HOLCOMBE'S SURPRISE
"S.O.S. MESSAGE through, sir," reported the yeoman of signals of
H.M.S. "Antipas," saluting, as he handed Lieutenant-Commander Aubyn
a signal pad.
The skipper took the proffered message, scrawled in indelible ink
upon a flimsy sheet of damp paper, for the destroyer was making
heavy weather of it.
Without a word Aubyn passed the message on to Holcombe, who was with
his chief on the destroyer's bridge. The sub read the momentous
appeal:
"Transport 'Epicyclic' torpedoed, sinking. Lat. 34° 20' 30" N.,
Long. 25° 15' 10" E."
"Reply, 'Am proceeding to your assistance,'" ordered the
lieutenant-commander, addressing the waiting signalman. "South 50
East, quartermaster," he added, as he passed the steam
steering-wheel on his way to the chart-room.
Aubyn could have delegated the setting out of the new course to his
sub-lieutenant, but conscientious in all matters he himself took
parallel rulers and dividers and laid off the compass course that
would bring the "Antipas" to the position indicated by the sinking
"Epicyclic."
"Not so dusty, eh?" he remarked to Holcombe, when the result was
obtained. The preliminary direction he had given to the
quartermaster was only half a degree out. "Seventy-two miles: two
and a half hours' run. Let's hope we'll be in time."
A shadow fell athwart the chart. Both officers turned to find the
barefooted signalman standing at the open door.
"Can't get no reply from 'er, sir," he reported.
"H'm! Dynamos out of action, I suppose," observed Aubyn. "Looks bad.
All right; carry on."
The "Antipas" was cleared for action. Stanchion rails were stowed;
only life-lines, led fore and aft, serving to prevent men from being
washed overboard. Everything on deck was battened down, for in spite
of her high fo'c'sle and exaggerated "flare" in her bows the
destroyer was shipping green seas right over her bridge, the water
almost instantly changing into clouds of vapour as it drifted aft
against the red-hot funnels. The destroyer had just entered the
limits of the path of the storm experienced by the "Georgeos
Nikolaos," and on her new course she was making for the centre of
the severe atmospheric disturbances. In really dirty weather a craft
of this type is one of the most undesirable that can be imagined,
for possessing great length to a comparatively small beam she drives
through rather than over the waves, while to the vibrations imparted
by the pulsations of the powerful engines must be added the
disconcerting hogging and sagging of the lightly built hull.
On her errand of succour the "Antipas" was running great risks,
apart from the danger of carrying on at full speed through the gale.
In the rain storms there were chances of colliding with other
vessels summoned by the general wireless S.O.S., while the U-boat
that had dealt the transport the fatal blow might be lying in wait,
possibly with others, to repeat her exploit by torpedoing some of
the rescuing ships. Yet, in spite of the triple risk, Aubyn, like
every one of his brother officers of the Senior Service, had not the
slightest hesitation in proceeding to the scene of the disaster.
There were soon indications that others of His Majesty's ships had
picked up the "Epicyclic's" S.O.S. Wireless messages in code were
picked up, which, by reference to the secret code book, were found
to have been sent from the destroyers "Antigone" and "Amaxila,"
although both were several miles farther from the scene than was the
"Antipas."
At about one bell in the forenoon watch the look out reported a
tramp bearing two miles on the destroyer's port bow. Ordered to
"make her number" the vessel proved to be the s.s. "Andromeda" of
Avonmouth, bound for Damietta.
"Very good," commented Holcombe, who was officer of the watch at the
time. "Signal to her that a hostile submarine has been reported in
latitude and longitude so and so "--giving the position indicated in
the "Epicyclic's" message for aid. "We don't want to spend the whole
day in picking up torpedoed crews."
A quarter of an hour later the "Andromeda" was out of sight, and the
"Antipas," swept again and again by the terrific seas, held swiftly
on her course.
"We'll have a deuce of a job, Mr. Holcombe," remarked Aubyn, as he
rejoined his junior officer on the bridge. "Unless the weather
moderates it will be a touch-and-go business to run alongside--that
is, if the transport's still afloat."
"She may be able to pump oil overboard," suggested Holcombe.
"According to----"
"Periscope on the port bow!" shouted a voice that, although
stentorian in volume, was only just audible above the howling of the
wind and the hiss of the flying spray.
The gunlayer of the for'ard quick-firer was quick on the mark, but a
peremptory order caused him to relax his hold on the trigger of the
firing-pistol. Only just in time did Aubyn detect the real nature of
the supposed periscope: a portion of a foretop mast that, weighted
down, was floating in a vertical position.
It was one of those common instances that would bring a volley of
chaff upon the head of the mistaken look-out man, but it is also an
indication of the effect of the mental and physical strain that
arises from constant expectation of sighting the outward and visible
sign of the modern pirate.
"No deception this time, sir," observed Holcombe, as a burst of
brilliant sunshine lit up the sinking transport, which had hitherto
been hidden in the scud.
"We're in time, I fancy," said the lieutenant-commander, "Fritz and
other trivialities permitting."
With the guns' crews keeping a sharp look out for U-boats the
"Antipas" circled completely round the "Epicyclic," pumping out
gallons of crude oil as she passed to windward. Then, seizing her
opportunity, the destroyer ran alongside the sinking ship on the
leeward side--Aubyn had had to do this manoeuvre several times
before, and was getting expert--and was made fast while the
remaining Tommies and the officers and crew gained safety on the
destroyer's deck.
It was an anxious ten minutes, for in spite of flexible "springs"
and huge "pudding fenders" the lightly built "Antipas" was grinding
heavily against the heeling sides of the transport, the port bilge
keel of which was momentarily above the oil-quelled waves; but with
no other casualty amongst the destroyer's crew beyond a petty
officer having received a nasty "nip," the "Antipas" drew clear.
Before she had put two cables' lengths between her and the transport
the latter's bows rose higher in the air, at an angle of sixty
degrees. To the accompaniment of a super-cloud of smoke and steam
the torpedoed vessel glided, rather than plunged, beneath the
surface of the iridescent water.
The bark of the after four-inch quick-firer instantly diverted
Sub-Lieutenant Holcombe's attention from the impressive spectacle of
the sinking ship and the comparatively insignificant sight, though
none the less to be ignored, of a torpedo cleaving through the
waves. The missile had apparently been badly adjusted, for it shot
clear of the water as it passed the trough of the heavy seas.
Nevertheless it was heading straight for the bows of the rapidly
moving destroyer; and had the mutual speed and direction been
maintained, the weapon would have struck the "Antipas" amidships.
The gunlayer had been exceptionally smart on his sights. Even as the
lively helmed destroyer swung round, listing heavily as she did so,
a shell struck the water directly in front of the locomotive weapon.
A tremendous waterspout and a deafening crash announced that a
Schwartzkopff torpedo had ended its career in a manner not
anticipated by its Hunnish makers or the Black Cross pirates on
board the lurking U-boat.
For the next twenty minutes that U-boat had a most unpleasant time,
for in spite of the heavy seas the alert destroyer "cut rings" round
the spot where the periscopes were seen in the act of disappearing.
Depth charges were brought into action, but whether the powerful
explosions strained the submarine's hull and caused her to sink for
good and all, or whether she succeeded in evading the terrible
menace, neither Aubyn nor his officers and crew were able to
determine. In any case, Fritz had received such a severe mental
shock that the U-boat made no further attempt to torpedo the
destroyer and the heavy load of rescued men.
"What's that craft doing, sir, I wonder?" asked Holcombe, calling
his skipper's attention to a two-sticked sailing vessel lying head
to wind at about four miles to leeward.
"Dunno; but we'll soon find out," was the laconic rejoinder, for
Aubyn was perfectly aware that U-boats have been known to receive
information from supposedly harmless neutrals.
The "Antipas" turned, steadied on her helm, and bore down upon the
suspicious craft. On decreasing the distance the officers discovered
by means of their binoculars that she was a felucca flying the Greek
mercantile flag, while strung out to leeward of her were four of the
transport's boats.
"She's been on the rescuing stunt, sir," observed Holcombe.
"P'r'aps," added Aubyn. "And when there's nothing about she'll start
sinking them. Greek, yes--perhaps. More than likely a Levantine in
German or Turkish pay."
Asked by International Code to make her number, the felucca ran up a
hoist of four flags. Reference to the signal book did not elucidate
matters, for the letters comprising the vessel's "number" did not
appear upon the latest edition of the code book.
"Her deck is simply crowded," reported Holcombe.
"Rescued Tommies," explained the lieutenant commander.
"And men in naval rig, as well as a sprinkling of
picturesque-looking villains, sir," continued the sub. "Unless I'm
much mistaken she's carrying a couple of guns."
Visions of the prospect of capturing an armed raider, albeit a small
one, flashed across Aubyn's mind. At this pleasurable anticipation
he displayed his white teeth in a broad smile.
"Signal her to heave to until the weather moderates," he ordered.
"The 'Antigone' and 'Amaxila' can't be so very far off. When they
put in an appearance we can board the felucca while they buzz round
for Fritzes."
"Those fellows in the boats are having a rough time," remarked
Holcombe. "They're riding to sea-anchors, but there's plenty of
water breaking inboard."
"Yes," agreed the skipper of the "Antipas," who knew by experience
what life on board an open boat in a heavy sea meant. "But for the
present we can do nothing. A boat load of landlubbers trying to
board us with this tumble on would stand as much chance as a cripple
trying to climb Nelson's Monument."
Maintaining an erratic zigzag course the "Antipas" steamed round and
round the felucca and the boats, until with the arrival of her
sister ships and the subsidence of the gale she was able to make a
closer acquaintance with the suspicious-looking Greek.
At three bells in the first dog watch a large vessel was sighted
bearing down in the direction of the destroyers. The "Antigone"
steamed off to offer protection against U-boat attack, while the new
arrival, which proved to be the empty transport "Hopalong,"
manoeuvred to windward of the boats in order to receive the
survivors of the ill-fated "Epicyclic."
With the rapidly subsiding sea this was done without delay or loss.
The "Antipas" then discharged her complement of supernumeraries,
while the felucca was ordered by signal to run under the
"Hopalong's" lee.
"You might board her, Mr. Holcombe," suggested Lieutenant-Commander
Aubyn. "See that her papers are all in order, and find out what
those guns mean."
"I may have been mistaken, sir," said the sub, giving the felucca
another glance through his glasses; "but I'm hanged if I can see any
signs of guns now."
"All the more reason for a strict search," rejoined the skipper
grimly. "Once when I was on examination service in the North Sea I
came across a short-calibred quick-firer stored in the case of a
grand piano. Quite a bit of luck on my part, though," he added
modestly. "The thing was in the main saloon of a supposedly
Norwegian passenger and cargo boat. There was a bit of a lop
on--almost as bad as it was this morning--and one of my men, an
R.N.V.R. who hadn't quite found his sea legs, was shot clean on top
of the blessed piano, rifle and all. I apologised to the master for
the damage done, but the old chap seemed mighty particular to let
the matter drop--too mighty particular I thought. So I had the top
lifted--deuce of a job, for the old rascal of a skipper swore he'd
lost the key. Nothing much doing at first sight--only wires and
hammers and all that sort of fakelorum appertaining to pianos; but
sure enough, my testing rod rasped against metal that was a jolly
sight too solid even for an iron-framed 'Grand.' Yes, it was all U P
with the ship. No more a Norwegian than I was, but a commerce raider
two days out of Swinemunde. So you see, Mr. Holcombe, it's up to us
to 'frustrate their knavish tricks.' It's our job; but as to
'confounding their politics,' well----"
The lieutenant-commander shrugged his broad shoulders. Like many
another naval and military officer he had about as much admiration
for the British diplomatic service as the office cat.
As soon as the felucca ran alongside the "Hopalong" Holcombe took
the destroyer's whaler and an armed crew and boarded the object of
his suspicions.
The felucca's deck was now almost deserted. The last of the rescued
Tommies had been taken on board the transport. There were no men in
naval uniform; only a handful of moustachioed Greeks.
"Where's your capitano?" demanded Holcombe, trusting that some of
the crew spoke English.
The only reply he received was a prodigious grin and a most
exasperating wink.
"Dash you, you fat-headed rascal!" exclaimed the incensed sub; "do
you or do you not understand? Are you the captain? Where are your
papers?"
Again a stolid movement of the fellow's left eye was the sole
response.
"Cast off there!" ordered Holcombe. "Hanged if I won't have you
taken in tow and introduce you to the Prize Court at Valetta."
Some of the whaler's crew cast off the hawser by which the "Georgeos
Nikolaos" was made fast alongside the "Hopalong." The transport,
with a destroyer in attendance, shaped a course to the nor'west,
while the felucca was left rolling in the long swell.
Meanwhile Holcombe, ordering the Greek master to stand back--which
he did with considerable alacrity to avoid the butt-end of one of
the bluejackets' rifle descending upon his toes--proceeded to make a
thorough overhaul of the presumed prize.
"Thought so!" he exclaimed triumphantly, as one of the seamen threw
back the awning over the boat amidships, revealing a quick-firer. "A
German gun, by the powers! Good enough, Knight. Clap those
dirty-looking rascals under hatches. Flannigan," he continued,
addressing a signalman, "semaphore the 'Antipas' and report that we
have discovered the prize to be armed with a German-made
quick-firer."
"Two, sir," corrected the signalman. "There's one on disappearing
mountings up for'ard."
"Better still," chortled the hugely delighted sub. "Now, you
blighters, you're under escort--can do? Savvy? Comprenez? Verstehen
Sie das? Oh, chuck it with that infernal wink of yours!"
The Greek amiably complied with Holcombe's rather ungracious
request, but promptly raised one eyebrow, which exasperated the sub
still more. But just at that moment the fellow's facial contortions
proved too much for the adhesibility of his moustache, which fell to
the deck, revealing the features of Sub-Lieutenant Nigel Farrar.
"Slogger, you--you--you----!" exclaimed the astounded Holcombe.
"What on earth are you doing in this rotten rig-out?"
"Allow me to correct you on a few points, old bird," said Farrar.
"In the first place, 'on earth' is hardly appropriate; secondly, my
get-up could not be so very rotten, for it got the weather side of
you."
"Well, carry on," rejoined Holcombe tentatively.
"There's little to tell," replied his chum. "We are on a strafing
stunt. Bagged two Fritzes already. Wonder the skipper of the
'Epicyclic' hadn't given the show away."
This certainly was a puzzler. Later inquiries showed, however, that
the officers and crew of the torpedoed transport were so occupied
with the task of getting the boat away and anxious concerning the
presence of the U-boat that they had failed to notice the approach
of the little felucca. Nor did they attribute the strafing of the
submarine to her agency, putting down the explosion to internal
causes.
"Your independent cruise was kept very much in the dark as far as we
were concerned," said Holcombe. "We hadn't the faintest inkling of
it when we left Malta."
"Let's hope the secret won't out a while--at least, as far as Fritz
is concerned," rejoined Farrar. "We're just beginning to like the
job."