CHAPTER VII
A Double Bag
A double, converging streak of foam marked the path of an approachingtorpedo. For a few seconds the men on deck watched and waited withbated breath, knowing that 50 yards ahead of the tell-tale track wasa powerful weapon capable of shattering R19's massively-built hulland sending her to the bottom like a stone.
It was the gun-layer of No. 2 quick-firer who saved the situation.Thrusting a projectile into the breech of the weapon he slammed thecomplicated breech-block, bent over the sights, and pulled thetrigger of the firing-pistol.
Heavily depressed, the gun barked, sending the shell obliquelytowards the surface of the water. Fifty feet in the air flew a columnof spray, while the torpedo, deflected by the impact of the missile,tore harmlessly past R19's hull.
The U-boat, having shot her bolt, was preparing to dive once more,although her conning-tower had not appeared above the surface.
With a dull crash and a scarcely-perceptible shudder R19's snub-nosedstem grated against the rounded side of her foe. So great was hermomentum that her bows were lifted clear of the waves.
"Got her, by smoke!" ejaculated the Hon. Derek, who, having emergedfrom the conning-tower, was standing by the side of Fordyce on thenavigation-platform.
Both officers turned and faced aft. They were just in time to see thebows of the U-boat fling themselves clear of the agitatedwaves--sufficiently to enable them to note the number, U129--then,with a sobbing, gurgling sound, the doomed craft slithered beneaththe surface, to the accompaniment of a volume of iridescent oil and acrowd of huge air-bubbles.
"Have a look down below, Mr. Fordyce," continued theLieutenant-Commander. "Let's hope we haven't started a plate or two.It would be rough luck at this stage to have to put back forrepairs."
The Sub hastened to carry out his instructions. Eager faces mutelyquestioned him as he entered the electrically-lighted compartmentwhere the "hands" not told off for duty on deck were still inignorance of what had occurred, although the unexpected shock hadbeen sufficient to capsize several of the crew.
"It's all right, men!" exclaimed the Sub cheerily. "We've strafedanother U-boat. The Zepp., I'm sorry to say, has sheered off."
In answer to his enquiries, Fordyce learnt that immediately after theimpact steps had been taken to ascertain if any damage had been doneto the hull. Not a leak was to be found. The for'ard diving-planes orhorizontal rudders were intact and in perfect working order; while,on testing the twin bow torpedo-tubes, both were found to beundamaged. Evidently R19 had not struck her opponent an end-on blow,otherwise the covers of the tubes would have been buckled or burstfrom their hinges. At the moment of impact U129 had submergedsufficiently to allow her opponent to strike a glancing blow with herforefoot--enough to crack the deck-plates of the ill-starredunterseeboot.
Eager to convey this gratifying report to his skipper, Fordyce wenton deck. As he emerged through the circular man-hole a burst ofcheering greeted his ears. He was just in time to see a long trailingcloud of fire-tipped smoke plunging towards the water at a distanceof less than a couple of miles to leeward.
It was the Zeppelin. Whether by the submarine's gun-fire or by anaccident it would never be known--but in any case the result was thesame--the air-ship had caught fire in mid-air. For some seconds sheblazed furiously--the whole of the after part of the envelope beinghidden in fire and smoke--without showing any appreciable signs offalling. Then, with appalling suddenness, she buckled in two, andcommenced her headlong flight to destruction.
Too far off to hear the loud hiss of the burning fabric as it came incontact with the water, R19 nevertheless turned and proceeded to thespot where the wreckage had disappeared. It was a fruitless quest.Beyond a few charred fragments of wood, there were no traces of whatwas, a few minutes previously, one of the vaunted mammoths of theKaiser's air fleet.
Joyfully the Hon. Derek repaired to his cabin to draft his report fordispatch by wireless. Brevity and modesty were some of hischaracteristics. He was not one to take credit for the acts ofothers:
"I have the honour to report that the hostile air-ship L67,previously crippled by H.M. Submarine E Something, has beendestroyed. During the operations U129 was rammed by R19, and alsodestroyed. Derek U. E. Stockdale, Lieutenant-Commander R19."
This dispatch sent off in code, the Hon. Derek "turned in", acting onthe principle that it is well to sleep when one can. The moststrenuous part of the outward voyage was yet to come, the passagethrough the mine-infested Sound at the entrance to the Baltic.
From a strictly personal point of view, R19's mission was not anenviable one. For two months--longer if the exigencies of the serviceso required--she was to be tacitly lent to the Russian Government.During that period the crew would be lucky if they had as much as onemail-bag from home. Ravages by hostile underwater craft, operatingoff the North Cape, and the uncertain state of internal communicationbetween Archangel and Petrograd, made it a difficult matter forletters and parcels to be sent to the crews of British submarinesoperating in Russian waters. They would soon be short of food, too;when their own stores were exhausted they would have to rely uponwhat provisions the Russian authorities could spare out of theiralready depleted stocks. Both going and returning from her station,R19 would have to thread the narrow, dangerous waters of the Sound,and run the gauntlet of the numerous motor patrol boats which theHuns maintained almost without let or hindrance in the landlockedwaters of the southern and western Baltic.
Yet with the same cheerfulness that the British bluejacket willvoluntarily choose a two years' exile in the desolate Arctic, or riskthe perils of the miasmic, mosquito-infested swamps of tropicalAfrica, did R19's officers and men set forth on their hazardousadventure. In the common cause of the Allies it mattered littlewhither they went, so long as they could strike a blow for king andcountry.