CHAPTER XIII.
THE MISSING SUBMARINE.
When Arnold Hythe recovered consciousness he found himself lying on hisbunk in the cabin that had been appropriated to his use. The scuttlewas closed, an electric light was burning, and by the slight andpeculiar oscillation of the vessel he knew that the "Aphrodite" wasrunning submerged.
He was not alone. Sitting at the head of his bunk was Kenwyn, thesecond officer. He was reading a book, but hearing the sub move hereplaced the volume on a shelf and asked Hythe how he felt.
"Not quite up to the mark, thanks. But what am I doing here? Ah, Iremember. Have you got Gwennap safe on board?"
"Yes, thanks chiefly to you. He's still unconscious. Devoran told mehe saw you knock the nonsense out of him, By Jove! I shouldn't like ablow like that."
"I hope I didn't hit him too hard?" asked the sub anxiously.
"Too hard? Not much. He's as tough as nails, and he thoroughlydeserved to have his figure-head damaged. He is the only member of theship's company who cannot swim, and the captain has been trying to getthe fellow to learn for a long time past. But you are a plucky fellow,Hythe."
"Where are we making for now?" asked Hythe, seeking to change anembarrassing subject. "Has the propeller-shafting been cleared yet?"
"We're making for the North coast of Spain: Machichaco Bay, to beexact--a place a short distance to the east'ard of Cape Villano. Yousee, the rising sea and Gwennap's accident interrupted the work in hand,so Captain Restronguet, rather than put into any of the harbours on theFrench Biscayan coast, has decided to make for Machichaco Bay, wherethere are excellent facilities for repairing the damage without fear ofinterruption. We are running with only the port propeller, that givesus barely twelve knots when submerged, and at that rate we expect tosight land about mid day on Thursday."
"Is Captain Restronguet going to beach the 'Aphrodite' at half tide?"asked Hythe.
"Rather not. No, our repairs will be carried out on the floor of thebay, where we shall be unseen by every one. But don't talk any more atpresent. Drink this and try to go to sleep."
"But I don't want to go to sleep," expostulated Hythe.
"Very well, then, don't, only drink this. It will buck you up."
The sub took the glass proffered by the wily Kenwyn, and drained it at agulp. Within three minutes he was sleeping peacefully.
When Hythe awoke again after an eight hour's sleep all traces of hisstrenuous exertions had vanished. He tubbed, dressed in his ownclothes, which had meanwhile been dried and pressed, and went down tobreakfast in the captain's cabin.
Captain Restronguet greeted his guest warmly, until Hythe felt quiteuncomfortable at the praises bestowed upon him for his act of gallantry.Once more he succeeded in changing the subject, this time by asking ifany news had been received of the "Vorwartz."
"Nothing that will give us definite information as to where she ismaking for," replied Captain Restronguet. "But from my British agent Ihave had news that Karl von Harburg has been declared a pirate by theGreat Powers and by several lesser maritime states as well, and that warvessels are authorized to capture or destroy the 'Vorwartz' withoutcompunction. I fancy, however, that that part of the business will beleft to us."
"You mean to track him down?"
"Through the five oceans, if needs must. But for the time being we areput out of the running. Have you ever been to the north coast of Spain,Mr. Hythe?"
"Yes, to Bilbao, Santander, and Coruna; but it was two years ago, when Iwas in the old 'Alacrity.'"
"Then you don't know Machichaco Bay?"
"Never heard of it until Mr. Kenwyn mentioned the name to me, sir."
"H'm. Do you remember the disaster to 'La Flamme'?"
"The French submarine that was supposed to have been run down on her wayfrom Rochefort to Toulon?"
"Yes, the Dutch liner 'Huitzens' arrived at Rotterdam about that timewith several of her bow plates buckled, and reported she had been incollision with an unknown object thirty miles off Cape Finisterre. Thetheory was advanced and generally accepted that the liner ran down theFrench submarine."
"And didn't she? Do you know anything about it?" asked Hytheinterestedly.
"I think I can show you certain evidence before many more days arepassed. Ha, Devoran, what is it?"
"Cape Machichaco in sight, sir."
"Very good. We'll go to the fore conning-tower, Mr. Hythe. You willthen be able to see how we con the 'Aphrodite' into this somewhatintricate roadstead."
The submarine was now running at a little less than eight knots and atthirty-five feet below the surface. The electrically operated periscopewith its flexible attachments was in operation, and by looking at theobject-board the sub could discern what appeared to be a range of hills,above which a remarkably-shaped peak towered to a considerable height.Close to the edge of the cliffs could be seen a circular lighthouse andthe keeper's house, both painted white. Some little distance from thecape two forbidding looking rocks reared their gaunt black heads abovethe sea, while between these rocks and the shore was a tumbling mass ofwhite foam.
"Is that the cape? Where, then, is the bay?" asked Hythe.
"It is hardly recognizable from the distance. There it lies--away to theeast'ard. A point to starboard, quartermaster--gently does it--so."
Slowly and steadily the "Aphrodite" approached the desired anchorage.Through the starboard observation scuttle the sub saw vicious-lookingrocks more than once, rising boldly from the bottom of the sea at lessthan twenty yards off. Between them were cavernous depths that couldonly be compared to an American canyon suddenly submerged in atremendous flood.
While the quartermaster kept the "Aphrodite" on her course CaptainRestronguet directed all his attention to the submarine cliffs. Hythecould hear him counting as the dangerous rocks appeared to slip by.
"Hard a port."
Round swung the "Aphrodite" till her bows pointed straight for a narrowgap in the rocks. The sub stood aghast. Surely it was courting disasterto plunge into a submarine defile, so dark and so narrow that it seemedan impossibility for her to pass without touching the jagged pinnacleson either hand?
The gauge now showed a depth of fifty-five feet. At a sign from thecaptain, Kenwyn touched a switch and instantly two parallel beams ofbrilliant light flashed from the sides of the conning-tower. As far asthe beams penetrated nothing but water could be seen, but in thereflected light on either hand the ghost-like rocks flitted past in aseemingly endless procession. The "Aphrodite" was threading an intricatepassage between the dangerous shoals of Machichaco Bay.
Suddenly a weed-covered crag, looking like a pillar of glisteningsilver, came within the zone of the port search-light. A slight touchat the helm and the "Aphrodite" swung round, clearing the danger withcomparative ease. On and on she went, literally crawling and smellingher way through that forbidding channel.
Presently Captain Restronguet touched Hythe upon the shoulder.
"Look!" said he, at the same time switching on a supplementarysearch-light that, instead of playing in a fore and aft direction, threwits beam at right angles to the submarine's course. For less than tenseconds the captain kept the light switched on, but in that shortinterval the sub saw something that made the blood run cold in hisveins.
Perched upon a flat rock so insecurely that it seemed as if the faint"wash" from the "Aphrodite" would topple it over, was a regularly-shapedmass literally covered with barnacles and plentifully festooned withtrailing seaweed. But even these disguises Hythe could penetrate: therewas no mistaking the tapering stern, the horizontal and verticalrudders, and the twin screws of a standard type of submarine.
"'La Flamme,'" announced Captain Restronguet, at the same time raisinghis right hand to the salute in honour of the brave dead, an examplethat Hythe promptly followed.
A little farther and the twin search-lights played upon a solid barrierof rock, extending from side to side of the subm
erged gulley.
Placing the engine-room indicator to half-speed astern CaptainRestronguet waited till the "Aphrodite's" way was checked; then turningto Mr. Devoran he nodded his head significantly.
Immediately the chief officer opened the valves of the subsidiaryballast tanks and the "Aphrodite" sank vertically to a depth ofsixty-five feet beneath the surface, and rested firmly upon the sand onthe bed of Machichaco Bay.
The sub glanced at his watch. Notwithstanding the fact that he had beenwearing it when he dived overboard to the rescue of the man Gwennap ithad sustained no damage whatsoever from its immersion. He was surprisedto find that it was nine o'clock. Nearly an hour had elapsed since thesubmarine had first entered the tortuous defile.
"We cannot do more until daylight," announced Captain Restronguet, assoon as the patent anchors had obtained a firm hold in the sand. Duringthe navigation of the "Aphrodite" through the dangerous channel he hadbeen constrained; his whole attention had to be concentrated on hiswork, but now his usual willingness to impart information returned.
The search-lights, now no longer necessary, were switched off, so thatno belated fishing-boat might have occasion to report the presence of amysterious phosphorescence in the depths of the bay; and having receivedreassuring reports from various parts of the vessel the captainintimated that the somewhat long-delayed dinner would prove acceptable.
"I discovered this channel quite by accident," said the captain, duringthe progress of the meal. "We put in here on our way north, since thenautical directories state that here the currents run with greatvelocity. This step was necessary since our accumulators were ratherrun down and I particularly wished to have a good reserve of power forour run across the bay and up the English Channel. Of course, in a'blind alley' such as we are in now, there are no eddies or currents totrouble us. I was looking for a good sheltered berth, for as far as wecould see through the observation plate in the bottom of the vesselthere was nothing but jagged rocks. We were moving very slowly, attwenty feet below the surface, when Mylor shouted that we were passingover a submarine. I at once thought that we were about to be attackedby the 'Vorwartz,' but Mylor promptly supplemented his first assertionby saying that the craft was a wreck."
"You say it is 'La Flamme,' sir"? asked Hythe. "How, then, is the factto be accounted for that she was run down off Cape Finisterre?"
"She never was," replied Captain Restronguet calmly. "That was astatement based upon suggestions made by the liner's crew. No doubtthey cut something down. The state of her bows proved that; but it wasmore likely that of a derelict or else perhaps an unfortunatefishing-vessel. Well, we found the channel, and by carefully feeling ourway out, came to the current that served our purpose admirably."
"It is a tricky piece of navigation," remarked the sub.
"Not so much as one would think. You observed the two forwardsearch-lights? Their beams are not exactly parallel, but slightlydiverging. So long as the water illuminated by them is unobstructed Iknow that the 'Aphrodite' is safe. Directly any dangerous object comeswithin the field of light I know that it lies in the vessel's course,and have to alter helm accordingly."
"Did you examine the wrecked submarine?" asked Hythe.
"Yes; a brief external examination, but enough to satisfy me that it was'La Flamme,' and also the manner in which she met her fate. To-morrow,while the repairs are being undertaken, I propose to make a fairlylengthy examination, both external and internal. Perhaps you would liketo accompany me."
"I should, sir, with pleasure," replied Hythe.
"I warn you that the sight will not be a pleasant one. In fact, were itnot for a definite purpose, I would hesitate to undertake the interiorexamination."
"I have seen a few gruesome things during the comparatively short time Ihave been in the Service, sir."
"Very well, then. I mean to write out a report and forward it to theFrench Government. Perhaps you will be so kind as to endorse it withyour signature and rank? I have already mentioned that I regard myselfas a humanitarian. I hope the report and the suggestions I make will goa long way towards abolishing submarine warfare."
"Abolish submarine warfare?" exclaimed Hythe, astonished at thesuggestion, that to him--a naval officer, who had qualified in submarinework--was utterly absurd.
"Certainly," resumed his host. "With all due respect to the GenevaConvention its work is performed in a very slipshod manner. You are notallowed by international restrictions to poison wells, or use explosivebullets; yet you are permitted to employ enormous shells, mines,torpedoes, submarines, bombs from aircraft and a host of the mostdevilish ingenuities that civilized men can devise for the destructionof their fellow-beings. Which would you prefer, Mr. Hythe, to bequickly and painlessly poisoned when slaking your thirst on the field ofbattle, or to be horribly mutilated by fragments of a shell, and remain,perhaps for years, a misery to yourself and your fellows?"
The sub shook his head.
"By eliminating certain means of offence you reduce the limits of thehorrors of war."
"Of the means only, the horrors of war will never be mitigated until theban upon explosive shells, submarine, and aerial offence and defence isimposed. Thus I maintain that the Geneva Conference has only taken amiddle course. Better by far to place no limitations and make war sohorrible that no nation will dare draw the sword; or else restrict theweapons of offence to solid armour-piercing shells for naval warfare,small calibre rifle bullets and cold steel. To my mind submarinewarfare, including torpedo work, is a despicable form of destruction."
"Yet you yourself are bent upon an errand of destruction by means ofyour submarine."
"Precisely. And it is the same in international warfare, because Abuilds a submarine, B must do likewise, in order to fight upon equalterms. But wait until to-morrow. When you have explored 'La Flamme'perhaps you may see eye to eye with me."
"What caused the disaster, sir?" asked Hythe.
"For the present I prefer not to answer that question," was the reply."To-morrow I think I can explain more clearly."
After breakfast on the following morning a strong working-party, underthe direction of the chief officer, prepared to tackle the task offreeing the propeller. Clad in their diving suits the men entered theair-lock and thence slipped out into the sea. Soon the hull resoundedto the rasping of the hack-saws as the men attacked the hempen rope thatwas coiled tightly round the shafting.
"Are you ready, Mr. Hythe?" asked the captain.
The sub assented, and Captain Restronguet led the way for'ard to thedivers' dressing-room. On the way he stopped, and asked his companion toaccompany him to the after-conning-tower.
The sun was now shining brightly, and even at that depth the luminositywas sufficient to enable the interior of the conning-tower to be seenwithout the aid of artificial light.
"It is now nine o'clock," remarked Captain Restronguet. "On whatquarter ought the sun to be visible at this hour?"
"South-east," replied Hythe promptly.
"Now look at its bearing according to our standard compass."
"Why, it bears south-west."
"Exactly. Now that explains the loss of 'La Flamme.' Practically thewhole of this coast contains vast quantities of iron ore, and thedeviation of the compass at this particular spot amounts to as much asninety degrees. The north-west coast of Spain is bad enough in thisrespect. You may have heard of the loss of the 'Serpent,' several yearsago. That was attributed to magnetic influence of the iron ore upon theship's compass. Here the error is still greater. It is easy tounderstand that the unfortunate submarine, getting within the fatalinfluence of the magnetic attraction, ran full tilt upon the rocks in aheavy sea and on a pitch-dark night. But we will now prepare for oursubmarine walk."
In the dressing-room were Kenwyn, Carnon the quartermaster, andO'Shaunessey, who were also to form the party. The Irishman wassomewhat doubtfully examining the dress and helmet served out to him.Anything that was not "regulation" he regarded with suspicion
.
"Buck up, O'Shaunessey!" said the quartermaster. "Here's the cap'n; andyou're not ready yet."
"Sure, I'm ready," replied the Irishman. "But can't I have me owndress?"
"You'll be sorry for yourself if you do," said Captain Restronguet whohad overheard O'Shaunessey's remark. "Before you've gone fifty yardsyou will feel as if you're squashed between the jaws of a vice."
"You see," he added, turning to Hythe, "the air in a diving-dress fittedwith an air-tube is kept under a fairly good pressure; with ours, theair supply being self-contained, only a very slight pressure ismaintained. We rely upon the stiffening bands in the flexible metalfabric to withstand the exterior pressure of the water."
Having donned their diving garb, Polglaze served out to each man a smallelectric lamp. Captain Restronguet and Hythe both carried a steelcrowbar, Kenyon a long adjustable spanner, while Carnon and O'Shaunesseytook axes. The quartermaster was also equipped with a slate for writingmessages, that being the only form of definite communication underwater.
As soon as the five men entered the air-lock the water was admitted.When the compartment was full Captain Restronguet thrust back a coupleof levers and a portion of the exterior plating of the hull was pushedaside. From the sill of this aperture to the bed of the sea was a dropof nearly ten feet. Unhesitatingly the captain leapt and sank upon asandy floor, where he was joined by his companions.
Hythe found that walking in this form of dress was far easier thanplodding along in the orthodox diving-suit in use in the British Navy.The absence of life-line and air-tube, with their attendant drag uponthe diver, was particularly noticeable.
A short halt was made to examine the progress of the work upon thedamaged propeller. Already the men had made a fair show with the job,but, as the sub had predicted, every strand had to be carefully cutthrough and prised up. Under the best conditions it would requireanother three hours of arduous labour to free the shafting from theobstruction.
At that depth the light was strong enough to see nearly twenty yardsahead, and Hythe was struck with the peculiar formation of the submarinegorge. It was as if human hands had hewn out a deep and narrow passagethrough the solid rock, here and there cutting side tunnels that fadedaway in the distant gloom. Fantastic marine growths occurred in patchesthat had to be carefully avoided, for some of the tendrils were armedwith crooked spikes, sufficiently strong and sharp to do untold damageto any diver who was incautious enough to get into their toils. Atother places fern-like weeds growing to a height of ten feet made thefloor of the bay resemble a tropical-forest. Sponges grew in profusion;oyster-shells, a yard in diameter, were occasionally met with. OnceO'Shaunessey's foot narrowly escaped being seized by the gaping jaws ofone of these bivalves. A second later and his limb would have beencrushed to a pulp.
As the five advanced crabs large and small swarmed sideways across theirpath to seek shelter amongst the rocks; fish in shoals darted from theunwonted sight of the diving-dresses, although a few, bolder or morestupid than the rest, swam quite close to the submarine pedestrians.
Presently the passage bifurcated, both arms shooting off at a verynarrow angle. Unhesitatingly Captain Restronguet took the left. Allthe same Hythe wondered what would happen if they lost their way, forthere was nothing whereby he could distinguish one way from another.
Stopping at one of the branch passages Captain Restronguet pointedtowards it, then switching on his lamp began to clear away through theseaweed that grew to a height of nearly twenty feet. Hythe followed,tit was like pushing aside a Japanese curtain, for the flexible tendrilsclosed behind him.
The belt of weed was comparatively narrow; less than five yards broughtthe men to a close sandy space. Here the sub stopped. Right in frontof him, and hidden from the natural light by a thick canopy of weeds,were the jagged, barnacle-encrusted timbers of a ship.
She was lying slightly over to starboard, but the list was enough tocause her double tier of guns to fall through the rotting planks. Herbowsprit had been carried away close to the gammoning; of her masts onlytwo shattered stumps remained. Waterlogged cordage and sails traileddolefully over her sloping deck, while her figurehead--that of a womanholding a rod--was just recognizable in its decay.
At each step, careful though they were, Hythe and his companions kickedup a cloud of iron rust, till the scene of desolation was almost blottedout. Of the ship's guns those that were of iron had almost crumbledinto flakes of rust, but the brass cannon were in almost as goodcondition as they were when the wreck was a noble ship. The sub stoopedand examined one of the brass pieces of ordnance. Close to the touchhole were the letters L.R. and the date 1692.
"A Frenchman: time of Louis XIV, by Jove!" said the sub to himself. "Iwonder what her name is?"
He was on the point of walking towards the stern of the wreck whenCaptain Restronguet laid a detaining hand on his shoulder and flashedhis light upon the rust-discoloured sand. Hythe instantly drew back.Almost under his feet yawned a hole full of trailing weeds that lookedfor all the world like a pit full of loathsome serpents.
Evidently understanding the reason for his companion's curiosity thecaptain beckoned to Carclew to approach. Then taking thequartermaster's slate he wrote in bold characters "La Sybille, Frenchtreasure-ship, sunk in action, 1695."