CHAPTER XXVIII.
A CAPTURE.
In the little boat, in dark civilian clothes, the lads put off from thesubmarine, and soon were mingling with the hundreds of other littlecraft darting shoreward as fast as strong arms could drive them.
"I guess we shall make it all right," Frank whispered to Jack.
"Of course we shall," was the reply. "It'll probably be harder gettingback."
"We'll come through some way," was the reply.
"Of course."
At that moment Frank's attention was directed to a struggling knot inthe water.
"What's that?" he asked drawing his friend's attention.
"Looks like a fight to me," said the latter.
"Let's go closer and have a look."
The lads steered the boat closer to the struggling heap, where they wereable to make out three men fighting desperately, while nearby was anoverturned boat.
"One of them looks like a white man," said Jack.
"In that case we shall have to give him a lift," said Frank.
"Remember what Lord Hastings said," Jack warned his chum.
"But we can't stand idly by while a couple of Turks drown a white man."
"No, we can't do that," Jack agreed.
With long powerful strokes they sent their boat closer. Then Jack wasable to distinguish the faces of the combatants.
"Two Turks and a German officer," he said. "I can't see why we shouldinterfere on his behalf."
"He is white," protested Frank.
"Right," said Jack. "That puts a different face on the matter, ofcourse."
The boat was right up to the struggling trio.
"No use wasting our energy," said Frank.
He stood up in the boat and brought his oar down upon the head of one ofthe Turks. The latter disappeared beneath the water without a sound.Frank turned upon the second one, but he had seen the fate of hiscomrade and had no mind to share it. He released his hold upon theGerman officer and made off.
"Let the German swim to his boat. We don't want to be bothered withhim," said Frank.
"Suits me," said Jack.
Frank sat down, and the lads would have rowed off; but at that momentthe German disappeared beneath the water.
"Tired out, I guess," said Jack. "Well, we can't stand by and see a manwe have just rescued drown without raising a hand. I'll have him in aminute."
He dived overboard, and reappeared an instant later holding the Germanby the arm.
"Help me get him in," he said.
Frank obeyed, and Jack climbed in after him. The German lay in thebottom of the boat, exhausted.
"Talk German when he comes to," Jack warned. "There is no use lettinghim suspect anything."
"All right," said Frank, and while Jack sent the boat shoreward withlong and powerful strokes, he attempted to revive the man they hadsaved.
The shore was but a short distance away when the German showed signs ofreturning consciousness. He moaned feebly and turned on his side. Frankslapped his hands and rubbed them vigorously, and soon the Germanattempted to rise.
Frank lent him a helping hand, and the German at last managed to sit upwith Frank's shoulder as a support. Then his eyes roved about and hetook in the situation around him.
"And so you saved me," he said to Frank.
"Well, my friend and I together," replied Frank, also in excellentGerman.
"Those scoundrels would have killed me," said the German officer.
"So we noticed," replied Frank. "What was the matter?"
"Well, I was swimming in the water, and they refused to take me aboard.You see, in spite of the fact that we are doing our best for thisbenighted country, we Germans are not loved here."
"I know that," Frank agreed.
"When they refused to assist me into their boat, I became angry andtried to pull myself aboard. They hacked at my hands with knives, andthe best I could do was to accidentally pull the boat over, throwingthem into the water. Then they attacked me."
"And no wonder, at that," said Frank drily.
"Well, that's true. Still they should have let me in their boat."
"I am not disputing that," said Frank. "Where do you wish us to put youashore?"
"Wherever you chance to land."
Frank nodded.
"But who are you?" continued the German.
"Just a couple of noncombatants," replied Frank briefly.
"But you are German?"
"Well, yes, partly so. Also we are Americans."
"Caught here at the outbreak of the war?"
"Yes."
"Well, I'll do what I can to get you out of it."
"Thanks."
"You see, I am not without influence. It happens that I am the newmilitary governor of the city."
"Is that so?" exclaimed Frank in surprise.
"Yes. I only arrived today, and was having a consultation with theTurkish admiral when this disaster occurred."
"Have you any idea what caused this disaster?" asked Frank quietly.
"I guess there is no doubt what caused it. A British or a Frenchsubmarine."
At this moment Jack took a hand in the conversation.
"You say you are the new military governor of the city?"
"Yes."
"Then you know something of the plans of defense?"
"Well, rather. I have them in my pocket."
"Then," said Jack, "I should say that you are a very indiscreet sort ofa military governor."
"What do you mean by that?" asked the German, half rising.
Jack's reply was addressed to Frank.
"Cover him with your gun, quick!" he commanded. "Don't let him getaway."
Although taken by surprise, Frank acted quickly. His gun leaped from hispocket and was levelled at the new German military governor ofConstantinople.
"What's the meaning of this?" demanded the latter angrily.
"The meaning is that you are our prisoner," replied Jack quietly. "Turnher about, Frank," he added, "and we'll go back to the submarine."
"Submarine!" exclaimed the German. "Oh, I see, you are British."
"You bet we are," replied Frank.
The German grew silent, and Jack, who was watching him carefully even ashe rowed, noticed that he was fumbling in his breast pocket.
"Watch him, Frank," he cried. "Don't let him throw anything overboard."
Frank leaned forward and pressed the muzzle of his automatic against theGerman's breast.
"No tricks," he said quietly, "or you are a dead man."
The German's hand dropped to his side.
The lads rowed back to the submarine quickly. Frank jumped aboard firstand Jack waited until the German had followed him before he climbed upand drew the little boat up after him. Then all went below, Frankkeeping his weapon on the German as they descended.
Lord Hastings came bustling out.
"Back so----" he began, and stopped in surprise at the sight of thethird man. "What is this?" he demanded.
"This," said Jack, with a flourish of his hand, "is the new Germanmilitary governor of Constantinople."
"But," said Lord Hastings, "why do you bring him here? What do we wantwith him?"
"He told me, confidentially," said Jack, "that he carries the Turkishplan of campaign."
Lord Hastings understood in a moment.
"In that case," he said, "we want him badly. Mr. Military Governor, youare indeed welcome."
"And the first thing to do," said Jack, "is to get the papers before hecan get rid of them."
"His Excellency will give them to us, I am sure," said Lord Hastings.
"I will not," growled the German.
"Then we shall have to take them," said Jack.
He stepped suddenly forward and seized the German in a firm embrace.
"You take them while I hold him," he called.
In vain did the German struggle. Jack held him firmly while Frank andLord Hastings explo
red his pockets and took therefrom every piece ofpaper they could find. Lord Hastings glanced them over carefully.
"They are all here," he said. "You can let him go now."
Jack stepped back and the German shook himself angrily.
"You'll pay for this," he shouted angrily.
"Why, we expect to," said Lord Hastings smoothly, "we expect to pay forit with our big guns, which, with the help you have extended to us bygiving us these plans, will make the task easier."
The German doubled his fists and took a step forward.
Jack smiled at him.
"I wouldn't even think of it if I were you," he said quietly.
The German drew back.
"And shall we let him go now?" asked Lord Hastings. "He is simply aburden to us, you know."
The German's face lighted up.
"We can hardly do that, much as we would like to," said Jack. "You see,he might tell them all ashore that we have their plans, and they wouldnaturally change them. As it is, believing that he has been drowned, theKaiser will simply appoint a new military governor and use the plan ofcampaign already decided upon."
"True," said Lord Hastings. "Then we must keep this capture a secret."
"Yes, sir," said Jack, "and now we may as well get away from here."
"In the meantime," replied Lord Hastings, "his excellency shall be ourguest. You may give the word to submerge, preparatory to departure, Mr.Templeton."
Jack turned away.