The Angel of the Revolution: A Tale of the Coming Terror

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  A BATTLE IN THE NIGHT.

  At half-past five on the morning of the 23rd of June, the Cunardliner _Aurania_ left New York for Queenstown and Liverpool. She wasthe largest and swiftest passenger steamer afloat, and on her maidenvoyage she had lowered the Atlantic record by no less than twelvehours; that is to say, she had performed the journey from Sandy Hookto Queenstown in four days and a half exactly. Her measurement wasforty-five thousand tons, and her twin screws, driven by quadrupleengines, developing sixty thousand horse-power, forced her throughthe water at the unparalleled speed of thirty knots, or thirty-fourand a half statute miles an hour.

  Since the outbreak of the war it had been found necessary to take allbut the most powerful vessels off the Atlantic route, for, as hadlong been foreseen, the enemies of the Anglo-German Alliance weremaking the most determined efforts to cripple the Transatlantic tradeof Britain and Germany, and swift, heavily-armed French and Italiancruisers, attended by torpedo-boats and gun-boats, and supported bybattle-ships and depot vessels for coaling purposes, were swarmingalong the great ocean highway.

  These, of course, had to be opposed by an equal or greater force ofBritish warships. In fact, the burden of keeping the Atlantic routeopen fell entirely on Britain, for the German and Austrian fleets hadall the work they were capable of doing nearer home in the Baltic andMediterranean.

  The terrible mistake that had been made by the House of Lords innegativing the Italian Loan had already become disastrously apparent,for though the Anglo-Teutonic Alliance was putting forth everyeffort, its available ships were only just sufficient to keep thehome waters clear and the ocean routes practically open, even for thefastest steamers.

  The task, therefore, which lay before the _Aurania_ when she clearedAmerican waters was little less than running the gauntlet for nearlythree thousand miles. The French cruiser which had been captured bythe _Andromeda_, thanks to the assistance of the _Ithuriel_, had leftBrest with the express purpose of helping to intercept the greatCunarder, for she had crossed the Atlantic five times already withouta scratch since the war had begun, showing a very clean pair of heelsto everything that had attempted to overhaul her, and now on hersixth passage a grand effort was to be made to capture or cripple thefamous ocean greyhound.

  It was by far her most important voyage in more senses than one. Inthe first place, her incomparable speed and good luck had made herout of sight the prime favourite with those passengers who wereobliged to cross the Atlantic, war or no war, and for the samereasons she also carried more mails and specie than any other liner,and this voyage she had an enormously valuable consignment of both onboard. As for passengers, every available foot of space was taken formonths in advance.

  Enterprising agents on both sides of the water had bought up everyberth from stem to stern, and had put them up to auction, realisingfabulous prices, which had little chance of being abated, even whenher sister ship the _Sidonia_, the construction of which was beingpushed forward on the Clyde with all possible speed, was ready totake the water.

  But the chief importance of this particular passage lay, thoughbarely half a dozen persons were aware of it, in the fact that amongher passengers was Michael Roburoff, chief of the American Section ofthe Terrorists, who was bringing to the Council his report of thework of the Brotherhood in the United States, together with theinformation which he had collected, by means of an army of spies, asto the true intentions of the American Government with regard to thewar.

  These, so far as the rest of the world was concerned, were a profoundsecret, and he was the only man outside the President's Cabinet andthe Tsar's Privy Council who had accurate information with regard tothem. The _Aurania_ was therefore not only carrying mails, treasure,and passengers, but, in the person of Michael Roburoff, she wascarrying secrets on the revelation of which the whole issue of thewar and the destiny of the world might turn.

  America was the one great Power not involved in the tremendousstruggle that was being waged. The most astute diplomatist in Europehad no idea what her real policy was, but every one knew that theside on which she threw the weight of her boundless wealth and vastresources must infallibly win in the long run.

  The plan that had been adopted by Britain for keeping the Atlanticroute open was briefly as follows:--All along the 3000 miles of thesteamer track a battleship was stationed at the end of every day'srun, that is to say, at intervals of about 500 miles, and patrolledwithin a radius of 100 miles. Each of these was attended by twoheavily-armed cruisers and four torpedo-boats, while between thesepoints swifter cruisers were constantly running to and fro convoyingthe liners.

  Thus, when the _Aurania_ left New York, she was picked up on thelimit of the American water by two cruisers, which would keep pacewith her as well as they could until she reached the firstbattleship. As she passed the ironclad these two would leave her, andthe next two would take up the running, and so on until she reachedthe range of operations of the Irish Squadron.

  No other Power in the world could have maintained such a system ofocean police, but Britain was putting forth the whole of her mightynaval strength, and so she spared neither ships nor money to keepopen the American and Canadian routes, for on them nearly half herfood-supply depended, as well as her chief line of communication withthe far East.

  On the other hand, her enemies were making desperate efforts to breakthe chain of steel that was thus stretched across the hemisphere, forthey well knew that, this once broken, the first real triumph of thewar would have been won.

  Five hundred miles out from New York the _Aurania_ was joined by the_Oceana_, the largest vessel on the Canadian Pacific line fromHalifax to Liverpool. So far no enemy had been seen. The two greatliners reached the first battleship together, and were joined by thesecond pair of cruisers. Before sunset the Cunarder had drawn aheadof her companions, and by nightfall was racing away alone over thewater with every light carefully concealed, and keeping an eagerlook-out for friend or foe.

  There was no moon, and the sky was so heavily overcast with clouds,that, under any other circumstances, it would have been the height ofrashness to go rushing through the darkness at such a headlong speed.But the captain of the _Aurania_ was aware of the state of the road,and he knew that in speed and secrecy lay his only chances of gettinghis magnificent vessel through in safety.

  Soon after ten o'clock lights were sighted dead ahead. The course wasslightly altered, and the great liner swept past one of the NorthGerman Lloyd boats in company with a cruiser. The private signal wasmade and answered, and in half an hour she was again alone amidst thedarkness.

  It was nearly eleven o'clock, when Michael Roburoff, who was standingunder the lee of one of the ventilators amidships, smoking a lastpipe before turning in, saw a figure muffled in a huge grey ulstercreeping into the deeper shadows under the bridge. It was so darkthat he could only just make out the outline of the figure, but hecould see enough to rouse his ever ready suspicions in the furtivemovements that the man was making.

  He stole out on the starboard, that is the southward, rail of thespar-deck, and Michael, straining his eyes to the utmost, saw himtake a round flat object from under his coat, and then look roundstealthily to see if he was observed. As he did so Michael whipped apistol out of his pocket, levelled it at the man, and said in a low,distinct tone--

  "Put that back, or I'll shoot!"

  For all answer the man raised his arm to throw the object overboard.Michael, taking the best aim he could in the darkness, fired. Thebullet struck the elbow of the raised arm, the man lurched forwardwith a low cry of rage and pain, grasped the object with his otherhand, and, as he fell to the deck, flung it into the sea.

  Scarcely had it touched the water when it burst into flame, and anintensely bright blaze of bluish-white light shot up, shattering thedarkness, and illuminating the great ship from the waterline to thetrucks of her masts. Instantly the deck of the liner was a scene ofwild excitement. In a moment the man whom Roburoff had wounded wassecured in
the act of trying to throw himself overboard. Michaelhimself was rapidly questioned by the captain, who was immediately onthe spot.

  He told his story in a dozen words, and explained that he had firedto disable the man and prevent the fire-signal falling into the sea.There was no doubt about the guilt of the traitor, for he himself cutthe captain's interrogation short by saying defiantly, in brokenEnglish that at once betrayed him as a Frenchman--

  "Yees, I do it! I give signal to ze fleet down there. If I succeeded,I got half million francs. I fail, so shoot! C'est la fortune de laguerre! Voila, look! They come!"

  As the spy said this he pointed to the south-eastern horizon. A briefbright flash of white light went up through the night and vanished.It was the answering signal from the French or Italian cruisers,which were making all speed up from the south-east to head off the_Aurania_ before she reached the next station and gained theprotection of the British battleship.

  The spy's words were only too true. He had gone to America for thesole purpose of returning in the _Aurania_ and giving the signal atthis particular point on the passage. Within ten miles were four ofthe fleetest French and Italian cruisers, six torpedo-boats, and twobattleships, which, by keeping well to the southward during the day,and then putting on all steam as soon as night fell, had managed tohead off the ocean greyhound at last.

  Two cruisers and a battleship with two torpedo-boats were coming upfrom the south-east; one cruiser, the other battleship, and twotorpedo-boats were bearing down from the south-west, and theremaining cruiser and brace of torpedo-boats had managed to slipthrough the British line and gain a position to the northward.

  This large force had not been brought up without good reason. The_Aurania_ was the biggest prize afloat, and well worth fighting for,if it came to blows, as it very probably would do; added to whichthere was a very good chance of one or two other liners fallingvictims to a well-planned and successful raid.

  The French spy was at once sent below and put into safe keeping, andthe signal to "stoke up" was sent to the engine-rooms. The firemenresponded with a will, extra hands were put on in the stokeholes, andthe furnaces taxed to their utmost capacity. The boilers palpitatedunder the tremendous head of steam, the engines throbbed and groanedlike labouring giants, and the great ship, trembling like some liveanimal under the lash, rushed faster and faster over the long darkrollers under the impulse of her whirling screws.

  There was no longer any need for concealment even if it had beenpossible. Speed and speed only afforded the sole chance of escape. Ofcourse the captain of the _Aurania_ had no idea of the strength ordisposition of the force that had undertaken his capture. Had heknown the true state of the case, his anxiety would have been a gooddeal greater than it was. He fully believed that he could outsteamthe vessels to the south-east, and, once past these, he knew that hewould be in touch with the British ships at the next station beforeany harm could come to him. He therefore headed a little more to thenorthward, and trusted with perfect confidence to his heels.

  Michael Roburoff was the hero of the moment, and the captaincordially thanked him for his prompt attempt to frustrate theatrocious act of the spy which deliberately endangered the libertyand perhaps the lives of more than a thousand non-combatants.Michael, however, cut his thanks short by taking him aside and askinghim what he thought of the position of affairs. He spoke so seriouslythat the captain thought he was frightened, and by way of reassuringhim replied cheerily--

  "Don't have any fear for the _Aurania_, Mr. Roburoff. That's only acruiser, or perhaps a couple, down there, and the enemy haven't aship that I can't give a good five knots and a beating to. We shallsight the British ships soon after daybreak, and by that time thosefellows will be fifty miles behind us."

  "I have as much confidence in the _Aurania's_ speed as you have,Captain Frazer," replied Michael, "but I'm afraid you are underratingthe enemy's strength. Do you know that within the last few days ithas been almost doubled, and that a determined effort is to be made,not only to catch or sink the _Aurania_, but also to break theBritish line of posts, and cut the line of American and Canadiancommunication altogether?"

  "No, sir," replied the captain, looking sharply at Michael. "I don'tknow anything of the sort, neither do the commanders of the Britishwarships on this side. If your information is correct, I should liketo know how you came by it. You are a Russian by name"--

  "But not a subject of the Tsar," quickly interrupted Michael. "I aman American citizen, and I have come by this information not as thefriend of Russia, as you seem to suspect, but as her enemy, or ratheras the enemy of her ruler. How I got it is my business. It is enoughfor you to know that it is correct, and that you are in far greaterdanger than you think you are. The signal given by that French spywas evidently part of a prearranged plan, and for all you know youmay even now be surrounded, or steaming straight into a trap that hasbeen laid for you. If I may advise, I would earnestly counsel you todouble on your course and make every effort to rejoin the other linerand the cruisers we have passed."

  "Nonsense, sir, nonsense!" answered the captain testily. "Ourwatch-dogs are far too wide awake to be caught napping like that. Youhave been deceived by one of the rumours that are filling the airjust now. You can go to your berth and sleep in peace, and to-morrowyou shall be half-way across the Atlantic without an enemy's ship insight."

  "Captain Frazer," said Michael very seriously, "with your leave Ishall not go to my berth; and what is more, I can tell you that veryfew of us will get much sleep to-night, and that if you do not back Ihardly think you will be flying the British flag to-morrow. Ha! lookthere--and there!"

  Michael seized the captain's arm suddenly, and pointed rapidly to thesouth-east and north-east. Two thin rays of light flashed up into thesky one after the other. Then came a third from the south-west, andthen darkness again. At the same instant came the hails from thelook-outs announcing the lights.

  Captain Frazer was wrong, and he saw that he was at a glance. Theflash in the north-east could not be from a friend, for it was aplain answer to the known enemy in the south-east, and so too in allprobability was the third. If so, the _Aurania_ was almostsurrounded.

  The captain wasted no words in confessing his error, but ran up on tothe bridge to rectify it as far as he could at once. The helm was puthard over, the port screw was reversed, and the steamer swung roundin a wide sweep, and was soon speeding back westward over her owntracks. An hour's run brought her in sight of the lights of the_North German_ and her escort. She slowed as she passed them, andtold the news. Then she sped on again at full-speed to meet the_Oceana_ and the two cruisers, which were about fifty miles behind.

  By one A.M. the three cruisers and the three liners had joinedforces, and were steaming westward at twenty knots an hour, theliners in single file led by a cruiser, and having one on each beam.Soon the flashes on the horizon grew more frequent, always drawingcloser together.

  Then those in the westward dropped from the perpendicular to thehorizontal, and swept the water as though seeking something. It wasnot long before the darting rays of one of the searchlights fellacross the track of the British flotilla. Instantly from all threepoints converging flashes were concentrated upon it, revealing theoutline of every ship with the most perfect distinctness.

  The last hope of running through the hostile fleet unperceived hadnow vanished. There was nothing for it but to go ahead full-speed,and trust to the chances of a running fight to get clear. With a viewof finding out the strength of the enemy, the British cruisers nowturned their searchlights on and swept the horizon.

  A very few moments sufficed to show that an overwhelming force wasclosing in on them from three sides. They were completely caught in atrap, from which there was no escape save by running the gauntlet.Whichever way they headed they would have to pass through theconverging fire of the enemy.

  The weakest point, so far as they could see, was the one cruiser andtwo torpedo-boats to the northward, and so towards them they headed.At the speed at which t
hey were travelling it needed but a fewminutes to bring them within range, and the British commandersrightly decided to concentrate their fire for the present on thesingle cruiser and her two attendants, in the hope of sinking thembefore the others could get into action.

  At three thousand yards the heavy guns came into play, and a storm ofshell was hurled upon the advancing foe, who lost no time in replyingin the same terms. As the vessels approached each other the shootingbecame closer and terribly effective.

  The searchlights of the British cruisers were kept full ahead, andevery attempt of the torpedo-boats to get round on the flank wasfoiled by a hail of shot from the quick-firing guns. Within fifteenminutes of opening fire one of these was sunk and the other disabled.The French cruiser, too, suffered fearfully from the tempest of shotand shell that was rained upon her.

  Had the British got within range of her half an hour sooner the planwould have been completely foiled. As it was, her fate was sealed,but it was too late. The three British warships rushed at hertogether, vomiting flame and smoke and iron across therapidly-decreasing distance, until within five hundred yards of her.Then the fire from the two on either flank suddenly stopped.

  The centre one, still blazing away, put on her forced draught,swerved sharply round, and then darted in on her with the ram. Therewas a terrific shock, a heavy, grinding crunch, and then the mightymass of the charging vessel, hurled at nearly thirty miles an hourupon her victim, bored and ground her resistless way into her side.

  Then she suddenly reversed her engines and backed out. In less thanthirty seconds it was all over. The Frenchman, almost cut in half bythe frightful blow, reeled once, and once only, and then went downlike a stone.

  But by this time the other two divisions of the enemy were withinrange, and through the roar of the lighter artillery now came thedeep, sullen boom of the big guns on the battleships, and the greatthousand-pound projectiles began to scream through the air and flingthe water up into mountains of foam where they pitched.

  Where one of them struck, death and destruction would follow assurely as though it were a thunderbolt from Heaven. The three linersscattered and steamed away to the northward as fast as theirpropellers would drive them. But what was their utmost speed to thatof the projectiles cleaving through the air at more than two thousandfeet a second?

  See! one at length strikes the German liner square amidships, andbursts. There is a horrible explosion. The searchlight thrown on hershows a cloud of steam and smoke and flame rising up from her rivendecks. Where her funnels were is a huge ragged black hole. This isvisible for an instant, then her back breaks, and in two halves shefollows the French cruiser to the bottom of the Atlantic.

  The sinking of the German liner was the signal for the appearance ofa new actor on the scene, and the commencement of a work ofdestruction more appalling than anything that human warfare had sofar known.

  Michael Roburoff, standing on the spar-deck of the flying _Aurania_,suddenly saw a bright stream of light shoot down from the clouds, andflash hither and thither, till it hovered over the advancing Frenchand Italian squadron. For the moment the combat ceased, so astoundedwere the combatants on both sides at this mysterious apparition.

  Then, without the slightest warning, with no flash or roar of guns,there came a series of frightful explosions among the ships of thepursuers. They followed each other so quickly that the darknessbehind the electric lights seemed lit with a continuous blaze oflivid green flame for three or four minutes.

  Then there was darkness and silence. Black darkness and absolutesilence. The searchlights were extinguished, and the roar of theartillery was still. The British waited in dazed silence for it tobegin again, but it never did. The whole of the pursuing squadron hadbeen annihilated.

  "This mysterious apparition."

  _See page 178._]