CHAPTER XXXII
"Taken down a Peg"
The fishing-boat, according to the name painted on her stern, was the_Stor Afan_, of Carlscrona. The only member of her crew visible was afair-haired youth of about fourteen, who was listlessly standing bythe wheel. She was making a bare two knots under scandalized mainsailand jib. The rest of her canvas was stowed.
The youthful helmsman, happening to glance astern, caught sight ofthe approaching submarine. His lethargy vanished, and at his shout ofalarm the rest of the crew came hurriedly on deck--a weather-beatenold man and a tall stripling of about twenty years of age.
With her pair of for'ard guns manned and trained, for even the mostharmless-looking smack might prove to be a potential enemy, R19,taking care to avoid the line of nets, ran within hailing distance ofthe Swede.
"_Stor Afan_ ahoy! I want you to take two men aboard you," hailed theHon. Derek in German.
The skipper of the boat shouted something unintelligible in reply,and shook his head in a way that suggested helpless ignorance.
Stockdale repeated his request with a like result. The second hand,however, held up a basket of fish.
"Evidently a bribe," remarked Mr. Macquare. "They don't understandHun lingo, sir."
"So much the better for us, then," rejoined the Hon. Derek. "It's agood thing we are not displaying our ensign; they'll take us for astrafed U-boat, and when they make harbour they'll report to thateffect. It will help to throw the Huns off the scent."
Greatly to the consternation of the Swedes, R19 was adroitlymanoeuvred alongside the _Stor Afan_, the crew of the latter makingfast the ropes thrown them with the utmost alacrity. It was not untilthey saw the still-unconscious form of the German bluejacket beinghoisted through the torpedo hatchway that anxiety gave place tosympathetic attention.
As carefully as possible the Hun was transhipped to the deck of thefishing-boat and taken thence to the little cabin. The spy,Mindiggle, was next handed over. His appearance was greeted withrenewed apprehension on the part of the Swedes, which was not to bewondered at, for he presented a gruesome spectacle, notwithstandingthe Hon. Derek's precaution of keeping him under the influence ofmorphia.
Gibbering and foaming at the mouth, Mindiggle was led to theforepeak, and, with the battening down of the hatchway, the spypassed from Fordyce's view for the last time.
"I don't know whether we are acting up to the principles of thekultured Hun," remarked the Hon. Derek as he gave the old skipper ahandful of silver roubles.
The Swede took them with obvious hesitation, and pointed towards theinvisible German shore.
"No, no!" exclaimed the Lieutenant-Commander, shaking his head. "NotDeutschland--Sverige. That's one result of being a philatelist,Macquare," he added parenthetically.
"The old boy evidently understands you, sir," remarked theLieutenant. "He didn't seem at all chirpy at the prospect of beingordered to Germany."
Casting off, the submarine passed across the bows of the _Stor Afan_,and, steadying on her helm, resumed her former course, while thefishing-boat, when last seen, was observed to be hauling in her netsand standing towards the Swedish shore.
Lieutenant-Commander Stockdale had barely finished his belated lunchwhen it was reported to him that Kapitan-Leutnant von Hoppnerurgently desired an interview.
"Does he, by Jove!" exclaimed the Hon. Derek. "'Urgently desires'--Ilike that. I'll send for him when I'm ready."
It was the Sub's trick with Mr. Macquare, but theLieutenant-Commander sent a message requesting Fordyce to come to hiscabin. Then, having set the log-book within hand's reach, and slippeda marker between the pages relating to R19's passage through theSound, the Hon. Derek signified that he was agreeable to receiveKapitan-Leutnant von Hoppner in his cabin.
The prisoner appeared under the charge of two petty officers. He wasin uniform, his saturated clothes having been dried; he had carefullyupturned the ends of his bristling moustache and brushed back hisyellow hair from his beetling forehead.
The Hon. Derek rose to meet his involuntary guest, taking no noticeof the fact that von Hoppner bore himself more like victor thanvanquished.
"Well, Kapitan-Leutnant, for what do you wish to see me?" askedStockdale, courteously offering the Hun the best chair in thesparely-furnished cabin.
"I wish to know," replied von Hoppner, "what you have done with theman who was brought on board this vessel with me?"
"Quite a thoughtful request," commented the Hon. Derek. "Naturallyany officer worthy of the name would be anxious concerning thewelfare of his subordinates. (And you kicked up a shindy because thepoor blighter was told off in your precious company," mentally addedStockdale.)
The German inclined his head. He was too thick-skinned and puffed upwith arrogance to detect the faint tinge of caustic wit in theBritish officer's words.
"As a matter of fact," continued the Lieutenant-Commander, "the manwas seriously wounded, as you are doubtless aware. Without propermedical attention his life would be threatened by remaining in theclosed compartment of a submarine, so I took what I consider to bethe most humane course possible and set him on board a Swedishcraft."
"You set him on board a Swedish craft!" repeated von Hoppner. "I donot understand."
"I made a plain statement," said the Hon. Derek. "If I can elucidatematters----"
"I thought you were bound either for Stockholm or Carlscrona,"interrupted the German.
It was the Hon. Derek's turn to express astonishment.
"What made you think so?" he asked.
"Because," replied von Hoppner insolently, "you have shot your bolt,Englishman. You are trapped. All the entrances to the Baltic areclosely guarded. Escape that way is impossible. Nor can you hope tofind shelter in Russian ports, for Russia is now under the heel ofGermany. Therefore, no other course remains for you but to beinterned in a Swedish port until Germany wins the war and decideswhat is to be done with you."
"Oh, indeed!" exclaimed the Hon. Derek, his brows clouding ominously.Fordyce had seen his superior officer look like that once before. VonHoppner, too, noticed the change. He felt sorry he had spoken. "Oh,indeed; _you_ are mistaken, Herr Kapitan-Leutnant. This vessel camethrough your mine-fields and she'll make her way out--or bust. Do youunderstand that?"
"Then I demand to be set on shore on parole in a neutral country,"protested the Hun vehemently.
"You may demand," retorted Stockdale composedly. "That is as far asit gets. What will happen is that you will be taken through yourprecious mine-field--recollect, Germany mined Danish territorialwaters in flagrant defiance of international law--in His Majesty'sSubmarine R19. Have I made myself perfectly clear?"
Von Hoppner's arrogance dropped from him like a cloak. He implored,raved, whined, and attempted to browbeat his captor, finally coweringwith his face hidden in his hands. Fordyce felt almost certain thatthe fellow was sobbing in an agony of terror.
"This display of feelings will not help matters," continued the Hon.Derek sternly. "I can admire a brave man even if he be an enemy. Youranxiety on the part of your wounded seaman is, I know, merely asubterfuge, else for what reason did you object to his presence? Oneother point, Herr von Hoppner. I see that you are the possessor ofl'Ordre pour le M?rite. Was that for services rendered whilst youwere acting commandant of the prison-camp at Neu Strelitz?"
"What do you know of Neu Strelitz?" enquired the Hun falteringly.
"Enough," replied the Hon. Derek briefly. "Under your orders Britishbluejackets, prisoners of war, were vilely treated. However, you havenot answered my question concerning your decoration. You refuse toanswer? Perhaps, as you have already told my Sub-Lieutenant here, youobject to tedious repetition. Let me inform you, sir, that you tooktoo much for granted when you claimed the destruction of a Britishsubmersible cruiser on the night of the 9th of ----. Be pleased tolisten while I read you an extract from the log. I will afterwardslet you inspect the writing in case you have any suspicion that thelog has been 'cooked'. That's not done in the British navy, youkn
ow."
Slowly and distinctly Stockdale translated the passages relating toR19's escape from the toil of nets. The Hun's face grew grey fromhorrified amazement. The thought of the ridicule that the revelationwould produce should the true facts become known in Germany appalledhim.
"You will not destroy my reputation, Herr Kapitan Stockdale?" heasked brokenly.
The Hon. Derek shut his log-book with a snap. "The British navy isbased upon long and honourable traditions. One of them, by no meansthe least, is that its officers are _both_ officers _and_ gentlemen!"