Drifting Mines
It was a situation in which skilful handling and consummate coolness
alone would extricate R19 from the perils that encircled her. To
attempt to back astern or forge ahead in the hope of escaping the
floating mines would be courting disaster. Fortunately there was
little to fear from partly-submerged anchored mines, for the depth of
the Skager-rack was here not far short of four hundred fathoms. On
the other hand, the drifting mines were either in pairs or in
multiples of two, connected by lengths of wire of sufficient length
to cause the explosive cylinders to hit amidships the hull of any
vessel unfortunate enough to pick up the middle part of the bight of
rope.
Promptly the whaler and one of the Berthons were brought on deck. The
former was launched over the side and a couple of coils of rope
tossed into her. The canvas boat was unfolded, the stretchers put in
position, and also put afloat.
The Berthon, in which were three bluejackets acted as scout, rowing
on ahead, while one of the hands kept a sharp look-out for any
obstructions. The whaler followed, towing a buoy to which was
attached a grapnel by means of a 30-foot length of rope.
Provided the grapnel fouled none of the spans connecting the mines it
was reasonable to conclude that the submarine could likewise follow
without risk, since the depth at which the grapnel was suspended was
greater than the draft of R19 when awash.
A cable's length astern of the whaler the submarine cautiously crept
through the water, ready at the first alarm to back from the danger.
"Heavens! What is that lubber doing?" exclaimed the Hon. Derek, as
the bowman of the Berthon laid aside his oar, seized a boat-hook, and
prepared to fend off a circular mine.
"Avast there!" roared the Lieutenant-Commander through his megaphone;
but he was too late. Already the foolhardy man was thrusting the
metal head of the boat-hook hard against the slippery surface of the
mine. Even in calm water the act would have been that of a madman. As
it was, the choppy waves rendered the result of the attempt a
foregone conclusion. Metal grated on metal, and the next instant one
of the fragile horns of the mine snapped off close to its base.
Through his binoculars Fordyce could see the horrified looks on the
faces of the men in the Berthon as they attempted to back from the
scene of the bowman's ill-judged activity. In four or five seconds
the chemical action of the salt water upon the contents of the
fractured tube would cause the charge to explode, with annihilating
results to the three bluejackets.
Four seconds passed in long-drawn suspense. Five, six, seven--but the
expected disaster did not take place.
Not until the Berthon was beyond the danger zone did the Hon. Derek
give vent to his feelings.
"Thank Heaven, it's a dud!" he exclaimed fervently.
Then, ordering the Berthon alongside, he addressed the bowman with a
few very forcible remarks upon his lubberly action, and, as a
precaution, made the men leave their boat-hooks on the submarine's
deck.
For nearly an hour the nerve-racking ordeal continued as R19 slowly
threaded her way through the mine-field. By a skilful use of the helm
the submarine, under the guidance of the whaler, contrived to avoid
most of the dangers. Those mines that lay athwart her course, and
could not be otherwise avoided, were tackled by the whaler, their
spans grappled for and secured, and thus towed out of the way.
"By Jove, if we had time I'd like to explode the whole crowd of
them!" remarked the Lieutenant-Commander, referring to the mines, now
happily astern. The whaler, now a mile ahead, was returning, after
having made sure, as far as human agency could provide, that the
limit of the field had been passed, and R19, having hoisted the
recall, was only waiting for the boats to be safely stowed before
proceeding.
"Destroyer on the starboard bow."
The disconcerting announcement could hardly have been made at a worse
time. The chances were that the approaching craft was a Hun, since
both Heligoland and Kiel were within easy steaming distance of the
Skaw, and German light cruisers and torpedo-boats could manoeuvre
with slight risk of being brought into action. If surprised by a
British flotilla, it was a simple matter to make for Danish
territorial waters. On the other hand, should no hostile craft put in
an appearance, the presence of Hun warships off the shores of Jutland
served to impress the Danes with the fact that Germany held supreme
command of the North Sea.
By the fact that the destroyer had altered helm and was bearing down
upon the submarine, it was certain that she had spotted the latter.
R19 was at a decided disadvantage. Without abandoning her boats she
could not dive and attack by means of torpedoes. If she remained
awash, her comparatively low speed and inferior gun-power would be no
match for the swift and well-armed destroyer.
The master-mind of the Lieutenant-Commander instantly gripped the
solution to the problem.
"Action stations! Prepare for diving!" he ordered. "I'll fight her,
and the victors can pick up the boats' crews."