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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: Dave Darrin and the German Submarines - Making a Clean-up of the Hun Sea Monsters - -Author: H. Irving Hancock - -Release Date: December 15, 2012 [EBook #41628] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUBMARINES *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: A folded piece of paper.] - - - - -DAVE DARRIN AND THE GERMAN SUBMARINES - -OR - -MAKING A CLEAN-UP OF THE HUN SEA MONSTERS - -By - -H. IRVING HANCOCK - -Author of "Dave Darrin at Vera Cruz," "Dave Darrin on Mediterranean -Service," "Dave Darrin's South American Cruise," "Dave Darrin After -the Mine Layers," etc., etc. - -Illustrated - -THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY Akron, Ohio New York - -Made in U. S. A. - - - - -Copyright MCMXIX - -By THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY - - - - -CONTENTS - -CHAPTER I--ON THE SEA PATROL - - On the prowl at sea. Dan takes the rest cure. Dave springs a new trap - for submarines. The enemy's alarm clock. "Searchlight men, stand - ready!" A shell-made geyser. The sea duel. A submarine finish. "Wasted - humanity." Orders by wireless. Shore leave. Mr. Matthews of Chicago. - With the British sea-dog. - -CHAPTER II--THE MEETING WITH A PIRATE - - Dan has forebodings. "'Ware torpedo!" Dan's "forty winks" end. "All - hands to abandon ship!" How the trick worked. A wonderful job. The - loiterer at the radio room door. "I'll keep my eye on you." - -CHAPTER III--QUICK "DOINGS" OVER THE SHOAL - - Fisherman's Shoal. The bubble trail. "Over with the 'buoy'!" The - driver's job. "Come up, or take a bomb!" Talking with the Pirate. A - face seen before. Bechtold does some German lying. Poison vapors. - Mystery in a berth. Bechtold's grab. - -CHAPTER IV--THE TRAIL TO STRANGE NEWS - - Fortune is partial to the bold. A hot burn with acid. Saving words - from a wreck. Use for a prize crew. Bechtold bluffs. Dave unfolds the - coming fate of the prisoner. That ugly word, "spy." "War breeds savage - ideas." - -CHAPTER V--DAVE TALKS OUT IN COUNCIL - - The sheet that Dave saved. The drive against the troopships. "Sixty - submarines!" Dave has the floor at naval headquarters. "I will stake - my soul!" "Darrin, I wish we had you in our navy!" Three big cheers. - Danny Grin feels proud. - -CHAPTER VI--THE GLOWWORM OF THE SEA - - Looking for the 117th Division afloat. Dave's extra nap. The row at - the stern. The glow on the sea. The lie passed. Ensign Phelps picks up - the mystery. The chart-room conference. The work of a spy. "A traitor - on board!" - -CHAPTER VII--DARRIN HAS A SPY SCARE - - Dave quizzes the accused. Ferguson's turn on the rack. The search for - evidence. "Have we spies on the 'Logan'?" - -CHAPTER VIII--THE BATTLE FOR THE TROOPSHIP FLEET - - On board the troopship fleet. Torpedo talk. "Keep your hair from - turning gray before you reach the trenches." No clues or traces yet. - The minute of signals. Vanguard of troopship fleet. Dave swerves for - battle. "Let go the depth bomb!" - -CHAPTER IX--WHEN THE ENEMY SCORED - - The soldiers feel better. "They can't hit us." "They've got us!" The - start of a panic. Destroyers scurry to save. The biggest submarine - fight of all. Big guns roar. - -CHAPTER X--THE HOTTEST WORK OF ALL - - In Periscope Lane. Shooting of the good old kind. Clean work. Dave - Darrin's lucky time. "Hit is the right word." Machine guns turn loose. - Playing upon the Hun gun-crew. Beatty's luck changes. - -CHAPTER XI--A TRAP AND ITS PREY - - Turning turtle. "They're only Huns." The fighting storm clears. - Listing the survivors. Extent of the American losses. Dan has some - questions. Dave plans a ruse. Reardon and the marine. Jordan steps - into the trap. - -CHAPTER XII--DAVE HUNTS A BIGGER FIGHT - - Blind man's buff on the waves. Judged by the goods delivered. Making - the best of the unknown. The opening gun. The real fight looms ahead. - -CHAPTER XIII--A BATTLE TRY-OUT FOR SOULS - - The snap-shooting period. Zigzagging for life. A crazy marine waltz. - The "Logan" turns special hunter. Dave can't get 'em all. "Specks" in - the sky. - -CHAPTER XIV--TEAM WORK BETWEEN SKY AND WATER - - The "blimps" arrive. One of them makes a hit and helps Dave to one. - The "Logan's" guns din out. Through the sea of wreckage. Runkle tells - a tale. The accused spy denies. Dan has his "step," too. How spies are - handled in Britain. - -CHAPTER XV--DAN'S TURN TO GRIN - - Not a word about the "Prince." Darry is puzzled. "Unmask!" Dalzell - grins broadly. Dave thinks he's dreaming. A warship or a floating - dry-goods box? - -CHAPTER XVI--ABOARD THE MYSTERY SHIP - - "Is this a masquerade?" Dan is wrong. Dave in his disguise. "Rubber!" - Where did the laugh come in? Real mystery enough. "And the ladies--?" - Dave gives it up. Then he doesn't. - -CHAPTER XVII--THE HUMOROUS ADVENTURE - - "Abandon ship!" The strangest of war crews. Heinie von Sub moves - closer. "Open ports!" The trapper trapped. "Give them a chance." - "Chermany is Chermany." The whole German story. - -CHAPTER XVIII--DANNY GRIN PROVES HIS METTLE - - The new wheat ship. "Do you begin to see the joke?" Guns at work in - the night. The one-sided fight. Cowardly hounds. Dan loads his - strategy. A great game. The German brand of treachery. Beating Hun - team work with an American single. "Win or sink!" - -CHAPTER XIX--A GERMAN VIEW OF SUBMARINES - - Dan is glad at last. Sparnheim hears a lecture. Then faces an angry - woman. "Don't touch such a beast!" What long life means to a pirate - captain. Sparnheim is "insulted." - -CHAPTER XX--DAN STALKS A CAUTIOUS ENEMY - - Making the enemy guess. Result of Dan's trick. "He's going to gun us!" - Dan loses men and a gun. "An outrage!" cries the German. "Report." - "Home, James!" - -CHAPTER XXI--THE S. O. S. FROM THE "GRISWOLD" - - Dave's best good news. New ships for two. Bad news, it turns out. - Runkle is on hand. The chums part company. S. O. S.! The "Griswold" - attacked. - -CHAPTER XXII--DAVE'S NIGHT OF AGONY - - News of the toughest kind. Flashes from German guns. Dave plans his - own attack. "Never again any mercy to a pirate!" "Belle!" Splash! - -CHAPTER XXIII--THE FIGHT TO BRING BELLE BACK - - Runkle helps valiantly. The still, white face. The surgeon shakes his - head. "She did not suffer." Darry refuses to wake up. Dan at his - chum's side. The fight for Belle's life. "'Ware torpedo!" - -CHAPTER XXIV--CONCLUSION - - - - -DAVE DARRIN AND THE GERMAN SUBMARINES - - - - -CHAPTER I - -ON THE SEA PATROL - - -"Anything sighted?" called Lieutenant-Commander Dave Darrin as he -stepped briskly from the little chart-room back of the wheel-house and -turned his face toward the bridge. - -"Nothing, sir, all afternoon," responded Lieutenant Dan Dalzell from the -bridge. - -Dave ran lightly up the steps, returning, as he reached the bridge, the -salutes of Dalzell, executive officer, and of Ensign Phelps, officer of -the deck. - -"It's been a dull afternoon, then?" queried Darrin, his eyes viewing the -sea, whose waters rose and fell in gentle swells. - -No land was in sight from the bridge of the United States torpedo boat -destroyer, "John J. Logan," which was moving at cruising speed westerly -from the coast of Ireland. The course lay through the "Danger Zone" -created by the presence of unknown numbers of hidden German submarines. - -For a winter day the weather had been warm. Forward the two men of the -bow watch and the crews of the rapid-fire guns had removed their coats -and had left them below. - -Though there was neither enemy nor friendly craft in sight, Darrin noted -with swift if silent approval that there was no evidence of lax watch. -At port and starboard, amidships, there were men on watch, as also at -the stern. Members of gun-crews lounged close to their stations, to -which additional men could be summoned in a flash. Aft, also, two men -stood by the device from which it might be necessary, at any instant, to -drop a depth bomb. - -Trained down to the last point of condition by constant work, these -officers and men of the torpedo boat destroyer made one think of hard, -lean hunting dogs, which, in human guise, they really were. Not only had -toil brought this about but sleep was something of a luxury aboard the -"Logan." On a cruise these men of Admiral Speare's fleet of destroyers -slept with their clothes on, the same rule applying to the officers. - -Dave Darrin had slept in the chart-room for three hours this afternoon, -following eighteen hours of duty on deck. - -"Any wireless messages worth reading?" was Darrin's next question. - -"None intended for us, sir, and none others of startling nature, sir," -replied Ensign Phelps, handing his superior a loose-leaf note-book. "I -think you saw the last one, sir, and since that came in there were none -important enough to be filed." - -Dave read the uppermost message, nodded, then handed back the book. - -For the next ten minutes Darrin scanned through his glasses, the surface -of the sea in all directions. - -"I'd like to bag an enemy before supper," he sighed. - -"And I'd like to see you do it," came heartily from Dan Dalzell. - -"Why don't you turn in for a nap, Dan?" asked Dave, turning to his chum -and second in command, whose eyes looked heavy. - -"I believe I could," admitted Dalzell, almost reluctantly. "Mr. Phelps, -will you leave word with your relief to have me called just after eight -bells?" - -Down the steps Dalzell went, to the chart-room, closing the door -curtains behind him. It is one of the unwritten rules that, at sea, the -commander of a vessel and his executive officer shall not both sleep at -the same time. - -As for Dave Darrin, he felt that he might be on deck up to midnight, at -least. After that he might snatch "forty winks," leaving orders to be -called just before dawn. - -Short of sleep always, weighted down with responsibility, young Darrin -was happy none the less. First of all, after his wide professional -preparation in many quarters of the globe, he was at last actually in -the great world war. He was in the very place where big things were -being done at sea, and the war had brought him promotion and independent -command. What more could so young a naval officer ask, except sufficient -contact with the enemy to make life interesting? - -An hour passed. Dave and Phelps talked but little, and nothing out of -the usual happened, the "Logan" keeping on her course still at cruising -speed. But now the sun was well down on the western horizon; the -northwesterly wind blew a little harder, though not enough to roughen -the surface of the sea noticeably. - -"Orderly, there!" called Phelps, quietly from the bridge. "Go to my -quarters for my sheepskin coat and bring it here. Do you wish yours, -sir?" turning to Darrin. - -"I'll step below and get it," decided Dave. "I'll probably be back here -with you shortly." - -Going stealthily into the chart-room, Dave took a glance at his chum, -now sound asleep in a chair, with a blanket drawn over him. Dave reached -for his coat, donned it and buttoned it up, then stepped outside. First -of all he moved forward to make a brief but keen inspection of the -gun-crews and their pieces; then, to starboard, after which he strolled -amidships. For a few minutes he was below to receive the report of the -chief engineer, then went aft to inspect the gunners and the watch, -returning on the port side to the bridge. - -Soon after that the sun sank into the sea, and darkness came rapidly on. - -"It's going to be a fine night, sir," said Ensign Phelps, as Dave came -up on the bridge. - -"A fine night for something besides steaming, I hope, Mr. Phelps," Dave -replied, with a smile in which there was something more than mere -wistfulness. - -"Amen to that!" agreed the young ensign. - -"Wind is shifting, sir," said Mr. Phelps, fifteen minutes later, when -darkness had settled down. - -"So I observed," answered the youthful commanding officer. "From -nor'west to nor'east. That cloud over to nor'east looks as if it carried -a lot of wind." - -Dave took a quick glance at the barometer, but it had not fallen much. - -"No storm in sight yet," said Dave, thoughtfully. "But cloudy." - -"Aye," nodded Ensign Phelps. "And a black night may aid either us or an -enemy." - -"More likely the enemy," replied Darrin, reflectively. "An observer on a -submarine, with the aid of the microphonic or adapted telephonic device, -that is now credited with having been perfected, can hear us coming when -we're some distance away." - -"And the same observer can discover our direction as compared with his -own position, and can even judge the extent of the distance fairly -well," remarked the ensign. - -"True," Darrin nodded. Then, suddenly, he spoke energetically, as one -gripped by a new idea. - -"Mr. Phelps, have the word passed to all men on watch to keep a doubly -sharp lookout for approaching craft and thus avoid danger of collision. -No one carries running lights in these waters. The watch will also be -extremely vigilant for submarines." - -Again and again the watch, startled by shadows, of which the sea is ever -full at night, called out low-spoken warnings. The officers on the -bridge were kept busy investigating these alarms with their night -glasses. In fact they frequently were deceived too. Every man's nerves -were on edge; gunners swallowed hard, and with frequency moistened their -lips with their tongues. Every man up topside on the "Logan" felt that -peril was hovering near. It was not fear; it was perhaps that sixth -sense that gives the alarm in moments of unseen danger. So intense was -the nervous strain that the creaking of a brace or the sound of a -straining plate, as the destroyer rolled, made every man on deck jump. - -It was a trying situation and such as brought gray hairs to many a -ship's master in these days of deeds and daring. Better far the rush of -a torpedo in their direction than this nerve-racking waiting for -something that every man on the destroyer felt was coming. - -Lieutenant-Commander Darrin, sensing all this, for the very air was -charged with expectancy, frequently steadied the watch with an -encouraging word or a sharp, low-spoken command. Dave sympathized with -them, for he was in very much the same nervous condition. Of course he -could not show it. - -"Curtin, we're in for some work to-night, or else I have an attack of -nerves. I feel it," said Dave without taking his eyes from observation -of the sea. - -"So do I. Queer how a fellow can sense danger when he neither can hear, -see, feel nor smell it," said Mr. Curtin. - -"Submarine hunting is hard on the nerves, but it's worth while," -returned Dave. "I think that must be what makes life on a destroyer so -attractive to us. It is the real sporting game. I--What's that?" - -"Yes, it's----" - -"Sh-h-h!" Dave suddenly stiffened, bringing his glasses quickly to his -eyes. "Bow watch there, did you hail?" he demanded in a low, sharp -voice. - -"Aye, aye, sir," came the prompt reply, also pitched in a low tone, -though full of repressed excitement. - -Whatever wind there had been in the cloud Dave had observed to the -northeast, had passed. Only the gentlest of breezes blew, though the sky -remained overcast, giving an almost ink-black night--a night for dark -deeds. - -So long did the "Logan" drift that probably every wakeful soul on board -felt irritated by the monotony. Suddenly Dave stiffened, bringing his -glass quickly to his eyes. - -"Sounds and looks like a craft two points off starboard and about half a -mile away, sir," reported the bow watch. - -"Aye," Dave responded. "I see it. Mr. Curtin, pass the word for all -hands to quarters." - -Silently officers and men were soon streaming over the decks, on their -way to their various stations. Curtin stood with one hand on the -engine-room telegraph, awaiting the order for headway. - -The three-inch guns were loaded, and also the one-pounders and the -machine guns. Two men stood by the darkened searchlight. - -"Searchlight men!" Dave called, in a low voice. "You know where we're -looking?" - -"Aye, aye, sir." - -"Stand by to put a beam squarely across its conning tower if it proves -to be a submarine." - -Again Dave took a long, careful, steady look through his night glass. -Secretly he was a-quiver with excitement; outwardly he was wholly calm. - -"Throw the beam!" called Dave sharply, a few seconds later. "Gun-crews -in line with the enemy, stand by!" - -A broad band of light from the searchlight played into the sky, then -descended. As the beam reached the water it revealed the tower and deck -of a large submarine rolling awash a little more than half a mile away. -A muffled cheer rose from some of the members of the watch. The men at -the guns were too much occupied to open their mouths. - -"Silence in the watch!" Dave commanded, sternly. "Mr. Curtin, half-speed -ahead. Bear straight down on the enemy! Ram him if possible! Ram him at -all hazards if he is submerging when we reach him," commanded Lieutenant -Commander Darrin. - -"Aye, aye," answered the quartermaster at the wheel. - -Like a bloodhound the "Logan" sprang forward. - -"Bow guns fire!" - -Boom! roared one sharp-tongued three-inch gun. Bang! sounded a -one-pounder. The larger shell threw up a column of spray beyond the -submarine; the small shell struck the water on the nearer side. - -"Full speed ahead, Mr. Curtin. Hold her steady there, quartermaster!" - -"Aye, aye, sir." - -The "Logan" was soon racing at more than thirty knots an hour, her nose -burrowing into the sea, throwing up great volumes of water. - -The enemy submarine had plainly been taken utterly by surprise by the -first flash of the "Logan's" searchlight, for the warning sound that had -come across the water had been caused by an oil-burning engine that was -supplying power for the recharging of the submarine's storage batteries. - -Such a craft, however, hated and at all times hunted, carries crews -trained to swift work. Soon after the "Logan's" second three-inch gun -had fired without registering a hit, a five-inch gun of the submarine -was brought into action. Overhead whizzed a shell that just missed the -"Logan's" wireless aerials. A second shot, aimed at the destroyer's -water line, passed hardly more than four feet to starboard. - -"Get him!" roared Dave Darrin. "Gunners have their wits about 'em!" - -Dan Dalzell took the door curtains with him as he leaped out and ran for -the bridge. - -The submarine had swung around, and at the same time brought her after -gun into action. The submarine swung again bow on. There was no time to -dive. She was caught and must fight. - -"Torpedo coming, sir!" reported the bow watch, but Darrin had already -caught sight, under the searchlight's glare, of a trail of foam heading -straight for the destroyer. - -Quick as was the helmsman's obedience of orders, the "Logan" escaped the -torpedo by little more than a hair's breadth as it rushed on past. Then -came a second torpedo. The "Logan," still driving bow on, save for -swerves to avoid torpedoes, escaped the second one by what appeared to -breathless watchers to be an even closer margin. - -Lieutenant Beatty had taken personal charge of sighting one of the -forward guns. He now let fly a shell that tore part of the top of the -enemy's conning tower away. - -"That settles him for diving!" cried Darrin, tensely. "Land a shell in -the hull and force him to take the dive he doesn't want!" - -Onward came a third rushing torpedo. As the "Logan" swerved to avoid it, -a shell from the submarine's after gun struck and tore away a -one-pounder aft on the destroyer, fragments stretching two men on the -deck, seriously but not fatally injured. An instant later a shell aimed -at the destroyer's water line forward pierced the hull just below the -gun-deck. A fair hit at the water line would have put the "Logan" in a -sinking condition, but, owing to the oblique position of the target, the -shell, as it struck, glanced off. - -"Great work, Mr. Beatty!" shouted Dave hoarsely, as another three-inch -shell struck the enemy, this time at the waterline. "Mr. Curtin, half -speed ahead!" - -As the destroyer began to lose headway and slowly circle the undersea -boat, the "Logan's" crew cheered, this time without rebuke from the -bridge. The submarine craft was rapidly filling and sinking. - -At a safe distance Darrin watched, for he was humane enough to wish to -rescue the German survivors, should there be any. So swift was the -sinking of the enemy, however, that there was no time for them to launch -and man the collapsible lifeboat that they undoubtedly carried. - -Then the seas closed over the hated craft. A few moments later -Lieutenant-Commander Darrin gave the order to steam forward slowly, the -watch standing by to discover and heave lines to any swimmers there -might be afloat. Not a head was seen, however. Three men at the after -gun had been observed to jump before the submarine went down, but no -trace of them could now be found. - -"We'll never know how many hundreds of decent lives the work of the last -minute has saved," declared Dalzell hoarsely as he reported on the -bridge. - -"Find out as promptly as possible what damage we have suffered," Dave -ordered. "We were struck several times." - -As Dan saluted and hurried away, Darrin picked up his night glass and -once more resumed his scanning of the sea. Lieutenant Curtin had already -received orders that the destroyer was to cruise slowly back and forth -over and around the spot where the submarine had gone down. - -"It seems almost wasted sympathy to try to pick up enemy survivors," -muttered Mr. Curtin rather savagely. - -"But it's humanity just the same," Darrin returned. "And Americans must -practise it." - -"Of course, sir." - -Dalzell, who had summoned the aid of other officers and some of the -warrant officers, soon returned. - -"Two breaches, one just above water line, and the other below it, sir," -was Dan's beginning of the report. "I wasn't aware that a torpedo -touched us. If it did, it made a dent, but glanced off without the -explosion that a direct hit would have produced. That may account for -the dent below the water line. But a shell hit us above water line. Is -it possible that a large fragment glanced low enough to make the dent -under water? It doesn't seem possible." - -"Not likely," smiled Darrin. - -"The hole above the water line has been repaired, but men are still -working at the one below the line," Dalzell went on, "and the pumps are -working hard. The chief engineer was about to report it to you when I -reached him. We have been hit at other points, but no serious damage has -been done." - -"We are not in danger of sinking?" - -"Doesn't look like it to me, sir," Dan replied, "and the chief engineer -is of the same opinion." - -"Take the bridge with Mr. Curtin." - -Not more than two minutes was Dave below decks, half of that time with -the chief engineer. Then he hurried back, disappearing into the radio -room. In a code message he notified destroyer headquarters of the -encounter, its result, and the nature of the damage to the "Logan." - -Within five minutes the answer came back through the air: - -"Return to repair. Keep alert for enemy craft understood to be more -numerous in your waters than usual." - -The order bore the signature of Admiral Speare's flag-lieutenant. - -"Home, James," smiled Darrin, after reading the order. - -So the "Logan" was put about. Dave did not steam fast, for it had been -found impossible wholly to stop the hole below water line. Water still -came in, though in diminished quantity. Fast speed would be likely to -spring the damaged plates. - -It was near dawn when land was sighted, and the sun was well up when the -"Logan" steamed limpingly into port. Half an hour later American dock -authorities had taken charge of the destroyer. Dave waited until he saw -his beloved craft in dry dock and the water receding from under her as -it was pumped out of the basin in which the "Logan" now lay. - -In the meantime Dalzell, who had had two hours' sleep on the way to -port, was busy granting shore leave to such men of the crew as were -entitled to have it. More than half of the officers also received leave. - -As soon as luncheon had been finished, and after Darrin had conferred -with the dock officer, he and Dan went ashore. - -"Where shall we go?" asked Dan, when they had left the naval yard behind -them. - -"Anywhere that fancy takes us," Darrin answered, "and by dark, of -course, to a hotel for as good a shore dinner as war times permit." - -"We'd have a better dinner on board," laughed Dan, sometimes known in -the service as Danny Grin. "These British hotels are all feeling the -effects of the enemy's submarine campaign, and can't put up a half-way -good meal." - -Once in the streets of the port town, the two young American naval -officers strolled slowly along. The crowds had a distinctly war-time -appearance. Hundreds of British and American jackies and two or three -score French naval seamen were to be seen. - -"Whoever invented saluting doesn't have my unqualified gratitude," -grumbled Danny Grin. "My arm is aching now from returning so many -salutes." - -"It's a trifling woe," Darrin assured him. "Look more sharply, Dan. You -missed those two French sailors who saluted you." - -Too good a service man to do a thing like that without regret, Dalzell -turned around to discover that the two slighted French sailors were -glancing backward. He wheeled completely around, bringing his right hand -smartly up to his cap visor and inclining his head forward. Facing -forward once more he was just in time to "catch" and return the salutes -of three British jackies. - -"Quite a bore, isn't it?" asked a drawling, friendly voice, as the two -young officers paused to look in at a shop window's display. - -The young man who had hailed them was attired in a suit and coat of -quite distinctly American cut. He was good-looking, agreeable in manner, -and possessed of an air of distinction. - -"The salute is a matter of discipline, not of opinion," Dave Darrin -answered, pleasantly. "It isn't as troublesome as it looks." - -"I have sometimes wondered if you didn't find it tedious," continued the -stranger. - -"Sometimes," Dave admitted, with a nod. "But it shouldn't be." - -"You are an American, aren't you?" asked Dalzell. - -"Yes. Matthews is my name. I'm over here on what appears to be the -foolish mission of trying to buy a lot of fine Irish linen, and that is -a commodity which seems to have disappeared from the market." - -Somehow, it didn't seem quite easy to escape introducing themselves, so -Dan performed that office for the naval pair. Darrin would rather not -have met strangers in the port that was the destroyer base. Mr. Matthews -walked along with them, and presently it developed that he was staying -at the hotel where Dave and Dan had decided to dine. So, after an hour's -stroll, the three turned toward the hotel. - -"I'll see you later," declared Matthews, affably, starting for the -elevator on his way to his room. - -"Dan," said Darrin, laying a kindly arm on his chum's coat-sleeve and -speaking in a low voice, "I'd just as soon you wouldn't introduce us to -chance acquaintances." - -"That struck me afterwards," Dalzell admitted, soberly. "Yet, for once, -I do not believe that my bad habit of friendliness with strangers has -done any harm. Matthews appears to be all right." - -"I hope he is," Dave answered. - -Later Matthews joined them below. - -"It struck me, gentlemen," he declared, "that my introduction was rather -informal. Permit me to offer you my card." - -He tendered to each a bit of pasteboard that neither could very well -decline. It was a business card that he had offered, and its legend -stated that Matthews was connected with a well-known Chicago dry-goods -house. - -"But in these times," smiled their new acquaintance, "an American -passport is a better introduction than a mere card." - -Whereupon he produced his passport. After a glance at it the two young -naval officers did not see how they could escape offering their own -cards, which Matthews gladly accepted and deposited in his own -card-case. - -He did not intrude, however, but soon moved off, after a cheery word of -parting. Dave and Dan went out for another stroll, returning in time for -dinner. - -Hardly had they seated themselves when Matthews, fresh and smiling, -stopped at their table in the dining room. - -"I'm afraid you'll vote me a bore," he apologized, "but American company -is such a treat in this town that I'm going to inquire whether my -presence would be distasteful. If not, may I dine with you?" - -"Be seated, by all means," Darrin responded, with as much heartiness as -he could summon. - -When the soup had been taken away and fish set before them, Matthews -asked: - -"Don't you find the patrol work a dreadful bore?" - -"It's often monotonous," Dave agreed, "but there are some exciting -moments that atone for the dulness of many of the hours." - -"And frightfully dangerous work," Matthews suggested. - -"Fighting, I believe, has never been entirely separated from danger," -retorted Dalzell, with a grin. - -"Have you sunk anything lately?" - -Both naval officers appeared to be too busy with their fish to hear the -question. - -Matthews looked astonished for only a moment. Then he waited until they -were half through with the roast before he inquired: - -"How do you like the work of the depth bombs? Are they as useful as it -was believed they would be?" - -Dave Darrin glanced up quickly. There was no glint of hostility in his -eyes. He smiled, and his voice was agreeable as he rejoined: - -"Now, I know you will not really expect an answer to that question, Mr. -Matthews. The officers and men of the service are under orders not to -discuss naval matters with those not in the service." - -"P-p-pardon me, won't you?" stammered Matthews, a flush appearing under -either temple. - -"Certainly," Dave agreed. "Men not in the service do not readily -comprehend how necessary it is for Navy men not to discuss their work, -especially in war-time." - -Matthews soon changed the subject. After they had gone forth from the -dining room he shook hands with them cordially, and took his leave. - -"Is he genuine?" asked Dalzell. - -"Must be," Dave replied. "His passport was in form. You know how it is -with civilians, Danny-boy. Knowing themselves to be decent and loyal, -they cannot understand why service men cannot take them at their own -valuation." - -Just as the two were going out for another stroll the double doors flew -briskly open to admit a group of more than a dozen British naval -officers. - -"Hullo, there, Darrin! I say there, Dalzell!" - -Surrounded by Britain's naval officers, our two Americans had to undergo -almost an ordeal of handshaking in the lobby. - -"But I thought you were far out on the water, Chetwynd," Dave remarked -to one of the officers. - -"And so I was, but a bad break in a shaft sent me in," grumbled the -commander of an English destroyer. "Beastly luck! And I was needed out -there," he added, in a whisper, "for the Germans are attempting a big -drive underseas. We've new information, Darrin, that they've more than -twice the usual number of submersibles loose in these waters." - -"I've been told the same," Dave nodded, quietly. - -"What brought you in?" - -"Shell hits, I think they were, though one dent might have been made by -a torpedo," Darrin answered. - -"Then you had a fight." - -"A short one." - -"And the German pest?" - -"Went to the bottom. I know, for we saw her sink, and her conning tower -was so damaged that she couldn't have kept the water out, once she went -under. Besides, we found the surface of the water covered with oil." - -"I'll wager you did," agreed Chetwynd, heartily. "You Yankee sailors -have sunk dozens of the pests." - -"And hope to sink scores more," Darrin assured him. - -"Oh, you'll do it," came the confident answer. "But come on upstairs -with us. We've a private parlor and a piano, and plan a jolly hour or -two." - -From one end of the room, in a lull in the singing, an exasperated -English voice rose on the air. - -"What I can't understand," the speaker cried, "is that the enemy appear -to have every facility for getting the latest gossip right out of this -port. And they know every time that a liner, a freighter or a warship -sails from this port. There is some spy service on shore that -communicates with the German submarine commanders." - -"I'd like to catch one of the rascally spies!" Dan uttered to a young -English officer. - -"What would you do with him?" bantered the other. - -"Cook him!" retorted Dan, vengefully. "I don't know in just what form; -probably fricassee him." - -Little did Dalzell dream how soon the answer to the spy problem would -come to him. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE MEETING WITH A PIRATE - - -Thirty-six hours' work at the dry dock, with changing shifts, put the -"Logan" in shape to start seaward again. - -Under another black sky, moving into thick weather, the "Logan" swung -off at slow speed, with little noise from engines or propellers. - -"I feel as if something were going to happen to-night," said Dalzell, -coming to the bridge at midnight after a two-hour nap. A little shudder -ran over his body. - -"I hope something does," agreed Darrin, warmly. "But remember--no Jonah -forebodings!" - -"I--I think it will be something good!" hesitated Dalzell. - -"Good or bad, have me called at six bells," Dave instructed his second -in command. "Before that, of course, if anything turns up." - -He went slowly down and entered the chart-room, closing the curtains -after him. Taking off his sheepskin coat and hanging it up, Dave dropped -into a chair, pulling a pair of blankets over him. Inside of thirty -seconds he was sound asleep, dreaming, perhaps, of the night before at -the hotel, when he had enjoyed the luxury of removing his clothing and -sleeping between sheets. - -At three o'clock to the minute a messenger entered and roused him. How -Darrin hated to get up! He was horribly sleepy, yet he was on his feet -in a twinkling, removing the service blouse that he had worn while -sleeping, and dashing cold water in his face. A hurried toilet -completed, he drew on and buttoned his blouse, next donned his sheepskin -coat and cap, and went out into the dark of the early morning. - -"All secure, sir!" reported Dalzell, from the bridge, meaning that -reports had come in from all departments of the craft that all was well. - -"You had better turn in, Mr. Dalzell," Dave called, before he began to -pace the deck. - -"I'm not sleepy, sir," lied Dalzell, like the brave young gentleman that -he was in all critical times. Dan knew that from now until sun-up was -the tune that called for utmost vigilance. - -Darrin busied himself, as he did frequently every day, by going about -the ship, on deck and below deck, on a tour of inspection. This occupied -him for nearly an hour. Then he climbed to the bridge. - -"Better turn in and get a nap, Danny-boy," he urged, in an undertone. - -"Say!" uttered Danny Grin. "You must know something big is coming off, -and you don't want me to have a hand in it!" - -Dave picked up his night glass and began to use it in an effort to help -out his subordinate, who stood near him. From time to time Dan also used -a glass. A freshening breeze blew in their faces as the boat lounged -indolently along on its way. It was drowsy work, yet every officer and -man needed to be constantly on the alert. - -Despite his denials that he was sleepy, Danny Grin braced himself -against a stanchion of the bridge frame and closed his eyes briefly, -just before dawn. He wouldn't have done it had he been the ranking -officer on the bridge, but he felt ghastly tired, and Darrin and Ensign -Tupper were there and very much awake. - -With a start Dan presently came to himself, realizing that he had lost -consciousness for a few seconds. - -"Oh, it's all right," Dan murmured to himself. "Neither Davy nor Tup -will know that I'm slipping in half a minute of doze." - -His eyes closing again, despite the roll of the craft, he was soon sound -enough asleep to dream fitfully. - -And so he stood when the first streaks of dawn appeared astern. It was -still dark off over the waters, but the slow-moving destroyer stood -vaguely outlined against the eastern streaks in the sky. - -Ensign Tupper was observing the compass under the screened binnacle -light, and Darrin, glass to his eyes, was peering off to northward when -the steady, quick tones of a man of the bow watch reached the bridge: - -"'Ware torpedo, coming two points off port bow!" - -That seaman's eyesight was excellent, for the torpedo was still far -enough away so that Dave had time to order a sharp swerve to port, and -to send a quick signal to the engine room. As the craft turned she -fairly jumped forward. The "Logan" was now facing the torpedo's course, -and seemed a bare shade out of its path, but the watchers held their -breath during those fractions of a second. - -Then it went by, clearing the destroyer amidships by barely two feet. -Nothing but the swiftness of Darrin's orders and the marvelously quick -responses from helmsman and engineer had saved the destroyer from being -hit. - -On Dave's lips hovered the order to dash forward over the course by -which the torpedo had come, which is the usual procedure of destroyer -commanders when attacking a submarine. - -Instead, as the idea flashed into his head, he ordered the ship stopped. - -Danny Grin had come out of his "forty winks" at the hail of the bow -watch. Now Dave spoke to him hurriedly. Dalzell fairly leaped down from -the bridge, hurrying amidships. - -"All hands stand by to abandon ship!" rang the voice of Ensign Tupper, -taking his order from Darrin. The alarm to abandon ship was sounded all -through the ship. - -There was a gasp of consternation, but Dalzell had already met and -spoken to three of the junior officers, and these quickly carried the -needed word. - -The light was yet too faint, and would be for a few minutes, to find -such a tantalizingly tiny object as a submarine's periscope at a -distance even of a few hundred yards. Lieutenant-Commander Darrin, -therefore, had hit upon a simple trick that he hoped would prove -effective. All depended upon the speed with which his ruse could be -carried out. Cold perspiration stood out over Darrin as he realized the -chances he was taking. - -"Bow watch, there! Keep sharp lookout for torpedoes! Half a second might -save us!" - -Tupper stood with hand on the engine-room telegraph. He already had -warned the engineer officer in charge to stand by for quick work. - -Dalzell and the officers to whom Darrin had spoken saw to it that nearly -all of the men turned out and rushed to the boats. Even the engineer -department off watch came tumbling up in their distinctive clothing. - -To an onlooker it would have appeared like a real stampede for the -boats. Tackle creaked, making a louder noise than usual, but seeming to -"stick" as an effort was made to lower loaded boats. The men in boats -and at davits were grinning, for their officers had explained the trick. - -Dawn's light streaks had become somewhat more distinct as Dave peered -ahead. Mr. Beatty and three men crouched low behind one of the forward -guns. - -The submarine commander must have rubbed his eyes, for, while he had -observed no signs of a hit, he saw the American craft drifting on the -water and the crew frantically trying to abandon ship. - -Then the thing for which Darrin had hoped and prayed happened. The enemy -craft's conning tower appeared above water four hundred yards away. - -"The best shot you ever made in your life, Mr. Beatty!" called Dave in -an anxious voice. - -The officer behind the gun had been ready all the time. At the first -appearance of the conning tower he had drawn the finest sight possible. - -The three-inch gun spoke. It seemed ages ere the shell reached its -destination. - -Then what a cheer ascended as the crew came piling on board from the -boats. The conning tower of the submarine had been fairly struck and -wrecked. - -"Half speed ahead!" commanded Dave's steady voice, while Dan gave the -helmsman his orders. As Tupper sent the signal below the "Logan" -gathered headway. - -But Darrin had not finished, for on the heels of his first order came -the second: - -"Open on her with every gun!" - -After the wrecking of his conning tower the German commander began to -bring his craft to the surface. Perhaps it was his intention to -surrender. - -"Full speed ahead!" roared Darrin, and Ensign Tupper rang in the signal. - -The hull of the submarine was hardly more than awash when five or six -shots from the "Logan" struck it at about the same time. - -Veering around to the southward the "Logan" prepared to circle the dying -enemy. The German craft filled and sank, and Darrin presently gazed -overboard at the oil-topped waters through which he was passing. - -"A wonderful job! I wonder that you had the nerve to risk it," muttered -Dalzell. - -"I don't know whether it was a wonderful job, or a big fool risk," Dave -almost chattered. "It would have been a fool trick if I had lost the -ship by it. I don't believe that I shall ever try it again." - -"If you hadn't done just what you did, a second torpedo would have been -sent at you," murmured Dalzell. "You saved the 'Logan' and 'got' the -enemy, if you want to know." - -Grinning, for the responsibility had not been theirs, and the ruse had -"worked," the men of the watch returned to their usual stations, while -those off duty returned to their "watch below." Darrin, however, was -shaking an hour later. He had dropped the usual method of defense for -once and had tried a trick by which he might have lost his craft. As -commander he knew that he had discretionary powers, but at the same time -he realized that he had taken a desperate chance. - -"Oh, stop that, now!" urged Danny Grin. "If you had steamed straight at -the submarine you would have taken even bigger chances of losing the -'Logan.' Even had she given up the fight and dived, there wasn't light -enough for you to follow by any trail of bubbles the enemy might have -left. The answer, David, little giant, is that the submarine is now at -the bottom, and every Hun aboard is now a dead man. In this war the -commander who wins victories is the only one who counts." - -Through that day Dave and Dan slept, alternately, only an hour or two at -a time. All they sighted were three cargo steamers, two headed toward -Liverpool and one returning to "an American port." - -At nine o'clock in the evening Darrin, after another hour's nap, softly -parted the curtains of the chart-room door and peered out. He saw a -young sailor standing just back of the open doorway of the radio room. -Slight as it was there was a something in the sailor's attitude of -listening that Darrin did not quite like. He stepped out on the deck. - -Sighting him, the sailor saluted. - -"Jordan!" called Dave, even before his hand reached his visor cap in -acknowledgment of the salute. - -"Yes, sir!" answered the seaman, coming to attention. - -"You belong to this watch?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Your station is with the stern watch?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Then what are you doing forward?" - -"I left my station, by permission, to go below, sir." - -"Have you been below?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Then why are you loitering here?" - -Seaman Jordan hesitated, shifted on his feet, glanced down, then -hurriedly replied: - -"I--I don't know, sir. I just stopped here a moment. There's a relief -man in my place, sir." - -"Return to your station, Jordan!" - -"Aye, aye, sir," replied the sailor, saluting, wheeling and walking -away. - -"And I'll keep my eye on you," mused Darrin, as he watched the departing -sailor. "I may be wrong, but when I first sighted him there was a look -on that lad's face that I didn't like." - -Even before he reached his station Seaman Jordan was quaking inwardly -more apprehensively than is usual with a sailor caught in a slight -delinquency. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -QUICK "DOINGS" OVER THE SHOAL - - -For several days after that Darrin and the "Logan" cruised back and -forth over the area assigned for patrol. During these days nothing much -happened out of the usual. Then came a forenoon when Darrin received a -wireless message, in code, ordering him to report back at once to the -commanding officer of the destroyer patrol. - -Mid afternoon found the "Logan" fifteen miles off the port of -destination. - -"Be on the alert every instant," was the order Darrin gave out to -officers and men. "There have been several sinkings, the last month, in -these waters. We are nearing Fisherman's Shoal, which is believed to be -a favorite bit of ground for submarines that hide on the bottom." - -Over Fisherman's Shoal the water was only about seventy feet in -depth--an ideal spot for a lurking, hiding undersea craft. - -Five minutes later the bow lookout announced quietly: - -"Trail of bubbles ahead, sir." - -Leaving Ensign Phelps on the bridge, Dave and Dan darted down and -forward. - -A less practised eye might have seen nothing worth noting, but to the -two young officers the trail ahead was unmistakable, though Darrin -quickly brought up his glass to aid his vision. - -"Pass the word for slow speed, Mr. Dalzell," Dave commanded, quietly. -"We want to keep behind that craft for a moment. Pass word to Mr. Briggs -to stand by ready to drop a depth bomb." - -Quietly as the orders were given, they were executed with lightning -speed. The destroyer began to move more slowly, keeping well behind the -bubble trail. At any instant, however, the "Logan" could be expected to -leap forward, dropping the depth bomb at just the right moment. Then -would come a muffled explosion, and, if the bomb were rightly placed, a -broad coating of oil would appear upon the surface. - -Dave was now in the very peak of the bow. Watching the bubbly trail he -knew that the hidden enemy craft was moving more slowly than the -destroyer, and he signalled for bare headway. And now the bubbles were -rising as though from a stationary object under the waves. - -"Buoy, there!" he ordered, quickly. "Overboard with it." - -Slowly the destroyer moved past the spot, but the weighted, bobbing buoy -marked the spot plainly. - -"Have a diver ready, Mr. Dalzell," Dave called. "Make ready to clear -away a launch!" - -In the matter of effective speed Darrin's officers and crew had been -trained to the last word. Only a few hundred yards did the "Logan" move -indolently along, then lay to. - -Soon after that the diver and launch were ready. Dave stepped into the -launch to take command himself. - -"May I go, too, sir?" asked Dan Dalzell, saluting. "I haven't seen this -done before." - -"Clear away a second launch, Mr. Dalzell. The crew will be armed. You -will take also a corporal and squad of marines." - -That meant the entire marine force aboard the "Logan." Dalzell quickly -got his force together, while Darrin gave orders to pull back to where -the bobbing buoy lay on the water. - -"Ready, diver?" called Dave, as the launch backed water and stopped -beside the buoy. - -"Aye, aye, sir." The diver's helmet was fitted into position and the air -pump started. The diver signalled that he was ready to go down. - -"Men, stand by to help him over the side," Darrin commanded. "Over he -goes!" - -Hugging a hammer under one arm the diver took hold of the flexible cable -ladder as soon as it had been lowered. Sailors paid out the rope, life -line and air pipe as the man in diver's suit vanished under the water. - -Down and down went the diver, a step at a time. The buoy had been placed -with such exactness that he did not have to step from the ladder to the -sandy bottom. Instead, he stepped on to the deck of a great lurking -underseas craft. - -He must have grinned, that diver, as he knelt on top of the gray hull -and hammered briskly, in the International Code, this message to the -Germans inside the submarine shell: - -"Come up and surrender, or stay where you are and take a bomb! Which do -you want?" - -Surely he grinned hard, under his diver's mask, as he noted the time -that elapsed. He knew full well that his hammered message had been heard -and understood by the trapped Huns. He could well imagine the panic that -the receipt of the message had caused the enemy. - -"We'll send you a bomb, then?" the diver rapped on the hull with his -hammer. "I'm going up." - -To this there came instant response. From the inside came the hammered -message: - -"Don't bomb! We'll rise and surrender!" - -Chuckling, undoubtedly, the diver signalled and was hoisted to the -surface. The instant that his head showed above water the seaman-diver -nodded three times toward Darrin. Then he was hauled into the boat, and -the launch pulled away from the spot. - -"It took the Huns some time to make up their minds?" queried Dave Darrin -smilingly, after the diver's helmet had been removed. - -"They didn't answer until they got the second signal, sir," replied the -diver. - -Dalzell's launch was hovering in the near vicinity, filled with sailors -and marines, a rapid-fire one-pounder mounted in the bow. - -Both boats were so placed as not to interfere with gun-fire from the -"Logan." Officers and men alike understood that the Huns might attempt -treachery after their promise to surrender. - -Soon the watchers glimpsed a vague outline rising through the water. The -top of a conning tower showed above the water, then the rest of it, and -last of all the ugly-looking hull rose until the craft lay fully exposed -on the surface of the sea. - -The critical moment was now at hand. It would be possible for the -submarine to torpedo the destroyer; there was grave danger of the -attempt being made even though the vengeful Germans knew that in all -probability their own lives would pay the penalty. - -The hatch in the tower opened and a young German officer stepped out, -waving a white handkerchief. He was followed by several members of the -crew. It was evident that the enemy had elected to save their lives, and -smiles of grim satisfaction lighted the faces of the watchful American -jackies. - -"Give way, and lay alongside," Dave ordered his coxswain, while -signalling Dalzell to keep his launch back for the present. - -Then Dave addressed the young German officer: - -"You understand English?" - -"Yes," came the reply, with a scowl. - -"We are coming alongside. Your officers and men will be searched for -weapons, then transferred, in detachments, to our launch, and taken -aboard our craft." - -The German nodded, addressing a few murmured words to his men, who moved -well up forward on the submarine's slippery deck. - -As the launch drew alongside two seamen leaped to the submarine's deck -and held the lines that made the launch fast to it. - -Half a dozen armed seamen sprang aboard, with Darrin, who signalled to -the second launch to come up on the other side of the German boat. - -"Be good enough, sir, to order the rest of your men on deck," Dave -directed, and the German officer shouted the order in his own tongue. -More sullen-looking German sailors appeared through the conning tower -and lined up forward. - -"Did you command here?" Dave demanded of the officer. - -"No; my commander is below. I am second in command." - -Dave stepped to the conning tower, bawling down in English: - -"All hands on deck. Lively." - -Another human stream answered. Darrin turned to the German officer to -ask: - -"Are all your crew on deck now?" - -Quickly counting, the enemy officer replied: - -"Yes; all." - -"And your captain?" - -"I do not know why he is not here. I cannot give him orders." - -By this time the marines were aboard from the second launch. Already the -first detachment of German sailors, after search, was being transferred -to the launch. - -"Corporal," called Darrin, "take four men and go below to find the -commander. Watch out for treachery, and shoot fast if you have to." - -"Aye, aye, sir," returned the corporal, saluting and entering the tower. -His men followed him closely. - -"I've seen the outside of enough of these pests," said Dave to his chum. -"Suppose we go below and see what the inside looks like. The German -submarines are different from our own." - -Dalzell nodded and followed, at the same time ordering a couple of -stalwart sailors to follow. A boatswain's mate now remained in command -on the submarine deck. - -"You get back there!" growled the corporal. Dave reached the lower deck -just in time to see the corporal pointing his revolver at a protesting -German naval officer. - -"Look what he's been doing, sir," called the corporal. "Look on the -floor, sir." - -On the deck lay a heap of charred papers, still smoking. - -[Illustration: Charred papers still smoking.] - -"If I'd got down a minute earlier, sir, he wouldn't have had a chance to -have that nice little bonfire," grumbled the corporal. - -Dave gave a great start as he took his first look at the face of the -German captain. - -As for the German, he seemed at least equally disconcerted. Dave Darrin -was the first to recover. - -"I cannot say that I think your German uniform becoming to a man of your -name, Mr. Matthews," Darrin uttered, in savage banter. - -"Matthews?" repeated the German, in a puzzled voice, though he spoke -excellent English. "I cannot imagine why you should apply that name to -me." - -"It's your own fault if you can't," Darrin retorted. "It's the name you -gave me at the hotel." - -"I've never seen you until the present moment," declared the German, -stoutly. - -"Surely you have," Danny Grin broke in. "And how is your firm in -Chicago, Mr. Matthews?" - -"Chicago?" repeated the German, apparently more puzzled than before. - -"If Matthews isn't your name, and I believe it isn't," Darrin continued, -"by what name do you prefer to be addressed." - -"I am Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold," replied the German. - -"Very good, von Bechtold; will you stand back a bit and not bother the -corporal?" - -Dave bent over to stir the charred, smoking heap of paper with his foot. -But the job had been too thoroughly done. Not a scrap of white paper -could be found in the heap. - -"Of course you do not object to telling me what papers you succeeded in -burning," Darrin bantered. - -Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold smiled. - -"You wouldn't believe me, if I told you, so why tax your credulity?" -came his answer. - -"Perhaps you didn't have time to destroy all your records," Dave went -on. "Under the circumstances I know you will pardon me for searching the -boat." - -Thrusting aside a curtain, Dave entered a narrow passageway near the -stern. Off this passageway were the doors of two sleeping cabins on -either side. Dave opened the doors on one side and glanced in. Dan -opened one on the other side, but the second door resisted his efforts. - -"This locked cabin may contain whatever might be desired to conceal," -Dan hinted. - -Turning quickly, Darrin saw that von Bechtold had followed. This the -corporal had permitted, but he and a marine private had followed, to -keep their eyes on the prisoner. - -"If you have the key to this locked door, Captain, it will save us the -trouble of smashing the door," Dave warned. He had followed the usual -custom in terming the ober-lieutenant a captain since he had an -independent naval command. - -"I do not know where the key is," replied von Bechtold, carelessly. "You -may break the door down, if you wish, but you will not be repaid for -your trouble." - -"I'll take the trouble, anyway," Darrin retorted. "Mr. Dalzell, your -shoulder and mine both together." - -As the two young officers squared themselves for the assault on the door -a black cloud appeared briefly on von Bechtold's face. But as Darrin -turned, after the first assault, the deep frown was succeeded by a dark -smile of mockery. - -Bump! bump! At the third assault the lock of the door gave way so that -Dave and Dan saved themselves from pitching into the room headfirst. - -"Oh, whew!" gasped Danny Grin. - -An odor as of peach-stone kernels assailed their nostrils. They thought -little of this. It was a sight, rather than the odor, that instantly -claimed their attention. - -For on the berth, over the coverlid, and fully dressed in civilian -attire of good material, lay a man past fifty, stout and with prominent -abdomen. He was bald-headed, the fringe of hair at the sides being -strongly tinged with gray. - -At first glance one might have believed the stranger to be merely -asleep, though he would have been a sound sleeper who could slumber on -while the door was crashing in. Dave stepped close to the berth. - -Dalzell followed, and after them came the submarine's commander. - -"You will go back to the cabin and remain there, Mr. von Bechtold," Dave -directed, without too plain discourtesy. "Corporal, detail one of your -men to remain with the prisoner, and see that he doesn't come back here -unless I send for him. Also see to it that he doesn't do anything else -except wait." - -Scowling, von Bechtold withdrew, the marine following at his heels. - -As Darrin stepped back into the cabin he saw the stranger lying as they -left him. - -"Dead!" uttered Dave, bending over the man and looking at him closely. -"He lay down for a nap. Look, Dan, how peaceful his expression is. He -never had an intimation that it was his last sleep, though this looks -like suicide, not accidental death, for the peach-stone odor is that of -prussic acid. He has killed himself with a swift poison. Why? Is it that -he feared to fall into enemy hands and be quizzed?" - -"A civilian, and occupying an officer's cabin," Dan murmured. "He must -have been of some consequence, to be a passenger on a submarine. He -wasn't a man in the service, or he would have been in uniform." - -"We'll know something about him, soon, I fancy," Darrin went on. "Here -is a wallet in his coat pocket, also a card case and an envelope well -padded with something. Yes," glancing inside the envelope, "papers. I -think we'll soon solve the secret of this civilian passenger who has met -an unplanned death." - -"Here, you! Stop that, or I'll shoot!" sounded, angrily, the voice of -von Bechtold's guard behind them. - -But the German officer, regardless of threats, had dashed past the -marine, and was now in the passageway. - -"Here, I'll soon settle you!" cried the marine, wrathfully. But he -didn't, for von Bechtold let a solid fist fly, and the marine, caught -unawares, was knocked to the floor. - -All in a jiffy von Bechtold reached his objective, the envelope. -Snatching it, he made a wild leap back to the cabin, brushing the marine -private aside like a feather. - -"Grab him!" yelled Dave Darrin, plunging after the German. "Don't let -him do anything to that envelope!" - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -THE TRAIL TO STRANGE NEWS - - -Fortune has a way of favoring the bold. The corporal and a marine were -in the corridor behind Darrin. The ober-lieutenant's special guard had -been hurled aside. - -Hearing the outcries, the other two marines in the cabin sprang toward -the German officer. One of these von Bechtold tripped and sent -sprawling; the other he struck in the chest, pushing him back. - -Just an instant later von Bechtold went down on his back, all five of -the marines doing their best to get at him in the same second. But the -German had had time to knock the lid from a battery cell and to plunge -the envelope into the liquid contained in the jar. Then the German was -sent to the mat by his assailants. - -Darrin, following, his whole thought on the envelope, plunged his right -hand down into the fluid, gripping the package that had been snatched -from him. - -"Sulphuric acid!" he exclaimed, and made a quick dive for a lidded fire -bucket that rested in a rack. The old-fashioned name for sulphuric acid -is vitriol, and its powers in eating into human flesh are well known. -Darrin's left hand sent the lid of the bucket flying. Hand and envelope -were thrust into the water with which, fortunately, the bucket was -filled. When sulphuric acid in quantity is added to water heat is -generated, but a small quantity of the acid may be washed from the flesh -with water to good advantage if done instantly. After a brief washing of -the hand Dave drew it out, patting it dry with a handkerchief. Thus the -hand, though reddened, was saved from painful injury. The envelope he -allowed to remain in the water for some moments. - -"Von Bechtold, you are inclined to be a nuisance here," Darrin said -coolly. "I am going to direct these men to take you above." - -"I am helpless," replied the German, sullenly, from the floor, where he -now lay passive, two marines sitting on him ready to renew the struggle -if he so desired. - -"Take him above, you two men," Darrin ordered, "and take especial pains -to see that he doesn't try to escape by jumping into the water." - -At this significant remark von Bechtold paled noticeably for a moment. -Then his ruddy color came back. He got upon his feet with a resentful -air but did not resist the marines who conducted him up to the deck. - -Dave now drew out the envelope, which had become well soaked, and took -out the enclosure, a single sheet. The writing at the top of the sheet -was obliterated. Darrin did not read German fluently, but at the bottom -of the sheet he found a few words and phrases that he was able to -translate. Their meaning made him gasp. - -"Danny-boy," he murmured to his chum, "I want you to make quick work of -transferring the prisoners to the 'Logan.' Keep back two of the German -engineer crew, and send word to Ensign Phelps to come over on the -launch's next trip with two men of our engine-room force, and to bring -along also six seamen and a petty officer. Phelps will take charge of -this craft as prize officer." - -The submarine was soon cleared of her officers and crew. Ensign Phelps -and his own men came over and took command. Two German engine-room men -had been kept back to assist the Americans. On the last trip Darrin and -Dalzell returned to the undersea boat and gave the order to Ensign -Phelps to proceed on his way to the base port. - -As soon as the prize with its captors was under way, Darrin went to the -chart-room of the "Logan," sent for the marine corporal, and ordered -that Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold be brought before him. - -As the prisoner was ushered in Dave rose courteously, bowed and pointed -to a chair. - -"Be seated, if you please. Now, Herr Ober-Lieutenant, your -second-in-command and your crew will be taken ashore as ordinary -prisoners of war, and turned over to the British military prison -authorities. Of course you are aware that your own imprisonment will -take place under somewhat different circumstances." - -Von Bechtold, who had accepted the proffered chair, gazed stolidly at -this American naval commander, who was several years younger than -himself. - -"I fear that I do not understand you," the German replied. - -"You soon will, for you speak excellent English," Darrin returned, with -a chilly smile. "Your English does not have exactly the Chicago accent, -but it was good enough for your purposes. The Chicagoan speaks with a -sort of sub-Bostonese accent, as perhaps you did not know. Your own -English has rather the sound of Oxford or Cambridge University in -England." - -Opening his eyes wide, and expressing bewilderment, the German begged: - -"Will you be good enough to speak more explicitly?" - -"Certainly," Dave assented. "When you are turned over to the British -military authorities it will be done with a card showing that you now -give the name of von Bechtold----" - -"Which is my right name," interposed the German officer, tartly. - -"And the card will also state that, a few days ago, you gave the name of -Matthews." - -"Again you use that name of Matthews," cried von Bechtold, impatiently. -"May I ask why?" - -"I will make it so clear," Dave promised him, "that you would understand -even though what I am about to say were not true. But it is true. A few -days ago you met me at the hotel in port. You met also my executive -officer, Mr. Dalzell. You introduced yourself to us as Matthews, claimed -to be a buyer for a Chicago dry-goods house, and declared that your -mission was to buy linen." - -"Not a word of truth in it," declared von Bechtold, calmly, with a wave -of his hand, as though to brush aside the charge. - -"Unfortunately, quite true," Dave went on, steadily. "You were -there under an assumed name and claimed to be an American citizen. -You exhibited an American passport; I have heard that your government -has a printing office where such documents are turned out. You were -there out of uniform. In other words, sir, your conduct on British -soil, in civilian dress and under false colors, met with all the -requirements of proof that you were there as a spy. It has long -been known to the British, and to us, that German spies have -abounded in Great Britain and that they obtained a good deal -of information that we would rather German submarine commanders -did not possess. So, Mr. von-Bechtold-Matthews, it will be my -disagreeable duty to hand you over with the charge that you have been -serving as a spy. Dalzell and I will be obliged to testify against -you. I much fear that a British court-martial will condemn you to be -shot." - -"What infamous lie is this that you are threatening to utter against -me?" demanded the German officer, leaping to his feet. - -"No lie at all, as you know quite well," Dave went on. "I am sorry to -have to bring you to this plight, von Bechtold, but you know that I -cannot do otherwise." - -Gazing into the steady eyes of the young American naval officer von -Bechtold realized the folly of further acting. Breathing hard, he -dropped into a chair. - -"It is not a fine thing that you propose to do to me," he declared. "You -do not know, of course, that I have five young children at home, who -will need a father." - -"I did not know it," Dave answered gently. "Yet I feel quite certain -that some of the information you have gathered, when ashore in these -parts, has resulted in the drowning at sea of a good many men who may -have left behind even more than five children." - -"I feel that I am doomed," shuddered the German, throwing a hand up over -his eyes. "My five little children will not see their father again--not -even when this war is over." - -"It is too bad," Dave answered, "but I suppose, Herr Ober-Lieutenant, -that it must be classed with the fortune of war. Now, as to the identity -of the civilian who lies dead in a berth aboard your late command, it -may be that, if you were ready to tell something about the reasons for -his presence on board, and why he had in his possession this paper----" - -Here Darrin spread out the wet sheet of paper that he had brought from -the submarine. - -"I can tell you nothing about either the civilian or that paper," -declared von Bechtold, doggedly. - -"That is your own affair," Darrin admitted. "I shall not make any -attempt to force you." - -"You had better not!" declared the German, fiercely. "I can die, but I -cannot betray my country. Yet have you no heart?--when I tell you about -my five little children whom you would deny the privilege of ever seeing -their father again?" - -"If I were to suppress my report of your activities as a spy," Darrin -continued, "I would be guilty of betraying my country and my country's -allies. It would also be necessary for me to induce my subordinate -officer to do the same thing. You will realize the impossibility of our -doing such a thing. On the other hand, between now and the time that you -are tried by court-martial you will have time to reflect upon whether -you wish to try to save yourself from the death sentence by explaining -to the British authorities the full meaning of what had been written on -this sheet of paper and also the reasons for that civilian being aboard -your craft. Then, by throwing yourself on the mercy of the court, you -might escape the full penalty meted out to a spy." - -"I shall not do it," declared von Bechtold, rising and drawing himself -to his full height. - -"Nor do I believe I could be induced to tell what I knew if I stood in -your boots. Orderly!" - -To the marine who entered Dave gave the order to summon the guard. Von -Bechtold was taken back to the "Logan's" brig, and locked in for -absolutely safe keeping. Darrin went up to the bridge. - -"Do you feel sorry for the fellow?" asked Dalzell, when he had heard an -account of the interview. - -"No more sorry than I do for any man who is down and out," Dave replied, -truthfully. "Now that he is captured and his spy work ended, I believe -that ships on these waters will be much safer." - -"He will be just one Hun less, after a firing squad has finished with -him," Dan rejoined. - -Dave nodded thoughtfully. - -"War breeds savage ideas, doesn't it?" demanded Danny Grin, with a shrug -of his shoulders. - -"Not breeds, but brings out," answered Darrin. - -They were nearing the coast now. Destroyers, patrol boats, drifters and -mine-sweeping craft sighted the "Logan" and her prize, and the shrill -whistles of these hunters of the sea testified to their joy over the -capture. - -Then the destroyer and her prize entered the port. Darrin brought his -craft to anchorage, while the captured submarine was anchored not far -away. The German prisoners were taken ashore under guard and turned over -to the British authorities. - -Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold, under the charge of being a spy, was -marched away under a special guard. - -And then Dave made haste to present himself, with the half-destroyed -sheet of paper in his pocket, before the flag lieutenant of Vice Admiral -Speare. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -DAVE TALKS OUT IN COUNCIL - - -There was much joy aboard a squadron of six more destroyers, just -arrived from Uncle Sam's country, when, on steaming into port, they -heard the news of the capture. - -So far as Dave was concerned the document that he had discovered, -mutilated as it was, had supplied hints that filled the British -Admiralty and the American naval commander with deep apprehension. - -Both Darrin and Dalzell were present in the crowded council room on -board the vice admiral's flagship. There were other American naval -officers, as well as a few American Army staff officers present. Their -faces displayed anxiety. - -"It is too bad," one of the American army staff officers declared, after -scanning the damaged sheet under a magnifying glass, "that so much of -this is obliterated. Of course, Mr. Darrin, we know that you acted -promptly and that you did all in your power, and at considerable risk, -to preserve this document. From the disconnected sentences that we can -decipher, it would seem that at least sixty of the enemy's submarines -are to concentrate in near-by waters. It is also plain that their -mission is to destroy the convoy escort and sink the troopships that are -nearing these waters--troopships that convey the entire One Hundred and -Seventeenth Division of the United States Army." - -"It would be a frightful disaster, if it came to pass," boomed the deep -tones of a British naval officer. - -"It shall not come to pass!" declared an American naval officer. - -"Easily said, and I hope as easily done," replied the British officer. -"But you Americans have not yet begun to lose ships loaded with troops. -We Britishers have had some sad experiences in that line. Never as yet, -though, have we had to face a concentration of sixty enemy submarines!" - -"The way it looks to me," said another American army staff officer, -gravely, "is that, while the destroyer escort will surely sink some of -the enemy submarines, yet just as surely, with the enemy in such force, -will some of our troopships go to the bottom. It is mainly, as I view -it, a question of how many troopships we are likely to lose, and how big -a loss of soldier life we shall suffer." - -"Sixty submarines!" uttered a British naval officer, savagely. "We -haven't an officer on a destroyer who wouldn't gladly go to the bottom -if he could first have the pleasure of sinking a few of these deep-sea -pests!" - -"A distressing feature is that we cannot decipher the very part of this -document which states where the submarine concentration is expected to -strike," declared a naval staff officer. - -"How many British destroyers will be needed to reinforce the available -American destroyers?" asked a British officer, apprehensively. "For we -have so many uses for our destroyers, on other work, that it is -difficult to guess where we are to find destroyers enough to help you -Americans." - -This was known, by all present, to be only too true. The British Navy, -from super-dreadnoughts to the smallest steam trawlers, was painfully -overloaded with work. - -"As Mr. Darrin is a destroyer commander with an uncommonly good record -to his credit," said an American naval staff officer, "and as we have -not yet heard his opinion, I think we would all like to have his views." - -Dave Darrin glanced at the American naval commander, who sent him an -encouraging nod. - -"We know, then, gentlemen," began Dave, "just how many American -destroyers are to act as escort to the troopship fleet that is bringing -the One Hundred and Seventeenth Division across. We know, also, just how -many destroyers under our flag can be taken from patrol duty to -safeguard the troopship fleet. We know the length of the sailing line of -the troopship fleet; we know the speed of our destroyers. It seems to me -that the answer is to be found in these known facts." - -"What is your suggestion as to the plan, then?" asked an officer. - -"Gentlemen, in the presence of so many officers of wider experience and -greater knowledge, I feel embarrassed to find myself speaking." - -"Go on!" cried several. - -Darrin still hesitated. - -"First of all, Mr. Darrin, in offering your suggestion, tell us what -number of British destroyers you believe that you will need to reinforce -the American destroyers that are available for protecting your troopship -fleet," urged one. - -Dave still hesitated, though not from shyness. He did some rapid -calculating as to the length of the line of troopships sailing in the -regular order. Then he figured out how many destroyers could give -efficient protection against sixty German submarines. - -There was tense silence in the council room. At last Darrin looked up. - -"Well," demanded the insistent British naval staff officer, "how many of -our British destroyers do you think, Darrin, are needed to help out your -American destroyers?" - -Dave turned his face toward the American vice admiral. - -"Sir, and gentlemen," he replied, "if we had three times as many -destroyers we could use them. I have an opinion on the subject, but it -will sound so childish to you that I should prefer to sit back and let -older heads offer suggestions." - -"Darrin," spoke the flag lieutenant, after a nudge and a whispered word -from the vice admiral, "this is no question of age, nor is it wholly a -question of experience. Demonstrated ability, ability backed by a -record, is entitled to a hearing here. You have done your figuring, and -you have reached certain conclusions. How many British destroyers do you -believe we shall need to help out the American destroyer fleet that is -now available?" - -This amounted almost to an order to speak up. Dave reddened perceptibly, -opened his mouth as though to speak, closed it again, then cleared his -throat and called out steadily: - -"Sir, and gentlemen, it is my opinion that the American naval forces -available for the work can do all the work! I do not believe that we -need an ounce of British help that would be so graciously extended if we -asked for it!" - -There was a moment's silence. - -"No help needed from us?" demanded the British naval staff officer. - -"It would be welcome, sir," Dave declared, "but you cannot spare the -help. Whatever assistance you gave us at this time would weaken your -lines of defense or offense at some other point. They are American -soldiers who are to be protected, and----" - -Here Darrin's voice failed him for a moment. He felt as though the more -than score of pairs of eyes that were regarding him sharply were burning -him. He swallowed hard, but returned to the charge and went on, slowly, -in words that rapped like machine-gun fire: - -"I would stake my soul that the American Navy can safeguard the passage -of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Division of the American Army!" - -There was a gasp. The words were bold, but, if true, they solved a -vexing problem. The spirit of the United States Navy had spoken through -Dave Darrin's lips. - -"Darrin," shouted an American staff officer, bringing a fist down on the -table, then springing to his feet, "you've answered for us! You've given -us our chart. I'd trust the best troopship fleet we'll ever send over -the ocean to the guarding care of a dozen young Yankee naval commanders -of your stripe." - -In an instant the enthusiasm became infectious. A cheer arose, in which -the vice admiral joined. The British naval officer of the booming tones -left his seat and went over to grasp Dave's hand. - -"Darrin, I wish we had you in our Navy!" he said, simply. - -There was little more left to be agreed upon. It was decided, however, -that a combined fleet of British and American patrol boats should be in -readiness to swoop down and save lives in case any of the American -troopships should be torpedoed. - -The council soon broke up. All that was now left to be done was for the -vice admiral and his immediate staff to formulate the exact plans for -the protection of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Division. Even after -the destroyer fleet had turned itself loose on its task, further -instructions could be sent in wireless code. - -"Gentlemen," said the vice admiral, rising, "I thank you for your -attendance, for your consideration of the problem, and for whatever help -you have been able to extend. And I can see no objection," he added, a -twinkle in his eyes, "to your giving three cheers for -Lieutenant-Commander Darrin." - -Proud? Not a bit. As the volleys of cheers rang out deafeningly, Dave -Darrin felt as though he would enjoy sinking through the deck. - -But Danny Grin was there, and he undertook the job of feeling proud for -his chum. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE GLOW-WORM OF THE SEA - - -Out upon the tossing sea once more. It was a wonder that the "Logan" did -not sit much deeper in the water, for she carried a most unusual load of -ammunition of every useful kind. - -Out upon the sea, and seemingly alone at that. Not a sail was visible to -the officers on the taut little destroyer, not a trail of smoke appeared -on any part of the horizon. Indeed, the present speed and low fuel -consumption aboard the "Logan" allowed only the thinnest wisps of smoke -to issue from the raking funnels of the destroyer. - -Had Dave needed other destroyer company, for any urgent reason, a signal -snapping from his radio aerials would bring one, perhaps two, American -destroyers to him within an hour. For some of these bulldog little -fighting craft, that were out after the deep-sea pests, were capable of -making more than thirty knots an hour. - -The "Logan" had been out four days. Though headed westward at this -moment, she had not been moving steadily westward, for she was now not -more than three hundred and thirty miles west of the coast of Ireland. - -On this fourth day, as on its predecessors, the destroyer steamed along -at cruising speed. Though the crew knew nothing of Germany's proposed -big submarine drive directed at the troopships conveying the One Hundred -and Seventeenth Division, yet every marine and sailor felt that -something unusual was in the wind. The lookouts had been instructed to -aid their vision by the free use of their marine glasses and precautions -out of the ordinary had been taken in other directions. - -"The Germans are using a new submarine periscope, slimmer than any that -they have heretofore employed. They hoist it for only a few seconds at a -time and do not send it as far out of the water as they did with the old -style periscope. The man who sights a periscope in time will save our -ship." - -That was the word constantly passed about by the "Logan's" officers. -Every sailor hoped that he might be the lucky one to discover a -periscope in time to lead to the bombing of one of the pests. - -Dave had reached the bridge at seven bells. Dalzell was now below, -sleeping as soundly as though he were back in the old home town of -Gridley. Lieutenant Curtin was on the bridge watch. - -"It's odd, Mr. Curtin, that we haven't sighted a submarine in four days; -that we haven't had the slightest visible reason to suspect the presence -of one," Dave remarked to his subordinate officer. - -"Very likely, sir, we're too far out," Curtin replied. - -"Yet we have every reason to believe that they've extended the danger -zone further westward," Darrin continued. - -"That's the belief of the fleet commander," Curtin answered, "but -there's always a chance of his having guessed wrong. Why isn't it just -as probable," he added, in a much lower tone, "that the Huns have -decided to have a try at the troopship fleet fairly close to land?" - -"It wouldn't be likely," Dave went on, in an equally low tone. "For one -thing, Mr. Curtin, the enemy would want their first try farther out. -Then, if they missed, they'd have another chance, perhaps, closer to -land." - -"If they missed on their first try, the Huns would have to run their -submersibles on the surface in order to overtake the troopship fleet for -another chance. They couldn't travel under water and overtake the -troopship fleet." - -"Quite right," Darrin admitted in a whisper. "Still, I see another -answer to the problem. Of the sixty submersibles believed to be on the -job twenty may have been sent far to the westward, the other forty -remaining nearer to the coast. The twenty submarines could make a -desperate try. Then, if they failed, the remaining forty could take up -the job closer to shore." - -"Then you don't believe all the German submarines engaged are -concentrated at one point, sir?" - -"Impossible to say," Darrin rejoined. "I don't like to form opinions on -any subject without facts to go on." - -"It's strange; not a steamer sighted today," Lieutenant Curtin resumed, -after a few moments' scanning of the sea. "During our first three days -out we met plenty of armed freighters. Today, not a sail or a stack -sighted. Can it be that the subs are further west, and that they've -overhauled and sunk several freighters?" - -"We've heard no appeals for help. Every freighter carries wireless -apparatus in these days," Dave argued. - -"True, but sometimes the torpedo shock puts a ship's radio out of -commission from the moment of impact." - -"I do not believe that the freighters are being bothered," Dave -announced. "Granted that there are undoubtedly subs enough in these -waters to raise the mischief with cargo steamers. If the subs didn't -have the luck to silence the wireless outfits on the cargo steamers at -the first shot, there would be chance of word reaching the troopships of -unusual danger, and that would lead to redoubled vigilance on the part -of the destroyer escorts. My belief, Mr. Curtin, is that the cargo boats -will have a rest until the fate of the troopship fleet has been -decided." - -"Then you believe, sir, that the absence of cargo boats today is due -to----" - -"Probably due to the fact that there was one slack day in clearing cargo -boats at American ports, and also because of an equally slack day in -British ports." - -Then fell silence. Both drowsy, despite their realization of the need of -keeping awake and on the alert, both young officers moved about on the -bridge, ever maintaining a sharp lookout. - -They were still pacing back and forth when the sun went down below the -horizon toward the distant United States. Lieutenant Beatty, fresh from -a sleep, came up on the bridge, saluting his commander. - -"Mr. Beatty, you've no other duty at present," Darrin greeted him. "Will -you do an extra bit and remain on the bridge with Curtin?" - -"I'll be very glad to, sir, for I'm feeling fit after my sleep," replied -the lieutenant, heartily. - -"I'm going below for a brief doze in my chair. If I'm wanted, call down -to some one to rouse me. I'll sleep for an hour or so. But be sure, Mr. -Curtin, to see to it that I'm called if anything happens, no matter how -slight an occurrence it may seem to be." - -"Very good, sir," from the smiling Curtin. - -"And glad I am to give the 'Old Man' a bit of a relief," quoth Beatty to -his brother officer. "I never knew a commander before who spent so much -of his time on deck or bridge, except in a gale. Mr. Darrin doesn't -appear to think that he needs more than a third as much sleep as other -persons require." - -"He told me to call him in an hour or so," grinned Lieutenant Curtin. -"Unless something turns up his instructions will allow me to let him -doze at least two hours." - -No sooner had Darrin doffed cap and sheepskin and settled back in his -chair than his eyes closed and he was cruising in the Land of Nod. - -Nor did he stir enough to wake until an orderly, sent from the bridge, -entered and shook his right arm. - -"Beg pardon, sir," said the sailor. "The officer of the deck wants to -know if you wish to be called now." - -"In another hour," said Darrin, drowsily, and dozed off again. - -Which message was received with high glee by the two conspirators for -Dave's comfort when they received the news on the bridge. - -"Only one drawback to it, Curtin," said Beatty. "When the 'Old Man' -finally wakes he'll imagine he can stand watch for twenty-four hours -without more sleep." - -"Maybe, by that time, he'll have to," retorted Curtin. "So we'll let him -gather in all the rest that he can get now." - -And Darrin slept that added hour. When called the next time he rose -straight to his feet. - -"It was stupid of me not to wake an hour ago," Dave reproached himself, -after glancing at the clock over the desk. "But just look at dear old -Danny-boy! He's slept nearly twice as long as I have. If things remain -dull this evening I won't have him called, either. He needs the rest, -poor old chap!" - -Donning cap and short coat the youthful commander went out on deck and -then started on a tour of inspection. Presently he neared the stern just -in time to see one of the two stern lookouts leap upon the other and -bear the latter to the deck. The assailant gripped his victim around the -throat, administering a severe choking. - -"No, you don't!" yelled the upper man. "I caught you that time, and I'll -bet you've done it before. Marine guard, here----stern watch!" - -A midship lookout passed the word, but Dave darted forward out of the -shadows. - -"Get up, Ferguson," Darrin commanded. "Back to your post. You've no -right to take your eyes away from your particular work. Get up, Jordan." - -The latter, the sailor who had been attacked, rose to his feet, sullenly -rubbing his throat. - -"Ferguson, why did you attack Jordan?" Dave demanded. - -"Look astern, sir!" Seaman Ferguson replied, pointing to the wake of the -destroyer. "Do you see that gleam on the water, sir? It's something that -Jordan dropped overboard. It's some tricky, dirty work, sir, or I'll eat -my guess. I've known since last night, sir, that Jordan was tricky. He -tried to get me to look another way to-night, but out of the corner of -one eye I saw him drop something overboard--and then that thing in our -wake began to gleam." - -By this time the solitary marine guard on deck duty had arrived aft. -Beholding the commanding officer, the sea-soldier saluted and stood at -attention. - -"My man," Dave ordered, "take my compliments to Lieutenant Curtin and my -instructions that he is to make a careful turn and try to go back -through our wake. He is to be very exact about going over the very wake -of this craft. The message delivered, report back here." - -Jordan, who had turned deathly pale, glanced about him as if meditating -some foolish flight. - -"Now, Jordan," Dave began, taking the young sailor firmly by the arm, -"what was it you threw overboard?" - -"A--a--" began the accused one. - -"Yes, come out with it," Darrin commanded. - -"I didn't throw anything overboard, sir. Ferguson is a liar." - -Whereupon Seaman Ferguson, though he still kept his eyes turned in the -direction imposed by his watch duties, clenched both fists hard. - -"It won't do you any good to deny, Jordan," Dave insisted. "We're going -back and find that--whatever it was that you threw overboard. Better -tell me now!" - -As if to confirm his words the "Logan" began to turn in a half circle. -At the same time the marine returned. - -"Take Jordan below. See that he's searched and then confined in the -brig," Dave directed. - -With infinite care the "Logan" sought her recent wake. It was no simple -task on such a night, when the new moon had already set. And, travelling -at such easy speed, the "Logan" had not stirred up anything like the -foamy, suds-like wake that trailed after her when she steamed at -fighting speed. - -By the time the turn was made the glowing object that Ferguson had -pointed out was no longer visible. Carefully the destroyer picked her -way back. They were a bit out of the straight line, though, as Darrin -presently found reason to believe, for a tiny glow, looking like a point -of dim light in the near distance, was finally sighted about three -points off the port bow. - -"Two points to port," Dave passed the word. He was now well up forward -of the bridge, watching the surface of the ocean intently. "Steady! -Stop!... Half speed astern.... Stop!" - -The glowing object was now in plain sight as it tossed on the swells. -Darrin gave the order to lower a cutter, instructing Ensign Phelps to go -along and haul in that glowing object. - -There was no need to watch it from the "Logan." Mr. Phelps, from the -cutter, could make it out distinctly. Soon he reached it, a seaman -bending over the side and picking up the object. - -"Pass it to me at once," directed the ensign, and an instant later took -possession of it. By the time the boat had been hoisted to the davits -Mr. Phelps leaped down to the deck and joined his commander. - -"Did you observe, sir? This thing glowed, while in the water," declared -the ensign, holding up a bottle of about a pint capacity, tightly closed -with a rubber stopper. "Yet when I got it in out of the water it stopped -glowing, and looked as dull and dark as it does now. I believe it's -coated with a transparent substance that glows only when the thing is in -the water. Have I your permission, sir, to drop it in a fire bucket and -see?" - -"Go ahead," Dave assented. - -Phelps walked to a near-by fire bucket and thrust the bottle in the -water. At first nothing happened. After a few seconds, however, the -bottle began to glow dimly, then gradually increased in brightness until -it became clear and mellow. - -"That's enough for that," Darrin nodded. "Now bring it into the -chart-room, Mr. Phelps, and we'll look it over." - -Their entrance awoke Dalzell, who stretched, then sprang up. - -Dave hastily explained to his chum what had happened, at the same time -going to the desk and turning on a stronger electric light. - -Holding the bottle up against the light, Dave was able to make out what -looked like a folded piece of paper in it, nothing else. - -"At all events," smiled Dave, as he seated himself before the desk and -glanced through the bottle glass, "I do not see any reason to believe -that I shall set off any explosive by drawing out the rubber stopper." - -Nothing disastrous happened as the stopper was withdrawn. Holding the -bottle up to the light once more, peering through the neck, Darrin saw -that it contained only the folded paper. Careful work with a penholder -consumed five minutes of time before the paper was pried out, whole. - -Dave spread it on the desk before him, - -"Phelps, you read German better than I do, I believe." - -"I can make a stagger at it, sir." - -"Look this through and translate for me," Darrin requested. - -Slowly, and with a good deal of care, Phelps translated in these words: - -"U. S. Destroyer 'Logan.' 8.15 P. M. (Date) Longitude ----; latitude ----. -Course, west by southwest. Carries three times usual amount of -ammunition. Speed, eight knots." - -The actual date was given; longitude and latitude were correct enough. - -When Phelps had finished reading Dave Darrin leaned back in his chair, -pain expressed in his face and eyes. - -"A traitor on board! An American on this craft who has sold himself to -the Huns! In the name of mercy how can such a thing be?" - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -DARRIN HAS A SPY SCARE - - -"Tell the orderly to pass the word to the marine corporal to bring -Jordan here," Dave ordered, after a dazed instant. - -That order was quickly obeyed. Seaman Jordan, shuffling his feet, his -eyes roving shiftily, nevertheless maintained a half-defiant, -half-injured air. - -"Jordan," demanded Dave, without a moment's waiting, as the man was -placed before him, "why did you drop this bottle overboard?" - -"I didn't, sir." - -"But Ferguson says you did." - -"He's a liar, sir." - -"Where did you get this bottle?" Dave rapped out. - -"I didn't get it, sir; I never saw it before." - -"Have you any more of these bottles?" - -"Naturally not, sir." - -"What is the transparent coating on this bottle that makes it glow soon -after it reaches the water?" - -"I don't know anything about it, sir." - -"Jordan, don't you know that, in maintaining this defiant attitude, you -are only injuring your own case?" Darrin demanded, warningly. - -"I can't tell you anything else than I'm telling you, sir," the sailor -cried, angrily. "I have been telling you the truth and I won't lie, -sir." - -"I don't ask you to lie," Darrin observed coolly. - -"But you won't believe me, sir." - -"No," said Dave, rising. "I don't. Corporal, take this man back to the -brig. And see to it that you don't repeat anything that you have heard -here. As you go out pass the word by messenger to the officer of the -deck to have Seaman Ferguson relieved. As soon as that is done Ferguson -is to report to me here." - -So swiftly are orders carried out on a destroyer in war-time that it was -less than a minute later when Ferguson knocked, entered, saluted, and -stood, cap in hand, before his commanding officer. - -"Ferguson," Dave began, "outside of your being stationed with him, have -you seen much of Jordan?" - -"About as much, sir, as I see of any shipmate who isn't any particular -friend of mine." - -"Have you been on unfriendly terms with Jordan?" - -"Not until I caught him at tricks to-night, sir." - -"Ever had any trouble with Jordan?" - -"Fought him twice, I think, sir." - -"Any bad blood between you two?" - -"No, sir; that is, nothing more than disputes that blew over at once -after we had used our fists on each other." - -"Who won the fights?" - -"I did, sir." - -"And you have not looked upon Jordan as an enemy?" - -"No, sir." - -"What has been your opinion of Jordan as a seaman?" - -"He always seemed to know his business, sir." - -"Did he perform his duties cheerfully?" - -"I thought so," Ferguson replied. - -"Now, Ferguson," Darrin went on, "you two have chatted quite a bit, -haven't you, when on station side by side?" - -"Yes, sir, whenever we found the time hanging heavy on our hands." - -"What did you talk about?" - -"Sometimes, sir, we talked about the fun that can be had on shore leave, -but more often about submarines and the war, sir." - -"And what was Jordan's attitude toward the war?" - -"I don't know that I understand you, sir." - -"Did Jordan speak as if he believed the United States did right to enter -the war?" - -"Oh, yes, sir." - -"He talked, did he, like what you would call a good American?" - -"Yes, sir; always, when the subject was mentioned." - -"And you believed him loyal to the United States?" - -"Yes, sir; up to last night." - -"What happened then?" - -"Why, sir, Jordan got me to look off to starboard, and my back was -turned to him for a moment. I felt, rather than saw, that he had dropped -something overboard. I looked quickly astern at our wake. I now feel -pretty sure, sir, that I saw something glowing floating on the water -astern. You may remember, sir, that at this time last night there was a -heavy phosphorescent wake. And we were making faster speed last night, -too, and our propeller turned up more of the phosphorescent stuff in the -water, if that is the right way to express it, sir." - -Darrin nodded his comprehension of the description, and went on: - -"Last night was the first time you had any suspicion of Jordan?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Did he do anything further last night to arouse your suspicion?" - -"No, sir." - -"Did you watch him?" - -"Yes, sir; like a hawk. But I'm pretty sure that he didn't know I was -watching him." - -"Did you report your suspicions to any officer?" - -"No, sir." - -"Why not?" - -"Because I didn't have anything but a hazy suspicion to report, sir, and -I wouldn't like to carry tales or rouse suspicion against a chap who -might be altogether decent." - -"Then your previous fights with Jordan didn't cause you to dislike or -suspect the man?" - -"Certainly not, sir. I don't fight that way. When I've a bit of a scrap -with a mate, sir, the fight is over, with me, when it stops." - -"Yet you felt that you should keep an eye on Jordan to-night?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"And you believe that Jordan dropped this bottle overboard into our -wake?" - -"I'm positive that he did, sir." - -"Did you see him do it?" - -"No, sir," Ferguson replied, without hesitation. - -Dave Darrin had followed a style of questioning that is common to the -Army and the Navy when one enlisted man makes a report against another -enlisted man. Dave's first object was to make sure that there was no -really bad blood between the men, and that the charge wasn't merely a -matter of getting square. Secondly, Darrin was trying to make up his -mind as to Ferguson's keenness and reliability as a witness. By this -time he had made up his mind that Seaman Ferguson was telling the truth -according to his best knowledge of what had happened, and that he had -spoken without prejudice. - -"Ferguson," said the young destroyer commander, promptly, "I am -satisfied that you have answered me truthfully. I also commend you for -your prompt action to-night. As to your failure to make a report of your -suspicions last night I believe that you have justified yourself." - -"Thank you, sir. If I may, I would like to ask the lieutenant-commander -a question." - -This way of putting it, addressing Dave in the third person, is quite in -keeping with the custom of the service. - -"You may ask the question," Dave nodded. - -"Then I would like to ask the lieutenant-commander, sir, if I would have -done better to have reported my suspicions last night?" - -"It is impossible to answer that question for every case that might -arise," Dave told him. "Navy men, whether enlisted or commissioned, -dislike tale-bearers. In war-time, however, and under peculiar -conditions where extreme peril always lurks, and where the act of a spy -may destroy a ship's company in a twinkling of an eye, it is usually -permissible to report even vague suspicions. The officer to whom such a -report is made will quickly discover that it is probably only a vague -suspicion, and then he will not be unduly prejudiced against the -suspected man." - -"Thank you, sir." - -"Do not talk this over with your mates, Ferguson. The less that is said -about the matter for the present the better I shall like it. That is all -for the present. You have done a good bit of work, Ferguson." - -"I thank the lieutenant-commander." - -At a nod from Darrin the seaman saluted and withdrew. - -For the next five minutes Dave sat, alternately scanning the message and -studying the appearance of the bottle. At last he looked up at his -brother officers. - -"Mr. Phelps, you will make it your next duty to search Jordan's effects. -In his duffle bag or hammock space you may find more of these bottles. -If you do not, you will extend your search further, as your judgment -dictates. If there are any more of these bottles on board I wish them -found and turned over to me." - -After the ensign had gone Dan drew on his sheepskin. - -"After this spy scare," he announced, "I'm off to make an inspection. -Perhaps I may find something connected with this matter." - -"If you go by the brig, Danny-boy, you might tell Jordan that at any -time when he wants to open up and speak the truth he may send in word." - -"Very good, sir." - -Left by himself Darrin went to a filing case, turned to "J" and brought -forth Jordan's descriptive card. This is a card that contains full -information as to an enlisted man's name, his age, a personal -description, extent and kind of service, education, qualifications, -disciplinary record, the grades in which he has served, the ships and -shore stations on or at which he has served, and more information along -similar lines. - -Jordan's card showed that the arrested man had joined the Navy five -years before, as an apprentice, at the age of nineteen; his work had -always been well done; he had never been in serious trouble; his -reputation was good. His home address was given and the names of his -parents stated. - -"No help from this source," Dave mused, as he returned the card to its -proper place in the drawer. "Assuming that Jordan is guilty, then Jordan -is not his real name, and he's really a German, not an American. For -Jordan's treachery might cause the sudden destruction of this craft, and -no American, no matter how bad, would sell out for mere money when he -knew his treachery was likely to result in his own sudden death. No -American, good, bad or indifferent, would be capable of such devotion to -Germany, but a German would. Therefore I suspect that Jordan is really a -German, who enlisted under a false name. It may even be that German -authorities, foreseeing the coming of the war, and suspecting that the -United States might be drawn into it, ordered this young fellow to -enlist in peace times that he might be at hand as a spy when trouble did -break out. If that is true of Jordan, I wonder how many other German -spies also succeeded in enlisting in our Navy before Germany went to war -at all? Jupiter, but that's a startling question! For that matter, have -we other German spies aboard the 'Logan?'" - -The idea was enough to cause Darrin to settle back in his chair, a prey -to rushing thoughts. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE BATTLE FOR THE TROOPSHIP FLEET - - -Earlier that same evening a group of Uncle Sam's soldiers stood at the -bow of a steamship. Back of them, on the spar deck, other groups lined -the rails on both sides. - -For some minutes there had been silence, but at last one of the group in -the bow spoke. - -"Late to-night I expect that we shall enter the outer edge of the Danger -Zone." - -"If the Huns and their subs are there to meet us it will kill a lot of -the monotony," declared another soldier. - -"I wonder if the Huns will put up any real excitement for us in that -line," said a third. - -"Getting nervous, Pete?" asked the first speaker, with a short laugh. - -"Not a bit," replied Pete, hiding a yawn with his left hand. - -"Nothing to get nervous about," spoke up a fourth soldier. "The Huns are -bully at sinking unarmed freighters, but so far, if they know anything -about getting convoyed troopships they haven't used much of their -knowledge." - -"Still, they do get a troopship once in a while," spoke up another -soldier, in a serious tone. "They may get us." - -"Won't amount to much if they do," declared Pete, boldly. "Some of us -would get off in the boats, and the rest of us would drop into the water -with our life-belts on. Then we'd soon be picked up by a destroyer and -we'd be all right again. Pooh! This so-called submarine 'menace' makes -me tired. With all their submarines and all their bluster the Huns don't -do enough damage to our troopships to make it worth all the bother they -have to take." - -"Anybody going to stay awake all night, to see if we get it during the -dark hours?" inquired another. - -"No; what's the use? If we don't get hit there is no use in losing our -sleep. If we do get hit there's always plenty of time for the men to -turn out and fit their life-belts on." - -"If I thought we'd be attacked during the dark hours I'd like to stay up -here on deck to-night and be on hand to see what happens when the attack -comes," said a soldier in a group that was moving bow-ward from the port -rail. - -"Forget it," advised a corporal. "The guard would chase you below if you -tried to stay on deck. After 'hammocks' is sounded no man is allowed on -deck unless he is on duty. If there is an attack to-night the guard will -have all the fun to divide with the forward gun-crew." - -A young naval petty officer standing just behind the bow gun wheeled -abruptly, eyeing the soldier lot. - -"Don't you fellows get nervous," he said. "This is my seventh trip -across on a troopship, and to date the only thing I've seen to shoot at -is the barrel that is chucked overboard when we're to have target -practice." - -"Who's nervous?" demanded Pete. - -"All of you," replied the bluejacket calmly. - -"Don't you believe it!" - -"That is not calling you cowards, either," the bluejacket continued. -"And let me give you a tip. If we're still afloat when daylight comes, -don't any of you strain your eyesight looking for submarine conning -towers sticking above the water. There won't be any. No matter how many -subs there may be about, they know better than to expose themselves with -so many destroyers around and all the troopships armed. The most that -any Hun submarine commander would show would be a foot of slim periscope -for a few seconds, and it would be so far away that no one but a fellow -used to looking for such things would see it. Want my advice?" - -"If it's any good," nodded the corporal. - -"It's as good as can be had," retorted the young bluejacket. "Here is -the line of thought for you. Unless you're detailed for guard or lookout -duty, don't bother looking for subs at all. Don't even give any thought -to them unless the attack starts. Keeping your mind off submarines will -give you a better show to keep your hair from turning gray before you -reach the trenches." - -This troopship was one of the pair that led the fleet. A long double -line of ships it was. Some of the vessels were of eight or nine thousand -tons; others were smaller and still others much smaller. They moved in -two lines that were widely separated, and even in the lines the -intervals between ships looked long to a landsman. Ahead a torpedo boat -destroyer of the United States Navy scurried briskly, often scooting off -to one side of the course. Other destroyers were out to port or -starboard, while one craft manned by vigilant officers and men brought -up the rear of the long fleet. - -Every now and then a destroyer, for no reason apparent to a landsman, -darted between ships and took up a new post, or else turned and scurried -back to its former relative position. - -This fleet was the present ocean home of the One Hundred and Seventeenth -Division, United States Army. On one of the ships the most important -passenger was Major General Burton, division commander. On another -troopship the "big man" was Brigadier General Quimby, commanding the -Three Hundred and Twenty-second Infantry Brigade. Brigadier General -Sefton's Three Hundred and Twenty-first Infantry Brigade was also with -the fleet, along with Brigadier General Strong's brigade of one heavy -field artillery regiment and two light field artillery batteries. - -There were Engineers and Medical Corps units on the ships of this fleet, -Quartermaster field transportation units, Signal Corps men, and units of -various other auxiliary branches of the service. First and last, some -twenty-four thousand officers and men of the Army. Some of the ships -carried horses and mules, others tractors. Great quantities of -ammunition of all types were carried by this fleet; stores of food and -medicines, batteries of artillery, ambulances--in a word, all the vast -quantities of equipment, ordnance, clothing and the other items that go -to meet the demands of troops on foreign field service. - -A really huge Armada it was, considering the actual number of fighting -men that it carried. A dark, uncanny-looking fleet it was, too, with an -air of stealth and secret enterprise that could not be dispelled. -Nowhere on any of the troopships did a light glow that could, by any -possibility, be seen by those aboard another craft. Visible lights had -been forbidden from the very moment that the ships had set sail from -American ports. - -To this rule of no visible lights the sole exception, occasionally to be -observed, was the use of the red, white and blue electric lights that -sometimes glowed briefly from the yard-arms of the vessels. These -lights, slangily called "blinkers," convey necessary messages from one -war craft to another at sea. - -Nineteen thousand fighting men and some five thousand to serve them -behind the fighting lines in France, were thus crossing the ocean, under -dark skies, and with every ship in complete darkness. It was a weird -sight, and Uncle Sam's soldiers aboard these ships had not yet gotten -over the wonder of it. - -All through the fleet, conversations as to the probability of submarine -attack on the morrow, or on succeeding days, were infrequent and brief. -Hardly a soldier, however, was fooled by the absence of talk on the -subject. Each soldier knew that he was thinking a good deal about the -chances of the ship's being torpedoed on the high seas, and he knew, -too, that his comrades were thinking of the same thing. - -At last the bugles through the fleet softly sounded the call to turn in. -Nearly all of the men had remained up on deck this evening. Now they -stole below, hurriedly making up their bunks, and as hurriedly -undressing and getting in under the blankets before "taps" should sound. - -And so the decks were left to the gun-crews, to the lookouts and the -members of the guard posted there. Below, on the berth-decks, some of -the soldiers slept little, if any, that night. Others went promptly and -soundly asleep. - -It was on this same night that Lieutenant-Commander Dave Darrin was -presently obliged to put out of his mind, as far as possible, further -thought of the supposed treachery of Seaman Jordan, for they were on -their way to the rendezvous where they were to meet the troopship fleet. - -Dan Dalzell, as executive officer, came in breezily, saluting briskly -and giving his cheery report as to the results of his inspection: - -"All secure, sir." - -Dave was on the bridge, with Lieutenant Briggs, when Ensign Phelps came -to report that he had been unable to find any of the looked-for bottles -in Jordan's duffle-bag or other effects, or, for that matter, anywhere -else. - -"Very good, Mr. Phelps. Thank you. I recommend that, until your watch is -called, you get all the sleep you can. To-morrow there may be no sleep -for any of us." - -Later in the night cautious signals, "blinker" lights, were observed off -the port quarter. - -The "Logan," comprehending, replied with her own "blinkers." The two -craft presently came closer, and after that kept each other company, for -the destroyer "John Adams" was also bound for the rendezvous of the -early morn. - -Two hours before dawn Darrin gave the order to lie to. The "Adams" also -stopped her engines, nearly, for the destroyers had reached the point of -rendezvous. Soon afterward a third destroyer signalled and joined; not -long after that a fourth. There were two more on hand before dawn. - -Through the dark sky came three short, quick flashes of a searchlight. -It was the "Logan" that returned this signal. Then other signals were -swiftly exchanged with the craft to the westward. - -"The troopship fleet is going to be punctual to the minute," Darrin -remarked to his watch officer. - -"And our biggest time will be ahead of us, sir, I'm thinking," responded -Lieutenant Briggs. - -"In a way the big time will be welcome," smiled Dave. "Even if we are -unfortunate enough to sustain some losses the Hun will get the worst of -it." - -"Why do you say that, sir?" Briggs inquired. - -"Because, so far, in every encounter with naval vessels or troopships -the Hun has seemed fated to get the worst of it." - -In the east a pale light appeared in the sky. This slowly deepened. Then -came the early red and orange tints of what promised to be a bright day. - -"There's the troopship fleet!" cried Darrin, joyously. "The head of it -anyway. We'll soon see more of it." - -Lieutenant Briggs held his glass for a full thirty seconds on the first -ships visible to the westward. - -"And there goes our signal to join!" exclaimed Darrin, as bunting broke -from the foremast of the leading destroyer with the fleet. "Acknowledge -the signal, Mr. Briggs, and give the order for full speed ahead." - -Racing westward went six torpedo boat destroyers to meet their comrades -of the Navy and of the Army. - -As they drew nearer, those on the destroyers could see a wild waving of -hats by the soldiers crowding the decks of the leading transports. One -moment the hat-waving was visible; then as suddenly it ceased, and the -spar decks were nearly bare of men, for mess-call had sounded for -breakfast. The only soldier who fails to answer mess call is a sick or a -dead one. - -"Follow second destroyer on port line," came the signal from the leading -destroyer to the "Logan." "After taking position meet any emergency -according to best judgment." - -So the "Logan" raced along to the north of the fleet, then made a swift, -curving sweep and moved into the assigned position. - -From the decks of the nearest transports, soldiers, as they returned -from their meal, blithely waved their caps again. Cheering was -forbidden, as such noise would drown out orders that might be given for -the handling of the ship. But those Of Dave's jackies who could, waved -back good-humoredly. - -For some minutes after taking position, Darrin found himself running -along with the troopship "Cumberland," and the distance between them was -but a few hundred yards. - -Dave had turned to watch the movements of the destroyer ahead in the -line when he heard a starboard lookout call: - -"Torpedo coming, sir, on the port beam!" - -Like a flash Darrin wheeled to behold the oncoming trail. - -Lieutenant Curtin, now on the bridge watch, gave quartermaster and -engine-room swift orders, while Ensign Phelps signalled the -"Cumberland." - -Like a racehorse in full career, the "Logan" bounded forward and made a -sharp turn to port. At the same time the "Cumberland" obliqued sharply -to starboard. - -On came the torpedo. The soldiers on the troopship deck watched its -course with fascinated eyes. - -The "Logan," having swerved enough only to clear the deadly missile, now -darted in again, her nose striking what was left of the torpedo trail. -On she dashed, gun and bomb crews grimly waiting, every man on duty -alert on the destroyer's decks. - -Cutting the wind the "Logan" raced on her way, her bow throwing up a -huge volume of water. Dave, on the bridge, saw his staunch little -fighting craft near the starting end of the tell-tale torpedo trail. And -there on the water, moving eastward and at right angles with the -direction of the path, was an ill-defined, bulky something which, from -the destroyer's bridge, looked like a submerged shadow. - -Quickly rasping out a change in the course, Dave saw the "Logan" -overtake that shadow in a matter of seconds. The shadow was much less -distinct now, for the sea pest was submerging to greater depth. - -It was Darrin himself who seized the handle of the bridge telegraph. - -Answering the signal sent by Dave to the engine room, the "Logan" made a -magnificent leap forward just as the destroyer's bow reached the point -over the tail of the shadow. - -"Let go the depth bomb!" he roared. The signal was passed to the bomb -crew to "let go!" - -Over went the bomb. The "Logan" still leaped forward. - -Then, astern of the rushing craft, came a muffled roar. A great mass of -water shot up into the air, like a compressed geyser. Before the column -of water had had time to subside big bubbles of air came up in myriads -and burst on the surface. - -The instant after the explosion of the depth bomb, the "Logan" turned on -the shortest axis possible, her propellers slowing down somewhat. - -"The 'Cumberland' is still afloat and not hit, thank Heaven!" Darrin -uttered fervently. - -Only the troopship's quick turn to starboard had saved her. The torpedo -had sped past by less than five feet from her rudder. - -Another turn, and Dave came up with the scene of the explosion. Oh, -cheerful sight! The water was mottled with great patches of oil. More -cheering still, sundered bits of wooden fittings from a submarine -floated on the water. Two dead bodies also drifted on the swells; the -remaining Huns on the shattered craft must have gone down with the sea -pest. - -"Not bad work, Mr. Curtin," Dave remarked, calmly, as the destroyer once -more moved into her place in the escort line. - -"May we have as good luck every time," came the fervent response of the -watch officer. - -Word of the bomb hit had been signalled along the line. It was hard -indeed that the soldiers were not allowed to cheer! - -But had the morning's work really begun? - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -WHEN THE ENEMY SCORED - - -The sun had risen through a haze, which is in favor of a fleet on the -defensive, as there is not so much glare from the water to confuse the -vision of lookouts. - -However, there was no attack in the next hour. The fleet continued on -its way only as swiftly as the slowest transport could move, for it is -an axiom at sea that the speed of a fleet is the speed of its slowest -ship. - -Suddenly Dave recalled to mind the prisoner, Jordan, locked in the brig -below. - -"Corporal," he called down, as that noncommissioned officer of marines -passed across the deck, "in case we are hit and are sinking, make it -your duty to remember Jordan, in the brig. Turn him loose before we -abandon ship--if the day's work comes to that." - - * * * * * - -"Humph!" Pete was saying to his soldier comrades forward on one of the -leading transports. "The Germans must be hard up when they can send only -one sub to tackle a fleet like this." - -"I don't care if the Huns send fifty or a hundred of their pests," broke -in another soldier. "The subs have no show. Did you see that destroyer? -Scoot! Pouf! Hm! Where's that submarine now? I tell you, fellows, after -all, submarines are good only for sinking unarmed schooners." - -"Still, they've sunk more than a few armed steamers," argued a comrade. - -"If they did," maintained the former speaker, warmly, "then it was -because the lookouts and gunners were asleep. You wait! If we meet a -dozen of these Hun submarines to-day you'll find that they won't get any -of our ships." - -"I'm going to do my bragging after we land," interjected an old sergeant -dryly. "I always enjoy my bragging best after I get over my scare." - -But the long quiet proved too good to last. The almost simultaneous -barking of guns from three troopships and from two destroyers called -swift attention to the fact that the fusillade was aimed at a periscope -off starboard. Nearly a dozen shells struck the water all around the -spot where the periscope had vanished. From about the same point a light -streak appeared on the water. - -Signalling back instructions to the transports as to their course, a -destroyer darted out of line to go after the submarine after the fashion -that Darrin had employed. Ere long the destroyer swerved in a sharp -curve and headed back for her place in the escort line, signalling at -the same time: - -"Nothing left for us to do. A shell from one of the guns engaged hit the -pest under water and poured oil on the troubled waters." - -In the meantime, the endangered transport, which had promptly and -intelligently obeyed the steering order, had barely escaped the torpedo -fired at her. - -Spirits now ran high in the troopship fleet. Uncle Sam's soldiers had -seen the threatened ships saved, and had also seen Uncle Sam's sailors -show how easily a submarine may be fought--sometimes. - -After that the fleet proceeded on its uninterrupted way for so long a -time that the noon meal had been eaten calmly by the voyaging soldiers. -Few of them thought it worth while to cut that meal short in order to go -on deck again. - -Especially did Pete and his friends feel indifferent to the best that -the Huns could do out here on the water. Just then there came a terrific -shock. It was an explosion, followed by a crash that caused the ship to -stagger over to starboard, though she quickly righted herself. - -"They've got us!" yelled Pete, jumping up from the table, overturning -his coffee and starting for the upper deck on a run. - -Then, ashamed of his nervousness, Pete stopped running and tuned down to -a slow walk toward the companionway stairs from the mess deck. Others -were running, with a resulting jam on the stairs. - -"What are we going to do?" one soldier asked Pete. - -"Do the same thing that we've been doing ever since we came into the -Service, I guess," drawled Pete. "And that is, we're going to listen and -obey orders. Stop shoving, you fellows. We won't get up any faster for -crowding." - -Soon staff and line officers appeared at the head of the stairs, issuing -sharp, steady commands that stopped all signs of a possible panic. - -"Keep your wits, men, and the last of you will reach shore all right," -called an officer who was forcing his way down the stairs. "Some of you -men turn aside and give me a chance to get to the deck below." - -His coolness, and his willingness to be on the mess deck calmed the -excitement of many a young soldier who was eager to get up to the spar -deck. From a deck rail in front of the chart-house a major with a lusty -voice shouted down: - -"No excitement, men! This ship, if she sinks, will be a long time doing -it. There will be time to get every man off, and it will be done if you -listen to orders and obey them." - -That torpedo had struck deep into the ship's vitals, stopping the -engines instantly. - -Only here and there was there a soldier who did not have his life belt -on. These now scrambled for their belts. - -From the flagship of the destroyers at the head of the line swift -signals were wigwagged and repeated down the lines. One of them read: - -"'Logan' stand by 'Castle City' for rescue work." - -Instantly Dave ordered the full-speed signal telegraphed to the engine -room, then added, as the destroyer raced down the line: - -"Keep all gunners and lookouts at their stations, Mr. Dalzell. Mr. -Briggs will take charge of manning and lowering our two launches and the -cutters, and will stand by to lower away." - -The destroyer "Adams" had already caught a hawse-line from the "Castle -City" by the time Dave's craft reached the scene. With the hawser made -fast the destroyer was towing the stricken transport out of the fleet -line. - -"Lower away," Dave commanded, after he had dashed past the "Castle City" -and had lain to. Overboard went the launches and cutters, and Lieutenant -Briggs was soon alongside the transport, which was also lowering -well-filled lifeboats. - -His own boats and the ship's boats Briggs had towed in strings. On -orders from the commander of the destroyer flotilla, other troopships -halted long enough to take on the rescued ones. - -Still another destroyer had to hasten to the assistance of the "Logan," -for the "Castle City" was rapidly settling lower in the water. - -Never had naval small craft worked at greater speed, yet necessity moved -faster. The transport had by now heeled well over to port. She could not -keep afloat much longer. - -"Those who cannot get into the boats now will have to jump," shouted -Dave Darrin. - -So excellent was the control by the regimental officers on the "Castle -City" that even now there was no panic. Soldiers gathered at the points -indicated, and sprang overboard when ordered to do so. The ship's crew, -too, were now jumping. - -Among them crept the destroyer "Logan," her sailors throwing lines, -while a side gangway was also lowered for the use of those who could -swim to it. - -Scores of soldiers were soon on the "Logan's" deck. These were directed -to seek warm quarters below where they could dry their clothing. Many of -the soldiers preferred to remain on deck to aid in the rescue of their -comrades. Having cast off after finishing her job of towing, the "Adams" -was now busy, too, in rescue work. - -At last, when no more heads appeared on the water, and no more men were -in evidence on the decks of the sinking transport, the order was -signalled for the rescue-work destroyers to stand clear. - -"She'll plunge by the head within five minutes," Dalzell declared, as -the "Logan" steamed clear. - -Bang! bang! bang! Destroyer and troopship guns, up near the head of the -line, had suddenly begun blazing away. - -Half a dozen periscopes showed short lengths, briefly, above the water, -but the number of faint streaks across the sea showed that other enemy -submarines were attacking without first taking periscope sights. - -"It's the general attack on the fleet, that we expected!" Dave Darrin -shouted from the bridge. "Stand by! Remember that fractions of seconds -count in carrying out orders now." - -Then Lieutenant Beatty caught sight of a periscope above the water, some -eight hundred yards away. One of the "Logan's" forward guns spoke in -sharp challenge. The biggest submarine sea fight of all was now on! - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE HOTTEST WORK OF ALL - - -From the troopship line, as the "Logan" dashed away, Darrin could hear -the guns of the transports that were coming up and near enough to take -part in the fight. Wherever a periscope showed itself it was bound to -invite fire from half a dozen gunners in almost the same instant. - -"Sorry, but you soldiers will all have to go inside and remain there," -ordered Lieutenant Dan Dalzell. "We have no room for any one on deck -except our crew." - -To most of the soldiers it seemed hard to be deprived of a view of the -only thing that interested them, but Navy officers, in issuing orders, -have a way of speaking that does not admit of doubt as to their meaning. - -"There goes the 'Castle City' by the bow," called a lookout, but Dave -Darrin, his eyes searching for a torpedo trail, took his word for it and -did not turn to look. - -"Torpedo wake, sir, three points off port bow!" sang out a lookout. - -Dave turned this time; the telltale line was there. His orders rapped -out and the "Logan" started by the shortest cut to reach that line and -to locate its source. - -Even as they raced to find that submarine, a gunner on the "Logan" fired -at the briefly visible periscope of another enemy craft. - -Suddenly, not more than two hundred yards away, a periscope reared -itself in their path, though not more than two feet of its length -appeared above the water. - -Intensely alert, Lieutenant Beatty himself sighted and gave the order to -fire. Nor was this an easy task, for the destroyer, to avoid ramming and -ripping out part of its own hull, veered aside from the direct line. - -"Fire!" yelled Beatty. - -The shell gave a good report of itself. It was plain that it had made a -hit of some sort, though below the surface. - -The destroyer swung again to face its prey. Higher came the periscope, -then the conning tower emerged. It was then observed that the conning -tower had been struck and a hole put through it on one side. Small -though the hole was, if the craft had submerged further instead of -rising, she would have been submerged for all time. - -Lieutenant Beatty calmly sighted for the next shot. Just as the deck of -the undersea boat came awash the manhole sprang open and the heads of -two German sailors appeared. - -"They're going to try to man a gun and fight us," Darrin concluded, -swiftly. - -"Fire!" ordered Beatty, calmly. - -That shot could not have been better placed. It struck the tower fairly, -exploding inside. It killed both men at the manhole, hurling them into -the sea. Probably it killed the officer in the conning tower as well. - -Beatty did not stop here. Another shell had been loaded in at the breech -of the gun, and he bent forward to sight just as the upper part of the -hull came into view. - -"Fire!" It was a clean hit, just at the water line. Hardly an instant -later, it seemed, the same gun spoke again--another water-line hit. - -"Bye-bye!" murmured Dave, as he ordered the course changed. There was no -need to wait, or to plant another shot, for the inrush of water had -settled the fate of that submarine so speedily that there wasn't the -slightest chance for any of the Huns to save themselves. That pest -settled quickly, then disappeared from view. - -"Clean work--great, Mr. Beatty!" Dave called down briskly. - -Mr. Beatty, though he acknowledged the compliment with a salute, did not -turn to look at his superior, as prescribed by regulations, for his -keen, swift glance was sweeping over the waters ahead. - -And not more than a hundred yards ahead of them a faint "wake" crossed -their bow, headed for one of the ships of the transport fleet. Instantly -the "Logan" turned into that trail, following it back at racing speed. - -It looked like Dave Darrin's lucky day, for they plunged over the dark, -heavy shadow of something that was not far below the surface. - -Knowing his speed and the length of his own craft Dave timed the instant -just right, then shouted: - -"Let go the bomb!" - -A depth bomb was instantly released over the stern. - -By the time that it exploded the speeding destroyer was safely out of -the way of any danger from its effects. A huge, thick column of water -rose, as if overboiling from a monster pot. - -"Put about and go back to observe," Darrin directed, nodding to the -watch officer. - -Even before they were fully about an exultant hurrah came from a lookout -forward. - -"Was she hit, lookout?" Dave shouted. - -"'Hit' is the right word, sir," came the response. "On that spot, at -this minute, there's more oil than water." - -In another instant Dave also beheld the big, spreading mass of oil. -There was no need of investigating further. He turned in search of other -enemy craft. - -Ten minutes passed without sight of one near enough to engage Darrin's -attention. It would not be good judgment for the "Logan" to go hunting -in some other craft's territory. - -At last, a thousand yards away, a conning tower, with only a stump of a -periscope remaining, rose through the waves. Time was, in the war, when -a shattered periscope obliged a submarine to choose between rising to -the surface and sinking, but later periscopes were so adjusted that they -could be shot away without imperilling the safety of the underseas -craft. This emerging craft showed also a damaged tower, and the rising -had to be of the quickest order. - -"I hope that chap isn't going to surrender," muttered Dave, as he -ordered the "Logan" headed straight toward the sea monster. "It takes -too long, in a fight like this, to receive a surrender and remove the -prisoners." - -In a very few seconds, however, the enemy relieved his apprehensions. -Beatty fired two shots, both of which went a few feet wild. In that time -the German commander rushed men out to the bow gun. Though her tower was -damaged, the craft could still fight on the surface. - -One after another eight German sailors leaped out to the deck, throwing -their six-inch forward gun into fighting position. - -R-r-r-r-rip! Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat! Two machine guns on the "Logan" were -turned loose. One German sailor, then another, was hit, fell and rolled -from the wet platform into the sea. - -Bang! roared out Lieutenant Beatty's gun, but the shot did nothing more -than tear away a part of the conning tower's top. - -Still the machine guns played upon that Hun gun-crew. Three more of the -enemy were laid low, two of them rolling overboard into the sea. - -A flash leaped from the German gun. A swell, lifting the bow of the -submarine at that instant caused the shell to go screaming overhead, so -close to the bridge that the three officers there "ducked" without -realizing that they were doing so. - -Aiming for the German gun, Beatty sent in a shell that pierced the top -of the hull twenty feet ahead of the gun. - -"Cooler, old chap!" Lieutenant Beatty breathlessly adjured himself, and -spent perhaps half a second more in the sighting this time. - -Just before he fired, the Huns let go with their big piece again. The -shell struck the "Logan's" foremast, damaging it, though the mast did -not go overboard. - -Two sailors on lookout, hit by flying pieces of steel, were hurled into -the air. One dropped to the deck, a hopelessly mangled mass of torn -flesh; the other seaman was knocked overboard. - -Dave turned to look at that wreck of a human being as it struck the -water. He knew there was no life in the man, so gave no order for -recovering the body. - -Down below sailors sprang to lift the dead man, who had dropped there, -on to a stretcher. They carried him below, to be buried later. - -Beatty did not delay his firing an instant. This time the shell struck -at the base of the enemy's tower. A fragment of the exploding shell must -have hit one of the German gun-crew, for a man fell on his face and -rolled overboard. However, that mattered little in the fight, for still -Hun reinforcements came through what was left of the conning tower. - -"I seem able to hit everything but that gun or the water-line," fumed -Lieutenant Beatty, enraged with himself. - -Hit though the tower had been, and though, also, three or four members -of the Hun crew must have been killed in those hits, the steering gear -of the submarine was still left and the grim craft was maneuvered in a -way to challenge admiration. - -Considerate of the feelings of the officer with the forward guns, Darrin -had refrained from giving one order, but now passed the order to the -machine gunners to concentrate their fire on the enemy hull at the water -line. - -The water alongside the submarine began spurting in tiny jets. This -sieve-like riddling would presently settle the fight, unless the Hun -gunners got in just one shot where it would tell best. The fight, -therefore, was not yet won by the destroyer. - -"Fire!" ordered Beatty, in forced calm. Then, all in an instant, that -young naval lieutenant threw up his hands. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -A TRAP AND ITS PREY - - -Not that he was hit. Oh, no! Beatty's last shot had done its work well. -In the enemy's hull, at the water-line, a great, jagged hole had -appeared. - -Responding to the inrush of water the submarine heeled. And then a -strange sight was witnessed. Just as the breathless sailors on the -"Logan" looked for the underseas craft to plunge under the waves she did -something very different. - -How it happened no one can ever tell; the cause none can guess with -anything like certainty. - -Did a chorus of despairing shrieks come from the bowels of that dying -sea monster? There were those on the "Logan" who were sure they heard -cries of terror. - -[Illustration: The last shot.] - -Instead of sinking, the submarine continued on over--and turned turtle. -Her dripping hull glistened in the forenoon sun! - -It was too much for the tensed nerves of the American sailor men. - -"Hurrah!" they let loose. "Hurrah! Hur--" - -"Stop that cheering!" rose Darrin's heaviest tones over the tumult. "The -enemy are dying." - -"They're only Huns!" answered a voice from below. - -But the cheering died away and Dave's voice carried far as he answered: - -"I know they're only Huns, and a bad lot, but they fought us well. We'll -cheer for the victory later, but not for the fate of men who are dying -there." - -Darrin then gave the order to steam in close and to stand by to rescue -any swimmers who might appear in the water. - -Twice the "Logan" circled the overturned enemy. Save for two of the men -who had been shot away from the submarine's gun platform, and who were -dead, none of the enemy were to be found. - -Now it was that the young commanding officer had an opportunity to turn -about and see how it was faring with the other American vessels. - -All firing had ceased. The fleet was proceeding on its way. Darrin was -some distance astern of the rearmost ships of the troopship fleet. - -"Men, it looks as if our fight were over for the present," Dave called -down in hearty cheery tones. "From the bridge we cannot see the head of -the fleet, nor can we hear the sound of firing." - -Accordingly all speed was jammed on. The "Logan," saluting the rearmost -scout of the destroyer flotilla, steamed on to return to her own -position in the line. As he passed a sister ship Darrin signalled: - -"How many transports lost?" - -"Only the 'Castle City,' we understand," came the response. - -"Any lives lost?" - -"We don't know." - -"We lost two men." - -"Condolence," signalled the rearmost rear-guard craft. - -"Any naval vessels lost?" Dave inquired. - -"None that we know about." - -"How many enemy submarines sunk?" - -"Several; don't know the number," replied the other destroyer. - -"Now you may cheer in earnest, if you want to," Darrin shouted down from -the bridge as the news was passed around. - -And right royally did those jackies cheer. The rescued soldiers were now -permitted on the "Logan's" deck, and contributed their own quota of -cheers. - -Dan came up to the bridge with a paper in his hand. - -"The commanding general of the Army division will be asking for the -names of soldiers on the various ships of the naval fleet who were -rescued from the 'Castle City,'" Dalzell explained. "So I've taken the -names of all the Army people we have aboard the 'Logan.' Here's the -list. It foots up seventy-seven enlisted men, with two officers." - -"Good enough," rejoined Dave. "Keep the list until called for." - -No sooner was the destroyer within signalling distance of the transport -that carried Major-General Burton, than a wigwagged demand came for that -list. It was received and checked up. - -The American loss, to the Army, had been one troopship, one officer and -five enlisted men; to the Navy, with no ships lost, four men had been -killed, including the two on the "Logan," and one seaman had been -wounded. - -The German loss in officers and men could only be guessed at. But it was -definitely known that thirteen of the Kaiser's submarines had been sent -to the bottom. - -"However," Lieutenant-Commander Darrin observed, when he and his -executive officer had considered the report, "we are not yet through the -Danger Zone. We may have another battle stiffer than the one just -concluded." - -"Tell me something!" begged Danny Grin, his eyes gleaming. "Out of the -thirteen pests sunk four are placed to the credit of the 'Logan.' Are we -the people--or something like it--in this morning's job?" - -"Now run along," Dave advised laughingly, "and don't allow your head to -be enlarged, either on your own account or your ship's. The best we can -claim, Danny-boy, is that we were very fortunate. As officers and men -we're no better than are to be found all through the Navy." - -"There's one question I'd like to ask you before I trot," Dan insisted, -with one of his famous grins. - -"What is it?" - -"It may have some bearing on future fight engagements," Dalzell -continued, his grin slowly fading. - -"When will you find time to tell me what the question is?" Darrin asked -smiling. - -"How many submarines were probably engaged this morning?" - -"I haven't any more idea than you have. I was too fully occupied with -our own affairs to be able to watch the whole field." - -"But that document led us to believe that about sixty would be engaged," -Dalzell continued. "The question is, how many submarines were pitted -against the fleet this morning?" - -"I don't know how many," Dave admitted. "But I see your point. If the -entire sixty were not engaged--and I doubt if any such number -attacked--then we must look for a second mass attack." - -"Yes, sir," nodded Dalzell, now wholly the serious, subordinate naval -officer. - -"The thing is worth taking up," said Dave. "I'll signal Captain Rhodes -on the flagship of the destroyer flotilla and find out what he has to -say." - -Back came Captain Rhodes' answer within a minute: - -"No accurate figures at hand. Believe enemy numbered something like -thirty craft. Extreme vigilance needed until we reach port." - -"There you are," Dave said, when the signal had been read. "Take -command, Mr. Dalzell, and be the sharpest little sailor on the ocean. -I'm going below on another matter." - -Once at his desk in the chart-room Dave sent for Seaman Ferguson. - -"Does Seaman Jordan smoke cigarettes?" asked Darrin. - -"Yes, sir." - -"Is he really addicted to them?" Dave continued. - -"Is he, sir?" exclaimed Ferguson. Then: "Pardon me, sir, for answering -like that. Jordan smokes his head off when he can get the chance and has -enough of the pesky things." - -"Thank you," Dave nodded. "That is all, except the caution to say -nothing to any one about my question. Send Reardon here." - -Big, red-faced, with huge hands, a deeply bronzed skin and a sly, merry -twinkle in his eyes, Reardon was a sailor of the best type. Dave knew -the man's loyalty and shrewdness, as well as Reardon's great faculty for -holding his tongue at need. - -"Reardon," directed Dave, "place a chair here at the desk and write a -note at my dictation with this pencil." - -"Aye, aye, sir! Ready," announced Reardon, taking his seat and picking -up the pencil in his big right hand. - -"Write this," said Dave. "'Sorry for you. Looks like you got a raw deal. -I'll be glad to help you, if you want cigarettes or anything. Don't nod -or speak to me, but wait for your chance to slip this paper back to me. -Write on it what you'd like.'" - -"Now," Darrin resumed, as the sailor looked up, "go below and stand -where the guard at the brig can see you, but don't let your shoes make -enough noise for Jordan, who's in the brig, to hear you. Signal to the -guard to stroll slowly in your direction. When he reaches you tell him -that you are ordered by me to slip a note to Jordan, but that the guard -is not to mention the fact to any one. Tell the guard, from me, to stand -so as to give you a chance to slip the note. Then, twenty minutes later, -you are to get down there again and give Jordan a chance to hand you his -reply. Slip this pencil in with the note." - -"Aye, aye, sir." - -Not even his eyes expressing any question or curiosity, Reardon left the -chart-room. Going below he stepped into the passage-way that led to the -brig. Cat-footed he walked along until he caught the eye of the marine -guard. From the point where he halted Reardon was not visible to any one -standing at the grated steel door of the little, cell-like brig in which -serious offenders against discipline were confined until tried or -released. - -Reardon's first signal was to place a warning finger over his lips. Then -he brought his hand up to a smart salute, next pointing above, which the -marine at once understood to mean that Reardon was there on an errand -for some officer. Next by stepping softly, and motioning with his hand -to the floor, and then to his own position, he signified that he wished -the marine to come to him. - -No fool was Fitch, private in the Marine Corps, which contains few if -any fools. So well did he understand that the occupant of the brig had -no suspicion that his guard was looking at any one beyond. Then Private -Fitch took a few turns in the passageway, after which, yawning slightly, -and humming softly to himself, he strolled along the passageway until he -reached the big sailor. - -"I've orders from Lieutenant-Commander Darrin to slip a note and a -pencil to Jordan in the brig," whispered Reardon. "You're not to see me. -Bye and bye you're to give Jordan a chance to write an answer, which -I'll come back and get." - -"Lieutenant-Commander Darrin's orders, eh?" whispered the marine, eyeing -the big sailor keenly. - -"Which the lieutenant commander gave me himself," nodded Reardon. "And -you're not to say anything about the matter." - -"Go ahead, when you're ready," nodded Private Fitch, turning and -strolling back. - -A full two minutes Reardon waited. Then, making no further effort to -walk softly, the big fellow stepped down the passage way. - -"Looking for a berth in the brig?" asked Fitch, jocosely. - -"Now, why should I?" demanded Reardon. "And me a good conduct man. 'Tis -more likely you'll get a place there yourself." - -"Not me," returned the marine. "There are only six of us and a corporal -on board, and we're all needed. You know, Reardon, marines are important -people, since one marine is the fighting equal of three sailors." - -"Is it so, now?" demanded Reardon, in an amused tone, as he halted -before the brig door. "What time did ye get up this morning, Mister -Fitch?" - -Pacing the floor behind the barred door with the restless step of a -caged animal, Seaman Jordan only scowled at the bantering pair. But -Reardon had halted with his back close to the steel bars. In one hand -behind him was a pencil with a scrap of paper folded around it. - -Jordan hesitated. He was afraid of some trap, but his position was -desperate. He was accused of treason. Perhaps this big sailor was a -friend in need. After a moment or two of hesitation, Jordan prolonged -his walk until it brought him close to the bars. Then, while Private -Fitch was glancing down at the lock of his rifle, Jordan stealthily -grasped note and paper and dropped them in a pocket. - -Reardon remained for a few moments more, bantering the marine -good-humoredly. Soon after Reardon had gone, the marine strolled slowly -out of sight. In the brief interval before he was back Jordan hastily -scanned the note. It looked utterly innocent. Turning the paper over, -Jordan hurriedly wrote: - -"Cigarettes and matches, as soon as you get a chance. There are times -when the guard isn't here. When in action, and all hands at quarters, -there's a long chance to smoke." - -Twenty minutes later Seaman Reardon returned, "joshed" the marine -briefly, and secured pencil and paper from the prisoner. - -Seaman Jordan waited a long time for his cigarettes and matches. For -Dave Darrin, as soon as he had received the paper and Reardon had -saluted and gone out, went to the safe and took from it the paper that -had been fished out of the bottle rescued from the deep. For some -minutes Darrin compared the writing on the two pieces of paper. - -"Of course, one is in German script, and the other in English," Dave -communed with himself. "But let us see what Phelps thinks of it." - -Ensign Phelps, who was a bit more than an amateur handwriting expert, -came at request and scanned both papers. Then he went out, returning -with a magnifying glass with which he examined both writings. - -"Of course the two different styles of script make the comparison -difficult," Mr. Phelps declared. "Still, I am certain a better qualified -expert than I will say that the same hand executed both writings." - -"Then Jordan's last chance is gone, I'm afraid," replied Dave gravely, -as he took the two sheets and filed them carefully in the safe. "Before, -there was a chance for Jordan to get off at his trial by court-martial, -for, while Seaman Ferguson was morally certain that Jordan dropped the -bottle overboard, he would not be able to swear positively to it. If -this note given by him to Reardon, however, proves Jordan of being the -writer of both sheets, then his conviction as a traitor looks pretty -certain. Phelps, these are the most serious days in the history of our -great country. If any man in the American uniform is a traitor to our -Flag and cause, then I want to see him punished." - -"That would mean death at the hands of a firing squad," mused Ensign -Phelps. - -"Death before a firing squad," Darrin assented gravely. "It is the only -punishment for such a crime!" - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -DAVE HUNTS A BIGGER FIGHT - - -Of much less beam for her length than the average yacht, the "Logan" was -rolling from side to side at a dizzy angle when Dave Darrin, after a nap -of an hour and a half in the chart-room, turned out. - -The wind had freshened; spray dashed over the decks and water flooded -the scuppers. Every now and then a spurt of water raced across the -bridge as the destroyer heeled over in that roughening sea. - -Dave had pulled on his rubber boots, strapping the hip extensions high -up. His sheepskin coat was fastened up tightly under his chin, and the -collar turned up over the lower part of the knitted helmet that he drew -over his head. - -Thus covered and concealed until his mother would not have known him had -she encountered him unexpectedly, Dave stepped out on deck, clumsily -clambering the steps to the bridge, one hand holding tightly to the -hand-rail. Dalzell was up there, standing not far from Lieutenant -Curtin. Forward, up in the bow, looking half drowned, paced an ensign -whose night glass was not long at any time from his eyes. - -On the superstructure amidships another officer paced, and still another -on the deck astern. - -There was little sleep for any officer. Not one of them but was aware -that at any instant the lurking foe might strike, and then would begin a -desperate, tragic game of blind man's buff over the slashing, -spray-topped waves. - -A shaded light threw a confined ray on the bridge compass. Dave barely -glanced at this latter instrument, for had not Dan been there while the -young commander slept? - -"Nothing seen, sir; some signals--that's all," was Dalzell's terse -report. - -No grin appeared on Dan's face now. It had been a tense vigil for him. - -"Go below and get some sleep," urged Dave. - -"Don't need any," Dalzell declared stubbornly. - -"It's an order, then, Mr. Dalzell," Dave answered briefly. - -Grumbling, Dan took a final look into the night, then slowly clambered -down the steps. - -"I'm aware, sir, that an attack may be tried at any minute," said -Lieutenant Curtin, "but don't you believe that it will be postponed -until after daylight?" - -"Yes," Darrin made reply. "And if we're to have an attack between here -and port, I'd rather have it to-night. Neither troopship nor destroyer -is showing lights, so the Huns couldn't use their periscopes. They -might, of course, use their sound devices, and launch torpedoes towards -the sources of sounds, but that's a clumsy and wasteful way of -torpedoing an enemy. Attacking on a night like this, the only sure way -would be for them to come to the surface. That would give us an ideal -chance. With searchlights playing in every direction we'd pick up a lot -of the submarines and hit them within the first minute and a half. No; -unless for the novelty of the thing, the German commander won't risk a -night attack. Results for him are more certain just after dawn. I -believe, as much as I believe anything, that the enemy's submersibles -are now waiting for us at the point where they figure that we will be at -dawn." - -"It will be great to meet them at their convenience," remarked Curtin, -after a pause of a few minutes. "After what we did to them yesterday -forenoon we know how we can rush some of 'em to the bottom, and leave -the rest so far astern that they'd have to come to the surface to -overtake our troop-ships." - -"We know what we did, but we don't know that we can do it again," Darrin -retorted. "The greatest mistake that we can make is to become -over-confident. That never pays when dealing with any enemy, and least -of all when the Hun is the enemy. We got away yesterday, Curtin, but has -it struck you that we may have met the inferior half of the underseas -fleet that the enemy has concentrated against us? Yesterday forenoon's -work may have been play compared with the job that has been cut out for -us. The surest way to lose a few destroyers, a few transports and -thousands of soldiers and sailors, is for the naval officers with this -fleet to let their confidence get the better of their alertness. Even in -spite of our utmost watchfulness and best work, we may lose five -thousand American lives before we reach port." - -"Maybe our country would fight better hereafter if we did," muttered the -younger officer. "A loss like that would serve to rouse Americans rather -than to kill their fighting instinct." - -"But confidence in the Navy would be largely gone," Dave rejoined. "At -present the folks at home are whooping up the Navy. That's because we've -had such fine luck so far. Let us lose several thousand soldiers at sea -and then see how much our home people would boost for the Navy. We're -judged by the goods we deliver in the form of results." - -Not all of this had been said in continuous conversation, for not once -did either officer remove his gaze from the black waters around them. -Dave and his junior officer had spoken by snatches as they came -together. - -Off to starboard, several hundred yards, the dimly defined shape of a -huge transport appeared. The transport ahead of her, and the one behind -her, had to be located by judgment rather than by vision. - -"A fellow cannot help getting nervous out here--I mean nervous for the -transports," said Lieutenant Curtin, ten minutes later. "Before you came -up, sir, there was a time when neither Mr. Dalzell nor I could see that -nearest troopship at all." - -"Did you change your course?" asked Dave, with a smile. - -"No, sir; I knew we must be right, for we had followed the course to a -fine line. But it was uncanny, just the same--the knowledge that we must -guard the transports, combined with the belief that they had slipped -miles away." - -"Before you came across to this side of the ocean, Mr. Curtin, you were -inclined to be a bit stout, weren't you?" Dave quizzed. - -"Nineteen pounds over weight, sir." - -"Cheer up! You won't grow fat during this war." - -"I don't care about loss of sleep, or anything," declared the junior -officer, earnestly. "I believe that I could get along without sleep, -except when in port, if we could range the seas with a daily average of -one enemy submarine sunk." - -"If you could do that, and the other destroyers did anything at all," -laughed Darrin, "the seas would soon be as safe as they were in 1913." - -"Do you remember that time, sir, a month ago, when we answered an S. O. -S. call and arrived in time to jump at a submarine engaged in shelling -the small boats that were pulling away from the wrecked Norwegian -steamer?" - -"Yes." - -"We missed that infernal Hun. He got away, and I am certain that I -didn't sleep a real wink in the next twenty-four hours." - -"Take things more easily," Dave advised. "Do your best, Curtin, and then -if the Hun boat gets away, take it out in chuckling over the big scare -you gave the enemy officers and crew. That's the way I do." - -Calling the officer amidships on the deck to take a turn on the bridge -with Lieutenant Curtin, Dave, after receiving the engine-room report -over the bridge telephone, went on a swift but thorough tour of -inspection. Dark as it was, he discovered that the breech mechanism of -one of the forward guns was not oiled to his fancy. Three or four other -slight oversights he found, and promptly rapped out orders to remedy the -faults. - -"In a campaign like this," he told Ensign Carter, tersely, "there can be -no knowing at what moment we shall be called upon to fight for our -lives, nor how many seconds of fatal delay may be caused by any lacking -detail. Constant inspection is the only way to be certain that one is up -to fighting mark. Inspection is not enough when made only by commander -and executive officer. 'Inspection' should be engraved on the brain of -every watch and division officer." - -Dave glanced at the chronometer in the chart-room on his way to the -bridge, and knew that the first streaks of dawn should appear in the -east in fifteen minutes. Sending the relieving officer back to his -station amidships, Darrin resumed his bridge vigil. - -First signs of dawn came in due time. The light gained in strength until -the long line of the transport fleet stood revealed, extending back -further than the eye could see. Obeying signals, some of the destroyers -stood further out from their charges and then raced on ahead to inspect -that portion of the sea which must very soon be traversed. - -"If we don't run into something before the middle of the forenoon," Dave -confided to Dan, who now reappeared on the bridge after a short rest, "I -shall feel easier. The nearer we draw to land the more help is likely to -be afloat near us." - -Just then a boom came over the water. A gun of one of the foremost trio -of destroyers had spoken. Swiftly the signals came back. - -Dave gave the order to have all hands sounded to quarters. - -"Gentlemen," said the young commander after the crew had reached the -deck, "this morning's work will undoubtedly be the real test. Within -twenty minutes we'll be in the thick of a real fight!" - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -A BATTLE TRY-OUT FOR SOULS - - -Men had stood their watch by the guns all night long. - -Boom! boom! From ahead came the sound of rapid firing. The commanders of -the three leading destroyers were seasoned men experienced in their -work, and were not likely to be shooting at mere shadows. - -"At the best, it's snap-shooting," Dan uttered, almost disgustedly. "We -cannot do our marksmanship justice when we are contending with a -skulking enemy and seldom have anything more to aim at than a periscope -that's up from four to seven seconds, or the wake caused by the conning -tower of a submarine running near the surface." - -"Occasional hits, however, show that a good deal can be accomplished by -snap shooting when real gunners do it," rejoined Dave. - -At this moment he read the signal for destroyers to maneuver at -judgment. Dave promptly gave orders that sent the "Logan" scooting -further away from the transport fleet, out on its port flank. - -"Ahead, and zigzag," Darrin ordered sharply. "All the zigzag that full -speed will allow." - -Her turbines turning at better than trial speed limit, the "Logan" -roared on her way like an angry bulldog with the speed of a grayhound. - -Despite the speed, the zigzagging course kept Dave opposite the -troopship he had been guarding through the night. - -Just astern of the "Logan" a periscope flashed up for a few seconds. A -gun was trained and fired, but the periscope had been withdrawn by the -time the shell got there. A tell-tale light streak appeared on the -surface of the sea astern of the destroyer, one of whose signalmen waved -a warning that was superfluous, for the troopship at which the torpedo -had been aimed had already started off on a zigzag course, and escaped -by a matter of feet. - -From the head of the squadron came back the signalled order: - -"All troopships zigzag!" - -"Looks like a crazy marine waltz!" reflected Danny Grin as he caught a -second's glimpse of this strange maneuver. - -Darrin did not turn to see what had become of the submersible at which -one of the "Logan's" shells had been fired. The enemy was undoubtedly -unharmed and under control, and there would be another destroyer on the -spot in a jiffy. Dave believed that they were not yet in the thick of -the Hun trap and he kept a sharp lookout ahead. - -"Second destroyer astern of us just signalled a hit," Dan uttered -presently, in a tone of glee. - -"Must be the one that we tried for," was Darrin's comment. - -In the meantime, both the British authorities and the American Admiral -at the base port were being constantly informed, through radio messages, -of just what was now taking place on this part of the sea. - -"Assistance already on the way; watch for it," came back the reply from -the admirals. - -"Humph! There's no vessel that sails that can reach us in season if it -didn't start from port a few hours ago," was Dalzell's puzzled comment. - -Not very long after that the leading ships of the fleet knew that they -were in the thick of the enemy ambush. The courses of several torpedoes -were observed, but, thanks to the zigzagging of the vessels, no -transport or escort had yet been hit. - -"Signal coming, sir, to commanding officer of the 'Logan,'" reported the -signalman on the destroyer's bridge. - -"'Logan' will drop out of line and hunt enemy submarines on commanding -officer's judgment," Dave Darrin read. - -"That's because of our record yesterday," Dan Dalzell chuckled. "We are -looked upon as the star performers of the flotilla." - -"We'll do our best to be the stars again to-day," Dave confided to his -chum after he had given his orders. - -With a rush and roar the destroyer headed northward, nor did Darrin come -about until he was something like fifteen hundred yards away from the -troopship line. - -"Submarines usually try for hits at from six hundred to a thousand -yards," he explained to Dalzell, as the racing craft hurried on her way. -"A German commander, with his eyes on the transports, might not think to -turn his periscope in the opposite direction at a time like this." - -"But his sound-detecting device will tell him where we are," Dan hinted. - -"Not with all the gun-fire and the noise of so many hurrying craft," -Dave answered. "Wait and see." - -Phelps was sent to join the two seamen forward. From that position he -could see any torpedo trail that started between the "Logan's" position -and the transport fleet. Within less than five minutes Phelps detected a -white line of seething foam, and Dave steered his ship straight to the -spot where the Hun craft was believed to be. - -"Fire as fast as you can, Mr. Phelps," was the order Darrin transmitted. - -So closely had Phelps got the range that the "Logan" drove straight to -the torpedo's source. There the long, vague outline of a submersible was -barely discernible under the deep blue of the sea. - -"Over her!" Darrin ordered. - -At their station the depth bomb men stood at alert, awaiting the word at -which the bomb would be released by the touch of a finger. - -As the destroyer swept over the submersible's hull Dave shouted: - -"Let go bomb!" - -It was then that the finger touch was applied. Over the stern slipped -the amazing mechanism which contained a steel shell. It was adjusted to -go off automatically at a depth of thirty feet. Nothing within a hundred -feet of the point of its explosion could escape being shattered. - -Bump! came a heavy explosion. The "Logan" herself shook and plunged as a -column of water shot up astern. - -Instantly Dave ordered the ship about, for the dropping of another bomb, -in case the first had failed. - -No need, though, for the spreading of oil on the surface of the water -showed how effective a hit had been made. - -"Now, for more of the pests!" uttered Dalzell, gleefully. "We must beat -our record of yesterday." - -Darrin did not reply. Outwardly calm, but with muscles set and every -nerve tensed to the tingling point, he stood almost on tip-toe, grasping -the forward rail, peering ahead and to either side. - -But at least one German captain had caught him, so far out of line, for, -from the starboard watch, forward, came the brisk warning: - -"Torpedo, sir, on the starboard bow!" - -In the same instant Dave had seen it. The trail was racing to meet the -"Logan" well forward. - -Not risking even the delay of a shouted order, Darrin reached for the -lever of the bridge telegraph and set the jingle bells in the engine -room a-clatter. His quick order threw the propellers into reverse and -then full speed astern. At the same time he swung the bow around. - -Had he tried to zigzag it is doubtful if he could have escaped. Had he -gone straight ahead the torpedo would have hit him just below the -waterline. - -As it was, the missile of destruction passed by a scant dozen feet from -the "Logan's" bow. - -This was the single instant of safety for which Darrin had worked. Now, -he ordered speed ahead, and swung around, sailing straight to the spot -where he believed the enemy to be. - -By the time he was at that spot nothing was to be seen of the undersea -boat. Submerging to greater depth the wily Hun had glided away to -safety. - -"Now, what does that German fellow mean by holding down our record in -that fashion?" Dan demanded, wrathfully. "He's no sportsman, not to take -a chance." - -"He may get us yet," was Darrin's quiet answer. - -It was Lieutenant Curtin who first discovered a number of small specks -away over in the eastern sky. - -"They're not clouds," said Dave, eyeing the specks through his glass, -"but at the distance I can't make out what they are." - -"If they can't turn over submarines to us, I hardly care what they are," -muttered Dan Dalzell to himself. - -With the fleet dashing forward, and the specks moving nearer, it was not -long before watchful eyes behind glasses discovered just what the specks -were. - -"Now, we'll see something interesting," quoth Darrin. - -"They're coming to take our glory, instead of adding to it," Dan -insisted. - -"What do you care who puts the Huns on old Ocean's bed, as long as they -arrive there?" Dave asked, coolly. - -"Will they put any Huns there?" Dalzell inquired, doubtfully. - -"If they don't, we can still sail in and help ourselves to the best we -can find," laughed Dave. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -TEAM WORK BETWEEN SKY AND WATER - - -From mere specks the oncoming objects grew larger and larger, until, to -the unaided eye, they stood plainly revealed as hydroairplanes. - -They were British, too, and built especially for the purpose of -detecting and destroying submarines. Tommy Atkins calls this type of -airplane a "blimp." - -From high up in the air observers are able, when the light is right, to -see a submarine at a depth of about one hundred feet below the surface. -Having detected a submerged enemy craft the hydroairplane flies over it, -dropping a bomb. - -"That they can see a submersible at such a depth makes me wonder why the -hydroairplane doesn't take the place of the destroyer," observed -Lieutenant Curtin. - -"The crew of a hydroairplane can see the submarine at a greater depth -under water than can a destroyer," Dave explained, "but owing to the -height at which they are obliged to observe they cannot drop their bombs -as accurately." - -"Then the chaps yonder are not likely to be of much service to us -to-day." - -Coming still nearer, one of the hydroairplanes made signals which the -flagship of the destroyer flotilla answered. Then through the fleet ran -the signalled message: - -"When possible the hydroairplanes will destroy enemy boats by bombing. A -smoke bomb in the air will denote position of submarine at that moment. -Destroyer commanders will act accordingly." - -"Then the British flyers yonder will fight on their own account, or -scout for us, as seems best," Dave announced. - -One of the great flying craft neared the position into which the "Logan" -was steaming. Suddenly she swooped a bit lower and let go an object that -dropped fast, going out of sight under the water. - -There was a turmoil ahead among the waves. As the destroyer moved -forward those on her decks saw oil spreading over the water. - -"Signal a hit, then follow the airship," Dave directed. - -Moving, now, no faster than did the destroyer, the hydroairplane -scurried about through the air, swooping, banking, diving and rising. At -last, apparently she located another submarine. A bomb dropped, but -Dave, driving his ship through the water after the explosion, found no -tell-tale oil signs. - -"Wide of the mark," signalled the Britisher. - -Presently the hydroairplane again caught sight of the prey it was -stalking. Another bomb fell, but still no hit. - -"We'll fly just over the enemy," wirelessed the hydroairplane. "At the -instant you're fairly over we'll signal you." - -"That's the right way to hunt," declared Danny Grin, under his breath. - -Acting on the suggestion Darrin steamed in until he was directly under -the air craft. The signal came. Dave ordered a bomb dropped, and steamed -rapidly away from the place of the coming explosion. Then he swung -around, driving back at full speed. - -"A hit," signalled the airship. - -"Easy, when you do all the work," Darrin signalled back. "Be good enough -to find us another mouthful." - -By this time the cannonading on all sides had become incessant. Despite -the cloudiness of the night, the day had turned out bright, in a season -when bright days do not abound in these waters. On such a day, though -the periscope metal is dull, the drops of water adhering to the shaft -make it a fairly bright mark. - -Wherever a periscope showed, the handlers of more than one gun took a -chance at it. Several broad patches of oil marked the graves of Hun -submersibles and their crews. - -The wake made by a conning tower was sure to lead a destroyer away in -pursuit of that same tower. The hydroairplanes followed many of these -wakes, in nearly every instance locating the sea monsters for the -destroyers. - -Besides, the torpedo trails in themselves served to lead the destroyers -to many an enemy craft. - -"This is the right combination," Dan muttered to Lieutenant Curtin. -"Airship and destroyer combined have an advantage that puts the -submersible on the run or out of commission altogether. It takes the -credit away from the destroyer too." - -"I don't care where the credit goes, if the pests are sunk," Curtin -answered. "If we had had these airships yesterday we wouldn't have lost -the 'Castle City.'" - -"But the hydroairplanes do not go so far out as we were sailing -yesterday," Dalzell reminded the watch officer. - -"I know it, but I believe that a type could be made that would have no -difficulty in crossing the ocean from shore to shore." - -Now the "Logan's" guns were at it again, with a barking din that made -conversation difficult. - -By this time only one hydroairplane remained with the head of the fleet, -which was believed to have passed through the submarine ambush. The -others and a decided majority of the destroyers were now maneuvering -anywhere from the middle to the rear end of the transports. - -Finally the fight centered on the tail end of the transport fleet. Here -the submarines were doing their best to "get" a transport. - -Another hour, and the fleet believed itself to be clear of that -submarine concentration. Not that vigilance was relaxed, however. No -troopship had been struck to-day, but the fine work might be easily -undone by carelessness on the part of either hydroairplane or destroyer -commanders. - -Two hours after the attack began Darrin received signalled orders to -return to his former position in the escort line. - -"Thus endeth the second chapter--apparently," commented Danny Grin. - -During this engagement, as on the day before, the soldiers who crowded -the destroyer had been ordered from the decks during the fight. They -were now notified that they might come out. - -It was one o'clock in the afternoon when the leading hydroairplane -signalled a report that the sea ahead was strewn with wreckage. Ship -after ship sailed through this mute evidence of the enemy's presence and -detestable work. Spars with clinging cordage floated by. Wooden -hatchcovers, overturned boats, oars, chairs, wooden boxes, bales of -soaked cotton and what-not were in the litter that strewed the sea over -a broad area. - -One of the overturned lifeboats was overhauled. The name on her stern -showed that she belonged to a nine-thousand-ton freighter, carrying a -naval gun crew and fore and after guns. - -"The loss of the ship is bad enough," said Dave, soberly, "but there is -nothing to indicate how many lives were lost." - -An hour later, however, three boats, containing some forty men, women -and children, were overhauled. The freighter had carried passengers. - -When the lifeboats had been overhauled, and the occupants taken off by -the destroyer "John Adams," the shivering wretches had a sad tale to -tell. It was at that moment believed, and afterwards confirmed, that -some sixty persons had lost their lives. - -"Even after we pulled away in the small boats," sobbed an American -woman, "the brutes shelled us." - -"A cook in our boat was hit," a man took up the narrative. "The shell -struck him at the waist, hurling his head and trunk overboard and -leaving his legs in the boat. And a child's head was shot from its -shoulders. You noticed the splashes of blood in our boat? I'm fifty-nine -years old, but if any recruiting officer in four armies will accept me -I'm ready to enlist and fight these beasts--navy or army!" - -"And I'm going to enlist!" quivered a young boatswain's mate. "I can't -get into the trenches soon enough. I won't take any German prisoners at -the front, either," he added, significantly. - -Late in the afternoon, not many miles from the submarine base, French -and American destroyers waited to escort the transport fleet the rest of -the way to France. At about that same hour the evening papers in Berlin -declared that an American transport fleet had been encountered, and that -nine of the ships, containing more than twenty thousand American -soldiers, had been sent to the bottom. The truth was that one transport -had been sunk and eleven Americans killed and wounded! - -Many of the destroyers that had brought in the transport fleet to the -point where the new escort awaited it, now turned seaward once more. -Dave Darrin and the "Logan," however, were under orders to go to the -base port, for the trial of Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold was close at -hand. - -When Dave and Dan went ashore they took with them Seaman Jordan under -close guard. - -After slipping that note to Seaman Reardon and then receiving no further -results from it, Jordan had suddenly suspected the ruse that was likely -to put his neck in a noose. So now, as he went ashore, that young seaman -was gloomy and pallid. - -Hardly had Darrin stepped on the wharf when a waiting jackie saluted -smartly. - -"Why, hullo, Runkle!" cried Dave, halting, for this sailorman had been -of great assistance to him in former undertakings. - -"I'm glad to see you, sir," exclaimed Runkle, who bore the device of a -boatswain's mate. "I thought you were in these waters, sir." - -"And I wish I had you on my ship, Runkle," Dave went on, earnestly. - -"Begging your pardon, sir, I see that you have Hartmann a prisoner." - -"Who?" - -"Hartmann." - -"Do you mean the sailor under guard?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"You call him Hartmann?" - -"Yes, sir--Gus Hartmann--old Jake Hartmann's son. I ought to know him. We -hail from the same home town." - -"Speak to him," murmured Dave, then turned to the prisoner with: - -"Jordan, here's a boatswain's mate who says your name is Hartmann." - -"It must be so, sir, if he says so," returned Jordan, sulkily. - -"Then you admit your name to be Hartmann?" - -"No, sir; but I can see that I am not to get any show whatever, so I may -as well give up hope." - -"Runkle," said Dave, after signalling to the guard to take the prisoner -on, "I shall have to arrange for you to be on hand. That young man will -undoubtedly be tried for treason. He enlisted under an American name, -and your testimony that his real name is Hartmann will be valuable for -the prosecution." - -"If young Hartmann is guilty of treason," Runkle burst out hotly, "I -would be glad enough to have the job of drowning him myself." - -"Is Jordan, or Hartmann, a citizen of the United States?" - -"He was born in America, I understand, sir, but his father was born in -Germany, and, so I was told, never took out naturalization papers." - -When the accused sailor had been locked up, and three secret service men -came on board, Dave Darrin aided them in searching for more of the -bottles that glowed when dropped in water. - -Jordan, or Hartmann, had been employed at times under the ship's -painter. In the paint storeroom the secret service men, after some -search, found a board in the floor, back of some boxes, that could be -pried up, moving on a hinge. In a hiding place underneath were four -bottles identical with the bottle which Darrin had recovered from the -water. - -Reporting to American Base Headquarters, Dave was much astonished to -find orders there relieving him from command of the "Logan." - -"I didn't know my work had been as bad as that," Darrin smiled. - -"Not bad work at all," replied the staff officer who had handed him the -order. "In the first place, you'll be here to attend the court-martial -of Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold. Then there's the case of your own -seaman, Jordan, or whatever his name may be. You'll have to testify at -his court-martial, too. After both trials are over you will be ordered -to the new duty to be given you." - -"I don't suppose that I am expected to inquire what that new duty is?" - -"As yet I cannot tell you about the new duty." - -"Who will command the 'Logan,' if I may ask?" - -"Curtin. He has just received his step, and is now a -lieutenant-commander." - -"And I have my step, too!" cried Danny Grin, coming up behind his chum -and waving an official looking envelope. "I'm a lieutenant-commander. -Been detached from service on the 'Logan' and must await new orders." - -"That goes for both of you," said the staff officer smilingly. - -"I wish I had a line on the new duty, though," said Dalzell, as he -turned away. - -"So do I," half-sighed Dave. "But wishing doesn't do much for a chap in -the Service." - -Turning, they walked briskly toward the naval club frequented by British -and American naval officers. There, by good luck, they found Curtin, who -had just come ashore. - -"There are orders for you at the admiral's office," Dave reported. "I -may as well tell you, Curtin, that Dalzell and I are detached for other -duties; that you have gotten your step to a lieutenant-commandership and -that you are to swing the 'Logan' from now on. Congratulations, old man! -And I know you'll make a record at your new post, just as you have made -in your lower grades." - -"And remember, my boy," grinned Dan, "we won't be a bit jealous, no -matter if you succeed in sinking the Kaiser's entire submarine fleet!" - -Curtin's face showed his joy. He immediately wrote and submitted to the -censor a cablegram informing his wife that he had been promoted and -given a command. Further information he could not send. - -"What are we going to do this evening, Danny-boy?" Dave inquired. - -"I don't know, but I expect my activities will be confined to guessing -what my new line of service is to be." - -"If Curtin has attained to independent command, there's a big chance -that you will also," Dave observed. - -"That would separate us," muttered Dan, looking almost alarmed. "David, -little giant, I don't believe I'll be able to serve as well if I'm not -on the same craft with you." - -"Nonsense!" laughed Darrin. - -"Fact!" Dan insisted. - -"Then what are you going to do when you become an admiral?" - -"I'll have lots of time to think that over," retorted Dalzell. - -Three days later the von Bechtold trial came off before a court-martial -of British naval officers. The German commander was found guilty of -having landed in Ireland as a spy, and was condemned to be shot, a -sentence soon afterward carried out. He would give no information about -the civilian found dead on the submarine, but the stranger was believed -to have been a civilian government official from Berlin. - -Right after that Hartmann, alias Jordan, was placed on trial before an -American court-martial on a charge of treason. His trial was short -because the prisoner broke down and confessed his identity as a German -spy. He implicated two German spies then in Ireland, both of whom had -been masquerading as Swedish ship-brokers. These two latter were -captured, tried by the British naval authorities, and sentenced to -death. Jordan was ordered shot, and soon afterward paid the penalty of -his crime before a firing squad. - -Runkle, who had been a witness against Hartmann, alias Jordan, was now -detached from the ship on which he had been serving, and was placed on -waiting orders. - -And then, one morning, Dan broke in on Darrin at the naval club, his -eyes gleaming. - -"I've got my command and my sailing orders!" he shouted, gleefully. - -"What ship?" Dave asked, springing up. - -"The 'Prince'!" Dalzell exclaimed, jubilantly. - -"Never heard of that craft," Darrin returned, his eyes opening wide. -"She doesn't sail from this port, does she?" - -"No," and Danny Grin, his mouth wreathed in smiles, named a near-by -port. - -"When do you take her over?" - -"To-morrow." - -"And sail?" - -"Same day." - -Darrin gripped his chum's hand, murmuring: - -"I wish you all the success in the world, Danny-boy," he called, -heartily. - -"How would you like to go with me?" Dalzell continued, eagerly. - -"What on earth are you talking about?" - -"About taking you as a passenger," Dan went on. "You'll go as my guest, -if you favor me to that extent. I spoke to the flag lieutenant about it, -and he said that your orders would not be ready for two or three weeks -yet, and that you will have plenty of time to sail with me if you so -desire, and be back in time for your new detail. Do you want to go?" - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -DAN'S TURN TO GRIN - - -"Stop your nonsense, Danny-boy, if you'll be so good. Of course you know -that I want to go with you. But can't you tell me something about the -'Prince'?" - -"Not a word," Dan protested. - -"Or the kind of work in which your ship is going to engage?" - -"Not a word!" Dan Dalzell laughed merrily. "Will you go?" - -"Yes; of course, old chum." - -"I thought you would," Dan continued, "so I took the liberty of -obtaining official permission for you to go along with me. Here it is, -over the admiral's signature." - -Dave eagerly scanned the official-looking, typewritten sheet. It was -simply a written permission, and gave not the slightest clew to the -nature of Dan's new venture. - -"Dan Dalzell, I believe that you're going to keep me on the guessing -rack," Dave declared. - -"You don't believe anything of the sort," Dalzell laughed; "you _know_ -it." - -"All right, then," sighed Darrin, good-humoredly, putting away the -official envelope in an inner pocket. - -"Then you're going with me?" - -"Yes, sir, and right into the jaws of whatever mystery you have arranged -for me," Dave said. - -"Mighty glad of it," cried Danny Grin, gripping his chum's hand again. -"I don't believe you'll be sorry either. It's a humorous adventure on -which you and I are going to embark." - -"If there's any humor to be found in this great, grim war," Dave -retorted, "then it will prove a most welcome relief from the kind of -work that has been holding our attention." - -Dave had already cleaned up all matters relating to the transfer of -command on the "Logan." Hence there was nothing to hinder his departure -by train at daylight the morning following. For two hours the chums -rode, then alighted at a port town so small that its name is never heard -on this side of the water. - -Within five minutes the two young naval officers, carrying their -worn-looking suit-cases, reached the water-front. Dan's heavier baggage -had gone on ahead and Dave carried none beyond what his suit-case -contained. - -The harbor was a small one. Dave had seen it all ere they reached one of -the three small wharves of which the water-front boasted. - -"Humph!" he remarked. "So you must wait for your ship to come in?" - -"I don't believe so," Dalzell returned. - -"But there is no warship in this harbor," Darrin remonstrated. Indeed, -the only craft above the size of small boats were a battered old tramp -steamer, a former trawler, now a patrol boat, a steam fishing-smack and -a schooner. - -"All the shipping in this harbor combined wouldn't make a proper command -for a lieutenant-commander in the United States Navy," Dave observed. -"Dan, you've been grinning ever since you brought me the veiled news -yesterday. It is now about time to unmask and tell me what you're up to -in the way of mischief." - -"That would be to open up the case of the watch and show you the whole -works," Dan retorted, mockingly. - -"Then I give it up," sighed Dave. - -In response to a mere hand signal a boat put off from under the quarter -of the battered tramp. As it neared the wharf Dave's wonder grew. - -"So that old tramp steamer is going to act as tender, and take you out -to your new ship?" Dave inquired, feeling as mystified as he looked. -"Have a care, Danny-boy. That tramp won't keep afloat long enough in an -open sea to take you far!" - -But Dalzell made no reply. Instead, he walked to the steps that led down -to a landing stage, returning the salute of the seaman in the stern of -the row-boat. Plainly the tramp could by no possibility be Dan's "new" -ship, for not even a man in the boat-crew wore the uniform of the United -States. Though the men showed bright, intelligent faces, their garb was -of the most nondescript character worn by seafaring men. - -Dan gravely led the way to seats in the stern. - -"Shove off!" ordered the coxswain. Then the men gave way at the oars. -Dave watched their rowing. To an amateur eye the handling of the oars -wasn't so bad, but it was utterly different from the rowing done by a -smart man-o'-wars crew. Dave felt the mystery deepening. - -Nor did it grow lighter when the boat was driven in at a rickety side -gangway. For, looking up, Dave saw a frowsy-looking lot of heads of men -who were lounging at the rail and looking down at the water. The name of -this frowsy-looking craft, Darrin discovered, was the "Prince." - -Dave went aboard on what would have been called the quarter-deck on a -more pretentious craft. Dan led the way at once into the deckhouse and -into a passage-way. - -And right here Dave received another jolt. Inside, a clean-cut looking -sailor lad, in new, handsome U. S. uniform, saluted smartly, at the same -time stepping forward to take both suit-cases. - -"Take Mr. Darrin to his cabin," Danny Grin directed, gravely. "Then -bring my bag to my quarters." - -In another moment Darrin had seen three more smart-looking jackies. He -was then ushered into his cabin, and his bag placed inside the doorway. - -"Hm! This cabin doesn't look as bad as one might expect," Dave Darrin -murmured to himself. "But what can the game be? Danny-boy is certainly -carrying on this joke in a mighty mysterious fashion." - -Hanging up the sheepskin coat that he had carried on one arm, Darrin -next removed his long uniform overcoat and hung that up also. There came -a brisk knock at the door. - -"Lieutenant-Commander Dalzell's compliments, sir, and will you join him, -sir?" inquired the messenger at the door. - -"Gladly," assented Darrin, drawing aside the curtain that fell over the -doorway and stepping outside. - -His conductor led him forward into a large cabin. - -Just as he entered Dave's puzzled glance fell upon several pairs of -boots standing in a row near the door. He gasped when he realized that -they were high, lace affairs, of a distinctly feminine pattern that were -in fashion on Broadway the last time he had seen that famous -thoroughfare. - -And here, right in front of him, stood Dalzell, earning every letter in -his nick-name of Danny Grin. - -"I didn't know that you had ladies aboard, Danny," Dave remarked, -halting and gazing at the shoes. - -"Who said we had?" - -"But those--" began Darrin, pointing at the footgear that had aroused his -wonder. - -"Newest thing in service shoes," laughed Dalzell. - -"Have your own way about it," Dave chuckled. - -"It's a fact, just the same," Dan retorted. "And say! Are you thoroughly -discreet? Can you keep a Service secret?" - -"I can hand you a wallop in about a half a second," Dave Darrin -retorted. - -"I am answered," Dan replied, gravely. "Follow me." - -Just at that instant a girlish figure came through from the connecting -cabin. Dave couldn't see her face, which was closely veiled. But from -that other cabin came a roar of laughter. Dave Darrin felt like pinching -himself to see if he were awake. - -"Come on in," chirped Dalzell. "The water's fine to-day." - -Taking Dave by the arm he piloted his chum into that next cabin. - -And now, indeed, Dave Darrin had reason enough to wonder if he were -awake. - -For three long tables occupied a good part of the cabin. And on these -tables uniformed jackies, their faces all a-grin, were laying dresses, -women's coats and hats as they took them from boxes. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -ABOARD THE MYSTERY SHIP - - -"Looks great, doesn't it?" demanded Dalzell, in an undertone, after the -sailors had stood at attention and had received their orders to "carry -on." - -"It would look all right in a dry-goods store," countered the thoroughly -mystified Darrin, "but what does it mean here?" - -"Why, that's the secret," was Dan's unsatisfactory answer. - -"I give it up," said Darrin hopelessly. - -"Wise old head!" approved Dalzell. - -Right here Dave received another jolt. The girl whom he had seen in the -first cabin now returned, lifted away the veil, removed hat and wig, and -stood revealed, from the shoulders up, a most unmistakable young man -with a good-looking but wholly unfeminine face. - -"Is this a public masquerade, and are the proceeds to be devoted to the -Service?" Dave inquired. - -But Dan replied only with a baffling wink. - -"Oh, well," rejoined Darrin, "I can wait if you can. If you're through -with me here, I'm going back to my cabin." - -"Have you no more questions?" Dan inquired mockingly. - -"None that are likely to be answered, so I'll leave you to your -amusements." - -"Too bad," murmured Dalzell to himself after Darrin had vanished, "for -now Dave is sulky." - -In this surmise, however, Danny Grin was quite wrong. Darrin merely -refused to waste more guesses on a mystery that he could not solve, and -had gone off to see what he could make out of the appearance of things. - -"It's one too many for me," Darrin finally confessed to himself. -Removing some of his clothing and his shoes, he lay down on a lounge, -drawing a blanket over him. - -For such a hulk as the "Prince" looked to be, the steam-heating plant -was in excellent order. In the warm air Darrin dozed gently off, though -not before the reflection had passed through his mind: - -"I might have guessed that the 'Prince' was some such looking craft as -this. It was named the 'Prince' for the same reason that folks always -give that same nickname to the mangiest-looking dog in town." - -A little later Dan glanced in past the curtained doorway. Finding his -chum asleep he tripped silently away. The anchor must have come up -noiselessly and all commands must have been issued in low tones, for -when Darrin awoke, rose and glanced out through the porthole he found -the craft under way upon the open sea. - -By the time that he had drawn on his shoes Darrin heard a rap at the -doorway, followed by a messenger's announcement: - -"Luncheon will be served in the wardroom, sir, in fifteen minutes." - -So Darrin completed his toilet, then hailed a messenger and learned -where the wardroom was situated on this ship of mystery. - -Stepping into the room ahead of time, Dave found only one young ensign, -who saluted him. - -"This is some strange craft," observed Darrin. - -"Yes, sir," assented Ensign Stark. - -"But suited to her mission, I dare say." - -"Oh, yes, sir; hardly a doubt of that," smiled the junior officer, but -he added no hint of information as to the "Prince's" mission, and Darrin -was much too good an officer to press his question. - -A minute or two later two other ensigns entered, and on their heels came -Dalzell with a young engineer officer and a surgeon. Dan presented his -junior officers to his chum, then explained: - -"Usually, of course, on a war craft, the 'Old Man' dines in state alone, -or with his guests. But the 'Old Man's' dining room is in other use on -this cruiser, so we will dine with the juniors so long as they permit -it." - -"I suppose the 'Old Man's' dining room has been converted into a -cashier's cage for the Monday bargain sale you are planning," hinted -Darrin. - -"Why, yes, Darry; something like that," grinned Dalzell. - -The meal had not proceeded far when Dan leaned toward his chum to -whisper: - -"By the way, I forgot to say that the rules require that no officer or -man of the Navy shall appear outside in uniform. You brought along -civilian clothes, I believe." - -"A suit, yes." - -"And I have an old overcoat and cloth cap I can loan you," Dan added. "I -will have them sent to your cabin." - -So, after he had returned to his own quarters, Dave waited, after -donning civilian garb, until the promised articles had arrived. Then, -putting on the coat and cap, he made his way forward and outside. - -Coming out on the spar deck Darrin found plenty of use for his eyes. -Forward the "Prince" carried rather high bulwarks. Darrin had noted that -in the harbor. But now he saw that which no observer on shore would have -had reason to suspect. - -In the bulwarks, on either side, were sliding doors or ports, and, -behind these, in each instance, mounted on a carriage, was a very -capable-looking naval gun. - -Besides, on either side, was a machine gun, rigged to a platform that -could be raised high enough to make the guns effective, even with the -mark not more than a hundred feet from the hull. - -"Rubber!" shouted Dalzell, joyously, from the bridge, as Dave strolled -slowly forward. - -"Some ship, all right," Darrin called back. He then retraced his steps, -making for the bridge, where Dan and Ensign Peters stood, both of them -attired like merchantmen officers. - -"What do you think of her?" demanded Danny Grin, as his chum took stand -beside him. - -"You told me it was going to be a humorous adventure," Dave suggested. -"I haven't yet discovered where the laugh comes in." - -"Oh, we can't laugh," quoth Danny Grin, "until we find something to -laugh at." - -"Of course," Dave pursued, his eyes twinkling, "the 'Prince' is a good -deal of a joke in herself." - -"And those hidden guns are the point to the joke," Dan retorted. "But -wait a few hours, or a few days. Oh, you'll laugh!" - -There was, however, in Dan's eyes the next moment, a grim look that -considerably belied his words. - -Dave hadn't really tried hard to worm the secret from his friend, and -now he gave it up altogether, but asked teasingly: - -"Are you going to call upon me for any work, beyond saving your scalp -when you get into too tight a corner?" - -"You're a guest aboard, without duties," Dan informed him, then added, -seriously: - -"But I won't deny that I realize how valuable your counsel may prove in -some sudden emergency." - -Somehow, Darrin found that he tired of being on the bridge of a ship on -which he had no duties, no authority. Leaving the bridge, after a few -minutes, he descended and roamed the decks, fore and aft. Wherever he -encountered sailors outside he found them in the garb of merchantman -sailors; below decks they wore the uniform. - -The "Prince" was kicking along at about eight knots an hour, and was -already out of sight of land. It was when he strolled down into the -engine room that Dave was astonished to find engines that were furbished -up to the last notch of perfection. Moreover, his practised eye noted -that the engines looked as though capable of vastly faster work than -they were performing. - -"These engines appear to be the best part of the craft," Darrin remarked -to the engineer officer. - -"They're good engines--the best that the British know how to make," -nodded the engineer officer. "But for that matter, they're not much -behind the rest of the boat. She looks worse than she is, sir. The -'Prince' is renamed; she was a mighty good-looking craft before the -naval camouflage gentlemen took her in hand and made such a -tough-looking ship of her." - -From the course Darrin knew that the "Prince" was heading into the -submarine zone. Dan was surely hunting trouble, and he had a knack of -finding it. - -Dave soon found time hanging heavily on his hands. He was glad that he -had brought along two novels, and these he read in his cabin. Dinner -hour was welcome because it occupied some of the time. At this meal, -too, he met Lieutenant Bixby, executive officer, who had been busy -elsewhere at luncheon time. - -Later in the evening Dan came down from the bridge, visiting his friend -in his quarters. - -"Darry, I'm in hopes we'll be able to spring our joke before long," he -cried briskly. - -If he had hoped to rouse his chum's waning curiosity he was -disappointed, for Dave only covered a yawn with his left hand and -languidly inquired: - -"So?" - -An hour later, when the chums were still talking, Lieutenant Bixby -knocked at the door. - -"I wish to report 'all secure' sir," said the executive officer. - -"And the ladies--?" queried Dalzell. - -"In high spirits, and the best of good humor, sir." - -The two officers returned smiles, but Dave Darrin did not appear to be -looking their way. - -"Are you going to turn in?" asked Danny Grin, as he rose to depart. - -"Before long," Dave nodded. "But I'll leave things so that I can turn -out fast if I hear your whistle signalling to abandon ship." - -Into Danny Grin's eyes a mischievous look flashed, but all he said was: - -"Good night, chum." - -"Good night, Danny-boy." - -After one of the most refreshing sleeps he had enjoyed since the war -began, Dave turned out the next morning, on first waking, with the -realization that the "Prince" was still on her way on the high seas, and -that there had been no alarm. - -"That sleep must have cleared up my wits," mused Darrin, as he turned -water into the stand-bowl. "I think I begin to see the object of this -voyage by the seemingly crippled old 'Prince.'" - -Whether he had solved the mystery remained to be seen. At that moment -the ship's hoarse steam whistle began the first of a series of long -blasts. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -THE HUMOROUS ADVENTURE - - -"Abandon ship, eh?" thought Darrin, springing to complete his toilet. - -In his civilian attire he hastened down the passage-way and up to the -spar deck. And here, as he would also have seen had he looked aft, a -remarkable scene was being enacted. - -At the first sound of the whistle, which had now begun its wailing anew, -the crew had sprung to clear the boats for launching. - -"Will I be in the way on the bridge?" Dave called up. - -"Come right up," Dan nodded. - -Darrin was beside his friend in a jiffy. - -"Over there," said Dalzell, nodding. - -Off to starboard about a mile distant, a German submarine lay rolling. -In the morning light the tower stood out against the horizon, magnified -in size. The submersible's deck also showed, with sailors standing by -the forward and after guns. - -"We'll get a shell in a moment," spoke Dalzell, calmly, as the second -sounding of the whistle signal ended. - -Though the "Prince" carried wireless apparatus for installing at need, -no sign of it was visible in the form of aerials and connections, so the -first shell was aimed not at the foremast, but at the single broad, tall -smoke-stack. It missed by only a foot and went screaming to port. - -For the third time the "Prince's" whistle sounded, "Abandon ship." -Members of the crew sprang up into two of the boats. A few men who -looked like civilian passengers hastily followed. Then a feminine bevy -raced out on deck. - -"I thought so," said Darrin, nodding comprehendingly. "Dan, you've -everything here but the children." - -Those who had already entered the boats now turned to help the wearers -of skirts. The two boats were swung out. After that, a third boat, -similarly loaded, was also swung out on the davits. Blocks and falls -creaked as the boats and their human freight were lowered. - -Fortunately, the sea was not rough. All of the boats reached the water -safely and rowed away. - -From the submarine a puff of smoke at the muzzle of the after gun -announced the rushing departure of another shell. This missile struck -the water barely fifty feet in advance of one of the boats, but -disappeared without doing any harm. - -"At their old, dirty tricks of terrorizing and murdering passengers in -the small boats!" muttered Dan Dalzell, savagely. "And yet, at one time, -there were Americans who wondered why we entered this war!" - -For a fourth time the "Prince's" whistle began its serial wail. Now, -however--clever ruse!--the whistle's sound was feebler, the jets of white -steam smaller and fainter. It looked as though the boilers had been -emptied of steam. - -"Heinie von dem Sub has concluded that we're a dead proposition," -chuckled Dalzell, as the submarine, instead of firing other shots at -once, moved in closer. On she came, this dirty, gray pest of the sea, -until she was within three hundred yards. - -"Abandon completely before we sink you!" was the message signalled from -the enemy. "Your captain and chief engineer must come aboard us with all -ship's instruments and papers." - -"Shake out the signal, 'Your message understood,'" shouted Dan from the -bridge. - -After a moment the flags composing the signal were started toward the -"Prince's" foremast head. - -As Darrin turned from watching the submarine he beheld naval gunners, -this time in uniform, and with Ensign Peters in charge, taking the range -carefully. - -At some signal that Darrin did not catch, a whistle sounded shrilly. -Now, from the deckhouse below a detachment of Uncle Sam's jackies in -uniform dashed out. - -"Open ports!" called Ensign Peters, as some of the men sprang to the -guns. - -All in a jiffy the sliding doors in the bulwarks were shoved back and -gun muzzles were run out. Crisply the orders issued. Within a few -seconds the first gun spoke, and right after it the other two. - -One of the shots struck the submarine's hull aft, ripping off several -plates. - -"Hurrah!" yelled Dalzell. "Now, let's see 'em try to dive. But fire fast -and straight, before the Huns take it out of our people in the small -boats!" - -One shot the enemy fired, aimed at one of the "Prince's" guns. Over the -top of the bulwarks it went, missing them by only a few feet. - -That was a game at which two could play. Ensign Peters aimed a gun at -the base of the submersible's forward gun. A cheer of joy went up -forward on the tramp steamer when it was seen that a hit had been -registered as aimed. The enemy now had only his stern gun, and he swung -quickly to bring it to bear. - -Ensign Peters now aimed at the base of the stern gun. But he missed it, -for, a second before, one of the other guns in the "Prince's" battery -had struck the submarine just below the water line. - -"Good enough!" roared Dalzell in trumpet tones. "Now, let's see the -rascal fight!" - -Evidently in reply to signal or command all the sailors on the enemy -craft ran to the conning tower and vanished inside. - -"Called to see if they can repair the leak and submerge!" guessed -Dalzell, and passing his conjecture down to the gunners on the spar deck -below. "Make submerging a cinch for them!" - -Three more shots barked out, almost together. One went a shade wild, one -hit the upper hull, but the third was planted just below the water-line. - -"Good-bye!" called Dan, derisively. - -Then the "Prince's" steam whistle, with a sufficiently good head of -steam this time, sent the recall to the small boats, which immediately -put about. - -The submarine was sinking fast. Eight or ten men managed to get through -the tower to the deck just before the pest sank out of sight. - -"Some of those men are swimming," Dan shouted. "Stand by with lines! -We'll give them a chance! More than they'd do for us, though!" - -Several of the German swimmers sank at once. Perhaps they preferred to -drown, fearing the tortures that their home papers declared were meted -out to submarine sailors by officers of the Allied Powers. - -Two enemy seamen, however, were found afloat as the "Prince" drew closer -and lay to. Lines were cast to them, both catching hold. The swimmers -were then hauled aboard. Dan Dalzell went down to the spar deck in order -to question them. - -Both were loutishly stupid in appearance, and plainly were badly scared -as well. Their ragged, oil-stained uniforms gave them the opposite of -smart appearance. - -"Do you men speak English?" Dan demanded, eyeing the pair as the deck -watch arraigned them before him. - -The duller-looking of the pair shook his head, but the other replied: - -"I speak id somedimes, a liddle." - -"What craft was that you came from?" Dalzell queried. - -"The U 193." - -"How many ships have you sunk?" - -"I vas not by der ship before dis cruise," replied the German. - -"How long had you been out this time?" - -"Zwelf (twelve) days." - -"How many ships did you sink on this cruise?" - -"You vas der first vun," said the man, dully. - -"I think we'll survive our misfortune," smiled Dalzell, grimly. "How -many submarines have you served on?" - -"None, in dis var," was the answer. - -"And you won't serve in any more during this war," rejoined Dan. "Don't -you fellows feel like criminals, firing on women and children, and -committing wilful and useless murder all over the high seas?" - -"Vat?" demanded the fellow, stupidly. "Vat?" - -Dan had to repeat the question in two or three different forms before it -sank in. - -"Chermany got to vin by der var," replied the seaman, with a shrug of -his broad shoulders. - -"Why don't you win, then, by fair fighting?" - -"Chermany got to vin der var," the fellow replied, stolidly. "Der vay, -it makes noddings." - -By which he meant that Germany must win, but that the means by which she -won did not matter. - -"Why must Germany win?" Dan demanded impatiently. - -"Because Chermany is Chermany; because she is der ruler of der vorld," -came back the ready answer. - -"If Germany is really the ruler of the world, she'll have to prove it, -and take a century of hard fighting to do it," Dan clicked. "Has it ever -struck you, my man, that Germany is the bad-dog nation of the world?" - -"Chermany is der fine, der great nation of der vorld," insisted the -prisoner, stubbornly. - -"Wouldn't a fine nation act like a fine nation?" demanded Dalzell. -"Wouldn't it respect the rights of other peoples? Wouldn't Germany, if a -fine nation, fight according to the rules of honor and decency, and not -like pirates?" - -Again it required repetitions, in other words, to drive the query home. - -"Chermany is Chermany," declared the stolid fellow. "Chermany must vin -der var because Chermany must rule. It is right dot der Chermans should -tell der rest of der vorld vat is. Vat Chermany must do to vin it is -right for her to do, but vat you Amerigans do is wrong. You are only -pigs, und you help der pigs of English. You are all pigs, und Chermany -shall punish you good for vat you do!" - -"When?" asked Dan, derisively. - -"Negst year! You vait, you see! Den der var vill over be, und der -Amerigans on deir knees shall be!" - -"The war end next year?" Dan derided. "Not unless Germany has been -whipped soundly by that time." - -"Chermany cannot be vip'," insisted the prisoner. "Chermany, she alvays -fight! Blenty in dis var. Den, ven der var stop, she begin get ready -again, she get ready again to fight der negst var. Chermany cannot be -vip', but Ameriga shall down mit her knees go, und Chermany shall says -vords dot Ameriga does not like to hear. You vait, you see! Chermany is -der von real fighting gountry of der vorld. Not all der rest of der -vorld can vip her! It cannot be done. Chermany over all!" - -"And that's the whole story, from a German point of view," Dave muttered -in an undertone. "This fellow looks stupid, but his leaders are just -about as stupid. Isn't it a waste of time to talk with him, Danny?" - -"I'm afraid it is," Dalzell nodded. "But this is the first chance I have -had to get a German's real view of the war. This fellow is too stupid to -conceal anything, so he has told me the truth as he sees it. Yet, as you -say, Dave, it's the whole story, and he cannot tell me any more than he -has told if I should question him from now until midnight." - -Then, to a petty officer: - -"Take these fellows below and lock them in the brig. Place a guard over -them. See that they have the usual ship ration, and see that sufficient -fresh water is offered them at all times. It's warm in the brig, so they -can take off their clothes until the garments are dry." - -Stolidly the pair marched along, out of sight and hearing. - -"'Chermany over all! Chermany must rule der vorld,'" Dan mimicked. -"We've got their number, David, little giant. Uncle Sam and his -international friends will have to kill, cripple or lock up most of the -men of Germany before we can hope to knock the foolishness out of their -heads." - -"Which we'll proceed to do so thoroughly," quoth Dave Darrin, "that, -hereafter, not even a German head will be capable of holding such -foolishness as they now talk!" - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -DANNY GRIN PROVES HIS METTLE - - -With her boats secure, and all hands, including the recent "lady -passengers," on board once more without loss, the battered-looking -"Prince" turned on her way. - -All that day she sailed, yet found no submarine confiding enough to rise -and take a chance at her shabby-looking hull. - -"Of course there is one big chance you have to take," said Darry, at -dinner in the ward-room that night, "and that is the danger that a -submarine will think this old hulk worthy of sinking by means of a -torpedo." - -"No sub will shoot a torpedo at us," rejoined Dalzell, "if she once gets -a look at us. A torpedo costs a small fortune, while a shell or two cost -nothing by comparison. The idea in sending out a trap-craft like the -'Prince' is that no German naval officer would think of throwing away a -torpedo on her." - -"Of course," Dave admitted, "the greatest danger is that a German shell, -fired above water, will cripple you and put you out of business." - -"It's a sporting chance, to be sure," Dan admitted. - -"If your engines were stopped by a shell, and you couldn't maneuver for -position, and therefore couldn't use your guns, and a German submarine -crew took you prisoners, the sight of your guns would insure that all -hands on board would die painful but sure deaths." - -"It's that sporting element of risk that makes the game so pleasant," -Dan retorted. - -His junior officers chuckled. - -"I'm glad you all take it the way you do," was Dave's cordial rejoinder. -"It adds a lot to your chances of success." - -"And just what do you think our chances are?" Dan pressed home. At this -the junior officers listened eagerly, for Darrin's sound judgment was -fast becoming a tradition in the Navy. - -"Your chances," Dave declared, "are that you probably will sink several -submarines. Then, one of these days, you'll either get the unlooked-for -torpedo, or else you'll meet a master in strategy or gunfire, and you'll -go to the bottom--and another bright plan will be given up by the Allies. -But I hope you'll do a huge lot of damage before the probable end -comes." - -That night the "Prince" prowled the seas, and when Darrin awoke in the -morning she was headed toward her home port, that time might not be -wasted to the westward of the locality where German submarines were -likely to operate against merchantmen. - -Nor had Dave taken more than one look overboard before he discovered -that the "Prince" now lay much lower in the water. - -"Our water ballast tanks are filled," Dan explained. "That gives us the -appearance of being heavily loaded, as with American wheat, for -instance." - -"Soldiers, wheat and ammunition are the things the Germans most enjoy -sending to the bottom," Dave nodded. "Really, it is too bad that this -seeming old tub doesn't look good enough to carry troops." - -"Oh, I think that even as a cargo tramp we'll draw the fire of any -submarine whose commander gets a glimpse of us," Dan replied. - -Within ten minutes after he had said it a submarine rose, fifteen -hundred yards away, and, without firing, signalled to the "Prince" to -lie to. - -Almost instantly "Abandon ship" shrieked from the steam whistle, and the -early performance of the day before was gone through with. After the -boats had started away, bearing sailors and men and "women" passengers, -the submarine came up closer. - -All in a jiffy the ports were opened and all three shells from the -starboard battery landed in the enemy hull. There was no fight after -that, the submersible sinking before any of the crew could get clear to -save themselves. - -"Do you begin to see the joke?" demanded Danny Grin, grimly. "Are you -prepared to join in the laugh at the Germans?" - -"If the 'Prince' continues her good work for a fortnight," smiled Dave -Darrin, "the ocean will be a lot safer place for American troopships." - -"I'm beginning to feel," Dan remarked, "that I can highly endorse the -intelligence of those who sent me out on this errand." - -"The errand is a good one, anyway," Darrin laughed, teasingly. - -The rest of the day passed without other incident than the appearance of -two destroyers, one British and one American. Each of these war craft -signalled to ask if convoy were desired, to which Dan signalled a -courteous, "No, thank you." - -"Won't those chaps feel sold when they learn, if they ever do, what kind -of an outfit they wanted to protect?" Dan chuckled. - -Just before dawn, next morning, Dalzell was roused from a nap and called -to the bridge. - -"Gun-fire dead ahead, sir," reported Ensign Stark. "Don't you make out -the flashes, sir?" - -"Yes," nodded Dalzell, after he had taken and used the proffered glass. -"Some one is catching it, but is the victim a steamship, or is it a -submarine that some destroyer has overhauled? Oh, for just sixty seconds -I'd like to have our wireless rigged!" - -Ensign Stark had already ordered the speed increased, and so reported, -but Danny Grin, as he heard the firing, seized the engine-room telephone -and ordered all speed possible crowded on. - -Thus he swept along, without lights, until within a mile of the -bright-red flashes, which he could now see without the aid of a glass. - -At this point speed was reduced to eight knots and the "Prince" moved -along more moderately. - -"What is it ahead?" asked Dave Darrin, who had just turned out and come -briskly up to the bridge. - -"It's a one-sided fight," Dan answered, "but I don't know the kind of -craft. Undoubtedly one is a submarine. She can't have been very -seriously hit, either, or the firing would be ended." - -"You have a searchlight?" - -"Yes, but with the strictest orders not to use it except to save ship -and crew," was Dan's answer. - -Soon after, despite the darkness, the chums were able to make out a -steamship ahead, heeled well over to port. And the flashes of a gun were -so close to the water as to indicate that a submarine was firing, even -before its outlines could be made out. - -"The cowardly hounds!" blazed Dave, indignantly. "They've got that ship -sinking, and all they're doing is terrorizing the poor wretches aboard -by slow, systematic murder!" - -"I'll get them as soon as I have light enough for a gunner's sight," -muttered Dan Dalzell. Calling a boatswain's mate under the bridge, he -directed him to hoist a Norwegian flag at the stern, and to bend and -hoist the signal: - -"We wish to save crew and passengers." - -"And that's the truth, too, though perhaps not all of it," snorted -Dalzell, all of whose fighting blood had been aroused by the cowardly -proceeding going on ahead. - -In hoisting the Norwegian flag he was wholly within his rights as a -naval commander. Under international law a naval commander is entitled -to hoist any neutral or belligerent flag, including even that of the -enemy, in order to maneuver into fighting position. But, before he can -fire a shot, the commander must hoist the flag that he actually sails -under. - -In this instance Dan would give the "Prince" the assumed character of a -neutral merchant ship that desired to play a humane part. No real -Norwegian skipper would have been likely to take such a chance, as it -would only have invited the destruction of his craft. - -Dawn came quickly now. With the first streaks Dan ran up the signal and -sailed daringly in. The submarine, which lay ahead, had ceased firing. -The doomed ship took the plunge and vanished, but in three boats and on -six rafts a frightened lot of men and women were seeking to get away -from Death. - -"Lie to and abandon ship!" signalled the German commander, as soon as -the presence of the "Prince" was made out. - -But Dan, with the range, took the bull boldly by the horns. Opening -ports in a jiffy, and with gun crews at quarters on both starboard and -port, he gave the firing order. - -"Give 'em 'Chermany over all,' and put it all over them!" commanded -Danny Grin savagely. - -Three shells left the starboard battery before the astounded German -commander had realized that it was a fighting craft that menaced him. - -Two of the shells flew over, striking the water beyond, but the third -crashed through the plates of the conning tower, exploding inside and -blowing off part of the top of the tower. - -No sooner had the guns been fired than Dalzell changed the course to -bring the port battery into play. - -"Give 'em 'Chermany over all' all over again!" roared Danny Grin's -voice. "Oh, it's a great game, don'd it?" - -A laugh rose from below, but that laugh was drowned by the joint crash -of all the guns of the port battery. Another shell entered the -submarine's tower, and two struck the hull, inflicting more deadly -damage. - -And now a machine gun began to play over the hull of the sea monster, -sending such a storm of bullets that one had to admire the courage--or -was it despair?--of a German officer who dared the leaden tempest and -sprang from the tower with a white flag, signalling surrender. - -"Cease firing!" roared Dalzell through a megaphone. "But load and stand -by ready for some German brand of treachery." - -Undoubtedly the German officer knew that he stood under the muzzles of -loaded guns. His face white and set, he signalled his offer to -surrender. - -"We'll accept you as prisoners if you act honestly," was signalled back -by Dan's order. "But we'll blow you into the air if you try to play a -single trick on us." - -Acting under further orders a collapsible boat was put over the side of -the submarine. The captain, the second-in-command and the engineer -officer came over to the "Prince" on the first trip, two men returning -with the boat to bring other prisoners. In the meantime the rafts and -boats from the sunken ship were turning back to the rescuer. - -Barely more than half of the Germans had been gotten clear of the -submarine when that unlucky craft foundered. Two survivors were picked -up from the sea, but the rest went down into the great salt-water grave. - -"Periscope on the port quarter!" rang a lookout's hail. - -Dalzell rushed to the port end of the bridge, glass to his eyes. - -Yes, there was the tell-tale tube above water, some eight hundred yards -away, the sun shining on the water drops that clung to it. - -"Periscope on the starboard quarter!" - -Dan performed a sprint to the starboard end of the bridge, to find the -news only too true, though the periscope vanished within a second or two -after he had sighted it. - -"'Ware torpedo, on port quarter!" - -Moving like a jumping-jack, Dan's right hand reached for the lever of -the engine-room telegraph. Half-speed ahead! Full speed! - -"'Ware torpedo on starboard quarter!" - -There was no time to observe the torpedo wake traveling toward the -"Prince." Dalzell's orders were based on what he had seen of the -locations of the two periscopes. - -A sharp, oblique turn to starboard, then a further turn just as the -propellers began to kick at full speed. - -Both torpedoes passed astern, their courses crossing. The maneuver -brought the tramp around so that the starboard battery could now be -trained on the submersible to the southward. - -Her commander, taking desperate chances, rose to the surface to open -with his forward gun. - -Fatal mistake! Only one gun barked from the "Prince's" starboard -battery, tearing a hole in the Hun's hull. And now Dalzell completed the -turn to give his full attention to the remaining submarine. She, -commanded by a more cautious man, had vanished. - -Not for long, however, for a line on the water revealed the wake made by -the conning tower as she headed straight for the "Prince." - -Again Dan's orders rapped out. The seeming tramp steamer, developing a -speed that could not have been looked for, maneuvered so as to run, -bow-on, at the submersible. - -The craft to the southward was sinking, but the one to the northward was -coming straight. A light streak on the water shot out in advance of her -while the "Prince" was making her turn. Seeing that he was bound to -miss, the Hun commander let loose with his other tube. The "Prince" -completed her maneuver, and now showed only her bow to the enemy, her -hull standing away in a straight line between the courses of the two -torpedoes, which dashed on by her and were lost in the distance. - -As the craft were rapidly nearing each other, Dan, by the aid of his -marine glass, located exactly the beginning, or nearer end, of the -conning tower's wake. - -"She may submerge and come up astern of you!" muttered Dave Darrin. - -"We'll see!" ground out Dalzell, between his teeth, still holding the -glass to his eyes. - -There was no question of getting the range, for the two craft were -lessening the distance, altering it, every second that passed. - -Still Dan headed on, knowing that the enemy could submerge and change -her course at greater depth. - -"I've got only one chance in a million to get that rascal!" Dalzell -growled to his chum. - -"And apparently the enemy has all the other chances in the million--but -it's a great game!" cried Dave Darrin. - -Dan held on steadily, his motto "Win or sink!" - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -A GERMAN VIEW OF SUBMARINES - - -Suddenly the Hun craft, as indicated by the trail of bubbles in her -wake, made an oblique turn, going off to Dan's port. But Dan kept on, -shouting down to the spar deck: - -"Stand by the port guns! Not a shot unless ordered!" - -A moment or two and the submersible, as indicated by the bubbles on the -water, had turned head-on again coming close to the surface. She was now -in position to deliver two torpedoes. - -It was the moment for which Dan had waited. - -"Let go with all three guns, port battery!" he yelled. "Rapid fire." - -Three jets of smoke and flame shot out from as many muzzles. The gun -crews rushed to reload. - -"One hit!" shouted Dan. "Again!" - -"Two hits--and she's done for!" yelled Dan, joyously, as he scanned the -water. "Good work, men!" - -The hits had been made by guess, except for the guidance of the wake, -while the submarine ran barely submerged. Even Dalzell's report of hits -had been based on appearances. But now the "Prince," plowing on her way, -steamed into a patch of oil-strewn water and out of it again. - -"I'll be satisfied if there is no more fighting in this day's work," Dan -confessed, mopping the icy perspiration from his forehead. - -"Danny-boy, you've done a big enough day's work to satisfy the greediest -of fighters!" cried Dave, gripping his chum's hand. - -"Now we'll look after the prisoners, and pick up the survivors from the -wrecked steamship," proposed Dan. - -Then, as he glanced out forward, where a small, sullen German mob stood -scowling under guard of armed sailors, he added: - -"In view of what we've seen to-day I'm sorry we have so many prisoners." - -"Dan, that's not humane," rebuked Dave. - -"I don't feel humane," Dan admitted, simply. "What I've seen to-day has -made my blood hot. I'd be willing to let go, with both batteries, at the -whole German people." - -"Thank goodness you can't do it," laughed Darrin. "You'll cool down -soon, Danny." - -Putting back, Dan ran the "Prince" toward the boats and rafts from the -sunken steamship. While overhauling them he went down from the bridge -and approached the German prisoners. - -"Who was the commander of this outfit?" Dalzell inquired, in English, of -course. - -"I was, and am," replied a scowling German officer. - -"Your name?" - -"Sparnheim!" - -"Then, Sparnheim, all I have to say to you is that you may have been -commander, but now you'll take orders, instead of giving them. Do you -feel any shame for what you did to that steamship?" - -"I don't," was the frowning answer. "I attacked enemies of Germany and -of the Kaiser!" - -"What did the women in the boats yonder do to Germany, or the Kaiser?" -Dan demanded. - -"They sailed the sea, at least," retorted Sparnheim. - -"Is that a crime?" - -"But the German government had warned all passengers from the sea!" - -"Under the impression that the German government owned the sea?" Dalzell -demanded, ironically. "To-day's work, so soon after light and sunrise, -must have shown you that others have something to do with the control of -the sea. Three of your accursed submarines have gone to the bottom." - -"Yes, through your treachery!" hissed the German officer. - -"Treachery?" Dan asked, with a hard smile. - -"Yes; you hoisted a flag that does not belong to you." - -"We fired under our own flag. That is a right recognized by the -nations." - -"It was treachery, just the same," insisted the German. "You were afraid -of us, so you took a cowardly advantage." - -"Treachery! Cowardly advantage!" Dalzell repeated, in disgust. "We -destroyed your craft. But did you not try to destroy ours? Cowardly -advantage? Of what use would submarines be to your people if you scorned -taking cowardly advantage? Sparnheim, you are paid as a German officer?" - -"To be sure," admitted the other. - -"Then you are making your living as an assassin--as a cowardly murderer. -And the nation that employs you is no better than you are, but a partner -in your crimes." - -"It is not true! We are not murderers, not criminals!" raged the -prisoner. "We fight that Germany may live!" - -"If she must live by such cowardly work as is done by her submarines, -then she does not deserve to live," Dan retorted. "I am not going to -take advantage of your helplessness. I regard you as a man with a lost -soul, and to that extent I am sorry for you. I wanted your view of your -crimes, and could not forbear to express my own opinions. We know each -other's views, and do not need to talk further." - -The "Prince" had lain to again, for now she had overtaken the first of -the boats from the foundered steamship. A gangway had been lowered and -the men and women who had taken to the small boats were now coming up -over the side. - -"Which animal among them commanded the craft that sunk our ship?" -demanded a woman hoarsely, as she eyed the sullen Germans. Dan pointed -out Sparnheim. - -"You killed several men and two women and a baby!" cried the woman, -pointing an accusing finger at the quivering Sparnheim. "The baby was -mine! One of the men that you murdered was my husband! May you never -know another moment of happiness!" - -[Illustration: "You murdered my husband."] - -Beside herself, she tried to spring past the sailor guards to attack the -fellow with her own hands. - -Darrin came along just in time to take hold of one of her arms. - -"Come, madam," he urged, soothingly, "do not foul your hands by touching -such a beast." - -"I wish I could have him hanged--the murderer!" cried the woman, -passionately. - -"I am more cruel than you, then, madam," Dave continued, as he led her -away step by step, "for I would have the wretch live a long life. No -matter how long he lives his ears must be filled with the shrieks of -dying women and children. He must hear the cries of the drowning and -the moans of the wounded. He must start in terror from his sleep at -night, for he has done foul deeds that will haunt him as long as -memory lasts. He has lived the sneaking, cowardly life of a pirate, -and is steeped in all the foulness of piracy. His has not been the -life of the brave fighting man, who willingly grants the foe an equal -chance. He has murdered and pillaged. This fellow can never, as long -as he lives, escape the accusations of his own lost soul." - -"It is a lie!" foamed Sparnheim. "A lie, a lie, a lie, I tell you! What -I have done, I have done as a loyal and patriotic German. What I have -done was for my country and my sovereign!" - -"To be sure," Dave agreed, "but you can never shift your part of the -burden from yourself. Your life will be one of misery." - -Others of the passengers had crowded forward to share with the frenzied -woman the storm of reproaches that she visited upon these Germans, but -Dan felt that matters had gone far enough. - -"All rescued survivors will please step inside," he called out. "We will -register your names and make the best possible provision for you." - -Having gotten the rescued ones well aft, Dan turned to the petty officer -in charge of the prisoners. - -"March them down to the brig," he ordered. - -Sparnheim drew himself up, then indicated a younger man at his side. - -"Me? You know who I am. And this is Lieutenant Witz. When you send my -men to your brig, what do you do with us?" - -"We won't separate you," Dan assured him, with a smile. - -"I demand to know where you will send us. That is, if we are not to have -the freedom of the deck?" - -"You will both go to the brig with your men," Dalzell answered. - -"But we are officers and gentlemen!" cried Sparnheim, indignantly. - -"Gentlemen!" repeated Dan Dalzell, a world of irony in his tone. - -Then to the petty officer: - -"To the brig, with the whole lot of them!" - -Sparnheim struck at a sailor who took hold of his arm and the sailor -promptly felled him to the deck. - -"I am insulted and treated outrageously because I am helpless," yelled -the German, sitting on the deck. - -"I am sorry that violence was necessary," Dan replied, raising him to -his feet. "You have only to obey, and you will not be handled roughly." - -"I will not go to the brig with common sailors!" roared Sparnheim. - -"It is rough on the sailors," Dan agreed, "so I shall have to apologize -to your 'common sailors' and ask them to endure your company. If they -maltreat you, you can make complaint, you know." - -It required two husky sailors to drag Sparnheim below. Witz, who was -more tractable, went as ordered, head down, and eyes lowered. - -"The air is sweeter now that they're gone," Dan confided to his chum. - -"Much!" Dave agreed, dryly. - -Soon after that the last of the survivors from the sunken steamship were -picked up and made as comfortable as possible. - -It was not until the following morning that these survivors, and the -German prisoners as well, were transferred to an in-bound destroyer. - -Then the "Prince," with a farewell toot of her whistle to the destroyer, -turned her nose about and steamed off in search of such further -enterprise as the broad sea might hold in store for her. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -DAN STALKS A CAUTIOUS ENEMY - - -"Shall we escort you in?" - -It was the following morning, and the "Prince" was proceeding eastward. -An American destroyer, roaring along on her way, funnels belching clouds -of black smoke, her engines at full speed, her whole frame quivering, -sent this signal to the "Prince": - -"Do you wish convoy?" - -"No, thank you," Dan signalled back, as the destroyer slowed down for an -answer. "We can look out for ourselves." - -"You don't look it," came back the response. - -"We'll get in, all right," Dan replied by signal. - -"Sorry for you," came the reply. "Think we'd better stick by." - -"Confound him," muttered Dalzell. "He means well, but if he stands by us -he'll spoil our good chance of trapping some more of these submarines." - -"Ask him who commands," Darrin suggested. - -Dan ordered the question signalled. - -"Preston," came the reply. - -"We know him well enough," laughed Dave. "He was at Annapolis with us." - -Dan was now quick to see the point of Dave's original suggestion, for he -signalled: - -"Do you remember Dalzell?" - -"Danny Grin!" came the prompt response from the destroyer. - -"Yes; he commands this tub," Dan signalled back. - -"Oh!" came the comprehending signal from the destroyer. - -Then, after a brief interval: - -"Danny Grin could always laugh his way into luck. Good-bye, and -success!" - -"Thank you," Dan did not omit to signal back. "More of the same to you." - -The destroyer increased her speed and forged ahead, disappearing in the -distance. - -"He knew that Dan Dalzell could take care of himself," Dave declared. - -"At least," replied the "Prince's" commander, "he must have realized -that I had some game out here on the water that I didn't want spoiled." - -"Periscope astern, sir!" called a lookout two hours later. - -Dan's watch officer turned just in time to detect, with his glass, a -tube even then being withdrawn back into the water. - -"Twelve hundred yards astern, at least," he reported to Dalzell. "I -couldn't have picked it up without a glass, nor could the lookout." - -"Watch for a torpedo," Dan directed, "although I don't believe he'll try -at such a distance in his position." - -This guess proved correct, for the "Prince" continued on her way for -fully five minutes after that without further sign from the submarine. - -That very fact made Dalzell impatient. - -"Confound the Hun!" he growled. "If he won't try for me, then I'll coax -him!" - -Accordingly the "Prince's" engines were stopped. As soon as headway -ceased, the seeming tramp appeared to drift helplessly on the waves. -Dan's next move was to order men to run over the decks and the -superstructure as though making repairs. - -"Just what do you figure the Hun will think has happened to you?" Darrin -asked. - -"He'll have to do his own guessing," Dan rejoined. "I'm not going to -help him solve the puzzle. But surely something must have happened to -us." - -For a few minutes nothing was seen, in any quarter, of the enemy craft. -At last, however, a glimpse was caught of a periscope to starboard. - -"He's trying to figure us out," Dan chuckled. "I hope we don't look good -enough for him to waste a torpedo!" - -His hand at the engine-room telegraph, Dan waited, while Ensign Stark -watched that periscope through his glass. - -"There goes the periscope out of sight," announced the watch officer, -presently. - -A full ten minutes passed. Then sight of the periscope was picked up -once more, this time closer in. - -"You've got him guessing, at the least," Dave smiled. - -"Yes, but I'm still hoping he won't guess 'torpedo,'" was Dalzell's -response. "Stand by, gunners!" - -"There comes the conning tower," Stark announced. - -"He's going to gun us, then," Dan concluded. He waited, standing almost -on tiptoe, until the gray back of the sea monster thrust itself up -through the water. - -"Back with the ports! Let him have it, starboard battery!" Dan called to -the waiting naval gunners. - -Their officer had the range and all was ready. Two shells splashed in -the sea just short of the submersible, the third just beyond it. - -"Second round!" Dan bellowed from the bridge. - -Profiting by their margins of error the gunners this time fired so true -that one shell landed on the gray back forward, the other aft. The hits -were glancing, so the enemy was not put out of business. - -The next instant a puff of smoke left the enemy's forward gun. No bad -shooting, that, for the forward gun of the "Prince's" starboard battery -was promptly knocked from its mounting. Four men went down as the shell -exploded. - -"Two killed, sir!" came the swift report from the deck. The others, -wounded, were assisted below. The shell had done further damage, for a -big fragment had knocked to bits one of the sliding port doors. - -Dan signalled for speed ahead, swung around, and at the same time -ordered raised for instant work a machine gun that nestled in the bow of -the "Prince." - -"Let the enemy have it!" called Dalzell. - -Straight at the submarine Dan dashed, throwing the spray high around the -bows. The machine gunners, quickly getting sight, kept a steady stream -of bullets striking against the enemy's hull, despite the fact that the -range was constantly shifting. This keeping of the range was not -difficult when shots were fired continuously, for the enemy was near -enough for the officer in charge of the piece to tell by splashes of -water when any of the bullets went wild. - -"He won't dive now, but if he does, it will suit me just as well," Dan -chuckled. "That old hull must be a sieve now." - -Two torpedoes were discharged at the oncoming "Prince." One of these -missed the ship narrowly. The other struck, glancingly, on the port -side, forward, and disappeared without exploding. - -By now the submarine was doing some maneuvering of its own. Its forward -and after guns were discharged whenever possible, but the shells failed -to land, until the "Prince," still managing to keep on, was within three -hundred yards, and bent on ramming the enemy craft. - -Over the bridge screamed a shell, passing so close that Dan and Dave -ducked involuntarily. - -Crash! There was a ripping of metal, a black smudge of smoke soon -settling over everything, and the "Prince's" smokestack was gone, -clipped off within seven feet of the point where it emerged through the -deck. - -Then with a quick turn of the steering wheel the "Prince" was sent -crashing into the long, low, gray hull. From close to the water came the -yells of the Hun crew as they scrambled up through the conning tower -hatchway. - -On passed the "Prince," making a wide sweep and coming back again. The -submersible had already sunk from sight, leaving but few of her men -struggling on the surface of the water. - -By the time that the "Prince" had lowered a boat some of the Germans had -sunk. Only three men were rescued and hauled in. - -Lined up on the spar deck of the steamship these proved to be the -second-in-command and two seamen. - -"It's an outrage to deceive us in the manner that you did," angrily -declared the German officer, in English. - -"Take that matter up with the Assassins' Union," Dan jeered. "On this -cruise I've heard other German officers call it an outrage. It appears -to me that you Germans reserve the right to commit all the outrages." - -"Then you've met other submarines?" scowled the young officer. - -"This part of the sea must be pretty clear of the pests, at the rate -we've been going," Dan announced, cheerfully. "We had a lot of -prisoners, too, but you'll find the brig empty now, for we transferred -them." - -"The brig?" demanded the German officer. "What have I to do with that?" - -"It will be your lodging," Dan informed him. "Also your play yard." - -"I refuse to go there!" exclaimed the enemy officer, indignantly. - -"Oh, well, you'll be carried there, then," said Dalzell, carelessly. - -"But a ship's brig is no place to confine officers," the German went on, -heatedly. "As an officer I demand proper quarters." - -"Take them below," Dan ordered, briefly. - -For the first few steps the German officer had to be dragged. Then, -realizing the hopelessness of resistance, he yielded and walked along in -company with his seamen, though he called back: - -"I have helped to sink many ships, and trust that I may have had the -honor and pleasure of sending friends of yours to the bottom." - -Ignoring the fellow, Dan went back to the bridge, thence down to the -hurricane deck. Men were already engaged in removing the wreck of the -smashed smoke-stack. - -Emergency repairs were completed in due time, with materials kept on -board for such a case. - -And now, when he could safely run at full speed once more, if necessary, -Dalzell gave the order to proceed. He was about to go below, to the -wardroom for luncheon, when a radio operator came running to the bridge. - -As has been stated, the "Prince" carried a full radio outfit, that could -be installed rapidly, but Dan's orders had been to conceal all evidence -of radio equipment until absolutely necessary to use it. - -None the less, a small receiving station had been rigged up, and -concealed, so that, though Lieutenant-Commander Dalzell's sending radius -was short, he could receive messages from any quarter. - -The message at which he now glanced read: - -"S. S. 'Prince': Report." - -It had come in code, but Dan was able to translate it without reference -to his code book. - -Instantly, he gave orders to have the radio outfit erected, then -descended to his meal. - -Later one of the radio men reported that the equipment was in shape for -signalling. So the young commander sent in his report of work so far -accomplished to the destroyer base at the home port. - -"Excellent!" came back the hearty commendation. "Results better than -expected. But ruse will soon be known, so return and report. Darrin's -new orders will also be ready for him on arrival." - -"Home, James!" said Dan, jovially, to the officer of the deck, when he -had deciphered the coded instructions. - -That night he and Dave took an extra long sleep, though both remained -fully dressed, ready for summons at any moment. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -THE S. O. S. FROM THE "GRISWOLD" - - -"Belle on her way, and due soon to arrive!" Dave Darrin cried, joyously, -as he read the cablegram that had been handed to him on his arrival at -the American admiral's headquarters. - -That cablegram had lain there for days, having arrived the same forenoon -that Darrin had put to sea on the voyage of the "Prince" with Dalzell in -command. - -Belle was his wife, his schoolboy sweetheart, whom he had not seen in -many months. He had known that she was trying to induce the Red Cross -authorities to send her to France, but had had no word to the effect -that she had been successful. - -Now he knew, from the number by which the expected ship was designated -in the cablegram, that she was on the passenger liner "Griswold." - -"When is the 'Griswold' due?" Dave asked a clerk at headquarters. - -"Arrival date hasn't been reported," answered the clerk, "but it should -be in to-day. I've an idea, sir, that the 'Griswold' cannot be far out -now." - -"Your sailing orders, Darrin!" hailed a staff officer, walking briskly -up and holding out a bulky envelope. - -"Do I have a few days in port?" Dave inquired, hopefully. - -"Sorry to say that you do not. You are required to drop out with the -tide at four this afternoon." - -"Very good," nodded Dave, pleasantly, though he did deeply regret that -he could not have a few days in port. He must miss meeting Belle, who -was bound for this same port. - -"Your orders, too, Dalzell," continued the staff officer, handing Dan an -envelope of appearance similar to that which Darrin had received. - -"Sailing orders for to-day for me, too?" he grinned. - -"Same time as Darrin's," and the staff officer had hurried away. - -While the friends had been out on their last cruise two big, new -destroyers, lately commissioned, had arrived from the United States. - -To Darrin and Dalzell, in recognition of their fine work against -submarines, had fallen the commands of these new sea terrors. - -The "Asa Grigsby" was Dave's new craft; to Dan had fallen the "Joseph -Reed." - -Ordinarily Dave would have been glad of his fine new command and prompt -sailing orders. Now, he wished regretfully that he could have had a few -days ashore. That he might meet the "Griswold" at sea, of which there -was not more than half a chance, meant little to him. He would, in that -case, pass the ship on which Belle journeyed, but that would mean -nothing. - -"Oh, well, it's war-time," Dave sighed, when Dan expressed sympathy. "A -few years of war, you know, and then a man will have a chance to see his -home folks again, once in a while." - -"It's tough, that's what it is," answered Dan, sympathetically. - -"No, it isn't even that," Dave rejoined, quickly. "There are thousands -of men at sea on ships who may not see their wives again unless we chaps -do our duty all the time. There are scores of women on the sea whose -husbands will never see them again if we sleep or lag. The men of the -destroyer fleet have no right to think of their own pleasure or -convenience. I'm ready for sea, and I pray for a busy and successful -cruise against the enemy!" - -Only from the deck of the "Prince" had the two chums seen their new -craft. Now they went down the hill toward the harbor, ready to report -and take over their ships. - -It was the first time during the war that the two chums had sailed -separately. It was also Dan Dalzell's first regular command, for the -"Prince" had been handed over to him only on temporary detail. - -"We'll miss each other, Danny-boy," cried Dave, regretfully, as the -chums gripped each other's hands at the quay. "We've been used to -sailing together." - -"We can have a radio talk once in a while," Dan returned glumly. - -"Yes, but we're supposed to talk by radio only on official matters." - -"We can at least find out when we're near each other." - -After they had entered their respective gigs, and had started toward -their craft, the chums waved hands toward each other. - -Then Darrin, turning his thoughts to duty, tried to forget his -disappointment over his inability to meet Belle. - -Going up over the side of the "Grigsby," Dave was greeted by the watch -officer. Then his new executive officer, Lieutenant Fernald, reported to -him and greeted him. Dave's baggage was taken to the commanding -officer's quarters, and he followed to direct his new steward in the -unpacking. - -This done, Darrin went out on deck and ordered all officers and men -assembled that he might take over the command formally by reading the -orders assigning him to the "Grigsby." - -This formality over, Dave sent a messenger after one petty officer whom -he had observed in the crew. A boatswain's mate came promptly, saluted -and reported. - -"I noted your face, Runkle, and I'm glad indeed to see you on this -ship," Darrin informed him, heartily. - -"I'm glad to hear you say that, sir," replied Runkle, with another -salute. "I was ordered to this craft only this forenoon, sir." - -"Yes; I'm glad to have you aboard, Runkle, for I remember that I've had -some of my best luck when you were at hand. I think I shall have to -appoint you my personal mascot," Darry laughed. - -"I'll be that, or anything else that will serve, sir," Runkle declared, -gravely, his face flushing with pleasure over Dave's cordiality. - -"This is a fine new craft, Runkle." - -"Yes, sir; one of the two best destroyers that the United States has put -in commission since the war began. I'm eager, sir, to see the best that -the 'Grigsby' can do." - -"The best that the 'Grigsby' and her complement can do," Dave Darrin -amended. - -Then, accompanied by the executive officer, Darrin started on a tour of -inspection of the "Grigsby." - -"It seems a shame, doesn't it," Dave asked, "to think that a magnificent -craft like this, costing a huge fortune, can be destroyed in a moment by -contact with a single torpedo fired from some sneaking German -submarine." - -"But it seems just as good the other way, sir, to think that such a -craft as this can, perhaps, sink a dozen of the submarines before she -meets her own fate." - -"I never fully appreciated before this war what war to the hilt meant," -Dave went on, thoughtfully. "Of course I knew that it spelled 'death' -for many of the fighters, but it also means the destruction of so much -property, the ruining of so much material that the world needs for its -comfort! The world will be hard up, for a century to come, on account of -the waste of useful materials caused by this war's destructiveness." - -"But may the 'Grigsby' do her share of that destructive work!" said -Lieutenant Fernald, fervently. "The property that we destroy belongs to -those who would set the world back a thousand years!" - -"I'm afraid we must go on destroying enemy property, and our own, too, -in accomplishing harm to the enemy, Mr. Fernald. The more swiftly we -destroy, the sooner our struggles against the German madmen will be -ended!" - -All was in readiness to sail. Punctually to the minute the "Grigsby" and -the "Reed," with anchors up, began to move out of the harbor. Both had -their general orders as to the course to be followed, the length and -duration of the cruise, too, with discretion as to changing their orders -in emergencies such as might arise. - -Hardly had they put out from port when the "Grigsby" and the "Reed" -parted company. - -For the first hour Darrin, following orders, ran at full speed, then -slowed down to cruising speed. Night came upon the waters, with a -crescent moon off in the western sky. - -"And somewhere out on this wide waste, somewhere west of here, probably, -is the 'Griswold,' with Belle aboard. And, unless she has liberty to -remain in port, I shall not see her in months, perhaps, or maybe in -years." - -Dave put the thought aside. He was out again in the haunts of the -assassins of the sea; out, also, in the track of vessels bringing men -and supplies for the world's greatest fight. Disappointed as he was over -the impossibility of meeting Belle, he realized how small his own -affairs were as compared with the fate of the world. - -At midnight he went below, for he had confidence in the new junior -officers whom he had met to-day, and he wanted to be awake and on the -bridge again just before dawn. So, leaving orders for his calling, he -went below to his quarters. - -And there he slept, dreaming of Belle, undoubtedly, until an hour before -dawn, when an orderly entered hurriedly, shaking him hard by the -shoulder. - -"Message from liner 'Griswold,' sir, reports by radio that she has just -dodged torpedo fired by submarine that is still following." - -"The 'Griswold!'" echoed Darrin, awaking instantly and leaping to his -feet. "You're sure of the name?" - -"Yes, sir!" - -Dave pulled on rubber boots and snatched his cap and sheepskin coat. - -Then, a second orderly reported: - -"S. O. S. from 'Griswold', sir! Just struck and believed to be in -sinking condition!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -DAVE'S NIGHT OF AGONY - - -"The 'Griswold' sinking! And Belle on board!" hurried into Dave Darrin's -mind as he heard further details and learned that the stricken liner lay -twenty-five miles away, sou'-sou'-west from the "Grigsby's" present -position. - -He darted through the doorway and sprang for the bridge. - -"Full speed to the 'Griswold'!" he commanded as he darted up the bridge -stairs. - -But Ensign Weedon had already worked the engine-room telegraph, and -hardly had Dave rested two unsteady hands on the bridge rail when he -felt the dashing spray in his face, for the "Grigsby" was racing like a -hound just freed from its leash. - -"Heading straight to the position reported, sir," stated Ensign Weedon. - -Lieutenant Fernald, also summoned, came hurrying to the bridge a few -moments later. - -"Like as not some of our own friends are on the 'Griswold'," muttered -Fernald. "I understand she carries a large passenger list." - -"My wife is on board," answered Darrin with a calmness that he did not -feel. - -Fernald's face fell. - -"I'm sorry, Mr. Darrin. We'll do our best to reach the ship in time!" - -"Yes, we'll do our level best and go our fastest, just as we would hurry -to aid any other stricken ship," Darrin rejoined, steadily, though his -hands gripped the rail so tightly that they showed white at the -knuckles. - -Weedon had already wirelessed to the "Griswold" that help was coming -swiftly. Dalzell's craft, too, had picked up the radio messages telling -of the "Griswold's" desperate plight. Dan was thirty-two miles away from -the ship that bore Belle Darrin. - -Then from the "Griswold" came this message: - -"Listing so that cannot use bow or stern guns. Submarine risen and is -shelling us!" - -"The monsters!" groaned Dave, as Fernald, in an unsteady voice, read the -radio message to him. "Ask how long the 'Griswold' can keep afloat if -not hit further." - -This message was sent, bringing back the alarming word: - -"Cannot say, but submarine moving closer. Evidently determined to make -swift job of us." - -"And of course the German hears these messages!" groaned Dave. "He may -even have the key to our code with commercial ships. He will now do his -best and quickest to send the liner to the bottom!" - -Ten minutes later this came in by way of the "Grigsby's" aerials: - -"S. O. S.! Taking to our boats on starboard side. Enemy on our port! S. -O. S. 'Griswold'." - -"And we are still fifteen miles away!" moaned Dave. - -His face was calm, but ghastly white. His lips were tightly closed over -firmly set jaws. "Fifteen miles away!" - -"The turbines are doing every ounce of work that is in them," said -Lieutenant Fernald, in a low voice. - -"I know it," Dave answered dully, staring ahead into the night. "And -Dalzell will be even longer than we in reaching the 'Griswold'." - -"If you could tell the captain of the 'Griswold' how long it will take -you to reach him, he might know better what to do--how to hold out more -successfully," suggested Fernald. - -"And, if the German knows the code we are using he would know how long -he could continue his wicked work and still have chance to get away," -Darrin replied. "I must not send him that information. Fernald, I have -some hope that I may be able to find that German pirate still on the -surface. If I do--" - -Darrin did not finish, but on his face there was an expression that was -both prayer and threat. - -The watch officer counted the miles as they were reeled off and told -Dave, from time to time, how many miles yet remained to be covered. - -On the bridge were screened lights--one over the bridge compass, that the -quartermaster might see to keep the ship on her course; another light -placed under the hood that protected the chart table. - -No other light appeared, and no light whatever could have been made out -on the destroyer by any one from a near-by craft. - -The minutes ticked slowly by--eternities they were to Dave Darrin. - -Nearer and nearer, every minute, yet was there hope of arriving in time? - -"By--by Jove!" cried Fernald, at last, under his breath. - -"I see it," Dave replied quietly. "And there is another--flashes from the -German craft's deck guns. We see them on account of the elevation of the -guns, though we do not yet see the German hull through the glass." - -"I can make out the 'Griswold'," Fernald exclaimed. "Over there! See -her, yonder? She is low in the water." - -"Yes; she must soon sink, or I am a poor guesser," Dave rejoined. "Look, -Fernald! Isn't the liner lowering her port boats now?" - -"Yes, sir, and shoving rafts over, too." - -"The rafts? Ah, yes! Near the finish now, and the 'Griswold's' skipper -has given up hope of our help. Putting the rafts overboard is always the -first step in a wreck." - -Though hoping against hope, Fernald telephoned the engine room, urging -the engineer to try to get a little more speed from the engines. The -chief engineer officer, himself in charge below, did his best. Billows -of black smoke hung over the water astern. Bit by bit the straining -engines provided more, and then a little more speed. - -If it were but daylight! Men stood by the "Grigsby's" guns, ready to -fire at the word--to sight by guess, should the lieutenant-commander on -the bridge call for it. Dave might have thrown on the searchlight. -Should the white ribbon of light appear now, while still so far away, -the German commander would know how soon to submerge. - -And Dave Darrin wanted the lives of those Germans! He was not -blood-thirsty, and heretofore had fought because it was his duty to -fight. Now he HATED these German fiends! If he could send fifty of them -to the bottom, that would be excellent. If he could drown a hundred of -the Hun pirates, that would be fine! To send a thousand of them to the -bottom of the Atlantic Ocean--that would be something worth while! - -But to send that beam of clear white light across the ocean--to signal -the German commander, in effect, the word "Dive!"--that would be -criminal. - -"Fernald!" cried Dave, hoarsely. - -"Sir?" - -"Can you make out the enemy hull?" - -"No, sir." - -"Try!" - -"I cannot make it out yet, sir," replied Lieutenant Fernald, lowering -the glass from his eyes. "But look--the first streaks of dawn are behind -us." - -"That will be of no assistance for ten minutes or more," answered Dave. -"Ten minutes! It will all be over then. Look at that flash from the -scoundrel's gun!" - -The German was now shelling the boats that were trying to slip away in -the darkness. Next, undoubtedly, the Hun would begin firing on the -rafts, which could move little faster than the waves that slipped them -along. - -"Never again any mercy to a pirate! Not one surrender will I accept -after this! All Germans who fall into my clutches shall go to the -bottom!" - -Lieutenant Fernald turned his head aside to hide a bitter smile. He did -not blame Dave; his heart ached for that gallant young commander. Yet -well enough Fernald knew that Darrin would never, once his rage had -passed, sink a helpless foe, no matter how much he despised the wretch. - -They could now, through the night glass, make out a German sailor who -stood forward on the submarine's hull, a lookout, doubtless scanning the -dark lines of the destroyer rushing to the rescue. It must be that -lookout's business to try to judge the distance of the destroyer, that -the submersible might remain on the surface long enough to wreak all -possible havoc on the lifeboats. Then, at the last moment, the submarine -would submerge, that its commander, crew and craft might survive to -assassinate ships' companies on another day! - -"He knows I won't use my searchlight--he's daring me!" muttered Dave, -savagely. "But, by the great Dewey! I'll use that light in thirty -seconds more. Fernald, tell me when the time is up!" - -Dave's next word was passed to the officer in command of the forward -guns, and by that officer to the skilled, cool gun-pointers. - -None except Darrin, Fernald and the watch officer knew that Belle Darrin -was a passenger on the ill-fated "Griswold." - -"Let your first shots set this craft's record!" was the division -officer's quiet command to the gun-pointers. - -No message could have been more inspiring to these veterans, on a new -ship, knowing that she was one of the best of the destroyer fleet. - -The "Grigsby" came rushing, roaring in, and then, slowing down, went -close to the foremost of the boats from the sinking liner. - -From the submarine a shell arched and struck in that boat, tearing out -the bottom and throwing the occupants into the sea. - -"Searchlight!" commanded Darrin. - -Hardly a second did the light waver in the sky, then settled down across -the submarine, making a fair mark of her. - -A double bark leaped out from the forward guns. Never had pieces been -better served, for one shell tore a big, jagged hole in the starboard -hull of the enemy, the bottom of the rent being barely six inches from -the water. The second shell went in just below the water-line, throwing -up a geyser-like jet of water. - -"A just fate, but a pity it could not have been made ten times more -severe," muttered Dave, as, through the glass, he saw the submersible -careen under the impact, with a swift listing to starboard. - -There was no use bothering further about the fate of the enemy. That was -already settled. There were travelers, many of them Americans, to be -saved as far as saving could be done. - -As though to keep the submersible mocking company, the "Griswold" gave a -final lurch, then settled quietly under the waves despite the immensity -of her hull. - -"Put around to port--back!" shouted Darrin, his voice now cool and steady -as the realization of his rescue duties came to him. "Slow," he added, -warningly. "We must be careful not to upset those boats with our wash." - -After making the turn, Darrin ordered the speed reduced still more, as -he saw human figures ahead on the dark waves--some swimming, others -floating in death. - -Not waiting for the order the searchlight men deflected the light, -sending a beam out across the waters as the "Grigsby," moving slowly -enough now, steamed along to one side of the forms in the water. Other -seamen, at the edge of the slippery deck, stood by to heave lines to -those who could grasp them. - -The light, as it rested upon the water at a point seventy-five yards -from the destroyer, revealed a woman's features. - -Dave gave a start, rubbing his eyes as though sure he was the victim of -some hideous illusion. - -His eyesight was excellent; there could be no mistaking. - -"Belle!" burst from him, in a convulsive sob. - -Before those with him could divine his purpose, Dave Darrin leaped from -the bridge to the deck below. - -An agonized moment he devoted to the removing of cumbersome rubber -boots. Less than half as much time was required to throw off cap and -coat. Then bounding forward, he leaped and sprang out, his clasped hands -cleaving the water ahead of him as he struck through the waves. - -Another splash, half a second later. But Darrin did not know that -another swam behind him. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -THE FIGHT TO BRING BELLE BACK - - -It had really been Belle's white, motionless face that had floated by. -She had been in the boat Dave saw shattered by the shell. - -Nor did Darrin once lose sight of her as he struck out fiercely until, -when he was within fifteen feet of his goal, Belle sank without cry or -voluntary movement. - -Darrin made a great lunge forward and dived. He was seeking her, -desperately! - -Behind came that other swimming figure. - -So true had been the aim of Darrin's lunging leap forward, that now, as -he went deeper, one of his hands touched her. He seized Belle and shot -up to the surface. - -"A hand right here, sir!" sounded the cheery, enthusiastic voice of -Boatswain's Mate Runkle. "Let me help you, sir." - -Of a truth Dave was in need of help. His emotion had spent him more than -the mere physical effort had done. He felt limp, weak, but the infection -of Runkle's cheerful, cool tone made Dave once more master of himself. - -"Take it easy, sir," advised the boatswain's mate. "They're lowering a -boat." - -"Can you see the boat?" - -"No, sir." - -"Hear it?" - -"No, sir." - -"Then how do you know--" - -"I know an American man-o'-war's crew, sir. They wouldn't be doing -anything else. All we have to do, sir, is to keep her afloat. I'll stake -my soul on that, sir." - -And then Dave did see a boat come into view, and heard the sturdy splash -of oars--heard the coxwain's brisk orders. - -So weak was Dave that he almost wished to clasp Belle to him that they -might sink together and be at rest. To take her from the water only to -lay her in a grave on shore--what did it really matter after all? And for -himself--what? - -"Stand by, bowman there!" rapped out the coxwain's voice, as the small -boat shot along under rapid headway. "The boat-hook! The woman first!" - -Deftly the hook was caught in Belle's soaked garments. - -"And now the skipper!" called Runkle, who had transferred his support to -Dave Darrin. "As for me, stand clear! I'll pull myself aboard." - -Other boats came out from the destroyer. These, with the numerous boats -from the sunken liner and a number of rafts that dotted the water, all -had to be collected. The "Grigsby's" whistle broke hoarsely on the air, -calling them in. - -The boat that carried Darrin and Belle was the first to reach the -destroyer. Dave bore his wife up over the side. - -"I shall take her to my quarters," he informed Lieutenant Fernald. "See -that the surgeon is sent there at once. Runkle, you are all right?" - -"Never more so, sir," replied the boatswain's mate. - -"Go below and put on dry clothing." - -Dave staggered along with his precious burden into his own quarters, -which he never used on a patrolling cruise. He laid Belle tenderly on -his bunk and called up the bridge. - -"Mr. Fernald, are the passengers from the 'Griswold' being taken -aboard?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Any women among them?" - -"Several, sir." - -"Some that do not require attention themselves and can lend a hand -here?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Then will you find two who will volunteer to come here, and ask them to -do so immediately?" - -"At once, sir." - -By the time that Darrin had hung up the instrument, Hunter, the ship's -medical officer, had reached the doorway. He came in and bent over the -figure on the berth. - -"Not a chance," he said, briefly. "Drowned. But I do not believe, -Darrin, that she suffered. There was a shock--" - -"Shock?" Dave Darrin repeated. "Yes--a shell exploded in her boat." - -"I do not believe she was wounded," went on Hunter. "It must have been -the shock. She probably collapsed from the force of the explosion, and -the water did the rest." - -A messenger knocked at the doorway, then introduced two middle-aged -women, who stepped inside promptly. - -"You will do something, of course, Hunter?" Dave queried. "You will -attempt resuscitation--you will try to revive her?" - -"I'll try, of course," replied the medical man, dubiously. "Yes. I will -work like a fiend, Darrin. Sometimes a spark of life lingers. But do not -hope!" - -"I shall be in the corridor outside," Dave answered quietly. "Call me -when--" - -Dry-eyed, but utterly haggard, Darrin stepped out into the passageway. -He couldn't quite believe what had happened--didn't, in fact. It must be -a dream, but soon there would be an awakening! - -To his dazed mind the time did not seem long. Inside, he could hear -low-voiced directions, and once he heard Hunter say: - -"That much water off her lungs, anyway. My guess was right. She must -have swallowed a good deal." - -Then he heard Hunter using the telephone. Not long afterward a hospital -man came hurrying from the sick-bay with two bags, and vanished into the -cabin with them, coming out at once. - -Another interval, and then Darrin was called into his cabin. In the -meantime, with the help of his steward, he had changed his own clothes. - -"Any hope?" he asked, in a low voice. - -"There's a barest trace of pulse," the ship's surgeon replied, "but I do -not believe it will last. I'm sorry. I'm doing everything that can -possibly be done." - -"I'm sure you are, Hunter," Dave replied. - -Belle, whom the women had disrobed and rubbed, was now covered with -blankets. One of the women, with a hand under the blankets, was applying -a battery current. - -Dave stepped forward, taking a long look at the white face and the -closed eyes. Not even his hopes could conjure up the belief that a spark -of life remained that could be fanned into renewed existence. - -Still it was not real! Belle's spirit had not flown and left him. -Hunter, eyeing his commanding officer for an instant, read his mind; he -understood and felt a great surge of sympathy for Darrin. - -"Poor chap!" murmured the medico. "It will be all the harder when he -really does come to himself!" - -A glance downward at his uniform reminded Dave that he was still an -officer, that hundreds of people had been close to death, that some -undoubtedly had perished, and that he could not neglect his sworn -duties. - -Stepping to the telephone that connected with the bridge, he heard -himself answered by the voice of his executive officer. - -"Am I needed, Fernald?" he asked. - -"No, sir. We're still taking the rescued on board, but there is nothing -you could do that is not being done by the rest of us. Any good news -with you, sir?" - -"Not yet, but there will be," Dave answered. "Thank you." - -Then he glanced back toward the berth, to see that Dr. Hunter had -prepared some liquid medicine that he was now trying to force between -Belle's lips. He stepped over beside the berth and watched. - -"There! She'll soon speak to us," Dave declared, as he saw Belle's -eyelids flutter almost imperceptibly, and heard the faintest kind of a -sigh. - -Hunter, who knew that Life and Death were fighting, with Death going -strong, did not reply, but stood with eyes fixed on the patient's face. -He did not look for her to become conscious enough to speak. - -Two or three minutes dragged miserably by. The surgeon dreaded to -pronounce the words which he felt must soon be said. One of the women -was still applying the battery current, the other chafing Belle's left -wrist and arm. Hunter placed his stethoscope to her chest and listened, -his face wholly grave. - -There was another faint flutter of the lids, another faint sigh. - -"You'll soon speak to me, won't you, Belle?" Dave urged, quietly, but in -that silent cabin his every word was distinct. - -"Shall I apply the battery to another part of the body, Doctor?" asked -one of the women after a few minutes. - -"One part will do as well as another," Hunter answered, in a very low -voice. The woman understood, but she said no word, gave no sign, but -went on with her task. - -"Come, Belle," spoke Dave, now with an effort at cheeriness of tone, -"we're losing a lot of time, little girl." - -This time there was a somewhat more pronounced fluttering of the lids. -Then came a sigh that sounded like a catching of the breath. - -"Say!" murmured Hunter, in the awe of a new discovery. "That's the thing -to do, Darrin! Go on talking to her. I believe that she knows, that your -voice reaches her subconsciously. Talk, man, talk! But easily." - -So Darrin, with a hand resting with a feather's weight on Belle's pallid -forehead, went on speaking. It made little difference what he said, but -every word was cheery, tender. - -At last there came a longer flutter, a quicker, deeper sigh. Belle -fought with her eyelids, then parted them, gazing vacantly until she saw -Darrin's bronzed face. - -"All right now, Belle, aren't you?" he called to her. "An all-right -little girl again?" - -"Dave--my--lad!" - -The whisper came so low that only Darrin heard it. But Hunter lost -nothing of the scene. His hand was on Belle's pulse. - -"Go on talking to her," he whispered. "That's the right medicine." - -So Dave continued, as cheerily as before. Belle Darrin could not follow -all that he said. There was a trace of bewilderment in her eyes. The -lids still fluttered, although she now breathed regularly even if low. - -"That's all, sir. Now step outside until you're called," Hunter ordered, -with the air of a man who has learned something new and who means to -claim all the credit. - -Without a word of protest Dave turned, pushed aside the curtain and -stepped outside into the passage. - -"How is she?" whispered a familiar voice. - -"Dan!" - -"I came over as soon as I got word. The passengers have been rescued in -great shape. But how is Belle?" - -"Weak, but she's going to mend all right--thank heaven!" - -Their hands gripped. - -"I was greatly worried," Dan confessed in a low tone. - -"Hang it all," Darrin admitted, a new joy in his own low tones, "I -believe I would have been worried to death if I had realized how all the -chances were against me. But I felt as though such a thing as Belle's -death couldn't be--and so it didn't happen." - -"You're not talking very straight, chum, but I understand you," Dan -nodded. - -"And now, as to our duties," Dave went on. "Fernald assured me he could -attend to everything, and I knew that of course he could. So I let him. -Were any of the 'Griswold's' passengers lost? Yes, of course some must -have been, for I saw the shell strike in that boat--the one Belle was -in." - -"Three were killed by the exploding shell, and you have two on board who -were wounded by fragments. Two more were drowned--probably because the -shock stunned them and left them helpless in the water." - -"And I have been keeping Hunter with Belle all this time!" Dave uttered, -rather shamefacedly. "I must call him. Perhaps he can revive the two who -seemed to be drowned. Besides, some of the others need assistance." - -"Not a chance of it," Dan continued. "I've had my own medico and two -sick-bay men working over the cases. Both patients are dead. And there -are others missing. Your executive officer is having lists made. -Fortunately the 'Griswold's' crew and passenger lists were saved. Your -ship and mine have on board all who were picked up. Fernald should soon -know just who were lost." - -So Hunter and the two women remained with Belle Darrin. Half an hour -later Dave was called back into the cabin. Dan, who had remained with -him all this time, still stayed outside. - -"I'm going to be all right, Dave, as you can see for yourself," Belle -smiled, brightly, though her voice was but little above a whisper. "So -you got me out of the water yourself? They have told me that much." - -"You're all right again, little girl, but you must gain a lot of -strength," Dave answered, joyously. "I see old Hunter looking at me -frowningly this minute--" - -"I wasn't," interrupted the ship's surgeon, "but you have the right -idea, anyway. Mrs. Darrin is going to need sleep now, and then something -light and nourishing to eat. So you'd better return to your duties, sir, -and look me up later in the evening." - -"Good little girl!" Dave whispered, bending over and kissing Belle on -the forehead. "I knew you'd finish your cruise all right. Now, I'm going -to obey the surgeon's orders. I'll come back at the very earliest moment -that I'm allowed to do so." - -Outside he thrust an arm gaily under Dalzell's, and in this fashion the -two chums walked briskly to the deck and bridge. They were soon busy -with the figures of the day's work. Between them, the "Grigsby" and the -"Reed" had picked up nearly two hundred and fifty persons. Both craft -were crowded. Five bodies had been recovered from the water, and about -fifteen more people were listed as missing, though every effort had been -made to discover more of those who were missing. - -"I hate to think what would happen," muttered Dalzell, "if an enemy -submarine were to get between our two craft and let us have it right -now--a strike against each of our ships!" - -Right at that instant there came to their ears the jarring hail: - -"'Ware torpedo! Headed starboard--amidships!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -CONCLUSION - - -Dave did not glance for the tell-tale torpedo trail. His hand signalled -the engine-room for fullest speed. His voice gave the order for the -sweeping turn that the "Grigsby" quickly made. - -A few breathless seconds. The destroyer turned, then swung her stern -again. - -The "Grigsby" leaped forward, her bow aimed at the slender shaft of a -periscope that lay in outline against the water. - -Yonder, half a mile away, the "Reed" had executed a similar movement. -The two destroyers were racing toward each other, each bent on ramming -the new monster that had appeared between them. But Dave did not forget -his forward guns. - -Springing from the bridge he himself took station behind one of the guns -just as the breech was closed on a load. - -"I haven't yet sighted a gun on this ship," he announced, coolly. "I -want to see what I can do." - -Seldom had a piece been aimed more quickly on any naval craft. Darrin -fell back as the piece was fired. He had aimed to strike under water at -the base of that periscope. This had seemed the best chance, though he -knew the power of water in deflecting a shell aimed through it. - -"A hit!" cried an ensign, as he beheld the periscope itself waver, then -stand nearly straight before it was hauled swiftly in. - -"A hit--a good one!" came the signal from the "Reed." - -"I believe we did smash the hound!" chuckled Darrin, leaning forward and -taking the glass that was placed at his hand. - -"Yes, sir. I can make out the oil patch ahead." - -With the glass to his eyes Darrin confirmed this report. - -"That was unusual luck," he said, coolly. - -"Unusual shooting, I'd say, sir," voiced the ensign. - -"It's over, anyway, with that Hun pirate," declared Darrin. He ordered -the course changed as soon as Dan left for his own ship. Then he went to -the radio room to dictate a message to American naval headquarters at -the home port. That message told of the rescue of all but a score of the -crew and passengers from the sunken "Griswold," and also of the now -crowded condition of both destroyers. - -Within fifteen minutes the orders from shore arrived, in this form: - -"Come in with rescued passengers and crew. Commanding officers of -'Grigsby' and 'Reed' directed report for new orders." - -If Dave was anxious to have Belle safe on shore, the jackies on the two -craft were hardly less eager to put all the civilians ashore as soon as -possible, that the ships' crews might once more have elbow room. - -It was not until evening that port was made. On the trip Dave Darrin -barely left the bridge, but remained on duty hour after hour, refusing -to close his eyes. He would take no chances whatever with this most -precious cargo of men and women. - -By the time that the destroyer had reached moorings, Belle was able to -go up on deck, on Dave's arm. He took her ashore at once, placed her in -a hotel, and arranged for medical attendance to be summoned if needed. -And Runkle, with shore leave for the night, insisted on remaining in the -hotel, where he could be called at any instant when Mrs. Darrin might -need anything that he could do for her. - -Though the flag lieutenant was present at the interview which followed -at naval headquarters, it was the admiral himself who received Dave and -Dan. - -"You report more good luck--fine management, too!" cried the admiral, his -face beaming. "You two officers do not seem to be able to put to sea -without running into the sort of doings that make fine reading in the -newspapers at home. You have made wonderful drives against the -submarines, but your nerves must be well gone to pieces by this time." - -"No, sir," Darrin replied. "I'm ready for new sailing orders to-night." - -"You won't get them," the admiral retorted, bluntly. "Mr. Darrin, your -wife, and ill at that, is ashore, I am informed. She was one of your -rescued ones to-day." - -"Yes, sir." - -"Is she wholly recovered?" - -"She will be, by morning, sir." - -"And you are professing willingness to go on board and start with new -sea orders to-night!" - -"In war time, sir, I must think only of my work," Dave answered. - -For a few moments the admiral sat there, regarding both young officers -keenly. - -"You're splendid fellows, both of you," the older man said, at last. "So -good, in fact, that you're soon to be moved from these waters." - -Darrin bowed, and so did Dalzell, but neither asked questions. - -"A ranking British naval officer told me, this afternoon," continued the -admiral, "that he felt the British admiralty could well afford to trade -its best battleship for the services of two such officers as you young -gentlemen." - -"Are we to be turned over to join the British, sir?" asked Dave, a look -of alarm in his bronzed face. "To serve in the British Navy?" - -"Would you accept such an assignment?" queried the admiral. - -Dave glanced swiftly at his chum before he replied for both: - -"Sir, we'd go anywhere, perform any duty, under any flag, and under any -conditions, at the request of our own Government," Darrin answered. "We -do not belong to ourselves, but to the United States, and, through our -Government, to any nation on earth to which our Government should wish -to transfer us. At the same time, our choice would naturally be for -service in our own American Navy." - -"And that is just where it is going to be--with your own crowd," smiled -the admiral. "You will also command the same craft on which you came in -this evening. But you will be changed to other waters, and you will have -a somewhat different line of duty--a more dangerous line, in many ways, I -may add. But the British Admiralty, in making a request of me, specified -distinctly that it trusted I would be able to detail you two young -officers to the work. That new work, as I just said, will also be in -other waters." - -The admiral paused for a moment, but presently went on to say: - -"The new duty to which you are to be detailed was known to me some time -ago. That was why you were ordered to your present new commands. We -wanted you to try out both destroyers, that you might know all their -capabilities. Even had you struck no fresh adventures you would have -been recalled by to-morrow. But you know your craft now, and each of you -has tested out and learned his junior officers, and now you are surely -in readiness for your new field of work." - -"However, there are some slight but necessary changes to be made in the -'Grigsby' and the 'Reed' before they will be ready for their new work. -To-morrow a naval constructor will go aboard each of your ships and take -charge of the alterations to be made and the new equipment to be -installed. For that reason you will both be able to spend the greater -part of your time on shore during the coming week." - -Within the next few minutes the admiral detailed to the delighted young -officers the nature of the new work that was to be required of them. It -was as dangerous as he had stated. It would also call for their tireless -attention night and day. The admiral, however, could not daunt them. -Work and danger are the corner-stones of successful war, and the eyes of -the young naval officers shone as they saw the fullness of their new -opportunity to serve. - -"I shall be glad to receive my final orders, sir, at any hour, night or -day," Dave Darrin announced, as he rose. - -"And I shall be, also, sir," Dalzell promptly added. - -"A week's rest, anyway, will make you both keener and better fitted for -the big job you've ahead of you. Gentlemen, my heartiest congratulations -for your work during the last few weeks. You will do even better on your -next cruise. Good-night, gentlemen." - -Back to the hotel they went. Belle was now able to chat with them, -though she preferred to sit back in a big chair and to listen to their -own modest accounts of what they had seen and done during the latest -thrilling weeks in their lives. - -The next day Belle was able to go out with her husband. After that she -mended rapidly. - -All too soon the period of rest and delightful recreation ended. Belle -went on to her Red Cross work in France, and the orders came for which -both these young naval officers were so eagerly waiting. - -But what these orders were, and into what new fields of fighting it led -the two naval chums, must be reserved for the next volume of this -series, which will be published under the title: "Dave Darrin After the -Mine Layers; or Hitting the Enemy a Hard Naval Blow." - -In this splendid new volume the newest developments of sea fighting in -the late war will be set forth with a fidelity and compelling interest -that will hold the attention of every reader. - -THE END - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dave Darrin and the German Submarines, by -H. 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Irving Hancock - -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: Dave Darrin and the German Submarines - Making a Clean-up of the Hun Sea Monsters - -Author: H. Irving Hancock - -Release Date: December 15, 2012 [EBook #41628] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUBMARINES *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41628 ***</div> <div id="header"> <h1 class="title">Dave Darrin and the German Submarines</h1> @@ -2051,381 +2014,6 @@ Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net <p>In this splendid new volume the newest developments of sea fighting in the late war will be set forth with a fidelity and compelling interest that will hold the attention of every reader.</p> <p class='center'>THE END</p> - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dave Darrin and the German Submarines, by -H. 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Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41628 ***</div> </body> </html> diff --git a/41628.txt b/41628.txt deleted file mode 100644 index aa17819..0000000 --- a/41628.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7248 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dave Darrin and the German Submarines, by -H. Irving Hancock - -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: Dave Darrin and the German Submarines - Making a Clean-up of the Hun Sea Monsters - -Author: H. Irving Hancock - -Release Date: December 15, 2012 [EBook #41628] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUBMARINES *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: A folded piece of paper.] - - - - -DAVE DARRIN AND THE GERMAN SUBMARINES - -OR - -MAKING A CLEAN-UP OF THE HUN SEA MONSTERS - -By - -H. IRVING HANCOCK - -Author of "Dave Darrin at Vera Cruz," "Dave Darrin on Mediterranean -Service," "Dave Darrin's South American Cruise," "Dave Darrin After -the Mine Layers," etc., etc. - -Illustrated - -THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY Akron, Ohio New York - -Made in U. S. A. - - - - -Copyright MCMXIX - -By THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY - - - - -CONTENTS - -CHAPTER I--ON THE SEA PATROL - - On the prowl at sea. Dan takes the rest cure. Dave springs a new trap - for submarines. The enemy's alarm clock. "Searchlight men, stand - ready!" A shell-made geyser. The sea duel. A submarine finish. "Wasted - humanity." Orders by wireless. Shore leave. Mr. Matthews of Chicago. - With the British sea-dog. - -CHAPTER II--THE MEETING WITH A PIRATE - - Dan has forebodings. "'Ware torpedo!" Dan's "forty winks" end. "All - hands to abandon ship!" How the trick worked. A wonderful job. The - loiterer at the radio room door. "I'll keep my eye on you." - -CHAPTER III--QUICK "DOINGS" OVER THE SHOAL - - Fisherman's Shoal. The bubble trail. "Over with the 'buoy'!" The - driver's job. "Come up, or take a bomb!" Talking with the Pirate. A - face seen before. Bechtold does some German lying. Poison vapors. - Mystery in a berth. Bechtold's grab. - -CHAPTER IV--THE TRAIL TO STRANGE NEWS - - Fortune is partial to the bold. A hot burn with acid. Saving words - from a wreck. Use for a prize crew. Bechtold bluffs. Dave unfolds the - coming fate of the prisoner. That ugly word, "spy." "War breeds savage - ideas." - -CHAPTER V--DAVE TALKS OUT IN COUNCIL - - The sheet that Dave saved. The drive against the troopships. "Sixty - submarines!" Dave has the floor at naval headquarters. "I will stake - my soul!" "Darrin, I wish we had you in our navy!" Three big cheers. - Danny Grin feels proud. - -CHAPTER VI--THE GLOWWORM OF THE SEA - - Looking for the 117th Division afloat. Dave's extra nap. The row at - the stern. The glow on the sea. The lie passed. Ensign Phelps picks up - the mystery. The chart-room conference. The work of a spy. "A traitor - on board!" - -CHAPTER VII--DARRIN HAS A SPY SCARE - - Dave quizzes the accused. Ferguson's turn on the rack. The search for - evidence. "Have we spies on the 'Logan'?" - -CHAPTER VIII--THE BATTLE FOR THE TROOPSHIP FLEET - - On board the troopship fleet. Torpedo talk. "Keep your hair from - turning gray before you reach the trenches." No clues or traces yet. - The minute of signals. Vanguard of troopship fleet. Dave swerves for - battle. "Let go the depth bomb!" - -CHAPTER IX--WHEN THE ENEMY SCORED - - The soldiers feel better. "They can't hit us." "They've got us!" The - start of a panic. Destroyers scurry to save. The biggest submarine - fight of all. Big guns roar. - -CHAPTER X--THE HOTTEST WORK OF ALL - - In Periscope Lane. Shooting of the good old kind. Clean work. Dave - Darrin's lucky time. "Hit is the right word." Machine guns turn loose. - Playing upon the Hun gun-crew. Beatty's luck changes. - -CHAPTER XI--A TRAP AND ITS PREY - - Turning turtle. "They're only Huns." The fighting storm clears. - Listing the survivors. Extent of the American losses. Dan has some - questions. Dave plans a ruse. Reardon and the marine. Jordan steps - into the trap. - -CHAPTER XII--DAVE HUNTS A BIGGER FIGHT - - Blind man's buff on the waves. Judged by the goods delivered. Making - the best of the unknown. The opening gun. The real fight looms ahead. - -CHAPTER XIII--A BATTLE TRY-OUT FOR SOULS - - The snap-shooting period. Zigzagging for life. A crazy marine waltz. - The "Logan" turns special hunter. Dave can't get 'em all. "Specks" in - the sky. - -CHAPTER XIV--TEAM WORK BETWEEN SKY AND WATER - - The "blimps" arrive. One of them makes a hit and helps Dave to one. - The "Logan's" guns din out. Through the sea of wreckage. Runkle tells - a tale. The accused spy denies. Dan has his "step," too. How spies are - handled in Britain. - -CHAPTER XV--DAN'S TURN TO GRIN - - Not a word about the "Prince." Darry is puzzled. "Unmask!" Dalzell - grins broadly. Dave thinks he's dreaming. A warship or a floating - dry-goods box? - -CHAPTER XVI--ABOARD THE MYSTERY SHIP - - "Is this a masquerade?" Dan is wrong. Dave in his disguise. "Rubber!" - Where did the laugh come in? Real mystery enough. "And the ladies--?" - Dave gives it up. Then he doesn't. - -CHAPTER XVII--THE HUMOROUS ADVENTURE - - "Abandon ship!" The strangest of war crews. Heinie von Sub moves - closer. "Open ports!" The trapper trapped. "Give them a chance." - "Chermany is Chermany." The whole German story. - -CHAPTER XVIII--DANNY GRIN PROVES HIS METTLE - - The new wheat ship. "Do you begin to see the joke?" Guns at work in - the night. The one-sided fight. Cowardly hounds. Dan loads his - strategy. A great game. The German brand of treachery. Beating Hun - team work with an American single. "Win or sink!" - -CHAPTER XIX--A GERMAN VIEW OF SUBMARINES - - Dan is glad at last. Sparnheim hears a lecture. Then faces an angry - woman. "Don't touch such a beast!" What long life means to a pirate - captain. Sparnheim is "insulted." - -CHAPTER XX--DAN STALKS A CAUTIOUS ENEMY - - Making the enemy guess. Result of Dan's trick. "He's going to gun us!" - Dan loses men and a gun. "An outrage!" cries the German. "Report." - "Home, James!" - -CHAPTER XXI--THE S. O. S. FROM THE "GRISWOLD" - - Dave's best good news. New ships for two. Bad news, it turns out. - Runkle is on hand. The chums part company. S. O. S.! The "Griswold" - attacked. - -CHAPTER XXII--DAVE'S NIGHT OF AGONY - - News of the toughest kind. Flashes from German guns. Dave plans his - own attack. "Never again any mercy to a pirate!" "Belle!" Splash! - -CHAPTER XXIII--THE FIGHT TO BRING BELLE BACK - - Runkle helps valiantly. The still, white face. The surgeon shakes his - head. "She did not suffer." Darry refuses to wake up. Dan at his - chum's side. The fight for Belle's life. "'Ware torpedo!" - -CHAPTER XXIV--CONCLUSION - - - - -DAVE DARRIN AND THE GERMAN SUBMARINES - - - - -CHAPTER I - -ON THE SEA PATROL - - -"Anything sighted?" called Lieutenant-Commander Dave Darrin as he -stepped briskly from the little chart-room back of the wheel-house and -turned his face toward the bridge. - -"Nothing, sir, all afternoon," responded Lieutenant Dan Dalzell from the -bridge. - -Dave ran lightly up the steps, returning, as he reached the bridge, the -salutes of Dalzell, executive officer, and of Ensign Phelps, officer of -the deck. - -"It's been a dull afternoon, then?" queried Darrin, his eyes viewing the -sea, whose waters rose and fell in gentle swells. - -No land was in sight from the bridge of the United States torpedo boat -destroyer, "John J. Logan," which was moving at cruising speed westerly -from the coast of Ireland. The course lay through the "Danger Zone" -created by the presence of unknown numbers of hidden German submarines. - -For a winter day the weather had been warm. Forward the two men of the -bow watch and the crews of the rapid-fire guns had removed their coats -and had left them below. - -Though there was neither enemy nor friendly craft in sight, Darrin noted -with swift if silent approval that there was no evidence of lax watch. -At port and starboard, amidships, there were men on watch, as also at -the stern. Members of gun-crews lounged close to their stations, to -which additional men could be summoned in a flash. Aft, also, two men -stood by the device from which it might be necessary, at any instant, to -drop a depth bomb. - -Trained down to the last point of condition by constant work, these -officers and men of the torpedo boat destroyer made one think of hard, -lean hunting dogs, which, in human guise, they really were. Not only had -toil brought this about but sleep was something of a luxury aboard the -"Logan." On a cruise these men of Admiral Speare's fleet of destroyers -slept with their clothes on, the same rule applying to the officers. - -Dave Darrin had slept in the chart-room for three hours this afternoon, -following eighteen hours of duty on deck. - -"Any wireless messages worth reading?" was Darrin's next question. - -"None intended for us, sir, and none others of startling nature, sir," -replied Ensign Phelps, handing his superior a loose-leaf note-book. "I -think you saw the last one, sir, and since that came in there were none -important enough to be filed." - -Dave read the uppermost message, nodded, then handed back the book. - -For the next ten minutes Darrin scanned through his glasses, the surface -of the sea in all directions. - -"I'd like to bag an enemy before supper," he sighed. - -"And I'd like to see you do it," came heartily from Dan Dalzell. - -"Why don't you turn in for a nap, Dan?" asked Dave, turning to his chum -and second in command, whose eyes looked heavy. - -"I believe I could," admitted Dalzell, almost reluctantly. "Mr. Phelps, -will you leave word with your relief to have me called just after eight -bells?" - -Down the steps Dalzell went, to the chart-room, closing the door -curtains behind him. It is one of the unwritten rules that, at sea, the -commander of a vessel and his executive officer shall not both sleep at -the same time. - -As for Dave Darrin, he felt that he might be on deck up to midnight, at -least. After that he might snatch "forty winks," leaving orders to be -called just before dawn. - -Short of sleep always, weighted down with responsibility, young Darrin -was happy none the less. First of all, after his wide professional -preparation in many quarters of the globe, he was at last actually in -the great world war. He was in the very place where big things were -being done at sea, and the war had brought him promotion and independent -command. What more could so young a naval officer ask, except sufficient -contact with the enemy to make life interesting? - -An hour passed. Dave and Phelps talked but little, and nothing out of -the usual happened, the "Logan" keeping on her course still at cruising -speed. But now the sun was well down on the western horizon; the -northwesterly wind blew a little harder, though not enough to roughen -the surface of the sea noticeably. - -"Orderly, there!" called Phelps, quietly from the bridge. "Go to my -quarters for my sheepskin coat and bring it here. Do you wish yours, -sir?" turning to Darrin. - -"I'll step below and get it," decided Dave. "I'll probably be back here -with you shortly." - -Going stealthily into the chart-room, Dave took a glance at his chum, -now sound asleep in a chair, with a blanket drawn over him. Dave reached -for his coat, donned it and buttoned it up, then stepped outside. First -of all he moved forward to make a brief but keen inspection of the -gun-crews and their pieces; then, to starboard, after which he strolled -amidships. For a few minutes he was below to receive the report of the -chief engineer, then went aft to inspect the gunners and the watch, -returning on the port side to the bridge. - -Soon after that the sun sank into the sea, and darkness came rapidly on. - -"It's going to be a fine night, sir," said Ensign Phelps, as Dave came -up on the bridge. - -"A fine night for something besides steaming, I hope, Mr. Phelps," Dave -replied, with a smile in which there was something more than mere -wistfulness. - -"Amen to that!" agreed the young ensign. - -"Wind is shifting, sir," said Mr. Phelps, fifteen minutes later, when -darkness had settled down. - -"So I observed," answered the youthful commanding officer. "From -nor'west to nor'east. That cloud over to nor'east looks as if it carried -a lot of wind." - -Dave took a quick glance at the barometer, but it had not fallen much. - -"No storm in sight yet," said Dave, thoughtfully. "But cloudy." - -"Aye," nodded Ensign Phelps. "And a black night may aid either us or an -enemy." - -"More likely the enemy," replied Darrin, reflectively. "An observer on a -submarine, with the aid of the microphonic or adapted telephonic device, -that is now credited with having been perfected, can hear us coming when -we're some distance away." - -"And the same observer can discover our direction as compared with his -own position, and can even judge the extent of the distance fairly -well," remarked the ensign. - -"True," Darrin nodded. Then, suddenly, he spoke energetically, as one -gripped by a new idea. - -"Mr. Phelps, have the word passed to all men on watch to keep a doubly -sharp lookout for approaching craft and thus avoid danger of collision. -No one carries running lights in these waters. The watch will also be -extremely vigilant for submarines." - -Again and again the watch, startled by shadows, of which the sea is ever -full at night, called out low-spoken warnings. The officers on the -bridge were kept busy investigating these alarms with their night -glasses. In fact they frequently were deceived too. Every man's nerves -were on edge; gunners swallowed hard, and with frequency moistened their -lips with their tongues. Every man up topside on the "Logan" felt that -peril was hovering near. It was not fear; it was perhaps that sixth -sense that gives the alarm in moments of unseen danger. So intense was -the nervous strain that the creaking of a brace or the sound of a -straining plate, as the destroyer rolled, made every man on deck jump. - -It was a trying situation and such as brought gray hairs to many a -ship's master in these days of deeds and daring. Better far the rush of -a torpedo in their direction than this nerve-racking waiting for -something that every man on the destroyer felt was coming. - -Lieutenant-Commander Darrin, sensing all this, for the very air was -charged with expectancy, frequently steadied the watch with an -encouraging word or a sharp, low-spoken command. Dave sympathized with -them, for he was in very much the same nervous condition. Of course he -could not show it. - -"Curtin, we're in for some work to-night, or else I have an attack of -nerves. I feel it," said Dave without taking his eyes from observation -of the sea. - -"So do I. Queer how a fellow can sense danger when he neither can hear, -see, feel nor smell it," said Mr. Curtin. - -"Submarine hunting is hard on the nerves, but it's worth while," -returned Dave. "I think that must be what makes life on a destroyer so -attractive to us. It is the real sporting game. I--What's that?" - -"Yes, it's----" - -"Sh-h-h!" Dave suddenly stiffened, bringing his glasses quickly to his -eyes. "Bow watch there, did you hail?" he demanded in a low, sharp -voice. - -"Aye, aye, sir," came the prompt reply, also pitched in a low tone, -though full of repressed excitement. - -Whatever wind there had been in the cloud Dave had observed to the -northeast, had passed. Only the gentlest of breezes blew, though the sky -remained overcast, giving an almost ink-black night--a night for dark -deeds. - -So long did the "Logan" drift that probably every wakeful soul on board -felt irritated by the monotony. Suddenly Dave stiffened, bringing his -glass quickly to his eyes. - -"Sounds and looks like a craft two points off starboard and about half a -mile away, sir," reported the bow watch. - -"Aye," Dave responded. "I see it. Mr. Curtin, pass the word for all -hands to quarters." - -Silently officers and men were soon streaming over the decks, on their -way to their various stations. Curtin stood with one hand on the -engine-room telegraph, awaiting the order for headway. - -The three-inch guns were loaded, and also the one-pounders and the -machine guns. Two men stood by the darkened searchlight. - -"Searchlight men!" Dave called, in a low voice. "You know where we're -looking?" - -"Aye, aye, sir." - -"Stand by to put a beam squarely across its conning tower if it proves -to be a submarine." - -Again Dave took a long, careful, steady look through his night glass. -Secretly he was a-quiver with excitement; outwardly he was wholly calm. - -"Throw the beam!" called Dave sharply, a few seconds later. "Gun-crews -in line with the enemy, stand by!" - -A broad band of light from the searchlight played into the sky, then -descended. As the beam reached the water it revealed the tower and deck -of a large submarine rolling awash a little more than half a mile away. -A muffled cheer rose from some of the members of the watch. The men at -the guns were too much occupied to open their mouths. - -"Silence in the watch!" Dave commanded, sternly. "Mr. Curtin, half-speed -ahead. Bear straight down on the enemy! Ram him if possible! Ram him at -all hazards if he is submerging when we reach him," commanded Lieutenant -Commander Darrin. - -"Aye, aye," answered the quartermaster at the wheel. - -Like a bloodhound the "Logan" sprang forward. - -"Bow guns fire!" - -Boom! roared one sharp-tongued three-inch gun. Bang! sounded a -one-pounder. The larger shell threw up a column of spray beyond the -submarine; the small shell struck the water on the nearer side. - -"Full speed ahead, Mr. Curtin. Hold her steady there, quartermaster!" - -"Aye, aye, sir." - -The "Logan" was soon racing at more than thirty knots an hour, her nose -burrowing into the sea, throwing up great volumes of water. - -The enemy submarine had plainly been taken utterly by surprise by the -first flash of the "Logan's" searchlight, for the warning sound that had -come across the water had been caused by an oil-burning engine that was -supplying power for the recharging of the submarine's storage batteries. - -Such a craft, however, hated and at all times hunted, carries crews -trained to swift work. Soon after the "Logan's" second three-inch gun -had fired without registering a hit, a five-inch gun of the submarine -was brought into action. Overhead whizzed a shell that just missed the -"Logan's" wireless aerials. A second shot, aimed at the destroyer's -water line, passed hardly more than four feet to starboard. - -"Get him!" roared Dave Darrin. "Gunners have their wits about 'em!" - -Dan Dalzell took the door curtains with him as he leaped out and ran for -the bridge. - -The submarine had swung around, and at the same time brought her after -gun into action. The submarine swung again bow on. There was no time to -dive. She was caught and must fight. - -"Torpedo coming, sir!" reported the bow watch, but Darrin had already -caught sight, under the searchlight's glare, of a trail of foam heading -straight for the destroyer. - -Quick as was the helmsman's obedience of orders, the "Logan" escaped the -torpedo by little more than a hair's breadth as it rushed on past. Then -came a second torpedo. The "Logan," still driving bow on, save for -swerves to avoid torpedoes, escaped the second one by what appeared to -breathless watchers to be an even closer margin. - -Lieutenant Beatty had taken personal charge of sighting one of the -forward guns. He now let fly a shell that tore part of the top of the -enemy's conning tower away. - -"That settles him for diving!" cried Darrin, tensely. "Land a shell in -the hull and force him to take the dive he doesn't want!" - -Onward came a third rushing torpedo. As the "Logan" swerved to avoid it, -a shell from the submarine's after gun struck and tore away a -one-pounder aft on the destroyer, fragments stretching two men on the -deck, seriously but not fatally injured. An instant later a shell aimed -at the destroyer's water line forward pierced the hull just below the -gun-deck. A fair hit at the water line would have put the "Logan" in a -sinking condition, but, owing to the oblique position of the target, the -shell, as it struck, glanced off. - -"Great work, Mr. Beatty!" shouted Dave hoarsely, as another three-inch -shell struck the enemy, this time at the waterline. "Mr. Curtin, half -speed ahead!" - -As the destroyer began to lose headway and slowly circle the undersea -boat, the "Logan's" crew cheered, this time without rebuke from the -bridge. The submarine craft was rapidly filling and sinking. - -At a safe distance Darrin watched, for he was humane enough to wish to -rescue the German survivors, should there be any. So swift was the -sinking of the enemy, however, that there was no time for them to launch -and man the collapsible lifeboat that they undoubtedly carried. - -Then the seas closed over the hated craft. A few moments later -Lieutenant-Commander Darrin gave the order to steam forward slowly, the -watch standing by to discover and heave lines to any swimmers there -might be afloat. Not a head was seen, however. Three men at the after -gun had been observed to jump before the submarine went down, but no -trace of them could now be found. - -"We'll never know how many hundreds of decent lives the work of the last -minute has saved," declared Dalzell hoarsely as he reported on the -bridge. - -"Find out as promptly as possible what damage we have suffered," Dave -ordered. "We were struck several times." - -As Dan saluted and hurried away, Darrin picked up his night glass and -once more resumed his scanning of the sea. Lieutenant Curtin had already -received orders that the destroyer was to cruise slowly back and forth -over and around the spot where the submarine had gone down. - -"It seems almost wasted sympathy to try to pick up enemy survivors," -muttered Mr. Curtin rather savagely. - -"But it's humanity just the same," Darrin returned. "And Americans must -practise it." - -"Of course, sir." - -Dalzell, who had summoned the aid of other officers and some of the -warrant officers, soon returned. - -"Two breaches, one just above water line, and the other below it, sir," -was Dan's beginning of the report. "I wasn't aware that a torpedo -touched us. If it did, it made a dent, but glanced off without the -explosion that a direct hit would have produced. That may account for -the dent below the water line. But a shell hit us above water line. Is -it possible that a large fragment glanced low enough to make the dent -under water? It doesn't seem possible." - -"Not likely," smiled Darrin. - -"The hole above the water line has been repaired, but men are still -working at the one below the line," Dalzell went on, "and the pumps are -working hard. The chief engineer was about to report it to you when I -reached him. We have been hit at other points, but no serious damage has -been done." - -"We are not in danger of sinking?" - -"Doesn't look like it to me, sir," Dan replied, "and the chief engineer -is of the same opinion." - -"Take the bridge with Mr. Curtin." - -Not more than two minutes was Dave below decks, half of that time with -the chief engineer. Then he hurried back, disappearing into the radio -room. In a code message he notified destroyer headquarters of the -encounter, its result, and the nature of the damage to the "Logan." - -Within five minutes the answer came back through the air: - -"Return to repair. Keep alert for enemy craft understood to be more -numerous in your waters than usual." - -The order bore the signature of Admiral Speare's flag-lieutenant. - -"Home, James," smiled Darrin, after reading the order. - -So the "Logan" was put about. Dave did not steam fast, for it had been -found impossible wholly to stop the hole below water line. Water still -came in, though in diminished quantity. Fast speed would be likely to -spring the damaged plates. - -It was near dawn when land was sighted, and the sun was well up when the -"Logan" steamed limpingly into port. Half an hour later American dock -authorities had taken charge of the destroyer. Dave waited until he saw -his beloved craft in dry dock and the water receding from under her as -it was pumped out of the basin in which the "Logan" now lay. - -In the meantime Dalzell, who had had two hours' sleep on the way to -port, was busy granting shore leave to such men of the crew as were -entitled to have it. More than half of the officers also received leave. - -As soon as luncheon had been finished, and after Darrin had conferred -with the dock officer, he and Dan went ashore. - -"Where shall we go?" asked Dan, when they had left the naval yard behind -them. - -"Anywhere that fancy takes us," Darrin answered, "and by dark, of -course, to a hotel for as good a shore dinner as war times permit." - -"We'd have a better dinner on board," laughed Dan, sometimes known in -the service as Danny Grin. "These British hotels are all feeling the -effects of the enemy's submarine campaign, and can't put up a half-way -good meal." - -Once in the streets of the port town, the two young American naval -officers strolled slowly along. The crowds had a distinctly war-time -appearance. Hundreds of British and American jackies and two or three -score French naval seamen were to be seen. - -"Whoever invented saluting doesn't have my unqualified gratitude," -grumbled Danny Grin. "My arm is aching now from returning so many -salutes." - -"It's a trifling woe," Darrin assured him. "Look more sharply, Dan. You -missed those two French sailors who saluted you." - -Too good a service man to do a thing like that without regret, Dalzell -turned around to discover that the two slighted French sailors were -glancing backward. He wheeled completely around, bringing his right hand -smartly up to his cap visor and inclining his head forward. Facing -forward once more he was just in time to "catch" and return the salutes -of three British jackies. - -"Quite a bore, isn't it?" asked a drawling, friendly voice, as the two -young officers paused to look in at a shop window's display. - -The young man who had hailed them was attired in a suit and coat of -quite distinctly American cut. He was good-looking, agreeable in manner, -and possessed of an air of distinction. - -"The salute is a matter of discipline, not of opinion," Dave Darrin -answered, pleasantly. "It isn't as troublesome as it looks." - -"I have sometimes wondered if you didn't find it tedious," continued the -stranger. - -"Sometimes," Dave admitted, with a nod. "But it shouldn't be." - -"You are an American, aren't you?" asked Dalzell. - -"Yes. Matthews is my name. I'm over here on what appears to be the -foolish mission of trying to buy a lot of fine Irish linen, and that is -a commodity which seems to have disappeared from the market." - -Somehow, it didn't seem quite easy to escape introducing themselves, so -Dan performed that office for the naval pair. Darrin would rather not -have met strangers in the port that was the destroyer base. Mr. Matthews -walked along with them, and presently it developed that he was staying -at the hotel where Dave and Dan had decided to dine. So, after an hour's -stroll, the three turned toward the hotel. - -"I'll see you later," declared Matthews, affably, starting for the -elevator on his way to his room. - -"Dan," said Darrin, laying a kindly arm on his chum's coat-sleeve and -speaking in a low voice, "I'd just as soon you wouldn't introduce us to -chance acquaintances." - -"That struck me afterwards," Dalzell admitted, soberly. "Yet, for once, -I do not believe that my bad habit of friendliness with strangers has -done any harm. Matthews appears to be all right." - -"I hope he is," Dave answered. - -Later Matthews joined them below. - -"It struck me, gentlemen," he declared, "that my introduction was rather -informal. Permit me to offer you my card." - -He tendered to each a bit of pasteboard that neither could very well -decline. It was a business card that he had offered, and its legend -stated that Matthews was connected with a well-known Chicago dry-goods -house. - -"But in these times," smiled their new acquaintance, "an American -passport is a better introduction than a mere card." - -Whereupon he produced his passport. After a glance at it the two young -naval officers did not see how they could escape offering their own -cards, which Matthews gladly accepted and deposited in his own -card-case. - -He did not intrude, however, but soon moved off, after a cheery word of -parting. Dave and Dan went out for another stroll, returning in time for -dinner. - -Hardly had they seated themselves when Matthews, fresh and smiling, -stopped at their table in the dining room. - -"I'm afraid you'll vote me a bore," he apologized, "but American company -is such a treat in this town that I'm going to inquire whether my -presence would be distasteful. If not, may I dine with you?" - -"Be seated, by all means," Darrin responded, with as much heartiness as -he could summon. - -When the soup had been taken away and fish set before them, Matthews -asked: - -"Don't you find the patrol work a dreadful bore?" - -"It's often monotonous," Dave agreed, "but there are some exciting -moments that atone for the dulness of many of the hours." - -"And frightfully dangerous work," Matthews suggested. - -"Fighting, I believe, has never been entirely separated from danger," -retorted Dalzell, with a grin. - -"Have you sunk anything lately?" - -Both naval officers appeared to be too busy with their fish to hear the -question. - -Matthews looked astonished for only a moment. Then he waited until they -were half through with the roast before he inquired: - -"How do you like the work of the depth bombs? Are they as useful as it -was believed they would be?" - -Dave Darrin glanced up quickly. There was no glint of hostility in his -eyes. He smiled, and his voice was agreeable as he rejoined: - -"Now, I know you will not really expect an answer to that question, Mr. -Matthews. The officers and men of the service are under orders not to -discuss naval matters with those not in the service." - -"P-p-pardon me, won't you?" stammered Matthews, a flush appearing under -either temple. - -"Certainly," Dave agreed. "Men not in the service do not readily -comprehend how necessary it is for Navy men not to discuss their work, -especially in war-time." - -Matthews soon changed the subject. After they had gone forth from the -dining room he shook hands with them cordially, and took his leave. - -"Is he genuine?" asked Dalzell. - -"Must be," Dave replied. "His passport was in form. You know how it is -with civilians, Danny-boy. Knowing themselves to be decent and loyal, -they cannot understand why service men cannot take them at their own -valuation." - -Just as the two were going out for another stroll the double doors flew -briskly open to admit a group of more than a dozen British naval -officers. - -"Hullo, there, Darrin! I say there, Dalzell!" - -Surrounded by Britain's naval officers, our two Americans had to undergo -almost an ordeal of handshaking in the lobby. - -"But I thought you were far out on the water, Chetwynd," Dave remarked -to one of the officers. - -"And so I was, but a bad break in a shaft sent me in," grumbled the -commander of an English destroyer. "Beastly luck! And I was needed out -there," he added, in a whisper, "for the Germans are attempting a big -drive underseas. We've new information, Darrin, that they've more than -twice the usual number of submersibles loose in these waters." - -"I've been told the same," Dave nodded, quietly. - -"What brought you in?" - -"Shell hits, I think they were, though one dent might have been made by -a torpedo," Darrin answered. - -"Then you had a fight." - -"A short one." - -"And the German pest?" - -"Went to the bottom. I know, for we saw her sink, and her conning tower -was so damaged that she couldn't have kept the water out, once she went -under. Besides, we found the surface of the water covered with oil." - -"I'll wager you did," agreed Chetwynd, heartily. "You Yankee sailors -have sunk dozens of the pests." - -"And hope to sink scores more," Darrin assured him. - -"Oh, you'll do it," came the confident answer. "But come on upstairs -with us. We've a private parlor and a piano, and plan a jolly hour or -two." - -From one end of the room, in a lull in the singing, an exasperated -English voice rose on the air. - -"What I can't understand," the speaker cried, "is that the enemy appear -to have every facility for getting the latest gossip right out of this -port. And they know every time that a liner, a freighter or a warship -sails from this port. There is some spy service on shore that -communicates with the German submarine commanders." - -"I'd like to catch one of the rascally spies!" Dan uttered to a young -English officer. - -"What would you do with him?" bantered the other. - -"Cook him!" retorted Dan, vengefully. "I don't know in just what form; -probably fricassee him." - -Little did Dalzell dream how soon the answer to the spy problem would -come to him. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE MEETING WITH A PIRATE - - -Thirty-six hours' work at the dry dock, with changing shifts, put the -"Logan" in shape to start seaward again. - -Under another black sky, moving into thick weather, the "Logan" swung -off at slow speed, with little noise from engines or propellers. - -"I feel as if something were going to happen to-night," said Dalzell, -coming to the bridge at midnight after a two-hour nap. A little shudder -ran over his body. - -"I hope something does," agreed Darrin, warmly. "But remember--no Jonah -forebodings!" - -"I--I think it will be something good!" hesitated Dalzell. - -"Good or bad, have me called at six bells," Dave instructed his second -in command. "Before that, of course, if anything turns up." - -He went slowly down and entered the chart-room, closing the curtains -after him. Taking off his sheepskin coat and hanging it up, Dave dropped -into a chair, pulling a pair of blankets over him. Inside of thirty -seconds he was sound asleep, dreaming, perhaps, of the night before at -the hotel, when he had enjoyed the luxury of removing his clothing and -sleeping between sheets. - -At three o'clock to the minute a messenger entered and roused him. How -Darrin hated to get up! He was horribly sleepy, yet he was on his feet -in a twinkling, removing the service blouse that he had worn while -sleeping, and dashing cold water in his face. A hurried toilet -completed, he drew on and buttoned his blouse, next donned his sheepskin -coat and cap, and went out into the dark of the early morning. - -"All secure, sir!" reported Dalzell, from the bridge, meaning that -reports had come in from all departments of the craft that all was well. - -"You had better turn in, Mr. Dalzell," Dave called, before he began to -pace the deck. - -"I'm not sleepy, sir," lied Dalzell, like the brave young gentleman that -he was in all critical times. Dan knew that from now until sun-up was -the tune that called for utmost vigilance. - -Darrin busied himself, as he did frequently every day, by going about -the ship, on deck and below deck, on a tour of inspection. This occupied -him for nearly an hour. Then he climbed to the bridge. - -"Better turn in and get a nap, Danny-boy," he urged, in an undertone. - -"Say!" uttered Danny Grin. "You must know something big is coming off, -and you don't want me to have a hand in it!" - -Dave picked up his night glass and began to use it in an effort to help -out his subordinate, who stood near him. From time to time Dan also used -a glass. A freshening breeze blew in their faces as the boat lounged -indolently along on its way. It was drowsy work, yet every officer and -man needed to be constantly on the alert. - -Despite his denials that he was sleepy, Danny Grin braced himself -against a stanchion of the bridge frame and closed his eyes briefly, -just before dawn. He wouldn't have done it had he been the ranking -officer on the bridge, but he felt ghastly tired, and Darrin and Ensign -Tupper were there and very much awake. - -With a start Dan presently came to himself, realizing that he had lost -consciousness for a few seconds. - -"Oh, it's all right," Dan murmured to himself. "Neither Davy nor Tup -will know that I'm slipping in half a minute of doze." - -His eyes closing again, despite the roll of the craft, he was soon sound -enough asleep to dream fitfully. - -And so he stood when the first streaks of dawn appeared astern. It was -still dark off over the waters, but the slow-moving destroyer stood -vaguely outlined against the eastern streaks in the sky. - -Ensign Tupper was observing the compass under the screened binnacle -light, and Darrin, glass to his eyes, was peering off to northward when -the steady, quick tones of a man of the bow watch reached the bridge: - -"'Ware torpedo, coming two points off port bow!" - -That seaman's eyesight was excellent, for the torpedo was still far -enough away so that Dave had time to order a sharp swerve to port, and -to send a quick signal to the engine room. As the craft turned she -fairly jumped forward. The "Logan" was now facing the torpedo's course, -and seemed a bare shade out of its path, but the watchers held their -breath during those fractions of a second. - -Then it went by, clearing the destroyer amidships by barely two feet. -Nothing but the swiftness of Darrin's orders and the marvelously quick -responses from helmsman and engineer had saved the destroyer from being -hit. - -On Dave's lips hovered the order to dash forward over the course by -which the torpedo had come, which is the usual procedure of destroyer -commanders when attacking a submarine. - -Instead, as the idea flashed into his head, he ordered the ship stopped. - -Danny Grin had come out of his "forty winks" at the hail of the bow -watch. Now Dave spoke to him hurriedly. Dalzell fairly leaped down from -the bridge, hurrying amidships. - -"All hands stand by to abandon ship!" rang the voice of Ensign Tupper, -taking his order from Darrin. The alarm to abandon ship was sounded all -through the ship. - -There was a gasp of consternation, but Dalzell had already met and -spoken to three of the junior officers, and these quickly carried the -needed word. - -The light was yet too faint, and would be for a few minutes, to find -such a tantalizingly tiny object as a submarine's periscope at a -distance even of a few hundred yards. Lieutenant-Commander Darrin, -therefore, had hit upon a simple trick that he hoped would prove -effective. All depended upon the speed with which his ruse could be -carried out. Cold perspiration stood out over Darrin as he realized the -chances he was taking. - -"Bow watch, there! Keep sharp lookout for torpedoes! Half a second might -save us!" - -Tupper stood with hand on the engine-room telegraph. He already had -warned the engineer officer in charge to stand by for quick work. - -Dalzell and the officers to whom Darrin had spoken saw to it that nearly -all of the men turned out and rushed to the boats. Even the engineer -department off watch came tumbling up in their distinctive clothing. - -To an onlooker it would have appeared like a real stampede for the -boats. Tackle creaked, making a louder noise than usual, but seeming to -"stick" as an effort was made to lower loaded boats. The men in boats -and at davits were grinning, for their officers had explained the trick. - -Dawn's light streaks had become somewhat more distinct as Dave peered -ahead. Mr. Beatty and three men crouched low behind one of the forward -guns. - -The submarine commander must have rubbed his eyes, for, while he had -observed no signs of a hit, he saw the American craft drifting on the -water and the crew frantically trying to abandon ship. - -Then the thing for which Darrin had hoped and prayed happened. The enemy -craft's conning tower appeared above water four hundred yards away. - -"The best shot you ever made in your life, Mr. Beatty!" called Dave in -an anxious voice. - -The officer behind the gun had been ready all the time. At the first -appearance of the conning tower he had drawn the finest sight possible. - -The three-inch gun spoke. It seemed ages ere the shell reached its -destination. - -Then what a cheer ascended as the crew came piling on board from the -boats. The conning tower of the submarine had been fairly struck and -wrecked. - -"Half speed ahead!" commanded Dave's steady voice, while Dan gave the -helmsman his orders. As Tupper sent the signal below the "Logan" -gathered headway. - -But Darrin had not finished, for on the heels of his first order came -the second: - -"Open on her with every gun!" - -After the wrecking of his conning tower the German commander began to -bring his craft to the surface. Perhaps it was his intention to -surrender. - -"Full speed ahead!" roared Darrin, and Ensign Tupper rang in the signal. - -The hull of the submarine was hardly more than awash when five or six -shots from the "Logan" struck it at about the same time. - -Veering around to the southward the "Logan" prepared to circle the dying -enemy. The German craft filled and sank, and Darrin presently gazed -overboard at the oil-topped waters through which he was passing. - -"A wonderful job! I wonder that you had the nerve to risk it," muttered -Dalzell. - -"I don't know whether it was a wonderful job, or a big fool risk," Dave -almost chattered. "It would have been a fool trick if I had lost the -ship by it. I don't believe that I shall ever try it again." - -"If you hadn't done just what you did, a second torpedo would have been -sent at you," murmured Dalzell. "You saved the 'Logan' and 'got' the -enemy, if you want to know." - -Grinning, for the responsibility had not been theirs, and the ruse had -"worked," the men of the watch returned to their usual stations, while -those off duty returned to their "watch below." Darrin, however, was -shaking an hour later. He had dropped the usual method of defense for -once and had tried a trick by which he might have lost his craft. As -commander he knew that he had discretionary powers, but at the same time -he realized that he had taken a desperate chance. - -"Oh, stop that, now!" urged Danny Grin. "If you had steamed straight at -the submarine you would have taken even bigger chances of losing the -'Logan.' Even had she given up the fight and dived, there wasn't light -enough for you to follow by any trail of bubbles the enemy might have -left. The answer, David, little giant, is that the submarine is now at -the bottom, and every Hun aboard is now a dead man. In this war the -commander who wins victories is the only one who counts." - -Through that day Dave and Dan slept, alternately, only an hour or two at -a time. All they sighted were three cargo steamers, two headed toward -Liverpool and one returning to "an American port." - -At nine o'clock in the evening Darrin, after another hour's nap, softly -parted the curtains of the chart-room door and peered out. He saw a -young sailor standing just back of the open doorway of the radio room. -Slight as it was there was a something in the sailor's attitude of -listening that Darrin did not quite like. He stepped out on the deck. - -Sighting him, the sailor saluted. - -"Jordan!" called Dave, even before his hand reached his visor cap in -acknowledgment of the salute. - -"Yes, sir!" answered the seaman, coming to attention. - -"You belong to this watch?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Your station is with the stern watch?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Then what are you doing forward?" - -"I left my station, by permission, to go below, sir." - -"Have you been below?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Then why are you loitering here?" - -Seaman Jordan hesitated, shifted on his feet, glanced down, then -hurriedly replied: - -"I--I don't know, sir. I just stopped here a moment. There's a relief -man in my place, sir." - -"Return to your station, Jordan!" - -"Aye, aye, sir," replied the sailor, saluting, wheeling and walking -away. - -"And I'll keep my eye on you," mused Darrin, as he watched the departing -sailor. "I may be wrong, but when I first sighted him there was a look -on that lad's face that I didn't like." - -Even before he reached his station Seaman Jordan was quaking inwardly -more apprehensively than is usual with a sailor caught in a slight -delinquency. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -QUICK "DOINGS" OVER THE SHOAL - - -For several days after that Darrin and the "Logan" cruised back and -forth over the area assigned for patrol. During these days nothing much -happened out of the usual. Then came a forenoon when Darrin received a -wireless message, in code, ordering him to report back at once to the -commanding officer of the destroyer patrol. - -Mid afternoon found the "Logan" fifteen miles off the port of -destination. - -"Be on the alert every instant," was the order Darrin gave out to -officers and men. "There have been several sinkings, the last month, in -these waters. We are nearing Fisherman's Shoal, which is believed to be -a favorite bit of ground for submarines that hide on the bottom." - -Over Fisherman's Shoal the water was only about seventy feet in -depth--an ideal spot for a lurking, hiding undersea craft. - -Five minutes later the bow lookout announced quietly: - -"Trail of bubbles ahead, sir." - -Leaving Ensign Phelps on the bridge, Dave and Dan darted down and -forward. - -A less practised eye might have seen nothing worth noting, but to the -two young officers the trail ahead was unmistakable, though Darrin -quickly brought up his glass to aid his vision. - -"Pass the word for slow speed, Mr. Dalzell," Dave commanded, quietly. -"We want to keep behind that craft for a moment. Pass word to Mr. Briggs -to stand by ready to drop a depth bomb." - -Quietly as the orders were given, they were executed with lightning -speed. The destroyer began to move more slowly, keeping well behind the -bubble trail. At any instant, however, the "Logan" could be expected to -leap forward, dropping the depth bomb at just the right moment. Then -would come a muffled explosion, and, if the bomb were rightly placed, a -broad coating of oil would appear upon the surface. - -Dave was now in the very peak of the bow. Watching the bubbly trail he -knew that the hidden enemy craft was moving more slowly than the -destroyer, and he signalled for bare headway. And now the bubbles were -rising as though from a stationary object under the waves. - -"Buoy, there!" he ordered, quickly. "Overboard with it." - -Slowly the destroyer moved past the spot, but the weighted, bobbing buoy -marked the spot plainly. - -"Have a diver ready, Mr. Dalzell," Dave called. "Make ready to clear -away a launch!" - -In the matter of effective speed Darrin's officers and crew had been -trained to the last word. Only a few hundred yards did the "Logan" move -indolently along, then lay to. - -Soon after that the diver and launch were ready. Dave stepped into the -launch to take command himself. - -"May I go, too, sir?" asked Dan Dalzell, saluting. "I haven't seen this -done before." - -"Clear away a second launch, Mr. Dalzell. The crew will be armed. You -will take also a corporal and squad of marines." - -That meant the entire marine force aboard the "Logan." Dalzell quickly -got his force together, while Darrin gave orders to pull back to where -the bobbing buoy lay on the water. - -"Ready, diver?" called Dave, as the launch backed water and stopped -beside the buoy. - -"Aye, aye, sir." The diver's helmet was fitted into position and the air -pump started. The diver signalled that he was ready to go down. - -"Men, stand by to help him over the side," Darrin commanded. "Over he -goes!" - -Hugging a hammer under one arm the diver took hold of the flexible cable -ladder as soon as it had been lowered. Sailors paid out the rope, life -line and air pipe as the man in diver's suit vanished under the water. - -Down and down went the diver, a step at a time. The buoy had been placed -with such exactness that he did not have to step from the ladder to the -sandy bottom. Instead, he stepped on to the deck of a great lurking -underseas craft. - -He must have grinned, that diver, as he knelt on top of the gray hull -and hammered briskly, in the International Code, this message to the -Germans inside the submarine shell: - -"Come up and surrender, or stay where you are and take a bomb! Which do -you want?" - -Surely he grinned hard, under his diver's mask, as he noted the time -that elapsed. He knew full well that his hammered message had been heard -and understood by the trapped Huns. He could well imagine the panic that -the receipt of the message had caused the enemy. - -"We'll send you a bomb, then?" the diver rapped on the hull with his -hammer. "I'm going up." - -To this there came instant response. From the inside came the hammered -message: - -"Don't bomb! We'll rise and surrender!" - -Chuckling, undoubtedly, the diver signalled and was hoisted to the -surface. The instant that his head showed above water the seaman-diver -nodded three times toward Darrin. Then he was hauled into the boat, and -the launch pulled away from the spot. - -"It took the Huns some time to make up their minds?" queried Dave Darrin -smilingly, after the diver's helmet had been removed. - -"They didn't answer until they got the second signal, sir," replied the -diver. - -Dalzell's launch was hovering in the near vicinity, filled with sailors -and marines, a rapid-fire one-pounder mounted in the bow. - -Both boats were so placed as not to interfere with gun-fire from the -"Logan." Officers and men alike understood that the Huns might attempt -treachery after their promise to surrender. - -Soon the watchers glimpsed a vague outline rising through the water. The -top of a conning tower showed above the water, then the rest of it, and -last of all the ugly-looking hull rose until the craft lay fully exposed -on the surface of the sea. - -The critical moment was now at hand. It would be possible for the -submarine to torpedo the destroyer; there was grave danger of the -attempt being made even though the vengeful Germans knew that in all -probability their own lives would pay the penalty. - -The hatch in the tower opened and a young German officer stepped out, -waving a white handkerchief. He was followed by several members of the -crew. It was evident that the enemy had elected to save their lives, and -smiles of grim satisfaction lighted the faces of the watchful American -jackies. - -"Give way, and lay alongside," Dave ordered his coxswain, while -signalling Dalzell to keep his launch back for the present. - -Then Dave addressed the young German officer: - -"You understand English?" - -"Yes," came the reply, with a scowl. - -"We are coming alongside. Your officers and men will be searched for -weapons, then transferred, in detachments, to our launch, and taken -aboard our craft." - -The German nodded, addressing a few murmured words to his men, who moved -well up forward on the submarine's slippery deck. - -As the launch drew alongside two seamen leaped to the submarine's deck -and held the lines that made the launch fast to it. - -Half a dozen armed seamen sprang aboard, with Darrin, who signalled to -the second launch to come up on the other side of the German boat. - -"Be good enough, sir, to order the rest of your men on deck," Dave -directed, and the German officer shouted the order in his own tongue. -More sullen-looking German sailors appeared through the conning tower -and lined up forward. - -"Did you command here?" Dave demanded of the officer. - -"No; my commander is below. I am second in command." - -Dave stepped to the conning tower, bawling down in English: - -"All hands on deck. Lively." - -Another human stream answered. Darrin turned to the German officer to -ask: - -"Are all your crew on deck now?" - -Quickly counting, the enemy officer replied: - -"Yes; all." - -"And your captain?" - -"I do not know why he is not here. I cannot give him orders." - -By this time the marines were aboard from the second launch. Already the -first detachment of German sailors, after search, was being transferred -to the launch. - -"Corporal," called Darrin, "take four men and go below to find the -commander. Watch out for treachery, and shoot fast if you have to." - -"Aye, aye, sir," returned the corporal, saluting and entering the tower. -His men followed him closely. - -"I've seen the outside of enough of these pests," said Dave to his chum. -"Suppose we go below and see what the inside looks like. The German -submarines are different from our own." - -Dalzell nodded and followed, at the same time ordering a couple of -stalwart sailors to follow. A boatswain's mate now remained in command -on the submarine deck. - -"You get back there!" growled the corporal. Dave reached the lower deck -just in time to see the corporal pointing his revolver at a protesting -German naval officer. - -"Look what he's been doing, sir," called the corporal. "Look on the -floor, sir." - -On the deck lay a heap of charred papers, still smoking. - -[Illustration: Charred papers still smoking.] - -"If I'd got down a minute earlier, sir, he wouldn't have had a chance to -have that nice little bonfire," grumbled the corporal. - -Dave gave a great start as he took his first look at the face of the -German captain. - -As for the German, he seemed at least equally disconcerted. Dave Darrin -was the first to recover. - -"I cannot say that I think your German uniform becoming to a man of your -name, Mr. Matthews," Darrin uttered, in savage banter. - -"Matthews?" repeated the German, in a puzzled voice, though he spoke -excellent English. "I cannot imagine why you should apply that name to -me." - -"It's your own fault if you can't," Darrin retorted. "It's the name you -gave me at the hotel." - -"I've never seen you until the present moment," declared the German, -stoutly. - -"Surely you have," Danny Grin broke in. "And how is your firm in -Chicago, Mr. Matthews?" - -"Chicago?" repeated the German, apparently more puzzled than before. - -"If Matthews isn't your name, and I believe it isn't," Darrin continued, -"by what name do you prefer to be addressed." - -"I am Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold," replied the German. - -"Very good, von Bechtold; will you stand back a bit and not bother the -corporal?" - -Dave bent over to stir the charred, smoking heap of paper with his foot. -But the job had been too thoroughly done. Not a scrap of white paper -could be found in the heap. - -"Of course you do not object to telling me what papers you succeeded in -burning," Darrin bantered. - -Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold smiled. - -"You wouldn't believe me, if I told you, so why tax your credulity?" -came his answer. - -"Perhaps you didn't have time to destroy all your records," Dave went -on. "Under the circumstances I know you will pardon me for searching the -boat." - -Thrusting aside a curtain, Dave entered a narrow passageway near the -stern. Off this passageway were the doors of two sleeping cabins on -either side. Dave opened the doors on one side and glanced in. Dan -opened one on the other side, but the second door resisted his efforts. - -"This locked cabin may contain whatever might be desired to conceal," -Dan hinted. - -Turning quickly, Darrin saw that von Bechtold had followed. This the -corporal had permitted, but he and a marine private had followed, to -keep their eyes on the prisoner. - -"If you have the key to this locked door, Captain, it will save us the -trouble of smashing the door," Dave warned. He had followed the usual -custom in terming the ober-lieutenant a captain since he had an -independent naval command. - -"I do not know where the key is," replied von Bechtold, carelessly. "You -may break the door down, if you wish, but you will not be repaid for -your trouble." - -"I'll take the trouble, anyway," Darrin retorted. "Mr. Dalzell, your -shoulder and mine both together." - -As the two young officers squared themselves for the assault on the door -a black cloud appeared briefly on von Bechtold's face. But as Darrin -turned, after the first assault, the deep frown was succeeded by a dark -smile of mockery. - -Bump! bump! At the third assault the lock of the door gave way so that -Dave and Dan saved themselves from pitching into the room headfirst. - -"Oh, whew!" gasped Danny Grin. - -An odor as of peach-stone kernels assailed their nostrils. They thought -little of this. It was a sight, rather than the odor, that instantly -claimed their attention. - -For on the berth, over the coverlid, and fully dressed in civilian -attire of good material, lay a man past fifty, stout and with prominent -abdomen. He was bald-headed, the fringe of hair at the sides being -strongly tinged with gray. - -At first glance one might have believed the stranger to be merely -asleep, though he would have been a sound sleeper who could slumber on -while the door was crashing in. Dave stepped close to the berth. - -Dalzell followed, and after them came the submarine's commander. - -"You will go back to the cabin and remain there, Mr. von Bechtold," Dave -directed, without too plain discourtesy. "Corporal, detail one of your -men to remain with the prisoner, and see that he doesn't come back here -unless I send for him. Also see to it that he doesn't do anything else -except wait." - -Scowling, von Bechtold withdrew, the marine following at his heels. - -As Darrin stepped back into the cabin he saw the stranger lying as they -left him. - -"Dead!" uttered Dave, bending over the man and looking at him closely. -"He lay down for a nap. Look, Dan, how peaceful his expression is. He -never had an intimation that it was his last sleep, though this looks -like suicide, not accidental death, for the peach-stone odor is that of -prussic acid. He has killed himself with a swift poison. Why? Is it that -he feared to fall into enemy hands and be quizzed?" - -"A civilian, and occupying an officer's cabin," Dan murmured. "He must -have been of some consequence, to be a passenger on a submarine. He -wasn't a man in the service, or he would have been in uniform." - -"We'll know something about him, soon, I fancy," Darrin went on. "Here -is a wallet in his coat pocket, also a card case and an envelope well -padded with something. Yes," glancing inside the envelope, "papers. I -think we'll soon solve the secret of this civilian passenger who has met -an unplanned death." - -"Here, you! Stop that, or I'll shoot!" sounded, angrily, the voice of -von Bechtold's guard behind them. - -But the German officer, regardless of threats, had dashed past the -marine, and was now in the passageway. - -"Here, I'll soon settle you!" cried the marine, wrathfully. But he -didn't, for von Bechtold let a solid fist fly, and the marine, caught -unawares, was knocked to the floor. - -All in a jiffy von Bechtold reached his objective, the envelope. -Snatching it, he made a wild leap back to the cabin, brushing the marine -private aside like a feather. - -"Grab him!" yelled Dave Darrin, plunging after the German. "Don't let -him do anything to that envelope!" - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -THE TRAIL TO STRANGE NEWS - - -Fortune has a way of favoring the bold. The corporal and a marine were -in the corridor behind Darrin. The ober-lieutenant's special guard had -been hurled aside. - -Hearing the outcries, the other two marines in the cabin sprang toward -the German officer. One of these von Bechtold tripped and sent -sprawling; the other he struck in the chest, pushing him back. - -Just an instant later von Bechtold went down on his back, all five of -the marines doing their best to get at him in the same second. But the -German had had time to knock the lid from a battery cell and to plunge -the envelope into the liquid contained in the jar. Then the German was -sent to the mat by his assailants. - -Darrin, following, his whole thought on the envelope, plunged his right -hand down into the fluid, gripping the package that had been snatched -from him. - -"Sulphuric acid!" he exclaimed, and made a quick dive for a lidded fire -bucket that rested in a rack. The old-fashioned name for sulphuric acid -is vitriol, and its powers in eating into human flesh are well known. -Darrin's left hand sent the lid of the bucket flying. Hand and envelope -were thrust into the water with which, fortunately, the bucket was -filled. When sulphuric acid in quantity is added to water heat is -generated, but a small quantity of the acid may be washed from the flesh -with water to good advantage if done instantly. After a brief washing of -the hand Dave drew it out, patting it dry with a handkerchief. Thus the -hand, though reddened, was saved from painful injury. The envelope he -allowed to remain in the water for some moments. - -"Von Bechtold, you are inclined to be a nuisance here," Darrin said -coolly. "I am going to direct these men to take you above." - -"I am helpless," replied the German, sullenly, from the floor, where he -now lay passive, two marines sitting on him ready to renew the struggle -if he so desired. - -"Take him above, you two men," Darrin ordered, "and take especial pains -to see that he doesn't try to escape by jumping into the water." - -At this significant remark von Bechtold paled noticeably for a moment. -Then his ruddy color came back. He got upon his feet with a resentful -air but did not resist the marines who conducted him up to the deck. - -Dave now drew out the envelope, which had become well soaked, and took -out the enclosure, a single sheet. The writing at the top of the sheet -was obliterated. Darrin did not read German fluently, but at the bottom -of the sheet he found a few words and phrases that he was able to -translate. Their meaning made him gasp. - -"Danny-boy," he murmured to his chum, "I want you to make quick work of -transferring the prisoners to the 'Logan.' Keep back two of the German -engineer crew, and send word to Ensign Phelps to come over on the -launch's next trip with two men of our engine-room force, and to bring -along also six seamen and a petty officer. Phelps will take charge of -this craft as prize officer." - -The submarine was soon cleared of her officers and crew. Ensign Phelps -and his own men came over and took command. Two German engine-room men -had been kept back to assist the Americans. On the last trip Darrin and -Dalzell returned to the undersea boat and gave the order to Ensign -Phelps to proceed on his way to the base port. - -As soon as the prize with its captors was under way, Darrin went to the -chart-room of the "Logan," sent for the marine corporal, and ordered -that Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold be brought before him. - -As the prisoner was ushered in Dave rose courteously, bowed and pointed -to a chair. - -"Be seated, if you please. Now, Herr Ober-Lieutenant, your -second-in-command and your crew will be taken ashore as ordinary -prisoners of war, and turned over to the British military prison -authorities. Of course you are aware that your own imprisonment will -take place under somewhat different circumstances." - -Von Bechtold, who had accepted the proffered chair, gazed stolidly at -this American naval commander, who was several years younger than -himself. - -"I fear that I do not understand you," the German replied. - -"You soon will, for you speak excellent English," Darrin returned, with -a chilly smile. "Your English does not have exactly the Chicago accent, -but it was good enough for your purposes. The Chicagoan speaks with a -sort of sub-Bostonese accent, as perhaps you did not know. Your own -English has rather the sound of Oxford or Cambridge University in -England." - -Opening his eyes wide, and expressing bewilderment, the German begged: - -"Will you be good enough to speak more explicitly?" - -"Certainly," Dave assented. "When you are turned over to the British -military authorities it will be done with a card showing that you now -give the name of von Bechtold----" - -"Which is my right name," interposed the German officer, tartly. - -"And the card will also state that, a few days ago, you gave the name of -Matthews." - -"Again you use that name of Matthews," cried von Bechtold, impatiently. -"May I ask why?" - -"I will make it so clear," Dave promised him, "that you would understand -even though what I am about to say were not true. But it is true. A few -days ago you met me at the hotel in port. You met also my executive -officer, Mr. Dalzell. You introduced yourself to us as Matthews, claimed -to be a buyer for a Chicago dry-goods house, and declared that your -mission was to buy linen." - -"Not a word of truth in it," declared von Bechtold, calmly, with a wave -of his hand, as though to brush aside the charge. - -"Unfortunately, quite true," Dave went on, steadily. "You were -there under an assumed name and claimed to be an American citizen. -You exhibited an American passport; I have heard that your government -has a printing office where such documents are turned out. You were -there out of uniform. In other words, sir, your conduct on British -soil, in civilian dress and under false colors, met with all the -requirements of proof that you were there as a spy. It has long -been known to the British, and to us, that German spies have -abounded in Great Britain and that they obtained a good deal -of information that we would rather German submarine commanders -did not possess. So, Mr. von-Bechtold-Matthews, it will be my -disagreeable duty to hand you over with the charge that you have been -serving as a spy. Dalzell and I will be obliged to testify against -you. I much fear that a British court-martial will condemn you to be -shot." - -"What infamous lie is this that you are threatening to utter against -me?" demanded the German officer, leaping to his feet. - -"No lie at all, as you know quite well," Dave went on. "I am sorry to -have to bring you to this plight, von Bechtold, but you know that I -cannot do otherwise." - -Gazing into the steady eyes of the young American naval officer von -Bechtold realized the folly of further acting. Breathing hard, he -dropped into a chair. - -"It is not a fine thing that you propose to do to me," he declared. "You -do not know, of course, that I have five young children at home, who -will need a father." - -"I did not know it," Dave answered gently. "Yet I feel quite certain -that some of the information you have gathered, when ashore in these -parts, has resulted in the drowning at sea of a good many men who may -have left behind even more than five children." - -"I feel that I am doomed," shuddered the German, throwing a hand up over -his eyes. "My five little children will not see their father again--not -even when this war is over." - -"It is too bad," Dave answered, "but I suppose, Herr Ober-Lieutenant, -that it must be classed with the fortune of war. Now, as to the identity -of the civilian who lies dead in a berth aboard your late command, it -may be that, if you were ready to tell something about the reasons for -his presence on board, and why he had in his possession this paper----" - -Here Darrin spread out the wet sheet of paper that he had brought from -the submarine. - -"I can tell you nothing about either the civilian or that paper," -declared von Bechtold, doggedly. - -"That is your own affair," Darrin admitted. "I shall not make any -attempt to force you." - -"You had better not!" declared the German, fiercely. "I can die, but I -cannot betray my country. Yet have you no heart?--when I tell you about -my five little children whom you would deny the privilege of ever seeing -their father again?" - -"If I were to suppress my report of your activities as a spy," Darrin -continued, "I would be guilty of betraying my country and my country's -allies. It would also be necessary for me to induce my subordinate -officer to do the same thing. You will realize the impossibility of our -doing such a thing. On the other hand, between now and the time that you -are tried by court-martial you will have time to reflect upon whether -you wish to try to save yourself from the death sentence by explaining -to the British authorities the full meaning of what had been written on -this sheet of paper and also the reasons for that civilian being aboard -your craft. Then, by throwing yourself on the mercy of the court, you -might escape the full penalty meted out to a spy." - -"I shall not do it," declared von Bechtold, rising and drawing himself -to his full height. - -"Nor do I believe I could be induced to tell what I knew if I stood in -your boots. Orderly!" - -To the marine who entered Dave gave the order to summon the guard. Von -Bechtold was taken back to the "Logan's" brig, and locked in for -absolutely safe keeping. Darrin went up to the bridge. - -"Do you feel sorry for the fellow?" asked Dalzell, when he had heard an -account of the interview. - -"No more sorry than I do for any man who is down and out," Dave replied, -truthfully. "Now that he is captured and his spy work ended, I believe -that ships on these waters will be much safer." - -"He will be just one Hun less, after a firing squad has finished with -him," Dan rejoined. - -Dave nodded thoughtfully. - -"War breeds savage ideas, doesn't it?" demanded Danny Grin, with a shrug -of his shoulders. - -"Not breeds, but brings out," answered Darrin. - -They were nearing the coast now. Destroyers, patrol boats, drifters and -mine-sweeping craft sighted the "Logan" and her prize, and the shrill -whistles of these hunters of the sea testified to their joy over the -capture. - -Then the destroyer and her prize entered the port. Darrin brought his -craft to anchorage, while the captured submarine was anchored not far -away. The German prisoners were taken ashore under guard and turned over -to the British authorities. - -Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold, under the charge of being a spy, was -marched away under a special guard. - -And then Dave made haste to present himself, with the half-destroyed -sheet of paper in his pocket, before the flag lieutenant of Vice Admiral -Speare. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -DAVE TALKS OUT IN COUNCIL - - -There was much joy aboard a squadron of six more destroyers, just -arrived from Uncle Sam's country, when, on steaming into port, they -heard the news of the capture. - -So far as Dave was concerned the document that he had discovered, -mutilated as it was, had supplied hints that filled the British -Admiralty and the American naval commander with deep apprehension. - -Both Darrin and Dalzell were present in the crowded council room on -board the vice admiral's flagship. There were other American naval -officers, as well as a few American Army staff officers present. Their -faces displayed anxiety. - -"It is too bad," one of the American army staff officers declared, after -scanning the damaged sheet under a magnifying glass, "that so much of -this is obliterated. Of course, Mr. Darrin, we know that you acted -promptly and that you did all in your power, and at considerable risk, -to preserve this document. From the disconnected sentences that we can -decipher, it would seem that at least sixty of the enemy's submarines -are to concentrate in near-by waters. It is also plain that their -mission is to destroy the convoy escort and sink the troopships that are -nearing these waters--troopships that convey the entire One Hundred and -Seventeenth Division of the United States Army." - -"It would be a frightful disaster, if it came to pass," boomed the deep -tones of a British naval officer. - -"It shall not come to pass!" declared an American naval officer. - -"Easily said, and I hope as easily done," replied the British officer. -"But you Americans have not yet begun to lose ships loaded with troops. -We Britishers have had some sad experiences in that line. Never as yet, -though, have we had to face a concentration of sixty enemy submarines!" - -"The way it looks to me," said another American army staff officer, -gravely, "is that, while the destroyer escort will surely sink some of -the enemy submarines, yet just as surely, with the enemy in such force, -will some of our troopships go to the bottom. It is mainly, as I view -it, a question of how many troopships we are likely to lose, and how big -a loss of soldier life we shall suffer." - -"Sixty submarines!" uttered a British naval officer, savagely. "We -haven't an officer on a destroyer who wouldn't gladly go to the bottom -if he could first have the pleasure of sinking a few of these deep-sea -pests!" - -"A distressing feature is that we cannot decipher the very part of this -document which states where the submarine concentration is expected to -strike," declared a naval staff officer. - -"How many British destroyers will be needed to reinforce the available -American destroyers?" asked a British officer, apprehensively. "For we -have so many uses for our destroyers, on other work, that it is -difficult to guess where we are to find destroyers enough to help you -Americans." - -This was known, by all present, to be only too true. The British Navy, -from super-dreadnoughts to the smallest steam trawlers, was painfully -overloaded with work. - -"As Mr. Darrin is a destroyer commander with an uncommonly good record -to his credit," said an American naval staff officer, "and as we have -not yet heard his opinion, I think we would all like to have his views." - -Dave Darrin glanced at the American naval commander, who sent him an -encouraging nod. - -"We know, then, gentlemen," began Dave, "just how many American -destroyers are to act as escort to the troopship fleet that is bringing -the One Hundred and Seventeenth Division across. We know, also, just how -many destroyers under our flag can be taken from patrol duty to -safeguard the troopship fleet. We know the length of the sailing line of -the troopship fleet; we know the speed of our destroyers. It seems to me -that the answer is to be found in these known facts." - -"What is your suggestion as to the plan, then?" asked an officer. - -"Gentlemen, in the presence of so many officers of wider experience and -greater knowledge, I feel embarrassed to find myself speaking." - -"Go on!" cried several. - -Darrin still hesitated. - -"First of all, Mr. Darrin, in offering your suggestion, tell us what -number of British destroyers you believe that you will need to reinforce -the American destroyers that are available for protecting your troopship -fleet," urged one. - -Dave still hesitated, though not from shyness. He did some rapid -calculating as to the length of the line of troopships sailing in the -regular order. Then he figured out how many destroyers could give -efficient protection against sixty German submarines. - -There was tense silence in the council room. At last Darrin looked up. - -"Well," demanded the insistent British naval staff officer, "how many of -our British destroyers do you think, Darrin, are needed to help out your -American destroyers?" - -Dave turned his face toward the American vice admiral. - -"Sir, and gentlemen," he replied, "if we had three times as many -destroyers we could use them. I have an opinion on the subject, but it -will sound so childish to you that I should prefer to sit back and let -older heads offer suggestions." - -"Darrin," spoke the flag lieutenant, after a nudge and a whispered word -from the vice admiral, "this is no question of age, nor is it wholly a -question of experience. Demonstrated ability, ability backed by a -record, is entitled to a hearing here. You have done your figuring, and -you have reached certain conclusions. How many British destroyers do you -believe we shall need to help out the American destroyer fleet that is -now available?" - -This amounted almost to an order to speak up. Dave reddened perceptibly, -opened his mouth as though to speak, closed it again, then cleared his -throat and called out steadily: - -"Sir, and gentlemen, it is my opinion that the American naval forces -available for the work can do all the work! I do not believe that we -need an ounce of British help that would be so graciously extended if we -asked for it!" - -There was a moment's silence. - -"No help needed from us?" demanded the British naval staff officer. - -"It would be welcome, sir," Dave declared, "but you cannot spare the -help. Whatever assistance you gave us at this time would weaken your -lines of defense or offense at some other point. They are American -soldiers who are to be protected, and----" - -Here Darrin's voice failed him for a moment. He felt as though the more -than score of pairs of eyes that were regarding him sharply were burning -him. He swallowed hard, but returned to the charge and went on, slowly, -in words that rapped like machine-gun fire: - -"I would stake my soul that the American Navy can safeguard the passage -of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Division of the American Army!" - -There was a gasp. The words were bold, but, if true, they solved a -vexing problem. The spirit of the United States Navy had spoken through -Dave Darrin's lips. - -"Darrin," shouted an American staff officer, bringing a fist down on the -table, then springing to his feet, "you've answered for us! You've given -us our chart. I'd trust the best troopship fleet we'll ever send over -the ocean to the guarding care of a dozen young Yankee naval commanders -of your stripe." - -In an instant the enthusiasm became infectious. A cheer arose, in which -the vice admiral joined. The British naval officer of the booming tones -left his seat and went over to grasp Dave's hand. - -"Darrin, I wish we had you in our Navy!" he said, simply. - -There was little more left to be agreed upon. It was decided, however, -that a combined fleet of British and American patrol boats should be in -readiness to swoop down and save lives in case any of the American -troopships should be torpedoed. - -The council soon broke up. All that was now left to be done was for the -vice admiral and his immediate staff to formulate the exact plans for -the protection of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Division. Even after -the destroyer fleet had turned itself loose on its task, further -instructions could be sent in wireless code. - -"Gentlemen," said the vice admiral, rising, "I thank you for your -attendance, for your consideration of the problem, and for whatever help -you have been able to extend. And I can see no objection," he added, a -twinkle in his eyes, "to your giving three cheers for -Lieutenant-Commander Darrin." - -Proud? Not a bit. As the volleys of cheers rang out deafeningly, Dave -Darrin felt as though he would enjoy sinking through the deck. - -But Danny Grin was there, and he undertook the job of feeling proud for -his chum. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE GLOW-WORM OF THE SEA - - -Out upon the tossing sea once more. It was a wonder that the "Logan" did -not sit much deeper in the water, for she carried a most unusual load of -ammunition of every useful kind. - -Out upon the sea, and seemingly alone at that. Not a sail was visible to -the officers on the taut little destroyer, not a trail of smoke appeared -on any part of the horizon. Indeed, the present speed and low fuel -consumption aboard the "Logan" allowed only the thinnest wisps of smoke -to issue from the raking funnels of the destroyer. - -Had Dave needed other destroyer company, for any urgent reason, a signal -snapping from his radio aerials would bring one, perhaps two, American -destroyers to him within an hour. For some of these bulldog little -fighting craft, that were out after the deep-sea pests, were capable of -making more than thirty knots an hour. - -The "Logan" had been out four days. Though headed westward at this -moment, she had not been moving steadily westward, for she was now not -more than three hundred and thirty miles west of the coast of Ireland. - -On this fourth day, as on its predecessors, the destroyer steamed along -at cruising speed. Though the crew knew nothing of Germany's proposed -big submarine drive directed at the troopships conveying the One Hundred -and Seventeenth Division, yet every marine and sailor felt that -something unusual was in the wind. The lookouts had been instructed to -aid their vision by the free use of their marine glasses and precautions -out of the ordinary had been taken in other directions. - -"The Germans are using a new submarine periscope, slimmer than any that -they have heretofore employed. They hoist it for only a few seconds at a -time and do not send it as far out of the water as they did with the old -style periscope. The man who sights a periscope in time will save our -ship." - -That was the word constantly passed about by the "Logan's" officers. -Every sailor hoped that he might be the lucky one to discover a -periscope in time to lead to the bombing of one of the pests. - -Dave had reached the bridge at seven bells. Dalzell was now below, -sleeping as soundly as though he were back in the old home town of -Gridley. Lieutenant Curtin was on the bridge watch. - -"It's odd, Mr. Curtin, that we haven't sighted a submarine in four days; -that we haven't had the slightest visible reason to suspect the presence -of one," Dave remarked to his subordinate officer. - -"Very likely, sir, we're too far out," Curtin replied. - -"Yet we have every reason to believe that they've extended the danger -zone further westward," Darrin continued. - -"That's the belief of the fleet commander," Curtin answered, "but -there's always a chance of his having guessed wrong. Why isn't it just -as probable," he added, in a much lower tone, "that the Huns have -decided to have a try at the troopship fleet fairly close to land?" - -"It wouldn't be likely," Dave went on, in an equally low tone. "For one -thing, Mr. Curtin, the enemy would want their first try farther out. -Then, if they missed, they'd have another chance, perhaps, closer to -land." - -"If they missed on their first try, the Huns would have to run their -submersibles on the surface in order to overtake the troopship fleet for -another chance. They couldn't travel under water and overtake the -troopship fleet." - -"Quite right," Darrin admitted in a whisper. "Still, I see another -answer to the problem. Of the sixty submersibles believed to be on the -job twenty may have been sent far to the westward, the other forty -remaining nearer to the coast. The twenty submarines could make a -desperate try. Then, if they failed, the remaining forty could take up -the job closer to shore." - -"Then you don't believe all the German submarines engaged are -concentrated at one point, sir?" - -"Impossible to say," Darrin rejoined. "I don't like to form opinions on -any subject without facts to go on." - -"It's strange; not a steamer sighted today," Lieutenant Curtin resumed, -after a few moments' scanning of the sea. "During our first three days -out we met plenty of armed freighters. Today, not a sail or a stack -sighted. Can it be that the subs are further west, and that they've -overhauled and sunk several freighters?" - -"We've heard no appeals for help. Every freighter carries wireless -apparatus in these days," Dave argued. - -"True, but sometimes the torpedo shock puts a ship's radio out of -commission from the moment of impact." - -"I do not believe that the freighters are being bothered," Dave -announced. "Granted that there are undoubtedly subs enough in these -waters to raise the mischief with cargo steamers. If the subs didn't -have the luck to silence the wireless outfits on the cargo steamers at -the first shot, there would be chance of word reaching the troopships of -unusual danger, and that would lead to redoubled vigilance on the part -of the destroyer escorts. My belief, Mr. Curtin, is that the cargo boats -will have a rest until the fate of the troopship fleet has been -decided." - -"Then you believe, sir, that the absence of cargo boats today is due -to----" - -"Probably due to the fact that there was one slack day in clearing cargo -boats at American ports, and also because of an equally slack day in -British ports." - -Then fell silence. Both drowsy, despite their realization of the need of -keeping awake and on the alert, both young officers moved about on the -bridge, ever maintaining a sharp lookout. - -They were still pacing back and forth when the sun went down below the -horizon toward the distant United States. Lieutenant Beatty, fresh from -a sleep, came up on the bridge, saluting his commander. - -"Mr. Beatty, you've no other duty at present," Darrin greeted him. "Will -you do an extra bit and remain on the bridge with Curtin?" - -"I'll be very glad to, sir, for I'm feeling fit after my sleep," replied -the lieutenant, heartily. - -"I'm going below for a brief doze in my chair. If I'm wanted, call down -to some one to rouse me. I'll sleep for an hour or so. But be sure, Mr. -Curtin, to see to it that I'm called if anything happens, no matter how -slight an occurrence it may seem to be." - -"Very good, sir," from the smiling Curtin. - -"And glad I am to give the 'Old Man' a bit of a relief," quoth Beatty to -his brother officer. "I never knew a commander before who spent so much -of his time on deck or bridge, except in a gale. Mr. Darrin doesn't -appear to think that he needs more than a third as much sleep as other -persons require." - -"He told me to call him in an hour or so," grinned Lieutenant Curtin. -"Unless something turns up his instructions will allow me to let him -doze at least two hours." - -No sooner had Darrin doffed cap and sheepskin and settled back in his -chair than his eyes closed and he was cruising in the Land of Nod. - -Nor did he stir enough to wake until an orderly, sent from the bridge, -entered and shook his right arm. - -"Beg pardon, sir," said the sailor. "The officer of the deck wants to -know if you wish to be called now." - -"In another hour," said Darrin, drowsily, and dozed off again. - -Which message was received with high glee by the two conspirators for -Dave's comfort when they received the news on the bridge. - -"Only one drawback to it, Curtin," said Beatty. "When the 'Old Man' -finally wakes he'll imagine he can stand watch for twenty-four hours -without more sleep." - -"Maybe, by that time, he'll have to," retorted Curtin. "So we'll let him -gather in all the rest that he can get now." - -And Darrin slept that added hour. When called the next time he rose -straight to his feet. - -"It was stupid of me not to wake an hour ago," Dave reproached himself, -after glancing at the clock over the desk. "But just look at dear old -Danny-boy! He's slept nearly twice as long as I have. If things remain -dull this evening I won't have him called, either. He needs the rest, -poor old chap!" - -Donning cap and short coat the youthful commander went out on deck and -then started on a tour of inspection. Presently he neared the stern just -in time to see one of the two stern lookouts leap upon the other and -bear the latter to the deck. The assailant gripped his victim around the -throat, administering a severe choking. - -"No, you don't!" yelled the upper man. "I caught you that time, and I'll -bet you've done it before. Marine guard, here----stern watch!" - -A midship lookout passed the word, but Dave darted forward out of the -shadows. - -"Get up, Ferguson," Darrin commanded. "Back to your post. You've no -right to take your eyes away from your particular work. Get up, Jordan." - -The latter, the sailor who had been attacked, rose to his feet, sullenly -rubbing his throat. - -"Ferguson, why did you attack Jordan?" Dave demanded. - -"Look astern, sir!" Seaman Ferguson replied, pointing to the wake of the -destroyer. "Do you see that gleam on the water, sir? It's something that -Jordan dropped overboard. It's some tricky, dirty work, sir, or I'll eat -my guess. I've known since last night, sir, that Jordan was tricky. He -tried to get me to look another way to-night, but out of the corner of -one eye I saw him drop something overboard--and then that thing in our -wake began to gleam." - -By this time the solitary marine guard on deck duty had arrived aft. -Beholding the commanding officer, the sea-soldier saluted and stood at -attention. - -"My man," Dave ordered, "take my compliments to Lieutenant Curtin and my -instructions that he is to make a careful turn and try to go back -through our wake. He is to be very exact about going over the very wake -of this craft. The message delivered, report back here." - -Jordan, who had turned deathly pale, glanced about him as if meditating -some foolish flight. - -"Now, Jordan," Dave began, taking the young sailor firmly by the arm, -"what was it you threw overboard?" - -"A--a--" began the accused one. - -"Yes, come out with it," Darrin commanded. - -"I didn't throw anything overboard, sir. Ferguson is a liar." - -Whereupon Seaman Ferguson, though he still kept his eyes turned in the -direction imposed by his watch duties, clenched both fists hard. - -"It won't do you any good to deny, Jordan," Dave insisted. "We're going -back and find that--whatever it was that you threw overboard. Better -tell me now!" - -As if to confirm his words the "Logan" began to turn in a half circle. -At the same time the marine returned. - -"Take Jordan below. See that he's searched and then confined in the -brig," Dave directed. - -With infinite care the "Logan" sought her recent wake. It was no simple -task on such a night, when the new moon had already set. And, travelling -at such easy speed, the "Logan" had not stirred up anything like the -foamy, suds-like wake that trailed after her when she steamed at -fighting speed. - -By the time the turn was made the glowing object that Ferguson had -pointed out was no longer visible. Carefully the destroyer picked her -way back. They were a bit out of the straight line, though, as Darrin -presently found reason to believe, for a tiny glow, looking like a point -of dim light in the near distance, was finally sighted about three -points off the port bow. - -"Two points to port," Dave passed the word. He was now well up forward -of the bridge, watching the surface of the ocean intently. "Steady! -Stop!... Half speed astern.... Stop!" - -The glowing object was now in plain sight as it tossed on the swells. -Darrin gave the order to lower a cutter, instructing Ensign Phelps to go -along and haul in that glowing object. - -There was no need to watch it from the "Logan." Mr. Phelps, from the -cutter, could make it out distinctly. Soon he reached it, a seaman -bending over the side and picking up the object. - -"Pass it to me at once," directed the ensign, and an instant later took -possession of it. By the time the boat had been hoisted to the davits -Mr. Phelps leaped down to the deck and joined his commander. - -"Did you observe, sir? This thing glowed, while in the water," declared -the ensign, holding up a bottle of about a pint capacity, tightly closed -with a rubber stopper. "Yet when I got it in out of the water it stopped -glowing, and looked as dull and dark as it does now. I believe it's -coated with a transparent substance that glows only when the thing is in -the water. Have I your permission, sir, to drop it in a fire bucket and -see?" - -"Go ahead," Dave assented. - -Phelps walked to a near-by fire bucket and thrust the bottle in the -water. At first nothing happened. After a few seconds, however, the -bottle began to glow dimly, then gradually increased in brightness until -it became clear and mellow. - -"That's enough for that," Darrin nodded. "Now bring it into the -chart-room, Mr. Phelps, and we'll look it over." - -Their entrance awoke Dalzell, who stretched, then sprang up. - -Dave hastily explained to his chum what had happened, at the same time -going to the desk and turning on a stronger electric light. - -Holding the bottle up against the light, Dave was able to make out what -looked like a folded piece of paper in it, nothing else. - -"At all events," smiled Dave, as he seated himself before the desk and -glanced through the bottle glass, "I do not see any reason to believe -that I shall set off any explosive by drawing out the rubber stopper." - -Nothing disastrous happened as the stopper was withdrawn. Holding the -bottle up to the light once more, peering through the neck, Darrin saw -that it contained only the folded paper. Careful work with a penholder -consumed five minutes of time before the paper was pried out, whole. - -Dave spread it on the desk before him, - -"Phelps, you read German better than I do, I believe." - -"I can make a stagger at it, sir." - -"Look this through and translate for me," Darrin requested. - -Slowly, and with a good deal of care, Phelps translated in these words: - -"U. S. Destroyer 'Logan.' 8.15 P. M. (Date) Longitude ----; latitude ----. -Course, west by southwest. Carries three times usual amount of -ammunition. Speed, eight knots." - -The actual date was given; longitude and latitude were correct enough. - -When Phelps had finished reading Dave Darrin leaned back in his chair, -pain expressed in his face and eyes. - -"A traitor on board! An American on this craft who has sold himself to -the Huns! In the name of mercy how can such a thing be?" - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -DARRIN HAS A SPY SCARE - - -"Tell the orderly to pass the word to the marine corporal to bring -Jordan here," Dave ordered, after a dazed instant. - -That order was quickly obeyed. Seaman Jordan, shuffling his feet, his -eyes roving shiftily, nevertheless maintained a half-defiant, -half-injured air. - -"Jordan," demanded Dave, without a moment's waiting, as the man was -placed before him, "why did you drop this bottle overboard?" - -"I didn't, sir." - -"But Ferguson says you did." - -"He's a liar, sir." - -"Where did you get this bottle?" Dave rapped out. - -"I didn't get it, sir; I never saw it before." - -"Have you any more of these bottles?" - -"Naturally not, sir." - -"What is the transparent coating on this bottle that makes it glow soon -after it reaches the water?" - -"I don't know anything about it, sir." - -"Jordan, don't you know that, in maintaining this defiant attitude, you -are only injuring your own case?" Darrin demanded, warningly. - -"I can't tell you anything else than I'm telling you, sir," the sailor -cried, angrily. "I have been telling you the truth and I won't lie, -sir." - -"I don't ask you to lie," Darrin observed coolly. - -"But you won't believe me, sir." - -"No," said Dave, rising. "I don't. Corporal, take this man back to the -brig. And see to it that you don't repeat anything that you have heard -here. As you go out pass the word by messenger to the officer of the -deck to have Seaman Ferguson relieved. As soon as that is done Ferguson -is to report to me here." - -So swiftly are orders carried out on a destroyer in war-time that it was -less than a minute later when Ferguson knocked, entered, saluted, and -stood, cap in hand, before his commanding officer. - -"Ferguson," Dave began, "outside of your being stationed with him, have -you seen much of Jordan?" - -"About as much, sir, as I see of any shipmate who isn't any particular -friend of mine." - -"Have you been on unfriendly terms with Jordan?" - -"Not until I caught him at tricks to-night, sir." - -"Ever had any trouble with Jordan?" - -"Fought him twice, I think, sir." - -"Any bad blood between you two?" - -"No, sir; that is, nothing more than disputes that blew over at once -after we had used our fists on each other." - -"Who won the fights?" - -"I did, sir." - -"And you have not looked upon Jordan as an enemy?" - -"No, sir." - -"What has been your opinion of Jordan as a seaman?" - -"He always seemed to know his business, sir." - -"Did he perform his duties cheerfully?" - -"I thought so," Ferguson replied. - -"Now, Ferguson," Darrin went on, "you two have chatted quite a bit, -haven't you, when on station side by side?" - -"Yes, sir, whenever we found the time hanging heavy on our hands." - -"What did you talk about?" - -"Sometimes, sir, we talked about the fun that can be had on shore leave, -but more often about submarines and the war, sir." - -"And what was Jordan's attitude toward the war?" - -"I don't know that I understand you, sir." - -"Did Jordan speak as if he believed the United States did right to enter -the war?" - -"Oh, yes, sir." - -"He talked, did he, like what you would call a good American?" - -"Yes, sir; always, when the subject was mentioned." - -"And you believed him loyal to the United States?" - -"Yes, sir; up to last night." - -"What happened then?" - -"Why, sir, Jordan got me to look off to starboard, and my back was -turned to him for a moment. I felt, rather than saw, that he had dropped -something overboard. I looked quickly astern at our wake. I now feel -pretty sure, sir, that I saw something glowing floating on the water -astern. You may remember, sir, that at this time last night there was a -heavy phosphorescent wake. And we were making faster speed last night, -too, and our propeller turned up more of the phosphorescent stuff in the -water, if that is the right way to express it, sir." - -Darrin nodded his comprehension of the description, and went on: - -"Last night was the first time you had any suspicion of Jordan?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Did he do anything further last night to arouse your suspicion?" - -"No, sir." - -"Did you watch him?" - -"Yes, sir; like a hawk. But I'm pretty sure that he didn't know I was -watching him." - -"Did you report your suspicions to any officer?" - -"No, sir." - -"Why not?" - -"Because I didn't have anything but a hazy suspicion to report, sir, and -I wouldn't like to carry tales or rouse suspicion against a chap who -might be altogether decent." - -"Then your previous fights with Jordan didn't cause you to dislike or -suspect the man?" - -"Certainly not, sir. I don't fight that way. When I've a bit of a scrap -with a mate, sir, the fight is over, with me, when it stops." - -"Yet you felt that you should keep an eye on Jordan to-night?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"And you believe that Jordan dropped this bottle overboard into our -wake?" - -"I'm positive that he did, sir." - -"Did you see him do it?" - -"No, sir," Ferguson replied, without hesitation. - -Dave Darrin had followed a style of questioning that is common to the -Army and the Navy when one enlisted man makes a report against another -enlisted man. Dave's first object was to make sure that there was no -really bad blood between the men, and that the charge wasn't merely a -matter of getting square. Secondly, Darrin was trying to make up his -mind as to Ferguson's keenness and reliability as a witness. By this -time he had made up his mind that Seaman Ferguson was telling the truth -according to his best knowledge of what had happened, and that he had -spoken without prejudice. - -"Ferguson," said the young destroyer commander, promptly, "I am -satisfied that you have answered me truthfully. I also commend you for -your prompt action to-night. As to your failure to make a report of your -suspicions last night I believe that you have justified yourself." - -"Thank you, sir. If I may, I would like to ask the lieutenant-commander -a question." - -This way of putting it, addressing Dave in the third person, is quite in -keeping with the custom of the service. - -"You may ask the question," Dave nodded. - -"Then I would like to ask the lieutenant-commander, sir, if I would have -done better to have reported my suspicions last night?" - -"It is impossible to answer that question for every case that might -arise," Dave told him. "Navy men, whether enlisted or commissioned, -dislike tale-bearers. In war-time, however, and under peculiar -conditions where extreme peril always lurks, and where the act of a spy -may destroy a ship's company in a twinkling of an eye, it is usually -permissible to report even vague suspicions. The officer to whom such a -report is made will quickly discover that it is probably only a vague -suspicion, and then he will not be unduly prejudiced against the -suspected man." - -"Thank you, sir." - -"Do not talk this over with your mates, Ferguson. The less that is said -about the matter for the present the better I shall like it. That is all -for the present. You have done a good bit of work, Ferguson." - -"I thank the lieutenant-commander." - -At a nod from Darrin the seaman saluted and withdrew. - -For the next five minutes Dave sat, alternately scanning the message and -studying the appearance of the bottle. At last he looked up at his -brother officers. - -"Mr. Phelps, you will make it your next duty to search Jordan's effects. -In his duffle bag or hammock space you may find more of these bottles. -If you do not, you will extend your search further, as your judgment -dictates. If there are any more of these bottles on board I wish them -found and turned over to me." - -After the ensign had gone Dan drew on his sheepskin. - -"After this spy scare," he announced, "I'm off to make an inspection. -Perhaps I may find something connected with this matter." - -"If you go by the brig, Danny-boy, you might tell Jordan that at any -time when he wants to open up and speak the truth he may send in word." - -"Very good, sir." - -Left by himself Darrin went to a filing case, turned to "J" and brought -forth Jordan's descriptive card. This is a card that contains full -information as to an enlisted man's name, his age, a personal -description, extent and kind of service, education, qualifications, -disciplinary record, the grades in which he has served, the ships and -shore stations on or at which he has served, and more information along -similar lines. - -Jordan's card showed that the arrested man had joined the Navy five -years before, as an apprentice, at the age of nineteen; his work had -always been well done; he had never been in serious trouble; his -reputation was good. His home address was given and the names of his -parents stated. - -"No help from this source," Dave mused, as he returned the card to its -proper place in the drawer. "Assuming that Jordan is guilty, then Jordan -is not his real name, and he's really a German, not an American. For -Jordan's treachery might cause the sudden destruction of this craft, and -no American, no matter how bad, would sell out for mere money when he -knew his treachery was likely to result in his own sudden death. No -American, good, bad or indifferent, would be capable of such devotion to -Germany, but a German would. Therefore I suspect that Jordan is really a -German, who enlisted under a false name. It may even be that German -authorities, foreseeing the coming of the war, and suspecting that the -United States might be drawn into it, ordered this young fellow to -enlist in peace times that he might be at hand as a spy when trouble did -break out. If that is true of Jordan, I wonder how many other German -spies also succeeded in enlisting in our Navy before Germany went to war -at all? Jupiter, but that's a startling question! For that matter, have -we other German spies aboard the 'Logan?'" - -The idea was enough to cause Darrin to settle back in his chair, a prey -to rushing thoughts. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE BATTLE FOR THE TROOPSHIP FLEET - - -Earlier that same evening a group of Uncle Sam's soldiers stood at the -bow of a steamship. Back of them, on the spar deck, other groups lined -the rails on both sides. - -For some minutes there had been silence, but at last one of the group in -the bow spoke. - -"Late to-night I expect that we shall enter the outer edge of the Danger -Zone." - -"If the Huns and their subs are there to meet us it will kill a lot of -the monotony," declared another soldier. - -"I wonder if the Huns will put up any real excitement for us in that -line," said a third. - -"Getting nervous, Pete?" asked the first speaker, with a short laugh. - -"Not a bit," replied Pete, hiding a yawn with his left hand. - -"Nothing to get nervous about," spoke up a fourth soldier. "The Huns are -bully at sinking unarmed freighters, but so far, if they know anything -about getting convoyed troopships they haven't used much of their -knowledge." - -"Still, they do get a troopship once in a while," spoke up another -soldier, in a serious tone. "They may get us." - -"Won't amount to much if they do," declared Pete, boldly. "Some of us -would get off in the boats, and the rest of us would drop into the water -with our life-belts on. Then we'd soon be picked up by a destroyer and -we'd be all right again. Pooh! This so-called submarine 'menace' makes -me tired. With all their submarines and all their bluster the Huns don't -do enough damage to our troopships to make it worth all the bother they -have to take." - -"Anybody going to stay awake all night, to see if we get it during the -dark hours?" inquired another. - -"No; what's the use? If we don't get hit there is no use in losing our -sleep. If we do get hit there's always plenty of time for the men to -turn out and fit their life-belts on." - -"If I thought we'd be attacked during the dark hours I'd like to stay up -here on deck to-night and be on hand to see what happens when the attack -comes," said a soldier in a group that was moving bow-ward from the port -rail. - -"Forget it," advised a corporal. "The guard would chase you below if you -tried to stay on deck. After 'hammocks' is sounded no man is allowed on -deck unless he is on duty. If there is an attack to-night the guard will -have all the fun to divide with the forward gun-crew." - -A young naval petty officer standing just behind the bow gun wheeled -abruptly, eyeing the soldier lot. - -"Don't you fellows get nervous," he said. "This is my seventh trip -across on a troopship, and to date the only thing I've seen to shoot at -is the barrel that is chucked overboard when we're to have target -practice." - -"Who's nervous?" demanded Pete. - -"All of you," replied the bluejacket calmly. - -"Don't you believe it!" - -"That is not calling you cowards, either," the bluejacket continued. -"And let me give you a tip. If we're still afloat when daylight comes, -don't any of you strain your eyesight looking for submarine conning -towers sticking above the water. There won't be any. No matter how many -subs there may be about, they know better than to expose themselves with -so many destroyers around and all the troopships armed. The most that -any Hun submarine commander would show would be a foot of slim periscope -for a few seconds, and it would be so far away that no one but a fellow -used to looking for such things would see it. Want my advice?" - -"If it's any good," nodded the corporal. - -"It's as good as can be had," retorted the young bluejacket. "Here is -the line of thought for you. Unless you're detailed for guard or lookout -duty, don't bother looking for subs at all. Don't even give any thought -to them unless the attack starts. Keeping your mind off submarines will -give you a better show to keep your hair from turning gray before you -reach the trenches." - -This troopship was one of the pair that led the fleet. A long double -line of ships it was. Some of the vessels were of eight or nine thousand -tons; others were smaller and still others much smaller. They moved in -two lines that were widely separated, and even in the lines the -intervals between ships looked long to a landsman. Ahead a torpedo boat -destroyer of the United States Navy scurried briskly, often scooting off -to one side of the course. Other destroyers were out to port or -starboard, while one craft manned by vigilant officers and men brought -up the rear of the long fleet. - -Every now and then a destroyer, for no reason apparent to a landsman, -darted between ships and took up a new post, or else turned and scurried -back to its former relative position. - -This fleet was the present ocean home of the One Hundred and Seventeenth -Division, United States Army. On one of the ships the most important -passenger was Major General Burton, division commander. On another -troopship the "big man" was Brigadier General Quimby, commanding the -Three Hundred and Twenty-second Infantry Brigade. Brigadier General -Sefton's Three Hundred and Twenty-first Infantry Brigade was also with -the fleet, along with Brigadier General Strong's brigade of one heavy -field artillery regiment and two light field artillery batteries. - -There were Engineers and Medical Corps units on the ships of this fleet, -Quartermaster field transportation units, Signal Corps men, and units of -various other auxiliary branches of the service. First and last, some -twenty-four thousand officers and men of the Army. Some of the ships -carried horses and mules, others tractors. Great quantities of -ammunition of all types were carried by this fleet; stores of food and -medicines, batteries of artillery, ambulances--in a word, all the vast -quantities of equipment, ordnance, clothing and the other items that go -to meet the demands of troops on foreign field service. - -A really huge Armada it was, considering the actual number of fighting -men that it carried. A dark, uncanny-looking fleet it was, too, with an -air of stealth and secret enterprise that could not be dispelled. -Nowhere on any of the troopships did a light glow that could, by any -possibility, be seen by those aboard another craft. Visible lights had -been forbidden from the very moment that the ships had set sail from -American ports. - -To this rule of no visible lights the sole exception, occasionally to be -observed, was the use of the red, white and blue electric lights that -sometimes glowed briefly from the yard-arms of the vessels. These -lights, slangily called "blinkers," convey necessary messages from one -war craft to another at sea. - -Nineteen thousand fighting men and some five thousand to serve them -behind the fighting lines in France, were thus crossing the ocean, under -dark skies, and with every ship in complete darkness. It was a weird -sight, and Uncle Sam's soldiers aboard these ships had not yet gotten -over the wonder of it. - -All through the fleet, conversations as to the probability of submarine -attack on the morrow, or on succeeding days, were infrequent and brief. -Hardly a soldier, however, was fooled by the absence of talk on the -subject. Each soldier knew that he was thinking a good deal about the -chances of the ship's being torpedoed on the high seas, and he knew, -too, that his comrades were thinking of the same thing. - -At last the bugles through the fleet softly sounded the call to turn in. -Nearly all of the men had remained up on deck this evening. Now they -stole below, hurriedly making up their bunks, and as hurriedly -undressing and getting in under the blankets before "taps" should sound. - -And so the decks were left to the gun-crews, to the lookouts and the -members of the guard posted there. Below, on the berth-decks, some of -the soldiers slept little, if any, that night. Others went promptly and -soundly asleep. - -It was on this same night that Lieutenant-Commander Dave Darrin was -presently obliged to put out of his mind, as far as possible, further -thought of the supposed treachery of Seaman Jordan, for they were on -their way to the rendezvous where they were to meet the troopship fleet. - -Dan Dalzell, as executive officer, came in breezily, saluting briskly -and giving his cheery report as to the results of his inspection: - -"All secure, sir." - -Dave was on the bridge, with Lieutenant Briggs, when Ensign Phelps came -to report that he had been unable to find any of the looked-for bottles -in Jordan's duffle-bag or other effects, or, for that matter, anywhere -else. - -"Very good, Mr. Phelps. Thank you. I recommend that, until your watch is -called, you get all the sleep you can. To-morrow there may be no sleep -for any of us." - -Later in the night cautious signals, "blinker" lights, were observed off -the port quarter. - -The "Logan," comprehending, replied with her own "blinkers." The two -craft presently came closer, and after that kept each other company, for -the destroyer "John Adams" was also bound for the rendezvous of the -early morn. - -Two hours before dawn Darrin gave the order to lie to. The "Adams" also -stopped her engines, nearly, for the destroyers had reached the point of -rendezvous. Soon afterward a third destroyer signalled and joined; not -long after that a fourth. There were two more on hand before dawn. - -Through the dark sky came three short, quick flashes of a searchlight. -It was the "Logan" that returned this signal. Then other signals were -swiftly exchanged with the craft to the westward. - -"The troopship fleet is going to be punctual to the minute," Darrin -remarked to his watch officer. - -"And our biggest time will be ahead of us, sir, I'm thinking," responded -Lieutenant Briggs. - -"In a way the big time will be welcome," smiled Dave. "Even if we are -unfortunate enough to sustain some losses the Hun will get the worst of -it." - -"Why do you say that, sir?" Briggs inquired. - -"Because, so far, in every encounter with naval vessels or troopships -the Hun has seemed fated to get the worst of it." - -In the east a pale light appeared in the sky. This slowly deepened. Then -came the early red and orange tints of what promised to be a bright day. - -"There's the troopship fleet!" cried Darrin, joyously. "The head of it -anyway. We'll soon see more of it." - -Lieutenant Briggs held his glass for a full thirty seconds on the first -ships visible to the westward. - -"And there goes our signal to join!" exclaimed Darrin, as bunting broke -from the foremast of the leading destroyer with the fleet. "Acknowledge -the signal, Mr. Briggs, and give the order for full speed ahead." - -Racing westward went six torpedo boat destroyers to meet their comrades -of the Navy and of the Army. - -As they drew nearer, those on the destroyers could see a wild waving of -hats by the soldiers crowding the decks of the leading transports. One -moment the hat-waving was visible; then as suddenly it ceased, and the -spar decks were nearly bare of men, for mess-call had sounded for -breakfast. The only soldier who fails to answer mess call is a sick or a -dead one. - -"Follow second destroyer on port line," came the signal from the leading -destroyer to the "Logan." "After taking position meet any emergency -according to best judgment." - -So the "Logan" raced along to the north of the fleet, then made a swift, -curving sweep and moved into the assigned position. - -From the decks of the nearest transports, soldiers, as they returned -from their meal, blithely waved their caps again. Cheering was -forbidden, as such noise would drown out orders that might be given for -the handling of the ship. But those Of Dave's jackies who could, waved -back good-humoredly. - -For some minutes after taking position, Darrin found himself running -along with the troopship "Cumberland," and the distance between them was -but a few hundred yards. - -Dave had turned to watch the movements of the destroyer ahead in the -line when he heard a starboard lookout call: - -"Torpedo coming, sir, on the port beam!" - -Like a flash Darrin wheeled to behold the oncoming trail. - -Lieutenant Curtin, now on the bridge watch, gave quartermaster and -engine-room swift orders, while Ensign Phelps signalled the -"Cumberland." - -Like a racehorse in full career, the "Logan" bounded forward and made a -sharp turn to port. At the same time the "Cumberland" obliqued sharply -to starboard. - -On came the torpedo. The soldiers on the troopship deck watched its -course with fascinated eyes. - -The "Logan," having swerved enough only to clear the deadly missile, now -darted in again, her nose striking what was left of the torpedo trail. -On she dashed, gun and bomb crews grimly waiting, every man on duty -alert on the destroyer's decks. - -Cutting the wind the "Logan" raced on her way, her bow throwing up a -huge volume of water. Dave, on the bridge, saw his staunch little -fighting craft near the starting end of the tell-tale torpedo trail. And -there on the water, moving eastward and at right angles with the -direction of the path, was an ill-defined, bulky something which, from -the destroyer's bridge, looked like a submerged shadow. - -Quickly rasping out a change in the course, Dave saw the "Logan" -overtake that shadow in a matter of seconds. The shadow was much less -distinct now, for the sea pest was submerging to greater depth. - -It was Darrin himself who seized the handle of the bridge telegraph. - -Answering the signal sent by Dave to the engine room, the "Logan" made a -magnificent leap forward just as the destroyer's bow reached the point -over the tail of the shadow. - -"Let go the depth bomb!" he roared. The signal was passed to the bomb -crew to "let go!" - -Over went the bomb. The "Logan" still leaped forward. - -Then, astern of the rushing craft, came a muffled roar. A great mass of -water shot up into the air, like a compressed geyser. Before the column -of water had had time to subside big bubbles of air came up in myriads -and burst on the surface. - -The instant after the explosion of the depth bomb, the "Logan" turned on -the shortest axis possible, her propellers slowing down somewhat. - -"The 'Cumberland' is still afloat and not hit, thank Heaven!" Darrin -uttered fervently. - -Only the troopship's quick turn to starboard had saved her. The torpedo -had sped past by less than five feet from her rudder. - -Another turn, and Dave came up with the scene of the explosion. Oh, -cheerful sight! The water was mottled with great patches of oil. More -cheering still, sundered bits of wooden fittings from a submarine -floated on the water. Two dead bodies also drifted on the swells; the -remaining Huns on the shattered craft must have gone down with the sea -pest. - -"Not bad work, Mr. Curtin," Dave remarked, calmly, as the destroyer once -more moved into her place in the escort line. - -"May we have as good luck every time," came the fervent response of the -watch officer. - -Word of the bomb hit had been signalled along the line. It was hard -indeed that the soldiers were not allowed to cheer! - -But had the morning's work really begun? - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -WHEN THE ENEMY SCORED - - -The sun had risen through a haze, which is in favor of a fleet on the -defensive, as there is not so much glare from the water to confuse the -vision of lookouts. - -However, there was no attack in the next hour. The fleet continued on -its way only as swiftly as the slowest transport could move, for it is -an axiom at sea that the speed of a fleet is the speed of its slowest -ship. - -Suddenly Dave recalled to mind the prisoner, Jordan, locked in the brig -below. - -"Corporal," he called down, as that noncommissioned officer of marines -passed across the deck, "in case we are hit and are sinking, make it -your duty to remember Jordan, in the brig. Turn him loose before we -abandon ship--if the day's work comes to that." - - * * * * * - -"Humph!" Pete was saying to his soldier comrades forward on one of the -leading transports. "The Germans must be hard up when they can send only -one sub to tackle a fleet like this." - -"I don't care if the Huns send fifty or a hundred of their pests," broke -in another soldier. "The subs have no show. Did you see that destroyer? -Scoot! Pouf! Hm! Where's that submarine now? I tell you, fellows, after -all, submarines are good only for sinking unarmed schooners." - -"Still, they've sunk more than a few armed steamers," argued a comrade. - -"If they did," maintained the former speaker, warmly, "then it was -because the lookouts and gunners were asleep. You wait! If we meet a -dozen of these Hun submarines to-day you'll find that they won't get any -of our ships." - -"I'm going to do my bragging after we land," interjected an old sergeant -dryly. "I always enjoy my bragging best after I get over my scare." - -But the long quiet proved too good to last. The almost simultaneous -barking of guns from three troopships and from two destroyers called -swift attention to the fact that the fusillade was aimed at a periscope -off starboard. Nearly a dozen shells struck the water all around the -spot where the periscope had vanished. From about the same point a light -streak appeared on the water. - -Signalling back instructions to the transports as to their course, a -destroyer darted out of line to go after the submarine after the fashion -that Darrin had employed. Ere long the destroyer swerved in a sharp -curve and headed back for her place in the escort line, signalling at -the same time: - -"Nothing left for us to do. A shell from one of the guns engaged hit the -pest under water and poured oil on the troubled waters." - -In the meantime, the endangered transport, which had promptly and -intelligently obeyed the steering order, had barely escaped the torpedo -fired at her. - -Spirits now ran high in the troopship fleet. Uncle Sam's soldiers had -seen the threatened ships saved, and had also seen Uncle Sam's sailors -show how easily a submarine may be fought--sometimes. - -After that the fleet proceeded on its uninterrupted way for so long a -time that the noon meal had been eaten calmly by the voyaging soldiers. -Few of them thought it worth while to cut that meal short in order to go -on deck again. - -Especially did Pete and his friends feel indifferent to the best that -the Huns could do out here on the water. Just then there came a terrific -shock. It was an explosion, followed by a crash that caused the ship to -stagger over to starboard, though she quickly righted herself. - -"They've got us!" yelled Pete, jumping up from the table, overturning -his coffee and starting for the upper deck on a run. - -Then, ashamed of his nervousness, Pete stopped running and tuned down to -a slow walk toward the companionway stairs from the mess deck. Others -were running, with a resulting jam on the stairs. - -"What are we going to do?" one soldier asked Pete. - -"Do the same thing that we've been doing ever since we came into the -Service, I guess," drawled Pete. "And that is, we're going to listen and -obey orders. Stop shoving, you fellows. We won't get up any faster for -crowding." - -Soon staff and line officers appeared at the head of the stairs, issuing -sharp, steady commands that stopped all signs of a possible panic. - -"Keep your wits, men, and the last of you will reach shore all right," -called an officer who was forcing his way down the stairs. "Some of you -men turn aside and give me a chance to get to the deck below." - -His coolness, and his willingness to be on the mess deck calmed the -excitement of many a young soldier who was eager to get up to the spar -deck. From a deck rail in front of the chart-house a major with a lusty -voice shouted down: - -"No excitement, men! This ship, if she sinks, will be a long time doing -it. There will be time to get every man off, and it will be done if you -listen to orders and obey them." - -That torpedo had struck deep into the ship's vitals, stopping the -engines instantly. - -Only here and there was there a soldier who did not have his life belt -on. These now scrambled for their belts. - -From the flagship of the destroyers at the head of the line swift -signals were wigwagged and repeated down the lines. One of them read: - -"'Logan' stand by 'Castle City' for rescue work." - -Instantly Dave ordered the full-speed signal telegraphed to the engine -room, then added, as the destroyer raced down the line: - -"Keep all gunners and lookouts at their stations, Mr. Dalzell. Mr. -Briggs will take charge of manning and lowering our two launches and the -cutters, and will stand by to lower away." - -The destroyer "Adams" had already caught a hawse-line from the "Castle -City" by the time Dave's craft reached the scene. With the hawser made -fast the destroyer was towing the stricken transport out of the fleet -line. - -"Lower away," Dave commanded, after he had dashed past the "Castle City" -and had lain to. Overboard went the launches and cutters, and Lieutenant -Briggs was soon alongside the transport, which was also lowering -well-filled lifeboats. - -His own boats and the ship's boats Briggs had towed in strings. On -orders from the commander of the destroyer flotilla, other troopships -halted long enough to take on the rescued ones. - -Still another destroyer had to hasten to the assistance of the "Logan," -for the "Castle City" was rapidly settling lower in the water. - -Never had naval small craft worked at greater speed, yet necessity moved -faster. The transport had by now heeled well over to port. She could not -keep afloat much longer. - -"Those who cannot get into the boats now will have to jump," shouted -Dave Darrin. - -So excellent was the control by the regimental officers on the "Castle -City" that even now there was no panic. Soldiers gathered at the points -indicated, and sprang overboard when ordered to do so. The ship's crew, -too, were now jumping. - -Among them crept the destroyer "Logan," her sailors throwing lines, -while a side gangway was also lowered for the use of those who could -swim to it. - -Scores of soldiers were soon on the "Logan's" deck. These were directed -to seek warm quarters below where they could dry their clothing. Many of -the soldiers preferred to remain on deck to aid in the rescue of their -comrades. Having cast off after finishing her job of towing, the "Adams" -was now busy, too, in rescue work. - -At last, when no more heads appeared on the water, and no more men were -in evidence on the decks of the sinking transport, the order was -signalled for the rescue-work destroyers to stand clear. - -"She'll plunge by the head within five minutes," Dalzell declared, as -the "Logan" steamed clear. - -Bang! bang! bang! Destroyer and troopship guns, up near the head of the -line, had suddenly begun blazing away. - -Half a dozen periscopes showed short lengths, briefly, above the water, -but the number of faint streaks across the sea showed that other enemy -submarines were attacking without first taking periscope sights. - -"It's the general attack on the fleet, that we expected!" Dave Darrin -shouted from the bridge. "Stand by! Remember that fractions of seconds -count in carrying out orders now." - -Then Lieutenant Beatty caught sight of a periscope above the water, some -eight hundred yards away. One of the "Logan's" forward guns spoke in -sharp challenge. The biggest submarine sea fight of all was now on! - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE HOTTEST WORK OF ALL - - -From the troopship line, as the "Logan" dashed away, Darrin could hear -the guns of the transports that were coming up and near enough to take -part in the fight. Wherever a periscope showed itself it was bound to -invite fire from half a dozen gunners in almost the same instant. - -"Sorry, but you soldiers will all have to go inside and remain there," -ordered Lieutenant Dan Dalzell. "We have no room for any one on deck -except our crew." - -To most of the soldiers it seemed hard to be deprived of a view of the -only thing that interested them, but Navy officers, in issuing orders, -have a way of speaking that does not admit of doubt as to their meaning. - -"There goes the 'Castle City' by the bow," called a lookout, but Dave -Darrin, his eyes searching for a torpedo trail, took his word for it and -did not turn to look. - -"Torpedo wake, sir, three points off port bow!" sang out a lookout. - -Dave turned this time; the telltale line was there. His orders rapped -out and the "Logan" started by the shortest cut to reach that line and -to locate its source. - -Even as they raced to find that submarine, a gunner on the "Logan" fired -at the briefly visible periscope of another enemy craft. - -Suddenly, not more than two hundred yards away, a periscope reared -itself in their path, though not more than two feet of its length -appeared above the water. - -Intensely alert, Lieutenant Beatty himself sighted and gave the order to -fire. Nor was this an easy task, for the destroyer, to avoid ramming and -ripping out part of its own hull, veered aside from the direct line. - -"Fire!" yelled Beatty. - -The shell gave a good report of itself. It was plain that it had made a -hit of some sort, though below the surface. - -The destroyer swung again to face its prey. Higher came the periscope, -then the conning tower emerged. It was then observed that the conning -tower had been struck and a hole put through it on one side. Small -though the hole was, if the craft had submerged further instead of -rising, she would have been submerged for all time. - -Lieutenant Beatty calmly sighted for the next shot. Just as the deck of -the undersea boat came awash the manhole sprang open and the heads of -two German sailors appeared. - -"They're going to try to man a gun and fight us," Darrin concluded, -swiftly. - -"Fire!" ordered Beatty, calmly. - -That shot could not have been better placed. It struck the tower fairly, -exploding inside. It killed both men at the manhole, hurling them into -the sea. Probably it killed the officer in the conning tower as well. - -Beatty did not stop here. Another shell had been loaded in at the breech -of the gun, and he bent forward to sight just as the upper part of the -hull came into view. - -"Fire!" It was a clean hit, just at the water line. Hardly an instant -later, it seemed, the same gun spoke again--another water-line hit. - -"Bye-bye!" murmured Dave, as he ordered the course changed. There was no -need to wait, or to plant another shot, for the inrush of water had -settled the fate of that submarine so speedily that there wasn't the -slightest chance for any of the Huns to save themselves. That pest -settled quickly, then disappeared from view. - -"Clean work--great, Mr. Beatty!" Dave called down briskly. - -Mr. Beatty, though he acknowledged the compliment with a salute, did not -turn to look at his superior, as prescribed by regulations, for his -keen, swift glance was sweeping over the waters ahead. - -And not more than a hundred yards ahead of them a faint "wake" crossed -their bow, headed for one of the ships of the transport fleet. Instantly -the "Logan" turned into that trail, following it back at racing speed. - -It looked like Dave Darrin's lucky day, for they plunged over the dark, -heavy shadow of something that was not far below the surface. - -Knowing his speed and the length of his own craft Dave timed the instant -just right, then shouted: - -"Let go the bomb!" - -A depth bomb was instantly released over the stern. - -By the time that it exploded the speeding destroyer was safely out of -the way of any danger from its effects. A huge, thick column of water -rose, as if overboiling from a monster pot. - -"Put about and go back to observe," Darrin directed, nodding to the -watch officer. - -Even before they were fully about an exultant hurrah came from a lookout -forward. - -"Was she hit, lookout?" Dave shouted. - -"'Hit' is the right word, sir," came the response. "On that spot, at -this minute, there's more oil than water." - -In another instant Dave also beheld the big, spreading mass of oil. -There was no need of investigating further. He turned in search of other -enemy craft. - -Ten minutes passed without sight of one near enough to engage Darrin's -attention. It would not be good judgment for the "Logan" to go hunting -in some other craft's territory. - -At last, a thousand yards away, a conning tower, with only a stump of a -periscope remaining, rose through the waves. Time was, in the war, when -a shattered periscope obliged a submarine to choose between rising to -the surface and sinking, but later periscopes were so adjusted that they -could be shot away without imperilling the safety of the underseas -craft. This emerging craft showed also a damaged tower, and the rising -had to be of the quickest order. - -"I hope that chap isn't going to surrender," muttered Dave, as he -ordered the "Logan" headed straight toward the sea monster. "It takes -too long, in a fight like this, to receive a surrender and remove the -prisoners." - -In a very few seconds, however, the enemy relieved his apprehensions. -Beatty fired two shots, both of which went a few feet wild. In that time -the German commander rushed men out to the bow gun. Though her tower was -damaged, the craft could still fight on the surface. - -One after another eight German sailors leaped out to the deck, throwing -their six-inch forward gun into fighting position. - -R-r-r-r-rip! Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat! Two machine guns on the "Logan" were -turned loose. One German sailor, then another, was hit, fell and rolled -from the wet platform into the sea. - -Bang! roared out Lieutenant Beatty's gun, but the shot did nothing more -than tear away a part of the conning tower's top. - -Still the machine guns played upon that Hun gun-crew. Three more of the -enemy were laid low, two of them rolling overboard into the sea. - -A flash leaped from the German gun. A swell, lifting the bow of the -submarine at that instant caused the shell to go screaming overhead, so -close to the bridge that the three officers there "ducked" without -realizing that they were doing so. - -Aiming for the German gun, Beatty sent in a shell that pierced the top -of the hull twenty feet ahead of the gun. - -"Cooler, old chap!" Lieutenant Beatty breathlessly adjured himself, and -spent perhaps half a second more in the sighting this time. - -Just before he fired, the Huns let go with their big piece again. The -shell struck the "Logan's" foremast, damaging it, though the mast did -not go overboard. - -Two sailors on lookout, hit by flying pieces of steel, were hurled into -the air. One dropped to the deck, a hopelessly mangled mass of torn -flesh; the other seaman was knocked overboard. - -Dave turned to look at that wreck of a human being as it struck the -water. He knew there was no life in the man, so gave no order for -recovering the body. - -Down below sailors sprang to lift the dead man, who had dropped there, -on to a stretcher. They carried him below, to be buried later. - -Beatty did not delay his firing an instant. This time the shell struck -at the base of the enemy's tower. A fragment of the exploding shell must -have hit one of the German gun-crew, for a man fell on his face and -rolled overboard. However, that mattered little in the fight, for still -Hun reinforcements came through what was left of the conning tower. - -"I seem able to hit everything but that gun or the water-line," fumed -Lieutenant Beatty, enraged with himself. - -Hit though the tower had been, and though, also, three or four members -of the Hun crew must have been killed in those hits, the steering gear -of the submarine was still left and the grim craft was maneuvered in a -way to challenge admiration. - -Considerate of the feelings of the officer with the forward guns, Darrin -had refrained from giving one order, but now passed the order to the -machine gunners to concentrate their fire on the enemy hull at the water -line. - -The water alongside the submarine began spurting in tiny jets. This -sieve-like riddling would presently settle the fight, unless the Hun -gunners got in just one shot where it would tell best. The fight, -therefore, was not yet won by the destroyer. - -"Fire!" ordered Beatty, in forced calm. Then, all in an instant, that -young naval lieutenant threw up his hands. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -A TRAP AND ITS PREY - - -Not that he was hit. Oh, no! Beatty's last shot had done its work well. -In the enemy's hull, at the water-line, a great, jagged hole had -appeared. - -Responding to the inrush of water the submarine heeled. And then a -strange sight was witnessed. Just as the breathless sailors on the -"Logan" looked for the underseas craft to plunge under the waves she did -something very different. - -How it happened no one can ever tell; the cause none can guess with -anything like certainty. - -Did a chorus of despairing shrieks come from the bowels of that dying -sea monster? There were those on the "Logan" who were sure they heard -cries of terror. - -[Illustration: The last shot.] - -Instead of sinking, the submarine continued on over--and turned turtle. -Her dripping hull glistened in the forenoon sun! - -It was too much for the tensed nerves of the American sailor men. - -"Hurrah!" they let loose. "Hurrah! Hur--" - -"Stop that cheering!" rose Darrin's heaviest tones over the tumult. "The -enemy are dying." - -"They're only Huns!" answered a voice from below. - -But the cheering died away and Dave's voice carried far as he answered: - -"I know they're only Huns, and a bad lot, but they fought us well. We'll -cheer for the victory later, but not for the fate of men who are dying -there." - -Darrin then gave the order to steam in close and to stand by to rescue -any swimmers who might appear in the water. - -Twice the "Logan" circled the overturned enemy. Save for two of the men -who had been shot away from the submarine's gun platform, and who were -dead, none of the enemy were to be found. - -Now it was that the young commanding officer had an opportunity to turn -about and see how it was faring with the other American vessels. - -All firing had ceased. The fleet was proceeding on its way. Darrin was -some distance astern of the rearmost ships of the troopship fleet. - -"Men, it looks as if our fight were over for the present," Dave called -down in hearty cheery tones. "From the bridge we cannot see the head of -the fleet, nor can we hear the sound of firing." - -Accordingly all speed was jammed on. The "Logan," saluting the rearmost -scout of the destroyer flotilla, steamed on to return to her own -position in the line. As he passed a sister ship Darrin signalled: - -"How many transports lost?" - -"Only the 'Castle City,' we understand," came the response. - -"Any lives lost?" - -"We don't know." - -"We lost two men." - -"Condolence," signalled the rearmost rear-guard craft. - -"Any naval vessels lost?" Dave inquired. - -"None that we know about." - -"How many enemy submarines sunk?" - -"Several; don't know the number," replied the other destroyer. - -"Now you may cheer in earnest, if you want to," Darrin shouted down from -the bridge as the news was passed around. - -And right royally did those jackies cheer. The rescued soldiers were now -permitted on the "Logan's" deck, and contributed their own quota of -cheers. - -Dan came up to the bridge with a paper in his hand. - -"The commanding general of the Army division will be asking for the -names of soldiers on the various ships of the naval fleet who were -rescued from the 'Castle City,'" Dalzell explained. "So I've taken the -names of all the Army people we have aboard the 'Logan.' Here's the -list. It foots up seventy-seven enlisted men, with two officers." - -"Good enough," rejoined Dave. "Keep the list until called for." - -No sooner was the destroyer within signalling distance of the transport -that carried Major-General Burton, than a wigwagged demand came for that -list. It was received and checked up. - -The American loss, to the Army, had been one troopship, one officer and -five enlisted men; to the Navy, with no ships lost, four men had been -killed, including the two on the "Logan," and one seaman had been -wounded. - -The German loss in officers and men could only be guessed at. But it was -definitely known that thirteen of the Kaiser's submarines had been sent -to the bottom. - -"However," Lieutenant-Commander Darrin observed, when he and his -executive officer had considered the report, "we are not yet through the -Danger Zone. We may have another battle stiffer than the one just -concluded." - -"Tell me something!" begged Danny Grin, his eyes gleaming. "Out of the -thirteen pests sunk four are placed to the credit of the 'Logan.' Are we -the people--or something like it--in this morning's job?" - -"Now run along," Dave advised laughingly, "and don't allow your head to -be enlarged, either on your own account or your ship's. The best we can -claim, Danny-boy, is that we were very fortunate. As officers and men -we're no better than are to be found all through the Navy." - -"There's one question I'd like to ask you before I trot," Dan insisted, -with one of his famous grins. - -"What is it?" - -"It may have some bearing on future fight engagements," Dalzell -continued, his grin slowly fading. - -"When will you find time to tell me what the question is?" Darrin asked -smiling. - -"How many submarines were probably engaged this morning?" - -"I haven't any more idea than you have. I was too fully occupied with -our own affairs to be able to watch the whole field." - -"But that document led us to believe that about sixty would be engaged," -Dalzell continued. "The question is, how many submarines were pitted -against the fleet this morning?" - -"I don't know how many," Dave admitted. "But I see your point. If the -entire sixty were not engaged--and I doubt if any such number -attacked--then we must look for a second mass attack." - -"Yes, sir," nodded Dalzell, now wholly the serious, subordinate naval -officer. - -"The thing is worth taking up," said Dave. "I'll signal Captain Rhodes -on the flagship of the destroyer flotilla and find out what he has to -say." - -Back came Captain Rhodes' answer within a minute: - -"No accurate figures at hand. Believe enemy numbered something like -thirty craft. Extreme vigilance needed until we reach port." - -"There you are," Dave said, when the signal had been read. "Take -command, Mr. Dalzell, and be the sharpest little sailor on the ocean. -I'm going below on another matter." - -Once at his desk in the chart-room Dave sent for Seaman Ferguson. - -"Does Seaman Jordan smoke cigarettes?" asked Darrin. - -"Yes, sir." - -"Is he really addicted to them?" Dave continued. - -"Is he, sir?" exclaimed Ferguson. Then: "Pardon me, sir, for answering -like that. Jordan smokes his head off when he can get the chance and has -enough of the pesky things." - -"Thank you," Dave nodded. "That is all, except the caution to say -nothing to any one about my question. Send Reardon here." - -Big, red-faced, with huge hands, a deeply bronzed skin and a sly, merry -twinkle in his eyes, Reardon was a sailor of the best type. Dave knew -the man's loyalty and shrewdness, as well as Reardon's great faculty for -holding his tongue at need. - -"Reardon," directed Dave, "place a chair here at the desk and write a -note at my dictation with this pencil." - -"Aye, aye, sir! Ready," announced Reardon, taking his seat and picking -up the pencil in his big right hand. - -"Write this," said Dave. "'Sorry for you. Looks like you got a raw deal. -I'll be glad to help you, if you want cigarettes or anything. Don't nod -or speak to me, but wait for your chance to slip this paper back to me. -Write on it what you'd like.'" - -"Now," Darrin resumed, as the sailor looked up, "go below and stand -where the guard at the brig can see you, but don't let your shoes make -enough noise for Jordan, who's in the brig, to hear you. Signal to the -guard to stroll slowly in your direction. When he reaches you tell him -that you are ordered by me to slip a note to Jordan, but that the guard -is not to mention the fact to any one. Tell the guard, from me, to stand -so as to give you a chance to slip the note. Then, twenty minutes later, -you are to get down there again and give Jordan a chance to hand you his -reply. Slip this pencil in with the note." - -"Aye, aye, sir." - -Not even his eyes expressing any question or curiosity, Reardon left the -chart-room. Going below he stepped into the passage-way that led to the -brig. Cat-footed he walked along until he caught the eye of the marine -guard. From the point where he halted Reardon was not visible to any one -standing at the grated steel door of the little, cell-like brig in which -serious offenders against discipline were confined until tried or -released. - -Reardon's first signal was to place a warning finger over his lips. Then -he brought his hand up to a smart salute, next pointing above, which the -marine at once understood to mean that Reardon was there on an errand -for some officer. Next by stepping softly, and motioning with his hand -to the floor, and then to his own position, he signified that he wished -the marine to come to him. - -No fool was Fitch, private in the Marine Corps, which contains few if -any fools. So well did he understand that the occupant of the brig had -no suspicion that his guard was looking at any one beyond. Then Private -Fitch took a few turns in the passageway, after which, yawning slightly, -and humming softly to himself, he strolled along the passageway until he -reached the big sailor. - -"I've orders from Lieutenant-Commander Darrin to slip a note and a -pencil to Jordan in the brig," whispered Reardon. "You're not to see me. -Bye and bye you're to give Jordan a chance to write an answer, which -I'll come back and get." - -"Lieutenant-Commander Darrin's orders, eh?" whispered the marine, eyeing -the big sailor keenly. - -"Which the lieutenant commander gave me himself," nodded Reardon. "And -you're not to say anything about the matter." - -"Go ahead, when you're ready," nodded Private Fitch, turning and -strolling back. - -A full two minutes Reardon waited. Then, making no further effort to -walk softly, the big fellow stepped down the passage way. - -"Looking for a berth in the brig?" asked Fitch, jocosely. - -"Now, why should I?" demanded Reardon. "And me a good conduct man. 'Tis -more likely you'll get a place there yourself." - -"Not me," returned the marine. "There are only six of us and a corporal -on board, and we're all needed. You know, Reardon, marines are important -people, since one marine is the fighting equal of three sailors." - -"Is it so, now?" demanded Reardon, in an amused tone, as he halted -before the brig door. "What time did ye get up this morning, Mister -Fitch?" - -Pacing the floor behind the barred door with the restless step of a -caged animal, Seaman Jordan only scowled at the bantering pair. But -Reardon had halted with his back close to the steel bars. In one hand -behind him was a pencil with a scrap of paper folded around it. - -Jordan hesitated. He was afraid of some trap, but his position was -desperate. He was accused of treason. Perhaps this big sailor was a -friend in need. After a moment or two of hesitation, Jordan prolonged -his walk until it brought him close to the bars. Then, while Private -Fitch was glancing down at the lock of his rifle, Jordan stealthily -grasped note and paper and dropped them in a pocket. - -Reardon remained for a few moments more, bantering the marine -good-humoredly. Soon after Reardon had gone, the marine strolled slowly -out of sight. In the brief interval before he was back Jordan hastily -scanned the note. It looked utterly innocent. Turning the paper over, -Jordan hurriedly wrote: - -"Cigarettes and matches, as soon as you get a chance. There are times -when the guard isn't here. When in action, and all hands at quarters, -there's a long chance to smoke." - -Twenty minutes later Seaman Reardon returned, "joshed" the marine -briefly, and secured pencil and paper from the prisoner. - -Seaman Jordan waited a long time for his cigarettes and matches. For -Dave Darrin, as soon as he had received the paper and Reardon had -saluted and gone out, went to the safe and took from it the paper that -had been fished out of the bottle rescued from the deep. For some -minutes Darrin compared the writing on the two pieces of paper. - -"Of course, one is in German script, and the other in English," Dave -communed with himself. "But let us see what Phelps thinks of it." - -Ensign Phelps, who was a bit more than an amateur handwriting expert, -came at request and scanned both papers. Then he went out, returning -with a magnifying glass with which he examined both writings. - -"Of course the two different styles of script make the comparison -difficult," Mr. Phelps declared. "Still, I am certain a better qualified -expert than I will say that the same hand executed both writings." - -"Then Jordan's last chance is gone, I'm afraid," replied Dave gravely, -as he took the two sheets and filed them carefully in the safe. "Before, -there was a chance for Jordan to get off at his trial by court-martial, -for, while Seaman Ferguson was morally certain that Jordan dropped the -bottle overboard, he would not be able to swear positively to it. If -this note given by him to Reardon, however, proves Jordan of being the -writer of both sheets, then his conviction as a traitor looks pretty -certain. Phelps, these are the most serious days in the history of our -great country. If any man in the American uniform is a traitor to our -Flag and cause, then I want to see him punished." - -"That would mean death at the hands of a firing squad," mused Ensign -Phelps. - -"Death before a firing squad," Darrin assented gravely. "It is the only -punishment for such a crime!" - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -DAVE HUNTS A BIGGER FIGHT - - -Of much less beam for her length than the average yacht, the "Logan" was -rolling from side to side at a dizzy angle when Dave Darrin, after a nap -of an hour and a half in the chart-room, turned out. - -The wind had freshened; spray dashed over the decks and water flooded -the scuppers. Every now and then a spurt of water raced across the -bridge as the destroyer heeled over in that roughening sea. - -Dave had pulled on his rubber boots, strapping the hip extensions high -up. His sheepskin coat was fastened up tightly under his chin, and the -collar turned up over the lower part of the knitted helmet that he drew -over his head. - -Thus covered and concealed until his mother would not have known him had -she encountered him unexpectedly, Dave stepped out on deck, clumsily -clambering the steps to the bridge, one hand holding tightly to the -hand-rail. Dalzell was up there, standing not far from Lieutenant -Curtin. Forward, up in the bow, looking half drowned, paced an ensign -whose night glass was not long at any time from his eyes. - -On the superstructure amidships another officer paced, and still another -on the deck astern. - -There was little sleep for any officer. Not one of them but was aware -that at any instant the lurking foe might strike, and then would begin a -desperate, tragic game of blind man's buff over the slashing, -spray-topped waves. - -A shaded light threw a confined ray on the bridge compass. Dave barely -glanced at this latter instrument, for had not Dan been there while the -young commander slept? - -"Nothing seen, sir; some signals--that's all," was Dalzell's terse -report. - -No grin appeared on Dan's face now. It had been a tense vigil for him. - -"Go below and get some sleep," urged Dave. - -"Don't need any," Dalzell declared stubbornly. - -"It's an order, then, Mr. Dalzell," Dave answered briefly. - -Grumbling, Dan took a final look into the night, then slowly clambered -down the steps. - -"I'm aware, sir, that an attack may be tried at any minute," said -Lieutenant Curtin, "but don't you believe that it will be postponed -until after daylight?" - -"Yes," Darrin made reply. "And if we're to have an attack between here -and port, I'd rather have it to-night. Neither troopship nor destroyer -is showing lights, so the Huns couldn't use their periscopes. They -might, of course, use their sound devices, and launch torpedoes towards -the sources of sounds, but that's a clumsy and wasteful way of -torpedoing an enemy. Attacking on a night like this, the only sure way -would be for them to come to the surface. That would give us an ideal -chance. With searchlights playing in every direction we'd pick up a lot -of the submarines and hit them within the first minute and a half. No; -unless for the novelty of the thing, the German commander won't risk a -night attack. Results for him are more certain just after dawn. I -believe, as much as I believe anything, that the enemy's submersibles -are now waiting for us at the point where they figure that we will be at -dawn." - -"It will be great to meet them at their convenience," remarked Curtin, -after a pause of a few minutes. "After what we did to them yesterday -forenoon we know how we can rush some of 'em to the bottom, and leave -the rest so far astern that they'd have to come to the surface to -overtake our troop-ships." - -"We know what we did, but we don't know that we can do it again," Darrin -retorted. "The greatest mistake that we can make is to become -over-confident. That never pays when dealing with any enemy, and least -of all when the Hun is the enemy. We got away yesterday, Curtin, but has -it struck you that we may have met the inferior half of the underseas -fleet that the enemy has concentrated against us? Yesterday forenoon's -work may have been play compared with the job that has been cut out for -us. The surest way to lose a few destroyers, a few transports and -thousands of soldiers and sailors, is for the naval officers with this -fleet to let their confidence get the better of their alertness. Even in -spite of our utmost watchfulness and best work, we may lose five -thousand American lives before we reach port." - -"Maybe our country would fight better hereafter if we did," muttered the -younger officer. "A loss like that would serve to rouse Americans rather -than to kill their fighting instinct." - -"But confidence in the Navy would be largely gone," Dave rejoined. "At -present the folks at home are whooping up the Navy. That's because we've -had such fine luck so far. Let us lose several thousand soldiers at sea -and then see how much our home people would boost for the Navy. We're -judged by the goods we deliver in the form of results." - -Not all of this had been said in continuous conversation, for not once -did either officer remove his gaze from the black waters around them. -Dave and his junior officer had spoken by snatches as they came -together. - -Off to starboard, several hundred yards, the dimly defined shape of a -huge transport appeared. The transport ahead of her, and the one behind -her, had to be located by judgment rather than by vision. - -"A fellow cannot help getting nervous out here--I mean nervous for the -transports," said Lieutenant Curtin, ten minutes later. "Before you came -up, sir, there was a time when neither Mr. Dalzell nor I could see that -nearest troopship at all." - -"Did you change your course?" asked Dave, with a smile. - -"No, sir; I knew we must be right, for we had followed the course to a -fine line. But it was uncanny, just the same--the knowledge that we must -guard the transports, combined with the belief that they had slipped -miles away." - -"Before you came across to this side of the ocean, Mr. Curtin, you were -inclined to be a bit stout, weren't you?" Dave quizzed. - -"Nineteen pounds over weight, sir." - -"Cheer up! You won't grow fat during this war." - -"I don't care about loss of sleep, or anything," declared the junior -officer, earnestly. "I believe that I could get along without sleep, -except when in port, if we could range the seas with a daily average of -one enemy submarine sunk." - -"If you could do that, and the other destroyers did anything at all," -laughed Darrin, "the seas would soon be as safe as they were in 1913." - -"Do you remember that time, sir, a month ago, when we answered an S. O. -S. call and arrived in time to jump at a submarine engaged in shelling -the small boats that were pulling away from the wrecked Norwegian -steamer?" - -"Yes." - -"We missed that infernal Hun. He got away, and I am certain that I -didn't sleep a real wink in the next twenty-four hours." - -"Take things more easily," Dave advised. "Do your best, Curtin, and then -if the Hun boat gets away, take it out in chuckling over the big scare -you gave the enemy officers and crew. That's the way I do." - -Calling the officer amidships on the deck to take a turn on the bridge -with Lieutenant Curtin, Dave, after receiving the engine-room report -over the bridge telephone, went on a swift but thorough tour of -inspection. Dark as it was, he discovered that the breech mechanism of -one of the forward guns was not oiled to his fancy. Three or four other -slight oversights he found, and promptly rapped out orders to remedy the -faults. - -"In a campaign like this," he told Ensign Carter, tersely, "there can be -no knowing at what moment we shall be called upon to fight for our -lives, nor how many seconds of fatal delay may be caused by any lacking -detail. Constant inspection is the only way to be certain that one is up -to fighting mark. Inspection is not enough when made only by commander -and executive officer. 'Inspection' should be engraved on the brain of -every watch and division officer." - -Dave glanced at the chronometer in the chart-room on his way to the -bridge, and knew that the first streaks of dawn should appear in the -east in fifteen minutes. Sending the relieving officer back to his -station amidships, Darrin resumed his bridge vigil. - -First signs of dawn came in due time. The light gained in strength until -the long line of the transport fleet stood revealed, extending back -further than the eye could see. Obeying signals, some of the destroyers -stood further out from their charges and then raced on ahead to inspect -that portion of the sea which must very soon be traversed. - -"If we don't run into something before the middle of the forenoon," Dave -confided to Dan, who now reappeared on the bridge after a short rest, "I -shall feel easier. The nearer we draw to land the more help is likely to -be afloat near us." - -Just then a boom came over the water. A gun of one of the foremost trio -of destroyers had spoken. Swiftly the signals came back. - -Dave gave the order to have all hands sounded to quarters. - -"Gentlemen," said the young commander after the crew had reached the -deck, "this morning's work will undoubtedly be the real test. Within -twenty minutes we'll be in the thick of a real fight!" - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -A BATTLE TRY-OUT FOR SOULS - - -Men had stood their watch by the guns all night long. - -Boom! boom! From ahead came the sound of rapid firing. The commanders of -the three leading destroyers were seasoned men experienced in their -work, and were not likely to be shooting at mere shadows. - -"At the best, it's snap-shooting," Dan uttered, almost disgustedly. "We -cannot do our marksmanship justice when we are contending with a -skulking enemy and seldom have anything more to aim at than a periscope -that's up from four to seven seconds, or the wake caused by the conning -tower of a submarine running near the surface." - -"Occasional hits, however, show that a good deal can be accomplished by -snap shooting when real gunners do it," rejoined Dave. - -At this moment he read the signal for destroyers to maneuver at -judgment. Dave promptly gave orders that sent the "Logan" scooting -further away from the transport fleet, out on its port flank. - -"Ahead, and zigzag," Darrin ordered sharply. "All the zigzag that full -speed will allow." - -Her turbines turning at better than trial speed limit, the "Logan" -roared on her way like an angry bulldog with the speed of a grayhound. - -Despite the speed, the zigzagging course kept Dave opposite the -troopship he had been guarding through the night. - -Just astern of the "Logan" a periscope flashed up for a few seconds. A -gun was trained and fired, but the periscope had been withdrawn by the -time the shell got there. A tell-tale light streak appeared on the -surface of the sea astern of the destroyer, one of whose signalmen waved -a warning that was superfluous, for the troopship at which the torpedo -had been aimed had already started off on a zigzag course, and escaped -by a matter of feet. - -From the head of the squadron came back the signalled order: - -"All troopships zigzag!" - -"Looks like a crazy marine waltz!" reflected Danny Grin as he caught a -second's glimpse of this strange maneuver. - -Darrin did not turn to see what had become of the submersible at which -one of the "Logan's" shells had been fired. The enemy was undoubtedly -unharmed and under control, and there would be another destroyer on the -spot in a jiffy. Dave believed that they were not yet in the thick of -the Hun trap and he kept a sharp lookout ahead. - -"Second destroyer astern of us just signalled a hit," Dan uttered -presently, in a tone of glee. - -"Must be the one that we tried for," was Darrin's comment. - -In the meantime, both the British authorities and the American Admiral -at the base port were being constantly informed, through radio messages, -of just what was now taking place on this part of the sea. - -"Assistance already on the way; watch for it," came back the reply from -the admirals. - -"Humph! There's no vessel that sails that can reach us in season if it -didn't start from port a few hours ago," was Dalzell's puzzled comment. - -Not very long after that the leading ships of the fleet knew that they -were in the thick of the enemy ambush. The courses of several torpedoes -were observed, but, thanks to the zigzagging of the vessels, no -transport or escort had yet been hit. - -"Signal coming, sir, to commanding officer of the 'Logan,'" reported the -signalman on the destroyer's bridge. - -"'Logan' will drop out of line and hunt enemy submarines on commanding -officer's judgment," Dave Darrin read. - -"That's because of our record yesterday," Dan Dalzell chuckled. "We are -looked upon as the star performers of the flotilla." - -"We'll do our best to be the stars again to-day," Dave confided to his -chum after he had given his orders. - -With a rush and roar the destroyer headed northward, nor did Darrin come -about until he was something like fifteen hundred yards away from the -troopship line. - -"Submarines usually try for hits at from six hundred to a thousand -yards," he explained to Dalzell, as the racing craft hurried on her way. -"A German commander, with his eyes on the transports, might not think to -turn his periscope in the opposite direction at a time like this." - -"But his sound-detecting device will tell him where we are," Dan hinted. - -"Not with all the gun-fire and the noise of so many hurrying craft," -Dave answered. "Wait and see." - -Phelps was sent to join the two seamen forward. From that position he -could see any torpedo trail that started between the "Logan's" position -and the transport fleet. Within less than five minutes Phelps detected a -white line of seething foam, and Dave steered his ship straight to the -spot where the Hun craft was believed to be. - -"Fire as fast as you can, Mr. Phelps," was the order Darrin transmitted. - -So closely had Phelps got the range that the "Logan" drove straight to -the torpedo's source. There the long, vague outline of a submersible was -barely discernible under the deep blue of the sea. - -"Over her!" Darrin ordered. - -At their station the depth bomb men stood at alert, awaiting the word at -which the bomb would be released by the touch of a finger. - -As the destroyer swept over the submersible's hull Dave shouted: - -"Let go bomb!" - -It was then that the finger touch was applied. Over the stern slipped -the amazing mechanism which contained a steel shell. It was adjusted to -go off automatically at a depth of thirty feet. Nothing within a hundred -feet of the point of its explosion could escape being shattered. - -Bump! came a heavy explosion. The "Logan" herself shook and plunged as a -column of water shot up astern. - -Instantly Dave ordered the ship about, for the dropping of another bomb, -in case the first had failed. - -No need, though, for the spreading of oil on the surface of the water -showed how effective a hit had been made. - -"Now, for more of the pests!" uttered Dalzell, gleefully. "We must beat -our record of yesterday." - -Darrin did not reply. Outwardly calm, but with muscles set and every -nerve tensed to the tingling point, he stood almost on tip-toe, grasping -the forward rail, peering ahead and to either side. - -But at least one German captain had caught him, so far out of line, for, -from the starboard watch, forward, came the brisk warning: - -"Torpedo, sir, on the starboard bow!" - -In the same instant Dave had seen it. The trail was racing to meet the -"Logan" well forward. - -Not risking even the delay of a shouted order, Darrin reached for the -lever of the bridge telegraph and set the jingle bells in the engine -room a-clatter. His quick order threw the propellers into reverse and -then full speed astern. At the same time he swung the bow around. - -Had he tried to zigzag it is doubtful if he could have escaped. Had he -gone straight ahead the torpedo would have hit him just below the -waterline. - -As it was, the missile of destruction passed by a scant dozen feet from -the "Logan's" bow. - -This was the single instant of safety for which Darrin had worked. Now, -he ordered speed ahead, and swung around, sailing straight to the spot -where he believed the enemy to be. - -By the time he was at that spot nothing was to be seen of the undersea -boat. Submerging to greater depth the wily Hun had glided away to -safety. - -"Now, what does that German fellow mean by holding down our record in -that fashion?" Dan demanded, wrathfully. "He's no sportsman, not to take -a chance." - -"He may get us yet," was Darrin's quiet answer. - -It was Lieutenant Curtin who first discovered a number of small specks -away over in the eastern sky. - -"They're not clouds," said Dave, eyeing the specks through his glass, -"but at the distance I can't make out what they are." - -"If they can't turn over submarines to us, I hardly care what they are," -muttered Dan Dalzell to himself. - -With the fleet dashing forward, and the specks moving nearer, it was not -long before watchful eyes behind glasses discovered just what the specks -were. - -"Now, we'll see something interesting," quoth Darrin. - -"They're coming to take our glory, instead of adding to it," Dan -insisted. - -"What do you care who puts the Huns on old Ocean's bed, as long as they -arrive there?" Dave asked, coolly. - -"Will they put any Huns there?" Dalzell inquired, doubtfully. - -"If they don't, we can still sail in and help ourselves to the best we -can find," laughed Dave. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -TEAM WORK BETWEEN SKY AND WATER - - -From mere specks the oncoming objects grew larger and larger, until, to -the unaided eye, they stood plainly revealed as hydroairplanes. - -They were British, too, and built especially for the purpose of -detecting and destroying submarines. Tommy Atkins calls this type of -airplane a "blimp." - -From high up in the air observers are able, when the light is right, to -see a submarine at a depth of about one hundred feet below the surface. -Having detected a submerged enemy craft the hydroairplane flies over it, -dropping a bomb. - -"That they can see a submersible at such a depth makes me wonder why the -hydroairplane doesn't take the place of the destroyer," observed -Lieutenant Curtin. - -"The crew of a hydroairplane can see the submarine at a greater depth -under water than can a destroyer," Dave explained, "but owing to the -height at which they are obliged to observe they cannot drop their bombs -as accurately." - -"Then the chaps yonder are not likely to be of much service to us -to-day." - -Coming still nearer, one of the hydroairplanes made signals which the -flagship of the destroyer flotilla answered. Then through the fleet ran -the signalled message: - -"When possible the hydroairplanes will destroy enemy boats by bombing. A -smoke bomb in the air will denote position of submarine at that moment. -Destroyer commanders will act accordingly." - -"Then the British flyers yonder will fight on their own account, or -scout for us, as seems best," Dave announced. - -One of the great flying craft neared the position into which the "Logan" -was steaming. Suddenly she swooped a bit lower and let go an object that -dropped fast, going out of sight under the water. - -There was a turmoil ahead among the waves. As the destroyer moved -forward those on her decks saw oil spreading over the water. - -"Signal a hit, then follow the airship," Dave directed. - -Moving, now, no faster than did the destroyer, the hydroairplane -scurried about through the air, swooping, banking, diving and rising. At -last, apparently she located another submarine. A bomb dropped, but -Dave, driving his ship through the water after the explosion, found no -tell-tale oil signs. - -"Wide of the mark," signalled the Britisher. - -Presently the hydroairplane again caught sight of the prey it was -stalking. Another bomb fell, but still no hit. - -"We'll fly just over the enemy," wirelessed the hydroairplane. "At the -instant you're fairly over we'll signal you." - -"That's the right way to hunt," declared Danny Grin, under his breath. - -Acting on the suggestion Darrin steamed in until he was directly under -the air craft. The signal came. Dave ordered a bomb dropped, and steamed -rapidly away from the place of the coming explosion. Then he swung -around, driving back at full speed. - -"A hit," signalled the airship. - -"Easy, when you do all the work," Darrin signalled back. "Be good enough -to find us another mouthful." - -By this time the cannonading on all sides had become incessant. Despite -the cloudiness of the night, the day had turned out bright, in a season -when bright days do not abound in these waters. On such a day, though -the periscope metal is dull, the drops of water adhering to the shaft -make it a fairly bright mark. - -Wherever a periscope showed, the handlers of more than one gun took a -chance at it. Several broad patches of oil marked the graves of Hun -submersibles and their crews. - -The wake made by a conning tower was sure to lead a destroyer away in -pursuit of that same tower. The hydroairplanes followed many of these -wakes, in nearly every instance locating the sea monsters for the -destroyers. - -Besides, the torpedo trails in themselves served to lead the destroyers -to many an enemy craft. - -"This is the right combination," Dan muttered to Lieutenant Curtin. -"Airship and destroyer combined have an advantage that puts the -submersible on the run or out of commission altogether. It takes the -credit away from the destroyer too." - -"I don't care where the credit goes, if the pests are sunk," Curtin -answered. "If we had had these airships yesterday we wouldn't have lost -the 'Castle City.'" - -"But the hydroairplanes do not go so far out as we were sailing -yesterday," Dalzell reminded the watch officer. - -"I know it, but I believe that a type could be made that would have no -difficulty in crossing the ocean from shore to shore." - -Now the "Logan's" guns were at it again, with a barking din that made -conversation difficult. - -By this time only one hydroairplane remained with the head of the fleet, -which was believed to have passed through the submarine ambush. The -others and a decided majority of the destroyers were now maneuvering -anywhere from the middle to the rear end of the transports. - -Finally the fight centered on the tail end of the transport fleet. Here -the submarines were doing their best to "get" a transport. - -Another hour, and the fleet believed itself to be clear of that -submarine concentration. Not that vigilance was relaxed, however. No -troopship had been struck to-day, but the fine work might be easily -undone by carelessness on the part of either hydroairplane or destroyer -commanders. - -Two hours after the attack began Darrin received signalled orders to -return to his former position in the escort line. - -"Thus endeth the second chapter--apparently," commented Danny Grin. - -During this engagement, as on the day before, the soldiers who crowded -the destroyer had been ordered from the decks during the fight. They -were now notified that they might come out. - -It was one o'clock in the afternoon when the leading hydroairplane -signalled a report that the sea ahead was strewn with wreckage. Ship -after ship sailed through this mute evidence of the enemy's presence and -detestable work. Spars with clinging cordage floated by. Wooden -hatchcovers, overturned boats, oars, chairs, wooden boxes, bales of -soaked cotton and what-not were in the litter that strewed the sea over -a broad area. - -One of the overturned lifeboats was overhauled. The name on her stern -showed that she belonged to a nine-thousand-ton freighter, carrying a -naval gun crew and fore and after guns. - -"The loss of the ship is bad enough," said Dave, soberly, "but there is -nothing to indicate how many lives were lost." - -An hour later, however, three boats, containing some forty men, women -and children, were overhauled. The freighter had carried passengers. - -When the lifeboats had been overhauled, and the occupants taken off by -the destroyer "John Adams," the shivering wretches had a sad tale to -tell. It was at that moment believed, and afterwards confirmed, that -some sixty persons had lost their lives. - -"Even after we pulled away in the small boats," sobbed an American -woman, "the brutes shelled us." - -"A cook in our boat was hit," a man took up the narrative. "The shell -struck him at the waist, hurling his head and trunk overboard and -leaving his legs in the boat. And a child's head was shot from its -shoulders. You noticed the splashes of blood in our boat? I'm fifty-nine -years old, but if any recruiting officer in four armies will accept me -I'm ready to enlist and fight these beasts--navy or army!" - -"And I'm going to enlist!" quivered a young boatswain's mate. "I can't -get into the trenches soon enough. I won't take any German prisoners at -the front, either," he added, significantly. - -Late in the afternoon, not many miles from the submarine base, French -and American destroyers waited to escort the transport fleet the rest of -the way to France. At about that same hour the evening papers in Berlin -declared that an American transport fleet had been encountered, and that -nine of the ships, containing more than twenty thousand American -soldiers, had been sent to the bottom. The truth was that one transport -had been sunk and eleven Americans killed and wounded! - -Many of the destroyers that had brought in the transport fleet to the -point where the new escort awaited it, now turned seaward once more. -Dave Darrin and the "Logan," however, were under orders to go to the -base port, for the trial of Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold was close at -hand. - -When Dave and Dan went ashore they took with them Seaman Jordan under -close guard. - -After slipping that note to Seaman Reardon and then receiving no further -results from it, Jordan had suddenly suspected the ruse that was likely -to put his neck in a noose. So now, as he went ashore, that young seaman -was gloomy and pallid. - -Hardly had Darrin stepped on the wharf when a waiting jackie saluted -smartly. - -"Why, hullo, Runkle!" cried Dave, halting, for this sailorman had been -of great assistance to him in former undertakings. - -"I'm glad to see you, sir," exclaimed Runkle, who bore the device of a -boatswain's mate. "I thought you were in these waters, sir." - -"And I wish I had you on my ship, Runkle," Dave went on, earnestly. - -"Begging your pardon, sir, I see that you have Hartmann a prisoner." - -"Who?" - -"Hartmann." - -"Do you mean the sailor under guard?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"You call him Hartmann?" - -"Yes, sir--Gus Hartmann--old Jake Hartmann's son. I ought to know him. We -hail from the same home town." - -"Speak to him," murmured Dave, then turned to the prisoner with: - -"Jordan, here's a boatswain's mate who says your name is Hartmann." - -"It must be so, sir, if he says so," returned Jordan, sulkily. - -"Then you admit your name to be Hartmann?" - -"No, sir; but I can see that I am not to get any show whatever, so I may -as well give up hope." - -"Runkle," said Dave, after signalling to the guard to take the prisoner -on, "I shall have to arrange for you to be on hand. That young man will -undoubtedly be tried for treason. He enlisted under an American name, -and your testimony that his real name is Hartmann will be valuable for -the prosecution." - -"If young Hartmann is guilty of treason," Runkle burst out hotly, "I -would be glad enough to have the job of drowning him myself." - -"Is Jordan, or Hartmann, a citizen of the United States?" - -"He was born in America, I understand, sir, but his father was born in -Germany, and, so I was told, never took out naturalization papers." - -When the accused sailor had been locked up, and three secret service men -came on board, Dave Darrin aided them in searching for more of the -bottles that glowed when dropped in water. - -Jordan, or Hartmann, had been employed at times under the ship's -painter. In the paint storeroom the secret service men, after some -search, found a board in the floor, back of some boxes, that could be -pried up, moving on a hinge. In a hiding place underneath were four -bottles identical with the bottle which Darrin had recovered from the -water. - -Reporting to American Base Headquarters, Dave was much astonished to -find orders there relieving him from command of the "Logan." - -"I didn't know my work had been as bad as that," Darrin smiled. - -"Not bad work at all," replied the staff officer who had handed him the -order. "In the first place, you'll be here to attend the court-martial -of Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold. Then there's the case of your own -seaman, Jordan, or whatever his name may be. You'll have to testify at -his court-martial, too. After both trials are over you will be ordered -to the new duty to be given you." - -"I don't suppose that I am expected to inquire what that new duty is?" - -"As yet I cannot tell you about the new duty." - -"Who will command the 'Logan,' if I may ask?" - -"Curtin. He has just received his step, and is now a -lieutenant-commander." - -"And I have my step, too!" cried Danny Grin, coming up behind his chum -and waving an official looking envelope. "I'm a lieutenant-commander. -Been detached from service on the 'Logan' and must await new orders." - -"That goes for both of you," said the staff officer smilingly. - -"I wish I had a line on the new duty, though," said Dalzell, as he -turned away. - -"So do I," half-sighed Dave. "But wishing doesn't do much for a chap in -the Service." - -Turning, they walked briskly toward the naval club frequented by British -and American naval officers. There, by good luck, they found Curtin, who -had just come ashore. - -"There are orders for you at the admiral's office," Dave reported. "I -may as well tell you, Curtin, that Dalzell and I are detached for other -duties; that you have gotten your step to a lieutenant-commandership and -that you are to swing the 'Logan' from now on. Congratulations, old man! -And I know you'll make a record at your new post, just as you have made -in your lower grades." - -"And remember, my boy," grinned Dan, "we won't be a bit jealous, no -matter if you succeed in sinking the Kaiser's entire submarine fleet!" - -Curtin's face showed his joy. He immediately wrote and submitted to the -censor a cablegram informing his wife that he had been promoted and -given a command. Further information he could not send. - -"What are we going to do this evening, Danny-boy?" Dave inquired. - -"I don't know, but I expect my activities will be confined to guessing -what my new line of service is to be." - -"If Curtin has attained to independent command, there's a big chance -that you will also," Dave observed. - -"That would separate us," muttered Dan, looking almost alarmed. "David, -little giant, I don't believe I'll be able to serve as well if I'm not -on the same craft with you." - -"Nonsense!" laughed Darrin. - -"Fact!" Dan insisted. - -"Then what are you going to do when you become an admiral?" - -"I'll have lots of time to think that over," retorted Dalzell. - -Three days later the von Bechtold trial came off before a court-martial -of British naval officers. The German commander was found guilty of -having landed in Ireland as a spy, and was condemned to be shot, a -sentence soon afterward carried out. He would give no information about -the civilian found dead on the submarine, but the stranger was believed -to have been a civilian government official from Berlin. - -Right after that Hartmann, alias Jordan, was placed on trial before an -American court-martial on a charge of treason. His trial was short -because the prisoner broke down and confessed his identity as a German -spy. He implicated two German spies then in Ireland, both of whom had -been masquerading as Swedish ship-brokers. These two latter were -captured, tried by the British naval authorities, and sentenced to -death. Jordan was ordered shot, and soon afterward paid the penalty of -his crime before a firing squad. - -Runkle, who had been a witness against Hartmann, alias Jordan, was now -detached from the ship on which he had been serving, and was placed on -waiting orders. - -And then, one morning, Dan broke in on Darrin at the naval club, his -eyes gleaming. - -"I've got my command and my sailing orders!" he shouted, gleefully. - -"What ship?" Dave asked, springing up. - -"The 'Prince'!" Dalzell exclaimed, jubilantly. - -"Never heard of that craft," Darrin returned, his eyes opening wide. -"She doesn't sail from this port, does she?" - -"No," and Danny Grin, his mouth wreathed in smiles, named a near-by -port. - -"When do you take her over?" - -"To-morrow." - -"And sail?" - -"Same day." - -Darrin gripped his chum's hand, murmuring: - -"I wish you all the success in the world, Danny-boy," he called, -heartily. - -"How would you like to go with me?" Dalzell continued, eagerly. - -"What on earth are you talking about?" - -"About taking you as a passenger," Dan went on. "You'll go as my guest, -if you favor me to that extent. I spoke to the flag lieutenant about it, -and he said that your orders would not be ready for two or three weeks -yet, and that you will have plenty of time to sail with me if you so -desire, and be back in time for your new detail. Do you want to go?" - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -DAN'S TURN TO GRIN - - -"Stop your nonsense, Danny-boy, if you'll be so good. Of course you know -that I want to go with you. But can't you tell me something about the -'Prince'?" - -"Not a word," Dan protested. - -"Or the kind of work in which your ship is going to engage?" - -"Not a word!" Dan Dalzell laughed merrily. "Will you go?" - -"Yes; of course, old chum." - -"I thought you would," Dan continued, "so I took the liberty of -obtaining official permission for you to go along with me. Here it is, -over the admiral's signature." - -Dave eagerly scanned the official-looking, typewritten sheet. It was -simply a written permission, and gave not the slightest clew to the -nature of Dan's new venture. - -"Dan Dalzell, I believe that you're going to keep me on the guessing -rack," Dave declared. - -"You don't believe anything of the sort," Dalzell laughed; "you _know_ -it." - -"All right, then," sighed Darrin, good-humoredly, putting away the -official envelope in an inner pocket. - -"Then you're going with me?" - -"Yes, sir, and right into the jaws of whatever mystery you have arranged -for me," Dave said. - -"Mighty glad of it," cried Danny Grin, gripping his chum's hand again. -"I don't believe you'll be sorry either. It's a humorous adventure on -which you and I are going to embark." - -"If there's any humor to be found in this great, grim war," Dave -retorted, "then it will prove a most welcome relief from the kind of -work that has been holding our attention." - -Dave had already cleaned up all matters relating to the transfer of -command on the "Logan." Hence there was nothing to hinder his departure -by train at daylight the morning following. For two hours the chums -rode, then alighted at a port town so small that its name is never heard -on this side of the water. - -Within five minutes the two young naval officers, carrying their -worn-looking suit-cases, reached the water-front. Dan's heavier baggage -had gone on ahead and Dave carried none beyond what his suit-case -contained. - -The harbor was a small one. Dave had seen it all ere they reached one of -the three small wharves of which the water-front boasted. - -"Humph!" he remarked. "So you must wait for your ship to come in?" - -"I don't believe so," Dalzell returned. - -"But there is no warship in this harbor," Darrin remonstrated. Indeed, -the only craft above the size of small boats were a battered old tramp -steamer, a former trawler, now a patrol boat, a steam fishing-smack and -a schooner. - -"All the shipping in this harbor combined wouldn't make a proper command -for a lieutenant-commander in the United States Navy," Dave observed. -"Dan, you've been grinning ever since you brought me the veiled news -yesterday. It is now about time to unmask and tell me what you're up to -in the way of mischief." - -"That would be to open up the case of the watch and show you the whole -works," Dan retorted, mockingly. - -"Then I give it up," sighed Dave. - -In response to a mere hand signal a boat put off from under the quarter -of the battered tramp. As it neared the wharf Dave's wonder grew. - -"So that old tramp steamer is going to act as tender, and take you out -to your new ship?" Dave inquired, feeling as mystified as he looked. -"Have a care, Danny-boy. That tramp won't keep afloat long enough in an -open sea to take you far!" - -But Dalzell made no reply. Instead, he walked to the steps that led down -to a landing stage, returning the salute of the seaman in the stern of -the row-boat. Plainly the tramp could by no possibility be Dan's "new" -ship, for not even a man in the boat-crew wore the uniform of the United -States. Though the men showed bright, intelligent faces, their garb was -of the most nondescript character worn by seafaring men. - -Dan gravely led the way to seats in the stern. - -"Shove off!" ordered the coxswain. Then the men gave way at the oars. -Dave watched their rowing. To an amateur eye the handling of the oars -wasn't so bad, but it was utterly different from the rowing done by a -smart man-o'-wars crew. Dave felt the mystery deepening. - -Nor did it grow lighter when the boat was driven in at a rickety side -gangway. For, looking up, Dave saw a frowsy-looking lot of heads of men -who were lounging at the rail and looking down at the water. The name of -this frowsy-looking craft, Darrin discovered, was the "Prince." - -Dave went aboard on what would have been called the quarter-deck on a -more pretentious craft. Dan led the way at once into the deckhouse and -into a passage-way. - -And right here Dave received another jolt. Inside, a clean-cut looking -sailor lad, in new, handsome U. S. uniform, saluted smartly, at the same -time stepping forward to take both suit-cases. - -"Take Mr. Darrin to his cabin," Danny Grin directed, gravely. "Then -bring my bag to my quarters." - -In another moment Darrin had seen three more smart-looking jackies. He -was then ushered into his cabin, and his bag placed inside the doorway. - -"Hm! This cabin doesn't look as bad as one might expect," Dave Darrin -murmured to himself. "But what can the game be? Danny-boy is certainly -carrying on this joke in a mighty mysterious fashion." - -Hanging up the sheepskin coat that he had carried on one arm, Darrin -next removed his long uniform overcoat and hung that up also. There came -a brisk knock at the door. - -"Lieutenant-Commander Dalzell's compliments, sir, and will you join him, -sir?" inquired the messenger at the door. - -"Gladly," assented Darrin, drawing aside the curtain that fell over the -doorway and stepping outside. - -His conductor led him forward into a large cabin. - -Just as he entered Dave's puzzled glance fell upon several pairs of -boots standing in a row near the door. He gasped when he realized that -they were high, lace affairs, of a distinctly feminine pattern that were -in fashion on Broadway the last time he had seen that famous -thoroughfare. - -And here, right in front of him, stood Dalzell, earning every letter in -his nick-name of Danny Grin. - -"I didn't know that you had ladies aboard, Danny," Dave remarked, -halting and gazing at the shoes. - -"Who said we had?" - -"But those--" began Darrin, pointing at the footgear that had aroused his -wonder. - -"Newest thing in service shoes," laughed Dalzell. - -"Have your own way about it," Dave chuckled. - -"It's a fact, just the same," Dan retorted. "And say! Are you thoroughly -discreet? Can you keep a Service secret?" - -"I can hand you a wallop in about a half a second," Dave Darrin -retorted. - -"I am answered," Dan replied, gravely. "Follow me." - -Just at that instant a girlish figure came through from the connecting -cabin. Dave couldn't see her face, which was closely veiled. But from -that other cabin came a roar of laughter. Dave Darrin felt like pinching -himself to see if he were awake. - -"Come on in," chirped Dalzell. "The water's fine to-day." - -Taking Dave by the arm he piloted his chum into that next cabin. - -And now, indeed, Dave Darrin had reason enough to wonder if he were -awake. - -For three long tables occupied a good part of the cabin. And on these -tables uniformed jackies, their faces all a-grin, were laying dresses, -women's coats and hats as they took them from boxes. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -ABOARD THE MYSTERY SHIP - - -"Looks great, doesn't it?" demanded Dalzell, in an undertone, after the -sailors had stood at attention and had received their orders to "carry -on." - -"It would look all right in a dry-goods store," countered the thoroughly -mystified Darrin, "but what does it mean here?" - -"Why, that's the secret," was Dan's unsatisfactory answer. - -"I give it up," said Darrin hopelessly. - -"Wise old head!" approved Dalzell. - -Right here Dave received another jolt. The girl whom he had seen in the -first cabin now returned, lifted away the veil, removed hat and wig, and -stood revealed, from the shoulders up, a most unmistakable young man -with a good-looking but wholly unfeminine face. - -"Is this a public masquerade, and are the proceeds to be devoted to the -Service?" Dave inquired. - -But Dan replied only with a baffling wink. - -"Oh, well," rejoined Darrin, "I can wait if you can. If you're through -with me here, I'm going back to my cabin." - -"Have you no more questions?" Dan inquired mockingly. - -"None that are likely to be answered, so I'll leave you to your -amusements." - -"Too bad," murmured Dalzell to himself after Darrin had vanished, "for -now Dave is sulky." - -In this surmise, however, Danny Grin was quite wrong. Darrin merely -refused to waste more guesses on a mystery that he could not solve, and -had gone off to see what he could make out of the appearance of things. - -"It's one too many for me," Darrin finally confessed to himself. -Removing some of his clothing and his shoes, he lay down on a lounge, -drawing a blanket over him. - -For such a hulk as the "Prince" looked to be, the steam-heating plant -was in excellent order. In the warm air Darrin dozed gently off, though -not before the reflection had passed through his mind: - -"I might have guessed that the 'Prince' was some such looking craft as -this. It was named the 'Prince' for the same reason that folks always -give that same nickname to the mangiest-looking dog in town." - -A little later Dan glanced in past the curtained doorway. Finding his -chum asleep he tripped silently away. The anchor must have come up -noiselessly and all commands must have been issued in low tones, for -when Darrin awoke, rose and glanced out through the porthole he found -the craft under way upon the open sea. - -By the time that he had drawn on his shoes Darrin heard a rap at the -doorway, followed by a messenger's announcement: - -"Luncheon will be served in the wardroom, sir, in fifteen minutes." - -So Darrin completed his toilet, then hailed a messenger and learned -where the wardroom was situated on this ship of mystery. - -Stepping into the room ahead of time, Dave found only one young ensign, -who saluted him. - -"This is some strange craft," observed Darrin. - -"Yes, sir," assented Ensign Stark. - -"But suited to her mission, I dare say." - -"Oh, yes, sir; hardly a doubt of that," smiled the junior officer, but -he added no hint of information as to the "Prince's" mission, and Darrin -was much too good an officer to press his question. - -A minute or two later two other ensigns entered, and on their heels came -Dalzell with a young engineer officer and a surgeon. Dan presented his -junior officers to his chum, then explained: - -"Usually, of course, on a war craft, the 'Old Man' dines in state alone, -or with his guests. But the 'Old Man's' dining room is in other use on -this cruiser, so we will dine with the juniors so long as they permit -it." - -"I suppose the 'Old Man's' dining room has been converted into a -cashier's cage for the Monday bargain sale you are planning," hinted -Darrin. - -"Why, yes, Darry; something like that," grinned Dalzell. - -The meal had not proceeded far when Dan leaned toward his chum to -whisper: - -"By the way, I forgot to say that the rules require that no officer or -man of the Navy shall appear outside in uniform. You brought along -civilian clothes, I believe." - -"A suit, yes." - -"And I have an old overcoat and cloth cap I can loan you," Dan added. "I -will have them sent to your cabin." - -So, after he had returned to his own quarters, Dave waited, after -donning civilian garb, until the promised articles had arrived. Then, -putting on the coat and cap, he made his way forward and outside. - -Coming out on the spar deck Darrin found plenty of use for his eyes. -Forward the "Prince" carried rather high bulwarks. Darrin had noted that -in the harbor. But now he saw that which no observer on shore would have -had reason to suspect. - -In the bulwarks, on either side, were sliding doors or ports, and, -behind these, in each instance, mounted on a carriage, was a very -capable-looking naval gun. - -Besides, on either side, was a machine gun, rigged to a platform that -could be raised high enough to make the guns effective, even with the -mark not more than a hundred feet from the hull. - -"Rubber!" shouted Dalzell, joyously, from the bridge, as Dave strolled -slowly forward. - -"Some ship, all right," Darrin called back. He then retraced his steps, -making for the bridge, where Dan and Ensign Peters stood, both of them -attired like merchantmen officers. - -"What do you think of her?" demanded Danny Grin, as his chum took stand -beside him. - -"You told me it was going to be a humorous adventure," Dave suggested. -"I haven't yet discovered where the laugh comes in." - -"Oh, we can't laugh," quoth Danny Grin, "until we find something to -laugh at." - -"Of course," Dave pursued, his eyes twinkling, "the 'Prince' is a good -deal of a joke in herself." - -"And those hidden guns are the point to the joke," Dan retorted. "But -wait a few hours, or a few days. Oh, you'll laugh!" - -There was, however, in Dan's eyes the next moment, a grim look that -considerably belied his words. - -Dave hadn't really tried hard to worm the secret from his friend, and -now he gave it up altogether, but asked teasingly: - -"Are you going to call upon me for any work, beyond saving your scalp -when you get into too tight a corner?" - -"You're a guest aboard, without duties," Dan informed him, then added, -seriously: - -"But I won't deny that I realize how valuable your counsel may prove in -some sudden emergency." - -Somehow, Darrin found that he tired of being on the bridge of a ship on -which he had no duties, no authority. Leaving the bridge, after a few -minutes, he descended and roamed the decks, fore and aft. Wherever he -encountered sailors outside he found them in the garb of merchantman -sailors; below decks they wore the uniform. - -The "Prince" was kicking along at about eight knots an hour, and was -already out of sight of land. It was when he strolled down into the -engine room that Dave was astonished to find engines that were furbished -up to the last notch of perfection. Moreover, his practised eye noted -that the engines looked as though capable of vastly faster work than -they were performing. - -"These engines appear to be the best part of the craft," Darrin remarked -to the engineer officer. - -"They're good engines--the best that the British know how to make," -nodded the engineer officer. "But for that matter, they're not much -behind the rest of the boat. She looks worse than she is, sir. The -'Prince' is renamed; she was a mighty good-looking craft before the -naval camouflage gentlemen took her in hand and made such a -tough-looking ship of her." - -From the course Darrin knew that the "Prince" was heading into the -submarine zone. Dan was surely hunting trouble, and he had a knack of -finding it. - -Dave soon found time hanging heavily on his hands. He was glad that he -had brought along two novels, and these he read in his cabin. Dinner -hour was welcome because it occupied some of the time. At this meal, -too, he met Lieutenant Bixby, executive officer, who had been busy -elsewhere at luncheon time. - -Later in the evening Dan came down from the bridge, visiting his friend -in his quarters. - -"Darry, I'm in hopes we'll be able to spring our joke before long," he -cried briskly. - -If he had hoped to rouse his chum's waning curiosity he was -disappointed, for Dave only covered a yawn with his left hand and -languidly inquired: - -"So?" - -An hour later, when the chums were still talking, Lieutenant Bixby -knocked at the door. - -"I wish to report 'all secure' sir," said the executive officer. - -"And the ladies--?" queried Dalzell. - -"In high spirits, and the best of good humor, sir." - -The two officers returned smiles, but Dave Darrin did not appear to be -looking their way. - -"Are you going to turn in?" asked Danny Grin, as he rose to depart. - -"Before long," Dave nodded. "But I'll leave things so that I can turn -out fast if I hear your whistle signalling to abandon ship." - -Into Danny Grin's eyes a mischievous look flashed, but all he said was: - -"Good night, chum." - -"Good night, Danny-boy." - -After one of the most refreshing sleeps he had enjoyed since the war -began, Dave turned out the next morning, on first waking, with the -realization that the "Prince" was still on her way on the high seas, and -that there had been no alarm. - -"That sleep must have cleared up my wits," mused Darrin, as he turned -water into the stand-bowl. "I think I begin to see the object of this -voyage by the seemingly crippled old 'Prince.'" - -Whether he had solved the mystery remained to be seen. At that moment -the ship's hoarse steam whistle began the first of a series of long -blasts. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -THE HUMOROUS ADVENTURE - - -"Abandon ship, eh?" thought Darrin, springing to complete his toilet. - -In his civilian attire he hastened down the passage-way and up to the -spar deck. And here, as he would also have seen had he looked aft, a -remarkable scene was being enacted. - -At the first sound of the whistle, which had now begun its wailing anew, -the crew had sprung to clear the boats for launching. - -"Will I be in the way on the bridge?" Dave called up. - -"Come right up," Dan nodded. - -Darrin was beside his friend in a jiffy. - -"Over there," said Dalzell, nodding. - -Off to starboard about a mile distant, a German submarine lay rolling. -In the morning light the tower stood out against the horizon, magnified -in size. The submersible's deck also showed, with sailors standing by -the forward and after guns. - -"We'll get a shell in a moment," spoke Dalzell, calmly, as the second -sounding of the whistle signal ended. - -Though the "Prince" carried wireless apparatus for installing at need, -no sign of it was visible in the form of aerials and connections, so the -first shell was aimed not at the foremast, but at the single broad, tall -smoke-stack. It missed by only a foot and went screaming to port. - -For the third time the "Prince's" whistle sounded, "Abandon ship." -Members of the crew sprang up into two of the boats. A few men who -looked like civilian passengers hastily followed. Then a feminine bevy -raced out on deck. - -"I thought so," said Darrin, nodding comprehendingly. "Dan, you've -everything here but the children." - -Those who had already entered the boats now turned to help the wearers -of skirts. The two boats were swung out. After that, a third boat, -similarly loaded, was also swung out on the davits. Blocks and falls -creaked as the boats and their human freight were lowered. - -Fortunately, the sea was not rough. All of the boats reached the water -safely and rowed away. - -From the submarine a puff of smoke at the muzzle of the after gun -announced the rushing departure of another shell. This missile struck -the water barely fifty feet in advance of one of the boats, but -disappeared without doing any harm. - -"At their old, dirty tricks of terrorizing and murdering passengers in -the small boats!" muttered Dan Dalzell, savagely. "And yet, at one time, -there were Americans who wondered why we entered this war!" - -For a fourth time the "Prince's" whistle began its serial wail. Now, -however--clever ruse!--the whistle's sound was feebler, the jets of white -steam smaller and fainter. It looked as though the boilers had been -emptied of steam. - -"Heinie von dem Sub has concluded that we're a dead proposition," -chuckled Dalzell, as the submarine, instead of firing other shots at -once, moved in closer. On she came, this dirty, gray pest of the sea, -until she was within three hundred yards. - -"Abandon completely before we sink you!" was the message signalled from -the enemy. "Your captain and chief engineer must come aboard us with all -ship's instruments and papers." - -"Shake out the signal, 'Your message understood,'" shouted Dan from the -bridge. - -After a moment the flags composing the signal were started toward the -"Prince's" foremast head. - -As Darrin turned from watching the submarine he beheld naval gunners, -this time in uniform, and with Ensign Peters in charge, taking the range -carefully. - -At some signal that Darrin did not catch, a whistle sounded shrilly. -Now, from the deckhouse below a detachment of Uncle Sam's jackies in -uniform dashed out. - -"Open ports!" called Ensign Peters, as some of the men sprang to the -guns. - -All in a jiffy the sliding doors in the bulwarks were shoved back and -gun muzzles were run out. Crisply the orders issued. Within a few -seconds the first gun spoke, and right after it the other two. - -One of the shots struck the submarine's hull aft, ripping off several -plates. - -"Hurrah!" yelled Dalzell. "Now, let's see 'em try to dive. But fire fast -and straight, before the Huns take it out of our people in the small -boats!" - -One shot the enemy fired, aimed at one of the "Prince's" guns. Over the -top of the bulwarks it went, missing them by only a few feet. - -That was a game at which two could play. Ensign Peters aimed a gun at -the base of the submersible's forward gun. A cheer of joy went up -forward on the tramp steamer when it was seen that a hit had been -registered as aimed. The enemy now had only his stern gun, and he swung -quickly to bring it to bear. - -Ensign Peters now aimed at the base of the stern gun. But he missed it, -for, a second before, one of the other guns in the "Prince's" battery -had struck the submarine just below the water line. - -"Good enough!" roared Dalzell in trumpet tones. "Now, let's see the -rascal fight!" - -Evidently in reply to signal or command all the sailors on the enemy -craft ran to the conning tower and vanished inside. - -"Called to see if they can repair the leak and submerge!" guessed -Dalzell, and passing his conjecture down to the gunners on the spar deck -below. "Make submerging a cinch for them!" - -Three more shots barked out, almost together. One went a shade wild, one -hit the upper hull, but the third was planted just below the water-line. - -"Good-bye!" called Dan, derisively. - -Then the "Prince's" steam whistle, with a sufficiently good head of -steam this time, sent the recall to the small boats, which immediately -put about. - -The submarine was sinking fast. Eight or ten men managed to get through -the tower to the deck just before the pest sank out of sight. - -"Some of those men are swimming," Dan shouted. "Stand by with lines! -We'll give them a chance! More than they'd do for us, though!" - -Several of the German swimmers sank at once. Perhaps they preferred to -drown, fearing the tortures that their home papers declared were meted -out to submarine sailors by officers of the Allied Powers. - -Two enemy seamen, however, were found afloat as the "Prince" drew closer -and lay to. Lines were cast to them, both catching hold. The swimmers -were then hauled aboard. Dan Dalzell went down to the spar deck in order -to question them. - -Both were loutishly stupid in appearance, and plainly were badly scared -as well. Their ragged, oil-stained uniforms gave them the opposite of -smart appearance. - -"Do you men speak English?" Dan demanded, eyeing the pair as the deck -watch arraigned them before him. - -The duller-looking of the pair shook his head, but the other replied: - -"I speak id somedimes, a liddle." - -"What craft was that you came from?" Dalzell queried. - -"The U 193." - -"How many ships have you sunk?" - -"I vas not by der ship before dis cruise," replied the German. - -"How long had you been out this time?" - -"Zwelf (twelve) days." - -"How many ships did you sink on this cruise?" - -"You vas der first vun," said the man, dully. - -"I think we'll survive our misfortune," smiled Dalzell, grimly. "How -many submarines have you served on?" - -"None, in dis var," was the answer. - -"And you won't serve in any more during this war," rejoined Dan. "Don't -you fellows feel like criminals, firing on women and children, and -committing wilful and useless murder all over the high seas?" - -"Vat?" demanded the fellow, stupidly. "Vat?" - -Dan had to repeat the question in two or three different forms before it -sank in. - -"Chermany got to vin by der var," replied the seaman, with a shrug of -his broad shoulders. - -"Why don't you win, then, by fair fighting?" - -"Chermany got to vin der var," the fellow replied, stolidly. "Der vay, -it makes noddings." - -By which he meant that Germany must win, but that the means by which she -won did not matter. - -"Why must Germany win?" Dan demanded impatiently. - -"Because Chermany is Chermany; because she is der ruler of der vorld," -came back the ready answer. - -"If Germany is really the ruler of the world, she'll have to prove it, -and take a century of hard fighting to do it," Dan clicked. "Has it ever -struck you, my man, that Germany is the bad-dog nation of the world?" - -"Chermany is der fine, der great nation of der vorld," insisted the -prisoner, stubbornly. - -"Wouldn't a fine nation act like a fine nation?" demanded Dalzell. -"Wouldn't it respect the rights of other peoples? Wouldn't Germany, if a -fine nation, fight according to the rules of honor and decency, and not -like pirates?" - -Again it required repetitions, in other words, to drive the query home. - -"Chermany is Chermany," declared the stolid fellow. "Chermany must vin -der var because Chermany must rule. It is right dot der Chermans should -tell der rest of der vorld vat is. Vat Chermany must do to vin it is -right for her to do, but vat you Amerigans do is wrong. You are only -pigs, und you help der pigs of English. You are all pigs, und Chermany -shall punish you good for vat you do!" - -"When?" asked Dan, derisively. - -"Negst year! You vait, you see! Den der var vill over be, und der -Amerigans on deir knees shall be!" - -"The war end next year?" Dan derided. "Not unless Germany has been -whipped soundly by that time." - -"Chermany cannot be vip'," insisted the prisoner. "Chermany, she alvays -fight! Blenty in dis var. Den, ven der var stop, she begin get ready -again, she get ready again to fight der negst var. Chermany cannot be -vip', but Ameriga shall down mit her knees go, und Chermany shall says -vords dot Ameriga does not like to hear. You vait, you see! Chermany is -der von real fighting gountry of der vorld. Not all der rest of der -vorld can vip her! It cannot be done. Chermany over all!" - -"And that's the whole story, from a German point of view," Dave muttered -in an undertone. "This fellow looks stupid, but his leaders are just -about as stupid. Isn't it a waste of time to talk with him, Danny?" - -"I'm afraid it is," Dalzell nodded. "But this is the first chance I have -had to get a German's real view of the war. This fellow is too stupid to -conceal anything, so he has told me the truth as he sees it. Yet, as you -say, Dave, it's the whole story, and he cannot tell me any more than he -has told if I should question him from now until midnight." - -Then, to a petty officer: - -"Take these fellows below and lock them in the brig. Place a guard over -them. See that they have the usual ship ration, and see that sufficient -fresh water is offered them at all times. It's warm in the brig, so they -can take off their clothes until the garments are dry." - -Stolidly the pair marched along, out of sight and hearing. - -"'Chermany over all! Chermany must rule der vorld,'" Dan mimicked. -"We've got their number, David, little giant. Uncle Sam and his -international friends will have to kill, cripple or lock up most of the -men of Germany before we can hope to knock the foolishness out of their -heads." - -"Which we'll proceed to do so thoroughly," quoth Dave Darrin, "that, -hereafter, not even a German head will be capable of holding such -foolishness as they now talk!" - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -DANNY GRIN PROVES HIS METTLE - - -With her boats secure, and all hands, including the recent "lady -passengers," on board once more without loss, the battered-looking -"Prince" turned on her way. - -All that day she sailed, yet found no submarine confiding enough to rise -and take a chance at her shabby-looking hull. - -"Of course there is one big chance you have to take," said Darry, at -dinner in the ward-room that night, "and that is the danger that a -submarine will think this old hulk worthy of sinking by means of a -torpedo." - -"No sub will shoot a torpedo at us," rejoined Dalzell, "if she once gets -a look at us. A torpedo costs a small fortune, while a shell or two cost -nothing by comparison. The idea in sending out a trap-craft like the -'Prince' is that no German naval officer would think of throwing away a -torpedo on her." - -"Of course," Dave admitted, "the greatest danger is that a German shell, -fired above water, will cripple you and put you out of business." - -"It's a sporting chance, to be sure," Dan admitted. - -"If your engines were stopped by a shell, and you couldn't maneuver for -position, and therefore couldn't use your guns, and a German submarine -crew took you prisoners, the sight of your guns would insure that all -hands on board would die painful but sure deaths." - -"It's that sporting element of risk that makes the game so pleasant," -Dan retorted. - -His junior officers chuckled. - -"I'm glad you all take it the way you do," was Dave's cordial rejoinder. -"It adds a lot to your chances of success." - -"And just what do you think our chances are?" Dan pressed home. At this -the junior officers listened eagerly, for Darrin's sound judgment was -fast becoming a tradition in the Navy. - -"Your chances," Dave declared, "are that you probably will sink several -submarines. Then, one of these days, you'll either get the unlooked-for -torpedo, or else you'll meet a master in strategy or gunfire, and you'll -go to the bottom--and another bright plan will be given up by the Allies. -But I hope you'll do a huge lot of damage before the probable end -comes." - -That night the "Prince" prowled the seas, and when Darrin awoke in the -morning she was headed toward her home port, that time might not be -wasted to the westward of the locality where German submarines were -likely to operate against merchantmen. - -Nor had Dave taken more than one look overboard before he discovered -that the "Prince" now lay much lower in the water. - -"Our water ballast tanks are filled," Dan explained. "That gives us the -appearance of being heavily loaded, as with American wheat, for -instance." - -"Soldiers, wheat and ammunition are the things the Germans most enjoy -sending to the bottom," Dave nodded. "Really, it is too bad that this -seeming old tub doesn't look good enough to carry troops." - -"Oh, I think that even as a cargo tramp we'll draw the fire of any -submarine whose commander gets a glimpse of us," Dan replied. - -Within ten minutes after he had said it a submarine rose, fifteen -hundred yards away, and, without firing, signalled to the "Prince" to -lie to. - -Almost instantly "Abandon ship" shrieked from the steam whistle, and the -early performance of the day before was gone through with. After the -boats had started away, bearing sailors and men and "women" passengers, -the submarine came up closer. - -All in a jiffy the ports were opened and all three shells from the -starboard battery landed in the enemy hull. There was no fight after -that, the submersible sinking before any of the crew could get clear to -save themselves. - -"Do you begin to see the joke?" demanded Danny Grin, grimly. "Are you -prepared to join in the laugh at the Germans?" - -"If the 'Prince' continues her good work for a fortnight," smiled Dave -Darrin, "the ocean will be a lot safer place for American troopships." - -"I'm beginning to feel," Dan remarked, "that I can highly endorse the -intelligence of those who sent me out on this errand." - -"The errand is a good one, anyway," Darrin laughed, teasingly. - -The rest of the day passed without other incident than the appearance of -two destroyers, one British and one American. Each of these war craft -signalled to ask if convoy were desired, to which Dan signalled a -courteous, "No, thank you." - -"Won't those chaps feel sold when they learn, if they ever do, what kind -of an outfit they wanted to protect?" Dan chuckled. - -Just before dawn, next morning, Dalzell was roused from a nap and called -to the bridge. - -"Gun-fire dead ahead, sir," reported Ensign Stark. "Don't you make out -the flashes, sir?" - -"Yes," nodded Dalzell, after he had taken and used the proffered glass. -"Some one is catching it, but is the victim a steamship, or is it a -submarine that some destroyer has overhauled? Oh, for just sixty seconds -I'd like to have our wireless rigged!" - -Ensign Stark had already ordered the speed increased, and so reported, -but Danny Grin, as he heard the firing, seized the engine-room telephone -and ordered all speed possible crowded on. - -Thus he swept along, without lights, until within a mile of the -bright-red flashes, which he could now see without the aid of a glass. - -At this point speed was reduced to eight knots and the "Prince" moved -along more moderately. - -"What is it ahead?" asked Dave Darrin, who had just turned out and come -briskly up to the bridge. - -"It's a one-sided fight," Dan answered, "but I don't know the kind of -craft. Undoubtedly one is a submarine. She can't have been very -seriously hit, either, or the firing would be ended." - -"You have a searchlight?" - -"Yes, but with the strictest orders not to use it except to save ship -and crew," was Dan's answer. - -Soon after, despite the darkness, the chums were able to make out a -steamship ahead, heeled well over to port. And the flashes of a gun were -so close to the water as to indicate that a submarine was firing, even -before its outlines could be made out. - -"The cowardly hounds!" blazed Dave, indignantly. "They've got that ship -sinking, and all they're doing is terrorizing the poor wretches aboard -by slow, systematic murder!" - -"I'll get them as soon as I have light enough for a gunner's sight," -muttered Dan Dalzell. Calling a boatswain's mate under the bridge, he -directed him to hoist a Norwegian flag at the stern, and to bend and -hoist the signal: - -"We wish to save crew and passengers." - -"And that's the truth, too, though perhaps not all of it," snorted -Dalzell, all of whose fighting blood had been aroused by the cowardly -proceeding going on ahead. - -In hoisting the Norwegian flag he was wholly within his rights as a -naval commander. Under international law a naval commander is entitled -to hoist any neutral or belligerent flag, including even that of the -enemy, in order to maneuver into fighting position. But, before he can -fire a shot, the commander must hoist the flag that he actually sails -under. - -In this instance Dan would give the "Prince" the assumed character of a -neutral merchant ship that desired to play a humane part. No real -Norwegian skipper would have been likely to take such a chance, as it -would only have invited the destruction of his craft. - -Dawn came quickly now. With the first streaks Dan ran up the signal and -sailed daringly in. The submarine, which lay ahead, had ceased firing. -The doomed ship took the plunge and vanished, but in three boats and on -six rafts a frightened lot of men and women were seeking to get away -from Death. - -"Lie to and abandon ship!" signalled the German commander, as soon as -the presence of the "Prince" was made out. - -But Dan, with the range, took the bull boldly by the horns. Opening -ports in a jiffy, and with gun crews at quarters on both starboard and -port, he gave the firing order. - -"Give 'em 'Chermany over all,' and put it all over them!" commanded -Danny Grin savagely. - -Three shells left the starboard battery before the astounded German -commander had realized that it was a fighting craft that menaced him. - -Two of the shells flew over, striking the water beyond, but the third -crashed through the plates of the conning tower, exploding inside and -blowing off part of the top of the tower. - -No sooner had the guns been fired than Dalzell changed the course to -bring the port battery into play. - -"Give 'em 'Chermany over all' all over again!" roared Danny Grin's -voice. "Oh, it's a great game, don'd it?" - -A laugh rose from below, but that laugh was drowned by the joint crash -of all the guns of the port battery. Another shell entered the -submarine's tower, and two struck the hull, inflicting more deadly -damage. - -And now a machine gun began to play over the hull of the sea monster, -sending such a storm of bullets that one had to admire the courage--or -was it despair?--of a German officer who dared the leaden tempest and -sprang from the tower with a white flag, signalling surrender. - -"Cease firing!" roared Dalzell through a megaphone. "But load and stand -by ready for some German brand of treachery." - -Undoubtedly the German officer knew that he stood under the muzzles of -loaded guns. His face white and set, he signalled his offer to -surrender. - -"We'll accept you as prisoners if you act honestly," was signalled back -by Dan's order. "But we'll blow you into the air if you try to play a -single trick on us." - -Acting under further orders a collapsible boat was put over the side of -the submarine. The captain, the second-in-command and the engineer -officer came over to the "Prince" on the first trip, two men returning -with the boat to bring other prisoners. In the meantime the rafts and -boats from the sunken ship were turning back to the rescuer. - -Barely more than half of the Germans had been gotten clear of the -submarine when that unlucky craft foundered. Two survivors were picked -up from the sea, but the rest went down into the great salt-water grave. - -"Periscope on the port quarter!" rang a lookout's hail. - -Dalzell rushed to the port end of the bridge, glass to his eyes. - -Yes, there was the tell-tale tube above water, some eight hundred yards -away, the sun shining on the water drops that clung to it. - -"Periscope on the starboard quarter!" - -Dan performed a sprint to the starboard end of the bridge, to find the -news only too true, though the periscope vanished within a second or two -after he had sighted it. - -"'Ware torpedo, on port quarter!" - -Moving like a jumping-jack, Dan's right hand reached for the lever of -the engine-room telegraph. Half-speed ahead! Full speed! - -"'Ware torpedo on starboard quarter!" - -There was no time to observe the torpedo wake traveling toward the -"Prince." Dalzell's orders were based on what he had seen of the -locations of the two periscopes. - -A sharp, oblique turn to starboard, then a further turn just as the -propellers began to kick at full speed. - -Both torpedoes passed astern, their courses crossing. The maneuver -brought the tramp around so that the starboard battery could now be -trained on the submersible to the southward. - -Her commander, taking desperate chances, rose to the surface to open -with his forward gun. - -Fatal mistake! Only one gun barked from the "Prince's" starboard -battery, tearing a hole in the Hun's hull. And now Dalzell completed the -turn to give his full attention to the remaining submarine. She, -commanded by a more cautious man, had vanished. - -Not for long, however, for a line on the water revealed the wake made by -the conning tower as she headed straight for the "Prince." - -Again Dan's orders rapped out. The seeming tramp steamer, developing a -speed that could not have been looked for, maneuvered so as to run, -bow-on, at the submersible. - -The craft to the southward was sinking, but the one to the northward was -coming straight. A light streak on the water shot out in advance of her -while the "Prince" was making her turn. Seeing that he was bound to -miss, the Hun commander let loose with his other tube. The "Prince" -completed her maneuver, and now showed only her bow to the enemy, her -hull standing away in a straight line between the courses of the two -torpedoes, which dashed on by her and were lost in the distance. - -As the craft were rapidly nearing each other, Dan, by the aid of his -marine glass, located exactly the beginning, or nearer end, of the -conning tower's wake. - -"She may submerge and come up astern of you!" muttered Dave Darrin. - -"We'll see!" ground out Dalzell, between his teeth, still holding the -glass to his eyes. - -There was no question of getting the range, for the two craft were -lessening the distance, altering it, every second that passed. - -Still Dan headed on, knowing that the enemy could submerge and change -her course at greater depth. - -"I've got only one chance in a million to get that rascal!" Dalzell -growled to his chum. - -"And apparently the enemy has all the other chances in the million--but -it's a great game!" cried Dave Darrin. - -Dan held on steadily, his motto "Win or sink!" - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -A GERMAN VIEW OF SUBMARINES - - -Suddenly the Hun craft, as indicated by the trail of bubbles in her -wake, made an oblique turn, going off to Dan's port. But Dan kept on, -shouting down to the spar deck: - -"Stand by the port guns! Not a shot unless ordered!" - -A moment or two and the submersible, as indicated by the bubbles on the -water, had turned head-on again coming close to the surface. She was now -in position to deliver two torpedoes. - -It was the moment for which Dan had waited. - -"Let go with all three guns, port battery!" he yelled. "Rapid fire." - -Three jets of smoke and flame shot out from as many muzzles. The gun -crews rushed to reload. - -"One hit!" shouted Dan. "Again!" - -"Two hits--and she's done for!" yelled Dan, joyously, as he scanned the -water. "Good work, men!" - -The hits had been made by guess, except for the guidance of the wake, -while the submarine ran barely submerged. Even Dalzell's report of hits -had been based on appearances. But now the "Prince," plowing on her way, -steamed into a patch of oil-strewn water and out of it again. - -"I'll be satisfied if there is no more fighting in this day's work," Dan -confessed, mopping the icy perspiration from his forehead. - -"Danny-boy, you've done a big enough day's work to satisfy the greediest -of fighters!" cried Dave, gripping his chum's hand. - -"Now we'll look after the prisoners, and pick up the survivors from the -wrecked steamship," proposed Dan. - -Then, as he glanced out forward, where a small, sullen German mob stood -scowling under guard of armed sailors, he added: - -"In view of what we've seen to-day I'm sorry we have so many prisoners." - -"Dan, that's not humane," rebuked Dave. - -"I don't feel humane," Dan admitted, simply. "What I've seen to-day has -made my blood hot. I'd be willing to let go, with both batteries, at the -whole German people." - -"Thank goodness you can't do it," laughed Darrin. "You'll cool down -soon, Danny." - -Putting back, Dan ran the "Prince" toward the boats and rafts from the -sunken steamship. While overhauling them he went down from the bridge -and approached the German prisoners. - -"Who was the commander of this outfit?" Dalzell inquired, in English, of -course. - -"I was, and am," replied a scowling German officer. - -"Your name?" - -"Sparnheim!" - -"Then, Sparnheim, all I have to say to you is that you may have been -commander, but now you'll take orders, instead of giving them. Do you -feel any shame for what you did to that steamship?" - -"I don't," was the frowning answer. "I attacked enemies of Germany and -of the Kaiser!" - -"What did the women in the boats yonder do to Germany, or the Kaiser?" -Dan demanded. - -"They sailed the sea, at least," retorted Sparnheim. - -"Is that a crime?" - -"But the German government had warned all passengers from the sea!" - -"Under the impression that the German government owned the sea?" Dalzell -demanded, ironically. "To-day's work, so soon after light and sunrise, -must have shown you that others have something to do with the control of -the sea. Three of your accursed submarines have gone to the bottom." - -"Yes, through your treachery!" hissed the German officer. - -"Treachery?" Dan asked, with a hard smile. - -"Yes; you hoisted a flag that does not belong to you." - -"We fired under our own flag. That is a right recognized by the -nations." - -"It was treachery, just the same," insisted the German. "You were afraid -of us, so you took a cowardly advantage." - -"Treachery! Cowardly advantage!" Dalzell repeated, in disgust. "We -destroyed your craft. But did you not try to destroy ours? Cowardly -advantage? Of what use would submarines be to your people if you scorned -taking cowardly advantage? Sparnheim, you are paid as a German officer?" - -"To be sure," admitted the other. - -"Then you are making your living as an assassin--as a cowardly murderer. -And the nation that employs you is no better than you are, but a partner -in your crimes." - -"It is not true! We are not murderers, not criminals!" raged the -prisoner. "We fight that Germany may live!" - -"If she must live by such cowardly work as is done by her submarines, -then she does not deserve to live," Dan retorted. "I am not going to -take advantage of your helplessness. I regard you as a man with a lost -soul, and to that extent I am sorry for you. I wanted your view of your -crimes, and could not forbear to express my own opinions. We know each -other's views, and do not need to talk further." - -The "Prince" had lain to again, for now she had overtaken the first of -the boats from the foundered steamship. A gangway had been lowered and -the men and women who had taken to the small boats were now coming up -over the side. - -"Which animal among them commanded the craft that sunk our ship?" -demanded a woman hoarsely, as she eyed the sullen Germans. Dan pointed -out Sparnheim. - -"You killed several men and two women and a baby!" cried the woman, -pointing an accusing finger at the quivering Sparnheim. "The baby was -mine! One of the men that you murdered was my husband! May you never -know another moment of happiness!" - -[Illustration: "You murdered my husband."] - -Beside herself, she tried to spring past the sailor guards to attack the -fellow with her own hands. - -Darrin came along just in time to take hold of one of her arms. - -"Come, madam," he urged, soothingly, "do not foul your hands by touching -such a beast." - -"I wish I could have him hanged--the murderer!" cried the woman, -passionately. - -"I am more cruel than you, then, madam," Dave continued, as he led her -away step by step, "for I would have the wretch live a long life. No -matter how long he lives his ears must be filled with the shrieks of -dying women and children. He must hear the cries of the drowning and -the moans of the wounded. He must start in terror from his sleep at -night, for he has done foul deeds that will haunt him as long as -memory lasts. He has lived the sneaking, cowardly life of a pirate, -and is steeped in all the foulness of piracy. His has not been the -life of the brave fighting man, who willingly grants the foe an equal -chance. He has murdered and pillaged. This fellow can never, as long -as he lives, escape the accusations of his own lost soul." - -"It is a lie!" foamed Sparnheim. "A lie, a lie, a lie, I tell you! What -I have done, I have done as a loyal and patriotic German. What I have -done was for my country and my sovereign!" - -"To be sure," Dave agreed, "but you can never shift your part of the -burden from yourself. Your life will be one of misery." - -Others of the passengers had crowded forward to share with the frenzied -woman the storm of reproaches that she visited upon these Germans, but -Dan felt that matters had gone far enough. - -"All rescued survivors will please step inside," he called out. "We will -register your names and make the best possible provision for you." - -Having gotten the rescued ones well aft, Dan turned to the petty officer -in charge of the prisoners. - -"March them down to the brig," he ordered. - -Sparnheim drew himself up, then indicated a younger man at his side. - -"Me? You know who I am. And this is Lieutenant Witz. When you send my -men to your brig, what do you do with us?" - -"We won't separate you," Dan assured him, with a smile. - -"I demand to know where you will send us. That is, if we are not to have -the freedom of the deck?" - -"You will both go to the brig with your men," Dalzell answered. - -"But we are officers and gentlemen!" cried Sparnheim, indignantly. - -"Gentlemen!" repeated Dan Dalzell, a world of irony in his tone. - -Then to the petty officer: - -"To the brig, with the whole lot of them!" - -Sparnheim struck at a sailor who took hold of his arm and the sailor -promptly felled him to the deck. - -"I am insulted and treated outrageously because I am helpless," yelled -the German, sitting on the deck. - -"I am sorry that violence was necessary," Dan replied, raising him to -his feet. "You have only to obey, and you will not be handled roughly." - -"I will not go to the brig with common sailors!" roared Sparnheim. - -"It is rough on the sailors," Dan agreed, "so I shall have to apologize -to your 'common sailors' and ask them to endure your company. If they -maltreat you, you can make complaint, you know." - -It required two husky sailors to drag Sparnheim below. Witz, who was -more tractable, went as ordered, head down, and eyes lowered. - -"The air is sweeter now that they're gone," Dan confided to his chum. - -"Much!" Dave agreed, dryly. - -Soon after that the last of the survivors from the sunken steamship were -picked up and made as comfortable as possible. - -It was not until the following morning that these survivors, and the -German prisoners as well, were transferred to an in-bound destroyer. - -Then the "Prince," with a farewell toot of her whistle to the destroyer, -turned her nose about and steamed off in search of such further -enterprise as the broad sea might hold in store for her. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -DAN STALKS A CAUTIOUS ENEMY - - -"Shall we escort you in?" - -It was the following morning, and the "Prince" was proceeding eastward. -An American destroyer, roaring along on her way, funnels belching clouds -of black smoke, her engines at full speed, her whole frame quivering, -sent this signal to the "Prince": - -"Do you wish convoy?" - -"No, thank you," Dan signalled back, as the destroyer slowed down for an -answer. "We can look out for ourselves." - -"You don't look it," came back the response. - -"We'll get in, all right," Dan replied by signal. - -"Sorry for you," came the reply. "Think we'd better stick by." - -"Confound him," muttered Dalzell. "He means well, but if he stands by us -he'll spoil our good chance of trapping some more of these submarines." - -"Ask him who commands," Darrin suggested. - -Dan ordered the question signalled. - -"Preston," came the reply. - -"We know him well enough," laughed Dave. "He was at Annapolis with us." - -Dan was now quick to see the point of Dave's original suggestion, for he -signalled: - -"Do you remember Dalzell?" - -"Danny Grin!" came the prompt response from the destroyer. - -"Yes; he commands this tub," Dan signalled back. - -"Oh!" came the comprehending signal from the destroyer. - -Then, after a brief interval: - -"Danny Grin could always laugh his way into luck. Good-bye, and -success!" - -"Thank you," Dan did not omit to signal back. "More of the same to you." - -The destroyer increased her speed and forged ahead, disappearing in the -distance. - -"He knew that Dan Dalzell could take care of himself," Dave declared. - -"At least," replied the "Prince's" commander, "he must have realized -that I had some game out here on the water that I didn't want spoiled." - -"Periscope astern, sir!" called a lookout two hours later. - -Dan's watch officer turned just in time to detect, with his glass, a -tube even then being withdrawn back into the water. - -"Twelve hundred yards astern, at least," he reported to Dalzell. "I -couldn't have picked it up without a glass, nor could the lookout." - -"Watch for a torpedo," Dan directed, "although I don't believe he'll try -at such a distance in his position." - -This guess proved correct, for the "Prince" continued on her way for -fully five minutes after that without further sign from the submarine. - -That very fact made Dalzell impatient. - -"Confound the Hun!" he growled. "If he won't try for me, then I'll coax -him!" - -Accordingly the "Prince's" engines were stopped. As soon as headway -ceased, the seeming tramp appeared to drift helplessly on the waves. -Dan's next move was to order men to run over the decks and the -superstructure as though making repairs. - -"Just what do you figure the Hun will think has happened to you?" Darrin -asked. - -"He'll have to do his own guessing," Dan rejoined. "I'm not going to -help him solve the puzzle. But surely something must have happened to -us." - -For a few minutes nothing was seen, in any quarter, of the enemy craft. -At last, however, a glimpse was caught of a periscope to starboard. - -"He's trying to figure us out," Dan chuckled. "I hope we don't look good -enough for him to waste a torpedo!" - -His hand at the engine-room telegraph, Dan waited, while Ensign Stark -watched that periscope through his glass. - -"There goes the periscope out of sight," announced the watch officer, -presently. - -A full ten minutes passed. Then sight of the periscope was picked up -once more, this time closer in. - -"You've got him guessing, at the least," Dave smiled. - -"Yes, but I'm still hoping he won't guess 'torpedo,'" was Dalzell's -response. "Stand by, gunners!" - -"There comes the conning tower," Stark announced. - -"He's going to gun us, then," Dan concluded. He waited, standing almost -on tiptoe, until the gray back of the sea monster thrust itself up -through the water. - -"Back with the ports! Let him have it, starboard battery!" Dan called to -the waiting naval gunners. - -Their officer had the range and all was ready. Two shells splashed in -the sea just short of the submersible, the third just beyond it. - -"Second round!" Dan bellowed from the bridge. - -Profiting by their margins of error the gunners this time fired so true -that one shell landed on the gray back forward, the other aft. The hits -were glancing, so the enemy was not put out of business. - -The next instant a puff of smoke left the enemy's forward gun. No bad -shooting, that, for the forward gun of the "Prince's" starboard battery -was promptly knocked from its mounting. Four men went down as the shell -exploded. - -"Two killed, sir!" came the swift report from the deck. The others, -wounded, were assisted below. The shell had done further damage, for a -big fragment had knocked to bits one of the sliding port doors. - -Dan signalled for speed ahead, swung around, and at the same time -ordered raised for instant work a machine gun that nestled in the bow of -the "Prince." - -"Let the enemy have it!" called Dalzell. - -Straight at the submarine Dan dashed, throwing the spray high around the -bows. The machine gunners, quickly getting sight, kept a steady stream -of bullets striking against the enemy's hull, despite the fact that the -range was constantly shifting. This keeping of the range was not -difficult when shots were fired continuously, for the enemy was near -enough for the officer in charge of the piece to tell by splashes of -water when any of the bullets went wild. - -"He won't dive now, but if he does, it will suit me just as well," Dan -chuckled. "That old hull must be a sieve now." - -Two torpedoes were discharged at the oncoming "Prince." One of these -missed the ship narrowly. The other struck, glancingly, on the port -side, forward, and disappeared without exploding. - -By now the submarine was doing some maneuvering of its own. Its forward -and after guns were discharged whenever possible, but the shells failed -to land, until the "Prince," still managing to keep on, was within three -hundred yards, and bent on ramming the enemy craft. - -Over the bridge screamed a shell, passing so close that Dan and Dave -ducked involuntarily. - -Crash! There was a ripping of metal, a black smudge of smoke soon -settling over everything, and the "Prince's" smokestack was gone, -clipped off within seven feet of the point where it emerged through the -deck. - -Then with a quick turn of the steering wheel the "Prince" was sent -crashing into the long, low, gray hull. From close to the water came the -yells of the Hun crew as they scrambled up through the conning tower -hatchway. - -On passed the "Prince," making a wide sweep and coming back again. The -submersible had already sunk from sight, leaving but few of her men -struggling on the surface of the water. - -By the time that the "Prince" had lowered a boat some of the Germans had -sunk. Only three men were rescued and hauled in. - -Lined up on the spar deck of the steamship these proved to be the -second-in-command and two seamen. - -"It's an outrage to deceive us in the manner that you did," angrily -declared the German officer, in English. - -"Take that matter up with the Assassins' Union," Dan jeered. "On this -cruise I've heard other German officers call it an outrage. It appears -to me that you Germans reserve the right to commit all the outrages." - -"Then you've met other submarines?" scowled the young officer. - -"This part of the sea must be pretty clear of the pests, at the rate -we've been going," Dan announced, cheerfully. "We had a lot of -prisoners, too, but you'll find the brig empty now, for we transferred -them." - -"The brig?" demanded the German officer. "What have I to do with that?" - -"It will be your lodging," Dan informed him. "Also your play yard." - -"I refuse to go there!" exclaimed the enemy officer, indignantly. - -"Oh, well, you'll be carried there, then," said Dalzell, carelessly. - -"But a ship's brig is no place to confine officers," the German went on, -heatedly. "As an officer I demand proper quarters." - -"Take them below," Dan ordered, briefly. - -For the first few steps the German officer had to be dragged. Then, -realizing the hopelessness of resistance, he yielded and walked along in -company with his seamen, though he called back: - -"I have helped to sink many ships, and trust that I may have had the -honor and pleasure of sending friends of yours to the bottom." - -Ignoring the fellow, Dan went back to the bridge, thence down to the -hurricane deck. Men were already engaged in removing the wreck of the -smashed smoke-stack. - -Emergency repairs were completed in due time, with materials kept on -board for such a case. - -And now, when he could safely run at full speed once more, if necessary, -Dalzell gave the order to proceed. He was about to go below, to the -wardroom for luncheon, when a radio operator came running to the bridge. - -As has been stated, the "Prince" carried a full radio outfit, that could -be installed rapidly, but Dan's orders had been to conceal all evidence -of radio equipment until absolutely necessary to use it. - -None the less, a small receiving station had been rigged up, and -concealed, so that, though Lieutenant-Commander Dalzell's sending radius -was short, he could receive messages from any quarter. - -The message at which he now glanced read: - -"S. S. 'Prince': Report." - -It had come in code, but Dan was able to translate it without reference -to his code book. - -Instantly, he gave orders to have the radio outfit erected, then -descended to his meal. - -Later one of the radio men reported that the equipment was in shape for -signalling. So the young commander sent in his report of work so far -accomplished to the destroyer base at the home port. - -"Excellent!" came back the hearty commendation. "Results better than -expected. But ruse will soon be known, so return and report. Darrin's -new orders will also be ready for him on arrival." - -"Home, James!" said Dan, jovially, to the officer of the deck, when he -had deciphered the coded instructions. - -That night he and Dave took an extra long sleep, though both remained -fully dressed, ready for summons at any moment. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -THE S. O. S. FROM THE "GRISWOLD" - - -"Belle on her way, and due soon to arrive!" Dave Darrin cried, joyously, -as he read the cablegram that had been handed to him on his arrival at -the American admiral's headquarters. - -That cablegram had lain there for days, having arrived the same forenoon -that Darrin had put to sea on the voyage of the "Prince" with Dalzell in -command. - -Belle was his wife, his schoolboy sweetheart, whom he had not seen in -many months. He had known that she was trying to induce the Red Cross -authorities to send her to France, but had had no word to the effect -that she had been successful. - -Now he knew, from the number by which the expected ship was designated -in the cablegram, that she was on the passenger liner "Griswold." - -"When is the 'Griswold' due?" Dave asked a clerk at headquarters. - -"Arrival date hasn't been reported," answered the clerk, "but it should -be in to-day. I've an idea, sir, that the 'Griswold' cannot be far out -now." - -"Your sailing orders, Darrin!" hailed a staff officer, walking briskly -up and holding out a bulky envelope. - -"Do I have a few days in port?" Dave inquired, hopefully. - -"Sorry to say that you do not. You are required to drop out with the -tide at four this afternoon." - -"Very good," nodded Dave, pleasantly, though he did deeply regret that -he could not have a few days in port. He must miss meeting Belle, who -was bound for this same port. - -"Your orders, too, Dalzell," continued the staff officer, handing Dan an -envelope of appearance similar to that which Darrin had received. - -"Sailing orders for to-day for me, too?" he grinned. - -"Same time as Darrin's," and the staff officer had hurried away. - -While the friends had been out on their last cruise two big, new -destroyers, lately commissioned, had arrived from the United States. - -To Darrin and Dalzell, in recognition of their fine work against -submarines, had fallen the commands of these new sea terrors. - -The "Asa Grigsby" was Dave's new craft; to Dan had fallen the "Joseph -Reed." - -Ordinarily Dave would have been glad of his fine new command and prompt -sailing orders. Now, he wished regretfully that he could have had a few -days ashore. That he might meet the "Griswold" at sea, of which there -was not more than half a chance, meant little to him. He would, in that -case, pass the ship on which Belle journeyed, but that would mean -nothing. - -"Oh, well, it's war-time," Dave sighed, when Dan expressed sympathy. "A -few years of war, you know, and then a man will have a chance to see his -home folks again, once in a while." - -"It's tough, that's what it is," answered Dan, sympathetically. - -"No, it isn't even that," Dave rejoined, quickly. "There are thousands -of men at sea on ships who may not see their wives again unless we chaps -do our duty all the time. There are scores of women on the sea whose -husbands will never see them again if we sleep or lag. The men of the -destroyer fleet have no right to think of their own pleasure or -convenience. I'm ready for sea, and I pray for a busy and successful -cruise against the enemy!" - -Only from the deck of the "Prince" had the two chums seen their new -craft. Now they went down the hill toward the harbor, ready to report -and take over their ships. - -It was the first time during the war that the two chums had sailed -separately. It was also Dan Dalzell's first regular command, for the -"Prince" had been handed over to him only on temporary detail. - -"We'll miss each other, Danny-boy," cried Dave, regretfully, as the -chums gripped each other's hands at the quay. "We've been used to -sailing together." - -"We can have a radio talk once in a while," Dan returned glumly. - -"Yes, but we're supposed to talk by radio only on official matters." - -"We can at least find out when we're near each other." - -After they had entered their respective gigs, and had started toward -their craft, the chums waved hands toward each other. - -Then Darrin, turning his thoughts to duty, tried to forget his -disappointment over his inability to meet Belle. - -Going up over the side of the "Grigsby," Dave was greeted by the watch -officer. Then his new executive officer, Lieutenant Fernald, reported to -him and greeted him. Dave's baggage was taken to the commanding -officer's quarters, and he followed to direct his new steward in the -unpacking. - -This done, Darrin went out on deck and ordered all officers and men -assembled that he might take over the command formally by reading the -orders assigning him to the "Grigsby." - -This formality over, Dave sent a messenger after one petty officer whom -he had observed in the crew. A boatswain's mate came promptly, saluted -and reported. - -"I noted your face, Runkle, and I'm glad indeed to see you on this -ship," Darrin informed him, heartily. - -"I'm glad to hear you say that, sir," replied Runkle, with another -salute. "I was ordered to this craft only this forenoon, sir." - -"Yes; I'm glad to have you aboard, Runkle, for I remember that I've had -some of my best luck when you were at hand. I think I shall have to -appoint you my personal mascot," Darry laughed. - -"I'll be that, or anything else that will serve, sir," Runkle declared, -gravely, his face flushing with pleasure over Dave's cordiality. - -"This is a fine new craft, Runkle." - -"Yes, sir; one of the two best destroyers that the United States has put -in commission since the war began. I'm eager, sir, to see the best that -the 'Grigsby' can do." - -"The best that the 'Grigsby' and her complement can do," Dave Darrin -amended. - -Then, accompanied by the executive officer, Darrin started on a tour of -inspection of the "Grigsby." - -"It seems a shame, doesn't it," Dave asked, "to think that a magnificent -craft like this, costing a huge fortune, can be destroyed in a moment by -contact with a single torpedo fired from some sneaking German -submarine." - -"But it seems just as good the other way, sir, to think that such a -craft as this can, perhaps, sink a dozen of the submarines before she -meets her own fate." - -"I never fully appreciated before this war what war to the hilt meant," -Dave went on, thoughtfully. "Of course I knew that it spelled 'death' -for many of the fighters, but it also means the destruction of so much -property, the ruining of so much material that the world needs for its -comfort! The world will be hard up, for a century to come, on account of -the waste of useful materials caused by this war's destructiveness." - -"But may the 'Grigsby' do her share of that destructive work!" said -Lieutenant Fernald, fervently. "The property that we destroy belongs to -those who would set the world back a thousand years!" - -"I'm afraid we must go on destroying enemy property, and our own, too, -in accomplishing harm to the enemy, Mr. Fernald. The more swiftly we -destroy, the sooner our struggles against the German madmen will be -ended!" - -All was in readiness to sail. Punctually to the minute the "Grigsby" and -the "Reed," with anchors up, began to move out of the harbor. Both had -their general orders as to the course to be followed, the length and -duration of the cruise, too, with discretion as to changing their orders -in emergencies such as might arise. - -Hardly had they put out from port when the "Grigsby" and the "Reed" -parted company. - -For the first hour Darrin, following orders, ran at full speed, then -slowed down to cruising speed. Night came upon the waters, with a -crescent moon off in the western sky. - -"And somewhere out on this wide waste, somewhere west of here, probably, -is the 'Griswold,' with Belle aboard. And, unless she has liberty to -remain in port, I shall not see her in months, perhaps, or maybe in -years." - -Dave put the thought aside. He was out again in the haunts of the -assassins of the sea; out, also, in the track of vessels bringing men -and supplies for the world's greatest fight. Disappointed as he was over -the impossibility of meeting Belle, he realized how small his own -affairs were as compared with the fate of the world. - -At midnight he went below, for he had confidence in the new junior -officers whom he had met to-day, and he wanted to be awake and on the -bridge again just before dawn. So, leaving orders for his calling, he -went below to his quarters. - -And there he slept, dreaming of Belle, undoubtedly, until an hour before -dawn, when an orderly entered hurriedly, shaking him hard by the -shoulder. - -"Message from liner 'Griswold,' sir, reports by radio that she has just -dodged torpedo fired by submarine that is still following." - -"The 'Griswold!'" echoed Darrin, awaking instantly and leaping to his -feet. "You're sure of the name?" - -"Yes, sir!" - -Dave pulled on rubber boots and snatched his cap and sheepskin coat. - -Then, a second orderly reported: - -"S. O. S. from 'Griswold', sir! Just struck and believed to be in -sinking condition!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -DAVE'S NIGHT OF AGONY - - -"The 'Griswold' sinking! And Belle on board!" hurried into Dave Darrin's -mind as he heard further details and learned that the stricken liner lay -twenty-five miles away, sou'-sou'-west from the "Grigsby's" present -position. - -He darted through the doorway and sprang for the bridge. - -"Full speed to the 'Griswold'!" he commanded as he darted up the bridge -stairs. - -But Ensign Weedon had already worked the engine-room telegraph, and -hardly had Dave rested two unsteady hands on the bridge rail when he -felt the dashing spray in his face, for the "Grigsby" was racing like a -hound just freed from its leash. - -"Heading straight to the position reported, sir," stated Ensign Weedon. - -Lieutenant Fernald, also summoned, came hurrying to the bridge a few -moments later. - -"Like as not some of our own friends are on the 'Griswold'," muttered -Fernald. "I understand she carries a large passenger list." - -"My wife is on board," answered Darrin with a calmness that he did not -feel. - -Fernald's face fell. - -"I'm sorry, Mr. Darrin. We'll do our best to reach the ship in time!" - -"Yes, we'll do our level best and go our fastest, just as we would hurry -to aid any other stricken ship," Darrin rejoined, steadily, though his -hands gripped the rail so tightly that they showed white at the -knuckles. - -Weedon had already wirelessed to the "Griswold" that help was coming -swiftly. Dalzell's craft, too, had picked up the radio messages telling -of the "Griswold's" desperate plight. Dan was thirty-two miles away from -the ship that bore Belle Darrin. - -Then from the "Griswold" came this message: - -"Listing so that cannot use bow or stern guns. Submarine risen and is -shelling us!" - -"The monsters!" groaned Dave, as Fernald, in an unsteady voice, read the -radio message to him. "Ask how long the 'Griswold' can keep afloat if -not hit further." - -This message was sent, bringing back the alarming word: - -"Cannot say, but submarine moving closer. Evidently determined to make -swift job of us." - -"And of course the German hears these messages!" groaned Dave. "He may -even have the key to our code with commercial ships. He will now do his -best and quickest to send the liner to the bottom!" - -Ten minutes later this came in by way of the "Grigsby's" aerials: - -"S. O. S.! Taking to our boats on starboard side. Enemy on our port! S. -O. S. 'Griswold'." - -"And we are still fifteen miles away!" moaned Dave. - -His face was calm, but ghastly white. His lips were tightly closed over -firmly set jaws. "Fifteen miles away!" - -"The turbines are doing every ounce of work that is in them," said -Lieutenant Fernald, in a low voice. - -"I know it," Dave answered dully, staring ahead into the night. "And -Dalzell will be even longer than we in reaching the 'Griswold'." - -"If you could tell the captain of the 'Griswold' how long it will take -you to reach him, he might know better what to do--how to hold out more -successfully," suggested Fernald. - -"And, if the German knows the code we are using he would know how long -he could continue his wicked work and still have chance to get away," -Darrin replied. "I must not send him that information. Fernald, I have -some hope that I may be able to find that German pirate still on the -surface. If I do--" - -Darrin did not finish, but on his face there was an expression that was -both prayer and threat. - -The watch officer counted the miles as they were reeled off and told -Dave, from time to time, how many miles yet remained to be covered. - -On the bridge were screened lights--one over the bridge compass, that the -quartermaster might see to keep the ship on her course; another light -placed under the hood that protected the chart table. - -No other light appeared, and no light whatever could have been made out -on the destroyer by any one from a near-by craft. - -The minutes ticked slowly by--eternities they were to Dave Darrin. - -Nearer and nearer, every minute, yet was there hope of arriving in time? - -"By--by Jove!" cried Fernald, at last, under his breath. - -"I see it," Dave replied quietly. "And there is another--flashes from the -German craft's deck guns. We see them on account of the elevation of the -guns, though we do not yet see the German hull through the glass." - -"I can make out the 'Griswold'," Fernald exclaimed. "Over there! See -her, yonder? She is low in the water." - -"Yes; she must soon sink, or I am a poor guesser," Dave rejoined. "Look, -Fernald! Isn't the liner lowering her port boats now?" - -"Yes, sir, and shoving rafts over, too." - -"The rafts? Ah, yes! Near the finish now, and the 'Griswold's' skipper -has given up hope of our help. Putting the rafts overboard is always the -first step in a wreck." - -Though hoping against hope, Fernald telephoned the engine room, urging -the engineer to try to get a little more speed from the engines. The -chief engineer officer, himself in charge below, did his best. Billows -of black smoke hung over the water astern. Bit by bit the straining -engines provided more, and then a little more speed. - -If it were but daylight! Men stood by the "Grigsby's" guns, ready to -fire at the word--to sight by guess, should the lieutenant-commander on -the bridge call for it. Dave might have thrown on the searchlight. -Should the white ribbon of light appear now, while still so far away, -the German commander would know how soon to submerge. - -And Dave Darrin wanted the lives of those Germans! He was not -blood-thirsty, and heretofore had fought because it was his duty to -fight. Now he HATED these German fiends! If he could send fifty of them -to the bottom, that would be excellent. If he could drown a hundred of -the Hun pirates, that would be fine! To send a thousand of them to the -bottom of the Atlantic Ocean--that would be something worth while! - -But to send that beam of clear white light across the ocean--to signal -the German commander, in effect, the word "Dive!"--that would be -criminal. - -"Fernald!" cried Dave, hoarsely. - -"Sir?" - -"Can you make out the enemy hull?" - -"No, sir." - -"Try!" - -"I cannot make it out yet, sir," replied Lieutenant Fernald, lowering -the glass from his eyes. "But look--the first streaks of dawn are behind -us." - -"That will be of no assistance for ten minutes or more," answered Dave. -"Ten minutes! It will all be over then. Look at that flash from the -scoundrel's gun!" - -The German was now shelling the boats that were trying to slip away in -the darkness. Next, undoubtedly, the Hun would begin firing on the -rafts, which could move little faster than the waves that slipped them -along. - -"Never again any mercy to a pirate! Not one surrender will I accept -after this! All Germans who fall into my clutches shall go to the -bottom!" - -Lieutenant Fernald turned his head aside to hide a bitter smile. He did -not blame Dave; his heart ached for that gallant young commander. Yet -well enough Fernald knew that Darrin would never, once his rage had -passed, sink a helpless foe, no matter how much he despised the wretch. - -They could now, through the night glass, make out a German sailor who -stood forward on the submarine's hull, a lookout, doubtless scanning the -dark lines of the destroyer rushing to the rescue. It must be that -lookout's business to try to judge the distance of the destroyer, that -the submersible might remain on the surface long enough to wreak all -possible havoc on the lifeboats. Then, at the last moment, the submarine -would submerge, that its commander, crew and craft might survive to -assassinate ships' companies on another day! - -"He knows I won't use my searchlight--he's daring me!" muttered Dave, -savagely. "But, by the great Dewey! I'll use that light in thirty -seconds more. Fernald, tell me when the time is up!" - -Dave's next word was passed to the officer in command of the forward -guns, and by that officer to the skilled, cool gun-pointers. - -None except Darrin, Fernald and the watch officer knew that Belle Darrin -was a passenger on the ill-fated "Griswold." - -"Let your first shots set this craft's record!" was the division -officer's quiet command to the gun-pointers. - -No message could have been more inspiring to these veterans, on a new -ship, knowing that she was one of the best of the destroyer fleet. - -The "Grigsby" came rushing, roaring in, and then, slowing down, went -close to the foremost of the boats from the sinking liner. - -From the submarine a shell arched and struck in that boat, tearing out -the bottom and throwing the occupants into the sea. - -"Searchlight!" commanded Darrin. - -Hardly a second did the light waver in the sky, then settled down across -the submarine, making a fair mark of her. - -A double bark leaped out from the forward guns. Never had pieces been -better served, for one shell tore a big, jagged hole in the starboard -hull of the enemy, the bottom of the rent being barely six inches from -the water. The second shell went in just below the water-line, throwing -up a geyser-like jet of water. - -"A just fate, but a pity it could not have been made ten times more -severe," muttered Dave, as, through the glass, he saw the submersible -careen under the impact, with a swift listing to starboard. - -There was no use bothering further about the fate of the enemy. That was -already settled. There were travelers, many of them Americans, to be -saved as far as saving could be done. - -As though to keep the submersible mocking company, the "Griswold" gave a -final lurch, then settled quietly under the waves despite the immensity -of her hull. - -"Put around to port--back!" shouted Darrin, his voice now cool and steady -as the realization of his rescue duties came to him. "Slow," he added, -warningly. "We must be careful not to upset those boats with our wash." - -After making the turn, Darrin ordered the speed reduced still more, as -he saw human figures ahead on the dark waves--some swimming, others -floating in death. - -Not waiting for the order the searchlight men deflected the light, -sending a beam out across the waters as the "Grigsby," moving slowly -enough now, steamed along to one side of the forms in the water. Other -seamen, at the edge of the slippery deck, stood by to heave lines to -those who could grasp them. - -The light, as it rested upon the water at a point seventy-five yards -from the destroyer, revealed a woman's features. - -Dave gave a start, rubbing his eyes as though sure he was the victim of -some hideous illusion. - -His eyesight was excellent; there could be no mistaking. - -"Belle!" burst from him, in a convulsive sob. - -Before those with him could divine his purpose, Dave Darrin leaped from -the bridge to the deck below. - -An agonized moment he devoted to the removing of cumbersome rubber -boots. Less than half as much time was required to throw off cap and -coat. Then bounding forward, he leaped and sprang out, his clasped hands -cleaving the water ahead of him as he struck through the waves. - -Another splash, half a second later. But Darrin did not know that -another swam behind him. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -THE FIGHT TO BRING BELLE BACK - - -It had really been Belle's white, motionless face that had floated by. -She had been in the boat Dave saw shattered by the shell. - -Nor did Darrin once lose sight of her as he struck out fiercely until, -when he was within fifteen feet of his goal, Belle sank without cry or -voluntary movement. - -Darrin made a great lunge forward and dived. He was seeking her, -desperately! - -Behind came that other swimming figure. - -So true had been the aim of Darrin's lunging leap forward, that now, as -he went deeper, one of his hands touched her. He seized Belle and shot -up to the surface. - -"A hand right here, sir!" sounded the cheery, enthusiastic voice of -Boatswain's Mate Runkle. "Let me help you, sir." - -Of a truth Dave was in need of help. His emotion had spent him more than -the mere physical effort had done. He felt limp, weak, but the infection -of Runkle's cheerful, cool tone made Dave once more master of himself. - -"Take it easy, sir," advised the boatswain's mate. "They're lowering a -boat." - -"Can you see the boat?" - -"No, sir." - -"Hear it?" - -"No, sir." - -"Then how do you know--" - -"I know an American man-o'-war's crew, sir. They wouldn't be doing -anything else. All we have to do, sir, is to keep her afloat. I'll stake -my soul on that, sir." - -And then Dave did see a boat come into view, and heard the sturdy splash -of oars--heard the coxwain's brisk orders. - -So weak was Dave that he almost wished to clasp Belle to him that they -might sink together and be at rest. To take her from the water only to -lay her in a grave on shore--what did it really matter after all? And for -himself--what? - -"Stand by, bowman there!" rapped out the coxwain's voice, as the small -boat shot along under rapid headway. "The boat-hook! The woman first!" - -Deftly the hook was caught in Belle's soaked garments. - -"And now the skipper!" called Runkle, who had transferred his support to -Dave Darrin. "As for me, stand clear! I'll pull myself aboard." - -Other boats came out from the destroyer. These, with the numerous boats -from the sunken liner and a number of rafts that dotted the water, all -had to be collected. The "Grigsby's" whistle broke hoarsely on the air, -calling them in. - -The boat that carried Darrin and Belle was the first to reach the -destroyer. Dave bore his wife up over the side. - -"I shall take her to my quarters," he informed Lieutenant Fernald. "See -that the surgeon is sent there at once. Runkle, you are all right?" - -"Never more so, sir," replied the boatswain's mate. - -"Go below and put on dry clothing." - -Dave staggered along with his precious burden into his own quarters, -which he never used on a patrolling cruise. He laid Belle tenderly on -his bunk and called up the bridge. - -"Mr. Fernald, are the passengers from the 'Griswold' being taken -aboard?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Any women among them?" - -"Several, sir." - -"Some that do not require attention themselves and can lend a hand -here?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Then will you find two who will volunteer to come here, and ask them to -do so immediately?" - -"At once, sir." - -By the time that Darrin had hung up the instrument, Hunter, the ship's -medical officer, had reached the doorway. He came in and bent over the -figure on the berth. - -"Not a chance," he said, briefly. "Drowned. But I do not believe, -Darrin, that she suffered. There was a shock--" - -"Shock?" Dave Darrin repeated. "Yes--a shell exploded in her boat." - -"I do not believe she was wounded," went on Hunter. "It must have been -the shock. She probably collapsed from the force of the explosion, and -the water did the rest." - -A messenger knocked at the doorway, then introduced two middle-aged -women, who stepped inside promptly. - -"You will do something, of course, Hunter?" Dave queried. "You will -attempt resuscitation--you will try to revive her?" - -"I'll try, of course," replied the medical man, dubiously. "Yes. I will -work like a fiend, Darrin. Sometimes a spark of life lingers. But do not -hope!" - -"I shall be in the corridor outside," Dave answered quietly. "Call me -when--" - -Dry-eyed, but utterly haggard, Darrin stepped out into the passageway. -He couldn't quite believe what had happened--didn't, in fact. It must be -a dream, but soon there would be an awakening! - -To his dazed mind the time did not seem long. Inside, he could hear -low-voiced directions, and once he heard Hunter say: - -"That much water off her lungs, anyway. My guess was right. She must -have swallowed a good deal." - -Then he heard Hunter using the telephone. Not long afterward a hospital -man came hurrying from the sick-bay with two bags, and vanished into the -cabin with them, coming out at once. - -Another interval, and then Darrin was called into his cabin. In the -meantime, with the help of his steward, he had changed his own clothes. - -"Any hope?" he asked, in a low voice. - -"There's a barest trace of pulse," the ship's surgeon replied, "but I do -not believe it will last. I'm sorry. I'm doing everything that can -possibly be done." - -"I'm sure you are, Hunter," Dave replied. - -Belle, whom the women had disrobed and rubbed, was now covered with -blankets. One of the women, with a hand under the blankets, was applying -a battery current. - -Dave stepped forward, taking a long look at the white face and the -closed eyes. Not even his hopes could conjure up the belief that a spark -of life remained that could be fanned into renewed existence. - -Still it was not real! Belle's spirit had not flown and left him. -Hunter, eyeing his commanding officer for an instant, read his mind; he -understood and felt a great surge of sympathy for Darrin. - -"Poor chap!" murmured the medico. "It will be all the harder when he -really does come to himself!" - -A glance downward at his uniform reminded Dave that he was still an -officer, that hundreds of people had been close to death, that some -undoubtedly had perished, and that he could not neglect his sworn -duties. - -Stepping to the telephone that connected with the bridge, he heard -himself answered by the voice of his executive officer. - -"Am I needed, Fernald?" he asked. - -"No, sir. We're still taking the rescued on board, but there is nothing -you could do that is not being done by the rest of us. Any good news -with you, sir?" - -"Not yet, but there will be," Dave answered. "Thank you." - -Then he glanced back toward the berth, to see that Dr. Hunter had -prepared some liquid medicine that he was now trying to force between -Belle's lips. He stepped over beside the berth and watched. - -"There! She'll soon speak to us," Dave declared, as he saw Belle's -eyelids flutter almost imperceptibly, and heard the faintest kind of a -sigh. - -Hunter, who knew that Life and Death were fighting, with Death going -strong, did not reply, but stood with eyes fixed on the patient's face. -He did not look for her to become conscious enough to speak. - -Two or three minutes dragged miserably by. The surgeon dreaded to -pronounce the words which he felt must soon be said. One of the women -was still applying the battery current, the other chafing Belle's left -wrist and arm. Hunter placed his stethoscope to her chest and listened, -his face wholly grave. - -There was another faint flutter of the lids, another faint sigh. - -"You'll soon speak to me, won't you, Belle?" Dave urged, quietly, but in -that silent cabin his every word was distinct. - -"Shall I apply the battery to another part of the body, Doctor?" asked -one of the women after a few minutes. - -"One part will do as well as another," Hunter answered, in a very low -voice. The woman understood, but she said no word, gave no sign, but -went on with her task. - -"Come, Belle," spoke Dave, now with an effort at cheeriness of tone, -"we're losing a lot of time, little girl." - -This time there was a somewhat more pronounced fluttering of the lids. -Then came a sigh that sounded like a catching of the breath. - -"Say!" murmured Hunter, in the awe of a new discovery. "That's the thing -to do, Darrin! Go on talking to her. I believe that she knows, that your -voice reaches her subconsciously. Talk, man, talk! But easily." - -So Darrin, with a hand resting with a feather's weight on Belle's pallid -forehead, went on speaking. It made little difference what he said, but -every word was cheery, tender. - -At last there came a longer flutter, a quicker, deeper sigh. Belle -fought with her eyelids, then parted them, gazing vacantly until she saw -Darrin's bronzed face. - -"All right now, Belle, aren't you?" he called to her. "An all-right -little girl again?" - -"Dave--my--lad!" - -The whisper came so low that only Darrin heard it. But Hunter lost -nothing of the scene. His hand was on Belle's pulse. - -"Go on talking to her," he whispered. "That's the right medicine." - -So Dave continued, as cheerily as before. Belle Darrin could not follow -all that he said. There was a trace of bewilderment in her eyes. The -lids still fluttered, although she now breathed regularly even if low. - -"That's all, sir. Now step outside until you're called," Hunter ordered, -with the air of a man who has learned something new and who means to -claim all the credit. - -Without a word of protest Dave turned, pushed aside the curtain and -stepped outside into the passage. - -"How is she?" whispered a familiar voice. - -"Dan!" - -"I came over as soon as I got word. The passengers have been rescued in -great shape. But how is Belle?" - -"Weak, but she's going to mend all right--thank heaven!" - -Their hands gripped. - -"I was greatly worried," Dan confessed in a low tone. - -"Hang it all," Darrin admitted, a new joy in his own low tones, "I -believe I would have been worried to death if I had realized how all the -chances were against me. But I felt as though such a thing as Belle's -death couldn't be--and so it didn't happen." - -"You're not talking very straight, chum, but I understand you," Dan -nodded. - -"And now, as to our duties," Dave went on. "Fernald assured me he could -attend to everything, and I knew that of course he could. So I let him. -Were any of the 'Griswold's' passengers lost? Yes, of course some must -have been, for I saw the shell strike in that boat--the one Belle was -in." - -"Three were killed by the exploding shell, and you have two on board who -were wounded by fragments. Two more were drowned--probably because the -shock stunned them and left them helpless in the water." - -"And I have been keeping Hunter with Belle all this time!" Dave uttered, -rather shamefacedly. "I must call him. Perhaps he can revive the two who -seemed to be drowned. Besides, some of the others need assistance." - -"Not a chance of it," Dan continued. "I've had my own medico and two -sick-bay men working over the cases. Both patients are dead. And there -are others missing. Your executive officer is having lists made. -Fortunately the 'Griswold's' crew and passenger lists were saved. Your -ship and mine have on board all who were picked up. Fernald should soon -know just who were lost." - -So Hunter and the two women remained with Belle Darrin. Half an hour -later Dave was called back into the cabin. Dan, who had remained with -him all this time, still stayed outside. - -"I'm going to be all right, Dave, as you can see for yourself," Belle -smiled, brightly, though her voice was but little above a whisper. "So -you got me out of the water yourself? They have told me that much." - -"You're all right again, little girl, but you must gain a lot of -strength," Dave answered, joyously. "I see old Hunter looking at me -frowningly this minute--" - -"I wasn't," interrupted the ship's surgeon, "but you have the right -idea, anyway. Mrs. Darrin is going to need sleep now, and then something -light and nourishing to eat. So you'd better return to your duties, sir, -and look me up later in the evening." - -"Good little girl!" Dave whispered, bending over and kissing Belle on -the forehead. "I knew you'd finish your cruise all right. Now, I'm going -to obey the surgeon's orders. I'll come back at the very earliest moment -that I'm allowed to do so." - -Outside he thrust an arm gaily under Dalzell's, and in this fashion the -two chums walked briskly to the deck and bridge. They were soon busy -with the figures of the day's work. Between them, the "Grigsby" and the -"Reed" had picked up nearly two hundred and fifty persons. Both craft -were crowded. Five bodies had been recovered from the water, and about -fifteen more people were listed as missing, though every effort had been -made to discover more of those who were missing. - -"I hate to think what would happen," muttered Dalzell, "if an enemy -submarine were to get between our two craft and let us have it right -now--a strike against each of our ships!" - -Right at that instant there came to their ears the jarring hail: - -"'Ware torpedo! Headed starboard--amidships!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -CONCLUSION - - -Dave did not glance for the tell-tale torpedo trail. His hand signalled -the engine-room for fullest speed. His voice gave the order for the -sweeping turn that the "Grigsby" quickly made. - -A few breathless seconds. The destroyer turned, then swung her stern -again. - -The "Grigsby" leaped forward, her bow aimed at the slender shaft of a -periscope that lay in outline against the water. - -Yonder, half a mile away, the "Reed" had executed a similar movement. -The two destroyers were racing toward each other, each bent on ramming -the new monster that had appeared between them. But Dave did not forget -his forward guns. - -Springing from the bridge he himself took station behind one of the guns -just as the breech was closed on a load. - -"I haven't yet sighted a gun on this ship," he announced, coolly. "I -want to see what I can do." - -Seldom had a piece been aimed more quickly on any naval craft. Darrin -fell back as the piece was fired. He had aimed to strike under water at -the base of that periscope. This had seemed the best chance, though he -knew the power of water in deflecting a shell aimed through it. - -"A hit!" cried an ensign, as he beheld the periscope itself waver, then -stand nearly straight before it was hauled swiftly in. - -"A hit--a good one!" came the signal from the "Reed." - -"I believe we did smash the hound!" chuckled Darrin, leaning forward and -taking the glass that was placed at his hand. - -"Yes, sir. I can make out the oil patch ahead." - -With the glass to his eyes Darrin confirmed this report. - -"That was unusual luck," he said, coolly. - -"Unusual shooting, I'd say, sir," voiced the ensign. - -"It's over, anyway, with that Hun pirate," declared Darrin. He ordered -the course changed as soon as Dan left for his own ship. Then he went to -the radio room to dictate a message to American naval headquarters at -the home port. That message told of the rescue of all but a score of the -crew and passengers from the sunken "Griswold," and also of the now -crowded condition of both destroyers. - -Within fifteen minutes the orders from shore arrived, in this form: - -"Come in with rescued passengers and crew. Commanding officers of -'Grigsby' and 'Reed' directed report for new orders." - -If Dave was anxious to have Belle safe on shore, the jackies on the two -craft were hardly less eager to put all the civilians ashore as soon as -possible, that the ships' crews might once more have elbow room. - -It was not until evening that port was made. On the trip Dave Darrin -barely left the bridge, but remained on duty hour after hour, refusing -to close his eyes. He would take no chances whatever with this most -precious cargo of men and women. - -By the time that the destroyer had reached moorings, Belle was able to -go up on deck, on Dave's arm. He took her ashore at once, placed her in -a hotel, and arranged for medical attendance to be summoned if needed. -And Runkle, with shore leave for the night, insisted on remaining in the -hotel, where he could be called at any instant when Mrs. Darrin might -need anything that he could do for her. - -Though the flag lieutenant was present at the interview which followed -at naval headquarters, it was the admiral himself who received Dave and -Dan. - -"You report more good luck--fine management, too!" cried the admiral, his -face beaming. "You two officers do not seem to be able to put to sea -without running into the sort of doings that make fine reading in the -newspapers at home. You have made wonderful drives against the -submarines, but your nerves must be well gone to pieces by this time." - -"No, sir," Darrin replied. "I'm ready for new sailing orders to-night." - -"You won't get them," the admiral retorted, bluntly. "Mr. Darrin, your -wife, and ill at that, is ashore, I am informed. She was one of your -rescued ones to-day." - -"Yes, sir." - -"Is she wholly recovered?" - -"She will be, by morning, sir." - -"And you are professing willingness to go on board and start with new -sea orders to-night!" - -"In war time, sir, I must think only of my work," Dave answered. - -For a few moments the admiral sat there, regarding both young officers -keenly. - -"You're splendid fellows, both of you," the older man said, at last. "So -good, in fact, that you're soon to be moved from these waters." - -Darrin bowed, and so did Dalzell, but neither asked questions. - -"A ranking British naval officer told me, this afternoon," continued the -admiral, "that he felt the British admiralty could well afford to trade -its best battleship for the services of two such officers as you young -gentlemen." - -"Are we to be turned over to join the British, sir?" asked Dave, a look -of alarm in his bronzed face. "To serve in the British Navy?" - -"Would you accept such an assignment?" queried the admiral. - -Dave glanced swiftly at his chum before he replied for both: - -"Sir, we'd go anywhere, perform any duty, under any flag, and under any -conditions, at the request of our own Government," Darrin answered. "We -do not belong to ourselves, but to the United States, and, through our -Government, to any nation on earth to which our Government should wish -to transfer us. At the same time, our choice would naturally be for -service in our own American Navy." - -"And that is just where it is going to be--with your own crowd," smiled -the admiral. "You will also command the same craft on which you came in -this evening. But you will be changed to other waters, and you will have -a somewhat different line of duty--a more dangerous line, in many ways, I -may add. But the British Admiralty, in making a request of me, specified -distinctly that it trusted I would be able to detail you two young -officers to the work. That new work, as I just said, will also be in -other waters." - -The admiral paused for a moment, but presently went on to say: - -"The new duty to which you are to be detailed was known to me some time -ago. That was why you were ordered to your present new commands. We -wanted you to try out both destroyers, that you might know all their -capabilities. Even had you struck no fresh adventures you would have -been recalled by to-morrow. But you know your craft now, and each of you -has tested out and learned his junior officers, and now you are surely -in readiness for your new field of work." - -"However, there are some slight but necessary changes to be made in the -'Grigsby' and the 'Reed' before they will be ready for their new work. -To-morrow a naval constructor will go aboard each of your ships and take -charge of the alterations to be made and the new equipment to be -installed. For that reason you will both be able to spend the greater -part of your time on shore during the coming week." - -Within the next few minutes the admiral detailed to the delighted young -officers the nature of the new work that was to be required of them. It -was as dangerous as he had stated. It would also call for their tireless -attention night and day. The admiral, however, could not daunt them. -Work and danger are the corner-stones of successful war, and the eyes of -the young naval officers shone as they saw the fullness of their new -opportunity to serve. - -"I shall be glad to receive my final orders, sir, at any hour, night or -day," Dave Darrin announced, as he rose. - -"And I shall be, also, sir," Dalzell promptly added. - -"A week's rest, anyway, will make you both keener and better fitted for -the big job you've ahead of you. Gentlemen, my heartiest congratulations -for your work during the last few weeks. You will do even better on your -next cruise. Good-night, gentlemen." - -Back to the hotel they went. Belle was now able to chat with them, -though she preferred to sit back in a big chair and to listen to their -own modest accounts of what they had seen and done during the latest -thrilling weeks in their lives. - -The next day Belle was able to go out with her husband. After that she -mended rapidly. - -All too soon the period of rest and delightful recreation ended. Belle -went on to her Red Cross work in France, and the orders came for which -both these young naval officers were so eagerly waiting. - -But what these orders were, and into what new fields of fighting it led -the two naval chums, must be reserved for the next volume of this -series, which will be published under the title: "Dave Darrin After the -Mine Layers; or Hitting the Enemy a Hard Naval Blow." - -In this splendid new volume the newest developments of sea fighting in -the late war will be set forth with a fidelity and compelling interest -that will hold the attention of every reader. - -THE END - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dave Darrin and the German Submarines, by -H. 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