THE SECRET KEY TO THE BOMB FUSE
"Shall I go down and assist in bringing up the lieutenant?" said the
sub-lieutenant, as the doctor of the submarine passed out.
"No; I have decided that he shall not be removed until this evening,"
said the captain. "In the meantime the doctor may return, and give him
such aid as is necessary."
The sub-lieutenant's face turned pale, and he trembled. This was the
first show of weakness that he exhibited. The boys looked at the
captain, and turned their glances toward the officer of the chaser. They
could not understand it. The captain continued:
"I believe the chief machinist is also injured, as well as two of the
machine tenders. They may also remain until after the lieutenant is
brought up."
All present noticed the wrought-up condition of the sub-lieutenant, and
the latter soon exhibited evidence that he was breaking down. At last he
remarked with trembling voice:
"At what time can they be brought up?"
"I cannot tell at this time; possibly not until tomorrow," said the
captain, directing a searching glance at the officer.
"He is very ill," said the doctor.
"I have no doubt of it," replied the captain. "The length of their stay
in the submarine will depend on the length of the fuse attached to the
time explosive in the hold."
The sub-lieutenant almost dropped as the captain uttered these words,
and the boys exchanged significant glances, while the lieutenant of the
chaser smiled.
"You did not think," continued the captain, "that I would be so lax in
my duty as to permit you to plant a mine under our feet?"
The sub-lieutenant dropped his eyes without answering. The captain gazed
at him intently, as he continued: "For the present you will be detained,
and the time of the removal of the lieutenant with his companions will
be decided within the next two hours."
With this decision the sub-lieutenant was put in charge of the marines,
while he descended to enter the boat. As he was about to step aboard, he
turned to the captain and said: "It will be too late if you defer the
decision for two hours."
"Ah!" said the captain with a faint smile, "you have thought better of
it. Will the fuse last an hour?"
The sub-lieutenant nodded. The captain waved his arms and directed the
officer to proceed. The latter unceremoniously pushed the sub-lieutenant
into the boat.
"I will see to it that the fuses are taken out," said the
sub-lieutenant, recovering from his sullen attitude.
The captain paid no attention to the remarks of the officer. As soon as
the sub-lieutenant was well out of hearing, the captain turned to the
boys and said: "It may be a difficult and trying duty to you to perform,
but it is the only safe thing to do. As you know almost every part of
the submarine from the investigation you have made, I would ask you to
follow me, and I will tell you what to do."
The boys nodded their heads, and entered the conning tower with the
captain. The latter turned, before descending, and said:
"You will have observed, no doubt, that the scheme was to turn over the
submarine to us as soon as possible, leaving a time fuse, which, within
a specified time, would have blown the ship to atoms. By so doing they
would accomplish two purposes, namely, destroy the ship, and save their
own lives. We must not put confidence in any statement they may make."
"But wouldn't it be a good idea to let the sub-lieutenant remove the
fuses, as he said he would do?" asked Ralph.
"Would you be willing to rely on that?"
"Well, I wouldn't," replied Alfred. "I could tell by the way the
sub-lieutenant acted that he would play a trick if he could."
"That is just why I want you to assist me in check-mating," said the
captain.
"Tell us just what to do, and you may depend on us," replied Ralph.
"As you know many of the dark places below I want you to go down with me
and find several where you can secrete yourselves. I will then send the
sub-lieutenant down, and order him to remove the fuses. I want you to be
particular to observe every step he takes, and, as far as possible, note
what he does at each place; do you understand?" said the captain.
"Perfectly," replied Ralph.
Together they descended. All were well aware that the lieutenant, the
doctor, and the three wounded men were still in the dining galley, the
door of which had been closed and locked by orders of the captain, after
the last of the submarine crew reached the upper deck.
"I know one good place where a fellow can hide and still see what is
going on," said Alfred.
"Where is that?" asked the captain.
"At that tank by the side of the dining galley," replied Alfred.
"That would be a good vantage point," answered the captain. "It is the
aft trimming tank, and if you can find a place of concealment it would,
at the same time, enable you to overhear any conversation that might
possibly take place, when the sub-lieutenant is performing his unwelcome
duty."
"Then maybe I ought to get somewhere forward of the main hatch?"
proposed Ralph.
"I suppose you have your revolvers with you?" said the captain.
"I know mine is all right," replied Ralph.
"So is mine, I think," said Alfred, "although I haven't had an
opportunity to try it so far."
"I hope there will be no necessity for anything of that kind," said the
captain. "However, we are dealing with men who are desperate, and who
have been taught that they must do desperate things to accomplish their
purposes, hence the safe rule, in all cases, in dealing with them, is to
do the very opposite of that which they wish you to do."
"Is that the reason why you refused to let him remove the fuse?" asked
Alfred.
The captain laughed quietly, as he replied: "He thinks I have refused to
let him do so, but he will be surprised to get the order to remove the
fuses, and be permitted to go down into the vessel unaccompanied."
"Then he is to come down here without you?" said Ralph in surprise.
"Why, certainly; and that is why I want some one here to watch
proceedings," said the captain.
"Oh! I understand now," replied Alfred. "That's a good idea. If anything
happens we'll find out what it is if any one can."
"I believe it," answered the captain. "And now select your places. I
will go up and send him down within the next fifteen minutes."
Alfred took up his station at one side of the aft trimming tank, and
Ralph, after some investigation, upturned one of the boxes which was
still lying in the passageway directly to one side of the steps leading
to the conning tower, and after a little search, found two more, which
were drawn together, thus forming a retreat which enabled him to observe
the movements of any one on three sides.
All this was done in silence, and all preparation having been made, the
captain ascended. After reaching the deck-house of the chaser, he
requested the sub-lieutenant's presence. As he approached, between the
two guards, the captain said: "I have concluded that you may go down and
remove the fuses, and I shall depend on your honor to do it
effectually."
The sub-lieutenant bowed stiffly, and was led to the boat, followed by
the captain. As they reached the conning tower, the captain continued:
"I will remain here. I shall give you ten minutes' time to do the work."
The sub-lieutenant descended, and was somewhat surprised to find himself
alone in the interior. The electric lights were burning brightly. Ralph
was the first to view his movements. The officer first moved to a point
directly opposite, and with a key opened a door, which Ralph had never
theretofore noticed. In a moment the door was again closed and Ralph saw
a short section of a fuse, which the officer quickly pushed into a dark
recess below.
From that point he moved toward the stern, stopping at the motors; then
he quickly turned around and glanced about in a suspicious manner. As he
stooped down, Ralph made a slight noise on one of the boxes, and the
officer straightened up like a shot. The movement indicated a guilty
act, and Ralph divined that the purpose was to injure the motors.
The sub-lieutenant moved cautiously to the rear, and in a few moments
was abreast of the dining galley. Here he was within hearing of Alfred
behind the aft trimming tanks. He saw the officer go to the door, and
give three quick knocks. "Herr Schwoger!" he said in a subdued voice. In
another moment a voice within replied: "The fuses; you must not forget
them."
To this the sub-lieutenant answered: "I have been ordered to remove
them; what shall I do?"
"Take out all but the forward fuse, and report," said the voice. "Tell
us what has happened," continued the voice, which was now recognized as
the doctor's.
"They have complete command, and two warships are outside," was the
reply.
From this point the officer crossed over to the starboard side of the
vessel and at a large stand-pipe stooped down. Alfred tried to ascertain
what he was doing, but was unable to detect the nature of his work. The
sub-lieutenant then crossed back to the other side, and, working his way
quickly to the motors, stooped down. Ralph could no longer restrain
himself. He quickly and quietly moved toward the officer, as he saw him
with a long tool of some kind in his hand reach down to the base of the
motor.
"Hands up!" shouted Ralph.
The tool dropped from the hands of the officer with a click.
Alfred was at the side of the sub-lieutenant in an instant. "You may go
on deck," said Ralph.
The officer glanced at Alfred, whom he had seen emerge from the aft
hiding place, and then turned a look of contempt on Ralph.
"Move!" said Ralph, pointing to the gangway.
Alfred cocked his revolver and menacingly pointed it at him.
There was only one thing to do and he did it. He was met by the captain
at the head of the stairway.
The boys followed quickly. The captain looked on at the leveled
revolvers and appeared to be surprised.
"What does all this mean?" he asked.
"It means that he tried to destroy the motors, and we caught him at it
in time," said Ralph.
"That is not so," replied the officer.
"What is this for?" asked Alfred, as he held up the tool which the
officer had dropped.
"But you have removed all the fuses, of course?" said the captain,
apparently not heeding the tool referred to.
"I have," said the officer, straightening up.
"All but the one at the forward part of the vessel," replied Alfred.
The officer turned, with a look of surprise and chagrin on his face. "He
does not know what he is talking about," said the officer.
"Then you are lying to me as you are to the captain," said Alfred. "You
told the doctor in the galley that you had removed all but the forward
one. Did you lie to him?" asked Alfred.
A blush seemed to suffuse the officer's face, as the captain said:
"We will go down together. There may be some more work to do; come on,"
said the captain, as he indicated the way. "You may go first, Ralph, the
sub-lieutenant will follow."
There was no help for it. Once below the captain said: "You will save
yourself considerable trouble by removing the fuse from the forward
bomb, and that without further waste of words."
The officer knew that the manner in which the words were uttered meant
business. Without waiting for the second warning, he led the way, opened
another secret door, and removed the tell-tale fuse.
"Ah, ha! cut for two hours! Now, while we are about it you might as well
start the motor; we have some use for it," said the captain.
"I cannot do that," replied the officer.
"So you succeeded in injuring it," said the captain.
"No," was the reply.
The captain picked up the tool, which Alfred was so particular to carry
along. "And what was this used for?" he asked.
"Yes; I have disarranged the motor fields so that they are useless; and
I don't deny it," said the officer, straightening up and looking at the
captain defiantly.
"There; that is something like it; but you haven't deceived me in the
least. I have brought a very useful article with me," continued the
captain, drawing from his pocket a paper and presenting it to the
officer. "It contains instructions, which I expect you to follow, for
your own safety. I shall see to it that the fuses you removed are again
put into place and the mechanism set for one hour. Of course, I shall
hold the keys. Under those conditions you may remain locked below, and I
shall expect you to obey my signals, as we intend to navigate the vessel
to port, which will, as you know, occupy about fifty minutes of time. Do
you know where the fuse boxes are?" said the captain, turning to the
boys.
Ralph marched to the side wall and pointed to the place where the
sub-lieutenant opened the first box.
"Open it!" ordered the captain, turning to the sub-lieutenant.
The latter hesitated. The captain stared at him sternly and repeated the
order. As he made no motion, the captain continued: "Why do you
hesitate?"