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diff --git a/40511-8.txt b/40511-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index cea7178..0000000 --- a/40511-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4895 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Commander Lawless V.C., by Rolf Bennett - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Commander Lawless V.C. - -Author: Rolf Bennett - -Release Date: August 15, 2012 [EBook #40511] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COMMANDER LAWLESS V.C. *** - - - - -Produced by sp1nd, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - - COMMANDER LAWLESS V.C. - - BEING THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF FRANK H. LAWLESS, - UNTIL RECENTLY A LIEUTENANT IN HIS MAJESTY'S NAVY - - BY ROLF BENNETT - - Author of "THE ADVENTURES OF LIEUT. LAWLESS, R.N.," - "CAPTAIN CALAMITY," etc. - - - HODDER AND STOUGHTON - LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO - MCMXVI - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER I THE NIGHT ATTACK 1 - - CHAPTER II THE DERELICT 23 - - CHAPTER III THE DECOY 44 - - CHAPTER IV A BOLT FROM THE BLUE 62 - - CHAPTER V THE HOAX 80 - - CHAPTER VI PRISONER OF WAR 95 - - CHAPTER VII THE RIDING LIGHT 120 - - CHAPTER VIII THE BELL BUOY 136 - - CHAPTER IX ABANDON SHIP! 157 - - - - -CHAPTER I - -THE NIGHT ATTACK - - -Flight-Lieutenant Lawless sat on an empty soap-box in a large shed -watching his mechanic cleaning the engines of a monoplane which was -housed there. The Lieutenant was sucking vigorously at an empty pipe, -and, although his face wore an expression of deep melancholy, this was -not a case of cause and effect, the gloom was due to his thoughts, not -to his ineffectual efforts to draw smoke from an unfilled pipe--and he -had plenty of tobacco, anyhow. - -Misfortune seemed to have dogged his footsteps ever since his -transference from the Navy proper into the Flying Wing. In the first -place he had discovered, with feelings of mingled astonishment and -humiliation, that he was subject to violent attacks of air-sickness -which, so far from wearing off, grew more acute as time went on. That -this should happen to a man who had navigated a little cockle-shell of a -destroyer in the stormiest weather with never a qualm seemed -preposterous. But it was so, and, though the shameful secret was shared -only by his mechanic, he was always fearing discovery. Also, because the -Fates were against him, he had smashed up two monoplanes, and, with his -mechanic, only escaped death by a miracle. As a result of the inquiries -following upon these two mishaps Lawless had been severely censured, and -his chances of being sent out to the Front remained less hopeful than -ever. - -No wonder he felt depressed at thought of these things, and fervently -wished himself back aboard the old _Knat_, chasing up and down the North -Sea in search of enemy ships. - -But his meditations were suddenly interrupted by Mike Cassidy, the -mechanic. Mike was fumbling in his pockets, a comical look of -bewilderment on his face. - -"Th' divil!" he said. - -"What?" asked Lawless, suddenly waking up. - -"'Twas to meself I wus spaking, yer honour." - -"Just calling yourself names, eh?" said the Lieutenant, with a twinkle -in his eye. - -Mike went on searching his pockets, and at last gave an exclamation of -relief. The couple of tiny screws which he had carefully wrapped in a -piece of paper and then mislaid had come to light. He took them out, and -then threw down the piece of paper, which fluttered to the ground. The -Lieutenant idly picked it up, his thoughts far away on those visionary -battlefields, and glanced absentmindedly at the print. It was a notice -issued by the North British Railway, and read as follows:-- - - "FIVE POUNDS reward will be paid to anyone giving information - leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who - on the night of the 4th inst. caused disfiguring paint marks to be - made on the railway track and girders of the Forth Bridge." - -Lawless was not a Sherlock Holmes, so he did not try to draw inferences -or make deductions from the statement he had just read. Still, it -puzzled him. Why should any "person or persons" employ their leisure -moments in dabbing paint on the girders and track of the Forth Bridge? - -Lawless tossed the paper aside, and, for a time at least, forgot all -about the notice. It was not till later on that he had occasion to -recall it. - -"I expect we shall have to go out to-night, Mike, so have everything -ready," he said, rising to his feet. - -"I will that, yer honour!" answered Mike, turning a hot and beaming face -upon his superior. - -As he had anticipated, Lawless received orders to set out at eight -o'clock that night on a scouting expedition. Although the public was -kept in ignorance of the fact, the military authorities were nightly -expecting a German attack on Rosyth. Every precaution had been taken to -render such an attack abortive, and the entrance to the Forth was -guarded by destroyers and submarines. Still, the seemingly impossible -sometimes happens in time of war, and there was always a chance that the -enemy might creep through the defences by some means or other. Already -an apparently harmless merchant steamer had been stopped off Leith, and, -upon examination, found to be chock-full of dynamite ready to be fired -by time-fuses. No doubt this would have been exploded under the Forth -Bridge, with the result that no warships could have entered or left -Rosyth till the river mouth had been cleared of the _débris_. - -As an additional precaution, therefore, two or three aeroplanes were -sent out nightly to scout along the coast from Fife Ness to St. Abb's -Head. The aviators so employed found it a monotonous, unexciting task in -which, so it seemed, neither glory nor promotion was to be earned. - -And this particular night's scouting proved as tame and uneventful as -the rest. Under normal conditions, a night flight above the Firth of -Forth as far west as Linlithgow would have afforded a most picturesque -spectacle with the lighted towns and cities beneath. But now Edinburgh, -Linlithgow, and Dundee, and even the small towns and villages, were -practically in darkness, since nearly all the public lights, besides -those of the great emporiums and factories, were either unlit or else -shielded from observation above. And out at sea only merchant vessels -showed lights, those carried by warships, large and small, being masked. - -"Even the passenger flights at Hendon were more exciting than this!" -growled the Lieutenant to himself as, just before dawn, he steered a -homeward course in the direction of the Forth. - -He little thought as he uttered his complaint that within twenty-four -hours he would have had enough excitement to last him a lifetime. - -The machine had reached the Forth and was crossing it just above the -bridge, when Mike, who sat immediately behind the Lieutenant, uttered an -exclamation: - -"Are me eyes desaving me, or have the hivins turned topsy-turvy?" - -"What's the matter?" asked Lawless, for the patent wind-screen with -which the machine was fitted made conversation possible even when -travelling at a high speed. - -"Thim stars below us, sorr. Sure now, is it upside down we're flying?" - -Lawless looked below, and saw what at first seemed to justify Mike's -anxiety as to the position of the heavens. Immediately beneath the -machine was a cluster of luminous specks for all the world like distant -stars, shining up instead of down upon them. They were certainly not -lamps of any sort, and the dull glow they gave out seemed as if it might -be the reflection of some distant lights. Yet there was no moon, nor, so -far as Lawless could discover, anything which could account for this -extraordinary effect of reflected light. - -He circled over the bridge two or three times, hoping to discover the -cause of this mystery, but without success. While he was doing this a -train rumbled across the bridge, and during its passage Lawless noted -that the luminous specks disappeared. They were again observable as soon -as the train had passed, however, and the Lieutenant concluded from this -that they were situated on the railway track itself. - -"Deuced queer business!" he muttered. - -But there was no time to make further investigations that night, so he -continued his flight to Montrose, still pondering over the mystery. - -"By the way, Mike," he said, when they had alighted opposite the hangar, -"don't say anything about those lights we saw on the bridge. I'm going -to investigate the matter myself." - -Mike readily promised, and Lawless was strolling away when a thought -suddenly struck him. - -"By Jove!" he ejaculated aloud. "I believe I've got it!" - -His memory had flashed back to the notice he had read, offering a reward -in connection with certain paint marks on the Forth Bridge. No doubt the -misguided "person or persons" who had daubed the bridge had used -luminous paint. This, of course, would explain the phosphorescent glow -which had so puzzled him. - -The question now was, had it been done merely as a joke or for some -specific object? If for a joke, it was difficult to see where the humour -came in; if for an object, it was equally difficult to see what purpose -it could serve. - -"I'll have a closer look at the bridge when I've rested a bit," he told -himself. - -That afternoon the Lieutenant took a train to Queensferry. He then set -out to walk back over the bridge along the railway track. The paint -daubs were clearly visible, though not, of course, phosphorescent in the -daylight. It struck him as peculiar that these marks had a definite -shape, or rather two definite shapes. One took the form of a St. -Andrew's Cross, the other the form of a star--that is, instead of two -intersecting lines of the same length, there were four. - -But that was not all. A careful examination showed that these stars were -placed at the weakest part of the bridge; in other words the parts which -would be easiest to destroy by means of dynamite. Finally, the marks -could only be seen from above the bridge, not from below it. - -Lawless whistled softly when he had made these discoveries. - -He returned to the depot, and went at once to his commanding officer and -told him of the discoveries he had made. He also explained at some -length his own theory concerning them. The commanding officer listened -patiently at first because he was a good-natured fellow and liked to see -his officers exercise initiative and resource. But his interest in the -story soon flagged, and when Lawless began to state his deductions it -wilted entirely. An expression of resigned boredom appeared on the -officer's face and remained there till the interview came to an end. - -"So you see," concluded the Lieutenant eagerly, "it requires no great -effort of imagination to realise what the German plans are." - -But it required more imagination than the commanding officer was capable -of exercising. Indeed, he was not an imaginative man and prided himself -upon the fact. He didn't regard imagination as consistent with the -duties of a soldier; consequently, he made no effort to encourage it in -those under his command. - -"It's a very ingenious theory, very!" he said; "but unfortunately the -grounds upon which you base it appear to me to be entirely -unsatisfactory." - -And for the time being that settled the matter so far as the commanding -officer was concerned. - -That evening, when the Lieutenant arrived at the hangar preparatory to -setting out on the nightly scouting expedition, he brought with him a -curious looking implement. It consisted of a stout spar about ten feet -long, at the end of which was attached a long, curved knife, not unlike -a billhook in appearance. - -It was not difficult to fix the spar securely to the machine so that the -business end protruded about six feet beyond the driver's seat, somewhat -after the manner of a steel-pointed ram. This done, and it being time to -set off, the machine was taken out of the hangar and a few minutes later -Lawless and Mike were high above the flight station. - -Lawless now steered straight for the Forth Bridge, as he wanted to find -out first of all whether the luminous marks were still visible. Having -satisfied himself that they showed up as vividly as ever, he swept round -in an easterly direction, making straight for the open sea. - -They had just passed above the Bass Rock, when the Lieutenant, who had -been gazing expectantly into the darkness ahead, shouted a question to -Mike: - -"Do you see anything in front of us?" - -The Irishman, who possessed remarkably keen eyes, raised himself a -little and peered over the Lieutenant's shoulder. - -"B the powers, if 'tis not a dirigible, 'tis the ghost av wan!" he -exclaimed. - -"I thought so," replied Lawless in a tone of grim satisfaction. "And, -what's more," he added under his breath, "she's making straight for the -Forth." - -Both the aeroplane and the airship must have been travelling at a very -considerable speed, for even as the Lieutenant spoke the dirigible -changed from a blurred outline into a well-defined shape. There was no -mistaking her now--a gigantic Zeppelin, armed, no doubt, with bombs and -machine guns. - -"Now we'll have a chance of testing this little invention of mine," -murmured the Lieutenant, almost with a chuckle; and he gave a glance of -satisfaction at the weird apparatus attached to the machine. - -As a preliminary to the duel the Lieutenant rose in the air, circled -above the dirigible, and then swooped down and passed abreast of the -car, so close that the crew could be distinctly seen. - -"That's the challenge!" he shouted gleefully. "Now for it!" - -Making a wide sweep, he steered full-tilt at the airship's tremendous -gas vessel in such manner as to rip it up with the hooked knife attached -to the spar. That was his sole weapon of offence, and he hoped, by -repeated attacks, to destroy completely the gas-bag and thus cause the -vessel to sink. - -The task was harder, even, than it looked, for the Zeppelin, like all -dirigibles, was provided with a number of separate gas compartments, so -that a leakage in one would not materially affect the stability of the -whole structure, which would only collapse after several gas chambers -had been ripped open. - -A strange thrill passed through both men as their little machine rushed -against the tremendous bulk of the airship, much as a swordfish might -attack a whale. Suddenly there was a tearing, ripping sound; the -monoplane quivered from nose to tail with the shock of the impact and -then passed right across the top of the gas vessel, the knife rending -the fabric as it went. - -"Well, that's lost them some gas, anyhow," murmured Lawless as he -brought the head of the machine round, ready to swoop down a second -time. - -As they approached again they could hear shouts from the airship, and -the next moment a small projectile whistled past them. - -"They're using a pneumatic gun," ejaculated the Lieutenant. - -Before another shot could reach them, the knife attached to the -aeroplane was again tearing its way through the fabric of the balloon, -making a tremendous slit right across the upper part of one side. As -Lawless brought the machine round once more he saw the airship heel, and -judged from this that she must have lost a considerable quantity of gas, -several compartments having probably been ripped open. - -"Three or four more attacks like the last, and she'll collapse," he -said. - -He steered as before straight at the swaying bulk of the airship, which, -after the first attack, had reduced her speed to about twenty miles an -hour. Then, as the knife thrust itself into the gas vessel, there was a -sharp, cracking sound. The aeroplane seemed to stop with a terrific -jerk, tilting forward to such an extent that both pilot and mechanic -were nearly flung from their seats. Then, recovering its balance with -equal suddenness, it darted forward and passed the dirigible. - -"Saints preserve us!" ejaculated Mike. "Wus it a cyclone or a church -staple that struck us, yer honour?" - -As a matter of fact the knife had struck one of the aluminium girders -which formed the framework of the balloon structure, and snapped off. - -"Be ready to take the steering wheel!" shouted Lawless. - -He bent forward, and, picking up a long sheath-knife which formed part -of the aeroplane's equipment, placed it in the belt of his leather -jacket. Then, turning the machine, he wheeled round once more, rose -above the dirigible, and then descended until only a few feet separated -the aeroplane from the gigantic gas-bag immediately beneath it. - -"Take the wheel now!" he cried, and then, to Mike's amazement and -horror, stood up and leapt out of the monoplane, alighting on the broad -surface of the airship's gas envelope. - -Finding himself safe, he drew his knife and started to rip and hack at -the skin of the balloon. He had known, before making his perilous leap, -that he was courting almost certain death, for, should he succeed in -deflating the gas vessel, he himself would share in the disaster which -must follow. - -Yet he knew that if the dirigible reached the Forth Bridge her crew -would be able to drop explosives without serious interruption. There -were no anti-aircraft guns in the neighbourhood at that time, while an -attempt to beat off the aerial monster with rifle fire would be -hopeless. He alone could avert the threatened disaster. - -The monoplane, now in charge of Mike, had disappeared in the darkness, -and Lawless supposed that the mechanic had gone off to give the alarm. - -While the Lieutenant was still hacking away at the balloon fabric, a -man's head appeared above the rounded edge of the gas vessel. Lawless -did not notice him at first, but when the portion of fabric upon which -he was kneeling suddenly grew taut under the climber's weight he looked -up. - -"The devil!" he muttered. - -He gripped his knife tightly and drew back a little. He had an idea that -he might be able to spring upon his antagonist before the latter had -time to assume the offensive. Just as he was about to do this a second -head appeared above the edge of the balloon, but on the opposite side -and Lawless realised that his first plan was now hopeless. There was -nothing for it but to await the attack. Yet even then he could not -restrain a grim smile at the thought of his extraordinary position. -There had been many strange combats in many strange places; but surely -never before had there been a fight on the top of a huge airship five or -six hundred feet above the sea. - -Nearer and nearer crept the men, one on each side of the Lieutenant, and -the latter braced his muscles for the coming struggle. Then, as if -acting upon a given signal, the two Germans simultaneously levelled -revolvers at him, at the same time shouting something he could not -understand. - -To have attempted resistance when covered by two revolvers would simply -have been courting a useless death, and so Lawless, guessing what they -wanted, threw his knife away and made a sign that he surrendered. After -all, he reflected, he might do more as a live prisoner than as a dead -hero. - -The men crawled up to him, and one, who had the end of a rope round his -waist, slipped it off and placed the noose beneath the aviator's -shoulders, then, both holding the line, they lowered their prisoner down -through a sort of hatch, and eventually he found himself standing upon -the deck of the airship. - -"Who are you?" asked a voice in excellent English; and, turning, the -Lieutenant saw that his questioner was an officer, evidently the -commander of the Zeppelin. - -"Flight-Lieutenant Lawless. Who are you?" - -The officer stared at the Englishman for a moment. Then, without -deigning to answer what, under the circumstances, must have seemed an -impudent question, he turned to give an order to his men. - -The great airship lurched forward, and Lawless knew by the rush of wind -that she was travelling at full speed again towards her destination. -Meanwhile a couple of men bent a rope round his wrists and ankles and -then lashed him to one of the elastic steel girders which encircled the -car. Ten minutes later the Lieutenant caught sight of a dull glow in the -sky to westward, and knew that they were fast approaching Edinburgh--and -the Forth Bridge. - -Lawless was at the fore-end of the car, and almost in total darkness, -for not only were the lights on deck masked, but the crew worked with -electric torches which threw out only momentary gleams of light. Taking -advantage of this, he began to work the cord which bound his wrists up -and down against the sharp edges of the girder till at last he frayed -the rope sufficiently to break it. - -This done, to remove the cords from his ankles was but the work of a -moment, and then he stood free to act once more. For a time, however, he -did not move, but stood as though still fettered, in order not to -attract the attention of the crew till he had decided what to do. - -All at once everybody on board the dirigible was startled by the sound -of guns in the distance, and next moment the sky was illuminated by -searchlights which swept the horizon like tremendous phosphorescent -antennć. - -Mike had given the alarm! - -Several minutes elapsed before the searchlights found the airship and -focused themselves upon it, and then everything on board was illuminated -by the dazzling rays. A few seconds later the sound of firing increased, -and Lawless guessed that a battery of howitzers was being trained on the -dirigible. But as yet the distance was too great for the gunners to get -the range, and he knew that, even when they did so, the guns fired at -too low an angle to hit an object so high above them. - -Thanks to the brilliant illumination of the searchlights, he was able to -see everything as though it were broad daylight, and, among other -things, he noticed hand grenades placed at various points around the -car. They were evidently provided for dropping on small objects or -groups of men, where the use of a bomb would be unnecessary and -wasteful. In a flash he had determined what to do. - -The dirigible was now within a mile of the Forth Bridge and about five -hundred feet in the air. If the present speed were maintained, it would -be directly over the bridge in less than five minutes. The howitzers had -by now been supplemented by small groups of sharpshooters, but with the -exception of a few stray bullets which occasionally whistled past the -small-arm fire was likely to do as little damage as the heavier guns. -It was clear that, unless some unforeseen accident occurred, the airship -would accomplish her purpose. - -As they drew nearer a fresh burst of firing, this time from the bridge -itself, showed that two guns had been dragged on to the railway track to -command a better range of the approaching airship. But this attempt, -like the rest, was in vain, for the shells flew harmlessly below the -car, and, even had they been able to reach it, an ascent of fifty feet -or so more would have placed the dirigible but of danger again. Only an -anti-aircraft gun, firing at right angles to its base, could hit the -terrible war machine above. - -All this time Lawless was waiting for his opportunity--and at last it -came. Springing forward, he seized one of the hand grenades and flung it -with all his strength at the gas-bag above his head, hoping that it -would explode and ignite the gas. Unfortunately, it struck a girder -below the balloon, but in doing so ignited some of the cordage, which, -being creosoted, began to burn furiously. - -The commander, realising the danger--for the cordage passed over the gas -envelope and must soon ignite it--gave some orders, and while several of -the crew climbed up in order to try and put out the burning ropes others -rushed upon Lawless. - -The latter, however, had managed to seize another grenade, and, holding -it high above his head, threatened to hurl it amongst them if they -advanced another step. While they stood hesitating, and the commander -himself seemed uncertain what to do, there came a wild cry from the men -who had climbed into the airship's rigging. - -Looking up, the Lieutenant saw that, in spite of all efforts, the ropes -were still burning. In a few seconds the fire must spread to the -balloon, and that meant annihilation. - -The commander sprang to a lever, pulled it, and next moment the -dirigible began to descend. He had opened the gas valve in the wild hope -that the airship might sink to the water safely before the threatened -explosion took place. It was their one chance of escape from a terrible -death. - -Slowly, very slowly, the monster dirigible descended. Everybody had -forgotten Lawless in the horror of the threatened calamity, and all eyes -were turned towards the smouldering cords, which occasionally burst into -flame in the upward rush of wind caused by the airship's descent. - -Would they reach the water before the explosion took place? That was the -question each man asked himself. - -Cork life-belts were hurriedly served out to the crew, who stood by the -rails of the car ready to spring out as soon as the distance rendered -it moderately safe. Yet all the time the little wisps of flame rose -faster and faster, sometimes disappearing, only to be fanned into life -again by the draught of air. Masses of charred and smouldering rope fell -on the deck from time to time and were promptly flung overboard. - -Nearer and nearer to the water sank the airship, and nearer and nearer -to the gas holder reached the flames. Now they were not more than a -hundred feet above the water; a few more moments would decide their -fate. It was a race between the sinking dirigible and the flames, the -odds in favour of the flames. - -The firing had ceased for some minutes, for all who saw the airship knew -that she was going to her own destruction. Boats approached in readiness -to rescue the survivors should there be any, but stood off again when it -was seen that a tremendous explosion was imminent. - -For some seconds Lawless had been watching a small piece of burning -cordage nearer to the gas envelope than the rest, and which, apparently, -had not been noticed by the crew. Suddenly it flamed up, and he saw it -ignite the fabric of the balloon. With a cry of warning he sprang -overboard, but even as he did so there was a blinding flash of light, a -terrific explosion, and then--darkness. - - * * * * * - -When Lawless again opened his eyes it was to find himself on a little -bed in what appeared to be a hospital ward. His head, he discovered, was -bandaged, and when he attempted to raise himself such an agonising pain -shot through his left leg that he fell back gasping. - -When he looked up again a nurse was bending over him with a cup in her -hand. - -"Where am I?" he asked in a dazed voice. - -"In hospital," replied the nurse gently. "Drink this," she added, -holding the cup to his lips. - -The Lieutenant obeyed, though he was all anxiety to hear what had been -the ultimate fate of the Zeppelin. When the nurse had withdrawn the cup -from his lips he begged her to tell him what had happened. - -"The papers say it exploded about fifty feet above the water and that -everyone on board except yourself was killed," she answered. - -He was left to himself for a little while after that, and then the -surgeon came to dress his injuries, which consisted of a broken leg and -some burns due to the explosion. Shortly afterwards he received a visit -from his commanding officer. The latter was in great fettle at the -honour and glory which the heroic action of Lawless had earned for the -Montrose corps. If he remembered the interview of the previous day, when -he had pooh-poohed the Lieutenant's arguments, he made no reference to -it. He was not a man to bear malice. - -After he had heard the story of the extraordinary battle in mid-air he -rose to go. - -"By the way," he said, "you'll be pleased to hear that you have been -recommended for the V.C. And, by Jove, I'll say this, you've earned it!" - -But it was reserved for Mike Cassidy to bring to the invalid a newspaper -containing the official notice that the Victoria Cross had actually been -conferred upon Flight-Lieutenant Lawless. - -"'Tis meself that's afther wishing ye miny happy returns av the day, -sorr," he said. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE DERELICT - - -The destruction of the Zeppelin, apart from the dramatic circumstances -attendant upon it, naturally created a great sensation, particularly in -Scotland, it being the first enemy airship ever brought down north of -the Tweed. Lawless was, of course, the hero of the moment, and the -illustrated papers overflowed with photographs of him taken before and -after the great air duel: in hospital, convalescent, eating, drinking, -sleeping, in uniform and out of uniform. Hitherto forgotten episodes in -his naval career were raked up and presented to an eagerly absorbent -public, which refused to read, discuss or hear about anything but -Flight-Lieutenant Lawless and his combat with the Zeppelin. He was the -most talked of man in the world for nearly a week. - -"It's simply been beastly sickening," remarked Lawless. "I'm fed up." - -His old ship, the _Knat_, had put into Leith, and Sub-Lieutenant Trent -had seized the opportunity to visit his old commander in the hospital. - -"You see," went on the latter almost apologetically, "I was practically -defenceless against all those newspaper chaps with their note-books and -cameras; I was surrounded and outnumbered. It's true I flung a pot of -beef tea at one interviewer's head and made good practice with some -medicine bottles among the photographers, but, though the enemy suffered -several casualties, reinforcements were continually arriving." - -Trent nodded sympathetically. - -"'Tisn't as if they were good photographs either," he remarked. "They -are absolutely like you." - -Lawless shot a suspicious glance at his one-time subordinate. - -"One chap," he said thoughtfully, "snapped me before I'd shaved. I'm -going to drop a bomb on his office as soon as I get back to work." - -As it turned out, honour and glory were not the only results the -Lieutenant achieved by bringing down the Zeppelin; he unwittingly -incurred a tremendous responsibility. News of this was broken to him by -his uncle, a retired major, with whom he spent the last few days of his -convalescence. Animated by a delicacy which his nephew fully understood -and appreciated, the major for a time refrained from discussing the -Zeppelin affair. But on the day before Lawless was due to report himself -at headquarters he somewhat diffidently broached the subject. - -"By the way," he said, as though it were a matter which had hitherto -escaped his memory, "I wanted to speak about that last little adventure -of yours." - -"Yes?" remarked the Lieutenant unencouragingly. - -"It's likely to cost me a thousand pounds." - -"Eh!" ejaculated Lawless, sitting up. - -"It's my own fault," continued the major gloomily, "but I was, so to -speak, rushed into it. You see, the day after you'd brought down that -'Zep.' I strolled into the club smoking-room and found everyone talking -of your exploit. I kept out of it as long as I could, naturally, but -when Sir John Carver started in to declare that it was nothing more than -an accident, a mere stroke of luck, I got angry. Sir John, though he's -as rich as Croesus, knows no more about aviation than I do about -soap-boiling, which, I believe, was his profession at one time. So I -took up the challenge, and for a time we argued the matter up and down. - -"He couldn't refute my professional knowledge, of course; so at last, -finding he was getting the worst of it, he stuck his thumbs in the -armholes of his waistcoat in that detestable manner of his and said, -'I'll bet you a thousand pounds that your nephew doesn't bring down -another Zeppelin within a year.' On the impulse of the moment I, like a -fool, said 'Done!' and the bet was clinched there and then." - -The major stopped, and there was a long and constrained pause. - -"Well, uncle," said Lawless presently, "you certainly were a mug." - -"It was all due," answered the major, "to arguing with a man who is not -a gentleman." - -They both relapsed into silence again. The major was not exactly a poor -man, but a thousand pounds, especially in wartime, is--well, a thousand -pounds, and the old gentleman, as Lawless was well aware, could not -afford to lose such a sum. - -"So," remarked the Lieutenant after a while, "it's up to me to see that -you don't lose that thou., uncle?" - -"I don't say that, my boy, but if you could--er--manage to bring down a -Zeppelin within the year it would be--er--a great convenience to me." - -Lawless, in spite of the serious responsibility which had been thrust -upon him, laughed. - -"I hope this'll be a warning to you against an over-indulgence in family -pride," he said. - -"It was all my own fault, of course," answered the major sadly. "But -remember," he added, brightening up, "the thousand pounds is yours if -you get that airship. I wouldn't touch a penny of Sir John's money." - -"I'm not so fastidious, uncle. So, if I do bring down a 'Zep'--which -isn't at all likely, I'm afraid--I'll have much pleasure in taking -charge of the cash." - -In due course Lawless reported himself at headquarters, confident that -now he would at once be sent to the Front. In this, however, he was -again doomed to disappointment; for, much to his chagrin, he was sent -with his mechanic to test a new type of seaplane off the Irish coast. - -"I've a good mind to chuck the Service altogether," he growled at the -thought of that thousand pounds becoming more visionary than ever. -Certainly there was not much chance of encountering a Zeppelin off the -coast of Munster, which was where the tests were to take place. - -It was a warm, misty dawn and the moisture-laden atmosphere was like -that of a damp hothouse when Lawless arrived to start the trials. These -occupied the whole morning, and at noon the Lieutenant decided on a -"stand-easy" so that Cassidy might partake of the lunch he had brought -with him. The Lieutenant had intended to share the repast, but that last -volplane had been too much for him, and he had succumbed to his new -enemy--air-sickness. - -While Cassidy, whose stomach was as strong as a ship's boiler, consumed -his lunch Lawless pondered over his very problematical chance of ever -bringing down another Zeppelin. Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted -by the flickering of the needle attached to the wireless apparatus. -Bending over the instrument, he realised that it was recording an urgent -message for help for some vessel in distress. - -"S--S--S--S. Steamer _Nimrod_ attacked by submarine," he read. Then -followed the latitude and longitude of the ship's position, ending up -with emergency call "S--S--S." - -"Great Scot!" ejaculated the Lieutenant. - -"Did ye speak, sorr?" asked Cassidy, with his mouth full of bread and -cheese. - -"Finish your grub, Mike; we've got a long flight in front of us," -answered Lawless. - -He had made up his mind to go to the assistance of the distressed -vessel. At a rough calculation she was about fifty or sixty miles away -in a south-westerly direction, and, as the seaplane had a speed of a -hundred miles an hour under favourable conditions, the Lieutenant hoped -to reach her in a little over half an hour. A glance at the petrol -gauges showed that the supply was running low and that there was only -enough left to carry the machine seventy or eighty miles, which would -mean about twenty miles short of the return journey. But Lawless, with -his usual disregard for consequences, decided to deal with that problem -when it arose, nor did he stop to ask himself what practical assistance -he could render the _Nimrod_ when he arrived. - -Shouting some instructions to Cassidy, he started the engines. The great -propeller began to revolve, and the seaplane, after skimming along the -surface of the water for fifty yards or so, rose gracefully in the air. -The conditions, apart from the haze, were excellent for flying, and, -after a flight of twenty-five minutes, Lawless made out what looked like -a cloud of black smoke rising vertically above the mist. A few moments -afterwards he could see the hull of a large steamer with a heavy list to -starboard and so low down at the bows that her propellers were raised -above the water. The Lieutenant at once volplaned to the surface, hoping -that he might catch sight of some of the ship's boats, which, no doubt, -had been launched as soon as the vessel was struck by the torpedo. But -the low-lying mist, much thicker here than near the coast, prevented his -seeing anything outside a very narrow radius. - -The derelict was on fire aft, and, judging by the boatless derricks and -loosely hanging falls, all the boats had got safely away. But, in spite -of the deserted appearance of the ship, Lawless determined to board her -and make a hasty search in case some sick or helpless person had been -overlooked at the last moment--such things had occurred before to his -knowledge. A few turns of the seaplane's propeller brought her -alongside, and, catching hold of one of the falls, he hauled himself on -to the port taffrail. - -"Mike," he shouted back to his mechanic, "stand by till I return. This -packet isn't going to keep afloat much longer." - -"And what'll yer honour be doing aboard that floatin' coffin, begging -yer pardon, sorr?" asked Cassidy. - -"I'm going to make sure that nobody's left aboard." - -"Then if yer going into that smouldering hell, it's meself that's coming -wid ye, sorr," said the Irishman, in defiance of all the rules of -discipline. - -"All right, come on then," answered Lawless, thinking the man might -possibly be of some assistance. - -The mechanic made the seaplane fast to one of the falls and then joined -the Lieutenant. Owing to the angle at which the vessel had canted over, -it was difficult to maintain an upright position on the deck, and so -they slid, rather than walked, towards the main staircase. Descending -this, they reached a vestibule, giving access to a magnificent saloon -and also to a couple of long, narrow alleyways upon which the cabins -opened. These alleyways, extending aft from amidships, were separated -by the engine-room bulkheads, so that between them there was a large -shaft which served to ventilate the engine-room by means of the top -grating. - -"Cassidy, you look in the cabins on the port side and I'll take those on -the starboard," said the Lieutenant. - -They separated, and Lawless proceeded along the starboard alleyway, -glancing into each cabin to make sure that it was unoccupied. Everywhere -there were signs of hurry and disorder, showing that the passengers had -only had sufficient time to collect a few necessary articles before -taking to the boats. All the starboard cabins proved to be empty, and, -having reached the end of the alleyway, the Lieutenant crossed to the -other side, where he expected to meet Cassidy. The latter was nowhere to -be seen, however, and it was not till Lawless had made his presence -known by a shout that he heard the mechanic's voice. - -"Mr. Lawless, sorr, come quick! I've----" - -The rest was drowned in a deafening crash, and the Lieutenant stepped -back only just in time to escape being buried beneath tons of burning -wreckage which had suddenly descended into the alleyway, followed by one -of the huge iron girders that supported the deck above. He was thus cut -off by a wall of blazing _débris_ unless the starboard alleyway, -through which he had just passed, was still open. Realising that there -was not a moment to be lost, he dashed back, only to find his way barred -by a portion of the engine-room bulkhead which had collapsed right -across the passage. - -Rushing back to the port alleyway, he was again stopped by the flaming -barrier which lay across it. At first sight it seemed utterly impossible -to get past it, but after a moment Lawless noticed a small, tunnel-like -cavity beneath the wreckage where it was held up by the fallen girder, -one end of which rested on the framework of the deck above. If he could -only crawl through that and right underneath the smouldering furnace he -might succeed in reaching the other side. So, dropping on all fours, he -started to crawl into the opening, well aware that at any moment the -girder might wholly collapse and crush him beneath its weight. If that -happened he would be either mercifully killed outright or else pinned -down and slowly roasted to death. - -Almost suffocated by the smoke, he succeeded in forcing his way through -and at last emerged safely on the other side. For a moment or two he was -blinded by the smoke and could see nothing, but as he staggered to his -feet a hand clutched his arm. - -"Be the powers, 'tis yerself, sorr, the saints be praised!" cried the -voice of Cassidy. "Are ye hurt, now?" - -"No, no; but have you found anyone?" - -"Shure I have that. There's a poor divil pinned down in his bunk yonder, -and, though I've thried wid all me moight, I can't raise him." - -"Then I'll lend you a hand, Mike. There's no time to lose, for this -packet's settling fast," replied Lawless. - -Cassidy led the way into one of the cabins, where a man lay in the lower -berth, held down by the upper one, which had collapsed and fallen upon -him. He was unconscious, evidently having been stunned by the falling -mass. Between them they managed to remove enough of the wreckage to -admit of his being dragged out of the berth. As they carried him from -the cabin there came a thunderous crash, and Lawless saw the end of the -great girder under which he had crawled give way and bring down with it -the burning mass it had supported. Now, both fore and aft, they were -imprisoned by a wall of flaming wreckage that made escape seem hopeless. - -"'Tis the end av us, sorr," groaned Cassidy. - -They laid their unconscious burden down in the alleyway, and while the -mechanic set up a lugubrious wail Lawless started to rip up the matting -with which the alleyway was covered. - -"Here we are!" he exclaimed. - -He pointed triumphantly to a circular iron plate let into the deck, and -Cassidy, looking down after Lawless had removed this, beheld a dark -cavity which emitted an odour of stagnant water. - -"We can drop into the hold through there," said the Lieutenant, "and -possibly we may reach the for'a'd deck. At any rate, it's our only -chance. I'll go down first, and when you hear me shout lower that fellow -down to me." - -He gripped the end of the manhole, lowered himself through it, and then -let go. There was a splash followed by a shout. - -"Are ye all roight, sorr?" called Cassidy anxiously. - -"Aye, aye, lower away," came the reply from the apparently bottomless -depths. - -Cassidy thereupon lowered the unconscious man through the hole, and held -on till he felt the weight removed from his arms. Then he squeezed -through the aperture, and, letting go, found himself nearly waist-deep -in water and in almost utter darkness. - -"The divil!" he exclaimed. - -"Now you carry this man, and I'll lead the way," said Lawless, and -Cassidy, catching hold of the limp body, slung it across his shoulder -like a sack. - -The Lieutenant slowly felt his way through the darkness towards the bows -of the ship, guided only by the downward slope, for he could not see an -inch in front of him. As they advanced the water became deeper, and he -began to fear that it would cut off their retreat as effectively as had -the fire. - -"Damn!" he ejaculated abruptly. "It's all right," he added to Cassidy, -who was close behind. "I bumped against an iron ladder. There must be a -hatchway of some sort at the top; so you'd better wait here till I find -it." - -He ascended the ladder till he could go no farther, and then, after some -trouble, managed to force open a small hatch. Climbing through, he found -himself on the for'a'd well-deck and drew a deep breath of pure air -which came as a life-giving tonic after the foul atmosphere from which -he had emerged. - -"Wait a moment," he shouted back. "I'll lower a rope for you to fasten -round that chap's body. We can get him up quicker that way." - -There was plenty of loose tackle strewn about the deck, and, selecting a -piece, he made a running noose at the end and then lowered it through -the hatch. - -"All ready," came Cassidy's voice a moment later. "If ye'll just hold on -for a minute, sorr, I'll come up and help haul." - -In a few seconds the Irishman's head appeared above the hatch, and, -stepping on to the deck, he helped Lawless haul the man up. - -"Now fetch the machine for'a'd, Mike, while I try and bring this chap to -his senses," said the Lieutenant. - -Cassidy promptly climbed on to the taffrail and made his way amidships -to the spot where the seaplane had been made fast. Meanwhile Lawless did -his best to revive the unconscious man by splashing sea-water over him -and trying artificial respiration. In a few moments the passenger -uttered a faint moan and opened his eyes. - -"Feeling better?" asked the Lieutenant cheerily. - -The other stared at him with lack-lustre eyes and made no answer. - -"You must try and get on your pins," said Lawless encouragingly. "Come -on, now, I'll help you." - -The man seemed to make a feeble attempt to use his limbs, and with a -great effort Lawless managed to prop him against the taffrail. By this -time Cassidy had brought up the seaplane, and together they succeeded in -transferring their charge to it and placing him in the rear seat. This -done, they cast off from the derelict and the Lieutenant started the -engines. As he did so he gave a backward glance at the ship. - -"She's going!" he cried, and as the seaplane started to rise there came -a roar from behind, and the _Nimrod_, parting amidships, disappeared -beneath the waves in a dense cloud of smoke and steam. - -"That is the narrowest squeak I've ever had," he murmured. - -He glanced at the petrol gauges, and saw that the tanks were nearly -empty. There might be enough left to carry them another ten miles, but -certainly not more. And, sure enough, in a few minutes the engines began -to slow down, and there was nothing for it but to volplane to the -surface. Their sole chance of rescue now lay in being picked up by some -passing steamer, for, though the wireless apparatus could receive -messages, there was no power to transmit them. - -"Keep a bright look-out, Mike," said Lawless. "The sooner we're picked -up the better, for I sniff bad weather coming." - -By now the fog had almost disappeared before a freshening sou'-westerly -wind, and the sea, so smooth and oily a short while ago, was now whipped -into choppy, foam-crested waves. - -It was not long before the Lieutenant's prophecy of coming bad weather -began to be fulfilled. Afternoon had now given place to evening, and a -hazy moon, frequently obscured by black, threatening clouds, hung in the -sky. Before darkness had quite set in they were in the midst of a gale -which became more and more violent every minute. - -Then commenced a wild struggle, a fight against the devastating seas. -The frail machine was tossed from crest to crest of each on-coming wave -or else buried in the trough of the sea, whose towering walls of livid -green water on every side threatened to crush it to atoms. Yet its very -flimsiness helped to keep it afloat, for, having no hull or other -substantial surface, it offered little or no resistance to the force of -the waves. As a cork will float on the most terrific sea when a boat -would be dashed to pieces, so the light seaplane, held together by its -steel wires and guys, successfully resisted the onslaught of the -Atlantic billows. - -But the plight of its occupants was terrible. Lashed to the yielding -structure by cords, they were alternately flung violently upwards and -then cast down to be swamped, choked and half-stunned by the falling -mountains of water. As for the rescued man, who had also been lashed to -the machine, it was impossible to tell whether he was dead or alive, and -to Lawless, who expected every moment to be their last, it didn't seem -to matter much either way. - -So the night passed and dawn--cold, cheerless and desolate--began to -break at last upon that wild waste of storm-tossed waters; a running sea -of dull, greenish-grey with great ridges of seething foam rushing upon -one another in serried ranks like the battalions of a devouring army. -And amidst that roaring, pitiless flood there floated the battered wreck -of the seaplane. Both Lawless and Cassidy, as well as their passenger, -were unconscious, and, but for the fact that they were lashed to the -machine, would have been swallowed up in the boiling seas long ago. - -In this condition they were seen and picked up by the gunboat _Panther_, -which had been sent out to search for the survivors of the _Nimrod_. All -three were still unconscious when, after great difficulty owing to the -heavy seas, they were conveyed on board the warship. - -When Lawless at last opened his eyes he found himself lying in an -unfamiliar cabin, and it was some minutes before he realised what must -have happened. He was struggling to recall the terrible events preceding -his lapse into unconsciousness, when the cabin door opened and a young -man in the uniform of a naval surgeon entered. - -"Well, how do you feel?" asked the latter, seeing that Lawless was -looking about him. - -"Don't quite know," answered the Lieutenant. "I'm still a bit foggy in -my mind." - -"I don't wonder at it, judging from what your mechanic has told me. He's -a tough customer and no mistake; came to in less than an hour after you -were all rescued." - -"Then how long have I been unconscious?" asked the Lieutenant. - -"Ever since you were picked up, and that's nearly four hours ago. We -shall reach Plymouth about midday, I expect." - -In due course the _Panther_ arrived at Plymouth, and, just as Lawless -was about to board the steam pinnace that was to take him ashore, the -man he had rescued came up. - -"This is the first opportunity I have had, sir, of thanking you," he -said. "You have saved----" - -"Oh, never mind about that," interrupted the Lieutenant. "Are you coming -ashore?" - -"Yes----" The man hesitated a minute, and went on a little awkwardly. -"The fact is, I'm in rather a hole. All my money and papers went down in -the _Nimrod_, and I haven't a cent to bless myself with. I hate to ask -you such a thing, but if you could lend me a fiver I should be deeply -grateful. Here is my card." - -He handed Lawless a visiting card on which was inscribed "John H. -Smythe, Seattle." - -"I shall be staying at the Savoy," he added, "and if you'll give me your -address I'll wire you the money. The American Ambassador is a friend of -mine, and will lend me sufficient till I can cable my bank." - -The Lieutenant hesitated for a moment, not because he had any reason to -doubt the speaker, but because he was almost penniless himself at the -moment. Still, he could not help feeling sorry for the man in this -unfortunate predicament, and decided to borrow the money from the -captain of the _Panther_. - -"Might be in a mess like this myself some day," he reflected, as, -telling Smythe to wait a moment, he hurried away to interview the -skipper. - -The latter promptly lent him five pounds, and, as Lawless was about to -leave, called him back. - -"By the way, what about that fellow you found on the _Nimrod_?" he said. -"He has no papers and nothing whatever to prove his identity. I have -orders to proceed at once to Portsmouth, or I'd hand him over to the -authorities for them to make investigations." - -"I was going to take him ashore myself," answered the Lieutenant. - -"Oh, then, that's all right." - -The two men shook hands, and Lawless returned to Smythe, who was waiting -for him at the gangway. - -"All serene," he said, thrusting five one pound notes into the man's -hand. "Now we'd better get ashore." - -They were landed at the Great Western jetty, and Smythe told Lawless he -wanted to catch the first train to London. At Millbay Station they shook -hands and said "Good-bye," after which the Lieutenant went on to -Devonport to report himself. - -On the following morning, when he was preparing to depart for Dundee, a -telegram arrived ordering him to proceed to the Admiralty. He reached -London in the afternoon, and duly presented himself at the particular -room mentioned in his instructions. On entering he found a group of -officers seated at a table in a manner unpleasantly reminiscent of a -court-martial. - -He was asked for and gave a brief account of his adventures after flying -to the assistance of the _Nimrod_, and then one of the officers handed -him a photograph. - -"Do you recognise this person?" he asked. - -"Why, yes," replied the Lieutenant. "It's the man named Smythe, whom I -found unconscious in his bunk." - -The officers exchanged significant glances, and the one who had produced -the photograph turned once more to the Lieutenant. - -"We understand from the Captain of the _Panther_ that the man went -ashore with you at Plymouth," he said. - -"Yes, and I lent him a fiver to get to London with. Here's his card," -and Lawless produced the visiting card which the rescued passenger had -given him. - -"You have not heard from him since?" asked the officer, after glancing -at the card. - -"No, sir," answered the Lieutenant innocently. "It's quite possible he -hasn't been able to see the Ambassador yet." - -"Quite," said the other drily. "This man who gave his name as Smythe is -really Reichster, the notorious German-American spy for whose capture a -reward of Ł500 has been offered." - -There was a long pause. At last Lawless pulled himself together and -realised that life still had to be lived. - -"I think, sir, if it could be managed, I should like to transfer back to -the Sea Service," he said. "The Flying Corps is a bit too risky for -me." - - - - -CHAPTER III - -THE DECOY - - -Whether it was due to the fact that, in addition to having smashed up -two monoplanes, Lawless had lost the new seaplane which he had been -ordered to test, was never made clear to him, but certain it is that, -soon after the latter incident, his request to be transferred back to -the Sea Service was granted. That was why, in accordance with his -instructions, he found himself at Devonport awaiting orders. In due -course these arrived, and were to the effect that he must report himself -on board the patrol boat _O47_, at Falmouth, where he would enjoy -temporary rank as Lieutenant. - -"Holy smoke!" ejaculated Lawless when he received the order, "this takes -me down a peg. Why, I was Lieutenant-Commander----" - -"Don't worry," interposed the Port Admiral encouragingly. "You'll be -back where you started from before long. I'll do my best to get you your -old ship, the _Knat_." - -"Thank you, sir," answered Lawless gratefully. - -On arriving at Falmouth he found the _O47_ a grimy, unpicturesque, and -weather-beaten trawler, whose prescribed beat, he was informed, lay -"somewhere" west of Start Point. The skipper, a gruff, taciturn old -salt, received him without enthusiasm, and grumbled audibly at having to -"dry-nurse green-horns." Obviously he had never heard of the -Lieutenant's exploits when in command of the _Knat_, and Lawless was -careful not to undeceive him. - -"I'll have a lark with the old buffer," he told himself, and felt so -pleased at this idea that he forgot his indignation at having been -assigned to such a wretched old tub and with inferior rank. - -The _O47_ left Falmouth Harbour on the following morning, and was soon -stubbing her way westward, rolling as only a North Sea trawler can roll. - -There was a stiff, sou'-westerly breeze blowing, and as the day waned it -showed signs of developing into a first-class hurricane. The sea, which -had been merely choppy to begin with, had risen until the great -foam-crested billows charged down upon each other, flinging high their -white manes of wind-driven spume. The sky had turned from blue to a -cold, steely grey, with low-lying clouds like banks of soiled snow on -the western horizon. A pale crescent moon already showed dimly in the -half-light. - -In the little wheelhouse, perched high up in front of the funnel, -Skipper Chard clung to a handrail and peered through the rime-frosted -glass across the endless grey vista of tossing, white-capped seas. - -Chard growled as the trawler, struck amidships by an extra large wave, -heeled till her port taffrail was under water. - -When she had righted herself, Lawless, clad in oilskins and a -sou'-wester, swarmed up the little iron ladder to the wheelhouse, and, -waiting a favourable opportunity, opened the door and staggered in. - -"Phew!" he ejaculated. "This is weather and no mistake!" - -"Weather!" echoed the skipper with a sour smile. "Wait till we get it -really rough!" - -The quartermaster at the wheel suppressed a smile, while the Lieutenant -did his best to look apprehensive. - -"I thought this was pretty rough," he said apologetically. - -"Oh, it's a bit choppy, I'll allow. But rough----" The skipper smiled a -smile, more eloquent than words, that expressed all the scorn which a -seasoned salt feels for a greenhorn who has still to learn the ways of -the sea. - -"It'll be my watch in five minutes," said Lawless. "I expect you will be -glad to go below." - -The skipper grunted. No one but a raw amateur would have turned out for -his watch before being called; it was the brand of inexperience. - -"Keep her as near west by south as may be," said the skipper, jerking -his head towards the binnacle. "Send for me if you sight anything." - -While he was speaking, eight bells struck, and as the sound died away a -seaman came up the iron ladder to relieve the quartermaster at the -wheel. As the off-duty man stumbled out of the wheelhouse, the skipper -also turned to leave. - -"You'll need to keep a bright look-out," he remarked grimly. "As like as -not----" - -He paused abruptly, then snatched a pair of binoculars out of the box -attached to the handrail, and focused them on a small object, barely -discernible to the naked eye. He remained thus for more than a minute, -with legs stretched wide apart, swinging back and forth automatically -with the motion of the vessel. - -"Have a squint," and he handed the glasses to the Lieutenant. - -The latter focused the binoculars on the strange vessel ahead. She was a -steamer of about fifteen hundred tons, with the word _Gelderland_ -painted in huge white letters on her hull amidships, together with the -Dutch colours. - -"A Dutchman," he observed, handing back the glasses. - -"A private of marines could tell that," snorted the skipper. "Question -is, what's she doing right away west here?" - -The Lieutenant made no answer; which was wise, since none was expected. -Chard shouted an order to the quartermaster, who echoed it, and began to -turn the heavy wheel. - -"Signal the Dutchman to stop," commanded the skipper. - -It being too dark to use flags or semaphore, Lawless picked up the -signal lamp and flashed the message across the intervening space. He -waited for an answer, and, none coming, called up once more. - -"Can't get a reply," he said after the second attempt. - -"I'll get one, though," muttered the skipper; and, sliding back one of -the windows, he leant out. - -"Stubbs, put a shot across that hooker's bows!" he shouted. - -"Aye, aye, sir!" answered the gunner, and bent over a small quick-firer -that was mounted on the well-deck forward. - -Next moment there was a bright yellow flash and a reverberating boom. -The shell was seen to strike the water some twenty yards in front of the -Dutchman's bows, sending up a small pillar of foaming water. But the -stranger, instead of stopping, suddenly altered her course, and a cloud -of black smoke which began to pour out of her funnel showed that she was -firing up. - -"All right!" ejaculated the skipper. "But we'll cop her yet. Looks -suspicious, her cuttin' away like that. Climb on the fo'c'sle and signal -that if she don't stop we'll sink her!" - -Lawless descended the ladder, staggered across the slippery, reeling -deck, and mounted the fo'c'sle head. Crooking one arm round a stay to -steady himself, he jerked out the signal in a somewhat uneven succession -of dots and dashes. Still the stranger made no answering signal, and at -last he climbed down. - -"Put a shot through her funnel!" yelled Chard. - -The gunner breathed hard as he adjusted the sights and waited till the -_O47_ swung up for a second on an even keel. - -Bang! - -The shell sped true, for where the Dutchman's funnel had stood there was -now only a jagged stump of metal, with columns of smoke issuing out of -it. Also her captain had seen fit to slow down at last. - -"Mr. Lawless, I'm going alongside," shouted the skipper from the -wheelhouse. "Serve out cutlasses and revolvers, in case the Dutchmen -start to play monkey-tricks." - -The Lieutenant served out the weapons, after which he climbed on the -fo'c'sle head to help bring the trawler alongside her quarry. It needed -no little skill and judgment to accomplish this in such weather and with -darkness coming on. - -The high bows of the _O47_, towering above the low decks of the -_Gelderland_ as the trawler came racing up, threatened to crash right -into the Dutchman and cut her in twain amidships, but the trawler's -engines were reversed in the nick of time, and her stern slewed round so -that the two vessels lay alongside each other. - -Skipper Chard dropped on the _Gelderland's_ deck just as the Captain--a -short, stout man--came puffing down from his bridge in a violent temper. - -"Vat for you do that?" he demanded, pointing to the smashed funnel. - -"Why didn't you stop when I ordered you?" - -"Because I saw not any signal. The first thing I know is--plump!--and -then vat you call the chiminey is proken." - -"You mean to say you didn't know I sent a shot over your bows?" demanded -Chard incredulously. - -"I see noddings," answered the Captain. "But you haff done big damages, -and I will make you pay." - -"Oh! will you, my son?" replied the other. "We'll see about that, but -in the meantime I must see your papers." - -The Captain promptly led the way to the chart-room and produced his -papers with an alacrity that was calculated to disarm the most -suspicious investigator. According to them, the _Gelderland_ had cleared -at Amsterdam for Boston with general cargo. - -"H'm!" grunted Chard, as he looked at the papers. "How long have you -been coming up the Channel?" - -"Four or five days. I was hung up by fog." - -"Well, the sooner you get out of it the better," answered Chard, turning -to go. The ship's papers were in order, and therefore he had no right to -detain the vessel further. As he was about to pass through the door his -glance fell on a chart fastened to the table with drawing-pins. He -paused for a moment and bent over it. - -"Here!" he said in a different tone. "Come here!" - -His forefinger was resting on the apex formed by two diagonal lines -which had been ruled across the chart. This apex was just opposite Start -Point, and the lines formed two sides of a triangle--one running -parallel to the English coast as far as the Lizard, the other running -south-west to a point just north of Ushant. - -"Vell?" inquired the Captain, but there was a slight tremor in his -voice. - -"You'd better scuttle that Amsterdam yarn," replied Chard quietly. He -laid his finger once more on the chart. "If this means anything," he -went on, "it means that you've been cruising around between Start Point, -Ushant and the Lizard, and that the clearance papers you showed me are -just fakes. It's pretty certain that----No, you don't!" as the Captain -made a swift movement with his right hand. "Keep your eye on this, my -son," and Chard levelled an automatic pistol at the other's head. - -Then, still covering the Captain with his pistol, he hailed the _O47_ -through the open door of the chart-room. - -"Mr. Lawless!" - -"Aye, aye!" came the answer. - -"Train the gun on this packet, and sweep her decks if the men show -trouble. Then lower a couple of boats and come aboard for prisoners." - -The Lieutenant gave the necessary orders to the gunner, after which he -saw to the lowering of the boats. In the darkness and with a heavy sea -running this last was a difficult and dangerous task, but it was -accomplished safely. Meanwhile, Chard had insisted on some of the -hatches being removed from the _Gelderland's_ hold in order that he -might judge of the contents. They consisted chiefly of cases, crates and -barrels, some of which, on being opened, proved to contain earthenware. - -"Vell, does that satisfy you?" asked the Captain triumphantly. - -"Not by a damn sight," answered Chard bluntly. "There's a clear space at -the bottom of the hold. Open one of the cases down there." - -The Captain protested, but the other was adamant, and eventually a -couple of men were despatched to carry out his demand. The first case -was opened, and found to be packed with cans of petrol. Chard smiled -grimly and ordered another to be opened; it contained a small -quick-firer in pieces. - -"A proper little arsenal, this," remarked Chard, with a grin. "Let's try -another of your surprise packets." - -A third case was broken open, displaying rows of neatly packed shells. - -"I see; if any _U_ boat happened to have damaged a gun or run short of -ammunition, you can supply the goods," said Chard. "It's a fine idea." - -The boats from the _O47_ had come alongside, and the Lieutenant swung -himself aboard. In a few words Chard explained the situation and told -him that, as soon as the prisoners had been put aboard the trawler, he -would be placed in charge of the _Gelderland_ with a prize crew. This -was carried out speedily, the Germans, as they really were, offering no -resistance in view of the fact that the trawler's gun was kept trained -on them all the time. - -Half a dozen men from the _O47_ were placed on board the _Gelderland_ as -a prize crew, and Chard, before leaving, advised Lawless to make -straight for Plymouth. Then he returned to the trawler and the two -vessels slowly drew apart and were lost to each other in the darkness. - -"Keep her nose to the west," Lawless told the quartermaster, and then -dived into the chart-room to lay out his course for Plymouth. This done, -he stepped out on to the bridge again and peered into the darkness. The -Eddystone Light was not visible yet, and he was about to return, when -there came a shout from the look-out on the fo'c'sle head. - -"Light on the port bow, sir!" - -The Lieutenant leaned over the bridge-rail and stared into the night, -but could see nothing. He was about to hail the look-out man, when he -saw a faint yellow glimmer appear for a second, and vanish, but this -time it was on the starboard side. - -"Queer," he murmured. - -He started towards the other end of the bridge, and accidentally knocked -his foot against something. Stooping down, he found it was a -signal-lamp, but different to the one he had been used to handling. -Thoughtlessly, he picked it up and tried the shutter; a beam of yellow -light flashed out and was gone. Then, as if in answer to it, the -mysterious light to starboard flicked twice and disappeared again. - -"Oh-h!" murmured Lawless. - -It had come upon him that the light was a signal from a submarine, and -that, in moving the shutter of the signal-lamp, he had unwittingly -answered it. Here, indeed, was a chance of recovering his reputation, -for there could be no doubt that the submarine was a _U_ boat. If only -it could be captured or sunk! - -He crossed to the bridge telegraph and rang down "Stop!" to the -engine-room. The machinery ceased throbbing, and the _Gelderland_, -losing way, began to roll in a nasty fashion. Then, out of the darkness, -a voice hailed her in German. The Lieutenant shouted back some -meaningless gibberish, trusting to the wind to make his voice -indistinct. This done, he hurried on to the deck, flung a rope ladder -over the taffrail, and whispered some instructions to the bos'n. - -Leaning over the bulwarks, he saw the shadowy outline of a large -submarine alongside, her deck awash, and with a man standing on the -hatch-cover, clinging to an inadequate handrail. The man flung out a -rope with a hook at the end, caught one of the rungs of the rope -ladder, and drew it towards him. Clutching it, he allowed himself to -swing off the hatch, and next moment was clambering over the bulwarks. -Then, as he reached the deck, a couple of seamen sprang out of the -shadows and bore him down before he could utter a cry. - -"Well?" remarked the Lieutenant interrogatively, as the prisoner, with a -sailor on each side of him, stood in the Captain's cabin. - -The man from the submarine growled something beneath his breath. -Evidently he had not yet recovered from his astonishment. - -"Well?" repeated Lawless almost genially. - -"This boat, is it not the _Gelderland_?" asked the prisoner in passable -English. - -"It is." - -"Then why----" - -"Take him aft to the wheelhouse and lock him in," interrupted the -Lieutenant. The prisoner made an abrupt movement, which was checked at -sight of a revolver which one of the seamen was holding. Then he was -marched off. - -It was not till then that Lawless realised the difficulties of the -situation. He had no gun mounted wherewith to sink the enemy submarine; -obviously he could not board her so that---- - -"I'll ram her!" he ejaculated aloud. - -He returned to the bridge and saw that the huge whale-like form of the -_U_ boat was still alongside. Grabbing the telegraph, he rang down "Full -speed ahead!" and then, thrusting the quartermaster aside, took the -wheel and swung the vessel round so that she was bows-on to the -submarine. At the same moment the latter's hatch opened and a man -stepped out, evidently to try and find out what kept the other so long. -But before he could realise what was happening, the _Gelderland_ drove -right into the low-lying hull; there was a terrific shock, and, as the -steamer reeled under the force of the impact, a stifled cry from out of -the blackness--and then silence. - -Considerably elated, Lawless picked up the Eddystone light about an hour -later. Then, having taken his bearings, he left Plymouth far away to -starboard and headed down Channel, while, in obedience to his -instructions, the quick-firer was taken out of the hold and mounted on -deck and the damaged funnel repaired. - -He had been the recipient of a brilliant inspiration. - - * * * * * - -"The young fool's been and got himself torpedoed, that's what he's -done," said Skipper Chard in a tone of conviction. - -He was seated with other patrol-boat skippers in the bar-parlour of a -certain hostelry, and the conversation had turned on the mysterious -disappearance of the _Gelderland_ with her prize crew. A full week had -elapsed since her capture by the _O47_, yet she had not been reported at -Plymouth or any of the other western seaports. - -"Skipper Trevail do say he saw she west of Lizard," remarked an old -Cornishman. - -Chard shook his head impatiently. He absolutely refused to credit the -strange stories which, during the last few days, had been rife in the -west. Patrol skippers had solemnly assured him that they had seen the -_Gelderland_ off the Cornish coast. One declared that, not knowing what -she was, he had boarded her and seen her captain, a young man who could -not speak a word of English; but, as her papers were in order, he had -let her proceed without troubling to search her cargo. As day after day -passed these stories were added to, or varied, until the _Gelderland_ -began to be regarded as a phantom ship, and was spoken of, not without -awe, as the _Flying Dutchman_. The skipper of the _O47_ alone maintained -a sceptical attitude, and reiterated his belief that she had been either -torpedoed or mined. - -At last the Admiralty, awaking to the fact that a captured ship had -disappeared, sent wireless instructions to the officers in command of -the patrols to make a systematic search for the vessel. And so, from -Start Point to the Lizard, cruiser, destroyer, and patrol-boat swept the -seas. - -On the afternoon of the very day that these instructions were sent out, -Skipper Chard stood in the wheelhouse of the _O47_ and swept the horizon -with his glasses. Suddenly he uttered a cry, for just visible against -the skyline was the _Gelderland_. - -"Whack her up all you can!" he yelled through the voice-pipe. "We've -sighted her!" - -The engineer did his best, and the deck-plates of the _O47_ vibrated -with the ponderous thumping of the machinery below. Chard leaned out of -the wheelhouse with his binoculars glued to the missing prize, calling -down maledictions upon himself and all his kin if he failed to lay her -by the heels. But the _Gelderland_ was making off as fast as her engines -would carry her, and there ensued a long and stern chase which lasted -until the _O47_ was near enough to send a shot crashing through the -_Gelderland's_ chart-room. Then, and not till then, the _Gelderland_ -hove to. - -"You'll be hanged for this, you ravin' lunatic!" shouted Chard as he -boarded the recaptured prize; and then, as the Lieutenant, descending -from the bridge, smiled in a sickly sort of fashion, he added: "You've -been guilty of barratry, piracy, mutiny, and heaven knows what!" - -Lawless was told to regard himself as a prisoner, and then the skipper, -pursuing his investigations, was amazed to find some score of Germans in -the hold, all of them belonging to the submarine service. - -"Why--why, what the deuce does this mean?" he demanded. - -"I had to sling some of the cargo overboard," answered the other -apologetically, "or there wouldn't have been room for these chaps." - -"But how the blazes did they get here?" - -Then Lawless related his adventures since the stormy night when he was -placed in charge of the _Gelderland_. He had argued that, if one enemy -submarine had been deceived by the supply vessel, others might also be -lured to destruction in the same way, and his argument had proved -correct. - -"I suppose I've been guilty of disobedience," he concluded, "but I've -bagged four _U_ boats, ramming one and sinking three with the gun we -found in the hold. Most of the men in the submarines foundered with -them, but we've managed to save about twenty. At first I wondered how -they managed to identify the _Gelderland_ in the dark, but I tumbled to -it the first night. The masthead light, instead of being on the -foremast, was hung on the aftermast, and this, I suppose, was a -pre-arranged signal. At any rate, I didn't alter it, and the scheme -seemed to work." - -"If you're not shot, you'll be made a blessed admiral!" the skipper -remarked. - -The court-martial which followed absolved the Lieutenant from the formal -charges with which he had been indicted, and a few days later he was -informed that, the _Knat_ having arrived at Devonport, he was to return -to her with rank of Lieutenant-Commander. And that evening Lawless, in -the gladness of his heart, took from its case a battered banjo, and, -lifting up his voice in song, declared in inharmonious accents that -"Somewhere the sun is shining." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -A BOLT FROM THE BLUE - - -"I feel," said Lawless, addressing himself to Sub-lieutenant Trent as -they stood together on the deck of the _Knat_, "as pleased as a pig with -two tails." - -He glanced around him appreciatively, lingering over each -well-remembered object, from the quick-firer on the "bandstand" aft to -the battered ventilating cowls each side of the for'a'd funnel. - -"Even the old shipboard stink is fragrant in my nostrils," he went on, -"and the awful profanity issuing from the galley yonder is like sweet -music unto my ears." - -"H'm," grunted Trent, "you don't seem to have been very happy in the air -service." - -The look of joyful appreciation faded from the Lieutenant's eyes. - -"I've lost one thousand five hundred and five pounds since I left the -_Knat_," he answered. "Or as good as lost it." - -"Eh!" ejaculated the junior officer. - -Whereupon Lawless confided to him the story of his uncle's unfortunate -bet and the sad episode of the German spy who, after being rescued from -the derelict steamer, had borrowed five pounds. - -"When you've stopped braying, you jackass, I'll get below," snapped the -Lieutenant, and, Trent having mastered his mirth, Lawless departed to -his cabin. - -The _Knat_ was on her way to the Clyde, where, with two other -destroyers, the _Arrow_ and the _Kite_, she was to escort the recently -launched battleship _Mars_ round to Portsmouth. It was evening when the -_Knat_ arrived in the Clyde and took up moorings near the leviathan -battleship, the existence of which was supposed to be known only to the -Admiralty and those who had been engaged in her construction. As she was -not to leave till noon on the following day, Lawless decided to take the -opportunity of a run ashore, and accordingly, having arrayed himself in -mufti, stepped into the boat and waved farewell to his envious junior -officer. - -Now, on its way to the shore, the boat had to pass close by a very dirty -coal-tramp, bearing on her stern the legend, "_Black Diamond_, -Newcastle-on-Tyne." As they pulled near the stern in order to reach the -quay, Lawless heard a certain order which made him prick up his ears and -indulge in a few moments' very earnest thought. After a little -reflection, however, he smiled at his suspicions, and dismissed the -subject from his mind. - -It was somewhat late when, after a visit to the only music-hall which -the district boasted, the Lieutenant made his way down a side street to -a certain little Continental restaurant which used to be patronised -almost exclusively by foreigners. - -His attention was attracted by two men attired in the uniform of -Mercantile Marine officers who sat at a table opposite. They excited his -curiosity, for, although they appeared to speak English perfectly, they -were in uniform, and a British sea officer, like his naval confrčre, -hates above all things to be seen ashore in "regimentals." - -So impressed was Lawless that when the two officers left the restaurant -he followed at a respectful distance till they reached the quay -alongside which the _Black Diamond_ was lying. Here another thing struck -him as being decidedly peculiar; for, instead of having an aged and -rheumatic watchman aboard, as is the usual custom of British ships when -in a home port, there was a man walking up and down in front of the -gangway as if on sentry go. Then, more astonishing still, as the two -officers went on board this man saluted them--an unheard-of ceremony on -a British merchant vessel. - -With a growing uneasiness concerning the real character of the _Black -Diamond_, Lawless hailed a picket-boat, and was taken aboard the _Knat_. -Here he detailed his adventures and expounded his suspicions to Trent, -who, however, was not inclined to treat them very seriously. - -"If you feel nervous about them, why don't you report to the captain of -the _Mars_?" he asked. - -"And probably be regarded as a lunatic for my pains!" retorted Lawless. - -He remained in thought for some moments, then rose. - -"P'r'aps you're right," he remarked drowsily. "Very likely they're only -harmless Dagos after all. I'm going to turn in, so clear out!" - -And a few moments later Lieutenant Lawless was sleeping. - -On the following morning Lawless noticed that the _Black Diamond_ left -her berth and steamed down the river about an hour before the _Mars_ and -her escort were due to leave. - -"Well, your nightmare's ship's gone now," remarked Trent. "One of the -port officials told me she had cleared for Valencia with coals." - -"Coals!" echoed Lawless. "Rum sort of place to ship coals for the -Mediterranean! They could get it cheaper and quicker at Cardiff and -Newport, besides saving about four days on the double trip." - -Soon afterwards came the signal to get under way. The _Mars_ was to -proceed at about ten knots, with the _Arrow_ and _Kite_ astern on each -side, and the _Knat_ in front to act as scout and clear the way for her. - -Slowly and majestically the marine monster--the latest triumph of -death-dealing mechanism--swung down the river, her convoy of destroyers -looking no larger than midges against her huge bulk. Evening was drawing -in as they came abreast of the white light on Cambrae Island, and, -although he had been keeping a careful look-out all the afternoon, -Lawless had seen nothing of the mysterious _Black Diamond_. - -"It's strange!" he mused. "I can't understand it." - -An hour or two later, when darkness had set in, Lawless left Trent in -charge and went below to snatch a little rest. He had hardly been in his -bunk ten minutes, when a messenger knocked at the cabin door and -informed him that he was wanted on the bridge. - -"What's the trouble?" asked the Lieutenant, as he reached the bridge. - -Trent withdrew his head from the hood-screen on the port side, and -pointed to a couple of vertical red lights some distance ahead. - -"Steamer broken down," he said; "thought it might be your bogey ship." - -Lawless picked up the night glasses and gazed through them for some -moments. - -"It's the _Black Diamond_, right enough," he said. "Queer she should -have a mishap right in our course, though!" - -Trent laughed scornfully. - -"I don't suppose they're hanging about there for fun," he observed. "If -they were really up to any games, they wouldn't show the warning -lights." - -"That's just it," replied Lawless. "They know it would at once excite -suspicion if they didn't show them." And he again studied the vessel -through his glasses. - -"Trent," he exclaimed suddenly, "did you see anything?" - -The junior officer, although he had been gazing in the same direction as -Lawless, had seen nothing of a startling character. - -"No," he replied. "What was it?" - -"I'll swear I saw something slipped overboard," said Lawless; "but it's -so dark I couldn't see what it was even with these glasses. Look here," -he added, with unusual gravity, "there's some mischief going on. I'm -certain of it." - -"Then we'd better have the searchlight on her," replied Trent; and was -about to give an order when the Lieutenant stopped him. - -"No," he said decisively, "that would only serve to warn them if they -are up to any artful dodges." - -"They wouldn't have lowered a mine, if that's what you're thinking -about, because they know we should alter our course as soon as we saw a -disabled steamer ahead." - -"No, it was nothing of that sort. It looked more like a sort of cage as -far as I could make out." - -"Perhaps they're fishing for crabs," suggested Trent with a laugh. For -the life of him he could not understand what Lawless was worrying about, -since even the best-regulated steamers are apt to break down. - -"Look here," said Lawless suddenly, "I'm not going to run the risk of -being made a fool of by signalling to the _Mars_. I'm going to -investigate this matter for myself." And, turning to a seaman, he told -him to get one of the Berthon boats lowered alongside. - -"But if you intend to pull out to her, we shall leave you behind," said -Trent. "Besides, what can you do on your own?" - -"I shall see," replied Lawless. "As to the rest, if you can't pick me -up, I can pull back to the _Kite_, which by that time will be nearly -abreast of me. I know her skipper, and he won't give me away." - -Trent merely shrugged his shoulders. If his commander had a bee in his -bonnet it was not his place, as a junior officer, to argue; so he held -his peace and thought the more. The Berthon having been launched, -Lawless dropped in and started to pull towards the apparently disabled -steamer with powerful, noiseless strokes, having taken the precaution of -muffling the oars. The distance between the _Knat_ and the steamer -having been considerably lessened by this time, it was not long before -the Lieutenant reached her. He had rowed in a direct line with her -stern, that he might not be observed by any possible look-out aboard, -and at length he rested on his oars and turned round to make -observations. - -"Phew!" he whistled softly. - -Floating on the water alongside the steamer, and screened by her hull -from the observation of those on the war vessels, was a large -waterplane. As far as he could make out, it had accommodation for two -men, but what attracted his attention most was a machine, in appearance -not unlike a very small inverted howitzer, and evidently designed for -aiming bombs. There was no one in the waterplane, and for a moment -Lawless thought of rowing with all speed to the _Mars_ and warning her -captain; but a moment's reflection told him that it was more than likely -that she would have passed him before he could get near, and, in any -case, the warning might by that time be too late. - -"I'll have to trust to luck, that's all," he muttered. - -How he was going to prevent the airmen from carrying out their plans, -the nature of which he had very little difficulty in guessing, Lawless -had no very clear idea; but, after a moment's consideration, he shipped -his paddles, and slipped noiselessly into the water. A few strokes -brought him alongside the steamer, and then, keeping well under the -shadow of her hull, he continued swimming until he was able to reach one -of the wire stays on the floating machine. So far he had escaped notice. - -He had no sooner secured a firm hold on the waterplane than a man, -suspended by a rope from one of the steamer's derricks, swung outboard -and gently lowered himself into the seat of the machine. Then another -man followed, and, after an interchange of remarks in a language which -Lawless had no difficulty in recognising, the two airmen took their -seats, and the engines were set going. A second or two afterwards the -waterplane began to glide off, and the Lieutenant found himself being -dragged through the water. - -The weight of his body, in addition to the resistance of the water, -caused the thin steel wire to cut into his hands; and, in order to get a -firmer and less painful grip, he threw his arms over the narrow end of -the car. As he did so, the waterplane rose in the air, with the result -that it dipped and swerved so violently owing to the sudden shifting of -his weight that Lawless thought it was going to capsize. The pilot, -however, righted it with wonderful skill, but at the same time his -companion caught sight of the Lieutenant hanging on. - -For a moment he stared in blank astonishment at the dark figure dangling -beneath him, and then, evidently under the impression that it was one of -his compatriots who had somehow contrived to get into this awkward -position, he leant over and extended his hand. Lawless gripped it, and, -with a tremendous effort, managed to lift himself up and throw his legs -over the canoe-shaped body, so that he sat astride facing his unknown -helper. - -"Look here----" he began thoughtlessly, and then stopped. It occurred to -him, too late, that his speech had betrayed his nationality, and -therefore his motives. - -The other seemed to grasp the situation in a flash, and, before he had -time to consider what to do next, Lawless found himself looking straight -into the barrel of a revolver. But the sight of the weapon had the same -effect upon him as a douche of cold water has upon a swooning man. It -restored his presence of mind, and his brain worked with lightning-like -rapidity. - -In the face of death no man could be calmer than the reckless -Lieutenant. For a moment they stared at each other, the airman raised -his pistol, and then, to his amazement, the Englishman laughed. - -In all probability, it was this cynical laugh which saved his life, but -defeated his immediate object. Lawless had realised that if the man -fired at him it must inevitably attract the attention of those on board -the _Mars_--for revolver shots in mid-air would be hardly likely to pass -unnoticed--and they would at once open fire with the anti-aircraft guns. -But the same thought had evidently occurred to the other, for, instead -of firing, he slipped the revolver back into his pocket. - -Lawless braced himself for the coming struggle, and twisted his legs -round some wire guys to secure a firmer grip of the machine and leave -his arms free. Giving a quick glance below, he saw the lights of the -_Mars_ and her attendant destroyers standing out like tiny specks in a -gulf of unfathomable blackness. The two red lights of the _Black -Diamond_ were no longer visible, and he concluded that, having launched -the waterplane, she had proceeded on her way. To the left he could see a -searchlight, which he assumed to be operated from the _Knat_, rapidly -sweeping the horizon in great semi-circles. - -The whole panorama passed before his eyes like a flash, and a moment -later he had come to grips with his antagonist. - -With arms enlocked and faces almost touching, the combatants swayed -gently to and fro, as though testing each other's strength. Then, -loosening their hold, and drawing a little apart for a second, they -closed again, and this time they wound their arms about each other like -bands of steel, till the terrible pressure made their veins stand up -like whipcord, and their breath came in short, choking gasps. But -neither could get sufficient advantage over his adversary to swing him -off, and more than once it seemed as if both of them must tumble into -the sea beneath. - -Had the pilot been able to come to the assistance of his companion, -Lawless would not have stood a dog's chance; but, fortunately for him, -the man had all he could do to maintain control of the machine and -prevent it from capsizing under the constantly shifting weight of the -opponents as they swayed dangerously from side to side. - -Suddenly, from a point seemingly immediately beneath them, came a faint -bellowing sound, which Lawless at once recognised as the _Mars_' syren. - -Apparently his antagonist recognised it also, for, throwing caution to -the winds, he flung his body forward, carrying the Lieutenant with him -so that they both nearly went over the side with the sudden impetus. - -Lawless was now underneath, his back resting on the narrow deck of the -car, while the airman struggled to get a grip of his throat. Uppermost -in the mind of each was the desire to kill. Hate gleamed from their -bloodshot eyes, and they ground their teeth savagely. Having the -advantage of position, the airman at last managed to get his fingers -round the Lieutenant's throat, and the latter, in a desperate endeavour -to free himself from the choking grip, relaxed his hold, and was swung -over the side of the car. For a moment he remained head downwards, -suspended only by the steel wires into which he had twisted his legs. -Then he began to slip, and a second later disappeared from sight into -the yawning abyss beneath. - -Quick as thought the airman leaned back, and, reaching the lever which -operated the bomb-throwing machine, pulled it; but, as he did so, the -waterplane gave a terrific lurch, and the bomb, instead of dropping on -the _Mars_, which at that moment was directly underneath, fell into the -water and exploded some distance astern of her. The cause of this -failure was due to Lawless gripping in his fall one of the stays which -held the rudder, and his weight, operating on the extreme end of the -machine, had destroyed its balance, and therefore altered the course of -the bomb. - -Instantly the night was illuminated with the beams of searchlights, -which, like huge phosphorescent feelers, swept the sky, until at last -they were focussed on the waterplane. Then came a cracking sound from -beneath, and shot after shot whizzed upwards from the anti-aircraft guns -of the _Mars_, striking the car, smashing and splintering the slender -wooden spars which supported the planes, and occasionally snapping a -steel guy. - -By a miracle Lawless had managed to retain his hold of the wire, though -it cut through his flesh, and he knew that he must drop before many -seconds elapsed, even if he was not struck by one of the shots from -below. He was on the point of letting go through sheer pain and -exhaustion, when the machine suddenly tilted, turned right over, and -then swooped downwards with a velocity that made his brain reel. - -The terrible sensation of falling from a tremendous height terminated -abruptly, and next moment the Lieutenant felt the water close above his -head, and he was sinking down, down, fathoms deep, it seemed to him, -into the sea. Then came a feeling of agonising suffocation, a terrible -pressure on his chest, a sensation as though his lungs were about to -burst, and he rose to the surface, to find himself near some floating -remnants of the wrecked waterplane. - -Catching hold of one of the floats, Lawless endeavoured to draw himself -up, but fell back in the water as a numbing pain shot through his left -arm. He rose to the surface again in a semi-dazed condition, and made -another feeble attempt to get on the floats; but his strength was -exhausted, and he was suffering agonies from the injured arm. At this -moment there came the sound of men's voices and the click of oars as -they swung in the rowlocks; strong arms lifted him out of the water, and -then he lost consciousness. - -When Lawless came to himself, he was lying in his bunk on board the -_Knat_, and the absence of any movement told him that she must be at -anchor in harbour. In a dreamy fashion he fell to wondering why he was -lying there, with the sunlight streaming through the port-holes; he even -made an effort to rise, but fell back as a pain shot from his left elbow -to his shoulder. - -That set him thinking, and gradually the events of the previous -night--he supposed it was the previous night--came back to him. -Recollections of the mysterious steamer, the fight in mid-air, his fall -into the sea--all passed through his brain in a fragmentary, disjointed -manner, like the confused memories of a dream. Then, as he was trying to -sort them out, the cabin door opened, and Sub-Lieutenant Trent entered. - -"Hallo! So you've come to at last!" he exclaimed. "How do you feel?" - -"As if I'd had a beastly nightmare," answered Lawless. "Where are we?" - -"In Portsmouth Harbour," replied Trent, as he seated himself on a locker -beside the bunk and started to fill his pipe. - -"I'm beginning to remember things a bit more clearly now," said the -Lieutenant. "Tell me what happened after I left the _Knat_." - -"There's not much to tell, so far as I'm concerned," answered Trent as -he lit his pipe. "We kept our course, and just as we came abreast of -your bogey ship she hauled down her signal lights and steamed away. -Then----" - -"Ah, that must have been immediately after the waterplane rose," -interrupted Lawless. "I thought there wasn't much wrong with her -machinery." - -"Well, as I was saying, as soon as she steamed off I turned the -searchlight on her, but could discover nothing of a suspicious nature," -continued Trent. "Neither, for that matter, could I see anything of you, -though we caught sight of the empty boat drifting. Nothing fresh -happened till I heard a terrific explosion astern, and turned round just -in time to see a ball of flame sink into the water near the _Mars_. I -couldn't imagine what it was for a moment; but the _Mars_ people got -their searchlight going in less than a jiffy, and then we spotted an -aeroplane directly overhead. - -"That settled the mystery of the explosion, and the _Mars_ began to pot -at her with the vertical guns, though at first it was impossible to tell -whether any hits were made. But after a few shots, all doubts were set -at rest, for she came tumbling down like a winged partridge. As soon as -she struck the water, boats were lowered, and they rowed to the floating -wreckage, where they found you and also the body of a man who had -evidently been killed by one of the shots. As the heavier parts of the -machine had sunk, we could not tell what sort of weapons she carried, or -the number of the crew. - -"After that, I went aboard the _Mars_ and reported to the skipper what -you had told me about your suspicions concerning the _Black Diamond_. He -was precious ratty at not having been told before, and I got orders to -chase the steamer and search her. We overhauled her in less than half an -hour. She's now safely anchored near the Hard, and her crew are -prisoners." - -"It's pretty clear that the waterplane was carried aboard the steamer in -sections," said Lawless after a pause. "No doubt they were put together -after she left the quay. The whole thing was wonderfully engineered, I -must say." - -"But what about you?" asked Trent. "I imagine you must have had a rather -exciting time." - -"Exciting!" ejaculated the Lieutenant grimly, and then proceeded to -relate all that had happened to him after he left the _Knat_. - -"Well," said Trent at the conclusion, "you scored that time, anyway." - -"I s'pose so," answered the other, with a sigh. "But if it had only been -a Zep and I'd brought it down, there'd have been a cool thou.' waiting -for me." - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE HOAX - - -A thin grey mist lay upon the waters, giving the impression of a silvery -veil of gauze stretched from sea to sky. The evening was calm, with not -a breath of wind stirring, and the sea was ruffled by long, undulating -furrows that pursued their way across the surface like great ripples, -with never a "cat's paw" nor a speck of foam to break the monotony of -their green-grey hue. - -Looking strangely impalpable and ghostlike by reason of the mist, the -destroyer _Knat_ slipped swiftly through the water, heaving gently to -the ground-swell. Upon the bridge Lieutenant-Commander Lawless stood -smoking a pipe, and near him Sub-Lieutenant Trent reclined against the -searchlight, likewise absorbing tobacco smoke and ozone. No other vessel -was in sight and the only sound to be heard was the soft whirr of the -turbines. - -"This is what I call balmy and peaceful," remarked Lawless, taking the -pipe from his mouth and knocking it against the handrail. "One could -almost sing 'A Life on the Ocean Wave.'" - -"Huh!" grunted Trent; "then it would be balmy without being peaceful." - -As Lawless made no reply, he looked up to see the Lieutenant staring -hard through the mist at a vague, shapeless something which might have -been a ship, or a cliff, viewed through the murky atmosphere. - -"Something ahead of us on the starboard bow," he said. - -Both officers riveted their gaze upon the nebulous object which, as the -destroyer overhauled it, assumed the shape and appearance of a large -steamer, while their ears caught the steady throb of engines. - -"I'll give her a hail," said Lawless, picking up the megaphone. - -But before he had time to raise it to his mouth the fog was split by a -yellow streak of fire and a shell came whizzing over the _Knat's_ bows. - -"By the Lord, an enemy ship!" ejaculated the Lieutenant, and passed the -word to open fire with the machine guns. The quick-firer just below the -bridge led off, but before the other guns had a chance to follow suit a -heavy bank of fog rolled up and obliterated the steamer as completely as -though a curtain had been lowered. Although invisible, the vessel's -engines could still be heard and, guided by the sound, the _Knat_ was -kept on her trail, Lawless waiting only for the fog to lift in order to -open fire again. While he was still expecting this to happen there came -the notes of a bugle and at the sound the Lieutenant nearly tumbled down -the bridge ladder in astonishment. For it was the dinner call as given -on British ships: - - "Officers' wives eat puddings and pies, - But soldiers' wives eat skilly." - -"What the dickens does it mean?" he murmured, and then, raising his -voice, hailed the mysterious steamer. - -"Ahoy there, ahoy! Where away?" came the answer. - -"On your port quarter." - -"What ship is that?" - -"British destroyer, _Knat_." - -The fog lifted again, and this time Lawless could see the decks thronged -with anxious passengers and the captain leaning over the port -bridge-rail. - -"What ship are you?" he shouted. - -"The _Cotswold_, for Hull. Just sighted an enemy submarine and opened -fire on her," came the answer. - -"A submarine! How long ago?" - -"About ten minutes. She was using her machine-gun." - -"Why don't you provide your look-outs with spectacles?" answered Lawless -wrathfully. "It was me you sighted, not a submarine!" - -"I saw her periscope," answered the skipper of the _Cotswold_. - -"Saw your grandmother! You opened fire on me and I replied." - -"Then it was your business to hail me. Pity you haven't something better -to do than take pot shots at passenger boats," answered the merchant -skipper with some heat. - -The latter was obviously in the wrong, but, as a matter of fact, during -his voyage across the Atlantic he had been chased by two enemy -submarines and only by skilful seamanship and unceasing vigilance had -succeeded in eluding them and saving his ship. He was, therefore, a -trifle "nervy" and apt to suspect every indistinguishable floating -object he met of being a submarine. Possibly, seen dimly through the -fog, the _Knat_ looked something like a submarine awash and the captain -of the _Cotswold_ had been justified in opening fire on her. Lawless, -however, was ignorant of this, and the skipper's last taunt made him -almost dance with rage. Fortunately, perhaps, another fog bank rolled up -at this moment and the two vessels were again hidden from each other. - -For some moments Lawless growled to himself things which, had the -captain of the _Cotswold_ heard them, might have produced a resumption -of hostilities. Suddenly he gave vent to an exclamation: - -"I've got it!" - -"Got what?" inquired Trent. - -"An idea." - -"Extraordinary phenomenon; I'll have to make a note of it in the log. -'Seven p.m. Commanding Officer seized----'" - -"Don't try and be funny, it's too pathetic. What I'm going to do is to -give that skipper the biggest shaking up he's ever had. If I don't get -even with him you can call me Von Tirpitz and I'll turn the other -cheek." - -"It sounds exciting." - -"You'll see," answered Lawless, and, leaving Trent in charge of the -bridge, he disappeared down the companion ladder. - -A few minutes later a sound of hammering reached the Sub-Lieutenant's -ears, and this went on, at intervals, for nearly a quarter of an hour. -Presently Lawless emerged upon the after-deck, followed by two seamen -carrying a barrel with what looked like a piece of stove-pipe protruding -from it. - -"There," said Lawless, mounting the bridge again. "Isn't it a daisy?" - -"What is it--a patent incubator?" inquired Trent. - -"Pah! You've no imagination. That, my son, is an _idea_." - -"H'm! I always thought your ideas were pretty heavy, but----" - -"Shut up or I'll report you for insubordination." - -"Sorry, but I don't quite follow the drift of this ponderous idea of -yours." - -"That's because yours is a stodgy, matter-of-fact, unromantic mind. But -listen and I'll expound in words suitable to your infantine -understanding. In the first place, I must tell you that one end of that -barrel is weighted in such a manner that, when submerged in a suitable -fluid, such as sea-water, it will float just below the surface. -Secondly," continued Lawless, in the manner of one giving a lecture, "I -would call your attention to a cylindrical object which, viewed at close -range, somewhat resembles a drain-pipe. Nevertheless, my child, it is -not a drain-pipe, but an invention of mine own constructed by the worthy -artificer, yclept Bates. Lastly, a thin line of about six fathoms -length, to the end of which is suspended a goodly lump of lead, is -attached to the side of the said barrel." - -Lawless stopped and waited for the applause. - -"A very pretty conjuring trick," remarked Trent, as one humouring an -amiable lunatic. "And what do you do now? Make it disappear up your -sleeve or change it into a live rabbit?" - -"Oh, you blithering ass!" exclaimed the Lieutenant impatiently. "Can't -you see? This is the means I've devised for revenging myself on that -wretched skipper." - -"You're going to fill it with dynamite and explode it under his stern?" - -"No, my child, I'm not. Instead, I'm going to fix that line to the -stanchions against his rudder-post so that the steamer will tow this -barrel, which, being weighted, will be submerged and show only the pipe -in a vertical position above the surface. Furthermore, the worthy Bates -having fashioned the top thereof in the likeness of a periscope, the -victim will think he's being chased by an enemy submarine and have -divers fits and spasms in consequence. Do you grasp the idea _now_?" - -"It's pretty feeble, but I think I follow you," answered Trent. "Only -you seem to have forgotten one thing, which is that as soon as the fog -lifts and the skipper spots your barrel he'll pot it with his -quick-firer. Then we shall read a hair-raising account of how the -captain of the _Cotswold_ sank a _U_ boat which had been following her -all night." - -"Not a bit of it, my son. They won't be able to hit that barrel in a -month of Sundays, especially if we get a choppy sea by the morning." - -Trent shrugged his shoulders, but made no further comment. - -"And now," went on Lawless cheerfully, "it's time the plot thickened, so -we'll proceed to drop the bean in the soup. Stand by the telegraph, for -if we run our nose against the other fellow's counter the joke'll be on -us." - -He leant over the bridge-rail and peered through the fog for the -steamer, but, though he could hear the latter's engines, the vessel -herself was invisible. The manoeuvre he proposed carrying out was, to -put it mildly, risky, and no one but the feckless Lieutenant would have -contemplated such a thing, much less have attempted to put it into -execution. But no fear of possible consequences ruffled his serenity as, -little by little, the _Knat_ cautiously overhauled the _Cotswold_, the -noise of whose machinery completely drowned the hum of the destroyer's -turbines. - -Some ten minutes elapsed, and then Lawless was able to make out the -vessel's stern towering, dim and shadowy, above him. Then, taking the -wheel from the hands of the quartermaster, he brought the _Knat's_ bows -right under the steamer's counter. - -"Let her go," he said in a hoarse whisper. - -The bos'n, who was balancing himself on the companion-ladder, sprang to -the deck and, picking up the line attached to the barrel, ran with it on -to the fo'c'sle head. Leaning as far over as he could he pitched the -lump of lead, to which the other end of the line was fastened, against -the _Cotswold's_ stern-post in such a manner that it would fall over one -of the iron supports extending from beneath the counter to the -rudder-post. There was, of course, the danger of its being caught in the -propellers, but he had to risk that. As it happened, the cast was -successful, whereupon the bos'n called softly to a sailor, who at once -flung the barrel into the sea, together with the slack line. - -"All clear, sir," the bos'n reported to Lawless. - -The latter rang down "half-speed astern," the _Knat_ backed away into -the fog, and the steamer was blotted out. - -"There," murmured the Lieutenant, with a sigh of satisfaction, "when the -skipper spots that in his wake he'll have about fifty fits right away. -Now we'd better try and get back on our beat." - -The _Knat_ was supposed to be searching a certain prescribed area for an -enemy mine-sower which had been active for several days past in this -particular portion of the North Sea. Lawless, so far, had not had any -luck; a fact which made him all the keener to meet with the enemy ship -before she succeeded in getting safely back to port. - -"I'm going below for a spell," he said to Trent. "Call me if anything -happens." - -About a couple of hours later, the Lieutenant was awakened by a -bridge-messenger, who told him the fog was lifting and that a vessel had -just been sighted. - -"Looks to be the packet we picked up a little while back, sir," he said. - -Lawless proceeded to the bridge and, catching sight of the steamer -dimly visible ahead, chuckled softly. - -"The fun'll start before long," he remarked to Trent. "Oh, to see the -old man's face when the officer of the watch reports a submarine -astern!" - -"I've calculated that your precious joke's taken us about four miles out -of our course," answered the junior officer gloomily. - -"You'll meet with an early death, like all good young people, if you're -not careful," retorted Lawless. "Virtue has its disadvantages remember." - -A mild breeze had sprung up and was dissipating the fog rapidly while -churning the water into cat's paws. Presently Trent, who had been -watching the steamer through the night glasses, thrust them into the -Lieutenant's hands. - -"Take a squint at that packet," he said in a tone of suppressed -excitement. - -Lawless did so, and remained staring at the vessel ahead for such a long -time that Trent became impatient. - -"Well, what do you make of her?" he asked. - -"She's not the _Cotswold_." - -"No; and why is she steaming without lights?" - -"We'll soon see," answered Lawless, and rang down full speed ahead. - -In a few minutes the destroyer was broadside on to the strange vessel -and Lawless shouted a demand to know what ship she was. A pause ensued, -and then, by way of an answer, a tongue of flame leapt from the -stranger's port side and a shell crashed into the _Knat's_ funnel, just -abaft the bridge. In a second the destroyer had swung round so as to -present only her bows to the enemy and her machine-guns were hammering -away as fast as they could be loaded. The duel lasted nearly ten -minutes, the _Knat_ trying to manoeuvre into such a position that she -could torpedo her adversary, the latter doing her utmost to frustrate -this design. And all this time the two vessels were pounding away at -each other with their machine-guns, circling around like two wrestlers -before they come to grips. The enemy had the advantage in guns, which -were far heavier than those carried by the destroyer, but the latter -made up for this in speed and, being so small, proved an extraordinarily -difficult target to hit. - -At last Lawless saw his chance to launch a torpedo and gave the word. -The glistening, fish-like weapon leapt from its tube and, at the same -moment, the enemy vessel started to swing round in order to avoid the -fast approaching engine of death. But the manoeuvre had been carried -out too late; the torpedo struck her just underneath the stern and there -was a terrific explosion. The steamer heeled over on her starboard -side, her bows lifted above the water, and then, with a roar of -escaping steam, she dived stern foremost beneath the surface, and so to -the bottom, fifty fathoms deep or more. - -The _Knat's_ boats had been launched immediately after the mine-sower -was struck, and they at once proceeded to the spot where she had -disappeared. But so swift had been the steamer's fate that not more than -half a dozen survivors were picked up and, after pulling around for a -while, the boats returned to the _Knat_. - -Early in the afternoon of the following day the _Knat_ put into Hull, -and Lawless, having handed over his prisoners and written an official -report of the engagement, went ashore with Trent. - -"By the way," said the latter, as they made their way towards a certain -hostelry much favoured by naval and merchant service officers, "did you -notice the _Cotswold_ moored just off the landing stage?" - -"No, I was below making out my report." - -His face expanded into a broad grin. - -"Then the chances are ten to one that we meet her skipper before the -day's out. And if I don't pull his blessed leg you can strafe me for a -Hun." - -As it happened they did meet this particular skipper, and in the very -hostelry to which they were bound. He was in the smoking-room and, of -course, did not recognise Lawless when he and Trent entered because, on -the occasion of their exchanging courtesies, it had been too dark and -foggy for either of them to identify the other. The Lieutenant, however, -knew him at once by his voice, which was of a peculiarly hoarse quality. - -"It's a fact," he was saying to a small group of interested auditors, -"that infernal _U_ boat was no farther from my stern than I am from that -piano yonder. Well, I started steering a zig-zag course, at the same -time opening fire on the submarine with my machine-gun. One of the first -shots knocked her periscope to smithereens and then----" - -He was interrupted by a burst of laughter, and, turning round, the -narrator of this thrilling episode beheld a couple of officers almost -doubled up with mirth. - -"Oh, tell us some more, skipper!" cried Lawless, as soon as he could -speak. - -"I beg your pardon, sir," said the other, his face scarlet with -indignation. - -"Then we'll say no more about it," answered the Lieutenant. "But surely -you remember me? We met in the fog last night." - -"What! Are you the blackguard who fired on me?" - -"Well, you started shooting first, remember. But about that submarine -yarn of yours, it's such a good one that I really haven't the heart to -spoil it; so, if you'll stand drinks round, mum's the word as far as I'm -concerned." - -"Will you be good enough to tell me what the devil you're driving at?" -inquired the skipper, glaring fiercely at Lawless. - -"Then you won't accept my offer?" - -"Sir, I'll see you in Hades first." - -"Very well then, here goes," and Lawless proceeded to recount the trick -he had played on the skipper with the aid of a barrel and a tin -cylinder. He was interrupted several times by bursts of uproarious mirth -from the audience, but the victim himself neither smiled nor uttered a -word until the Lieutenant had finished his story. - -Then he spoke. - -"So you claim that I haven't sunk an enemy submarine at all?" he asked, -turning to Lawless. - -"I'll wager a month's salary to a pinch of snuff that you never even saw -one from the time we parted till you reached port." - -"I accept the wager," answered the skipper, to everybody's surprise. -"You see," he went on, addressing the company generally, "one reason why -I collared that _U_ boat so easily was that something fouled her -propeller and she could neither get away nor attack me. This morning, -when we put in here, the bos'n found a length of rope with a piece of -lead attached, fastened to the vessel's stern. How the deuce it got -there we couldn't make out, but now, thanks to this gentleman, we know. -What's more, it must have been that rope and the old barrel at the end -of it which fouled the German's propeller and did him in. As for -proof"--he turned to an elderly gentleman seated in a corner--"there is -Captain Barter, who took charge of the prisoners when they were landed, -and he can tell you whether my story's true or not." - -All eyes were turned inquiringly upon the unobtrusive gentleman with the -four gold rings round his sleeves. - -"Yes," he said quietly, "it's perfectly true. The three German officers -of the submarine are now on their way to Donnington Hall and the men are -in the temporary prison hulk moored up the river." - -Before he returned to the _Knat_ Lawless gloomily wrote a "chit" wherein -he assigned to the skipper of the _Cotswold_ his entire salary for the -ensuing month. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -PRISONER OF WAR - - -One bright and cheerful summer morning Lawless sat in his favourite -attitude on the bridge-rail of the _Knat_ contemplating the distant -coast-line with a far-away expression in his eyes. Despite the official -regulations concerning the uniform to be worn by naval officers when on -duty, his present attire left much to be desired. It consisted chiefly -of blue serge trousers, a battered shooting cap, and a pink-striped -pyjama jacket. - -"I wonder," murmured the Lieutenant dreamily, "whether I could get short -leave of absence. I'm just spoiling for a spell ashore and a mild -bust-up." - -Sub-Lieutenant Trent, who was standing near, volunteered no comment. - -"I haven't been feeling very well lately," continued Lawless, "and I -think I need a change." - -"Rot!" ejaculated Trent rudely. "I never saw a man look in better health -in my life. You're as fit as a fiddle." - -Lawless slowly shook his head. - -"I've been suffering from internal pains," he said gloomily. "Very -likely you haven't noticed, but it's a fact all the same." - -"Internal humbug," grumbled the unsympathetic junior. "And if you have," -he added, "what can you expect after eating tinned lobster, Welsh -rarebit, and cold pork for supper?" - -"That," replied Lawless decisively, "wouldn't upset an infant. No, I -shall put in an application for sick leave." - -That same afternoon Lawless sat down in his little cabin and prepared to -concoct a letter setting forth his ailments and the imperative necessity -for a holiday in consequence. It took about two hours and a tremendous -expenditure of ink and paper to write, and when finished was calculated -to impress the reader with the belief that the unfortunate officer was -suffering from every fatal malady known to medical science. He had just -concluded this literary effort and was re-reading it carefully in order -to dot the i's, cross the t's, and make needed repairs to the spelling, -when the door opened and Trent's head appeared in the aperture. - -"Hullo!" he exclaimed, "still at it?" - -"Do you spell 'conscious' with a _t_?" asked Lawless, ignoring the -ironic inquiry. - -"No, you ass, of course not." - -"I'm afraid it's a bit smudgy," observed the author as he folded up the -letter, "but I've explained that it was written in a choppy sea." - -"When they look at the spelling I expect they'll think it was written in -a hurricane," said the junior officer grimly. - -Lawless took no notice of the jibe. - -"That's done," he murmured with a sigh of relief. "If there's such a -thing as humanity in the world, I shall get my leave." - -For the first few days after the despatch of the epistle Lawless -alternated between hope and despondency, but when a week passed and he -received no reply, he made up his mind that the authorities had declined -to consider his application. However, ten days later, when he was -breakfasting with Trent, there arrived an official letter with the -Admiralty stamp upon it. - -"It's come!" cried the Lieutenant after he had hurriedly glanced through -the contents. "I knew it would." - -Trent's reply was such as no respectable printer would set up in type. -He had been in the act of raising a cup of coffee to his lips when -Lawless gave vent to his exultant shout, and it had so startled the -Sub-Lieutenant that he let fall the cup and received the boiling -contents down the front of his clothes. - -"Why don't you look cheerful?" demanded Lawless. "What's a little coffee -at a time like this?" - -"Go to the devil!" retorted the other, vainly endeavouring to sop up the -coffee from his waistcoat with a silk handkerchief. "It's your holiday, -not mine. And, any way, you've got it under false pretences." - -"Sub-Lieutenant Trent, are you aware of the fact that you're speaking -disrespectfully to your superior officer?" asked Lawless in a gently -chiding tone. - -"Holy Jerusalem!" suddenly yelled Trent, springing to his feet. He had -just discovered from an abrupt rise in temperature about his person that -the coffee had soaked through his shirt. - -"I've a good mind to report you for insubordination and--and cheek," -observed the Lieutenant, taking no pains to conceal his enjoyment of the -other's misfortune. - -"And I'll sue you for a new suit of duds, Lawless, you dismal idiot. -It's all through you that I'm soaked to the skin with this confounded -coffee." - -A week later Lieutenant-Commander Lawless, bound for Cork _via_ -Plymouth, was reclining at his ease in the comfortable little -smoking-room of the _Lake Killarney_, one of the miniature liners which -carry passengers to and from Ireland. Lawless had decided to spend his -holiday on the west coast of the Emerald Isle, and had provided himself -with golf clubs, fishing rods, and other implements of innocent sport -wherewith to while away his leisure. The only thing which troubled him -was his customary want of cash, and when he thought of the thousand -pounds waiting to be earned, he heaved a sigh of deep regret. If only he -could have brought down another Zeppelin.... - -Now, Lawless, as those who have followed his turbulent career are aware, -was one of those hapless individuals who seem to be marked out as the -sport of destiny. On this particular occasion the mischievous planet -under which the Lieutenant had first seen the light must have twinkled -with more than its usual malignity, for, within twelve hours of setting -forth on his pleasure trip, he was a prisoner in the hands of the -Germans. - -It came about in this manner. The _Lake Killarney_ had barely left the -Seven Stones Light on her port quarter when, not more than fifty yards -away on her starboard bow, there arose the conning tower of a large -German submarine. Before the captain of the steamer was aware of this -unwelcome visitor the latter had sent a couple of shots across his bows -as a peremptory signal to stop. The _Lake Killarney_, being a slow boat -and unarmed withal, there was nothing for it but to obey, and -accordingly she was hove-to. - -The shots had awakened Lawless, at the time peacefully asleep in his -bunk, and scrambling into his trousers he rushed upon deck to see what -all the noise was about. Other passengers, in even lighter attire, also -hastened on deck, where the crew, in obedience to orders, were lowering -the lifeboats. Lawless at once proceeded to help the women and children -into them, and then, with the captain, got into the last one to leave -the ship. As the boat pulled away from the _Lake Killarney_ the German -commander ordered her to come alongside the submarine; an order which, -in view of the machine-gun on her for'a'd platform, it would have been -unwise to ignore. Then the German officer proceeded to put the Captain -through a pretty severe cross-examination concerning the whereabouts of -various portions of the British Fleet and other matters which he desired -to know. The Captain, however, was able to profess ignorance in nearly -every case, and where he could not, lied like a Trojan. - -"We've been trying to get at your wonderful fleet for the last eighteen -months," said the German, "but it's managed to elude us so far. Still, -we'll drag it out of its hiding place before long, and then _Guten Tag_ -to the British Navy." - -"What's the good of unloading that piffling swank," exclaimed Lawless, -unable to contain himself any longer. "We taught you a lesson at -Heligoland, and when we do meet your High Canal Fleet there'll be -another island in the North Sea--made of German scrap-iron." - -"_Himmel!_ I'll put a bullet through you, insolent English pig!" cried -the German, at the same time producing an automatic pistol. "Who is this -man?" he added, turning to the Captain. - -"Lieut.-Commander Lawless, I believe," answered the latter unthinkingly. - -"Ah, I have heard of you, Herr Lieutenant," said the German. "As a -British Naval officer I shall take you prisoner. Be good enough to step -aboard." - -"You've done for me, skipper," said Lawless bitterly as he mounted the -submarine's platform. - -The Captain of the _Lake Killarney_ realised his mistake only too well, -but the mischief was done now. - -"Cast off," said the Commander, "I am going to sink your vessel." - -Half-a-dozen shots beneath the water-line sufficed to sink the steamer, -and then the commander, with Lawless and the men on the gun platform, -went below, the conning-tower hatch was closed and the boat dived -beneath the surface. - -Two days later Lawless was taken ashore at a certain German port under -an armed escort. He was domiciled temporarily in the local prison, and -on the following morning an escort took him to another part of the -building and ushered him into a sort of office where various uniformed -individuals were gathered. There a careful record was made of his name, -professional rank, place of birth, and many other private details of his -life and habits. Then he was photographed. - -This done, a sergeant stepped forward and, gripping the prisoner by the -shoulders, began, with the assistance of a private, to feel in his -trouser pockets. At this the Lieutenant's patience vanished and, before -the sergeant had time to guess what was coming, he had been pitched head -first into a large wastepaper basket and the private had taken a header -into the coal scuttle. But before Lawless could perform any further -athletic feats, he was seized by three soldiers and forced against the -wall. - -Then the search recommenced, and various articles, including a note from -a tailor threatening legal proceedings unless he received a "remittance -forthwith," were brought to light. - -"Ach, what is this?" asked an officer looking at a crumpled piece of -paper which the sergeant had handed to him with an air of triumph. - -He carefully smoothed it out, and then, exhibiting it to the prisoner, -repeated the question. - -Lawless glanced at it, and then, despite the gravity of his position, -burst into a hearty laugh, whereat the officer, the sergeant and the -privates all scowled at him reprovingly. On one side of the paper were -scrawled the following incriminating words: - - "Conshus, - Contitious, - Concious." - -On the other side were a number of strange-looking figures bearing some -resemblance to a capital L. - -"Why," said Lawless when he had recovered from his hilarity, "I was -trying some days ago to spell 'conscious' and, not being quite sure -about it, wrote it down different ways to see which looked right. Of -course," he added confidently, "it was the last one." - -"And these?" queried the officer, pointing to the straggling -hieroglyphics. - -"Oh, I was uncertain how to write a capital _q_--I don't often write -that letter as a capital--and I experimented. Those are the -experiments." - -"They are a secret code," said the officer accusingly. - -"Secret fiddlesticks!" ejaculated Lawless. - -"You refuse to decipher it?" - -"Confound it all, there's nothing to decipher." - -"Very well," said the officer, making a note in a little book. He then -waved his hand to indicate that the examination was at an end, and a -couple of soldiers, with side-arms drawn, marched the prisoner back to -the little room he occupied in the prison and there left him. - -On the following morning he was again brought before his examiner and -again declared that the scribble had nothing to do with any code. - -"You will be sent to the fortress of Glatz," said the officer. - -Now, Lawless had heard quite enough about that terrible fortress in -Prussian Silesia to make it, in his opinion, a most undesirable -residence, and he determined to make a bold effort at escape before he -got there. Unhappily, there was no prospect of his getting the ghost of -a chance to escape, for he was conducted to the railway station in -charge of two privates, a corporal, and a commissioned officer. For some -reason they did not travel by the direct route _via_ Frankfurt, but went -a roundabout way through Stettin, Damm and Posen. At the last-named -station they had to change trains and Lawless hoped for an opportunity -to escape, but his guards never relaxed their vigilance and it was -useless to try. - -While they were standing on the platform waiting for the train, the -Lieutenant caught sight of a man whose face seemed familiar to him. But -for the life of him he could not recall where or when he had seen the -owner of the face, though he cudgelled his brains all the way to -Breslau. It was dark when they reached this town, and here they had to -change into a local train for Glatz. Suddenly, while crossing a bridge -to another platform, Lawless again caught sight of the strangely -familiar face among the crowd of people hurrying to catch the train. It -disappeared from view almost immediately, but a moment later the -Lieutenant heard a voice whisper in his ear: - -"Take your chance and follow me." - -Lawless turned his head sharply and saw that the speaker was none other -than the man whose face had been haunting him. - -It was all very well to say "take your chance" but, so far as Lawless -could see, there was no chance to take. Then suddenly there was a -commotion among the people in front of him, a wild scramble as if -someone had dropped a purse and everybody was fighting to obtain it. -Both the prisoner and his guards were almost swept off their feet and -then Lawless took his chance. Diving down, he simply butted a way -through the mob, thanking his stars that he had once been centre forward -in a county football team. At the end of the bridge he caught sight of -his unknown friend descending the stairs and followed him as quickly as -he could. Behind him he could hear the shouts of his guards and the -angry expostulations of the people whom they were thrusting aside in -their endeavour to catch the runaway. Fortunately he was wearing a -civilian great-coat--one given him when he had been brought ashore from -the submarine--and so there was nothing in his appearance to distinguish -him from the other people with whom he mingled. - -The man he was following passed through a door leading from the platform -and Lawless, entering after him, found himself in a small office, -evidently used by some of the railway officials. The stranger locked the -door and then faced the Lieutenant. - -"So we meet again," he said. "Last time it was in mid-ocean and now----" -he shrugged his shoulders. - -In a flash, Lawless remembered who the man was. He was the -German-American spy who, with Cassidy's assistance, he had rescued from -the torpedoed _Nimrod_ and afterwards unwittingly allowed to escape with -a loan of five pounds. - -"You saved my life and gave me my liberty," went on the man, "though had -you known who I was the result might have been different. However, the -fact remains and now I am going to do my best to repay the debt. I----" - -He was interrupted by a knocking at the door and voices without shouted -something Lawless could not understand. His rescuer replied, the -knocking ceased and he turned once more to the Lieutenant. - -"That has put them off the track for a little while, at any rate," he -said. "Now you see that window? Well, outside it is a large siding for -goods trains. One is loading now for Stettin, and, if you are -careful--and lucky--you can creep under a tarpaulin on one of the trucks -and remain there till the train reaches its destination. There your real -difficulties will begin, for you'll have to smuggle yourself aboard a -Norwegian or Swedish steamer and get to a neutral port. I have done as -much as lies in my power." - -Lawless abruptly held out his hand. - -"You're a white man," he said. "By Jove, I never expected it from a -Hun!" - -"And now you must get off before those fellows come buzzing round here -again." He crossed to the window and opened it. "There's your road," he -said, and at the same time pressed a wad of paper money into the -Lieutenant's hand. - -Lawless climbed over the sill and dropped gently to the ground, only a -few feet below. Then the window above him was closed and he started to -creep along under the shadow of the wall, for the yard was lit up by -electric arc lamps. Then a new dilemma faced him. Instead of one goods -train there were three, and, of course, he had no means of finding out -which of them was bound for Stettin. - -"Well, here goes," he murmured desperately, and selected the longest -train as the one most likely to be bound for the Baltic port. - -So, creeping under trucks, stealthily crossing lines and avoiding all -brightly illuminated spots, he at last reached the train he had selected -without attracting the attention of the workpeople, many of whom were -women. Climbing into a truck, he drew the tarpaulin over his head and -settled down on the edge of a packing case. - -"Any way, I'm not going to Glatz this trip," he thought. - -He must have been crouching there for about half an hour and was -beginning to drop off into an uneasy doze, when there was a terrific -jolt and his head came into contact with a cask. Then, as the jolts -continued, gradually becoming less violent, he knew that the train was -starting on its journey. - -From speculating as to his probable destination, Lawless gradually -dropped off to sleep, and was only awakened by another series of jolts -and jerks. Cautiously lifting his head from under the tarpaulin he saw -that the train had come to a standstill on some sidings and that it was -nearly daylight. Realising that if he did not want to be discovered -there was no time to lose in getting away, he clambered out of the truck -and slipped across the sidings to a low fence, over which he climbed. - -"Now where the devil am I?" he muttered. - -He was standing on a narrow footpath situated, apparently, on the -outskirts of a town, the lights of which he could see in the distance. -The air was chill and he shivered, becoming aware at the same time that -he was ravenously hungry. Then, from a field about half a mile away, he -saw a column of smoke rising, and noticed what seemed to be two or three -caravans drawn up in line. It occurred to him that this must be the -temporary encampment of some nomad family who, in all probability, were -preparing their morning meal before proceeding on their way. The idea -held him. - -"I've got to raise some grub somehow," he told himself. - -He carefully considered the matter, and came to the conclusion that he -would stand less chance of being betrayed by such wanderers as -these--almost outlaws themselves--than by more virtuous and respectable -folk. He thereupon proceeded towards the encampment and, as he -approached, an appetising smell assailed his nostrils and made him feel -still hungrier. Vaulting over a hedge, Lawless came upon a very dirty -but very picturesque ruffian, attired in the manner of a musical-comedy -bandit, who was engaged in taking a captured rabbit from a wire noose. -At sight of the stranger, he sprang to his feet, but Lawless made -pacific gesticulations and intimated, by the simple means of pointing -first to his mouth and then to his stomach, that he was hungry. -Thereupon the bandit person grinned affably, and made a sign indicating -that his new acquaintance was to follow him. - -On arriving at the camp Lawless discovered that the aroma which had so -tickled his nostrils emanated from a large iron pot suspended over the -fire. Round this were several ragged children heaping on sticks, and -near the caravans a group of men and women putting the finishing touches -to an extremely primitive _toilette_. The Lieutenant's guide went up to -them, and for some moments they all talked at once in an -uncomprehensible jargon, at the same time casting inquisitive and -half-suspicious glances at the uninvited guest. - -Eventually they seemed to accept him, and, seating themselves round the -fire, signed the Lieutenant to do the same. These people, as a matter of -fact, were Silesian gipsies and hereditary foes to law and order, -wherefore perhaps they felt a certain sympathy towards the dishevelled -and hungry stranger who was almost as dirty as themselves. - -A few moments later Lawless was eating ravenously of a savoury mess out -of a tin plate with his fingers--knives and forks, apparently, were -regarded by these people as among the superfluities of life. When he had -eaten his fill Lawless speculated as to where he was. There was no sign -of any docks or shipping, and he began to doubt whether he had reached -Stettin after all. He decided to try, by means of signs and -gesticulations, to make these people understand that he wanted to know -where he was. - -It proved a long, wearisome, and almost hopeless task, but at last he -succeeded. - -"Glatz," said the man upon whom he had been experimenting. - -"Glatz!" - -The man nodded. - -"Well, I'm jiggered!" exclaimed Lawless under his breath. - -He had contrived to escape from his guards, elude recapture, stow -himself away on a train--only to find himself in the very place he had -risked so much to avoid. - -"Damn!" he remarked aloud. - -Then, realising that it might be dangerous to hang about in the open -fields, he rose to his feet. Possibly he might come across some empty -barn or building where he could lie concealed till nightfall. At any -rate, since he had made his escape at Breslau, it was there that the -authorities would concentrate their search; certainly they would not -suspect that he had gone on to Glatz. And then the question arose, how -was he to reach Stettin? - -He put his hand in his pocket, pulled out the notes which his mysterious -friend had given him and handed one to the gipsy. Its equivalent in -English currency was a little less than a pound, and his benefactor -stared in open-mouthed astonishment, first at the note and then at him. -For a minute Lawless thought that he had unwittingly insulted the man, -but he was wrong there; neither pride nor sensitiveness are among the -failings of the Silesian gipsies. The man merely thought that his guest -was a benevolent lunatic. - -So, after shaking hands and exchanging grins all round, Lawless departed -and, taking chance as his guide, hurried off in the opposite direction -to the town, carefully avoiding all footpaths. At last he came to a -deserted windmill and, going inside, prepared to wait there till it was -dark enough to make further investigations. - -Throughout the whole of the day, which seemed like an eternity, Lawless -did not see a single soul, though he frequently surveyed the landscape -through the numerous apertures in his hiding-place. Long before it -became dark he grew hungry again, and cursed his want of forethought in -not having demanded some bread and cheese in exchange for the note he -had handed over. Eventually, pressed by his inward pangs, he stealthily -crept out of the ruin, and, foraging in the immediate neighbourhood, -discovered a field of turnips. He pulled up several and returned with -them to the mill; they were better than nothing, after all. - -At last twilight came, and following that the night, dark and starless. -Then the Lieutenant emerged from his hiding-place, and, standing in the -middle of the field, wondered what direction he should take. He had no -compass, of course, and the country around was an uncharted sea to him. -Presently he noticed in the far distance a bright light shining, and, -for no particular reason, set off in that direction. As he advanced the -light suddenly disappeared nor did it blaze out again during the rest of -his tramp. - -"Funny," he murmured. "It wasn't a searchlight, and it couldn't very -well be a signal." - -After about an hour's walk, he found himself near a large enclosure with -a long shed in the centre surrounded by a number of small huts. Also he -caught sight of a dim figure pacing mechanically to and fro some -distance in front of him and outside the enclosure--obviously a sentry. -At first he thought it must be a prison encampment and was about to move -stealthily away again, when the bright light which had first attracted -his attention, suddenly lit up the enclosure. It came from a large -arc-lamp suspended from a high wooden erection, and in the glare Lawless -recognised the shed as an aeroplane hangar. Evidently, therefore, this -was an aviation station, and the light served as a guide to the homeward -bound machines. This view was confirmed a few moments later when there -came the sound of a distant hum which gradually grew louder and more -distinct. - -Lawless, impelled more by curiosity than anything else, crawled nearer -to the enclosure and took "cover" behind a pile of wooden stakes which -were being used in the repairing of the palisades. The sentry had ceased -his monotonous pacing to and fro, and now stood, resting on his rifle, -looking skywards in the direction of the approaching aeroplane. At last -it came into view, flying rather low, and then the pilot volplaned to -the ground, alighting within the enclosure and bringing his machine to -a standstill not twenty yards from the spot where the Lieutenant was -concealed. The aviator sprang out, followed by the observer, and they -both hurried towards one of the huts, leaving the machine where it -stood. - -It was at this moment that a brilliant idea occurred to Lawless. Why -shouldn't he commandeer the machine and make his escape that way? With -him, to think was to act, so, not waiting to weigh the chances, he crept -from his hiding-place, darted across the grass while the sentry's back -was towards him, and climbed into the machine. He started the engines, -the machine began to move with increasing speed along the level, and -then rose into the air. So far he did not appear to have attracted the -attention of the sentry, who, not having seen him get into the -aeroplane, no doubt supposed that the pilot was off on another flight. -But, as the machine rose, Lawless caught sight of the pilot emerging -from the hut; nothing happened for fully a minute and then he heard the -crack of a rifle. By this time, however, he was out of danger, and, -though a searchlight waved frantically skywards it never once focussed -itself upon him. - -The distance from Glatz to Stettin is about two hundred miles as the -crow flies, and, with the aid of the chart and compass he found in the -machine, Lawless hoped to steer a fairly accurate course. He knew that -machines would set off in pursuit, but their pilots had first to find -and then to overtake him--and he already possessed a pretty good start. -His chief anxiety now was that the petrol supply would run out before -Stettin was reached, for the gauges were running low. - -About an hour later he passed over a brilliantly lighted town, which he -took to be Leignitz, and, later on, another one which, according to the -chart, should be Frankfurt-on-Oder. Then, when he was close upon -Stettin, the petrol began to give out and there was nothing for it but -to come down--an extremely difficult task to accomplish safely on a dark -night and in an unknown tract of country. - -At last he thought he could see a stretch of land free from obstructions -and, deciding to venture, he made a volplane downwards. But as ill-luck -would have it the machine collided with a tree and, turning turtle, -pitched the daring aviator out. His fall, however, was broken by the -branches, and he scrambled to his feet little the worse except for a few -bruises and scratches. On the ground, a few yards away, lay the -aeroplane a hopeless wreck. - -"Rather a pity," he murmured as he glanced at the débris, "but it was -smashed in a good cause." - -He was about to move away in order to seek some place of -concealment--for a light streak in the eastern sky warned him of -approaching dawn--when his foot struck something. Stooping down he saw -that it was a leather wallet, and concluded it must have formed part of -the aeroplane's equipment. Thinking it might contain a map of the -surrounding country, he picked it up and stuffed it in his pocket. - -It was barely light when, by devious routes, he reached the docks and -saw, among other vessels, a small steamer flying the Danish flag. -Thinking that money might be useful at this juncture, he put his hand in -his pocket expecting to find the remaining notes. But, to his -astonishment, they were not there, nor could he find them on any other -part of his person. The only possible conclusion was, that the -hospitable gipsy, to whom he had given one of the notes, had picked his -pocket of the remainder almost immediately afterwards. However, it was -no use worrying now, and he decided to chance his luck. He succeeded in -boarding the Danish steamer without attracting attention, and at once -sought an interview with the skipper. The latter, happily for him, had -served in the British Mercantile Marine and was a pronounced -anti-German, so it did not take very long to settle matters to the -satisfaction of both parties. In due course, therefore, Lawless reached -Copenhagen, where, by the good offices of the friendly skipper, he was -transferred to another vessel bound for London. - -It was just a week after his capture that Lawless landed at the wharf -just below London Bridge. Though he looked and felt more like a tramp -than an officer of the British Navy, he made straight for Whitehall and, -after a short but sharp altercation with some minor officials, found -himself in the presence of a certain admiral whose name is anathema to -the whole German nation. - -With extreme brevity the Lieutenant described his adventures since his -capture by the submarine, and then laid before the admiral the contents -of the wallet which had fallen out of the wrecked aeroplane. To the -uninitiated the papers Lawless produced would have been meaningless, but -to the admiral they were of the utmost value, containing, as they did, -secret information concerning the enemy's naval plans. - -A few days later Lawless, who had been ordered to rejoin the _Knat_ -pending further instructions, received an official communication from -the Admiralty. - -"This," he said complacently as he opened the envelope, "means -promotion." - -The letter, after the usual coldly-polite preliminaries, went on as -follows: - -"The Admiralty desire to commend Lieut.-Commander Lawless for having -obtained the information duly placed before them. They cannot, however, -grant any extension of leave under present conditions. Enclosed is a -cheque for three shillings and sixpence (3s. 6d.), being the sum -expended by him on victuals while in possession of the information above -referred to, and, therefore, on Government service." - -"Well, if that doesn't absolutely take the bun!" ejaculated Lawless, and -passed the epistle on to Trent. - -"H'm!" grunted the latter when he had perused it. - -"They're not even going to make good the kit I lost when the _Lake -Killarney_ went down!" - -"Still," said the sub-lieutenant, "virtue is its own reward, you know." - -"Damn," said Lawless, and pitched the missive through the open port -hole. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -THE RIDING LIGHT - - -The manners and customs of the Powers that Be may puzzle the ordinary -man, but those whose duty it is to serve the said Powers know that their -inconsistency is consistent--which is really not such a paradox as it -sounds. Because of this and of the water-tight compartments into which -the administrative body is divided, a number of destroyers was -patrolling Irish waters at the same time that the High Olympians were, -to all appearances, blandly unconscious of the German intrigue with -certain Irish malcontents. Among this flotilla was the _Knat_, and her -orders were to keep a sharp look-out for gun-runners, who, if rumour did -not lie, were extremely busy about this time. - -Nevertheless, although Lawless had been on duty for over a fortnight, -not the ghost of a gun-runner had he, or any of his crew, seen, and the -monotony of the work was becoming extremely irksome to all. One -afternoon Lawless left Sub-Lieutenant Trent in charge of the bridge, -and, going below, solaced himself with music and song till the bass -string of his banjo snapped. It was at this moment that a -bridge-messenger appeared with a "Beg parding, sir, but you're wanted on -the bridge." - -With a sigh of resignation, the Lieutenant flung his banjo on the settee -and made his way to the bridge. - -"Thought you'd like to have a squint at that Norwegian packet over -there," said Trent, indicating a cargo steamer some distance off on the -port bow with the Norwegian colours painted conspicuously on her hull -amidships. - -Lawless picked up the glasses and examined the approaching vessel. - -"Signal her to stop," he said. "I'll board her myself and have a peep -round; it'll be something to do." - -The signal was made and the steamer immediately hove-to. Then a boat was -lowered from the _Knat_, and, with Lawless in the stern-sheets, pulled -towards the stranger. - -"What ship are you?" called out the Lieutenant, as the boat came -alongside. - -"_Krajero_, Boston for Stavanger, with wheat," answered the officer on -the bridge. - -"I'm going to board you," said Lawless, whereupon the skipper of the -_Krajero_ obligingly lowered an accommodation-ladder over the side for -the convenience of his visitor. - -Upon examination, the ship's papers proved to be in order, but Lawless, -determined to leave nothing to chance, ordered the hatch-covers to be -removed. The captain complied, and the Lieutenant was permitted to look -into the holds, both of which had loose grain up to the combings. - -"You can proceed, Captain," said Lawless. - -"Tanks, ver goot," answered the skipper, and, as soon as the Lieutenant -had regained his boat, resumed his course. - -"Nothin' doing," said Lawless, when he returned to the _Knat_. "Business -is dull, Trent." - -The junior officer agreed. He had hoped that the Norwegian might prove -to be a gun-runner or a disguised German commerce destroyer, or -anything, in fact, that might have afforded a little excitement and a -chance for a run ashore. - -"I s'pose we'll just keep on footling about here till the blooming war's -over," he growled. "Then someone'll wake up suddenly and discover that -there's an obsolete destroyer with a crew of greybeards beating about -the Irish coast." - -But he was wrong there, as events soon proved. A couple of hours after -Lawless had boarded the Norwegian steamer, a wireless message was -received from the Captain of the cruiser-scout, _Trojon_, inquiring if -a vessel called the _Krajero_ had been sighted. - -"Tell him 'yes,' and that, after examining her papers and cargo, I -allowed her to proceed," said Lawless to the operator. - -The message was duly transmitted, and a few minutes later a reply came: - -"Captain of _Trojon_ to Commander of _Knat_. Have stopped steamer -_Krajero_, and, on examination, found that beneath her cargo of grain -was a large number of mines, which she intended sowing in the Channel." - -"Well, I'm damned!" ejaculated Lawless when he had read the message. - -"No promotion this trip," commented Trent grimly. - -Lawless, who was almost dancing with rage, tore the paper into shreds -and cast them to the four winds of heaven. - -"It'll be the talk of the Fleet!" he cried. "Every mother's son from the -stokers to the Admiral will be sniggering over it, curse them. It shan't -happen again, though! I'll search every boat I meet, from a dinghy to a -liner. Lord, to think I've been bamboozled by a swab of a make-believe -Norwegian skipper with a six-inch grin across his mug!" - -He continued in the same strain for some time, vowing vengeance on all -skippers who should henceforth attempt to deceive him in any manner -whatsoever. Trent had much ado to keep from laughing, but as he was of -a smaller stature than Lawless he deemed it safer to maintain a serious -aspect. - -But worse was to follow. Other ships had picked up the _Trojon's_ -message, and their captains took advantage of this to send ironic -messages of congratulation to the luckless commander of the _Knat_. For -some time the wireless operator was kept busy receiving and transcribing -such messages as: - -"Well done, _Knat_!" - -"Is it true that you've been promoted?" - -"What is the difference between a bushel of wheat and a contact-mine, -and if not why not?" - -At last Lawless could stand it no longer and, almost foaming at the -mouth, hurried to the operator's room. - -"Look here!" he shouted, "if you take down any more of those infernal -messages I'll have you put in irons. Understand?" - -"Yes, sir," answered the operator meekly. - -The Lieutenant savagely stamped down the little iron ladder and gazed -wrathfully around to see if any of the men had the suspicion of a grin -on his face. But the men's countenances were almost preternaturally -serious as they busied themselves with little odd jobs about the deck. - -"What's the matter with the men, bos'n?" he growled. "They look like a -company of funeral mutes." - -"Oh, they're quite cheerful, sir," answered the bos'n apologetically. "I -think the weather's a bit oppressive, sir." - -Lawless went back to his cabin and found Trent on the settee, doubled up -with laughter. - -"Hullo, what's the matter with you?" he snapped. - -"Read this," answered the Sub-Lieutenant, handing him a piece of paper; -"it came just as you went on deck." - -Lawless took the paper and read: - -"_Kite_ to _Knat_. When is a mine most to be feared? Answer: when it -goes against the grain." - -"Trent, I'll----," began the victim, but the junior officer had bolted -on deck before the threat was finished. - -To complete the Lieutenant's discomfiture, a message was received that -night from the officer commanding the flotilla censuring Lawless for -allowing the _Krajero_ to proceed on her way without having thoroughly -overhauled her cargo. - -"That puts the lid on it," groaned the unhappy Lieutenant as he -turned-in to try and forget his sorrows in sleep. - -The result of all this was that, during the next few days, Lawless -became the best-hated man in those waters. Not a ship came within sight -but she was stopped and her cargo examined with irritating minuteness -while the skipper stood by, helpless, but vowing to deluge the Admiralty -with complaints. In his zeal Lawless as good as accused quite innocent -passengers of being disguised Germans, much to the indignation of the -parties concerned, who promised that the authorities should hear about -his "unwarrantable officiousness and insulting behaviour," with much -more to the same effect. And the worst of it was that he never once came -across a trace of contraband for all his trouble. - -But one evening, about a week after the _Krajero_ episode, something did -occur to break the monotony of searching harmless vessels and listening -to the deep-throated profanities of outraged skippers. Lawless, being on -the bridge scanning the horizon with his glasses, caught sight of a -large motor fishing smack in the distance and, close alongside her, -something which looked remarkably like the conning tower of a submarine. -In another moment he had altered the course and was bearing down on her -at full speed, the men standing by their guns, delighted at the prospect -of a "scrap." - -"It's a _U_ boat sure enough," said Lawless, handing the binoculars to -Trent. - -"Yes, and she's holding up that fishing boat; trying to get information, -I suppose." - -Unfortunately, the submarine was well under the lee of the smack, and a -shot at that distance was as likely to hit one as the other. - -"Better hold your fire till you get a bit nearer, Trent," said Lawless -reluctantly. - -As the distance lessened, a puff of smoke issued from the vicinity of -the submarine and a shell whistled over the _Knat's_ bridge. - -"Plant one in her conning tower," shouted Lawless to the chief gunner, -who stood by the quick-firer just below the bridge. If the smack were -hit it couldn't be helped; the risk must be taken. - -There was a deafening report and, when the smoke cleared away the -submarine had entirely disappeared. The inference was that she had -submerged without suffering injury, for had the shot struck her she -would certainly not have sunk as rapidly as all that. - -"She's given us the slip all right," muttered the Lieutenant bitterly, -and the gunner below the bridge echoed his remark in more pungent terms. - -As the destroyer came up, a man on the smack's deck--obviously the -skipper--hailed her. - -"Can ye give us a tow?" he shouted. - -"Cast a line aboard as we pass you," answered Lawless, for he knew -better than to stop and parley while an enemy submarine was around -waiting for a chance to discharge a torpedo. - -Accordingly, a line attached to a towing rope was thrown from the smack -to the destroyer as the latter surged past, and a minute or two later -the fishing boat was heeling along in her wake. The skipper, standing in -the bows, yelled the information that he had been held up by the -submarine while trying to repair a defect in his engines. The _U_ boat -commander, after seizing his small stock of petrol, was questioning him -concerning the whereabouts of a British cruiser known to be in these -waters, when the _Knat_ appeared. At sight of her the German officer -jumped back on board his boat and, after firing one shot, closed the -conning tower hatch. He, the skipper of the smack, could not say whether -the destroyer's shot had taken effect, but was inclined to think that it -had not. - -With the derelict boat still in tow, Lawless put into the harbour of a -small fishing village between Clonakilty and Castle-townsend, just as it -was getting dark. There the tow rope was cast off and the skipper was -told to come aboard the _Knat_ as soon as he had dropped anchor some -thirty yards or so distant. - -The order having been carried out, the skipper duly came aboard and was -invited into the cabin. Here he proceeded to give a fuller version of -his encounter with the submarine. The German commander, he said, had -given him and his crew three minutes in which to leave the smack, and -they were about to get their boat out when the _Knat_ arrived on the -scene and saved the situation. - -"Well, skipper, you'd better stay and have some dinner with us," said -Lawless, when the skipper had finished his story. - -"'Tis meself that'll be delighted to do that same, ye'r honour," -answered the fisherman--an elderly man with twinkling grey eyes. - -He proved to be a most interesting, if somewhat unpolished, guest, and -kept the two officers in an almost continual state of mirth with his -quaint anecdotes and stories. Not only that, but he was amazingly frank -and cheerfully confessed that, in the early days of the National -Volunteer movement, he had been profitably engaged in smuggling arms -into Munster. - -"And now?" queried Lawless. - -The old man shook his head knowingly. - -"Shure, you fellows have spoilt the game entoirely," he answered. "The -risk is too great and, be the same token, I'm getting too old for that -business." - -"But you know something about it," suggested the Lieutenant. - -The skipper winked. - -"Now look here," went on Lawless, "I don't ask you to betray your -friends, but just give me a hint--you understand?--and if it leads to -anything I'll see that you lose nothing by it." - -"Is it afther timpting me ye'd be, sorr?" asked the skipper with seeming -indignation. - -"I'm merely suggesting you should give me a hint." - -"An' phwat 'ud become of me if the bhoys got wind of it, will ye tell -me?" - -"There's no reason why they should. You may be sure I shall never -breathe a word." - -After a few moments' reflection the skipper looked cautiously round the -cabin and then leant over the table to Lawless. - -"Have ye iver heard tell av Mike Mahoney, sorr?" he asked in a whisper. - -"Rather! He's supposed to be the cleverest gun-runner in the south of -Ireland." - -"Ye may say so, an' he's a black-hearted son av Satan; he is that. He's -owed me three pounds since St. Patrick's Day two years gone, and it's -meself that's niver loikely to see the colour av it. Now I'd be glad to -have ye take a rise out of that blackguard." - -"Tell me where he's to be found." - -"Has ye'r honour heard tell av a little fishing village be the name av -Ballyoon betwixt here and Mizzen Head?" - -"No, but I'll soon find it." - -"Then it's there that Mahoney--may the divil get his sowl--has his -headquarters. Many's the noight that he's crept up past Sherkin Island -an' into Roaringwather Bay wid a cargo of rifles and ammunition." - -"Then it's his regular port of call, so to speak?" - -"Indade it is. Divil a wan, save the bhoys, suspect it, least av all the -Rivinue people, and it's a nice little fortune Mike's been piling up for -himself, so it is. More'n wance he's said to me, 'Pat Rossan,' he's -said, 'ye're an old hand at the game. Phwy don't ye jine in wid me and -the rist av the bhoys?' But I'm too old for that now, as I tould him, -and I don't want to ind me days wid me back against a wall." - -"Thanks very much, Mr. Rossan," said Lawless. "I'll see that you lose -nothing by this." - -"Indade I shall be glad av any little hilp ye can give me, sorr, for -phwat wid submarines and restrictions there's moighty little profit to -be got out of the fishing these days." - -As the skipper was about to leave, Trent drew Lawless aside. - -"I'd keep an eye on that old buffer if I were you," he whispered. "Ten -to one he'll try to creep out to-night and warn this same Mike -Mahoney." - -"Good idea," answered the Lieutenant, and turned to his visitor. - -"I must ask you to hoist a riding-light when you get aboard your hooker, -Mr. Rossan, and keep it burning all night," he said. - -"To be sure if ye'r honour wishes it," replied the skipper, and then, -after shaking hands with both officers, slipped into his dinghy -alongside and pulled back to his smack. - -As soon as he had gone Lawless gave orders that a constant watch was to -be kept on the smack's riding-light throughout the night. If it was -extinguished or was seen to move towards the harbour mouth the fact was -to be reported to him immediately. - -It was between three and four o'clock on the following morning when the -Lieutenant was wakened from a sound sleep by Trent. - -"Hullo, what's the row?" he asked, drowsily. - -"That blessed smack has skedaddled during the night." - -"What!" ejaculated the Lieutenant, now fully awake. - -"It's a fact." - -Lawless sprang out of his bunk and began hurriedly to pull on his -garments. - -"I gave strict orders that she was to be watched all night," he said. -"How is it they've been disobeyed?" - -"They haven't; come on deck and see for yourself," answered Trent. - -On reaching the deck Lawless saw at a glance how he had been outwitted. -On the spot where the smack had been anchored floated a barrel with a -tall spar stuck in it and, at the top of this, glowing dimly in the -morning light, was a lantern. - -"I see," he murmured. - -Taking advantage of the darkness--for there had been no moon--the -skipper of the smack had fixed up this dummy riding-light in order to -deceive the watchers aboard the destroyer and then extinguished the real -one. This done, he must have got a row-boat with muffled oars to tow him -out of the harbour, thus obviating the necessity for using the engines -and so warning the _Knat's_ men of his manoeuvres. It was an ingenious -trick, cleverly carried out. - -"We must get under way at once," said Lawless. "We may catch up with the -rascal and collar his pal Mahoney before he has time to warn him. -Evidently that's his dodge." - -Half an hour later the _Knat_ was steaming in a westerly direction with -the Lieutenant on the bridge, scanning the coast-line through his -glasses. Presently a smudge was seen against the horizon and this -gradually resolved itself into a destroyer steaming at full speed -towards them. As she approached the _Knat_ a signal hoist broke at her -masthead, and when within hailing distance the two vessels slowed down. -The newcomer was the _Kite_ and her commander stood on the bridge with a -megaphone in his hands. - -"D'you happen to have sighted a fishing smack, ketch-rigged?" he -inquired. - -"Seen a whole fleet of them," answered Lawless. - -"The one I'm after had her number painted out and when last seen was -using a brown mainsail and a staysail half brown and half white." - -"Phew!" whistled Trent softly and added in a whisper to Lawless, "it's -the hooker that slipped her cable last night." - -The Lieutenant nodded. - -"What about her?" he asked, addressing the commander of the _Kite_. - -"Why she's a gun-runner skippered by a ruffian called Mike Mahoney. -We've just learnt that she took on a cargo of guns and ammunition from a -German submarine yesterday and landed them early this morning in some -creek near Galley Head." - -"And got clear away?" asked Lawless in well-simulated astonishment. - -"Yes; that chap's the most slippery cuss in all Ireland." - -"I'll keep a look-out for her," answered Lawless. "Wish you luck." - -And, waving his hand in farewell to the _Kite_, the Lieutenant rang -down "full-speed" and was off before the other could ask any more -inconvenient questions. - -"Thank the Lord he suspected nothing," said Lawless as the _Kite_ faded -away in the distance. "If it came out that I'd actually towed that -Mahoney blackguard and his cargo of contraband into harbour and then let -him go, there'd be the very deuce to pay." - -"And to think," chuckled Trent, "that you entertained Mr. Mahoney -_alias_ Rossan to dinner! I'll bet he chortled when--" - -"Mr. Trent, attend to your duties," snapped Lawless and left the -bridge. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE BELL BUOY - - -Above the inky surface of the North Sea, battalion after battalion of -low-lying, black clouds rolled across the moonless sky, driven by a -southerly wind that frequently lashed itself into gusts and squalls of -short-lived violence. Like a shadow riding the white-capped rollers, the -long, low form of the _Knat_ plunged and reeled southwards in the teeth -of the rising gale, her high bows throwing up cascades of ghostly white -foam each time she met the full force of an on-coming wave. Upon the -quivering bridge towering above the narrow, sea-washed decks stood -Lawless wrapped in a hooded "lammy" suit, which had once been white but -was now the colour of a coal-sack. In front of him a quartermaster, -similarly attired, gripped the little steering-wheel and gazed -alternately at the illuminated compass and the tiny light at the bows -that showed which way the vessel was heading. - -"Ease her a couple of points," said the Lieutenant, recovering his -balance after a sudden lurch which had thrown him against the -searchlight apparatus. - -The quartermaster gave the wheel a twist, but his answering call was -driven back in his teeth by a gust of rain which swept down upon the -sea. - -"'Ell!" he muttered, and again fixed his smarting eyes upon the tossing, -swaying, illusive glimmer of light on the bows. - -Lawless glanced over the man's shoulder at the compass-card and then -started to walk--or rather stagger--up and down the bridge in order to -exercise his cramped muscles. Each time he reached the end of the bridge -he grasped the rail and tried to pierce the surrounding blackness for -any sign of a vessel, friendly or otherwise, but without success, -because it was impossible to see more than a few yards ahead even -between the rain squalls. Presently he bent down, glanced at the -illuminated dial of his wrist-watch, and swore softly. There was still -another half hour before his junior officer was due to relieve him on -the bridge. - -But at last there came the sound of a bell, and before it had died away -a muffled figure crawled up through a hatchway aft and proceeded to -stumble and slither along the deck in the direction of the bridge. Its -progress was slow and precarious, and the remarks which emerged from -beneath the hood were such as will not be found in a dictionary of -nautical terms. Eventually it reached the perpendicular iron ladder -leading to the bridge and, mounting it, was assisted on to the platform -by an unexpected lurch which landed it somewhere in the vicinity of the -quartermaster's sea-boots. - -"That you, Trent?" inquired the Lieutenant, gazing down upon the -recumbent bundle of clothes within which was concealed the person of -Sub-Lieutenant Trent. - -The figure slowly scrambled into an upright position, but without -ceasing to emit curses upon the universe in general and the weather in -particular. - -"When you've quite finished offering up praise for having been born a -sailor bold I'll leave you in charge," said Lawless. "Keep a southerly -course and look out for submarines." - -"Submarines!" snorted the junior officer. "Why not aeroplanes as well? -It'd be as easy to see one as the other a night like this." - -"Well, keep a bright look-out." - -"A bright look-out----" the Sub-Lieutenant's reply was drowned by -another squall, and Lawless, with a sigh of relief, descended to the -deck. Seeing the door of the galley open, he stepped in and demanded of -the cook a mug of hot cocoa. With this between his hands the Lieutenant -perched himself upon the locker and, in defiance of the rules of -conduct towards subordinates as laid down by my Lords of the Admiralty, -swapped weather anecdotes with the cook. Then, having finished his -cocoa, he slid off the locker and started to scramble aft towards the -hatch which gave entrance to his cabin. But he had not covered more than -half the distance when out of the darkness came the sound of a shot. - -The Lieutenant swung round, and as he did so the white beam of the -_Knat's_ searchlight suddenly flashed out and, after waving about like -some gigantic feeler, finally came to rest at a point about fifty yards -astern. Beneath its glare could be seen a small patrol steamer and -alongside her with platform awash, a German submarine with _U77_ painted -on her conning tower. - -Forgetting all about his much-needed rest, Lawless hastened back to the -bridge. From the fact that the submarine had not torpedoed the patrol -boat, he concluded that the German commander had boarded her in the hope -of obtaining some information from the skipper concerning the movements -of the fleet. The conning tower hatch was open and a machine-gun on the -for'ard platform was trained on the boat. - -As he reached the bridge, the Lieutenant leant over the rail towards the -gunner in charge of the quick-firer on the forecastle. - -"Blot her out!" he yelled. - -The long muzzle of the machine-gun swung round, tilted up and down once -or twice, and then emitted a yellow flame followed by a deep boom. - -"Damn!" ejaculated Lawless, and his comment was fervently echoed by the -gunner. The shot, aimed a trifle too low, had struck the water some ten -yards in front of the submarine, an inaccuracy pardonable enough -considering how the destroyer was pitching. - -Before the gunner could elevate his weapon and while the machine-gun on -the "bandstand" aft was opening fire, three men were seen to scramble -over the patrol boat's bulwarks and drop on to the platform of the -submarine. But thinking, probably, that the loss of three men was better -than the loss of the whole crew, the commander had closed the hatch and -the submarine disappeared beneath the surface as the sailors alighted on -her platform. Next moment they disappeared also, dragged down by the -suction of the submerging vessel. - -"To think we might have bagged that swine!" growled Lawless as he -proceeded to leave the bridge once more. "Just my infernal rotten luck." - -His comment was echoed in varied terms by the Sub-Lieutenant, the gunner -and other members of the _Knat's_ crew. It was, to say the very least, -extremely annoying. - -"Stand by with life-buoys!" shouted Lawless, as he reached the deck. He -wanted to rescue the Germans if possible, partly from humanitarian -motives and partly because he hoped to glean some information from them. - -While Trent was bringing the destroyer round to the patrol boat, the -gunner still stood behind his quick-firer, cursing his luck and calling -upon all the gods to witness that he would have sunk "the blighter" -(_i.e._, the submarine) with his next shot, and Lawless leant over the -deck-rail trying to catch a glimpse of the men who had vainly -endeavoured to regain the submarine before she sank. He was still trying -to penetrate the gloom, when a shadowy figure was swept towards him and, -leaning over the rail, he made a grab at it. In doing so he overbalanced -and next moment found himself amidst the dark swirl of waters striking -out with one hand while with the other he clutched the jacket of the man -whose life he had attempted to save. - -The German, he soon discovered, was not a strong swimmer, but with a -vague idea that he was rightfully his prisoner and must not be allowed -to escape, Lawless still retained his hold on the fellow's jacket. He -soon found that his efforts to keep afloat and assist the other to do -the same were taxing his strength to the utmost. Had he abandoned the -German to his fate, the Lieutenant would have stood an infinitely -better chance, but such a thought never entered his mind even when he -began to realise that his strength was almost spent. The patrol boat and -the destroyer had disappeared from view, and not even the searchlight -was visible, from which Lawless deduced that he and his companion must -have been carried astern in a very strong current, which still further -minimised their chances of being picked up. - -At last, when it appeared hopeless to struggle any longer and he had -almost resigned himself to his fate, Lawless thought he heard a harsh, -gutteral voice hailing him through the darkness. With his last remaining -strength he struck out in the direction from which the voice had seemed -to come, and a moment later he and his companion were dragged out of the -water and over a curved, slippery surface. - -"_Gott im Himmel!_" exclaimed someone, and Lawless, raising his head, -found himself sprawling upon the platform of a large submarine--the same -one, he felt sure, which he had recently attempted to sink. Then the man -who had given vent to the ejaculation, asked him something in German. - -"Don't understand your lingo," answered the Lieutenant, dragging himself -into a sitting posture and observing that his questioner was a tall man -clad in oilskins and sea-boots. - -"Who are you?" demanded the other, this time in fairly good English. - -"Lieutenant-Commander Lawless of the British destroyer _Knat_. Who are -you?" - -"Commander Carl von Ranheim of the German Navy," answered the man, and -added, somewhat unnecessarily, "you are my prisoner." - -Lawless, now somewhat recovered, gripped a handrail and dragged himself -upon his feet. Two sailors, he observed, were assisting the man for whom -he had risked his life through the conning tower hatch. Then, looking -over his shoulder, he saw the distant beam of the _Knat's_ searchlight -still focussed upon the patrol boat; evidently no one had seen him fall -overboard nor had he yet been missed. - -"Well," he remarked turning to the Commander of the submarine, "what are -you going to do with me?" - -"I have a good mind to send you back where you came from," answered the -German officer, jerking his head in the direction of the water. - -"As a reward for saving one of your men, I suppose," replied Lawless. -"Well, as you seem to be afraid of even one Englishman, perhaps it is -the best thing you can do." - -"Afraid!" repeated the other. "_Ach!_ but suppose I take you down below -you learn our secrets, eh?" - -"We've captured so many of your boats that I don't think there are many -secrets left for us to learn." - -"_Schweinehunden_----" began the German angrily, but was interrupted by -another man, presumably an officer also, who emerged from the hatch. The -two remained in conversation for some moments, and then the Commander -again addressed his prisoner. - -"I shall put you where, for a time at least, you can do no harm," he -said. "The rest will depend on yourself." - -A moment later Lawless felt the throb of the submarine's oil-engines and -the vessel, still awash, started to plunge forward. Soaked to the skin -and shivering, for the water was cold despite the fact of its being a -very warm night, he hoped that the commander would offer him something -hot if nothing else, but the German appeared to have no such intention. -He had mounted the platform on the conning tower, where, apparently, he -was giving orders to the steersman. The fact that the English officer -was clinging to the handrail on the for'ard deck and almost waist-deep -in water, did not seem to trouble him in the least. - -The vessel surged along through the darkness, and presently Lawless -became aware of a familiar sound--the weird and melancholy clang of a -bell-buoy. He now knew that the submarine was heading towards the coast, -and was amazed at the German Commander's temerity in venturing so near -when, at any moment, the searchlight of a passing warship or patrol boat -might suddenly flash out upon him. And now the mournful clang of the -bell-buoy grew louder, and a fanciful idea occurred to Lawless that it -was tolling for the hundreds of men who had perished in the North Sea by -mine and submarine. The _U_ boat passed within twenty-five yards of it, -then slowed down and came alongside a cage-buoy, round whose iron pillar -one of the German sailors cast the bight of a rope. - -"Now," said the Commander from his platform, "you can disembark." - -"What?" inquired the Lieutenant, not quite grasping the situation. - -"You must get on that buoy," answered the German. "If you're not washed -off before morning you'll probably be rescued by one of your own ships." - -Lawless, as he gazed at the plunging buoy, felt his heart sink. Tired -out as he was, he strongly doubted his ability to cling on to the buoy -for an hour, let alone a whole night. - -"Look here," he said, "you'd much better have chucked me overboard and -done with it." - -"Oh no, we Germans don't murder our prisoners," replied the other -sardonically. "If you get washed away, that's not my fault. As you -English say, 'It's up to you.'" - -"Hanged if I'll ever try to save the life of a German again," said -Lawless bitterly. - -"Come now, Herr Lieutenant, I can't stay here all night!" cried the -Commander. - -There was nothing for it but to obey, and so Lawless, with the aid of -the rope, managed to reach the small, oscillating platform and grip the -iron stanchion which supported the spherical cage. Then a man on the -submarine gave the rope a jerk, it slipped off the buoy, and the _U_ -boat stole away in the darkness. - -It did not take Lawless very long to realise the full gravity of his -position. He calculated that at least six hours must elapse before it -became light enough for him to see, or be seen by, passing ships, and by -that time he would probably be dead. As for making signals in the -darkness, that was impossible, for he had nothing to make them with--not -even a revolver. There was, of course, a faint chance that the _Knat_ -might make a search for him and perhaps discover him before it was too -late, but it was far more likely that, assuming he had been drowned, -Trent would proceed southwards. - -Still, although he felt almost hopeless, the Lieutenant clung with grim -tenacity to the iron standard, but for which he would have been washed -off the slippery platform in a few moments, while across the wild waste -of black waters came the dismal knell of the bell-buoy. The sound did -not cheer him--in fact, it struck him as being unpleasantly prophetic. - -"I wish," he murmured, "I could silence that damned thing." - -Then he had an inspiration. If he could manage to swim to the bell-buoy -and muffle the clapper some of the patrol boats in the neighbourhood -would be bound to notice its silence and proceed to investigate the -cause. The sound of the bell was of such importance to navigation in -these waters that it would be missed almost immediately. - -"Blowed if I don't try it," thought Lawless. - -The chances of rescue by such a device might not be very brilliant, but -it seemed the only thing left for him to do unless he were content to -remain passively on the cage-buoy till he had to release his hold -through sheer exhaustion. - -The bell-buoy, he knew, was about a hundred yards distant, and in the -daylight with a calm sea the swim would have amounted to nothing at all. -But now the conditions were very different; he could not see the buoy -and would have to guide himself entirely by the sound of the bell--added -to which, the sea was rough, and he was still feeling exhausted from his -recent struggle in the water. But, having decided that this was his sole -remaining chance, Lawless did not hesitate and, first divesting himself -of his heavy "lammys," slid into the water. The current dragged him -right under the buoy, but after a struggle he managed to swim clear of -it, and then struck out in the direction whence came the sound of the -bell. At first he had little difficulty in making headway despite the -choppy sea, but presently his stroke grew weaker, the muscles of his -shoulders seemed as if they were on the point of cracking, and he found -himself swallowing mouthfuls of salt water. A feeling akin to panic -seized him, and he began to "dog-paddle" furiously, conscious only of a -frantic desire to keep his head above the inky waves which descended -upon him in an unending succession. For a moment or two he experienced -all the horrors of approaching death by suffocation, and then, with a -gigantic effort of will, threw off the numbing horror and struck out -again with slow but steady strokes. - -At last he caught sight of a dim, towering mass from whence came a harsh -clang. He swam round it, and was lucky enough to encounter a large iron -ring in the base, with the assistance of which he succeeded in dragging -himself upon the narrow platform of the buoy. Here he remained for some -moments lying on his chest, too exhausted to move. After a while, -however, he recovered somewhat, though almost deafened by the clangour -of the huge bell above his head. Tearing the woollen comforter from -round his neck he climbed up to the bell and managed to wrap it round -the clapper, thus effectually muffling it. This done, he slid down again -and prepared to await whatever might happen. - -It seemed to him that he had sat there for hours interminable, drenched -by the waves and in peril of being washed off every moment, when he -became aware of something grinding against his boots. He could not see -what it was, but bending down felt with one hand and discovered a chain, -which appeared to be attached to one of the ring-bolts round the base of -the buoy. - -"Now what the dickens is this for?" he asked himself. - -A buoy, as he knew, is moored by chains attached to the bottom and not -to the side, which would cause it to float askew. Besides, the chain -grating against his boots was much too light to hold in position a mass -weighing several tons and in weather such as this would have snapped -like a thread. Therefore it was certainly not a mooring chain. - -At the risk of slipping off the platform, Lawless twisted his legs round -the pillar supporting the bell and, leaning forward, caught hold of the -chain and tugged at it with both hands. It came in quite easily at -first, and then stopped with an abruptness that nearly jerked the -Lieutenant into the sea. He could see nothing, but passing one hand down -the chain he felt something at the end--something large and buoyant, -with sharp square edges like a box or a tank. Also he knew by the feel -that it was metal. - -Lawless forgot his own sufferings in contemplation of this puzzling -discovery. What on earth, he asked himself, was the object of having a -floating or submerged tank attached to this buoy? What did it contain? -He pondered the matter for some minutes, and then, for the second time -that night, had an inspiration. - -It must be a secret petrol tank for the use of German submarines! - -In a flash he divined the whole scheme. The bell-buoy, being such a -well-known navigating mark, could not be mistaken for any other buoy in -its vicinity. It was close to the English coast, and the tank attached -to it could be replenished either by submarine petrol boats or by secret -agents ashore--probably the former. On a dark night, such as this for -instance, an enemy submarine could easily take on a fresh supply of -petrol from the tank, while the latter, being submerged several feet -below the surface, would not be seen in daylight. Doubtless, also, it -was provided with an automatic arrangement whereby, when emptied of -petrol, it became filled with sea-water, thus preventing it from -floating on the surface and becoming visible. It was a most ingenious -device, quite simple and, no doubt, an inestimable boon to belated enemy -submarines which were running out of petrol. But the point was, having -discovered this, how could he make use of it to the best advantage? - -Lawless was so engrossed by this problem that he forgot to wonder -whether his scheme of muffling the bell would lead to his rescue until -the sound of engines in the darkness aroused him from his -contemplations. Then, realising that a boat of some sort was at hand, he -shouted as loud as he could. There came an answering hail out of the -darkness, and next moment the Lieutenant was momentarily blinded by the -dazzling rays of a searchlight turned full upon him. - -"Ship ahoy!" he shouted. - -"Hullo there!" came the answer. "What the devil are you doing?" - -He recognised the voice of Sub-Lieutenant Trent and knew that it was the -_Knat's_ searchlight which was dazzling him. Then, as the destroyer -drew nearer, Trent, in his turn, recognised the soaked and huddled-up -figure clinging to the platform of the buoy as that of his senior -officer. - -"Stand by to jump aboard!" he yelled. - -With considerable skill he brought the destroyer round the buoy so close -that her side grated against it, and Lawless, clutching at the -deck-rail, swung himself on board. - -"Trent," he said, catching his astonished junior by the arm, "come with -me into the chart-room, but first of all tell the steward to send me up -a cup of hot coffee and rum." - -When they were in the chart-room together, and Lawless was imbibing the -stimulating beverage, he related between gulps his amazing adventures -since falling overboard, as well as a plan for trapping submarines. - -"I'm almost convinced," he concluded with cheery optimism, "that -everything happens for the best after all." - -"But supposing your tank theory is right," said Trent, who secretly -doubted the accuracy of the Lieutenant's deductions, "how d'you know any -_U_ boat will tap your tank to-night? Seems to me the best thing would -be to wait till morning and then sink the thing." - -"And lose the chance of doing in at least one enemy submarine!" - -"Or we could tie up to the buoy and plug any _U_ boat that came up to -the surface." - -"Why, you fathead!" exclaimed Lawless, "if we tied up to the buoy the -bally submarine might come up immediately under our keel. And if she -didn't, how are we to spot her on a pitch-black night like this? You -might turn on the bull's eye, but they'd spot the light through their -periscope and either torpedo us or do a bunk. No, you must stick to my -plan." - -"H'm, perhaps you're right." - -"And there'd be no sport your way." - -"As to sport----" began Trent, but the Lieutenant cut him short. - -"You'll carry out my instructions," he said, curtly. "Now bear down on -that buoy again." - -The destroyer approached the bell-buoy once more, and Lawless, having -provided himself with a loaded revolver, prepared to resume his former -uncomfortable post on the tiny, wave-washed platform. - -"Remember," he said, when about to spring on to the buoy, "you've got to -start operations before the sound of my shot dies away, otherwise we -draw a blank." - -He swung himself over the deck-rail, reached the buoy safely, and next -moment the searchlight was switched off and the _Knat_ disappeared in -the darkness. The first thing Lawless did was to remove his muffler -from the bell-clapper so that the sound should serve as a guide to any -enemy submarines that might be searching for the secret supply tank. -This done, he settled down to wait, with what patience he could muster, -for the arrival of his hoped-for victims. - -For over an hour he remained there, half-drowned, cold and nearly -deafened by the bell. Presently he began to wonder whether, after all, -he might not have made a mistake in his deductions concerning the tank. -It also occurred to him that if this proved to be the case and he -captured nothing but a severe attack of rheumatism, he would become the -laughing-stock of the Fleet. He could imagine how the story would be -passed from ship to ship with suitable elaborations. "Heard about that -silly ass, Lawless? Spent the whole night lashed to a bell-buoy, fishing -for German submarines with a bent pin and a petrol tank for bait!" - -He was still considering what steps he could take to prevent the tale of -his adventures being spread abroad, when something very black and solid -arose out of the water only a few yards away. Although, considering the -darkness, it was quite unnecessary, he crawled round to the other side -of the buoy in order to take advantage of the "cover" afforded by the -pillar supporting the bell, for he knew that black object must be the -conning tower of a submarine rising to the surface. Then he heard -voices, and at the same moment the chain attached to the tank began to -slide over his boots, showing that the Germans were hauling it alongside -their vessel. The moment for action had come. - -Drawing his revolver he fired it in the air, and before the report had -died away the buoy and the submarine were lit up by the brilliant beam -of the _Knat's_ searchlight. The Germans, of whom there were several on -the _U_ boat's platform, made a simultaneous rush for the open hatch, -for all the world like startled rabbits diving into their burrows. But -before they disappeared inside a yellow flame flashed out from the -vicinity of the searchlight, followed by a dull roar. Another and -another followed in quick succession; the submarine suddenly tilted up, -gave a lurch, and then disappeared for ever beneath the waters of the -North Sea. - - * * * * * - -"Pity you plugged that petrol tank as well," remarked Lawless as he and -Trent sat at breakfast in the _Knat's_ cabin. "We might have used it for -bait quite a number of times." - -"Couldn't be helped under the circumstances. However, I suppose this'll -mean promotion for you and paragraphs in the papers headed 'Naval -Officer's Amazing Ruse. How a German submarine was sunk.'" - -"There's my official report," said the Lieutenant, handing the other a -paper. - -Trent glanced through it and looked up with a puzzled expression. - -"You don't mention the bell-buoy," he said. - -"Trent, do you consider that, in a stand-up scrap, I could lick you?" - -The Sub-Lieutenant regarded Lawless in amazement. - -"Why," he answered at last, "I suppose you could. You're nearly double -my weight, and you've got a longer reach." - -"Because," went on Lawless, "if you ever breathe a word about the way in -which I collared that submarine I'll pound you so that your most devoted -aunt won't recognise her dear sailor nephew." - -He rose from the table. - -"Sitting on a bell-buoy catching submarines with a bent pin! Why, it'd -haunt me to my dying day," he murmured as he left the cabin. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -ABANDON SHIP! - - -"Ah me!" sighed Lawless as he gazed at a small heap of documents which -lay before him on the cabin table. "It's a weary world, my masters, and -full of creditors." - -"What's the matter now?" asked Trent, glancing up from a letter he was -reading. - -"The same as always--viz., 'Dear Sir, We beg to call your attention to -the fact that your account is long overdue and that, unless it is -settled immediately, we shall be reluctantly compelled'--and so on and -so on. What I don't like about these chaps is their infernal -priggishness, 'it-hurts-me-more-than-it-hurts-you' tone. Their -reluctance to summons me is nothing to my reluctance to be summonsed." - -"Buck up! Nelson was dunned, you remember," said Trent. - -"Oh, shut up," growled the Lieutenant. "If I happen to have a go of -toothache it doesn't do me any good to reflect that Julius Cćsar -probably had it before me." - -"Try a cup of coffee, it'll soothe you." - -"And to think," went on Lawless, ignoring the suggestion, "that there's -a thousand pounds waiting for me if only I could pot a Zep." - -"Why not write to your creditors and say that as soon as you've brought -down a Zeppelin you will settle their accounts in full? Appeal to their -patriotism." - -"I shan't write at all; let 'em do their worst," answered Lawless, as he -rose from the table. "They're a measly lot of bounders, anyway." - -He went on deck and, although a white mist was creeping over the sea -from the east, gave orders to get under way. Soon the _Knat_ was -threading her way out of the Humber towards her alloted beat "somewhere" -in the North Sea. Later, when off Spurm Head, instructions were received -by wireless to keep a look-out for German warships, as there was a -report to the effect that several were steaming in a westerly direction. - -"All jolly well to talk about keeping a look-out, but one couldn't see a -liner a cable's length away in this fog," grumbled the Lieutenant when -he had perused the message. - -He looked anxiously into the thick white mist which was closing around -them. The _Knat_ was steaming at half speed and in every direction -syrens were screeching and bellowing, some close at hand, others far -away in the distance. It was, in fact, just the sort of weather that the -Germans love when contemplating a raid on some defenceless east-coast -port, since they can take advantage of the mist to escape when -threatened with the arrival of British warships - -"I feel I could just do with a scrap; it would be a sort of tonic," said -Lawless as Trent joined him on the bridge. "Demands for money always -make me hopping mad." - -"I know," replied the junior officer, feelingly. - -After several rather narrow escapes from collision with other -vessels--which did not tend to improve the Lieutenant's temper--the -_Knat_ drew out of the shipping track, greatly to the relief of all on -board. - -"Thank heaven for a little peace and quietness," said Lawless. "Now we -can----" - -He stopped abruptly as a dull boom, like a distant clap of thunder, came -over the fog-ridden water. The Lieutenant's experienced ears told him -that it was not thunder but the sound of heavy guns. Either there was an -engagement taking place or else the Germans had crept up through the -mist and were bombarding some coast town. Owing to the direction of the -wind in relation to the sound, he inclined to the latter supposition. - -The dull reverberations of the guns continued and the crew of the -_Knat_, having been piped to quarters, she steamed in the direction from -which the firing seemed to come. Still, the wind was light and variable, -which made it difficult to determine even approximately the locality of -the sounds. The fog, too, was a serious handicap, for, should a warship -be sighted, the difficulty of deciding whether she was a friend or an -enemy would be enormously increased. War vessels, seen at a distance -even on a clear day, look much alike, and in a thick atmosphere it is -practically impossible even for an expert to distinguish friend from -foe. A wireless message of inquiry, though sent in code, would, of -course, defeat its own object should the vessel receiving it be an -enemy. Under such circumstances as these, therefore, commanders of small -craft like destroyers and submarines are under a grave disadvantage and -have to proceed with the utmost caution or run the risk of making a -ghastly error. - -After proceeding slowly for some little time, Lawless came to the -conclusion that the firing was taking place somewhere to the north-west, -and he accordingly steered in that direction. As the _Knat_ slowly felt -her way through the fog the sound of the guns grew louder and more -distinct, thereby confirming the Lieutenant in his decision. He was -leaning over the bridge-rail, trying to penetrate the opaque white -curtain in front of him, when there came a shout from the deck below. - -"Zep, sir, right over'ead, sir!" cried a man. - -Lawless looked up and saw, just above the low-lying mist, the dim -outline of an enormous object moving slowly in the opposite direction. - -"A scouting Zeppelin," he muttered. "If only I had an Archie aboard I'd -put a few plugs in her belly." - -But, unfortunately, the _Knat_ carried no anti-aircraft guns, and by no -possible exercise of ingenuity could the machine-guns, mounted as they -were, be made to fire in a vertical direction. So Lawless had to gnash -his teeth and watch the airship floating overhead within easy range, yet -as safe, so far as he was concerned, as though she were five miles up. - -"There goes my thousand quid, so close that I could almost touch her," -he said bitterly to Trent. "Isn't it just my luck?" - -"Pity we didn't think to rig up one of our Q.F's vertically," remarked -the Sub-Lieutenant. "We could easily have done it." - -Lawless turned his back on him in disgust. It was quite true that they -might have done as Trent suggested, but the idea had not previously -occurred to him. It was too late now, for it would take at least half a -day to accomplish, and the Zeppelin could hardly be expected to wait -complacently while those below made ready for her destruction. - -Suddenly there was a loud explosion just to starboard of the destroyer, -and a column of water arose so close that, in subsiding, it washed over -the deck. - -"By Jove, she's dropping bombs!" exclaimed Lawless, at the same time -ringing down "Full-speed" to the engine-room. - -However, in a few moments they had passed out of danger, and the airship -was lost in the mist. The firing to the north-west still continued, -though with decreasing vigour, as if fewer ships were engaged. This -suggested to Lawless that some of the enemy vessels were drawing off, in -which case he might possibly meet one or more on their flight back to -the fastnesses of Heligoland. - -"This is where we keep our eyes skinned and stand-by for trouble," said -the Lieutenant as he reduced speed again. "See anything, Trent?" - -"Not yet," answered the latter, who was straining his eyes in an -endeavour to penetrate the fog. - -About ten minutes afterwards there came the heavy thud of ship's engines -going at full speed, though as yet nothing could be seen of the ship -itself. The situation for those on board the _Knat_ was one of infinite -peril, for they did not know from one moment to another when, from out -of the enveloping fog, a great towering mass might hurl itself upon -their frail craft and send it to the bottom. Yet for obvious reasons -Lawless dared not make any signal or betray his presence to the unknown -monster advancing at, probably, between thirty or forty knots an hour. - -Suddenly the fog seemed to be thrust aside by a huge bulk, black and -solid against the impalpable curtain of mist. For a moment it looked as -if the destroyer must inevitably be crushed beneath the ocean Juggernaut -advancing upon her. - -"Hard a port!" shouted Lawless, and instinctively gripped the -bridge-rail as if bracing himself for a terrific shock. - -"Hard a port 'tis, sir," echoed the quartermaster, and sent the little -wheel spinning round. - -Had the Lieutenant hesitated for the fraction of a second before giving -the order the _Knat_ would have been cut in twain like a rotten log. -But, as it was, the destroyer swerved to starboard in the nick of time, -her side almost grazing the bows of the unknown ship as she passed. - -"A narrow squeak that," murmured Trent under his breath. - -"Could you make anything of her?" asked Lawless as the fog once more -closed in on them and hid the other vessel from sight, though her -engines could still be heard. - -"No," answered the junior officer; "she might be British, German or -Dutch for all I can tell." - -"Then I think we'll keep on her track for a bit," said the Lieutenant. -"Something'll give her away sooner or later." - -By this time the sound of firing had died away save for an occasional -distant boom, and as it would be useless to try and locate the scene of -action now, Lawless did the best thing possible in following the ship -which had so nearly run him down. If she were a British cruiser no harm -would be done; while, were she German--well, there would be some -exciting moments in store for both. - -So far, however, her nationality could not be ascertained, and so -Lawless, guided by the sound of her engines, kept abreast of her as near -as he could judge. While the fog lasted he could not hope to identify -her by sight, but a chance occurrence, such as a bugle call, a loud -order given on deck, or a call on the pipe, might afford a clue. -Meanwhile it was necessary to prevent those on board from suspecting -the presence of a destroyer so close at hand, for, should the _Knat_ be -sighted, the chances were a hundred to one that, friend or foe, the -strange vessel would open fire on her without waiting to make inquiries. - -For nearly an hour the two vessels continued to pound along in a -south-easterly direction, each hidden from the other by the enveloping -fog. - -"Something's got to be done," said Lawless at last. "In my opinion she's -a German, for she's certainly laying a course towards Heligoland, and if -we're not mighty careful we'll find ourselves in a trap. Point is, how -the devil are we to make the skipper give himself away?" - -"Send a wireless in English. If he's----" - -"No good," broke in the Lieutenant. "If he's a German he'd savvy the -dodge and play up to us." - -The fog was now beginning to show signs of clearing overhead, though it -still lay thick upon the sea. There was every prospect of its soon -disappearing altogether, and then, perhaps, the mystery of the unknown -vessel would be solved and her fate--or that of the _Knat_--decided. - -"Look!" shouted Trent abruptly, but before Lawless could follow the -upward direction of his gaze something fell in the water just astern and -then came the sound of a loud explosion. Others followed in quick -succession, some of the bombs falling so close to the destroyer that the -men standing by the torpedo tubes were drenched by the water they threw -up. There was no need to inquire as to the cause of these unpleasant -phenomena, they were due to a Zeppelin hovering above--probably the same -one which had been encountered earlier in the day. - -"That settles it," said Lawless. "We're in company with a German cruiser -and her guardian angel." - -He had only just finished speaking when there was a deafening boom on -the port side and a volley of shells went hurtling over the destroyer, -one of them snapping her wireless mast in two like a twig. Obviously the -Zeppelin, having sighted the _Knat_ and notified the fact in the usual -way with bombs, had warned her sea consort of the destroyer's proximity -by wireless, and the cruiser had answered by firing more or less -haphazard into the fog. In fact, she came very near sinking her unseen -enemy and would have probably succeeded had not her guns been trained at -too high an angle. - -Lawless, now that his doubts were at rest, lost no more time, all the -men were at their stations in readiness and there was no further reason -to delay an action. His object now was to creep up abreast of the -cruiser until he could launch a torpedo with a fair chance of its -getting "home." This manoeuvre, however, was not by any means easy, -for it necessitated exposing the _Knat_ to the enemy's fire, and if only -one shot made good it would almost certainly mean an end of the -adventure so far as the destroyer and her crew were concerned. Moreover, -the airship was still dropping bombs and keeping her consort informed as -to the enemy's position. - -The first two attempts to torpedo the German proved unsuccessful, and in -both cases the _Knat_ was driven off with the loss of several men killed -and wounded, while the machine-gun aft on the bandstand had been wrecked -by the only air-bomb which, up to the present, had struck the vessel. -With such odds against him, Lawless would have been quite justified in -drawing off; but to retire before a superior foe is not one of the ways -they have in the Navy. Therefore the Lieutenant prepared for a third -attempt, which, as the mist had begun to clear, was likely to prove the -last whatever the issue might be. - -"We've got to pull it off this time or go to the bottom," he said. - -"Ten days' leave or good-bye all," commented Trent grimly. - -The _Knat_, which had fallen a little astern of her hoped-for victim, -darted forward at full speed and, as she came up on the cruiser's -starboard quarter, was met by a terrific fire. The two for'a'd funnels -were reduced to the condition of sieves, the wireless room was smashed -to splinters, and Lawless himself narrowly escaped death from a shell -which burst just above the bridge. The quartermaster was killed on the -spot, but as he fell Lawless sprang to the wheel and took charge of it -himself. - -"Stand by!" he roared to the men at the torpedo tubes, and then as the -_Knat_, reeling under the blast of fire, came abreast of the cruiser, he -shouted "Fire!" - -The shining messenger of death leapt from the port tube and, as it did -so, a shell struck the destroyer amidships. There was a loud explosion; -from the engine-room gratings there issued clouds of smoke and scalding -steam; the shrieks of wounded and scalded men arose above the din, and -the _Knat_, struck in a vital spot, canted over on her port side and -began to settle. She, at any rate, had fought her last fight. - -"Pipe all hands stand by to abandon ship!" roared the Lieutenant, and -somewhere amid the drifting grey fog there came the sound of another -explosion. - -The destroyer gave another lurch and the water came swirling over her -decks. - -"Abandon ship! Every man for himself!" - -The men sprang into the sea, and not a moment too soon. As Lawless gave -his last order there came the sound of another explosion in the -engine-room and, before the steam from the shattered boilers had cleared -away, nothing remained of the gallant little vessel but a mass of -crumpled metal at the bottom of the North Sea and some wreckage floating -upon the surface. - -Lawless, who was still at the wheel when the _Knat_ took her final -plunge, was drawn down by the suction of the sinking vessel. -Instinctively he struck out as soon as the waves closed above his head, -but it seemed to him that he must be miles and miles below the surface. -A horrible feeling of impending suffocation and an almost intolerable -pressure on his lungs oppressed him as he struck upwards. At last, when -his chest felt as if it were about to burst, he reached the surface and -trod water while he sucked in deep breaths of air. Then, through the -thin veil of mist, he caught sight of what looked like the hull of a -vessel or, at any rate, something solid and capable of affording -support. He started to swim towards it, hoping it might be some ship -which had arrived on the scene since the fight, and not caring much -whether it proved to be a friend or an enemy. - -In a few minutes he was alongside, and had caught hold of some tackle -hanging from a spar. Hauling himself up, he managed to get astride the -spar, and then realised that the vessel had a heavy list to port. Too -dazed to draw any significant deductions from this, he worked his way -along the spar till he found himself looking down upon a slanting deck, -littered with wreckage and apparently deserted. Then, and not till then, -he realised where he was. - -He had unwittingly climbed aboard the German cruiser, which was sinking -and had been abandoned by her crew. Obviously, therefore, his last -torpedo had found its billet, and the cruiser had been hit at the moment -when victory seemed hers--it was a great consolation. - -The Lieutenant's first thought was to dive back into the sea, and he was -about to do this when a noise above his head made him look up. A -Zeppelin, no doubt the same one which had been piloting the cruiser, was -hovering above, evidently with the object of ascertaining what had -happened to the combatants. - -"Lord, if I could only bring that thing down," reflected Lawless, -forgetting his own peril for the moment. - -His eye wandered over the deserted decks, and then he gave a sudden -whoop of joy. Not twenty yards from where he stood were a couple of -anti-aircraft guns, and, without stopping to weigh the consequences, he -crossed to one of them, found it was loaded, and at once trained the -muzzle on the ponderous mass hovering overhead. Then he fired. - -A shell went whistling up, and passing through or over the gondola--he -could not be sure which--exploded immediately beneath the gas envelope. -There was a flash of flame and the sound of an explosion, but before the -smoke had cleared away Lawless had trained the second gun on the airship -and fired again. Then, without waiting to ascertain the result of his -shots, he took a header into the sea and, on reaching the surface, swam -as hard as he could towards a piece of floating wreckage. He threw an -arm over this and, thus supported, turned round to see what was -happening. - -The sight which met his astonished gaze was tragic and terrible in the -extreme. Piled upon the tilting side of the German cruiser was a great -flaming mass sending up a cloud of smoke and sparks--all that remained -of the great airship. Only for a second or two was Lawless able to gaze -at this fearful spectacle of calamity heaped upon calamity to which sea -and air had each contributed a quota, for, with a quivering lurch, the -cruiser rolled completely over and disappeared beneath the waters, -dragging the burning remains of the Zeppelin with it. - -"Congratulations! You'll be able to stand me a dinner at the Savoy now." - -Lawless turned his head and saw Trent a few yards away clinging to an -empty water beaker and looking quite abnormally cheerful. But the -Lieutenant was still oppressed by the tragedy he had witnessed, and the -junior's flippant remark jarred upon him. - -"Shut up," he growled. - -"Oh, all right," answered Trent, in an injured tone; "but I should have -thought that the prospect of handling that thousand quid would have made -you more amiable." - -As a matter of fact it had not occurred to Lawless until that moment -that he had won his uncle's wager and was, therefore, entitled to the -thousand pounds. But now, strange to say, he did not feel elated in the -least degree; the triple tragedy in which the _Knat_, the German cruiser -and the Zeppelin had been involved, together with, probably, the loss of -several hundred men, dwarfed everything else for the time being. - -"How many of our men have gone under do you think?" he asked. - -"Can't say, though I'm afraid we've lost between twenty and thirty. But -that's nothing compared with the enemy's losses." - -As he spoke, Trent pointed to various small groups of figures swimming -about or hanging on to pieces of wreckage. Some were survivors of the -_Knat_, some of the German cruiser, and in several cases men who less -than a quarter of an hour ago had been endeavouring to kill one another -were now rendering each other mutual help--such are the uncertainties of -war. - -"Even now," went on the Sub-Lieutenant, "the chances are that we shall -all be drowned before----" - -He was interrupted by a shout from Lawless and, looking round, saw a -couple of destroyers approaching at full speed, followed by several -patrol boats. - -"Saved!" he ejaculated. - -A few minutes later the destroyers had arrived on the scene and lowered -boats to pick up the survivors, friend and foe alike. Among the last to -be rescued were Lawless and his junior officer, and when the boats had -returned to the destroyers the latter made off at full speed towards the -land, leaving nothing but a few masses of floating _débris_ as witnesses -of that memorable fight. - - * * * * * - -"It's all right," said Lawless, looking up from a letter as he and Trent -sat at breakfast in a certain old-fashioned hostelry off the East Coast. -"The old boy's dubbed up." - -"You mean he's handed over the boodle?" asked Trent with interest. - -"Yes; he sent a cheque to the major yesterday, who's paid it into my -account." - -"Lucky pig, you." - -"And that's not all," went on Lawless. "Seen to-day's paper?" - -"Not yet." - -"Well, then, look at this." - -The Lieutenant handed over the paper and placed his finger on "Naval -Appointments." Trent leaned forward and read: "Lieutenant-Commander F. -H. Lawless, H.M.S. _Knat_, promoted to Commander." - -"Congrats!" he cried. "You'll be an admiral some day if you are not very -careful." - -"Don't mention it. If you persevere in your profession and cultivate -habits of cleanliness and sobriety, you may become even as I, my son." - -"Returning to that little matter of the thousand pounds," said Trent, -"don't you think you might pay that half-quid you've owed me for the -last eighteen months?" - -"Great Scot, I thought you'd forgotten it. 'Pon my soul you have a -tenacious memory, Trent," answered Lawless. "However," he went on -condescendingly, "I'll see what I can do for you. What with the -super-tax, the increased duty on motor-cars, and other drains on a -fellow's income----" - -He broke off abruptly, crossed to the window and stood watching a patrol -boat which had just come fussily into harbour. When Trent joined him -there he was puzzled to find his senior plunged in gloom. - -"Well, for a fellow who's just come into money----" he remarked in -disgust. - -"Do you remember," asked Lawless dreamily, "how gallantly she behaved in -that scrap with the _Lansitz_ and her attendant destroyers?" - -Trent stared for a moment. - -"Oh, you're thinking of the old _Knat_," he said, a light breaking in on -him. - -"And again in that storm off the coast of Northumberland?" - -Trent nodded; he, too, was sobered now. - -"Well," said Lawless with passion, "she had a glorious end; but do you -think I can exult over a paltry thousand pounds when she's at the bottom -of the sea? I wouldn't have lost her, no, not for----" - -The sentence remained unfinished and Lawless stared moodily out to sea -again. - - -THE END. - - - Printed in Great Britain by W. H. SMITH & SON, The Arden Press, - Stamford Street, London. 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