IN TROUBLE AGAIN.
"What's that?" asked Frank, as he gazed across the water.
"Smoke," replied Jack. "It's plain enough."
"I know that," replied the former, "but what I meant is, do you suppose
it is a battleship?"
"Looks like it might be," replied Jack briefly.
"Russian or German?" asked Frank.
"Can't tell," said Lord Hastings, who had been peering at the cloud of
smoke through his glass. "I can make out that it is a battleship, but
that's all. However, we shall know soon enough."
Slowly the cloud of smoke came nearer and nearer, until at last the dim
outline of a large battle cruiser of the second class was plainly
visible to the naked eye. But still those aboard the D-16 were unable to
make out her nationality, for she flew no flag.
"We'd better get ready to dive in case she proves to be a German," said
Lord Hastings.
"Right you are, sir," replied Jack, and turning, went below.
Frank and Lord Hastings remained upon the bridge.
Now, of a sudden, there came a faint "boom" across the water.
"Can she have sighted us, sir?" asked Frank anxiously. "Had we not
better dive at once?"
"No, I don't think she has sighted us," replied Lord Hastings.
"Then what is she shooting at?"
"You've got me. But that is what we shall have to find out."
Lord Hastings went below, where he ordered the course of the D-16
altered slightly, so as to bring her closer to the far side of the
distant cruiser. Then he returned on deck.
Time after time the boom of the big guns could be heard, and those
aboard the D-16 were at a loss to make out what the cruiser was firing
at. Not another speck was visible on the broad expanse of the Baltic
Sea.
"There must be something wrong," said Lord Hastings. "But I can't
imagine what----Hello, she's hoisting her flag."
"Can you make it out, sir?" asked Frank.
Lord Hastings looked long and carefully through his glass.
"Russian," he said at last.
"Good," exclaimed Frank. "We are among friends at any rate."
"I wouldn't be too sure," said his commander. "It may be a German ship
that has hoisted the Russian flag for a purpose."
"Well, we'll soon see now," said Frank.
Now the submarine had approached so close that Lord Hastings deemed it
advisable to submerge, so that the vessel might not be seen. This was
done, and standing at the bottom of the periscope below, the commander
of the D-16 took in the scene about him.
Occasional clouds of smoke issued from the cruiser, indicating that her
guns were still in action, but for the life of him Lord Hastings could
not make out the object of her shots. Also, the cruiser was maneuvering
in a strange way, and Lord Hastings could not account for this either.
He stepped aside and Jack took a look through the periscope. Peering
long and carefully, he stepped back suddenly with a cry.
"What's the matter?" asked Lord Hastings.
"I've made out the cause of the trouble, sir," said Jack.
"What is it?" demanded his commander.
"Why, sir," replied the lad, "the cruiser is being followed by a
submarine--I can just make out her periscope in the distance. That's
what the cruiser is firing at. And her strange maneuvering is caused by
the fact that she is trying to escape torpedoes. So far she must have
been successful."
"In that event," said Lord Hastings, "it is up to us to lend the cruiser
a hand. Signal full speed, Mr. Templeton."
Jack obeyed, and the swift British submarine dashed madly through the
water.
Suddenly Jack, who was at the periscope, perceived a puff of smoke issue
from the forward turret of the cruiser, and a moment later a shell
plowed up the water near the D-16.
"We'll have to submerge at once, sir," he said. "The cruiser has sighted
us and takes us for an enemy. One of those shells may hit us."
"All right," said Lord Hastings. "First let me have a look."
He stepped to the periscope, which Jack relinquished to him, and peered
ahead. Beyond the cruiser he could make out the periscope of another
submarine. Calculating the distance. Lord Hastings gave the order to
submerge four fathoms.
Then the D-16 dashed in the direction of the submarine that was seeking
to destroy the Russian.
Running at 30 knots, the D-16 soon came upon its prey. A dim bulk
suddenly loomed up ahead, some distance higher in the water.
"It's the enemy," said Frank, after a careful scrutiny.
"All right," said Lord Hastings. "Give her a shot before she discovers
our presence. We can't miss at this distance."
Through the heavy glass in the bow of the submarine Frank watched the
effect of the shot. The German submarine staggered suddenly in her
stride, then, without a sound, disappeared from sight.
Frank returned to Lord Hastings' side.
"She's gone, sir," he said quietly.
Lord Hastings turned to Jack.
"We'll go to the surface at once," he said.
Hardly had the D-16 bobbed up from beneath the water, when there was a
loud boom from the Russian ship now but a short distance away, and a
shell screamed overhead.
"Run up the British flag, quick, Mr. Templeton," ordered Lord Hastings.
A moment later the Union Jack fluttered aloft.
Came another shot from the Russian, and a second shell screamed near.
"The fools," cried Lord Hastings angrily. "What do they mean by that?"
"They think we are trying a ruse to get near them, I suppose," replied
Frank. "They are unable to tell we are not the same submarine that
followed them."
"True," said his commander, "I hadn't thought of that. But how are we to
let them know who we are?"
"Well, my idea would be to run up a flag of truce," said Frank. "Then we
can explain."
"Good," exclaimed Lord Hastings. "Run up a flag of truce at once."
It was the work of but a few seconds to raise a white flag, and when it
had straightened out before the brisk breeze, there was no further shot
from the Russian cruiser.
Soon a boat put over the cruiser's side, and manned by a well armed
crew, came toward the D-16. Within hailing distance an officer arose and
cried out something in a tongue unintelligible to any on board.
"Speak English!" Lord Hastings called back. "I can't understand you."
The next words came in halting English.
"Who are you?"
"British submarine, D-16!" Lord Hastings called back.
"Then why did you fire at us?"
"We didn't. You were fired upon by a German submarine, which we have
just sunk. Will you come aboard?"
"Yes," was the reply, and the little boat drew closer.
A moment later a man in the uniform of the Russian navy stepped over the
side and advanced toward Lord Hastings.
"Are you the commander of this vessel?" he asked.
Lord Hastings bowed.
"I am," he replied.
"Then I demand to know, as you claim, and appear, to be English, why you
fired upon us?"
"I told you," said Lord Hastings quietly, "that we did not fire upon
you. You were attacked by a German submarine, which we have just had the
pleasure of sending to the bottom."
The Russian officer looked skeptical.
"May I ask to see your papers?" he asked.
"You may," replied Lord Hastings, now somewhat nettled, "but you won't."
"In that event," replied the officer, "I must place you under arrest."
Lord Hastings smiled sardonically.
"Which would be quite a task," he said. "Remember, you are aboard my
ship now, and if I choose, I can have you thrown into the sea. However,
as there seems to be some misunderstanding, I am ready to accompany you
aboard your ship, where I shall explain matters to your commander."
The officer could but be satisfied with this.
"Very well," he said.
Lord Hastings turned to Jack.
"You shall go with me," he said. "Frank, you remain here."
He stepped into the boat and Jack and the Russian officer followed him.
The boat put off toward the Russian cruiser.
Aboard the cruiser Lord Hastings was at once ushered into the presence
of the Russian commander, Captain Bergoff. To him he told the same story
he had related to his officer.
"Then how did you get in the Baltic Sea?" asked the Russian officer.
"Through the Kiel canal," replied Lord Hastings.
The Russian commander smiled.
"And you expect me to believe that?" he said. "Impossible."
"Nevertheless," said Lord Hastings, drawing himself up, "it is true."
"I won't dispute you," was the reply. "Have your own way. However, I
fear that I must place you under arrest."
"Under arrest!"
"Yes. I have no doubt that you are English, but I believe you are
traitors to your country. Your speech proves you are English, but it
would be impossible for a British vessel to force a passage of the Kiel
canal. I suppose you will tell me, however, that you sank several German
vessels there."
"We did," replied Jack, breaking into the conversation for the first
time.
Again the Russian smiled.
"And here seem to be two full grown men asking me to believe a thing
like that," he said. "It's too much. Lieutenant!"
The officer who had escorted the two aboard approached.
"Have them confined in irons," was the command.
"But," protested Lord Hastings, "regardless of our nationality, we came
here under a flag of truce."
"Spies in British uniforms," said the Russian sternly. "You will leave
here under the Russian flag and in irons."