needed some stimulation. For about ten minutes I controlled myself. Then
I arose to a periscope distance from the surface and took a look around
to see how things were going. What I saw filled my heart with joy. The
whole swarm of British destroyers and trawlers had moved toward the
southwest and were eagerly searching in a long line. As we were
proceeding in an opposite direction we quickly left them. After about
five more minutes I would dare to come to the surface. To the north the
way was clear.
Soon I was sitting, in the best of spirits, up in the conning tower,
greedily inhaling with both lungs the fine, refreshing sea air and,
mixed with it, the long puffs of the cigarette.
IV
RICH SPOILS
Late in the afternoon of the same day we broke into a peacefully working
fishing flotilla just like a wolf into a flock of sheep. In order to be
sure no shepherd with his dog was guarding them we, keeping ourselves
submerged, carefully examined each ship. I could not see a gun or
anything suspicious anywhere.
All were peacefully occupied at their casting nets, fishing. There were
seven fishing steamers and nine sailing ships, which were scattered over
a distance of about three miles. The weather was glorious, even better
than the day before. The sun smiled from a steel blue sky and danced in
golden stripes on the bright, calm surface of the sea. A gentle
northerly swell rocked the fishing boats back and forth, so that the
gaffs and the frames on which the extra nets had been stretched to dry
were swinging and banging.
Countless numbers of sea gulls were flying about close to the flotilla.
With shrill cries and in thick flocks, they swooped down on the sterns
of some isolated boats, and hurled themselves, gliding on their wings,
into the refuse of the last catch which the fishermen were throwing
overboard.
The horizon stood out visibly from the sea all around and seemed to be a
great shining, glittering ring. Not a speck of cloud spotted its bright
edges. Nothing was visible except our fishermen.
Hurrah, this was just the weather for us! A rare and favorable
opportunity had presented itself here to play a trick on the English
fish market.
As a ghost, I suddenly arose behind one of the fishing steamers, pushed
the conning tower hatch up, and jumped up on the tower, holding the flag
of war in one hand and the megaphone in the other.
"Halloo-o-o!"
The fishermen stared at us open mouthed, rooted to the spot as if
paralyzed by fear of us.
"Halloo-o-o-o, Captain!" I shouted for the second time. "I want to talk
to you."
After some time a figure emerged from the crowd, stepped up the
stairway, and shouted some words that were not very clear but which
sounded like:
"Here I am!"
I summoned my best English and told the red-nosed chap that I would have
to sink before sundown the whole fleet of fishing boats, and furthermore
I told him that I had selected him to take the crews of all the others
aboard his steamer. I added he must immediately cut his nets and follow
me at a distance of five hundred meters, and that I would promptly blow
him to pieces if he, of his own accord, attempted to diminish this
distance as I would then surely believe he intended to ram me.
The captain declared he was willing to obey my commands, cut the nets,
and followed me. I ordered full speed ahead and hoisted to the mast the
following signal:
"Leave the boat immediately!"
Then I rushed in among the excited swarm. With flashing eyes, the
sailors were standing by our guns and waiting, lovingly fondling the
shells, ready to begin firing.
First we went right through the crowd of fishing-boats and then along
the edges of the fleet, in order to prevent the escape of the steamers
furthest away. Nowhere did we take the time to stop to sink a ship, but
only drove the crews away from their boats. Then the prey could not get
away from us.
How promptly the fishermen alighted because of the fear of our shells!
They scrambled aboard the one steamer selected to save them in such a
rush it looked like a panicky flight. Soon cutters and rowboats were
swarming all around us and speedily the steamer selected to save the
crews was crowded.
But even during such an exciting occupation we did not neglect to keep a
sharp lookout, for under no circumstances were we to be taken by
surprise when at this work. But it was easy to look out over a great
distance. The horizon was free and clear.
As soon as the fishermen were safe aboard the steamer, we began the
sinking of the ships and went from ship to ship, stopped at a distance
of a hundred meters, and sent solid, well-aimed shots at their water
lines until they had had enough and began to sink. Many went down with
the first shot. Others were tougher and required four. For the gun crew
this was great sport. They took turns and each jealously counted the
number of shots required for his "fisherman."
When the steamers were "fixed," we went to the sailing boats, which, in
accordance with their inveterate custom, were lying huddled together.
The sailors generally needed only one shot--then they capsized and sank
into the sea with a death gurgle. It was a touching scene which, in
spite of our inner joy, was hard on our nerves, as every true sailor
regards the sailing-ship as a remnant of romance, dying out faster and
faster in these days.
This was truly the reason why now and at other times our hearts ached
for each sailing ship which we had to sink. The surface was covered with
hundreds of thousands of dead fish which were scattered over the sea. To
countless sea gulls it was a highly welcome call to dinner, which they
eagerly accepted, gorging themselves and filling themselves so that
their feathers stood straight out from their bodies.
We had already sent thirteen ships to the bottom, only two sailing-ships
remaining besides the rescue steamer. As the opportunity was a rare one,
I permitted the firemen and men from the engine room to come up on deck
so that they could see with their own eyes a ship go down. I enjoyed
hearing their funny remarks and to watch how, in their childish joy,
they enthusiastically greeted each new shot. I was glad to see the
bright color the fresh air and excitement brought to their pale faces.
Gröning stepped up to me and said thoughtfully:
"What will happen if the steamer goes to England and tells our
position? Following the events of yesterday afternoon, this morning and
now, the English can easily figure out our course."
"By Jove, you are right there! I had not happened to think of that. It
is indeed true that one gets duller as the years go by. That must be
prevented under all circumstances, especially on account of to-morrow.
You know what then--don't you?"
Gröning nodded.
"Yes, to-morrow we'll have a trying day," I continued, "and, if we are
going to succeed, we can't make conditions any harder for ourselves."
I was pondering the question of how we were going to avoid the danger of
being betrayed by the fishermen without endangering their lives, which I
did not want to do. I thought this over for a moment. Suddenly I struck
my forehead with my hand and laughed.
"So stupidly foolish! One is never able to think of the simplest way!" I
said. "We'll simply shift the entire crowd to one of the sailing-ships.
With this light breeze, it will take them at least three days to reach
the coast and, after that, it does not matter. It will be a little
crowded for so many people, but that can't be helped."
"And the provisions?" Gröning asked. "What are they going to live on?"
"That's simple," I answered. "First of all they can take off all the
provisions from the steamer and, besides that, they have all the fish in
the sailing-ship."
I sank the smaller of the two sailboats and then approached the steamer
which had taken aboard the crews from the other boats.
The captain of the steamer was bitterly disappointed, of course, when I
brought him word that all hands would have to go to the sailboat. He had
been so delighted to be the one chosen to keep his steamer. On the other
hand, to the captain of the sailing-ship, the message that he could go
back to his old, faithful smack came as a gift from heaven.
Yes, indeed, joy and sorrow lie close together and go hand in hand.
After a short half hour the shift was made, and the steamer also went
down into the deep--the fifteenth ship within two hours. First the
skipper carefully hauled up his nets and then with flapping sails slowly
swung around and laid his course toward the west.
During the night we dropped down to the bottom of the ocean at X----. We
wanted to get some rest for one night and gather strength for the next
day. It is comfortable to lie in the soft sands of the North Sea. It is
as if the whole boat went to bed. One thing necessary for this comfort
was a calm surface, because a heavy sea is felt at a great depth and
throws and bangs the boat back and forth on the bottom.
Slowly the boat slipped deeper and deeper. We had taken soundings before
submerging. The nearer we came to the bottom the slower the dynamo
motors worked, and I at last stopped them entirely when we were a few
meters from the bottom. As soon as we had stopped sinking, which could
be told by the fact the diving rudder was no longer working, a few
liters of water were pumped into a ballast tank made for just this
purpose. The boat became heavier and slowly sunk further.
"Now, we'll soon strike," I called down to the "Centrale" and looked at
the manometer.
Hardly had the words left my lips when we felt a very gentle shock--much
weaker than when a train stops--and knew we were at the bottom. Some more
water was pumped into the ballast tanks in order to make the boat
steadier and then each one at his post carefully examined scuttles and
hatchways so that not a drop of water could leak through to us. From bow
to stern it was reported:
"All is tight!"
Thereafter orders were given for the necessary guards, and then I let
the crew leave their posts:
"All hands to be free to-night!"
Until to-morrow on the bottom of the ocean! No other restfulness can be
compared with it. Rest after so much excitement which has stirred the
emotions of us all; after such a day's work, is it possible that any one
can appreciate how we enjoyed ourselves?
We did not care that we were not in port and that a mountain of ocean
was over our heads. We felt as secure as if we had been at the safest
spot in the world. From their posts the crew went past us, with pale,
oily, and dirty faces, but with their eyes looking at me as they went
by, proud, happy, radiant, so that my heart rejoiced.
There was some excitement among the crew. Every one washed, talked and
laughed so that it was evident how happy and care-free they felt.
"Well, with what will you treat us to-day?" I asked the cook who, with
great self-confidence--because he was an expert in his line--was standing
before his little galley and stirring a steaming pot. "That smells
wonderfully appetizing."
"Ox goulash and salt potatoes," answered the cook and with more
eagerness stirred his pot. "It soon will be ready. It'll not take more
than five minutes."
"Then I must hurry up," I replied, and went to my small cabin, where I
had not put foot since five o'clock in the morning.
I put my cap, long scarf and oil-skin jacket on a hook, stretched myself
in weary delight and washed myself energetically. This is a rare
pleasure on a trip like ours. From the nearby room the happy talk of the
officers reached my ears. I then heard a rattle of plates and forks, a
cork popped from a bottle, and Gröning opened the little door that
separates my cabin from the room of the other officers.
"Herr Captain, dinner is ready," he said.
Soon we were sitting, four men in all, at a little, nicely decorated
table, cutting into the steaming platter and drinking out of small
seidels a magnificent sparkling wine. The past day's events had to be
moistened a little with the best we had. This was our custom when the
fortunes of war smiled graciously on us.
The electrical heating apparatus furnishes all the heat needed, but it
still has the disadvantage that in the still, unchanged air, the heat
arises so that the temperature at the floor is several degrees colder
than at the ceiling. Even in our heavy sea-boots, we felt it a little,
although, as a whole, we were warm and contented. The phonograph played
continuously. The petty officers had taken charge of it and played one
native song after another. What a thrill ran through me! At once there
was silence. All talk stopped. German songs of the Fatherland were sung
deep down at the bottom of the ocean right on England's coast. Inspired
by the music, our hearts were filled with enthusiasm and a silent
promise was made to give everything for the Fatherland--to become a
scourge to the enemy and damage him with all our might.
Thereafter, the dance music, operettas, vaudeville songs, and ragtime
were played. These stirred up a buoyant spirit. Especially there was
much joy among the firemen and sailors in the crew's quarters. Funny
songs could be heard from that direction. Dirty playing cards were dug
out and soon there was a real German skat game in full swing.
During this time we, in the officers' mess, raised our glasses and drank
toasts to one another and to the beautiful U-boat: "Rich spoils! A happy
journey home! Long live the U-boat!" That is the U-boat toast.
The boat was lying very still. It didn't seem to stir.
"What an original idea for an artist!" said our engineer, who was
poetically inclined, as he leaned back in his chair staring thoughtfully
at the ceiling. "One can imagine a cross section of the boat showing our
room at the North Sea's yellowish sand bottom, to which all kinds of
crawling and swimming animals give life. In here four feasting, happy
officers around a little table on which a warm electric light is shining
with the wine bottle in the center and with the glasses raised to a
solemn toast. Above--water, water, water--water to the height of a church
steeple and, over it all, the glittering heavens full of stars and a
small silver-white piece of the moon. If I were a painter I should
immediately start with this motive for a picture."
"And give me the picture, I hope," I laughed. "And, after all, not such
a bad idea about that picture--one should in reality propose such a
motive to an artist."
"Maybe it would be possible to put in a couple of mermaids who look in
through the conning tower window inquisitively and knock with their
fingers on the glass," said Petersen, our youngest lieutenant, with a
smile. "That would undoubtedly make the picture still more attractive."
Gröning, who during the entire time had listened with a quiet smile to
the conversation, took out his empty cigar holder, on which he always
chewed when we were under water because, as a heavy smoker, he missed
tobacco, as none of us was allowed to smoke inside the boat. Slowly he
said with a touch of irony, in a deep, sympathetic voice:
"Here, my dear Petersen, you are an unreasonable rascal. If there are no
women in the game, then there is no pleasure for you. Doesn't the fellow
actually talk about mermaids when he tells us every fourth week he is
going to become engaged. 'This time it's absolutely certain! This time
I surely will do it, as I will never find such a girl again.' This and
more I hear every month. What was the last one's name that you intended
to make happy--your March girl? Wait, I have it--the February girl--ha, ha,
ha--has the captain heard the story of the February girl?"
He turned to me laughing.
"Will you shut up, Gröning!" Petersen burst forth and blushed up to his
ears. "I'll tell you that if you tell tales out of school--and besides----"
"Well, Petersen," I encouraged, "what 'besides'?"
"Besides, all that is not true," he continued and blushed still more
when he noticed that he had betrayed himself. "_You_ should certainly
keep quiet," he went on suddenly, beaming with an idea, and began to
attack in order to lead the conversation away from himself. "He who
lives in glass houses should be more careful."
"I--I--I--how so--that's the limit!" Gröning angrily rejoined, as he
considered it an honor to be known among his friends as a woman hater.
"I--in a glass house? It's a mean accusation, or have you been drinking
too much wine, my dear boy?"
"Bah! only a glass," answered the younger officer, defending himself.
"It is ridiculous to claim anything like that."
"Well, well, be friends now, sirs," I said soothingly. "Don't let's
quarrel down here at the bottom of the sea. I hereby decide that our
younger officer is absolutely sober, but that, even so, he will not be
allowed to let his April girl with her fishtail come in here, as a
punishment, because he has jilted his February girl."
With this decision both these fighting roosters (really the best friends
in the world) had to be pleased, and the eternal discussion of Eve and
her daughters, which had nearly made the ocean bottom shake under our
feet, was ended.
Shortly after this we went to bed in our narrow bunks--for the first time
undressed on the voyage--and soon enjoyed a sleep free from dreams.
V
THE WITCH-KETTLE
In the morning no rooster crowed to wake me. But, instead, there stood
my faithful orderly, the Pole, Tuczynski, before my bed, and loudly
announced:
"Herr Captain Lieutenant, it's five-thirty!"
I woke up in bewilderment. My head was still dull after a sound sleep.
"What's up?"
"It's five-thirty," repeated the orderly. "The water for washing and the
clothes are ready."
Ah! Like a flash the reality was before me. We were lying on the bottom
of the sea--were going to arise within an hour--and then we were going
to----
I leaped out of bed. The thought of "then we were going to" fully awoke
me. "Yes, we are going to go at it; everything depends upon to-day," I
thought, and put my feet into my slippers.
Hardly had I scrambled to my feet when I had to grasp the closet to
support myself.
"What's up now?" I asked, turning to my good Pole, who was spitting on
my left boot in order to preserve the shine. "We are rolling. What's
happened?"
"Must be a little sea above," he replied with a grin.
"I can understand that myself, you smarty, but when did it start? Run
along quickly and find out when the rolling was first noticed!"
Tuczynski hurried to the "Centrale" and returned immediately with his
answer:
"About two o'clock, says Lieutenant Petersen."
"Well, then we must have a considerable storm above, if the wind has
been blowing for four hours. Get out my oil-skin coat quickly! It will
be needed to-day," I ordered, and hurriedly dressed myself as
water-tight as possible.
The change of weather did not suit my purpose, for, although to judge
from the motion of the boat the storm was not as yet so bad, the
strength of the wind was probably six, and it was gradually becoming
worse. At this time of the year storms could be terrible.
"Devil take the luck--and this very day, too!" I swore through my six-day
old beard-stub.
After breakfast I called the entire crew together. "Boys," I said, "you
know that we have many things unaccomplished. As yet we are only at the
beginning of our task. Yesterday and the day before we were very
successful, and now we have had a restful night. Being well rested, we
are now cheerfully and confidently ready for another day's work. To-day
we are going to go through the so-called 'Witch-Kettle.' You all know
what I mean, and you know also that this is not child's play. The enemy
there is keeping sharp lookout, but we will keep a better lookout.
Others have gotten through before us. Consequently, we will also get
through, if each one of you sticks to his post and does his duty as well
as you all have done hitherto. This I expect from every man. And now--to
the diving stations!"
I went up to the tower. Shortly after the engineer reported from the
"Centrale":
"All hands are at the diving station!"
Consequently we were ready for our task. The day began--the most
remarkable day of my life.
"Arise!"
The pump began to buzz. We now had to empty the ballast-tanks of the
water which had been taken in to make the boat heavier, in order that,
instead of being held down, we should begin to pull ourselves loose, and
drift slowly upwards. Usually that manoeuver was accomplished with the
best of success, but not so to-day. The boat wabbled and "stuck," as we
used to say. It called to my mind the question which is often asked by
laymen: "Are you never in fear of not being able to get up to the
surface again?" We, of course, had no fear, but I knocked impatiently on
the manometer to see if the register would not at last begin to move.
"Nine hundred liters above the normal," Krüger reported from the
"Centrale."
It meant that we had pumped out of the boat nine hundred liters more
than the normal quantity necessary to make the boat rise.
"It seems as if we were fastened in a vise," I joked, "but in accordance
with the map there ought to be a sand bottom here."
"Now it loosens!" the engineer called out.
Yes, the boat pulled loose all right--the hand on the manometer was
rising--but it shot upwards on one side only. The stern arose but the
nose remained fastened in the mud.
"How confoundedly nasty," I heard Gröning, who took care of the diving
rudder, growl.
Now the entire ballast shifted. We had to make the boat heavier in the
stern, had to shift the ballast of the heretofore well-balanced boat and
pump ballast water out of the bow to pour water into the stern tanks, in
order to make the bow lighter and the stern heavier. After a few liters
of water had exchanged places the boat changed her mind and again placed
herself in a horizontal position. Then she arose quickly and
satisfactorily, but showed a tendency to list toward the stern, until
we, by a new shift of the ballast, had re-established the old conditions
of equilibrium.
After the boat had pulled loose with apparent reluctance from her bed on
the bottom, she could not get up fast enough to stick her nose into the
fresh air. Having the ballast diminished by nine hundred liters, she
leaped upwards rapidly, but this did not suit my purpose, as I preferred
first to put up the periscope and find out whether the atmosphere was
free from British germs. As I felt I was entirely responsible for my
boat's health, I entertained one fear, based on experience, that germs
in the form of destroyers and trawlers, appearing suddenly, might
endanger it. I made the boat obey my will, let the nine hundred liters
be pumped into her again, and thus checked her quick ascent.
At the same time I had the dynamo motors started, so that we would have
steerageway for the diving rudder, and commanded that the U-boat should
stop at the depth of twenty meters. Thereafter, I soon came to the
periscope depth and took a look around to see if I could discover any
ships. There was nothing in sight, but woe--a heavy storm!
"Well, it can't be helped," I said softly to myself.
I made another careful search of the horizon and then arose entirely to
the surface. What a delightful sensation to be standing on the tower
with my hands to my sides and greedily sucking my lungs full of the
fresh sea air! The air at the bottom had not been so bad. On the
contrary, the engineers had kept it in first-class condition during the
night, but more delightful was the wonderful ocean air.
Now the ventilator burst open and refreshed those inside with fresh air
throughout the ship.
"Now, Mate," I ordered, "let me take a look at the map once more. That's
right. Put it right up here on the tower--no harm done if it gets wet.
Now let's have a compass and a lead pencil--thanks. Watch carefully and
follow my calculations to see I make no mistake. From here to the first
mine field it is twenty-two miles; from there to the second mine field
about fourteen miles--which makes thirty-six miles altogether. We must
reach the first field just before the ebb tide, as the mines are only
visible just before or right after the ebb tide. We get the ebb about
ten o'clock, and it is now half past six. We can, therefore, go along
easily at half speed and will have enough time to recharge the
batteries. Is that right?"
"Yes, that's right," replied the mate, and quickly folded up the map,
which he had shown anxiety in guarding, time and time again, against the
waves washing over the ship, "if we only don't have to dive again."
"I don't believe we will," I said with confidence. "Here near the mine
fields I think there are few ships sailing. So far as that goes, we are
really safer here. The scouting will be on the other side of the
fields."