"It's very evident, captain, that we must do something for them,"
continued the Vice-Consul. "Pampeluna is a long way from Vigo, but I
think something can be done if we put our heads together. I can't read
all that's in the official mind which inspired that memorandum, but
it's quite clear the authorities regard Vigo as the most convenient
open door for Koch and his ten brother-officers. An open door, provided
it is _held_ open for them. The question is, how are we going to do
that? I can see a way of solving part of the difficulty. You can leave
the Pampeluna portion to me. There are plenty of ways of opening prison
doors in a country like this. As a landsman, I am convinced I can open
the land door without much trouble, but it requires a sailor like you
to attend to the sea door. That's way I've come to you."
"And you couldn't have come to a more willing man," replied the
captain, emphatically. "Try and realize what I've had to suffer on
this infernal ship during the last twenty-three months, with the eyes
of the authorities continually on me and the _Wehrt_, and every little
jack-in-office sniffing around at unexpected moments, and you'll
understand how I feel for your friend and his companions. Yes, we've
got to do what we can for them. The submarine is the only effectual
weapon left to Germany, so if we succeed in returning to her eleven
of her brave U-boat men we shall truly have done good patriotic work.
Now, at the back of my brain I've got a plan. You're welcome to it.
You know, I suppose, that the _Virgen del Socorro_ is for sale? She's
as tight a little schooner as ever left the port of Vigo. I've often
admired her lines and speed as she sailed past the _Wehrt_. Now, when
this war is over and we've reduced everybody's tonnage, save our
own, to a minimum, the _Virgen del Socorro_ will be worth her weight
in gold. At the price she is going at to-day the boat is a splendid
speculation. Why don't you buy her? You'd find it worth your while, I
think, to be the sleeping partner."
"Not at all a bad idea, captain. But are you certain the _Virgen del
Socorro_ is in the market? I thought it was owned by the brothers
Z----, who have always looked upon the schooner as a sort of child of
theirs."
"That is so. But ties of the closest affection have to be broken in
these troubled times, and the brothers Z---- have decided to dissolve
partnership. I dare say your boatman José, who ought to be well up in
harbor gossip, will be able to tell you all about that. There's no
doubt my information is correct. I can even tell you the exact figure
at which the owners are willing to sell--eleven thousand five hundred
pesetas."
"Dirt cheap, considering the times," said the Vice-Consul,
thoughtfully. He took an extra long pull at his beer tankard, and then,
bringing the blue earthenware vessel down on the table with a bang,
exclaimed, "By Jove, captain, you've put me on the right track! I'm
beginning to see the way to do it. Listen!"
The plan unfolded was as follows. Using his boatman as an
intermediary--José was generally believed to be fairly well-to-do--he
would enter into negotiations with the brothers Z---- for the purchase
of the _Virgen del Socorro_. One of the conditions of the agreement
would be particularly tempting to the owners. On the understanding that
the purchase was kept secret--the rumor might indeed be set afloat
that the brothers had decided not to part with their dearly-beloved
boat--they should be allowed to retain possession until the very last
moment before the schooner was required by the new proprietors. There
was evidently a double advantage in this: it would allay any suspicions
which inquisitive harbor authorities or other officials might have
whilst preparations were being made on board the _Virgen del Socorro_
for the reception of the fugitives from Pampeluna, and it would enable
the Vice-Consul, the captain, and other helpers to carry out those
preparations at their leisure. No one could say how long it would
take them to prepare the road to the "open door" of Vigo. Though the
Vice-Consul's secret service fund was still well supplied, it was no
good to minimize the difficulties, which were greater than the captain
of the _Wehrt_ could possibly comprehend until he had explained the
full extent of his plan.
The _Virgen del Socorro_ was to be sent right round the British Isles,
in order to descend the North Sea unobserved, and, flying the Dutch
flag, reach a Belgian port. It was a risky plan, but, the British Navy
notwithstanding, the conspirators thought it had possibilities of
success. The Vice-Consul, in assisting the scheme, proposed to make the
Fatherland a present of more than the eleven officers at Pampeluna.
It was advisable to get as many able-bodied German subjects on board as
possible, and so he planned to include in the party of fugitives nine
others, including four officers from the _Goeben_, a naval doctor, a
law student, and two sailors, none of whom was interned, in addition to
a sergeant interned at Alcala de Henares, seventeen miles north-east of
Madrid. Twenty was certainly a large crew for a schooner of the _Virgen
del Socorro's_ size, but the voyage was to be undertaken during the
summer--and an exceptionally fine summer, too--so the risk of a mishap,
provided there was good seamanship, was slight. As this question of
weather was important, the Vice-Consul proposed to see to the purchase
of the vessel without delay, and to communicate at once with Lieutenant
Koch.