THE TRAP IS SPRUNG.
As the three officers aboard the U-16 knew, British battleships and
vessels of war of all descriptions had been stationed all along the
Thames, many of them patrolling the very mouth of the river. But now, as
Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank stood upon the bridge of the little
submarine after it had entered the mouth of Thames, there was not a
vessel of any kind to be seen in the darkness.
"Admiral Fischer's orders have been followed out, sir," said Jack in a
low voice.
Lord Hastings nodded but made no reply.
Behind the U-16 the other German submarines followed closely, two
abreast. Aboard each the men stood to their posts, awaiting the signal
they expected at any minute. All the vessels moved along upon the
surface. The officers, from their places upon the bridge, followed with
their eyes the movements of the U-16, which displayed a small stern
light to guide them on.
In case of danger Lord Hastings had been instructed to give immediate
warning, that the vessels behind might have time to dive.
Perhaps a hundred yards away in the darkness Frank's keen eyes now made
out the forms of many little craft approaching them silently and
swiftly. He immediately called Lord Hastings' attention.
"The motorboats," replied the latter quietly. "Things are working out
just right."
Behind the motorboat flotilla could be seen forms of larger and mightier
ships of war--the torpedo boats which were advancing in the wake of the
mosquito fleet to surround the enemy submarines and capture or sink
them. They came along close to the shore on either side of the river and
the U-16 continued up the river in the exact center.
"When we get by, they'll close in," said Lord Hastings.
But now one of the commanders with the motorboat flotilla could restrain
his impatience no longer, and while still some distance from the enemy
gave the command to fire.
A single big gun boomed in the darkness and a shell screamed over the
U-16 toward the German submarines beyond.
"The fool!" exclaimed Lord Hastings angrily. "Why could he not wait?
There is no reason for concealment longer."
Immediately he gave the signal agreed upon with the German admiral, the
darkening of the tail light--the signal for the others to submerge--and
the U-16 dashed forward faster than before--to reach a place of safety
as quickly as possible and to get out of range of the British ships,
which, a moment later, opened upon the enemy with every available gun.
Directly opposite the U-16 there was a terrible explosion, a blinding
flash, illumining the night like day. A German submarine had launched a
torpedo and it had gone home. The foremost British torpedo boat had been
destroyed.
But the others rushed on.
The Germans had heeded Lord Hastings' signal to submerge and were doing
their best to disappear beneath the water before the British could reach
them, the while firing an occasional torpedo, in the hope that it would
go true, for they were unable to find the range and were working on mere
guesswork.
Before the first of the foe could submerge a shell from one of the
little motorboats struck her squarely upon the bridge, killing the
captain and other officers, and shattering the conning tower. The men
below no longer had a means of guiding the vessel, which drifted toward
her nearest neighbor and rammed her amidships. This blow, while not
necessarily fatal, threw the latter out of her stride, and being unable
to tell for the moment what was wrong, the German commander gave the
order to cease submerging; and the vessel remained where she was until a
shell from a British torpedo boat put an end to her.
The two enemy under-sea boats last in line had turned about with the
first warning and were making full speed down river again. The rest had
submerged before the British could come upon them and had sought to come
about and make their way to safety beneath the water.
But the British vessels were too swift for them. With mine nets
stretched clear across the river, now that the U-16 had passed to
safety, the torpedo boats dashed ahead; and an hour later four more
German submarines, caught in these powerful nets, were helpless. It only
remained to drag them to the surface and make prisoners of the crews,
which work was deferred until daylight.
Aboard the U-16 none knew what had occurred save the three upon the
bridge--Lord Hastings, Frank and Jack. Below, all stood to their posts,
awaiting they knew not what.
Jack descended.
"All right, men," he said, "you may turn in, if you wish. There'll be no
fighting to-night."
There was an exclamation of disappointment from among the German
sailors, who apparently had been banking on dealing a severe blow to the
British. There were several questions, which Jack answered by saying:
"We haven't come upon the enemy yet, and will not to-day."
He returned to the bridge.
"I suppose," said Lord Hastings, "the best thing we can do now is to go
ashore and report. Frank, you shall come with me. Jack will remain
behind."
The lads nodded.
Half an hour later Jack was left aboard the U-16, while Lord Hastings
and Frank were being rowed ashore.
Below, although Jack did not know it, trouble was brewing. Davis and his
three fellow-conspirators were plotting again.
"And what did this man Edwards say?" demanded Davis of one of the
Germans.
"He said he would let me know some time to-day," was the reply. "Also,
that he felt sure the others would follow his lead--would do whatever he
said. He agreed with me that this was no war of ours, and added that as
long as kings and emperors were using us to do their will, there was no
reason why we shouldn't confiscate the property of kings and emperors to
gain a few advantages for ourselves."
"By Jove!" exclaimed Davis. "The fellow reasons well. He may prove the
very man for us." And he added to himself: "It would be a good thing to
have another Englishman with me, if he is of the right sort."
The conversation continued for some moments, and then Davis said:
"Say, one of you fellows, tell Edwards I want to see him now."
One of the men departed, and returned a moment later, followed by
Edwards. Davis engaged him in conversation and the two talked in low
tones for perhaps five minutes. Then Davis turned to the others.
"I can see no reason why we should wait longer," he said. "Bernstorff
and one of his officers is ashore. There remains only one and the crew.
We can dispose of the one officer easily enough, and as for the crew, I
am of the opinion that most of them will join us."
"Then," said Edwards, "if you will wait here until I return I will get
my other men."
"It would be better that way," agreed Davis. "There will be seven of us
and that should be enough. Hurry."
Edwards withdrew. First he made his way to where O'Brien and McDonald
were asleep, and, rousing them, bade them follow him; but instead of
returning to Davis' quarters, he led the way rapidly to where Jack stood
upon the bridge.
Edwards explained the situation in a few brief words and Jack was
dumbfounded.
"And you say Davis is preparing to spring this coup to-night?" exclaimed
Jack.
"Right now, sir," returned Edwards quietly. "That's why I brought
O'Brien and McDonald here. We are all armed, sir."
"Oh, we are more than a match for Davis and his trio of conspirators,"
Jack agreed. "The only thing that troubles me is that the others of the
crew may join him. We shall have to act quickly. Follow me."
He drew his revolver and led the way below. There he hurried straight to
Davis' quarters and flung open the door. Then he stopped in surprise.
"No one here," he ejaculated.
He was right. Davis and the others had gone; and though Jack did not
know it, they were at that moment aft haranguing the crew, who had
gathered about them eagerly.
Every man aboard the ship was now armed, for Lord Hastings had decided
it would be inadvisable to relieve them of their weapons--it would have
aroused their suspicions--and they were receiving Davis' proposals with
satisfaction. It seemed that they had long harbored such thoughts and
all that had been needed to egg them on had been a leader. They seemed
to have found one in Davis.
"Then you men are with me?" asked Davis, his face flushed with pleasure.
The answer was a cheer; and the cheer carried to Jack, who was still in
Davis' quarters. It told the lad what had happened just as well as
though he had been present and overheard the conversation.
"Quick men! Back to the bridge!" the lad exclaimed.
He dashed forward, but he was not quick enough.
As he left Davis' cabin the Germans appeared in the little passageway
aft, Davis in advance. He saw Jack the same moment the latter saw him
and both raised their revolvers and fired. But neither had paused to
take careful aim and both bullets went wide of their mark.
Edwards and the two other British sailors now sprang into the little
passageway and levelled their revolvers at the foe. For a brief moment
the Germans hesitated, and in that moment the British poured in a
volley. Two men fell, another groaned, and two cursed--while at a
shouted command from Davis, the fire was returned.
The sailor McDonald flung wide his arms and toppled to the floor.
"Back, sir!" cried Edwards. "They are too many for us."
The three retreated along the passageway until they reached the ladder
leading to the bridge.
"You first, sir!" said Edwards, at the same time firing down the
passage.
Jack hung back.
"After you," he replied.
"Don't be a fool now," said Edwards. "Hurry, while I hold them off."
Again he fired at the crowd of German faces down the passage, as did
O'Brien.
Jack hesitated no longer and climbed the ladder rapidly.
"You next, O'Brien," said Edwards.
O'Brien sprang to the ladder, but a bullet from a German revolver halted
him halfway. He toppled over without a word. Edwards glanced at him
quickly once, saw that he was beyond help, and sprang to the ladder
himself.
A bullet struck him in the side but it did not stop him. Jack, at the
top, lent the man a helping hand, and a moment later Edwards stood
beside him on the deck.
"No time to waste, sir," said the sailor. "Over the side with you,
quick!"
Jack flung himself into the river as Davis showed his face on deck.