DOOMED TO DIE.
It was a bitter disappointment to Jack, but he felt he could do nothing
but submit. True, he thought to himself, he could probably have attacked
the German commander, and perhaps have overcome him; but there was Frank
to be considered, and his own injured right arm. No, he felt he could do
nothing but submit.
"Very well, sir," he answered the German, "but first you will please
permit me to see to my friend."
He indicated Frank's prostrate form across the room. The German saw it
then for the first time and nodded assent.
"Also," said Jack, "it would be well if you did not permit that man,"
indicating Davis, "to escape. He is a traitor."
"So?" exclaimed the officer.
He drew his revolver and mounted guard over Davis.
"There is really no use my guarding you," he said. "Half a dozen of my
men are below, so you could hardly escape."
In the meantime Jack bent over Frank and raised his chum's head to his
knee. Then he arose, asked permission of the German to leave the room
for water. The permission was granted and Jack returned a moment later,
his cap filled with water.
He sprinkled the water over Frank's face and soon perceived signs of
returning consciousness. Frank drew a deep breath and opened his eyes.
Then he pushed Jack aside and sat up.
"What's happened?" he asked in a faint voice.
In a few words Jack explained.
"I remember now," said Frank. "Help me up."
Jack did so and then for the first time Frank caught sight of the German
naval commander.
"What's he doing here?" he asked of Jack.
"Oh, he's just arrested us; that's all," said Jack.
"Yes," said the German, "and I must ask you to accompany me now. You
shall come aboard my ship until this matter has been investigated
thoroughly. I'll take charge of you, rather than to turn you over to the
military authorities; for after all you are naval officers and I shall
help you if I can. Please precede me; and you too," this last to Davis
in a gruffer tone.
All proceeded below, where eight or ten other men stood waiting. Then
all marched away.
Reaching the water front all entered a small boat and were rowed toward
a submarine, perhaps a quarter of a mile away.
As they passed, Jack noticed the U-6 a short distance away and made out
Lord Hastings' figure on the bridge. He raised an arm and waved it. He
was not sure that his signal had been seen, but he did not wish to draw
further attention to his commander.
Aboard the submarine the German commander had them taken to his own
cabin, where he insisted upon his own surgeon dressing Frank's wound and
having a look at Jack's arm.
The surgeon pronounced both injuries slight and prescribed rest. Several
times Frank caught the German commander looking at him curiously and it
worried him somewhat, for there was something familiar about the man,
though Frank could not seem to place him.
"I'm just trying to think," said the German to Frank, "where I have seen
you before. I don't place your name."
"I can't remember you, sir," replied Frank.
Suddenly the German slapped his thigh. Frank's heart sank for some
reason he was unable to explain to himself.
"I have it!" exclaimed the German. "You are the lad whom I captured from
a British submarine in the Kiel Canal not so long ago. I remember you
well now. You escaped. So you are a British spy, eh?"
"I--I----" began Frank.
The German raised a hand.
"It will do you no good to deny it," he said quietly. "I cannot be
mistaken. Besides, I can plainly see now that you are no German; and
this supposed-to-be German officer with you is also British. I can see
it now. So is the other prisoner, though I cannot see what you should
have been fighting about."
Neither Frank nor Jack replied. Each realized that there was no use in
entering a denial.
"I'll take my oath I'm sorry for this," said the German. "Of course, you
know there is but one thing I can do?"
Frank nodded understandingly.
"You were found within our lines in German uniforms," said the
commander. "Therefore you are spies and must be treated as such. I
myself shall call a court martial within the hour. You must be shot. The
other man will be tried separately, but I have no doubt he will suffer
the same fate. Orderly!"
A second officer entered the room.
"Have these prisoners closely guarded and bring them here an hour from
now," he ordered. "Then summon the commanders of the other vessels in
the harbor. They shall sit on a court martial here. Hurry."
Jack and Frank were led from the cabin and locked in another compartment
at the far end of the ship where they sat in silence until they were
conducted to the commander's cabin.
And as they gazed about the cabin the eyes of both opened wide in
surprise, though they made no sound.
For there, sitting with five other German officers about the table, was
none other than Lord Hastings, still wearing his German uniform. He was
sitting on the trial board.
The German commander who had captured them presided.
"Bring in the other prisoner," he commanded.
A moment later Davis was led in. The lads saw a surprised expression
flash over Lord Hastings' face as his eyes rested on Davis; but he sat
still.
Then, suddenly appearing to take a close look at Frank and Jack for the
first time, he jumped to his feet and approached them. After a careful
scrutiny, he uttered a loud exclamation and turned to the other
officers.
"Sirs," he said quietly, "you have indeed made an important capture.
These men, although apparently young, are two of the most trusted of
British spies. I know them, for I have come in close contact with them,"
and he glared at them angrily. "So, we have you at last, eh?" addressing
the boys, who shrank back in well-feigned alarm.
As for Davis, he said nothing. He had been doing a lot of thinking and
had come to the conclusion that it was better to postpone his fate by
being rescued with Frank and Jack, if possible; for he had a pretty
shrewd idea that Lord Hastings was there for some such purpose.
"So," continued Lord Hastings, eyeing the two lads angrily. "I have you,
eh. I would like to put a hole through each of you myself." He half drew
a revolver.
The German commander interfered.
"None of that, if you please, sir," he commanded sharply. "They shall
have trial; and if they are convicted, as I have no doubt they will be,
I shall bestow upon you the doubtful honor of performing the execution."
"And I shall be pleased indeed, sir," replied Lord Hastings with a leer.
The German commander turned from him in disgust.
"It is such men as you, who are a disgrace to the navy," he said
quietly.
"Sir!" exclaimed Lord Hastings, facing the German in apparent wrath,
though nothing could have pleased him better--things were working out
much better than he had dared hope.
"Tut! Tut!" exclaimed the German commander. "I have no time to quarrel
with you now. But when the war is over, it will give me much pleasure to
put an end to one of your ilk."
"I shall remember that!" exclaimed Lord Hastings. "You shall answer to
me, sir."
"When the war is over, I shall be very much at your service," was the
quiet rejoinder. "But now to business. Prisoners, you may all stand up
together. Your name?" he demanded of Jack.
"Templeton, sir," replied the lad quietly.
"And yours, sir?" demanded the German of Frank.
"Chadwick, sir."
The German turned to Davis.
"Davis, sir," replied the man before the German could propound the
question.
"Have any of you prisoners anything to say in extenuation of your
actions?"
There was no reply.
"No reason why the death sentence should not be passed upon you?"
continued the German.
Still there was no reply.
The German commander then explained what he knew of the three and called
for a vote.
"Commander Derndorff?"
"Death!" was the response.
"Commander Hellwig?"
"Death!"
"Commander Berne?"
"Death!"
"Commander Blough?"
"Death!"
"Commander Bernstorff?"
Lord Hastings' response was louder than the rest and he smiled evilly as
he cried:
"Death!"
The German commander who had captured the lads made a grimace but said
nothing.
He paused a moment and then declared quietly:
"My verdict also is death!"
Lord Hastings, apparently, could restrain his impatience no longer.
"Good! Good!" he cried.
"The sentence of this court martial," continued the German commander
unheeding Lord Hastings, "is that the prisoners all be shot at sunrise
tomorrow. Commander Bernstorff, since you are so eager to perform the
disagreeable duty, you may command the execution; and that your men may
think the less of you, as president of this court martial, I order you
to choose the firing squad from among your own crew."
Lord Hastings beamed on him.
"It shall be done with pleasure," he declared eagerly.
"And," continued the president of the court martial, "you shall take the
prisoners aboard your own vessel and you shall be held responsible for
them. I could almost hope they would escape, so that you should suffer,"
he added to himself.
"Good, sir. Good!" cried Lord Hastings. "I shall remove them at once,
sir."
"One thing more," said the commander sharply. "They must not be
ill-treated. Understand?"
Lord Hastings' face fell in well-feigned disappointment. He appeared to
draw himself together, saluted and said with an apparent effort.
"You shall be obeyed, sir."
"Take them away, then."
Lord Hastings ordered the three marched to the side of the vessel, where
they stepped aboard the little boat. Then they were rowed rapidly toward
the U-6.
As they neared the submarine, where they knew lay safety, the spirits of
the lads soared once more, in spite of their wounds. Frank expressed
Jack's sentiments as well as his own when he leaned close to Lord
Hastings and muttered:
"Close shave, sir!"