CONFIRMED SUSPICIONS
"FROM Sub-lieut. J. McIntosh to S.N.O., Auldhaig. Regret to report
X-lighter No. 5 sunk in collision. Crew saved."
"From Officer Commanding No. Umpteen Group to Air Ministry. I have to
report that the following officers are reported missing, believed
drowned:--Captain R. G. Cumberleigh, Lieut. H. L. Jefferson, 2/Lieut.
W. Pyecroft, Lieut. J. Blenkinson, all of Auldhaig Air Station; and
Captain G. Fennelburt, from Sheerness Air Station, on detached duty.
It is understood that these officers left Auldhaig in a private boat
on a fishing expedition. It is requested that Sheerness may be
informed concerning the officer mentioned above."
"From O.C. Lintieness Coast Guard Station to Inspecting Officer of
C.G., Auldhaig. I have to report that at 4 P.M. a lighter which had
been signalled passing south at 11 A.M. was observed to be derelict 3
miles E. by S. off Lintieness Head. It was afterwards lost in the
haze, drifting to the northward. At 5 P.M. a violent explosion was
heard, apparently from a direction bearing E. by N."
"From O.C. Auldhaig M.L. Flotilla to S.N.O., Auldhaig. Acting upon
instructions, I proceeded in search of X-lighter No. 5. At a position
bearing N.E. by E., five miles from Lintieness Head, quantity of
wreckage discovered floating, including a buoy marked 'X-lighter No.
5.' The debris gave indication of an explosion. Saw no trace of boat
reported missing by Air Station, Auldhaig."
"From Superintendent of Police, Abercuish, to O.C. Auldhaig Air
Station. Report that at 5 A.M. on the -- inst. 2/Lieutenant W.
Pyecroft, R.A.F., was discovered in an exhausted condition on the
shore at Abercuish. He was removed to a house in the village, and
thence to the Abercuish Cottage Hospital. According to his statement,
his companions were taken prisoners by a German submarine from
X-lighter No. 5."
"From Air Ministry to O.C. No. Umpteen Group, Auldhaig. Nothing known
of Captain Fennelburt at Sheerness Air Station. Please ascertain if a
mistake has been made in this officer's name, and report the nature
of the detached duty referred to in your telegram No. 4452 of the --
inst."
These messages, written on official forms, lay on the table in the
private room of the Commander-in-Chief's office at Auldhaig.
There were three persons in the room. One, the Commander-in-Chief, a
breezy, dark-featured, clean-shaven naval officer of about
fifty-five; the second, the dapper, boyish-faced lieutenant-colonel
who held the post of Officer Commanding the R.A.F. Air Station. The
third was the Commander-in-Chief's secretary--a silent, almost
taciturn individual whose face was almost the same colour as that of
his gilt aiguillettes. In his head the secretary held knowledge upon
which depended the success of the Grand Fleet and for which Germany
would willingly have paid millions; but that firmly set mouth was
sealed upon all matters appertaining to the war save when lawful
occasion demanded. And in a few months' time John Elphinhaye would be
placed upon the Retired List with a pension that, with Income Tax
deducted, would be little more than the wages of an artisan.
"The whole business seems a general muck-up, Greyhouse," observed the
Commander-in-Chief, addressing the lieutenant-colonel. "There's
something wrong somewhere. How can this confounded lighter be sunk in
collision and shortly afterwards be blown up?"
"There were two lighters, sir," replied Colonel Greyhouse. "It is
quite possible that one was mistaken for the other."
"As a matter of fact there were half a dozen," explained the
Commander-in-Chief. "And all, except No. 5, are accounted for. That
is so, Elphinhaye?"
"Yes, sir," corroborated the secretary.
"But the main reason why I came to see you, sir," said
Lieutenant-Colonel Greyhouse, "was the affair of my missing officers.
In the first instance they went off in a boat belonging to one of my
lieutenants. I cannot conceive how they came to be on board the
lighter. True, she was to be transferred to the R.A.F., but she left
here under an R.N.V.R officer and crew."
"Sub-lieutenant John McIntosh, sir, who reported from Donnikirk,"
announced the secretary, in response to his superior's inquiry
--mutely expressed by the raising of his bushy eyebrows.
"Exactly," agreed the Commander-in-Chief. "The situation required
further information, and I have wired instructions to Mr. McIntosh to
report immediately upon his return to-day."
"Then there is the question raised by the presence of Captain
Fennelburt----"
"That," interrupted the naval officer, "is a matter that concerns the
Air Force. I have no jurisdiction in the case."
"But," persisted Colonel Greyhouse, "that officer visited Auldhaig
Dockyard."
"He called upon the Staff Captain, sir," reported the secretary, who
appeared to have a knowledge of the movements of every stranger
within the gates of Auldhaig Dockyard at his fingers' ends.
"And yet the Air Ministry and Sheerness Air Station deny all
knowledge of him," continued Colonel Greyhouse. "I was away on duty
at the time he reported at my station, but curiously enough Captain
Cumberleigh, one of the missing officers, entertained a suspicion of
him. He communicated his doubts to my second-in-command, Major
Sparrowhawk, who this morning reported to me on the matter. It is now
his belief, although he scouted the idea at the time, that this
Captain Fennelburt is a spy, or at least an impostor, masquerading as
an R.A.F. officer, with certain shady motives behind him. That is why
I came, in order to find out his alleged motives for visiting
Auldhaig Dockyard."
"That's the worst of these new-fangled shows," declared the
Commander-in-Chief vehemently. He was a sailor of the Old School who
did not take kindly to innovations. "When the R.N.A.S. was in
existence we had good men who could fly. Now with this amalgamation
it seems to me that for every effective pilot the Air Ministry grants
a dozen commissions to men who never will 'go up' and who apparently
have nothing better to do than to knock about in uniform doing work
badly that a civilian clerk could do well, and trying to bluff people
that they are the salt of the earth. Apparently Captain Fennelburt is
one of this crowd, only the Air Ministry has forgotten his existence.
I rather feel inclined to pooh-pooh the spy theory."
The colonel suffered the Commander-in-Chief's strictures in silence.
Although his career in the Service had been limited to a period of
four years, his promotion had been rapid. He had a real pride in the
R.A.F., but at the same time he knew that there was considerable
truth in the naval man's assertions. Also he realised that it was
both inadvisable and contrary to discipline to argue with an officer
of superior rank.
"Your best course," continued the Commander-in-Chief, "would be to
send some one over to Abercuish Cottage Hospital to interview Mr.
Pyecrust--I mean, Pyecroft. That is, naturally, if he is in a fit
state to give information."
Colonel Greyhouse inclined his head in assent. It was, moreover,
exactly what he had already given instructions to be done. The
colonel took his leave, and just as he stepped ashore at the Air
Station a motor car dashed into the parade-ground. From it alighted
Major Sparrowhawk.
"I've seen young Pyecroft, sir," he reported with a salute. "He's
going on well in the circumstances. The doctor informed me that he
will be fit to be removed to-morrow."
"That's good," commented the colonel. Together they walked a few
paces out of hearing of the transport driver and the coxwain of the
motor boat.
"Well?" inquired Colonel Greyhouse laconically.
"Dashed queer business, sir," replied the major. "Pyecroft is
perfectly fit mentally, which, considering what he has gone through,
is rather to be wondered at. It appears our fellows boarded a
derelict lighter and while on board were surprised by a Hun
submarine. Pyecroft got away, had a sticky time on a water-logged
boat, and finally drifted ashore more than half dead with cold and
exposure. The others, it seems, were taken prisoners by the Huns. And
now comes the extraordinary part of the story. We had an officer here
on inspection duties. Fennelburt--Captain George Fennelburt--he
announced himself on reporting."
Colonel Greyhouse nodded.
"Yes," he observed. "I know that much."
"Well, sir," explained Sparrowhawk, "he came ashore from the German
submarine at night, while Pyecroft was lying helpless on the beach.
Four men brought him ashore in a collapsible boat, and he vanished
inland, still rigged out in R.A.F. uniform. Pyecroft can swear
definitely on that point."
"And Sheerness Air Station has disclaimed all knowledge of him,"
remarked the C.O. "Why the deuce the Air Ministry cannot be more
particular in posting the movements of officers passes my
understanding! Can you give a fairly accurate description of
Captain--er--Fennelburt?"
"I think so, sir; he was at the mess to lunch, and I saw a good deal
of him."
"Good," ejaculated Colonel Greyhouse. "Send a report to 'Area,' and
at the same time to Scotland Yard. The police will then take the
matter up. You might also inform the Naval and Military Authorities.
If we don't lay the fellow by the heels within the next twelve hours
I'll eat my hat."
A vow that, taking into consideration the copious gold leaves that
adorned the peak, was an exceedingly rash one, unless Greyhouse had
the digestion of an ostrich.