VIVE LA FRANCE!
Ted ran aft to the engine room to get a fuller report on the new
danger that confronted the _Dewey_. There he found that what Bill
Witt had said was only too true. Either portions of the flying steel
from the exploded mine had punctured the skin of the submarine, or
else the plates had been loosened by the detonation. The oil was
leaking away at an alarming rate and there was no way here in the
open sea to get at the leak. The _Dewey_ would have to go into
drydock before the repairs could be made.
"But we can navigate with our batteries, can't we?" Ted inquired of
Sammy Smith, who had come out of the wireless room to better acquaint
himself with the _Dewey's_ newest tale of woe.
Sammy was not at all comforting.
"I understand the batteries, are pretty well exhausted," he said.
"They were just going to recharge when we ran into that mine. Blaine
says we have only enough juice to last us two hours, moderate running."
He paused for a moment as Ted grasped the significance of the situation.
"Furthermore," Sammy continued, "we cannot dive to any considerable
depth."
"With that leak in the reservoir plates Cleary and Blame say it would
be foolhardy to go down very far for fear the _Dewey_ would spread
wide open and we would be flooded."
It was disquieting news, and Ted hurried forward to talk it over with
Jack. As he passed the control station he saw Cleary and Binns in
animated conference with the chief engineer. He surmised they were
debating the best course under the circumstances.
In the bunk room Ted found Jack had revived considerably under the
influence of hot bouillon and strong coffee provided by Jean Cartier,
and a change of clothing with a stiff rub-down that had done wonders
for him.
"Monsieur is a brave man; he wins the American Croix de Guerre for
saving the life of his commander so bravely," Jean was saying as Ted
reappeared upon the scene.
Jack was trying hard to be modest.
"I'm feeling fine again, chum," was his rejoinder in response to Ted's
query. "Come along. I'm going to look in on 'Little Mack.'" And
grabbing Ted's arm he walked off with him to the lieutenant's quarters.
They found McClure now conscious, but very faint from his ordeal. It was
certain that he could not assume command of the _Dewey_ for some time.
The boys clambered on deck to unlimber a bit. Executive Officer
Cleary was in charge. In the commotion attendant upon the collision
with the mine and the rescue of the submarine commander the disabled
German cruiser had been forgotten. There was now no trace of the doomed
ship nor of the English "limey" that had been standing by.
"What do you suppose we will do now?" asked Ted.
"Reckon we'll have to drift around awhile and wait for somebody to
come along and give us a lift," said Jack hopefully.
Night came on, but there was no response to the wireless call of the
_Dewey_. Once a "limey" was spoken, but signaled in return that she
was speeding to the assistance of a Scandinavian liner that had
reported being under the shell fire of a German U-boat.
Jack was ordered to turn in right after evening "chow" despite his
insistence that he was perfectly recovered from his dip in the sea.
Ted was to report to the conning tower at four bells for duty on watch.
All night long the _Dewey_ tossed in a rough sea. At the appointed
hour Ted took up his station as lookout in the conning tower. He had
instructions to maintain a sharp watch for enemy ships and to keep
Acting Commander Cleary informed on all wireless registrations. The
hours passed slowly.
Presently a storm rolled up out of the North Sea. Forked lightning
and the distant rumble of thunder heralded its advance. The breeze
increased to a gale before long and the sea became rough and angry.
Awakened by the tossing of the little craft and the ominous thunder,
Jack appeared in the conning tower. Saluting the ship's executive
officer, he declared he was feeling quite recovered from his strenuous
dip in the sea of the previous day and quite ready for any service.
Jack, accordingly, was posted at the reserve periscope. Ted was at
the observation ports in the tower and Officer Cleary at the other
periscope.
As the storm increased in fury the _Dewey_ was buffeted about like an
egg shell.
Ted was nursing a severe bump on the head, having been dashed by the
rocking of the boat against one of the steel girders. Hanging on to
supports, the crew of the _Dewey_ were having a hard time saving life
and limb as they were tossed to and fro by the fury of the storm.
When at last dawn broke over the troubled waters the gale began to
subside. Even then it was impossible to lift the hatches and go on
deck because of the rough sea. Waves mountain high were rolling over
the submarine, and to open the conning tower was to invite certain
disaster. There was nothing to do but wait.
Toward six o'clock Ted made out a long rakish-looking craft that had
come up out of the southwest. When it was reported to Officer Cleary
and he had looked critically at the vessel for some time he declared
finally that it was a destroyer, but yet too far off to hazard any
guess as to its nationality.
He decided to submerge slightly and watch the craft for a while and,
if it proved to be a German warship, to submerge entirely and take
chances on the leaky fuel reservoirs. The _Dewey_ sank at his
direction until the conning tower was under water.
"It looks like a French vessel," declared the acting commander to Jack
a few minutes later as the warship came nearer.
He studied the approaching ship for a few minutes. "We will raise
the lid of the conning tower and unfurl the Stars and Stripes from
the periscope pole," he said finally.
"If it is a French destroyer we will soon find out; if it proves to
be a German vessel let's hope we will have time to submerge and give
him a torpedo. Will you take the flag aloft, Mr. Wainwright?" asked
the _Dewey's_ officer.
Saluting, Ted took the proffered flag and declared he was ready to
start forthwith.
Making a slip knot of the line, he motioned for the hatch to be lifted
and raised himself out of the turret as the lid swung upward.
The waves were dashing against the projection of steel and lashed
their salty spray over the lad as he wrapped his legs about the
slippery pole and began to climb. It was difficult work as the
vessel lurched in the turbulent sea, but Ted persevered and succeeded
in throwing the noose over the end of the pole above the eye of the
periscope. Sliding deftly back again, unfurling the flag as he came,
he was soon safe again in the conning tower.
Maneuvering about for a few minutes in a frantic effort to attract
the attention of the unknown ship, the _Dewey_ was finally rewarded
by the boom of a gun that was followed almost immediately by the
breaking out of the tricolor of France.
"Vive la France!" shouted the excited group in the conning tower of
the _Dewey_. The cry spread throughout the hold and there was great
rejoicing among the badly battered seasick prisoners within the
stranded submarine.
Still on guard against trickery, the destroyer approached warily with
all guns trained on the _Dewey_. Jean Cartier was called into the
conning tower and as the destroyer drew within range poured a volley
of joyous French expletives into the megaphone that had been thrust
into his hand. In short order the submarine had completely established
her identity and acquainted the commander of the destroyer with the
condition of affairs aboard the _Dewey_.
The French vessel proved to be the La Roque, and her commander gladly
consented to tow the disabled American vessel into an English port.
Commander McClure was made as comfortable as possible and the voyage
across the North Sea begun.
The disabled submarine weathered the trip very well and was delivered
safely at an English base by the La Roque after an uneventful voyage.
Granted a shore furlough, Jack and Ted jumped a train and went up to
London for their first visit in the famous city. For several days
they took in the sights of the great metropolis, seeing, among
other things, a wonderful reception accorded American troops from
the States marching in review before King George on their way to
the front, visiting Westminster Abbey and other notable places,
looking in on the House of Commons for several hours and visiting
the American embassy.
Letters awaited them from Brighton and they read with interest of the
enlistment of more of their chums in the various branches of their
country's service. Not the least important of their surprises was a
great box from home filled with warm clothing, cakes, candies, and
"eats" aplenty.
When they reported back again at their ship they found that the _Dewey_,
slightly damaged, had been put into drydock and repairs were going
steadily ahead. To their great joy they learned that Lieutenant
McClure had not been injured seriously and was convalescing in a
nearby hospital. They visited "Little Mack," who by now had heard
the whole story of his rescue. Tears dimmed the eyes of the little
commander as he expressed his thanks to Jack and Ted for their plucky
part in hauling him back to safety after the fateful mine explosion.
By the time the repairs to the _Dewey_ had been completed Lieutenant
McClure was able to assume command of his gallant little ship.
Soon came orders for the _Dewey_ to proceed to sea again. This time
the submarine was to act jointly with a convoy protecting the passage
of troopships across the English Channel to Calais, and thence into
action off Zeebrugge against the German destroyers making that port
their rendezvous.