. +</P> + +<P> +Steam had been raised a week ago, when the <I>Hunbilker</I> left Newcastle +for Cromarty, so there was no delay on that account. Already the steam +capstan was clanking dolorously as fathom after fathom of chain crept +with seeming reluctance through the hawse-pipe. +</P> + +<P> +It was a night. Towering seas, sweeping in from the exposed Moray +Firth, surged madly into the more sheltered inlet where the dummy +battleship strained at her cable. The air was thick with sleet. +Overhead, black clouds scudded rapidly across the moon. +</P> + +<P> +Even though the ship was partly under the lee of the projecting ground, +the midshipmen knew that it would be hopeless to attempt to lower a +boat. For good or ill they were bound to remain on board. +</P> + +<P> +"Suppose it's all right," remarked Ross. "We may get a chance of doing +something, far more so than if we were on board the <I>Capella</I>, now this +submarine blockade fiasco is finished. At any rate it's not our fault +we're here." +</P> + +<P> +"But our good fortune," added Vernon. "Evidently there's a big affair +coming off, though I can't quite see what this vessel's going to do in +it." +</P> + +<P> +For fifteen hours of darkness the <I>Hunbilker</I> plodded steadily onwards. +No lights were shown, yet it was a known fact that at least thirty +vessels of various types were converging upon the rendezvous. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Barry never once quitted the bridge. Although his lofty post +was constantly deluged by clouds of icy spray, and the weather side of +the bridge-rail canvas was inches deep in sleet, he braved the elements +through watch and watch, snatching a hasty meal of cocoa (which was +cold by the time it reached him) and biscuits under the lee of the +chart-house. +</P> + +<P> +Day dawned at last. Ross and Vernon, who had gone below to snatch a +few hours' sleep, came on deck to find the <I>Hunbilker</I> at the +rendezvous. She lay in the midst of a fleet. There were the great +battle-cruisers, Dreadnoughts and their replicas, light cruisers, and a +galaxy of torpedo-boats—the latter swept from stem to stern by the +waves. +</P> + +<P> +Without any appreciable weakening of the Grand Fleet, this maritime +force had been assembled for particular service—presumably in the +Baltic, although no orders to that effect had yet been received. +</P> + +<P> +All that short January day the fleet steamed slowly eastward, while +signal flags fluttered incessantly. No hostile submarine put in an +appearance. Either the Germans feared the swift destroyers that +encircled the large vessels, or else they were in ignorance of the +presence of the British within four hours' steaming of their shores. +</P> + +<P> +It was not until night that the <I>Hunbilker</I> received her orders. She +had to proceed in advance of the destroyers, and under cover of +darkness pass through the Great Belt. Having done so, she was to be +run aground on a shoal between the Danish island of Laaland and the +Prussian island of Fehmern, the latter being within forty miles of the +stronghold of the German Navy at Kiel. +</P> + +<P> +Then she was to await developments. If attacked by submarines, the +British destroyers would dash in; but what the British Admiral fondly +hoped was that the hostile battleships or armoured cruisers would not +be able to resist the temptation of sallying forth from Kiel to give +the supposed Dreadnought her <I>coup de grâce</I>. In this case our +submarines would "chip in", and possibly the battle-cruisers might +score with their deadly and accurate long-range salvoes. +</P> + +<P> +"It's not so risky as it looks," commented Barry as he explained the +tactics to the midshipmen. "You see, they can torpedo us as much as +they like, and blow the dummy sides of the ship to bits piecemeal. We +can't sink, since we'll be hard aground. We can't take fire—at least, +it would be quite a job to get any part of her to burn without being +able to keep the flames under control. Gunnery, of course, puts a +different aspect on the subject. If the enemy start shelling us with +their heavy guns, then the sooner we abandon ship and clear out the +better, and leave our big cruisers to mop up the Huns." +</P> + +<P> +Grey dawn was breaking when the <I>Hunbilker</I>, having made the passage +through the Great Belt, ran gently aground at the spot indicated in the +Admiral's orders. Away in the sou'west, a glare in the sky that was +rapidly fading with the growing morn indicated the search-lights of the +Kiel defences. Eastwards, two huge grey shapes loomed ghost-like in +the half-light. Whether they were British cruisers or decoys, or even +German battleships, Ross could not determine. +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Hunbilker</I> lay with a slight list to starboard. All around her +the sea was covered with drifting ice. An utter stillness brooded over +everything. The silence was in keeping with the scene of desolation. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the deafening blast of the <I>Hunbilker's</I> siren rent the air. +It was the prearranged signal that she was in readiness; it was also +her challenge to the Kiel-tied German fleet. +</P> + +<P> +Ten minutes later a lurid flash, followed by a dull booming noise, came +from the nearmost of the two vessels Ross had previously noticed. +</P> + +<P> +"Either mine or torpedo," remarked Barry casually. "It doesn't +signify. They won't sink her in a hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"What is she, sir?" asked Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +"Our opposite number, the <I>Snark</I>," replied the Lieutenant-Commander. +"See, she's steaming northwards, without any apparent injury. It will +be our turn before very long." +</P> + +<P> +At frequent intervals the siren shrieked, as if calling to the rest of +the squadron for assistance. Then out of the rising mist, for with the +break of day a thin pall of vapour rose from the ice-flecked water, +leapt two German torpedo-boats. +</P> + +<P> +"Port side, all hands!" roared Barry. +</P> + +<P> +Officers and crew put the greatest possible distance between them and +the side of the ship exposed to the hostile craft. Without slackening +speed, the torpedo-boats described a sharp curve. Their officers must +have wondered why they were not greeted by the stranded battleship's +quick-firers. As they turned, two gleaming objects flopped +ungracefully from their decks and disappeared with a splash beneath the +surface. Each boat had fired a torpedo from her broadside tubes. +</P> + +<P> +From the place where the midshipmen stood, they were not able to follow +the track of the formidable missiles; but they had not long to wait. +Both torpedoes struck almost simultaneously—one abreast of the for'ard +dummy turret, the other fifty feet farther aft. +</P> + +<P> +High in the air rose a column of water mingled with fragments of iron +plating; while in their place of hiding the two lads were smothered +with cork-dust and blackened cotton that had been blown from the space +betwixt the outer and inner hulls. +</P> + +<P> +"It's lucky for us that they didn't use their quick-firers," remarked +Barry. "They would have pulverized us before our destroyers romped up. +By Jove, Haye, that dog of yours looks as though he likes it! Hulloa! +There you are!" +</P> + +<P> +The Lieutenant-Commander pointed to the southward. A rift in the mist +disclosed a two-masted, two-funnelled armoured cruiser about two miles +off. +</P> + +<P> +"The <I>Prinz Heinrich</I> or the <I>Fürst Bismarck</I>," declared Barry. "We've +turned 'em out. Hope to goodness our little lot will be in time to +snap them up. Unless I'm much mistaken, there are two more astern of +her." +</P> + +<P> +Almost as he spoke, a spurt of flame rent the dull sky. Then, to the +accompaniment of a vivid flash and an ear-splitting detonation, a +5.9-inch shell burst against the for'ard dummy turret of the +<I>Hunbilker</I>. +</P> + +<P> +When the smoke had cleared away, guns, turret, and conning-tower, +together with a portion of the bridge, had vanished. +</P> + +<P> +"All hands abandon ship!" ordered Barry, as a salvo of light +projectiles flew round, over, and through the decoy. +</P> + +<P> +It was quite time. Several men had been hit, since there was nothing +to afford complete protection from the hail of shells. The difficulty +was to find a boat that was seaworthy, since these suffered almost at +once from the flying fragments of metal. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurrah, sir!" shouted one of the men. "There are our destroyers." +</P> + +<P> +He was right. Seven British destroyers were tearing through the water, +intent upon giving the Germans the punishment that they had boasted to +inflict upon the strafed Englishmen—a hussar stroke. +</P> + +<P> +Instantly the galling fire ceased. The German cruiser had all her work +cut out to endeavour to beat off her wasp-like antagonists. +</P> + +<P> +The <I>Hunbilker</I> was doomed. In spite of elaborate precautions against +fire, she was burning furiously. Her fo'c'sle was a mass of flames, +generated by the intense heat of the first shell that had struck her. +Smaller fires, too, had started in other parts of the ship. +</P> + +<P> +But help was at hand. One of the covering destroyers had witnessed her +plight. Adroitly manoeuvring, she came right alongside the burning +ship. +</P> + +<P> +"Jump, men!" shouted Barry. +</P> + +<P> +There was no time to be lost. The danger of the flames communicating +with the shells and war-heads on the destroyer's deck was to be taken +into consideration. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, old man!" exclaimed Ross, as his chum looked anxiously about +him. +</P> + +<P> +"Where's Shrap?" asked Vernon. "He was here a minute ago." +</P> + +<P> +In the confusion, occasioned by the rush of men to leap upon the +destroyer, the dog had vanished. +</P> + +<P> +Without a word Vernon ran towards the companion leading to the +half-deck. Above the roar of the flames and the hissing of steam, he +had heard the well-known bark of his pet. +</P> + +<P> +"Silly ass!" muttered Ross; but he, too, followed his chum. +</P> + +<P> +Wreaths of thin smoke were issuing from the companion as Ross gained +the head of the ladder. Putting his muffler round his mouth, he groped +his way down. 'Tween decks the air was full of smoke. He could hear +Shrap's insistent bark, and Vernon's voice as, amidst fits of coughing, +he called to his canine companion. +</P> + +<P> +"Whatever is the matter with the brute?" thought Ross, as he fought his +way along the half-deck. +</P> + +<P> +A gaping hole in the ship's side admitted sufficient light to enable +him to discern his comrade backing from one of the cabins. Shrap was +preceding him, while Vernon was dragging something limp and heavy. It +was the body of the luckless A. P. +</P> + +<P> +Without a word, for the atmosphere was hot and choky, Ross bore a hand. +Stumbling and slipping, the two lads bore their burden to the +companion, and by dint of much exertion carried Jolly on deck. +</P> + +<P> +"Is he dead?" asked Ross, after he had refilled his lungs with less +smoke-laden air. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think so," said Vernon. "It was good old Shrap that found +him." +</P> + +<P> +The A. P. was below when the salvo from the German cruiser struck the +ship. He had gone to the cabin temporarily allotted to him to obtain +some small but cherished belonging. A fragment from one of the shells +had inflicted a nasty scalp wound, stretching him senseless upon the +floor. +</P> + +<P> +Had it not been for the sheep-dog, whose sagacity made him recognize +that Jolly was a friend of his master's, the A. P. would have ended his +career in the burning hull of the <I>Hunbilker</I>. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurry up!" exclaimed Ross. "Let's get him aboard the destroyer." +</P> + +<P> +Between them they carried the insensible officer across the +quarter-deck, but as they reached the side abreast the wreckage of the +superstructure they came to an abrupt halt. +</P> + +<P> +The destroyer had sheered off and was out of sight. +</P> + +<P> +"Now what's to be done?" asked Vernon, aghast at the latest turn of +fortune. +</P> + +<P> +They laid the A. P. on the deck and looked over the side. Still made +fast to the falls was a whaler, with her keel ten feet above water. +When the order had been given to abandon ship, the boat had been +lowered, but the appearance of the destroyer had done away with the +necessity of having to make use of her. +</P> + +<P> +"Lower away!" ordered Ross. +</P> + +<P> +Checking the descent by taking a turn round the cleats, the lads +allowed the whaler to reach the water. To their satisfaction they +found that she leaked but very little. Oars and crutches were already +on board, together with mast and sail. +</P> + +<P> +"Down you get," said Ross. "Let go the after disengaging gear, then +stand by. I'll let Jolly down to you." +</P> + +<P> +Vernon quickly swarmed down the falls, while his chum carried the A.P. +to the now empty davit. Taking a few turns with his strong muffler +round the chest of the unconscious man, Ross engaged the hook of the +lower block, and slowly lowered him into Vernon's arms. Shrap followed +in a similar manner, since the drop was too great for him to leap +without risk of limb. Then Ross climbed down and gained the boat. He +was not a minute too soon, for the flames were drawing nearer and the +heat was becoming almost unbearable. +</P> + +<P> +Placing Jolly in the stern-sheets, the lads stepped the mast and +hoisted sail. Nothing else was in sight, although the rumble of heavy +firing was still audible. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll steer north," declared Ross, who had taken the helm, while Vernon +attended to the A.P.'s ugly wound. "If we are not picked up by one of +our own boats, we are almost bound to hit one of the Danish islands." +</P> + +<P> +There was but little wind. What there was, blew from a couple of +points abaft the beam, so that the little craft was able to lie +comfortably upon her course. +</P> + +<P> +At length Jolly opened his eyes. Somewhat to his companions' amusement +his first words were: +</P> + +<P> +"Dash it all! Where did I leave my glasses? Hulloa! I've been +plugged. Where am I?" +</P> + +<P> +He attempted to sit up, but promptly subsided upon the gratings in the +stern-sheets, and in a very short time he began to talk incoherently, +and finally dropped off into a fitful slumber. +</P> + +<P> +The fog had now increased in density, so that it was no longer possible +to see more than a hundred yards ahead. Several vessels moving at high +speed passed within hailing distance, but no reply came to the lads' +shouts. +</P> + +<P> +"There's a hail!" exclaimed Vernon. +</P> + +<P> +Again came the sound of a human voice. It was a call for aid, and was +uttered in German. +</P> + +<P> +"Steady!" cautioned Vernon, as Ross put the helm down. "We don't want +to run alongside a cargo of Huns." +</P> + +<P> +"There's only one, I should imagine," replied his chum. "At any rate +we'll have a look. If there are too many, we'll sheer off." +</P> + +<P> +Guided by the repeated calls for assistance, the midshipmen came in +sight of a disabled boat. It had been holed, and was kept afloat only +by some of its air-tanks which had escaped damage. The gunwales, +jagged by shell-fire, were showing only a few inches above the water. +The stern was almost awash, but the bows rose sufficiently high for the +forefoot to be seen. Crouching on the for'ard thwart was a German +officer. He was bareheaded. The collar of his greatcoat was turned +up. His face was blanched by the intense cold. As the whaler +approached and he saw that it was a British one, he held up his hands +in token of surrender. +</P> + +<P> +Dropping to leeward, Ross luffed smartly. The whaler lost way almost +alongside the waterlogged boat. +</P> + +<P> +Awkwardly the German clambered over the gunwale, for his limbs were +numbed. Then, as soon as he was safely on board, he drew a revolver +from the pocket of his greatcoat and fired twice in quick succession. +</P> + +<P> +Ross saw his chum throw up his arms and pitch across the centre thwart. +The next instant he felt a stinging pain in his shoulder, as if it were +pierced by a red-hot needle. +</P> + +<P> +"The brute has plugged me!" was the thought that flashed through his +mind, as he subsided heavily upon the grating by the side of the A. P. +</P> + +<P> +He was still conscious, although everything seemed misty. Up to a +certain point he remembered exactly what happened, for with a sudden +spring Shrap flew at the treacherous Teuton's throat. +</P> + +<P> +Again and again the German fired, wildly and in the air, for the +sheep-dog had him fixed in his unyielding jaws, shaking the fellow like +a rat. Unable to move a limb, Ross remained conscious until the issue +was decided and victory rested with the devoted Shrap; then his head +dropped upon his chest and everything became a blank. +</P> + +<HR ALIGN="center" WIDTH="60%"> + +<P> +Ross Trefusis recovered consciousness to find himself in hospital on +the East coast. In the next cot was Jolly, cutting a sorry figure with +his head swathed in surgical bandages. Vernon was in an adjoining +ward, making a promising recovery from the wound caused by the cowardly +German's bullet that had passed between his ribs, fortunately just +missing his lungs. +</P> + +<P> +It was not until a week later that Ross heard of the manner of his +rescue. The whaler had been picked up by a destroyer. In it they +found the three wounded British officers, and a dead German with his +throat fearfully lacerated. Not only had Shrap saved the situation, +but he had helped still further to save his master's life, for it was +owing to the warmth of the dog's body that Vernon was saved from death +by exposure. +</P> + +<P> +One of the first of visitors to Ross's bedside was John Barry, now +Commander Barry, R.N.R., D.S.O. +</P> + +<P> +"And how did the scrap come off?" asked Ross. +</P> + +<P> +"Fairly well," replied the Commander. "We bagged a cruiser and a +couple of destroyers. The old <I>Hunbilker</I> justified her existence, you +see." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid Haye and I are out of the running," remarked Ross +disconsolately. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit of it," replied Barry in his breezy way. "Not a bit of it. +You'll both be as fit as fiddles in a couple of months. The Navy's +pushing on with the job all right, Ross, but it's slow and sure. +You'll be at it again long before the end." +</P> + +<P> +Ross gave a sigh of satisfaction. +</P> + +<P> +"Sounds promising, sir, doesn't it?" he exclaimed. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +By PERCY F. WESTERMAN +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"No boy alive will be able to peruse Mr. Westerman's pages without a +quickening of his pulses."—Outlook. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +With Beatty off Jutland. A Romance of the Great Sea Fight. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +The Submarine Hunters. A Story of Naval Patrol Work. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +A Lively Bit of the Front. A Tale of the New Zealand Rifles on the +Western Front. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +A Sub and a Submarine. The Story of H.M. Submarine R19 in the Great +War. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Under the White Ensign. A Naval Story of the Great War. "No one can +tell sea stories like Percy F. Westerman."—Outlook. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +The Dispatch-Riders: The Adventures of Two British Motor-cyclists with +the Belgian Forces. "No boy will find a dull page in Mr. Westerman's +story."—Bookman. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +The Sea-girt Fortress: A Story of Heligoland. "Mr. Westerman has +provided a story of breathless excitement, and boys of all ages will +read it with avidity."—Athenaeum. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Rounding up the Raider: A Naval Story of the Great War. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +The Fight for Constantinople: A Tale of the Gallipoli Peninsula. +"Breathless adventures crowd into this thrilling story.... It teems +with enthralling episodes and vivid word-pictures."—British Weekly. +"The reader sits absolutely spellbound to the end of the +story."—Sheffield Daily Telegraph. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Captured at Tripoli: A Tale of Adventure. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"We cannot imagine a better gift-book than this to put into the hands +of the youthful book-lover, either as a prize or +present."—Schoolmaster. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +The Quest of the "Golden Hope": A Seventeenth-century Story of +Adventure. "The boy who is not satisfied with this crowded story must +be peculiarly hard to please."—Liverpool Courier. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +A Lad of Grit: A Story of Restoration Times. "The tale is well +written, and has a good deal of variety in the scenes and +persons."—Globe. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Submarine Hunters, by Percy F. 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Westerman + +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: The Submarine Hunters + A Story of the Naval Patrol Work in the Great War + +Author: Percy F. Westerman + +Illustrator: E. S. Hodgson + +Release Date: March 17, 2013 [EBook #26641] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SUBMARINE HUNTERS *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + +[Frontispiece: "THE BLACK CROSS FLAG WAS HAULED DOWN, + AND REHOISTED UNDER THE WHITE ENSIGN"] + + + + + + +The Submarine Hunters + + + A Story of Naval Patrol + Work in the Great War + + +BY + +PERCY F. WESTERMAN + + + + Author of + + "Rounding Up the Raider" + "The Dispatch-Riders" + "The Fight for Constantinople" + &c. &c. + + + +_Illustrated by E. S. Hodgson_ + + + + +BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED + +LONDON GLASGOW AND BOMBAY + +1918 + + + + +Contents + + + CHAP. + + I. THE MYSTERIOUS MEETING ON ST. MENA'S ISLAND + II. THE TABLES TURNED + III. KIDNAPPED + IV. THE AWAKENING + V. ABOARD U75 + VI. THE TRAMP + VII. ON THE BED OF THE SEA + VIII. BALKED BY A SEA-PLANE + IX. THE LANDING AT PORT TREHERNE + X. A TREACHEROUS PLOT + XI. PREPARATIONS + XII. THE WHITE FLAG--AND AFTERWARDS + XIII. THE ARM OF THE LAW + XIV. A FRUITLESS QUEST + XV. THE ADMIRAL WORKS THE ORACLE + XVI. H.M.S. "CAPELLA" + XVII. A DOUBLE BAG + XVIII. THE SMOKE-SIGNALS + XIX. THAT FRIDAY NIGHT + XX. TO THE RESCUE + XXI. ADRIFT IN THE CHANNEL + XXII. AN UNEXPECTED CAPTURE + XXIII. MINED + XXIV. "SHRAP" + XXV. OFF THE BELGIAN COAST + XXVI. DISABLED IN MID-AIR + XXVII. NOT ON PAROLE + XXVIII. ALMOST RECAPTURED + XXIX. BOUND FOR THE BALTIC + XXX. THE AFFAIR OFF KIEL + + + + +Illustrations + + +"THE BLACK CROSS FLAG WAS HAULED DOWN AND + RE-HOISTED UNDER THE WHITE ENSIGN" . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +THE INTERVIEW WITH THE GERMAN CAPTAIN (missing from book) + +"'D'YE KEN YON?' ASKED THE BRITISH SKIPPER, AS HE + EYED THE PODGY GERMAN LEUTNANT WITH CONTEMPT" + +"THE 'TREMENDOUS' WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THE DOOMED SUBMARINE" + +THE SINKING OF THE "ORONTABELLA" (missing from book) + +"THE WORK OF DEMOLITION WAS ACCOMPLISHED" + + + + +THE SUBMARINE HUNTERS + + +CHAPTER I + +The Mysterious Meeting on St. Mena's Island + +"We've made a proper mess of things this time!" ejaculated Ross +Trefusis--"or rather I have." + +"It can't be helped," rejoined his chum, Vernon Haye. "We've done our +level best to get her off. How long is it before the tide floats her?" + +"A matter of seven or eight hours, worse luck. You see, it was only +half ebb when we landed." + +Ross bent down to remove a streak of bluish-grey mud from his ankle. + +"I wish we'd taken the rowing-boat instead of this heavy old tub," he +continued. "We'll be pretty peckish before we get back to the Hall, +and dinner's at seven-thirty." + +Vernon laughed. + +"It wouldn't be the first time I've had to go without grub," he +remarked. "If you don't mind, I don't." + +"Then it's no use standing here," said Ross. "Let's get on our shoes +and go for a stroll." + +Vernon Haye was a broad-shouldered lad of fifteen, with clear-cut +features and dark hair. His companion was of about the same age, but a +good two inches taller. His complexion was florid, his hair of an +auburn tint that narrowly escaped coming within the category of red or +ginger. His features were full and rounded. In short, he was a +typical Cornish youth. + +Ross's father, Admiral Paul Trefusis, lived at Killigwent Hall, a +large, rambling, sixteenth-century house, standing within a mile of the +sea on the North Cornish coast. + +Both lads went to the same public school, but owing to the fact that +Vernon's father, Captain Haye, was on active service with the Grand +Fleet, young Haye was spending the summer holidays with his chum at +Killigwent Hall. + +That afternoon the lads had taken a small sailing-boat and had made for +St. Mena's Island, a small rocky piece of land lying about a mile off +shore, and nearly five miles from Killigwent Cove. The island was +roughly three-quarters of a mile in length, and four hundred yards wide +in the broadest part. The north and west sides were precipitous, but +on the side nearest to the mainland the ground sloped gradually, and +was indented by several narrow tidal coves. + +The glamour of romance lay thickly around that rocky pile. Centuries +ago it was the abode of a hermit, who, amongst his various self-imposed +tasks, had built a chapel on the summit, from the tower of which a wood +fire was kindled nightly to warn mariners of the treacherous reefs in +the vicinity of the island. + +In course of time, St. Mena's Island became the haunt of wreckers and +smugglers. The chapel, in spite of its massive construction, fell a +victim to the ravages of wind and weather, but still served as a +convenient shelter for the lawless Cornishmen who profited by the +misfortunes of honest seamen. Immune from interference, by reason of +the superstitious awe in which the island was held by the country-folk, +the smugglers and wreckers thrived exceedingly until late in the +eighteenth century, when stern measures were taken to suppress their +misdeeds. From that time St. Mena's Island was deserted, except for +the casual visits of tourists and summer visitors from the neighbouring +towns of Padstow and Newquay, and countless numbers of sea-birds that +take up their abode in crannies in the almost inaccessible cliffs. + +Ross Trefusis was right in taking the blame of their misfortunes upon +himself. He knew better, but, neglecting to take ordinary precautions, +he had allowed the boat to be left high and dry by the falling tide. +Upon returning to the cove the lads had found the heavy craft lying on +its bilge in the stiff bluish clay, with a ridge of jagged rocks +cutting her off from the sea. + +"Perhaps," suggested Vernon, "some other boat will put off to the +island, and we can get them to put us ashore." + +"Hardly likely," was the reply. "Anyway, we'll keep a look-out. Which +would you prefer to do--explore the Smugglers' Cave and Dead Man's +Cave, or climb up to the ruins?" + +"The ruins," decided young Haye eagerly. "I like fooling about old +ruins, and I've already seen the caves. Besides, we can see if there +are any boats about. It's almost like being shipwrecked on a desert +island." + +"Hard lines if we were," commented Ross. "Suppose we take an inventory +of our possessions? Let the see: one pocket-knife, a silver watch that +has refused duty, a notebook and pencil, and five shillings and three +halfpence. What have you to add to the common stock?" + +"A knife, a pocket compass, my watch--which does go; it's now +five-and-twenty to four--and sixteen shillings and eightpence in paper +money and hard coin." + +"Not a morsel of grub between the pair of us, then," declared Ross. +"Outlook beastly unpromising. Faced with starvation unless we make up +our minds to knock over some gulls. They are horribly fishy to eat, I +believe, and we've nothing to make a fire." + +"It makes you pine for the flesh-pots of Kllligwent Hall, old man," +exclaimed Vernon laughingly. "Never mind, let's make a move. I vote +we get rid of these sweaters. It is frightfully hot." + +Stripping off their woollen garments, and placing them for safety under +a gorse bush, the two lads made their way up the steep ascent to the +ruins, till, hot and well-nigh breathless in spite of being "in +training", they reached the summit of the island. + +"What a jolly view!" exclaimed Vernon, turning and taking in the +panorama of rocky coast-line, an expanse of jagged, frowning, brownish +cliffs topped by the brilliant green of the Cornish moorland. + +"Not bad," agreed Ross complaisantly, for the view was no stranger to +him. "See that cliff shaped like the head and shoulders of a bearded +man? That's Hidden Money Cove that I was speaking to you about last +night. We'll go there next week, all being well. You see, there's not +a sail in sight, so our chances of getting back to dinner are very +remote. What's more, unless I'm very much mistaken, there's a +rain-storm coming. See that dark cloud working up against the wind?" + +"Yes," assented Haye. "What of it? A little rain won't hurt." + +"It's the after effect," said Ross. "It's quite possible it may blow +hard before night, in which case we're done for. I've known it +impossible to approach Killigwent Cove for a week at a time." + +Vernon whistled. + +"Sounds lively," he remarked. + +"Of course that is in the winter," his chum hastened to remind him. +"These summer gales don't last very long, but we'll be feeling precious +hungry by the time we get home, I guess." + +"Look here," said Vernon after a while. "I vote we get those sweaters. +We don't want to be soaked." + +"Very well," assented Ross. "But there's no great hurry." + +Having retrieved the sweaters, the chums leisurely retraced their way +to the ruins. For half an hour or more they wandered around the +remains, descending into the dark crypt, and running considerable risk +in climbing to the summit of the tower. Since the spiral stone steps +had vanished long ago, the only means of getting to the top was by +climbing the gnarled stem of the ivy which grew profusely on the face +of the building. The tower was roofless, a low, partly demolished +parapet encircling it on three sides, while a couple of weather-worn +oak-beams supporting a few planks formed a kind of platform where the +roof formerly existed. + +"Think it's safe?" asked Vernon anxiously, as his chum, having got +astride the parapet, was about to lower himself upon the decrepit +woodwork. + +"I've done it scores of times," said Ross confidently. "That's right, +I'll guide your foot. Now let go." + +"By Jove!" suddenly exclaimed Haye; "there's a fellow coming towards +the ruin. How on earth did he get here?" + +"Goodness only knows," said Trefusis inconsequently. "He may have +landed in Main Beach Cove. Anyhow, he's at perfect liberty to do so. +I suppose he's interested in ruins." + +"Let's drop a bit of stone and give him a shock when he gets here," +suggested Vernon. "We'll apologize afterwards. Ten to one he'll give +us a passage back." + +"I'm not so keen on dropping chunks of stone," objected Ross. "I vote +we lie low for a bit at any rate, and see what he's up to." + +"Why, do you think he's a spy?" asked his companion. Trefusis grunted +scoffingly. + +"Spy?" he repeated. "What object would a spy have on St. Mena's +Island? This part of Cornwall is well outside the military area. +There's nothing in the fortification line for miles. No, it's not +that. But _cave_, here he comes." + +The lads crouched behind the crumbling parapet, and by means of +conveniently placed gaps in the masonry watched the stranger's approach. + +There was nothing about the man's appearance to suggest that he was +anything but an ordinary holiday-maker. He was slightly above average +height, rather heavily built, and inclined to flabbiness. His +complexion was undoubtedly florid, although his face and hands were +tanned a deep brown. + +He was dressed in a light-grey lounge suit, with a straw hat and brown +shoes, while in his right hand he carried a thick Malacca cane. + +The exertion of climbing up the hill on which the ruined chapel stood +apparently told upon him, for he was considerably out of breath when he +passed under the ivy-clad arch. Here he stopped to wipe his face with +a handkerchief, and while doing so dropped his cane. + +It fell upon the stones with a dull thud. + +At the same time the stranger gave vent to an exclamation that +certainly was not English. + +The lads exchanged glances. Here was the beginning of a mystery. The +heaviest Malacca cane would not have made that dull metallic sound in +falling, while it was evident by the careful examination the stranger +made of the retrieved article that he was more than considerate for its +appearance. + +The man made no attempt to explore the ruins. The weather-worn fane +had no attractions for him. It was apparently only a rendezvous, as +far as he was concerned, for at frequent intervals he would walk +stealthily through the archway, and look attentively down the hill +leading to the coves on the side facing the mainland. + +It had now begun to rain--big drops that were the precursors of a heavy +shower. The lads, in their exposed position on the tower, paid scant +heed. Their interest and attention were centred upon the anxiously +awaiting stranger fifty feet beneath them. + +Presently Ross happened to glance towards the stretch of water that +separated St. Mena's Island from the mainland. A boat was approaching. +Already it was more than half-way across. It was a rowing-boat, +containing only one person. What object would anyone have in rowing +across on a wet afternoon like this? wondered the lad. + +Just then the stranger began rubbing his hands with ill-concealed +satisfaction. Although he had been frequently on the look-out, he had +evidently only just caught sight of the approaching boat. + +The lads watched the little craft till it was hidden by the intervening +high ground, but already Ross felt certain that it was making for Main +Beach Cove. + +There were three landing-places on St. Mena's Island--Half Tide Cove, +where the lads had left their stranded boat; Main Beach Cove, a little +to the north-east; and Deadman's Cove, farther away. Of these, only +Main Beach was available between one hour on either side of low water. +The fact that the boat was making for it, and had already successfully +skirted the submerged reef lying off it, proved that its occupant had +local knowledge. + +Some considerable time elapsed between the temporary disappearance of +the boat and the appearance of the new-comer; but at length he came +into view, walking rapidly up the steep incline without showing +anything of the physical strain that the first stranger had betrayed. + +Suddenly Ross Trefusis recognized the man. He almost felt inclined to +laugh at his suspicions. It was Dr. Ramblethorne, the medical +practitioner at St. Bedal--a town of considerable importance about +seven miles from Killigwent Hall. The doctor was a frequent guest of +Admiral Trefusis, and was generally considered a good, all-round +sportsman. He was about thirty years of age, over six feet in height, +of sinewy frame and of great muscular power. He was the wildest +motorist in that part of Cornwall, as the endorsements on his driver's +licence testified. A keen golfer, good shot, and fisherman, he was +also a botanist; and that, perhaps, thought Ross, might account for his +presence on St. Mena's Island, although it was difficult to reconcile +the fact that Ramblethorne had an appointment with a stranger at this +desolate spot. If a joint botanic expedition had been fixed up, why +had not the two men met on the mainland? + +The unknown made no attempt to advance to meet the doctor. Instead, he +remained within the ruins until Ramblethorne entered. + +Their greeting was a surprise even to the lads, for the doctor, holding +out his hand, exclaimed in German: + +"Well met, von Ruhle! Let us hope that your arrangements will prove +satisfactory." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +The Tables Turned + +Both Ross Trefusis and Vernon Haye understood and could speak German. +Ross was especially good in his knowledge of the language of the modern +Hun, for in his early youth he had been inflicted with a German +governess. Since German is one of the subjects for Sandhurst--for +which both lads were preparing--their knowledge had been considerably +improved under the cast-iron rule of a native professor. + +"Eminently satisfactory," replied von Ruhle. "We will go into details +later. You had no difficulty in coming here, I hope?" + +"None whatever." + +"No suspicions?" asked von Ruhle anxiously. + +Ramblethorne smiled. + +"My dear von Ruhle," he replied. "A medical practitioner is above +suspicion. He is free to go anywhere at any hour of the day or night +without question. No man would suspect----" + +"You are clever, von Hauptwald----" + +"Ssh!" interrupted the doctor. "Call me Ramblethorne, if you please. +Of course there is no danger here, but at other times and in other +places you might incautiously give the show away. You had a good +passage?" + +"Excellent," replied von Ruhle. "I am getting well-known to the +strafed English custom-house officers at Queenboro' and Harwich. They +recognize me by my stick, I believe, but they little know that it is a +new one every time. What do you think of this? I have brought it as a +specimen for you to see. Just fancy! every time I cross to Holland +twenty kilogrammes of good copper are on their way to the Fatherland. +By this time Herr Stabb of Essen is well acquainted with my Malacca +canes." + +"A good weight to carry about," remarked Ramblethorne, wielding the +disguised bar of copper. "I wonder you troubled." + +"Mein Gott! I could not leave it," declared von Ruhle. "Someone might +take a fancy to it, and then the secret would be out. But tell me: +have you succeeded in getting that commission you spoke of?" + +"I am still living in hopes," replied Ramblethorne. "Of course I could +have obtained a post of temporary surgeon in the British Navy, but it +wasn't good enough. It's no fun running the risk of being torpedoed by +our own Submarines. The English Army offers a wider scope. Believe +me, I am worth more than a division to the Emperor. I'll get a +commission, never you fear, for I have heaps of influence. Then, of +course, I will do my utmost to fight against a terrible epidemic that +will mysteriously break out amongst the troops." + +Ramblethorne, otherwise von Hauptwald, threw back his shoulders and +laughed uproariously. + +"Careful!" hissed his companion. "You will be heard over the whole +island." + +"What matters? There is not another soul in sight besides ourselves. +How much petrol have you?" + +"Fifty two-gallon tins. I expect some more by boat to-morrow. It's +safely stored in a cave on the side of the creek. It is a nuisance it +is raining. I do not fancy a night's work in weather like this. +Himmel, what's that?" + +Accidentally Vernon's foot had dislodged a small piece of stone. + +"Nerves, my dear von Ruhle," said Ramblethorne, with his usual +good-natured smile. "A bit of masonry has fallen from the tower. See, +the floor is covered with similar pieces." + +"If anyone should be up there----" suggested von Ruhle, pointing to the +top of the tower. + +The lads could feel their hearts thumping against their ribs. Through +a small crack in the planking they could see the eyes of the two +Germans directed upwards. + +"Impossible; there are no steps," declared Ramblethorne. "Besides, +what object would anyone have in ascending a tower on a day like this? +I fully appreciate the danger of being overheard, of course. We've +said enough to find ourselves faced by a firing-party in the Tower of +London, my friend." + +"Don't!" expostulated von Ruhle, closing his eyes as if to shut out the +unpleasant mental vision. Then: "You have the signalling apparatus, I +hope?" + +"Trust me for that, von Ruhle," replied his companion, tapping his +breast-pocket. "All we have to do is to wait until yonder lighthouse +exposes its light. Really the ways of these English pass +understanding. They rigorously forbid the showing of lights in private +houses on shore, imagining that our agents would be so foolish as to +start blinking with a lamp; yet they allow these lighthouses to work as +usual, and obligingly enable us to communicate to our hearts' content." + +Von Hauptwald was not far wrong in his remarks, for the instrument he +had enabled him to flash a message to a confederate without having to +be in possession of a lamp. The flash was obtained from any distant +and visible light by means of a complicated system of mirrors. The +reflected rays could then be projected in any desired direction so as +to be quite invisible except on a certain bearing. It was one of the +carefully-thought-out plans adopted by the German Government to permit +its spies to communicate with their submarines without running any +great risk of detection. + +"It's two hours to sunset," remarked the doctor; "three before we +commence operations. I would suggest that we adjourn to the cave and +partake of refreshment. You see, I have not omitted to make suitable +provision." + +"Very good!" agreed von Ruhle; "but I only wish I had a waterproof. +The rain is most annoying." + +Arm-in-arm the two men left the building, and presently disappeared +from view behind a slight rise in the ground. + +"I say!" exclaimed Ross; "we've tumbled on something this time. Fancy +Ramblethorne a rotten German spy. I always thought he was a rattling +good chap." + +"Evidently he isn't," rejoined Vernon. "But the point is: what do you +propose to do? It's beastly wet here." + +"It is, now I come to think of it," agreed his chum. "The fact is, +that until you mentioned it I was hardly aware that it was raining. +We'll discuss this knotty point." + +"I vote we make tracks for the boat," suggested Haye. "The tide must +be rising by this time. We can then slip off and raise the alarm." + +Ross shook his head. + +"No go," he decided. "We might get nabbed ourselves. Besides, who +would be able to lay these chaps by the heels? There's only that +motor-boat chap at Penydwick Cove, and he's precious little use. There +are no soldiers nearer than at St. Bedal. I propose we hang on here. +There's a snug, sheltered hole in these ruins, just big enough for us +to lie hidden. Then we stand a good chance of hearing more of the +conversation between those beggars." + +"Three hours more, remember." + +"Yes, I know. In the meanwhile we might slip down to Main Beach Cove. +There's plenty of cover amongst the rocks." + +"What for?" asked Vernon. + +"To see what these fellows are up to. I'm rather anxious to renew my +slight acquaintance with friend Copperstick. By Jove, what a cute move +to get contraband metal into Germany!" + +"Not much at a time. It shows how hard up the Germans must be for +copper when it pays a fellow to carry over about half a hundredweight +at a time." + +"Well, let's get a move on," said Ross. "Be careful how you descend. +The ivy will be fairly slippery with the wet." + +Cautiously the two lads descended, reaching the ground without mishap. + +"Our sweaters!" exclaimed Vernon. + +"Dash it all! Yes," agreed his companion. "I had forgotten all about +them." + +The sweaters, carefully rolled up, had been placed for security in one +corner of the chapel. Unless anyone actually came close to the spot, +they were hidden from sight. + +"Neither of those fellows stood about here, I think," remarked Ross as +the chums retrieved and donned the additional clothing. "It's jolly +lucky, or they would have smelt a rat." + +Trefusis and his companion went out into the rain, walking rapidly +towards a slight mound capped by a few irregularly shaped stones. It +was behind this rise of ground that the two spies had gone. Up to this +point, Ross argued, there was little need for caution; beyond, it would +be necessary to keep well under cover until they reached Main Beach. + +"'Ware the skyline," cautioned Ross as the chums approached the hillock. + +"Ay; 'ware the skyline," said a deep voice mockingly, "It's bad +strategy." + +Turning, the lads made the disconcerting discovery that Ramblethorne +and von Ruhle were within five yards of their would-be trackers. + +Ross realized that he and his chum had been badly outmanoeuvred. +Evidently the Germans suspected that they had been overheard, and +ostentatiously leaving the ruins for Main Beach Cove, they had made a +detour from the hillock, and had waited until Ross and Vernon had +emerged from the chapel. Then, taking advantage of the wet grass that +effectually deadened the sound of their footsteps, they had turned the +tables on their shadowers. + +So completely taken aback were the two lads that they stood stock-still +as if rooted to the earth. + +"Not a nice evening to be out, Trefusis," continued the doctor. "What +brings you on St. Mena's Island at this late hour of the day?" + +"Our boat was left high and dry by the tide, so we had to wait and take +shelter," replied Ross. + +"And so you chose a place where there was no shelter," remarked +Ramblethorne. "Idiotic thing to do--very idiotic. Now tell me: what +were you doing on the top of the tower?" + +Ross did not hesitate in his reply. Perhaps it would have been better +had he done so, for he had never betrayed his knowledge of German to +the doctor on any of their previous meetings, and it would have been +judicious to keep up the deception. + +"What were we doing? Listening to your precious schemes," he retorted +boldly. "Now we know all about you, and it will be our duty to report +you as spies to the authorities. We are expecting a search-party from +Killigwent Hall at any moment, you see." + +"So that's the line of defence you propose to adopt, eh?" sneered +Ramblethorne. "Well, look out!" + +With a sudden spring the athletic man flung himself upon Ross, while +von Ruhle with equal promptitude made a rush to secure Vernon. + +Strong and active though he was, Ross was no match for his huge and +powerful antagonist. Knowing that flight was impossible, the lad +feinted, and aimed a blow with his left straight for the doctor's chin. +This Ramblethorne parried easily, and grasping the lad's wrist, held it +as in a vice, and in such a manner that rendered fruitless any attempt +on Trefusis' part to make use of his right arm. + +Having thus secured his opponent, Ramblethorne watched the result of +the encounter between his fellow-spy and young Haye. + +Von Ruhle had opened the attack by brandishing his heavy stick, and +calling upon Vernon to surrender. + +Haye returned the compliment by closing, and dealing the German such a +terrific blow upon the chest that von Ruhle recoiled quite a couple of +yards. The lad's onslaught had only missed the German's solar plexus +by a few inches; had it not, the chances were that von Ruhle would have +lost all interest in life for the next quarter of an hour. + +But instead of following up his initial success Vernon, seeing Ross +helpless in the doctor's grip, rushed to his chum's aid. For a few +seconds he feinted, striving to find an opening, while Ramblethorne, +dragging his captive with him, pivoted in order to keep his front +towards his new antagonist. + +Those few seconds were Vernon's undoing. + +Quickly recovering himself, von Ruhle sprang forward with the agility +of a panther. The imitation Malacca cane descended with a dull thud +upon the lad's head, and like a felled ox Vernon fell inertly upon the +sodden grass. + +"Hold him--so," exclaimed Ramblethorne, handing Ross over to the +custody of von Ruhle. Then drawing a small hypodermic syringe from a +case, the former inserted the needle into the lad's forearm. + +Five seconds later Ross Trefusis lay unconscious beside his companion +in misfortune. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Kidnapped + +"I thought you had killed him, von Ruhle," said the doctor, bending +over Vernon and making a cursory examination of the unconscious lad. + +"I thought I had," was the unconcerned reply. "Dead men tell no tales." + +"There I beg to differ," protested Ramblethorne. "Corpses have a nasty +way of turning up at inopportune moments. These youngsters are worth +more to us alive than dead." + +"How so?" + +"One is a son of Admiral Trefusis; his companion is, I believe, also a +son of a distinguished English naval officer." + +"Well, and what of it?" asked von Ruhle. + +"Hostages," replied the doctor briefly. "Later I will explain. +Meanwhile we'll carry them to the cave. It's farther than back to the +ruins; but perhaps, as young Trefusis said, there may be a +search-party, and the ruins would be one of the first objects of +investigation." + +Although, with the exception of periodical visits abroad, Dr. +Ramblethorne had lived in England all his life and was a fully +qualified medical man, he was a highly trusted and talented agent of +the German Secret Service. Months before the outbreak of war, he had +been ordered to report upon the defences of Devonport, and in order to +do this he had bought a practice on the outskirts of Plymouth. Upon +the commencement of hostilities, he was detailed to keep under +observation the military preparations of the Duchy of Cornwall, and +also to take necessary steps for communicating with German submarines +that, under von Tirpitz's prearranged scheme, were to operate in the +Bristol Channel. Von Ruhle was one of the few subordinates he actually +knew. There were others with whom he communicated only through an +intermediary, and who knew him only by a number. + +Von Ruhle was almost as mentally clever as his superior. +Ostentatiously he was an Englishman. Sometimes he posed as a mining +engineer; at others as a commercial traveller; as an accredited +representative of the British Red Cross Society he was in the habit of +making frequent journeys to Holland, presumably in connection with work +at Groningen Internment Camp. At the present time, his activities were +centred upon the formation of a secret petrol depot for the supply of +fuel to unterseebooten operating in the Bristol Channel and off the +south coast of Ireland. + +A couple of slight incidents had served to put the cautious +Ramblethorne on his guard during his interview with von Ruhle in the +ruined chapel. + +Although he verbally deprecated his subordinate's alarm when the lads +accidentally dislodged a stone from the tower, it was merely to disarm +possible eavesdroppers of any suspicion that their presence was +suspected. + +The ability to control his feelings was one of the super-spy's chief +assets. Suspicion once aroused, he proceeded without the faintest sign +to investigate his surroundings. His keen eye soon lighted upon the +lads' sweaters. Then it was that an adjournment was suggested to Main +Beach Cove. + +This was simply and solely a "blind", for on gaining the cover of the +boulder-strewn hillock the doctor communicated his suspicions to his +companion. The pair then crouched behind the rocks, whence they were +able to command a view of the tower. + +It was not long before their enterprise met with success. They saw +Trefusis and his chum cautiously descend by means of the ivy; then, +directly the lads set out upon their ill-starred tracking expedition, +the Germans, as before related, succeeded in outflanking them and +effecting their capture. + +"Time!" announced Ramblethorne, consulting his watch. + +"Are these safe?" asked von Ruhle, stirring Vernon's unconscious form +with his foot. + +"Quite; though, perhaps, to make sure I will give this youngster a +slight injection. Pity you hadn't held him with the double arm-lock +instead of cracking him over the head. Herr Kapitan Schwalbe won't +want to be troubled with a passenger with a swollen head." + +Leaving their senseless victims in the cave, the two Germans again +ascended the hill to St. Mena's Chapel. As they breasted the summit, +they could see the fixed white light of Black Bull Head showing +momentarily brighter and brighter against the rapidly failing daylight. + +Setting a prismatic compass in position upon the sill of one of the +glazeless windows, Ramblethorne took a careful bearing in a seaward +direction. This done, he pointed the projector of the signalling +apparatus in precisely the same direction, and threw a waterproofed +cloth over the instrument. + +"Too early yet, von Ruhle," he remarked. "Nevertheless it is advisable +to fix our bearings while twilight lasts. A light might spell +disaster." + +"A deucedly unpleasant night for such a task," grumbled von Ruhle. + +"On the contrary, it is just the very thing," replied the doctor. "It +is not thick enough to be dangerous, but the rain is just sufficient to +assist in the screening of U75. Do not think of your personal comfort, +my dear von Ruhle, when urgent work for the Fatherland has to be +undertaken." + +For another half-hour the two men paced the grass-grown stones. Their +choice of St. Mena's Island as a secret signalling station was an +excellent one. It was isolated, and, being slightly greater in +elevation than the cliffs of the mainland in the immediate vicinity, +would effectually screen any ray of light sent landwards from the +expected German submarine. Thus all danger of the narrow gleam of +reflected light being detected by the none too smart members of the +coast patrol was entirely obviated. + +"Time!" exclaimed the doctor, consulting the luminous face of his watch. + +Dexterously, and without disturbing the position of the instrument, von +Ruhle whipped off the covering. Although there were no visible signs +that anything was taking place, both men knew that a beam of light, +reflected from the distant lighthouse on Black Bull Head, was being +directed seawards. + +In silence the two men peered through the driving rain, von Ruhle +making use of a pair of powerful night-glasses. + +Suddenly, after an interval of almost five minutes, a faint pin-prick +of light flickered from the surface of the sea. + +Instantly Ramblethorne stepped a dozen paces to the right. + +"I can see nothing from here," he announced in a low voice. "Can you?" + +"Yes," replied his companion. + +"Good: that's friend Schwalbe." + +The doctor was right. From the deck of the unterseeboot a signalling +apparatus similar to that employed by the spies was in use. By an +ingenious automatic arrangement it projected a beam of light, derived +from the same sources as that on St. Mena's Island, rigidly in a fixed +direction, regardless of the "lift" of the submarine under the action +of the waves. + +For several minutes a rapid exchange of signals was maintained; then +the two spies, folding up their apparatus, walked rapidly towards Main +Beach Cove. + +They had not long to wait before the faint sound of oars was borne to +their ears. + +"Himmel! They have arrived already," exclaimed von Ruhle. + +"So it appears," replied Ramblethorne dryly. "I pride myself that I +have exceptionally good eyesight, but I fail to see her. The neutral +colour of the submarine is indeed excellent for night work." + +They descended the sandy and shingly beach until further progress was +barred by the lapping wavelets of the rising tide. + +Through the mirk loomed up the outlines of a canvas collapsible boat +crowded with men. At two lengths from the shore the rowers laid on +their oars. One of the men gave vent to a low whistle resembling the +call of a curlew. + +"All clear," replied Ramblethorne. + +The boat's keel rasped on the shingle. A cloaked figure in the +stern-sheets made his way for'ard and leapt ashore. + +"Herr von Hauptwald?" he asked. + +"The same," replied the doctor. "And Kapitan Schwalbe?" + +"The captain is still on board," replied the officer. "It is hard to +resist the opportunity of getting ashore after being cooped up there +for more than a fortnight. But the petrol?" + +"We have not so much as we hoped to obtain," replied von Ruhle. + +The Leutnant muttered an oath. + +"And how is business?" asked Ramblethorne, with a view of distracting +the officer's thoughts from the shortage of fuel. + +The Leutnant muttered another oath. + +"Bad!" he replied savagely. "Only one wretched little tramp steamer, +which we fell in with about twenty miles from the Stacks. She gave us +a run for our money, but we had her at last. Even then she tried to +ram us. One has to be most cautious also. These accursed English have +been far too active with their new-fangled contrivances. We called up +U71 early this morning. She replied. Again at noon we called her, but +there was no reply. U70 we have lost all touch with since Monday, yet +she was under orders to assist in the blockade of the Bristol Channel +until we, as senior unterseeboot, gave instructions to return to +Wilhelmshaven." + +"Lost, I suppose," remarked Ramblethorne. + +The Leutnant had walked to a distance of nearly ten yards from his men, +who were drawn up in military order awaiting their officer's commands. + +He lowered his voice. + +"Although I am sorry to say it," he declared, "I am afraid she has gone +too. Our losses are not only serious--they are appalling. Submarine +work is now a continual nightmare. We do our duty, but before long, if +we are sufficiently fortunate to escape the toils that these English +cast about us, we shall all be physical wrecks." + +The man's agitation increased as he spoke. Obviously he was labouring +under a severe strain. + +"And this petrol?" he asked anxiously. "What quantity?" + +Ramblethorne told him. + +"Not enough," declared the Leutnant. "Himmel, it is not enough to get +us round Cape Wrath. On board we have only sufficient for six hours' +surface running, while our batteries are not far short of running down. +You had better see the captain and explain." + +Leaving von Ruhle to direct the seamen to the secret petrol store in +the cave, Ramblethorne accompanied the Leutnant to the submarine. + +The U75 was one of the latest type of Germany's submarines. Over three +hundred feet in length, there was little about her in common with the +accepted idea of under-water craft. Her deck ran in one continuous +sweep for almost her entire length, and rose nearly six feet above the +surface. The visible part of her sides was perpendicular, the bulging +sections being entirely beneath the surface. Her conning-tower was +surrounded by a platform as long as the navigation-bridge of a modern +destroyer. The two periscopes were "housed", but two slender +"wireless" masts gave the boat the appearance of a swift torpedo craft. + +Acknowledging a salute from a burly quartermaster, Ramblethorne gained +the deck, and was escorted aft by the Leutnant. Pacing the tapering +platform was a broad-shouldered, fair-haired man of about thirty, +although a carefully trimmed blonde beard made him look much older. + +He lacked the natural elastic stride of the British naval officer. His +movements resembled those of a thoroughly drilled soldier, yet ever and +anon he would glance furtively in the direction of the open sea as if +in constant dread of sudden and unknown peril. + +"Greetings, Herr von Hauptwald!" he exclaimed, when the Leutnant had +formally introduced his visitor. "You are well known to me by repute, +but I doubt whether we have met before." + +"I fancy so," rejoined the doctor. "Do you not remember that little +affair in the Strauer Platz? Ah, I thought you would! But to come to +the point. We have been unable to obtain the requisite quantity of +petrol." + +"Somehow I thought it," replied Kapitan Schwalbe. "How much have you?" + +Ramblethorne told him. + +"Enough, with what we have left on board, for only eight hundred miles +run. It will not take us home, and we are under orders not to leave +these waters before Friday next. We have been let down badly." + +"I know that it is useless to express regrets," said Ramblethorne +boldly. "I can only hope that other means of supplying the requisite +fuel will be forthcoming. But here is another matter. We have had to +secure two English lads, both sons of distinguished naval officers. +Unfortunately they overheard a conversation between von Ruhle and +myself. In the interests of the Secret Service it is absolutely +necessary that they are kept out of the way for at least a couple of +months. I am averse to doing them personal injury." + +"Then what do you wish?" asked Kapitan Schwalbe. + +"Take them on board with you. If possible, land them at a German port. +If this be possible, you will realize that we have a strong tool to +work with." + +"I fail to understand," said the Kapitan of U75. + +"They could be made good use of as hostages," resumed Ramblethorne. +"If these English persist in talking about reprisals, we can hint +that--well, it is unnecessary to go into details." + +"I see," remarked Kapitan Schwalbe. "But if it is impossible to land +them?" + +"Then you must put them on board the first outward-bound tramp steamer +you fall in with--provided she is bound for South American ports, or +anywhere that will mean a long voyage." + +"Very well," assented the submarine officer. "I quite understand your +anxiety to get them out of the way." + +"Temporarily, mind," added Ramblethorne. + +"Precisely. Herr Rix," he exclaimed, addressing the Leutnant. "Take +four men and go ashore. Von Ruhle will tell you where these English +boys are; have them brought on board." + +"One moment," interrupted Ramblethorne. "They came to the island in a +boat. There is nothing unusual in that, I admit, but the fact remains +that the boat is still lying in the cove next to this. You might order +the men to set the boat adrift." + +"Water-logged, and with sails set and the main-sheet made fast. +Another deplorable accident. Ach! It shall be so." + +Half an hour later Ross Trefusis and Vernon Haye, still unconscious +under the action of the anaesthetic injection, were brought on board +U75 and passed below. Their boat, lying on its beam-ends, was drifting +slowly in the direction of Black Bull Head. Ramblethorne and von +Ruhle, their work for the present done, were already on the way to the +mainland. + +Meanwhile, alarmed at the non-appearance of the young heir to +Killigwent Hall and his guest, a party had set off to search St. Mena's +Island. + +Just as the boat's keel grounded on the beach of Half Tide Cove, the +German submarine slipped quietly through the blurr of misty rain, and +under cover of darkness headed towards the mouth of Bristol Channel. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The Awakening + +"Dash it all! What am I doing here?" muttered Ross Trevor drowsily, as +he opened his eyes. + +For the moment he quite imagined that he was in his dormitory at +school, and that by an oversight the rest of his chums had left him in +bed. The suggestion was strengthened by the sound of gurgling water, +as if the bathroom tap were running. Then he became aware that +everything was pitching up and down. Once before he had experienced a +similar sensation--when he had had a violent headache following a +slight touch of sunstroke. + +It puzzled him, too, that he was almost in darkness. Somewhere +without, and partly screened by some projection, an electric light was +burning. The reflected rays were just sufficient to enable him to take +stock of his surroundings. + +No, he was not back in the school dormitory. True, he had a headache, +but that would not account for the actual motion. He fumbled, his +fingers came in contact with a curved board that served to prevent the +occupant of the bed--or, rather, bunk--from falling on the floor. + +Almost mechanically he rolled out, and stood supporting himself by +grasping the ledge of the bunk. The swaying, due partly to dizziness +and partly to an unaccountable see-saw motion, would have thrown him to +the floor but for the assistance afforded by the side of the bunk. + +Gradually he became aware that there was a similar sleeping-place +immediately beneath the one he had been occupying. Someone was lying +there, breathing heavily. There was sufficient light for Ross to +recognize him. It was his chum Vernon. + +Just then a bell clanged noisily. The sound of running water was +outvoiced by the loud din of machinery in motion. A wave of hot air +that reminded the lad of the atmosphere of a Tube station wafted past +him. The whole fabric trembled under the powerful pulsations of the +mechanism. + +With his legs trembling through sheer physical weakness, Ross hung on +grimly. He wanted to shout, but no sound came from his parched tongue. +He was bewildered. It seemed as if he were in the throes of a terrible +nightmare, and that he would awake on finding himself falling into a +bottomless abyss. + +The reflected light was obscured as a broad-shouldered man made his way +along the narrow corridor in which the bunks were placed. As he did so +he caught sight of the lad. Without a word he seized Ross in his arms, +not roughly, but nevertheless unceremoniously, and lifted him back into +the bunk. There was something so peremptory in the action that Ross +lay still and closed his eyes. All his will power seemed to have +deserted him. + +"Make a dash for it, old man!" exclaimed a muffled voice that Trefusis +hardly recognized as his chum's. "Make a dash for it. Don't let them +collar us." + +It was Vernon rambling in his sleep. The words were sufficient to give +Ross a key to the hitherto baffling problem. + +Like a flash he recalled the episode of their adventure on St. Mena's +Island. He remembered himself being held in the grasp of the powerful +Ramblethorne until unconsciousness overcame him. He was still a +prisoner, but with the qualifying knowledge that he was not alone. +Vernon Haye was sharing his captivity, wherever it might be. + +"We're afloat then," he muttered. "What has happened?" + +Moistening his lips, Ross leant over the side of the bunk and called +his chum by name. His voice sounded strangely unfamiliar. He could +only just hear himself above the clamorous noise of the engines. + +It was not long before another man appeared at the end of the corridor. +As he did so he switched on a lamp almost above the lad's head. For a +few seconds Ross was temporarily blinded by the sudden transition from +artificial twilight to the intense brilliancy of electric light. + +"So! You are now awake, hein?" asked a guttural voice. "How you vos +feel?" + +"Rotten!" replied Ross emphatically. His reply was brief and to the +point. It summed up his sensations during the last ten minutes. + +The man laughed. + +"So you look. You better soon will be. You know where you now vos?" + +"On board a ship," answered the lad. He was still hoping against hope +that his questioner was anything but a German. There was a small +chance that he had by some means been picked up at sea by a Dutch or a +Swedish vessel. + +The man's announcement "put the lid on" that possibility. + +"Sheep--goot!" he chuckled. "German unterseeboot--vot you vos call +submarine. No danger to you boys if you yourselves behave. Much to +see--ach! plenty much." + +The lad's eyes had now become more accustomed to the light. He could +see that his visitor was a broad-shouldered, muscular man of average +height, florid-featured, and with light-yellow hair and a fair +moustache. He was dressed in a uniform that was apparently a bad copy +of that worn by executive officers of the British Navy. On the breast +of his coat he wore an Iron Cross. + +"Me Hermann Rix, Ober-leutnant of unterseeboot," he announced. "Der +Kapitan send me to see how you get better. Goot! I tell seaman to +bring food quick. In one hour you go on deck. Den you feel all well." + +The German Leutnant bent and peered into the lower cot. + +"Fat head," he remarked seriously. "Bad knock, but he get well soon." + +With that the officer went away, leaving the light switched on. + +Scrambling out of his bunk, Ross approached his chum. Vernon was now +sleeping quietly. His face, however, was flushed, while it was quite +evident that he had received a fairly heavy blow across the skull, for +the top of his head was swollen to a considerable extent. + +Before Ross had finished his examination a sailor entered, bearing a +tray on which were three slices of rye bread, some tinned beef, and a +bottle of Rhenish wine. + +"Sprechen Sie deutsch?" he asked. + +For an instant Trefusis hesitated before replying. To profess +ignorance of the German language would be an immense advantage while on +board the submarine, provided he could control his facial expressions +and listen without betraying himself. Then, on the other hand, he +reflected that Ramblethorne, the spy, might have been instrumental in +getting him into this predicament. More than likely the Captain of the +submarine had been informed of the fact that his unconscious passengers +were well acquainted with the tongue-twisting language of the +Fatherland. + +"Here is food for you," said the man, placing the tray on the floor. +"You had better take hold of the bottle before it upsets. We are +rolling a bit. When your friend open his eyes, call me. I am in +yonder compartment. It would be well for you to dress. I will bring +your clothes to you very soon." + +Ross made a sorry meal. The food was not at all appetizing. His +throat was in no condition to enable him to swallow easily. A feeling +of nausea, due either to the motion, the hot, confined air, or the +after effects of the stupefying injection--perhaps a little of all +three--was still present. + +He was actually on board a German submarine--one of Tirpitz's +twentieth-century pirates. He racked his brains to find a reason. +With its limited accommodation an unterseeboot seemed the last type of +craft that would receive a pair of prisoners--and +non-combatants--within its steel-clad hull. It must have been at +Ramblethorne's instigation; yet why had not the spy knocked the pair of +luckless eavesdroppers over the head and tumbled them into the sea? It +seemed by far the easiest solution; yet, in spite of that, Ross and +Vernon were being carried to an unknown destination in one of the +"mystery-craft" of the Imperial German Navy. + +The reappearance of the seaman bearing Ross's clothes cut short the +latter's unsolved meditations. Without a word the man laid the neatly +folded garments on the bunk--a pair of flannel trousers, cricket shirt, +underclothes, and the sweater that had been the cause of the lads' +undoing; but in place of his shoes a pair of half-boots, reeking with +tallow, had been provided. + +Ross proceeded to dress. As he did so a voice that he hardly +recognized asked: + +"Hulloa, Trefusis, where are we?" + +It was Haye. His companion was now awake, but hardly conscious of his +surroundings. + +"Better?" asked Ross laconically. He could not at that moment bring +himself to answer the question. + +"Didn't know that I was ill," remonstrated Vernon. Then, after a vain +attempt to raise his head--perhaps fortunately, since the bottom of +Ross's cot was within a few inches of his face--he added: + +"Dash it all! I remember. That beastly German gave me a crack over +the head with his copper walking-stick. Where are we?" + +"In a rotten hole, old man. We're in a German submarine, bound +goodness knows where." + +"Where are my clothes?" asked Haye, this time successfully getting out +of his bunk. "Since you have yours, there seems to be no reason why I +shouldn't have mine. Hang it! What's the matter with me? +Everything's spinning round like a top." + +Mindful of the seaman's words, and with a docility that would have +surprised him in different circumstances, Ross staggered along the +corridor. The passage was about thirty feet in length. On one side +the metal wall was flat, on the other it had a pronounced curve. +Against it were six bunks arranged in pairs. Four were used as +stowing-places for baggage, the remaining ones had been given up to the +two prisoners. The roof was almost hidden by numerous pipes, most of +them running fore and aft, while a few branched off through the walls. +The flat bulkhead evidently formed one of the walls of the engine-room, +for, as the lad placed his hand against it to steady himself, he could +feel a distinct tremor, quite different from the vibration under his +feet. The floor was of steel, with a raised chequer pattern in order +to give a better grip to one's feet. At frequent intervals there were +circular places, similar to those covering the coal-shoots in the +pavement of residential thoroughfares. Walls, ceiling, and floor were +covered with beads of moisture, but whether from condensation or +leakage Ross could not decide. + +At the end of the corridor or alley-way was a steel water-tight door, +running in gun-metal grooves packed with india-rubber. The door was +closed. + +Seizing the lever that served as a handle, Trefusis tried to turn it, +but without success. Failing that, he kicked the steelwork with his +heavy half-boots, yet no response came to his appeal. + +"The fellow told me to call," he muttered airily. "What did he want to +play the fool for?" + +Retracing his steps, Ross went to the other end of the alley-way. +There was barely room to pass his companion as he did so. The place +from which he had previously seen the reflected light was now shut off +by a door similarly constructed to the one that he had vainly attempted +to open. He was locked in a steel tomb that was itself a metal box +within a metal box--a water-tight compartment of the submarine. + +"They might just as well have switched off the light while they were +about it," he exclaimed bitterly; then at the next instant he wildly +regretted his words. The idea of being imprisoned in that cheerless +compartment without a light of any description appalled him. + +Almost frantically he returned to the door that had previously baffled +him. As he did so he became aware that the submarine was tilting +longitudinally. Since he was unaware of the direction of the craft, +and which was the bow or stern, he was unable to judge whether the +unterseeboot was diving, or ascending to the surface. + +The incline became so great that he had to grasp the door-lever for +support. Turning his head, he saw that Vernon was hanging on grimly to +the partition between the tiers of bunks. + +Then, as the vessel regained an even keel, silently and smoothly the +door slid back in its grooves, revealing a small space barely six feet +in length and five in breadth, and separated from the rest of the +vessel by a closed water-tight panel. Part of the compartment was +occupied by a bend, at which the seaman to whom he had previously +spoken was busily engaged in mending a rent in an oilskin coat. + +"My friend is now awake," announced Ross. + +The man laid aside his work. + +"Good!" he replied. "He is just in time. I will bring him his food +and his clothes. After that you will both go on deck for fresh air +before you are interviewed by Herr Kapitan Schwalbe. See that door? +Beyond that you must not pass without permission. It is forbidden. If +you do so, you will not have another opportunity in a hurry." + +"What are they going to do with us?" asked Ross. + +The sailor shook his head. + +"It is forbidden to ask questions," he said sternly. "Whatever is +necessary that you should know will be told you." + +He turned his back upon his questioner, signifying in a plain manner +that it was useless for Trefusis to say more. Taking the hint the lad +returned to his chum, wondering deeply at the fate that had thrown them +into the hands of the enemy. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +Aboard U75 + +Like Ross, Vernon Haye made a poor meal. He had barely finished when a +petty officer appeared and curtly ordered the lads to follow him. +Since he did so in German it was fairly certain that Trefusis' +admission had been communicated to both officers and crew. + +Staggering, they passed along the alley-way into a broad subdivision +that extended completely athwartships. It was one of the two broadside +torpedo-rooms, and contained two tubes of slightly greater diameter +than the British 21-inch. In "launching-trays" by the side of the +tubes were eight torpedoes with their deadly war-heads attached. Both +transverse bulkheads were almost hidden by indicators, voice-tubes, and +pipes for transmitting the compressed air from the air-flasks to the +torpedo-tubes. + +Passing through another water-tight door the prisoners found themselves +in yet another compartment. On one side was an "air-lock", with its +complement of life-saving helmets; on the other was an oval-shaped door +forming means of communication with the small room built against the +curved sides of the submarine. Ross guessed, and rightly as it +afterwards transpired, that the door led into a space that could be +flooded at will, and which in turn enabled a diver to operate from the +U-boat while submerged. + +Confronting the lads was an almost perpendicular steel ladder +communicating with the conning-tower. Their guide was about to ascend +when a stern voice exclaimed in German: + +"Not that, you idiotic clodhopper! Have you lost your reason? The +forward hatchway, don't you know?" + +"Pardon, Herr Leutnant," said the petty officer, abjectly apologetic, +and, backing down the ladder, he passed through another door entering +into an alley-way between the officers' cabins. Here was the bowl of a +supplementary periscope, so that a vision of what was taking place +could be obtained without going into the conning-tower. + +The alley-way terminated at another broadside torpedo-room, the pairs +of tubes pointing in the opposite direction to those the lads had just +seen. + +Beyond were the living-quarters of the crew, kept spotlessly clean and +tidy, yet Spartan-like in their simplicity. Two of the men were sound +asleep in their bunks. Three more, who were playing cards at a plain +deal table, glanced up from their game as the British lads passed by; +but their interest was of brief duration, and stolidly they resumed +their play. + +Stooping down to avoid a large metal trough--the "house" for the +for'ard 105-millimetre disappearing gun--Ross and his chum arrived at +the ladder by which they were to gain the open air. + +The hatch-cover was thrown back. For the first time during their +captivity they made the discovery that it was night. Looking upwards, +they could see a rectangle of dark sky twinkling with stars that, with +the slight motion of the submarine, appeared to sway to and fro. + +The cool night breeze fanned their heated foreheads as they gained the +deck. For some time, coming suddenly from the glare of the +electrically lighted interior, their eyes were blinded. They could see +nothing but an indistinct blurr of star-lit, gently heaving water. + +Gradually the sense of vision returned. They found themselves on the +fore-deck of the unterseeboot. They had made up their minds to see a +turtle-back deck with a narrow level platform in the centre; instead +they found that the deck was almost flat and, in nautical parlance, +flush, save where it was broken by the elongated conning-tower topped +by the twin periscopes and slender wireless mast. + +Lying on the deck in all conceivable attitudes were most of the +U-boat's crew, taking advantage of a brief spell on the surface to +breathe deeply of the ozone-laden atmosphere. + +Not a light was visible on board. Even the hatchway by which the lads +had gained the deck was constructed to trap any stray beam from the +brilliant glare below. + +Miles away, and low down upon the horizon, a white light blinked +solemnly; then after a brief interval it was succeeded by a red gleam. +This in turn was followed by white again. + +Trefusis, with a sailor's inborn instinct, began to count the +intervals. Although having no means of consulting the only +time-recording watch in the possession of the two captives, he had a +fair idea of counting seconds. At fourteen from the disappearance of +the red light the white appeared. An almost identical space of time +occurred before the red reappeared. + +"It's the Wolf Light," mentally ejaculated the lad. + +His next step was to fix the bearing of the lighthouse. This he did by +looking for the Great Bear, and then, following the Pointers, the North +Star. + +"Phew!" he muttered softly. "Nor'-nor'-west. This brute of a +submarine is right in the chops of the Channel--the main highway for +vessels making for London and the south coast ports." + +"What's that?" asked Vernon, who heard his chum speaking, but had +failed to grasp the significance of his words. + +"Nothing," replied Ross almost in a whisper. "I'll tell you later." + +The cool air had revived both lads wonderfully. They had been left to +their own devices, for the petty officer had gone aft. Those of the +crew who were on deck seemed as apathetic as the men below concerning +the presence of the kidnapped youths. They looked like men utterly +worn out by fatigue and nervous strain. + +Grasping the flexible wire hand-rail Ross continued his survey of the +horizon, all of which was visible except a small portion obscured by +the rise of the conning-tower. The air was remarkably clear. Taking +into consideration the refraction of the atmosphere, the navigation +lamps of a vessel shown at twenty feet above the sea would be visible +from the low-lying deck of the submarine at a distance of six to seven +miles. + +But there were no signs of any vessels in the vicinity. The German +submarine rolled lazily in complete isolation, waiting, like a snake in +the grass, for its prey. + +"Herr Kapitan would see you," exclaimed the guttural voice of the petty +officer. "Come aft. Remember, when you are addressed, to remove your +caps." + +The man led the way, making no attempt to avoid the recumbent limbs and +bodies of the crew who impeded his passage. Treading with discretion +Ross and Vernon followed till, after skirting the base of the +conning-tower, they found themselves in the presence of +Lieutenant-Commander Schwalbe, the Kapitan of U75. + +Schwalbe was sitting in a small arm-chair which had been brought from +his cabin. He was smoking a cigar. At his elbow stood his satellite, +Hermann Rix, who was also smoking. This luxury was denied the crew, +the officers being permitted to smoke only when the submarine was +running awash or resting on the surface. + +[Illustration: THE INTERVIEW WITH THE GERMAN CAPTAIN (missing from +book)] + +"So you have recovered from your little involuntary rest," exclaimed +Schwalbe in excellent English. He was a remarkably good linguist, for +previous to the outbreak of the war he had been the skipper of a +North-German-Lloyd boat. By sheer good luck he had reached a home port +the day after the momentous declaration of hostilities, having narrowly +escaped capture by a British destroyer. + +Owing to the great expansion of the German submarine service, and its +equally rapid reduction at the hands of the British Navy, the supply of +specially trained officers of the Imperial Navy for this branch had run +out. More had been transferred from the pent-up High Seas Fleet, while +others had been absorbed from the now useless German Mercantile Marine, +and hastily put through a course of instruction. Schwalbe was one of +these, and after less than two months' hazardous work in the capacity +of Unter-leutnant found himself in command of U75, one of the "last +words" of von Tirpitz's piratical fleet. + +Neither Ross nor Vernon replied. They could form no suitable answer. +It was no doubt very considerate on the part of the Kapitan to enquire +after their healths, but somehow the lads felt that the skipper of U75 +was responsible for their presence on board. + +"Come, come," continued Schwalbe. "Don't be sulky." + +"We are not," expostulated Ross. + +"I'm glad to hear it," rejoined the Kapitan, with a grin that had the +effect of letting his cigar fall to the deck. He stooped to retrieve +it, but, suddenly remembering that it was beneath his dignity, changed +his mind and kicked the glowing stump on one side. Having taken +another from a gun-metal case, he lit it with a device that merely +smouldered instead of giving a bright light. + +"It is as well we understand each other," he continued. "Do you know +why you are on board U75?" + +"No, sir," replied Ross. + +"Neither do I," rejoined Schwalbe with astonishing candour. "I wish I +had not been honoured with your company." + +"The remedy is in your hands then, sir," said Trefusis. "You can land +us the next time you put in at St. Mena's Island for petrol, or else +put us on board the first fishing craft we fall in with." + +"I beg to differ," was the rejoinder. "Unfortunately you are on board, +and you must make the best of it, I understand from my friend--shall I +say Dr. Ramblethorne--that you are both very inquisitive. +Inquisitiveness is a bad trait in ones so young. You see, it has got +you into trouble. The doctor has strong reasons for getting me to take +care of you for some considerable time, so you will have an opportunity +of seeing how we Germans make war. No half-measures, mark you. It is +useless to make war with a velvet glove. You English people call us +pirates, I believe?" + +"It certainly looks like piracy when German submarines sink harmless +merchantmen without warning," declared Vernon. + +"For my part I have never sent a merchant vessel to the bottom without +warning," said Schwalbe. "As a seaman I regret having to sink any ship +of commerce. As an officer of the German Navy I have to obey orders +unquestionably. Nevertheless I have always given the crews of British +ships a chance of escape, and have never sunk any vessel until the men +are safely in the boats, unless she attempts to show fight or to run +away." + +"Would you blame a skipper for trying to save his ship?" asked Ross. + +"You do not understand," exclaimed Schwalbe. "We are at war. A +blockade has been declared upon the British Islands. If, after full +warning, merchantmen persist in taking the risk, it is their look-out, +not mine. However, to return to a more personal matter: having been +saddled with you, I must endure your presence. You will be well fed, +as far as the resources at our command will allow. You will be free to +go wherever you wish on board, with the exception of the conning-tower, +motor- and torpedo-rooms. I am not ungrateful, for my brother, who had +the misfortune to be in the _Ariadne_, was captured by your fleet. He +is being well treated somewhere in England. Hence I give privileges to +the son of Admiral Trefusis and the son of Commander Haye so long as +they are my compulsory guests. But bear in mind: you will be watched. +Should you commit any fault, however slight, you will pay dearly for +it. If you are foolish enough to attempt any act of treachery, death +will be the penalty. Have I made myself perfectly clear?" + +"Yes, sir," replied both lads. + +"Very well. Is there anything you would like me to do within the +bounds of reason?" + +"Could we communicate with our parents?" asked Ross. + +"No," replied Schwalbe decisively. "There are strong objections. And, +while I am on the subject, should you fall in with the crews of +destroyed ships you are strictly forbidden to communicate with them +either by word or gesture. That will be a punishable offence of the +second degree. Anything more?" + +"My friend has had a nasty knock on the head," said Trefusis. "Have +you a doctor on board?" + +Again Kapitan Schwalbe smiled broadly. + +"No," he replied. "There is no need. Cases of illness must wait till +we return to port. The only injuries we are likely to sustain would +put us beyond all medical aid. But several of the men are fairly +skilled in rough surgery, so I will----" + +"Vessel on the port bow, sir; she's showing no lights," announced a +voice. + +"All hands to stations!" ordered the skipper. + +"Down below with you!" hissed the petty officer, who during the +interview had stood rigidly at attention at two paces to the rear of +his charges. + +Already the hitherto recumbent men were alert. Quickly, yet in order, +they disappeared down the fore hatchway, and amongst them were Ross and +Vernon. + +The officers had taken their places inside the shelter of the +conning-tower. Everything was battened down from within, and with a +gentle purr the electric motors were set in motion, while at the same +time water ballast was admitted into the trimming-tanks. + +Swift and stealthy had been their preparations, but the presence of the +submarine was betrayed by the phosphorescent swirl of the water caused +by the churning of the twin propellers as she slipped beneath the +surface. + +Twenty seconds later a swift vessel that looked suspiciously like a +trawler, although her speed belied her, tore over the place where U75 +had disappeared. Bare inches only separated the top of the latter's +conning-tower from the massive keel plates of the craft that had all +but accomplished its mission. + +The watch-dogs of the British Navy were at work. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +The Tramp + +Like a startled hare the unterseeboot fled for shelter. Not until she +reached a depth of fifteen fathoms did she check her diagonally +downward course. At intervals a dull booming, audible above the rattle +of the motors, proclaimed the unpleasant fact that her antagonist was +circling around the spot marked by the phosphorescent swirl and the +iridescence of escaped oil, and was firing explosive grapnels in the +hope of ripping open the U-boat's hull. + +Kapitan Schwalbe, looking very grey in the artificial light, was +standing behind the quartermaster. His hands were clenched in +momentary apprehension. Beads of perspiration stood out upon his +forehead. He was experiencing a foretaste of the torment of the lost. + +As a submarine officer of the Imperial German Navy he was a failure. +Only sheer luck had hitherto saved him from the fate that had overtaken +scores of his brother officers in that branch of the service. Skilled +as he was in the handling of a huge liner, he lacked the iron nerve +that is essential to the man who has to risk his life in a steel box +that, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, offers no means of escape +in the event of a catastrophe. + +Yet he had to do his duty, notwithstanding his utter distaste for +submarine work. He had had no option. The officers of the British +Navy volunteer for submarine duties; those of the German Navy are +simply told off whether they want to or not. + +The nerve-racking work was beginning to tell upon him. His orders +condemned him to a forlorn hope, for the English Channel was known to +be a death-trap for the under-sea blockaders. The sight of a trawler +filled him with feelings akin to terror. The possibility, nay +probability, of a merchantman carrying guns made him approach his +intended prey with the utmost caution; yet, as he had remarked to Ross +Trefusis, he had never torpedoed any vessel flying the red ensign +without giving her warning. + +But it was not chivalry that prompted Schwalbe to act with +consideration. Had he been untrammelled he would have sent his prey to +the bottom without compunction, for he had all the brutal instincts of +the kultured Hun. It was a superstitious fear that held his +frightfulness in check--a presentiment based upon the Mosaic Law, an +eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. + +Having placed a considerable distance between him and his attacker, +Kapitan Schwalbe ordered the electric motors to be stopped. The +ballast tanks were "blown", and cautiously U75 rose to the surface. + +It was the best course open to her. The depth of the water was much +too great to allow her to rest on the bed of the sea. On the other +hand, in order to keep submerged, the motors would have to be in +motion. No one knew better than Schwalbe that the British patrol-boats +would be in a position to locate with uncanny certitude the presence of +their quarry, unless the strictest silence were maintained by the +fugitive. + +So, ready to dive at the first alarm, U75 floated awash until such +times as were considered favourable for getting under way. Decidedly +this part of the English Channel was, for the time being at least, +unhealthy; and Kapitan Schwalbe resolved to make for the Bristol +Channel, where the dangers of being destroyed by modern mosquitoes were +more remote. + +Meanwhile Ross and Vernon had been sent back to the quarters in the +alley-way, by the side of the motor-room. Not knowing the reason for +the U-boat's sudden submergence, and consequently unaware of the danger +that threatened her, they formed the erroneous impression that the +submarine was about to attack. + +"The old fellow gave us a pretty straight tip," remarked Vernon, when +the chums found themselves alone. "All the same, I vote we get out of +it at the first opportunity, favourable or otherwise." + +"'Ssh," whispered Ross. "Someone might be listening. I don't see how +you propose to clear out, though." + +"We were on deck just now." + +"We were," agreed Trefusis. + +"It was fairly dark. All the men up for'ard were lying down. It would +have been an easy matter to have dived overboard and swum for it, if we +hadn't been twenty miles or more from land." + +"There was a bright look-out kept, all the same," objected Ross. "And +I wouldn't mind saying that if the submarine were closer inshore, +getting a supply of petrol, for example, we should be closely watched. +All the same, I'm with you if we get the ghost of a chance. But it's a +rummy affair altogether. Fancy that chap knowing our names and the +rank of our respective fathers." + +"Ramblethorne must have told him that," said Vernon. + +"I suppose so; but for what reason? By Jove, if we get out of this +mess all right, we'll have something to talk about--having been +prisoners on a German submarine!" + +The lads were not allowed on deck again that night. Acting upon Haye's +suggestion they "turned in", and slept fitfully until awakened by the +noise of the watch being relieved. + +The seaman, Hans Koppe, brought them their breakfast. The meal +consisted of fish, coffee, and the usual black bread. By this time the +captives had practically recovered from the effects of the injection. +Haye's head was still painful, although the headache had left him. + +They ate with avidity, owing possibly to the atmosphere of the confined +space, which was highly charged with oxygen. + +"What is the Captain's name?" asked Ross, when the man came to remove +the breakfast things. + +The sailor told him. + +"Where are we now?" enquired Vernon. + +The man winked solemnly. + +"Afloat," he replied. "Be content with that." + +Just then there were unmistakable signs of activity on the part of the +submarine crew. Several men hurried along the alley-way, each with a +set purpose. They paid little heed to the Englanders as they passed. + +At their heels came Herr Rix, the Leutnant of the submarine. He was +beaming affably. + +"Goot mornings!" he exclaimed. "You come mit me, den I show you how we +blockade." + +He led the way to the compartment in which the bowl of the +supplementary periscope was placed. It was now broad daylight, and +consequently the bowl showed a distinct image. A junior officer was +standing by, but on seeing Rix approach he saluted and moved aside. + +"Look!" exclaimed the Leutnant. + +Both lads peered into the bowl. On its dull sides, an expanse of sea +and sky was portrayed. Beyond that they could see nothing, until Rix +called their attention to a small dark object. + +"Englische sheep!" he declared. "Now you vos watch." + +He touched a metal stud. Instantly an arrangement of telescopic lenses +came into play within the tube of the periscope, with the result that a +small portion of the view was greatly magnified upon the object card. +It revealed a tramp of about nine hundred tons. She had a single +funnel painted black, with two broad red bands; two stumpy masts, with +derricks, and a lofty bridge and chart-house abaft the funnel. She was +wall-sided. Her rusty hull was originally painted black. Here and +there were squares of red lead, showing that her crew had been engaged +in trying to smarten her up before she reached port. Aft, frayed and +dirty with the smoke that poured from her funnel, floated the red +ensign. + +The submarine began to rise. Although she tilted abruptly, the image +of the tramp steamer still remained upon the object bowl. By an +ingenious arrangement, the lenses were constructed to compensate for +any deviation of the tube of the periscope from the vertical. The lads +could see the bows of the U-boat shaking clear of the water, throwing +cascades of foam off on either side as the passing craft forged ahead +at at least eighteen knots. + +Now, for the first time, the skipper of the tramp saw the danger. He +was a short, thick-set man, with white hair and an iron-grey moustache, +and a face the colour of mahogany. For an instant he grasped the +bridge-rails and looked towards the submarine, then gesticulated +violently to the man at the wheel. + +The spikes ran through the helmsman's hands, as he rapidly revolved the +wheel actuating the steam steering-gear. The tramp swung hard to port, +with the idea of baffling the momentarily expected torpedo. + +Kapitan Schwalbe acted up to his principles. In any case he was loath +to use a torpedo upon a comparatively small vessel. In response to an +order, half a dozen of the submarine's crew swarmed on deck, three +going for'ard and three aft. Within forty-five seconds the two +disappearing guns were raised from the water-tight "houses". + +Ross, Vernon, and the German Leutnant remained gazing into the bowl of +the periscope. The vision so absorbed the attention of the two lads +that they hardly heeded the presence of Herr Rix, who occasionally +emitted grunts of satisfaction or annoyance as the scene was enacted. + +The bow gun spat viciously. The range was but three hundred yards. +The missile passed a few feet in front of the tramp's bows, and, +throwing up a shower of spray that burst inboard on the British +vessel's fo'c'sle, ricochetted a mile or so away. + +The tramp's skipper showed his mettle. Round swung the vessel, listing +heavily as she did so. By this time the call for more steam had been +responded to, and dense clouds of black smoke belched from her funnel, +mingled with puffs of white vapour as the siren bleated loudly for aid. + +Running awash, U75 had a great advantage of speed; overtaking her prey +she was able to send half a dozen shells into the lofty target +presented as she slid by. + +Holes gaped in the thin plating close to the waterline. A shell, +passing completely through the funnel, demolished the siren. Being +without wireless, the tramp was now without means of long-distance +signalling. + +Another missile hit the chart-house and, exploding, swept the frail +structure overboard in a thousand fragments. The old skipper, hit by a +splinter of wood, fell inertly upon the bridge; but the next instant he +staggered to his feet, bawling to the crew to get the hand-steering +gear connected. + +"He's down again!" exclaimed Ross breathlessly, as the brave old man +dropped upon the shattered planking of the bridge. "Hurrah! He's +still alive." + +The skipper had deliberately taken cover behind the slender shelter +afforded by the metal side-light boards. By the frantic movement of +his arm, it was evident that he was exhorting his men to "stick it" +like Britons. + +The hail of shells continued. Already fire had broken out on board in +several places. A sliver of metal sheered through the ensign staff. +Without hesitation one of the crew rushed off, retrieved the +weather-worn bunting, and made his way to the mainmast. + +Slowly and deliberately he re-hoisted the ensign until it fluttered +proudly from the truck, then with apparent unconcern the man +disappeared below. + +By this time the tramp was again under control, with a course shaped +for land, which lay about ten miles to the S.S.E. It was, however, a +foregone conclusion that unless help were speedily forthcoming the +vessel was doomed. + +The tramp began to heel, almost imperceptibly at first, then with +increasing speed. She had received her _coup de grace_. + +Still the engines were kept going full speed ahead. The dauntless +skipper remained on the bridge, with a look of grim resolution on his +weather-beaten features. + +Slowly the vessel's way diminished. Her bow-wave, owing to the +gradually increasing draught, was greater, but less sharp than before. +In a few minutes the water would be pouring over her fore-deck. + +Seeing that their work was completed, the pirates ceased fire, the +guns' crews standing with folded arms and stolidly watching the tramp +as she struggled in her death-throes. + +Presently a vast cloud of steam issued from her engine-room. The +inrush of water had damped her furnaces. The engineer and firemen, +their faces black with coal-dust and streaming with moisture, hurried +on deck. + +For another quarter of a mile the doomed vessel carried way, then came +to a sudden stop. As she did so she gave a quick list to starboard, +until only a few inches of bulwark amidships showed above the waves. + +Then, and only then, did the skipper give orders for the boats to be +lowered. In an orderly manner the crew manned the falls, and the task +of abandoning the ship began. + +Without undue haste, the crew dropped into the waiting boats, each man +with a bundle containing his scanty personal effects wrapped up in a +handkerchief. The Captain was the last to leave. He did so +reluctantly, his left hand tightly grasping the ship's papers. + +Having rowed a safe distance from the foundering vessel, the men rested +on their oars, and waited in silence for the end. It was not long in +coming. + +The tramp was heeling more and more, and slightly down by the bows. +Suddenly she almost righted; then, amid a smother of foam as the +compressed air burst open her hatches, she flung her stern high in the +air. + +Even then she seemed in no hurry. The after part from the mainmast +remained in view, the now motionless propeller being well clear of the +water. + +For quite a minute she remained thus, then with a quick yet almost +gentle movement slid under the waves. The last seen of her was the +weather-worn red ensign still fluttering from the truck. + +The periscope's bowl showed nothing but an expanse of sea and sky, and +the two boats rising buoyantly to the waves. + +A grim chuckle brought Ross and Vernon back to their surroundings. +Herr Rix was rubbing his hands and grunting with evident satisfaction. + +"Goot!" he ejaculated. "Now, how you like dat? Now you see how we +German make blockade, hein?" + +"A brave deed," replied Ross scornfully, and, gripping Vernon by the +arm, led him back to their uncomfortable quarters in the alley-way. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +On the Bed of the Sea + +For the next twenty-four hours nothing exciting occurred. The U-boat +kept to the surface as much as possible, running under her petrol +motors at fifteen knots. To exceed that pace would mean too great a +consumption of fuel, and already the vessel was short of petrol. + +Kapitan Schwalbe was prone to act on the side of extreme caution. +Having sunk one vessel, he would not tackle another in the same +vicinity. He invariably put at least a hundred miles between him and +the scene of his latest ignominious exploit before attempting another +act of kultur. + +Three times during that twenty-four hours he dived: twice on sighting +what were unquestionably Bristol Channel pilot-boats, and on the third +occasion when a Penzance lugger under motor-power (for it was a dead +calm) crossed his track. + +All this time a regular stream of shipping was passing up and down the +Bristol Channel, as unconcernedly as in the piping days of peace. To +anyone but a bumptious German, the sight would have told its own tale; +for the British Mercantile Marine, used to danger and difficulties, was +not to be deterred by the "frightfulness" of von Tirpitz's blockade. +On the contrary, the possibility of falling in with a hostile submarine +gave an unwonted spice to the everyday routine of the toilers of the +sea. + +After breakfast on the following morning Ross and Vernon were told to +go on deck. The sea was still calm, and the submarine, now running +awash at full speed, was cleaving the water with practically dry decks. + +The lads soon realized what was in progress. A couple of miles away +was a large ocean cargo-boat, outward bound, and U75 was in pursuit. + +Trefusis and his chum were not allowed for'ard, where the quick-firer +was already in position for opening fire. They were ordered abaft the +conning-tower, the hatch of which was open. + +Kapitan Schwalbe's head and shoulders could be seen projecting above +the opening. On the raised grating surrounding the conning-tower, +stood a boyish-looking Unter-leutnant. Hermann Rix was nowhere to be +seen. Apparently his duties compelled him to remain below. + +Presently the quick-firer barked, and a projectile struck the water +about a hundred yards from the starboard side of the pursued vessel. +With the discharge of the gun, a sailor hoisted the black cross ensign +of Germany from a small flagstaff aft, while a signal in the +International Code ordering the British vessel to heave to instantly +fluttered from the light mast immediately abaft the conning-tower. + +The only response from the chase was the hoisting of the red ensign, +for previously she had shown no colours. Slowly, defiantly, the +bunting was hauled close up, and ironically "dipped" three times. + +Again and again the submarine's bow-chaser fired. The shells were well +aimed as regards direction, but all fell short. Imperceptibly the +merchantman had increased distance. + +"Look at the fools!" Ross heard the Kapitan remark, as he kept his +binoculars focused on his intended prey. "They are trying to snapshot +us. Are all Englishmen so blind to peril?" + +"Are you sure they haven't a couple of quick-firers mounted aft, sir?" +asked the Unter-leutnant. "There are several men gathered round +something on the poop." + +"Himmel, I hope not!" ejaculated Schwalbe. "But no; had they any guns +they would have opened fire before now. What is the matter with our +gun-layer? It is about time he got a shell home." + +The Unter-leutnant lowered himself on the foredeck, and shouted angrily +at the seaman whose duty it was to "lay" the bow-chasers. The man +again bent over the sights. + +This time the shell pitched ahead of the chase, but slightly to port. +Some of the spray thrown up by the projectile fell on board. + +"Is that the best you can do, you brainless idiot?" shouted Schwalbe +wrathfully. Now that he was in pursuit he was loath to be baffled, but +at the same time he realized that the submarine was using a lot of +precious fuel and a prodigious amount of ammunition without any +definite result. + +In the midst of his torrent of abuse directed upon the luckless +gun-layer, Kapitan Schwalbe suddenly stopped. Gripping the rim of the +oval hatchway he gazed, horror-stricken, at two objects bobbing in the +water directly in the path of the submarine. Then, recovering his +voice, he shouted to the quartermaster to port helm. + +The fellow obeyed promptly, but it was too late. Practically +simultaneously, two barrels swung round and crashed alongside the +submarine's hull. + +Officers and men, expecting momentarily to find themselves blown into +the air, stood stock-still. Then, as nothing so disastrous occurred, +Schwalbe gave orders for easy astern. + +The barrels, connected by a span of grass rope, had been thrown +overboard from the pursued vessel, in the hope that the submarine would +foul her propellers in the tangle of line. Once a blade picked up that +trailing rope, the latter would coil round the boss as tightly as a +band of flexible steel. + +The plan all but succeeded; only the metal guards protecting the +propellers saved them from being hopelessly jammed. Yet the attempt +was attended with good results as far as the British ship was +concerned, for by the time U75 had lost way and had cautiously backed +away from the obstruction, the swift cargo-vessel had gained a distance +that put her beyond all chance of being overhauled. + +Infuriated by his failure, Kapitan Schwalbe went aft and descended into +his cabin. He was hardly conscious of the presence of his two +involuntary guests as he passed. He was thinking of the fate that had +consigned him to a perilous and uncongenial task. Without doubt the +vessel he had been pursuing was equipped with wireless, and by this +time a number of those dreaded hornets would be tearing towards the +spot. To add to his discomfiture it was reported to him that the +reserve of fuel on board had seriously dwindled. In order to remain +effective it was necessary that U75 should replenish her tanks before +another forty-eight hours had passed. + +According to his customary tactics, Schwalbe ordered the submarine to +dive to sixty feet. At that depth she would be safe from any +possibility of being rammed. Provided she could avoid the under-water +obstructions with which the British naval authorities had sown the bed +of the sea at almost every point likely to be frequented by lurking +hostile submarines, she was in no actual danger. + +Gaining his diminutive cabin, Schwalbe by sheer force of habit +consulted the aneroid. The mercury was falling rapidly. Since he last +looked, barely two hours previously, it had dropped 764 to 734 +millimetres, or an inch and two-tenths. That meant that the +anti-cyclone was rapidly breaking up, and that a severe gale was +approaching with considerable swiftness. + +U75 must submerge and seek shelter. It was impossible for her to keep +at a uniform depth unless she maintained steerage-way; that meant a +great demand upon her storage batteries. She could not remain on the +bottom of the sea in a heavy gale, owing to the constant "pumping" or +up-and-down movements caused by the varying pressure of passing waves, +unless she sought a sheltered roadstead--and sheltered roadsteads were +generally mined, or guarded by some ingenious device that had already +accounted for several of U75's consorts. + +Producing a chart of the Bristol Channel, Schwalbe unfolded and spread +it upon a table. Then, in conjunction with a translation of the latest +British Admiralty guide to the west coast of England, he proceeded to +select what he hoped would be a snug shelter during the coming storm. + +"Herr Rix!" he shouted. "I'll make for this anchorage. There's every +indication of a strong blow from the nor'-east." + +"This" was Helwick Channel, a deep, almost blind passage between the +Glamorgan coast and an outlying submerged reef known as the East and +West Helwick. In fine weather it was a short cut for traders plying +between Llanelly and Swansea. In bad weather it was a place to be +avoided, as far as sailing vessels were concerned. Sheltered by the +bold outlines of Worm's Head, it ought to prove an ideal lurking-place +until the gale had blown itself out, for there was little danger of the +place being used as an anchorage, since vessels preferred to give the +rock-bound coast a wide berth. On this account, it was also highly +probable that the Helwick channel had not been safe-guarded by the +British naval authorities. + +Just before sunset, U75, having made the passage unobserved, brought up +in twelve fathoms of water, resting evenly on the firm, hard sands at +the bottom. + +Ross and his chum turned in early. There was nothing for them to do. +They held aloof from the crew; there were no books to entertain them, +no games to amuse them. The submarine was now motionless, sufficient +water ballast having been taken in to allow her to settle firmly upon +the bottom; but, in order to be prepared, the anchor was let go. Thus +not the slightest movement of the hull was apparent. The rest, after +hours of erratic movement on the oily swell, was a welcome one. + +The lads had set their joint watch by the submarine's time, which, +being mid-European standard, was one hour fast of Greenwich. + +For several hours they slept soundly and undisturbed. Suddenly they +were both awakened by the muffled tramp of men in heavy sea-boots. The +solitary light in the alley-way was switched off; the water-tight doors +were firmly closed. Already the air in the confined space was stifling. + +"What has happened?" asked Vernon anxiously, for the vessel, instead of +resting immovably upon the bed of the channel, was now rolling +sluggishly. Yet she could not be under way, for the motors were silent. + +Springing from his bunk, Ross felt for the switch of the electric +light. It was already down, yet the flow of current was interrupted. + +"Let's find out," he said. "Come along." + +The lads, before turning in, had carefully laid out their clothes, so +as to be ready to slip into them at a moment's notice, yet it was a +matter of considerable difficulty to dress in the dark. + +"The door's closed," announced Ross as the lads groped their way to the +end of the alley-way. + +"I believe the submarine's holed," suggested Haye. + +"No; she wouldn't lift as she's doing. Besides, the crew are moving +about. Let's bang on the door with our boots." + +For several minutes they hammered, but without result. The air, never +very fresh, was now almost unbearable, owing to lack of ventilation. +The imprisoned youths began to get desperate. + +Then, without warning, the door slid back. The alley-way was flooded +with brilliant light. + +"Make haste!" shouted a voice which the lads recognized as that of Hans +Koppe. At the same time he grasped Ross by the shoulder and literally +dragged him across the steel threshold. Vernon followed quickly, but +barely had he gained the compartment beyond than the massive steel door +shot back again. + +"Didn't you hear the order all hands for'ard?" asked Hans, not +unkindly, for the white faces of the English lads told their own tale. + +"No," replied Ross. "Besides, we are not included in the 'hands', are +we?" + +"You'll have to bear the consequences if you don't obey," rejoined +Koppe. "I'm supposed to be looking after you, but how was I to know +you hadn't turned out? Fortunately for you, I heard your knocking, and +asked Herr Kapitan to open the doors. He was angry, but did so." + +"What has happened then?" asked Trefusis, for the seaman seemed in a +communicative mood. + +"A shift of wind. It's blowing great guns up aloft, and there's a +terrific tumble into this channel. We've dragged, or, rather, swung +round our anchor." + +"But we are safe enough?" asked Vernon. + +"Yes, safe," replied Hans. "Too safe; we cannot break out our anchor. +They are sending a diver to see what is amiss." + +Evidently the diving arrangements on board were not considered to be of +a confidential nature, for Hans led the way to the compartment under +the fore-hatch, without the lads being sent back by the significant +word "verboten". + +A man was preparing for a submarine walk. He was already dressed in an +india-rubber suit, with leaden weights attached to his chest, back, and +boots. Two others were standing by, ready to place the helmet over his +head, when Leutnant Rix had finished giving him minute directions. + +The officer spoke rapidly and in a low tone. Ross could not catch all +he said, but the words "gefaehrliche Stroemungen" (dangerous currents) +and "Der Wendepunkt der Flut" (slack water) and "Drei Viertel funf" (a +quarter to five) occurred frequently. + +Vernon glanced at his watch. It was then a minute after four. +Apparently Rix was impressing upon the man that he must clear the +anchor at slack water, which occurred at a quarter to five. + +The two attendants then proceeded to place the diver's helmet on his +head. The lads noticed that it had neither air-tube nor telephone +wire. Nor was there a life-line attached to his waist. Fresh air was +obtained from a metal case strapped to his back. The man was able to +work independently, and without having to rely upon his air supply from +the submarine. + +The oval door in the diving-chamber was thrown open. The diver +entered, and the water-tight panel was quickly replaced. One of the +seamen thrust over a short lever, and immediately water rushed into the +small compartment. As soon as the space was filled the diver was able +to open a similar door in the outer plating of the submarine, and thus +gain the bed of the sea. + +Presently Leutnant Rix turned, and saw for the first time that Ross and +Vernon were discreetly standing in the background. + +"Go away. It is forbidden!" he shouted angrily. + +They obeyed promptly, retreating to the space allotted to the crew, +since it was neither desirable nor possible to return to their bunks. + +For some minutes the luckless Hans Koppe was subjected to a severe +dressing-down by his hot-headed officer, and when at length the seaman +rejoined the lads he was in no humour to resume conversation. + +Slowly the minutes sped. The submarine was still rolling sluggishly, +in spite of the fact that more water had been admitted into the ballast +tanks. + +The men were talking seriously amongst themselves. From scraps of +conversation that drifted to the lads' ears, it was evident that they +had grave doubts concerning the ability of the diver to perform his +task, and even of his chances of regaining the submarine, owing to the +violent disturbances of the water. + +Presently the motion of the anchored submarine became more acute. A +weird grating sound--the noise made by the hull rasping over the bed of +the sea--was distinctly audible. + +One of the seamen produced a pocket compass. His startled exclamation +brought other members of the crew around him. The magnetic needle was +apparently describing a semicircle. U75 was swinging round her anchor. + +Just then a bell tinkled, and a disc oscillated on the indicator board +on the bulkhead. Instantly the two men who had been told off as +attendants upon the diver hurried aft, while their companions crowded +expectantly around the door. + +The two men came back, staggering under the weight of the diver. They +had already removed his head-dress and leaden weights. Water dropped +from his rubber suit. His face was livid, his eyes wide open and +rolling. One of his bare hands was streaked with blood that flowed +sullenly from a cut in his numbed flesh. + +Kapitan Schwalbe and Leutnant Rix followed him into the crew-space. It +was not through feelings of compassion that they had come for'ard. It +was acute anxiety to hear the diver's report. + +The luckless man was laid upon the mess-table. His attendants divested +him of his diving-suit, and rubbed his body with rough towels. A petty +officer poured half a glass of brandy down his throat. + +"What is amiss?" Kapitan Schwalbe kept on repeating. + +With a great effort the diver sat up. + +"An anchor, sir," he gasped feebly. "An anchor--an English naval +pattern one--has been dropped right over ours. A very big one." + +Then his eyes closed, and he fell back unconscious. + +"Gott in Himmel!" ejaculated Rix. "We are trapped!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Balked by a Sea-plane + +"How so?" demanded Kapitan Schwalbe. "If we keep quiet, the +cruiser--for cruiser she must be, judging by the fellow's +description--will weigh and proceed." + +"When she does weigh we are undone," said Rix despondently. "We are +swinging round our anchor. For all we know, our cable has taken a turn +round hers. As soon as they heave up their anchor, our anchor and +cable will be brought up with it, and then the game is up. Either the +strain will overcome our dead weight and we will be hauled to the +surface, or else they'll lower one of their brutal explosive charges." + +"The situation is serious," admitted Schwalbe in a low tone, for his +Leutnant's words had produced a demoralizing effect upon the men. "How +much cable have we inboard?" + +Rix repeated the question. A petty officer doubled forward to consult +the cable indicator. U75's anchor, when under way, was housed in a +trough on the under side of the submarine's forefoot. The cable was +automatically ranged in a compartment between the inner and outer +skins, the space being always filled with water. The inboard end of +the cable was not shackled; but to prevent its being able to take +charge and run out, an indicator was placed on the bulkhead nearest to +the cable tier. The amount of chain let go was regulated by a +compressor, which was actuated from within the hull by means of levers +and cranks, watertight glands being provided to prevent any leakage +into the interior of the submarine. + +"Seventy-five fathoms," reported the petty officer. "When we commenced +to swing we paid out the length we had taken on board when we hove +short." + +"We must sacrifice the lot, Herr Rix," decided Kapitan Schwalbe. +"There is no time to lose. Storm or no storm, we must slip and run for +it." + +It was U75's only chance, but it left her with only a small stockless +kedge-anchor and chain, insufficient to withstand a heavy strain. + +The compressor was released. With a loud rumble, for every sound was +magnified within the confined space, the rest of the cable was allowed +to take charge. It did so promptly, the end of the chain giving the +hull a defiant smack as it did so. U75, no longer held by her anchor, +began to drift with the tide, scraping dismally over the bed of Helwich +Channel. + +Schwalbe was now back at his post in the conning-tower. He dare not +take the submarine to the surface until he had put a safe distance +between him and the anchored British warship. Nor did he care to order +the ballast tanks to be blown. Rather than allow the "pumping" of the +seas to hammer the submerged craft upon the hard sand, he preferred to +take the risk of letting her drag. + +Fortunately the tide set evenly along the bed of the channel. A +cross-current would have set the submarine upon the jagged rocks of the +hidden West Helwick Ridge. Nevertheless there was always the danger of +being hurled violently against a detached rock, or of fouling a live +mine if by chance the British had laid obstructions in the channel. + +Both Ross and Vernon knew the danger, but, manfully concealing their +misgivings, they watched the faces of those of the crew who were "watch +below". Most of the men were Frisians, broad-shouldered, +blonde-featured, and generally devoid of fear. Yet the ceaseless +strain upon the nerves had already begun to tell. As hardy fishermen, +they would not have hesitated to launch their open boats in a storm to +go to the rescue of a hapless vessel aground on the grim sand-banks of +the Frisian shore. As the conscript crew of the submarine, compelled +to keep within the limits of a steel box that almost momentarily +threatened to be their tomb, their natural bravery was quenched. + +Many of them sat upon their lockers, stolid-faced men who had already +tasted of the bitterness of death. Others showed unmistakable signs of +excitement, bordering on frenzy. They dreaded their life of modern +piracy. The idea of sinking hapless merchantmen was repugnant to them, +for they understood the brotherhood of the sea. It would be different +if they were called upon to attack an armed British ship of war. They +had no option but to obey their junker officers, who in turn were +compelled to accept the misguided orders of the arch-pirate, von +Tirpitz. + +They were disheartened, too, for reports, in spite of the vigilance of +the officers to conceal them, had reached them of the losses inflicted +upon other unterseebooten. Occasionally they heard of a submarine crew +being saved, but generally it was a case of total loss of all on board, +by some hitherto unknown means, at the hands of the British Navy. + +A hand touched Ross lightly on the shoulder. Turning, he saw Hans +Koppe standing in a darkened corner of the compartment. + +"Can you tell me this, mein herr?" asked the seaman in a low tone. "Is +it true that the English give no quarter to German seamen in +submarines?" + +"I shouldn't think that they would refuse to do so," replied Trefusis. +"Of course, I can quite understand that an opportunity doesn't often +occur; but I've heard of several instances in which your U-boats have +surrendered, and the crews have been treated exactly the same as other +prisoners of war." + +"I have heard differently," said Hans, "but I hope it's a mistake. I +have a feeling that we won't see Wilhelmshaven again. And I have a +wife and six children at Flensburg. Our Kapitan, too, expects that we +might be denied quarter, because we have sunk your merchantmen. +Believe me, I regret having done so, but we have orders. Do you know +why Kapitan Schwalbe took you on board?" + +"Because a certain German agent wanted us out of the way, I suppose," +replied Ross. + +"Perhaps," admitted Hans Koppe. "But in the event of our being +captured he thinks that his good treatment of you will be in his +favour. We are, I do not mind telling you, in a very tight corner. +Our fuel supply is almost run out. We cannot hope to return home by +way of the Straits of Dover. Not one of our submarines has tried that +passage of late without meeting with disaster--at least, so I heard der +Kapitan tell der Leutnant. Ach! It is deplorable, this war." + +The rapid ringing of a gong was the signal for the watch below to turn +out. A peculiar hissing noise proclaimed the fact that the ballast +tanks were being emptied. U75 no longer grated over the bottom; her +motors were running almost dead slow. + +Although submerged, the submarine was "pumping" violently. Seasoned +men were prostrate with sea-sickness. The air, in spite of chemical +purifiers, was becoming almost intolerable. Everything movable was +being thrown about in utter disorder, while to add to the discomfort of +the crew the covering-plates of one of the lubricating-oil tanks had +been strained, and at every jerk jets of viscous fluid would squirt +through the fracture and trickle sullenly over the floor of the +crew-space. + +Since the watertight doors were still closed, Ross and Vernon were +unable to get back to their bunks. Feeling thoroughly wretched, they +were glad to accept Hans Koppe's offer to lie down on a long locker. + +At noon, U75 came to the surface. The storm, being short forecasted, +had quickly blown itself out, but the waves still ran high. + +It was a prearranged plan on the part of the three U-boats operating in +the English and Bristol Channels to communicate with each other by +wireless at noon and at midnight. U75's wireless had a range of about +180 miles, and although it could be "jammed", the call could not be +tapped by vessels other than the one for which it was intended. To +make doubly sure, the messages were sent in code. + +For nearly ten minutes U75 "made her number" without eliciting any +reply. Perhaps it was well that Kapitan Schwalbe did not know what had +happened to her consorts. U74 was at that moment lying on her side at +the bottom of a Welsh harbour, her crew poisoned by the chlorine fumes +from her batteries--the result of a rash curiosity on the part of her +Lieutenant-Commander to investigate the approaches to the anchorage. +As for U77, she was flying blindly for safety, with a couple of +destroyers hard on her track, and a naval sea-plane overhead to direct +them in their search. + +Foiled in her efforts to get in touch with her consorts, U75 remained +awash. The heave of the sea made it most difficult for her to use her +periscope with certainty, for she had chosen a bad pitch on her +ascent--the furious "overfalls" or "tide-rips" to the west of Lundy +Island. + +"We'll pay another visit to St. Mena's Island, Herr Rix," decided +Kapitan Schwalbe, after the two officers had discussed the sinister +matter of their futile attempt to make use of the wireless. "To-night +at nine o'clock ought to suit. If we cannot get von Ruhle to see our +signals--for my own part, I doubt whether he is in these parts--we'll +have to do our best to get ashore. Meanwhile, keep a bright look-out. +If we see any likely vessel coming this way, we'll try our luck once +more." + +"Message just received, mein herr," announced the wireless operator. + +"From whom?" enquired Kapitan Schwalbe eagerly. He was devoutly hoping +that either U74 or U77 had been able to "call up". + +"I cannot say, sir," replied the man as he handed a code message to his +superior. + +Decoded, the "wireless" was as follows: + +"Station 41 to unterseebooten. Two hundred gallons of fuel available +here. Will be on the look-out for signals at 1 a.m." + +The message was a "general call" for a secret petrol depot to any +German submarine operating in the vicinity. Reference to the list of +stations showed that "41" was at Port Treherne, a remote cove on the +North Cornish coast about fifty miles from St. Mena's Island. + +"I suppose it's safe," remarked Rix. + +"With due precautions--yes," rejoined Kapitan Schwalbe. "At any rate, +petrol we must have. Where's the chart? Ah, there we are! It looks a +fairly easy place to approach, don't you think? The only danger from a +navigation point is apparently this ledge of rocks--Lost Chance Reef, +it's called. What unpleasant names these Englishmen give to their +coasts!" + +At that moment the Unter-leutnant, who happened to be at the +conning-tower periscope, reported that a large vessel was bearing down +towards them. + +Kapitan Schwalbe hurried to the conning-tower. The object depicted was +that of a modern tank-vessel about four hundred feet in length. She +was low in the water, showing that she was well laden. In place of +masts she had four stumpy poles supporting derricks. Right aft was the +single funnel. The navigation bridge was well for'ard, connected with +another bridge just in front of the funnel by a long slender gangway. + +"An oil-tank homeward bound!" exclaimed Kapitan Schwalbe. "Just what +we want to fall in with. All being well, there will be no necessity to +visit either Port Treherne or St. Mena's Island. Ach! When we have +taken what we require we will set fire to the ship, and the English +will have a splendid view of a maritime bonfire." + +The crew were ordered to their stations, the ballast tanks "blown", and +U75 rose to the surface instead of "running awash", since the Kapitan +had resolved to stop the tank by gun-fire. + +Even then the waves were running so high that the guns' crews were +almost constantly up to their knees in water. + +Somewhat to the surprise of the submarine's officers and crew, the +tank-steamer made no attempt to escape. The firing of a shot across +her bows and the display of the black cross ensign were enough to cause +the skipper to reverse her engines. + +In less than five minutes, the oil-vessel was rolling in the trough of +the sea and drifting slowly to leeward. Yet it was a somewhat +remarkable circumstance that no attempt was made to lower the red +ensign that was proudly displayed at the stern. + +Kapitan Schwalbe, with his intimate knowledge of navigation, knew that +the only way possible to board the prize was to run to leeward of her, +and let the hull of the large vessel serve as a breakwater. He also +knew that the submarine would have to be constantly under way during +the boarding operations, otherwise the tank-vessel, offering +considerable resistance to the wind, would drift down upon U75, whose +leeway was almost unappreciable. + +"Send a boat, and lower your accommodation ladder," ordered Kapitan +Schwalbe, who, as the submarine ranged up half a cable's length to +leeward of the tank-vessel, had left the shelter of the conning-tower +and was standing on the platform in its wake. + +"Aye, aye," was the prompt response. + +"Board her, Herr Rix," said the Leutnant's superior officer. "Bring +back her papers with you. Order them to pump heavy oil both to +windward and leeward. We will then be able to run close alongside and +receive her hoses." + +A boat containing two seamen and an apprentice was lowered from the +tank's quarter and rowed to the submarine. Into it dropped Leutnant +Rix and half a dozen armed men. With them they took two incendiary +bombs fitted with time-fuses. + +Rix smiled grimly as he gained the oil-steamer's deck. The captain and +first mate were at the head of the accommodation ladder to receive him. +Most of the crew were already mustering on deck, each with a bundle +containing his private effects. + +"You prize to German boat," announced the Leutnant. "Make you no +trouble and we you will not harm. First we will haf much +oil--petroleum, is it not? Order your engineer to get steam to +donkey-engine, and your men--the--the---- Hein! Ach, I haf it--the +hoses to get ready. When we fill up, then twenty minutes we give you +to clear out. You onderstan'?" + +"Perfectly," replied the British skipper, a tall, raw-boned Scot, as he +eyed the podgy German Leutnant with grim contempt. "But d'ye ken yon?" + +[Illustration: "'D'YE KEN YON?' ASKED THE BRITISH SKIPPER, AS HE EYED +THE PODGY GERMAN LEUTNANT WITH CONTEMPT"] + +He pointed skywards. Less than five hundred feet up, yet sufficiently +far from the tank-vessel to enable the latter to screen her from the +unterseeboot, was a large naval sea-plane. It was to deaden the noise +of her motors that the ship's steam-pipe was continually blowing off +steam from the time that U75 made her peremptory demand. + +The eyes of the Leutnant and his six men followed the direction +indicated by the British skipper's outstretched hand. + +At that instant the sea-plane was visible above the towering sides of +the British vessel. + +U75 was still forging slowly ahead. In a trice Kapitan Schwalbe +decided how to act. Ordering the men on deck to their diving stations, +he dropped agilely into the conning-tower and gave the word for the +helm to be ported. + +Thus, while the quick-firers were being housed, the submarine had drawn +close under the oil-tank's quarter. Here she was comparatively safe +from the sea-plane, as the latter could not drop any bombs without risk +of exploding the highly inflammable cargo of the British vessel. + +In ten seconds the sea-plane was over and beyond her quarry. She had +then to turn and circle overhead, awaiting the chance of shattering her +enemy as she dived. + +U75 was already disappearing beneath the waves. + +She dived at a very oblique angle, steeper than she had ever done +before. + +Ross and Vernon, unaware of what was taking place, thought for a moment +that the submarine was plunging headlong to the bed of the Bristol +Channel. They had to cling desperately to the nearest object to hand +to prevent themselves from sliding violently against a transverse +bulkhead. + +Even as they clung they heard two muffled detonations in quick +succession, followed by a distinct quiver of the submarine's hull--a +movement that bore a marked difference to the vibrations under the +pulsations of the motors. + +The sea-plane had dropped two bombs, both of which very nearly attained +their object. + +Kapitan Schwalbe did not bring the submarine to a horizontal position +until she had reached a depth of fifteen fathoms. At that depth he was +safe, both from explosives dropped from the sea-plane and also from +observation. The water being still agitated, made it impossible for +the observer on the biplane to follow the movements of a dark shadow +fathoms deep. For once, the rough seas had been kind to U75; but the +fact remained that she was still badly in want of fuel, while his last +attempt had resulted in the loss of an officer and six men, who could +not well be spared. + +Although the sea-plane had failed to achieve her object by pulverizing +the U-boat's hull, the moral and material result was none the less +effective. + +The explosion of the bombs had started several of U75's plates. +Numerous jets of water were spurting through the seams, the inrush +requiring all the mechanical appliances at the command of the modern +pirate to keep the leaks under control, while the badly-jarred nerves +of Kapitan Schwalbe and his crew warned them of the grave risks they +ran in attempting to try conclusions with even an apparently harmless +craft displaying the Red Ensign of Britain's Mercantile Marine. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +The Landing at Port Treherne + +"I wonder if they'll let us go on deck," remarked Vernon Haye. "If so, +I vote we have a shot at getting ashore. What sort of show is Port +Treherne?" + +"I know it fairly well," replied Ross. "It's the most forsaken crib +you are ever likely to meet along the coast. It's a deep gully in the +cliffs. There's only one small landing-place--a flat rock. Years ago +there used to be a tramway down to the rock, and they shipped copper +ore by means of derricks into lighters, which were towed across in fine +weather to Swansea. But the mine closed down, the village is now +deserted, and I don't believe there are any fishermen there. They say +that the stream that flows into the port is still heavily charged with +mundic. At all events the water is of a bright-red colour for several +hundred yards from shore, and no fish will stick that." + +It was close on the midnight following the disastrous attempt on the +part of U75 to capture the oil-tank. The submarine was running awash, +proceeding very slowly and cautiously towards Port Treherne--Station 41 +of the secret petrol depots established by German agents along the +coast of the British Islands. + +The lads had been informed of the destination of the submarine, but had +not been told why. Nevertheless it was an easy conjecture that U75 was +going there to pick up stores that she had been unable to obtain in +sufficient quantities at St. Mena's Island. + +The Unter-leutnant was in charge of the submarine. Kapitan Schwalbe +had taken the advantage of the opportunity of a few hours' sleep. +Under-officered and undermanned, the strain on the personnel was a +severe one. It was only on rare occasions that Schwalbe could in +future descend from his post in the conning-tower. + +At midnight, according to custom, the submarine called up her consorts +by wireless. Judging by the previous attempt it seemed a useless task, +but to the Operator's surprise he received a reply from U77, which was +then lying off the Scillies. + +Kapitan Schwalbe, aroused from his sleep, eagerly awaited the decoding +of the message. It was to the effect that the commander of U77 had +received information that H.M.S. _Tremendous_, one of the earlier +Dreadnoughts, was leaving Gibraltar for Rosyth. The _Tremendous_, he +knew, had been engaged in the Dardanelles operations. U77 therefore +suggested that the two unterseebooten should meet at a rendezvous off +The Lizard, and attempt a _coup de main_, the success of which would go +towards atoning for the blunders and losses sustained by the German +submarines in their endeavour to blockade the British Isles. + +"Good!" exclaimed Kapitan Schwalbe. "Tell them that I purpose to +rendezvous twenty kilometres S.W. by W. of The Lizard, on Thursday at +10 p.m. I am now about to take in fuel. Will communicate again at +noon to-morrow. Ask them if they have picked up a wireless from U74." + +Some time elapsed before the message could be coded by the sender and +translated by the receiving submarine. When the reply confirming the +rendezvous was received, a message was added to the effect that U77 had +heard nothing of U74 for three days. It was presumed, however, that +she was now on her way back to Wilhelmshaven, and was already out of +wireless range. + +Kapitan Schwalbe knew better. As senior officer of the three +submarines detached to operate in these waters, he was aware that U74 +would not have left her station without orders from him. That part of +the message had been sent merely as a "blind", so that the crews of the +remaining unterseebooten should not be discouraged. It was safe to +conclude, decided Kapitan Schwalbe, that another of the blockaders had +gone to the bottom for the last time. + +It was close on one o'clock when the "wirelessing" terminated. U75, +which had hitherto been running awash, was now trimmed for surface work. + +Most of the crew went on deck. Amongst them were Ross and Vernon, no +one offering any objection. + +The sea was no longer rough. A long oily swell took the place of the +white-crested wave. The night was dark. Only a few stars were +visible. Away to the S.E., the black outlines of the Cornish coast +reared themselves like an enormous wall against the gloomy sky. + +Suddenly Vernon touched his chum's elbow, as a faint pin-prick of light +glimmered twice. It was the shore agent's signal that the coast was +clear. + +Barely carrying steerage-way, U75 stood in towards the as yet invisible +Port Treherne. Already her crew had brought the collapsible canvas +boat from below, "man-handling" it through the fore hatch. The men, +having opened it out and shipped the felt-lined and well-greased +rowlocks, stood by to launch it. + +Gradually the towering cliffs enclosing the creek became +distinguishable against the loftier background of gaunt hills. Into +the gap the submarine crept with the utmost caution, until it seemed as +if she were on the point of running her nose against the sheer face of +the granite wall. The water bubbled slightly as her motors were +reversed; then, turning in her own length, she brought up, with her +bows pointing seawards. + +Three of the crew grasped the canvas boat and pushed it gently into the +water on the port side. One of them clambered in and shipped the oars +in the row-locks. + +The two lads were cautiously scanning the shores of the inlet. Ross +could sniff the unmistakable Cornish air. The call of home seemed +irresistible. It looked a comparatively easy matter to slip quietly +over the starboard side, and swim with noiseless strokes towards the +weed-covered rocks that showed six feet or more above the sea. It was +half ebb-tide; there was little or no drift out of the cove. Under the +shadow of those dark cliffs detection seemed almost impossible, unless +the submarine went to the risky expedient of switching on her +search-light. + +They moved stealthily towards the light wire railing on the starboard +side just abaft the conning-tower. Everything seemed in their favour. +Kapitan Schwalbe and the Unter-leutnant were on the navigation +platform, peering through their night-glasses towards the flat rock +that served as a landing-place. Two of the seamen were engaged in +coiling down a hand-lead line; the rest of the men on deck were +devoting their attention to the now departing canvas boat. + +"Not so fast, my friends," exclaimed a low deep voice, which the lads +recognized as that of Kapitan Schwalbe. "Remember I have a pistol +ready to hand." + +"How in the name of goodness did he know what we were up to?" thought +Ross. + +The chums stood stock-still. They felt much like children found out in +some petty escapade. + +"Koppe! Where are you?" asked the Kapitan in a loud whisper. + +"Here, sir," replied the seaman. + +"I hold you responsible for these Englishmen. Now they are trying to +give us the slip. Take them below. But hold on. Secure them to a +stanchion. Chain them up, and bring me the key." + +The seaman approached the lads almost apologetically, and led them to +the port side just for'ard of the conning-tower. A light steel chain +was hitched round Ross's right ankle and Vernon's left, and deftly +padlocked round one of the uprights supporting the hand-rail. + +"It is of no use trying any of your pranks here," commented Kapitan +Schwalbe, still in a low tone. "You are only looking for trouble." + +For several moments all was still, save for the screech of a benighted +gull. Overhead a meteor passed swiftly across the sky, throwing a pale +gleam upon-the lurking submarine. + +"Wer da?" + +The words, although uttered in an undertone, travelled distinctly over +the placid waters of the cove. + +The sailor in the boat muttered some inaudible reply. The listeners in +the submarine could detect the sound of his oars as he laid them across +the thwarts. Then, after further conversation, could be heard the +rumble of metal as the tins of petrol were rapidly placed in the boat. + +"How many are there?" asked Kapitan Schwalbe eagerly as the men +returned with the first load. + +"Forty here, Herr Kapitan. Altogether there are over two hundred." + +"Then be sharp and whip them on board. Was there any communication for +me?" + +"A bundle of English newspapers, sir, and this letter." + +The man drew the documents from the inside of his jumper and passed +them to a seaman, who in turn handed them to the skipper. + +"I may have to land, sir," continued the seaman. "The rest of the cans +are in a cove at some distance from the landing-place. Can Max go with +me to mind the boat? There is a slight ground-swell at times, and she +might have a hole through her canvas if she is allowed to grind against +the rocks." + +Receiving an affirmative reply, the man told his comrade to get on +board, and once more the boat vanished into the darkness. + +Another twenty minutes elapsed, then came the sounds of muffled +footsteps, and of volatile spirit surging inside the petrol cans. Then +one of the men must have slipped, for there was a slight scuffling, +followed by the loud crash of a can clattering over the rocks. + +"'Alt! Who goes there?" shouted a hoarse and unmistakably English +voice. + +"Freund," promptly replied the German sailor. + +It would have been far wiser on his part if he had waited for his +fellow-worker, the German agent, to reply, since his knowledge and +pronunciation of English were almost perfect. But unfortunately it was +the spy who had fallen, and, half-winded by coming in contact with one +of the tins, was gasping for breath and at the same time rubbing a +barked shin. + +"Not good enough for me, old sport," rejoined the challenger, and +without further ado he let loose "five rounds rapid". + +A loud yell announced that one of the bullets had at least taken +effect. It was the prostrate spy who received a dose of nickel through +the fleshy part of his thigh. + +The seaman, dropping his cans, fled for his life. Recklessly he leapt +from the landing-place into the canvas boat, which his comrade had been +keeping at oar's length from the shore. The sudden impetus was too +much for the frail craft. She capsized, and, being only +single-skinned, sank like a stone. + +Already men, members of a picket, were hastening to the sentry's +support, their progress marked by a lantern held by a stout and sleepy +sergeant. + +By this time U75 was making for the open sea. Kapitan Schwalbe was +cursing loudly; not because the luckless agent had been hit--it was his +fault for not making sure of his ground; not so much on account of the +loss of two more men, nor of the sinking of the only boat belonging to +the submarine. His anger was aroused at the knowledge that once again +his efforts to obtain fuel had been balked. The quantity contained in +forty tins was a mere fraction of the amount he required in order to +carry out his ambitious programme. Bitterly he realized that, like +those of transgressors, the ways of modern pirates are hard. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A Treacherous Plot + +A ragged volley of musketry followed the departing submarine. One +bullet mushroomed itself against the steel conning-tower; another +zipped through one of the guard-rails. The rest either flew harmlessly +overhead or ricochetted from the surface of the placid water. + +Nevertheless the firing was a signal for the crew to hasten below. +Kapitan Schwalbe and the Unter-leutnant disappeared with ignominious +speed within the conning-tower. The men, bending low, bolted for the +fore hatch. In twenty seconds the deck of U75 was deserted save for +Ross and Vernon, who, padlocked to the stanchion, were unable to move +six inches in either direction. They were only partly screened by the +rise of the conning-tower. A sharp splinter from the bullet that had +splayed against the steel wall cut cleanly through Vernon's coat sleeve +and inflicted a slight gash in the lad's forearm, yet in the excitement +he hardly noticed it. + +"I say, old man," exclaimed Ross, as a wave slapping against the +submarine's bow threw a shower of spray over the two prisoners. "What +will happen if they submerge? It seems to me as if old Schwalbe has +forgotten us." + +"He would have dived before this if he intended so doing," replied +Haye. "Ten to one he's going to pay us out for attempting to take +French, or rather German, leave. It's jolly cold and mighty +uncomfortable, but we'll keep a stiff upper lip and show him what we +are made of." + +"With all due deference to you, old chap," rejoined Trefusis, his teeth +chattering as the keen wind played upon his saturated garments, "I +would far rather be without this badge of German kultur." He indicated +the chain that encircled his ankle. "I don't think that you can hold a +brief for Kapitan Schwalbe. I am not so sure about it that he is not +going to dive." + +U75 dipped as he spoke, submerging her fore deck almost to the base of +the conning-tower. Then, with a double cascade of water pouring from +her, she shook herself free, throwing her bows high above the surface. + +A man, gripping the stanchion-rail as he made his way knee-deep in +water, came towards the two prisoners. It was Hans Koppe. He had +obtained the Kapitan's permission to release his charges from their +uncomfortable position. + +"Hold on tightly as you go aft," he cautioned. "There is hot coffee +waiting for you below." + +It was impracticable to descend by means of the fore hatch. That means +of communication had already been closed and battened down, owing to +the constant flow of water over the bows. Even the after hatch, in +spite of the protection afforded by the conning-tower and the raised +coaming, was admitting water into the interior of the submarine. + +Cold, exhausted, and hungry, the lads were glad to be able to eat and +drink, discard their wringing-wet garments, and turn in. Without +waking they slept solidly for ten hours. It was one in the afternoon +when they turned out. U75 was rounding Land's End. She was submerged, +steering a compass course, but frequently showing her periscope to +ascertain her whereabouts. Already the Longships Lighthouse was broad +on the port beam. + +It was a tedious, discomforting run from Land's End to The Lizard. The +Mounts Bay fishing fleets were out, a circumstance that compelled the +submarine to keep below the surface. Kapitan Schwalbe knew that once +the alert skippers of these boats sighted even the tip of the +periscope, the news of the presence of a hostile submarine would be +quickly sent to the naval authorities at Devonport. The necessity for +secrecy also prevented him from making use of the wireless: not that +the message would be deciphered, but because the origin of the message +could be fixed with comparative certainty by any of the British +wireless stations that "picked up" her call. + +The approaches to Plymouth Sound, too, gave Kapitan Schwalbe a bad +time. Far beyond the Eddystone, and from Looe Island to Bigbury Bay, +armed trawlers and torpedo-boats patrolled incessantly, their movements +aided by sea-planes. It was almost a matter of impossibility for a +hostile submarine to approach Plymouth Sound by daylight, since the +aeroplanes were able to discern any sinister object moving under the +comparatively shallow and clear waters between Rame Head and Stoke +Point; while at night the precautions taken were of such an elaborate +and efficient description as to seal the fate of any submarine rash +enough to run her head into a noose. + +Accordingly U75 gave the Eddystone a wide berth, shaping a course to +pass twenty miles to the south'ard of the far-famed lighthouse. Here +she was in the thick of the Channel traffic, a stream of mercantile +ships passing up and down as unconcernedly as if such a thing as a +German submarine did not exist. + +Although there were plenty of opportunities, Kapitan Schwalbe made no +attempt to molest the ships. For one thing, experience had taught him +that the British merchant skipper possessed a bull-dog tenacity, and a +courage not to be daunted by the sight of a hostile periscope appearing +from nowhere in the midst of a waste of water. For another, he was now +on the look-out for more important game--his chance to retrieve his +already vanishing prestige. + +However, one of the merchant vessels served him a good purpose, +although unknown to her. Marking a large ocean tramp bound up-Channel, +U75 dived deeply, so as to be free from any danger of being hit by her +forefoot. + +With the noise of the tramp's propeller to guide her, U75 followed, +unsuspected, in her wake as she made for the Lizard Light. + +Arriving safely at the rendezvous, Kapitan Schwalbe waited until it was +dark, and then cautiously brought the submarine awash. Punctually at +ten o'clock a feeble violet light blinked through the night. It was +U77's call to her consort. + +"What's the game, I wonder?" asked Vernon, as a hail in German was +borne faintly to their ears. + +The chums had turned in. There was nothing else for them to do, since +they had been ordered to leave the quarters allotted to the crew. As +there was no furniture of any description in the alley-way that had +been made their sleeping compartment, they had climbed into their +bunks. Here they could maintain an almost uninterrupted conversation. + +"Hist!" exclaimed Ross warningly. He had been lying with his ear +almost touching one of the many voice-tubes that led from the +conning-tower to various parts of the submarine. Quite by accident, he +discovered that the pipes formed an excellent conductor of sound in a +manner that had not been intended. + +"What are you doing?" asked Haye curiously. + +"Jam your ear against the centre one of these three pipes," said his +chum. + +Vernon did so. It required very little movement on his part, since the +bunks were rather narrow. The same voice-tube that Ross was "tapping" +ran vertically past Haye's bunk, which was immediately underneath the +one Trefusis had appropriated from the time when he had been laid upon +it under the influence of the injection. + +This particular pipe formed a means of vocal communication between the +conning-tower and Kapitan Schwalbe's cabin. For some reason the +whistle had been removed from the cabin end, and consequently sounds +from the Kapitan's quarters were conveyed with tolerable clearness. + +There were two men engaged in conversation. One was Kapitan Schwalbe; +the other, who spoke in a lower key, and so rapidly that Ross had great +difficulty in mentally translating his words, was the +Lieutenant-Commander of U77. He had been put aboard U75 only a few +minutes previously. + +"My dear von Hoffner," Kapitan Schwalbe was saying. "Your plan is all +very well as far as you are concerned; but where do we come in? +Understand that while we are on the surface our risks are increased +ten-fold. Suppose, for instance, the battleship does not notice, or +affects not to notice, the white flag?" + +"She will, right enough," assured the Lieutenant-Commander of U77. +"These English are such fools that in their anxiety to observe the +rules of warfare" (here von Hoffner laughed sardonically) "they play +into our hands. More than a twelvemonth of war has not taught them +that the hitherto recognized observances of war are no longer binding. +This is not a petty squabble between two nations. It is a struggle for +existence; consequently it is where our frightfulness scores." + +"It hasn't up to the present, according to my experience," objected +Kapitan Schwalbe gloomily. "These Englishmen simply won't be +frightened. But to return once more to the point: what steps do you +propose to take to minimize my risk?" + +"There must be risk, of course," remarked von Hoffner. "According to +latest reports, it seems pretty certain that we cannot hope to +intercept the _Tremendous_ during the hours of darkness. Consequently +we have to make use of a ruse. Directly I spot her I dive, keeping as +much as possible close to her track, say three hundred metres off." + +"Yes, you dive," commented Schwalbe caustically. "That is quite +feasible. But what of U75?" + +"She will keep on the surface almost exactly in the indicated path of +the battleship. You will strike your ensign and hoist a large white +flag in its place. It will mean scrapping your best tablecloth, mein +herr. With the wind in its present quarter the flag will blow athwart +the battleship's course, so there is no risk of it not being seen. You +and your crew will, of course, form up aft. That will give more colour +to the deception." + +"Perhaps it will work," said Kapitan Schwalbe. + +"Perhaps? Of course it will," declared von Hoffher sanguinely. "Then +the rest is child's play. Directly the _Tremendous_ slows down--it's +the speed of these battleships that has caused us to miss hitherto--I +will let loose two torpedoes. There will be no bungling, I assure you. +I'll take good care to hit her close to the magazine, and there will be +no opportunity for her to use her quick-firers. + +"By the by, I've two English boys on board," said the Kapitan of U75. +In a few words he related the circumstances in which they were made +prisoners. "I suppose they ought to line up on deck with the hands?" + +"Certainly," replied von Hoffher, with one of his cold-blooded +sniggers. "It will heighten the illusion. It will do them good to see +what one of our unterseebooten can do. But it is highly important that +there be no survivors from the torpedoed battleship. The ruse is a +grand one, and can be employed over and over again, provided that the +secret does not leak out. After all, I don't think I would bring these +English youths on deck." + +"They are safe enough," protested Schwalbe. "If we return to +Wilhelmshaven, they will be locked up in safe custody until the end of +the war. If we do not, then I fancy there will be no survivors from +U75 as well as from the English battleship _Tremendous_." + +The two treacherous officers conversed in a similar strain for several +minutes longer. Then came the sound of glasses being clinked as an +accompaniment to a boastful toast. Talking boisterously, the two +officers left the cabin, and presently the lads heard the sound of oars +as von Hoffner was rowed back to his command. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Preparations + +"The brutes!" ejaculated Vernon savagely. He was violently excited. +Perspiration was pouring off his face at the thought of the almost +unparalleled act of wanton treachery that was about to be enacted. "If +we could only prevent them!" + +"I can't see how," rejoined Ross gloomily. "We cannot give an alarm. +If we could control the valves for half a minute, I'd sink this blessed +craft with all on board, myself included, for good and all. But it is +no use talking of the impossibly heroic." + +"I have a plan," announced Vernon, after thinking deeply for a few +minutes. + +"Well, out with it!" + +"We have to pass through one of the broadside torpedo-rooms as we go on +deck. We could each snatch a spanner and give the war-heads a terrific +blow. You'll remember that there are half a dozen torpedoes in the +cages against the bulkhead. It would mean certain death for us, but it +would save nearly a thousand lives." + +Ross shook his head. + +"There's no certainty of success," he objected. "Those torpedoes are +very much like our own Whiteheads. The striker in the head is +protected against accidental discharge by a small propeller. Until the +torpedo travels a certain distance through the water--sufficient for +the resistance against the blades to cause the safety device to +unthread and leave the striker free to hit the primer--the danger of +premature explosion is almost negligible. We shouldn't have time to +revolve the safety blades enough, and I'm pretty certain that even a +heavy blow on the war-head itself would not explode the charge." + +"Then I'm done," said Vernon dejectedly. "Think of something, old +man--something that will hold water." + +Silence ensued for nearly ten minutes, broken only by the tapping of +the waves against the sides of the submarine, and the gentle purr of +the dynamos for supplying light to the interior of the vessel. + +Suddenly Ross leapt out of his bunk. He dared not trust himself to +speak above a whisper for fear of being overheard. + +"Dash it all, old man!" exclaimed Vernon, when his chum had confided +his plans; "it ought to work. If it doesn't, nothing else will. I'm +on it, happen what may!" + +"We'll want our knives for the job," continued Ross. "Yours will open +easily, I hope? Good! Sharp? We'll run no risks. A sharp blade is +absolutely necessary." + +They drew the knives and whetted the blades upon the soles of their +boots. At Vernon's suggestion they kept open the big blades, making a +hole through the lining of their pockets in order to keep the knives in +a horizontal position and ready to hand. + +"Now let's turn in properly," suggested the practical Ross. "We want +to be fairly fresh for the job in front of us." + +Soon after sunrise on the morrow all hands were mustered aft on deck, +Ross and Vernon included. It was a bright morning. The sun had risen +seemingly out of the sea, or in nautical parlance it was a "low dawn". +There was a chilliness in the air that made the lads wish that they had +been wearing overcoats. + +They looked in vain for U75's consort. The unterseeboot that was to +deal the coward's blow was not to be seen. Her presence was to be kept +a secret from the crew of the decoy. + +Kapitan Schwalbe, accompanied by his Unter-leutnant, made his way aft. +He looked pale and care-worn. He had lost his military manner. His +gait suggested that of a man recovering from a long illness. + +"My men," he exclaimed, "circumstances over which I have no control +make it necessary to bring our cruise to a speedy termination. U75 is +no longer in a state of efficiency, either for offence or flight. It +therefore remains for us to save our lives by surrendering to the first +English ship of war that we fall in with. It is a humiliating and +distasteful step to take, but there is no option." + +The crew heard this lying speech in silence. They hardly knew what to +make of it. The majority mentally decided that it was better to be +imprisoned in England than to rot on the bed of the sea. Kapitan +Schwalbe had no faith in his men's histrionic abilities; he was also +afraid that they would oppose the scheme that he himself had deprecated +as being too risky. + +Hiding their indignation, Ross and his chum saw the Kapitan hand a +petty officer a white flag. The man took it, and lashed short pieces +of cord to two adjacent corners. + +Hans Koppe sidled up to his charges. + +"You will soon be free," he remarked. "Ach! but you do not seem +overjoyed. You English are indeed a queer race." + +Receiving no reply, the man went below to follow the example of his +comrades, who were getting together their personal belongings. Many of +them thought of the times when they had seen non-belligerents do +likewise. It was the boot on the other foot with a vengeance. + +Ross gave another glance across the horizon. Nothing was in sight. +Gripping his chum's arm, he led him for'ard. U75 was motionless. The +deck was deserted. A quartermaster stood on the navigation platform in +front of the conning-tower. Kapitan Schwalbe and his Unter-leutnant +had likewise vanished. + +As Ross passed the conning-tower, he pulled out his knife and deftly +severed the lashings of a couple of buoys secured to the hand-rail. It +was the first act of the lad's plan of operations. + +"Vessel on the port bow, sir!" shouted the quartermaster. + +Kapitan Schwalbe was on deck in a trice, closely followed by his +subordinate. For a few moments, he kept his binoculars focused upon +the indistinct grey object, then three miles off. + +"It is the _Tremendous_," he announced in an undertone to the +Unter-leutnant. "Another ten minutes will see the business through." + +He spoke with confidence, but it was a confidence inspired by a liberal +dose of brandy. He felt that he had already passed the Rubicon. There +could be no turning back. + +A whistle trilled shrilly. At the signal the men again doubled aft, +and joined up in a double line. + +"Where are the English boys?" enquired Kapitan Schwalbe. + +"Coming," replied Ross. For the first time on board he omitted to add +the word "sir". His omission was deliberate. Utter contempt for the +German captain consumed him. Schwalbe, too, noticed the manner in +which he had replied. He smiled grimly, imagining that now the lads +thought themselves about to be free they could afford to be curt. + +As the chums passed the lifebuoys, they deftly heaved them overboard. +They fell with hardly a splash, dropping close to the side of the +motionless submarine. + +No one noticed the act. The attention of the crew was centred upon a +little ceremony that was taking place. Bareheaded, the men stood at +attention. Their voices broke into the song of "Die Wacht am Rhein" as +the emblem of German sea-power was slowly lowered from the ensign staff. + +The men sang sonorously and in perfect cadence. They firmly believed +that it was their last tribute as free men to their Fatherland. As the +last bar terminated, the petty officer smartly hoisted the white flag. +For an instant it hung limply, confined by one of the halliards; then +like a square of stretched canvas it blew out in the steady breeze--a +modern counterpart of the kiss of Judas. + +And standing just behind the Kapitan, within arm's reach of the ensign +staff, were Ross Trefusis and Vernon Haye. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The White Flag--and Afterwards + +H.M.S. _Tremendous_, super-Dreadnought of 24,000 tons displacement, and +mounting ten 13.5-inch guns as her principal armament, was tearing +up-Channel at 21 knots. + +She looked far different from the spick-and-span battleship which had +left Portsmouth only six weeks previously. + +Her armoured sides still showed unmistakable traces of the impact of +Turkish shells. Her grey paint was blotched, blistered, and stained. +Her after funnel had plates of sheet-iron riveted to it to hide a +gaping hole large enough to drive a stage-coach through. Her guns were +worn out by sheer hard work. It was mainly on this account that she +was homeward bound: to have the gigantic weapons "re-lined" in order +that she might again take her place as an effective unit of the Grand +Fleet. + +The middle watch was about to relieve the morning watch. The mess +decks were a seething mass of humanity. In spite of the apparent +confusion everyone was in high good humour, for another few hours +(D.V.) would find H.M.S. _Tremendous_ at Pompey--as Portsmouth has from +time immemorial been termed by the Navy. + +On the fire-control platform sleepy-eyed officers were awaiting their +reliefs. Around the 12-pounders, the muzzles of which grinned +menacingly from apparently haphazard positions in the superstructure, +men were grouped, ready at the first alarm to train the weapons upon a +possible foe. Day after day ceaseless vigilance was maintained. One +and all realized that a moment's negligence might result in destruction +by one of the most horrible creations of modern science. + +"Submarine on the starboard bow, sir!" + +For an instant all was tense silence. Then a bugle blared, followed by +the clear trills of the bos'n's mates' pipes and the hurried tramp of +men's feet. + +The officer of the watch brought his telescope to bear ahead. He was a +junior lieutenant, Bourne by name, and in receipt of a private income +of eight hundred a year. On that sum he might have lived the life of a +man of leisure, but he vastly preferred a strenuous life as a +commissioned officer in the Royal Navy. Not once had he regretted his +choice, and upon the outbreak of war he was ready to execute a hornpipe +of sheer delight at the prospect of "being in the big scrap". + +"She's flying the white flag, by Jove!" he ejaculated. "Funny, +deucedly funny!" + +He had to act, and act promptly, for a battleship travelling at 21 +knots does not give a man time to think for any length of time. +Already a messenger had been despatched to inform the "skipper", but +before the captain could gain the navigation bridge (more than likely +he was in his bath) the _Tremendous_ would have covered the intervening +distance. + +The quartermaster looked enquiringly at the Lieutenant. Bourne stepped +hastily to the engine-room telegraph indicator, half inclined to ring +down for "half-speed", or even "stop both engines". + +He stopped abruptly. + +"Steady on your helm, quartermaster." + +"Steady it is, sir," replied the petty officer. + +The telegraph indicator remained untouched. With undiminished speed +H.M.S. _Tremendous_ held on, under the propelling force of turbine +engines of 30,000 indicated horse-power. + +A midshipman, standing by the side of the officer of the watch, had +been keeping the submarine under observation by means of his telescope. + +"By Jove, sir!" he exclaimed. "There's something wrong there. The +white flag's down, and two fellows in mufti have leapt overboard." + +"Torpedo on the port bow, sir!" sang out half a dozen lusty voices in +chorus. + +"Hard-a-port, quartermaster!" ordered Bourne. + +The spokes of the steam steering-gear revolved quicker than they had +ever done before. Listing heavily to port, the _Tremendous_ turned +with a rapidity that belied her huge bulk and apparent unhandiness. A +double track of ever-diverging foam marked the progress of the deadly +missile. Another followed almost in its wake, both torpedoes +travelling at the speed of an express train. + +For four seconds all on board who watched these messages of death stood +with bated breath. Then a general roar of relief went up as the two +"tinfish" glided harmlessly past the ship, the nearest at a distance of +less than twenty feet, and parallel to the new course of the battleship. + +Half a dozen quick-firers spat viciously. A 6-inch, two of which for +some obscure reason the designers had placed on the main deck abreast +of the after 15-inch guns, added to the din. A chaos of smoke, flame, +and spray marked the spot beneath which U77 had lurked to launch her +cowardly and treacherous bolt. + +"That's blinded her, at least," thought Bourne. + +He knew that even if the hidden submarine had escaped injury, a minute +at least would elapse before she could be conned into a position to +discharge another torpedo. That minute would be enough for his purpose. + +"Starboard!" he ordered. "Ram her, quartermaster!" + +Round swung the 24,000 tons of dead weight, steadied, and bore down +upon the motionless U75. Cries of terror burst from the doomed crew, +many of whom leapt overboard in a vain attempt to swim clear of the +vengeful leviathan. + +Bourne gripped the guard-rail, half expecting to be thrown violently by +the force of the impact. He was mistaken. + +With hardly a tremor the bows of the _Tremendous_ crashed into the +unterseeboot, hitting her just abaft the conning-tower. The bow +portion sank like a stone. The after part reared itself high in the +air, revealing the curiously shaped stern, the two propellers, and the +complication of rudders. Then, before the cloud of smoke and spray had +time to drift inboard, the _Tremendous_ was over and beyond the +ever-widening circle of iridescent oil that marked the ocean grave of +yet another of the would-be blockaders of Britain's shores. + +Even in the midst of his great responsibility Bourne's keen eye +discerned two heads bobbing up and down in the water. The midshipman +noticed them too. + +"They are those fellows who hauled down the white flag, sir," he +exclaimed. "They are quite youngsters, too, and we daren't stop." + +"No, we dare not," agreed the Lieutenant. For aught he knew, another +unterseeboot might be in the vicinity, reserving her torpedoes in the +hope that the battleship would slow down to investigate. "Pass the +word to the sentry to let go the Kisbie. It's the best we can do." + +With a splash the patent lifebuoy was dropped from the cage at the +extremity of the navigation-bridge. It bobbed up again under the +battleship's quarter, emitting a dense cloud of calcium smoke as it did +so. By the time the marine had dropped the Kisbie the ship was a +quarter of a mile away from the two swimmers. + +"It's the best we can do," repeated Bourne as he closed the eyepiece of +his telescope. "They may fetch it, they are swimming strongly." + +"Well done, Mr. Bourne!" exclaimed a deep voice. + +Turning, the Lieutenant faced the Captain standing beside him. + +"A smart manoeuvre!" continued the skipper approvingly. "We can now +only carry on; but we'll wireless the Commander-in-Chief Devonport, and +report that there are survivors from the rammed submarine. He'll have +a destroyer patrol on the spot within an hour, and I hope it won't be +too late." + +Bourne stepped to the extremity of the bridge and glanced astern. His +effort to distinguish the heads of the two swimmers was fruitless, for +a thin haze, the smoke from the ship's funnel, spread far in her wake, +completely obliterating the spot where Ross Trefusis and Vernon Haye +were swimming for dear life. + + +It will be necessary to set back the hands of the clock in order to +follow the fortunes of Ross and his chum. + +"Is she slowing down?" whispered Vernon anxiously, as they stood on the +deck of U75 awaiting the approach of the _Tremendous_. + +"I don't think so," replied Ross. "But now's our time." + +The attention of Schwalbe and his crew was centred upon the battleship; +the Kapitan momentarily expecting to see the huge vessel reel under the +impact of the terrible torpedo, while the men began to entertain grave +doubts as to whether the British ship would accept their token of +surrender. The fact that the super-Dreadnought showed no signs of +slowing down revived Kapitan Schwalbe's doubts. Knowing the difficulty +of hitting, even at a comparatively short range, a swiftly moving +target, he began to wonder whether he did the right thing in falling in +with von Hoffner's diabolical plan. + +His hurried thoughts were suddenly interrupted by some light object +enveloping his head and shoulders. Before he could tear the fabric +away he heard two distinct splashes, followed by shouts of astonishment +from the crew; for with one clean sweep with his knife Ross had severed +the halliards of the ensign staff. + +The lads dived deep, swimming the while with long, powerful strokes, +for both were accomplished in the art of natation. They were longer in +coming to the surface than they anticipated, owing to the weight of +their half-boots, which they had been unable to remove without risk of +causing suspicion. + +When at length their heads emerged almost simultaneously, they found +themselves nearly fifteen yards from the doomed U75. + +"Strike out!" spluttered Ross. "Get as far away from her as you can. +Never mind about old Schwalbe. He can't hurt us." + +Ross was right, for however much the Kapitan wanted to wreak his +vengeance upon his former prisoners, he was unable to do so. In his +role as that of an officer waiting to surrender, the possession of a +revolver would tend to "give the show away". He had left his pistol in +his cabin--an example that his Unter-leutnant had followed. And now +his attention was directed upon the British battleship. + +Meanwhile, the lads, swimming strongly, saw the _Tremendous_ heel as +she ported helm. For a minute, not knowing how a ship behaves when the +helm is suddenly put hard over, they thought that the treacherous +unterseeboot had successfully carried out her cold-blooded plan. Yet +no explosion occurred, and the battleship recovered her normal trim. + +With their eyes only a few inches above the surface, the lads could see +nothing of the track of the torpedoes. They had no indication that +they had been fired until the _Tremendous_ let fly with her 12-pounders. + +"I think we've saved her," said Vernon. "Now there'll be trouble for +us. Schwalbe will certainly have a shot at recapturing us after the +battleship has cleared off. Why doesn't she settle U75, I wonder?" + +The lads both expressed astonishment that the motionless unterseeboot +had escaped the attention of the super-Dreadnought's quick-firers. It +seemed as if the latter were ignoring U75 altogether and was sheering +off at full speed. + +Suddenly Ross gave a whoop of delight, which ended in his swallowing a +mouthful of salt water. The _Tremendous_ was turning once more, and +heading straight for the doomed submarine. + +[Illustration: "THE _TREMENDOUS_ WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THE DOOMED +SUBMARINE"] + +Mentally Ross compared the on-coming battleship with an express train, +as shown on a cinematograph screen, in the act of approaching the +audience. At one moment the ship was visible from her water-line to +the truck of her top-mast; at the next her bulk had suddenly expanded +and seemed to fill the complete field of vision. It looked as if the +two lads, in spite of the distance they had put between themselves and +the motionless submarine, would yet be in the way of the vengeful +battleship, whose extreme beam was not less than ninety feet. + +Yet neither of the two chums made the slightest effort to swim farther +away. Mechanically treading water, they waited and watched. + +They could see the terror-stricken attitudes of the crew of the doomed +U75. They heard the shouts of consternation as the massive steel bows +bore down upon her. Then, in a second it seemed, there was a hideous +crash that outvoiced the yells and shouts of despair as the +unterseeboot was rent in twain. + +Of what happened during the next minute the lads had but a very hazy +idea. Caught by the irresistible bow wave as the _Tremendous_ tore +past, they were hurled aside like feathers and buried a couple of +fathoms down under the breaking, foaming mass of water. Vaguely they +heard the whirring of the four propellers--very near, it seemed; then, +caught by an eddy caused by the cavitation in the wake of the monstrous +vessel, they were separated and flung to the surface, half-breathless +and dazed. + +Ross opened his eyes. The _Tremendous_ had already covered nearly a +quarter of a mile. Twenty yards away he saw his chum's head, as +Vernon, puffing like a grampus, was striking out towards him. + +Where the submarine had dived for the last time was an ever-widening +circle of oil. Those of the German crew who had not been carried down +by the sinking unterseeboot were too shaken by the concussion to make +any great effort to save their lives. Attempting to keep afloat in +that oil-covered water added to their difficulties, for whenever the +head of a swimmer disappeared he did not rise again. + +"Kick off your boots, old man," exclaimed Ross. + +"Where are the lifebuoys?" asked Vernon as he carried out his friend's +advice. + +One buoy had disappeared; the other was supporting a seaman, the only +survivor of the crew. + +"A case of finding's are keeping's," announced Ross. "We can't sling +him out of it. It might support two people. We could take turns at +hanging on." + +"Stop!" exclaimed Vernon as Ross began to strike out towards the buoy. +"There'll be trouble if we get mixed up in that oil. It's much lighter +than water. I doubt whether we could swim in it. Do you think the +_Tremendous_ will put back?" + +"Not likely," replied Trefusis. + +He looked in the direction of the fast-vanishing battleship, half +hoping that she would slow down and lower a boat. As he did so, +something caught his eye: a cloud of grey smoke apparently issuing from +the sea. + +"What's that?" he asked, pointing in that direction. + +"Torpedo, perhaps; one that has finished her run," suggested Vernon; +but his chum waved aside the explanation. + +"If U77 did fire a torpedo, you can bet your bottom dollar it wasn't +one with a dummy head!" he said. "Only practice torpedoes send up a +calcium light when their compressed air has given out. By Jove, I +believe it's one of those patent buoys! Let's make for it." + +The lads swam strongly, making powerful and comparatively slow +breast-strokes. The water was warm. They were in no immediate danger +of cramp. + +As they skirted the patch of oil they noticed that the seaman holding +on to the buoy had turned round. His face was now in their direction. +The man was Hans Koppe. + +"Are you all right, Hans?" shouted Ross. + +"Yes, mein herr," replied the man. "I've found a buoy." + +"Thanks to us," thought Trefusis; then raising his voice: "You had +better kick out and get clear of the oil," he advised. "We are making +for yonder buoy." + +By the time the swimmers reached the Kisbie the emission of calcium +smoke had ceased. They found that not only did the buoy support them +both, but that it was so constructed as to allow them to maintain a +sitting position without having to hold on with both hands. Glad of a +seat they waited, watching the approach of Hans Koppe, and also looking +for the undesired reappearance of U77. + +"Ach! My wife and children!" exclaimed Hans Koppe disconsolately, as +he brought his lifebuoy close alongside. "I shall never see them +again." + +"Cheer up, Hans!" replied Vernon. "At any moment U77 might come to the +surface and take you on board. We don't mind, so long as they let us +alone. We've had enough of your unterseebooten." + +"U77?" gasped the German incredulously. "How do you know that?" + +Briefly Haye related the story of the ill-fated Kapitan Schwalbe's +treachery. As he proceeded Han's face bore a surprised expression that +presently changed to one of fear. + +"If we are picked up by an English ship," he remarked, "they will shoot +me for abuse of the white flag. And I am innocent. Ach! my poor wife." + +"They won't," replied Ross reassuringly. "We can swear that you knew +nothing about it." + +The minutes passed slowly. There was no sign of U77. Little did the +three survivors know that she lay within a quarter of a mile of her +consort, on the bed of the English Channel--to add to the +ever-increasing roll of unterseebooten that were fated never to enter a +German port again. + +The sun rose higher and higher, its rays gathering strength as it did +so. The heads of the three survivors were exposed to the solar heat; +their bodies and limbs were numbed by prolonged immersion. The desire +for conversation had long since passed. Almost exhausted they hung to +their supports, listless and torpid. A few sea-gulls, struck with the +silence of the three men, hovered overhead, and swooped with shrill +cries to settle on the water within close distance of what appeared to +be a possible meal. One bolder than the rest perched upon Trefusis' +head. + +Raising his arm, Ross dealt the bird a furious blow. It missed, but +had the effect of scattering the gulls. Apathetically the lad watched +them as they flew off. As he did so he caught sight of three vessels +being driven at high speed. + +"Hurrah!" he exclaimed feebly. "The destroyers, old man; we are saved!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +The Arm of the Law + +"Hulloa! What the deuce have we got here?" enquired Commander Devereux +of H.M. torpedo-boat destroyer _Yealm_, as three dripping figures were +transferred from the destroyer's dinghy to the deck. "One strafed Hun, +right enough; but who are these fellows in mufti?" + +"Can't say, sir," replied the coxswain. "They sort o' collapsed +directly we got 'em into the boat." + +"Then take them below," continued Devereux. "I say, Fanshawe, there's +a job for you at last, my festive sawbones." + +Fanshawe, lately a young country practitioner with a scattered "panel" +connection, had but recently entered the Navy as a surgical probationer +R.N.V.R. He joined purely through patriotic motives, having sacrificed +a fairly substantial income in order to do so. Up to the present his +work had been almost a sinecure. The _Yealm_ had not had the faintest +chance of taking part in an engagement. Her crew--to use Fanshawe's +own words--were "that beastly healthy, don't you know", that, out of +sheer anxiety to do something, he was learning navigation from the +Sub-lieutenant. + +The medico undertook his first important professional task on board the +_Yealm_ with great alacrity, and it was not long before Ross and Vernon +were in a fit state to be questioned. Hans Koppe was in a bad plight. +So utterly shaken were his nerves that he seemed on the point of +collapse. + +"So you are the son of Admiral Trefusis," said the +Lieutenant-Commander. "I can't say that I know him personally, +although I know of him. But how did you get on board the submarine?" + +Ross explained. He felt hurt at having to do so. The +Lieutenant-Commander's ignorance of the disappearance of the two chums +from St. Mena's Island "took all the wind out of his sails". In +pre-War days the principal papers would have devoted at least half a +column to the supposed deaths by drowning, off the Cornish coast, of +two well-connected youths. Nowadays editors had neither space nor +inclination to devote to such a comparatively trivial matter. +Consequently Devereux could be exonerated of all lack of knowledge of +the supposed accident. Yet his interest grew as Ross proceeded with +his narrative. + +"Look here," he remarked. "We've got to dodge around for a few hours +in case your pal U77 does put in an appearance. But I'll wireless the +Admiral and ask for a telegram to be sent to your homes, to let your +people know you are still alive and kicking." + +"Better not, sir," objected Ross. + +Devereux looked curiously at the lad. + +"And why not?" he asked. + +"Well, you see," explained Trefusis, "a telegram is not such a +confidential matter as one would like it to be, especially in a remote +country district." + +"It's good news though," remarked the Lieutenant-Commander. + +"Yes," admitted Ross; "but it is absolutely necessary to keep it dark +for a while. A few hours won't make very much difference one way or +the other to my people, but it would make a thumping lot to our friend +Dr. Ramblethorne, otherwise von Hauptwald. If he were to hear that we +were alive, he'd do a bunk. The same with that other spy, von Ruhle. +They must be arrested promptly, and within a few hours of each other, +in case one of them scents trouble and clears out." + +"I see your point," admitted Devereux. "I won't send a wireless at +present. You must be feeling peckish. I'll get my steward to bring +you in some grub. Excuse me, I must be off again. We've a lot to +attend to, you know." + +The Lieutenant-Commander went on deck to conduct operations. He was +temporarily senior officer, and it fell to him to issue orders to his +two consorts relating to the investigation of the scene of the +battleship's exploit. + +For two hours the three destroyers cruised over the spot where the two +submarines were supposed to have sunk. At length wreckage was found by +means of grapnels. It was, of course, much too deep to send a diver +down to report; but the spot was buoyed, and served as a base while +sweeping operations were proceeded with in the hope of locating the +hull of the second unterseeboot. In a very short space of time two +operations undertaken for the purpose of destroying the sunken +submarine were highly satisfactorily carried out. The first resulted +in the release of a small quantity of buoyant wreckage, amongst which +was the flagstaff of U75. The second brought to the surface a quantity +of oil, showing that a submarine had been sunk there, but the injuries +she previously received had not been sufficient to liberate the +contents of the heavy oil-tanks. The explosive charge had completed +the destruction of U77. + +Just before five in the afternoon, the _Yealm_ and her consorts passed +the eastern arm of the breakwater in Plymouth Sound and brought up in +the Hamoaze. Ross and Vernon, arrayed in borrowed clothes and +accompanied by Lieutenant-Commander Devereux, lost no time in going +ashore and proceeding to the offices of the Commander-in-Chief. + +"You are acting with remarkable discretion," observed the Admiral, when +Ross reiterated his desire not to communicate with his home until the +spies were safely under lock and key. "Fortunately there ought to be +no undue delay, as we have two expert Scotland Yard men investigating a +case in the Dockyard. I'll telephone to the Superintendent of Police, +and get him to send the officers here at once." + +Within ten minutes the officers were ushered into the +Commander-in-Chief's presence. Ross and Vernon looked at them with +considerable curiosity. It had not before fallen to their lot to come +into contact with two real representatives of the famous Scotland Yard. +Yet there was little about the appearance to occasion comment. They +were not in any way disguised. The taller of the two, who was +introduced as Detective-Inspector Ferret, was about forty years of age. +His closely cut hair was dark-brown, with a plentiful sprinkling of +grey hairs. He wore a beard trimmed naval or "torpedo" fashion, with a +moustache. He was dressed in a grey lounge suit, with dark-brown boots +and a golfing cap. There was nothing of a piercing nature about his +eyes, which were of a deep-grey tint. He seemed to be perpetually +beaming; the lines on his face gave one that impression. + +His companion, Detective Hawke, was a short, thick-set man of about +thirty-five. He was clean-shaven. His features were ruddy and heavy. +There was a bulldog look about his jaw that proclaimed him to be a +tough customer. His rough, brown, Harris-tweed suit and bowler hat +gave him the appearance of a prosperous yeoman rather than a successful +tracker of criminals. + +"Now, young gentlemen," began Mr. Hawke briskly, after the +introductions had been made, "we'll get to business. With your +permission, sir" (addressing the Admiral), "I will ask Mr. Trefusis to +give me his version of the affair. To save time, I feel certain that +Mr. Haye will have no objection to going with my colleague and telling +him his story. That, I must explain, is the best way to eliminate any +discrepancies. We prefer to make a fair start, and then all ought to +go well." + +During the next hour Detective-inspector Hawke was very busy. He made +no written notes. He relied solely upon his marvellous retentive +memory, and it was not long before he was in full possession of the +facts of the case. + +His next step was to telephone to St. Bedal. From the police there, he +learnt that Dr. Ramblethorne was medical officer to the 4th battalion +of a west-country regiment, but that he was temporarily detailed to act +on the recruiting staff at Wellington. + +Hawke thereupon telegraphed to Harwich. The Customs officers there +informed him that the Harwich-Flushing boat service had been suspended +for nearly a week, owing to the discovery of a hostile mine-field off +the Dutch coast. Sailings were to be resumed that night. A man who +gave himself out to be a Dutchman, but who answered to the description +of von Ruhle, had applied that morning for a permit to leave the +country by the night boat. His berth had been booked under the name of +Cornelius Vanderhuit. + +"Which one ought we to nab first?" asked Ferret. "We'll have to be +very sharp, or one of them, finding that he is no longer in +communication with his accomplice, would smell a rat and clear out." + +"Under normal conditions I would reply, 'Collar the principal first'," +replied Hawke. "It is evident that Ramblethorne, _alias_ von +Hauptwald, is the master-spy. Directly he's laid by the heels, the +whole of the organization immediately under his control goes by the +board. But there's this Harwich business. Von Ruhle crosses the North +Sea to-night, unless otherwise prevented. We comprise the otherwise, I +hope." + +"Then it would mean catching the midday express to Waterloo," remarked +Ferret. + +"Could we go with you?" asked Ross. + +The police officers looked rather astonished at the cool request. Like +most professional men, they scouted the idea of amateur assistance when +the main issue was at stake. + +"Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea," remarked Hawke. "You have already +shown great discretion in the matter. Most fellows would have made a +bee-line to the nearest telegraph office and given the whole show away. +The only difficulty is--I suppose, by the way, you are not feeling too +done up after your trying experiences?--the only difficulty is, I was +remarking, that von Ruhle might spot you. Look here, Ferret; suppose +you take these young gentlemen, and proceed to Harwich by an ordinary +train? Keep well out of sight when you arrive at Parkeston Quay, but +keep a sharp eye on the boat. I'll travel from Liverpool Street by the +boat train, and see if I can pick out our quarry amongst the +passengers." + +It was a tedious journey from Plymouth to Harwich. Arriving at +Waterloo, Ferret took the lads to a quiet hotel and ordered lunch; +while Hawke, excusing himself, called in at "the Yard" to report his +new case to the Chief, and to wait for the Great Eastern boat train. + +The weather had changed completely during the run from the West, for +when Ferret and the two lads arrived at Parkeston Quay it was raining +heavily, accompanied by half a gale of wind from the east'ard. + +"We've a long wait," commented Ferret. "Fortunately I know several of +the Customs officials very well. I'll get them to let you take shelter +in their shed. It's almost opposite the berth where the steamer +generally makes fast. You'll be able to watch everyone who goes up the +gangway. I'll go on board and speak to the steward. I don't suppose +we'll spot friend von Ruhle until the boat train arrives, and by that +time perhaps Hawke will have marked his man." + +Undoubtedly, the wisest course would have been to send other officers +to Wellington to arrest Dr. Ramblethorne; but Hawke was out for +"kudos". Only a short while ago he had let a wanted man slip through +his fingers, and had been rapped over the knuckles for it. With the +professional assistance of Ferret, he hoped to carry out a double +_coup_ and arrest both German Secret Service agents, thereby recovering +his lost prestige. + +Arriving at Liverpool Street he took his ticket, and spent the time +until the departure of the boat train in walking up and down the +platform. He had the knack of observing without being observed. He +would look at a man in quite a casual way; there was no gleam of +intelligence in his eyes as he did so, but little escaped his notice. +An hour or two later he could accurately describe his appearance, +dress, and mannerisms. + +A minute before the train started, a man answering von Ruhle's +description hurried down the platform. He carried a new cane under his +left arm. In his right hand he held an attache case with the initials +C. V. + +Hawke waited until he had entered a carriage, then strolled to the +other end of the corridor coaches and took his seat. He knew that the +run was supposed to be a non-stop one. + +The train started. The detective took his time. He waited for nearly +twenty minutes before he made his way along the corridor, and entered +the smoking-compartment occupied by the suspect. + +Presently Hawke made a commonplace remark. The stranger replied +stiffly and in rather a deep voice, with a slight foreign accent. + +"An assumed voice," soliloquized the detective; but undaunted by the +chilliness of his reception he again made some remark about the weather. + +Before the train ran through Witham station, conversation was +proceeding briskly. Hawke assumed the role of a commercial traveller, +and volunteered the information that his brother had just returned from +the Front. + +The stranger showed no hesitation in discussing the war. Emboldened, +the detective tackled the subject of East Coast defences and the futile +German blockade. + +"He's giving me absolutely false information," he thought. "Perhaps +he's trying to throw me off the scent. I'll put a few questions that +no one but an ignoramus would ask in good faith. If he's trying to +bluff me, I'll beat him at that game." + +Presently his fellow-passenger excused himself and, without removing +his luggage, went into the corridor. As soon as he was out of sight +Hawke took hold of the cane that the stranger had left in the rack. +With a grunt of satisfaction he found that it was certainly not a +Malacca, but made of metal. + +The train began to slow down. Lifting the blind, Hawke looked out of +the window. He could just discern a fairly big town, completely in +darkness. + +"Manningtree Junction," said Hawke to himself. "Something on the line, +I suppose. H'm, we're stopping." + +With a jerk the train pulled up at the station. The platform was +almost deserted, for no train was due at that time to stop there. A +door slammed. Again the detective pulled aside the blind. He was just +in time to see his fellow-traveller, accompanied by the guard, +disappear into the station waiting-room. + +"He's tumbled to it!" exclaimed Hawke. "He's making off. He's tipped +the guard to set him down. I'm after him!" + +He made his way swiftly and stealthily down the platform, and with a +quick movement threw open the waiting-room door. + +The sudden transition from the semi-darkness of the platform to the +brilliantly lighted interior of the room temporarily dazzled his eyes. +Dimly he was aware that the place was occupied by khaki-clad soldiers +struggling into their equipment, and that in their midst was the guard +and the man of whom he was in search. + +"At any rate there is plenty of assistance," thought Hawke as he +advanced to tap the suspect on the shoulder; but before he could attain +his object a deep, stern voice exclaimed: + +"Arrest him, men!" + +The next instant Detective-inspector Hawke was seized by half a dozen +muscular hands. + +"What's this tomfoolery?" he demanded angrily. "I'm a Scotland Yard +officer, and----" + +A roar of laughter burst from the Tommies. Even the subaltern in +command smiled broadly. + +The stranger spoke again. + +"Take him to the guard-room. He is arrested under the Defence of the +Realm Act for attempting to elicit information prejudicial to the +welfare of the State. I won't detain the train any longer, guard, +although I'll ask you to drop my gear on the platform." + +Still protesting vehemently but ineffectually, the detective was +unceremoniously hustled into an ante-room, used since the outbreak of +the war as a guard-room for the military in charge of the line. The +door was locked upon him. He heard the train rumble out of the station. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A Fruitless Quest + +From their places of concealment Ross and Vernon watched the boat train +run alongside the steamer. At last the weary vigil was a thing of the +past. All fatigue was forgotten at the prospect of witnessing the +capture of one of the active members of the German spy system at work +in this country. + +For a quarter of an hour everything was in a state of bustle. There +was a continuous stream of passengers and porters, the latter bending +under the weight of trunks and boxes as they hurried up the steeply +sloping gangway. + +At length the throng thinned. As yet there was no sign either of von +Ruhle or of Detective-inspector Hawke. + +A man with his coat collar turned up ran through the driving rain and +entered the shed. It was Ferret. + +"Something's gone wrong," he declared. "I've just had a telephone +message from my colleague. I'm off to the post-office. If you want me +during the next ten minutes you'll find me there." + +Hawke had at length managed to get a word with his former +fellow-traveller, who happened to be a staff-officer of the Eastern +command. The detective had been under a misapprehension. The officer +had good reason for ordering his arrest; but the comedy threatened to +take a serious development. Even when the detective showed his +credentials the officer was not satisfied. He proposed telegraphing to +Scotland Yard, but Hawke, mindful of a former failure, induced him not +to do so. The detective, who had occasion to contrast unfavourably the +summary powers of arrest under the Defence of the Realm Act with those +allowed by the Civil Power, was eventually allowed to communicate with +his brother officer at Parkeston Quay. And then the military +authorities required a considerable amount of convincing. It looked as +if Detective-inspector Hawke would have to remain under arrest until +next morning. + +While Ferret was losing time and patience in his efforts to release his +confrere, Ross and Vernon noticed a man hurrying along the quay. He +was short and thick-set. He wore a long mackintosh, the collar of +which was turned up and helped, with the peak of his cap, to hide his +features. + +Suddenly the man's foot tripped over a ring-bolt. He cursed under his +breath, but sufficiently loudly for the lads to overhear. + +Ross gripped his companion's arm. The fellow was swearing in German. + +"Von Ruhle!" he whispered. He made a movement as if to issue from his +place of concealment, but Haye restrained him. + +"Hold on!" he cautioned in a low voice. + +The man paused on the gangway. A partly shaded electric light threw a +glare upon his face. He wore a heavy beard and moustache. + +"You're wrong," whispered Vernon. + +"He's a German, anyhow," persisted Trefusis. + +The man still hesitated. Then he hailed a seaman. + +"Where is the post office?" he asked. "I wish to telegraph. Is there +time before the boat sails?" + +Receiving an affirmative reply the man hurried off. + +"Come on!" exclaimed Ross. + +Neither of the lads had now any doubts as to the man's identity. The +beard and moustache were false, but the voice was the same--von Ruhle's. + +Keeping close to the wall of the line of sheds, the lads followed the +spy at a distance of about fifty feet. More than once von Ruhle +glanced furtively over his shoulder, as if suspecting that he was being +tracked. + +Presently a man, reeling along the quay, approached. The spy made no +effort to avoid him. As the inebriated one rolled past he whispered a +few words. The effect was instantaneous. Instead of continuing his +way towards the post office, von Ruhle turned and made off abruptly in +the direction of the gate of the Company's premises. + +"An accomplice," whispered Vernon. "He's been warned." + +They had to wait until the man who had feigned drunkenness had +disappeared. By this time the German had gained a considerable +distance. To get the assistance of the detective was out of the +question. + +"Come on!" exclaimed Ross, breaking into a run. + +Concealment was no longer necessary. Should occasion arise, there +would be plenty of help forthcoming, for there were several dock +policemen and soldiers on duty close at hand. + +Von Ruhle had increased his pace into a brisk walk when he heard the +noise of his pursuers. Then he, too, began to run. + +"Stop him!" shouted Trefusis, calling to a group of uniformed men +standing in front of an abattoir. + +Turning, the German made towards the quay-side. He was no match in +speed for his youthful pursuers; but he gained the water's edge before +Ross headed him off. + +"Give in, von Ruhle!" he challenged. + +The spy recognized the voice of the British lad whom he imagined to be +miles away, on board an unterseeboot. + +With a quick movement, the spy plucked a leather case from his coat +pocket and hurled it over the edge of the quay, then, throwing up his +arms, he dropped lifeless upon the rain-sodden ground. + +Rapidly a crowd collected. Amongst them was Detective-inspector +Ferret, who, having finished his conversation with his luckless +confrere, was leaving the post office when he heard the commotion. + +"Well, what's all this?" he asked brusquely. He bent over the body of +the spy and flashed a pocket-lamp upon his face. "It's our man," he +continued, addressing the lads in an undertone. This remark was +needless, since they were already certain upon that point. "He's done +us out of a job. Heart disease? No fear: it's poison. Don't wait +here. Your work in this direction is done. I have still a few +unpleasant tasks to perform. Cut off to the hotel and await me there. +I may be an hour." + +"One moment," protested Vernon. "We saw von Ruhle heave something over +the quay. It might float; if so, there might be a chance to pick it up +by means of a boat. The tide is almost slack. If it has sunk it will +be a diver's task to recover it." + +"'Something' is always unsatisfactory," remarked Ferret reprovingly. +"Was it large, small, heavy, or light?" + +"He was so jolly quick that I could hardly see it," replied Haye. "I +should think it was about the size of a cigar-case." + +Directing two policemen to remove and take charge of the body, the +Detective-inspector accompanied the lads to the edge of the quay. It +was dead low water. There was hardly sufficient current coming down +the Stour to swing the anchored craft against the wind. Then the +investigators made a discovery. Although there was a good depth of +water at the greater extent of the quay, at this spot the mud was +uncovered at the base of the wall, while almost at their feet was a +flight of stone steps. + +Ferret descended cautiously and switched on the light of the torch. +Almost within arm's length, and partly buried in the slime, was the +object which the spy had thrown away. + +As the detective hooked at it with his stick a hoarse voice shouted: + +"Ahoy there! What are you doing with that light?" + +Apparently from nowhere a boat ploughed through the mud until its bows +were within a couple of feet of the steps. The next instant Ferret and +his companions were covered by a revolver. + +It was a naval guard-boat, the watchful eye of the officer in charge +having discovered what he took to be surreptitious signalling. +Explanations followed, and were accepted. Ferret, holding the +recovered prize, ascended the steps, followed by Ross and Vernon, while +the boat backed noiselessly away. It was but one more example of the +ceaseless vigilance of the great, silent Navy. + +Almost dead-beat, Trefusis and his chum made their way to the hotel, +had supper, and went straight to bed. Ferret, they decided, could wait +until morning. + +At 6 a.m. Hawke, having secured his release, arrived at Parkeston, +having engaged a motor-car to bring him from Manningtree. Already his +vindictiveness towards the military had vanished. He had taken a +sensible view of the situation. He had played and lost, and the staff +officer was justified in the circumstances. As for the soldiers, they +had to obey orders. + +Nevertheless he was chagrined when he heard his confrere's report. It +was galling to think that their spy had outwitted him by taking his own +life. The whole energies of the two detectives must, for the present, +be concentrated upon the capture of the master-spy, Von Hauptwald, +otherwise Dr. Ramblethorne. + +Ross and Vernon met Hawke again at breakfast. He was now quite +cheerful. + +"You managed to get hold of von Ruhle so well," he remarked, "that I +think you really ought to bear a hand with friend Ramblethorne,--that +is, unless you've had enough of man-hunting?" + +"We'll do our best," said Ross. "It's our duty." + +"When do you start?" asked Vernon. + +"Almost at once," he declared. "Ramblethorne might be alarmed if no +telegram arrives from his fellow-spy. Again, the man who communicated +with von Ruhle on the quay last night might have given Ramblethorne +warning. It's not at all surprising to me, since what you told us, Mr. +Trefusis, that there has been an alarming outbreak of enteric at St. +Bedal camp." + +He turned over several pages of a complex timetable. + +"Here we are," he announced. "We must get to Paddington in time to +catch the 10.20 for Wellington. One thing, young gentlemen, you'll be +nearly home. Ferret has arranged about the inquest on von Ruhle. Your +evidence will be taken down in writing, and in that case you won't have +to put in an appearance at that grim farce." + +Hawke spoke feelingly and from experience. In his opinion, based upon +circumstantial evidence, "crowner's quests" were a form of legal +absurdity. + +The train journey to Liverpool Street was undertaken almost in silence, +as far as the four travellers were concerned. Hawke buried himself in +his paper; Ferret was poring over some document found in von Ruhle's +pocket-book, trying to unravel the complex code that, if deciphered, +would be of the utmost importance to the country. Ross and Vernon, +still feeling tired, tried to make up for arrears of sleep. + +Taking a taxi across London, they were just in time to catch the Great +Western express, which would take them to Taunton. Arriving at that +place, they changed into a slow train that eventually landed them at +the little Somersetshire town nestling under the Black Down Hills. + +Without delay the party proceeded to the regimental depot. Enquiries +for Captain Ramblethorne, R.A.M.C., only resulted in looks of +perplexity. He was unknown to the authorities. + +"But we heard from St. Bedal that Captain Ramblethorne was ordered to +Wellington for recruiting duties," persisted Hawke. + +The orderly-room clerk smiled sadly. + +"Are you quite sure that it was this Wellington?" he asked. "We've had +similar mistakes before." + +Detective-inspector Hawke felt like kicking himself. He, too, was +aware of the existence of the Shropshire Wellington, but, without +giving the possibility any consideration, he had rashly jumped to the +conclusion that the place to which Ramblethorne had been appointed was +the one nearest to St. Bedal. + +Sorrowfully the four marched out of the office. More delay ensued +while a wire was dispatched to St. Bedal, asking for further details. + +It took two hours before the reply came. "Regret not to have added +Salop to Captain Ramblethorne's address.--C.O." + +"It's a long lane that has no turning," observed Ferret as they made +for the railway station. + +Hawke bit his lip. He knew that had the spy been warned promptly he +might be out of the country by this time. + +It was dark when, after a tedious journey, the four travellers alighted +at Wellington, Salop. Here, guarded enquiries elicited the information +that Captain Ramblethorne had gone to Bridgnorth to examine men "roped +in" at a recruiting meeting. He had left for Bridgnorth two hours +previously. + +"There are no trains to-night," announced Hawke. "We'll have to get a +car." + +Ten minutes later, Ross and his companions were speeding over the +horribly rough and hilly road between Wellington and Bridgnorth. Past +ironworks and coal-fields, over or under a network of railway lines, +the car tore; then, leaving the mining district behind, it entered the +picturesque valley of the Severn, where the road skirts a range of +towering limestone crags. + +In spite of their fatigue, the lads could not restrain an exclamation +of surprise and delight as the town of Bridgnorth, bathed in moonlight, +appeared in sight--a cluster of houses perched upon a bold rock, and +dominated by the scanty ruins of the old castle. At the foot of the +cliff the Severn meandered placidly. In the midst of the greatest war +the world has ever known, Bridgnorth appeared to retain all the +characteristics of complete peace. + +The recruiting office was closed for the night. With unerring instinct +the detective made for the principal hotel. Here they found that +Captain Ramblethorne had engaged a room, but the manager showed them a +telegram that had just reached him. + +"Took wrong train cancel room arriving to-morrow morning Ramblethorne." + +"A blind," mentally ejaculated Ferret. "He has been warned." + +The telegram had been dispatched from Shrewsbury. Ferret was again at +fault, for the mistake was a genuine one. It so happened that the two +trains left Wellington at precisely the same time, the one for +Bridgnorth starting from a side platform. Before he realized his +mistake Ramblethorne found himself well on the way to Shrewsbury, for +the train stopped at no intermediate station. + +"Shrewsbury, as hard as you can go!" ordered Hawke, addressing the +chauffeur. + +At a pace averaging fifty miles an hour the powerful car bounded over +the road. Without mishap it gained the outskirts of the county town of +Shropshire, when an involuntary halt occurred. + +It was on the English Bridge, a comparatively narrow structure crossing +the Severn. A belated drover was driving a herd of refractory cattle +into the town when a motor-bicycle whizzed down the hill. + +The cattle stampeded. With a jerk that almost threw Ferret and Vernon +from the seat, the car brought up. At the same time the motor-bicycle +slowed down, and dexterously avoiding a huge bullock, glided past the +stationary car. + +The moonbeams shone directly upon the rider's face as Ross thrust his +head out of the window. The motor-cyclist was Ramblethorne the spy. + +The recognition was mutual. The spy, cool and collected, gave no sign +of recognition. The next moment he was travelling "all out" along the +Much Wenlock road. + +"That's Ramblethorne!" exclaimed Ross excitedly. + +"Botheration take him!" ejaculated Ferret. "Are we to get no rest +to-night?" + +He opened the window in front of him. Hawke was sitting with the +chauffeur. Quickly the detectives arrived at their decision. + +"After that chap!" exclaimed Hawke, addressing the chauffeur; "that +motor-cyclist who has just passed. Ten pounds if you overhaul and stop +him." + +It was the bright moonlight that had tempted Ramblethorne to go for a +midnight ride. He was a keen out-of-door man. He could handle almost +any make of car or motor-cycle with the utmost skill. Finding himself +at Shrewsbury, he hired a motor-cycle from an agent, intending to have +a run along the road following the banks of the Severn as far as +Ironbridge. It was his practice, whenever in a strange place, speedily +to become conversant with the locality. It was, in fact, part of his +training as a spy. + +Ramblethorne was somewhat taken aback when he saw Ross's face in the +moonlight, although he betrayed no sign of surprise. In an instant he +realized that, by some means, young Trefusis had escaped from U75; +more, he was with a party of men evidently hard on his track. + +Quickly he made up his mind. His career as a medical officer to the +British Service was ended. He could no longer hope to serve the German +Government in that direction. Before morning a hue and cry would be +raised. + +As he swung along the broad, level road he thought out his plans. He +would ride as hard as he could until his supply of petrol gave out--a +matter of about seventy or eighty miles. Then he would abandon and +hide the motor-cycle, and make his way on foot to the Essex coast. +There, he had means to get on board a nominally British fishing-boat, +which would run him over to a Dutch port. + +Although the motor-cycle was travelling at close on forty miles an +hour, Ramblethorne glanced back over his shoulder. He hardly expected +to be pursued. If the car had turned to attempt to overhaul him, it +would almost to a certainty take the wider of the two fork roads--that +leading to Wellington. + +Disagreeably surprised, the spy saw the two powerful head-lights of the +car less than a mile behind him. + +The chauffeur of the pursuing vehicle had set his heart on winning the +promised guerdon. "All out" the car bounded along the road, leaving in +its trail a dense cloud of dust that slowly dispersed in the moon-lit +air. + +Hanging on desperately to the sides of the swaying car, Ferret and the +two lads knelt upon the front seat of the coupe and peered through the +dust-flecked glass at the solitary motor-cyclist in front. They were +gaining--rapidly at first, but now the gap between lessened almost +imperceptibly. + +At that tremendous rate, the bursting of a tyre would result in +complete disaster, yet not one thought did the pursuers give to the +danger they were running. Their sole attention was centred upon the +spy. + +A sharp bend close to the village of Cressage enabled the car to get +within fifty yards of the motor-cyclist. Hawke drew a revolver from +his pocket. The chauffeur noticed the action out of the corner of his +eye. Purposely he toyed with the sensitive steering-wheel, causing the +car to swerve erratically. + +"Put it up, sir!" he exclaimed, shouting in order to make himself heard +above the roar of the wind over the screen. "If you bring him down +we'll smash up on top of him before we can pull up. We'll have him on +Harley Bank right enough." + +A sharp run down through the village of Harley brought the car within +sight of a very steep hill, up which the road wound like a silver +thread against the black slope. This was Harley Bank, one of the +steepest of many stiff Shropshire hills, its gradient averaging one in +seven. + +Up mounted the motor-cycle. Ramblethorne was attempting to take it on +high gear. + +The chauffeur of the car took no risks. He promptly dropped into +second gear, with the result that the gap between them increased to +nearly a hundred yards. Then the motor-cycle began to falter. Perhaps +Ramblethorne was not thoroughly acquainted with the mechanism of the +two-speed. By the time he got the friction-clutch into action the car +had more than regained the lost distance--and the fugitive had not yet +reached the stiffest part of the hill. + +"Head him off--jam him up against that bank!" ordered Hawke. + +"What for, sir?" asked the chauffeur. He had no objection to taking +part in a midnight chase, but his sense of prudence told him that it +was not advisable to deliberately smash up another vehicle. + +"He's a spy," replied Hawke. "Don't hesitate. I will take all risks." + +Fifteen seconds later the near front wheel of the car was abreast of +Ramblethorne's back wheel. Hawke leant sideways with the intention of +gripping the motor-cyclist by the collar, since the relative speeds +were practically the same. At the same moment the car edged a little +closer to the left-hand side of the road. + +Ramblethorne realized the danger. A collision would with almost +certainty result in his receiving a broken neck; capture meant +ignominious death at the hands of a firing-party. There was yet a +third alternative--a dash for safety. + +He threw out the clutch and applied both brakes, at the same time +bringing the motor-cycle on to the grassy bank. He alighted on all +fours, but almost immediately regained his feet. The car was already +twenty yards on ahead and still in gear. + +He grasped his cycle by the handle-bars and raised it from its +recumbent position. One look showed that the glancing impact had bent +the front forks. The machine was no longer rideable. Without +hesitation he sprang up the bank. As he did so he heard the footfalls +of his pursuers. + +"Be steady!" cautioned Ferret, as Ross and Vernon alighted from the +car. "He may be armed. We're the people to take the brunt of it--not +you." + +They were now within a few feet of the summit of the road, which at +this spot ran through the hill by means of a cutting. Close by were +three excavations. Someone had evidently attempted to commence +quarrying there, but had abandoned the undertaking. As far as the +detective could conclude, these pits formed the only possible +hiding-place in the vicinity. + +"Hist!" exclaimed Hawke, holding up one hand to enjoin silence. + +All was still. No sound of stealthily retreating footsteps reached +their ears. Hawke knelt down and placed one ear to the ground. + +"Someone breathing pretty hard," he whispered. "He can't be very far +away; in one of these holes most likely. Perhaps he's hurt himself." + +An investigation of the first possible hiding-place produced no result. +At the second Ross heard a long-drawn sigh, emanating from a patch of +bushes and tall grass. + +"Here you are!" he exclaimed. + +The place was in shadow, yet he could discern some dark object lying at +full length in the midst of the grass. + +In a trice the two detectives threw themselves upon their prey. For an +instant the man struggled wildly. Ross and his chum joined in the +fray, each hanging on desperately to his plunging legs. Ignominiously +he was dragged from his place of concealment into the bright moonlight. + +Ferret was the first to give a gasp of astonishment. Their victim was +not Ramblethorne the spy, but a powerfully built tramp, who, finding +himself released, began to expostulate with alarming vehemence. + +"Stop that!" exclaimed Hawke authoritatively. "We are police officers. +If you don't behave we'll take you in charge for sleeping out without +visible means." + +The fellow, cowed into silence, slunk away. + +"Confound it!" ejaculated Ferret. "We've let Ramblethorne slip away +under our very noses. He'll be clear by this time." + +"I'm afraid so," agreed Hawke ruefully; then turning to the chauffeur +he told him to drive into the nearest village, which happened to be +Much Wenlock. + +Here Ross and Vernon were able to secure a room at an inn, while the +Scotland Yard men were busy at the little police station, getting a +description of the spy issued through the countryside. + +Next morning the lads set out on their return journey to Killigwent +Hall. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +The Admiral Works the Oracle + +"Look here, old man; what do you say about having a shot for the Naval +Reserve?" asked Ross. "In ordinary circs I would be prepared to go +through Sandhurst, but this isn't ordinary circs. Before we pass out, +the war will be over perhaps." + +"I'd rather like to see something of the fun," agreed Vernon. + +"As if we hadn't already," added his chum. "But I know what you mean. +Instead of being cooped up in an unterseeboot and hunted by our +fellows, we want to have a hand in rounding up the German submarines. +I vote we write to our respective governors about it." + +This conversation occurred two days after the lads' return to +Killigwent Hall. They had been given up as lost, and their unexpected +return had caused unbounded rejoicings. Pressmen thronged the Hall to +gather "exclusive" information of the manner of their seemingly +miraculous rescue, but both Ross and Vernon were determined not to +satisfy outside curiosity. They even kept the story of how the white +flag fluttered down from the signalling mast of U75 from their +immediate friends. + +"It will take a long time for us to get a reply," objected Vernon. "By +the time the letters hang about at the G.P.O., before they are sent to +the fleet, a week will elapse, and before we get a reply bang goes a +whole fortnight. Let's get hold of a Navy List and see what the +qualifications are." + +A careful perusal of the regulations resulted in a setback. Midshipmen +in the R.N.R., they found, had to be between 16 and 18 years of age, +and must either have passed through a course of instruction for two +years on board an "approved" training ship, or else one year on board a +first-class British merchant ship. + +"That's put the hat on it," declared Ross. + +"One minute," interposed Vernon. "Why not write to Admiral Garboard? +He's an old shipmate of my governor's, and I know he's a bit of a pot +up at Whitehall, although he's on the Retired List." + +"He was with my pater in the old _Rhodaphlare_ on the China station," +added Ross. "We'll try; the wheeze might work." + +Accordingly Vernon wrote to the Admiral, who lived about twenty miles +from Killigwent Hall. Promptly came Sir Peter Garboard's reply: + + +"TRELANGKERRICK," + CORNWALL. + +"DEAR VERNON, + +"In reply to your letter I am sorry that I cannot help you in the +matter to which you refer, unless you and your friend can produce +sufficient evidences of qualifications for the desired posts. + +"On principle I object to influence in any shape or form. Entry into +any branch of the Service should, like promotion, depend solely upon +the aptitude and ability of a candidate. This has been my standpoint +throughout the whole of my career, and I see no reason why I should now +depart from it. + +"If, however, you think you have strong reasons for pressing your +claims, and you care to see me, we will go more fully into the matter. + +"Believe me, + "Yours faithfully, + "PETER GARBOARD." + + +"Not so dusty," commented Ross. "He does leave us a loophole, although +I'm afraid we'll have to blow our own trumpets. I vote we cycle over +at once. We'll catch him in just before lunch." + +"Better wait until after he's had his grub," said Vernon. "That's +always the time to get a man in a good humour." + +"We'll risk that," declared young Trefusis. "Come on." + +It was a very hilly twenty miles run across the moors to +Trelangkerrick. Starting at ten in the morning it took the lads two +hours and a quarter, in the face of a strong south-westerly breeze, to +cover the distance. + +Half-way up the drive, they saw the Admiral and a companion emerging +from a path leading from the kennels. + +"Hulloa!" exclaimed Sir Peter cordially, as he recognized Vernon Haye. +"So you haven't marked time in coming to see me. This is young +Trefusis, I presume? Glad to meet you. Knew your father very well +back in the 'eighties. Hope to renew the acquaintance soon, you know. +If it hadn't been for the war----" + +Admiral Garboard had taken Trelangkerrick only since the declaration of +hostilities; consequently he had had no opportunity of meeting Admiral +Trefusis, who, since July of the previous year, had been continuously +"somewhere in the North Sea". + +"Cecil, my boy," he continued, addressing his companion, a tall, +sunburnt man, in shooting garb although his clean-shaven features and +slightly rolling gait proclaimed him to be a sailor. "Let me introduce +the sons of two of my old shipmates to you. Ross Trefusis and Vernon +Haye--my nephew, Cecil Bourne. You'll stay to lunch, of course. +Cecil's on three days' leave. He's not satisfied with hunting German +submarines, but must needs go after my rabbits." + +They walked towards the house, Ross and Bourne leading, and the Admiral +and Vernon bringing up the rear. + +"We'll discuss this little matter after lunch, my boy," remarked the +Admiral. + +The meal proceeded without a hitch, the Admiral in his breezy way +relating anecdote after anecdote of the Service in the good old days. + +"By the by," he remarked, "what's this yarn I hear about your +neighbour, Dr. Ramblethorne? There's a report that a warrant has been +issued for his arrest." + +"For espionage, I believe," replied Vernon. + +"Bless my soul! Is that a fact? One doesn't know whom to trust in +these days. No details, I suppose. A decent fellow, too, from what I +saw of him. No, I don't think you've met him, Cecil, at least not +here. By the by, you might tell the boys about your little adventure +up-Channel in the _Tremendous_." + +Ross and Vernon turned very red in the face, but as they sat with their +backs to the window the change of colour passed unnoticed. + +"Oh, that submarine business!" remarked Lieutenant Bourne modestly. +"Just an ordinary occurrence, don't you know, except for one thing. I +was officer of the watch at the time. We spotted a strafed +unterseeboot flying a white flag. Have to be jolly careful, you see. +Either give the thing a wide berth, and wireless the destroyers to take +possession of the prize, or else cut the brute in two. Anyhow, +something funny did happen. There were two fellows in mufti standing +close to the skipper on the submarine's deck. Goodness only knows why +they did it, but I saw one of them----" + +"Cut the halliards and let the white flag down," interposed Vernon. + +There was dead silence in the room. Only intense excitement was +responsible for young Haye's lapse of manners. The words had slipped +from him almost unconsciously. Ross barked his shin as a gentle +reminder. + +"By Jove! How did you know that?" demanded Bourne. "Shouldn't have +thought that the yarn had had time to travel very far. Hope I haven't +been boring you?" + +Vernon took his courage in his hands. + +"It was Ross who cut the halliards," he announced. "We were both on +board, and jumped overboard just in time, and got hold of a lifebuoy +dropped from the _Tremendous_ as she passed." + +"By Jove!" ejaculated the Lieutenant. "I am surprised. I wondered +whether you were picked up. It was a jolly plucky action. But how did +you get on board the unterseeboot?" + +"Aye, out with it!" added the Admiral. "I heard that you were missing, +of course, and also of your return. Truth to tell, I thought when I +got your letter that the pair of you had been acting the goat, and had +run away to sea and had thought better of it." + +"We didn't run, sir, we were carried," explained Ross. "And Dr. +Ramblethorne was responsible for it." + +Admiral Sir Peter Garboard was not satisfied until he had heard the +complete story of his young friends' adventures. When they had +finished he turned to his nephew. + +"Young Haye and his chum came to see me on a private matter," he +remarked, "but I don't think they will object to your hearing what we +have to say." + +"Are you quite sure you won't?" asked Bourne, addressing the lads. + +"Both Trefusis and Haye are supposed to be going in for Sandhurst," +continued Sir Peter. "Although, candidly speaking, I don't see why a +naval man should want to put his son in the Army." + +"In my case it is only following a family precedent," said Ross. "For +generations back the eldest son has alternately been in the Navy and +Army." + +"And in my case it is the force of circumstances," added Vernon. "When +I was of the age to be sent to Osborne I was a puny little chap. The +doctor wouldn't pass me." + +"You've altered a bit since then, I can see," remarked Bourne. "You +look as strong as a young horse now." + +"Yes, I've grown out of my early ailments, I think," said Vernon. + +"Pity the doctor hadn't passed you," said Sir Peter bluntly. "Ten or +eleven is too young an age for any medical man to express a final +opinion upon. I remember a fellow in the Service who was nearly blind +on one eye and almost as deaf as a post. He got through the +medical--influence, I expect. Anyway the Navy was none the worse for +it. You'll remember him by name, Cecil: he was my secretary on the +China Station. Funny thing about him was that he couldn't see to read +red figures unless he looked through a green glass. Do you know that +when I received your letter I imagined that your temporary +disappearance had something to do with your running away to sea?" +reiterated the Admiral. "The idea, I believe, comes to most boys +almost as a matter of course; something like measles, in fact." + +"Well, now we've had a taste of submarine work, we feel that it is high +time we had a hand at helping to collar the German unterseebooten," +explained Ross. + +"I think it could be arranged," remarked the Admiral. "You haven't had +actual experience, of course----" + +"Eh!" exclaimed Bourne. "By Jove, Uncle, I should say they had!" + +"From a strictly professional standpoint, I ought to have said, only +you didn't give me time," added Sir Peter. "I'll write off to the +Admiralty to-night and see if I can get you both into the R.N.R. You +are too young to receive commissions as Sub-lieutenants, but no doubt +you can be taken on as midshipmen. Stringent regulations go by the +board in war-time. Isn't that so, Cecil?" + +"They would probably be appointed to an armed liner for patrol duty," +observed Bourne. "There are, I believe, no midshipmen on the trawlers +and motor-boats in submarine-hunting." + +"We must take what we can get," said Vernon, "but we would rather----" + +"Yes, yes," interrupted the Admiral. "I know. You leave that to me." + +Accordingly Ross and Vernon "left it to" the genial Sir Peter, with the +result that within a week they were specially appointed as temporary +midshipmen to the motor-patrol ship _Capella_. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +H.M.S. "Capella" + +With the least possible delay the two chums joined the _Capella_ at +Southampton. She was one of an entirely new class of vessel, built for +the express purpose of ridding the high seas of the presence of the +modern pirates. Looking at her as she lay in the Empress Dock, there +was little about her to attract the eye. A raised fo'c'sle and poop, +and a low superstructure abaft the funnel, two stumpy masts and +grey-coloured "wall" sides, gave her the appearance of a trawler. It +was only when one had an opportunity of seeing her in dry dock, where +her graceful under-body, with its fine "entry" and clean run aft, was +visible, that any idea of her speed could be arrived at. Further +details would be undesirable. Sufficient to add, to quote a Yankee +journalist who had been given an opportunity of paying a visit to the +Grand Fleet and inspecting the component units of the greatest armada +that the world has yet seen, the class to which she belonged were "some +boats". The exigencies of the hitherto unprecedented method of +carrying out the naval side of the Great War had demanded the creation +of large flotillas of small motor-driven hornets. In the initial +stages the want was temporarily supplied through the patriotism of +owners of private motor-boats. These craft, good in their way, were +handicapped by a lack of uniformity. Nevertheless they served as an +excellent training-school until the Admiralty with remarkable celerity +produced the novel type of craft to which the _Capella_ belonged. + +The _Capella_ carried a large crew in proportion to her size--four +officers and twenty-four men. Her skipper was Stanley Syllenger, who +held the rank of Lieutenant-Commander, R.N.R. He was a big, bluff man +of about thirty-five, a strict disciplinarian, and a stickler for duty. +He could be very outspoken when he wanted, which was fairly frequently, +but withal he was of a thoroughly good-natured disposition. + +There were two Sub-lieutenants, R.N.R. The senior was John Barry, a +very mild type of young officer. He usually spoke in a very soft +voice, except when occasion warranted, when he could bellow in a way +that would take a stranger entirely by surprise. It seemed incredible +that such a bull voice could belong to such a dapper little man as John +Barry. + +The other Sub was Noel Fox--a tall, deep-chested fellow of twenty, +boisterous, and full of spirits. In five crowded years he had gained a +good knowledge of three oceans, and a nodding acquaintance with the +remaining two. Beginning his career on board a five-masted sailing +ship, he had served in tramps, "intermediates", and mail steamers until +the outbreak of the war, when he found himself appointed to an armed +liner that abruptly terminated her existence by trying conclusions with +a German mine. + +Captain Syllenger and Sub-lieutenant Barry were pacing the diminutive +quarter-deck of the _Capella_ as she lay alongside the quay. The +skipper had heard officially that morning of the appointment of two +temporary midshipmen to the craft under his command. "Hanged if I can +understand it, Barry!" he exclaimed in his outspoken manner. "What's +the idea of turning the _Capella_ into a nursery, I should like to +know! These youngsters are somebody's pigeons, I suppose. The usual +yarn. Influence up topsides does the trick, and we're saddled with two +raw lubbers." + +"There is no mention of their having had previous sea-service, sir?" +remarked Barry. "But perhaps they'll turn out fairly smart." + +"They will," added the Lieutenant-Commander grimly; "that is, if I have +anything to do with them for any length of time. But, by Jove! here +they are, unless I'm much mistaken." + +Looking rather self-conscious in their brand-new uniforms, Ross and +Vernon doubled down the steeply sloping gangway. As they came aboard, +Syllenger noted with professional satisfaction that they both saluted +the quarter-deck. The action showed, by one thing at least, they were +not the greenhorns he expected to receive. + +"You have had no previous experience, I believe?" he asked, after the +midshipmen had introduced themselves. + +"Very little, beyond knocking about in yachts and boats," replied Ross. + +"That's something," decided the skipper. "A fellow who starts his +career in a small boat has the makings of a good seaman. It is rare +indeed that a man who goes straight to sea in a steamship makes a smart +man in a boat. If ever you go on patrol duty you'll find your +experience of value. By the by, I suppose you know our particular job?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Ross. "Hunting submarines." + +"Ever seen one?" asked Syllenger abruptly. + +"Several of the D and E classes manoeuvring in Plymouth Sound." + +"But a German one?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Where?" + +"We've both spent nearly a week on board an unterseeboot, sir." + +The skipper sternly regarded the two midshipmen. + +"Look here," he said. "If you think you've come on board to gammon me, +the sooner you get that idea out of your heads the better. There's no +room on the _Capella_ for a pair of modern Ananiases." + +Ross said nothing. From the outside left breast-pocket of his +"undress" coat he produced a white foolscap envelope, bearing in blue +the "foul anchor" badge of the Admiralty. + +The Lieutenant-Commander took the proffered envelope somewhat +suspiciously. He more than half expected that it was a letter of +introduction from a high official at Whitehall, on the strength of +which the two midshipmen felt inclined to "put on side". + +Instead, he found that it contained an autograph letter from the +Admiralty, thanking the lads for their bravery and presence of mind, +whereby they materially assisted in the preservation of H.M.S. +_Tremendous_ and in the destruction of two of the enemy submarines. +The document finished by congratulating Ross and Vernon on their escape +from U75, and trusted that their career as midshipmen of the R.N.R. +would be marked with success. + +Syllenger read it through carefully and slowly, deliberately returned +it to the envelope, and handed it back to Ross. Then he held out his +hand. + +"I'm sorry for what I've said," he declared simply. "Forget it, if you +can. Come and lunch with me at one bell." + +"Thank you, sir," replied Ross in answer to the invitation; then, after +a pause, he added: "we didn't want to brag about it, but you made us." + +"So I understand," said the skipper. "I've misjudged the pair of you, +but the least said about my part of it the better, I fancy." + +He hailed a couple of men, instructing them to strike the midshipmen's +luggage down the companion-ladder. Ross and Vernon followed, to be +introduced to their new quarters. + +Owing to the _Capella's_ shallow draught, the cabin space was rather +limited. The Captain's quarters were a double cabin, comprising a +state-room and sleeping-room, in a deck-house under the bridge. The +two Subs had each a small "dog-box", as they termed it, aft on the +starboard side. The engineer had a similar cabin on the port side. +Adjoining his quarters was another cabin, which had hitherto been used +as an overflow receptacle for officers' luggage. This had now been +cleared out, and hooks provided for the two midshipmen to sling their +hammocks. The slinging and unlashing of the hammocks was performed by +a servant, to whom Ross and Vernon had each to pay ten shillings a +month for the privilege. During the day the cabin made a fairly +comfortable room, although the furniture was Spartan-like in its +simplicity. + +At six bells (11 a.m.) the _Capella_, having replenished her fuel and +stores, and made good slight defects, was "tracked" out of the dock. +An hour later she left Southampton, bound for a rendezvous off Beachy +Head, near which a U-boat had been reported to have made an +unsuccessful attack upon a swift merchant vessel. + +The run down Southampton Water was necessarily performed at +quarter-speed, for in spite of her light displacement the _Capella's_ +wash at full speed was almost equal to that of a liner. Even as it +was, a long line of white foam lashed itself upon the mudflats several +minutes after she had passed. + +When Calshot Castle was abreast, speed was increased to 30 knots. +There was an easterly breeze blowing against the ebb-tide, with the +result that quite a choppy sea was met with outside Southampton Water. +Like a knife, the sharp cutwater of the _Capella_ cleft the waves, +sending up showers of white spray; but such was her speed that, before +the wind could carry the spindrift on deck, the swift vessel was beyond +the cascade of foam. She hardly felt the motion of the waves; indeed, +she was so steady that it was possible to place a pail of water on deck +without any of the contents being spilt by the "lift" of the ship. + +Under the guidance of Noel Fox, the midshipmen made the round of the +vessel, the Sub explaining everything to them in detail. Already the +lads had taken a great fancy to the Sub, and Fox reciprocated the +sentiment. He had a way about him that enabled him to give particulars +of the most intricate mechanism without having to resort to dry, +parrot-like instruction. + +By the time he had explained the ingenious devices used to entrap the +German unterseebooten, Ross and Vernon felt inclined to marvel how it +was they found themselves on board the _Capella_, since only sheer good +luck had saved U75 from being doomed during every hour of their brief +and involuntary detention. + +"Yes, we can mop up the German submarines quicker than they can turn +them out," said the Sub. "Of course I don't mean to say that a few of +them won't get a smack at some of our ships for some time to come; but +all the same we are giving them beans. From a strictly professional +point of view we would be sorry if Old Turps abandoned his 'effectual' +blockade. Our chances of having a high old game with the +unterseebooten would be considerably reduced." + +"There are still some in the English Channel," hazarded Vernon. + +"Yes, a few; but have you noticed how those fellows fight shy of Dover? +They shun it like the plague. It's horribly unhealthy for them. D'ye +know why? Perhaps you wouldn't have paid much attention to it, but +some months ago the Admiralty issued a 'Notice to Mariners', stating +that the Straits of Dover were heavily mined, and that all shipping was +to pass through the Downs within three miles of the Kentish coast. + +"So it's fairly safe to assume that the few stray unterseebooten that +are still lurking in the Channel have made the passage round the north +coast of Scotland. It's only a matter of time before we bag the lot, I +fancy." + +"And our submarines?" enquired Ross. + +"Have fewer opportunities since the Hun battleships and cruisers have +such a decided inclination to remain in harbour," rejoined Fox. "When +there's a chance, you can bet your bottom dollar that our fellows seize +it. Quite recently one of our submarines found herself alone and +disabled in the Bight of Heligoland. Undismayed, her +lieutenant-commander signalled to a passing German trawler, covered her +with his guns, and made the Hun tow the crippled submarine into British +waters. Then he released his involuntary benefactor, but before so +doing can you guess what he did?" + +"No," replied both lads. + +"Made the Huns line up on deck and sing the 'Hymn of Hate'. You can +imagine the surprise of the trawler's men, who, judging by the +treatment meted out to our fishermen by the German submarines, expected +nothing less than imprisonment and the loss of their boat. But it's +close on one bell," remarked Fox at length. "You're messing with the +skipper to-day, I believe. He's quite a decent sort when you know him +properly, but it takes a bit of doing." + +A seaman strode up to the bell and gave it a sharp stroke. Just then a +messenger hurried from the diminutive "wireless" room abaft the +chart-house and, leaping down the ladder at a single bound, knocked at +the door of the Captain's cabin. + +"Stow those things away, Sparkes," exclaimed Captain Syllenger. "Lunch +will have to wait." + +He dashed out of his cabin. On the way to the bridge he passed Fox and +the two midshipmen. + +"You'll have to tighten your belts, my lads," he announced. "We've +just had a message through. A strafed unterseeboot has been spotted +trying to get into Spithead. If we don't nab her within half an hour, +I'll eat my hat!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A Double Bag + +It was a sea-plane, flying at fifteen hundred feet above the Warner and +The Nab Lightships, that had detected an elongated shadow creeping +stealthily over the shingly bottom close to the Dean Tail Buoy. The +shadow was that of a German unterseeboot, since none of the British +submarines were known to be in the eastern approaches to Spithead. +Evidently she had gone out of her course, for instead of being in the +main channel she was well to the north of it. More than likely the +strong east-going tide, which hereabout surges at such a rate that it +causes the shingle 30 or 40 feet beneath the surface to emit a deep +rumble, had taken the unterseeboot in its grip. + +Promptly the sea-plane wirelessed the news, and quickly a "general +call" was sent to the patrol vessels in the vicinity. The _Capella_ +was one of the craft that picked up the welcome order. + +She was now only seven sea miles distant from the Dean Tail Buoy. +Within ten minutes of the receipt of the wireless she was on the +spot--one of the very first of a regular hornet flotilla bent upon +adding yet another of Von Tirpitz's pets to the "bag". + +For the next quarter of an hour it looked as if a novel kind of marine +waltz was in progress. Nearly a score of swift vessels were executing +fantastic movements at full speed, circling and interchanging positions +until it seemed as if collisions were impossible to avoid. + +Their object was to thoroughly bewilder the already doomed U-boat, for, +if possible, her capture in a practically intact condition was desired. +In very deep water, salvage of a sunken submarine was out of the +question; here, in a comparatively shallow depth, and close to an +important naval base, to which the prize could be taken with little +trouble, the opportunity for capture rather than instant destruction +was too good to be missed. + +Suddenly a cloud of white smoke shot up from the sea. Its appearance +was greeted by hearty cheers from the patrol vessels. It was a signal +that the U-boat, in her attempt to find deep water, had floundered +blindly into the trap. Over and over again the hunters passed, towing +non-explosive grapnels, until it was certain that the prey was helpless +in their toils. + +Then, in obedience to an order from the senior officer, the swift +vessels withdrew for nearly three cables' length from the spot where +the boat lay. Two slow but powerfully engined trawlers approached at a +cable's length abreast, towing the bight of a massive steel hawser +between. Doing little more than drift with the tide they crept past +the submerged U-boat, one on either side of the mark-buoy that +indicated her position. + +Presently the strain on the hawser increased. It was only by making +full use of the twin-screws that the trawlers were able to prevent +themselves from swinging together. The steel rope stretched until it +resembled two metal bars which bore silent testimony to the strain. + +Just then the two vessels shot ahead. Although the hawser was still +intact, it no longer took any strain. But its work was done. The +bight, engaging the conning-tower of the unterseeboot, had turned the +submarine on its side. In the space of a few seconds the deadly fumes +from the capsized batteries had almost painlessly accounted for the +crew of the U-boat, who themselves had neither pity nor consideration +for the hapless victims, men, women, and children, massacred against +all dictates of humanity and convention of civilized warfare. + +"A bit of work for the dockyard lighters to-morrow," commented +Sub-lieutenant Barry, as the _Capella_ parted company to resume her run +up-Channel. "They'll raise the U-boat, and take her into dry dock, +before the sulphuric acid has had time to do much damage to her +mechanism." + +"I shouldn't be surprised if there were another U-boat knocking +around," remarked Vernon. "From our limited experience we know that +they work either in pairs or threes." + +"Then the worse for them," rejoined Barry. "It would be a great wheeze +to bag two of them in one day. Desperate diseases need desperate +remedies, you know." + +Therein the Sub voiced the unanimous opinion of the British Navy. At +the commencement of the war, the torpedoing of several battleships and +cruisers by German submarines aroused no enmity within the hearts of +the British tars. They realized that a warship is "fair sport" to the +submarines of the opposing side. To run the risk of being blown up was +one of the excitements to undergo in the course of duty. But when it +came to torpedoing helpless merchantmen, and jeering at the +death-struggles of the unfortunate crews, Jack Tar began to regard the +unterseebooten in the light of pirates and murderers. The wanton +destruction of the _Lusitania_, accompanied by the appalling death-roll +of non-combatants, women and children, literally sounded the +death-knell of the crews of von Tirpitz's jolly-Roger-flying +submarines. In their methods of "frightfulness" they had overreached +themselves. They had sown a wind: they were now reaping a whirlwind +with a vengeance. + +And now the great silent Navy was paying back von Tirpitz in almost, +but not quite, his own coin. While the much-advertised blockade of +Great Britain was petering out, British submarines were playing havoc +with German shipping in the Baltic--a sea which the Teutons regarded as +being almost their very own. Yet what a difference marked the methods +adopted by the humane commanders of our submarines when dealing with +German mercantile shipping. A punctilious regard for the safety of the +crews of overhauled merchantmen won admiration even from the seamen of +the destroyed vessels. Humiliation and reproach seemed to haunt the +white-bearded dotard, whose hands had sought in vain to wrest the +trident from Britannia's virile grasp. + +At about five in the afternoon the _Capella_ arrived at her station off +Beachy Head, relieving her sister ship the _Markab_, that, with three +other motor-driven craft, had been engaged in a vigorous, but for the +most part uneventful, patrol. + +Day and night for a fortnight at a stretch, unless anything unforeseen +took place, the _Capella_ was to cruise up and down, keeping a smart +look-out for any sign of an object resembling a hostile periscope. In +order to economize her fuel supply her speed was reduced to 10 knots. +It was then that her bad qualities showed themselves. With her shallow +draught and high freeboard she rolled like a barrel, since speed was +essential to impart steadiness. The motion was certainly +disconcerting, although it did not imply that the _Capella_ was +unseaworthy. + +"'Fraid our chances of bagging another U-boat to-day are off," remarked +Barry to Ross. + +It was within half an hour of sunset. The chums had been temporarily +separated. It was Vernon's "watch below". The senior Sub and young +Trefusis were on the bridge. In spite of the still-prevailing east +wind it was a grand evening. Three miles away, broad on the starboard +beam, the chalk cliffs known as the Seven Sisters were beginning to be +tinted by the crimson hues of the western sky. To seaward, three large +vessels were in sight. One, a liner bound down-Channel, was pelting +along at such a pace with the wind that the smoke from her funnels was +rising almost perpendicularly. Forging ahead in the opposite direction +were two big tramps, the smoke from their funnels, beaten down by the +strong breeze, trailing across the surface of the water for a couple of +miles in their wake. + +"An object lesson," remarked Barry. "The arteries of the Empire. Hang +it all! The blockade reminds me of a pigmy treacherously stealing up +behind a giant and trying to cut his jugular vein. Instead, he merely +scratched a comparatively unimportant capillary, and feels mighty sorry +for himself when the giant turns and scruffs him by the neck." + +Leaning over the bridge-rails, the Sub startled his companion by +bellowing in a voice loud enough to be heard a mile away: + +"On look-outs! Stand by bow and stern lights!" + +The _Capella_ was making preparations for the night. Unlike the armed +merchantmen that are compelled to scour the North Sea, summer and +winter alike, without showing the faintest glimmer of a lamp, the +_Capella_ observed the rules and regulations for preventing collision +at sea. Her port, starboard, and bow lamps were lighted by +electricity, but, in order to guard against possible break-down of +current, oil lamps had also to be trimmed and lighted, ready, should +occasion serve, to take their places. + +It was part of Ross's duty to report to the officer of the watch that +these lamps were in order, and also, at regular intervals, that the +navigation lights were burning brightly. + +Presently the Sub prepared to take a cross-bearing. He was fairly +certain that the _Capella_ had reached the westernmost limit of her +patrol-ground. From that point she was to proceed due south for 10 sea +miles, and then due east for 20 miles until she fell in with her +"opposite number". + +While Barry was thus engaged, Ross noticed a sail about 2 miles distant +on the starboard quarter. + +"By Jove!" he muttered as he brought his glass to bear upon the +stranger. "That's a funny rig." + +The craft was a "two-sticker". She was square-rigged on the foremast, +carrying fore-topsail and fore-course. No jibs were set; neither, as +far as he could see, was any sail set on the mainmast. The vessel's +sides were painted green with a broad red band. + +Even as he kept the craft under observation she starboarded her helm, +shaping a course that would converge upon that of the rearmost of the +two tramps. By so doing she exposed a considerable portion of her +broadside. + +Ross gave an exclamation of astonishment. Above the green sides +appeared what was undoubtedly the conning-tower and housed periscope of +a submarine. "Submarine on the starboard quarter, sir!" he reported. + +"What!" exclaimed Barry, levelling his telescope. "By Jove, yes! What +luck!" + +The unterseeboot had, of course, noticed the _Capella_, and had +mistaken her for a trawler. She realized that she ran a risk in case +the latter might be armed, but, trusting to her disguise, she hoped to +get within torpedo range of the tramp--a vessel of over 3000 tons--sink +her, and make her escape in the confusion that was bound to ensue. On +the other hand, her Kapitan had good reasons for thinking that the +supposed trawler was not one of the armed patrol, since they usually +worked in company. By rigging canvas bulwarks and setting sail upon +dummy masts, he was able to approach with little fear of detection. + +"Action!" + +Quickly the _Capella's_ crew were at their stations. The quick-firers +were loaded, and their screens lowered so as not to impede their arc of +fire. Until these preparations were complete the vessel still held on +her course. + +Then Captain Syllenger, who had come on deck, telegraphed for full +speed ahead. Like a racehorse the _Capella_ leapt forward. + +A double, converging line of white foam marked the track of a torpedo +from the doomed U-boat. By a slight alteration of helm the _Capella_ +avoided it. The action was hardly necessary: it was merely a matter of +precaution, since the _Capella's_ peculiarities of construction made +her practically immune from torpedo attack. + +Captain Syllenger had no intention of ramming his opponent. Ramming +with a lightly built vessel, such as the _Capella_, would only be +employed as a last resource. + +At an almost point-blank range of 400 yards both bow guns were fired +simultaneously. There was no need for another shot. One of the +projectiles, hitting the U-boat at the base of the conning-tower, tore +a jagged hole a couple of feet in diameter. The other shell hit her +about 10 feet from the bows, and, with an erratic peculiarity that such +missiles have after the first impact, was deflected downward, expending +the full force of its explosive charge in the submarine's bow +torpedo-room. + +In a moment the luckless U-boat was done for. A huge column of smoke +marked the spot where she had disappeared like a stone, while flying +pieces of metal hurtled far and wide through the air. Several of the +fragments clattered upon the _Capella's_ deck as she swung round to +avoid any possibility of fouling debris. Of the crew not a man was to +be seen. Those who had not been killed by the shell-fire had been +wiped out by the explosion of their own torpedoes. + +"We've pulled off a double event to-day, after all," remarked +Sub-lieutenant Fox as he disappeared down the companion-ladder to +resume his interrupted "watch below". "Barry has got his wish." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Smoke-signals + +For the next ten days nothing occurred beyond the ordinary routine. +Even Ross and Vernon, to whom everything was at first a novelty, began +to feel the irksomeness of the constant and vigilant patrol. No +hostile submarines made their appearance; there were not even any +reports, true or otherwise, that they had been sighted. It was the +same all along the English Channel--"nothin' doing". It seemed as if +the unterseebooten had finally given up these waters as a "bad egg". + +Yet it would be most injudicious for the naval authorities to relax +their watchfulness. Areas of strategic importance must still be +closely guarded, since it was just possible that the wily Teuton would +refrain from submarine warfare in the Channel until the patrol-boats' +crews were lulled into a sense of false optimism. + +The only break in the monotony was the occasional and welcome +appearance of a motor-boat from Shoreham, bringing off fresh supplies, +newspapers and letters for the patrol vessels. + +Amongst Ross's correspondence was a letter from his father. Admiral +Trefusis gave no indication of what he was doing, merely a brief +statement that he was still "somewhere in the North Sea". He +congratulated his son upon his escape, and mentioned that he had heard +from the captain of H.M.S. _Tremendous_ with reference to his son's +action in warning the battleship. But although the Admiral did not +express himself very enthusiastically on paper, he was as pleased as +only a proud father can be at his boy's display of gallantry and +resource. "Under the circumstances," he wrote, "I think you did right +in temporarily abandoning your preparation for Sandhurst. No doubt you +will acquit yourself in your present position as a Trefusis should do. +I was certainly surprised to hear about that fellow Ramblethorne. He +always appeared to be a really decent man. It only shows how careful +one has to be when dealing with a highly organized enemy." + +Amongst Vernon's batch of correspondence was a letter from +Detective-inspector Hawke. It was couched in semi-official language, a +survival of days long ago when the Inspector was a budding constable +and had to submit countless written reports to his superiors. + +There was, he wrote, no definite news concerning Ramblethorne, +otherwise von Hauptwald. The local police had taken up the case, and, +assisted by the military, were still scouring the country. As usual, +there were inaccurate and misleading reports from various parts of the +country. It was generally accepted that the spy was being hidden by +some of his compatriots who, by indulgence of the British Government, +were still at large in the country, or else that he had succeeded in +getting away on board a neutral ship. + +The inquest on von Ruhle had taken place, with the anticipated result, +a verdict of _felo de se_ being returned by the jury. No evidence had +been submitted as to the dead man's real occupation. Under the name of +Cornelius Vanderhuit his body was handed over to the authorities for +interment. + +But the case did not end there. It remained for the competent +Authorities to decide the steps to be taken with reference to the +papers that had been found in von Ruhle's possession. + +"I am keeping von Ruhle's 'malacca' as a memento," concluded Hawke. +"It may help me to discriminate between it and a portable metal tripod, +and save me from being placed under arrest by the military. +Fortunately, upon the last occasion, I did not meet with my Waterloo." + +"The old chap feels a bit sore about it, I can see," remarked Ross. +"He's written a good deal more than he evidently intended. However, he +looks like 'making good' this time." + +"It's a pity Ramblethorne slipped through the detectives' fingers," +said Vernon, as he prepared to go on deck. "That fellow's bound to +cause trouble until he's laid by the heels." + +It was Noel Fox's "trick". The Sub was standing on the bridge with his +eye glued to his telescope. A mile or so inland, on the summit of the +South Downs where they approach Beachy Head, three columns of smoke +were rising in the still air. There was nothing extraordinary in that. +It might be a farmer burning rubbish on his fields; but what attracted +the Sub's attention was the remarkable and systematic changes in the +density of the smoke. At one moment the two outside pillars were +heavy, the centre one being little more than a thin haze; at another +the conditions would be reversed. + +Fox decided to take action. Rapidly the _Capella_ closed with the +shore, until she was within signalling distance of a coast-guard +station. + +The station in question was not manned by coast-guards. Not considered +important, its complement was depleted at the outbreak of hostilities, +most of the men joining the large armoured cruisers. A chief officer +and a boatman alone remained. These were at a later period augmented +by a party of Sea Scouts. + +As soon as the _Capella_ had "made her number", a signaller took up his +position on the roof of the chart-house. + +"Fires burning one mile inland to north-west of coast-guard station," +he semaphored. "Suspect smoke-signals. Investigate and report." + +Keeping his telescope bearing on shore, Vernon watched the result of +the signal. Promptly half a dozen Scouts, mounted on bicycles, set off +to the position indicated. Their progress was hidden by an intervening +clump of trees, but in less than a quarter of an hour they returned. +By this time the smoke had disappeared. One of their number worked the +semaphore attached to the station. + +"Fires made with damp straw. Found old blankets apparently used to +stifle smoke. Saw large car stationary; made towards Lewes on +approach; number known; have informed police." + +"Smart youngsters!" exclaimed Captain Syllenger. "They've helped to +nip some little plan in the bud. We'll have to be jolly careful for +the next few days, I expect. Did you make a note of the fog-signals, +Mr. Fox?" + +"I did, sir," replied the Sub, producing a leaf of a notebook covered +with an unintelligible number of lines. "Each of these strokes +represents a column of smoke according to its position." + +"I can make nothing of it," remarked Syllenger. "At any rate I'll send +your result to the Admiralty with the utmost dispatch. Take her in, +Mr. Fox, and bring up where you find the two-fathom mark." + +The _Capella_ headed nearer towards the shore, a leads-man sounding +until the required depth was found. One of the boats was lowered, +manned, and rowed to the coast-guard station, Sub-lieutenant Barry +being in charge, with Ross as his immediate subordinate. + +"I want this to be forwarded to the Admiralty with the least possible +delay," he announced, addressing the chief officer. "How long do you +think it will take to get through?" + +"Too late for the eleven something train from Brighton, sir," was the +reply. "There's a gentleman in the village who has a big car. He's a +member of the Volunteer Training Corps. No doubt he'll take it as far +as Lewes. Why, sir, here's the gent himself! Mr. Hyde's his name." + +The newcomer was a sparely built man of below medium height. He looked +about thirty years of age. In reality he was nearly fifty. Having +vainly attempted to obtain a commission in the R.N.R. and the Army, he +had joined the V.T.C. in the hope that, perhaps, some day his services +might be utilized in a very practical form. Now his chance was at hand. + +He had strolled down to the beach on noticing a boat putting off from +the patrol vessel. + +"Lewes? Certainly," he replied in answer to Barry's question. "I +doubt whether you'll save much. Why not let me take the message right +to the Admiralty? I'd like to do it, 'pon my word I would." + +The Sub hesitated. Perhaps the stranger might be all right; but he +might be all wrong. One had to be very careful in these times. Yet +the offer was a tempting one. If possible, it was most desirable to be +able to decipher the transcription of these mysterious columns of smoke. + +"I say, Trefusis," he said, "you've had a fairly long time afloat; what +do you say to a run up to town? I'm sure this gentleman would make no +objection to giving you a seat in his car." + +"With the greatest pleasure," declared Mr. Hyde. + +"Thanks!" rejoined Barry. "Of course the honour of delivering the +letter will be yours, sir. Mr. Trefusis accompanies you merely as a +passenger. We'll stand by to pick you up, Trefusis. I'll make it all +right with the skipper." + +The Sub accompanied Mr. Hyde and the midshipman to the garage, which +was about four minutes' walk from the coast-guard station. While the +man was getting out the car (he was his own chauffeur), Barry seized +the opportunity of telling Ross to be on his guard, in case anything +suspicious occurred. + +With a terrific bound the powerful car started on its sixty-mile +journey. Between the sea and Lewes the needle of the speed-indicator +never fell below 40 miles an hour, until at times the car was running +at 60. Village after village was passed at almost break-neck speed. +In vain, sleepy rural constables sought to hold up the reckless driver. +Discretion was the better part of valour, so they stood aside and +attempted to note the number on the identification plate of the car. +Again in vain. All they could see and swallow was a cloud of white, +chalky dust that hung thickly on the sultry air long after the car was +out of sight and hearing. + +The hills around East Grinstead it surmounted at 40 miles an hour, +dashing down the inclines at the speed of an express train, and +swerving time after time to avoid lumbering farm wagons. + +At Croydon Mr. Hyde wisely slowed down. He had covered 49 miles in +exactly fifty-five minutes, but twenty-eight minutes later the car drew +up under the Admiralty Arch. + +"Room 445 is the one I want," he explained to Ross. "I know my way +about here, you know. I've several relations at the Admiralty. Come +along: the car won't hurt where she is." + +"Your pass, sir," demanded a Metropolitan policeman who, with a naval +pensioned petty officer, was stationed at the door. + +"Haven't one," replied Mr. Hyde. "Urgent business--see?" and he +produced the envelope, bearing the words "On His Majesty's Service", in +which was enclosed Captain Syllenger's communication. + +The policeman was the essence of imperturbable dignity. + +"No use, sir; you must have a pass. They are obtainable across the +road there." + +"It will mean at least twenty minutes' delay," muttered the motorist +savagely, as he turned away. "Come on, Mr. Trefusis, let's try our +luck across the way." + +As Ross descended the short flight of stone steps leading from the +lobby to the street, he nearly cannoned into a couple of naval officers +who were about to enter the building. Suddenly remembering that he was +in uniform, the midshipman brought his right hand smartly to the peak +of his cap. As he did so, he recognized that one of the naval men was +his father. + +The recognition was mutual. + +"Hullo, pater!" + +"Hullo, Ross! What brings you here? Duty, eh? It's the same in my +case. Sorry I can't have you to lunch, but must catch the first train +north. This is the first time I've come up to town since the war +started. In any case I'm not sorry that I am not stopping the night +here. Judging by reports, it's a jolly sight too dangerous for me. +Don't fancy being run over by a taxi in a dark main thoroughfare. Give +me the North Sea any day. Well, I must be moving. Can't keep My Lords +waiting, you know. Good-bye, Ross!" + +It was Admiral Paul Trefusis' way. Whenever he had any business on +hand that kept him from his ship, he invariably spoke in short, jerky +sentences. Ross knew his parent's little mannerism. + +"One moment, pater," he exclaimed. "We're in an awful hurry too----" + +"Don't look like it," growled the Admiral good-naturedly. "You were +ambling out like an old shellback. Always execute orders at the +double: that's my advice to budding midshipmen. Well, what is it?" + +As briefly as possible, Ross told his parent of the rebuff Mr. Hyde and +he had received, and of the matter that brought them at 50 miles an +hour from a remote Sussex coast-guard station. + +Making a hurried excuse to his companion, the Admiral skipped up the +steps into the lobby, Ross and his fellow-traveller following closely. + +The policeman naturally asked for no pass from a Flag officer in +uniform, but he was on the point of stopping his companions when the +messenger recognized the Admiral as his former captain. His apologies +surprised even the stolid policeman. + +"Don't apologize for doing your duty, my man," remarked Admiral +Trefusis. "Hope you're fit. Must have a yarn with you when I've more +time. Come along, Ross." + +Having seen Mr. Hyde and Ross safely to the outside of the door of Room +445, the Admiral abruptly took his departure. + +In reply to a knock the door was opened by a very tired-looking clerk, +who was bravely bearing up under the strain of having to work ninety +hours a week, including Sundays. Having explained his business, Mr. +Hyde was shown into the presence of an official whose talent was little +short of miraculous. + +A dozen precise and pointed questions put him in full possession of all +the facts bearing upon the document that he required. He touched an +electric bell. An assistant hurried to his desk. + +"Bring me the papers on the von Ruhle case," he ordered in an undertone. + +In less than half an hour the transcription was completed, although the +_Capella's_ officer of the watch had not taken down the actual +commencement of the smoke-signal. Then, having "pressed" the paper in +order to obtain a duplicate copy, the official placed it in an +envelope, which he secured with an imposing wax seal. + +"No mistake about it, the war has bucked the civilian staff at the +Admiralty," observed Mr. Hyde to Ross as they gained the street. "I +can remember a time when all you had to do was to mention someone's +name, and you had practically a free entry. Your particular pal could +always contrive to have an hour's yarn with you, and perhaps an +interval for refreshment. They know what working at high pressure +means now." + +Hyde was more cautious on the return journey. He was well within the +limit that he had set himself. An hour and forty minutes later, the +car drew up outside the coast-guard station. + +"Captain Syllenger presents his compliments, Mr. Hyde, and requests +your company on board," said Sub-lieutenant Barry when the _Capella's_ +boat arrived to take off the midshipman. "Ton my word, you haven't +been long. We didn't expect you back before six o'clock." + +Having received his guest, Captain Syllenger led the way to his cabin, +Barry and Ross being included in the party. The skipper's face glowed +with satisfaction when he had opened the envelope, for the signal as +decoded was as follows: + +"(words missing) closely patrolled. Unable to provide stores here. +Will attempt removal of (word missing) from Station 123 on Friday +night. Will signal from Station 125 at 1 a.m. on Saturday if possible. +Transports leaving by Needles Channel at daybreak." + +Following this was an explanatory note. + +"Station 123 is stated to be in Keyhaven Marshes. Station 125 one mile +west of white house at Milford-on-Sea." + +"Humph!" ejaculated Captain Syllenger. "It looks as if there's trouble +in store for some gentlemen of marked Teutonic sympathies. I only hope +we'll have a chance of being off Station 125." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +That Friday Night + +Three hours later H.M.S. _Capella_ received the following order by +wireless:-- + +"Await relief by _Taurus_, then proceed to Rendezvous Y, Portsmouth +Command. _Capella_ to be temporarily attached to Western Inner Patrol." + +The meaning of the message was plain to all on board. The _Capella_ +was to proceed to Rendezvous Y, which according to Admiralty +instructions was off Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, where a flotilla of small +craft was patrolling day and night, as a precautionary measure in the +unlikely event of any hostile craft forcing the formidable defences of +the western entrance to the Solent. + +At eight on the following morning the _Taurus_ arrived on the station, +and with the least possible delay the _Capella_ made for the west'ard. + +Only one incident marked the run. A few miles from the Royal Sovereign +Lightship, the _Capella_ sighted a number of submarines running on the +surface. They were on Particular Service, and although opportunities +for torpedoing a hostile surface craft were very remote, the submarines +were constantly rendering yeoman service by keeping the approaches to +the German North Sea ports under close observation. On rare occasions, +when a German light-cruiser or destroyer did venture beyond the +protection of the mine-fields and guns of the land-batteries, British +submarines were not backward in seizing their chance of letting loose +"tinfish" against their quarry. + +Having arrived off Yarmouth, Captain Syllenger reported himself to the +senior officer. He came back beaming. The _Capella_ was to take part +in combined sea and land operations for the capture of the German +agents, who were supplying petrol to one of the submarines, and also +for the capture of the U-boat. + +The eventful Friday evening came at last. The _Capella_, in company +with four first-class torpedo-boats, was to be ready at a signal from +Hurst to make a dash through the North Channel. A fleet of armed +trawlers from the Poole base was to operate farther out to sea, in +order to cut off the U-boat's retreat should she be lucky enough to +escape the attentions of the _Capella_ and her consorts. + +At ten o'clock the east-going tidal stream began to set through the +Needles Channel. Half an hour later it ran with a velocity exceeding +five knots. The _Capella_, moving at a rate equal to that of the tide, +kept about half a mile from the Isle of Wight shore, with the white, +occulting light of the Needles just visible to the north of Cliff End +Fort. + +It was a perfectly calm night, overcast, but with no wind. A dull +rumble, rising and falling in volume, could be heard from the direction +of the open sea. + +"Breakers on the Shingles--a large bank on the starboard hand of the +Needles Channel," explained Barry in answer to the midshipmen's enquiry. + +"Then it means that bad weather is approaching," said Ross, who had had +plenty of opportunities of observing the phenomenon of "ground swells" +on the North Cornish coast. "If it's like this, the U-boat won't be +able to make direct communication with the shore." + +The appearance of Captain Syllenger on the bridge put an end to +conversation. The officers, by the aid of telescopes and binoculars, +kept the Hampshire shore under close observation. + +To the naked eye nothing was visible but a dark bank of trees. Not a +light was to be seen, although there were several houses in the +vicinity. The position of Lymington, in time of peace discernible by +reason of a strong blaze of light, could only be determined by the +feeble glow of the high red light marking the course up the river. + +"It's nearly midnight," observed the skipper. "If our friends the +Germans are going to shift their supplies from here to Milford, they'll +have to be pretty sharp. Seems to me like a case of 'nuthin' doing'." + +Hardly were the words out of his mouth, when the silence was broken by +a peremptory hail. The sound travelled clearly across the water, +although the person shouting must have been a mile and a half away. + +Then came the jumbled noise of men's voices, quickly followed by two +rifle-shots. The voices then died away, and, as far as the listeners +on the _Capella_ could hear, all was quiet. + +"That's soon over, whatever it was, sir," remarked Barry. + +"Hurst calling up, sir," announced a signalman, as a light blinked +rapidly from the fort guarding the Hampshire side of the narrow +channel. It was the order to proceed at full speed to the position +previously decided upon. + +Although the torpedo-boats were speedy craft, the _Capella_ left them +behind "hands down". Fortunately there were no search-lights to baffle +her quartermaster, for those of both Hurst and the batteries on the +Isle of Wight shore had been previously switched off. Since the Needle +Channel was closed to all mercantile shipping, the _Capella_ could, and +did, without risk, extinguish her navigation lights. Only the +phosphorescent spray from her sharp cutwater marked her position. + +Suddenly she ported helm, just in time to avoid a collision with a long +dark shape that proved to be an unterseeboot in the act of diving. Her +commander had detected the pulsations of the _Capella_ motors, but he +was too late. + +Round spun the patrol vessel. From her quarter, a long length of +something that resembled an exaggerated string of sausages was paid +out. At the rate that the _Capella_ was circling, it was impossible +for the U-boat to escape from her toils. Dive to a safe depth she +could not, since the maximum depth was but 5 3/4 fathoms. + +The last of the "sausages", to which was attached stout flexible wire, +disappeared beneath the water. Then a jerk upon the wire announced the +gratifying fact that the fugitive submarine had fouled the string of +sausages, which was in reality a number of gun-cotton charges, primed +and connected to a powerful battery by means of an insulated wire. + +Sub-lieutenant Fox, who was standing by the firing-key, needed no +orders. His fingers pressed the ebonite disc. A hundred yards astern +of the _Capella_ a column of water was flying high in the air, followed +by a tremendous roar. For one minute the vessel rocked violently in +the agitated waters, then, circling, she made for the spot under which +the explosion had occurred. With a splash a mark-buoy was dropped +overboard to indicate the position of the shattered U-boat. By this +time the torpedo-boats had arrived on the scene. + +"A deuce of a commotion on shore, Barry," exclaimed the skipper. + +"I should be surprised if there were not, sir," replied the Sub. "The +racket was enough to smash every window within a couple of miles of the +beach. They're signalling, sir." + +"German submarine's boat rowing off. Intercept her," was the signal +spelt out by the long and short flashes. + +"More work," remarked Barry. "It's like looking for a needle in a +bottle of hay. Shall I order the searchlight to be run, sir?" + +"Very good," replied Captain Syllenger. "But before you do so you +might signal to Hurst, and request that all available search-light be +brought to bear in this direction." + +Soon the hitherto pitch-dark sea was flooded in a blaze of light. +Giant beams from the Isle of Wight shore joined with those of Hurst +Castle to sweep slowly across the waves, supplementing the twin rays +projected from the two search-lights on the _Capella's_ bridge. + +It was indeed a brilliant spectacle. The _Capella_ and the +torpedo-boats seemed outlined in silver. Along the shore as far as +Hengistbury Head, the low line of cliffs was thrown into strong relief +against the dark background of sky. The crest of every wave seemed as +if made of delicate filigree work. Nothing afloat could hope to escape +detection within the radius of action of the concentrated millions of +candle-power search-lights. + +Less than a mile away, and about the same distance from shore, a small +black object bobbed buoyantly upon the waves. It was the ill-fated +U-boat's canvas dinghy, apparently empty. + +Down bore the _Capella_, her search-lights fixed upon the object of her +search. The boat was not deserted. Lying at full length on the bottom +boards were two men, who had adopted that position, in the vain hope of +escaping detection. + +As the patrol vessel approached, they sat up and raised dolorous cries +of "Mercy, Englishmen!" + +"Chuck it, Fritz!" shouted one of the British seamen. "You won't get +hurt. You ain't in a strafed submarine now, you know." + +"Silence!" ordered the skipper. "Stand by there. Get that boat +aboard. See they don't sling anything overboard." + +There was precious little that the German seamen could throw overboard, +for when the canvas boat was placed on the Capellus deck it was found +to contain only a pair of oars and two crutches. What the German +sailors hoped to do had they escaped detection was a matter for +conjecture, for without a compass, food, and water, and in a frail +cockle-shell with every indication of bad weather approaching, certain +death stared them in the face. + +Finding themselves well treated, the Germans grew quite communicative. +They freely admitted that they expected to obtain a considerable +quantity of petrol from their agents ashore. They did not know their +names, or if they did they professed complete ignorance on the point. +Their craft, numbered for some vague reason U7, was built at Altona, +and completed only a fortnight previously. In addition to her normal +crew of twenty-eight officers and men, she carried five officers and +ten men for instructional purposes. She was one of four that had come +round Cape Wrath and the West and South coasts of Ireland, rather than +risk the hazardous passage through the Straits of Dover, or the almost +equally dangerous North Channel between Scotland and Ireland. Two of +the five were missing; the other was supposed to be in the +neighbourhood of Cape Ushant. U7's particular mission was to intercept +transports that were known to be leaving Southampton for the French +coast. + +The men admitted that they had been tricked. A light had been flashed +seaward, and although the signal was not strictly in accordance with +the prearranged plan, it was sufficiently accurate to delude the U7's +Lieutenant-Commander. + +The German officer had shown considerable skill and audacity in closing +with the shore so close to the numerous and powerful batteries. He +dwelt upon the almost absolute certainty of the gunners devoting their +attention solely to the Needles Channel, and since it was a little past +the time of dead low water the intervening Shingles Bank, which in +places rears itself 20 feet above the sea, would afford an efficient +screen from the search-lights. + +But he had reckoned without the patrol vessels. Barely had the +U-boat's collapsible rowed a hundred yards from her parent when the +_Capella_ raced up, and promptly put another hostile submarine to her +credit. + +Early next morning, the _Capella_ having returned to her station off +Yarmouth to await orders, Vernon Haye went ashore in charge of the +whaler in order to pick up mails and secure fresh provisions. + +Arriving alongside the little stone quay, he left a boat-keeper in +charge and proceeded towards the post office, while the coxswain and +the rest of the men went in search of the much-desired commodities in +the shape of fresh butter and milk. + +Just as Vernon was about to enter the post office, he nearly collided +with a very sleepy-looking subaltern in the uniform of the Royal +Garrison Artillery. + +"By Jove, Barraclough!" he exclaimed. "I didn't expect to see you +here." + +Barraclough was an Upper Sixth man at the same school as Haye, but had +left four terms previously. On the outbreak of war he had applied for, +and had obtained, a commission, and had been stationed, somewhat to his +disappointment, at Hurst Castle. Beyond a few false alarms and a +liberal experience in target practice, his existence at that isolated +fortress bordered on the monotonous. He was simply on thorns to be +able to proceed to the Front; the probability was that he would have to +"do his bit" for his country at a spot within 20 miles of his home +until the termination of the war. + +"Bless my soul, Haye!" he rejoined. "Whoever would have thought to see +you here, and in naval get-up. How long have you been in the Service, +and what ship are you on?" + +"Only a few weeks; and I'm on the _Capella_ with Trefusis." + +"Trefusis, eh? Well, he's a lucky boy to have an Admiral for a father. +And the _Capella_? Then you were in last night's affair? I heard they +bagged the submarine." + +"Rather!" declared Vernon proudly. + +Barraclough stifled a prodigious yawn. + +"Jolly glad to hear it. 'Scuse me, but I'm beastly tired. Had a night +of it after those spies across yonder. Didn't turn in till three, and +at six I had to cross from Hurst to Vic.--that's Fort Victoria, you +know--on duty." + +"Did you collar them?" asked the midshipman eagerly. + +The subaltern yawned again. + +"No," he drawled. "Worse luck, we didn't; but we had some fun. You +know we were warned to watch Keyhaven marshes--and a dreary spot it is. +Worse than the most dismal flats on the Essex coast, which is saying a +lot. Well, before I tell you what happened, I ought to describe the +place. It's a marsh, with patches of dry ground thickly covered with +furze, that extends from Keyhaven to Lymington River--about four miles. +It is separated from the sea--or rather mud-flats, covered at high +tide--by a low bank on which is an apology for a footpath. + +"Our orders were to post a squad at a certain point where the spies +were supposed to have hidden a quantity of petrol. The place in +question was close to a rifle-butt. Men were detailed to guard all +roads leading to the marsh, and to allow all traffic, whether +motor-cars, carts, or pedestrians, to pass unchallenged. The sentries +were on no account to show themselves, except to hold up everything and +everyone coming _from_ the marsh. + +"Other men were told off to watch the three available roads between +Keyhaven and Milford, where the submarine was expected to send ashore +for her stores, so you see the U-boat didn't stand much chance of +getting what she wanted. She copped something she didn't expect. + +"As soon as it was dark, my squad left Hurst by motor-boat and landed +near the toll-house at Keyhaven. It was almost dead low water, you +know, or we might have been able to save ourselves a long tramp--you +couldn't call it a march. + +"We followed the wretched footpath, slipping on the slimy mud, and +either tumbling over each other or else side-slipping into the morass, +which was a jolly sight worse. To make a long story short, we took up +our position, which was in the middle of a circular clump of furze +within 50 yards of the butts, at ten o'clock. + +"There we stuck for nearly two mortal hours, and not so much as a +chance of having a cigarette. Of course the men were frightfully keen, +and it took me all my time to stop them from chin-wagging. Some of +them began to get jumpy, swearing they saw all manner of men and things. + +"I had just looked at my watch--luminous face, thank goodness--when my +sergeant whispered to me that someone was approaching. It was then +close on twelve. He was right. There were three men ambling +cautiously along the sea-wall. They were talking softly. Once one of +them stopped, bent under the lee of a furze bush and lit a cigarette, +which seemed a rummy thing for a spy to do unless it was a prearranged +signal. + +"We let them come on until they got within 20 yards, then up popped my +sergeant. + +"'Halt, who goes there?' he shouted, loud enough to be heard a couple +of miles away. + +"Bless me if the three fellows hadn't the cheek to answer in exactly +the same words, although they didn't sound particularly cheerful over +the job; and, instead of halting, one of them came on, holding a stick +above his head. The others didn't seem very keen to follow him, but +began jabbering away as hard as they could. + +"So I gave orders for a couple of shots to be fired over their heads, +just to let them know what to expect when they deliberately ignore a +challenge. But instead of 'hands up' they bolted, with our men after +them. + +"Then I had good reason to bless that blessed marsh, for between us and +the rifle-butt was a deep ditch filled with water, and a nice wire +fence on the other side. Half a dozen of us, myself included, were +floundering up to our waists; the others were lucky enough to avoid the +ditch by making straight for the path. But we had the fellows all +right." + +"The spies?" asked Vernon. + +Barraclough yawned, and then laughed mirthlessly. + +"Nuthin' doing," he replied. "They were three members of a local +defence corps engaged in patrolling the marshes. Goodness only knows +what for, for they hadn't any weapon with them except walking-sticks. +Perhaps 'twas as well, though, for they might have let rip in their +excitement. When a man's nerves are all upset it's not safe for him to +have his finger on the trigger of a rifle, you know." + +"But the spies?" asked Vernon. + +"Not a sign of 'em," replied the subaltern. "If they were anywhere +about, they must have sheered off pretty quickly when they heard the +racket. An hour later an orderly brought us word to return to the +fort, so we guessed that something had taken place between a +patrol-ship and the submarine. But I must be on the move. Regards to +Trefusis. If you've a chance to get ashore on the other side, look me +up." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +To the Rescue + +Twelve hours later found H.M.S. _Capella_ back on her station off +Beachy Head. + +The long-threatened gale had burst with great violence upon the South +coast. Long crested breakers surged towards the chalky cliffs, +thundering with terrific force against the sheer face of the rocks. + +Seaward, as far as the eye could reach, was nothing but a confused +tumble of foam, backed by a lowering bank of ragged and sombre clouds. + +The _Capella_ and her consorts had to "stick it". Without orders they +dare not seek shelter in Newhaven harbour. All they could do was to +forge slowly ahead, keeping bows on to the furious seas. In spite of +her shallow draught, the _Capella_ was an excellent sea boat, although +inclined to be "jumpy". Frequently green waves broke over the fo'c'sle +and surged aft as far as the deck-house under the bridge; but with +unfailing regularity the stanch vessel would shake herself clear of the +tons of water that had invaded her deck, to be ready to receive the +next contribution from the hand of King Neptune. + +Nevertheless, while the gale lasted it was a time of discomfort. One +thing for which the crew were thankful was the fact that it was still +September, and the gale was not one of those wintry varieties which are +so trying to the hardy patrollers of the North Sea. + +Everything had to be battened down. 'Tween-decks the air was stifling, +and reeked of fumes from the motors. It was impossible for a man to +stand unsupported. Anything that had not been securely lashed would be +sure to be flung across the deck by the erratic motion. No hot meals +were obtainable. Officers and crew had to eat as best they might, +without the use of articles of civilization such as plates and similar +things. + +Ross and Vernon saw very little of each other during the gale, except +for a brief interval during the changes of the watch on deck. Each +enjoyed his "trick" on deck, as he crouched behind the bulging +storm-dodgers and faced the howling wind and the stinging spray. It +was greatly to be preferred to being below, cooped up in an atmosphere +which resembled that of an underground scullery on washing-day, with +the odours of petrol and lubricating oil thrown in as extras. + +"One thing we've to be thankful for," remarked Barry, "and that is that +it's a sou'wester. It minimizes the chance of being blown up by a +derelict mine." + +"How is that?" asked Ross. + +"A sou'easter's the brute for that. Brings with it dozens of German +mines that have broken adrift from the Belgian coast. When I was +stationed at Great Yarmouth we had the same game in easterly gales. It +was nothing unusual to find twenty of the brutes lying ashore; and on +several occasions they have exploded on coming into contact with the +rocks, and then, especially at night, everyone thought that the Germans +had at last ventured to risk 'The Day'. + +"I remember one that came ashore a few miles from Lowestoft. It was a +whopper, of a different type from the rest. An Engineer officer +brought a dozen young subalterns down to see it and give them an +object-lesson. He talked for the best part of an hour, explaining its +construction, and laying particular stress upon the need of the +greatest caution when handling it. Finally he proceeded to explode it +electrically. The circuit of the battery was tested and found to be in +perfect order, and the wires were then connected with the detonator of +the mine, after the tube containing the fulminate of mercury had been +removed. + +"The whole crowd took cover. The circuit was completed, but the mine +didn't budge. They tried three times, and finally came to the +conclusion that the thing was a dud. + +"Then a squad of soldiers took pot-shots at it until it was fairly +riddled with bullet holes, but still the blessed thing wouldn't +explode. Eventually it was decided to remove the mine to a laboratory +for examination, and a team of mules was requisitioned to drag it off +the beach. + +"One of the mules suddenly took it into his head to be a little bit +premature, for he lashed out, broke away from the traces, and pelted +down the beach. When the brute came to the place where the mine lay, +he found that the tackle which the men had already rove to shift it was +in his way. Possibly the sight of a rope upset him, for he backed and +lashed out with his hind legs--and up went the mine with a terrific +bang. They never found any of the pieces of the mule." + +At length, as is invariably the case, the gale blew itself out, and, +although the sea still ran high, the absence of broken water made it +possible for the hatchways to be kept open. + +The behaviour of the _Capella_ and her consorts was a matter for +congratulation. They had stood the test remarkably well, and had +proved themselves good all-weather craft, provided that they could be +kept head to wind. + +A week later the _Capella_ returned to Southampton to replenish her +stores, and after three days in port she received orders to proceed to +the French coast and patrol off Cape Levi, where the presence of a +hostile submarine had been reported. + +This intelligence was serious. It meant that, once again, an +unterseeboot had made its way into the English Channel, and was lying +on the track of the British transports and hospital ships running +between Southampton and Rouen. + +It took the _Capella_ two hours only to run from The Nab to within +sight of the French coast. Even then her motors were not running at +the maximum number of revolutions. Extreme speed was only resorted to +when actually engaged in submarine hunting. + +As the vessel closed with the grey cliffs of Normandy, Ross suddenly +shouted: "Submarine on the port bow!" + +Less than two cables' length away could be discerned the twin +periscopes and a portion of the conning-tower. The submarine was not +forging ahead; it was simply stationary, except for a slight movement +caused by the action of the waves. It certainly was not a British +craft. It might be French. The odds were that it was German, since +submarines belonging to the allied nations were not in the habit of +keeping awash, unless in the presence of an enemy. + +Quickly the guns, which were already cleared for action, were trained +upon the visible part of the submarine; but as she made no attempt to +move, Captain Syllenger refrained from giving the order to open fire. + +Thrice the _Capella_ circled round the mysterious craft, at the same +time gradually closing, since she had nothing to fear from the +discharge of a torpedo. + +"I believe she's abandoned, sir," said Barry. + +The _Capella_ stopped. Preparations were being made for the lowering +of a boat, when one of the seamen shouted: + +"It's a dud, sir; a blessed decoy-bird!" + +The man was right. Upon investigation, the submarine was found to be +nothing more than a couple of barrels covered with painted canvas. Two +thick poles passing vertically through them, and weighted at the +lowermost ends to give the necessary stability, served as periscopes. + +"There's a real submarine knocking about, I'll swear," said the +skipper. "Put a shot into those barrels, Morgan." + +One shell was sufficient. Little more than a hundred chips floating on +the surface was left of the decoy. + +The _Capella_ was about to resume her course when a warning cry was +heard: + +"Torpedo coming, sir!" + +From a point bearing half a mile on the vessel's port quarter, the +track of the on-coming torpedo was clearly discernible. The _Capella_, +being without way, would undoubtedly have fallen a victim had it not +been for her light draught, for before she could forge ahead the +missile passed under her keel. Its track could be followed as far as +the eye could reach, which showed that it was a modern weapon propelled +with superheated air and having a range of about five miles. + +Straight for the source of the missile, tore the British craft, but her +effort to grapple with the unterseeboot was in vain. The submarine had +dived immediately. No sounds betrayed her presence in the vicinity. +Had the U-boat been moving, the churning of her propellers would have +been distinctly audible. + +"She's got away, worse luck," growled Sub-lieutenant Fox. "I wonder +how she did it? It's too deep for her to sound, and she can't be +moving under her own power." + +"We'll have her right enough," rejoined Barry, the optimist. "A light +haze and a calm sea is what we want. We'll run her down in less than a +week, you mark my words." + +Four days passed. The _Capella_ kept her station almost without +incident. Ship after ship, deeply laden with troops and munitions, +entered the sand-banked estuary of the Seine, having been escorted thus +far by destroyers. Ship after ship, more lightly burdened, left the +river, homeward bound. Amongst them were hospital ships, clearly +distinguishable by their broad green bands and conspicuous red crosses +on both bows and quarters. A big action had taken place "somewhere in +France", and the passing of the Red Cross vessels was the aftermath of +a dearly-bought victory. + +Yet nothing occurred to threaten the constant stream of shipping. It +seemed reasonable to surmise that either the U-boat had met with an +accident or else that she had transferred her energies to another area. + +Meanwhile Ross and Vernon had been working hard, improving their +seamanship. Under the instruction of the two sub-lieutenants they were +making rapid progress in navigation; they could fix their position by +the use of a sextant, were able to use the semaphore, and, generally, +competent to carry out the duties required as midshipmen of the watch. + +Captain Syllenger had long before overcome his prejudices against the +sons of Flag Officers--at least in their case--and even expressed his +willingness to grant them each a certificate of proficiency, should +they wish to transfer to one of the cruisers of the Royal Navy. + +At length the _Capella_ received orders for recall to her station off +Beachy Head. She was to put into Havre to revictual that day, leaving +at 9 a.m. on the morrow. + +The lads were heartily glad when the _Capella_ left the malodorous +_bassin a flotte_. The irksomeness of lying in the harbour at Le Havre +palled upon them, even after a few hours. They yearned for the open +sea almost from the time their ship made fast alongside the grimy quay. + +Forty minutes after leaving French waters, the _Capella_ sighted a +large cargo-boat steaming northwards. She was high in ballast and +rolling like a barrel. On bringing glasses to bear upon her, the +_Capella's_ officers found that she was the _Orontabella_, one of the +vessels chartered by the British Government and fitted as a +horse-transport ship. She was doing 16 knots to the _Capella's_ 34, +and when first sighted was nearly five miles off. + +Suddenly a low rumble was heard by the crew of the patrol-vessel. +Telescopes and binoculars that had just been laid aside were again +brought into action, and it was seen that the transport was sinking +rapidly by the stern. She had been torpedoed under the starboard +quarter. The terrific impact of the explosion had torn a large hole, +besides shattering the rudder and one of the propellers, while all her +boats in davits were rendered useless by the concussion. + +It was a matter of but a few moments before she made her final plunge. +Already signals were fluttering from her stumpy masts--the well-known +N.C. (in distress; want immediate assistance) and A.R. (boats are stove +in). + +Captain Syllenger gave a quick glance astern. There were other +vessels, but low down on the horizon. To expect succour from them was +for the present out of the question. He had a double task: to attempt +to destroy the aggressor, and to rescue the transport's crew. + +"Prepare to lower boats!" he shouted. "A midshipman and a couple of +hands in each. Guns' crews stand by!" + +Clang, chang, went the engine-room telegraph. Like a greyhound, the +_Capella_ increased her speed, until she was within a quarter of a mile +of the foundering vessel. Then reversing engines, she almost lost way +at less than a cable's length from the transport. + +By this time Ross and Vernon were in their respective boats. Before +way was off the ship the falls were paid out and the disengaging gear +cast off. + +"Give way, men," ordered Ross. + +His scanty crew, for more men could not well be spared, "gave way" with +a will, gaining a couple of lengths before his chum was able to push +off. + +With hardly a pause the _Capella_ dashed off, quickly increasing her +pace to full speed ahead, in her quest for the U-boat that had launched +the deadly torpedo. + +The _Orontabella's_ stern was now under water. She had a pronounced +list to starboard. Dense volumes of smoke and steam, pouring from her +funnels and hatchways, showed that the water had already invaded her +boiler-room. Above the hiss of the scalding vapour and the rush of +escaping air, could be heard the terrified neighing of a dozen or more +wounded horses, for whom no escape was possible. + +Clustering on the fo'c'sle were about twenty or thirty men, the +officers and crew who had survived the explosion; for the death-roll, +especially in the engine-room and stokehold, was very high, men being +overwhelmed by the inrush of water before they could scramble up the +steep ladder and through the narrow hatchway. + +The waiting men showed no signs of panic. Those who could swim had not +troubled to don their cork life-belts, but were calmly engaged in +lashing their life-saving devices round the shoulders of their less +fortunate comrades. + +[Illustration: THE SINKING OF THE "ORONTABELLA" (missing from book)] + +Ross ordered his men to back towards the foundering vessel. He +realized that at any moment the transport might plunge suddenly, and +the danger of being dragged down by the suction was a thing he had to +avoid. There was also a risk of the boat being swamped by the men as +they clambered on board. + +"Jump!" he shouted. "Not too many at a time." + +Three men accepted the invitation: two good swimmers and a non-swimmer. +The former, grasping their struggling companion by the shoulders, +struck out without much difficulty and reached Ross's boat, where they +were quickly hauled into safety. + +Setting the rescued men to take an oar each, for there were several to +spare lying on the thwarts, Ross took the whaler closer in, since he +had now more means of propulsion at his command. + +Four more followed, and were picked up by Vernon's men. Meanwhile the +bows of the _Orontabella_ were rising high out of the water, as the +stern sank correspondingly deeper, until those of the officers and crew +who still remained on board had to cling desperately to the rails to +prevent themselves slipping into the maelstrom that surged over the +submerged part of the sinking ship. + +Suddenly the vessel dived. Where a few seconds previously a towering +mass of black and red plating rose high above the boats, there hung a +cloud of smoke, steam, and spray, while all around the water was +thrashed white with foam. + +"Give way, men!" shouted Ross. + +The rowers were too late. Before the boat could pull clear of the +scene of disaster, a vicious, crested wave, so hollow that the lean +quarters of the whaler were unable to rise to it, poured into the frail +craft. + +The next instant Ross and his crew were struggling in the confusion of +the broiling sea. + +Vernon, although farther from the spot, narrowly escaped the fate of +his chum. It was surprising what a terrific commotion the +_Orontabella_ caused at the last. For some minutes he could see +nothing beyond the tips of the blades of the oars. Everything else was +enveloped in smoke, steam, and spray. + +Gradually the waves subsided and the wind dispersed the pall of vapour. +The sea was dotted with the heads of swimmers. Ross's boat, with her +stem and stern-posts just visible above the surface, was waterlogged, +yet retained sufficient buoyancy to support half a dozen men. + +Here, indeed, was a pretty pickle. At the very most, Vernon's boat +would hold fifteen or sixteen men. The _Capella_ was almost out of +sight. The whole attention of her officers and crew would be centred +upon the U-boat. So long as there was any indication of the latter's +whereabouts, the patrol-vessel would cling tenaciously to her quest. + +There was very little left floating from the sunken ship. A few +gratings, handspikes, a couple of breakers, and fragments of the +shattered boats, but nothing substantial enough to support a man above +water; and in mid-Channel, although it was only September, the sea was +too cold to enable the swimmers to keep afloat very long without almost +certain danger of cramp. + +Vernon looked around for his chum. He saw him sharing an oar with one +of the crew. + +"Come on, my lads!" shouted Ross encouragingly. "We'll hike her up. +Half a dozen of you who have life-belts come round this side, and when +I say 'All together!' lift for all you're worth." + +The men obeyed as quickly as they could in the circumstances. Finding +that they could easily keep afloat, the non-swimmers had regained their +confidence. Piloted by those who could swim, the men ranged themselves +along one gunwale of the waterlogged whaler. + +"All ready?" asked Ross, whose knowledge of how to empty a waterlogged +Canadian canoe prompted him to try a large, heavy boat. "Together!" + +Up rose the boat's gunwale as high as the men's arms could reach, but +with a dull swish the whaler resumed its former position. In lifting +one side the other had dropped deeply beneath the surface, and the +attempt to shake out the water had ended in failure. + +"Now then," ordered Vernon, taking his turn to direct operations. "All +swimmers get overboard for a few minutes. Those with life-belts get on +board, and take off your belts." + +In five minutes a dozen cork life-belts were available. Manoeuvring +his boat alongside the waterlogged whaler, Vernon gave directions for +the belts to be lashed underneath the thwarts, so that they were +completely submerged. Then taking the whaler's painter he hove taut +until, added to the lifting powers of the cork and the upward strain on +the ropes, the gunwale rose a good three inches above the water. + +This done, one of the _Capella's_ men, armed with a baler, began +throwing out the water from the whaler. In another five minutes the +boat showed sufficient buoyancy to allow two more hands to clamber on +board. They, too, baled vigorously, with the result that once more the +whaler was free from water. + +Between the two boats, all the survivors of the _Orontabella_ were +easily accommodated; but when at length the midshipmen looked for the +_Capella_, the patrol-boat was nowhere to be seen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Adrift in the Channel + +"She'll be back for us soon," declared Vernon optimistically, +addressing his chum, for the two boats were within twenty feet of each +other. "Can you see any signs of her now?" + +Ross stood upright in the stern-sheets and, shading his eyes with his +hand, gave a careful look in the direction where the _Capella_ was +supposed to be. + +"No," he answered. "And I cannot see any signs of the other vessels we +saw some time ago. We'd better let the men rest on their oars." + +Unknown to the two midshipmen, they had for the last hour and a half +been in the grip of the strong west-going tide that surges along the +French coast. In that interval they had been carried out of the course +of the vessels they had sighted, and were some four or six miles from +the spot where the _Orontabella_ had sunk. + +Another hour passed. The men who had been in the water took the +opportunity of drying their clothing in the hot sunshine. They treated +their misfortune lightly, making very little reference to the loss of +their vessel. One would have thought that being torpedoed was almost +an everyday occurrence. + +As the minutes slipped by, it began to occur to Ross and his chum that +the _Capella_ had missed them entirely. In another few hours night +would be coming on, and the prospect of spending ten hours of darkness +in a couple of open boats in mid-Channel was not at all alluring. + +Each boat was equipped with compass, lead-line, signal-book, lamp, box +of biscuits, and beaker of water. None of these articles belonging to +Ross's boat had suffered, in spite of their being immersed, except the +lamp, for the provisions were in watertight boxes. Masts and sails +were not in the boats, having been left on board the _Capella_ when the +rescuers put off hurriedly on their errand of mercy. + +"What's the best thing to be done, skipper?" asked Ross, addressing the +master of the _Orontabella_. + +"Well, sir, since you ask me," was the reply, "I'd shape a course due +north. We'd be in the track of craft making up and down Channel before +it gets dark. If we don't fall in with any vessel, we can carry on. +'Taint so very far to land, considering the number of hands we've got +in the boats." + +Quickly the available oars were manned, the men being told off in +relays to row for half an hour at a time, while the skipper of the +torpedoed boat relieved Ross at the yoke-lines. The mate, who had been +picked up by the other boat, was also able to give Vernon a spell. + +At six o'clock, a biscuit and a small quantity of water were served out +to each man, and preparations were made for the approaching night. +Vernon's boat, which possessed the only lantern that would burn, was to +take the lead as soon as darkness set in, the light enabling the whaler +to keep in touch with her consort. + +"Jolly funny where the _Capella's_ got to," remarked Ross to the +skipper. "With her speed she could search a couple of hundred square +miles by this time." + +"'Spose she wasn't torpedoed?" asked the _Orontabella's_ master. + +"No jolly fear!" replied the midshipman decidedly. "She's +torpedo-proof. We've had plenty of them fired at us, but never the +least danger of being hit." + +"It's a good thing the sea's calm," continued the skipper. "We're +doing a good four knots. Twelve hours at the very most ought to bring +us in sight of the Wight, but we've dropped a long way to lee'ard. +P'raps it's as well, for it's no joke to be in the thick of the +cross-Channel traffic at night, with only a tuppenny dip to light us. +Good heavens! What's that?" + +Less than fifty yards from the boat a pole-like object, throwing off a +double feather of spray, was forging through the water. + +"A periscope, sir!" shouted half a dozen voices. + +Ross did not require to be told that. With considerable misgivings, he +saw the metal shaft rise higher and higher out of the water; then the +tip of an ensign-staff, followed almost simultaneously by the snout and +conning-tower of a large German submarine. Finally the unterseeboot +rose to the surface, revealing her entire length, which was not less +than three hundred feet. + +She slowed down. The aperture in her conning-tower opened and a couple +of officers appeared. From hatchways fore and aft, seamen clad in grey +fearnought coats came tumbling on deck, greeting the British with jibes +and laughter. + +"So you getting on, Englishmen!" exclaimed a leutnant. "Still it is +long vay to land, hein? An' where vos der _Capella_? Suppose I tell +you: we her haf sent to der bottom. Goot night, ver' goot night. Our +ver' kind regards to Jellicoe." + +The U-boat forged ahead, then, getting way, made off at high speed. In +a quarter of an hour she was out of sight. + +"I suppose those fellows were telling the truth, old man," called out +Ross, addressing his chum. + +"'Fraid so," replied Vernon. "They had her name pat, so it looks as if +the poor old ship's done for. But, I say, what a whopper of a +submarine!" + +"One of the new type, I should fancy," said the skipper of the +_Orontabella_. "I shouldn't be surprised if she were a mine-layer as +well." + +Darkness fell upon the scene. The men rowed doggedly, Vernon setting +the course by the simple expedient of keeping the Pole Star in line +with the boat's stem. It saved the strain of peering into the compass +bowl, and in any case the boats were bound to hit the English coast, +unless they were swamped or run down. + +Throughout the long night the steady progress was maintained. It was +horribly cold. Most of the men were lightly clad in imperfectly dried +garments. Both Ross and Vernon were glad when the officers of the +_Orontabella_ relieved them, since they could take turn at the oars and +derive a certain amount of warmth from the exertion. + +Day dawned at last, a brilliant pink sky that betokened bad weather +before the day was out. Away on the starboard bow could be discerned a +grey cliff surmounted by dark hills. It was the Isle of Wight, distant +about six miles off. + +With the appearance of the sun the wind freshened, and soon developed +into a strong breeze dead in their teeth. Spray began to fly over the +bows, soon to be followed by green seas, that necessitated constant +baling. It was quite evident that every yard of that six miles meant +desperate work, with the chances of being swamped before the boat +reached land. + +The men, weakened by hunger and exposure, stuck gamely to their task, +yet after another half an hour's hard pulling the boats seemed no +nearer their object. They were barely holding their own against the +wind and waves. + +"What's to be done now?" asked Ross, consulting the experienced +skipper. Although the midshipman was in charge, he was not above +asking the advice of a man who had been to sea almost as many years as +the lad had been days. "We're hardly making headway, and the sea's +beating up fast." + +"And the men are almost done up," added the skipper. "It's bound to be +worse before it gets better. I would suggest that we ride to a +sea-anchor, and trust to luck to be picked up." + +The men quickly got to work. A triangle was composed of six oars in +pairs lashed together, two of the boat's gratings being secured between +the ash spars. To the apex the anchor was made fast, in order to make +the sea-anchor float in a vertical position, its weight compensated by +the use of the now empty water-beaker as a float. + +Secured by three spans of equal length, which in turn were bent to the +boat's painter, the sea-anchor was dropped overboard. For some +distance the whaler drifted to leeward, until held by the strain of the +painter she rode head to wind, and in comparative safety in the wake of +the floating breakwater. + +Vernon's boat then came close alongside. Her painter was caught and +secured, allowing her to ride astern. + +The crews were then at liberty to rest, with the knowledge that their +drift was little more than half a knot. Yet every two hours they would +be drifting a mile farther from shore, unless their plight were +observed by passing vessels. + +By this time the sea was running high. At one moment the whaler would +be tossing high upon the rounded crest of a wave, with the other boat +deep in the trough. At the next, nothing was to be seen from the +whaler save an incline of green water and a canopy of dark-grey sky. +On either side the crests were white with foam, yet, thanks to the +sea-anchor, hardly a drop of water was taken in over the boats' +gunwales. + +The men sat in silence, turning their backs to the keen wind. A few +who had tobacco smoked. Those who had not were glad to chew the small +quantity given them by their more fortunate comrades. As for Ross and +Vernon, they were glad to doze, lying on the damp bottom-boards with +their heads pillowed on their arms. + +Ross was almost asleep when he was aroused by one of the men announcing +that a vessel was in sight. At the prospect of rescue, all hands were +alert. The man was right, for, as the whaler rose on the crests of the +waves, a dark, grey shape could be discerned through the mirk at a +distance of about a couple of miles. + +Quickly the shape resolved itself into a large four-funnelled cruiser +pelting down-Channel at full speed. Unless she altered her course she +would pass within a hundred yards of the boats. + +"Lash a shirt to the boat-hook, lads!" ordered Ross. + +A few moments of intense anxiety followed. Then a groan of +disappointment rose from the men as the cruiser ported helm. + +She was then a couple of miles to windward. The smoke from her funnels +drifted around the boats, making it impossible for the derelict men to +see what she was doing, until the evil-smelling haze dispersed, showing +the cruiser less than two cables' length away and bearing down towards +them. + +From her after bridge a seaman was semaphoring vigorously. + +"Will slow down to windward of you," read the message. + +"Oars, lads!" ordered Ross. + +The bowman of each boat promptly cut the painter. With renewed spirit +the rowers bent to their work, and soon the boats were alongside and +under the lee of H.M.S. _Oxford_, armoured cruiser of the County class. + +By the aid of bowlines the rescued men were quickly hauled over the +side. Without delay the _Capella's_ boats were cut adrift, and the +cruiser proceeded on her way. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +An Unexpected Capture + +"I can see no possibility of landing you at present," said the officer +of the watch, after Ross had reported the events that had led up to the +rescue of the two boats. "We're under sealed orders. We have to make +for a certain rendezvous at full speed. When we arrive we shall know +where we are bound for--until then we are quite in the dark. We'll +wireless, however, and let the Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth know +that you are safe." + +"Have you any news of the _Capella_?" + +"Yes; she was mined while in pursuit of a submarine. It is a dickens +of a puzzle to know why, for our sweepers were over there early that +morning and never found a single mine. Whatever it was, it was not so +powerful as they generally are, for the _Capella_ was able to make for +shore and run aground within a few miles of Barfleur. All hands were +saved, luckily, but I'm afraid this gale will do for her entirely. +It's blowing great guns." + +"Then those fellows on the unterseeboot were wrong," remarked Vernon. +"They said she had gone down with all hands. We believe that the +submarine is a mine-layer, and perhaps it was one of her mines that the +old _Capella_ bumped against." + +"Let's hope the patrol-vessels will settle her," rejoined the officer +of the watch. "But you must be awfully knocked up. I'll introduce you +to your new messmates, and they'll give you a shake-down in the +steerage flat. The _Orontabella's_ officers can mess with the +'warrants', and the men will be berthed for'ard." + +The Lieutenant stepped to the top of the ladder from the navigation +bridge. A couple of midshipmen were standing on the superstructure, +watching with professional interest the splicing of a six-inch hawser. + +"Mr. Sefton!" sang out the officer of the watch. + +The midshipman ran up the ladder and saluted. + +"Your messmates for the time being," continued the Lieutenant, after he +had formally introduced Trefusis and Haye. "They've had a pretty rough +time, and they are jolly peckish, I know." + +Midshipman Sefton led the two chums below, and piloted them into a very +long room on the main deck. It was plainly, nay scantily furnished, +and appeared at first sight to be utterly cheerless. Possibly the idea +was heightened by the fact that frequently the scuttles were obscured +by the seas that slapped viciously against the cruiser's sides. + +"This is the gun-room," explained Sefton apologetically. "We've had to +clear it out pretty thoroughly, you know. No knick-knacks or +pretty-pretties in war time. Sorry the other fellows aren't here. +We're four one-stripers, three midshipmen R.N., and five midshipmen +R.N.R.--a jolly lively crowd of us, I can assure you." + +He touched a bell. A messman appeared. + +"Jones," ordered the midshipman, "a good square meal for two, and jolly +well look sharp about it." + +"You've got to be dead nuts on that chap if you want anything done in a +hurry," explained Sefton after the man had cleared off. "It's the only +way to check slackness. No doubt he gets his own back by giving us +plum-duff without troubling to extract the cockroaches; but we manage +to thrive on it. By the by, I'll tell my servant to sling a couple of +hammocks for you. There'll be no need to turn out before dinner." + +Sefton hastened below to acquaint the marine who, for the sum of ten +shillings a month, acted as the budding Nelson's factotum to make the +necessary preparations for his new chums. By the time he returned, a +substantial lunch had been set before Trefusis and Haye. + +"I say, you fellows," remarked the midshipman; "I notice that +Eccles--that's the officer of the watch, you know--was greasing his jaw +tackle a good bit. Did he mention where we are bound for?" + +"Nothing definite," replied Vernon. "He said that the ship was under +sealed orders." + +"Then it's no use hazarding a guess," decided Sefton. "It might be +anywhere from China to Peru. In any case, it's a change from what +we've been doing--knocking about in the North Sea, waiting for an +appointment which the Germans flatly decline to keep. Four months +solid, and I've never seen a gun discharged except at target practice." + +During the progress of the meal young Sefton was a little inclined to +patronize his guests. Perhaps he did it unconsciously. + +"My governor's a post-captain," he observed in the course of +conversation. "What's yours?" + +"Only an Admiral," replied Ross. + +"Is he, by Jove!" exclaimed Sefton. "Then why the deuce are you a +'with but after'?" + +"A what?" asked Trefusis, somewhat mystified. + +"An R.N.R. man ranks with, but after, an R.N. fellow with equal rank," +explained the midshipman. "It's a fact: look it up in the King's +Regulations. But, I say, do you play footer? We're in a match. +Gun-room versus Ward-room, coming off this week. If you play, I'll get +Cranbury--he's president of our mess--to put you in the team." + +The meal over, Ross and Vernon were taken to the steerage flat, an +electrically lighted space out of which opened the cabin of the junior +officers. At the after end of the flat, a marine sentry paced day and +night, his post extending from the stern torpedo-tube to the gun-room +door on the port side, and to the armoured door on the starboard side. +Amongst his varied and multitudinous duties, particularly strict orders +were given him not to allow anyone to put their hands on the +paintwork--one of the standing orders dating from the prehistoric days +before the war, when "spit and polish" were regarded as being +absolutely essential to the efficiency of H.M. ships. + +At three bells in the second dog-watch, the _Oxford_ having arrived at +the rendezvous, the sealed orders were opened. It was then found that, +in company with the _Guildford_ and the _Launceston_, the cruiser had +to proceed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to escort a contingent of Canadian +troops to Liverpool. + +This was but one of the manifold odd jobs performed by the British Navy +in connection with the war--necessary, but without any prospect of +excitement. The trip was regarded as a picnic, after weeks of +monotonous patrol duty, for when 800 miles west of Ireland there was +little likelihood of falling in with any hostile submarine, while other +German craft had been swept off the board months previously. + +On the third day out the football match came off. Ross and Vernon were +included in the gun-room team, and never before had they participated +in a rugger match in such strange circumstances. The _Oxford_ was +pitching slightly in the long Atlantic swell. The "ground" was the +port side of the quarter-deck, nets being rigged up to prevent the ball +getting very much in touch with the sea. The fun was fast and furious, +the referee being inclined to tolerance; and before half-time half the +players were off the field owing to minor injuries, ranging from the +smashing of the Assistant Paymaster's eyeglasses to the laying out of +the portly Engineer-Commander. + +Suddenly the _Oxford_ turned 8 degrees to starboard. The alteration of +course resulted in a break in the game. Something out of the usual had +occurred for the cruiser, which was the leading vessel in line ahead, +to break out of station. + +A bugle sharply sounded the "G"--officers' call. For'ard the bosn's +mates' pipes were turning up the hands. The Captain, Commander, and +officer of the watch were on the fore-bridge looking steadily at a dark +cloud of smoke showing beyond the horizon. + +It was a ship on fire. The alert officer of the watch had noticed the +smoke, which was much too dense to be caused by the vessel's furnaces. +On reporting the matter to the captain, the latter immediately ordered +the _Oxford_ to be steered in that direction. As senior officer, he +gave orders for the other cruisers to stand on that course. + +"She's quite a small packet, I should imagine," remarked one of the +Subs. "At any rate she's not fitted with wireless." + +In half an hour the cruiser was sufficiently near to see clearly the +distressed vessel. She was a cargo-boat of about two thousand tons. +Amidships, flames were mounting fiercely from her hatches. She had +stopped her engines, and was preparing to lower boats. Aft, she flew +the Stars and Stripes, upside down as a signal of distress. + +The ship was doomed. Fanned by the light breeze, the flames were +rapidly spreading. Her cargo undoubtedly consisted of highly +inflammable material, since it blazed freely, while the smoke smelt +strongly of burnt oil. + +The _Oxford_ stopped at four cables' length to windward of the burning +ship. She could do nothing beyond rescuing the crew on board. There +was no necessity to lower her boats, since the cargo-boat obviously had +enough for all hands. + +At length the boats of the unfortunate ship were lowered. There was no +undue haste. Men deliberately threw their bundles into the arms of +their waiting comrades before they swarmed down the falls. The captain +was the last to leave, a bulge under his coat betraying the fact that +he had taken the ship's papers with him. + +"Nothing of an explosive nature in her cargo," said Ross to his chum. +"Otherwise they would have sheered off a bit quicker. My word, how she +does burn! Isn't it a grand sight?" + +"Yes," admitted Vernon. "It's lucky there's help at hand. Knocking +about in the boats in mid-Atlantic must be ten times as bad as in the +English Channel." + +"I beg to differ," remarked one of the Subs who was standing by. +"There's not so much shipping, I'll admit, but the waves are longer and +more regular in mid-ocean. It's marvellous what an open boat can do +when she's put to it, except in very broken water." + +The boats were now approaching the _Oxford_. A monkey-ladder had been +lowered to enable the men to surmount the lofty side of the cruiser, +while the sailors, always ready to lend a hand in cases of distress, +were swarming down to the net-shelves in readiness to receive the +personal belongings of the American seamen. + +"Look!" whispered Vernon. "Isn't that chap like our old pal +Ramblethorne?" + +He pointed to a tall, bronzed man clad in canvas jumper and trousers, +and wearing a grey slouched hat. He was sitting in the stern-sheets of +the second boat, with his shoulders hunched and his face half-averted. + +"Like him?" echoed Ross. "By Jove, it's he, right enough!" + +Trefusis was right. Von Hauptwald, alias Ramblethorne, had succeeded +in evading the hue and cry after his escape on Harley Bank, and had +continued to remain hidden in the house of a naturalized German in +Cheshire until the search for him had somewhat relaxed. + +He then managed to ship as a fireman on board a vessel bound for +Montreal, knowing that his chances of getting out of Great Britain +would be greater if he made for a Dominion port rather than one in the +United States. + +At Montreal he promptly deserted, made his way across the border, and +thence to New York. Here he picked up with a German-American +shipowner, who readily agreed to help him back to Germany. + +A cargo-boat, the _Tehuantepec Girl_, was loading with a cargo +consisting of cotton, ready-made clothing, and leather equipment. +Nominally her destination was Leith. Her manifest and bill of lading +were made out to that effect, but secretly her skipper had instructions +to make for Stockholm. If he were overhauled and taken into Lerwick by +a British patrol-boat, well and good. The owners must be compensated +by the British Government, even if the _Tehuantepec Girl_ was miles out +of her course for Leith. On the other hand, if the boat succeeded in +reaching the Baltic, she would be conveniently "captured", by previous +arrangement, by a German cruiser or destroyer and taken into Kiel. + +Unfortunately the fact of keeping secret the real destination of the +_Tehuantepec Girl_ led to her undoing. A German dock-hand, who was +really in the pay of the Teutonic Government, had placed an infernal +machine in the cargo, setting it to explode two days after leaving New +York. + +In less than a quarter of an hour after the discovery of the outbreak, +the fire had taken such a firm hold that all attempts to subdue it were +hopeless. + +And now von Hauptwald, in the disguise of a Yankee deck-hand, was being +rowed towards a craft which he would have given almost anything to +avoid--a British cruiser. + +Still, he was not dismayed. The chances of detection were absurdly +small. None of the _Tehuantepec Girl's_ crew knew his true personality +except the captain, and he was to be handsomely rewarded as soon as the +spy was safe in German territory. On the other hand, there might be +one amongst the 655 forming the complement of the _Oxford_ who might +recognize the one-time doctor who had lived at Devonport. + +"Let's get out of his way," suggested Vernon. "We'll inform the +Commander, and he will order him to be put under arrest." + +"I'm not going to budge," declared Ross. "If he sees us, what can he +do?" + +"I'm not afraid of him," protested Haye. + +"Very well, then; let's stop where we are. He's got to know sooner or +later." + +The first boat had already delivered her human cargo Upon the cruiser's +quarter-deck. As each man's name was taken down by the master-at-arms +he was sent forward. The first mate remained in conversation with the +Commander until the arrival of the _Tehuantepec Girl's_ skipper. + +Von Hauptwald was one of the last men to come aboard. As he swung +himself over the rail he gave a swift glance at the group of officers. +His eye caught that of Ross Trefusis. + +For a moment the spy thought that he was mistaken, but a second glimpse +confirmed his suspicions. + +"Steady on there!" shouted the Commander. "What the deuce are you up +to?" + +Von Hauptwald had broken into a run across the quarter-deck. With a +bound he cleared the stanchion-rails, and plunged head foremost into +the sea. + +He had realized that to remain on the cruiser meant arrest and ultimate +death as a dangerous spy. Better by far to be drowned without further +delay than to experience all the horrors of lying under sentence of +death. + +He had acted spontaneously, yet there was method in his madness. By +running across to the other side of the ship there was little chance of +the boats being able to pick him up ere he sank for the last time. Not +until he rose to the surface did he realize his difficulty. He was a +strong swimmer, and the natural instinct to strike out overpowered his +determination to sink. + +There was a rush of officers and men to the ship's side to see what was +taking place. With two exceptions, they thought that the supposed +seaman had suddenly lost his reason. + +Two seamen, one a brawny specimen, the other a red-haired +middle-weight, dived after the would-be suicide. Others were on the +point of following when the Commander restrained them. + +"Away sea-boat!" was the order. + +The _Oxford_ was now forging slowly through the water. During the +rescue of the _Tehuantepec Girl's_ people, she had drifted rather too +close to the burning ship to be safe, should an explosion occur. +Already von Hauptwald was fifty yards astern, with the two seamen +swimming towards him with powerful strokes. + +His efforts to drown were a failure. He simply couldn't keep his head +under. His attempts to swallow quantities of salt water only increased +the instinctive motion of the limbs to keep himself afloat. Bitterly +he regretted that he had not picked up some heavy metal object during +his career across the cruiser's quarterdeck. + +The approach of his would-be rescuers made him realize the necessity of +self-destruction. At the encouraging shout of "Cheer up, old mate, +you're safe!" spluttered by the leading seaman, he dived, pressing his +chest with both hands in the hope that he would be able to expel the +air from his lungs. + +A horny hand gripped him by the arm. He felt himself being drawn to +the surface. As his head appeared, he swung round and dealt the seaman +a powerful blow with his fist. The man, taken completely by surprise, +relaxed his grip. Von Hauptwald's blow had almost broken his shoulder. + +"Be careful, Ginger!" he shouted to his mate. "He's fair balmy. Mind +he don't plug you." + +The second seaman swam in a circle just beyond reach of the spy's arm. +His attempt to get behind the German failed, for the simple reason that +von Hauptwald gave no opportunity for an attack in the rear. The other +sailor, floating on his back and rubbing his injured arm, was content +to shout advice and await developments. + +The red-haired man was not deficient in courage, but he did not at all +relish the idea of tackling single-handed a powerfully built +maniac--for such he took the spy to be. He wisely awaited the approach +of the _Oxford's_ sea-boat, which, manned by four rowers who were +encouraged by Midshipman Setley, was being urged rapidly towards the +scene. + +"Way enough!" shouted the middy. + +The bowman boated his oar and leant over the bows. As he did so von +Hauptwald avoided his grip, and, seizing the boat's keel, brought his +head in violent contact with the elm planking. + +Then it was that Ginger saw his chance and took it. Grabbing the +German by the legs, he hung on like grim death, shouting to his +comrades to "tackle the lubber". + +Within an ace of capsizing the boat, von Hauptwald was hauled on board. +He fought desperately. For a moment it seemed as if he would more than +hold his own against the four seamen, until one of them, seizing a +stretcher, dealt the spy a crack on the head that laid him senseless +across the thwarts. + +"Couldn't help it, sir," exclaimed the man apologetically. + +"You did perfectly right, Dickenson," said the midshipman. "He's +properly mad. Come on, you men, are you going to bathe for the rest of +the day?" + +The victim of von Hauptwald's attack had to be assisted into the boat, +which, on making the ship, was quickly hoisted and secured. + +Meanwhile the _Tehuantepec Girl_ was on the point of sinking. From +stem to stern she was a roaring furnace. Mingled with the roar of the +flames could be heard the hiss of water coming in contact with the +red-hot plates, while ever and anon came the crash of metal as the deck +beams gave way and fell into the hold. + +Suddenly she parted amidships. The flames died out, overpowered by the +inrush of water. A thick column of smoke and steam arose as the bow +and stem [Transcriber's note: stern?] portions floated apart. Then +with the roar of escaping air the remains of the Yankee cargo-boat +disappeared, to find a resting-place 7000 fathoms deep on the bed of +the Atlantic. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +Mined + +"So that accounts for the fellow's behaviour," remarked the Captain of +the _Oxford_, after Ross and Vernon had communicated their discovery to +the Commander, who in turn reported the news to the skipper. "The +doctor says he is out of danger, eh? From a medical point of view, no +doubt. Put him in the cells, Master-at-arms. We'll take good care not +to land him at Halifax." + +Upon arriving at the Nova Scotian port, whither the _Oxford's_ consorts +had preceded her, the officers and crew of the _Tehuantepec Girl_ were +landed. Forty-eight hours elapsed before the transports were ready to +leave, and thus Ross and Vernon, with most of the officers of the +cruisers, had an opportunity of a "spell ashore". + +On the homeward run nothing untoward occurred, except that, instead of +proceeding to Liverpool, the cruisers and their convoy were suddenly +ordered by wireless to make for the Clyde. + +Off the Pladda Light the transports were met by a flotilla of +destroyers, while the cruisers were ordered to proceed via Cape Wrath +to rejoin the fleet at Rosyth. Without slackening speed the three +cruisers flung about, and steered a course immediately opposed to the +one they had previously been following. Experience had told them that +speed was one of the essentials to safety, even when in land-locked +waters such as the Firth of Clyde. + +"You don't look like leaving us in a hurry," remarked Midshipman +Sefton, when he communicated the latest change of plans to Trefusis and +his chum. + +"We don't mind in the slightest," Ross hastened to assure him. "It's +jolly comfortable on board the _Oxford_." + +"Wait until we're ordered straight away for patrol work," said Sefton. +"It's more than likely that we may be pushed off to the Norwegian coast +without having so much as a sniff at Rosyth. We'll just about hit the +equinoctial gales, and in those latitudes they get ice and snow pretty +early in the autumn. But, by the by, I heard the doctor tell the +Commander that your pal, von Hauptwald, is in a pretty state of funk." + +"I shouldn't wonder," replied Ross. "A court-martial will make it +pretty hot for him." + +"It's hardly that," said Sefton. "The fellow's absolutely crazy with +fear. He's been imploring the master-at-arms and the sentry on the +cells to ask the skipper to shift him above the water-line. It's only +since the ship arrived in home waters, so it seems as if he's in mortal +dread of being cooped up below and the _Oxford_ being mined or +torpedoed." + +"And what did the Captain say?" + +"Merely told the M.A.A. to carry on. Since the cells are below the +water-line, and the King's Regulations say that prisoners are to be +placed in cells, that ends the matter." + +Passing through the Little Minch, and continually steering an erratic +course in order to baffle any unterseebooten, should they be operating +off the West coast of Scotland, the _Oxford_ rounded Cape Wrath. + +In spite of a rapidly falling glass the weather still remained fine, +although the heavy swell encountered off the coast of Sutherland and +Caithness betokened, in conjunction with the barometer, a gale at no +distant date. + +"This will be you fellows' last night on board," remarked Farnworth, +one of the Acting Sub-lieutenants, as Ross and Vernon prepared to turn +into their hammocks after a strenuous sing-song in the gun-room mess. +"We'll be at Rosyth before noon to-morrow. 'Fraid it's been a bit tame +after the _Capella_. Beyond that affair of the _Tehuantepec Girl_ +there hasn't been much doing. The small fry get all the excitement, +I'm sorry to say. These armoured cruisers seem to be neither fish, +fowl, nor good red herring in these times." + +It seemed to Ross that he had been asleep only a few minutes when he +was suddenly awakened by a terrific crash, followed by a concussion +that shook the cruiser from stem to stern. His hammock rolled so +violently that he promptly fell out on the floor of the flat. Before +he could rise, the occupant of the next hammock tried his level best to +thrust his toes into Trefusis' mouth. The rest of the midshipmen, who +were watch below, were either thrown from their hammocks or had leapt +hurriedly from them. The electric lights were out. The shock had +either shattered the carbon threads or had broken the wires. + +"Torpedoed!" exclaimed a junior midshipman. + +"Dry up!" ordered Sefton sternly. "On deck all of you; there's the +'Action' bugle--no, it's 'Collision Stations'." + +Just then a light appeared. The sentry in the steerage flat had lit +one of the bulkhead lamps, which are always in readiness for use in the +event of a break-down in the electric current. + +The cruiser was listing perceptibly to starboard. + +She was in danger of turning turtle and foundering, but even in the +face of death not one of the handful of young officers showed the +faintest sign of fear. If in their inmost minds the lads were a little +timorous, they bravely kept their feelings to themselves. They were +part and parcel of a British warship's complement. They had a +reputation to maintain--the reputation of a Navy dating back for +centuries. It was in safe keeping, for the _Oxford's_ midshipmen were +made of the right stuff. + +A few made a hasty dive into their sea-chests to make sure of some +precious article. Others scrambled into their thick coats, bantering +each other as they did so. + +Overhead, the noise of hundreds of feet could be heard as the men +doubled aft to the quarter-deck. Above the tumult rose the shrill +pipes of the bos'n's mates' whistles, and the hoarse shouts of "On +deck, every mother's son of you!" bawled by a leather-lunged petty +officer. + +"We don't want to leave you, but we fear that we must go," parodied one +of the midshipmen, giving a farewell glimpse into the gun-room that had +been his home for the last fifteen months. "Come on, you fellows, +who's going to enter for the long-distance swimming race?" + +Up the ladder swept the throng of youthful humanity, followed by the +sentry, who had received orders to abandon his post. On the half-deck, +the gun-room officers met the swarm of senior officers issuing from +their cabins, mostly clad in pyjamas and uniform caps. The +Gunnery-lieutenant was afterwards heard to declare solemnly that he had +seen the Paymaster issuing from the ship's office with the ledger on +his head, while under his left arm he held his cap. + +"Let's stick together, old man!" exclaimed Ross as the chums gained the +quarter-deck. + +The first hurried rush aft had now given place to strict discipline. +The men were falling in as calmly as if mustered for divisions. Some +were blowing up their pneumatic swimming-collars, others helping to +adjust a comrade's life-belt. A few were joking and talking, none of +the officers gainsaying them. By virtue of an unwritten law the men +were allowed to smoke, and the odour of strong tobacco wafted across +the broad quarterdeck. + +"Got a fag, Lofty?" Vernon overheard a burly stoker ask his neighbour. + +"No; I don't smoke, mate," replied the man. + +"You will soon," replied the stoker, and a roar of merriment rose from +the lips of the men within hearing. They thought the retort was a +smart bit of humour, and, when at length the implied nature of the +man's words dawned upon him, even Vernon had to smile. + +From the after bridge, search-lights were playing upon the waves. The +light quick-firers were manned ready to deal with any visible foe. On +the navigation bridge the Captain, with the officer of the watch, was +pacing calmly up and down the slightly inclined structure. + +Presently he was joined by two dark forms--the Commander and the +carpenter. A bugle sounded the "Still". A hush fell upon the swarm of +humanity, the silence being broken only by the hiss of escaping steam, +and the rush of water under the action of the powerful Downton pumps. + +"My lads!" shouted the skipper. "The old ship is holding out. We'll +get her into dock yet. Pipe down!" + +The _Oxford_ had not been struck by a torpedo. Examination showed that +she had bumped against a mine, with the result that the fore +compartments were flooded. Fortunately the transverse bulkhead and +watertight doors withstood the strain of the terrific inrush of water. +Although well down by the bows the cruiser was in no immediate danger. + +The watch below disappeared from sight; those of the officers who were +not on duty retired to their cabins, yet few of them slept again that +night. + +As Ross and his chum were about to leave the quarterdeck, the Commander +strode by. + + +"Pass the word for the master-at-arms," he ordered. "Master-at-arms +went below, sir, to release the prisoners," reported a petty officer. + +"By Jove!" whispered Ross. "I'd clean forgotten Ramblethorne. I +wonder how he liked the business?" + +"Let's wait," suggested Vernon. + +They took up their position on the leeward side of the after 7.5-inch +gun-shield. Here they were sheltered from the wind and out of sight of +the alert Commander, although they could hear what was being said. + +"Master-at-arms is in the sick-bay, sir," reported the messenger as he +came up at the double. "He's nearly done for, trying to get to the +prisoners. The ship's corporal managed to release the two ordinary +seamen, but the spy's done in, sir--I mean he's drownded." + +Almost immediately following the explosion, the master-at-arms had +hurried to the cells. The flat was in darkness. The sentry on No. 6 +post, in charge of the prisoners, was lying stunned on the floor of the +passage. Water was surging aft. Already it was up to the knees of the +master-at-arms as he plunged through the gloom towards his goal. + +The three prisoners were shouting in mad panic. They realized their +awful peril. Caged like rats in a trap, they felt certain that the +cruiser was foundering, and that they would be carried down in a living +tomb until the pressure of water burst open the comparatively strong +steel walls of the cell. + +At length the chief of the ship's police forced the door of the +nearmost cell. By sheer good luck he inserted the key into the lock +without having to fumble for the opening. The prisoner, a young seaman +who had broken out of the ship at Halifax, was too terrified to know +his way to safety. He clutched at the master-at-arms, following him to +the next cell. + +The water was now waist-deep. In trying to find the keyhole the +master-at-arms dropped the keys. It took some minutes to find them--a +loss of valuable time. + +The noise of the inrushing water was deafening. For all the petty +officer knew, the ship might be about to make her last plunge. Yet his +duty lay before him. At the risk of his life the prisoners must be set +free. + +A light appeared upon the scene. A ship's corporal, bearing a lantern, +descended to the flat with the laudable intention, of assisting his +superior. + +The door of the second cell flew open, but a rush of water on the +flood, under the movement of the stricken vessel surged and swept the +master-at-arms off his feet. His forehead came in violent contact with +the steel frame of the door, and, rendered senseless, he dropped +inertly upon the flooded floor of the passage. + +"Pull yourselves together, men!" exclaimed the corporal to the two +prisoners. "You're all right. Bear a hand here." + +Together they carried the unconscious master-at-arms out of the flat. +The corporal returned to liberate the occupier of the third cell--von +Hauptwald. But once again the keys were missing, having slipped from +the insensible man's hand. + +The water in the confined space was now shoulder-deep. The corporal +could hear the stout bulkhead groaning under the pressure. Fixing the +lantern on a bracket he dived, groping with both hands for the keys. +At length he found them, and threw open the door of the cell. + +"Out you come!" he shouted. + +There was no reply. Von Hauptwald had ceased to shout for some +minutes. The silence was ominous. + +A movement of the badly stricken ship sent the water well over the +corporal's head. He was swept off his feet. It was time for him to +get back to safety. He had done all he could. The spy was dead. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +"Shrap" + +It was late in the afternoon when the _Oxford_ arrived, under her own +steam, at Rosyth. Although the dry docks were in use, accommodation +was quickly found for the damaged cruiser by the simple expedient of +floating out a battleship that was being cleaned and recoated with +anti-fouling composition. Since speed is an absolute necessity for +efficiency in war-time, it was the practice to dock all the ships of +the battle-cruiser and armoured cruiser class in rotation, the margin +of safety being sufficient to allow this to be done without impairing +the strength of the squadrons. + +By the aid of powerful arc-lamps the dockyard hands took the crippled +_Oxford_ into dock, and, the caisson having been replaced, the water +was quickly pumped out. The damage done was found, on examination, to +be limited to a space extending 30 feet from the bows. The actual +aperture caused by the explosion measured 6 feet by 30 inches, but the +adjacent plates had been buckled and the bolts "started" under the +violent concussion. Well it was that the armoured bulkhead had +withstood the strain, otherwise nothing could have saved the ship. + +There was no delay in setting to work. Almost before the last of the +water had been pumped out of the dock, stagings were built up round the +bows, and scores of shipwrights set to work to rebuild the damaged +portion of the hull. Under normal conditions the work would have taken +a couple of months, but, by working day and night, the efficient +dockyard staff hoped to effect repairs within nine days. + +Since the commencement of the greatest war the world has ever yet seen, +it was the custom to allow the officers and crews of torpedoed or mined +ships--if they were fortunate enough to be numbered amongst the +survivors--seven days' leave. A rest on shore was necessary for the +crews to recover from the mental shock, for it was found that although +the men might escape from physical injury and appear bright and +cheerful immediately after the occurrence, the reaction was most marked +at about forty-eight hours afterwards. + +Ross and Vernon, although not borne in the books of the _Oxford_, +received permission to go on leave. Since Haye's father was somewhere +in the North Sea, and he had no near relatives, he gladly accepted +Ross's offer to sample again the hospitality of Killigwent Hall. + +It was late when their train arrived at King's Cross; so much so that +the lads realized it would be useless to attempt to catch the Cornwall +express that would land them at St. Bedal just before midnight. + +"I vote we have an evening in town," suggested Vernon. "Let's go to a +theatre. It seems ages since I was inside a music hall, or even a +picture palace." + +"All right," agreed Ross. "We'll have a jolly good square meal before +we go. I know of a decent little hotel just off the Strand." + +The two midshipmen took the Underground as far as Charing Cross. As +they emerged from the station they renewed their acquaintance with the +metropolis in war-time. The streets were plunged in almost Stygian +darkness. Omnibuses and taxicabs crawled painfully through the gloom; +pedestrians were cannoning into each other at every step. The only +relief to the blackness were the two search-lights from the Admiralty +Arch that swung like gigantic pendulums across the dark and misty sky. + +"Let's get out of it," exclaimed Ross, as he just managed to save +himself from being run down by a motor-car. "It's a jolly sight more +dangerous than keeping the middle watch on the old _Capella_." + +Five minutes later they were sitting down to an ample dinner, provided +at a cost that proved pretty conclusively the futility of the German +submarine blockade. In the well-lighted room there was little to +suggest that business was not proceeding "as usual", except perhaps the +predominance of khaki-clad officers. + +A string band was discoursing the latest operatic music, the diners +were laughing and chattering. Within, the gaiety and light-heartedness +contrasted violently with the dismal gloom inflicted upon the +metropolis as a result of precautions adopted by the triple authorities +responsible for its defence against air-craft. + +Presently the band finished one item on the programme. The comparative +silence that followed was almost immediately interrupted by a series of +sharp reports, punctuated by a deeper crash. + +"Zepps!" exclaimed a dozen voices. + +Instantly there was a rush--not for the deep cellars underneath the +building, but for the open street. The white faces of a few of the +guests showed that they had, perhaps, a little anxiety, but for the +most part an excitable curiosity took possession of the crowd. + +"Come on!" exclaimed Ross to his chum. "Let's see the fun. We haven't +had a chance of seeing a real Zepp before." + +The lad's words voiced the thoughts of nine-tenths of the dwellers of +the metropolis who were within sight of the would-be Terror of the Air. +Useless, indeed, were the official warnings as to the right thing to be +done when the Zeppelins came. One man, however, drew a respirator from +a hand-bag and proceeded to don it, until a roar of laughter from the +stream of people issuing from the hotel caused him somewhat +shamefacedly to replace the useless article. + +Into the street the lads elbowed their way. The progress through the +long corridor of the hotel reminded them of a football scrum. It was +not the blind rush of panic; merely a desire to lose nothing of the +"fun". + +A couple of thousand feet overhead, a silvery-grey, bluff-pointed +cylinder was moving with apparent slowness. Half a dozen search-lights +concentrated their beams upon it. All around were rings of smoke, +marking the bursting shells from the anti-aircraft guns; yet, +apparently untouched by the hail of bullets, the giant gas-bag passed +on, hurling out death and destruction upon the greatest city on +earth--a city that, until the present war, had only once heard the +thunder of hostile guns. + +Breathlessly the lads watched the progress of the huge Zeppelin, +momentarily expecting it to collapse and come tumbling, a tangled mass +of flaming wreckage, to the ground. Viewed from below, it seemed +impossible for the airship to escape the bursting shells. The air was +rent by the crash of falling bombs and the sharp reports of the +"anti's", while in the distance could be heard the clatter of broken +glass. The explosive bombs wrought havoc upon the homes of harmless +Londoners. Flames, too, were springing up, throwing a lurid glare upon +the sky. + +Yet, unless actually within radius of the German explosives, the +populace was remarkably calm. Men, women, and children watched the +Zeppelin, much in the same way as if they were witnessing a Brock's +display at the Crystal Palace. Once again German frightfulness had +failed--and failed badly--to attain its desired end. + +"Hurrah! She's got it properly in the neck," shouted an excited +special constable, as the Zeppelin gave a sudden lurch and began to +drop at an acute angle. + +But the next instant the silvery envelope was hidden in a cloud of +dense black smoke. Seconds passed, but no shattered wreckage streamed +earthwards. When the vapour dispersed, the Zeppelin was nowhere to be +seen. Under cover of the smoke-cloud she had dropped a large quantity +of ballast, and had soared skyward to a great altitude. + +Gradually, like the rumble of a passing thunderstorm, the reports of +the distant anti-aircraft guns died away. The Zepps had taken +themselves off, leaving half a dozen fires and hundreds of more or less +damaged buildings to impress upon the strafed English that insularity +is no longer a protection from the cowardly night-raiders of the air. + +"The show's over," declared Ross. "I vote we turn in. By Jove, +there'll be a rush to the recruiting offices to-morrow!" + +Requesting to be called at eight, the two midshipmen entered the lift +and were whisked up to their room. + +"What's that noise?" asked Vernon, pausing in the midst of unpacking +his portmanteau. + +"Something in the corridor," replied Ross. + +"I don't think so. It's something or someone under my bed. Lock the +door, old man; no, don't ring, if it's a burglar we'll tackle him." + +Haye knelt by the bedside, Ross standing behind him ready to grapple +with the intruder. Cautiously Vernon lifted the valance. As he did so +he quickly withdrew his hand, which had come in contact with something +warm and moist. + +"Dash it all!" he exclaimed. "It's a dog. Come out, sir!" + +He was right. The animal gave a low whine, but made no attempt to +budge. + +"Mind the brute doesn't fix you," cautioned Ross. + +"No fear," replied his chum confidently. "All dogs take to me. Come +along, old boy." + +Again he groped with his hand. His fingers touched the long, silky +hair on the animal's neck. Slowly he drew the creature from its place +of concealment. It was a sheep-dog pup, of about four months. + +"Pretty-looking dog," exclaimed Vernon. "I wonder how it came here? +Suppose it was frightened at the racket. It looks terrified out of its +wits. Good dog!" + +The pup fixed its large brown eyes upon Vernon's face, and attempted to +wag its stumpy tail. As it did so the lads discovered that its hind +quarters were tinged with blood. + +"Oh, you poor little beggar!" said Vernon sympathetically. "However +did you get that? I say, Ross, fill that basin with water." + +"Better send for the boots," suggested Trefusis. "He'll take it to a +vet.'s, or perhaps he'll know whose dog it is." + +"Not much chance of finding a vet. at this time of night," objected +Vernon. "Even the chemist will be busy with minor casualties. No, I +won't worry the management. I've doctored dogs before now." + +He began bathing the matted hair. The flow of blood had ceased, but +upon examining the wound he found that it was a small circular incision. + +He felt the spot. The pup, hitherto patient, uttered a low moan. + +"There's something hard there," reported Vernon. "It's only a little +way under the skin. We'll have it out. Hold his head, old man. Don't +let him yelp; keep your hand over his muzzle. I'm afraid I must hurt +the poor little beggar a bit." + +Using the little blade of a knife, Haye adroitly probed the wound. +Soft-hearted as he was, the action seemed to hurt him more than the +patient; but his efforts were rewarded by the extraction of a small +steel ball. + +"A shrapnel bullet!" exclaimed Ross. "That accounts for the poor +little brute being in such a terrible funk. Give him a drink of water. +He'll be better now. We can bandage the wound with our handkerchiefs." + +Five minutes later the dumb patient, his hind quarters swathed in +elaborate bandages, was lying contentedly upon the hearth-rug, his +stumpy tail, protruding between the folds of linen, wagging, as he +tried to express his gratitude in doggy fashion. + +"Now what's to be done?" enquired Ross. + +"Let him stop until morning," replied Vernon decisively. "There might +be a row if the hotel people know that there's a dog in the bedroom. +The owner can't be much of a chap if he doesn't make enquiries." + +"Perhaps he hasn't missed the dog," suggested Ross; "or it's just +likely he isn't stopping at the hotel. Well, here goes. I'm turning +in." + +Ten minutes later both midshipmen were fast asleep. They had no middle +watch to keep, and as for Zeppelins, they were merely a passing show. + +At daylight Vernon was awakened by something licking his face. The +pup, having shown his contempt for bandages by biting them to ribbons, +was standing on his hind legs and licking his benefactor's nose, while +his tail was wagging with the rapidity of the flag of an expert +signaller. The hardy little animal had made light of his wound. + +Having dressed, the midshipman made enquiries of the waiter, but +without satisfactory results. No one in the hotel had a dog. + +"I'll report him to the police," decided Vernon. "Ten to one the owner +won't claim him. At any rate I'll stick to him. He's awfully fond of +me already." + +After breakfast Vernon sent the obliging waiter to purchase a collar, +for the sheep-dog was wearing none. Sticking closely to Vernon's +heels, the pup followed his new master to the police station, where an +inspector took down a number of particulars. + +"Very good, sir; that's all I want. I don't fancy you'll hear any more +about it." + +"What are you going to call him?" asked Ross, as the chums were seated +in a first-class carriage, with the dog at Vernon's feet, on their way +to Cornwall. + +"Zepp," replied Vernon promptly. + +"Not patriotic," objected Ross with a laugh. + +"I think so," rejoined his chum. + +"Why?" + +"Because, like last night's Zeppelin, he turned tail when he had a +shrapnel bullet in his stern." + +"That's all very well," said Ross, "but you can't explain all that to +everyone. Why not call him Shrapnel?" + +"All right. 'Shrap' for short," agreed Vernon. "Good boy, Shrap! Wag +your tail, you little rascal." + +And Shrap obeyed promptly. Evidently the choice of a name reminiscent +of bodily injury troubled him not one jot. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +Off the Belgian Coast + +"A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross. "Of +course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be +absolutely 'it'." + +Two months had elapsed since the lads saw a hostile air-ship over +London. Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed +British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but +against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast. + +Trefusis and Haye were on board the _Capella_, lying in the outer +harbour at Dover. It was not the _Capella_ that had come off +second-best in an encounter with a floating mine, but another, similar +in almost every respect to the lost patrol-boat. She was manned, too, +by the same officers and crew--with one exception. Sub-lieutenant John +Barry had obtained his promotion, and had been appointed to H.M.S. +_Hunbilker_ in command. + +What the _Hunbilker_ was, no one on board the _Capella_ knew. The +Admiralty publications at their disposal were blank as far as that ship +was concerned. Speculation ran high: some of the officers expressing +their opinion that Barry's command was a subsidized cargo-boat; others +that she was one of the mosquito flotilla that had been evolved out of +modern naval requirements. All were wrong, as they had yet to learn +something more of the type of vessel flying the White Ensign that was +helping to sweep the seas of the Black Cross of Germany. + +"Well, old boy, how do you think you will like the racket?" asked +Vernon, stooping to pat the massive head of a healthy-looking +sheep-dog. Shrap had been allowed, by the Captain's permission, to +join the _Capella_ as a mascot--the pet of both officers and crew, and +of Vernon Haye in particular. + +Shrap winked knowingly, then trotted off to a secluded part of the +chart-room, where, under a locker, he had hidden the remains of what, +half an hour previously, had been Sub-lieutenant Fox's shaving-brush. + +The _Capella_ was by no means the only craft rolling sluggishly in the +vast artificial harbour. There were seven motor patrol-vessels, +specially detailed for the forthcoming operations as tenders to the +sea-planes. + +A strong array of monitors, craft of ugly but utilitarian design, +low-lying, and mounting two 14-inch guns, had assembled for the purpose +of making it hot for the Hun on the morrow. Only light-draughted craft +were to be employed in the attack, since they could approach within +very effective range of their guns, and at the same time stand little +chance of being torpedoed by a handful of unterseebooten that had been +transported in sections to Zeebrugge and there fitted for service. + +According to the Admiral's plan, the monitors were to approach Ostend +just after daybreak. In the offing a number of empty transports were +to assemble, protected by a powerful flotilla of destroyers. The +appearance of these transports would be taken by the Germans as an +indication of an attempted landing of a British force, and troops would +be hurriedly massed to repel the threatened invasion. + +The monitors were thereupon to fire a certain number of rounds, then, +followed in a parallel course by the transports, make for Zeebrugge. +Alternate visits to both the Belgian ports in German hands were to be +made throughout the day, thereby wearing out the German troops in +fruitless marching and counter-marching, and at the same time diverting +a strong body of men from a section of the trenches upon which the +British troops were to deliver a sudden and unexpected assault. + +At four in the morning the monitors began to leave Dover Harbour. +Thanks to the stringent military precautions taken in the +town--precautions that could with decided advantage be imitated +elsewhere--the presence of spies was almost, if not quite, a matter of +impossibility. Unheralded by the Kaiser's agents, the small yet +powerful vessels cleared the entrance to the breakwater and headed for +the Belgian coast. + +An hour later a masthead lamp blinked from the _Vega_--the senior +officer's ship of the patrol flotilla. Then, in line ahead, the swift +motor craft slipped quietly out of the harbour to overtake their slower +consorts. + +The _Capella_, like the rest of her sister ships, was cleared for +action. Stanchion-rails were unshipped; everything likely to splinter +was sent below. In the wake of the armoured protection, sandbags were +placed to reinforce the steel plating. Although the patrol-vessels +were not to take part in the bombardment, they had to be prepared in +case a forlorn hope in the shape of a few German torpedo-boats might +attempt a sudden onslaught. + +As attendants upon the sea-planes, too, it was possible that the +patrol-boats would have to approach within range of the garrison +artillery, especially in the event of one of the aerial craft being +disabled and falling into the sea, on its return from "spotting" the +hits of the monitors' guns. + +Dawn had not yet broken when the monitors, followed at two miles' +distance by the motor patrol, came in sight of the search-lights on the +low-lying Belgian coast. Beyond the limit of direct rays, yet within +range of their monster guns, the monitors were safe from detection. +All that was wanting was the presence of the sea-planes, for whose work +daylight was essential. + +Slowly a pale light spread on the north-eastern horizon. The short +wintry day was breaking. The sea was calm. The air was piercingly +cold. A thin coating of frost covered the _Capella's_ deck. Ross and +his chum were heartily glad of their thick pilot-coats, mufflers, and +woollen "mitts", as they sheltered behind the breast-work erected on +the bridge. + +Captain Syllenger slowly paced the bridge, frequently glancing at the +clock in the chart-room, since it was almost a matter of impossibility +to consult his watch, owing to his generous accumulation of clothing. +It was now nearly eight o'clock, but as yet there were no signs of the +expected sea-planes. + +Just then the dull morning light was pierced by a brilliant flash from +one of the monitors. The watchers on the _Capella's_ bridge could see +the low-lying hull give a decided jerk in a sternward direction under +the reaction of the enormous projectile. + +Long before the shell reached its objective, other 14-inch guns added +their quota, and the air was rent with the flashes of the ordnance and +the ear-splitting detonations following the discharge. + +"By Jove!" exclaimed Sub-lieutenant Fox, who with his brother officers +had had telescopes levelled upon the faintly outlined sand dunes. +"There are the sea-planes!" + +He was right. Flying at a great height the air-squadron had passed +over the warships, and had taken up their observation stations without +being seen or heard by anyone on board the patrol-vessels immediately +over the German batteries, they were cutting "figure eights" and +describing seemingly erratic circles, while the observers, coolly +wirelessing the results of the monitors' shells, hardly heeded the +furious fire directed upon them by the hostile anti-aircraft guns. + +On a point extending for nearly three miles, the shore was torn by the +terrific explosive shells. Clouds of sand, and yellow smoke mingled +marked the scene of destruction, as battery after battery was spotted +and promptly put out of action. Across the dunes could be seen swarms +of ant-like figures--German troops flying for shelter from the +devastating fire of the British guns. + +But the action was by no means a one-sided one. Guns, large and small, +replied; the heavier ordnance vigorously at first, and then gradually +slackening down as the lyddite shells sought out the fixed +emplacements. The lighter guns, mounted on armoured motor-cars, gave +more trouble, since, after every shot, each piece was moved a hundred +yards or more. + +For several minutes the lads watched the unusual spectacle through the +binoculars. Then something resembling a concentrated tornado screeched +above their heads. Instinctively they ducked, the glasses falling from +their hands. Ten seconds later Ross ventured to look up. Vernon was +still holding his hands over his face. Then slowly he, too, opened his +eyes. + +The lads smiled sadly at each other, picked up their binoculars, and +somewhat shamefacedly resumed their former positions. + +It was their baptism of heavy gun-fire. A 42-centimetre shell had +ricochetted and leapt full twenty feet above their heads. + +Captain Syllenger was standing a few paces from them. Luckily, thought +Ross, the skipper's back was turned, and he had not noticed the action +of his young subordinates. But Trefusis was wrong. The Captain had +seen them. Out of consideration, for he remembered his own sensations +when first under fire, he affected not to notice the temporary panic +that had overtaken the midshipmen. + +The _Capella_ was now running at half speed, in a direction parallel to +the shore. All around, the sea was torn by the falling projectiles, +most of which were sufficiently large to send her to the bottom like a +stone. Yet, beyond the wounding of her wireless operator, the loss of +her signalling-mast, and the shattering of one of her boats, she came +off lightly. Although not the object of the hostile guns, she narrowly +escaped several ricochets, until, at a signal from the senior officer, +the patrol-vessels withdrew to a safer distance. + +One of the monitors, too, was slowly steaming seawards, well down by +the bows and smoke issuing from her fo'c'sle, while her single funnel +was riddled like a sieve. + +"Sea-plane returning, sir!" announced Sub-lieutenant Fox. + +Flying at an altitude of about a thousand feet, one of the aerial +scouts was making towards the line of patrol-vessels. She was flying +steadily; her motor was purring rhythmically; a trail of thin bluish +smoke from her exhaust belied the suggestion of an overheated engine. +Yet something must have taken place for her to have quitted her +observation station. + +Promptly Captain Syllenger gave orders for the _Capella's_ motors to +stop, then "Easy astern" until way was off the ship. + +Making a graceful volplane, the sea-plane alighted with a faint splash +upon the surface of the water, and "taxied" to leeward of the +motionless vessel. + +The sea-plane was a "two-seater". The rearmost or observer's seat was +unoccupied. In the foremost was a young Flight-Sub-lieutenant heavily +clad, and his clean-shaven face almost hidden by an airman's helmet. +For the first time, the officers on the bridge of the _Capella_ noticed +that the light steel plating was holed in many places, while the planes +bore testimony to the accuracy of the enemy's shrapnel. + +"A casualty!" sang out the Flying officer. "My pilot's been hit. Can +you take him on board?" + +Two of the _Capella's_ crew swarmed over the side and gained the +nearmost float, whence they clambered upon the body of the sea-plane. +At the same time, one of the davits from which the _Capella's_ +shattered boat had hung was slung outboard. By dint of careful +manoeuvring, the sea-plane was brought alongside with her main planes +practically parallel to the side of the ship. + +The injured man was lying on the floor of the fuselage. A canvas band +was strapped round his waist, and, supported by the two seamen, he was +gently hoisted on board the ship by means of the davit tackle. + +The Flight-Sub swung himself over the side of the _Capella_ and +ascended the bridge. + +"Got it hot at fifteen hundred feet," he explained. "My pilot was +winged. Hit twice, I believe. Luckily the old bird kept fairly steady +until I could clamber into the pilot's seat and take control. Rough +luck, too. We were just doing a useful bit of spotting. I suppose, +sir, there's no one on board who can handle a 'plane?" + +"I'm afraid not," replied Captain Syllenger. + +"Rough luck!" exclaimed the Sub despondently. Then, brightening up, he +asked: + +"Can you lend me a 'wireless' man? I could take on the pilot's job." + +"Our man's knocked out," said the skipper. + +"That's done it!" exclaimed the Sub. "There's a particularly tough +battery that I wanted to see knocked out. No. 5 was almost on it when +we got it hot." + +Ross was thinking rapidly and deeply. He knew the Morse code well. He +had dabbled in wireless telegraphy at school. Perhaps---- + +He felt that it was almost too impertinent to offer his services, yet +the matter was urgent. It was dangerous, too, most dangerous; but the +midshipman had learnt to place duty before personal consideration. + +"Well?" asked Captain Syllenger as Trefusis stepped up and saluted +smartly. + +"I'll go if I can be of any assistance, sir," said Ross. "I can Morse +and use a buzzer, and I have a knowledge of wireless." + +"Carry on, then," replied Captain Syllenger. + +"Good man!" exclaimed the Flight-Sub-lieutenant. "Can you stick +heights?" + +"I've done a lot of cliff climbing--I am a Cornishman, you know," said +Trefusis. "I haven't had a chance of flying before." + +"You have now!" added the Flight-Sub. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +Disabled in Mid-air + +Ross climbed agilely into the observer's seat, and, at his flying +companion's suggestion, buckled a broad leather strap round his waist. +At his right hand was the wireless transmitter, together with a pair of +prismatic glasses and map. The latter was held in a transparent +celluloid case, while the glasses were secured by a cord sufficiently +long to enable the observer to use them in any direction. Everything +was attached to the sea-plane so that in the event of the machine +having to "loop the loop" nothing would be lost. + +The Sub, who for the present was to act as pilot, took his place in the +forward part of the body. Giving a few preliminary touches to the +mechanism, he announced that everything was in order. + +The self-starter was released and the motor fired, causing the twin +propellers to buzz smoothly and powerfully. + +Ross waved his hand to his chum as the sea-plane glided away from the +_Capella_, and from that moment his whole attention was centred upon +the work on which he was engaged. + +For nearly a hundred yards the sea-plane "taxied", rising lightly over +the waves; then almost imperceptibly it glided upwards with an even +motion. Ross could hardly believe he was flying until he saw the sea +apparently receding from him. + +"All right?" asked the Sub through the telephone that formed the only +audible means of communication between pilot and observer. "Not +feeling giddy?" + +"Not a bit," replied Ross. Without experiencing the faintest sensation +of vertigo, he found himself able to lean over the side of the chassis +and look down at the scene two thousand feet beneath him. + +The sea-plane was rising in a direction diverging obliquely with the +coast. She was, in fact, almost over the line of empty transports that +looked little bigger than a fleet of toy boats. Farther away could be +discerned the _Capella_ and her consorts, moving with apparent slowness +upon a perfectly calm sea, for at that altitude the waves were merged +into a flat surface. Small splashes of white--the spray thrown up by +falling shells--could be seen all around the patrol-vessels, which, in +obedience to a signal, had now taken up a position rather nearer to the +monitors. + +Presently the Flight-Sub, having gained the desired altitude, moved the +steering-plane ever so slightly. Quickly the machine answered her +helm, swinging round until she pointed towards the land. + +Three minutes later Ross found himself immediately above the British +monitors. The sea-plane was now pitching slightly in the disturbed +air, for the concussion of the heavy weapons was distinctly felt even +at seven hundred yards above the bombarding ships. Although the roar +of the concerted cannonade was deafening, Ross heard not a sound of it. +To all intents, as far as he was concerned, the guns might have been +fired with silencers attached to their muzzles. The whirr of the +sea-plane's motor and the rush of air past his ears out-voiced every +other sound. + +Five miles beyond the line of monitors, could be discerned the Belgian +coast, composed for the most part of undulating sand-dunes dotted with +clusters of buildings. + +As the sea-plane approached the land Ross could, with the aid of his +binoculars, distinguish other objects--wavy lines, dotted with ant-like +figures bunched together round something that looked like stumps of a +lead pencil. The lines were the German trenches, the "ants" +grey-coated artillerymen, and the "stumps" the heavy howitzers. + +"That's our pigeon!" spoke the Flight-Sub through the telephone. "The +battery a hundred yards to the north of that ruined church tower. Our +fellows haven't knocked it out yet. Wireless them; fifty yards over." + +Ross sent the desired information. The sea-plane, having flown over +its objective, turned, describing an elongated figure eight. As she +swung round, Ross noticed a mushroom-like cloud of white smoke a short +distance beneath, and to the left of the fuselage. Then another a +hundred feet immediately in front. At each "mushroom" the sea-plane +curtsied. Something zipped close to the lad's ear. A wire snapped, +the severed portions circling themselves into erratic spirals. A +fragment of fabric from one of the main planes flew past him, like a +scrap of tissue-paper in the grip of a boisterous wind. + +Then Ross tumbled to it. Those silent mushrooms of smoke were shrapnel +shells bursting unpleasantly close. For a moment, the young observer +felt himself seized by an almost irresistible impulse to take refuge +under the coaming surrounding his seat. He uttered an involuntary +exclamation of unwelcome surprise. + +"What's up?" asked a voice in his ear. It was the Flight-Sub, to whom +the telephone had transmitted Ross's exclamation. + +"Nothing," replied the lad. + +"Thought so," was the laconic reply. "Don't worry." + +Reasoning with himself, Ross came to the decision that the advice was +thoroughly sound. Worrying would not help him in the least; neither +would cowering inside the frail body of the sea-plane. Twice within a +very short space of time he had experienced a sensation of "funk". +Twice he was surprised to find how quickly he recovered; for, at the +next shot from the monitor for which he was "spotting", he found that +the sensation of "cold feet" had given place to one of exhilaration +when he was able to record a "direct hit". + +By this time the initial operations were terminating. The German fire +had almost ceased to be troublesome. Most of the big howitzers and +long-range guns had been knocked out. A few were still firing, but +very erratically. + +At a signal from the senior officer, the monitors drew out of range, +and steaming at the maximum speed--a bare 11 knots--kept a course +parallel with the shore, accompanied by the patrol-vessels and +transports. + +Well above effective shrapnel range, the squadron of sea-planes headed +for Zeebrugge. A number of aviatiks, which were flying over the German +new sea base, hurriedly turned tail. Previous experience had taught +them that naval air-craft could hit hard, in addition to carrying out +observation work. + +There were, however, plenty of evidences that the Germans were rushing +up thousands of troops in order to deal with the supposed landing in +force. Train after train made towards the town, crammed with soldiers. + +The sea-planes let the trains pass unhindered. It was not their +purpose to stop Germans from pouring into Zeebrugge. Once the troops +were there, then would be the time to cut their lines of communication. + +Again the monitors opened fire. Their reception was hotter than it had +been in the neighbourhood of Ostend, for, in spite of frequent and +destructive molestation, the Germans had succeeded in throwing up +numerous heavily armed and cleverly concealed batteries. + +At almost extreme range the British ships maintained a rapid high-angle +fire. In a few minutes fires had broken out in several places. +Fifteen-hundred-pound shells dropped in the canal basin, blowing to +atoms several submarines that were in the process of fitting out. The +harbour works were swept by the huge projectiles. The long curved +breakwater suffered heavily. Huge gaps appeared in the solid masonry. +Everything lying afloat in the enclosed water was either set on fire or +sunk. In an hour the havoc wrought at Zeebrugge had wiped out the work +of months. + +Ross had little time to notice the work of destruction. His particular +business was to observe the fire directed upon a large redoubt to the +north-east of the town. The first shell from the monitor fell short, +blowing an enormous crater in the grass-grown dunes. The second fell +beyond, completely demolishing a house. The third dropped fairly in +the centre of the redoubt, causing a terrific explosion that was not +due solely to the lyddite bursting-charge. The magazine had exploded. + +Skywards rushed an enormous cloud of black and yellow smoke. Caught by +the blast of the violently displaced air the sea-plane rocked, then +began dropping like a stone. + +For the moment Ross imagined that the end had come. He was no longer +afraid. A sensation of intense curiosity as to what the machine and +its occupants would look like seemed to obsess his mind. + +Then, with a jerk that reminded the midshipman of the sudden starting +of a lift, the sea-plane "flattened out" and began to climb out of the +enveloping cloud of smoke. + +The Flight-Sub turned his head and grinned broadly. His manner could +not do otherwise than inspire confidence. Although not a pilot, he was +master of the frail machine. Side-slips and nose-dives troubled him +but little, provided he was flying at a safe altitude. + +"A jolly good wipe-out!" he exclaimed. "There won't be many Bosches +left within half a mile of that battery, I'm thinking. Now watch when +the next shot lands: that will give you the objective." + +A sharp buzzing in the receiver attached to Ross's flying helmet +announced that the monitor was "calling up" her observer. Quickly the +lad seized the pencil, and gave the signal that he was ready to take +down the message. + +The Morse signal, when translated into writing, was as follows:-- + +"Register Position 47." + +"Good!" exclaimed the Plight-Sub when Ross had telephoned him the +message. He consulted his map, which was similar to the one at the +observer's disposal "Position 47: that's a railway junction." + +In the course of their work of fortifying Zeebrugge, the Huns had +constructed a double-track railway, passing within a few yards of the +Dutch frontier for several miles before heading straight for the new +submarine base. Two miles from Zeebrugge the line joined the existing +railway, the junction being recorded on British airmen's maps as +Position 47. + +The time was now ripe for the monitor which had successfully demolished +the redoubt to attempt a similar exploit, namely, to destroy the +junction. + +The sea-plane's appearance was the signal for a furious fire from the +numerous anti-aircraft guns mounted in the vicinity of the station. + +At six thousand feet the risk of being hit was small, while the height +did not prevent the observer making a fairly accurate register of the +hits. + +It was a very long range, but the monitor's 14-inch guns did excellent +work. Seven shells sufficed to reduce the station to a heap of ruins +and blow whole sections of the line to atoms. + +Again came a wireless order: + +"Sea-plane to proceed to Zwilhuit. Attempt destruction of bridge +across canal." + +Once more the Flight-Sub smiled. This was work that suited him +immensely. For the nonce "spotting" was finished with. The sea-plane +had to drop her cargo of bombs upon an important strategic position. + +"All right!" exclaimed the Flying officer. "Keep a cool head. When I +give the word, press that pedal under your right foot. Bend down and +you'll find a safety pin just above the floor. Remove it, but be jolly +careful not to touch the pedal until I give the word." + +Underneath the fuselage were six bombs hanging from an inclined steel +rod. These were released by means of a rachet operated by the pedal to +which the Flight-Sub had alluded. To prevent a premature release the +pedal was "locked" by a safety device. When this was removed, each +depression of the pedal would result in the liberation of a potent +missile of destruction. + +The sea-plane was not alone on her errand. In her wake flew two more, +for the actual bombardment had now ceased, and the air-craft were at +liberty to engage upon a raid several miles inland. + +The Huns had not constructed their strategic railway close to the Dutch +frontier without a cunning reason. Extreme care had to be exercised by +British airmen, since it was an easy matter for a bomb to drop across +the border. Nothing would please the Germans better, for at once there +would be a case of violation of Dutch territory. On the other hand, +the Huns had no scruple in mounting a battery of anti-aircraft guns, +training them in such a manner that the earthward flight of spent +shrapnel would assuredly fall upon the Dutch village of Venterloos, +which was separated from Zwilhuit by a distance of less than four +hundred yards. + +In twenty minutes the sea-plane's objective came in sight: a broad line +of railway crossing a canal by means of a steel bridge. It was evident +that the Germans meant this base to be a permanent one, for the bridge +was of massive construction, strong enough to bear the transport of the +heavy 42-centimetre guns, and yet sufficiently high above the waterway +to admit the passage of large lighters with towering deck-cargoes. + +"Stand by!" cautioned the Flight-Sub. "Keep cool. Do as well as you +have already done, and everything will go like greased lightning." + +Volplaning at an acute angle, the sea-plane swooped down upon her +quarry. Shrapnel shells burst over, in front, behind, and underneath +her. It seemed impossible that such a frail object could escape +destruction. + +At five hundred feet the Flight-Sub checked her downward course. + +"Now!" he ordered. "And again!" + +Two puffs of white smoke marked the points of explosion of the powerful +bombs. One had fallen fifty yards short of the bridge; the other had +burst almost at the junction of the railway lines. + +Round spun the sea-plane. As she turned Ross could discern the second +of the aerial raiders gliding down, while the third was still at a +great altitude. Before the one in which Ross was flying could again +soar over its target the second sea-plane had dropped three of her +missiles. All fell close to the bridge. The work of demolition was +accomplished, for when the smoke and dust cleared away the substantial +fabric had been precipitated, a mass of twisted steel, into the canal. + +[Illustration: "THE WORK OF DEMOLITION WAS ACCOMPLISHED"] + +"Two more on the station and then we've finished," exclaimed the +Flight-Sub. "Ready?" + +"Ay, ay!" replied Ross. + +He turned his head to watch the progress of the other sea-planes. One +was still maintaining a terrific altitude, and showed no signs of +making a volplane. + +The other was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps it was as well that the +midshipman had not noticed what had befallen her, for a few seconds +previously a shrapnel shell had burst close underneath the chassis. +The explosion had communicated itself to the remaining bombs, with the +result that utter annihilation had overtaken the plucky British airmen +in the moment of their triumph. + +Ross's companion had witnessed the catastrophe. More, his trained eye +had discerned half a dozen small specks in the western sky. Quickly he +brought his binoculars to bear upon them. No mistake now; the specks +revealed themselves as German aviatiks intent upon cutting off the +retreat of the two remaining British air-craft. + +Not until Ross had dropped the remaining bombs did his companion speak. + +"We've a bit of a shooting match on," he announced. "Get that rifle +ready. It's under the coaming on your right hand. Sight at three +hundred yards, and let rip when I give the word." + +Ross took up the weapon almost as a matter of course. After the +excitement of bomb-dropping and being shelled by shrapnel, the approach +of a fleet of Zeppelins would hardly disturb his equanimity. + +Already the third sea-plane, having gained a favourable altitude, was +making straight for her numerous opponents. + +The Flight-Sub now began to speed his machine up, climbing in short +spirals, so as to gain what was equivalent to the "weather-gauge" in +the sea battles of Nelson's days. + +Ross unslipped the rifle. Mechanically he set the back-sight, and +jerked open the bolt-action to assure himself that the magazine was +charged. As he did so he became aware that the cartridges were bent +and buckled. A piece of shrapnel, passing through the side of the +fuselage, had lodged in the magazine of the rifle. In addition, +although it was possible to withdraw the bolt, the striking-pin had +jammed. As a weapon the rifle was useless. By stopping the shrapnel +bullet the rifle had saved Ross from a serious and perhaps mortal wound. + +The midshipman was on the point of reporting the disablement of the +weapon, when the motor gave vent to a peculiar cough and abruptly +stopped. Unknown to the pilot the petrol-tank had been pierced almost +at its lowest point. The remaining petrol had been used up during the +spiraling process. The sea-plane was now at an altitude of three +thousand feet; propulsion, except under the force of gravity, was no +longer possible. + +The Flight-Sub was quick to act. Before the hitherto climbing +air-craft began diving tail downwards, he regulated the elevating +planes, and a long volplane ensued. The sea-plane was bound to come to +earth, but it was not on hostile soil that the airman hoped to alight. +His goal was the ground beyond the seemingly endless line of barbed +wire that marked the frontier between Belgium and Holland. + +The anti-aircraft guns had now opened fire, blazing furiously away at +the rapidly descending sea-plane. The rapidity of her descent saved +her, for, before the time-fuses could be altered to suit the +ever-varying range, the air-craft was well below the bursting-point of +the missiles. Nothing but a direct hit--a most difficult matter--could +harm her now. + +At a thousand feet she passed the border-line. Still the Archibalds +barked. Ross could see the Dutch frontier guards bolting for shelter +as the hall of bullets fell on neutral ground. Not until the sea-plane +was well over the boundary did the guns reluctantly cease fire. + +The earth appeared to leap up and meet the descending machine. It +looked as if a terrific smash were inevitable. A sea-plane alighting +upon solid ground has a thousand chances against her, for, being +unprovided with landing wheels, she is not adapted to withstand +successfully the impact with the earth. + +Cool and collected, the Flight-Sub "flattened her out" to a nicety. At +forty miles an hour the floats struck the ground. For twenty yards the +sea-plane skidded, then with a rending crash the floats and a network +of struts and tension-wires gave way under the abnormal strain. The +next instant Ross found himself sprawling on the sandy soil, the sudden +jerk tearing his securing-belt from its fastenings. + +He sat up. A multitude of dazzling lights seemed to flash before his +eyes. He was dimly aware of a tangle of wreckage, out of which a +practically undamaged plane rose at an oblique angle, lumbering the +ground quite twenty yards from where he found himself. Men were +hastening towards the wrecked sea-plane from all directions, but, thank +Heaven, they did not wear the uniform of the Hun. + +With his head still whirling, Ross was supported by two Dutch soldiers, +while a third poured a quantity of raw spirits down his throat. Blood +was streaming from a gash on his forehead, and his knees, grazed and +discoloured, were visible through rents in his trousers. + +Of what happened during the next quarter of an hour, the midshipman had +but a very hazy idea. The men had laid him on the ground, propping him +against a large stone. He felt horribly sick. The pain across his +chest, caused by the strain upon the leather belt, was acute--far worse +than the wound on his forehead which the kindly soldiers were bathing +with handkerchiefs dipped in water. + +The men were talking excitedly. He could not understand what they were +saying. He felt inclined to tell them to shut up. They irritated him +beyond measure; if only they would go away and leave him in peace he +would be deeply grateful. + +Suddenly it dawned upon him that he had been in an awful smash. The +wrecked sea-plane had not hitherto led the train of his thoughts to the +subject of the accident. Now he realized his position. + +"Where's my companion?" he asked, "Is he knocked out?" + +"Do not yourself fret," said a voice that sounded far away. "He is +hurt, but badly not at all. We him have carried away. I am a doctor. +You quiet must be, and zen recovery rapide will be." + +The doctor--a Dutch army surgeon--ran his hands lightly over the lad's +limbs. + +"Goot!" he ejaculated. "Nodings broken is." + +He gave directions to the men in attendance. A stretcher was laid on +the ground beside the lad. Two men lifted him gently upon it. Even as +they did so, Ross gave a low groan and passed into merciful oblivion. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +Not on Parole + +"Ver' goot. I understan' you no give parole?" + +"No, sir," replied the Flight-Sub firmly. + +"An' you, mynheer?" + +"I am in the same boat, sir," replied Ross. + +The camp-commandant smiled--a hearty smile, bordering on a laugh. + +"Goot, I understan' also," he reiterated. Then, shaking a podgy little +finger, he added: "Same boat, ah? English idiomatic expression? Ver' +well, it is so; but if you make escape, do not let me you catch. Zat +is all." + +A week had elapsed since the involuntary descent of the sea-plane. +Both officers were making rapid progress towards recovery, for, in +spite of the violence of the impact, neither of them had received +anything worse than contusions and bruises. + +After three days in hospital at Utrecht, the interned aviators were +transferred to a small concentration camp at the village of Koedijk, a +short distance from Alkmaar. A few miles to the westward, and beyond +an expanse of sand dunes, was the North Sea. The temptation to refuse +to give their parole was not to be wondered at, with the call of the +sea so near at hand. It was, indeed, rather remarkable that the two +officers had not been sent to the large internment camp at Groningen, +where so many of the ill-fated Naval Brigade languished, if not in +captivity, in a state of enforced and tedious detention. + +"We'll have to be doubly careful now," remarked the Flight-Sub. "The +mere fact that we have declined to give our parole will put the +commandant on his guard. Our best plan will be to mark time for a bit." + +"Marking time is always an unsatisfactory business," protested the +energetic Ross. "Nothing rusts a fellow like inaction. It wouldn't be +much of a task to tunnel our way out." + +The Flight-Sub shook his head. + +"Tunnelling's not much good in this water-logged country," he declared. +"We are not water-rats. Patience, my festive: where there's a will +there's a way." + +Their quarters consisted of a long, two-storied building. The only +other occupants beside the guards, were three British Naval officers +rescued from a mined trawler that had managed to reach Dutch waters +before foundering. Two of them had broken legs; the third was down +with double pneumonia, the legacy of many a cold, stormy night in the +North Sea. + +Surrounding the house was a high brick wall, on which had been recently +placed a triple row of barbed wire. At the entrance, an archway about +ten feet in height, stood a wooden sentry-box, where a soldier with +rifle and fixed bayonet kept guard in the leisurely manner of the +stolid Dutch menfolk. One could imagine him, a picturesque figure in +baggy trousers and coat of fantastic cut, smoking his pipe on the quay +at Volendam. The blue uniform did not form a fitting mantle for his +corpulent form. + +The sentry was one of a type. The rest of the guards--middle-aged men +called up on mobilization--were much of the same build and demeanour. +Their innate love of gossiping tempted them to be on most friendly +terms with the interned officers. One and all were violently +pro-British. They had reason to dread the German menace, for they were +level-headed enough to realize that, with the Central Powers +triumphant, the independence of Holland would be a thing of the past. + +Adjoining the grounds were the quarters occupied by interned seamen, to +the number of about sixty. They were strictly guarded; a formidable +double fence of barbed wire, between which armed sentries patrolled, +enclosed the premises. For discipline, the men were under the orders +of their own petty officers. + +"Jolly good luck to you!" exclaimed one of the wounded officers, to +whom the two new-comers confided their intention of escaping. "If we +three weren't crocked we should have been across the ditch by this +time." + +He pointed seawards as he spoke. From the upper windows of the +building the sunlit sea could be seen. Beyond the "ditch", as he +termed it, was England and freedom. + +"It's no use trying to break out," he continued. "German spies as +thick as blackberries along the coast. The most benevolent-looking +mynheer might, as likely as not, be a kultured Hun. You have to be +smuggled out. Try your blandishments on old Katje." + +"Old who?" asked the Flight-Sub. + +"Katje, the old vrouw who calls for the washing. She comes every +Tuesday and Friday with a cart drawn by dogs, and a basket big enough +to stow the pair of you. You'll want plenty of palm oil. There are +the sentries to be squared, and the fellow who provides you with a suit +of 'mufti'. Wilson, our Lieutenant-Commander, got clear about a month +ago. He made his way to Ymuiden." + +"Wasn't there a row about it?" asked Ross. + +"Naturally," replied the wounded officer. "We had a pretty strenuous +time after it--certain privileges withdrawn and all that sort of thing. +However, when we heard that Wilson had succeeded in making his way to +England we didn't mind that, and things have now recovered their normal +appearance." + +On the following Tuesday, Ross and his companion anxiously awaited the +arrival of Vrouw Katje. At length the old lady--she was nearly +eighty--drove up in style, shouting shrilly to her dogs from her perch +on top of an enormous wicker hamper. + +"More washing for you, Katje," announced one of the crippled officers. +"Two more of my countrymen. They will be very pleased to see you." + +Without further ado, Katje ascended the stairs and hammered violently +upon the door of the sitting-room. + +Her knowledge of English was good, for earlier in life she was the wife +of the skipper of a bolter that made regular voyages to Hole Haven at +the mouth of the Thames, where a large eel trade was in the hands of +the Dutch fishermen. + +"Very well; but I must ask permission of the Commandant," replied +Katje, in perfect good faith, when the Flight-Sub had broached the +subject of being conveyed from the internment camp. + +"No, no," protested the young officer in alarm; "that won't do." + +"Why not?" persisted the washerwoman. "Mynheer the Commandant is very +kind." + +"Undoubtedly," replied the Flight-Sub. "But we would much rather that +you wait until we are away from the place before you ask him. See, +here are five English sovereigns. They are yours once you get us +clear." + +The vrouw shook her head. + +"I do not care to," she replied firmly; then without a pause she +continued: "My son-in-law, Jan van Beverwijk, will. I am sure he will. +Next Friday he will come instead of me. He is mate of a steamship that +takes the bulbs from Holland to England. He returns to-morrow, and +sails on Saturday from Ymuiden." + +"That sounds excellent," commented the Flight-Sub. + +"It is excellent," agreed Katje. "It will cost you each twenty English +sovereigns." + +"But we haven't ten between us." + +The vrouw smiled till her weather-beaten face was one mass of deep +wrinkles. + +"You English have a proverb about a road," she remarked. + +"'It's a long lane that has no turning?'" quoted the officer; but Katje +shook her head. + +"'Where there's a will there's a way'," suggested Ross. + +"Ah! That is it. I knew it was something about a road or a lane. +Way, you call it. Very well; by next Friday you will find a way." + +"Artful old baggage!" exclaimed the Flight-Sub when Katje had taken her +departure. "She's mighty keen on the rhino. We'll have to have a whip +round, Trefusis, and give a note of hand." + +Their brothers in adversity willingly responded to the call, and before +the eventful Friday a sum in English and Dutch coinage, equivalent to +forty pounds, was ready to be handed to Jan van Beverwijk. + +"I wouldn't pay cash on the nail if I were you," suggested the crippled +officer who had been so useful in advising them before. "Half down, +and the rest when you land in England. Jan might object, but he'll +give in. No Dutchman of his standing would shut his eyes to twenty in +hard cash." + +At eight o'clock on Friday morning Katje's dog-team romped up; but, +instead of the old vrouw, a lean, leather-faced man with a long coat +reaching to his heels and a flat-topped peak cap strode beside the cart. + +At the gate he stopped, and spoke at considerable length with the +sentry. There was hardly any expression on the faces of the two men as +they talked. Whether the soldier fell in with the suggestion, Ross, +who was anxiously watching from the window, could not decide. + +Presently Jan stooped to fasten the strap of one of his _klompen_, or +wooden shoes; then shouting to the dogs he came towards the house. +Before he had gone very far, the sentry bent and picked up something +that was lying on the spot where Jan had been attending to his footgear. + +"Palm oil!" remarked the Flight-Sub laconically. + +"Heavy wash to-day," was Jan's greeting as he deposited his heavy +basket in the corridor. "Spot cash, down on the nail." + +"Your knowledge of English is remarkable," said the Flight-Sub affably. + +"It has to be," rejoined the Dutchman stolidly. + +"We have only twenty pounds," declared the Sub. "That we will give you +as soon as we are on board and in English waters. The balance Mr. +Brown will give you on your return, on receipt of a note from us to the +effect that we are safely home." + +"It cannot be done," said Jan. + +"Then the deal's off," remarked the Flight-Sub coolly; but he +ostentatiously poured the coins from his right hand into his left +before returning them to his pocket. + +The Dutchman capitulated. + +"Very good," he said. "I can trust an English Naval officer, although +many a time have I been done in London. Get in, one of you." + +"But the other?" enquired the Sub. + +"I am strong, but I am not a Hercules," replied the Dutchman with a +shrug of his shoulders. "One I can carry to the cart. To-day is a +heavy wash, so I must return for a second load. You twig?" + +"In you get, Trefusis," ordered his companion, in a tone that would +brook no refusal. + +By dint of hunching his shoulders and bending his knees, Ross managed +to get into the basket. The lid was shut, and Jan, assisted by the +Sub, lifted the heavy load on to his shoulders. + +Jolting over the cobble-stones, the cart proceeded at a rapid pace for +nearly a quarter of an hour. Then Jan called to the dogs to stop. The +lid was thrown back and Ross told to get out. + +He found himself outside a small cottage by the side of a canal. Katje +was on her knees washing a bundle of clothes; the operation assisted, +with disastrous results to the interned officers' effects, by means of +two large stones with which she pounded the saturated garments. +Without even turning her head to watch the midshipman's exit from the +basket, she proceeded vigorously with her task. + +Jan led him into the cottage and pointed to a heap of clothes. + +"Put these on you," he said. "I will now go for your friend." + +Before the Flight-Sub rejoined him, Ross was rigged out as a Dutch +youth, in voluminous trousers, long coat, stock, tall cylindrical hat, +green stockings, and wooden shoes. His companion had to look twice +before he recognized him. + +"Now you come with me to Mynheer Guit," said Jan. "He is a bulb +merchant, and lives just outside Ymuiden. You will then go on board a +barge that brings the boxes of bulbs from Mynheer Guit's warehouse to +the ship. I will be with you. The men in the barge will say nothing. +Before to-night you will be safe on board the _Hoorn_." + +Jan was as good as his word. That night the fugitives slept +comfortably in the cabin of the mate of the steamship _Hoorn_; and at +tide-time, early on Saturday morning while it was still dark, the +vessel glided between the breakwater of Ymuiden, and shaped a course +for the mouth of the Thames. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +Almost Recaptured + +"What's that light, Jan?" asked the Flight-Sub. + +The _Hoorn_ was now well beyond the three-mile limit. Ross and his +fellow-passenger were standing aft, sheltering from the keen +south-westerly wind. The mate of the vessel was with them, the skipper +being on the bridge. + +"Those lights?" corrected Jan. "They have been visible all the time. +They are the two white leading-lights to Ymuiden harbour." + +"No, I don't mean those," said the Flight-Sub. "Away to the south'ard, +quite a mile from the harbour. See, it's showing again." + +From the dunes a white light blinked thrice and then disappeared. + +"I do not know," answered Jan gravely. He thought for a moment and +then said: "Half a mo'. I will speak to the skipper." + +"Hanged if I like it," muttered the Flight-Sub. "I say, Trefusis, that +light blinking away looks very fishy. It would mean a fifty-pound fine +in England; but here, apparently, it is not objected to." + +The skipper and the mate were talking rapidly. Both men were leaning +over the after side of the bridge-rails, with their eyes fixed upon the +dark shore from which the mysterious light flickered at regular +intervals. + +"Light on the port bow," reported the helmsman. Both of the _Hoorn's_ +officers turned just in time to catch sight of a steady white light +before it disappeared. Whatever its meaning, it was remarkable that +from that moment the shore light ceased to blink. + +"Put out our navigation lamps, Jan," said the skipper. "Someone has +betrayed your English friends. Nevertheless I will do all in my power +to aid them. We'll steer south-west for an hour. Perhaps we may +outwit yon craft, whatever she may be, before dawn." + +Ross and his companion were quick to note the alteration of helm. They +knew, too, that the removal of the steaming-lights was for the purpose +of baffling what must be, to a dead certainty, a German craft--a +submarine, or perhaps a torpedo-boat, since the latter frequently +ventured out of Borkum and crept stealthily towards the Schelde, +keeping close to the Dutch territorial waters in order to avoid being +snapped by the vigilant British destroyer flotilla. + +Slowly the wintry day dawned. Anxiously the British officers scanned +the horizon. The low-lying Dutch coast was now invisible. All around +was a waste of grey, tumbling waves, unbroken by a sail of any +description. + +The _Hoorn_ was ploughing her way at a modest ten knots. Short, beamy, +and deep-draughted, she was pitching heavily, sending a frothy bow wave +far to leeward each time she dipped her nose into the steep seas. + +"I'd give a fiver for the sight of a good old White Ensign at the +present moment," remarked the Flight-Sub anxiously. "Good heavens, +what's that?" + +Ten seconds later he laughed mirthlessly. + +"Nerves going to blazes," he muttered. "A bit of wreckage gave me the +jumps. By Jove, don't we look a pair of comical objects?" + +They had discarded their grotesque head-dress. Ross had a woollen +muffler wrapped round his head, while his companion had been given the +loan of a red stocking-cap, but they still retained the weird garb in +which they had made their journey down the ship canal. + +Suddenly Ross gripped his companion's arm and pointed with his right +hand to a spar-like object projecting a few feet, close to the waves, +at less than a cable's length on the port quarter. + +"A periscope!" ejaculated the Flight-Sub. + +"Let's hope it's one of our own submarines," said Ross. + +"We'll soon find out," added his companion. "It's forging ahead. +Whatever it is, they've got us under observation." + +Jan, who was now on the bridge, had his attention called to the +disconcerting fact. He beckoned to his two passengers. + +"You had better go below and stow yourselves away," he suggested. "We +will be boarded before long." + +"Not I," replied the Flight-Sub. "They've marked us already. If they +do take us they won't have to dig us out of a coal-bunker." + +The submarine was emerging. At a pace that more than held its own with +the _Hoorn_, she shook herself clear of the water, although green seas +were breaking across the flat deck as far aft as the conning-tower. + +Then muffled forms clambered through the hatchway; a young, +yellow-bearded officer appeared on the navigation platform and hailed +the _Hoorn_ in Dutch to heave to instantly. + +Even then the tough old Dutch skipper was not going to give in without +a protest. + +"For what reason?" he shouted back. "This is a Netherlands ship." + +"That I do not doubt," rejoined the officer of the submarine. "But you +have two Englishmen on board who have broken their parole----" + +"You lie!" interrupted the skipper vehemently. + +"Not a word more!" exclaimed the German fiercely. "Heave to, or we +sink you!" + +Reluctantly the "old man" gave the order to stop the engines. Jan, +sliding down the bridge ladder, communicated to the British officers +the text of the conversation. + +"Some rascal of a German spy has betrayed you," he added. "If I could +lay my hands upon him----" + +There was a look on the Dutchman's face which showed that his anger was +genuine. + +"All right, Jan," said the Flight-Sub. "It's the fortune of war." + + * * * * * + +"Deucedly rotten morning," remarked Sub-lieutenant Fox as he greeted +the officer of the watch, whom he was about to relieve. + +Eccles, the Lieutenant, who had been on the _Capella's_ bridge for four +long and dreary hours, merely nodded sleepily. He was thinking, with +feelings of satisfaction, of the hot coffee and fragrant bacon and eggs +awaiting him below. Three minutes had to elapse before eight bells. +Wearily he rubbed his salt-rimmed eyelids with a heavily gloved hand. + +"_Taurus_ wirelessed twenty minutes ago," he reported, as the two +officers entered the chart-room. "She was then at the extreme limit of +her northerly course. You ought to sight her very shortly. Here's our +course"--he indicated the pencilled line on the chart. "Nothing to +report: there never is when I'm officer of the watch. It's this +infernal monotony that plays havoc with a fellow's nerves." + +Noel Fox nodded sympathetically. Although the _Capella_ had been only +six days on her new station--keeping a watch on the Dutch coast between +the Texel and the North Hinder Lightship--he, too, was mightily "fed +up" with the task of "treading on the tail of Germany's coat". + +Not so much as the periscope of a hostile submarine had been sighted. +The German torpedo-boats that occasionally sneaked southwards from +Borkum were taking an enforced holiday. Perhaps it was in sympathy +with the "High Seas Fleet" skulking in the Kiel Canal. In any case, +the six motor craft of the _Capella_ class had a full share of wintry +conditions in the North Sea without any compensating adventures to +mitigate the monotony. + +As Eccles descended from the bridge, a great-coated muffled-up figure, +followed by a large dog, swung himself up the ladder. + +"Morning, Haye," was Noel Fox's salutation, as he stooped to pat Shrap, +the chartered libertine of the _Capella_. "Dash it all, it is cold! +Makes a fellow wish he were a sheep-dog. Here, Shrap, off you go and +get your whiskers trimmed. I can see Tomkins waiting for you." + +The dog needed no second order. Every morning just after eight bells +Shrap would be taken over by the watch below. Every man took a delight +in combing the animal's long hair, until Shrap's coat was the pride of +the _Capella's_ crew and the envy of the rest of the flotilla, whose +mascots never aspired to be more than a tame rat, parrot, or canary. + +"Sail on the port bow, sir," bawled the look-out. + +The Sub and the midshipman promptly levelled their telescopes. A small +cargo-steamer was pitching and rolling as she forged slowly ahead on a +westerly course. Although she was fairly discernible against the pale +grey of the eastern sky, it could be taken for granted that from the +Dutchman's bridge the neutral-grey-painted _Capella_ would be +practically invisible. + +"She's slowing down," declared Vernon. + +"What on earth for?" enquired the Sub. "She couldn't possibly have +spotted us. Starboard your helm, quartermaster. Good! Keep her at +that. We'll get her to make her number, if nothing else." + +Again Noel Fox levelled his telescope. Then he thrust it into a rack +on the side of the chart-room, and bellowed: + +"Turn up, both watches. Action stations. Submarine ahead." + +His quick glance had discerned the after part of a large unterseeboot +as she ranged alongside the Dutchman, whose high sides screened most of +the submarine from the _Capella_, and conversely prevented the Germans +clustered amidships from noticing the approach of the swift British +patrol-vessel. + +For the next few minutes, all was bustle and orderly confusion on board +the _Capella_. Taking three steps at a time, Captain Syllenger gained +the bridge, closely followed by Eccles, to whom the sudden interruption +of a hearty breakfast came as a welcome call. + +At a terrific pace the sleuth-hound of the sea tore towards the +_Hoorn_, for such she was. Rounding under her squat counter, and +reversing engines, the _Capella_ brought up within fifty yards of the +submarine before the astonished Germans could realize their precarious +plight. + +"Surrender, or I sink you!" roared Captain Syllenger. + +The grim muzzles of the _Capella's_ 4.7's, trained at a point-blank +range, were a conclusive argument. Without waiting for orders, the +majority of the unterseeboot's crew held up their arms. For a brief +instant did her Kapitan hesitate. + +"Me surrender," he replied. + +"Very good; I accept your surrender," replied the _Capella's_ skipper. +"But understand, any attempt to open the sea-cocks will mean that no +quarter will be given. Order all hands below, and leave the hatchways +open. You will oblige me by proceeding on board His Majesty's ship +_Capella_." + +By this time the _Hoorn_ was forging ahead, since she was in danger of +drifting down upon the captured submarine. In the excitement of the +capture, no one on board noticed two grotesquely garbed men on the +_Hoorn_ whose antics resembled those of a pair of demented creatures; +nor was the presence of a couple of dejected German leutnants and five +seamen, stranded on board the Dutchman, observed, as the Huns +frantically besought the obdurate skipper of the _Hoorn_ to steam as +hard as he could towards the Dutch coast. + +It was Vernon Haye's duty to take the cutter and board the prize. It +was a hazardous piece of work, for the sea was now fairly high, and +breaking under the effect of tide against wind; but, with the exception +of a broken top-strake, the boat managed to lie sufficiently close +alongside the submarine to enable the midshipman and five seamen to +board. + +Already the German crew were below. Hatches were lowered and secured, +with the exception of the one in the after side of the conning-tower. +This could be left open without fear of the submarine being swamped, +while, to prevent the captured crew closing it and making an attempt to +dive, the steel cover was removed from its hinges and secured on deck. +The Black Cross flag was hauled down and rehoisted under the White +Ensign, and preparations were made to take the prize in tow. + +It was some time before a grass rope, to which a stout wire hawser was +bent, could be veered from the _Capella's_ quarter and taken on board +the submarine, but eventually the hawser was made fast. + +"Now, sir," said Vernon, addressing the German Kapitan. "Will you +please step into that boat? Where are the other officers?" + +"In that ship," replied the Hun sullenly, as he pointed towards the +_Hoorn_. "They will not welcome you, but there are others who will." + +Not knowing what the German meant, Vernon indicated that he should get +on board the cutter. + +"There are two German officers on board that vessel, air," reported the +midshipman, as the boat came alongside the _Capella_. "Am I to bring +them off?" + +Captain Syllenger hesitated before replying. It was a knotty problem. +To remove by force the subjects of a hostile nation from a neutral ship +was contrary to international law. However much the Germans violated +the "right of search", it was not Great Britain's policy to engage upon +reprisals. Holland, although a third-rate Power, had to be treated +with due courtesy. + +"It's all the same in the long run," replied Captain Syllenger. "Board +that vessel, Mr. Haye, and see what those fellows are doing there. If +the Dutch skipper objects to their presence on his hooker, then bundle +them into the boat. If, on the other hand, he protests against their +removal, let them remain. They will be collared as soon as the ship +enters our three-mile limit." + +The _Hoorn_ had once more come to a dead stop, at two cables' length +from the British patrol-vessel. + +As the _Capella's_ cutter came alongside, Vernon agilely scrambled up +the "monkey ladder" and gained the deck. + +"Hulloa, old man!" exclaimed a well-known voice. + +Vernon looked at the speaker. He knew the voice, but for a moment he +failed to recognize in the oddly garbed youth his chum Ross Trefusis. +Then he grinned broadly. + +"My word!" he exclaimed. "You do cut a pretty figure." + +Had they been of any nationality but British, the lads would have +fallen on each other's necks and perhaps kissed each other. Instead, +they stood a yard apart and laughed--but their mutual joy was none the +less genuine. + +"So you've come to fetch the German Leutnant and his boat's crew," said +Ross, after Haye had been introduced to the Flight-Sub. "He's +somewhere below. You'll recognize him right enough." + +"Eh?" asked Vernon incredulously. + +"Rather!" declared Ross emphatically. "You'd never guess. It's our +old pal, Hermann Rix, late of U75. No wonder he's tearing his hair, +for he must have broken his parole. He knew me directly he came over +the side, and didn't forget to rub it in. You should have seen his +face when, in the midst of his beastly gibes, the old _Capella_ came +snorting up." + +With Jan acting as interpreter, Vernon put his case before the Dutch +skipper, who seemed only too delighted at the way events had turned. +His satisfaction at getting rid of his Hunnish visitors was evident, in +spite of the stolidity of his manners. + +"I want no pirates on board the _Hoorn_," he said. "Take them and +welcome!" + +While the Flight-Sub and Ross were "squaring up" with the good-hearted +Jan, Vernon rounded up Ober-leutnant Rix and his boat's crew. Finding +that their protests to the Dutch skipper were of no avail, they +sullenly gave in. + +"Look here," said Ross, taking his chum aside. "I don't want to crow +over that fellow. It isn't cricket. You might take him to the +_Capella_ and come back for us. You'll have a pretty good load as it +is." + +"Two British officers, escaped from an internment camp, on board the +_Hoorn_, sir," reported Vernon, as he delivered his cargo of German +prisoners on board the _Capella_. "They would like to be taken off." + +"Carry on, then," replied Captain Syllenger. + +As the cutter returned from her second trip to the _Hoorn_, the +_Capella's_ crew awaited with undisguised curiosity the arrival of the +men who had contrived to escape from irksome detention in a neutral +country. + +Presently Shrap, who was sitting up on the quarterdeck, gave a bark of +delight. + +"Good old Shrap!" said Ross. "He knew me in spite of my rig-out." + +"Blow me, if it ain't Mr. Trefusis!" exclaimed one of the men. + +The next instant the first of three hearty cheers burst from the +throats of the crew, with whom Ross was a great favourite. The +Dutchmen, too, joined in, to the accompaniment of a prolonged blast +upon the _Hoorn's_ siren as she resumed her interrupted voyage. + +"It's like being home again," declared Ross, after Captain Syllenger +and the other officers had congratulated him. "But, I say, can anyone +lend me a decent suit of togs?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +Bound for the Baltic + +A fortnight had elapsed since the day on which H.M.S. _Capella_ towed +the captured unterseeboot into Harwich harbour. Since then she had +been attached to a base on the East coast of Scotland, her sphere of +usefulness in the English Channel being a thing of the past. + +The German blockade had fizzled out like a damp squib. Absolutely +afraid to risk the remaining boats in operations that would certainly +end in their being unceremoniously conveyed to Davy Jones's locker, the +German Admiralty had dispatched them to the Mediterranean, where, under +the Austrian flag, they attempted, at first with a certain degree of +success, to terrorize merchantmen by their "frightfulness". + +So the _Capella_ had been ordered to Cromarty Firth, pending the +completion of arrangements for sending a fleet of swift destroyers and +patrol-boats to operate in conjunction with the British submarines in +the Baltic. + +Almost the first duty Ross had to undertake upon arrival was to draw +money for the ship's company from the Paymaster's office at Invergordon. + +Accompanied by six seamen, wearing their side-arms and carrying three +canvas bags, the midshipman landed, and proceeded to the office. +Leaving the escort "standing easy", Ross entered the building and found +himself confronted by a door on which was painted the words, +"Accountant Officer". Underneath was a piece of cardboard on which was +written: "Don't knock--walk in". + +The midshipman accepted the invitation and entered. It was a large +room. Against one wall were three knee-hole desks, at which were +seated naval "writers"--petty officers detached for clerical work. Two +more were bending over a large tray, studiously engaged in "putting the +money up", or placing wages in the compartments of the tray in order to +facilitate the forthcoming payment to the civilian workers attached to +the establishment. At a large desk was an officer, with his head +almost touching a litter of papers. His back was turned, but Ross +could see by the gold-and-white band that he was an Assistant Paymaster. + +Hearing footsteps behind him, the A.P. broke into a torrent of abuse: + +"Of all the scatter-brained idiots that act the giddy goat, this +strafed lunatic takes the proverbial ship's biscuit!" he exclaimed. +"Just look here, Carruthers; did you ever see such a piece of arrant +tomfoolery----" + +He turned his head, and saw it was not Carruthers. + +"Sorry," he said apologetically. "Thought it was someone else. You +must have imagined that I was off my head. It's a wonder I'm not. +Look at this: here am I up to my eyes in work, and I get this sort of +thing fired at me." + +Ross looked at the tendered document. It was headed: "Queries in the +Store Ledger", and the gem to which the harassed A.P. had referred was +as follows:-- + +"4 oz. tin-tacks. Please say if these are synonymous with 'tacks +tinned'." + +The midshipman laughed. The A.P. glared. + +"Some rotten idiot drawing five hundred a year evidently doesn't +realize it's war-time," he growled. "Now, what can I do for you?" + +At length the midshipman received the necessary coin. He was about to +leave the officer when he found himself face to face with John Barry, +now a Lieutenant-Commander, R.N.R. + +"Bless my soul, Trefusis!" exclaimed Barry cordially. "I am glad to +see you. I heard the new _Capella_ was ordered round. How's everyone? +Thanks, I'm top-hole. In a deuce of a hurry! Look here, come on board +and see me to-night. The _Hunbilker_ is lying off Cromarty. Can you +manage it?" + +"I think so," replied Ross. + +"Very good; bring Haye with you. I'll send a boat at seven bells." + +Captain Syllenger readily gave the midshipmen permission. + +"It looks as if it might blow a bit before very long," he added. "If +so, remain on board until morning. It's no joke making a five-mile +trip in a steamboat on a pitch-dark night with a sea running." + +The lads were delighted at the prospect of the visit. They were both +awfully keen on John Barry; besides, they were rather anxious to see +what sort of command he had. The ship's name was enough to excite +their curiosity. She had evidently arrived later than the _Capella_, +for there was no sign of a craft bearing that name when the +patrol-vessel passed Cromarty on the previous afternoon. + +Punctually at seven bells a grey motor-boat dashed up alongside the +_Capella's_ gangway. Shrap, whose instinct told him that his young +master was leaving the ship, anticipated him by making a prodigious +bound from the side into the waiting boat, alighting upon the shoulders +of the coxswain, much to that worthy's astonishment. + +"Never mind, sir," replied the man, in answer to Vernon's apologies. +"I've a dog myself at home, very much like this one." + +"Let him come with us," suggested Ross. "He'll kick up an awful row if +you don't." + +So Shrap, coiled up in the stern-sheets, had his way. + +Having received the midshipmen, the boat turned and threshed its way in +the teeth of a strong easterly breeze. + +"Yes, sir, that's the _Hunbilker_," replied the coxswain in answer to +Vernon's query, as a large grey shape loomed through the twilight. + +"By Jove!" ejaculated Ross, absolutely taken aback. "She's a whopper. +Old Barry's got a battleship. If she isn't a sister ship to the +_Tremendous_, I'm a----" + +Fortunately for him, Ross refrained from saying what he might be, for +as things turned out he was wrong. The _Hunbilker_ commenced her +career as a 6000-ton merchantman, but no one would recognize her as +such. + +In all probability, but for the war, she would have ended her career as +such. But the Navy required her for a certain purpose, and loyally the +old tramp stepped into the breach. When, after a lapse of nine weeks, +she emerged from the repairing basin, her disguise was complete. She +looked to be what she was not. It is, therefore, no cause for +wonderment that the two midshipmen were deceived by the enormous +outlines of what appeared to be a formidable unit of the British Navy. +The _Hunbilker_ was, in short, a maritime ass in lion's skin, but her +role was none the less a responsible one. + +"I was rather doubtful whether you would turn up," remarked Barry. +"The glass is dropping like billy-ho, and there's a brute of a sea +tumbling in." + +"We need not return to-night," announced Ross. + +"That's capital," rejoined the Lieutenant-Commander. "I'll get the +hands to hoist in the boat and trice the accommodation-ladder up. We +roll like a barrel in a sea-way." + +"You've got a big command this time, sir," said Vernon. + +Barry smiled. + +"Yes," he replied. "Plenty of room, but the lighting 'tween decks is +rotten. All artificial, you know, except the little we get in through +the quarter-deck skylights. I'm expecting young Jolly; he's the A. P. +you saw ashore at Invergordon. Not a bad sort of youngster when he's +clear of his work. Would you like to look round before we go below?" + +"Of course the Germans know all about our dummy battleships," continued +Barry as he led the way. "They jeered at the scheme in the papers as +far back as last November twelvemonth." + +"Then what's the object?" asked Ross. + +"It muddles them up. They can't distinguish the _Tremendous_ from this +packet, especially in hazy weather. They've got to guess which is the +substance and which is the shadow. From actual results we know now +that the costly experiment has more than justified the expenditure." + +The Lieutenant-Commander and his young guests continued to talk shop +until it was time to go below. From that moment, conversation drifted +into other channels of more or less personal interest. + +Presently a loud whistle was heard from without. + +"That's Jolly," declared the Lieutenant-Commander. "It's the last boat +to-night, I fancy." + +A few minutes later the A. P., having divested himself of his dripping +oilies and sou'wester, was ushered into the cabin. Separated from his +duties as Accountant Officer, he was much the same as other men. Ross +could hardly believe that the jovial officer--for he did not now belie +his name--was the same explosive man who had figuratively lost his head +over four ounces of "tacks tinned". + +Dinner over, the four officers drew their chairs close to the fire and +yarned incessantly. Even the laboured rolling of the ship, the howling +of the wind overhead, and the _chouf chouf_ of the waves as they +slapped against the sides, failed to remind them that they were afloat +and in an exposed anchorage. + +"Heard from your sister recently?" enquired Barry, addressing the A. P. +He tried to ask the question in a natural tone of voice, but the +midshipmen were quick to perceive a deepening of the tan in the +Lieutenant-Commander's weather-beaten face. + +"Had a letter only this morning," replied Jolly; "a fairly long one, +too. I suppose things have quieted down a bit after the rush. My +sister's a double one, you know," he added, turning to Ross and his +chum. + +"A what?" asked Ross. + +"She's my sister, and she's a nursing sister at a naval hospital," +explained the A.P. "There's a very quaint little bit. I must read it +to you." + +He produced an envelope from his pocket. + +"'You remember Marjory May?'" he read. "'She's had her wish. She +joined here as a probationer, on the day after that terrible destroyer +affair. We had most of the cases. One of the patients was a stoker, +who had been knocked about by a shell exploding in a bunker (whatever +that is--it sounds like golf). Marjorie had her first task--to wash +him before the doctor could operate. I went to see how she was +progressing, and found the poor girl on the verge of tears. 'Oh, +sister!' she exclaimed; 'I've been scrubbing him for ten minutes, and I +can't get him clean!' It was rather dull in the ward, so I switched on +the light. Then I saw the cause of Marjory's distress. The poor +stoker was a half-caste." + +"By Jove!" ejaculated the A.P. as a particularly savage gust laid the +ship well over. "It isn't half blowing!" + +"Yes, my festive friend," agreed Barry; "it is! Fortunately you are +not due back to-night. If you were it wouldn't signify, for I wouldn't +order a boat away on a night like this. To-morrow, if it hasn't +moderated--and the worst is yet to come--we'll weigh and stand up the +Firth into smoother water." + +There was a pause in the conversation. The din without was now +terrific. One of the worst of the winter gales was approaching its +climax--a furious nor'easter. + +"Come in!" shouted Barry as a knock was heard at the cabin door. + +"Wireless message, sir," announced one of the ship's boys. + +"Very good," replied the Lieutenant-Commander. Then, after the +messenger had backed out, he started to his feet. + +"I say, you fellows!" he exclaimed. "Here's a pretty kettle of fish: +'Flag to _Hunbilker_: Proceed to sea at once. Rendezvous Lat. 5 deg. E., +Long. 57 deg. 30' N.' That means, whether you like it or whether you +don't, you're bound for the Baltic." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +The Affair off Kiel + +Clad in their oilskins over their greatcoats, the two midshipmen +accompanied Barry to the bridge. The A. P., on second thoughts, +decided to remain below. He had a rooted objection to getting his +glasses smothered in spray if it could be avoided. + +Steam had been raised a week ago, when the _Hunbilker_ left Newcastle +for Cromarty, so there was no delay on that account. Already the steam +capstan was clanking dolorously as fathom after fathom of chain crept +with seeming reluctance through the hawse-pipe. + +It was a night. Towering seas, sweeping in from the exposed Moray +Firth, surged madly into the more sheltered inlet where the dummy +battleship strained at her cable. The air was thick with sleet. +Overhead, black clouds scudded rapidly across the moon. + +Even though the ship was partly under the lee of the projecting ground, +the midshipmen knew that it would be hopeless to attempt to lower a +boat. For good or ill they were bound to remain on board. + +"Suppose it's all right," remarked Ross. "We may get a chance of doing +something, far more so than if we were on board the _Capella_, now this +submarine blockade fiasco is finished. At any rate it's not our fault +we're here." + +"But our good fortune," added Vernon. "Evidently there's a big affair +coming off, though I can't quite see what this vessel's going to do in +it." + +For fifteen hours of darkness the _Hunbilker_ plodded steadily onwards. +No lights were shown, yet it was a known fact that at least thirty +vessels of various types were converging upon the rendezvous. + +Captain Barry never once quitted the bridge. Although his lofty post +was constantly deluged by clouds of icy spray, and the weather side of +the bridge-rail canvas was inches deep in sleet, he braved the elements +through watch and watch, snatching a hasty meal of cocoa (which was +cold by the time it reached him) and biscuits under the lee of the +chart-house. + +Day dawned at last. Ross and Vernon, who had gone below to snatch a +few hours' sleep, came on deck to find the _Hunbilker_ at the +rendezvous. She lay in the midst of a fleet. There were the great +battle-cruisers, Dreadnoughts and their replicas, light cruisers, and a +galaxy of torpedo-boats--the latter swept from stem to stern by the +waves. + +Without any appreciable weakening of the Grand Fleet, this maritime +force had been assembled for particular service--presumably in the +Baltic, although no orders to that effect had yet been received. + +All that short January day the fleet steamed slowly eastward, while +signal flags fluttered incessantly. No hostile submarine put in an +appearance. Either the Germans feared the swift destroyers that +encircled the large vessels, or else they were in ignorance of the +presence of the British within four hours' steaming of their shores. + +It was not until night that the _Hunbilker_ received her orders. She +had to proceed in advance of the destroyers, and under cover of +darkness pass through the Great Belt. Having done so, she was to be +run aground on a shoal between the Danish island of Laaland and the +Prussian island of Fehmern, the latter being within forty miles of the +stronghold of the German Navy at Kiel. + +Then she was to await developments. If attacked by submarines, the +British destroyers would dash in; but what the British Admiral fondly +hoped was that the hostile battleships or armoured cruisers would not +be able to resist the temptation of sallying forth from Kiel to give +the supposed Dreadnought her _coup de grace_. In this case our +submarines would "chip in", and possibly the battle-cruisers might +score with their deadly and accurate long-range salvoes. + +"It's not so risky as it looks," commented Barry as he explained the +tactics to the midshipmen. "You see, they can torpedo us as much as +they like, and blow the dummy sides of the ship to bits piecemeal. We +can't sink, since we'll be hard aground. We can't take fire--at least, +it would be quite a job to get any part of her to burn without being +able to keep the flames under control. Gunnery, of course, puts a +different aspect on the subject. If the enemy start shelling us with +their heavy guns, then the sooner we abandon ship and clear out the +better, and leave our big cruisers to mop up the Huns." + +Grey dawn was breaking when the _Hunbilker_, having made the passage +through the Great Belt, ran gently aground at the spot indicated in the +Admiral's orders. Away in the sou'west, a glare in the sky that was +rapidly fading with the growing morn indicated the search-lights of the +Kiel defences. Eastwards, two huge grey shapes loomed ghost-like in +the half-light. Whether they were British cruisers or decoys, or even +German battleships, Ross could not determine. + +The _Hunbilker_ lay with a slight list to starboard. All around her +the sea was covered with drifting ice. An utter stillness brooded over +everything. The silence was in keeping with the scene of desolation. + +Suddenly the deafening blast of the _Hunbilker's_ siren rent the air. +It was the prearranged signal that she was in readiness; it was also +her challenge to the Kiel-tied German fleet. + +Ten minutes later a lurid flash, followed by a dull booming noise, came +from the nearmost of the two vessels Ross had previously noticed. + +"Either mine or torpedo," remarked Barry casually. "It doesn't +signify. They won't sink her in a hurry." + +"What is she, sir?" asked Vernon. + +"Our opposite number, the _Snark_," replied the Lieutenant-Commander. +"See, she's steaming northwards, without any apparent injury. It will +be our turn before very long." + +At frequent intervals the siren shrieked, as if calling to the rest of +the squadron for assistance. Then out of the rising mist, for with the +break of day a thin pall of vapour rose from the ice-flecked water, +leapt two German torpedo-boats. + +"Port side, all hands!" roared Barry. + +Officers and crew put the greatest possible distance between them and +the side of the ship exposed to the hostile craft. Without slackening +speed, the torpedo-boats described a sharp curve. Their officers must +have wondered why they were not greeted by the stranded battleship's +quick-firers. As they turned, two gleaming objects flopped +ungracefully from their decks and disappeared with a splash beneath the +surface. Each boat had fired a torpedo from her broadside tubes. + +From the place where the midshipmen stood, they were not able to follow +the track of the formidable missiles; but they had not long to wait. +Both torpedoes struck almost simultaneously--one abreast of the for'ard +dummy turret, the other fifty feet farther aft. + +High in the air rose a column of water mingled with fragments of iron +plating; while in their place of hiding the two lads were smothered +with cork-dust and blackened cotton that had been blown from the space +betwixt the outer and inner hulls. + +"It's lucky for us that they didn't use their quick-firers," remarked +Barry. "They would have pulverized us before our destroyers romped up. +By Jove, Haye, that dog of yours looks as though he likes it! Hulloa! +There you are!" + +The Lieutenant-Commander pointed to the southward. A rift in the mist +disclosed a two-masted, two-funnelled armoured cruiser about two miles +off. + +"The _Prinz Heinrich_ or the _Fuerst Bismarck_," declared Barry. "We've +turned 'em out. Hope to goodness our little lot will be in time to +snap them up. Unless I'm much mistaken, there are two more astern of +her." + +Almost as he spoke, a spurt of flame rent the dull sky. Then, to the +accompaniment of a vivid flash and an ear-splitting detonation, a +5.9-inch shell burst against the for'ard dummy turret of the +_Hunbilker_. + +When the smoke had cleared away, guns, turret, and conning-tower, +together with a portion of the bridge, had vanished. + +"All hands abandon ship!" ordered Barry, as a salvo of light +projectiles flew round, over, and through the decoy. + +It was quite time. Several men had been hit, since there was nothing +to afford complete protection from the hail of shells. The difficulty +was to find a boat that was seaworthy, since these suffered almost at +once from the flying fragments of metal. + +"Hurrah, sir!" shouted one of the men. "There are our destroyers." + +He was right. Seven British destroyers were tearing through the water, +intent upon giving the Germans the punishment that they had boasted to +inflict upon the strafed Englishmen--a hussar stroke. + +Instantly the galling fire ceased. The German cruiser had all her work +cut out to endeavour to beat off her wasp-like antagonists. + +The _Hunbilker_ was doomed. In spite of elaborate precautions against +fire, she was burning furiously. Her fo'c'sle was a mass of flames, +generated by the intense heat of the first shell that had struck her. +Smaller fires, too, had started in other parts of the ship. + +But help was at hand. One of the covering destroyers had witnessed her +plight. Adroitly manoeuvring, she came right alongside the burning +ship. + +"Jump, men!" shouted Barry. + +There was no time to be lost. The danger of the flames communicating +with the shells and war-heads on the destroyer's deck was to be taken +into consideration. + +"Come on, old man!" exclaimed Ross, as his chum looked anxiously about +him. + +"Where's Shrap?" asked Vernon. "He was here a minute ago." + +In the confusion, occasioned by the rush of men to leap upon the +destroyer, the dog had vanished. + +Without a word Vernon ran towards the companion leading to the +half-deck. Above the roar of the flames and the hissing of steam, he +had heard the well-known bark of his pet. + +"Silly ass!" muttered Ross; but he, too, followed his chum. + +Wreaths of thin smoke were issuing from the companion as Ross gained +the head of the ladder. Putting his muffler round his mouth, he groped +his way down. 'Tween decks the air was full of smoke. He could hear +Shrap's insistent bark, and Vernon's voice as, amidst fits of coughing, +he called to his canine companion. + +"Whatever is the matter with the brute?" thought Ross, as he fought his +way along the half-deck. + +A gaping hole in the ship's side admitted sufficient light to enable +him to discern his comrade backing from one of the cabins. Shrap was +preceding him, while Vernon was dragging something limp and heavy. It +was the body of the luckless A. P. + +Without a word, for the atmosphere was hot and choky, Ross bore a hand. +Stumbling and slipping, the two lads bore their burden to the +companion, and by dint of much exertion carried Jolly on deck. + +"Is he dead?" asked Ross, after he had refilled his lungs with less +smoke-laden air. + +"I don't think so," said Vernon. "It was good old Shrap that found +him." + +The A. P. was below when the salvo from the German cruiser struck the +ship. He had gone to the cabin temporarily allotted to him to obtain +some small but cherished belonging. A fragment from one of the shells +had inflicted a nasty scalp wound, stretching him senseless upon the +floor. + +Had it not been for the sheep-dog, whose sagacity made him recognize +that Jolly was a friend of his master's, the A. P. would have ended his +career in the burning hull of the _Hunbilker_. + +"Hurry up!" exclaimed Ross. "Let's get him aboard the destroyer." + +Between them they carried the insensible officer across the +quarter-deck, but as they reached the side abreast the wreckage of the +superstructure they came to an abrupt halt. + +The destroyer had sheered off and was out of sight. + +"Now what's to be done?" asked Vernon, aghast at the latest turn of +fortune. + +They laid the A. P. on the deck and looked over the side. Still made +fast to the falls was a whaler, with her keel ten feet above water. +When the order had been given to abandon ship, the boat had been +lowered, but the appearance of the destroyer had done away with the +necessity of having to make use of her. + +"Lower away!" ordered Ross. + +Checking the descent by taking a turn round the cleats, the lads +allowed the whaler to reach the water. To their satisfaction they +found that she leaked but very little. Oars and crutches were already +on board, together with mast and sail. + +"Down you get," said Ross. "Let go the after disengaging gear, then +stand by. I'll let Jolly down to you." + +Vernon quickly swarmed down the falls, while his chum carried the A.P. +to the now empty davit. Taking a few turns with his strong muffler +round the chest of the unconscious man, Ross engaged the hook of the +lower block, and slowly lowered him into Vernon's arms. Shrap followed +in a similar manner, since the drop was too great for him to leap +without risk of limb. Then Ross climbed down and gained the boat. He +was not a minute too soon, for the flames were drawing nearer and the +heat was becoming almost unbearable. + +Placing Jolly in the stern-sheets, the lads stepped the mast and +hoisted sail. Nothing else was in sight, although the rumble of heavy +firing was still audible. + +"I'll steer north," declared Ross, who had taken the helm, while Vernon +attended to the A.P.'s ugly wound. "If we are not picked up by one of +our own boats, we are almost bound to hit one of the Danish islands." + +There was but little wind. What there was, blew from a couple of +points abaft the beam, so that the little craft was able to lie +comfortably upon her course. + +At length Jolly opened his eyes. Somewhat to his companions' amusement +his first words were: + +"Dash it all! Where did I leave my glasses? Hulloa! I've been +plugged. Where am I?" + +He attempted to sit up, but promptly subsided upon the gratings in the +stern-sheets, and in a very short time he began to talk incoherently, +and finally dropped off into a fitful slumber. + +The fog had now increased in density, so that it was no longer possible +to see more than a hundred yards ahead. Several vessels moving at high +speed passed within hailing distance, but no reply came to the lads' +shouts. + +"There's a hail!" exclaimed Vernon. + +Again came the sound of a human voice. It was a call for aid, and was +uttered in German. + +"Steady!" cautioned Vernon, as Ross put the helm down. "We don't want +to run alongside a cargo of Huns." + +"There's only one, I should imagine," replied his chum. "At any rate +we'll have a look. If there are too many, we'll sheer off." + +Guided by the repeated calls for assistance, the midshipmen came in +sight of a disabled boat. It had been holed, and was kept afloat only +by some of its air-tanks which had escaped damage. The gunwales, +jagged by shell-fire, were showing only a few inches above the water. +The stern was almost awash, but the bows rose sufficiently high for the +forefoot to be seen. Crouching on the for'ard thwart was a German +officer. He was bareheaded. The collar of his greatcoat was turned +up. His face was blanched by the intense cold. As the whaler +approached and he saw that it was a British one, he held up his hands +in token of surrender. + +Dropping to leeward, Ross luffed smartly. The whaler lost way almost +alongside the waterlogged boat. + +Awkwardly the German clambered over the gunwale, for his limbs were +numbed. Then, as soon as he was safely on board, he drew a revolver +from the pocket of his greatcoat and fired twice in quick succession. + +Ross saw his chum throw up his arms and pitch across the centre thwart. +The next instant he felt a stinging pain in his shoulder, as if it were +pierced by a red-hot needle. + +"The brute has plugged me!" was the thought that flashed through his +mind, as he subsided heavily upon the grating by the side of the A. P. + +He was still conscious, although everything seemed misty. Up to a +certain point he remembered exactly what happened, for with a sudden +spring Shrap flew at the treacherous Teuton's throat. + +Again and again the German fired, wildly and in the air, for the +sheep-dog had him fixed in his unyielding jaws, shaking the fellow like +a rat. Unable to move a limb, Ross remained conscious until the issue +was decided and victory rested with the devoted Shrap; then his head +dropped upon his chest and everything became a blank. + + * * * * * + +Ross Trefusis recovered consciousness to find himself in hospital on +the East coast. In the next cot was Jolly, cutting a sorry figure with +his head swathed in surgical bandages. Vernon was in an adjoining +ward, making a promising recovery from the wound caused by the cowardly +German's bullet that had passed between his ribs, fortunately just +missing his lungs. + +It was not until a week later that Ross heard of the manner of his +rescue. The whaler had been picked up by a destroyer. In it they +found the three wounded British officers, and a dead German with his +throat fearfully lacerated. Not only had Shrap saved the situation, +but he had helped still further to save his master's life, for it was +owing to the warmth of the dog's body that Vernon was saved from death +by exposure. + +One of the first of visitors to Ross's bedside was John Barry, now +Commander Barry, R.N.R., D.S.O. + +"And how did the scrap come off?" asked Ross. + +"Fairly well," replied the Commander. "We bagged a cruiser and a +couple of destroyers. The old _Hunbilker_ justified her existence, you +see." + +"I'm afraid Haye and I are out of the running," remarked Ross +disconsolately. + +"Not a bit of it," replied Barry in his breezy way. "Not a bit of it. +You'll both be as fit as fiddles in a couple of months. The Navy's +pushing on with the job all right, Ross, but it's slow and sure. +You'll be at it again long before the end." + +Ross gave a sigh of satisfaction. + +"Sounds promising, sir, doesn't it?" he exclaimed. + + + + +By PERCY F. WESTERMAN + +"No boy alive will be able to peruse Mr. Westerman's pages without a +quickening of his pulses."--Outlook. + + +With Beatty off Jutland. A Romance of the Great Sea Fight. + +The Submarine Hunters. A Story of Naval Patrol Work. + +A Lively Bit of the Front. A Tale of the New Zealand Rifles on the +Western Front. + +A Sub and a Submarine. The Story of H.M. Submarine R19 in the Great +War. + +Under the White Ensign. A Naval Story of the Great War. "No one can +tell sea stories like Percy F. Westerman."--Outlook. + +The Dispatch-Riders: The Adventures of Two British Motor-cyclists with +the Belgian Forces. "No boy will find a dull page in Mr. Westerman's +story."--Bookman. + +The Sea-girt Fortress: A Story of Heligoland. "Mr. Westerman has +provided a story of breathless excitement, and boys of all ages will +read it with avidity."--Athenaeum. + +Rounding up the Raider: A Naval Story of the Great War. + +The Fight for Constantinople: A Tale of the Gallipoli Peninsula. +"Breathless adventures crowd into this thrilling story.... It teems +with enthralling episodes and vivid word-pictures."--British Weekly. +"The reader sits absolutely spellbound to the end of the +story."--Sheffield Daily Telegraph. + +Captured at Tripoli: A Tale of Adventure. + +"We cannot imagine a better gift-book than this to put into the hands +of the youthful book-lover, either as a prize or +present."--Schoolmaster. + +The Quest of the "Golden Hope": A Seventeenth-century Story of +Adventure. "The boy who is not satisfied with this crowded story must +be peculiarly hard to please."--Liverpool Courier. + +A Lad of Grit: A Story of Restoration Times. 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