WITHIN THE FORTRESS.
"Good work, Jack," said Frank, approvingly.
"What do you advise?" asked Lord Hastings. "Up or down?"
"Depends on the depth, sir," replied Jack.
"We'll have a look at the chart," said Lord Hastings.
He spread it out before him and the three pored over it for several
moments.
"Here you are, sir," said Frank, at last, placing a finger on the chart.
"Plenty of water," was Lord Hastings' comment. "Submerge another five
fathoms, Mr. Templeton."
Jack gave the order and then returned to his post.
The D-17 submerged another five fathoms and proceeded at a snail's pace.
Jack kept his eyes glued to the course ahead.
Half an hour later the vibrations of the engine ceased. Then Jack made
his way aft to where Lord Hastings and Frank were conversing.
"Unless I am badly off in my calculations," said Lord Hastings, "we
should now be able to come to the surface beyond the mine field."
"And as soon as we do, some German warship will send us to the bottom,"
remarked Frank dryly.
"So they will--if they see us," returned his commander. "We must make it
a point that they do not see us. That's all."
"All very well, sir," said Jack, "but if we go up now they are sure to
see us--and they won't mistake us for one of themselves this time."
Lord Hastings smiled quietly.
"Then we won't go up now," he replied as he looked at his watch and
noted that it was half past five. "It'll be dark in less than an hour.
We'll remain here until then."
This ended the conversation and the commander of the D-17 went to his
cabin, leaving Jack in command.
The time passed slowly, but darkness came at last; and with its coming
Lord Hastings emerged from his cabin, attired in the uniform of a German
lieutenant-commander.
"I forgot to tell you lads to don your German uniforms," he said. "I'll
wait now, but make haste."
Frank and Jack hurried away in response to this command and soon were
attired in the full regalia of German lieutenants. Lord Hastings eyed
them approvingly.
"There is no use talking," he said, "I have always thought it--and I am
sure of it now--both of you would make first-class Germans. You may give
the command to come to the surface, Mr. Templeton."
A few moments later the D-17 rode gently upon the calm sea within the
fortifications of Heligoland, the greatest German military fortresses,
and considered among the strongest and most impregnable in the world.
It was very dark and the night was perfectly still when the three forms
ascended the ladder and emerged from the conning tower to the
bridge--open now that the submarine was above water. A fourth figure
followed them, that of Price, an aged British tar, whom Lord Hastings
had designated to take command in their absence.
"Don't forget now, Price," said Lord Hastings sternly, "you will
submerge immediately we have put off and on no account will you come to
the surface again until 9 o'clock to-morrow night. Then you will rise in
exactly this spot--and be sure that you are on time. Do I make myself
clear?"
"Perfectly, sir," replied Price, saluting.
"Good. Then launch the boat."
This was done immediately and a few moments later Lord Hastings, Jack
and Frank were proceeding rapidly shoreward, the engine of the small
motor-boat muffled so that all that could be heard was the faint sound
of the exhaust.
In the darkness, as they sped on, loomed great, dark shapes--the forms
of some of the most powerful of the Kaiser's formidable sea fighters.
Smoke poured from their funnels and faint lights glowed aboard.
"Ready for action at any moment," said Lord Hastings.
"So they are," agreed Frank. "Great Scott! It doesn't seem possible that
so many of these great craft could be afraid to venture forth to give
battle."
"No, it doesn't," declared Jack. "But at the same time, you must
remember there are more and still more formidable craft waiting for them
to come out and try it."
"That's true, too," admitted Frank. "I wish they would try it, though. I
don't believe many of them would get back."
"Evidently the Germans have the same belief--which is the reason they
haven't tried it," said Lord Hastings, smiling in the darkness.
"Silence, now," he cautioned them, after a moment. "We are close to the
shore. Let all further talk be in German."
Five minutes later the motor-boat came to a long pier, which extended
far into the water.
"Here we are," said Lord Hastings in German. He glanced around. "Other
boats tied up here. Guess we might as well do the same," he said. "We
may need it. Fortunately, at my suggestion, none of the D-17's boats
bear a mark of identification. Guess it won't be bothered."
The three climbed up on the pier and the boat was made fast.
"Which way now, sir?" asked Frank.
"We'll just do a little prowling," said Lord Hastings.
He turned and was about to move off when there came a gruff hail:
"Who goes there?"
"Friend!" replied Lord Hastings, wheeling about quickly and looking into
the heavy-joweled face of a German sentinel.
The German eyed the three figures keenly; then, apparently satisfied
that they were all they seemed, he brought his hand up in a stiff
military salute. The three passed on.
"Rather lax methods here, if you ask me," said Frank, when they were out
of hearing.
"Oh, I don't know," said Jack. "You must remember that they feel
perfectly secure. Evidently they have no idea an enemy would venture
within this fortification."
"Some of them have ventured within ours," returned Frank.
"Just the egotism of the German, that's all," said Lord Hastings. "They
all believe they can do things that no other man would even consider."
"So they do," declared Frank.
Jack looked at his chum in surprise.
"Just what do you mean by that?" he demanded.
"Oh, I was just thinking of the _Lusitania_, and a few other things."
"That's different," said Jack.
They continued their walk.
Now they came to a brilliantly lighted street.
"I didn't know this was a regular city," was Frank's comment.
"Neither is it," returned Lord Hastings, "although there are some few
people living here."
"But look," protested Frank, pointing, "those are restaurants and cafés;
and there are stores and things."
"So there are," returned his commander. "Must have changed since I was
here last. However, I suppose it is because the garrison has to have
some form of entertainment. Guess the best thing we can do is to go in
one of these cafés and look about a bit."
He led the way, and just before entering the brilliantly lighted
doorway, paused long enough to say in a low voice:
"No hesitation now. It would prove fatal. Walk as if you owned the
place--just as every German does."
The boys needed no instructions along this line, and they followed Lord
Hastings with heads erect, swaggering a trifle.
Inside there was revelry. German officers sat about tables that lined
the four walls of the room. With them, or some of them, were their
wives. Apparently it was the supper hour.
At a far end of the room a string orchestra furnished music and there
were four singers--two men and two women--or rather one young girl, for
such Frank perceived her to be after careful inspection.
A courteous waiter met the three at the door as they entered, and with
many bows ushered them to a table in a distant corner. They sat down and
Lord Hastings gave the order for supper.
Now the music struck up a more lively gait and some of the German
officers and their wives arose and danced in the center of the floor.
Frank saw a young German lieutenant, who apparently had been drinking,
approach the youthful singer. Apparently he asked her to dance, for he
indicated the other whirling couples. But the girl shook her head.
Whereupon the young German muttered something under his breath and took
himself away.
Frank found his eyes continually straying toward the young girl; and
once aware of his scrutiny, the girl's eyes also flashed in his
direction more often than was necessary. Jack noticed this, but said
nothing.
But there was something else that Jack noticed as he ate. The young
German who had so recently been refused by the girl, had followed the
direction of her eyes and he now glared at Frank balefully. Jack smiled
to himself.
But the lad's smile soon changed to a frown.
After five minutes, the young German officer again approached the girl
and again asked her to dance. He met a second refusal and this time
words ensued. The German seemed angry and two of his companions
approached and pulled him away.
Frank had been a witness of this scene, as had Jack and Lord Hastings.
"The big bully!" said Frank half aloud. "Just because he wears a German
uniform he thinks he owns the earth. I would like to teach him a
lesson."
"Don't try it here," said Lord Hastings quietly. "Remember where we are
and the position we are in."
"Oh, I won't, sir," replied Frank. "But I don't like that fellow's
looks."
"You don't, eh?" said Jack. "Well, how about the pretty singer. I notice
you have been looking that way quite often."
Frank's face grew red.
"She doesn't look like a German to me," he said.
"No, she doesn't," Jack agreed. "Still, she must be or she wouldn't be
here. Besides, she hasn't a trace of accent."
"Neither have you and you are not German," declared Frank.
Jack would have replied, but his attention was suddenly drawn again to
the girl, who now seemed to be making signals to catch Frank's eye.
"Seems to want to talk to you," said Jack, nudging his chum slyly.
At that moment the girl looked directly at Frank and smiled. Then she
motioned him to come to her. Frank was greatly flustered. Not so Jack.
"You'd better go. She probably wants you to dance with her," said Jack.
"Yes, you had better go, Frank," said Lord Hastings. "In the first place
it would be impolite to refuse, and besides, it might attract attention.
Only be careful."
Frank, his face still red, hesitated a moment; then rose to his feet.