A Friend in Need
"Well done, Cassidy!" exclaimed Lieutenant-Commander Stockdale when
the A.B., with his clothes already stiff with ice, came on board. "Go
below--don't waste time--and shift into a dry kit; and tell Jones to
serve out a stiff tot to you three men."
"Beg pardon, sir," said Cassidy, "but we found this gadget lashed
round Flirt's neck--something written on it by Mr. Fordyce."
The Hon. Derek took the paper parcel. He recognized it as the dummy
package that he had assisted to make up in order to tackle Vladimir
Klostivitch.
"All right, carry on," he replied, dismissing the now shivering A.B.
"Mr. Macquare," he continued, turning to the Lieutenant, "come below
with me if you please."
The two officers repaired to the Hon. Derek's cabin.
"Young Fordyce has got into hot water, judging by this messsage,"
remarked the Lieutenant-Commander, holding up the sodden parcel for
his subordinate's inspection. "It's lucky the address is given, for I
believe I forgot it. Now what's to be done?"
"Call for volunteers for a rescue-party, sir," suggested Mr. Macquare
promptly.
The Hon. Derek shook his head.
"Won't do, Mr. Macquare. We aren't lying on an uncivilized coast,
where we can act off our own bat. We've got to tread warily. All the
same, there's no time to be lost. If we work through diplomatic
channels there'll be weeks, perhaps months, of exasperating delay. We
must be under way within the next twenty-four hours unless we are to
be frozen in here for the winter. And I don't want to leave my Sub
behind. Hallo, what is it? I'm busy."
The entry of a bluejacket holding a piece of pasteboard in his hand
interrupted the discussion.
The card was that of Naval-Lieutenant Rodsky.
"Show him down below," ordered the Hon. Derek. "Dash it all,
Macquare, Rodsky's a sound fellow; he might help us."
The Russian officer had recently returned to Cronstadt and had taken
an early opportunity of paying a formal call upon the Hon. Derek.
When informed of what had befallen Sub-Lieutenant Fordyce he became
genuinely sympathetic.
"I quite see your point," he remarked, speaking in French, since, in
the absence of the Sub, Stockdale was without the services of an
interpreter. "I would suggest that you consult my friend,
Captain-Lieutenant Orloff, of the destroyer _Zabiyaka_. She is lying
in No. 3 Basin."
Acting upon this advice the three officers went on board the
destroyer, and Rodsky briefly outlined the case to his confrère.
"Vladimir Klostivitch--do I know anything of him?" exclaimed Captain
Orloff. "One of the most dangerous men in Russia at the present time.
M. Kerensky would have had him arrested, but there,"--the Captain
shrugged his shoulders expressively--"Trotsky is more powerful than
M. Kerensky, and Klostivitch is in Trotsky's pay."
"And Germany's too, I fancy," added Stockdale.
"I can suggest a plan," continued Orloff. "One that will remove all
responsibility from your shoulders, Monsieur le Capitan. In the
interests of my country I will arrest this villain, Klostivitch.
Fortunately my crew are loyal to me and anti-German to a man. Now
leave everything to me, and if your officer is not liberated within
twelve hours my name is not Boris Orloff."
"You will not expose yourself to the risk of the Extremists' fury?"
asked the Hon. Derek, loath to accept any favour that might be
detrimental to the generous Russian's interests.
"My friend," replied Orloff, "what has England done for us? We
Russians are extremely indebted to her. Strange, then, if I should
hesitate to run a slight risk in return for far greater sacrifice
that your navy has made for ours. There is one other point. I
understand that you are leaving as soon as possible?"
"Directly repairs are effected," replied the Lieutenant-Commander of
R19.
"Have any difficulties been placed in your way by the present naval
authorities of Cronstadt?" asked Orloff pointedly.
"None whatever," declared Stockdale emphatically. "In fact an
ice-breaker has been told off to keep a channel open for us."
"I am glad to hear it," remarked the Russian. "Later on it may be
different, especially as I hear that the Huns, in their infamous
peace proposals, demand the surrender of all Russian and Allied
warships in the Baltic. For my part I would sooner blow up the
_Zabiyaka_, and there are, I am proud to say, many other commanding
officers equally determined on that point. When will you be ready to
proceed to sea, do you think?"
"By daybreak on Thursday," replied the Hon. Derek. "Stores and
provisions are already on board."
"It is possible that the _Zabiyaka_ will escort you through the
mine-field in the Gulf of Finland," remarked Captain Orloff. "If so,
be prepared to receive a present from me," he added grimly.
"Something, perhaps, that you may not appreciate, but we Russians
will be only too pleased to get rid of. Au revoir, Monsieur le
Capitan."
"What is he hinting at, sir?" enquired Mr. Macquare as the two
British officers made their way back to the submarine.
"Goodness knows!" replied the Hon. Derek. "We can but wait and see."