SIX BELLS
It was at 10 o'clock the following morning that Lord Hastings received
a call from Captain Koenig.
"Ah!" exclaimed the German commander. "I find that I have time on my
hands. Would it be too much to ask you to have a game of chess with me
now?"
"Indeed, no," was Lord Hastings' reply. "I shall be pleased. I shall
have my man roll me to your quarters within fifteen minutes."
"Very good!" said Captain Koenig. He bowed and departed.
Lord Hastings quickly ordered the negro to find Frank and Jack and
order them to his cabin. A few moments more and they stood before
him.
"Frank," said Lord Hastings, "you approach the bridge and stand there.
When the men come from below, it may be that we will need a man near
the bridge to pick off the gunner should he train one of the
rapid-firers on us. Do not move, however, unless it is necessary. If
we can reach the bridge without attracting attention by firing a shot
it will be infinitely better. Jack, you come with me. I shall now
engage the captain in a game of chess."
Frank stooped and from his boots brought out two automatics. Jack did
likewise. These they put in their pockets. Then Frank left his
commander's cabin.
Above he encountered Miss Wheaton, who approached him.
"I have learned what is about to happen," said the girl, "and I want to
know if I can be of some assistance."
"You can help most," said Frank, "by going to your cabin and staying
there. Make sure that none of the women come on deck."
"But," said the girl, "I had hoped to be of more value than that."
"Believe me," said Frank, "if you can make sure that the women remain
in their cabins you will have done much."
Elizabeth Wheaton nodded her head. "None shall come out," she said
quietly. She turned on her heel and made her way to her own cabin.
Then she summoned the other women prisoners and when they were inside
she locked the door, taking care, however, that none saw her turn the
key, for she did not wish to answer unnecessary questions.
Frank took a position where he could cover the bridge. There were only
two men there--the officer of the deck and the quartermaster at the
wheel.
Below, Lord Hastings motioned to the giant negro to wheel him to
Captain Koenig's cabin.
"I'm depending on you, Tom," he said quietly. "When I give the word--"
"Yussuh!" said Tom, grinning. "I'll be watching you, suh."
He wheeled Lord Hastings to Captain Koenig's cabin. Jack followed.
The German commander expressed his pleasure at the opportunity of
matching his wits against his prisoner across the chess board. He
espied Jack and eyed him askance.
"I'm somewhat of a chess player myself," Jack explained. "I thought I
would enjoy the battle. Mr. Hamilton, here, has no objections to my
presence."
"Nor have I, in that event," said Captain Koenig.
The chess board stood upon a small table. The pieces were in place.
Johnson wheeled Lord Hastings into position and fell into position
behind him. Captain Koenig drew up a chair. Jack remained standing.
The ad was perfectly calm in spite of the excitement that raged in his
breast. Lord Hastings played silently and without anxiety, as though
nothing were about to transpire. Even the negro, Tom, showed nothing
of the excitement that he felt. Now and then, though, his hand touched
the pair of brass knuckles which he had transferred from his sock to
his right-hand pocket.
As the game progressed Captain Koenig became manifestly pleased, for he
felt that he was winning. Lord Hastings glanced at the clock. It
lacked five minutes to 11. He looked at Tom significantly, and the
negro shifted his position closer to Captain Koenig.
Suddenly six bells struck.
As the last stroke sounded, Lord Hastings, apparently accidentally,
brushed one of the chessmen from the board.
"Your pardon," he said to Captain Koenig.
He bent over, apparently to pick up the chessman. Instead, his hand
sought the box in his chair and when he sat straight again, his
revolver covered Captain Koenig.
The commander of the Vaterland started up with an inarticulate cry. At
the same moment Tom sprang forward, and his two hands grasped the
German commander's throat.
Captain Koenig was fat and he was conceited and he had been foolishly
lax. But he was a competent commander in the German navy, which means
that he was a brave and resourceful man. He allowed his body to relax
in the negro's clutch. His foot sought for and found a tiny button
below the chess table. He pressed it.
A buzzer sounded in another cabin.
The men in the cabin worked with swift and silent precision.
In answer to the pressing of the button there came a knock at the
door. A moment later Lieutenant Blum entered. He took in the
situation at a glance. Tom released his hold upon Captain Koenig and
jumped for the lieutenant. As the negro's arms went round the man,
Jack dipped quickly into the lieutenant's pocket and produced the keys
to the quarters occupied by the prisoners, and to the store room.
The lieutenant writhed in the negro's grasp and with a kick caught Tom
on the right shin. Immediately Tom released his bold and sought his
brass knuckles. Before he could strike, however, Lieutenant Blum had
disappeared through the door.
Jack whipped out his revolver and fired, but the German did not stop.
The lad muttered an imprecation.
"Quick, now!" ordered Lord Hastings.
He was calm, cool and collected. Revolvers in the box were disposed of
between the three, and then all dashed below to where the prisoners
were locked.
Two men guarded the deck at this point. Seeing their enemies bearing
down on them, both opened fire. The revolvers of Lord Hastings flashed
simultaneously and the two Germans dropped.
Quickly Jack fitted one of the keys to the door, and the crews of the
Algonquin and the Gloucester streamed forth. The first man out was
Captain Stoneman. Jack gave him a pair of revolvers. The other
weapons were divided up as far as they would go.
"To the bridge with you, Stoneman!" cried Lord Hastings. "You'll find
Chadwick there. Take the bridge and hold those machine guns until we
get there. Much depends on your getting there before the enemy can
recover from their surprise." Stoneman dashed away. Lord Hastings
designated that the others who were armed should follow. These hurried
after Stoneman.
"Now for the rifles!" cried Lord Hastings.
Jack led the way and Lord Hastings and members of the Algonquin and
Gloucester crews followed.
At the same moment a bugle blared above and there came the hoarse
sounds of commands.
"We've been discovered!" shouted Jack.
"There is no time to lose, sir."
He fitted a key to the door of the compartment where the rifles,
ammunition and small arms were stored. The men, perhaps sixty all
told, rushed forward and grabbed weapons and ammunition.
"I'll lead these men, Jack," said Lord Hastings.
"One of those keys fits the other prisoners' compartment. Go below and
release them. Arm them and then come on deck. You go with him, Tom.
If any of the prisoners hang back, lock them up or shoot them. This is
no time for fooling. You other men, follow me."
Lord Hastings dashed on deck, closely followed by his men.
Jack wasted no time. Quickly he descended to the deck below where the
other prisoners were held. These, too, were under guard from the
outside. Sounds of confusion from within told the lads that the
prisoners had heard the sounds of firing above. Men kicked upon the
barred door. They were eager to get out and join in the fray, the
nature of which they could not tell.
The two Germans on guard there were plainly uneasy. No orders had
reached them, and they appeared afraid that the door would give beneath
kicks and blows rained upon it from within; and they knew that there
would be no stopping the prisoners should they break through.
Consequently they were watching the door when lack and the negro
appeared in sight and the attackers had the advantage. One swerved
suddenly, however, and raised his weapon. Jack fired and the man
dropped.
Tom accounted for the second. Then Jack opened the door. He held up a
hand as the men streamed forth.
"Follow me and get guns!" he shouted to make himself heard above the
babel of voices.
The others understood the import of the words. There was a wild cheer
as they dashed after Jack and the negro Tom.