CHAPTER XX--WIRELESS REPORTS
"Kenyon!" exclaimed the baronet.
"Sir?"
"We'll cut Panama," was Fosterdyke's astounding decision. "We'll carrystraight away on. She's doing splendidly, shortage of brodiumnotwithstanding. We've plenty of fuel, so it's a dash for Madeira."
"How about reporting at the Panama control?" asked Kenneth.
"I'll risk omitting that," replied Sir Reginald. "Being mixed up in apotty revolution is quite sufficient excuse for non-compliance withregulations. It isn't as if we were bound to report ourselves, as inthe case of Auckland. Bramsdean, you might ask the wireless operator toreport us to Panama, and enquire if there's any news of our rivals.Last night's affair has given von Sinzig a very useful lead, I'mafraid."
Peter hastened to give the necessary orders. Presently he returned.
"No news of the Hun, sir," he reported. "The Yankee airship made a badlanding at Port Denison, Queensland, and was totally destroyed by fire."
"Hard lines," remarked Fosterdyke, feelingly. "Commodore Nye is a goodsport. I hope he wasn't injured?"
"Far from it," replied Bramsdean. "In fact he's reported to have cabledto Melbourne asking the Victorian Government if they can sell him aVickers-Vimy, so that he can continue the contest."
"Good luck to him, then!" exclaimed the baronet. "And the Jap?"
"Looks like a winner, sir," replied Peter. "The quadruplane is reportedpassing over Calcutta."
"Next to beating Fritz myself, the Jap is the fellow I hope will do it,"remarked Fosterdyke. "By Jove! I'd like to know where von Sinzig isand what he's doing."
The "Golden Hind," now virtually a heavier-than-air machine, was doingher level best to make up for the unlucky contretemps that had delayedher for eight precious hours. Unaccountably the reduction of the volumeof brodium in her ballonets, although the rigid aluminium envelope hadnot appreciably contracted, had resulted in a marked increase of speed.Judging by the time she took to cover the distance between Panama andNevis, in the Lesser Antilles--a distance of 1250 miles--her speed overthe water was not far short of 190 miles an hour.
"If those two props had not been crippled," lamented Kenyon, "we'd bedoing a good two hundred."
"I'm content," rejoined Fosterdyke, "provided we can keep it up. If wedon't lap Z64 in another twelve hours, you can jolly well boot me,Kenyon!"
A few minutes later the wireless operator appeared and handed Fosterdykea long written message.
The baronet's face was a study of varying emotions as he read the news.Kenyon, watching him, wondered what had happened. Not that he wassurprised; after the experiences of the last week or so, it would takesomething very much out of the common to take Kenneth Kenyon aback.
"Evidently our friend von Sinzig has butted in where he didn't ought,"remarked Fosterdyke, handing his companion the slip of paper.
It was a general Marconigram communication to the Press Agency, and readas follows:
"Hobart, Tasmania, Thursday. The schooner _Myrtle_, Abraham Prout,master, arrived here this morning in a damaged condition. Her masterreports that in lat. 43 deg. 15' S., long. 141 deg. 20' E., the schoonerwas hit by a falling object, which Captain Prout subsequently broughtinto port. Examination showed that the object in question was an airshipobservation box or basket. In it, fortunately intact, and with thesafety vane locking the detonator-pin, was an incendiary bomb stampedwith the broad arrow. Experts here agree that the bomb is certainly nota British Government's missile, and by certain markings on theobservation basket it is safe to assume that it belonged to a Germanairship. The basket and the bomb are being forwarded to theCommonwealth Air Board Headquarters at Sydney."
Then came another report:
"Fremantle, Western Australia, Thursday. Investigations amongst theruins of the aerodrome destroyed by fire yesterday morning have resultedin the finding of the remains of an aerial torpedo bearing the BritishGovernment mark. This discovery completely upsets the original theoryas to the cause of the outbreak. Various rumours are afloat, but pendingan official declaration on the subject, the Press is requested toconfine reports to the actual known facts. A further communication willbe made as soon as definite information is forthcoming."
"Yes, von Sinzig is getting desperate," remarked Kenyon. "It's a deadcert that he thought we were berthed in the Fremantle aerodrome thatnight. But how in the name of goodness did he get so far south? It wasreported he went direct from Java to New Zealand, passing north ofAustralia."
"He reported, you mean," corrected Fosterdyke. "Trying to throw dust inone's eyes is an old trick of Fritz's. Personally, I don't believe hetook the northern route, and that he picked up our wireless announcingour intention of making Fremantle, and then tried to do us in."
"He's done for himself, any old way," declared Kenyon. "I wonder if aHun can ever be a sportsman?"
"I wonder," echoed the baronet. "I've come across a good many Hunsduring the last five years, but I'm hanged if I ever met one who knewhow to play the game."
Half an hour later the "Golden Hind" intercepted a wireless message tothe effect that the British, American, and French Governments had issuedjoint instructions for the German airship Z64 to be detained at the nextlanding-place.
"That looks like business," commented Kenyon. "Von Sinzig's out of therunning."
"Unless he contrives to land in Spanish territory," added the baronet."There are the Canary Islands, for instance. He could, and probablywill, claim immunity as a political offender. I don't think he can beextradited. You see, it has to be proved to the hilt that he actuallyand by deliberate intent dropped a bomb on the aerodrome. No, I fancywe haven't lost our Hun rival yet. He stands a chance of romping home,so it's up to us to beat Z64."
"I'd like to know what the blighter's doing now," said Kenneth,tentatively. "Perhaps he's within fifty miles of us."
"Provided he's fifty miles behind us, I won't worry my head about him,"declared Sir Reginald. "I'm not particularly keen on coming in touchwith him on a dark night. He might try his hand at another dirtytrick."