A SUBMARINE RAID.
Creeping stealthily forward beneath the water, the D-16 was advancing to
the attack. Lord Hastings stood at the periscope and Jack was at his
elbow. The vessel was prepared for action, and the crew stood at
attention.
Lord Hastings touched Jack on the shoulder.
"Tell the watch to keep a sharp lookout for submarines," he said. "The
chances are that they have been thrown out in front of the battleships."
Jack departed and gave the necessary order, after which he returned to
his position.
It was just after dusk on the evening following the day on which Frank
had been captured. All day and all during the previous night the D-16
had kept near the bottom, maneuvering first this way and then that, and
not once had they caught sight of an enemy's submarine, nor had they
risen to the surface for a look about.
But now Lord Hastings had decided upon action. He had idled long enough.
Therefore, after preparing for action, the D-16 had risen sufficiently
to give her periscope free play, and the commander now gazed over the
water.
"German battleship ahead," he called to Jack. "Slow to five knots."
The speed of the submarine slackened.
"Take the lookout yourself, Mr. Templeton," was the next command.
Jack did as commanded, and peered intently ahead. In the dark murky
water he could see but a few feet, for it had not been deemed advisable
to turn on the searchlight and thus make a target for the enemy's
submarines.
However, the D-16 was progressing at a snail's pace and could be halted
upon the instant. Therefore, there was not much danger of encountering
any obstacle, providing the man on lookout attended to his duties
properly.
Suddenly a dark object loomed up ahead. Quick as a flash Jack signalled
the engine room and the D-16 came to an abrupt stop. Jack reported to
Lord Hastings.
"Dark object right ahead that looks like a submarine submerged," he said
calmly.
"Give the order to back away a hundred yards, then fire a torpedo into
her," was Lord Hastings' command.
Slowly the D-16 backed away from the dark object ahead, and an instant
later a sharp "click" gave evidence that a torpedo had been launched.
Immediately Jack flashed on the searchlight.
While his eyes could not follow the flight of the torpedo, the huge and
powerful searchlight showed him the result. Struck squarely amidships
the German submarine, for such the object ahead proved to be, seemed to
split wide open. The water poured in in a dense volume, and suddenly the
enemy sank.
Jack shuddered.
"Must be a terrible death," he muttered to himself. "However, if we had
not sunk her she would probably have sunk us."
Once more he reported to Lord Hastings.
"Way clear now, sir," he said.
"Good," was the reply. "Make your speed five knots and continue your
course."
Perhaps ten minutes more and then Lord Hastings gave the command to
heave to. For, through the periscope, less than a quarter of a mile
away, he could make out the form of a giant German battle cruiser, a
trifle to starboard.
The electric signal board flashed its message of death:
"No. 5 torpedo!"
"Ready!"
"Fire!"
"Click!"
Just this little sound and then Lord Hastings gave the command to rise,
for he wished to witness the effect of the torpedo on the German
cruiser.
The D-16 rose swiftly, but not as swiftly as the torpedo had sped on its
way. For when the submarine reached the surface the torpedo had already
done its work, and the German cruiser was helpless. Men were jumping
into the sea on all sides and swimming away.
Jack was struck with a sudden idea. He turned to Lord Hastings.
"If we could pick up one of those fellows," he said, pointing, "perhaps
we could find out what has happened to Frank."
"Good," replied Lord Hastings, "it shall be done."
Upon his command the submarine forged ahead slowly directly toward the
doomed German cruiser. Heads of men swimming began to bob up and down on
both sides. Jack, leaning over the side, which was almost level with the
water, suddenly stretched forth a hand and dragged a German petty
officer aboard.
Frightened almost out of his wits, for he had not perceived the dark
outline of the submarine, the German struggled fiercely; but he was no
match for Jack, who soon subdued him.
The man was dragged below, and upon Jack's request, the submarine was
again submerged.
When the prisoner learned that he was aboard the British submarine he
braced up, and when he found that he was not to be harmed, he proved
willing to talk.
"Where is the English prisoner whom you captured yesterday?" Lord
Hastings asked him.
"He has been sent ashore," was the reply. "He was to have been taken to
Berlin today, to be held as a prisoner of war; but I understand that for
some reason it was put off till tomorrow."
"I see," said Lord Hastings, and as he did not wish to put the prisoner
on his guard, he talked for some minutes of other matters.
"By the way," he said finally, "how is our friend guarded? Is he locked
in a cell, or what?"
"Yes," was the reply. "He refused to give his parole, so naturally he
had to be confined. However, he is perfectly comfortable and is being
well cared for."
"So he is locked up in the fort," said Lord Hastings. "Then there is no
chance of his being so foolish as to attempt to escape."
"It certainly would be foolish," said the prisoner, "although once
outside the cell, he might lose himself for a while; but of course there
would be no chance of his getting out of the country. You see, we are
perfectly safe here, or were until you came along, so it is unnecessary
to keep such a close watch."
"And where is the fort where he is confined?" asked Lord Hastings.
"Only a short distance from the edge of the canal. It is called Fort
Kaiserin."
"Well," said Lord Hastings as he turned away, having learned all that he
desired to know, "I guess we had better get away from this spot or one
of your submarines is liable to find us. Mr. Templeton, you may escort
the prisoner to your own quarters and place a sailor on guard."
Jack led the prisoner to his own cabin and, after stationing a sailor at
the door, returned to Lord Hastings.
"What have you on your mind, sir?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" asked his commander.
"Why," said Jack, "I know you were not asking all those questions for
nothing."
"That is true," was the reply. "I was thinking that by donning German
uniforms and going ashore, we might possibly rescue Frank."
"I had thought of that myself, sir; and I believe it might be done."
"So do I."
"Then shall we make the attempt, sir?"
"Yes," replied Lord Hastings, "we shall."
"Good. When?"
"At once. We have no time to lose."
"But the submarine. How shall we know where to find her?"
"I'll fix that. Send Brennan to me."
Jack departed and returned a moment later with Brennan, the chief
engineer.
"Brennan," said Lord Hastings, "Mr. Templeton and I are going to take
the launch and go ashore. As soon as we have gone I want you to submerge
just to the edge of the periscope and remain there until you see us
returning. Then rise immediately to take us aboard, for we may come in a
hurry."
"But if an enemy should approach in the meantime, sir?" asked Brennan.
"In that case you will, of course, submerge at once, and then, making a
detour, return to approximately the same spot. It may be necessary to
take chances, but you will have to do that."
"Very good, sir," said Brennan, saluting.
Lord Hastings turned to Jack.
"We'll go to the surface now," he said. "We may as well start at once."
Five minutes later, in the little launch, they were skimming over the
water toward the shore, which they could just see in the darkness. They
felt sure that they had quitted the submarine unobserved.
As soon as they were over the side, Brennan, in accordance with
instructions, had immediately submerged.
Before leaving they had both attired themselves in German uniforms, and
felt comparatively safe.
The run to shore took perhaps fifteen minutes.
When they at last set foot on land their first thought was for a hiding
place for the launch. Several trees overhanging the canal at the point
where they had landed afforded a slight shelter and into their shadow
the launch was pulled.
"It's the best we can do, and I guess she won't be seen," said Jack.
"At any rate we'll have to take a chance," replied Lord Hastings. "Now
let's go."
They turned their faces westward, where, in the distance, they could
make out the outlines of the German fortifications.
"How are we going to know which is Fort Kaiserin?" asked Jack.
"We'll have to ask," was the reply.
"Won't that give us away?"
"I don't think so. We can say we just came here."
This plan was followed and a soldier directed them to the fort. They
were just about to enter it and trust to luck, when their attention was
attracted by the sound of a scuffle a short distance down the street.
"Let's see what it is about," said Jack. "It may help us in some way."
Lord Hastings nodded his assent, and they dashed toward a struggling
knot of men only a few yards away.