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Title: The Stolen Cruiser
Author: Percy F. Westerman
Illustrator: Charles Norman
J. de Walton
Release Date: August 10, 2015 [EBook #49674]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STOLEN CRUISER ***
Produced by R.G.P.M. van Giesen
THE STOLEN CRUISER
[Illustration: "CRASH! A SHELL STRIKING THE BASE OF THE FUNNEL
REDUCING IT TO ATOMS."
_Frontispiece_.] [_Page_ 261.
]
THE STOLEN
CRUISER
BY
PERCY F. WESTERMAN
AUTHOR OF
"THE SEA MONARCH," "THE FLYING SUBMARINE" ETC.
[Illustration: SANS PEUR ET SANS REPROCHE - logo - L & N]
_ILLUSTRATED BY_
_CHARLES NORMAN & J. DE WALTON_
LONDON
JARROLD & SONS, 10 & 11, WARWICK LANE, E.C.
CONTENTS
CHAP.
I THE "SCRAPPED" CRUISER
II THE INTERRUPTED MATCH
III THE DESTROYER'S QUEST
IV THE OUTRAGE ON THE HIGH SEAS
V OVERHAULED
VI TRAPPED
VII HOLDING THE CONNING-TOWER
VIII THE PERIL OF THE VOICE-TUBE
IX HOLDING UP "L'ÉGALITÉ"
X THE HYDRO-AEROPLANES
XI HOKOSUKA'S SLEIGHT-OF-HAND
XII THE "DUKE OF NEGROPONT"
XIII THE HOSTAGES ARE MADE USE OF
XIV THE FORTUNE OF WAR
XV RAMMING AN ICEBERG
XVI CARDYKE TO THE RESCUE
XVII TOUCH AND GO
XVIII MUTINY AND A RUSE THAT FAILED
XIX CERVILLO DESERTS HIS CREW
XX THE RECAPTURE OF THE "INDEPENDENCIA"
XXI DRAKE MEETS THE YACHT "SERENA"
XXII JUAN CERVILLO KEEPS HIS VOW
XXIII FORESTALLED
XXIV THE COCKED HAT
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
CRASH! A SHELL STRIKING THE BASE OF THE
FUNNEL REDUCED IT TO ATOMS _Frontispiece_
RIGHT AHEAD CAME A HUGE BATTLE-CRUISER
A NOOSE WAS ADROITLY THROWN OVER HIS
SHOULDERS AND JERKED TIGHT
THE SHOT CAUGHT THE DECOY-BEARER JUST
BELOW THE KNEE
BEFORE CERVILLO COULD RECOVER FROM HIS
ASTONISHMENT HE WAS FLOORED BY THE
ATHLETIC SUB
HALF-A-DOZEN SEAMEN, HEADED BY THE RENEGADE
ENGLISHMAN, BURST INTO THE ROOM
THE PIRATES RUSHED FOR THE BOATS
AFTER A QUARTER OF AN HOUR'S SUSPENSE THE
"INDEPENDENCIA" GAINED THE OPEN SEA
HE STRUGGLED DESPERATELY TO THROW HIMSELF
ONCE MORE INTO THE SEA
THE STOLEN CRUISER
CHAPTER I
THE "SCRAPPED" CRUISER
IT was half-past eight on a May morning. The sun was obscured in a
dense haze that the light south-westerly breeze failed to disperse.
Spithead lay enshrouded in the sea-fog, while from the deck of H.M.
torpedo-boat destroyer _Frome_ neither the low-lying land upon which
Portsmouth is built nor the undulating downs of the Isle of Wight
were visible.
"Boyne Buoy on the starboard bow, sir," reported the look-out.
"Thanks be!" ejaculated Lieutenant-Commander Douglas Drake to his
companion, Sub-Lieutenant Paul Fielding. "I shan't be sorry to turn
in."
The _Frome_ had been out for night-firing off the Medmery Bank, but
ill-luck in the guise of a fog accompanied her. For hours she cruised
up and down, waiting for the bank of impenetrable haze to lift, while
her consort, the _Calder_, was standing by ready to take the canvas
target in tow.
It was a nerve-racking job, forging slowly ahead in the fog. In a
heavy sea, provided the weather be sufficiently clear to enable the
officer of the watch to pick up the various lights, the discomfort,
even when battened down, is nothing compared with the blindworm
tactics of keeping steerage way in a shut-in sky of dark grey clammy
vapour.
"By George! It is clearing," exclaimed Fielding. "Surely that is
Southsea Castle ahead."
"You're right. I only hope the admiral won't order us out to-morrow
night."
"By the mark ten!" shouted the leadsman in the monotonous drawl that
seamen affect when engaged in sounding.
"Fairly in the channel, thank goodness. How's that for navigation,
Mr. Cardyke?" asked the lieutenant, turning to a midshipman who stood
beside him on the diminutive bridge.
"Ripping, sir," replied the lad. "I suppose we'll be able to play on
Friday?"
"I hope so," rejoined Drake. "We must bear a hand in licking the
Sixth Division if it's humanly possible."
Lieutenant Douglas Drake was well under thirty years of age. Although
"frightfully keen" on his duties, and a stickler for naval etiquette,
he was at times almost boyish in manner. His chief fault--if fault it
might be termed--was excessive self-confidence. That quality was
undoubtedly an asset in the old lay-alongside-and-board-'em days; but
in modern naval tactics, based upon hard and fast scientific lines, a
blind reliance upon one's personal qualifications is apt to lead a
man into trouble. There are occasions, of course, when
self-confidence has its advantages. But woe-betide the unfortunate
individual who, through blind "cocksureness," jeopardised his command
and failed to achieve his object.
Drake had influence behind him, and with influence behind him a
hare-brained young officer might do certain things with impunity that
would soon bring him under the ban of official displeasure had he not
someone of importance to back him. On the other hand, influence tends
to make a man unpopular with his brother officers. Drake realised
this, and acted accordingly; but although he succeeded to a certain
extent in winning the regard of his comrades, he was often the victim
of a harmless practical joke whenever the opportunity arose.
Sub-Lieutenant Paul Fielding was, on the other hand, a cautious man.
He had need to be, since he had nothing in the shape of influence at
his back. He was a strict disciplinarian, somewhat inclined to be
off-handish at times, yet a true comrade and a loyal supporter of his
superior officer. Fired by Drake's enthusiasm he began to acquire the
belief that when an opportunity did occur the little _Frome_ would
acquit herself in a style worthy of the best traditions of the
Service--and the time was at hand when his capacity was to be tried
to the uttermost.
Arnold Cardyke, the midshipman "lent" to the destroyer, was a
dark-featured, athletic-looking youth of sixteen. He was slightly
above middle height, broad-shouldered and deep-chested, and was as
hard as the proverbial nail. He was the son of an admiral, who
himself was one of a long line of naval officers--for Cardykes were
to be found in the Royal Navy in a continuous, and often multifold,
line from the reign of King William III.
The young midshipman was doubly anxious for the _Frome_ to be
detained in harbour in order to effect the long outstanding
periodical refit. One reason was that he wanted to go on leave to
meet his brother, who was "paying off" after a two years' commission
on the Pacific Station; the other was that he was exceedingly keen on
cricket, and, with the reputation of being one of the best bats in
the First Dartmouth Team, he was regarded as a pillar of strength in
the forthcoming match between the officers of the Fifth and Sixth
Torpedo-boat Destroyer Flotillas.
Of course, had there been any special duty to perform on board the
_Frome_ Cardyke would have cheerfully foregone both of the
anticipated pleasures but, with the exception of the night-firing
practice--which could be performed any time during the forthcoming
six weeks--there was nothing likely to occur.
Arnold Cardyke was very proud of the honour of being "lent" to the
_Frome_, which was one of the very latest "New River" class. She was
120 ft. over all, with a turtle-back deck fore and aft, a strikingly
fine entry, and a pointed, cutaway stern. Funnels she had none, being
propelled by the most up-to-date Diesel motors. At the after end of
the fore turtle-deck was the gun platform, mounting two
eleven-pounder automatic weapons, so arranged that they could command
an arc of 210 degs. of the horizon, and could be trained to fire
skywards up to within 10 degs. of a vertical line.
Underneath this platform, with the observation holes barely six
inches above the back of the curved deck, was the conning-tower.
Above was the "navigating bridge," which could be removed if going
into action. Here was the slight shelter, called by courtesy the
chart-room, and two powerful searchlights.
Immediately abaft the bridge was a light telescopic mast for
signalling purposes. Wireless "aerials"--always the bugbear of naval
officers while overhead gear was in vogue--had been consigned to the
limbo of the past, and receivers in the wireless room "picked up" the
messages with unerring fidelity.
Abreast the mast were two seven-pounder automatic guns, protected
from Maxim fire by light steel shields forming a complete turret.
Abaft the mast, and twenty feet from the guns, were the two 21 in.
torpedo tubes, taking an improved Whitehead with an effective range
of five miles. From this point was a clear run of deck-space--save
for the ventilating cowls and hatchways, that could be respectively
unshipped or battened down should occasion arise--to the aft
torpedo-tubes.
On the poop turtle-back was the supplementary conning-tower, and
another eleven-pounder gun.
"All out" the _Frome_ could do forty-three knots. With her, speed was
the primary consideration. To minimise windage every object that it
was possible to construct in that fashion was wedge-shaped--even the
shafting of the ventilators, while with her after turtle-back deck
the destroyer could go astern at twenty-one knots without fear of
being swept by the waves. She carried a complement of ninety men, of
whom only fifteen were "engine-room ratings."
Gradually the fog lifted, till the outlines of Southsea Beach could
be followed almost as far as the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour; and
now, with her speed increased to a modest ten knots, the destroyer
slipped up the fairway against the surging ebb tide.
Just as the _Frome_ was within a quarter of a mile from the Round
Tower, where the entrance of Portsmouth Harbour is barely 250 yds.
wide, a burst of sunshine dispersed the last vestige of the fog
within the sheltered waters, though at Spithead the haze was as thick
as ever.
[Illustration: RIGHT AHEAD CAME A HUGE BATTLE CRUISER.
[_Page_ 17.
]
"That's awkward, sir," remarked Fielding. Lieutenant Drake did not
reply, but motioning the quartermaster to put the helm over to port,
and telegraphing to the engine-room for fifteen knots, nodded
significantly to his subordinate.
It was indeed awkward. Flying from the yard-arm of the naval station
of Fort Blockhouse was the signal burgee letter S--a triangular blue
and yellow flag--denoting that submarines were either entering or
leaving Haslar Lake. From the Semaphore Tower, and from the foremast
heads of all the ships in harbour, the Pilot Jack was flying, showing
that one of H.M. ships was under way, and a glance astern showed that
the second-class cruiser _Vindictive_ was entering.
Right ahead came a huge battle-cruiser, with a Government tug lashed
on either side, and a gaudily painted tug panting ahead with an
enormous hawser, and a sister tender puffing decorously astern of the
leviathan.
"That's a bungled bit of work," commented Drake. "She can't go back
with this tide under her; and the _Vindictive_ following us up, too.
Pass the word for a warning signal to be sent to the cruiser, Mr.
Cardyke. These fellows must be as mad as March hares."
The increased speed just saved the _Frome_ from being in a very tight
corner, for, hugging the eastern side of the entrance, she gained the
broad expanse of the harbour just as the towed vessel came abeam.
Still Drake had to keep his full attention on his course; but the
sub. and midshipman could devote themselves to the melancholy
spectacle--for the _Impregnable_ was on her way to the marine
knacker's yard. Her days as an effective unit were judged to be over,
and, sold out of the Service, she was on her way to a Dutch port to
be broken up.
The _Impregnable_ was one of the earlier "Dreadnought cruisers," and
in her time held the palm for speed. She was of eighteen thousand
tons displacement, and had attained a speed of twenty-six knots. Her
armament consisted of eight 12 in. guns--one pair for'ard, another
pair aft, and the others _en échelon_ amidships--as well as a
secondary battery of twenty-five 4 in. quick-firers. She had two
tripod masts and three huge funnels.
Very different the vessel looked from when, a few months previously,
she had taken her place in the fleet at Spithead as an effective unit
of the British Navy. Her topmasts were "housed," her boats and
secondary armament removed, and her regulation coat of grey paint was
streaked with rust and dirt. In her barbettes the 12 in. guns still
grinned menacingly, but their teeth were drawn, their breech-blocks
having been removed previous to sale.
"Seems like parting with an old friend," remarked the sub to Cardyke,
for Fielding had served a commission on board of her. "To my mind,
it's a mistake scrapping the older vessels so promptly. It's not my
business to say so, of course; but still, that's my opinion."
"She'd do her little bit even yet," observed Cardyke. "She never has
fired a shot in anger yet, has she?"
"No," replied the sub. "And she never will. We've seen the last of
the old _Impregnable_, Cardyke."
But Sub-Lieutenant Paul Fielding was, for once, at least, hopelessly
out of his bearings.
CHAPTER II
THE INTERRUPTED MATCH
THE _Frome_ came alongside the Fountain Lake Jetty, and her commander
repaired to the commander-in-chief's office to make his report as to
why the night gunnery exercises had not been carried out. To the
relief of everyone on board the destroyer it was decided that the
night-firing was to be postponed until after the little craft's
refit, and in the interval the _Frome_ was to lie alongside the jetty
until her consort, the _Blackadder_, came out of No. 3 Dock.
"That's good!" ejaculated Fielding, as the officers went to dinner in
the diminutive, cosy wardroom. "We'll have time to put in a few
hours' practice at the nets. Have you seen the list of our team yet,
Cardyke?"
"Thompson's sending out the names tomorrow. I know that we are in the
team; Simpson gave me the cue," replied the midshipman. "The
practice-nets will be available at ten o'clock to-morrow morning. I
suppose we may go, sir?"
"Of course," assented Drake, good-naturedly. "The gunner will be in
charge up to eight bells."
The four officers--for the engineer-lieutenant formed one of the
party--fell to discussing everyday topics. "Shop" was rigidly tabooed
in the _Frome's_ wardroom unless absolutely necessary for Service
reasons.
The following day, Thursday, passed almost without incident. Fielding
and Cardyke put in a good morning's work at the practice-nets in the
United Services ground; while Drake went ashore in the afternoon for
a motor-drive.
Friday dawned bright and clear, with every prospect of a blazing hot
day. Shortly after breakfast a newsboy brought off the daily papers
to the ship, and for the next half-hour the officers "stood easy."
"By Jove! They think that something's happened to the old
_Impregnable_," exclaimed Paul Fielding. "She ought to have turned up
at the mouth of the Scheldt yesterday morning, and nothing has been
seen or heard of her."
"Delayed by fog possibly," remarked the lieutenant-commander. "Still,
it's no affair of the Admiralty's since the ship is sold."
"The paper hints at something mysterious."
"Naturally. There's been a dearth of news for the last month or more,
and this is a good opportunity of arousing public interest. She'll
turn up all right, with two tugs looking after her. Well, what's
this?"
Drake turned to receive a message from a signalman.
"I say, you fellows," he exclaimed. "The _Frome_ will be well
represented in the Fifth Division Team. Thompson's sent a signal from
the depot-ship asking me to play. They must be fearfully hard up for
players, because I am awfully out of practice."
"Of course you'll play?" asked Fielding, eagerly, for Drake had a
reputation as a hard slogger at no very distant date.
"I'll do my best, rest assured," replied Drake, modestly, as he
deliberately folded his newspaper, and placed it in the rack. "But
business first and pleasure afterwards--it's time for divisions."
The morning passed only too quickly, for there was much to be done in
the way of routine, and at 2 p.m. Drake, Fielding, and Cardyke, all
in mufti, went ashore. A taxi quickly bore them to the officers'
Recreation Ground, where most of the rival teams had already
gathered.
Matches between the officers of the various ships and torpedo
destroyer divisions were a favourite amusement in the Portsmouth
command, the game usually being followed by an informal dinner, the
losing side having to pay all expenses.
Confident in the batting capabilities of the Fifth Division team,
Drake expressed his willingness to eat his hat should they fail to
win.
"Eating his hat" was the lieutenant's favourite figure of speech;
but, somewhat to his surprise, Lieutenant Player, the skipper of the
Sixth Division team, promptly made a note of his rival's promise in
his pocketbook, amid the laughter of his companions.
Possibly this action unsettled Drake, for, instead of coming up to
his average, he was clean bowled before the end of the first over.
The wickets fell in quick succession, and in spite of the determined
stand of young Cardyke, the Fifth closed with a miserable
forty-three. As for the Sixth, they soon piled on runs till the
scoring-board stood at 108.
"Now then, Drake," exclaimed Player, boisterously. "Where's your
hat?"
Drake began to glare at his tormentor; then, realising the absurdity
of "getting his rag out": "See what I'll do to-night," he replied. "A
Drake always keeps his word."
Just at that moment a marine orderly, mounted on a bicycle, rode at a
high speed over the turf, threw himself out of the saddle abreast of
the pavilion, and, with a salute, handed Drake an envelope.
Without a word the lieutenant-commander opened the buff covering,
read the contents, and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
At length Drake dismissed the messenger, thrust the missive into his
pocket, and strolled casually out of the pavilion. The news was
important, but it was almost as important that none of his companions
save his subordinates should know its import.
Outside the pavilion Drake beckoned to Fielding, and the two strolled
a few yards away from the others.
"Looks like business, sir," commented Fielding, as he read the
momentous news. "I thought there was something fishy when the papers
hinted at it this morning."
"It's a rattling good chance, Fielding, my boy--a rattling good
chance. If we don't score I'll eat my----"
But recollecting that he had already promised to masticate more than
he wished for, Drake checked himself in time.
"Mr. Cardyke," he exclaimed, as the midshipman passed on his way to
the pavilion. "Not a word to the others, mind. A message has just
come from the commander-in-chief ordering us to put to sea with the
utmost promptitude on particular service."
"Anything startling, sir?"
"Only that news has been received that the _Impregnable_ has been
seized on the high seas. How, when, or where we have to find out. Our
instructions are to investigate, and take action if necessary."
"I hope, sir, there will be plenty of 'if necessary' about it."
"So do I," agreed Drake, grimly. "We've the chance of a lifetime--and
I mean to make the most of it."
CHAPTER III
THE DESTROYER'S QUEST
WITHIN a quarter of an hour of the termination of the match Fielding
and Cardyke were on board the destroyer, Drake having gone post-haste
to the commander-in-chief to receive definite instructions as to the
course of action.
Already the water police were busily engaged in hunting up the
absentees of the crew. Those who were gone away from the port on
leave could not conveniently be recalled, and other men were drafted
in to fill up the complement. Stores were being hastily dumped on
board, the usual "red tape" formalities having perforce to be
dispensed with. Fresh water was being supplied to the tanks by one
set of hoses, while another pipe was in use filling up the double
bottom petrol tanks with liquid fuel. Fortunately, owing to the fact
that the night-firing had not taken place, the magazines were filled
with quick-firing ammunition, and the delay occasioned by having to
"ship powder" at one of the buoys in harbour was obviated. It was
primarily on this account that the _Frome_ was selected for the
purpose of investigating the mystery enshrouding the _Impregnable_.
"I wonder if there will be a scrap?" asked the mid. "It's about time
we had something exciting. What do you suppose is the matter?"
"Goodness only knows. You heard what Drake said," replied Fielding,
as he struggled into his uniform with more haste than he usually
displayed, for the sub. had the reputation of being a careful,
deliberate man in the matter of dress, and gold lace won't stand
rough usage.
"He said 'seized on the high seas,'" continued Cardyke. "By whom?"
"County Court officials, probably. Don't take it for granted that
there's anything serious, Cardyke. We may be sent on a fool's errand.
Ah! Here's Drake coming aboard!"
"A rummy affair, by George!" exclaimed the lieutenant-commander as he
entered the wardroom, and threw a bundle of papers on the table. "The
news came from the ss. _Wontwash_, an American tramp that put into
Dover this morning. Her master reports that he was somewhere between
the Owers and the Royal Sovereign lightships, the weather being
thick. A temporary lifting showed him the _Impregnable_ lying a
quarter of a mile or so on his port bow, with a large cargo vessel,
name and nationality unknown, lashed alongside with a considerable
list to port. Two hundred yards astern of the _Impregnable_ was a tug
with red and yellow bands on her funnel--that's one of the Dutchmen,
you'll remember. The tug was sinking by the head, apparently
deserted. There was no mention of the second tug.
"Captain Emory, the master of the _Wontwash_, thinking that a
collision had occurred, hailed to know whether he could be of any
assistance, but to his surprise he was peremptorily ordered, in
broken English, to sheer off.
"He complied slowly, he says, and before the fog shut out the
_Impregnable_ and the vessel alongside her he saw what he believed to
be a number of small quick-firers being hoisted out of the latter
into the cruiser, whose decks were swarming with men.
"Being without wireless Emory could not communicate with the shore
until he came within signalling distance of the Royal Sovereign
light. The lightship forwarded the report by wireless, and, allowing
for errors in transmission, the story seems remarkably mysterious.
"The Admiralty is in a bit of a hole. Nominally the _Impregnable_,
sold to a Dutch private firm, is beyond their control. The Dutch
Government has been communicated with, and they are sending a
destroyer to make inquiries. But since, by virtue of the conditions
of sale, the cruiser is to be broken up, and not to be used as a
vessel, we still hold a certain amount of authority over her, and my
orders are to see that the terms of sale are complied with. Now,
gentlemen, you know as much as I do about the business. We must find
the _Impregnable_, take possession of her--by force, if
necessary--and bring her back to port pending Admiralty
investigation. All ready, Mr. Spanner?" he added, addressing the
engineer-lieutenant.
"All ready, sir," repeated Spanner. "The whole of the petrol-tanks
are filled."
The officers went on deck. Men were busily engaged in easing off the
steel hawsers by which the destroyer was secured to the jetty. The
signal for "permission to part company" was fluttering from her mast.
head. Aft the awnings had been unrigged, and were being handed down
for stowage below.
Presently a hoist of signal flags was run up to the yard-arm of the
semaphore tower.
"Permission, sir," reported the signalman of the destroyer,
laconically.
The engine-room telegraph bell clanged, the water churned under the
destroyer's stern as her propellers began to revolve. The last
"spring" that held her to the shore was cast off, and the _Frome_
started on her mission of investigation.
Three hours later she was off Beachy Head, but, although keeping in
touch with Portsmouth Dockyard by means of wireless, and
communicating with every vessel that passed up and down that busy
highway--the English Channel--the _Impregnable_ seemed to have
vanished, leaving no trace behind her.
"Wreckage, sir," reported the look-out.
Heading towards the spot, and ordering the propellers to be stopped,
Drake got his glasses to bear upon the spot. There were a number of
oars, some gratings, a large hatch, and a yellow-painted lifebuoy,
bearing the name "_Hekla_, Rotterdam."
"That's the name of one of the tugs, sir," said Fielding. "So the
master of the _Wontwash_ has not been telling a mere fairy tale."
"That's so," assented the lieutenant-commander. "I suppose we ought
to secure that lifebuoy as evidence. Stand by with a boathook there."
Slowly the _Frome_ forged ahead, but with little way on she was
scarcely under control. The lifebuoy was passed ten yards to leeward.
"Be careful of the propellers, sir," cautioned Fielding. "There's a
lot of wreckage about. Shall we pipe away the collapsible?"
Drake assented, but as Cardyke went aft to take charge of the Berthon
one of the starboard propellers became entangled in a length of
floating grass-rope. In a second the fibre was wound round the tail
shafting as hard as a steel band.
"Hang it!" muttered Drake. "That's done it. I wish to goodness I'd
sent away the boat instead of drifting into the middle of this
stuff."
In four minutes the Berthon was slung outboard by means of the
quadrant davits, and her crew rowed towards the derelict lifebuoy.
"Here you are, sir," said the bow-man to Cardyke, as he dexterously
whisked the salvaged object into the boat. "There's some scrawl on
it."
Scored deeply into the canvas were some words written in pencil. The
midshipman examined the writing, but it was beyond him to decipher
its meaning. It was in Dutch, a language that Cardyke was not
familiar with, although it bore a slight resemblance to German.
On returning to the _Frome_ the mid. produced his prize; but his
superior was too intent upon the damage to the propeller to take very
much notice of it. Nor was it till Cardyke pointed out that there was
writing upon the buoy that Drake gave his attention to it.
"Scuttled. Finder please notify V. der Coote,
Rotterdam.--Stalkart, master, tug _Vulkan_."
"We've some good evidence here, by Jove!" exclaimed Drake. "Now comes
the task of running down the miscreants."
"But the propeller?"
"Let it rip. We'll run her on three."
"That ought to give her twenty-three knots at the very least, sir,"
suggested Spanner, who had come up from the engine-room to report.
"Not with the helm slightly over to counteract the unequal drive,"
observed Drake. "She'll do seventeen comfortably, and I doubt whether
the _Impregnable_ in tow will be making more than seven. I'll carry
on, even if there's only one propeller left."
Communicating his find by wireless Drake received instructions to
cruise eastward, in order to effect a junction with two destroyers
sent out from Dover, unless she picked up definite information from
passing vessels that might enable her to follow in the track of the
filibustered battle-cruiser.
"It won't do to fall in with the Dover t.b.d.'s," remarked Fielding.
"They'll know we are crippled, and our chances of gaining kudos will
be knocked on the head."
"I don't mean to if I can avoid it," agreed Drake. "We'll shape a
course S.S.E. for a couple of hours, and then N.N.E. for another two
hours, and so on. We'll still be carrying out instructions, you see,
but it will be a precious long time before we get in touch with the
Dover destroyers."
Fielding and Cardyke smiled. They knew Drake well enough by now to
know that if there were a way of gaining his end he would generally
do it successfully and diplomatically.
"It's my private opinion," continued the lieutenant, "that the
_Impregnable_ is not heading up-Channel at all, but rather towards
the Atlantic. I don't know why, but that's my firm conviction; so the
longer we take before we hear any news the sooner we'll be able to
retrace our course. I only hope that the other destroyers sent from
Portsmouth and Portland won't snap her up."
"So do I, sir," agreed Fielding.
"Sail-ho, on the starboard bow," sung out the look-out man.
"A tramp, judging by the smoke," remarked the sub. after the lapse of
a few minutes.
Soon the vessel was observed to be steaming eastwards, so slowly that
the following wind drove her smoke in a dense, trailing cloud over
her bows.
Directly the _Frome_ was within signalling distance the tramp made
her number.
"SS. _Steephill Castle_ of Hull," announced Fielding, after
consulting the register. "She's light, by George! One blade of her
propeller is quite clear of the water."
"Yes; I shouldn't care to be caught out in dirty weather in a craft
so high in ballast as that," added Drake. "We'll close, and ask her
if she has any information to give."
Drake made known his request by megaphone, and in reply the master of
the tramp shouted from the bridge--
"Cruiser, two masts and three funnels, in tow. Passed her three and a
half hours ago. Thought she had broken down."
"On what course?" asked Drake, eagerly.
"Due west, I should think, sir," replied the "old man." "Anything
amiss?"
"We hardly know till we find her," replied the lieutenant, guardedly.
The _Steephill Castle_ dipped her ensign in farewell, and the _Frome_
returned the compliment; then, describing a quarter-circle, the
destroyer headed due west on her quest for the filibustered
_Impregnable_.
CHAPTER IV
THE OUTRAGE ON THE HIGH SEAS
IT will now be necessary to follow up the events relating to the
object of the torpedo-boat destroyer _Frome's_ search.
The scrapped Dreadnought-cruiser Impregnable had been sold by public
auction, the purchaser being Mynheer Van der Coote, shipbreaker, of
Rotterdam. According to the usual terms of sale the purchaser was
bound to complete the breaking-up of the ship within six months. The
machinery could be utilised again, and, in consequence, was in fair
order. Owing to the fact that it would be necessary to employ a large
engine-room and stokehold staff to take the ship across to Holland
under her own steam, Mynheer Van der Coote took the far more
economical course of sending two powerful tugs to Portsmouth to tow
the _Impregnable_ to her last port.
Directly the cruiser gained Spithead the two dockyard tugs cast off
and returned. The last link with Great Britain had been severed; the
purchase money had been paid, and the obsolete craft was now private
property.
Before the Warner Lightship was abeam the fog enveloped the ship, so
that her tugs were quite invisible. Captain Stalkart, the master of
the leading tug, therefore eased down to half speed, reduced the
scope of hawser by one half, and steered a compass course towards the
English Channel. The tugs' syrens kept up a continuous and discordant
bellow--one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts, signifying
that they had a vessel in tow--for the appalling risks of a collision
in a fog were more than doubled by reason of the fact that the
unwieldy craft lumbering astern was almost incapable of being
manoeuvred with any degree of celerity.
At 4.45 the master of the tug heard the characteristic blast of the
reed-horn of the Owers Light vessel, and deeming that the warning
came from a bearing well on his port bow, altered his course a couple
of points to starboard.
Suddenly a black shape, distorted out of its proportion by the watery
atmosphere, loomed up dead ahead. There was no attempt made by the
vessel--for such it was--to give warning of her presence. She was
simply forging ahead with bare steerage way.
Signalling to the rearmost tug to go full speed astern, the master of
the leading tender promptly gave orders for the engines to be
stopped. He dared not go astern, otherwise the momentum of the
_Impregnable_ would cause the giant vessel to overrun her diminutive
escort. As it was the cruiser forged ahead till the tug was swept
alongside.
Just then the mysterious vessel, that had made no attempt to get out
of the way, went astern, and, describing a graceful curve, ran
alongside the _Impregnable_. There was a rending of steel as the
ex-cruiser's torpedonet-booms were shorn from their securing-lashings
by the wall-sided vessel. The next instant fifty men poured upon the
_Impregnable's_ upper deck; hawsers were passed out and the two ships
were soon locked in a close embrace.
Captain Stalkart, knowing that something was amiss, but ignorant of
what had actually occurred, shouted through his megaphone for the
other tug to come alongside. She promptly complied, making fast on
the port side of the _Impregnable_, and slightly astern of the first
tug.
Under the impression that a serious collision had occurred, and
wishing to do his best to save the huge vessel he was towing,
Stalkart gave orders for the powerful centrifugal pumps to be manned,
and the suction-pipes to be led aboard the _Impregnable_; but ere the
hoses could be coupled up a score of men armed with revolvers and
automatic pistols lowered themselves over the cruiser's side, and on
to the two tugs.
The phlegmatic Dutchmen, finding it useless to resist, promptly ran
below, their retreat being hastened by a few pistol-shots fired over
their heads. To do the crews of the tugs personal injury was
evidently not the intention of the assailants.
As for Captain Stalkart, the minute he saw how things were turning
out, he ran into the chart-room and seized a revolver. Fortunately
for his own sake he did not attempt to fire, nor did the aggressors
find him for some considerable time. During that interval he wrote a
hurried message on one of the lifebuoys, and heaved it over the side.
Meanwhile, in addition to the work of pillaging both tugs of
everything that might be of service, the modern buccaneers were
busily engaged in transhipping stores, arms, and ammunition from the
tramp to the _Impregnable_.
It was soon evident that they had laid their plans carefully
beforehand, and that the capture of the _Impregnable_ was not an act
on the spur of the moment. From the hold of the steamer twenty-five
seven-pounder quick-firers with their mountings were soon hauled up,
and placed in position on the captured cruiser. Tons of oil were
pumped into her double bottoms; water and provisions were stowed away
in the usual tanks and store-rooms.
Down in the _Impregnable's_ engine-room men--experienced
mechanics--were overhauling the machinery. Only a few weeks before
the cruiser had been in commission with a nucleus crew, and, as is
usually the case, her engines had lacked proper attention, but in
less than a couple of hours the filibusters had succeeded in firing
the oil-fuel burners and raising steam.
This done the Dutchmen were ordered to come up from below, and were
placed in one of the store-rooms of the after-flats of the cruiser.
The _Vulkan_ had been scuttled and was sinking fast, but ere she
dropped beneath the waves her master, the taciturn Stalkart, rushed
from the chart-room, where he had been concealed, on to the bridge.
Volubly cursing and shaking his fist at the rascally crowd who had
sunk his ship, the captain remained bravely at his post, scorning the
gestures that indicated that he should save himself.
The _Vulkan's_ bows rose high in the air as her stern slipped beneath
the surging cauldron of foam. In another instant the loyal skipper
would have gone to his doom, when a lariat whizzed through the air.
The noose tightened round Stalkart's portly waist, and, amid a round
of jeers and ironical laughter, the Dutchman was hauled ignominiously
but effectively on board the _Impregnable_.
The second tug suffered a similar fate; but just then a lifting of
the fog revealed the presence of the ss. _Wontwash_.
For a few moments all was confusion, the crowd of men on the
_Impregnable's_ deck running below to hide themselves from the
inquisitive gaze of the undesirable steamer. The Dutchmen, thinking
that assistance was at hand, began to clamour for aid, till quieted
by the silent threat of a revolver being pointed at them.
Seizing a megaphone the leader of the pirates--for that they were to
all intents and purposes--sprang upon the fore-bridge.
"You vill clear out of dis!" he shouted. "No vant 'elp; go 'way."
The _Wontwash's_ skipper was completely taken aback. Naturally he was
at first under the impression that the tramp alongside the
_Impregnable_ was engaged in salvage work, and did not want outside
interference that might lead to reduction of the salvage court's
award; but when he saw that the steamer alongside bore no name, and
that the men were far in excess of the number of an ordinary crew,
and, in addition, armed, he decided that discretion was the better
part of valour, and promptly did as he had been peremptorily told--he
sheered off.
Directly the _Wontwash_ was lost to view in the still thick haze men
were lowered over the taffrail of the vessel that had effected the
seizure of the battle-cruiser, and the words "_Steephill Castle_,
Hull," were prominently painted on her stern. Ere this was completed
the final stages of transferring the stores were finished, and the
_Impregnable's_ propellers began to revolve slowly.
The vessels then parted company, the pseudo _Steephill Castle_
proceeding up Channel, while the _Impregnable_, steaming at a steady
fifteen knots, headed due south.
Forty miles from the Sussex shore she eased down. The word
_Impregnable_ was erased from her stern and _Independencia_
substituted. Her crew were mustered aft, divided into port and
starboard watches, and told off to their respective quarters. The men
were literally the scum of the Mediterranean ports--Greeks, Italians,
Spaniards, Algerines, and Egyptians, with a renegade Englishman
(formerly a naval petty officer) as bo'sun. The officers were mostly
Spaniards, the captain being a native of Barcelona, and a member of a
formidable Anarchist society.
All hands knew that theirs was a desperate and unlawful
enterprise--piracy. The stake was a high one, the inducements great.
In a few days all hands would either be wealthy or doomed to an
ignominious end.
Juan Cervillo, the leader of the rascally crew, was a Spaniard of
good family He had served as an officer in the Spanish Navy; but,
imbued with revolutionary sentiments, he became mixed up in an
anti-monarchist plot. Exposed, he was arrested, brought to trial; and
sentenced to a long term of imprisonment.
Before he had done twelve months of his sentence he contrived, with
the assistance of his revolutionary associates, to effect his escape
from the prison-fortress of Saragossa. For some months he lay hidden
in Barcelona, when his daring, undoubted courage, and vehement
denunciations of all authority, gained him a prominent position
amongst the anarchist community of that city.
As a delegate he attended the secret revolutionary conferences in
Paris, and London, and the Mediterranean seaports; and in the course
of his wanderings contrived to gather together a band of seafaring
rascals in whom the piratical instincts of their forefathers lay
dormant.
It wanted but a leader, bold, determined, and unscrupulous, to bind
them together into a formidable band--and that leader was forthcoming
in Juan Cervillo.
A daring raid upon one of the leading banks in Rome, and an equally
successful coup in the commercial quarter of Marseilles, provided
Juan Cervillo with ample funds. He could have retired into some
remote South American town, and lived a life of luxury; but the
desire for adventure and the lust for gold were too great.
With the money at his disposal he proposed to buy a swift cruiser,
prey upon the world's sea-borne commerce, and recoup his outlay
tenfold.
Then it was that the possibility of securing a discarded British
warship occurred to him. Careful and guarded inquiries revealed the
information that the _Impregnable_ was leaving Portsmouth for
Holland. He resolved to intercept her--and succeeded.
The next few days were to be spent in wholesale depredations; then,
as soon as the high seas became too unsafe to continue his nefarious
exploits, he meant to convey his booty to some out-of-the-way port,
and, temporarily satisfied with his war upon civilisation, he would
lie low till a favourable opportunity again occurred.
Thus, while the _Frome_, lured on a false scent, was running
westward, the _Independencia_ ex-_Impregnable_ was steaming
southward, ready like a beast of prey to pounce down upon the first
unsuspecting merchant ship that came across Cervillo's course.
CHAPTER V
OVERHAULED
"I BELIEVE we're on a fool's errand," remarked Fielding to the
midshipman.
They were on the bridge; Drake had turned in. It was now two bells of
the middle watch (1 a.m.), and the _Frome_ was still heading westward
as fast as her motors could impart power to the three undamaged
propellers. Beyond the rhythmical purr of the engines, the "swish" of
the water as the destroyer's knife-like bow cleft the waves, and the
mournful slatting of the signal halliards against the mast, hardly a
sound was audible.
"Why, sir?" asked Cardyke, lowering his night-glasses, and stepping
behind the shelter of the "storm-dodgers."
"Why--because I think we are. We ought to have overhauled our quarry
hours ago--certainly before sunset. With lights out, they might
easily alter course, and let us run by them like a blind man past a
notice to trespassers. What's more, we're right out of the beaten
track. All up-Channel traffic will be heading for St. Catherine's
light, and we're well to the south'ard of the Start by now.
"It's a cool bit of work, snapping up a ship almost in sight of
Portsmouth, and in the English Channel, too," remarked Cardyke.
"Yes, and it's the audacity of it all that gives the beggars a chance
of success. But what can be the object of a tramp lumbering along
with a disabled cruiser in tow? She'll be spotted at sunrise, mark my
words; but I'm afraid the _Frome_ won't have a look in. Well?"
The monosyllable was addressed to a seaman who had scaled the
bridge-ladder.
"Message, sir; wireless," replied the man, laconically.
"H'm!" grumbled Fielding, taking the slip of paper. "The admiral
wants to know our position, I suppose. That will mean a recall, and a
wigging for not carrying out orders. I wish we'd crippled the
wireless for a few hours. Take this, Cardyke, and see what it's all
about."
The midshipman took the paper, and entered the little chart-room. The
next instant he was by the sub.'s side.
"She's at it again," he exclaimed. "Here's an urgent call for
assistance from ss. _Yosen Maru_, lat. 50-2-14 N., long. 3-45-9 W.,
steaming NNE.1/4E. Requires urgent assistance. Pursued and fired upon
by large unknown vessel. How's that?"
"Forty miles off, and a general call will bring a dozen vessels to
her assistance," replied Fielding, gloomily. "Cut below and inform
Drake."
Cardyke bounded down the steep ladder, and made his way to the
wardroom. The lieutenant was awake in a moment.
"We've been tricked," he exclaimed. "But we'll be in time yet. Pass
the word for Mr. Black."
Drake was soon on the bridge, and the _Frome's_ course was altered
towards the position given by the _Yosen Maru_. As soon as Black, the
gunner, came on deck, orders were given to clear for action.
The wireless operator repeatedly called up the vessel in distress,
which was known to be a Japanese liner bound for London. But beyond
the first call for aid no message came from the threatened vessel.
The ominous silence told its own tale.
With the spray flying in cascades right over the fore-bridge, for the
wind was now dead ahead, the _Frome_ thrashed her way through the
darkness. An hour and a half passed, then--
"Rocket, throwing blue and red stars, sir," announced one of the men
stationed on the bridge.
"Whither away?"
"Dead ahead, sir. There's another."
"That's the _Yosen Maru_, sure enough," exclaimed Drake. "We'll be in
time, after all."
The grey dawn was paling in the eastern sky as the _Frome_ eased down
within a cable's length of the huge Japanese liner, and a couple of
the destroyer's boats were promptly lowered and manned, Fielding
being in charge of one, and Cardyke of the other.
It was soon evident that the _Yosen Maru_ was helpless and drifting
broadside on to the fairly stiff breeze. Her rudder had been shot
away, and a gaping hole under her counter, a few feet above the
waterline, showed that a shot had been fired with disastrous result.
Her accommodation ladder had been lowered, and no attempt had been
made to haul it up again, so towards this means of entry the
destroyer's boats gave way.
Fielding was the first to board, and at the head of the ladder was
met by a group of calm, imperturbable Oriental officers.
"We have been boarded by pirates, sir," announced one of the
Japanese, in excellent English. "A large cruiser intercepted us and
ordered us to heave-to. We asked the reason, and in reply a shot was
fired across our bows, and another shattered our rudder. Under the
circumstances we could do nothing more than ease down. We were
boarded by a boat's crew, and the villain in charge demanded to see
our papers, pointing revolvers at the passengers and crew to keep
them intimidated. Our purser was compelled to hand over the whole of
the bullion in the strong-room, to the value of three hundred
thousand yen, some of our stores and provisions were stolen, and ten
of our first-class passengers, including General Oki, who is on a
mission to the British Court, and Mr. Hokosuka, the eminent financier
of Nagasaki, were taken out of the ship. Finally having done
considerable damage in our engine-room by means of a charge of
dynamite, the rascals returned to their ship, and steamed off."
"Was the pirate ship alone?" asked Fielding. "And did she clear off
under her own steam?"
"Certainly," replied the Japanese officer. "She headed S.S.W., going
about twenty knots, as far as I could judge."
"I told you we'd been fooled," exclaimed the sub. to Cardyke. "The
_Impregnable_ was not towed away--she managed to raise steam, and
apparently did very well. I'd like to have a few moments with the
skipper of the _Steephill Castle_. The lying rogue is more than
likely in league with these up-to-date pirates."
"Well, gentlemen," continued Fielding, turning to the officers of the
_Yosen Maru_, "we had better be off, and try to overhaul the pirate
vessel. We can do very little by way of assistance to your ship, I
fear."
"Quite true," replied the spokesman. "The weather is moderate, and we
have plenty of sea-room. Before they put our wireless out of gear we
heard that the British cruiser _Dionysius_ was coming to our aid, as
well as the Red Star liner _Scandinavia_."
"Then you'll be well looked after," said the sub. And saluting the
Japanese officers, he descended the accommodation ladder.
"Those rascals are not wanting in cool cheek,--holding the passengers
as hostages, I suppose," commented Drake, when Fielding had made his
report. "Well, I suppose we must call up Portsmouth, and inform the
admiral of what has occurred. But there's nothing to prevent us
overhauling the _Impregnable_. At all events I'll have a shot at it."
This was Drake's chief fault: he was overanxious to make an
individual score. The glory of capturing the _Impregnable_ was to be
the _Frome's_, if possible. The idea of co-operation with the other
British destroyers was distasteful to him. "Alone I did it" was to be
his motto, the "I" including the officers and crew of the little
craft under his command.
As fast as her three undamaged propellers could drive her the _Frome_
tore in the direction the pirate cruiser was supposed to have taken.
Eagerly glasses were brought to bear upon the horizon, in the hope of
discerning a cloud of smoke--the oil-laden vapour from the
_Impregnable's_ liquid fuel.
At eight bells Fielding and Cardyke turned in for a well-earned rest
but their sleep was soon to be rudely disturbed. Just before noon the
slumbering officers were aroused by a messenger with the news that
the _Impregnable_ had been sighted.
"No mistake this time, I hope, sir?" asked the sub., as he swung
himself up the bridge-ladder three steps at a time.
"That's the old _Impregnable_," asserted the lieutenant-commander,
confidently. "The question is how the dickens are we to do the trick?
We can't very well use the quick-firers, or we may bowl over some of
the Japanese hostages. For the same reason we dare not let loose a
torpedo."
"We can hail her, sir, and demand her surrender. If she refuses we
must hang on, call up the other destroyers to our assistance, and
take forcible possession of her."
"Do you think they'll open fire, sir?" asked Cardyke, eagerly.
"Hardly likely, you young fire-eater," replied Drake, with a grim
smile. "They won't risk going so far. They know we have wireless; but
if they thought they could do the trick without witnesses they
wouldn't hesitate to try and sink us."
"They didn't sink the _Yosen Maru_."
"No; that strengthens my opinion that they won't go to extreme
measures. There was none of the cut-throat, walk-the-plank style of
the eighteenth-century pirate about them. No, I don't anticipate much
difficulty but we'll be prepared."
An hour later the _Frome_ was only a mile astern from her chase. The
_Impregnable's_ speed was visibly diminishing.
"They've a cool cheek, by Jove!" ejaculated Fielding. "They've
actually painted another name on her."
"Yes," agreed Drake, who, like his subordinate, was making good use
of his binoculars. "It's _Independencia_. That's Spanish, I believe."
"They're hoisting their colours," continued the sub. "A Brazilian
ensign. Won't do, my hearties. You can't bluff us."
"She's slowed down, sir," exclaimed Cardyke. "Her propellers are
going astern."
"What ship is that?" shouted Drake through a megaphone, as the
_Frome_ slowed down at cable's length on the _Independencia's_
starboard quarter.
"Brazilian cruiser _Independencia_, from Cherbourg for Bahia Blanca,"
was the reply.
"A bit out of your course, old man," muttered Drake. "Stand by, we
are sending a boat."
"For why? We want no communication."
"Then you'll have to want. If you give us any trouble we'll blow you
out of the water," and the lieutenant pointed significantly towards
the foremost torpedo-tube, around which its crew were standing ready
to launch home the deadly weapon.
It was mere bluff on Drake's part. He dared not, as he had said, let
loose a torpedo, and the weapon was only a practice one, its war-head
being stowed away below. But to Drake's satisfaction the captain of
the pirate-cruiser agreed to receive the boat.
"That's good!" ejaculated Drake. "Now, Fielding, off you go. Round up
their gold-braided gentry and lock them up in the chart-room. Take
possession of the bridge, and make them follow in our wake. They are
only milk and water pirates, after all."
"Am I to take away the whaler, sir?" asked Cardyke.
"Very good. But when Mr. Fielding has taken the necessary steps to
secure control over the prize, you will return--you understand?
Good--now look alive, or we'll have someone else's finger in the
pie." And Drake gave a hasty, comprehensive glance astern, heaving a
sigh of relief that the horizon was unobscured. Here was the
_Frome's_ chance, he meant to make good use of it.
The mid. was wearing his dirk--the practically useless emblem of
authority--and in addition he buckled on a holster containing a
Service revolver. Both boats' crews, armed with rifles and
bayonets--for the old British cutlass that worked such doughty deeds
in days gone by is now a thing of the past--tumbled into the little
craft as they lay alongside.
"Give way!" ordered Fielding, and the order was repeated by Cardyke
in the whaler.
With less than a dozen yards separating the two boats the boarders
pulled lustily towards the gigantic cruiser as she lay rising and
falling slightly to the Channel rollers.
There was no accommodation ladder, that article having been unshipped
before the vessel was put up for sale, so Fielding's boat ran
alongside the starboard quarter, where a number of "chocks" afforded
a rough and ready sort of ladder. The bow-man laid hold of a
torpedo-boom bracket with his boathook, and the sub. prepared to
ascend, Cardyke's craft lying just astern.
On the _Independencia's_ deck no one was visible save a quartermaster
who was leaning over the stanchion-rails. Having no man-ropes to
assist him, Fielding's task was an awkward, not to say dangerous,
one. He was half-way up the thirty-odd feet of freeboard, with a
couple of bluejackets at his heels, when a noose rope was adroitly
thrown over his shoulders, and jerked tight. Simultaneously a lariat
descended into the whaler, caught Cardyke round the waist, and before
any of his men could prevent it, the mid. was jerked up into the air.
With a crash two pieces of iron were dropped into the boats, staving
out their garboards.
The pirate cruiser's propellers began to churn the water, and the
_Independencia_ gathered way. The bow-man of each boat endeavoured to
secure a hold, but the drag of the water-logged craft was too great.
[Illustration: A NOOSE WAS ADROITLY THROWN OVER HIS SHOULDERS AND
JERKED TIGHT.
[_Page_ 62.
]
The predicament was an ignominious one. The boats' crews were
swimming around their swamped boats, their officers were prisoners in
the hands of the men they had hoped to capture, and the _Frome_, ere
she could give chase, had to pick up the immersed bluejackets.
Meanwhile, the _Independencia_, steaming at twenty knots, was rapidly
leaving the destroyer astern, while Drake could only shake his fist
in impotent rage.
CHAPTER VI
TRAPPED
MIDSHIPMAN CARDYKE was soon hauled upon the quarter-deck of the
pirate cruiser, and, in spite of his struggles, was secured by
half-a-dozen ruffians. His revolver and dirk were taken from him,
then he was lashed to one of the quarter davits, and left in that
ignominious position to reflect upon the circumstances under which he
had been snared.
He knew that his captors had a definite object in securing him to the
davit. He was in full view of the _Frome_, and his late comrades
could easily distinguish him through their binoculars. A hasty glance
over his shoulder revealed the fact that there were several of the
passengers of the _Yosen Maru_, and some of the crew of the Dutch
tugs, in equally exposed positions. It was obviously intended that
they were placed there in order to prevent the British destroyer from
opening fire upon her gigantic antagonist.
In the meantime Fielding was causing his captors a good deal of
trouble. He had contrived to take a turn round a projection on the
ship's side with the line that had caught him; and although his
assailants hauled on the rope till it was on the point of breaking,
they could not succeed in landing their bag. Neither could the sub.
disengage himself from the toils of the running bowline, for his idea
was to slip out of the noose and cast himself into the sea, trusting
to be picked up by his own craft.
As for the two men who had followed him, one had leapt back into the
swamped whaler. The other stuck gamely to his superior, and Fielding,
looking down, recognised the man as Tom Hardy, the coxswain of his
boat.
"Get out of this, Hardy," exclaimed the sub., breathlessly. "Strike
out for it. The _Frome_ will pick you up."
"Orders is orders, sir," replied Hardy. "You said as how I was to
follow you, and here I am. Besides, I'm not much of a hand at
swimming, sir."
"All right!" said Fielding, grimly. "But you'll find yourself in a
bit of a fix."
The sub. appreciated the coxswain's devotion; for Hardy was an
excellent swimmer in spite of his statement to the contrary, and was
willingly surrendering his chance of escaping from the doubtful
hospitality of the pirate crew.
All the while there was an incessant jabbering going on above, the
Dagoes shouting and dancing about on deck, enraged at the
stubbornness of their principal captive.
"Can you get at my revolver, Hardy?" asked the sub., who had been
vainly attempting to free his arms sufficiently to reach the weapon
in his holster.
"I'll try, sir; but what for? They'll plug you, sir, sure as fate."
"We'll put a bullet through this line, and swim for it."
"What about Mr. Cardyke, sir?"
"Cardyke? Has he been caught too? That alters the case. Where is he?"
"Hauled aboard."
"I hope the villains haven't hurt him. Look here, Hardy, I'm going to
make a dash up and over the side. Follow me as smartly as you can.
Good heavens! What have they done to young Cardyke?"
For, happening to look up, Fielding saw the mid. lashed to the davit.
Thinking that the pirates were about to drop the lad, bound as he
was, over the side, the sub. was seized with a sudden and desperate
resolution.
The men on deck had desisted hauling upon the rope. With a smart jerk
Fielding unhitched it from the eyebolt that had proved such a
stumbling block to his captors, then scrambled swiftly and agilely up
the remaining distance of freeboard.
In a trice he was over the stanchions, and before the olive-coloured
mob could realise it, the sub. was in the midst of them, hitting out
with his fists with terrific force. In this he was ably seconded by
the coxswain, and for a few moments it seemed as if the two
Britishers would clear the quarter-deck.
The Dagoes rallied, and, unfortunately for Fielding, although he had
freed his arms from the bowline, the noose had slipped as far as his
ankles. A lithe and muscular Algerine seized the end of the rope, and
Fielding, his legs literally jerked from under him, fell heavily on
the deck.
For another fifteen seconds Hardy stood over the prostrate body of
his officer, holding out like a bersark. Luckily the sub. had not
used his revolver, nor had Hardy drawn his bayonet. The pirates
seemed unwilling to do injury to the officer, but their consideration
was not extended towards the gallant and devoted bluejacket. A
Spaniard, advancing stealthily from behind, dealt the coxswain a
heavy blow across the head with a hand-spike, and Hardy fell to the
deck.
"You no play fool wid me. Me Juan Cervillo, capitan ob dis ship,"
announced the head of the lawless mob, standing in a tragedian's
attitude, with arms folded and chest expanded, before the overpowered
sub. "You jus' behave. No hurt."
Fielding did not reply. He was humiliated. One thing he regretted in
particular was that in his headlong rush his iron knuckles had not
come in contact with Cervillo's sleek, oily features.
At a word from the pirate captain the sub. was carried up to the
after-bridge, and ignominiously secured to a semaphore post. Here he
was left to enjoy his surroundings as best he might, and reflect upon
his undignified position.
Meanwhile some of the crew were holding a consultation as to what was
to be done with the still unconscious Hardy. Some advocated dropping
him overboard, others, judging the British bluejacket by the low
standard set up by the renegade petty officer who acted as
quartermaster, were of the opinion that if the coxswain recovered
from the crack over the head he might become a useful member of the
crew. So Hardy was lifted and unceremoniously carried for'ard.
With anxious gaze Cardyke watched the rapidly receding destroyer. He
could see her manoeuvring slowly through the water, her two remaining
boats being engaged in the work of picking up the swimmers. Drake was
paying dearly for his disinclination for co-operation: two officers
and the coxswain missing, two boats and the men's rifles hopelessly
lost, and his reputation very much at stake.
"I wish the _Frome_ would blow this vessel out of the water," thought
the mid., but instantly it occurred to him to wonder what would
happen to Fielding and the rest of the captives if the destroyer did
open fire. Beyond doing damage to the unarmoured portion of the
pirate ship, the _Frome's_ comparatively light ordnance would make
little or no impression upon her gigantic antagonist.
"She's following us, by Jove!" exclaimed the mid. "I wish I had a
pair of binoculars, and was able to use them. I wonder what Drake is
going to do?"
Yes, the _Frome_ was tearing along, yet gaining slowly, for the
stokers of the _Independencia_ were toiling their hardest, pumping
crude petroleum into the complex array of burners. Columns of black
smoke, tinged with flame, shot from the tall funnels of the cruiser.
Every possible inch that could be got out of her was made use of. Her
neglected engines were beginning to run more smoothly. She might hold
her own, or might even shake off the pursuing destroyer.
The midshipman could not help noticing the lack of discipline amongst
the motley crew. Seamen, with a couple of revolvers stuck in their
belts, and cigars in their mouths, would stroll aimlessly along the
quarter-deck, give a glance at the British destroyer, and curtly
question their officers as to the position of affairs. Some of the
latter were not above accepting cigars and cigarettes from the men.
The officers were decked out in gaudy uniforms, while the men wore
coarse canvas jumpers and trousers. Some wore canvas shoes, others
rope-soled boots, but the majority went bare-footed. The only person
who seemed to be able to exercise any real authority was Juan
Cervillo.
Nearer and nearer drew the _Frome_ till she was but a couple of miles
astern, steering a course well on the _Independencia's_ port quarter,
and studiously avoiding her wake. The destroyer did not court further
trouble by running over a grass hawser or other obstruction purposely
thrown over by the chased ship.
Cardyke felt much easier in his mind when he saw that the _Frome_ was
gaining. He had such a supreme faith in his comrades that he felt
certain that rescue was merely the question of a few hours at the
very outside. Of what was to be done to effect this desirable
business he had no idea; but it would be managed all right. Before
sunset he would be having dinner in the destroyer's wardroom.
Presently Cervillo climbed up to the after-bridge, and, taking his
stand close to where Fielding was secured, watched the destroyer
through a telescope. After a lengthy examination he called to one of
his officers, who in turn gave voluminous directions to a party of
seamen. In a leisurely manner they began to bring up ammunition for
some of the quick-firers mounted amidships on the starboard side of
the ship.
Cardyke could see that the muzzles were depressed and trained
slightly abaft the beam; but unless the cruiser ported her helm it
would be a matter of impossibility to fire upon her pursuer.
Bang! A sharp report, followed by a shrill screech of the projectile,
announced that the _Frome_ had opened fire with one of her foremost
guns. The missile struck the water at less than two hundred yards to
starboard, threw up a column of water thirty feet in the air, and
ricochetted thrice ere it dipped for the last time.
It was purposely aimed wide of the chase, but it showed that the
destroyer meant business.
Unswervingly the _Independencia_ kept her course; the _Frome_ settled
down to the same rate, and kept her station at less than eight
hundred yards on the cruiser's quarter. Four more shots came from the
British destroyer, then she ceased firing, holding doggedly on to the
chase. The prominent positions occupied by the pirates' hostages
rendered shell fire upon the _Independencia_ out of the question, and
Juan Cervillo knew that for the time being he held the whip hand.
But the tenacious dogging of his vessel by the British destroyer was
a serious business. Unless pursuit could be shaken off, the _Frome_,
by the aid of the wireless, would bring a cordon round the modern
buccaneer long before she had done anything like the damage she
wished to do. Already, no doubt, other warships were steaming under
forced draught to settle accounts with the filibustered
battle-cruiser. The _Frome_ must be put out of the running.
It was now half-an-hour after sunset. The horizon was quite
uninterrupted, grey sea met grey sky in an unbroken line, and the
outlook promised dirty weather on the morrow.
Having satisfied himself that no other vessel was in sight, Cervillo
descended from the after-bridge and entered the conning-tower. An
order to the quartermaster made that worthy put the steam
steering-gear hard over, and as the _Independencia_ swung round at
right angles to her former course, one of the quick-firers let fly a
plugged shell.
Cervillo's idea was merely to cripple the destroyer by sending a
non-explosive shell through her engine-room. He was very chary of
going to extreme measures, not that he was averse to committing
murder, but he had a wholesome respect for the British Navy. The
partial disablement of the _Frome_ would give him another start in
his piratical career. But unfortunately Cervillo's action had far
more disastrous effect than he had anticipated.
The missile sheared its way through the thin steel plating of the
destroyer like an arrow fired through a sheet of brown paper. It
struck one of the cylinders of the motors, fracturing it into fifty
pieces. The petrol caught fire, and, leaping in a cascade of flame,
ignited the main tanks in the double bottom.
The motors stopped spasmodically. The engineer-lieutenant and his
staff had barely time to rush through the small manhole and gain the
deck ere the 'midships section of the ill-fated _Frome_ was a mass of
flames. With the utmost discipline the crew lowered the remaining
boats, and, deeply laden, they pushed off, leaving Drake, the gunner,
and about a score of the crew clustered for'ard. Luckily the
destroyer kept head to wind, which, in a manner, preserved those on
the fo'c'sle from being slowly roasted to death.
Horror-stricken, Cardyke watched the enactment of the tragedy. By the
glare of the burning petrol, that shot skywards to a height of over
one hundred feet, he could see the boats, deeply laden, lying on
their oars, and the knot of brave men gathered around their rash but
intrepid commander.
Suddenly there was an explosion as the sea burst through the heated
plating. The pillar of flame died out, stifled in the cloud of smoke
and steam, but the burning petrol floating on the water, spread in
all directions, spurts of fire rising and falling intermittently till
darkness and the increased distance hid the awful scene from the
midshipman's view.
CHAPTER VII
HOLDING THE CONNING-TOWER
JUAN CERVILLO was completely taken aback at the result of the one
shot. It had put him absolutely beyond the pale. Piracy without
bloodshed was serious enough in all conscience, but to have gone to
this extent meant that capture would, without doubt, end in
ignominious death at the hands of the executioner. Not that he would
allow himself to be captured if it could possibly be avoided. He had
been so far successful. Could he but carry out his plans for the next
few days there was a probability that the _Independencia_ might be
able to slip away from her pursuers, and land his crew with their
ill-gotten booty in some unfrequented place, where they might make
their way in individual parties to one of the lawless South American
republics.
All need for keeping the hostages on deck was for the time being at
an end. The Dutchmen were marched off down below, in a secure place
of confinement on the orlop-deck, while Fielding and Cardyke found
themselves in a cabin on the half-deck in company with General Oki,
Mr. Hokosuka, and a Japanese scientist named Mukyima, The cabin was
wretchedly furnished, having been the quarters of a former
watch-keeper while the ship was awaiting sale. There was a cracked
looking-glass, iron wash-basin and stand, a folding-table fixed to
the bulkhead, and a few camp-chairs.
The three Japanese were already in the cabin when Fielding and the
mid. were unceremoniously thrust in and the door locked behind them.
The former rose and saluted the new arrivals courteously, but by no
expression did they depart from the characteristic imperturbability
of the Asiatic.
"Good evening, gentlemen!" exclaimed Fielding, thinking this manner
of salutation was the best way to ascertain whether the Japanese
hostages spoke English.
"Good evening," replied General Oki. "We are sorry we cannot exchange
our honourable salutations in an atmosphere more auspicious."
"We're glad you speak English," said the sub. "We do not understand
Japanese--I have never been in the Far East."
"I am the only one of three who can speak the tongue of our
illustrious allies and instructors in naval science and warfare,"
continued the Japanese general. "Mr. Hokosuka here does, it is a
veracity, speak few English words. Mr. Mukyima, to the sorrow of his
ancestors, has taken no stride to overpower your tongue."
"We are all in a bit of a hole," remarked the sub., gravely. "Our
destroyer, the _Frome_, boarded the _Yosen Maru_ a few hours ago and
learnt of your predicament. Unfortunately in attempting to capture
this pirate vessel, and incidentally to effect your rescue, we fell
into the hands of these rascals."
"My sympathies with your deplorable misfortune," remarked Oki.
"An' me, too," added Hokosuka.
"Thanks," replied Fielding, briefly; then after a pause he continued,
"What are these rascals going to do with us, I wonder?"
"Pirate hold us to ransom for sum of one million yen," said the
Japanese, as calmly as an Englishman would announce how much an ounce
he paid for his tobacco. "I pay not--Hokosuka he pay not--Mukyima he
pay not."
"I suppose this rascal Cervillo will try and squeeze a tidy sum out
of our relations on our account," said the sub., turning to Cardyke.
"He'll be very much mistaken concerning me, for I doubt whether my
people could raise ten thousand, and even then I feel sure they
wouldn't on principle."
"Same here," agreed the mid. "But the question is: Are we to stick
here without making an effort to break ship?"
"What do you suggest?" asked Fielding, with a slight tinge of
asperity. "Swim a few hundred miles to the nearest land?"
"No; but if we could manage to get out of this dog-hole we might
seize a part of the ship and hold our own."
"Till starved out, eh? And for what purpose?"
"It seems to me that if we could reach the chart-room, or the
conning-tower, we could properly play the dickens with the villains."
"H'm!" ejaculated Fielding, who was beginning to realise that action
was preferable to a prolonged confinement in a wretchedly furnished
cabin. "The conning-tower? But how? And if we did how could we hold
it? We've no weapons."
"We might manage to squeeze through that scuttle," suggested Cardyke,
warming up to his point.
Fielding gave a dubious glance at the Japanese. General Oki was
getting on in years, Mukyima was a big fellow--one of the
Samurai--and both might experience difficulty in effecting their
escape.
"No fear; we can do," exclaimed Oki, "Hokosuka, he take pistols from
men without knowing it." And turning to his companions the Japanese
general explained that plans were being formed to make a stand
against the piratical crew.
Fielding opened the scuttle. Although broad of shoulder he could, by
holding one arm above his head, and the other against his side, pass
the widest part of his massive form through the circular aperture.
Mukyima then tried, and by a wonderful contraction of his muscular
body, squeezed his shoulders through without any apparent difficulty.
"The scuttle is only four feet below the upper deck," said Fielding.
"I'll go first; there's the boat-boom lashed just beneath us. We can
stand on that, use the rise of the scupper as a foothold, and raise
ourselves up over the side. If all is quiet we can creep cautiously
for'ard. If not we must wait till we are all ready to make a rush,
then run for the conning-tower as fast as we know how."
Oki expressed himself satisfied with the arrangements, and shortly
after midnight Fielding was assisted through the narrow opening.
Cardyke and Hokosuka gripped his ankles, and for a short space of
time he hung head downwards till his hands came in contact with the
boom.
"All right--let go," he whispered, as the _Independencia_ listed to
port, and as agile as a cat he landed on the rounded spar. Ere the
vessel heeled in the other direction the sub. had secured a firm hold
upon the rim of the scuttle, his feet planted upon the boom. Then
cautiously he climbed till his head was just above the level of the
deck.
It was almost pitch dark. A screened light was burning in the
chart-room, and the glow of a dozen cigarettes showed that some of
the crew whose watch on deck it was, were taking things as agreeably
as they possibly could, shielding from the keen wind behind the
starboard 'midship barbette.
"All clear," he said, in a low voice. "You are the youngest and most
active, Cardyke. Hang on till the last, and I will give you a
leg-up."
With an agility that was remarkable for his years the veteran Oki
made his way through the exaggerated needle's-eye, and was soon lying
flat on the edge of the deck. Mukyima and Hokosuka followed, and were
soon snugly ensconced by the side of their compatriots. Fielding then
lowered himself to assist the midshipman, but Cardyke had forestalled
him, and was crouching upon the boom.
His intimate knowledge of the ship gave Fielding the place of honour
in making their way for'ard. In Indian file, and as silently as they
possibly could, the four daring spirits followed the sub., crawling
on their hands and knees, expecting every minute to be challenged by
a more vigilant member of the pirate crew.
Unseen and unheard they passed the danger zone in the vicinity of the
barbette, and from thence to the foot of the monkey ladder the deck
was clear. Fielding was within twenty feet of the ladder when a
French seaman came lurching aft.
Without a moment's hesitation the sub. lay down upon the deck,
curling himself up in a natural attitude as if asleep, and his
companions with promptitude followed his example.
As the seaman stumbled past, his right foot came in violent contact
with Cardyke's forehead. The mid., although the blow well-nigh
stunned him, did not utter a sound, and the seaman continued his
erratic course.
Before the fellow had passed the barbette an officer appeared from
behind the foremost funnel casing. Seeing the five men apparently
deep in slumber on the deck he mildly remonstrated. Receiving no
reply he stooped, and touched Cardyke on the shoulder. As he did so
he caught sight of the distinctive "piping" on the mid.'s sleeve, and
as if he had picked up a live coal he jumped backwards, shouting for
assistance.
"Bowl him over," shouted the mid., all necessity for silence being
now out of the question. His strong hands grasped the Spaniard's
ankles, Fielding's heavy fist caught the pirate on the point of his
jaw, and with a gurgled exclamation the astonished man measured his
length on the deck.
In a trice the sub. was running up the ladder to the spar deck, Oki
and Mukyima at his heels, and Cardyke following in the rear. Two
signalmen attempted to bar their path, but went down like ninepins,
and, breathless but unharmed, the adventurers gained the
conning-tower to find that Hokosuka was not with them.
"No fear; him come all right," said Oki, reassuringly.
The words were hardly out of his mouth ere Hokosuka rejoined them,
and silently handed Fielding and the general a revolver apiece. A
third he retained himself. How he gained possession of the weapons
none of his companions knew, nor did the Japanese think fit to
enlighten them on the matter. The main thing was that three of them
were armed with loaded revolvers, each holding six cartridges. There
was no spare ammunition, but Fielding remarked that they ought to be
thankful for small mercies, and trust that there would be no need to
have to expend all the cartridges.
Meanwhile a regular pandemonium had broken out on the pirate cruiser.
Alarmed by the uproar, men poured from below, not knowing whether
they were attacked by a retributive cruiser. In the darkness the
confusion was increased tenfold, and Fielding profited by the chaotic
state of things to put the steering hard to port, steadying the helm
while the _Independencia_ pointed in exactly the opposite direction
to her previous course. The quartermasters at the steering-gear on
the bridge had abandoned their posts at the first alarm, and
consequently the sudden alteration of her course was not corrected As
the cruiser was travelling at a high speed the change of helm gave an
alarming list away from the centre of rotation, and, unaware of what
had caused the "heel," the crew began to shout that the vessel was
capsizing.
"If we had a boat's crew at our backs we could sweep the rascals down
below in a brace of shakes," exclaimed the sub., as he proceeded to
close the slits in the armoured walls. "As we haven't we must make
the best of things. When they've calmed down a bit they'll try and
rout us out. In the interval we must take steps to prepare our
defences."
Hitherto the _Independencia_ had been steaming without navigation
lights, and all lamps 'tween decks were screened, but in order to
reassure his cowardly crew, Cervillo, who had hastily left his cabin,
ordered the lights to be switched on.
Standing on the bridge the pirate captain swore, implored, and
threatened as fast as he could shout. The conviction that the cruiser
was in danger was too firmly rooted in the minds of the seamen to be
removed by a torrent of almost incomprehensible words. Men began to
make a rush for the boats that had been transferred from the pseudo
_Steephill Castle_, two of which hung in the davits on either
quarter. The first boat was stove in against the ship's side, the
second, crowded with men, was so heavy that directly the falls were
manned the laden craft took charge. The ropes slipped from the grasp
of the men who held them, and the boat with its living freight fell
into the sea.
This disaster quieted the panic-stricken crew to a certain extent,
and the officers, with the assistance of a few pistol-shots,
succeeded in driving the mob for'ard. Then it was that the discovery
was made that the _Independencia_ was as far out of her course as she
could possibly be.
By dint of threats and a few lusty strokes with the flat of his sword
Cervillo compelled the quartermasters to return to their posts, only
to discover that as fast as they put the helm up some mysterious
agency promptly put it hard down.
Presently the excited officer who had been capsized by Fielding in
the rush for the conning-tower was able to make a coherent
explanation of what had occurred. Cervillo, fuming with rage, sent a
couple of men down to the cabins where the prisoners had been
confined. The Dutchmen were safely under lock and key, but the
British officers and the three Japanese had escaped.
While the search was in progress a Greek sailor took it into his head
to have a look in the conning-tower. The result was somewhat
surprising as far as he was concerned; for directly his features
appeared in the narrow entrance Hokosuka's lithe fingers clutched him
by the throat. Unable to utter a sound the Greek was choked into
insensibility, relieved of his knife and pistol, and gently dropped
between an empty signal-locker and the stanchion rails. The respite
thus gained was small, but the five occupants of the armoured box
made good use of it. The electric circuits communicating with the
different parts of the ship--most of which had been restored to a
fairly efficient state--were ruthlessly crippled, only the
engine-room telegraph and the steam steering-gear left intact. These
Fielding resolved to destroy at the last moment.
The daring five were not left long undisturbed. Two petty officers,
one of whom carried a hand-lantern, discovered the insensible Greek
seaman.
Uttering a shout that brought others running to the spot, the two men
advanced cautiously towards the conning-tower. The one with the
lantern found himself flying backwards from the effect of a
well-delivered blow from Cardyke's fist. The second, whipping out a
revolver, fired twice in quick succession, the bullets flattening
themselves against the massive steel plates just above the mid.'s
head.
"That's done it," muttered Fielding. Then aloud he exclaimed, "Don't
fire a shot till I give the word. Keep close."
A hail of bullets rattled against the outside of the conning-tower,
followed by an intermittent patter as the leaden hail beat against
the formidable walls.
Receiving no reply, and not knowing that the defenders possessed
firearms, three or four men made a deliberate rush towards the gap
that gave access to the "brain of the ship." The foremost man
Fielding brought down with a bullet through his thigh. The others
fell in a heap over their comrade's prostrate body, lying still in
deadly fear till they mustered sufficient courage to crawl back to
their friends. Again the firing broke out, but without effect.
After a while one of the attackers placed his cap on the end of the
capstan bar, and, bearing it well in front of him, crept softly up to
the entrance, another man, armed with a keen knife lashed, to the end
of a pole, standing ready with his crude yet formidable weapon to
slash at any of the occupants who might be enticed to make a cut at
the decoy.
In the semi-gloom, for outside a few lanterns had been brought up and
placed in position where they might be of service to the attackers,
the defenders caught sight of a white object carefully advancing
inside the entrance of the conning-tower. It was the seaman's cap.
Unguardedly Cardyke was on the point of dealing the intruder a heavy
blow with a brass bar, which he had detached from some mechanism,
when Oki, with characteristic shrewdness, noticed that the forward
motion of the object was jerky and undecided. The Japanese general's
hand clutched the midshipman's wrist, warning him to be on his guard.
Closer and closer came the decoy, till almost the whole of the cap
was in view.
Suddenly falling flat upon the floor Oki extended his right arm and
fired. The shot, aimed slightly upwards, caught the decoy-bearer just
below the knee, and brought him to the deck, while his companion,
letting his weapon clatter from his nerveless grasp, ran shrieking
from the spot.
Realising that they had a hard nut to crack the pirates hesitated to
close, but an intermittent fire was kept up, with the idea of
preventing any of the defenders from leaving their well-nigh
impregnable fortress.
This state of affairs continued till dawn. Then there was a lull in
the firing, and Juan Cervillo's voice was heard demanding instant
surrender, otherwise a dynamite fuse would be thrown into the
conning-tower and blow its defenders to atoms.
[Illustration: THE SHOT CAUGHT THE DECOY BEARER JUST BELOW THE KNEE.
[_Page_ 92.
]
CHAPTER VIII
THE PERIL OF THE VOICE-TUBE
FIELDING glanced significantly at his comrades. He was a young man,
brave and resolute, and full of life; but the prospect of being
mangled in a steel tomb was enough to quail the stoutest heart.
Cardyke was deadly pale. He, too, was willing to face ordinary
dangers, but the threatened mode of extermination was too horrible to
contemplate. Hokosuka and Mukyima, who were ignorant of the nature of
the threat, turned and asked General Oki to explain the pirate
leader's words. The Japanese officer did so, but whether the three
Asiatics felt uneasy or otherwise their stolid features betrayed no
sign of their emotions.
Quite five minutes passed. The occupants of the conning-tower did not
reply to Cervillo's demand, and the pirate captain began to show
signs of impatience.
"Again I say--you vill surrender?"
"No," replied the sub., resolutely. His confidence was beginning to
return. Perhaps after all the Spaniard might be only bluffing.
Cervillo, although he would not scruple to use the most deadly
measures at his command to carry out his ends, quite realised that
his hostages were worth more to him alive than dead. He meant to make
them his tools to achieve his purpose.
Finding threats were of no avail, he altered his tone and adopted a
conciliatory attitude, but to all his advances the men at bay turned
a deaf ear--they ignored him absolutely.
Presently Fielding and Cardyke were somewhat astonished to hear an
English voice exclaim, "Don't shoot, sir. I've got to say a few words
with you."
In reply Fielding opened one of the lids to the observation-holes in
the conning-tower, and saw a broad-shouldered, black-browed man with
a close torpedo beard that characterises the British tar who neglects
to shave. The fellow looked sheepish and thoroughly ashamed of his
position.
"Who are you?" demanded the sub.
"I was a petty officer in the navy, sir."
"Then you ought to be downright ashamed of yourself."
"I ain't here to talk about myself," replied the man, sullenly. "The
cap'n wants me to explain, in a manner o' speakin', 'ow the land
lies. We're out to make a bit, an' up to now we ain't done so badly.
'Respect life' is our motto, an' you are doin' your level best to
capsize us. So come out an' lay down your arms. You'll be treated
decently so long as things go all shipshape. An' when the cruise is
over, and we're paid off, you'll be set ashore safe an' sound."
"You realise that your presence in the conning-tower somewhat upsets
your arrangements?"
"Not exactly," replied the man, with a cunning leer. "But, you see,
it isn't 'conducive to efficiency,' as our 'first luff' aboard the
old _Belleisle_ told me 'cause I wore the second 'L' on my
cap-ribbon over my left eye, instead of over my nose. But that ain't
'ere or there; so make the best of a bad job and don't give no
trouble."
"I'll give you trouble, my man, if ever I get you on board a King's
ship," replied the sub., with asperity. "Tell that scoundrel of a
pirate that if he wants the conning-tower he'll have to turn us
out--and he'll have a fine old job."
With that Fielding reclosed the shutter and a tense silence fell upon
both parties, broken only by the hiss of the foam as the
battle-cruiser pounded against a head sea.
Cervillo was furious. He knew that every moment was precious. By the
aid of wireless not only were vengeful cruisers hastening in his
track, but the transatlantic liners, from whom he hoped to take a
heavy toll, would be warned, and take precautions accordingly.
A quarter of an hour elapsed, then Juan Cervillo's voice was heard.
"Señor Englishman!" he exclaimed.
Fielding did not trouble to reply.
"For your own sake, señor, put your eye this way."
Out of sheer curiosity the sub. raised the metal flap and looked out,
then a muttered ejaculation brought Cardyke to one of the slits in
the wall of the conning-tower.
Guarded by two armed seamen was Tom Hardy the coxswain. He was
securely bound hand and foot, but so weak did he seem from the
effects of the blow he had received that this precaution seemed
unnecessary. Cervillo, stepping a few paces in front of the crowd of
pirates, pointed to his prisoner in a manner that was diabolical in
the extreme.
"Now, Englishmen, you vill come out an' surrendah, or we put your man
ober de side--say, walk ze plank. Yes, señor, I mean as I say. Juan
Cervillo has spoken. One minute I give to decide, or----" And the
villain pointed meaningly over the side.
"Think he'll do it?" asked Cardyke, anxiously. "Couldn't we prevent
him?"
"There is only one way, as far as I can see. To submit is out of the
question. We can stay here till they starve us out, but by that time
I hope a cruiser will overhaul this floating nest of rascals."
"What is the plan?" asked the mid.
Fielding hurriedly unfolded his scheme, and Oki explained it to his
companions. The Japanese nodded significantly. There was no time to
lose, for the minute was nearly up, and Fielding was practically
certain that Cervillo would keep his word. The life of a lower-deck
man was not worth considering as far as he was concerned.
Revolver in hand, General Oki and Mukyima took their places at the
slits nearest the entrance to the conning-tower. The sub. uttered the
sharp subdued word "Now!" The next instant Fielding, Cardyke, and
Hokosuka darted from their place of shelter.
Before Cervillo could recover from his astonishment he was floored by
a well-directed blow from the athletic sub., who, stooping, grasped
the half-stunned pirate by the shoulders. Simultaneously the mid.
caught hold of Cervillo's legs. Nor was the Japanese idle. With a
bound he reached the spot where Tom Hardy was standing between the
two armed men. One fell by a sharp blow in the throat; the other,
thrown completely over Hokosuka's shoulders, landed in the midst of a
crowd of his comrades, scattering them right and left.
[Illustration: BEFORE CERVILLO COULD RECOVER FROM HIS ASTONISHMENT HE
WAS FLOORED BY THE ATHLETIC SUB.
[_Page_ 98.
]
Taken aback, the pirates were either too dumbfounded to use their
pistols or else were afraid of hitting their leader. One or two
attempted a rush, but half-a-dozen shots from the conning-tower
checked all attempts at rescue.
Within fifteen seconds from the time the sub. uttered the word "Now!"
the three daring men were safe within the conning-tower once more,
with Tom Hardy and the pirate captain to add to the number of the
steel citadel.
"Now we can have a little understanding with Señor Juan Cervillo,"
exclaimed Fielding as he proceeded to secure the rascally Spaniard
with the bonds that had been removed from the coxswain's limbs. "I
don't fancy he'll be quite so keen about chucking lumps of dynamite
into the conning-tower."
Without, the pandemonium was redoubled. The British officers and
their Japanese comrades paid scant attention to the noise. They had
scored heavily up to the present, and they realised the fact.
"I begin to feel fairly peckish," remarked Cardyke, at length.
"So we all do, I fancy, except perhaps this rascal. We've given him
twelve hours' start in the fasting competition, but I bet he'll be
mighty hungry before we're done with him," said the sub., grimly.
"How about you, Hardy; did they feed you at all?"
"At first, sir," replied the coxswain. "Then because I wouldn't join
up with them they tried to starve me into submission. If it hadn't
been for this crack across my figurehead I'd have taken on the whole
mess with my fists and wiped the deck with the lot of them."
"I believe you would, Hardy," remarked Cardyke, admiringly, for the
coxswain held the belt in the Inter-Port Boxing Competition. "Are you
very hungry?"
"Only once afore like it in my life, as far as I can remember. That
was when I was in Haslar Hospital. Low diet the 'poultice-slappers'
called it. Couldn't have been much lower. An' the bloke in the next
cot to me was being fed with chicken, an' 'ad port wine to drink."
"We'll have to be chewing our belts soon," remarked the sub. "But I
don't know abort you fellows--I feel mighty tired."
It was now about two bells--9 a.m. Beyond a party of men who had been
left to watch the conning-tower, the rest of the pirates had taken
themselves off to their various duties or recreations--mostly the
latter. The _Independencia_ was still heading S.S.W. according to the
compass in the conning-tower. It was not one of the standard
compasses belonging to the ship--these had been removed prior to
sale--but had been brought on board from the pseudo _Steephill
Castle_. Since the cruiser had not been swung to adjust compasses it
was obvious that the course might be points out, since the deviation
was unknown.
"We'll set watches, and the rest of us can have a snooze," continued
Fielding. "We'll toss for it. I believe the rascals left a few coins
in my pocket, although they bagged my purse and my gold watch. Here
goes."
The coin spun in the air. The mid., Oki, and Hokosuka found that
theirs was the first "watch below," while Fielding and Mukyima had to
keep the first two hours' watch. Owing to his condition Tom Hardy was
not called upon for this duty.
Utterly worn out, Cardyke and the two Japanese threw themselves on
the hard floor, and were soon sound asleep. The sub. and the general,
too fatigued even to talk, stood with their backs against the steel
wall, and their faces towards the entrance to the circular metal
compartment.
The day was hot, and in spite of the ship's speed through the water,
the air within the conning-tower was exceedingly sultry. Once or
twice Fielding found himself nodding, only to be aroused by the
vigilant Oki.
An hour went by. Even the Japanese watcher was becoming drowsy.
Fielding's head fell forward. This time Oki did not rouse his
companion; and even when the sub. slid inertly to the ground the
Japanese had not the energy to realise that anything was amiss. He
saw, as in a vision, the Englishman drop--then utter oblivion.
A quarter of an hour later a squad of men entered the conning-tower
without opposition. Six of the occupants were secured, and, like
logs, were unceremoniously bundled into the open air, whilst Cervillo
was carried upon the forebridge, where he soon recovered from his
stupor. The dauntless six, able to hold their own in fair fight, had
fallen victims to the insidious methods of their assailants. For
fumes of chloroform had been forced through one of the voice-tubes
that led into the conning-tower, and it had rendered the brave
defenders absolutely helpless.
CHAPTER IX
HOLDING UP "L'ÉGALITÉ"
ARNOLD CARDYKE was the first to recover from the effect of the
noxious vapour. He had been sleeping nearest to the entrance to the
conning-tower, and had thus more air than his companions. For some
moments he lay wondering where he was. He tried to call out, but no
sound came from his parched lips. Then, between him and the reddish
light that seemed to encircle him, came a huge dark object that
presently resolved itself into the shape of a man--one of the pirate
officers. Good heavens! The partial truth swept across his mind.
Desperately he struggled to rise and arouse his comrades, but
realising that he was bound and weak, he rolled helplessly across the
body of Hokosuka.
The weight of the mid.'s frame expelled a quantity of the chloroform
fumes from the Japanese's chest, and with a grunt Hokosuka opened his
eyes. In his effort to dislodge Cardyke the Asiatic prodded Fielding
on the back, and the sub., already well on the road to consciousness,
also began to realise his position.
"What's wrong, Cardyke?" he asked. "Why, I----" Then the truth was
revealed in all its unpleasantness. He and his comrades were once
more in the power of Juan Cervillo and his piratical crew.
"We've made a mess of it, sir," said Cardyke, who contrived to raise
himself into a sitting posture.
"And all my fault," groaned the sub. "I fell asleep at my post. I
ought to be----"
"We were drugged, or something like that," interrupted the mid. "I
can't see that any blame can be attached to you. What's done cannot
be helped, although it may be undone, in spite of the proverb."
Fielding sat up, and found that his ankles and wrists were secured by
leather straps. His head seemed to spin round like a top for a few
moments, but gradually the sensation of nausea left him. It did not
take him long to discover that the _Independencia_ had altered her
course. By the position of the sun the sub. concluded that the
direction in which she was heading was approximately N.W. by N. As
far as he could command the horizon there were no other ships in
sight--only a vast expanse of Atlantic rollers.
"Here comes that scoundrel," exclaimed Cardyke, and turning his head
Fielding saw Juan Cervillo approaching.
The Spaniard, who never could boast of good looks, had his appearance
somewhat disfigured from the result of the blow he had received in
the sortie from the conning-tower, while his greasy features were
sallow from the effects of the chloroform which he had inhaled.
With a supercilious grin Juan Cervillo stood in front of his
prostrate captives, gloating over their plight. He could, he
imagined, subject them to indignity with impunity now, but he had yet
to learn caution.
Mukyima was stealthily regarding the Spaniard out of the corners of
his narrow eyes. Slowly the lithe body and limbs of the Japanese
contracted. Then like a stone from a catapult, Mukyima, bound as he
was, hurled himself upon his foe.
Juan Cervillo saw the human thunderbolt flying towards him just in
the nick of time. He gave a hurried leap aside, caught his foot in a
ring-bolt, and subsided in a most undignified manner upon a
particularly aggressive fairlead. As for the Japanese, he had taken
the precaution of tucking his head well forward. His shoulders came
in contact with a canvas "storm-dodger," and, rebounding, he, too,
flopped on the deck.
Juan Cervillo did not wait for a second spring from the wiry Jap, but
regaining his feet rushed away shouting for assistance. Half-a-dozen
of the strongest of the pirate crew had a tough struggle ere they
overpowered Mukyima; but they did it at length, lashing the Asiatic
to a capstan-bar so that he was as helpless as a log.
"Me teach you!" hissed the pirate captain. "You dogs!--when I done,
den ober de side I put you!"
Turning to his men he gave a lengthy order. Mukyima was borne away
for'ard, the other captives, including the coxswain, were
unceremoniously bundled below, and placed in the same cabin from
which they had before escaped.
It did not take the sub. and his comrades long to free themselves of
the straps that bound them. Fielding's first act, in recovering the
use of his limbs, was to hasten to the scuttle. The pirates had taken
due precautions this time. The glass had been removed, and a massive
iron bar, placed across the frame of the scuttle, was secured by
means of the lock-nut, the thread of which had been bent and burred
so that it was impossible, without the aid of a file or hack-saw, to
remove the bar from its position.
"Well, we can look out, and see what's going on; that's one comfort,"
exclaimed Fielding, optimistically. "What have you found, Cardyke?"
For the midshipman, rummaging in a locker, had discovered a loaf of
bread, some ship's biscuits, a jar of water, and a tin pannikin.
"We won't starve just yet, in any case," observed the mid.
The pangs of hunger had rounded off the unappetising appearance of
the stale loaf and the "hard tack," and the water, though not
particularly fresh, tasted sweet to the parched mouths of the
hostages.
"Poison?" asked Oki, interrogatively.
"I think not," replied Fielding. "If they wanted to choke us off they
would have done so before now; besides, the food doesn't look
tempting enough. A sumptuous repast would be more suspicious."
About four o'clock the cruiser eased down. Knowing that something was
about to happen, the captives took turns at looking through the
scuttle. For some time nothing beyond sky and sea was visible, but
when the _Independencia_ described a half circle Cardyke announced
that she had compelled a huge liner to heave-to.
"A Frenchman, by Jove!" exclaimed Fielding. "Now what's the
game--more scuttling?"
The transatlantic liner's decks were crowded with passengers, who
were regarding the cruiser with the greatest interest, for the
_Independencia_ had hoisted the white ensign, and with their faith in
the _entente cordiale_, the Frenchmen never for one moment harboured
any suspicion.
Suddenly a four-pounder boomed out, and a shell hissed betwixt the
huge funnels of _L'Égalité_. Like a crowd of startled rabbits, the
passengers rushed pell-mell for the companion ladders. Had war
suddenly broken out between Great Britain and France? They were not
long left in doubt. As soon as the liner came to a standstill, two
boats were lowered from the cruiser. Into them tumbled fifty men, all
armed to the teeth.
"_Ciel!_" gasped the astounded French captain. "They are not John
Bull's bluejackets. They are pirates."
His worst suspicions were confirmed when the white ensign was struck
and a red flag hoisted in its place, while slowly the 'midships
barbette on the starboard side, actuated by manual power, was turned
till its pair of 12 in. guns were trained upon the luckless liner.
The French captain did not know that the huge weapons were without
breech-blocks, but the frowning muzzles were far more terrifying to
him than the quick-firers. Unresistingly he allowed the boats to come
alongside, and the lawless mob to swarm over the liner's lofty sides.
The pirates went about their work in a systematic manner. Four of
them went straight to the wireless-room, and interrupting an urgent
call for aid, drove out the operators, and put the delicate mechanism
out of action. Others, making the captain prisoner, and driving the
rest of the officers into the smoking-room, compelled the former to
send for the ship's papers. The whole of the specie and bullion was
transferred to the boats, together with the wealthiest and most
influential of the passengers. This done the terrified first and
second-class passengers were made to hand over their money and
jewellery, the steerage being left unmolested.
Very little resistance was shown by the passengers. An American
millionaire who had made a pile in Nevada, promptly whipped out a
six-shooter, vowing he'd send the cowardly Dagoes to blazes. He was
quick and deadly with his pistol, and four of the pirates pitched
forward on the floor of the saloon; but one man against a score was
too long odds, and the tough old backwoodsman fell riddled with
bullets.
Having taken all the bullion and specie, together with the hostages,
to the _Independencia_, the pirates proceeded to cripple the engines,
leaving the liner helpless in the Atlantic. But they had not done
with their prize, for directly the two boats returned to the cruiser
Juan Cervillo ordered _L'Égalité_ to hoist out her own boats, fill
them with provisions and stores, and bring them alongside the
_Independencia_. Under a threat that the liner would be sunk if the
demand were not complied with, the captain of _L'Égalité_ hastened to
carry out Cervillo's order.
Two hours later, with her store-rooms filled to their utmost
capacity, and nearly a million and a quarter pounds' worth of
additional booty in her strong-room, the _Independencia_ bade an
ironical farewell to the helpless liner.
From their place of confinement Fielding and his companions had
watched the work of plunder and wanton destruction. They had seen the
easy way by which the cruiser had replenished her stores, and the
continuation of the policy of bringing off hostages to the ship in
order to prevent any punitive vessel from firing at the modern
buccaneer.
Cardyke turned to the sub.
"This can't go on for long," he remarked. "What will the end be?"
"Goodness only knows," rejoined Fielding; "but we've a tough time
before us!"
CHAPTER X
THE HYDRO-AEROPLANES
MEANWHILE, what had happened to Lieutenant Drake and the rest of the
_Frome's_ crew, after the destruction of that little craft? Directly
the boats pushed off Drake and those of the men who remained with him
gathered on the fo'c'sle and turtle-back deck. Then, as the water
came into contact with the red-hot plates, the destroyer's deck
buckled amidships. Her motors went crashing through the flaming
petrol in the double-bottoms as the vessel tilted and slipped stern
foremost beneath the flaming surface of the sea.
All on board imagined that the end had come, when suddenly that part
of the ship between the for'ard engine-room bulkhead and the bows
shook itself clear of the remainder of the shattered hull and floated
on the surface. The destroyer had literally been torn in twain, and
the watertight bulkhead kept the forepart afloat. True, there was a
perceptible list, but on investigation there was found hardly any
water in the forehold.
As soon as the petrol blazing on the water had burned itself out, the
boats returned to find that Drake and his companions were alive,
though scorched by the terrific heat. Deeming it inexpedient to allow
the boats' complement on board the stumpy vessel, Drake ordered them
to stand off and lay on their oars. Fortunately there was little
wind, although the sea ran high, but guided by an anchor-lamp shown
from the bridge, the boats could keep within hail of the
lieutenant-commander. At frequent intervals rockets were sent up, for
the _Frome_ was not so very far from the regular steamer track, while
it was known that other destroyers and one or two cruisers were
heading in their direction.
Just after dawn H.M.S. _Indus_, a powerful cruiser of 22,000 tons,
bore down. The lieutenant and his men were taken off the wrecked
forepart, and a wireless message was sent to Devonport announcing the
details of the outrage on the high seas, and asking for instructions.
To the surprise of everyone on board, the reply came--"Tow remains to
Devonport." Not a word was said about continuing the chase, so, to
the disappointment of all ranks, the _Indus_ took the sorry remnants
of the _Frome_ in tow, and at an easy ten knots headed towards
Plymouth Sound.
Thousands of people assembled to see the shattered forepart of the
destroyer pass up Drake's Passage. Hundreds of cameras were levelled
at her, shoals of boats accompanied the _Indus_ and her tow, till the
latter was docked, safe from public observation, in the basin at
Keyham.
Then followed several days of irritating official inquiries, which,
while the _Independencia_ still roved the high seas, was an utter
waste of time. Drake wanted to be off again. His one desire was to
retrieve his reputation by capturing the pirate vessel, and rescuing
his brother officers.
Cruisers, scouts, and destroyers were despatched, and, spreading
fanwise, scoured the Atlantic from Rockall to the Azores; but somehow
or other the filibustered ship escaped detection. Then came the news
of the holding up of _L'Égalité_, which, according to the French
captain's report, had taken place within twenty miles of the British
cruiser _Khartoum_.
The immediate result of this affair was that a squadron of fast
cruisers and a flotilla of destroyers left Brest to join in the
hounding-down of the _Independencia_. The Spanish Government, eager
to lay hands upon the notorious anarchist, also despatched two
cruisers and four destroyers; so that there was the keenest rivalry
between the various nations engaged in the enterprise as to who
should have the honour of laying the running and desperate Juan
Cervillo by the heels.
All concerned realised that the business must of necessity be a
peculiar one, for Drake had reported how the hostages from the _Yosen
Maru_, as well as his own officers who had been trapped, were
utilised as screens to prevent the _Independencia_ from being sunk by
gun fire. There were three alternatives: either to overhaul and board
the pirate vessel, a feat that could only be accomplished on a calm
day, and with the _Independencia_ compelled to heave-to; or to sink
the offender by torpedoes, trusting that the pirates would cut their
hostages adrift ere the ship sunk; or else to dog her so tenaciously
that, unable to capture any more liners or tramps, she would be
compelled to haul down the red flag through sheer starvation.
The British Admiralty decided to adopt the last alternative, and
orders were given that once the _Independencia_ was sighted, all
cruisers and destroyers within a certain radius were to be summoned
by wireless, and form a close cordon around the modern buccaneer.
All merchant ships fitted with wireless were informed of this new
terror of the seas, and requested to "speak" with other vessels not
so equipped, as well as to transmit news of the appearance of any
suspicious craft answering to the _Independencia's_ description, so
that aid could be quickly forthcoming from the nearest warships. Yet
in spite of these precautions the officers of the trans-atlantic
liners and tramps had an anxious time. Never had the deck officers
kept such a keen look-out, especially at night, when the pirate,
steaming without navigation lights, might at any moment loom through
the darkness and peremptorily order her prey to heave-to.
At Lloyd's the insurance rates went up 60 per cent. The "Atlantic
ferry" paid heavily, for would-be passengers, as a matter of
precaution, deferred their journey until the time when the danger
ceased to exist. Grain-laden tramps from the States and Canada either
remained in port or else sailed under convoy, as in the days of the
Napoleonic war. The price of food, in consequence, rose tremendously,
and coming as it did after a succession of disastrous strikes, the
effects of the modern pirate-ship's depredations began to be felt by
all classes of the community.
Two days after the receipt of the wireless message from the French
cruiser _Desaix_, announcing the outrage upon _L'Égalité_, the liner
arrived at Cherbourg in tow of the armoured cruiser _Chanzy_. Then
followed the customary Press interviews with the passengers and crew,
with the stock of conflicting and of ten misleading reports. Some of
the eye-witnesses, partly through a love of exaggeration, and partly
through the result of a highly strung temperament, told ghastly tales
of butchery, some even going to the length of asserting that they had
seen the passengers who had been removed from the liner being made to
walk the plank. No satisfactory explanation could be given as to why,
if the pirates were so bloodthirsty as they had been made out to be,
the liner had not been scuttled with all hands, until someone
explained that Juan Cervillo had spared the ship on account of the
third-class passengers.
Then it was that a Socialist Parisian newspaper appeared with a
eulogistic three columns and a half on Cervillo's record and aims,
and calling upon the Anarchists to give him their moral and active
support. The offices of the paper were raided by the gendarmes, and
before night the military and the canaille were engaged in
hand-to-hand fighting in the streets of Paris. Similar disturbances
took place in Madrid, Barcelona, and Naples, and the French, Spanish,
and Italian Governments had good cause to wish that the notorious
Juan Cervillo was at the bottom of the sea.
At Barcelona the news spread that the _Independencia_ had appeared
off that port. The authorities knew that such was impossible, partly
on account of the distance from British waters, and also that the
Straits of Gibraltar were too well guarded by a strong flotilla
cruising betwixt Tarifa and Ceuta. But amongst the ignorant
population it was accepted that Cervillo had appeared to proclaim the
anarchist rule in Spain, and that night the town was at the mercy of
the mob.
It was not until it was found that the ship was the British cruiser
_Indefatigable_--the sea-going instructional vessel for naval cadets,
and which bore a striking resemblance to the _Independencia_--that
the disorder ceased. Even then it required four regiments of Spanish
infantry to quell the insurrection.
As soon as the new scout _Cerberus_, could be passed out of dockyard
hands, she was commissioned in order to participate in the search for
the pirate-cruiser, and to Drake's unbounded satisfaction he was
appointed to her for duties in the hydro-aeroplanes, of which the
scout carried four.
Vast strides had been made in the construction and efficiency of the
hydro-aeroplanes since their demonstration before the King in
Portland Roads in 1912. Instead of being, like the first of this
class, clumsy aeroplanes fitted with floats, those of the later
pattern were swift motor-boats, provided with folding air-planes and
propellers, so that they could either keep the sea in fairly heavy
weather, or they could soar into the air and perform a thousand-mile
flight. Each hydro-aeroplane consisted of an aluminium hull, 35 ft.
in length, 6 ft. in breadth, and of a draught when at rest of 9 ins.
These were completely decked in, with the exception of a small, open
well, which could, if necessity arose, be covered with a water-tight
hatch. At one-third the distance from its bows was a small
observation turret, the top of which served as one of the bearings,
or the shafting of the aerial propeller. The planes, when not in use,
folded into recesses in the sides of the hull, the actuation of a
pair of tension wires serving to extend and keep them in position for
flight. Whereas the original hydro-aeroplanes could not descend to
rest upon the surface of a choppy sea, those carried by the
_Cerberus_ could not only be relied upon to descend or ascend from
the water, but could by reason of their strength and rigid
construction safely withstand the impact of a fall from a
considerable height. For armament they carried a one-pounder
automatic gun, and gear for dropping small bombs charged with high
explosives.
On board the _Cerberus_ these four hydro-aeroplanes were carried on
the space hitherto occupied by the funnel-casings, for the scout had
internal combustion engines, and, save for a small exhaust pipe, was
without funnels. Each tender could be hoisted in less than
half-a-minute by means of a single-purchase wire rope passing through
a block at the end of a derrick, and wound round a motor-capstan.
Constructed at one-twentieth of the cost of a submarine, the
hydro-aeroplane had already virtually superseded those craft. Save at
night, the crews of the hydro-aeroplanes could from a height easily
locate the presence of a submarine, and by means of her bombs could
destroy it with ease. Before long it was recognised that the era of
the submarine, as a destructive means of offence, was past.
Lieutenant Douglas Drake lost no time in reporting himself on board
the _Cerberus_, and within twenty hours of being passed out of
dockyard hands the scout left Portsmouth Harbour to join in the
search for the pirate-cruiser.
But before the ship had passed through the Needles Channel she was,
to the disgust of all on board, ordered to return. That morning the
owners of the ss. _Duke of Negropont_ had received a wireless message
from the captain of that vessel. It was brief and to the point:--
"_Independencia_ in collision with unknown
vessel, 4.45 a.m. Lat. 40-22-10 N., Long.
22-9-16 W. Both sank; no survivors."
CHAPTER XI
HOKOSUKA'S SLEIGHT-OF-HAND
AFTER leaving the French liner _L'Égalité_ helpless in the distance,
the _Independencia_ steamed in a south-easterly direction till out of
sight; then altering helm, she plugged away at an easy eighteen knots
in the direction of the West Indies. Here Juan Cervillo knew that for
a time he would be fairly safe. There were no British warships
capable of doing him much damage, and amid the cays of the Bahamas
there was little chance of meeting with Uncle Sam's battleships or
cruisers. On the other hand, he could rely on being able to intercept
some of the traders in and out of Galveston and New Orleans while, if
things became too hot for him, there would be a more than possible
chance of slipping off to the coast of Venezuela or Columbia, where
the ship could be run ashore, and her rascally crew, with their
ill-gotten booty, could disperse.
Many plans were suggested by Fielding and his companions whereby they
might regain their liberty, but none seemed at present feasible.
Whenever their meals were brought into the cabin armed men stood
without; while, in order to prevent a repetition of their escape
through the scuttle, a sentry was stationed on the poop; orders to
examine the bar across the scuttle every hour were also given to a
petty officer, who was lowered over the side in order that he might
test the condition of the metalwork.
"Couldn't we signal in Morse, sir?" asked Cardyke: "We can easily rig
up a shutter from the scuttle. It might attract the notice of some
passing vessel, and we could give her warning to clear out?"
"A good idea," replied the sub. "But unfortunately, unless the other
vessel approaches without steaming lights, the probability is that
she will be discovered long before we can call her up. Besides,
unless a ship is well abeam, or on our starboard quarter, all the
signalling possible from this cabin won't be seen."
"Still, it will be something to do," continued the mid. "Something to
pass the time."
"Carry on, then," replied Fielding. "But I honestly think it won't
help us much--or anyone else."
During the afternoon the two British officers dozed for a couple of
hours. As Fielding remarked, it was advisable to sleep all you can,
for you never know when you might have to do without it. Besides, it
cured the terrible _ennui_--the tedious waiting for something to turn
up to break the deadly monotony.
Cardyke woke to find Hokosuka sitting on the floor, and carefully
nursing a large revolver. There was a very faint suspicion of
satisfaction in the Jap's eyes, but his immobile face gave no sign of
elation or otherwise. The mid. could not help wondering how the man
gained possession of such a powerful weapon, and his curiosity urged
him to appeal to General Oki.
"The English say they love the sea," observed the Jap. "Britannia,
she rule waves with eel-spear. That what you say. Me think
ninety-nine of all one hundred Englishmen know how to love the sea by
come to sit on seaside and throw stones in water. That English
holiday; but put ninety-nine Englishmen in boat they no know how to
sail."
"That's quite true," thought Cardyke; "but what on earth has that to
do with the question how Hokosuka got hold of that revolver? They are
trying to bamboozle me for some reason. I'll mention the matter to
Fielding when he wakes up. In the meantime I'll keep a watch on Mr.
Hokosuka."
Accordingly the mid. turned on his bunk, and was soon to all
appearances sound asleep, but out of the corners of his almost closed
eyelids he followed the movements of the mysterious Japanese.
Hokosuka had removed the cartridges from the weapon, and was
carefully examining its mechanism. Placing the corner of his coat
under the hammer in order to deaden the sound, he tried the trigger
in a most methodical fashion, so as to get the correct "pull." Then,
replacing the cartridges, he handed the weapon over to his
compatriot.
Oki took the revolver in his hand, and to all appearances it
vanished. Cardyke could swear that from the time the general's
fingers closed over the butt his arm never moved, but where could a
bulky object like that go to?
Neither of the Japs seemed to treat the occurrence otherwise than as
an ordinary transaction; one might have been handing the other a
cigarette-case. The mid.'s curiosity was increasing rapidly.
Having rid himself of the weapon, Hokosuka rose from the floor,
crossed the cabin, and took his stand just below the scuttle. There
he waited as motionless as a statue.
Presently the light that poured through the opening became obscured.
The man detailed to attend to the iron bar was being lowered to make
his hourly examination. As far as Cardyke could see the pirate was
seated in a bos'un's chair, which was let down till the man's
shoulders were level with the scuttle. Steadying himself with his
left hand, the seaman tried the bar with his right; then, satisfied
that it had not been tampered with, he called to his comrades to haul
up.
Instantly, with a rapid, gliding, noiseless motion, Hokosuka's left
hand shot through the aperture. When his arm was withdrawn the Jap
had another revolver in his grasp. He had dexterously removed the
weapon from the seaman's holster, as he had done to the man who had
previously been doing the duty.
Just then Fielding awoke. Oki pointed to the revolver that his
compatriot held.
"By Jove!" exclaimed the sub., in astonishment. "However did you get
hold of that?"
"We have two," replied Oki, calmly. "One you have, other we will
keep. Now put out of way--hide. Lil boy"--and to Cardyke's disgust he
heard himself referred to in that strain--"lil boy, him ask where you
get. I no tell; you no must tell. If he no know, then he no can
tell."
[Illustration: HALF A DOZEN SEAMEN HEADED BY THE RENEGADE ENGLISHMAN
BURST INTO THE ROOM.
[_Page_ 131.
]
"I see," agreed Fielding. "But these rascals will ransack the place
when they miss these revolvers."
"Let look everywhere," replied General Oki; "revolver all gone."
And Fielding's astonishment was no less than his junior's when the
weapon seemed to disappear from sight.
Barely a quarter of an hour later the cabin door was thrown open, and
half-a-dozen seamen, headed by the renegade Englishman, burst into
the room.
"No hanky-panky tricks, sir!" exclaimed the bo'sun. "You've sneaked a
couple of revolvers. We missed one, and didn't know where it had
gone; but the fellow who was lowered over the side made sure he had
his when he went down, and when he came up it had gone. And I saw
that his holster was fastened when he started. So no beating about
the bush. Hand them pistols over, and save yourself a sight of
trouble. You can't get the weather side of me, sir."
"I have no revolvers," replied Fielding. "I wish I had. I'd make sure
of your losing the number of your mess."
"None of your cheek!" replied the man, fiercely. "Get over there."
Hustling the five occupants of the cabin into one corner the bo'sun
directed his men to search the room, and soon all the scanty
furniture was turned over and over again, but without result. This
done the British officers, the coxswain, and the other two Japs were
subjected to a search, their coats being removed for that purpose.
"Confound it, we're on the wrong tack!" grumbled the pirate bo'sun.
And, ordering his men to clear out, he went to make his report to
Juan Cervillo that a systematic search convinced him that no weapons
were to be found in the prisoners' cabin.
Hokosuka waited to make sure that none of the unwelcome visitors were
returning, then produced a couple of revolvers and a large
sheath-knife.
"Not same 'volvers," explained General Oki. "These toll. Hokosuka
make pirates pay for coming here."
"Not the same revolvers?" asked Fielding, in astonishment. "Where are
the first two you had?" For it seemed incredible that after the
systematic search not only were the looked-for articles not found,
but two more pistols, to say nothing of the sheath-knife, were added
to the defensive armoury of the occupants of the cabin.
"Me show you," replied the general, and turning to his compatriot he
spoke a few words in his native tongue. Simultaneously both Japs
pulled up the legs of their trousers, and revealed the weapons with
their muzzles stuck between their feet and their shoes, the chambers
fitting into the hollow just behind their ankles.
"I'm hanged if I saw you put yours there!" exclaimed the sub.
Oki merely shrugged his shoulders. He did not think it necessary to
explain how the trick was done; but like most Japanese, he was an
adept at sleight-of-hand.
"Where are we making for, I wonder?" asked Cardyke.
"If we go on at this rate and in the same direction a week will find
us in West Indian waters, unless I'm very much mistaken," replied
Fielding. "It's a mystery to me why this ship hasn't been headed off
and captured long ago."
"Long ago!" echoed the mid. "Why, it's only a matter of a few days!"
"Yes, yes, I know; but one would naturally think that with modern
scientific instruments at one's command it would be an utter
impossibility to play hide and seek in the North Atlantic."
"Were you navy officer man in 1907?" asked General Oki, who, although
his English was somewhat quaint, could follow ordinary conversation
with comparative ease.
"In that year I was completing my last term at Dartmouth," replied
Fielding.
"Then you have no heard of manoeuvres that year--how one English
fleet sailed in North Sea for over sixty hour, looking for another
English fleet, and no can find?"
"By Jove! I believe I heard something of the kind," replied the sub.
"But you seem to know a lot about our naval matters, sir?"
"My business," replied Oki, calmly.
The British and the Japanese officers were entering into an animated
discussion on the possibilities of wireless in war when they were
interrupted by the crash of a quick-firer, followed by the slowing
down of the cruiser's engines.
There was a rush to the scuttle, but the field of visible horizon was
limited, and nothing could be seen that could give the reason for the
discharge of the gun. The firing from the cruiser and the
slowing-down showed that the _Independencia_ had overhauled another
craft and was not the pursued craft.
"It's another liner being nabbed!" exclaimed Cardyke.
CHAPTER XII
THE "DUKE OF NEGROPONT"
BANG! went another quickfirer, and the accompanying screech denoted
the fact that the pirates had let loose a shell. Another and another,
followed by a couple of detonations and the rending of steel as the
powerful missile burst.
Then the _Independencia_ turned 45 degs. to port, and the object of
her unwelcome attentions came into the view of the prisoners in the
cabin.
"You're right, Cardyke," exclaimed the sub. "It's a West Indian
liner; I can see by her funnels."
"British," announced the mid., as a waft of air partially cleared the
smoke that was issuing from her steerage, revealing the red ensign
fluttering from her ensign-staff. "They've blown her bridge and
chart-house to smithereens."
"And planked a couple of shells through her quarters," added
Fielding. "I wonder she doesn't make a dash for it, instead of
slowing down."
Did the sub. but know it he might have realised the cause of the
British vessel's apparent lack of enterprise. The ship was the _Duke
of Negropont_, four days out from New Orleans. Lured by the display
of distress signals from the _Independencia_, the liner had altered
helm, and borne down upon the seemingly crippled cruiser. Then a shot
was fired across the liner's bows, while the white ensign fluttered
down from the cruiser's stern, and was replaced by the red flag of
anarchy.
The skipper of the _Duke of Negropont_ had received due warning of
the depredations of the _Independencia_, but since it was reported
that the pirate was seen in the vicinity of the Straits of Gibraltar
he never for one moment associated the vessel flying the white ensign
with the modern buccaneer. But directly the first shell whizzed
across the _Duke of Negropont's_ bows the captain of the liner
ordered full speed ahead, at the same time starboarding his helm.
The next two shots, fired in deadly earnest, completely demolished
the navigating bridge and chart-house, and wiped the skipper and the
chief officer out of existence. The concussion and the sweeping away
of the bridge brought the engine-room telegraph back to "stop," and
the liner, losing way, brought up within a hundred yards of her
aggressor.
Still covered by the _Independencia's_ guns, the prize was boarded by
two boats' crews, and the method of despoiling the liner was almost
identical with that of the two previous captures.
There was, however, one departure. The second officer of the
_Independencia_, a Spaniard who spoke English fairly well, gave
orders for the _Duke of Negropont's_ wireless operators to be brought
before him. The senior, a man of twenty-three years of age,
resolutely refused to transmit the message his captor dictated. Twice
Gonzales, the second officer, ordered him, using threats of instant
death should he refuse.
"No tricks," exclaimed Gonzales, menacingly. "I understand what you
telegraph, so do as I say."
Then it was that the owners of the _Duke of Negropont_ received the
message:--
"_Independencia_ in collision with unknown
vessel, 4.45 a.m. Lat. 40-22-10 N., Long.
22-9-16 W. Both sank; no survivors."
Directly this decoy message was sent, the wireless gear was
destroyed, and the pirates proceeded to loot the ship. But they had
reckoned without the British engineers and firemen, and some of the
junior officers and deck-hands who had taken refuge below.
Ignoring the indicator pointing to stop, the chief engineer restarted
the engines to full speed ahead, and simultaneously a swarm of men,
armed with cross-bars, shovels, and rakes, and led by their officers
with revolvers in their hands, rushed on deck. Taken by surprise, and
alarmed by the hitherto apparently motionless vessel gathering way,
the two boatloads of pirates were borne back. Men fell on both sides,
but British valour prevailed, and in less than five minutes the
survivors of the boarding-party were swimming for their lives in the
wake of the _Duke of Negropont_.
Through the scuttle Fielding and his companions watched with mingled
feelings the boarding and subsequent repulse of the pirates, and as
the liner forged ahead the two British officers gave vent to a cheer.
But their exultation was nipped in the bud, for Juan Cervillo, wild
with fury, ordered the quick-firers to hull the _Duke of Negropont_
between wind and water.
Three shots were sufficient. With an ever-growing list to port the
liner sank lower and lower by the stern, her speed grew less and
less, till a column of steam issuing amidships showed that the water
had entered her engine-room.
Suddenly Cervillo's attention was directed towards a large vessel
nearly hull down on the horizon. The look-out aloft reported that it
was a four-funnelled craft, with white hull and yellow
superstructure. Then the Spaniard realised that he was in a tight
corner, for the oncoming vessel was a United States cruiser.
Without waiting to pick up the survivors of the boarding party, he
ordered the _Independencia_ to be driven at full speed ahead, and was
soon in full flight in a southerly direction.
The cruiser flying the stars and stripes was the _West Virginia_,
whose captain had been warned to keep a look-out for a possible
encounter with the pirate cruiser _Independencia_, of a supposed
speed of twenty-two knots, but in reality doing a bare twenty.
Pelting along as hard as her 23,000 horse-power engines could drive
her, she was just in time to rescue the survivors of the _Duke of
Negropont's_ passengers and crew who had taken to the boats. Ten men
of the pirate cruiser were also picked up.
The delay in performing the work of rescue saved the _Independencia_
from capture, and although the _West Virginia_ hung on doggedly in
pursuit, and sent off wireless calls for assistance, daylight found
the American cruiser alone in a waste of waters, with never so much
as a trail of oil from the fugitive ship to indicate her position.
It was a near shave for Juan Cervillo. Not for one instant did he
expect to fall in with a cruiser so far from the shores of Florida,
and had it not been for a seaman giving a casual glance round, the
_West Virginia_ might have approached within range of her 8 in. guns
before being discovered. The last venture had failed disastrously.
The prize had slipped through his fingers without so much as one
ounce of bullion being taken from her. Forty of his men were lost--a
serious item--although, as their comrades remarked with callous
indifference, there were fewer left to share the booty. Worst of all
the United States cruiser would proclaim it far and wide that the
pirate ship was on the fringe of West India waters.
The management of the _Independencia_ was practically in Juan
Cervillo's hands. It was he who decided what was to be done, and in
which direction the course was to be. He rarely consulted with his
subordinates as to the plan of action. In this case he acted
independently. He resolved to steer eastward for twelve hours, then
head northward to the Arctic Circle, where he would be comparatively
secure till the vigilant watch was relaxed. If he could cross the
steamship tracks betwixt the Old and New Worlds without being
discovered, well and good. If tackled by a man-of-war he must
exercise trickery in order to escape. If he should fall in with a
liner he would capture her, taking good care that she left no trace
behind her.
Having laid his plans Cervillo retired to his cabin, and touched a
bell. In response to the summons a petty officer appeared.
"Take a guard with you, and bring the English officer here," he
ordered. "See that he is properly secured, and that the fellow does
not have the least chance to do mischief."
Five minutes later Fielding, with his hands securely fastened behind
his back, was led into the Spaniard's presence. For a few moments
neither man spoke, but stood looking at each other as if to detect a
weak spot in their respective armour.
"Señor officer," began Cervillo, languidly resting himself and
lighting a cigar, "the time is for explanation. I hold you prisoner
--you and the other I took from the captured ships. If men-of-war
come, then I place you on deck so they no can fire--see? Good! Now I
tell you fair, we go north to sea of ice. P'r'aps we fall in with
English or American warship. If not, den no necessity for you to
stop--unless you 'gree to pay ransom."
"Precious little ransom you'll get out of me, you rogue!" interrupted
the sub.
"Precious little?" repeated Cervillo, arching his eyebrows. "We see
soon. No can keep without pay; no pay, den we put you and your
comrades ashore. Cold, señor; no food--all ice and snow--die
miserably. That I swear."
"Carry on, then," remarked Fielding, coolly.
"What you mean--carry on?" demanded Cervillo.
"Do your worst, you white-livered sweep. There's a hangman's rope
waiting for you, sure enough. Already you're a doomed man.
"_Quien sabe?_" said the Spaniard. "But be assured, señor, you will
not be there to see the spectacle. I say no more. Tink over my words,
and if you no write promise to pay thirty hundred English pounds--an'
your companions, they, too, will pay--then I will do what they call
maroon--eh?"
The interview was at an end. The guard closed around the young
sub-lieutenant, and walking as firmly as he could--for Fielding was
somewhat hampered by the muzzle of a revolver being jammed into his
boot--he passed disdainfully out of Cervillo's cabin.
The Spaniard meant to keep his word this time. Although he realised
that an order on a British banker might in all probability be
difficult to convert into ready money, there was a chance that his
agents might be able to realise on the draft. Should the order be
forthcoming, Cervillo would be willing to spare the lives of his
hostages, although, once in the almost deserted Arctic, they would be
of no use as deterrents to gun-fire. On the other hand Cervillo knew
that he had already been guilty, not merely of piracy, but of murder
on the high seas, and one or two more crimes would make very little
difference. He would either bend or break the Englishman's stubborn
character.
But there were more important matters for the pirate captain's
attention. Within the next forty-eight hours the _Independencia_
would be in the thick of the liner-track across the Atlantic. Without
doubt a chain of cruisers would by this time be stationed at
comparatively close intervals between Cape Clear and Cape Race. The
risks of detection were great; but should the gauntlet be run in
safety the wily Spaniard would have plenty of opportunity of devising
a means whereby he could save himself and the rich booty at the
expense of his rascally crew.
CHAPTER XIII
THE HOSTAGES ARE MADE USE OF
ON returning to his prison cabin, Fielding communicated the details
of his interview with the pirate captain to his companions. One and
all agreed that the outlook, unless a warship intervened, looked
gloomy, but the news was borne with surprising fortitude.
"I suppose he's bound for the east coast of Greenland," said the sub.
"There are hundreds of creeks and inlets where a vessel of this size
could lay without fear of discovery; and, beyond a few whalers, there
are not many ships in those waters."
"What is the object in going to the Arctic?" asked Cardyke.
"To lie low, and also to economise the oil-fuel," replied Fielding.
"To keep the sea means a heavy consumption of stores, and those taken
from _L'Égalité_ won't last much more than a month. That's one reason
why we are to be marooned. Thirty or forty hostages who won't pay for
their keep are bound to make a hole in the commissariat."
"So he means to set us ashore and let us starve to death, or perish
with cold?"
"Seems like it; but I'll have a few words to say to the greasy Dago,"
replied the sub., tapping the revolver with the heel of his right
foot. "It's a pity we haven't more cartridges."
"We could hold the cabin for a good while," remarked the mid.,
tentatively.
"And get starved out in forty-eight hours. Won't do, Cardyke. If
things come to the worst, we must sally out, try and release the
other unfortunate beings who have fallen into Cervillo's clutches,
and sell our lives as dearly as possible. What say you, general?"
"I tink we might capture ship," replied Oki. "Clear dis end, take
pistols from arms-rack, and turn this part into castle."
"We'll have a shot at it, at all events," exclaimed Fielding,
enthusiastically. "If only we had more ammunition, I'd tackle the job
to-night."
"Better wait till we're within the Arctic circle," observed Cardyke.
"Why?"
"Those Spaniards and Italians, to say nothing of the Algerines and
the blacks, won't be able to stand the cold as well as we can.
They'll be torpid."
"Something in that," agreed Fielding. "But at present it's hot enough
for my liking. I vote we turn in."
Shortly after midnight Cardyke awoke to find the two Japs up and
about. Hokosuka was kneeling in front of the door with one ear close
against the lock, while Oki was standing with a lighted lamp in his
hand. Seeing the mid. stir, Oki placed a finger on his lips to enjoin
silence and pointed towards Fielding's bunk, indicating that the sub.
was to be aroused.
One touch of Cardyke's hand was enough. Fielding opened his eyes, and
without uttering a sound, sprang to his feet.
"Mukyima outside!" explained the general.
The two British officers listened. There was a faint scraping in the
lock, like a rat gnawing wood. Then Hokosuka whispered a few words,
and his compatriot instantly placed the lantern behind a curtain. In
the semi-gloom Cardyke saw the door open, a lithe figure glided in,
and the door closed gently after him. Then Oki uncovered the lamp,
and Mukyima stood revealed to the occupants of the cabin.
The Jap wore nothing but a loin-cloth. From head to foot he was
covered with a mixture of oil and soot. In his hands he carried a
rifle and two revolvers, while across his shoulder hung a canvas bag
filled with cartridges.
The three Japanese conversed in low toner, then Oki turned to his
English friends.
"Mukyima has come back not to stop," he explained. "Give sentry-man
outside the long sleep, leave cartridges and guns, then go back. Him
also lock door again, then no can tell pirates that door was opened."
Fielding and Cardyke nodded approval at Oki's words. Mukyima had
contrived to slip away from his prison on the orlop-deck, and, laying
hold of the arms and ammunition, made his way aft. On the half-deck
all was quiet; the sentry over the cabin door where the prisoners
were confined was dozing at his post. The Jap gripped the sentry by
the throat, and choked him into insensibility in less than fifteen
seconds. This done, he scratched in a peculiar manner on the cabin
bulkhead, and Hokosuka, recognising the signal, replied. The lock of
the cabin door was picked, and Mukyima rejoined his companions.
It was not his intention to remain. His absence from the orlop-deck
would soon be discovered, and the pirates would naturally search the
cabin occupied by the Jap's compatriots. So, in less than five
minutes from his arrival Mukyima left, the wards of the locks were
shot back again, and nothing remained to give rise to suspicion on
the part of the pirates with the exception of the body of the
luckless sentry. This discovery caused some consternation, but
finding the cabin door apparently intact the pirates concluded that
their comrade had died from natural causes.
Nevertheless, although Hokosuka sat up all the following night there
was no indication of his fellow-countryman's presence without.
Mukyima did make a second attempt, but finding two sentries on the
half-deck, realised that discretion was the better part of valour,
and returned to his place of detention on the orlop-deck.
Fielding and his companions had good cause to be satisfied with the
progress made. They had acquired more than enough firearms for each
man and a good store of ammunition. Prudence compelled them to
refrain from relieving the petty officer who was periodically lowered
to inspect the iron bar over the scuttle of another weapon; but, if
the worst came to the worst, the courage and resolution of a few
well-armed men might achieve wonders against the ill-disciplined mob
of international scoundrels who manned the _Independencia_.
At daybreak on the morning of the third day following the capture of
the _Duke of Negropont_ a body of armed men burst into the cabin, and
unceremoniously hauled the live prisoners from their berths.
Fortunately the hostages made a point of sleeping in their
clothes--even their boots--and in consequence their revolvers were
safe from observation. The rifles and spare ammunition had been
cleverly concealed in a blank recess behind one of the lowermost
bunks, and nothing short of another systematic search would result in
the discovery of these precious articles. Without a word of
explanation Fielding and his companions were marched out and taken up
the half-deck accommodation ladder. Expecting that Juan Cervillo had
taken it into his head to either coerce the hostages to accept his
terms or else to carry out his threat earlier than he had decided to
do, Fielding made a sign to his comrades to be on the alert. Should
the Spaniard give the word to murder his prisoners, the five were to
stoop, draw their revolvers, and open a sudden and unexpected fire
upon their captors, Cervillo being especially marked down as a
target.
But as soon as the captives reached the upper deck they could see at
once the reason for their removal. Less than two miles away, and
slightly on the starboard bow, was a United States cruiser. Although
considerably smaller than the _Independencia_, she was by no means
daunted by the appearance of her gigantic antagonist. This was to a
certain extent to be accounted for by the fact that it was now a
matter of general knowledge that the eight 12 in. guns that formed
the pirate-cruiser's principal armament were perfectly useless as
weapons; but, being heavily armoured, the _Independencia_ had a great
advantage over the American vessel, which was of the type known as
"protected," or, in other words, having armour over only the most
vital parts.
Already the cool, business-like determination of the American
cruiser, which Fielding recognised as the almost obsolete _Denver_,
had begun to tell upon the "jumpy" assortment of cosmopolitans who
formed the crew of the pirate vessel. Most of the _Independencia's_
quick-firers were manned, but many of the officers and men were
running aimlessly hither and thither; some dived below to avoid, if
possible, the bursting shells that might at any moment hurtle from
the _Denver_, others besought Juan Cervillo to put the ship about,
and seek safety in flight.
But the Spanish captain had set his mind on going northward. He was
not wholly without courage, and the presence of an insignificant
cruiser would not deter him from his course. The hostages would be
exposed on deck. Should the accursed Americans open fire they would
blow their compatriots and representatives of Great Britain, France,
Holland, and Japan to atoms.
There was no attempt made to clear the _Independencia's_ decks for
action. Her fo'c'sle stanchion rails were lined with human beings,
each prisoner being secured by the simple device of a cord passing
through the links of a chain and the ends fastened to the prisoners
thumbs. A few of the hostages, Fielding and Cardyke amongst the
number, resisted, but were soon overpowered; while so dubious was
Cervillo as to whether this means of securing the Japanese was quite
efficient, that he ordered Oki and Hokosuka to be additionally
pinioned by means of handcuffs. Luckily no attempt was made to bind
the prisoners' legs, otherwise the concealed revolvers might have
been discovered.
Cardyke made good use of the occasion by confiding to his nearest
companion in misfortune--an American iron merchant and colonel of
Kentucky militia--the news of their probable fate should Cervillo
succeed in reaching the Arctic Ocean, and the steps that he and his
companions had decided upon at the critical moment. The American
stoutly asserted his determination to take advantage of any
opportunity of joining forces with the British and Japanese captives
in a desperate bid for life and freedom.
Nearer and nearer steamed the _Independencia_ at a steady ten knots.
The hostages, torn by hopes and fears, could do nothing but keep
their attention on the American cruiser, alternately hoping that the
_Denver_ would not open fire, or that she would take drastic steps to
effect the capture of the modern buccaneer.
On board the _Denver_ all was ready for opening fire. Five of her ten
5 in. guns were trained upon the oncoming pirate, while her
six-pounders, working smoothly and easily on the mountings, turned
their muzzles to and fro, up and down, as if looking for a vital spot
where a shell might burst without injury to the luckless hostages;
for by the aid of their glasses the officers of the United States
cruiser could easily determine the nature of the callous artifice
that Juan Cervillo had adopted.
It was an anxious, nerve-racking time; the men at the pirate vessel's
quick-firers kept every available gun trained upon one particular
place in the side of the _Denver_, ready at the order to deliver a
simultaneous volley that would in all probability deal the protected
cruiser a mortal blow. In return the American cruiser's 5 in. guns
would be able to deal a devastating blow at comparatively short
range, but she hesitated to begin the conflict owing to the hostages
upon the pirate's deck.
Nearer and nearer; now the _Independencia_ was crossing the
_Denver's_ bows, barely three hundred yards separating the two
vessels. Slowly the guns of both vessels were trained as their
relative positions altered, till the pirate-cruiser was almost stern
on to the baffled American. Hard-a-starboard went the _Denver's_ helm
as she swung round in pursuit of her enemy. Even should she be unable
to have her by gun-fire she could at least hang on doggedly in
pursuit, calling for assistance till the pirate was hemmed in on
every side.
Now that the _Independencia_ was leading, it was a question of
flight, not fight. Telegraphing for full speed Cervillo stood upon
the after-bridge and made a disdainful gesture towards the ship
astern, then at twenty-two knots the pirate-cruiser simply walked
away from her antagonist, whose speed, even in her prime, was seven
and a half knots less than that of the _Independencia_.
"Take those men below," ordered the Spanish captain. "It is well I
had them on board. They will be more useful still to us very
shortly."
CHAPTER XIV
THE FORTUNE OF WAR
SEVENTY-TWO hours after the receipt of the misleading intelligence
from the hapless _Duke of Negropont_ the scout _Cerberus_ again put
to sea. This time there was no doubt that the news concerning the
_Independencia_ was genuine. The United States cruiser _Denver_ had
seen, and had stood in pursuit of the pirate. According to the
American captain's report the pirate was heading north, apparently
with the intention of preying upon the liners running between New
York and Montreal, and Liverpool and Southampton.
Once more Lieutenant Douglas Drake's hopes rose high. He felt
confident that to him would fall the honour of effecting the pirate's
capture. He knew full well that more than a score of cruisers, to say
nothing of ocean-going destroyers, were keenly on the alert; but in
spite of this knowledge the presentiment was uppermost in his mind
that the aero-hydroplanes of the _Cerberus_, under his command, would
score the honour of the day.
The lieutenant spent most of his watch on deck in attending to his
four pets. There was no time to test their capabilities in the air,
for the scout could not slacken speed to allow the boat to be hoisted
out. True they could be sent up from the deck, a specially
constructed line of rails being laid down to admit of them so doing.
They could, if necessity arose, return to their parent by alighting
on the poop; but there was always the risk of damage to their
hulls--a catastrophe that would be eliminated if the aero-hydroplanes
came to rest upon the sea. Thus, although Drake had had experience in
craft of a very similar type, he was totally unacquainted with their
peculiarities; but in spite of this handicap he had no fears as to
his ability to make a successful flight, and, what was more, a
successful attack upon the daring pirate.
His plan of operation was somewhat upset by the intelligence received
of the despicable ruse whereby Juan Cervillo had been able to keep
his vessel immune from shell fire. If the same precaution were
adopted on all occasions it seemed pretty obvious that the
aero-hydroplane could not drop explosives upon the cruiser's deck
without doing harm to friend as well as foe.
At one time he thought of dropping bombs containing charges of
noxious gases upon the _Independencia's_ decks, but realising that
the speed of the ship creating a current of air would speedily
disperse the vapours, he decided such a scheme was impracticable. At
another the chances of dropping a charge of dynamite down one of the
huge funnels of the cruiser, and thus putting the boilers out of
action, suggested themselves. Then a capital idea suddenly struck
him. The more he thought of it, the more he felt confident of
success. On unfolding his plan to Captain Dexter of the _Cerberus_
his superior expressed his satisfaction, and promised to let Drake
have a free hand in the enterprise.
At 2 a.m. on the morning of the fourth day out the look-out reported
that there was heavy firing away to the north-west. Instantly the
crew were called to general quarters, all lights were screened, and a
course shaped towards that quarter of the horizon that was
illuminated by flashes resembling distant lightning. All on board the
scout were bewailing the fate that had snatched the laurels from
their grasp, for no other reason could be assigned to the firing
beyond the fact that the _Independencia_ was being engaged by some
other man-of-war. In vain the _Cerberus_ sent out calls with her
wireless on the off-chance of picking up information as to who the
lucky vessel might be; only a chaotic series of electrical waves came
to the wireless room. On and on at full speed the little British
vessel tore. With luck she might come in at the death, and be able to
fire a shot or two in real earnest, when suddenly the glare of the
distant flashes died away.
"Too late, by George!" exclaimed Drake, slamming his binoculars into
their case.
"They've settled her hash, and we're out of it."
For another half-hour the _Cerberus_ carried on. All need for
screened lights was now done away with, and from her masthead her
signalling lamp blinked incessantly, calling up the victorious vessel
in Morse. Still no reply came through the darkness.
"Surely to goodness they haven't sunk each other?" asked one of the
lieutenants.
"Rot!" replied another, vehemently. But at the same time the idea
that such was the case began to grow upon the group of anxious and
despondent officers.
Suddenly a rocket soared skywards, barely a mile on the scout's brow.
"Acknowledge," ordered the captain, shortly; and from the _Cerberus_
an answering rocket was sent up.
Then the searchlights were flashed in the direction of the signal,
and to everyone's surprise two huge cruisers, both well-nigh battered
out of recognition, were discovered lying less than half-a-mile
apart. Masts, funnels, boats, most of the unarmoured
superstructure--all had been swept away, while the heavily protected
sides of both craft showed ominous dents and cavities where
armour-piercing shells had found a billet.
"Great Scott!" muttered the gunnery lieutenant. "Which one is the
_Impregnable_ that was?"
"Neither," replied Drake, grimly. "There's been a horrible mistake
without a doubt. Goodness knows what ships these are, or to what
nation they belong; but it is obvious that each has mistaken the
other for the pirate."
"What ship is that?" shouted Captain Dexter through a megaphone, as
the _Cerberus_ eased down, and glided a cable's length to lee'ard of
one of the erstwhile combatants.
"His Majesty's ship _Trincomalee_," was the reply. "Stand by till
daylight; we're badly hulled. Can you send a boat?"
Ten minutes later a pale-faced lieutenant, with his hair and eyebrows
singed, his clothing rent and reeking with powder, came over the side
of the _Cerberus_. His story confirmed Drake's surmise. The
_Trincomalee_, steaming with lights screened, had fallen in with an
unknown vessel which was also running without navigation lights.
Before the British vessel could hail, a shot was fired into her at
less than four hundred yards range. The _Trincomalee_ instantly
replied with all the quick-firers she could bring to bear upon her
antagonist. Then the 6 in. and 9 in. guns joined in the deafening
roar, and for forty minutes the two vessels were hotly engaged, till
a searchlight directed from the only projector that had escaped
destruction revealed the hideous truth. The _Trincomalee_ had engaged
and had nearly annihilated a French cruiser, the _Tréhouart_, of
19,000 tons. Orders were immediately given to cease fire; but it was
quite five minutes ere the Frenchmen ceased to pound away with her
undamaged ordnance at her unresisting antagonist.
The _Cerberus_ stood by till daylight revealed the shattered ships.
Both were leaking badly, but the inrush of water was being kept under
by means of the ships' pumps. Their respective captains exchanged
visits and expressed mutual regrets at the unfortunate occurrence;
then slowly, under their own steam, both vessels headed towards the
Nova Scotian coast, the _Cerberus_ escorting them in case immediate
assistance was required. Sixteen hours later the two badly mauled
vessels crept into Halifax Harbour, and the _Cerberus_ was free to
resume her quest.
Did she but know it, the _Independencia_ crossed her wake, unseen and
unsuspected, at the time she was steaming at full speed to ascertain
the cause of the firing. The pirate cruiser had run the gauntlet of
the chain of cruisers and, with an open sea before her, was tearing
at her utmost speed towards the desolate Arctic Ocean.
This incident naturally increased the attention already devoted to
the quest of the modern buccaneer, and gave occasion for much
discussion. On the one side experts and armchair critics boldly
asserted that this regrettable incident was owing simply and solely
to the blundering way in which the operations were conducted, and
that had more caution been exercised there would have been no
desperate encounter between vessels of friendly nations, and the
accompanying loss of life; while on the other hand there were people
who maintained that it was but the fortune of war, and mistakes of
that sort were bound to occur. To harass naval captains with
regulations that would tend to curb the natural ardour of their crews
would be opposed to the best traditions of the service. Even in the
House a member blandly suggested that it should be submitted to an
international conference that hostile ships should hail each other
before opening fire, and quoted instances from frigate actions during
the Napoleonic wars. But he did not suggest a way whereby a destroyer
on a dark night that was about to loose a torpedo at an enemy's ship
a mile away, or a submarine stealing beneath the waves with a like
purpose, could carry out the order.
It was also found that the use of wireless was not an unmitigated
blessing, for what with deliberately false reports sent by tramp
steamers--paid by Juan Cervillo for the purpose--the panic-stricken
messages from some nervous skipper, and the practical jokes of not a
few amateur operators, the search for the _Independencia_ was
hindered more than furthered, till the cruisers patrolling the
liners' route had good cause to heartily malign the name of wireless
telegraphy.
Day after day passed, and though columns in the daily papers were
devoted to the all-important topic, the pirate-cruiser seemed to have
mysteriously disappeared off the face of the waters.
CHAPTER XV
RAMMING AN ICEBERG
UNSEEN, the _Independencia_ crossed athwart the great Atlantic
highway without incident. No liner, or even a tramp, fell into her
clutches, and for forty-eight hours after witnessing from afar the
encounter betwixt the British and French cruisers, she pursued her
way without let or hindrance, with ne'er a vessel to chase or to be
chased by.
At length she approached the southern limit of Arctic ice, where the
cold current from off the west coast of Greenland, bringing down with
it the mighty output of inexhaustible glaciers, meets the warmer
waters of the Atlantic. Here it was that the pirate-cruiser ran into
a belt of fog, so dense that from the fore-bridge the fo'c'sle
appeared to terminate at the foremost turret, while the temperature
was so low that the moisture-laden atmosphere froze and hung from all
parts of the masts and deck like gigantic stalactites.
Speed was reduced to seven and a half knots, and for the time being
the keenest look-out was kept by the unacclimatised seamen. But, as
Fielding had surmised, the numbing cold made their energies dormant,
and before many hours had passed the majority of the pirates were
perfectly indifferent to the dangers that threatened them.
As far as the chart showed, the _Independencia_ was in open water,
and well out of the track of steamers plying between Canada and Great
Britain, and as the hours slowly passed without anything untoward
happening, Cervillo, anxious to get clear of the fog-bank, ordered
speed to be increased to twelve knots. The sooner he drew clear of
the blinding atmosphere of frozen mist the better it would be.
Not one of the look-outs noticed a large "growler," or mass of almost
submerged ice, which the cruiser passed at a distance of less than
fifty feet to starboard; not one of them heard the breaking of the
vessel's "wash" upon the fringe of the ice-field. Blindly unconscious
to their danger the pirates drove ahead with the primary object of
getting out of the fog as soon as possible.
Suddenly one of the look-out men stationed right in the bows gave
vent to a shriek of horror, rather than a shout of warning. Looming
distortedly through the fog, its summit lost in the murk, was a huge
iceberg, already on the point of capsizing. Vicious little waves,
caused by the rocking of the mass of unstable ice, lapped the visible
base of the floating mountain. A practised seaman would have known by
the agitation of the hitherto calm water and by the sudden drop in
the temperature that an iceberg was nigh, and would have taken
precautions accordingly; but the warning passed unheeded, and the
_Independencia_ crashed bows on upon the rampart of ice.
The impact threw nearly everyone on board. For a few seconds all were
quiet, stunned by the calamity; then pandemonium broke loose.
Yelling, shouting, and crying, the pirates rushed for the boats,
their officers leading the way. There was no one to give orders to
the engine-room, and the propellers were still driving ahead, pushing
the shattered bows of the cruiser deeper into the fissure caused by
the impact in the side of the berg. Those of the engineers and
stokers who had been not rendered insensible by the concussion
deserted their post, rushed on deck, and, heedless of the sudden
change from the heated engine-room and stokeholds to the freezing,
fog-laden air, joined their comrades in their mad skelter for the
boats.
Even in their frenzy the pirates were cowed by the angry waters that
were visible to their limited range of vision. Between the sides of
the cruiser and the gulf of ice into which she had thrown herself was
a vast cauldron of surging foam mingled with masses of ice that had
slipped from the dizzy heights above. No boat could live in such a
sea; it would either be swamped or crushed betwixt the heavy lumps of
ice that, rising and falling, outrivalled the dreaded Scylla and
Charybdis a thousand-fold.
[Illustration: THE PIRATES RUSHED FOR THE BOATS.
[_Page_172.
]
The shock of the collision threw Fielding and his companions
violently against the fore-bulkhead of their cabin; but, beyond a few
bruises, no one sustained any injury.
The sub. realised what was amiss as soon as any of them.
"They've run her full tilt into an iceberg," he exclaimed.
The gravity of the situation required immediate action, for the
confused shouts on deck mingled with the crushing of the ice and the
turmoil of the agitated waters naturally led the prisoners to
conclude that the cruiser was doomed.
"We're like rats in a trap," exclaimed Fielding. "Now what's to be
done?"
"Get out," replied Cardyke promptly, "We can blow off the lock."
Seizing his revolver the mid. made his way to the door, when Oki laid
a detaining hand upon his shoulder.
"No sink yet," said he. "P'r'aps pirates abandon ship. Then we take
her. Wait; we can so easy get out when we want."
"Yes, Cardyke, it's folly to go on deck with a terrified mob like
that," agreed the sub. "The five of us couldn't do much. I'll tell
you what I will do." And levelling his revolver, Fielding sent a shot
through the stout partition separating the cabin from the one in
which the hostages of _L'Égalité_ were kept, taking good care to fire
high enough not to harm the inmates. Amidst the deafening roar and
confusion without, the sharp crack of the pistol passed unnoticed.
"Ahoy!" shouted Fielding through the hole. "We're prisoners on board
this vessel like yourselves. We're English. I believe there is a
citizen of the United States here?"
"Three, sonny," replied a man, with a typical Yankee twang. "I was
lashed up beside you, I guess, when the skipper of this hooker threw
dust into the eyes of the Yew Hess Hess _Denver_."
"Not alongside of me," replied the sub. "You were next to my brother
officer, Mr. Cardyke. But that's neither here nor there. We're going
to burst open the doors of the cabins. We've half-a-dozen firearms.
How many men are there with you?"
"Nine," replied the American. "And a durned sight more in the next
one."
"We ought to be able to make a show on deck. Those fellows are off
their heads already. It won't take much to get the upper hand of
them."
"Bully for you," replied the other. "Guess we'll do our whack."
"Stand by, then," said Fielding, warningly.
Before he could cross the limited space of the cabin there was a
deafening crash, like the simultaneous discharge of a battleship's 14
in. guns. The _Independencia_ rolled till Fielding and his companions
found themselves lying wedged in between the angle formed by the
sloping floor and the longitudinal bulkhead. There they lay, pinned
down by the scanty furniture that had been thrown bodily across the
room. Cardyke's fingers closed involuntarily upon the revolver he was
holding, and the heavy weapon went off, sending a bullet against the
steel deck beam, while the blast singed Hokosuka's hair. All the
while the vessel remained in this position there was a sickening
grinding noise, caused by the huge fabric sliding over the ice. Then
came another tremendous crash. The cruiser, hurled thirty feet above
the water by the capsizing berg, had toppled over the ledge. Down she
plunged, like a toy boat dropped from a height into a pool of water.
Then, dipping obliquely, she plunged beneath the agitated sea till
the waves reached the base of her after-funnel.
"Great heavens--she's going!" gasped Cardyke.
For some minutes it seemed as if the vessel were making her last
plunge. On all sides arose shouts and cries of terror, as the
imprisoned men, struggling in the semi-gloom, sought to regain their
footing. Then, like a sorely stricken whale the _Independencia's_
submerged upper works rose above the surface, water and fragments of
ice pouring over her decks. There she lay, wallowing heavily in the
trough of a furious sea. Her still revolving propellers made her
gather way, but her course carried her clear of the berg she had
previously rammed, and, unguided, she tore once more through the fog.
Her escape from total destruction was indeed providential. When she
rammed the mountainous mass of ice the berg was on the point of
toppling over. The engines driving ahead kept her from slipping
backwards off the long, shelving ledge that projected three hundred
yards from the base of the visible part of the berg. The impact
hastened the toppling process until the submerged ledge touched the
cruiser's keel. The retention was only temporary; the vessel, till
her water-line was several feet above the sea, acted as a gigantic
lever, till the shelf of ice, already weakened by the fracture, broke
off, causing the _Independencia_ to slide, and then plunge back into
the sea. Released of the retarding mass, the main portion of the berg
toppled over, fortunately away from the ship, otherwise the huge
vessel would have been literally buried beneath a mountain of
steel-like ice.
Directly the _Independencia_ regained an even keel Fielding and his
companions struggled to their feet.
"She's afloat," gasped the sub. "Come along, there's no time to lose.
We'll rush the rascals while they're off their heads."
Crash!--went the young officer's revolver. The lock was shattered,
and the door flew open. Fielding and his companions gained the
passage betwixt the cabin on the half-deck. The place was deserted.
Even the sentries on the prisoners' quarters had left their posts.
"Stand clear of the door!" shouted Fielding to the occupants of the
next cabin. And, having given them time to carry out his request, the
sub. sent a shot through the lock.
While Cardyke was serving out the spare revolvers and ammunition to
the released hostages of _L'Égalité_, Fielding liberated the
occupants of the adjoining cabin--the remainder of the prisoners
taken from the French liner and the _Yosen Maru_. A fourth cabin was
found to contain the officers of the Dutch tugs that had been
scuttled when the _Impregnable_ was seized. Abaft of that, and
separating it from the captain's quarters, was another cabin, which,
though containing no prisoners, was found to be used as a small-arms
store. In five minutes the little band of adventurers were armed and
ready for the desperate venture.
'Tween decks the fog was so thick, that from one end of the passage
the armoured bulkhead of the foremost end was invisible. Fielding
knew that the only means of communicating with the quarter-deck was
by the foremost and steerage ladders. The transverse bulkhead, one of
several extending from the upper deck to the double bottoms, was
unprovided with doors, so that, for instance, it was impossible to go
from the bow to the stern of the ship 'tween decks without having to
ascend to the upper deck. During her commission as a unit of the
British Navy the cruiser had been provided with lifts to save the
inconvenience of having to pass up and down so many ladders; but
these lifts were out of order, and had not been repaired by her
unlawful owners.
Marshalling his forces into some semblance of order, Fielding led
them to the foot of the foremost ladder. The hatchway was closed and
securely battened down. Twenty men would have been powerless to burst
open the massive steel covering. The after ladder was similarly
secured. The surprise attack was a failure.
"Now what's to be done?" asked the midshipman.
Fielding did not reply. He was busy racking his brains over the new
conditions of the problem he had to tackle.
"Sit tight, sonny," replied the American. "I've been in a few tough
sets-to in my time; but take the word of Hiram B. Rutter--that's
me--that you can't beat sitting tight."
"That's it," assented Fielding. "We must sit tight. Luckily we're in
comfortable quarters; the captain's cabin, as well as those of the
other officers, are at our disposal, and I think we have access to
the after bread-room, so we won't exactly starve. But they're calming
down, I fancy. They'll be a bit surprised when they find we are in
possession of the after part of the ship. Look here, Mr. Rutter,
would you mind taking these men with you, and keeping your eyes on
the after ladder? I'll watch this one pretty carefully. Directly they
open the hatches wide fire a volley and rush on deck. Be sharp;
they're coming!"
CHAPTER XVI
CARDYKE TO THE RESCUE
THE collision with the iceberg had, as Fielding anticipated,
completely unnerved the Dago crew. Even Juan Cervillo realised that
there were great difficulties and perils in his path that were as
formidable as the retributive warships he had hitherto escaped. As
the _Independencia_ steamed off on her aimless course the Spanish
captain contrived to induce some of the engineers to go below and
shut off steam, and, gradually losing way, the cruiser came to a
standstill. Cervillo would wait till the fog lifted rather than risk
another collision. It might be for days, but there were enough
provisions and water to last for nearly a month.
As soon as the vessel had slowed down an examination of the damage
caused by the collision was made. The principal injury was to the
bows, where the massive steel plating had been fractured and buckled
for a distance of twenty feet from the stem. The whole of the
fore-peak was flooded; but the inrush of water was prevented from
making its way aft by the water-tight bulkheads. Even the foremost of
these was strained to such an extent that the doors let in a
considerable quantity of water. As the cruiser slipped off the berg
the torrent of ice-laden sea that broke over her decks literally
swept everything removable as far as the base of the after tripod
mast, while of the boats taken from the _Steephill Castle_ only three
remained. The aftermost funnel, struck by a huge fragment of ice, had
been carried away, leaving a jagged ridge of steel projecting five or
six feet above the casings. This accounted for the loss of ten of the
crew; another thirty or forty had been swept away when the
_Independencia_ had dipped beneath the waves, while several more were
severely injured by the first concussion and the subsequent violent
motion of the stricken craft.
No wonder, then, that Juan Cervillo was almost at his wits' end. He
realised that he had made a mistake in seeking refuge in northern
waters. The irresistible craving to increase the amount of his booty,
instead of retiring to a South American port with the proceeds of his
successful captures, had caused his present plight. In a partially
crippled ship, incapable of making more than ten knots, and separated
from his ultimate port of refuge by thousands of miles of carefully
patrolled ocean, his position was hazardous in the extreme. Further
captures by the _Independencia_ were almost impossible, since the
usual speed of tramp steamers considerably exceeded that of the
damaged cruiser.
In the midst of these calamities Cervillo's thoughts were not for the
safety of his rascally crew, but how he could effect his own escape
with the riches that the pirates had so unlawfully acquired. The
question of fellow-feeling for his comrades in distress troubled him
not one moment; they could shift for themselves as best they might,
provided he was safely off the disabled ship with the booty. How
could this be done? he asked himself. It was more than the task of a
single man; but did the crew know of his plans his life would not be
worth a moment's purchase. Plan after plan flashed across his mind,
only to be condemned as impracticable, till his cunning brain evolved
a scheme that seemed capable of being put into execution.
"Da Silva," he exclaimed, addressing one of his officers, a Spaniard
like himself. "I want to speak to you in my cabin."
Side by side the two men walked aft till they reached the after
hatchway. It was closed, the bo'sun, in anticipation of bad weather,
having given orders for this to be done. In obedience to a hail a
dozen seamen came running through the fog-laden atmosphere, and
tackles were rove to the heavy steel plates covering the means of
communicating with the half-deck and the officers' cabins.
Slowly the metal slab rose till there was a space of nearly three
feet between the lid and the coaming. One of the seamen slipped
through with the intention of clearing away a chain slung on the
underside. As he did so a report rang out. The man clapped his hands
to his head and toppled across the framework of the hatchway.
Simultaneously the other seamen, alarmed at the noise, hurriedly let
go the tackles, and the hatch-cover fell back with a resounding
clang.
"_Caramba!_ The prisoners are loose!" exclaimed Cervillo.
By a prematurely fired shot all chances of "rushing" the pirates were
thrown away. One of the Frenchmen, with the mercurial excitability of
his race, seeing the pirate enter the hatch, had foolishly discharged
one chamber of his revolver. Before the men under Hiram B. Rutter's
command could rush up the companion ladder the falling of the
armoured slab had rendered their attempt absolutely impossible.
"Hang it, man!" exclaimed Fielding, who had hastened to the base of
the after ladder on hearing the shot and the clang of the cover.
"We've made a hopeless mess of things this time."
Recriminations would have been a mere waste of time. Fielding blamed
no one. He knew, however, that an attempt to storm the quarter-deck
when the hatch was again removed would be useless, as the pirates
would by that time have taken elaborate precautions. As a matter of
fact Cervillo had ordered twenty armed men to come aft, while a
quick-firing gun was temporarily mounted so that its muzzle gaped
menacingly over the aperture leading to the half-deck.
"Yes, Mr. Rutter," continued the sub. "We must sit tight. They can't
very well turn us out, neither can we turn them out, so we must make
ourselves comfortable as best we can. Luckily our quarters are not so
cramped as hitherto, and our circle of acquaintances has widened
considerably."
"That's about right, I guess," agreed the American. "We've only to
keep our eyes skinned and allow no low-down pirate to get down here,
and I reckon we'll come out on top."
Accordingly ten men were stationed at each ladder, ready to pour in a
destructive fire should the crew of the cruiser attempt to descend
from the quarter-deck. This done, the rest of the involuntary guests
were sent to explore the steerage and orlop-decks.
In the captain's and officers' cabins the electric light was still in
working order, although in the quarters previously occupied by the
hostages lamps and candles were the only means of artificial
illumination allowed. There was enough good fare to allow all the new
masters of the after part of the ship to partake of a sumptuous meal,
which, after the meagre fare they had been compelled to subsist upon,
was appreciated with great gusto.
"I wonder how Cervillo will get on without the use of his cabin?"
asked Cardyke.
"He can jolly well go on short commons, as we had to do," growled
Fielding. "Finished, Cardyke? Good! Now cut below, take Hardy with
you, and make an examination of the bread-room, and the compartments
in the flats. Be sure to find out whether there is any fresh water.
Either the wardroom pump is out of order or the supply is getting
low."
Accompanied by the faithful coxswain the mid. descended the several
flights of iron ladders till he reached the flats. An examination of
the fresh-water tank showed that there was barely enough to last over
another day. The bread and spirit rooms were comparatively well
stocked.
"We'll do the rascals out of their grog, sir, if we don't do anything
more," observed Hardy, pointing to the open spirit-room.
"They've plenty for'ard, I don't doubt," replied Cardyke. "Those
fellows don't follow service routine. They've most likely a pannikin
of rum at their fingers' ends or a few puncheons of wine ready
broached. But what's in this place, I wonder?"
The mid. pointed to a store-room adjoining the after submerged
torpedo compartment, which, unlike the spirit-room, was securely
padlocked.
"Can't say, sir," replied Hardy. "Used to be the store for warheads
of torpedoes; but they can't very well have got hold of any o' they."
"We'll jolly soon find out," asserted Cardyke. "It's something of
importance, for there's been a sentry stationed here; look at the
cigarette-ends. He must have bolted up on deck at the time of the
collision."
"Then he won't return to his post just yet awhile," rejoined Hardy.
"D'ye want me to prise the door open, sir? I suppose there ain't
dynamite or stuff of that sort stowed away here?" And the coxswain
drew his revolver.
"Better be careful," said the mid., warningly. "Don't blow the lock
off. See if you can lay hold of a crowbar."
Hardy departed on his quest, and presently returned with a hack-saw.
"This'll do a mighty lot better'n a crowbar, sir," said he. "Would
you mind steadying the padlock while I set to work?"
Five minutes sufficed to saw through the heavy brass framework, and
Cardyke threw open the door. Within the room were piles of
iron-clamped boxes, reaching almost to the ceiling. One or two had
been wrenched open, but it took the united efforts of the midshipman
and the burly coxswain to set one of the chests upon the floor. It
was full of gold ingots.
"Lawks!" ejaculated Hardy, at a loss to say anything else, for the
sight of untold wealth almost capsized his equilibrium.
"We've done the pirates very nicely," said Cardyke. "They'll be wild
with fury to think that we've recaptured the booty."
"Strikes me this is mighty queer. We can't hand the stuff back to its
rightful owners, sir; and the bloomin' pirates can't make use of it
now they've got it on board."
"There's one consolation--it's one in the eye for the rascals," added
the mid. "I'll go and report matters to Mr. Fielding."
"Yes, it's some satisfaction to know we've scored," observed the sub.
when Cardyke made his report. "Sooner than let the rascals lay their
hands on the stuff I'd have the whole lot pitched overboard. But
that's a serious business, the shortage of water. I don't know what
we can do."
"I have it," announced Cardyke. "There's plenty of ice floating
about; we can get a lot of it on board, and melt it down."
"Don't quite see how," objected Fielding.
"The ship's not moving through the water. We can lower a bucket from
one of the ports in the captain's cabin. I don't think it will
attract attention."
"Much more good this," interrupted General Oki, who had overheard the
conversation. "Let man down by rope; pick up ice, and put in sack.
Sack full above top in no time."
"A man would stand a good chance of being frozen to death in five
minutes," objected the sub. "Besides, it would mean a bullet through
his head if the pirates discovered what he was up to."
"Me speak to Mr. Hokosuka," said the general; and turning to his
compatriot he explained the state of affairs.
"Hokosuka he go to-night," announced Oki. "Heap plenty of fresh water
tomorrow."
The rest of the day passed without interruption. The fog showed no
signs of lifting, while at intervals came the thunderous crashes as
the icebergs in the vicinity of the cruiser toppled over or split
asunder. As Cardyke had said, there was plenty of fresh water in a
solid form close at hand. Some of the fragments of ice were so large
that the noise they made as they scraped the ship's sides could be
distinctly heard.
Shortly after dark, for the sun did not set till half-past ten,
Hokosuka was ready for his enterprise. The Jap had stripped off his
clothing and had smeared himself from head to foot with a mixture of
mineral oil and animal fat. This done, he reclothed himself in some
old yet thick garments, so that he would be better able to withstand
the numbing effects of the water. Three large canvas sacks were
prepared ready to be lowered out of the port to the water's edge.
These Hokosuka proposed to fill with lumps of ice before he was
hauled back to his comrades.
Noiselessly the deadlight covering the port was unscrewed; Hokosuka
fastened a rope round his waist, and was preparing to clamber through
the port when he was struck in the face by a man's toes that
mysteriously appeared from without. Before he could recover from his
astonishment the owner of the toes slid feet foremost through the
port, and to the surprise of all who recognised him, the wily Mukyima
gravely saluted his compatriots and the two Englishmen.
The man had contrived to understand the position of affairs, and,
taking advantage of his marvellous agility, dropped over the side,
and crawling aft by means of the torpedo-net shelves, gained the open
port. Luckily for him it was open, for all the other ports and
scuttles were secured by deadlights. But what surprised Fielding and
Cardyke more than the feat the Jap had successfully performed was the
matter-of-fact way in which the Japanese took the reunion. Hokosuka
was astonished--not at seeing his friend once more, but by the sudden
blow in the face. Beyond that there were no visible expressions of
welcome or delight upon the visages of the unfathomable Asiatics.
Without further delay Hokosuka departed on his perilous errand. In
five minutes the first sack was hauled up. Another eight minutes
passed before the second consignment arrived; then there was an
ominous delay.
"The man is frozen to death," exclaimed Fielding. "Haul away as fast
as you can."
The sub., Cardyke, Rutter, and four or five more tugged at the
rope--it broke.
Thrusting his head out of the port Fielding tried to peer through the
darkness. No call for aid came from the surface of the
night-enshrouded sea. He placed his hand upon the rope holding the
third. It was heavy--far too heavy for a bag filled with ice only.
"He's hanging on to this rope," announced the sub. in a low tone.
"It's not stout enough to haul him up."
A hand touched his shoulder. He withdrew from the port-hole, and,
turning, saw Cardyke, clad in a pilot-coat and with a rope made fast
round his waist.
"I'll see what I can do," said the mid., quietly. "I'll take another
length of rope with me. There's no time to waste."
The next instant he had vanished. Scraping down the rusty-streaked
grey side of the ship, guiding his descent by means of the rope
attached to the weighted sack, Cardyke proceeded on his errand of
rescue. For full thirty feet he was lowered before he touched the
mouth of the ice-filled bag. By giving two tugs upon the
supplementary line the mid. signalled to his friends to stop
lowering, and, fumbling with his hands, he strove to find the hapless
Jap. But still success did not reward his efforts. He realised that
the piercing cold was beginning to make itself known in a most
unpleasant fashion. His hands were already numbed, the keenness of
the air stung his face like repeated blows of a whip.
Three tugs--lower still. The mid.'s feet were in the water. Again he
groped. His fingers touched Hokosuka's grease-covered face. The man
gave no sign of life. Perhaps he was already dead with exposure.
Labouringly Cardyke passed the end of the second rope under the Jap's
shoulders, and with a painful effort succeeded in tying a running
knot. This done he tugged frantically at the rope. It was a last
effort--the cold had completely paralysed his muscles.
Limply Cardyke was hauled up, and as willing hands assisted him
through the port, he had barely strength to utter "Haul away on the
other line" ere he fainted.
Half a minute later Hokosuka, bound to the third sack with the
severed portion of the rope by which he had been lowered, was dragged
into the cabin. Mukyima bent over him, and placed his hand on the
unconscious man's heart. It still beat feebly.
While the Japanese were attending to their courageous comrade Rutter
approached.
"Can you come this way?" he asked, addressing Fielding. "I guess
they're trying to break in. The hatch-cover is all a-shake."
CHAPTER XVII
TOUCH AND GO
SNATCHING up a revolver Fielding left the cabin and made his way
along the half-deck till he reached the foremost ladder. Here were
standing nearly a dozen men ready to repel the threatened attack. The
American had spoken truly. Already there was a strain upon the
tackles, and the metal covering was just rising from the coamings.
The pirates were evidently trying to uncover the hatchway without
alarming their foes.
Jumping on the ladder Fielding waited till there was sufficient room
to thrust the muzzle of his revolver under the rising metal plate. He
fired, but whether the shot found a billet or otherwise he knew not,
for the men hauling at the tackles instantly let go, and the
ponderous mass of metal fell with a clang. Simultaneously all the
electric light in the after part of the ship went out; the pirates
had cut the wiring. Lamps and candles were hastily procured, and as
there were plenty in the store-room there was no cause for economy in
this respect; while with the ice that Hokosuka had gathered almost at
the cost of his life there was sufficient water to last nearly a
fortnight.
Finding the partially liberated captives were on the alert the
pirates desisted from making attempts upon the hatchway that night,
and in consequence Fielding was able to divide his command into two
watches, one of which could turn in while the other stood by ready
for any emergency.
The pirate captain undoubtedly meant to attempt all artifices to
recapture the prisoners solely on account of the bulk of the booty
that was stored on the orlop-deck. Were it not for that important
factor Cervillo would not hesitate to seize the first vessel he came
across, transfer the remainder of the booty and crew to her, and
scuttle the _Independencia_, without thought of mercy towards the men
who had baulked him. But his greatest desire was to recover, by
stratagem or force, the precious metal stored in the after part of
the cruiser. Just before dark the voice of the pirate was heard
speaking to them.
"Señor Englishman," he began. "We are in difficulty. The ship is in
danger of sinking."
"Is she?" asked the sub. with well-affected surprise. He knew
perfectly well that had the _Independencia_ really been on the point
of foundering the pirates would be in a panic.
"To save your lives, señor, is the wish of me, Juan Cervillo. So if
you come up we put you away in boats."
"I've no doubt you'd be most pleased to put us away," replied
Fielding. "Where are your boats? Have you enough for the crew? And do
you think boats would stand much chance of being picked up in these
seas?"
"Me find a ship."
"Then we'll wait till you do, especially if the ship is a British
cruiser."
"You refuse?"
"Absolutely."
"Den I pour petrol into cabins, and set fire. You dogs will burn to
death."
"Very considerate of you to provide us with heat in this cold
atmosphere," replied Fielding, coolly. "Now, listen, Señor Cervillo:
you will not dare to use so much as a litre of petrol. I'll tell you
why. We know that most of the gold you precious scoundrels have
collared lies on the orlop-deck."
Fielding paused to let his words sink in. Cervillo gasped with fury.
He had vainly consoled himself that the treasure had escaped the
notice of the men whom he hoped to use to further his ends.
"And so," continued the young British officer, "we've made up our
minds that if you attempt any of your dirty, underhand tricks we will
open the cover of the submerged torpedo-tubes and sink the ship. Then
where will you be? And what good will the stolen treasure do you?"
"Señor, I swear to you----"
"Don't waste your breath, you scoundrel!"
"Señor, hear me. Give up the gold, and you will be on shore placed,
with not one hair of your head----"
"Scalped, eh? Now look here, you rascal: At the first sign of
treachery down goes the _Independencia_ to the bottom of the sea."
Juan Cervillo, baulked, and powerless to gain his end, made his way
for'ard to his temporary quarters, that, contrasting unfavourably
with his cabin, served to increase his discomfiture. During the rest
of that short night the pirate captain racked his brains to devise
some scheme to save himself and secure the treasure. He realised that
Fielding and his associates held the whiphand. He knew enough of
Englishmen in general to feel sure that the sub. would keep his word,
and scuttle the ship should things go badly with them.
Day dawned, but still the fog held. The _Independencia_ was still
floating idly on the ocean. All her boilers were allowed to cool down
save two. The reserve of oil fuel was running short, and only by the
strictest economy could another four hundred miles be got out of the
ship.
Like a caged tiger Juan Cervillo paced his limited quarters. The
Englishman was the source of all the difficulty, he assured himself
again and again. But for that obstacle that stood in his path, the
villain would make good his escape, and leave his companions in
infamy to their fate.
Yes, the first step was to regain possession of the bullion in the
after store-room. Then he could form his plans to get the stuff
safely ashore at the expense of his companions.
Presently Cervillo opened the door and looked out. The upper deck was
almost deserted. Few of the crew could stand the numbing effects of
the Arctic weather. Pacing up and down on the lee side of the
quarter-deck was a muffled figure that Cervillo recognised as his
minion Da Silva. The pirate captain beckoned, and his lieutenant
hastened towards him. Both men entered the cabin that Cervillo had
been obliged to occupy, and the door was shut and bolted.
"I've been striving to find a means of recapturing those insolent
dogs," began Cervillo, jerking his thumb in the direction of the
after end of the ship. "_Caramba!_ It must be done! But how? Can you
suggest anything, Da Silva? You were ever a man of resource.
"We managed it before with chloroform," began the lieutenant.
"That will not do. They are too astute to be caught twice that way.
No, Da Silva. They warned me that if I used my usual methods they
would scuttle the ship--and, think, the gold goes with it!"
"Will they dare do it--don't they value their lives?"
"I cannot take the risks. I would not give that much for the whole
lot of them"--and Cervillo snapped his fingers contemptuously--"but
they have the wealth that is ours by right of conquest. They are
desperate men. If they should sink the ship what chance have we in
our shattered boats in this fearful sea of fog and ice?"
"I would suggest that we bring forty or fifty men aft, and hold them
ready to open fire; warn our men first, so that no more panic may
take place--they were quite out of hand yesterday--then raise an
alarm that the ship is sinking, and every man is to save himself.
Those Englishmen and their companions will bolt from below like
startled rabbits, and we can mow them down as soon as they are all
clear of the hatchway."
"But if we fail?" asked Cervillo, dubiously. "If only one man
survives and runs below again he would open the valves before we
could stop him."
"Then why not drop a charge of dynamite through the ventilator? The
damage would be great, but not enough to sink the ship, and you would
have the whole crowd of them removed without any trouble at all. We
settled thrice that number in the Plazza of Barcelona."
"No," replied the Spanish captain. "That also will not do. Could I be
sure of wiping out this nest of hornets with one blow I would not
hesitate. But without doubt they would not be all close together.
Some would be down in the after-hold. I should be greatly surprised
if that English officer has not given every man instructions as to
what is to be done should anything happen to him. It's the gold that
keeps our hands behind our backs; but for that----"
"Then why not offer them a share of the gold, and a passage in the
first ship we fall across? There are whalers to be met with in these
seas, I believe. The rest would be simple. Once you had them off the
ship there is no reason why you should abide by your promise--dead
men tell no tales." And Da Silva grinned sardonically.
Cervillo shook his head.
"These men seem different to others I have met," he remarked. "They
stoutly refuse to discuss terms. No, Da Silva, that will not do. Your
plan of raising a false alarm seems to be the most likely. As soon as
this accursed fog lifts we'll try it. It is worth the risk."
"The fog is lifting now," said the lieutenant, opening the scuttle
and looking out.
Da Silva spoke truly. The belt of fog was dispersing, and already the
sea was visible for a distance of nearly four hundred yards--a
greyish, sluggishly heaving expanse dotted here and there with masses
of floating ice of various shapes and sizes.
"Then we'll make our preparations, Da Silva. Please warn the crew
that a false alarm is to be raised, and order them to muster aft with
rifles and revolvers."
While the lieutenant was carrying out his chief's instructions Juan
Cervillo made his way to the fore-bridge. It was now sufficiently
clear to see a considerable distance. The _Independencia_ was
floating idly in an almost circular basin of mountainous masses of
ice, some of the jagged peaks rising four hundred feet or more in the
air. Had she been steaming she would have rammed the floating
ice-barrier again. The only way of escape was to turn and run
southward, between the horns of the almost encircling field of ice.
To Cervillo's heated imagination it seemed as if the surrounding
bergs were already converging to imprison the partially crippled
cruiser.
Apart from the peril the grandeur of the scene was almost beyond
description. The sun, that even at midday was low in the heavens, was
still hidden behind the pinnacles of the berg, its feeble rays
gilding the minaret-like projections, and causing them to scintillate
gorgeous shafts of light. At frequent intervals masses of ice,
slipping from the gradually melting mountain, would descend with a
rumble resembling thunder, crash into the sea amid a cauldron of
foam, or splash into fragments against a lower projection on the face
of these stupendous precipices. A vessel coming within reach of these
Titanic missiles would be instantly pulverised.
Cervillo realised the danger. All thought of carrying out his plans
for the capture of Fielding and his companions must, for the time
being, be set aside. The escape of the cruiser from the ice prison
that threatened her must be the first consideration.
With great difficulty the engineers and stokers performed their
tasks, and at a leisurely five knots the _Independencia_ headed for
the open sea. Every now and again one of her propellers would drive
its blades into a mass of ice, the jar sending a quiver through the
ship, till Cervillo, fearing that the two outside propellers might be
irreparably damaged, ordered steam to be shut off from the cylinders
actuating them, keeping the two inside "screws," which were partially
protected by a twin rudder, revolving at a comparatively low rate
barely sufficient to give the vessel steerage way.
Nearer and nearer the _Independencia_ approached the gap in the
almost encircling walls of ice--a channel less than a quarter of a
mile in width, and flanked by lofty, overhanging precipices. It
seemed from a distance that the gap was even less than it actually
was, so high were the glacial cliffs on either hand.
Suddenly the cruiser struck; not violently, but sufficient to make
the fact known to all on board. Her forward part, drawing 7 ft. of
water more than her normal draught owing to the flooding of her fore
compartments, had struck a ridge of submerged ice.
This time there was hardly any panic amongst the polyglot crew. The
men were almost too apathetic to care for anything short of sudden,
real danger. The engines were reversed, and almost without an effort
the _Independencia_ glided stern foremost off the reef. Soundings
were taken, revealing a depth of only eight fathoms. Then the truth
became apparent.
The _Independencia_ was barely floating in a vast depression in the
ice-field. The Bergs were really part of one extensive sheet of ice,
twenty, thirty, or perhaps even more miles in length, and less than a
dozen feet under her keel was a bed of ice possibly a thousand feet
thick between her and the floor of the ocean.
It was indeed a strange freak of fortune that had guided the cruiser
betwixt those icy portals in the fog. Now came the question: Had the
bed of the glacial lagoon risen and decreased the depth, and did a
barrier of shallow water lie between her and the open sea?
Three times the cruiser essayed to pass the shoal, each time bumping
slightly. The fourth time, by keeping 300 yds. to starboard of the
point where the vessel had touched the first time, Cervillo contrived
to clear the danger, only to be confronted by another; for so close
was the _Independencia_ to the berg that one tremendous mass of ice
fell within a hundred yards of her starboard side.
It was touch and go. On the one hand the risk of grounding badly on
the shoal of ice, on the other the danger of being smashed by the
sudden fall of the overhanging face of the glistening mass of
congealed water. But Cervillo kept his head, and standing by the
quartermaster compelled him to steer as close to the cliffs as
possible, and after a quarter of an hour's suspense the
_Independencia_ gained the open sea.
The ship was in a bad state, for she was leaking badly, the inrush
being barely kept under control by the powerful centrifugal pumps.
She was down by the head; her fuel was running short, and the
provisions, except those stored aft, were sufficient only for another
ten days. No wonder, then, that the pirate captain was anxious to
recover the booty, and save himself as best he might.
[Illustration: AFTER A QUARTER OF AN HOUR'S SUSPENSE THE
"INDEPENDENCIA" GAINED THE OPEN SEA.
[_Page_ 210.
]
Not until the cruiser had left the ice-field a good twenty miles
astern did Juan Cervillo proceed to put into operation the plan that
Da Silva had suggested. The men detailed to form the firing-party
were ordered on the quarter-deck, but to the captain's surprise all
the seamen and many of the engine-room staff came tumbling aft, all
armed to the teeth.
"What is the meaning of this, men?" shouted Cervillo, as he faced the
mob of olive and black-featured seamen.
The question was almost unnecessary. He realised that it was a case
of mutiny.
CHAPTER XVIII
MUTINY AND A RUSE THAT FAILED
"WE wish to know why we are freezing to death in this fearful
climate, instead of capturing rich prizes, as we were led to believe,
and for which we signed on?" said the spokesman, a Greek who spoke
four Latin languages fluently.
"And if I refuse to give you the information?" asked Cervillo.
"We'll have the ordering of things in our own hands----"
"And a fine mess you'll make of it," added the captain. He knew that
once he showed the white feather it would be all up with him. The
only way to treat a polyglot crowd was to put a bold face on the
matter, and let them see that the man whom they served was a worthy
leader of such a pack of ruffianly scoundrels. "All those men who
speak or understand Spanish will cross over to the starboard side. If
I don't treat you fairly then on my head be it."
Slowly, almost reluctantly, about forty of the men walked across to
the side indicated, their comrades regarding the act with suspicion
until they were assured by the Greek that their Iberian comrades were
"solid" in their determination to see the matter through.
"Now, lads," continued Cervillo, "you ask an explanation; I will give
it. It can be repeated to the others as soon as I have finished. When
I brought the ship north I did it with the best intentions, to lie
low until the strict watch maintained by those accursed English and
American cruisers was relaxed, and we could still further increase
our booty ere disbanding at Caracas or Monte Video. Unfortunately I
did not take into consideration the chances of meeting with ice at
this time of the year. We did so, with consequences extremely awkward
both to the ship and ourselves. We must get out of the difficulty
somehow; and the remedy I suggest is this: That we capture the first
vessel we meet that is large enough to take us all; remove the
treasure, and scuttle the _Independencia_. Then, without exciting
suspicion, we can go south once more, and land quietly on South
American soil. Your share of the booty will, I regret to say, fall
short of the sum anticipated had all gone well with us; but there
will be quite enough to keep you all in ease for the rest of your
lives. Those are my intentions, mainly for your benefit. If you can
suggest a better plan I am only too willing to lend my ear."
Cervillo paused. To his unbounded satisfaction he observed his bold
front was making a favourable impression upon the handful of men he
addressed. There was one exception amongst the Spanish-speaking
audience. That was the Greek spokesman. It was in his mind that the
mutiny should go its whole course; that Cervillo should be made
prisoner, and that he should be the new captain. But he had given his
fellow mutineers no plan of what he should do to save himself and
them from the hangman's rope, and on that point Cervillo scored.
A few exclamations of approval warmed the captain to his task, and in
an easy, confidential manner he continued.
"You are, I know, aware that there is a source of danger already in
the ship. I refer to that English dog and his comrades who have
contrived to seize the after part of the ship. I do not wish to make
a secret about it, but the greater portion of the treasure lies in
their hands. Yes, men, it is enough to make you have long faces; but
the worst is not yet told. They refuse to give up the gold. How can
we compel them to do so? If we use force they threaten to sink the
ship. As you know, we have only three boats left, and they have been
considerably damaged. This is the situation. More than that, I see
you men are standing before me armed, and with every appearance of
being mutineers. Is not that so?"
"We mean to have our rights," interrupted the Greek, surlily. "If we
don't look after ourselves, who else will?"
"I'm the person to do that," retorted Juan Cervillo, with a
fierceness that made the Greek--although he was standing twenty feet
from the pirate captain--recoil and seek refuge behind his comrades.
"And, what is more, I mean to get you all out of this business in the
best possible manner. Could you dislodge the Englishman and his
companions from the half-deck? I think not. I have a plan; but before
I divulge it I must have your promise of complete obedience. Now go
and explain to your comrades on the port side the state of affairs. I
will wait here and receive your answer."
Those of the crew who did not understand Spanish were regarding their
captain with hostile eyes until their fellows on the starboard side
raised their shouts of approbation. They could not understand the
sudden change of opinion; but very easily led, they soon agreed to
accept Cervillo's terms as explained by the Spanish-speaking portion
of the crew, who were, for the most part, capable of making
themselves understood by every member of the polyglot assembly. Only
the Greek held out, striving to influence his compatriots against the
captain's authority; but, failing miserably, he subsided, and tried
to retire into oblivion by diving into the crowd of reconciled
mutineers.
"Now," exclaimed Cervillo, after a while, "are you willing to submit
to my authority once again? For my part I will overlook this affair
knowing that you have erred in thinking that I had no desire to study
the interest of my crew."
"We are with you, señor capitan!" shouted the men.
"Excellent! Now this is my plan: Señor Da Silva will muster forty men
armed with rifles upon the quarter-deck. The rest of you will go
for'ard, and on the signal being given, commence to shout 'All hands
on deck!' and 'Everyone for himself--the ship's sinking!' Make as
much noise as you can. The prisoners will at once bolt from below,
and as soon as the last man is up through the hatchway Señor Da Silva
will give the word for them to be shot down. No one must be allowed
to escape below. We can then recover the gold, and on the first
available opportunity we will tranship the booty and ourselves to
another vessel. Have I made myself clear?"
The mutineers expressed themselves satisfied, and at once went
for'ard to carry out the proposed stratagem.
Meanwhile Fielding and his companions kept well on the alert,
maintaining regular watches, and leaving nothing to chance. Through
the ports they had witnessed the cruiser's mishaps in the submerged
bed of ice, and her perilous passage betwixt the horns of the berg.
They knew that the _Independencia_ was heading southwards, but for
what purpose they were in ignorance. Certain it was that for the time
being Cervillo's idea of sheltering on the east coast of Greenland
had been knocked on the head.
"They're pretty well at the end of their tether," remarked the sub.
"Something's gone wrong with the engines, I fancy; and I shouldn't be
a bit surprised if she's leaking badly. They've been pumping
continuously for the last few hours."
"There's one blessing, they won't be able to do any more damage to
shipping," added Cardyke. "But I can't say that I appreciate being
cooped up here. Couldn't we make a rush for it and drive them below?"
"Too early," objected his superior. "They must be lulled into a sense
of security first. No, Cardyke, we must sit tight and await our
opportunity. It's bound to come. You see, if we attempted to capture
the ship, and failed--we cannot rely upon success--our position might
be infinitely worse. We cannot come to much harm here. The gold acts
as an invisible breastplate to shield us all."
Just then there was a heavy crash somewhere amidships, followed by a
babel of yells that roused the sleeping watch from their berths.
"What's happening now?" asked Fielding. "Can you make out what they
are shouting about, Mr. Rutter?"
The American, who was a fairly good Spanish linguist, understood the
nature of the yells. For a few seconds he stood chewing the end of a
huge cigar.
"I guess they're celebrating someone's nameday," he remarked, calmly.
"Let 'em yell. Maybe they'll want their wasted breath before long."
Then, taking Fielding aside, he said, in an undertone, "They're
trying to lure us out, I reckon. Say the ship's sinking. Guess she's
been going down some these twenty-four hours past, and she hasn't
gone yet; so sit tight."
Thus, by the coolness of Hiram B. Rutter, the knavish plot of Da
Silva fizzled out like a damp squib. Finger on trigger the platoon
waited to mow down the hostages as they issued pell-mell through the
hatchway; but they waited in vain.
"Ten thousand fiends take them!" exclaimed the pirate captain in his
wrath when he saw that treachery failed to accomplish his ends.
"There must be a traitor amongst the crew."
Disgusted and foiled, Cervillo retired to his quarters, and spent the
rest of the day in sulky isolation. Meanwhile Da Silva, to whom the
care of the vessel had been entrusted, kept the cruiser pointing due
south at a modest ten knots. He, too, began to realise that, with her
diminished speed and rapidly burning oil supply, it was only a
question of hours before the _Independencia_ floated idly at the
mercy of wind and wave. With the exhaustion of the oil fuel the
auxiliary engines would be useless, and the centrifugal pumps would
be powerless to check the inrush of water. The pumps worked by manual
labour might keep the vessel afloat for twenty-four hours, but Da
Silva, who had been mate of a Levant trader, knew only too well how
quickly men will tire at the arduous task of manning the pumps.
Another day had almost passed. The sun was on the point of dipping
for a few short hours beneath the horizon when the look-out
announced, "Sail on the port quarter."
Cervillo and most of the officers made their way up to the bridge.
Glasses were brought to bear upon the distant vessel, whose topmasts
only were as yet visible from where the pirate captain stood. Was it
a British cruiser that by some unfortunate freak of circumstance had
penetrated the almost deserted northern ocean?
"What do you make of her?" shouted Cervillo to the man in the
fire-control platform, which, useless for its primary purpose, had
been used as a spacious and well-sheltered "crow's-nest."
"There are two vessels, señor capitan. One is in tow of the other."
"Are they cruisers?"
"I think not, señor capitan. One of them is square-rigged."
Unable to conceal his anxiety, Cervillo entered the narrow door in
the base of one of the tripods, and climbed inside the hollow mast
till he stood beside the look-out in the fire-control platform.
For quite a minute Cervillo kept the two vessels under observation,
then with a gesture of relief he returned the telescope to the
seaman. Regaining the bridge he gave orders for the helm to be
starboarded, so as to bring the _Independencia_ on a converging
course to that of the strange vessel and her tow.
This done he called Da Silva to his side.
"Now is our chance," he said, in an undertone. "Yonder ships are a
disabled whaler and a steam yacht. We must capture both, place the
crew of the yacht on board the whaler, and cut them adrift. Since
these obstinate dogs will not let us have the gold we must be content
with what is stored amidships."
"But we shall be very poorly off," objected the lieutenant.
"If we had to share with the whole of our crew," replied Juan
Cervillo. "Listen, Da Silva; we must find a means of getting the
booty that is still in our possession on board the yacht with all the
officers and some of the men who are Spaniards by birth. The rest
must shift for themselves."
Even Da Silva, hardened villain that he was, looked astounded at the
calculated heartlessness of his superior.
"But how?" he whispered.
Cervillo placed his finger on his lips.
"Leave that to me," he replied. "Only see that my orders are properly
carried out, and all will be plain sailing."
"Gaspar!" he shouted, addressing the man who had superseded the
English renegade as bo'sun. "Send up signals of distress!"
CHAPTER XIX
CERVILLO DESERTS HIS CREW
MIDSHIPMAN CARDYKE was restless under restraint, and during the long
periods of inaction was fond of looking out of the port and listening
to the swish of the waves against the ship's side. The noise soothed
him. To a youngster descended from a long line of naval men the sting
of the salt-laden breeze was an alluring quality that would attract
him throughout the whole of his career.
While at the open port he happened to look as far astern as the frame
of the port permitted. To his surprise he saw a column of smoke just
above the horizon.
It was a ship. He instantly awoke Fielding, who was having his "watch
below," and informed him of the momentous news. The sub. was out of
his bunk in a trice.
"You're right, Cardyke," he said, after a hasty glance in the
direction of the vessel. "It's a ship. But what is she--a cruiser?"
"She's heading this way, I think," observed the mid. "And what is
more, we are altering our course. See, the relative position of the
ship is more on the beam."
"Then it's not a cruiser, worse luck," muttered Fielding, "or the
pirate would attempt to sheer off. They're up to some fiendish
business, I'll wager. Don't say a word to any of the others just yet.
We'll keep on the look-out a little while longer."
The two young officers waited and watched till twilight gave place to
night. Presently Hiram B. Rutter strolled up to the open port.
"Having a breath of fresh air?" he inquired, affably.
"Ssh!" exclaimed Fielding, warningly. "There's a vessel over there.
You can just see her starboard and masthead lights."
"Strikes me forcibly there are two red lights," said the American.
"So there are. By Jove! The villains are sending up rockets."
High above the _Independencia_ the red glare of an exploded rocket
transformed the surface of the surrounding sea into a blaze of
dazzling light. Then, vanishing suddenly, the glare left the sub. and
his companions blinking in the darkness.
"I know what they are doing," exclaimed Cardyke, excitedly. "They're
sending up false signals of distress to lure yonder vessel within
their power."
"That's it," assented Fielding. "And now's your chance to make use of
your improvised flashing-lamp."
By this time the rest of the hostages were aware of the approach of
another vessel, and the ports were literally jammed with human heads.
But Mukyima was not content with watching. The active Jap crawled
through the narrow port, balanced himself on the sill, then with a
like motion drew himself up to the deck. Lying prone behind the
casing of a skylight he waited till another rocket had been fired,
then, mingling boldly with the pirate crew, made good use of his
eyes. Unobserved, he regained the half-deck and told General Oki of
what he had seen.
"Pirates get guns ready," explained Oki to Fielding. "Men are ready
to capture other ship."
Cardyke had not been idle. All the ports were screened with the
exception of one in which he set a lamp. Then using a heavy cabin
curtain as a screen, he proceeded to "call-up" the approaching
vessel.
"There's the acknowledgment," exclaimed Fielding, as a succession of
short, rapid flashes came from the Morse signalling-lamp on the
steamer's bridge.
"Stand off; you are----" began the middy, using his improvised
shutter as quickly as he was able; but before he had flashed
half-a-dozen words a heavy tarpaulin was dropped over the port from
above, completely obscuring the light from seaward.
"Where's your knife?" asked the mid. "Lash it to the end of a pole or
something and jab a hole through the canvas."
Before the obstructing tarpaulin could be cut through, the
_Independencia's_ course was altered till she pointed bows on to the
oncoming yacht. Thus the ports on her quarters no longer commanded a
view of the strange vessel.
"They've done us," muttered Fielding.
"Perhaps the captain of the vessel will smell a rat, and sheer off,"
remarked Cardyke.
"I don't know about that. He may think we are only asking him to keep
off till daylight, or something of that sort. He would never ignore
signals of distress."
"Couldn't we make an attempt to rush the ship and drive those rascals
below?"
"I'm afraid not. They've secured the hatches. But we'll get all
hands to man the ports and fire their revolvers. That might make the
skipper of that packet keep out of danger."
Before the warning could be given a quick-firer was discharged from
the cruiser, and with a vicious spurt of flame a shell passed between
the steam yacht and the disabled whaler she had in tow, and Juan
Cervillo commanded the astonished captain of the steam yacht to
heave-to instantly.
The tricked vessel was the _Serena_, a 300-ton pleasure craft owned
by a wealthy Canadian named Rignold. She had fallen in with a whaler
_Hetty_ of Boston that had broken her shafting in a gale, and had
sustained considerable damage to her spars and rigging, and the owner
of the _Serena_ offered to tow the _Hetty_ into St. John's,
Newfoundland. The offer had been gratefully accepted; and now both
vessels were under the guns of the pirate cruiser _Independencia_.
Rignold and his captain, officers, and crew were completely
astounded. During their cruise in the Arctic they had had no
opportunities of receiving the general warning of the presence of the
formidable pirate in the North Atlantic. The _Serena's_ skipper, a
man of courage and resource, did not lose his head. Imagining that
the cruiser was a Government vessel of fishery protection duties, and
had compelled his vessel to heave-to for the purpose of making an
examination, he promptly ordered the engines to be reversed, at the
same time shouting to the _Hetty's_ mate to mind her helm. The
whaler, carrying considerable way, over-ran the yacht till brought up
by the hawser, eventually swinging round between the _Serena_ and her
captor.
"What ship that?" shouted Cervillo,
"Great snakes, that is not a British hail!" ejaculated the _Serena's_
captain; then in reply he bawled, "Steam yacht _Serena_, of Quebec,
with the whaler _Hetty_ in tow. Why are we ordered to heave-to?"
Before Cervillo could reply Fielding shouted in stentorian tones
through the port:--
"Clear off at full speed. This vessel is a pirate. Save yourself
while there's time."
Had he been given a free hand the yacht skipper would not have
hesitated to run the gauntlet of the cruiser's guns, trusting in the
darkness to avoid a shot that would send the vessel to the bottom.
But there were other considerations. Mr. Rignold, the owner, had a
large party of guests on bard, and on that account he was anxious not
to be under fire. Moreover, he was too staunch a man to abandon the
disabled whaler. He would stand by and take his chance with the
_Hetty_.
"You have to heave-to--that good enough?" bawled the Spanish captain.
"Ay, ay!" was the reply. "But you'll be real sorry for this piece of
work."
"We see later," chuckled Cervillo, for the double capture could not
have better served his purpose. "Keep where you are till day come. No
tricks, or I sink you."
Two hours later it was light enough to make out what the prizes were
like. The _Serena_ was a graceful-looking craft with a clipper stern
and long, tapering counter. She had two light masts and a single
funnel, and was one of many of a type of sea-going yachts that are to
be found in every port of the civilised world. The whaler was also of
a very ordinary though fast-disappearing type; bluff-bowed,
wall-sided, and broad-sterned, and rigged as a brigantine with heavy,
well-shrouded masts. Just before the mainmast was a small, black
funnel--the only visible sign of the vessel's now useless auxiliary
power.
Before taking possession of the two ships Juan Cervillo mustered his
men aft.
"You must know, my lads," he began, "what I propose to do. The
_Independencia_ is no longer serviceable; her days are nearly
finished. Yonder craft are the last prizes she will take. It only
remains for us to save ourselves, and as much of the booty as we
possibly can. The gold stowed away aft is, I am sorry to say, lost to
us. We can only take revenge upon those who have cheated us out of
our hard-earned riches. I therefore propose that we place the crew of
the yacht on board the whaler. If they manage to fetch port, well and
good, if not--that's not our concern. We will then tranship the
amount of treasure that is left to us, scuttle the _Independencia_,
and the English officer and his companions can keep guard over the
gold at the bottom of the sea. With a nice little yacht like the one
yonder we ought to steam southwards without exciting suspicion. Your
shares in the spoil will not be as much as we hoped for, but enough
to let you live a merry life for some time to come."
The pirates, although regretting the loss of the gold, were not sorry
to see the way clear to escape the perils that awaited them, and for
the next ten minutes the utmost activity prevailed. The three boats
were hauled out, and Da Silva proceeded to board the _Serena_. It was
significant that every man in the boats was a Spaniard, and that
nearly all the officers formed part of the boarding-party.
Unceremoniously Mr. Rignold, his guests, and the crew of the yacht
were dumped on board the _Hetty_, and the work of transporting the
remainder of the booty from the cruiser to the yacht was put in hand,
Cervillo personally superintending the operations. This done, enough
provisions to keep the pirates in plenty for another month were added
to the _Serena's_ stores. In the midst of the activity some of the
crew found time to taunt the captives on the half-deck, telling them
gleefully that they were destined for a swift plunge to the bed of
the ocean. Three of the Spaniards who had returned in one of the
boats also found time for a little diversion. Under Da Silva's orders
they moved unostentatiously from gun to gun, removing portions of the
delicate mechanism so as to render the weapons harmless.
Everything was now ready for Juan Cervillo's coup.
Ordering a dozen men to maintain a watch over the closed hatchways
above the half-deck, he bade the rest of the pirates go below and
pack up their belongings.
"Have all your bags ready to lower into the boats by the time I
return," he concluded. "I mean to tow the whaler a mile or so to
leeward, so that she will not be able to give assistance to the
prisoners below. Her boats have been stove in, so there is no chance
of her putting off to the rescue of these obstinate dogs."
The men hastened to obey. The engineers, mostly Italians, were told
off to get ready to open the sea-cocks and sink the cruiser. Cervillo
went over the side, entered the waiting boat, and pulled off to the
yacht.
Instead of towing the _Hetty_ clear of the doomed cruiser he promptly
gave orders for the hawser to be cut, and at fifteen knots the
_Serena_ steamed off, leaving the remainder of the pirates to their
fate.
It was the guard on the quarter-deck of the _Independencia_ who first
noticed the yacht's apparently erratic behaviour. For a time the men
watched the rapidly receding _Serena_, till the thought flashed
through their minds that there was something suspicious. The petty
officer in charge, an Italian named Tito, bawled down the nearest
hatchway the astonishing news. Quickly the intelligence that the
yacht was steaming away spread the length of the lower deck, and
seamen and stokers rushed up pell-mell from below.
"We're betrayed!" howled Tito. "Man the guns, and cripple her before
she gets out of range."
Hurriedly the guns' crew ran to the quick-firers. The murmur of
subdued astonishment rose to a roar of anger and baffled fury when
the pirates discovered that the mechanism had been tampered with and
the weapons rendered useless. Some of the exasperated seamen,
snatching up their rifles, and elevating the back-sights to the
utmost capacity, fired an irregular volley at the vessel that was
bearing away their treacherous captain and his Spanish _confrères_.
It was a useless act; the yacht was already out of range, and the
rattle of the rifles was only suggestive of the last nail driven into
the coffin of their dead hopes.
CHAPTER XX
THE RECAPTURE OF THE "INDEPENDENCIA"
"THEY'RE about to abandon ship!" exclaimed Cardyke, when the first
boat-load of treasure was taken off to the yacht. "It's no idle
threat this time. They'll scuttle the cruiser."
"Guess you're about right, sonny," said Hiram B. Rutter. "We must
look to ourselves, and Old Nick take the hindmost."
"Sh!" admonished Fielding. "There's no necessity to alarm the others
just yet. As soon as we find the ship is actually sinking we'll get
the others through the ports without any fuss. She won't sink in a
minute."
"We can't stop her from sinking, so what's the use of going on deck,"
objected the American.
"No, we can't stop her from sinking," admitted the sub. "But if we
can jump clear before the suction is too great we stand a fighting
chance of swimming to the brigantine."
"Not a ghost of a chance. I guess the water's a sight too cold. We'd
be frozen before we covered a quarter of the way," said Rutter,
pessimistically.
"Don't meet trouble half-way," replied Fielding, stoutly. "I'll tell
Oki the state of affairs, and you, Mr. Rutter, can let the Dutchmen
and your fellow passengers on __L'Égalité__ know. I would suggest
that every man smother himself with oil and grease. Mukyima knew the
value of oil when he went over the side."
When the news that the ship was about to be scuttled was told to the
others there was very little excitement. Some of the Frenchmen
proposed that an attempt should be made to take possession of the
ship; but to this Fielding objected. The hatches were secured, and it
would be better, under existing circumstances, not to offer any form
of resistance to the pirates.
"If we did they would shoot us while we were in the water," concluded
Fielding. "I don't think they would otherwise deny us a chance of
swimming to yonder whaler."
Without any undue haste or excitement the imprisoned men made their
preparations; then, taking up their positions at the ports, awaited
Fielding's signal to throw themselves into the sea.
"There's the villain Cervillo putting off," exclaimed Rutter. "I'd
just like to try this rifle, and put a bullet through his head."
"Don't, for your own sake," said Fielding. "Our opportunity to get
even with him will come in due time, I feel certain."
"There's no time like the present," objected the American.
"Look!" ejaculated Cardyke. "They're sinking the boats."
The three boats belonging to the _Independencia_, having completed
their work of transferring the men and stores from the cruiser to the
yacht, were promptly stove in, pigs of ballast being dropped into
them to send them to the bottom.
"They've found the yacht's boats are better than their own," said
Fielding. "They'll be----"
"They're off--by Jove!"
"So they are; and there are nearly eighty men of the pirate crew
still on board, I should imagine. What's the game?"
"Cervillo's done a bunk with the rest of the oof," said the mid.
"Guess you've hit it, sonny," exclaimed Hiram B. Rutter. "Reckon we
may as well get rid of this grease; 'tisn't necessary."
"He's off," said Fielding. "The yacht's gathering way. Won't there be
a rumpus when the others find it out? I wonder where their eyes are."
For fully ten minutes the English officers and their companions
watched the disappearing vessel. Then a chorus of shouts and curses
on deck announced that the abandoned pirates had discovered they were
tricked.
Not until the _Serena_ disappeared beneath the horizon did the
excited crew calm down. The majority drowned their woes in drink,
while a few, realising the importance of fuel supply, brought the
cruiser alongside the _Hetty_ and emptied her cargo of oil into the
_Independencia's_ tanks. There was now sufficient fuel to take the
crippled cruiser a thousand miles. Tito, who had been chosen captain
by his shipmates, resolved to stand south, fall in with another
vessel, and save the remainder of the crew in a similar manner to
that adopted by the recreant Cervillo.
Just before midnight the _Independencia_ raised steam, and at a bare
ten knots plugged laboriously through the water. The _Hetty_ was left
astern. The last Fielding saw of her was that the crew were engaged
in setting the canvas that the gale had spared. It was not much of a
spread, but with the wind in its present quarter there was every
prospect of the whaler fetching the Gulf of St. Lawrence or one of
the harbours on the Newfoundland coast.
The young officers realised that now was the opportunity to recapture
the cruiser. Numerically the pirates were stronger, but by the noise
on deck the Englishmen knew that they were for the most part
indulging in a drunken orgy.
Just before dawn Mukyima and Hokosuka crept through the ports and
hoisted themselves on deck. They were able to discern that most of
the men were below, a few being on watch on the quarter-deck, two
being stationed at the half-deck ladder; but so lax was their
vigilance that the two Japs made a careful examination of the mode of
securing the hatches. The only thing that prevented the steel hatches
from being opened from the inside was an iron bar lashed at each end
to massive ring-bolts in the deck. Lying prone by the side of the
hatchway coamings the Japs quietly severed the ropes, then retraced
their course, and, through General Oki's interpretation, announced
that the hatches were ready to be forced open from the inside.
But Fielding hesitated to commence the attack by means of the
companion ladders. The noise occasioned by the raising of the steel
slabs would arouse their antagonists, and before a sufficient number
of the attackers could emerge there was a strong possibility that the
superior numbers of the crew would gain the day.
Accordingly he selected ten men, including the two Japs, who had just
returned from their tour of investigation. These he was to lead out
by the ports on to the deck, where they were to take cover until the
main body of the attackers removed the hatches. The rest of the
hostages were divided into two parties; one, under Cardyke, was to
take the fore-ladder for the half-deck; the other, under Hiram B.
Rutter, was detailed to the after-ladder. Both sections were to rush
on deck simultaneously, Fielding and his men covering their advance
by a rapid revolver fire.
Unseen and unheard Fielding's little band crept one by one through
the port-hole and gained the deck. Abaft the rearmost turret the deck
was deserted, the men detailed to guard the hatchways having strolled
for'ard to smoke. A continuous roar of ribald laughter announced that
the majority of the pirates still on board were trying to forget
their desperate plight in grog.
Taking shelter behind cowls and coamings, the sub.'s division waited
while their leader gave the pre-arranged signal--three slight taps
upon the deck. Instantly the steel cover of the fore-companion was
heaved back, and Cardyke at the head of his party dashed through the
opening. The after-hatch was opened a bare quarter of a minute later;
then with a united shout the whole band rushed forward.
Taken entirely by surprise the men on watch made but a feeble
resistance. A few shots were fired without effect; two of the pirates
were felled by successful blows of Fielding's hammer-like fists, and
the rest broke and fled.
Disturbed at the carouse, the crew for'ard bolted, for the most part,
like terrified sheep, with the victorious crowd at their heels.
Suddenly one of the fugitives wheeled, and, levelling a revolver,
fired at the pursuers. Fielding pitched forward and lay writhing.
Cardyke was by his friend's side in an instant.
"All right, old man," exclaimed the sub., feebly. "Leave me alone.
I'm done for, I fear."
"Don't say that, Fielding."
"It doesn't very much matter now; we've retaken the ship. You're in
command now, Cardyke, so cut off and see that the hatchways are
secured. Keep the stokers down below, and make them work. Don't wait,
time's precious."
With a groan Fielding became unconscious.
The midshipman was torn by the call of duty to his companions and
devotion to his brother officer; but duty came first.
As soon as the pirate seamen were secured under hatches Cardyke
posted a strong guard over the engine-room and stokehold ladders.
This done, the mid. led another party to the fore-bridge, fully
anticipating resistance from the officer of the watch and his
subordinates. But Tito, who happened to be on the bridge at the time
of the attack, seeing things were faring badly, promptly jumped
overboard to avoid an ignominious fate. The quartermasters bolted up
the tripod mast, and sought refuge in the fire-control platform.
Here, had they been armed, they might have been a source of danger,
but being without weapons they kept quiet until hunger compelled them
to give themselves up.
CHAPTER XXI
DRAKE MEETS THE YACHT "SERENA"
CARDYKE'S first step in the navigation of the vessel was to get her
on her proper course. When the quartermasters deserted their posts
the vessel, left to her own devices, slowly headed to starboard, and
by the time Cardyke could give his attention to the helm, she was
pointing almost due north.
By this time twilight enabled the midshipman to see the state of
affairs on deck. The _Impregnable_--she was the _Independencia_ no
longer--was driving her crumpled bows against the waves, the jagged
mass of steel offering a tremendous resistance to the water.
Instead of turning the ship back till she pointed due south Cardyke
rang down for half-speed astern. The order was obeyed with
comparative celerity, and the cruiser, gathering sternway, made quite
two knots an hour more than she had done when steaming ahead. The
pressure upon the collision bulkhead was, in consequence,
considerably reduced, and the leakage, instead of gaining, began to
show signs of diminishing in volume.
Stalkart, the master of the Dutch tug, was placed in charge of the
bridge, with two of his men to act as quartermasters. The rest of the
Dutchmen were told off to various professional duties, while the
passengers taken from _L'Égalité_, under Rutter's orders, were placed
to guard the engine-room and stokehold hatchways. Implicitly the men
obeyed Cardyke's orders.
As soon as the midshipman had completed the preliminary arrangements
he hastened to the cabin where his wounded comrade was lying.
Fielding had overrated the magnitude of his wound, which, though
painful, and even dangerous, was by no means likely to prove mortal
unless complications ensued. Mukyima had extracted the bullet and
dressed the wound, and Fielding was sleeping comfortably. The Jap
raised his fore-finger warningly as Cardyke entered. The mid.
understood that absolute quietude was essential for his comrade's
recovery; and, softly withdrawing, made his way towards the place
where Hiram B. Rutter was keeping guard over the engine-room
hatchways.
In a very short time the engineers and stokers, who were ignorant of
the change of masters, would expect to be relieved.
Great was the surprise of one of them on gaining the head of the
steel ladder to find himself confronted by a couple of armed men who
he knew were not members of the pirate crew. Before he could utter a
warning cry he was seized, and handed over to the others to be bound.
The man had come on deck to find out the reason why the watch below
had not been relieved, and failing to return, another of the
engine-room staff clambered up the ladder.
The two Frenchmen who were awaiting him showed themselves a fraction
of a minute too soon. The pirate, guessing that something was amiss,
ran down the ladder and informed his companions. Armed with knives,
revolvers, spanners, and crowbars, the motley throng made a dash on
deck.
The struggle at the hatchway was brief but desperate. The engineers
and stokers were driven below. Then, as a protest, the engines were
stopped.
"Awfully awkward," commented Cardyke, as Rutter sent for him and
explained the situation. "We can't drift about here for another week
or more."
"There are at least forty of the skunks below, but that don't
signify," observed the American. "With a dozen men to back me up I
guess I'd put the fear of Old Nick into their black hearts. Shall I
whip up a crowd, and tackle the reptiles?"
Cardyke shook his head.
"It's too risky," he replied.
"Too risky, eh?" exclaimed the American. "I thought you chaps didn't
count risks. But I'm willing to go, and I guess I stand the racket if
I make a mess of this business."
"You misunderstand me, Mr. Rutter. I quite realise that you are
capable of tackling these rascals. You might succeed; on the other
hand, you might fail. By failing it is quite possible that you might
be compelled to leave prisoners in their hands, and then, you see,
they would have a hold over us."
"Didn't think of that," replied Hiram B. Rutter. "Of course they
would. But what are we to do?"
"Summon them to surrender; if they don't, well, we'll starve them
out. You speak their lingo, so you might let them know what we intend
to do."
Accordingly Rutter shouted to the men that he wanted to say a few
words. He told them what Cardyke had threatened to do, adding on his
own responsibility the threat that should any man tamper with the
machinery he would be treated to a liberal dose of the cat as soon as
his capture was effected.
The men debated amongst themselves, and eventually promised to
surrender. They were, they asserted, in a very different position
from the rest of the pirate crew. For the most part Italians, they
had been "signed on" in ignorance of the _rôle_ the captured cruiser
was to play; they had taken no active part in the deeds of violence,
and were under compulsion to a certain extent. Cardyke promised that
their plea would be given careful consideration at the trial that
must inevitably ensue should the vessel reach port. He also agreed to
segregate them from the rest of the pirates, lest the latter should
intimidate or offer violence to their former comrades.
The terms were accepted, and the engineers and stokers were marched
aft and confined on the orlop-deck, stringent precautions being taken
to prevent treachery. Thus all resistance was at an end. The Dutch
engineers and firemen from the _Vulkan_ and her consort were sent
below in watches, and although short-handed and unused to the turbine
engines and the oil-fed furnaces, stuck bravely to their task. Then,
at a speed of twelve knots, the _Impregnable_ steamed stern-foremost
towards the port of Halifax.
* * * * *
Although nothing had been heard of the pirate-cruiser for several
days, the British vessels engaged in patrolling the Atlantic did not
relax their vigilance.
The captain of the scout _Cerberus_ was of opinion that the quarry
had gone north, and Drake was also of the same mind. Accordingly,
having obtained permission from the commander of the cruiser squadron
to take an independent course, the _Cerberus_ pelted northwards.
Every day the four aero-hydroplanes were exercised, the little craft
often making extended passages and ascending to a great height. Being
fitted with wireless and taking different directions, they were able
to keep observation over a wide area, returning every night to their
parent ship.
Flight after flight was made, but nothing to break the vast circle of
open sea was visible. Nevertheless Drake, always optimistic, felt
confident of success. He had a presentiment that he was destined to
bring the pirate cruiser to book.
"If that's not a vessel, I'm a Dutchman!" he exclaimed, lapsing into
his favourite expression. He pointed to a faint blur on the horizon
fully forty miles off. The atmosphere was exceptionally clear, and at
the elevation of 1,000 ft. at which the _Mosquito_ flew, the cloud of
distant vapour was bound to attract the crew's attention.
"Yes, sir, it's a craft of some sorts," replied the chief petty
officer who was responsible for the working of the planes and
rudders. "But 'tisn't to say it's the pirate."
"We'll soon see," said Drake, cheerfully, and at a speed of fifty
knots the aero-hydroplane dashed on her errand of investigation.
Drake had definite orders not to attack--he was merely to locate the
much-looked-for cruiser and summon the _Cerberus_ by wireless. This
done the scout was to take possession of the pirate-cruiser by a plan
that had been carefully worked out beforehand.
But in less than a quarter of an hour the lieutenant's hopes were
dashed to the ground, for instead of the _Impregnable_ the stranger
proved to be a steam yacht.
"May as well hail her; she might give us some information," muttered
Drake, and turning to the chief petty officer he ordered the
_Mosquito_ to descend to within 50 ft. of the surface of the sea.
Gracefully the aerial craft swept towards the approaching yacht.
Drake kept the latter well under observation with his glasses,
looking so intently that the petty officer wondered what possessed
him to take such an interest in a craft that certainly was not the
pirate cruiser.
"By Jove!" thought the lieutenant. "I don't think I'm mistaken.
That's the _Serena_."
During a previous commission on the North American station Drake had
made the acquaintance of Mr. Rignold, and had frequently been his
guest upon the yacht.
"If it is the _Serena_ I'll have a yarn with Rignold for the sake of
old times," he continued, then aloud he gave the order to bring the
_Mosquito_ down to the surface of the water.
The aero-hydroplane rested on the sea at a distance of about three
hundred yards from the yacht's port bow. The _Serena_ made no attempt
to slow down, but her bulwarks were lined with men, who regarded the
marine novelty with considerable interest. Drake noticed that in
spite of the cold atmosphere the men were rigged out in canvas suits
and red jersey caps, but by the aid of his glasses he discovered that
the crew had donned the white suits over their thick clothing.
"Distinctly funny. Rignold never used to rig his men out like that,"
commented the lieutenant, "and he's got a pretty large crew on board.
But perhaps the yacht's changed hands. I'll soon find out."
Meanwhile the _Mosquito's_ aerial planes had been folded, and gliding
rapidly through the water the little craft overhauled and gradually
converged upon the stately yacht.
"Yacht ahoy!" bawled Drake. "Is that the _Serena?_"
"Yes," was the reply. "What do you want?"
"Is Mr. Charles Rignold on board?"
"Yes; do you want him? We'll slow down and you can come alongside."
This reply added to Drake's perplexity. The accent of the speaker was
not British, and the "Yes" instead of the nautical "Ay, ay, sir!" was
somewhat suspicious.
Cervillo, on sighting the aero-hydroplane, was thrown into a state of
terror. He was afraid that the little craft would immediately call
upon its parent ship for assistance; but when the _Mosquito_--which
was evidently operating unsupported by her consorts--descended to the
surface of the sea, he took courage. If he could but lure the
_Mosquito_ alongside, he might be able to repeat his tactics by
having hostages on board. To his surprise and delight the little
craft was coming unsuspiciously under his lee, like a bird to the
fowler's net.
Under the _Serena's_ bulwarks crouched half-a-dozen men with pigs of
ballast ready to drop into the frail craft, and ropes to rescue the
English officer and his crew.
CHAPTER XXII
JUAN CERVILLO KEEPS HIS VOW
SUDDENLY Drake whispered to the artificer-engineer to drive full
speed ahead, and, springing aft, he thrust the helm hard over.
Heeling outwards till her coamings were awash, the _Mosquito_ swung
round, then, steadying herself, "planed" swiftly through the water
with quite two-thirds of her keel in the air. Not till the little
craft had put a mile betwixt her and the dumbfounded Cervillo did the
lieutenant order speed to be reduced.
"Lads," he exclaimed, "we're in luck! We may not find the
_Impregnable_, but yonder is the pirate Cervillo. I had my
suspicions, but I managed to get a peep at his lovely features just
in time."
"Then they've scuttled the cruiser, sir?"
"Goodness knows. If they've played any dirty tricks with my comrades
it will go pretty badly with them. Call up the _Cerberus_, Stevens,
and tell them to pile on speed. We'll keep the yacht under
observation until the ship arrives."
"Officer commanding acknowledges, sir," replied the wireless man.
"Asks for course."
"Tell him nor'-nor'-east, roughly ninety miles; that's good enough,"
replied Drake. "The _Gnat_ will pick us up before long, and give the
_Cerberus_ our position. By Jove! The _Serena_ is actually trying to
run away. All right, my hearties, you're only provoking the fun. Rig
out the planes, Blake. We'll dance round her a bit."
Rising obliquely, the _Mosquito_ attained an attitude of 500 ft.,
and, circling swiftly over the doomed yacht, soon showed the pirates
the sheer uselessness of seeking safety in flight. Four or five
rifle-shots came from the _Serena's_ decks, but unaccustomed to
firing at a swiftly moving object immediately overhead, and at an
unknown height, the men's aim was erratic. Nevertheless, to be on the
safe side, Drake gave orders for the aero-hydroplane to ascend
another thousand feet.
If ever a man was tempted to use the potential weapons at his command
Lieutenant Drake was. He knew that the pirates fully now expected an
attack from the sky, and since they had not reverted to their former
tactics of displaying their prisoners as a human screen, he naturally
and rightly concluded that Fielding, Cardyke, and Coxswain Hardy were
no longer in the hands of the desperate ruffians. But although the
desire to drop a charge of explosives upon the yacht's deck, and blow
the miscreants to a quick and horrible fate, was well-nigh
irresistible, Drake could not go against his definite orders. He
could only wait, hoping that he might be able to take an active part
in the attack upon the pirate yacht as soon as the _Cerberus_ arrived
upon the scene.
"_Gnat_ coming up, sir," announced one of the men.
Flying at a tremendous speed and at a great height came the
_Mosquito's_ consort, but as soon as she spotted Drake's command she
turned and flew southwards in order to get into visible communication
with the scout. Meanwhile the _Serena_, her funnel emitting dense
columns of flame-tinted smoke, was steaming north-eastwards as hard
as she could pelt.
It was a forlorn business, for within forty or fifty miles of her the
avenging _Cerberus_ was tearing in her direction at at least fifteen
knots more than this yacht; while overhead, like a gigantic hawk, the
_Mosquito_ was turning in ever-varying circles above her, so that
nothing short of a dense fog could save the pirates at this juncture.
Cervillo's luck was out. The atmosphere still remained perfectly
clear; night was a long way off. Within another three hours the
pirates must either fight to the last, or submit themselves
prisoners.
"There's the _Cerberus_, sir," reported the look-out. "Dead astern."
"Good," ejaculated Drake. "Now the fun will commence in earnest. Tell
her that there are no signs of any prisoners, so the sooner she gets
the range the better."
Two hours later the scout came within firing distance. Overhead her
four tenders--for the remaining two aero-hydroplanes had arrived on
the scene--were manoeuvring at a safe altitude in order to observe
the effect of the gunfire.
"There she goes!" shouted Drake, as a bright flash came from the
fo'c'sle of the scout. With a peculiar screech the twelve-pounder
shell tore through the air, passed within fifty yards of the fugitive
yacht, as a stern reminder to heave-to, then, ricochetting three or
four times, finally disappeared half a mile ahead of the pursued
vessel.
Doggedly the _Serena_ held on her course. The primeval instinct to
flee until actually caught still lingered in the minds of the
pirates, but on certain points their opinions were divided. Cervillo,
with several of his men, was resolved to die rather than submit to
capture; while Da Silva and the rest of the pirates, still hoping
against hope, were inclined to give themselves up and trust that
mercy might yet be shown them.
The second shell struck the yacht's fore-mast just below the
cross-trees, and with a rending crash the top hamper came tumbling
down. Held by the steel shrouds the shattered timber trailed over the
side, the drag in the water causing the yacht to slew round.
Thinking that the pirates had given in and were easing down, the
_Cerberus_ withheld her fire. But Cervillo had no intention of
surrendering. Calling half-a-dozen men to his aid he ran forward and
began to hack through the lanyards of the shrouds. Desperately the
men worked till the obstruction was cast off, and the doomed yacht
resumed her flight.
It was not the intention of the _Cerberus_ to sink her prey. Capture
at all costs was the order of the captain. There might be prisoners,
and more than likely rich booty stowed underneath her hatches. Could
the _Serena_ be deprived of the means of propulsion the boats of the
scout would soon settle matters.
Crash! A shell striking the base of the funnel reduced it to atoms,
and, tearing away a portion of the deck and bulwarks, sent a dozen of
the pirates to their last account. Volumes of smoke poured through
the aperture where the funnel casings had been. The yacht reeled
violently, then a cloud of steam rushed upwards from her engine-room.
One of the cylinders had burst, and the engines were completely
disabled.
The _Serena_ swung sound, and floated motionless on the calm sea. As
far as could be seen there was no sign of her sinking. Some of the
men rushed for the boats, only to be driven back by Cervillo and his
officers, who, revolver in hand, did not hesitate to check the rush
by the strongest measures. Finding that escape was impossible, the
pirates were goaded into active resistance, and, with rifles and
pistols, they took refuge behind the shattered bulwarks to await the
approach of the scout's boats.
The _Cerberus_ had lost way, and was lying barely half a mile on the
_Serena's_ starboard quarter. Into her boats swarmed the active
bluejackets, eager to add to the traditions of the Service by
capturing the pirates in the good old-fashioned style.
Secretly regretting that he was not taking an active part in the
boarding of the _Serena_, Drake decided not to miss a close view of
the operations. So the _Mosquito_, her speed reduced until it was
only just sufficient to enable her planes to resist the action of
gravity, descended to a height of about two hundred feet above the
sea, and hovered in circles above the crippled vessel.
So intent were the pirates upon the approach of the boats that the
presence of the aerial craft was entirely forgotten. Drake could see
that Cervillo was pacing the deck in an irresolute fashion. At one
moment he would speak to some of the men and point to their
antagonists, at another he would halt hesitatingly at the top of the
companion.
Nearer and nearer came the British seamen. Now they were within
effective range of the revolvers. One or two of the pirates stood up
ready to fire, but Cervillo restrained them, gave one swift,
comprehensive glance over the side, and dived down the ladder.
In an instant Drake realised the pirate Captain's intention.
"Back oars all!" he shouted to the boarders. "Back for your lives!"
And ordering the planes to be tilted, he placed a safe distance
between the _Mosquito_ and the _Serena_.
He was barely in time. With a roar and a fierce blast of flame the
yacht's magazine exploded. A dense, black cloud of smoke, mingled
with fragments of charred and splintered wood, was hurled high into
the air.
Instinctively Drake thrust over the lever actuating the elevating
planes, and the aerial craft leapt upwards. The next instant the
little vessel was enveloped in an eddying vapour, so opaque that from
where the lieutenant stood the bow was lost to view. For a few
seconds the _Mosquito_ oscillated violently. Fragments of charred
timbers came perilously near the fragile planes. Well-nigh blinded
and choked by the dust-laden fumes that, caught by the swiftly
whirling propeller, were dashed into the lieutenant's face, Drake
lost all idea of what the _Mosquito_ was doing--whether the vessel
was soaring or plunging disabled towards the sea.
Then it was like a train emerging from a tunnel; the blackness began
to give place to subdued light, till with a whirr the aero-hydroplane
cleft the edge of the cloud of smoke, and gained the pure air beyond.
The _Mosquito_ was still ascending, but in her rear, and towering
many feet above her, rose the dense pillar of vapour that formed the
funeral pyre of the ill-fated _Serena_.
Describing a sharp downward curve, the _Mosquito_ descended till she
floated on the surface of the agitated water. Just beyond the fringe
of the smoke were the boats of the _Cerberus_, tossing aimlessly upon
the angry waves, the oars either trailing listlessly over the side,
or else projecting at different angles over the gunwales. Their crew,
although unharmed by the explosion, had literally been beaten to the
bottom of their respective craft, and were still too dazed to realise
what had happened. But of the _Serena_ and her lawless gang no trace
was to be seen, save a few pieces of timber floating on the surface.
Juan Cervillo and his piratical companions had avoided capture, but
no more would the modern buccaneer take toll on the high seas. He had
vowed that he would never be taken alive. Unscrupulous though he was,
this vow he had faithfully performed.
CHAPTER XXIII
FORESTALLED
"STEADY on your helm!" exclaimed Drake. "There's a man in the
water--two, by Jove!"
The _Mosquito_ was moving slowly under the action of her aerial
propeller towards the scene of the catastrophe. The lieutenant
decided to make a search for any possible survivors, then take the
boats of the _Cerberus_ back to their parent. Should there be any
members of the pirate crew still alive they might be able to give
valuable information respecting the fate of Fielding and Cardyke
--and here they were: two scorched and blackened men, clinging in a
half-dazed manner to a fragment of wreckage.
"Steady on your helm," repeated Drake. "Stand by with a boathook,
there. Well done, Jenkins!"
[Illustration: HE STRUGGLED DESPERATELY TO THROW HIMSELF ONCE MORE
INTO THE SEA.
[_Page_ 267
]
Jenkins by a dexterous movement succeeded in lifting one of the
survivors on board--a man almost destitute of clothing, and without
hair left on his head. It was Da Silva.
The Spaniard was just able to realise that he was in the hands of his
foes. He struggled desperately to throw himself once more into the
sea. The effort was too much for his weakened energies, and, uttering
a malediction, he expired in the arms of his rescuer.
The second pirate was one of the ordinary seamen, a massive-framed
Catalonian, who, having an inkling of Cervillo's desperate resolve,
had jumped overboard a few seconds before the explosion took place.
Ere he regained the surface the worst of the disaster was past, but
the concussion temporarily deprived him of his senses. At length,
practically blind and deaf, he struck out feebly until his hands
encountered the piece of floating wreckage. Here he clung till
rescued by the crew of the _Mosquito_.
In vain Drake cruised over the fatal scene in search of more
survivors. There were none. "Easy ahead," he ordered, and the little
craft headed towards the boats, whose crews, now recovering from the
effects of the terrible detonation, were proceeding to pull back to
the _Cerberus_.
"Any casualties?" asked Drake, anxiously.
"None, thank Heaven," replied Lieutenant Thompson, who was in charge
of the expedition. "All pretty well shaken up though, by Jove!"
"Stand by for a tow," continued Drake, and a minute later the boats
were sedately following the _Mosquito_.
"One survivor, sir," replied Drake as he came alongside the scout.
"He's pretty bad; but we can question him later. He's only fit for
the sick-bay at present."
"That rascal Cervillo has saved us a nasty job," remarked the
captain. "But what's become of the _Impregnable_, I wonder?"
"We'll find out later, sir," replied Drake, confidently. "This rascal
will be glad to save his hide."
The _Mosquito_ was soon hoisted on board. Signals of recall were sent
to the other aero-hydroplanes, and within half-an-hour the little
craft were snugly housed on the deck of their parent ship. For the
present there was nothing to be done; everything depended upon the
information that might be forthcoming from the rescued pirate. Until
this was obtained the captain of the _Cerberus_ refrained from
announcing by wireless the destruction of Cervillo and his rascally
companions, otherwise there might be an unwelcome order to rejoin the
commodore, or else return to port.
At length the pirate recovered sufficiently to be questioned. For
some time he stubbornly refused to speak, until it was pointed out to
him that it would be a decided point in his favour at the trial that
was bound to ensue should he give all the information in his power.
Then it was that he related the circumstances of the abandoning of
the pirate-cruiser with the greater portion of the crew and the
hostages still on board.
The Spaniard was quite unable to give the position of the cruiser
when the _Serena_ steamed away. All he could give was the number of
days that had elapsed and the yacht's rate of speed.
Promptly the _Cerberus_ headed northwards on the look-out for the
stolen cruiser, and Drake obtained his commanding officer's
permission to take out the four aero-hydroplanes for reconnoitring
purposes at day break on the following morning.
"I've had permission, Thompson!" he exclaimed, gleefully. "I feel
confident that I'll pick up Fielding and young Cardyke before another
twelve hours are up. If I don't capture the old _Impregnable_ I'll
eat my----"
"Steady, old man," remonstrated Thompson. "Remember you're already
pledged to eat one. Don't forget the cricket match."
Long before the bos'un's mate's whistle piped "Clear lower deck" the
four aerial craft were spreading fanwise in a northerly direction in
search of the elusive _Impregnable_; but although a wide "field" was
kept under the closest observation, and constant messages were
exchanged between the _Mosquito_ and her consorts, the operations
were futile. Shortly after midday the aero-hydroplanes were recalled
in order to recharge accumulators and replenish petrol tanks, and
also to give the wearied though enthusiastic men a well-earned rest.
But Drake and slumber were not good messmates when work was to be
done. Something kept on prompting him to persevere with his quest;
the self-confidence that was so characteristic of his personality
urged him on--to him was to be the honour of solving the mystery of
the missing cruiser.
In answer to Drake's earnest representations the captain of the
_Cerberus_ consented to another flight with the aero-hydroplanes that
evening, on the understanding that volunteers only should be taken to
comprise the crews of the aerial scouts.
"I can rely upon enough men to make one crew at least, sir," replied
Drake; but to his astonishment and immense satisfaction not only did
every member of the complements of the four aero-hydroplanes signify
their willingness to forgo their "stand-easy," but every seaman on
board qualified as airmen literally clamoured to take part in the
search.
Just before three bells in the second dog-watch (7.30 p.m.) the
_Mosquito_ was hoisted out; the _Gnat_, _Tse-tse_, and _Flea_
followed in quick succession, and, rising gracefully from the
surface, glided on their renewed quest.
Anxiously Drake scanned the horizon. Nothing except a waste of grey
water, flicked here and there by white foam, was to be seen. The sun,
low in the heavens, shone from a cloudless sky. There was every
indication of a spell of fine but cold weather.
Five miles on the _Mosquito's_ port hand the _Gnat_ was flying
steadily at an immense height, the other two aerial craft being a
considerable distance on the _Mosquito's_ starboard quarter. If
anything, Drake's craft was well in advance of the rest of the little
flotilla. With monotonous regularity the wireless reported "Nothing
in sight" till the sun was on the point of setting.
"There she is, by Jove!" exclaimed Drake suddenly, pointing to a mere
dot on the horizon.
"You're right, sir," replied the chief petty officer. "Leastways 'tis
a lump of a ship, and we don't look to see big craft in these parts."
Ordering the rest of the flotilla to concentrate and follow the
_Mosquito_, Drake headed "all out" towards the distant vessel, and
before another quarter of an hour had passed he was able to announce
that it was the _Impregnable_, and that she was steaming slowly stern
foremost, evidently badly damaged.
In obedience to signals the three aero-hydroplanes followed the
movements of their leader, and came to rest on the surface of the
sea. Bearings were taken of the position of the oncoming cruiser, and
the four amphibians lay close till darkness set in.
Under ordinary circumstances Drake ought to have immediately reported
the discovery of the _Impregnable_ to his commanding officer, and
wait till the _Cerberus_ came up to take possession of the
pirate-cruiser. But Drake had confidence in his ability to achieve
his object. Each of the aero-hydroplanes carried ten men. Allowing
two to remain on board there were thirty-two available for the task
of capturing the much-sought-after prize. Drake realised that the
business would be a comparatively simple matter, since only a small
percentage of the original crew of the cruiser remained, and that
they were without officers and greatly demoralised by the hardships
and perils they had undergone.
As soon as darkness set in, the four vessels, with their air-planes
securely folded alongside, formed up in line-ahead, and stole
cautiously towards the oncoming ship. To Drake's surprise, the
_Impregnable_ was showing steaming-lights, a circumstance quite
contrary to the procedure hitherto followed by the modern buccaneer.
Turning hard-a-port the flotilla eased down, and waited for the giant
cruiser to pass.
"Looks like a bloomin' ghost, sir," remarked Jenkins to his superior.
"Not doin' more'n six knots at the very outside, and as quiet as a
corpse."
"We'll liven her up in due course," replied Drake. "Now, lads, no
cheering or unnecessary noise. No shot to be fired till I give the
word. Then a good old British cheer, and drive the rascals down
below. Easy ahead, there!"
Without a sound, save the muffled pulsations of the motors and the
rhythmical swish of the waves against the vessel's knife-like sterns,
the four craft followed the huge cruiser, like a shoal of threshers
after a whale. Not a light was visible on the _Impregnable_, not a
sound of a human voice came from her decks. It was like a mountain of
floating steel ploughing its way aimlessly through the waste of
night-enshrouded sea.
Satisfied that there was no watch kept in the foremost part of the
vessel, Drake ordered speed to be increased till the _Mosquito_ lay
alongside the cruiser's port bow, with the _Tse-tse_ just astern. The
_Flea_ and the _Gnat_ made fast to the _Impregnable's_ starboard bow.
There was just enough of the _Tse-tse's_ and the _Gnat's_ after ends
projecting beyond the cruiser's stem to establish communication
between the different aero-hydroplanes, while the cruiser's
"overhang" for'ard prevented any possibility of their being seen from
the _Impregnable's_ fo'c'sle.
Drake gave the signal, and, revolver ready for instant use, led the
way, clambering agilely up the steep steel sides by means of one of
the torpedo-net booms. Unseen and unheard he gained the deck,
followed by the rest of the boarders, till the thirty-two men formed
up silently under the lee of the foremost barbette.
Going aft to reconnoitre Drake discovered a light on the
after-bridge, for, since the cruiser was going stern foremost, she
was being navigated from that position instead of from the
fore-bridge.
A hasty examination of the fo'c'sle revealed two men stationed over
the hatchway. These were sternly summoned to surrender, but not
complying with sufficient alacrity to satisfy Drake, they were
promptly thrown to the deck, gagged and secured.
This done, the lieutenant led his men aft. Twenty were detailed to
secure the hatchways and companions; the rest, headed by Drake
himself, made a sudden rush for the after-bridge.
There was now no need for silence. With a lusty cheer the British
bluejackets tore up the steep ladder. The commotion brought two or
three muffled figures from the shelter of the wheel-house.
"Surrender in the King's name!" shouted Drake.
"I beg your pardon, sir?" replied Cardyke's well-known voice.
CHAPTER XXIV
THE COCKED HAT
TO say that Lieutenant Douglas Drake was flabbergasted would not do
justice to the state of his mind. In the very hour of his triumph,
when the credit of recapturing the stolen cruiser seemed absolutely
assured, the fruits of victory were snatched from his grasp by a
midshipman. It was humiliating, but Drake was a true sportsman, and,
stifling his feelings of disappointment, was genuinely hearty in his
congratulations to his junior.
"Where's Fielding?" he asked, as soon as Cardyke had briefly
explained the situation.
"Down below. He's had a nasty time of it, sir; but he's doing
wonderfully well."
"I'll go and see him. By the bye, we knocked over a couple of fellows
just now. Who were they?"
"A couple of watchmen from the tug _Hekla_," replied the mid. "It's
rough luck on them. I stationed them to keep an eye on the prisoners.
They can't speak English, so they're wondering what has happened?"
"I'll see that they are released," replied Drake. "Now I'll go below
and pay Fielding a visit. I mustn't stop long, or the _Cerberus_ will
be getting anxious. We'll report you by wireless, and stand by till
daybreak, if you wish."
"Aren't you taking command, sir?" asked Cardyke.
"Taking command? Why, no, my boy; you've done excellently up to the
present. This is your business, and you rightly deserve the credit. I
envy you, Cardyke; 'pon my word I do."
"Better take command, sir," replied the midshipman, wearily. "I've
only had three hours' sleep the last forty-eight hours, and there's
only enough fuel to last a day and a half. If it weren't for you
turning up we'd soon have been in an awkward fix."
"All right, then, Mr. Cardyke," assented Drake. "I'll relieve you at
your request. Mr. Domer," he continued, addressing the senior, "will
you please take sufficient hands to man the boats, and return to the
_Cerberus_? I am keeping the rest of the men on board the
_Impregnable_. I will hand you a written report for Captain Dexter
before we part company."
* * * * *
When Cardyke turned out after a solid sixteen hours' sleep he found
that the _Impregnable_, once more under the White Ensign, was in tow
of the _Cerberus_, en route for Halifax. The trials and tribulations
of Juan Cervillo's hostages were over. Already the momentous news of
the fate of the notorious pirate and the recapture of the terror of
the Atlantic had been flashed abroad, and once again peaceful
merchantmen might pursue their way without an ever-present fear of
capture by a daring and unscrupulous modern buccaneer.
* * * * *
Two months later the long-postponed dinner given by the Fifth
Division to their successful rivals of the Sixth took place at a
popular Portsmouth hotel.
Lieutenant Player was amongst the first to arrive.
"Well, you fellows," he exclaimed, as he laid a cocked-hat case on a
chair. "Drake's not turned up yet?"
"No," replied Cosham, of the Kestrel. "Going on with the business,
Player? It's rubbing it in a bit thick, isn't it?"
"I don't know about that," replied Player. "This has nothing to do
with Drake's disappointment. If it had I for one would not take a
rise out of him."
"He's taking it very well," remarked Cosham. "Blessed if I can quite
understand it--and a fellow with influence behind him, too."
"He deserves promotion in any case, influence or no influence,"'
added Peel. "Fielding's promoted--lucky beggar--and has been
specially commended for gallantry. Young Cardyke is made sub., and
Drake gets nothing. I really don't think we ought to----"
"Good evening!" exclaimed Thompson, putting his head inside the door.
"Heard the news? Of course you haven't."
"Fire away!" replied the group of officers.
"Drake's away on leave. Coming in by motor for this little function.
He told me to open any wires, and forward any letters that might be
sent to him. Acting under instructions I opened a telegram, and what
do you think it was?"
"Can't say," replied Player. "Has he scratched for to-night?"
"No. A wire from young Tregarthen--he's at the Admiralty, you know.
The secretary told him that Drake is appointed commander, and
receives the D.S.O."
"Good luck to him!"
"Now you can carry on with your little joke, Player," said Thompson.
"I will. But, I say, Drake will see his promotion in the evening
paper. Can't we prevent him, and spring it as a surprise?"
"You'll have to look pretty sharp. Let the others know, and give them
the tip. Here's Fielding."
Lieutenant Fielding, who had practically recovered from his wound,
came up at this moment, followed by his shipmate, Sub-Lieutenant
Cardyke. Both were cordially greeted, for this was the first
opportunity the majority of the officers present had to welcome their
comrades on their return to England.
"I am glad to hear the news about Drake--I thought he was being
treated a bit shabbily. If it hadn't been for him we shouldn't have
had a leg-up," said Fielding, when Thompson informed him of his
chief's promotion.
"Stand by, here's Drake," exclaimed someone.
Drake was low-spirited. The iron of disappointment had eaten into his
soul. But with praiseworthy self-restraint he concealed his feelings.
It seemed hard that with the opportunities offered him he should have
failed to make his mark, and doubly hard that his subordinates should
be signalled out for promotion, while he, as far as he knew, was
slightingly passed over. Nevertheless he offered his sincere
congratulations to Fielding and Cardyke. He was not a man to repine
when others deserved and received advancement.
At length the company sat down. Amongst the guests were General Oki,
and Hokosuka, and Mukyima, who had purposely journeyed down from
London for the festive occasion; and the Japanese, who had played
such a prominent part in the unlawful commission of the
_Impregnable_, came in for no small share of attention.
After the customary toasts had been duly honoured, the head waiter
appeared bearing a covered silver dish. A tense silence fell upon the
jovial company. Those who knew what was about to happen seemed to
exercise a magnetic influence over those who did not.
Then the string band burst forth into the strains of an old popular
refrain, "Where did you get that hat?"
Simultaneously the waiter whisked off the cover, and on the dish
reposed a naval officer's cocked hat.
A roar of hearty laughter greeted its appearance. Thompson, Fielding,
Cardyke, and one or two others looked grave, wondering how Drake
would take it; but to their relief the victim of the practical joke,
flushing slightly under his bronzed skin, rose to his feet, and, with
a reassuring smile, raised his hand to command silence.
"Gentlemen," he began, "I will not attempt a speech. If I did I
should say what I didn't mean to say, and leave unsaid what I meant
to say. But I see you have not forgotten to remind me of that little
failing of mine on the occasion of the match which this gathering is
celebrating in its customary manner. It will not be said that a Drake
is not a man of his word. I promised to eat my hat; I will do so.
Will you kindly pass the article round to show that there is no
deception?"
The practical jokers began to look unduly anxious. They never
expected Drake would have taken the matter so calmly. Perhaps he had
been warned, and had prepared a counter-plot? He had. Producing a
small parcel, Drake cut the string, and unwrapped the paper. Within
was a small replica of a lieutenant's cocked hat, faithfully executed
in confectionery. Inside were written the words, "My hat!"
Having passed the edible model round for inspection, Drake, amid the
applause of his comrades, gravely proceeded to eat it.
As soon as Drake had completed his meal, Thompson stood up.
"Gentlemen!" he exclaimed. "I think it only right that we should
signify our satisfaction at the way in which a Drake keeps his word,
by giving him a little certificate of his--er--his conduct. Allow me,
sir, to present you with this."
And leaning over the table Thompson handed the newly appointed
commander the momentous telegram.
Drake took it, hesitatingly, as if suspecting another joke at his
expense, looked at it casually, then again intently.
He tried to speak, but no words came from his agitated lips. He sat
down.
"Gentlemen!" shouted Thompson, in stentorian zones. "A toast:
Commander Douglas Drake, D.S.O., and the heroes of 'The Stolen
Cruiser.'"
THE END
RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED,
BRUNSWICK STREET, STAMFORD STREET, S.E.
AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.
JARROLDS' NEW EMPIRE REWARDS
_Extra crown 8vo, average length over 300 pages, and size_
_7 3/4 x 5 1/2 x 1 7/8, with Frontispiece in colours, emblematic end_
_papers, and several charming illustrations in duo-tone, by leading_
_artists, including R. Caton Woodville, F. E. Hiley, Elizabeth_
_Earnshaw, Arthur Twidle, P. B. Hickling, etc. Attractive wrappers_
_with pictures in colours. Handsome decorative cloth gilt binding._
3s. 6d. per vol.
THE GREAT ANTARCTIC. By JOHN MACKIE. Bound to
be one of the great favourites of the season.
THE STOLEN CRUISER. By PERCY F. WESTERMAN
A thrilling sea story.
WILD NATURE WOOED AND WON. By OLIVER G.
PIKE, F.Z.S., F.R.P.S., and MAGDALEN F. P. TUCK. With
52 photos of Bird Life.
SCHOLARS AND SCOUTS. A most fascinating story of
scouting and school life. By ERNEST PROTHEROE.
BRAVE GIRLS ALL. By OLIVIA FOWELL.
THE FOURTH FORM AT WESTBOURNE. By C. J.
MANSFORD.
FAIRY GROUND. By LADY MACALISTER.
THE BRIG "JANE MARY." By FRANCIS MARLOWE.
UNCLE HAL. By LADY MACALISTER. The £100 Prize
Story.
SCOUTING FOR A KING. By ERNEST PROTHEROE.
PREFECT AND FAG. By CHAS. J. MANSFORD.
THE REBELLION OF MARGARET. By GERALDINE
MÖCKLER.
BULLY, FAG, AND HERO. By CHAS. J. MANSFORD.
FAGS AND THE KING. By CHAS. J. MANSFORD.
BOYS OF THE BRIGADE. By ERNEST PROTHEROE.
AFTER SCHOOL. By ROBERT OVERTON.
KITTY LANDON'S GIRLHOOD. By JESSIE ARMSTRONG.
HARUM SCARUM. By ESMÈ STUART.
HARUM SCARUM'S FORTUNE. By ESMÈ STUART.
THE WILD RUTHVENS. By CURTIS YORKE.
--------
LONDON: JARROLD & SONS
{Transcriber's Notes:
The following misprint has been corrected:
{The shock of the collison} -> {The shock of the collision}
Obvious punctuation/spelling errors were corrected without note.
}
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