CHAPTER XXVII
A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE
The trouble had started in the engine room. Hardly had the _Bismarck_drawn clear of the fire of the German cruiser when one of the fivemembers of the German crew impressed into service fell over, apparentlyin a dead faint. The men, under Harris' watchful eye, had been workinghard and the first thought that struck the Englishman was that the manhad dropped from exhaustion.
Hastily he shoved one of his automatics in his belt and advancing,stooped over the man. Instantly, the other four Germans rushed for him.
Harris heard them coming and attempted to get to his feet. He was toolate. A heavy shovel, wielded by one of his four assailants, struck hima hard blow over the head and Harris fell to the deck unconscious.Quickly the men relieved him of his two weapons and then they held aconsultation.
"We must release the others first," said one man.
This plan was agreed upon and the man who had suggested it wasappointed to make his way to where the others were imprisoned and freethem. A moment later he slipped stealthily from the engine room and asstealthily approached the cabin where his fellow countrymen wereimprisoned. Inside, he closed the door quickly and in a low voicecautioned the others to silence.
Quickly he unloosened their bonds and the five sailors and two officersrose and stretched their cramped limbs. In a few words the Germansailor gave his officers the lay of the land and the first lieutenanttook command.
"In the next cabin," he said, "is a chest containing revolvers andammunition. Bring it here."
Two men hurried to obey and returned a few moments later bearing thechest. The two officers armed themselves and the men.
"These English must be very careless," said one, "else we would neverhave this chance."
The others agreed and the two officers considered what was best to bedone.
"How many are there, did you say?" asked the first officer of the manwho had released the others.
"There were nine, but we have disposed of the man in the engine room."
"Then we are twelve to eight. Good! First we will try and capture thebridge and the wheel. As we are in command of the engine room, the restshould be easy. It will not be necessary to capture all the English.With the bridge, wheel and engine room in our possession, we can runthe vessel back into the harbor. Come on, men!"
They advanced quietly from the cabin and made their way on deck. It wasthe appearance of the first head that had called forth a cry from oneof the British that had attracted von Ludwig's attention. Wheelingquickly, von Ludwig saw the Germans dash from below.
With a quick cry to the others, he drew his revolver and fired. One mantoppled over. The odds against the British were one less; but theothers sprang forward. Frank, at the wheel, was forced to maintain hisposition while the others did the fighting.
The lookout forward and the man stationed aft advanced to take part inthe fray, though keeping out of sight as well as possible.
"Turn the gun on them, men!" cried von Ludwig.
The three men who manned the gun sought to obey, but the gun stuck. Itwould not turn. Most likely it had been damaged in the battle with theGerman cruiser. The British tried the other guns, but with no betterresult.
"Stay where you are," shouted van Ludwig to the men at the guns. "Keepthem between us, if possible."
The gun crew, who had been on the point of trying to join von Ludwigand Jack, saw the strategy of this plan and stooped down behind theguns. The lookout forward also stepped behind the mainmast, where hebegan to blaze away at the foe. The man aft, by a dash, succeeded inreaching the side of von Ludwig and Jack.
Frank, at the wheel, was in a perilous situation, but there he haddetermined to stay until ordered to shift his position.
"Signal the engine room to slow down," said von Ludwig to Jack.
Jack obeyed and the ship came to a pause. Apparently the men belowbelieved the Germans had recaptured the ship.
"If Harris is still in command down there, we are all right," said vonLudwig. "If not, there will be more of the enemy up here in a minute."
And within a minute more of the enemy appeared.
"Back here, Chadwick!" exclaimed von Ludwig. "Never mind the wheel."
Frank sprang to the shelter of the bridge, Jack and von Ludwigprotecting his retreat. Frank drew his revolver.
A German poked his head from the companion-way and Frank took a snapshot. The head disappeared and there was a howl of pain.
"Got one, I guess," said the lad quietly.
The effect of this shot was to infuriate the Germans. The first officercommanded a charge on the bridge.
Ten men dashed forward at the word.
Now the four in the shelter of the bridge--von Ludwig, Frank, Jack andthe man who had come from the after part of the vessel, stood to theirfull height and fired into the crowd. From the rear, the three otherBritish also poured in a volley and the lookout stepped into the openand fired.
Caught thus between three fires, the Germans were at a loss what to do.
One man dropped and the others dashed for the protection of thecompanionway. Before reaching there, however, the first German officergave the command to scatter and several of the Germans postedthemselves behind whatever shelter offered on deck. The battle hadreached a deadlock.
The British could not expose themselves without danger of being struckby a German bullet; and the Germans confronted the same situation.
"Signal the engine room, Jack," instructed von Ludwig. "We must knowwhether Harris is still alive."
There was no response to the signal.
"Poor fellow," said von Ludwig. "They probably have done for him."
From time to time Jack signalled the engine room, thinking perhaps thatHarris had only been wounded and that he might answer. Upon the fifthsignal he received an answer.
Then Jack signalled: "Full speed ahead."
A moment later the vessel leaped forward. There came a cry ofconsternation from the Germans, who tumbled back down the steps. Asthey did so, Frank again sprang to the wheel and brought the head ofthe _Bismarck_ sharply about--for since he had released his hold on thewheel the vessel had been drifting.
Quickly the lad lashed the wheel with several lengths of cable and thensprang back to the bridge amid a volley of revolver bullets from theGermans who still held the deck. None hit him.
Below, in the engine room, Harris was facing heavy odds. Beforeanswering Jack's signal, after regaining consciousness, he had closedand barred the engine-room door and now he paid no attention to thehammering upon it. He smiled grimly to himself.
"You won't get in here as long as that door holds," he said. "Beforethat I should have assistance."
The pounding upon the door continued.
"We'll have to lend Harris a hand, sir," said Jack. "They are too manyfor him down there."
"The first man that steps clear of this bridge is likely to get shot,"declared von Ludwig. "However, as you say, we must lend him a hand." Hecalled to the men who were still safe behind the guns. "Make a rushthis way," he said. "We'll cover your retreat."
A moment later three forms flitted across the deck. Two German headswere raised from their cover. Frank accounted for one and von Ludwigfor the other. Thus were three of the enemy placed _hors de combat_.Seven had rushed below. There were still two left on deck.
A spurt of flame showed Jack where one was hidden.
With a quick move the lad sprang from the bridge and threw himself tothe deck on his face. There was another spurt of flame and a bulletwhistled over his head. Before the man could fire again, Jack hadleaped forward and seized him by his revolver arm. Angrily, the ladwrested the weapon from the man's grasp.
The latter drew a knife. There was but one thing for Jack to do.Quickly he raised his revolver, pointed it squarely at the German'sface, and fired.
A flash of flame had betrayed the hiding place of the last German ondeck. Two of the British rushed for him. The German accounted for bothof them before they c
ould reach him.
The losses so far, had been two British and four of the enemy. Therewere still six British on deck and a single German; but seven Teutonswere still hammering at the door of the engine room in an effort to getat Harris.
"We've got to get rid of this fellow on deck," muttered Frank. He spoketo one of the men near him.
"You advance from one side and I'll advance from the other," said thelad quietly. "The man, apparently, is a dead shot and he probably willget one of us. But he's dangerous there. He may fire at you and he mayfire at me, but the other will get him."
The man nodded that he understood, and one from each side of the bridgethey advanced.
As it transpired it was not Frank who was to pay the penalty for thisrash advance. Perceiving two men approaching, one from either side, theGerman fired. Quickly, Frank raised his revolver and also fired. TheGerman threw up his arms and fell to the deck.
Frank turned quickly and looked for the man who had left the shelter ofthe bridge with him. He lay prone on the deck.
"Poor fellow," said Frank. "Yet it had to be done. Just luck that itwasn't me."
"Deck's clear, sir," said Frank to von Ludwig. "Now to lend Harris ahand in the engine room."
"Forward, then," said von Ludwig. "All except you, Frank, and you,Jack. You two stay on deck. Take the wheel again, Frank. Jack, youstand at the head of the companionway and shoot the first German whoappears there."
"Very well, sir," said Jack, although he was disappointed that he wasnot permitted to go to Harris' aid.
"The others follow me," said von Ludwig.
There were but two other men that could follow.
"You are attempting too much, sir," said Jack.
"I think not," said von Ludwig, calmly.
He led the way below.