RECONNOITERING
Jack and Frank leaned against the lifelines, gazing over the stem of
the Vaterland as the vessel's triple screws drove her ahead. Jack's
eyes were fixed thoughtfully upon the strong if crudely constructed
turret on the after deck, from which protruded the glistening nose of
an 8-inch gun. His gaze wandered forward past the rakish stacks to the
light bridge which spanned the Vaterland's beam. Mounted on the
bridge, in addition to the two naval telescopes, were four rapid-fire
guns, each capable of spitting bullets at the rate of five hundred a
minute, though, sheltered as they were under the tarpaulins, they
looked harmless enough.
Frank regarded Jack curiously.
"What's on your mind?" he asked.
"I was thinking," said Jack slowly, "that if I could get my hands on
one of those machine guns on the bridge, these Germans would wish they
were home in the Kiel Canal."
"You mean?" said Frank.
"I mean that if I had five minutes to man one of those rapid-firers up
yonder I could rake this ship from stem to stern. There'd be a few
less Germans in this world before they got me. Anyway, it's a point
worth remembering."
Frank nodded his head.
"It certainly is," he replied.
Jack resumed his study of the big ship.
Half way up each mast he saw the round-covered dots which denoted the
powerful searchlights, and from the tops of the thin masts sagged the
wireless aerials. Immediately under the bridge and sheltered somewhat
by it was the wireless room. The entire ship, even to the rifle
barrels, was painted the dead, neutral gray which is known as "war
color."
Frank followed the direction of Jack's gaze.
"They are well prepared, aren't they?" he said.
"They certainly are," declared Jack.
"Well," said Frank, "we must remember that we are to do nothing yet.
The time will come, though, and it is as well to know beforehand what
we will have to contend with."
"Exactly," said Jack. "That's why I am trying to impress all these
things on my memory."
"Come," said Frank, "we'll interview the captain."
Jack followed his friend to the captain's cabin. The captain expressed
much pleasure at seeing them.
"How goes everything this morning, Captain?" asked Frank.
"Good!" was the response. "What can I do for you?"
"We've just been looking about the Vaterland," said Jack in German.
"It must have required remarkable ingenuity to have converted this ship
into the formidable vessel it is now."
"You think so?" said the captain. "I am glad. I did it under my own
plans."
"And you have had the most remarkable success," said Frank. "The
Emperor will have much to thank you for when the war is over."
"Ja!" exclaimed Captain Koenig. "I shall have the Iron Cross."
"Undoubtedly, Captain," declared Jack. "By the way, how large a crew
do you carry?"
"Almost two hundred officers and men," was the reply.
"But your prisoners," exclaimed Frank. "Surely you have many of them?"
"We have now more than 300 prisoners aboard this ship," declared
Captain Koenig; "mostly men. Besides the women who came aboard with
you, there are only five."
"That's a pretty big load, Captain?"
"The Vaterland," said Captain Koenig proudly, "has accommodations for
more than a thousand souls."
"I knew it was a big ship," said Frank, "but I had no idea it carried
so many. By the way, where do you keep your prisoners?"
"Forward, beneath the main deck," replied the Captain.
"They are well guarded, of course?"
"Well guarded, indeed," was the captain's reply.
"They are of course, unarmed and the door to their prison is locked.
Besides, there are armed men on guard without every instant."
"I see you, have spared no pains to keep everything safe," said Frank.
"You are right, sir. The Vaterland is in my hands, and it shall stay
in my hands. No ship of war can catch me. I am well prepared on all
sides."
"Your foresight is to be commended, Captain," declared Jack. "The
Kaiser has reason to be proud of you."
"You think so?" exclaimed Captain Koenig. "I am pleased."
The lads went on deck again after some further conversation.
"He's a pretty conceited old pirate, if you ask me," declared Jack.
"So he is," Frank agreed; "yet when you stop to think of it he has some
reason to be. He's doing a pretty good job for the Kaiser."
"A pretty bad job for the Allies," said Jack.
"Which is the reason we are here," declared Frank. "Hello, here comes
Miss Wheaton; I'll have a word with her."
He lifted his cap as he spoke. Miss Wheaton bowed and would have
passed on had not Frank intercepted her.
"Won't you stop a moment, Miss Wheaton?" the lad asked.
"I wish to have nothing to do with German spies," returned the girl
coldly.
"I beg your pardon," said Frank, and stepped back.
The girl passed on. Five paces beyond, however, she stopped, turned
and retraced her steps.
"I had taken you for Americans, aboard the Algonquin," she declared.
"Surely you are not German?"
"No," said Frank, "I am an American."
"And are helping the enemies of your country," declared the girl.
"Just a moment, Miss Wheaton," said Frank quietly. He looked around
hurriedly. There was not a soul near, save Jack. "Do not believe all
you see," the lad whispered.
"You mean?" exclaimed the girl.
Frank shrugged his shoulders. "Appearances are often deceitful," he
said quietly.
Miss Wheaton looked at the lad in some amazement. Then she said: "I
hope I do not misunderstand you."
"I am sure you don't," said Frank with a smile. "The Vaterland has
been engaged in her nefarious trade altogether too long. It is time
somebody put a stop to it. Well, the time will come."
Miss Wheaton extended a hand, which the lad grasped.
"I am sorry I doubted you," she said.
"Why, that's all right," said Frank.
The girl inclined her head and passed on. Frank turned to Jack.
"A very nice girl," he said, indicating Miss Wheaton.
"Most likely," Jack agreed. "However, you always were rather strong
for the girls. I hope you didn't tell her our business."
"Why--why, no," said Frank, flushing. "I simply told her she must not
believe all she sees."
"Which was simply another way of telling her we are not what we
represented ourselves to Captain Koenig," said Jack. "Now she'll
probably go straight to the captain and tell him what she has learned."
"No, she won't," said Frank. "She wouldn't do that."
"How do you know she won't?"
"Well, I don't know it, but I don't think she will."
"What you think and what she may do are likely to be altogether
different," declared Jack. "You are too quick with your tongue
sometimes, Frank."
"But," Frank protested, "she thought we were Germans and ignored us."
"What do we care what she thinks? If she ignores us so much the better
to my way of thinking."
"But--" Frank began.
"But, nothing," interrupted Jack. "We are here for a single purpose,
and it makes no difference what any one thinks of us."
"You are probably right, Jack," Frank agreed. "I'll have to keep a
tight rein on my tongue. However, I am sure Miss Wheaton will not
betray us."
"Humph!" said Jack, and the conversation ended.
It was late that afternoon when the lookout forward gave the news that
there was a ship in the offing. Immediately the Vaterland altered her
course slightly and headed for the newcomer, which it developed was a
merchant ship.
"Here comes another victim," said Frank.
"You don't suppose--" began Jack.
"Too soon, I'm afraid," said Frank, with a shake of his head. "I wish
it were, but I am afraid it is too soon."
Within range, the Vaterland put a shot across the bow of the stranger.
The newcomer obeyed this command instantly.
She hove to.