THE CAPTURE OF THE SUBMERGED VESSEL
"Why does it still keep at this angle?" asked Ralph.
"Have you forgotten the stuff we carried back into the stern?" replied
Alfred.
"Do you think that really is the trouble?" asked Ralph.
"Yes; it is out of balance, and I suppose we may look out for another
job," said the captain. "That may be the opportunity we are seeking.
Furthermore, what is to be done must be done just as soon as possible."
"What makes you think so?" eagerly inquired Alfred.
"Several things. The first is, that we are now in the English Channel
under the guidance of a man much less skilful than the lieutenant; and,
secondly, the lieutenant, although badly wounded, may recover
sufficiently to be able to direct affairs," replied the captain.
"When I was out there talking with the seaman," said Alfred, "I learned
that the lieutenant was in a very low state."
"I should judge so, too," rejoined the captain, "for the reason that the
doctor has not left the room once since the lieutenant was taken there.
In making a calculation of the forces against us I have considered that
the lieutenant, the cook and the doctor are disposed of, so far as being
of any aid to the crew. Three others are also so badly injured that they
do not need to cause us much worry. I am not certain in my mind,
however, where they are at this time."
"Do you mean the men who were injured?" asked Ralph.
"Yes."
"Two of them are in the bunks behind the compressed air tanks," answered
Ralph.
"Are you quite sure of that?" queried the captain.
"I know it," was the answer.
"Well, that makes six accounted for, so that there are twenty-one we
must meet. Now I shall give a few general instructions before we
proceed. The sub-lieutenant has gone into the conning tower. As he
entered I tried to get a glimpse to ascertain whether or not the sun had
risen, but was unable to decide, but I should judge that it is not yet
daylight or he would not be running on the surface. As a precautionary
measure we must have the weapons ready, and have the revolvers put away
so as not to expose them before we are ready."
"Here they are," said Ralph, who cautiously brought them to the room.
"Shall we load them?" asked Alfred.
"By all means; and let me warn you of one thing: when you aim be sure to
hit. There must be no pretense about it. The matter is too serious for
anything but strict business. I hope we shall not have the opportunity
or necessity for using the revolvers. Now pay attention to the details:
the sub-lieutenant must be the first one captured, and he must be taken
into the conning tower. I suggest that you, Ralph, take your place
beneath the stairway, hiding, as much as possible, behind the amidship
tank, while you, Alfred, remain at the door of our room here."
"Shall I stay here so I can be seen or keep out of sight?" asked Alfred.
"Remain under cover inside the room, but in sight of the stairway. You
have probably noticed that the under officer makes frequent trips to the
conning tower, and that on returning each time he turns a short lever
below the hinge," said the captain.
"I have noticed that several times and wondered what it was for," said
Ralph.
"That is for the purpose of holding the hatch door so that it can be
opened by him when he again ascends the stairway. Now, when the under
officer opens the hatch and comes down the hatch stairs, will be the
time for you to come out of the room and take up your position at the
forward corner of the room; that will completely hide you from the eyes
of the officer. I shall then go into the room, the moment he reaches the
last step, and thus he will not suspect me. The moment he reaches the
passageway opposite the door, I will hold him up with my revolver, and
compel him to enter the room. The moment that is done you will push the
door shut, as you will see that it has a spring lock. Do you fully
understand the instructions so far?" asked the captain.
"I think so," answered Alfred, "although I don't exactly understand why
I am to go into the room first, and then come out the moment the hatch
is being opened."
"For the reason that we must not be suspected by the others, some of
whom are at all times not far away, and if, while we are waiting, some
of the crew should pass the end of our room they would be sure to see
you and consider that a peculiar place for you to be in. Do you
understand it now?" replied the captain.
"Then, after that what will take place?" asked Ralph, his breath coming
thick and fast.
"I shall go up the stairway, followed by Alfred. While this is going on
it will be your duty, Ralph, to watch the workers at the dynamo and the
aft tank. They are the only ones who will be able to see the stairway
clearly. If you see any look of alarm on their faces, or see that they
notice what is going on, move around into the opening, and level both
revolvers at them, without, however, making any sound. Hold them in that
position until I raise the trap-door and warn the sub-lieutenant. Alfred
will follow close and hold the trap-door from being sprung. Then move up
the companionway as fast as you can. There, he is going up now. Take
your place, Ralph."
The crucial time had come. Alfred retreated into the little room as the
captain leisurely moved along the narrow passageway toward the dynamos.
Thus they waited and waited, five, ten minutes. Ages seemed to pass.
Then the hatch door opened slowly. Alfred came out quietly without
looking around, moved forward, and then walked back and slid into the
corner of the room.
The petty officer closed the hatch and moved down the steps, brushing
past the captain. As he did so the captain entered the door and
immediately turned with the revolver pointing at the officer's breast.
"Not a sound, or I fire," said the captain in a voice which could not be
heard a dozen feet away. The captain stepped aside, and pointed to the
open doorway, at the same time indicating by motions that the German
should enter it. The officer gritted his teeth and finally obeyed. As
the captain stood there with the revolver at his side, but pointed at
the man, Alfred slowly closed the door.
The captain now turned and moved up the stairway. With his revolver
drawn he pushed open the trap-door quietly, and, in a quiet voice, said:
"Hands up!"
The sub-lieutenant turned quickly, to look into the muzzle of the
revolver. His hands reached out to seize a lever.
"_Stop!_" said the captain, and the officer quickly raised his hands.
Alfred was now in the tower, and Ralph, walking up backwards, had his
head through the hatch opening, when a shot was fired. He dropped one of
his revolvers, and Alfred quickly seized him by the shoulders and drew
him up. The hatch cover came down with a bang.
"Are you hurt?" asked Alfred, as Ralph dropped down, but he was
reassured as the latter arose. For the moment the captain's gaze was
averted, when, quick as thought, the officer's hand touched a lever.
The captain smiled, as he said: "I am afraid the valve of the submerging
tank will not work; I prefer running on the surface. But, in the
meantime, as I am commander of this vessel, and I notice that you are
trying to interfere, I shall have to restrict your movements somewhat."
Saying this he drew a small cord from his pocket and instructed Alfred
to bind the arms at the wrists. The hands of the officer were then
carried around to the back and the cord fastened to a stanchion at one
side, where he was out of reach of the instrument board.
This gave the captain an opportunity to examine Ralph's wound. The
latter had quickly rallied. It was the shot, coupled with the extreme
tension, which caused him momentarily to collapse, for it was found that
the wound had passed through the fleshy part of the arm above the elbow.
"I suppose you want the destroyers to sink us," said the officer.
"Not at all," replied the captain. "Unscrew the bolts of the door,
Alfred. And now a word more, Mr. Officer. Where are your flags?"
"I refuse to inform you," said the officer, with a look of determination
in his face.
"I expect a shot every minute," said the captain, "for I know as well as
you do that there is a cruiser on our port side. I shall give you
another opportunity; where are the flags?"
"You must open the hatch for them," said the officer.
"All the bolts are out," said Alfred, turning to the captain.
"Guard the officer while I go out and signal," said the captain.
Before the captain reached the door there was an ominous boom in the
distance. Alfred could see the officer's face grow pale. A shower of sea
water sprayed over the deck, and some of the water entered the open
door. Looking out he saw the captain, who had thrown off his coat and
vest, and was now drawing off his white shirt, which he held up and
waved to and fro, just as the second shot boomed.
Fortunately, the shot was too far away to be at all dangerous, as Alfred
thought, but the voice of the captain explained it.
"Signal to stop!"
"Which lever?" inquired Alfred.
The latter hesitated. He glanced out the door and then at the boy. To
refuse meant that the ship was doomed and his companions below without
hope of rescue.
The captain, with the white signal in his hand, stepped to the door, and
with the revolver pointing full into the face of the officer, said:
"Stop the ship or you will never have an opportunity to save yourselves
or your companions."
"Pull the second lever," he said, and Alfred did as directed.
"Reverse!" demanded the captain.
"The lever below," said the officer.
A mile away was a small, speedy craft, sailing around the submarine. It
seemed fairly to skim over the surface of the water, and cast the spray
astern like a mist. It had come up unnoticed by the captain.
"Look at the little boat," shouted Ralph, who had now recovered and had
moved to the open door.
The captain turned quickly toward the stern, waving the white flag in a
frenzy. It must have been regarded as a remarkable thing to those on
board the little cutter to see a German submarine hoisting a surrender
flag. It seemed too good to be true. They evidently supposed the white
flag was a ruse of some kind, for they did not venture nearer.
Meanwhile, the cruiser, which had fired the two shots, came up behind
the little craft, and the latter cautiously steamed up. The small vessel
was one of the speedy torpedo boat chasers, carrying two three-inch
guns, and drawing less than six feet of water. The safety of these boats
lies in their great speed and in the shallow draft, which prevents the
submarine from reaching them with their torpedoes.
Once abreast the commander called out: "I am sending a boat for your
officers."
"I have only one here, that we can get at, at present," shouted the
captain.
"What is that?" asked the commander of the chaser.
"I have one of the chief officers in the conning tower, and the others
are below," said the captain.
"Who are you?" asked the commander.
"Captain Leclere, of the French service," replied the captain.
"Captain Leclere!" almost shouted the German officer in the conning
tower.
"That's the man," said Alfred.
"Then I am not surprised," said the officer in a low voice.
"Surprised?" said Ralph. "Did you say 'surprised?'"
The officer sighed, turned his head away, and was silent.
A lieutenant and four seamen reached the side of the submarine, and were
drawn aboard.
"Ah! it was your ship that went down in the bay last Wednesday," said
the chaser's lieutenant.
"Yes; we were picked up by the submarine, together with my two young
friends here," said the captain.
"And how does it happen that you are in command of this vessel?" he
asked in surprise.
"We captured it about a half an hour ago, and have the chief officer and
the crew below," replied the captain.
"That is certainly a remarkable exploit," replied the lieutenant. "I
suppose you will be glad to meet the commander of _l'Orient_?" said the
lieutenant.
"Ah! Captain Tournai, you mean! I recognized the French colors. But I
supposed he was in the Mediterranean; it will be quite a pleasure,
indeed. Do me the honor to signal him," said the captain.
The lieutenant gave the necessary instructions, and the flags wig-wagged
from the bridge of the little vessel.
The sub-lieutenant was called out of the conning tower, and Alfred
directed to unloosen the cords.
"I suppose you will take charge of the prisoners," said the captain.
"I should be glad to do so, with your permission, although you have a
right, of course, to turn them over to _l'Orient_," said the lieutenant.
"No; it is sufficient gratification to know that we have the vessel,"
said the captain, "and I shall be glad to leave to you the disposition
of the men and the vessel."
"What procedure would you suggest?" asked the lieutenant.
"I shall give an order to the sub-lieutenant directing the men to come
out of the hold," said the captain. Then, turning to the sub-lieutenant,
he said:
"You will inform the men below that they are to present themselves at
the hatch."
The officer bowed, and entered the conning tower He immediately
descended. Before he had, reached the bottom the captain said:
"Halt! Notify them from where you are. I shall not permit you to go any
farther."
All the men were found to be stationed near the hatchway steps. One by
one they appeared, and were escorted out, a dozen marines in the
meantime having appeared in two boats. As they emerged from the door
they were escorted to the side and directed to take their places in the
ship's boats.
"That makes twenty-one," said Alfred.