THE SINKING TRANSPORT
HIS utter weariness deserting him on the receipt of this
disconcerting intelligence, Sub-Lieutenant Farrar leapt from his
bunk, pulled on his boots, and ran up the companion ladder.
Already Mr. Gripper had called the men to action stations. The
for'ard disappearing gun had been raised, its presence being hidden
from outside observation by the foot of the reefed foresail. Prone
on the deck lay the uniformed crew, alertly awaiting orders to man
the quick-firers and strafe the lurking foe.
The sun was now shining brightly, although the wind was still
strong--"Force Six," according to the warrant officer's report. A
wicked-looking sea, white with foam, extended as far as the eye
could reach, the monotonous crests being broken in one place by the
grey hull of a badly listing vessel of about 8,000 tons.
The torpedoed craft lay well over to starboard and well down by the
stern. Clouds of smoke and steam were issuing from amidships. Three
pairs of davits were empty, while from a fourth a boat hung
vertically, crashing against the hull with the long sluggish
movements of the sinking ship. The rest of the boats on the windward
side were still hoisted, the captain evidently deciding that to
attempt to lower in such a sea was a matter of impossibility, with
certain risk of disaster. How the boats on the port side fared the
felucca's people were unable to see, although bearing to leeward
they stood a better chance of pulling clear of the foundering
transport.
Upon the steeply sloping decks of the heeling vessel, numbers of
khaki-clad figures could be discerned, drawn up in rigid lines. At
frequent intervals a part of the line would break and disperse as
the superbly disciplined troops were ordered to take their places in
such of the boats that were still available.
"Makes you feel proud that you are British, sir," remarked the
gunner. "Steady as a rock, those chaps, and not much of a chance for
a boat in that turmoil. Shall we drop to lee'ard of her, sir?"
Before the sub could reply two dark grey poles showed upon the crest
of a wave. A moment later the long sinister hull of the U-boat that
had dealt the transport the mortal blow shook itself clear of the
water.
Swept from end to end by the waves the U-boat's deck looked as if it
afforded no foothold for any of her crew, but presently the
conning-tower hatchway was thrown open, and half a dozen figures in
black oilskins and seaboots made their way for'ard, hanging
tenaciously the while to a wire lifeline.
Upon the platform surrounding the conning tower a tall figure,
evidently that of the kapitan-leutnant, stood watching the
approaching felucca through his binoculars. Cautiously Farrar
removed his cap and crouched behind the plunging bulwarks, the while
returning the compliment by keeping the U-boat under observation by
means of his glasses.
The submarine's for'ard gun was raised, in spite of the fact that
the gunners were frequently waist-deep in the surging waves. A flash
and a shell hurtled through the air within a hundred yards of the
bows of the "Georgeos Nikolaos."
It was an inhuman and peremptory order for the felucca to keep her
distance, and not to attempt the rescue of any of the torpedoed
transport's troops or crew.
Wishing to reduce the range and also to enable both guns to be
brought to bear upon the unhallowed pirate craft, the sub ordered
the helm to be starboarded, until the U-boat bore slightly ahead of
the felucca's beam.
"Ready there?" shouted the young officer.
"Ay, ay, sir," replied the quietly confident gunlayers.
"By heavens, sir!" exclaimed the warrant officer. "Look at that--the
murderous swine."
For the U-boat, not content with its work of torpedoing the
transport, had opened fire upon one of the lifeboats that had pulled
away from the lee side of the sinking ship. Having given the felucca
orders to stand off, the Huns paid no more attention to the
apparently harmless Greek trader until their cold-blooded equanimity
was rudely disturbed.
With a deafening crash both quick-firers spoke simultaneously from
the felucca's deck. Before the thin bluish haze of burnt cordite was
dispersed, the shells had "got home." One, striking the U-boat's
gun, swept it and its crew into nothingness; the other, bursting
against the base of the conning tower, tore a huge rent in the steel
deck, swept away the periscopes, and blistered the grey paint into a
hideous yellow daub. When the smoke of the exploding missile had
disappeared, the U-boat's kapitan-leutnant was observed gripping the
shattered guard-rail with one hand, the other pressed to his side.
"We've got her!" exclaimed the delighted Mr. Gripper. "She can't
dive, and these seas will fill her."
The German captain was evidently of the same opinion. Through his
binoculars the sub saw that he was moving his jaw, as if shouting
orders or questions to those of his crew in the interior of the
pirate craft. Then a seaman's head and shoulders appeared through
the hatchway, and a white flag fluttered in the strong wind.
"Napoo, laddie!" ejaculated the gunner. "You've all gone and done it
this time."
He looked to Farrar for confirmation. The sub shook his head.
"Cease fire!" he ordered.
For the first time Mr. Gripper's mahogany-hued face expressed
dissatisfaction at his youthful skipper's decision.
"I'd have blown the beasts to Hades!" he muttered.
"Down foresail!" ordered the sub. "Start her up."
Promptly the lateen yard was lowered on deck and the powerful motor
began to throb and emit noisy explosions from her exhaust. Had the
felucca to attempt to make dead to windward it was doubtful whether
the engine would be of sufficient horse power to enable her to
battle successfully against the force of wind and waves; but by
running before the elements the "Georgeos Nikolaos" was adroitly
manoeuvred close under the bow of the transport.
To leeward of the huge vessel there was comparatively still water.
Unhesitatingly the felucca's helmsman placed her alongside the still
crowded ship.
"Steady, lads!" shouted a strong voice without a tremor in the
ringing tones. "Number Four platoon--dismiss."
Amidst the cheers of their comrades the sixty-odd men of the platoon
scrambled, leapt, or swung themselves to the felucca's
decks--bootless, coatless, and wearing lifebelts. The rescued troops
were quickly sent below and the hatches battened down.
"Room for another thirty!" shouted the sub.
The required number fell out, the thirty-first patting the last of
the party on the back and wishing him good luck. Then, deeply laden,
the "Georgeos Nikolaos" backed away from the transport to the
accompaniment of three ringing cheers from the two hundred-odd
officers and men who, emulating the example of the "Birkenhead,"
remained drawn up upon the boat-deck.
"We'll try to keep in touch with the boats," declared Farrar,
indicating the five deeply laden lifeboats that were drifting
rapidly to lee'ard. "No sign of the U-boat?"
"Saw her founder just as we were rounding-to, sir," replied Sampson.
"I guess there aren't any survivors from her," he added with grim
satisfaction.
Presently the sub glanced aft. As he did so he gave a low whistle of
surprise.
"By Jove, Mr. Gripper!" he exclaimed. "Look at the ensign."
He pointed to the Greek flag. In the excitement of the strafing
operations it had not been struck and replaced by the White Ensign.
The warrant officer shrugged his shoulders.
"A mere detail, sir," he remarked.
"Fritz isn't in a position to protest," continued the sub, with
ominous truth. "Main point is we've done the job neatly this time."
No further remark was made on the matter. Farrar was thinking now of
other things--of the doomed transport with the band of heroes on her
decks. Unable to do more to save life, for the lives of those
already rescued would thereby be endangered, the officers and crew
of the felucca were unwilling spectators of the last throes of the
torpedoed vessel.
With the propeller running under the action of the partly throttled
motor, the "Georgeos Nikolaos" was just able to keep pace with the
far-flung line of boats. The latter, unable to run before the
vicious seas and equally helpless to make headway, were riding to
hastily constructed sea-anchors, which had the effect of keeping the
boats' heads on to the waves.
On the transport men were hard at work knocking together rapidly
made rafts--a frail chance, for even if the planks escaped being
entangled in the rigging of the sinking ship, there was the terrific
sea to contend with.
"She'll be gone in another quarter of an hour," declared Mr.
Gripper.
The warrant officer stood on the weather bulwarks and, with one hand
holding firmly the tautened shrouds, levelled his glass at a point
on the horizon.
"What is it, Mr. Gripper?" asked the sub.
The gunner did not immediately reply. Frequently enveloped in spray
he hung on rigidly, gazing the while with a doubtful expression on
his weather-beaten face.
Then he leapt down.
"It's all right, sir," he announced. "There's a destroyer making for
her. She'll have to be quick about it, though," he added under his
breath.