CHAPTER XV
Disabled
Not a sound came from the lips of the crew. Holding on to what camenearest to hand, they steadied themselves until the submerged craftceased her violent motion. To add to the horror of the situation, theconcussion had broken most of the electric lamps, and practically thewhole of the interior of the submarine was plunged into darkness, savefor the fitful sparking of the electric motors.
Yet there was no irresistible inrush of the sea. Somewhere aft couldbe distinguished the hiss of water as a thin stream forced its waythrough a strained seam.
"She's stood it, lads!" exclaimed the Lieutenant-Commander cheerily.
Producing an electric torch from his pocket the skipper flashed it onthe depth gauge. The indicator registered seventy feet, and the vesselwas still descending.
"Stop both engines!" he ordered. "Blow auxiliary tanks!"
Slowly the downward movement ceased, and upon regaining a depth ofsixty feet the order was given to "stand by".
"Starboard horizontal rudder has jibbed, sir," announced one of thecrew.
"Bow diving-planes all right?" asked Huxtable.
"I think so, sir."
"Very good. Hello! There's the fun about to commence."
The remark was caused by the muffled sounds of bursting shell. TheTurks, alarmed by the explosion, had opened a frantic fire upon thespot where the column of water, hurled high in the air by thedetonation, had subsided.
"Let them waste their precious ammunition!" remarked theLieutenant-Commander grimly. "We're as safe as houses here."
"Except that we haven't a back door," thought Dick, whose views uponthe subject of mine-dodging had undergone a sudden and complete change.
Meanwhile one of the engine-room artificers had been busily engaged infitting new lamps. Fortunately, none of the electric wiring had beendamaged, and in a short space of time the interior of the submarine wasonce more flooded with light.
Already the leak had been stopped, while examination showed that noserious damage had been done to the plating or framework.
"Can't understand how a mine was submerged to that depth," remarkedDevereux, the Acting Sub-lieutenant of the submarine, to Dick, "unlessit had become partially water-logged. We must have hit it fair andsquare. The skipper's patent gadget saved us."
"It won't do so again--at least, on the port side," said Dick. "Iguess it's blown to blazes."
"Well, we'll see presently," rejoined Devereux. "When the Turks havefinished this rumpus and we're a little farther on our weary way, we'regoing to ascend for a breather. It may be the last chance for a coupleof days or so."
An hour later, having penetrated well into the Sea of Marmora, theskipper gave orders for the vessel to be brought awash. It wanted onehour and forty-five minutes to sunrise, so that in order to takeadvantage of the dark, the breathing-space had to be limited tothree-quarters of an hour--unless suddenly curtailed by the approach ofany hostile craft.
The crew assembled on deck in watches, every man drinking in the purenight air--not that the atmosphere 'tween decks was impure, for, thanksto the chemical processes to safeguard the crew, the air was wholesomeand capable of being endured without discomfort for days, shouldoccasion arise. Nevertheless the gallant and daring men lost no chanceof getting into the open air: for one reason, it economized the oxygenpurifiers; for another, the men never knew when a similar chance mightoccur again.
While the submarine was running on the surface, thereby saving thedynamos, since she was being propelled by the petrol engines,opportunity was taken to examine the damage caused by the explosion ofthe mine.
It was found that one of the fore-and-aft girders had been shatteredfor a length of nearly fifteen feet, and some of the connecting bracesand struts had been twisted and buckled. In addition, one of thehorizontal rudders had been bent almost to a semicircle, a fact thataccounted for the submarine's failure to maintain a given depth withoutuse of the auxiliary ballast.
"Your device saved us, sir," remarked Crosthwaite. "Close contact withthat mine would have pulverized the plating."
"Yes, it has," assented Huxtable. "But unfortunately it wouldn't serveits purpose a second time if we found a mine in the same spot. Morethan that, the shattered girder is an encumbrance. Instead of wardingoff the mooring wire of an anchored mine, that jagged projection wouldfoul it, for a moral cert. It will have to come off while we've achance. We must also unship the damaged rudder and do our best to bendit straight again. If we cannot, it would be better to do without it,and rely upon the port horizontal rudder and the two bow diving-planes."
"Will it interfere with the manoeuvring of the vessel?" asked Dick.
"Certainly, but only to a certain extent. We won't be able to dive sopromptly, but that is all. Needless to say I would rather get thething ship-shape, if it can be done."
While the artificers were busily engaged in cutting away the afterportion of the damaged girder, and rounding off the broken part thatterminated nearly abaft the after quick-firing gun, others of the crewrigged up a pair of sheerlegs and proceeded to unship the injuredrudder, the engines being stopped and the submarine trimmed by its headto enable this to be done.
It was soon evident that the men at their disposal were not sufficientto straighten out the buckled plate. It was a job which would have tobe undertaken at Malta Dockyard, should the submarine have the goodfortune to return from her hazardous mission.
"Hard lines!" muttered Huxtable. Then aloud he exclaimed: "Pass thething below, lads; what can't be cured must be endured."
The useless rudder was lowered through the torpedo hatch, all lightsbelow being switched off during the operation, lest a stray beam shouldreveal the presence of the British craft to an alert hostile ship orbattery.
Presently one of the artificers appeared and saluted theLieutenant-Commander.
"Is that you, Parsons?" asked the latter, for in the gloom he wasunable to distinguish the petty officer's features.
"Yes, sir," replied the artificer. "I'd like to make a suggestion,sir, about that damaged rudder."
"Carry on, then."
"We've a piece of steel plating in the engine-room--a part of the floorover the lubricating-oil tanks. It's just about the size of therudder--a question of a few inches either way at the very outside. Ithought we might perhaps drill it, and use the braces that came off theold rudder."
"How long will it take you?" asked the skipper.
"A matter of twenty minutes to drill the holes, sir, and say anothertwenty to ship the thing and connect up the rods."
"Good--carry on!" said Huxtable encouragingly.
The artificer hurried below, and, assisted by willing hands, proceededwith the self-imposed task. The work had to be done as silently aspossible, lest the noise, travelling far on the quiet night air, shouldbetray their presence.
"Capital man that!" remarked the Lieutenant-Commander to Dick. "Iwouldn't mind betting a month's pay that he'll turn out the completejob before the elapse of the time he mentioned. Otherwise I wouldn'tcare to let him tackle it, for it will be dawn very soon. Fortunately,it looks a bit misty. I shouldn't be surprised if we have a thick hazewhen the sun rises, in which case we can afford to keep on the surfacea little longer."
His prognostics were correct, for with the first blush of dawn alow-lying layer of vapour began to roll across the surface of the sea.The submarine, rendered invisible even at a short distance, was fairlysafe from surprise, since the sound-conducting properties ofmoisture-laden atmosphere would enable her crew to detect the approachof another vessel by the thud of her engines long before she camewithin observation.
"May as well enjoy a smoke, Crosthwaite," remarked Huxtable, producinga cigarette-case. "It's a good chance, since it's too light for theglimmer of a cigarette to be detected, even if there were no mistshanging about. Mr. Devereux, you might pass the word for the hands ondeck to smoke."
Gladly the thoughtful concession on the part of the skipper
was actedupon. The men, producing pipes and cigarettes, fully appreciated theorder, since smoking and the use of matches were rigidly forbidden downbelow, owing to the danger of petrol fumes.
Presently the sun rose above the hills on the Asiatic shore, sheddingstreaks of crimson across the eastern sky. Athwart the rays wisps ofragged clouds and "wind-galls" betokened rough weather at no distantdate.
"I hear we're having a shot at Constantinople, sir," remarked Farnworthto Dick. "Mr. Devereux has been telling me that we're also going tohave a look at Scutari. Won't the Turks have a surprise!"
"Naturally," replied Dick. "And we've a lot in our favour. They'lltake it for granted that a Russian submarine has been operating fromthe Black Sea, and consequently they will devote all their energies topreventing her return through the Bosphorus. That will give us arattling good chance to get back without being detected. By the by,how are you feeling--fit?"
"Spiffing!" replied the midshipman. "I really must have a shot for thesubmarine branch after this. The only thing I feel I want to do is tostretch my legs."
"I should have thought you had enough of that when we tramped over thehills from Medjidieh," remarked the Sub.
"That's just it--too much at one time and not enough the next. Theresult is that I'm as stiff as blazes for want of homeopathictreatment."
The midshipman, who, like his brother officer, had taken an earlyopportunity to discard his captured German uniform, was arrayed in apair of trousers belonging to Devereux--which fitted only where theytouched--and a sweater. Yet, strangely enough, the cap lent him by theActing Sub of the submarine was much too small for him, owing to thefact that his head had not regained its normal size after the blow hehad received on the occasion of the "little scrap" in Yenikeui Bay.
With some minutes to the good, Parsons re-appeared on deck and reportedthat the rudder was ready to be shipped. With the aid of half a dozenseamen, the metal plate was whipped on deck and taken aft. Here, bydint of working up to their knees in water, the artificers succeeded inbolting it in position, and the preliminary trial of the actuating rodsgave promise of success.
"Excellent, Parsons!" declared the Lieutenant-Commander warmly. "I'lltake advantage of the first opportunity and report to the Admiral uponyour zeal and ingenuity."
Ordering the hands to their stations, Huxtable brought the craft awashand had the motors re-started. At a modest five knots, since speed wasno object, the submarine resumed her course. Huxtable's plan was tosubmerge as soon as Prince's Island--one of a group about ten or twelvemiles to the south-east of the Ottoman capital--came in sight, andremain on the bed of the sea until daybreak on the following day.Then, taking advantage of the early light, he would approach, with theperiscope frequently showing, until he "spotted" his prey--which hehoped would be the recreant German battle-cruiser _Goeben_, or, failingthat, the _Breslau_.
About mid-day Prince's Island hove in sight. The submarine, havingtaken her bearings, dived to avoid a fleet of feluccas evidentlyengaged in fishing; for only upon the supposedly impregnable Sea ofMarmora did the Turkish fishermen--all of them too old to be calledupon to serve in the Ottoman navy--dare to ply their business. Thefear of Russian destroyers had long before swept the Black Sea clear ofall Turkish merchantmen and small craft.
"May as well have a look round before we dive," declared Huxtable, asthe submarine reached her desired temporary resting-place. "The sun'sright behind us, and the glare will effectually prevent anyone on shorefrom spotting our periscope. I'm rather curious to know what thatsquare tower is, and whether it is armed."
Two hundred yards only from the lurking submarine the shore rose withcomparative steepness from the sea. According to the chart there was adepth of eight fathoms up to within twenty yards of the south side ofthe island, and owing to a faint southerly current, caused by thedischarge of the pent-up waters of the Bosphorus into the wide expanseof the Sea of Marmora, the water in the vicinity of the group ofislands was thick, and tinged with a sandy deposit, rendering it welladapted for purposes of submarine concealment.
Dead ahead was a small creek, on the eastern side of which was an oldstone tower, about thirty feet in height and capped by a loopholedparapet. On this flew the Ottoman Crescent, while the sun glinted uponthe bayonet of a befezzed sentry as he leisurely paced the ground infront of the low gateway. At the water's edge below the tower was arough wooden pier of less than twenty yards in length. It was in avery decrepit condition, for several of the piles were raking atalarming angles, while the single handrail in several places had brokenaway from its supports.
Even as the officers of the submarine kept the tower and its vicinityunder observation the sentry began to show signs of alacrity. Heshouted something--although no sound reached the confined space of thesubmerged vessel--and pointed sea-wards. Instantly Huxtable graspedthe wheel of the diving gear, at the same time ordering the men to"stand by".
But it was not on account of the submarine that the Turkish sentry gavethe alarm, for other soldiers, to the number of about a dozen, appearedand pointed seawards, but not in the direction of the lurking craft.One of them entered the tower, and presently hoisted a signal from thestumpy flagstaff.
Training the periscope astern, the Lieutenant-Commander discovered thereason for the excitement ashore. A small paddle-steamer wasapproaching from the direction of the Bosphorus.
"A representative of the Ottoman navy," said Huxtable with a laugh."Etiquette demands that we should not intrude, so we'll make ourselvesscarce."
Quickly, yet with hardly a swirl to denote her position, the submarinesank to the bed of the Sea of Marmora. Ten minutes later the dull thudof the steamer's paddles announced the fact that she was passing almostover her unsuspected enemy.
"We'll have another squint at her," decided the skipper. "It will befairly safe to do so, since the Turks will be fully occupied with thevisit of the vessel."
As soon as the periscope showed a foot above the water theLieutenant-Commander took a lengthy survey. Then he turned toCrosthwaite, who was the only other officer standing by the bowl of theperiscope.
"What do you make of that?" he asked.
Dick looked. The steamer was now berthed at the head of the pier, onwhich stood a Turkish lieutenant and the file of sun-helmeted soldiers,all with rifles and fixed bayonets. Passing up the gangway wereseveral men dressed in naval uniforms, while at their heels came moreOttoman soldiers.
"Our men!" exclaimed Dick.
"I think so, too," replied Huxtable, "but I am not absolutely certain.They are prisoners, that is quite evident."
The distance was too great to enable either of the two officers todistinguish details, but the captives were not Frenchmen: the absenceof the red tuft on their caps told that. They might be Russians, butit was impossible to see whether they wore the blue-and-white jerseysthat would in that case take the place of the flannel "pneumoniacatchers" worn by the British bluejacket. All the men wore beards,but, as Dick knew by personal experience, that might be owing to beingheld in captivity for several weeks without facilities for shaving.
As soon as the prisoners were ashore a Turkish officer came off thesteamer and engaged in conversation with the lieutenant in charge ofthe little garrison. A document, apparently a list of the prisoners,changed hands, and the two officers parted, the former returning onboard, while the lieutenant leisurely followed the men who wereescorting the prisoners towards the tower.
The steamer showed no signs of casting off. She strongly resembled theold Thames paddle-wheelers of thirty years or more ago; but a couple ofKrupp quick-firers were mounted behind light steel shields--onefor'ard, the other aft. As she rolled sluggishly in the slight swellit could be seen that the vessel's hull below the water-line wasthickly covered with weeds.
"A study in contrasts, sir," observed Dick. "Quick-firers and wirelessinstallation on board a ramshackle paddle-wheeler."
"M'yes," admitted Huxtable automatically, for his attention was centredupon the pro
gress of the little band of captives.
Closely guarded, they were marched into the tower. Only five soldierswent with them; the rest, having piled arms, either strolled back tothe pier or else made for a long, low building that served as abarracks.
Once more the submarine descended, for the steamer began to show signsof activity. The rhythmic beats of her paddles as she passed overheadgave Huxtable an inspiration.
"I'll follow her, by Jove!" he exclaimed. "Ten to one she's going backto Constantinople. It's too good a chance to lose!"