THE PERIL OF THE VOICE-TUBE
FIELDING glanced significantly at his comrades. He was a young man,
brave and resolute, and full of life; but the prospect of being
mangled in a steel tomb was enough to quail the stoutest heart.
Cardyke was deadly pale. He, too, was willing to face ordinary
dangers, but the threatened mode of extermination was too horrible to
contemplate. Hokosuka and Mukyima, who were ignorant of the nature of
the threat, turned and asked General Oki to explain the pirate
leader's words. The Japanese officer did so, but whether the three
Asiatics felt uneasy or otherwise their stolid features betrayed no
sign of their emotions.
Quite five minutes passed. The occupants of the conning-tower did not
reply to Cervillo's demand, and the pirate captain began to show
signs of impatience.
"Again I say--you vill surrender?"
"No," replied the sub., resolutely. His confidence was beginning to
return. Perhaps after all the Spaniard might be only bluffing.
Cervillo, although he would not scruple to use the most deadly
measures at his command to carry out his ends, quite realised that
his hostages were worth more to him alive than dead. He meant to make
them his tools to achieve his purpose.
Finding threats were of no avail, he altered his tone and adopted a
conciliatory attitude, but to all his advances the men at bay turned
a deaf ear--they ignored him absolutely.
Presently Fielding and Cardyke were somewhat astonished to hear an
English voice exclaim, "Don't shoot, sir. I've got to say a few words
with you."
In reply Fielding opened one of the lids to the observation-holes in
the conning-tower, and saw a broad-shouldered, black-browed man with
a close torpedo beard that characterises the British tar who neglects
to shave. The fellow looked sheepish and thoroughly ashamed of his
position.
"Who are you?" demanded the sub.
"I was a petty officer in the navy, sir."
"Then you ought to be downright ashamed of yourself."
"I ain't here to talk about myself," replied the man, sullenly. "The
cap'n wants me to explain, in a manner o' speakin', 'ow the land
lies. We're out to make a bit, an' up to now we ain't done so badly.
'Respect life' is our motto, an' you are doin' your level best to
capsize us. So come out an' lay down your arms. You'll be treated
decently so long as things go all shipshape. An' when the cruise is
over, and we're paid off, you'll be set ashore safe an' sound."
"You realise that your presence in the conning-tower somewhat upsets
your arrangements?"
"Not exactly," replied the man, with a cunning leer. "But, you see,
it isn't 'conducive to efficiency,' as our 'first luff' aboard the
old _Belleisle_ told me 'cause I wore the second 'L' on my
cap-ribbon over my left eye, instead of over my nose. But that ain't
'ere or there; so make the best of a bad job and don't give no
trouble."
"I'll give you trouble, my man, if ever I get you on board a King's
ship," replied the sub., with asperity. "Tell that scoundrel of a
pirate that if he wants the conning-tower he'll have to turn us
out--and he'll have a fine old job."
With that Fielding reclosed the shutter and a tense silence fell upon
both parties, broken only by the hiss of the foam as the
battle-cruiser pounded against a head sea.
Cervillo was furious. He knew that every moment was precious. By the
aid of wireless not only were vengeful cruisers hastening in his
track, but the transatlantic liners, from whom he hoped to take a
heavy toll, would be warned, and take precautions accordingly.
A quarter of an hour elapsed, then Juan Cervillo's voice was heard.
"Señor Englishman!" he exclaimed.
Fielding did not trouble to reply.
"For your own sake, señor, put your eye this way."
Out of sheer curiosity the sub. raised the metal flap and looked out,
then a muttered ejaculation brought Cardyke to one of the slits in
the wall of the conning-tower.
Guarded by two armed seamen was Tom Hardy the coxswain. He was
securely bound hand and foot, but so weak did he seem from the
effects of the blow he had received that this precaution seemed
unnecessary. Cervillo, stepping a few paces in front of the crowd of
pirates, pointed to his prisoner in a manner that was diabolical in
the extreme.
"Now, Englishmen, you vill come out an' surrendah, or we put your man
ober de side--say, walk ze plank. Yes, señor, I mean as I say. Juan
Cervillo has spoken. One minute I give to decide, or----" And the
villain pointed meaningly over the side.
"Think he'll do it?" asked Cardyke, anxiously. "Couldn't we prevent
him?"
"There is only one way, as far as I can see. To submit is out of the
question. We can stay here till they starve us out, but by that time
I hope a cruiser will overhaul this floating nest of rascals."
"What is the plan?" asked the mid.
Fielding hurriedly unfolded his scheme, and Oki explained it to his
companions. The Japanese nodded significantly. There was no time to
lose, for the minute was nearly up, and Fielding was practically
certain that Cervillo would keep his word. The life of a lower-deck
man was not worth considering as far as he was concerned.
Revolver in hand, General Oki and Mukyima took their places at the
slits nearest the entrance to the conning-tower. The sub. uttered the
sharp subdued word "Now!" The next instant Fielding, Cardyke, and
Hokosuka darted from their place of shelter.
Before Cervillo could recover from his astonishment he was floored by
a well-directed blow from the athletic sub., who, stooping, grasped
the half-stunned pirate by the shoulders. Simultaneously the mid.
caught hold of Cervillo's legs. Nor was the Japanese idle. With a
bound he reached the spot where Tom Hardy was standing between the
two armed men. One fell by a sharp blow in the throat; the other,
thrown completely over Hokosuka's shoulders, landed in the midst of a
crowd of his comrades, scattering them right and left.
[Illustration: BEFORE CERVILLO COULD RECOVER FROM HIS ASTONISHMENT HE
WAS FLOORED BY THE ATHLETIC SUB.
[_Page_ 98.
]
Taken aback, the pirates were either too dumbfounded to use their
pistols or else were afraid of hitting their leader. One or two
attempted a rush, but half-a-dozen shots from the conning-tower
checked all attempts at rescue.
Within fifteen seconds from the time the sub. uttered the word "Now!"
the three daring men were safe within the conning-tower once more,
with Tom Hardy and the pirate captain to add to the number of the
steel citadel.
"Now we can have a little understanding with Señor Juan Cervillo,"
exclaimed Fielding as he proceeded to secure the rascally Spaniard
with the bonds that had been removed from the coxswain's limbs. "I
don't fancy he'll be quite so keen about chucking lumps of dynamite
into the conning-tower."
Without, the pandemonium was redoubled. The British officers and
their Japanese comrades paid scant attention to the noise. They had
scored heavily up to the present, and they realised the fact.
"I begin to feel fairly peckish," remarked Cardyke, at length.
"So we all do, I fancy, except perhaps this rascal. We've given him
twelve hours' start in the fasting competition, but I bet he'll be
mighty hungry before we're done with him," said the sub., grimly.
"How about you, Hardy; did they feed you at all?"
"At first, sir," replied the coxswain. "Then because I wouldn't join
up with them they tried to starve me into submission. If it hadn't
been for this crack across my figurehead I'd have taken on the whole
mess with my fists and wiped the deck with the lot of them."
"I believe you would, Hardy," remarked Cardyke, admiringly, for the
coxswain held the belt in the Inter-Port Boxing Competition. "Are you
very hungry?"
"Only once afore like it in my life, as far as I can remember. That
was when I was in Haslar Hospital. Low diet the 'poultice-slappers'
called it. Couldn't have been much lower. An' the bloke in the next
cot to me was being fed with chicken, an' 'ad port wine to drink."
"We'll have to be chewing our belts soon," remarked the sub. "But I
don't know abort you fellows--I feel mighty tired."
It was now about two bells--9 a.m. Beyond a party of men who had been
left to watch the conning-tower, the rest of the pirates had taken
themselves off to their various duties or recreations--mostly the
latter. The _Independencia_ was still heading S.S.W. according to the
compass in the conning-tower. It was not one of the standard
compasses belonging to the ship--these had been removed prior to
sale--but had been brought on board from the pseudo _Steephill
Castle_. Since the cruiser had not been swung to adjust compasses it
was obvious that the course might be points out, since the deviation
was unknown.
"We'll set watches, and the rest of us can have a snooze," continued
Fielding. "We'll toss for it. I believe the rascals left a few coins
in my pocket, although they bagged my purse and my gold watch. Here
goes."
The coin spun in the air. The mid., Oki, and Hokosuka found that
theirs was the first "watch below," while Fielding and Mukyima had to
keep the first two hours' watch. Owing to his condition Tom Hardy was
not called upon for this duty.
Utterly worn out, Cardyke and the two Japanese threw themselves on
the hard floor, and were soon sound asleep. The sub. and the general,
too fatigued even to talk, stood with their backs against the steel
wall, and their faces towards the entrance to the circular metal
compartment.
The day was hot, and in spite of the ship's speed through the water,
the air within the conning-tower was exceedingly sultry. Once or
twice Fielding found himself nodding, only to be aroused by the
vigilant Oki.
An hour went by. Even the Japanese watcher was becoming drowsy.
Fielding's head fell forward. This time Oki did not rouse his
companion; and even when the sub. slid inertly to the ground the
Japanese had not the energy to realise that anything was amiss. He
saw, as in a vision, the Englishman drop--then utter oblivion.
A quarter of an hour later a squad of men entered the conning-tower
without opposition. Six of the occupants were secured, and, like
logs, were unceremoniously bundled into the open air, whilst Cervillo
was carried upon the forebridge, where he soon recovered from his
stupor. The dauntless six, able to hold their own in fair fight, had
fallen victims to the insidious methods of their assailants. For
fumes of chloroform had been forced through one of the voice-tubes
that led into the conning-tower, and it had rendered the brave
defenders absolutely helpless.