CHAPTER XXIII.
THE CHASE.
Lord Hastings stood at the periscope. Frank was on duty in the lookoutcompartment. Every man was at his post and ready for instant action.Torpedoes were in the tubes and every man stood at attention, for therewas no knowing at what moment they might come upon the enemy, and LordHastings had no mind to allow the enemy to fire the first shot.
Suddenly, as Frank peered intently into the murky water, a blindinglight dazzled his eyes; then, as suddenly, it was gone and all was blackbefore him.
The lad immediately summoned Lord Hastings, to whom he related thisstrange occurrence. The latter thought some time before replying:
"There is but one possible explanation. There can be no such lightbeneath the sea except that furnished by the hand of man. The Austriansubmarine must have some device similar to ours."
"There can be no other explanation, sir."
"And the result is that we shall have to be doubly careful," said LordHastings, as he returned to his post at the periscope.
Suddenly Jack, who stood near Lord Hastings, was startled to see hiscommander leap back and utter a loud exclamation.
"There she goes!" he cried. "Push her to the limit, Mr. Templeton."
In response to Jack's order the D-16 leaped ahead faster than before.
"Has he sighted our periscope, sir?" asked Jack.
"No, I do not think so, but for a submarine, she is moving with greatspeed."
"But not so fast as we are, sir?"
"I should say not quite. We appear to be gaining a trifle."
"She must be another surprise the enemy has been waiting to spring onus," said Jack.
"Undoubtedly; and the only thing that gives us the advantage is that weknow about what she can do and she has no idea what we can do; in factnot even that we are here."
"But she is bound to spot us unless we submerge," said Jack.
"True," said Lord Hastings, "but if we submerge she is likely to escapeus unless we use our searchlight. I would avoid letting her know we areat least on anything like even terms, if possible."
"I see, sir," said Jack. "Then the idea is to get as close as possiblewithout being seen, and the moment we are discovered we are to dive?"
"Exactly; and if we are so fortunate as to get close enough before beingseen, we will launch a torpedo immediately. But we must make the firstone count, or we may get the worst of it."
Lord Hastings ceased talking and peered intently into the periscope.
"Ten minutes more undiscovered," he said, "and we will have him."
Five minutes passed, six, seven, and then Lord Hastings gave anexpression of deep disgust.
"We have been discovered," he said. "Submerge five fathoms."
Jack gave the command and the periscope of the D-16 disappeared fromview of that of the enemy.
"Sheer off to starboard," ordered Lord Hastings. "Should we maneuveraright, we may bring up with her."
The D-16 sheered off and dashed forward some distance ere Lord Hastingsgave the command to rise that he might take another observation.
When the periscope was again above water. Lord Hastings looked quicklyaround, but could see nothing of the enemy; but even as he looked, theperiscope of the enemy's vessel bobbed up less than half a mile away.
Quickly Lord Hastings gauged the range and shouted:
"Submerge! Quick!"
Down went the D-16, and at the same instant Lord Hastings ordered:
"No. 4 torpedo!" and giving the range as he had gauged it, commanded:
"Ready!"
"Fire!"
For a moment after the "click" which told that the torpedo had beenlaunched, there was silence. Then Lord Hastings signalled for a rise,that he might ascertain, if possible, whether the shot had gone home.
Greatly to his chagrin, he perceived the periscope of the enemy suddenlycome up from below. Apparently it had submerged at almost the sameinstant as had the D-16, and had maneuvered out of harm's way.
"Missed her," he informed Jack.
At that moment the enemy's submarine dived, and Lord Hastings divinedrightly that she was about to launch a torpedo at the D-16.
Quickly the course of the D-16 was changed, and she rolled violently asshe suddenly turned her nose due south and sped forward.
Lord Hastings waited in some anxiety lest his maneuver had not beenswift enough. Momentarily he expected to feel a shock that would tellhim the Austrian torpedo had struck.
But no shock came and Lord Hastings breathed easier.
Then he bethought himself of some other plan and consulted Jack, thesubmarine, meanwhile, remaining far beneath the water.
"Other means having failed," said Jack, "I should say, use thesearchlight and seek him out."
"I guess that is what will have to be done," Lord Hastings agreed.
He approached Frank's compartment, and himself took charge of thetorpedo there, leaving Jack waiting at the periscope.
"We will run due west a quarter of a mile," said Lord Hastings to Frank,"and when I give the word flash your searchlight in all directions. Theflash should blind the lookout on the enemy, and I will follow the sweepof your light with the torpedo. The moment I catch sight of the enemyI'll launch it, and we'll rise instantly."
Frank signified that he understood, and rapidly the submarine steamedahead.
"Now!" cried Lord Hastings suddenly.
Frank released the powerful rays of the searchlight, and swept the seato his right.
There was nothing to be seen.
Then he swept the sea to the left, and, less than a quarter of a mileaway, the Austrian submarine was bearing down on them.
Lord Hastings, who had followed the searchlight with the torpedo,immediately launched it, and then, springing outside, gave the commandto rise.
The D-16 leaped to the surface like a thing of life.
Lord Hastings took Jack's place at the periscope.
"Guess we got him that time," he said.
"Hope so," replied Jack briefly.
"I don't see," began Lord Hastings, "how--down quick!"
The submarine dropped like a log, and Jack exclaimed:
"What's the matter?"
"Missed her again," said Lord Hastings grimly.
"Why didn't you launch another when she bobbed up?"
"Because I was afraid she might do so first."
"Well," said Jack, "I have an idea that I believe will end this hide andseek business."
"Let's have it."
"Then let's go up. As soon as the enemy sight us, he will go down,expecting us to do likewise. But we'll fool him. We'll just shift ourposition a trifle--enough to be out of the way of a possible shot. Thenwe'll wait for him to come up again. In the meantime we'll train all ourtubes along the water where he is likely to reappear. The moment he doesso, you call the number within range and we'll get him."
"We'll try it," said Lord Hastings briefly.
Once more the signal was given to rise, and as the D-16 came to thesurface, Lord Hastings, through the periscope, saw the periscope of theenemy go down.
Quickly the course of the D-16 was changed just enough to avoid atorpedo should one be fired by the enemy. Then Lord Hastings directedthe training of the different torpedo tubes aboard the D-16.
All in readiness, they waited.
Suddenly Lord Hastings saw something emerging from the water. No. 2torpedo was aimed directly at this point.
Lord Hastings wasted no time.
"No. 2!" he called.
"Click!"
There was no waiting for the command to fire. There was no time for it.
It had been Lord Hastings' intention to submerge immediately the torpedohad been launched, but so great was his confidence that this torpedo hadgone home, that he allowed the submarine to remain on the surface.
"Did we hit her, sir?" cried Jack.
"She's gone," was the reply, "but I can't tell yet. If she comes upa
gain we'll give her another."
Three minutes later and Lord Hastings gave vent to an exclamation ofsatisfaction.
"We got her," he cried.
Jack stepped to the periscope and peered through.
Less than a quarter of a mile away floated a mass of debris, all thatwas left of the Austrian submarine.
"You are sure that is part of her?" asked Jack.
"Positive," was the reply. "You can see part of her periscope among thewreckage."
Jack took another long look.
"You are right, sir."
"We may as well rise to the surface," said Lord Hastings, and Jack gavethe command.
"Which way now, sir?" the lad asked.
"Back to the fleet to report," was the reply.
Jack descended below and gave the word.
Then he went to his own cabin, and drawing his pocket knife, set to workcutting another notch in the table.
Frank entered while his chum was engaged in this operation, but he didnot interrupt until Jack had finished his task.
"Well?" he asked, as Jack leaned back with a sigh of satisfaction.
Jack looked up.
"Well what?" he demanded.
"How reads the score card?" asked Frank with a smile.
"Score card?"
"Yes, score card. What's the score; or, in the English of the BritishIsles, how many notches have you carved on that table?"
"Oh," said Jack, "I see. Why didn't you ask that in the first place?"
"Because," was the reply, "I am giving you a course in plain American.How many?"
"Seven," said Jack briefly.