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diff --git a/39489-rst/39489-rst.rst b/39489-rst/39489-rst.rst deleted file mode 100644 index 33f9f38..0000000 --- a/39489-rst/39489-rst.rst +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8460 +0,0 @@ -.. -*- encoding: utf-8 -*-
-
-.. meta::
- :PG.Id: 39489
- :PG.Title: With Beatty off Jutland
- :PG.Released: 2012-04-19
- :PG.Rights: Public Domain
- :PG.Producer: Al Haines
- :DC.Creator: Percy F. Westerman
- :MARCREL.ill: Frank Gillett
- :DC.Title: With Beatty off Jutland
- A Romance of the Great Sea Fight
- :DC.Language: en
- :DC.Created: 1918
- :coverpage: images/img-cover.jpg
-
-.. role:: small-caps
- :class: small-caps
-
-=======================
-WITH BEATTY OFF JUTLAND
-=======================
-
-.. clearpage::
-
-.. pgheader::
-
-.. vspace:: 3
-
-.. container: coverpage
-
-.. _`Cover art`:
-
-.. figure:: images/img-cover.jpg
- :align: center
- :alt: Cover art
-
- Cover art
-
-.. vspace:: 3
-
-.. container: frontispiece
-
-.. _`"'CAN YOU SPARE US ANY TORPEDOES?' SHOUTED SEFTON"`:
-
-.. figure:: images/img-front.jpg
- :align: center
- :alt: "'CAN YOU SPARE US ANY TORPEDOES?' SHOUTED SEFTON"
-
- "'CAN YOU SPARE US ANY TORPEDOES?' SHOUTED SEFTON"
-
-.. vspace:: 3
-
-.. container:: titlepage center white-space-pre-line
-
- .. class:: center x-large
-
- With Beatty off Jutland
-
- .. vspace:: 2
-
- .. class:: center medium
-
- A Romance of the Great Sea Fight
-
- .. vspace:: 2
-
- .. class:: center medium
-
- by
-
- .. class:: center large
-
- PERCY F. WESTERMAN
-
- .. vspace:: 2
-
- .. class:: center small white-space-pre-line
-
- Author of "The Submarine Hunters"
- "A Sub and a Submarine"
- "The Dispatch Riders"
- &c. &c.
-
- .. vspace:: 2
-
- .. class:: center medium
-
- *Illustrated by Frank Gillett, R.I.*
-
- .. vspace:: 2
-
- .. class:: center small white-space-pre-line
-
- BLACKIE & SON LIMITED
- LONDON AND GLASGOW
- 1920
-
- .. vspace:: 3
-
-.. container:: verso white-space-pre-line
-
- .. class:: left medium
-
- By Percy F. Westerman
-
- .. vspace:: 2
-
- .. class:: left small
-
- Rivals of the Reef.
- A Shanghai Adventure.
- Pat Stobart in the "Golden Dawn".
- The Junior Cadet.
- Captain Starlight.
- The Sea-Girt Fortress.
- On the Wings of the Wind.
- Captured at Tripoli.
- Captain Blundell's Treasure.
- The Third Officer.
- Unconquered Wings.
- The Buccaneers of Boya.
- The Riddle of the Air.
- Chums of the "Golden Vanity".
- The Luck of the "Golden Dawn".
- Clipped Wings.
- The Salving of the "Fusi Yama".
- Winning his Wings.
- A Lively Bit of the Front.
- A Cadet of the Mercantile Marine.
- The Good Ship "Golden Effort".
- East in the "Golden Gain".
- The Quest of the "Golden Hope".
- Sea Scouts Abroad.
- Sea Scouts Up-Channel.
- The Wireless Officer.
- A Lad of Grit.
- The Submarine Hunters.
- Sea Scouts All.
- The Thick of the Fray,
- A Sub and a Submarine.
- Under the White Ensign.
- The Fight for Constantinople.
- With Beatty off Jutland.
-
- .. vspace:: 2
-
- .. class:: center small
-
- *Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow*
-
-----
-
-.. contents:: CONTENTS
- :depth: 1
- :backlinks: entry
-
-----
-
-.. class:: center medium
-
-Illustrations
-
-.. vspace:: 2
-
-.. class:: left medium white-space-pre-line
-
-`"'Can you spare us any torpedoes?' shouted Sefton"`_ . . . *Frontispiece*
-`"'We surrender make.... We haf a leak sprung'"`_
-`"Without hesitation Sefton made a flying leap over the guard rails"`_
-`"Poising himself for an instant, Sefton leapt on the 'Calder's' deck"`_
-`"She sent a huge shell at point-blank range crashing into the light-built hull"`_
-`"The 'Calder' had played her part, and it seemed base ingratitude to leave her to founder"`_
-
-.. vspace:: 3
-
-.. class:: center x-large
-
-WITH BEATTY OFF JUTLAND
-
-.. vspace:: 2
-
-CHAPTER I--The Ward-room of H.M.S. "Calder"
-===========================================
-
-A cold grey morning in April somewhere in the
-North Sea; to be more exact, 18 miles N. 75° W. of
-the Haisborough Lightship.
-
-Viewed from the fore-bridge of H.M. torpedo-boat
-destroyer *Calder*, there was little in the
-outlook to suggest that a state of war had existed for
-twenty months. The same short steep seas, the
-same lowering sky, the almost unbroken horizon
-towards which many anxious glances were hourly
-directed in the hope that "they" had at last come out.
-
-Two cables' distance from the *Calder*, a typical
-trawler, with dense columns of smoke issuing from
-her funnel, was forging slowly ahead. Another
-vessel of a similar type was steaming in almost the
-opposite direction, and on a course that would bring
-her close under the stern of the almost motionless
-destroyer. From the galley funnel of each trawler
-a trail of bluish smoke was issuing, the reek as it
-drifted across the *Calder's* deck indicating pretty
-plainly the nature of the "hands'" breakfast. Of
-the crew of either craft no one was visible, the
-helmsman in each case sheltering in the ugly squat
-wheel-house on the bridge.
-
-Acting Sub-lieutenant Sefton brought his
-binoculars to bear upon the nearmost trawler. The
-action was merely a perfunctory one. He knew
-both trawlers almost about as much as their own
-crews did, and certainly more than their respective
-owners in pre-war times. For close on fifty hours,
-watch in and watch out, the *Calder* had been dancing
-attendance on these two almost insignificant
-specimens of the North Sea fishing-fleet--the *Carse o'
-Gowrie* and the *Dimpled Lassie*, both registered at
-the port of Aberdeen.
-
-Carrying bare steerage-way, the destroyer glided
-slowly past the *Dimpled Lassie's* port quarter.
-From the trawler's stern a flexible wire hawser led
-beneath the foaming wake of the propeller, dipping
-with a sag that did not gladden the heart of the
-young officer of the watch.
-
-"Any luck yet?" shouted Sefton through an
-enormous megaphone.
-
-At the hail two men's heads appeared above the
-bulwarks aft, while a greatcoated figure came in
-view from behind the storm-dodgers of the trawler's
-bridge.
-
-"Not the least, sir," replied the master of the
-*Dimpled Lassie*, Peter M'Kie, skipper R.N.R.
-"Are we right, sir?"
-
-The acting-sub had a few minutes previously
-taken an observation. The destroyer was playing
-the part of nursemaid to the two trawlers, for
-although both skippers could find their way, even
-in thick weather, almost anywhere in the North
-Sea, solely by the aid of lead-line and compass,
-neither had the faintest experience in the use of
-the sextant.
-
-"Ought to be right over it," replied Sefton.
-"Carry on, and trust to luck."
-
-The trawlers were "creeping" with grapnels.
-Not for mines, although there was always a possibility
-of hooking one of those fiendish contrivances.
-That was a risk that the tough fisherman faced with
-an equanimity bordering on fatalism. Mine-sweeping
-they had engaged upon almost continuously
-since the notable month of August, 1914. Now
-they were on particular service--a service of such
-importance and where so much secrecy was imperative
-that these two Scottish trawlers had been sent
-expressly from a northern base to scour the bed of
-the North Sea in the neighbourhood of Great
-Yarmouth, where there were Government craft for
-disposal in abundance.
-
-Sefton replaced his binoculars, and, turning,
-found that his superior officer had just come on
-deck and was standing at his elbow.
-
-Lieutenant Richard Crosthwaite, D.S.O., the
-"owner" of the destroyer, was one of those young
-officers who had made good use of the chances that
-the war had thrown in his way. Specially promoted
-for good work in the Dardanelles, he found
-himself at a comparatively early age in command of a
-destroyer that had already made a name for herself
-in the gallant but ill-starred operations against the
-Turks.
-
-"Well, Mr. Sefton?" he asked.
-
-"Nothing much to report, sir," replied the acting-sub.
-"But we'll get it yet," he added confidently.
-
-Evidently "it"--hardly ever referred to by any
-other designation--was more elusive than
-Crosthwaite had imagined. A shade of disappointment
-flitted across his tanned features. The task upon
-which the trawlers were engaged was a matter of
-extreme urgency. At Whitehall anxious admirals
-awaited the news that "it" had been fished up; but
-"it", reposing serenely on the bed of the North
-Sea, had resolutely declined to receive the embraces
-of a couple of heavy grapnels.
-
-Crosthwaite, after giving a searching glance to
-windward, stepped to the head of the ladder. An
-alert bos'n's mate, awaiting the signal, piped the
-starboard watch. Saluting, Sefton gained the deck
-and went aft, his mind dwelling on the prospects
-of breakfast and a much-needed sleep.
-
-The ward-room, a scantily-furnished apartment
-extending the whole width of the ship, was showing
-signs of activity. From one of the adjoining
-dog-boxes, termed by courtesy a cabin, a short,
-full-faced, jovial-featured man had just emerged, clad in
-regulation trousers and a sweater. His curly
-light-brown hair was still wet, as the result of his
-ablutions, a slight gash upon the point of his chin
-betokened the fact that he had tempted fate by
-shaving in a stiff seaway, and by the aid of an
-ordinary razor dulled by the penetrating salt air.
-
-"Oh, it's quiet down here----" he began singing
-in a ringing baritone.
-
-"No need to rub that in, Pills," exclaimed a
-drawling voice. "The fact is patent to all. Can't
-you give us 'They don't run Corridor Cars on
-our Branch Line' by way of a change?"
-
-Thereon hung a tale: something that took place
-when Jimmy Stirling first joined the mess at the
-Portsmouth Naval Barracks as a Probationary
-Surgeon, R.N.V.R.
-
-"I called attention to the fact that it was quiet
-down here with deliberate intent, my festive
-Box-spanner," retorted the surgeon. "At last, after
-weeks of expostulation, your minions have
-succeeded in quelling that demon of unrest, the steam
-steering-gear. For the first time for a fortnight I
-have slept serenely, and, thanks to that blessed
-balm, I feel like a giant refreshed. Now, how
-about it?"
-
-He made a dive into the adjoining cabin, where
-the engineer-lieutenant was in the act of struggling
-with a refractory collar. The next instant the two
-men lurched into the ward-room engaged in what
-looked to be a mortal struggle.
-
-Cannoning off the stove, sweeping a sheaf of
-books from the wall, glissading from the cushioned
-lockers, the high-spirited officers tackled each other
-with mock-serious desperation until, with a violent
-heave, the athletic doctor deposited his engineering
-confrère fairly upon the table. With a series of
-crashes, cups, saucers, tureens, teapot, coffee-pot,
-eggs and bacon sidled in an indescribable state of
-chaos upon the floor.
-
-"Time!" exclaimed Sefton authoritatively.
-"Look here, you fellows. I haven't had my
-breakfast, and I suppose you haven't had yours?
-Not that it matters to me. And, Pills, has your
-supply of bromide run out?"
-
-The combatants separated and began taking
-stock of the damage.
-
-"You logged a gale of wind last night, I hope,
-Sefton?" asked the engineer-lieutenant in tones of
-mock anxiety. "Must account for this smash-up,
-you know---- Any luck? Have they got it?"
-
-The acting-sub, now that conversation had
-reverted to the inevitable "it", was bound to
-admit that the preceding night's labours had been
-fruitless. The possibilities of the recovery of the
-much-desired "it" monopolized the attention of
-the occupants of the ward-room until the steward,
-outwardly stolidly indifferent to the unsympathetic
-treatment of his labours, provided another repast.
-
-They were boyish and high-spirited officers on
-H.M.T.B.D. *Calder*. Their pranks were but an
-antidote to the ceaseless strain of days and nights
-of watch and ward.
-
-"To get back to things mundane," persisted the
-engineer-lieutenant as the trio sat down to their
-belated meal, "will they find it?"
-
-"It is my firm belief that they will," replied
-Sefton decisively. "Even if we have to mark time
-about here for another month."
-
-"Heaven forbid!" ejaculated the surgeon piously,
-"I pine for fresh water. Your vile condenser-brewed
-fluid is simply appalling, my festive Box-spanner.
-And I yearn for newspapers less than a week old."
-
-The engineer-lieutenant glared defiance at his
-medical confrère. He knew perfectly well that the
-water on board was brackish and insipid, but it was
-condensed under his personal supervision. Any
-disparaging remarks upon his *métier*--even if
-uttered in jest--touched him to the quick.
-
-A resumption of the "scrap" seemed imminent,
-when a bluejacket, tapping at the ward-room door,
-announced: "Captain's compliments, sir; they've
-just hooked it."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER II--The Recovered Cable
-===============================
-
-Instantly there was a wild scramble on the part
-of the three officers to gain the deck, all other
-topics of interest vanishing before the all-important
-information.
-
-A cable's length on the port beam the *Carse o'
-Gowrie* was backing gently astern in order to close
-with her consort. The *Dimpled Lassie* was
-pitching sluggishly. Way had been taken off her,
-while over her squat counter the wire hawser
-attached to the Lucas grapnel was "straight up
-and down" under the steady strain of some heavy
-and still submerged object.
-
-From the destroyer's bridge a signalman was
-semaphoring rapidly by means of hand-flags. The
-*Dimpled Lassie* replied. The man had just finished
-delivering the message to Lieutenant-Commander
-Crosthwaite when Sefton and the other officers
-gained the bridge.
-
-"There's no doubt about it now," declared Crosthwaite
-breezily. "They've just reported that the
-thing is two fathoms off the bottom. The *Carse o'
-Gowrie* is going to help take the strain."
-
-"Hope it won't carry away, sir," remarked Sefton.
-
-"Never fear! Where the patent grapnel grips,
-it holds. What water have we?"
-
-A cast with the lead gave 19 fathoms, the tide
-having risen 7 feet. The tidal current was setting
-south-east a half east, with a velocity of 1-½ knots.
-
-"Tide'll be slacking in half an hour," said the
-skipper. "The less strain we get the better.
-Signalman!"
-
-"Sir?"
-
-"Ask the *Dimpled Lassie* to report the state of
-the dynometer."
-
-Promptly came the reply that already the strain
-on the grapnel hawser was 2-½ tons.
-
-"And the breaking strain is four, sir," Sefton
-reminded his chief.
-
-"We'll get it all right," reiterated Crosthwaite.
-"Never fear."
-
-His optimism was justified when forty-five
-minutes later the grapnel sullenly bobbed above
-the surface, holding in its tightly-closed jaws the
-bight of a large submarine electric cable.
-
-"Let's hope we've hooked the right one,"
-muttered the engineer-lieutenant.
-
-"You atom of despondency!" exclaimed Stirling.
-
-"I state a possibility, not a probability, Pills,"
-rejoined Boxspanner. "It's a three-to-one chance,
-you know."
-
-Already a number of artificers, who had been
-temporarily detailed for duty on board each of the
-trawlers, were hard at work in connection with the
-retrieved cable. What they were doing in
-connection must remain a matter of conjecture, but the
-fact was patent that the success or otherwise of
-unremitting toil depended upon the next few minutes.
-
-Impatiently the young lieutenant-commander of
-the *Calder* awaited a further signal announcing the
-result of the investigations. When it came it was
-highly satisfactory.
-
-"Thanks be for small mercies!" ejaculated
-Crosthwaite fervently. "Signal M'Kie and tell him to
-take due precautions in case a ground swell sets in
-from the east'ard."
-
-The cable was one of three that in pre-war time
-connected the little Norfolk fishing-village of
-Bacton with the German island of Borkum. Two
-more ran from Borkum to Lowestoft, the whole
-system being partly British and partly German
-controlled.
-
-Immediately upon the declaration of war the
-telegraph cables had been severed, both in the
-neighbourhood of the British coast and in the
-vicinity of the German island fortress. To all
-intents and purposes it seemed as if the cables were
-nothing more than useless cores of copper encased
-in gutta-percha, rotting in the ooze on the bed of
-the North Sea.
-
-Yet in spite of the most stringent precautions on
-the part of the British Government to prevent a
-leakage of news, the disconcerting fact remained
-that, thanks to an efficient and extensive espionage
-system, information, especially relating to the
-movements of the Grand Fleet, did reach Germany.
-
-Various illicit means of communication were
-suspected by the authorities, and drastic, though none
-the less highly necessary, regulations were put into
-force that had the effect of reducing the leakage to
-a minimum.
-
-Simultaneously a campaign was opened against
-the use of wireless installations. Undoubtedly
-wireless played its part in the spies' work, but its
-efficacy was doubtful. It could be "tapped"; its
-source of agency could be located. However
-beneficial in times of peace, it was a two-edged weapon
-in war.
-
-For a long time the British Government failed to
-unravel the secret, until it was suggested that the
-submarine cables had been repaired. And this
-was precisely what had been done. The Huns had
-promptly repaired their end of one of the
-Bacton-Borkum lines, while a German trawler, disguised
-as a Dutch fishing-boat, had grappled the severed
-end just beyond the British three-mile limit.
-
-To the recovered end was fixed a light
-india-rubber-covered cable. This would be sufficiently
-strong to outlast the duration of the war, the
-scarcity of gutta-percha and the enormous weight
-of the finished cable being prohibitive. It was
-paid out from the trawler with considerable rapidity,
-the end being buoyed and dropped overboard some
-miles from the spot where the original cable used
-to land. In the inky blackness of a dark winter's
-night a boat manned by German agents disguised
-as British fishermen succeeded in recovering the
-light cable and taking it ashore. Here it was a
-brief and simple matter to carry the line to a
-cottage on the edge of the low cliff, burying the land
-portion in the sand.
-
-For nearly eighteen months the secret wireless
-station had been in active operation. News culled
-from all the naval bases by trustworthy German
-agents was surreptitiously communicated to the
-operators in the little unsuspected Norfolk cottage
-and thence telegraphed to Borkum.
-
-For the task of recovering the cable the utmost
-skill, caution, and discretion were necessary. The
-vessels detailed for the work were sent from a
-far-off Scottish port with orders to make no
-communication with the shore; while to protect them from
-possible interference the *Calder* had been detached
-from the rest of the flotilla to stand by and direct
-operations.
-
-The *Dimpled Lassie* was indeed fortunate in
-finding the cable in a comparatively short space of
-time, and, what was more to the point, in locating
-the right one of the three known to be in close
-proximity. Contrast this performance with that of
-the cruiser *Huascar* in the Chilean-Peruvian War.
-That vessel tried for two days in shallow water to
-sever the cable at Valparaiso. The officer in charge
-had himself assisted to lay that particular cable,
-but picked up the one communicating with Iquique
-and severed that by mistake.
-
-The only "fly in the ointment", as far as
-Lieutenant-Commander Crosthwaite was concerned, was
-the anticipated fact that the *Calder* would have to
-dance attendance upon the trawlers for an indefinite
-period. Once the mild excitement of grappling for
-the cable was over, the *Calder* was in the position
-of those who "serve who only stand and wait".
-It was a necessary task to "stand by", but with
-vague rumours in the air of naval activity on the
-part of the Huns, the officers and crew of the
-destroyer would infinitely have preferred to be in the
-thick of it, rather than detained within a few miles
-of the Norfolk and Suffolk coast.
-
-When at length interest in the proceeding had
-somewhat abated, Sub-lieutenant Sefton went below
-to make up long arrears of sleep.
-
-He had not turned in many minutes when Doctor
-Stirling gave him a resounding whack on the back.
-
-"Wake up, you lazy bounder!" exclaimed the
-surgeon. "Didn't you hear 'Action Stations'?
-We've got the whole German fleet coming for us."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER III--The Stranded Submarine
-===================================
-
-"No such luck," protested Sefton, until, reading
-the serious look in the medical officer's eyes, and
-now conscious of a commotion on deck as the
-ship's company went to action stations, he started
-up, leapt from his bunk, and hurriedly scrambled
-into his clothes.
-
-Upon gaining the deck Sefton found that Stirling
-had exaggerated the facts--he generally did, as a
-matter of fact. Just looming through the light
-haze were half a dozen large grey forms emitting
-tell-tale columns of smoke; for, combined with the
-lack of Welsh steam coal and inferior stoking, the
-Huns generally managed to betray their whereabouts
-by volumes of black vapour from their funnels.
-
-The ships were now steaming in double column,
-line ahead, and, having left Smith's Knoll well on
-the starboard hand, were running on a southerly
-course to clear Winterton Ridge.
-
-"Off to Yarmouth, I'll swear," declared
-Crosthwaite. "The bounders have got wind of the
-fact that our battle-cruisers are well up north."
-
-The *Calder* was now approaching the two
-trawlers. Grasping a megaphone, the lieutenant-commander
-hailed the skipper of the *Carse o' Gowrie*.
-
-"German battle-cruisers in sight," he shouted.
-"You had better slip and clear out."
-
-The tough old Scot shaded his eyes with a hairy,
-tanned hand and looked in the direction of the hostile craft.
-
-"I'll bide here, if ye have nae objection, sir," he
-replied. "After all this fuss, fetchin' the cable an'
-all, I'm nae keen on dropping it agen. Maybe
-they'll tak no notice of us, thinking we're fisherfolk."
-
-"The probability is that they'll sink you," said
-Crosthwaite, secretly gratified at the old man's
-bravery, and yet unwilling to have to leave the
-trawlers to their fate.
-
-"If they do, they do," replied the skipper
-unmoved. "It wouldna be the first by many a one.
-But sin' we hae the cable, here we bide."
-
-Old Peter M'Kie was of a similar opinion. Sink
-or swim, he meant to stand by. The *Carse o'
-Gowrie* and the *Dimpled Lassie* were to remain
-with the fished cable, since it was just possible
-that the Germans might take them for ordinary
-trawlers, as the boats showed no guns.
-
-The lieutenant-commander of the destroyer saw
-that it was of no use to attempt to shake the
-resolution of the two skippers. After all, they stood a
-chance. By remaining quietly, and riding to the
-raised cable, they certainly had the appearance of
-fishing boats using their trawl, while any attempts
-at flight might result in unpleasant attentions from
-the number of torpedo-boats accompanying the
-German battle-cruisers.
-
-Accordingly the *Calder* slipped quietly away,
-keeping under the lee of the Haisborough Sands
-to avoid being spotted by the enemy vessels. It
-was a genuine case of discretion being the better
-part of valour. Although not a man of her crew
-would have blenched had orders been given to
-steam full speed ahead towards the huge German
-battle-cruisers, Crosthwaite realized that such a
-step would be utterly useless. Long before the
-destroyer could get within torpedo-range of the foe,
-she would be swept clean and sent to the bottom
-under the concentrated fire of fifty or more
-quick-firers. Had it been night or thick weather the
-*Calder* would no doubt have attempted to get home
-with her 21-inch torpedoes. The risk would be
-worth running. But, as matters now stood, it
-would be sheer suicidal madness on her part,
-without the faintest chance of accomplishing anything
-to justify the attempt.
-
-Meanwhile the destroyer was sending out wireless
-messages reporting the presence of the raiders.
-Busy in exchanging wireless signals with their
-far-flung line of covering torpedo-boats, and with
-a couple of Zeppelins that flew high overhead, the
-German vessels made no attempt to "jam" the
-*Calder's* aerial warning.
-
-Constantly ready for action at very brief notice,
-the British battle-squadrons were under weigh
-within a few minutes of the receipt of the *Calder's*
-message, and Beatty's Cat Squadron was heading
-south-east with all possible speed before the
-first hostile gun thundered against Great Yarmouth.
-
-"They've opened the one-sided ball," remarked
-Sefton as a dull boom from the now invisible
-German ships--a single report that was quickly taken
-up by other heavy weapons--was borne to the ears
-of the *Calder's* crew. "And, by Jove, Whit-Monday too."
-
-"Yes," assented the doctor. "And ten to one
-the beach is crowded with holiday-makers. Before
-we left port, didn't we see some idiotic report in the
-papers stating that the East Coast would be ready
-for holiday visitors 'as usual'?"
-
-"Let's hope the Huns will get cut off again,"
-said the sub. "Another *Blücher* or two will make
-them sit up."
-
-"They're too wary," replied the somewhat
-pessimistic medico. "They've been warned that the
-coast is clear. Before the submarines from
-Harwich can come up they'll be off. And with twelve
-hours of daylight in front of them they'll be back
-long before our sixth destroyer flotilla can make a
-night attack."
-
-For nearly twenty minutes the officers and men
-listened in silence to the furious bombardment.
-Several of the latter had homes in the town that
-now lay exposed to the enemy guns. Realizing
-their helplessness, they could only hope that the
-damage done was no greater than that of the
-previous naval attack on the same place, and that
-this time the Cat Squadron would intercept the
-raiders and exact a just and terrible retribution.
-
-At length the firing ceased almost as suddenly
-as it had begun. In vain the destroyer's crew
-waited long and anxiously for the renewal of the
-cannonade in the offing that would announce the
-gratifying news that Beatty had once more
-intercepted the returning Huns.
-
-At 20 knots the *Calder* returned towards the
-position in which she had left the two trawlers.
-With feelings of relief it was seen that both craft
-were still afloat and apparently all well.
-
-Suddenly one of the look-outs raised the shout of:
-"Submarine on the starboard bow, sir!"
-
-Without a moment's hesitation Crosthwaite telegraphed
-for full speed, at the same time ordering
-the quartermaster to port helm.
-
-A mile and a half away could be discerned the
-elongated conning-tower and partly housed twin
-periscopes of a large submarine, although why in
-broad daylight the unterseeboot--for such she
-undoubtedly was--exposed her conning-tower above
-the surface was at first sight perplexing.
-
-With the for'ard 4-inch quick-firer loaded and
-trained upon the meagre target the *Calder* leapt
-forward at a good 24 knots, ready at the first sign
-of the submerging of the submarine to send a
-projectile crashing into and pulverizing the thin steel
-plating of her conning-tower.
-
-So intent was the lieutenant-commander upon
-his intended prey that he had failed to notice the
-proximity of a black-and-white can buoy now almost
-on the starboard bow. It was not until Sefton
-reminded him of the fact that he realized that the
-destroyer was doing her level best to pile herself
-upon the Haisborough Sands--a feat that the
-German submarine had already accomplished to the
-rage and mortification of her officers and crew.
-
-Listing violently outwards, the destroyer swung
-round clear of the treacherous shoal, and for the
-first time Crosthwaite was aware of the ignominious
-predicament of the unterseeboot.
-
-"The beggar may have a broadside torpedo-tube,"
-he remarked to his subordinate as he ordered
-the *Calder* to be swung round, bows on to the
-stranded craft, speed having been reduced to give
-the destroyer more steerage-way. "Give her a
-round with the for'ard gun. Plank a shell a
-hundred yards astern."
-
-The shot had the desired effect. The conning-tower
-hatch was thrown open, and the head and
-shoulders of a petty officer appeared. For a few
-moments he hesitated, looking thoroughly scared,
-then his hands were extended above his head.
-
-In this position of surrender he remained, until,
-finding that the destroyer made no further attempt
-to shell the submarine, he emerged from the
-conning-tower. Two officers followed, and then the
-rest of the crew--twenty-two all told. The officers
-stood upon the steel grating surrounding the
-conning-tower, for the tide had now fallen sufficiently
-to allow the platform to show above water. The
-rest of the crew, wading knee-deep, formed up in a
-sorry line upon the after part of the still submerged
-hull, and, with uplifted hands, awaited the pleasure
-of their captors.
-
-"Fetch 'em off, Mr. Sefton," ordered the
-lieutenant-commander. "Half of 'em at a time."
-
-The sub hastened to order away the boat. As
-he did so Dr. Stirling nudged him and whispered
-in his ear:
-
-"Shall I lend you a saw, old man?"
-
-"A saw!" repeated Sefton in astonishment.
-"What on earth for?"
-
-"Skipper said you were to bring half of them at
-a time," explained the irresponsible medico with a
-grin. "Better try the top half of each man first trip."
-
-"That'll do, Pills," retorted the sub. "If it's
-surgery you're after, you had better do your own
-dirty work."
-
-"Give way, lads," ordered the sub as the boat
-drew clear of the steel wall-side of the destroyer.
-
-"We surrender make," declared the kapitan of
-the submarine as the boat ranged up alongside.
-"We haf a leak sprung."
-
-.. _`"'We surrender make.... We haf a leak sprung'"`:
-
-.. figure:: images/img-031.jpg
- :align: center
- :alt: "WE SURRENDER MAKE.... WE HAF A LEAK SPRUNG"
-
- "WE SURRENDER MAKE.... WE HAF A LEAK SPRUNG"]
-
-"Sorry to hear it," rejoined Sefton.
-
-"Is dat so?" enquired the perplexed German,
-mystified at his foe's solicitude.
-
-"Yes," soliloquized the sub. "We would much
-rather have collared the strafed submarine intact.
-We didn't bargain for her keel plates being stove in.
-
-"Now then!" he exclaimed. "I'll take eleven
-of you men first trip."
-
-The coxwain and bowman of the boat deftly
-engaged their boat-hooks in convenient projections
-of the submarine's conning-tower, while the
-specified number of dejected and apprehensive Huns
-was received on board.
-
-Having delivered the first batch of prisoners on
-the destroyer, Sefton returned, but, instead of
-immediately running alongside the prize, he ordered
-his men to lie on their oars. With the boat drifting
-at a distance of twenty yards from the unterseeboot,
-the sub coolly awaited developments.
-
-The Huns--officers and men alike--were far from
-cool. Gesticulating wildly, they implored the sub
-to take them off. Never before had Sefton seen
-a greater anxiety on the part of the Germans to
-abandon their ship, and in the course of eleven
-months' service in the North Sea his knowledge
-of the ways of the wily Hun was fairly extensive.
-
-At length two of the submarine's crew, unable
-to restrain their panic, leapt overboard and struck
-out for the boat.
-
-"Stand by with a stretcher, there, Jenkins,"
-ordered Sefton. "Show them what we mean to
-do. Knock them over the knuckles if they attempt
-to grasp the gunwale."
-
-"We surrender do, kamerad!" shouted the
-Huns in dolorous chorus, seeing their companions
-repelled from the waiting boat.
-
-"Yes, I know," replied Sefton. "You've told
-me that already. A few minutes' wait won't hurt
-you. There's plenty of time."
-
-"Back oars!" ordered the sub, as the Germans,
-terrified beyond measure, slid from the submarine's
-deck into the water, officers and men striking out
-frantically.
-
-Thirty seconds later came the dull muffled sound
-of an explosion. A thin wreath of vapour issued
-from the open conning-tower.
-
-"Not much of a bust-up that," exclaimed Sefton
-contemptuously. "It would not have flicked a fly
-from her deck. Well, I suppose I must take the
-beggars into the boat."
-
-The lightness of the explosion had also astonished
-the German officers. Adopting their usual
-procedure they had fixed three detonators in the hull
-of the stranded vessel, and upon the approach of
-the *Calder's* boat the second time they had lighted
-the four-minute time-fuses.
-
-Sefton, guessing rightly what had been done,
-had resolved to give the Huns, not a bad quarter
-of an hour, but a worse three minutes. He, too,
-expected to see the submarine's hull disintegrated
-by a terrific explosion.
-
-On the boat's return to the destroyer with the
-rest of the prisoners, Sefton made his report to
-the lieutenant-commander.
-
-"Can't blame them," declared Crosthwaite. "In
-similar circumstances we would have done the
-same, but with better results, I hope. Send that
-petty officer aft; I want to speak to him."
-
-The man indicated was, as luck would have it,
-the fellow responsible for lighting the fuses.
-Putting on his fiercest expression, Lieutenant-Commander
-Crosthwaite sternly taxed him with attempting
-to destroy the submarine after she had surrendered.
-
-Taken aback, the man admitted that it was so.
-
-"How many detonators?" asked Crosthwaite.
-
-"Three, Herr Kapitan."
-
-"And what time-fuses?"
-
-"Four-minutes," was the reply.
-
-"Then jolly rotten stuff," commented the
-lieutenant-commander as he motioned for the prisoner
-to be removed below. "We'll give them another
-quarter of an hour before we board her."
-
-The stated time passed without any signs of
-further internal explosions. The *Calder* made good
-use of the interval, Harwich being communicated
-with by wireless, announcing the capture of the
-prize, and requesting tugs and lighters to be
-dispatched to assist the disabled U boat into port.
-
-"Now I think it's all O.K.," remarked
-Crosthwaite. "Sure you're keen on the job?"
-
-Sefton flushed under his tanned skin. His
-skipper was quick to notice that he had blundered.
-
-"Sorry!" he said apologetically. "Ought to
-have jolly well known you better. Off you go,
-and good luck. By the by, take a volunteer crew."
-
-Of the seventy men of the *Calder* every one
-would have unhesitatingly followed the sub.
-Asking for volunteers for a hazardous service was
-merely a matter of form. There was quite a mild
-contest to take part in the operations of boarding
-the submarine.
-
-By this time the falling tide had left nearly the
-whole extent of the deck dry. There were four
-hatchways in addition to the conning-tower, each
-of which was securely fastened. Through the
-open aperture in the conning-tower Sefton made
-his way. Below all was in darkness, for with the
-explosion the electric lamps had been extinguished.
-A heavy reek of petrol fumes and sulphurous smoke
-scented the confined space.
-
-The sub switched on the electric torch which he
-had taken the precaution to bring with him. The
-rays barely penetrated the smoke beyond a few feet.
-
-"Phew!" he muttered. "Too jolly thick. It is
-a case for a smoke-helmet."
-
-Back went the boat, returning in a short space of
-time with the required article. Donning the
-safety-helmet, one of the bluejackets descended, groped
-his way to the nearest hatchway and opened it.
-
-An uninterrupted current of fresh air ensued, and
-in ten minutes the midship portion of the prize was
-practically free from noxious fumes.
-
-"Blow me, Nobby," exclaimed one of the
-carpenter's crew, "did you ever see such a lash up?
-Strikes me they slung this old hooker together in a
-bit of a hurry."
-
-The shipwright's contemptuous reference to the
-Teuton constructor's art was justified. The
-submarine had every appearance of being roughly
-built in sections and bolted together. Everything
-pointed to hurried and makeshift work.
-
-Under the engine beds Sefton discovered two
-unexploded detonators. The one that had gone off
-was "something of a dud", for the explosive force
-was very feeble--insufficient even to start any of the
-hull plating. But it had performed a useful service
-to the British prize crew: the blast had detached
-the time-fuses from the remaining gun-cotton
-charges, and had thus preserved the submarine
-from total destruction.
-
-Nevertheless Sefton heaved a sigh of relief as the
-two detonators were dropped overboard. Guncotton,
-especially German-made stuff, was apt to
-play peculiar tricks.
-
-The fore and after compartments or sub-divisions
-of the hull were closed by means of watertight
-doors in the bulkheads. The foremost was found
-to have four feet of water--the same depth as that
-of the sea over the bank on which the vessel had
-stranded. It was here that the plates had been
-started when the U boat made her unlucky
-acquaintance with the Haisborough Shoal.
-
-Flashing his torch upon the oily surface of the
-water, Sefton made a brief examination. On either
-side of the bulging framework were tiers of bunks.
-This compartment, then, was the sleeping-quarters
-of the submarine's crew. Of torpedo-tubes there
-were no signs; nor were these to be found
-anywhere else on board. Aft was a "gantry"
-communicating with an ingeniously contrived air-lock.
-The submarine was not designed for torpedo
-work but for an even more sinister task: that of
-mine-laying. Not a single globe of latent destruction
-remained on board. Already the U boat had
-sown her crop of death; would there be time to
-destroy the harvest?
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER IV--Not Under Control
-=============================
-
-Quickly the news of the captured submarine's
-former activities was flash-signalled to the *Calder*,
-and with the least possible delay the information
-was transmitted by wireless to Great Yarmouth and
-Harwich.
-
-Until the minefield was located and destroyed
-it was unsafe for any shipping to proceed to or
-from Yarmouth Roads.
-
-Questions put to the U boat's crew elicited that
-the vessel was one of seven operating in conjunction
-with the raiding cruisers. While the German
-fleet was bombarding Yarmouth, the submarines--having
-on account of their slower speed set out on
-the previous day--proceeded to lay a chain of mines
-from the Would through Haisborough Gat, and
-thence to a point a few cables east of the Gorton
-lightship, thus completely enclosing Yarmouth
-Roads from the sea. The UC6--that being the
-designation of the prize--had just completed her
-task when she sighted the *Calder* approaching.
-Miscalculating her position, she had run her nose
-hard upon the shoal, with the result that her low
-compartment quickly flooded, thus rendering her
-incapable of keeping afloat.
-
-It was not long before four mine-sweepers came
-lumbering northwards from Yarmouth, while others
-proceeded in different directions to "clear up the
-mess", as their crews tersely described the
-dangerous operations of destroying the mines.
-
-The *Calder*, still standing by, had missed the
-northern limit of the German minefield by a few
-yards. Had she held on her former course the
-probability was that she would have bumped upon
-a couple of the infernal contrivances--for the mines
-were dropped in twos, each pair connected by a
-span of cable to make more certain of a vessel's
-bows being caught in its bight--and been blown
-up with the loss of all her crew.
-
-The destroyer had been sent on particular service.
-Other side issues had demanded her attention, and,
-with the pluck and resourcefulness of British
-seamen, her crew had risen to the occasion. To them
-it was all in the day's work, with one ulterior
-motive--to push on with the war.
-
-Deftly, the result of months of experience, the
-mine-sweepers set to work. With little delay the
-first of the mines was located, dragged to the
-surface, and sunk by means of rifle-fire. Others were
-destroyed in quick succession, two exploding as the
-bullets, made for the purpose of penetrating the
-buoyancy chambers, contrived to hit the projecting
-horns of the detonating mechanism.
-
-In two hours, the trawlers having swept the
-whole extent of the Would, the minefield was
-reported to be destroyed.
-
-"What damage ashore?" enquired Crosthwaite,
-as the nearest trawler sidled under the destroyer's
-stern.
-
-"Precious little, sir, considering," replied the
-master of the mine-sweeper. "A few buildings
-knocked about and a score or so of people killed or
-injured. Might ha' been worse," and he shook his
-fist in the direction in which the raiders had fled.
-
-Sedately, as if conscious of having modestly
-performed a gallant service, the mine-sweepers bore
-up for home, and once again the *Calder* was left to
-stand by her prize.
-
-She was not long left alone. A number of
-motor patrol-boats came buzzing round like flies
-round a honey-pot. The work of transferring the
-German prisoners was quickly taken in hand. They
-were put on board the patrol-boats in batches of
-half a dozen. It saved the destroyer the trouble of
-putting into port when she was supposed to hold no
-communication with the shore.
-
-The last of the motor-boats had brought up
-alongside the *Calder* when Sefton recognized the
-R.N.R. sub-lieutenant in charge as an old friend of
-pre-war days.
-
-Algernon Stickleton was a man whose acquaintance
-with the sea was strictly limited to week-ends
-spent on board the Motor Yacht Club's
-headquarters--the ex-Admiralty yacht *Enchantress*--in
-Southampton Water. Given a craft with engines,
-he could steer her with a certain amount of
-confidence. Of navigation and the art of a mariner he
-knew little or nothing. Tides were a mystery to
-him, the mariner's compass an unknown quantity.
-In short, he was a marine motorist--the
-counterpart of the motor road-hog ashore.
-
-Upon the outbreak of war, commissions in the
-R.N.R. motor-boat service were flung broadcast
-by the Admiralty at the members of the Motor
-Yacht Club, and amongst those who donned the
-pilot-coat with the gold wavy band and curl was
-Algernon Stickleton. At first he was given a
-"soft job", doing a sort of postman's work in
-Cowes Roads, until the experience, combined with
-his success in extricating himself, more by good luck
-than good management, from a few tight corners,
-justified the experiment of granting a commission
-to a comparatively callow marine motorist.
-
-Then he was put through a rapid course of
-signalling and elementary navigation, and, having
-"stuck at it", the budding sub-lieutenant R.N.R. was
-sent to the East Coast on a motor-yacht with
-the prospect of being given a fast patrol-boat when
-deemed proficient.
-
-Gone were those halcyon August and September
-days in Cowes Roads. He had to take his craft out
-by day and night, blow high or low. Boarding
-suspicious vessels in the open roadstead hardened
-his nerves and gave an unwonted zest to his work.
-At last he was doing something definite--taking an
-active part in the navy's work.
-
-"My first trip in this hooker, old man," he
-announced to Sefton, indicating with a sweep of
-his hand the compact, grey-painted motor craft
-that lay alongside the destroyer's black hull. "A
-clinker for speed. She'd knock your craft into a
-cocked hat. It beats Brooklands hollow. Wants
-a bit of handlin', don't you know, but I think I
-brought her alongside very nicely, what?"
-
-The last of the German prisoners having been
-received on board and passed below to the
-forepeak, Sub-lieutenant Stickleton prepared to cast
-off. Touching the tarnished peak of his cap, for
-months of exposure to all weathers had dimmed
-the pristine lustre of the once resplendent
-headgear, he gave the word for the motors to be
-started.
-
-Then, with one hand on the steering-wheel, he
-let in the clutch.
-
-Like an arrow from a bow the powerful box of
-machinery leapt forward. The result was disastrous
-as far as Stickleton was concerned. Unprepared
-to counteract the sudden momentum, he was literally
-"left", for, subsiding upon the short after-deck, he
-rolled backwards over the transom and fell into
-the boiling wake of the rapidly-moving motor-boat.
-
-Fortunately he could swim well, and was quickly
-hauled over the destroyer's side, a dripping but
-still cheerful object.
-
-Several of the *Calder's* crew laughed outright.
-Even Crosthwaite and Sefton had to smile. The
-sopping R.N.R. officer was quick to enter into the
-joke against himself.
-
-"Hope I won't get reprimanded for leaving my
-ship without permission," he remarked facetiously.
-
-"You haven't asked permission to board mine,"
-Crosthwaite reminded him. "It's the custom of
-the service, you know."
-
-Meanwhile attention was being transferred from
-the dripping officer to the craft of which he ought
-to be in command. Evidently her crew were
-unaware of what had occurred. The bowman was
-coiling down a rope, two of the deck hands were
-engaged in securing the fore-peak hatchway, while
-the rest were down below. The patrol-boat was
-tearing along at 38 knots, and, owing to the "torque"
-of the propellers, was describing a vast circle to port.
-
-It was the cabin-boy who first made the discovery
-that the little craft was without a guiding hand at
-the wheel. He was down below tidying up the
-sub's cabin, when he found an automatic cigarette-lighter
-that Stickleton had mislaid. Anxious to
-get into his superior officer's good books, for the
-youngster was the bane of Stickleton's existence on
-board, the boy ascended the short ladder leading
-to the cockpit. To his surprise he found no helmsman.
-
-Guessing that something was amiss, he hailed the
-bowman. The latter, scrambling aft, steadied the
-vessel on her helm, at the same time ordering the
-motors to be eased down. He was convinced that
-Stickleton had been jerked overboard and was
-swimming for dear life a couple of miles astern.
-
-By this time the *Calder* bore almost due west, at
-a distance of six sea miles, for the patrol-boat had
-described a complete semicircle. For some time
-the boat searched in vain for her missing skipper,
-until the coxswain suggested returning to
-Yarmouth to report the casualty.
-
-"Better get back to the destroyer, George,"
-counselled another of the crew. "Maybe they've
-got our skipper. Anyway, there'll be no harm done."
-
-Somewhat diffidently, George up-helmed and
-ordered full speed ahead. He, like the rest of the
-crew, was, before the war, a paid hand in a racing
-yacht; keen, alert, and a thorough seaman, but
-unused to a powerfully-engined boat. Ask him to
-bring a sailing-boat alongside in half a gale of
-wind, he would have complied with the utmost skill,
-luffing at the exact moment and allowing the craft
-to lose way with her canvas slatting in the breeze
-without the loss of a square inch of paint.
-Bringing a "match-box crammed chock-a-block with
-machinery" alongside was a totally different matter;
-but, as it had to be done, George clenched his teeth
-and gripped the spokes of the wheel, determined to
-die like a true Briton.
-
-The patrol-boat had covered but half of the
-distance back to the *Calder* when she almost leapt
-clear of the water. The two deck-hands for'ard
-were thrown flat, and, sliding over the slippery
-planks, brought up against the low stanchion rails.
-A slight shock, barely perceptible above the
-pulsations of the motors, and the little packet dipped
-her nose under to the water, shook herself clear,
-and resumed her mad pelt.
-
-"What's up, George?" sang out the mate.
-
-"Dunno," replied the coxswain. "Guess we've
-bumped agen' summat."
-
-Then, the dread possibility that he had run dawn
-his own skipper entering his mind, he decided to
-return and investigate.
-
-Having had but little experience in the use of the
-reversing-gear, George slammed the lever hard-to.
-With a sickening jerk, as if the little craft were
-parting amidships, the patrol-boat stopped and
-gathered sternway. A minute later she backed
-over a large and ever-increasing pool of iridescent
-oil, through which air-bubbles were forcing their way.
-
-"By Jupiter!" exclaimed one of the crew; "blest
-if we haven't rammed a strafed U boat."
-
-The man had spoken truly. A German
-submarine, acting independently of the raiding-squadron,
-had sighted the *Calder*, hove-to, at a
-distance of three miles. Unaware of the presence
-of the patrol-boat--and the sight of a patrol-boat or
-a trawler usually gives the German unterseebooten
-a bad attack of the blues--her kapitan had taken
-a preliminary bearing prior to submerging in order
-to get within effective torpedo range. Having
-judged himself to have gained the required position,
-the Hun ordered the boat to be again brought to
-the surface.
-
-At the critical moment he heard the thud of the
-propellers of the swiftly-moving patrol-boat. He
-attempted to dive, but too late. The sharp steel
-stem of the little craft, moving through the water
-at the rate of a railway train, nicked the top of the
-U boat's conning-tower sufficiently to penetrate the
-plating. Before steps could be taken to stop the
-inrush of water the U boat was doomed. Sinking
-slowly to the bottom, she filled, the heavy oil from
-her motors finding its way to the surface in an
-aureole of iridescent colours to mark her last
-resting-place.
-
-George, seaman first, and fighting-man next,
-gave little thought to his involuntary act. The
-safety of his temporary command came foremost.
-
-"Nip down below and see if she's started a
-seam," he ordered.
-
-The men, who had been ejected from their quarters
-by the concussion, hurried to the fore-peak. As
-they opened the cuddy-hatch the half-dozen terrified
-German prisoners made a wild scramble to gain the deck.
-
-"Who told you blighters to come out?" shouted
-George, and, abandoning the wheel, he rushed
-forward, seized the foremost Hun by the scruff of the
-neck and hurled him violently against the next
-man. The floor of the fore-peak was covered with
-a squirming heap of now thoroughly cowed Huns,
-to whom the apparition of the stalwart, angry
-Englishman was more to be dreaded than being
-shaken like peas in a pod in the dark recesses of
-their temporary prison quarter.
-
-"Is she making anything?" enquired George
-anxiously, as he returned to take charge of the helm.
-
-"Hardly a trickle," was the reassuring reply.
-"Whack her up, mate."
-
-The coxwain proceeded to order full speed ahead,
-and the little craft tore back to the *Calder* in order
-that the news of her skipper's disappearance might
-be reported.
-
-To the surprise of the patrol-boat's crew they
-discovered their sub, arrayed in borrowed garments,
-standing aft and motioning to the boat to come
-alongside.
-
-It was easier said than done. The coxwain's
-faith in his capabilities was weak, notwithstanding
-his resolution. At the first shot he carried too
-much way, reversing engines when the little craft
-was fifty yards ahead of the destroyer. The second
-attempt found him a like distance short, with no
-way on the boat. At the third he dexterously
-caught a coil of rope hurled from the *Calder*, and
-succeeded in hauling alongside.
-
-"We've just rammed a submarine, sir," reported
-the coxwain, saluting, delivering the information in
-a matter-of-fact manner, as if destroying enemy
-craft in this fashion were an everyday occurrence.
-
-Sub-lieutenant Stickleton having regained his
-command, the motor-boat piloted the *Calder* to
-the scene of her exploit. A diver descended in nine
-fathoms, and quickly telephoned the confirmatory
-information that a U boat was lying with a list to
-starboard on the sand, with a rent in her
-conning-tower--the indirect result of the involuntary bathe
-of Sub-lieutenant Stickleton, R.N.R.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER V--Sefton to the Rescue
-===============================
-
-"A tug and a couple of lighters bearing down,
-sir," reported the *Calder's* look-out before the diver
-had reappeared from his errand of investigation.
-
-Approaching at the modest rate of 7 knots was
-a paddle-wheel steamer towing two unwieldy craft
-resembling overgrown canal barges.
-
-The tide was now well on the flood. It wanted
-about a couple of hours to high water, and, since
-the falling glass and clear visibility of distant
-objects betokened the approach of bad weather,
-urgent steps would have to be taken speedily to
-extricate the captured submarine from the embraces
-of the sand-bank.
-
-The examination of the prize by her captors was
-now practically complete. The U boat was one of
-a new type, and had left Wilhelmshaven on her
-maiden trip forty-eight hours previously. She had
-either lost her bearings or had purposely approached
-shoal water. Anyhow she had been neatly strafed
-before she had had time to do much mischief.
-
-Already the *Calder's* crew had taken steps to
-assist the salvage people in the task of floating the
-prize. The hatchways, with the exception of that
-of the conning-tower, had been hermetically closed,
-and the watertight doors in the for'ard bulkhead
-shut and shored up to withstand the pressure of
-water in the holed fore-peak.
-
-By the time the lighters were made fast, one on
-either side of the submarine, the level of the water
-was up to within fifteen inches of the conning-tower
-hatchway. Quickly hoses, connected to Downton
-pumps, were led from the lighters to the
-water-ballast tanks of the submarine, since it had been
-found impossible to "start" the ballast by means
-of hand pumps.
-
-It was a race against time and tide. The
-mechanical appliances won, and soon the *Calder's*
-officers and crew had the satisfaction of seeing the
-submarine's deck appear close to the surface.
-
-She still had a pronounced "dip", the flooded
-for'ard compartment tending to depress her bow;
-but, supported by the two lighters, she was
-prevented from sinking. Then, taken in tow by the
-tug, the prize, with her cumbersome attendants,
-waddled slowly for Harwich.
-
-Her part in this supplementary business ended,
-the *Calder* slipped off at full speed to the position
-where the *Dimpled Lassie* and the *Carse o' Gowrie*
-still held a resolute grip on the recovered cable.
-
-As Skipper M'Kie had surmised, neither of the
-trawlers had been molested by the German
-battle-cruisers or destroyers. Carried away by their
-frantic desire to make a display of frightfulness
-upon an unprotected English watering-place they
-had totally ignored the seemingly innocuous
-cable-grappling craft.
-
-"It will blow like billy-oh before morning,"
-remarked Lieutenant Crosthwaite to his subordinate.
-"I'm going to tell them to buoy and slip
-the cable. We've done very well, I think. You
-might make an observation; I'll take another, and
-we'll check our calculations. I'll guarantee we
-won't have much trouble in fishing up the cable
-next time."
-
-Crosthwaite's orders to the skippers of the
-trawlers were smartly carried out, and the cable,
-left with its position marked by a green
-wreck-buoy, a sufficient guarantee against detrimental
-examination by curious fishermen. Before sunset
-the *Calder* and her two charges were snug in
-Lowestoft harbour, the crews being cautioned
-against the risk of letting fall any hint concerning
-their recent work--an injunction that they loyally
-carried out.
-
-It was three days before the gale blew itself out.
-During that period events had been moving rapidly.
-And here one of the few advantages of being on
-particular service became apparent. Had not the
-*Calder* been detailed for escort duties to the
-cable-grappling trawlers the chances were that she would
-be plugging against heavy green seas, while those
-of her crew not on duty on deck would be existing
-under battened hatches. Instead, the destroyer was
-lying snugly berthed in a harbour, and her crew
-were able to enjoy brief spells of liberty ashore.
-
-The next step was to locate the shore end of the
-cable. This work required particular skill and
-discretion, since the German operator would
-certainly be on the alert for the first suspicious
-movement.
-
-Scotland Yard detectives, disguised as fishermen
-and longshoremen, eventually succeeded in tracing
-the source of the leakage of information. The
-temporary cable had been brought ashore nearly four
-miles from the original landing-place of the severed
-line, and led to a wooden hut on the edge of the
-sandy cliffs.
-
-For the present, all that was required to be done
-in that direction was performed. The Admiralty
-had decided to let the cable turn the tables upon
-the Huns, and, until the time was ripe, the spy
-could telegraph without interruption, but unwittingly
-he was digging a pit for himself from which
-no escape was possible.
-
-It was well into the third week in May when the
-*Calder* received orders to proceed to Rosyth,
-replenish stores and oil-fuel, and rejoin her flotilla.
-The news was hailed with delight, since it was
-possible that many of the officers and crew would
-be able to proceed on leave.
-
-Another week passed. Information had reached
-the Commander-in-Chief of a certain amount of
-German activity in the North Sea. Something
-had to be done to attract the attention of the
-German populace from the series of rebuffs
-experienced by the Huns before Verdun.
-Exaggerated reports concerning the prowess of the
-German High Seas Fleet, coupled with news of
-spasmodic raids upon the British coast, helped to
-foster the ill-founded belief of the Huns in the
-invincibility of their navy, while, to keep up the
-deceit, Admiral von Scheer took his ships out for
-various discreet cruises off the Danish coast, where
-there was ever a possibility of making a quick run
-back under the guns and behind the minefields of
-Heligoland.
-
-On the 29th May orders were issued for the
-First and Second Battle Squadrons and the Second
-Battle-Cruiser Squadron to proceed to a certain
-rendezvous in order to carry out target practice.
-The instructions were issued through the usual
-channels, with the almost certain knowledge that
-the information would leak out. The Commander-in-Chief's
-anticipation proved to be correct, for
-within three hours of the issuing of the order the
-news was transmitted to Germany by means of the
-tapped cable.
-
-It was not the Admiral's intention to carry out
-target practice. Instead, the whole of the Grand
-Fleet put to sea from its various bases, ostensibly
-for the neighbourhood of the Orkneys, but in reality
-for a far more important objective.
-
-At 1 a.m. on the 31st the authorities raided the
-isolated hut on the Norfolk coast, captured the
-German telegraph operator in the act of
-communicating with Borkum, and hurried him away under
-close arrest. He had played his part as far as the
-British interests were concerned, since he had
-informed the German Admiralty of the supposed
-rendezvous of Jellicoe's fleet.
-
-"Do you think there's something in the wind,
-sir?" asked Sefton, as the *Calder*, in station with
-the rest of her flotilla, was slipping along at
-18 knots.
-
-Crosthwaite smiled enigmatically. He knew as
-much as captains of ships were supposed to know,
-which wasn't very much, but more than their
-subordinates were told.
-
-"Patience!" he replied. "Can't say more at
-present. You might see how repairs to that 4-inch
-gun are progressing."
-
-Sefton descended the bridge ladder and made
-his way aft. Slight defects in the mounting of
-the stern-chaser quick-firer had appeared almost as
-soon as the destroyer left the Firth of Forth, and
-the armourer's crew were hard at work rectifying
-the damage.
-
-Gripping the stanchion rail surrounding the gun
-platform, for the *Calder* was rolling considerably
-in the "wash" of her preceding consorts, and
-exposed to a stiff beam wind, the sub watched the
-operation. He had no need to ask any questions;
-there was little about the mechanism of a 4-inch
-and its mountings that he did not know. He could
-see that the repairs were almost completed, only a
-few finishing touches requiring to be done.
-
-"Man overboard!"
-
-The sub rushed to the side just in time to see
-the outstretched arms of a bluejacket emerging
-from the following wave of the swiftly moving
-craft. It was indeed fortunate that the man was
-still alive, not only had he escaped having his
-back broken on striking the water, but he had
-missed the rapidly revolving starboard propeller.
-Clad in a "duffel" suit and wearing sea-boots, his
-position was precarious in the extreme.
-
-Without hesitation Sefton made a flying leap
-over the guard-rails. Once clear of the side he
-drew up his legs and hunched his shoulders,
-striking the water with tremendous force. Well it was
-that he had taken this precaution instead of making
-a dive in the ordinary sense of the word, for, carried
-onward at the rate of a mile every three minutes,
-he ran a serious risk of dislocated limbs or a broken
-back had he not rolled himself into the nearest
-resemblance to a ball.
-
-.. _`"WITHOUT HESITATION SEFTON MADE A FLYING LEAP OVER THE GUARD RAILS"`:
-
-.. figure:: images/img-058.jpg
- :align: center
- :alt: "WITHOUT HESITATION SEFTON MADE A FLYING LEAP OVER THE GUARD RAILS"
-
- "WITHOUT HESITATION SEFTON MADE A FLYING LEAP OVER THE GUARD RAILS"
-
-He sank deeply, and was swept irresistibly by
-the back-wash; it seemed as if he were fathoms
-down. Before he emerged he could distinctly hear
-the whirr of the triple propellers. Rising to the
-surface he refilled his lungs with the salt-laden air,
-for the concussion had wellnigh deprived him of
-breath. Then he gave a hurried glance around him.
-
-The *Calder* was already a couple of cables' lengths
-away, while the destroyer next astern was almost on
-top of him. As she swept by, a lifebuoy was hurled
-towards the sub, luckily missing him by a bare yard.
-
-The second and last destroyer astern saw the
-swimmer, and by porting helm avoided him easily,
-and saved him from the great discomfort of being
-flung about in her wake like a pea in a saucepan of
-boiling water. Without making any attempt to
-slow down and send a boat, the destroyer flotilla held on.
-
-Sefton soon realized the necessity for this
-apparently inexplicable act. It was impossible without
-grave risk to the flotilla to break up the formation,
-while the danger was still further increased by the
-fact that the First Cruiser Squadron was pelting
-along somewhere three or four miles astern, and
-these vessels, being of a considerable tonnage,
-carried a tremendous amount of way. Above all,
-it was war-time, and individuals do not count when
-greater issues are at stake.
-
-Presently the sub descried the head and shoulders
-of the missing man as he rose on the crest of the
-broken waves. He, too, had succeeded in reaching
-a lifebuoy thrown by the nearmost destroyer. Short
-as had been the time between the man's tumble
-overboard and Sefton's deliberate leap, owing to
-the speed of the flotilla nearly a quarter of a mile
-separated the would-be rescuer from the object of
-his gallant attempt.
-
-"No use hanging on here," thought Sefton, as
-he clung to the buoy. "Must get to the man somehow."
-
-Then it was that he realized that he had gone
-overboard in a thick pilot coat and india-rubber
-sea-boots. These he sacrificed regretfully, since
-there was no chance of replenishing his kit until
-the *Calder* returned to port--that is, if he had the
-good fortune to survive his adventure "in the
-ditch". The operation of discarding the boots
-gave him a tussle, during which he swallowed
-more salt water than desirable; then, relaxing his
-grip on the lifebuoy, Sefton struck out towards the man.
-
-The sub was a good swimmer. At Dartmouth
-he had been "runner-up" for the 440 yards
-championship, but now he realized the vast difference
-between swimming that length in regulation
-costume and an equal distance almost fully clothed in
-the choppy North Sea.
-
-By the time the sub came within hailing distance
-of the seaman his limbs felt as heavy as lead,
-while, do what he would, he was unable to raise
-his voice above a whisper, much less "assure the
-drowning man in a loud, firm voice that he is safe",
-according to the official regulations. Sefton was
-by no means certain that he himself was in anything
-but a most precarious position.
-
-Sefton found that the man he had risked his life
-to save was not half so exhausted as he was. The
-seaman had come off lightly in his fall, and he had
-had no occasion to tire himself with a long swim
-to the lifebuoy, since the crew of the passing
-destroyer had all but brained him with the cork "Kisbie".
-
-The A.B. regarded his rescuer with a look that
-betokened pained disapproval. He was one of
-those men who are ever "up against discipline".
-To him the gold band and curl on a uniform meant
-something more than authority: it roused a spirit
-of sullen aggression.
-
-And yet Thomas Brown had joined the Royal
-Navy with the best intentions. Fate, in the shape
-of a short-tempered recruiting-officer, had marred
-his career from the very start; for, on joining the
-training-school at Shotley, one of the questions
-asked of him was the name of his birthplace.
-
-"Ashby-de-la-Zouch, sir," replied young Brown,
-giving the name with the accepted Leicestershire
-accent.
-
-"Where did you say?" enquired the lieutenant.
-
-The recruit repeated the words.
-
-"Zoo, did you say?" snapped the officer.
-
-"Yes, sir," rejoined Thomas Brown without a
-moment's hesitation. "The next cage to yours."
-
-The repartee came absolutely on the spur of the
-moment. A second's reflection might have made
-all the difference. It was a bad start, and the
-newly-entered boy suffered for it. That was some
-years ago, but in the Royal Navy the old adage of
-giving a dog a bad name holds good longer than
-anywhere else.
-
-Sefton recognized the man as one who figured
-frequently in the "Captain's Report". Young as
-he was, the sub had a keen insight into human
-nature, and although he knew nothing of the first
-slip that had marred the A.B.'s career he was
-certain that there were good points in the man, and
-that underneath his rugged, surly exterior there was
-something of true worth.
-
-"No need for you to tumble into the ditch after
-me, sir," said the man. "I can shift for myself."
-
-He spoke gruffly, but underlying the remonstrance
-was an unmistakable tone of gratitude. In
-the circumstances he was glad of company. He
-would have welcomed his "raggie", or chum, in
-preference to an officer, but at such times the
-difference of rank gives place to the equality of human
-peril.
-
-"They'll pick us both up," declared Sefton,
-although in his mind he had grave doubts as to
-the matter.
-
-"Not they," rejoined A.B. Brown, indicating the
-direction of the now invisible flotilla with a jerk
-of his closely-cropped head. "The cruisers might.
-But take hold of this, sir," he added, pushing the
-buoy to within reach of the sub. "You looks as if
-you want it a long sight more'n me."
-
-Both men relapsed into silence. Further conversation
-meant a waste of precious breath. At intervals,
-as the buoy rose on the billows, Sefton "hiked"
-his head and shoulders well clear of the water in
-the hope of sighting the armoured-cruiser squadron.
-
-"They're a precious long time in coming up,"
-he soliloquized. "Seven minutes ought to have
-done the trick."
-
-As a matter of fact, the First Cruiser Squadron
-had received a wireless message from the *Calder*
-within ninety seconds of Sefton's leap overboard,
-requesting the vessels to keep a sharp look-out for
-the two men.
-
-On receipt of the intelligence the armoured
-cruisers' speed was reduced to 10 knots, and this
-accounted for the seemingly endless time that
-elapsed before the vessels came within sight of the
-two well-nigh exhausted men as they clung to the
-lifebuoy.
-
-At length, through the light haze that prevailed
-throughout the morning, could be discerned the
-grey outlines of the First Cruiser Squadron.
-
-The ships were steaming in double column, line
-ahead, the *Defence*, flying the Rear-Admiral's flag,
-leading the starboard and the *Warrior* the port line.
-With faultless precision they came on, three cables'
-distance separating the units of each division, and
-twice that interval betwixt the columns.
-
-"They've spotted us, sir," exclaimed Able
-Seaman Brown, as the alteration of position of the
-red flag and green cone displayed from the cruiser's
-mainmast yard-arm told the two men that the
-*Warrior's* helm was being ported. Simultaneously
-the "steaming cones" were reversed, showing that
-the ship's engines were going astern--a manoeuvre
-followed by the rest of the squadron.
-
-Almost before way was taken off the ship the
-*Warrior's* sea-boat was rapidly lowered from the
-davits. Sefton could hear the dull thud of the
-lower blocks as the releasing-gear came into action
-and the falls surged against the ship's side, and the
-treble-voiced midshipman urging his boat's crew
-to "give way there, my lads, for all you're worth."
-
-Although only a minute and a half elapsed
-between the time the sea-boat got away from the ship
-and her arrival at the scene of the rescue, the
-interval seemed interminable to Sub-lieutenant Sefton.
-
-With feelings of indescribable relief he realized
-that he was being gripped by two pairs of horny
-powerful hands and lifted over the dipping gunwale
-into the stern-sheets, while others performed a like
-office for the saturated A.B.
-
-Smartly the sea-boat was brought alongside the
-cruiser. Deftly the hoisting-gear was engaged,
-and with a hundred-and-twenty men tailing on the
-falls the boat and her occupants were whisked up
-to a level with the vessel's quarter-deck.
-
-And thus Acting Sub-lieutenant John Sefton
-found himself on board H.M.S. *Warrior*, in blissful
-ignorance of the gallant part the armoured cruiser
-was about to bear in the glorious battle off the
-Jutland Bank.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER VI--Action at the Double
-================================
-
-The ship upon which Sefton found himself as an
-unauthorized supernumerary was an armoured
-cruiser of 13,550 tons, built and completed at
-Pembroke nine years previously. She was one of a
-class of four that marked a new departure in naval
-architecture--each of her guns being mounted
-singly and in a separate turret. At the time when
-she was laid down she was considered one of the
-heaviest armed cruisers of her day, mounting six
-9.2-inch and four 7.5-inch guns. Of these, three
-9.2's could be made to fire ahead, and a similar
-number astern, while on either broadside she could
-deliver a formidable salvo from four of the guns of
-heavier calibre and two of the 7.5's. With the
-exception of the following year's programme of the
-*Minotaur* class, the *Warrior* and her sister ships
-were the last armoured cruisers laid down by the
-British Admiralty, the all-big-gun battle-cruisers
-simply outclassing at one swoop the armoured
-cruisers of the world's navies.
-
-Nevertheless the *Warrior* was still a powerful
-unit, and calculated to be more than a match for
-any German vessel of her size. Her designed
-speed of a fraction over 22 knots--a rate that when
-necessity arose could be exceeded--enabled her
-with the rest of her class to form a valuable,
-hard-hitting auxiliary to the vessels of the battle-cruiser
-squadrons.
-
-While Sefton was being kitted out by an obliging
-brother sub-lieutenant, a wireless message had
-been sent to the *Calder* announcing the safety of
-her sub-lieutenant and A.B. Brown.
-
-Crosthwaite received the gratifying intelligence
-with undisguised delight. His feelings were
-shared by the whole of the ship's company, for,
-almost without exception, the destroyer's officers
-were voted a "sound lot", and the possibility of
-Sefton's death in a gallant attempt at the rescue of
-a lower-deck man had thrown a gloom over the ship.
-
-As for the lieutenant-commander, his relief and
-gratitude to Providence knew no bounds. Between
-Sefton's leap overboard and the receipt of the
-*Warrior's* message he had passed through a
-distressing time. Apart from his personal regard for
-the sub, with whom he had shared adventures and
-perils in the Near East, the fact that he had been
-compelled to abandon Sefton to the vagaries of fate
-hit him hard. He was even doubtful whether, with
-the possibilities of hostile submarines cruising
-around, the armoured cruisers would risk slowing
-down to rescue two men and at the same time
-present a splendid target for German torpedoes.
-However, the deed of rescue was accomplished, and the
-next step to consider was how to get Sefton and the
-A.B. back on the destroyer. The former's presence
-was desirable, in fact essential.
-
-In answer to the *Calder's* lieutenant-commander's
-request, whether it would be possible for Sefton to
-be sent back to the destroyer, the rescuing ship
-replied that, should opportunity occur, the *Calder*
-could close, but that, in view of present conditions,
-such a step was most unlikely.
-
-"So you'll jolly well have to make yourself
-at home here, old bird," remarked one of the
-*Warrior's* sub-lieutenants, who as a youngster had
-passed out of Dartmouth at the same time as Sefton.
-"Suppose the trip will do you good. Sort of
-marine excursion out and home, don't you know.
-Nothin' doin', and never a sign of a Hun, unless it
-be a 'tin-fish' or two."
-
-The *Warrior's* sub voiced the opinion of the
-rest of the gun-room. He was president of the
-mess and a mild autocrat over the "small fry", and
-generally voted a rattling good sort by the handful
-of midshipmen, many of whom, alas! were to yield
-up their lives in undying fame before many hours
-were past.
-
-Yet, although the whole of the personnel of the
-Grand Fleet were as keen as mustard to meet the
-Huns, frequent and almost unvarying disappointment
-had been their lot. Over and over again
-Beatty's squadron had swept the North Sea without
-coming in contact with the enemy, until it was the
-general conclusion that, until the High Seas Fleet
-was actually sighted, it was of no use speculating
-upon the chances of the "big scrap".
-
-And now, on the memorable morning of
-Wednesday, the 31st May, the First and Second
-Battle-cruiser Squadron, three light-cruiser squadrons,
-with attendant destroyers, were ploughing eastward
-across the North Sea, with the knowledge that
-the hard-hitting Battle Fleet, together with a
-formidable array of cruisers and destroyers, was some
-distance to the nor'ard, ready, at the first
-wireless call, to complete the toils thrown around the
-German fleet should the latter, lured into a sense
-of false security, dare to leave the mine-fields of
-Heligoland.
-
-Shortly after noon the wind dropped and the
-water became almost calm, save for the
-undulations caused by the swiftly-moving squadron.
-Overhead the sun shone faintly through a thick
-haze, which for hours hung about with irritating
-persistence.
-
-Sefton had just commenced a game of draughts
-with some of the officers who were off duty, when
-a messenger entered the gun-room and handed a
-"chit" to the senior sub. Not until the man had
-gone did the young officer break the momentous
-news to the others, apologizing as if the information
-might unduly raise their hopes.
-
-"I don't want to be too cock-sure, you fellows,"
-he announced. "Looks as if they're out this time,
-but----"
-
-"I vote we go on deck," suggested a midshipman.
-
-"And see the whole of the German fleet," added
-a junior watchkeeper facetiously.
-
-"Anyhow, there's 'General Quarters'," retorted
-the middy daringly as a bugle rang out, the call
-being quickly repeated in various parts of the ship,
-"Look alive, you fellows."
-
-"Stick to me, Sefton," said the senior sub,
-snatching his telescope from a rack and making
-a bolt for the door. "If there's anything to be
-seen of the scrap you'll have a good chance with
-me. I'm fire-control, don't you know."
-
-Jack Sefton nodded his head in acquiescence.
-He was sorry that he was not on board the *Calder*,
-since there was a greater possibility of the destroyer
-flotillas dashing in to complete the work of the
-battle-cruisers than of the armoured cruisers
-getting within range.
-
-Gaining the quarter-deck, the *Calder's* sub heard
-the unmistakable baritone hum of an aerial
-propeller. Overhead, at a low altitude of less than
-a thousand feet, a sea-plane was flying in a
-northeasterly direction. By the markings on her planes
-and fuselage--concentric red, white, and blue
-circles--Sefton recognized her as a British one.
-It afterwards transpired that Sir David Beatty had
-ordered the *Engadine* to send up a sea-plane for
-reconnaissance work, and that wireless reports were
-received from the daring airmen that they had
-sighted four hostile light cruisers. The latter opened
-a hot fire with every quick-firer they could get to
-bear upon the indomitable sea-plane, the range
-being less than 3000 yards, but in spite of the hail
-of shrapnel the airmen gained their desired
-information and returned to their parent ship.
-
-On board the *Warrior*, as was the case with the
-rest of her consorts, hands were hard at work
-clearing ship for action. Already the masts and shrouds
-had been "frapped", or protected, by means of wire
-cables wrapped round the spars and interlaced
-between the standing-rigging. "A" and "B"
-water-tight doors were closed, armoured hatchways
-battened down, and hoses led along the decks in order
-to quell the fire that would inevitably break out
-should a hostile shell burst inside the armoured
-belt. Stanchions, cowls, and all gear likely to
-interfere with the training of the guns were
-unshipped and stowed, tons of His Majesty's property
-were jettisoned, the danger of their remaining on
-board being more than sufficient reason for their sacrifice.
-
-Inside the turrets, tubs of water were provided to
-slake the burning thirst of the guns' crews, for
-experience had proved that the acute mental and
-physical strain, coupled with the acrid fumes that
-drift into the confined steel spaces, produces an
-intense dryness of the mouth and throat. Behind
-the armoured protection, stretcher-bearers and
-fire-parties were preparing for their stern work.
-
-Down below, far beneath the water-line, the fleet
-surgeon and his staff were getting ready for their
-grim yet humane tasks. Operations have to be
-performed under great disadvantages, the complexity
-of wounds caused by modern shells adding to the
-difficulties under which the medical staff labours.
-Contrast an operation in a well-ordered hospital on
-shore--where perfect quietude reigns and
-everything is conducive to success--with the conditions
-on board a war-ship in action. The indifferent light,
-for the electric lamps are quivering under the
-vibration of the guns; the deafening concussion
-overhead as the ship gives and receives punishment;
-the jerky motion of the vessel as she twists and
-turns to the rapid movements of the helm and
-quivers under the titanic blows of hostile shells;
-and the probability of the ship's bottom being
-shattered like an egg-shell by a powerful torpedo--all
-these form but a part of the disadvantages under
-which the naval medical staff labour during the
-progress of an action.
-
-Literally imprisoned below the armoured deck,
-the grimy stokers were preparing for the coming
-ordeal. Hidden from the rest of the ship's
-company, they toiled like Trojans in order to raise such
-a terrific head of steam as would make the cruiser
-"foot it" at a speed far in excess of her
-nominal 22.33 knots. In action the lot of the "black
-squad" is perhaps the worst on board. Knowing
-nothing of what is going on, they have to work
-in a confined, heated steel box, shovelling coals
-with a dexterity that is the outcome of months of
-strenuous training. Besides the risk of torpedoes
-and shells there is ever the danger of the boilers
-giving way under the pressure of steam, with the
-inevitable result--a horrible death in a pitch-black
-stokehold filled with scalding steam. And yet, for
-easygoing joviality and good comradeship the
-naval stoker is hard to beat. He will face
-discomforts with a smiling face and a cheerful heart.
-He will be ready to risk his life for his chum--or
-on the altar of duty.
-
-These thoughts flashed through Sefton's mind
-as he watched the rapid and methodical preparation
-of clearing ship for action. For once the sub
-realized that he was a mere spectator--a sort of
-pariah, dumped from a comparatively insignificant
-destroyer upon a cruiser mustering a complement
-of over 700 officers and men. He was aware of
-the fact that he was a "deadhead"--an individual
-having no right to take part in the forthcoming
-contest. The inaction seemed the worst part of the
-business as far as he was concerned.
-
-Presently Sefton's thoughts were interrupted by
-the shrill, long-drawn-out trills of the bos'n's
-mates' pipes summoning the ship's company to
-muster on the quarter-deck. At the double the
-men romped aft--every seaman, marine, stoker, and
-"idler" not actually prevented by pressure of duty
-elsewhere.
-
-Since the captain could not quit the fore-bridge
-the assembled ship's company was addressed by
-the commander. In crisp sentences of simple
-brevity he explained to the men the position of
-affairs. At length a big action was in progress, he
-announced, for a wireless message had just come in
-to the effect that the battle-cruisers were already
-engaging the enemy at 18,000 yards--a distance of
-nearly 11 land miles. More than that, the German
-Battle Squadron was coming from the nor'ard,
-and there was a grave possibility of the British
-battle-cruisers being engaged between the enemy
-battleships and their battle-cruisers. In which
-case, the commander hastened to explain, losses
-would doubtless be severe; but it was part of the
-Commander-in-Chief's plan to risk certain of his
-battle-cruisers in order to cut off and detain the
-German fleet until the British Main Battle Squadrons
-got between the enemy and their bases.
-
-"I do not expect that we shall go into action just
-at present," concluded the commander, "but should
-events shape themselves all right we'll be in the
-thick of it before long. And I have not the faintest
-hesitation in expressing my firm belief that every
-man jack of us will do his duty to King and
-country, and uphold the traditions of H.M.S. *Warrior*."
-
-With that the men were dismissed, and, all
-preparations having been made, they were at liberty
-until the "Action Stations" sounded. That interval
-was perhaps the most trying of all. Many of the
-ship's company were going into action for the first
-time. The majority were laughing and cutting
-jokes; some could be seen with grey, anxious faces
-as they thought of their dear ones at home; but
-amongst the whole complement there was not
-the faintest trace of faint-heartedness. From the
-captain down to the youngest "first-class" boy
-the same sentiment held sway: that the *Warrior*
-would be able to acquit herself with glory and with
-honour.
-
-Through the sultry air could be faintly heard the
-distant and constant rumble of heavy gun-firing.
-The naval action was developing, although the
-engaged portions of the rival fleets were fifty or
-sixty miles away. The subdued noise made a fitting
-accompaniment to the stirring words of the commander.
-
-Sefton, still remaining on the quarter-deck, could
-not help admiring the steadiness with which the
-cruisers kept station. From time to time hoists of
-bunting fluttered to the yard-arm of the flagship
-*Defence*, the orders they expressed being carried
-out with the utmost celerity and precision.
-
-A lieutenant descending from the after-bridge
-passed along the quarter-deck towards the
-companion on the half-deck.
-
-"You're out of it, Sefton, I'm afraid," he
-remarked. "We've just had another wireless. Our
-destroyers are giving the Huns socks. The old
-*Calder* is in the thick of it."
-
-"Any losses?" asked Sefton, feeling ready to
-kick himself for being out of the scrap.
-
-"Don't know yet," was the reply. "I only----"
-
-The lieutenant's words were interrupted by the
-blare of a bugle. Turning on his heels he rushed
-forward at top speed, for at last the rousing order
-"Action at the Double" was given.
-
-In an instant all was a scene of "orderly
-confusion", each man running with a set purpose. For
-the most part the crew were stripped to the
-waist--a crowd of muscular-armed, deep-chested,
-clean-shaven men in the very pink of condition. Still
-exchanging banter, they disappeared to their battle-stations,
-eager and alert to let loose a hail of shell
-upon the first hostile vessel that came within range.
-
-"Come along, old man," exclaimed the young
-sub who had previously "cottoned on" to Jack
-Sefton. "Now's your chance if you want to see the fun."
-
-The two junior officers made their way for'ard,
-past the starboard guns in their isolated and
-closely-sealed steel turrets, until they reached the
-foremast.
-
-"Up with you," said Sefton's companion laconically.
-
-Sefton agilely ascended to the dizzy perch known
-as the fire-control platform. The other sub
-followed quickly at his heels, squeezed through the
-narrow aperture in the floor of the enclosed space,
-and slammed to the metal hinged cover.
-
-"At last!" he exclaimed gleefully.
-
-Sefton only nodded in complete accord. A clock
-on the after side of the steel wall indicated 5.45. A
-glance to the deck a hundred feet below showed no
-sign of life. There was nothing to show that
-confined within that double-wedge-shaped hull were
-close upon seven hundred human beings, all with
-one set purpose, as the thirteen thousand tons of
-dead-weight forged ahead at full speed towards a
-distant blurr just visible through the ever-varying haze.
-
-Suddenly the *Defence* opened fire with her
-for'ard pair of 9.2's, quickly following with her
-7.5's. The ball had opened.
-
-"Fifteen eight hundred, sir," reported one of the
-range-finding officers within Sefton's hearing.
-
-Rapidly yet smoothly the *Warrior's* bow guns
-rose until Sefton could see their muzzles showing
-like oval-shaped cavities against the dull-grey
-painted chases. For a second or two only the
-weapons hung seemingly irresolute.
-
-Then with a concussion that shook the ship the
-guns sent their missiles hurtling through the air,
-while clouds of acrid-smelling smoke, black, white,
-and brown in hue, drifted rapidly across the deck.
-
-At last the *Warrior* had her chance--and she was
-taking it with a vengeance.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER VII--In the Thick of the Fight
-======================================
-
-Leaving Sub-lieutenant Jack Sefton on his elevated
-perch in the fire-control station, it will be necessary
-to follow the fortunes of the vessel from which he
-had in theory deserted--the destroyer *Calder*.
-
-Like the rest of the flotillas, the *Calder* had
-cleared for action shortly after noon. Hers was a
-far different part from that of the *Warrior*. There
-was practically no protection for her guns' crew
-and for the men serving the torpedo-tubes. Her
-conning-tower afforded shelter only from slivers of
-steel and the bursting shrapnel; it was vulnerable
-to large projectiles. Relying solely on her speed
-and quickness of helm, the destroyer's mission was
-to dart in towards the enemy lines and get in as
-many hits with her torpedoes as possible. Then,
-if fortunate enough to escape a direct hit from the
-German guns, she would have to scurry back to the
-shelter of the battle-cruisers, and await another
-opportunity to make a further torpedo attack upon
-the enemy.
-
-At 3.30 p.m. Beatty's command increased speed
-to 25 knots, the Second Battle-cruiser Squadron
-forming astern of the First, while a far-flung line of
-destroyers took up station ahead. The course was
-now E.S.E., slightly converging upon the enemy,
-whose ships, looming with varying degrees of
-visibility through the haze, were now at a distance
-of a little more than ten sea miles.
-
-Half that distance away the Fifth Battle Squadron,
-including the gigantic *Warspite*, was bearing
-N.N.W., with the object of supporting the
-battle-cruisers when occasion arose.
-
-It was a proud moment for the gallant Beatty
-when he realized that now he was between the
-enemy battle-cruisers and their North Sea bases;
-while there was an ever-increasing possibility that
-Jellicoe's main fleet would speedily be in a position
-to cut off the German battleships from their retreat
-through the Skager-Rack to Kiel. Yet at the same
-time the odds against Beatty were bordering upon
-the enormous. His duty was to engage, entice,
-and hold the enemy in a northerly direction without
-being overwhelmed by superior force. Even at the
-risk of losing some of his best ships he had to
-engage the attention of the enemy, lure them into
-the belief that at last the British battle-cruisers had
-run into a trap, and hammer away until the
-Commander-in-Chief arrived upon the scene with
-a vastly superior fleet.
-
-At a quarter to five the opposing forces opened
-fire simultaneously at a range of 20,000 yards. The
-*Calder* was keeping station broad on the beam of
-the *Queen Mary*, and warding off threatened
-submarine attacks, for the time was not yet ripe for the
-destroyers to hurl themselves against the battered
-hostile ships.
-
-"By Jove, this is going to be 'some' scrap,"
-muttered Crosthwaite, as a regular tornado of heavy
-shells "straddled" the leading battle-cruisers.
-
-At first the German gunnery was excellent,
-several direct hits being received by the British
-battle-cruisers, but in a few moments the steady,
-rapid, methodical salvoes from the British 13.5's
-began to make themselves felt. Between the
-patches of haze, rent by the lurid flashes of the
-guns, could be descried the greenish-grey outlines
-of the hostile vessels fast being reduced to
-scrap-iron. For the time being all seemed well with the
-British battle-cruisers, whose volume of fire was
-still being delivered with that terrible regularity
-which the Huns have good cause to dread.
-
-Suddenly the huge *Indefatigible* was destroyed;
-a gallant battle-cruiser of nearly 19,000 tons had
-paid the price of Admiralty.
-
-In previous naval battles such an appalling
-catastrophe as the blowing up of a mighty ship
-has caused the two fleets spontaneously to cease
-fire for a period of some minutes; but in the
-Jutland fight, regardless of the fate of the
-battle-cruiser, the rest of the squadron redoubled their
-efforts. Not for one second did the hellish din
-cease, as the death-dealing salvoes hurtled into
-the opposing ships. To quote the words of one
-on board the *Tiger*, it was "a glorified Donnybrook
-Fair--whenever you see a head, crack it!"
-
-Twenty minutes later Crosthwaite saw the
-*Queen Mary* sunk. So quickly did she disappear
-that the *Tiger*, following astern, passed through
-the smoke that marked the grave of the devoted ship.
-
-Beyond, the *Invincible*, already badly hit, sank,
-taking with her 750 gallant officers and men.
-
-By this time the Fifth Battle Squadron, which
-had been attached to Beatty's command, came into
-action, opening fire at 20,000 yards, and although
-the pressure of the enemy's predominance in
-numbers was considerably relaxed, the danger was
-by no means over. For, in the now thicker haze,
-the German battle fleet had arrived upon the
-scene, and Beatty was literally betwixt two fires.
-Yet he handled his vessels with admirable
-strategical and tactical skill, being convinced, as was
-every man under him, that in spite of losses he was
-succeeding in holding the Huns.
-
-Majestically the four great battleships, *Warspite*,
-*Valiant*, *Barham*, and *Malaya*, bore into the mêlée,
-each of their 15-inch guns firing with terrible effect.
-The head of the German column seemed to be
-literally crumpled and crushed. A large
-three-funnelled battleship, possibly the *Thuringien*,
-received terrific punishment. Masts, funnels, turrets,
-were blown away piecemeal, until, a mass of smoke
-and flames, she hauled off line and was quickly
-screened by the smoke from some of the German
-destroyers. Whether she sank--and it seemed as
-if she could not do otherwise--Crosthwaite was
-unable to determine. Other German vessels, badly
-damaged, were swung out of position, some of
-them on fire and showing a tremendous list.
-
-At a quarter to five both fleets altered course
-several points, the rival lines turning outwards
-and completely reversing their previous direction.
-It was at this juncture that the British destroyers
-were ordered to take advantage of the confusion
-in which the Huns had been thrown and to
-launch a torpedo attack upon the battered enemy ships.
-
-"Now for it," thought Crosthwaite, the glint of
-battle in his eyes. It was his chance--a dash in
-broad daylight against the quick-firers of the
-German vessels. Never before in the history of
-naval warfare had destroyers been ordered to attack
-battleships save at night. Everything depended
-upon skill in handling, speed, and the turmoil into
-which the enemy had been thrown by the terrific
-gun-fire of the battleships of the *Queen Elizabeth* class.
-
-In four columns line ahead the destroyer flotillas
-raced off at top speed. Drawing clear of the
-cruisers, they turned 8 points to starboard, a course
-that would bring them in contact with the enemy
-line. Thick clouds of fire-tinged smoke belched
-from their funnels--not due to bad stoking but to
-the deliberate manipulation of the oil-fuel-fed
-furnaces, since smoke alone offered any concealment
-during the daylight attack.
-
-With a couple of quartermasters, a signalman,
-and a messenger to attend to the voice-tubes,
-Crosthwaite took up his station within the
-conning-tower. All his mental powers were at work,
-and yet he remained perfectly cool and collected.
-Hardly a detail that came under his notice of that
-onward rush escaped his recollection.
-
-For the first few miles the destroyers kept perfect
-station. Had they been on peace manoeuvres
-their relative distances could not have been better
-maintained. Through the eddying, ash-laden
-smoke, Crosthwaite strained his bloodshot eyes
-upon the destroyer next ahead, ready at the first
-sign to reduce speed or swerve should the little
-craft be hit or fall out of line. The possibility
-of the *Calder* being "done in" never occurred
-to him, once the order had been given to attack.
-It was always one of her consorts that might meet
-with ill-luck, but Crosthwaite's command--no, never.
-
-Shells were beginning to ricochet from the water
-all around the devoted destroyers; yet, seemingly
-bearing a charmed life, they held grimly on their way.
-
-More than once the sharp crash of a projectile
-exploding astern caused the lieutenant-commander
-to turn his head. Already rents were visible in the
-*Calder's* funnels, through which the smoke poured
-in long trailing wisps. By the two tubes the
-torpedo-men stood rigidly at attention. Their two
-deadly weapons had been "launched home" and
-the tubes trained ten degrees for'ard of the beam.
-With his hand upon the firing-trigger the torpedo
-coxswain of each end waited, as impassive as if
-carved in marble, ready to speed the missile on its
-way, and apparently indifferent to the fact that a
-sliver of steel striking the deadly warhead would
-involve the destroyer and her entire crew in
-absolute and instantaneous destruction.
-
-Suddenly the leading destroyer ported helm,
-turning so swiftly and listing so excessively that,
-for the moment, Crosthwaite thought that she had
-received a mortal blow. Her alert commander had
-noticed a suspicious movement amongst the
-irregular line of battered German war-ships, now
-almost within effective torpedo range.
-
-Out from behind the screen of battleships tore
-a German light cruiser and nearly a score of their
-ocean-going torpedo-boats. Whether it was with
-the intention of intercepting the British destroyers,
-or whether about to launch a torpedo attack upon
-Beatty's battle-cruisers, Crosthwaite knew not. All
-he did know was that the rival flotillas were
-closing at an aggregate rate of more than a mile a
-minute, and that the next few seconds would find
-the torpedo-craft mixed up in a most unholy scrap.
-
-All attempts at formation were now cast to the
-winds. Interlining, dodging across each other's
-bows, the engaging vessels raced madly to and fro,
-their quick-firers barking as rapidly as the gunners
-could thrust home the cartridges and clang the
-breech-blocks. So intricate was the manoeuvring
-that Crosthwaite saw two German torpedo-boats
-collide, and, while in that position, they were raked
-by a dozen shells from the *Turbulent*.
-
-Almost the next instant he was aware that a
-similar peril threatened the *Calder*, for a British
-destroyer, hit in her engine-room, circled
-erratically to starboard across her bows.
-
-Gripping the engine-room telegraph-indicator
-levers, Crosthwaite rammed them to full speed
-astern. It was his only chance, for he could not
-pass either across the bows or astern of the crippled
-destroyer without certain risk of colliding with
-others of the flotilla. Then he waited--perhaps
-five seconds--in breathless suspense. Thank God,
-the *Calder* began to lose way! It now remained to
-be seen whether she would gather sternway before
-her sharp stem crashed into the other destroyer
-amidships.
-
-Even as he gripped the levers Crosthwaite saw
-the crew of the crippled craft's after 4-inch gun
-slew the weapon round to have a smack at the
-German vessel that had hit her so badly. The
-gun-layer, pressing his shoulder to the recoil-pad,
-bent over the sights. The next instant a hostile
-shell landed fairly upon the 4-inch quick-firer,
-bursting with an ear-splitting detonation.
-
-When the smoke had drifted away, the gun was
-no longer visible, only a few twisted pieces of
-metal marking the spot where the mounting had
-stood. Of the men serving the quick-firer only
-one remained--the gun-layer. By the vagaries of
-explosion he was practically unhurt, except for
-being partially stunned by the terrible detonation.
-For some minutes he stood stock-still, as if unable
-to realize that the gun and his comrades had
-disappeared; then, making a sudden bound, he leapt
-into the sea. Evidently under the impression that
-the vessel was on the point of foundering, he had
-decided to swim for it.
-
-Well it was for him that the *Calder* was now
-almost motionless, although her propellers were
-going hard astern. Caught by the backwash of
-the revolving screws, he was swept past the side
-like a cork in a mountain torrent, until one of the
-men on the *Calder's* fore-bridge threw him a rope.
-
-As coolly as if mustering for divisions, the
-rescued gun-layer made his way aft, and, saluting
-the gunner, requested to be allowed to assist in
-serving the *Calder's* after 4-inch.
-
-Out from behind a dense cloud of smoke leapt
-a German torpedo-boat. Her commander had
-spotted the *Calder* practically without steerage-way,
-and had made up his mind to ram, since his own
-craft was badly hit and could not keep afloat much
-longer.
-
-Quickly Crosthwaite shouted an order. A torpedo
-leapt from the *Calder's* deck and disappeared
-with a splash beneath the surface. Anxiously the
-lieutenant-commander watched the ever-diverging
-lines that marked the track of the locomotive
-weapon. The target was a difficult one, although
-the range was but 200 yards.
-
-The German skipper saw the approaching danger
-and attempted to port helm. Crippled in the steam
-steering-gear, the Hun torpedo-boat was slow in
-answering. A column of water leapt 200 feet in
-the air; by the time it subsided the hostile craft
-was no longer in existence, save as a shattered and
-torn hull plunging through nineteen fathoms of
-water to her ocean bed.
-
-By this time the German torpedo-craft had had
-about enough of it. At least two of them had been
-sunk by German gun-fire, while another pair, their
-upper works reduced to a mass of tangled
-scrap-iron, had mistaken each other for foes, with the
-result that a German destroyer had been sent to
-the bottom by a torpedo from her consort.
-
-Turning back, the battered remnants of the Hun
-flotilla fled for the shelter of their battle-cruisers.
-The path was now clear for the furtherance of the
-British destroyers' attack upon the larger vessels of
-the hostile fleet; but the difficulties had increased
-tenfold owing to the injury of some of the boats,
-which were compelled to slacken speed and drop astern.
-
-Yet undaunted, the black-hulled hornets
-reformed into some semblance of order, and, under
-a galling fire, hurled themselves upon the
-formidable array of German battle-cruisers.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER VIII--The "Calder's" Second Scoop
-=========================================
-
-Of the mad, desperate, and, above all, glorious
-race into the gates of a maritime hell Crosthwaite
-saw but little beyond his immediate front. Since
-the British destroyers were under the fire of
-projectiles ranging from 11-inch downwards, it was
-evident that the *Calder's* light-armoured
-conning-tower would afford little protection, and if it
-were hit by a heavy shell the fate of all within
-would be sealed. So, standing on the starboard
-extremity of the bridge, the lieutenant-commander
-took his craft into the second phase of the destroyer
-attack.
-
-Up to the present not a single British destroyer
-had been sunk, although some had been compelled
-to retire owing to damage received during their
-scrap with the hostile torpedo flotilla; but the good
-start in this direction was no longer maintained.
-
-A large destroyer, subsequently identified as the
-*Nomad*, was struck by a huge projectile almost
-amidships. A rush of scalding steam, followed by
-clouds of smoke, announced that the engine-room
-was wrecked, and that the vessel was no longer
-under control.
-
-Porting helm, the *Calder* ran past the lee of the
-crippled destroyer, the smoke from which
-undoubtedly saved Crosthwaite's command from
-severe punishment.
-
-For nearly half a mile the *Nomad* carried way,
-until she came to a stop between the lines. The
-last Crosthwaite saw of her was the destroyer, still
-afloat, maintaining a desultory fire, although a
-stationary target for an overwhelming number of
-hostile guns.
-
-Suddenly Crosthwaite staggered, hurled sideways
-by an invisible force. The guard-rail, which
-he was still gripping, was no longer supported by
-the stanchions. Falling heavily upon the bridge,
-he was within an ace of dropping overboard when
-a signalman gripped him by the ankles.
-
-The lieutenant-commander regained his feet in
-an instant, barely conscious of his narrow escape,
-for a 4-inch shell had passed so close to him that
-the windage had capsized him. Crashing aft, the
-projectile demolished the short mast supporting the
-wireless, hurling the fragments upon the deck.
-The White Ensign, which had fluttered from this
-masthead during the action, had blown against the
-mounting of the after 4-inch gun. Although little
-more than a riddled piece of bunting, it was secured
-by one of the men and lashed to the stump of the mast.
-
-Hardly had the dauntless man completed his
-self-imposed task when another shell struck the
-*Calder* obliquely on the port bow. Penetrating
-the fo'c'sle, it burst with a muffled report, but,
-instead of shattering the for'ard part of the destroyer,
-it emitted dense clouds of greenish-yellow smoke
-that eddied through the shattered plating on the
-fore-deck and drifted sullenly aft.
-
-In a second Crosthwaite realized the danger.
-The shell had been filled with poisonous gas, and
-just at the time when the ship was getting within
-torpedo-range, and the men had to direct all their
-energies upon loosing the 21-inch weapons, the
-asphyxiating fumes threatened to put them, at
-least temporarily, out of action.
-
-With his hands clasped to his mouth and nostrils
-Crosthwaite awaited the noxious vapour, hoping
-that the head wind caused by the rush of the
-destroyer through the water would quickly disperse
-the poison; but with horrible persistence the deadly
-smoke hovered betwixt the various projections on deck.
-
-He was conscious of the quartermaster and the
-others on the bridge staggering, with their fingers
-frantically gripping their throats. The signalman
-who had previously saved his commanding officer
-from falling overboard was writhing in agony,
-clawing at whatever came to hand, until in a frenzy
-he took a flying leap over the side and sank like a
-stone.
-
-Left to herself, the *Calder* began a broad sweep
-to starboard. As she did so, the fumes drifted to
-leeward, yet not before the men standing by the
-pair of torpedo-tubes were temporarily overcome
-by the diabolical product of German *Kultur*.
-
-In vain Crosthwaite attempted to rally the men.
-It was either now or never, for, unless the torpedoes
-were fired, the opportunity would be gone. He
-tried to shout, but no sound came from his tortured
-throat. Between the eddying clouds of steam and
-smoke he could discern the torpedo-men moving
-like stupefied bees.
-
-With an effort the lieutenant-commander regained
-his voice. He turned to the quartermaster, who,
-although still gasping for breath, had come through
-the terrible ordeal with comparatively slight ill-effects.
-
-"Keep her steady on her helm," exclaimed
-Crosthwaite, and, literally tumbling down the
-bridge ladder, he made his way aft to the torpedo-tubes.
-
-Pushing aside two victims of the poison-gas, one
-of them the L.T.O., who lay athwart the racer, the
-lieutenant-commander gripped the training-wheel
-and slewed the pair of tubes until they were nearly
-broad on the beam. At 2000 yards distance three
-large battle-cruisers over-lapped, presenting a
-target nearly 1800 feet in length. To miss such
-an objective seemed almost impossible.
-
-With a wrench Crosthwaite dropped the
-firing-lever of the right-hand tube. Through the thin
-haze that emerged from the metal cylinder, he
-caught a glimpse of the gleaming, steel,
-cigar-shaped missile as it leapt clear and disappeared
-with a mighty splash beneath the water. Then,
-changing over to the left-hand tube, he sent the
-second weapon on its errand of destruction.
-
-A sudden and a totally unexpected swerve of the
-ship prevented Crosthwaite from observing the
-result of his single-handed efforts. Instinctively
-he realized that his presence was again required on
-the bridge. As he hastened for'ard he almost
-collided with Surgeon Stirling, who, in his shirt-sleeves,
-had come up from below to aid the sufferers.
-
-Seeing Crosthwaite stagger along with his
-features contorted and his complexion showing a
-sickly yellow in spite of the tan, the doctor
-hurried after him.
-
-"Not this time, Doc," protested the lieutenant-commander
-with a wan smile, as he lurched forward.
-His brain was whirling under the strain
-of the awful ordeal, yet he was dimly conscious
-that something was amiss, and that at all costs he
-must return to his post.
-
-He was barely in time. The quartermaster was
-huddled in a heap at the base of the steam
-steering-gear column with a ghastly wound in his thigh.
-The destroyer, left to her own devices, once more
-was bearing down upon one of her helpless consorts.
-
-Thrusting the wheel hard over, Crosthwaite
-found that the vessel was still under control.
-Almost by a hairbreadth she scraped the port
-quarter of the crippled destroyer, whose decks were
-literally swept by the enemy's fire, and resembled
-a charnel-house. Nothing could be done to save
-her, for she was already on the point of foundering.
-Of her crew not one visible remained alive. She
-had fought to the death--a typical example of
-British pluck and endurance against overwhelming odds.
-
-Her last torpedoes fired, the *Calder* was free to
-make good her escape--if she could. Receiving
-a couple of glancing hits as she sped towards the
-shelter, she slid past the foremost of the British
-battle-cruisers, receiving three hearty cheers from
-the crew.
-
-The second phase of the destroyer operations was
-over. Although not so successful as had been
-expected, owing to the formation having been
-disturbed by the encounter with the German torpedo
-flotillas, the dash was not without definite material
-gains. *Nomad* and *Nestor* had not returned, and
-were presumed to be sunk, a surmise that
-subsequently proved to be correct, since a portion of
-their crews were rescued by the German torpedo-craft.
-
-Having brought the *Calder* safely out of the
-inferno, Crosthwaite's next step was to take stock
-of damages and report to the commander of his
-flotilla.
-
-The wireless was by this time again made
-serviceable, several of the crew having worked while
-under fire on setting up the aerials which had been
-carried away with the demolition of the after-mast.
-
-Others were busily engaged in putting patches
-on the gaping rents in the funnel casings and
-stopping the shell-holes in the thin plating.
-Fortunately the engine-room had escaped serious
-damage, only two casualties occurring owing to
-an auxiliary steam-pipe being severed by a sliver
-of shell.
-
-On the whole the *Calder* had come off lightly.
-The worst damage to personnel had been caused
-by the gas-shell, for, before the fumes had
-dispersed, six men had lost their lives and ten others
-had been incapacitated by the poisonous fumes.
-
-"She's as fit as ever she was in my department,"
-reported Engineer-Lieutenant Boxspanner.
-"Hope to goodness we shan't be ordered to haul
-out of it."
-
-"I trust not," replied Crosthwaite. "Must turn
-a blind eye to some of the defects, I suppose.
-What did it feel like down below?"
-
-Boxspanner shrugged his broad shoulders. It
-was the first time he had been in action, his
-appointment to the *Calder* being of recent date.
-
-"It was all right after the first half-minute or
-so," replied the engineer-lieutenant. "The racket
-at first was enough to stun a fellow. I suppose in
-this job one can get used to anything. Where's
-Stirling, by the by?"
-
-"Busy," replied Crosthwaite gravely. "Come
-and see him at work--if you can stick it."
-
-Well it was that the Admiralty, with their
-customary promptitude to promote the welfare of
-the fighting fleet, had lost no time in appointing
-scores of probationary assistant surgeons to the
-destroyers immediately after the outbreak of
-hostilities. Previously no medical staff had been
-carried on these small craft. A casualty occurring
-on board, and accidents in the engine-rooms, were
-not of unfrequent occurrence; the patients had to
-rely upon the well-meant attentions of their
-comrades until they were transferred either to a parent
-ship or to one of the shore hospitals.
-
-Dr. "Jimmy" Stirling was a man who took life
-seriously. At times he was almost pessimistic,
-although there were occasions when a sudden spirit
-of youthful exuberance would take complete
-possession of him.
-
-In his shirt-sleeves, and with a blood-stained
-apron that an hour previously had been spotlessly
-white tied closely under his armpits, the surgeon
-was working with deliberate haste, performing a
-serious operation at a speed that would have turned
-a hospital probationer pale with apprehension.
-
-The confined space which had been turned into
-a sick-bay reeked with chloroform and iodoform.
-Wounded men were vying with each other in their
-efforts to make light of their injuries, whilst those
-who were able to smoke aroused the envy of their
-less fortunate comrades. It was considered "good
-form" for a patient to utter a rough-and-ready jest
-at his own case, while grim, but none the less
-sympathetic, words were bestowed upon their nearest
-fellow-sufferers. It was a curious physiological
-fact that a man who would have raved at a careless
-comrade for having accidentally dropped some
-gear, narrowly missing his head, greeted the
-information that he would lose his right arm with
-the nonchalant remark: "Anyhow, when I get
-home on leaf my missus can't make me dig the
-bloomin' allotment."
-
-"Let's get out of this, sir," whispered the
-engineer-lieutenant. "Thought it would take a lot
-to capsize me, but, by Jove----!"
-
-He backed abruptly, followed by the lieutenant-commander.
-Stirling, deep in his task, had not
-noticed their presence.
-
-A barefooted signalman, his blackened face and
-scorched and torn singlet bearing testimony to his
-part in the "scrap", pattered along the shell-pitted
-deck, and, saluting, tendered a signal-pad to his
-commanding officer.
-
-Crosthwaite took the paper and read the message
-scrawled thereon in violet pencil.
-
-"H'm!" he muttered. "S'pose they want us out of it."
-
-It was an order to the effect that the *Calder* was
-to steam to a certain rendezvous, fall in with one
-of the parent ships, transfer wounded, and await
-further orders. There seemed very little
-possibility of the destroyer participating in the night
-attack upon the German fleet--an operation in
-which the swiftly-moving British vessels might
-achieve greater results, even if they failed to
-surpass the glory they had already acquired by their
-wild, tempestuous dash in broad daylight.
-
-"Almost wish I'd let the damaged wireless go
-for a bit," mused Crosthwaite as he made his way
-to the badly-shattered bridge.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER IX--The "Warrior's" Gallant Stand
-=========================================
-
-"What do you think we are up against?" asked
-Sefton, taking advantage of a lull in the firing to
-put the question to his companion in the fire-control
-station.
-
-"Something big," replied the other, wiping a
-thin layer of coal dust and particles of burnt cordite
-from the lenses of his binoculars. "With this
-rotten mist hanging around, one has to be jolly
-careful not to pitch a salvo into one of our own
-craft. Wish to goodness I'd remembered to bring
-my camera along. By Jove! Wouldn't the old
-*Defence* make a fine picture when she opened fire?"
-
-"I'll fetch it for you," volunteered Sefton.
-
-His companion looked at him in astonishment.
-
-"I mean it," continued the sub. "We won't be
-in action again for quite ten minutes, unless those
-Huns take it into their heads to alter course--which
-I don't fancy will be at all likely."
-
-He pointed to five faint objects scurrying farther
-away through the patches of haze. They were
-German light cruisers, which, having had a taste
-of the salvoes of the leading ships of the First
-Cruiser Squadron, had thought it prudent to sheer off.
-
-"Then look slippy, old bird," said the other.
-"I'm rather keen on getting the thing; I'd go
-myself if I were not here on duty with a capital D.
-I'll pass the word for the covers to be left open for
-your return."
-
-Gaining the shrouds, Sefton descended cautiously,
-for already fragments of exploding shells had cut
-through several of the wire strands, and had played
-havoc with the ratlines.
-
-Gaining the fore-bridge, he descended the ladder
-to the superstructure, and, passing in the wake of
-the trained-abeam turrets, reached the only
-hatchway leading to the main deck that had not been
-closed with an armoured lid.
-
-'Tween decks the air was hot and oppressive.
-The confined space reeked with cordite fumes.
-Through the brown haze a streak of yellow light
-played upon the deck--a beam of sunlight entering
-through a jagged shell-hole in the ship's side.
-
-Farther along, a party of sick-bay men were
-lowering a stretcher through a hatchway. On the
-stretcher was strapped a wounded petty officer, one
-of whose legs had been shattered below the knee.
-
-The man was struggling violently, and expostulating
-in no mild terms. Ignorant of his terrible
-injuries, he was insisting on being allowed to
-return to his station and "have another smack at
-the Huns".
-
-"Can't go no farther this way, sir," announced
-a marine, recognizing the sub, and knowing that
-he was new to the ship. "Bulkhead doors are
-shut. There's a way round past the issue-room,
-sir, down this 'ere ladder."
-
-The "issue-room" was open. An electric lamp
-illuminated the irregular-shaped space, which on
-one side was bounded by the convex base of the
-after turret, a 6-inch wall of hard steel.
-
-Sefton could hear voices raised in loud and
-vehement argument: two assistant ship's stewards
-were discussing the respective merits of music-hall
-favourites.
-
-A third voice joined in the discussion--that of
-one of the ship's boys.
-
-"'Taint neither the one or t'other," he began.
-"I was a-saying----"
-
-"Then don't say it, but get on with your job,"
-interrupted the first speaker. "Those casks look
-a regular disgrace. You haven't polished the
-brasswork for more'n three days, and it's captain's
-rounds to-morrow."
-
-The next instant came a regular avalanche of
-flour-sacks, casks, copper measures, and other
-paraphernalia pertaining to the ship's steward's
-department. Across the raised coaming of the doorway
-tripped the three occupants of the issue-room,
-landing in a struggling, confused heap at Sefton's feet.
-
-From a distance of nearly nine miles an 11-inch
-shell had hit the *Warrior* abreast of the after turret.
-It was some little time before it was realized that
-the damage was slight.
-
-The first to pick himself up was the ship's
-steward's boy.
-
-"Guess you don't want me to carry on with that
-there polishing job," he remarked nonchalantly, as
-he heaved the winded petty officer to his feet and
-indicated the debris of the brass-bound casks.
-
-Sefton lost no time in fetching the camera from
-the gun-room. Slinging it round his neck, he
-gained the upper deck, and began his ascent to
-the fire-control platform.
-
-"Thanks," said his companion, as the sub
-handed the precious apparatus to him. "You're
-only just in time. Those light cruisers have altered
-helm 16 points. Looks fishy, by Jove! They've
-something behind them to back them up."
-
-It was now nearly six o'clock. Already the
-*Defence* was hurling shells at the leading German
-light cruiser at 14,000 yards, the range momentarily
-decreasing as the two squadrons closed.
-
-The Huns were certainly not devoid of pluck,
-although, as Sefton's chum had remarked, they
-evidently had some card up their sleeves.
-
-For the next fifteen minutes the *Warrior* and
-her consorts were at it "hammer and tongs",
-directing a furious fire into the head of the
-approaching column. One of the hostile cruisers,
-hit by a double salvo from the *Warrior* and the
-*Defence*, capsized and sank. Another, burning
-fiercely in three different places, hauled out of line.
-
-"Great sport, isn't it?" exclaimed Sefton's
-companion, setting down his range-finder, for the
-distance had now decreased to 5000 yards, so that
-the gun-layers were able to trace their weapons
-independently of orders from the fire-control.
-
-Suddenly and unexpectedly a salvo of heavy
-shells hurtled through the haze, and, with deadly
-precision, riddled the flagship *Defence* through
-and through. Her masts and funnels went by the
-board, flames burst from her for'ard, 'midships, and
-aft, while with her engines disabled she dropped
-slowly astern.
-
-It was now the *Warrior's* turn to lead the line.
-As she forged ahead, other enormous shells
-straddled her, coming in different direction from
-the tempest of shot that had crippled the *Defence*.
-
-"By Jove!" ejaculated Sefton. "We're in for it now."
-
-Between the drifting clouds of smoke could be
-discerned the huge shapes of a dozen large battleships
-and battle-cruisers, not those of Jellicoe's
-command, but flying the Black Cross ensign of
-Germany. On the port side, at less than 4000
-yards, were four hostile battle-cruisers. At a
-similar distance to starboard were at least five
-battleships of the *König* class.
-
-The *Warrior* and *Defence*, hemmed in by vastly
-superior numbers, and menaced by guns of far
-greater calibre, were seemingly doomed to
-annihilation. All that remained, as far as human
-judgment went, was to fight to the last and worthily
-uphold the glorious traditions of the Senior Service.
-
-The *Warrior* held grimly on her way, battered
-fore and aft on all sides from the gradually
-contracting circle of big German ships. In spite of
-the terrific hail of projectiles rained upon her, the
-*Warrior* still maintained a rapid and determined
-fire. It was against overwhelming odds, and the
-Huns knew it.
-
-Presently a violent thud caused the already
-trembling fire-control platform to shake to such
-an extent that Sefton quite thought the whole
-concern was about to tumble over the side. A shell
-had shattered the fore-topmast, the debris falling
-athwart the steel canopy protecting the range-finding
-officers. With the topmast came a raffle
-of gear, including the wireless aerials.
-
-By this time the cruiser was hulled over and
-over again. Several of her 7-inch-gun turrets had
-been bodily swept away with their crews; two
-funnels had gone by the board; the remaining
-pair, perforated like sieves, were held in position
-merely by the wire guys. A fierce fire was raging
-aft, an incendiary shell having landed in the
-wardroom, while a heavy dose of poison-gas prevented
-any of the crew from attempting to quench the flames.
-
-Twelve minutes of terrible battering the *Warrior*
-stood, until an 11-inch shell, ripping through her
-6-inch armoured belt, burst inside the port
-engine-room, shattering the main steam-pipe.
-
-The scene in the confined space was terrible
-beyond description. The concussion had shattered
-every electric lamp, the oil ones were extinguished
-by the noxious fumes. The floor of the engine-room
-was flooded to a depth of four inches with
-scalding water that surged to and fro with each
-roll of the sorely-pressed vessel, and added to the
-torments of the men already wounded by the shell
-explosion.
-
-Yet even in that inferno there were men whose
-courage did not desert them, and dozens of heroic
-and never-to-be-recorded deeds were performed in
-the darkness of the scalding engine-room.
-
-Then the starboard engine-room was swept by
-the explosion of a shell, increasing to a terrible
-extent the casualties amongst the courageous
-"black squad". For nearly two miles the
-*Warrior* carried away, until, deprived of the means of
-propulsion, she lay, a battered hulk, surrounded
-by her enemies.
-
-It was the story of the *Revenge* over again, but
-with a different sequel.
-
-Sefton realized that he and his companions were
-virtually prisoners in the fire-control platform.
-Even had they dared to risk descending through
-that tornado of shrapnel and flying slivers of
-molten steel, their means of escape was limited to
-one solitary shroud. The rest, "whipped" into
-a confused tangle, were trailing over the ship's sides.
-
-Passive spectators, for their work aloft was done,
-they awaited the end, their eyes fixed upon the
-German battle-cruisers as at intervals they became
-visible through the drifting cloud of smoke and steam.
-
-Only two guns of the *Warrior* were now replying
-to the hostile fire, barking slowly, yet resolutely,
-as they sent their projectiles hurtling through the
-air at the nearmost of the assailants, now but 3500
-yards distant.
-
-"By Jove, look!" exclaimed Sefton's chum,
-pointing with a bandaged hand at a large object
-looming through the smoke close under the
-*Warrior's* stern.
-
-It was the gigantic battleship *Warspite*.
-
-Tearing along at well over her contract speed,
-the 27,500-ton leviathan meant business. Receiving
-a salvo of heavy shells that were intended to
-administer a *coup de grâce* to the crippled *Warrior*,
-and which for the most part rebounded harmlessly
-from her armour, the *Warspite* let rip with her
-splendid 15-inch guns. At the second salvo a
-German battle-cruiser simply crumpled up and
-vanished in a cloud of smoke.
-
-Pitted for the first time in this particular
-engagement against guns of more than their own calibre,
-the Germans began to fire most erratically. Many
-of the projectiles fell into the sea. Their shooting,
-hitherto fairly accurate, became wild and
-spasmodic. They were learning the truth about modern
-British gunnery, with British hearts of oak behind
-the powerful weapons.
-
-But, in spite of her size and superiority of
-armament, the *Warspite* did not come off unscathed.
-At a critical moment her steam steering-gear
-jammed, and round she circled, straight for the
-enemy's line. Before the damage could be
-rectified she was hit several times, losing, amongst
-other gear, her wireless aerials. While she was
-still under fire a hostile submarine let off a couple
-of torpedoes, both of which fortunately missed
-their mark.
-
-The action had already passed away from the
-battered *Warrior*. She had played her part. It
-remained to save herself from foundering, if she
-could--a truly herculean task.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER X--Battered but Unconquered
-===================================
-
-Almost as in a dream Sefton realized that he was
-still alive. His hearing was practically done for,
-owing to the terrific detonation of the guns. His
-eyes were red and smarting from the effects of
-numerous particles of soot and dust that had
-drifted in through the sighting apertures of the
-fire-control station. He could scarcely speak, his
-throat was parched and gripped by a terrible thirst.
-His borrowed uniform was rent in several places,
-while the right leg of his trousers was warm and
-moist. Unknown to him, a splinter of metal had
-cut a clean gash just above the knee. In the
-excitement of the action he had not felt the wound.
-Now it was beginning to throb painfully.
-
-"The stick will go by the board before long,"
-remarked an officer, as the crippled foremast gave
-a sickening jerk with the roll of the ship to
-starboard. "The sooner we get out of this the better,
-I fancy."
-
-It was easier said than done. Even if the
-attention of the men on deck--and they were busily
-engaged with hoses in quelling the numerous small
-outbreaks of fire amidships--could be attracted, it
-was wellnigh impossible to form a means of
-communication with the elevated masthead platform.
-
-"Worth risking it?" queried Sefton's chum,
-indicating the solitary shroud on either side of the
-mast.
-
-The sub shook his head.
-
-"A tall order," he replied. "I don't seem to
-have the strength of a steerage rat for a swarm-down
-from this height. No thanks, I'm not taking any."
-
-"If we had only a coil of signal halyard,"
-remarked the range-finding officer tentatively,
-"we might---- But there isn't a couple of
-fathoms of line left aloft."
-
-He thrust his head and shoulders through a hole
-in the steel plating, and surveyed the scene 100 feet
-below. Viewed from that dizzy height, the prospect
-of descending by means of a wire stay was not
-inviting.
-
-"Hallo!" he exclaimed. "There's a bluejacket
-swarming aloft."
-
-"Bluejacket" was hardly a strictly correct
-description, for climbing hand over hand was a man
-clad only in a pair of canvas trousers. From his
-waist upwards he was stripped. His feet, too,
-were bare. His bronzed face, neck, and hands
-stood out in vivid contrast to the whiteness of the
-rest of the skin. His muscles, like whipcord,
-rippled as he ascended with a steady, even
-movement towards the isolated foretop. From his belt
-trailed a line the coils of which were being
-carefully "paid out" by a seaman standing on the
-extremity of the badly-damaged fore-bridge.
-
-Half-way up the shroud the climber paused to
-regain his breath. As he threw back his head to
-gauge the remaining distance, his face was revealed
-to the group on the swaying platform.
-
-"By George!" ejaculated Sefton's chum. "It's
-the man you went into the ditch after."
-
-It was Able Seaman Brown. Having lost touch
-with his officer during the engagement, his first
-thoughts after the *Warrior* had ceased fire were for
-the sub who had risked his life on his behalf.
-Enquiries elicited the information that Sefton had
-been last seen while ascending to the fire-control
-platform.
-
-"Blow me if they ain't properly cut off," muttered
-the man, as he eyed the precarious perch. "Here goes."
-
-Obtaining the consent of one of the officers to
-attempt his perilous ascent, A.B. Brown was now
-well on his way to establish communication with
-the deck.
-
-Perspiring from every pore, his muscles creaking
-under the strain, the horny palms of his hands
-lacerated by the frayed strands of the wire, the
-seaman at length gained one of the angle-girders
-upon which the platform was bolted. Here he
-remained for fully five minutes before essaying
-the last part of his journey.
-
-Hanging from the metal structure was a block,
-from which the running-gear had long since
-"rendered through". The man examined it critically.
-To all outward appearance it seemed to be sound.
-
-Jockeying himself along the sharp-edged angle-plate,
-Brown rove the end of the rope through the
-block, and "paid out" until the line touched the
-deck. Fortunately there was enough to spare.
-Three or four of the *Warrior's* crew were standing
-by to give assistance, and quickly bent a "bos'n's
-chair" to one end of the rope.
-
-"Come along, sir," exclaimed the A.B. encouragingly.
-"We'll have the lot of you down in a jiffy."
-
-He held out his hand to steady Sefton on his
-dizzy journey along the metal "bracket", until a
-sudden thought flashed across his mind. What if
-the rope carried away or the pulley-block was
-defective?
-
-"Hold on, sir," he said. "I'll show you the way down."
-
-He signalled for the bos'n's chair to be sent
-aloft, reflecting that if the appliance were strong
-enough to bear his weight--he could give Sefton
-nearly a couple of stones--the sub would run very
-little risk. If, on the other hand, the gear carried
-away, he reflected grimly, his "number would be up".
-
-Sliding into the wooden seat, the A.B. motioned
-to his comrades to lower. Handsomely the men
-paid out the comparatively frail rope until Brown's
-bare feet came in contact with the bridge planking.
-
-Five minutes later, the three seamen who had
-been attending to the voice-tubes in the fire-control
-station were lowered into safety, in spite of the fact
-that one was in a semi-conscious condition owing
-to a shrapnel wound in his head.
-
-Sefton was the next to descend, after a spirited
-argument with his brother sub on the etiquette of
-seniority, until the lieutenant settled his subordinate's
-dispute by declaring that Sefton was a guest,
-and that the question of precedence did not hold
-good in present circumstances.
-
-At length all the occupants of the fire-control
-platform were lowered in safety. Barely had the
-lieutenant gained the deck when Sefton's companion
-gave vent to an exclamation of annoyance.
-
-"Dash it all!" he exclaimed. "I clean forgot
-all about that camera. Here goes."
-
-Slipping into the bos'n's chair he made the
-men haul away for all they were worth, and,
-spinning round at the end of the rope, the *Warrior's*
-sub again ascended to the dizzy, insecure perch.
-
-Sefton watched him disappear into the recesses
-of the enclosed space, presently to reappear with
-the precious camera dangling round his neck.
-
-"Wouldn't have lost it for anything," remarked
-the young officer as he regained the fore-bridge.
-"I've knocked about with it ever since I was at
-Osborne, you know."
-
-"Take anything during the action?" enquired Sefton.
-
-"By Jove, no, I didn't! Clean forgot all about it."
-
-"And I fancy, old bird, you won't again,"
-interposed an assistant paymaster, vainly attempting
-to "open out" the folding camera. "It's done for."
-
-Which was only too true. A fragment of shell
-had penetrated the case, reducing the delicate
-mechanism to a complete wreck.
-
-"Look out! Stand clear!" shouted a dozen voices.
-
-With a rending crash the crippled mast buckled
-up and disappeared over the side.
-
-Sefton glanced at his chum. The imperturbable
-sub shrugged his shoulders.
-
-"Better to be born lucky than rich, old man," he
-remarked. "But, by heavens, what a jamboree!"
-
-He could find no other words to describe the
-scene of destruction. Now that the ship was out
-of action, and the excitement of the titanic struggle
-was over, the grim realization of what a naval
-engagement means was beginning to reveal itself to
-the survivors of the gallant crew.
-
-All the fires had been extinguished, with the
-exception of the big outbreak aft. Gangs of men
-toiled desperately at the hand-pumps with a double
-purpose. The *Warrior* was making water freely.
-Already her stokeholds and engine-rooms were
-flooded. Deprived of the aid of her powerful steam
-bilge-pumps it seemed doubtful if the hand
-appliances would be able to cope with the steady inrush.
-Moreover, a considerable volume of water had to be
-directed upon the fire.
-
-Officers with blackened faces and scorched
-uniforms encouraged the men by word and deed. At
-whatever cost the *Warrior* had to be saved from
-foundering if human efforts were capable of such
-a herculean task. Undaunted, the crew toiled
-manfully, fighting fire and water at one and the
-same time.
-
-Already the dead had been identified and given
-a hasty, yet impressive, burial, while--an ominous
-sign--the wounded had been brought up from
-below and laid in rows upon the upper deck. It
-was a necessary precaution, and clearly indicated
-the grave possibility of the old *Warrior* being
-unable to battle much longer against the
-ever-increasing leaks.
-
-There was now plenty of work for Sefton to do.
-Placed in charge of one of the fire-parties he was
-soon strenuously engaged in fighting the
-conflagration. With the flooding of the after magazine
-all danger of an explosion was now at an end, but,
-unless the flames were speedily quelled, the
-possibility of foundering would be materially increased,
-since several shell-holes betwixt wind and water had
-occurred in that part of the ship still dominated by
-the outbreak.
-
-Although no doubt existed in the minds of the
-*Warrior's* crew as to the outcome of the general
-engagement, they were in suspense owing to a total
-lack of news. Without wireless they were debarred
-from communication with the rest of the squadron.
-As helpless as a log, the battered vessel was
-floating in the vast expanse of the North Sea without
-a single vessel in sight. The roar of the battle had
-rolled on far to the nor'ard, and although the
-incessant rumble of the terrific cannonade was
-distinctly audible, the *Warrior* was as ignorant of the
-course of events as if she had been a hundred
-miles away.
-
-The almost flat calm had given place to sullen
-undulations rippled by a steady breeze that
-threatened before long to develop into a hard blow.
-There was every indication of an angry sea before
-nightfall.
-
-An hour had elapsed since the *Warrior* had
-ceased firing--sixty minutes of strenuous exertion
-on the part of all hands--when a vessel was sighted
-apparently steaming in the crippled cruiser's direction.
-
-For some moments suspense ran high, for
-whether the strange craft were friend or foe no one
-on board could give a definite decision.
-
-"What do you make of her?" enquired Sefton's
-chum as the two young officers stood under the
-lee of a partly demolished gun-turret.
-
-"Precious little," replied Sefton. "Can't say
-that I am able to recognize her. But in these times,
-with a new vessel being added to the navy every
-day, one can hardly be expected to tell every ship
-by the cut of her jib."
-
-"She might be a Hun," said the *Warrior's* sub.
-"One that has got out of her bearings and is just
-sniffing round to see what damage she can do.
-Hallo! There's 'Action Stations'."
-
-The *Warrior* was taking no unnecessary risks.
-She was still in a position to bite, although at a
-terrible disadvantage if opposed to an active and
-mobile foe. Gamely her war-worn men doubled
-off to the light quick-firers, three rousing cheers
-announcing the fact that, although badly battered,
-the gallant British seamen knew not the meaning
-of the word surrender.
-
-Nearer and nearer came the mysterious vessel.
-She was by no means moving at the rate of a
-light-cruiser, her speed being about 15 knots. She flew
-three ensigns on various parts of her rigging,
-but, being end on and against the wind, the colours
-could not be distinguished.
-
-Presently she ported helm slightly. Another
-roar of cheering burst from the throats of the
-*Warrior's* men, for now the colours were
-discernible. They were not the Black Cross of
-Germany--a counterfeit presentment of the White Ensign--but
-the genuine article--the British naval ensign.
-
-Simultaneously a hoist of bunting ascended to
-the signal yard-arm. A hundred men could read
-the letters, but the jumble conveyed nothing to
-them. Not until the code-book was consulted could
-the vessel's identity be made known.
-
-"*Engadine*, sir," replied the chief yeoman of
-signals. "Sea-plane carrier, that's what she is,"
-he confided in an undertone to another petty officer
-standing by his side.
-
-A lengthy exchange of semaphore by means of
-hand-flags ensued, for other methods of communication
-on the part of the *Warrior* were impossible,
-owing to the clean sweep of everything on deck.
-
-And now, in the rapidly rising sea, preparations
-were made for taking the crippled *Warrior* in tow.
-Already the cruiser's stern was well down, and,
-badly waterlogged, she would prove a handful for
-a powerfully-engined craft to tow, let alone the
-lightly-built *Engadine*.
-
-But Lieutenant-Commander C. A. Robinson of
-the sea-plane ship *Engadine* knew his business, and
-handled his vessel with superb skill. Thrice he
-manoeuvred sufficiently close to establish
-communication between his ship and the drifting *Warrior*,
-Twice the flexible wire hawser parted like pack-thread.
-At the third attempt the hawsers held, and
-the *Warrior* slowly gathered way, wallowing astern
-of the *Engadine* at a rate of 4 knots--but every
-minute was taking the unvanquished cruiser nearer
-Britain's shores.
-
-By this time all on board knew that their sacrifice
-had not been in vain. Jellicoe was known to have
-effected a junction with Beatty's hard-pressed
-squadrons, the German High Seas Fleet was in
-flight, and betwixt them and their North Sea bases
-was the invincible Grand Fleet. "The Day" had
-proved to be a day of reckoning for the boastful
-Huns in their efforts to wrest the trident from
-Britannia's grasp.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XI--The Wrecked Sea-plane
-=================================
-
-With her stock of torpedoes replenished and certain
-defects made good, H.M.T.B.D. *Calder* sheered off
-from her parent ship, and, increasing speed to 21
-knots, shaped a course to rejoin the rest of the
-flotilla.
-
-Lieutenant-Commander Richard Crosthwaite was
-in high spirits. He thought that he had succeeded
-in bluffing the commodore to give his permission
-to rejoin the rest of the fleet instead of being ordered
-back to the Firth of Forth. As a matter of fact, his
-senior officer, realizing that a "stout heart goes a
-long way", had purposely refrained from asking
-a lot of awkward questions concerning the *Calder's*
-injuries. In the forthcoming and projected night
-attack every destroyer available would be needed to
-put the fear of the British navy into the minds of
-the Huns and 21-inch torpedoes into the vitals of
-their battleships.
-
-The spirit of the *Calder's* skipper was shared by
-every member of the crew. Even the wounded
-showed reluctance to be transferred to the parent
-ship; those whose injuries did not prevent them
-from getting about sturdily asserting that they
-might be of use. Those obliged to take to their
-hammocks were emphatic in impressing upon their
-more fortunate comrades the request "to get their
-own back".
-
-The sun was low in the north-western sky when
-the *Calder's* look-out men sighted two vessels
-slowly making their way in the direction of home.
-One, evidently badly damaged, was in tow of the other.
-
-It was part of the destroyer's duty to investigate,
-since it might be possible that the vessels were
-hostile craft endeavouring by making a wide detour
-to reach their base.
-
-A wireless message, in code, was sent from the
-*Calder*, requesting the two vessels to disclose their
-identity. The reply left Crosthwaite no longer in
-doubt. The towing ship was the *Engadine*, while
-the crippled craft wallowing in her wake was the
-heroic *Warrior*.
-
-It was Crosthwaite's opportunity to regain the
-services of his sub-lieutenant if the latter had been
-lucky enough to escape from the terrible gruelling
-to which the British cruiser had been subjected.
-
-Closing to within a cable's length of the *Warrior*
-he signalled:
-
-"Request permission to take off my sub-lieutenant."
-
-To which the *Warrior* replied:
-
-"Permission granted, provided no needless risk
-to His Majesty's ships."
-
-Crosthwaite smiled grimly. The idea of further
-damage being done to the *Warrior* seemed out of
-the question, while he considered he was quite
-capable of bringing the *Calder* alongside without
-denting a single plate.
-
-Ordering "easy ahead", Crosthwaite brought
-the *Calder* close alongside the *Warrior's* port
-quarter. Although the sea was now running high,
-and the waves were breaking over the latter's almost
-submerged quarter-deck, it was comparatively
-calm under her lee.
-
-"There's your glorified Thames penny steamer
-alongside, old man," remarked Sefton's chum as
-the *Calder* was made fast fore and aft, her deck
-being little more than a couple of feet below that of
-the cruiser--so low had the latter settled aft. "No,
-don't trouble to return my coat. It's positively not
-respectable for the quarter-deck. Well, so long!
-I'll run across you again before this business is
-over, I guess."
-
-Scrambling over the debris, from which smoke
-was still issuing in faint bluish wisps, Sefton gained
-the armoured cruiser's side. Poising himself for
-an instant he leapt on the *Calder's* deck, followed
-by Able Seaman Brown.
-
-.. _`"POISING HIMSELF FOR AN INSTANT, SEFTON LEAPT ON THE 'CALDER'S' DECK"`:
-
-.. figure:: images/img-128.jpg
- :align: center
- :alt: "POISING HIMSELF FOR AN INSTANT, SEFTON LEAPT ON THE 'CALDER'S' DECK"
-
- "POISING HIMSELF FOR AN INSTANT, SEFTON LEAPT ON THE 'CALDER'S' DECK"
-
-"Can I be of any assistance, sir?" enquired
-Crosthwaite from the bridge of the destroyer.
-
-The commanding officer of the *Warrior* returned
-the salute and shook his head. He was loath to
-detain even one destroyer from the fighting that
-yet remained to be done.
-
-Amid the cheers of both crews the *Calder* sheered
-off, and, porting helm, resumed her course, while
-the *Warrior*, in tow of the *Engadine*, was confronted
-with the approach of night and a steadily-increasing
-rough sea.
-
-The badly-damaged *Warrior* never reached port.
-After being towed for twelve hours, her position
-became so serious that the sea-plane carrier hove
-alongside and removed her crew.
-
-Giving three cheers for the old ship, as the
-*Engadine*, abandoning her tow, increased the
-distance between her and the *Warrior*, the gallant
-crew watched the battered hulk rolling sullenly in
-the angry sea until she was lost sight of in the
-distance.
-
-Having formally reported himself, Sefton went
-below to make up arrears of sleep. Boxspanner
-and the doctor were in the ward-room, both engaged
-in animated conversation, not upon the subject of
-the action, but on the merits and demerits of
-paraffin as a substitute for petrol for a motor-bicycle.
-
-With disjointed fragments of conversation ringing
-in his ears, and "carburation", "sooty deposit
-in the sparking plug", and "engine-knock" figuring
-largely, Sefton fell into a fitful slumber, dreaming
-vividly of the stirring incidents of the past few
-hours, until he was aroused by the reversal of the
-destroyer's engines, the lightly-built hull quivering
-under the strain.
-
-Instinctively he glanced at the clock. He had
-been asleep only ten minutes--it seemed more like
-ten hours by the length of his excited mental visions.
-
-Leaping from his bunk, Sefton scrambled into
-his clothes and hurried on deck. It was still
-twilight. The wind was moaning through the aerials;
-splashes of spray slapped the destroyer's black
-sides as she lost way and fell off broadside on to
-the waves.
-
-Fifty yards to leeward was a large British
-sea-plane. She was listing at a dangerous angle, her
-starboard-float being waterlogged, and showing
-only above the surface as the fabric heeled in the
-trough of the sea. Her planes were ripped in
-twenty places, while the fuselage showed signs of
-having been hit several times. The tip of one
-blade of the propeller had been cut off as cleanly
-as if by a knife. All around her the water was
-iridescent with oil that had leaked from her
-lubricating-tanks. Waist-deep in water, and sitting
-athwart the undamaged float, was the pilot--a
-young sub-lieutenant, whose face was blanched
-with the cold. He had voluntarily adopted his
-position in order to impart increased stability to
-the damaged sea-plane.
-
-Lying on the floor of the fuselage, with his head
-just visible above the coamings, was the observer.
-He had discarded his flying-helmet, while round his
-head was bound a blood-stained scarf. Evidently
-his wound was of a serious nature, for he evinced
-no interest in the approach of the *Calder*.
-
-As the destroyer drifted down upon the crippled
-sea-plane a dozen ready hands gripped the top of
-one of the wings, and a couple of seamen swarmed
-along the frail fabric to the chassis.
-
-The rescue of the pilot was a comparatively easy
-matter, but it took all the skill of the bluejackets to
-extricate the wounded observer. It was not until
-others of the crew came to the aid of their comrades,
-the men in their zeal almost completing the
-submergence of the still floating wreckage, that the
-unconscious officer was brought on board.
-
-There was no time to waste in salvage operations.
-At an order from the lieutenant-commander a
-seaman, armed with an axe, made his way to the
-undamaged float. A few vigorous blows completed
-the work of destruction. Held by the tip of one of
-the wings until the man regained the destroyer, the
-sea-plane was allowed to sink.
-
-"Rough luck to chuck away an engine like that,"
-remarked a voice regretfully.
-
-Sefton turned his head and saw that the speaker
-was Engineer-Lieutenant Boxspanner, and for once
-at least Dr. Stirling agreed with him.
-
-The rescue of the sea-plane's crew threw
-additional work upon the already harassed surgeon,
-for the observer was showing signs of collapse,
-while upon examination it was found that the
-pilot had been hit in the forehead by a shrapnel bullet.
-
-Pulling himself together, the observer managed
-to impart important information before he fainted
-through sheer exhaustion. The sea-plane had
-sighted the main German fleet fifty miles to the
-nor'-nor'-east.
-
-The intelligence was highly desirable. It settled
-without doubt the all-important question as to the
-enemy's whereabouts, and definitely proved that
-Jellicoe's ships were between the Huns and their
-North Sea bases. If steps could be taken to
-intercept the German vessels' retreat through the
-Cattegat, it seemed as if they were doomed to annihilation
-at the hands of the British.
-
-Quickly the news was wirelessed from the *Calder*
-to the *Iron Duke*. Unless anything unforeseen
-occurred, it seemed pretty certain that Admiral
-Jellicoe would be able to turn the initial advantage
-into an overwhelming defeat for the enemy.
-
-The two airmen had rendered good service
-against considerable odds. They had ascended
-three hours previously, and, flying low in order to
-be able to see through the haze, had eventually
-sighted the badly-damaged German squadron
-under Rear-Admiral von Scheer, which had
-contrived to slip away while Admiral Hipper was
-endeavouring to delay the advance of Jellicoe's
-main fleet.
-
-Owing to the low degree of visibility, the
-seaplane came within range of the hostile quick-firers
-almost before her pilot was aware of the unpleasant
-fact. Greeted by a hot fire, almost the first shell
-of which carried away the wireless, the sea-plane
-ascended, trusting to be hidden in the clouds until
-she could volplane from another direction and
-renew her reconnaissance of the hostile fleet.
-
-Unfortunately, it was a case of "out of the
-saucepan into the fire", for on emerging above the
-low-lying bank of clouds the sea-plane found herself
-almost underneath a Zeppelin, several of which
-accompanied the German fleet, although their
-sphere of usefulness was considerably curtailed by
-reason of the climatic conditions. Although the
-haze prevented the British from inflicting greater
-damage upon their opponents, it is fairly safe to
-assert that had the sky been clear the Zeppelins
-would have given the German fleet timely
-warning, and an action would never have ensued.
-
-Nothing daunted, the British sea-plane opened
-fire upon her gigantic antagonist; but the odds
-were against her. The Zeppelins, floating
-motionless in the air and in perfect silence, had long
-before heard the noisy approach of the mechanical
-hornet, and her appearance was greeted with a
-concentrated fire of half a dozen machine guns,
-accompanied by a few choice titbits in the shape
-of bombs.
-
-The latter, without exception, missed their
-objective, but the hail of bullets ripped the sea-plane
-through and through and dangerously wounded
-her observer. In spite of the riddled state of the
-planes the pilot kept his craft well under control,
-but was forced to descend, not before the Zeppelin
-was showing signs of having been much damaged
-by the sea-plane's automatic gun. The last the
-airmen saw of her was that she was making off at
-full speed in an easterly direction, her stern portion
-dipping ominously in spite of the quantity of
-ballast hurled overboard by her crew.
-
-The British air-craft's long volplane terminated
-on the surface of the sea miles from the place where
-she had "spotted" the hostile ships. Before long
-the pilot made the disconcerting discovery that one
-of the floats was leaking. Having bandaged his
-unfortunate comrade's wound, he slipped over the
-side of the fuselage on to the damaged float.
-Failing to locate and stop the leak, he took up his
-position on the sound float, in the hope that his
-weight would preserve the sea-plane's stability. In
-this position he remained for two hours, until,
-numbed by the cold, he was on the point of
-abandoning hope when the *Calder* hove in sight.
-
-The sun had set when the *Calder* rejoined the
-flotilla. The enemy was entirely out of sight, but
-there was every possibility of the German torpedo-boats
-making a night attack upon the long line of
-battleships.
-
-Every precaution was taken against such a step.
-The battleships and battle-cruisers were encircled
-by a line of light cruisers, while beyond them, and
-mostly between the British fleet and the reported
-position of the German ships, was a numerous
-gathering of destroyers for the dual part of
-protecting the larger ships and also, when opportunity
-occurred, of making a dash against the Huns.
-
-"Mark my words, Sefton," said Lieutenant-Commander
-Crosthwaite when the *Calder*, having
-transferred the two airmen, had taken up her
-allotted station, "to-night's the night. We'll have
-the time of our lives."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XII--The Night Attack
-=============================
-
-Just before midnight two columns of destroyers
-in line ahead slipped away in the darkness, the
-course being N. 42° E. Without showing so much
-as a glimmer of light, with their funnels screened
-with "spark arresters" to prevent the exit of
-glowing embers from the furnaces, the long, lean craft
-headed in the supposed direction of the enemy fleet.
-
-From the elevated fore-bridge Sefton could scarce
-distinguish betwixt the *Calder's* bows and the dark,
-heavy waves. The only guide to enable the
-destroyer to keep station was the phosphorescent
-swirl at the stern of the vessel next ahead, as her
-triple propellers churned the water.
-
-On deck the men were at the battle-stations,
-standing motionless and silent. Their faces had
-been blackened with burnt cork to render them
-as inconspicuous as possible should the beam of
-a hostile search-light swing itself athwart their vessel.
-
-Although the high-raised fo'c'sle of the *Calder*
-was comparatively dry, showers of spray cast aside
-by the flaring bows were caught by the strong
-wind and dashed over the bridge until it was
-impossible to make use of night-glasses owing to the
-beads of moisture on the lenses.
-
-Beyond a curt, clearly-enunciated order to the
-quartermaster, neither of the two officers spoke a
-word, Crosthwaite gripping the guard-rail and
-peering ahead, while Sefton kept his attention upon
-the tell-tale greyish smudge that marked the
-position of the destroyer ahead.
-
-The result of years of training at night manoeuvres
-was bearing fruit. Iron-nerved men were at
-the helm of each boat--men who had long since
-got beyond the "jumpy" stage, when strange
-freaks of imagination conjure up visions of objects
-that do not exist. A false alarm and a rapid fire
-from the 4-inch guns would be fatal to the
-enterprise, the success of which depended entirely upon
-getting well within torpedo-range without being
-spotted by the alert foe.
-
-A feeble light, screened in all directions save
-that towards the vessels astern, blinked rapidly
-from the leading destroyer. It was the signal for
-the flotilla to form in line abeam.
-
-"Starboard ten!" ordered Crosthwaite.
-
-"Starboard ten, sir!" was the helmsman's reply,
-while the lieutenant-commander telegraphed for
-speed to be increased to 22 knots in order to bring
-the *Calder* even with the leader.
-
-Had it been daylight the manoeuvre would have
-been executed with the precision of a machine;
-being night it was impossible to follow the
-movements of the whole flotilla, but carried out the
-orders were, each destroyer keeping station with
-the one nearest on her starboard beam.
-
-Suddenly the darkness was penetrated by the
-dazzling beam of a search-light from a ship at a
-distance of two miles on the *Calder's* port bow.
-For a moment it hung irresolute, and then
-swung round in the direction of the on-coming destroyers.
-
-A huge black mass intercepted the rays, its
-outlines silhouetted against the silvery glare. The
-mass was a German light cruiser, evidently
-detached for scouting purposes and returning with
-screened lights towards the main fleet.
-
-Instantly a furious cannonade was opened upon
-the luckless light cruiser from half a dozen of her
-consorts. For a couple of minutes the firing
-continued, until, with a tremendous flash and a
-deafening roar, her magazine exploded.
-
-"The Huns will never admit their mistake,"
-thought Sefton. "They'll claim to have destroyed
-another of our ships."
-
-Then the sub's whole attention was chained to
-the work now on hand. Barely had the last of the
-flying debris from the German light cruiser struck
-the water when at full speed the British destroyer
-flotilla hurled itself upon the foe.
-
-Played upon by fifty search-lights, the target for
-a hundred guns, large and small, the destroyers
-held on with one set purpose, their torpedo-men
-discharging the 21-inch missiles with rapidity and
-cool determination.
-
-Above the crash of the ordnance could be heard
-the deeper boom of the torpedoes as they exploded
-against the ships' bottoms at a depth of fifteen or
-twenty feet below the surface.
-
-Slick in between two large battleships the
-*Calder* rushed, letting loose a pair of torpedoes
-at each of the hostile ships. One torpedo was
-observed to explode close to the stern of the
-battleship to starboard, the stricken vessel leaving
-the line with a decided list and enveloped in smoke.
-
-"Light cruisers, by Jove!" muttered Sefton, as
-the *Calder*, on nearing the end of the enemy line,
-was confronted by three vessels of the "Wiesbaden" class.
-
-A heavy fire greeted the approaching destroyer,
-but almost without exception the shells went wide
-of their mark. Then, gathering speed, one of the
-German light cruisers ported helm and attempted
-to ram her lightly-built opponent.
-
-Making no effort to avoid the danger, the *Calder*
-held on, until Sefton, turning to see what his
-commanding officer was doing, found Crosthwaite
-sitting on the bridge with his back against the pedestal
-of the semaphore, and his hands clasping his right
-leg just above the knee, and blood oozing from a
-gash in his forehead.
-
-The sub was the only officer on the bridge capable
-of taking command.
-
-"Hard-a-starboard!" he shouted, in order to
-make himself heard above the din.
-
-Ever quick on her helm, the destroyer spun
-round almost on her heel. The German's stem
-missed her by a couple of feet, while, hurled bodily
-sideways by the mass of water from the former's
-bow wave, the *Calder* slid past with her side-plating
-almost touching that of her enemy.
-
-Simultaneously the Hun let fly a broadside. The
-destroyer reeled under the shock, but once again
-she was in luck, for none of the hostile guns could
-be sufficiently depressed to score a vital hit. The
-next instant the cruiser was lost to sight in the
-darkness, saluted by a number of rounds from the
-destroyer's after 4-inch gun.
-
-Temporarily stunned by the detonations of the
-German cruiser's guns--for he was within twenty
-feet of the muzzles of several of the weapons--Sefton
-leaned against the conning-tower. The
-metal was unpleasantly hot, for a light shell had
-burst against it hardly a minute before. Beyond
-denting the steel armour and blowing the
-signal-locker over the side, the missile had done no
-further damage.
-
-Coughing the acrid fumes from his lungs and
-clearing his eyes of involuntary tears, for the air
-was thick with irritating dust, Sefton began to take
-a renewed interest in his surroundings.
-
-The *Calder* had penetrated the hostile line without
-sustaining serious damage. She had now to return.
-
-The sub grasped one of the voice-tubes. The
-flexible pipe came away in his hand, the whole
-system having been cut through with a fragment of shell.
-
-"We've had it pretty hot!" he soliloquized.
-"Wonder we're still afloat. Well, now for it once more."
-
-He leant over the after side of the bridge. A dark
-figure was moving for'ard ten feet beneath him.
-
-"Pass the word to the L.T.O.," ordered the sub,
-"to report the number of torpedoes remaining."
-
-"Aye, aye, sir," replied the man, and, retracing
-his steps, he hurried aft to where the leading
-torpedo-man was standing at the tubes.
-
-Back came the messenger, lurching as he loomed
-through the darkness.
-
-"The man hasn't found his sea-legs yet,"
-thought Sefton; then aloud he asked: "Well?"
-
-"None left, sir," replied the seaman, and, having
-delivered his message, he pitched upon his face.
-
-Sefton had to let him lie there. The sub could
-not leave the bridge. Even Crosthwaite had to be
-left alone until the destroyer was out of action.
-
-It would have been a futile task to attempt to
-take the *Calder* back between the enemy lines.
-With no other offensive weapons than her
-comparatively light 4-inch quick-firers, she would be
-unable to do any serious damage to the huge
-armoured ships, while at the same time she
-would be exposed to an overwhelming fire as she
-passed abeam of the German battleships and light
-cruisers.
-
-So into the darkness, beyond the glare of the
-search-lights, Sefton took the destroyer, with the
-intention of making a wide sweep and rejoining
-the British fleet. Of how the *Calder's* consorts
-were faring he knew nothing, except that the action
-was being briskly maintained. Occasionally the
-foggy night would be rent by a vivid red glare
-that outclassed the almost continuous flashes of the
-guns, which illuminated the low-lying clouds like
-incessant summer lightning. The roar of the
-ordnance was simply indescribable. It seemed
-impossible that a man could go through it without
-having his ear-drums burst by the terrific air-beats
-of the appalling detonations.
-
-A dark shape loomed through the darkness almost
-athwart the *Calder's* track. Only a quick
-movement of the helm avoided collision with the floating
-object, which, as the *Calder* swept by, revealed
-itself as a large destroyer.
-
-On deck she was little better than a wreck.
-Bridge, conning-tower, funnels, masts, and boats
-had vanished utterly. Her guns, wrenched from
-their mountings, pointed upwards at grotesque
-angles through their shattered shields. Where
-the torpedo-tubes had been was a jagged hole still
-spanned by one arc of the gun-metal racer. This
-much was visible in the reflected glare of the
-distant search-lights as the *Calder* swept by with
-her guns trained abeam should the vessel still be
-capable of offence.
-
-A score of men, mostly engine-room ratings, were
-gathered amidships on the shattered deck of the
-crippled vessel. They had desisted from the work
-on which they were engaged, and were gazing
-mutely at the destroyer that might be instrumental
-in giving them the *coup de grâce*.
-
-"What ship is that?" roared Sefton through a
-megaphone, the intervening distance being less
-than twenty yards.
-
-"His Majesty's destroyer *Yealm*," was the reply,
-flung proudly through the darkness.
-
-Thrusting both levers of the engine-room
-telegraph to "Full Speed Astern" and afterwards to
-"Stop", the sub brought the *Calder* to a standstill
-within easy hailing distance of her disabled consort.
-Here was a case in which assistance could be
-rendered without detriment to the interests of the
-Service. The *Calder*, until she could replenish her
-store of torpedoes, was practically useless as a
-fighting unit. With her engines undamaged she
-could tow the *Yealm* into comparative safety, provided
-she was not intercepted by a straggling hostile ship.
-
-"Stand by to receive a hawser!" continued
-Sefton. "We'll give you a pluck out of this."
-
-"No; thanks all the same, sir," shouted a deep
-voice. "We're sound below the water-line, and we
-can get under way again in a few minutes. We'll
-take our chances of getting out of it. We gave the
-swine an almighty punching before they swept our
-decks. Carry on, sir, and give them another half
-a dozen for us."
-
-It was the *Yealm's* torpedo gunner who spoke,
-the only surviving executive officer of the gallant
-destroyer.
-
-"Can you spare us any torpedoes?" shouted
-Sefton, an inspiration flashing across his mind.
-
-"Aye, aye, sir," was the reply. "Four."
-
-"Very good; we'll come alongside," rejoined the
-sub, who thereupon ordered two wire "springs" to
-be made ready, so as to establish communication
-between the two destroyers.
-
-"Well done, Sefton!" exclaimed his lieutenant-commander.
-
-The sub turned and found that Crosthwaite had
-regained his feet, and was standing beside him
-upon the partly demolished bridge.
-
-"You're----", began Sefton, but the lieutenant-commander
-shut him up.
-
-"Nothing," he replied laconically. "You might
-fix me up. Not a word to Stirling, mind. If I
-keep out of his way, he's not to know. But, by
-Jove, you've been knocked about a bit."
-
-The information, although correct, came as a
-surprise to Sefton. For the first time he noticed
-that the coat-sleeve of his left arm was cut away,
-the remnant hanging by a few threads, while his
-left wrist was encumbered by a bandage. He must
-have tied the handkerchief himself, but the action
-had been purely automatic. Hitherto he had had
-no knowledge that he had been hit by a splinter,
-and was quite unaware that he had acted as his own
-bandager.
-
-"Carry on," continued Crosthwaite. "I'll stand
-easy for a while. I'll feel all right in a few minutes."
-
-He vanished behind the wreckage of the conning
-tower, leaving Sefton to survey the scene. It was
-now light enough to discern the nature of the
-damage caused by the ordeal through which the
-*Calder* had passed, for the flashes of the distant
-guns, added to the reflected rays of the search-lights,
-made it possible to see with fair distinctness.
-
-Of the *Calder's* funnels only one remained
-standing. The others, either swept clean away or lying
-athwart the deck, left jagged cavities, through which
-the smoke was pouring from the oil-fed furnaces.
-
-The starboard side of the bridge had vanished,
-with it the domed top of the conning-tower, while
-the armoured sheets upon the latter, ripped like
-cardboard, had been torn open, revealing the
-interior--a jumble of twisted voice-tubes and
-shattered indicators. The same shell that had
-wrought havoc with the conning-tower had swept
-the for'ard 4-inch completely from its mountings,
-taking its crew with it.
-
-Meanwhile a dozen men had boarded the *Yealm*.
-Her scanty survivors were too done up to tackle
-the task of heaving out the torpedoes, for, included
-in the work of destruction, her derricks had shared
-the fate of the rest of the top-hamper. Others of
-the *Calder's* crew were attending to the injuries of
-their comrades, for, in addition to eight men killed
-outright, six were mortally wounded, and a dozen
-more had sustained injuries that would incapacitate
-them for further service.
-
-The plucky messenger who had brought Sefton's
-reply from the L.T.O. had been carried below. In
-the heat of the fight he had received a splinter of
-shell in his chest, the impact fracturing one of the
-breast-bones. Yet, undaunted, he continued to
-serve his gun until the destroyer had emerged from
-the hostile fire. Even then he refused to present
-himself before the doctor, and was making his way
-to the fo'c'sle like a wounded animal, when Sefton,
-unaware of his injuries, had ordered him to take a
-message aft. This he did, in spite of the increasing
-pain and faintness, and having delivered the reply
-he had been forced to collapse.
-
-At length the four gleaming cylinders were transferred
-from the *Yealm* to the *Calder's* decks. Once
-more the destroyer, although battered sufficiently
-to justify her retiring from the fight, was made
-capable of dealing deadly blows at her gigantic
-antagonists.
-
-The "springs" were cast off, and, with the
-engines running at full speed ahead, the *Calder* again
-hurled herself into the fray.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XIII--Sefton in Command
-===============================
-
-By this time the firing had ceased, while, the
-search-lights of the German war-ships having been
-screened, intense darkness brooded over the scene.
-The sea was rising rapidly, as if Nature was about
-to assert her power over the opposing fleets.
-
-Exposed to the full force of the wind and waves,
-Sefton stood upon the remaining portion of the
-bridge, with his lieutenant-commander reclining
-within easy distance. Crosthwaite had given his
-subordinate strict orders to inform him of the
-moment when the Huns were again sighted. His
-wounds mattered little. Provided his head were
-cool and his brain alert the *Calder's* skipper meant
-to miss no part of the next phase of the scrap.
-
-The destroyer was now steaming in almost the
-opposite direction to that by which she had
-penetrated the enemy line. She was five or six miles to
-leeward of the German ships and possibly three
-times that distance from the British main fleet.
-
-Far away to the west'ard came the dull rumble of
-a furious cannonade.
-
-"Our light cruisers are having a scrap with the
-Hun destroyers," muttered Sefton. "By Jove, this
-is a night!"
-
-The sub was correct in his surmise. Although
-the British heavy ships were not attacked during
-the night, thanks to the screen provided by the
-Second Light-cruiser Squadron and several of the
-destroyer flotillas, the enemy torpedo-craft were
-several times in touch with the "fringes of the fleet".
-
-Darkness played many strange pranks with the
-combatants, mistakes that more than once told
-against the Huns occurring with remarkable persistency.
-
-On one occasion a battleship of the "Kaiser"
-class was observed by the *Fearless*. The Hun was
-entirely isolated, and was steaming at full speed.
-The British destroyer was unable to engage her
-gigantic antagonist--the two vessels passing in
-opposite directions at an aggregate rate of 50
-miles an hour. To launch a torpedo would almost
-certainly result in a miss, while it was extremely
-hazardous for the *Fearless* to turn and follow,
-without colliding with other British destroyers following
-much farther astern. Nor did the German battleship
-make any attempt to engage; possibly the
-*Fearless* was not visible from the war-ship's deck.
-
-Holding on her course, the *Fearless* warned her
-consorts by wireless, and a heavy explosion long
-after told its own tale.
-
-An even more remarkable incident occurred
-during the night. Several British light cruisers were
-steaming in line ahead when a severely mauled
-German ocean-going torpedo-boat was observed
-approaching. Mistaken for one of our destroyers,
-the two leading cruisers let her slip past within the
-distance of a cable's length. The third, taking no
-risks, suddenly unmasked her search-lights and
-played them full upon the stranger. Caught in the
-blinding glare, her crew could be seen hard at
-work endeavouring to turn a pair of torpedo-tubes
-abeam--a task of considerable difficulty owing to
-the "racer" being damaged.
-
-The British light cruiser saved them the job in
-a most effectual manner. Depressing her for'ard
-9.2-inch gun, she sent a huge shell at point-blank
-range crashing into the light-built hull.
-
-.. _`"SHE SENT A HUGE SHELL AT POINT-BLANK RANGE CRASHING INTO THE LIGHT-BUILT HULL"`:
-
-.. figure:: images/img-151.jpg
- :align: center
- :alt: "SHE SENT A HUGE SHELL AT POINT-BLANK RANGE CRASHING INTO THE LIGHT-BUILT HULL"
-
- "SHE SENT A HUGE SHELL AT POINT-BLANK RANGE CRASHING INTO THE LIGHT-BUILT HULL"
-
-A blinding flash, a huge puff of smoke, and all
-was over. The search-light played upon an
-expanse of agitated water where, five seconds before,
-a German torpedo-craft had been churning on her way.
-
-Meanwhile the *Calder* held resolutely on her
-course, ignorant of her position relative to the
-enemy fleet, and liable at any moment to "knock
-up against" one of the German light cruisers.
-
-Crosthwaite had now resumed command. His
-unconquerable determination had soared above
-physical injuries. He was not out for personal
-kudos. Actuated solely by a desire to uphold the
-prestige of the Grand Fleet, and his own flotilla in
-particular, he was determined to hurl the *Calder*
-between the hostile lines. It mattered little that
-the destroyer was unsupported--for long since
-she had lost touch with her consorts. Even if
-none of her officers and crew returned to tell the
-tale, he was confident that the craft under his
-command would play her part in a manner worthy
-of the time-honoured traditions of the British navy.
-
-Presently a high dark mass was observed almost
-ahead and slightly on the destroyer's port bow. It
-was a hostile battleship. She was lying athwart the
-*Calder's* course, with a considerable list to
-starboard, and proceeding at a rate of about four knots.
-Her foremast had been shot away, and with it the
-for'ard funnel, which in ships of this class is close
-to the mast. One of her two steel derricks had
-collapsed, the curved end trailing over the side.
-Long gashes in her armoured plates testified to the
-accuracy and power of the British gunnery.
-
-Already the torpedoes had been "launched home"
-into the *Calder's* twin tubes. In any case the
-battleship must not be allowed to crawl into port,
-even if she should be incapable of repairs for months.
-
-Crosthwaite was about to con the destroyer in
-order to bring the torpedo-tubes to bear, when the
-already stricken battleship gave a violent lurch,
-from which she made no attempt at recovery.
-
-Farther and farther she heeled, the rush of water
-into her hull and the hiss of escaping air being
-distinctly audible above the howling of the wind.
-Her crew--or, rather, the survivors--could be
-heard as they leapt from the steeply inclined decks.
-There was no need for a torpedo to administer the
-*coup de grâce*.
-
-Five minutes later only the battleship's keel-plates
-and the tips of the four propellers remained
-above the surface, by which time the *Calder* had
-left her well astern and was approaching the double
-lines of hostile light cruisers, whose indistinct
-shapes were just beginning to be visible against
-the patch of starlight that penetrated a gap in
-the inky mist.
-
-A sudden blinding glare enveloped the *Calder*,
-causing her lieutenant-commander, quartermaster,
-and helmsman to blink helplessly. Fairly caught
-by the rays of half a dozen search-lights, they were
-temporarily blinded as effectually as if their eyes
-had been bandaged with opaque scarves.
-
-Fortunately Sefton's back was turned from the
-direction in which the destroyer was proceeding.
-The unmasking of the concentrated rays warned
-him. Shielding his eyes, he turned and made a
-dash for the steam steering-gear, the wheel of which
-the helmsman was still grasping automatically.
-
-"Hard-a-port!" shouted the sub.
-
-The man made no attempt to carry out the order,
-but, slowly bending forward, collapsed upon the
-bridge. A fragment of shell had pierced his brain.
-
-Pushing the body aside, Sefton put the helm hard
-over, and the destroyer, screened by an intervening
-vessel that fortunately did not make use of her
-search-lights, entered a darkened patch between the
-brilliantly lighted areas on either side.
-
-With her remaining guns spitting defiance at the
-hostile light cruisers, and launching her torpedoes
-immediately a target presented itself, the destroyer
-continued her devoted dash. Projectiles, large and
-small, hurtled overhead, while, rapidly hit again
-and again, she was soon reduced to a mere wreck.
-
-The German cruisers had a fair and easy mark.
-Had their gun-layers been equal to the British, the
-*Calder* would have been blown clean out of the
-water; but the terrible night had told upon their
-nerves. A wholesome dread of the British
-destroyers with their deadly torpedoes was present in
-their minds. Not knowing whether the solitary
-destroyer was supported by others of the flotilla,
-they were under the impression that the *Calder*
-was leading a line of swift vessels, and the surmise
-was not comforting to the Huns.
-
-In the midst of the tornado of shell one of the
-*Calder's* torpedoes "got home", ripping open the
-bottom of a light cruiser and causing an internal
-explosion that tore her to pieces. So close was
-the destroyer that the terrific rush of displaced air
-was distinctly felt, while a dense cloud of smoke
-from the sinking cruiser, driving to leeward across
-the foam-flecked and shell-sprayed waves,
-completely enveloped the little craft that had dealt the
-successful blow.
-
-"Take her out of action if you can," exclaimed
-a voice which Sefton recognized as that of his
-commanding officer. "I'm done in, I'm afraid."
-
-The cloud of smoke saved the *Calder* from
-destruction, for, turning while still in the midst of
-the impenetrable pall of vapour, the destroyer
-slipped away from the rays of search-lights, and,
-doubling, literally staggered in an opposite
-direction to the one she had been keeping a minute before.
-
-In vain the German search-lights swept the sea
-in the supposed position of the daring destroyer,
-until, convinced that she had shared the fate of their
-lost light cruiser, they screened lights and re-formed line.
-
-Once more, in the pitch-black darkness of the
-night, Sefton began to realize the responsibility of
-his position. Crosthwaite was now lying
-motionless--either he had fainted from loss of blood or
-else he was already dead. In spite of his anxiety
-on his skipper's behalf, Sefton was unable to lift
-a finger to help him. The sub was the only one
-left standing on the bridge, and whether the bridge
-was part of a sinking vessel he knew not. A
-strange silence brooded over the *Calder*, broken
-occasionally by the moans and groans of wounded
-men who littered her deck.
-
-Yet Sefton's instructions were clear up to a
-certain point. He had to take the destroyer out of
-action. To all intents this part of his duty had
-been carried out. The *Calder*, in a damaged,
-perhaps foundering, condition, was alone on the wild
-North Sea.
-
-The dark form of a bluejacket clambered up the
-twisted bridge-ladder, and, crossing to where Sefton
-stood, touched his shoulder.
-
-"Where's the sub-lootenant, mate?" he asked.
-
-"I'm here, Brown," replied the young officer.
-
-"Beg pardon, sir," replied the A.B. "Couldn't
-recognize you in the darkness. Thought I'd see if
-you was all right."
-
-"Thanks," replied Sefton, touched by the man's
-devotion. "How goes it on deck?"
-
-"A clean sweep, sir," replied Brown. "A regular
-wipe-out. Copped us proper, the swine. Both
-tubes knocked out, after 4-inch blown clean over
-the side."
-
-"Do you know if we're making much water?"
-asked the sub anxiously, for the sluggish way in
-which the destroyer laboured through the water
-gave rise to considerable apprehension in that respect.
-
-"Can't say, sir."
-
-"Then pass the word for the senior petty officer
-to report to me."
-
-The A.B. hurried off, muttering curiously
-expressed words of thanksgiving at his young officer's
-escape. Gratitude had been a hitherto undeveloped
-trait in Brown's nature, until that memorable
-occasion when Sefton risked his life, if not exactly to
-save, to be with him when he found himself in the "ditch".
-
-Groping for the voice-tube from the bridge to
-the engine-room, for the telegraph had disappeared,
-Sefton attempted to call up the engineer-lieutenant,
-but in vain. This means of communication with
-the engine-room was completely interrupted.
-
-It seemed an interminable time before the desired
-petty officer reported himself to the bridge. He
-was a short, lightly-built man, holding the rank
-of gunner's mate, and was a capable and fairly
-well-educated specimen of the lower deck. Yet,
-had it been daylight, and he had been dumped
-down just as he was in the streets of a naval town,
-he would have been promptly run in by the police
-as a vagrant. His features were literally hidden in
-soot mingled with blood, for a shell had hurled him
-face downwards upon a jagged steel grating, which
-had harrowed his face in a disfiguring though not
-dangerous fashion. His scanty uniform was in
-ribbons, and smelt strongly of smouldering embers,
-while a black scarf tied tightly round his left leg
-below the knee failed to stop a steady trickle from
-a shrapnel wound.
-
-Briefly and to the point the petty officer made his
-report. The *Calder* had been hulled in more than
-twenty places, but only three holes were betwixt
-wind and water. These had already admitted a
-considerable quantity of water, but temporary
-repairs were already in hand. The steam-pumps
-had been damaged, but were capable of being set
-right, while the use of the hand-pumps enabled the
-sorry remnant of the destroyer's crew to keep the
-leaks well under control.
-
-Nevertheless the *Calder* no longer rose buoyantly
-to the waves. A sullen, listless movement told its
-own tale. Not without a grim, determined struggle
-would her crew be able successfully to combat the
-joint effects of war and rough weather.
-
-On deck most of the fittings had been swept
-clear. Of the funnel only seven feet of jagged
-stump remained. The rest had vanished. Both
-masts had been shot away close to the deck. Of
-the conning-tower only the base was left; the rest
-had been blown away almost with the last shell
-fired at point-blank range. The *Calder's* raised
-fo'c'sle no longer existed. From two feet close to
-the water-line at the stem, and rising obliquely to
-the foot of the bridge, there was nothing left but
-an inclined plane of bent and perforated steel plates.
-
-"Our own mother wouldn't know us, sir," concluded
-the petty officer.
-
-"Let us hope she'll have the chance," rejoined
-Sefton, wondering whether it was humanly
-possible once more to bring the crippled vessel
-alongside her parent ship, or whether the *Calder* would
-again berth alongside the jetty at far-off Rosyth.
-
-The arrival of half a dozen men enabled Sefton
-to have the commanding officer removed below.
-Anxiously the sub awaited Stirling's verdict. The
-report was long in coming, but the doctor's hands
-were full to overflowing. During that terrible
-night many a man owed his life, under Providence,
-to the administrations of the young medico.
-Indifferent to his own peril, although the crippled
-destroyer was straining badly in the heavy seas,
-Pills toiled like a galley-slave in the semi-darkness,
-for the electric light had failed, and the temporary
-operating-room, crowded with ghastly cases, was
-illuminated only by the glimmer of three oil-lamps.
-
-"That you, Pills?" enquired Sefton anxiously,
-as an officer, distinguishable only by his uniform
-cap stuck at a comical angle on the top of his head,
-clambered upon the bridge.
-
-"No--Boxspanner," replied that worthy. "At
-least what's left of him. Where's the skipper?"
-
-"Knocked out."
-
-"Done in?"
-
-Sefton shook his head.
-
-"Don't know," he replied. "Pills has him in
-hand. In any case he's got it pretty badly. Well,
-how goes it?"
-
-"Can't get more'n five knots out of the engines,"
-replied the engineer-lieutenant. "Port engine-room
-reduced to scrap. There was three feet of
-water in the stokeholds, but it's subsiding, thank
-goodness! Deuce of a mess when the lights went
-out. Stumbled over a man and banged my head.
-It feels like a blister on the tyre of a car--liable
-to burst at any moment, don't you know. The
-fellow strafed me for treading on him. Asked him
-what the deuce he was lying there for, since he
-had wind enough to kick up a row. What do you
-think he was up to?"
-
-"Can't say," replied Sefton.
-
-"Plugging a shot-hole with his bare back. Had
-his shoulder wedged against the gash. He'd been
-like that for twenty minutes--and he'd lost three
-fingers of the right hand."
-
-"You'll have to make a special report," remarked
-the sub.
-
-"A special report of every man of my
-department you mean!" exclaimed Boxspanner enthusiastically.
-"By Jove! If you could have seen them----"
-
-The arrival of the doctor cut short the
-engineer-lieutenant's eulogies.
-
-"Just up for a breather," gasped Stirling.
-"Thought I'd let you know how things are going
-in my line. A bit stiff our butcher's bill. The
-skipper's pretty rough. Took a wicked-looking
-chunk of high-explosive shell out of his forehead.
-I've had the deuce of a job to stop the flow
-of arterial blood from a gash in his leg. He'll pull
-through. He's as hard as nails."
-
-"That's good," said Sefton and Boxspanner in
-one breath.
-
-"Talking of nails," continued Stirling, "I've
-just had a rum case--Thompson, the leading
-signalman. Took fifty pieces of metal from his hide.
-The poor wretch couldn't sit down, although the
-wounds were light. Those strafed Huns had
-crammed one of their shrapnel-shells with
-gramophone needles. Fact! I'm not joking! I suppose
-they haven't the heart for any more music, so they
-made us a present of the needles. How much
-longer to daybreak?"
-
-"About a quarter to three, Greenwich time,"
-replied Sefton. "I haven't a watch."
-
-He did not think it necessary to explain that his
-wristlet watch had been ripped from its strap by a
-flying fragment of shell. He was becoming painfully
-aware of the circumstance, for every movement
-of his wrist gave him a sharp pain.
-
-Boxspanner crossed over to the temporary
-binnacle--one removed from the wreckage of one of
-the boats--for the destroyer's standard compass
-had gone the way of the majority of the
-deck-fittings, while the gyro-compass, placed in the
-safest part of the vessel, had been dismounted by
-the bursting of a shell.
-
-"It's only a quarter past eleven," he announced
-dolorously, as he consulted his watch by the feeble
-light of the binnacle.
-
-"Rot!" ejaculated the doctor. "It was midnight
-when we went into action."
-
-The engineer-lieutenant made a second examination.
-The glass of the watch had been completely
-broken; not even a fragment remained. The hands
-had gone, while across the dial were two cracks in
-such positions that they had misled Boxspanner
-into the belief that they were the hands. Yet, on
-holding the timepiece to his ear and listening
-intently--for like the rest of the *Calder's* complement
-he was temporarily deafened from the result of the
-violent gun-fire--he found that the watch was still going.
-
-"It's getting light already," observed Stirling,
-pointing to a pale-reddish hue in the north-eastern
-sky. "Well, I must away. More patching and
-mending demand my modest attention."
-
-Slowly the dawn broke, a crimson glow betwixt
-the dark, scudding masses of clouds betokening a
-continuance of the hard blow, and plenty of it.
-With the rising sea the task of the *Calder's* crew
-increased tenfold. Anxiously the horizon was
-swept in the hope of a friendly vessel being
-sighted, but the sky-line was unbroken. The tide
-of battle, if the action were still being maintained,
-had rolled away beyond sight and hearing of the
-little band of heroes who so worthily maintained
-the prestige of the White Ensign.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XIV--Out of the Fight
-=============================
-
-With the pumps ejecting copious streams of water
-the damaged *Calder* held gamely on her way,
-daylight adding to the horrors of the aftermath of
-battle. The hull echoed to the clanging of the
-artificers' hammers and the dull thud of the caulkers'
-mallets as the undaunted and tireless men proceeded
-with the work of stopping leaks. On deck steps
-were being taken to clear away the debris, and to
-set up a pair of temporary funnels of sufficient
-height to carry the smoke clear of the side. The
-sole remaining gun was overhauled and again made
-fit for action in case of necessity. Although not
-anxious to fall in with a U boat or a stray Zeppelin,
-the *Calder's* crew were determined to take every
-precaution to keep the tattered ensign still flying
-from the temporary staff set up aft.
-
-For another hour the destroyer crawled on her
-long journey towards the cliff-bound shores of
-Britain. Then Sefton issued an order which was
-repeated aft and down below. The engines were
-stopped, the remnants of the crew mustered aft, and
-the battle-scarred pieces of bunting lowered to half-mast.
-
-The *Calder's* crew were about to pay their last
-homage to those of their comrades who had gallantly
-laid down their lives for king and country.
-
-Fifteen hammock-enshrouded forms lay motionless
-at the after end of the deck. Bare-headed their
-messmates stood in silence as Sefton, with a peculiar
-catch in his usually firm voice, read the prayer
-appointed for the burial of those at sea. Then into
-the foam-flecked waves, the bodies of those
-conquerors even in death were consigned, to find an
-undisturbed resting-place fathoms deep on the bed
-of the North Sea.
-
-It was no time for melancholy. At the word
-"Dismiss" the men trooped for'ard, for there was
-plenty of work to do, and, in the navy especially,
-hard but necessary work is rightly considered one
-of the best antidotes for grief.
-
-Snatching at the opportunity to visit his chief,
-Sefton hurried below to the shattered ward-room,
-where Crosthwaite lay on a mattress that smelt
-abominably of cordite and the lingering odours of
-poison-gas. The lieutenant-commander had by this
-time recovered consciousness, and greeted Sefton
-with a bad attempt at a smile.
-
-"We've kept our end up," he said feebly.
-"Think you'll get the old ship back to port?"
-
-"I trust so," said the sub guardedly. "I'll do
-my level best."
-
-"I know," assented Crosthwaite. "Still, you've
-a stiff job. I'll be on the bridge in another half an
-hour and give you a spell."
-
-Sefton said nothing. He realized that many
-hours--nay, days--would pass before his chief
-would again assume command. Crosthwaite was
-quick to notice his subordinate's silence.
-
-"Suppose I've had it pretty badly," he admitted
-reluctantly. "It was a rotten business getting
-knocked out at the critical time."
-
-"Nothing much happened after that," explained
-Sefton. "We were out of it within twenty seconds
-from the time you were hit."
-
-"Man alive!" protested Crosthwaite. "You're
-altogether wrong. For nearly ten minutes I was
-lying there quite conscious and watching you.
-You're a plucky fellow, old man."
-
-Before Sefton could reply he was called away.
-A Zeppelin had been sighted, flying in the direction
-of the badly mauled *Calder*.
-
-Quickly the remaining gun was manned. Although
-not intended for aerial work, modification to
-the original mounting permitted it to be trained
-within ten degrees of the perpendicular, supplementary
-sights having been fitted to enable it to
-be laid while at extreme elevation.
-
-The air-ship was still four miles off, and flying at
-an altitude of about 2000 feet. Apparently
-undamaged, it was proceeding at a rapid pace against
-the wind.
-
-Deprived of the advantage of speed and manoeuvring
-powers, the destroyer would fall an easy prey
-to the Zeppelin's bombs unless the *Calder* could
-make good use of her solitary 4-inch quick-firer.
-The weapon was loaded and trained abeam, the
-gun's crew being ordered to take cover, and thus
-give the destroyer the appearance of being
-incapable of defence.
-
-Sefton made no attempt to alter helm. He had
-made up his mind to wait until the huge target
-came within easy range. He knew that the *Calder*
-was under observation, and that the Germans were
-trying to ascertain the nature of the destroyer's
-injuries. Should they come to the conclusion that
-the slowly-moving British craft was powerless of
-doing damage they would not be likely to waste
-ballast in ascending to a safe altitude and a
-corresponding loss of hydrogen in descending after the
-attack.
-
-Nearer and nearer came the huge air-ship, her
-bows steadily pointing in the direction of the
-destroyer. Range-finder in hand, Sefton curbed his
-impatience. Not until the Zeppelin bore at a
-distance of 2500 yards did he order the gun's crew to
-their stations.
-
-With a vicious spurt of flame and a sharp,
-resounding detonation the 4-inch sent a shell hurtling
-through the air. Admirably timed, it burst
-apparently close to the silvery-grey envelope. Almost
-instantly a huge cloud of black and yellow smoke
-shot from the Zeppelin.
-
-A rousing cheer burst from the throats of the
-British seamen. The cheer was taken up by the
-wounded heroes down below, who, having heard in
-some mysterious manner of the air-ship's approach,
-were waiting the issue of events with mingled
-confidence and regret that they themselves were unable
-to assist in "strafing the sausage".
-
-The cheers literally froze on the lips of the men
-on deck, for when the smoke cleared away the
-Zeppelin was a mere speck, 10,000 feet in the air.
-Under cover of a discharge of smoke she had
-dropped a large quantity of ballast and had shot
-vertically upwards to a safe altitude.
-
-The Hun in command had received orders not
-to attack unless he could do so without risk, the
-Zeppelin being specially detailed for observation
-work. With a range of visibility of fifty or sixty
-miles she was of far more service to the discomfited
-German High Seas Fleet in warning them of the
-position of their victors than in strafing a solitary
-destroyer.
-
-With solid water sweeping her fore and aft, the
-*Calder* still struggled on her course, steered by the
-hand-operated gear in conjunction with the
-inefficient boat's compass. Hitherto the leaks had
-been kept under, but now the water was making
-its way in through the shattered fore-deck.
-
-Reluctantly Sefton came to the conclusion that
-he would have to give the order "abandon ship"
-before many minutes had passed. Already the
-knowledge that the old *Calder* was slowly
-foundering had become general, yet there was no panic.
-
-Calmly some of the men began to collect all the
-buoyant materials they could lay their hands upon
-for the purpose of constructing rafts, since there
-were no boats left. Others stuck gamely to the
-task of manning the pumps, while the wounded
-were carried on deck in order to give them a chance
-of getting clear of the sinking ship.
-
-At seven in the morning a vessel was sighted to
-the west'ard proceeding in a nor'-easterly direction.
-After a few minutes of anxious doubt as to her
-nationality, she proved to be a Danish trawler--unless
-the national colours painted on her sides
-and the distinguishing numbers on her sails were
-disguises.
-
-Altering her course, the trawler bore down upon
-the *Calder* and slowed down within hailing
-distance to leeward.
-
-"Come you all aboard," shouted the Danish
-skipper, a tall, broad-shouldered descendant of a
-Viking forbear. "We save you. Plenty room for all."
-
-"We don't want to abandon ship yet," replied
-Sefton. "We may weather it yet."
-
-"An' I think that you answer so," rejoined the
-skipper. "You British seamans brave mans.
-Englishmans goot; Danes goot; Germans no goot.
-Me stand by an' 'elp."
-
-"Seen anything of the battle?" enquired the sub.
-
-The Danish skipper nodded his head emphatically.
-
-"Germans run for port as if Satan after them,"
-he declared; then, realizing that he had paid the
-Huns a compliment, he hastened to add: "No, no;
-Germans too fond of wickedness to run from Satan--it
-is from the English that they run. Ships sunk
-everywhere, dead men float by thousands: we no
-fish for months in these waters."
-
-This was the first intimation that the *Calder's*
-crew received of Jellicoe's failure to combine
-annihilation with victory. Victory it undoubtedly was;
-but, although the Grand Fleet had succeeded in
-getting between the enemy and his North Sea
-bases, the Huns, favoured by darkness and fog,
-had contrived to elude the toils, and were
-skeltering for safety with a haste bordering upon panic.
-Jellicoe and Beatty had done everything that
-courage and science could devise. They had
-inflicted far greater losses on the Huns than the
-latter did upon us. And, what is more, the British
-fleet "held the lists", while the boastful Germans,
-crowding into Wilhelmshaven and other ports,
-spent their time in spreading lying reports of their
-colossal victory over the hated English.
-
-"You no look surprise at the news," continued
-the master of the Danish trawler. "Me think you
-cheer like mad."
-
-"Of course, we're glad," replied Sefton, "but it
-is not quite what we expected, you know. We're
-sorry that the enemy got away."
-
-"Me, too," agreed the Dane. "Germany treat
-little Denmark badly. She bully; we cannot do
-anything. Shall we run alongside an' take you
-and your crew off?"
-
-Sefton gave a glance to windward. It seemed as
-if the seas were moderating. His reluctance to
-abandon ship increased. The *Calder* had played
-her part, and it seemed base ingratitude to leave
-her to founder.
-
-.. _`"THE 'CALDER' HAD PLAYED HER PART, AND IT SEEMED BASE INGRATITUDE TO LEAVE HER TO FOUNDER"`:
-
-.. figure:: images/img-173.jpg
- :align: center
- :alt: "THE 'CALDER' HAD PLAYED HER PART, AND IT SEEMED BASE INGRATITUDE TO LEAVE HER TO FOUNDER"
-
- "THE 'CALDER' HAD PLAYED HER PART, AND IT SEEMED BASE INGRATITUDE TO LEAVE HER TO FOUNDER"
-
-"I don't think she's settling down any further,
-sir," replied one of the carpenter's crew in answer
-to the sub's question. "Bulkheads are holding well."
-
-"Then we'll carry on," declared the sub, and,
-warmly thanking the Dane for his humanity, he
-courteously declined the offer of assistance.
-
-"Goot luck, then!" replied the skipper of the
-trawler as he thrust the wheel hard over and
-ordered easy ahead. Yet not for another hour did
-he part company. Keeping at a discreet distance
-from the labouring destroyer, he remained until,
-the sea having moderated, and the *Calder* showing
-no further signs of distress, he came to the
-conclusion that the battered British craft stood a fair
-chance of making port.
-
-For the next couple of hours the *Calder* was
-continually passing wreckage, scorched and shattered
-woodwork testifying to the devastating effect of
-modern explosives. The destroyer was passing
-over the scene of one of the many isolated
-engagements that composed the memorable battle
-and certain British victory of Jutland.
-
-"A boat or a raft of sorts, sir," reported a
-seaman, pointing to a floating object a couple of miles
-away, and slightly on the *Calder's* starboard bow.
-
-Sefton brought his binoculars to bear upon the
-objects indicated by the look-out. At regular
-intervals, as it rose on the crests of the waves, a large
-raft known, after its inventor, as the "Carley"
-was visible. An exaggerated lifebuoy, with a
-"sparred" platform so arranged that in the event
-of the appliance being completely overset the
-"deck" would still be available, the "Carley" has
-undoubtedly proved its value in the present war.
-Practically indestructible, not easily set on fire by
-shells, and with an almost inexhaustible reserve of
-buoyancy, the raft is capable of supporting twenty
-men with ease.
-
-Slowly the *Calder* approached the life-buoy. She
-was doing a bare 3 knots; while, able to use
-only one propeller, she was hard on her helm.
-
-"Wot are they--strafed 'Uns or some of our
-blokes?" enquired an ordinary seaman of his
-"raggie"; for, although the men on the raft were
-now clearly visible, their almost total absence of
-clothing made it impossible to determine their
-nationality.
-
-"Dunno, mate," replied his chum. "'Uns,
-perhaps; they don't seem in no 'urry to see us."
-
-"'Uns or no 'Uns," rejoined the first speaker,
-"skipper's goin' to pull 'em out of the ditch, if it's
-only to show 'em that we ain't like them U boat
-pirates."
-
-"Strikes me they're pretty well done in," chimed
-in another. "There's not one of 'em as has the
-strength of a steerage rat."
-
-Huddled on the raft were fifteen almost naked
-human beings. Some were roughly bandaged.
-All were blackened by smoke and scorched by
-exposure to the sun and salt air. Another half-dozen
-were in the water, supporting themselves by
-one hand grasping the life-lines of the raft.
-
-By this time they had observed the *Calder's*
-approach; but, content that they had been seen,
-the exhausted men engaged in no demonstration
-of welcome. They sat listlessly, with their
-salt-rimmed eyes fixed upon their rescuers.
-
-At a great risk of crushing the men in the water,
-the destroyer closed. The "Carley" was secured
-and brought alongside, and the work of transferring
-the survivors commenced. Without assistance
-the majority would never have been able to
-gain the *Calder's* deck, so pitiful was their
-condition owing to a night's exposure to the cold.
-
-They were British seamen, but Sefton forbore to
-question them until they had received attention
-from the hard-worked Dr. Stirling, and been
-supplied with food and drink from the already
-sadly-depleted stores.
-
-When the men had recovered sufficiently to
-relate their adventures, they told a typical story of
-British pluck and heroism. They were part of the
-crew of the destroyer *Velocity*, and had taken part
-in a night attack upon von Hipper's squadron.
-
-In the midst of the mêlée a hostile light cruiser,
-tearing at 27 knots, rammed the *Velocity*, cutting
-her completely in twain just abaft the after
-engine-room bulkhead. Swallowed up in the darkness,
-the stern portion of the destroyer floated for nearly
-ten minutes before it foundered. Of what
-happened to the remaining and larger part of the
-vessel the survivors had no definite knowledge,
-although some were under the impression that it
-was towed away under fire by another destroyer.
-
-Left with sufficient time to cut away a "Carley",
-the remnant of the *Velocity's* crew found themselves
-adrift, with the still engaging vessels steaming
-farther and farther away.
-
-Without food and almost destitute of clothing,
-for in anticipation of a swim the men had taken
-off the remainder of their already scanty "fighting-kit",
-their position was a precarious one. The
-rising seas threatened to sweep them from the
-over-crowded raft, while the bitterly cold night air
-numbed their limbs. Yet, with the characteristic
-light-heartedness of the British tar, the men passed
-the time in singing rousing choruses, even the
-wounded joining in.
-
-At daybreak they were pretty well exhausted.
-No vessel was in sight. They were without food
-and water, and unable to take any steps to propel
-their unwieldy, heavily-laden raft in any direction.
-
-Presently a large German battle-cruiser loomed
-through the mist. The Huns must have had a bad
-attack of nerves, for, contrary to all the dictates of
-humanity, they let fly a dozen quick-firers at the
-raft. Possibly they mistook the low-lying object
-for a submarine. Fortunately the shells flew wide.
-
-Then, to the surprise of the remnant of the
-)Velocity's* crew, the German ship suddenly heaved
-her bows clear of the water and disappeared in a
-great smother of foam and a cloud of smoke.
-
-A rousing cheer--it is wonderful how much sound
-men can give vent to even when almost dead through
-exhaustion--hailed this unexpected deliverance
-from one of many perils, and the seamen settled
-themselves to resume their prolonged discomforts,
-buoyed up by the unshaken hope that a British
-vessel would bear down to their assistance.
-
-It was indeed remarkable how quickly most of
-the *Velocity's* men regained their spirits after being
-received on board the *Calder*.
-
-One, in particular, was displaying acute anxiety
-as to the condition of a bundle of one-pound notes,
-which, sodden with sea-water, he had carefully
-removed from the pouch of his solitary garment--a
-body-belt. Amidst a fire of good-natured chaff,
-the man spread his precious belongings out to dry--an
-almost impossible task owing to the showers
-of spray--until, taken compassion upon by a
-sympathetic stoker, he went below to the stokehold and
-successfully completed the delicate operation.
-
-Another survivor stuck gamely to a wooden
-tobacco-box. His messmates knew the secret, but,
-when questioned by the *Calder's* men, he cautiously
-opened the lid, displaying a couple of white rats.
-Before going into action, the man, having doubts
-as to the safety of his pets in the fo'c'sle, had
-stealthily removed them aft, placing the box in the
-officers' pantry. When the *Velocity* was rammed
-he did not forget his dumb friends. At the risk
-of his life, he went below and secured the box.
-Throughout the long night he kept the animals
-dry, only surrendering them to his chums when his
-turn came to leap overboard and lighten the already
-overcrowded life-buoy.
-
-The rest of the day passed almost without incident.
-Food was running short, for, in spite of the
-sadly depleted number of the *Calder's* crew, there
-was barely another day's provisions left on board
-that had not been spoiled by fire and water. In
-addition, the augmentation of the ship's company
-by the rescued crew made the shortage still more acute.
-
-Just as night was coming on a petty officer
-approached Sefton and saluted.
-
-"For'ard bulkhead's giving, sir," he reported,
-as coolly as if he were announcing a most trivial
-occurrence. "There's four feet of water in the
-for'ard stokehold."
-
-The safety of the *Calder* and her crew depended
-upon that transverse wall of steel. Once this
-bulkhead yielded to the terrific pressure of water, no
-human ingenuity and resource could save the
-battered destroyer from plunging to the bed of the
-North Sea.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XV--A Day of Suspense
-=============================
-
-"Confound the wretched thing, Sefton!"
-exclaimed Major-General Crosthwaite explosively.
-
-"I hereby confound it!" said his companion with
-grim solemnity. "I'll do anything you like,
-provided you don't ask me to evacuate this luxurious
-cushion and push."
-
-"Now if I had my chauffeur here----" began
-the General, then, realizing that his duty to his
-country had necessitated the release of the man for
-military service, he held his peace on that point,
-only to break out in another direction.
-
-"It's that horrible concoction that is sold as
-petrol," he remarked with an air of profound
-wisdom. "Sixty per cent paraffin and ten per cent
-water. Nine o'clock in the evening, miles from
-anywhere, and the idiotic car as obstinate as a mule."
-
-Dick's father, enjoying a hard-earned fortnight's
-leave after a strenuous time at the front, had
-performed what he would have considered a desperate
-task in pre-war days. He had actually driven his
-own motor--a twenty-horse-power touring-car--from
-Shropshire to Southampton. Luck, in the
-shape of complete immunity from tyre troubles and
-the two thousand odd things that might go wrong
-with a car, had hitherto favoured him. Whereat
-he became conceited with his powers as a motorist;
-but it was pride before a fall, and Major-General
-Crosthwaite found himself stranded with his three
-companions somewhere in the vicinity of the little
-Wiltshire town of Malmesbury.
-
-The eldest of the three passengers was Admiral
-Trefusis Sefton, K.C.B. (retired), whose son Jack
-was at that very moment engaged upon his
-desperate venture of bringing the crippled *Calder*
-across the North Sea. Residing near Southampton,
-he had accepted Crosthwaite Senior's invitation to
-spend a long week-end at the latter's house near
-Bridgnorth, and the Major-General thought it was
-a good opportunity for having a motor-tour by
-fetching his guest from the south of England.
-
-"I'll take young George with me," wrote the
-Major-General, "and there will be room in the car
-for Leslie. They can't get into worse mischief than
-if they were left at home, and one will be company
-for the other."
-
-So George Crosthwaite accompanied his father
-from Bridgnorth to Southampton. Shrewdly the
-fifteen-year old lad suspected that the primary
-object of his sire was to let his son see what an
-expert driver Crosthwaite Senior had become.
-
-Leslie Sefton, also aged fifteen, jumped at the
-invitation, and, in spite of various and oft-repeated
-warnings from his parent not to skylark, his
-exuberant spirits formed a sympathetic counterpart to
-those of young George Crosthwaite.
-
-Declining his son's offer of expert advice and
-assistance, the general divested himself of his coat,
-rolled up his shirt sleeves, inserted his monocle in
-his eye, and spent four precious minutes in deep
-contemplation of the stationary car. Then he
-applied rudimentary tests to half a dozen different
-parts without locating the trouble, while the admiral
-placidly smoked a choice cigar and meditated upon
-the pleasing fact that he had never succumbed to
-the motor craze.
-
-George and Leslie, seated on a bank by the
-roadside, were discussing the merits and demerits of
-various types of aeroplanes when the former's
-parent interrupted the pleasant discussion.
-
-"George."
-
-"Sir?"
-
-"I want you to go into Malmesbury and get
-them to send a car to tow us in."
-
-Young Crosthwaite, unlike either of the two sons
-in the parable, prepared to obey. "Obey orders
-at the double" had been dinned into his head from
-time immemorial. On one occasion when the
-colonel--as he was then--was entertaining a high
-War Office official, George, in his alacrity to carry
-out his parent's behests, collided with the portly
-butler bearing a heavily-laden tray. But the
-culprit's plea that he was fulfilling the oft-reiterated
-order calmed the colonel's inward wrath (he dared
-not "let himself go" just then) and earned a
-substantial tip from the highly-amused guest.
-
-"Coming?" asked George laconically, addressing
-his chum.
-
-"Rather," was the reply.
-
-George threw his greatcoat into the car. As he
-did so, his sharp eyes caught sight of a tap that
-was turned off when it should have been turned on.
-
-Deftly he depressed the little lever, and,
-somewhat to his parent's surprise, "tickled" the
-carburetter.
-
-"It's no use doing that," said the discomfited
-motorist. "Hurry up and be off. We'll be
-stranded here all night if you don't bestir yourself."
-
-Crosthwaite Senior's astonishment increased when
-the dutiful George climbed into the car and
-released the self-starter. The motor fired without
-a hitch.
-
-"By Jove!" ejaculated George's parent, too
-delighted to think of thanking his son. "However
-did you manage it?"
-
-"Only turned the petrol on," replied George calmly.
-
-"Have you been playing any tricks----?" began
-the general, then resolved to repeat the question
-at a more favourable private opportunity. "Jump
-in, Sefton; we've wasted an hour already. Might
-have been in Gloucester by this time. 'Fraid we'd
-better put up in Malmesbury to-night."
-
-On the lowest gear, the car crawled slowly up
-the stiff gradient leading to the little town, and
-pulled up outside an ivy-clad inn within a stone's
-throw of the imposing ruins of the abbey.
-
-"Any news to-night, I wonder?" enquired the
-general as the four sat down to a substantial supper.
-"Suppose there's no chance of a late paper in this
-out-of-the-way spot?"
-
-"'Fraid not," replied the admiral. "You see,
-it is on a branch line. Decent weather, eh?"
-
-"Not so bad for our men in the North Sea,"
-remarked Crosthwaite complacently. "They've
-had a long, rotten winter, although Dick never
-complains on that score. Must be quite yachty
-weather, I should imagine," he added, with the
-memories of a certain pleasure cruise to the Baltic
-in June flashing across his mind.
-
-He picked up a morning paper from a settee and
-glanced at it. He had read the selfsame news
-fourteen hours previously. Yet a paragraph had
-hitherto escaped his notice.
-
-"By Jove!" he exclaimed.
-
-"What's that?" enquired the admiral.
-
-"Suppose, after all, it's nothing much," observed
-General Crosthwaite. "Masters of neutral steamers
-arriving at Danish ports state that they sighted
-numerous wrecks and hundreds of floating corpses.
-Another Reuter yarn, I take it."
-
-"More U-boat frightfulness perhaps," hazarded
-Admiral Sefton.
-
-And yet the report was a mild form of paving
-the way towards the announcement of the Jutland
-battle. This was on Friday. Already Germany
-had claimed a glorious and colossal naval victory,
-and the tardiness of the British Government in
-giving the lie direct to the boastful Hunnish claims
-gave, at least temporarily, a severe shock to
-neutrals' belief in the invincibility of Britain's sea
-power. Already American pro-German papers had
-appeared with highly coloured accounts of Great
-Britain's crushing naval disaster; cartoons
-depicting John Bull's consternation at the return of the
-battered British lion with a badly twisted tail spoke
-volumes for the incontestable superiority of the
-German navy.
-
-Happily ignorant of the disquieting rumours,
-and, indeed, of any knowledge of the naval action,
-the motorists slept soundly until eight on the
-following morning.
-
-"Another fine day," declared Crosthwaite Senior
-at breakfast. "We ought to be home by three in
-the afternoon. Any papers yet?" he enquired of
-the waiter.
-
-"No, sir, not until eleven," was the reply.
-
-"Must wait until we get to Gloucester, I suppose,"
-grunted the general. "One of the penalties
-for stopping at a place on a branch line."
-
-"A fine little place, Pater," remarked George.
-"Absolutely top-hole. Wish we were staying
-here. There's an awfully decent stream down
-there--looks just the place for fishing."
-
-"Can't beat the Severn for that, my boy,"
-declared his father, loyal to his native town and the
-river that flows past its site. "Buck up, my boy,
-and finish the packing. I want to see that that
-petrol-tank is properly filled--no unsealed cans,
-remember."
-
-George Crosthwaite was really a useful assistant
-to his parent. Crosthwaite Senior frankly
-recognized the fact, but forbore from giving his son,
-personally, due credit, avowing that it was bad for
-discipline to be lavish with praise.
-
-"Smart youngster, Sefton, my boy," he declared
-in proud confidence to the admiral. "He has his
-head screwed on the right way, although I suppose
-I ought not to brag about it. Have to be careful,
-though, that he doesn't kick over the traces just yet."
-
-It was nearly nine before the car was ready to
-resume its journey. In high spirits, for the bracing
-air and bright sunshine made a perfect day, the
-party set off.
-
-Major-General Crosthwaite started at a strictly
-moderate pace. He invariably did; but it was
-always noticeable that, before he had covered many
-miles, he accelerated the speed until it reached a
-reckless pace bordering on fifty miles an hour.
-Towards the end of his day's journey, he would
-develop a speed that caused his sedate passengers
-to quake with apprehension, and his youthful ones
-to revel in the terrific rush through the air.
-
-Twenty minutes after leaving Malmesbury the
-car, now running splendidly, bounded up the steep
-ascent into old-world Tetbury. Here, taking a
-wrong turning, the motorists had to retrace their
-way, Crosthwaite Senior slowing down in order to
-avoid a similar mistake.
-
-Presently Leslie caught sight of a placard
-displayed outside a news-agent's shop. In flaring
-red letters were the words: "Big Naval Action
-in the North Sea".
-
-Leaning over the seat he gripped his father's
-arm. By this time the car was well beyond the shop.
-
-"What's wrong?" bawled the admiral, for the
-wind-screen had been lowered and the breeze was
-whistling past his ears.
-
-"Big scrap in the North Sea--it's on the
-placards," replied his son,
-
-"Heave-to, Crosthwaite!" exclaimed Admiral
-Sefton. "Stop here!"
-
-The driver, imagining that something was amiss,
-and that he had unknowingly run over something,
-applied his emergency brakes, bringing up his car
-all standing and at a grave risk to the tyres.
-Leslie, taken unawares, shot forward, "ramming"
-his parent in the small of the back with his head
-and forcing the admiral against the dash-board.
-
-"What the----!" began the astonished Crosthwaite Senior.
-
-Almost unconscious of the rough treatment by
-his son, Admiral Sefton descended from the car.
-Already George had executed a flying leap, and
-was running towards the news-agent's shop.
-
-Returning with a handful of papers he met the
-admiral half-way.
-
-"It's 'The Day', sir!" he exclaimed, confident
-in the belief that the long-expected struggle for
-naval supremacy had been settled once and for all
-in Britain's favour.
-
-Admiral Sefton grabbed the proffered paper with
-super-energy, almost tearing the flimsy fabric with
-his powerful fingers as he fumbled with the
-recalcitrant leaves.
-
-Then the look of eager expectancy faded from
-his face, giving place to a dull, strained expression
-of incredulity.
-
-"Come along, Sefton!" sang out Crosthwaite
-Senior. "Don't be greedy with the good news.
-Why, man----"
-
-"We've got it properly in the neck, Pater,"
-announced his son. "Fourteen of ours, including
-the *Queen Mary*, sunk."
-
-"But the enemy--the German losses are heavier
-than ours?" enquired the general, snatching at the
-paper George was holding.
-
-The two officers scanned the official report.
-"Owing to low visibility"--was ever an Admiralty
-dispatch issued with such halting excuses? A
-straightforward admission of our losses, it is true,
-but nothing to suggest that the Germans had
-incurred similar or heavier casualties, or even that
-the British navy had gained the day. And then
-there was the perplexing statement that the
-Germans had rescued a number of British seamen,
-and no corresponding report to the effect that we
-had saved any of theirs. Everything pointed to a
-running fight in which the Huns were the pursuers.
-
-Admiral Sefton was dumbfounded. Had there
-been a convenient wall, he might have turned his
-face towards it and groaned in spirit. Instead he
-set his jaw tightly and thought hard.
-
-"What do you make of it?" enquired the general.
-"Looks bad on the face of it, eh?"
-
-"We must wait for further details," was his
-companion's guarded reply. The journey was resumed,
-but all the joy had vanished from the minds of the
-party. No longer, the beautiful scenery appealed
-to them; the crisp, bracing air and brilliant
-sunshine called in vain.
-
-Down the steep "hairpin" road through Nailsworth,
-and along one of the prettiest valleys of the
-Cotswolds, the car literally crawled. General
-Crosthwaite, contrary to his usual practice, was driving
-slowly and listlessly. His keen zest had
-disappeared. As he gripped the steering-wheel he
-thought deeply, remembering that his son was
-somewhere out there in the trackless, mine-strewn
-North Sea.
-
-The admiral, too, was meditating. He would
-dearly have liked to have paced to and fro, with his
-hands clasped behind his back in true quarter-deck
-style; but since the limits of the car made such a
-proceeding impossible, and it was equally difficult
-to alight unless the car stopped, he "sat tight"
-and made a mental review of the battle, constructing
-his theories upon the slender foundations
-conveyed in the official report.
-
-Gradually his perplexities vanished. The firm
-belief in the well-being of the navy that had gripped
-his mind ever since those long-past *Britannia* days
-was not to be shattered by a disquieting and
-obviously incomplete report, even though it bore
-Admiralty endorsement.
-
-"Hang it all!" he exclaimed, startling his
-friend by bawling into Crosthwaite Senior's ear.
-"Hanged if I'll go by that report. Just you wait,
-my dear fellow, until supplementary information is
-forthcoming. It's my belief the Admiralty have
-something up their sleeve, and that we've won
-hands down."
-
-"You think so?" asked the general eagerly.
-
-"Think so! I know it," was the now decided
-reply. "Carry on, Crosthwaite, full-speed ahead,
-and we'll see what news there is when we get to
-Gloucester."
-
-"Hope you're right," thought the army officer.
-Visions of a previous naval disaster--that of the
-gallant Craddock's defeat off Coronel, the first news
-of which came from German sources--urged that
-such a thing as a naval defeat might be possible,
-especially in view of the great part played by chance.
-A misunderstood order might result in disaster.
-A chance shot or an accidental internal explosion
-might imperil the superiority of the British fleet.
-
-But there was always the dominating factor--men,
-not ships, win battles. The British seaman,
-with the glorious traditions of centuries behind
-him, is in every way superior to the brute who
-mans the fleet of the Black Cross Ensign.
-
-Then the general found himself mentally kicking
-himself for not sharing in the admiral's optimism.
-
-"Sefton's right," he concluded. "When we
-get more news we'll find that all's well."
-
-At Gloucester the admiral sent off a telegram,
-bought four different papers, scanned the bulletins
-in the windows of the publishing offices, and found
-himself little wiser than before; but at Worcester,
-where the motorists stopped for lunch, they found
-the outlook much brighter.
-
-Steps had already been taken to counteract the
-depressing effects of the preliminary official
-announcement of the Battle of Jutland. The loss of
-the *Warspite* and *Marlborough*, both ships having
-been claimed as sunk by the Germans, was
-categorically denied, and a statement of the British
-vessels, known to be sunk, given. Enemy ships,
-aggregating in tonnage more than that of our
-losses, were claimed only when definite reports of
-their fate were received, from which it was now
-evident that, far from being a German victory, the
-honours rested with the fleet under Jellicoe's command.
-
-At the post office Admiral Sefton obtained a wire,
-sent in reply to his telegram from Gloucester. It
-was from an old shipmate, now holding an appointment
-at Whitehall, and was as follows:--
-
-"Vessel in question has not returned to base."
-
-Without a word the admiral handed the buff
-paper to his friend. Hardly a muscle of
-Crosthwaite Senior's weather-beaten face moved as he
-read the momentous but indefinite news, although
-the "vessel in question" was the T.B.D. *Calder*,
-and both men had similar personal interests in the
-matter.
-
-For the moment private considerations held
-supreme sway. The two men mutually extended
-their right hands and exchanged sympathetic grips.
-
-"If they are knocked out, it was in the thick of
-the scrap," declared General Crosthwaite. "I'll
-stake my all upon that."
-
-"*Dulce et*----" began the admiral, then, coming
-to the conclusion that he was a trifle premature,
-he exclaimed: "Dash it all, Crosthwaite, strange
-things happen at sea! They may turn up after all."
-
-"It's the suspense," added Crosthwaite. "Look
-here, I'll take the car right slap on to Edinburgh,
-and go on to Rosyth. Are you game?"
-
-"Carry on," said Admiral Sefton. "I'm with you."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XVI--The Struggle in the Mountain Pass
-==============================================
-
-Near the summit of Blackstone Edge, an
-unfrequented road running at a height of between 1200
-and 1300 feet over the serrated Pennine Hills, five
-men were lying upon the short, dark-green grass
-in a slight hollow within ten yards of the highway.
-There was little about their appearance that
-demanded attention. A casual observer might in
-pardonable error have taken them for a party of
-Lancashire mill operatives out for a day's enjoyment.
-
-At intervals one of the party would roll over on
-his side, produce a pair of prismatic glasses from
-his pocket, and peer with considerable caution over
-the ridge of the hollow, focusing the binoculars
-upon the winding ribbon-like "slag" road that
-ascended steeply from the town of Rochdale, the
-factory chimneys of which were just discernible
-through the murky Lancashire atmosphere. Then,
-with a guttural grunt that betokened disappointment,
-he would replace the glasses and relapse into
-a stolid contemplation of his silent comrades. The
-hot sun pouring pitilessly upon the heavily-clad
-men did not tend to improve their physical
-comfort. Several times they cursed the tormenting
-flies, expressing their murmured epithets in the
-German tongue.
-
-At last one of the men spoke.
-
-"Are you sure that he is coming this way,
-Hans?" he asked, addressing the man with the
-binoculars. "Perhaps he has taken it into his
-head to take the other road--the Stanedge Pass,
-it is called."
-
-"These Englishmen are so pig-headed that they
-rarely change their minds," replied Hans. "It is
-often as well that they do not. I have it on
-excellent authority that he leaves Liverpool at nine,
-addresses a conference at Bolton at eleven, and
-receives a deputation at Rochdale at two. Now, is
-it conceivable that he would go a roundabout way
-to Halifax when this is the shortest and easiest route?"
-
-"He may take the railway train," suggested
-another of the band, as he shifted an automatic
-pistol from his hip pocket, where it seriously
-interfered with his ease, to his breast coat pocket.
-
-"Knowing our man as I do," declared Hans,
-"I do not think it likely, unless his motor breaks
-down over these atrocious cobbled roads. No, I
-think we are soon to meet our expected visitor.
-Now, are you all thoroughly acquainted with your
-duties? There must be no failure. Even partial
-success is not sufficient. Complete obliteration of
-the man, a final disappearance, is what is required,
-and what must be accomplished."
-
-A resolute chorus of assent rose from the four
-subordinates. Their leader, levelling his
-binoculars, studied the road for the twentieth time.
-
-The five were members of a German Secret Service
-agency. Provided with registration cards, obtained
-with the greatest ease, since no attempt had been
-made to verify the particulars demanded by law;
-speaking English with a flawless Lancashire
-accent, members of a trade union, and fully
-conversant with the peculiarities of industrial life, the
-men were able to carry on their nefarious scheme
-with little risk of detection.
-
-After a run of minor activities, an opportunity
-was about to occur whereby they might render an
-important service to the Fatherland. A high official
-was engaged upon an industrial tour of Lancashire
-and Yorkshire, with the intention of increasing the
-already huge output of munitions from the factories
-temporarily given over to the production of
-war-like stores. The magnetic personality of the man
-made the task an easy one to him, although others
-less gifted would have encountered nothing but
-opposition had they proposed the same conditions
-to the independent operatives of Lancashire and
-Yorkshire. He was one of the very few Government
-officials who understood the northern
-temperament. When others would have "rubbed them
-up the wrong way", this level-headed statesman
-was able to enlist the whole-hearted sympathies
-of blunt and outspoken audiences. His persuasive
-powers were worth an army corps to the
-Commander-in-Chief of the British troops in France.
-
-The five Germans had laid their plans well.
-Their proposed operations had met with full
-approval from head-quarters at Berlin, and the result
-of their efforts was anxiously awaited by the
-German Government. Since abduction left a loophole
-in the complete furtherance of the plot, Teutonic
-thoroughness and frightfulness had devised a more
-drastic plan.
-
-At the summit of the Blackstone Edge is a large
-lake or reservoir, its unfenced sides shelving steeply
-to a depth, in a certain place, of fifty feet. It would
-be a comparatively simple matter to wreck the car,
-murder its occupants if they still survived the fall
-from the overturned vehicle, and topple the
-wreckage into the dark waters of the mountain lake.
-
-A cloud passed athwart the sun. The sweltering
-heat gave place to a piercing cold. The Huns
-shivered in the cold wind and grumbled at the
-keenness of the English June. Overhead three
-gaunt crows flew, cawing dismally. With
-Teutonic superstition one of the men called his
-companions' attention to the ill omen.
-
-"Nonsense, Otto!" protested the man known as
-Hans. "The ill luck is directed against the man
-for whom we are waiting so patiently. Ha! Here
-comes the car."
-
-With their heads just showing above the ridge,
-the five kept the approaching motor under close
-observation. It was climbing rapidly, leaving in
-its wake a cloud of dust that drifted slowly across
-the deep valley on the left-hand side of the curve.
-Presently an unmistakable rasping sound
-announced the fact that the driver, finding the
-gradient too severe, had let in the lowest gear.
-
-"Are you certain it is he?" asked one of the
-Huns. "There are four in the car?"
-
-"Did you suppose he would travel alone?"
-retorted his leader. "That is he right enough--the
-man in civilian clothes. The other is a military
-staff officer. The red in his cap proves that. The
-younger men are doubtless his secretaries--valets
-perhaps. Yes, it is our man. Now, make ready."
-
-Giving a glance in the opposite direction in order
-to make certain that no one was approaching from
-the Yorkshire side of the Pass, Hans cautiously
-placed a small battery within easy reach of his fat,
-podgy fingers. From the battery ran a couple of fine
-wires through the stretch of grass, terminating at
-an inconspicuous greyish object lying in the centre
-of the road in the midst of a scatter of loose stones.
-
-At the critical moment a touch upon the firing-key
-of the battery and----
-
-----
-
-"Why are you so keen upon the East Coast
-route, Crosthwaite?" asked the admiral. "It's a
-jolly sight longer."
-
-"That I admit," replied the general. "But I
-know it, which makes a vast difference. The Carlisle
-road is jolly rough, especially over Shap Summit."
-
-"By the by, George, here is a little problem for
-you," said Admiral Sefton. "Which is the farthest
-west, Liverpool or Edinburgh?"
-
-George looked at Leslie for assistance. That
-worthy, having heard the question put many times
-before, took an astonishing interest in a policeman
-at the street corner.
-
-"Well, sir," replied George, "Liverpool is on
-the west coast; Edinburgh on the east----"
-
-"Within a few miles," corrected the admiral.
-"Therefore I should imagine that Liverpool is
-more to the west."
-
-"Then look it up on the map," exclaimed
-Admiral Sefton triumphantly. "You'll find you're
-wrong. That's why I couldn't understand your
-father's intention of keeping to the East Coast
-route until he explained his preference."
-
-"We'll do it quicker, too," rejoined Crosthwaite,
-Senior. "Once we're clear of the outskirts of
-Manchester we'll reel off the miles like winking.
-Here you are: Rochdale, Halifax, Bradford, and
-Harrogate, striking the Great North Road at
-Boroughbridge."
-
-The journey was resumed, the admiral, as before,
-sitting with Crosthwaite Senior, while George and
-Leslie, comfortably ensconced in the rear seats, were
-surreptitiously examining a formidable-looking
-air-pistol that Leslie Sefton had smuggled into his
-portmanteau.
-
-It was modelled after a Service weapon, having
-the same weight and balance. The barrel was
-rifled, and was capable of sending a lead slug with
-considerable force and low trajectory from a distance
-of fifty yards.
-
-"We'll take pot shots at rabbits on the way,"
-declared Leslie. "The governor won't hear the
-sound. It makes very little noise, and the engine
-will drown that. There'll be hundreds of bunnies
-up there," and he pointed to the still-distant
-outlines of the frowning Pennines.
-
-Up and up, out of the dreary manufacturing
-district, the car climbed, until the moist smoky
-atmosphere of the cotton-mills gave place to the
-keen bracing air of the hills.
-
-Both lads, alive to the possibilities of using the
-air-pistol, hung on to the side of the car, their eyes
-roving the grass-land in the hope of spotting a
-likely target.
-
-The car had been climbing on low gear, but now
-the gradient became less. The travellers were
-nearing the summit of Blackstone Edge.
-
-Suddenly Leslie levelled the weapon, aiming at
-what he took to be the body of a rabbit showing
-above the top of a hillock. He was on the point of
-pressing the trigger when a loud crash, followed
-by a cloud of smoke and dust immediately behind
-the car, almost caused the pistol to drop from his grasp.
-
-"What's that?" exclaimed Admiral Sefton.
-
-"Tyre burst, I'm afraid," replied Crosthwaite
-Senior, momentarily expecting the car to swerve.
-Applying the brakes he brought the car to a standstill,
-with the engine still running, and prepared to
-investigate the extent of the damage.
-
-The Huns' carefully-laid plans had gone awry
-through Leslie Sefton's instrumentality. The lad
-had mistaken one of the miscreants' caps for a rabbit.
-Hans, under the impression that the attempt had
-been discovered, and that one of the occupants of
-the car was levelling a pistol at him, suddenly lost
-his nerve. He depressed the firing-key of the
-battery a second or so too late. Instead of the
-detonation occurring immediately underneath the
-motor, it expended its force harmlessly in the air.
-
-"By Jove, Crosthwaite!" exclaimed the admiral
-as a rapid fusillade was opened upon the stationary
-car. "Modern highwaymen!"
-
-"Keep down, lads," ordered the general sharply,
-for the nickel bullets were singing overhead like a
-swarm of angry bees. "Under the seat, Sefton.
-Be sharp!"
-
-"Never!" expostulated the admiral sturdily.
-
-"Not you, I mean," almost roared his companion
-by way of apology. "You'll find a Webley under
-the seat. Look alive, man! It's loaded only in
-one chamber."
-
-Leslie Sefton's first impulse was to duck, until
-remembering that he still held a loaded weapon,
-although it was but an air-pistol, in his hand, he
-rested the barrel upon the padded back of the seat
-and aimed at the nearest of the assailants.
-
-It was an excellent shot. The little bullet struck
-Hans just above the right eye. With an oath the
-German clapped both hands to his injury, dropping
-his pistol as he did so, and began to dance round
-and round in agony.
-
-"Four to four now," exclaimed the lad, taking
-into no account the fact that the supposed highwaymen
-were all well armed. He jerked back the
-barrel of the air-pistol and inserted another pellet,
-the zest of the fight gripping him with the utmost
-intensity.
-
-Meanwhile Crosthwaite Senior had let in the
-clutch, and had succeeded in turning the car in the
-direction of the attackers. Altogether unprepared
-for this manoeuvre, the four separated, two making
-to the right, and the others, keeping close together,
-edging away to the left, still maintaining a hot and
-erratic fire.
-
-Bending low behind the wind-screen, the plate-glass
-of which was already "starred" in several
-places by the impact of the bullets, the general
-urged the car straight in the direction of the men
-on his left. Even as he did so, the admiral, who
-had discovered the loaded revolver, blazed away on
-his left, with the result that Otto lost all present
-and future interest in the welfare of the Fatherland.
-
-"Lucky shot," exclaimed Admiral Sefton
-modestly. "Very lucky shot. In the centre of
-his fat forehead, by Jove!"
-
-Only on rare occasions, since those far-off days
-when he was a young lieutenant, had the retired
-naval officer handled a revolver, but his skill and
-deadly precision remained. Leisure hours, spent
-with his favourite dog and gun amidst his preserves,
-had done much to keep the hardy admiral's eye as
-bright and his hand as steady as of yore, when his
-revolver practice was the envy of his messmates on
-the old gunnery-ship Excellent.
-
-Ejecting the empty cartridge case, the admiral
-loaded all six chambers. Then, ready to resume
-the encounter, he again levelled the weapon, at the
-same time protesting audibly that the first shot was
-a mere fluke.
-
-Giving scant heed to his friend's remarks, Crosthwaite
-Senior kept the car full in the direction of
-his particular quarry. Over the low bank bordering
-the road the heavy vehicle mounted, lurching
-dangerously as it did so. Only by sheer chance
-did it escape being capsized, as the offside wheels
-rose three feet clear of the soft, grass-grown soil.
-
-"Dash it all, Crosthwaite!" protested the admiral.
-"Fairly spoiled my shot that time. Easy ahead,
-man, or you'll have us all overboard."
-
-Loud yells from another of the Huns showed
-that the admiral's second shot, if not so deadly as
-the first, had "scored an outer". Leaving his
-companions to continue the treacherous attack, the
-wounded man ran as fast as he could, still bellowing
-with pain, and holding his coat tails with both hands.
-
-Only two Huns remained. Wildly firing, they
-stood their ground until the car was within a few
-feet of them.
-
-In his keenness Major-General Crosthwaite had
-not taken sufficient notice of the nature of the
-ground. Mounting a steep hillock, the car swerved
-and toppled completely over, pinning the admiral
-beneath the chassis and throwing the other
-occupants headlong upon the turf.
-
-In a flash the two Germans seized their opportunity.
-One, levelling his automatic pistol, fired
-point-blank at the prostrate general, the bullet
-passing completely through his uplifted arm and
-flattening itself against his silver cigar-case. Before
-the miscreant could load again--it was the last
-cartridge in the magazine--George flung himself
-upon him.
-
-The remaining Hun, finding that his automatic
-weapon was likewise empty, and mindful of Leslie's
-brandished air-pistol, was chary of closing with the
-lad. Incautiously, young Sefton levelled the pistol
-and fired, the pellet merely penetrating the
-German's coat and waistcoat, and inflicting a slight
-scratch on his chest.
-
-In a trice, the Hun guessed the comparatively
-feeble nature of the British lad's weapon. He
-knew that seconds would have to elapse before the
-air-pistol could be reloaded. Mentally comparing
-his size with that of the fifteen-year-old youth, he
-came to the conclusion that it was safe to close.
-
-Leslie, far from declining the unspoken
-challenge, threw himself at his opponent, and two
-pairs of desperately earnest antagonists were locked
-in deadly combat. It was long odds, for, with
-Crosthwaite Senior helpless with a bullet through
-his arm, and the admiral imprisoned beneath the
-overturned car, no help seemed likely to be
-forthcoming from that direction. To make matters
-worse, Hans, the leader of the gang, having
-quieted down after the first acute pain, had seen
-how things stood, and, recovering his pistol, had
-cautiously approached, seeking a favourable
-opportunity to turn the already-wavering scale.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XVII--Safe in Port
-==========================
-
-Throughout the long-drawn night the survivors
-of the *Calder's* crew battled manfully against
-increasing difficulties in their efforts to save the
-destroyer from foundering. The faulty bulkhead,
-shored and barricaded with tightly-packed
-hammocks and other canvas gear, required constant
-watching. The pumps were working continuously,
-relays of men undertaking the arduous task in the
-high-spirited manner that pervades the navy,
-especially when confronted with danger and peril.
-
-Not once during the hours of darkness did Sefton
-quit the remnants of the bridge. Without the aid
-of navigating instruments, save the inadequate
-compass, the destroyer's course could not be
-maintained with the customary precision. Variation
-and deviation--factors carefully guarded against in
-ordinary circumstances--were affecting the boat's
-liquid compass, but to what extent Sefton knew
-not. With a vague idea that he would "fetch"
-the Firth of Forth, the sub held on, the grinding
-revolutions of the remaining propeller dinning into
-his ears the knowledge that the old *Calder* was
-momentarily, but slowly, approaching the shores
-of Britain.
-
-A cup of unfragrant tea, sweetened with
-condensed milk, and a biscuit which was strongly
-scented with a peculiarly acrid smell, were
-gratefully accepted by the wellnigh exhausted sub. The
-man who brought the refreshments to the bridge
-had not thought it necessary to explain that he had
-scraped the sodden tea from the floor of the
-shell-wrecked officers'-pantry, or that he had been
-compelled to wash the salt water from the biscuits and
-toast them in the stokehold.
-
-Once more the waves had subsided, and an
-almost flat calm prevailed. Overhead a few stars
-shone dimly through the haze. Not a light was
-visible; all around, sea and sky blended in a dark,
-ill-defined murk.
-
-At four bells the helmsman was relieved. He
-was the seventh consecutive man whom Sefton had
-seen taking his trick at the wheel, but still the sub
-stuck gamely at his post. He would have given
-almost anything to throw himself at full length
-upon the dewy deck and sleep like a log, even for
-a couple of hours, but such a privilege was denied
-him. His wounds, too, although slight, were
-beginning to feel painfully stiff. The sea-water,
-penetrating his ragged uniform, irritated the abrasions
-almost beyond endurance. He yearned in vain for
-a hot bath and a change of clothing.
-
-"How goes it now?" enquired a tired voice,
-hardly recognizable as that of Dr. Stirling.
-"Where are we?"
-
-"Somewhere in the North Sea, old bird," replied
-Sefton, with a forced laugh. "Do you happen to
-have a prescription for an eyelid prop, Pills? My
-optics seem on the point of becoming bunged up."
-
-"Tell it not in Gath," quoted the surgeon.
-"I've just made a discovery--worth at the present
-moment more than untold gold. Egyptian, man,
-real Egyptian, and the only ones to be found on
-board."
-
-He proffered his silver case. Sefton seized one
-of the cigarettes with avidity. For hours he had
-longed in vain for a smoke. His own supply had
-vanished. Several hundred, having fallen through
-a jagged rent in the ward-room floor, were lying,
-a sodden pulp, in the water that surged in the
-ship's bilges.
-
-"Thanks awfully!" he exclaimed gratefully.
-
-"Bit of luck," continued Stirling. "Found the
-case in the wreckage of the beer barrel. I don't
-think the stuff's affected them. Case seems pretty
-tight. Thought I'd come on deck and have half a
-dozen whiffs with you."
-
-Crouching under the lee of the canvas screen
-that had been rigged up to replace the demolished
-storm-dodgers, Sefton carefully struck a match.
-Almost before the cigarette was alight, a jarring
-shock made the *Calder* tremble from her shattered
-bows to her jagged taffrail. Immediately
-afterwards the remaining engine began to race with
-frightful rapidity.
-
-Dropping the cigarette like a hot cinder, Sefton
-sprang to his feet, fully convinced that the
-long-expected catastrophe had occurred, and that the
-bulkhead had given way. Stirling, his first
-thoughts for his patients, scurried down the
-bridge-ladder and ran aft to where the double line of
-wounded men lay, each covered by a hammock
-to protect him from the night dews and drifting spray.
-
-A minute passed. There was no impetuous
-inrush of water. The bulkhead was still holding.
-The engine-room ratings had shut off steam, and
-the horrible, nerve-racking clank of the racing
-machinery ceased.
-
-"Propeller fouled some wreckage, sir," reported
-a petty officer. "Blades stripped clean off the
-boss I'll allow."
-
-The man was right in his surmise. The last of
-the four propellers had struck some partly
-submerged object, with the result that the destroyer
-was no longer capable of moving through the
-water under her own power. All she could do
-was to drift helplessly with wind and tide.
-
-With a deafening hiss, a heavy cloud of steam
-released from the now useless boilers escaped
-skywards. The overworked engine-room and stokehold
-staffs were at last at liberty to "stand easy".
-
-Suddenly a beam of dazzling white light flashed
-through the darkness. Impinging upon the cloud
-of steam, its reflected glare illumined the scene on
-deck as clearly as if it had been broad daylight.
-Then, with a quick, decisive movement, the giant
-ray was depressed, until it played fairly upon the
-battered hull, throwing every object into strong
-relief, and literally blinding the men with its dazzling
-glare.
-
-"What ship is that?" shouted a deep voice
-through a megaphone, the sound travelling
-distinctly across the intervening water.
-
-A couple of cables' lengths from the stationary
-*Calder* was a large destroyer, with her search-light
-directed upon the object of her enquiry.
-
-Sefton's reply was inaudible. The direction of
-the wind and the lack of a megaphone prevented
-his words from being understood. Again the
-challenge was repeated.
-
-Standing erect in the full glare of the
-searchlight, and apart from his companions, a petty
-officer semaphored the desired information.
-
-"Stand by to receive a hawser," commanded the
-lieutenant-commander of the unknown destroyer.
-"We'll take you in tow."
-
-The vessel was T.B.D. *Basher*, one of the inner
-patrol of destroyers operating between St. Abb's
-Head and Spurn Point. Pelting along at 20
-knots in the darkness, her first intimation of the
-proximity of the crippled *Calder* was the hiss of
-steam from her boilers. Prepared to open fire at
-an instant's notice, she trained her quick-firers
-abeam and switched on her search-lights, only to
-discover that she had fortunately fallen in with a
-"lame duck" from the Jutland battle--a craft
-whose absence was beginning to give rise to
-considerable apprehension on the part of the British
-Admiralty.
-
-"You'll tow better stern-foremost, I fancy,"
-shouted the *Basher's* skipper, as he noted the
-extent to which the *Calder* was down by the head.
-
-"Yes, sir," agreed Sefton. "There will be less
-pressure upon the bulkhead for'ard. It has been
-giving us some anxiety."
-
-"Is Crosthwaite on board?" enquired the
-lieutenant-commander of the rescuing craft.
-
-"Badly wounded," was the sub's reply. "We
-had it fairly hot for a time. Can you give us any
-details of the result of the action, sir?"
-
-"Yes; we gave them a terrific licking," said the
-skipper of the *Basher*. "The rotten part was that
-the Huns got away during the night. Still, they
-won't come out again in a hurry. They've been
-very busy ever since sending out fantastic claims
-to a decisive victory over the British fleet. On
-paper they certainly beat us hollow, but the funny
-part about it is that Jellicoe made a demonstration
-in force off the Bight of Heligoland yesterday, and
-the beggars funked the invitation. By the by, the
-sea's fairly calm. We'll run alongside and
-tranship your wounded. It will save a lot of bother if
-you have to abandon ship."
-
-Adroitly manoeuvred in the darkness, for the
-search-lights were now screened lest a prowling
-U boat might take advantage of the motionless
-British destroyers, the *Basher* was made fast to
-her disabled consort. Carefully the wounded men
-were transferred, Dr. Stirling, at the sub's request,
-going with them, since the *Basher* was one of a
-class of destroyers without the services of a medical man.
-
-There was one exception. Crosthwaite resolutely
-declined to leave his ship.
-
-"She's brought us through thus far," he declared,
-"and I'll stick to her until we fetch home.
-Where are we now?"
-
-Sefton was unable to reply until he had enquired
-of the *Basher's* navigating officer the position of the
-ship. The answer was somewhat astonishing; the
-*Calder*, when picked up, was forty-five miles from
-the mouth of the Tyne.
-
-"A precious fine piece of navigation," remarked
-the sub ruefully. "I was trying to make the Firth
-of Forth, and instead I find myself barging into
-the Northumberland coast."
-
-"Might have done a jolly sight worse, old man,"
-said Crosthwaite cheerfully. "You're a brick, Sefton!"
-
-The sub flushed like a schoolgirl, and, bolting
-from the shell-wrecked ward-room, made for the bridge.
-
-"All clear aft?" shouted the *Basher's*
-lieutenant-commander.
-
-"Aye, aye, sir," was the reply from a petty
-officer stationed at the after capstan, round which
-the towing-hawser had been made fast.
-
-"Cast off fore and after springs," continued the
-officer, telegraphing for "Half ahead, port engine".
-
-Very cautiously the towing-craft forged ahead,
-turning sixteen points in almost her own length.
-In the darkness the manoeuvre was fraught with
-anxiety, for, had the slack of the hawser fouled the
-*Basher's* propellers, the destroyer would have been
-as helpless as the craft she was endeavouring to save.
-
-At length the wire hawser began to groan as,
-under the increased strain, it rasped through the
-fair-lead. Ever so slowly, yet surely, the *Calder*
-gathered stern way in the wake of her consort, and
-presently she was nearing the Tyne at a rate of
-7-½ knots.
-
-With her helm lashed amidships, and without
-means of steering, the partly waterlogged craft
-yawed horribly, sheering alternately four points
-to port and starboard of the towing-vessel. Yet
-it was the only practical means of getting the
-destroyer into port. Had she been towed bows
-first, the already-weakened for'ard bulkhead would
-assuredly have collapsed under the additional
-pressure of water.
-
-"We may fetch Tynemouth," thought Sefton,
-as he watched the *Calder's* erratic movements, "but
-she'll never be able to ascend the river. She'll be
-barging into the banks and playing the deuce with
-everything."
-
-He could think of nothing to check the damaged
-destroyer's behaviour. A scope of the cable
-trailing from the hawse-pipe might have served, had
-not anchors, struck by several projectiles, been
-immovably jammed in the hawse-pipes.
-
-The same problem also confronted the skipper of
-the *Basher*, but he quickly settled it by wirelessing
-for a tug.
-
-Dawn was just breaking when the *Calder* arrived
-off Tynemouth. A powerful paddle-tug was lashed
-alongside, and the voyage up the river began.
-
-In the busy shipyards on either side of the Tyne,
-the night shifts were still hard at work turning out
-new vessels for the British navy at the rate of one
-and a half a week, in addition to effecting urgent
-repairs to ships damaged in action or by floating mines.
-
-"Lads," shouted a burly iron-caulker in
-stentorian tones, "here be a German prize bein' towed
-up t' river."
-
-"Garn!" retorted his mate. "German prize,
-my aunt! You don't see no German flag a-flyin;
-under that British ensign. She's one of our plucky
-'uns. Give her three times three, mates!"
-
-The cheering, caught up with redoubled energy,
-greeted the battered *Calder* throughout the whole
-length of her progress up the river. Her wounded
-lieutenant-commander, lying helpless in his bunk,
-heard the inspiring sound. He knew what it
-meant. A load had been lifted off his mind. His
-command was safe in port.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XVIII--Too Late!
-========================
-
-"Eight days' leave--both watches."
-
-The welcome order was given to the survivors of
-the *Calder's* crew with a promptitude that betokened
-official regard and appreciation of the plucky
-destroyer's ship's company.
-
-The *Calder*, safe in dock, was handed over to the
-care of the shipyard authorities. At high pressure,
-the task of getting her ready for sea once more
-would occupy the best part of two months, so badly
-had she been knocked about.
-
-When in dry dock, a discovery was made that
-showed how narrow her escape had been from
-instant destruction. A large-sized German torpedo
-was found in her flooded forepeak, its head
-flattened against the inside of the bow-plates. Fired
-at a distance of a few yards, it had passed
-completely through the thin metal hull, and, failing
-to penetrate the other side, had remained trapped
-in the waterlogged compartment. Examination
-showed that the safety-fan in the head of the weapon
-had not had sufficient time to revolve and liberate
-the firing-pin. A difference of a few yards would
-have been enough to transform the innocuous
-missile into a deadly weapon, capable of shattering
-the *Calder* like an egg-shell.
-
-Having written up his report to the Commander-in-Chief,
-seen Crosthwaite safely into a shore
-hospital, and dispatched a telegram to his home
-announcing his safe return, Sefton bathed and
-turned in.
-
-Six hours later he was up, feeling considerably
-refreshed. All that had to be done in an official
-sense had been carried out, and he was free to
-proceed on well-earned leave.
-
-A steam pinnace landed him and his scanty
-belongings on the Gateshead side of the river.
-Clad in mufti, since his uniform was little more
-than a collection of scorched rags, the sub made
-his way towards the station.
-
-Perhaps, now that the arduous period of responsibility
-had passed, Sefton was feeling the reaction.
-At any rate his usual alertness had temporarily
-deserted him, for, on crossing a crowded thoroughfare,
-he narrowly escaped being knocked down by
-a passing motor-car.
-
-"Why don't you look----?" began the owner of
-the car; then: "Bless my soul, Sefton! Whoever
-expected to see you here! Thought you had been
-done in, 'pon my soul I did. Where's the *Calder*?
-And how's old Crosthwaite?"
-
-The speaker was Sub-lieutenant Farnworth,
-Sefton's old shipmate on board the *Hammerer*,
-where both had served as midshipmen during the
-earlier stages of the war.
-
-"They slung me out of the submarine service,"
-said Farnworth, after Sefton had briefly replied
-to his friend's enquiries. "Why? Oh, merely
-a bit of bad luck! Crocked my leg, don't you know."
-
-Farnworth was too modest to give details. He
-had vivid recollections of a dirty day in the North
-Sea, with submarine E-- lying awash, and a hostile
-mine foul of her bows. The plucky young officer,
-assisted by a couple of equally resolute seamen,
-succeeded in freeing the submarine from the
-unwelcome attentions of the metal globe, but in so
-doing the mooring-chain had surged, fracturing
-Farnworth's thigh as the heavy mine dropped clear.
-
-It took three months at Haslar Hospital, followed
-by six weeks at Osborne, to set matters right, but
-the sub's leg was permanently shortened. To his
-great relief, Farnworth was not invalided out of
-the Service, although unfit for sea. He was given
-a good billet in the Intelligence Department, his
-district covering the Tyne ports, Hull, and Liverpool.
-
-With a powerful car at his disposal, Farnworth
-was in clover. His sole regret was his inability to
-tread the planks of a British war-ship. The call of
-the sea was strong. He would willingly have
-relinquished his "cushy job" to be in command of
-the slowest little torpedo-boat flying the White Ensign.
-
-"I'm keeping you," said Sefton at length.
-
-"Not at all," said Farnworth, with a grin. "It's
-Government petrol I'm using, you know, and I'm
-not due at Liverpool until eight to-night. Do it on
-my head, so to speak. And you?"
-
-"Just off to the station, old man," replied Sefton.
-"Want to get home to-night."
-
-"Southampton? I doubt it, old bird. You've
-missed the express to King's Cross. No, I'm not
-to blame. It had gone long before you tried to
-commit hara-kiri under my car. Look here; hop
-in and I'll drop you at Manchester in plenty of
-time to pick up the through train."
-
-Sefton accepted the invitation with alacrity.
-Being whisked through the air in a comfortable
-car was infinitely to be preferred to being cooped
-up in a railway-carriage after a tedious wait in a
-draughty station.
-
-The ninety odd miles to Halifax was covered in
-two hours and a half, for, on the open road,
-Farnworth let the car all out, only slowing down while
-passing through the big industrial towns that lay
-on his route.
-
-"Now for a ripping stretch of country," exclaimed
-Farnworth enthusiastically. "Something to blow
-the cobwebs away, don't you know. I always take
-this road in preference to the Hebden Bridge way.
-It's steeper, but the car can do it hands down."
-
-Up and up, with very little reduction of speed,
-the high-powered car climbed. Sefton, drowsy for
-lack of sufficient sleep and from the effects of the
-strong air, failed to share his companion's
-enthusiasm. Lulled by the rhythmic purr of the
-motor-car, he was fast becoming oblivious to his
-surroundings when Farnworth gave him a violent
-shake with his disengaged hand.
-
-"What's wrong?" enquired Sefton.
-
-"Scrap," replied his chum laconically. "Something
-more than a dog-fight. What?" he muttered
-under his breath as he pulled up.
-
-Twenty yards from the road was an overturned
-car. Close to it lay a khaki-clad figure, while
-engaged in a desperate struggle were two pairs of
-interlocked combatants. Approaching them with
-stealthy steps was a short, thickset, bullet-headed
-man holding an automatic pistol.
-
-This much Sefton took in with a glance as he
-leapt from the car. Fatigue and sleepiness had
-vanished in an instant. All he realized was that a
-party of motorists was being molested by a gang of
-armed roughs, and that was enough.
-
-With Farnworth limping close at his heels,
-Sefton ran to the rescue. An encouraging shout
-from his companion caused the armed ruffian to turn.
-
-Brandishing his pistol, he shouted a warning to
-the two new-comers to "clear out and mind their
-own business".
-
-Undeterred by the sight of the weapon, the two
-subs bounded forward. A couple of bullets whizzed
-past Sefton's head, one of the pieces of nickel
-chopping a slice out of the lobe of Farnworth's
-left ear.
-
-Before Hans could fire again, the deep report of
-a heavy revolver rang out, followed by a bluish
-puff of smoke from underneath the overturned car.
-
-Clapping his hands to his side, the German spun
-round three times and collapsed to the ground.
-
-As he passed, Sefton kicked the fellow's pistol,
-sending it flying a dozen yards. If the Hun were
-playing 'possum, the sub meant to take no
-unnecessary risks.
-
-In ten seconds the struggle was over. A
-powerful blow from Farnworth's clenched fist made
-George's assailant relax his grip on the lad's throat
-and fall like a log.
-
-Leslie's antagonist, who was fast choking the
-plucky lad into a state of insensibility, broke away,
-and, with a yell of terror, fled for his life, hotly
-pursued by Jack Sefton. Realizing that he was
-being outstripped, the miscreant made straight for
-the lake and plunged in.
-
-Vainly the sub waited for him to rise to the
-surface. Either the man's head had struck against
-some hard substance at the bottom or else he had
-become entangled in the weeds.
-
-Greatly to Jack's surprise, he found that it was
-his young brother who had put up such a game
-struggle with his burly antagonist, and that Dick
-Crosthwaite's father and brother were of the party.
-Still greater was the sub's astonishment when he
-heard a well-known voice exclaim,
-
-"Bear a hand, Jack. It's not at all comfortable here."
-
-With assistance the admiral was extricated from
-the wreckage, little the worse for his adventure.
-
-"Hang it all, my boy," exclaimed Admiral
-Sefton, "we were coming to look for you. We
-heard the *Calder* was overdue."
-
-"Didn't you get my wire, sir?" asked Jack. "I
-telegraphed directly we got ashore."
-
-"Considering I've been three days on the road,"
-replied his father, "my postal address isn't of much
-use. Hulloa, Crosthwaite, what have you got?"
-
-"Nothing much," declared the general. "A
-clean bullet-wound. Thought I'd been plugged
-through the chest. The shock knocked me out.
-By Jove! That was a narrow squeak."
-
-He held his cigar case up for inspection. The
-bullet had penetrated the lid, and had flattened
-itself against the back, a bulge proving by how
-little the missile had missed making a complete
-perforation.
-
-"The rascal has spoilt two of my choice cigars,"
-announced Crosthwaite Senior wrathfully. "What
-was the object, I wonder? By George, Sefton, I
-see ourselves let in for a coroner's inquest."
-
-While Jack and the admiral were attending to
-George and Leslie, neither of whom showed any
-signs of serious injury, Farnworth examined the
-bodies of the three men. Two were stone dead--silent
-testimonies to the accuracy of the admiral's
-aim. The third was unconscious, the blow from
-Farnworth's powerful fist having stunned him. Of
-the others, one had been drowned, while the
-remaining member of the gang--the one wounded by
-the admiral--was at that moment limping painfully
-over the hills, and putting a safe distance between
-him and the scene of his rash and foiled exploit.
-
-"By Jove, old man," exclaimed Farnworth, in
-the midst of his task of examining the contents of
-the dead man's pockets. "See what you make of this?"
-
-He held up a sheet of soiled and creased paper,
-covered with closely-written flourishing writing,
-for Jack Sefton's inspection. "German, by the
-powers!" he added.
-
-"Partly in cipher and partly in ordinary
-writing," declared Sefton. "These fellows are Huns,
-right enough, but what is their object?"
-
-Farnworth did not reply. He was intently studying
-the minute penmanship. Suddenly he started
-to his feet.
-
-"The swine!" he ejaculated furiously. "Look
-here--these three words--all as plain as a pike-staff."
-
-"Well, what does it mean?" asked the admiral,
-his attention drawn to the discovery by Farnworth's
-exclamation.
-
-"A diplomatic mission is leaving a certain port.
-By this time the vessel detailed to convoy the party
-may have sailed. The spies knew this: this paper
-proves that. Either they or their accomplices have
-designs to interfere with the plan."
-
-"A bold surmise on your part," remarked
-Admiral Sefton.
-
-"I hope I'm mistaken, sir," replied Farnworth.
-"We'll have to be on the move at once."
-
-"What's your plan, old man?" enquired Jack
-as the party set to work to convey the wounded
-general to the waiting car.
-
-"Make for the nearest telegraph office," was the
-prompt reply.
-
-"And these?" enquired the admiral, indicating
-with a comprehensive sweep of his hand the
-overturned motor and the three motionless forms of
-their former assailants.
-
-"Can wait, sir," replied Farnworth. "We'll
-send the police and a break-down gang to clear up
-the business. All ready, Jack?"
-
-Away glided the car, descending the curved road
-at terrific speed. Approaching the bottom of the
-pass, another car was encountered going in the
-opposite direction. It contained the high
-personage who probably owed his life to the blunder the
-Germans had made in mistaking Crosthwaite's
-party for his. In complete ignorance, the
-occupants of the two cars passed. The Government
-official was never to learn how close he had been
-to a foul death by assassination on the desolate
-Blackstone Edge.
-
-Over the rough setts of Rochdale, Farnworth's
-car tore, until the young naval officer slowed up to
-pass through a dense crowd gathered round the
-windows of a firm of newspaper proprietors, and
-extending more than half-way across the street.
-
-Instinctively the occupants of the car looked at
-the bold letters scrawled upon a large sheet of paper.
-
-"Good heavens!" ejaculated the admiral, hardly
-able to believe his eyes; "we are too late!"
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XIX--The Smack "Fidelity"
-=================================
-
-"Be a sport, Jack!" exclaimed Leslie Sefton coaxingly.
-
-"And take a sort of busman's holiday, eh?"
-rejoined the sub, regarding his young brother with
-a tolerant smile. "Well--I'll see."
-
-"Thanks awfully," was Leslie's comment.
-Experience had taught him that Jack's "I'll see"
-invariably ended in acquiescence.
-
-Two months had elapsed since the eventful
-encounter on Blackstone Edge. August was well
-advanced, bringing with it a spell of gloriously
-fine weather; and, since the young people must
-needs have holidays, even in war-time, and the
-Admiral felt in need of a rest after the strenuous
-shooting-match on the bleak Pennine Hills, the
-Sefton family had taken a furnished house
-overlooking Poole Harbour.
-
-Sub-lieutenant Sefton had been temporarily
-appointed to the Portsmouth Naval Barracks,
-pending another term of service afloat. His fairly
-frequent periods of week-end leave, he invariably
-spent with his parents, since Poole was within easy
-railway distance of the senior naval port.
-
-Young Leslie was in his element. Before he had
-been at Poole more than three hours he had already
-chummed up with the owners of several pleasure
-craft. But a few days of sailing in a landlocked
-harbour soon whetted his appetite for a trip beyond
-the bar, and for the present his wishes in that
-direction were thwarted. Owing to the war-time
-conditions, no pleasure-boat or yacht was permitted to
-leave the spacious inland cruising-ground.
-
-Time after time, Leslie watched with yearning
-eyes the brown-sailed fishing-fleet steal past the
-patrol-boats guarding the entrance, and glide
-seaward to the fishing-ground off the Dolphin Bank.
-For the most part, the boats were manned by
-grey-bearded stalwarts and young boys, worthy
-descendants of Harry Page, Thompson, and other Poole
-fishermen whose prowess against the French is still
-remembered by the inhabitants of the Dorset
-seaport. Already the British navy had claimed almost
-every able-bodied fisherman of fighting age, and
-nobly the men had responded to the call, leaving
-grandfathers and grandsons to work the boats in
-the open waters of the English Channel.
-
-At last Leslie found an opportunity. Getting on
-the right side of old "Garge" Cottenham, owner
-and master of the five-ton smack *Fidelity*, he
-prevailed upon that worthy to allow him to make an
-all-night trip to the fishing-grounds.
-
-Unfortunately the admiral did not see eye to eye
-with his energetic son. Even Leslie's declaration
-that he would be assisting in a work of national
-importance by helping to provide the nation's food
-left him unmoved. As a last resource the lad
-appealed to Jack, who had just arrived upon the
-scene for the week-end.
-
-"Isn't the harbour good enough for him?" asked
-Admiral Sefton.
-
-"You don't get the lift of the open sea, you
-know, Pater," replied the sub. "Leslie's got the
-old instinct, you see."
-
-"S'pose so," admitted his parent. "A couple
-of centuries of sea life is bound to tell, eh? All the
-same, I don't like the idea of the boy knocking about
-in a smack. He'll get into a dozen scrapes, and
-end up by tumbling overboard and getting mixed
-up in the trawl. Now if I were there to look after
-him----"
-
-The admiral paused. Had old Garge Cottenham
-extended the invitation to him, the bluff old
-sea-dog could not have resisted the call of the
-sea--e'en were it through the medium of a five-ton
-smack. Between the man who in the splendour
-of a gold-laced uniform had directed the
-movements of a fleet and the other who grasped the
-tiller of a grubby fishing-boat existed a common
-tie--that mysterious and overpowering freemasonry
-of the sea.
-
-On second thoughts, Admiral Sefton remembered
-his comfortable bed and well-ordered repast,
-comparing them with the discomforts of a night afloat
-and relatively hard fare.
-
-Here Jack stepped nobly into the breach.
-
-"Perhaps the kid wouldn't object if I went with
-him," he suggested. "Not keen on it, you know,
-but----"
-
-And so it came to pass that when Leslie coaxed
-his big brother the latter capitulated.
-
-"But what if your fisherman pal declined to ship
-me with him?" he added.
-
-"No fear," replied Leslie. "I'll make that all
-right; only don't tell him you're an officer."
-
-"Oh, for why?" enquired the sub.
-
-"I don't know exactly," was his brother's reply.
-"Somehow I fancy Old Garge doesn't like naval
-officers."
-
-Wherein Leslie was correct. Years ago Skipper
-Cottenham had fallen foul of the
-lieutenant-in-charge of a revenue cutter, and the memory of
-the meeting still rankled.
-
-After lunch Leslie made his way to the quay,
-returning in an hour's time with the information
-that Old Garge didn't object (he was not over
-anxious to avail himself of a supposed amateur's
-offer of assistance), and that the *Fidelity* would cast
-off at seven o'clock that evening.
-
-Clad in an old pair of serge trousers and a
-brown sweater, and carrying an oilskin coat that,
-despite the maker's guarantee, stuck tenaciously
-wherever it was folded, the sub accompanied
-his wildly-excited brother to the steps, where
-a boat was in readiness to convey them to the smack.
-
-In the boat was a freckled, chubby-faced,
-flaxen-haired youngster of about thirteen, whom Leslie
-introduced to his brother as Tim, great-grandson
-of the owner and master of the registered
-fishing-boat *Fidelity*.
-
-"Where's the *Fidelity* lying?" enquired the sub,
-after the youngster had sculled the heavy boat for
-nearly two hundred yards.
-
-"Down Stakes," was the mysterious reply.
-"Us'll see her in a minute or so, when us gets
-round t'bend."
-
-Working the long single oar vigorously, and
-aided by the strong ebb tide, Tim quickly urged
-the heavy boat along.
-
-"There he be," he announced. "Third in the
-row from here."
-
-Sefton looked in the direction indicated. The
-fishing-fleet was already making preparations for
-a start. Most of the boats had their mainsails set.
-Two or three had already slipped moorings, and
-were gliding down the main channel under the lee
-of the wooded Brownsea Island.
-
-With the practised eye of a true seaman, the sub
-realized that, in spite of her sombre garb of grey
-paint, mottled with tar marks, the *Fidelity* was
-"all a boat".
-
-With a sharp entry and fine run aft, noticeable
-despite the squat stern and heavy transom, the
-smack showed every promise of speed combined
-with stiffness. Built with a view of encountering
-the short steep seas of Poole Bar, she was typical
-of the weatherly boats that have justly earned a
-splendid reputation for seaworthiness.
-
-"Evenin'!" was Old Garge's greeting. "Come
-aboard. Look alive, Tim, an' make fast the boat's
-painter. Then do 'ee cast off. There's Bill
-Moggridge an' Peter Wilson under way already. Us
-mustn't let 'em get across t' Bar ahead of the
-*Fidelity*."
-
-Quickly, as the result of much practice, young
-Tim cast off the heavy mooring-chain from the
-bitts, and trimmed the head-sails. Heeling slightly
-to the light south-westerly breeze the smack gathered
-way, leaving hardly a ripple in her wake as she
-glided almost noiselessly through the calm water.
-
-The sub revelled in the movement. Vividly it
-recalled long-past days in the *Britannia's* cutters,
-racing in the landlocked estuary of the Dart.
-Since then opportunities for fore-and-aft sailing
-had been few and far between. Contrasted with the
-terrific vibration of a swiftly moving destroyer, the
-gentle movement was peaceful and soothing.
-
-A short spell of close-hauled work, as the smack
-tacked towards the entrance, was followed by a run,
-full and by, down the buoyed channel to the bar
-buoy. From the heights above Studland a stiff
-breeze swept down, causing the water to foam at
-the *Fidelity's* sharp stem.
-
-"That be good!" ejaculated Old Garge. "Us
-be overtakin' them," and he nodded in the
-direction of the two boats that were still leading by
-less than a cable's length. "Wind'll drop afore
-long, I's afraid."
-
-"It will go down with the sun," said Sefton.
-"But we'll get the first of the east-going tide
-outside."
-
-The skipper of the *Fidelity* stared at his guest.
-Already he had come to the conclusion that the
-tall bronzed young fellow was no mere landlubber.
-The sub's deliberate pronunciation of the word
-"tackle" during a previous conversation had told
-him that.
-
-"Patrol," announced the skipper laconically,
-indicating a steam trawler as she rounded the
-detached chalk pinnacle known as "Old Harry".
-"She's there to keep Garmin submarines away,
-you know. Ever seen a Garmin submarine, mister?"
-
-"Have you?" enquired Sefton, countering the
-old fellow's curiosity.
-
-"Only one, and 'er was no good to nobody,"
-replied Old Garge. "They sunk 'er away down
-Christchurch Bay. Seed the navy chaps a-getting
-her up, only the patrol boat ordered me away.
-That was away back last summer. Since then they
-submarines 'ave given this part a wide berth."
-
-"I'd like to see one getting properly strafed,"
-declared Leslie. "What would you do, Jack, if
-one showed its nose up just now?"
-
-"Chuck it," ejaculated the sub good-humouredly.
-"We're supposed to be on the way to the fishing-ground,
-not chasing U boats. Hallo! There's
-The Needles Light."
-
-By this time the sun had set in a haze of vivid
-crimson. Against the dark grey of the eastern
-sky, the coastwise lights of The Needles and
-St. Catherine's were beginning to assert their presence
-in the rapidly waning twilight. Contrary to
-expectation the breeze still held, although under the
-shadow of Hengistbury Head, bearing three miles
-to the nor'ard, a number of fishing-craft lay
-completely becalmed.
-
-"Evenin', Peter!" shouted Old Garge cordially,
-as the *Fidelity* drew ahead of the hitherto leading
-boat. Peter waved his arm in reply. His response
-was not so cordial, seeing that his boat had been
-outstripped, greatly to the glee of Leslie and young Tim.
-
-For the next quarter of an hour all hands were
-busily engaged in paying out the nets. Then,
-under triced-up mainsail, the smack floundered
-slowly through the water, towing the length of
-fishing-gear astern.
-
-The first haul produced very indifferent results.
-Leslie began to think that it was poor sport, since
-the catch consisted of less than a dozen medium-sized
-whiting and a couple of small bass. Nor did
-the second cast fare much better.
-
-"'Tes this east'ly wind we've a-been havin' that's
-done the mischief," explained the skipper of the
-*Fidelity*. "I thought when it veered we'd be in
-luck. Howsomever, we'll have another shot."
-
-Again the nets were paid out, and the smack,
-hampered with her tow, stood off in the direction
-of the distant St. Catherine's Light.
-
-"Mighty slow, isn't it?" confided Leslie to his
-brother. "Wish Old Garge would up nets and
-make for home. Sailing's all right, but this almost
-bores me stiff."
-
-"Patience!" rejoined Sefton. "This is your
-choice. How would you care to go fishing for
-months, blow high, blow low? No matter whether
-it be summer or winter, you've got to go on
-fishing--fishing for a brute that will bite you pretty hard
-at the first favourable opportunity."
-
-"You mean submarines?" asked the lad. "I
-should like to see one. It must be fine sport."
-
-"Not on board this hooker, though," added the
-sub. "Give me something that can hit back."
-
-Force of habit made the young officer glance to
-windward. He would not have been altogether
-surprised had a pair of twin periscopes appeared
-above the surface of the moonlit water. After all,
-he reflected, there wasn't much chance of that.
-The fishing-ground was well out of the recognized
-steamer tracks. A U boat, especially in the
-English Channel, where she ran an almost momentary
-risk of destruction, would not waste time over the
-shallow Dolphin Bank to look for insignificant
-fishing-smacks. Still, Hun submarines did erratic
-things sometimes.
-
-Then the sub laughed at his fancies. The
-possibility was so remote that he ridiculed the
-suggestion.
-
-Meanwhile Old Garge had disappeared under
-the half-deck. A wreath of smoke from the dilapidated
-iron chimney, and the banging of several iron
-utensils, announced the fact that he was preparing
-some sort of repast. Tim, mechanically sawing
-the tiller to and fro, kept the smack on her course.
-
-The *Fidelity* was now well to the east'ard of the
-rest of the fleet. A couple of miles separated her
-from the nearmost of the brown-sailed boats, whose
-dark canvas showed up distinctly in the slanting
-rays of the moon.
-
-"We're giving them the slip, aren't we?" enquired
-Leslie, indicating the still busily engaged smacks.
-
-Tim glanced over his shoulder.
-
-"Granfer," he called out; "we'm a long way
-down t' east'ard. Shall us up nets?"
-
-"No; you just carry on," replied Old Garge, his
-voice muffled in the confined space. "I'll be with
-you in a minute. I'm fair busy just now."
-
-Another half-hour passed, but the skipper still
-remained out of sight. The wind had now dropped,
-and the smack, with her main-sheet slacked right
-off, floundered heavily, dipping her boom-end at
-every roll. Already the day was breaking beyond
-the chalk cliffs of the Isle of Wight. Momentarily,
-the search-lights from The Needles Channel
-batteries were growing fainter in the grey dawn.
-
-"Isn't it grand!" exclaimed Leslie, inspired by
-the sight of daybreak at sea.
-
-The sub merely shrugged his shoulders. Untold
-spells of duty as officer of the watch had made him
-regard the spectacle with complete indifference.
-
-But the next instant Jack Sefton's lassitude fell
-from him like a discarded mask, for, at less than
-a hundred yards on the *Fidelity's* port quarter,
-appeared the pole-like periscopes of a submarine.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XX--Captured
-====================
-
-For a few seconds the optics of the submerged
-craft remained trained upon the isolated smack.
-Although the submarine was forging slowly ahead,
-the periscopes rose no higher out of the water.
-Evidently those in charge of the vessel were not
-anxious to rise to the surface until they had
-satisfied themselves that it was fairly safe to do so.
-
-His attention attracted by his brother's fixed
-gaze, Leslie sprang to his feet and grasped the
-weather shrouds.
-
-"What's that, Jack?" he asked.
-
-"What you wanted to see--a submarine."
-
-"One of ours?"
-
-"Hope so," replied the sub laconically; but he
-had great misgivings on that score. Had it been
-a British submarine making for Portsmouth, she
-would almost certainly be running on the surface,
-in order to make her number before approaching
-the heavily-defended Needles channel.
-
-Wildly excited, Tim forgot that he was steering
-and, putting the helm down, allowed the smack to
-gybe "all standing". The thud of the heavy boom
-as it swung across and brought up with a violent
-jerk, had the effect of making Old Garge emerge
-from the cuddy in a state of nautical profanity.
-
-"What be you up to, you young lubber?" he shouted.
-
-"Submarine, granfer," replied his youthful relative.
-
-"No excuse for gybing," continued the skipper.
-"Do you mind what you are up to. Where be she?"
-
-He shaded his eyes, expecting to see one of the
-British "C" or "E" class running awash.
-Instead, he saw only the tips of the periscopes.
-
-"Drat it!" he ejaculated. "'Tain't for no good.
-Anyways, we're too small for her to trouble about we."
-
-Apparently his conjectures were correct, for, with
-a feather of white foam, and a sullen swirl well in
-the wake of the periscope, the submarine
-disappeared wholly from sight.
-
-"'Er's afeard of fouling our nets," declared Old
-Garge. "Now, if we gives the patrol-boat notice,
-an' that submarine is done for, there's fifty pun' at
-least for me. A matter of a couple o' months back
-my friend Peter----"
-
-But what happened to Peter was a story that Jack
-Sefton was not permitted to hear, for with a quick,
-unhesitating motion the submarine reappeared at
-less than three cables' lengths ahead of the smack.
-Shaking herself clear of the water, she displayed
-the unmistakable outlines of a German *unterseeboot*,
-although no number was visible on her
-grey conning-tower.
-
-With remarkable celerity an officer and half a
-dozen seamen appeared from below, while at the
-same time a quick-firer was raised from its
-"housing", for'ard of the conning-tower, and trained
-upon the luckless *Fidelity*.
-
-Steadily the U boat approached within hailing
-distance, then, making a half-circle, slowed down
-on a parallel course to that of the smack.
-
-"Fishing-boat ahoy!" shouted the German
-officer. "Cut adrift your nets and run alongside,
-or I'll have to sink you."
-
-Old Garge gave a gasp of astonishment and
-looked enquiringly at Jack Sefton.
-
-"Them nets cost a sight o' money," he exclaimed
-ruefully. "Now if I had a gun----"
-
-"Hurry, there!" came the stern mandate from the U boat.
-
-"You'll have to obey, I fancy," said the sub.
-"There's no escape. Perhaps they'll let you off,
-as the smack is only a very small one. If you give
-them any lip they'll cut up rough."
-
-Deliberately Old Garge cut the trailing line of
-nets, bent the outward part to a life-buoy and cast
-it overboard. As he had remarked, nets were
-expensive affairs, and he was not going to cut them
-adrift without a means of recovering the gear
-should the Huns let him off lightly.
-
-"Back your head-sails, Tim!" ordered the
-skipper, at the same time putting the helm hard
-down and allowing the *Fidelity* to come up motionless
-into the wind, within a couple of yards of the
-bulging side of the U boat.
-
-"Throw us a line!" was the peremptory greeting.
-
-Agilely a fair-haired unter-leutnant boarded the
-smack, followed by three of his men. Giving a
-cursory glance at the fish-well, he said something
-in German to one of the seamen. In less than
-a minute the night's haul had been transferred to
-the captor.
-
-"Low-down robbers!" muttered Old Garge
-under his breath, but the unter-leutnant caught the
-imprecation.
-
-"Have a care," he said sternly, "or we sink
-your boat. What these men? You carry a large
-crew for a little ship, Captain."
-
-"They are my men," declared Old Garge loyally.
-
-"Perhaps," drawled the German, then, suddenly
-turning, he strode up to Sefton and his brother.
-
-"Hold your hand out!" he ordered.
-
-Leslie sniggered. In his opinion the uniformed
-Hun ought to have added the words "Naughty
-boy". The lad was enjoying the novel experience.
-His one regret was that George Crosthwaite was
-not present to share in the adventure.
-
-Critically the unter-leutnant examined Jack's
-extended hand. In spite of the fact that it was
-discoloured with tar, and reeked of fish, the sub's
-hand showed that it belonged to a person not of
-the ordinary working class. The long, tapering
-fingers, manicured nails, and absence of horny
-protuberances on the palm "gave him away".
-
-"What is your name?" demanded the German.
-
-"Smith," replied Sefton promptly.
-
-Again the irritating, dubious, and speculative
-"Per-haps". The sub realized that he was in a
-tight corner.
-
-"What this wound--how caused?" enquired the
-unter-leutnant, indicating the white scar on the
-young officer's wrist--the legacy of the affair off
-Jutland. "Ach! Shell wound, hein? You are of
-military age. Stand aside."
-
-In spite of the brown jersey and the soiled serge
-trousers, the keen-witted Hun had come to the
-correct conclusion, that the tall, bronzed man was
-not a genuine smack hand. Not satisfied with the
-self-styled Smith's replies, he decided to interrogate
-his companion.
-
-"Your name?" he demanded of Leslie, with a
-fierceness that effectually quenched all further
-inclination on the part of the youth to snigger.
-
-"Smith, too," replied Leslie. "He's my brother."
-
-Again a display of palmistry. Leslie's hands,
-though grubby, were also unmistakably unused
-to rough work.
-
-"How old?"
-
-"Fifteen?"
-
-"You lie."
-
-"On my word of honour," declared Leslie.
-
-"No matter," rejoined the unter-leutnant. "You
-old enough to fight. Suppose----"
-
-A hail came from the U boat. Herr Kapitan
-had mounted the platform in the wake of the
-conning-tower and was calling attention to the
-mist that was bearing down in detached patches.
-Already the rest of the fishing-boats were lost to sight.
-
-"You go on board there," continued the German
-unter-leutnant, indicating the submarine. Then,
-turning to Old Garge, he added:
-
-"We let you go. Too much trouble to sink
-your little fischer-boat, and you have no skiff.
-Stop here one hour. If you move or make signal,
-then we return and blow you to pieces. You onderstan'?"
-
-Without condescending to notice Tim, who was
-watching the course of events with wide-open eyes,
-the unter-leutnant signalled to the two Seftons to
-board the submarine. Then, followed by his men,
-the Hun regained his own craft.
-
-A minute later, with Jack and Leslie prisoners of
-war, the U boat slid quietly beneath the surface.
-
-Old Garge obeyed instructions until the tips of
-the periscopes vanished. Then he began to gather
-in the mainsheet.
-
-"Trim your heads'ls, Tim," he ordered. "Us'll
-be off as hard as we can."
-
-"How about the nets, grandfer?" asked Tim.
-
-"Can bide," declared the old man as the *Fidelity*,
-gathering way, sped to give the alarm that another
-U boat had been active in the Channel.
-
-Three-quarters of an hour later, the smack ran
-alongside one of the patrol-boats operating in
-Christchurch Bay, and reported the incident.
-Quickly the news was wirelessed, and a regular
-fleet of swift motor-boats was soon upon the scene,
-while overhead a couple of sea-planes hovered,
-in the hope of detecting the shadow of the U boat
-against the white sandy bottom.
-
-But in vain. The unter-leutnant's threat that
-he purposed remaining in the vicinity for an hour
-was a mere piece of bluff. Without loss of time,
-the submarine was running at her maximum
-submerged speed in a south-westerly direction, intent
-upon putting as great a distance as possible
-between her and the hornets whose activities had
-already taken a heavy toll from these modern
-pirates of the Black Cross Ensign.
-
-U99 was one of the most recent type of *unterseebooten*.
-Possessing a great radius of action, she
-combined the roles of mine-layer and submerged
-torpedo-craft. She was one of nine detailed for
-operations in the English Channel, and, since the
-passage through the Straits of Dover had long been
-regarded as "unhealthy" by the German Admiralty,
-the flotilla had been ordered to proceed and return
-via the Faroe Isles and the west coast of Ireland.
-
-Although the U99 had disposed of her cargo
-of mines without mishap--several of the German
-submarines having been "hoist with their own
-petards"--her efforts had not met with marked
-success. Beyond torpedoing a tramp, and sinking
-another by gun-fire, she had failed to carry out the
-work of frightfulness that had been expected of her.
-Having exhausted her stock of torpedoes, and
-making only one effective hit, she was on her way home.
-
-After three hours of terrible suspense, when she
-found herself enmeshed in a net somewhere off the
-back of the Wight--a predicament from which she
-freed herself by means of the specially-devised
-wire-cutters on her bows--U99 was forced to come up
-for a breather early in the morning. Provisions
-were running short, and the sight of the solitary
-fishing-smack tempted her commander to investigate,
-with the result that Sub-lieutenant Sefton and
-his brother found themselves in the unenviable
-position of prisoners in the hands of the enemy.
-More, they were cooped up in a wretched U boat,
-faced with the possibility of being hunted by their
-fellow-countrymen and consigned to Davy Jones
-in the undesirable company of a crew of piratical Huns.
-
-No wonder that Jack felt like kicking himself for
-having embarked upon the ill-starred voyage in the
-smack *Fidelity*.
-
-"Yes, by Jove!" he muttered. "Here's a pretty
-kettle of fish--and the lid on with a vengeance."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XXI--U99
-================
-
-During the first hour of their captivity Jack Sefton
-and his brother were left alone, locked in a narrow,
-ill-lighted compartment in the after part of the
-submarine. Overhead they could hear the ceaseless
-clank of the steering-gear, while the crowded space
-within the hull echoed to the noisy clatter of the
-propelling machinery.
-
-Outwardly calm, the sub was raging furiously.
-Yielding to his sense of discretion, and realizing
-the importance of reassuring his young brother, he
-made a brave show at keeping up his spirits. On
-several occasions he had found himself in a tight
-corner, but now there was the humiliation of being
-captured in a most ignominious fashion, without
-being able to raise a hand in self-defence.
-
-"Upon my word!" he remarked. "Really,
-Leslie, you will have something to remember.
-Experiences like this don't fall to the lot of many
-youngsters, you know."
-
-"More exciting than that scrap on Blackstone,"
-rejoined Leslie. "Even George would have to
-admit that. Makes a fellow feel quite bucked. But
-what do they intend doing with us, I wonder?"
-
-"Events will prove that," replied the sub gravely.
-"Recollect that we have to conceal our identity as
-much as possible. These chaps must not be allowed
-to find out that I am a naval officer. Hark!"
-
-A rasping sound, as the bolt securing the door
-was shot back, interrupted the conversation before
-Sefton had time to mature his immediate plans.
-The metal panel slid open and a petty officer
-appeared and spoke rapidly in German.
-
-Drowned by the noise of the machinery, the words
-were inaudible, but by the man's gestures the
-prisoners clearly understood that they had to follow
-him. Along a narrow, steel-enclosed passage, then
-through a maze of intricate machinery, the sub and
-his brother were conducted, until they found
-themselves in a small cabin almost immediately underneath
-the grating that formed the floor of the raised
-conning-tower.
-
-"You will at once take off your clothes," ordered
-the petty officer.
-
-At this unexpected command the brothers looked
-at each other in surprise. The order could not be
-ignored, despite its apparent inconsequence.
-However unwilling to submit to the indignity, the
-prisoners obeyed promptly.
-
-Under the stern glare of the German petty officer,
-Jack Sefton stripped off his brown jersey, shirt, and
-singlet.
-
-"Rough luck!" he muttered. "Now these
-brutes will tumble to it; my name is marked on
-each of these garments."
-
-Which was exactly what the Huns were intent
-upon finding out, for, giving a keen glance at the
-tell-tale lettering, the petty officer without waiting
-for the rest of the disrobing process made his way aft.
-
-Sefton was not long left in doubt, for presently
-an officer in uniform corresponding to that of a
-lieutenant-commander entered the cabin.
-
-"So!" he exclaimed triumphantly, as he thumbed
-the pages of a British Navy List. "We fine bag
-have made. 'Sefton, John B. G.' That not the
-same as Smith, hein?"
-
-The sub vouchsafed no remark. He felt horribly
-humiliated by his position and by the easy manner
-in which he had been bowled out. Also, he realized
-that now the chances of the prisoners being set on
-board a passing vessel had been entirely knocked
-on the head.
-
-"We take you back to Zhermany," continued
-the kapitan of the submarine. "Day after
-to-morrow we land you at Wilhelmshaven at exactly
-nine o'clock."
-
-The day after to-morrow--at nine o'clock. That
-would be Monday, and at that hour Sefton was due
-for "divisions" at Portsmouth Naval Barracks.
-The irony of his position ate into his soul.
-
-"If not, you will be a corpse at the bottom of the
-sea," rejoined the German pointedly. "Now get
-your clothes on, and take good care to yourselves
-behave."
-
-The kapitan quitted the cabin, leaving Sefton and
-his brother to resume their garments. This they
-did in silence, for Leslie had noticed his brother's
-despondency and chagrin.
-
-Except for the periods when they were ordered
-forward for meals, the prisoners were left severely
-alone. Of the passing of time they had but a
-remote idea, since the sub had wisely left his watch
-ashore before proceeding on the ill-starred trip in
-the *Fidelity*. Certain it was that, for nearly twelve
-hours, U99 remained submerged, running on her
-electric power.
-
-Then she rose to the surface. The petrol engines
-were coupled up, and at an increased speed the
-submarine proceeded, in what direction Sefton had
-no idea. Without means of consulting a compass,
-and confined below, he was in total ignorance of the
-vessel's course.
-
-At length, dead-tired, for neither of the twain had
-slept the previous night, Jack and Leslie threw
-themselves down on the floor. There was no need
-for bedding. The heat of the confined space was
-too oppressive for that. For a long while the sub
-tossed uneasily on his hard couch, finally dropping
-off into a fitful slumber.
-
-He was awakened by a seaman shaking him
-vigorously. For some moments he was unable to
-realize his surroundings. Sleeping in the hot and
-almost fetid air had benumbed his brain. He felt
-fuddled, his eyes seemed strained and dim, his
-throat burned painfully.
-
-"On deck for exercise," ordered the man,
-speaking in German.
-
-Sefton staggered to his feet, feeling stiff and
-cramped in his limbs. Leslie was still asleep, and
-when disturbed took even longer than his brother
-to be fully aroused.
-
-"By Jove," thought the sub, "if the crew are
-all like this, early morn is the time to catch them
-napping! Well, here goes."
-
-The two captives followed their jailer through an
-oval-shaped hatchway, gaining the deck by means
-of a steel ladder.
-
-Lounging on the long, narrow platform were
-more than a dozen men, some stretched upon their
-backs, others lying with their heads pillowed upon
-their arms, but in every case one hand was
-outstretched to grasp the stanchions. The precaution
-was necessary, for the boat was floundering heavily
-in the long, sullen rollers.
-
-Instinctively Sefton gave a glance in the direction
-of the sun. It was now broad daylight. The orb
-of day, high in the heavens, betokened the fact that
-it was approaching the hour of noon. By the
-direction of the shadows cast upon the deck, it was now
-apparent that the U boat's course was a little east
-of north. Away on the starboard hand was a
-seemingly interminable range of frowning cliffs, the
-nearmost being but two or three miles distant.
-They were the rock-bound shores of Donegal.
-
-Holding Leslie tightly by the arm, for the lad
-was not accustomed to the Atlantic swell, Sefton
-marched him up and down the deck between the
-after end of the conning-tower and the stern.
-Although the limited promenade was still further
-curtailed by the prone bodies of the crew, the latter
-paid no attention to the two prisoners.
-
-On the platform surrounding the conning-tower
-was the unter-leutnant who had ordered their
-arrest. Scanning the horizon with his binoculars,
-he, too, seemed indifferent to the presence of the
-two Englishmen. With him, and stationed at a
-small wheel in the wake of a binnacle, was a
-quartermaster. The conning-tower hatchway was
-closed, owing possibly to the spray that literally
-swept the fore part of the submarine, and was flung
-high over the domed top of the "brain of the ship".
-
-"Where are we now?" asked Leslie.
-
-"Off the Irish coast," replied his brother.
-
-"Wish one of our destroyers would put in an
-appearance," remarked Leslie wistfully.
-
-The sub made no audible reply. His views upon
-the matter, based upon actual experience, told him
-pretty plainly that the captain of a British war-ship
-would not be likely to ascertain whether there were
-compatriots on board the craft he purposed to
-destroy. Also, there had been fully authenticated
-cases of the Huns locking the prisoners down
-below before they abandoned the sinking ship.
-Sefton did not mind running legitimate risks in
-action, but he had a strong objection to being
-"done in" by British guns.
-
-His reveries were interrupted by a shrill whistle
-from the conning-tower. Instantly the somnolent
-men were roused into activity. In less than thirty
-seconds Sefton and his brother were tumbled below,
-the decks were cleared, and the hatches closed.
-
-By the inclination of the floor of the compartment
-that served as a cell Sefton realized that the
-U boat was diving. Almost at the same time there
-was a muffled detonation as a 12-pounder shell,
-fired from a destroyer at a distance of 7500 yards,
-exploded immediately above the spot where the
-submarine had disappeared.
-
-"Good heavens, she holed!" ejaculated the sub,
-as the U boat quivered and dipped to an alarming
-angle. Momentarily he expected to hear, above
-the rattle of the machinery, the irresistible inrush
-of water and the shrieks of the doomed crew.
-
-But in this he was mistaken. The nearness of
-the explosion of the shell had urged upon the
-submarine's kapitan the necessity for haste. Thrusting
-the diving-planes hard down, he caused the U boat
-to dive with unusual abruptness, never bringing
-the vessel upon an even keel until she had
-descended to a depth of twelve fathoms.
-
-The rest of the day was passed in utter monotony
-as far as the prisoners were concerned. Although
-it was two hours before the U boat dared to expose
-the tips of her periscopes above the surface, the
-greater part of the day was spent in running submerged.
-
-Towards evening U99 ascended, and, altering
-course, stood in pursuit of a small tramp. After
-a short chase, for the former had the advantage of
-15 knots in speed, the submarine approached
-sufficiently near to be able to fire a shot close to her
-quarry.
-
-Almost immediately the tramp slowed down
-and hoisted American colours. It did not take
-U99 long to range up alongside, and the unterleutnant
-and half a dozen seamen proceeded on board.
-
-The prize was a Yankee, bound from Boston to
-Liverpool with a cargo of warlike stores.
-According to arrangements, she should have been met
-and escorted by a patrol vessel; but, although the
-latter was hourly expected, something had occurred
-to delay her.
-
-"We'll have to sink you," declared the German officer.
-
-The "old man"--a typical New Englander--shrugged
-his shoulders.
-
-"Wal, I reckon yer can," he replied coolly.
-
-"You don't seem concerned by the fact."
-
-"Not I, stranger. This hyer ship an' cargo is
-jest insured up to the hilt in 'The Narragut Marine
-Assurance Company'. An' since the bulk of the
-shareholders are Huns--wal, I guess it's 'nuff said."
-
-"Ach! Then I suppose I must let you go,"
-exclaimed the baffled German officer. "If you fall
-in with any British war-vessels you might tell them
-that we have two Englishmen on board."
-
-"Maybe you'd care to let us give 'em a passage?"
-hazarded the Boston skipper.
-
-"If that had been our intention we should have
-done so without asking a favour," rejoined the
-unter-leutnant.
-
-"Perhaps you would care to examine the ship's
-papers?" enquired the master. His keen eyes had
-detected a small, swiftly moving object on the
-horizon--the expected patrol boat. Cap'n Hiram
-Goslow, although a tough Republican, was quite
-in sympathy with the Allies. On previous voyages
-he had fallen foul of the Huns, and the treatment
-he had received still rankled. "Maybe you aren't
-quite satisfied about the 'Narragut Marine Assurance
-Company' stunt?"
-
-For the next half-minute the fate of U99 with
-all on board trembled in the balance. The
-unterleutnant, only too pleased to have the opportunity
-of finding a flaw in Captain Goslow's statement,
-was about to accept the invitation, when a warning
-shout from the kapitan of the U boat brought the
-boarding-party scrambling on board with the utmost
-alacrity.
-
-To the accompaniment of a chorus of jeers and
-laughter from the American crew, the submarine
-submerged and was lost to sight.
-
-Although Jack Sefton and his brother were in
-ignorance of the precise nature of the meeting with
-the tramp and the imperturbable Captain Goslow,
-they knew by the unwonted noises and the shutting-down
-of the motors that something had transpired.
-The sudden closing of the hatchways, and the
-hasty dive taken, told the sub that once again the
-ceaseless vigilance of the British navy had been
-responsible for a bad quarter of an hour for the Germans.
-
-The kapitan's boast to the effect that his prisoners
-would be landed at Wilhelmshaven at nine o'clock
-was an empty one. Wildly exciting moments, when
-the U boat found herself foul of a maze of steel nets,
-delayed her progress, until at length U99 arrived
-at a position forty-five miles N.N.W. of Heligoland.
-
-Here a wireless message was received, the
-purport of which was not hailed with any degree of
-enthusiasm by the weary and almost exhausted
-crew. They were on the point of completing a
-fortnight's cruise of strenuous discomfort, physical
-exertion, and mental strain. Now, instead of
-proceeding to Wilhelmshaven for a period of recuperation,
-they were ordered to make for a certain
-rendezvous and await the submarine depot-ship *Kondor*.
-
-Officers and crew knew what this meant. Heavy
-losses amongst the German *unterseebooten* flotillas
-had necessitated the U99 being pressed into an
-extension of present service. She was to replenish
-stores and torpedoes, and to be attached to the
-submarine flotilla operating with the High Seas Fleet.
-Evidently another big movement was contemplated
-in the North Sea.
-
-Something had to be done to bolster up the
-rapidly crumbling tissue of lies by which the
-German Admiralty had gulled the Teutonic world.
-Never in the history of naval warfare had a
-victorious fleet been compelled to remain inactive in
-its home ports beyond the period necessary for
-revictualling, replenishing of warlike stores, and
-making defects good. Nine weeks or more had
-elapsed since the glorious victory off Jutland, and
-still the Hun fleet clung tenaciously to its
-moorings. Even the fat-headed burghers who frequented
-the *bier-gartens* of Berlin began to realize that the
-crushing defeat of the British in the North Sea had
-not resulted in any increase of provisions or in the
-abolition of the hated food tickets.
-
-There was a fly in the ointment. Steps had to
-be taken to counteract its baneful influence.
-
-Almost in desperation, several German Dreadnoughts,
-accompanied by light cruisers and
-destroyers, emerged from the Heligoland Bight.
-Amongst them were the *Westfalen* and *Nassau*,
-sister ships, whose scars received in the Jutland
-fight had been hurriedly patched up in the
-Wilhelmshaven dockyards. Escorted by several
-Zeppelins, the Hun fleet steamed westward--not to give
-battle, but to make an attempt to copy Beatty's
-incomparable strategy.
-
-Night was falling when U99 made fast alongside
-the *Kondor*. She was not alone. In the vicinity
-were a dozen or more *unterseebooten* of a similar
-type, awaiting wireless orders from the giant
-airship that was scouting fifty miles or so in the
-direction of the shores of Great Britain.
-
-"Up on deck!" ordered the petty officer in
-whose particular charge the two Seftons had been placed.
-
-The sub and his brother obeyed promptly. Had
-they lingered, their movements would have been
-accelerated by a kick from the Hun's heavy sea-boot.
-
-The transformation from the artificially-lighted
-compartment to the rapidly gathering night made
-it impossible for Sefton to take in his surroundings
-until his eyes grew accustomed to the gloom. At
-first he was under the impression that the
-submarine was berthed in harbour, until he discerned
-the towering outlines of the sea-going depot-ship
-and the absence of wharves and buildings.
-
-Far away to the eastward the horizon was streaked
-with the rapidly-moving search-lights of a large
-fleet. The skyward-directed rays were a direct
-challenge to Beatty's squadrons. In unlike
-conditions to those of the Jutland battle, the Huns
-made no attempt to steal off under cover of
-darkness. They had a set purpose in exposing their
-position to the British fleet.
-
-"By Jove!" exclaimed Sefton. "The Huns are
-out again. What's the game this time?"
-
-He glanced westward, half expecting to see the
-misty outlines of the Grand Fleet silhouetted against
-the last faint streak of crimson on the horizon, but
-the sky-line was unbroken.
-
-"Hurry, pigs of Englishmen!" ordered the
-German petty officer, indicating a "Jacob's ladder"
-that hung from the side of the *Kondor*. "We have
-had enough of you. Soon you will see----" He
-stopped abruptly, fearing that his words might be
-overheard by the grim kapitan of the submarine.
-
-Agilely Leslie ascended the swaying rope-ladder,
-the sub following close behind in case the
-inexperienced lad should lose his hold. But young
-Sefton acquitted himself wonderfully. The Huns
-had no chance of a laugh at his expense.
-
-Contrary to their expectations, the two prisoners
-were not conducted below. With an armed
-seaman standing behind them they were stationed on
-the raised poop, from whence they could see as
-much of the operations as the feeble light permitted.
-
-Promptly hoses were coupled up, pumping
-volumes of petrol into U99's tanks. Fully charged
-accumulators were hoisted out and lowered down
-the submarine's after hatchway, while the for'ard
-hatch was opened to receive a dozen large
-torpedoes closely approaching the British 21-inch
-weapons.
-
-At midnight a wireless operator handed the
-kapitan of the *Kondor* a message, the text of which
-caused the officer to issue a string of orders.
-Quickly the hawsers securing the submarine to the
-depot-ship were cast off, and U99, forging slowly
-ahead, picked up her station in line with the rest
-of the flotilla. Then, at a given signal, the
-submarines proceeded in a north-westerly direction,
-while the *Kondor* steamed toward the invisible
-German battleships.
-
-At this stage of the proceedings, Sefton and his
-brother were ordered below, and placed in a cell on
-the orlop deck, twelve feet or more below the
-waterline. In utter darkness, for even the luxury of a
-single light was denied them, they sat, listening to
-the plash of the waves against the side, until sleep
-came as a welcome relief to the strain of the day.
-
-Several times the sub awoke with a start. A
-nightmare gripped him. Normally strong nerved,
-the cramped and dark cell, and the almost certain
-fate that awaited him should the *Kondor* be sunk,
-filled him with vague terrors. In vain he tried to
-rally himself. The ordeal of the shell-swept bridge
-of the *Calder* seemed as naught compared with the
-gruesome atmosphere of the below-water-line prison.
-
-The hours wore on, but the unexpected torpedo
-attack was not forthcoming. No thunder of guns
-broke the almost uncanny silence. No longer the
-waves dashed themselves against the side plating
-of the hull. Only a sullen, rolling motion and the
-faint tremor of the twin propeller shafting betokened
-the fact that the vessel was still under way.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XXII--The British Submarines at Work
-============================================
-
-A succession of long-drawn hoarse cheering
-aroused both Seftons from their light sleep. Leslie's
-outstretched hands came in contact with his brother's
-face, for, in the utter darkness, only the senses of
-touch and speech made the twain aware of each
-other's presence.
-
-"What's that noise, Jack?"
-
-"Only the crew getting excited about something,"
-replied the sub inconsequently. At the
-same time, he felt pretty certain that something in
-the nature of a successful naval engagement had
-been responsible for the outburst of noisy
-enthusiasm on the part of the German crew.
-
-He was not left long in doubt, for the door of the
-cell was thrown open and a seaman bearing a
-lantern ordered the prisoners to follow him.
-
-Arriving on the upper deck, the sub discovered
-that the *Kondor* had undergone a transformation.
-Everything that denoted her part as a fleet auxiliary
-had disappeared. Aft she flew Swedish colours,
-and a distinctive band encircled her wall sides, with
-the words: "Gefle--Sverige" conspicuously
-displayed. Most of the crew had discarded their
-German uniform, and were rigged out in the
-cosmopolitan gear usually favoured by merchant seamen.
-
-The crew had ceased cheering, but by their
-bearing it was quite evident that they were still
-labouring under the excitement of good news.
-
-Pointing to a notice pinned to a board on the
-main hatchway, around which several men still
-lingered, the seaman, who had been told off to
-guard the prisoners, indicated that his charges
-should acquaint themselves with the information.
-
-"What's it all about, Jack?" asked Leslie.
-
-The message was the copy of a wireless report to
-the effect that German submarines had been
-successful in torpedoing two British cruisers of the
-"Chatham" class.
-
-"Do you think it's true?" asked young Sefton
-anxiously, when the sub had translated the report.
-
-"It may be a case of exaggeration," was the
-reply. "Of course, it is possible. At any rate,
-don't let these fellows see we are down-hearted.
-Keep a stiff upper lip, old sport."
-
-Turning their backs upon the distasteful notice-board,
-the two prisoners strolled to the side, their
-guard following but making no attempt to prevent them.
-
-The *Kondor* was not alone. About two miles on
-the starboard hand, and steaming rapidly, were the
-two Dreadnoughts that Sefton had noticed on the
-previous day. Behind were three light cruisers,
-while, still farther astern, six sea-going
-torpedo-boats were tearing along in that close formation
-beloved of German torpedo-flotilla officers.
-
-As the flagship passed, she threw out a signal to
-the disguised *Kondor*, which was quickly acknowledged.
-At the relative rates of speed, it was certain
-that the battleships were overhauling the pseudo
-*Gefle* hand over fist.
-
-Sub-lieutenant Sefton was witnessing part of
-the strategy of the German High Seas Fleet. It
-had ventured out with the express intention of
-luring Beatty's squadron in pursuit, knowing that
-the gallant Beatty would not decline the challenge.
-But, with admirable discretion, the British admiral
-made no effort to send the swift battle-cruisers in
-pursuit, merely contenting himself by ordering the
-light cruisers and destroyer flotillas to keep in touch
-with the retreating Huns.
-
-There were risks of mines and torpedoes, but
-these were unavoidable. By keeping well out of
-the wake of the German ships, the danger of
-bumping over a hastily dropped mine was obviated,
-while a quick use of the helm would enable the
-swift cruisers to minimize the chances of successful
-submarine attack.
-
-In the early hours, the British light-cruisers and
-destroyers encountered the *unterseebooten*
-purposely detailed by von Hipper to intercept the
-pursuing vessels. Three, at least, of the German
-submarines were sent to the bottom by gun-fire or
-by use of the ram; but, unfortunately, the
-*Falmouth* and *Nottingham* fell victims to torpedo
-attack.
-
-Even as Sefton was watching the retreating
-warships, a column of water was thrown high in the air
-close to the port quarter of the German Dreadnought
-*Westfalen*. Before the muffled roar of the
-explosion was borne to his ears, the sub saw the
-huge battleship reel under the terrific blow.
-
-Regardless of the consequences, he cheered
-lustily; but, thrown into a state of consternation by
-the magnitude of the disaster to one of their capital
-ships, the crew of the *Kondor* made no attempt to
-hurl the rash Englishman to the deck.
-
-Spellbound, they watched the throes of the
-stricken Dreadnought, to whose assistance the six
-German destroyers were making at full speed. As
-for the rest of the German battleships and cruisers,
-they steamed off as hard as they could, lest a like
-fate should befall them.
-
-The *Kondor* slowed down and stood by, making
-no effort to close to the aid of the torpedoed ship,
-while two destroyers circled aimlessly in a vain
-search for the daring British submarine.
-
-Then, very slowly, under her own steam, the
-*Westfalen*, with a heavy list, crawled toward the
-distant German shore, the four destroyers in her
-wake ready to rush alongside, and rescue the
-battleship's crew, should the vessel founder.
-
-"Think they'll get her back to port?" Leslie
-asked excitedly.
-
-"'Fraid so," replied his brother. "She shows
-no signs of an increasing list. A lot depends upon
-the condition of her bulkheads. When the
-*Marlborough*----"
-
-Before the sub could complete the sentence,
-another cloud of smoke and water shot up
-alongside the damaged battleship. Lurching heavily,
-this time to starboard, the *Westfalen* was hidden
-from sight by a dense volume of steam and smoke
-from her engine-rooms.
-
-The attacking submarine had evidently meant to
-see the job done properly. Mindful of the risk of
-being sent to the bottom by the attendant German
-destroyers, the British craft had stealthily exposed
-her periscope for a brief instant, yet sufficient for
-her to send a deadly torpedo on its errand of
-destruction.
-
-By this time the crew of the *Kondor* had come to
-the conclusion that their prisoners had seen much
-more than was desirable. Peremptorily Jack and
-Leslie were ordered below. The latter, unable to
-restrain his delight, pointed mockingly at the
-boastful writing on the notice-board, receiving a
-brutal kick on his shins for his temerity.
-
-"I don't mind, Jack," remarked Leslie, when, left
-alone by their captors, the sub examined the angry
-abrasion on his brother's leg. "I'd let them give
-me another hack without a murmur if I could see
-another German battleship go the same way home."
-
-After a long interval, a meal consisting of very
-dry tinned meat and hunks of black bread was
-provided for the famished prisoners, the unpalatable
-food being washed down with a pannikin of warm
-and insipid water.
-
-The unappetizing repast over, the two prisoners
-were again allowed on deck. By this time there
-were no signs either of the stricken battleship or
-her attendant destroyers. The *Kondor*, alone on
-the wide North Sea, was steaming at about 12 knots
-on an easterly course. The rest of the crew had by
-now discarded their German uniforms. There was
-nothing to denote that the vessel had ever sailed
-under the Black Cross Ensign of the Imperial German Navy.
-
-Suddenly, and right in the frothing wake of the
-*Kondor*, appeared two pole-like objects--the
-periscopes of a submarine. Then, without the hesitancy
-generally displayed by *unterseebooten* when about
-to attack a merchantman, a British submarine of the
-"E" class shook her conning-tower and deck clear
-of the water. Her hatches were flung open, and a
-number of duffel-clad seamen appeared. Quickly
-a light signalling-mast was set up, from which two
-flags fluttered in the breeze.
-
-There was no mistaking the meaning of that
-yellow square flag with the black ball, hoisted above
-a triangular blue pennant with a white spot. As
-plainly as if a shot had been fired across the
-*Kondor's* bows, the signal "ID" told her to "stop
-instantly or I will fire into you". Besides, it saved
-ammunition, and the lieutenant-commander of the
-submarine did not consider the prize worth powder
-and shot.
-
-But the German skipper was not a man to own
-that the game was up without making an effort to
-save himself and his ship. A stumbling-block in
-his way was Jack Sefton and his brother.
-
-At a sign four burly Huns threw themselves upon
-the prisoners. For a full minute the sub resisted
-stoutly, while Leslie put up a tough struggle against
-odds. Others of the crew came to their compatriots'
-aid, and, still struggling, the two captives were taken
-below and locked in the cell in the for'ard hold.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XXIII--And Last
-=======================
-
-"There's a bit of a dust-up on board, sir," reported
-Sub-lieutenant Devereux of Submarine E--, as the
-British craft steadily overhauled the *Kondor*, whose
-engines had already been stopped in response to the
-peremptory signal. "Fellows scrapping like billy-ho.
-I can just see their heads at intervals above
-the taffrail."
-
-"They can scrap as much as they like while they
-have the chance," remarked Lieutenant-Commander
-Huxtable grimly. "You know your instructions,
-Mr. Devereux? Any rumpus, then signal us, and
-we'll give them our last torpedo."
-
-A canvas collapsible boat had been brought up
-from below, and in this the boarding-officer and
-five seamen, all armed, took their places. Both the
-*Kondor* and the submarine were almost without way,
-lying at two cables'-lengths apart, E--'s two
-quick-firers covering the prize as the boat made for the
-German vessel.
-
-Devereux was received with well-feigned affability
-by the soi-disant Swedish skipper, a politeness that
-the sub thought fit to reciprocate, at least for the
-present.
-
-But when Devereux had examined the supposed
-*Gefle's* papers his manner underwent a change.
-
-"Thanks for letting me see them, Herr Kapitan,"
-he remarked, "but now I must ask you to order
-your crew below and consider yourself a prisoner of
-war. I warn you that at any attempt at resistance
-your ship will be sent to the bottom."
-
-"But----," began the astonished Hun. "I--I
-do not understand. This Swedish merchant-ship.
-You mistake make."
-
-"Perhaps," drawled the sub. "If I have, I'll
-take full responsibility. If you can satisfactorily
-explain to the British naval authorities why you
-were surrounded by Hun submarines yesterday,
-why you supplied them with munitions of war, why
-you were then His Imperial Majesty's ship *Kondor*,
-and why you are now the s.s. *Gefle*----."
-
-"Donnerwetter!" ejaculated the German skipper
-furiously, then, before Devereux could interpose, he
-dashed out of the chart-house and shouted to one of
-the officers stationed aft.
-
-Almost immediately a muffled explosion was
-heard, and the *Kondor*, giving a violent shudder,
-began to settle by the stern. Rather than
-surrender, their captain had given orders for a bomb
-to be exploded in the after hold.
-
-"We have cheated you, Englishman!" he
-exclaimed in a shrill falsetto.
-
-There was a wild rush for the boats. Hastily
-those in davits were lowered, with the result that
-one was capsized, while in the confusion a German
-seaman leapt headlong into the submarine's
-collapsible boat and overturned it.
-
-To do him credit, the kapitan made no attempt
-to quit the bridge. Regarding the British officer
-with a leer of triumph, he waited while the
-panic-stricken men got clear of the doomed ship.
-
-Meanwhile, having witnessed the swamping of
-her dinghy, E--had approached with the intention
-of taking off her boarding-party.
-
-"What's that?" exclaimed Devereux, as, during
-a temporary lull in the clamour, the sound of a
-voice appealing for help was borne to his ears. The
-words were shouted in unmistakable English.
-
-"Someone cooped up down below, sir," declared
-one of the submarine's crew.
-
-Devereux looked enquiringly at the German
-skipper of the *Kondor*. The latter too had heard
-the shout. The self-assurance and air of
-contemptuous indifference faded instantly.
-
-"You murderous swine!" ejaculated the sub.
-"What dirty game have you been up to? Come
-along down below with me."
-
-The Hun, trembling violently, clung desperately
-to the bridge rail. The risk of going below and
-being taken down by the sinking ship was nothing
-compared with the fear of a just retribution.
-
-It was not a suitable occasion for arguing the
-point. Devereux, a huge, loose-limbed fellow, was
-a giant beside the little, podgy Hun.
-
-Wrenching the kapitan's hand from the rail,
-Devereux dropped him to the deck like a sack of
-flour, then, skipping down the bridge ladder, he
-picked him up and carried him, screaming and
-struggling, down the companion.
-
-Guided by the sounds, the sub bore his captive
-for'ard, two of the submarine's crew following their
-youthful officer.
-
-Already the stern of the *Kondor* was almost level
-with the water, while her decks inclined at a steep
-angle. Above the noise of the inrushing water and
-the hiss of escaping steam, could be heard the now
-frantic appeal for help.
-
-At the door of the cell Devereux was confronted
-by a grave problem. The place was locked, and
-the kapitan, asserting truthfully that he did not
-possess a key, was clamouring incoherently that
-the mistake in overlooking the fact that there were
-prisoners below was not his, but that of some of
-his subordinates.
-
-"Stand aside there!" shouted Devereux to the
-inmates of the cell.
-
-Whipping out his revolver he sent a bullet crashing
-through the lock, then, heedless of the cry of
-agony that came from the German skipper, he
-charged the splintered door with his shoulder.
-
-In the half light he was dimly aware that two
-people were scrambling between the debris.
-
-"Any more?" he asked.
-
-"No," was the reply, as the two rescued men,
-assisted by the sailors, reeled along the sloping
-alley-way to the ladder.
-
-Having seen the would-be victims of German
-*Kultur* safely on their way to the upper deck,
-Devereux realized that it was quite time to make
-good his own escape, for the water was beginning
-to surge for'ard along the sombre orlop deck. As
-he turned to make his way aft he became aware
-that the kapitan, moaning dismally, was staggering
-in the opposite direction, whence there was no
-outlet.
-
-"Where are you off to, you blithering idiot?"
-shouted the young officer.
-
-In a couple of strides he overtook the Hun,
-gripped him round the waist, and carried him on
-deck. Then, to his surprise, Devereux found that
-the kapitan's face was streaming with blood. A
-sliver of lead from the bullet that had demolished
-the lock of the cell had struck him in the right eye,
-completely destroying the optic nerve.
-
-"Can't say I feel sorry for you," thought the
-sub-lieutenant, recollections of the cold-blooded
-cruelty of the Hun vividly in his mind. Nevertheless,
-still holding the injured skipper, he leapt
-overboard, whither the rest of the boarding-party
-had preceded him.
-
-Strong as he was, Devereux had a hard tussle to
-swim to the submarine. Caught by vicious eddies,
-swirled to and fro like a straw on the surface of a
-mountain torrent, he was almost exhausted when
-hauled into safety.
-
-Giving a glance over his shoulder as he was
-assisted to the deck of his own craft, Devereux
-saw that the *Kondor* was making her last plunge.
-Throwing her bluff bows high in the air, she
-disappeared in a smother of foam and a pall of black
-smoke mingled with steam.
-
-Then, to his surprise, upon going aft to report to
-his commanding officer, Devereux found Huxtable
-shaking, like a pump-handle, the hand of one of
-the men he had rescued.
-
-"By Jove!" exclaimed the astonished Devereux.
-"Blest if we haven't----! Why, it's Sefton!"
-
-"Guilty, m'lud!" replied that worthy.
-
-"And Crosthwaite--he wasn't on that hooker?"
-asked Devereux anxiously.
-
-"No, thank heaven," replied Sefton fervently.
-"He's still in hospital. This is my young brother.
-I've got to blame him for this business, the young
-rascal. It was a narrow squeak for the pair of us."
-
-"It was," assented Huxtable gravely. "We
-spotted the *Kondor* yesterday and kept her under
-observation."
-
-"Then you bagged that Hun battleship?" enquired Sefton.
-
-"No, worse luck," replied the lieutenant-commander
-of E--. "She altered helm just as we
-were having a shot at her, and some other fellows
-did the trick. Mustn't complain, though. We are
-all members of the same co-operative society in the
-trade. The *Kondor's* crew? A few hours in the boats
-won't hurt them, and I'll wireless our destroyers.
-They are too villainous a crew to slip out of our
-hands. Come below, old man, and we'll rig the
-pair of you out in dry kit. With luck, you ought
-to be in Pompey again within twenty-four hours."
-
-----
-
-Pacing the diminutive quarter-deck of
-H.M.T.B.D. *Boanerges*, as she swung to the first of the
-flood-tide, were two naval officers. It was too dark
-to distinguish their features, even in the red glow
-of their cigarettes.
-
-Three months had elapsed since the desperate
-struggle on Blackstone Edge. The *Boanerges*, a
-brand-new destroyer recently delivered from the
-Clyde, had just commissioned at Portsmouth for
-service with the Grand Fleet.
-
-"My dear Boxspanner," remarked the taller of
-the twain, "I've come to the conclusion that life
-ashore isn't worth the candle. In common
-parlance, I'm fed up. The last straw is the abominable
-petrol tax. Just fancy, the blighters allow me two
-gallons a month----"
-
-"You weren't on leave for more than three weeks,
-Pills," interrupted the engineer-lieutenant.
-
-"Just so; that's the rub. I could have done
-with a three months' allowance, and used the lot
-in a week. By the way, talking of that new
-carburetter----"
-
-"Boat ahoy!" came a hoarse hail from the
-fo'c'sle as the lynx-eyed look-out detected a dark
-object approaching under oars towards the destroyer.
-
-"Aye, aye!" was the orthodox reply, given in
-clear, decisive tones.
-
-The boat was brought smartly alongside the
-accommodation-ladder, and a young officer came
-briskly over the side. Jack Sefton, "sub" no
-longer but a full-fledged "luff", as the two gold
-rings, surmounted by a curl, on each of his sleeves
-denoted.
-
-"Well?" enquired Boxspanner eagerly. "Have
-you seen Crosthwaite?"
-
-"Saw him this afternoon," was the reply.
-"Passed the medical board with flying colours.
-He's reported fit for duty on the 8th."
-
-"Good business!" ejaculated Stirling fervently.
-
-"And," continued Sefton, "I'm in the know.
-Our owner's due for promotion. He'll be given
-a light cruiser; and unless I'm very much
-mistaken we'll have Crosthwaite as our skipper before
-long."
-
-"Quartermaster!" said Sefton, as he turned to
-descend the companion-ladder.
-
-"Sir," replied that worthy, already known to our
-readers as Thomas Brown, A.B., but now a
-promising petty officer.
-
-"See that I am turned out at 5.45."
-
-"Aye, aye, sir."
-
-The three officers disappeared below. The
-quartermaster smiled grimly as the faint words of
-the chorus of "They don't run corridor cars on our
-branch line" caught his ear, followed by an
-emphatic "Chuck it, old bird."
-
-"Proper jonnick they are, every mother's son of
-'em," muttered P.O. Brown, as he walked for'ard.
-"Chaps as us fellows would go through 'ell with,
-if we ain't done so already," his thought reverting
-to that memorable action in the North Sea when
-the Huns fled before Jellicoe's armed might.
-
-And thus we say "Adieu," or perhaps "Au
-revoir," to three gallant gentlemen who had so
-worthily played their parts in upholding the
-honour of the White Ensign with Beatty off Jutland.
-
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