DAVE MEETS THE FATE OF THE SEA
IT was almost nine o'clock in the morning when Darrin awoke. He at once
realized how refreshed he was. His had been a close call, but fortunate
accident and his own strong body had pulled him through.
There on the floor were his rubber boots, on the locker his
underclothing, while on knobs against the cabin wall hung the garments
that comprised his uniform.
Rising, Dave was delighted to find himself still strong. Without ado he
drew off and tossed across the berth the coarse nightgown that some one
had put on him. Then he began to dress.
Everything was dry--indeed, laundered. These new Danes of the sea knew
how to be hospitable. So Darrin dressed, and, when he rang for hot water,
a steward appeared with the ship's barber, who aided in Darrin's toilet.
Before this had been finished Dr. Valpak thrust his head in to inquire:
"Do I intrude?"
"Only as a personage from the pages of 'Arabian Nights,' Doctor," Darrin
laughed. "Come in."
Not only did the doctor come in, but soon, also, a waiter, who set up a
small table made fast to the wall, and on it spread such a breakfast as
made Dave's heart rejoice.
Wind and sea had abated much. The broad "Rigsdak" now rode the water with
comparatively little roll. Dave sat down to enjoy his breakfast, and Dr.
Valpak soon withdrew.
Just after the finish of the meal the surgeon returned, bringing with him
this time the ship's master, one Kennor, who spoke with a strong accent.
Dave expressed his thanks for the fine care that had been given him.
"And you muss der mate meet," declared Captain Kennor, beaming. "He it
vass who show der light in your face, und den der noose was over you
drop."
So presently Dave followed these new friends to the deck, where he was
introduced to the mate. He also, through Dr. Valpak, thanked the sailor
who had cast the bucket-line overboard. The seaman who had dropped the
noose around him spoke English fluently. Dave shook hands with both
sailors. He then followed Captain Kennor and the mate to the bridge.
"You carry only freight?" Dave asked.
"Somedimes passengers," replied Captain Kennor. "Two we have dis time. An
English lawyer und hiss young vife."
The pair just mentioned were seen walking on the spar deck forward. The
man was well past middle age, of fine, rather sharp features and with
thick gray hair. The woman did not appear to be above the age of
twenty-five.
Captain Kennor escorted Dave down and introduced him to Mr. and Mrs.
Caleb Launce.
"One doesn't often hear a story like that of your rescue," said Mr.
Launce.
"It would have killed you, had you been an ordinary man," shivered Mrs.
Launce.
"Thank you for the inference," Darrin laughed.
"But I have met several of your American naval officers," Mrs. Launce
continued. "You are splendidly big, enduring men."
"Again I must thank you."
"A man accustomed to indoor life could not have lived half as long as you
did before you were picked up," added the lawyer.
"Do you feel your full strength yet?" asked his wife.
"Not--quite, I'll admit," Dave answered.
"Then it will be well if you find a seat, inside, too, I should think,"
continued the Englishwoman. "Shall we all go inside? The air is cold out
here."
Truth to tell, though he was not by any means in a fainting condition,
Dave Darrin did feel that a seat inside, where it was warm, would be much
to his liking.
So Captain Kennor led them to a small dining cabin, where the white
cloths had been removed from the tables and homely red ones substituted.
"Dr. Valpak told me you expected to make port by noon," said Dave.
"Dot vass der hope, but last night's vinds held us back more dan ve
knew," replied Captain Kennor. "Id vill be two dis afternoon before ve
make--"
He was interrupted by a shattering jar that made the ship stagger. It was
accompanied by a crashing explosion.
Uttering a cry of fright Mrs. Launce sprang to her feet.
"Can that be--" she began.
"Yes, madam, a torpedo," Dave replied, rising more slowly. "It was
evidently a hard hit, but this twenty-eight-hundred-ton ship should
remain afloat at least half an hour, unless another torpedo be launched.
There is plenty of time. Will you permit me?"
There were life-belts at hand. Dave quickly and deftly fastened Mrs.
Launce's life-belt about her, then performed a similar office for her
husband. This done he went to his recent cabin, where he donned his own
belt and stepped out on the deck, joining his fellow passengers.
Struck on the port side, just forward of her boilers, the "Rigsdak" was
already listing considerably to that side.
"The captain and the first officer are below," hailed Dr. Valpak. "They
will examine the ship's injuries and decide. It may not be necessary to
abandon ship."
Mrs. Launce turned to Darrin, who had just turned back from the port
rail. She looked at him so imperatively that he nodded and replied:
"We shall have to take to the boats. This ship is not going to float. Her
pumps will not save her, for the hole in the side is beyond temporary
repairs."
Within two or three minutes Captain Kennor and his mate appeared,
confirming Dave's verdict.
Darrin had already looked out over the sea, but he had been unable to
make out any sign of the presence of a submarine.
"Could it have been a mine?" demanded Mr. Launce.
"No, sir," Dave answered, promptly. "Had we struck a mine the explosion
would have been much more violent."
"Then a torpedo provides sufficient experience of this sort of thing,"
cried Mrs. Launce, making a face.
"Der passengers vill my boat go in!" called Captain Kennor. "Dere vill
time be."
Again Mrs. Launce glanced inquiringly at Darrin, who nodded his
confirmation.
Three boats were cleared away, carrying most of the crew and all the
officers except the master. The boats were safely launched, and
fortunately the sea was not too rough for them.
Then Captain Kennor appeared, carrying a bag and his navigating
instruments.
"Are your ship's papers and instruments intended for the Germans, sir?"
Dave inquired, significantly.
"No; you be right," admitted Captain Kennor, opening his eyes wide, after
a brief moment's thought.
Going to the rail he tossed bag and instruments over into the sea.
Then the last boat was lowered, the seamen who remained behind jumping as
soon as their work was completed, and being picked up from the water.
"Ve shall but a few hours of rowing haff," declared Captain Kennor. "It
vill not so hard be upon uss."
Dave was thinking of another prospect, but did not voice his thought. The
men in the captain's boat gave way at the oars, Kennor steering. The
other boats had already pulled well clear of the coming foundering, and
now the captain's boat followed. The "Rigsdak" was likely to remain
afloat for some minutes yet.
"I thought so," muttered Darrin, pointing to where a gray conning tower
was emerging from the sea.
Captain Kennor gave an order in his native tongue, and the men in his
boat ceased rowing.
"Dey vill uss hail, so ve need not be too far avay," he explained to his
passengers.
After the conning tower the gray back of the sea pest rose into view. The
manhole of the tower was opened and an officer appeared, followed to the
deck by a few seamen, two of whom stationed themselves by a gun that
popped up into view.
"Come alongside!" shouted the officer, in English, through a megaphone.
Again Captain Kennor's oarsmen gave way, their skipper heading for the
submarine.
"That will do. Cease rowing," commanded the German officer. "What ship is
that yonder?"
"Der Danish freighter, 'Rigsdak,'" replied Captain Kennor.
"And its master?"
"Dat iss me."
"Come aboard."
At the order Dave, who had quietly loosened his belt and holster
containing his automatic revolver, quickly dropped them overboard on the
side farthest from the German craft.
There was sufficient sea running to make the task of getting close
alongside a difficult one. A German sailor reached out to catch Kennor's
arm and aid him aboard the submarine.
"And your instruments and papers," ordered the German officer, sharply.
"I did not dem with me bring," replied Kennor.
"Perhaps that will be so much the worse for you," was the scowling reply.
"We want the papers, and we have need, especially, of ship's
instruments."
The German eyed Dave Darrin curiously. The American officer's uniform was
concealed under his sou'-wester, rubber coat and boots, but after a
moment's inspection, the German said curtly:
"You, too, will come aboard."
As refusal would have been absurd under the circumstances Darrin promptly
obeyed. Instantly the German officer snatched a fold of Darrin's rubber
coat, pulling it aside and thus revealing a glimpse of the uniform
beneath.
"Take off that rubber coat!" the Hun ordered, brusquely.
Flushing slightly, Dave obeyed, his uniform now being fully revealed.
"Ha!" snarled the Hun. "I suspected something of the sort. You two will
go down through the manhole. And this man and woman are passengers? They
will come aboard."
Captain Kennor led the way below, Mr. and Mrs. Launce following. Dave, as
he reached the manhole, turned to see the "Rigsdak" vanish beneath the
waters.
Then Dave Darrin stepped inside the conning tower and began to descend
the ladder--a German prisoner at last!