A TRAP AND ITS PREY
Not that he was hit. Oh, no! Beatty’s last shot had done its work well.
In the enemy’s hull, at the water-line, a great, jagged hole had
appeared.
Responding to the inrush of water the submarine heeled. And then a
strange sight was witnessed. Just as the breathless sailors on the
“Logan” looked for the underseas craft to plunge under the waves she did
something very different.
How it happened no one can ever tell; the cause none can guess with
anything like certainty.
Did a chorus of despairing shrieks come from the bowels of that dying
sea monster? There were those on the “Logan” who were sure they heard
cries of terror.
[Illustration: The last shot.]
Instead of sinking, the submarine continued on over—and turned turtle.
Her dripping hull glistened in the forenoon sun!
It was too much for the tensed nerves of the American sailor men.
“Hurrah!” they let loose. “Hurrah! Hur—”
“Stop that cheering!” rose Darrin’s heaviest tones over the tumult. “The
enemy are dying.”
“They’re only Huns!” answered a voice from below.
But the cheering died away and Dave’s voice carried far as he answered:
“I know they’re only Huns, and a bad lot, but they fought us well. We’ll
cheer for the victory later, but not for the fate of men who are dying
there.”
Darrin then gave the order to steam in close and to stand by to rescue
any swimmers who might appear in the water.
Twice the “Logan” circled the overturned enemy. Save for two of the men
who had been shot away from the submarine’s gun platform, and who were
dead, none of the enemy were to be found.
Now it was that the young commanding officer had an opportunity to turn
about and see how it was faring with the other American vessels.
All firing had ceased. The fleet was proceeding on its way. Darrin was
some distance astern of the rearmost ships of the troopship fleet.
“Men, it looks as if our fight were over for the present,” Dave called
down in hearty cheery tones. “From the bridge we cannot see the head of
the fleet, nor can we hear the sound of firing.”
Accordingly all speed was jammed on. The “Logan,” saluting the rearmost
scout of the destroyer flotilla, steamed on to return to her own
position in the line. As he passed a sister ship Darrin signalled:
“How many transports lost?”
“Only the ‘Castle City,’ we understand,” came the response.
“Any lives lost?”
“We don’t know.”
“We lost two men.”
“Condolence,” signalled the rearmost rear-guard craft.
“Any naval vessels lost?” Dave inquired.
“None that we know about.”
“How many enemy submarines sunk?”
“Several; don’t know the number,” replied the other destroyer.
“Now you may cheer in earnest, if you want to,” Darrin shouted down from
the bridge as the news was passed around.
And right royally did those jackies cheer. The rescued soldiers were now
permitted on the “Logan’s” deck, and contributed their own quota of
cheers.
Dan came up to the bridge with a paper in his hand.
“The commanding general of the Army division will be asking for the
names of soldiers on the various ships of the naval fleet who were
rescued from the ‘Castle City,’” Dalzell explained. “So I’ve taken the
names of all the Army people we have aboard the ‘Logan.’ Here’s the
list. It foots up seventy-seven enlisted men, with two officers.”
“Good enough,” rejoined Dave. “Keep the list until called for.”
No sooner was the destroyer within signalling distance of the transport
that carried Major-General Burton, than a wigwagged demand came for that
list. It was received and checked up.
The American loss, to the Army, had been one troopship, one officer and
five enlisted men; to the Navy, with no ships lost, four men had been
killed, including the two on the “Logan,” and one seaman had been
wounded.
The German loss in officers and men could only be guessed at. But it was
definitely known that thirteen of the Kaiser’s submarines had been sent
to the bottom.
“However,” Lieutenant-Commander Darrin observed, when he and his
executive officer had considered the report, “we are not yet through the
Danger Zone. We may have another battle stiffer than the one just
concluded.”
“Tell me something!” begged Danny Grin, his eyes gleaming. “Out of the
thirteen pests sunk four are placed to the credit of the ‘Logan.’ Are we
the people—or something like it—in this morning’s job?”
“Now run along,” Dave advised laughingly, “and don’t allow your head to
be enlarged, either on your own account or your ship’s. The best we can
claim, Danny-boy, is that we were very fortunate. As officers and men
we’re no better than are to be found all through the Navy.”
“There’s one question I’d like to ask you before I trot,” Dan insisted,
with one of his famous grins.
“What is it?”
“It may have some bearing on future fight engagements,” Dalzell
continued, his grin slowly fading.
“When will you find time to tell me what the question is?” Darrin asked
smiling.
“How many submarines were probably engaged this morning?”
“I haven’t any more idea than you have. I was too fully occupied with
our own affairs to be able to watch the whole field.”
“But that document led us to believe that about sixty would be engaged,”
Dalzell continued. “The question is, how many submarines were pitted
against the fleet this morning?”
“I don’t know how many,” Dave admitted. “But I see your point. If the
entire sixty were not engaged—and I doubt if any such number
attacked—then we must look for a second mass attack.”
“Yes, sir,” nodded Dalzell, now wholly the serious, subordinate naval
officer.
“The thing is worth taking up,” said Dave. “I’ll signal Captain Rhodes
on the flagship of the destroyer flotilla and find out what he has to
say.”
Back came Captain Rhodes’ answer within a minute:
“No accurate figures at hand. Believe enemy numbered something like
thirty craft. Extreme vigilance needed until we reach port.”
“There you are,” Dave said, when the signal had been read. “Take
command, Mr. Dalzell, and be the sharpest little sailor on the ocean.
I’m going below on another matter.”
Once at his desk in the chart-room Dave sent for Seaman Ferguson.
“Does Seaman Jordan smoke cigarettes?” asked Darrin.
“Yes, sir.”
“Is he really addicted to them?” Dave continued.
“Is he, sir?” exclaimed Ferguson. Then: “Pardon me, sir, for answering
like that. Jordan smokes his head off when he can get the chance and has
enough of the pesky things.”
“Thank you,” Dave nodded. “That is all, except the caution to say
nothing to any one about my question. Send Reardon here.”
Big, red-faced, with huge hands, a deeply bronzed skin and a sly, merry
twinkle in his eyes, Reardon was a sailor of the best type. Dave knew
the man’s loyalty and shrewdness, as well as Reardon’s great faculty for
holding his tongue at need.
“Reardon,” directed Dave, “place a chair here at the desk and write a
note at my dictation with this pencil.”
“Aye, aye, sir! Ready,” announced Reardon, taking his seat and picking
up the pencil in his big right hand.
“Write this,” said Dave. “‘Sorry for you. Looks like you got a raw deal.
I’ll be glad to help you, if you want cigarettes or anything. Don’t nod
or speak to me, but wait for your chance to slip this paper back to me.
Write on it what you’d like.’”
“Now,” Darrin resumed, as the sailor looked up, “go below and stand
where the guard at the brig can see you, but don’t let your shoes make
enough noise for Jordan, who’s in the brig, to hear you. Signal to the
guard to stroll slowly in your direction. When he reaches you tell him
that you are ordered by me to slip a note to Jordan, but that the guard
is not to mention the fact to any one. Tell the guard, from me, to stand
so as to give you a chance to slip the note. Then, twenty minutes later,
you are to get down there again and give Jordan a chance to hand you his
reply. Slip this pencil in with the note.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
Not even his eyes expressing any question or curiosity, Reardon left the
chart-room. Going below he stepped into the passage-way that led to the
brig. Cat-footed he walked along until he caught the eye of the marine
guard. From the point where he halted Reardon was not visible to any one
standing at the grated steel door of the little, cell-like brig in which
serious offenders against discipline were confined until tried or
released.
Reardon’s first signal was to place a warning finger over his lips. Then
he brought his hand up to a smart salute, next pointing above, which the
marine at once understood to mean that Reardon was there on an errand
for some officer. Next by stepping softly, and motioning with his hand
to the floor, and then to his own position, he signified that he wished
the marine to come to him.
No fool was Fitch, private in the Marine Corps, which contains few if
any fools. So well did he understand that the occupant of the brig had
no suspicion that his guard was looking at any one beyond. Then Private
Fitch took a few turns in the passageway, after which, yawning slightly,
and humming softly to himself, he strolled along the passageway until he
reached the big sailor.
“I’ve orders from Lieutenant-Commander Darrin to slip a note and a
pencil to Jordan in the brig,” whispered Reardon. “You’re not to see me.
Bye and bye you’re to give Jordan a chance to write an answer, which
I’ll come back and get.”
“Lieutenant-Commander Darrin’s orders, eh?” whispered the marine, eyeing
the big sailor keenly.
“Which the lieutenant commander gave me himself,” nodded Reardon. “And
you’re not to say anything about the matter.”
“Go ahead, when you’re ready,” nodded Private Fitch, turning and
strolling back.
A full two minutes Reardon waited. Then, making no further effort to
walk softly, the big fellow stepped down the passage way.
“Looking for a berth in the brig?” asked Fitch, jocosely.
“Now, why should I?” demanded Reardon. “And me a good conduct man. ’Tis
more likely you’ll get a place there yourself.”
“Not me,” returned the marine. “There are only six of us and a corporal
on board, and we’re all needed. You know, Reardon, marines are important
people, since one marine is the fighting equal of three sailors.”
“Is it so, now?” demanded Reardon, in an amused tone, as he halted
before the brig door. “What time did ye get up this morning, Mister
Fitch?”
Pacing the floor behind the barred door with the restless step of a
caged animal, Seaman Jordan only scowled at the bantering pair. But
Reardon had halted with his back close to the steel bars. In one hand
behind him was a pencil with a scrap of paper folded around it.
Jordan hesitated. He was afraid of some trap, but his position was
desperate. He was accused of treason. Perhaps this big sailor was a
friend in need. After a moment or two of hesitation, Jordan prolonged
his walk until it brought him close to the bars. Then, while Private
Fitch was glancing down at the lock of his rifle, Jordan stealthily
grasped note and paper and dropped them in a pocket.
Reardon remained for a few moments more, bantering the marine
good-humoredly. Soon after Reardon had gone, the marine strolled slowly
out of sight. In the brief interval before he was back Jordan hastily
scanned the note. It looked utterly innocent. Turning the paper over,
Jordan hurriedly wrote:
“Cigarettes and matches, as soon as you get a chance. There are times
when the guard isn’t here. When in action, and all hands at quarters,
there’s a long chance to smoke.”
Twenty minutes later Seaman Reardon returned, “joshed” the marine
briefly, and secured pencil and paper from the prisoner.
Seaman Jordan waited a long time for his cigarettes and matches. For
Dave Darrin, as soon as he had received the paper and Reardon had
saluted and gone out, went to the safe and took from it the paper that
had been fished out of the bottle rescued from the deep. For some
minutes Darrin compared the writing on the two pieces of paper.
“Of course, one is in German script, and the other in English,” Dave
communed with himself. “But let us see what Phelps thinks of it.”
Ensign Phelps, who was a bit more than an amateur handwriting expert,
came at request and scanned both papers. Then he went out, returning
with a magnifying glass with which he examined both writings.
“Of course the two different styles of script make the comparison
difficult,” Mr. Phelps declared. “Still, I am certain a better qualified
expert than I will say that the same hand executed both writings.”
“Then Jordan’s last chance is gone, I’m afraid,” replied Dave gravely,
as he took the two sheets and filed them carefully in the safe. “Before,
there was a chance for Jordan to get off at his trial by court-martial,
for, while Seaman Ferguson was morally certain that Jordan dropped the
bottle overboard, he would not be able to swear positively to it. If
this note given by him to Reardon, however, proves Jordan of being the
writer of both sheets, then his conviction as a traitor looks pretty
certain. Phelps, these are the most serious days in the history of our
great country. If any man in the American uniform is a traitor to our
Flag and cause, then I want to see him punished.”
“That would mean death at the hands of a firing squad,” mused Ensign
Phelps.
“Death before a firing squad,” Darrin assented gravely. “It is the only
punishment for such a crime!”