CHAPTER XVIII
Pinned Down
"Something heavy athwart us, sir," remarked Lieutenant Macquare,stating what was an obvious fact to all on board. "But she's standingit all right."
"I wonder what it can be?" asked the Lieutenant-Commander.
"Just as likely as not a sinking torpedo-boat has inconsideratelydropped on top of us," surmised the Lieutenant. "If so, the questionis how are we to come to the surface? It will take a lot of ourreserve of buoyancy to overcome the suction of the mud, and with thatlump of metal pinning us down----! Must look facts fairly in theface, sir."
The Lieutenant-Commander was on the horns of a dilemma. In order toprevent R19 sinking deeper and deeper into the ooze under theabnormal pressure of the unknown mass athwart her deck the submarineought to be either brought to the surface or, failing that, kept"lively".
Any attempt in either direction would have the result of stirring upthe already muddy water, and to such an extent that the presence ofthe lurking submarine would be made known to the hostilepatrol-boats.
"We'll stand fast for a few hours," decided the Hon. Derek. "If theworst comes to the worst we'll have to shed our ballast keel,although, goodness only knows, then we'll be properly in the soup."
Amongst other mechanical devices R19 was provided with a heavy metalkeel that in case of emergency could be released from within.Deprived of this anti-buoyant contrivance she would rise rapidly tothe surface. It was a step to be taken only as a desperate resort,for before the compensating water-ballast tanks could be filledseveral precious minutes must necessarily elapse, during which timethe submarine would be a target for every quick-firer within range.
"Very good, sir," replied Macquare.
He was quite content to accept his chief's decision without question.Not having been asked his opinion on the matter, he offered none. Hewas one of those men who knew how to give orders and receive them.Even if he were convinced in his own mind of an error of judgment onthe part of his skipper, his strict adherence to the principles ofdiscipline would have kept him silent.
For another six long-drawn hours the blinded submarine laymotionless. Fortunately there were no signs of the hull platingcollapsing under the weight of the obstruction. Apart from theslight, almost imperceptible, leak in the roof of Fordyce's cabin--for the artificers had tackled the job promptly andeffectually--the hull of R19 was as tight as a bottle.
"We'll risk it now, I think," declared the Hon. Derek as he consultedhis wristlet watch. "Start the auxiliary ballast-tanks first and seehow she likes it."
The powerful, double-action pumps quickly ejected the water-ballast.In ordinary circumstances the submarine should have risen to thesurface. She showed no tendency in that direction. Without anyexhibition of liveliness she lay obstinately on the bed of the sea.
"Nothin' doin'!" commented the Hon. Derek. "Give her half speedahead."
The dynamos purred. The hull trembled under the action of the twinpropellers. Whether the submarine was forging ahead was a matter forspeculation. Certain it was that she was failing to respond to thedeflection of the horizontal diving-rudders.
"Stop! Half speed astern."
Beyond an increased reverberation of the hull nothing resulted. Evenwhen the Lieutenant-Commander took the somewhat desperate step ofordering full speed astern R19 failed to respond.
"Blow main ballast-tanks," was the next order.
The submarine now showed a certain liveliness, although in herpresent trim she ought to be floating with nearly six feet offreeboard.
"She's trying to lift herself aft, sir," reported Fordyce.
"Is she, by Jove!" exclaimed the Lieutenant-Commander. "Send allavailable hands for'ard, and see if that makes any difference."
Quickly the men made their way to the first and second compartments,and, taking their time from the Lieutenant, ran from side to side asfar as the congested state of the vessel permitted. At the same timethe motors were running full speed astern.
For full five minutes the manoeuvre was mantained without tangibleresult; then, with dramatic suddenness, R19 shot obliquely towardsthe open air.
The first intimation that the submarine had "broken surface" was theterrific and disconcerting racing of the engines as the twinpropellers revolved at high speed in the air.
Promptly the artificers switched off the current, and R19, well downby the bows, floated motionless.
Momentarily expecting a fusillade from one, if not more, Germandestroyers, the Hon. Derek rushed up the ladder to the conning-towerand strove to open the hatch. The locking-bolts refused to budge. Theblow that the submarine had received before her latest dive hadjammed the closely-fitting metal plate.
The after hatch gave better results. Followed by Fordyce, the Hon.Derek gained the open air.
With feelings of relief, both officers realized that all immediatedanger was past. Not an enemy vessel was in sight. A couple of milesto the south-east'ard lay the stranded and partly-submerged hull of alarge Russian battleship.
Her upper-works were rent and shattered by gun-fire. Military mastsand funnels had gone by the board. From the sole remaining turret apair of 12-inch guns projected at a grotesque angle to each other.Dense clouds of smoke were pouring from the battery.
Fordyce glanced at the lowering bank of clouds overhead and listenedintently. He could faintly discern the bass hum of an aerialpropeller. Somewhere in that great vault of vapour a sea-plane wascleaving the air, invisible from the submarine's deck, but liable atany moment to swoop within view.
The risk of being bombed had to be taken. The first important taskwas to discover what it was that was pinning down the submarine'sbows, and to take steps to rectify matters.
R19's stern was almost clear of the water. As she dipped to the longsullen swell, the tips of her propellers just touched the waves.Amidships, the base of the conning-tower was just awash, but the riseof the navigation-platform prevented further investigation from thespot where the Lieutenant-Commander and the Sub stood.
"Pass the word for all hands on deck," ordered Stockdale. "Fall inaft."
Silently the men trooped from below. Their combined weight had theeffect of restoring the vessel to a slightly better trim, and it wasnow possible for an investigation to be made of the for'ard part ofthe deck.
Examination showed that a shell had exploded close to theconning-tower, for the massive steel-work bore visible signs of theimpact of the flying slivers of metal. One of the principal tubes hadvanished, being shorn off close to the top of the conning-tower; theother, buckled by a fragment of shell, trailed drunkenly over theside, rasping and grinding with every roll of the vessel.
Springing upon the raised platform, Fordyce made his way for'ard andpast the rise of the conning-tower until further progress was stoppedby a huge cylindro-conical mass of metal lying athwart the deck. Itwas an unexploded 15-inch shell, weighing more than a ton. Missingits objective, the ponderous missile had sunk until it had alightedfairly upon R19's deck.
Before the Sub could return and make his report, the roar of theaerial motors grew deafening, and out of the clouds swept a large,double-fuselaged biplane, bearing the distinctive Black Cross ofGermany.