CHAPTER VIII.
EXPLANATIONS.
"By the by," observed Captain Restronguet, as he entered the cabin, "Ihave already sent a reassuring message concerning you to the BritishAdmiralty."
"You have! How?" asked Hythe in astonishment. "You are not fitted withwireless?"
"And why not? As a matter of fact we are; with one of the latest typeof Raldorf-Holperfeld instruments, which, as you know, do not requireout-board aerials. The message is received by an automatic recorder."
"And, might I ask, with whom do you communicate?"
"That need not be kept a secret from you, Mr. Hythe."
"Why not, sir?"
"Because I wish to detain you on board the 'Aphrodite' until I have nofurther use for secret correspondents. My wish is law, Mr. Hythe, andplease to remember that. At the same time I wish to make your period ofenforced detention pass as pleasantly as possible, and you will havecomplete facilities, up to a certain point, of gaining valuableinformation that will in time to come amply recompense you for anyslight inconvenience that might arise."
"But my career? Remember, sir, I'm a naval officer."
"Of course. That is one reason why I think fit to keep you. Had youbeen an ordinary or even an able seaman, I should have taken the firstopportunity of putting you ashore, with hardly any chance of your seeinganything on board the vessel that might be put to my disadvantage. Assoon as I learned that you were a naval sub-lieutenant I made up my mindto retain you as my guest for awhile."
"Then you are going to release O'Shaunessey?"
"Not at present. He, too, will serve a good purpose. He will be ableto corroborate my statement that you will be honourably treated."
"But that will be unnecessary. Surely my word----"
"I have every confidence in the word of an officer and a gentleman, Mr.Hythe. But my proposals are rarely influenced by circumstances otherthan the workings of Providence. You asked me a question concerning myshore agents. The answer is this: so long as the Government bestowslicences upon private individuals to dabble in wireless telegraphyexperiments it is a simple matter to keep in touch with events ashore.My principal agent lives in Highgate. He is a skilled operator, but hehas contrived to keep his capabilities masked under the role of aharmless amateur. By advancing or retarding the spark of the powerfulcoil of his instrument he can 'tap' any messages, whether from Britishor foreign warships, within seven hundred miles, while on occasions hehas accurately read messages from Cape Race. Of course, most of thenaval messages are in code, and are unintelligible to the uninitiated.Nevertheless I can learn all outside news from this particular agenteven when in the Mediterranean. For short distances we make use ofwireless telephony, and by this means I can communicate with trustyagents in Devonport, Portsmouth, Sheet-ness and Chatham, and undercertain circumstances with Rosyth and Dundee."
"Why did you come to a standstill here?" asked the sub.
"To partially recharge our accumulators. Our motive power iselectricity. My invention in that direction is a revolution in marineand submarine propulsion. We are now anchored."
"Anchored?" echoed Hythe. "How? I saw no anchors when I examined yourvessel from the outside."
"Anchoring, as we understand the term, consists of allowing the'Aphrodite' to settle on the bottom of the sea. By lowering four steelplates, inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees--the acute anglefacing aft--an almost irresistible brake, something after the principleof the spade recoil brake of the French quick-firing field guns, isformed. At this moment the ebb tide is swirling past at four knots.The force of the current is turning our propellers, which, acting forthe time being on subsidiary shafting, drive the dynamos that in turnreplenish our accumulators."
"Then that means that every day you must recharge? How do you managewhen there is not sufficient tide to actuate the propellers?"
"My dear sir," replied Captain Restronguet, "I ought to have said thatwe were _partially_ replenishing our reserve of electricity. At thismoment there is sufficient power on board to drive the 'Aphrodite' at aspeed of thirty-five knots on the surface or twenty when submerged, fora continuous period of at least one hundred and twenty hours. We merelytake advantage of the opportunity to increase our reserve. But you arenot eating. Is my meagre fare not sufficiently tempting?"
"I am too interested to think about eating," replied Hythe. "But nowyou mention it I feel quite peckish."
"We are obliged to do without fresh meat," said Captain Restronguetapologetically. "Nevertheless I think you will find this dish ofpilchards excellent. Here is seakale sauce that by the skill of the'Aphrodite's' cook can hardly be distinguished from asparagus. Roastdog-fish, if you care to try it, you will find hard to believe anythingbut beef-steak. By a certain process, simple to apply, all taste offish is eliminated."
Captain Restronguet helped his guest to a slice of dog-fish--a fish thatfishermen not so many years back generally threw back into the sea asuseless.
"Excellent," declared the sub. "However is this dish produced in thisguise?"
"Also by electricity," said Captain Restronguet calmly. "By applying acertain form of current all the oily portions of the fish are destroyed,leaving only the red corpuscles in the flesh."
Just then came a knock at the door, and in response to the captain'spermission to enter one of the crew appeared, holding an envelope in hishand.
"H'm! Message from the wireless room--excuse me," remarked CaptainRestronguet, as he began to tear open the flap. "Shouldn't besurprised, Mr. Hythe, if this doesn't concern you. Yes, listen:'Secretary of Admiralty acknowledges Captain Restronguet's message resafety of Sub-Lieutenant Arnold Hythe and Michael O'Shaunessey, A.B. Ifgenuine a message from the naval officer detained is requested. Reasonsare also desired why Captain Restronguet took forcible possession of twoof His Majesty's subjects.' Ha! That is a reasonable message."
"Reasonable?"
"Yes. The Admiralty are beginning to realize that I, CaptainRestronguet, am a person worthy of their consideration. That is morethan they did a few years' back. As a matter of fact I have had alittle quarrel with My Lords. Some day I will give you details; butmeanwhile I am continuing my harmless yet disconcerting tactics thattend to prove how futile the defences of this country are against thelatest product of modern science. Yes, Mr. Hythe, the Secretary of theAdmiralty will have definite evidence before many hours have passed."
* * * * *
To go back to H.M.S. "Investigator": as soon as Hythe's appeal for helpwas received the attendants on the diving-party began to haul in thesub's life-line, but before five fathoms had been brought inboard asudden relaxation of the strain told them that the rope had beensevered.
"Be sharp, men! Blow him to the surface," ordered Egmont. "There'ssomething up down there."
"Mr. Hythe's just signalled for more air, sir," announced the seaman whohad charge of the telephone.
Rapidly the handles of the air-pump revolved. An increase in the numberand size of the bubbles rising to the surface was the only result.
"See if the others are all right," ordered the lieutenant. "What'sthat? O'Shaunessey reports all correct; tell him to find out what'swrong with Mr. Hythe. Can't you get any reply from Mr. Hythe, Mr.Smithers?"
"No reply, sir," said the man laconically.
A paying out of the Irishman's life-line told them on deck thatO'Shaunessey was on his way to look for his officer. Five minuteselapsed, then a confused jumble of ejaculations through the telephonebetokened the unmistakable fact that the Hibernian diver was shouting atthe top of his voice.
"Stow it, mate; what's the bloomin' use of shoutin' like that?" spokethe man on O'Shaunessey's telephone reprovingly. Then, after a shortinterval, he took the instrument from his ear and turned to LieutenantEgmont.
"Wire's cut off, sir," he announced.
"And his life-line and air-tube cut, too, sir,"
added another seaman.
"Great heavens! what's up?" ejaculated the lieutenant. "Here, bringPrice up before he's done for."
Hastily Egmont communicated this disquieting news to Captain Tarfag.The latter went for'ard and awaited Diver Price's re-appearance.
As soon as Price's helmet appeared above the surface his glass plate wasunscrewed, revealing his features as pale as a sheet.
"What has happened?" demanded Captain Tarfag anxiously.
The man was incapable of speech. He could only raise one hand in agesture of horror and despair.
"Help him over the side, men," ordered the captain. "Run aft, one ofyou, and ask the steward to give you a stiff glass of grog."
Quickly Price was divested of his helmet and dress. Shaking like a leafhe sat down upon a bollard. He drained the glass of whisky at one gulp,and the colour began to return to his face.
"Both done for!" he cried. "Saw my mate stabbed by the villains. Nevercaught a sight o' Mr. Hythe."
"By heavens, I'll not stand this!" thundered Captain Tarfag. "I wantthree men to go down--who will volunteer?"
"I will, sir!" came a chorus of voices. Every man qualified as a diverhad offered to risk possibly certain death in the depths of the sea.
"You three," ordered the captain, indicating Moy, Banks, and Smithers."Keep your knives in your hands and don't hesitate to use them. Take acharge of guncotton. If you've a chance place it under her bilges, andI'll take the risk of blowing this infernal submarine to Jericho."
Quickly the three dauntless divers prepared to descend, while a pettyofficer and two seamen hastened to bring the explosive from the magazineand the batteries for firing the charge.
But ere the divers were ready a sudden commotion on shore attracted theattention of Captain Tarfag and the crew of the "Investigator." Theworking party on the beach had discovered that the net entanglements nolonger held. They were coming home with hardly any resistance, bringingwith them the grapnels of the picquet-boats till the latter had tohastily cast off in order to prevent themselves being dragged ashore.
"She's given us the slip, by George!" ejaculated Mr. Egmont.
"Perhaps the nets have parted," suggested Captain Tarfag. "Look alive,men!"
One after another the divers disappeared over the side. Three distinctpatches of bubbles indicated their course. They were, for mutualsafety, keeping close together. To all inquiries on the telephone theanswer was, "Nothing to be seen," until Moy reported that he haddiscovered distinct traces in the sand of the impression of a fairlyflat-bottomed vessel of at least thirty foot beam.
"It's no go," exclaimed Captain Tarfag. "Order the men back, and reportthe loss of Mr. Hythe and O' Shaunessey to the Commander-in-Chief atDevonport. By smoke! All the fat is in the fire now."
Quickly the dispiriting news spread from ship to ship, and from boat toboat. A panic seemed to seize the spectators in private craft, for, asif by a sudden impulse, they made a wild stampede from the shelter ofthe shallow water of Cawsand Bay. But nothing happened to imperil theirsafety. No huge sea-monster, the work of human hands, appeared toscatter destruction broadcast upon those venturesome individuals who hadgone forth to witness the capture of the mysterious Captain Restronguet.The elusive submarine had calmly stolen away, without a trace of thetragedy that every one imagined had been enacted beneath the waves, savefor portions of the two life-lines and the disconnected air-tubes.
The "Investigator" and the rest of the Government vessels lost no timein putting into the Hamoaze. Captain Tarfag, accompanied by LieutenantEgmont, immediately went on shore to report to the Commander-in-Chief.Already special editions of the papers were out, giving more or lessaccurate accounts of the futile operations in connexion with the attemptto capture the submarine, and all laid particular stress upon the factthat the lives of an officer and a seaman had been sacrificed on thealtar of duty.
"You saw nothing, Tarfag?" asked the Admiral.
"Nothing, sir. The diver who escaped reported that the whole time hewas below he saw no trace of the submarine, although he followed theline of netting for several yards. What he did see was his comrade,O'Shaunessey, beset by half a dozen men. He admitted he was terriblyscared, but went to his fellow-diver's assistance. Before he could getclose enough he saw that O'Shaunessey's life-line had been cut and hisair-tube disconnected. Realizing that he could do nothing, and that hewas in pressing danger, Price signalled to be hauled up."
"But how did the submarine contrive to get clear of the wire and ropeentanglements? Surely you saw some signs of a commotion?"
"Nothing--not even a ripple. The first intimation we had was from theshore. The nets came home quite easily."
"H'm," ejaculated the Admiral. "Perhaps I----"
The entrance of an assistant secretary caused the Commander-in-Chief topause abruptly. The newcomer held out a type-written document.
"Message through from the Admiralty, sir," he announced.
"By Jove! What's this?" exclaimed the astonished Admiral. "TheSecretary to the Admiralty reports that a telephone message was receivedfrom a North London call-office, reporting that Mr. Hythe and O'Shaunessey are prisoners on the submarine. Furthermore, a telegram fromDantzic announces that Captain Restronguet--confound that fellow!--hasdestroyed the armoured cruiser 'Breslau.'"
"When was that, sir?" asked Captain Tarfag.
"The message from Dantzic is dated 8 a.m. this morning. Allowing fordifferences in Greenwich time----"
"Then, if the submarine we were after is under the command of CaptainRestronguet, it is morally impossible for him to be in the Baltic atprecisely the same hour----"
"Unless there are two of these blessed submarines."
"Or two captains of the name of Restronguet," added Captain Tarfag.
"I suppose this fellow means to hold Mr. Hythe to ransom, sir?" askedMr. Egmont.
"There is no mention of that," replied the Admiral. "But, of course,that may be his intention. I wonder where the mysterious submarine willturn up next?"
"The Superintendent of Police, sir," announced the head-messenger.
"Ah, Richardson, what's the trouble now?" asked the Commander-in-Chief,as a tall, alert-looking man stepped briskly into the room.
"More evidence of Captain Restronguet, sir," replied the Superintendentof Police. "The rascal's actually in the Hamoaze. Our duty boat,whilst returning from Bull Point, picked up a green and white buoy, justabreast of Wilcove. Attached to the buoy, and protected by a water-proofcovering, was this document."
The admiral took the paper--a foolscap sheet, with a crest and the words"Submarine 'Aphrodite'" embossed upon it. In silence he read it to theend, then--
"Well, of all the most confounded cheek!" he ejaculated. "Read that,Tarfag, and tell me what you think of it."
"I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Admiralty's messageof even date. In order to prove conclusively that this reply isauthentic, I have taken steps to see that this document is placed in thehands of the Commander-in-Chief of the Devonport Command. Mr. ArnoldHythe and A.B. O'Shaunessey, official number K14,027, are on board myvessel 'Aphrodite.' In the interests of the Service, and also in myown, it is desirable that Mr. Hythe remain on board for a period notexceeding six months. Any information the officer in question may gainis entirely at the disposal of the British Admiralty, and since thepossibilities of so doing are great, I would suggest that coveringpermission be given for Mr. Hythe's absence from his official duties.Incidentally I may mention that this suggested permission is merelyformal, for in any case my guests will not be put ashore until I thinkfit.
"I am at present giving a series of demonstrations in British waters,but not with any aggressive intent. It is hopeless to attempt thecapture of my submarine, and no useful purpose will be thereby served.
"I take this opportunity of explaining the cause of the hostile actscommitted against an outwardly friendly State, in the hope that thecalamity of a great war may be averted.
&nbs
p; "The submarine in Baltic waters is the property of Karl von Harburg, aGerman renegade, who has certain motives in committing these excesses,which can neither be justifiable nor excusable. His submarine, itself acraft of great abilities, is but a feeble imitation of my 'Aphrodite.'It will not help matters to any great extent by explaining my reasons,but I can assure you that at the first available opportunity I mean todestroy the submarine owned and commanded by Karl von Harburg, as Iregard the man as an unprincipled international scoundrel and a scourgeto humanity.
"Will you kindly forward this document to the Secretary of theAdmiralty, and inform him that my agent will receive his reply pertelephone, at the hour of 10 a.m. to-morrow.
"I have the honour to be, Sir, "Yours, etc., "JOHN RESTRONGUET."