TROUBLE ON BOARD.
"It's as well to go quickly," Lord Hastings said, giving his reason for
ordering full speed ahead. "I hardly anticipate they have mined very
deep here. We'll slow down further along."
"If we bump a mine," said Frank, "I can't see that it will make any
difference whether we are going fast or slowly."
"It won't make much," agreed Jack dryly.
According to Lord Hastings' calculations, which proved to be correct,
they were now off the coast of Holland.
Several hours passed, and then, at Lord Hastings' command, the solid
glass front of the submarine was plunged into utter darkness and the
powerful searchlight brought to bear on the water ahead, while, at the
same time, the speed was reduced to seven knots.
In spite of its powerfulness, the searchlight lighted up the water for
only a short distance ahead, and, as Lord Hastings said, should a mine
be seen ahead prompt action would be necessary to save them from
disaster.
Frank took his place just behind the searchlight, while the compartment
behind was closed that no light might enter from without, thus adding a
little to the effect of the searchlight.
His watch was set for two hours, and he had sat most of that time with
eyes straight ahead, when he became conscious that the door behind him
was being pushed slowly open.
Certain in his own mind that his watch was not up, and mindful of Lord
Hastings' order that the door be not opened unless absolutely necessary,
Frank nevertheless did not take his eyes off the sea ahead, but called
out:
"Who's there? What is it?"
There was no answer.
"Something wrong," muttered the lad to himself, and acted upon the
instant.
Through the little tube at his elbow he shouted a command:
"Stop her!"
At the same moment, even as he felt the sudden shock as the submarine
paused abruptly in her pace, he sprang from his seat and turned toward
the door, ready for anything with one hand on his automatic, for he felt
sure that he was in danger.
In the darkness behind he could see nothing, but the slight squeaking of
a board gave evidence of another presence. Frank, with the searchlight
behind, was in full view of the other, and the lad realized it.
With a quick backward leap he snapped off the searchlight, and then
dropped quickly to the floor, even as a figure rushed toward him in the
darkness.
Frank's ruse undoubtedly stood him to good advantage. A foot struck his
prostrate body, and the figure of a man pitched over him, muttering a
fierce imprecation as he fell to the floor.
Before the latter could rise, Frank grappled with him. Quickly reversing
his revolver, he brought the butt of the weapon down in the direction in
which he judged the man's head to be. It struck something soft, and a
guttural howl of pain went up.
"A spy!" Frank found time to think to himself.
But he had not struck the man's head, only a hand which had been
outstretched, and before he could draw his pocket searchlight to
ascertain what damage he had done, the lad felt a pair of arms about his
neck, and a hand seeking to entwine itself in his throat.
His revolver he found now to be of no use, so he dropped it and struck
out blindly with his bare fists. Once, twice, his fists found their
mark, and each time a blow went home the lad was rewarded by hearing
cries of pain from his opponent.
As the two struggled, there flashed before the lad a vision of a man
running from where the D-16 lay in drydock some days before.
"I guess we have got him at last," the lad muttered between his teeth,
and putting all his force behind one more blow, he struck out savagely.
The arms about his neck relaxed their pressure and the man sank to the
floor while Frank felt the form grow limp beneath him.
The lad stood up and walked across the little room to snap on the
searchlight.
As he did so the man on the floor came quickly to his feet, and before
Frank could stop him, had darted from the room and disappeared. Through
the door he left open streamed a faint light.
Frank sprang after the retreating figure with a cry of anger. Dashing
out of the door he bumped squarely into the figure of another man
advancing toward him. Without pausing to see who the newcomer might be,
Frank grappled with him.
"Here, here, what's the meaning of this?" asked a well-known voice, and
Frank released his hold and stepped back.
The newcomer was Lord Hastings.
"What's the matter with you?" asked the commander of the vessel. "Have
you gone crazy? I stopped the ship in response to your command and when
I asked you, through the tube, what was wrong I didn't get an answer.
And now you jump on me. What's the matter?"
"Spy aboard, sir," replied Frank briefly.
"What!" exclaimed Lord Hastings, starting back.
"Spy aboard, sir," repeated Frank.
"Impossible!" exclaimed Lord Hastings. "Have you lost your senses? How
could a spy have got aboard?"
"As to that I don't know," replied the lad, "but nevertheless there is a
spy aboard. I'll stake my life on that."
Then he proceeded to relate what had occurred.
Lord Hastings grew very grave. He took Frank by the arm.
"Come with me," he said quietly.
He led the way to his own cabin, where he passed the word for Jack. The
latter arrived almost immediately, and the situation was explained to
him.
"I believe," said Frank, "that the man is the same I saw lurking about
the ship yard before the D-16 was put into commission.
"So you saw him, too?" exclaimed Jack.
"Yes, I saw him, but I didn't know you did," replied Frank.
"I didn't say anything because I thought I must be wrong," said Jack.
"It didn't seem possible a German spy could have gained admittance
there."
"Just what I thought," said Frank.
"Do you suppose the man who attacked you just now is one of the crew?"
asked Lord Hastings.
"Who else could he be, sir?"
"But I could have sworn by the members of my crew. They have all been in
the service for years and are British to the backbone."
"There must be one who isn't," said Frank, "for when I struck him he let
out a stream of German oaths."
"Would you recognize him?"
"I am afraid not. It was perfectly dark, and I didn't even get a glimpse
of his face. All that I could make out was that he was a big man."
"We have several big men in the crew," said Lord Hastings.
"But," said Frank suddenly, "I might be able to identify him if I got a
look at his hand."
"Why?"
"I hit him with my revolver butt. I thought it was his head but it must
have been his hand."
Lord Hastings, who had been seated, stood up.
"We'll see," he said.
He walked to the door and summoned the chief gunner's mate.
"Johnson," he said, "take a brace of automatics and summon every man of
the crew here, coon, engineer and all. Don't let a single one get the
drop on you."
Johnson looked blankly at his commander.
"Why--why----" he stammered.
"There is a spy aboard, Johnson," said Lord Hastings calmly. "Hurry."
The old man drew himself up and touched his cap.
"Aye, aye, sir," he said quietly. "I'll bring 'em."
He turned and marched rapidly away.
"I happen to know he's not your man," said Lord Hastings with a slight
smile, "for I was standing right beside him when I got your command to
stop."
"We had better let Johnson line them all up outside the door, and
question each man separately, sir," said Frank.
"A good suggestion," said Lord Hastings.
They sat quiet for perhaps five minutes, and then Johnson's voice came
from outside.
"I've got 'em all here, sir."
Frank arose and walked out the door. There stood the full crew of the
ship with arms in the air, under the muzzles of Johnson's two
automatics.
"Send them in one at a time, Johnson," Frank ordered.
"Aye, aye, sir," replied the old man, and waving his revolver at one he
commanded: "You first."
The first sailor was white of face and evidently badly frightened. He
entered the room slowly and came to attention before Lord Hastings.
"Your name?" demanded the commander.
"Brice, sir."
"Any other name?"
"Yes, sir, Harvey, sir."
"No; I mean were you ever known by another name; an alias?"
"Well, sir," replied the sailor plainly confused, "no, sir, yes, sir.
Before I enlisted I was known as Ryan, sir."
"That's hardly German," said Lord Hastings. "And why did you change your
name?"
"A little trouble with the police, sir, if you must know."
At this moment Frank, who had approached closely, suddenly spoke in
German.
"Your name?" he commanded.
The sailor stared at him blankly.
"He's not the one," said Jack. "His surprise is genuine enough. Call the
next."
"Stand over there in the corner," said Frank to the sailor. "Jack, you
keep them covered as I line them up. We must be careful."
"Send in another, Johnson," called Lord Hastings.
A second sailor appeared in the door. His right hand was wrapped in a
handkerchief!