MISTAKEN FOR AN ENEMY.
Davis had won--fairly and cleanly--there was no doubt about that.
But Jack and Lord Hastings wasted no time in considering the merits of
the encounter. Each sprang forward and bent above the lad. Lord Hastings
raised the boy's head to his knee.
"Water," he said to Jack.
The latter hastened to get it, and after a few drops had been sprinkled
over his face, Frank opened his eyes. He glanced up curiously at Lord
Hastings.
"What's the matter?" he asked. "What's happened?"
"Matter is," returned Jack quietly, "that you have just been convinced
that you are not such a terrible fighter as you have been thinking."
"You mean he licked me?" demanded Frank, suddenly realizing just what
had happened.
"He did," returned Jack dryly; "and he did a pretty good job of it."
"But I tell you I had him," cried Frank. "One more blow and--and----"
"The one more blow didn't land," replied his chum.
"But I tried----"
"Yes, you tried, all right. I saw you. You just missed him and then he
landed on you--twice, and hard. That's why you're here."
"He couldn't do it again," said Frank feebly.
"Maybe not and maybe yes," said Jack. "However, you're not going to have
another trial. You've been licked, and licked good and proper, and
that's all there is to it. See if you can get up now. I'll take you to
our own quarters."
Frank pulled himself to his feet, and, leaning on Jack, walked from the
room.
Davis now had donned his coat and stood near as the two passed out.
There was a sneering smile on his puffed face, and he spoke.
"Perhaps you fellows will pay a little more attention to me when I say
something after this," he muttered.
Jack whirled on him sharply.
"See here," he said quietly, "if you make any trouble in the future I'll
take you in hand myself. You'll find that the result will be somewhat
different."
"So?" sneered Davis, feeling not a little proud of himself. "You are at
liberty to try at any time. Right now, eh?"
He made as if to discard his coat. Flushed with victory, he manifested
no doubt that he could handle Jack as well as Frank.
In spite of himself, Jack was forced to smile.
"We won't fight now," he said quietly. "You're not in condition in the
first place. But when you have been fixed up, I just want to tell you
not to trifle with me."
"Threats, eh?"
"Call them what you please. I don't want to have to spank you, but I may
have to. Don't bother me, that's all."
He helped Frank from the room without another word. Lord Hastings, about
to leave the room, stopped for a word with Davis.
"Just a word of advice," he said. "As you know, we are on a perilous
duty. Any more trouble and I'll have you ironed if necessary. You're in
no position to make a nuisance of yourself."
Davis made no reply. He recognized Lord Hastings' authority to do as he
said and he was smart enough to say nothing. Lord Hastings left Davis
with the sailors.
An hour after leaving the spot where the U-16 had so recently sent a
German submarine to the bottom, Lord Hastings again gave the command to
come to the surface; and the vessel proceeded then upon the top of the
water.
Frank and Jack, tired out, had retired for a brief rest before their
services would again be required; but had they been in Davis' cabin they
would have overheard a strange conversation.
Davis and three of the German sailors were engaged in a deep and
apparently serious discussion. They talked in subdued tones and cast
occasional furtive glances at the door. Occasionally the three nodded
their heads affirmatively as Davis talked, each occasionally
volunteering a few words himself.
"Then you are with me?" asked Davis at length.
The men nodded.
"Good. But we shall have to bide our time. A false step and it would be
the end of all of us. This Commander Bernstorff, I should say, is a bad
man to fool with. But once we can get him in our power and silence the
others, we can make something of ourselves."
"Yah!" muttered one of the sailors. "What is this war to us anyhow? You
are English and we are German; but what of it? Why should we take orders
from such men as Herr Commander Bernstorff and others of his kind?"
"Why, indeed?" echoed another.
"You are right," said Davis. "Now, when we take possession of this
vessel we will be our own masters. No one to tell us what to do. We
won't have to risk our lives for some one else's gain. And what booty we
can get shall be evenly divided among us. There is rich prey upon the
sea."
"But first," said one of the sailors, "to come into possession of this
vessel, we shall have to dispose of Commander Bernstorff, his
lieutenants, and others of the crew."
"How," exclaimed one of the others suddenly, "how if some of the others
would join us? I have no doubt they would if approached in the right
way."
"We don't want too many," protested the third. "The fewer of us, the
fewer to share in the spoils."
"True enough," said Davis, "but we must have men enough for a crew. I,
of course, shall command. You three will be my officers. We must have a
crew."
"How about the English sailors?" asked one of the Germans. "They must be
dissatisfied. Here they are prisoners and will be kept under guard until
the end of the war. Certainly they should be willing to join us. It will
mean freedom and a share in the rich spoils."
"With which to retire when the war is over," put in another. "Why, we
can go to America and live at ease for years to come."
"Which is my plan exactly," declared Davis. "Yes, we must have a crew.
Hans, do you think you could approach these prisoners?"
"Leave that to me, sir," replied Hans with an evil wink. "I think I can
convince them, sir."
"Good; but in the meantime, do not talk this among yourselves. I believe
we had better wait until after the end of the expedition we are now on.
Vigilance, probably, will relax then. In the meantime, we must try and
show ourselves to be perfectly loyal to the Kaiser."
"Very well, sir."
"All right then," said Davis. "You fellows clear out now. I want to get
a little sleep."
Silently the three conspirators made their way from the traitor's cabin.
No one saw them go and the success of the plot seemed assured as the
U-16 continued on her journey, Lord Hastings, Frank, Jack and the other
British aboard unaware and unsuspecting.
Shortly after dusk of the night upon which the German under-sea fleet
expected to spring its coup, the U-16 lay upon the calm surface of the
water still some distance from the point set for the gathering of the
submarine flotilla at the midnight hour, and likewise a considerable
distance from Dover.
Explaining his reason for stopping here, Lord Hastings said: "There may
be British patrol boats about--probably are. I want you boys to remain
in charge here, while I take a boat and try to reach the British
authorities."
"One of us had better go along, sir," declared Frank.
Lord Hastings considered this a minute.
"I don't know but you are right," he finally said. "Frank shall go. Jack
will take command in my absence."
He addressed the latter. "Arm Edwards and our other men," he continued,
"though do it unknown to the Germans. I don't altogether trust this
Davis. Of course he is in the pay of the Germans; but once a traitor
always a traitor. Watch him closely."
"I'll watch him," said Jack quietly.
"Very well. Frank and I shall leave at once."
Lord Hastings ordered a small boat over the side, the two jumped into it
and rowed rapidly away, leaving Jack to pass the word among the crew
that Commander Bernstorff had gone on a little scouting expedition.
For half an hour Lord Hastings and Frank rowed along without incident
until they could see a few dull lights in the distant town of Dover.
"Seems to me there is a terrible lack of vigilance hereabouts," declared
Frank.
"It does look that way," Lord Hastings admitted. "However----"
There came a sudden interruption--the sound of a shot, and a bullet
whistled overhead.
"Not such a terrible lack of vigilance, either," remarked Lord Hastings.
"I wonder where that shot came from?"
He gazed about but could see nothing in the darkness. Came a second shot
from behind him, and turning, the two saw a little motorboat that had
crept up behind them unnoticed.
"We surrender!" called Lord Hastings, fearing to take a chance that the
next shot would miss.
The motorboat came toward them quickly.
"Who are you?" demanded a figure standing in the bow, and at this
distance Lord Hastings could dimly make out that the man wore a British
uniform.
"Friends," was the reply.
The British officer peered at them sharply, then noticed their German
uniforms.
"Friends, eh," he said; "in those uniforms. Not likely. Climb into my
boat."
Lord Hastings and Frank obeyed without a word, and at a command from the
British officer the motorboat put about and headed shoreward.
"Where are you taking us?" asked Lord Hastings quietly.
"None of your business," was the sharp response.
"So?" said Lord Hastings quietly. "I would advise you to speak more
respectfully. I would not like to report you. I asked you a civil
question and I would appreciate a civil answer."
"Well, I'll tell you, seeing that you are so anxious," replied the
officer. "I am taking you to Admiral Fischer, at Dover, who, most
likely, will know better how to attend to your case than I do."
"Most likely," repeated Lord Hastings. "And how long before we may
expect to see the admiral?"
"About half an hour."
"Good!" And Lord Hastings whispered to Frank: "Plenty of time.
Fortunately I am well acquainted with Admiral Fischer."