A PROPOSAL SCORNED
AGAIN the _Alerte_ hoisted a signal. It was to give the _Cap Hoorn_
permission to proceed.
Steering like a dray, since the destruction of the rudder-head had
left her with only her twin screws to manoeuvre with, the German
liner forged ahead, turned eight degrees to starboard and shaped a
course for the invisible French coast.
The _Alerte_, without waiting for her prey to disappear from sight,
worked up to a speed of eight knots, steering in a northerly
direction, or towards the shores of England.
"What happened?" asked Captain Cain.
"Went through the ship's papers," replied the lieutenant. "Found
that she's eighteen million marks of specie in her strong-room.
Blighters swore they hadn't a key--trust Fritz for bluffing or
attempting to bluff. So we had to blow off the lock. Then we had a
round-up of the first-class passengers. By smoke! They shelled out
like lambs. The proceeds are in that sack"--pointing to a
well-filled canvas bag lying against the base of the conning-tower.
"It was poor sport relieving a white-livered crowd like that. And
the joke of the whole business is that the German skipper thought we
were Frenchmen. I told him that war had been declared between France
and Germany, and that he was to proceed straight for Cherbourg.
Warned him that if he attempted to run for it, or to use his
wireless, there'd be considerable trouble. I'd like to see what
happens when the _Cap Hoorn_ gives herself up to the naval authorities
at Cherbourg."
"Unfortunately--or, perhaps, fortunately--we cannot be present,"
rejoined Captain Cain; then addressing the quartermaster, he ordered
the ship to turn fifteen points to port, or nearly in a reverse
direction to the course she had been following.
"Why?" inquired Pengelly. "There'll be half a dozen French torpedo
craft on our track. Wouldn't it be wiser to make ourselves scarce?"
"I am keeping the rendezvous in the Chenal du Four," replied the
captain. Being in a high good humour, he could afford to be affable
to his querulous subordinate. "The news will be wirelessed
everywhere within the next few hours that the _Cap Hoorn_ was stopped
and plundered by an unknown vessel masquerading as a French
government auxiliary craft, which, when last sighted, was steering
to the nor'ard. Consequently, every one responsible for hunting us
will reason much as you did--that we're off either to the English or
Irish coasts. They won't dream of looking for us in the
neighbourhood of Ushant. _L'audace_, Pengelly, _toujours l'audace_:
that's the winning card. All right; carry on. Set the hands to work
to remove our disguise. For the next day or so, the _Alerte_ will be
the _Alerte_. I'll interview those fellows we picked up this morning.
Tell Marchant to bring one of them to my cabin. I won't see them
together."
Captain Cain was on the point of descending the bridge-ladder, when
he stopped and exclaimed in a voice loud enough for the watch on
deck to hear:
"We'll make a partial division of the coin at one-bell, Mr.
Pengelly. Pass the word to the hands."
Going below to his cabin, the skipper began to make preparations to
receive his involuntary guests. They had come aboard of their own
free will, it was true, but already they had discovered that getting
away from the _Alerte_ was quite a different matter.
Presently the gunner knocked at the door.
"Mr. Broadmayne, sir," he reported.
"Take that chair, Mr. Broadmayne," said Captain Cain.
The Sub did so. Although giving away the slight advantage he
possessed in height, he realised that it was decidedly uncomfortable
having to be interviewed with his shoulders bent to prevent his head
touching the sweating steel roof of the little cabin.
"I suppose," resumed the pirate, with a slight tone of irony, "that
you are already acquainted with the nature of the craft that has
given you shelter?"
"I'd be remarkably dense if I weren't," replied Broadmayne.
"And what, might I ask, is the result of your investigations?"
inquired Captain Cain suavely.
"To put it bluntly," rejoined the Sub, "you're a filibuster--a
pirate."
"That's putting the case rather strong," protested Captain Cain.
"The vessel we intercepted was a Hun. I was fighting Germans in the
high seas when you were a child in arms, I imagine. I saw enough to
make me vow I'd go bald-headed for one whenever I had a chance. That
chance I took to-day."
"I won't question your motives," remarked Broadmayne imperturbably.
"But I take it you have no Admiralty warrant to act as a privateer
in peacetime? Then, as I said before, you must be a pirate. Rather
interesting, what? I was under the impression that gentlemen of that
type were as extinct as the dodo."
"Who and what are you, Mr. Broadmayne?" demanded Captain Cain.
"Sub-lieutenant, Royal Navy."
"You are--or were?"
"Am," declared Broadmayne, with a tone that indicated he was proud
of his profession.
A look of disappointment flitted across the face of the pirate
captain.
"Then what were you doing on a private yacht?"
The Sub told him.
"Vyse, did you say?" interrupted Captain Cain. "Vyse? Any relation
to the north-country magnate of that name?"
"Son," replied Broadmayne. The next instant he felt angry with
himself for having divulged that part.
"Really!" exclaimed the other. "That's most interesting. Well, Mr.
Broadmayne, I'm afraid I must ask you and your friend to remain on
board for the remainder of the cruise. It won't be a protracted one,
I assure you. You can have the run of the ship, except at such times
when it will be necessary to order you below. Of course, considering
we have saved your lives--your dinghy would have been swamped when
the sea rose an hour after you were rescued--and that we have to
feed you, a monetary payment is expected. But there is one
alternative. I don't suppose you'll accept it first going off. That
is, if you both care to join us in our enterprise--remember, we are
not molesting a single British subject--then you will be entitled to
a fair share of the proceeds, which I can assure you are far from
being inconsiderable." Broadmayne made no reply. He was puzzling his
brains, but not on account of the pirate's seductive proposition. He
had seen the man somewhere, but where? Suddenly he remembered.
"I am more than surprised to find a former naval officer engaged on
a stunt of this description," he remarked bluntly.
Captain Cain's features went a dusky red under his tan. The pulses
of his temples were throbbing like steam-pistons.
"How do you know what I've been?" he inquired harshly. There was a
dominant note in his voice. Most men would have quailed before it.
The Sub showed no sign of trepidation. On the contrary, he felt
considerably elated at having found a weak spot in his antagonist's
armour.
"Some years ago," resumed Broadmayne, "I was one of a party of
cadets who were taken round to Devonport from Dartmouth in a
destroyer--the _Calder_, Lieutenant-Commander Sefton. It was one of
the usual day instructional cruises, you know. On that occasion the
cadets were shown over some of the submarines lying in the Hamoaze.
There was a two-and-a-half striper who did the showing round. Some
time later, he had to sever his connection with the Service--kicked
out, in fact. No need to mention names."
Captain Cain controlled his rage with an effort.
"Quite correct," he rejoined. "However, Mr. Broadmayne, you will
please remember that while you are on this craft you will keep that
knowledge to yourself."
"I am not in the habit of trading on any one's past," replied the
Sub. "But I have a strong objection to attempted intimidation. If
circumstances warrant my making use of the information bearing on
your former career, I'll do so. And, let me add, I consider your
offer that we should throw in our lot with your piratical crowd an
insult. My answer, if an answer be required, is NO!"
Without another word, Captain Cain touched the bell-push.
"I'll make this young puppy feel sorry for himself before I've done
with him," he said to himself.
The gunner answered the summons.
"Take Mr. Broadmayne on deck," ordered the pirate captain, "and
bring Mr. Vyse to me."
Presently Rollo Vyse appeared. He was sorry he had missed an
opportunity of speaking to his chum, as he was entirely in the dark
as to what had occurred.
To him Captain Cain made a similar proposition, which he "turned
down" even more forcibly than the Sub had done.
"So that's your attitude, is it?" exclaimed the pirate, losing
control of his temper. "Very well. Here are pens, ink and paper. You
will write a letter to your wealthy parent, informing him that you
are detained on board a certain ship and that you will be deprived
of your liberty until the sum of one thousand pounds is paid to the
person named therein. You will add that it is useless to set the
police upon my agent. He knows nothing and is acting in all good
faith. Now then, one thousand pounds in Bank of England notes, none
of which is to exceed ten pounds."
Lighting a cigarette and picking up a book, Captain Cain feigned to
have lost interest in his victim.
For some moments Rollo sat quietly thinking. "S'pose I'll have to
humour the silly ass," he decided, and took up a pen.
For nearly twenty minutes Vyse was engaged upon the demand for
ransom. He was not writing all the time. There were intervals when
the rapid movement of the scratchy pen ceased, causing the pirate
captain to glance inquiringly over his book.
"How will that do?" asked Rollo at last.
Captain Cain took the proffered paper and read:
"DEAR FATHER,--This is a request to _pay_ up. Broadmayne and I were
rescued from the _Ibex_, which was burnt at sea. There's no need to
worry. We're given every _attention_ and are comfortable. But the
captain of the ship we're on is going to detain us till our expenses
are paid. _This_, he states, is One thousand pounds. Sounds a
_preposterous_ sum, doesn't it? However, that is the extent of his
_demand_, so I hope you'll settle and let us have our freedom. We're
in for a rough time otherwise. The money is to be in five and ten
pound notes, payable to the person named below.--Your affectionate
Son,
"ROLLO VYSE."
"Is that your usual signature?" asked Captain Cain.
"Certainly."
"Very good," continued the pirate, folding the sheet, putting it in
an envelope and placing it carefully between the leaves of a
blotter. "I'll see that it's forwarded to its proper destination.
You may go."
Vyse went. In the alleyway he gave a grim chuckle. His letter had
been carefully composed. Several of the words were underlined. To a
casual observer the lines would appear to be the lavish crossing of
the letter "t" in the line below. Captain Cain had not spotted it.
The underlined words read: "Pay no attention to this preposterous
demand." Rollo had no doubt that when his father received the
letter, his shrewdness would quickly enable him to read the
camouflaged message.
He found Broadmayne pacing the poop. For the present, none of the
crew were aft. The _Alerte_ had resumed the features she possessed
when she left Falmouth. No outside observer would have recognised
her as the vessel that had stopped the _Cap Hoorn_ earlier in the day.
"Gerald, old thing!" exclaimed Rollo, after a brief exchange of
their experiences, "we've got to get clear of this craft. If we
don't, before very long we stand a hundred to one chance of being
sent to Davy Jones's locker. The skipper gave me the impression that
he's a hard case. I believe he'd sink her with all hands rather than
surrender."
"From what I know of him, he is a hard case," agreed the Sub. "But
the question is, how can we part company with this vessel? I'd
attempt it like a shot if there were a ghost of a chance. The hands
seem to be up to their job. They'll keep a keen eye on us, I fancy.
Our only hope, I think, is to enlist the sympathies of some of the
men. We'll have to sound them carefully. No doubt we'll find that
one or two are fed-up already, and would do almost anything to save
their precious necks."
"You mean to say we might be able to bribe them?"
"Hardly," replied Broadmayne. "They seem to be coining money on this
game. I believe there's a share-out coming off very soon. No, it
won't be the lure of financial reward. We'll have to play on their
feelings a bit."
The thrilling notes of the bo'sun's pipe brought all hands to the
waist. A partial division of the spoil was about to take place.
The crew fell in according to their respective watches. The gunner
and the bo'sun were standing on either side of a small sack of gold
coins placed upon an upturned cask. A short distance away stood
Captain Cain, with Pengelly at his elbow with a book in his hand.
"My lads!" began the pirate captain, "we have now made a rough
calculation of the value of the loot from the German hooker. Of
course, when the stuff is disposed of ashore, it may be of
considerable more value than we have estimated. On the other hand,
it may be less. Roughly, the share for each man before the mast is
one hundred and ten pounds for this day's work."
He paused. A rousing cheer greeted the announcement. Hitherto the
crew had to be content with promises. Now the sight of the bulging
sack indicated that they believed in the old adage, "A bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush."
Captain Cain held up his hand. Instantly the boisterous cheering
ceased.
"As your captain," he continued, "I naturally have your welfare at
heart. Here is the money. I would point out the disadvantages of
keeping such an amount on board. Some of you might: be tempted to
risk the loss of their shares at cards. What you do in the fo'c'sle
during your watch below is no affair of mine, but I should be sorry
to learn that any man has had the ill-luck to lose his
wealth--hard-earned or otherwise. Therefore, I would suggest that,
should any one wish to place his share in a place of absolute
safety, I will be responsible for its keeping. In other words, I am
sending the booty back to England in the _Fairy_. All money entrusted
to me will be judiciously invested, and a receipt given for the
same. On the other hand, any one who wishes to hold his share can do
so.... Mr. Barnard, call the roll!"
The bo's'un began his task. As each man's name was called, he
stepped forward to a chalk-line drawn on the deck. Here he stated
what he wanted--either the actual coin or a receipt for the same. In
the former case, Marchant, the gunner, counted out the coins and
handed them to the man. In the latter, Pengelly wrote out a receipt.
About a dozen men took the cash. Of the remainder, a few allotted
their share, receiving Pengelly's form of acknowledgment; the others
compromised by drawing a few pounds on account and leaving the
balance with the captain.
All this was done in full view of Broadmayne and Vyse. The captain
knew they were looking on. Perhaps he hoped that the sight of so
much money might make the two men under detention alter their minds
about signing-on.
The muster was about to be dismissed, when one of the men stepped
forward.
"Well?" inquired Captain Cain laconically.
"Us of the fo'c'sle wants to know what's to be our attitude to'ards
those blokes we picked up, sir," said the man. "Seem' as 'ow they
messes an' berths for'ard, 'ow are we to treat 'em? Are they
with us as part of the crew, sir?"
"What are you driving at, Matthews?" asked the captain.
The man hesitated.
"'Tes like this, sir," he continued, after a pause. "If they ain't
hands, then why are they berthed along o' we? If they are, it ain't
fair on the rest of us that they don't take part in the routine of
the ship--slackin' about while we are a-workin' 'ard."
It was then that Captain Cain made a serious mistake. Instead of
"ticking the man off" for attempting to interfere with the captain's
plans--a grave breach of discipline--he temporised with the
delegate.
"The matter will receive my attention, Matthews," he replied.
"Very good, sir," rejoined the man.
He saluted, turned and went back to the others. His comrades saw
what the pirate captain could not--a self-satisfied look upon the
man's face at the thought that he had scored off the owner.
"Pipe down!" ordered Captain Cain.
A minute or so later, he beckoned to his captives. The Sub and his
companion descended the poop ladder and approached the pirate
skipper.
"I can't have idlers on board this craft," said Captain Cain
abruptly. "From now you will form part of the starboard watch, and
stand your tricks like the rest of the hands. Understand that?"
"Very good," replied the Sub coldly. "In the circumstances, we have
no option. We are willing, under compulsion, to do our part towards
working the ship, but in no case will we bear a hand at any work of
piracy."
"We'll see about that," retorted Captain Cain, with a sneering
laugh. "Now, go and report to Mr. Barnard, the bo'sun. Tell him
you're placed in the starboard watch."
Without replying, the two chums turned and went to carry out the
captain's orders. Purposely they omitted the salute. They expected
to be recalled and made to give it; but Captain Cain feigned to take
no notice of the omission.
"I'll break their spirits yet!" he mused.
But Broadmayne and Vyse thought otherwise.