A Midnight Encounter
At noon the submarine rose to the surface. All around the sea was
unbroken; not a craft of any description was in sight. Eagerly the
officers and men welcomed the chance of being able to inhale the pure
air after being cooped up for hours within the narrow limits of the
steel hull.
Advantage was also taken of the respite to rig the wireless mast.
Since the Turks were already acquainted with the fact that a hostile
submarine had appeared at the very threshold of the Ottoman capital,
there was no further need to abstain from the use of "wireless".
Accordingly a message in code was sent to the British flagship,
announcing the good work performed by "E--".
Promptly came the reply, also in code:
"Flag to 'E--'. Do not attempt the Dardanelles until after the night
of the 11th instant. Situation developing, and movements of our
submarine craft are in consequence undesirable."
"Plain as a pikestaff," commented Huxtable when the message had been
decoded. "More German submarines, and our destroyers and minesweepers
are operating in the hope of netting them."
"Then we are best off where we are, sir," said Dick,
"M'yes," admitted the Lieutenant-Commander grudgingly. "But here we
are without being able to let rip at even the most tempting target. If
there had been time to slip down to Tenedos and get a fresh supply of
torpedoes from our parentship I wouldn't mind in the least. As it is,
we've to mark time for the next three days."
"Might I make a suggestion, sir?" asked Dick.
"By all means," replied Huxtable.
The two officers were alone on the after platform of the little craft.
The rest of the officers, having been on deck for some time, were down
below. Most of the crew were "standing easy" on the limited expanse of
fore deck--the narrow platform extending from the base of the
conning-tower to within ten feet of the snub bows.
"If we make for Prince's Island again," suggested Dick, "we could keep
that tower under observation. There are some of our men imprisoned in
it, and the place appears to be slenderly guarded."
"Dash it all, man!" ejaculated Huxtable; "surely you don't suggest that
a submarine should bombard a fort? That, apparently, is the crux of
your proposition."
"Not necessarily," replied the Sub. "If it came to the point, our guns
would make small beer of the Turkish garrison. But if you would let me
have half a dozen men, sir, I'd take Farnworth with me, and make a
night attack upon the place. We ought to be able to rescue the
prisoners and back on board within half an hour, with very little risk."
"What would happen if, during that half-hour, a couple of Turkish
destroyers put in an appearance?" asked Huxtable. "I am inclined to
let you tackle the job; but one must weigh the matter carefully. I
don't want to lose half a dozen hands, nor do I want to leave Farnworth
and you marooned on Prince's Island. That's what it would mean, you
know."
Dick did not reply. His mind was set upon the sight of that forlorn
party of bluejackets being haled into captivity. Perhaps they might
be--but no, the possibility was too remote.
"We'll do what we can," declared Huxtable, who rapidly warming to the
plan. "At any rate, it will be occupying our time. Let's go below and
have a look at the chart. Mr. Devereux," he called out, "pass the word
for all hands to bathe, and then a quarter of an hour's 'stand easy'
for the men to smoke."
Eagerly the crew took advantage of the permission, and the immediate
vicinity of the submarine soon dotted with the heads of the swimmers as
they revelled in the clear waters of the Sea of Marmora. Bedding and
blankets were also brought on deck to air while the diminutive "ship's
company" were enjoying their pipes and cigarettes.
At two bells in the second dog-watch the submarine cleared for running
on the surface. Devereux was in charge, the Lieutenant-Commander
having taken the opportunity of snatching a few hours' sleep. At
eleven knots she steamed leisurely towards the yet invisible island,
for as the sun sank low in the west a slight mist obscured the horizon.
Directly land was sighted the craft was submerged, until only the top
of the periscope was visible. Speed was reduced to five knots, to
minimize as much as possible her tell-tale wake and the feather of
spray as the periscope cleaved the water.
An hour of daylight yet remained as the "E--" arrived within two
hundred yards of the ramshackle pier, taking up a position so that the
slanting rays of the sun tended to render the slender, pole-like
periscope invisible against the background of deep crimson sky and sea.
Beyond the desultory movements of a couple of Turkish sentries there
was little sign of activity. Above the tower the Crescent flag of the
Ottoman Empire drooped idly in the still air. From the row of huts
that served as a barracks for the troops came the sound of stringed
instruments, mingled with the melodious voices of the men.
At sunset every man of the garrison, to the number of twenty-two,
appeared carrying his praying-carpet. From a minaret arose the voice
of the _muezzin_ calling the Faithful to prayer, and with one accord
the soldiers prostrated themselves upon the ground with their faces
turned in the direction of the Mohammedan holy city of Mecca.
Darkness fell upon the scene. Beyond the shouts of the sentries at
regular intervals no sound came from the island. Evidently it was not
considered to be a place of strategic importance, for no search-lights
were flashed from the shore; but away to the nor'-west and north the
sheen of the distant search-lights of Constantinople and Scutari was
plainly visible through the faint haze.
Volunteers had already been invited from the submarine. Every man had
signified his willingness to engage upon the undertaking, and Dick had
considerable difficulty in picking his force, so acute was the
disappointment of those he had to reject.
At midnight the submarine was awash, and her frail canvas boat was
unfolded and launched. At the most it would hold but five.
Giving a final glance to seaward, Huxtable gripped Dick's hand.
Silently two seamen entered the frail boat and waited till the Sub had
taken his place. Then, with greased rowlocks and muffled oars, the
Berthon made cautiously towards the pier.
Straining eyes and ears, Dick grasped the yoke-lines. Steadily the
intervening distance decreased, yet no stern challenge came from the
shadowy shore. Unseen and unheard, the canvas boat ran alongside the
pier, at the head of which was moored a large caique or Turkish craft
peculiar to the Bosphorus and its adjacent waters. At a pinch it would
carry twenty or twenty-five people, especially as the sea was calm.
It was the work of a moment to cast off the stout cord that was made
fast to the stern to prevent the boat from swaying in upon the piles.
Then, as cautiously as they had approached, the crew of the Berthon
rowed back to the submarine, towing the captured craft astern.
It was a task of considerable difficulty to locate "E--". In the
intense darkness--for not the faintest glimpse of a light could be
shown--her position was completely invisible; and it was not until he
was within twenty yards of the submarine that Dick detected the
periscope and arched girder showing faintly against the subdued glare
of the distant search-lights.
"All right?" enquired Huxtable anxiously.
"Yes, sir," replied Crosthwaite in a whisper.
At a sign from the Lieutenant-Commander the rest of the landing-party
took their places in the caique. Two of the seamen manned the long,
weighted oars, each of which worked on a single thole-pin; then in
utter silence the two boats headed towards the shore.
Every man carried a rifle and bayonet and sixty rounds of ammunition.
The safety catches of the rifles were set, to guard against an
accidental discharge of any of the weapons; while orders had been given
not to fix bayonets, lest the steel, shining dully in the faint
starlight, should betray the presence of the British seamen to the
Turkish sentries.
Unchallenged, the boats rubbed alongside the pier. Dick stealthily
ascended the perpendicular ladder till his head showed above the
planking of the gangway. He could hear the muffled tread of the sentry
pacing his beat in front of the tower. He could not hope to escape
detection much longer; but provided a couple of men were at his back,
he felt certain that they would be sufficient to commence the attack
until the rest of the boarding-party could fall in and double for their
objective.
One by one the seamen ascended, until only one man was left in each
boat to act as boat-keeper. Crouching and holding their rifles at the
trail, the bluejackets followed Crosthwaite and the midshipman.
Half-way along the pier they crept; then came the strident hail of the
Ottoman sentry.
Without a pause Dick advanced. The challenge was repeated, then a
bullet whizzed high above the heads of the landing-party.
"Double!" shouted the Sub.
The planks trembled under the rush of many feet as the men raced down
the pier. The sentry was running for dear life, yelling at the top of
his voice, to the accompaniment of a rousing British cheer which was
quickly taken up by the prisoners within the tower.
Releasing the safety catches of their rifles, all but two of the
submarine's men threw themselves on the ground in anticipation of an
attack from the troops in the barracks. The two, headed by Farnworth,
made their way to the door of the tower.
"Stand clear, there!" said the midshipman in a loud voice, as a warning
to any of the prisoners who might be on the other side of the door;
then holding the muzzle of his revolver a few inches from the lock, he
fired twice in quick succession.
The stout oaken door and its antiquated iron lock were not proof
against the heavy Webley bullets, and with a crash the woodwork gave
way. Farnworth pushed aside the remains of the door and entered.
Within was a square room, absolutely deserted.
"Where are you, men?" he shouted.
"Up here, sir," replied someone; then another voice exclaimed: "Lumme,
Bill! if 'tain't Mister Farnworth."
The midshipman had been sent to rescue his own boat's party--the
survivors of the ill-starred whaler that had been cast ashore in
Yenikeui Bay.
Farnworth looked up. He imagined that he saw an opening in the vaulted
ceiling, but there were no signs of a ladder.
"Can't you men get down?" he asked.
"We're locked in," was the lugubrious response. "They planks a ladder
up here in daytime, but we don't know what they does with it at night."
One of the two men of the submarine's crew bent down, while the second
clambered on his shoulders. Even then, when both stood erect, the
uppermost could not reach the side of the aperture.
By this time the crackle of musketry told the midshipman that the rest
of his comrades were engaged with the scanty Turkish garrison. It was
not Crosthwaite's intention to take the offensive, having once gained
possession of the tower. All he meant to do was to hold the Turks in
check until the prisoners were liberated, and then to return to the
boats.
Farnworth was for the moment at a loss how to act. Without a ladder it
seemed impossible to reach the opening in the vaulted roof. Time was
of extreme importance, for the noise of the musketry might bring
hostile patrol-boats upon the scene. It was even likely that the
island was in telegraphic communication with Scutari and
Constantinople, in which case a swift destroyer might put in an
appearance before the landing-party returned to the submarine.
"Shall I fetch the hand lead-line, sir?" asked one of the seamen who
had accompanied him. "There's one in the boat. We can sling it right
over the tower."
"And then?" asked the midshipman.
"One of us'll swarm up. The line will hold, I'll allow."
"Carry on!" said Farnworth.
The man took to his heels and ran towards the pier. A long-drawn
couple of minutes ensued, but he did not return. The firing seemed to
increase. Evidently the numbers of the Turkish garrison were
considerably in excess of what the landing-party had estimated.
Instead of bolting precipitately, the soldiers were putting up a stiff
fight.
The midshipman went to the door. On the threshold he nearly stumbled
over the body of the messenger.
"Here's the lead-line, sir," announced the seaman faintly. "They've
plugged me right enough."
"Where?" asked Farnworth anxiously.
"Through both thighs, sir," was the reply. "There isn't much pain, but
I had to crawl the last twenty yards. Don't worry about me, sir."
A bullet splaying against the stonework within a couple of feet of his
face reminded the midshipman that he was exposed to the enemy's fire.
Grasping the wounded man by the arms, he dragged him into temporary
shelter.
Without a word the second sailor took the lead-line and hurried into
the open. Swinging the sinker until it obtained considerable velocity,
he released the leaden weight. Flying upwards at a tangent, it sped
fairly over the parapet of the tower, falling to the ground on the
other side. Then, deftly securing the end of the line to an iron ring
in the masonry, the dauntless seaman made his way to the farther face
of the building and, gripping the thin yet strong rope, began to swarm
up.
It was a hazardous performance. At any moment the line might part, and
bullets were mushrooming against the stonework all around the brave
climber. Yet, unscathed, he gained the summit of the tower and drew
himself over the low parapet.
"No go, sir!" he shouted. "There's a blessed hatchway, but it's
locked."
"If I send my revolver up to you, can you blow it off its hinges?"
enquired Farnworth anxiously.
"Steady a bit, sir!" replied the man. "Stand clear a moment. All
clear, sir?"
"All clear," repeated the midshipman, wondering what the seaman was
about to do, yet feeling sure that the reliant fellow had hit upon a
feasible plan.
The man had noticed the flagstaff on which during the day the Ottoman
flag had been flying. At sunset the Crescent flag had been struck, but
instead of untoggling it from the halyards the indolent Turk to whom
the duty was entrusted had merely rolled the bunting and secured it to
the pole by a bight of the cords.
The sailor deftly detached the flag from the halyards, then, unshipping
the twenty-foot pole from its sockets, lowered it to the ground. Half
a minute later, with the captured Ottoman ensign rolled round his
waist, he rejoined the midshipman.
"Here we are, sir!" he exclaimed. "All we've to do is to push one end
of this bloomin' pole up the trap-door and I'll soon swarm up."
Not without considerable difficulty, the midshipman and the seaman
succeeded in getting the stout "stick" into the lowermost room of the
tower. When set on end it projected from beyond the opening in the
vaulted roof.
"I won't be long, sir," declared the man confidently, as he moistened
his horny palms prior to climbing the pole. "If you'd let me have your
pistol, sir, as you suggested----"
Just then another seaman burst into the room.
"Mr. Crosthwaite's compliments, sir," he exclaimed, saluting the
midshipman, "and he would like to know if you've liberated the
prisoners yet. We've got a hard job to keep the enemy back. They've
made two attempts to rush us."
"Ask him to give me five minutes more," replied Farnworth.
By this time the climber had disappeared through the opening. The
deafening report of the midshipman's revolver told that its borrower
had blown off the lock of one of the doors, and before the second shot
rang out five of the prisoners were sliding down the sole means of
communication with the ground.
One of them, possessing himself of the wounded man's rifle and
ammunition, dashed out to assist in holding back the Turkish troops.
The others, under the midshipman's orders, hastened to the pier-head to
obtain the rifles of the two boat-keepers, for every available armed
man was needed to fight a rear-guard action.
"All present?" demanded Farnworth, as the last of the rescued crew of
the _Hammerer's_ whaler slid to the ground, followed by the indomitable
bluejacket who had played such an important part in the rescue.
"All correct, sir," replied Coxswain Webb. "Leastwise, what's left of
us."
"Then fall in," ordered the midshipman. "Coxswain, march these men to
the pier-head. You'll find two boats there. Embark, and await further
instructions."
He could tell the position of Crosthwaite's party by the flashes of
their rifles as they replied to the heavy yet almost ineffectual fire
of superior numbers. But before he could cover the intervening stretch
of rising ground the whole scene was suddenly flooded with brilliant
light.
A Turkish patrol-boat had arrived to investigate the cause of the
firing. The retreat of the slender British force was cut off.