The Dreadnought of the Air

  CHAPTER VIII.

  WHITTINGHAME'S NARRATIVE.

  VAUGHAN WHITTINGHAME had not made the proposal on the spur of themoment. He already knew the circumstances under which Dacres had leftthe Service; he was aware that the young man was "down on his luck;"he also had found out that he had volunteered for the Royal FlyingCorps.

  Dacres was a man who could be useful to him in more ways than one. Hewas used to command; he had a thorough knowledge of armaments, andwhat was more essential he was used to navigating a ship and coulddetermine his position by either solar or stellar observation. Thecoolness with which he had followed Whittinghame into what might haveproved to be a dangerous trap convinced the latter that the ex-navalofficer was a man on whom he could entirely depend.

  "Conditionally--yes," replied Dacres, whereat his companion was evenbetter pleased. He was not a hot-headed man, he reflected.

  "What stipulations do you lay down?" he asked.

  "One only," answered Dacres. "That I am not called upon to assist incommitting any acts prejudicial to the interests of King andcountry."

  "That I can safely agree to. But before I give you any details as tothe nature of my masterpiece I ought to explain the reasons why Ihave undertaken a definite mission."

  "Quite so," assented Dacres.

  "You are not too tired? Would you rather turn in?"

  "Not in the least. Fire away; I am all attention."

  "You've heard, of course, of Valderia?" began Whittinghame abruptly.

  "Yes, that rotten tin-pot South American republic that owes its veryexistence to the jealousy between Chili and Peru."

  "That's the average Englishman's idea of Valderia. You can take itfrom me that that republic is greatly under-rated. The inhabitants,of course, are of the usual South American type: the better class areCreoles and the lower class are a mixture of Spanish, Negro, andIndian blood. You may remember President Santobar? He wasassassinated about two years ago--in March, 1917, to be correct. Hewas a most able ruler as far as order and progress went. Under hispresidency Valderia became prosperous. Gold was found there, andalso, although not generally known, platinum. That pair of horns, forexample, is overlaid with thin platinum from the San Bonetta mines.At current London prices that metal is worth at least eight thousandpounds.

  "My brother Gerald had a mining concession at San Bonetta, which isless than thirty miles from the capital, Naocuanha. He was held ingreat esteem by President Santobar, who often asked his advice onmatters concerning internal transport.

  "After a while prosperity turned the Valderians heads. They hankeredafter military and naval supremacy amongst the South Americanrepublics; and since Santobar was of a peace-loving disposition,there was a revolution and he was deposed. Four days after therevolution the president was murdered, and an octroon named DiegoZaypuru became dictator.

  "A glance at the map will convince anyone who studies the situationof the favourable physical conditions of Valderia. It has a fairextent of coast-line, possessing several deep and land-lockedharbours, while a semi-circle of lofty snow-capped mountains,breaking off abruptly at the coast on the northern and southernfrontiers, form a well-nigh impossible barrier between it and theneighbouring states.

  "Although the climate on the littoral is unhealthy it is quite thereverse on the three great terraces that lie between the sea and theSierras. Not only is there abundant mineral wealth, but two of theseplateaux are extremely suitable for raising corn and rearing cattle.

  "Had the Valderians contented themselves with their commercialadvantages they might easily, within a few years, have become themost prosperous state of South America, but their aptitude forcommerce was outweighed by their desire for the hollow glory of featsof arms.

  "One of President Zaypuru's first acts was to purchase aSuper-Dreadnought that had been constructed at Elswick to the orderof another South American republic; four ocean-going destroyers werebought from the Vulkan Yard at Stettin, and six semi-obsoletesubmarines were obtained from the French government. These formed thenucleus of the Valderian navy, while docks were constructed atZandovar, the port of Naocuanha.

  "At the same time an army of fifteen thousand men was raised, armedwith modern rifles, and drilled by ex-non-commissioned officers ofthe German army. Of course, President Zaypuru must have an aerialfleet, and with this object in view he sent for my brother.

  "Gerald and I had always been very keen on all matters appertainingto aviation and aeronautics. Before he left England for Valderia weprepared plans in duplicate of a veritable Dreadnought of the Air--infact, they were the plans from which my airship was constructed.

  "It was agreed that as soon as Gerald made sufficient money he was toreturn home, and both of us were to carry our long-cherished planinto effect.

  "Somehow, Don Diego Zaypuru came to know of the existence of theseplans, and sending for my brother offered him immense sums if hewould superintend the construction of an aerial Dreadnought on thelines indicated in the design.

  "Gerald had sufficient foresight to be prepared for a rupture. He hadalready sent home an amount more than enough to defray the cost ofbuilding and maintaining the projected airship. He was actually aboutto leave the country when the President's arbitrary summons waspresented to him.

  "There was no love lost between my brother and the murderer ofex-President Santobar. Gerald point-blank refused to have any truckwith Zaypuru; and because of this refusal my brother was arrested andthrown into prison, where he still remains.

  "It is with the primary object of rescuing my brother from theclutches of President Zaypuru that my Dreadnought of the Air--the'Meteor,' as I have named her--has now become an airship in being."

  "But surely," remarked Dacres, taking advantage of a pause in thenarrative, "surely the British government would take up the matter,since the life and liberty of one of its subjects is at stake?"

  "You have not yet heard all of the business, Dacres. In the firstplace, the lethargy of the British government is proverbial. The timehas passed when England would strike and explain afterwards. Now along-winded and generally futile course of diplomatic relations isthe order of things. My own opinion is that sooner than release mybrother President Zaypuru would put him out of the way, disclaimknowledge of the act, and if pressed offer apologies and a monetaryindemnity.

  "But there is another phase in the story of Valderia. You remember,of course, a renegade called von Harburg?"

  "The fellow Captain Restronguet tracked and eventually discovereddead somewhere in Portuguese East Africa. Yes, and curiously enough Imet Hythe in town this afternoon."

  "In all probability you'll meet again ere long; but to carry on. VonHarburg's base was in the Dutch East Indies, and, when the 'Vorwartz'was captured, the renegade's Sumatran retreat was occupied by Dutchtroops and the remainder of his gang dispersed.

  "The fellow whom von Harburg had left in charge of his repairing-basewas a Mexican named Reno Durango. He is a clever rascal, from allaccounts, for on being pushed out of Sumatra--he managed, by the by,to get clear with a tidy sum of money--he volunteered his services toPresident Zaypuru as adviser to the submarine branch of the infantValderian navy.

  "The semi-obsolete French submarines were equipped with many of vonHarburg's really dangerous means of offence; while Durango managed tobuild a large airship from the plans which had been found in Gerald'shouse. Of course that airship does not embody all my inventions,still it is not to be despised. I would class it as superior to anydirigible now owned by the Great Powers.

  "But to get back to the submarine part of my narrative. RenoDurango's ambition was to acquire the secrets of the British 'M'class of submarines--those built to the same type as the renowned'Aphrodite.' And with this object in view, I hear from a verytrustworthy source--from one of my brother's native assistants and areal loyal man to his employer's interests--that Durango is on hisway to England to attempt to steal the specifications from theBritish Admiralty."

  Dacres smiled.

  "Surely," he said in
credulously, "the fellow doesn't know the utterimpracticability of his scheme. His appearance, his accent, wouldbetray him. Besides, see how jealously those secrets are guarded."

  "Perhaps you do not know that this rascal was educated in England--ata public school near London. He speaks English perfectly. He is aswily as a fox, and since he has ample funds--well, there have beeninstances of high officials being known to sell state secrets for aconsiderable bribe, you know."

  "The Admiralty ought to be warned."

  "I agree with you. I mean to do so; but there is plenty of time.Durango is still on the high seas. Now you can follow my plan ofoperation. The 'Meteor' has now passed her final trials. In a fewdays I mean to offer my services to the Admiralty and to ask for aletter of marque to destroy the airship that the Valderian governmenthas taken under its protection. In the course of this operation Ihope to rescue my brother."

  "But Valderia is a friendly state. The republic has been recognizedby the Powers," objected Dacres.

  "Admitted; but the airship is still the private property of RenoDurango, and since that rogue is branded as an outlaw--for thedeclaration by the Great Powers against Karl von Harburg and his ganghas never been withdrawn--he is still the lawful prey to anyone whocan lay him by the heels."

  "When taking refuge in a neutral country?"

  "We'll see about that later on," rejoined Whittinghame grimly."Suppose we knock off now; you've quite enough to dream aboutto-night."

  "One moment," said Dacres, a thought flashing across his mind. "Whatis this fellow Durango like?"

  "I'll describe him--no, I won't. I've a photograph of him somewhere.I'll fetch it."

  "Don't trouble."

  "No trouble at all. Have another cigar."

  Whittinghame hurried out of the room, soon to return with a cabinetphotograph in his hand.

  "Here you are," he announced. Dacres took the photograph. One glancewas sufficient.

  "It strikes me rather forcibly that you are mistaken about RenoDurango," he remarked. "He is not on the high seas: he's in England.I travelled from Waterloo in the same carriage with him thisafternoon."