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diff --git a/27674-h/27674-h.htm b/27674-h/27674-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..41fa874 --- /dev/null +++ b/27674-h/27674-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6773 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Boy Volunteers with the Submarine Fleet, by Kenneth Ward + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .5em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + h1 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h5,h6 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h2 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* centered and coloured */ + } + h3 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* centered and coloured */ + } + h4 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + a {text-decoration: none} /* no lines under links */ + div.centered {text-align: center;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */ + div.centered table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 2 */ + + .cen {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} /* centering paragraphs */ + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 95%;} /* small caps, smaller font size */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* footnote */ + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} /* block indent */ + .right {text-align: right; padding-right: 2em;} /* right aligning paragraphs */ + .totoi {position: absolute; right: 2%; font-size: 75%; text-align: right;} /* to Table of Illustrations link */ + .img {text-align: center; padding: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} /* centering images */ + .imgr {float: right; padding: 1em; text-align: center;} /* floating image to the right of the paragraph */ + .tdr {text-align: right;} /* right align cell */ + .tdrb {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom} /* align right and bottom */ + .tdc {text-align: center;} /* center align cell */ + .tdl {text-align: left;} /* left align cell */ + .tr {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 1em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} /* transcriber's notes */ + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; right: 2%; + font-size: 75%; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0em; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal;} /* page numbers */ + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Volunteers with the Submarine Fleet, by +Kenneth Ward + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy Volunteers with the Submarine Fleet + +Author: Kenneth Ward + +Release Date: December 31, 2008 [EBook #27674] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOY VOLUNTEERS--SUBMARINE FLEET *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Barbara Kosker and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/cover.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/cover.jpg" width="45%" alt="Front Cover" /></a> +</div> + + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h2>THE BOY VOLUNTEERS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By KENNETH WARD</h3> + +<p class="cen"><i>12mo. Cloth. Fully Illustrated. 50¢ per Volume</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Newest Boys' Books on the European War, Relating the +Adventures of Two American Boys and Their Experiences +in Battle and on Air Scout Duty. All Profusely Illustrated +with Authentic Drawings</span>.</p> + +<p class="cen"><b>The Boy Volunteers on the Belgian Front</b></p> + +<p>Describes the adventures of two American boys who were in Europe +when the great war commenced. Their enlistment with Belgian +troops and their remarkable experiences are based upon actual +occurrences and the book is replete with line drawings of fighting +machines, air planes and maps of places where the most important +battles took place and of other matters of interest.</p> + +<p class="cen"><b>The Boy Volunteers with the French Airmen</b></p> + +<p>This book relates the further adventures of the young Americans in +France, where they viewed the fighting from above the firing lines. +From this book the reader gains considerable knowledge of the +different types of air planes and battle planes used by the warring +nations, as all descriptions are illustrated with unusually clear line +drawings.</p> + +<p class="cen"><b>The Boy Volunteers with the British Artillery</b></p> + +<p>How many boys to-day know anything about the great guns now +being used on so many European battle fronts? Our young friends +had the rare opportunity of witnessing, at first hand, a number +of these terrific duels, and the story which is most fascinatingly +told is illustrated with numerous drawings of the British, French +and German field pieces.</p> + +<p class="cen"><b>The Boy Volunteers with the Submarine Fleet</b></p> + +<p>Our young heroes little expected to be favored with so rare an experience +as a trip under the sea in one of the great submarines. In +this book the author accurately describes the submarine in action, +and the many interesting features of this remarkable fighting craft +are made clear to the reader by a series of splendid line drawings.</p> + +<br /> +<p class="cen">THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</p> +<p class="cen">PUBLISHERS NEW YORK</p> +<br /> + +<div class="img"><a name="frontis" id="frontis"></a> +<a href="images/frontis.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/frontis.jpg" width="50%" alt="Frontispiece: An Explosion followed..." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>An explosion followed that seemed to tear everything +to pieces.</i><span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h1>THE BOY VOLUNTEERS</h1> +<h2>WITH THE</h2> +<h1>SUBMARINE FLEET</h1> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>KENNETH WARD</h2> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h4>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +NEW YORK</h4> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h4>Copyright, 1917, by<br /> +AMERICAN AUTHORS PUBLISHING CO.</h4> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="80%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" width="10%"><span style="font-size: 80%;">CHAPTER</span></td> + <td class="tdl" width="83%"> </td> + <td class="tdl" width="7%"><span style="font-size: 80%;">PAGE</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#I">I. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Ominous Warning on Shipboard</span></td> + <td class="tdr">13</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#II">II. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Torpedoed Ship</span></td> + <td class="tdr">25</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#III">III. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Prisoners on Board of a Submarine</span></td> + <td class="tdr">37</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#IV">IV. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Terrors in the Dark Room of an Undersea Boat</span></td> + <td class="tdr">49</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#V">V. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Some of the Mysteries of a Submarine</span></td> + <td class="tdr">58</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#VI">VI. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Groping Through the English Channel</span></td> + <td class="tdr">68</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#VII">VII. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Caught in the Deep Sea Nets</span></td> + <td class="tdr">78</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#VIII">VIII. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Night's Struggle to Free the Vessel</span></td> + <td class="tdr">89</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#IX">IX. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Capture of the Submerged Vessel</span></td> + <td class="tdr">99</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#X">X. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Secret Key to the Bomb Fuse</span></td> + <td class="tdr">110</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#XI">XI. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Operating the Submarine with a Captive Crew</span></td> + <td class="tdr">120</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#XII">XII. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Death Blow to the Submarine</span></td> + <td class="tdr">130</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#XIII">XIII. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Rescue in the Channel</span></td> + <td class="tdr">142</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#XIV">XIV. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Ten Hours in the Danger Zone</span></td> + <td class="tdr">151</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#XV">XV. </a></td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Frightful Mine Explosion</span></td> + <td class="tdr">161</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="toi" id="toi"></a><hr /> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="80%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" width="90%"><i>An Explosion Followed That Seemed to Tear Everything to Pieces</i></td> + <td class="tdrb" width="10%"><a href="#frontis"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> </td> + <td class="tdr"><span style="font-size: 80%;">PAGE</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><i>The Points of the Compass</i></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#imagep027">27</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><i>The Submarine Decoy</i></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#imagep030">30</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><i>Map Showing the Scene of the Wanderings of the Boys</i></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#imagep043">43</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><i>The Steel Nets</i></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#imagep073">73</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><i>The Entangled Submarine</i></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#imagep095">95</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><i>The Periscope</i></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#imagep137">137</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><i>The Conning Tower. All That Could Be Seen of the Submarine</i></td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#imagep148">148</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><i>A Contact Mine</i></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#imagep156">156</a></td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +<h1>THE BOY VOLUNTEERS<br /> +WITH THE<br /> +SUBMARINE FLEET</h1> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><a name="I" id="I"></a> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h2>THE OMINOUS WARNING ON SHIPBOARD</h2> +<br /> + +<p>"Submarine two points to starboard, sir!" +shouted a voice.</p> + +<p>Instantly there was confusion; the captain +sprang from the end of the bridge to the board +behind the quartermaster and pushed a lever to +the right.</p> + +<p>"Ralph, come out quickly; the second officer has +just shouted to the captain that a submarine is in +sight," said Alfred, as he rushed into the reading +room where Ralph was deeply engrossed in a book.</p> + +<p>Ralph needed no second warning. Together +with a dozen or more, who were in the room, he +sprang to the door, and followed Alfred, who was +now nearing the bridge.</p> + +<p>"Can you see it?" asked Ralph excitedly.</p> + +<p>"No; but they are pointing to the right; it +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>seems as though we are turning around," responded +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"So we are," said Ralph. "There! what is +that?" shouted Ralph, as he followed the direction +pointed out by the second officer.</p> + +<p>The captain gave another wrench to the wheel, +and the ship straightened out on its course. All +eyes were now directed to a point to the right, +and astern, for the boat had described a half +circle.</p> + +<p>"Wait till I get the glasses," said Alfred, as he +dived for the main companionway, and slid down +the railing.</p> + +<p>He was back in record time, followed by his +father and mother, accompanied by Ralph's +mother. Needless to say all were agitated, for +they had been told on the morning of sailing that +the trip might be a dangerous one, and it was only +urgent business necessity that compelled Mr. Elton +to take the risk.</p> + +<p>"I can see something away back there, just like +a trail of foam. I wonder whether that's what +they are so excited about on the bridge?" questioned +Alfred, as he lowered the glasses, and +glanced up at the officers who were vigorously discussing +the situation.</p> + +<p>"Let me look," said Ralph, reaching for the +glasses. He was silent for a few moments, then, +handing the glasses to Mr. Elton, he continued: +"There is something coming; see if you can make +it out."</p> + +<p>Mr. Elton gazed intently, and turned to his wife, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>as he said: "I am afraid that is a torpedo on the +way now."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, he made the remark quietly; those +around heard the warning, and the boys glanced +at the bridge. The captain again moved the wheel, +and the ship swerved.</p> + +<p>"It is a torpedo," shouted Ralph. Every one +leaned over the ship's side and waited, some with +terror on their faces, others pale but calm. Two +or three rushed for the companionway, and several +fainted.</p> + +<p>"It's going to miss! It's going to miss!" +shouted Alfred. He turned around and waved his +cap to the officers on the bridge, but they were too +intent watching the submarine to notice the salutation. +It was evident, however, from their actions +that they had no immediate fear.</p> + +<p>It was with a thrill that the two hundred passengers, +who were lined up on the port side of the +steamship, saw a foamy trail, one hundred feet +distant, pass alongside their vessel, and disappear +in the distance, far ahead.</p> + +<p>"There comes another one," said a voice.</p> + +<p>It was easy to distinguish the second peril, and +it seemed to come straight and true. The ship +veered slightly from its course, and breathlessly +the passengers watched the trail. On, on it came. +The vessel again slightly changed its course, and +this time the torpedo went wide of the mark.</p> + +<p>"Now, for the next one," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Ah! we are now too far ahead, and going too +fast for them. Even if the submarine comes to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>the surface it cannot possibly catch us," said the +navigating officer, who passed along and quieted +the anxious ones.</p> + +<p>Thus, for the time being, they escaped, but the +vigilance was greater than ever. They would be +in the danger zone for twelve hours more.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Two and a half years previous to this time, Mr. +and Mrs. Elton, accompanied by their son Alfred, +Mrs. Elton's sister, and her son Ralph, were traveling +through Europe, and happened to be in Germany +when war was declared. The boys, together +with Mr. Elton's chauffeur, were on their way to +Antwerp with their car, and were pursued by the +Germans as they were entering Belgium territory.</p> + +<p>Their car was requisitioned by the Belgium government, +and as the German forces entered Belgium +south of Liege, they were cut off from reaching +Antwerp. In the effort to make their way +across the country the two boys met the Belgian +forces, and were in the first battle, which was +fought between the Germans and Belgians. They +took part in the defense of Belgian territory with +the Belgian forces, from Liege, to Louvain, Aerschott, +and Malines, until the city of Antwerp was +besieged, and were among the last to leave when +the Belgians evacuated that place.</p> + +<p>They were fortunate enough, however, to reach +French territory with the bulk of the Belgian +army, and arrived at Dunkirk, on the Channel, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>during that period when the British were sending +over the first forces to resist the invasion of +France.</p> + +<p>The second day they visited the hangars where +the British were setting up their aircraft and +training the recruits for the aviation service. +While approaching the grounds they were the witnesses +of an accident to one of the flyers, who +made a disastrous landing near them, and they +were prompt enough to lift the machine from one +of the men, which saved his life.</p> + +<p>This incident was the changing point in their +career, for they then determined to enter the aviation +corps, if possible. Despite their efforts, they +were not able to succeed, at this time, and as the +father of Alfred had sent word to them to meet +him in Paris, they regretfully worked their way +to that city, only to learn, on arriving, that Mr. +Elton was not permitted to leave Germany.</p> + +<p>By an accidental circumstance they went to Bar-le-Duc, +in eastern France, and visited the aviation +grounds there. Having made themselves useful, +they were favored with the privilege of making +ascensions, and were instructed in the handling +of the trial machines on the grounds.</p> + +<p>On one occasion they were aloft with Lieutenant +Guyon, who, owing to heart troubles, fainted while +at a high altitude, and the boys brought the machine +down safely. Thereafter, the lieutenant was +their constant friend, and when the corps moved +to Verdun they were regularly enrolled as members, +and subsequently became engaged in many +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>exciting flights. While on a scouting operation +with their friend, several German machines appeared +and a battle followed in which the machine +was injured, and during the descent both boys +were wounded.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant was caught in the wreckage, as +the machine finally plunged to earth, and within a +week died of his wounds. The boys were heart-broken +at his death, and after a week at the base +hospital were transferred to the American hospital +in Paris. After recovery they were regularly +discharged from the service, and started for +home.</p> + +<p>On their way to the Channel they became interested +in the artillery branch and happened to take +part in the first great French drive in the Somme +region and later were with the British artillery +when it began its great fight against the Germans +in the region west of Bapaume.</p> + +<p>It was there that Alfred's parents and Ralph's +mother learned of their whereabouts, and, through +the kindly offices of the American ambassador, +were permitted to visit the battery where the boys +were stationed, and where they finally prevailed +upon them to accompany them home.</p> + +<p>They sailed from Bordeaux early in the morning +of the same day that the events took place +which we have just related. On the day of sailing +the thrilling news reached France that President +Wilson had given the German minister his passports, +and while such an act does not, ordinarily, +mean war, the strained relations between the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>United States and Germany made it probable that +war would follow.</p> + +<p>As stated, Mr. Elton's business compelled him +to sail, notwithstanding the danger, and they now +found themselves within the danger zone prescribed +by the German authorities, for, as they +were sailing on a ship belonging to one of the belligerent +nations, they knew that it was a prey for +any submarine and subject to be sunk without +warning.</p> + +<p>Although instructions of a general nature had +been issued by the captain after the vessel left +port, he called the passengers together immediately +after the excitement attending the appearance +of the submarine had died away, and addressed +them as follows:</p> + +<p>"For the next twelve or fifteen hours we shall be +in the danger zone, and it is imperative that each +of you should at all times carry a life belt. I impress +this on you not for the purpose of creating +alarm, but because I know that people become +careless. The officers will give full instructions +to all of you as to the way the belts should be worn, +so there will be no confusion at the last moment.</p> + +<p>"And now, another thing, which you must remember. +More lives are lost through undue excitement +than from the real danger, in case of +trouble. We are here for the purpose of giving +due warning and assistance, and every man in the +ship's crew will be faithful to his duty. Do not +rush about and become excited, because that unduly +alarms those about you, I will give you +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>ample warning. Five short blasts on the ship's +whistle will call you to the boats. When you hear +that go to your cabins quickly, seize such clothing +as you have prepared for such an event, and if +you have not strapped on the life belt do so at +once.</p> + +<p>"It should be the first duty of the men to aid +the women and children, see that the belts are +properly put on, and assist them to the deck. Once +there, go as quickly as possible to the davits and +await orders, for the officers and men will be there +to direct and take charge of the passengers. +Should the boat be so badly hit that it is impossible +for all the passengers to get into the boat +before the vessel goes down, the men must see to +it that every one goes overboard and clears the +ship's side.</p> + +<p>"Many women will, even in this extremity, refuse +to jump overboard without their husbands, +but in such cases there must be no hesitancy on +the part of the men. Do not argue, but push them +overboard, and the life belts will hold them in position +in the water until the waiting boats can +rescue them. There will be no danger of drowning +under those conditions, but be sure to jump as +far from the vessel as possible."</p> + +<p>It was not such a speech as tended to relieve +nervousness, but it certainly made every one +within hearing very thoughtful. Women, and men, +as well, turned white, and many of them timidly +examined the tiny life belts which were handed +out.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>"It seems that we get into trouble wherever we +go," said Alfred, not in a spirit of alarm, however, +but more because he felt a deep concern for +his father and mother.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Ralph, isn't this terrible!" said his +mother, as she came forward.</p> + +<p>"It certainly is; but this is something like the +experiences we have had for over two years, and +it doesn't make it seem so bad;—do you think so?" +he added, addressing Alfred.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't be at all worried, Auntie," responded +Alfred. "Here comes mother; I hope she +is not broken up or worried."</p> + +<p>"No," replied Mrs. Elton. "It is dreadful, but +it is no worse for us than for others. I am glad +the captain spoke as plainly as he did. We must +understand and do our duty."</p> + +<p>"Now, Mother, you and Auntie go to the ladies' +room and stay there. If anything happens we will +know where to find you," said Ralph.</p> + +<p>"But I want you to come and stay with us," replied +Mrs. Elton.</p> + +<p>"We cannot do that," replied Alfred. "We +have fine glasses and every one should be on the +watch. It takes a great many eyes to see in all +directions."</p> + +<p>"Alfred is right," said Mr. Elton. "I will remain +with you; but do not be alarmed for the present."</p> + +<p>"Wait until I get my binoculars," said Ralph, as +he rushed down to the cabin.</p> + +<p>He was up at once, and together they ran <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>forward +to the bridge, as the second officer descended.</p> + +<p>"Can we be of service to you in any way?" said +Alfred, pointing to their glasses.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, you can," said the officer.</p> + +<p>At that moment the captain, leaning over the +rail of the bridge, shouted: "Come up, boys; those +are the right kind of weapons. We ought to have +dozens more of the same kind."</p> + +<p>The boys fairly stumbled up the steep, narrow +ladder that led to the bridge.</p> + +<p>"At your service," said Ralph.</p> + +<p>The captain smiled, as he said: "Take positions +at the end of the bridge."</p> + +<p>The boys walked across to the other side, and +Ralph elevated his glasses.</p> + +<p>A moment later the captain, in his walk to and +fro, stopped before the boys. "You have evidently +had occasion to use the binoculars before, +but probably not while at sea," he observed.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Ralph; "we used them in flying +machines and while serving in the artillery, but +this is really the first opportunity we have had to +use them on shipboard."</p> + +<p>"Then a little instruction will be of service to +you and to all of us," said the captain. "I noticed +that you were sweeping the sea to the rear. +That is not necessary, for at our speed a torpedo +boat would not be able to catch us. All your time +should be devoted to scanning that quadrant from +straight ahead to a point but a little astern of your +left quarter, as it is from that section, and the +corresponding section on the right side of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>vessel +that we expect the enemy; do you understand +what I mean?"</p> + +<p>"I think so," replied Ralph. "But suppose a +submarine should be well ahead of us and submerge, +and then wait until we have passed. In +that case couldn't it again come up and send a +torpedo into the stern of the ship?"</p> + +<p>"That might be possible, but not probable. A +submarine is absolutely in the dark when completely +submerged," said the captain. "It must +come to the surface sufficiently near to bring its +periscope out of the water, and that would reveal +its presence to us. It would be a pretty hard job +for a navigator in a submarine to calculate when +the boat had passed sufficiently near to know the +opportune time to come to the surface and give us +the shot."</p> + +<p>"But couldn't they come near enough to take +a chance? They might come up 500 feet away +or 2,000. At either distance they could land a torpedo, +couldn't they?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Quite true; but the submarine might not know +whether we were armed or not, and it would not +take the risk of exposure in that reckless manner," +replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"But we are not armed, are we?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"No; our guns will be ready for us on the return +trip," answered the captain. After a moment +he continued: "Let me also give you a hint +as to the particular manner of using the glasses +to get a correct view. Do not attempt to take in +the entire field at one sweep. Sight at a point near +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>the ship, say at a distance of a quarter of a mile; +then slowly raise the glasses so that your view +grows more and more distant and finally the focal +point reaches the horizon. Then turn a point to +the right or to the left, and bring down the forward +end of the glasses until the view is again concentrated +on the point nearest the ship."</p> + +<p>"That is something like making observations on +a flying machine," replied Alfred, "only in that +case the glass is held stationary, as the machine +moves along, and in that way objects can be seen +much better than by sweeping it around continuously. +We learned that from Lieutenant +Guyon."</p> + +<p>"Quite true; I see you are well qualified to observe. +But to continue: after you have thus made +the first observation as I have explained, the +glasses should be held horizontally to take in the +view at the horizon, and then swept around at +that angle to the right or to the left, depressing +it at each swing. That is called sweeping the sea."</p> + +<p>"I know two men who have glasses," said +Ralph. "Shall I get them?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you can; this is the kind of service +which is appreciated," said the captain.</p> + +<p>Ralph sprang down the ladder, and ran along +the deck. He was absent for some time, but soon +appeared with two men.</p> + +<p>"Come on," said Ralph, as he ascended the ladder. +The men hesitated for a moment, and followed, +as an officer appeared and invited them to +come up.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><a name="II" id="II"></a> +<br /> +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h2>THE TORPEDOED SHIP</h2> +<br /> + +<p>During the next hour or more every field glass +on board ship was put into use, and many were +the weary arms that used them until the luncheon +hour arrived at one o'clock. The captain, knowing +how trying the constant watching must be to +civilians who are not used to this work, appointed +two watches, so they might relieve each other +every hour.</p> + +<p>The boys went to the dining room, and as Mr. +Elton and his family sat at the captain's table, +the latter took occasion during the meal to refer +to Ralph and Alfred's services on the bridge in +commendatory terms, which was greatly appreciated +by their parents.</p> + +<p>"I am curious to know," said Ralph, "what the +officer meant when he said 'two points to starboard.'"</p> + +<p>"That is explained in this way," replied the captain. +"The compass is divided into thirty-two +points, or eight points in each quadrant."</p> + +<p>"I remember you spoke about a quadrant when +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>we were on the bridge. What is a quadrant?" +asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"I should have said, in the beginning, that the +compass is divided into four parts, one line running, +we will say, east and west, and the other line +north and south. In that way there are four cardinal +points. You will understand, therefore, that +from the north cardinal point to the east cardinal +point, which represents one quadrant, are eight +points, and so on, from the cardinal point east to +south, are eight more points," responded the captain.</p> + +<p>"Then when the officer said 'two points to starboard,' +did he mean two points from one of the +cardinal points?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"No, he had reference to two points from the +line ahead, or for the time being, he took the line +upon which we were traveling, as one of the cardinal +lines, and when he said two points he described +a line which was just one-fourth of the +distance around the circle or quadrant to the +east," answered the captain.</p> + +<p>"Then we might say that the keel of the ship +is one of the cardinal lines, and the bridge, which +runs across the ship is the other line?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"That is a very homely and plain way of putting +it," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>An hour thereafter, while the boys were on the +bridge, they noticed the first signs of excitement +on the part of the officers. A message had been +handed the captain a few moments before. Of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>course, all were curious to know the news it contained, +but no one seemed to be bold enough to +ask any questions.</p> + +<div class="img"><a name="imagep027" id="imagep027"></a> +<a href="images/imagep027.png"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep027.png" width="55%" alt="The Points of the Compass" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>The Points of the Compass</i><span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p> +</div> + +<p>As the second watch appeared at the bridge the +boys descended and rejoined their parents. A +voice was heard outside summoning the passengers +on deck. They were ranged along the +deck house, and the second officer appeared.</p> + +<p>"I wish to make an announcement, and give +further instructions. In order that there may be +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>no confusion, in the event the enemy should attack +us and compel the passengers to take to the +boats, I am going to assign places to all of you, so +that the moment you hear the five bells you will +know where to go, ready to man the boats. Now, +notice the numbers on the boats, which you see are +swung out on the davits ready to be launched. +Be particular to note where your boat is located, +and its number. When you come up the companionway +from your cabin, fix in your mind whether +your own boat is on the right or on the left side; +some are liable to become confused in coming up.</p> + +<p>"Boat No. 1; Mr. Elton, how many are in your +party?"</p> + +<p>"Five," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Then three more will be assigned; Mr. Wardlaw, +wife and daughter; that will complete the first +boat. No. 2," continued the officer, as he made the +assignments. This was continued until the entire +list was completed.</p> + +<p>Four seamen were then designated for each of +the boats, and the steward was directed to prepare +emergency food for the different boats, and by direct +orders the food was actually placed in the +boats.</p> + +<p>It was really with a sigh of relief from the suspense +that the boys awaited the signal for their +term of duty on the bridge. They were in their +places instantly, and seized the glasses. It was +now four o'clock in the afternoon. They were +moving toward the setting sun. The sky was free +of clouds and the ocean fairly smooth. It was an +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>ideal sea for observation. The boys were on the +port or left side of the ship.</p> + +<p>"Ralph," said Alfred under his breath, as he +moved toward Ralph, and laid his hand on his arm, +without lowering his glasses, "look over there! +there!—two or three points,——"</p> + +<p>"I see it,—yes,—Captain, what is that, a half-mile +off to the left?" interrupted Ralph.</p> + +<p>The captain shot a glance in the direction indicated. +"Three points to port!" he said, as he +sprang to the wheel and gave a signal to the engineer. +As he came back to the point of observation, +he said:</p> + +<p>"Young eyes are very sharp. You have beaten +the watch on the top mast."</p> + +<p>The officer in charge of the telephone beckoned +to the captain. The latter rushed over, and the +boys saw him nod.</p> + +<p>"How far are they from us?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Two miles," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Two miles!" said Ralph in astonishment. +"Why, I thought I was stretching it when I said a +half mile."</p> + +<p>"To be more exact, the range finder in the +crow's nest makes the distance 10,980 feet," said +the captain.</p> + +<p>"Well, they can't hit us at that distance," said +Ralph, "can they?"</p> + +<p>"No; we can easily avoid that fellow, but he may +have appeared as a ruse," said the captain, glancing +to starboard, with an anxious air.</p> + +<p>The first officer standing near, although intently +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>watching the submarine in the distance, remarked: +"It is now the custom for two or more of the +undersea boats to operate in unison; the one we +are now looking at may be a decoy."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by 'decoy'" asked Ralph, +in astonishment. "Is it likely that they would +expect us to steer right into them?"</p> + + +<div class="img"><a name="imagep030" id="imagep030"></a> +<a href="images/imagep030.png"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep030.png" width="55%" alt="The Submarine Decoy" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>The Submarine Decoy</i><span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p> +</div> + +<p>"No; their idea is to have one of the submarines +show up in front, knowing that the intercepted vessel +will turn to avoid it. Then the other submarine, +with nothing but its periscope above the +water, and on the other side of the sailing course +of the ship, will be in position, the moment the turn +is made, to deliver the shot. That is why the captain +has gone to the other side, as you will notice +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>the vessel is now going to starboard," said the +officer.</p> + +<p>The ship had now turned so that it was broadside +to the distant submarine. Not only its conning +tower was now visible, but a long black object +fore and aft could be plainly observed.</p> + +<p>"Three points to port!" shouted the captain.</p> + +<p>The quartermaster swung the wheel around, and +the ship seemed to heel over, so suddenly did the +rudder act.</p> + +<p>"One point to starboard, and full speed ahead!" +was the next order from the captain.</p> + +<p>It seemed that the order had no more than been +executed than he again sang out:</p> + +<p>"Two points to port!"</p> + +<p>"What is that for?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"He is zig-zagging the ship through the sea," +replied the officer.</p> + +<p>"What for?" inquired Ralph.</p> + +<p>"There is another submarine three points to +starboard astern."</p> + +<p>"Then,—then the captain,——"</p> + +<p>"Yes; the one behind us is near enough to reach +us if we keep on a straight course, but the captain +has manoeuvered so as to bring him directly in +our wake, and continually changed the target so +that the submarine cannot aim with accuracy," interrupted +the officer.</p> + +<p>The passengers on the decks below did not need +to be told that something unusual was happening. +The changing course of the ship, the unusual activity +on the bridge, the leveling of the glasses to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>the port side and to the stern by the different +groups, were sufficient warnings of the presence +of the dread monsters.</p> + +<p>The submarine on the port side was now coming +forward with all the speed it possessed, and again +the captain turned the ship another point to starboard. +The funnels were belching smoke, and +sparks flying from the top. The engineers were +putting on forced draft and the ship seemed to be +trembling as it shot through the smooth sea. It +was an ideal condition for the launching of a torpedo.</p> + +<p>"Torpedo coming on starboard side!" shouted +a voice.</p> + +<p>Every one now rushed to the right side of the +bridge. There was a shriek below. From an unexpected +quarter the third submarine's periscope +was visible, and a foamy trail, straight as a mark, +began to lengthen out toward their vessel.</p> + +<p>"Reverse! Reverse engines!" shouted the captain. +The order was executed, but too late. The +trail came nearer and grew broader. Some of the +passengers put their hands over their eyes, others +stood like fixed statues. The captain placed his +hand to his brow, but quickly turned.</p> + +<p>"Order the men to the boat!" he said in a quiet +voice, as he stepped forward and seized the handle +of the boat's whistle.</p> + +<p>No sooner had the order been given when a terrific +crash followed. The bridge seemed to have +been seized with a giant hand and it vibrated with +an intense force. A hundred feet from the stern +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>of the ship a great mass of water shot upward and +fragments of the deck were hoisted up and scattered +around.</p> + +<p>The ship at first swayed to port and then quickly +swung back to starboard, but did not again roll +back to port. The captain shook his head. There +was a perceptible list in the position of the ship.</p> + +<p>"Take your position in the boats!" he shouted +to the men on the bridge, and as he did so he +quickly pulled the lever,—one, two, three, four, +five.</p> + +<p>By the time the last blast sounded the seamen +were at the boats assigned to them. The engines +had stopped. The passengers, all except those +who had fainted, had left the deck. Ralph and +Alfred made a dash for the waiting room. Their +parents were not there. Down they went to the +cabins, passing on the way the crowded hallways +and the unutterable confusion which resulted from +the order to hurriedly leave the ship.</p> + +<p>They found their parents in the cabin, and, due +to the forethought of Mr. Elton, the lifebuoys had +been adjusted, and their valuables secured beforehand. +Others, however, were not so fortunate. +Across the way were several women and children.</p> + +<p>"Let me help you," said Alfred, as he entered +the first cabin. "I will take care of the baby," he +remarked, as he picked it up, while the mother +was almost frantic.</p> + +<p>"I will take the other one," shouted Ralph.</p> + +<p>"We can't stop here another minute," said Alfred. +"Do you see how the ship is leaning over?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>"Come on, Mother," cried Ralph; "follow us +or we may not be able to go up the stairs."</p> + +<p>Alfred crowded close behind Ralph, and Mr. Elton +assisted the two women along the passageway. +All arrived on deck, the boys with the two children +in their arms.</p> + +<p>"Where is No. 8?" "I can't find No. 9," said +another. "What has become of the girl?" +shrieked one; "Are we going to turn over?" asked +a trembling voice. The officers were going to and +fro, mingling with the passengers.</p> + +<p>"What is your boat number?" asks one officer. +"This way; that is the place you are assigned to."</p> + +<p>Mr. Elton and his party reached No. 1 without +accident, and all but the boys were safely placed in +the boat.</p> + +<p>"Come on, boys," said Mr. Elton. "But where +is the mother of the children?" he asked, as he saw +the boys were unaccompanied.</p> + +<p>"Take the baby," said Alfred, as he passed it +to his mother.</p> + +<p>Ralph handed the little girl to one of the seamen, +and sprang after Alfred. There was now a +dangerous list, and Mrs. Elton noticed it.</p> + +<p>"Is there any danger if our boys go below to the +stateroom?" she asked the petty officer, who was +holding the rope connected with the tackle of their +boat.</p> + +<p>"She'll have to sway over a great deal further +to go down," he remarked.</p> + +<p>This comforted her for the moment. Passengers +were still coming up from the c<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>ompanionways; +some were being dragged along, and others +acted like drunken men and women. It was a terribly +trying sight.</p> + +<p>An old man shambled forward as he emerged +from the cabin door, glanced along at the filled +boats held in the davit, tried to speak, and fell +headlong on the deck. A surgeon near by rushed +up, turned him over, felt of his heart and pulse, +shook his head, and drew the body close up to the +side of the cabin wall. Then the officer made a +search to ascertain the name of the man, and extracted +papers from his pockets.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the boys had not returned, and the +ship was turning over on its side more and more.</p> + +<p>"Launch the boats!" ordered the captain.</p> + +<p>"But our boys! our boys!" shrieked Ralph's +mother, but as she arose she was forcibly restrained. +The captain did not hear, and at the +command the boats went down. Even then a half-dozen +passengers emerged from the door too late, +and one of them, notwithstanding the warning, +was without a life belt.</p> + +<p>The ship's deck was now at an angle of fully +thirty degrees,—as steep as the ordinary roof. +Those emerging from the cabin on the port side +could not maintain a footing, but were compelled +to slide down to the side railing. This was the +situation when Ralph and Alfred reached the door +which led to the deck from the companionway. +They were carrying the woman whose children +they had rescued, as she was in a frenzy, and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>struggled with the boys. The moment the inclined +deck was reached Alfred said:</p> + +<p>"See that she goes overboard, and I will go +down for that little girl," and he crawled back +into the ship.</p> + +<p>Ralph finally succeeded in loosening the +woman's hold, and together they slid down the +deck. The woman was now uncontrollable. She +threw her arms about wildly, and cried for her +children. Ralph pointed to the boats below, but +this did not quiet her. Taking advantage of the +moment when both hands were free, Ralph, by a +terrific effort, pushed her across the railing, and, +with a loud shriek, she shot downward.</p> + +<p>Ralph looked around, and caught a momentary +sight of his parents in the boat below. Mrs. Elton +was calling for Alfred. Ralph nodded his head +and tried to crawl back up the inclined deck, but +it was useless. An arm then appeared through +the door opening, then a head, and he knew it must +be Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Can't you help me up?" shouted Ralph.</p> + +<p>Alfred disengaged himself and extended his +body down along the deck. This enabled Ralph to +seize hold of his legs and draw himself up into the +doorway.</p> + +<p>Once there he saw the trouble that Alfred had +to contend with. Lying half-way up the stairs +was a poor cripple, half dead with fright, and the +little girl, not much better. Laboriously, he had +assisted, first one and then the other, and was +about exhausted when Ralph came to the rescue.</p> + +<br /> +<br /><a name="III" id="III"></a> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h2>PRISONERS ON BOARD OF A SUBMARINE</h2> +<br /> + +<p>The captain was still on deck, together with the +first officer, both of them being at that time on the +upper side of the vessel. They made the most +careful examination of the staterooms and +searched every corner to be sure that no one lingered +behind. Coming forward they witnessed the +struggles of the boys with the cripple and the girl, +but the ship was now too far over on its side to +permit them to render assistance.</p> + +<p>The cripple was soon brought to the door, and, +without ceremony, pushed down the incline. The +little girl followed, but before the boys could reach +the railing the poor cripple slipped over the railing +and disappeared. The boys held the child +aloft for a moment, and then dropped her into the +waves.</p> + +<p>"Jump as far as you can!" shouted the captain.</p> + +<p>Ralph placed a foot on the railing, and, looking +back at Alfred, said: "Here goes! Come on!"</p> + +<p>Both boys landed at almost the same time. The +little girl was aroused by the cold water, and was +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>wildly floundering about, but the cripple lay upon +the surface of the water, with face upturned, limp +and still. They glanced about; where were the +boats? They could not be far away.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid he's done for," said Alfred, as he +glanced toward the cripple.</p> + +<p>"Well, we might as well stay near him; he might +be all right," replied Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Move away from the ship quickly," said a +voice in the water, not far away.</p> + +<p>It was the captain. He was the last one to dive, +after he had seen every passenger safely off the +ship.</p> + +<p>"We have no time to lose; take care of yourselves; +I will help the little girl," he continued, as +he threw the child on his back, and began to strike +out.</p> + +<p>The sea had been calm up to this time, but no +sooner had the captain ceased speaking than a +tremendous wave almost engulfed them; they +seemed to be carried up, and then were forced +down by a giant swell. Another wave followed +and then another, until, finally, the oscillations of +the waves seemed to be growing less and less.</p> + +<p>"Where is the ship?" cried Alfred.</p> + +<p>"She's gone down; that's what made the +waves," said the captain.</p> + +<p>The cripple's hand was raised up, and his eyes +began to roll.</p> + +<p>"This fellow's all right, after all," said Ralph. +"I'll help him. I wonder where the boats are?"</p> + +<p>The sun, which was going down while all this +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>had been taking place, had now disappeared, and +there was that gray, lead-like appearance on the +waves that comes just before twilight.</p> + +<p>"Keep up your courage, boys; we shall soon +have plenty of boats looking for us," said the captain.</p> + +<p>Within less than a minute thereafter two boats +could be seen bobbing up and down not far away, +heading straight for those in the water. Ralph +was the first one caught by the strong arm of a +seaman, and then the little girl, now fully recovered +from her fright, received the care of a woman +in the boat.</p> + +<p>Alfred assisted the cripple into the other boat, +and the captain ordered all the passengers transferred +to the boat which had just come up.</p> + +<p>The boys then noticed that only three seamen +remained, together with the captain and first officer.</p> + +<p>"You may remain with us," said the captain, +addressing Ralph and Alfred.</p> + +<p>This was, indeed, a compliment to them, which +was appreciated.</p> + +<p>"I know father, mother and auntie are all +right," said Alfred. "Do you think they saw us +get off?" he added anxiously.</p> + +<p>"They were standing by when you jumped, but +when the ship made the last lurch, just before she +went down the seamen knew that they must pull +away to avoid being sucked under. It might have +been too dark for them actually to have seen you +get away, at the distance they were from the ship, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>but I don't think they will expect to see us before +morning."</p> + +<p>"Why, do you intend to stay here all night?" +asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"No, but each boat crew has had instructions to +make for the nearest port, as rapidly as possible," +replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"Where are we now?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"In the Bay of Biscay, about one hundred and +fifty miles from the nearest land," answered the +captain.</p> + +<p>"How long will it take us to reach land?" asked +Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Possibly two days, or more; that depends on +the weather and the conditions in the bay. This is +the most turbulent body of water anywhere on the +Atlantic coast line, but it has been remarkably +smooth during the past twenty-four hours," answered +the captain.</p> + +<p>"What is the name of the place that we are +heading for?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"St. Nazaire; a French town at the mouth of the +river Loire," was the reply.</p> + +<p>It was now quite dark, and a haze prevented the +occupants of the boat from making any observation +of the stars, hence the sailing, or rather, the +rowing, had to be conducted by compass entirely, +the order being given by the captain to steer east +by north, a term which indicates that the course +was exactly two points north of a line running due +east and west.</p> + +<p>Three miles an hour at the outside, would be +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>considered good speed. Sails would have been +useless without a wind, and there was not the +slightest breeze, but about midnight there was an +apparent rocking in the little boat that indicated +a wind. Occasionally, there would be a jerk, as the +boat would be thrown from one side to the other. +The captain was awake and alert, but the boys +were lying in the bottom of the vessel near the +stern.</p> + +<p>It was a trying, weary night, and when the sun +arose the sea was one panorama of short, choppy +waves. The seamen were tired with rowing, and +it was evident that no great effort was being made +to hurry the boat along.</p> + +<p>"It does seem to me that the sun is coming up +on the wrong side this morning," remarked Alfred, +as they were partaking of the food prepared +and stowed in the boat's lockers.</p> + +<p>"I imagine you are turned around somewhat," +replied the captain. "The wind is now coming +from the east, and you see the sun almost ahead +of us. We are being carried west faster than the +rowers can take us eastward, hence we are practically +standing still, or rather going back, and +they are now merely holding the boat so as to give +us steerage way and prevent us from going into +the troughs between the waves."</p> + +<p>"Have you sighted either of the other boats?" +asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"No; but one of the men observed a light at two +this morning, three points to starboard, which was, +possibly, one of our companions, but since that +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>time we have searched the seas fruitlessly," answered +the captain.</p> + +<p>"I don't know why it is that if all of the boats +steer to the same point that they should be scattered +in this way," said Alfred. "Can you explain +it, Captain?"</p> + +<p>"It would not be so if in the open sea, or in mid-ocean; +there they would be likely to keep together, +or not separated more than three or four miles; +but it is quite another thing in this great bay," replied +the captain.</p> + +<p>"Why should it be different here?" asked +Ralph.</p> + +<p>"If you will take a map of the western part of +Europe, you will notice three great projecting +headlands, or points on the western shore of the +continent of Europe, namely, Iceland, in the north, +and the Spanish peninsula in the south. Midway +between you will notice Ireland and the British +Isles. The great Gulf stream comes down from +the north, passes Iceland, that is one branch, hugs +the coast of Ireland, and strikes the point of land +which projects out northwesterly from the main +Spanish land, so that a sort of maelstrom is set +up in the bay."</p> + +<p>"How far are we from that point of land?" +asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"About two hundred miles northeast; and I +may also say that we are just about in the middle +of the Bay of Biscay, and at that point where the +sea is always more quiet than at any other part," +answered the captain.</p> + +<div class="img"><a name="imagep043" id="imagep043"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep043.png"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep043.png" width="45%" alt="Map Showing the Scene of the Wanderings of the Boys" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;"><span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>"Ship to starboard, sir," sang out the forward +watch.</p> + +<p>The captain turned to the right and, after a +brief glance, lowered his hand. The boys looked +at him in wonder. Evidently the sight of the vessel +did not give him pleasure. It was a low-lying +craft, with two short masts.</p> + +<p>"That looks like a submarine," shouted Ralph.</p> + +<p>"You are right," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>The submarine was coming forward rapidly, +and within fifteen minutes it was within hailing +distance. They now had an opportunity to examine +the ugly thing with the long black back and +the conning tower midway between the ends.</p> + +<p>"Are those the periscopes?" asked Alfred. "I +didn't know they carried two of them."</p> + +<p>"That is the practice now," said one seamen.</p> + +<p>The submarine came straight toward them, then +sheered off and stopped alongside less than thirty +feet from the boat. One of the seamen tossed a +rope, which was grasped by a marine on the undersea +boat, and in that manner they were drawn close +up to the side of the submarine.</p> + +<p>An officer now came forward, and in French invited +the captain to step aboard. There was a +broad smile on the officer's face, as he recognized +the captain of the vessel which they had torpedoed +the night before. With a respectful bow he requested +the captain to turn over the ship's papers. +The captain was, of course, powerless, but he refused +to do so on the plea that he did not have +them with him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>"Search the boat!" commanded the officer to +several of his crew.</p> + +<p>The captain was about to go back to his boat +when the officer remarked:</p> + +<p>"We prefer the pleasure of your company for +the present, sir."</p> + +<p>The captain folded his arms, and stood straight +before the officer, as two marines jumped into the +boat, and began the search. Eventually, a leather +case was found, on which was inscribed the ship's +name. It was tossed up to the officer, who, after +receiving it, entered the conning tower, where he +remained for some time.</p> + +<p>When he reappeared he said: "I shall have to +detain you," and, glancing down into the boat, +continued: "The two young men in the stern will +also come aboard."</p> + +<p>The boys were astounded at this new turn of +affairs. Slowly they arose, and stepped on the +narrow platform which projected out from the +side of the submarine.</p> + +<p>"There may be some reason why you should +wish to detain me, but there is no excuse for making +these young men prisoners; they are Americans +returning home, and cannot be considered as +belligerents," said the captain.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant looked at the captain and turned +his gaze on the boys a few moments before replying: +"In what business were they engaged while +on the continent?"</p> + +<p>The captain started slightly, while the officer +toyed with his mustache, and peered at the boys.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>"We haven't engaged in any particular business +on the continent," said Ralph.</p> + +<p>"No; flying isn't engaging in any business, is +it?" inquired the officer.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Alfred, "we took part in the Red +Cross service, were with the infantry, served a +time with the flying corps, then had a little experience +with the transportation service, helped +them out in the artillery, and did the best we could +everywhere we went, if that's what you wish to +know."</p> + +<p>The officer gave the boys a cynical glance, and +nodded to one of the marines. The latter stepped +forward and began searching the boys, Ralph being +the first to undergo the ordeal; several letters, +a few trinkets, a knife and a purse, containing all +the boy possessed, were removed. The coat when +thrown back revealed a cross, suspended by a ribbon, +the decoration which had been bestowed on +the boys after their last flight at Verdun.</p> + +<p>Alfred handed over the contents of his pockets. +The German officer glanced at the medals, and +made another motion. The seamen then pushed +them into the conning tower and the boys saw a +narrow flight of stairs to which they were directed, +the captain following.</p> + +<p>Down into the bowels of a submarine! A warm, +peculiar, oily odor greeted them as they descended, +but the air was not at all unpleasant and breathing +was easy. Glancing about they saw confused +masses of mechanism, tanks, pipes, valves, levers, +wheels, clock-faced dial plates and other <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>contrivances, +all huddled together, with barely room to +pass from one place to another. Electric bulbs +were everywhere visible, lighting up the interior.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a slight tremor in the vessel, +indicating that some machinery was in motion. +Once at the bottom they stood there until the +seaman stepped forward and opened a small door +through which there was barely room to pass, and +he motioned them to enter. They did so, and +found themselves in a compartment which did +not seem to be more than five by six feet in size, +and even in this small space mechanism was noticed. +The moment the door closed they were in +total darkness.</p> + +<p>"This is a nice place to get into," said Ralph.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if they are going to keep us cooped +up like this without a light?" said Alfred.</p> + +<p>After an interval of ten minutes a rumbling was +heard, which continued, a rhythmic motion followed +in unison with the sounds generated by the +machinery.</p> + +<p>"That is the propeller," said the captain.</p> + +<p>Voices were heard occasionally, but words could +not be distinguished. Confined as they were the +air seemed to be pure and in abundance at all +times, and while there was not the faintest signs +of closeness, there was an eternal monotony,—an +existence in which there was nothing to do but +breathe and think.</p> + +<p>How long they were thus confined, without a +single thing to break the stillness, they could not +conceive. It seemed that hours had gone by, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>during +which time there was nothing to disturb them, +except the one steady whirr, broken occasionally +by some remark by one or the other.</p> + +<p>Then came an unexpected hum of voices; the +machinery seemed to stop for a moment, and when +it was again continued it had a different melody. +The wheels, if such they were, seemed to turn +with smoothness, and they felt a sudden inclination +in the seats on which they were sitting.</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose has happened?" asked +Ralph.</p> + +<p>"The electric mechanism has been hitched to the +propeller, and, if I am not mistaken, we are going +down," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"It did feel as though the forward end dipped +down a moment ago," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>Another wait for a half-hour, and then a most +peculiar sound reached their ears. Simultaneously, +the ship seemed to stop and go on. Again +voices were heard, and the same reaction in the +hull of the submarine was felt, accompanied by +the dull noise, as before.</p> + +<p>"They have just fired two torpedoes," said the +captain.</p> + +<br /> +<br /><a name="IV" id="IV"></a> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h2>THE TERRORS IN THE DARK ROOM OF AN UNDERSEA BOAT</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Imagine yourself locked in a compartment, +barely large enough to stretch yourself out +straight, in a ship under the sea, in total darkness, +knowing that should any one of the hundreds of +things within that ship go wrong, it would mean a +plunge to the bottom of the sea, beyond the help +of all human aid.</p> + +<p>The danger to them was just as great while on +the surface of the water, for the guns mounted on +most vessels at this time, would make the submarine +a legitimate prey. One shot would be sufficient, +for ingenuity has not yet found a way to +quickly stop a leak in a submarine. Such a vessel, +when once struck, dare not dive, for that would +quickly fill the interior of the vessel with water.</p> + +<p>It must, in that case, remain afloat, subject to +the hail of shot which must follow, their only salvation +in that event would be to hoist the white +flag. Few, if any submarine commanders have +done so, and even should that occur, it would not +prevent the hull from being riddled before the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>fact could be made known. The three-inch guns +mounted on most of the merchantmen, with an effective +range of three miles, could tear the weak +hull of a submarine to pieces at a single shot, and +all would be sure to go down before help could arrive +from the attacking steamer.</p> + +<p>"The machinery seems to go very slow now," +remarked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"They may be cautiously coming to the top," +replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"Did you hear that peculiar noise?" said Alfred, +as he laid his hand on the captain's arm.</p> + +<p>"That was plainly a shot from a ship," said the +captain.</p> + +<p>"Do you think we could hear firing through all +this metal?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Much easier than if we were on deck," answered +the captain.</p> + +<p>"Why do you think so?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Because water is a better conductor of sound +than air," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that we can hear it better than +if the sound came through the air?" queried Alfred.</p> + +<p>"The sound can be heard not only much plainer, +but also much sooner than through the air," answered +the captain.</p> + +<p>"I think we are going down again," remarked +Ralph.</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it," answered the captain quietly.</p> + +<p>"Do you think they have hit us?" eagerly inquired +Ralph.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>The captain did not reply. Alfred reached his +hand forward and grasped the captain's hand. +"You needn't fear to tell us if you think we are +going down for the last time."</p> + +<p>"You are a brave boy!" said the captain. "I do +not know what to answer. I have never been on +a submarine when it was struck by a bullet; but +it seemed to me as though something struck our +shell, and if it did there is no help for us, for +the devils would gloat on our misery, and would +not think of liberating us, to give us a chance for +our lives."</p> + +<p>Fifteen minutes elapsed before the captain continued: +"This gives me some hope."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" quickly inquired Ralph.</p> + +<p>"We are still on an even keel," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Does that mean that we are safe?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Yes, if the shell of the submarine had been +pierced, and we were really going down it would +not be long before the hull would lose its equipoise +and turn around, or it might stand on end, due to +the distribution of water throughout the interior," +was the reply.</p> + +<p>"I understand now," said Alfred. "You think +we are still floating, but do you think we are on +the surface?"</p> + +<p>"We are, undoubtedly, submerged, for it is evident +that the smooth motion of the propeller comes +from the electric motors and not from the internal +combustion engines, which are used solely while +running on the surface," remarked the captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>After hours more of interminable waiting, they +heard a noise close at hand. With something like +a snap the door opened and a flood of light +streamed into their compartment from the electric +bulbs without, and, looking up, they saw, at the +ceiling of their room, a small electric bulb.</p> + +<p>"Why is it we didn't hunt for that?" whispered +Ralph, looking up.</p> + +<p>"But I can't see any way to turn it on," said +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"That lights only from the outside," said the +attendant. "Here is something to eat," he continued +in English.</p> + +<p>"What time is it?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"Half past one o'clock," was the reply.</p> + +<p>They had been in that cramped prison pen five +hours.</p> + +<p>"Did you torpedo another ship?" queried the +captain.</p> + +<p>"We tried to; but a torpedo boat destroyer came +up too close," he answered.</p> + +<p>"How many shots did it fire?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Two," was the laconic reply.</p> + +<p>"How long have we been submerged?"</p> + +<p>"Two hours," answered the man. "As I came +down the report from the periscope showed a clear +sea, and we are now about to resume surface travel +and repair one of the periscopes."</p> + +<p>The boys glanced at each other and at the captain.</p> + +<p>"Yes," remarked the captain, "that was a +pretty close call."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>The attendant left them without closing the +door, and as the prisoners glanced about, nothing +was to be seen of the stairway which led to the +conning tower. Men were noticed at work, each +being stationed at some particular machine or +set of machinery. Then, with a bang, something +like a trap door swung aside and the stairway +was revealed, and a peculiar light streamed in +through the hatch opening.</p> + +<p>"It's the sun," said Ralph, in ecstacy.</p> + +<p>"I never thought we'd see that again," said Alfred, +almost overcome.</p> + +<p>"May we walk around?" asked the captain, as +he approached an under officer.</p> + +<p>"There isn't much chance for exercising here," +was the reply, "but I think you will be given top +liberty after awhile," replied the man.</p> + +<p>"Will they let us go?" asked Ralph eagerly.</p> + +<p>"No; he didn't say that; he meant they would +give us liberty to walk on the top deck for a short +time," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>Shortly thereafter the lieutenant in command +of the submarine appeared at the foot of the +hatchway and informed the captain that they +were at liberty to ascend. Never did the sun appear +to be more beautiful or inviting, although +there was a perceptible chill in the atmosphere. +The submarine was moving along at a speed of +twelve knots an hour. Four men were engaged +in taking down a bent and partially ruptured periscope +tube.</p> + +<p>The captain glanced at it and drew the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>attention +of the boys to its structure. It was the tall +periscope that received the shot, which struck it +about four feet from the top.</p> + +<p>"It must have been hit on the water line," said +the captain, addressing the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>The latter merely nodded, but made no remarks +in response.</p> + +<p>They were permitted to walk to and fro for an +hour, when the order came to descend, and they +again entered their prison. As before, they were +subjected to total darkness, but there was no necessity +for this deprivation, and it is not clear why an +enemy should treat prisoners in this manner, for +such actions necessarily leave only resentments +and do no good whatever.</p> + +<p>It was a long, long, dreary afternoon and night, +which they tried to while away in sleeping, for conversation, +under the circumstances, soon became +irksome. When they awoke, or, rather, when all +were again alert and felt as though the night must +have passed, the captain was the first to break the +silence, as he said:</p> + +<p>"We have been resting quietly for more than an +hour, I should say, probably lying in wait in one +of the steamer lanes for new victims."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it likely we are on the bottom of the +ocean? Don't they go down sometimes and wait +there?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Yes; but not in deep water, such as is found +in this bay. At no place is it less than 150 fathoms, +and in the central portion, where our ship +went down it is more than 2,000 fathoms."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>"Why, that's two miles deep, or more," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the Bay of Biscay is one of the deep holes +in the Atlantic coast line of Europe. The average +depth of the Irish Sea, St. George Channel, the +English Channel and the North Sea is only about +250 feet, and there are thousands of places in the +North Sea, particularly, like the Dogger Banks, +where the water is not more than a hundred feet +deep," remarked the captain.</p> + +<p>"Then the submarines could easily rest on the +bottom if the depth is not more than one hundred +feet?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Submarines have, in several cases, gone down +as far as 200 feet below the surface, but it is at +a great risk," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"You mean risk from the pressure of the +water?" said Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Yes," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"What would be the pressure of the water on +a submarine at that depth?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Pressure is calculated on the square inch of +surface; for every twenty-eight inches the pressure +is equal to one pound. If, therefore, 200 is +multiplied by 12 and then divided by 28, the quotient +will represent the number of pounds on each +square inch," answered the captain.</p> + +<p>"Why multiply 200 by twelve?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Because there are twelve inches in a foot," +said the captain.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; I didn't happen to think of it; well, +200 by 12,—that's 2,400, and divided by 28, is——"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>"Eighty-five," interrupted Alfred. "Well, +that's not very much."</p> + +<p>"Quite true," rejoined the captain; "but how +many square inches are there in a square foot?"</p> + +<p>"One hundred and forty-four," replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Then, eighty-five times one hundred and forty-four +makes quite a sum," continued the captain.</p> + +<p>"Whew,——" said Ralph with a half whistle in +his tone, "why, if I have made it out right, it's +over 12,000 pounds. No wonder it isn't safe to +stay down very long, if at all, at that depth."</p> + +<p>"I have often wondered how it is that the submarine +could rest on the bottom or come up at +will," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"All submarines are lighter than the water in +which they float," answered the captain. "They +are provided with tanks holding compressed air. +Now, in order to submerge, the only thing necessary +is to permit enough water to flow into special +tanks within the submarine, until the combined +weight of the water, hull and mechanism, +is the same as the amount of water that the ship +displaces. If an added quantity of water is now +added, it will go down, and remain under water +until the air in the compressed tanks is used to +force out a quantity of water from the special +tanks."</p> + +<p>"But is that the only way they can go down?" +asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; a submarine can submerge without +doing that, but in such a case power must be used," +answered the captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>"What! push it down by power?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Exactly; these vessels have fins, the same as +fish, so arranged that if they are properly turned +and the ship moves forward, it will dive, and continue +to go down at an angle as long as the fins +are properly set. If the vessel should stop moving +the submarine would come to the top, because +it is lighter than the water," responded the captain.</p> + +<br /> +<br /><a name="V" id="V"></a> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h2>SOME OF THE MYSTERIES OF A SUBMARINE</h2> +<br /> + +<p>With a click the door of their prison cabin +opened and a seaman informed them that their +breakfast was ready. They passed through the +narrow door, and edged their way along a tortuous +path that led to the rear, where they entered +what might be called a miniature galley, on one +side of which was a narrow shelf containing food +of various descriptions.</p> + +<p>There was room only for the attendant to pass +while they were seated. An abundance of the best +food was served, cereals, and even fruit, forming +part of the menu. Each of these vessels carry +from twenty-two to thirty men, but there were in +sight in the dining room only ten, besides the cook +and waiter.</p> + +<p>After the meal, the captain inquired of the officer +at the main hatch whether they would be permitted +to go on deck.</p> + +<p>"I have no orders," he replied.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the boys had an opportunity to investigate +the mysteries of the interior, for it was +well lighted.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>"What are those long drums ahead there?" +asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"I think they are the casings which carry the +torpedoes," replied the captain. "If you look +beyond you will see the rear ends of the tubes +which receive the torpedoes. The cylinders in +sight hold the torpedoes until they are ready to +be placed in the tubes and shot out of them."</p> + +<p>"You have orders to go on deck," the under officer +at the bottom of the hatch now informed them.</p> + +<p>This was an invitation to which they quickly responded. +They ascended, and found the sun hidden, +and the sea about them calm. Glancing across +the broad expanse of water, not a sail was in sight. +It was a cold, gray morning, ordinarily uninviting +weather, but after the house of confinement it was +enjoyed to the fullest extent.</p> + +<p>"Down below!" shouted a voice.</p> + +<p>The boys looked around in surprise, for they +had been on deck less than ten minutes.</p> + +<p>"Clear the deck!" shouted the same voice. The +boys, with the captain, were hustled forward into +the conning tower, and the iron door closed with +a bang. The boys were permitted to stop only +long enough to see two men turn eight swinging +bolts, which hung about the margins of the doors, +and quickly screw them up against the jamb.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant was leaning over a narrow table +on which was a chart, and gazing through a crystal-covered +port in the front of the conning tower. +A bell tinkled, machinery began to turn and impart +its vibration to the ship, and it was again a living +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>thing. It glided forward with the same rhythmic +noises for a half-hour, and then two bells were +heard.</p> + +<p>The character of the sounds from the machinery +changed; they seemed to move forward with less +effort, and as they felt the same inclination in the +motion of the ship, all were now satisfied that she +was again submerging. Fortunately, they were +not confined to their room, and, although no verbal +orders had been given for the various operations +required to handle the vessel, the prisoners had an +opportunity to judge of what was going on.</p> + +<p>Thus, when the signal was given to change the +motive power from the internal combustion engines +to electricity, they could see the engine stop, +and an attendant shift the clutch which engaged +the electric motors. A dial swinging over a card +alongside a pair of levers indicated the direction +of movement, while another gave not only the inclination +of the ship, but its speed as well.</p> + +<p>These things were very fascinating to the boys, +but their attention was now attracted to a still +more interesting scene. A bell forward gave two +short, quick snaps. Four men sprang forward and +stood at attention, two on each side of the tube at +the right of the hold.</p> + +<p>"The indicator shows that the submarine is +turning," said the captain. The boys watched the +indicator; it had swung around almost half-way.</p> + +<p>"There,—look at the inclinometer," said Ralph. +"It is moving upward——"</p> + +<p>"Ting! ting!" Two more sharp bells forward. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>The cylinder was off the torpedo, and it lay before +them exposed.</p> + +<p>Three bells more; and now there was feverish +haste. An oval door in the wall ahead was swung +open, revealing a round, black hole.</p> + +<p>"That is the torpedo tube," said the captain +quietly.</p> + +<p>The torpedo was moved back three feet, and +then again carried forward on its truck so that +the end of the torpedo entered the tube.</p> + +<p>One bell more. The torpedo moved into the +tube, the breech block, which in this case was the +oval door, closed, and the crew stood at attention. +While thus waiting the boys glanced at the inclinometer +and at the direction indicator.</p> + +<p>"See it swing back and forth," said Alfred. "It +seems to act queerly."</p> + +<p>"Not at all," replied the captain. "Evidently +we are chasing a ship which is zig-zagging, as we +did, for the direction dial is constantly moving."</p> + +<p>While thus conversing they were startled by the +signal of four bells. One of the men, reaching forward, +touched a button, and the signal could be +heard in the conning tower. That was, evidently, +to inform the commander there that all was in +readiness. Everything was expectancy now. The +ship still manoeuvered.</p> + +<p>Then, without a warning of any kind, there was +a singular dull sound, which seemed to shake the +submarine from stem to stern.</p> + +<p>"They have fired it," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"And they are putting in another one."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>"If I am not mistaken it is the last one they +have," suggested the captain.</p> + +<p>"Why do you think so?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"I notice that all the cylinders with the open +ends are without torpedoes, and you will notice +that the one they are now putting in is the last +one with the closed end," responded the captain.</p> + +<p>"I am glad they haven't any more of them," +said Ralph.</p> + +<p>Three bells again sounded; the officer at the +gun responded, and during the next two minutes +of suspense, the boys were quiet, waiting for the +next shot. It soon came; the ship shook as before, +the breach block opened, the shell behind the +torpedo was extracted, the door closed and the +men stood at attention.</p> + +<p>When the officer, who had handled the torpedoes, +walked down the steps from the conning +tower, the boys noticed him shake his head sadly.</p> + +<p>"Did you notice that?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean the way he shook his head?" said +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I am curious to get your views about that +action of the officer," remarked the captain.</p> + +<p>"That is, why he shook his head?" interjected +Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered the captain. "Do you think +he looked discouraged because the shot failed in +its mission, or because it went home successfully? +That is the problem."</p> + +<p>The boys were quiet for a few moments. Ralph +was the first to speak: "Well, I'll bet the torpedo +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>didn't hit the ship, and he feels cut up over it, as +it was the last one they had."</p> + +<p>"I don't agree with you," rejoined Alfred. "It +struck the ship and sunk it, and the fellow feels so +badly about it that he shook his head the way he +did when he thought of the suffering it caused. +Don't you agree with me?" said Alfred, addressing +the captain.</p> + +<p>The captain could not repress a slight laugh as: +he answered: "I must confess you advance good +arguments in both directions; but really, I am of +the opinion that either torpedo didn't get in its +work."</p> + +<p>"Why do you think the first one failed?"</p> + +<p>"If the first one had succeeded, they would not +have shot the second, would they?" replied the +captain.</p> + +<p>"No; I don't think they would, seeing they had +only one more left," remarked Ralph. "But why +do you think the last one was no more successful?"</p> + +<p>"I infer it from the following circumstances: +It takes, on an average, a minute for a torpedo to +reach its mark, after it leaves the torpedo tube. +The officer in the tower is in a position where he +can see the effect of the shot. If the torpedo +struck, however favorable the blow, it would take +at least fifteen or twenty minutes for the ship to +go down. Sometimes the bulkheads will keep the +ship afloat an hour or more. In fact, there are +records of ships which have been torpedoed, that +were actually towed into harbors and saved," answered +the captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>"But I do not see how that is any sign that the +torpedo missed," replied Alfred inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"Probably you did not notice the period that +elapsed after the last shot, and the time the officer +came down the tower hatch?" remarked the captain.</p> + +<p>"No, I did not observe," replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>"You remember, do you not, that as soon as the +last torpedo was launched, the officer went up into +the conning tower, and that within a minute, or +not exceeding two minutes, he again came down +the stairway, and shook his head in such a disconsolate +manner?" continued the captain.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes; you may be right in that," responded +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Then, I inferred this," said the captain, "that +the lieutenant had had ample opportunity to observe +whether or not the shot went home, and, as +it had not landed, he reported to the officer the +failure. If the shot had struck he would have +known it before the officer left the conning tower +to come down. Do you get my idea?" asked the +captain.</p> + +<p>"That seems to answer the question, to my +mind, that it wasn't a hit," said Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Well, it doesn't quite satisfy me," replied Alfred. +"The lieutenant might have told him that +the shot hit the ship, and that it was going down, +and that's what made him feel so badly about it."</p> + +<p>The captain could not help feeling amused at +Alfred's argument, as he replied: "I must admit +that your view is logical, and I am also willing to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>assent that the question is one, which, in the absence +of actual knowledge, could be settled in one +way only."</p> + +<p>"How is that?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"By knowing the mental condition and attitude +of the officer who came down the hatchway. If he +happened to be a humane person he would regret +the loss of life, and show it, probably, by his actions. +On the other hand, if he should be devoid +of the finer feelings, and be a mere slave to duty, +it is more than likely that he would shake his head +discouragingly, to learn that the torpedo failed +in its mission," was the captain's final word on the +subject.</p> + +<p>"Now that they are out of torpedoes, what do +you suppose they will do?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Go home; I suppose," replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Unless they have a base somewhere on the +coast," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"Where is the most likely place for such a +base?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"That is the enigma, of course. It has been believed +that the Germans have a base somewhere +along the northern coast of Spain," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"What are the reasons for thinking so?" asked +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"One of them is that some of the Spaniards are +said to be more or less friendly to the Germans, +and, furthermore, there are few ports or harbors +on the north coast, hence the shipping to Spain in +the southern waters of the Bay of Biscay is very +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>small, a condition which would help to keep a base +along the coast line at one or more points."</p> + +<p>"But we ought to know in the next day or two +whether they have such a base," said Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Yes; it will be the opportunity now for us to +make some observation which will tell us whether +we are going to Germany, or not," said the captain +with a grin.</p> + +<p>Situated, as they were, below decks, with no instruments +but the direction indicator, and the inclinometer +in sight, it was impossible to judge of +the direction they were going, for it was evident +that the submarine was now moving ahead at full +speed.</p> + +<p>"It will be, probably, twenty-four hours before +we are able to get any information as to our destination," +said the captain.</p> + +<p>"Do you intend to ask some of the men?" inquired +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"No; that would be fruitless. It is not at all +likely they will venture any information upon a +subject of that character," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"Then how would it be possible to learn anything +about where we are going?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"We are now somewhere in the Bay of Biscay, +and I infer that we must be about a hundred and +fifty miles from the Spanish coast. To reach that +at the rate we are going, would take at least ten +hours, for I assume that the vessel is capable of +at least ten miles an hour. Then, we must take +into consideration the possible meeting with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>vessels, +in which case we must submerge, and thus +go much slower," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"Then, if they have a base anywhere along the +coast we ought to be there before tomorrow at +this time?" ventured Alfred.</p> + +<p>"That is exactly what I mean," answered the +captain.</p> + +<br /> +<br /><a name="VI" id="VI"></a> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h2>GROPING THROUGH THE ENGLISH CHANNEL</h2> +<br /> + +<p>There was a steady pulsation of the engines +during the entire afternoon without cessation until +five o'clock, when the submarine submerged and +continued under water for an hour. The three +captives had now learned a great many of the +manoeuvers incident to the diving operations, the +signals accompanying each action, and studied +with the greatest diligence and care the direction +indicator and inclinometer.</p> + +<p>"I have been noticing the indicator for the last +hour," said Ralph, "and it didn't change once. +Are we going due north?"</p> + +<p>"The indicator that you see is not for the purpose +of showing the points of the compass, but to +tell whether or not there is a turning movement in +the ship. If, for instance, the rudder should be +turned to starboard or to port, the dial would +swing in such a position as to show how much of a +turn has been made, and no more," responded the +captain.</p> + +<p>"Suppose then, that after making a quarter +turn, the ship should again go ahead on a straight +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>line, what would happen to the dial?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"In that case the dial would again indicate that +by coming back to its original position,—or, in +other words, the dial would show that the ship +had then assumed a new direction of sailing, and +if it again changed to the right or to the left the +indicator would reveal this to the observer," remarked +the captain.</p> + +<p>"I wish we had a compass," said Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Unfortunately, they have taken our watches +and pocket compasses," said the captain. "We +may contrive, later on, to get a glimpse of the +steering compass."</p> + +<p>"Do you know where it is?" eagerly inquired +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"The navigating officer's instrument is in the +conning tower, but it is usual, too, to have a similar +instrument below, and I am sure it is located +to the left of the cook's galley. It would not be +safe, however, for either of us to be spying around +in that quarter," responded the captain.</p> + +<p>That night they were again locked in their narrow +apartment. As they had been provided with +a good meal it was not such an unpleasant experience, +and they were also comforted by the feeling +that the submarine was now engaged in a no more +perilous duty than trying to reach some port.</p> + +<p>That night was followed by a trying day of +waiting. Singularly, they had not been permitted +to ascend the hatchway stairs since the first day +of their capture.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>"A glance at the sun would be enough to tell us +the direction," remarked the captain after they +left the table at the lunch hour.</p> + +<p>"I suppose they are keeping us down here for +that purpose," suggested Alfred.</p> + +<p>"I have thought," replied the captain, "that the +very fact of keeping us in ignorance of the direction +they are going is the best indication that we +are making for a concealed base."</p> + +<p>When they retired the second night the captain +remarked: "It is now plain to my mind that we are +on the way to Germany, or, possibly, to a base +somewhere at a greater distance than Spain."</p> + +<p>"How long would it take to make the trip to +Germany?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"If we circled the British Isles and came in by +way of Norway, it would mean a run of 1,400 miles. +To go by way of the Channel would be about 800 +miles. It would make but little difference in point +of time," answered the captain.</p> + +<p>"Why wouldn't it take longer to travel 1,400 +miles?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Because on the long route we would be able to +travel four-fifths of the way on the surface, and +would not have to avoid mines and nets. The +Channel route is a dangerous one, requiring the +utmost caution," said the captain.</p> + +<p>The second morning Alfred was outside, as +usual, consulting the instruments, when a voice +remarked in response to an inquiry: "48, 10." He +paid no attention to it at the time, but later on, in +a conversation, remarked to the captain:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>"Some one in the conning tower, this morning, +said '48, 10.' What do you suppose he meant by +that?"</p> + +<p>"Glad you remembered that. Are you sure the +figures you give are correct?" asked the captain +eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Sure of it," was Alfred's reply.</p> + +<p>"Then we are near the English Channel. Good; +I am glad to know that. Did you hear them refer +to any other figures?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"What would the other figures be?" asked +Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Of course, I can only guess. The figures you +have given me unquestionably represent forty-eight +degrees and ten minutes north latitude. +What interests me most is to get our position east +and west," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"About what longitude are we in?" asked +Ralph.</p> + +<p>"If we are less than five degrees west we must +be in the English Channel, and it would appear +that they are taking the shortest route. If we +should be seven or eight degrees west I should regard +it as a pretty sure symptom that we are going +to encircle the British Isles," remarked the captain.</p> + +<p>Late that afternoon Ralph rushed into their little +cabin and said:</p> + +<p>"I have an idea that I can tell you the direction +we are going."</p> + +<p>"Have you heard anything?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>"Not a word," answered Ralph. "I have just +made an observation," he continued, laughing.</p> + +<p>"That's good," responded the captain. "I +think we are sailing north by west."</p> + +<p>"You are wrong," replied Ralph; "we are going +due east."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?" asked the captain, exhibiting +unusual interest in the news. "How did you find +it out?"</p> + +<p>"I saw the sun," said Ralph with a chuckle.</p> + +<p>"How and where did you see it?" asked Alfred, +incredulously.</p> + +<p>"Well, I didn't exactly see the sun, but I saw a +streak that came from the sun," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"That's just as good," responded the captain. +"Where did you see it?"</p> + +<p>"I was at the indicator when an officer went up +and the hatch was raised. As he didn't push it all +the way down I had an idea he might soon return, +so I moved up and stood between the twin tanks to +the right of the steps. When the officer raised +the hatch a streak of sunlight went right across +the under side at the corner of the door, and I +knew it couldn't come in at the front port hole," +said Ralph, with a glow of pleasure in the discovery.</p> + +<p>The captain shook his head slowly, as he said: +"I am afraid this will mean an additional source +of worry to all of us; it is bad enough to be locked +up and subjected to the guns of vessels and warships, +but it will be doubly hazardous to pass +through the mine fields, and avoid the nets."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>"Do you know anything about them, and how +and where they are located?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have a pretty good knowledge of their +location, and how to avoid them, although they +constantly change the nets, or provide new safety +outlets," said the captain.</p> + + +<div class="img"><a name="imagep073" id="imagep073"></a> +<a href="images/imagep073.png"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep073.png" width="70%" alt="The Steel Nets" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>The Steel Nets</i><span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p> +</div> + +<p>"What do you mean by safety outlets?" asked +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Immense steel nets are stretched across the +straits from Calais to Dover, two lines, in fact, +between which the vessels plying between England +and France go to and fro in safety. Furthermore, +war vessels guard these nets on both sides, so that +it would be a difficult matter to get near the nets," +said the captain.</p> + +<p>"But submarines do seem to get through somewhere; +do they not?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Yes; owing to their ability to make the trip +under water, and taking advantage of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>darkness, +it is sometimes the case that they get through +without being entangled in the nets," he replied.</p> + +<p>"But how do the ships that sail along the Channel +get through?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"That is just what I was referring to when I +spoke of safety outlets. At a certain point there +is an opening through the nets at one side, +through which vessels can pass into the line between +the two wire cordons. The opening in the +other line of nets is not directly opposite, but a +mile or so off to one side, so that in order to get +to the opening in the other nets, it is necessary for +the ship to sail along in the safety zone between +the two nets, and make a turn at right angles to +get out through the second opening. That method +has been found to be most effective, and is called +the safety lane," responded the captain.</p> + +<p>They were now in or near the most widely +traveled part of the ocean on the western front of +the continent. Thousands of ships pass and repass +that zone which reaches from the southern +part of Ireland to the western coast of France, +and it was remarkable that the submarine was +able to move along up to this time on the surface +without being detected.</p> + +<p>Before the sun had gone down that night, however, +they were compelled to submerge twice, and +then the mantle of night shrouded the vessel and +it moved along with more boldness. On this the +fourth night of captivity, they were not locked +in their prison.</p> + +<p>"I cannot account for it," said the captain. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>"Possibly the commander has some little human +sympathy left, and does not want to drown us like +rats in a cage."</p> + +<p>Neither the captain nor the boys slept much that +night. They were too much occupied with constantly +watching the manoeuvers necessary on the +part of the commander and his crew to prevent +detection as they passed up the Channel.</p> + +<p>"I have spent years on the Channel as a navigating +officer and in charge of various types of +ships in the merchant service, as well as on our +own naval vessels, and I know, probably, better +than the lieutenant in charge of the submarine, +what the dangers are. It is my belief that the lieutenant +has come over this course before, and probably +knows a safe, or measurably safe route, and +has taken the chances of returning, but no one, +however skilful a navigator he may be, can be sure +of making exactly the same course twice. The +tides may be against him; he may be out of his +reckonings hundreds of feet, and that is too big +a margin, where a hundred feet in width is the +limit through which his vessel may pass in safety."</p> + +<p>The captain thus, in general terms, set forth +the perils of the route that the commander of the +submarine had taken, and stated also, very plainly, +that they must now be prepared to meet the greatest +of all dangers. Sleep, therefore, could not be +considered.</p> + +<p>The long and weary night at last came to an +end, and the appetizing odors of the morning meal +were wafted to them. Their toilets were <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>exceedingly +simple affairs, a small cake of soap, warm +water, and a long towel serving for the three. +They had no trouble in dressing, for their clothing +had not been removed. They were obliged to +dispense with the bath, for, although all these +boats are provided with comforts of that kind, +none of them was available to the captain and the +boys, and they did not ask that any privileges be +extended to them.</p> + +<p>No sooner had breakfast been served than the +machinery began to slow down until finally it +ceased. Not a perceptible motion was now observed. +A pulsator or two were at work, and a +slight rumble due to the action of the dynamo came +to their ears.</p> + +<p>"I suppose we are now on the bottom," suggested +Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Yes; during the daytime it will be necessary to +keep quiet. Even the periscope may reveal our +presence," remarked the captain.</p> + +<p>A little information as to the activities of the +crew during these periods of rest may be interesting. +Idleness breeds discontent and mischief. It +is upon the principle that constant work encourages +contentment and makes for efficiency, that +the Germans require the continued activity which +was shown by the occupants of the submarine.</p> + +<p>The vessel was manned by twenty-seven officers +and men. The personnel being as follows: A lieutenant, +a sub-lieutenant, two under or petty officers, +a physician, a cook and two oilers, two first-class +machinists, and seventeen helpers, or <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>seamen, +although it was evident, as the captain expressed +it, that few of the helpers had seen much +sea duty.</p> + +<p>While it is customary to divide the duties on +shipboard into three watches, during the period +of twenty-four hours, so as to give each squad a +period of service every day at a different period, +it would be difficult to carry out the same regulations +on board a ship of this character.</p> + +<p>The captain said: "I notice that they have practically +two watches, one taking up the duty from +midday until twelve at night, and the other from +midnight to noon. Yesterday, I noticed the same +shift that was on duty in the morning continued at +work all the afternoon, so it is possible that every +three or four days shift No. 1, which works from +noon to midnight, will be changed so that for the +next four days the time for their services will be +from midnight to noon."</p> + +<p>Attention is called to this method of doing duty +so that the reader may understand certain events +which will be referred to later.</p> + +<p>The personnel of the shifts was also changed at +intervals so that while the lieutenant during one +shift would have at work a certain machinist and +petty officer, during the next or second shift thereafter +another machinist or petty officer would be +on duty. In this manner all became efficient, for +they had the opportunity afforded of being drilled +and handled by different combinations of men and +assistants.</p> + +<br /> +<br /><a name="VII" id="VII"></a> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h2>CAUGHT IN THE DEEP SEA NETS</h2> +<br /> + +<p>The starting of the heavy machinery was sufficient +indication that night had come. They were +now going up and at an angle which was very perceptible. +The boys had become quite expert in detecting +certain activities, as they tried in every +way to understand the use of the signals. One +thing was certain; two sets of bells were brought +into play as the signal for changing the motive +power. The first signal, three bells followed by +two more, was invariably the necessary preparation +for this event.</p> + +<p>A highly pitched bell next gave the signal to +stop the gasoline engines and a deep-toned bell indicated +the coupling of the electric motor. Occasionally +a new set of signals would resound, +which they tried to figure out. During the night +Alfred thought he had found the key.</p> + +<p>"Did you notice the big hand wheel on the side +of the upright tank, which we pass as we go into +the dining room?" he remarked.</p> + +<p>"That is connected with a large valve," said +the captain. "What did you observe?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>"Well, did you ever notice that before they rang +the shrill bell four times we always have heard a +whistle?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Why, I have heard the bell ring four times on +several occasions without the whistle," contended +Ralph.</p> + +<p>"So you have, but it was always after the four +rings that followed the whistle. A little while ago +I was near the tank, and I heard the whistle. The +attendant sprang to the wheel, and when the four +rings came he turned the wheel around twice. +When the four next rings came (without the whistle, +of course), he quickly turned it back again," +said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"That is the submerging tank," said the captain. +"I see you are rapidly learning how to handle +a submarine," and he laughed at the eagerness +of the boys trying to conquer the details of signaling.</p> + +<p>During that night there was hardly a half-hour +but some movement or other was indicated by the +bells. They submerged, halted, rose to the surface, +steamed at full speed, and in one or two instances +it was evident from the sudden stopping +that the submarine had to reverse.</p> + +<p>This constantly kept them alert, and while engaged +in conversation late in the morning, they +were thrown forward on their seats with a motion +that indicated a collision with something which +was not very rigid, for there was no concussion +such as usually accompanies the contact of the hull +of a vessel with a hard object.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>The boys looked at the captain in astonishment. +They could now feel the propeller pulling in the +opposite direction, only to be brought back again +with the same springy collision, as when it had +gone forward and first struck the strange obstacle.</p> + +<p>The captain's face paled, and the boys plied him +with questions as they saw his perturbed countenance.</p> + +<p>"What do you think it is?" asked Ralph, as he +saw the anxious seamen, and the second officer +rushing about shouting orders, while one of them +seized the main valve wheel and turned it.</p> + +<p>"We are caught in one of the steel nets," said +the captain quietly.</p> + +<p>The boys' faces grew deadly pale. They knew +what such a calamity meant. Few, if any of the +submarines caught in the nets, ever escaped. The +boys, while they did not know this, were, in a measure, +aware of the great danger to submarines from +this source. They were alarmed particularly on +account of the serious manner in which the captain +acted the moment the first impact took place.</p> + +<p>The captain now arose, followed by the boys, +and marched through the narrow passageway toward +the lieutenant who was leaning over one of +the air compressors.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything we can do to help you?" +asked the captain.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant looked up and replied: "We can +do nothing but change the trim of the ship. Everything +portable in the stern must be moved forward. +Your assistance will be appreciated," was +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>the reply, an answer that was in marked contrast +with his former demeanor.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant then quickly detailed four men, +who, together with the captain and the two boys, +were directed what articles to carry forward. In +this exercise they found many unexpected nooks +and turns. The articles removed were mostly +ship's supplies, stores, boxes of canned goods, +drugs in cases, and a lot of tubing. Some of the +boxes must have contained machinery, or mechanical +parts, for they were very heavy.</p> + +<p>They were engaged at this work for fully an +hour, and the task proved a difficult one, for the +passageways were narrow and tortuous, and sometimes +it was necessary to move through narrow +alleys which ran almost directly across the ship. +Every available bit of space is utilized in these +vessels for the operating machinery.</p> + +<p>The entire length of the submarine was 126 feet, +and the material had to be carried a distance of +about eighty feet. The lieutenant was in the stern +portion, pointing out the articles which should be +taken, while the sub-lieutenant directed the placing +of them in the bow.</p> + +<p>The captain and Ralph were just depositing a +load in the hold near the bow, when a peculiar +noise was heard, resembling a scraping, rasping +sound. Before they had time to turn around, or +move from their positions, the rear end of the submarine +seemed to swing upward, bringing down +and scattering among the machinery a choice lot +of boxes and parcels.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>A groan followed. Something peculiar had happened,—a +thing unique in the annals of submarining. +The vessel, after the peculiar motion, was +quiet, but it was lying at an angle of forty-five degrees. +The seamen and the captain hurriedly +tried to move back in order to discover what had +happened and from whom the groans proceeded.</p> + +<p>It was hard work, and dangerous, too. Alfred +was found pinned between the tanks, and temporarily +held by several cases, but, fortunately, he +was not hurt in the least.</p> + +<p>Directly forward of the conning tower stairway +the captain now noticed an object, and upon examination +it was found to be the lieutenant, who had +been thrown a distance of more than thirty feet +through the tangled machinery. He was unconscious.</p> + +<p>The physician was soon by his side, and a frightful +gash was observed on the right side of the officer's +face. Two men nearby were groaning. One +had a broken leg, and the other several contusions +about the head, and, owing to their crippled condition, +it was just as much of a task to lower the +bodies down into the inclined hold as to walk upward.</p> + +<p>This was finally accomplished, and the lieutenant, +with the two injured men, were landed in the +long compartment, which served as the dining +room.</p> + +<p>The sub-lieutenant was found pinned by some +boxes between two stanchions, which had not been +distributed and placed within the compartments. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>The seaman soon released him; he was not injured +in any way, and now that the lieutenant was in a +serious condition, the command devolved on him.</p> + +<p>"That motion, if anything, will disentangle us +from the nets," said the captain, addressing the +sub-lieutenant. The latter did not reply, but +turned on the captain with a frown.</p> + +<p>"Your opinion is not requested!" he said in a +terse manner.</p> + +<p>The captain made a quiet bow and moved toward +their small room, the boys following.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry that fellow is in command," said +Alfred. "I never liked him from the first."</p> + +<p>"I'll bet we were locked up by that fellow's orders, +for I don't believe the lieutenant had anything +to do with it," remarked Ralph. The captain +nodded his head, as he replied: "I knew that +from the first day."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to get ahead of him some way," said +Alfred.</p> + +<p>The captain looked at the boys for a few moments, +then quietly put his hands on their arms, +as he said: "Getting ahead, or getting even, +doesn't pay, as a rule; but I have known where a +few have been able to overcome a great many, as +a duty, for that is what makes men strong."</p> + +<p>Alfred's eyes fairly bulged, as he gazed at the +captain. "Isn't it a duty to capture this submarine?"</p> + +<p>The captain leaned forward and held up a warning +hand. Ralph rose up and glanced around. +"Why can't we do it?" he asked.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>"There is only one thing lacking; yes, it has +been in my mind from the first moment we came +aboard, but we cannot do it without weapons. +With them in our possession we might succeed. +Why, if we could have had them this afternoon it +would have been an ideal time to make the attempt," +said the captain.</p> + +<p>"I have something to tell you," said Alfred, as +he lowered his voice.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"I know where there is a box of revolvers," he +replied.</p> + +<p>"Where?" asked the captain, agitated visibly.</p> + +<p>"Do you remember the two big upright drums +which I was pinned against when the ship went +up?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"Well, one of the boxes broke open when it came +down the passageway, and when I saw what was in +it I pushed it way under the base of the tank on the +left side," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"The revolvers are all right, but we may have +some trouble in getting cartridges," replied the +captain. "But wait," he continued, "I am sure I +carried cases of them down the passageway."</p> + +<p>"If I am not mistaken, there are several boxes +near there,—rather long, slim boxes, are they +not?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Yes; with a red label on the corner," interrupted +Ralph. "I can put my hands on a box any +minute."</p> + +<p>"Then you are with me and will carefully follow +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>out my instructions?" inquired the captain, looking +at them intently.</p> + +<p>"We will follow you in whatever you ask us to +do," replied Ralph.</p> + +<p>"You must remember that the business we are +about to engage in means life or death. Once begun +we cannot go back. We have no line of retreat. +While it is most hazardous, the feat would +be a wonderful one," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"No; we are not afraid. Both of us have been +in some dangerous places and have come out all +right. We have confidence in you," said Alfred +slowly and deliberately.</p> + +<p>"Thank you for that," replied the captain. +"We must begin the preparations at once, for at +the present time when all is confusion we can get +the opportunities that may not be offered later +on."</p> + +<p>"The boat seems to move," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>A perceptible swaying motion was now observed. +The vessel was still lying at the inclined +position heretofore described. As they were about +to crawl out of their cabin, they heard the voice of +the sub-lieutenant:</p> + +<p>"Connect the forward motor!"</p> + +<p>They drew back into the room. "What is that +for?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>Before the captain could reply came the second +order:</p> + +<p>"Reverse!"</p> + +<p>The motor buzzed, but no effect was produced +on the boat.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>"That seems singular," observed Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," answered the captain.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"The stern of the submarine is out of the +water," answered the captain.</p> + +<p>The power was shut off, and again turned on. +It was now obvious that they were dangling in the +water with the prow of the boat held fast in the +entangling nets. As they glanced out the door +they could see the faces of the seamen moving to +and fro with terror depicted on their countenances.</p> + +<p>"They may well fear the results," said the captain. +"But we have a duty to perform, and I +might as well advise you of several things which +we should do and observe. We must try to obtain +the weapons and ammunition. That will be +the first duty. Does either of you know where the +electric switches are?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered both of the boys in one breath.</p> + +<p>"I mean the switch in the hold," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Alfred. "The one I mean is close +to the dynamo on the switchboard, behind the +steps leading to the conning tower."</p> + +<p>"That is correct," answered the captain. "The +control switch for the lighting is in the conning +tower, however, and I call your attention to this, +as it may be of service to us in our work."</p> + +<p>"I can see, now, that to keep that in our control +would be the main thing," said Ralph.</p> + +<p>"The officer has not yet given any orders to put +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>the boxes in the passageways aside, and he will +not do so, probably, until they are able to ascertain +whether or not the ship will free itself; under the +circumstances, Alfred, I must delegate you to secure +a half-dozen of the revolvers, or remove them +from the box so that we can secrete them later," +said the captain.</p> + +<p>As Ralph crawled from the cabin and moved +toward the main gangway, the captain added: "If +you remember where one of the ammunition boxes +is you might smuggle it into this room, but proceed +very cautiously."</p> + +<p>Ralph soon made his way back, carrying with +him one of the revolvers. "There are a dozen in +the box," he said, "and I brought one over to +show you. You see, it is the kind from which the +cylinder can be removed. Wouldn't it be a good +idea to take the cylinders out of all that we can't +use?"</p> + +<p>"Capital idea," said the captain. "If you can +find any wire, put it where you can quickly place +your hands on it."</p> + +<p>"I found a box of ammunition also," continued +Ralph, "but I haven't tried whether it would fit +the revolvers."</p> + +<p>An examination revealed the fact that the cartridges +were not of the same calibre. It was, indeed, +a terrible disappointment.</p> + +<p>"Here it is," said Alfred, as he slipped into the +door of the room.</p> + +<p>"Ah, this is a different size; you have the right +ones, fortunately," said the captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>"Now, let me give you a few words as to the +next,——"</p> + +<p>A pronounced lurch in the vessel's position interrupted +the captain. The seamen were now +rushing around frantically, and talking excitedly.</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongues!" shouted the sub-lieutenant.</p> + +<p>The vessel was, evidently, moving. Occasionally, +there would be a heavy, rasping sound, and +the rear end of the boat would seem to settle down +a few feet.</p> + +<p>"It's coming all right," said Ralph in excitement.</p> + +<p>"Connect forward motor!" again shouted the +sub-lieutenant.</p> + +<p>The motor turned smoothly without producing +a disturbing influence on the ship, indicating that +the propeller was still in the air.</p> + +<p>"I fear that the sub-lieutenant does not know his +business any too well," remarked the captain.</p> + +<br /> +<br /><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h2>THE NIGHT'S STRUGGLE TO FREE THE VESSEL</h2> +<br /> + +<p>The boys wondered at the remark which the captain +had made, and were about to ask him for an +explanation, when the electric lights suddenly died +out, and all were left in total darkness. The captain +crawled past the boys and felt his way toward +the stern of the vessel.</p> + +<p>"The storage batteries!" was all he said.</p> + +<p>That there was confusion on the part of the +crew of the vessel, was apparent, for the sub-lieutenant +shouted one order after the other, until he +seemed to be incoherent, and, as a result, no one +knew what was expected of him or what to do.</p> + +<p>Evidently, the captain knew the trouble and how +to remedy it, for within a minute the lights were +again in commission, and the captain was noticed +at the main switch. From that point he shouted +to the sub-lieutenant:</p> + +<p>"I found a box on the switchboard. It had +slipped down and thrown out the switch bar at the +time the boat made the last lurch."</p> + +<p>"Thank you for the service," said the sub-lieutenant, +to the surprise of the captain and boys.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>As the captain returned to their room he remarked: +"The sub-lieutenant was very polite; +probably he would not be so likely to thank me for +some other things I have done."</p> + +<p>"What! since you left us two minutes ago?" +asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>The captain nodded. "But I started to say a +few minutes ago," he continued, "that we ought +to have our work planned out ahead and thoroughly +understand each other. There is one thing +I must impress on you, and that is, we must not +again be locked up in this room. I have no faith in +the present commander, and would be very much +mistaken if he permits us to have our freedom +after we once get free of the nets."</p> + +<p>"What must be done if he again orders us +locked up?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"That brings us to the point where we must +make a canvass of the situation as it confronts us. +Let me see; there are three men in addition to the +commander, who need not be reckoned with in a +contest. Fortunately, one of the men is a machinist, +and the only other man except the sub-lieutenant, +of any intelligence, is the doctor. I doubt if +he would be a strong factor against us," said the +captain.</p> + +<p>"The fellow who had charge of the men carrying +the boxes is nothing but a chump," said Ralph. +"I wouldn't be afraid of him."</p> + +<p>"I am considering more the character of the +men who are able to handle the boat, and who know +the intricacies of the mechanism. I can see where +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>men of that sort will be able to make it very interesting +for us if we should attempt to capture the +officers and crew," said the captain thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>It was evident that the vessel was slowly righting +itself, for every minute or two there would be +a slight sinking movement, which was very gratifying.</p> + +<p>"Where are the revolvers?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"I found a dandy place for them, and can get +them in a minute, if wanted," said Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Captain, I wanted to ask you some time ago +what you meant by saying that the sub-lieutenant +didn't know any more about submarining than he +ought to. What did you mean by that?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"One of the things I had in mind was, when he +was trying to start the propellers, that he could +have found an easier way to learn whether they +were in the water or not," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"How so?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"The indicator board in the conning tower +shows just how far the vessel is under water," replied +the captain.</p> + +<p>"But," said Alfred, "would that tell it correctly +if one end of the vessel should be up and the +other down, as this is?"</p> + +<p>"Why not? It would indicate how far down in +the water the hull would be amidship, and it +would not require much involved calculating to +figure out where the stern of the vessel would be +if he knew the angle at which the hull was resting," +answered the captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>"I would just like to know how far we are +down," said Ralph, looking up the stairway into +the conning tower.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you could spot the right dial +face if you went up?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"I think I could," said Ralph, rather doubtingly, +it must be admitted.</p> + +<p>"Then I'll give you a little hint, if you'd like +to try to make an investigation," said the captain. +"Directly forward of the table, which contains the +chart, and below the three levers, you will see a +glass column with red colored liquid in it,——"</p> + +<p>"I know what you mean now," said Ralph, interrupting.</p> + +<p>"Well, simply get the number on the card on the +right side of the glass column. Do you understand?" +remarked the captain.</p> + +<p>"Yes; but why not take the numbers on the left +side also?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"They merely indicate the pressure. Depth below +the surface is all we want," rejoined the captain.</p> + +<p>"Well, here goes; and I hope they won't catch +me at it," said Ralph, as he slowly moved out.</p> + +<p>"One moment," said the captain, as he put forth +a restraining hand. "What will you do, or how +will you act if some one should catch you in the +tower?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Ralph hesitated: "I hadn't thought of that; +why,—well,—I suppose I should try to explain it +in some way or other," he said.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid that would not do. Allow me to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>make a suggestion. Go up boldly, as though you +had a perfect right to, or that you did not suspect +it was a forbidden place; if some one accosts you +look at him in a surprised way, make an apology, +and retire; I give you this pointer because you +may be flustrated and unable to make a prompt reply, +and that would show guilt of some kind," said +the captain.</p> + +<p>Ralph went out and loitered about, gazing at the +various pieces of machinery, and finally stood on +the steps of the conning tower, which, at the angle +of the boat in its inclined position, were almost +horizontal. He stretched himself out on the stairs, +and turned his head. From that point he could see +the red liquid in the glass column, but it was difficult +to read the figures.</p> + +<p>The glare from the electric light interfered with +his sight, and before he had an opportunity to get +a glimpse of the figures from his new position, one +of the petty officers crawled along the passageway, +and, noticing him lying on the stairs, peremptorily +ordered him to get down.</p> + +<p>Ralph glanced at the man, smiled at him, and +promptly complied, chagrined at his failure. As +he entered the little room the captain eagerly questioned +him: "What did it say?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"That fellow ordered me away before I could +make out the figures," said Ralph, "but I'm going +to try it again."</p> + +<p>"How near was the liquid from the top of the +glass tube?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"Well, I should say about so far," replied +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>Ralph, indicating space between his thumb and finger. +"I guess it was about an inch."</p> + +<p>"How long do you think the tube is?" asked the +captain.</p> + +<p>"I think it must be a foot long; probably more," +was the answer.</p> + +<p>"I asked you to give me an estimate of the +length of the entire tube so as to give me some assurance +that you knew the value of an inch. You +were right; those tubes are twelve inches long. +Now let me see; I ought to know what figures are +an inch from the top!" remarked the captain +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, Captain, but how does it come that +you know all about these boats?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"I used to be an officer on a French submarine," +he replied in a quiet tone, and immediately proceeded +to make certain mental calculations. Then +he continued: "One inch below the top! That is +twenty."</p> + +<p>"Twenty what?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Twenty feet; the Germans have the English +foot on all their boats. I wonder they didn't think +about that, and make a change before starting +out."</p> + +<p>"Maybe it's twenty meters," said Alfred, with +a slight laugh.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," replied the captain. "That would +be too Frenchy for the Germans. Besides, it +would be too much by all odds. I am sure the conning +tower is not more than twenty feet below the +surface of the water."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>"Then the stern of the submarine must be sticking +out of the water," remarked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Unquestionably," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"How far, do you suppose?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"We can easily figure that out," said the captain. +"Let me see; we must first get the angle at +which the boat is lying."</p> + + +<div class="img"><a name="imagep095" id="imagep095"></a> +<a href="images/imagep095.png"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep095.png" width="75%" alt="The Entangled Submarine" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>The Entangled Submarine</i><span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p> +</div> + +<p>After looking about for some time he continued: +"The door jamb is built in vertically; that is +sure. A string, or piece of thread will make a +plumb-bob; here it is: now let us see; according to +the plumb line the boat is at an angle of 33 degrees, +as nearly as our imperfect device indicates. +There, now this line A shows the top of the boat +and B the base of the conning tower. A line C, +from the top of the water to the center of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>conning +tower, measuring 20 feet, shows where the +water line is. Do you understand how I am doing +it?"</p> + +<p>"That is very plain," said Alfred, "and it is +an interesting way to get at it, too. Then how far +is the tail of the boat out of the water?"</p> + +<p>"I should say it is about nine feet," replied the +captain.</p> + +<p>"No wonder the propellers didn't do any good +when they sent them spinning!"</p> + +<p>"There is one thing I forgot about," said the +captain, as he shook his head. "Why didn't I tell +you to note the time. We are in the greatest danger, +I fear."</p> + +<p>"Why, what makes you think so?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"This accident happened during the night, and +we have now been in this condition for at least +four hours. If we are caught here at daylight it +is all up with us," remarked the captain.</p> + +<p>"Why, is it any more dangerous then than +now?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Because the patrol boats and submarine chasers +will spy us, and then a shot, and all will be +over," replied the captain with a solemn voice.</p> + +<p>"Then I think we ought to do something right +away," said Ralph, as he half rose and glanced +out.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid that will put the burden of getting +out of the nets on our shoulders," replied the captain. +"No, let them work at it, as long as they +care to, but we must try by some means to determine +the time."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>"Do you think the seamen would object to telling +us?" inquired Alfred. "Just let me alone; I +am going to try it on, anyway," he said, as he +slipped out of the door, picked up a box and stowed +it away snugly at one side out of the way of a +young fellow who was making his way up the incline +toward the stern.</p> + +<p>Alfred struck up a conversation, and asked: +"Can I help you in any way? Tell me what to +do."</p> + +<p>The request seemed to warm up the fellow, and +the information was given that the officer had instructed +him to remove the stray boxes from the +machinery. The two engaged in this work for +more than fifteen minutes. Finally Alfred said: +"How are you, pretty tired? You haven't had +much sleep so far?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; but we're used to that," he replied, +"why, in the last run we had hardly an hour's +sleep in the last four days before reaching port."</p> + +<p>"That must be very trying," rejoined Alfred. +"But it must be near daylight."</p> + +<p>"It is just about an hour off; and when the day +comes I don't know what will happen," remarked +the seaman.</p> + +<p>"Why, what are you afraid of?" asked Alfred, +appearing to be greatly alarmed.</p> + +<p>"They have caught us this time for good, as I +heard the lieutenant,——"</p> + +<p>The sentence was never finished, for at that moment +there was another rasping sound, and the +stern of the boat came down with a sudden spring, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>then rebounded, and after two or three oscillations, +rested quietly in the water, still at quite an +angle.</p> + +<p>The sub-lieutenant sprang toward the conning +tower as fast as he could scramble. The signal +was given to reverse, the motors began to hum and +the ship vibrated. It was a glorious feeling, and +the captain grasped the hands of the boys in an +ecstacy of joy.</p> + +<br /> +<br /><a name="IX" id="IX"></a> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h2>THE CAPTURE OF THE SUBMERGED VESSEL</h2> +<br /> + +<p>"Why does it still keep at this angle?" asked +Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Have you forgotten the stuff we carried back +into the stern?" replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Do you think that really is the trouble?" asked +Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Yes; it is out of balance, and I suppose we +may look out for another job," said the captain. +"That may be the opportunity we are seeking. +Furthermore, what is to be done must be done just +as soon as possible."</p> + +<p>"What makes you think so?" eagerly inquired +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Several things. The first is, that we are now +in the English Channel under the guidance of a +man much less skilful than the lieutenant; and, +secondly, the lieutenant, although badly wounded, +may recover sufficiently to be able to direct affairs," +replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"When I was out there talking with the seaman," +said Alfred, "I learned that the lieutenant +was in a very low state."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>"I should judge so, too," rejoined the captain, +"for the reason that the doctor has not left the +room once since the lieutenant was taken there. +In making a calculation of the forces against us +I have considered that the lieutenant, the cook and +the doctor are disposed of, so far as being of any +aid to the crew. Three others are also so badly +injured that they do not need to cause us much +worry. I am not certain in my mind, however, +where they are at this time."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean the men who were injured?" +asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Two of them are in the bunks behind the compressed +air tanks," answered Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Are you quite sure of that?" queried the captain.</p> + +<p>"I know it," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Well, that makes six accounted for, so that +there are twenty-one we must meet. Now I shall +give a few general instructions before we proceed. +The sub-lieutenant has gone into the conning +tower. As he entered I tried to get a glimpse to +ascertain whether or not the sun had risen, but +was unable to decide, but I should judge that it +is not yet daylight or he would not be running on +the surface. As a precautionary measure we must +have the weapons ready, and have the revolvers +put away so as not to expose them before we are +ready."</p> + +<p>"Here they are," said Ralph, who cautiously +brought them to the room.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>"Shall we load them?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"By all means; and let me warn you of one +thing: when you aim be sure to hit. There must +be no pretense about it. The matter is too serious +for anything but strict business. I hope we shall +not have the opportunity or necessity for using +the revolvers. Now pay attention to the details: +the sub-lieutenant must be the first one captured, +and he must be taken into the conning tower. I +suggest that you, Ralph, take your place beneath +the stairway, hiding, as much as possible, behind +the amidship tank, while you, Alfred, remain at +the door of our room here."</p> + +<p>"Shall I stay here so I can be seen or keep out +of sight?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Remain under cover inside the room, but in +sight of the stairway. You have probably noticed +that the under officer makes frequent trips to the +conning tower, and that on returning each time he +turns a short lever below the hinge," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"I have noticed that several times and wondered +what it was for," said Ralph.</p> + +<p>"That is for the purpose of holding the hatch +door so that it can be opened by him when he +again ascends the stairway. Now, when the under +officer opens the hatch and comes down the hatch +stairs, will be the time for you to come out of the +room and take up your position at the forward +corner of the room; that will completely hide you +from the eyes of the officer. I shall then go into +the room, the moment he reaches the last step, and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>thus he will not suspect me. The moment he +reaches the passageway opposite the door, I will +hold him up with my revolver, and compel him to +enter the room. The moment that is done you will +push the door shut, as you will see that it has a +spring lock. Do you fully understand the instructions +so far?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"I think so," answered Alfred, "although I +don't exactly understand why I am to go into the +room first, and then come out the moment the hatch +is being opened."</p> + +<p>"For the reason that we must not be suspected +by the others, some of whom are at all times not +far away, and if, while we are waiting, some of the +crew should pass the end of our room they would +be sure to see you and consider that a peculiar +place for you to be in. Do you understand it +now?" replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"Then, after that what will take place?" asked +Ralph, his breath coming thick and fast.</p> + +<p>"I shall go up the stairway, followed by Alfred. +While this is going on it will be your duty, Ralph, +to watch the workers at the dynamo and the aft +tank. They are the only ones who will be able to +see the stairway clearly. If you see any look of +alarm on their faces, or see that they notice what is +going on, move around into the opening, and level +both revolvers at them, without, however, making +any sound. Hold them in that position until I +raise the trap-door and warn the sub-lieutenant. +Alfred will follow close and hold the trap-door +from being sprung. Then move up the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>companionway +as fast as you can. There, he is going up now. +Take your place, Ralph."</p> + +<p>The crucial time had come. Alfred retreated +into the little room as the captain leisurely moved +along the narrow passageway toward the dynamos. +Thus they waited and waited, five, ten minutes. +Ages seemed to pass. Then the hatch door +opened slowly. Alfred came out quietly without +looking around, moved forward, and then walked +back and slid into the corner of the room.</p> + +<p>The petty officer closed the hatch and moved +down the steps, brushing past the captain. As he +did so the captain entered the door and immediately +turned with the revolver pointing at the officer's +breast.</p> + +<p>"Not a sound, or I fire," said the captain in a +voice which could not be heard a dozen feet away. +The captain stepped aside, and pointed to the open +doorway, at the same time indicating by motions +that the German should enter it. The officer gritted +his teeth and finally obeyed. As the captain +stood there with the revolver at his side, but +pointed at the man, Alfred slowly closed the door.</p> + +<p>The captain now turned and moved up the stairway. +With his revolver drawn he pushed open the +trap-door quietly, and, in a quiet voice, said: +"Hands up!"</p> + +<p>The sub-lieutenant turned quickly, to look into +the muzzle of the revolver. His hands reached out +to seize a lever.</p> + +<p>"<i>Stop!</i>" said the captain, and the officer quickly +raised his hands.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>Alfred was now in the tower, and Ralph, walking +up backwards, had his head through the hatch +opening, when a shot was fired. He dropped one +of his revolvers, and Alfred quickly seized him by +the shoulders and drew him up. The hatch cover +came down with a bang.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt?" asked Alfred, as Ralph +dropped down, but he was reassured as the latter +arose. For the moment the captain's gaze was +averted, when, quick as thought, the officer's hand +touched a lever.</p> + +<p>The captain smiled, as he said: "I am afraid the +valve of the submerging tank will not work; I +prefer running on the surface. But, in the meantime, +as I am commander of this vessel, and I notice +that you are trying to interfere, I shall have +to restrict your movements somewhat."</p> + +<p>Saying this he drew a small cord from his pocket +and instructed Alfred to bind the arms at the +wrists. The hands of the officer were then carried +around to the back and the cord fastened to a +stanchion at one side, where he was out of reach +of the instrument board.</p> + +<p>This gave the captain an opportunity to examine +Ralph's wound. The latter had quickly rallied. +It was the shot, coupled with the extreme tension, +which caused him momentarily to collapse, for it +was found that the wound had passed through the +fleshy part of the arm above the elbow.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you want the destroyers to sink us," +said the officer.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," replied the captain. "Unscrew +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>the bolts of the door, Alfred. And now a word +more, Mr. Officer. Where are your flags?"</p> + +<p>"I refuse to inform you," said the officer, with +a look of determination in his face.</p> + +<p>"I expect a shot every minute," said the captain, +"for I know as well as you do that there is a +cruiser on our port side. I shall give you another +opportunity; where are the flags?"</p> + +<p>"You must open the hatch for them," said the +officer.</p> + +<p>"All the bolts are out," said Alfred, turning +to the captain.</p> + +<p>"Guard the officer while I go out and signal," +said the captain.</p> + +<p>Before the captain reached the door there was +an ominous boom in the distance. Alfred could see +the officer's face grow pale. A shower of sea +water sprayed over the deck, and some of the +water entered the open door. Looking out he saw +the captain, who had thrown off his coat and vest, +and was now drawing off his white shirt, which +he held up and waved to and fro, just as the second +shot boomed.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, the shot was too far away to be at +all dangerous, as Alfred thought, but the voice of +the captain explained it.</p> + +<p>"Signal to stop!"</p> + +<p>"Which lever?" inquired Alfred.</p> + +<p>The latter hesitated. He glanced out the door +and then at the boy. To refuse meant that the ship +was doomed and his companions below without +hope of rescue.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>The captain, with the white signal in his hand, +stepped to the door, and with the revolver pointing +full into the face of the officer, said: "Stop the +ship or you will never have an opportunity to save +yourselves or your companions."</p> + +<p>"Pull the second lever," he said, and Alfred did +as directed.</p> + +<p>"Reverse!" demanded the captain.</p> + +<p>"The lever below," said the officer.</p> + +<p>A mile away was a small, speedy craft, sailing +around the submarine. It seemed fairly to skim +over the surface of the water, and cast the spray +astern like a mist. It had come up unnoticed by +the captain.</p> + +<p>"Look at the little boat," shouted Ralph, who +had now recovered and had moved to the open +door.</p> + +<p>The captain turned quickly toward the stern, +waving the white flag in a frenzy. It must have +been regarded as a remarkable thing to those on +board the little cutter to see a German submarine +hoisting a surrender flag. It seemed too good to +be true. They evidently supposed the white flag +was a ruse of some kind, for they did not venture +nearer.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the cruiser, which had fired the two +shots, came up behind the little craft, and the latter +cautiously steamed up. The small vessel was +one of the speedy torpedo boat chasers, carrying +two three-inch guns, and drawing less than six +feet of water. The safety of these boats lies in +their great speed and in the shallow draft, which +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>prevents the submarine from reaching them with +their torpedoes.</p> + +<p>Once abreast the commander called out: "I am +sending a boat for your officers."</p> + +<p>"I have only one here, that we can get at, at +present," shouted the captain.</p> + +<p>"What is that?" asked the commander of the +chaser.</p> + +<p>"I have one of the chief officers in the conning +tower, and the others are below," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" asked the commander.</p> + +<p>"Captain Leclere, of the French service," replied +the captain.</p> + +<p>"Captain Leclere!" almost shouted the German +officer in the conning tower.</p> + +<p>"That's the man," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Then I am not surprised," said the officer in a +low voice.</p> + +<p>"Surprised?" said Ralph. "Did you say 'surprised?'"</p> + +<p>The officer sighed, turned his head away, and +was silent.</p> + +<p>A lieutenant and four seamen reached the side +of the submarine, and were drawn aboard.</p> + +<p>"Ah! it was your ship that went down in the +bay last Wednesday," said the chaser's lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"Yes; we were picked up by the submarine, together +with my two young friends here," said the +captain.</p> + +<p>"And how does it happen that you are in command +of this vessel?" he asked in surprise.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>"We captured it about a half an hour ago, and +have the chief officer and the crew below," replied +the captain.</p> + +<p>"That is certainly a remarkable exploit," replied +the lieutenant. "I suppose you will be glad +to meet the commander of <i>l'Orient</i>?" said the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Captain Tournai, you mean! I recognized +the French colors. But I supposed he was +in the Mediterranean; it will be quite a pleasure, +indeed. Do me the honor to signal him," said the +captain.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant gave the necessary instructions, +and the flags wig-wagged from the bridge of the +little vessel.</p> + +<p>The sub-lieutenant was called out of the conning +tower, and Alfred directed to unloosen the cords.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you will take charge of the prisoners," +said the captain.</p> + +<p>"I should be glad to do so, with your permission, +although you have a right, of course, to turn +them over to <i>l'Orient</i>," said the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"No; it is sufficient gratification to know that +we have the vessel," said the captain, "and I shall +be glad to leave to you the disposition of the men +and the vessel."</p> + +<p>"What procedure would you suggest?" asked +the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"I shall give an order to the sub-lieutenant directing +the men to come out of the hold," said the +captain. Then, turning to the sub-lieutenant, he +said:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>"You will inform the men below that they are +to present themselves at the hatch."</p> + +<p>The officer bowed, and entered the conning tower +He immediately descended. Before he had, +reached the bottom the captain said:</p> + +<p>"Halt! Notify them from where you are. I +shall not permit you to go any farther."</p> + +<p>All the men were found to be stationed near the +hatchway steps. One by one they appeared, and +were escorted out, a dozen marines in the meantime +having appeared in two boats. As they +emerged from the door they were escorted to the +side and directed to take their places in the ship's +boats.</p> + +<p>"That makes twenty-one," said Alfred.</p> + +<br /> +<br /><a name="X" id="X"></a> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h2>THE SECRET KEY TO THE BOMB FUSE</h2> +<br /> + +<p>"Shall I go down and assist in bringing up the +lieutenant?" said the sub-lieutenant, as the doctor +of the submarine passed out.</p> + +<p>"No; I have decided that he shall not be removed +until this evening," said the captain. "In +the meantime the doctor may return, and give him +such aid as is necessary."</p> + +<p>The sub-lieutenant's face turned pale, and he +trembled. This was the first show of weakness +that he exhibited. The boys looked at the captain, +and turned their glances toward the officer of the +chaser. They could not understand it. The captain +continued:</p> + +<p>"I believe the chief machinist is also injured, as +well as two of the machine tenders. They may +also remain until after the lieutenant is brought +up."</p> + +<p>All present noticed the wrought-up condition of +the sub-lieutenant, and the latter soon exhibited +evidence that he was breaking down. At last he +remarked with trembling voice:</p> + +<p>"At what time can they be brought up?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell at this time; possibly not until +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>tomorrow," said the captain, directing a searching +glance at the officer.</p> + +<p>"He is very ill," said the doctor.</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt of it," replied the captain. +"The length of their stay in the submarine will depend +on the length of the fuse attached to the time +explosive in the hold."</p> + +<p>The sub-lieutenant almost dropped as the captain +uttered these words, and the boys exchanged +significant glances, while the lieutenant of the +chaser smiled.</p> + +<p>"You did not think," continued the captain, +"that I would be so lax in my duty as to permit +you to plant a mine under our feet?"</p> + +<p>The sub-lieutenant dropped his eyes without answering. +The captain gazed at him intently, as he +continued: "For the present you will be detained, +and the time of the removal of the lieutenant with +his companions will be decided within the next two +hours."</p> + +<p>With this decision the sub-lieutenant was put in +charge of the marines, while he descended to enter +the boat. As he was about to step aboard, he +turned to the captain and said: "It will be too late +if you defer the decision for two hours."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said the captain with a faint smile, "you +have thought better of it. Will the fuse last an +hour?"</p> + +<p>The sub-lieutenant nodded. The captain waved +his arms and directed the officer to proceed. The +latter unceremoniously pushed the sub-lieutenant +into the boat.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>"I will see to it that the fuses are taken out," +said the sub-lieutenant, recovering from his sullen +attitude.</p> + +<p>The captain paid no attention to the remarks +of the officer. As soon as the sub-lieutenant was +well out of hearing, the captain turned to the boys +and said: "It may be a difficult and trying duty to +you to perform, but it is the only safe thing to do. +As you know almost every part of the submarine +from the investigation you have made, I would +ask you to follow me, and I will tell you what to +do."</p> + +<p>The boys nodded their heads, and entered the +conning tower with the captain. The latter turned, +before descending, and said:</p> + +<p>"You will have observed, no doubt, that the +scheme was to turn over the submarine to us as +soon as possible, leaving a time fuse, which, within +a specified time, would have blown the ship to +atoms. By so doing they would accomplish two +purposes, namely, destroy the ship, and save their +own lives. We must not put confidence in any +statement they may make."</p> + +<p>"But wouldn't it be a good idea to let the sub-lieutenant +remove the fuses, as he said he would +do?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Would you be willing to rely on that?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I wouldn't," replied Alfred. "I could +tell by the way the sub-lieutenant acted that he +would play a trick if he could."</p> + +<p>"That is just why I want you to assist me in +check-mating," said the captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>"Tell us just what to do, and you may depend +on us," replied Ralph.</p> + +<p>"As you know many of the dark places below +I want you to go down with me and find several +where you can secrete yourselves. I will then send +the sub-lieutenant down, and order him to remove +the fuses. I want you to be particular to observe +every step he takes, and, as far as possible, note +what he does at each place; do you understand?" +said the captain.</p> + +<p>"Perfectly," replied Ralph.</p> + +<p>Together they descended. All were well aware +that the lieutenant, the doctor, and the three +wounded men were still in the dining galley, the +door of which had been closed and locked by orders +of the captain, after the last of the submarine +crew reached the upper deck.</p> + +<p>"I know one good place where a fellow can hide +and still see what is going on," said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Where is that?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"At that tank by the side of the dining galley," +replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>"That would be a good vantage point," answered +the captain. "It is the aft trimming tank, +and if you can find a place of concealment it would, +at the same time, enable you to overhear any conversation +that might possibly take place, when the +sub-lieutenant is performing his unwelcome duty."</p> + +<p>"Then maybe I ought to get somewhere forward +of the main hatch?" proposed Ralph.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you have your revolvers with you?" +said the captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>"I know mine is all right," replied Ralph.</p> + +<p>"So is mine, I think," said Alfred, "although I +haven't had an opportunity to try it so far."</p> + +<p>"I hope there will be no necessity for anything +of that kind," said the captain. "However, we +are dealing with men who are desperate, and who +have been taught that they must do desperate +things to accomplish their purposes, hence the safe +rule, in all cases, in dealing with them, is to do the +very opposite of that which they wish you to do."</p> + +<p>"Is that the reason why you refused to let him +remove the fuse?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>The captain laughed quietly, as he replied: "He +thinks I have refused to let him do so, but he will +be surprised to get the order to remove the fuses, +and be permitted to go down into the vessel unaccompanied."</p> + +<p>"Then he is to come down here without you?" +said Ralph in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Why, certainly; and that is why I want some +one here to watch proceedings," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I understand now," replied Alfred. +"That's a good idea. If anything happens we'll +find out what it is if any one can."</p> + +<p>"I believe it," answered the captain. "And +now select your places. I will go up and send him +down within the next fifteen minutes."</p> + +<p>Alfred took up his station at one side of the aft +trimming tank, and Ralph, after some investigation, +upturned one of the boxes which was still +lying in the passageway directly to one side of the +steps leading to the conning tower, and after a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>little search, found two more, which were drawn +together, thus forming a retreat which enabled +him to observe the movements of any one on three +sides.</p> + +<p>All this was done in silence, and all preparation +having been made, the captain ascended. After +reaching the deck-house of the chaser, he requested +the sub-lieutenant's presence. As he approached, +between the two guards, the captain said: "I have +concluded that you may go down and remove the +fuses, and I shall depend on your honor to do it +effectually."</p> + +<p>The sub-lieutenant bowed stiffly, and was led to +the boat, followed by the captain. As they reached +the conning tower, the captain continued: "I will +remain here. I shall give you ten minutes' time +to do the work."</p> + +<p>The sub-lieutenant descended, and was somewhat +surprised to find himself alone in the interior. +The electric lights were burning brightly. +Ralph was the first to view his movements. The +officer first moved to a point directly opposite, and +with a key opened a door, which Ralph had never +theretofore noticed. In a moment the door was +again closed and Ralph saw a short section of a +fuse, which the officer quickly pushed into a dark +recess below.</p> + +<p>From that point he moved toward the stern, +stopping at the motors; then he quickly turned +around and glanced about in a suspicious manner. +As he stooped down, Ralph made a slight noise on +one of the boxes, and the officer straightened up +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>like a shot. The movement indicated a guilty act, +and Ralph divined that the purpose was to injure +the motors.</p> + +<p>The sub-lieutenant moved cautiously to the rear, +and in a few moments was abreast of the dining +galley. Here he was within hearing of Alfred behind +the aft trimming tanks. He saw the officer +go to the door, and give three quick knocks. +"Herr Schwoger!" he said in a subdued voice. +In another moment a voice within replied: "The +fuses; you must not forget them."</p> + +<p>To this the sub-lieutenant answered: "I have +been ordered to remove them; what shall I do?"</p> + +<p>"Take out all but the forward fuse, and report," +said the voice. "Tell us what has happened," +continued the voice, which was now recognized +as the doctor's.</p> + +<p>"They have complete command, and two warships +are outside," was the reply.</p> + +<p>From this point the officer crossed over to the +starboard side of the vessel and at a large stand-pipe +stooped down. Alfred tried to ascertain what +he was doing, but was unable to detect the nature +of his work. The sub-lieutenant then crossed back +to the other side, and, working his way quickly +to the motors, stooped down. Ralph could no +longer restrain himself. He quickly and quietly +moved toward the officer, as he saw him with a +long tool of some kind in his hand reach down to +the base of the motor.</p> + +<p>"Hands up!" shouted Ralph.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>The tool dropped from the hands of the officer +with a click.</p> + +<p>Alfred was at the side of the sub-lieutenant in +an instant. "You may go on deck," said Ralph.</p> + +<p>The officer glanced at Alfred, whom he had seen +emerge from the aft hiding place, and then turned +a look of contempt on Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Move!" said Ralph, pointing to the gangway.</p> + +<p>Alfred cocked his revolver and menacingly +pointed it at him.</p> + +<p>There was only one thing to do and he did it. +He was met by the captain at the head of the stairway.</p> + +<p>The boys followed quickly. The captain looked +on at the leveled revolvers and appeared to be surprised.</p> + +<p>"What does all this mean?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"It means that he tried to destroy the motors, +and we caught him at it in time," said Ralph.</p> + +<p>"That is not so," replied the officer.</p> + +<p>"What is this for?" asked Alfred, as he held +up the tool which the officer had dropped.</p> + +<p>"But you have removed all the fuses, of +course?" said the captain, apparently not heeding +the tool referred to.</p> + +<p>"I have," said the officer, straightening up.</p> + +<p>"All but the one at the forward part of the vessel," +replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>The officer turned, with a look of surprise and +chagrin on his face. "He does not know what he +is talking about," said the officer.</p> + +<p>"Then you are lying to me as you are to the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>captain," said Alfred. "You told the doctor in the +galley that you had removed all but the forward +one. Did you lie to him?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>A blush seemed to suffuse the officer's face, as +the captain said:</p> + +<p>"We will go down together. There may be some +more work to do; come on," said the captain, as he +indicated the way. "You may go first, Ralph, the +sub-lieutenant will follow."</p> + +<p>There was no help for it. Once below the captain +said: "You will save yourself considerable +trouble by removing the fuse from the forward +bomb, and that without further waste of words."</p> + +<p>The officer knew that the manner in which the +words were uttered meant business. Without +waiting for the second warning, he led the way, +opened another secret door, and removed the tell-tale +fuse.</p> + +<p>"Ah, ha! cut for two hours! Now, while we +are about it you might as well start the motor; we +have some use for it," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"I cannot do that," replied the officer.</p> + +<p>"So you succeeded in injuring it," said the +captain.</p> + +<p>"No," was the reply.</p> + +<p>The captain picked up the tool, which Alfred +was so particular to carry along. "And what was +this used for?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I have disarranged the motor fields so +that they are useless; and I don't deny it," said +the officer, straightening up and looking at the captain +defiantly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>"There; that is something like it; but you +haven't deceived me in the least. I have brought +a very useful article with me," continued the captain, +drawing from his pocket a paper and presenting +it to the officer. "It contains instructions, +which I expect you to follow, for your own safety. +I shall see to it that the fuses you removed are +again put into place and the mechanism set for +one hour. Of course, I shall hold the keys. Under +those conditions you may remain locked below, +and I shall expect you to obey my signals, as we +intend to navigate the vessel to port, which will, +as you know, occupy about fifty minutes of time. +Do you know where the fuse boxes are?" said the +captain, turning to the boys.</p> + +<p>Ralph marched to the side wall and pointed to +the place where the sub-lieutenant opened the first +box.</p> + +<p>"Open it!" ordered the captain, turning to the +sub-lieutenant.</p> + +<p>The latter hesitated. The captain stared at him +sternly and repeated the order. As he made no +motion, the captain continued: "Why do you hesitate?"</p> + +<br /> +<br /><a name="XI" id="XI"></a> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h2>OPERATING THE SUBMARINE WITH A CAPTIVE CREW</h2> +<br /> + +<p>The officer now saw that he was dealing with a +man who understood the motives of those aboard +the submarine, and it was also evident that the +sympathy of the boys was turned from the young +man. The latter had played his part to the ultimate.</p> + +<p>"You have now done all and more than is required +of you," said the captain, as he altered his +tone of voice. "You have set the automatic device, +which, in due time, would have sent this vessel +to the bottom. I understand all these devices, +and they will not avail you. I understand, as well +as you do, that to open that box will cause an explosion; +but it is necessary to make an example +of you." Then, turning to the boys, he said: "You +may go on deck. As for you, Mr. Officer, I shall +detain you below a sufficient length of time to be +sure that the automatic device gets in its work. +We really have no use for the submarine."</p> + +<p>He turned and started up the stairway, when +the sub-lieutenant, with trembling voice, said: "I +am powerless to prevent the explosion,——"</p> + +<p>"Unless," interrupted the captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>The officer nodded his head. "I supposed so!" +continued the captain. "The lieutenant in the galley +has the key which controls the automatic device. +You may open the door and get the key, and +from this time forward, if I find that you deceive +me in the slightest degree, or make any attempt to +injure the vessel, I will make it your grave without +a moment's hesitation, and without the least compunction."</p> + +<p>The sub-lieutenant moved toward the galley, and +opened the door. In a moment he reappeared +with the key and followed the captain to the conning +tower.</p> + +<p>Below the switchboard was a tiny slot. Into this +the key neatly fitted, and upon giving a turn, a set +of switches was exposed.</p> + +<p>"These are the control circuits," he said.</p> + +<p>"Turn them off and open the boxes below!" ordered +the captain. This was done.</p> + +<p>"Who are the men that operate the trimming +tanks?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"The machinist Scholer and his assistant +Bracher," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant," said the captain, addressing the +commander of the chaser; "send those men on +board."</p> + +<p>When they appeared the captain continued: +"You will go below with these men, and obey my +signals, as we take the vessel to port, and remember, +that if any part of the machinery is destroyed +I will not guarantee to deliver you safely on +shore."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>As they disappeared, the trap-door was closed, +and the boys were free, for the first time since the +eventful morning, five days previous to this time, +when they stepped aboard the submarine.</p> + +<p>They now realized, in a particularly pointed +manner, that while the air in a submarine seems +to be fairly pure, it is filled with the most noxious +fumes, due to the petroleum and lubricants, as +well as to the odors due to cooking, all of which +cannot be gotten rid of, however constantly the +air-circulating apparatus of the ship is in operation.</p> + +<p>The greatest efforts have been made to automatically +discharge these odors, but the hundreds of +dead corners within a hull of this character make +it impossible to effect a thorough discharge, and +when the trap-door finally closes down there is a +peculiar feeling, not unlike seasickness, which +seemed to attack one.</p> + +<p>"I understand your feelings," said the captain, +as he noticed the pale faces of the boys. "It is +wonderful how you have been able to keep up, and +not exhibit symptoms before this. I will have two +seamen come over to assist me in the conning +tower."</p> + +<p>"I wish you wouldn't do that," said Alfred, as +he placed his hand on his temples. "I am sure we +will get over this in time."</p> + +<p>"No, no; we want to stay with you, if you don't +mind," insisted Ralph. "I am all right now," and +he tried to smile, but it was not a very successful +effort.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>"Then I suppose I shall have to accede; yes, +lieutenant, we can take care of the boat, but I shall +expect you to act as our convoy," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant directed his men to pull for the +chaser, and the captain turned to the operating +board. "Forward," the word was plain. The signal +was made by two distinct rings. The propellers +turned. The captain, with his hands on the +wheel, turned to starboard and made a short turn. +This brought the vessel alongside the chaser. A +slight turn to port, then forward, and they glided +alongside <i>l'Orient</i>.</p> + +<p>The crew had been lined up on the port side, +and the captain at the end of the bridge raised his +cap in salute as they passed by.</p> + +<p>"Where are we going?" asked Ralph, as he saw +the prow pointing to the south. "Are we going +to France?"</p> + +<p>"What are those funny things bobbing up there +for,—that whole line?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"They are the floats for the torpedo nets," replied +the captain. "We are now on our way to go +through the gates, and thus avoid the nets."</p> + +<p>"Is that why we are following the torpedo +chaser?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and when once inside the lane, we will +change our course and reach the English base for +craft of this kind," said the captain.</p> + +<p>The submarine followed the wake of the chaser +for fully a half hour, when, for some reason, that +boat stopped. As they neared it they noticed the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>sailors and marines aboard on the port side, and +intently engaged in looking forward.</p> + +<p>"What's up now, I wonder?" said Alfred, as he +opened the door of the conning tower and stepped +on the deck.</p> + +<p>"Look at the floats ahead," said the captain.</p> + +<p>On investigation two of them were noticed moving +back and forth, and occasionally dipping in an +unaccountable manner.</p> + +<p>"Look at those fellows with the guns on the deck +of the chaser," said Ralph.</p> + +<p>Alfred looked up. He saw the gun crews at +their stations, with the officers in charge of the +guns standing at one side in attitudes of expectancy.</p> + +<p>"I know," said Alfred. "They have caught one +of them."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and they are making the same efforts to +get away that we were engaged in only a few +hours ago," said the captain.</p> + +<p>The chaser steamed back and forth in a quiet, +determined way, the men never for a moment relaxing +their watch.</p> + +<p>"What are they trying to do with that funny-looking, +big, fat gun on the side near the front end +of the deck?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"That is a howitzer," answered the captain.</p> + +<p>"What in the world do they want a howitzer +for?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"To use it on the boat if it should get free from +the net," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"Why don't they use it now?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>"Because they do not want to destroy the boat +unless it is absolutely necessary," answered the +captain.</p> + +<p>"But how will they know whether the boat gets +away?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"By the condition of the floats," answered the +captain. "You will notice that the two floats +within range of the submarine's action are being +dragged down. If the floats should be in a normal +condition, or float on their true water line, which +you can readily observe by glasses, it is evident +that the submarine is free."</p> + +<p>"And then that would be the time they would +use the howitzers?" suggested Alfred.</p> + +<p>"But how could they reach the submarine?" +asked Ralph. "Do they know just where the vessel +is now?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, they can locate it within a hundred feet; +but that would be near enough for their purpose," +replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean," asked Alfred, "that they +would send the shell from the howitzer anywhere +near them, and that it would destroy the submarine +even though it didn't hit it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; the detonating or rupturing effect of the +high explosive in the shells is such that even +though the explosion would take place a hundred +feet from the hull, it would put it out of commission +at once, and, in all probability, crush in the +sides like an egg shell," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"Why are they signaling?" asked Ralph, as the +wig-wagging began.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>"I think that's <i>l'Orient</i> in sight on the port +side," replied the captain, after gazing in the direction +indicated.</p> + +<p>"Then the cruiser will take the position of the +chaser?" said Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Quite likely," answered the captain.</p> + +<p>"Look at the smoke; she's coming this way," +shouted Ralph.</p> + +<p>The captain waved his hand to the lieutenant +on the chaser, as he shouted: "They have responded +to your signals."</p> + +<p>As <i>l'Orient</i> approached and took up position, +the chaser, with a parting salute, turned and +started for its former course along the line of +buoys. The boys looked back and kept their eyes +on the moving buoys as far as they could see them.</p> + +<p>"It will never get away," said the captain.</p> + +<p>The chaser described a long curve, and changed +its course due east, and, following it, they were at +the entrance which had been left free. Beyond +were several other small vessels, two of which +dashed up and steamed alongside. The crews +cheered as the boys emerged from the conning +tower and waved their caps.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant quickly informed the officers +aboard the other boats of the prize, which had been +taken by those aboard of her, and the news redoubled +their noisy welcome. The tell-tale number +on the side of the conning tower, U-96, was +sufficient to inform the crews of the passing vessels +that another of the dreaded boats was out of +action.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>Once within the lane, as the path between the +two lines of buoyed nets is called, they turned and +steamed north. Vessels were passing and repassing; +transport and hospital ships; immense freight +carriers, and saucy little tugs drawing barge-like +flat-boats; innumerable fast launches and large +war vessels, going to and fro between the shores +of England and France.</p> + +<p>Within a half-hour they again approached the +place where <i>l'Orient</i> was watching the struggles +of the entangled submarine. The boys thought of +the trying hours when they, too, were thus imperilled, +and could hardly refrain from shuddering +at the thought of the human beings in the narrow +prison house below the waves.</p> + +<p>Evidently, something exciting was taking place, +for the cruiser was constantly manoeuvering, and +the men at the howitzers were keenly alive. Occasionally, +there would be a lull in the movement +of the buoys and it was during those moments that +the most intense activity was shown on board the +guarding vessel.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand how it is that the submarine +can get fastened to the nets," said Ralph to +the captain, as they leaned over the rail of their +vessel.</p> + +<p>"The meshes of the nets are very large,—that is, +of sufficient diameters to permit the ends of the +submarines to pass into them," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"But, if that is the case why cannot the submarines +back out in the same way that they went in?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>"They can, if the mesh is too small to take +more than the bow of the vessel; but, in the event +the mesh is large enough to permit the bow to enter, +and the net once gets behind the fins of the +submarine, that is the end of them, for the vessel +cannot, in that case, free itself," responded the +captain.</p> + +<p>"How was it in our case?" asked Ralph. "Do +you think the fins of our ship got caught?"</p> + +<p>"I did not explain it to you at the time, as I did +not wish to alarm you; but this vessel had one of +its fins through the net. Evidently we struck the +nets at an angle, and the tide helped us in keeping +the hull against the net at the proper angle. The +lieutenant knew this, for he adopted the only +method known to free the ship under those circumstances," +said the captain.</p> + +<p>"So you think the lieutenant knew that only one +fin had caught, and for that reason he tried to up-end +the ship?" inquired Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Yes; but not that alone. I observed one thing +that you may have overlooked," remarked the +Captain. "He was particular to store all the +boxes which we helped to carry aft, on the starboard +side."</p> + +<p>"I noticed that," said Ralph hurriedly, "and +that wasn't all. Every time a box was brought in +he would ask: 'Heavy or light,' and I have many +times wondered why he did so."</p> + +<p>"I did notice one thing, though," said Alfred, +"and that was, when the rear end of the submarine +shot upward, and the boxes came tumbling +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>down, that the hull seemed to roll around to the +left."</p> + +<p>"That was our salvation," replied the captain. +"I then knew we had a chance."</p> + +<br /> +<br /><a name="XII" id="XII"></a> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h2>THE DEATH BLOW TO THE SUBMARINE</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Let us try to get some idea of the situation. +Ahead of the boat on which the boys were watching +the scene, and probably not more than eight hundred +feet distant, was <i>l'Orient</i>. Between them was +the row of buoys, as far as the eye could see, +stretching from the shore of England to the coast +of France. To their right, and not two hundred +feet distant was the saucy little chaser, which acted +as their convoy.</p> + +<p>At a point which might be termed midway between +the three vessels thus described, were the +two buoys, which moved with spasmodic jerks, +due to the action of the imprisoned vessel below. +As they looked along the bobbing buoys in either +direction, small vessels were observed, patrolling +to and fro, in the tiny mast, or lookout of each, being +two or more men, with glasses, constantly +scrutinizing the floats as the ships slowly moved +past.</p> + +<p>Apparently, at regular intervals, were large +ships of war, all of them in motion. Sailing vessels +and steamers, carrying freight, were coming +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>up the channel, convoyed to the open doors in this +giant network which guarded the channel.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant on the chaser backed his vessel +toward the submarine and hailed the captain:</p> + +<p>"Do you wish to remain?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"The chances of that fellow seem to be pretty +slim. I would like to see the finish of the game; +but I suppose we ought to get into port as soon as +possible," answered the captain.</p> + +<p>"Then I will give the order to proceed," replied +the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>The captain nodded, and the boys started for the +door.</p> + +<p>"One moment!" said the captain. "We may +still be able to see an interesting sight."</p> + +<p>The boys rushed out of the door. Glancing up +at the deck of the chaser they could see the marines +aboard rushing to the side of the vessel. As +they looked at the buoys it was noticed that they +were silent. <i>L'Orient</i> was slowly backing away +from the obvious location of the submerged vessel.</p> + +<p>"They are about to throw a shell," observed the +captain.</p> + +<p>The remark had hardly left his mouth when an +explosion was heard and the shell could be observed +moving upward at a very high angle, and +descending into the water with a vicious plunge.</p> + +<p>No sooner had it struck the sea than it seemed +to raise the surface of the water like the foaming +mass in a boiling pot. The explosion was dull, vibrant, +ominous.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>"They are shooting another one," shouted Alfred, +although he tried to suppress his voice.</p> + +<p>"Boom!" came the sound, as he uttered the +words.</p> + +<p>The second shot struck the water not fifty feet +distant from the first one.</p> + +<p>"Do you think they will fire another?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Probably not," answered the captain.</p> + +<p>"What is that little boat going over there for?" +asked Ralph, as one of the torpedo boats boldly +advanced over the spot where the two shells had +entered the water.</p> + +<p>The captain nodded his head for a few moments +before speaking.</p> + +<p>"The shots were successful."</p> + +<p>"I can see that now," said Ralph. "Look at the +oil coming up and covering the sea."</p> + +<p>It was, indeed, a sad sight to witness, knowing +that the shots meant the death of thirty or more +human beings.</p> + +<p>"Well, I am awfully sorry for them, even if they +had no sympathy for us, and didn't wait to see +whether or not we were put into safety before they +sent our ship down," said Alfred reflectively, as +he turned and entered the conning tower.</p> + +<p>The scene had its fascination for Ralph, although +he felt the horror of it all as he stood leaning +over the railing, gazing at the patrol boats +which were sailing back and forth in and around +the spot where the petroleum was fast covering +the surface of the water in all directions.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>"You can understand now, can't you, why flying +machines are such good spotters for submarines?" +remarked the captain.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean the oil that comes on top of the +water?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Yes," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"But does oil arise at all times when a submarine +is submerged?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"More or less oil is constantly detaching itself +from the body of the hull, at the discharge ports, +and it can't be helped because all of the gas discharge +ports are under water at all times, whether +the vessel is running on or under the water, hence, +as it moves along it will leave a trail of oil which +can be easily detected by a machine in flight above +the surface of the water," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"But doesn't a machine, when it is under the +water, leave a ripple that is easily seen by a flying +machine?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I was going to refer to that," replied the +captain. "An aviator has a great advantage over +an observer on a vessel, for the reason that the +slightest movement of the surface of the sea, even +though there may be pronounced waves, can be +noted. If the submarine is moving along near the +surface, the ripple is very pronounced, and the +streak of oil which follows is very narrow. Should +the submarine stop, the oil it discharges accumulates +on top of the water at one place, and begins +to spread out over the surface of the water and +this makes it a mark for the watchful eye of the +airmen of the sea patrols," answered the captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>"I heard one of the officers at the aviation camp +say that a submarine could be seen easily through +fifty feet of water by an airman," remarked Alfred. +"Do you think that is so?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I know it is possible," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"But why is it that when you are on a ship it is +impossible to see through the water that depth?"</p> + +<p>"For this reason," answered the captain: "if +you are on a ship, and you are looking even from +the topmast of the vessel, the line of vision from +the eye strikes the surface of the water at an angle. +The result is that the surface of the water acts as +a reflector, exactly the same as when the line of +sight strikes a pane of glass."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that the sight is reflected just as +it is when you are outside of a house and try to +look into the window at an angle?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Exactly; that is one explanation. The other +is this: sea water is clear and transparent. By +looking down directly on the water, a dark object, +unless too far below the surface, will be noted for +the reason that it makes a change in the coloring +from the area surrounding it, and a cigar-shaped +object at fifty feet below, whether it should be +black or white, would quickly be detected," explained +the captain.</p> + +<p>"I remember that Lieutenant Winston, who has +flown across the channel many times, told me that +he could tell when he was nearing land, in a fog, +by sailing close to the water, even though the land +couldn't be seen. Do you know how he was able +to do that?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>"That is one of the simplest problems," replied +the captain. "The shallower the water the lighter +the appearance to an observer in an airship. As +the water grows deeper the color seems to grow +greener and bluer, the bluest being at the greatest +depth."</p> + +<p>The chaser was now under way, and described +a circle to the right. The captain, after saluting +the officer on the bridge of <i>l'Orient</i>, gave the signal +"Forward," and slowly the submarine sheered +about and followed.</p> + +<p>The second line of buoys appeared a quarter of +a mile to the east of the one they had just left. In +a half-hour the two vessels passed through the +gateway and turned to the north.</p> + +<p>"We can't be very far from England," remarked +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"I judge we are fifteen miles from Dover," replied +the captain.</p> + +<p>"Do you intend to go to Dover?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"No; there are no stations there that can receive +crafts of this kind. I do not know to what +point they may take us; possibly to the mouth of +the Thames, and from there to some point where +the vessel will be interned," answered the captain.</p> + +<p>"How deep is the channel here?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Probably not to exceed 120 feet," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Not more than that in the middle of the Channel,—half +way between England and France?" +asked Alfred in surprise.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>"No; the Channel is very shallow," answered +the captain.</p> + +<p>"No wonder then," said Alfred, "that the submarines +are having such a hard time getting +through, even though they don't have the nets!"</p> + +<p>Having passed the cordon of nets the chaser +turned and slowly steamed past the submarine. +The lieutenant stepped to the side of the bridge +and said:</p> + +<p>"I suppose, Captain, you can now make the pier-head +at Ramsgate, where you will get a ship to +convoy you to the harbor. Good luck to you! +Adieu!"</p> + +<p>The boys waved their caps in salute, as the +chaser began to move, and the crew lined up to +give the final goodbye.</p> + +<p>The captain smiled and replied: "I think I have +ample assistance on board; give my regards to the +admiral."</p> + +<p>"How far is it to Ramsgate?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"It cannot be more than twenty-five miles, and +at the rate we are now going we should reach the +head at five this evening. That will be the end of +our troubles, as the naval officials will take care +of this vessel from that point," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"Well, I shall be glad of it," replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>It was a glorious day, the sun was shining +brightly, and the air, although somewhat cool, was +not at all disagreeable. The boys insisted on taking +their turns at the wheel, the course being given +by the captain as west by north. Everything was +moving along in fine shape, and Alfred was at the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>wheel, while Ralph was peering through the periscope, +for this interested them +from the moment they boarded +the ship.</p> + +<p>"Where is that steamer +bound?" asked Ralph, who noticed +a large two-funnel steamer +crossing the field of the periscope.</p> + +<p>"It belongs to the Australian +line," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"Aren't we in the barred +zone?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"I was about to remark a +moment ago that it does not seem +as though the German edict of a +restricted zone makes much difference +in the sailing of vessels," +replied the captain.</p> + +<p>While speaking, the submarine +seemed to slow down, and the +captain turned toward the conning +tower. "I wonder what is +up now?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Alfred's head appeared at the +door and shouted: "They don't +seem to answer my signals."</p> + +<p>The captain entered the tower, +and pulled the lever, <i>Attention!</i> +There was no response to the +signal below the word. He again rang, with the +same result.</p> + +<a name="imagep137" id="imagep137"></a> + +<div class="imgr" style="width: 15%;"> +<a href="images/imagep137.png"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep137.png" width="80%" alt="The Periscope" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>The Periscope</i><span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p> +</div> + +<p>"I will open the hatch," said the captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>It was quickly swung open. The sub-lieutenant +appeared at the hatch with haggard face and staring +eyes. "The captain has gone mad!" he +shouted.</p> + +<p>"I will go down if you want me to; I am not +afraid," said Ralph.</p> + +<p>The captain looked at him for a moment, and +glanced down into the hatchway. "Why do you +not obey my signals?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The sub-lieutenant stared at the captain, but +did not make a reply. "Answer my question!" +shouted the captain.</p> + +<p>The officer raised his face, threw up his hands, +and fell back across the low railing, which served +as a guard at the foot of the stairs.</p> + +<p>"You may go down, and ascertain what is the +matter, but use caution," said the captain.</p> + +<p>Ralph stepped into the open hatch, and, as he +did so, the captain laid his hand on his shoulder, +and said: "Take out your revolver; do not trust +those men for a moment, under any consideration; +we know them too well."</p> + +<p>Ralph quickly drew the weapon and held it in his +hand, then cautiously descended. He passed the +inert form of the officer on the rail, and not until he +reached the last step did he see the doctor and the +chief machinist by the side of the dynamo.</p> + +<p>The doctor held a revolver, which he pointed +straight at Ralph. "Drop that revolver!" +shouted the doctor. "The lieutenant is dead, and +the time fuse will soon send this ship to the bottom."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>The moment he saw the revolver and heard the +voice, Ralph dropped behind the stanchions to +which the stairway was attached. The doctor's revolver +was fired. Instantly the captain divined the +cause. Without waiting for a warning cry from +Ralph, he leaped into the open hatch, and saw the +two men with their weapons. He covered them +with his revolver.</p> + +<p>"Come up!" he shouted to Ralph.</p> + +<p>The latter raised up from his crouching position, +with his revolver now leveled full in the faces of +the two frenzied men. Before Ralph had reached +the upper step both men in the hold fired, fortunately, +without doing any damage.</p> + +<p>The moment Ralph gained the deck the captain +jumped out of the hatch and slammed it down.</p> + +<p>"Now, quickly, boys; tie this rope to the railing +close to the periscope tube, and arm yourself with +the life preservers; there, you will find them under +that couch," said the captain, as he quickly threw +back the cover from the couch and handed out four +preservers.</p> + +<p>"Why do you want four?" asked Ralph, as he +hastily buckled one of them around himself.</p> + +<p>"To attach to the end of the line that you have +just fastened to the rail," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>The captain sprang out through the open door, +and attached one of the life belts to the end of the +line. The boys now noticed the coil of rope, which +must have been more than a hundred feet in length.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what that is for?" asked Alfred, as +the captain disappeared.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>"There," said the captain, as he again appeared +at the door. "If she goes down that preserver will +tell them where to fish for her."</p> + +<p>"Do you think there is any danger?" asked +Ralph.</p> + +<p>"I do not know; I am not taking any chances. +I have my opinion, though," replied the captain +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Do you think they are going to blow up the vessel?" +asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"No; but I am inclined to think that they have +not been able to disconnect the automatic fuse, +or, that the death of the lieutenant, if such should +be the case, has prevented them from finding the +secret key, and,——"</p> + +<p>"That the sub-lieutenant has actually gone +mad," interrupted Ralph.</p> + +<p>The captain nodded, and continued: "Although +they deserve death, still, I am not a barbarian, and +shall give them a chance for their lives," and, saying +this, he moved through the door, and, sighting +a large steamer, gave a signal. Once, twice, three +times he moved the flag from right to left. Almost +immediately there was a response and two short +whistles responded.</p> + +<p>Before the great ship had time to stop, the forward +end of the submarine moved upward with +a violent heave, followed by an explosion that +seemed to tear everything to pieces. Ralph was +thrown clear of the top, and landed fully twenty +feet from the side of the hull. Alfred and the captain +seemed to be propelled to the stern of the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>ship and dashed into the waves at least fifty feet +from the spot where Ralph had landed.</p> + +<p>Ralph did not appear to be even stunned, but +Alfred's head dropped lifeless on the side of the +life preserver, and the captain was prompt to +reach his side and support him so that his head +was kept free from the water.</p> + +<p>Ralph was bewildered at the suddenness of the +affair, and, while splashing in the water, glanced +first at the captain and Alfred, and then swung +around to get a view of the big ship, which they +had signalled. The submarine had vanished. The +sea around appeared to be a mass of bubbles, and +he could plainly see the petroleum which was oozing +up.</p> + +<p>Nothing was visible where the submarine floated +but a single belt,—the life preserver which the captain +had used as a buoy, to mark the location of the +sunken vessel.</p> + +<br /> +<br /><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h2>THE RESCUE IN THE CHANNEL</h2> +<br /> + +<p>"The boat is on the way," shouted the captain, +as Ralph tried to direct himself toward the captain +and Alfred.</p> + +<p>"We were just in time," said Ralph. "How is +Alfred?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Only stunned," replied the captain. "I think +he hit the conning tower as the vessel up-ended."</p> + +<p>"Poor fellows," said Ralph, "I suppose it's all +up with them."</p> + +<p>"They are gone beyond all help. But we did +the best we could," answered the captain. "Here, +take this fellow first," continued the captain, addressing +the officer in charge of the boat.</p> + +<p>The boys were soon dragged in, and the officer +gazed at the captain most earnestly, as he said: +"Why, Captain, we heard just before we left the +dock about you and two boys capturing a submarine; +was that the submarine? What has happened?"</p> + +<p>"That is a long story, but you shall hear it as +soon as we get aboard. Where are you bound?" +asked the captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>"For the Mediterranean," replied the officer.</p> + +<p>"Where is your first port?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"Havre," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't be better," replied the captain. +"Ah! I see Alfred is coming around all right."</p> + +<p>"He seems to be breathing all right now," said +Ralph.</p> + +<p>"So they heard about our exploit?" asked the +captain.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes; the papers made quite an item about +it; I think we have a copy on board," replied the +officer.</p> + +<p>As the boys ascended the ship's ladder they saw +two torpedo boat destroyers crowd up alongside +the ship. The captain leaned over the taff-rail and +said:</p> + +<p>"The buoy yonder marks the resting place of +the U-96, late in the service of the Imperial German +Navy. Please report same, with my compliments."</p> + +<p>Alfred was taken aboard and the ship's doctor +was soon in attendance. Every one crowded +around and the names of the boys and the captain +were soon known to all the passengers. The <i>Evening +Mail</i> gave the most interesting account of the +affair, and Ralph read and re-read the item.</p> + +<p>An hour afterwards, when everything had time +to quiet down, and Alfred had recovered sufficiently +to sit up, Ralph drew out the newspaper, +and, to the surprise of Alfred, read the following:</p> + +<br /> +<p class="cen">"AN EXTRAORDINARY FEAT<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +<br /> +"A SUBMARINE CAPTURED BY THREE PRISONERS</p> +<br /> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The war is a never-ending series of startling +and remarkable events, the latest being the capture +of a German submarine by the captain of one of +the transatlantic liners and two American boys +who were passengers on the captain's ship when +she was torpedoed. The commander of the submarine +took the captain and the two boys from +the boat in which they had sought refuge, after +their vessel went down in the Bay of Biscay.</p> + +<p>"It was learned from the first officer of one of +the torpedo-boats that the submarine while on its +way to Germany was caught in the nets in mid-channel. +While trying to disentangle itself, the +chief officer of the submarine met with an accident, +and, taking advantage of the situation, the +captain and his two boy companions, having found +a case of revolvers, held up the second officer and +the crew, and imprisoned them below.</p> + +<p>"They are now bringing the submarine to England, +and we hope to be able to give more details +tomorrow."</p></div> + +<p>"There, what do you think of that?" ejaculated +Ralph.</p> + +<p>Alfred smiled, but a shadow came over his face, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>as he looked at Ralph. The latter, seeing the +change, jumped up, and cried: "Are you sick?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Alfred wearily; "but I have been +thinking of father and mother; I had a dream that +I saw them standing on a dock; I wonder where +they are?"</p> + +<p>"I have some interesting news for you," said +the captain, as he entered the cabin, holding a +French paper in his hand.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked the boys in unison.</p> + +<p>"Boats three, four and five of our ship have +reached port all right," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"Have you heard about No. 1?" asked Alfred, +as he leaned forward, and anxiously awaited the +reply.</p> + +<p>"No; but it is likely that the other boats may +have been picked up by a west bound vessel, and it +is not time yet to hear from the other side," replied +the captain.</p> + +<p>"But do you think they are safe?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"I do not see that they were in any great danger, +as there was calm weather for at least forty-eight +hours after the ship went down," answered +the captain. "I understand that all but three of +the boats have been accounted for."</p> + +<p>"Have the submarines been doing much damage?" +asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Yes; they have sunk a great many ships," was +the answer.</p> + +<p>"Any American ships?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"No; but a number of Americans have lost their +lives on vessels that have been sunk."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>"Where are we going?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"To Havre," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't worry about father and mother +now," said Ralph soothingly.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed; the boats were perfectly safe, and +I have no doubt but we shall hear from them by the +time we reach port," reassured the captain.</p> + +<p>Ralph waited until Alfred dropped off to sleep, +and then strolled up on deck and mixed with the +passengers. He was kept busy telling them about +the terrible hours on board the submarine, until he +was tired and sleepy. Then he wended his way to +the cabin and was soon asleep.</p> + +<p>The distance from the point where they boarded +the ship to Havre was about two hundred miles. +Ordinarily, they would have reached port at six in +the morning, but the route during the night was a +slow and tedious one, for the reason that all +ships along the channel route were permitted to +pass only during certain hours when the war vessels +acted as guides and convoys through the open +lane.</p> + +<p>Once near the zone of the nets no lights were +permitted, and each ship had to be taken through +by special vessels designated for this work, and, +when once clear of the nets, extra precautions were +taken to convoy them to relative points of safety +beyond.</p> + +<p>When Ralph awoke the next morning, and saw +that it was past six, he hurriedly dressed himself, +and, taking a look at Alfred, who was quietly sleeping, +ascended the deck. He was surprised to see +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>nothing but the open sea on all sides. Addressing +a seaman, he asked:</p> + +<p>"Haven't we reached Havre yet?"</p> + +<p>"No; we may not get there until nine o'clock. +We have had reports of many submarines in the +mouth of the channel, and they are, probably, lying +in wait to intercept steamers going to or coming +from Havre," replied the man.</p> + +<p>Pacing the deck he found many of the passengers +excited at the news, although it was the policy +of the officers to keep the most alarming information +from them. Meeting the second officer he inquired +about the captain, and was informed that +he had just gone down to see Alfred. Nearing the +companionway he met the captain and Alfred, the +latter looking somewhat pale, and rather weak or +unsteady in his walk.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see you looking so well," said +Ralph. "Where are you hurt the most?"</p> + +<p>"Look at the back of my head," replied Alfred. +"I suppose I must have struck the railing as the +thing heaved up."</p> + +<p>The captain suddenly sprang forward and the +boys followed in wonderment. Before they had +time to ask any questions they were startled by a +shot.</p> + +<p>"That was a pretty big gun to make such a +racket," remarked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"It's one of the four-inch forward guns," said +a seaman, standing near.</p> + +<p>"But what are they shooting at?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Submarine, I suppose," was the reply.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>"But where?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Don't know; haven't seen one; but I suppose +the lookouts spotted the fellow," was the reply.</p> + +<p>Every one now crowded forward, and gazed in +the direction of the pointed glasses in the hands of +the officers. In the distance nothing was visible +but the conning tower and the two periscope tubes, +but that was enough.</p> + + +<div class="img"><a name="imagep148" id="imagep148"></a> +<a href="images/imagep148.png"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep148.png" width="55%" alt="The Conning Tower" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>The Conning Tower, All That Could Be Seen of the Submarine</i><span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p> +</div> + +<p>The boys moved forward, and the captain noticing +them, spoke a word to the commander on +the bridge.</p> + +<p>"Come up, boys," said the captain.</p> + +<p>Once on the bridge the captain said: "I take +pleasure in introducing my companions on our <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>little +jaunt; they are brave fellows, and are made of +the right kind of stuff. I think you will hear from +them if America gets into the fight."</p> + +<p>"And America is bound to get in, for we have +just learned that the first American ship has been +sunk without warning," said the navigating officer, +as he pressed the hands of the boys.</p> + +<p>The captain took up the receiver, which communicated +with the topmast. After listening +awhile, he turned to the group and said: "The sub +has disappeared."</p> + +<p>"That will mean an interesting time for us," +said the captain. "I have had the same experience, +but was not fortunate enough to be armed +when they attacked us. Are all the vessels from +England now armed?" he asked the captain commanding +the vessel.</p> + +<p>"Yes; fore and aft. We have found that but a +small percentage of armed vessels have been sunk, +and those which have guns at both ends are surely +doubly armed," answered the commander.</p> + +<p>The boom of the guns had brought every passenger +on deck. The officers could not conceal the +real state of affairs, but there was no sign of a +panic. The officers did not even take the precaution +to warn the passengers that they should apply +or keep the life belts close at hand.</p> + +<p>"That is the policy I suggested from the first," +said the captain. "That boat must have been +three miles away, at least, and a careful gunner +would come pretty close to hitting the mark at +that distance, and those fellows know it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>"Then why do you think the interesting or dangerous +time is now coming?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Because the safety of the ship now depends on +the ability of the observers to report the moment +a periscope appears in sight. If the submarine is +close enough to fire a torpedo, it is near enough to +be a fine target for the gunners aboard, and, as the +submarine would not be likely to attempt a shot +unless it had a broadside to aim at, you can see +that such a position would expose her to the fire +of the guns both fore and aft," responded the captain.</p> + +<br /> +<br /><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h2>TEN HOURS IN THE DANGER ZONE</h2> +<br /> + +<p>"What do you make the reckoning?" asked the +captain, as the navigating officer lowered his instrument, +and turned to the book.</p> + +<p>"Fifty, ten north," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"On the line?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"Twelve minutes east," answered the officer.</p> + +<p>"Then we are forty miles due north of Havre," +responded the captain.</p> + +<p>"What did you mean by being 'on the line?'" +asked Ralph, addressing the captain.</p> + +<p>"The zero line, or the point where all calculations +east and west are reckoned from, runs north +and south through Greenwich, in England, a place +a little east of London. We are about fifteen miles +east of that line," replied the captain, "and one +hundred and eighty miles south of London."</p> + +<p>But all were now interested in the further developments +which might be expected. The wireless +was constantly receiving messages, and occasionally +the commander received messages which +were, evidently, interesting reading, judging from +the comments made. Most of the information related +to the activities of the undersea boats, and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>only in that region where they were now approaching.</p> + +<p>The vessel was proceeding slowly, when suddenly +the officer in the crow's nest sent down a +signal that vitalized the gunners. The guns swung +around instantly. Away off to starboard was the +faintest ripple, for the water was comparatively +smooth.</p> + +<p>Two shots rang out almost simultaneously from +the fore and aft guns. It was a thrilling sight to +see the streaks of glistening water, which the two +shells brought up to be reflected by the brilliant +sun. A shout from the gunner at the bow caused +a chorus of answering shouts.</p> + +<p>"Did they hit it?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Well, there is one less periscope, if I know anything," +replied the navigating officer.</p> + +<p>Ralph had descended the stairs leading down +from the bridge, and quickly made his way to the +bow.</p> + +<p>"I want to congratulate you on that shot," he +said, as he approached.</p> + +<p>The gunner, with glowing face, turned, and, +seeing Ralph, replied: "Thank you, lad! Coming +from you it's a compliment. Lor', but we like to +spot 'em."</p> + +<p>"That fellow's as good as useless," remarked +the officer in charge.</p> + +<p>"But suppose the submarine has any torpedoes +left?" queried Ralph.</p> + +<p>"That wouldn't do him any good; he would have +to use that to sight by," replied the officer.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>"Yes; I can see that now," replied Ralph. "If +he came to the top in order to fire the torpedo he +wouldn't last very long with these guns pointing +at him."</p> + +<p>As Ralph was ascending the stairway leading +to the bridge on his return a half-hour later, the +watch shouted out a warning: "Five points to +starboard!"</p> + +<p>Every one was now keyed up to the highest +pitch. The guns were quickly swung to the angle +indicated, and another tense moment arrived.</p> + +<p>The captain walked over to the commander, and +said: "It seems to me that the best policy is to +bear down on him with all speed possible. That +will give the gunners the best chance, and at the +same time present the smallest target for the submarine."</p> + +<p>The commander nodded and gave the necessary +order, but before the helmsman had time to execute +the turning movement the forward gun was +heard, quickly followed by the second gun. The +aft gun also responded, making three shots that +were fired, striking the water in such close proximity +to each other that the aim must have been +very accurate.</p> + +<p>"Gunners from the Royal Navy," remarked the +captain, as he lowered his glasses. "And they +have hit the mark."</p> + +<p>"Do you think so?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"I am sure of it, for this reason," said the captain, +as the officers on the bridge crowded around; +"neither of the periscopes is visible, and I can +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>plainly see the boiling that follows a sinking submarine."</p> + +<p>The ship was now at full speed, sailing directly +over the course where the submarine was sighted. +It did not take long for the vessel to cover the +mile, and, as they neared the tell-tale spot, the +ship was veered slightly out of its course, so that +a good view could be obtained of the surface of +the water.</p> + +<p>"How deep do you suppose that submarine is +now?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"It is in less than two hundred feet of water; +see, the air bubbles are still coming up, although +it went down fully fifteen minutes ago."</p> + +<p>The steamer slowed down as it came abreast, +and the passengers leaned over the side in intense +excitement, watching the signs which indicated the +death of another sea terror. Even while they were +watching one immense boiling zone appeared and +settled down, indicating that another air tank had +given way, or that the pressure of the sea water +had forced the air from one of the innumerable +pockets in the interior of the submarine.</p> + +<p>Four bells indicated a resumption of the journey. +The great funnels began to pour forth smoke +in immense volumes, and the ship fairly shook with +the revolutions of the twin screws.</p> + +<p>"So we are going directly south," said Ralph, +who had just examined the compass, and started +for the stairway.</p> + +<p>"There will be no let-up now," remarked the +captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>Every one understood that forced draught +would now be resorted to, both to avoid the likelihood +of being torpedoed, and also to enable the +ship to reach port at the earliest possible moment. +The <i>St. Duneen</i>, although a twin-screw vessel, was +not of more than 5,000 tons burden, having been +built as a mail carrier for distant ports, in which +speed was regarded as the important element in +her construction.</p> + +<p>As the commander remarked to the captain, +after the latter reached the bridge, he felt sure that +the speed alone, which he was able to make in an +emergency, would baffle any attempt to reach his +hull. It seemed so, for the vessel fairly skimmed +the surface of the water, and left a trail which +could be marked for miles.</p> + +<p>Every one felt happy, and there was a feeling +of security aboard that was shared by every one. +Luncheon was announced, and the boys were descending +the stairway leading to the cabin, when +they felt a peculiar sensation. They were thrown +down the steps, taking with them several women +and children, who were alongside.</p> + +<p>No sooner had they landed at the bottom, when +the most terrific crash was heard.</p> + +<p>"Submarine!" shrieked a voice.</p> + +<p>The sensation of the oscillating movement of the +vessel was a sickening one. The dining room was +half-filled with women, children and men.</p> + +<p>"To your cabins at once; life belts as quickly as +possible!" shouted an officer. "The men must aid +the women and children. Do not become excited."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>This warning had a marked effect; it restored +the confidence which had been so rudely shocked. +Ralph and Alfred sprang for the closets where the +life preservers were kept, and threw them out on +the floor as fast as they could grasp them. They +caught up one child after the other, and, without +heeding the resistance which some offered, adjusted +the belts, and, as fast as this was done, they +assisted in pushing the children toward the companionway.</p> + + +<div class="img"><a name="imagep156" id="imagep156"></a> +<a href="images/imagep156.png"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep156.png" width="45%" alt="A Contact Mine" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>A Contact Mine</i><span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p> +</div> + +<p>The ship was slowly sinking to one side. The +angle was very perceptible, and especially noticed +as the boys reached the stairway, for it was found +to be impossible to ascend by the starboard stairs. +This made it more difficult to get the people out +of the crowded rooms below.</p> + +<p>"Don't get excited!" shouted the officer from +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>the head of the stairs. "We can all clear the ship +safely before she goes down."</p> + +<p>As fast as the passengers reached the deck, officers +were present to direct them to the most advantageous +boats, but no orders were given to man +the boats. The bow of the ship had gone down, +and she was now lying at a considerable angle, but +it was evident that there was considerable buoyancy +in the vessel, and that there was no immediate +danger.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure that all are out of the cabins?" +asked the captain, as one of the porters appeared +at the end of the passageway.</p> + +<p>"We might as well take a look," said Alfred, +as he rushed toward the port passage.</p> + +<p>"I will go through the other passageway and +meet you at the aft stairway," said Ralph, as he +darted toward the gangway leading along the right +side of the ship.</p> + +<p>Alfred diligently opened every door and glanced +about; he was not long in reaching the aft stairway +area, and waited for some minutes for Ralph +to appear. As he was crossing the open space between +the two passageways, he heard a shriek, +followed by piercing screams, evidently from the +port passage.</p> + +<p>Directed by the sounds he sprang from door to +door, and soon detected a terrific struggle. +"Help! help! I am being murdered!" was the +cry.</p> + +<p>At the door of a cabin Alfred saw two forms, +one the woman, and the other Ralph in a fierce +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>struggle, the woman with her arms around the +post, which extended upward from the floor at +the side of the cabin couch. She defied every effort +on the part of Ralph. Alfred seized her +hands, gradually loosened them, and when they +had succeeded in freeing her, she dropped down, +completely exhausted, threw her head to one side, +and swooned.</p> + +<p>This greatly facilitated her removal. The boys +dragged her along the passageway, and, nearing +the stairs, noticed a peculiar sound, something like +a muffled explosion, followed by a sudden lurch +of the ship, which destroyed their balance so that +they were compelled to drop their burden.</p> + +<p>"What can that be?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Seems as though we have been hit the second +time," replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Oh! here you are!" shouted the captain, as he +rushed down the stairway, followed by an officer.</p> + +<p>"What was that?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"A bulkhead has just given way," replied the +captain.</p> + +<p>"Then we are bound to go down," said Alfred +with a sigh. "We must get her up before she +comes to."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but we'll try to save her," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>The ship was slowly sinking. The motion of a +vessel as it loses its buoyancy gives a most peculiar +feeling to those on board, independently of the +knowledge that danger is lurking very near. The +sinking motion is not a smooth and steady going +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>down, but the movement is accompanied by successive +throbs, as it seems,—it almost appears as +though the ship were a living thing, sobbing away, +until the final plunge takes place.</p> + +<p>Aided by the captain and the officer, the woman +was quickly brought to the deck, where it was +learned that her husband had lost his life on a torpedoed +vessel a month before. She opened her +eyes as they were placing her in the boat, and instantly +recognized Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Did I resist and try to injure you?" she asked. +"Forgive me!" she said pleadingly. "But I have +had so much trouble. You must be a brave boy to +act as you did."</p> + +<p>"Don't mind that for a minute," replied Ralph. +"We were bound to get you out; we didn't think +of anything else."</p> + +<p>"Come on, boys; take the boat at the next +davit," said the captain. "I will be with you in +a moment."</p> + +<p>The boys entered the little dory and sat down. +The navigating officer was the last one to step in. +He stood there with his instruments in his hands, +and cast a gloomy look along the deck. "Too bad, +too bad!" he said reflectively.</p> + +<p>"Say, Ralph, I have an idea that we are hoodoos!" +said Alfred, with a serious air.</p> + +<p>"Who is a hoodoo?" asked the captain, approaching +and overhearing the conversation.</p> + +<p>"Hoodoo, nothing!" answered Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Well, it begins to look like it," responded Alfred. +"There is some sort of deviltry around +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>wherever we have happened to be ever since the +war began."</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the gravity of the situation, the +captain could not repress a smile, which he quickly +suppressed, as he answered:</p> + +<p>"Then what would you call me? They have +sunk four ships under me by torpedoes, and one by +a mine. You have seen and experienced some of +the other adventures I have had within the past +ten days, and now this is another vessel to go +down under me on account of a mine," said the +captain.</p> + +<p>"A mine! a mine, did you say?" almost shrieked +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Yes; one of the floating mines that the Germans +are strewing about in open defiance of all +the laws," answered the captain with a bitter +voice.</p> + +<br /> +<br /><a name="XV" id="XV"></a> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h2>A FRIGHTFUL MINE EXPLOSION</h2> +<br /> + +<p>The order was given. There was no hope for +the ship. "Lower the boats!" Everything was +done with precision and in order, indicating that +there was no panic on shipboard. Up to the last +moment the wireless S. O. S., <i>St. Duneen</i>, 48, 50 +N., 10 E., repeated and repeated the message of +the disaster.</p> + +<p>At a signal the wireless operator obeyed the +commander's orders, and emerged from the little +room high up aft of the main stacks. He sprang +into the boat, as it was moving down.</p> + +<p>"Pull away! pull away!" shouted the commander, +as the boats reached the surface of the +water. The order and its execution did not come +too soon. Like a giant, in a death struggle, there +were a few spasmodic movements, and more pronounced +ones as the bulkheads gave way.</p> + +<p>They were fully two hundred feet from the ship, +when suddenly it seemed to roll around half-way, +and they could look over the entire deck, so fully +was it exposed to those on board of the dory in +which the boys had taken refuge.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>The vessel rested on its side for a moment only, +then it slowly staggered back, the bow quickly +dipped, and failed to come back again. Then it +seemed actually to slide forward into the depths, +the stern rising higher and higher, as the bow +moved under. More than fifty feet of the stern +of the ship was still out of the water, when a peculiar +thing happened. The hull ceased to move. +It remained at an angle in the air for a quarter of +a minute, while every one stared at it in silence.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with it?" asked Alfred, +who was the first to break the silence.</p> + +<p>"The bow is on the bottom of the ocean," said +the captain.</p> + +<p>That was, indeed, true. Soon it began to sink, +by falling back, and it quietly sank beneath the +waves, leaving scarcely a ripple above the surface.</p> + +<p>"That would have been different if she had been +struck amidship, for the hull would have gone +down on an even keel," remarked the commander.</p> + +<p>The nine boats were now afloat near each other. +In the distance could be seen smoke in two directions, +evidence that vessels were not far away. +Then, almost like an apparition, from the east +came two of the speedy little ships, which act like +spit-fires and lie so low in the water that they are +able to creep up unawares. They do not give forth +any smoke to warn an enemy, or indicate their +presence to friends.</p> + +<p>Long before the ships, which had announced +their positions by the smoke on the horizon, came +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>into sight, the saucy chasers were sailing around +and about the fleet of <i>St. Duneen's</i> boats.</p> + +<p>"It rather makes me feel good to think that we +didn't get caught by either of the submarines," +said Alfred. "I would hate to give them that satisfaction."</p> + +<p>"But what's the difference, after all?" replied +Ralph. "So long as they sink the ships, what matter +does it make whether they do it by mines or +submarines?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; one is as bad as the other, both done +against all law," answered Alfred.</p> + +<p>The first boat to answer the signal was a French +cruiser, which came up rapidly after the chasers +arrived. There was ample room on board for the +passengers, but it took fully an hour before all +were safe on board and orders were given to start. +As the cruiser turned, a great, gray British battleship +came up to port, saluted, and passed on, +followed by another far in the distance, those two +great vessels with their black smoke trailing out +in the distance and moving along majestically +seeming to be the acme of power.</p> + +<p>The boys were on the upper deck and watched +the scene with admiration. Before the cruiser had +proceeded far the smoke of more than a dozen +ships were visible, and the boys could not help +but be impressed at the tremendous power of the +Allies on the water, notwithstanding the calamity +which had just befallen their ship. After all, the +ships had been sunk by an enemy which dared not +show his face above the surface of the water.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>"Submarine sunk near the harbor of Brest and +one off Cherburg," was the startling announcement +of the wireless operator. "Five American +ships have arrived at the Loire," was another message. +"America is aflame with excitement, and +demands action," came later.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible that the United States will go to +war?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"The United States is now at war," replied the +captain.</p> + +<p>"What? do you mean to say that the President +has declared war?" asked Alfred in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"No; it is not necessary that America should +declare war. Germany has done so by torpedoing +your ships, and killing your citizens; that is an act +of war; for every nation, and Germany itself, +knows that its submarine war is illegal, and without +any standing in International Law. It is no +justification to say that to give notice makes it +legal. If a man wished to commit murder it would +not make him less a murderer if he had given notice +of his intention beforehand," said the captain.</p> + +<p>"Then I'm not going back to New York," said +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"Nor I; we've been in it from the first, and we +might as well stick it out;—if I only knew that +mother was safe," concluded Ralph with a shadow +across his face.</p> + +<p>Within an hour the boys saw a faint streak of +peculiar gray to the left, far ahead.</p> + +<p>"That must be land," said Alfred.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>"And that looks like a town, away in the distance," +remarked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"You are right; that is the coast of France, +and the houses you see belong to the town of +Fècamp, a seaport and watering place, 22 miles +from Havre," said the navigating officer.</p> + +<p>Every minute brought them nearer the city of +Havre. How they longed to hear some news of +their parents, now that all excitement had died +away, and they were permitted to think of home +and those dear to them.</p> + +<p>Vessels began to accumulate on all sides of them, +indications that they were now within the safety +zone. For a period of eight days they had not +known what absolute quiet and rest meant. First, +the terrible suspense within the hull of a submarine, +the trying experience attending the capture +of the vessel, the unquiet feeling that they had +desperate men below who might do anything to +gain their liberty, the explosion and sinking of the +submarine, their rescue, and then the last sinking, +seemed to form a chapter of misadventures which +constantly kept them on the alert.</p> + +<p>It was such a different feeling now, and, as such +things generally do, caused a reaction. They actually +felt ill, and Alfred, especially, after the last +accident, felt too weak to remain on deck.</p> + +<p>They retired to the cabin assigned to them in +the officers' quarters, and were soon asleep. The +captain, missing them, made a search and soon +found them. He smiled, and, turning to the officers, +said:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>"They are fine fellows; the experiences have +been most trying, and would test the mettle of +most men; but they went through with it, obeyed +all orders, without asking why, and never showed +the white feather."</p> + +<p>"Who are they?" asked one of the cruiser's officers.</p> + +<p>"American boys, caught in the war, where they +helped the fighting until two months ago, and were +just returning to the United States on my ship. +That is how I happened to meet them and learned +to love them," replied the captain with pride in +his voice.</p> + +<p>As they were leaving the cabin, Alfred awoke. +"Are we near Havre?" he asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"We are now turning the point; we expect to +reach the dock in a half-hour," answered the officer.</p> + +<p>Every one crowded the rails and watched the +ever-changing panorama, for Havre is the second +seaport in France, has the largest foreign trade, +especially with America, and is noted for its great +docks, and ship-building facilities.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah for the Stars and Stripes!" shouted +Ralph, as he pointed to the banner above the mast +on a ship, which was just being warped out of the +dock.</p> + +<p>The passengers, as well as officers and seamen +of the cruiser, took off their hats and cheered. +Ralph blushed at the hearty response, but he knew +that it was a tribute which they were paying to +America, about to become a new ally. The seamen +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>on board the American ship gave a hearty response +to the salute, and this swelled the pride of +the boys beyond measure.</p> + +<p>How slowly the ship moved, now that they were +nearing the end of their journey from the perils of +the sea. How anxiously they awaited the time +they could step ashore and visit the consul's office, +there to learn, if possible, the fate of their parents.</p> + +<p>"They are going to take us to the main foreign +dock," said the captain, as he approached. "And +I want to say that you must not get away from me +in your eagerness. There are some people who +want to talk to you and tell you how they appreciate +your bravery and good work."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Captain," said Alfred. "We had +no cause to fear, as long as you commanded."</p> + +<p>"Indeed not," chimed in Ralph. "Even if we +knew other perils that might come to us, we would +be glad to follow you again wherever you ordered +us to go; that's the way we feel about it."</p> + +<p>"That is, indeed, a compliment," replied the +captain.</p> + +<p>"We have never felt the slightest fear or doubt," +said Alfred, "but, of course, we have been sad +many times, to think that our parents were separated +from us, after we had not seen them for over +two years."</p> + +<p>"There is the dock. We will be off within fifteen +minutes now. You must allow me to conduct +you to the consul's office; I know him very well," +said the captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>As the vessel touched the dock the captain +turned to the boys, and said with a wicked grin on +his face: "Get your luggage, boys, and come on."</p> + +<p>The boys laughed at the remark. "For my +part," answered Ralph, "I had forgotten that +there was such a thing as luggage, or baggage, or +anything of that sort."</p> + +<p>"Ralph! Ralph! who is that coming across the +dock? Look! it is just like father! I believe it +is!" almost shrieked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"It is! yes; I am sure of it; and there is mother, +too," replied Ralph, now all excitement.</p> + +<p>"Of course, they are there; I knew it; I told you +it would be all right," said the captain with a jubilant +voice.</p> + +<p>The boys glanced at the captain, and Ralph +turned his head slyly, as he said: "And did you +know they were here?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I think they got my message this morning," +replied the captain with a laugh. "Where is +your father; point him out," said the captain to +Alfred.</p> + +<p>"The tall man with the gray overcoat; do you +see him coming?—and there is mother, too," +shouted Alfred.</p> + +<p>The boys were the first ones down the plank, +closely followed by the captain, the passengers +standing by and witnessing the reunion of the +families.</p> + +<p>The captain came forward and shook hands with +Mr. Elton. "Thank you for the wireless; we had +about despaired, when it came to the hotel."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>"I didn't tell the boys," replied the captain. "I +left that pleasure for their own eyes; and here are +the mothers; how I must congratulate you on having +such sons. I know their worth."</p> + +<p>"And is it true what they say about your doings +with our boys, that you captured the submarine, +while it was under the water?" asked Mrs. Elton.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that was true, and much more," answered +the captain.</p> + +<p>"We felt so proud about it," replied Mr. Elton, +"and it was some compensation for having been +twice torpedoed within a week."</p> + +<p>"What? did you say that you were torpedoed +the second time?" asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Mr. Elton. "We were picked +up by a ship, the next morning, which was bound +for New York. Two days afterwards, when out +of the danger zone, our ship went down, and we +had to take to the boats. This time we were picked +up by a ship that landed us in Havre, three days +ago. Then we heard of your exploits, of which the +French papers were full, and we determined to +remain here until we heard from you."</p> + +<p>"But I cannot understand how it was that the +captain happened to reach you by wireless?" +asked Ralph.</p> + +<p>"The cruiser wireless telegraphed the fact of +our rescue to the U. S. consul, and I wired the +commander of the cruiser," replied Mr. Elton.</p> + +<p>"I answered Mr. Elton's message," said the +captain with a smile. "But are you going back to +America now?" continued the captain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>"Why, what has happened?" asked Alfred.</p> + +<p>"America is at war with Germany," was the +reply.</p> + +<p>We shall now take leave of our young friends, +but we do so with the feeling that before long we +shall hear more about them, and be able to follow +their adventures enlisted under the banner of their +own beloved land in the fight against oppression +and savagery.</p> + +<br /> +<p class="cen">THE END</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h2>THE MOTION PICTURE COMRADES SERIES</h2> + +<h4>By ELMER TRACEY BARNES</h4> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<p>The object of these books is to place before the reader the unusual +experiences of a party of boys who succeed in filming a number of +interesting scenes.</p> + +<p>The stories are replete with striking incidents on land and sea, and +above all they describe with remarkable accuracy the methods employed to +obtain many of the wonderful pictures which may be seen on the screen. +screen.</p> + +<p class="cen"><b>The Motion Picture Comrades' Great Venture;<br /> +or, On the Road with the Big Round Top</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>The Motion Picture Comrades Through African Jungles;<br /> +or, The Camera Boys in Wild Animal Land</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>The Motion Picture Comrades Along the Orinoco;<br /> +or, Facing Perils in the Tropics</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>The Motion Picture Comrades Aboard a Submarine;<br /> +or, Searching for Treasure Under the Sea</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><i>12mo. Cloth</i> <i>50c per volume</i></p> + +<p class="cen">THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +201-213 EAST 12th STREET NEW YORK</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h2><a name="THE_HILLTOP_BOYS_SERIES" id="THE_HILLTOP_BOYS_SERIES"></a>THE HILLTOP BOYS SERIES</h2> + +<h4>By CYRIL BURLEIGH</h4> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<p class="cen"><b>The Hilltop Boys; A Story of School Life</b></p> + +<p>Jack Sheldon, a clean-minded and popular student in the academy, +gains the enmity of several of the boys, but their efforts to injure +him fail. A mystery, connected with Jack's earlier life, is used against +him, but he comes off with flying colors.</p> + +<p class="cen"><b>The Hilltop Boys in Camp; or, The Rebellion at the Academy</b></p> + +<p>A strange situation arises in which an airship figures as the bearer +of an important letter. The head-master acts without investigating +all the facts, but matters are all finally adjusted to the satisfaction of +all concerned.</p> + + +<p class="cen"><b>The Hilltop Boys on Lost Island; or, An Unusual Adventure</b></p> + +<p>The scene now shifts to the West Indies and Jack figures as the +hero of a daring rescue. Their experiences in tropical waters form +a most stirring narrative, and the young reader is assured of a tale of +gripping interest from first to last.</p> + + +<p class="cen"><b>The Hilltop Boys on the River</b></p> + +<p>The Doctor takes a number of the boys on a cruise up the Hudson. +An unlooked for incident finds Jack Sheldon equal to the occasion, +and what at one time promised to be a disastrous trip for all concerned +was turned into a complete victory for our young friends.</p> + +<p class="cen"><i>12mo. Cloth</i> <i>50c per volume</i></p> + +<p class="cen">THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +NEW YORK</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h2>THE MOUNTAIN BOYS SERIES</h2> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<p class="cen"><b>1. Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>2. Phil Bradley at the Wheel</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>3. Phil Bradley's Shooting Box</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>4. Phil Bradley's Snow-Shoe Trail</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>5. Phil Bradley's Winning Way</b></p> + +<br /> +<p class="cen"><b>By SILAS K. BOONE</b></p> +<br /> +<p>These books describe, with interesting detail, the experiences of a +party of boys among the mountain pines.</p> + +<p>They teach the young reader how to protect himself against the +elements, what to do and what to avoid, and above all to become +self-reliant and manly.</p> + +<p class="cen"><i>12mo. Cloth.</i> <i>50c per Volume, Postpaid</i></p> + +<p class="cen">THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +201 EAST 12th STREET NEW YORK</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h2>THE CAMPFIRE AND TRAIL SERIES</h2> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<p class="cen"><b>1. In Camp on the Big Sunflower</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>2. The Rivals of the Trail</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>3. The Strange Cabin on Catamount Island</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>4. Lost in the Great Dismal Swamp</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>5. With Trapper Jim in the North Woods</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>6. Caught in a Forest Fire</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>7. Chums of the Campfire</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>8. Afloat on the Flood</b></p> + +<p class="cen"><b>9. The Cruise of the Houseboat</b></p> +<br /> +<p class="cen"><b>By LAWRENCE J. LESLIE</b></p> +<br /> +<p>A series of wholesome stories for boys told in an interesting way and +appealing to their love of the open.</p> + +<p class="cen"><i>Each, 12mo. Cloth.</i> <i>50c per Volume</i></p> + +<p class="cen">THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +201 EAST 12th STREET NEW YORK</p> + +<div class="tr"> +<p class="cen"><a name="TN" id="TN"></a>Transcriber's Note</p> +<br /> +Typographical errors corrected in the text:<br /> +<br /> +Page 39 ofcer changed to officer<br /> +Page 46 possed changed to possessed<br /> +Page 73 missing word "get" inserted<br /> +Page 76 personnal changed to personnel<br /> +Page 77 personnal changed to personnel<br /> +Page 119 blow changed to below +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Volunteers with the Submarine +Fleet, by Kenneth Ward + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOY VOLUNTEERS--SUBMARINE FLEET *** + +***** This file should be named 27674-h.htm or 27674-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/6/7/27674/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Barbara Kosker and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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