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diff --git a/27674.txt b/27674.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ebf7bc --- /dev/null +++ b/27674.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5237 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + + + + + +THE BOY VOLUNTEERS SERIES + +By KENNETH WARD + +_12mo. Cloth. Fully Illustrated 50c per Volume_ + + +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. + +=The Boy Volunteers on the Belgian Front= + +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. + +=The Boy Volunteers with the French Airmen= + +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. + +=The Boy Volunteers with the British Artillery= + +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. + +=The Boy Volunteers with the Submarine Fleet= + +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. + +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + +PUBLISHERS NEW YORK + + + + +[Illustration: _An explosion followed that seemed to tear everything to +pieces._] + + + + + THE BOY VOLUNTEERS + WITH THE + SUBMARINE FLEET + + + BY + KENNETH WARD + + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + NEW YORK + + + Copyright, 1917, by + AMERICAN AUTHORS PUBLISHING CO. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. THE OMINOUS WARNING ON SHIPBOARD 13 + + II. THE TORPEDOED SHIP 25 + + III. PRISONERS ON BOARD OF A SUBMARINE 37 + + IV. THE TERRORS IN THE DARK ROOM OF AN UNDERSEA BOAT 49 + + V. SOME OF THE MYSTERIES OF A SUBMARINE 58 + + VI. GROPING THROUGH THE ENGLISH CHANNEL 68 + + VII. CAUGHT IN THE DEEP SEA NETS 78 + + VIII. THE NIGHT'S STRUGGLE TO FREE THE VESSEL 89 + + IX. THE CAPTURE OF THE SUBMERGED VESSEL 99 + + X. THE SECRET KEY TO THE BOMB FUSE 110 + + XI. OPERATING THE SUBMARINE WITH A CAPTIVE CREW 120 + + XII. THE DEATH BLOW TO THE SUBMARINE 130 + + XIII. THE RESCUE IN THE CHANNEL 142 + + XIV. TEN HOURS IN THE DANGER ZONE 151 + + XV. A FRIGHTFUL MINE EXPLOSION 161 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + _An Explosion Followed That Seemed to Tear + Everything to Pieces_ _Frontispiece_ + + PAGE + + _The Points of the Compass_ 27 + + _The Submarine Decoy_ 30 + + _Map Showing the Scene of the Wanderings of the Boys_ 43 + + _The Steel Nets_ 73 + + _The Entangled Submarine_ 95 + + _The Periscope_ 137 + + _The Conning Tower. All That Could Be Seen of + the Submarine_ 148 + + _A Contact Mine_ 156 + + + + THE BOY VOLUNTEERS + WITH THE + SUBMARINE FLEET + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE OMINOUS WARNING ON SHIPBOARD + + +"Submarine two points to starboard, sir!" shouted a voice. + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +"Can you see it?" asked Ralph excitedly. + +"No; but they are pointing to the right; it seems as though we are +turning around," responded Alfred. + +"So we are," said Ralph. "There! what is that?" shouted Ralph, as he +followed the direction pointed out by the second officer. + +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. + +"Wait till I get the glasses," said Alfred, as he dived for the main +companionway, and slid down the railing. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +Mr. Elton gazed intently, and turned to his wife, as he said: "I am +afraid that is a torpedo on the way now." + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +"There comes another one," said a voice. + +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. + +"Now, for the next one," said Alfred. + +"Ah! we are now too far ahead, and going too fast for them. Even if the +submarine comes to the surface it cannot possibly catch us," said the +navigating officer, who passed along and quieted the anxious ones. + +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. + + * * * * * + +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. + +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. + +They were fortunate enough, however, to reach French territory with the +bulk of the Belgian army, and arrived at Dunkirk, on the Channel, +during that period when the British were sending over the first forces +to resist the invasion of France. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 United States and Germany made +it probable that war would follow. + +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. + +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: + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"Oh, Ralph, isn't this terrible!" said his mother, as she came forward. + +"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. + +"I wouldn't be at all worried, Auntie," responded Alfred. "Here comes +mother; I hope she is not broken up or worried." + +"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." + +"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. + +"But I want you to come and stay with us," replied Mrs. Elton. + +"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." + +"Alfred is right," said Mr. Elton. "I will remain with you; but do not +be alarmed for the present." + +"Wait until I get my binoculars," said Ralph, as he rushed down to the +cabin. + +He was up at once, and together they ran forward to the bridge, as the +second officer descended. + +"Can we be of service to you in any way?" said Alfred, pointing to their +glasses. + +"Indeed, you can," said the officer. + +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." + +The boys fairly stumbled up the steep, narrow ladder that led to the +bridge. + +"At your service," said Ralph. + +The captain smiled, as he said: "Take positions at the end of the +bridge." + +The boys walked across to the other side, and Ralph elevated his +glasses. + +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. + +"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." + +"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 vessel that we expect the enemy; do you understand what I +mean?" + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"But we are not armed, are we?" asked Ralph. + +"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 +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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"I know two men who have glasses," said Ralph. "Shall I get them?" + +"Yes, if you can; this is the kind of service which is appreciated," +said the captain. + +Ralph sprang down the ladder, and ran along the deck. He was absent for +some time, but soon appeared with two men. + +"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. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE TORPEDOED SHIP + + +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. + +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. + +"I am curious to know," said Ralph, "what the officer meant when he said +'two points to starboard.'" + +"That is explained in this way," replied the captain. "The compass is +divided into thirty-two points, or eight points in each quadrant." + +"I remember you spoke about a quadrant when we were on the bridge. What +is a quadrant?" asked Alfred. + +"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. + +"Then when the officer said 'two points to starboard,' did he mean two +points from one of the cardinal points?" asked Ralph. + +"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. + +"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. + +"That is a very homely and plain way of putting it," replied the +captain. + +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 course, all were +curious to know the news it contained, but no one seemed to be bold +enough to ask any questions. + +[Illustration: _The Points of the Compass_] + +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. + +"I wish to make an announcement, and give further instructions. In order +that there may be 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. + +"Boat No. 1; Mr. Elton, how many are in your party?" + +"Five," was the answer. + +"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. + +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. + +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 ideal sea for +observation. The boys were on the port or left side of the ship. + +"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,----" + +"I see it,--yes,--Captain, what is that, a half-mile off to the left?" +interrupted Ralph. + +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: + +"Young eyes are very sharp. You have beaten the watch on the top mast." + +The officer in charge of the telephone beckoned to the captain. The +latter rushed over, and the boys saw him nod. + +"How far are they from us?" asked Alfred. + +"Two miles," was the answer. + +"Two miles!" said Ralph in astonishment. "Why, I thought I was +stretching it when I said a half mile." + +"To be more exact, the range finder in the crow's nest makes the +distance 10,980 feet," said the captain. + +"Well, they can't hit us at that distance," said Ralph, "can they?" + +"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. + +The first officer standing near, although intently 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." + +"What do you mean by 'decoy'" asked Ralph, in astonishment. "Is it +likely that they would expect us to steer right into them?" + +[Illustration: _The Submarine Decoy_] + +"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 the vessel is +now going to starboard," said the officer. + +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. + +"Three points to port!" shouted the captain. + +The quartermaster swung the wheel around, and the ship seemed to heel +over, so suddenly did the rudder act. + +"One point to starboard, and full speed ahead!" was the next order from +the captain. + +It seemed that the order had no more than been executed than he again +sang out: + +"Two points to port!" + +"What is that for?" asked Alfred. + +"He is zig-zagging the ship through the sea," replied the officer. + +"What for?" inquired Ralph. + +"There is another submarine three points to starboard astern." + +"Then,--then the captain,----" + +"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. + +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 the port side +and to the stern by the different groups, were sufficient warnings of +the presence of the dread monsters. + +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. + +"Torpedo coming on starboard side!" shouted a voice. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +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 of the ship a great +mass of water shot upward and fragments of the deck were hoisted up and +scattered around. + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"I will take the other one," shouted Ralph. + +"We can't stop here another minute," said Alfred. "Do you see how the +ship is leaning over?" + +"Come on, Mother," cried Ralph; "follow us or we may not be able to go +up the stairs." + +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. + +"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. + +"What is your boat number?" asks one officer. "This way; that is the +place you are assigned to." + +Mr. Elton and his party reached No. 1 without accident, and all but the +boys were safely placed in the boat. + +"Come on, boys," said Mr. Elton. "But where is the mother of the +children?" he asked, as he saw the boys were unaccompanied. + +"Take the baby," said Alfred, as he passed it to his mother. + +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. + +"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. + +"She'll have to sway over a great deal further to go down," he remarked. + +This comforted her for the moment. Passengers were still coming up from +the companionways; some were being dragged along, and others acted like +drunken men and women. It was a terribly trying sight. + +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. + +Meanwhile, the boys had not returned, and the ship was turning over on +its side more and more. + +"Launch the boats!" ordered the captain. + +"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. + +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 +struggled with the boys. The moment the inclined deck was reached +Alfred said: + +"See that she goes overboard, and I will go down for that little girl," +and he crawled back into the ship. + +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. + +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. + +"Can't you help me up?" shouted Ralph. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +PRISONERS ON BOARD OF A SUBMARINE + + +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. + +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. + +"Jump as far as you can!" shouted the captain. + +Ralph placed a foot on the railing, and, looking back at Alfred, said: +"Here goes! Come on!" + +Both boys landed at almost the same time. The little girl was aroused by +the cold water, and was 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. + +"I am afraid he's done for," said Alfred, as he glanced toward the +cripple. + +"Well, we might as well stay near him; he might be all right," replied +Ralph. + +"Move away from the ship quickly," said a voice in the water, not far +away. + +It was the captain. He was the last one to dive, after he had seen every +passenger safely off the ship. + +"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. + +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. + +"Where is the ship?" cried Alfred. + +"She's gone down; that's what made the waves," said the captain. + +The cripple's hand was raised up, and his eyes began to roll. + +"This fellow's all right, after all," said Ralph. "I'll help him. I +wonder where the boats are?" + +The sun, which was going down while all this had been taking place, had +now disappeared, and there was that gray, lead-like appearance on the +waves that comes just before twilight. + +"Keep up your courage, boys; we shall soon have plenty of boats looking +for us," said the captain. + +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. + +Alfred assisted the cripple into the other boat, and the captain ordered +all the passengers transferred to the boat which had just come up. + +The boys then noticed that only three seamen remained, together with the +captain and first officer. + +"You may remain with us," said the captain, addressing Ralph and Alfred. + +This was, indeed, a compliment to them, which was appreciated. + +"I know father, mother and auntie are all right," said Alfred. "Do you +think they saw us get off?" he added anxiously. + +"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, but I don't think they will expect to see us before morning." + +"Why, do you intend to stay here all night?" asked Ralph. + +"No, but each boat crew has had instructions to make for the nearest +port, as rapidly as possible," replied the captain. + +"Where are we now?" asked Alfred. + +"In the Bay of Biscay, about one hundred and fifty miles from the +nearest land," answered the captain. + +"How long will it take us to reach land?" asked Ralph. + +"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. + +"What is the name of the place that we are heading for?" asked Ralph. + +"St. Nazaire; a French town at the mouth of the river Loire," was the +reply. + +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. + +Three miles an hour at the outside, would be 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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"Have you sighted either of the other boats?" asked Alfred. + +"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 time we have searched the seas fruitlessly," answered the +captain. + +"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?" + +"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. + +"Why should it be different here?" asked Ralph. + +"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." + +"How far are we from that point of land?" asked Ralph. + +"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. + +[Illustration] + +"Ship to starboard, sir," sang out the forward watch. + +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. + +"That looks like a submarine," shouted Ralph. + +"You are right," replied the captain. + +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. + +"Are those the periscopes?" asked Alfred. "I didn't know they carried +two of them." + +"That is the practice now," said one seamen. + +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. + +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. + +"Search the boat!" commanded the officer to several of his crew. + +The captain was about to go back to his boat when the officer remarked: + +"We prefer the pleasure of your company for the present, sir." + +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. + +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." + +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. + +"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. + +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?" + +The captain started slightly, while the officer toyed with his mustache, +and peered at the boys. + +"We haven't engaged in any particular business on the continent," said +Ralph. + +"No; flying isn't engaging in any business, is it?" inquired the +officer. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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 contrivances, all huddled together, with barely room to pass +from one place to another. Electric bulbs were everywhere visible, +lighting up the interior. + +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. + +"This is a nice place to get into," said Ralph. + +"I wonder if they are going to keep us cooped up like this without a +light?" said Alfred. + +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. + +"That is the propeller," said the captain. + +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. + +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, +during which time there was nothing to disturb them, except the one +steady whirr, broken occasionally by some remark by one or the other. + +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. + +"What do you suppose has happened?" asked Ralph. + +"The electric mechanism has been hitched to the propeller, and, if I am +not mistaken, we are going down," said the captain. + +"It did feel as though the forward end dipped down a moment ago," said +Alfred. + +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. + +"They have just fired two torpedoes," said the captain. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE TERRORS IN THE DARK ROOM OF AN UNDERSEA BOAT + + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +"The machinery seems to go very slow now," remarked Ralph. + +"They may be cautiously coming to the top," replied the captain. + +"Did you hear that peculiar noise?" said Alfred, as he laid his hand on +the captain's arm. + +"That was plainly a shot from a ship," said the captain. + +"Do you think we could hear firing through all this metal?" asked Ralph. + +"Much easier than if we were on deck," answered the captain. + +"Why do you think so?" asked Alfred. + +"Because water is a better conductor of sound than air," was the reply. + +"Do you mean that we can hear it better than if the sound came through +the air?" queried Alfred. + +"The sound can be heard not only much plainer, but also much sooner than +through the air," answered the captain. + +"I think we are going down again," remarked Ralph. + +"No doubt of it," answered the captain quietly. + +"Do you think they have hit us?" eagerly inquired Ralph. + +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." + +"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." + +Fifteen minutes elapsed before the captain continued: "This gives me +some hope." + +"What is it?" quickly inquired Ralph. + +"We are still on an even keel," was the answer. + +"Does that mean that we are safe?" asked Alfred. + +"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. + +"I understand now," said Alfred. "You think we are still floating, but +do you think we are on the surface?" + +"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. + +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. + +"Why is it we didn't hunt for that?" whispered Ralph, looking up. + +"But I can't see any way to turn it on," said Alfred. + +"That lights only from the outside," said the attendant. "Here is +something to eat," he continued in English. + +"What time is it?" asked the captain. + +"Half past one o'clock," was the reply. + +They had been in that cramped prison pen five hours. + +"Did you torpedo another ship?" queried the captain. + +"We tried to; but a torpedo boat destroyer came up too close," he +answered. + +"How many shots did it fire?" asked Ralph. + +"Two," was the laconic reply. + +"How long have we been submerged?" + +"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." + +The boys glanced at each other and at the captain. + +"Yes," remarked the captain, "that was a pretty close call." + +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. + +"It's the sun," said Ralph, in ecstacy. + +"I never thought we'd see that again," said Alfred, almost overcome. + +"May we walk around?" asked the captain, as he approached an under +officer. + +"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. + +"Will they let us go?" asked Ralph eagerly. + +"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. + +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. + +The captain glanced at it and drew the 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. + +"It must have been hit on the water line," said the captain, addressing +the lieutenant. + +The latter merely nodded, but made no remarks in response. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +"Isn't it likely we are on the bottom of the ocean? Don't they go down +sometimes and wait there?" asked Ralph. + +"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." + +"Why, that's two miles deep, or more," said Alfred. + +"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. + +"Then the submarines could easily rest on the bottom if the depth is not +more than one hundred feet?" asked Alfred. + +"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. + +"You mean risk from the pressure of the water?" said Ralph. + +"Yes," was the reply. + +"What would be the pressure of the water on a submarine at that depth?" +asked Alfred. + +"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. + +"Why multiply 200 by twelve?" asked Ralph. + +"Because there are twelve inches in a foot," said the captain. + +"Oh, yes; I didn't happen to think of it; well, 200 by 12,--that's +2,400, and divided by 28, is----" + +"Eighty-five," interrupted Alfred. "Well, that's not very much." + +"Quite true," rejoined the captain; "but how many square inches are +there in a square foot?" + +"One hundred and forty-four," replied Alfred. + +"Then, eighty-five times one hundred and forty-four makes quite a sum," +continued the captain. + +"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." + +"I have often wondered how it is that the submarine could rest on the +bottom or come up at will," said Alfred. + +"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." + +"But is that the only way they can go down?" asked Ralph. + +"Oh, no; a submarine can submerge without doing that, but in such a case +power must be used," answered the captain. + +"What! push it down by power?" asked Alfred. + +"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. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +SOME OF THE MYSTERIES OF A SUBMARINE + + +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. + +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. + +After the meal, the captain inquired of the officer at the main hatch +whether they would be permitted to go on deck. + +"I have no orders," he replied. + +Meanwhile, the boys had an opportunity to investigate the mysteries of +the interior, for it was well lighted. + +"What are those long drums ahead there?" asked Alfred. + +"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." + +"You have orders to go on deck," the under officer at the bottom of the +hatch now informed them. + +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. + +"Down below!" shouted a voice. + +The boys looked around in surprise, for they had been on deck less than +ten minutes. + +"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. + +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 thing. It glided forward with the same +rhythmic noises for a half-hour, and then two bells were heard. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"The indicator shows that the submarine is turning," said the captain. +The boys watched the indicator; it had swung around almost half-way. + +"There,--look at the inclinometer," said Ralph. "It is moving +upward----" + +"Ting! ting!" Two more sharp bells forward. The cylinder was off the +torpedo, and it lay before them exposed. + +Three bells more; and now there was feverish haste. An oval door in the +wall ahead was swung open, revealing a round, black hole. + +"That is the torpedo tube," said the captain quietly. + +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. + +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. + +"See it swing back and forth," said Alfred. "It seems to act queerly." + +"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." + +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. + +Then, without a warning of any kind, there was a singular dull sound, +which seemed to shake the submarine from stem to stern. + +"They have fired it," said Alfred. + +"And they are putting in another one." + +"If I am not mistaken it is the last one they have," suggested the +captain. + +"Why do you think so?" asked Alfred. + +"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. + +"I am glad they haven't any more of them," said Ralph. + +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. + +When the officer, who had handled the torpedoes, walked down the steps +from the conning tower, the boys noticed him shake his head sadly. + +"Did you notice that?" asked the captain. + +"Do you mean the way he shook his head?" said Alfred. + +"Yes; I am curious to get your views about that action of the officer," +remarked the captain. + +"That is, why he shook his head?" interjected Ralph. + +"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." + +The boys were quiet for a few moments. Ralph was the first to speak: +"Well, I'll bet the torpedo didn't hit the ship, and he feels cut up +over it, as it was the last one they had." + +"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. + +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." + +"Why do you think the first one failed?" + +"If the first one had succeeded, they would not have shot the second, +would they?" replied the captain. + +"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?" + +"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. + +"But I do not see how that is any sign that the torpedo missed," replied +Alfred inquiringly. + +"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. + +"No, I did not observe," replied Alfred. + +"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. + +"Well, yes; you may be right in that," responded Alfred. + +"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. + +"That seems to answer the question, to my mind, that it wasn't a hit," +said Ralph. + +"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." + +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 assent that the question is one, which, in the absence of actual +knowledge, could be settled in one way only." + +"How is that?" asked Ralph. + +"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. + +"Now that they are out of torpedoes, what do you suppose they will do?" +asked Ralph. + +"Go home; I suppose," replied Alfred. + +"Unless they have a base somewhere on the coast," replied the captain. + +"Where is the most likely place for such a base?" asked Ralph. + +"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. + +"What are the reasons for thinking so?" asked Alfred. + +"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 small, a condition which would help +to keep a base along the coast line at one or more points." + +"But we ought to know in the next day or two whether they have such a +base," said Ralph. + +"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. + +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. + +"It will be, probably, twenty-four hours before we are able to get any +information as to our destination," said the captain. + +"Do you intend to ask some of the men?" inquired Alfred. + +"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. + +"Then how would it be possible to learn anything about where we are +going?" asked Ralph. + +"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 vessels, in which case we +must submerge, and thus go much slower," said the captain. + +"Then, if they have a base anywhere along the coast we ought to be there +before tomorrow at this time?" ventured Alfred. + +"That is exactly what I mean," answered the captain. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +GROPING THROUGH THE ENGLISH CHANNEL + + +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. + +"I have been noticing the indicator for the last hour," said Ralph, "and +it didn't change once. Are we going due north?" + +"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. + +"Suppose then, that after making a quarter turn, the ship should again +go ahead on a straight line, what would happen to the dial?" asked +Alfred. + +"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. + +"I wish we had a compass," said Ralph. + +"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." + +"Do you know where it is?" eagerly inquired Alfred. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"I suppose they are keeping us down here for that purpose," suggested +Alfred. + +"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." + +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." + +"How long would it take to make the trip to Germany?" asked Alfred. + +"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. + +"Why wouldn't it take longer to travel 1,400 miles?" asked Ralph. + +"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. + +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: + +"Some one in the conning tower, this morning, said '48, 10.' What do you +suppose he meant by that?" + +"Glad you remembered that. Are you sure the figures you give are +correct?" asked the captain eagerly. + +"Sure of it," was Alfred's reply. + +"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. + +"What would the other figures be?" asked Ralph. + +"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. + +"About what longitude are we in?" asked Ralph. + +"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. + +Late that afternoon Ralph rushed into their little cabin and said: + +"I have an idea that I can tell you the direction we are going." + +"Have you heard anything?" asked the captain. + +"Not a word," answered Ralph. "I have just made an observation," he +continued, laughing. + +"That's good," responded the captain. "I think we are sailing north by +west." + +"You are wrong," replied Ralph; "we are going due east." + +"Are you sure?" asked the captain, exhibiting unusual interest in the +news. "How did you find it out?" + +"I saw the sun," said Ralph with a chuckle. + +"How and where did you see it?" asked Alfred, incredulously. + +"Well, I didn't exactly see the sun, but I saw a streak that came from +the sun," was the reply. + +"That's just as good," responded the captain. "Where did you see it?" + +"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. + +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." + +"Do you know anything about them, and how and where they are located?" +asked Alfred. + +"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. + +[Illustration: _The Steel Nets_] + +"What do you mean by safety outlets?" asked Alfred. + +"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. + +"But submarines do seem to get through somewhere; do they not?" asked +Ralph. + +"Yes; owing to their ability to make the trip under water, and taking +advantage of the darkness, it is sometimes the case that they get +through without being entangled in the nets," he replied. + +"But how do the ships that sail along the Channel get through?" asked +Alfred. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +"I cannot account for it," said the captain. "Possibly the commander +has some little human sympathy left, and does not want to drown us like +rats in a cage." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +"I suppose we are now on the bottom," suggested Ralph. + +"Yes; during the daytime it will be necessary to keep quiet. Even the +periscope may reveal our presence," remarked the captain. + +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. + +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 seamen, although it was evident, +as the captain expressed it, that few of the helpers had seen much sea +duty. + +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. + +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." + +Attention is called to this method of doing duty so that the reader may +understand certain events which will be referred to later. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +CAUGHT IN THE DEEP SEA NETS + + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"That is connected with a large valve," said the captain. "What did you +observe?" + +"Well, did you ever notice that before they rang the shrill bell four +times we always have heard a whistle?" asked Alfred. + +"Why, I have heard the bell ring four times on several occasions without +the whistle," contended Ralph. + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The captain's face paled, and the boys plied him with questions as they +saw his perturbed countenance. + +"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. + +"We are caught in one of the steel nets," said the captain quietly. + +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. + +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. + +"Is there anything we can do to help you?" asked the captain. + +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 the reply, an answer +that was in marked contrast with his former demeanor. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +This was finally accomplished, and the lieutenant, with the two injured +men, were landed in the long compartment, which served as the dining +room. + +The sub-lieutenant was found pinned by some boxes between two +stanchions, which had not been distributed and placed within the +compartments. 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. + +"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. + +"Your opinion is not requested!" he said in a terse manner. + +The captain made a quiet bow and moved toward their small room, the boys +following. + +"I am sorry that fellow is in command," said Alfred. "I never liked him +from the first." + +"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." + +"I'd like to get ahead of him some way," said Alfred. + +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." + +Alfred's eyes fairly bulged, as he gazed at the captain. "Isn't it a +duty to capture this submarine?" + +The captain leaned forward and held up a warning hand. Ralph rose up and +glanced around. "Why can't we do it?" he asked. + +"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. + +"I have something to tell you," said Alfred, as he lowered his voice. + +"What is it?" asked the captain. + +"I know where there is a box of revolvers," he replied. + +"Where?" asked the captain, agitated visibly. + +"Do you remember the two big upright drums which I was pinned against +when the ship went up?" asked Alfred. + +"Yes," replied the captain. + +"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. + +"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." + +"If I am not mistaken, there are several boxes near there,--rather long, +slim boxes, are they not?" asked Alfred. + +"Yes; with a red label on the corner," interrupted Ralph. "I can put my +hands on a box any minute." + +"Then you are with me and will carefully follow out my instructions?" +inquired the captain, looking at them intently. + +"We will follow you in whatever you ask us to do," replied Ralph. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"The boat seems to move," said Alfred. + +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: + +"Connect the forward motor!" + +They drew back into the room. "What is that for?" asked Ralph. + +Before the captain could reply came the second order: + +"Reverse!" + +The motor buzzed, but no effect was produced on the boat. + +"That seems singular," observed Alfred. + +"Not at all," answered the captain. + +"Why not?" asked Ralph. + +"The stern of the submarine is out of the water," answered the captain. + +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. + +"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?" + +"Yes," answered both of the boys in one breath. + +"I mean the switch in the hold," said the captain. + +"Yes," said Alfred. "The one I mean is close to the dynamo on the +switchboard, behind the steps leading to the conning tower." + +"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." + +"I can see, now, that to keep that in our control would be the main +thing," said Ralph. + +"The officer has not yet given any orders to put 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. + +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." + +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?" + +"Capital idea," said the captain. "If you can find any wire, put it +where you can quickly place your hands on it." + +"I found a box of ammunition also," continued Ralph, "but I haven't +tried whether it would fit the revolvers." + +An examination revealed the fact that the cartridges were not of the +same calibre. It was, indeed, a terrible disappointment. + +"Here it is," said Alfred, as he slipped into the door of the room. + +"Ah, this is a different size; you have the right ones, fortunately," +said the captain. + +"Now, let me give you a few words as to the next,----" + +A pronounced lurch in the vessel's position interrupted the captain. The +seamen were now rushing around frantically, and talking excitedly. + +"Hold your tongues!" shouted the sub-lieutenant. + +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. + +"It's coming all right," said Ralph in excitement. + +"Connect forward motor!" again shouted the sub-lieutenant. + +The motor turned smoothly without producing a disturbing influence on +the ship, indicating that the propeller was still in the air. + +"I fear that the sub-lieutenant does not know his business any too +well," remarked the captain. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE NIGHT'S STRUGGLE TO FREE THE VESSEL + + +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. + +"The storage batteries!" was all he said. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +"Thank you for the service," said the sub-lieutenant, to the surprise of +the captain and boys. + +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." + +"What! since you left us two minutes ago?" asked Ralph. + +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." + +"What must be done if he again orders us locked up?" asked Alfred. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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 +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. + +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. + +"Where are the revolvers?" asked the captain. + +"I found a dandy place for them, and can get them in a minute, if +wanted," said Ralph. + +"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. + +"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. + +"How so?" asked Ralph. + +"The indicator board in the conning tower shows just how far the vessel +is under water," replied the captain. + +"But," said Alfred, "would that tell it correctly if one end of the +vessel should be up and the other down, as this is?" + +"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. + +"I would just like to know how far we are down," said Ralph, looking up +the stairway into the conning tower. + +"Do you think you could spot the right dial face if you went up?" asked +the captain. + +"I think I could," said Ralph, rather doubtingly, it must be admitted. + +"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,----" + +"I know what you mean now," said Ralph, interrupting. + +"Well, simply get the number on the card on the right side of the glass +column. Do you understand?" remarked the captain. + +"Yes; but why not take the numbers on the left side also?" asked Ralph. + +"They merely indicate the pressure. Depth below the surface is all we +want," rejoined the captain. + +"Well, here goes; and I hope they won't catch me at it," said Ralph, as +he slowly moved out. + +"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. + +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. + +"I am afraid that would not do. Allow me to 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"That fellow ordered me away before I could make out the figures," said +Ralph, "but I'm going to try it again." + +"How near was the liquid from the top of the glass tube?" asked the +captain. + +"Well, I should say about so far," replied Ralph, indicating space +between his thumb and finger. "I guess it was about an inch." + +"How long do you think the tube is?" asked the captain. + +"I think it must be a foot long; probably more," was the answer. + +"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. + +"Pardon me, Captain, but how does it come that you know all about these +boats?" asked Alfred. + +"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." + +"Twenty what?" asked Ralph. + +"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." + +"Maybe it's twenty meters," said Alfred, with a slight laugh. + +"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." + +"Then the stern of the submarine must be sticking out of the water," +remarked Alfred. + +"Unquestionably," replied the captain. + +"How far, do you suppose?" asked Ralph. + +"We can easily figure that out," said the captain. "Let me see; we must +first get the angle at which the boat is lying." + +[Illustration: _The Entangled Submarine_] + +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 conning tower, measuring 20 feet, shows where the water +line is. Do you understand how I am doing it?" + +"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?" + +"I should say it is about nine feet," replied the captain. + +"No wonder the propellers didn't do any good when they sent them +spinning!" + +"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." + +"Why, what makes you think so?" asked Ralph. + +"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. + +"Why, is it any more dangerous then than now?" asked Alfred. + +"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. + +"Then I think we ought to do something right away," said Ralph, as he +half rose and glanced out. + +"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." + +"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. + +Alfred struck up a conversation, and asked: "Can I help you in any way? +Tell me what to do." + +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?" + +"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." + +"That must be very trying," rejoined Alfred. "But it must be near +daylight." + +"It is just about an hour off; and when the day comes I don't know what +will happen," remarked the seaman. + +"Why, what are you afraid of?" asked Alfred, appearing to be greatly +alarmed. + +"They have caught us this time for good, as I heard the lieutenant,----" + +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, +then rebounded, and after two or three oscillations, rested quietly in +the water, still at quite an angle. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE CAPTURE OF THE SUBMERGED VESSEL + + +"Why does it still keep at this angle?" asked Ralph. + +"Have you forgotten the stuff we carried back into the stern?" replied +Alfred. + +"Do you think that really is the trouble?" asked Ralph. + +"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." + +"What makes you think so?" eagerly inquired Alfred. + +"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. + +"When I was out there talking with the seaman," said Alfred, "I learned +that the lieutenant was in a very low state." + +"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." + +"Do you mean the men who were injured?" asked Ralph. + +"Yes." + +"Two of them are in the bunks behind the compressed air tanks," answered +Ralph. + +"Are you quite sure of that?" queried the captain. + +"I know it," was the answer. + +"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." + +"Here they are," said Ralph, who cautiously brought them to the room. + +"Shall we load them?" asked Alfred. + +"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." + +"Shall I stay here so I can be seen or keep out of sight?" asked Alfred. + +"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. + +"I have noticed that several times and wondered what it was for," said +Ralph. + +"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 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. + +"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." + +"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. + +"Then, after that what will take place?" asked Ralph, his breath coming +thick and fast. + +"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 companionway as fast as you can. There, he is going up now. Take +your place, Ralph." + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +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!" + +The sub-lieutenant turned quickly, to look into the muzzle of the +revolver. His hands reached out to seize a lever. + +"_Stop!_" said the captain, and the officer quickly raised his hands. + +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. + +"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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +"I suppose you want the destroyers to sink us," said the officer. + +"Not at all," replied the captain. "Unscrew the bolts of the door, +Alfred. And now a word more, Mr. Officer. Where are your flags?" + +"I refuse to inform you," said the officer, with a look of determination +in his face. + +"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?" + +"You must open the hatch for them," said the officer. + +"All the bolts are out," said Alfred, turning to the captain. + +"Guard the officer while I go out and signal," said the captain. + +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. + +Fortunately, the shot was too far away to be at all dangerous, as Alfred +thought, but the voice of the captain explained it. + +"Signal to stop!" + +"Which lever?" inquired Alfred. + +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. + +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." + +"Pull the second lever," he said, and Alfred did as directed. + +"Reverse!" demanded the captain. + +"The lever below," said the officer. + +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. + +"Look at the little boat," shouted Ralph, who had now recovered and had +moved to the open door. + +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. + +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 prevents the +submarine from reaching them with their torpedoes. + +Once abreast the commander called out: "I am sending a boat for your +officers." + +"I have only one here, that we can get at, at present," shouted the +captain. + +"What is that?" asked the commander of the chaser. + +"I have one of the chief officers in the conning tower, and the others +are below," said the captain. + +"Who are you?" asked the commander. + +"Captain Leclere, of the French service," replied the captain. + +"Captain Leclere!" almost shouted the German officer in the conning +tower. + +"That's the man," said Alfred. + +"Then I am not surprised," said the officer in a low voice. + +"Surprised?" said Ralph. "Did you say 'surprised?'" + +The officer sighed, turned his head away, and was silent. + +A lieutenant and four seamen reached the side of the submarine, and were +drawn aboard. + +"Ah! it was your ship that went down in the bay last Wednesday," said +the chaser's lieutenant. + +"Yes; we were picked up by the submarine, together with my two young +friends here," said the captain. + +"And how does it happen that you are in command of this vessel?" he +asked in surprise. + +"We captured it about a half an hour ago, and have the chief officer and +the crew below," replied the captain. + +"That is certainly a remarkable exploit," replied the lieutenant. "I +suppose you will be glad to meet the commander of _l'Orient_?" said the +lieutenant. + +"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. + +The lieutenant gave the necessary instructions, and the flags wig-wagged +from the bridge of the little vessel. + +The sub-lieutenant was called out of the conning tower, and Alfred +directed to unloosen the cords. + +"I suppose you will take charge of the prisoners," said the captain. + +"I should be glad to do so, with your permission, although you have a +right, of course, to turn them over to _l'Orient_," said the lieutenant. + +"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." + +"What procedure would you suggest?" asked the lieutenant. + +"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: + +"You will inform the men below that they are to present themselves at +the hatch." + +The officer bowed, and entered the conning tower He immediately +descended. Before he had, reached the bottom the captain said: + +"Halt! Notify them from where you are. I shall not permit you to go any +farther." + +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. + +"That makes twenty-one," said Alfred. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SECRET KEY TO THE BOMB FUSE + + +"Shall I go down and assist in bringing up the lieutenant?" said the +sub-lieutenant, as the doctor of the submarine passed out. + +"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." + +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: + +"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." + +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: + +"At what time can they be brought up?" + +"I cannot tell at this time; possibly not until tomorrow," said the +captain, directing a searching glance at the officer. + +"He is very ill," said the doctor. + +"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." + +The sub-lieutenant almost dropped as the captain uttered these words, +and the boys exchanged significant glances, while the lieutenant of the +chaser smiled. + +"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?" + +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." + +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." + +"Ah!" said the captain with a faint smile, "you have thought better of +it. Will the fuse last an hour?" + +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. + +"I will see to it that the fuses are taken out," said the +sub-lieutenant, recovering from his sullen attitude. + +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." + +The boys nodded their heads, and entered the conning tower with the +captain. The latter turned, before descending, and said: + +"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." + +"But wouldn't it be a good idea to let the sub-lieutenant remove the +fuses, as he said he would do?" asked Ralph. + +"Would you be willing to rely on that?" + +"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." + +"That is just why I want you to assist me in check-mating," said the +captain. + +"Tell us just what to do, and you may depend on us," replied Ralph. + +"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. + +"Perfectly," replied Ralph. + +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. + +"I know one good place where a fellow can hide and still see what is +going on," said Alfred. + +"Where is that?" asked the captain. + +"At that tank by the side of the dining galley," replied Alfred. + +"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." + +"Then maybe I ought to get somewhere forward of the main hatch?" +proposed Ralph. + +"I suppose you have your revolvers with you?" said the captain. + +"I know mine is all right," replied Ralph. + +"So is mine, I think," said Alfred, "although I haven't had an +opportunity to try it so far." + +"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." + +"Is that the reason why you refused to let him remove the fuse?" asked +Alfred. + +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." + +"Then he is to come down here without you?" said Ralph in surprise. + +"Why, certainly; and that is why I want some one here to watch +proceedings," said the captain. + +"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." + +"I believe it," answered the captain. "And now select your places. I +will go up and send him down within the next fifteen minutes." + +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 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. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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 like a shot. The movement indicated a guilty +act, and Ralph divined that the purpose was to injure the motors. + +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." + +To this the sub-lieutenant answered: "I have been ordered to remove +them; what shall I do?" + +"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. + +"They have complete command, and two warships are outside," was the +reply. + +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. + +"Hands up!" shouted Ralph. + +The tool dropped from the hands of the officer with a click. + +Alfred was at the side of the sub-lieutenant in an instant. "You may go +on deck," said Ralph. + +The officer glanced at Alfred, whom he had seen emerge from the aft +hiding place, and then turned a look of contempt on Ralph. + +"Move!" said Ralph, pointing to the gangway. + +Alfred cocked his revolver and menacingly pointed it at him. + +There was only one thing to do and he did it. He was met by the captain +at the head of the stairway. + +The boys followed quickly. The captain looked on at the leveled +revolvers and appeared to be surprised. + +"What does all this mean?" he asked. + +"It means that he tried to destroy the motors, and we caught him at it +in time," said Ralph. + +"That is not so," replied the officer. + +"What is this for?" asked Alfred, as he held up the tool which the +officer had dropped. + +"But you have removed all the fuses, of course?" said the captain, +apparently not heeding the tool referred to. + +"I have," said the officer, straightening up. + +"All but the one at the forward part of the vessel," replied Alfred. + +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. + +"Then you are lying to me as you are to the 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. + +A blush seemed to suffuse the officer's face, as the captain said: + +"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." + +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." + +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. + +"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. + +"I cannot do that," replied the officer. + +"So you succeeded in injuring it," said the captain. + +"No," was the reply. + +The captain picked up the tool, which Alfred was so particular to carry +along. "And what was this used for?" he asked. + +"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. + +"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. + +Ralph marched to the side wall and pointed to the place where the +sub-lieutenant opened the first box. + +"Open it!" ordered the captain, turning to the sub-lieutenant. + +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?" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +OPERATING THE SUBMARINE WITH A CAPTIVE CREW + + +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. + +"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." + +He turned and started up the stairway, when the sub-lieutenant, with +trembling voice, said: "I am powerless to prevent the explosion,----" + +"Unless," interrupted the captain. + +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." + +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. + +Below the switchboard was a tiny slot. Into this the key neatly fitted, +and upon giving a turn, a set of switches was exposed. + +"These are the control circuits," he said. + +"Turn them off and open the boxes below!" ordered the captain. This was +done. + +"Who are the men that operate the trimming tanks?" asked the captain. + +"The machinist Scholer and his assistant Bracher," was the reply. + +"Lieutenant," said the captain, addressing the commander of the chaser; +"send those men on board." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +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 _l'Orient_. + +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. + +"Where are we going?" asked Ralph, as he saw the prow pointing to the +south. "Are we going to France?" + +"What are those funny things bobbing up there for,--that whole line?" +asked Alfred. + +"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." + +"Is that why we are following the torpedo chaser?" asked Ralph. + +"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. + +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 sailors and marines aboard on the port side, and intently engaged +in looking forward. + +"What's up now, I wonder?" said Alfred, as he opened the door of the +conning tower and stepped on the deck. + +"Look at the floats ahead," said the captain. + +On investigation two of them were noticed moving back and forth, and +occasionally dipping in an unaccountable manner. + +"Look at those fellows with the guns on the deck of the chaser," said +Ralph. + +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. + +"I know," said Alfred. "They have caught one of them." + +"Yes; and they are making the same efforts to get away that we were +engaged in only a few hours ago," said the captain. + +The chaser steamed back and forth in a quiet, determined way, the men +never for a moment relaxing their watch. + +"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. + +"That is a howitzer," answered the captain. + +"What in the world do they want a howitzer for?" asked Alfred. + +"To use it on the boat if it should get free from the net," replied the +captain. + +"Why don't they use it now?" asked Ralph. + +"Because they do not want to destroy the boat unless it is absolutely +necessary," answered the captain. + +"But how will they know whether the boat gets away?" asked Alfred. + +"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." + +"And then that would be the time they would use the howitzers?" +suggested Alfred. + +"But how could they reach the submarine?" asked Ralph. "Do they know +just where the vessel is now?" + +"Yes, they can locate it within a hundred feet; but that would be near +enough for their purpose," replied the captain. + +"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?" + +"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. + +"Why are they signaling?" asked Ralph, as the wig-wagging began. + +"I think that's _l'Orient_ in sight on the port side," replied the +captain, after gazing in the direction indicated. + +"Then the cruiser will take the position of the chaser?" said Alfred. + +"Quite likely," answered the captain. + +"Look at the smoke; she's coming this way," shouted Ralph. + +The captain waved his hand to the lieutenant on the chaser, as he +shouted: "They have responded to your signals." + +As _l'Orient_ 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. + +"It will never get away," said the captain. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Within a half-hour they again approached the place where _l'Orient_ 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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"But, if that is the case why cannot the submarines back out in the same +way that they went in?" + +"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. + +"How was it in our case?" asked Ralph. "Do you think the fins of our +ship got caught?" + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 +down, that the hull seemed to roll around to the left." + +"That was our salvation," replied the captain. "I then knew we had a +chance." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE DEATH BLOW TO THE SUBMARINE + + +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 _l'Orient_. 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. + +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. + +Apparently, at regular intervals, were large ships of war, all of them +in motion. Sailing vessels and steamers, carrying freight, were coming +up the channel, convoyed to the open doors in this giant network which +guarded the channel. + +The lieutenant on the chaser backed his vessel toward the submarine and +hailed the captain: + +"Do you wish to remain?" he asked. + +"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. + +"Then I will give the order to proceed," replied the lieutenant. + +The captain nodded, and the boys started for the door. + +"One moment!" said the captain. "We may still be able to see an +interesting sight." + +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. +_L'Orient_ was slowly backing away from the obvious location of the +submerged vessel. + +"They are about to throw a shell," observed the captain. + +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. + +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. + +"They are shooting another one," shouted Alfred, although he tried to +suppress his voice. + +"Boom!" came the sound, as he uttered the words. + +The second shot struck the water not fifty feet distant from the first +one. + +"Do you think they will fire another?" asked Alfred. + +"Probably not," answered the captain. + +"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. + +The captain nodded his head for a few moments before speaking. + +"The shots were successful." + +"I can see that now," said Ralph. "Look at the oil coming up and +covering the sea." + +It was, indeed, a sad sight to witness, knowing that the shots meant the +death of thirty or more human beings. + +"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. + +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. + +"You can understand now, can't you, why flying machines are such good +spotters for submarines?" remarked the captain. + +"Do you mean the oil that comes on top of the water?" asked Ralph. + +"Yes," was the reply. + +"But does oil arise at all times when a submarine is submerged?" asked +Ralph. + +"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. + +"But doesn't a machine, when it is under the water, leave a ripple that +is easily seen by a flying machine?" asked Ralph. + +"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. + +"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. + +"I know it is possible," replied the captain. + +"But why is it that when you are on a ship it is impossible to see +through the water that depth?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +The chaser was now under way, and described a circle to the right. The +captain, after saluting the officer on the bridge of _l'Orient_, gave +the signal "Forward," and slowly the submarine sheered about and +followed. + +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. + +"We can't be very far from England," remarked Alfred. + +"I judge we are fifteen miles from Dover," replied the captain. + +"Do you intend to go to Dover?" asked Ralph. + +"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. + +"How deep is the channel here?" asked Ralph. + +"Probably not to exceed 120 feet," was the reply. + +"Not more than that in the middle of the Channel,--half way between +England and France?" asked Alfred in surprise. + +"No; the Channel is very shallow," answered the captain. + +"No wonder then," said Alfred, "that the submarines are having such a +hard time getting through, even though they don't have the nets!" + +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: + +"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!" + +The boys waved their caps in salute, as the chaser began to move, and +the crew lined up to give the final goodbye. + +The captain smiled and replied: "I think I have ample assistance on +board; give my regards to the admiral." + +"How far is it to Ramsgate?" asked Ralph. + +"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. + +"Well, I shall be glad of it," replied Alfred. + +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 wheel, while Ralph was peering through the periscope, +for this interested them from the moment they boarded the ship. + +"Where is that steamer bound?" asked Ralph, who noticed a large +two-funnel steamer crossing the field of the periscope. + +"It belongs to the Australian line," replied the captain. + +"Aren't we in the barred zone?" asked Alfred. + +"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. + +While speaking, the submarine seemed to slow down, and the captain +turned toward the conning tower. "I wonder what is up now?" he asked. + +Alfred's head appeared at the door and shouted: "They don't seem to +answer my signals." + +The captain entered the tower, and pulled the lever, _Attention!_ There +was no response to the signal below the word. He again rang, with the +same result. + +[Illustration: _The Periscope_] + +"I will open the hatch," said the captain. + +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. + +"I will go down if you want me to; I am not afraid," said Ralph. + +The captain looked at him for a moment, and glanced down into the +hatchway. "Why do you not obey my signals?" he asked. + +The sub-lieutenant stared at the captain, but did not make a reply. +"Answer my question!" shouted the captain. + +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. + +"You may go down, and ascertain what is the matter, but use caution," +said the captain. + +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." + +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. + +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." + +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. + +"Come up!" he shouted to Ralph. + +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. + +The moment Ralph gained the deck the captain jumped out of the hatch and +slammed it down. + +"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. + +"Why do you want four?" asked Ralph, as he hastily buckled one of them +around himself. + +"To attach to the end of the line that you have just fastened to the +rail," replied the captain. + +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. + +"I wonder what that is for?" asked Alfred, as the captain disappeared. + +"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." + +"Do you think there is any danger?" asked Ralph. + +"I do not know; I am not taking any chances. I have my opinion, though," +replied the captain thoughtfully. + +"Do you think they are going to blow up the vessel?" asked Alfred. + +"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,----" + +"That the sub-lieutenant has actually gone mad," interrupted Ralph. + +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. + +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 ship and dashed into +the waves at least fifty feet from the spot where Ralph had landed. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE RESCUE IN THE CHANNEL + + +"The boat is on the way," shouted the captain, as Ralph tried to direct +himself toward the captain and Alfred. + +"We were just in time," said Ralph. "How is Alfred?" he asked. + +"Only stunned," replied the captain. "I think he hit the conning tower +as the vessel up-ended." + +"Poor fellows," said Ralph, "I suppose it's all up with them." + +"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. + +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?" + +"That is a long story, but you shall hear it as soon as we get aboard. +Where are you bound?" asked the captain. + +"For the Mediterranean," replied the officer. + +"Where is your first port?" asked the captain. + +"Havre," was the answer. + +"Couldn't be better," replied the captain. "Ah! I see Alfred is coming +around all right." + +"He seems to be breathing all right now," said Ralph. + +"So they heard about our exploit?" asked the captain. + +"Why, yes; the papers made quite an item about it; I think we have a +copy on board," replied the officer. + +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: + +"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." + +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 _Evening Mail_ gave the most +interesting account of the affair, and Ralph read and re-read the item. + +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: + + "AN EXTRAORDINARY FEAT + + "A SUBMARINE CAPTURED BY THREE + PRISONERS + + "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. + + "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. + + "They are now bringing the submarine to England, and we hope to + be able to give more details tomorrow." + +"There, what do you think of that?" ejaculated Ralph. + +Alfred smiled, but a shadow came over his face, as he looked at Ralph. +The latter, seeing the change, jumped up, and cried: "Are you sick?" + +"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?" + +"I have some interesting news for you," said the captain, as he entered +the cabin, holding a French paper in his hand. + +"What is it?" asked the boys in unison. + +"Boats three, four and five of our ship have reached port all right," +said the captain. + +"Have you heard about No. 1?" asked Alfred, as he leaned forward, and +anxiously awaited the reply. + +"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. + +"But do you think they are safe?" asked Ralph. + +"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." + +"Have the submarines been doing much damage?" asked Alfred. + +"Yes; they have sunk a great many ships," was the answer. + +"Any American ships?" asked Ralph. + +"No; but a number of Americans have lost their lives on vessels that +have been sunk." + +"Where are we going?" asked Alfred. + +"To Havre," was the reply. + +"I wouldn't worry about father and mother now," said Ralph soothingly. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 nothing but the +open sea on all sides. Addressing a seaman, he asked: + +"Haven't we reached Havre yet?" + +"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. + +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. + +"I am glad to see you looking so well," said Ralph. "Where are you hurt +the most?" + +"Look at the back of my head," replied Alfred. "I suppose I must have +struck the railing as the thing heaved up." + +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. + +"That was a pretty big gun to make such a racket," remarked Ralph. + +"It's one of the four-inch forward guns," said a seaman, standing near. + +"But what are they shooting at?" asked Alfred. + +"Submarine, I suppose," was the reply. + +"But where?" asked Alfred. + +"Don't know; haven't seen one; but I suppose the lookouts spotted the +fellow," was the reply. + +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. + +[Illustration: _The Conning Tower, All That Could Be Seen of the +Submarine_] + +The boys moved forward, and the captain noticing them, spoke a word to +the commander on the bridge. + +"Come up, boys," said the captain. + +Once on the bridge the captain said: "I take pleasure in introducing my +companions on our 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." + +"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. + +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." + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +"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." + +"Then why do you think the interesting or dangerous time is now coming?" +asked Alfred. + +"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. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +TEN HOURS IN THE DANGER ZONE + + +"What do you make the reckoning?" asked the captain, as the navigating +officer lowered his instrument, and turned to the book. + +"Fifty, ten north," was the reply. + +"On the line?" asked the captain. + +"Twelve minutes east," answered the officer. + +"Then we are forty miles due north of Havre," responded the captain. + +"What did you mean by being 'on the line?'" asked Ralph, addressing the +captain. + +"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." + +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 only +in that region where they were now approaching. + +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. + +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. + +"Did they hit it?" asked Alfred. + +"Well, there is one less periscope, if I know anything," replied the +navigating officer. + +Ralph had descended the stairs leading down from the bridge, and quickly +made his way to the bow. + +"I want to congratulate you on that shot," he said, as he approached. + +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." + +"That fellow's as good as useless," remarked the officer in charge. + +"But suppose the submarine has any torpedoes left?" queried Ralph. + +"That wouldn't do him any good; he would have to use that to sight by," +replied the officer. + +"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." + +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!" + +Every one was now keyed up to the highest pitch. The guns were quickly +swung to the angle indicated, and another tense moment arrived. + +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." + +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. + +"Gunners from the Royal Navy," remarked the captain, as he lowered his +glasses. "And they have hit the mark." + +"Do you think so?" asked Alfred. + +"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 plainly see the boiling that follows a sinking submarine." + +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. + +"How deep do you suppose that submarine is now?" asked Alfred. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"So we are going directly south," said Ralph, who had just examined the +compass, and started for the stairway. + +"There will be no let-up now," remarked the captain. + +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 _St. Duneen_, +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. + +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. + +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. + +No sooner had they landed at the bottom, when the most terrific crash +was heard. + +"Submarine!" shrieked a voice. + +The sensation of the oscillating movement of the vessel was a sickening +one. The dining room was half-filled with women, children and men. + +"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." + +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. + +[Illustration: _A Contact Mine_] + +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. + +"Don't get excited!" shouted the officer from the head of the stairs. +"We can all clear the ship safely before she goes down." + +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. + +"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. + +"We might as well take a look," said Alfred, as he rushed toward the +port passage. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +At the door of a cabin Alfred saw two forms, one the woman, and the +other Ralph in a fierce 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. + +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. + +"What can that be?" asked Ralph. + +"Seems as though we have been hit the second time," replied Alfred. + +"Oh! here you are!" shouted the captain, as he rushed down the stairway, +followed by an officer. + +"What was that?" asked Ralph. + +"A bulkhead has just given way," replied the captain. + +"Then we are bound to go down," said Alfred with a sigh. "We must get +her up before she comes to." + +"Yes, but we'll try to save her," replied the captain. + +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 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. + +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. + +"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." + +"Don't mind that for a minute," replied Ralph. "We were bound to get you +out; we didn't think of anything else." + +"Come on, boys; take the boat at the next davit," said the captain. "I +will be with you in a moment." + +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. + +"Say, Ralph, I have an idea that we are hoodoos!" said Alfred, with a +serious air. + +"Who is a hoodoo?" asked the captain, approaching and overhearing the +conversation. + +"Hoodoo, nothing!" answered Ralph. + +"Well, it begins to look like it," responded Alfred. "There is some sort +of deviltry around wherever we have happened to be ever since the war +began." + +Notwithstanding the gravity of the situation, the captain could not +repress a smile, which he quickly suppressed, as he answered: + +"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. + +"A mine! a mine, did you say?" almost shrieked Alfred. + +"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. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A FRIGHTFUL MINE EXPLOSION + + +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., +_St. Duneen_, 48, 50 N., 10 E., repeated and repeated the message of the +disaster. + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +"What is the matter with it?" asked Alfred, who was the first to break +the silence. + +"The bow is on the bottom of the ocean," said the captain. + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +Long before the ships, which had announced their positions by the smoke +on the horizon, came into sight, the saucy chasers were sailing around +and about the fleet of _St. Duneen's_ boats. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"Yes; one is as bad as the other, both done against all law," answered +Alfred. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Is it possible that the United States will go to war?" asked Ralph. + +"The United States is now at war," replied the captain. + +"What? do you mean to say that the President has declared war?" asked +Alfred in astonishment. + +"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. + +"Then I'm not going back to New York," said Alfred. + +"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. + +Within an hour the boys saw a faint streak of peculiar gray to the left, +far ahead. + +"That must be land," said Alfred. + +"And that looks like a town, away in the distance," remarked Ralph. + +"You are right; that is the coast of France, and the houses you see +belong to the town of Fecamp, a seaport and watering place, 22 miles +from Havre," said the navigating officer. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +"Who are they?" asked one of the cruiser's officers. + +"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. + +As they were leaving the cabin, Alfred awoke. "Are we near Havre?" he +asked anxiously. + +"We are now turning the point; we expect to reach the dock in a +half-hour," answered the officer. + +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. + +"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. + +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 on board the American ship gave a hearty +response to the salute, and this swelled the pride of the boys beyond +measure. + +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. + +"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." + +"Thank you, Captain," said Alfred. "We had no cause to fear, as long as +you commanded." + +"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." + +"That is, indeed, a compliment," replied the captain. + +"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." + +"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. + +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." + +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." + +"Ralph! Ralph! who is that coming across the dock? Look! it is just like +father! I believe it is!" almost shrieked Alfred. + +"It is! yes; I am sure of it; and there is mother, too," replied Ralph, +now all excitement. + +"Of course, they are there; I knew it; I told you it would be all +right," said the captain with a jubilant voice. + +The boys glanced at the captain, and Ralph turned his head slyly, as he +said: "And did you know they were here?" + +"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. + +"The tall man with the gray overcoat; do you see him coming?--and there +is mother, too," shouted Alfred. + +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. + +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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"Yes, that was true, and much more," answered the captain. + +"We felt so proud about it," replied Mr. Elton, "and it was some +compensation for having been twice torpedoed within a week." + +"What? did you say that you were torpedoed the second time?" asked +Ralph. + +"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." + +"But I cannot understand how it was that the captain happened to reach +you by wireless?" asked Ralph. + +"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. + +"I answered Mr. Elton's message," said the captain with a smile. "But +are you going back to America now?" continued the captain. + +"Why, what has happened?" asked Alfred. + +"America is at war with Germany," was the reply. + +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. + + +THE END + + + + +THE MOTION PICTURE COMRADES SERIES + +By ELMER TRACEY BARNES + + +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. + +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. + + + =The Motion Picture Comrades' Great Venture; + or, On the Road with the Big Round Top= + + =The Motion Picture Comrades Through African Jungles; + or, The Camera Boys in Wild Animal Land= + + =The Motion Picture Comrades Along the Orinoco; + or, Facing Perils in the Tropics= + + =The Motion Picture Comrades Aboard a Submarine; + or, Searching for Treasure Under the Sea=4836 + + + _12mo. Cloth_ _50c per volume_ + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 201-213 EAST 12th STREET NEW YORK + + + + +By CYRIL BURLEIGH + + +=The Hilltop Boys; A Story of School Life= + +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. + + +=The Hilltop Boys in Camp; or, The Rebellion at the Academy= + +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. + + +=The Hilltop Boys on Lost Island; or, An Unusual Adventure= + +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. + + +=The Hilltop Boys on the River= + +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. + + _12mo. Cloth_ _50c per volume_ + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + NEW YORK + + + + +THE MOUNTAIN BOYS SERIES + +=1. Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys= + +=2. Phil Bradley at the Wheel= + +=3. Phil Bradley's Shooting Box= + +=4. Phil Bradley's Snow-Shoe Trail= + +=5. Phil Bradley's Winning Way= + + +=By SILAS K. BOONE= + +These books describe, with interesting detail, the +experiences of a party of boys among the mountain +pines. + +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. + + _12mo. Cloth._ _50c per Volume, Postpaid_ + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 201 EAST 12th STREET NEW YORK + + + + +THE CAMPFIRE AND TRAIL SERIES + +=1. In Camp on the Big Sunflower= + +=2. The Rivals of the Trail= + +=3. The Strange Cabin on Catamount Island= + +=4. Lost in the Great Dismal Swamp= + +=5. With Trapper Jim in the North Woods= + +=6. Caught in a Forest Fire= + +=7. Chums of the Campfire= + +=8. Afloat on the Flood= + +=9. The Cruise of the Houseboat= + + +=By LAWRENCE J. LESLIE= + +A series of wholesome stories for boys told in an interesting way and +appealing to their love of the open. + + _Each, 12mo. Cloth_ _50c per Volume_ + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 201 EAST 12th STREET NEW YORK + + + + + +-----------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | | + | Typographical errors corrected in the text: | + | Page 39 ofcer changed to officer | + | Page 46 possed changed to possessed | + | Page 73 missing word "get" inserted | + | Page 76 personnal changed to personnel | + | Page 77 personnal changed to personnel | + | Page 119 blow changed to below | + +-----------------------------------------------+ + + + + + + +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.txt or 27674.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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