CHAPTER XII.
THE "VORWARTZ" IS SIGHTED.
"Then there is a great possibility of a scrap, sir?" asked Hythe, hisface flushing and his eyes glistening at the prospect.
"Undoubtedly von Harburg will do his best to annihilate the'Aphrodite,'" replied Captain Restronguet. "Perhaps, after all, I oughtto have landed you. It is hardly fair to expose you to danger on myaccount. But it is not too late. We can put you aboard one of thosefishing-luggers."
"I am not afraid, sir," exclaimed Hythe, rather indignantly, for thesuggestion was not one that he could bear without more than a formalprotest.
"I never for one moment had that idea," remarked Captain Restronguet."The point I raised is that it would hardly do for me to place you in adangerous situation while you are my guest on board. It is also unfairto your employers--the Admiralty. Good, bad or indifferent though anaval officer may be he has cost the country a large sum for hisprofessional education, and it seems inconsistent that you should begiven a chance of being knocked out in a petty feud."
"From what you have just told me the business is more than a privatefeud," objected the sub. "In order to carry out my part and learn all Ican about the vessel it is only reasonable that I should see her underevery possible condition. Therein I am doing my duty to My Lords. If Iam to be killed in action, well, there's an end of it."
"A bit of a fatalist, eh?"
"In a limited sense. I believe in taking care of myself. Forinstance----"
A telephone bell ringing loudly interrupted Hythe's remark. CaptainRestronguet took up the receiver and held it to his ear; then withoutreplying replaced the instrument.
"I thought we should not be mistaken," he announced. "The 'Vorwartz' isbowling along in our direction. Our detectors make it appear that she'sless than ten miles off and running beneath the surface. There is notime to be lost if we want to clear for action."
So saying Captain Restronguet hastened to the fore conning-tower.Whether he meant to take the sub with him or otherwise Hythe did notknow; so pending directions he remained in the cabin.
Every officer and man of the "Aphrodite's" crew knew exactly what had tobe done. As if by magic the stanchions and rails were cleared away, the"week's washing" bundled down the fore-hatch and placed in a compartmentartificially heated. In two minutes the Upper Platform was deserted,and the water-tight hatches placed in position and properly secured.One touch of an electric push and all the circular scuttles in thevessel's side were simultaneously closed and covered with metal plates.
A bell tinkled in the after conning-tower, where Mr. Devoran was incharge. It was the signal that all was in readiness for diving.
"How is she lying?" asked Captain Restronguet of his chief officer bymeans of the telephone.
"Less than two miles due north, sir," replied Devoran, after giving ahasty glance at the electric detector that by means of two indicatorsautomatically recorded the course of the "Vorwartz."
Captain Restronguet waited no longer. The time had arrived for the"Aphrodite" to dive and intercept Karl von Harburg's submarine, and onlyby the fact that the gentle rolling of the vessel had ceased did Hytherealize that she no longer floated on the surface.
Left to himself the sub was beginning to get "jumpy." It was a feelingakin to the sensation he experienced on the occasions when he saw thesubmarine at Spithead and in Cawsand Bay--not fear but nervousexcitability. Had he been in the conning-tower he would no doubt havebeen as cool as a cucumber, being able to see what the others were doingand what was going on outside, as far as the limited range of visionwould permit. But to be cooped up in a cabin, utterly alone, and withthe possibility of the "Aphrodite" coming off second-best in theencounter that was to ensue did not at all suit the young naval officer.
Suddenly he staggered and only saved himself by grasping a corner of thetable. The "Aphrodite," running at great speed, had ported her helm.So sensitive was she to the action of the rudder that she turned roundalmost on her heel, and the effect upon Hythe was similar to that of aman standing in a railway carriage when the train takes a sharp curve.
The sub braced himself together. He realized that in his opinion heought to be taking part in the fun instead of remaining cooped up in acabin, incapable of raising a finger to save himself should anythingoccur. He had no doubt as to the justifiability of his resolve; hadthere been only a private feud between Captain Restronguet and Karl vonHarburg he would have hesitated, but the German had been guilty ofinternational outrages. He had actually committed damage to theproperty of a foreign Government, and by so doing had very nearlysucceeded in drawing Great Britain into a dreadful war. On that accountKarl von Harburg was a pirate, a national enemy, and as such might becaptured or destroyed.
Having quickly made up his mind Hythe left the cabin and hurried alongthe alley-way; but before he had traversed half its length a dull thudseemed to strike the port side of the submarine. The "Aphrodite"staggered under the blow and heeled over to starboard. For some momentsthe vessel showed no signs of recovering, then slowly she righted andswung over to port, ere she settled in her normal position.
At first Hythe thought the "Aphrodite" had been hulled in the for'ardcompartment. He expected to see the submarine settling by the bows, andit was to his surprise and relief to find that such a catastrophe hadnot occurred.
When he came to the after bulkhead watertight door he found it secured.To attempt to open it would probably jeopardize the safety of thevessel, and Hythe was too good a sailor to tamper with the securingbars.
"Might have known that," he growled. "Now, what's to be done."
Another thud, this time to starboard, made the "Aphrodite" trembleagain, but there was no disconcerting heel following the shock. Hythehad no doubt about it; the concussions were caused by explosions, eitherof torpedoes or floating mines, outside the vessel.
"I wonder how many of these she'll stand?" he muttered, clambering upthree or four rungs of a ladder and trying a manhole above his head."Well, here goes. I'll try this hatchway. The cover isn't locked."
Back slid the metal slab, and the sub saw that he had opened a means ofcommunication with the after conning-tower. The place was insemi-darkness, only the subdued light from the pale green waterfiltering in through the observation scuttles. As the electric-lightfrom the alley-way flashed upwards one of the occupants of theconning-tower glanced down and gave an exclamation of annoyance,adding:--
"Hurry up and cover that hatchway. How can you expect me to see aheadwith that glare under my eyes?"
"Sorry, Devoran," replied the sub, hastily skipping up the remainingportion of the ladder and replacing the cover.
"Oh, it's you, is it?" said the chief officer. "Sorry, I thought it wasPolglaze. Can't talk now. Stand here, if you will."
Devoran indicated a place on his left, so that Hythe could see out ofthe for'ard and port scuttles. It was some time before his eyes grewaccustomed to the half-light; then by degrees he saw that the"Aphrodite" was tearing through the water at a great speed. A hundredfeet in front of him he could discern the fore-conning-tower, and beyondthat nothing but water that faded into extensive gloom. No sign of the"Vorwartz" was to be seen.
Hythe stood and waited. Without doubt the "Aphrodite" was in chase ofthe rival submarine, so that the latter had attempted strong measures tobeat off her pursuer, but the absence of anything to be seen camesomewhat like a disappointment to the young naval officer.
Suddenly there was a wild disturbance in the water less than twentyyards abeam. Again the sickening concussion even more noticeable withinthe conning-tower than down below.
"Torpedo!" ejaculated Devoran. He had no time for further explanation,and Hythe was at a loss to understand how the dangerous missile hadexploded without actually coming into contact with the metal plating ofthe submarine.
"What's that, by smoke!" ejaculated the chief officer, as in place ofthe almost inaudible purr of the mo
tors came a most discordant clanging,jawing, and groaning of machinery, while by observing the compass Hythesaw that the "Aphrodite" was describing a wide circle to starboard.
"You've buckled one of your propeller shaftings," said the sub. "I'vehad some before. I know what those noises mean."
"I hope not, by Jove!" replied Devoran, and almost at that moment thetelephone bell operator from the motor room rang. "You're right,"continued the chief officer. "It is the propeller shaft; we're knockedout for the time being."
Captain Restronguet remained in the fore conning-tower till theindicator of the detector showed that the "Vorwartz" had put a safedistance between her and her pursuer; then leaving the course in thehands of a quartermaster, he gave orders for the "Aphrodite" to bebrought to the surface.
Hythe would have forborne to question the captain at such an anxioustime, but to the former's surprise Captain Restronguet hailed him quitegenially and in a manner that showed no trace of his annoyance at beingtemporarily baffled.
"Well, Mr. Hythe, wherever have you been?" he asked. "I thought youwere following me when I left the cabin, and never missed you till tenminutes ago. You see, I had to keep all my attention on what was goingon."
"You said nothing about my accompanying you, sir," replied the sub. "Asa matter of fact I took the liberty of going up into the afterconning-tower."
"That was better than remaining below," agreed Captain Restronguet."Only there was not so much to be seen. From the for'ard tower wecaught sight of the 'Vorwartz' on two occasions."
"I should have thought you had her in sight the whole time, sir,"remarked Hythe. "Otherwise I cannot see how you kept in her track."
"By means of the detectors. I can fix the position of the 'Vorwartz' toa nicety, and no doubt that scoundrel of a von Harburg can do the same,thanks to my invention, of which he basely availed himself. I supposeyou know he let loose four torpedoes?"
"Yes; but it puzzled me to know why they exploded so far from the ship."
"The 'Aphrodite' can, when desired, be protected by a belt, as it were,of electric fluid, so long as she remains under water. Any explosionbrought within that zone would be spontaneously ignited. It was a weakcurrent that knocked all the stuffing out of you, when you were nearlyrun down at Spithead."
"Then, this submarine is practically invulnerable?"
"When submerged, yes. A mine or a torpedo cannot harm her, and at adepth of fifty feet she is out of all danger of being run down. On thesurface she might, if perceived, be a target for a quick-firing gun, orshe might be cut in two by a large, swiftly-moving steamer. VonHarburg, did he but know it, has a unique opportunity now our propellershafting is gone; he might wait till we rose to the surface and then ramus."
"But why didn't you torpedo his 'Vorwartz'?" asked Hythe. "Yourtorpedoes would easily overtake that vessel."
"It was in my power to do so," replied Captain Restronguet calmly. "ButI refuse to do so in the interests of humanity. It is part of my creedthat human life is sacred, and should not be sacrificed unlessabsolutely necessary."
"But you vowed you would destroy the 'Vorwartz'?"
"Most certainly. What I wanted to do, and what I will, I hope,eventually be able to do, is to play with that wretched counterfeit ofmy submarine, and drive von Harburg into a state of panic. Then as soonas I can pursue the 'Vorwartz' into comparatively shallow water I willsink her--but if humanly possible, I will save her crew. Come on deck,Mr. Hythe. You will then be able to see how we tackle repairs of thisdescription."
The sub followed his host on deck, where about half of the crew wereengaged in rigging up a pair of sheer-legs over the stern. At the sametime the water ballast was being ejected from the ballast tanks in thesternmost section of the vessel, while the bow compartment tankscorrespondingly filled.
Lower and lower sank the for'ard portion of the "Aphrodite," while theafter end rose out of the water till the blades of the polishedpropellers were exposed to view. From the head of the sheer-legs adouble block was fixed, the tackle being brought to bear upon thedamaged shafting.
"We're in luck, sir," shouted Kenwyn, who had lowered himself over thestern. "The metal is not fractured; it's a length of tarred rope woundround and round the boss of the propeller."
"Take axes and cut the rope through," ordered Captain Restronguet,addressing Carclew and Gwennap. "We'll soon clear that."
Hythe was not so sanguine. He had known rope to baffle the efforts ofhalf a dozen men working for two hours in a similar case, for the strainis so great that the entanglement is compressed into a solid mass almostas hard as steel.
"Might I suggest a hack-saw?" he said. "That will do better, since thereis less danger of harming the metal than with an axe. If you have noobjection, sir, I will bear a hand."
"Certainly," replied Captain Restronguet.
Glad of an opportunity of doing something the sub borrowed a workingsuit, and with a bowline under his arms was lowered over the stern,where the two men were already astride the propeller brackets.
Hitherto the sea had been fairly calm, but with provoking suddenness thewind piped up, and vicious little wavelets began to splash over theenergetic toilers. Desperately they hacked at the stubborn rope,removing the coils piece-meal. Higher and higher rose the waves, tillthe work became hazardous.
"Pass me that long marline-spike, Gwennap," exclaimed Hythe. The manleant forward with the pointed piece of steel in his hand. As he did soa sea swept over him; he dropped the marline-spike and grabbedfrantically at one blade of the propeller; missed it, and the nextinstant was struggling in the sea.
"HE GRABBED FRANTICALLY AT ONE BLADE OF THE PROPELLER."]
One glance sufficed to show the sub that the unfortunate man could notswim a stroke. However competent he was underneath the sea in hisdiver's dress it was a certainty that he was absolutely helpless when itcame to keeping on the surface. He raised his hands above his head, andin consequence sank. By the time he came to the surface again, thesubmarine, now light and high in the water, had been blown ten yardsastern. The officers and men on deck were all equipped in heavyworking-suits and sea-boots, while the dinghy, the only above-waterlife-saving appliance on board, was down below. There was not even arope handy that was long enough.
Captain Restronguet, Devoran, and several others were struggling to castoff their cumbersome clothing and boots, but they were too late, forHythe, slipping out of the bowline, dived into the water. Although morethan fully clad, since he had donned overalls over his uniform, hefortunately was not wearing sea boots.
Striking out vigorously he gained the spot where Gwennap had sunk justas the man appeared for the second time. Bearing in mind theinstructions laid down in official directions for saving life Hythe useda fair amount of precious breath in bawling in a loud voice that thedrowning man was safe. Gripping Gwennap by the collar he jerked him onto his back, the man struggling furiously the while. Hythe, realizingthat once the frantic and powerful fellow gripped him, it would be "allup," had his work cut out to avoid the man's arms. One glance showedhim that the "Aphrodite" was drifting fairly fast to leeward; hisassurance that the drowning man was safe seemed a hollow mockery.
"Don't struggle, you idiot!" spluttered Hythe, as the crest of a wavebroke over his head. "Don't you see you'll do for the pair of us?"
But Gwennap evidently did not see, for if anything he struggled themore.
The sub came to the conclusion that the situation was a desperate one.He was rapidly becoming weaker; his clothes, now thoroughly waterlogged,seemed like leaden weights. He had lost all sense of direction; he knewnot where the "Aphrodite" lay. It seemed as if he were left with afrantic, drowning man in the lone sea. But not for one moment did Hytheintend to abandon the man he had so gallantly attempted to rescue. Ifonly he could prevail on Gwennap to keep fairly still a chance yetremained; but the man showed no signs of ceasing to struggle.
"Let go!" shouted Hythe, as loudly as he could, as Gwennap's huge fistseized him
by the shoulder, followed by an iron grip on his coat-sleeve.In his effort to shake himself clear the sub sank. As he did soGwennap's grip became a close embrace. Down, down, down; it seemed asif Hythe had sunk a full twenty feet ere the downward motion ceased.His lungs seemed ready to burst with the pressure. Even if he would hecould not now free himself from the relentless grasp.
Once more his head appeared above the surface. He drew in a deep,reviving draught of air, even though it was salt-laden; then with asudden effort he wrenched his right arm clear, drew back his fist, andplanted a tremendous blow upon Gwennap's temple, and his strugglesceasing he was now practically harmless.
"Pity I didn't think of that before," thought Hythe dimly. "I wonder ifI've killed him, but there was no other way."
"Cheer up, Hythe!" exclaimed a hearty voice that the sub recognized asDevoran's. Turning his head the well-nigh exhausted rescuer saw closeto him the chief officer and O'Shaunessey, who, having divestedthemselves of the greater portion of their clothing, had dived overboardto aid their comrades.
"That's right, you hang on to me," continued Devoran, "O' Shaunesseywill look after that lubber. The captain will give him a dressing-downwhen we get aboard again."
Hythe was too done up to inquire why Gwennap should be reprimanded. Hewas only too glad to rest his hand upon Devoran's brawny shoulder.
"We'll be all right in a brace of shakes," said the chief officerencouragingly. "The water's quite warm, and we are fresh enough. Theyare turning the 'Aphrodite' and will bring her to windward of us."
Ten minutes later, the submarine, with her upper platform barely threefeet out of water, glided slowly up to the group of immersed men. Ropeswere thrown and caught by Devoran and O' Shaunessey, and by this meansGwennap and Hythe were hauled on board. Captain Restronguet was waitingto congratulate his guest upon his heroic action, but instead he sprangforward and grasped Hythe by the arms, just in time to prevent the subfrom falling helplessly to the deck.