In Captivity
"You were wondering what I was doing just now," Dick.
"When you tiptoed to the door?" asked Farnworth.
"Yes. I couldn't explain at the time, because friend Ahmed had his ear
glued to the keyhole. He's not listening now. He's just had two
German officers kow-towing to him."
"Eh?" ejaculated the midshipman incredulously.
"Fact! I had my suspicions, and now they are fully confirmed. The
fellow's name is no more Ahmed Djezzar than mine is. He's a German.
You noticed he was very persistent in asking questions about the
British Expeditionary Force in the Dardanelles?"
"Yes, sir; and you jolly well boomed him off. He didn't appear to like
it."
"He's got some infernal scheme under way. He's just told the other
fellows, who are evidently inferior in rank to him in spite of his rig
as a Turkish bluejacket, that he hasn't been at all successful at
pumping us, up to the present, but that he means to have another shot
at it. Failing this, he hints at strong measures, so we must be
prepared to undergo a little discomfort."
"What do you propose to do, sir?"
"Let him have it hot if he starts his 'Me friend of Englis officers'.
This room would be all right for half a dozen rounds. I think I could
alter the shape of his figurehead. Hello, there's that seaplane
returning, and, by Jove, they're firing!"
The officers rushed to the windows once more. Although they could not
see immediately overhead, they had a fairly comprehensive view of the
sky from west through north to north-east.
The courtyard was now filled with Turkish soldiers and sailors, all
roused at the noise of the approaching air-craft. Most of them had
their rifles and were preparing to open fire, while upon the broad
rampart on the far side men were making ready with a couple of
anti-aircraft guns.
"One of our sea-planes in pursuit, I think," observed Farnworth
excitedly.
"I think you're right. Hello--here's the Turkish aeroplane."
The monoplane was travelling fast in a northerly direction. The pilot
was not visible, but the observer had faced about and was firing with a
rifle at the pursuer, which had not yet come within the British
officers' range of vision.
Even as Dick and his companion watched, a bullet cut through a pair of
tension wires to the right-hand main plane. The sea-plane started to
bank, slipped, and fell sideways like a wounded bird. More and more it
tilted till both pilot and observer were flung from their seats.
Frantically grasping the thin air they dropped with ever-increasing
velocity, till their line of descent was hidden by the intervening
buildings; but the officers distinctly heard two separate thuds as the
bodies struck the earth.
With its propeller still revolving rapidly, the disabled monoplane
described erratic curves. Suddenly the Turkish soldiers bolted for
dear life, as the uncontrollable air-craft plunged almost vertically
downwards into the courtyard. With a fearful crash it landed twenty
yards from the window at which the Sub and his companion had taken
stand. The litter of framework and canvas trailed on the ground like
the gear of a dismasted racing yacht; then, as the petrol took fire, a
column of flame rose fifty feet in the air.
"There she is!" almost shouted the midshipman.
Less than two hundred feet above Fort Medjidieh glided a large biplane.
The motor had been switched off, for the crew had vol-planed down from
a far greater height in order to make sure of their work.
"A Frenchman!" ejaculated Crosthwaite, for the tricolours on the under
side of the main planes were clearly visible. "Hope he'll drop a
couple of heavy bombs upon these ragamuffins. I'd be quite willing to
the risk of any pieces hitting me."
The courtyard was now deserted, but from the doors and windows abutting
on the open space, red-fezzed Turks peeped timorously, some of them
plucking up courage to fire at the daring sea-plane. As for the crews
of the anti-aircraft guns, they scurried off without letting fly a
single round. The two German officers who had been conversing with the
so-called Ahmed tried to restrain them, but in vain. One of the
officers then began to train the nearest gun, but he, too, thought
better of it, for holding his sword to prevent himself being tripped
up, he ignominiously ran for shelter.
By this time the biplane had restarted its motor and was banking
steeply. None of the shots fired at it had taken effect, nor did the
aeroplane attempt to drop any bombs. Apparently its mission had been
to chase the inquisitive Turkish monoplane, and to observe the nature
of the defences of Fort Medjidieh. Having thrice circled over the
hostile position with contemptuous indifference to the desultory
fusillade, it returned towards its base.
Directly it turned tail the Turkish infantrymen and artillerymen issued
from their shelters in swarms, and for five minutes--long after the
French air-craft was out of range--a terrific waste of ammunition
testified to the tardy zeal of the Ottoman soldiery.
During this time Dick saw nothing of Ahmed. The Teuton--for such he
was--had made himself scarce. Nor did he put in an appearance during
the rest of the day, the evening meal being brought in by a Nubian.
After breakfast on the following day the British officers were taken
out for exercise under the escort of a file of soldiers. Their walk
was limited to the extent of the courtyard, so that the Sub had no
opportunity of taking mental notes of the details of the interior of
the fort, for the heavy guns commanding The Narrows were hidden from
sight by the barrack quarters.
Twenty minutes were allowed them. The Sub was able to smoke, some
excellent cigarettes being given him by the corporal in charge of the
party. At the expiration of the time the prisoners were marched back
to their quarters, where they found Ahmed, unruffled and obsequious,
awaiting them.
"Well, Ahmed," said Dick, with well-assumed jocularity, "we didn't see
much of you yesterday. I thought perhaps you had been sent to take the
captured British submarine to Constantinople."
The man looked completely taken aback. He suppressed an exclamation
the commencement of which sounded remarkably like a German oath.
"You have been told by dese odder Ottomans then? What dey tell you,
eh?"
Something in the fellow's tone gave Crosthwaite his cue.
"So you didn't get the submarine after all?" he asked.
Ahmed shrugged his shoulders.
"You know too much," he said. "I must find out de soldier what tell
you about de Englis sailors who broke de wreck to bits, so no good to
Ottoman."
"Look here, Ahmed," continued the Sub. "You asked me a question the
other day. Now I want to ask you one. What happened to the rest of my
men when we were taken prisoners?"
The man looked suspiciously at his questioner.
"Me no tell," he said slowly, "No can do. P'lap I tell if you say how
many Englismans come to fight us on land. P'laps if dey too many we
Ottomans no fight. Me no want more fight, an' plenty odders no fight."
Dick was sitting on the of his during the conversation. Now he stood
up, erect and determined.
"Look here, Herr Major," he said sternly, hazarding the German's rank
since the two captains had saluted the pseudo-Turkish seaman. "Don't
try to bamboozle us. It can't be done. You haven't the pluck to sail
under your own colours: you must needs pretend you're a Turk--and a
precious rotten pretence it is. You told your pals you were going to
have one more attempt. You've done so, and made a horrible mess of it.
Now try your other plan; but take it from me, you've a couple of
Englishmen to deal with. Clear out!"
Too astounded for words, the German could only look sheepishly at the
man who had given him a "dressing-down". His mouth worked as if he
were trying to utter some malediction. Then, cowed by the Sub's bearing
and obviously frightened at Dick's clenched fists, he backed towards the
door.
On the threshold he paused, with his hand on the key.
"Swine, English swine!" he shouted. "You'll be sorry for this."
Amid the scornful laughter of Dick and the midshipman the German
slammed the door and locked it.
"That's done it," remarked Dick. "Now for reprisals, I suppose."
"He was in a tear!" said Farnworth, with a laugh at the thought of the
fellow's discomfiture. "But, by Jove, sir, how you kidded him over
that submarine business!"
"It was quite a fluke," explained Dick. "I had my doubts about the
capture of one of our submarines, but evidently one has been lost.
Naturally our fellows wouldn't let a thing like that remain in the
hands of the enemy, and by that Teuton's admission it is pretty certain
that we've destroyed the craft to prevent her being made use of by the
Turks. Hello, the fun's going to commence!"
This remark was caused by the sounds of the tramp of feet in the
corridor. The door was unlocked, and a party of Turkish soldiers,
headed by a German in the uniform of a captain in the Ottoman service,
burst unceremoniously into the room.
Not a word was spoken. The German pointed to various articles and to
the door. Acting upon this mute order the soldiers removed the British
officers' beds, chairs, and other pieces of furniture.
A couple of lithe Turks seized each of the prisoners and stripped them
of their uniforms. In five minutes Dick and his companion were left
standing in nondescript garments in the midst of a bare room.
"Part of the programme, I suppose," commented the Sub. "Meagre rations
and a Spartan existence. I hope they won't chuck in the bastinado as
an extra."
That night the prisoners slept on straw, their supper consisting of
rice and cold water. It was part of the policy of the German officer,
who, under the mistaken impression that an Englishman exists simply for
the sake of eating roast beef, thought to compel the Sub and his
companion to betray the nature of the operations against the
Dardanelles.
Five long weeks passed in this tedious waiting. During this time the
prisoners had ample opportunities of watching the Turkish soldiers
drilling under their German officers and non-coms. The latter drove
the Ottomans almost beyond the limits of endurance. Blows and kicks
were showered upon the Kismet-imbued Turks, who, possibly regarding
such treatment as necessary for efficiency, betrayed no signs of
resentment.
Another thing the Sub noticed was the supremely contemptuous
indifference the German officers paid to marks of respect. They would
swagger across the courtyard, the Turkish troops saluting with an
alertness that vied with the smartness of Prussian troops on the
parade-ground at Potsdam, yet the officers hardly ever condescended to
return the compliment.
During the whole of that time the prisoners once caught sight of the
pseudo Ahmed. On that occasion he had discarded his Turkish
bluejacket's clothes and was rigged out in the uniform of a German
major of artillery. A number of field-guns had just arrived at the
fort, and the major was in charge of the battery. It seemed as if the
German instructors, knowing the terrific damage done by the British
naval guns against permanent forts, and also with the lessons of Liége
and Namur fresh in their minds, intended to rely not upon guns of
position, but upon powerful mobile weapons, for the defence of the
historic waterway.
The captives were no longer allowed to take exercise in the open air.
Instead, they regularly practised simple Swedish drill in order to keep
their muscles in good condition, for, as Farnworth observed, "one never
knew what might turn up". In spite of their meagre fare they contrived
to keep fairly fit and active.
"Guns!" exclaimed Farnworth one morning.
"Target practice," added Dick; but after waiting a minute he added;
"No; by Jove, it's the real thing! We're having another go at
hammering at Turkey's gate."
For three hours the firing continued with unabated violence. Fort
Medjidieh, being out of the scope of the operations, made no attempt to
use its guns, but the field-battery went off in mad haste.
At length the interchange of gunnery ceased. Towards evening the
battery returned, minus one gun, while several of the artillerymen bore
traces of being badly knocked about. From six to sunset wounded
Turkish troops began to pour into the fort, some hardly able to walk.
Yet no attempt was made to alleviate their pain. They were simply
ordered to their barrack-rooms, and had to rely upon their own efforts
and those of their comrades to attend to their wounds.
As soon as it grew dark, Dick and his companion in misfortune threw
themselves upon their straw beds. Being unprovided with lights, they
generally turned in at sunset and talked until overtaken by sleep.
They had not been lying down for more than ten minutes when the door
opened, and the German Major, accompanied by a subaltern, entered.
They had evidently come straight from the scene of action, for they
wore long grey coats bespattered with mud and the yellow stains of
lyddite, their faces were grimed with smoke and dust. Each wore a
sword under his coat, with the hilt projecting through a vertical slit.
The Major also carried a revolver in a holster slung across his left
shoulder, and counterbalanced by a sling to which was attached a case
containing a pair of binoculars. They were accompanied by a soldier
bearing a lamp. This he set down on the floor, and, having saluted,
left the room. The subaltern locked the door after him.
"Good evening, gentlemen," began the Major in good English which
contrasted with the jargon which he had used in his rôle of a Turkish
seaman. "We have occasion to do business."
"But not with us," added Dick readily.
"I think so," corrected the Major. "And you will be glad of it when
you hear our proposal. Perhaps you are unaware that to-day the French
landed at Kum Kale. We quickly sent them to the right-about, and they
had to re-embark in disorder. Unfortunately for us, during the
operations two Turkish officers of high rank were taken prisoners and
conveyed on board an man-of-war that was covering the re-embarkation of
the French troops. I trust I have made myself clear?"
"Proceed, then," said Dick.
"The loss of these two officers was duly reported to Turkish
head-quarters, and Enver Bey immediately telegraphed that we should
offer two British in exchange. Would you be willing to sign an
undertaking, in the event of your being released, not to take up arms
against the Allies?"
"That we would not," declared the Sub emphatically.
"I thought you would not. A true soldier--whether he be in the Navy or
Army--would never do so. Still, the idea occurred to me: a thousand
pardons. Now here is a statement for the British Admiral. All you
have to do is for both of you to sign your names and add your rank in
the space provided, and the exchange will be carried out promptly."
The Major produced a folded paper from the breast pocket of his
greatcoat, while the subaltern held out a fountain pen.
"Why don't you sign?" asked the German.
"One minute," said Dick. "The writing is in Turkish characters."
"That is quite evident," remarked the Major suavely; "but that does not
alter the text of the communication."
"You ought to know that all correspondence between belligerents is in
French, Herr Major," said the Sub. "Under the circumstances I decline
to have any truck with it."
"Truck?" asked the German in a puzzled tone. "What does that mean?"
"That I won't sign."
"Then there are other English officers who would be only too pleased to
do so," suggested the Major tentatively.
"It's my opinion you're trying another of your dirty tricks," continued
Dick. "No, don't get excited," he added, as the German's hand flew to
his sword-hilt. "That proves what I say. I think we may as well come
to an understanding."
The German backed and said a few words to his companion. It was enough
to confirm Dick's suspicions, for the subaltern also laid his hand upon
his sword.
With a well-directed blow the Sub planted his clenched fist squarely
upon the point of the Major's chin. With hardly a sound he fell
senseless upon the pile of straw.
[Illustration: "WITH A WELL-DIRECTED BLOW DICK PLANTED HIS CLENCHED
FIST SQUARELY UPON THE POINT OF THE MAJOR'S CHIN"]
Out flashed the other German's sword. Rashly he raised the blade to
deliver a cut. Had he used the point the result might have been
different, for before the blow could fall the stalwart British officer
gripped him round the waist, then with a sudden heave threw him
headlong upon the floor. The back of his head came in contact with the
stone paving, and with a groan he lost consciousness.
"Buck up, Farnworth!" exclaimed Dick. "Pull that fellow's coat off and
see how it fits you. We'll borrow these gentlemen's uniforms and see
what happens."