CHANGED ORDERS
As the Germans came aboard--ten of them--they were herded before Jack.
They stood there sullenly, their eyes on the deck. One of them wore a
heavily braided and imposing uniform. Jack addressed him.
"You are the commander of that submarine?" he questioned.
"I was," answered the German.
"You were, what?" asked Jack sharply.
"I was the commander."
"You don't seem to catch my meaning," said Jack, taking a step forward.
"When you speak to me say 'sir.'"
"Then you shall say 'sir' to me," said the German.
"Oh, no I won't," Jack declared. "I never say sir to a murderer."
The German's eyes lighted angrily.
"It would be well to be more careful of your words," he said.
"Nevertheless," said Jack, "I repeat them. You, are a murderer, and as
such should be hanged at once. I'm not sure it is in my province to string
you up, but I'm strongly tempted to do so and take the consequences."
"But I guess you won't," sneered the German.
"Then don't try me too far," said Jack quietly. "To my mind, men like you
and your cowardly followers should be put out of the way the same as a mad
dog; and certainly there is no law against killing a dog."
"I warn you," said the German, taking a step nearer the lad, "to be more
choice in your words."
"Silence!" Jack thundered, "and don't you dare step toward me unless I
tell you to do so." He turned to Frank. "Take those men below and put them
in irons," he ordered.
Frank stepped forward to obey, and again the German commander protested.
"You can't do that," he said. "My men are prisoners of war and as such are
entitled to all the usual courtesies."
"They are, eh?" asked Jack. "Then I'll modify that order a bit,
temporarily, Mr. Chadwick, will you kindly bring irons for this man here,"
and he indicated the German officer. "I want his men and all our
passengers to see how he looks in shackles, which he should have been made
to wear long ago."
Frank hurried away. The German commander, after taking one step back at
Jack's words, stepped quickly forward again. His hand went to his side and
he produced a long knife. Then he sprang.
Jack smiled slightly, stepped quickly to one side and with his left hand
caught the German's knife arm. He twisted sharply, and the knife dropped
to the deck.
Jack released his hold and the German staggered back. Deliberately Jack
cuffed the man across the face with his right hand, then with his left.
Twice more he did this, following the German as he retreated across the
deck.
"Let that teach you," he said, "that attempting to stab a British naval
officer is very bad business. But here comes something that will teach
you more," and he pointed to Frank, who reappeared at that moment followed
by two sailors bearing heavy chains. "These irons," Jack continued, "will
show you just what is in store for you when you are landed in England.
Hold out your hands."
The German did so. Quickly handcuffs were snapped on.
"Shackle his legs," said Jack.
The sailors needed no urging. Quickly the German's legs were shackled with
the heavy iron. Jack took a couple of steps back and surveyed his
prisoner.
"If you had been dressed up in those several years ago," he said, "I've no
doubt lots of innocent women and children now at the bottom of the sea
would be alive still."
The German commander scowled, but he said nothing.
"Now, Frank," said Jack, "you will take the other prisoners below and put
them in irons. I guess our friend here will no longer object."
The German sailors were led below, where they were soon safely chained and
Frank returned to the bridge.
"Kindly pass the word for all the passengers and the crew to come on deck,
Mr. Hetherton," ordered Jack.
The second officer obeyed and soon the deck was crowded. The German
commander became the center of an angry group.
"I've just called you all here," said Jack, "that you may cast your eyes
upon one of the kaiser's paid murderers. It is men like this who have made
an outcast of Germany. Not satisfied with killing in battle, they fire on
helpless lifeboats, sending women and children as well as unarmed
noncombatants to the bottom of the sea. In fact, it is men like this, or a
man like this, who so recently took a heavy toll in lives from the crew of
the Hazelton, after the vessel had been put out of commission."
There was an angry murmur among the crowd on deck.
"Hang him," said a voice.
The German officer's face turned a chalky white.
"I'd be pleased to do so," said Jack, "were it not for the fact that I
must retain him as a prisoner of war and turn him over to the proper
authorities. However, it wouldn't surprise me a bit if he were tried for
murder and hanged, and I'm not sure that even such a fate isn't too good
for him."
"Hang him!" came a voice from the crowd again.
"No," said Jack quietly, "it can't be done. Take him away."
These last words were addressed to Lieutenant Hetherton, who stepped
forward and took the German commander by the arm.
"Come on," he said somewhat roughly.
The German commander was led below, where he was made secure.
The passengers and crew rescued from the Hazelton dispersed and Jack held
a consultation with his officers.
"If we were not so far from land," he said, "I would land those we have
rescued. As it stands, I am under rush orders, so I am afraid I shall have
to take them to America."
"That cannot be helped, sir," said Lieutenant Hetherton. "I am sure they
will understand that, sir."
"I think so, too," agreed Frank.
"At all events," said Jack, "there seems nothing else to do under the
circumstances. Ring for full speed ahead, Mr. Chadwick."
Frank did so.
At that moment the radio operator again emerged from below and hurried to
Jack.
"Admiralty orders, sir," he said, passing a slip of paper to the commander
of the Brigadier.
Jack read the paper quickly, then turned to Frank with a sharp command.
"Slow to half speed," he said. "Then come about and head for Dover."
Frank asked no questions. He knew that Jack would explain the reason for
the change soon enough. Besides, the matter was none of his business. He
gave the necessary orders. Jack turned to the second officer.
"Will you take the bridge, Mr. Hetherton? Mr. Chadwick, please come to my
cabin."
The lads went below together.
"Now," said Frank, after he had taken a seat, "what's it all about?"
"Well," was Jack's reply, "the admiralty wants the Brigadier back in
Dover. That's all I know about it. I'm instructed to report to Lord
Hastings immediately on my return."
"No other explanation?"
"No."
"Funny," commented Frank. "Must be something up, though."
"So it would seem. However, I guess we'll learn soon enough. Hope they are
not going to deprive me of my command."
"No fear, I guess," declared Frank.
The return trip was made in record time and without incident. Jack saw the
victims of the Hazelton landed safely and then, turning the ship over to
Lieutenant Hetherton, went ashore with Frank to report to Lord Hastings.
The latter greeted them with a wry smile.
"It seems that my warning to America is not to be delivered after all," he
said.
"And why, sir?" asked Jack. "Are you not still convinced that the warning
is necessary?"
"I am," declared Lord Hastings, "but, as I told you, I was sending the
warning without knowledge of the Admiralty. Naturally, then, when it was
announced that the Brigadier was to be recalled to take part in other
operations, I could not announce that you carried secret dispatches from
me."
"I see," said Jack. "And what is the nature of the other operation?"
"It is a desperate undertaking," said Lord Hastings slowly, "and one that,
at first, I was tempted to advise against. And still, if successful it
will do much toward insuring an allied victory."
"Since when have you become so cautious, sir?" asked Frank with a smile.
"It's not a matter of caution, Frank," replied Lord Hastings. "It's simply
a matter of prudence. In a word, the Admiralty is determined to block the
harbors of Ostend and Zeebrugge."
Frank was on his feet and clapping his hands.
"Fine!" he exclaimed. "I don't see why it hasn't been done sooner. I
remember what Hobson did to the Spanish fleet at Santiago in the
Spanish-American war."
"It's an exploit of the same nature," Lord Hastings admitted, "though it
will be attended with even greater danger. If successful, as I say, it
will do inestimable good. The admiralty has been training specially for
this move for months, but the matter has now come to a head."
"And how does it happen that we shall be fortunate enough to lend a hand?"
asked Jack.
"My fault, I suppose," returned Lord Hastings. "Admiral Keyes, the day
after your departure, was bemoaning the fact that one ship had been taken
away from him at the last moment. I said that if Captain Templeton and the
Brigadier were here, you could easily replace the other vessel. The
admiral was of the opinion that you had not had the necessary training. I
said you didn't need it. Apparently he was convinced, for the next I heard
you had been recalled to Dover. Thus, through talking too much, I balked
my own plans."
"Perhaps," said Frank, "it won't be too late for the other when the
harbors of Ostend and Zeebrugge have been sealed."
"But perhaps you won't come back," said Lord Hastings.
"Oh, we'll be back, never fear," grinned Jack. "But what are we to do
now?"
"You will report to Admiral Keyes aboard the Warwick at once. If you
return safely, report to me. Good-bye and good luck."
The lads shook hands with Lord Hastings and left him.
"Here," said Frank, "is what I call a piece of luck."