THROUGH THE MINE FIELD
AT the mention of the word "submarine" Gerald felt the blood surge to
his temples. It was not the surprise of hearing that the _Olive
Branch_ possessed one of these master craft that affected him; he was
getting used to surprises. It was the glamour of the enterprise that
thrilled him.
For months past Gerald's ambition was to serve in the submarine
flotilla. His name had been on the "roster" as a volunteer for the
hazardous, yet attractive, service, but up to the time of his leaving
the _Calder_ his hope in that direction had not been gratified.
"May I accompany Mr. Palmer, sir?" he asked, bringing his hand to his
forehead with professional smartness.
"I think not," replied Captain Brookes. "This is a matter that
requires skilled men."
"Very good, sir."
Gerald felt the disappointment keenly, but like a true Englishman he
bore the refusal manfully. Not so with Stockton; his face showed
unmistakable signs of relief when his chum had been thwarted in his
desires to embark in a hazardous craft destined for a still more
hazardous enterprise.
The _Olive Branch_ was now within two miles of the entrance to the
harbour. On either side of the narrow mouth were stone forts faced
with earth, over which floated the Chilian flag--red, white, and
blue, with a white star on the upper "canton" nearest the staff.
Beyond were the Government works and the low stone houses of the
town, while in the distance the snow-capped Andes reared their lofty
peaks to a height of 14,000ft.
"Do you think they'll open fire, Mr. Sinclair?" asked Captain
Brookes, jerking his thumb in the direction of the forts.
"I don't fancy so, sir," was the reply. "They will trust to their
mines. Since the last war these johnnies think twice before tackling
an ironclad."
"Very well, then--carry on. Are your men ready, Mr. Palmer?"
"Ay, ay, sir!"
"Then look sharp about it, if we are to warp into the dock before
sunset. By the bye, Mr. Tregarthen," he continued, wheeling round and
facing Gerald, "have you had any experience of creeping?"
"Plenty of it in the Vernon, sir."
"I've changed my mind; you may go with Mr. Palmer."
Accompanied by Stockton, who, now that his chum was permitted to take
part in the expedition, wanted to share in the perils, Gerald
followed the lieutenant and a dozen men down to the orlop-deck.
Here, almost amidships, was an oval-shaped steel box, projecting
about three feet above the deck. Unfastening a massive securing-bar,
one of the men touched a knob, and the huge rubber-lined lid slowly
turned on its hinges and disclosed a similar, though slightly
smaller, box. It was the conning-tower of the submarine.
To Stockton the next few minutes seemed like a dream. The lid of the
conning-tower was raised, and five of the sailors descended into the
recesses of the little craft. Palmer then motioned to Gerald to
precede him, and with a hasty grasp of the hand Jack bade his friend
a silent farewell.
Then Palmer followed, and ere the lid closed with a ponderous clang
Stockton saw the dim glimmer of the electric light shining upon a
mass of complicated machinery.
"Stand aside, please, sir!" said one of the men who still remained on
the orlop-deck.
The cover of the outer box descended, the securing bar was carefully
locked, and the sound of inrushing water was borne faintly to
Stockton's anxious ears.
"They're off now, sir," added the seaman. "If you go on deck you'll
be able to see something of what they're up to."
From the top of the conning-tower, which in lieu of the demolished
bridge and charthouse was now the highest practicable coign of
vantage, Stockton and several of the officers watched the tip of the
submarine's periscope glide slowly along the surface of the water,
while some 30ft. in the rear was the tell-tale swirl of the vessel's
propeller and the characteristic wake of the submersed craft.
Every available glass was brought to bear upon the receding pole-like
object, as it kept an unswerving course straight for the entrance of
the harbour.
Suddenly a column of water was thrown 50ft. in the air. Stockton gave
an involuntary gasp of horror--what if the submarine had fouled one
of the deadly mines?
A minute passed. Even Captain Brookes began to look anxious, for no
trace of the periscope was now discernible.
"There she goes again!" shouted one of the men, as another slender
column rose high in the air.
Four times this was repeated, then once more came an ominous and
prolonged silence. While the attention of all hands was directed
towards the harbour the grey, porpoise-like hull of the submarine
floundered to the surface less than a cable's length from the port
bow of the _Olive Branch_. Thus, having announced her safe return,
the little craft disappeared beneath the waves, and, guided by
consummate skill and judgment, she glided underneath the hull of her
parent ship.
Half an hour later her crew came on deck of the _Olive Branch_.
"All correct, sir," reported Lieutenant Palmer. "Every mine exploded;
six in all."
"Very good," replied Captain Brookes. There were volumes of
commendation in those two words, and every man who took part in the
dangerous enterprise realised the fact.
"We must wait another hour till there's enough water on the bar, so
our pilot informs me," continued Captain Brookes. "Mr. Sinclair, I'm
going below; please report if anything unusual occurs."
"Well, old chap," exclaimed Stockton as the two friends gained the
seclusion of their cabin "how did you get on?"
"Splendidly," replied Gerald, enthusiastically. "The submarine is a
masterpiece. This was the mysterious object at which the captain
hinted during our inspection of the wireless room. I think I've
grasped the principle of it. The submarine is barely 30ft. in length
and 8ft. in beam, and is housed in a cavity underneath the ship
corresponding with the upper half of the submersible. Apparently its
natural buoyancy keeps it adhered to the hull of the _Olive Branch_,
but to prevent undue friction when running at full speed there are
several steel doors, which, when closed, complete the normal
curvature of the ship's bottom. You saw how we entered the
submarine?"
"Yes, by means of a watertight door in the orlop-deck, and a
corresponding one in the submarine's conning-tower."
"Well, directly I descended into the little craft I noticed that she
was propelled by electric motors, of about 35 horse-power I should
imagine. Forward there is a bow tube of less than 4ins. in diameter,
consequently she can carry twenty small torpedoes to our submarines'
four. I noticed that the vessel was submerged by means of water
ballast instead of relying upon horizontal rudders, although the
latter are utilised when running beneath the surface.
"Directly all hands were aboard Palmer opened a valve, and I saw the
pale green light filter through the glass of the conning-tower; we
had sunk clear of the _Olive Branch's_ hull. We descended quite
80ft., in fact, almost to the bottom of the sea, for I could see the
water discoloured by the muddy sediment caused by the rush of the
still ebbing tide. Then the motors were started, and, once well away
from the cruiser, Palmer hoisted the periscope, which hitherto had
been housed within the submarine.
"'Now, then,' said he, 'you know a mine when you see one, so will you
please stand by the conning-tower look-out; I'll keep the vessel on
her course by means of the periscope.'
"So saying he descended a short iron ladder and took his stand before
a small table coated with highly polished silver. This mirror
reflected an erect, right image, or, in other words, a faithful
reproduction of the horizon as seen from the surface.
"We were running at six knots, so that taking into consideration the
strength of the ebb, our rate over the ground was a bare three knots,
thus allowing an ample margin to bring up should we sight an
obstruction."
"How far could you see ahead?"
"About 100ft., for the water was fairly translucent in the bright
sunshine. Had it been dark we could have used a powerful searchlight.
"Suddenly I caught sight of a barrel-shaped object straining at its
sinker and cable like a gigantic long-stalked mushroom. Palmer was
instantly at my side, having ordered the motors to be eased down. The
principle on which the torpedoes are fired is similar to that by
which the guns are discharged on board this ship. I saw the slender,
fish-shaped weapon leave the tube and glide towards the mark, but the
target being a small one, and oscillating into the bargain, the
torpedo missed it by a foot.
"The second shot was successful, and although I did not hear the
detonation, the shock was sufficient to make the submarine lurch
violently.
"This operation was repeated till we found ourselves right inside the
harbour, the wharves and the shore being crowded with people
attracted by the unwonted spectacle of the presence of a mysterious
battleship in the offing."
"Then it's certain that all the mines have been destroyed?"
"All in the channel, at all events, for we could see the outlines of
the shoal on either hand, and not a trace of a mine remained. But
there's the engine-room telegraph; we're getting under way once more,
so let's go on deck."
On gaining the fo'c'sle the two chums found the Chilian skipper
shaking with apprehension and anxiety. He had been led for'ard and
was conning the ship under the charge of Lieutenant Sinclair, who was
an expert Spanish linguist. The lieutenant communicated the pilot's
directions to the quartermaster in the conning-tower, who in turn
held the _Olive Branch_ on her course at a steady five knots.
Even then the depth on the bar was so little that for some
considerable distance the ship's remaining propellers churned up
columns of liquid mud. Cleared for action she slowly approached the
harbour, but, as anticipated, there was no sign of resistance from
the forts. On the contrary they respectfully dipped their flags, a
compliment that the _Olive Branch_ returned by lowering her green and
white ensign.
"Mr. Sinclair, will you pipe away the cutter's crew. I want you to
take this letter ashore, and your knowledge of their lingo will be
useful in case they cannot translate it," said Captain Brookes. "I've
told them my requirements, and offer to pay all lawful dock charges
and dues. Inform them of events between the two republics, and of our
part in the matter."
An hour later Lieutenant Sinclair returned with the information that
Captain Brookes's requests were favourably received, and that the
_Olive Branch_ could go into dock at once. He also bore the
intelligence that the alcalde and the commandante of Talcahuano were
about to pay a complimentary visit to the cruiser that had, while
engaged in the work of settling the differences between Chili and
Peru, inflicted a severe loss upon the fleet of the latter republic.
"Good," remarked Captain Brookes, gleefully. "Nothing could be
better, gentlemen. I mean to make use of both the alcalde and the
commandante of the town during our stay here."
Without further delay the _Olive Branch_ was warped into dock and
shored up. The water was then pumped out, and, as the captain had
prophesied, the cruiser was dry-docked before sunset.
[Illustration: chapter XIII]