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diff --git a/35362.txt b/35362.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cda862f --- /dev/null +++ b/35362.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11051 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S., by Percy F. Westerman + +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: Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. + A story of the Great War + +Author: Percy F. Westerman + +Release Date: February 22, 2011 [EBook #35362] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S. *** + + + + +Produced by R.G.P.M. van Giesen + + + + + + + + + +GLORIES OF SEA +AND AIR SERIES +============== + +_By_ +_PERCY F._ +_WESTERMAN_ + + THE MYSTERY SHIP + THE RIVAL SUBMARINES + BILLY BARCROFT OF THE R.N.A.S. + A WATCH-DOG OF THE NORTH SEA + A SUB. OF THE R.N.R. + THE DREADNOUGHT OF THE AIR + + + +_Publishers_ +PARTRIDGE +LONDON + + + +BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S. + + + +[Frontispiece: "THE FLAMING WRECKAGE WAS PLUNGING EARTHWARDS, +LEAVING A FIERY TRAIL IN ITS WAKE."] + + + +BILLY BARCROFT + +R.N.A.S. + +A STORY OF THE GREAT WAR + + + +BY + +PERCY F. WESTERMAN + + + + AUTHOR OF + "A WATCH-DOG OF THE NORTH SEA" + "A SUB. OF THE R.N.R." + ETC. ETC. + + + + +S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO. +4, 5 & 6 SOHO SQUARE, LONDON, W.1 + + + +MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN +_First Published December_, 1917 +_Reprinted_ 1928, 1929, 1930 + + + + CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER + I. "YOUR BIRD!" + II. A PRICE ON HIS HEAD + III. CONCERNING PETER BARCROFT + IV. WHEN THE ZEPPELIN WAS OUT + V. AT LADYBIRD FOLD + VI. KIDNAPPED + VII. THE RAID + VIII. 'MIDST THE SCENE OF RED RUIN + IX. BETTY + X. THE SEAPLANE'S QUEST + XI. THE TERRORS OF THE AIR + XII. THE RAIDER'S RETURN + XIII. EXIT SEAPLANE NO. 445B + XIV. BUTTERFLY + XV. RECALLED BY WIRE + XVI. CAPTIVES IN A SUBMARINE + XVII. THE MIDDLE WATCH + XVIII. AN OCEAN DUEL + XIX. HELD UP IN THE NORTH SEA + XX. INVESTIGATIONS + XXI. ON THE TRAIL + XXII. THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS + XXIII. ON THE ROCKS + XXIV. ENTWISTLE'S DECISION + XXV. THE BOMBING EXPEDITION + XXVI. A FUTILE RESCUE + XXVII. FUGITIVES + XXVIII. TRACKED + XXIX. GASSED + XXX. THE BARN BY THE RIVER + XXXI. THE FRONTIER + XXXII. AN AVERTED CATASTROPHE + XXXIII. VON EITELWURMER'S OPPORTUNITY + XXXIV. KIRKWOOD'S WINDFALL + XXXV. ONE CARTRIDGE LEFT + XXXVI. THE ELUSIVE OBJECTIVE + XXXVII. "THE GREAT STRAFE" + XXXVIII. SNATCHED FROM HER PURSUERS + XXXIX. AND LAST + + + +PREFACE + +THE GREAT WAR OF 1914 opened the floodgates of hatred between the +nations which took part and this stirring story, written when +feelings were at their highest, conveys a true impression of the +attitude adopted towards our enemies. No epithet was considered too +strong for a German and whilst the narrative thus conveys the real +atmosphere and conditions under which the tragic event was fought +out it should be borne in mind that the animosities engendered by +war are now happily a thing of the past, Therefore, the reader, +whilst enjoying to the full this thrilling tale, will do well to +remember that old enmities have passed away and that we are now +reconciled to the Central Powers who were opposed to us. + + + + +BILLY BARCROFT R.N.A.S. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +"YOUR BIRD!" + + +Two Bells of the First Dog Watch somewhere in the North Sea. + +To be a little more definite it was bordering that part of the North +Sea that merges into the narrow Straits of Dover and almost within +range of the German shore batteries of Zeebrugge. + +It was mid-October. The equinoctial gales had not yet arrived to +convert the placid surface of the sea into a regular turmoil of +short, broken waves. Hardly a ripple ruffled the long gentle +undulations. Not a cloud obscured the sky. The slanting rays of the +sun played uninterruptedly upon the sloping deck of H.M. Seaplane +Carrier "Hippodrome" as she forged slowly ahead, surrounded by an +escort of long, lean destroyers. + +Her day's work was apparently over. The operations against the +Zeebrugge defences--operations of almost a daily occurrence--had +been carried out according to orders. The observation "kite" balloon +had been hauled down and stowed in the "Hippodrome's" after-well; +her brood of seaplanes had, save one, returned from their task of +"spotting" for the guns of the monitors, and everything had been +made snug for the run back to her base. She awaited only the +reappearance of the stray "duckling" to increase speed for home +waters. + +"Billy's getting properly strafed, I fancy," remarked +Flight-Lieutenant John Fuller as the distant growl of innumerable +"antis" reverberated in the still air. "Wonder what the deuce he's +doing? When we swung about over Position 445 he was heading almost +due east." + +"Billy won't suffer from cold feet," rejoined his companion--"a +regular glutton for work. Give him a chance for a stunt (bombing +raid) and he's all there. For a mere youngster, I say, he's----" + +Further remarks concerning the rashness of Billy--otherwise +Flight-sub-lieutenant Barcroft--were postponed by the appearance of +yet another member of the "Hippodrome's" flying-officers. + +"Young Barcroft's just tick-tocked through," he announced. "He's on +his way back. Cool cheek, by Jove! Keeping the crowd of us waiting +while he's joy-riding somewhere in the direction of Berlin. Wonder +how far he went?" + +From where they stood, just abaft the starboard funnel-casing, the +officers scanned the horizon. The "Hippodrome," like most of her +sisters, had at one time been a liner, but the building up of a +launching-platform for seaplanes had resulted in considerable +alterations to her external and internal appearance. Amongst other +things she now had two funnels abreast and far apart in place of her +original foremost one, in order to give full scope to the inclined +plane that extended from her bows to within a few feet of the +navigation bridge--a piece of new construction perched at least 150 +feet further aft than the old bridge and chart-room of pre-war days. + +The clank of a steam winch and the swinging overhead of a long steel +derrick announced the fact that preparations were being made to +welcome home the "stray bird." Although a seaplane could be launched +with ease from the sloping platform, on her return she would have to +alight in the water and "taxi" alongside her parent ship. Hence the +necessity for a long and powerful derrick to swing the seaplane, +with its broad expanse of wings, clear of the ship's side and +deposit it carefully upon deck. + +"Here he comes!" exclaimed Fuller, indicating a faint object in the +eastern sky. + +Rapidly it resolved itself into a large biplane with triple floats +in place of the three landing wheels that form a necessary adjunct +to army aeroplanes. Then the polished wood propeller, glinting in +the oblique rays of the sun, could be discerned as it slowed down +preparatory to the seaplane commencing a thousand feet glide. + +With a succession of splashes the biplane took the water, "bringing +up" with admirable judgment at a distance of less than fifty yards +from the starboard quarter of the parent ship. + +The seaplane carried a crew of two. The pilot pushing up a pair of +goggles revealed a fresh-looking, clean-cut face that gave one the +impression of a public school boy. Billy Barcroft was still in his +teens. He had just another month to enter into his twentieth year. +In height he was a fraction under five feet ten inches; weight--an +important consideration from an airman's point of view--was "ten +seven." Supple and active, he carried not an ounce of superfluous +flesh. Standing up and lightly grasping a stay, he swayed naturally +to the slight lift of the seaplane--the personification of that +product of the Twentieth Century, the airman. + +His companion, who had just completed the "winding in" of the +trailing aerial, raised his head above the coaming surrounding the +observer's seat. In appearance he resembled Barcroft so +strongly-that the pair might have been taken for twin-brothers. But +no relationship, save the ties of friendship and duty, existed +betwixt Billy Barcroft and his observer, Bobby Kirkwood. The latter +was an Assistant Paymaster, who, deserting the ship's office for the +freedom of the air, had already mastered the intricacies of +"wireless" and other qualifications necessary for the responsible +duties of observer. + +"You've been a jolly long time, you belated bird!" shouted Fuller in +mock reproof. "What's the stunt?" + +"Couldn't help it," replied Barcroft with a broad grin. "If you were +in my place and saw a crowd of Hun Staff officers pushing along in +motor-cars wouldn't your idea of courtesy lead you to pay them a +little attention? Kirkwood gave 'em a couple of plums and a whole +drum. Result--a slight increase in the Hun death-rate." + +Barcroft had, in fact, gone well inland over the German batteries, +on a sort of informal joy-ride. From a height of 5,000 feet the +observer had spotted what appeared to be a motor convoy bowling +along the road between Zeebrugge and Bruges. With a daring bordering +on recklessness the pilot had vol-planed down to within two hundred +feet, greatly to the consternation of the grey-cloaked German Staff +officers, who, leaving the shelter of their steelroofed cars, +scurried with loss of dignity for the safety that was denied most of +them. For with admirable precision Kirkwood had dropped two bombs +fairly into the line of cars, following up the attack by firing a +whole drum of ammunition from the Lewis gun into the fleeing Huns. + +Deftly the flexible steel wire from the outswung derrick engaged the +lifting hooks of the seaplane. The machine was just clear of the +water when the order came "Avast heaving." Simultaneously a bugle +blared. It was the call for Flying Officers. + +Leaping into the stern sheets of a boat in attendance, Barcroft and +Kirkwood were taken to the side of the "Hippodrome," where they +gained the deck of the ship. Already Fuller and the rest of the +airmen had gone aft. Something was literally in the air. + +The signal commander held up a leaf torn from a signal pad. + +"A wireless has just come through," he announced in clear deliberate +tones. "A hostile plane has made a raid over parts of Kent. She is +now on her way back, apparently heading for Ostend. Machines from +Eastchurch have started in pursuit, but the Hun has a useful lead. +Now, gentlemen, a nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse: we are +between the raider and his base." + +The assembly dispersed like magic, the airmen hurriedly donning +leather jackets and flying helmets and giving peremptory orders to +the mechanics in attendance. In less than five minutes the first of +the stowed seaplanes was ready to glide down the inclined platform +to take to flight. + +Yet, from a starting point of view Barcroft had a decided advantage. +His seaplane was practically ready. There was enough petrol for a +lengthy flight, and a good reserve of ammunition for the Lewis gun. +Bombs there were none, nor were any likely to be required for the +task in hand. The chances of a hit on a small and rapidly-moving +target were very remote. It was by machine-gun fire that the attack +upon the returning raider was to be made. + +With the motor throbbing noisily and with clouds of oil-smelling +smoke pouring from her exhaust, Barcroft's seaplane taxied away from +the towering side of her ungainly parent. Then, so gracefully that +it was impossible to determine the exact moment when the aircraft +ceased to be waterborne, the seaplane rose swiftly and steadily in +the air. + +Climbing in steep spirals the machine quickly rose to a height of +5,000 feet. It was enough for all practical purposes, allowing a +margin of superior altitude to that of the expected Boche. + +"Good enough!" shouted the flight-sub through the speaking tube. +"Aerials paid out? All ready?" + +"All serene," replied Kirkwood, affixing a whole drum of ammunition +to the upper side of the breech mechanism of the deadly machine gun. +"By Jove, we've all been pretty slick this time. The fifth bird has +just got away." + +Barcroft leant over the side of the fuselage. Seven hundred feet +below and speeding away to the nor'-west were a couple of the +"Hippodrome's" seaplanes. Two more, at a lower altitude but still +climbing, were heading in a south-easterly direction. Thus, when the +formation was complete, Barcroft's machine would be in the centre of +a far-flung line thrown out to form a barrier betwixt the solitary +raider and his base. + +The British airmen were at an atmospheric disadvantage. Straight in +their face came the rays of the setting sun, while the calm sea +beneath them was one blaze of reflected light. Against that blinding +glare it was almost impossible to distinguish the mere black dot in +the vast aerial expanse that represented the returning hostile +aviator; while on the other hand the Hun, with the sun at his back, +would be able to discern with comparative ease the glint of the +seaplane's wings. + +The characteristic tick of the wireless brought. Kirkwood to +attention. With the receiver clamped to his ear he took down the +message and passed it on to his companion. + +"Our pigeon!" soliloquised Barcroft grimly. The information was to +the effect that the "Hippodrome" had first sighted the approaching +Hun machine by means of telescopes. The hostile craft had previously +spotted two of the intercepting seaplanes, and her pilot, taking +advantage of the light, decided to make a vol-plane to within a few +hundred feet above the level of the sea. By so doing he was +sacrificing his advantage of altitude, but there was a chance of +slipping unobserved under the British aircraft. Once through the +far-flung cordon he hoped to rely upon superior speed and climbing +powers to elude pursuit. + +By this time Barcroft had "picked up" his opponent. At first sight +it seemed as if the Hun were executing a nose dive. Keenly on the +alert the flight-sub depressed the ailerons with a quick yet decided +movement. There was no trace of jerkiness in the pilot's actions. +All were performed with that smooth dexterity and rapidity that +comprised the essential qualifications of a successful airman. + +At an aggregate speed of nearly two hundred miles an hour the rival +aeroplanes converged. It seemed as if each pilot were bent upon +ramming his opponent and sending the colliding craft to a common +destruction. + +Barcroft, his hands resting lightly on the "joy-stick," was keenly +alert to every forthcoming move of his adversary. Already the Hun +observer was letting off rounds from his machine-gun in the vain +hope that some of the hail of bullets would disable the British +seaplane. On his part Kirkwood "stood by," ready at the first +favourable opportunity to let the Hun have a taste of the Lewis +gun--and the opportunity was not yet. + +Suddenly the German monoplane straightened out, then, lifting, +attempted to pass above the seaplane. Quick as a flash Barcroft +grasped the situation. Round swung the British machine, though not +before a dozen holes had been ripped in her wings, as, banking +steeply, she presented a vast spread of canvas to the hostile +machine-gun. + +Through the turning movement of his opponent the Hun had gained +nearly three hundred yards. The observer, swinging his gun aft, was +busily engaged in fitting a new belt of ammunition. + +It was now Kirkwood's chance. The hostile monoplane was still within +easy range, although momentarily her superior speed was taking her +further and further away from her pursuer. She had broken through +the cordon. Ahead was a straight, unimpeded run for home. + +The Lewis gun began to splutter. Half--three-quarters of the drum of +ammunition was expended without tangible result. The Hun observer, +too, had got his machine-gun in working order and was pumping out +nickel at the rate of five hundred rounds a minute. + +It was a duel to the death. At that dizzy height no human being +could fall and reach the surface of the sea alive. No cover, no +sheltering trenches protected the four combatants. In the blue vault +of heaven they were compelled to kill or be killed, or even deal out +complete and horrifying destruction to each other. + +"Got him, by Jove!" shouted Kirkwood, as the Hun at the machine-gun +threw up his arms and toppled inertly across the barrel of the +weapon. For perhaps ten seconds he hung thus, till the monoplane, +rocking through an air-pocket, tilted violently. For a brief instant +the body trembled in the balance, then slipping sideways the dead +Boche toppled over the edge of the fuselage and fell like a stone +through space. + +"Keep it up, you're on it!" yelled Barcroft, never for a moment +taking his eyes off the fugitive monoplane. + +His observer heard the shout but the words were unintelligible in +the deafening rush of air Nevertheless he maintained a steady fire +at the enemy machine. + +To give the Hun pilot his due he made no attempt to throw up the +sponge. He might have made a nose-dive, trusting to flatten out' and +gain the surface of the water. The machine would have sunk like a +stone, but there was a faint chance of the pilot being able to +unbuckle the strap that held him to the seat and make an attempt to +save himself by swimming. + +The Hun did unfasten the leather strap, but for a different purpose. +The monoplane, being of a self-steering type, could be relied upon +to continue her flight more or less in a straight line, without a +controlling touch on the rudderbar. + +With a stealthy, cat-like movement the German made his way to the +observer's seat, and gripping the firing mechanism of the machine +gun prepared to return the dangerous greetings from his pursuer. + +Less than fifteen miles off--twelve minutes flight--lay the flat +outlines of the Belgian coast. Unless Fritz could be brought down +rapidly the raider would win through. + +Suddenly the monoplane tilted and settled down to a dizzy nose-dive. +Whether a vital part had been hit or whether the uncontrollable drop +was due to faulty construction neither Barcroft nor his companion +knew. For the moment the flight-sub imagined that it was a daring +ruse on the part of the Hun pilot, until he realised that the latter +was in the observer's seat when the catastrophe occurred. + +Down plunged the vanquished monoplane, spirally, erratically. The +pilot was clinging desperately to the machine-gun. Even as the +'plane dashed through space the weapon, under the pressure of the +Hun's hand, was aimlessly spitting out bullets. + +Again the wireless ticked off a message. It was from another +seaplane that, although far away in the original cordon, had swung +round and joined in the pursuit. Kirkwood's eyes twinkled as he +deciphered the dots and dashes: "Congrats: your bird!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A PRICE ON HIS HEAD + + +FLIGHT SUB-LIEUTENANT BARCROFT scanned the expanse of water beneath +him. The "Hippodrome" was now a mere speck far away to the west'ard. +Four distinct trails of smoke betokened the fact that British +destroyers were pelting to the scene of the seaplane's victory. + +On all other points of the compass the surface of the sea was +deserted. + +"Wind up!" exclaimed Barcroft, using the speaking-tube for the first +time since the opening of the duel. "I'm going to have a look at our +bag." + +The A.P. began to reel in the trailing length of wireless aerial, +while the pilot, shutting off the motor, began a spiral volplane +towards the surface of the water. His "opposite number"--the +seaplane that had tendered her congratulations--was also gliding +down towards the spot where the Hun aeroplane had struck the +surface. Barcroft recognised her pilot as Lieutenant John Fuller. + +The white patch of foam that had been created by the terrific impact +of the wrecked machine had already vanished, but a series of +everdiverging concentric circles of iridescent oil marked the spot. +The monoplane had sunk like a stone. + +"No use going any lower," announced the Flight-sub, as he prepared +to restart the engine. + +"Hold hard!" exclaimed the observer. "There's something floating. I +believe, by smoke! it's the Boche pilot." + +"That alters the case, then," decided Barcroft. "We'll investigate +still further." + +The Hun showed no signs of life. Kept up by his inflated jacket he +floated on his back, his legs and arms trailing listlessly and his +wide open eyes staring vacantly into the element through which a few +minutes previously he had been flying for his life. + +The British seaplane alighted within a stone's throw of the corpse. +Gravely both pilot and observer saluted the vanquished. Whether he +deserved the honour or not the victors did not pause to consider. He +might have been the cause of the deaths of a score or more +inoffensive civilians--women and children perhaps; but death wipes +out old scores. Barcroft and his companion merely recognised the +dead airman as an opponent worthy of their steel, and as such he was +entitled to the homage that one brave man pays to another. Of his +past record they knew nothing. Their tribute was the spontaneous +acknowledgment of a well-contested fight. + +Slowly the seaplane taxied until one of the floats was within a foot +or so of the Hun airman's corpse. Agilely Kirkwood swung himself +over the side of the fuselage and swarmed down one of the supporting +struts to the broad float. + +"Ugh!" he soliloquised. "The fellow's grinning at me." + +Securing the body the A.P. deftly opened the leather jacket. From +the inner breast pocket he withdrew a bulky pocket-book, a map and +an envelope, sealed and addressed and enclosed in oiled silk. +Further search produced a gunmetal watch. On the lid was inscribed +in High German characters: "War substitute in lieu of gold watch +patriotically surrendered by Unter-leutnant E. von Buelow und +Helferich." A purse completed the list of articles found on the +body. + +"Buck up!" exclaimed Barcroft. "It will be dark in another twenty +minutes." + +Thus abjured Kirkwood opened the valve of the dead airman's inflated +jacket. Slowly the corpse sank beneath the surface to find a +temporary resting-place on the bed of the North Sea. Night had +fallen by the time the seaplanes had returned to their parent ship +and had been safely housed. The "Hippodrome," steaming with screened +lights and escorted by the vigilant destroyers, resumed her belated +run for home waters. + +Barcroft and Kirkwood, in the large and well-lighted wardroom, were +examining the "effects" of their victim, while a crowd of +flying-officers stood round to watch the proceedings. + +The A.P. had separated the Hun's personal belongings and was making +them up into a parcel, to be sealed and delivered to the dead +aviator's relatives when opportunity occurred. It was a point of +etiquette faithfully carried out by the airmen of both sides +whenever circumstances made it possible. + +Barcroft was studiously scanning the documents that were not of a +personal nature. The map was a German production, and comprised a +large scale area of Kent. Probably it was based upon the British +Ordnance Survey, supplemented by details gathered by the swarm of +Hun spies who more or less openly infested the length and breadth of +the British Isles, prior to the memorable month of August 1914. Yet +there was clear evidence of the map being brought up to date, +recently-erected munition factories and other places of military +importance being faithfully recorded. The margin was embellished +with photographic reproductions of views of conspicuous landmarks +taken from a considerable altitude. + +"Jolly rummy how these Boche birds get hold of these views," +commented Fuller. "I swear they didn't take them unless they've been +running daylight trips in noiseless and practically invisible +'planes. It's their strafed organisation that is so wonderful. Knock +holes in that and it's all up with Hunland. Hullo, Billy, what's the +excitement?" + +Barcroft, holding up a paper he had taken from the pocket-book, was +studying it with the deepest interest, while his face was dimpled +with lines of suppressed laughter. + +"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "Won't the governor be bucked? Listen to +this, you fellows. I'll have to go slow, as some of the +tongue-splitting words take a bit of translating: + +"'It is my Royal and Imperial command that steps be taken to secure +the person of the Englishman Peter Barcroft, residing at Rivers dale +House, near Alderdene, in the county of Kent, the said Peter +Barcroft having published or caused to be published books +that--that--(can't quite make out what's Schriftsteller? Ah! I have +it) of which he is the author, the same books treating Us with +libellous contempt. To the good German who succeeds in producing the +said Peter Barcroft alive on German soil will be paid the reward of +twenty thousand marks. In the event of the said Peter Barcroft being +slain by the act of one of my subjects the reward will be ten +thousand marks.--Wilhelm, I.R.'" + +"So that's what Unter-leutnant E. von Buelow und Helferich was on the +stunt for," remarked Fuller. "Yes, by smoke! there's a red circle +drawn round the village of Alderdene. Billy, my festive, your pater +will have to look out for himself." + +"Perhaps the Hun has already wiped Riversdale House out of +existence," said Barcroft with a hearty laugh. + +His brother officers looked at him in astonishment. His levity, at +the possibility of his parent's annihilation by a few hundred pounds +of high explosive, seemed altogether out of place. + +"Steady, old man," exclaimed Tarleton, the senior "flight-luff." + +"Can't help it," continued Barcroft, vainly endeavouring to suppress +his mirth. "Fancy a Boche going all that way on a fruitless errand, +even supposing he did drop a plum within half a mile of the house. +The governor vacated the show last quarter-day, and it's still +empty. There isn't another house within a couple of miles of it, and +it belongs to a regular pig of a lawyer-josser who's at loggerheads +with everybody. Let's hope, if the house is pulverised, that it +isn't insured against hostile aircraft. I'm not vindictive, but it +would serve the bounder right." + +"Where's your governor now?" enquired Fuller. + +"Eh? Entering for the Kaiser's Stakes, old man? Well, here's a clue. +He's moved to Tarleigh, a little show somewhere in Lancashire. About +six or seven miles from Barborough, I believe, and the same distance +from anywhere else. At any rate, I'm off there directly I get my +leave. By Jove, won't the old man feel honoured!--a price set on his +head by Irresponsible Bill. He'll feel as proud as Punch. By the +bye--don't all speak at once--who's pinched my matches?" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +CONCERNING PETER BARCROFT + + +"AND Billy arrives by the ten-fifty. No, I don't think I'll wait +here for three hours and then stand a chance of missing him. I'll +get back home and give him a fitting welcome to the new house." + +Thus meditated Peter Barcroft as he paced up and down the crowded +up-platform of Barborough Station. He had studied with varying +emotions a poster depicting a flabby, pigeon-toed child with one +hand over that part of the human form known to infants as a "tummy" +and supposed to be ejaculating, "I feel so jolly here." Even that +mild excitement paled, and Mr. Barcroft pined for the congenial +warmth of his study. The platform was cold and draughty, offering no +inducements to linger for the arrival of the sure-to-be belated +"ten-fifty." + +Peter Barcroft was a thick-set man of fortyfive. In height he was a +good two inches shorter than his airman son. He was clean shaven. +Had he removed his Norfolk cap it might have been noticed that his +iron-grey hair showed thin on his temples and was conspicuously +absent on the top of his head. His forehead was high, and in +conjunction with two vertical wrinkles extending upwards from the +inner ends of his eyebrows, gave the appearance of a deep thinker. +Otherwise there was little about him to give one the idea that he +was engaged in literary pursuits. According to popular notions he +ought to be wearing shabby clothes of eccentric, out-of-date cut; he +should affect a weird type of soft collar and a flowing tie; his +hair ought to be long and wavy. But Peter Barcroft had none of these +qualifications. To judge him by appearances he was just an ordinary +middle-aged man of powerful physique and retaining many of the +qualities of a bygone athletic age. + +He had been living only a fortnight in Lancashire. Why he migrated +from Kent was a mystery to the friends he had left behind. Perhaps +he did not know himself, unless it was surrender to a sudden, almost +eccentric desire for pastures new. + +Up to a certain point he possessed the artistic temperament. He +worked only when it suited him, and generally seized every plausible +excuse to "knock off." Yet, when he did settle to his task he wrote +at a tremendous rate, and so vilely that often he was quite unable +to decipher his own caligraphy. In financial matters he was as +careless as a man could possibly be. Rarely he knew the state of his +current account. Trivial matters in everyday life would send him +into a towering rage, while the loss of a couple of hundred pounds +hardly troubled him in the least degree. He would ransack the house +to find a favourite pipe which he had mislaid, or waste half a day +searching in vain for a certain pen which he felt sure he had left +in such-and-such a place. On the other hand, when a valuable and +almost new overcoat was stolen from the hall he just shrugged his +shoulders and soon forgot all about it. + +During the fortnight he had been the tenant of Ladybird Fold, Peter +Barcroft had either "sacked" or had been "sacked" by three +housemaids and two cooks, to the consternation and despair of his +wife. The servant problem, probably more acute in the manufacturing +district of Lancashire than anywhere else in the kingdom, was in +this case rendered even more difficult by Peter's display of +irritation at the manifold but trivial delinquencies of his staff of +menials. + +Mrs. Barcroft had gone on a visit to a relative in Cheshire on the +strength of a vague report that there was a girl who might be +willing to take the vacant place of housemaid at Ladybird Fold-His +wife's absence for two days had given Peter the excuse to "knock +off." It was one of his avowed peculiarities that he could not write +a stroke unless his wife were with him in the study. So Mr. Barcroft +had gone for a jaunt in his light car. + +After the splendidly-surfaced gravelled or tarmac roads of Kent the +greasy granite setts and bumpy slag roads of the north came as an +unpleasant surprise to the easy-going Peter. A couple of punctures +in addition to a slight collision with a "lurry"--a type of vehicle +hitherto known to him as a lorry--did not improve his peace of mind, +while what ought to have been the climax to a day of mishaps was the +sudden failure of the magneto at a desolate spot on the western +slope of the Pennine Hills. + +But unruffled Peter pushed the car on to the side of the road and +tramped stolidly into the nearest village--a good three miles. Here, +in an interview with the decrepit motor-engineer (Barcroft guessed +rightly that he was too _passe_ even for munition making), he learnt +that at least a month must elapse before the magneto could be +re-wired. He received the intelligence with equanimity, for in his +pocket was a telegram to the effect that Billy was coming home that +night. Nothing else mattered. + +"Which is the Tarleigh train?" enquired Mr. Barcroft of a porter. + +"Next one in on this side," replied the man gruffly. + +Half a minute later the train rumbled into the station. Mr. +Barcroft, realising that up to the present he had not mastered the +intricate system of train-service of the Lancashire and Yorkshire +Railway, and having had many previous experiences of being +misinformed by surly servants of the various railway companies, +addressed himself to a passenger who was about to enter a carriage. + +"Tarleigh? Yes, you're quite right. At any rate, I'm for Blackberry +Cross." + +"Thank you," replied Peter. + +"Motorist?" enquired the other laconically. "Yes; had a breakdown." + +The ice was broken. The studied, almost taciturn reserve of the +typical level-headed Lancashire man was not proof against the claims +of motoring. Before the train glided out of the station the two +passengers were deep in the subject of cars and their peculiarities. + +"Dash it all! we seem a long time getting to Two Elms," remarked the +stranger. + +He drew aside the blind and peered into the darkness. At that moment +the train rumbled under a broad bridge. + +"Sorry!" he exclaimed. "We're already half way between Blackberry +Cross and Tarleigh. We must have taken the wrong train: it's a +non-stop to Windyhill." + +"Don't mention it," rejoined Peter affably. "I'm quite enjoying your +society. An hour or so won't make very much difference provided I +can get home before eleven. I hope you won't be inconvenienced?" + +The stranger laughed. + +"I'm secretary of the Tarleigh and Blackberry Cross Golf Club," he +explained. "Entwistle--Philip Entwistle--is my name. By profession I +am what is commonly known as a vet. It's our Annual General Meeting, +and I'm due there at eight." + +"'Fraid it will have to stop at the due," said Mr. Barcroft grimly. +"It's 7.30 already." + +"You'll be all right," continued Entwistle. "There's a train back +from Windyhill at 10.5, You're a stranger to the district?" + +"Fairly so," admitted Peter. "I've take Ladybird Fold for three +years." + +"Your name doesn't happen to be Norton--Andrew Norton?" + +"No," was the reply. "Barcroft's my name. I know Norton. He's a +newcomer. Only been here a week, I believe; and in that time he's +frozen on to me. Kind of companionship in a strange land, so to +speak. He seems a very decent sort; in fact, I rather like him. He's +my nearest neighbour and he lives at least half a mile from Ladybird +Fold." + +"What is he?" asked Entwistle. "Independent?" + +"So I should imagine. He has plenty of time on his hands, and spends +a good part of it with me, except when I have to choke him off. +He'll be sitting in my study when I get home, for a dead cert. +Already he's made it a practice of looking me up at ten o'clock of +an evening, after I've knocked off. You see," he added +apologetically. "I have to work." + +"At what?" enquired his companion, the Lancashire thirst for +knowledge ever in the foreground. + +"I am a professional liar," announced Peter with mock gravity. + +"A what? Oh, I suppose you mean that you're a lawyer?" + +"Heaven forbid!" protested Mr. Barcroft piously. "You misunderstand +me. I am a novelist. Modesty forbids me to give you my _nom de +Plume_. At present, however, I am engaged upon a book of a technical +character dealing with the conduct of the war. Perhaps some of my +theories will be a bit startling when pushed on to the British +Public, but they'll be vindicated." + +"Hang it all!" exclaimed Entwistle. "I have heard of you already." + +"Have you really?" enquired Peter. Professional vanity--although he +was not afflicted with "swollen head"--made him perhaps justifiably +keen on hearing outside opinions of his literary efforts. + +"Yes," continued his companion. "It was the Vicar of Tarleigh. He +was in Wheatcroft's place--down the bottom of Blackberry Hill and +while he was talking to the old man a car came along driven by you. +In it were two sheep dogs barking like fury. I think I am right in +the description?" + +Peter nodded appreciatingly. + +"Says the vicar, 'And what might that terrific disturbance mean?' +'Eh, parson,' replied Old Wheatcroft, 'tis but that there +novel-writing chap as lives in Ladybird Fold.' So you see they've +got you posted up all right. But here we are," he continued, as the +train came to a standstill. "It's a jolly draughty station to hang +about." + +"It is," admitted Barcroft. "But fortunately there's very little +wind. A proper Zeppelin night." + +"Suppose so," admitted Entwistle. "You see, we don't worry very much +about those gentry. Now, in Yorkshire, for instance, it would be +otherwise, but we are on the right side of the Pennines. I don't for +one moment think that a Zep. will ever get so far as this." + +Peter shrugged his shoulders. On that matter, he preferred to +maintain silence. + +Up and down the bleak platform the two men paced until Entwistle, +glancing at his watch in the feeble glimmer of a shaded lamp, +exclaimed--"Twenty-five to eleven. Bless my soul, the time has gone +quickly. That confounded train is late." + +Before Barcroft could offer any remark the platform lights were +turned off. Simultaneously, the electric signal lamps ceased to give +forth their red and green warning. + +"What's up?" demanded Entwistle. "Failure of the gas works and the +Company's electric light station?" + +"Hanged if I know," declared Peter. "It strikes me very forcibly +that we'll have to walk those seven miles. I suppose it means twelve +for you? A taxi, or even a humble four-wheeler is an impossibility +in this forsaken hole." + +A man, stumbling across the rails in the darkness, clambered upon +the platform within a yard of the two would-be passengers. + +"Sorry, sir," he muttered apologetically. + +"What's all this about?" enquired Entwistle. "Why have the lights +gone out? Are there no more trains to-night?" + +"No, sir, no more trains yet awhile," replied the porter, for such +he was. "They've just got a warning through. Them swine of Zeps. is +somewheres about." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +WHEN THE ZEPPELIN WAS OUT + + +"WE'LL have to foot it, man," declared Entwistle decidedly. "Unless +we can get a car to pick us up on the road. Zeppelins, by smoke! +Whoever would have thought it? I didn't; not this side of the +Pennines." + +"So I believe you said," replied Peter Barcroft, as the two men +swung down the inclined approach to the station and gained the setts +of the dingy street. "Still, they may be miles away. These official +warnings are the pattern of eccentricity. You know the road?" + +"Yes fortunately Dash it all! I don't mind the excitement. It's my +wife I'm thinking about, if they should come to Barborough. Ever +seen a Zep., Barcroft?" + +"Several," replied Peter. "They are fairly common objects down in +Kent. Get quite accustomed to them. Latterly I have slept soundly, +in spite of the noise of the engines. Of course they didn't drop any +bombs in that particular district. In point of fact they eventually +dumped their dangerous cargo into some fields a few miles from +anywhere. Our lighting restrictions are far more stringent than they +are up here. Barborough is a blaze of light compared, say, with +Tangtable or Cobley, the nearest large towns to Alderdene, where I +used to live." + +"You used to sleep through it," repeated Mr. Entwistle. "That +reminds me. I noticed that when we were walking up and down the +platform just now you invariably got round to my left as we turned. +Are you deaf in one ear?" + +"Yes," replied Peter. "Stone deaf in my left. A really valuable +asset when one has to be in the presence of bores, or enduring +curtain lectures and the like." + +"Then we may congratulate ourselves," was his companion's response. +"I, too, am deaf, only in my right ear. When I was at school at +Scarborough a brute of a master hiked me up by my ears. Result, +deafness in one of them. Yes, I agree, it's very convenient at +times." + +By now they had breasted the steep rise out of Windyhill and had +gained the bleak summit of the lofty ridge. In ordinary +circumstances would be seen the twinkling lights from scores of +factories--"works" as these are termed locally--in the five distinct +valleys that radiate from this particular spur. All was now in utter +darkness, save for a feeble glimmer from an isolated signal-box at +the entrance to a deep cutting. + +"That chap's looking for trouble," declared Barcroft, indicating the +dim patch of luminosity. "They would spot that for a distance of ten +miles. I say, isn't the atmosphere clear for this part of the +country, and in autumn, too. It's the first absolutely fine night I +have seen since I've lived here--ideal for Zeps., too. No wind to +speak of and pitch dark. Listen." + +The two men stopped abruptly. Above the faint rumble of the evening +breeze could be distinguished a subdued and distinct hum. + +"That's the brute," declared Peter. "It's a Zep, sure enough." + +"Certain?" asked Entwistle anxiously. + +"Rather--and it's coming this way." + +In silence the two pedestrians waited. Nearer and nearer came the +now increasing buzzing of the engines of the immense gas-bag. Vainly +they attempted to detect the elongated airship. With heads thrown +back they strove to pierce the black vault above. The "thing" was +there, but it was invisible from where they stood. Only by the +sinister sounds did they know of its presence. Then with the same +rapidity as the unseen had approached the whirr grew fainter and +fainter until it was heard no longer. + +"Phew!" ejaculated Entwistle, mopping his forehead. "I'm not of a +funky nature, but, by Jove! I'm glad that beastly thing's gone. It +gives a fellow a peculiar sensation somewhere in the region of the +stomach. What's the time?" + +"About eleven, I should imagine," replied Barcroft. "I won't strike +a match. Well, I suppose the Zep. has missed Barborough by this +time--unless she's slowed down and circling over the town," he added +in an undertone. + +They were descending into one of the numerous valleys that lay +betwixt them and Tarleigh. The effluvium of a neighbouring bleaching +works was wafted to their nostrils. + +"Rufford's Works," explained Entwistle. "Lucky that Zep didn't drop +a bomb. There are hundreds of gallons of benzine stored there.... +Yes, I fancy it's all right as far as Barborough is concerned. Wish +a car would overtake us. Notwithstanding the fine night I don't feel +particularly keen for a long tramp." + +"Let me give you a shakedown at Ladybird Fold," suggested Peter. +"You can telephone through to Barborough and let your wife know +where you are." + +"No, no, my dear fellow," protested Entwistle. "It's imposing on +your good nature. Besides, you mentioned that your son was coming +home on leave." + +"Yes," said Mr. Barcroft. "Wonder if he's arrived yet, or is held up +at some out-of-the-way railway station or in a tunnel. That won't +make any difference. If it did I shouldn't have mentioned the +matter. I can be as confoundedly blunt as you Lancashire people when +I want." + +"So I believe," rejoined Entwistle tersely. "Well, I'll accept your +offer with pleasure. Now for the next hill. It's a regular brute, +even for this part of the world. When a fellow is past forty he's +not so good at this sort of work as he was. One has to admit the +fact however much one tries to stifle the discovery. I used to pride +myself on being a runner, and it came as a nasty shock when my +fifteen-year-old son beat me in a 440 sprint--not by so very much, +though," he added in defence of his bygone prowess. + +"The third milestone," announced Peter pointing to a weatherbeaten +slab just visible in the gloom. + +"Yes, and the highest part of the road," added Entwistle. "It is +about----". + +He stopped abruptly. Away to the southward a vivid flash illuminated +the sky, followed by three more in quick succession. Summer +lightning would pale into insignificance compared with the intensity +of those momentary sheets of lurid light. + +"Good heavens--Barborough!" ejaculated the vet. + +Barcroft made no remark. Failing his inability to read the face of +his watch he placed the fingers of his right hand on his left wrist +and carefully counted the pulse beats. + +"Forty-five!" he announced calmly as the first of four loud +detonations rent the air. + +Crash--crash--crash--crash. It was as if he had been inside a tin +bath and some one was belabouring it with a wooden mallet. Even +allowing for the distance of the source of the sound the din was +terrible. + +A minute later came two more flashes, almost simultaneously, with +forty-eight beats before the reports. Then one solitary flash +followed by an even greater interval ere the detonation was heard. + +"The brutes!" muttered Entwistle. + +Again Peter made no audible comment. He was making a rapid mental +calculation. Seventy pulsations to a minute: sound travels at +roughly 365 yards to a second. Yes, that placed the scene of the +raid at a distance of nine miles, and judging by the direction it +was that populous town that had been the target for the missiles of +the Zeppelin. + +"She's gone, at any rate," he said. + +"Yes, but goodness only knows what damage she's done in that minute +and a half," added Entwistle. "What's more we're between her and +that cursed Germany. Come on, man, let's hasten." + +It was half-past twelve as the two pedestrians made their way +through the village of Scatterbeck. Almost the whole of the +population was astir, discussing in the shrill rapid Lancashire +dialect the totally unexpected visit of the aerial raider. Thrice +enquiries on the part of Barcroft and his companion brought the +disconcerting information that no vehicle of any description was +available. There was nothing for it but to continue their long +tramp. + +At length the summit of Tarleigh Hill was surmounted. Here they +encountered a belated wayfarer--a watchman from the neighbouring +works. + +"Eh, maaester," he replied to an anxious question. "I'm thinkin' 'tes +Barborough right enow. Seed 'em drop mysen, an' agen ower Percombe +way. Eh, but there'll be a rush to t' recruitin' office after this. +Lancashire's done main well in sojerin', but this'll cap everythin'. +This night's work'll cost that there Kayser summat when the +Barborough lads in t' trenches get to know o' it." + +"That fellow's right," commented Mr. Barcroft after the watchman had +taken a by-road. "These Zeps, do very little military damage. They +don't intimidate or terrify the people, except, perhaps, those in +the actual district raided. The German bombs are like the dragon's +teeth of mythology; sown, they spring up as British soldiers, eager +to avenge themselves upon the Kaiser's troops. If I had my way I'd +run cheap excursions to the raided areas from Bristol, Exeter and +other towns as yet not troubled with the Zeps. to let the people see +the damage done to British homes. That would stir their imaginations +and let 'em think strongly. Instead, all details of raids are kept, +or are endeavoured to be kept, a profound secret by our wiseacres in +authority. The report of the damage done is minimised--not that I +would suggest making the news public as far as buildings of military +importance are concerned--and the result is that the phlegmatic +Briton who is not directly affected by the raid merely reads the +bald newspaper account, mentally consigns the Government to +perdition and forgets all about it." + +"According to that American lecturer, Curtin, they do things better +in France," added Entwistle. "The French allow full descriptions of +the Zeppelin raids in their country to be published, and the result +is discouraging to the Huns. At the time we were referring to these +raids taking place in the 'eastern counties,' when the Germans knew +exactly where they had been. I shouldn't wonder if this night's +affair is described as taking place on the East Coast or the South +Midlands instead of within sight of the Irish Sea." + +"And yet nothing did more to depress the Germans than the humorous +and true accounts of the Zep, raids that were eventually allowed to +appear in the British newspapers." + +"Except when we do bag half a dozen of them at one swoop," added the +vet. "Mark my words, we'll get our own back with interest." + +"What's the matter?" asked Peter, noticing that his companion had +reduced his pace and was limping slightly. + +"Galled heel, worse luck," replied the vet. Even in the darkness +Barcroft could discern his face twitching. "But it's nothing. I'll +stick it." + +"Look here," declared Barcroft authoritatively. There were times +when the easy-going Peter could make himself obeyed. "It's all jolly +rot your carrying on. You'll be lame in another mile. You must stick +to the original programme, and stop at my place. What's happened at +Barborough has happened, and your presence there to-night won't mend +matters. Besides, there's the telephone." + +Entwistle capitulated. In fact he was in great pain. The injury to +his foot was more than he cared to admit. Not only was his heel +badly chafed, but he had twisted his ankle on a loose stone. + +"All right," he replied. "But suppose I can't get through on the +'phone?" + +"You will," said Barcroft confidently. "Now: hang on to my arm. It's +only a couple of hundred yards up the hill." + +The last two hundred yards was a pilgrimage of pain. The approach +was along a narrow lane paved with irregular slabs and enshrouded: +with trees that threw the path into even greater gloom than the high +road. The blackness was so intense that it appeared to have +weight--to press upon their eyeballs like a tightly adjusted +bandage. Away to the left came the gurgle of a mountain stream as it +flowed swiftly through a deep cutting in the rocks. + +"Here we are," said Peter at last. + +"Yes," agreed Entwistle. "I know the place." + +They were now clear of the trees. Looming mistily against the dark +sky was a long, rambling, two-storeyed building surrounded by a +roughly built stone wall. The latticed windows were heavily +curtained. Not a light nor a sound came from the isolated dwelling. + +"So Billy hasn't turned up yet," remarked Barcroft senior as he +fumbled for his key. "Why, by Jove, the door's wide open!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AT LADYBIRD FOLD + + +"COME in," he continued, assisting his companion over the threshold. +"I won't switch a light on in the hall until I close the door. Jolly +queer about it being open. There'll be a court of enquiry in the +morning." + +A violent scratching upon the study door attracted his attention. + +"That's Ponto and Nan--my sheep-dogs," he explained. "Wonder why +they are locked in? They ought to be in the kennels. They're quiet +enough: they won't bite." + +Entwistle smiled grimly. Peter's idea of quiet seemed rather +peculiar, for the animals were barking furiously and redoubling +their attacks upon the door. + +"The paintwork?" echoed Barcroft in answer to his companion's +enquiry, as he proceeded to hang up his cap and coat. "Oh, that +won't matter. You see, there's a curtain on the inside and that +hides the marks." + +He opened the door of the study, to be greeted with a blaze of +dazzling light and a couple of shaggy-haired dogs, who hurled +themselves upon him in an ecstasy of delight. + +"Down, down, both of you! Kennel up," ordered their master. + +The dogs obeyed, Ponto retiring to the limited space between the +pedestals of the roll-top desk while Nan bounded into the large +arm-chair by the fire. + +"That's better," said Barcroft composedly, glancing at the desk to +see if any letter had arrived. "Now take it easy for a bit. There's +the telephone. I'll scout round and see what's going. Whisky? Good! +Excuse me a minute while I look for some stuff for your foot." + +Philip Entwistle settled himself in the only vacant arm-chair and +took stock of his immediate surroundings. The study was a fairly +large room, measuring, roughly, thirty feet by twenty. On the side +facing south were three broad casement windows, now heavily +curtained with a light-proof fabric. The door was on the eastern +side, opening into a spacious hall. The remaining walls were blank +except for the old-fashioned fireplace. Oak panelling and massive +beams of the same material--wood that had been in position for close +on three hundred years--gave an old-time appearance to the room. The +furniture was hardly in keeping with the place. Presumably it was +for utility. The large pedestal, roll-top desk occupied a +proportionate position against the west wall. Almost every available +bit of wall-space was taken up with book-cases groaning under the +weight of volumes of all sizes and ages, from the leatherbound tomes +of the late Stuart period to the modern "sevenpenny." Not a picture +was in evidence. Instead, above the book-shelves the walls were +adorned with pieces of medieval armour and weapons ranging from the +Elizabethan musketoon and pike to the latest type of magazine rifle. +Above the fireplace was a seven-feet-scale model of a super-Dreadnought +that, in its sombre garb of battleship grey, contrasted +strongly with the black and yellow striped hull and dun-coloured +canvas of an eighteenth century frigate that adorned another part +of the room. + +The study, like the rest of the house, was lighted by electricity--a +discovery that Peter Barcroft had made with huge satisfaction. It +was, indeed, a rare chance to hit upon an isolated dwelling, in a +commanding, lofty situation, well-built and supplied with water, gas +and electricity. The secret lay in the fact that at one time it had +been the residence of the manager of the nearest bleaching works. +Had it been daylight one would have noticed a line of hefty posts +supporting a cable-system that ran up hill and down dale almost as +far as the eye could reach. At certain intervals the supports bore a +large board on which was painted in bold letters: "Dangerous--10,000 +volts"--a warning to the youth of the district who might feel +tempted to fly kites over the wires or even to climb the poles out +of sheer exuberance of juvenile spirits. + +It was from this cable by means of a "transformer" that Ladybird +Fold derived its supply of electric current, and, as it happened, +the works had not received any warning that night of the raid--a +circumstance that contributed greatly to the comfort of Peter +Barcroft's den. + +From his chair Entwistle glanced at his host's desk and shuddered. +The cover had been left rolled back, disclosing a veritable chaos of +papers, reference books, writing materials, pipes and two large +tobacco-jars. The pigeon-holes were crammed to bursting-point with a +medley of papers, particularly the one labelled "Letters to be +answered." From another gaped the crumpled ends of what were +evidently a number of cheques that awaited a favourable opportunity +on the part of the busy author (he put in an occasional two hours a +day, be it remembered) to be paid into the Barborough Bank. A thick +layer of dust covered the desk, although everything else in the room +was fairly clear if the patches of tobacco ash on the carpet square +were not taken into account. It was part of Peter's creed to knock +out his pipes on the heel of his boot and deposit their remains on +the floor, convenient ash-trays notwithstanding. For one thing it +kept the moth away. + +The dust, too, upon the desk was the result of studied design. The +"help" from the village--a temporary importation pending Mrs. +Barcroft's return and provided she was successful in her distracting +quest--had been strictly enjoined, browbeaten and threatened with +divers pains and penalties, not to disturb Peter's papers. With luck +he could find what he wanted in five minutes; without, in an hour. +That is, if the desk had been left severely alone. Otherwise, should +the timorous female dare to "side-up"--a Lancashire expression that +puzzled Barcroft tremendously at first--the quest would be almost +hopeless. + +Had Philip Entwistle been more inquisitive and observant he might +have noticed that on the top of the pile of literary debris were two +objects that showed no signs of a coating of dust. One was a bound +volume entitled _The Theories of Modern Naval Warfare_--a work of +Peter's that had been responsible for a price being set upon the +head of that as yet unconscious-of-the-fact worthy. The other was a +batch of manuscript comprising his nearly completed book _The Great +Reckoning--and After._ + +The reappearance of his host with a tray bearing a tantalus, syphon +and a couple of glasses, cut short Entwistle's casual survey. + +"How goes it now?" asked Barcroft. "Telephoned?" + +"You certainly said, 'There's the telephone,'" replied his guest, +"but failed to explain to my satisfaction where 'there' is. +Consequently that solemn and protracted rite has not yet been +performed." + +"Sorry," said Peter with a laugh. "My mistake entirely. I ought to +have mentioned that that convenient but much maligned instrument is +in the hall. There's a great-coat hanging over it: my device to +deaden the nerve-racking sound of the bell." + +Entwistle shuffled across the room. In spite of the fact that he was +now wearing a pair of his host's capacious slippers the injured foot +occasioned him more pain than while he was on his way to the house. + +He left the door ajar. Barcroft could hear him thumping the as yet +unresponsive machine. Quite five minutes passed before his guest +could "get on." + +"Number four four five, Barborough ... what--engaged ... no reply? +Well, try again." + +More violent manipulation of the telephone accompanied by a flow of +forcible language resulted in the desired object being attained. + +"That you, Vi?... Yes,.. yes,.. no, I wasn't injured ... what's +that? Church Street knocked out of existence.... Not nervous? That's +good. I'm speaking from Ladybird Fold, Tarleigh. Tell Jarvis to run +the car over for me in the morning. Yes, about ten. Good-night." + +Returning to his study he found Peter at his desk. + +"Needn't have worried so much about my wife," he announced. "She's +quite plucky over it. She even chipped me at having missed the +excitement." + +Barcroft did not reply. He was regarding his desk with a distinctly +preoccupied air. + +"Dash the L.L.P." he exclaimed, addressing the room in general +rather than his guest. "I'll swear she's been meddling with my +papers. And she left that door open. I'll let her know who rules +this show." + +"Who's L.L.P.?" enquired Entwistle. + +His host laughed. + +"Merely the help," he replied. "Carter's her name. I call her Little +Liver Pill--she reminds me of one. L.L.P, for short, you know." + +"Might be your friend Andrew Norton," suggested the other. + +"By Jove, yes! I hadn't thought of that," was the reply. "All the +same, I don't think he would touch my desk. It's just likely that in +a preoccupied moment (although as a rule he isn't given that way) he +may have gone home and left the lights switched on and the door +open. Hulloa, this looks queer! I wonder if Norton got into a funk +over the Zep.?" + +Barcroft pointed to a pipe lying on the mantelpiece. It was freshly +filled and the tobacco was slightly charred, indicating that the +owner had been interrupted in the act of lighting up. + +"His pipe," he continued. "And he seems a fairly methodical fellow, +not likely to leave anything behind. Hope he's all right. If it +wasn't for the fact that I've had a long tramp and it's close on one +thirty I'd run across to his place." + +"What sort of a man is he?" enquired Entwistle. + +"Decent--quite. Nothing of the bore about him, or I would have +choked him off very quickly," replied Barcroft grimly. "Quite +informal, and different from the ordinary type of caller when a +fellow comes into a fresh district. You know the sort--stiff-necked +blighters of both sexes who pay formal calls for the sole purpose of +finding out who you are, what you are and what you've got. In my +case, I suppose, they expect to find a sort of untamed curiosity: +that's how they regard literary men, I believe. But my time is too +precious to waste in that way, so I let them know it pretty quickly. +Ah, there are the trains running again," he added as a dull rumble +was borne to their ears. "Zep. show's over for to-night. Keen on +bed?" + +"Not very," replied Entwistle. "Are you?" + +"I'm going to wait up for Billy," said the fond parent. "Wonder what +the young bounder is doing now?" + +As he spoke came the sounds of quick, firm footsteps up the cobbled +path. Before Peter could get across the room the door was thrown +open and Flight-Sub-lieutenant Barcroft, his face blackened with +smoke and dust and his great-coat bearing signs of rough usage, +burst into the room. + +"Cheer-o, pater!" he exclaimed. "Sorry I'm late. Some night, eh, +what?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +KIDNAPPED + + +IT will now be necessary to set back the hands of the clock to the +hour of ten on the evening of the Zeppelin's visit to Barborough. + +At that hour Mr. Andrew Norton was knocking on the door of Ladybird +Fold, and vainly endeavouring to restrain the boisterous attentions +of Ponto and Nan. + +"Good evening, Mrs. Carter," he said as the door was opened +revealing the domestic stopgap with her head covered by a shawl--the +recognised head-dress of the working-class women of industrial +Lancashire. "Any one at home?" + +"Only mysen, master," was the reply. "An' in another minute you +would be findin' me gone. Mr. Barcroft he's out, but he'll not be +long, I'm thinkin'. An' young Mr. Barcroft--'im as is in the +Navy--is expected home to-night. But come in, you're kindly +welcome." + +"And at what time is young Mr. Barcroft expected?" he asked in a +tone that implied mild curiosity, as he stepped over the threshold. + +"I'm not for sayin' for certain. Master had a telegram. You'll not +be wantin' anythin', sir?" + +Norton shook his head. Accompanied by the two dogs he entered the +study and switched on the lights. As he did so he heard the door +slam and Mrs. Carter's retreating footsteps on the hard path. + +He knew how to make himself at home during his friend's absence. He +was one of those men who have the happy knack of forming quick +friendships, and the somewhat easy-going Peter was a good subject in +that respect. + +Andrew Norton was a man of forty-five, although he looked +considerably younger. He was of medium height, full-featured and +inclined to stoutness. A keen motorist, he had attracted Barcroft's +attention on the very first day of his taking possession of "The +Croft," when he was endeavouring to take a large car up the +difficult lane beyond Ladybird Fold. Since there was plenty of +accommodation in the outbuilding utilised as a garage at Barcroft's +house Peter's suggestion that it would be easier for the newcomer to +The Croft to keep his car there and thus save a steep and loose +ascent was accepted with profuse gratitude. + +From that moment the friendship ripened. Almost every evening after +the literary man's strenuous labours were completed for the day +Andrew Norton would drop in for a smoke and a yarn. + +"Rotten nuisance!" mused the hostless guest as he settled himself in +an easy chair. "If only I knew what time he was returning. The +uncertainty will probably make a regular mess of present +arrangements." + +It might have been idle curiosity that prompted him to cross over to +the desk and examine Peter's uncompleted work; sheer anxiety that +led him to the open window to listen intently for the sound of his +absent friend's footsteps. + +Through the uncurtained window three shafts of brilliant light were +flung upon the closely-cropped lawn, the limit of the rays being +defined by a thick hedge dividing the lawn from the rose-garden. + +"No signs yet," he muttered, as he glanced at the clock for the +twentieth time. "Friend Barcroft's regrettable absence is spoiling +my evening. I'll get back to The Croft." + +He drew the curtains with deliberate care, so that no stray ray of +light should escape. Lighting restrictions were lax in that part of +Lancashire, as the twinkling glimmers from the houses in the valley +testified; for in the district where he had previously lived for two +years there were drastic observances on that score, and now the +habit of conforming to the requirements of the authorities was not +lightly to be dropped. + +"I'll give him five minutes more," he soliloquised as he drew a pipe +from his pocket and charged it with great deliberation. This he +proceeded to light, making use of a paper spill. Here he showed a +marked contrast to the easygoing methods of the occupier of Ladybird +Fold. In spite of their high price, Peter invariably used +matches--and plenty of them. Usually the hearth was littered with +the burnt-out stumps, for Barcroft always had a pipe in his mouth +when he was writing. It might go out twenty times before the tobacco +was expended, but every time a fresh match was struck and flung away +to augment the already numerous accumulation in the fireplace. + +Just then the two dogs sat up and barked. Norton started nervously. +He was only just beginning to get used to the sturdy, shaggy +animals. + +"Quiet!" he shouted. + +A peremptory knock sounded on the door. The still burning spill fell +from the man's fingers. He made his way into the hall, shutting the +study door upon the dogs. Vainly he groped for the switch operating +the front door light. + +"Who's there?" he demanded. + +"Telegram for Mr. Barcroft," replied a deep voice. + +Had Norton paused to consider the likelihood of a telegram being +delivered at a very late hour in a remote country district he might +have saved himself from a great deal of personal inconvenience. But +he did not. + +He threw open the door. His eyes, still dazzled by the quick +transition from the brilliant light within to the intense darkness +without, stared vacantly into the night, while his right hand groped +furtively for the expected orange coloured envelope. + +As he did so a pair of powerful hands grasped his ankles. His +involuntary exclamation of mingled astonishment and indignation was +stifled by a thick cloth twisted over his mouth and round his head, +while simultaneously his arms were pinioned to his sides. + +Unable to move a limb, much less to struggle, he found himself +lifted from the ground and borne away as helpless as an infant. + +"Fools!" he spluttered. "Fools! You'll be sorry for this." + +Whether his captors heard his muffled protests or not they paid no +heed save to give the cloth that encircled his head an extra twist. +The pressure upon his nose was painful. He had difficulty in +breathing, so, realising that his stifled exclamations were futile, +he wisely held his peace from a vocal point of view, although +inwardly he was raging furiously. + +He could hear the boots of his captors clattering on the cobbles +until the crisp-sounding footfalls told him that the men had gained +the cinder path on the east side of the house. Then, with +considerable effort on the part of his bearers, he was lifted up a +flight of four stone steps, beyond which, he knew, was an extensive +grassfield that rose gradually for the next half mile. + +Grunting and obviously short of breath the men trudged stolidly +onwards for perhaps nearly two hundred yards. Once Norton thought +fit to make a sudden effort and wriggle from his captors' grasp, but +the attempt ended disastrously to himself. Brutally they bumped him +upon the ground. The shock to the spinal system was excruciating, +but it had the desired effect. The prisoner's spirit of resistance +was broken; even the stern mandate, "Quiet, or you are a dead man," +was unnecessary. + +The scarf or cloth that enveloped his head had slipped during the +struggle. He could now see. Either his kidnappers had not noticed +the fact or else they regarded it as of no consequence. + +He could discern the faces and upper portions of the bodies of the +two men. They were tall burly fellows dressed in black oilskins. In +spite of their powerful physique they were breathing stertorously; +they reeked of petrol. + +Another fifty yards and they came to a halt. Norton turned his head +and saw what appeared at first sight to be the dark grey body of a +motorcar. It was quivering under the application of some unseen +influence, yet there was no purr of internal mechanism to justify +the belief that it possessed self-contained machinery. + +"Lash that schweinhund's ankles, Pfeil," ordered one of the fellows +in German. "That is right; now do you enter first and I'll heave the +English fool up so that you can get him inside." + +"Now is the dangerous time," commented his companion as he scrambled +through a narrow aperture. + +"It is ever a dangerous time with us," rejoined the other gloomily. + +"Ah, yes; but now? Supposing the wire is insufficient to take the +strain?" + +"It will bear thrice our total weight," replied the first speaker, +"frail though it looks. No fear of that breaking. It is that +highly-charged electric cable that worries me. We must have landed +nearer to it than we should have done, yet it looks further away on +the map." + +The fellow completed his difficult task of lifting Norton into the +interior of the covered-in car--the observation room of a Zeppelin +floating motionless five hundred feet or so overhead. + +The commander of the giant aircraft had successfully carried out a +daring manoeuvre with the ultimate object of taking prisoner the man +on whom his imperial master the "All-Highest" had set a price for +his capture. Taking advantage of an almost imperceptible breeze and +knowing his position to an almost dead certainty by means of exact +cross-bearings afforded by three reservoirs, conspicuous even in the +darkness, he had caused to be lowered the aluminium observation car. + +In flight this contrivance is slung close under the after part of +the Zeppelin, but when necessary it can be lowered by means of a +fine but enormously strong flexible steel wire to a maximum distance +of two thousand feet beneath the giant envelope. Thus it is possible +for a Zeppelin to remain hidden in a bank of clouds and lower the +observation car to within a few hundred feet of the ground. Its +comparatively small size and inconspicuous colour would render it +invisible even at that short distance, and give the observer an +uninterrupted view of the country. By means of a telephone he could +then communicate with the commander of the airship and indicate the +objects singled out for attack. + +On this occasion the aluminium box was lowered till it touched the +ground. The two men purposely told off for the work in hand had +anchored the car, thereby keeping the Zeppelin stationary also. In +the event of a surprise the airship's crew would unhesitatingly +sever the wire and leave the car and their two comrades to their +fate. + +And now most of this particular enterprise had been carried out. The +supposed object of their attentions lay gagged and bound within the +aluminium cage. All that remained to be done was to break out the +grapnel and signal to the men in the Zeppelin to wind in the steel +cable. + +"All ready?" enquired Pfeil through the telephone. "Good! When I +give the signal will you forge ahead to the north-east? Why? Because +we are much too close to the high tension cable which Herr Leutnant +knows of." + +He leant through an aperture in the side of the cradle and listened +intently. At the first sound of the airship's propellers he jerked a +tripping-line smartly. The fluke of the grapnel folded as he did so, +and the car, no longer held captive, slid jerkily over the grass. + +"Up!" telephoned the German. + +The next instant Norton felt himself being lifted through the air as +the car ascended swiftly at a rate of five feet a second. In less +than two minutes the cradle's supplementary movement ceased. It was +hauled hard up against the immense bulk of the Zeppelin and secured +with additional lashings. + +The wind was now shrieking through the lattice work of the airship, +as gathering speed she flew through the still air at a rate of +nearly fifty miles an hour, or a little more than half her maximum +speed. + +It was cold--horribly cold. Lightly clad and coming from a warm room +the prisoner felt the change acutely. He shivered in spite of his +efforts to the contrary. + +Gripped by the ankles he found himself being dragged like a sack of +flour from the detachable car to the V-shaped gangway connecting two +of the fixed gondolas. The lashings securing his lower limbs were +cast off, and, thrust forward by the powerful Pfeil, he was made to +walk along the narrow corridor. + +"Here is the Englishman, Herr Leutnant," announced the German +addressing a short, corpulent officer who stood by the bomb-dropping +apparatus in the centre of the gondola. + +"Good!" was the appreciative reply. Ober-leutnant Julius von +Loringhoven squirmed in anticipation of winning more than a half of +the promised guerdon. A share--a considerable share +unfortunately--was owing to a certain individual who, acting as an +agent of the German Government, had given valuable aid in snaring +the proscribed Englishman. His assistance was necessary, of course, +but that meant a sensible reduction of the sum of paper money with +which von Loringhoven hoped to restore the fortunes of his +impoverished house. + +"Good!" he repeated. "Remove that covering and let me look at the +pig." + +Pfeil obeyed smartly. With a savage jerk he exposed the face of his +captive. + +"Utter idiot!" shouted Andrew Norton in German. "Imbecile! You've +blundered and spoilt everything." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE RAID + + +OBER-LEUTNANT JULIUS VON LORINGHOVEN recoiled a couple of paces in +sheer amazement. The compartment in which he stood was strictly +limited in point of size, or he might have stepped back even more, +so great was his consternation. For some seconds he stood with his +shoulders against the aluminium bulkhead, his small eyes protruding +to their utmost capacity. + +"Von Eitelwurmer!" he gurgled at last. "What does this mean?" + +"It means," retorted Andrew Norton furiously, "that your men have +wrecked everything. It is their duty to wreck everything English, I +admit, but they have overreached themselves." + +"I am sorry," said the ober-leutnant humbly, though the apology +needed an effort. "The culprits will be duly punished." + +"And serve them right," interrupted the kidnapped man. "But that +will not mend matters. Our plans are completely upset; Barcroft will +take warning; there will be no plausible excuse for my sudden +departure--Ach, it is intolerable. Is it possible to set me down?" + +Von Loringhoven shook his head. + +"Impossible," he replied. "You must return with us to the +Fatherland. Meanwhile I must take steps to justify the presence of +this war-machine over the hated country." + +Siegfried von Eitelwurmer was one of the German super-spies--a class +far and above the host of ordinary spies that, in spite of the +utmost vigilance on the part of the British government, still +continue their activities although in a restricted form. To all +outward appearance he was English born and bred. His mannerisms were +entirely so. Even in his most excitable moods, for Teutonic +stolidity was almost a stranger to him, he would never betray by +word or gesture the fact that he was of Hunnish birth and +sympathies. When he spoke in English his inflexion was as pure as a +typical Midlander; his knowledge of British habits and customs was +profound. In short, he was one of the most dangerous type of German +agents that ever set foot on British soil. + +It will be unnecessary to detail his past activities, which almost +invariably he carried out successfully and without giving rise to +suspicion, even at times when the espionage mania was at its height, +and Britons were being arrested and detained on suspicion for +various slight acts of indiscretion that they had committed in pure +ignorance. A man might in all good faith take photographs of a place +of national interest; an artist might make a sketch in the grounds +of his own house--and be promptly haled before the magistrates and +fined. The "powers-that-be" seem to be blind to the fact that a +trained spy would not attempt to use a conspicuous camera. An +instrument of the vest-pocket type would serve his purpose equally +well and with little chance of detection. + +It was the Kaiser's manifesto relating to the capture of the +"dangerous" Peter Barcroft that turned the course of von +Eitelwurmer's activities in the direction of Ladybird Fold--not +wholly for the sake of the pecuniary reward, but with the idea of +gaining additional kudos at the hands of his Imperial master. + +The spy had little difficulty in tracing Barcroft's movements from +the time he vacated Riversdale House in the village of Alderdene. +The information that his quarry had removed to Tarleigh in +Lancashire he had communicated to Berlin, but owing to a delay the +news was not in time to prevent the Hun airman, von Buelow und +Helferich, making his ill-fated flight to the south-eastern part of +England. + +Von Eitelwurmer's method of communicating with Berlin was simplicity +itself, and as such ran less chance of detection than if he had +resorted to elaborate and intricate means. + +He would obtain catalogues from manufacturers living in the same +town in which he had taken up his temporary abode. On the pages he +would write with invisible ink--or even milk or lemon, both of which +when dried naturally show no trace of their presence--his reports, +taking the additional precaution of using a cipher which he could +retain mentally and thus do away with the risk of incriminating +documents. + +The next step was to get possession of a printed wrapper bearing the +name and address of the firm in question. The catalogue, enclosed in +the wrapper, was then sent to a pseudo Englishman living in Holland, +who, almost needless to say, was a German agent. + +These reports were then sent in duplicate, one preceding the other +in the space of three days. Fortunately or otherwise--according to +the standpoint taken by interested parties--the first secret +dispatch related to the movements of Peter Barcroft was lost in a +Dutch mail-boat that a German submarine had sent to the bottom. The +second resulted in Ober-leutnant von Loringhoven being dispatched on +a Zeppelin raid with the primary intention of kidnapping the +proscribed Englishman. + +Julius von Loringhoven was an officer of the Imperial German Navy. +In his youth he had served before the mast on board several British +coasters with the idea of gaining intimate local knowledge of the +harbours of the land that in due course would be an integral part of +the vast and unassailable German Empire; for, like thousands of +Germans he held the firm belief that the Emperor Wilhelm II was the +rightful heir to the British throne by virtue of his descent through +the eldest child of the late Queen Victoria. + +It was on one of these coasting trips that von Loringhoven then a +stripling of seventeen--was within an ace of losing his life. +Ordered aloft on a winter's night to furl the topsail of the +schooner "Pride o' Salcombe," he was benumbed with the piercing cold +as he lay along the lee yard-arm. A burly British seaman saved him +just as he was on the point of relaxing his hold. Gathering him in +his arms the man brought him down on deck, little knowing what +manner of young reptile he was nursing in his bosom. If von +Loringhoven had had any spark of gratitude it had been smothered by +the passion of "frightfulness" as expressed by dropping powerful +explosives upon the defenceless civil population of the country to +one of whose sons he owed his life. + +A brief training at Friedrichshaven was followed by an exacting +period at Borkum which qualified von Loringhoven for a series of +flights across the North Sea to the East Coast of England. As yet he +was merely a tyro, gaining practical experience under a veteran +Zeppelin commander. But at last the day came when he was given sole +charge of one of the Kaiser's giant gas-bags. + +"Go and raid the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire," were his +superior officer's instructions. "That's a fairly safe game. You'll +find little more than dummy guns against you. Acquit yourself well +and you will be given an opportunity to take part in the forthcoming +gigantic raid upon London." + +This was before the time when, as the Huns knew to their cost, the +"swarm of hornets" promised by a former First Lord of the Admiralty +proved their existence. + +And now, after twelve months of active Zeppelin service von +Loringhoven was over Lancashire. One part of his mission foiled he +had yet to exhibit Teutonic frightfulness to the dwellers of the +large manufacturing town of Barborough. + +The second in command of the Zeppelin was an unter-leutnant of the +name of Klick. It was one of his triumphs to announce that he had +been arrested in England as a spy. That was in those distant pre-war +times. He had been "spotted" by a sentry while in the act of +sketching a fortification in the neighbourhood of an important naval +station, arrested and charged at a police-court. Committed to the +County Assizes he was politely told by the judge that espionage was +dishonourable. Klick smiled inwardly. To him spying was part of an +important German military training--an organised procedure. +Nevertheless he was agreeably surprised when he was allowed to go +with the admonition, "Don't do it again." + +Fortunately for Great Britain such misplaced leniency is a thing of +the past. On Unter-leutnant Klick it was entirely thrown away. His +typically German mind read the clemency as a sign of weakness. He +came from a country where the only strength is "force majeur." + +"Well, Herr von Eitelwurmer," exclaimed the ober-leutnant after he +had recovered from his surprise. "If you wish to see how our in +comparable Zeppelins set to work you had better station yourself at +this observation scuttle. I will lend you a fur coat." + +"Pity you hadn't lent me one long before," growled the spy, as one +of the crew helped him into the warm garment. "Yours is a cold +business, von Loringhoven." + +"Not when we get to work," corrected the other with a grim laugh. +"Excitement stirs our blood to boiling point." + +A telephone bell tinkled softly. The commander took up the receiver. + +"Ach!" he replied. "That is good." + +The message was from Unter-leutnant Klick, announcing that the +airship was immediately over the large town of Barborough. Von +Loringhoven glanced at the altitude indicator. It registered 2,000 +metres--too great for practical purposes where no danger was to be +anticipated from anti-aircraft guns. The speed of the Zeppelin was +now less than ten miles an hour, just sufficient to keep her +stationary over her objective. + +The commander gave an order. A man on duty in the gondola thrust +down a lever, Instantly the gas in several of the ballonets was +withdrawn and forced under great pressure into a strong metal tank. +This answered to the old-fashioned method of releasing gas from a +balloon by means of an escape valve, but with a vast difference. The +hydrogen was not wasted; it was merely stored for further service. + +Down dropped the airship to less than a thousand feet. Von +Eitelwurmer, leaning over the sill of the large scuttle, peered +downwards. By means of a pair of powerful night-glasses he could +locate his position with great accuracy. He recognised most of the +conspicuous land marks of Barborough, in spite of their unfamiliar +appearance when viewed from a height. There was the town-hall--a +pile of smoke blackened stonework. The railway station with its web +of steel lines radiating in four different directions; the huge +factories, working day and night at high pressure; the main +thoroughfares, rendered even more pronounced by the blue flashes of +the electric tram-cars. The Zeppelin had the town at its mercy. + +Ober-leutnant von Loringhoven was also examining the scene beneath +him. He had no occasion to consult the spy. He knew quite as much as +von Eitelwurmer of the topography of the district; thanks to the +accurate air-maps supplied by the German government. + +"Now, watch!" he exclaimed, at the same time holding up four fingers +as a sign to the airman at the firing apparatus to release the +missiles of destruction. + +Von Eitelwurmer held his breath. He clearly heard the four metallic +clicks as the man released the bombs at quick intervals. Seven +seconds after the first had left the dropping apparatus a lurid +flash threw the underside of the enormous envelope into an expanse +of reflected light. A roar like the concentration of half a dozen +thunder peals tore the air, followed by the rumbling of falling +masonry. The other explosions took place in rapid succession, +causing the Zeppelin to sway and rock in the violently disturbed +atmosphere. + +The place where the bombs had burst was hidden in a thick pall of +smoke and dust. Tongues of red and yellow flames flickered through +the vapour. + +"Two more," ordered von Loringhoven. + +By this time the Zeppelin, forging ahead, was nearly a quarter of a +mile from the scene of her first attempt. The objective was a purely +conjectural one, for the missiles burst in a street in one of the +poorer quarters of the town. + +"Two more!" + +The two bombs were released, but only one exploded. The other failed +to detonate, but the raid was over. In a little over a minute and a +half death had been poured upon the unprepared town. + +"I can claim the big munitions factory," remarked the ober-leutnant +as he telephoned to the navigating gondola for full speed. "Those +first four had it to a nicety. The others--well, they did some +damage." + +The spy smiled. + +"Yes; it all helps," he said. "Frightfulness always scores," + +"Realising, as we do, that every English baby is a potential enemy +to Germany," added von Loringhoven. "Not necessarily in a military +sense, but in the forthcoming commercial war." + +Von Eitelwurmer glanced at his companion, + +"The forthcoming commercial war," he repeated. "Our Emperor will see +to it that there will be no British Empire to threaten our +mercantile supremacy." + +The commander of the Zeppelin shrugged his shoulders. + +"I trust you are right," he rejoined, "but you do not realise the +big task in front of us. These Englishmen are only just beginning to +bestir themselves. We hoped to have beaten them long ago. Time is no +longer on our side, and----" + +Then, realising that his digression was bordering upon dangerous +lines, he broke off. + +"And now, von Eitelwurmer, we are homeward bound. In four hours I +hope to shake hands with you on German soil." + +The spy merely grunted. He was thinking regretfully of his lost +chance in the share of the twenty thousand marks. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +'MIDST THE SCENE OF RED RUIN + + +FIVE minutes before the fall of the first bomb, +Flight-Sub-lieutenant Barcroft alighted from a tram-car in the +market square of Barborough. + +The stopping of the railway service had upset his calculations, for +instead of the train running into Barborough Station it had come to +a stand still at Wolderton, a little town five miles from his +destination. + +"Can't go no further yet awhile, sir," replied a porter in answer to +the flight-sub's enquiry. "They say as 'ow Zeps is about, though I +fancy they won't come to Lancashire, sir. Don't hold wi' these silly +scares mysen." + +"Where are we?" asked Barcroft, striving vainly to read the name of +the unlighted station. "Wolderton, sir; if you're for Barborough you +can get a car just outside. They are runnin', Zep, or no Zep." + +The young officer alighted, made his way out of the station and +boarded the first northbound car, which in due course deposited him +at Barborough--a stranger in a strange land. + +"For Tarleigh, sir?" rejoined a policeman to his question. "Matter +o' four or six miles. No, sir, you'll not be findin' a taxi +to-night, I fancy. Just you go along yon road, take first on your +right then straight on till you come to Chumley Old Road. There +you'll find a car that'll take you as far as Black Pit Brow, and +it'll be forty minutes sharp walking to Tarleigh." + +Somewhat bewildered Barcroft set out to follow the constable's +directions. He found himself slipping on the rough and greasy setts, +jostling people in the darkened streets, and barking his shins +against obtrusive door steps. The road was a mean and narrow one--a +short cut to a main thoroughfare. A dank unwholesome smell permeated +the misty air. It struck the young officer as being worse than the +atmosphere of the lower deck of a battleship battened down during a +three-days' gale. + +Suddenly the darkness was rent by a terrific flash. The light was so +dazzling that Barcroft was under the impression that it came from +the centre of the street. Stunned by the deafening crash he felt +himself lurching against a wall, amidst a shower of broken glass. + +Another explosion followed and then two more. The flight-sub felt +the wall of the house rock with the concussions. He was quite +prepared to see the building collapse under the impact of the +displaced air. Fragments of slates and tiles, mingled with shattered +woodwork, hurtled overhead. Glass tinkled upon the setts. The rumble +of falling masonry was added to the uproar, while flames shot up +from a mound of debris that a brief instant earlier had been the +homes of three English families, and threw a fitful glare upon the +scene of destruction. + +"Factory explosion, I suppose," thought Barcroft. "Can't be a Zep., +or I should have heard her engines." + +He put his hand to his cheek. It was warm and moist. Blood was +welling from a deep gash. He hardly noticed it. His attention was +attracted by the shouts and screams of the terrified inhabitants of +the neighbourhood--those whose houses having escaped annihilation +but were within the danger zone, had fled pell-mell into the +streets. + +Other crashes followed, but at a greater distance. + +"Then it is a Zep., by Jove!" declared the young officer. For the +first time he realised his helplessness. He was virtually one of the +thousands of civilians unable to raise a hand in self-defence +against the cowardly night-raider. A Tommy in a trench with only a +rifle--an almost useless weapon against an aircraft of any +description--has the satisfaction that he is armed. He is willing to +take his chance. But here the townsfolk were utterly at a loss to +defend themselves, and it was sorry consolation to be told by the +authorities that the inhabitants of raided districts are only +sharing the dangers to which the troops in the trenches are exposed. + +"If only I were up aloft with young Kirkwood," thought Barcroft. +"We'd make the beggars skip out of that gas-bag. Perhaps some day--" + +A woman, with her shawl wrapped tightly round her head, came +hurrying in the opposite direction to which the stream of terrified +people forced its way. + +"Eh!" she exclaimed. "An' I left t'owld mon's supper on t' stove. +I'll be fair angry if 'tis spoilt." + +It was genuine anxiety. Even in the midst of the scene of +destruction her thoughts dwelt upon the little cares of everyday +domesticity. + +With the sailor's typical eagerness to render aid Barcroft hurried +down the street. Already the ebb-tide of fugitives was thinning and +giving place to the flood-tide of willing helpers. Here and there +men staggered and groaned, bleeding from serious wounds caused by +the flying fragments of the deadly missiles. Here and there came +others supporting or carrying victims unable to help themselves-- +stalwart men, frail women and puny children reduced in the fraction +of a second to mangled wrecks. + +Pungent, asphyxiating fumes drifted slowly down the narrow +thoroughfare, while the glare of the burning buildings threw an +eerie light upon the surroundings. + +In the street not one panel of glass remained intact. Cast-iron +stack-pipes were riddled with holes cut as cleanly as with a drill. +Brick walls were perforated like paper; stone-steps--the "scouring" +of which is a solemn rite with Lancashire folk--were chipped and +splintered like glass. Doors were burst open as if with a +sledge-hammer. And this was fifty yards or more from the scene of +the actual explosion. + +Where the first bomb had fallen nothing remained of the house except +a mound of smoking rubbish. The two adjoining buildings were cut +away from top to bottom almost as evenly as if severed by a saw. In +one the roof was exposed on the underside. The slates were still in +position but riddled like a sieve. So violent was the force with +which the flying fragments were projected upwards that the fragile +slates were perforated before they had time to crack or be dislodged +from the rafters. + +In the house on the other adjoining side the parting wall had +vanished, leaving the remaining walls and flooring practically +intact. A fire was still burning in the kitchen grate, and on it an +iron pot was simmering. In front of the fire were three pairs of +"clogs" of varying sizes--the footgear of a family that was no +longer in existence. + +It was the same story. The raid from a military point of view was of +no consequence. The munitions factory, in spite of von Loringhoven's +assurances, had been missed--missed handsomely. + +The flight-sub did not linger at this particular spot. Human aid was +unavailing as far as those ruined houses were concerned, but on the +other side of the street groans and cries of pain told him that here +at least there was work to be done. + +Through an open doorway Barcroft dashed. The woodwork of the door +was in splinters. Part of the floor had vanished. The place was full +of smoke, while gas from a severed pipe was burning furiously. + +Grasping a large fragment of paving-stone the flight-sub battered +the pipe. + +"Iron, worse luck," he exclaimed. "Wonder where the meter is?" + +He discovered it just above the door. In the absence of a key to +turn off the inflammable gas he knocked the lead pipe flat. The +flame began to die down until it gave a fairly safe illumination. + +Up the rickety stairs the young officer made his way. With smarting +eyes and irritating throat he groped through the stifling smoke, +guided by the cries of the injured victims. The room was feebly +lighted by a nightlight set in a basin of water. The light flickered +in the breeze that swept in through the glazeless window, while its +intensity was even more diminished by the eddying smoke. Yet it was +sufficient to enable Barcroft to take in his surroundings. + +The ceiling had fallen. Plaster and broken glass littered the floor, +and every object presented a flat, face-upward surface. On the walls +were crude prints hanging at grotesque angles and ripped by flying +fragments. Pieces of broken furniture were everywhere in evidence. + +In one corner of the room was a bed. One leg had been torn off, +causing it to touch the floor. On the bed was a grey-haired woman, +groaning feebly and with her forehead dabbled in blood. + +She opened her eyes as Barcroft approached, then raising one hand +pointed to the side of the bed. There was a cradle that had hitherto +escaped his notice, and in it was a baby of but a few months old. +Although the old woman could not speak she made it known that the +rescuer should first save her grandchild. + +Even in that scene of desolation Barcroft could not bring himself to +lift the baby from its cot. Dimly he fancied that he might harm it. +He hadn't the faintest notion how to hold an infant of tender years. + +Lifting the cot bodily he bore it with its contents down the stairs +and out into the night. By this time other rescuers were hard at +work. Two of them seeing the flight-sub issuing from the house came +up to him. + +"D'ye want a hand, sir?" they asked. + +The uniform imparted an air of authority, and instinctively the men +realised the fact. True the naval rig was foreign to them. For all +they knew Barcroft might be a sanitary inspector or a +school-attendance officer, but his peaked cap and naval blue coat +denoted an official of some sort, and, in cases of this description, +the distinction carries weight. + +"Yes, there's a woman injured in that house," replied the +flight-sub, setting down his burden. One of the men bent over the +cradle and drew back the covering. Then he hastily replaced it. + +"Might have saved yourself the trouble, sir," he gulped. "Those +baby-killing swine! If that cursed Zep, should happen to fall +anywhere round about and any of the devils are left alive, I bet my +last shilling the women-folk o' Barborough 'ud tear 'em limb from +limb. An' serve 'em right. Lead on, sir." + +Not until the last of the living victims of the outrage had been +removed from this section of the bombed district did Barcroft and +his willing helpers desist from their arduous labours. Nothing more +could be done until daybreak. Police guarded the approaches to the +devastated street, while firemen stood by, ready at the first sign +to tackle a fresh outburst from the still smouldering ruins. + +"Suppose I ought to try for an hotel," soliloquised the flight-sub. +"I don't know. I'm in a horrible mess. Feel like a dustman or a +scavenger. Perhaps I'd better carry on. The governor might be a bit +anxious if I don't." + +Receiving fresh directions Barcroft stepped out briskly. Taxis and +even tramcars were now out of the question. + +"Most confusing place I've struck for many a day," he muttered. "I +feel completely out of my bearings. I'm supposed to be going north; +it's my belief I'm making in a southerly direction." + +Vainly he looked aloft to "verify his position by stellar +observation." Not a star was visible. He was now clear of the town. +The road ran steeply up a bleak hillside and was bounded by rough +stone walls. Doubtless there were plenty of houses scattered about +in the surrounding valleys, but these were not in evidence. Every +light still burning had been carefully screened. It was a case of +shutting the stable door after the horse had been stolen. + +Presently he reached the junction of two fork roads, either of which +might lead to Tarleigh. A tantalising sign-post afforded no +information, for upon swarming up the post the flight-sub was unable +to read the weather-beaten directions. + +"What on earth possessed the pater to hang out in this benighted +spot I cannot imagine!" exclaimed Barcroft disgustedly. "Suppose I +must wait here in the hope that some one will be passing this way. +It seems the safest chance." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +BETTY + + +"THAT'S more hopeful," ejaculated Flight sub-lieutenant Barcroft. "I +hear footsteps." + +For perhaps half a minute he listened intently. He was not mistaken +in his surmise, but there was still the haunting doubt that the +benighted wayfarer might be proceeding in a different direction. But +no; the footsteps came nearer and nearer. It was not the firm tread +of a man, nor the clatter of a pair of Lancashire clogs. + +"A woman, by Jove!" muttered Billy. "I'll have to be jolly careful +not to give her a fright. Rummy idea having to hail a craft of that +sort at this time of the morning. Wonder what brings her out in this +isolated spot?" + +In his anxiety not to unduly alarm the approaching woman, the +flight-sub began to walk in her direction. It was, he decided, a +better course than to stand back until she passed. + +"Excuse me," he said touching his cap, "but can you direct me to +Tarleigh?" + +"Yes, I am going part of the way," was the reply in a decidedly +clear and pleasant voice, which spoke with perfect composure. "If +you like I'll go with you as far as Two Elms. It is then a straight +road." + +"Thank you," said Barcroft, falling into step with his unknown +benefactor. "You see, I'm quite a stranger here." + +"Hang it all!" he mused. "That voice seems familiar. A trim little +craft, too, I should imagine, although I can't see her face. Wonder +who she is?" + +"You are a naval officer, I see," remarked the girl. + +"Yes," admitted Billy. "On leave and going to a home I've never +seen. This raid affair made me late." + +"And so it did me," added his companion. "By the bye, where was your +home before?" + +"At Alderdene in Kent," replied Barcroft, somewhat +taken aback at the question. "Why do you ask?" + +"I thought so," was the composed reply. "And your name is +Barcroft--Billy Barcroft." + +"By Jove!" exclaimed the young officer. "How on earth do you know +that? I'm afraid I don't recognise you." + +"You always had a bad memory for certain things, Mr. Barcroft," the +girl laughingly reminded him. "I felt almost positive it was you +directly you spoke. You see, the uniform and you have a most +characteristic helped me, manner of speaking." + +"Have I?" asked Billy, still mystified. "And you have a good memory, +I presume?" + +"Fairly reliable," admitted the girl. + +"Then let us hope that your recollections of me are of a favourable +character," continued the flight-sub. "Now, tell me; what is your +name?" + +"There is no immediate hurry for that," she protested. "Before I +reveal my identity suppose I remind you of some of your girl friends +at Alderdene--Ada Forrester, for instance." + +Yes, Billy remembered Ada Forrester very well--a short, podgy kid, +he reflected, who by no possible chance could have developed into +the tall, graceful girl by his side. + +"And Betty Deringhame," continued his inquisitor. "One of the noble +army of flappers. Rather a shallow-headed kid and a bit of a tomboy, +wasn't she?" + +"A tomboy--yes," agreed the flight-sub, "but I cannot admit the +other. We used to be good pals, but that was three years ago. I was +in my Third Term at Dartmouth when her people left Alderdene." + +"You taught her to signal in Morse, I think," pursued the girl. "You +used to exchange messages until that little pig, Pat o'Hara, the +vicar's son, learnt it too and told tales to her mother." + +They walked in silence for some moments. Barcroft had almost +forgotten his surroundings. His thoughts had taken him back to those +far off, pre-war days in sunny Kent. + +"Yes," he said at length in his deep manly voice. "It is absolutely +great to be with Betty Deringhame again." + +"So you've guessed at last," said Betty. "It's a strange world, +isn't it?" + +"And a mighty pleasant one, barring the Huns and others of that +crowd," added Billy. "Now, tell me, what are you doing here?" + +"Walking with an old acquaintance upon a long road that leads to Two +Elms and Tarleigh." + +"Obvious--we will not dispute the fact," rejoined the young officer. +"To put the question in more exact terms: where are you living, and +what brought you to this part of England?" + +"I think I said I was living at Two Elms. To be more precise, at +Mill View. That doesn't sound particularly cheerful, does it? We +came here to live after we left Alderdene, shortly after war broke +out. I am now employed in a munitions works." + +"Munitions works! Whatever are you doing that for?" asked Billy +surprised beyond measure. It seemed incredible that the slim, +light-hearted girl of his boyhood days should be toiling in this +manner. + +"Because I had to do something," replied Betty simply. "We lost +almost everything. Besides, it was an opportunity to do something +practical for the war. People of all social grades do, you know." + +"I'm sorry about your financial misfortune," said Barcroft +sympathetically. + +"And so am I--very," added the girl frankly. "But it is unnecessary +to enter into details. This is my home." + +They came to a standstill in front of a row of two-storeyed houses. +Owing to the darkness it was impossible for the flight-sub to form +an accurate idea of the pretensions of the place; but at any rate it +was a pitiful contrast to "The Old Rectory," the Deringhames' house +at Alderdene. + +"The works were nearly hit by the bombs," continued Betty. "We had +just started the night-shifts, but the girls were sent off after the +raid was over. One of them was so frightened that I had to take her +home. That's why I was late." + +"Fortunately for me," declared Billy earnestly. + +"Yes, a stranger would have some difficulty to find his way on a +night like this," said Betty inconsequently. "You are on a straight +road now, until you come to a railway arch. Just beyond you'll +notice a line of overhead wires if you keep your eyes open. Just +beyond is a path on the left. That will take you past Ladybird +Fold." + +"I'll call in the morning," said Barcroft. + +"We--that is, mother and I, will be pleased to see you," replied the +girl. "Goodnight--Billy." + +For the rest of the distance the flight-sub trod literally on air +until he reached the path that Betty had mentioned. Tripping over a +slab of stone he came to earth in a double sense. + +"Dash it all!" he exclaimed as he picked himself up. "Has the +governor defended Lady bird Fold with entanglements and pitfalls? By +Jove, this is a night!" + +Groping his way Billy ascended the steeply sloping cinder path +across the meadow. Another stile and a broad stretch of rugged +ground had to be negotiated before he saw a dark mass looming up in +front. By this time he was feeling particularly stiff, hungry and +cold. The keen air of the hillside made him regret the absence of +his airman's leather coat. + +"Wonder if this is the show?" he mused as he surveyed the isolated +and apparently deserted building. + +He stopped and listened intently. Voices were heard within, behind +the thickly-curtained window. He recognised one of the speakers. + +"That's the governor, right enough," he exclaimed, all traces of +annoyance vanishing at the pleasurable discovery. + +The outer door was unlocked. Billy threw it open and burst into the +well-lighted study. + +"Cheer-o, pater!" he exclaimed. "Sorry I'm late. Some night, eh, +what?" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SEAPLANE'S QUEST + + +"S' LONG, you festive blighters! Good luck!" + +With this typically airman's farewell ringing in his ears +Flight-lieutenant John Fuller, D.S.O., clambered lightly into the +pilot's seat of Seaplane 445B. + +Owing to Billy Barcroft's absence on leave a change round had been +effected in the composition of the crews of the seaplane carrier +"Hippodrome's" little nest of hornets, and as a result Fuller found +himself in company with Bobby Kirkwood as his observer. + +It was the night of the Barborough raid. The "Hippodrome," bound for +the Firth of Forth, had picked up a wireless when some where off the +Yorkshire coast, reporting the presence of four Zeppelins. +Aeroplanes and seaplanes attached to the north-eastern bases had +already ascended in the hope of cutting off the returning +air-pirates, and in conjunction with these operations the +"Hippodrome" was about to send out her airmen to grapple with the +enemy in the darkness. + +It was indeed a formidable and hazardous undertaking. The returning +Zeppelins would certainly take advantage of the stiff westerly +breeze. By keeping to a great altitude and shutting off their +engines they drift, silent and unseen, over the East Coast, until it +is deemed advisable to restart the motors. Even the disadvantage +caused by the immense bulk of the vulnerable envelope would be +discounted by its invisibility in the darkness of the night. + +The Zeppelins could keep "afloat" by the buoyancy of their +hydrogen-charged ballonets; the aeroplanes, being heavier than air, +could not, except for a comparatively brief vol-plane, without the +aid of their propellers, The roar of the latter would betray their +presence to the watchers on the silent airship. + +Altogether the seaplane's task savoured of a wild goose chase, only +by a pure fluke might one of the aeroplanes "spot" one of the +returning raiders, but on the remote chance of being able to do so +the "Hippodrome's" aerial flotilla set out on its hazardous flight. + +For three-quarters of an hour No 445B flew to and fro parallel to +the coast. It was bitterly cold. At a minimum height of five +thousand feet was a vast bank of clouds that drifted steadily +eastwards. + +Occasionally Kirkwood took down a wireless report from the parent +ship and handed it to the pilot. Hardly a word was spoken. The voice +tube was resorted to only once in that forty-five minutes. + +"I'm going further out," announced Fuller. "We'll clear that patch +of clouds." + +With her motors purring rhythmically and the pistons throbbing in +perfect tune the seaplane swung round and settled in an easterly +direction, the while climbing steadily. Behind her was the tail end +of a nimbus; above, through a vast rift the stars twinkled in the +cold sky; beneath, thousands of feet down, was the sea, its vicious, +steep waves invisible in the kindly darkness. + +Suddenly, from the enshrouding masses of cloud, a dark, +symmetrically elongated shape shot rapidly into the starlight. It +was a Zeppelin in full flight. Columns of smoke were issuing from +her exhausts, but the throb of the seaplane's motors drowned the +drone of her powerful engines. + +"Good!" ejaculated Fuller, actuating the rudder bar with his feet +and elevating the ailerons. "That's our bird. If they don't spot us +before they gain that bank of clouds, she's ours." + +Eagerly yet methodically Kirkwood brought the Lewis gun ready for +action. It was to be the last resource in attack, to be used only if +the seaplane failed to gain the aerial "weathergage"--a superior +altitude to that of her bulky antagonist. + +For the present the odds were level as regards speed. The seaplane's +greater rate of flight was counterbalanced by the fact that she had +to climb in order to get above her intended prey and drop a bomb +upon the immense and fragile bulk of the Zeppelin's envelope. + +And Fuller was achieving his object. Already Seaplane 445B was +passing diagonally upwards through the raider's smoking trail, the +oil tinged vapour from her exhaust pipes. Every moment tended to +bring the protruding stern portion of the Zep, betwixt her crew and +the steadily climbing aeroplane, thus diminishing the risk of +detection. + +Fuller was about to check the upward climb and overhaul his +antagonist when the Zeppelin appeared almost to stand on end. The +whole of her upper surface was exposed to the British airmen's view. +Then, almost simultaneously the seaplane seemed to be following. + +It was a form of optical delusion. She was still climbing steadily. +The Zeppelin had spotted her small and dangerous foe. Dropping a +quantity of ballast _en bloc_ the airship shot vertically upward to +a terrific height. It was this motion that had given Fuller the +impression that the seaplane was dropping. + +"She's twigged us!" he shouted through the voice tube. "Let her have +it." + +The A.P. promptly began to let loose a whole drum of ammunition. The +Zeppelin was instantly enveloped in a cloud of smoke. Into the pall +of vapour the Lewis gun pumped its nickel missiles, yet no crippled +flaming fabric crashed helplessly to the surface of the sea. + +The smoke was a "blind." Fuller realised that. Screening herself by +the dense vapour the Zeppelin had ascended almost vertically until +safe from observation in the dense clouds overhead. + +"Missed her, by Jove!" ejaculated the flight-lieutenant. + +"More than she did us," replied Kirkwood coolly, in spite of his +keen disappointment, for a small-calibre bullet had ripped the +ear-pad of his airman's helmet. Whether his ear was hit he knew not. +The intense cold had numbed all sense of feeling. The shot was +evidently from a Maxim and one of many, but in the darkness it was +impossible to see whether the seaplane had sustained any damage. +Judging by her behaviour Kirkwood thought not. + +Yet Fuller was loath to discontinue the chase. On and on he flew, +further and further away from the "Hippodrome" and the shores of +Britain, vainly hoping to pick up his quarry when the Zeppelin again +emerged from the cloud banks. + +"I'll swear she's shut off power and is floating somewhere in that +cloud," he soliloquised. "Well, I'll have a shot at it, even if we +charge smack into the brute." + +With this desperate yet praiseworthy resolution the +flight-lieutenant swung his frail command about and began to climb +steadily towards the mass of dark clouds. Ten minutes later the +seaplane entered the lower edge of the nimbus. It was like tearing +through a dense fog. All sense of direction was lost. Whether the +machine was climbing, banking or descending was a matter of +conjecture, since the darkness and the moisture made it impossible +to consult the aeronautical instrument. Ahead was nothing but an +opaque curtain of mist. On either side the tips of the planes merged +into invisibility. Only astern were there any light-sparks from the +hot exhaust throwing a faint, ruddy glare upon the wisps of trailing +vapour that followed, circling and writhing, in the wake of the +swiftly-moving machine. + +"If the Huns are anywhere in this stuff they'll get in a rare funk +even if we don't run across them," thought Fuller, Unmindful of the +danger of his own seeking he mentally pictured the panic-stricken +condition of the raider, as hearing the roar of the seaplane's +motors and unable to locate its position, they were in momentary +peril of being rammed by an object tearing at ninety miles an hour +through an optically impenetrable darkness. + +Kirkwood, too, realised the risk. With nerves a-tingle he awaited +developments. Faith in Fuller's prowess gave him confidence. With +one hand resting lightly on the lever operating the bomb-dropping +gear he waited, ready at the first signal to release the missiles of +annihilation. + +Suddenly the muffled roar of the exhaust gave place to a series of +rapid explosions. Instinctively Kirkwood likened it to a boy rasping +a stick along a row of iron palings. At the same time a succession +of spurts of flame streaked overhead. The seaplane had only just +scraped the underside of her antagonist. The upper planes had missed +the Zeppelin's 'midship gondola by inches, and the flashes he had +seen were from the airship's machine-gun as the Huns blazed +furiously and erratically at their unseen but unpleasantly audible +foe. + +Up spun 445B, until she seemed to stand almost on her tail. Then +tilting until she was in imminent danger of side-slipping, she +sought to make good her discovery. Vainly Fuller circled and +circled, striving to pierce the vault of inky blackness. The +Zeppelin was no longer there. Whether she had thrown out some more +ballast or had trusted to her motors to bear her away from the +unseen terror he knew not. + +He was not a man to admit defeat readily. + +"I'll make 'em have cold feet in any case," he decided, as he +removed his mist-dimmed goggles and peered into the luminous compass +bowl. "Due east till we get out of this cloud, and then I'll wait +for the brute." + +Unfortunately, as far as he was concerned, Fuller's decision could +not be carried out, for from no apparent cause the motors raced at +unprecedented speed for a brief instant and then stopped. + +The contrast from the noise of the engine to the stillness of the +upper regions was the feature that impressed him most. The seaplane, +at a height of ten thousand feet, and in the midst of a dense cloud, +was beginning to fall. Vainly the pilot strove to avoid the +nerve-racking "tail-spin." His sense of direction gone he could only +jiggle the joy-stick in the hope that the terrific headlong, erratic +downward rush might be checked. + +Kirkwood, secured by the broad leather safety strap, also realised +the danger. He was conscious of being whirled round and round with +his body in a horizontal position. He could feel the rush of air as +the seaplane dropped, otherwise silently, towards the sea. Unless +the machine could be got under control their fate was sealed. The +frail floats would be pulverised and splintered with the terrific +impact, and the wreckage, weighted down by the heavy motor, would +sink like a stone. + +For sixty seconds--it seemed like sixty hours--the uncontrollable +plunge continued, then like a flash the tail-spinning machine +emerged from the under side of the cloud into the comparatively +clear atmosphere. With an almost superhuman effort Fuller readjusted +the sorely tried ailerons. The resistance on the planes was +tremendous, but the fabric and the tension wires were British made, +with a sickening jerk the seaplane described a complete loop. In the +nick of time the resourceful pilot caught her on the "swing" and +flattened out. + +Once the motion was sufficiently retarded he commenced a vol-plane. +It was, perhaps, prolonging the agony, since there could be little +hope of rescue on a dark night, even if the waves did not overwhelm +the frail craft. + +"Stand by!" shouted Fuller. "Look down--on your right." + +The A.P., well nigh breathless through the pressure of the belt upon +his ribs, leant over the side of the chassis. Two thousand feet +below, with her drawn-out shape glittering dully in the starlight, +was another Zeppelin. The first, silhouetted against the faint +light, had presented a black shape; this one showed up clearly in +her aluminium garb against the darkness. She was proceeding rapidly +at a height of about three thousand feet, and now less than a +thousand beneath the vol-planing British craft. + +"Our luck's in!" exclaimed the flight-lieutenant, his thoughts only +for the immediate present. It would be sufficient to consider the +end of that terrific vol-plane when the moment arrived. For the +present it was not even a secondary matter--it did not enter into +the intrepid airman's calculation. + +"Stand by!" roared Fuller again. "For Heaven's sake don't miss." + +Down swept the noiseless biplane upon its unsuspecting prey. +According to Fuller's plans he would approach the Zeppelin in the +same vertical plane but at an acute angle--both aircraft proceeding +in the same direction. This would give the bombs a better target +than if the seaplane was cutting across the path of the airship. + +So swift was the descent that the Zeppelin appeared to be rising in +the air to meet her opponent. Her huge, long-drawn-out mass grew +bigger and bigger until it seemed as if a miss would be an +impossibility. + +"Now!" shouted the flight-lieutenant. + +With a swift, decided movement Kirkwood thrust over the +releasing-gear lever. There was no resistance. Unaccountably the +flexible wire operating the release catch had been detached. Without +a moment's hesitation the A.P. unbuckled his belt and, bending, +groped on the floor of the fuselage for the business-end of the +wire. Just then the Zep, opened fire with her machine-gun. + +Fuller, leaning over the side waited in eager expectation of the +anticipated explosion, quite prepared to find the seaplane capsized +under the blast of the terrific detonation. But there was none, and +already the vol-planing machine was beyond and on a level with the +Zeppelin. Without the aid of the motor it was impossible to return +to the attack. + +Savagely Fuller swung round with the intention of demanding the +reason of his observer's blunder. To his surprise the A.P., was not +to be seen. + +"Plugged!" ejaculated the pilot. "Well, here goes; another two +minutes will decide." + +The Zeppelin was now out of his mind. His whole attention was +devoted to the impending impact with the surface of the water. Every +thing depended upon his skill and judgment, with a fair element of +luck thrown in. In the darkness it was impossible to gauge with any +degree of certainty the height of the descending machine above the +sea. If the pilot "flattened out" too soon the seaplane would fall +like a stone; if, on the other hand the vol-plane were maintained +the fraction of a minute too long the impact would either result in +the shattering of the floats or in the machine describing a +somersault--possibly both. + +With a double plash the flat-bottomed floats smacked the waves. The +"landing" was successfully accomplished, but the unpleasant fact +remained that Fuller and Kirkwood were afloat in a frail cockleshell +in a fairly "jumpy" sea and on a pitch-dark night. Without water and +provisions and with no aid in sight and already sixty miles or more +from land they were rapidly drifting out to sea nearer and nearer +the hostile shores of Germany. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE TERRORS OF THE AIR + + +SIEGFRIED VON EITELWURMER, the German Secret Service Agent, sat and +shivered in the after-gondola of the returning Zeppelin. He was not +feeling at all happy. Apart from the physical discomfort--for in +addition to the effect of the cold he was under the influence of +air-sickness--his mind was harassed by wellfounded thoughts that +something might happen to the gigantic but obviously frail gas-bag. + +Like most Germans his faith in Count Zeppelin's cowardly and +diabolical invention was unshaken--so long as he could remain on +terra-firma. But whereas the stay-at-home Hun satisfied himself by +reading of the colossal achievements of the German aerial fleet, von +Eitelwurmer knew by actual observation that the raids failed to +justify one-tenth, nay, one-thousandth part of the claims put +forward by the authorities at Berlin. + +In pre-war days he had seen experimental Zeppelins dashed to pieces +in a vain attempt to regain the shed. He had seen others destroyed +by fire. He remembered seeing a "leader" in a British newspaper in +which it was solemnly declared that the sympathies of the civilised +world will go out to the aged Count in the hour of his grief at the +failure of his life's work. + +And now, in addition to the ordinary risks of aviation the returning +airship was liable at any moment to the attack of the "hornets" that +were known to be on the look-out for the raiders. Here he was, +carried off against his will, suspended like Mahomet's tomb 'twixt +heaven and earth, and faced with the prospect of a swift journey to +a place not included in the above category. + +Ober-leutnant von Loringhoven left his passenger severely alone. For +one thing the commander's attention was almost entirely taken up +with the work of navigating his cumbersome craft back to the +Fatherland; for another he mistrusted spies, even when they were +Germans and notwithstanding the fact that he himself had indulged in +that dangerous pastime. But there was this difference. Von +Loringhoven was a naval officer while von Eitelwurmer was a +civilian. He had heard of German spies renouncing their allegiance +and acting for the country in which they were to be working on +behalf of the authorities at Berlin. + +The spy had been accommodated with a camp-stool. On either side of +the narrow compartment was a window fitted with double plate-glass +windows. The for'ard bulkhead was pierced by a door leading to the +cat-walk or suspended bridge communicating with both the 'midships +and for'ard gondolas. Aft was another bulkhead separating a portion +of the compartment from that containing the motors actuating the two +rearmost propellers. The floor was in a state of continual tremor +under the pulsations of the engines and the rattle of the two +endless chains that transmitted the power to the two outboard +propellers. + +The limited space was still further taken up by two machine-guns +mounted on aluminium alloy pedestals and capable of being trained +through a fairly broad arc. By these stood four of the crew, ready +at the first alarm to lower the glass panes and bring the weapons +into action. The men were taciturn and obviously nervous. When +flying over the unprotected towns and dropping their murderous +cargoes they could be boisterous enough, but now, knowing that they +had to run the gauntlet, they were feeling particularly cowed. The +fear of being paid back in their own coin--a possibility that alone +makes the Hun howl--gripped them, and held them in a state of +prolonged mental torture. + +Presently at an order communicated by telephone from the foremost +gondola, the machine-gunners lowered the sashes of the windows. The +temperature, already -2 degrees C. fell rapidly to -10 degrees C. +Warm air-currents from the motor-room drifted through gaps in the +partition and condensing fell upon the floor in the form of globules +of ice. + +Up and up climbed the Zeppelin. She was approaching the East Coast. + +Von Eitelwurmer, overcoming his torpor, went to the window. One of +the men was about to motion him to his seat, when another touched +him on the shoulder and pointed. + +Far below the whole country was in darkness. The spy could not tell +whether it was land or water. Away to the southward a group of +searchlights swept the sky, the beams impinging upon a bank of +clouds that floated at a height of nearly a mile. Still further away +more electric rays swayed slowly to and fro. At intervals the +searchlights of the nearmost station crossed those of the one more +remote, while in turn these effected a luminous exchange with rays +still further away. As far as the eye could see there appeared to be +a continuous barrage of light through which the returning raider +must pass before gaining her base. + +At an order the motors were switched off. Almost absolute silence +succeeded the noisy roar of the seven 240-horse-power engines. The +airship, at the mercy of the winds, began to turn broadside on to +the aerial drift, yet the while, by means of ballast thrown +overboard and the release of more compressed hydrogen from the +cylinders into the ballonets, was steadily climbing. + +It was von Loringhoven's aim to ascend until the Zeppelin was above +the clouds. Screened from those dangerous searchlights the airship +would then drift over the coast-line until such times as it would be +deemed safe to restart the motors. + +With the altitude gauge hovering at 4,000 metres the raider found +herself just above the natural screen. The belt of clouds was not +more than three hundred feet in height--sufficient to hide her from +the earth, yet transparent enough to allow the rays of the +searchlight to penetrate the vapour. + +To the spy the outlook resembled the view from a railway carriage +when dense clouds of steam waft past the windows. So powerful were +the rays of the searchlights that the stratum of the vapour was +flooded with silvery luminosity, while--ominous sign--the beams no +longer swayed to and fro as previously, but hung with sinister +persistence upon the bank of clouds with which the airship hoped to +screen herself from observation. + +Even as von Eitelwurmer looked a huge dark shadow eclipsed the +concentrated beams. It was moving slowly at a rate hardly exceeding +that of the airship. For that reason the object could not be an +aeroplane. Perhaps it was some deadly invention that the English had +brought into action against the Zeppelins--a sort of aerial torpedo +steered by wireless electric waves? + +The machine-gunners saw it too. The last atom of courage literally +oozed out of their boots, yet almost automatically they gripped the +handle that would liberate shots at the rate of 500 a minute if to +the voidless night. + +It was fortunate for them that they did not open fire. The shadow +was that of another Zeppelin that at less than a hundred feet below +was slowly forging ahead in a southerly direction under the action +of her throttled-down motors, and with her exhausts carefully +muffled. + +In five minutes the novel Zeppelin eclipse was over, although at no +time was the actual airship to be seen. She had previously been +fired upon by the anti-aircraft guns on the coast and was now +cautiously smelling her way through the clouds in order to find an +undefended gap in the defences. + +Another half-hour passed in acute suspense, Three times the anxious +crew heard the terrifying sound of an aerial propeller. Somewhere in +the darkness the British hornets were up and searching for their +lurking foe--so far without success unless the moral effect be taken +into consideration. + +Presently the Zeppelin drifted beyond the glare of the fixed +searchlights, but not until another twenty minutes had passed did +von Loringhoven give orders for the engines to be restarted. At that +terrific altitude the noise was considerably diminished in volume. +Instead of the explosions of the motors resembling a succession of +rifle-shots the sounds were like those of a whip being cracked, yet +as the airship descended steadily to a height of five thousand feet +the noise resumed its normal and distracting violence. + +The spy sat down again. His torpor was returning. The sudden change +of altitude had resulted in a steady flow of blood from his nose, +while his ear-drums throbbed until they seemed on the point of +bursting. At that moment he felt that he would not have minded had +the airship been blown to atoms. + +But the next instant his lassitude vanished, as the loud pop-pop-pop +of two of her machine-guns roused him from his stupor. The weapon on +the starboard side was trained as far as possible abaft the beam and +was pumping out nickel into the darkness. + +Craning his neck over the shoulders of the men serving the +belt-ammunition von Eitelwurmer saw a sight that caused his agonies +of mind to return with redoubled violence. + +Just visible against the loom of the starlit sky was a huge biplane +that, climbing steeply, seemed to be steadily overhauling the +airship. Serenely unmindful of the hail of bullets aimed at her the +seaplane held on with the obvious intention of getting astride her +prey. + +Mingled with the detonations of the machine-guns were the clanging +of telephone bells, the clank of machinery and the excited voices of +the crew. Then with a jerk that threw the spy violently against the +after bulkhead the Zeppelin leapt skywards. Simultaneously dense +volumes of black smoke eddied in through the open windows. + +Sprawling in the intense darkness upon the ice-encrusted floor of +the gondola the spy vainly strove to shriek, but only a gurgled +sound came from his lips. He had not the slightest doubt but that +the airship was on fire and on the point of crashing to her doom. + +Hearing the stifled cry, for again the motors were stopped, one of +the crew gripped him roughly by the arm, and set him on his feet. + +"Silence!" he hissed. "A noise like that may betray us." + +A seemingly interminable interval followed. The Zeppelin, floating +motionless in a dense and opaque bank of clouds, was endeavouring to +evade her comparatively small but highly dangerous antagonist, the +loud buzzing of whose engine could be distinguished with all too +forcible certainty. + +With every light switched off the crew of the unwieldy gas-bag +waited in breathless suspense, knowing that at any moment a bomb +might explode with annihilating result in the midst of the vast +store of highly inflammable hydrogen above their heads. + +For how long this state of almost unbearable suspense and +nerve-racking tension lasted von Eitelwurmer had not the slightest +idea. In Cimmerian darkness he sat, shivering with cold and fear, +his eyes fixed upon the motionless form of one of the +machine-gunners who, leaning out of one of the open apertures, was +striving to locate the presence of the unseen but audible British +seaplane. + +Every time that the drone of the biplane's engine rose to a +crescendo the spy's finger-nails cut into the palms of his benumbed +hands. Vaguely he wondered what the end would be: whether the +intense cold would give place to violent heat as the Zeppelin, a +mass of flames, crashed headlong, or whether in the absence of an +explosion the agony would be prolonged until the gondola, pinned +down by the weight of the shattered framework of the gas-bag, would +plunge beneath the waves and cause him to drown like a rat in a +trap. He gave no thought to his companions. It was he that mattered. +He was in peril. The rest--well, that was their affair. They had +undertaken the raid and its attendant risk to themselves. It seemed +hard that he--an involuntary passenger--should be faced with the +immediate prospect of being burnt to a cinder in mid-air or stifled +in the icy waters of the North Sea. + +The whirr of the seaplane's propeller increased in volume, more than +at any previous time during the Zeppelin's sojourn in the clouds. + +Suddenly the machine-gunner uttered an exclamation and nudged his +companion. A succession of blinding flashes and the rapid rattle of +the automatic weapon dazzled the eyes and dulled the hearing of the +demoralised spy. Yet, impelled by an unseen force, von Eitelwurmer +raised himself and peered out of the scuttle. + +The sight that met his eye was enough to appal a man of high moral +and physical fibre, let alone the nerve-stricken spy; for, +apparently heading straight for the Zeppelin and with her planes +distinctly visible in the flashes of the machine-gun, was the +avenging British seaplane. With a wild, unearthly shriek von +Eitelwurmer threw up his arms and fell unconscious upon the floor of +the gondola. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE RAIDER'S RETURN + + +SIEGFRIED VON EITELWURMER opened his eyes. His first thoughts were +those of curious wonderment. It seemed remarkable, almost +disappointing, that he found himself still alive. + +More, he was still on board the airship, but his surroundings were +different. The intense darkness had given place to light--not +artificial luminosity of electric agency but the welcome light of +day. His quarters had been changed. During his period of +unconsciousness he had been taken along the narrow cat-walk (perhaps +it was well for him that he had no recollection of that perilous +passage along the V-shaped gangway) and had been placed in the +centre gondola. + +This move had been made at Ober-leutnant von Loringhoven's orders. +During the nerve-racking journey over the sea-frontier of England +the Hun commander had given scant thought to the comfort of his +guest, but with immediate prospects of a safe return, he had +recalled the advisability of giving the Kaiser's emissary those +honours that his position albeit a despised civil one demanded. + +"Are you feeling better now?" enquired von Loringhoven. + +The spy sat up and passed a hand over his forehead. + +"Where are we now?" he asked, ignoring the ober-leutnant's question. + +"In sight of German soil," was the reply. "Yonder can be discerned +our incomparable island fortress of Heligoland. No, we do not +descend there, nor at Tondern or Borkum. Unfortunately that +dare-devil of an Englishman has done us some damage, so we go on to +the repairing sheds at Kyritz--they, fortunately, are beyond reach +of hostile aircraft. At least, so I hope, but there is no telling +what these English seaplanes will do next." + +With von Loringhoven's reassurances bringing comfort to his tortured +mind the spy's mercurial spirits rose. Yet not without a shudder he +recalled his last conscious moment in the horrors of the pitch-black +cramped interior of the after gondola. + +"Himmel!" he exclaimed. "That was a nightmare. I little thought to +be alive, and now I am tempted to shout 'Hoch! Hoch!' at the top of +my voice." + +"The bracing upper air," commented the ober-leutnant. "It is superb +for raising one's spirits. Yes, it was an anxious time. I admit it. +For the moment I thought that the cursed seaplane was going to hurl +herself straight through the envelope. It is a thing that these mad +Englishmen would do. I know them." + +Von Eitelwurmer nodded in silent accord. + +"But," continued the commander, "it was otherwise. Possibly our fire +distracted the pilot, or he may have changed his mind at the last +moment. Yet it was so close that I doubt whether there was anything +to spare between the tip of one of his planes and the underside of +the rear gondola. To me, looking aft, it seemed the narrowest shave +possible. However, she missed us, and I immediately gave orders for +the motors to be restarted. Heaven be praised, we never saw that +seaplane again." + +"And the damage?" enquired von Eitelwurmer. + +"Not enough to prevent us continuing the voyage," replied von +Loringhoven. "Two of the after ballonets are perforated too badly to +be patched. A couple of my men succeeded in plugging the holes with +the special preparation we use in such contingencies. You will +observe that this floor inclines considerably in spite of the +redistribution of ballast. We are down by the stern. Well, what is +it?" he asked curtly as Unter-leutnant Klick entered the +compartment. + +"A wireless has just been received, sir," replied Klick, saluting +his superior. "It appears that two of our airships have failed to +return." + +"_Donner wetter!_ Two out of twelve!" exclaimed von Loringhoven +furiously. "This is serious. But it might have been worse," he +muttered in an undertone, as he glanced at the drooping end of the +large envelope. + +The spy went to one of the windows. The air was still sharp but mild +in comparison to the piercing cold of the night. Already the sun was +well above the horizon. Two thousand feet or less beneath the +airship--for on approaching land the Zeppelin had descended +considerably--could be discerned with remarkable clearness the green +grass and red sandstone of the island of Heligoland with a strand of +white sand adjoining one face of the cliffs. A short distance beyond +was the flat, semi-artificial island of Sandinsel, with its +batteries, concealed when viewed from the sea, standing +conspicuously against the dunes. + +Still further away were the flat, receding shores bordering the +estuary of the Elbe, but vainly the spy looked for any signs of the +vaunted High Seas Fleet. Even the well protected triangular expanse +of water was desolate of shipping, save for a few small craft +engaged either in laying additional mines or conveying stores to the +island fortress. + +At that height the varying depths of the sea could be noted owing to +the changing colour of the water--not that that fact interested von +Eitelwurmer in the slightest. He was a landsman out and out. He was +content to leave the difficult task of wresting the trident from +Britannia's grasp to others. The matter did not concern him. He +specialised in the arts and intrigues of espionage. + +Von Loringhoven was cast in a different mould. Although his present +energies were centred upon the air service he was at heart a seaman. +He, too, was examining the expanse of sea, but with the skill of a +practised navigator. + +"Look!" he exclaimed, pointing to a small, indistinct object from +which emanated two ever-diverging lines of ruffled water. "Do you +know what that is? Here, take these binoculars and look. Now, +perhaps, you see what I mean?" + +The spy brought the glasses to bear. + +"A fish, I suppose," he remarked. + +"A fish of sorts," added the ober-leutnant. "One's sense of +proportion is deceived at this height. It is an unterseeboot. I do +not fancy it is ours, otherwise why should she keep submerged when +close to our territorial water?" + +He lifted the receiver of the telephone. + +"Wireless cabin. Report to the commandant of Heligoland that there +is a submarine in the south channel. Ask if it is one of our +unterseebooten." + +In a few minutes came the reply. + +"No German submarine operating sub merged off the fortress. Can you +attack?" + +"No, I cannot," declared von Loringhoven bluntly, directing his +remarks to his companion. "She's a British submarine. Those fellows +nose their way everywhere. She, evidently, is inside the outer +minefield. And they want me, crippled as this airship is, to attack. +It is unreasonable; besides, the wind is increasing in strength and +we have yet to make a landing." + +So, giving by wireless the bearings of the daring submarine, von +Loringhoven "carried on" in the knowledge that the dangers of this +flight were by no means over. Already the wind was blowing with a +velocity of thirty miles an hour--a rate that would make landing a +difficult matter--and, what is more, its strength was hourly +increasing. + +At ten in the morning the Zeppelin came in sight of the sheds at +Kyritz, a town in the province of Brandenburg and roughly sixty +miles north-west of Berlin. This was the base for airships that had +sustained damage likely to take a considerable time to repair. The +German authorities, profiting by the lessons of the British air +raids on Friedrichshaven and other Zeppelin stations within range of +aeroplanes operating either from the sea or from the hostile +frontiers, had taken the precaution to remove the repair depots well +inland. In such places as Borkum there were Zeppelins in commission +ready for making flights to the British Isles, but at the first +intimation of a raid upon the airship sheds the mammoth gas-bags +would fly inland until the danger was past. In the case of a +Zeppelin undergoing extensive repairs such a course would be +impossible; hence the establishment of the base at Kyritz. + +Turning head to wind the crippled Zeppelin descended slowly and +cautiously towards a field surrounding the three large sheds. The +sheds themselves were marvels of scientific ingenuity. For one thing +they were easily collapsible. By means of mechanical appliances the +roof could be parted lengthways and each section allowed to fold +against the walls. The walls could then be lowered until the whole +structure lay flat on the ground. The fabric, composed of steel +sheeting on girders of the same material, was covered with stucco +that strongly resembled the surrounding ground. Viewed from a height +there would be great difficulty in distinguishing between the +collapsible sheds and the adjoining land. The buildings, of course, +could only be lowered when not tenanted by airships, but such was +the deliberate thoroughness of the Huns that they had to provide for +this contingency in the possible yet improbable event of a British +aircraft raid. + +Another feature of the sheds was the fact that each was built upon a +gigantic turn-table, so as to enable the openings to turn away from +the prevailing wind and thus facilitate landing operations; while by +a system of disc signals the commander of the returning Zeppelin was +informed of the direction and strength of the breeze. + +Yet, in spite of these precautions, the landing operations were +fraught with danger, especially in the present case. + +As the crippled airship approached the shed, ropes were lowered from +bow and stern. These were seized by swarms of trained air-mechanics, +and as gently as possible the huge envelope was brought upon an even +keel. All the while the propellers kept revolving in order to enable +her to counteract the force of the head wind. + +Then other ropes were lowered from the 'midship portion of the +Zeppelin while simultaneously gas was exhausted from some of the +ballonets to neutralise her buoyancy. + +All that seemingly remained was to shut off the motors and drag the +mammoth into its lair. + +Suddenly a strong gust of wind, eddying past the shed, struck the +bow of the Zeppelin. The men holding the bow ropes were thrown in a +struggling heap of humanity upon the grass. In an instant the whole +of the for'ard portion of the Zeppelin reared itself in the air. The +aluminium longitudinal girders were not proof against the unequal +strain, and with incredible rapidity the frail fabric buckled. + +"Jump!" shouted von Loringhoven, his voice barely audible above the +excited yells of the men and the rending of metal. + +Setting the example the commander dropped from the cat-walk, +followed by Unter-leutnant Klick and most of the crew. A few, +imprisoned in the foremost gondola, were crushed under the ruins of +the girders. + +For a moment the spy hesitated to follow the example of his +companions in peril. Taking his courage in his hands, he lowered +himself over the latticed sides of the gangway. There he hung until +half stupefied by the fumes of the escaping hydrogen; then, relaxing +his hold he dropped, landing in a most undignified manner upon the +equally ruffled von Loringhoven as he crawled from under the +wreckage. + +In five minutes nothing remained of the raider but a mass of gaunt +and twisted girders from which fluttered the remains of the envelope +in the grip of the now howling wind. + +Two hours later, Siegfried von Eitelwurmer found himself in the +presence of the Director of Aeronautical Intelligence in the +official quarters of the Air Department--a pretentious building in +the Wilhelmstrasse at Berlin. + +With him were Ober-leutnant von Loringhoven and half a dozen +commanders of the Zeppelin Squadron that had just carried out the +raid over the British Isles. The task of reporting upon the raid was +about to commence. Already the British communique had been received, +and it was now considered advisable to issue a statement for the +benefit of the German people. + +The only person not present was Otto von Lohr, the commander of the +air squadron, and until he put in an appearance the business could +not be started. + +A telephone bell rang. A uniformed secretary took up the receiver. + +"Yes, Herr Schneider, he is here," he replied. "I will inform him of +your request." + +Replacing the instrument the secretary crossed the room and +addressed the spy. + +"Herr Kapitan-leutnant Schneider wishes to see you, Herr von +Eitelwurmer," he announced obsequiously. + +"Very good," replied the spy. "Inform me when the conference +begins." + +Kapitan-leutnant Schneider, the German Naval Censor-in-Chief, was a +bald-headed, loose-lipped man of past middle age. He looked, and +was, a typical Prussian, subserviently polite to his superiors and +pointedly arrogant to those who were not. Von Eitelwurmer belonged +to the former category, for although not of the military caste, he +enjoyed the confidence of the Emperor. That in itself was sufficient +to cause Kapitan-leutnant Schneider to squirm like an eel. It was +his way of showing his pleasure at his visitor's presence. + +"I wish to ask you, von Eitelwurmer," he remarked after the +preliminary courtesies were exchanged, "concerning the effect of our +reports--my work, you understand--upon the English people. You, +living as an Englishman, ought to be in a position to inform me." + +"My private opinion, or my official one?" enquired the spy bluntly. + +The Censor shut one eye solemnly. + +"Your private opinion," he said. + +"The German communiques seem to be a source of amusement to the +English," began von Eitelwurmer in the same bold tone, for not being +under the kapitan-leutnant's jurisdiction and having an old +grievance against him he could afford to "rub it in." "In fact, the +censorship in both countries is one of the chief weapons of their +antagonists. In England bad news that we already know of is +suppressed, and consequently all sorts of disquieting rumours get +around. The same holds good in the Fatherland. It is like sitting +upon the safety valve of a boiler: sooner or later----" + +"Yes, yes," interrupted Schneider. "But as far as we Germans are +concerned it matters little. If the people grow restive, if their +hunger--and hunger amongst the lower classes is acute--goads them to +attempted violence the danger ends there. Unlike the English we have +organised the nation. Every man, woman and child realises his or her +duty is to obey, otherwise we might see the business of Louvain +enacted upon German soil." + +"The English are of a different temperament," remarked the spy. +"Reverses do not seem to damp their spirits. They have a firm faith +that in spite of blunders everything will come out right for them at +the finish. It is the fatalism based upon centuries of history. Why +their government does not take them into its confidence puzzles me." + +The Censor shrugged his shoulders. + +"I do not believe in governments of that description," he said. +"Give me our all powerful machinery--the War Council. No government +yet won a war, but many a government has lost one. Now tell me----" + +A discreet tap upon the door interrupted the official's words. + +"Enter!" he bellowed. + +A messenger crept stealthily into the room. By his manner it seemed +evident that he expected to have a book hurled at his head. It was +one of the kapitan-leutnant's usual _plaisanteries_, but on this +occasion von Eitelwurmer acted as a moral shield. + +The Censor took the proffered paper, read it and burst into a roar +of laughter. + +"Wait a moment, Herr von Eitelwurmer," he said when his mirth had +subsided. "The conference won't start for some time. There's a +fellow wanting an audience--an author, curse him! I'll let the press +and their parasites depending upon it know that there is a +censorship. This fellow wrote a book: _With von Scheer off Jutland_ +he called it. Since we must do something to justify our existence I +smashed it. The fellow had no influence, so what matters? And now, I +suppose, he's kicking. Send him in, you thick-headed numbskull; send +him in." + +The author of the banned book entered the room. He was of short +stature, being barely five feet two in height, inclined to +corpulence, and very white-faced. His heavy, bristling, up-turned +moustache contrasted incongruously with his small beady eyes that +peered through a large pair of spectacles of enormous magnifying +powers. + +For quite two minutes Kapitan-leutnant Schneider hurled a torrent of +abuse at the head of his caller, punctuating every sentence with +furious oaths. Yet, somewhat to the Censor's surprise, the little +man showed no signs of quailing under the onslaught. + +"Might I ask what there is in the book to which you take exception?" +he asked. + +"The whole of it," thundered the despot. + +"Could not certain portions be revised?" + +"No; I object to it in its entirety." + +"Then, since the story is based upon Admiral von Scheer's report you +object to the official dispatch?" + +For a moment the Press Censor was taken aback. It never entered into +his head that this meek and mild man could or would put a poser like +this. + +"No; I won't say that," replied Schneider. "But either you are a +perverter of the truth or you know too much. The work has had the +highest Admiralty consideration, and, as you ought to know, +censorship has only one object in view, namely, the public interest. +If you are ordered to say that black is white you must say it. You +haven't, and you must abide by the consequences." + +"One moment," interposed the still unruffled man. "Can you give me +one solitary instance of what you object to in the book?" + +The kapitan-leutnant puckered his shaggy eyebrows. + +"No, I cannot," he replied, with considerable mildness. "I have +forgotten all about it." + +"And that is what you term the highest Admiralty consideration," +added the author cuttingly. "Very good; I will not trouble you +further at present, except to show you this: a commendation from no +less a personage than Admiral von Tirpitz." + +"Himmel!" gasped the astonished official. "Why did you not tell me +this before?" + +"Because I had not the chance," replied the caller gathering up his +papers. "Good afternoon." + +"You are perhaps sorry I waited?" remarked von Eitelwurmer, when the +two were again alone. + +Schneider frowned. + +"If the fool had only made out that we had won a great victory all +would have been well," he replied. "The Press and its +satellites----" + +"The Conference has started, Herr von Eitelwurmer," announced the +secretary. "I could not inform you before as the Kapitan-leutnant +was engaged." + +The spy returned to the council-room. Seated at a long table were +the Zeppelin commanders. As each made his report the statement was +taken down by an official shorthand writer, while the aviators were +subjected to a stiff examination by the Director of Intelligence. + +Some were most emphatic in their statements. They knew exactly where +they had been; others were not so sure, but believed that they had +been to such and such a town; others, somewhat indiscreetly but +honestly, confessed that they had lost their bearings. All were +agreed, however, that the Yorkshire towns of Brigborough and +Broadbeck had been missed by the raiding aircraft. + +"It seems pretty certain that the geography of the English +authorities is at fault," commented the Director. "They report that +our Zeppelins visited a North Midland county--that referred to your +part of the business, von Loringhoven; I always thought that +Lancashire was one of the six northern counties of England: let us +hope that some day it will be one of a German dependency. However, +we'll issue a report that our airships bombed Brigborough and +Broadbeck. Then these English will think that you do not know where +you have been, and that is exactly what we want them to think. Now, +von Papen, draw up a suitable report for home consumption. In these +strenuous times we must satisfy the public demands. It will keep the +common people quiet for a time, and, if they _do_ find out, there +may then be something good to detract their attention." + +The spy smiled grimly. He recalled a saying quoted by a German +officer to his captor: "We Germans can never be gentlemen--you +English will always be fools." The first part held good, but as for +the second, his residence in Great Britain had taught him that +behind the apathy of the British nation there was Something--a +Something that, when aroused, would form more than a match for the +cunning and brutality of his fellow countrymen. Reluctantly he had +to admit that. + +"Why do you smile?" asked the Director, fixing von Eitelwurmer with +his eye. + +"I was thinking," replied the spy. "Thinking of how I can get back +to England. My good work there is not yet completed." + +"Those twenty thousand marks, hein?" enquired the president, and the +rest of the assembly laughed uproariously at the director's jest. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +EXIT SEAPLANE No. 445B + + +"WHY did I leave my comfortable bunk and try my hand at fishing at +night upon the wild North Sea?" enquired Lieutenant Fuller as he +withdrew his benumbed hands from his airman's gauntlets and fumbled +ineffectually for his electric torch. "Dash it all, man! What are +you fiddling about with?" + +"Only that releasing lever," replied Kirkwood from the depths of the +fuselage. "That confounded Zep! If only the blessed thing hadn't +jibbed I'd have strafed her, sure as fate." + +"Chuck it!" ordered Fuller. "Let the beastly thing alone, or you may +drop a plum. This child doesn't want to be hoist with his own +petard. Well, thank goodness we're afloat. That's some consolation. +Where the hooligan Harry is that confounded torch?" + +"Take mine," said the A.P. passing for'ard the desired article. +"Say, old man, we appear to be rolling more to starboard than to +t'other side. Hope the float isn't leaking." + +Fuller leant over the side. It was too dark to discern anything. +Prudence forbade him to flash the torch upon the invisible +support--a support so light and frail that the wonder of it all was +that it hadn't given way under the force of the impact with the +waves. + +The crippled seaplane was tossing and rolling under the combined +action of the short crested waves and the stiff breeze. It wanted +about two hours to daylight. Meanwhile every minute saw the +amphibious craft drifting further and further from shore. + +There were no signs of the "Hippodrome." Possibly the seaplane +carrier had resumed her voyage, in the supposition that the missing +hornet had made one of the fishing harbours on the Yorkshire coast. +The absence of any wireless call rather knocked that theory on the +head. On the other hand the "Hippodrome" could not, without great +risk of being submarined, since she was unaccompanied by destroyers +or patrol-boats, steam seaward on an apparent wild-goose chase for +her errant child. + +"She's holding, I fancy," said Fuller referring to the suspected +float. "Anyhow we've kept afloat so far and there's no reason why we +shouldn't do so until I tackle this most refractory motor." + +Making cautious use of the flash lamp the pilot minutely examined +the complicated mechanism. It was not long before the mischief was +discovered. Not only was the petrol-tank completely perforated by +three shrapnel bullets, but the pipe leading from it to the +carburetter had been cut clean through. That accounted for the +engine running for some seconds before coming to a stop. Until the +last of the petrol in the carburetter had been drawn into the +cylinders firing was still taking place. + +Further examination revealed the fact that, the motor was otherwise +undamaged, although, judging by the holes in the fuselage and +through the planes, it seemed wonderful that pilot and observer had +escaped being hit. + +"Can I bear a hand?" enquired Kirkwood. + +"No, thanks," was the reply. "Close enough quarters as it is. We +should only be tumbling over one another." + +By the aid of a piece of flexible tubing lined with indiarubber the +broken portions of the petrol pipe were temporarily reunited. The +next step was to plug the holes in the tank. This task was performed +by means of a metal instrument consisting of a metal rod of about a +third of an inch in diameter and four inches in length. Two thirds +of the length was threaded and fitted with a "butterfly" nut in +front of which was a cylindrical plug of guttapercha faced with +indiarubber. At the other extremity was a swivelled cross-bar of +about an inch in length and so arranged that it could lie in a +straight line with the rod. + +This end Fuller inserted in one of the perforations in the side of +the tank. Then, giving the rod half a turn, he allowed the swivel +bar to fall into a position at right angles to the rod. It was then +impossible to withdraw the latter owing to the cross-piece engaging +on the inner side of the tank. + +The flight-lieutenant's next move was to screw the pliable plug hard +against the perforated metal by means of the "butterfly" nut, and by +so doing hole No.1 was repaired--the first of six. While Fuller was +engaged upon the work of making good defects Kirkwood, his mind +still uneasy on the subject of the float, lowered himself over the +side. + +Gaining the upper side of the float he felt along it with his hand. +As he did so a wave swept the frail buoyant structure. + +"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "This is a treat. The water is quite warm." + +Compared with the intense coldness of the upper air the sea, at this +time of the year, was indeed tepid. The contrasted temperature acted +like balm to his numbed hands. He revelled in the comfort. + +While thus engaged the A.P. discerned a large object looming through +the darkness--a cylinder nearly a yard in diameter. It was floating +with very little of its bulk showing above the surface, and, owing +to the comparatively rapid drift of the seaplane, it appeared to be +moving steadily through the water and bearing straight down upon the +float. + +For a brief instant Kirkwood remained stock still in his recumbent +position, unable to raise a finger or utter a cry. The object was a +floating mine. + +He could discern the horns with remarkable clearness, for the thing +seemed surrounded by an aura of phosphorescent light. One blow from +the underside of the float upon those delicately adjusted +projections with which the mine simply bristled would result in +utter annihilation. + +Kirkwood's mind was steeled to the dangers of a ten or fifteen +thousand feet fall through space; but this, to him, unusual danger +literally took the wind out of his sails. + +Then, like a flash, the reaction set in. The will to cope with +sudden perils asserted itself. A plan, unpretentious in all its +details, formulated in his active brain. + +Throwing himself flat upon the float and grasping one of the +supports with his left hand, the A.P. hung as far in front as he +possibly could without losing his balance. His outstretched hand +came in deliberate contact with the drifting horror. The smooth, +slimy surface--for the mine had evidently been in the water for some +time--offered no resistance, and he thrust until his fingers +"brought up" against one of the horns. + +How far short of the minimum pressure required to snap the brittle +projection and allow the chemicals contained therein to ignite +Kirkwood was never to know. He was just aware that either the +seaplane or the mine was swinging clear--perhaps it was a mutual +"get out of my way" affair. + +Scraping the for'ard outer corner of the float by a bare six inches +the infernal contrivance, fended off by the A.P.'s outstretched +hand, glided past, until with a sigh of relief the observer watched +it disappear in the darkness. + +For quite a minute he hung on, his heart beating like a piston, his +eyes peering through the blackness ahead. Floating mines, he knew, +were generally in considerable numbers. The fact that one peril had +been averted was no guarantee that all danger from these jettisoned +cylinders of potential death was over. + +"Where the Christopher Columbus are you, old bird?" exclaimed +Fuller, who, pausing in his work, had missed the rest of the "crew." +"What, down on that float? What's wrong now?" + +"We nearly bumped into a mine," reported the A.P. "The beastly thing +was within six inches of my nose." + +"A miss is as good as a mile," remarked the pilot nonchalantly. "If +the thing had gone up six inches or six feet wouldn't have made any +difference. They wouldn't have found either of us, and there +wouldn't be enough of the pair of us to make a satisfying meal for a +solitary North Sea herring. Look here. Up with you and give me a +hand at filling the tank. I want to test my handiwork." + +By the time the repairs were completed to the satisfaction of all +hands, grey dawn was breaking over the wild North Sea. As far as the +eye could penetrate the haze that hung about in detached patches the +expanse of water was unbroken. Not a sail of any description was in +sight and the beetling cliffs of the Yorkshire coast had long since +dipped beneath the horizon. + +"Fill her right up now," continued the pilot, indicating the +repaired tank. "It's lucky we had so many spare tins of stuff on +board. We'll mop up most of the petrol during the plug home against +the wind, I reckon." + +Fuller, deep in final adjustments, and Kirkwood hard at work +emptying the contents of the petrol-cans into the tank, were unaware +of the new menace that threatened them, until a huge grey shape +loomed up within fifty yards to windward of the seaplane. + +The shape was a German submarine mine-layer, She was running awash, +while on the short, narrow platform in the wake of her conning-tower +stood a couple of officers and a half a dozen seamen. + +"You vos surrender make!" shouted one of the Germans. + +"I'll see you to blazes first!" retorted Fuller as he frantically +manipulated the starting mechanism. + +For once the accurately-timed engine failed to respond to the +master-hand. A mutinous back-fire was the only result. Fuller tried +again but ineffectually. + +The Hun submarine then thought it time to butt in. This she did most +neatly but none the less completely by running her nose into the +resistless structure of the jibbing seaplane. Her rate of speed was +but three or four knots, but that was enough. Amidst the rending of +struts, the crashing of the shattered floats and the harp-like twang +of severed tension-wires the luckless 445B turned absolutely over +and disappeared beneath the waves, leaving pilot and observer +struggling in the water. + +"Dash it all!" soliloquised Fuller as he struck out for the +submarine. "This is the second time the Huns have nabbed me. I'll +bet there'll be a third. Just my rotten luck. Come on, old bird, +half a dozen more strokes. They are going to heave us out of the +ditch." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +BUTTERFLY + + +"I SAY, pater." + +"Eh?" ejaculated Peter Barcroft without looking up from his work, +which happened to be revising a proof. + +"I saw Betty Deringhame last night. I forgot to tell you," began +Billy as a "preliminary canter" to the recital of his raid-night +adventure. + +"More fool you," grumbled his parent. + +"I beg your pardon----" began the flight-sub, rather taken aback not +by his sire's brusqueness, for Barcroft Senior when engaged in the +non-creative work of proof-reading was like a bear with a sore head, +but by the off-hand manner in which he had received the announcement +of the girl's name. + +"Look here!" exclaimed Peter, throwing down his pen and incidentally +bespattering with ink the long, narrow sheet of printed matter. "Why +on earth you want me to preach you a homily on the evils of +betting----" + +"Betting?" interrupted Billy. "I said nothing about betting. What I +said was: 'I--saw--Betty--Deringhame--last--night.'" + +Peter swung round in his revolving chair, and raised his eyebrows in +mild surprise. + +"Did you?" he asked. "My mistake, but why did you murmur that most +interesting news into my deaf ear? What's she doing in this part?" + +Billy duly reported the state of affairs. + +"Jolly hard lines on the girl and her mother, too," was his parent's +verdict. "Of course women of all classes are making munitions now, +and all praise to them for doing it. I am not referring to that, but +to the fact that Mrs. Deringhame has had a come-down in life. Did +you ever hear how it occurred?" + +"No," replied the young officer. "You see, I really didn't like to +ask Betty, and she's too jolly brave to whine over her troubles." + +"Sit down and fill your pipe," continued Barcroft Senior. "No +matches? Hang it, there were three or four boxes on my desk this +morning. Here, never mind, use a spill." + +Billy laid a restraining hand upon his father's arm. + +"Don't use your precious proofs, pater," he observed. + +"Bless my soul! You were only just in time, my boy. Another second +and that printed stuff would have been mingling in the form of smoke +with the Lancashire atmosphere. Ah, yes; we were discussing the +Deringhames. The same old tale, Billy: an inexperienced woman and a +rascally lawyer. Not that all lawyers are rascals, you understand, +but the profession contains a high percentage of rogues who, but for +their knowledge of the law and of how far to go without overstepping +the lawyer made laws of the land, would be doing time. This chap was +a cute one. He persuaded Mrs. Deringhame to invest most of her +capital in certain concerns of which he was a sort of sleeping +partner. In five years he had literally done her out of a cool 6,000 +pounds; and then, pretending to set matters right, he prevailed upon +her to mortgage her house at Alderdene. Nominally he was her agent; +in reality he was agent for the mortgagee, who was himself. You see +the move?" + +"Then, when war broke out, he drew in the mortgage, bringing an +excuse that tightness of money necessitated the step. Mrs. +Deringhame was unable at short notice to meet the demand. In vain +she pleaded for time. Her last remnant of capital vanished into the +rogue's clutches." + +"The rotter!" ejaculated Billy indignantly. "And what is the +bounder's name. Do you happen to know?" + +"Yes," replied Mr. Barcroft. "Let me see--yes I have it: Antonius +Grabb, of the firm of Grabb and Gott, of Ely Place." + +"By Jupiter!" muttered Billy. + +Mr. Barcroft raised his eyebrows enquiringly, but his son made no +further audible comment. He had made the unpleasing discovery that +the man who had wronged Betty and her mother was Bobby Kirkwood's +uncle, and when, in the natural course of events the aforementioned +uncle died, the A.P., should he be still surviving, would benefit +considerably under the will of Antonius Grabb. + +"By the bye," said Peter abruptly changing the subject. "Seen +anything of Entwistle?" + +"Met him coming from the bath-room half an hour ago; he was limping +a good deal," replied Billy. "I don't suppose it will be long before +he's down." + +"I've a job for you, my boy," continued Peter. "They've just +telephoned through to say that Entwistle's car won't be able to +fetch him. My perambulating box of tricks and petrol is out of +action somewhere in the hills. So I want you to drive our guest in +the trap to Barborough. I'd go myself if it weren't for these +confounded proofs. That idiot of a comp, will persist in printing +'stem' for 'stern.' The drive will do you good--blow some of last +night's cobwebs away." + +"Steady, pater," protested Billy with a hearty laugh. "I am no hand +at driving horseflesh. Give me something in the motor line and I'm +all there." + +"You'll be all right with Butterfly," declared Barcroft Senior. +"She's the steadiest-footed quadruped that ever stepped it out in +shafts. A perfect gem, and the envy of the countryside." + +He spoke with conviction, but the good character bestowed upon the +animal was based simply upon hearsay. "Butterfly" was a new +importation, having joined the establishment of Ladybird Fold only a +week previously, and during that period she had either rusticated in +the adjoining meadow or in her stable. + +The flight-sub walked across the study to the open window. Without, +hill and dale were bathed in the autumnal sunlight, and, having +reviled the neighbourhood of Tarleigh in the darkness of the +previous night, Billy felt compelled to render ample reparation to +its charms as revealed by the light of day. + +For miles there was a succession of hills and valleys, until the +vista was terminated by the frowning Pennines. The country was well +wooded, except for the grassy moorlands and bare yet picturesque +outlines of the pikes and fells. Here and there were signs of human +habitation in the form of well-built stone cottages, while in some +of the steeper valleys could be discerned the chimneys and roofs of +various mills and bleaching works. Nor did these lofty "stacks" +disfigure the landscape. They seemed to harmonise with nature. The +only blot in the vista was perhaps the line of electric cables with +which the Zeppelin's observation car had so nearly collided with +disastrous result on the previous night. + +In the middle distance a haze of smoke through which a regular +forest of factory chimneys could be dimly discerned marked the +position of Barborough. Distance had lent not exactly enchantment +but a discreet contrast to the rural outlook, and while taking in +the panoramic effect with its attendant peacefulness Billy Barcroft +could hardly realise that eight hours previously a cowardly +night-raider had been hurling down her death-dealing missiles upon +this portion of Britannia's sea-girt domain. + +"Right-o, pater!" he exclaimed. "I'll risk it." + +He spoke feelingly. The perils of his profession he regarded with +equanimity. It was his choice, and he had no cause to regret it. But +the idea of driving a quadruped of sorts along those steep roads and +through the crowded streets of Barborough filled him with genuine +apprehension. + +"Hang it!" he soliloquised. "There's no cut-out on a gee-gee. I know +how to stop an engine right enough, but a horse has a brain of its +own and can be jolly erratic when it wants to. What on earth +possessed the governor to go in for a quadruped when he has a +rattling good car?" + +Just at that moment the harmony of the morning was interrupted by +the high-pitched voice of Mrs. Carter engaged in animated +conversation with Mrs. Sarah Crumpet, the D.T.--otherwise Domestic +Treasure--who "did" for Andrew Norton, Esquire. + +Although the two ladies were at a side door that opened directly +into the scullery their voices could be heard with astounding +clearness. + +"Eh! An' tha' found tha bed not slept upon?" she exclaimed. "Mr. +Norton may ha' been called away a-purpose." + +"Nay, that 'e wur not, Jane," declared Mrs. Crumpet. "I'm a-tellin' +on ye, sitha'. Mr. Norton 'e meant to come back, for the whisky was +on th' table." + +"Methinks he looks to my employer for his nightcap," remarked Mrs. +Carter with asperity. + +"An' I was so overcome like," continued Sarah ignoring the +insinuation, "that I simply 'ad to 'ave a drop-the first time I ever +'ad a chance up yonder." + +"'As 'e paid thee thy brass?" enquired the sympathetic Mrs. Carter. + +"Ay, that 'e did, thanks be. But it seems most strange-like, this +business." + +"I'll tell th' master," asserted Mrs. Carter as the other woman +walked away. "An' sitha', if you're feelin' out o' sorts again, Mrs. +Crumpet, now's your chance afore the bottle's locked up." + +With this parting injunction the "help" of Ladybird Fold shut the +door and made her way to the study. + +"Yes, I know," said Mr. Barcroft when the Little Liver Pill had duly +reported the absence of Mr. Norton. "He was here last night and left +in a hurry before I returned; I'll stroll across in the course of +the forenoon. Ah, good morning, Entwistle; how's that foot?" + +"Better, thanks," replied his guest. "Gives me a bit of a twinge +when I set it to ground. Well, what's the morning's news?" + +"Papers not in yet, not that I expect any enlightenment on the +subject of the raid in the Press report. There are all sorts of +rumours flying about, as is to be expected. But it will be all right +some day--when we tackle the business properly. These Zeps. will +come once too often. It's a mystery to me that they haven't summed +up the results and come to the conclusion that these haphazard raids +aren't worth the candle." + +"Unless it is to divert the attention of the German people from the +Western Front," remarked Entwistle. + +"Quite possible," agreed Peter. "Now to breakfast. I'm sorry your +car couldn't come to fetch you--not that I want to lose you exactly, +although I have a batch of proofs in hand," he added bluntly. "You +understand? Billy will drive you into Barborough." + +"And what do you think of the measures taken to combat the Zeppelin +menace?" enquired Entwistle addressing himself to Billy. The +flight-sub shook his head. + +"I'm afraid I cannot venture an opinion," he replied. "Both branches +of the Air Service are doing their level best--they cannot do more." + +"You won't be able to draw Billy, Entwistle," added his parent with +a laugh. "Even I cannot get him to talk shop." + +"Pity some military men I know aren't like him," said the vet. +"Nowadays it's either too much shop or too much official reticence. +The middle path seems to have been lost sight of. But any more of +the mystery of your friend Andrew Norton? I couldn't help hearing +your housekeeper holding forth just now." + +"Can't understand it," replied Barcroft Senior. "Why Norton should +bolt out of my house and desert his own all night is a complete +puzzle. I can only put forward the theory that the Zep. raid made +him lose his mental balance--and he's a fellow with a steady head, I +fancy. If he doesn't put in an appearance before lunch time I feel +it is my duty to report the circumstances to that pillar of +intelligence the Tarleigh police sergeant." + +"And possibly get yourself arrested on suspicion," chuckled +Entwistle. "Norton was last seen in this house, remember." + +"It would be an experience that would afford practical knowledge as +far as my work is concerned," decided Peter. "Nothing like real life +to work into a plot, you know." + +Breakfast over, Entwistle and the flight-sub went out into the +garden for the time-honoured matutinal pipe until it was time for +Peter's guest to take his departure. + +"Come along, Billy," shouted his father. "Bear a hand at getting +Butterfly harnessed." The flight-sub was in mufti. His uniform had +been damaged beyond repair during his toil amidst the ruins of that +devastated street in Barborough. A scar across his cheek and several +livid weals on the back of his hands testified to his labours +amongst the burning debris. + +Somewhat proudly Peter threw open the doors of the combined +coach-house and stable. Within was a small governess cart and a +sleek and obviously overfed donkey. + +"Allow me to introduce you to Butterfly," he announced. "Warranted +to be quiet in harness and a thoroughly good trotter." + +Billy said not a word. He had contemplated with considerable +misgivings the imposed task of driving a spirited mare through a +populous district; but those doubts were as naught compared with the +prospect of piloting a humble "moke" through traffic in a strange +town. + +"Thank goodness I'm in mufti!" he soliloquised with a deep-drawn +sigh. "'The condemned man walked firmly to the scaffold' sort of +feeling. Well, here goes; no one is likely to know me in this show." + +Putting the animal into the shafts was an evolution that required +the utmost tact on the part of Barcroft Senior and much nautical +skill on the part of his son. It was their first attempt in this +direction. + +"Get her this way while I hold the shafts," exclaimed Peter. "Gee +up, old lady." + +Butterfly obeyed and took up a position athwart the hawse of the +craft, as Billy expressed it. + +"Round with her," continued Barcroft Senior. "I can't hold these +infernal shafts up all day." + +Putting his shoulders to the donkey's hind quarters Billy succeeded +in "slewing the boat's stern round." + +"Easy astern!" he shouted in ringing nautical tones. + +Surprised beyond measure, Butterfly turned her head to take stock of +this unusual type of groom, with the result that the flight-sub's +face received a good buffet from the animal's nose. Simultaneously +the brass trappings of the harness rasped Peter's hand. + +"Confound it!" he roared, relaxing his grasp and allowing one shaft +to fall with a clatter upon the cobbles. "The brute's barked my +knuckles." + +Then, reasoning that the damage afforded a sufficient excuse to +"knock off" his professional labours he held his peace on the nature +of his injuries. + +"Warranted quiet in harness," quoted Billy as his parent cautiously +retrieved the shaft. "My word, pater, there's not much room between +the dock-gates. Think she'll take it?" + +"Ought to," replied Barcroft Senior dubiously. "Now, have another +shot. I wish the brute had a reverse gear." + +By dint of mingled coaxing and physical force Butterfly was backed +between the shafts. Then both men regarded the result of their +triumph with chastened looks. + +"Strikes me we've missed this sling arrangement on the starboard +side," remarked Billy. "That leather thing ought to be round the +shaft. She'll have to forge ahead a bit." + +"Right-o!" assented his parent. "Gee-up. Oh, dash it all! That's my +toe this time." + +For Butterfly, in "forging ahead" had brought her hind hoof heavily +upon Peter's foot, which happened to be encased in a carpet slipper. + +At length the evolutions arrived at a state that found the donkey in +the shafts. Father and son stood back to admire their handiwork and +to puzzle out the way to adjust the seemingly chaotic tangle of +harness. + +"Why not ask Entwistle?" suggested the flight-sub. "He's a vet. He +ought to know how this gear is rove." + +Mr. Barcroft shook his head. He did not like to admit defeat. + +"Can't ask him to hobble out here with that sprained ankle of his," +he said. "Unfortunately I'm not used to the job." + +"So I should imagine, pater," added Billy pointedly. "Well, we've +got to get on with the business. I'll make sure that everything's +lashed up securely. That's the main point. If it isn't right it +can't be helped." + +The task of harnessing completed Butterfly was led out of the +stable, an operation that nearly resulted in Peter being pinned +against the door-post by one of the wheels. + +"She's perfectly docile now she's in the trap," he decided as the +donkey walked demurely round to the front of the house. "That's +right, Entwistle. Another hour will see you safely home. Good-bye, +don't forget to look me up at any time. Up you get, Billy." + +"Thanks, I'm not having any at present," decided the flight-sub. +"I'll lead her down the narrow lane until we get to the high-road. +Now, then, my hearty; easy ahead once more." + +Downhill the donkey walked sedately; Billy's confidence showed signs +of returning as he led the sure-footed animal along the +rough-surfaced track. Just as it joined the main road there was a +short, steep rise. + +"Jump in," exclaimed Entwistle; "she'll take it all right." + +"I'll give her a chance," demurred the flight-sub. "My weight will +make a difference. Now, then, old lady; show us what you can do." + +Butterfly rose nobly to the occasion. So did the shafts, for the +animal walked away leaving the governess-cart in a state of most +unstable equilibrium. By dint of hanging on to one of the shafts +Billy saved his companion from being deposited upon the ground, +while Butterfly, having parted company with the trap, stopped and +surveyed the antics of the still oscillating conveyance. + +"Never knew a reef-knot to slip like that before," exclaimed Billy, +regarding the trailing traces. + +"It would be better if the traces were made fast in the orthodox +manner, I fancy," suggested Entwistle, alighting from the cart and +limping to the shafts. "There, that's the way--although it's not +done navy fashion." + +Along the main road Butterfly showed no signs of "speed-form." +Downhill she walked slowly; uphill she plodded with even less haste, +and since it was all either up or down progress was far from swift. + +"I'll have to have another shave when we get to Barborough," +remarked Billy with an emphasis on the "when." "I scraped at eight +this morning, but at this rate I'll have cultivated a beard before +Butterfly lands us at your place." + +"The first mile," commented Entwistle, pointing to a milestone. +"Twenty minutes fifteen seconds. Some record that." + +A short distance beyond Blackberry Cross the donkey's manoeuvres +began to cause Billy additional alarm. Without any apparent reason +Butterfly would describe a semi-circle, keeping her eyes fixed upon +something in the road. + +"Starboard, you blighter!" roared the amateur driver, tugging at one +of the reins. "You'll have us in the ditch in half a shake." + +"Peculiar--very," remarked the vet. + +"A very peculiar craft in all respects," added Billy. "She's not +used to this style of yoke-line. Steady, you swab! You're swinging +to port again." + +"I've twigged it," announced, Entwistle. "She's jibbing at those +manholes. They seem to irritate her. We'll have to be jolly careful +when we get to the tram-lines or she'll try conclusions with a car. +I tell you what: while you are in Barborough----" + +"If we ever get there," muttered Billy. + +"You ought to get that brute shod. She may do better on the metallic +roads." + +Two hours later Butterfly and party were in the thickest part of the +traffic. To the flight-sub it was a sort of nightmare. Tram after +tram had to be stopped to enable the erratic animal to pass, while a +crowd of urchins (practically all the unwashed of Barborough, Billy +thought) tailed on to the "Dead March in Saul" procession and +contributed rounds of applause as Barcroft steered the donkey +through the traffic mostly by means of his shoulders directed +against the animal's ribs. + +"Come in," said Entwistle as the party finally drew up outside the +vet's house. "Put your steed in the stable and stop and have lunch." + +"Thanks all the same," said Billy. "I must be getting back, or it +will be dark before I see Ladybird Fold again." + +The two men said good-bye, and Barcroft, leading the animal, set off +on the return journey. + +"I'll leave the moke at a blacksmith's, and while the thing's being +shod I may as well call and see Betty," he decided, and proceeded to +put his plan into execution by enquiring of one of the attendant +throng--he suffered their presence with equanimity by this +time--where a shoesmith was to be found. + +"Fine animal, sir," remarked the smith. "Best I've seen for a long +time. Won't hurry, eh? Well, p'raps 'tes not being shod. How long +will it take? Say half an hour." + +Billy deliberated. It was not much use going to "Mill View" if he +had to be back in thirty minutes. On the other hand he could easily +put up the animal at Two Elms and save time on the return journey. +Besides, curiosity prompted him to watch the forthcoming operation. + +The smith was a powerfully-built fellow from his waist upwards. His +chest was of enormous depth, his breast and arm muscles stood out +like the gnarled trunk of a tree. But his lower limbs were so thin +that they seemed incapable of supporting the bulky "upperworks." + +Butterfly submitted graciously to the initial stages of the +operation, but when it came to shoeing the off-side fore-foot she +exhibited signs of obstinacy. + +"I'll have to throw her, sir," declared the smith. "Stand aside a +bit." + +Bending he gripped the donkey's legs and applied his huge bulk to +her ribs. Like a felled ox Butterfly fell. + +"Keep 'er 'ead down, sir," cautioned the smith. "I won't be long." + +At length the last shoe was nailed on and filed smooth. Billy had +had about enough of it, for the pungent smell of the forge was far +from pleasant. But not so Butterfly. Apparently smarting under the +indignity she refused to rise. + +The smith applied a leather strap, but unavailingly. He gripped her +head and tried to lever it up. The donkey lashed out, narrowly +missing Billy's shins. + +"Dunno as 'ow I seed such a brute afore," said the smith, scratching +his head. "Look 'ere, sir; do you 'old her tail and pull, and I'll +tackle her 'ead. Now, up you come." + +Butterfly did. With a series of frantic kicks she regained her feet, +sent the astonished smith flying in one direction and Billy in +another. + +For some seconds the flight-sub was too dazed to take any active +interest in the sequence of events, but when at length he picked him +self up and ran to the smithy door, Butterfly's heels were just +visible as at a good fifteen miles an hour she disappeared round the +corner of the street. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +RECALLED BY WIRE + + +"SHE'S off home, sir," said the smith. "Don't you fash yousen about +'er. The cart? Run it in 'ere. 'Twill be all right." + +Billy paid for the shoeing and walked slowly down the street. + +"No good going to see Betty at lunchtime," he soliloquised. "Might +just as well see about something to eat." + +He made his way towards the cornmarket. Here the traffic was at its +height. Nobody would have thought that twelve hours ago a Zeppelin +had sought to terrorise these Lancashire folk with a display of +"frightfulness," and that within two hundred yards a devastated +street bore testimony to the Huns' feeble efforts. + +"By Jove, if this had been Karlsruhe or Berlin, wouldn't the Kaiser +be shedding floods of tears!" thought Billy. "Good old British +public. 'Carry on, carry on--we'll come out top-dog all in good +time'--that's the spirit." + +A crowd outside the window of a news office attracted his attention. +He crossed the road in order to read a broadsheet giving the latest +war news. It was cheerful enough, in all conscience: + +"Two Zeppelins Down. Official." + +"Brief and to the point," exclaimed Billy. "Gives a fellow quite an +appetite for lunch. Wonder if any of our crowd scored the winning +hits?" + +Ten minutes later, while awaiting lunch, Billy bought a paper still +damp from the press. + +"Honours even!" he exclaimed. "The R.F.C. bring down one gas-bag in +Lincolnshire; our fellows bag another twenty miles off the Yorkshire +coast. Hullo! Here's the fly on the ointment: one of our seaplanes +missing." + +He glanced casually at the rest of the news, which consisted mostly +of ambiguous and contradictory Allied and enemy reports from the +various fronts, a couple of columns of local news and a similar +space devoted to racing and football. The whole of the front page +was taken up with an advertisement of somebody's Autumn sale. + +"Rot!" commented Billy forcibly, "They talk about paper shortage, +cut down the paper by a third, and yet accept a whole page +advertisement of this trash. The back page, I presume, is taken up +with photographs of engaged nonentities that are not of the faintest +possible interest to decimal ought-ought-one of the readers." + +But the young officer was only partly right. In one column was an +item of "Stop Press News" printed in blurred type:-- + + "The Missing Airmen: Admiralty report that missing seaplane was + piloted by Flight-lieutenant John Fuller, with Assist.-Paymaster + Robert Kirkwood as observer." + +For some moments Billy stared vacantly at the paper. He could hardly +realise the truth of the bald statement. It seemed incredible. Never +before, during the "Hippodrome's" commission, had a seaplane set out +on a particular duty and failed to return. Fuller was a thoroughly +capable man; Kirkwood--yes--there was nothing to complain about the +way in which he carried out his duties. Had he, Billy, not been on +leave the possibilities were that Kirkwood would have flown with +him. + +Barcroft was essentially of a sanguine nature. He had pictured +several of his brother-officers coming a "crash," but never himself. +It is the same sort of spirit that pervades the men in the trenches. +Others might "go west" but not themselves. It is only on rare +occasions that a fighting man has a presentiment that he will go +under. + +"I'm frightfully sick that I wasn't on board instead of being on +leave," thought the flight-sub. "Just my rotten luck. Wonder what +has happened to Fuller and Kirkwood? Missing. Perhaps; but I'll +stake my all on Fuller. He'll turn up trumps right enough." + +Nevertheless Barcroft spent a miserable afternoon. He felt too +unsettled to carry out his original programme of calling at Mill +View. The desertion of Butterfly he had practically forgotten. All +he wanted to do was to go home and await news of his missing chums. + +* * * * + +Meanwhile Peter Barcroft, having completed his precious proofs to +the accompaniment of a choice selection of literary profanity, set +out to post the result of his labours. + +It was a good mile to the nearest pillar-box, which was on the +summit of the hill overlooking Blackberry Cross, and was cleared at +the early hour of four p.m. + +"Nice walk on a fine day," commented Peter, "but there'll be trouble +when it blows, rains or snows. A bit of a change from having a +pillar-box outside one's door, and where one can post at ten in the +evening with the absolute certainty of the letter being delivered in +Town the next morning. Wonder if I'll meet Billy on his way back?" + +He whistled for the two dogs and, checking their impetuosity, walked +briskly down the lane. + +"Pity the car's crocked," he soliloquised. "Might have taken Billy +round and shown him the country. By Jove, this air is fine! Makes a +fellow glad to be alive. Hope Billy will have fine weather while +he's here." + +His plans for the entertainment of his sailor son were interrupted +by his being nearly run down by a cyclist postman, who, turning +sharply from the high road into the lane leading to Ladybird Fold, +managed to miss the occupier of that delectable spot by a few +inches. + +"Sorry, sir." + +"Don't mention it," replied Peter affably. "A miss is as good as a +mile. Anything for me? You're early this afternoon." + +"A telegram for you, sir; postmaster he sent me with it, seeing it's +on my way home and there'll not be a lad at t'office." + +Peter took the orange-coloured envelope and opened it. Within was a +form bearing the words: + +"Report for duty at Rosyth immediately." + +"No answer," said Peter shortly; then "You might put this in the +post for me," handing the man the stamped envelope. + +Barcroft Senior retraced his steps. Dashed to the ground were the +castles in the air he was building concerning Billy's programme. +"Jolly rough luck," he decided, that a youngster's leave should be +curtailed in that off-hand manner. + +Then he realised that there was a higher claim. His son was +wanted--urgently. Personal considerations were nothing compared with +the exigencies of the Senior Service in wartime. + +"It shows Billy is of some importance," he decided proudly. "They +wouldn't trouble to recall him if he were otherwise. Hang it all! if +he doesn't turn up within the next half-hour he'll miss the 4.45 +from Tarleigh, and that will put him in the cart as far as the +Scotch express is concerned. I'll go and meet him and hurry him +along." + +Peter Barcroft was not usually given to changing his mind in this +erratic fashion, but perhaps present circumstances were sufficient +excuse. He had not seen his son for some twelve months previous to +Billy's belated arrival at Ladybird Fold fourteen hours ago. Of that +fourteen hours six had been employed by making up arrears of sleep, +and another five by Peter's own act of sending his son into +Barborough. Of the remaining time father and son had spent hardly an +hour alone--and there were such a lot of things that Peter wanted to +tell his boy. Then, as a coping-stone to the series of +disappointments, Billy had not seen his mother, as Mrs. Barcroft was +not expected home until the evening. + +While Peter was walking along the high road, Billy on his homeward +journey took the path across the fields, and on the former's return +was sitting comfortably in front of the fire. + +"Hullo! how did I miss you?" was Peter's greeting. He was +considerably puzzled as to how Billy had contrived to reach home +with the donkey without passing him on the road. "I've a telegram +for you." + +"About Fuller?" asked the flight-sub eagerly. + +"No," replied Mr. Barcroft. "Why should he want to wire? It's your +recall, my boy; and it's too late for the train that catches the +Scotch express. She's leaving Tarleigh station now." + +"Something in the wind, I'll swear," declared Billy, searching in +vain for a time-table. "Fuller's missing. You've heard me mention +him several times. Went after one of the returning Zeppelins and +hasn't been seen since. Only the other day----" + +"What are you disarranging my desk for?" interrupted his father. "A +time-table? Here you are. Next train from Tarleigh is at 7.5. That +will catch a connection at Barborough and land you at Edinburgh +about 4 A.M. How much further to Rosyth?" + +"About an hour," replied Billy. "Might do it in time." + +"No use worrying about it: that won't help matters," said his father +philosophically. "You'll be able to see your mother. She arrives by +the same train you leave by. It will only be for a couple of +minutes. Better luck next time." Tea over, Billy began his +preparations for the journey north. With the assistance of Mrs. +Carter his greatcoat was made sufficiently presentable until he +could borrow a uniform from an obliging shipmate. + +At the station the flight-sub's meeting with his mother was, as +Peter had predicted, only of a brief duration, delayed until the +guard's in patient exhortation of "Take your seat, sir, if you're +going," brought it to a close. + +"Good-bye, my boy!" said Barcroft Senior as his son lowered the +window of the now closed door. + +"I say, pater!" exclaimed Billy, suddenly remembering something in +his pocket. "Here, take this. It will interest you. Forgot all about +it before this." + +Peter took the proffered paper--a copy of the document found on the +body of the dead German airman, setting a price upon Barcroft +Senior's head. + +The train was on the move. Billy, with his head and shoulders still +protruding through the window, waved farewells to his parents, +then---- + +"Dash it all!" he shouted. "Butterfly--the donkey--ran away. Clean +forgot to mention it." + +But Peter merely shook his head. The rumble of the train made the +words quite inaudible. + +It was nearly seven in the morning when Flight-sub-lieutenant +Barcroft arrived at Rosyth, after a long and tedious journey. Mists +were hanging over the waters of the Firth of Forth. Even the lofty +structure of the Forth Bridge was hidden by the grey bank of vapour. +Service craft of all sizes and descriptions were feeling their way +up and down the broad estuary, making the welkin ring with the +discordant braying on their syrens and foghorns. + +"Have you seen anything of the 'Hippodrome's' boat?" inquired Billy +of a petty officer on duty on the jetty." + +"'Hippodrome's' boat, sir?" repeated the man. "Why, the 'Hippodrome' +got under way a couple of hours ago, along with the Seventh +Destroyer Division, The Ninth's just off, sir." + +Barcroft rapidly reviewed the situation. Experience had taught him +that there are often two ways of doing things in the Service--the +official and the non-official. To be strictly in accord with the +precedent he should have reported himself to the Admiral, giving his +reasons why he missed his ship and getting a smart "rap over the +knuckles." On the other hand he might be able to enlist the +sympathies of one of the officers of the Ninth Destroyer Division +and get a passage--provided the boats were proceeding to the same +rendezvous. He resolved to put the latter proposition into effect; +failing that, he would have to fall back upon the official routine. + +His luck was in. As he hurried across the caisson on his way to the +jetty where the destroyers were berthed he overtook a lieutenant +commander, whom he recognised as Terence Aubyn, a particular friend +of Flight-lieutenant Fuller. + +"By all means," replied Aubyn when Barcroft had explained the +circumstances and requested a passage. "We're pretty certain to fall +in with the 'Hippodrome,' although I have as yet no idea of the +position of the rendezvous. In fact, I have a couple of her men on +board now. They got adrift in a copper punt last night, and were +only picked up after the ship had left." + +"No further news of Fuller, I'm afraid?" remarked Barcroft. + +"Not a whisper," replied the lieutenant-commander as he ran briskly +up the steeply sloping "brow" to the quarter-deck of the destroyer +"Audax." + +And thus Flight-sub-lieutenant Barcroft found himself on board one +of the newest type of destroyers bound for an unknown rendezvous +somewhere in the North Sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +CAPTIVES IN A SUBMARINE + + +ON being hauled on board the German submarine Fuller and Kirkwood +were sternly ordered to go below, their captors indicating a small +hatchway fifteen feet for'ard of the conning-tower. + +The prisoners had no option. They descended the almost vertical +steel ladder and found themselves in practically the bow compartment +of the vessel. It was the crew space of the submarine mine-layer, +for the craft, on which was painted the number UC49, was not fitted +with torpedo tubes, nor did she carry guns of the "disappearing +mountings" type. Her part was to sneak out of the Elbe, cruise on +the surface whenever practicable, diving only when any strange +vessel hove in sight. Her cargo had consisted of forty metal +cylinders stowed aft--mines of the most recent type--but having sown +her harvest of death and destruction, regardless whether an enemy or +a neutral vessel fell a victim to the deadly peril, she was on her +way back to the Fatherland. + +The compartment in which Fuller and his companion found themselves +was about thirty feet in length and fifteen at its maximum diameter, +which was at the after end. For'ard it tapered, at first gradually, +then sharply, until it terminated at a bulkhead close to the bows. +In the lower part of the recess were the anchors and cables, capable +of being lowered or hauled by means of elaborate mechanism which was +controlled from within. The upper portion of the bow compartment +consisted of a large fresh-water tank. Round the crew space were +lockers that served a double purpose: besides containing the effects +of the men they were used as seats. Hooks were bolted to the +cambered deck-beams in order to sling hammocks--in fact, half a +dozen hammocks were at that time occupied--and mess-tables. + +Against the after bulkhead was a small partitioned-off place that +served as the cook's galley, the stove being heated by electricity. +While running awash the fumes were carried off by means of a funnel +that projected a few inches above the deck, which was fitted with a +watertight cover that could be operated from the conning-tower when +the submarine was trimmed for diving. Yet in spite of the +ventilation the place reeked vilely of a variety of odours. Fuller +wondered what the atmosphere must be like when UC49 was submerged. + +In addition to the sleeping occupants of the hammocks, who by their +restlessness even in slumber showed signs of the mental strain, the +crew space was occupied by three fairhaired, fresh-featured +Frisians, who regarded the captives with scant curiosity and, after +the first five minutes, seemed to ignore the Englishmen entirely. + +"May as well make the best of things," remarked Fuller. "I know the +ropes a bit--been through it before. Take your wet clothes off, old +man. Keep a tight hold of your personal gear. We'll see if we can't +persuade that fat chap in the galley to put our things to dry." + +"They would dry on us in this hot show," observed Kirkwood. "Suppose +we are sent for?" + +"Then we are," added the flight-lieutenant grimly. "We'll have to +grin and bear it. All the same, I'm not going to act as a human +clothes horse while my gear is drying, so here goes." + +The German cook seemed anxious to oblige, in spite of a muttered +protest from one of the crew. + +"My broder on der 'Blucher' vos," he explained. "Englische him pick +up and well treat. Him write an' tell me so. Thus your clothes make +dry." + +Although the hatchway was closed and secured the submarine was still +running awash, lifting sluggishly as she forged ahead at a modest +fifteen knots. A couple of hours passed, and no attempt was made on +the part of the vessel's officers to interrogate their prisoners. + +"For one thing we are clothed and, let us hope, in our right minds," +observed Fuller as the pair redressed in their now dry clothing, +dispensing, however, with their leather jackets, which were as stiff +as a board and white with sea-salt. + +"Much more of this would drive me out of my mind," protested +Kirkwood. "Give me the freedom of the air any day. Suppose this old +hooker bumps into a mine?" + +"Pull yourself together, man," said the flight-lieutenant sharply. +"It's all one big risk, I admit, but for heaven's sake don't give +these fellows a chance to think we've cold feet!" + +The A.P. stiffened his upper lip. + +"By Jove, I won't!" he exclaimed. + +"The youngster has good cause for concern," soliloquised Fuller. +"This old tub wouldn't stand a cat's chance if anything went wrong. +She's one of those craft that's made by the fathom and cut off where +required, I should imagine. Never saw such rough work in all my +life. And no sign of air-locks or any lifesaving devices. I suppose +such details don't worry the German Admiralty. Those leaking joints +remind me of the old Tower Hill subway. A coat of whitewash and gas +jets instead of the electric light would make the illusion +complete." + +His reveries were interrupted by a sliding door in the after +bulkhead being opened. The German seamen sprang to their feet and +stood rigidly at attention as a young, heavily-built unter-leutnant +appeared and beckoned the prisoners to follow him. + +Stepping over the sill of the watertight door Fuller and his +companion found themselves in the officers' quarters--a compartment +extending the whole width of the vessel, and separated from the +engine-room by another bulkhead. The cabin was plainly furnished but +with a certain degree of comfort. On either side were two curtained +bunks. A swinging table occupied the centre of the floor, with four +revolving arm-chairs, the feet of which were clamped to prevent them +being capsized in heavy weather. Against the after bulkhead were two +bookshelves and a folding wash-basin, while between them was a +ladder communicating with the conning-tower. On the for'ard bulkhead +were voice-tubes and telephones for conveying orders to various +parts of the vessel, also gauges of various descriptions similar to +those in the conning-tower, so that the commander, when not on duty, +could know what was going on without having to hail the navigating +officer. In the arched ceiling was an illuminated tell-tale compass. + +"North 88 east," said Fuller to himself, as he read the magnetic +bearing. "She's making for the Elbe or the Weser, I'll swear." + +"There is no need for you to trouble about the course," said a +broad-shouldered officer dressed in the uniform of a kapitan-leutnant +of the Imperial German Navy. "That is our affair. Now, tell me--no +lies, mind--what is your name?" + +Fuller met the penetrating eye of his examiner without flinching, +yet he realised he was "up against" a sharp Teuton, who, by his +command of the English language, had evidently an intimate and +first-hand knowledge of his enemy's country. + +It was, Fuller knew, futile to dissemble. The fact that Kirkwood and +he were missing would be revealed by the British Admiralty casualty +list. Neither would any good purpose be attained by refusing to +reply to any questions that could be answered without giving useful +information to the Huns. + +"John Fuller, flight-lieutenant, H.M.S. 'Hippodrome,'" he replied +promptly. + +"So? Then let me offer my congratulations at you again becoming the +guest of the Imperial German Government," rejoined the +kapitan-leutnant sarcastically. "I do not think you will escape +again, Mr. Fuller. Since Sylt was too easy a place of captivity you +will most a certainly be sent inland when we arrive in harbour-- +somewhere a very long way from the convenient neutral port of +Esbjerg. Now, I suppose it is of no use asking you under what +circumstances you were brought down?" + +"Engine failure owing to the petrol tank being perforated." + +"Ach! How far from the coast? And what part of the coast? Did you +ascend from a ship or from a harbour?" + +Fuller shook his head. + +"I cannot say," he replied. + +The German took the refusal quite in good part. + +"I do not blame you for refusing," he remarked. "Any brave man, be +he German or English, would do the same. Now, sir, am I to have any +better luck with you? Your name?" + +The A.P. told him his name and rank, but resolutely declined to +commit himself on other points. His captor merely grunted with the +air of a man who has been given information of little or no +interest. Kirkwood had not broken out of a German prison. Compared +with the redoubtable Fuller he was a nonentity in the eyes of the +kapitan-leutnant. + +A gong clanged noisily in the conning-tower, its verberations +outvoicing the pulsations of the oil-fed motors. Without a word the +submarine's commander sprang to the ladder and, ascending, left +Fuller and his companion in misfortune standing at the foot of the +table. + +A hoarse order, followed by the heavy pattering of sea,--boots upon +the deck and the metallic clash of water-tight hatches being closed, +denoted that UC49 was being trimmed for diving. + +Fuller felt a hand tap him on the shoulder. + +"Get you outside!" ordered the young unter-leutnant, indicating the +for'ard compartment. + +Barely had the prisoners regained their place of confinement than +the bulkhead door was shut, a slight yet distinctly perceptible list +announcing that the submarine was diving. The fore-peak was now +uncomfortably crowded, for the "watch on deck," unable to remain any +longer on deck, had come below at the order to trim ship for diving. +One and all looked drawn and anxious. Unlike their brethren in the +non-mine-laying submarines they had practically nothing to do. The +excitement of being able to launch a torpedo at a British ship, be +she naval vessel or merchantman, was denied them. They were, in +fact, nothing more than passive individuals cooped up in the shell +of a submerged craft, unable to see what was going on without, and +helpless to save themselves in the event of the submarine being +rammed. + +For quite a minute the obliquely downward plunge was maintained, the +vessel the while turning sharply to starboard. Then, pitching +slightly to the violent displacement of a volume of water, she +resumed her normal trim at a depth of ten fathoms beneath the +surface. + +The action of porting helm had undoubtedly saved the mine-laying +submarine. An alert British patrol boat had sighted her from afar, +and at a rate resembling that of a train had charged down upon the +spot where UC49 had disappeared, while trailing astern at the end of +an insulated cable was an explosive grapnel of sufficient power to +shatter the submarine's hull like an egg-shell. + +The skipper of the patrol boat had made due calculations to ensure, +as he thought, the destruction of his prey, but he had not reckoned +upon the UC49 changing course as she dived. As it was, the explosive +grapnel passed within a couple of yards of the submerged vessel's +beam. + +Of this Fuller and his companion knew nothing. Perhaps, for their +state of mind, it was as well. A man will bravely face death at the +hands of his foe, but he will jib at the idea of being "snuffed out" +by his own side. + +Slowly the minutes passed. UC49 was still running submerged, +increasing the depth to twenty fathoms and maintaining a zig-zag +course in order to baffle her pursuer. The German seamen were +beginning to breathe more freely. The worst part of the +business--the great risk of being rammed as she dived--was over, and +although under the enormous pressure jets of water were hissing +through the faulty joints the men realised that they stood more than +a fighting chance of evading destruction. + +For perhaps five hours UC49 blindly made her way under the waves. +The captives had lost all count of time. Their watches had stopped +owing to their immersion when the seaplane was sunk; there was no +clock in the fore compartment nor were the bells struck in the +customary style on board. But at length, after a seemingly +interminable interval, the order was given to empty the auxiliary +water ballast tanks. Simultaneously the floor assumed a list--this +time in a contrary direction. + +Then, without warning, the fairly regular throb of the electric +motors gave place to a discordant jar that shook the hull from end +to end. + +"Main shaft gone, for a dead cert," exclaimed Kirkwood. "I remember +the same thing occurring on the 'Tremendous's' picket-boat Yes, +they're switching off." + +The mine-layer was helpless. Without means of propulsion there were +only two courses open to her--to float or sink to the bottom. It was +impossible to keep submerged to a certain depth simply by means of +admitting a certain quantity of water ballast. Once the reserve of +buoyancy was overcome she would sink to the bed of the North Sea, in +all probability collapsing under the terrific pressure on her hull +long before she arrived there. It is only by means of the diving +rudders acting in conjunction with her diving trim that a submarine +can remain submerged to a required depth; and since the +kapitan-leutnant of UC49 had no desire to make the acquaintance of +the floor of the ocean other than by means of an "armed" lead-line, +he chose the other alternative and rose to the surface. + +The moment the fore hatch was removed the watch rushed on deck. +There was a lot of scuffling and shouting of orders, accompanied by +the clanking of the auxiliary motors actuating the bilge pumps. When +the main shaft fractured--the submarine had only one "screw"--the +propeller had flown off, taking with it the broken tail shaft and +straining the stuffing-box to such an extent that water poured +through the glands. The pumps were just able to cope with the +inrush. Should they choke or otherwise get out of order the vessel +would promptly founder. + +Another order was given. Those of the crew who still remained below +hurriedly collected their personal belongings and went on deck, +while their place was taken by their companions who, following their +example, set to work to "pack up" their scanty bundles. In five +minutes the crew space was untenanted save by Fuller and Kirkwood. + +"It strikes me very forcibly that we had better be clearing out of +this rat-hole," suggested the former, "If we don't we'll be +overlooked, and I don't suppose the Huns will mind that." + +The two chums ascended the ladder and gained the platform in front +of the conning-tower. Here were about a dozen of the crew, a similar +number being stationed aft. The officers were grouped amidships, +their attention fixed upon some distant object which they were +examining through their glasses. The chug-chug of the pumps +continued, showing that some of the engine-room staff were still +standing by the auxiliary machinery. + +"Hurrah!" exclaimed Kirkwood. "A couple of our destroyers. No German +prison for us this trip." + +Several of the German seamen hearing the exclamation regarded the +A.P. angrily; otherwise they offered no objection to the prisoners +being on deck. The kapitan-leutnant, also overhearing Bobby's +expression of satisfaction, lowered his binoculars and glared at the +irrepressible Briton. Then he raised the glasses again and scanned +the horizon, finishing up his scrutiny by keeping the on-coming +craft under observation. + +For half a minute he looked steadfastly at the approaching +destroyers, then he gave an order to a man standing by the +diminutive mast. + +Promptly the sailor hoisted the Black Cross Ensign, but whether as a +token of defiance or otherwise the British officers were unable to +decide. But they were not long left in ignorance. + +"You are a little too hasty in your surmise, Mr. Englishman," +sneered the kapitan-leutnant. "You will yet sample the joys of a +German prison. These are two of our torpedo-boats." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE MIDDLE WATCH + + +A DULL, reverberating crash roused Flight-sub-lieutenant Barcroft +from his temporary bunk on board H.M. torpedo-boat destroyer +"Audax." + +"Eight bells," midnight, had just gone--silently, for the destroyer +was ploughing through the waves at break-neck speed, without +navigation lights and as steadily as possible. So well were her +oil-fed furnaces tended that no tell-tale sparks escaped from her +four squat funnels. In spite of the heavy seas she was cleared for +action; life-lines took the place of the stanchion rails and +afforded the only means of preventing the bluejackets being swept +overboard by the green seas that poured completely over the raised +fo'c'sle. Around the four-inch guns men hung on, ready at the first +alarm to open fire, while the deadly torpedoes had been launched +into their tubes to be let loose at the word of command upon the +first unit of the German Navy--be she large or small--that had the +temerity to try conclusions with the alert British destroyer. + +There had been signs of activity in Hun naval circles--activity +forced upon them by prompt and vigorous measures of the sea-dogs +under the White Ensign. Zeebrugge was getting too hot to hold the +German torpedo-boat flotillas that for months had existed under +nerve-racking conditions in that Belgian port. Constant bombardments +from the sea and from the air had made the Huns' new base so +insecure that the German ocean-going torpedo-boats (craft that +compare in point of size with destroyers, although the term +destroyer does not figure in Hun naval reports) had been compelled +to make a dash for the neutral defences of the Elbe, Weser and Jade. +Existing conditions made it undesirable to sneak through Dutch +territorial waters, and the only other way was by a circuitous +course rendered necessary by the presence of a vast British +minefield. + +The British Admiralty, out of consideration for neutral shipping, +had advertised the limits of the danger zone, which was an +aggressive minefield rather than a defensive one--in other words its +base was situated close to the German coast, while its apex +stretched westward far across the North Sea. Round this apex the +German torpedo craft had to make their way. + +Knowledge of the attempted dash had reached the ears of the British +Commander-in-Chief, and strong flotillas of destroyers were +patrolling the length and breadth of the North Sea, their search +assisted in broad daylight by seaplanes sent up from attendant +parent ships. At night the difficulty of maintaining the cordon was +enormously increased. A German boat might slip through in the +darkness, while, even if discovered, her attackers would be under +the disadvantage of making sure that she was not one of their +consorts before opening fire. + +The "Audax" was operating in the high latitudes of the North Sea. In +fact, if she held on the course for another five hours she would run +ashore somewhere in the close proximity of The Naze of Norway. + +Two miles ahead and astern of her were other vessels of the same +class, the line being continued until the chain of destroyers +stretched across the North Sea from Scotland almost to Scandinavia. +The Straits of Dover were similarly patrolled, while auxiliary +destroyers swept the seas between the northern and southern limits, +ready to head off the fugitives or bring them to action. + +Rolling fully dressed out of his bunk--for under these conditions it +would be folly to turn in otherwise--Billy dashed on deck, followed +by the Engineer-lieutenant, who happened to be the only officer in +the ward-room not on watch. + +Wriggling through the partly-closed hatchway, dubbed by courtesy the +"companion," and receiving a greeting in the form of a cold +douche--the tail end of a particularly vicious comber--Barcroft +stood still until his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness. Then, +grasping the life-line, he made his way for'ard, often knee-deep in +water, until he gained the doubtful shelter afforded by the rise of +the fo'c'sle. Here, clustered round the two guns abreast the for'ard +funnel, were a dozen men in "lammy" suits, oilskins and +sou'-westers, all peering through the darkness in the direction in +which the "Audax" was now proceeding. + +"What was the explosion, Mr. Black?" inquired Barcroft of the +gunner. + +"We don't know, sir," replied the warrant officer. "A mighty big +flash and a brute of a report. We've wirelessed the commodore to ask +permission to investigate, and now we're off to see, judging by the +alteration of course." + +The young officer thanked him for the information, vague though it +might be, and ascending the bridge ladder took up his stand in front +of the after guard-rail of the bridge. + +Lieutenant-commander Aubyn and three of his officers were standing +with their backs turned to him, oblivious of his presence. Actually +Barcroft had no right there, save on sufferance and by the courtesy +of the skipper. The executive officers were crouching behind the +storm-dodgers--the force of the wind and the sting of the icy spray +made it impossible to withstand the full force of the elements +unless protected by these canvas screens--and were directing their +attention mainly on some as yet invisible object dead ahead. At +intervals one or other of the officers would scan the seas abeam, as +if expecting to see a dark and swiftly-moving vessel--to wit, an +enemy craft pelt through the blackness of the night on her dash for +safety. + +The skipper remained as rigid as a statue, the personification of +silent alertness; but the lieutenant and sub of the "Audax" were +conversing, raising their voices in order to make themselves +understood above the roar of the wind and the crashing of the waves +as they flew over the fore-deck of the destroyer and hurtled against +the bridge. Scraps of the discussion wafted to Barcroft's ears. + +"A neutral, I think," remarked the sub. "Swede or Norwegian.... +Bumped on a mine." + +"Torpedo," declared the lieutenant. "I distinctly saw one flash ... +before the big blaze... second explosion; yet, it points to it." + +Billy caught enough of the conversation to read the lieutenant's +theory. Evidently he believed that the victim was one of the British +armed liners patrolling this section of the North Sea. Torpedoed, in +the darkness and in spite of the heavy seas, she had been blown up +by the detonation of her magazine. + +Suddenly Aubyn straightened himself and sprang to the telegraph +indicator communicating with the engine-room. + +Following the double clang of the bell the destroyer's engines were +promptly stopped and quickly reversed. The skipper's keen eye had +discerned a raft crowded with men as the "Audax" swept past at a +distance of less than twenty yards. + +Aubyn gave a brief glance at the raging seas and held up his hand. +The gesture was understood by the men already standing in expectancy +at the falls. It meant "Stand fast." No boat could live in such a +turmoil of angry waves, yet there were heroes ready and willing to +risk their lives in a vain attempt at rescue. + +The "Audax" was about to make an effort by other means, but first +the raft had to be found again, for before way had been taken off +the destroyer the handful of survivors of the ill-fated ship were +lost in the darkness and in the wash of water astern. + +Nor could the searchlights be switched on without grave risk to the +all-important task of rounding-up the German torpedo-boats. The +"Audax" had to grope round like a blind man in the hope of falling +in with the drifting raft. + +"Shoutin' dead to wind'ard, sir, right on the starboard beam," +shouted half a dozen voices. "There they are, sir, a cable's length +off." + +In a patch of phosphorescent foam, as it lifted dizzily on the crest +of a broken wave, could be discerned the object of the search. The +next instant it had vanished in the trough of the seas. + +"Hard a-port!" roared the skipper. + +"Hard a-port, sir," repeated the quartermaster, + +Turning, the "Audax" slowed down, coming to a standstill, save for +the motion created by the scend of the seas and the leeward drift +caused by the strong wind, at a few yards to windward of the raft, +which on nearer acquaintance proved to be a number of deck planks +still adhering to the fractured beams. + +Under the lee of the destroyer the raft floated in comparatively +smooth water, and the work of transferring the handful of well-nigh +exhausted men commenced. Five or six were hauled on board by means +of bowlines; three were incapable of stirring a hand to help +themselves, and since their comrades made no effort to assist in +their rescue several of the destroyer's hands went overboard and, +grasping the unconscious men, were heaved back with no greater +damage than bruised knuckles and grazed shins. + +"Wot are we to do with these 'ere blokes, Sir?" inquired a seaman of +the destroyer's lieutenant, who had temporarily quitted the bridge +to superintend the work of rescue. "Our mess deck's flooded out." + +"They want warmth. Pass the word to the engineer commander to ask if +he has room for nine men in the stokehold." + +"Me from Danmark sheep," volubly asserted one man as he was being +led below. + +"All right, my man," replied the lieutenant, "We'll hear your story +later. Hullo, Barcroft, you on deck? Make yourself useful, old boy, +and find out what happened to these fellows. I must be hopping back +to my perch. Thank your lucky stars it isn't your watch." + +Refraining from remarking that he had already had a voluntary trick +on the sprayswept bridge Billy followed the survivors of the lost +vessel into the hot, steam-laden atmosphere of the stokehold. The +foreigners who were in possession of their faculties had "stripped +to the buff" and were being rubbed down by sympathising British +stokers, while heir clothes were being dried in front of the +furnaces. + +The rescued men seemed extraordinarily anxious to assert that they +belonged to a Danish vessel, almost overwhelming Barcroft in their +eagerness to emphasise the point. None of them spoke English, and as +the flight-sub knew hardly a word of Danish his attempt to gain +information seemed hopeless. He tried speaking in German, with no +better results, except for a reiterated chorus of "Me from Danmark." + +"It's strange that they don't jabber to each other in their own +lingo, sir," remarked a leading stoker, who was kneeling over one of +the unconscious seamen and methodically pressing his ribs according +to the precepts laid down in the _Manual of Seamanship_ for the +treatment of persons apparently drowned. + +The patient was a powerfully built, hugelimbed young giant, by +appearance of far better physique than the others, yet he seemed to +be the worst off from the effects of exposure. External examination +revealed no signs of an injury, although two of the other men had +been badly battered by flying debris from the explosion. + +Just then the man stirred, gasped, and endeavoured to free himself +from the attentions of the humane leading stoker. + +"Then I am still alive?" he asked feebly. "A prisoner on an English +ship. 'Well, I am not sorry. I am tired of the war." + +"Wot's 'e a-sayin', sir?" inquired the leading stoker. + +"Quite enough to give the show away," replied Barcroft, fixing with +his eyes the other foreigners, who were now showing every symptom of +consternation, for the man had spoken in German and his comrades had +understood every word. + +"So you are from a German ship?" demanded the young officer, +addressing the group of survivors. + +The men freely admitted that the game was up, and finding that their +good treatment was not modified they became quite communicative. + +They were, they announced, some of the crew of the armed +commerce-raider "Volksdorf," a converted liner that had left the +port of Swinemunde two days previously. Hugging the Norwegian coast +she had sighted two British patrol ships, and turning southward had +shaken off pursuit in hazy weather. Apparently the "Volksdorf's" +attempt was-timed to take place simultaneously with the German +activity in the North Sea, and by keeping slightly to the northward +of the screen of British destroyers she stood a fair chance of +gaining the Atlantic. Unfortunately for her she came within easy +torpedo range of a U-boat, and the pirate, not knowing that she was +of the same nationality and utterly indifferent as to whether she +destroyed enemy or neutral ships without warning, promptly +discharged a torpedo. The missile struck home, causing a second +explosion, as the after magazine of the raider blew up, causing the +ship to sink in less than thirty seconds. + +Billy went on deck to find the "Audax" still cruising about in the +hope of finding more survivors, but without success. Making his way +to the bridge he informed Aubyn of his discovery. + +"That's great," declared the youthful skipper. "Fritz committing +frightfulness upon his own pals requires some beating. It must have +been a strafed U-boat, since I know for a dead cert that none of our +submarines are taking part in the present operations. Keeping Middle +Watch, Mr. Barcroft? I'd turn in while I had the chance, if I were +you. We're in touch with the 'Hippodrome.' Picked up a wireless call +not five minutes ago. We'll put you on board before many hours, I +dare say, but we don't want to hand you over looking like a sleepy +owl; so down below you go." + +"Thanks, sir, I will," replied the flight-sub, who after the heated +atmosphere of the stoke-hold was feeling the cold acutely. + +And carrying out the genial lieutenant-commander's advice Billy went +below, pulled off his sea-boots, divested himself of his oil skins, +or, rather, those of the engineer-sub who had insisted on lending +them, and flopped into his bunk. He was dimly conscious of thrusting +his back hard against the partition, gripping the edge of the bunk +with both hands and drawing up his knees to wedge himself +in--matters of precaution owing to the erratic motion of the +destroyer--and in ten seconds he was in a sound, dreamless slumber. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +AN OCEAN DUEL + + +"ACTION Stations!" + +Billy Barcroft leapt from his bunk, labouring under the delusion +that he had turned in only a few minutes before. + +The deadlights screwed to the brass rims of the scuttles and the +electric lights in the wardroom gave him the impression that it was +still night, and it was not until he scrambled on deck that he was +aware that grey dawn was breaking. + +The wind had piped down considerably. The seas, still running high, +no longer showed their teeth in the form of vicious, foam-crested +breakers. Yet the decks of the "Audax" were at regular intervals +ankle-deep in water, as the destroyer cut through the billows. + +A cloud of steam, caused by showers of spray striking the hot, +salt-encrusted funnel casings, drifted aft, temporarily obscuring +the flight-sub's range of vision. As it cleared he could discern the +greatcoated figures of Aubyn and his brother-officers on the bridge, +and the indistinct forms of the men as they passed ammunition from +the shell-hoists to the guns. + +"Got her this time, sir," remarked a burly petty officer, the +rotundity of whose figure was still further accentuated by the +prodigious quantity of clothing he wore. + +He pointed to a dark grey, indistinct object almost dead ahead, her +outlines rendered almost invisible by the trailing clouds of smoke +that poured from her funnels. Barcroft estimated her distance at two +thousand yards. It was impossible to see whether she flew her +ensign. + +The vessel was a German ocean-going torpedo-boat, one of the nine +which had stolen out of Zeebrugge. By sheer good luck she had gone +northward over practically the extreme length of the North Sea +without being sighted by the British patrols. An hour, or even half +an hour earlier she might have slipped unobserved past the "Audax" +without being seen by the latter. As it was, one of the British +destroyer's look-out men "spotted" the strange craft in the +deceptive half-light of the late autumnal dawn. + +The "Audax" threw out her private signal by means of a flash lamp +from the bridge. The stranger replied by an unintelligible jumble of +long and short flashes. + +"Either that is a Hun or her signalman is three sheets in the wind," +declared Lieutenant-commander Aubyn. "Tell her to make her number, +or we'll open fire. And wireless the 'Antipas'; give her our +position, and say we are in touch with a suspicious craft." + +Aubyn, though brave as a lion, was of a discreet and cautious +nature. Dearly would he have liked to engage in an ocean duel with +the hostile craft, for such, he now felt convinced she would prove +to be. Both vessels were equally matched in the matter of armament, +tonnage and number of complement: it was necessary only to again +prove the moral and physical superiority of Jack Tar over Hans and +Fritz, unless something in the nature of sheer ill-luck allowed the +coveted prize to slip through his fingers. It was against the +possibility that Aubyn had to guard. The fight had to end in only +one way--annihilation to the foe. Hence the call to the destroyer +"Antipas" to eliminate that element of chance. + +"Let her have it!" shouted the skipper of the "Audax," just as +Barcroft gained the bridge. + +The four-inch gun on the fo'c'sle barked. It was still dark enough +for the flash to cast a lurid glow upon the set faces of the British +officers, who stood by with their glasses ready to bear upon the +flying torpedo-boat the moment the acrid fumes from the burnt +cordite drifted clear of the bridge. + +The first shell struck the water close to the German vessel's port +side, throwing up a column of water fifty feet in the air as it +ricochetted and finally disappeared beneath the waves a mile or so +ahead of the target. + +Fritz replied promptly. He must have fired; directly the flash of +the "Audax's" bow gun was observed. The projectile screeched above +the heads of the men on the bridge, seemingly so close that Barcroft +involuntarily ducked. It was quite a different sensation from being +potted at by "Archibalds." Up aloft the roar of the seaplane's +engines and the rush of the wind practically overwhelmed the crash +of the bursting shrapnel. This weird moaning, as the four-inch shell +flew by, was somewhat disconcerting as far as Billy was concerned, +while to heighten the effect a rending crash accompanied the passing +of the projectile. + +"Our wireless top-hamper, dash it all!" exclaimed Aubyn, turning his +head for a brief instant. "Starboard a little, quartermaster." + +The slight alteration of helm enabled the midship quick-firer on the +starboard side to bear upon the enemy. The latter, evidently with +the idea of dazzling the British destroyer, had switched on a +searchlight mounted on a raised platform aft. Probably the Huns +might have derived advantage from the rays, that still held their +own against the increasing dawn, had not a well-directed shell from +the "Audax" fo'c'sle gun blown searchlight, platform, and half a +dozen men to smithereens. + +For the next ten minutes the adversaries were at it hammer and +tongs. More than one shell got home on board the British craft, +playing havoc with the after-funnel and deckfittings, while three +badly wounded but still irrepressibly cheerful seamen were taken +down below. + +The German craft was being severely punished. The speed had fallen +off considerably, while she was on fire fore and aft, although the +for'ard conflagration was quickly got under by her crew. By this +time she bore broad on the British destroyer's bow, the range having +decreased to 1,500 yards. + +Suddenly the Hun put her helm hard down. Either she saw that flight +was no longer possible, or else her stern quick-firers had been +knocked out, and she wished to bring her as yet unused guns to bear +upon her foe. + +As she turned Aubyn saw through his binoculars a gleaming object +shoot over the German craft's side, quickly followed by another. +Both disappeared in a smother of foam beneath the waves. "Hard +a-port!" he shouted, knowing full well that at that moment a couple +of powerful Schwarzkopft torpedoes, propelled by superheated +compressed air, were heading towards the "Audax" at a rate of forty +to fifty miles an hour. + +Round swung the destroyer, listing under excessive helm until the +deck on the starboard side dipped beneath the water. As she did so +the two torpedoes could be distinctly seen, as, adjusted to their +minimum depth to prevent them passing under the lightly draughted +objective, they appeared betwixt the crests of the waves. + +One passed fifty yards away; the other almost scraped the +destroyer's quarter. Had the "Audax" not promptly answered to her +helm both torpedoes would have "got home." Yet, not in the least +perturbed, the British seamen continued their grim task of battering +the Hun out of recognition. They worked almost in silence. Each man +knew his particular job and did it. Time for shouting when the +business was finished to their satisfaction. + +Yet there was a regular pandemonium of noise. The hiss of escaping +steam; the vicious thuds of the waves as the "Audax," at twenty +eight point something knots, tore through the water under the action +of engines of 14,000 horse-power; the rapid barking of the +quick-firers; the sharp clang of the breech-blocks and the clatter +of the ejected shell-cases upon the slippery decks--all combined to +bear testimony to the stress and strain of a destroyer action. The +"Audax" was the latest embodiment of naval science in that class of +boat, yet without the intrepid energies of the men behind the guns, +aided by the strenuous efforts of their mess-mates in the +engine-room stokehold, that science would be of little avail in +gaining the victory. Man-power still counts as much as it ever did, +provided an efficient fighting machine is at their disposal. British +Hearts of Oak are much the same as in Nelson's day--and yet the +average pay of the Lower Deck ratings is about three shillings a day +with no eight-hour shifts, risking life and limb for a wage at which +a navvy would sneer. + +And why? It is the call of the sea--a call that appeals to Britons +more than to any other nation under the sun. In the piping times of +peace the Navy offers unrivalled facilities for poor men to travel +and see the world, it responds to their love of adventure. In +wartime it calls for hard and often unappreciated work with the +chance of a glorious scrap thrown in; and right loyally the Navy +answers to the call to maintain the freedom of the seas and to guard +our shores against the King's enemies. + +By the time that the opposing vessels had steadied on their +respective helms the "Audax" was steaming obliquely on her foe's +broadside, sufficiently to enable three of her four guns to bear. + +The Hun's fire was now slackening, and in spite of the shortness of +the range, decidedly erratic. Her hull was perforated in several +places, her funnels were riddled to such an extent that it seemed +remarkable that they had not already collapsed. Her masts had +vanished, also a portion of her bridge, while her deck was littered +with smoking debris. + +"Cease fire!" ordered Lieutenant-commander Aubyn as the German no +longer replied to her severe punishment. What was more, her Black +Cross ensign, which she had hoisted after the commencement of the +engagement, was no longer visible. + +Aubyn's chivalrous instincts were ill-repaid, for a couple of shells +screeched through the air from the vessel which he thought had +surrendered. One went wide; the other penetrated the ward-room of +the "Audax," fortunately without exploding. Simultaneously a German +bluejacket held aloft the tattered Black Cross emblem of unholy +kultur. + +In an instant the British tars reopened fire; while to make matters +worse for the Huns, the "Antipas," racing up under forced draught, +let fly a salvo from the three guns that could be brought to bear +ahead. That settled the business. The hostile craft, literally +battered out of recognition, began to founder. + +"Cease fire!" Aubyn ordered for the second time within two minutes. +Then, "Out boats." + +It was an easy matter to order the boats away, but a most difficult +task to carry the instructions into effect. The gig had been +completely pulverised, while the other boats were in a more or less +unseaworthy condition. + +"Look alive, lads!" exclaimed a petty officer of the carpenters' +crew. "T'other blokes'll be there first if we don't look out." + +Hastily the holes in the bottom strakes of that particular boat were +plugged, and, quickly manned, the leaky craft pushed off, the men +urged by her coxswain to "pull like blazes an' get them chaps out o' +the bloomin' ditch." + +By this time the German torpedo-boat had vanished beneath the waves, +leaving a rapidly-dispersing cloud of smoke and steam to mark the +spot where she had disappeared and the heads of about twenty +swimmers--the survivors of her complement. + +In twos and threes the war-scarred and nerve-shattered Huns were +hauled into safety, for other help from both destroyers was now upon +the scene, and deeply laden the boats returned to their respective +parents. + +Suddenly Barcroft, who was watching the arrival of the sorry-looking +crowd of German prisoners, gave vent to an uncontrolled shout of +joyous surprise, for huddled in the stern sheets of the whaler were +Flight-lieutenant-John Fuller and his comrade in peril, Bobby +Kirkwood. + +"There's precious little of report," said Fuller in reply to the +skipper of the "Audax", when the two rescued officers were snugly +berthed in the ward-room--warm in spite of the additional +ventilation in the shape of a couple of neatly-drilled holes marking +the place of entry and the point of departure of the ill-advised +German "dud" shell. "We had to make a forced descent, got collared +by a strafed U-boat just as we had effected repairs. The U-boat +rattled herself to bits, so to speak, and had to be abandoned. I've +had quite enough submarining, thank you. Give me a seaplane any day +of the week, Sunday included. Then that torpedo-boat--V198's her +designation--picked us up. They stowed us in the forehold and forgot +to let us out when she went under. Suppose they had quite enough on +their hands and clean forgot about us," he added generously, giving +the kapitan-leutnant of the V198 the benefit of the doubt. + +"Anyhow, there we were," continued the flight-lieutenant. "We knew +the rotten packet was going, and although we yelled the racket on +board prevented them hearing us, I suppose. Still, our luck was in, +for a shell burst in her fo'c'sle, ripping up the deck and bursting +the cable-tier bulkhead. It was pretty thick with the smoke, but we +groped for'ard----" + +"You hauled me for'ard, you mean," interrupted the A.P. + +"Shut up!" said Fuller reprovingly. "Well, by standing on the edge +of the manger we managed to haul ourselves on to the mess-deck. +There we stuck till the firing ceased, and the boat's stern was well +under water. Then--it was quite time for us to go, and we dived +overboard. The rest you know." + +"And what might you be doing on board, old bird?" asked Kirkwood +addressing the overjoyed Billy. + +"Passenger for the 'Hippodrome,'" replied the flight-sub. + +"And it strikes me very forcibly," added Aubyn, "that at this rate +I'll find all the 'Hippodrome's' birds on board this hooker. The +trouble now is: how can I deliver the goods? We'll have to ask +permission to quit station and return for repairs and overhaul. +Another three weeks in dockyard hands, I suppose, and the fun only +just beginning. Just my luck." + +The skipper went on deck. There was much to be done. Although the +"butcher's bill" was light, and the destroyer had sustained no +serious damage to her hull--thanks to the defective German +shells--the loss of the tophamper was considerable. In her present +state she was unable to carry out her duties as an efficient patrol +boat. With her wireless out of action she was impotent to perform +the vital function of communicating with her invisible consorts. For +centuries the British Navy had done very well without the aid of +wireless telegraphy, but, like many other things, Marconi's +discovery had come to stay. Its use enabled fewer vessels to +effectually do the work that hitherto required more to perform, +owing to the necessity of keeping within visible signalling +distance; and a destroyer without wireless was a "dead end," in +modern naval warfare. + +But Lieutenant-commander Aubyn was not a man who would willingly +miss the opportunity of doing his friends a good turn, provided the +exigencies of the Service permitted. + +Before parting company he signalled the "Antipas," which was still +standing by the injured destroyer, with the result that a boat put +off from the latter and came alongside. + +"Look alive, you fellows!" shouted Aubyn down the ward-room +companion. "If you want to get on board the 'Hippodrome' within the +next few hours now's your chance. Tressidar, of the 'Antipas,' will +give you a passage. That's all right: stick to that gear till you +find the old 'Hippo.' I've had to borrow a kit myself before +to-day." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +HELD UP IN THE NORTH SEA + + +"BEHOLD US, Tress old boy!" exclaimed Fuller, when in the privacy of +Lieutenant-commander Ronald Tressidar's cabin the old chums could +forget the slight differences in their respective ranks. "Three +stormy petrels; nobody loves us. Kind of social pariahs, don't you +know. Even the Huns wouldn't have us on two of their packets, after +little Seaplane 445B slung us out. And, worse, that blighter Aubyn +washed his hands of us. Suppose you'll be slinging us out next, +Tress?" + +"I shall be delighted," replied Tressidar. "The moment----" + +"Surly old cave-dweller!" continued the flight-lieutenant. "That's +what comes of being shipmates with a mouldy bird in a captive +balloon. You will be delighted to--what were you saying?" + +"Delighted to feed, partly clothe and certainly educate you, my +festive, until we fall in with the 'Hippodrome.' This last condition +doesn't apply to your companions," proceeded Tressidar. "But when or +where we fall in with the 'Hippo' is a matter for sheer conjecture. +I believe now this duck hunt is over (the rest of the Hun +torpedo-craft bar two have been accounted for: I suppose you heard +that?) the three seaplane carriers are off south to tackle this +Zeebrugge business again. However, trust to luck and don't whine if +it kicks you. Them's my sentiments, my dear old pal." + +It was the "bar two" that kept the "Antipas" and the rest of her +consorts patrolling the wild North Sea, until news had been +definitely received to the effect that the forlorn pair of Hun boats +had done one of three things--had been sunk, captured or had +contrived to slip through the cordon into a home or neutral port. + +For the next twenty-four hours nothing of incident occurred. The +destroyer, maintaining her course within set limits as stolidly as a +policeman on his beat, encountered little to attract the attention +of her look-out. Every two hours she was in touch with her "next on +station," and receiving the information that all was well and +nothing doing she would starboard helm and retrace her course. + +"Yes, pretty tame," commented Tressidar in reply to a remark of +Barcroft's, "but we are getting quite used to it. Yesterday's scrap +came as a little tonic, although we didn't have so very much to do. +Aubyn had the bounder well in hand already when we came up." + +"This youth," remarked Fuller, indicating the flight-sub, "is an +optimist of the deepest dye. What d'ye think is his idea of +penultimate bliss? Having dinner at a swagger hotel somewhere on the +East Coast, with the blinds up and every available electric light +switched on." + +"That shows, Mr. Barcroft," said the lieutenant-commander, "that you +have a pretty firm belief in the fact that the war will be over some +day--unless you are prepared to shell out to the tune of fifty +pounds for an offence against the Defence of the Realm Act." + +"Heaven forbid, sir!" replied Barcroft. "But, personally speaking, +I'm fed up with having to hang about ashore in utter darkness. It's +necessary, of course." + +"Of course," echoed Tressidar. "It's part of the mess of pottage we +received when we sold our birthright on that memorable morning when +Bleriot flew across the Channel. From that hour our insular +superiority was threatened not by La Belle France, though. Only the +other day----" + +A knock upon the door of the cabin, followed by the appearance of a +messenger, interrupted the lieutenant-commander's narrative. + +"Orficer of the watch's compliments, sir," reported the man, "an' +there's a Danish vessel; making to the nor'-west, distant three +miles." + +"Very good--carry on," replied the skipper, and snatching up his cap +he hurried on deck, followed by the trio of naval airmen. + +The Dane proved to be a two-funnelled, twomasted craft of about +3,000 tons. On the foremost funnel and along her sides were painted +her national colours, while to leave no doubt as to her identity the +words "Trone--Danmark" appeared amidships in letters six feet in +height. + +"I've signalled to her to stop, sir," reported the officer of the +watch. "Ah, there she goes--well, signalman?" + +The "bunting-tosser," with his telescope glued to his eye, called +out the letters of a string of bunting that rose to the "Trone's" +mast head. His mate, having written various cabalistic signs on a +signal-pad (the numbed state of his hands prevented his making any +legible letters), hurried off to consult the International Code +Book.. + +"Is it necessary for me to heave-to?" was the significance of the +Jane's signal. "I have been examined twice already." + +"Then three for luck, you bounder!" chuckled Tressidar. "Signalman, +hoist the International 'I D'." + +I D--signifying the peremptory order, "Heave-to or I will fire into +you," was a message not to be ignored. Patches of foam under the +vessel's counter and streaming for'ard past her water-line announced +that her engines were going astern in order to check her way. + +"Like a trip in the boat, Mr. Barcroft?" asked Tressidar, as he +noticed the flight-sub regarding the boarding party with studied +interest. "Very good; you may learn a few tricks of the trade." + +With her guns trained upon the suspect--for experience had taught +British officers that Hun raiders do not scruple to sail under +neutral colours--the "Antipas" circled round the now stationary +"Trone," the while maintaining a sharp look-out for hostile +submarines that have a habit of keeping in touch with ships liable +to examination much in the same manner as a pilot fish attends upon +a shark. + +"She looks quite a mild cuss," observed the sub of the duty boat to +Billy, "but one never knows. A few weeks back I was boarding some +old hooker. Pitch dark night and raining like blue blazes. We'd just +run alongside when the blighters heaved something overboard--looked +like an elephant by the size of it. Anyway, it missed us by a yard +and gave us all a sousing, which we didn't mind as we were pretty +wet already. Then she pushed off for all she was worth, thinking +that our skipper would have to moon about and pick us up. He did," +added the young officer grimly, "--after he had squared accounts +with the brute--another would-be 'Moewe.' A torpedo at five hundred +yards settled her. In bow!" + +The bowman boated his oars, and balancing himself in the plunging +bows of the little craft, dexterously secured the end of a coil of +rope that was thrown from the "Trone's" deck. + +Up the swaying "monkey-ladder" swarmed the British officers and men, +and gaining the Dane's deck were received by the dapper, +clean-shaven skipper. + +"Of course, of course, I understand," replied the Dane in excellent +English when the sub apologised for having had to compel him to +heave-to. "Our papers are here. We are from Esbjerg to Newcastle +with passengers and general cargo." + +"Very good," replied the sub in charge of the boarding-party. "I'll +have a squint at your papers. Say, Barcroft, would you mind +examining the passengers? Try a few words of German on 'em unawares. +That generally fetches the black-listers." + +The civilians, to the number of nineteen, were formed upon the poop. +A few bore the appearance of being respectable, the others looked +utterly out-and-out scarecrows.. + +The "Trone's" second mate appeared with the passenger list. To +Billy's surprise ten of the men were English. + +"Yes; men sent back from Germany," declared the mate, who, like his +skipper, spoke English fluently. "They were exchanged, and were to +have travelled through Holland, but the Dutch steamers are +temporarily stopped, so they came through Denmark instead." + +The scarecrows greeted Barcroft with cheerful smiles as he +approached. In spite of their rags, the torments of hunger and +degradation that they had undergone, they were British to the +core--men over sixty years of age who, deemed to be useless by the +Germans, had been repatriated: living examples of the gentle and +humane treatment afforded to the unfortunate captives who had the +ill-luck to fall into the hands of the apostles of kultur. + +Billy interrogated the men one by one. No need to doubt their words. +One and all were unanimous in their story of the horrors of the +famine-prisons of Germany. + +"I won't ever turn up my nose at a dogbiscuit after this, sir," said +one old veteran of seventy-two. + +"William McDonald--where's William McDonald?" inquired Barcroft +reading the names from the list. + +"Here, sir." + +The speaker was of different appearance from the nine. Although +dressed in rough clothes his garments bore the appearance of being +practically new, nor did his features betray the traces of months of +semi-starvation. + +"Not much to complain about," he replied in answer to the +flight-sub's question. "I was at Eylau. Fair amount of food and of +good quality." + +"You are not sixty, by any means," said Barcroft. + +"No, not fifty yet. Heart trouble--fit for nothing, so they sent me +back to England." + +"H'm," muttered the flight-sub. + +"He's one of a few that drew a lucky number, I'm thinking, sir," +remarked the man who stood next to him. "Fair slave-driven, that's +what we were. But that's all over now, thank God." + +The rest of the passengers passed muster. They were Danish +subjects--merchants and farmers, brought over at the instance of the +British Government to assist in certain transactions between Great +Britain and Denmark. + +"A clean bill of health," reported Billy as the destroyer's sub +rejoined him. + +"And all serene down below," rejoined the latter. "We'll shove off. +Thanks, captain, for your assistance; sorry we had to hold you up, +but we're at war, you know." + +"Yes," added the Dane, "and you have our moral support. I wish that +we were a bigger nation. We, too, have old scores to wipe off--my +family lived at Flensburg for years until '66. Flensburg is in +Germany now, but some day--who knows?" + +"A good sort," announced the sub, as the boat made her way back to +the "Antipas." "These Danes remember Schleswig-Holstein almost if +not quite as much as the French do Alsace Lorraine. I shouldn't be +surprised if they chip in just before the end, if only to get their +lost provinces back. How about Denmark extending frontiers to the +Kiel Canal, and making that artificial waterway an international +concern, eh?" + +The sight of the destroyer dipping her ensign caused both officers +to turn their heads and look at the "Trone." The latter was again +under way and had just rehoisted her ensign after saluting the +British warship. + +"I feel downright sorry for those ten Britishers," thought Billy. +"Their experiences have put years on to their lives." + +But, had he known, he might have made an exception; for, holding +aloof from his companions, Mr. William McDonald was thanking his +lucky stars that he had again bluffed the inspecting officer. Within +the next twelve hours William hoped to reassume the name of Andrew +Norton, trusting to his natural cunning to explain satisfactorily +the reason why he left the neighbourhood of Barborough so suddenly +on the night of the raid. + +Evidently Siegfried von Eitelwurmer, _alias_ Andrew Norton, +otherwise McDonald, had strong reasons for leaving his Fatherland in +order to risk his life in the British Isles. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +INVESTIGATIONS + + +"To come straight to the point, my dear Entwistle," said Peter +Barcroft. "I may say that I have two reasons for looking you up. The +first is purely a matter of form--to inquire after your injured +ankle. Judging by the way in which you crossed the room I think I am +right in concluding that your recovery has been rapid and, I hope, +permanent. No, don't limp, old man. That won't do. The second is to +make inquiries respecting a donkey--to wit, one Butterfly." + +"Oh!" remarked Entwistle. "Anything wrong? What are the symptoms?" + +"A bad form of absentitis," replied Peter grimly. "Don't you know?" + +The vet shook his head. + +"Continue," he said, as he handed his tobacco-pouch to his caller. + +"The brute never came back. In his hurry my son forgot to mention +it--he was recalled by wire, and the young bounder never even +dropped me a postcard. Now I'm on Butterfly's track. Can you assist +me in my quest?" + +"Sorry," replied Entwistle, taking the pouch and deliberately +filling his briar. "Stay. I did mention to Billy that the animal +ought to be shod. Why not inquire of the various blacksmiths on the +way to Tarleigh? Let me see: there's Schofield's in Cook Street, +Barnes's in Forge Lane, and Thomas's in Dyke Street--they are all +just off Chumley Old Road. How did you come into Barborough--by +train?" + +"No, I walked as far as the tram terminus," replied Barcroft Senior. + +"If you like I'll run you back in my car," suggested the vet. "We'll +look the blacksmiths up on our way. Any news of your friend Norton?" + +"Not a sign or a word." + +"H'm!" + +Entwistle shrugged his shoulders. Peter looked at him keenly. + +"Why that 'h'm'?" he asked. + +"Only--by the bye, have the police been informed?" + +Barcroft shook his head. + +"Not by me," he replied. "I'm inclined to think that he'll turn up +again in a day or two. It may be a form of eccentricity encouraged +by the excitement of the raid." + +"Yes," agreed the vet. "Three days ago. Yes, it is quite about time +he put in an appearance. Well, excuse me a moment. I'll tell Jarvis +to bring the car round." + +"Sure I'm not putting you out?" asked Peter. + +"On the contrary--delighted. As a matter of fact, I have to see a +horse belonging to a farmer over Windyhill way, so it will be +killing two birds with one stone. Now for this bad case of +absentitis." + +Inquiries at two blacksmiths were without satisfactory result. The +third, who happened to be the man who had shod the refractory +Butterfly, could only state that the last he saw of the animal was +that it was scampering along Jumbles Lane, and that the trap still +remained in a shed in his yard. + +"Th' oughtn't ta' be much trouble to trace yon animal," concluded +the smith. "A champion she were-a right down champion, mark you. +They may clip her coat or dock her tail or change her colour, but +'tis her size as they can't alter. Meantimes I'll keep a look-out, +master, and if I hears aught----" + +"Going to report the matter to the police?" asked Entwistle, as the +pair re-entered the car. + +"I think not," replied Peter. "It might end in the representative of +the law running in every itinerant donkey owner on sight. I think +I'll enlist the services of the Press to the tune of an +eighteenpenny advertisement." + +Outside the newspaper offices a crowd had collected to read the +latest bulletin: + +"Destroyer Action in the North Sea. German torpedo-boats destroyed. +British Naval Airmen rescued from sinking enemy craft." + +Making his way through the throng Peter entered the office, gave in +his advertisement and bought a paper. + +"That's great!" he ejaculated as he read the brief report. "Billy's +pals, Fuller and Kirkwood, saved by one of our destroyers. By Jove, +Entwistle, who says that the British Navy is sitting tight in +harbour? Whenever there's an opportunity our lads in navy blue are +on it." + +"Then why the deuce confine the facts to a few bald lines?" asked +the vet. "The job's done properly, and a stirring story it would +make! Something to buck up people at home. Instead, you have to rely +upon your imagination, which is apt to let you down." + +"Give it up," said Peter the optimist. "All I know is that we are +top dog, and everything will pan out all right in the end." + +"Granted," agreed Entwistle. "The Navy's all right; the New Army is +splendid--we'll muddle through somehow, in spite of the miserable +legacy of the Wait and See crowd. There's a hymn beginning 'A people +who in darkness sat.' That sums up the whole state of the civil +population of Great Britain. To my mind the nation resembles a mass +of iron filings spread out on a sheet of paper--all sixes and +sevens. A magnet will instantly cause those particular pieces of +metal to fly into orderly formation following the lines of magnetic +force: a Man will be able to do the same with the nation, only, +unfortunately, we haven't yet found the Man. We as Britons trust too +much to chance--to a sort of voluntary organisation of labour. +Result, every man is asking why some one else doesn't do his bit and +tries to persuade himself that he is a sort of indispensable +himself, I shouldn't be surprised if the war ends in a patched-up +peace." + +"No fear," asserted Barcroft firmly--so emphatically that Entwistle +almost relaxed his grip upon the steering wheel and narrowly avoided +collision with a brewer's dray. "There'll be nothing of the sort. +The men who are now fighting mean to see the business through and +not leave the horrors of war to be repeated with triple violence as +a legacy to their children and their children's children. It's got +to be done--and done it will be, even if it takes another two +years." + +When in due course the car arrived at the narrow lane leading to +Ladybird Fold, Entwistle, somewhat to his companion's astonishment, +insisted upon driving right up to the house. + +"No hurry," commented the vet. "I like taking a car along a tricky +path. Hullo! there are your dogs, Barcroft. They seem to know that +I'm something in the animal line, and wish to be run over in order +to give me a job." + +The car came to a standstill at the house. Peter descended, to be +overwhelmed with the noisy and frantic attentions of Ponto and Nan. + +"Come in," he said, "May as well have tea with us." + +"Thanks, I will," replied Entwistle; then pointing in the direction +of "The Croft," the tiled roof of which was just visible above the +ridge of a hill, "Is that where Norton hangs out? I've heard of the +place. What sort of a show is it?" + +"Come and see for yourself," said Barcroft. "There'll be time for a +stroll before tea. I have the key, thanks to the magnificent +condescension of Mrs. What's-her-name, Norton's generalissimo and +domestic help. Why are you anxious to see the place? Thinking of +renting it and being my nearest neighbour if Norton fails to +return?" + +"Perhaps," laughed Philip Entwistle. "When I retire, and I cannot +see myself doing that yet." + +"I wouldn't," said Peter gravely. "Retirement is a rotten state for +a professional man to enter into. Sudden dislocation of his routine, +nothing to occupy his mind--result, he generally pegs out in a +couple of years. I've noticed it scores of times." + +"It's all very well for you literary fellows to talk," protested +Entwistle. "You can never complain of overwork." + +"There you are mistaken," said Barcroft. "I admit I slack off a +little now, but at one time I dare not. It may seem easy for a +fellow to knock off a couple of thousand words a day, but try it for +a year and see how it feels. Remember, it isn't the actual work of +putting pen to paper. One has to think, and think jolly hard. Do you +remember some years ago a man tried to cover a thousand miles in a +thousand consecutive hours? One mile an hour day and night. Doesn't +seem much, but imagine what it means." + +"You seem to have done pretty well out of it," remarked Entwistle. + +"It took some doing," confessed Peter. "I can recall a certain +Christmas Eve when, with two other congenial spirits, I sat in a +fireless attic in Town. We were literally on our beam ends--too +jolly proud to sample the fatted calf that awaited us in our +respective parents' homes. I think we had sevenpence halfpenny +between us." + +"Sounds cheerful." + +"Precisely. However, being fresh-air fiends even in those days, we +had left the window open----" + +"And some philanthrophic soul threw in a big parcel of provender?" + +"Into the attic window of a six-storeyed house? Hardly. No; a pigeon +flew in. It never flew out again, for in less than twenty minutes it +was roasting in front of the landlady's kitchen fire. That same +evening one of my companions in distress received an unexpected +guinea for a pot-boiler, and there was no longer famine in the +land." + +The two men had now climbed the hill and were outside the front door +of The Croft. The house was considerably smaller than Ladybird Fold, +although built on the same principle. At one time it had been a farm +house, but most of the outbuildings had been removed. Standing on +higher ground it commanded even a more extensive outlook than that +enjoyed by the Barcrofts; in fact, almost the whole of Barborough +could be discerned. + +Within, the place was plainly furnished. The ground floor consisted +of stone flags on which were spread large mats. The fireplace was +large and at one time boasted of a chimney corner and settle. In the +grate a fire had been laid in anticipation of Mr. Norton's return. + +"I'm just going upstairs to shut those windows," said Peter. "I +suppose Norton's D.T. forgot to close them. Do you want to have a +look round the upper rooms?" + +"Not with this ankle. It feels a bit painful," replied Entwistle. +"If you don't mind I'll wait here." + +Directly he heard the sound of Barcroft's footsteps through the +raftered ceiling Entwistle stole softly to the desk that stood in +the corner of the room. Slipping on a pair of thin gloves and +producing a bundle of keys from his trouser's pocket he set +deliberately to work to open the locked drawers, for in contrast to +Peter Barcroft's easy-going methods Andrew Norton had locked +everything up, notwithstanding his supposedly temporary visit to +Ladybird Fold on the night of the raid. + +In less than thirty seconds Entwistle had the desk open. Deftly he +went through a pile of papers, as brazenly as Andrew Norton had +examined the manuscript on Peter's bureau. In quantity there was +very little: a small batch of tradesmen's receipts, a notebook half +filled with calculations evidently referring to electrical problems, +a few letters that seemed of no interest except to the writers and +their recipient, and an unfinished manuscript written on two sheets +of foolscap, the opening sentences of which were as follows: + + "Whenever you have an opportunity of visiting Dartmoor I should + strongly advise you to take it. It is fairly easy to reach from + Plymouth. Even in the depth of winter the rugged uplands have + their charm. When last in that neighbourhood I took coach to + Totnes: Every few hours a boat runs to Dartmouth. If tide permits, + I ought to add. The Dart is a charmingly picturesque river. In + the town itself there is much to be seen. Several of the old + houses, especially in the Butter-walk, are worthy of close + inspection. The castle is open to visitors. Every facility for + tourists and visitors in the town. Some fishing to be had in the + river. Better hauls are to be obtained in Start Bay. It is + advisable to take a professional boatman, as the tide is tricky + and at times dangerous. Sailing boats can be hired by the day or + hour. Zealous devotees of the piscatorial art will have no cause + to regret their choice of this fishing centre. Up the river, + above Totnes, trout abound. Rules and regulations relating to + the close seasons are by no means drastic." + +Philip Entwistle chuckled as he perused this document. + +"Sort of thing that would easily pass the Press Censor," he said to +himself, "At first sight a kind of extract from a guide book to +Devonshire. Quite harmless--I think not. _Now let me jot down the +first letter of each sentence_: WIE (that's promising) WEIT +(better) IST (better still) ES (now we begin to see light. German +for a dead cert) BIS ZUR KLIPPEN HOHE, which, translated, means, +'What is the distance to the summit of the cliffs?' That's good +enough. I'll take the liberty of borrowing this document. I must +risk friend Norton returning before to-morrow." + +Carefully refolding the papers the vet, placed them in his inside +coat-pocket, then having slipped the catch of the window, he awaited +Peter's return. + +"Hope I haven't kept you?" inquired Barcroft. + +"Not at all," was the prompt reply. + +"By the bye," remarked Peter as the pair retraced their steps to +Ladybird Fold, "this might interest you. I meant to have shown it +you before, but somehow I forgot." + +He handed Entwistle a copy of the document that had been found on +the body of the German airman. + +Philip Entwistle read it carefully. + +"Ha! A price on your head, eh?" he remarked. + +"I don't take it seriously," said Peter. "It may be genuine. Billy +handed it to me just as the train was leaving the station. He had no +time to explain. Usual family failing, I suppose--leaving things to +the last minute." + +Entwistle made no reply to his companion's remarks. He was thinking +deeply, trying to piece together certain items that had already been +brought to his notice. + +"I won't tell him just yet," he soliloquised. "Must make sure of my +ground first." + +After tea Entwistle drove away, ostensibly to visit a farmer at +Windyhill. As a matter of fact he stopped at the Waterloo Hotel, +retired to a private room and made a careful copy of the document he +had annexed from The Croft. + +"So that's how they communicate with him," he mused. "Simple +solution when you've been given the tip. The next point is: how does +he convey his information to them?" Late that night Entwistle +returned from Windyhill by a loop route that passed within half a +mile of The Croft. Driving his car off the road and on to a patch of +waste land he extinguished the lights. This done he walked over the +moor to The Croft, opened the unlatched window, entered the house +and replaced the borrowed document. + +Then, conscious of a good day's work accomplished, he went home, to +gather up the tangled skeins of the complicated task in hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +ON THE TRAIL + + +AT ten o'clock the following morning Peter Barcroft had a visitor. +The announcement, delivered by Mrs. Carter, was greeted with a flow +of forcible language. + +"Tell the blithering idiot I can't see him now," shouted Mr. +Barcroft. "I'm busy. He must call again in an hour's time." + +The Little Liver Pill departed with the message, to return with the +information that the caller came with news of "that there moke." + +"In that case, show him in," decided Peter. + +The informant was a short, thick-set, bowlegged man, with features +that had cunning stamped indelibly on every line. His watery blue +eyes and stubbly grey moustache contrasted vividly with his reddish +complexion, the colour of which reached its maximum intensity at the +tip of his turned-up nose. "The straight tip, guv'ner, an' no +questions axed," began the man, winking solemnly. + +"What d'ye mean?" demanded Peter. + +"Wot I says," replied the slightly inebriated one. "You offers in +this 'ere paper a bloomin' quid to any bloke as gives information +about your moke. 'Ere's the bloke--me. Na, 'ow abaht it?" + +"Can you produce the animal?" asked Barcroft. + +"Wot! Tike me fer a bloomin' conjurer? D'ye fink as 'ow I can make a +bloomin' moke come outer me 'at like a rabbit?" + +"In that case I don't think I'll trouble you any further," said +Peter, placing his hand on the bell. + +"'Old 'ard, guv'ner!" interrupted the man. "You mistakes my meanin.' +Wot I says is this, if you'll pardon my manner o' speech. I knows +where your donkey is. A chap wot I owes a grudge to 'as pinched it. +You pay me the quid, I'll give you the straight tip, s'long as you +don't bring my name inter it, an' there you are. You gets yer moke +back agen an' it's a jimmy o' goblin well spent." + +Peter considered the points raised. He felt disinclined to treat +with the rascal. He might have telephoned for the police, but it was +hardly a case of blackmail. Quite possibly at the threat of the law +the fellow might be cowed; on the other hand he might shut up like +an oyster. Again, the whole story might be a cock-and-bull yarn with +the idea of getting money. + +"Very well," said Barcroft at length. "I agree. Now tell me where +the animal is." + +"Steady on, guv'ner," protested the man. "'Ow abaht it?--the quid, I +means." + +"I've promised," said Peter. "My word is your bond." + +"Sooner 'ave the brass." + +"When I regain possession of the animal," decided the lawful owner +firmly. "You give me your name and address and directly I recover my +property I will send you the money. You cannot reasonably expect me +to trust you, an utter stranger, with a sovereign on the off-chance +that I may get the animal back on the strength of your information. +In fact, rather than do so, I would let the donkey go. Now, make up +your mind quickly. My time is precious." + +The informer scratched the back of his head. "Look 'ere, guv'ner," +he began. "I don't want to be 'ard on yer----" + +"You won't, my man," interrupted Peter grimly. "Now, yes or no: +which is it to be?" + +"Orl right," exclaimed the man in a tone of virtuous resignation. +"I'll tell, only you might 'ave parted with that there quid on the +nail. I won't give yer me name, but p'raps you won't object ter me +a-comin' round an' collectin' the brass when you've got the moke +back?" + +To this Peter assented. + +"You'll find the donkey at Bigthorpe," continued the fellow. "Third +archway of the viaduct across Thorpe Beck--Stigler's the name o' the +bloke wot pinched 'er, although she trotted into 'is father's place +down in Barborough. Stigler's a bad 'un, so yer wants to be pretty +fly or 'e'll be sellin' 'er to some one. That's the straight tip, +guv'ner, an' don't you ferget it--third archway o' Thorpe Beck +Viaduct. Supposin' I looks in fer that quid this day week?" + +"Very good," agreed Peter, as he showed his visitor to the door. "By +the bye, what sort of man is this Mr. Stigler?" + +"I reckon as 'ow 'e's a bit of a bruiser," was the not unexpected +reply. + +When his caller had taken his departure Barcroft reviewed the +situation. Bruiser or no bruiser Mr. Stigler had to be tackled, and +Peter was not a man to be intimidated. He would go at once to +Bigthorpe. But perhaps it would be as well to have some one with +him. He thought of Philip Entwistle; he remembered his new-found +friend remarking that he was not particularly busy. + +Although he detested having to use the telephone--he would much +rather have taken the trouble to go into Barborough to broach the +matter, only time was of importance--Peter rang up the vet. The +reply was to the effect that Mr. Entwistle was away from home and +was not expected back until to-morrow. + +"That's done it," muttered Barcroft, "I'll go alone." + +It was normally a two hours' railway journey to Bigthorpe, a fairly +large town in the East Riding of Yorkshire, but owing to various +unforeseen delays the clocks were striking four when Peter reached +his destination. + +Having obtained direction from a porter as to the nearest way to +Thorpe Beck Viaduct Peter walked out of the station, and to his +surprise ran into the missing Andrew Norton. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed the spy, somewhat guardedly, for he had to feel +his ground. "I hardly expected to see you here." + +"Nor did I," replied Peter extending his hand, which the other +grasped with well-assumed cordiality. + +"You've heard?" + +"I've heard nothing." + +"I wired to my housekeeper yesterday," explained the _soi-disant_ +Norton. "Had a sort of nervous breakdown--complete loss of memory." + +"The Zep. raid, I suppose?" asked Peter sympathetically. + +"Yes, yes, precisely--the Zep. raid, confound it!" said the German +hurriedly. "I remember the bombs dropping, and I ran, goodness knows +where. Must have wandered about all night. Have some recollection of +finding myself at a strange railway station. Eventually I arrived at +Bigthorpe, not even remembering my name and address until I found my +registration card in my pocket. Deuced useful things those cards. +However, since I was at Bigthorpe, I thought I would stay there a +couple of days or so to restore my shattered nerves. Just back by +the 4.38." + +"Can you postpone your return for another day?" asked Peter. "I'm +returning to-morrow. But perhaps I oughtn't to detain you, although +everything's all right at The Croft." + +"Is it?" asked the spy. "Thanks awfully. No. I'm afraid I can't stop +here any longer." + +"In that case I'll see you anon," said Peter. "Oh, while I think of +it: where were you staying here? I know nothing about the place and +must get a room at a comfortable hotel." + +Von Eitelwurmer considered for a moment. He was not altogether sure +that Barcroft was not "pulling his leg." Early that morning the +"Trone" had arrived at a British port, and on landing the spy had +successfully maintained the role of McDonald the repatriated +prisoner from Eylau. He was now returning to Barborough, with a view +to making careful inquiries as to whether it would be quite safe to +return to his house at Tarleigh. + +"Where was I staying?" repeated the spy. "At the 'Antelope.' +Wouldn't advise you, though. Not at all comfortable--catering +rotten, rooms wretchedly cold and draughty. Well, _au revoir_, +Barcroft. May look you up to-morrow night." + +"Do," replied Peter cordially. "You know the time." + +The question as to how he was to get the donkey home in the event of +Butterfly being found had hardly occurred to her owner until Peter +was in the train. In any case he could not hope to return that +night. To-morrow he might make arrangements with the railway +company. Meanwhile he must secure quarters at an hotel. + +"I'll try the 'Antelope,'" he decided. "What's good enough for +Norton ought to suit me. Fortunately I am not altogether +unaccustomed to discomforts." + +The exterior of the hotel rather belied his friend's disparaging +remarks; the interior even more so. The place seemed replete with +modern conveniences. + +"I've been recommended by Mr. Andrew Norton, who has been staying +here for the last three or four days," announced Peter. "I require a +room." + +"No gentleman of that name has been staying here, sir," replied the +hotel clerk. "At least, not recently. Yes, sir, this is the only +'Antelope.' Perhaps you would like to see the registration papers?" + +Peter examined the documents. None were made out in the name of +Andrew Norton, nor were any filled in in his handwriting. + +"Perhaps I have made a mistake," he said. "But that is of little +consequence. If you will let me have a room----" + +Ten minutes later Barcroft was on his way to Thorpe Beck Viaduct. +Altogether he could not form a satisfying solution to Norton's +statement, until he came to the conclusion that in his excitable +state of mind his friend had muddled up the names of two or more +hotels. + +"By Jove! I will take the rise out of him when I see him again," he +chuckled. "Fancy putting up at the 'Pig and Whistle,' most likely, +and imagining he was at the 'Antelope.' That's a great jape." + +Presently he came in sight of the viaduct, the spaces between the +lofty granite arches of which were utilised as cow-sheds and +stables. + +No, Mr. Stigler was not there, so a halfwitted, deformed lad +informed him. A donkey? Yes, there had been a donkey there. Mr. +Stigler had sold it that afternoon to a pedlar living at Scarby. +Where was Scarby? A matter of about ten miles and right on the +coast. Anybody at Scarby would tell him where old Joe Pattercough +lived. + +Peter Barcroft rose to the occasion. Added difficulties only +increased his determination to see the thing through. He decided to +cancel his room at the "Antelope" and proceed by the first train to +Tongby, the nearest station to the seaside hamlet of Scarby. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE STRUGGLE ON THE CLIFFS + + +"A MATTER O' fower moiles, sir," replied an old fisherman in answer +to Peter's inquiry as to the way to Scarby. "That is, if you'll be +taking t' cliff path, which I wouldn't advise you, seeing as 'ow +you'm a stranger. 'Tain't pertickler safe is yon path. Follow the +righthand road. 'Tis a bit roughish in parts, but main passable." + +Mr. Barcroft thanked the man for his information and set out briskly +upon his way. Twilight had already set in, to add to the +difficulties of the last stage of the journey of the intrepid Peter. +Ahead rose the steep hill terminating in a frowning cliff--the first +of three such ridges that lay betwixt him and Scarby. Away on his +left he could discern a momentary glimpse of the North Sea, now grey +and sullen and mottled by patches of fog that drifted slowly with +the faint westerly breeze. + +At a mile from Tongby railway station he struck the fork roads. The +one to the left was the cliff-path, an almost grass-grown track, +marked at regular intervals by whitewashed stones--necessary guides +for the coastguards on a pitch-black night when a false step might +hurl the incautious pedestrian to his death over the brink of a +three-hundred-foot cliff. The right-hand way was a little _better_, +although, judging by its condition, rarely used except by country +carts. On either side the ground was rugged and thickly covered with +gorse. + +Wilder grew the countryside as Peter breasted the first of the three +hills. Stunted trees, standing out against the crimson afterglow of +the sky, assumed weird and fantastic shapes. To the faint moaning of +the wind and the murmur of the sea came an accompaniment in the form +of the cries of countless seabirds that find a nesting-place in the +frowning face of those almost perpendicular cliffs. + +Inland all was darkness. The narrow valleys contained human +habitations, no doubt, but there was not a sign of their presence. + +Peter's thoughts turned to his son as he looked seaward. Somewhere +out there--it might be a matter of a few miles or of hundreds--Billy +was serving King and country, perhaps snugly sheltered in the +"Hippodrome's" wardroom, or, on the other hand, cutting through the +darkness at an altitude of several hundred feet. It was not a +pleasant task on a late autumnal night. With his trained imagination +Peter could picture his boy out there--simply because of the German +Emperor's insane ambition. + +"Not content to let well alone," soliloquised Peter, "even when the +German Empire was on the high road to commercial success and +internal prosperity, the All Highest must butt in and try to upset +everything. Incidentally Wilhelm has done the British Empire a +lasting service. He has cemented it far more effectively than +centuries of legislation. He has welded it into a homogeneous whole; +he has awakened every Briton worthy of the name to a sense of his +individual responsibility to the colossal task that confronts him. +And, by Jove, we mean to see this business through. No half +measures. A lasting peace built upon the ruins of German +militarism." + +Peter's reveries were suddenly interrupted by the sound of creaking +cart-wheels and the steady patter of a beast of burden. + +"Wonder if that is Butterfly?" he thought. "Now, if Mr. Pattercough +is of the same type as friend Stigler and a bit of a tough customer +I'd best lie low. Somehow I hardly like to argue the point about the +lawful ownership of a donkey in this desolate spot." + +There were plenty of places of concealment. Barcroft selected the +shelter afforded by a gorse-bush close to the left hand side of the +road. Immediately opposite was a beaten track that evidently +effected a junction with the cliff path. At any rate, it wound in +that direction, following the steeply sloping sides of a narrow, +rugged valley. + +The cart approached slowly. The driver seemed in no hurry, for he +made no attempt either by word of mouth or by the application of his +whip to hasten the animal. Only when the vehicle was opposite +Peter's place of concealment did the man utter a subdued "Woa." + +The donkey--for such it was--made no attempt to stop. "That's +Butterfly for a dead cert," commented Peter. + +The man uttered an imprecation, jumped from the cart and tugged +viciously at the animal's bridle. Then, by main force, he backed the +donkey a short distance along the side track. + +"Plenty o' time," Barcroft heard him remark. "Better an hour too +early than five minutes too late." + +"Awkward habit, expressing one's thoughts aloud," mused Peter. "I do +it myself occasionally, and I know. Now, what are you doing with a +loaded cart on this unfrequented road at this time of night? I scent +a mystery. I'll wait an hour and see what happens. If nothing, then +I will kick myself for being an inquisitive ass." + +The pedlar was not going to be inactive. Unharnessing the +donkey--Peter was now absolutely convinced that it was Butterfly--he +led the animal to a patch of grass-land hidden from the road by the +bushes, a task requiring considerable physical strength. This done +he backed the cart from the path until the gorse hid it from the +watcher's sight. + +Ten long minutes passed. The pedlar, swinging his arms vigorously, +for the night air was chilly, made no attempt to look up or down the +road. The person or persons he expected were evidently not +approaching from that direction. Presently he walked to the cart, +removed something from under the tarpaulin--it was too dark to see +what the article was--and set off along the side track. + +At fifty yards he surmounted a steep rise and disappeared the other +side. The sound of his footsteps, deadened by the nature of the +soil, quickly died away. + +"Now I'll investigate," decided Barcroft. "If he returns in a hurry +there'll be trouble. Friend Pattercough looks like a quarrelsome +card. However, I'll risk it." + +He stole cautiously to the place where the donkey and cart stood. +Butterfly, indifferent to the attentions of her lawful master, +browsed steadily at the scanty herbage. The cart, although +inanimate, was far more interesting. It was piled high with faggots +and bundles of brushwood, a tarpaulin being tightly lashed over the +top of the load. Mingled with the scent of the newly-cut wood was +the faint odour of petrol. + +Without the slightest hesitation Barcroft probed the load with his +stick. The ferrule grated against metal--the side of a tin. Again +and again he tried; the bottom of the cart was packed with +petrol-cans. + +"Now, if I set fire to this little lot who would stand the racket?" +inquired Peter. "This is obviously intended to be used +illicitly--for supplying German submarines, although I can't be sure +on that point. On the other hand, how would I stand under the +Defence of the Realm regulations if I started a gorgeous bonfire? An +hour too soon, he said; well, there's a quarter of an hour or twenty +minutes gone, I should imagine. Remains enough time for me to get to +Scarby, rout out the coastguards and put a stopper on this little +game." + +With this praiseworthy resolution Barcroft hurried off, keeping to +the grassy ground in order to deaden the sound of his footsteps. His +prowess as a long-distance runner had not entirely departed, +although lack of training tried his wind sorely. + +At the outskirts of the darkened village he came to a row of grey +lime-washed cottages in front of which a tall flagstaff loomed up +against the misty starlight. + +"Halt!" exclaimed a hoarse voice peremptorily. + +Peter halted. Confronting him was a greatcoated, gaitered, bearded +man in seaman's uniform. + +"'Gainst orders to use this path after dark," quoth the +coastguardsman. "What's your name? And what are you doing running +like this at this time o' night?" + +"How many men have you at the station?" asked Barcroft breathlessly. + +"Eh? What do you want this information for?" demanded the man +suspiciously. "You'd best come along with me an' give no trouble. +Strikes me there's something that ain't proper jonnick." + +Barcroft preceded the seaman up the shingled path leading to the +watch house. + +"Look here, my man," he said authoritatively. "You had better inform +your chief officer and turn out the detachment. I've hurried here +expressly to tell you that a man from the village, Pattercough by +name, is running a cargo of petrol. Barcroft's my name. I have +documents to prove it. Also I have a son a commissioned officer in +the Service, as you will find if you refer to a Navy List." + +"In that case I ask your pardon," replied the coastguard, whose +badges proclaimed him to be a chief petty officer. "I'm in charge, +sir. This station is partly closed down since the war. I've only a +few Boy Scouts to give you a hand--an' smart, plucky youngsters they +are, too." + +"Any special constables in the village?" + +"Not one, sir; in fact, there ain't what one might call an +able-bodied man in the place, barring this Pattercough. Tribunal +exempted him 'evings only knows what for." + +"Then turn out the Scouts," said Peter. "They'll come in jolly +useful. There's no time to be lost." + +Quickly half a dozen of the lads were on the spot, falling in at the +word of command from the patrol leader. In a few words Barcroft +explained the situation, enjoining silence until the petty officer +gave the word for action. + +"I'll just telephone through to Tongby and let our chaps know," said +the coastguard. + +In orderly formation the party set off to the place where the pedlar +had left his cart. At "Scouts' Pace"--alternately walking and +running--the distance was quickly covered. Butterfly and the load +were still in sombre isolation. "He made off in that direction," +whispered Peter. + +"To Black Ghyll Bay then," replied the petty officer. "Artful +bounder! He knew when our patrols pass, and chose his time." + +With redoubled caution the party set off in single file, the sailor +leading the way and Peter following up at the rear of the Scouts. +Not a sound betrayed their presence--it was mainly owing to the fact +that they all wore well-used foot gear. + +Presently Peter found himself on the point of cannoning into the +back of the Scout just ahead of him. The party had halted. With out +the slightest confusion they concealed themselves behind a row of +bushes that grew almost on the edge of the cliff. The petty officer +raised one hand and pointed. + +Through the darkness Barcroft could just distinguish the outlines of +a human form crouching in the gorge barely ten yards on his right +front, where the cliff began to fall away and form a ravine known as +Black Ghyll. + +At intervals the man in hiding raised his head and peered cautiously +over the thick bush. Not once did he look behind. His attention was +centred solely upon the foreshore or else seaward; he was totally +oblivious of the fact that he was being watched intently by eight +pairs of eyes. + +Out to sea everything seemed swallowed up in pitch-black darkness. +Only the measured beating of the groundswell upon the shingly shore +gave the watchers any indication, apart from their local knowledge, +that the wide North Sea was almost at their feet. The stars, too, +had disappeared from view, for the mist had increased and was now +threatening to develop into a regular sea-fog. + +Suddenly the darkness was pierced by a faint ray of light emanating +from a mere pinprick of luminosity. Short flash--obscuration--long +flash--obscuration--short flash: that was all, but sufficient to +indicate that out in that void of Cimmerian gloom some one was +signalling. + +The suspect rose and leaned forward. It looked as if he were +spread-eagled over the gorse-bush. For quite a minute he remained +there, then leaving his place of concealment he made his way towards +the beach, crouching as stealthily as a panther behind every +obstacle until he made sure of his ground. + +Perhaps it was the strain of watching in the darkness; perhaps the +thought that the suspect might escape; but whatever the motive the +fact remained that one of the Scouts, uttering a loud yell, broke +from cover and dashed towards the man, brandishing his staff like a +Berserk. + +"That's done it!" mentally ejaculated Peter. The premature and +unauthorised action left no alternative. + +"At him, lads!" shouted the petty officer. The fellow stood his +ground, expostulating angrily. But his words fell unheeded. Like a +pack of hounds the eager and alert youngsters literally threw +themselves upon the suspect, and bore him to the ground. + +Over and over they rolled, the gorse crackling under their weight. +Only a few gaunt stumps prevented the struggling mob from tumbling +over the brink of the fearful abyss. Unable to bear a hand Peter and +the petty officer stood well-nigh breathless with suspense, +expecting every minute to see the suspect and his assailants topple +into space. + +The struggle was short-lived. The fellow's efforts at resistance +ceased. Bound hand and foot and with the ten-stone patrol leader +sitting on his chest he realised that the game was up. + +"Get your staves, lads," ordered the patrol-leader. "Form a +stretcher. We'll carry him as far as the cart." + +"Strikes me I hear engines," declared the coastguardsman. "There, +what's that?" + +A dull, rasping sound and the splash of disturbed water broke the +silence. A moment later the night breeze carried the unmistakable +noise of a vessel's engines running at full speed ahead. + +The petty officer was quick to act. Raising his hands to his mouth +he shouted in stentorian tones: + +"Ship ahoy! Go full speed astern instantly. You're heading straight +for Black Ghyll." + +The clang of the engine-room telegraph bell followed quickly, to the +accompaniment of short, crisp orders and the trample of boots upon a +metal deck. + +It was already too late. With a rending crash the vessel, whatever +she might be, ran bows on to the jagged rocks. + +"That's done it! Her number's up," exclaimed the petty officer. +"Now, lads, four of you come with me. There's work to be done there, +I reckon. The others stay with this gentleman and guard the prisoner +till we return." + +"Look here," said the captive in well-nigh breathless expostulation. +"You've made a rotten mistake. Spoilt everything." + +Peter felt his heart give a furious beat. Regardless of regulations +he bent over the prostrate prisoner and struck a match. + +The flickering flame revealed the indignant features of Philip +Entwistle. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +ON THE ROCKS + + +"So I haven't been able to chuck you fellows yet," remarked +Lieutenant-commander Tressidar. "And what is more I see no +likelihood at present of so doing. We've just had a wireless to +proceed east to a position somewhere off the mouth of the Humber." + +"We are not at all fed up with your hospitality, Tress," replied +Fuller, "only we ought to have been on board the old 'Hippo' long +ago. I think, if there's a chance, we ought to get ashore, report to +the Commander-in-Chief and await orders." + +The "Antipas" was steaming at a good twenty knots. It was late in +the afternoon; the sea calm, the sky slightly overcast. With a +steadily-rising glass the weather showed indication of continuing +fine, notwithstanding the presence of patches of sea-fog. + +Towards sunset the fog increased until it was no longer safe for the +destroyer to maintain her speed. Fishing boats, dauntlessly risking +the submarine menace, were frequently in these waters. To tear +blindfold through the dense mist would be courting disaster. + +The slowing down of the engines brought the three airmen on deck. + +"Fog!" exclaimed Kirkwood. "Rough luck. I thought that we were +entering port when the skipper rang down for easy ahead." + +"Pretty thick, too," added Barcroft. "It's as much as I can do to +see the bridge. Beastly calm, too; what do you say to returning to +our little rubber of dummy?" + +"Now I'm here I'll stop," decided Fuller, drawing his coat across +his chest. "Hullo! they're taking soundings. That looks as if we +were nearing shore." + +For nearly an hour the "Antipas" literally "smelt her way." Darkness +had fallen, and with it the fog bank increased in density and +dimensions. No longer was it possible to discern anything beyond a +couple of yards. No discordant hoot blared from the syren, no +navigation lights were shown. Beyond slowing down nothing more could +be done, owing to war conditions, to safeguard the destroyer from +risks of collision. + +"Hullo, you fellows!" exclaimed the lieutenant of the destroyer as, +clad in oilskins, sou'wester and sea boots, he groped his way +for'ard. "Have we made it too comfortable for you down below?" + +"Didn't know that it was your 'trick,'" remarked Barcroft. + +"Neither is it. That's one of the penalties of serving on a +destroyer. You never know when you're off duty. The skipper's just +spoken through: we're on the track of a strafed U-boat. Picked her +up by microphone." + +"Here's to the bridge, then," decided Fuller. "Come on, you would-be +card-players. Let's see the fun." + +"One of the advantages of going dead slow, I suppose," commented +Tressidar as his guests rejoined him. "We've cut across the trail of +a submarine, that's certain. Come in, and see how things are +progressing." + +The lieutenant-commander opened the door of the chart-room. Against +one bulkhead stood the receiver of the submarine-signalling +apparatus. Standing in front of it was a bluejacket with both +ear-pieces clipped to his ears. With his left hand he was +alternately actuating the switch that connects both receivers. + +"Right dead on, sir," he reported. "Less than a couple of cables' +lengths ahead, I'll allow." + +Behind him stood the helmsman at the steam-steering gear, his eyes +fixed upon the cryptic movements of the operator's hands, as the +latter transmitted the course to the quartermaster. + +The principle of the microphone signalling apparatus is simple +enough. In the vessel's hold and as far beneath the waterline as +possible, are two metal tanks each filled with water and containing +two sensitive instruments that readily pick up sounds transmitted +through the medium afforded by the sea. One tank is placed on the +starboard the other on the port side, and both are connected by +wires with the receiver in the chart-room. + +Supposing the operator hears the thud of a distant propeller, and +the sound is more distinct from the port side he knows that the +submerged vessel is somewhere in that direction. Conversely, the +sound being greater in the right-hand receiver he is able to locate +the object emitting the sound as being on the starboard side of the +ship. When the volume of sound passing through both receivers is +equal the operator knows that the vessel's bows are pointing +practically "dead on" to the unseen but audible peril. + +"That's all very fine," remarked Kirkwood. "But supposing that man +has a cold in one ear. How is he to guard against being misled by +the inequalities of hearing? I've heard of a fellow being deaf in +one ear and not knowing it for months." + +"The inventors have taken that into consideration," replied +Tressidar. "That's why both ears are connected with the receiver on +one side only of the vessel at a time. As he turns that switch from +side to side both ears are listening to the sounds from the port and +starboard tanks alternately. What's that?" he added, addressing the +operator. "Three cables ahead? This won't do; she's gaining on us." + +The skipper quitted the chart-room, followed by the three airmen. +Coming from the lighted compartment; they were momentarily dazzled +by the transition from artificial illumination to murky, pitch-black +night. + +"Increase speed to fifteen knots," ordered Tressidar. "Where there's +water for that strafed U-boat there's enough for us.... Overhauling +her? All right; twelve knots, then." + +"Those fellows have plenty of nerve," remarked Barcroft, "or else +they've no nerves at all. Suppose fog doesn't make the slightest +difference to them when they are submerged, but to us it appears +otherwise. What is that U-boat doing, I should like to know, +plugging along at twelve knots and in the direction of the British +coast?" + +"Keeping a pressing appointment, perhaps," said the A.P. with a +laugh. + +"Many a true word spoken in jest, old bird," rejoined the +flight-sub. "It is----" + +"A little less talking there, if you please," interrupted Tressidar +curtly. + +The three airmen took the hint. It was only on very rare occasions +that the genial lieutenant-commander "choked any one off." It was an +indication of the mental strain upon the skipper of the "Antipas." + +"By Jove! if she does come up," thought Barcroft. "It will be Third +Single to Perdition for a set of skulking pirates. The fog is +lifting, too. I can distinguish the wave-crests nearly a cable's +length ahead. We'll be into another patch in another minute, though, +worse luck." + +Suddenly the watchers on the destroyer's bridge caught sight of a +short series of flashes slightly on the port bow, and perhaps at a +distance of a mile. + +In a trice Tressidar brought his binoculars to bear upon the glimmer +of light, thanking Heaven as he did so that a rift in the fog +enabled him to spot the presence of the hunted Hun. The powerful +night-glasses revealed the outlines of a conning-tower and twin +periscopes just emerging from the waves. Then as quickly as it +appeared the light vanished. It was enough. The lieutenant-commander +could still discern the patch of phosphorescence that encircled the +partly submerged U-boat. + +"Starboard ten!" ordered Tressidar, at the same time telegraphing +for full speed ahead both engines. + +Before the destroyer could work up to her maximum speed her +knife-like bows rasped and bit deeply into the hull of the doomed +unterseeboot. An almost imperceptible jar as the quivering vessel +glided over her prey, a smother of agitated water on either hand, +and the deed was done. Another of the modern pirate craft had been +dispatched to its last home. + +"Voices ahead, sir," shouted the look-out man. "Land ahead! By +smoke! We've done it." + +The engine-room telegraph bell clanged shrilly. As the propeller +blades bit the water with reversed action the "Antipas" began to +lose way. It was too late. + +With a shock that threw almost every officer and man to the deck the +destroyer charged bows on to a ledge of rocks. Her forefoot lifted +almost clear of the water, while to the accompaniment of the hiss of +escaping vapour from a fractured main steam-pipe, the "Antipas" +buckled amidships. + +"Clear lower deck! All hands fall in facing outboard!" ordered the +skipper. + +From the mess-deck the "watch below," already roused by the impact +of the destroyer with the ill-starred U-boat, came tumbling out, +forming up in orderly silence to await further commands. Out of the +steam-laden stokehold and engine-room staggered black-faced, +partly-clad men, many suffering from the effects of terrible scalds, +while others, too badly injured to help themselves, were assisted by +their heroic comrades. Risking a hideous death in the partly-flooded +engine-room the devoted "ratings" performed acts of valour that, +although unseen and unheard of, represent the acme of courage. Fresh +from the overheated stokehold and engine-room the survivors of the +"Black Squad" found themselves faced with the immediate prospect of +involuntary immersion in the chill waters of the North Sea. + +"Ahoy!" shouted a seaman at the skipper's instigation. "Where are +we?" + +"'Ard aground," replied a voice through the darkness. + +In spite of their hazardous position several of the crew laughed, +and tried to switch on a husky cough to hide their levity from their +officers. The unknown's reply was certainly brief and to the point, +but hardly the sort of answer that Tressidar required. + +"Silence there!" he ordered. + +Then a boyish voice penetrated the night air. + +"You're on Black Ghyll reef," it announced. "Do you require any +assistance?" + +"Not at present," replied the lieutenant-commander. "You might stand +by, though, in case we do." + +The after part of the "Antipas" was now a couple of feet beneath the +water, and had settled on the sandy bottom of the bay. With the +falling tide--it was just after high-water springs when the +destroyer grounded--there was no immediate necessity to abandon +ship. Nevertheless it was imperative that the injured men should be +taken ashore, and assistance obtained as quickly as possible if +there should be any possible chance of salving the wreck. + +"Clear away the whaler!" was the next order. + +The boat was manned and rowed cautiously towards the shore. Although +the sea was calm the men were in total ignorance of the nature of +the coast. Lacking local knowledge they were not even at all certain +whether a landing might be effected. On either side rose the jagged +points of vicious-looking rocks, while looming against the misty +starlight could be discerned a range of frowning cliffs with no +apparent break in the line of continuity. + +"Thank God that there ain't a stiffish onshore breeze," muttered the +coxswain of the whaler. "'Tain't 'arf a rotten crib." + +"Boat ahoy!" came the same boyish hail from the invisible strand. +"Starboard a bit.... You're close on the Double Fang. I'll tell you +when to turn.... Now, straight in. It's all sand here." + +The whaler's forefoot grounded on the soft shore. The coxswain, +producing a small handlantern from the stern sheets flashed it upon +the group of figures gathered at the water's edge four Boy Scouts. + +"Crikey!" ejaculated the coxswain admiringly. "You're game'uns. Wot +are you doing here at this time o' night?" + +"We're coast-watching," replied the patrol leader. "We had just +collared a spy when your vessel ran ashore. There's a chief petty +officer of coastguard up the top of the cliff." + +The lad did not think it necessary to explain that the petty officer +had rather wisely declined to risk his neck by clambering down the +precipitous face of the rugged wall of rock. At his age he lacked +the steady head and sureness of foot that were essential for such +feats of agility. + +"Landing's easy enough when you knows 'ow," remarked the coxswain. +"I've been sent ashore to find out. Look 'ere, we've a dozen or more +badly injured hands aboard, an' we wants to get 'em off. Any chance +of carrying 'em up those cliffs?" + +The lad shook his head. + +"Not up the cliffs," he explained. "There's a path up the valley. It +leads to Scarby." + +"Any doctors there?" + +"None nearer than Tongby. We'll send a couple of Scouts there, if +you like." + +"P'raps you'd better," agreed the man. "It's a tidy 'andful for our +Pills--our doctor, that is. All right, chummy, you might stand by +and give us a hail when we come ashore again. 'Tis a rum crib, swelp +me, if it ain't--but it might be worse." + +The whaler backed from the shore, to return presently with a heavy +load of wounded men and other members of the destroyer's crew told +off to carry the injured to the nearest house. + +Guided by the patrol leader the grim procession set out on its +journey of pain. The fearfully scalded men, temporarily bandaged by +the R.N.R. Surgeon Probationer borne on the destroyer's books as +doctor, groaned and uttered involuntary cries of agony as, in spite +of the care of the bearers, they were jolted along the narrow, +uneven path. + +Presently the scout came to a sudden halt. "There's a man lying at +the foot of the Cliffs," he exclaimed. "Why, it's Pattercough, the +man we were looking for when we captured the second spy." + +A seaman bent over the body. + +"Dead as a bloomin' doornail," he announced. "He's broke 'is +bloomin' neck an' saved the 'angman a job, I'll allow that is, if +he's the spy you says he was. Lead on, matey. The dead must look +after themselves while this affair's under way." + +At the meeting of the path with the by-road the patrol-leader +stopped. + +"It's straight on to Scarby," he explained. "Bennet," he added, +addressing his companion. "You go with these sailors and show them +the coastguard station. Then come back; bring the other fellows +along with you if they've returned. I'll go to the beach again in +case there are more to be shown the path up the valley." + +Meanwhile Lieutenant-commander Ronald Tressidar was "standing by" +his wrecked vessel. He had done everything he could in the interests +of the crew. Until day broke it was impossible to form an accurate +idea of the extent of the disaster. It was galling to lose his +command; there would be a court of inquiry. Of the issue of that +Tressidar had no misgivings. The "Antipas" had run ashore in the +course of an action with an enemy submarine. The mishap was to be +deplored, but it was unavoidable. The destruction of the hostile +submarine had been accomplished. That was the object of the +destroyer's _raison d'etre_. + +"Can we be of any use?" asked Fuller. + +"Not in the slightest, thanks," replied the youthful skipper. "The +best you fellows can do is to go ashore. Goodness only knows if +there's a railway anywhere in the neighbourhood. At any rate, you +can make your way back to Rosyth, and better luck next time. If by +any possible chance I can keep you clear of the court of inquiry I +will do so. I know perfectly well that you want to be hard at it +again, and the 'Hippodrome' seems likely to be particularly busy +very shortly, according to all accounts." + +"Good luck, old man!" said Fuller earnestly, The three airmen shook +hands with the skipper, and dropping into the whaler were rowed +shorewards. + +"Hard lines on old Tress," declared Fuller. "He'll come out with +flying colours, of course; but just fancy the poor fellow cooling +his heels ashore waiting for another command when out there----" + +And with a comprehensive sweep of his hand he indicated the +seemingly limitless expanse of the North Sea--the arena where the +question of naval supremacy will be settled, let us hope once and +for all time in favour of the glorious White Ensign. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +ENTWISTLE'S DECISION + + +"So this is the coastguard station?" asked Billy Barcroft of his +youthful guide. "Any chance of getting a conveyance to the nearest +station Tongby, I believe?" + +"I am afraid not, sir." + +"Even this donkey might be pressed into service," continued the +flight-sub, indicating Butterfly, who, having been placed "under +arrest," was browsing on the green surrounding the flagstaff. +"Although I've had enough of donkeys to last me for some +considerable time." + +Little knowing that the animal under discussion was the self-same +one that had given him the slip at Barborough, Billy, accompanied by +his two comrades, entered the detached building known as the +look-out house. The ground floor was utilised as a kind of store, +where arms and nautical gear were kept. Above was a large room +furnished like an office, in which was a telephone as well as a +large telescope mounted on a tripod so as to command a clear view of +the sea. Being night the windows were closely shuttered, while +double doors prevented any stray beams from escaping into the night. + +"Up aloft, sir," said the scout. "I'll telephone through and see if +a trap or a car can be sent from Tongby. This is our mess room," he +explained. "There's a good fire going. Hullo! There's some one here +already. I think it's the gentleman who told us about the spy." + +Seated on either side of the roaring fire were Peter Barcroft and +Philip Entwistle. The former's face was turned away from the door, +and at first Billy failed to recognise his parent. Nor did he the +vet., for Entwistle's face was elaborately and liberally embellished +with sticking-plaster, as the result of First Aid on the part of the +Scouts following their determined onslaught on the brink of the +cliff. + +Entwistle had taken his gruelling in rightdown good part. He was +still under nominal arrest, for having been made a prisoner he could +only be released at the order of a superior officer. Already a +report had been telephoned through and a reply was momentarily +expected. + +"I am not going to explain the whole business to you, Barcroft," +said the vet, when Peter expressed his regret at the attack upon his +neighbour, and still more so his astonishment at finding him under +most peculiar circumstances on the cliff at Scarby. "Some day, +perhaps. I had information--no matter how--that some one was in +traitorous communication with enemy submarines. To bring home proofs +of the principal's guilt it was necessary to tackle his subordinate. +Unfortunately my plans were upset by the somewhat injudicious +intervention of these youngsters--commendable as regards pluck and +all that, but nevertheless it spoilt my investigations." + +"I didn't know that you were in the detective line," remarked Peter. + +Entwistle shrugged his shoulders. + +"Perhaps I had better not commit myself by answering your question," +he replied with a laugh that ended in a wince. It was no easy matter +to smile with one's face smothered with sticking-plaster. "I hope +you understand my reluctance to say anything more on the matter." + +Peter nodded. + +"All the same I shall look forward to the time when you are able to +emerge from your shell," he said. + +"By the bye," remarked the vet, "you haven't told me what brought +you to this part of the world. It's taking a one-sided advantage +when I ask if _you_ are doing a bit of detective work." + +"I was," admitted Mr. Barcroft. + +Entwistle raised his eyebrows in mild surprise. + +"Tracing the persons who stole my donkey--Butterfly," continued +Peter. "I had the tip that the animal had been taken to Bigthorpe. +Went there to follow up the clue, and strangely enough almost the +first man I met was Norton." + +"What was he doing at Bigthorpe?" + +"I hardly know. Said something about a nervous breakdown. He seemed +a bit upset, I thought." + +"H'm!" Entwistle, gazed into the fire, deep in thought. "Is he +returning to Tarleigh?" + +"He's there already, I presume," replied Peter. "However, that has +nothing to do with the case I am relating (Entwistle thought +otherwise, but refrained from audible comment). At Bigthorpe I found +that Butterfly had been sold to a man at Scarby, so on I came. Quite +by accident I met the fellow on the road, kept out of sight and +watched him go towards the cliffs. Went and had a look at his cart, +discovered it laden with petrol-cans, so I made off immediately to +inform the coastguard. The rest you know." + +"As to that----" began the vet. + +The door being opened interrupted his remarks. Turning his head to +see who the newcomers might be, he startled his companion by +saying--"Bless my soul, it's young Barcroft." + +"Hullo, pater!" said Billy in astonishment. "You here? This is a +regular surprise." Peter got up from his chair. + +"Pleased to see you, boy," he exclaimed. "As for the surprise, it's +nothing. To-day has been a day of surprises. What brings you +ashore?" + +"We were in the destroyer that ran aground," explained the +flight-sub. "But let me introduce you to Fuller--you've often heard +me speak of him--and Bobby Kirkwood, who, as you know, was, and I +hope will continue to be, my observer." + +"I thought you were in the 'Hippodrome,'" remarked Barcroft Senior, +after mutual introductions and when the three airmen had drawn their +chairs close to the comforting fire. + +"Officially we are now--at the present moment," said Fuller. +"Unofficially we are toasting our toes on dry land. Before long we +hope to be up in the air; I think I am correctly interpreting the +wishes of my two energetic chums?" + +Conversation was proceeding briskly when one of the Scouts, called +to the telephone, reported that a car was on its way to Scarby to +convey the airmen to Tongby, and that there was a train leaving the +little place at eight in the morning for Bigthorpe, whence by the +main line to the north they could reach Edinburgh by about noon. + +"And this breaks up the party," quoth Billy as the motor drew up +outside the station. "Well, good-bye, pater. Sorry time has been so +short." + +"Not so fast with your good-byes, my son," protested Peter. +"We--Entwistle and I--are going into Tongby by this car. It may be a +tight squeeze, but we'll risk that." + +"But how about Butterfly?" asked Billy. + +His father waved his hand deprecatingly. + +"I've done with the brute," he replied. "She absolutely refused to +greet me. I'm going to make a present of her to these youngsters as +a kind of reminder of this night's work. If they don't want her, I +suppose there are plenty of people in this village glad to keep her. +Now, Entwistle, best leg forward. It's a long, long way to Tarleigh. +By Jove! you'll have to explain those scratches when you return to +your virtuous home." + +Philip Entwistle merely responded with "Yes" with a preoccupied air. +His work in connection with the affair had only just begun. Although +a veterinary surgeon he was also an accredited member of the Secret +Service, and upon the _soi-disant_ Andrew Norton's arrival at +Tarleigh as a new resident he had been informed of the suspicious +nature of the newcomer. It was by design that he had misdirected +Barcroft in the matter of the wrong train on the eve of the +Barborough Zeppelin raid; but that was owing to the fact that he had +mistaken the occupier of Ladybird Fold for the suspect, von +Eitelwurmer. + +Now arose the difficulty. Could he warn Barcroft of the dangerous +character of the spy, without prejudice to his plans? At present it +was undesirable, even on the damning evidence he had found at the +spy's house, to cause von Eitelwurmer to be arrested. Better to let +the fellow prosecute his activities a little longer, complete the +chain of evidence and rope in his accomplices, if any, than to make +the spy a prisoner without being able to make a clean sweep of all +his works. Premature action would mar the elaborate mass of evidence +that Entwistle was on the road to collect--evidence that would be +far-reaching as far as the network of German espionage in England +was concerned. + +So for the present he decided to keep his own counsel regarding +Andrew Norton. Not even a hint would he throw out concerning the +tenant of The Croft. If he did so, Barcroft could not help showing +antipathy to his friend Norton, and the latter, scenting danger, +would be doubly wary. + +Yet, knowing that there was a price on Peter Barcroft's head, +although he did not as yet connect Norton's presence at Tarleigh +with the Kaiser's blood-moneyed decree, Entwistle realised that he +would have to keep a watchful eye upon his newly-found friend in +order to guard him from the possibility of impending peril. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE BOMBING EXPEDITION + + +OFF Zeebrugge once more. In the pale grey dawn of a November morning +yet another strafing operation was about to take place. The Huns, +who had converted the peaceful little Belgian fishing port into a +hornets' nest, were to be allowed no rest. + +Approaching the coast, the undulating dunes of which were just +visible against the pale light of the eastern sky, were eight +monitors, their powerful guns cocked up at a grotesque angle in +readiness to open fire at a six-mile range. At a considerable +distance astern were the seaplane-carriers "Hippodrome," "Arena" and +"Cursus," while in a far-flung line ahead, astern and abeam, were +the swarm of destroyers and patrol boats whose mission it was to +promptly "scotch" any U-boat that, more daring than the rest of the +cowardly crew, might attempt to let loose a torpedo at the converted +liners. Already the Hun had learnt the lesson that it was almost a +matter of impossibility to sink a monitor by torpedo, even though +the weapons were "set" to run only a few feet beneath the surface. +Coupled with the knowledge of the fact that it was "unhealthy" to be +anywhere in the vicinity of craft flying the White Ensign, when +there were others proudly displaying the Red Ensign and which were +practically incapable of defence, the U-boats took good care to give +the bombarding flotilla a wide berth. + +Already the "Arena" and "Cursus" had dispatched their complement of +seaplanes for the purpose of registering the result of the monitors' +fire, but up to the present the airmen on board the "Hippodrome" had +received no orders to board their respective "buses" and hie them to +the scene of action. + +"They've opened the ball," exclaimed Kirkwood, as the monitor on the +left of the line let fly with her 14-inch gun. + +"An obvious performance," remarked Fuller. "Unless one were both +blind and deaf. More to the point: why are we being held in reserve, +I wonder?" + +"Dunno," added another flying-officer. "In the case of you three +fellows there might be a plausible explanation. You've been so jolly +keen on getting away from the ship that the skipper won't give you +another chance. By Jove! That was a good one!" + +Somewhere in the vicinity of Zeebrugge a dense cloud of black smoke +had been hurled hundreds of feet into the air. One of the British +shells had found a particularly satisfying target, for either a +petrol depot or an ammunition "dump" had been sent sky-high, with, +possibly, a few hundred Huns to boot. + +Yet no sound of the explosion could be heard, for the monitors' guns +outvoiced that. The coast-defence craft were letting fly as quickly +as the hydraulic loaders performed their task, and the gigantic yet +docile weapons could be trained upon the practically invisible +objective. + +It was by no means a one-sided action. From cunningly concealed +shore batteries, that seemed to multiply with hydra-headed +persistence, German shells hurtled through the air, for the most +part ricochetting harmlessly. A few, however, "got home." One +monitor, listing badly to starboard, was already crawling slowly out +of range. Another had been set on fire, but, the conflagration being +quickly subdued, she "carried on" with calm and awful deliberation. + +It had been one of the tenets of war that armoured ships were more +than a match for shore batteries. The mobility of the former and the +knowledge of the fixed position of the latter accounted for the +theory--a theory that had been justified by the bombardment of +Alexandria. But in the greatest war that the world has yet seen this +idea received a rude shock. The skill with which huge guns can be +loaded, ranged and trained upon a moving target rather more than +equalised matters. Thus the old forts on the Dardanelles were +quickly reduced to a heap of ruins by the guns of the "Queen +Elizabeth," but this did not prevent the Turks bringing heavier +ordnance to bear upon the Allied squadrons as they attempted in vain +to force the historic Straits. + +But there has been yet another swing of the pendulum. In an +engagement betwixt ships and forts there was a deciding factor--the +command of the air. Provided airmen from the attacking squadron +could assist by observing the hits of the naval guns and by dropping +quantities of powerful explosives on the hostile batteries the +advantage would rest with those who held command of the sea. Nor was +mere observing and bomb-dropping on defended positions sufficient. +It was necessary to harass the enemy's lines of communication and +prevent reserves of men and ammunition being rushed up to the coast. + +"Ten to one we're down for a 'stunt,'" hazarded Barcroft. "That's +why we are cooling our heels here. Ah! I thought so," he added, as +the airmen were summoned to receive instructions preparatory to a +flight. + +A quarter of an hour later Billy Barcroft felt like dancing a +hornpipe on the quarter-deck. He had been given a task after his own +heart--to bomb the German hangars at Lierre, a town about six or +seven miles south-east of the fortress of Antwerp and a distance of +eighty miles, as the crow flies, from the position taken up by the +seaplane carriers. To Fuller was deputed the business of wrecking +the important railway station of Aerschot, while the other pilots +were likewise given definite instructions to drop their cargoes of +explosives on specified places of military importance. The airmen +were enjoined to avoid as far as possible encounters with hostile +machines on the outward journey, the importance of reaching their +respective objectives being paramount to the excitement of aerial +duels with Hun flying men. + +"We'll be within sight of one another most of the time, Barcroft, +old man," said Fuller, as he signed to his observer to take his +place in the machine. "Now, Gregory, all ready?" + +Fuller's companion, a sparely-built sub-lieutenant, whose long, +hooked nose and obliquely placed eyes gave him the appearance of a +bird, nodded assent. + +"Well, good luck!" shouted Barcroft. + +The words were drowned by the roar of the engine, but the lieutenant +instinctively realised their meaning. With a cheery wave of his +gauntletted hand he started on his long flight. + +Thirty-seconds later Barcroft got away, with Kirkwood as his +observer. There had been a slight rivalry between Billy and Fuller +as to who should take the A.P., for the lieutenant had regarded the +latter as his own right-hand man since the night of the encounter +with the Zeppelins, while Barcroft claimed priority. The matter had +been decided by the spin of a coin, with the result that the A.P. +was now on his way to Lierre with Barcroft. + +High above the bombarding monitors flew the powerfully engined +seaplane, now nearly half a mile in the wake of Fuller's "bus." At +regular intervals astern came the rest of the aerial raiders, all +rocking slightly in the disturbed air caused by the concussion of +the heavy guns. + +Ten minutes were sufficient to bring Barcroft's machine over the +Belgian coast. Acting upon previous instructions he maintained an +altitude of eleven thousand feet, at which height it was practically +invisible from the shore, across which clouds of smoke and dust were +slowly drifting as the British shells burst with devastating effect +upon the Huns' positions. + +No Archibalds greeted the raiders; neither Fokkers nor Aviatiks +appeared to bar their way. For the present the flight was nothing +more than an exhilarating joy-ride. + +Once Kirkwood turned his head to watch the following seaplanes. Only +one was in sight. The rest had already turned off for their +respective objectives, and even that one was beginning to plane down +towards a broad canal on which were dozens of loaded barges, their +cargoes consisting of heavy gun ammunition destined for the +batteries of Zeebrugge and Ostend. + +For the present the A.P.'s task was practically a sinecure. There +was no necessity to use the wireless instrument: two hundred feet of +trail ing aerial wire is apt to be in the way during bomb-dropping +operations; besides, the raiding seaplane, not having to register +for the guns of the fleet, could refrain from reporting progress +until her return to her parent ship. So having made sure as far as +possible that the bomb dropping gear was in working order this time, +and having fitted a tray of ammunition to the Lewis gun in order to +be ready for use in case of emergencies, Kirkwood leant over the +side of the fuselage and contemplated the country beneath; the +features of which as seen from the air he knew better by this time +than any of his native land. + +From Ghent Barcroft followed the course of the River Scheldt until +the town of Antwerp appeared in sight. At this point Fuller was +observed to be turning away to the right. Both seaplanes were +approaching their respective objectives. + +"Bestir yourself, you lazy bounder!" shouted Billy through the voice +tube. "There's something ahead. Looks like a balloon. Get your +glasses and see what it is." + +"It is a balloon," declared Kirkwood after a brief inspection. "A +captive one." + +"And right over the Lierre hangars," thought the pilot. "What for? +There's nothing to observe from a belligerent point of view, unless +the bounders are expecting us. It may be that the balloon is in use +for instructional purposes. If so, I'll give the young pups cold +feet, by Jove!" + +"They've spotted us," announced the A.P. "They've begun to haul the +thing down." + +"Then they are too late," added Barcroft grimly. "Gun all right? +Stand by to give 'em a tray." + +Tilting the ailerons the pilot swooped down towards the unwieldy, +tethered gas-bag. As he did so mushrooms of white smoke burst into +view all around the descending seaplane. The German anti-aircraft +guns were firing upon the British raiders. + +Barcroft held steadily on his course. He was quite used to shrapnel +by this time. He knew, too, that soon the Hun gunners would have to +cease fire for fear of hitting their own captive balloon. + +Already the German officers in the car of the balloon realised that +it was impossible for the gas-bag to be hauled down in time. Three +of them leapt into space. The fourth remained, grasping the edge of +the basket-work and staring terror-stricken at the approaching +seaplane. + +In spite of the tax upon his mental energies Barcroft watched the +descent of the three. For nearly two hundred feet they dropped like +stone, then they were hidden from his view by three umbrella-like +objects. Before taking their desperate leap the Germans had provided +themselves with parachutes. + +Apparently there was not one left for the remaining Hun. Suspended +betwixt earth and sky he realised the horror of his position, until, +seized by a forlorn resolve, he clambered over the side of the car +and began to swarm down the wire rope that held it in captivity. + +It was hopeless from the first. In spite of the protection afforded +by the leather gloves. The metal wire cut into his palms like hot +iron. Before the luckless German had lowered himself fifty feet his +grip relaxed. Like an arrow he crashed to the ground, a thousand +feet below. + +"Don't fire!" ordered the flight-sub, realising that if merely +perforated by small-calibre bullets the gas-bag would fall +harmlessly to earth. "Stand by to drop a plum--now." + +The A.P. jerked the releasing lever. As he did so Barcroft set the +seaplane to climb steeply. Ten seconds later the bomb hit the +balloon fairly in the centre of its convex upper surface. The next +instant there was a vivid flash, followed by a crash that was +audible above the roar of the seaplane's engine. Sideslipping the +machine dropped almost vertically. Not until she had passed through +the outlying portion of the dense cloud of smoke from the destroyed +balloon did the pilot regain control. + +A hurried glance showed that the flaming wreckage of his victim was +plunging earthwards, leaving a fiery trail in its wake. It was +falling upon the triple line of sheds in which German aeroplanes +were stored. + +Like a swarm of ants the air mechanics scattered right and left to +avoid--in many cases ineffectually--the gigantic falling firebrand. +If Barcroft had any qualms concerning the fearful havoc he was about +to create upon the throng of human beings he showed none. He +remembered those bombs dropped upon the defenceless civil population +of Barborough. + +"Let 'em have it hot!" he shouted. + +At that comparatively low altitude there was little chance of +missing the expansive target. The ground was literally starred with +diverging jets of flame. The burning sheds collapsed like packs of +cards, the debris bursting into a series of fires. In half a minute +the hangars ceased to exist save as a funeral pyre to the mechanical +birds that would never again soar through the air. + +A severed tension wire, one end of which cut Billy smartly on the +head despite the protection afforded by his airman's padded helmet, +reminded the flight-sub that again the Archibalds were having a chip +in. The planes, too, were ripped in several places, while jagged +holes through the sides of the fuselage marked the accuracy of the +shrapnel. It was, indeed, a marvel that either pilot or observer +escaped injury. + +Barcroft heaved a sigh of relief as the seaplane drew away from the +shell-infested zone. In the heat of the bombing business his blood +was tingling through his veins; he was excited almost to the point +of recklessness; the risk of being "winged" by a bursting projectile +hardly troubled him. But once clear of the scene of action he +realised what a tight corner he had been in, and, although all +immediate danger was at an end, he let the motors "all out" in +desperate haste to gain a safe altitude. + +He found himself comparing the recent situation to a cat and dog +encounter. So long as the feline faced the dog the latter generally +contents itself by barking and making "demonstration in force"; but +directly the cat turns tail it tears away at full speed, its sole +anxiety being to get away from its assailant for which, up to a +certain point, it had shown contemptuous bravery. + +The flight-sub's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Kirkwood +shouting through the voice-tube. + +"There's Fuller a couple of miles on our left," announced the A.P. +"What's more, he's tackling three Hun machines." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A FUTILE RESCUE + + +WITHOUT a second's hesitation Barcroft turned the rudder-bar. Almost +on the verge of sideslipping the seaplane swung round and headed +straight for the enemy aircraft. + +"Something wrong with friend John," muttered the flight-sub, "or he +wouldn't turn tail to half a dozen strafed Fritzes." + +Everything pointed to Barcroft's surmise being correct. Fuller's +seaplane was in flight in a double sense. He had lost the +superiority of altitude. His observer was replying to the +machine-gun fire converging upon the fugitive craft from three +different points. A hundred feet higher and about three hundred +yards astern of the British seaplane was a large, double-fuselaged +biplane. To the right and left but practically on the same +horizontal plane were two Fokkers--a tough set to be up against, but +in ordinary circumstances the dauntless flight-lieutenant would not +have hesitated to engage. + +Presently the British seaplane's Lewis gun barked. It was evident +that the machine was running uncontrolled, as she was wobbling +considerably. Barcroft was now near enough to see what had happened. +There was just time for a brief glance, for his plane was +approaching the on-coming Huns at an aggregate speed of nearly 180 +miles an hour. + +There was no sign of Gregory, but Fuller, abandoning the joy-stick, +had climbed into the observer's seat in order to work the automatic +gun. This he did so successfully that within five seconds of the +weapon opening fire one of the Fokkers crashed earthwards, +completely out of action. Then the British gun was silent. + +This was all that Barcroft could see as far as Fuller was concerned. +He had devoted all his attention to the double-fuselaged craft. + +While Kirkwood was letting loose a drum of ammunition from the Lewis +gun Barcroft employed his usual tactics. He steered straight for his +antagonist. If the gun failed to do its work in time, and if the Hun +pilot's nerves did not desert him, the result would be a rending +crash in mid-air as the two swift-moving craft collided. The +interlocked wreckage, a mass of flame, would drop like a firebrand +to earth--a swift yet terrible death for friend and foe alike. But +Billy knew how the odds were against such a mutual catastrophe. The +Hun, if he managed to avoid the stream of bullets, was not likely to +"stand up" to the resistless onrush of the British seaplane. + +Suddenly the double-fuselaged biplane nosedived. Only just in time +did Barcroft tilt the ailerons, for the seaplane literally scraped +the tail of his vertically-descending foe. For nearly a thousand +feet the machine "plumbed," then like a silvery dart it flattened +out. + +"Old trick, Fritz," muttered Barcroft. "Well, you've lost your +altitude advantage. I'll renew your acquaintance later." + +The flight-sub knew that some minutes must elapse before the +double-fuselaged machine could climb to renew the encounter. During +that interval he had time to devote his attention to the remaining +Fokker that, following Fuller with deadly persistence, was firing +the while but receiving no reply from the British craft. + +Already Fuller was a couple of miles away. His antagonist was +gaining slightly. It seemed remarkable that with such a prodigious +outlay of ammunition the Huns had not succeeded in strafing their +quarry. + +Suddenly Fuller's seaplane dipped. Barcroft gave vent to an +involuntary groan, but the next instant he wanted to cheer, for his +chum had looped the loop two or three times and was now heading in +the opposite direction. + +"I see the move," thought Barcroft. "He's luring Fritz towards us." + +The two seaplanes passed one another at less than a hundred yards. +Fuller raised his arm by way of greeting as they swept by. As he did +so shreds of canvas flew from the lower plane, and dipping abruptly +the crippled machine dropped, lurching hideously as it did so. + +Almost simultaneously the Hun pilot of the Fokker collapsed across +the decking of the fuselage. The machine, no longer under control, +swayed through a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile, and then, +tilting obliquely, began a terrific tail spin that ended in a jumble +of wreckage on the unsympathetic soil of Belgium. + +"Now for the double bus," muttered Billy. "The Huns will pay dearly +for strafing poor old John." + +But the remaining aeroplane of the two had had enough, for, seeing +the British seaplane swooping down to engage upon round two, she +promptly sought safety in flight. + +Pursuit, Barcroft knew, was futile. Not only was the fugitive going +in an easterly direction, which meant that had Billy held on in +chase he would be lured further and further away from his floating +base, but the Hun machine was more powerfully engined and possessed +an undoubted superiority of speed. + +"By Jove!" shouted the A.P. "Fuller's planing down. He's got the old +bus under control of sorts." + +The flight-sub looked downwards. A small rectangular patch of grey +eighteen hundred feet down confirmed the truth of Kirkwood's +statement. The injured seaplane was volplaning in wide circles. Her +pilot was about to make an involuntary landing. This, in itself, was +a highly dangerous performance, as the floats were very +unsatisfactory landingskids. It was a hundred chances to one that +the seaplane would bump hard and collapse, pinning the pilot under +the wreckage. Even if Fuller escaped with his life or without broken +limbs, he was confronted with the additional danger of being made a +prisoner. + +Without a moment's delay Barcroft switched off the ignition and +commenced a volplane. At least he would be able to discover whether +his chum was able to make a safe landing. Beyond that-- + +"Good old Fuller!" almost yelled the A.P. "He's spotted a canal. I +see his move--artful bounder!" + +Running in a direction approximately east and west was a long +stretch of artificial water. The straightness of its course showed +that it was not a river. It was bordered on either side by a broad +tow-path, which in turn was fringed by a line of poplars. With the +exception of a string of barges being towed down by a small tug (and +they were nearly two miles away) the canal looked deserted. + +It was for this expanse of water that Fuller was making. Provided +there was sufficient width for the extreme breadth of his wing +spread and a margin to boot, there was little doubt of the +experienced flight-lieutenant's ability to make a safe descent. + +"He's done it!" announced Kirkwood. + +"If he has managed it there is no reason why we shouldn't," thought +Barcroft grimly. "Stand by, old man; we'll shove down and pick him +up." + +The canal appeared to expand in size in order to meet the descending +seaplane. It required all the skill and nerve at the youthful +pilot's command to carry out his desperate plan. An error of a few +feet to right or left meant irreparable damage to the frail craft +and failure of his devoted efforts on behalf of his stranded friend. + +With admirable judgment Billy brought his "bus" down, making a fine +"landing" on the surface of the canal at a distance of less than a +hundred yards from the crippled aircraft, Then, drifting gently, the +seaplane brought up alongside the bank, with one of her floats +rubbing against the edge of the tow-path. + +"Nip out and hold her on, old man!" exclaimed Billy. + +The A.P. obeyed promptly. Fortunately this required little or no +effort, for the thick-set though leafless trees broke the force of +what wind there was. + +Barcroft quickly followed Kirkwood to the bank. Already Fuller had +got ashore, and was preparing to destroy his machine when, to his +utter astonishment, he had seen another seaplane skim over his head +and alight at a short distance off. + +Running by the path Billy approached the lieutenant. + +"Come along, old man!" he said hurriedly. "There's no time to be +lost. We'll give you a lift in our bus back to the old 'Hippo.'" + +"Thanks," replied Fuller coolly. "What's the hurry? No Huns in +sight. I'll do this job properly." + +The odour of petrol vapour wafted to Barcroft's nostrils. Fuller had +allowed the spirit to escape from the tank, and was engaged in +wrapping a piece of oil-soaked paper round a stone. + +"No explosives left, I hope?" asked Billy. "None except the petrol," +replied Fuller. "That's explosive enough, I reckon, for this job. +No, I dropped all my plums over Aerschot. Gregory's gone (s'pose you +can see that for yourself?); shot through the head; he gave a sort +of leap--he wasn't strapped in, you'll understand--and flopped right +over the fuselage." + +"You've been strafed!" exclaimed Barcroft, for Fuller's quick +sentences, coupled with the fact that he winced frequently, pointed +to that. + +"The child is correct," agreed the flight-lieutenant. "Machine-gun +bullet clean through the left arm. It stings a bit, but nothing +much. No, don't trouble about it now. It'll keep. Now for a blaze." + +Striking a match he set light to the oiled paper and tossed the +flaming missile into the fuselage of the doomed seaplane. With a +rush of air and a lurid flare the petrol vapour caught. In an +instant the machine was enveloped in fire. + +"Good enough," declared Fuller, with an air of satisfaction. "Hard +lines on the old bus, though. She was a beauty. I was just getting +used to her, too." + +"Come along, old man," urged Barcroft again. + +Giving a farewell glance at the burning wreckage, Fuller turned +reluctantly away and accompanied his chum to the waiting seaplane. + +"We're going to pitch you out of your perch, my festive," announced +the flight-sub addressing the observer. "Fuller's tried to stop a +bullet. He didn't succeed, and as a result the nickel's left a hole +through his arm. Now, all aboard. We're lucky not to have a swarm of +Huns about our ears." + +Having assisted the wounded flight-lieutenant on to the float and +thence into Kirkwood's seat in the fuselage Barcroft swarmed up and +took his place at the joy-stick. + +Standing on the float and steadying himself by holding on to a +strut, the A.P. gave a vigorous push with his foot against the canal +bank. As the seaplane drifted towards the centre of the artificial +waterway he clambered nimbly to the deck of the fuselage and, lying +at full length, steadied himself by grasping the coaming surrounding +his surrendered place. + +"All right?" asked Barcroft. + +The motor fired smoothly. With the engine throttled down the pilot +taxied cautiously for a short distance, then increasing speed and +tilting the ailerons he started to climb. + +At barely twenty feet from the ground a sudden and furious gust of +wind caught the seaplane fairly abeam. Quickly Billy actuated the +rudder-bar in order to turn the machine sufficiently to counteract +the side-drop. + +It was too late. Swept bodily sideways the seaplane failed to clear +the line of poplars. The left-hand planes struck a tree-trunk and +crumpled like brown paper. The next instant the whole fabric crashed +to the ground across the tow-path. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +FUGITIVES + + +BOBBY KIRKWOOD was the first of the trio to recover his scattered +senses. The impact had hurled him violently forward, and cannoning +off Barcroft's back he had slid more or less gently to the ground. +The shock had forced Billy against the for'ard side of the coaming, +well-nigh winding him, while at the same time his head came into +contact with the framework, thus causing him to see a most gorgeous +galaxy of stars. + +Well it was that the observer's body glanced off that of the pilot; +otherwise the A.P. would have been instantly killed by the +swiftly-revolving propeller. As it was he escaped by a hairbreadth. + +Fuller was not so fortunate. The sudden change of momentum had the +result of crushing his already wounded arm, besides giving him a +nasty blow on the forehead. He, too, began to wonder dimly whether +he was witnessing a superb display of Brock's fireworks. + +As Kirkwood regained his feet the wreckage subsided still more. The +propeller blades striking the ground were shattered to fragments, +while the motor, released of its "load," began to race with terrific +speed. + +It was this nerve-racking sound that recalled Barcroft to a sense of +action. Switching off the ignition he slid from the chassis and +surveyed the scene of desolation. + +"Come along, Fuller. Let's give you a hand!" he exclaimed. + +Awkwardly the flight-lieutenant descended from his precarious perch. +The two stood in silent contemplation for some seconds. Verily they +realised that they were very much "in the cart." Stranded in a +country overrun by hostile troops, far from the coast--always the +preliminary goal of a seaman who is making a bid for freedom--their +chance of seeing the inside of a German prison loomed large upon +their mental horizon. + +"Let's get rid of the old bus while she's warm," suggested Barcroft. +"There's no possible chance of getting her repaired sufficiently for +even a short flight, and it won't do to let the Huns patch her up." + +"Shoulders to the wheel, lads," exclaimed Fuller. "One of mine's a +bit groggy, but I feel like shifting a steam-roller with the other." + +By their united efforts the wrecked seaplane was toppled over into +the canal. The sudden contact of the cold water with the hot +cylinders would, they knew, fracture the castings and make the motor +useless until complicated and costly repairs had been executed--even +if the Germans succeeded in fishing the debris out of the mud at the +bottom of the canal. + +"Now we'll make tracks," decided Fuller. "Wonder there aren't +soldiers on the spot already." + +"Yes, we'll make tracks," agreed Barcroft, "but not the ones you are +keen on leaving behind." + +He pointed to the muddy tow-path and to the comparatively dry ground +on the other side of the row of poplars. + +"We'll walk backwards as far as the field," he continued. "The +Boches are bound to examine the footprints. If they see that they +lead in the direction of the canal it may baffle 'em a bit. We must +look sharp. I see the water falling an inch or so." + +"But the canal isn't tidal," remarked Kirkwood. + +"I agree," assented Billy. "The slight fall tells me that the +nearest lock has been opened. That means a barge is on its way, and, +much as I regret missing the sight of a Hun cargo boat bumping on +the wreckage of the old bus, prudence demands that we sheer off." + +Having walked backwards until they reached hard ground the trio set +off cautiously. The country consisted of tilled fields--the work of +impressed Belgians, forced by their taskmasters to cultivate the +ground to provide foodstuffs for the Huns. The absence of hedges +gave the land an unfamiliar appearance as far as the three British +officers were concerned. What was of more pressing significance +there was a lack of efficient cover, the only means of securing +shelter being by keeping close to the trees that bounded the fields. + +"There's a spinny of sorts in there," said Kirkwood, pointing to a +circular cluster of bushes. "I vote we make for that and repair +damages." + +"And find ourselves surrounded by dozens of Boches," added Fuller. +"Naturally, once they found the wreckage of our machine they would +search the nearest cover. We must make for those woods What say you, +old bird?" + +"Yes, and remain till nightfall," added Barcroft. + +The wood was nearly a mile away, and presented an expanse of +leafless trees extending nearly twice that distance. The depth of +the wood the fugitives had no means of discovering. + +For the last four hundred yards the three officers crawled and +crouched, for the ground was as flat and unbroken as a table-top. +Away on the right could be discerned a red-tiled farmhouse, close to +it a roofless barn, with the two charred gables standing up clearly +against the sky. Further away was a village of considerable size, +but in all directions there were no signs of human beings or of +cattle. + +"Thank goodness we are here at last," exclaimed Fuller, throwing +himself upon the ground. "I don't want you fellows to think that I'm +piling it on, but my rotten ankle's played old Harry with me. +Fractured it on a ringbolt on the 'Cursus' at Harwich," he +explained. "Had six weeks in hospital, and thought it got fixed up +all right, but it isn't." + +"And your wound?" asked the A.P. + +"Pooh! Nothing," replied Fuller unconcernedly. "That's a simple +matter. If this ankle crocks properly, I'll make you fellows carry +on without me. I can hang out a couple of days until you're clear +and then give myself up." + +"I'm jolly well sure you don't," said Barcroft firmly. "We three +sink or swim together. Think you'll be able to swarm up that tree if +we give you a hand?" + +The flight-lieutenant eyed the gnarled trunk somewhat dubiously. + +"Might," he replied. "I'll try, anyway. What's the idea?" + +"To lie close until it gets dark." + +"But why that tree? It's on the edge of the wood. Why not go further +in, where it's ever so much thicker?" + +"Because if the Huns track us this far they'll naturally conclude +that we've bolted for cover. They'll doubtless beat the interior of +the wood and not pay much attention to the part nearest the canal. +Besides, from this particular tree we can command a wide outlook +without running much risk of detection." + +By the aid of their belts Barcroft and Kirkwood succeeded in +assisting the wounded officer to gain the lowermost branch. Thence +it was a comparatively simple matter to climb another thirty feet. +Here two huge limbs gave a tolerably secure perch, wide enough to +hide the fugitives from the sight of any persons passing underneath, +and yet able to afford an outlook over a wide expanse of open +country. + +"Now let's look at that injured arm," said Barcroft, producing his +"first aid" outfit. "Slip his coat off, Bobby; we don't want to cut +that away. H'm! clean hole, by Jove! Iodine and gauze, old man. +That's capital. I've morphia tablets here; if you feel in much pain +I'll give you half a one and no more. Can't afford to have your +brain dulled by morphia at this stage of the proceedings, John.', + +"That's easier," said Fuller with a sigh of relief. "Now if you'll +be so good as to unlace my boot I'll massage this low-down ankle." + +"You'll keep still," ordered Barcroft firmly, "We'll do the rubbing +business--if only to keep our blood circulating." + +"Did you save your map?" inquired Fuller. + +"I burnt mine." + +"Yes, I have mine," replied the flight-sub. "I make it about sixty +miles from the Dutch frontier--not much use making a shot for the +coast, I take it?" + +"Phew! Sixty miles--I did that distance once on a walking tour. For +pleasure, mark you," said Fuller. "Plenty to eat, a decent show to +put up at every night, and quite fine weather and I had galled heels +by the end of the second day." + +"If we could sneak a captive balloon like you did at Sylt," remarked +the A.P. "That would be top-hole." + +"A bit of sheer good luck," said Fuller reminiscently. "That sort of +dose isn't often repeated. Tressidar and I broke into a house and +collared suits of mufti. That won't do here, though. We were on +Danish soil then; now we are in occupied Belgium. Caught and we are +shot as spies, while the unfortunate civilians to whom the clothes +belong would be strung up for assisting us to escape, whether they +did it knowingly or otherwise. Time for more amateur burglar work +when we're on Dutch soil. That's my opinion. You see, if we cross +the frontier in uniform we'll be interned. I remember----" + +"Look!" ejaculated the A.P., pointing in the direction of the +farmhouse. + +Making their way across the fields were about a hundred people, men +and women, herded together in rough military formation and escorted +by grey-coated German infantry. The civilians were on their way to +forced labour in the fields. Woe betide the luckless Belgian, male +or female, who showed the faintest resentment, or lagged behind. +Blows and kicks were administered with impartial severity by the +brutal guards, while some did not hesitate to prod the helpless +human cattle with the butt-ends of their rifles. + +"And yet there are worms in England who cry out about the dilution +of labour and the encroachment of the rights of the working man," +remarked Barcroft. "This is the sort of rights they'd get if the +Huns once occupied even a portion of the Homeland." + +"Poor bounders!" exclaimed the A.P. as he fondled the holster of his +revolver. "I'd like to put a shot through that red-faced swine's +head." + +"You'd only make it worse for us and for them," said Fuller. + +"True," assented Kirkwood, "but a fellow cannot disguise his +feelings in such circumstances. One thing seems certain: the Boches +haven't got wind of our presence." + +"Don't know so much about that," said Billy. "Unless I'm much +mistaken there's a patrol coming this way--and dogs, too, by Jove!" + +In less than ten minutes (it had taken the trio an hour to cover the +same distance) the patrol gained the field in which the Belgians +were literally slaving. Apparently the crowd of workers disturbed +the trail, for the bloodhounds, three massive-limbed, heavy-jowled +creatures, no longer kept their noses close to the ground and +followed the fugitives' track without the slightest deviation. +Instead they wandered round in circles, growling rather than baying, +and showing every indication of having lost the scent. + +Followed a heated controversy between the Huns with the dogs and the +Germans guarding the field labourers, until the latter, ordering +their charges to assemble, marched them into the field next +adjoining and nearer to the canal. Four Belgians, however, remained. +These, after what was evidently a homily as to their behaviour, +followed the patrol with the bloodhounds. + +The scent once lost took some time to pick up again, but eventually +one of the animals stopped at the foot of the tree in which the +fugitives were hiding and set up a succession of low, deep cries. +The other dogs, apparently on a different trail, disappeared in the +wood, their keepers having all their work cut out to hold them in +leash. + +"One at least of the English swine is up this tree, Max," said a +corporal, addressing one of the two privates with him. "That is +certain. The others have gone elsewhere. I wonder that they had the +sense to separate." + +"We'll make sure of this one," said Max grimly. + +"Ach! That is so," agreed the corporal. "Here, Karl, you speak this +outlandish language. Tell this fellow to climb and see if the +Englishman is there." + +Turning to the Belgian who had been compelled to remain with them, +Karl spoke to him in Flemish. Being ignorant of the Walloon language +Barcroft was unable to understand his reply. + +"The fool says he is hungry and has not enough strength to climb," +said Karl, translating for the primary benefit of the corporal and +for the secondary information of Billy Barcroft. + +"Tell him," replied the Hun, "that he must go--and be quick about +it. If he succeeds in finding the Englishman, then I will inform the +commandant and see that the fellow gets a double ration to-night. +That ought to satisfy his hunger." + +Lying at full length upon the sturdy branches the three airmen could +distinctly hear the rasping of the Belgian's boots against the bark +and the short sharp gasps that betokened a man obviously out of +condition. + +The A.P. glanced at Barcroft and pointed to his revolver. The look +indicated clearly enough what he meant. There were but three +Germans. There were also three determined Britons all armed with +revolvers. It would be an easy matter to settle the hash of the Huns +and trust to flight before the rest of the patrol, alarmed by the +shots, could arrive upon the scene. + +But the flight-sub shook his head. The risk was too great. Reprisals +would automatically follow upon the luckless peasants, who were +bound to be regarded as accomplices in the attack upon the three +soldiers. + +Presently a pair of hands gripped the rough bark of the bough on +which Barcroft was lying--long, lean, gnarled fingers almost +claw-like in appearance. The next instant the Belgian's head and +shoulders appeared above the rounded edge of the bough. + +For a brief second Billy's eyes met those of the climber. The +fugitives were discovered. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +TRACKED + + +AT the sight of the lean, cadaverous features of the Belgian +Barcroft had to exercise a tremendous lot of restraint to control +his desire to utter some sort of exclamation. He had no wish to harm +the fellow, who, as he knew, was acting under compulsion, with overt +bribery thrown in. In fact he felt sorry for the man, whose pathetic +eyes and drawn features portrayed both hunger and misery. + +Yet in an instant the climber turned his face aside and resolutely +hauled himself upon the branch on which Billy was lying. He was now +in full view of the other officers. Fortunately neither of them +spoke nor moved, yet the mental tension was acute. + +Standing upright upon the bough and carefully preserving his balance +the Belgian outstretched his arm to grasp the branch above. + +"The bounder doesn't want to take unnecessary chances," thought +Barcroft. "He wouldn't shout while he was only holding on by his +fingers. Now he's able to get a firm grip in case he thinks we'll +heave him out of it." + +But no. The flight-sub was totally wrong in his surmise. The man, +deliberately ignoring the presence of the three fugitives, climbed +still higher, until he gained the topmost branch capable of +supporting his weight. + +Then, having leisurely scanned the surrounding tree-tops, he shouted +something to the Germans standing at the foot of the British +officers' hiding-place. + +For a moment Barcroft and his companions were again plunged into the +throes of suspense. "The pig says that there are no signs of the +Englishmen," interpreted Karl. + +"Donnerwetter!" grunted the corporal. "So much for the bloodhound, +and Herr Major is ever boasting of what the brute can do. He's wrong +for once at least, only I dare not tell him so. Tell the Belgian to +come down. I'll soon send him up another tree a little further on." + +"That's right," agreed Max. "Make the fellow work till he drops. If +he breaks his neck there's one of the rabble the less." + +At the order the climber descended, as before paying no heed to the +three officers. Upon regaining the ground he was marched off to make +another ascent on a useless search. An hour later, having, as they +thought, thoroughly searched the wood, the patrol withdrew, cursing +and grumbling at their ill-luck, since, it appeared, a reward of two +hundred and fifty marks for the arrest of the fugitives had been +offered. + +"A proper sport, that Belgian," said Fuller in a whisper, realising +the wisdom of speaking in a low tone lest the Huns had left men to +guard the woods. "He could have given us away as easy as winking." + +"Perhaps he'll inform the Boches now he's out of sight," hazarded +the cautious A.P. + +"Great Scott! I hope not," ejaculated Fuller. "In fact I'm willing +to lay long odds that he won't. I'd like to meet that chap on the +quiet again. I'd make it worth his while." + +"So would I," added Barcroft. "Well, this affair has done us a good +turn. The Huns have evidently satisfied themselves that we are not +anywhere in this wood. The coast will be clear for to-night. How's +that arm, old bird?" + +"Feeling a bit stiff," replied Fuller. "The air's so confoundedly +cold." + +"It is a bit fresh," agreed Kirkwood. "And probably it will freeze +hard to-night. And your ankle?" + +"Can't feel any sensation in it," replied the flight-lieutenant. +"The damage, if any, will assert itself when I place foot to ground. +What an ass I was not to have brought my Thermos. Full of good old +hot tea, too. I left it on the bank, after the smash." + +"You deserve a vote of censure for importing food stuffs into +German-occupied territory, old man," said Barcroft. "Can't you +imagine a thirsty Hun mopping that stuff?" + +"You speak for yourself, my festive," retorted the +flight-lieutenant. "What did you do with _your_ flasks?" + +"They went down with the wreckage," replied Billy. + +"Yours, perhaps," said Kirkwood. "My Thermos got smashed when we +crashed. I heard the glass go, and I remember the hot liquid +escaping and running over my gloves." + +"Then you are all right for a feast," retorted Fuller. "Goatskin +soaked in tea, eh? Sort of cannibalistic feast." + +"Don't insinuate that I'm a giddy goat," protested the A.P. "It is +like a case of--oh, dash it all!" + +Kirkwood's exclamation was occasioned by the binoculars slipping +from his benumbed fingers and falling to the ground. Rolling a few +feet they lay in clear view silent evidence to the hiding place of +their owner. + +"Then you are a goat--that proves it," said Fuller. "Hullo! What's +the move?" + +Kirkwood slipping out of his leather coat, was already about to +descend to retrieve his lost property. So far the coast seemed +clear, for the Belgian labourers and their guards had moved to a +field beyond range of vision. Since it was safe to conjecture that +they would return to the farm buildings for the night the danger lay +in the fact that they would almost assuredly spot the conspicuous +binoculars as they repassed. + +The A.P. dropped after swarming down about twenty feet of trunk and +alighted softly. His first care was to obliterate his footprints in +the bare earth, for the ground surrounding the tree trunk was +absolutely devoid of grass, and although sufficiently hard to +withstand the impression of a person walking it was not proof +against the impact of a man wearing a pair of heavy boots and +dropping from a height of seven or eight feet. + +Then, crouching, he made his way towards his cherished binoculars. +Just as he picked them up and placed them in his pocket, for he had +left the sling case with his comrades, there was a rustling in the +undergrowth. The next instant a huge dog, growling savagely, leapt +upon him. + +The animal was of the lurcher breed--a type encouraged in the German +army for various duties, including field ambulance work, guarding +and tracking prisoners and drawing machine-guns. Although smaller +than the bloodhound it possessed greater swiftness, while its +strength and ferocity were only slightly inferior. + +Luckily Kirkwood did not lose his presence of mind. Used to dogs, +the experience he had had with playful canines would be turned to +good account. + +Clenching his leather-gloved hand the A.P. let out with his left. +His fist, taking the lurcher fairly on the point of the nose, sent +the animal reeling. The respite was but momentary. Like a dart the +dog flew straight for the young officer's throat. + +Kirkwood met the animal as it leapt in midair. His right hand, with +its protection of the undressed leather gripped the lurcher round +the muzzle, his fingers and thumb meeting inside the brute's +wide-open jaws. Instantly the A.P.'s left hand grasped the dog's +lower jaw. + +So far so good. The animal, unable to bite, attempted to shake +himself clear. Foiled in this direction he planted his hind legs +firmly in the ground and, giving his body a series of jerks, sought +to pull the A.P. off his balance. + +"Shoot the brute!" exclaimed Barcroft from above. "Risk it! It can't +be helped. Clap the muzzle close to the brute's hide." + +But Bobby thought otherwise. Even if he could afford the risk of +letting go the dog's jaws with one hand and draw his revolver the +muffled report would still be sufficiently audible to alarm the +Huns. + +For perhaps half a minute he stood his ground, contenting himself by +prising the lurcher's jaws apart. Then, slowly at first, he began to +bend the animal's head backwards. It was a horrible yet necessary +task--one that taxed the A.P.'s strength and endurance to the +uttermost. Already he could feel the dog's teeth penetrating the +gloves, and those saliva-streaming fangs meant trouble once they +pierced the flesh. + +Yet the man was winning through. Back and back he levered the +animal's head. The brute's breath was coming in short, irregular +pants; its blood-flecked eyes were almost bursting from their +sockets. Still it struggled furiously, striving in vain to break +away from the A.P.'s vice-like grip. + +"By Jove! He'll never do it," thought Barcroft. "The brute's tiring +him out." + +At the risk of barked shins and elbows the flight-sub descended from +his perch. Gaining the ground he drew his revolver, wrapped his +scarf several times round the weapon to muffle the sound of the +explosion, and cautiously approached the combatants. + +Extreme care was necessary, for the lurcher, driven to desperation, +was turning his antagonist round and round. Kirkwood, his whole +energies devoted to twisting the animal's neck, was unable to +counteract the dog's movements, nor did the animal remain +sufficiently still to enable Barcroft to plant the muzzle of his +weapon firmly against its ribs. + +The end came with unexpected suddenness. + +With a distinctly audible crash the lurcher's vertebra snapped. Its +body seemed instantly to grow limp. The sudden cessation of +resistance caused Kirkwood to fall forward across the still +quivering body of his enemy. + +Barcroft lifted his chum and set him on his feet. The A.P., now the +duel with death was done, was as pale as a sheet and trembling in +every limb. + +"I'll be all right in a minute," he gasped. "Feel as ill as a +seasick cat." + +"Sit down," ordered Billy, and grasping his comrade by the nape of +the neck he bent his head until it rested on his knees. + +"Keep like that a while," he continued. "I'll get rid of +incriminating evidence. My word, what a lump!" he added, as he +lifted the dead brute by its hind legs. "Half a hundredweight, I +should imagine." + +Keeping the carcass clear of the ground the flight-sub carried it +quite fifty yards through the wood before depositing it under a +bush. + +This necessary task performed, he retraced his steps. + +"Chirpy again?" he inquired. + +"Quite," replied Kirkwood. + +"You look jolly warm," continued Barcroft. + +"I feel it." + +"Then get a move on and swarm up here," interrupted Fuller's voice. +"I'm as cold as charity and could do with a human warmingpan. + +"All clear?" inquired Barcroft. + +"By Jove, no!" was Fuller's hurried rejoinder. "Look sharp, you +fellows. There are half a dozen of 'em coming this way." + +Making sure that they had left behind them no evidence of their +presence the two airmen re-ascended to their lofty perch. + +"You're steaming like an overworked horse, old man," said Billy +addressing the A.P. "I'll throw your coat over you. You can't sit up +or the Fritzes will spot us." + +Trudging across the tilled land were eight or nine greatcoated Huns, +armed with rifles. Two of their number were drawing a light cart. + +"What's that for, I wonder?" whispered Kirkwood, for the Germans +were still a considerable distance off, yet making almost in a +straight line for the tree in which the three chums were hidden. + +"Can't say," replied Fuller. "I never saw Huns with a contraption +like that before. Rations, possibly: they may mean to camp out here +just to keep us company." + +The fugitives were not left long in doubt, for on arriving at a spot +twenty yards from the edge of the wood the party halted and +proceeded to don flexible metallic masks with hideous-looking +snouts. This done, the corporal in charge inspected each man's +face-protection with deliberate thoroughness, while from a distance +two Hun officers in the uniform of the Engineers watched the +proceedings. + +"By smoke!" muttered Barcroft under his breath. "They're going to +have a shot at gassing us." + +At a brisk order the lid of the cart was thrown back revealing a +couple of cylinders to which were attached lengths of armoured +metallic hosepipe terminating in elongated nozzles. First the +cylinders were placed upon the ground and air pumped into them until +the required pressure was obtained. Then each apparatus was strapped +to a man's back, a soldier being in attendance to hold the nozzle. + +It was fairly safe for the three British officers to watch the +proceedings since the height of the branch enabled them to look down +upon the heads of the gassing party, while the latter could not look +up owing to the straps that secured the lower portion of their masks +to their shoulders. + +"Reminds me of goblins at a panto," thought Bobby. "Wonder when +they're going to start?" + +As a matter of precaution he tied his handkerchief over his nose and +mouth, an example that his companions hastened to copy. They +realised that it was but a sorry protection--useless against the +full strength of the deadly chlorine, but sufficient, perhaps, to +ward off the effects of a "tail-end" of the poison-cloud. + +Weirdly fascinated the fugitives watched the proceedings. It seemed +strange to witness the diabolical preparations for their intended +execution. Dimly Barcroft wondered whether he would be conscious +when he fell from the bough, or whether the gas would overcome him +instantly. + +"The first whiff and I'll shoot," he thought grimly. "I'd like to +shatter the nozzles of those pretty masks and let the brutes have a +good sniff at their vile mixture." + +A faint hiss betokened the fact that the taps controlling the +discharge tubes had been turned on. Clouds of black vapour, eddying +and seething, issued from the nozzles and rose sullenly in the cold, +damp air. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +GASSED + + +SOMETHING fluttered past the flight-sub's ear. It was a dead leaf. +Whisked by a sudden gust it disappeared. Simultaneously the wind +moaned dismally betwixt the gaunt branches. + +Hitherto the air had been heavy and still. Now, almost miraculously, +a stiff breeze had sprung up, blowing in the direction of the +infernal gas cylinders, just as they liberated their poisonous +contents. + +The rolling columns of vapour, forced back by the wind, literally +enveloped the hideously masked operators. More, the deadly cloud, +keeping close to the ground, travelled at prodigious speed towards +the two Hun officers, who hitherto had been thoroughly enjoying the +proceedings. + +Quickly their brutal hilarity changed to an attitude of terror, as +the death-dealing gas, spreading from the right and left of them, +bore down at a rate exceeding that of a trotting horse. For a brief +moment Barcroft had a vision of two grey-coated forms, two pairs of +heels in the air and two pairs of outstretched arms. Then the cloud +hid them from sight. + +Already the operators, finding that the gas had been misdirected, +had shut off the controlling valves. But the mischief was already +done. When the cloud had drifted away before the now steady breeze +the German officers could be discerned lying on the ground and +beating a frantic tattoo with their elbows and heels as the +poisonous vapour tore their lungs. + +Aghast the corporal watched his superiors' death agonies. While his +men hastened to render aid--a useless task--the luckless non com., +tearing away his mask and liberating the poisonous vapour, held his +face close to the hissing nozzle. Then he, too, dropped, writhing on +the ground in mortal pain. + +Finding that the gas-masks impeded their action the men who gathered +round the dying officers discarded their protection, since the fumes +of the first discharge had passed far beyond the scene. But they had +not reckoned on a repetition of the dose. Suddenly overwhelmed by +the fumes that issued uncontrolled from one of the cylinders, five +of the men were stricken down. The remaining few, who had not +deprived themselves of their masks, made no attempt to check the +outpouring cloud. They promptly fled. + +"By Jove, if the wind lulls we are done for!" thought Barcroft. "A +fellow wouldn't stand a ghost of a chance after a sniff of that +stuff. Wonder how long the gas lasts?" + +A back eddy sent a faint tinge of chlorine over the prostrate trio. +It was as much as Billy could do to restrain himself from tearing +his handkerchief from his mouth and gasping for breath. Fuller +coughed heavily, while the A.P. rose to a kneeling position. Had not +Barcroft grasped him by the arm he would have toppled off the bough. +Then came another rush of pure air and the danger was past. + +It was nearly twenty minutes before the apparatus exhausted itself. +For nearly half a mile the track of the gas could be followed. The +rich dark earth was turned a sickly yellow. Trees on the edge of the +adjoining field were literally bleached by the corrosive vapour, +while its effect upon the bodies of the victims of their own +infernal contrivance was to make it difficult to distinguish between +the colour of their uniform and that of their hideously drawn +features. + +"I vote we shift," suggested Barcroft. "The Boches evidently have a +suspicion that we are somewhere in this wood. It's positively not +healthy to remain." + +"I think otherwise, with due deference to you," objected Fuller. +"Granted the Huns imagine we are here. Those bloodhounds told them +that; but after this delightful fiasco of the gas-business they'll +take it for certain that if we are here we've been done in. So it +would be well to sit tight till dark--much as I want to be on the +move." + +"What is the effect of chlorine gas upon food?" inquired the A.P. + +"Rotten, I should imagine. Why?" asked Billy in surprise. + +"Because there's food and drink down there," continued Kirkwood, +pointing to the body of the corporal. "These fellows, for some +reason, are in heavy marching order. There's almost certain to be +grub in his pack and I can see his water bottle. We can't afford to +be too squeamish, you know." + +"Don't fancy German tack steeped in poison," remarked Fuller. +"Although I feel as if I could eat almost anything. As for +water--well, there's plenty of that about." + +"And that's what makes me think that the fellow has something better +than water in his canteen. At any rate, here goes." + +Giving a glance round to see that no one was in sight the A.P. again +descended to earth. Gingerly unbuckling the dead soldier's knapsack +he produced half a loaf of black bread, a tin of meat and a +hermetically-sealed box that afterwards proved to contain biscuits. +One sniff at the bread was enough. Kirkwood promptly replaced it and +carefully rebuckled the straps of the pack. The man's water-bottle +he risked taking. Unscrewing the cork he found that the bottle +contained neat Schnapps. + +"One teaspoonful only for you, Fuller," he announced as he rejoined +his comrades with the spoils. "Raw spirit will play the deuce with +that wound of yours." + +"You are quite right," agreed the flight-lieutenant as Barcroft +proceeded to prise open the meat tin. Its contents consisted of +tightly packed sausages. "For the same reason I suppose I must +abstain from rich food. Give me a biscuit, you despoiler of the +dead." + +Late in the afternoon another party of Germans arrived upon the +scene, this time merely to collect the victims of the gas and to +remove the instruments of retribution. + +"Double patrols at all cross-roads to-night, curse it!" said one of +the soldiers. "Always more work. These Englishmen must be stiff by +this time. Why send us out to arrest corpses?" + +"We don't know that the gas has settled them," replied his +companion. "Although it did the trick very neatly for Johannes +Muller. I'm sorry for him. As for the ober-leutnant----" + +He shrugged his shoulders expressively. Evidently the officer was a +typical Prussian. + +"These English airmen played the deuce at Aerschot and Lierre," +continued the first speaker. "It will go badly with them if they're +caught, but, as I said, it's my opinion that they are done for +already. Double patrols on a night like this. It's as bad as the +trenches at Ypres." + +"Fortunately I am warned for the Golden Lion cross-roads," said his +companion. "As soon as the leutnant has made the rounds our party +will make tracks for the cabaret. I am an old campaigner, Fritz." + +"Ach! Do not, then, get caught," cautioned the other as he slammed +the lid of the box on the cart. "It will be safe enough between +midnight and two o'clock. I've a mind to join you, only it's a +goodish step from Quatre Vents." + +"Where's the map?" inquired Fuller, after the fatigue party had +disappeared. "The 'Golden Lion' he said? That's it--_le Lion +Dore_--it's marked here. Luck, boys! It's on the way to the +frontier. Roll on, eleven o'clock. Only six hours more. Why didn't +we bring a gramophone, or even a pack of cards?" + +Slowly the leaden-footed hours sped. Darkness fell upon the scene. +To add to the cold and discomfort; a chilly rain followed the +"piping down" of the wind. The gnarled bough, rendered slippery with +the moisture, was hardly safe. Its condition presaged danger when +the time came for the three fugitives to attempt to descend the tree +trunk. What was more there was every indication of the wet turning +into ice. + +Even the airmen's thick leather coats and fleece-lined gloves +afforded but scant protection against the rigours of the penetrating +air. Again and again Billy consulted the luminous hand of his watch. +Would the hour of eleven never come? + +"Why wait any longer?" asked the A.P., his teeth chattering with the +cold. "We can make our way cautiously through the wood. We'll be a +mile nearer to the Golden Lion crossroads when we get to the other +side. We'll be too benumbed if we stop here." + +"All right," agreed Barcroft. "Belts together, lads. We'll lower you +as far as we can, John. Mind that ankle of yours when you drop." + +It was an eerie business lowering Fuller through the darkness, but +without mishap he alighted on the soft ground. Then having thrown +down the water bottle and the rest of the provisions his two +comrades rejoined him. + +"All right?" whispered Barcroft. + +"Right as ninepence," replied the flight-lieutenant. "Lead on, +Macduff." + +Guided by a luminous spirit-compass Billy plunged into the wood, his +companions following in single file. Already the rain had been +sufficiently heavy to moisten the ground in spite of the protection +afforded by the leafless branches. Here and there a dry twig cracked +under their feet; again and again they had to make detours to avoid +thick-set undergrowth; once their progress was impeded by a +knee-deep but sluggish brook, but without mishap the fugitives +gained the remote side of the wood. + +Beyond all was dark as pitch. The sky being overcast even the +starlight was denied them. Presently a lantern gleamed in the +distance, its yellow glimmer lighting up the high-pitched roof and +quaint chimneys of a tall building that had evidently escaped the +ruin of war. + +Barcroft nudged the A.P. + +"The 'Golden Lion'," he announced. "And another hour and a half to +wait." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE BARN BY THE RIVER + + +THE distant light from the lantern glittered on the bayonets of the +sentries, who, sheltering as best they might from the rain, paced +stolidly to and fro at the bleak cross-roads. Presently the gleam +increased in intensity, throwing distorted shadows upon the gaunt +poplars of the road-side. + +"The lieutenant going the rounds," whispered Fuller. "Fancy the fool +taking a lantern with him. Wonder if he's afraid of the dark?" + +The quivering bayonets stiffened into immobility as the Hun officer +approached the now alert sentries. The fugitives could just +distinguish the guttural 'Wer da?' of the challenge, then an +unintelligible exchange of words. + +The German officer and his escort moved on. The sentries, sloping +arms, resumed their monotonous beat until the round had disappeared +from sight and hearing. + +Seemingly interminable minutes passed, until just as midnight was +approaching there came a low whistle through the darkness. + +"_Hier!_" replied one of the men. + +"All safe," rejoined the new-comer. "Yes, both of you. What a night! +It's not fit for a dog to be abroad." + +"Now," whispered Barcroft at the expiration of another long ten +minutes. "Ankle all right, old man?" + +"Quite," replied Fuller mendaciously. It was far from right, but the +flight-lieutenant, game to the core, had no intention of letting his +chums know that every time he set foot to the ground excruciating +pains racked him. + +Across the clayey soil, now almost knee-deep in mud, the daring trio +literally floundered, their immediate objective being the endmost of +a line of tall trees at a distance of fifty yards from the +cross-roads. + +"Steady!" cautioned Billy as the _pave_, glistening even in the +gloom, became visible. "I'll push on and see that the coast is +clear. Back in a brace of shakes." + +The trees cast sombre shadows as the flight sub drew near; rain, +closely approaching sleet, fell in a steady downpour; the wind had +resumed its doleful whine. Altogether the climatic conditions were +horrible. + +"This is absolutely the limit," thought Billy, until his +characteristic optimism reasserted itself. "Perhaps it's as well, +though. The Huns don't like sticking it and have departed. A fine +night and our risks would be greatly increased." + +He pulled up with startling suddenness. Less than ten paces ahead of +him was a German sentry. Sheltering under the lee of the outer most +tree the fellow was actually looking straight in the flight-sub's +direction. + +For several seconds Barcroft stood stock still, debating whether to +throw himself upon the man or seek safety in flight. The sentry, his +coat-collar turned up and his hands resting upon the muzzle of his +rifle, appeared as immobile as if fashioned of stone. He was an +oldish man. The flight-sub was certain of that fact; more, he wore +glasses. + +"A Landsturmer, and as blind as a bat," thought the young officer. +"There were three sentries, then; two have gone to the estaminet, +the old boy is told to remain at his post. Now what's to be done? +Something, or Fuller and Kirkwood will be forging ahead to find me +and then there'll be damage done." + +Very cautiously Barcroft began to back away from the unsuspecting +Hun. The man coughed and hunched his shoulders still more. At the +sound Billy again stood rigid, half expecting the sentry to slope +arms and resume his beat. Nothing happening, the flight-sub withdrew +as silently and stealthily as the slippery state of the _pave_ +permitted. + +"Well?" whispered the A.P. + +"Hist!" was Barcroft's only reply, then grasping his companions by +their arms he led them back until they were well out of the sentry's +hearing--even supposing that he possessed the normal use of his +ears. + +"A Boche over there," reported Barcroft. "Nearly rammed him +broadside on. Blind as a bat; a regular septuagenarian. We'll make a +slight detour and have another shot at crossing the road. It's open +country beyond." + +This time the highway presented no difficulty, and with renewed +vigour the trio struggled through the tenacious slime beyond. + +It was Barcroft's plan to keep to the fields as much as possible and +follow the road on a parallel course. It was infinitely harder +going, but there was less risk of blundering upon a German outpost, +while at intervals military motor-cars tore at break-neck speed over +the slippery _pave_, their iron-shod wheels slithering dangerously +on the slimy stones. + +In almost total silence the dreary trek was maintained throughout +the night, with the exception of two brief halts. Gamely Fuller +"stuck it," although his ankle was getting worse under the strain. +His left arm, too, was throbbing in spite of careful bandaging, yet +no word of complaint came from his lips. + +At half past six in the morning Barcroft called a halt. + +"By dead reckoning I estimate we have covered twenty-five miles," he +announced. "That's not so dusty. It will be dawn in another hour. +We'll have to find a place and lie doggo until to-night. How's the +victualling department, purser?" + +"I can spare a couple of biscuits apiece," declared the A.P. "And a +small tot of Schnapps. You'll have to wait till lunch time for the +sausage tack. I'm counting on a three days' basis, you know." + +"Very good," replied Barcroft approvingly. "There is a hovel or barn +ahead. We'll make for that." + +The outbuilding consisted of stone walls and a tiled roof, the +latter in a state of dilapidation. The massive oaken door had been +partly wrenched from its hinges. Within, the floor was of trodden +earth mixed with lime. The place was absolutely bare. + +"Not even a bundle of straw," declared the A.P. "The roof leaks like +a sieve. Still, it is better than nothing at all." + +"The only place to hide in is under the rafters," said the +flight-sub. "Those two planks lying over the beams will serve that +purpose should necessity occur. I would suggest that we keep watch +by turns--two-hour tricks. That will give each man four consecutive +hours' rest. I'll take first trick; you, Bobby, will relieve me and +John will follow on. Now to bed, you roysterers." + +Fuller and the A.P. needed no second bidding. Rolling themselves in +their leather coats that fortunately acted as waterproofs, and with +their heads pillowed on their padded flying helmets, they were soon +sound asleep. + +Taking up his post by the open door--he made no attempt to close it +lest the fact would be remarked by people living in the +district--Barcroft commenced his dreary vigil. Although bodily and +mentally tired he knew that his comrades were more in need of rest +than he. It was merely a case of "sticking it"; happy in the +knowledge that the guerdon, in the shape of precious liberty, was +twenty-five miles nearer than it had been seven hours previously. + +Gradually, as the sullen dawn overcame the blackness of the night, +the dreary landscape unfolded itself to the watcher's eyes--an +expanse of flat country broken here and there with isolated +buildings. Within fifty yards of the barn where the fugitives +sheltered was a fairly broad river, that described almost a complete +semicircle around the building. + +"It's running north," soliloquised Billy. "Wonder if it's the Aa? +Hanged if I can fix our position with certainty! We've crossed five +or six railway lines, and half a dozen small streams. Hang it all! +We can't be more than five or six miles from the frontier. By Jove, +we are close to the road, though! Wonder if that bridge is guarded?" + +After a short interval a convoy of motor waggons thundered past. The +A.P., roused out of his sleep, sat up. + +"What's that--an air raid?" he asked drowsily. + +"No, only traffic," replied Billy. "No cause for alarm. You've +another forty minutes yet." + +A little later on a barge, quite eighty feet in length, manned by a +couple of Belgians and towed by a miserably gaunt horse, descended +the river. As it rounded the bend the cumbersome craft ran aground. +Its stern, being still afloat, was swung round by the force of the +wind and jammed against the opposite bank. + +At the impact, slight though it was, the hatch of the after cabin +was thrown back and German soldiers scrambled on deck. One of them +was smoking a long pipe with a bent stem. He evidently regarded the +situation with philosophical stolidity, but not so his companion. +The latter, cursing and reviling the luckless Belgians, danced like +a madman on the sodden deck, till, losing his balance, he subsided +heavily against the massive tiller. + +"Bring the horse back, you swine!" he shouted to the man on the +bank. "There'll be trouble in store for you if the barge doesn't +reach Wuestwezel by noon. Himmel! What will Herr Kapitan say?" + +Peering through a crack in the door Barcroft watched the +proceedings. The German had mentioned Wuestwezel. Consulting the map +the flight-sub found that it was a small Belgian village on the +frontier, where in pre-war days a customs station was situated. + +For the best part of an hour the men strove unavailingly to +extricate the barge from the tenacious mud. Even the two Huns +condescended to assist in the operation but without the desired +result. So interested was Barcroft in their frantic efforts that he +quite overlooked the fact that it was time for Kirkwood to relieve +him. + +"You'll have to go to Hulstweelde and get additional help, you lazy +dogs!" bellowed the infuriated Fritz. Then he said something to his +companion, but speaking in a lower tone the words were +unintelligible to the young British officer. Apparently there was an +argument in progress as to which of the two Germans should accompany +the bargees, lest the latter took it into their heads to decamp. +Finally all four trudged off, leaving the horse to nibble at the +scanty pasture on the bank. + +"You rotter!" exclaimed Kirkwood. "It's gone nine. Why didn't you +turn me out? And what are you so interested in? Come, now, you were +very keen on ordering me to turn in. Try this luxurious +_salle-a-coucher_." + +"Before I do so," replied Barcroft pointing to the abandoned barge, +"I'm going to do a bit of burgling if there's anything in the food +line. Keep a sharp look-out, old man--towards that bridge +especially. I won't be long." + +It was a comparatively simple matter to board the deeply-laden +craft. Almost the whole of the space amidships was covered by huge +tarpaulins, leaving a narrow gangway on either side. Making his way +aft Barcroft boldly descended the short ladder leading into the +cabin--a somewhat spacious compartment with the small "cuddies" on +barges working British canals. + +"Black bread and cheese," said the flight-lieutenant to himself. +"Well, that's better than nothing. Bacon, too: useless when one +cannot light a fire." + +He had no qualms about despoiling the Philistines. Before the food +would be missed the barge would doubtless have resumed its voyage. +When the theft was discovered the Germans would to a certainty blame +the men who came to their assistance. + +"Wonder what the cargo is?" continued Billy as he regained the deck. + +Unfastening one corner of the tarpaulin he made the discovery that +the contents of the hold consisted of bales of old clothes packed +tightly and labelled in large lettering with typical German +thoroughness. They were commandeered Belgian civilian articles of +clothing, those of cotton being kept apart from those of wool. Their +destination was Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) via Wuestwezel, Turnout and +Tongres, and at Wuestwezel they were to be transferred to the +railway. + +"I think I see the move," thought Barcroft. "The stuff is to be +converted into cloth for the Huns. The cotton gear, perhaps, will be +utilised in the manufacture of explosives, since they cannot get the +raw material. By Jove! The very thing. I'll collar a bale of this +gear. We'll have to be in mufti of sorts when we cross the frontier, +otherwise it means internment." + +A low whistle from the barn warned the flight-sub to a sense of +danger. It was too late. Riding at a steady trot along the river +bank was a German officer. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +THE FRONTIER + + +RESISTING his first impulse to rejoin his companions Barcroft +crouched upon the unsavoury bundles and drew the corner of the +painted canvas cover over his head. In breathless suspense he +waited. + +The clatter of the horse's hoofs ceased. He heard the rider dismount +as his boots struck the ground. + +"You there, Corporal Pfeil?" he shouted. "Donnerwetter! what do you +mean by getting your charge in this fix?" + +Receiving no reply the German began cursing volubly, at the same +time expressing his belief that Pfeil and Co. were dead drunk in the +barge cabin and that those rascally Belgians had given them the +slip. + +The fellow came on board. It required considerable effort on his +part, for by the time he gained the deck he was puffing and blowing. +As he walked aft his spurs jangled on the metal deck. So close did +he pass the hiding Barcroft that the latter could have grasped his +ankles. + +"Schweinhund!" exclaimed the major, for such was his rank. "I'll +give Pfeil something to remember this business. Confound this rain! +I'll wait for him in the cabin." + +He went below. Presently Barcroft could hear the rasping of a match, +and the tantalising odours of tobacco from the after-cabin. + +"Now I'm done," soliloquised the flight-sub. "The penalty for +inquisitiveness, I suppose. Properly dished unless----" + +Seized by a sudden inspiration Billy softly threw back the corner of +the tarpaulin, crept aft and closed the sliding hatch of the cabin. +Before the astonished major could completely realise what was +happening Barcroft had shut the massive metal hasp and had secured +it by wedging a belaying pin through the staple. + +"Shout as hard as you like, my festive!" chuckled the flight-sub; +then he, too, realised that he had "put his foot into it." Not only +that--he had jeopardised the chances of his companions. + +Throwing a sack of clothing to the bank Billy leapt ashore, picked +up the weighty bundle and made for the barn. + +He found Fuller awake, for Kirkwood had informed him of the danger +that threatened the explorer. + +"We were just coming to your rescue," announced the A.P., "only we +saw that you had boxed the Boche up. What's this bundle for, old +bird?" + +"For to-night's fancy dress ball," replied Barcroft. "A suit of +mufti for each of us. We appear in the characters of the Continental +knockabouts." + +"What do you mean?" asked Fuller. + +"Simply that we must make tracks at once, before Corporal Pfeil and +Company return. Obviously we cannot hope to wander unmolested over +the country if we stick to our flying kit, so with my characteristic +regard for your welfare I have procured a stock of second-hand +clothes for your inspection and choice. We'll push on for a couple +of miles or so and then hide until it's dark. Then, with luck, over +the frontier we jog, without running the risk of being interned by +the Dutch authorities." + +The contents of the bag were emptied upon the floor--a weird +collection of musty and for the most part dirty and ragged clothes. + +"Must we, or musty?" inquired Kirkwood sniffing disdainfully + +"Both," replied Barcroft decidedly. "Look alive. Pity to have to +sacrifice our coats, though. Mine cost me eighty-five shillings only +a month ago. Keep your revolvers. They'll stow in the coat-pockets." + +The change of raiment was speedily effected. The discarded gear, +folded in as tight compass as possible, was stowed away on the beams +of the barn. + +"Who knows," remarked the A.P., "but that we may have a chance of +recovering our kit, when the Boches have been driven out of Belgium? +My word, Billy, you look absolutely IT! Tired Tim or Weary Willy +must be your character." + +"You speak for yourself, old sport," retorted Barcroft laughing. +"You're positively not respectable. We tolerate your presence only +on sufferance. Matter of fact, Tired Tim does suit me," he added, +stifling a yawn. "I'm as dog-tired as a fellow can possibly be. And +what might you be supposed to represent, John--a Belgian hare?" + +"That's about it," replied Fuller languidly. "The main thing is to +keep warm, and trust to luck to get a hot bath later. Some fit, eh, +what?" + +The flight-lieutenant had appropriated a long cloth coat liberally +trimmed with fur. In its prime the coat might have done credit to a +wealthy bourgeois of Brussels, but now it would ill-become a city +scavenger. + +The rest of the clothes were returned to the sack, with the addition +of a couple of heavy stones. Barcroft and the A.P. carried the +"incriminating evidence" to the river and hurled it into the water. + +"Don't suppose our boots will excite suspicion if we fall in with +any one," remarked Kirkwood. "It is impossible to say whether they +are black or brown." + +"Or sabots," added Billy. "Without exaggeration we are carrying half +an inch of mud about on them. Now, easy ahead." + +Keeping clear of the highway, and following the river at a +respectful distance the fugitives covered a distance of about three +miles in less than a couple of hours. The rain was falling heavily +again, blotting out everything beyond a distance of fifty yards, but +by this time the dauntless trio regarded the discomfort with +equanimity and as a blessing in disguise. + +"By Jove!" exclaimed Puller, suddenly coming to a halt. "There's the +frontier." + +Before they were aware of the fact they had arrived within a few +feet of the seemingly interminable barbed wire fence that separated +occupied Belgium from coveted Holland. As far as could be seen the +barrier was unguarded. + +"How about it?" inquired Barcroft. "Shall we make a dash and risk +it?" + +"Steady," cautioned the flight-lieutenant. "Suppose, as is more than +likely, there's a high tension wire running along that contraption? +We don't want to be pipped on the post, you know." + +"I'll test it," declared Billy promptly. + +"How?" asked his companions in one breath + +"By this," replied the sub indicating the wristlet compass. "You +hang on here. I won't be long." + +"Be careful, then," said the A.P. + +"Trust me for that," answered Barcroft cheerfully. "Lie low and keep +a sharp look out." + +On either side of the fence was a belt of reeds and coarse grass. In +ordinary circumstances its height would be five or six feet, but the +wind and rain had beaten down the reeds considerably. In places the +tangle of grass was almost flat, and, combined with the slippery +soil, formed a trap for the unwary. + +"H'm! a fair amount of traffic on either side of the fence," +commented Barcroft as he arrived upon the scene of his +investigations. "They've had sentries patrolling up and down, but +evidently they don't like the weather." + +Kneeling in the slime the flight-sub unbuckled the strap that +secured the little spirit compass to his wrist, then cautiously he +held the delicate instrument towards the lowermost wire. + +The needle was unaffected, even though he brought the compass close +enough to risk a short circuit should the wire be highly charged +with electricity. Three parallel wires he tested with similar +results. At the fourth, which was about three feet from the ground, +the needle oscillated. Whether it was owing to the deviating effect +of an electric current or that he had unintentionally jogged the +compass Barcroft could not decide. Withdrawing the instrument he +waited for the sensitive index to come to rest. + +"Dash it all!" he ejaculated as he resumed his investigations. "That +wire is charged. It will mean a fine old job getting through this +fence. Might squeeze through under the lowermost one if it could be +prised up. But supposing the electrified wire isn't always the +fourth from the ground: what then? I'll apply another test further +along." + +So intent was the flight-sub in his work that he failed to hear the +faint sound of footsteps stealthily approaching through the +squelching mud. Entirely at a disadvantage since he was crouching on +his knees, Barcroft was most disgustedly surprised to hear a +guttural exclamation, the form of which left no doubt as to the +nationality of the speaker. + +Turning his head Billy found himself at the mercy of a German +sentry, whose levelled bayonet was within a foot of his +shoulderblades. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +AN AVERTED CATASTROPHE + + +"MORNING, Norton; you are an early visitor," exclaimed Peter +Barcroft. "Five minutes later and you would have found me out--to +use a contradictory phrase. I'm just off for a morning with the +rabbits. Care to come along?" + +"Delighted," replied the spy. "I suppose you won't mind my calling +at The Croft to get a gun?" + +A couple of weeks had passed since Siegfried von Eitelwurmer's +return to Tarleigh. During that time Peter had seen or heard nothing +of Philip Entwistle. The _soi-disant_ Andrew Norton had resumed his +former habit of dropping in at Ladybird Fold at all hours, somewhat +to the detriment of "The Great Reckoning--and After," which was now +approaching completion. + +Von Eitelwurmer was trying to muster up courage to earn +single-handed the reward offered by his Imperial Master for the +obliterance of the man whose writings had so greatly offended the +Potsdam Potentate who was seeking in vain for a place in the Sun. +The spy had a wholesome dread of British justice should he bungle in +the attempt and find himself under arrest. He had been told by the +authorities at Berlin that he must not expect further co-operation +by means of a Zeppelin. Evidently the rough handling the German +aerial squadron had met with on the return journey had upset the +hitherto implicit faith of the Huns in this branch of frightfulness. +Since, then, von Eitelwurmer had no opportunity of getting Peter +Barcroft conveyed to Germany, he set about a means to "remove" him. +After all, he decided, half the reward was better than nothing. + +In his many conversations with Peter the spy never mentioned the +subject of their meeting at Bigthorpe; and Barcroft, putting down +his reticence to a fear of being rallied on his mental lapse, +studiously avoided any reference to the event. Nor did von +Eitelwurmer say a word on the subject of the raid. In fact, he had +never discussed the war with the tenant of Ladybird Fold, and had +shown such a casual disinterestedness whenever Peter had touched +upon the matter that the omission to say a word about the Zeppelin's +visit to Barborough occasioned no surprise. + +"Haven't you a double-barrel?" inquired Peter as the spy brought out +a twelve-bore single-barrelled sporting gun with a breech action +resembling that of a Martini rifle. "If I had known I could have +lent you one--a hard-hitting choke bore." + +"Thanks all the same," replied von Eitelwurmer. "I'm used to this. +I've got in two shots at a running rabbit before to-day. Where are +you making for?" + +"Over the moors towards Windyhill," replied Barcroft, signing to the +two dogs to come to heel. "We'll cut through the Dingle Dell. It's a +bit rough going, but we'll save a mile or so." + +The Dingle Dell was a narrow valley between two rugged cliffs of +Millstone Grit. Through the defile rushed a foaming mountain stream +fed by the recent rains and now possessing a tremendous volume of +water. Centuries of erosion had worn the rocks that confine the +torrent to its course to a remarkable smoothness, while the water as +it leapt from one level to another had undermined the banks almost +throughout the entire length of the Dingle Dell. + +Tarleigh Moors had been experiencing a variety of weather during the +last fortnight. Following the heavy rain came a hard frost that in +turn gave place to the first of the winter snow. Although most of +the white mantle had disappeared, patches of snow still remained in +the sheltered sides of the valleys, while in the Dingle Dell the +trees still retained their seared and yellow leaves. + +Crossing a dilapidated wooden bridge the two men ascended a steep +bank, on the top of which ran a narrow path, slippery with the +exposed roots of the abundant trees. On the left the ground dropped +steeply to the foaming stream; on the right was a "cut" or +artificial waterway that supplied power to the neighbouring +bleach-works, the smell of which, hanging about in the dank +atmosphere, was the acknowledged drawback to the sylvan beauties of +the Dingle Dell. + +"I haven't been this way before," remarked von Eitelwurmer +untruthfully. He knew the district far better than his companion, +and perhaps his knowledge was equal to that of the majority of the +inhabitants of Tarleigh. It was his business to acquaint himself +with the locality of every place in which his secret service work +had led him. "Shouldn't care to walk along this path on a dark +night, especially after one of your 'night-caps,' Barcroft." + +"Yes, it is a sort of 'twixt the devil and the deep sea business," +rejoined Peter. "Steady!" he added as the spy stumbled over a +protruding root. "Gun's not loaded, I hope?" + +"Rather not," replied von Eitelwurmer, pulling down the breech-block +lever and holding up the weapon for his companion's inspection. "I'm +used to a gun, remember." + +"You may be," retorted Barcroft grimly, "but these roots are not.... +dash it all!" + +He sat down heavily, a patch of slippery ground having been +responsible for the mild catastrophe. His cap, falling from his +head, rolled down the bank and finally stopped on the top of a +rounded boulder on either side of which the water swirled furiously. + +"The result of moralising," declared Peter. "And I've lost my cap. +Bang goes five and sixpence if I don't recover it." + +Resting his gun against a tree, Barcroft descended with considerable +agility till he gained the brink of the torrent. The two dogs, +unused to the sight of their master on his hands and knees, capered +behind him. To his disgust he found that the lost head-gear was just +beyond the reach of his outstretched hand. + +He was not going to be done, he reflected stubbornly. By grasping +the stem of a hazel that grew close to the stream he could lean out +further without losing his balance. + +The stem seemed stout and supple enough, but unfortunately its looks +belied its actual strength. It parted, and the next instant Peter +was struggling in the foaming torrent. + +Flung against the hollowed water-course with a thud that almost +deprived him of the little stock of breath left after his sudden +immersion in the icy water, Barcroft was unable to make an effort to +save himself from being swept over a miniature waterfall. Full six +feet he fell; then, almost blinded by the spray that enveloped his +head, he found himself struggling in a small but powerful eddy, +while the rocks that almost surrounded the pool were too high and +too slippery to afford a hand-grip. + +Upon seeing their master topple into the stream Ponto and Nan leapt +in after him, although Peter was then ignorant of the fact. Swimming +ineffectually against the strength of the current both dogs were +swept away, without being able to be of the slightest assistance, +through a portion of the water course which, though only a couple of +feet across at the top, had been worn away to four times that +distance underneath. + +Meanwhile Siegfried von Eitelwurmer was stolidly contemplating the +catastrophe. He saw the two animals being swept away, and marked the +semi-subterranean channel. A man carried under those overhanging +rocks stood little chance of escape. Even if Barcroft were able to +resist the remorseless pressure of water that threatened to sweep +him through the contracted gully the numbing effect of the water +would quickly tell. Yet the luckless man maintained silence; not a +cry for assistance came from his lips. + +From the path only the tip of Peter's head was visible. The spy +still stood immovable. He had no wish for his unfortunate companion +to witness his apathy. He chuckled with fiendish glee. Fate was +playing into his hands. + +Suddenly a maddening thought flashed across his mind. Barcroft +drowned--inquest--verdict: "Accidental Death." Would the German +Government pay the blood-money in these circumstances? He doubted +it. Being a Hun he had no faith in a Hun's interpretation of the +accident. + +It was not a sense of duty, the call for heroic action, that spurred +von Eitelwurmer to the rescue. With admirably acted zeal he +descended the declivity, and followed the bank until he reached the +pool in which Peter was still maintaining a precarious foothold. + +Grasping the benumbed man's wrists he exerted his full strength in +an attempt to extricate him. The effort was in vain: Barcroft, +encumbered with his saturated clothing and now too exhausted to help +himself, was too heavy to be hauled into safety. + +"Run to the works and get assistance," exclaimed Peter, fancying +that his supposed friend was in danger of slipping off the rocks +into the swirling cauldron. "I can hold on some time yet." + +Thoroughness was one of the spy's characteristics. Having undertaken +to rescue his companion he was not going to be thwarted if it could +be helped. Glancing around he spotted a stout branch of a tree lying +on the ground. Its length was more than sufficient to bridge the +distance between the projecting sides of the stream. + +"Hold on for ten seconds, Barcroft," he exclaimed, and releasing his +hold he made his way to the severed branch and secured it. + +"Hang on!" he said, at the same time lifting Peter sufficiently to +enable him to grip the span of wood. Then, pulling off his woollen +scarf, he leant over the edge and passed it round Barcroft's waist, +slackening the "bight" until it sank low enough to go round his +companion's knees. + +"Now," he continued, "together!" + +With a steady heave von Eitelwurmer raised Peter's legs until his +feet were fairly over the edge of the bank, while his head and body +supported by the suspended branch were still hanging over the +stream. So far so good. The German's next step was to shift the +scarf until it formed a loop round Barcroft's shoulders. Another +strong pull and the rescued man was lying safe but exhausted on the +bank, while the two very wet dogs were frantically licking his face. +The animals, after being carried down stream, had succeeded in +finding a foothold, whence they had leapt clear of the dangerous +stream. + +"You've saved my life, Norton," said Peter, stating a perfectly +obvious fact. + +"It is nothing," protested von Eitelwurmer. + +"Perhaps, but it is precious to me," rejoined Barcroft, unable, even +in his exhausted condition, to resist the temptation of "pulling up" +his companion for a badly-expressed declaration. + +"What I did, I meant, of course," added the spy. "How about your +cap?" + +"I'll have another shot for it," said Peter with sudden +determination. "If you'll hold my hand I'll reach it easily enough." + +"No, you don't," decided the German firmly. "I don't want the +trouble of fishing you out again. Come along." + +Having assisted Barcroft to the path, von Eitelwurmer again +descended, cut a short stick and deftly hooked the cause of the +accident. + +"Here you are, Barcroft," he exclaimed, handing the cap to its +rightful owner. "Quite easy, you see. I suppose rabbit-shooting is +off at present?" + +"Until to-morrow," replied the undaunted sportsman. "At ten, sharp. +You must have an opportunity of making up for what you missed +to-day, Norton; 'pon my word you must." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +VON EITELWURMER'S OPPORTUNITY + + +AT eight the following morning Siegfried von Eitelwurmer was +considerably surprised when the tenant of Ladybird Fold appeared at +The Croft, booted and gaitered and carrying his gun. + +"You are two hours too early, Barcroft," he exclaimed. "What is +wrong? Couldn't you sleep after your involuntary bath?" + +He spoke jocularly, yet in his mind there was a haunting suspicion +of doubt. Not that there was any reason for it as far as Peter +Barcroft was concerned, although--did he but know it--Philip +Entwistle was "speeding things up" in his work of investigating the +case of Andrew Norton otherwise von Eitelwurmer. + +"I slept soundly," replied the unruffled Peter. "Notwithstanding +hot-water bottles and mustard poultices, cough-mixtures and various +bronchial remedies. It's one of the penalties of being married; but, +'twixt you and me, I like being made a fuss of in that direction. +Now, I wonder how you would fare, Norton, if you were taken ill, +living practically by yourself?" + +"Make the best of it, I suppose," replied the spy hurriedly. He was +an arrant coward where illness was concerned. "But why this early +call? Thought you didn't rise much before nine?" + +"I had a note from the parson this morning," exclaimed Barcroft. "I +happened to mention that I was going shooting and told him that I +would hand over the bag to the village soup kitchen. Personally I +loathe rabbits as food. However, the vicar informed me that the +soupkitchen opened at eleven-thirty, and asked if it would be +convenient for me to send the rabbits down by ten o'clock. Don't +suppose we'll get back in time, but we'll try." + +"First get your rabbits," said von Eitelwurmer banteringly. + +"Trust me," declared Barcroft with conviction. "But are you busy? +I'm afraid I've interrupted you." + +"Only catalogues of early spring seeds," replied the spy. "They can +wait till to-night. I'll be ready in a couple of minutes." + +So saying the _soi-disant_ Norton threw the books on the floor with +feigned unconcern, recorked a small bottle of lemon juice and pushed +it out of sight behind a pile of sporting papers. Then, getting his +sporting gun from the rack and stuffing a handful of cartridges into +his pocket, he signified his readiness to start. + +"I wonder," mused the spy as the two men walked briskly down the +lane--"I wonder what Barcroft meant yesterday: 'You must have an +opportunity of making up for what you missed to-day.' Very strange +that he should say that. Yet can he know anything? I have been +careful enough, in all conscience." + +His fingers came in contact with the loose cartridges. Grimly he +reflected that they were of English manufacture. Previous +acquaintance with sporting cartridges coming from the Fatherland had +made him chary of using ammunition of German origin. There must be, +he reflected, no misfires. An initial failure would upset his nerve. +He could not muster up courage to make a second attempt on the same +day. + +"You're rather quiet to-day, Norton," remarked his companion, as the +two passed the scene of yesterday's adventure. "Not feeling quite up +to the mark, eh? Or have I turned you out of house and home too soon +after breakfast?" + +"I wasn't aware that I was," replied von Eitelwurmer. "In fact I +feel remarkably fit. Those dogs of yours trained to the gun?" + +"Quite, by this time," said Barcroft. "And as for turning a rabbit +out of cover they're great. You wait till we set to work." + +"Powerful-looking animals," continued the spy. "I suppose they would +pull a man down?" + +"They might," answered Peter cautiously. "But since an occasion for +testing their capabilities in that direction has not yet +occurred--and I hope it will not--I haven't any definite data upon +which to base my assumption. They were a bit of a handful as +puppies," he continued warming to his subject, for the two +sheep-dogs were practically part and parcel of Barcroft's existence. +"The predatory instinct was very strongly developed. They would go +to my neighbours' houses early in the morning and systematically and +deliberately steal the milk. I've known them to take a jug as well +and bring it back unbroken and deposit it as a kind of trophy on my +lawn." + +"You might have cut down your milk-bills," remarked his companion. +"For a Biblical precedent you have the case of the prophet who was +fed by ravens. I presume they stole from his neighbours. Were their +efforts confined purely to the milk-business?" + +"Hardly," replied Peter. "In one instance they brought home a boot." + +"Only one?" + +"Only one," declared Barcroft solemnly. + +"It was in an almost new condition. I made inquiries all over +Alderdene but without success. No one had lost a boot. Quite a month +later I discovered that a parson living at Barcroft, a village three +miles away, had missed one of his boots, and sure enough the one +Ponto and Nan brought in was the missing article. Apparently they +had walked into the parson's scullery, and finding nothing in the +edible line, had picked up the boot as a souvenir of the visit." + +"They showed a total lack of common sense," said von Eitelwurmer. +"Now, if they had carried off the pair----" + +"I should have had to return two boots instead of one," added his +companion. "But here we are. We'll work up against the wind and keep +the dogs to heel." + +The sportsmen had gained the gently-sloping rise of Windyhill. It +was the only side on which the ascent could be described as easy. +The ground was grass-grown and interspersed with clusters of bushes, +although the cover was by no means extensive. At the foot of the +rise flowed a small brook, which was crossed by a single plank. +Beyond a hedge somewhat of a rarity in the North--through which was +a gap with a stile. From this point to the summit of the hill, a +distance of nearly a mile, the only obstructions consisted of two +rough stone walls running athwart the slope. + +"We'll load after we're over the stile," said the cautious Peter. +"Be careful, there's quite a lot of snow under this hedge." + +Von Eitelwurmer's answer was to slip and measure his length in the +soft snow. + +"Donner--dash it all!" he exclaimed, hastily checking the natural +yet hitherto carefully avoided habit of forcibly expressing himself +in the language that came easiest to the tip of his tongue-that of +the Fatherland. "You're right, Barcroft. It is confoundedly +slippery." + +Picking up his gun that had fallen from his grasp the spy followed +Barcroft over the stile. Here the two men loaded and Peter called +the dogs to heel. + +"Plenty of evidence that the bunnies are about," he remarked. "We'll +keep twenty yards apart. I don't suppose we'll catch sight of a +rabbit until we get to the bushes." + +Stealthily and in silence the sportsmen approached the nearmost +patch of cover. Suddenly, a startled rabbit broke away and ran down +wind. Up went Peter's gun, and the next instant bunny was kicking on +the ground. + +"Why didn't you fire?" inquired Barcroft, as the two converged upon +the spoil. "The animal was across your path." + +"Why didn't I?" repeated von Eitelwurmer. "I did. That was my shot. +You didn't fire." + +"But I did," declared Peter. + +Both men ejected a still-smoking cartridge from their respective +guns. They had fired simultaneously and the report had prevented +each sportsman from hearing the other's shot. + +"Honours even," cried the spy. "It was certainly remarkable." + +"Very," agreed Barcroft as he reloaded. + +The first enclosure produced no further trophy. Scaling the low wall +the two men gained the second stretch of grazing land. Here the +cover was slightly greater in extent. + +"That's a favourite warren," said Barcroft, pointing to an irregular +line of bushes. "You take the left side and I'll work round to the +right. Ten to one you'll get a rattling good shot there. I'll keep +the dogs with me." + +The sportsmen separated. Von Eitelwurmer, treading softly and +crouching under the bushes, allowed three rabbits to bolt almost +under his nose. It was not through preoccupation of mind but by +deliberate intent. + +Once he stumbled over an exposed rock, and dropped his gun. + +"That's the second time. This snow is dangerous," he muttered with a +curse. "Is it an omen? And on the last occasion I nearly gave myself +away." + +He stopped to wipe some melting snow from the stock of his gun, +wiping the walnut wood carefully in order to ensure a good grip; +then still crouching, he continued his way. + +Two shots rang out in quick succession on his right, then, after an +instant, he saw Barcroft emerge from behind a bush and make for the +next patch of cover. + +"Twenty yards--absolutely safe, shots will hardly have time to +spread," soliloquised the spy, giving a quick glance over his +shoulder to see that there was no possibility of being overlooked +from behind. + +Then, setting his jaw firmly, he deliberately raised his gun to his +shoulder, took careful aim at the back of the unsuspecting Peter and +pressed the trigger. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +KIRKWOOD'S WINDFALL + + +"So you've turned up again like three bad halfpennies," remarked the +Senior Officer of the base to which the "Hippodrome" was attached, +as the three airmen reported themselves. "Did you have much +difficulty in getting across the frontier?" + +"Very little, sir," replied Fuller, who by virtue of his higher rank +acted as spokesman for the trio. "Nothing to brag about. Had a +little bother with a sentry guarding the electrically-charged wire +on the Dutch frontier; but, while he was preparing to tackle +Barcroft with the point of his bayonet, Kirkwood and I contrived to +deal with him very effectually. The Hun, you see, sir, had provided +himself with a combined hook and wire cutting arrangement with an +insulated handle, and it came in jolly useful. That's about all, +sir, and we are ready to rejoin our ship at the earliest +opportunity." + +"I am afraid that's out of the question for a week or ten days," +replied the Rear Admiral. "The 'Hippodrome' is away on special +service, and I won't run the risk of sending you away on a +destroyer, bearing in mind your previous trip for the same reason. +The best thing you can do is to go on leave. You look as if a rest +and a good feeding up will do you good. Should anything arise +requiring your recall you will be sent for by wire, so hold +yourselves in readiness for such a possibility." + +The Senior Officer shook hands with the three subordinates and the +interview was at an end. + +"S'long, you fellows," exclaimed Fuller, when they were once more +outside the Rear Admiral's office. "I'm catching the twelve-fifteen +to Town. See you later." + +"What are your plans, old man?" asked Billy, addressing the A.P. + +"My plans? I haven't any," replied Kirkwood, who, having lost his +parents early in life, had no home but that represented by His +Majesty's ships. "I could go to my uncle's place, but I'm not very +keen, and I fancy the sentiment is reciprocated by him, although I +am his heir. He's a lawyer, you know, and about as musty as +parchment." + +"Then run up with me to Tarleigh," said Billy cordially. + +The A. P, was not one of those fellows who affect a ridiculous +hesitation when given an invitation. + +"Thanks, awfully, old man," he replied. "I'm on absolutely. Is there +time to look in at the Naval Club? I expect letters awaiting me." + +"Right-o!" assented Billy. "By the powers, 'tis good to find oneself +in England after our little jaunt. Makes a fellow completely bucked, +especially after a jolly good bath, fresh clothes and all that. Ugh! +Those togs we took from that barge!" + +"Coming in?" inquired Kirkwood, as the pair arrived at the entrance +of the Naval Club. + +"No, not now," replied the flight-sub. "I'll go to the post office +and send a wire to let my people know we are on the way. I'll pick +you up at the station." + +Barcroft had sent a telegram to his parents from the Hook of Holland +announcing his safety. He had also gone to the post office +immediately upon his arrival in England, but the place did not open +till nine. It was now nearly noon. + +He had not gone more than a hundred yards when Kirkwood overtook +him, flushed with excitement. + +"Here's a business!" he exclaimed. "Don't know whether to be sorry +or glad. I've just had a letter informing me that my uncle, Antonius +Grabb, has shuffled off this mortal coil. This is from his partner, +who, apparently, is executor to the will. He wants me to call at his +office as soon as possible. Billy, my festive, I'm afraid I'm a rich +man. The thought of it appals me. I've handled thousands of +Government cash in my time, but never had as much as a hundred to my +credit before." + +"Congrats, you lucky bounder!" said Billy heartily. + +"And so I have to run up to Town," continued the A.P., "there to +face an interview of momentous import. Frankly I funk it. How about +it? Will you come with me? We can put up at the Whatsname Hotel--you +know where I mean--and take the first train in the morning to +Tarleigh." + +"All right," assented Barcroft, after a brief consideration of the +proposal. "We'll have to look sharp if we're to catch that +twelve-fifteen. Here's luck--a taxi." + +"Well, that is playing a low-down game," remarked Fuller as they +rejoined him on the platform. "You two unsociables, declining my +invitation to run up to Town, have evidently hatched a plot to have +a stunt on your own account. But I've spotted your little game, you +sly dogs. Now own up--what's the move?" + +"We did change our minds," confessed the A.P. "Force of +circumstances, you know. Fuller, I'm a millionaire of sorts--in +pence, I fancy. At any rate, my uncle Antonius has died, and we're +off to see his executor. Come to his office with us? The more the +merrier, you know, and I'll stand dinner at the Carlton, if it +hasn't been 'taken over.'" + +Arriving at Ely Place the three officers were ushered into the +presence of Mr. Fasly Gott, junior partner of the firm of Grabb and +Gott. + +The lawyer regarded his callers with well concealed interest. + +"Mr. Robert Kirkwood, I presume," he exclaimed addressing Fuller. + +"Almost wish I were," muttered the lieutenant to himself as he +indicated the rightful bearer of the name. + +"Ah, yes, of course," murmured Mr. Gott, re-adjusting his pince-nez. +"I can see a strong resemblance to your late relative, my esteemed +partner." + +"That's not a compliment," thought the A.P. "In fact, it is a +downright perversion." The lawyer cleared his throat. Obviously he +did not like the presence of three officers in naval uniform. His +reason was soon apparent. + +"Your uncle's will," he continued, "is, to say the least, somewhat +out of the ordinary. First let me impress upon you that its contents +were absolutely unknown to me, his executor, until after his +decease. He leaves the whole of his real and personal estate, +representing a sum of at least seventy thousand pounds, to his +nephew, Robert Angus Kirkwood----" + +"Lucky dog!" interposed the irrepressible Fuller. + +Mr. Gott gave a deprecatory cough. Levity was a rare emotion in that +gloomy office, the motto of which in the vast majority of cases +ought to be--'Abandon Hope, all ye who Enter Here.' + +"Subject to one condition," he continued. "My late partner, as you +might know, was a man of pacific temperament. Here I must hasten to +explain that the will is dated 1913, that is, a twelvemonth previous +to the outbreak of this deplorable war, and there is no codicil. The +condition is as follows:--That the said Robert Angus Kirkwood +resigns his commission in his Majesty's Navy, otherwise the bulk of +the estate goes to the Society for the Encouragement of the +Discovery of Antediluvian Remains." + +"In that case," rejoined Kirkwood calmly, "I think you had better +communicate with the secretary of the Society for the Encouragement +of the Discovery of Antediluvian Remains and inform him that my +uncle's legacy is at his disposal. I am rather surprised that you +should have written asking me to call. The proposition is an insult +to His Majesty's Service." + +"You show the proper spirit, Mr. Kirkwood," said the lawyer, with +genuine admiration for the young officer's _esprit de corps_. "It is +a peculiar will, and, if you desire to dispute its terms, you may be +successful at the Courts; I should be happy to undertake the case. +However, there is one clause. The bulk of the estate goes to this +eccentric Society. The residue, consisting of deeds of real estates +to the value of seven thousand pounds, goes to you unconditionally." + +The interview lasted about twenty minutes, at the end of which the +three officers prepared to leave. + +"By the bye," remarked the A.P., "I suppose you can let me have a +copy of the list of securities?" + +"Yes, a copy," replied Mr. Gott. "The deeds will be handed over when +probate of the Will has been declared. You will understand that the +duties will be considerable?" + +"Lucky to have to pay 'em," commented Kirkwood. "Thank you, Mr. +Gott. Good afternoon." + +It was not until the following morning when Barcroft and the A.P. +were speeding north by the 5.15 express on their way to Tarleigh +that the flight-sub mentioned a matter that was on his mind--a +delicate request the reason for which Billy could not very well +explain. + +"By the bye, old man," he began "what do you propose doing with +those deeds when they are handed over to you?" + +"Hanged if I know," replied Kirkwood. "Haven't troubled much about +them. Simply carry on and make good use of the interest, I suppose. +Seems a fairly safe investment, but personally I'd rather sell out +and shove the money into the War Loan." + +"Are you willing to hand one of the deeds over to me?" asked Billy. + +The A.P. looked at his companion in surprise. "Certainly," he +replied. "Didn't know--hang it!--I'd no idea you were in need----" + +"No, not that," interposed Barcroft. "A cash transaction, most +decidedly. There's one--originally belonging to a Mrs. +Deringhame--I'm rather keen on having. Can't very well explain why, +unless you insist upon an explanation, only I thought----" + +"Don't worry, old bird," said Kirkwood. "It's yours on your terms. I +see by the list that old rascal Gott gave me that this particular +document is included. That's settled, then." + +"Thanks awfully," said Billy gratefully. "Some day I'll be able to +tell you why I wanted it. When do you think the business in +connection with your late uncle's will will be settled?" + +"About a week, I should say," replied the A.P. "At any rate, if it +isn't I think I can reasonably apply for an extension of leave." + +It was after nine when the two officers arrived at Barborough. Here +they found that the next train on to Tarleigh would not leave for +another hour and a half. + +"There's no particular hurry," remarked Billy. "But, all the same, I +don't see why we should cool our heels in this draughty show. I vote +we walk." + +He could not help wondering why his father had not been waiting for +him on the platform. Perhaps he was even now on his way with the +car--that wretched magneto ought to be repaired by this time. + +"I'm on," assented the A.P. "How about our gear? We can't lug it +those five or six miles." + +"Hanged if I haven't overlooked that problem," said Barcroft. "Let's +take a taxi." + +The taxi deposited the two chums at the door of Ladybird Fold at +precisely the same moment that a telegraph boy was delivering a +couple of telegrams. + +"You did look awfully surprised to see us, mother," remarked Billy +after the preliminary exchange of greetings. "This is my great pal, +Kirkwood--Billy Kirkwood. You've heard me mention him many a time." + +"Of course we are delighted to see you, Mr. Kirkwood," said Mrs. +Barcroft. "It is, as Billy says, a surprise." + +"But didn't you get my wire?" asked the flight-sub. + +"I suppose it is one of these," remarked his mother, opening one of +the envelopes. + +She read the contents, a puzzled expression on her face. Then, +without a word she handed it to her son. + +"Silly asses!" exclaimed Billy, for the wire was from the Admiralty +expressing regret that Flight-sub-lieutenant William Barcroft was +reported missing. "However, it doesn't much matter now. Would have +been awkward if we weren't here to show that it's a mistake. Look +here--handed in three days ago. Delayed in transmission. Didn't you +get my wire from Holland?" + +Mrs. Barcroft shook her head. + +"I gave that rascally hotel porter a couple of gulder to take the +telegraph form to the post-office," declared the flight-sub. "Ten to +one he stuck to the tip and the money for the wire as well. Where's +the governor?" + +"He went out early this morning with Mr. Norton," replied Mrs. +Barcroft. + +"The fellow who got adrift on the night of the Zep, raid? He turned +up all right after all, then. Where have they gone?" + +"Towards Windyhill. They went rabbit-shooting." + +"Windyhill? Where's that, mater?" asked Billy. "We may as well +stroll over that way, Bobby. No, thanks, mater, we don't require any +lunch at present. Had second breakfast on the train. You can hang +out till one o'clock, my festive?" + +"Rather," declared the A.P. "Let's go and meet Mr. Barcroft and help +carry back the spoils." + +Receiving directions from Mrs. Barcroft the two chums set off on +their quest. Half way down the lane leading to the Dingle Dell they +suddenly encountered Philip Entwistle. + +"Mornin'," said Billy with a laugh. "How are you? Recovered from +that donkey-trip of ours yet?" + +"Quite--absolutely," replied Entwistle. "So you are on leave again? +I'm glad--very glad. There's a little matter upon which I should +like to speak." + +He paused and glanced inquiringly at Billy's, companion. The A.P. +discreetly began to walk on. + +"I say, Kirkwood," called out the flight-sub. "Let me introduce +you." + +"So you are the man who was flying with our friend here when the +German airman who bombed Alderdene was strafed," said Entwistle, +after the introduction was made. + +"I believe I had a hand in it," admitted Kirkwood. + +"That was when the document setting a price on your father's head +was discovered, Barcroft," continued the vet. + +"I say--how did you know that?" asked Billy. "Funny how things like +that leak out." + +"It's part of my business," replied Entwistle gravely. "That is the +matter on which I wish to speak to you, and since Mr. Kirkwood is +'in the know' up to a certain point I do not see any reason why he +should not be admitted into our conference. First of all, let me say +that for the present I must get you to promise not to say a word to +your father, or in fact to any one concerning what I am about to +divulge." The two officers gave the required promise. + +"It concerns Andrew Norton," continued Entwistle. "He is a secret +agent of the German Government. On the night of the Barborough raid +he had planned to have your parent made prisoner by the crew of the +Zeppelin. Unfortunately for him his plans went adrift, and, as a +result, he himself was kidnapped and taken to Germany." + +"How on earth do you know this?" asked Billy incredulously. + +"From definite and unimpeachable information," replied Entwistle. +"I am--this is of course strictly confidential--also a Secret +Service man, belonging to an opposition show. In due course--we have +been giving him a good amount of rope--friend Norton will be +arrested." + +"But why cannot the governor be informed?" was Billy's next +question. + +Philip Entwistle smiled. + +"Your father is--well, too imaginative, and, perhaps, a little too +impulsive. I don't think he would believe me at first, if I were to +broach the subject. He would, I feel inclined to think, even start +bantering friend Norton." + +"Yes, perhaps he might," admitted young Barcroft. + +"And so I am just off to the house to see your father," continued +Entwistle. "There are one or two questions I want to ask him, +indirectly put but directly bearing upon the Norton case." + +"'Fraid you won't find him there," remarked Billy. "He's gone +rabbit-shooting with the man under discussion." + +"With Andrew Norton?" asked Entwistle anxiously, then--gripping the +flight-sub's arm--"Where, man, where? We must find him at once." + +The three set out at a rapid pace through the Dingle Dell. The +Secret Service man's hand went to his hip pocket, his fingers coming +in contact with the butt of a small but powerful automatic pistol. +For more than two years the weapon had been Entwistle's constant +companion, yet no one, not even his personal friends, were aware of +the fact. + +"Thought Barcroft would speed things up a bit," he soliloquised. +"Going rabbitting with that beauty has done it. Wonder if we are too +late?" + +Somewhat breathless in spite of their fine physical condition the +trio arrived at the foot of Windyhill. As they crossed the stile two +shots rang out in quick succession. + +"They're up there," announced Billy, pointing to the second field. +"I saw some one moving to the right of that clump of bushes." + +Over the stone wall the men scrambled. As they did so a single +report, more of a crash than the sharp, short detonation of a charge +of smokeless powder, came from behind the gorse, followed by a +scream of agony that trailed off into a long-drawn groan. + +"Good heavens!" exclaimed Billy, spurting ahead of his companions. + +Rounding the patch of cover he came upon the scene of the tragedy. +Lying at full length upon the grass was a man; over him, with his +back turned towards the new arrivals, was another--Peter Barcroft. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +ONE CARTRIDGE LEFT + + +"AN accident," declared Peter confusedly. The appalling event had +completely unnerved him. He hardly seemed to realise that his son +had turned up at a most opportune moment. "An accident. His gun +burst, goodness only knows why. By Jove, he'll bleed to death if we +don't look sharp!" + +Von Eitelwurmer's injuries were ghastly at first sight. His left +hand and wrist were simply a mass of scorched and lacerated flesh, +his right hand was badly cut, while his face, ashy grey with a +dreadful pallor, was pitted with embers from the smokeless powder. +By his side were the remains of his gun, the barrel completely +fractured for a distance of more than six inches. + +For a brief space the spy opened his eyes. He saw the two officers +in naval uniform. + +"_Gott in himmel!_" he gasped, and straightway fainted. + +Entwistle glanced knowingly at the two chums and nodded +significantly. Peter, in his agitation, had not grasped the +significance of the exclamation uttered in the injured man's native +tongue. + +"There's a gate yonder," remarked Entwistle, while he and young +Barcroft were engaged in checking the flow of arterial blood. "You +two might fetch it. It will be just the thing to carry him to the +village." + +Pulling himself together Peter hurried towards the gate, followed by +Kirkwood, but not before the latter had been again warned by +Entwistle to keep a discreet silence on the subject of the injured +man's identity. + +"We'll take him to his house," declared Entwistle. "I don't think +the injuries are dangerous, although they are bad enough. The +correct course would be to run him into Barborough and put him in +the infirmary, but I have good reasons for the steps I propose +taking. Excellent, Barcroft," he exclaimed when the gate was +forthcoming. "Now, together, lift." + +"What happened, pater?" asked Billy during the journey down the +hillside. + +"Hanged if I know exactly," replied Barcroft Senior. "I was ahead of +him when it happened. Heard a fearful bang, turned round and found +Norton on the ground." + +"Frozen snow in the barrel, most likely," remarked Entwistle. "I've +known guns to burst before to-day through that reason." + +"He did slip when we crossed the stile," admitted Peter, "and plenty +of snow had drifted down there. But that theory won't hold. He fired +his gun after that." + +"He may have fallen down again, or unknowingly poked the muzzle into +another lot of snow," suggested Entwistle. "There was a good depth +under the lee of those bushes, you'll remember, and I noticed by the +footprints that he had walked through the drift." + +"It's awfully unfortunate," declared Peter. + +"Awfully--for the spy," thought Entwistle, "otherwise you might be +taking his place on this improvised stretcher." + +The wounded man was taken to The Croft and put to bed. Two doctors, +summoned by telephone, were quickly in attendance. + +"He'll pull through," was the verdict, "unless complications ensue. +Shock to the system is more to be guarded against than the actual +injuries. Some one will have to be constantly with him, particularly +to see that an even temperature of the room is maintained." + +"I'll stay," volunteered Entwistle. + +"We'll take turns," suggested Peter. "I'll relieve you at two +o'clock. Lunch will be ready for you then. If we cannot get a +trained nurse (there is a dearth of them in Barborough, I +understand) I'll be with him to-night. Come on, boys; we'll get back +to Ladybird Fold." + +During the meal Barcroft Senior spoke hardly a word. His appetite +was poor. He was not used to scenes of physical violence. Even the +unexpected arrival of Billy and the A.P. did little to help him to +regain his normal spirits. + +Lunch over, Peter left the two chums to their own devices and wended +his way to The Croft. + +He encountered Entwistle on the landing. + +"Well?" he asked. + +"He's just recovered consciousness," reported Philip. "A little +light-headed, perhaps, and temperature up a bit. I'll come again at +four. If you don't mind I'll arrange to stop here to-night." + +"You're awfully good," said Peter, who had perhaps unconsciously +taken upon himself the duties of deputy master of The Croft. "Well, +lunch is awaiting you. Make yourself at home at my place. If there's +anything you require don't hesitate to ask for it." + +Entwistle had undertaken his self-imposed duties as sick-bed +attendant with conscientious zeal; but he had also found time to +make a complete investigation of the spy's papers, securing several +that promised to become incriminating documents when subjected to +professional scrutiny. At any rate, if he could be undisturbed he +anticipated an interesting afternoon's search. + +"I'll tell Barcroft all about it when I have completed the chain of +evidence," he reflected. "He'll have a nasty shock, poor fellow, +when he learns that his so-called pal tried to murder him. The whole +thing's as plain as daylight to me; von Eitelwurmer meant to shoot +him in the back, only the bursting of his gun saved Barcroft." + +Left in charge of his treacherous friend, Barcroft found the patient +had fallen asleep. Since nothing more was to be done Barcroft Senior +took up a book, at the same time sighing for a pipe, a luxury that +out of praiseworthy consideration for the injured man he had +temporarily abandoned. + +"By Jove!" said Peter to himself about an hour later. "That fire's +getting low." + +As silently as possible he heaped more coal upon the smouldering +embers. Tending fires was not in his line. Often at home he would +allow the study fire to die out simply through neglect to make use +of the poker. + +Somewhat anxiously he watched the gradually dimming glow. He was +half-minded to ring for Mrs. Crumpet, until reflecting that the +housekeeper at The Croft was evidently a person who made more noise +in proportion to the work done than was desirable in the +circumstances, he decided to tackle the recalcitrant fire himself. + +Vainly he looked for a pair of bellows. Foiled in that direction he +suddenly remembered having seen a smouldering fire roused into +activity by means of a newspaper held over the grate. + +"This might do," he soliloquised, picking up a couple of sheets of +printed paper, since no newspaper could be found. "A catalogue of +sorts: wonder if Norton wants it particularly?" + +Slowly, very slowly, the dying fire began to revive, until under the +forced draught a respectable flame rewarded Peter's efforts. +Patiently holding the printed sheets across the grate until his arm +ached, he whiled away the time by reading the technical description +of Someone's patent combined washtub-and-dryer. + +Suddenly his interest was aroused. + +"Bless my soul!" he ejaculated. "That's funny. It wasn't there half +a minute ago." + +Under the heat of the now glowing fire letters hitherto invisible +took semblance upon the warm paper. To his utter surprise the name +"Barcroft" appeared in view. + +Hardly able to credit his senses Peter read the damning evidence of +the supposed Andrew Norton's treachery. It was written in German, +for, owing to Entwistle having on a previous visit taken possession +of the cypher (a circumstance that had caused the spy hours of +uneasiness until he had been lulled into a sense of false security), +he had been obliged to resort to ordinary writing pending the +arrival of another code-book. + +"Your request for immediate action noted," read Peter. "Expect +Barcroft's removal to-day. Notifying impending accident to +substantiate claim. Also hope to secure his manuscript to-night. +Will destroy it if unable to retain without exciting suspicion." + +There were also statistical particulars of the output of one of the +Barborough munition factories, including the number of new gigantic +shells, but Peter had not time to read that far. + +A reverberating report filled the room. A bullet, whizzing close to +the head of the startled man, shattered into a thousand pieces a +mirror on the wall. + +The spy, awaking from his sleep, had seen Barcroft poring over his +secret--the same paper that he had been compelled to take hurriedly +to his room that very morning when Peter disturbed him at his work. + +Von Eitelwurmer realised that the game was up. Visions of a firing +party in the moat of The Tower gripped his mind. Anything but that: +he would make Barcroft pay for his discovery, and afterwards send a +shot through his own head. + +Under his pillow the spy habitually kept a Service revolver. This he +fumbled for with his partly crippled right hand, and taking aim +fired at Peter's head. + +In his weak state von Eitelwurmer had not taken into sufficient +consideration the "kick" of the powerful weapon. At the first shot +the revolver jerked itself from his feeble grasp and clattered upon +the floor. + +"Thank you," said Peter firmly, as he stooped to pick up the weapon. +He was surprised at his own almost unnatural calmness. "Might I ask +the reason for this--er--outrage?" + +"You have discovered everything," muttered the spy. "That was +sufficient reason." + +"Accidentally," added Barcroft. "Even then why should you seek my +life and, what is almost as important to me, to destroy my +labour--my writings? Look here, Norton, the position is this. You +are a spy, caught redhanded, and the penalty is, as you know, +death." + +"And I meant to settle you before that," hissed the recreant. + +"But Providence decided otherwise," continued Peter. "I thought you +a totally different kind of person. You partook of my hospitality, +yet descend to attempted assassination. Yet I do not forget that +yesterday you saved my life. I wonder why? However, we are now +quits, but I feel inclined to do you a favour. In ordinary +circumstances you would be nursed back to health merely for the +purpose of undergoing trial and suffering execution. There is yet +another way." + +"How?" asked the spy eagerly. + +"By this," answered Peter holding up the revolver. "I will extract +all but one cartridge and return you the weapon. If you are still +intent upon my life the instrument is in your hands--only, remember, +you cannot fire a second shot. Here you are. I give you five minutes +to decide." + +Slowly Barcroft crossed the room and descended the stairs. Only then +did his calmness give way--and it required plenty of courage to +deliberately turn away from a loaded weapon in the hands of a +vindictive spy. + +Entering the dining-room Peter sank into a chair and rested his head +on his hands. Only the loud ticking of the grandfather clock +disturbed the silence until the door was pushed open and Philip +Entwistle entered. + +"Hullo!" he exclaimed. "What's wrong now? Has Norton----?" + +"I have made a very remarkable discovery," said Peter. "Andrew +Norton is a German spy." + +"Indeed?" was Entwistle's rejoinder. + +"Accidentally I found some incriminating writing. He saw what I had +done and let rip at me with a revolver. Needless to say he missed." + +"That's the third lucky escape you've had from his murderous +intentions," remarked Entwistle quietly. "I can tell you now. He +tried either to murder or kidnap you by means of the Zeppelin that +came to Barborough. That the authorities gathered from one of the +crew when the airship was wrecked in the North Sea a few days ago +and the men rescued by a British patrol boat. Secondly, he did his +level best to shoot you in the back this morning----" + +"Is that so?" asked Barcroft. "I can just understand a man doing +such a thing through violent personal motives, but for a mere +international reason----" + +"My dear fellow, there was the sum of ten thousand marks waiting to +be earned." + +"Yes," admitted Peter. "I know that. But only yesterday he fished me +out of the Dingle Dell stream when I was almost on the point of +being drowned. For why?" + +"Ask me another," replied Entwistle. "At any rate, you will have +cause to realise the actual existence of the Unseen Hand. But what +happened just now, after he fired and missed?" + +Peter Barcroft glanced at the clock. It wanted thirty seconds to +complete the stipulated five minutes. + +"I talked to him pretty straight," he said. "Shamed him a bit, I +think. Anyway, I took four unused cartridges out of the revolver. +Being a six-chambered weapon one cartridge remained." + +"Well?" + +"I handed the pistol back to him; told him if he were still of the +same mind he had yet another chance to settle with me. He didn't--" + +"Great Scott!" exclaimed Entwistle striding towards the stairs. "You +left him with a loaded revolver?" + +Peter laid a detaining hand on the Secret Service man's shoulder. + +"I gave him five minutes," he said. "And the time's up." + +A pistol shot rang out from the upstairs room. + +Siegfried von Eitelwurmer, otherwise Andrew Norton, had paid the +penalty. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +THE ELUSIVE OBJECTIVE + + +"By Jove! old man," exclaimed Kirkwood, "we're up against a big +thing to-morrow." + +Billy Barcroft merely nodded. It was "a big thing," this impending +movement. Something that was well worth the risk, but at the same +time the chances of the participators in the business returning were +very remote. + +The two chums were pacing the port side of the quarter-deck of the +"Hippodrome"--a long and comparatively narrow space betwixt the rise +of the deck-houses and the stern, and separated from the +corresponding part on the starboard side by the inclined launching +platform. + +The seaplane-carrier was lying in a certain East Coast harbour, with +steam raised ready to proceed at a moment's notice, and although her +destination was supposed to be a strict secret, the nature of the +forthcoming operations was known to all on board. + +It was nothing less than a raid on Cuxhaven, where a considerable +portion of the German High Seas Fleet was known to be "resting" +after a speculative but cautious cruise off the west coast of +Jutland, the object being twofold--to exercise the crews and to +impress upon the incredulous Danes the fact that the fleet of the +Black Cross Ensign were willing and anxious to meet the British +navy. + +With their U-boats well out to sea, their ocean-going torpedo-boats +forming a far-flung screen, and Zeppelins hovering overhead, the Hun +"capital ships" had steamed in and out, keeping within their +protective mine-fields: Having accomplished this imposing evolution +the battleships of the fleet returned, part going to Cuxhaven, the +rest to Wilhelmshaven, while the bulk of the torpedo flotillas +anchored off the east side of Heligoland. + +Once more the German Press had burst forth into a panegyric on the +invincible and undaunted prowess of the fleet of the Fatherland, +taking good care to impress upon the people that, although every +opportunity had been offered to the British to engage in battle, the +challenge had been declined. + +The projected raid upon Cuxhaven was a reply to the Huns' empty +boast. The seaplane carriers "Hippodrome," "Arena," "Cursus" and +"Stadium," escorted by light cruisers and destroyers, were to +proceed to a rendezvous twenty miles west of Heligoland. Sixty miles +away the British battle cruisers were to "standby," ready, at a +wireless call for assistance, to tear off at full speed to the +succour of the small craft should the latter, regarded as an easy +prey, be attacked by the big-gun ships of the German navy. + +At the first blush of dawn twenty seaplanes were to start from their +parent ships on their perilous flight over the Heligoland Bight and +drop their powerful bombs upon the naval port of Cuxhaven--a feat +that, knowing the formidable anti-aircraft defences, promised to be +a forlorn hope; yet there was the keenest competition amongst the +airmen of the fleet to participate in the "grand stunt." + +The A.P. had carried out his promise to Barcroft. He had sold Billy +the deeds of Mrs. Deringhame's house at Alderdene, and the +flight-sub had sent them anonymously to Betty's mother. + +It was a tremendous financial sacrifice on Billy's part. It had +practically wiped up the bulk of his capital, but Barcroft cared not +one jot for that. What troubled him was the fact that he could not +ask Betty to marry him on his meagre pay. He had very little doubt +but that the girl would do so, for during his last leave he had been +much in her company. + +"It wouldn't be fair to Betty," he soliloquised. "I must rake in +some more cash, but goodness only knows how long it will take. One +thing, we are both young, or I'm hanged if I would have the nerve to +ask her to wait! Well, if this raid comes off successfully it will +mean promotion. That's one blessing. If it doesn't--well, Billy +Barcroft won't be in a position to worry about anything, I guess." + +The flight-sub had completed his preparations. Two letters, one to +his parents and one to Betty Deringhame, had been written, sealed +and handed to the fleet-paymaster to be forwarded in the event of +the writer's death. This unpleasant but necessary business +performed, Barcroft dismissed the matter from his mind and +concentrated his thoughts and energies on the work in hand. + +"All correct, Jones?" he asked, addressing the air-mechanic who was +putting the finishing touches to the seaplane that was to carry +Barcroft and Kirkwood on their adventurous flight. + +"All correct, sir," was the reply. "I've advanced the spark a +trifle, sir she ought to simply buzz; but perhaps you'll see that +everything's to your satisfaction." + +Carefully Billy tested his controls, examined unions, contact +breaker, and automatic lubricators. Success depended upon motor +efficiency almost as much as upon the skill and courage of the +pilot. The slightest hitch might spell disaster. + +"There's the permission to part company," announced Kirkwood as a +signal, made in response to a display of bunting from the yard-arms +of the respective seaplane-carriers, was hoisted from the naval +signal station. "Wonder if I'll see Old England again," he added in +an undertone. + +Already the cruisers were steaming out of harbour; not in the pomp +of pre-war days with guards drawn up on the quarter-deck and bands +playing as each vessel passed the flagship. Silent and grim, huge +emblems of seapower, they glided past the harbour batteries and, +increasing speed to twenty-two knots, were soon out of sight. + +With destroyers preceding and following, the four seaplane-carriers +were next to leave. On gaining the open sea they formed line +abreast, surrounded by their vigilant escort; the light cruisers, +reducing speed to that of the convoy, taking up station two miles +astern. + +In this formation the flotilla reeled off knot after knot without +incident, until late in the evening, when two of the destroyers on +the "Hippodrome's" starboard beam began a rapid fire that lasted +nearly five minutes, breaking station and circling in a fashion that +recalled the preliminary manoeuvres of a pair of cautious boxers. + +"U-boat, somewhere over there," commented Fuller, who with Barcroft +and the A.P. was on deck in preference to the somewhat boisterous +ward-room. "I don't think they've got her. Wonder if she's dived and +avoided the cordon. If so we'll have to look out." + +"Hope she won't bag us at this stage of the proceedings," said +Kirkwood. "At any rate, our quick-fires are manned, and it will be +dark in another half-hour." + +The two destroyers had resumed station, having signalled to the +effect that no definite result was observed but it was believed that +the U-boat's periscopes had been smashed by gun-fire. + +"The trouble will come later, I think," said Barcroft when the +message was communicated to the "Hippodrome's" officers. "If she +isn't winged she'll rise to the surface after we're out of sight and +wireless the news to the Heligoland signal station. The mere mention +of seaplane carriers will put the Huns on the _qui vive_. However, +that can't be helped; I'm turning in, you fellows, and I advise you +to do the same." + +Well before dawn the airmen detailed for the raid were roused from +their sleep, or rather their efforts to slumber, since few were +sufficiently proof against the excitement of the forthcoming +expedition to enjoy a good night's rest. + +Breakfast over, the members of the forlorn hope donned their leather +coats and flying helmets, and assembled aft for final instructions +from the wing commander. + +"There is to be no easing down to keep pace with the slowest +machine," were his instructions. "Each man is to go for his +objective at top speed. You have noted the positions of the various +batteries, I trust? It would be well to leave the Glienicke Redoubt +well on your left. It's the only one, I believe, that mounts the +latest Krupp's antis. On no account must the bombing seaplane +attempt to encounter hostile aircraft on the outward flight: leave +that task to the escorting planes. If, however, you fall in with any +Zeppelins, attack immediately. One more point: should the situation +necessitate the withdrawal of the seaplane-carriers and their +escorts you know your instructions? Good. Well, gentlemen, that is +all I have to say, beyond wishing you the best of luck and a safe +return." + +Barcroft's machine was the last to leave the "Hippodrome's" +launching platform, and the last but one of the raiding craft. It +was still dark. The misty outlines of the nearmost biplanes could be +just discerned as they rose swiftly and steadily above the invisible +destroyers. The crews of the latter gave the airmen three rousing +cheers as they swept overhead, but the tribute was wasted. The +farewell greetings were drowned by the roar of the engines. + +As dawn began to break Billy made a rather disconcerting discovery. +His seaplane was now the last of the procession. It had been over +hauled by the one from the "Cursus," and what was more she was +slowly yet surely dropping astern. + +It did not appear to be the fault of the engine. The timing and +firing seemed perfect. The motor was running like a clock, yet the +rest of the raiding aircraft, most of which he knew were usually +slightly inferior in speed, were distinctly gaining. + +With the growing dawn the four escorting battle seaplanes could be +distinguished, two on either side of the long-drawn line of bomb +dropping air-craft. It was the duty of the former to engage any +hostile aeroplane that attempted to bar the progress of the latter. +Armoured and carrying two light quick-firers they were more than a +match for the German airmen, and the latter were fully aware of the +fact. + +"Hang it all!" muttered the flight-sub as he actuated the rudder-bar +and tilted the ailerons in order to check a cross-drift and to +increase the altitude. "It's getting jolly misty. Hope it doesn't +mean fog." + +The rearmost of the rest of the air-squadron was now almost +invisible, the others entirely so. As a matter of precaution +Barcroft took a hurried compass bearing, fervently hoping that the +mist would clear by the time he reached his desired objective. + +"We're odd man out, old bird!" he shouted through the voice-tube. +"Keep your eyes skinned. I don't want to get out of touch with +McKenzie if it can be avoided." + +"It can't," replied his observer. "He's just been swallowed up by +the mist." + +"I'll climb higher still," decided Billy. "There must be a limit to +this rotten patch of vapour." + +For another ten minutes Barcroft held on his course. He could not be +far from land, he decided. Already the leading raiders must have +achieved their object, if it were possible to see their target, and +were on their return journey. The chances of a collision in mid-air +with one of the British seaplanes suggested itself. The idea was not +an inviting one--the impact of two frail and swiftly moving objects +at an aggregate rate of nearly two hundred miles an hour, and the +sickening crash to earth. There would be some satisfaction in +knowing that an enemy aircraft was destroyed in this fashion, but +the possibility--remote, no doubt--of sending one's fellow airmen +and oneself to instant destruction was a proposition for which the +misty air was responsible. + +"I'm going to shut off the juice," announced Billy to his observer. +"Keep your ears open, my festive." + +With the switching off of the ignition the seaplane commenced a long +glide. The almost total silence, save for the swish of the air +against the planes and struts, was broken by a succession of loud +rumbles. Some of the British raiders were at work. + +"In which direction?" shouted Barcroft. + +"Ahead on your left, I think," replied Kirkwood. + +"Seems to me that the smash came from the right," declared the +pilot. "Can you see any flashes?" + +"Not a sign," replied the observer. "The sounds seem as if they are +coming from the right now abaft the beam, if anything." + +"It's a proper mix up," thought Barcroft. "Fog plays the very deuce +with sound. If the other fellows are able to drop their bombs it +proves that the mist is confined to the upper air. Dash it all! Are +we never going to get clear of this muck?" + +He jerked his goggles upwards until they rested on his cap. For all +practical purposes they were useless, although guaranteed to be +immune from the effect of moisture. The front of his coat was +glistening with particles of ice. Everything he touched was slippery +with rime. Jets of vapour, caused by the cold moisture coming in +contact with the warm cylinders, drifted into his face and buffeted +his bloodshot eyes. + +"It's almost as bad as the night when Fuller and I strafed that +Zep.," thought Kirkwood, who, although in a more sheltered position +than his companion, came in for a generous share of the atmospheric +discomforts. + +A sudden jerk, so severe that it was a wonder the huge wing-spread +did not collapse under the rapid change of pressure as Barcroft +tilted the ailerons, told the observer that something had been +sighted. Almost simultaneously the motor was restarted and the +seaplane rising and banking steeply almost grazed the topmasts of a +number of ships. + +Kirkwood grasped the lever of the bomb-dropping gear and hung on +till the order to let rip. But Barcroft gave no indication for the +work of destruction. + +"Sailing craft," he said to himself. "I could see their topsail +yards. They are not what we want. Evidently we are over the +commercial part of the harbour, if this is Cuxhaven. I'll buzz round +and see if we have any luck." + +Round and round in erratic curves, ascending and descending, the +seaplane sped, yet without sighting any more shipping. Twice she +came within sight of the ground, descending to within fifty feet in +order to do so, but only an expanse of tilled fields rewarded the +pilot's efforts. Then, climbing to a safe altitude he again +volplaned in the hope of being guided by the sound of the +bombardment. Again his endeavours met with no success. All was +quiet, beyond the discordant clanging of a distant bell. The raiders +had come and gone. Whether the fog had cut short their operations, +or whether the air had been sufficiently clear to enable them to +locate their objective, he knew not. The fact remained that Billy +and the A.P. were lost in the fog and unable to carry out their +allotted part of the strafing affair. They might be ten, twenty, or +even thirty miles over German territory, so vague had been their +course. Unless they speedily made tracks for the rendezvous they +stood a good chance of running short of petrol should the fog extend +sufficiently seaward to prevent them sighting the waiting seaplane +carriers. + +"What's the move, old man?" shouted the A. P, + +"Off back," was the reply. "Nothin' doin' this trip." + +"Hard lines," rejoined Kirkwood. "It's getting worse, if anything." + +Which was a fact, for the frozen particles of moisture were +increasing in size, and, driven into the airmen's faces by the rush +of the seaplane through the air, were lacerating their skin until +their features were hidden by congealed blood. Goggles being worse +than useless, the two officers were compelled to close their eyelids +to within a fraction of an inch and suffer acute torments from the +biting air. + +Very cautiously Barcroft planed down until the altitude gauge +indicated a hundred feet, Seeing and hearing nothing he descended +still further, restarting the engine as a matter of precaution. + +Presently a rift in the wall of vapour enabled both pilot and +observer to discern a flat, greyish expanse of sand through which +several small channels wound sinuously. + +"Good!" muttered Billy. "Now we know, more or less. We're over the +sandbanks off the mouth of the Elbe unless it's the Weser. Anyway, +nor' west is the course until we get away from this fog." + +Ten minutes later the bank of vapour showed signs of diminishing in +density; then, with a suddenness that left the two airmen blinking +in the watery sunshine, the seaplane dashed into the clear daylight. + +The sight that met their eyes was particularly cheerful. Ahead, at a +distance of about four miles, lay the island fortress of Heligoland. +But for one reason Barcroft would have made unhesitatingly for this +strongly fortified rock of sandstone, drop his cargo of explosives +and trust to luck to get clear. There was a more tempting +inducement, for almost directly underneath the British seaplane was +a large German warship. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +"THE GREAT STRAFE" + + +THE sight was an unfamiliar one. Many a' time had Barcroft seen a +British battleship from above, but never before one of the +firstclass units of the Kaiser's navy. This one was a two-masted, +three-funnelled vessel, the peculiar shape of the "smoke stacks" +proclaiming her to be one of the "Deutschland" Class--built thirteen +years previously, and carrying as her principal armament four +11-inch guns. She was not under her own steam. Tugs were lashed +alongside, a third towing ahead. She had a decided list to starboard +and appeared to be slightly down by the head. + +"She's been hammered a bit," thought Billy. "We'll do our level best +to shake her up a lot more. Pity she's not one of the 'Hindenburg' +type, but half a loaf is better than no bread, so here goes." + +As a matter of fact the battleship had been knocked about a week +previously, owing to having bumped against one of the drifting +German mines. Brought with difficulty into the outer roadstead, she +was being repaired as secretly as possible in order to return to +Kiel for completion of refit. The disaster having been concealed, at +least officially, from the German populace, it had been considered +necessary to keep the injured vessel off Heligoland rather than take +her through the Imperial Canal in her nondescript state. + +The British naval air raid upon Cuxhaven had completely upset this +arrangement. News of the impending attack had been wirelessed, as +Barcroft had surmised, from the U-boat that had been driven off by +the seaplanes' escort, and, not knowing what the raiders' objective +actually was, the Germans had hastily sent the crippled battleship +from the roadstead in the hope that she might lie safely in the Kiel +Canal before the aerial bombardment took place. + +All three tugs were blowing off steam vigorously. The hiss of the +escaping vapour had prevented the Huns from hearing the noisy +British seaplane's approach, and now at an altitude of five thousand +feet Barcroft had the huge target at his mercy. It was, however, +necessary to descend considerably. There must be no risk of missing +the slowly-moving battleship. + +Descending in short right-handed spirals the pilot brought his craft +within five hundred feet of his enemy. A bugle-blast, followed by +the appearance of swarms of sailors as they rushed to man the light +quick-firers, announced that the impending danger had been sighted. +At all events, it was not to be a one-sided engagement, for almost +simultaneously two anti-aircraft guns, mounted on the battleship's +for'ard turret, came into action. + +Both shells passed so close to the seaplane that the pilot +distinctly felt the "windage" of the projectiles, The frail aircraft +reeled in the blast of the displaced air, but fortunately the +time-fuses of the shells were not set accurately. The missiles burst +over eight hundred feet above their target. + +Deftly Kirkwood released a couple of bombs. Both found their +objective, one striking the fo'c'sle between the steam capstan and +the for'ard turret, the other slightly in the wake of the bridge and +chart-house, completely wrecking both. In a few seconds the whole of +the fore-part of the battleship was hidden by a dense cloud of +smoke. + +"Not so dusty," thought Billy as he manoeuvred to enable the +observer to drop another couple of "plums." As he did so a shell +burst almost underneath the seaplane, ripping a dozen holes in the +wings and severing a strut like a match-stick. + +Out of the enveloping mushroom-shaped cloud of white smoke the +seaplane staggered. For the moment Billy fancied that she was out of +control and on the point of making a fatal nose-spin. + +"Let's hope, then, that she'll drop fairly on top of that strafed +hooker," was the thought that flashed across his mind. + +But no; grandly the gallant little seaplane recovered herself. A +touch of the pilot's feet upon the rudder-bar showed that she was +capable of being steered, while apparently the controls were still +in order. + +Billy gave a quick glance over his shoulder. To his relief he found +Kirkwood cool and imperturbable at his post, awaiting the opportune +moment to release another pair of powerful bombs. + +One burst aft, utterly knocking out the crew of the anti-aircraft +gun that had so nearly strafed their attackers; the other, missing +the warship's deck, landed fairly and squarely upon the tug lashed +to the starboard side. + +The little vessel, totally ripped up amidships, sank amid the roar +of escaping steam, but still secured by fore and aft "springs"--wire +hawsers stout enough to withstand the strain--she acted as a +tremendous drag upon the huge bulk of the battleship. + +In vain the latter attempted to check her tendency to swing to +starboard by liberal use of the helm. The other tugs, still +straining at their task, only made matters worse, until finally the +towing craft, unable to check the side strain on her hawser, slewed +completely round, and in this position was rammed by the steel prow +of the battleship. + +By this time Billy had manoeuvred for a third attack. So great was +the confusion on the German's decks--most of the men who had +survived the explosion bolting from their dubious cover that the +seaplane was no longer subjected to a peppering from the Archibalds. + +For years naval architects had been increasing the strength of a +battleship's side-armour, while the thickness of the "protected" +deck, considered only liable to glancing hits, was kept at about +three inches of steel. The present war quickly found the defects of +insufficient deck armour. Enormous shells, fired at a range of +eighteen thousand yards, fell almost vertically upon the decks of +battleships during the Jutland fight, while the menace from bombs +dropped from hostile aircraft was only beginning to be realised. + +Slowing down Barcroft again approached his quarry. This time +Kirkwood released three of the high-explosive missiles. Two, fairly +close together, by the after 11-inch gun turret, completed the +business. + +With a rush and a roar, indescribably appalling in its titanic +power, the battleship's after magazine exploded. The seaplane, +whirled like a feather in a hurricane, was enveloped in a cloud of +black smoke tinged with flames and mingled with flying fragments +from the disintegrated ship. In utter darkness Billy found himself +on the underside of the overturned machine. Only the resisting +strength of his broad securing strap saved him from being hurled +downward like a stone. + +Almost rendered senseless by the asphyxiating fumes, thrown about as +far as the "give" of the strap permitted, his head shaken like a pea +in a box, Barcroft was only dimly conscious that the job had been +done almost too well. In spite of the danger of his hazardous +position he was filled with a sense of elation. The seaplane had +scored heavily, and for the present nothing else mattered. Deafened +by the thunderous explosion, unable to see a hand's length in front +of his face, he was at a loss to ascertain whether the motor was +still running or whether the seaplane was engaging in a final +tail-spin. + +Mechanically he grasped the joy-stick. The seaplane was then looping +the loop for the third consecutive time. Something--what it was he +was unable to ascertain--hit the fuselage with a resounding crash. +The lightly-built fabric trembled under the impact. It seemed as if +the body of the machine had been ripped asunder. + +At nearly a hundred miles an hour the seaplane cleared the edge of +the drifting smoke. She was then "on an even keel," but about to +nose-dive towards the surface of the sea, barely a couple of hundred +feet below. + +The sudden transition to the light of day recalled Billy to a sense +of his responsibilities. The engine was working, although he heard +only a very subdued buzz. Something had to be done to avoid the +impending violent impact with the waves. + +Billy did it--how, he could never remember, but, as in a dream, he +regained control of the badly-shaken craft and began to climb +resolutely from the scene of his exploit. + +A hasty glance at the planes revealed the unpleasant fact that huge +rents were visible in the fabric. It seemed marvellous how the +greatly-reduced wing-surface could impart sufficient lifting power +to the machine; yet, with a disconcerting wobble she held her own +against the attraction of gravity. + +He turned his head, half expecting to find that Kirkwood was no +longer his companion, but to his unbounded satisfaction he saw the +A.P. still in his seat. Not only that, but Bobby was grinning with +intense glee at the successful issue of the encounter between the +giant and the pigmy. His face was as black as a sweep's and streaked +with blood, his flying helmet had vanished, leaving his scorched +hair rippling in the furious breeze. + +Picking up the voice-tube the irrepressible observer shouted +something to his companion. Only a strange rumble reached Barcroft's +ear. He had been rendered absolutely deaf by the concussion. + +Pulling his diary from his pocket Kirkwood scribbled a few words and +handed his paper to the pilot. + +"How's that?" read Billy. "Fritz got it in the neck that time. +That's a great strafe." Billy held the voice-tube to his mouth in +order to reply, but no sound came from his lips. Like a blow from a +sledge-hammer the awful truth came home to him. He was deaf and +speechless. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +SNATCHED FROM HER PURSUERS + + +KIRKWOOD was quick to grasp the nature of the calamity that had +overtaken his chum. Although considerably shaken by the concussion +the observer was still in possession of his senses, except that his +hearing was slightly impaired. + +Again a slip of paper passed between the two chums. On it Kirkwood +had written:--"Enemy torpedo craft leaving Heligoland. Are you fit +to carry on? Want any help?" + +Barcroft, reading the slip, nodded. The mere suggestion of +relinquishing his command "bucked him up" considerably. A glance +showed that Kirkwood's announcement was correct. From the anchorage +on the northeast side of the island a regular swarm of hornets was +emerging some of the boats steaming towards the scene of the +disaster to the battleship, others heading in the direction taken by +the seaplane responsible for the great catastrophe. + +The new danger could be treated lightly provided the seaplane was +able to carry on and fall in with her parent ship. The torpedo-boats +were not within range of their guns, while the speed of the seaplane +was more than double that of the swiftest of her pursuers, even in +her damaged condition. Should the chase be maintained for any length +of time there was a chance of the British destroyers cutting off +some, if not all, of the hostile craft. + +"Wireless the 'Hippo,'" wrote Barcroft, receiving the laconic reply +"Can't." The delicate apparatus had been put out of action when the +seaplane staggered under the force of the explosion. + +"Then that's done it," thought Billy, pulling off his gloves and +running his finger over a slight, almost imperceptible, dent in the +petrol tank. The engine was missing badly, and although able to note +the fact by observation the pilot guessed rightly that the precious +fluid was leaking. Holding his fingers to his nostrils he could +faintly smell the volatile fluid. The petrol was leaking, and +evaporating as fast as it came in contact with the air. + +The application of a piece of soap to the minute fracture +temporarily remedied matters, but the mischief was already done. The +petrol was almost exhausted. + +By this time the German torpedo-boats were almost out of sight, mere +dots upon the horizon, their position indicated by long trailing +clouds of black smoke. Some uncanny knowledge must have urged the +commanders of the various boats to hang on to what appeared to be a +fruitless chase. To them the seaplane would be almost invisible +unless they kept her under observation by means of their binoculars. +In that case they must have noticed the little aircraft gradually +dropping towards the surface of the sea. + +Anxiously Barcroft scanned the expanse of water in front--a clear +field of sea bounded by an unbroken horizon. The seaplane carriers +and their strong escort had steamed homewards, taking it for granted +that one at least of the raiders on Cuxhaven had been brought down +by the heavy hostile fire. + +The attempt had been only moderately successful. The fog that had +baffled Barcroft had enveloped the rest of the British seaplanes +before they had time to get properly to work. Altogether a dozen +bombs had been dropped upon the naval port, before the thick bank of +haze enveloped them and hid their desired object from their view. + +Greeted by a tremendous fire from the German Archibalds, the raiders +returned in safety; for the Huns, baffled by the thick weather, +could only fire at random. With a few minor damages the airmen +regained their respective parent ships, and then it was discovered +that Barcroft and Kirkwood had not returned. None of the other +flying men had sighted their machine after the first few minutes of +the outward flight. It was therefore concluded that the two men were +lost, and notwithstanding Fuller's request to make a search, the +"Hippodrome" and her consorts steamed westward. + +Although Barcroft felt acute disappointment at finding that the +vessels had left the rendezvous, he realised that no blame could be +attached to the officers responsible for the order to return. Had he +flown straight back he might have been in time, but it was the +bombing of the battleship that had delayed him. + +"It's jolly well worth it," he soliloquised. "But we look like being +in the cart again. I begin to think that Kirkwood is a bit of a +Jonah, although hitherto he's managed to turn up safely. Hope his +luck--and mine--will still hold good." + +A motionless blade of the propeller, coming across his field of +vision, betokened the unpleasant fact that the motor had refused +duty. Almost imperturbably Billy held on to the joy-stick, guiding +the seaplane on her long seaward glide. + +The A.P., thinking that something had befallen his chum, leant over +the curved deck of the chassis and touched his shoulder. + +Barcroft smiled in reply and pointed to the empty petrol-tank--a +smile that restored his companion's confidence. Nevertheless the vol +plane was a dangerous one. The reduction of the wing-spread, bad +enough when the machine was driving furiously through the air, +caused the seaplane to slip badly while solely under the attraction +of gravity. Should a "slip" occur just before the floats took the +water the chance of a fatal capsize were almost a dead certainty. + +Realising such a possibility the A.P., who had already unbuckled his +waist-strap, kept on the alert, ready at the first sign of a +disaster to hack through his companion's belt with a keen knife. +Even then he wondered what was the use? With no help in sight their +fruitless struggle for life would only be unnecessarily prolonged. +Then came the opposing thought: while there's life there's hope, and +never say die till you're dead. + +Again the volplaning craft side-slipped. Barcroft was only just in +time to regain control, and making a faultless "landing," brought +his command to an aerial rest upon the surface. It could not be +termed other than an aerial rest, for the simple reason that the +waterborne fabric was rolling and pitching in the short steep seas +that are to be met with off the flat Frisian shore. + +"For one thing the day is long," thought Billy as he stood upright +upon the deck of the swaying chassis and, supporting himself by one +of the struts, looked fixedly in the direction of the pursuing +torpedo-boats. They were no longer visible, the difference in +altitude having put them below the horizon, but the ominous clouds +of smoke told the flight-sub that the Huns were still persisting in +their search. It was just possible, however, that they might pass +some miles to windward and not sight the inconspicuous disabled +seaplane in that waste of waters. + +Even supposing such to be the case, what fate was in store for the +crew of this helpless machine? This part of the North Sea on which +they had alighted was a sort of nautical No Man's Land. Fishing +vessels gave it a wide berth, fearing the deadly and unseen menace +of the mines. Merchantmen no longer followed the once busy maritime +highway that led to the erstwhile prosperous port of Hamburg. Save +for rare excursions on the part of the German torpedo flotillas and +the occasional "sweeps" of Beatty's light cruisers and destroyers +nothing afloat was likely to pass that way. Should the seaplane +remain seaborne sufficiently long she might drift ashore, but from +the direction of the wind it was pretty obvious that she would do so +somewhere on the German Frisian group outside the southern portion +of the chain of islands belonging to neutral Holland. + +The A.P. nudged his companion and tendered his cigarette case. +Kirkwood was already smoking a pipe on the principle that he never +knew when he might have a chance of another. Billy took the +proffered cigarette and lit it. The tobacco seemed tasteless. With +his lack of speech the flavour of the fragrant weed was denied him. + +Nearer and nearer came the smudges of smoke. The Huns were hard on +the track of the crippled seaplane. Already Barcroft could +distinguish the grey funnels just visible above the sky-line. + +"We must destroy our maps and documents," he wrote. "When I give the +word smash the floats. Don't forget your air-collar." + +Fumbling in the locker the observer produced a pneumatic life-saving +arrangement, which, when inflated, was capable of supporting its +wearer for an indefinite time. + +Suddenly in the midst of the task of inflating the collar Kirkwood +removed the tube from his lips. The air rushed out, and the rubber +fabric collapsed like a punctured pneumatic tyre, while the A.P. +stared with wide-open eyes at something not more than a hundred +yards distant above the surface of the water. + +"A periscope, by Jove!" he exclaimed, making a grab at his maps and +papers. They, at all events, had to be destroyed. + +Although his companion heard not a sound his attention was attracted +by Kirkwood's manner. He, too, saw the spar-like object forging +slowly ahead--so slowly that the cleavage of the water was +insufficient to throw up the usual tell-tale feather of spray. + +Deliberately, almost human-like, the eye of the periscope turned +slowly in a complete circle. The submarine, satisfied that there was +no immediate danger to be anticipated, shook herself clear of the +water, disclosing her conning-tower and a portion of the hull of one +of the British G Class. + +Hardly able to credit their good fortune the flight-sub and his +companion thrust their maps into their pockets and began to wave for +assistance a quite unnecessary act since the lieutenant-commander of +G 21 had already concluded rightly that the airmen were his +compatriots in distress. + +Five or six of her crew appearing on the long, narrow deck, the +ungainly hull of the submarine, skilfully manoeuvred, approached +sufficiently close to enable Kirkwood to catch a coil of rope, and +the seaplane was hauled alongside. + +"Jump, sir!" shouted a petty officer. + +Although unable to hear the words Barcroft understood the gesture. +He waited until his observer had leapt, then seizing a small axe +from the body of the fuselage, he shattered each of the frail +floats, and as his command sank beneath his feet he scrambled up the +bulging side of the rescuing submarine. + +"Barcroft's deaf and dumb," Kirkwood explained to a sympathetic +lieutenant. "You'd better look sharp. There are a dozen strafed +torpedo-boats after us." + +"P'raps it's as well if we do," commented the officer. "I'll trouble +you for your yarn when we are snugly down below." + +In less than a minute the crew and the rescued airmen were +hermetically sealed in the hull of G 21, and descending to a depth +of fifteen fathoms the submarine rested upon the bed of the North +Sea until the German torpedo-craft, foiled in their endeavour to +locate their quarry, steamed back to the security of the inner +roadstead of Heligoland. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +AND LAST + + +A WEEK later found Flight-sub-lieutenant Barcroft a patient in a +large Naval Hospital somewhere on the East Coast. His case was an +interesting one as far as the medical officers were concerned, but +far from it from a strictly personal point of view. The medicos, +expressing their belief in their ability to restore the young +officer's powers of speech and hearing, were unremitting in their +attentions, so far without success. + +Billy, after the first fit of despondency had passed, was still far +from sanguine as to the result of the numerous operations and +experiments performed by the hospital staff. Unable to communicate +with any one except by means of paper and pencil, he had already +come to the conclusion that his flying days were over. He might hope +for a partial restoration of his lost senses, but nothing more. +There was one thought to console him. He had not been rendered blind +by the terrific glare as his gigantic victim was blown sky high. The +blessing of sight was still his. + +It irritated him beyond measure to see other patients conversing, to +watch their lips move, their expressive gestures of understanding, +and yet to live in an atmosphere of profound silence. It was +humiliating to have to approach a fellow-creature and laboriously +commit to paper a request for a most trivial thing; exasperating to +follow the comparatively tedious pencil as the person addressed in +this manner wrote his reply. + +Still living in hopes Barcroft had studiously concealed the news of +his affliction from his parents and from Betty. His letters to them +were as light and cheerful as of yore, yet he felt that they were a +sham. Sooner or later, unless medical science was able to conquer +the baffling case, he would be compelled to have to admit that he +was--a useless encumbrance: those were his thoughts. + +Almost every one of his brother airmen had visited him since his +arrival at the hospital, for the "Hippodrome," having returned to +her base, was lying in harbour almost within sight of the huge +building. Some tried, rather dismally, to be funny, hoping to cheer +their luckless comrade; others were so sympathetic that they +depressed Billy almost to a state of desperation. It was difficult +to appear at ease in the presence of a deaf and dumb man--and +Barcroft knew it. + +One afternoon John Fuller came to see him. It was the second visit +that day. The lieutenant was practical even when in the presence of +his afflicted shipmate, for instead of sitting down and laboriously +writing out the preliminaries to a long-drawn-out conversation he +drew a paper from his pocket and handed it to his chum. And this is +what Barcroft read:-- + +"Congrats, old man. Just heard from 'topsides,' absolutely official: +the battleship you strafed was the 'Schlesien,' complement 660. Our +skipper has put in a claim on your behalf at 5 pounds a head. Unless +the judge decides that the prize money is to be divided between the +'Hippo's' ships-company, which is unlikely, Kirkwood and you split +3,300 pounds between you. You are also promoted to Flight-lieutenant +and have been awarded the V.C. and Kirkwood the D.S.O. You'll see +that in to-morrow's _Gazette_." + +For a full half-minute Barcroft looked with strained inquiry at his +chum. His head seemed whirling round and round, then like a roar +from a cannon something seemed to beat upon his ear-drums. + +"It's too good to be true," he said. + +"Absolute fact," replied Fuller. "Bless my soul, Billy, you can +speak!" + +"And hear, too," almost shouted the delighted newly-fledged +lieutenant. "Come along, John; I'm off to the telegraph office. Keep +on speaking, old bird. It's a delight. I hardly expected to hear you +again." + +The hospital post-office was at the far end of the building. +Entering the somewhat crowded room, Billy, with a trembling hand, +filled in a form and gave it to a girl clerk. + +The girl took the form, counted the words and scribbled something on +a piece of paper and offered it to the flight-lieutenant. + +"Thank you," said Billy smiling. "But it isn't necessary now, thank +Heaven. I can both speak and hear." + +"I am glad, Mr. Barcroft," replied the girl, who knew all about the +circumstances under which he had received his injuries. "Reply paid? +That will be eighteen-pence. You may get a reply in an hour." + +The telegram that Billy had dispatched was to Miss Betty Deringhame. +It was: + +"Am applying for leave. Will you fulfil your promise?" + +After a seemingly interminable wait Billy's reply was received. + +His message consisted of nine words; hers of one only: "Yes." + +It was all that Flight-lieutenant Barcroft, V.C., desired. His cup +of happiness was filled to overflowing. + + + +THE END + + + +PRINTED BY PURNELL AND SONS, + +PAULTON (SOMERSET) AND LONDON + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S., by Percy F. Westerman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S. *** + +***** This file should be named 35362.txt or 35362.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/3/6/35362/ + +Produced by R.G.P.M. van Giesen + +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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