.. -*- encoding: utf-8 -*-

.. meta::
   :PG.Id: 40866
   :PG.Title: The Rival Submarines
   :PG.Released: 2013-03-20
   :PG.Rights: Public Domain
   :PG.Producer: Al Haines
   :DC.Creator: Percy F. Westerman
   :MARCREL.ill: C. Fleming Williams
   :DC.Title: The Rival Submarines
   :DC.Language: en
   :DC.Created: 1913
   :coverpage: images/img-cover.jpg

====================
THE RIVAL SUBMARINES
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   .. _`Cover`:

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      Cover

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   .. _`"LIKE AN ARROW THE SNAKE-LIKE MONSTER DARTED FORWARD!"  p. 175.`:

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      :alt: "LIKE AN ARROW THE SNAKE-LIKE MONSTER DARTED FORWARD!"  p. 175.

      "LIKE AN ARROW THE SNAKE-LIKE MONSTER DARTED FORWARD!"  p. `175`_.

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      THE RIVAL SUBMARINES

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      BY
      PERCY F. WESTERMAN

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      AUTHOR OF "A LAD OF GRIT"
      ETC. ETC.

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      ILLUSTRATED BY
      C. FLEMING WILLIAMS

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      *THIRD IMPRESSION*

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      LONDON
      S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO., LTD.
      OLD BAILEY 

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   CONTENTS.

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   CHAPTER

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   I.  `Captain Restronguet leaves Cards`_
   II.  `Sub-Lieutenant Hythe Discovers the Submarine`_
   III.  `The Man Who Walked out of the Sea`_
   IV.  `The Signal from the Depths`_
   V.  `Captured`_
   VI.  `Face to Face`_
   VII.  `In the Conning-Tower`_
   VIII.  `Explanations`_
   IX.  `The First Day in the "Aphrodite"`_
   X.  `The Second Officer Returns`_
   XI.  `Concerning Captain Restronguet's Rival`_
   XII.  `The "Vorwartz" is Sighted`_
   XIII.  `The Missing Submarine`_
   XIV.  `"La Flamme"`_
   XV.  `A Visit to Gibraltar`_
   XVI.  `Over a Volcano`_
   XVII.  `The Rescued Italians`_
   XVIII.  `The Rivals pass through the Suez Canal`_
   XIX.  `Struck by Lightning`_
   XX.  `Rammed Amidships`_
   XXI.  `Captain Restronguet learns the News`_
   XXII.  `Beset by Somalis`_
   XXIII.  `Over the Bar`_
   XXIV.  `The Aero-Hydroplane`_
   XXV.  `The Approach of the "Vorwartz"`_
   XXVI.  `The Sinking of the "Topaze"`_
   XXVII.  `A Pilot under Compulsion`_
   XXVIII.  `In the Ballast Tank`_
   XXIX.  `The "Pride of Rhodesia"`_
   XXX.  `Captured.`_
   XXXI.  `The Unsuccessful Competitors`_
   XXXII.  `The Fate of von Harburg`_
   XXXIII.  `Hythe's Masterstroke`_

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.. _`CAPTAIN RESTRONGUET LEAVES CARDS`:

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   THE RIVAL SUBMARINES.

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   CHAPTER I.

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   CAPTAIN RESTRONGUET LEAVES CARDS.

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The garrison port of Portsmouth was mobilized.
Not for the "real thing," be it understood, but
for the quarterly practice laid down in the joint
Naval and Military Regulations of 1917.

Everything, thanks to a rigid administration,
had hitherto proceeded with the regularity of
clockwork; the Army officials were patting
themselves on the back, the Naval authorities were
shaking hands with themselves, and, in order to
cement the bond of unity, each of the two Services
congratulated the other.

To the best of their belief they had reason to
assert that Portsmouth was once more impregnable.
A series of surprise torpedo-boat attacks
upon the fortress had signally failed.  The final
test during the mobilization was to be in the form
of a combined attack upon the defences by the
battleships then lying at Spithead and the airships
and aeroplanes stationed at Dover, Chatham, and
Sheerness.

At eight o'clock on the morning of the day for
the grand attack the fleet at Spithead prepared
to get under way.  Forty sinister-looking
destroyers slipped out of harbour in double column
line ahead, and as soon as they had passed the
Nab Lightship a general signal was communicated
by wireless for the battleships to weigh and
proceed.

The Commander-in-Chief and the Admiral-Superintendent
of Portsmouth Dockyard had
breakfasted ashore on that particular morning,
and both officers, with the Military
Lieutenant-Governor of the Garrison, were to proceed to
Spithead on a cruiser to witness the departure of
the fleet.  It was a fine day, but the beauties of
the morning were lost upon them; to have to
breakfast at an unearthly hour had considerably
ruffled their tempers.

"Come along, Maynebrace," exclaimed the
Commander-in-Chief irritably.  "It's six bells
already."

"Coxswain!  Coxswain!  Where in the name
of thunder is my coxswain?" shouted
Rear-Admiral Maynebrace.

"Here, sir!" exclaimed that worthy, saluting.

"Has the Lieutenant-Governor arrived yet,
coxswain?"

"Yes, sir.  The police at the Main Gate have
just telephoned through to say that Sir John
Ambrose has arrived, sir, but being rather late
proceeded straight to the jetty."

"And kept us kicking our heels here," grumbled
Sir Peter Garboard, the Commander-in-Chief.
"Look alive, Maynebrace, or----"

At that moment a flag-lieutenant, red in the
face and well-nigh breathless with running, dashed
up the steps of the portico of the Admiralty
House.

"Sir!" he exclaimed.  "Sir, this message has
just come through."

Sir Peter took the proffered envelope, fumbled
with the flap with his flabby fingers, and at last
untied the Gordian knot by tearing off one edge.

"Good heavens, Maynebrace!" he gasped.
"Read this!"

The Admiral-Superintendent, with unbecoming
haste, grasped the paper and read:--

"Vice-Admiral, First Battle Squadron, Home
Fleet, to Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.  On
fleet weighing anchor a painted board was found
attached to the anchor of every battleship, the
said board bearing the words 'With the
compliments of Captain Restronguet.'  Have ordered
fleet to anchor again and am sending divers to
investigate.  Will communicate their report in
due course."

All traces of irritability vanished from the faces
of the two Admirals.  Instinctively they realized
that something of moment had taken place, and
that instant action was necessary.

"A diver has been playing the fool, perhaps?"
hazarded Maynebrace.

"Diver?  Humph!  Can you imagine a diver
leaving his card, in the shape of a painted piece
of wood, attached to the anchors of forty ships?
No, no, Maynebrace, it's not that: at least, that's
my opinion."

"Well, then, sir, what is it?" questioned the
Rear-Admiral.

"A menace to our fleet, that's what it is.
Although there is no real harm done the moral
result is bad enough.  It's my opinion that there's
a foreign submarine at work.  Moreover, she
must have means of direct outside communication
while she is submerged."

"What makes you think it is a foreign submarine?"

"Logic, my dear Maynebrace, logic.  None
of ours are capable of such a feat, and there's no
knowing what these foreigners are up to.  As
inventors they are miles ahead of us.  And what
is more, the name--Restronguet--doesn't that
sound French?"

"Perhaps," admitted the Rear-Admiral.  "But
all the same it is exasperating; it is humiliating.
And there are some who think that the days of
the submarine are over!"

Even as the introduction of ironclads propelled
by steam machinery had revolutionized naval
warfare in the middle of the nineteenth century,
so had the vast strides in military aeronautics
rendered obsolete, or nearly so, the huge battleships
that were the chief features of the world's
navies in the beginning of the present century.
For several years a fierce war of controversy was
waged between the supporters of an all-powerful
navy and those who pinned their faith in vessels
capable of supporting themselves in the air and
able to use the terribly aggressive means that the
researches of science could bestow.

Not only did the Great Powers take up the
question.  The lesser states of the world,
realizing that a sudden revolution in warfare might
place them on an equal basis with nations who
had hitherto kept them in the background, took
the liveliest interest in the discussion.  They
agreed that since the ill-advised building of the
first British Dreadnought had given other Sea
Powers a chance to build equally formidable
vessels at the same rate of construction, and that
in consequence the predominant Navy flying the
White Ensign was practically out-of-date, a
drastic and sudden revolution whereby a
comparatively cheap means of offence could be created
might also render obsolete the huge costly
leviathans that even the richest nations could
ill-afford to maintain in the race for naval supremacy.

In Great Britain the opinion of those qualified
to judge was nearly equally divided.  The Blue
Water School maintained that a numerically
superior fleet of ships, capable of defence against
aircraft, would meet the case, provided a
supplementary division of airships and aeroplanes
was ready to act in conjunction with the squadron.
Battleships could keep the sea in all weathers,
while aircraft were at the mercy of every hurricane.

On the other hand the supporters of the air
fleet deprecated the need of a huge navy--using
the word navy in the strict sense of the term.
All the warships that Great Britain had at her
command could not prevent the passage by night
of airships and aeroplanes--either singly or
collectively--across the comparatively short
distance between the Continent and the East Coast
of England, while by a judicious study of the
barometer and climatic conditions generally the
dangers of being overtaken by a heavy gale
could be reduced to a minimum.  Besides, had
there not been instances of foreign aircraft
manoeuvring over the East Coast naval ports at
night during the progress of a terrible equinoctial
gale that had caused, amongst other disasters at
sea, the loss of several destroyers taking a
doubtful shelter in the badly-protected Admiralty
Harbour at Dover?

Up to the present time the result of the controversy
in Great Britain was a compromise.  Instead
of spending a couple of million pounds upon a
single battleship of between forty or fifty thousand
tons, smaller ships were laid down and completed
within eleven months.  They were not pleasing
to the eye.  Even the "ironclads," ugly in
comparison with the stately "wooden walls" of the
early nineteenth century, were models of
symmetry and grace beside the latest creations
from the brain of the Chief Constructor of the Navy.

The modern battleships were vessels of but
ten thousand tons displacement, or about the same
as the "Anson" class of 1886.  Their draught
was, however, considerably less, being but
twenty-two feet when fully manned and ready for sea.
They were propelled by internal combustion
heavy oil engines capable of developing 22,000
horse-power, the maximum speed being forty-two
knots.  The principal armament consisted of
twenty-four six-inch guns, that for muzzle velocity,
range, penetration, and bursting power of the
projectile were more than equal to the
fifteen-inch gun mounted on the later Super-Dreadnoughts
of the United States Navy.  The weight
saved in engines, armament, and especially by
the absence of coal, was devoted to additional
armour.  The battleships were veritable
steel-clad vessels, for not only were the sides
completely encased in Harveyized steel, but the upper
decks were surmounted by a V-shaped roof
capable of resisting the most powerfully-charged
shell that airships could possibly carry.

Nor was the protection for submarine attack
left unprovided for.  The whole of the
under-water surface was armour-plated, not merely by
one skin but by two complete layers of steel,
the thickest being on the inside.  In the double
bottoms thus formed, oil, the food for the motors,
was stored.  A powerful torpedo might fracture
the outer armoured skin and release the oil in
that particular section, but having the thickest
plating inside it was considered almost a matter
of impossibility for the latter to be holed and thus
admit the burning oil--a source of danger that
had long been recognized--into the vitals of the ship.

Submarine warfare, in the opinion of many
naval experts, had had its day.  At the height of
five hundred feet a scouting aeroplane could easily
detect the presence of a submarine so long as it
was daylight.  By night a submarine would be
fairly safe from observation, but conversely her
commander could not with certainty attack a
hostile ship that had taken the precaution of
manoeuvring with screened lights.  In addition
to the danger of mistaking friend for foe there
was also the possibility, nay probability, of being
unable to see the enemy's ship.  It was,
however, admitted that the submarine's chance was
to attack either at dawn or sunset, with a fairly
choppy sea running, and no aircraft to upset the
calculations of the officer at the periscope.

Nor had the vast changes occasioned by the
development of aircraft been confined to naval
affairs.  Fortifications, hitherto considered
impregnable, were rendered untenable by reason of
the danger from attack from above; and in this
respect the reorganization of the Portsmouth
defences might be taken as an example of what
had to be done in other naval and military towns
of the British Isles.

As is well known Portsmouth, the principal
naval arsenal of the British Empire, is defended
by a triple line of fortifications; while to prevent
subsidized tramp steamers from emulating Togo's
feat at Port Arthur by being sunk at the entrance
to the harbour a line of massive concrete blocks
were placed from the shore to the east of Southsea
Castle, extending seawards as far as to Horse
Sand Fort--one of the three built upon the
bottom of the sea.  This form of defence was
severely criticized, for it proved a source of danger
to trading and other private ships, while at high
tide a torpedo-boat could with impunity pass
over the submerged artificial reef.

Consequently a permanent breakwater,
fashioned after the manner of that superb work
protecting Plymouth Sound, took the place of
the worse than useless concrete blocks; a similar
one was constructed from Ryde Sands to the
Noman Fort, and thus, with the exception of the
main channel between these two hitherto sea-girt
forts, Spithead was rendered almost immune from
torpedo-boat attacks.

These breakwaters, and indeed all the fortifications
on shore, were armed with the latest type
of air-craft repelling armament; a three-inch
automatic gun, capable of firing one shell per
second.  The bursting charge of each shell was
proved to have an effective radius of a hundred
yards, while the creation of air-waves and
"pockets" resulting from the detonation, would
seriously imperil the stability of every aeroplane
within three hundred yards.  At night each of these
guns was supplied by an ingeniously constructed
searchlight that, projecting a narrow ray of light
almost parallel with the axis of the gun-barrel,
rendered a "miss" an impossibility unless the
range was greatly miscalculated.  As the sights
of the weapon were altered the beam of the
searchlight was automatically adjusted.  All the
gunlayer had to do was to train the searchlight
upon the hostile aircraft and fire.

Yet in spite of all these elaborate means of
defence the main portion of the British Navy,
seemingly anchored in perfect security at
Spithead, had received a most unpleasant moral
blow.  Who and what is this mysterious Captain
Restronguet?





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.. _`SUB-LIEUTENANT HYTHE DISCOVERS THE SUBMARINE`:

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   CHAPTER II.


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   SUB-LIEUTENANT HYTHE DISCOVERS THE SUBMARINE.

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"Pipe away the diving-party!"

H.M.S. "Ramillies," the flagship of the First
Battle Squadron of the Home Fleet, had just
anchored in almost the identical position that she
had occupied barely a quarter of an hour
previously.  With mathematical precision the other
battleships of the squadron had also returned to
their late anchorage and were preparing to
investigate the mysterious occurrence in the shape
of a complimentary message from the still more
mysterious Captain Restronguet.

Up from below tumbled the diving-party.
Air-pipes, life-lines, pumps, dresses, and helmets
were produced from some remote yet properly
apportioned part of the ship and were thrown
down in a seemingly chaotic manner upon the
steel deck.  Actuated by electric power several
sections of the armoured shields between the
upper deck and the eaves of the V-shaped shell-proof
roof were lowered till they lay flat upon the
deck, and steel ladders for the divers' use were
rapidly placed in position.

"Do you wish me to go down, sir?" asked a
sub-lieutenant of the Number One.

"Certainly, Mr. Hythe," replied the first
lieutenant.  "Make a careful examination for
a radius of say fifty yards from the shot-rope.
You will doubtless be able to see the place where
the flukes of our anchor held before.  Ascertain
if there are any traces of independent work; such
as footprints in the ooze, tracks of the underbody
of a submarine settling on the bottom, for example."

"Very good, sir," replied the sub, who, saluting,
went off to be assisted into his diving-dress.

Sub-lieutenant Arnold Hythe was generally
regarded as a smart and promising young officer.
These golden opinions were gained not by
self-advertisement, for the sub was unusually reticent
concerning his profession, but by sheer hard work
and a consistent application to that great deity
that should always be before the eyes of all true
subjects of the King--Duty.

He held a First-class certificate in Seamanship,
Gunnery, and Engineering; a Second in
Torpedo, and also in what the Navy List terms
"Voluntary Subjects"; he was a qualified
interpreter in French and German, and had more
than a smattering of Spanish and Italian.  In
addition to these intellectual qualifications he
possessed a powerful physique, and had a sound
reputation as an all-round athlete whilst at Dartmouth.

The latter portion of his time as midshipman
and the first few months after his promotion to
sub-lieutenant were spent in duty with the Fifth
Submarine Flotilla, whose base was at Fort
Blockhouse at the entrance of Portsmouth
Harbour.  But through some cause, to him quite
inexplicable, he had been appointed to the
"Ramillies."  This was somewhat to the sub's
disgust, but realizing that it was of no use
repining over such matters, Arnold Hythe accepted
the change with cheerful alacrity.

Banks and Moy, the two seamen divers who
were also to descend, were already dressed.  All
that remained was for their copper helmets to be
donned, the telephones and air-tubes adjusted, and
the glass fronts screwed on.

"I don't expect you will find any actual
evidence, and it will be lucky if you come across any
circumstantial evidence," remarked Mr. Watterley,
the first lieutenant.  "But in any case, should you
see anything of a suspicious nature, inform us
before proceeding to investigate.  I need not remind
you that the east-going tide is making, and that
the current will be running fairly strong in a few
minutes."

"Very good, sir."

Sub-lieutenant Hythe was a diver of
considerable experience.  Ever since his first descent in
the training tank at Whale Island he took
naturally to the hazardous duty.  Going under the sea
had a peculiar fascination for him, whether it was
in the hull of a submarine or encased in the
cumbersome india-rubber suit and ponderous helmet
of the diver.

The men at the air-pumps began slowly to turn
the handles.  The glass front plates of the sub's
helmet were secured, and assisted by a seaman
Hythe staggered awkwardly towards the head of
the iron ladder.

Rung by rung he descended till the water rose
to his shoulders.

"By Jove, the tide does run," he muttered.
"If it's like this now, what will it be in another
ten minutes?"

Raising one arm he waved to those on deck,
then releasing his hold he allowed himself to drop
into the deep.  The "Ramillies" was anchored
in nine fathoms, but ere the sub reached bottom
nearly a hundred and twenty feet of life-line and
air-tube were paid out.  With an effort he gained
his footing and commenced to walk in the
direction of the ship's anchor, battling against the
two-knot current that swirled past him.

Although the sun was shining brightly and the
light at that depth ought to be fairly strong, the
sand and mud churned up by the tidal current made
it impossible to see beyond a few yards.  With
nothing to guide him, for the life-line was quivering
in the swirling water, Hythe struggled stolidly
in the supposed direction.  He realized that he was
practically on a fool's errand.  The mysterious
person or agency who had been responsible for
attaching the message to the anchors of the
squadron was not likely to remain upon the scene of
his exploit, while already all the sought-for traces
must have been obliterated by the tide.

Presently two eerie-looking shapes ambled
towards him.  They were his companions, Banks and Moy.

"Well, if I am going in the wrong direction,
those fellows are making the same mistake,"
thought the sub.  "So here goes."

Another thirty yards were laboriously covered.
Here and there the divers had to make a detour
to avoid the wavy trailing masses of seaweed,
that, if not actually dangerous, would seriously
impede their progress, while at every few steps
numbers of flatfish, barely discernible from the
sand and mud in which they were partially buried,
would dart off with the utmost rapidity.

"Thank goodness, here's the shot-line,"
exclaimed the sub, as a thin rope, magnified under
water to the size of a man's wrist, became visible
in the semi-gloom.  The shot-line, terminating in
a heavy piece of lead, had previously been lowered
to serve as a guide for the divers to work from.

Pointing in two opposite directions Hythe
signed to the two men to begin their investigations,
while he, taking a route that lay at right
angles to the others' course, began once more to
struggle against the current.  Ere he had
traversed another ten yards his feet slipped into a
slight depression.  It was the hole scooped out
by the flukes of the "Ramillies'" stockless anchor.

"Could do with a lamp," he remarked to
himself, then stooping he began to examine the bed
of mud and sand in which he stood.  Beyond the
almost filled-in cavity and the faint traces of the
sweep of the battleship's anchor-chain there was
nothing to attract his attention.  He turned to
look at his own footprints.  They were already
practically obliterated, so it was hopeless to expect
to find the footprints of the mysterious diver or
divers who had contrived to visit each of the
anchors of the battleships in turn.

"Anything to report?" asked a voice through
the telephone.

"No, sir," replied the sub.

"Thought as much," said Watterley.  "Merely
a matter of form.  You may as well come up.
I'll recall the two men."

Sub-Lieutenant Hythe was not sorry to hear
the order to return.  Had there been any
possibility of success he would have prosecuted
his investigations with alacrity, but Spithead with
an east-going spring tide running is no place to
indulge in submarine excursions.  The danger
of getting life-line and air-tube foul of some unseen
obstruction was no slight one.

.. _`"THE NEXT INSTANT HE FELT HIMSELF BEING HURLED VIOLENTLY BACKWARDS."`:

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   :alt: "THE NEXT INSTANT HE FELT HIMSELF BEING HURLED VIOLENTLY BACKWARDS."

   "THE NEXT INSTANT HE FELT HIMSELF BEING HURLED VIOLENTLY BACKWARDS."

Hythe adjusted the valve of his helmet prior
to giving the recognized number of tugs on the
life-line--the signal to be hauled up.  The next
instant he felt himself being hurled violently
backwards by a sudden and irresistible swirl of water.
Within ten feet of him a huge, ill-defined mass of
what appeared to be bright metal tore past.  He
was just conscious of a vision of one of a pair of
propellers thrashing the muddy water and the
object was lost to view.

"What a narrow squeak!" he growled
angrily.  "By Jove, I shouldn't be surprised if
Banks is done for.  It's a submarine, that I'll swear,
but not one of ours.  Ours are painted a dull
grey and that seems to be a huge moving mirror."

In spite of his strong nerves, a mild panic
overtook the sub.  He signalled frantically to be
drawn up, and to his relief he found himself
alongside the battleship.

Grasping a line that was thrown him, Hythe
hauled himself along till he reached the iron
ladder.  Here he clung, too excited to attempt
to climb, until a seaman descended and assisted
him up the side.

"What's up, Mr. Hythe?  You look as if
you'd seen a ghost," exclaimed the Number
One, as the front plate of the sub-lieutenant's
helmet was removed.

"Are Banks and Moy safe?" gasped the young officer.

"Safe?  Of course they are," replied Lieutenant
Watterley, giving a hasty glance over
the side to where two distinct clusters of
air-bubbles marked the progress of the divers.
"What have you seen?  But no, say nothing
more at present.  Wait till you're out of your
dress, and you can report to the captain."

Arnold Hythe sat down on a bollard and
attempted to collect his scattered thoughts, while
his attendant proceeded to remove his helmet
and leaden weights.  Ere his india-rubber dress
was stripped off Banks and Moy appeared over
the side.

"Well?" demanded the first lieutenant laconically.

"Nothin' to report, sir," replied Banks, while
his companion signified corroboration by a nod
of his head.

Mr. Watterley looked inquiringly at the sub.
The flush upon his face had vanished and his
features were white with excitement.  Several
of the officers had come up and were engaged in
plying Hythe with questions, to which the latter
paid no attention.  He was still in a kind of
stupor, the result of a sudden shock to his nerves.

"Now then, Mr. Hythe--why, what's the
matter with you?  Here, I must send for the
staff-surgeon; I must, by George!"

Assisted by two of his brother officers the
sub was taken below, and in a very short space
of time Doctor Hamworthy succeeded in bringing
him to a more normal state.

Meanwhile Admiral Hobbes, hardly able to
conceal his impatience beneath a cloak of official
reserve, was engaged in animated conversation
with Captain Warborough upon the eventful
incidents that had necessitated the return of the
Fleet to Spithead.

"Commander-in-Chief coming off, sir!"
reported the lieutenant of the watch.

Tearing as hard as her sixty horse-power
motors could drive her the Admiral's pinnace
containing the Commander-in-Chief, the
Admiral-Superintendent of the Dockyard, and the
military Governor of the Fortress headed towards
the "Ramillies."

Received with due ceremony and formality
the officials came over the side, and on being
welcomed by Vice-Admiral Hobbes were taken
below to the latter's cabin.

"Well, Hobbes, what do you make of this
business, eh?" asked Sir Peter Garboard.
"Have you taken any steps to investigate?"

"Sent three divers down," replied the
Vice-Admiral.  "I am even now awaiting their
report."

"Then the sooner the better," rejoined the
Commander-in-Chief.

Admiral Hobbes touched a bell and a marine
orderly entered the cabin.

"Pass the word for Mr. Watterley."

The marine orderly saluted and doubled along
the half-deck, nearly bowling over the
staff-surgeon and the first lieutenant who were
already on their way to make their report to
the captain.

"What's this?  Mr. Hythe frightened by
something he saw beneath the surface?"
demanded Vice-Admiral Hobbes.

"No, sir," replied Doctor Hamworthy.  "He
is suffering from a shock to the nervous system;
the symptoms are almost identical with those
resulting from a severe electric shock."

"You don't mean to say that Mr. Hythe is
the victim of a submarine discharge?"

"I do not assert, sir; I merely stated my
opinion based upon observations."

"And how is he now?" asked the Vice-Admiral
impatiently.

"Fairly fit; he could be judiciously
cross-examined," replied the staff-surgeon.  "But,
unless absolutely necessary----"

"It is absolutely necessary," interposed
Admiral Hobbes; then turning to the first
lieutenant he continued:--

"And what were the other men doing?  I
understand that there were two seamen sent
down.  Were they injured?"

"They saw nothing unusual, sir," replied
Mr. Watterley.  "I subjected them to a strict
examination.  They walked in opposite directions
from the shot-rope, athwart the tide, while
Mr. Hythe went dead against the current.  The
water was very muddy.  The men said they
could see about ten yards in front of them.
Banks, after the question was repeated, said he
fancied he felt a cross-current that might have
been the following-wave of a submerged vessel
moving at high speed----"

"By the by," interposed Sir Peter Garboard.
"I suppose you ascertained that none of our
submarine flotilla were manoeuvring at Spithead?"

"Oh, no, sir; or rather, I mean yes, sir,"
replied the harassed lieutenant.  "We signalled
to Fort Blockhouse and in reply were informed
that F 1, 3, 7, and 9 of the 2nd Flotilla went
out at 7 this morning for exercise off the Nab.
Those were the only submarines under way
from this port.  I also asked them to communicate
with the Submarine Depots at Devonport,
Dover, Sheerness, Harwich----"

"I hope you didn't give the reason, by Jove!"
exclaimed Sir Peter vehemently.  "If the papers
get hold of the news there'll be a pretty rumpus."

"I shouldn't be surprised if the Press hasn't
received more information than we have," remarked
Rear-Admiral Maynebrace.  "It passes my
comprehension how they manage it.  One thing, it's
no use trying to hush the matter up.  We cannot
expect to muzzle nearly five thousand men."

"Wish to goodness I could!" snapped Sir
Peter.  Then addressing Mr. Watterley, he
added: "Oh, first lieutenant, will you please
send for Mr. Hythe, so that we can hear his
version of the business."

Five minutes later Sub-Lieutenant Hythe was
shown into the Admiral's cabin.  The young
officer was still pale.  His iron nerves had
received a severe shock, but thanks to Doctor
Hamworthy's attentions he was able to pull
himself together sufficiently to give a fairly full
account of what had occurred.

"How would you describe the submarine that
passed so close to you?" asked Captain Warborough.

"She was quite unlike any of our types, sir.
I noticed she was almost wall-sided, with a very
flat floor.  Instead of tapering to a point fore and
aft she had a straight stem and, I believe, a rounded
stern, cut away so as to protect the propellers."

"How many propellers?"

"Two, I think, sir.  I distinctly saw the
starboard one revolving.  The eddy from it prevented
my seeing anything more."

"H'm.  By the by, had she a conning-tower?"

"I could not see, sir.  Her upper deck must
have been quite twelve feet above my head."

"What colour was she painted?"

"That, sir, I can hardly describe.  I can only
liken the sides to a huge mirror that reflected
objects without reflecting the sunlight at the same
time.  As it was I could only see that portion of
her that passed immediately in front of me.  I
could not even give an estimate as to her length,
or even the speed at which she was travelling."

"You were capsized, I believe.  Did anything
strike you?"

"An under-water wave, sir, hurled me backwards.
Nothing actually struck me, but I felt a
strange paralysing sensation in my limbs, so that
I could not make my way back to the shot-rope.
All I could do was to signal to be hauled up."

"Then how do you account for the fact that
this submarine craft passed close to you, and yet
was unseen by Banks who was farther from the
ship than you were?"

"I regret, sir, I cannot hazard an opinion,"
replied the sub.

"That will do, Mr. Hythe," said the
Commander-in-Chief, indicating that the interview was
at an end.

"Oh, by the way, Doctor," he continued, after
the sub had left the cabin, "I suppose you
have no doubt that this young officer actually *did*
see this submarine?  Is it possible that he was
the victim of a hallucination?"

"From Mr. Hythe's medical sheet, and from
my personal knowledge of his physical and mental
condition, I have every reason to reply in the
negative to both your questions, sir."

"Well, well, gentlemen," exclaimed Sir Peter,
"we have a great task in front of us, with very
little data to work upon.  We have reason to
suppose that there is a mysterious submarine
commanded by an equally mysterious Captain
Restronguet--a name that suggests that the fellow
is French.  We have definite evidence that by
some unknown means that Captain Restronguet
is able to execute extensive and fairly intricate
work, namely, fixing those painted boards to the
fluke of the anchors of the Fleet.  How it was
done has to be proved, and it must be proved up
to the hilt, for even though no hostile act has
been committed it is quite evident that the ships
at Spithead were quite at the mercy of this
unknown submarine.  As far as the safety of the
Fleet at Spithead is concerned, you, my dear
Hobbes, are responsible.  I, for my part,
must take due precautions to prevent this
submarine from entering the harbour, and I venture
to assert, gentlemen, that when our preparations
are complete, this Captain Restronguet and his
submarine will be neatly trapped."





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE MAN WHO WALKED OUT OF THE SEA`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER III.


.. class:: center medium

   THE MAN WHO WALKED OUT OF THE SEA.

.. vspace:: 2

Before night the news of the event that caused
the manoeuvres to be hurriedly abandoned had
been published in the papers.  Most of the
journals contented themselves with a brief account
of what had transpired, based upon reports that
had been obtained from men serving in the Fleet;
for although liberty men were not landed
communication with the shore had to be maintained.
Other papers enlarged on the actual facts, and
announced in double-leaded columns that a foreign
submarine had attempted to fix mines to the
hulls of the ships at Spithead.

Never had there been such conjectures since
the time when some years previously an airship
of unknown nationality had sailed over Chatham
and Sheerness.  People asked what was the use
of making elaborate defences against aircraft when
a submarine could unseen enter the most
strongly fortified roadstead in the world and coolly
tamper with the moorings of the Fleet?

Meanwhile the Naval authorities at Portsmouth,
who regarded Captain Restronguet's visit
as a slur upon their capabilities, lost no time in
prosecuting their investigations.  A stupendous
obstruction, formed of several old torpedo nets
fastened together, was thrown across the Needles
Channel between Cliff End Fort in the Isle of
Wight and Hurst Castle on the Hampshire shore;
while a similar defence net was placed between
the seaward extremities of the two new
breakwaters on the eastern side of Spithead.  All
homeward bound shipping was forbidden to make
for any of the ports within these obstructions,
while an embargo was placed upon all merchant
vessels about to leave Southampton, Portsmouth
and Cowes, and their outlying ports.  It was a
drastic order, and quite unnecessary, but the
country was almost in a state of panic.

Into the enclosed area every available trawler
suitable for mine-sweeping, as well as all the
dockyard hopper-barges fitted with appliances for
"creeping" were kept busily at work, till hardly
a square yard of the bottom of the Solent was
left unexplored, and not until this particular work
was completed did the authorities agree that the
mysterious submarine might have left these waters
almost as soon as Captain Restronguet had left
his new-fangled cards upon the officers commanding
H.M. ships at Spithead.

While these dragging operations were in
progress the force of the tide through the Needles
Channel, which often exceeds seven knots, tore
away the nets thrown across that passage.  Two
days later the easternmost netdefence was removed,
and it was then found that a rent thirty feet in
length had been made in the steel meshes.
Whether this was done by human or natural
agency could not be determined, a minute
examination of the fracture ending in nothing but
heated arguments between the experts who had
been called in to make a report.

On the same day that the torpedo net defences
were removed the master of SS. "Barberton
Castle" reported sighting two submarines lying
motionless on the water, about fifteen miles S.S.E. of
the Lizard.  He stated that owing to the
submarines being against the light he was unable to
see them at all distinctly, yet he felt certain that
they were of a totally different type from those
of the British and French navies.  They were so
close together that the bows of one overlapped
the quarters of the other, and thinking that they
were in distress, he ordered the "Barberton
Castle's" head to be turned in their direction.
Directly the tramp answered to her helm both
submarines dived simultaneously, and were lost
to view.

The next morning Reuter's published a
telegram from their agent at Cherbourg, announcing
that the mysterious Captain Restronguet had
brought his submarine into the harbour and at
high tide had placed three dummy mines at the
entrance to the docks in the naval arsenal.  To
each of the mines was a tablet on which was
painted "Avec les assurances de ma plus parfaite
consideration--Restronguet, capitan de sous-marin."

With the fall of the tide, that here exceeds
twenty feet, these disquieting evidences were
discovered, and within a few hours Captain
Restronguet was the talk of all the cafés of Paris.
The French, pioneers in submarine warfare, were
now at a loss to explain how a submerged craft
could, in broad daylight, enter the breakwater-enclosed
harbour and run alongside the caissons
of the docks without being discovered, while to
deposit three bulky "mines" in water of not
more than three fathoms in depth was an exploit
that required a lot of explanation as to how it
was done.

The transference of Captain Restronguet's
attentions to the other side of the Channel
relaxed the tension on the British shore.  But,
bearing in mind that Cherbourg is only a few
hours' distance from Portsmouth, the naval authorities
at the latter port were still on tenter-hooks.

A week passed.  The First Battle Squadron
of the Home Fleet still remained at Spithead,
although under orders to proceed to the Nore at
an early date.

At 11.15 one morning a startling incident
occurred that, rightly or wrongly, was attributed
in some manner to Captain Restronguet.

It was on Southsea beach, almost midway
between the pier and the castle.  The beach and
parade were thronged with people, mostly visitors
who had taken advantage of the Fleet's presence
to enjoy the view of the ships.  The sea was
perfectly smooth, being unruffled by the light
off-shore breeze; the tide was, however, running
very strongly, for it was about the fourth hour of
the ebb.

Suddenly a succession of shrieks from a group
of children paddling in the water attracted the
attention of persons in the vicinity, and to the
astonishment of every one the head and shoulders
of a man encased in a dull green metal helmet
emerged from the waves.

For a few moments the man hesitated, then
staggered out of the water.  At the edge of the
beach he sat down and began to remove his head-dress,
that the onlookers noticed was unprovided
with air-tube or life-line.  He was apparently quite
independent of an outside air-supply.

Surprise had hitherto kept the spectators at a
respectful distance, although their numbers were
momentarily increased by others, until a deep
semicircle of gaping onlookers hedged the diver
in on the landward side.  But as soon as he
began to take off his helmet the crowd swayed
nearer and nearer.

The removal of the metal head-dress revealed
the features of a man of about thirty years of age,
clean-shaven and with closely-cropped dark-brown
hair that had a tendency to curl.  Without
speaking a word the unknown drew a knife from his
belt and began to hack rapidly at some contrivance
at the back of his helmet.  As soon as he had
severed the part he was attacking he stood up
and hurled it far into the sea.  This done he
calmly began to strip off the stiff fabric that
composed his diving suit.

By this time the coastguard on duty at the
look-out hut had noticed the crowd congregate,
and through his glass saw that something unusual
was happening and that a diver had come ashore.
Since there were no Government diving boats
anywhere in sight he naturally thought that it
was a case for investigation, and the detachment
of coastguards was promptly turned out.

"Here, sir, what's the meaning of this?" demanded
the chief officer, forcing his way through
the crowd.  "Who are you, and how did you
manage to get ashore here?"

"That I can easily explain," replied the
unknown.  "I am an inventor, and this diving-dress
represents the result of seven years' work.  I
walked into the sea at Gosport a couple of hours
ago, but, getting caught in the strong current
running out of Portsmouth Harbour, I was swept
a great distance until I managed to regain my
feet.  By walking in a direction due north as
shown by my watertight compass I came ashore
here.  Needless to say I do not look for publicity,
and all I wish is to pack up my discarded gear
and go."

The chief officer looked at the stranger with
mingled astonishment, admiration, and doubt.
Never before had he known of a diver covering
a distance of more than two miles, and that
without the assistance of a boat containing the
necessary apparatus for supplying the submerged man
with air.

"Hanged if I know what to make of it,
Smithers!" he said in an aside to his leading
petty officer.  "Perhaps he's a spy, or one of
that blooming Captain Restronguet's crowd.
This beats all creation!"

"Can't we detain him on suspicion?" asked
Smithers.  "I'll swear he's up to no good."

"I've half a mind to," replied the chief officer
dubiously.  "But, you see, they'll come down on
me like a hundred of bricks if I exceed my duty."

"Invite him to the station, friendly-like,"
suggested the petty officer, "then, while he's there,
you can telephone for instructions."

"I'll try it, by smoke!" ejaculated the chief
officer, and approaching the unknown he asked
if he would like to dry his clothes at the coast-guard
station, since his ordinary garments, owing
to the exertion in a confined space, were dripping
with moisture.

"No, thank you," replied the submarine
pedestrian.  "All I want is to get a taxi, and
make myself scarce.  The attentions of so large
a crowd are really embarrassing, and I am a man
of a very retiring disposition.  Had I expected
this reception I should have vastly preferred to
have landed in a more secluded spot."

With that he ignored his questioners and began
to roll his diving suit into as small a compass as
possible.

The coastguards were on the horns of a dilemma.
They feared to make an unlawful arrest, while
they might be severely brought to book for allowing
the stranger to slip through their fingers, but
there was nothing in the King's Regulations to
prevent a man landing on a public beach, whether
from a boat, hydro-aeroplane, or otherwise.

Just at that instant a policeman strolled leisurely
up, and scenting a charge, produced his notebook
and pencil.

"Hi!  What's this you're up to?" he demanded,
but the unknown totally ignored him.

"Can't he speak English?" asked the policeman
of the coastguard officer.

"Rather," asserted the other emphatically; then
in a lower tone he added, "Look here, we want
to detain the man, but we cannot name a charge."

"I'll see about that," retorted the policeman.
"Now, sir, your name and address, please."

"Allow me to inform you, constable, that my
name is not 'Hi.'  Since you addressed me as
such you must not be surprised that your question
was ignored."

A titter went up from the crowd, which had the
effect of rousing the ire of the representative of
the Law.

"Now, sir, your name and address, please."

"What for, constable?"

"For bathing off a public beach in prohibited hours."

"Don't talk rot!" exclaimed the unknown indignantly.

"Very good; since you refuse I have no
option--I arrest you.  Any statement you make
may be used as evidence against you.  Come
along with me."

Attended by the surging crowd the policeman
escorted his charge to the road, where a cab was
hailed.  The chief officer of coastguards was
requested to accompany the prisoner as a witness,
and the three entered the vehicle and were driven
to the police-station.

Here, in order to gain time, the prisoner was
formally charged with unlawful bathing, and as
the Court was still sitting at the Town Hall he
was ordered to be taken there at once.  The
chief officer meanwhile communicated with the
naval authorities by telephone, expressing his
opinion that the diver was a member of the
mysterious Captain Restronguet's submarine.

But the prisoner never arrived at the Town
Hall.  When the cab stopped outside the court
a policeman was found insensible on the seat.
The floor had been violently ripped up, and
unknown to the driver and the constable on the
box the suspect had got clean away.  By some
inexplicable agency the unknown had deprived
his captor of his senses, and the mystery of Captain
Restronguet had entered into another phase.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE SIGNAL FROM THE DEPTHS`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER IV.


.. class:: center medium

   THE SIGNAL FROM THE DEPTHS.

.. vspace:: 2

"Naval appointments: The following appointment
was made at the Admiralty this afternoon:
Sub-Lieutenant Arnold Hythe to the 'Investigator'
for special duties (undated)."

This item, in the Stop-Press columns of an
evening paper, was shown to Sub-Lieutenant
Hythe by one of his brother officers.

"You are a lucky dog!" exclaimed the latter.
"My Lords evidently recognize your capabilities
as a diver.  Well, good luck, old man.  I hope
you'll play the chief part in running down this
plaguey fellow.  Hang it all, I cannot see that
he's doing any harm, except that all leave is
stopped until something is done to stop his little
antics."

"Yes, that is hard lines," assented the sub.
"But I'll do my level best, no doubt."

H.M. surveying vessel "Investigator" was
lying in dock at Portsmouth, and was under
orders to proceed to sea at the first possible
opportunity, her errand being to endeavour to locate
and capture the submarine that, it was generally
agreed, was still in the vicinity of Spithead.

To cope with the situation a special Bill had
been hurriedly introduced into Parliament making
it an offence against the Naval Secrets Act for
any person to manoeuvre a private submarine
within five miles of specified naval ports.  The
Bill received the Royal assent and became law
within thirty-six hours after the escape of the
suspect arrest on Southsea beach, an individual
who was generally accepted as being the man of
mystery, Captain Restronguet.

The fellow's diving gear, or at any rate the
major portion of it, remained in the hands of the
authorities.  After being subjected to a lengthy
research at the hands of the Diving School at
Whale Island the following report was issued
confidentially: "The helmet is of a metal hitherto
unknown, possessing all the advantages of
aluminium, without the known disadvantages.  It is
a departure from the usual form, having a
ridge-shaped projection in front, possibly to lessen the
resistance to the water when moving on the
bottom of the sea.  The helmet is also valveless,
the air, chemically prepared, is by some means
kept at a fairly high pressure, sufficient to distend
the suit in order to do away with any discomfort
to the wearer by reason of the weight of water.
The suit is made, not of rubber as was at first
supposed, but of an unknown quality of flexible
metal.  When distended it also presents an edge
in front, in order to minimize lateral resistance.
How the air is purified is still a secret, the
apparatus for so doing having been detached and
thrown into the sea by the unknown.  A diligent
search had failed to produce this important item.
Undoubtedly the suit, when complete, is far in
advance of any now used in the Service."

A careful watch was maintained along the
shore, the coastguards stationed in the district
being temporarily augmented by men drafted
from more remote places.  Yet no trace of the
mysterious submarine on the surface was to be
seen.  How, when and where the craft replenished
her fuel necessary for locomotion purposes
and her provisions and fresh water completely
baffled the naval experts; for a fortnight had
elapsed since she announced her appearance at
Spithead, and save for the temporary visit to
Cherbourg all evidence pointed to the fact that
she was still within the limits of the Port of
Portsmouth.

Arnold Hythe duly joined the "Investigator"
as officer in charge of the diving parties.  Twelve
first-class seamen-divers were drafted into the
ship, while special gear for "creeping" was placed
on board.  Submarine apparatus for recording by
sound the presence of submerged craft under way
was also installed, so that it was impossible for
any vessel making the faintest noise to approach
within two miles of the "Investigator."  Even
the wavelets lapping the bows of a passing
fishing-smack would be reproduced with unerring fidelity.
Just before high water the "Investigator" was
undocked; steam was soon raised, for the surveying
vessel, being of an old type, was driven by
reciprocating engines and oil-fed boilers.  Almost
at the moment of casting off the hawsers and
springs came news that caused the greatest
disappointment amongst officers and crew.

Captain Restronguet had, according to the
latest report, turned up in a totally different spot.
This time he devoted his attention to the German
port of Wilhelmshaven.  Here his visit was not
of a comparatively harmless nature, for the locks
of the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal were totally
demolished by means of a powerful explosive.  The
battleship, "Karl Adelbert," that was about to
pass out of the canal, was badly damaged.  In the
confusion six destroyers and submarines were
ordered from Cuxhaven.  They were quickly on
the spot, but no trace of the mysterious submarine
was to be seen, except a small barrel painted
white and green, with the name "Captain
Restronguet" in bold letters.

The "Investigator" was immediately ordered to
make fast one of the buoys in Portsmouth harbour.
Her special mission was, for the time being at
least, over; a far more serious situation had arisen.

The German Government, supported almost
entirely by the Press of that country, actually
suggested that, since Captain Restronguet had
committed an act of piracy against the German
Fleet while he had refrained from so doing on his
visit to Portsmouth and Cherbourg, Great Britain
and France were secretly aware of the identity of
this modern buccaneer, and that they had
encouraged him to make an unlawful act of hostility
towards a friendly Power.

Three army corps were hastily ordered to
Hanover and Schleswig-Holstein, the German
High Sea Fleet was ordered to assemble at a
rendezvous off Heligoland, and every available
battleship, cruiser, destroyer and submarine in the
Baltic was sent through the Great Belt and
around the Skaw to augment the naval armament
already in the North Sea.

The British Government met the situation
with promptitude, firmness, and calmness.  The
First and Second Home Fleets settled at the
Nore; the Third Home Fleet, which happened
to be cruising off the Orkneys, was ordered to
the Firth of Forth.  Troops were quickly
entrained at Aldershot and Salisbury Plain for the
defence of the East Coast, while the Territorial
Army and the National Reserve were called up
for garrison duty.  At the same time a statement
was made to the German Ambassador in
London in which His Majesty's Government totally
repudiated the suggestions that Captain
Restronguet held any authority, either direct or indirect,
from the Crown.

To this the German Press retorted by
pronouncing the declaration to be a diplomatic lie,
and unanimously urged the Imperial Government
to recall its ambassador.  All privately owned
airships in the Fatherland were taken possession
of by the authorities, and ordered to the
newly-formed Government aerodrome at Munster, a
Westphalian town sufficiently far from the sea
to be out of the reach of the guns of hostile
warships, yet within a few hours' flying distance
from the East Coast of England.

The struggle, if it came off, would be a
desperate one.  Both fleets were almost numerically
equal, the British having a slight margin of
superiority, but in aircraft the Germans held
a decided advantage.  In the science of warfare
there was little to choose between the two, so
that as far as Great Britain was concerned the
issue depended upon whether the British tars
still retained their bull-dog tenacity that
characterized their forefathers in the days of the old
wooden walls.

In spite of the British Government's coolness
and determination the country, that had passed
through so many international complications with
safety, was in a panic.  Consols dropped lower
than ever they had been known to fall; prices
immediately rose with a bound, and within twelve
hours of the receipt of the disquieting news of
Captain Restronguet's escapade at Wilhelmshaven
the country was experiencing the horrors of war
without actually being engaged in a desperate
conflict on which her very existence depended.

On the morning following the momentous
news from Wilhelmshaven a message appeared
in *The Times*.  It was a statement purporting
to come from Captain Restronguet, in which
he emphatically denied ever being in German
waters, and that as a proof he would give a sure
sign of his presence off the shores of Great
Britain.  At noon of that very day he would
give a demonstration of the irresistible powers
at his command at a spot somewhere between
the Horse Sand Fort and the entrance to
Portsmouth Harbour.

"Do you think it is a joke, sir?" asked
Sub-Lieutenant Hythe of the navigating officer of
the "Investigator."

"What do you think of it, may I ask?"
replied Lieutenant Egmont guardedly.

"Personally, I hardly consider that it is a
hoax.  You see the notice appeared in the
Personal Column."

"And paid for in the usual manner, I suppose."

"But the Business Editor has the option of
refusing any advertisement."

"That's what makes me think there's
something genuine about it.  Again, the paper has
a short leader on it: non-committal, it is true."

"But how can a fellow cooped up in a
submarine that is being watched for all along the
coast contrive to get ashore to send off a message
to *The Times*?" asked Egmont.  "How can
he keep in touch with affairs?  Why, in order
to have that notice inserted he must have heard
of the Wilhelmshaven business within an hour or
so of its occurrence."

"Admitted; but all the same Captain
Restronguet is a modern magician in submarine work.
I should not be surprised if he has a perfect
wireless service at his command.  By the by,
has Captain Tarfag orders to proceed to Spithead?"

"No, and he told me himself that he didn't
want to be sent on a wild-goose chase.  The
Admiral has ordered a couple of aero-hydroplanes
to manoeuvre over the place indicated at noon,
and to keep a sharp look-out for any suspicious
object under the surface.  There they are, by
Jove!"

Both officers stopped in their "constitutional,"
a to and fro promenade of the short
quarterdeck of the "Investigator."  A dull hum,
momentarily growing louder, announced that Nos. 27
and 29 Aero-hydroplanes had left their sheds on
the shores of Fareham Creek and were rising
rapidly to the height of one thousand feet.

As soon as this altitude was reached both
aero-hydroplanes, abandoning their spiral motion,
leapt forward, and passing high above the
shipping in the harbour were soon mere specks
floating in the blue sky.

Watch in hand the sub waited.  It was close
on the fateful hour of noon.  To and fro, in
elliptical curves, the aero-hydroplanes maintained
their lofty vigil, each turning at almost the same
moment and passing within fifty yards of one
another.

Twelve o'clock!  Hythe and his brother
officer exchanged glances.  Captain Tarfag
ascended the bridge, and hailing the wireless
operator and the yeoman of signals by telephone,
demanded if either of them had received news
of the mysterious submarine.

"No message has been received at the
Semaphore Tower, sir," they replied.  The captain
gave a deprecating shrug and descended the
ladder.

"They're coming back, by Jove!" exclaimed
Lieutenant Egmont, after another ten minutes
had elapsed.  "That proves that the message
was a hoax."

"They may have seen something," suggested
the sub, unwilling to have his opinions shattered.

"Not they.  Do you mean to tell me that
if they had spotted anything suspicious they
would not follow it up.  I was----"

The navigating officer's words were interrupted
by a heavy detonation, like the report of a
fourteen-inch gun fired with a full charge.  Beyond
the houses of Old Portsmouth, and at an altitude
of about five hundred feet, a cloud of yellow smoke
hung almost motionless in the still air.  The
aero-hydroplanes, overtaken by a wave of
disturbed atmosphere, lurched violently, although
fully a mile from the actual place of the explosion.
It required all the efforts at the command of
their crew to save the aerial vessels from
destruction, but recovering their equilibrium by
superb manoeuvring of the planes, the aero-hydroplanes
turned and headed towards that portion
of Spithead over which they had so lately been
reconnoitring.

"By Jove!  There's pluck for you!" ejaculated
Egmont.  "That was Restronguet's signal.  If it
had been to time those fellows would have been
done for; and now they're trying to spot the
submarine.  You were right after all, Hythe.
That paragraph was not a hoax."

Captain Tarfag was in the middle of lunch
when the detonation was heard.  He rushed on
deck, and realizing that it was a case where
waiting for orders would be detrimental to success,
he ordered the moorings to be slipped.

Within the harbour all was commotion.
Nearly a dozen destroyers, two scouts, and three
tugs were making for Spithead, while five more
aero-hydroplanes and the naval airship
"Beresford" were ploughing their way against a stiff
south-easterly breeze towards the scene of
Captain Restronguet's latest demonstration.

One noticeable result of the explosion was that
within a quarter of an hour the weather, hitherto
perfectly calm, became changed.  Clouds were
rapidly banking up, with every appearance of a
heavy thunderstorm, while the placid waters of
Spithead were now white with foam-crested waves.

For two hours the "Investigator" and her
consorts cruised up and down, betwixt the Nab
Lightship to the eastward and Cowes to the
west.  Aloft the aircraft kept anxious watch and
ward, till it seemed impossible that any craft
could lie at the bottom of that comparatively
shallow roadstead without being discovered.

"Nothing to report," came the wireless message
from the aircraft with monotonous regularity.
Captain Restronguet had outwitted the eyes and
ears of the British Fleet.

Upon the "Investigator's" return to Portsmouth
Harbour it was possible to obtain details
of what had occurred: The sea wall in front of
Southsea Castle was crowded with people who,
half-doubting, were yet sufficiently curious to see
whether the promise in *The Times* would be
redeemed.  They saw the two aero-hydroplanes
approach and manoeuvre over the pre-arranged
area.  They heard the clocks chime the hour of
twelve.  They waited a few moments longer,
nothing happened, so with a derisive cheer they
began to disperse.  Some remained--mostly those
of the leisured class who were not restricted by
the midday meal that the British workman holds
up as an established institution.

Suddenly--it was exactly at eleven minutes
past twelve--a column of water leapt vertically
upwards at less than four hundred yards
from the shore.  There was a shrieking sound
like the screech of a high velocity projectile,
followed by a detonation so powerful that most
of the spectators on the sea-front were deaf for
days afterwards.  The ground trembled, several
persons were overthrown; the windows of several
houses overlooking the common were broken.
Expecting a shower of scraps of metal from the
bursting projectile the terror-stricken crowd broke
and ran, but curiously enough no one could
afterwards be found to report that anything of a solid
nature fell to earth.  Captain Restronguet's token
was merely an explosive rocket of high power.

That same afternoon news came that a German
seagoing training-ship, the "Sachsen" was sunk
by some unknown means in Kiel Harbour, and
another green and white buoy bearing Captain
Restronguet's name, was found floating over the
wreck of the sunken vessel.

By what manner, incomprehensible beyond the
wildest dream of fiction, could this Captain
Restronguet be at Portsmouth just after noon and at
Kiel, in the Baltic Sea, two hours later?  Was
his submarine in possession of supernatural
powers whereby he could annihilate space and
practically conquer time?  The theory was no
sooner advanced than it was regarded as utterly
impossible; the opinion that Captain Restronguet
was, after all, not responsible for the outrages at
Wilhelmshaven began to gain ground both in
Great Britain and Germany.

In naval and military circles the importance
of the offensive powers of the mysterious
submarine were fully commented upon.  It was
recognized that submarine warfare was more than
likely to regain the supremacy that had been
wrested from it by aircraft.  Here was a
submerged vessel, invisible although only in seven
fathoms of water, that could project a shell
charged with a high explosive vertically to a
great height.  Although not in the accepted sense
of the word an aerial torpedo, the rocket had
seriously affected the stability of the two
aero-hydroplanes that were at a distance hitherto
considered as a safe margin.  Had it been an aerial
torpedo instead of a rocket the result would have
been terrible to contemplate.

*The Chronicle* appeared next morning with
an apology and manifesto from Captain
Restronguet.  He regretted that, owing to the
proximity of the two aero-hydroplanes, he was
not able to give his promised token precisely
at the hour of twelve, and trusted that the British
public would realize that the slight delay was due
solely to his desire to avoid loss of life and
property to His Majesty's subjects.  He once more
repudiated any suggestion that the Kiel outrage
was carried out at his instigation, and, further,
as a proof of good faith, he hoped to give an
exhibition of the forces at his command this time in
Plymouth Sound.  At 6 a.m. on the following
day, unless unforeseen circumstances prevented, he
would make known his presence in Cawsand Bay.

As soon as this decision was communicated to
the Admiralty telegraphic orders were sent to
Portsmouth, ordering the "Investigator" to
proceed at once to Plymouth, where, co-operating
with the surveying-vessel "Mudlark," she was to
make every effort to effect the capture of Captain
Restronguet's submersible ship.





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.. _`CAPTURED`:

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   CHAPTER V.


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   CAPTURED.

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At 4 a.m. the "Investigator" arrived off the
eastern arm of Plymouth Breakwater, whence she
signalled to Devonport Dockyard the news of
her arrival.  The lights of the "Mudlark" were
soon afterwards observed as she threaded her
way through the tortuous passage between
Drake's Island and the mainland, and in company
the two vessels bore away in the direction of
Penlee Point.

Officers and crew were in a state of suppressed
excitement.  If Captain Restronguet were a man
of his word, as he evidently was, his capture
seemed certain, for the waters of Cawsand Bay
were admirably suited to the arrangements which
Captain Tarfag had made for his great coup.

By dawn the vicinity of the bay presented a
scene of animation.  The cliffs between the
village of Cawsand and Penlee Tower were black
with people.  Thousands of the good folk of the
Three Towns had crossed over to Cremyll and
thence, mostly on foot--for the number of vehicles
available was quite inadequate--had tramped the
hilly road across Maker Heights.  Kept at a
respectful distance by a strong patrol of picquet-boats
were hundreds of crafts of all sizes, from
the frail pleasure skiff to the weatherly
fishing-smacks and the local ferry steamers.  Beyond
these lay several battleships and cruisers whose
presence had not yet been required in the North
Sea; and since they were of an older type, with
masts and unprotected decks, they were literally
covered with human beings.

A better place to effect the capture of the
submarine could hardly be found, for the depth
shelved gradually from twenty feet close inshore
to forty along a line joining the extremities of
Penlee and Picklecombe Points.

The after-decks of the two surveying vessels
were buried beneath piles of nets composed of
three-inch tarred rope intermeshed with flexible
steel wire.  These could be "paid-out" with
considerable rapidity, and being buoyed and
weighted would sink automatically till their upper
edge was ten feet below the surface and their
lower edge the same distance from the bottom.
Both vessels were to start simultaneously from
the western extremity of the Breakwater and
head for Penlee and Picklecombe Points
respectively, where strong parties of seamen were
ready to haul the ends of the nets ashore.

At half-past five Captain Tarfag gave the
order to commence paying out the obstructions,
and at a steady six knots the "Investigator"
steamed ahead, her consort, being a slower vessel,
having to take the shorter distance--that between
the Breakwater and Picklecombe.  Precisely at
five minutes to six the shoreward ends of the nets
were secured.

"If Captain Restronguet keeps his promise he
is already safe in the net!" exclaimed Lieutenant
Egmont.  "You see, there is nothing to prevent
him from giving his signal at the appointed time.
There are no vessels in the bay, and no aircraft
overhead."

"It will be a nasty shock to those craft if he
fires a rocket over their heads," remarked Arnold
Hythe, indicating the crowd of small vessels that,
in spite of the picquet-boats, were continually
edging nearer and nearer in the desire of their
occupants to see more of the promised "fun."  "But
what is going to happen when we trap the
submarine?"

"Oh, Captain Tarfag and I have already
settled about that," replied the navigating
lieutenant confidentially.  "As soon as we are certain
that the submarine is in the bay parties of men
ashore will drag in the nets, till the craft is either
stranded or her propellers are hopelessly entangled
in the rope and wire strands.  But stand by!
It's close on six."

A hush fell on the assembled multitudes.
Every face was turned in the direction of the
tranquil bay, where, save for a slight ground-swell,
the water was unruffled.

The crowds were not kept waiting.  Punctually
to the minute, at less than four hundred yards
from shore and almost abreast of the little village
that gives the bay its name, a green and white
flag, hanging limply from a staff by reason of the
saturated state of the bunting, rose above the
surface.  Then urged by some unseen power the
flag-staff ripped its way through the water,
throwing the spray in silvery cascades.  Then it
described a circle of less than a hundred yards in
diameter, then as abruptly as it appeared the
emblem of the mysterious Captain Restronguet
vanished beneath the surface.

"We've got him, by Jove!" shouted Captain Tarfag.

Four blasts in rapid succession from the
"Investigator's" syren was the signal for the men
ashore to haul away.

Slowly the ponderous line of netting was
dragged through the water.  Fortunately there
was little or no tide and hardly any floating weed
to render the task more difficult than it might
otherwise have been; nevertheless it required an
hour's hard work ere the enclosed space marked
by the line of buoys appreciably diminished.

All the while signals from the "Investigator"
were being exchanged with the look-out tower on
Penlee Point.  Again and again came the
disquieting news "No sign of submarine."

"Surely in fifty feet, with a clear sandy bottom,
those fellows up there ought to detect the craft!"
exclaimed Lieutenant Egmont impatiently.

"I failed to see it at ten yards, although I
admit the water was awfully muddy," said the sub.

"But what if she's given us the slip?"
continued the navigating lieutenant.  "Look, man;
in another half an hour the bight of the net will
come ashore."

"A lot may happen in half an hour," replied
Hythe.  "Unless she uses an explosive to clear
a passage we have her safe enough, and I do not
think that Captain Restronguet will resort to
extreme measures, judging how he has already
behaved in British waters."

"What I want to know is how Captain Tarfag
proposes to take possession of her, when she is
held up in the nets.  He told me he had a plan,
which we are now carrying out, but not a word
more on the subject would he say, so, of course,
I couldn't offer any suggestions."

"It is nearly high-water springs," observed the
sub.  "That means that we could get her
sufficiently high for the falling tide to leave her
stranded.  Hulloa!  What's that?"

A sudden commotion at less than a cable's
length on the "Investigator's" starboard bow
showed that some large moving object had been
held up in the stout meshes of the net.  Myriads
of air-bubbles rose to the surface, causing a
considerable patch of broken water on the otherwise
smooth sea.  A light-draught picquet boat, with
two heavy grapnels made ready to lower, dashed
over the submerged net.  The iron hooks fell
with a dull splash.

"Holding, sir!" shouted the midshipman in
charge of the picquet-boat.

"Good!  Belay there!" replied Captain
Tarfag.  "Drop the second grapnel, and I will
send a boat to bring the rope aboard."

The working parties ashore desisted in their
efforts.  All the power at their command could
not bring the nets home another fathom.  Held
by the submarine, that in turn was tenaciously
anchored to the bottom of the bay, they absolutely
refused to be hauled in.  A sounding gave a
depth of seven and a half fathoms.

"Mr. Hythe," shouted the captain.

The sub took the bridge-ladder at top speed,
and saluting, awaited his chief's orders.

"Oh, Mr. Hythe," continued the latter.  "I
want to send a couple of men down to report on
the position of the submarine.  If she's anchored,
get them to find out in which direction her cable
leads and we can then creep for it.  Also I want
to ascertain whether it be possible to lower the
bight of a chain under her bow and stern.  If
that can be done I'll signal to the Dockyard for
a couple of lighters, and we'll lift the craft with
the rising tide and take her straight into the
Hamoaze.  But mind, Mr. Hythe, I wish it to
be distinctly understood that volunteers only are
required for this service."

"I should like to descend, sir."

"You!  Why I thought, by Jove, you had
enough of it on the last occasion you encountered
the submarine, judging by all accounts.  But of
course, I should be glad to accept your offer.
Take two men with you."

The sub again saluted, and on gaining the
quarter deck ordered the bo's'un's mate to pipe
away the diving-party.

Of the qualified divers every man-jack expressed
his desire, as vehemently as the presence of the
officers permitted, to go down.  Hythe would
have much preferred to have taken Moy and
Banks, who at his request had been transferred
from the "flagship, but favouritism he strongly
set his face against.

"Numbers one and two front rank men, fall out."

Number one was a tall, broad-shouldered
Irishman named O'Shaunessey, a man who still
retained the Wexford brogue.  Number two was
a dapper little Cockney, Price by name, who
had the distinction of holding the Navy record for
deep-sea diving.

"Look here, Price," said the sub, "I'm going
down too; but I want you to clearly understand
what to do.  I will try to locate the Submarine, and
see if there is any possibility of raising it by means
of a grapnel.  You I want to get as close to the
bows as you can without much chance of being
seen and report by telephone what forefoot she
has, if any, and if there's any chance of slinging
her at that end.  O'Shaunessey, I want you to
examine the after-end, and find out what
overhang she has; also whether her propellers are
foul of anything."

"Hurry up, there!" ordered Captain Tarfag.
He was naturally anxious that his prey should
not escape him, for, although the strain on the
picquet boat's grapnel-line was maintained, the
bubbles no longer rose from the enmeshed submarine.

Hythe was the first to descend, from a boat
lowered from the "Investigator."  The conditions
beneath the surface were far more favourable
than on the occasion of his descent at
Spithead, for the bottom was of firm white sand,
and the tidal current was barely a quarter of a knot.

Ere he had traversed fifty yards an ill-defined
mass loomed up ahead of him.  It was the
submarine, exaggerated out of all proportion by the
refractive properties of the water.

With rapidly beating heart the sub continued
to advance.  Suddenly he saw a figure in diver's
dress approaching.  He stopped.  The stranger
stopped too.

"I'll wait for Price and O'Shaunessey," thought
Hythe, and still keeping his face towards the
unknown diver he laboriously retraced his steps.
As he did so the stranger did likewise.

"I wonder----" thought the sub, and raising
his right arm he saw the unknown diver
simultaneously raise his left.  Hythe was confronted
by a magnified reflection of himself.  The sides
of the submarine were made of a mirror-like
substance.

Keeping a respectful distance from the
submerged craft Hythe walked towards, but parallel
to, the bows.  Presently he became aware that
he was passing under the lowermost edge of the
net, that, with elongated meshes, was stretched
tightly across the upper portion of the stem of
the submarine.

Since nothing had attempted to molest him,
Hythe's sense of confidence rose.

"No, they wouldn't dare play the fool now,"
he reasoned.  "There's no escape for them, and
they will make the best of a bad job by surrendering
at discretion as soon as the lighters sling her
clear of the bottom.  I wonder where her cable is?"

No signs of the submarine's anchor and chain
were visible.  There were hawse-pipes--two on
the starboard bow and one on the port bow, but
in none of them was a stockless anchor, or indeed
one of any description.  The hawsepipes were
partly concealed by the nets, but the meshes were
sufficiently distended to make the sub certain on
that point.

Keeping his eyes fixed upon the ground Hythe
walked on, thinking that, from the position of the
vessel, he would eventually stumble over an
anchor and chain lying half-buried in the sand.
At length he came to the limit of his life-line,
his search unrewarded.

"That's completely stumped me--middle
wicket, by Jove!" he muttered.  "A looking-glass
submarine fixed as tight as a limpet to the sand,
and not an anchor to be seen!  All in good time,
I suppose.  When we get her into Plymouth
we'll find out all we want to learn soon enough."

With that he turned and began to make his
way round the submarine once more.

"Oh, there's O'Shaunessey!" he said to
himself, as a huge helmeted figure came shambling
along through the semi-transparent water.  "I
wonder what----  Great Scott!"

Arnold Hythe came to an abrupt stop.  The
diver approaching him was not O'Shaunessey.
The Irishman's helmet was provided with an air-tube,
and a life-line encircled his chest; this fellow
had neither.  He was one of the crew of Captain
Restronguet's submarine.

The sub was not devoid of personal courage.
The sight of the strange diver advancing in his
direction aroused all the bull-dog fighting instinct
in him.

"All right, my fine fellow!" he muttered.
"I'll see if I can't tackle you."

Unhesitatingly he advanced towards the
stranger.  The latter, pausing a brief instant,
held up one hand as if warning off his rival, but
seeing that Hythe was intent upon grappling with
him he stood on his guard.

The sub had no compunction.  Although he
could not under present circumstances summon
the man to surrender in the King's name, he
realized that, by virtues of the special Act of
Parliament, he was authorized to summarily arrest
any member of Captain Restronguet's command.

The next instant the two divers were locked
in a close embrace, Hythe endeavouring to bring
the man's arms to his sides, while at the same time
he shouted through the telephone for his comrades
in the boat to haul him to the surface.  The
unknown struggled desperately, striving to pass one
heavily-leaded boot behind the sub's ankle.  For
ten seconds they grappled in the eerie depths of
the sea, then Hythe found himself being dragged
along the sandy bottom.  His signal to be hauled
up was being answered, and the steady strain on
the life-line told him that unless anything
unforeseen occurred another minute would find him and
his captive at the surface.

On and on, over the yielding sand the two men
were dragged, for the long scope of rope
prevented an immediate upward ascent.  Suddenly
the unknown diver wrenched one hand free.  He
drew his knife, the blade glinted dully in the pale
green light, and with a steady motion severed the
life-line.

"Great heavens!  He'll sever my air-tube
next," thought the sub, but, apparently content
with the advantage already scored, the fellow
dropped his knife and tightened his grasp upon
his antagonist.

"Blow me up!" gasped Hythe through the
telephone, but although the men at the air-pumps
redoubled their exertions the extra pressure of air
escaped through the valve in the young officer's
helmet, since he was unable to close it.

"I am attacked.  Tell O'Shaunessey and Price
to come to my assistance," exclaimed the sub.
In spite of his powerful physique he was not even
holding his own.  He had bitten off more than
he could chew.

During the struggle the sand churned up by
the feet of the wrestlers rose till it was almost
impossible to see more than a few feet away.
Several times Hythe gave a hasty glance to see
if his men were coming to his aid--but no.

Four grotesquely-attired figures appeared
through the sand-blurred water.  With a feeling
of dismay the sub realized that he was hopelessly
outnumbered.  Since he had taken the initiative
in provoking the contest he knew that he must
expect to accept the consequences; yet he
determined to resist as long as his strength of body
and mind remained.

Powerful hands grasped him by the arms and
legs.  He was overthrown and lifted into a
horizontal position.  Even then he kicked out
strongly till his captors, having good cause to fear
his leaden-soled boots, desisted in their efforts to
secure his legs.

A loud buzzing--the hiss of escaping air--told
him that the worst was at hand.  The minions of
Captain Restronguet were unscrewing the union
of his air-tube.





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.. _`FACE TO FACE`:

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   CHAPTER VI.


.. class:: center medium

   FACE TO FACE.

.. vspace:: 2

The hissing sound stopped.  Instead, under a
pressure of nearly two and a half atmospheres,
the water rushed into the disconnected valve.
In five seconds it had risen to the sub's knees.
Then the inrush was checked.

It was useless to struggle, but with an
uncontrollable longing to wrench himself away from his
captors, rather than be drowned like a rat, Hythe
persisted in his efforts, till he realized that he was
in no immediate danger of being suffocated.  In
the place of the air pumped in from above--air
that was anything but fresh--came a cool,
invigorating vapour strongly charged with oxygen.

He no longer appealed for aid.  He knew that
with the air-tube and life-line the telephone wire
had been severed.  He was cut off from all
intercourse from above.  Even his air supply was
self-contained.

Instinctively he felt certain that he would be
carried off to the mysterious submarine.  Curiosity
prompted him to accept the situation with equanimity,
his inborn fighting disposition urged him to
resist.  If he were to be made a prisoner he
would let his captors know that the liberty of a
British officer is not lightly lost.

It was a strange procession on the sandy floor
of Cawsand Bay, for others of the submarine's
crew had come upon the scene, and surrounded
and held by five weirdly-garbed and helmeted
men Hythe was frog-marched towards the huge
submerged vessel.

A dull patch in the side of the craft indicated
that a portion of her plating had been swung
back, revealing on closer inspection a door about
five feet in height and thirty inches wide.

Here the sub saw his chance.  With
outstretched arms and legs he defied the crowd
of captors to pass his resisting body through the
narrow aperture.  Twice he almost freed himself
from their clutches.  The oxygen-charged vapour
he was breathing accentuated his fighting
instincts, and mainly through sheer delight at being
able to thwart his antagonists he lashed out right
and left.

Still retaining their hold the men began to
lose patience.  One of them turned and looked
at another who was standing by.  The look
was understood.  Drawing a small instrument
resembling a two-pronged fork, from a sheath
attached to his belt, the fellow advanced towards
the young officer.

Hythe, still resisting, saw the action.

"I wonder what he's up to?" he muttered.
"Going to puncture my suit, I suppose, and
half-drown me.  Take that, you under-handed rascal."

With a sudden wrench he freed his right hand,
and clenching his fist hit madly at the diver's
front plate.  Had the blow struck home the
glass would in all probability have been broken,
but the man stepped backwards and the sub's
fist encountered water only.  That attempt led
to Hythe's undoing, for two stalwart fellows
seized him by the arm of his india-rubber suit
between wrist and elbow.  Held as in a vice he
was unable to draw back his hand, the diver
with the fork-like instrument immediately applied
the points to the officer's bare knuckles.

A powerful electric current passed through
him.  He writhed; his limbs jerked with
uncontrollable spasmodic movements, till, his spirit
literally cowed, he was unresistingly carried
through the aperture in the side of the submarine.

The panel glided to, smoothly and easily,
leaving the compartment in utter darkness.
Then came the sound of powerful pumps at
work, and soon, by the weight of his helmet,
Hythe realized that the water was being
expelled.  Within a minute and a half of the time
of entering the place the sub was no longer in
the sea, although he was under it.

A bell rang and another door opened, revealing
a fairly spacious compartment well lighted
by electricity.  The floors, walls, and ceiling
were of metal coated with a substance resembling
coarse cement.  Along one side were racks and
pegs to take the diving equipment, several
complete suits being not then in use.  On the
other side were coils of rope, lengths of chain,
oars, grapnels, boathooks, and other gear used
on board ship, while a folding canvas boat in
three detached sections occupied a considerable
part of the available space.  On the bulkhead
in which was the sliding-door by which Hythe
and his captors had entered the compartment
were various switches for controlling the ejecting
pumps, the intake valves, and the lighting of
that section of the vessel.  In the other
transverse bulkhead was also a door, fitted with a
watertight sliding hatch.  On either side of this
doorway were complicated machines of which
Hythe could neither make head nor tail.

Feeling more like a thoroughly cowed puppy
than anything else he could liken himself to, the
sub was divested of his diving-helmet and suit.
The former was placed on the rack beside the
others, the suit, not being of the same pattern
as that of his captors, was hung up apart from
all the rest.  All this while the divers retained
their head-dresses.  They did not even remove
the glass plates.  As soon as the sub was free
from the encumbrance of his diving-dress three
men entered from another compartment.

They were tall, broad-shouldered fellows,
clean-shaven, and with dark crisp hair.  From
their appearance they might be near relations,
possibly brothers.  They were clad in dark-blue
jerseys and trousers, and dark canvas shoes, and
looked more like yacht hands than the crew of
a submarine.

"The captain will be pleased to receive you,
sir," announced one in good English, with a
west-country accent that a foreigner could not
possibly acquire, saluting as he spoke.  "What
name shall I give, sir?"

The young officer hesitated a moment, then,
reflecting that it was of no use beating about
the bush, replied, "Arnold Hythe, Sub-Lieutenant
of H.M.S. 'Investigator.'"

"Very good, sir; will you please step this way?"

The effect of the electric shock was beginning
to wear off, nevertheless the sub felt in a very
chastened spirit as he followed his guide, the
other two men keeping in the rear.  Hythe
methodically took count of the number of paces
he made as he walked along a narrow alley-way
on either side of which were doors in the
longitudinal bulkheads.  Fifteen steps brought
him to a stout transverse bulkhead, in which he
noticed were two sliding-doors face to face with
a space of about six inches between.  Beyond,
the corridor continued for another twenty paces,
terminating at a door that was partially concealed
by a heavy curtain.

"Sub-Lieutenant Arnold Hythe, of
H.M.S. 'Investigator,' sir!" announced the man.

"Come in, Mr. Hythe!" exclaimed a deep,
sonorous voice.

The guide stood aside, and allowed the sub
to pass.

Standing in front of two electric lamps so
that his face was in deep shadow was the
modern submarine magician, Captain Restronguet.
He had evidently taken up that position
with deliberation, for he had the advantage of
being able to scrutinize closely his visitor and at
the same time partially concealing his own
features; but the sub could see that the captain
was a well-made man of about six feet two inches
in height, with broad, square shoulders and massive
limbs.

He was dressed almost as quietly as the three
men who had accompanied Hythe from the
divers' dressing-room and who were now standing
at attention just inside the doorway.  He wore a
white sweater, dark-blue trousers, a
double-breasted serge coat and white doeskin shoes,
while on a writing desk by his side lay a
canvas-covered cap of the style in vogue at Cowes
during the yachting season.

"I am very pleased to make your acquaintance,
sir," continued Captain Restronguet, holding out
his hand.

Hythe hardly knew what to say.  Had he
been told that a quarter of an hour previously he
would probably have told the captain to go to
Jericho, but the antagonistic spirit had left him.

"And so am I, sir," he replied simply.

"Thank you," replied Captain Restronguet,
then addressing his men he ordered them to leave
his cabin.

"We can talk more freely now," he continued
affably.  "Pray take a seat.  The accommodation
in this small cabin of mine does not compare with
a ward-room or the gun-room of one of His Majesty's
battleships, but still I think you will find
that chair comfortable."

Hythe sat down.  The chair was comfortable
enough, but he felt remarkably uncomfortable in
spite of the fact that the captain's affability
sounded perfectly sincere.

"Do you smoke?  Yes?  Well, try one of
these cigars.  I can guarantee them as pure
Sumatran."

The sub controlled his amazement with an
effort.  He had never before heard of smoking
in a submarine.

Mechanically he took the proffered cigar, lit
it, and waited for the captain to resume the
conversation.  For his part he was anxious to know
what the latter's intentions were regarding his
unexpected guest, but something compelled him
to await a favourable opportunity.

Captain Restronguet eyed his captive for some
moments in silence, then:--

"I am sorry to have to refer to your regrettable
failure to take possession of the 'Aphrodite'--that
being the name of this craft--but at present the
opportunity has not arrived for me to relinquish
my command.  Perhaps some day----"

The captain paused meditatively.  Hythe
could see his thick bushy eyebrows narrow till
they formed one continuous line.

"Under the circumstances I am compelled to
retain you on board for an indefinite time.  I
trust that you will make yourself as comfortable
as you can, and that the wonders of this craft--for
wonders they are, although I myself say it--will
be sufficiently interesting to prevent ennui."

"But why was I seized by your men, might I ask?"

"You were seized because there was no
desirable option.  You--I think I am right--you
took the initiative by tackling one of my men.
They knew perfectly well that three divers were
sent down from one of the Government vessels;
they had their work to do, and were, of course,
loth to be hindered by anyone.  Since I gave
them particular orders not to do anyone personal
injuries, and to maintain a strict neutrality unless
molested, they could do nothing else but make
you a prisoner.  I might also mention that I
particularly wished to have a British naval officer
with me, for reasons which I hope to explain at
some future date.  Chance has thrown you across
my path, and here you must for the present
remain.  Your treatment rests with yourself, but
please do not regard this as a menace; it is
merely a plain statement of facts."

"But you are fairly trapped.  You cannot get
away!" exclaimed Hythe.

"I think not.  At any rate, I will soon find out."

Crossing the cabin Captain Restronguet took
up the receiver and mouthpiece of a portable
telephone.

"How is the work progressing, Mr. Devoran?"
he asked.  "All clear? ... Good....
What's that? .... Oh, very well... two
hundred revolutions if you wish .... Splendid! ...
If you want me I'll be with you ... Thanks!"

The captain replaced the receiver and turned
to his guest.

"Perhaps you would like to look through the
observation scuttle?" he asked, and touching a
switch he extinguished lights and left the cabin
in total darkness.  Almost immediately after a
panel in the flat ceiling of the cabin slid back,
rapidly, smoothly, and noiselessly, revealing a
rectangular plate of thick glass through which the
pale green light streamed, flooding the apartment
with subdued hues.

"No need to strain your neck, Mr. Hythe,"
he exclaimed, as the sub gazed wonderingly at
the semi-transparent patch above his head.
"Look in front of you; the result from an optical
point of view will be just the same, and far more
comfortable from an anatomical standpoint."

The young officer did as his host requested.
Simultaneously with the sliding back of the panel
a mirror hinged at one side had risen from the
floor till it attained the angle of forty-five degrees,
while another similarly inclined, but face
downwards, stood on a table in front of him, and
slightly above the level of his head.  Thus,
by looking into the mirror on the table, Hythe
could without inconvenience see everything that
could be observed through the observation pane.

He sat there absolutely fascinated.  The
"Aphrodite" had escaped the coils that had, at
the cost of so much labour and time, been thrown
about her.  She was moving, yet not the faintest
vibration or sound came from the propelling
machinery.  Above were numerous dark objects
seemingly in suspension in the pale green vault
of water; they were the keels of various vessels,
large and small, that had foregathered in Cawsand
Bay to witness the capture of the mysterious
submarine.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`IN THE CONNING-TOWER`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER VII.


.. class:: center medium

   IN THE CONNING-TOWER.

.. vspace:: 2

For several minutes Arnold Hythe sat motionless,
watching the rapidly-changing objects that
flitted across the inclined mirror.  Captain
Restronguet made no attempt to distract his attention,
but standing with folded arms he watched with
feelings of satisfaction the effects of the spectacle
upon the young officer's face.

"Wonderful!" exclaimed the sub at length.

"You think so, Mr. Hythe?  Let me assure
you that this view is nothing to what I can show
you.  Suppose we take a stroll for'ard?"

The captain opened the door of his cabin.

"You will excuse me preceding you," he
remarked apologetically.  "We will proceed to the
fore conning-tower.  Oh, yes, the 'Aphrodite'
has two.  That accounts for the reports of the
master of the 'Barberton Castle,' that he sighted
two submarines lying side by side.  As a matter
of fact he saw the two conning-towers of the
'Aphrodite' against the light, and influenced by
the fact that he had hitherto seen submarines
with single conning-towers he was misled.  Had
he really seen two submarines"--and here Captain
Restronguet's features darkened ominously--"he
would have witnessed a catastrophe to one
of them.  But of that I will say more later.
Suppose we look into this compartment on our
way for'ard."

Hythe's guide rolled back a sliding-hatch that
communicated with the men's quarters--a fairly
spacious room on the starboard side amidships.
To the sub's surprise he saw O'Shaunessey.

"Holy St. Pathrick!" ejaculated the seaman,
almost forgetting in his excitement to salute.
"Faith! sorr, how came you in this shebeen?
Sure, I thought 'twas meself only as these
rascally foreign spalpeens 'ad taken."

"They collared me too, O'Shaunessey," answered Hythe.

"Bad cess to them!" continued the gigantic
Irishman, shaking his fist in the direction of half
a dozen almost as powerfully built men who were
imperturbably regarding their captive.  "They
tackled me with some insthrument, an' I couldn't
raise me hand in self defence.  They must have
known that I could never stand being tickled, the
ign'rant foreigners."

"Why foreigners, O'Shaunessey?" asked the
sub, while Captain Restronguet gave a low chuckle.

"Ain't they foreigners, bedad?  I prached to
'em like the blessed St. Pathrick held forth to
the sarpints, an' all they did was to shake their
heads."

"There is no necessity to keep up this pretence
any longer, men," exclaimed Captain Restronguet.
"This sailor must be treated as one of yourselves
for the time being.  You might reassure him,
Mr. Hythe, for in spite of our electric treatment
he seems inclined to be troublesome, and a good
deal of damage might be done if we have to use
strong measures."

"Look here, O'Shaunessey," said the sub,
"we must make the best of our present position.
This gentleman, Captain Restronguet, will doubtless
put us ashore in good time," and with a swift
look that the sailor rightly interpreted that he
must keep his weather eye lifting, Hythe followed
the captain out of the compartment.

"This is the for'ard double bulkhead,"
explained Captain Restronguet, as the pair came
to the doors that Hythe had previously noticed.
"The 'Aphrodite' is built in three separate
sections, any of which can, in a case of emergency,
be detached from the remaining portion and still
remain watertight.  The midship sections at the
two principal bulkheads are identical.  Thus if
the centre compartment should happen to be holed
the fore and after sections can be detached,
brought together, and secured.  We would then
still be a submarine of two-thirds the length of the
present one.  In the foremost section are the
offensive appliances, subsidiary motors, and certain
stores.  The midship portion forms the living
space for the crew, main store rooms, etc.; the
after section contains the officers' cabins, and
underneath them the main propelling machinery.
In each section is a diving-chamber capable of
being flooded in order to allow the crew to leave
the vessel when occasions arise.  The exit in the
midship section is on Number Two Platform;
in the others it is on Number Three."

"Sounds like a railway station," thought Hythe;
then--

"What do you mean by platforms?" he asked.

"You might prefer to call them decks,
Mr. Hythe.  Number One is literally on deck, and
extends practically the whole length and breadth
of the vessel.  Her sections are, as you doubtless
have observed, almost square, the ridges of the
deck and the bilges being very slightly rounded
off.  This gives plenty of space for the crew
when running on the surface, and also enables
the 'Aphrodite' to rest on the bottom of the sea
without any perceptible list, unless, of course, the
bed shelves at all.  Number Two Platform--but
perhaps you are not interested?"

"Rather!" exclaimed the young officer eagerly.

"Well, then, Number Two Platform runs fore
and aft at nine feet below the overhead girders,
so there is no necessity to have to stoop when in
any of the compartments or alley-ways.  Number
Three Platform rests on the cross girders that are
bolted to the keelson, and being airtight form a
hollow bottom.  As a matter of fact these double
bottom compartments are nearly always filled with
water, which can be ejected by powerful,
quick-delivery force pumps when necessary.  Here is
the door in the base of the for'ard conning-tower."

Unfastening the door by a cam-action lever
Captain Restronguet agilely negotiated the narrow
way and sprang up a steel ladder.  Hythe
followed and found himself standing on a metal
grating in the company of the captain and a
quarter-master.  The latter took no notice of his superiors
beyond moving a little to one side; his whole
attention was fixed upon the task of steering the
submerged craft.

The interior of the conning-tower was literally
lined with electrical appliances, each switch
distinctly marked according to the work it had to
perform, but for the moment the sub paid scant
heed to them.  His eyes travelled in the direction
of one of three large oval scuttles filled with plate
glass.

The submersion indicator pointed to thirty-four
feet, a depth that allowed the "Aphrodite" to
pass under the keel of the deepest draughted
battleship afloat, with five feet to spare.  The
compass pointed due east.

"We are just pottering about, as it were,
between the Draystone and the Mewstone,"
announced Captain Restronguet.  "The depth here
averages ten fathoms, which gives us a margin of
five feet under our keel.  There is a battleship
coming out of harbour, she is now in Smeaton
Pass, and we are waiting for her to draw clear.
On a falling tide we must take no risks."

"What do you mean?" asked Hythe.

"Simply that as soon as the vessel is outside
the Breakwater I mean to take the 'Aphrodite'
into the Hamoaze, and give you a chance to see
that historic stretch of water under slightly
different conditions from that which you have
been accustomed to, Mr. Hythe.  You were in
the submarine service, I believe?"

"Yes," assented the sub.  "But how do you
know that?"

"Merely by a reference to the Navy List.  But
look ahead; see that object dead in line with
our bows?"

"An electro-contact mine, by Jove!" exclaimed
Hythe.

"Right again.  Since the beginning of this
German war-scare, which I venture to predict
will pass away, unless my powers of reasoning
play me false, the approaches to all British ports
of any magnitude, especially the naval ones, have
been strewn with these contrivances.  Watch."

A slight touch on the switch controlling the
helm and the "Aphrodite" swung away to
starboard, clearing the deadly mine by less than
twenty feet.  Another loomed up ahead, only to
be avoided by another touch of the helmsman's
finger.

"I do not want to boast," remarked Captain
Restronguet, "but I have enough electrical
energy stored within this vessel to explode
simultaneously every mine, be it a mechanical,
observation, or electro-contact one, in Plymouth Sound,
and even seriously imperil every fort and ship in
the vicinity.  Some day I may have to put the
powers at my command to a stern test, but until
the necessity actually arises I prefer to exploit
the 'Aphrodite' solely as an example of what
I am capable of producing in the interests of
science.  Look out of that scuttle on your left;
what do you see?"

"A regular pile of huge stones," replied the sub.

"The eastern extremity of that wonderful work
known as Plymouth Breakwater.  We are now
in only forty-five feet of water allowing for the
state of the tide.  The top of our conning-towers
are but fifteen feet above the surface, yet I can
assert with confidence that anyone standing on
Staddon Heights and looking down upon this
channel from an altitude of not less than three
hundred and fifty feet would not see the faintest
sign of the 'Aphrodite.'"

"What causes her to be almost invisible?"
asked Hythe.  "Are her plates made of or faced
with glass?"

"Oh, no.  Glass would not serve the purpose.
The light would be reflected too much.  In fact
the 'Aphrodite' would be a huge heliograph,
sending out rays of reflected sunlight in all
directions.  The composition placed over the steel
plating of this submarine is a secret.  All I can
say at present is that it has the power to reflect
the image of near objects only.  It absorbs all
brilliant rays of light, and is in consequence an
almost perfect form of invisibility."

"What is that?" asked Hythe excitedly,
pointing to a sudden turmoil in the water ahead.

"Only the action of the triple propellers of a
torpedo-boat-destroyer.  We are overhauling her.
Ease down to ten knots, Carnon.  She's off
through the Asia Pass.  There's not enough
water for us; so let her come round to starboard."

The quartermaster telegraphed for speed to
be reduced; the submarine turned towards the
deeper Smeaton Pass, leaving the destroyer, in
blissful ignorance of the proximity of the
much-searched-for Captain Restronguet, to take the
short cut into the Hamoaze.

"Now we can take things more easily,"
observed the captain after awhile.  "The channel
is now ninety feet deep, although we are but a
few hundred yards from Plymouth Hoe.  We
are now approaching the Drake Channel, between
the Victualling Yard and Drake's Island."

"However do you contrive to find your way
about in a complicated waterway like this?"
asked the sub, who was well acquainted with the
above water navigation of that part of Plymouth
Sound within the Breakwater.  "You have no
periscope?"

"A periscope would soon give the show
away," observed his companion.  "For the
present, we simply rely upon the chart and
compass, and look out for the sudden shelving
of the bottom.  See, there!  Hard a starboard,
quartermaster: there's the Vanguard Bank dead
ahead."

From almost due south the "lubber's line" in
the compass-bowl pointed to almost due north.
The "Aphrodite" had reached the "Narrows"
between the Devil's Point and Cremyll.

At a word from Captain Restronguet the
quartermaster set the engine room telegraph
indicator to stop; another movement, a gentle hiss
betokened the admittance of water into one of the
sub-compartments of the vessel.  Then slowly
and mysteriously the "Aphrodite" sank in twenty-two
fathoms of water to the bed of the narrow
channel.

At that depth, and owing to the swift-running
tide, charged with the mud brought down by the
River Tamar, the water was so thick that, till
the electric lamps were switched on, the submarine
was in total darkness.

"Prepare to anchor," ordered Captain Restronguet
through a telephone.

"Good!" he ejaculated, after about a minute
had elapsed.  "Now, Mr. Hythe, you must be
feeling hungry; so will you do me the honour of
having lunch in my cabin?"





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`EXPLANATIONS`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER VIII.


.. class:: center medium

   EXPLANATIONS.

.. vspace:: 2

"By the by," observed Captain Restronguet, as
he entered the cabin, "I have already sent a
reassuring message concerning you to the British
Admiralty."

"You have!  How?" asked Hythe in astonishment.
"You are not fitted with wireless?"

"And why not?  As a matter of fact we are;
with one of the latest type of Raldorf-Holperfeld
instruments, which, as you know, do not require
out-board aerials.  The message is received by
an automatic recorder."

"And, might I ask, with whom do you communicate?"

"That need not be kept a secret from you,
Mr. Hythe."

"Why not, sir?"

"Because I wish to detain you on board the
'Aphrodite' until I have no further use for secret
correspondents.  My wish is law, Mr. Hythe,
and please to remember that.  At the same time
I wish to make your period of enforced detention
pass as pleasantly as possible, and you will have
complete facilities, up to a certain point, of
gaining valuable information that will in time to come
amply recompense you for any slight inconvenience
that might arise."

"But my career?  Remember, sir, I'm a naval officer."

"Of course.  That is one reason why I think
fit to keep you.  Had you been an ordinary or
even an able seaman, I should have taken the
first opportunity of putting you ashore, with hardly
any chance of your seeing anything on board the
vessel that might be put to my disadvantage.  As
soon as I learned that you were a naval
sub-lieutenant I made up my mind to retain you as
my guest for awhile."

"Then you are going to release O'Shaunessey?"

"Not at present.  He, too, will serve a good
purpose.  He will be able to corroborate my
statement that you will be honourably treated."

"But that will be unnecessary.  Surely my word----"

"I have every confidence in the word of an
officer and a gentleman, Mr. Hythe.  But my
proposals are rarely influenced by circumstances
other than the workings of Providence.  You
asked me a question concerning my shore agents.
The answer is this: so long as the Government
bestows licences upon private individuals to
dabble in wireless telegraphy experiments it is a
simple matter to keep in touch with events ashore.
My principal agent lives in Highgate.  He is a
skilled operator, but he has contrived to keep his
capabilities masked under the role of a harmless
amateur.  By advancing or retarding the spark
of the powerful coil of his instrument he can 'tap'
any messages, whether from British or foreign
warships, within seven hundred miles, while on
occasions he has accurately read messages from
Cape Race.  Of course, most of the naval
messages are in code, and are unintelligible to
the uninitiated.  Nevertheless I can learn all
outside news from this particular agent even when
in the Mediterranean.  For short distances we
make use of wireless telephony, and by this
means I can communicate with trusty agents in
Devonport, Portsmouth, Sheet-ness and Chatham,
and under certain circumstances with Rosyth and Dundee."

"Why did you come to a standstill here?"
asked the sub.

"To partially recharge our accumulators.
Our motive power is electricity.  My invention
in that direction is a revolution in marine and
submarine propulsion.  We are now anchored."

"Anchored?" echoed Hythe.  "How?  I
saw no anchors when I examined your vessel
from the outside."

"Anchoring, as we understand the term, consists
of allowing the 'Aphrodite' to settle on the
bottom of the sea.  By lowering four steel plates,
inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees--the
acute angle facing aft--an almost irresistible
brake, something after the principle of the spade
recoil brake of the French quick-firing field guns,
is formed.  At this moment the ebb tide is
swirling past at four knots.  The force of the current
is turning our propellers, which, acting for the
time being on subsidiary shafting, drive the
dynamos that in turn replenish our accumulators."

"Then that means that every day you must
recharge?  How do you manage when there is
not sufficient tide to actuate the propellers?"

"My dear sir," replied Captain Restronguet,
"I ought to have said that we were *partially*
replenishing our reserve of electricity.  At this
moment there is sufficient power on board to
drive the 'Aphrodite' at a speed of thirty-five
knots on the surface or twenty when submerged,
for a continuous period of at least one hundred
and twenty hours.  We merely take advantage
of the opportunity to increase our reserve.  But
you are not eating.  Is my meagre fare not
sufficiently tempting?"

"I am too interested to think about eating,"
replied Hythe.  "But now you mention it I feel
quite peckish."

"We are obliged to do without fresh meat," said
Captain Restronguet apologetically.  "Nevertheless
I think you will find this dish of pilchards
excellent.  Here is seakale sauce that by the
skill of the 'Aphrodite's' cook can hardly be
distinguished from asparagus.  Roast dog-fish, if
you care to try it, you will find hard to believe
anything but beef-steak.  By a certain process,
simple to apply, all taste of fish is eliminated."

Captain Restronguet helped his guest to a slice
of dog-fish--a fish that fishermen not so many years
back generally threw back into the sea as useless.

"Excellent," declared the sub.  "However
is this dish produced in this guise?"

"Also by electricity," said Captain Restronguet
calmly.  "By applying a certain form of current
all the oily portions of the fish are destroyed,
leaving only the red corpuscles in the flesh."

Just then came a knock at the door, and in
response to the captain's permission to enter
one of the crew appeared, holding an envelope
in his hand.

"H'm!  Message from the wireless room--excuse
me," remarked Captain Restronguet, as
he began to tear open the flap.  "Shouldn't be
surprised, Mr. Hythe, if this doesn't concern
you.  Yes, listen: 'Secretary of Admiralty
acknowledges Captain Restronguet's message
re safety of Sub-Lieutenant Arnold Hythe and
Michael O'Shaunessey, A.B.  If genuine a
message from the naval officer detained is
requested.  Reasons are also desired why Captain
Restronguet took forcible possession of two of
His Majesty's subjects.'  Ha!  That is a
reasonable message."

"Reasonable?"

"Yes.  The Admiralty are beginning to
realize that I, Captain Restronguet, am a
person worthy of their consideration.  That is more
than they did a few years' back.  As a matter
of fact I have had a little quarrel with My
Lords.  Some day I will give you details; but
meanwhile I am continuing my harmless yet
disconcerting tactics that tend to prove how
futile the defences of this country are against
the latest product of modern science.  Yes,
Mr. Hythe, the Secretary of the Admiralty will have
definite evidence before many hours have
passed."

.. vspace:: 1

.. class:: center white-space-pre-line

   \*      \*      \*      \*      \*

.. vspace:: 1

To go back to H.M.S. "Investigator": as
soon as Hythe's appeal for help was received the
attendants on the diving-party began to haul in
the sub's life-line, but before five fathoms had been
brought inboard a sudden relaxation of the strain
told them that the rope had been severed.

"Be sharp, men!  Blow him to the surface,"
ordered Egmont.  "There's something up down
there."

"Mr. Hythe's just signalled for more air, sir,"
announced the seaman who had charge of the
telephone.

Rapidly the handles of the air-pump revolved.
An increase in the number and size of the
bubbles rising to the surface was the only result.

"See if the others are all right," ordered the
lieutenant.  "What's that?  O'Shaunessey
reports all correct; tell him to find out what's
wrong with Mr. Hythe.  Can't you get any
reply from Mr. Hythe, Mr. Smithers?"

"No reply, sir," said the man laconically.

A paying out of the Irishman's life-line told
them on deck that O'Shaunessey was on his
way to look for his officer.  Five minutes
elapsed, then a confused jumble of ejaculations
through the telephone betokened the unmistakable
fact that the Hibernian diver was shouting
at the top of his voice.

"Stow it, mate; what's the bloomin' use of
shoutin' like that?" spoke the man on O'Shaunessey's
telephone reprovingly.  Then, after
a short interval, he took the instrument from his
ear and turned to Lieutenant Egmont.

"Wire's cut off, sir," he announced.

"And his life-line and air-tube cut, too, sir,"
added another seaman.

"Great heavens! what's up?" ejaculated
the lieutenant.  "Here, bring Price up before
he's done for."

Hastily Egmont communicated this disquieting
news to Captain Tarfag.  The latter went
for'ard and awaited Diver Price's re-appearance.

As soon as Price's helmet appeared above the
surface his glass plate was unscrewed, revealing
his features as pale as a sheet.

"What has happened?" demanded Captain
Tarfag anxiously.

The man was incapable of speech.  He could
only raise one hand in a gesture of horror and
despair.

"Help him over the side, men," ordered the
captain.  "Run aft, one of you, and ask the
steward to give you a stiff glass of grog."

Quickly Price was divested of his helmet and
dress.  Shaking like a leaf he sat down upon a
bollard.  He drained the glass of whisky at one
gulp, and the colour began to return to his face.

"Both done for!" he cried.  "Saw my mate
stabbed by the villains.  Never caught a sight
o' Mr. Hythe."

"By heavens, I'll not stand this!" thundered
Captain Tarfag.  "I want three men to go
down--who will volunteer?"

"I will, sir!" came a chorus of voices.
Every man qualified as a diver had offered to
risk possibly certain death in the depths of the sea.

"You three," ordered the captain, indicating
Moy, Banks, and Smithers.  "Keep your knives
in your hands and don't hesitate to use them.
Take a charge of guncotton.  If you've a chance
place it under her bilges, and I'll take the risk of
blowing this infernal submarine to Jericho."

Quickly the three dauntless divers prepared
to descend, while a petty officer and two seamen
hastened to bring the explosive from the
magazine and the batteries for firing the charge.

But ere the divers were ready a sudden
commotion on shore attracted the attention of
Captain Tarfag and the crew of the "Investigator."  The
working party on the beach had discovered
that the net entanglements no longer held.
They were coming home with hardly any
resistance, bringing with them the grapnels of the
picquet-boats till the latter had to hastily cast off
in order to prevent themselves being dragged
ashore.

"She's given us the slip, by George!" ejaculated
Mr. Egmont.

"Perhaps the nets have parted," suggested
Captain Tarfag.  "Look alive, men!"

One after another the divers disappeared over
the side.  Three distinct patches of bubbles
indicated their course.  They were, for mutual
safety, keeping close together.  To all inquiries
on the telephone the answer was, "Nothing to
be seen," until Moy reported that he had discovered
distinct traces in the sand of the impression
of a fairly flat-bottomed vessel of at least thirty
foot beam.

"It's no go," exclaimed Captain Tarfag.
"Order the men back, and report the loss of
Mr. Hythe and O' Shaunessey to the Commander-in-Chief
at Devonport.  By smoke!  All the fat is
in the fire now."

Quickly the dispiriting news spread from ship
to ship, and from boat to boat.  A panic seemed
to seize the spectators in private craft, for, as if
by a sudden impulse, they made a wild stampede
from the shelter of the shallow water of Cawsand
Bay.  But nothing happened to imperil their
safety.  No huge sea-monster, the work of
human hands, appeared to scatter destruction
broadcast upon those venturesome individuals who had
gone forth to witness the capture of the
mysterious Captain Restronguet.  The elusive
submarine had calmly stolen away, without a trace of
the tragedy that every one imagined had been
enacted beneath the waves, save for portions of
the two life-lines and the disconnected air-tubes.

The "Investigator" and the rest of the
Government vessels lost no time in putting into the
Hamoaze.  Captain Tarfag, accompanied by
Lieutenant Egmont, immediately went on shore
to report to the Commander-in-Chief.  Already
special editions of the papers were out, giving
more or less accurate accounts of the futile
operations in connexion with the attempt to capture
the submarine, and all laid particular stress upon
the fact that the lives of an officer and a seaman
had been sacrificed on the altar of duty.

"You saw nothing, Tarfag?" asked the Admiral.

"Nothing, sir.  The diver who escaped reported
that the whole time he was below he saw
no trace of the submarine, although he followed
the line of netting for several yards.  What he
did see was his comrade, O'Shaunessey, beset
by half a dozen men.  He admitted he was
terribly scared, but went to his fellow-diver's
assistance.  Before he could get close enough he
saw that O'Shaunessey's life-line had been cut
and his air-tube disconnected.  Realizing that he
could do nothing, and that he was in pressing
danger, Price signalled to be hauled up."

"But how did the submarine contrive to get
clear of the wire and rope entanglements?
Surely you saw some signs of a commotion?"

"Nothing--not even a ripple.  The first
intimation we had was from the shore.  The nets came
home quite easily."

"H'm," ejaculated the Admiral.  "Perhaps I----"

The entrance of an assistant secretary caused
the Commander-in-Chief to pause abruptly.
The newcomer held out a type-written document.

"Message through from the Admiralty, sir,"
he announced.

"By Jove!  What's this?" exclaimed the
astonished Admiral.  "The Secretary to the
Admiralty reports that a telephone message was
received from a North London call-office,
reporting that Mr. Hythe and O' Shaunessey are
prisoners on the submarine.  Furthermore, a
telegram from Dantzic announces that Captain
Restronguet--confound that fellow!--has destroyed
the armoured cruiser 'Breslau.'"

"When was that, sir?" asked Captain Tarfag.

"The message from Dantzic is dated 8 a.m. this
morning.  Allowing for differences in Greenwich
time----"

"Then, if the submarine we were after is under
the command of Captain Restronguet, it is morally
impossible for him to be in the Baltic at precisely
the same hour----"

"Unless there are two of these blessed submarines."

"Or two captains of the name of Restronguet,"
added Captain Tarfag.

"I suppose this fellow means to hold Mr. Hythe
to ransom, sir?" asked Mr. Egmont.

"There is no mention of that," replied the
Admiral.  "But, of course, that may be his
intention.  I wonder where the mysterious submarine
will turn up next?"

"The Superintendent of Police, sir," announced
the head-messenger.

"Ah, Richardson, what's the trouble now?"
asked the Commander-in-Chief, as a tall,
alert-looking man stepped briskly into the room.

"More evidence of Captain Restronguet, sir,"
replied the Superintendent of Police.  "The
rascal's actually in the Hamoaze.  Our duty
boat, whilst returning from Bull Point, picked up
a green and white buoy, just abreast of Wilcove.
Attached to the buoy, and protected by a
water-proof covering, was this document."

The admiral took the paper--a foolscap sheet,
with a crest and the words "Submarine 'Aphrodite'"
embossed upon it.  In silence he read it
to the end, then--

"Well, of all the most confounded cheek!" he
ejaculated.  "Read that, Tarfag, and tell me
what you think of it."

"I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt
of the Admiralty's message of even date.  In
order to prove conclusively that this reply is
authentic, I have taken steps to see that this
document is placed in the hands of the
Commander-in-Chief of the Devonport Command.
Mr. Arnold Hythe and A.B. O'Shaunessey,
official number K14,027, are on board my vessel
'Aphrodite.'  In the interests of the Service, and
also in my own, it is desirable that Mr. Hythe
remain on board for a period not exceeding six
months.  Any information the officer in question
may gain is entirely at the disposal of the British
Admiralty, and since the possibilities of so doing
are great, I would suggest that covering permission
be given for Mr. Hythe's absence from his official
duties.  Incidentally I may mention that this
suggested permission is merely formal, for in any
case my guests will not be put ashore until I think fit.

"I am at present giving a series of demonstrations
in British waters, but not with any aggressive
intent.  It is hopeless to attempt the capture
of my submarine, and no useful purpose will be
thereby served.

"I take this opportunity of explaining the cause
of the hostile acts committed against an outwardly
friendly State, in the hope that the calamity of a
great war may be averted.

"The submarine in Baltic waters is the property
of Karl von Harburg, a German renegade, who
has certain motives in committing these excesses,
which can neither be justifiable nor excusable.
His submarine, itself a craft of great abilities, is
but a feeble imitation of my 'Aphrodite.'  It
will not help matters to any great extent by
explaining my reasons, but I can assure you that at
the first available opportunity I mean to destroy
the submarine owned and commanded by Karl
von Harburg, as I regard the man as an
unprincipled international scoundrel and a scourge to
humanity.

"Will you kindly forward this document to the
Secretary of the Admiralty, and inform him that
my agent will receive his reply per telephone, at
the hour of 10 a.m. to-morrow.

.. class:: noindent white-space-pre-line

"I have the honour to be, Sir,
    "Yours, etc.,
        "JOHN RESTRONGUET."

.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE FIRST DAY IN THE "APHRODITE"`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER IX.


.. class:: center medium

   THE FIRST DAY IN THE "APHRODITE."

.. vspace:: 2

A bell rang out sharply in the captain's cabin of
the "Aphrodite," and one of the electric indicators
oscillated rapidly.

"Accumulators charged," announced Captain
Restronguet laconically.

"It is a revelation to me," said Hythe.  "And
when one comes to consider that at every hour
of the day hundreds, nay thousands, of ships are
straining idly at their moorings, it is certainly
remarkable that no satisfactory attempt has hitherto
been made to harness the tides."

"That's only one of the many lessons you will
learn," remarked the Captain.  "But we are
getting under way once more.  Perhaps you
would like to see the mechanism on Number Three
Platform?"

"Most certainly I should," replied the sub.

In the alley-way they encountered a short,
broad-shouldered man who had to set his back
against the metal wall in order to allow his
captain to pass.

"All correct, sir," he said saluting.

"Right, Mr. Devoran.  Who's in the conning-tower?"

"Mylor, sir."

"Good.  I will take the 'Aphrodite' up the
river.  You need not turn out till midnight.  I
shall want you then."

"That is my chief mate, Mr. Devoran,"
remarked Captain Restronguet, after the man had
gone to his cabin.  "A truer-hearted comrade
one could not possibly desire.  He is the only
man on board beside myself who thoroughly
understands the whole of the complicated mechanism
of my masterpiece.  There are others who are
capable of manoeuvring the 'Aphrodite,' but they
do not understand how to handle her for offensive
purposes."

Throwing back a watertight sliding-door in the
port fore and aft bulkhead Captain Restronguet
signed to the sub to enter.  Hythe found himself
in a small compartment on the walls of which
were several articles and gear.  No space was
wasted on board the "Aphrodite."

In the centre of the floor was an oval-shaped
aperture, sealed with a rubber-lined lid, that by
means of double levers could be opened from
either above or below.  As the hatch opened
Hythe saw a portion of the well-lighted interior
of the lower deck, access to which being gained
by means of a vertical steel ladder.

The for'ard compartment, extending the whole
length and breadth of the foremost section of the
submarine, with the exception of the space taken
up by the diving-exit, was as far unlike the
forehold of a ship as the sub could possibly imagine.
The cement-cased walls were distempered a pale
green; thick corticene--a kind of linoleum used in
the Navy--covered the floors; alongside the after
bulkhead were two arms-racks filled with
automatic rifles and pistols, and other modern
small-arms.  Secured to the deck was an automatic
one-pounder field-gun.  Towards the bows were
two long narrow tubes, the external diameter by
less than seven inches, while a seemingly
complicated arrangement of double-locking doors,
electric wires, trippers and gauges suggested
to the sub that these instruments were torpedo
tubes.

"Quite right," said Captain Restronguet in
reply to Hythe's question.  "A pair of six-inch
tubes firing electrically directed torpedoes.  They
will never miss their target, I can assure you,
even at five miles range, if controlled from a
lofty station.  Here we are limited, but so long
as we can see our target by means of our flexibly
attached periscope, there is a million chances to
one on the weapon striking the mark.  But listen!"

The hiss of a powerful water jet was just audible
through the double plating of the submarine's hull.

"Merely a precautionary measure to clear the
holding plates of mud and seaweed," explained
Captain Restronguet.  "If the spades, as I might
term them, do not fold absolutely flush with the
vessel's bottom, there's bound to be a tremendous
resistance to the water and consequently a serious
loss of speed.  Now the jet is turned off.  Listen
again and you will hear the anchor plates come
home."

"That they are!" exclaimed the sub, as a
distinct thud shook the plates under his feet.  "I
suppose they are lifted by metal rods working in
water-tight glands?"

"Oh, no; merely by the attraction of electromagnets.
Every valve and door in this vessel is
electrically controlled, although in some cases,
such for instance the hatch by which we gained
this compartment, manual power can be used.
When next an opportunity serves I will show you
the engine-room, but we are about to rise now.
I must go to the for'ard conning-tower.  You
may come, too, if you feel inclined, or if you
prefer there is a private cabin at your disposal."

"How does the submarine rise, might I ask?
By means of horizontal rudders?"

"Yes and no," replied Captain Restronguet.
"But before I explain perhaps this might interest you."

Stepping over to where three levers stood in
the centre of the compartment the captain thrust
one hard down.  Instantly a portion of the floor
opened.  Another lever caused a corresponding
part of the outer plating to slide back, revealing
an observation plate of about three feet by two
through the double skins of the starboard bilge-plates.

"I can see nothing," said Hythe, as he strove
to peer through the glass.  "It is perfectly dark."

"There ought to be sufficient light at this depth
to see fairly well, but since the 'Aphrodite' is
still on or nearly on the bottom of The Narrows,
the hull intercepts what little light there is to
penetrate the water.  Now look!"

Touching a switch Captain Restronguet caused
a strong search-light to shine vertically
downwards.  About a fathom of water lay between
her keel and the floor of the sea.  She was slowly
moving under the influence of the young flood
tide.  The bed was shelving steeply from one
hundred and twenty feet to less than ninety.
Hythe could see the seaweed waving in the
current and the fash, mostly of the flat-fish tribe,
darting rapidly towards the dazzling light.

"What's that?" he asked, as two objects,
resembling barnacle-covered pipes passed slowly
across the field of light.

"Telephone cables between the Victualling
Yard and Mount Edgcumbe," replied his
companion.  "If I felt inclined, what is to prevent
me from sending out a man and tapping those
wires?  All submarine cables are entirely at my
mercy.  If I wished I could create a greater panic
than the Stock Exchange, the Bourse, or Wall
Street ever yet experienced.  But I must switch
off the light and close the panels now.  I am
wanted in the conning-tower."

As the sub followed his companion he could
not help noticing the freshness of the atmosphere.
Compared with the nauseating reek of the
submarines he had served in the interior of the
"Aphrodite" was as wholesome as could be.
There was, moreover, a sting in the atmosphere
that recalled the health-giving breezes of the
Scottish moors.

"All right, Mylor, you carry on," exclaimed
the captain to the helmsman in the conning-tower.
"Starboard your helm a bit--go!"

Forty feet beneath the surface the submarine
swung round the sharp band formed by the high
ground of Cremyll and Mount Edgcumbe.  Close
to the heavy mooring-chains to the south of the
Rubble Bank she glided, till her course, almost
due north, lay right up the land-locked Hamoaze.

"Why, we're going up the River Tamar!"
exclaimed Hythe, glancing at the compass.  His
knowledge of the intricacies of Plymouth Harbour
and the Hamoaze, and the compass course told
him that, for nothing was to be seen through the
conning-tower scuttles save an expanse of pale
green water.

"Yes, that is so.  I am just running up to
Saltash in order to pick up a man returning from
leave," replied Captain Restronguet with a laugh.
He spoke as casually as if he were the coxswain
of a British battleship's liberty-boat.  "We are
now passing the South Yard of Devonport
Dockyard.  But excuse me, I have something to
attend to in the after conning-tower.  You won't
mind remaining here, I trust?  Keep her as she
is, Mylor; I am going to reduce speed to five
knots or even less."

Hythe sat down on a folding seat fixed below
the port scuttle, whence he could see either ahead
or on his left.  The helmsman's head and
shoulders obstructed the view to starboard.

It was fascinating work watching the sea swirl
past, and noting the changes as the "Aphrodite"
passed through patches of various coloured water,
for the tide was beginning to stir up the dark
brown sediment brought down from the Devonian
Hills by the swift-running Tamar, and the result
was a constant kaleidoscope.  But after a while,
finding that nothing else was visible, the sub
transferred his attention to the interior of the
conning-tower.

Presently a bell gave forth a warning note and
the helmsman promptly touched a lever.  The
depth according to the gauge diminished to less
than thirty-five feet.

"Is that an automatic sounding machine?"
asked Hythe.

Mylor, still keeping his eyes fixed in front of
him, shut his lips tightly, and Hythe, thinking
that he had not caught what had been said,
repeated the question.

"Cannot say, sir," said the helmsman decidedly.
"It's against orders.  For any information ask
the cap'n."

"That's a staggerer," thought the sub.  "One
thing about it the fellow's true to his master."

Meanwhile Captain Restronguet had retired
to his cabin, where he drafted a communication
to the Commander-in Chief of the Devonport
Command.  This done, he ascended to the
after conning-tower where two seamen were on duty.

"Ship the periscope, Carclew.  Directly you
sight any small Government craft bearing down
this way let me know.  And Gwennap, get this
letter ready for delivery."

The periscope consisted of a double-wedge
shaped instrument connected to the top of the after
conning-tower by means of a flexible armoured
insulated wire.  Carclew, by switching off the
current from an electro-magnet, allowed the float
to rise to the surface, where, owing to the
comparatively slow rate of the submarine, it was
towed without being dragged under.  As soon as
this was done another switch was manipulated,
and instantly a reproduction of the surrounding
objects was faithfully projected by an advanced
form of telephotography upon a dull white board
fixed to the wall of the conning-tower.

"There's a black pinnace with a yellow awning
coming down stream, sir," announced Carclew.
"She's got the letters M.P. on her bows."

"Police launch evidently," said Captain
Restronguet.  "Now Gwennap, stand by.  Are we
right under her course, Carclew?"

The man Gwennap had meanwhile placed the
document in an oiled covering which in turn he
lashed to a globular white and green buoy.  This
he placed in an ejector, made on the principle of
a submerged torpedo tube.

"All ready, sir," he announced.

Captain Restronguet held up his hand, and
receiving an affirmative gesture from the seaman
at the periscope-board, nodded his head.  There
was a slight, almost inaudible hiss and the buoy
with the message attached, was ejected out of the
conning-tower, rising to the surface within fifty
yards of the on-coming launch.

"They've picked it up, sir," declared Carclew,
after half a minute had elapsed.

"That's well," murmured the captain, as he
descended the conning-tower ladder.  "I wonder
if the reply will be in a similar strain to the one I
received five years ago.  Ah!  I wonder."

And with a grave smile on his resolute features
Captain Restronguet returned to his cabin.

"Send Mr. Hythe to me," he ordered, when a
seaman appeared in answer to his summons.
"And tell the diving-party detailed for duty to
have the boat ready for launching; warn Polglaze
and Lancarrow to stand by at eleven to-night."

"Now, Mr. Hythe," said Captain Restronguet,
when the sub was shown into the cabin, "I may
as well tell you that I have reported your presence
and that of the able seaman to the Commander-in-Chief,
and doubtless I shall have a reply before
noon to-morrow.  If you would like to see our
periscope in working order now is a good
opportunity.  We are travelling dead slow, and
there is plenty to be seen here--more so than at sea."

"It is a picture," exclaimed the sub enthusiastically,
as he gazed upon the electrically-depicted
panorama.  "The whole horizon is included;
but how do you know in what direction an object
is lying?"

"Simply by the position of this board.  It
revolves by the same magnetic influence that causes
the compass card always to point to the magnetic-north,
only here we have made corrections for the
variation of the compass.  The only drawback is
that objects to the south are shown inverted on
the board, but with a little practice one soon gets
accustomed to this.  It is like the inverted image
on the ground glass of a camera, and to an
experienced photographer that state of affairs
presents no difficulty.  Here we are: right abeam
on the starboard hand you can see Bull Point,
the ordnance depot.  When were you last up the
river Tamar, might I ask?"

"Quite two years ago."

"And it is more than seven since last I saw
Saltash Bridge.  There have been vast changes,
and I suppose had you been at the periscope all
the way up the Hamoaze you would have
noticed a difference in the aspect of the place."

"I see that they've covered in the magazines
with earth," said Hythe.  "That's for protection
against attack from aerial craft."

"And it is the same in Devonport and
Keyham Yards.  There's no doubt the British
nation has developed an air-invasion panic.
For instance: years ago all the building slips in
the Royal Dockyards were roofed in.  I can
remember the huge sloping roofs with their skylights
arranged after the manner of the ports of an old
three-decker man-of-war.  Early in the present
century these roofs were removed, and the slips
were left entirely open and uncovered.  Now
what do I see?  Every dock, every slip, every
Government workshop of importance is housed
in with a bomb-proof steel roof.  And with one
touch of my little finger I could do more damage,
and without being seen, to that place yonder
than the combined aerial fleets of Germany and
Austria.  But see, we are in sight of Saltash
Bridge.  Just below that structure I mean to
bring up for the night.  I regret, Mr. Hythe, I
cannot give you an opportunity to stretch your
legs upon Devon or Cornish soil, but I trust that
you will realize that circumstances prevent my
so doing."

The "Aphrodite" sank to the bed of the
river between the lofty bridge and the chains
of the floating-bridge plying between the village
of Saltash and the left bank of the Tamar.  Here
in fifty-six feet of water she was in absolute
safety, and since there was no occasion to
recharge her accumulators, she had chosen a berth
where she was partially protected from the full
force of the tide by water-pipes that are laid
across the bed of the river by the side of the
Albert Bridge.

Just before dinner Hythe asked if he could
see his man, O'Shaunessey, and to this request
Captain Restronguet made no objection.  The
sub could, of course, have had the Irishman sent to
the cabin allotted to his personal use, but somehow
he preferred to see the man in the crew's quarters.
With so many mechanical and electrical
contrivances about her Hythe fought shy of
conversing with O'Shaunessey in his cabin; there
might, he thought, be some device whereby the
captain could overhear every word.

The men's living-room presented quite an
animated scene when Hythe entered.  Tea had
just been finished, and the crew who were on
"watch below" were playing cards, dominoes,
and billiards, or else reading or talking.  A large
electric gramophone was reproducing the latest
songs, interspersed with the old-time seamen's
chanties that seemed utterly out of place within
a submarine.  Captain Restronguet, recognizing
the demoralizing effect of ennui, had taken every
safeguard to maintain a cheerful demeanour
amongst his men.

Although nearly every one was smoking there
was hardly any sign of fumes.  Overhead three
electric fans were expelling the smoke, but how
the vapour was ejected from the vessel Hythe
could not imagine.

O'Shaunessey was sitting at a table, eagerly
conversing with two of the crew.  The
Irishman's sense of humour appealed to his new
comrades, and with an adaptability that contrasted
forcibly with his belligerent attitude earlier in the
day, O'Shaunessey was cracking jokes right and left.

As the young officer entered, the crew stood
up--not with the alacrity of naval men, but all
the same with a sense of respect towards their
superiors in rank.

"Carry on, men," exclaimed Hythe, and
crossing over to where O'Shaunessey stood he
asked him how he fared.

"Sure, an' I've fallen on me fate this time,
sorr," replied the Irishman with a grin.  "They
are feeding me up like O'Leary's pig, an' it's
a drap o' the old cratur they serve out at eight
bells, which is more to me loikin' than navy
rum--after the steward's wathered it."

The men to whom O'Shaunessey had been
talking smiled broadly at this, and considerately
moved away so that the sub and the seaman
could converse in private.  Hythe was beginning
to be afraid that the Irishman was too contented
to make an effort to obtain his liberty should
occasion arise; but lowering his voice
O'Shaunessey continued,

"All the same, sorr, it's to be back aboard the
'Investigator' that I'm wanting.  'Ave you any
idea wan they'll let us out o' this?"

"Not in the least, O'Shaunessey.  Nevertheless
we must try to get clear as soon as
possible, unless I receive definite orders to the
contrary."

"Definite orders to the contrary, sorr?  From
where, may Oi make so bold as to ask?"

In a few words the sub imparted the information
that news of their presence within the
submarine had been sent to the Admiralty.

"St. Pathrick and the rest of the Saints be
prised, sorr!" exclaimed O'Shaunessey fervently.
"Sure, 'tis a load off me mind, for 'tis me ould
mother in Ballydonfin, County Wexford, that
might be lamentin' for her only son."

"They haven't asked you to join the crew?"

"Bad luck be on their heads if they did, by
Jabers!" ejaculated the Irishman.  "Sure, I'm
thrue to me salt."

"Ssh," muttered Hythe warningly, then in
a louder tone he added, "Well, I am pleased to
learn that you are being well looked after,
O'Shaunessey.  I'll look in again soon, and see
how you are getting on."

On returning to the captain's cabin Hythe
found that dinner was about to be served, and
Captain Restronguet and Devoran, the chief
officer, were in evening dress.

"I am sorry I had no opportunity of bringing
my mess-jacket," said the sub, half-humorously,
half-apologetically.  "But you see I came
on short notice."

"Don't let that trouble you, Mr. Hythe,"
replied Captain Restronguet.  "As a matter of
fact, we invariably make it a practice of dressing
for dinner.  It recalls old times, doesn't it,
Devoran?"

"Rather," replied the chief officer.  Hythe
noticed that for the time being all traces of
differences in rank were set aside.  Captain Restronguet
and Mr. Devoran were more like staunch friends
than superior and subordinate officers; but on
all other occasions the latter's attitude was strictly
conformable to etiquette afloat.

The dinner passed pleasantly.  The three men,
by an unspoken yet mutual consent, studiously
avoided "shop," their conversation dwelling on
ordinary every-day topics.  All the same Hythe
could not help noticing how conversant they both
were with the latest plays, books, and the events
that afford interest to the Man-about-Town.

After dinner Devoran left the cabin.  The
captain busied himself with writing, while Hythe,
selecting a book from a small library, and lighting
a cigar, sought the comfort of an easy chair.

For an hour Captain Restronguet wrote steadily.
He seemed quite indifferent to his guest's presence.
Presently the sub found himself nodding over
the book.  He had been up early, and had had
a trying and exciting day.

"What, nearly asleep!" exclaimed Captain
Restronguet, as he set aside his papers and
writing material.  "But I forgot; you must be tired.
Your bed is quite ready, so you can retire as
soon as you wish."

Nothing loth Hythe bade his host good-night,
and ten minutes later he was sound asleep in a
comfortable bunk, ten fathoms beneath the
surface of the River Tamar.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE SECOND OFFICER RETURNS`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER X.


.. class:: center medium

   THE SECOND OFFICER RETURNS.

.. vspace:: 2

Captain Restronguet remained in his cabin till
nearly ten o'clock, then, going into an adjoining
dressing-room, he changed into his "duty clothes,"
donned a thick coat and india-rubber boots, and
made his way for'ard to the diving-room in the
fore compartment.

Here the men had unshipped the collapsible
boat, but as yet it had not been unfolded.

"Are you going to bring her to the surface,
sir?" asked Polglaze, seeing that his captain was
in his great coat.

"Yes, I have decided to do so," replied Captain
Restronguet.  "Bring the boat under the upper
hatchway, Lancarrow, and you, Gwennap, I want
you to lay out a kedge up stream.  See that the
flukes engage in the rubble-work in the base of
the centre-pier of the bridge, and run out another
kedge aft."

Lancarrow and Gwennap promptly donned
their diving suits and entered the "water-lock,"
taking with them the anchors and a length of
stout Manila rope.  Twenty minutes later they
returned, the water dripping from their glistening
garb.

"All correct, sir," reported Lancarrow, as soon
as his headdress was removed.  "Nothing short
of the rope parting will set us adrift, and there's
precious little tide running now.  I took good
care to ram the fluke of the kedges well home."

"What is it like up above--dark?"

"I went up to have a look round, sir," announced
Gwennap.  "It is a pitch-dark night, the stars
are in, and there's hardly a breath of wind."

"Good!" exclaimed Captain Restronguet
approvingly.  "Pass the word to Mr. Devoran
to bring the vessel awash."

The water in two of the buoyancy tanks was
quickly expelled, and majestically the huge
submerged hull rose from the bed of the river, till
with her deck just a few inches above the surface
she fretted gently at her mooring-rope.

Being immediately below the massive pier of
the Tubular Bridge there was no danger of a
passing vessel--should one be under way at that
hour--colliding with the "Aphrodite"; while
owing to the darkness and the light-absorbing
powers of her hull she was absolutely invisible at
a boat's length off.

Rapidly yet silently the hatch on deck was
unfastened and slid back.  The collapsible boat,
weighing less than sixty pounds, was passed
through, extended, and kept in position by means
of stretchers.

Carclew and Gwennap tossed the oars into the
frail craft, and holding the painter launched her
over the side.

"Ready, sir," whispered the latter.

Captain Restronguet immediately came on
deck and stepped agilely into the boat; the
bowman pushed off, the oars dipped, and the
canvas cockleshell darted in the direction of
Coombe Bay, a tidal indentation just south of
the town of Saltash.

"Thank goodness it is a fairly black night,"
muttered Captain Restronguet.  Beyond the
pontoon lights at Saltash, the signal lamps of the
railway, and the riding lights of a few vessels
lying at the buoys on the west side of the river,
all was in darkness.  To gain the entrance to
Coombe Bay it was necessary to pass between
two cruisers, whose anchor lamps glimmered
fitfully, throwing scintillating reflections on the
placid water.

"Boat ahoy!" challenged the look-out on the
nearest vessel.

The captain of the "Aphrodite" was equal to
the occasion.

"Passing!" he roared, using the shibboleth
laid down in the Naval Regulations for this contingency.

This reply apparently satisfied the look-out,
and without further interruption the canvas boat
drew into the shallow waters of Coombe Bay.
Fortunately the tide was nearly at the full, and
still rising, and hence no danger of being stranded
on the mud was likely to occur.

"Easy, men," cautioned Captain Restronguet,
as the gaunt outlines of the railway bridge
spanning the creek loomed up against the darkness.
Then, "Lay on your oars."

Gradually losing way the boat drifted on till it
grounded on the shingle hard at the foot of the
bridge.  The boat's crew listened intently;
beyond the distant rumble of a belated train, and
the faint hoot of a liner's syren away out in the
Sound, all was still.

Ten minutes passed.  Captain Restronguet
knitted his brows in perplexity.

"There's some one, sir," whispered Gwennap,
as the cautious scrunching of a man's boots upon
the shingle could be faintly heard.  Then a dark
figure appeared out of the night.

"Is that you, Kenwyn?" demanded the Captain
in a low voice.

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Then jump in; I thought you had missed us."

"Couldn't get here any sooner, sir," said the
man apologetically.  "I was stopped and
questioned by a patrol as I came down from the
station.  There are launches up and down the
river, I am told, looking for us."

"The deuce there are!" exclaimed Captain
Restronguet; then in a calmer tone he added,
"We must risk it.  Perhaps it is my fault; but I
don't think they'll look for the 'Aphrodite' so
close to the bridge.  Give way, men."

On gaining the main stream, greatly to the
relief of all in the boat, no red and green lights
of patrolling launches were to be seen.  Boldly
Captain Restronguet steered across the bows of
the cruiser that had hailed him on the outward trip.
To lurk inshore would be courting suspicion.

"Boat ahoy!" came the hail from the lookout.

Captain Restronguet replied as before, but
this time the look-out was not satisfied.

"What boat is that?" he shouted.

"Customs!" roared the captain with a lucky
inspiration.

Muttering a malediction on all custom-house
officials, especially on those in this particular boat,
the seaman resumed his walk up and down the
fo'c'sle deck.  He remembered a certain half a
pound of tobacco that had got him into trouble
with His Majesty's Customs, and the incident
still rankled in his manly bosom.

Without further interruption the boat ran
alongside the deck of the "Aphrodite."  Her crew
jumped aboard the parent vessel, hauled the
collapsible on deck and folded it.

"Look sharp, sir!" exclaimed Gwennap.
"There's a steam-boat bearing right down upon us."

There was no time to be lost.  Hastily the
folded boat was dropped through the hatchway,
her crew quickly followed and the hatch was
reclosed.  One touch and the emergency chambers
were flooded, and the submarine began to sink
to the bed of the river.  It was a close thing for
the picquet boat.  Had she been a quarter of a
minute earlier they would have stove her bows
in against the massive plating of the elusive vessel.
As it was she passed over the after-conning-tower
with less than half a fathom of water to
spare, utterly ignorant of the narrow escape she
had had.

"Welcome home once more, Kenwyn!" said
Mr. Devoran cordially, extending his hand, which
the new arrival gripped like a vice and shook like
a pump-handle.

Had the chief officer of Southsea Coast Guard
Station, or P.C. 445 of the A Division of the
Borough of Portsmouth Police been present at
this reunion, they would have had no difficulty in
recognizing Mr. Kenwyn as the quiet and very
retiring unknown who had landed under most
unusual circumstances on Southsea Beach.

"I had to abandon my diving-suit, sir,"
explained Kenwyn, who served on board the
submarine in the capacity of second officer.

"That I have already learnt from Press
reports," replied Captain Restronguet.  "And I
was glad to know that you took particular pains
to get rid of the air reservoir.  That did the
authorities nicely; they are welcome to the dress,
and if they can analyse the metal it is composed
of they are also at liberty to make use of the
secret.  It has not been patented.  But how came
you to get out of your bearings, Kenwyn?  I
notice you had to concoct a cock and bull yarn
about walking from the beach at Gosport."

"I never tell a lie, sir, under any conditions.
As a matter of fact, after I left the 'Aphrodite'
I did go ashore at Gosport, somewhere behind a
yacht yard.  No one saw me.  I then tried to
cross to the Portsmouth side of the harbour to
try and recover the submarine welding tool that
Carnon, you may remember, dropped when we
examined the entrance to No. 5 Shipbuilding
Slip.  Before I realized it the ebb tide caught me,
and I was whisked off down the harbour at a rate
of at least seven knots.  As soon as I felt the
current slacken I took compass bearings and came
ashore, and the rest you know."

"You have, of course, heard that we have a
naval officer on board?"

"Heard?  Rather.  The papers are full of it,
sir, and every one is talking about it.  At Exeter
Station and again at Millbay, on my journey
down, it was the sole topic of conversation on the platform."

"And how does the Great British Public like it?"

"In a general sense they are thankful it is no
worse, so to speak.  It is recognized that you are
a power that cannot lightly be ignored, and your
magnanimity (that is the way they put it) has
created quite a favourable impression.  Even in
the House it was suggested that it would be a
master-stroke in world supremacy if you could be
induced to hand over the 'Aphrodite'----"

"Never!" declared Captain Restronguet
vehemently, and bringing his fist down heavily upon
the table.  "Never!  They had their chance,
but foolishly threw it away.  Now, gentlemen, it
is nearly one o'clock.  I, for one, will be glad to
have a few hours' rest," and with an inclination
of his head Captain Restronguet retired to his
sleeping quarters.





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.. _`CONCERNING CAPTAIN RESTRONGUET'S RIVAL`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XI.


.. class:: center medium

   CONCERNING CAPTAIN RESTRONGUET'S RIVAL.

.. vspace:: 2

It was broad daylight when Arnold Hythe
awoke.  He was surprised to find the "Aphrodite"
lifting to the heave of the open sea, and the
sunlight pouring in through a small circular scuttle
above his bunk.  Hastily springing out of bed he
looked out.  As far as his limited vision extended
he could see nothing but blue water--a sure sign
that the submarine was far from land.  Judging
by the apparent motion of the waves the
"Aphrodite" was running at a bare ten knots--possibly
less.  And a few hours previously she had
been lying motionless on the bed of the River Tamar.

Slung to the beams overhead was a metal bath,
of a similar pattern to those supplied for officers'
use in the Royal Navy, while in the bulkhead
were two taps marked "hot" and "cold."  On
a chair by his bunk were his clothes, brushed and
folded, while quite a large stock of new
under-garments were lying on a folding table.

Hythe always prided himself upon being a
sound sleeper, yet able to arouse at the slightest
sound, but for once at least his faith in his
capabilities received a rude shock.  Some one had
certainly entered whilst he slept, and also the
"Aphrodite" had made a lengthy trip without his
being aware of it.

The astonished young officer quickly tubbed
and dressed.  Then it occurred to him that he
had not shaved.  Lying on the dressing-table
was a safety razor, also brand-new.  Evidently
his host had left nothing undone to contribute to
the comfort of his guest.

His toilet completed Hythe stepped out into
the alley-way.  At the fore-end, and hitherto
unnoticed by him, was a hatchway.  It was now
open and a ladder had been shipped under it.

An appetizing odour came from the captain's
cabin.  It made the sub feel hungry; but curiosity
conquered, and he made his way on deck, or
on Platform Number One as Captain Restronguet
preferred to call it.

Hythe found himself on a flat deck nearly two
hundred feet in length, and unbroken save for
the low coamings of three hatchways and the
fore and aft conning-towers.  Metal stanchions
and rails had been placed in position round the
sides to prevent anyone from slipping overboard.
As the sub looked down on the deck he noticed
that, like the sides, it reflected his own image and
those of other persons and objects on deck, but
there was no dazzling glare from the sun that
was now high in the heavens.

Clustered for'ard between the bows and the
foremost conning-tower were nearly every
member of the crew: twenty-five stalwart men all
dressed in plain but serviceable rig.  Pacing up
and down between the two conning-towers were
Mr. Devoran and some one whom Hythe had not
previously seen--the Second Officer Kenwyn.

As they turned at the end of their promenade
the two men caught sight of the sub.

"Good morning, Mr. Hythe," said the chief
mate genially.  "Quite a fine day after our
sample of the English climate, eh?  By the by, I
don't think you know Kenwyn, our second
officer?  He only rejoined last night."

The three engaged in conversation of general
interest for a few minutes, then Mr. Devoran
asked Hythe if he had seen the captain that
morning.

"Not yet," replied the sub.  "I came straight
on deck.  It was a surprise to find myself at sea.
Where are we?"

"Nearly twenty miles S.W. of Ushant," replied
the chief mate.  "We shall be cruising about
here for a few days, as we expect to fall in with
a certain vessel.  We have left English waters
for a time, at all events, but you need not worry
about that, for the captain informed me that he
received a reply to his note at four this morning.
You are officially 'lent' to the 'Aphrodite' until
further orders.  But breakfast is ready, and
Captain Restronguet will explain matters more fully."

The captain greeted Hythe with great affability,
and both thoroughly hungry did justice to
a good breakfast.  Very little was said, and when
the meal was over Captain Restronguet left the
sub to his own devices while he made the
customary rounds of the vessel under his command.

Accordingly Hythe went on deck once more.
The "Aphrodite" was slowly forging ahead at a
bare five knots, her course being N.N.W ¼ W.
That meant although not actually retracing her
course she was heading at an acute angle to it.  It
was a sort of "wash-and-mend clothes day," a
function resembling the time-honoured custom of
keeping Thursday afternoon on board the ships of
His Majesty's Navy.

The French coast was still invisible, but less
than five miles off the sky line was broken by
curiously cut tanned sails of the Concarneau
fishing fleet.  Away to the north-west a huge
liner, looking without masts and funnels more
like an exaggerated Noah's Ark than anything
else, was pelting through the water at a modest
thirty-three knots.  Perhaps had her officer of
the watch chanced to direct his telescope in the
direction of the "Aphrodite" he would at once
conclude that he had sighted the sea serpent, for,
owing to the invisible hue of her hull only the
seated figures of the men on deck would come
within the field of vision.

The submarine was floating fairly high out of
the water.  More than half of her ballast tanks
had been "started," and consequently there was
sufficient freeboard to allow the side scuttles to be
opened.  With considerable buoyancy she rolled
a good deal, but with a true-born sailor's delight
Hythe revelled in the motion.

At noon Captain Restronguet appeared on
deck.  Kenwyn had just "shot the sun" and
was working out the vessel's position.

"It's about time she was here, Devoran,"
remarked the captain.  "That is, if the report is
authentic.  Has the submarine detector given no
warning?"

"No, sir, I've stationed Polglaze by it, and he
won't be caught napping.  She couldn't have
passed before we arrived, sir?"

"I made due allowances, giving her ten knots
above her estimated speed.  But we must exercise
patience.  Ah!  Mr. Hythe, no doubt you are
wondering why we are dodging about here instead
of playing harmless little tricks upon His Britannic
Majesty's ships and naval establishments?  Well,
I think I ought to give you some explanation, so
if you will kindly step below we can talk without
interruption."

"By the by," continued Captain Restronguet, as
the two men made their way to the cabin, "you
asked me how the 'Aphrodite' is manoeuvred
to bring her to the surface and vice versa.  We
have three distinct methods.  The first is by
means of horizontal rudders, there being a pair
at both bow and stern; the second is by means
of expelling water ballast, which is all very well
so long as the ejecting pumps work properly.
Hitherto we have had no trouble in this direction,
but it is well to be prepared.  Consequently we
employ a third method--one for use in emergencies
only.  I make no secret of the fact that I
borrowed the idea from the French.  I prefer to
be original, but at the same time in the interests
of my crew I do not hesitate to adopt
well-established devices.  To each of the three
sections of this vessel is fixed a detachable iron keel.
The bolts are secured on the keelson by a single
yet effective looking device.  One thrust of a
lever and a section of this keel is dropped.
Should a compartment be half full of water there
is sufficient buoyancy gained by the release of
this dead-weight to lift the vessel to the surface."

"Isn't there a chance of the 'Aphrodite'
buckling her plates in a heavy sea with that
dead-weight split into three separate sections?" asked
Hythe.

"As far as the 'Aphrodite' is concerned there
are no heavy seas," replied his host.  "At the
first suspicion of bad weather we dive to eight
fathoms, or more if necessary.  Since, even in
mid-Atlantic the waves rarely exceed forty feet
in height, and the depth maintained by the
submarine is regulated by the vertical height of water
over her, there is nothing to be feared as far as
the 'hogging' and 'sagging' stresses are concerned."

At Captain Restronguet's invitation the sub
threw himself into an easy chair.  He was eager
to hear everything about this mysterious man
and his marvellous vessel, and the fact that
the Admiralty had given a formal consent for
him to remain on board as an official observer
relieved him of all anxiety.

"You may have noticed," said Captain Restronguet,
"that I hinted that I had had a quarrel
with the Admiralty.  First let me tell you my
real name is not Restronguet.  What it is is
outside the question."

"The name is French, I believe?"

"No, Cornish.  Had you been well acquainted
with the district around Falmouth you would have
recognized the names of Restronguet, Kenwyn,
Devoran and the rest of my crew as those of
places in what I consider the foremost county in
England.  Of course that is a matter of opinion,
but that opinion is shared by every Cornishman.

"Some years back my father owned several
copper mines, or wheals as we call them, in the
neighbourhood of Redruth, and as, in time, I
would have control of them, had articled me to
an electrical engineer in order that I might get
an insight into that branch before I took over the
mining supervision.  Hardly was my apprenticeship
complete when the wheals failed and my
father was a ruined man.  He died shortly
afterwards and I was thrown utterly on my own
resources, and although I was very sore about it
at the time I have since realized that misfortune
is often the purifying fire of a man's strength of
mind.

"Just about that time the South African War
broke out.  I volunteered for the front, and was
accepted.  There I saw enough of war--although
supposed to be conducted under the most humane
principles--to make me hate it.  You may look
astonished, Mr. Hythe, but I mean what I say.
War might be a necessary evil, but all the same
it must be avoided if possible.  You do not know
how thankful I am that the present crisis between
Great Britain and Germany is over.  It may
sound paradoxical, but with this powerful
instrument of destruction under my control I hope to
be a deterrent to any Power that attempts to
dispute the supremacy of the sea with the country
that is mine by birth.

"But to proceed.  On my return to England
I was down on my luck, and as a final resource
I joined the electrical department of Devonport
Dockyard as a fitter.  It was not long before I
saw that there was little chance of bettering
myself.  I had ability and energy, but no influence.
Profiting by the experience gained in my apprenticeship
I devised an improved method of electrical
welding.  It saved hundreds, possibly thousands
of pounds, and I was rewarded with a paltry
bonus of forty shillings.

"Needless to say I was very sick about it.
Then an opportunity came.  The copper boom
revived the Cornish mining industry.  The
'wheals' that my father had left me became
prosperous, and I was able to throw up my
employment with an unsympathetic State Employer.
Arguing that a wave of failure might once more
return over the mining industry I sold those under
my control to a Company; took all my best
workmen and one or two of my special
friends--Devoran and Kenwyn amongst them--and
bought a concession in the Island of Sumatra.

"Sumatra is a Dutch colony, as you doubtless
know.  The Dutch officials lack the energy of
their fellow-countrymen at home and the
consequence is that the whole of the Dutch East
Indies stagnates.  For years past the Germans
have had an eye on those islands, but my belief
is that Japan will be the future master of them.
Possibly that accounts for numbers of Germans
who settle in Sumatra and Java.

"Personally I rather like the German, when
free from the excessive officialdom that pervades
in the German Empire.  They are good colonists,
hard-working and law-abiding, in every foreign
possession save their own, for in the latter the
blighting effect of the be-uniformed official is fatal
to individual success.  We got on very well with
our neighbours on the adjoining concessions,
with one exception.  That exception was a
German named Karl von Harburg."

Captain Restronguet paused as if he feared
that the growing excitability would overmaster
him.  He was evidently labouring under a strong
recollection of bygone insults.  Hythe had the
sense to keep silence, he realized that the listener
is the one who hears most.

"But before I say anything more about Karl
von Harburg," continued the Captain, "I must
mention another incident.  The concession I had
acquired paid beyond all expectations, for not
only were copper and tin found in abundance but
also gold.  We were all rich men.  Some of my
workmen went back to Redruth; others, having
no home ties, and liking the free open life, stayed
on.  Since I was naturally fond of electrical
engineering and the allied sciences, I spent a great
deal of my time experimenting.  One day, almost
by accident, I discovered an alloy--as light as
aluminium, absolutely showing no traces of
corrosion when exposed to the action of salt water, as
proof against acids as pure gold, and possessing
the strength and resilience of steel.  It was also
as non-porous as a metal can possibly be.  Under
pressure that would cause water to 'weep' through
a steel vessel, a cylinder made of this metal
showed no sign of moisture.  I realized that I
had made a discovery that would prove of inestimable
value in the construction of air-ships, and as
at that time the Admiralty were 'tied up in
knots' over the utter failure of the naval airship
'Mayfly,' I sent a sheet of the metal to a trusted
agent in London with instructions to submit it to
My Lords.

"Believe me from that day to this, beyond a
curt acknowledgment and a bald statement that
the subject was under consideration, I have heard
nothing further of the matter.  I was
angry--disgusted because the powers that be had bluntly
shut their eyes to an actual discovery that would
give Great Britain the command of the air.

"Since airmanship did not appeal to me I
resolved to make use of my discovery in another
direction.  By further experiments I found that
my metal 'Restronium,' I have been ambitious
enough to call it, could be made capable of
absorbing bright light, yet at close distance would
act as a reflector.  The result was that I devised
a submarine, steel-clad, and cased with restronium.
It was constructed by native workmen under the
supervision of my comrades and myself.

"The craft was a success.  It prompted me to
attempt another on a more ambitious scale, but
ere it was completed Karl von Harburg appeared
on the scene.

"This fellow is as crafty as a rogue can possibly
be.  By his German co-colonists he was cordially
hated.  He had ability but was lazy.  His factory
did not do so well as the others; instead of
working harder he sulked.  In the Fatherland he had
once held a high diplomatic position.  He it was
who a few years back tried to force a quarrel
upon Holland in order that a pretext might be
found for Germany to acquire a longer coast-line
on the shores of the North Sea.  He failed, and
since failure is not tolerated in Teutonic diplomatic
circles, he was disgraced.  He came to Sumatra,
ostensibly with the idea of working a concession,
but in reality looking for an opportunity of
recovering his lost prestige by smoothing the way for a
German annexation of the Dutch East Indies.
Again he failed--how and why I need not now
mention; but rightly or wrongly he formed the
idea that I had a say in the matter.

"He had his revenge.  He stole the secret of
my new alloy.  He obtained possession of the
plans of my latest submarine, the 'Aphrodite,'
and set himself to build a vessel that would be
more powerful than mine.  But he had not
mastered one important idea--the secret of the
defensive and offensive powers of my vessel.

"It was a case of war to the knife.  His idea
was to take his submarine--the 'Vorwartz' he
named her--into British waters and deliberately
do as much destruction to British ships of war
and merchantmen as he possibly could; this with
the idea of giving the Fatherland an advantage
in the coming naval war that has been so long
anticipated and which has not yet, thank God,
caused untold misery and disaster to two nations
who could be rivals yet friends.

"That is where I stepped in.  I sent word
and told the fellow plainly that the 'Aphrodite'
was also bound for British waters, and that I
would take the first opportunity of smashing up
the 'Vorwartz' should one hostile act be
committed against British property.  That frightened
him, for at heart he is a coward.  Accordingly
Karl von Harburg, knowing that the 'Aphrodite'
had left for the Atlantic, concocted a truly
diabolical plot.  He deliberately navigated his
'Vorwartz' to German waters and committed
outrages against his own country."

"Whatever for?" asked the Sub.  "It is inconceivable."

"To a Briton, yes!" assented Captain
Restronguet.  "But Karl von Harburg had no
compunction.  He had a spite against his
Government, he had a grudge against me; and
whatever the issue he had nothing to lose by being
the means of a terrible conflict between Great
Britain and Germany.  Thus he impersonated
me, and by committing these outrages upon the
German fleet and harbours he very nearly
provoked the war he wished to engineer.

"It was time for me to dissociate myself with
the authorship of these acts of piracy.  Although
I have registered a solemn oath never to hand
my 'Aphrodite' over to the British Government
(yet there are times when I feel tempted to
perjure myself) I am still an Englishman.  Should
the Empire require my aid I for my part will do
my best.  And thus, having succeeded in
demonstrating that I could not possibly be
responsible for the work of destruction at Wilhelmshaven,
Kiel, and elsewhere, I mean to lay in wait
for the 'Vorwartz' and destroy her as ruthlessly
as I would a venomous reptile.  For this purpose,
Mr. Hythe, is the 'Aphrodite' now cruising off
Cape Ushant, for according to fairly reliable
information the 'Vorwartz,' with Karl von Harburg
on board, has passed through the straits of Dover bound west."





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.. _`THE "VORWARTZ" IS SIGHTED`:

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   CHAPTER XII.


.. class:: center medium

   THE "VORWARTZ" IS SIGHTED.

.. vspace:: 2

"Then there is a great possibility of a scrap,
sir?" asked Hythe, his face flushing and his
eyes glistening at the prospect.

"Undoubtedly von Harburg will do his best
to annihilate the 'Aphrodite,'" replied Captain
Restronguet.  "Perhaps, after all, I ought to
have landed you.  It is hardly fair to expose
you to danger on my account.  But it is not
too late.  We can put you aboard one of those
fishing-luggers."

"I am not afraid, sir," exclaimed Hythe,
rather indignantly, for the suggestion was not
one that he could bear without more than a
formal protest.

"I never for one moment had that idea,"
remarked Captain Restronguet.  "The point
I raised is that it would hardly do for me to
place you in a dangerous situation while you are
my guest on board.  It is also unfair to your
employers--the Admiralty.  Good, bad or
indifferent though a naval officer may be he has
cost the country a large sum for his professional
education, and it seems inconsistent that you
should be given a chance of being knocked out
in a petty feud."

"From what you have just told me the business
is more than a private feud," objected the
sub.  "In order to carry out my part and learn
all I can about the vessel it is only reasonable
that I should see her under every possible
condition.  Therein I am doing my duty to My
Lords.  If I am to be killed in action, well,
there's an end of it."

"A bit of a fatalist, eh?"

"In a limited sense.  I believe in taking care
of myself.  For instance----"

A telephone bell ringing loudly interrupted
Hythe's remark.  Captain Restronguet took up
the receiver and held it to his ear; then without
replying replaced the instrument.

"I thought we should not be mistaken," he
announced.  "The 'Vorwartz' is bowling along
in our direction.  Our detectors make it appear
that she's less than ten miles off and running
beneath the surface.  There is no time to be
lost if we want to clear for action."

So saying Captain Restronguet hastened to
the fore conning-tower.  Whether he meant to
take the sub with him or otherwise Hythe did
not know; so pending directions he remained
in the cabin.

Every officer and man of the "Aphrodite's"
crew knew exactly what had to be done.  As
if by magic the stanchions and rails were cleared
away, the "week's washing" bundled down the
fore-hatch and placed in a compartment artificially
heated.  In two minutes the Upper Platform
was deserted, and the water-tight hatches placed
in position and properly secured.  One touch of
an electric push and all the circular scuttles in
the vessel's side were simultaneously closed and
covered with metal plates.

A bell tinkled in the after conning-tower, where
Mr. Devoran was in charge.  It was the signal
that all was in readiness for diving.

"How is she lying?" asked Captain Restronguet
of his chief officer by means of the telephone.

"Less than two miles due north, sir," replied
Devoran, after giving a hasty glance at the
electric detector that by means of two indicators
automatically recorded the course of the "Vorwartz."

Captain Restronguet waited no longer.  The
time had arrived for the "Aphrodite" to dive
and intercept Karl von Harburg's submarine,
and only by the fact that the gentle rolling of
the vessel had ceased did Hythe realize that
she no longer floated on the surface.

Left to himself the sub was beginning to get
"jumpy."  It was a feeling akin to the sensation
he experienced on the occasions when he saw
the submarine at Spithead and in Cawsand Bay--not
fear but nervous excitability.  Had he
been in the conning-tower he would no doubt
have been as cool as a cucumber, being able to
see what the others were doing and what was
going on outside, as far as the limited range of
vision would permit.  But to be cooped up in
a cabin, utterly alone, and with the possibility
of the "Aphrodite" coming off second-best in
the encounter that was to ensue did not at all
suit the young naval officer.

Suddenly he staggered and only saved
himself by grasping a corner of the table.  The
"Aphrodite," running at great speed, had ported
her helm.  So sensitive was she to the action of
the rudder that she turned round almost on her
heel, and the effect upon Hythe was similar to
that of a man standing in a railway carriage when
the train takes a sharp curve.

The sub braced himself together.  He realized
that in his opinion he ought to be taking part
in the fun instead of remaining cooped up in a
cabin, incapable of raising a finger to save
himself should anything occur.  He had no doubt
as to the justifiability of his resolve; had there
been only a private feud between Captain
Restronguet and Karl von Harburg he would
have hesitated, but the German had been guilty
of international outrages.  He had actually
committed damage to the property of a foreign
Government, and by so doing had very nearly
succeeded in drawing Great Britain into a
dreadful war.  On that account Karl von Harburg
was a pirate, a national enemy, and as such
might be captured or destroyed.

Having quickly made up his mind Hythe left
the cabin and hurried along the alley-way; but
before he had traversed half its length a dull
thud seemed to strike the port side of the
submarine.  The "Aphrodite" staggered under the
blow and heeled over to starboard.  For some
moments the vessel showed no signs of recovering,
then slowly she righted and swung over to
port, ere she settled in her normal position.

At first Hythe thought the "Aphrodite" had
been hulled in the for'ard compartment.  He
expected to see the submarine settling by the bows,
and it was to his surprise and relief to find that
such a catastrophe had not occurred.

When he came to the after bulkhead watertight
door he found it secured.  To attempt to open it
would probably jeopardize the safety of the vessel,
and Hythe was too good a sailor to tamper with
the securing bars.

"Might have known that," he growled.  "Now,
what's to be done."

Another thud, this time to starboard, made the
"Aphrodite" tremble again, but there was no
disconcerting heel following the shock.  Hythe
had no doubt about it; the concussions were
caused by explosions, either of torpedoes or
floating mines, outside the vessel.

"I wonder how many of these she'll stand?"
he muttered, clambering up three or four rungs
of a ladder and trying a manhole above his head.
"Well, here goes.  I'll try this hatchway.  The
cover isn't locked."

Back slid the metal slab, and the sub saw that
he had opened a means of communication with
the after conning-tower.  The place was in
semi-darkness, only the subdued light from the pale
green water filtering in through the observation
scuttles.  As the electric-light from the alley-way
flashed upwards one of the occupants of the
conning-tower glanced down and gave an
exclamation of annoyance, adding:--

"Hurry up and cover that hatchway.  How
can you expect me to see ahead with that glare
under my eyes?"

"Sorry, Devoran," replied the sub, hastily
skipping up the remaining portion of the ladder
and replacing the cover.

"Oh, it's you, is it?" said the chief officer.
"Sorry, I thought it was Polglaze.  Can't talk
now.  Stand here, if you will."

Devoran indicated a place on his left, so that
Hythe could see out of the for'ard and port
scuttles.  It was some time before his eyes grew
accustomed to the half-light; then by degrees he
saw that the "Aphrodite" was tearing through
the water at a great speed.  A hundred feet in
front of him he could discern the fore-conning-tower,
and beyond that nothing but water that
faded into extensive gloom.  No sign of the
"Vorwartz" was to be seen.

Hythe stood and waited.  Without doubt the
"Aphrodite" was in chase of the rival submarine,
so that the latter had attempted strong measures
to beat off her pursuer, but the absence of anything
to be seen came somewhat like a disappointment
to the young naval officer.

Suddenly there was a wild disturbance in the
water less than twenty yards abeam.  Again the
sickening concussion even more noticeable within
the conning-tower than down below.

"Torpedo!" ejaculated Devoran.  He had no
time for further explanation, and Hythe was at a
loss to understand how the dangerous missile had
exploded without actually coming into contact with
the metal plating of the submarine.

"What's that, by smoke!" ejaculated the chief
officer, as in place of the almost inaudible purr of
the motors came a most discordant clanging,
jawing, and groaning of machinery, while by
observing the compass Hythe saw that the "Aphrodite"
was describing a wide circle to starboard.

"You've buckled one of your propeller shaftings,"
said the sub.  "I've had some before.  I
know what those noises mean."

"I hope not, by Jove!" replied Devoran, and
almost at that moment the telephone bell operator
from the motor room rang.  "You're right,"
continued the chief officer.  "It is the propeller
shaft; we're knocked out for the time being."

Captain Restronguet remained in the fore
conning-tower till the indicator of the detector
showed that the "Vorwartz" had put a safe
distance between her and her pursuer; then leaving
the course in the hands of a quartermaster, he
gave orders for the "Aphrodite" to be brought
to the surface.

Hythe would have forborne to question the
captain at such an anxious time, but to the
former's surprise Captain Restronguet hailed him
quite genially and in a manner that showed no trace
of his annoyance at being temporarily baffled.

"Well, Mr. Hythe, wherever have you been?"
he asked.  "I thought you were following me
when I left the cabin, and never missed you till
ten minutes ago.  You see, I had to keep all my
attention on what was going on."

"You said nothing about my accompanying
you, sir," replied the sub.  "As a matter of fact I
took the liberty of going up into the after conning-tower."

"That was better than remaining below,"
agreed Captain Restronguet.  "Only there was
not so much to be seen.  From the for'ard tower
we caught sight of the 'Vorwartz' on two
occasions."

"I should have thought you had her in sight
the whole time, sir," remarked Hythe.
"Otherwise I cannot see how you kept in her track."

"By means of the detectors.  I can fix the
position of the 'Vorwartz' to a nicety, and no
doubt that scoundrel of a von Harburg can do
the same, thanks to my invention, of which he
basely availed himself.  I suppose you know he
let loose four torpedoes?"

"Yes; but it puzzled me to know why they
exploded so far from the ship."

"The 'Aphrodite' can, when desired, be protected
by a belt, as it were, of electric fluid, so
long as she remains under water.  Any explosion
brought within that zone would be spontaneously
ignited.  It was a weak current that knocked all
the stuffing out of you, when you were nearly
run down at Spithead."

"Then, this submarine is practically invulnerable?"

"When submerged, yes.  A mine or a torpedo
cannot harm her, and at a depth of fifty feet she
is out of all danger of being run down.  On the
surface she might, if perceived, be a target for a
quick-firing gun, or she might be cut in two by a
large, swiftly-moving steamer.  Von Harburg, did
he but know it, has a unique opportunity now our
propeller shafting is gone; he might wait till we
rose to the surface and then ram us."

"But why didn't you torpedo his 'Vorwartz'?"
asked Hythe.  "Your torpedoes would easily
overtake that vessel."

"It was in my power to do so," replied Captain
Restronguet calmly.  "But I refuse to do so in
the interests of humanity.  It is part of my creed
that human life is sacred, and should not be
sacrificed unless absolutely necessary."

"But you vowed you would destroy the 'Vorwartz'?"

"Most certainly.  What I wanted to do, and
what I will, I hope, eventually be able to do, is
to play with that wretched counterfeit of my
submarine, and drive von Harburg into a state of
panic.  Then as soon as I can pursue the
'Vorwartz' into comparatively shallow water I will sink
her--but if humanly possible, I will save her
crew.  Come on deck, Mr. Hythe.  You will
then be able to see how we tackle repairs of
this description."

The sub followed his host on deck, where
about half of the crew were engaged in rigging
up a pair of sheer-legs over the stern.  At the
same time the water ballast was being ejected
from the ballast tanks in the sternmost section of
the vessel, while the bow compartment tanks
correspondingly filled.

Lower and lower sank the for'ard portion of
the "Aphrodite," while the after end rose out of
the water till the blades of the polished propellers
were exposed to view.  From the head of the
sheer-legs a double block was fixed, the tackle
being brought to bear upon the damaged shafting.

"We're in luck, sir," shouted Kenwyn, who
had lowered himself over the stern.  "The metal
is not fractured; it's a length of tarred rope
wound round and round the boss of the propeller."

"Take axes and cut the rope through," ordered
Captain Restronguet, addressing Carclew and
Gwennap.  "We'll soon clear that."

Hythe was not so sanguine.  He had known
rope to baffle the efforts of half a dozen men
working for two hours in a similar case, for the
strain is so great that the entanglement is
compressed into a solid mass almost as hard as steel.

"Might I suggest a hack-saw?" he said.
"That will do better, since there is less danger
of harming the metal than with an axe.  If you
have no objection, sir, I will bear a hand."

"Certainly," replied Captain Restronguet.

Glad of an opportunity of doing something the
sub borrowed a working suit, and with a bowline
under his arms was lowered over the stern, where
the two men were already astride the propeller
brackets.

Hitherto the sea had been fairly calm, but with
provoking suddenness the wind piped up, and
vicious little wavelets began to splash over the
energetic toilers.  Desperately they hacked at
the stubborn rope, removing the coils piece-meal.
Higher and higher rose the waves, till the work
became hazardous.

"Pass me that long marline-spike, Gwennap,"
exclaimed Hythe.  The man leant forward with
the pointed piece of steel in his hand.  As he did
so a sea swept over him; he dropped the marline-spike
and grabbed frantically at one blade of the
propeller; missed it, and the next instant was
struggling in the sea.

.. _`"HE GRABBED FRANTICALLY AT ONE BLADE OF THE PROPELLER."`:

.. figure:: images/img-150.jpg
   :align: center
   :alt: "HE GRABBED FRANTICALLY AT ONE BLADE OF THE PROPELLER."

   "HE GRABBED FRANTICALLY AT ONE BLADE OF THE PROPELLER."

One glance sufficed to show the sub that the
unfortunate man could not swim a stroke.
However competent he was underneath the sea in his
diver's dress it was a certainty that he was
absolutely helpless when it came to keeping on
the surface.  He raised his hands above his head,
and in consequence sank.  By the time he came
to the surface again, the submarine, now light
and high in the water, had been blown ten yards
astern.  The officers and men on deck were all
equipped in heavy working-suits and sea-boots,
while the dinghy, the only above-water life-saving
appliance on board, was down below.  There was
not even a rope handy that was long enough.

Captain Restronguet, Devoran, and several
others were struggling to cast off their cumbersome
clothing and boots, but they were too late,
for Hythe, slipping out of the bowline, dived into
the water.  Although more than fully clad, since
he had donned overalls over his uniform, he
fortunately was not wearing sea boots.

Striking out vigorously he gained the spot where
Gwennap had sunk just as the man appeared for
the second time.  Bearing in mind the instructions
laid down in official directions for saving life
Hythe used a fair amount of precious breath in
bawling in a loud voice that the drowning man
was safe.  Gripping Gwennap by the collar he
jerked him on to his back, the man struggling
furiously the while.  Hythe, realizing that once
the frantic and powerful fellow gripped him, it
would be "all up," had his work cut out to avoid
the man's arms.  One glance showed him that
the "Aphrodite" was drifting fairly fast to
leeward; his assurance that the drowning man was
safe seemed a hollow mockery.

"Don't struggle, you idiot!" spluttered Hythe,
as the crest of a wave broke over his head.
"Don't you see you'll do for the pair of us?"

But Gwennap evidently did not see, for if
anything he struggled the more.

The sub came to the conclusion that the
situation was a desperate one.  He was rapidly
becoming weaker; his clothes, now thoroughly
waterlogged, seemed like leaden weights.  He
had lost all sense of direction; he knew not where
the "Aphrodite" lay.  It seemed as if he were
left with a frantic, drowning man in the lone sea.
But not for one moment did Hythe intend to
abandon the man he had so gallantly attempted
to rescue.  If only he could prevail on Gwennap
to keep fairly still a chance yet remained; but
the man showed no signs of ceasing to struggle.

"Let go!" shouted Hythe, as loudly as he
could, as Gwennap's huge fist seized him by the
shoulder, followed by an iron grip on his
coat-sleeve.  In his effort to shake himself clear the
sub sank.  As he did so Gwennap's grip became
a close embrace.  Down, down, down; it seemed
as if Hythe had sunk a full twenty feet ere the
downward motion ceased.  His lungs seemed
ready to burst with the pressure.  Even if he
would he could not now free himself from the
relentless grasp.

Once more his head appeared above the
surface.  He drew in a deep, reviving draught of
air, even though it was salt-laden; then with a
sudden effort he wrenched his right arm clear,
drew back his fist, and planted a tremendous blow
upon Gwennap's temple, and his struggles ceasing
he was now practically harmless.

"Pity I didn't think of that before," thought
Hythe dimly.  "I wonder if I've killed him, but
there was no other way."

"Cheer up, Hythe!" exclaimed a hearty voice
that the sub recognized as Devoran's.  Turning
his head the well-nigh exhausted rescuer saw
close to him the chief officer and O'Shaunessey,
who, having divested themselves of
the greater portion of their clothing, had dived
overboard to aid their comrades.

"That's right, you hang on to me," continued
Devoran, "O' Shaunessey will look after that
lubber.  The captain will give him a
dressing-down when we get aboard again."

Hythe was too done up to inquire why
Gwennap should be reprimanded.  He was only too
glad to rest his hand upon Devoran's brawny
shoulder.

"We'll be all right in a brace of shakes," said
the chief officer encouragingly.  "The water's
quite warm, and we are fresh enough.  They
are turning the 'Aphrodite' and will bring her
to windward of us."

Ten minutes later, the submarine, with her
upper platform barely three feet out of water,
glided slowly up to the group of immersed men.
Ropes were thrown and caught by Devoran and
O' Shaunessey, and by this means Gwennap and
Hythe were hauled on board.  Captain
Restronguet was waiting to congratulate his guest
upon his heroic action, but instead he sprang
forward and grasped Hythe by the arms, just in time
to prevent the sub from falling helplessly to the deck.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE MISSING SUBMARINE`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XIII.


.. class:: center medium

   THE MISSING SUBMARINE.

.. vspace:: 2

When Arnold Hythe recovered consciousness
he found himself lying on his bunk in the cabin
that had been appropriated to his use.  The
scuttle was closed, an electric light was burning,
and by the slight and peculiar oscillation of the
vessel he knew that the "Aphrodite" was
running submerged.

He was not alone.  Sitting at the head of his
bunk was Kenwyn, the second officer.  He was
reading a book, but hearing the sub move he
replaced the volume on a shelf and asked Hythe
how he felt.

"Not quite up to the mark, thanks.  But what
am I doing here?  Ah, I remember.  Have you
got Gwennap safe on board?"

"Yes, thanks chiefly to you.  He's still
unconscious.  Devoran told me he saw you knock the
nonsense out of him, By Jove!  I shouldn't like
a blow like that."

"I hope I didn't hit him too hard?" asked the
sub anxiously.

"Too hard?  Not much.  He's as tough as
nails, and he thoroughly deserved to have his
figure-head damaged.  He is the only member
of the ship's company who cannot swim, and the
captain has been trying to get the fellow to learn
for a long time past.  But you are a plucky fellow,
Hythe."

"Where are we making for now?" asked
Hythe, seeking to change an embarrassing
subject.  "Has the propeller-shafting been
cleared yet?"

"We're making for the North coast of Spain:
Machichaco Bay, to be exact--a place a short
distance to the east'ard of Cape Villano.  You see,
the rising sea and Gwennap's accident interrupted
the work in hand, so Captain Restronguet, rather
than put into any of the harbours on the French
Biscayan coast, has decided to make for
Machichaco Bay, where there are excellent
facilities for repairing the damage without fear of
interruption.  We are running with only the
port propeller, that gives us barely twelve knots
when submerged, and at that rate we expect to
sight land about mid day on Thursday."

"Is Captain Restronguet going to beach the
'Aphrodite' at half tide?" asked Hythe.

"Rather not.  No, our repairs will be carried
out on the floor of the bay, where we shall be
unseen by every one.  But don't talk any
more at present.  Drink this and try to go to sleep."

"But I don't want to go to sleep," expostulated Hythe.

"Very well, then, don't, only drink this.  It
will buck you up."

The sub took the glass proffered by the wily
Kenwyn, and drained it at a gulp.  Within three
minutes he was sleeping peacefully.

When Hythe awoke again after an eight hour's
sleep all traces of his strenuous exertions had
vanished.  He tubbed, dressed in his own clothes,
which had meanwhile been dried and pressed,
and went down to breakfast in the captain's cabin.

Captain Restronguet greeted his guest warmly,
until Hythe felt quite uncomfortable at the praises
bestowed upon him for his act of gallantry.  Once
more he succeeded in changing the subject, this
time by asking if any news had been received
of the "Vorwartz."

"Nothing that will give us definite information
as to where she is making for," replied Captain
Restronguet.  "But from my British agent I have
had news that Karl von Harburg has been
declared a pirate by the Great Powers and by
several lesser maritime states as well, and that
war vessels are authorized to capture or destroy
the 'Vorwartz' without compunction.  I fancy,
however, that that part of the business will be
left to us."

"You mean to track him down?"

"Through the five oceans, if needs must.
But for the time being we are put out of the
running.  Have you ever been to the north coast of
Spain, Mr. Hythe?"

"Yes, to Bilbao, Santander, and Coruña;
but it was two years ago, when I was in the old
'Alacrity.'"

"Then you don't know Machichaco Bay?"

"Never heard of it until Mr. Kenwyn
mentioned the name to me, sir."

"H'm.  Do you remember the disaster to 'La Flamme'?"

"The French submarine that was supposed to
have been run down on her way from Rochefort
to Toulon?"

"Yes, the Dutch liner 'Huitzens' arrived at
Rotterdam about that time with several of her
bow plates buckled, and reported she had been
in collision with an unknown object thirty miles
off Cape Finisterre.  The theory was advanced
and generally accepted that the liner ran down
the French submarine."

"And didn't she?  Do you know anything
about it?" asked Hythe interestedly.

"I think I can show you certain evidence
before many more days are passed.  Ha, Devoran,
what is it?"

"Cape Machichaco in sight, sir."

"Very good.  We'll go to the fore conning-tower,
Mr. Hythe.  You will then be able to see
how we con the 'Aphrodite' into this somewhat
intricate roadstead."

The submarine was now running at a little less
than eight knots and at thirty-five feet below the
surface.  The electrically operated periscope with
its flexible attachments was in operation, and by
looking at the object-board the sub could discern
what appeared to be a range of hills, above which
a remarkably-shaped peak towered to a
considerable height.  Close to the edge of the cliffs
could be seen a circular lighthouse and the
keeper's house, both painted white.  Some little
distance from the cape two forbidding looking
rocks reared their gaunt black heads above the
sea, while between these rocks and the shore
was a tumbling mass of white foam.

"Is that the cape?  Where, then, is the bay?"
asked Hythe.

"It is hardly recognizable from the distance.
There it lies--away to the east'ard.  A point to
starboard, quartermaster--gently does it--so."

Slowly and steadily the "Aphrodite"
approached the desired anchorage.  Through the
starboard observation scuttle the sub saw
vicious-looking rocks more than once, rising boldly from
the bottom of the sea at less than twenty yards
off.  Between them were cavernous depths that
could only be compared to an American canyon
suddenly submerged in a tremendous flood.

While the quartermaster kept the "Aphrodite"
on her course Captain Restronguet directed all
his attention to the submarine cliffs.  Hythe
could hear him counting as the dangerous rocks
appeared to slip by.

"Hard a port."

Round swung the "Aphrodite" till her bows
pointed straight for a narrow gap in the rocks.
The sub stood aghast.  Surely it was courting
disaster to plunge into a submarine defile, so
dark and so narrow that it seemed an impossibility
for her to pass without touching the jagged
pinnacles on either hand?

The gauge now showed a depth of fifty-five
feet.  At a sign from the captain, Kenwyn
touched a switch and instantly two parallel beams
of brilliant light flashed from the sides of the
conning-tower.  As far as the beams penetrated
nothing but water could be seen, but in the
reflected light on either hand the ghost-like rocks
flitted past in a seemingly endless procession.
The "Aphrodite" was threading an intricate
passage between the dangerous shoals of Machichaco Bay.

Suddenly a weed-covered crag, looking like a
pillar of glistening silver, came within the zone of
the port search-light.  A slight touch at the helm
and the "Aphrodite" swung round, clearing the
danger with comparative ease.  On and on she
went, literally crawling and smelling her way
through that forbidding channel.

Presently Captain Restronguet touched Hythe
upon the shoulder.

"Look!" said he, at the same time switching
on a supplementary search-light that, instead of
playing in a fore and aft direction, threw its beam
at right angles to the submarine's course.  For
less than ten seconds the captain kept the light
switched on, but in that short interval the sub
saw something that made the blood run cold in
his veins.

Perched upon a flat rock so insecurely that it
seemed as if the faint "wash" from the "Aphrodite"
would topple it over, was a regularly-shaped
mass literally covered with barnacles and
plentifully festooned with trailing seaweed.  But even
these disguises Hythe could penetrate: there was
no mistaking the tapering stern, the horizontal
and vertical rudders, and the twin screws of a
standard type of submarine.

"'La Flamme,'" announced Captain Restronguet,
at the same time raising his right hand to
the salute in honour of the brave dead, an example
that Hythe promptly followed.

A little farther and the twin search-lights played
upon a solid barrier of rock, extending from side
to side of the submerged gulley.

Placing the engine-room indicator to half-speed
astern Captain Restronguet waited till the
"Aphrodite's" way was checked; then turning to
Mr. Devoran he nodded his head significantly.

Immediately the chief officer opened the
valves of the subsidiary ballast tanks and the
"Aphrodite" sank vertically to a depth of
sixty-five feet beneath the surface, and rested firmly
upon the sand on the bed of Machichaco Bay.

The sub glanced at his watch.  Notwithstanding
the fact that he had been wearing it when he
dived overboard to the rescue of the man Gwennap
it had sustained no damage whatsoever from its
immersion.  He was surprised to find that it was
nine o'clock.  Nearly an hour had elapsed since
the submarine had first entered the tortuous defile.

"We cannot do more until daylight," announced
Captain Restronguet, as soon as the patent anchors
had obtained a firm hold in the sand.  During
the navigation of the "Aphrodite" through the
dangerous channel he had been constrained; his
whole attention had to be concentrated on his
work, but now his usual willingness to impart
information returned.

The search-lights, now no longer necessary,
were switched off, so that no belated fishing-boat
might have occasion to report the presence of a
mysterious phosphorescence in the depths of the
bay; and having received reassuring reports from
various parts of the vessel the captain intimated
that the somewhat long-delayed dinner would
prove acceptable.

"I discovered this channel quite by accident,"
said the captain, during the progress of the meal.
"We put in here on our way north, since the
nautical directories state that here the currents
run with great velocity.  This step was necessary
since our accumulators were rather run down and
I particularly wished to have a good reserve of
power for our run across the bay and up the
English Channel.  Of course, in a 'blind alley'
such as we are in now, there are no eddies or
currents to trouble us.  I was looking for a good
sheltered berth, for as far as we could see through
the observation plate in the bottom of the vessel
there was nothing but jagged rocks.  We were
moving very slowly, at twenty feet below the
surface, when Mylor shouted that we were
passing over a submarine.  I at once thought that
we were about to be attacked by the 'Vorwartz,'
but Mylor promptly supplemented his first
assertion by saying that the craft was a wreck."

"You say it is 'La Flamme,' sir"?  asked
Hythe.  "How, then, is the fact to be accounted
for that she was run down off Cape Finisterre?"

"She never was," replied Captain Restronguet
calmly.  "That was a statement based upon
suggestions made by the liner's crew.  No doubt
they cut something down.  The state of her bows
proved that; but it was more likely that of a
derelict or else perhaps an unfortunate fishing-vessel.
Well, we found the channel, and by carefully
feeling our way out, came to the current that
served our purpose admirably."

"It is a tricky piece of navigation," remarked
the sub.

"Not so much as one would think.  You
observed the two forward search-lights?  Their
beams are not exactly parallel, but slightly
diverging.  So long as the water illuminated by them
is unobstructed I know that the 'Aphrodite' is
safe.  Directly any dangerous object comes within
the field of light I know that it lies in the vessel's
course, and have to alter helm accordingly."

"Did you examine the wrecked submarine?"
asked Hythe.

"Yes; a brief external examination, but enough
to satisfy me that it was 'La Flamme,' and also
the manner in which she met her fate.
To-morrow, while the repairs are being undertaken,
I propose to make a fairly lengthy examination,
both external and internal.  Perhaps you would
like to accompany me."

"I should, sir, with pleasure," replied Hythe.

"I warn you that the sight will not be a pleasant
one.  In fact, were it not for a definite purpose,
I would hesitate to undertake the interior examination."

"I have seen a few gruesome things during
the comparatively short time I have been in the
Service, sir."

"Very well, then.  I mean to write out a report
and forward it to the French Government.
Perhaps you will be so kind as to endorse it with
your signature and rank?  I have already
mentioned that I regard myself as a humanitarian.
I hope the report and the suggestions I make
will go a long way towards abolishing submarine
warfare."

"Abolish submarine warfare?" exclaimed
Hythe, astonished at the suggestion, that to
him--a naval officer, who had qualified in submarine
work--was utterly absurd.

"Certainly," resumed his host.  "With all
due respect to the Geneva Convention its work
is performed in a very slipshod manner.  You
are not allowed by international restrictions to
poison wells, or use explosive bullets; yet you
are permitted to employ enormous shells, mines,
torpedoes, submarines, bombs from aircraft and
a host of the most devilish ingenuities that civilized
men can devise for the destruction of their
fellow-beings.  Which would you prefer, Mr. Hythe,
to be quickly and painlessly poisoned when
slaking your thirst on the field of battle, or to be
horribly mutilated by fragments of a shell, and
remain, perhaps for years, a misery to yourself
and your fellows?"

The sub shook his head.

"By eliminating certain means of offence you
reduce the limits of the horrors of war."

"Of the means only, the horrors of war will
never be mitigated until the ban upon explosive
shells, submarine, and aerial offence and defence
is imposed.  Thus I maintain that the Geneva
Conference has only taken a middle course.
Better by far to place no limitations and make
war so horrible that no nation will dare draw the
sword; or else restrict the weapons of offence to
solid armour-piercing shells for naval warfare,
small calibre rifle bullets and cold steel.  To my
mind submarine warfare, including torpedo work,
is a despicable form of destruction."

"Yet you yourself are bent upon an errand of
destruction by means of your submarine."

"Precisely.  And it is the same in international
warfare, because A builds a submarine, B must
do likewise, in order to fight upon equal terms.
But wait until to-morrow.  When you have
explored 'La Flamme' perhaps you may see eye
to eye with me."

"What caused the disaster, sir?" asked Hythe.

"For the present I prefer not to answer that
question," was the reply.  "To-morrow I think
I can explain more clearly."

After breakfast on the following morning a
strong working-party, under the direction of the
chief officer, prepared to tackle the task of freeing
the propeller.  Clad in their diving suits the men
entered the air-lock and thence slipped out into
the sea.  Soon the hull resounded to the rasping
of the hack-saws as the men attacked the
hempen rope that was coiled tightly round the
shafting.

"Are you ready, Mr. Hythe?" asked the captain.

The sub assented, and Captain Restronguet
led the way for'ard to the divers' dressing-room.
On the way he stopped, and asked his companion
to accompany him to the after-conning-tower.

The sun was now shining brightly, and even
at that depth the luminosity was sufficient to
enable the interior of the conning-tower to be seen
without the aid of artificial light.

"It is now nine o'clock," remarked Captain
Restronguet.  "On what quarter ought the sun
to be visible at this hour?"

"South-east," replied Hythe promptly.

"Now look at its bearing according to our
standard compass."

"Why, it bears south-west."

"Exactly.  Now that explains the loss of 'La
Flamme.'  Practically the whole of this coast
contains vast quantities of iron ore, and the
deviation of the compass at this particular spot
amounts to as much as ninety degrees.  The
north-west coast of Spain is bad enough in this
respect.  You may have heard of the loss of the
'Serpent,' several years ago.  That was attributed
to magnetic influence of the iron ore upon the
ship's compass.  Here the error is still greater.
It is easy to understand that the unfortunate
submarine, getting within the fatal influence of the
magnetic attraction, ran full tilt upon the rocks in
a heavy sea and on a pitch-dark night.  But we
will now prepare for our submarine walk."

In the dressing-room were Kenwyn, Carnon
the quartermaster, and O'Shaunessey, who were
also to form the party.  The Irishman was
somewhat doubtfully examining the dress and
helmet served out to him.  Anything that was
not "regulation" he regarded with suspicion.

"Buck up, O'Shaunessey!" said the quartermaster.
"Here's the cap'n; and you're not ready yet."

"Sure, I'm ready," replied the Irishman.  "But
can't I have me own dress?"

"You'll be sorry for yourself if you do," said
Captain Restronguet who had overheard
O'Shaunessey's remark.  "Before you've gone fifty yards
you will feel as if you're squashed between the
jaws of a vice."

"You see," he added, turning to Hythe,
"the air in a diving-dress fitted with an air-tube
is kept under a fairly good pressure; with ours,
the air supply being self-contained, only a very
slight pressure is maintained.  We rely upon
the stiffening bands in the flexible metal fabric
to withstand the exterior pressure of the water."

Having donned their diving garb, Polglaze
served out to each man a small electric lamp.
Captain Restronguet and Hythe both carried
a steel crowbar, Kenyon a long adjustable
spanner, while Carnon and O'Shaunessey took
axes.  The quartermaster was also equipped with
a slate for writing messages, that being the only
form of definite communication under water.

As soon as the five men entered the air-lock
the water was admitted.  When the compartment
was full Captain Restronguet thrust back
a couple of levers and a portion of the exterior
plating of the hull was pushed aside.  From the
sill of this aperture to the bed of the sea was
a drop of nearly ten feet.  Unhesitatingly the
captain leapt and sank upon a sandy floor,
where he was joined by his companions.

Hythe found that walking in this form of
dress was far easier than plodding along in the
orthodox diving-suit in use in the British Navy.
The absence of life-line and air-tube, with
their attendant drag upon the diver, was
particularly noticeable.

A short halt was made to examine the
progress of the work upon the damaged propeller.
Already the men had made a fair show with the
job, but, as the sub had predicted, every strand
had to be carefully cut through and prised up.
Under the best conditions it would require
another three hours of arduous labour to free
the shafting from the obstruction.

At that depth the light was strong enough to
see nearly twenty yards ahead, and Hythe was
struck with the peculiar formation of the
submarine gorge.  It was as if human hands had
hewn out a deep and narrow passage through
the solid rock, here and there cutting side tunnels
that faded away in the distant gloom.  Fantastic
marine growths occurred in patches that had to
be carefully avoided, for some of the tendrils
were armed with crooked spikes, sufficiently strong
and sharp to do untold damage to any diver
who was incautious enough to get into their
toils.  At other places fern-like weeds growing
to a height of ten feet made the floor of the bay
resemble a tropical-forest.  Sponges grew in
profusion; oyster-shells, a yard in diameter, were
occasionally met with.  Once O'Shaunessey's
foot narrowly escaped being seized by the gaping
jaws of one of these bivalves.  A second later
and his limb would have been crushed to a pulp.

As the five advanced crabs large and small
swarmed sideways across their path to seek
shelter amongst the rocks; fish in shoals darted
from the unwonted sight of the diving-dresses,
although a few, bolder or more stupid than
the rest, swam quite close to the submarine
pedestrians.

Presently the passage bifurcated, both arms
shooting off at a very narrow angle.  Unhesitatingly
Captain Restronguet took the left.  All
the same Hythe wondered what would happen
if they lost their way, for there was nothing
whereby he could distinguish one way from
another.

Stopping at one of the branch passages
Captain Restronguet pointed towards it, then
switching on his lamp began to clear away through the
seaweed that grew to a height of nearly twenty
feet.  Hythe followed, tit was like pushing
aside a Japanese curtain, for the flexible tendrils
closed behind him.

The belt of weed was comparatively narrow;
less than five yards brought the men to a close
sandy space.  Here the sub stopped.  Right
in front of him, and hidden from the natural
light by a thick canopy of weeds, were the jagged,
barnacle-encrusted timbers of a ship.

She was lying slightly over to starboard, but
the list was enough to cause her double tier of
guns to fall through the rotting planks.  Her
bowsprit had been carried away close to the
gammoning; of her masts only two shattered
stumps remained.  Waterlogged cordage and
sails trailed dolefully over her sloping deck, while
her figurehead--that of a woman holding a
rod--was just recognizable in its decay.

At each step, careful though they were, Hythe
and his companions kicked up a cloud of iron
rust, till the scene of desolation was almost
blotted out.  Of the ship's guns those that were
of iron had almost crumbled into flakes of rust,
but the brass cannon were in almost as good
condition as they were when the wreck was a
noble ship.  The sub stooped and examined
one of the brass pieces of ordnance.  Close to
the touch hole were the letters L.R. and the
date 1692.

"A Frenchman: time of Louis XIV, by
Jove!" said the sub to himself.  "I wonder
what her name is?"

He was on the point of walking towards the
stern of the wreck when Captain Restronguet
laid a detaining hand on his shoulder and flashed
his light upon the rust-discoloured sand.  Hythe
instantly drew back.  Almost under his feet
yawned a hole full of trailing weeds that looked
for all the world like a pit full of loathsome
serpents.

Evidently understanding the reason for his
companion's curiosity the captain beckoned to
Carclew to approach.  Then taking the quartermaster's
slate he wrote in bold characters "La
Sybille, French treasure-ship, sunk in action, 1695."





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`"LA FLAMME"`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XIV.


.. class:: center medium

   "LA FLAMME."

.. vspace:: 2

Holding up his hand Captain Restronguet gave
the signal for the party to retrace their footsteps
to the main channel.  It was about time, for the
disturbed sediment from the crumbling wreck had
obliterated every object beyond a distance of a yard.

The order of the procession was consequently
reversed, Kenwyn leading and the captain bringing
up the rear.  Half way through the barrier of
weed Hythe suddenly became aware that the
man immediately in front of him had stopped and
was stepping backwards.  The next instant the
sub was knocked sideways by a tremendous
blow.  Owing to the resistance of the water his
fall was considerably broken, but he found himself
lying in a veritable net of tendrils, while above him
was some huge moving creature that was lashing
out with almost irresistible force.  Prudence
counselled him to lie still, a sense of duty to his
companions urged him to disentangle himself from
the clutch of the weeds.

He chose the latter course, and contriving to
free himself from the serpent-like tendrils he
regained his feet, this time on the right side of the
barrier of weeds.

It was a fearsome sight that met his gaze.
Lying at full length upon the sand, and with his
hands held in front of his helmet to protect the
glass plate, was one of the divers whom the sub
recognized as Kenwyn.  Over him, and ready to
spring upon another victim, was an enormous
conger, more than eight feet in length and as
thick round as a man's thigh.

Standing ready to lunge with his crowbar
was Captain Restronguet, while with axes held
ready in a position of attack were Carnon and
O'Shaunessey.

Recovering his steel bar Hythe, though giddy
with the effect of his fall, ranged alongside his
friends.

The eel darted forwards.  Captain Restronguet
delivered a thrust and missed.

The next moment he, too, was capsized while
the conger, darting over his body, retreated to
the shelter of a hole in the rocks.

The captain was on his feet in an instant,
while Kenwyn was assisted to rise.  As no
bubbles came from his dress it was evident
that the attack had not seriously injured his
diving-gear.  Had the conger used its teeth instead of
his tail the flexible metal fabric would have been
bitten through as easily as if made of paper.

Kenwyn, however, walked unsteadily.  The
attack had not left him uninjured, but by a gesture
he showed that he was quite able to continue the
submarine excursion.

Once again the march was resumed, but ere
they had gone another five paces O'Shaunessey
happened to turn and look in the direction of the
eel's retreat.  He had just time to warn his
comrades, for the conger, viewing the departing
invaders as a sign of defeat, was preparing to
renew the attack.

.. _`175`:

Like an arrow the snake-like monster darted
forward!  This time Captain Restronguet
succeeded in thrusting his crowbar down the conger's
throat, and by an almost superhuman effort pinned
it to the sandy bed.  Right and left the brute
writhed its powerful tail.  To withdraw the
crowbar would be imprudent, to keep it there was
obviously beyond the captain's strength in spite
of his muscular powers.

Marking his opportunity Hythe planted his
crowbar fairly through the eel's back.  To any
creature but a member of the fish tribe such a
blow would have proved instantly fatal, but the
conger only fought the more, till O'Shaunessey
and Carnon cut its body into four pieces with
their axes.  Even then the severed portions
continued to writhe.  But the victory had been won,
and once again Captain Restronguet led the way
towards the lost submarine.

Half an hour's steady walking--the pace being
about two miles an hour--brought the explorers to
the ledge on which the ill-fated "La Flamme"
lay.  Bending his knees Captain Restronguet
gave a rapid upward spring that took him nearly
ten feet from the level of the channel, and
sufficient for his outstretched hand to obtain a grip
upon the edge of the rocky shelf.  The sub, the
quartermaster, O'Shaunessey, and lastly Kenwyn
followed and gained the upper part of the rock,
the only accident being that O'Shaunessey
incautiously grasped the bracket of the sunken
vessel's propeller shafting, with the result that his
bare hands were badly lacerated by the knife-like
edges of the barnacles.

To all outward appearance "La Flamme" was
intact, but by removing the coating of molluscs
and seaweed Captain Restronguet was able to
point out a fracture about two feet from the bows.

Carclew and the Irishman next attacked the
hatch abaft the conning-tower.  Constructed to
resist enormous pressure from without it was
nevertheless comparatively easy to wrench up the
steel covering that was held only in position by a
gun-metal securing-bolt.  The hatch was swung
back and the cavity, within which the tragedy of
two years' standing had hitherto been carefully
guarded, lay open to inspection.  But somehow
even those strong-minded men--nerved to face
hourly dangers beneath the surface of the fickle
sea--hesitated.  They stood around the open
hatchway, looking at the repellent aperture, and
at each other, till overcoming his repugnance the
captain switched on his electric lamp, turned his
face to the rusted steel ladder and descended.

Although now thoroughly loathing the task he
had taken in hand Hythe felt compelled to follow.
Not so the others: they remained on the slippery,
weed-garbed deck.

The sub had steeled himself to see a gruesome
sight, but his anticipations were excelled.  In the
pale light of the electric lamps he saw a scene so
ghastly that his cast-iron nerve wellnigh broke
down.

Every portion of the metal work of the interior
bore traces of the corrosive action of the sulphuric
acid, which escaping from the batteries had spread
from end to end of the doomed craft.  Luckily
for the two adventurers the acid had long since
exhausted its energies, otherwise their metallic
dresses would have been eaten through by the
powerful corrosive.

Almost the first compartment Hythe examined
was the air-lock--that vaunted contrivance by
which it was stoutly asserted that the crew of a
disabled and waterlogged submarine could escape.
Here were the skeletons of two men both
overpowered in the act of attempting to draw the
life-saving helmets over their heads.  By the
contortions of their bones it was fairly evident
that they had struggled hard.  Of the fifteen
helmets only three had been removed from their
places; twelve of the crew had been unable even
to reach the place where safety had been promised,
but where the promise had utterly failed.

Lying across the crank case of one of the
motors was another body, blackened by sea
water and petrol.  Apparently this was one of
the mechanicians who had by the impact been
thrown across the powerful machinery, for his
vertebra had been completely fractured.  Grasped
in the grisly hand was an oil-can.  The poor
fellow had literally died at his post.  A clock on
the motor-room bulkhead had stopped at a quarter
to five.

Aft, the scene was even more horrible.
Huddled together, some locked in each other's
arms, others still in the act of vainly trying to
raise themselves from their steel tomb, were
nine corpses.  Apparently as "La Flamme"
sank she plunged bows foremost.  These men
had contrived to make their way aft, where the
imprisoned air, compressed to several atmospheres,
had been sufficient to prolong life for
several minutes--literally periods of physical and
mental torture.

Captain Restronguet flashed his lamp upon
that awful group, then swiftly turning made his
way down the steeply sloping deck, and gained
the base of the ladder leading to the conning-tower.
Here he waited for the sub to rejoin him,
and again the pair hung back.

Hythe was visibly trembling.  Within his
diving dress the perspiration poured from him.
This was the sort of danger that he had courted
day after day with comparative equanimity.

Captain Restronguet flashed his lamp upwards.
The rays revealed a pair of men's sea-boots
jammed against an open steel grating.  These
boots were not empty--in them were the bones
of a human leg.  The rest of the poor creature lay
huddled against the binnacle.  By the tarnished
uniform it was evident that the victim was either
the lieutenant or the sous-lieutenant of the
ill-fated craft.

As Hythe gained the upper platform a crab
glided away from the heap of clothing--then
another, and yet another.  Overcoming his
repugnance the sub grasped the end of a gold
chain and pulled a watch from the unfortunate
officer's pocket.  It had stopped at seven o'clock.
Allowing that both the motor-room clock and this
timepiece were accurate until stopped by the
water, one hour and three quarters had elapsed
ere the air confined in the conning-tower had
failed to support life.  One hour and three
quarters, imprisoned in a steel tomb without the
faintest hope of rescue--this is but one of the
risks men run in the race for sea supremacy!

In the upper story of the conning-tower they
found yet another corpse--also an officer.  He
was untouched by water, for even after the lapse
of time since the disaster there was still a
considerable amount of air trapped in the steel citadel.
He had found time to write, even in that awful
impenetrable darkness, for across the open chart,
written in lines that frequently overlapped each
other, was the commencement of a fairly coherent
report of the disaster.

After that the poor victim had been seized with
a form of frenzy, for he had endeavoured to open
the manhole in the conning-tower--failing that
in his despair had tried to end his misery by
shooting himself with his revolver, for the weapon,
with all chambers empty, lay on the grating
beside him.  Even a swift and merciful death had
been denied him, for in the darkness he had been
unable to find the cartridges.

Hythe turned and descended the ladder as fast
as he could.  Captain Restronguet took the chart
on which the course and the fragment of the report
had been pencilled out and also the officer's rough
log-book, and followed his companion.  But the
captain's investigations were not yet complete.

He made his way for'ard to where the two
bow torpedo tubes were placed.  This part of
the submarine was deserted, save for a shoal of
small fish of the sardine tribe.  Their mode of
entry was now apparent, for besides the rent in
the plating, gaps the width of a man's finger
were visible in the seams.  The huge metal
cylinder, which for dead-weight far exceeded a
vessel of the same dimensions, had been hurled
by the continued power of the twin propellers,
and the irresistible force of the mountainous
waves, at a tremendous pace upon the solid
rocks--and the shock had not been sufficient
to stun the unfortunate victims who formed the crew.

The two explorers having performed their
duty, hastened to the open hatch.  There with
a common impulse they both stood stiffly erect
and saluted.  It was a tribute from men who
had faced perils under the sea and who yet
survived to those who, similarly situated, had
sealed their devotion to duty with their lives.

"Well, Mr. Hythe, what did you think of
that ghastly spectacle?" asked Captain Restronguet
after their return to the "Aphrodite."

The sub was deadly pale.  Hitherto he had
looked only on the bright side of a submarine
officer's life, now he had seen----

"It is simply horrible, sir."

"It is.  And there are persons--experts they
call themselves--who boldly maintain that death
under these circumstances comes swiftly and
painlessly.  Would to heaven those men had
been with us, and had seen what we have seen.
Submarine work is a dangerous game."

"Yet you yourself----" began Hythe.

"Exactly.  I know what you were about to
observe.  But my submarine is far in advance
of the comparatively crude contrivances in which
men seek to destroy their enemies.  Possibly,
in the interests of humanity, I ought to give my
secret to the world.  Has not that sight quenched
all desire on your part to descend in an ordinary
type of submarine again?"

Hythe rose from his chair.

"Sir," he replied stiffly, yet without any trace
of grandiloquence, "it is my place to obey
orders, and at times to withhold my opinion.
But then I can safely say: so long as duty to
King and Country calls, Britons will never be
found wanting in the hour of peril, be it on,
above, or under the sea."





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`A VISIT TO GIBRALTAR`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XV.


.. class:: center medium

   A VISIT TO GIBRALTAR.

.. vspace:: 2

Breakfast on the following morning was a kind
of solemn feast, for although Devoran and
Kenwyn were present, hardly a word was spoken.
The gloom of the previous day's exploration
seemed to penetrate everything, yet the subject
was, by mutual consent, studiously avoided.

The meal was nearly over when Lancarrow,
the wireless man, knocked and entered the cabin.

"Message just received, sir," he announced
unconcernedly.

Captain Restronguet opened the envelope and
scanned its contents.  Although his eyes lightened
with satisfaction he said not a word till the man
had retired.

"News of the 'Vorwartz,' gentlemen," he
exclaimed.  "She is reported to be operating off
the entrance to Valetta Harbour, Malta.  Holed
the torpedo-boat-destroyer 'Tamar,' did
considerable damage to the oil-tank vessel
'Petrolia,' so that the ship had to be beached in Bighi
Bay.  After that she slipped off.  An
aero-hydroplane followed her for an hour in an
easterly direction.  The 'Vorwartz' then dived
much deeper and was lost sight off."

"What is she doing in the Mediterranean,
sir?" asked Devoran.  "That doesn't look as
if she's returning to Sumatran waters."

"Unless she goes through the Suez Canal,"
added Kenwyn.

"She won't try that game," said Captain
Restronguet.  "There's not enough water in
the canal.  If she does we have been saved an
unpleasant task, for the authorities will blow her
to atoms."

"Now what is to be done, sir?" asked the
chief officer.

Captain Restronguet paused a few moments
before replying.

"The shafting is now all right, Mr. Devoran?"

"Yes, sir, I remained till the work was
completed.  That was at half past one in the
morning."

"Excellent!" commented the captain.  "There
is now only one course left open to us.  We
must proceed to the eastern part of the Mediterranean
and continue our search for this modern
pirate.  I'll send a message to the Admiralties
at London, Paris, and Berlin informing them of
my whereabouts and of my intentions.  We
may have a chance of sending the relics of 'La
Flamme' ashore at Gibraltar, Mr. Hythe.
Perhaps you would care to hand them over to the
proper authorities?"

"With pleasure," replied the sub.

"There is no time to be lost," continued the
captain, rising from his chair.  "What is the
weather like, Mr. Devoran?"

"Hazy, sir."

"Excellent!  We may have a run on the surface;
the extra ten knots may be of extreme importance."

"Must we go astern through this channel?"
asked the sub, as he followed his host to the fore
conning-tower.  "There is not enough width to turn."

"Oh, no; we rise vertically to the surface,"
replied Captain Restronguet.  "Coming here it
was different.  I could not depend upon sinking
the 'Aphrodite' immediately over the gulley.
Besides, I had reasons for bringing the craft in
while submerged."

The discharging pumps were soon at work,
and with hardly a jerk the heavy mass of water-tight
metal casing rose majestically from the sandy
bed of Machichaco Bay.  When just awash her
fore hatch was opened and the rails and stanchions
shipped.

Hythe went on deck.  The haze was sufficiently
dense to prevent objects from being seen
at a distance of more than a cable's length ahead.
The cliffs and the lighthouse were invisible.
Although there was hardly any wind and the
"Aphrodite" was lying almost motionless on a
perfectly calm sea, the noise of the sullen rollers
breaking in-shore showed how dangerous this
exposed bay was to any craft that attempted to
send a boat ashore.

Beyond that ceaseless roar no sound disturbed
the quietude.  As far as the crew of the
submarine were concerned they might have been
floating peacefully in the midst of the wide
Atlantic instead of almost within hailing distance of the
Iberian shore.

The centre scuttle of the "Aphrodite's" for'ard
conning-tower was opened so that the
quartermaster could take verbal directions from his
superior officer.  Captain Restronguet stood just
in front of the conning-tower, while two men,
detailed for special duty as look-outs, were
stationed in the bows, clad in oil-skins to protect
them from the spray that was bound to come
inboard as soon as the vessel gathered way.  Abaft
the after conning-tower Mr. Devoran had taken
his stand, while right aft were more men whose
duty it was to report the presence of any vessel
that, of swifter speed than the submarine, might
overtake her.

These precautions were additional to the use
of the submarine detector that indicated the
approach of any craft at a distance; for when
travelling at high speed the swish of the waves
against her lean bows was apt to be misconstrued
by the men stationed at that electrically recording
device.

Giving a glance at the standard compass to
assure himself that he had made due allowance
for the abnormal deviation Captain Restronguet
gave the order for half speed ahead.  Like a
greyhound the "Aphrodite" leapt forward at a
reduced speed of eighteen knots.

Within ten minutes the belt of haze had been
left astern, and the sun shone brilliantly upon the
clear blue water.

Hythe remained on deck some hours till the
rounded point of Cape Ortegal hove in sight.
Here the sea in calm weather is always agitated
by a long heavy swell, while in gales the waves
are dangerously steep.  As a precautionary
measure Captain Restronguet ordered the
look-out men to make themselves fast with life-lines
and the open hatches to be battened down.
Although he suggested to the sub the advisability
of going below, the captain, for some reason
that he did not think fit to communicate, remained
on deck.  Scorning to make use of oilskins he
stood grasping the handrail surrounding the
conning-tower, and gazed fixedly at the horizon
on the starboard bow.  Whatever he expected
to see his hopes in that direction were unfulfilled,
and at five o'clock, after the tumultuous water had
been left astern, he rejoined his guest in the cabin.

"We are so far fortunate in being able to keep
on the surface," he remarked.  "We are now
off Cape Finisterre and right in the regular mail
and ordinary trading routes.  But up to the time
I left the deck we had not sighted a single sail."

Twice during the day the "Aphrodite" had to
dive to avoid being sighted by passing vessels,
for although Captain Restronguet made no secret
of his whereabouts he did not think fit to allow
the submarine to be seen.

Just before midnight the captain called to
Hythe as the latter was about to turn in.

"We are going to dive to eight fathoms," he
announced.  "It is advisable since we are
approaching the Straits of Gibraltar.  Perhaps you
would care to have a look on deck before going
to bed?"

On gaining the upper platform Hythe found
that the "Aphrodite" was running nearly awash,
with no navigation lights.  Even the lamps in
the conning-towers were screened.  It was a
pitch-dark night, although the atmosphere was
clear.  The water was exceptionally smooth for
the Atlantic seaboard of the coast of Spain and
Portugal.

Away on the starboard hand were several
large vessels, each showing their green navigation
lights, denoting that they were bound north.
One, brilliantly illuminated, was evidently a liner
on which the passengers were keeping a late
night, for the distant strains of a string band were
just audible above the subdued noise of her
powerful engines.

"You know this coast, I suppose?" asked
Captain Restronguet.  "Do you recognize
yonder light?"

The sub looked intently in the direction
indicated.  Through the darkness shone a fixed
white light which increased and diminished in
intensity, attaining its maximum glare every
thirty seconds.

"Yes, Cape Trafalgar," he replied.  "And
we are within twelve miles of it."

"Otherwise it would appear to be a flashing
light," added Captain Restronguet.  "I see your
knowledge of the various lights is exceptionally
good.  Had it been daylight we might have found
time to let you have a sight of some of Nelson's
relics, for we are passing over the scene of that
ever-memorable victory.  The bottom of the sea
here is strewn with the remains of the French
and Spanish vessels that were either sunk in
action or foundered in the storm that arose after
the fight was over."

"I have seen enough of naval disasters for the
time being," remarked Hythe.

"You will soon get used to sights of that
description," said the captain with a shrug of his
shoulders.  "Some day, all being well, I hope
to visit the remains of the Russian vessels sunk
at Tshushima.  Not simply for idle curiosity,
but with a definite motive.  But it blows cold,
so I think we may as well descend."

When Hythe awoke next morning the
"Aphrodite" was at rest.  Throwing back the
metal slide over his cabin scuttle he looked out.
The submarine was below the surface and in a
fairly crowded anchorage, for dimly in the sunlit
water he could distinguish more than one
mooring chain and a mushroom anchor deeply
embedded in the ooze.

"This must be Gib.," he thought, as he
prepared to dress.

Although breakfast was laid, Captain Restronguet
was busy writing as Hythe entered the cabin.

"Excuse me while I finish," said the former
apologetically.  "Here is a copy of this week's
'Gibraltar Herald'; it was published only
yesterday, so it is fairly recent.  Perhaps you
might care to look at it?"

Hythe took the journal wonderingly.  How
could it have come into Captain Restronguet's
possession?  He sat down and opened the pages.
Most of the news consisted of matter interesting
only to the members of the colony, such as
descriptions of social functions of such minor
importance that the edition of the smallest weekly at
home would scorn to make use of; but about one
half of the back sheet was devoted to general news.

Three quarters of a column were occupied by
a more or less accurate account of Karl von
Harburg's doings at Malta.  Since Captain
Restronguet had exposed the fellow's identity the
owner of the "Vorwartz" no longer attempted
to screen himself by attributing his illegal acts to
his rival; on the other hand the *dénouement*
seemed to have emboldened him, for hitherto he
had confined his active attentions solely to
German national property.  Now he was fast
developing into a pirate, attacking all nations
without any consideration.  Yet, curiously
enough, he never attempted to take booty, and
on this account his motives were the subject of
the keenest discussion.

Already international squadrons, representing
Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria,
Russia, and Greece were co-operating with a view
of exterminating the modern buccaneer, while
from Cape Tarifa to Centa a powerful flotilla of
the latest type of submarines formed a cordon at
the maximum depth attainable with safety beneath
the surface.  These in turn were supported by a
number of destroyers and protected cruisers,
while overhead aero-hydroplanes flew by day
and naval airships soared by night, the latter
keeping their searchlights playing vertically
downwards in the hope of locating and annihilating
the vampire of the seas.

The tension between England and Germany
had, according to the paper, been considerably
relaxed, and both the Atlantic Fleet and the
High Seas Fleet had returned to their respective
ports; but at the same time the British Prime
Minister had spoken strongly in the House,
urging the oft neglected precept that "A nation
armed is a nation at peace."

The only other item of news that interested
Hythe was a report that there had been seismic
disturbances in the Mediterranean, and that Malta
had experienced two severe shocks.  The sub
knew Malta well; besides, he had relations living
there, his maternal uncle holding a shore
appointment under the Admiralty.  Although the effects
of the tremor were felt at Bizerta, Tripoli,
Syracuse, Messina, Reggio, and even as far
north as Rome, Vesuvius and Etna showed
no signs of increased activity, while Stromboli
had ceased for several days to emit smoke.  This
phenomenon had been debated upon by men of
science, but no satisfactory explanation had been
arrived at.

"Have you found anything sufficiently interesting
to make you forget my rudeness, Mr. Hythe?"
asked Captain Restronguet, as he put his writing
materials into his desk and locked it up.  "I had
to finish this dispatch, as you so kindly consented
to take it ashore for me."

"I have been wondering how you obtained
the paper, sir?"

"Easily done.  We arrived in the bay about
four this morning.  Carclew immediately left the
'Aphrodite' and walked ashore, landing on the
Neutral Ground about four hundred yards
beyond the Advance Lines.  He divested himself
of his diving-dress and hid it, and as soon as the
gun went--the signal for the gates of the fortress
to be opened, as you know--he mingled with the
crowd of locked-out Scorps, Spanish traders and
pedlars, and walked unceremoniously into the
town.  Coming back, however, he had a nasty
time, for the sentries had their suspicions, taking
him for a smuggler, and it was as much as he
could do to slip into the water without being seen."

"How do you propose to set me ashore?"
asked Hythe.

"Perfectly openly," replied his host calmly.
"I have the Governor's permission to send a
representative ashore.  You will land at the steps
on the inner side of the New Mole at ten this
morning.  Kenwyn and Gwennap will accompany
you as far as the landing in order to help
you off with your gear.  They will then return,
so that no inquisitive individual will have an
opportunity of examining or possibly stealing my
patent helmet.  At six p.m. sharp, Kenwyn and
Gwennap will meet you at the same place.  By
the by, would you like O'Shaunessey to go with you?"

The sub hesitated for a moment before
replying.  Captain Restronguet had made no
conditions regarding his trip ashore.  He trusted
entirely to the honour of the young officer.
There was nothing to prevent Hythe and
O'Shaunessey from remaining at Gib. if they
felt inclined.  The sub knew O'Shaunessey to
be a sharp and diligent man, but unfortunately
he had a great failing.  Had it not been for a
few delinquencies in the shape of overstaying his
leave the Irishman might have been a petty
officer by this time.  Consequently, since the
man might get into one of the numerous
grog-shops and fail to return to time, Hythe decided
not to take him.

"Very good, Mr. Hythe," replied Captain
Restronguet in even tones, although the sub
detected a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.  "I quite
understand, and I think your judgment is good in
this respect.  Now let us fall to; breakfast will
be getting quite cold, and I do not want my
emissary to start on a journey with discomfort."

"Where are we lying now?" asked Hythe, in
the course of the meal.

"In the Commercial Anchorage, on a line
with the Devil's Tower open of the North Front,"
replied the captain.  "I thought it best to do so,
rather than trespass within the limits of the
Admiralty Anchorage.  You will have more than
a mile to walk, but the tides close inshore are
weak, and by keeping close to the Old Mole you
will find little inconvenience.

"Here are the documents," he continued, as
soon as breakfast was over.  "This one, to which
is attached the chart from 'La Flamme,' is for
the French Minister of Marine.  It will be safely
forwarded.  This is for the Governor; the others
are of a private nature, and will be sent in by
post in the ordinary way."

"I heard say you are going ashore, sir," said
O'Shaunessey, who was standing in the diving-gear
compartment.  "Wud ye take this letther
for me?  Sure, 'tis for me ould mother."

"I will, O'Shaunessey," replied Hythe.  He
almost wavered in his resolution not to take the
A.B. with him; but since the Irishman did not
seem at all anxious to enjoy a spell on land the
sub adhered to his former plans.

Guided by a watertight compass held by the
chief officer, Hythe, with his dispatches in a
weighted metal case, set out on his lengthy
submarine walk.  Without a hitch the three men
gained the base of the northernmost Mole, and
walking under the keels of several merchant
vessels made fast alongside, they arrived at the
landing indicated by Captain Restronguet.

As soon as Hythe emerged from the water,
greatly to the interest of a swarm of bluejackets
and civilians who had been apprised of the arrival
of the mysterious submarine, Kenwyn and
Gwennap divested him of his diving suit, and,
being unable to speak by reason of their helmets,
raised their right hands in token of farewell.

Being ashore seemed quite unfamiliar to the
young officer, although he was well acquainted
with that landing place.  Briskly he ran up the
steps, made his way through the admiring and
attentive crowd, and shaped a course for the
Governor's Palace.

"So you are returning to the submarine?"
asked the Governor, when the interview was at
an end.  "I believe the Admiralty have telegraphed
that you can exercise your discretion in
the matter."

"Yes," replied Hythe.  "I think it necessary
to do so, both from an official and a private sense.
I can assure you, sir, that anything approaching
the craft in mechanism and scientific wonder has
never yet been seen."

"My Lords are naturally anxious for details,"
remarked the Rear Admiral in charge of the
Naval Establishments at Gibraltar, who had
made it a point of being with the Governor on
the occasion of Hythe's visit.  "In fact, speaking
in a strictly confidential manner, I may as well tell
you that they would like to open negotiations with
Captain Restronguet for the purchase of the
vessel.  Could you approach him on this matter?"

"I am afraid it will be of no use, sir," replied
the sub.  "But, of course, I will do my best.
Captain Restronguet is a man of iron resolution,
and he has more than once told me that he has
sworn to sink the 'Aphrodite' rather than hand
her over to the Admiralty."

"That is a pity," said the Governor.  "Why
is this?  He is an Englishman?"

"Yes, a native of Cornwall; but he is labouring
under the impression that he has been slighted
by the Admiralty.  He offered his invention
some years ago and was, he informs me, shabbily
treated."

"Unfortunately that is not the only case," said
the Admiral.  "The mistake--for mistake it
undoubtedly is--was possibly the work of some petty
official at Whitehall.  I've known plenty of
instances of that description.  However,
Mr. Hythe, do your best in that direction, and find
means to communicate Captain Restronguet's
decision as soon as possible.  He will not, I hope,
sell the submarine to a foreign power?"

"No, sir; I think with all his prejudices Captain
Restronguet does not forget he's an Englishman.
Otherwise he would not be so open in explaining
a host of details connected with his vessel to me."

"Well, we must hope for the best," declared
the Governor.

"And if Captain Restronguet succeeds in
destroying this rascally German's submarine--the
'Vorwartz,' is it not?--we shall have something
to be thankful for."

Hythe made good use of the rest of the time
allowed him ashore.  Several of his brother
officers, whom he had known on previous
commissions, soon had him "in tow," but the sub
strenuously declined to go aboard any of the
ships.  There might be some mistake, he might
forget how the hours sped, and to miss his
appointment at the New Mole was not to be thought of.
He found an opportunity, however, of replenishing
his scanty stock of clothing, and by means of a
small "tip" enlisted the services of a "Scorp" to
purchase a supplementary kit for O'Shaunessey.
These he had placed in a small tin trunk, the lid
of which was securely soldered down, and engaging
a porter he told the man to follow him to the
landing.

It was now close on the hour fixed for his
return, but a sudden obstacle was thrown in his
way; he had forgotten the Customs.

An alert Customs Officer, who was no respecter
of persons even though they were in naval
officer's uniform, peremptorily demanded to see
what the trunk contained.

"Clothing only," replied Hythe, with considerable
annoyance.  "Value Five Pounds; here is
my bill."

"Must see what's inside, sir," replied the man.
"Please to order your porter to carry this box to
the office.  You will also step this way, sir."

"Look here, this is all rot!" exclaimed Hythe
indignantly.  "I'll pay up, even though it's a
blind rush; but I've an appointment to keep."

The Customs official was obdurate.  The sub
glanced at his watch.  It had stopped.  He had
forgotten to wind it.  By a neighbouring clock it
wanted five minutes to six.

Hythe hesitated no longer.  Turning he set
off at full speed towards the Governor's palace,
the Customs man pelting at his heels and
shouting to the bystanders to stop him.  The sub
was a good sprinter, even though considerably
out of practice by being cooped up in the limited
quarters of a submarine.  Dashing past the
astonished sentry at the entrance to the palace,
before the soldier had time to salute, Hythe
literally thrust his way into the Governor's
presence and hastily told him of his irritating and
serious encounter with the officious Customs man.

"He is undoubtedly within his rights,
Mr. Hythe," replied the Governor.  "But, at the
same time, he is over zealous.  That will clear
you," and sitting down he wrote out and signed
an order to pass Mr. Arnold Hythe's baggage.

One minute to six.  With almost indecent
haste the sub once more bade the Governor
farewell and resumed his headlong pace.

Just outside the Dockyard Gate he overtook
the Customs official, who was puffing and blowing
after his exertions on a fruitless chase.

"Very good, sir," exclaimed the man
apologetically, "but you see dooty's dooty.  I'll clear
your trunk in a jiffy."

Bubbling over with impatience Hythe set off
at a rapid rate, with the wellnigh exhausted official
at his heels.  A fresh catastrophe confronted him,
for upon arriving at the place where he had left
the porter with his trunk neither was to be seen.

"He's a wrong 'un, sir," exclaimed the Customs
man.  "You had better inform the police."

"Haven't time," exclaimed Hythe savagely,
and without another word he ran towards the
steps at the New Mole.  When he arrived it
was ten minutes past six, and no signs of Kenwyn
and Gwennap were to be seen.

"That's done it!" ejaculated the sub.  "And
Captain Restronguet said six o'clock sharp."





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`OVER A VOLCANO`:

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   CHAPTER XVI.


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   OVER A VOLCANO.

.. vspace:: 2

If ever a man felt like kicking himself it was
Arnold Hythe at that moment.  He had missed
his appointment; and in Captain Restronguet's
eyes he would be regarded as a waster devoid
of any sense of honour or gratitude.

"Have you seen anything of two divers?" he
asked, addressing the crowd that lingered about
the landing; for, though the time fixed for
his departure had been kept a secret, a curious
throng had loitered there nearly all day.

"Yes," shouted a dozen voices in chorus, and
amid a babel of vociferations the sub contrived
to gain the information that they had appeared
quite half an hour ago, had waited ten minutes
and had disappeared.

"Are you quite sure they went before six?"
asked Hythe.

"Perfectly sure, sir, it was exactly ten minutes
to six when they went down," replied a sailor
confidently.

Then the thought flashed across his mind,
perhaps Captain Restronguet had purposely
marooned him?  An instant later he banished the
suggestion, yet why should Kenwyn and
Gwennap have returned before the appointed time?

Hythe resolved to wait and see if anything
fresh transpired.  The crowd increased, several
naval officers and dockyard officials mingling in
the throng.  Presently the Admiral came down
and asked if he should order anything to be done
to attract the "Aphrodite's" attention.

"They may come back even yet, sir," replied
the sub.  "I'll wait a little longer."

"If you hear nothing by seven you may as well
have dinner at Admiralty House, Mr. Hythe,"
observed the Admiral.

Just at that moment two men in uniform
arrived carrying Hythe's trunk.  The thief had
been caught and was under lock and key.

"That's something to be thankful for,"
soliloquized the sub.  "To lose one's belongings and
one's ship at one time is a bit too thick."

A sudden shout of exclamations from the crowd
caused him to turn and look towards the slide of
the Mole.  Like a huge porpoise the twin
conning-towers and flat deck of the "Aphrodite"
appeared upon the surface, the water pouring in
cascades from her smooth substance.  As easily
as a ship's pinnace she ran alongside the steps,
her after-hatch was thrown open and Captain
Restronguet appeared.

"Come on, Mr. Hythe!" he exclaimed.

The sub waited for no second bidding.  With
a bound he gained the Upper Platform, and turned
and saluted the astonished Admiral.  Having
seen his belongings passed on board he followed
his host below.

Fifty seconds later the dense crowd of
spectators were gazing dumfounded at the unbroken
wavelets.  For the first time had human eyes,
other than those of her crew, seen the redoubtable
"Aphrodite" at close quarters above the surface
of her natural element.

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   \*      \*      \*      \*      \*

.. vspace:: 1

"Yes, I was certainly surprised when Kenwyn
returned with the news that you were not at the
rendezvous, Mr. Hythe," said Captain Restronguet.
"Then the thought suddenly struck me."

"What thought, sir?"

"Might I ask what time you went by?"

"The local time; my watch had stopped.  By
Jove!  I see what happened.  Gib. time is 21
minutes 28 seconds slower than Greenwich."

"Just so.  I guessed the mistake arose that
way; so, as a considerable amount of precious
time would be wasted in sending Kenwyn and
Gwennap ashore again, I took the unusual course
of bringing the 'Aphrodite' right alongside the
New Mole.  It will give the Scorpions something
to talk about."

"And the naval authorities as well, sir.  The
Admiral was there."

"Now we are off as hard as we can pelt for
the Eastern Mediterranean.  I mean to keep at
good depth till clear of the patrols of the Straits.
The 'Vorwartz' is reported in the Black Sea, so
I suppose the Russians will get excited.
Anyway, I hope to be able to arrive in the Ægean
Sea and intercept Herr Karl von Harburg as
he returns through the Dardanelles."

Night had fallen ere the "Aphrodite" rounded
Europa Point, and with the favouring east-going
current was well beyond the cruising ground of
the British submarines.

Two days later she was between Cape Bon on
the Tunisian shore and the western extremity of
Sicily.  Captain Restronguet had, in view of
recent developments, decided not to touch at Malta,
but proceed as fast as he could to Grecian waters,
where he hoped to be able to replenish his
accumulators and be in a state of readiness for his
hated rival.

Hythe had retired to his bunk.  He had had
a heavy day in the conning-tower, where, in
reply to his host's invitation, he had stood a watch
in order to acquaint himself with the delicate
organization of electrical mechanism that controlled
the submarine.

The "Aphrodite" had been running on the
surface during the day, but to obviate the risk of
being struck by passing vessels she was
submerged to nine fathoms at sunset.

Suddenly the sub found himself struggling on
the steeply listing floor of his cabin.  The place
was in utter darkness.  All around him were
weird noises caused by various articles breaking
adrift, mingled with the shouts of the alarmed
crew, while from without came an awe-inspiring rumble.

Struggling to his feet the sub groped for the
electric light switch.  The current was off.  More
and more became the list till his feet slipped from
under him, and he fell into the angle formed by
the floor and the fore and aft bulkhead of the
cabin.  Above the noise he could distinguish the
captain's voice shouting for the emergency
ballast tanks to be emptied.

"Good heavens!  She's been struck.  We're
done for this time," exclaimed Hythe, with lively
recollections of the ill-fated "La Flamme" fresh
in his memory.  He gained his feet and made
for the door, but ere he could fling it open the
"Aphrodite" spun round as if pivoted amidships.
Full length went the sub once more, his hands
grasping the knob of the door, which had come off
in the strain.  The racket of the shifting gear
was redoubled.  Every moment Hythe expected
the enormous pressure of water, since he was
fully certain that the vessel was plunging
downwards, would burst in the sides of the submarine.

Another nerve-racking twist and the
"Aphrodite" began to dip her bows till this time the
sub found his sliding movement checked by the
fore and aft bulkhead.  Then, with a rattle and
clank of her complicated machinery, the propellers
began to race, while the vessel danced about
like a gigantic cork.  Instead of plunging down
the submarine had been raised to the surface,
and was being tossed about on the crests of an
angry sea.

After considerable trouble Hythe succeeded in
opening the door.  Outside in the alley-way all
was in darkness.  He groped his way towards
the fore conning-tower, staggering against the
metal wall with each abnormal heave of the
vessel.  Before he had traversed many feet he
came into violent contact with a man whom he
recognized by his voice as the chief officer.

"What's up, Devoran?" he asked.

"Heaven only knows, Mr. Hythe.  Until we
get the light switched on it will be difficult to
find out.  One thing, we are afloat, and riding
easily."

"Much too easily for my liking," remarked
Hythe, although he felt considerably reassured
that the "Aphrodite" had risen.

"Where are you going?" asked Devoran.

"To the for'ard conning-tower."

"No use," replied the chief officer laconically.
"All principal watertight doors are closed.
Captain's for'ard.  Best to go to the after conning-tower
if you want to see anything.  I left Kenwyn there."

The sub made for the steel ladder
communicating with Kenwyn's post, and as he did
so he heard Devoran raise the flap of the
hatchway to the motor-room and ask Carclew what in
the name of Pontius Pilate's grandmother was
the matter with the light?

"Plug fused, sir.  I am replacing it," shouted
Carclew.

"Then for goodness' sake hurry up!" replied
the chief officer.

Hythe found Kenwyn staring out of the
scuttle at nothing.  It was so pitch dark that
without the conning-tower everything seemed
an impenetrable mass of darkness--sea and sky
a chaos of invisibility.  All the while the
submarine was pitching and tossing like an empty
barrel.

"That you, Mr. Hythe," exclaimed the second
officer, unmistakably glad to have some one to
speak to.  "Isn't this a set-to?  I don't know
what can be happening."

Just then a brilliant flash of lightning played
upon the turmoil of broken water without.  In
the pale-blue glare it seemed as if the surface
of the angry sea was one expanse of tall, steep
waves--an exaggerated tidal race.

"Ah, that's better," ejaculated Hythe, as the
hiss of incoming water could be faintly
distinguished above the hammering of the waves
against the "Aphrodite's" sides and upon her
deck.  "We're diving once more."

At twelve fathoms the motion, though still
erratic, became less marked, and the condition
of things was vastly improved when the electric
light was once more connected up.

Every available search-light was switched on,
and as the powerful beams were directed through
the scuttles Hythe and Kenwyn gave a
simultaneous exclamation of surprise.  Eddying
through the water as far as the rays of light could
penetrate were columns of smoke mingled with
bubbles full of gaseous vapour.  Now and again
dark masses would shoot upwards with the
velocity of a meteor.

"A submarine eruption, by Jove!" declared
Hythe.  "We're over the mouth of a submerged
crater.  That accounts for the earthquake shocks
in Malta and elsewhere.  Those black objects
we see whizzing by must be lumps of lava."

Kenwyn placed his hand upon the side of the
conning-tower.  The metal felt quite warm to
his touch.  The thermometer registered
eighty-five degrees.

"We'll be boiled alive if this lasts," he
exclaimed.  "The sea must be quite hot.
Ah! that's better," he added, as the propellers began to
revolve.  "We ought to get out of this natural
saucepan as soon as possible."

Just then Captain Restronguet's voice was
heard at the telephone inquiring if Mr. Hythe
were in the conning-tower.

"He is, sir," replied Kenwyn.

"Ask him to step this way.  The watertight
doors are now open."

"Have you noticed the sudden rise of
temperature, Mr. Hythe?" asked the captain when
the sub reached the fore conning-tower.  "You
have?  I thought you would.  We've had a
most unusual experience; we have passed almost
over the mouth of a submarine volcano at the
moment of an eruption.  The 'Aphrodite' was
almost drawn into the vortex caused by the rush
of water to fill the cavity formed by the expelled
lava from the crater."

"I wonder if another island has been created, sir?"

"If there has been the 'Aphrodite' has
narrowly escaped being left high and dry upon
it, Mr. Hythe.  It was in the last century that
an island suddenly appeared almost in this
latitude and longitude.  The British, I believe,
claimed it and so did the Italians; but before
the question of ownership was decided the island
settled the matter by disappearing.  If----"

"Look ahead, sir!" exclaimed the quartermaster
in horrified tones.

The water was now slightly less smoke-laden,
and the two for'ard search-lights made a
tolerable clear path for nearly a hundred yards ahead.
Into that double ray of light came the hull of
a sinking vessel.  It was sinking stern foremost
with a slight list to starboard.  Hythe recognized
the type of craft, a Sicilian fishing-boat.  Her
mast had snapped off about three feet above the
deck, while her lateen sail, extended by the
upward tendency of the wooden yard was almost
as rigid as a sheet of metal.  Lashed to the
tiller was the helmsman--a dark-skinned,
curly-haired Italian.  The sub could even distinguish
his gold ear-rings.  The poor fellow was still
struggling desperately yet aimlessly, for he made
no effort to cast off the rope that bound him to
his post of duty.  His hands clutched wildly at
the yielding water.  Amidships were two other
men, similarly secured, but they were evidently
already drowned since they were making no
attempt to save themselves.

But for a brief instant did the distressing
vision last, for with a quick movement the
quartermaster placed the helm hard over, the
"Aphrodite" swerved, and the parallel beams
shone upon a waste of unbroken water.

Captain Restronguet muttered something under
his breath.

"Can nothing be done to save them?" asked Hythe.

The captain shook his head.

"Nothing," he replied deliberately.  "Nothing.
Had there been a ghost of a chance we would
have taken the risk."

For several moments the occupants of the
conning-tower stood in silence, gazing fixedly
at the chaos of water before their eyes.  By
this time the "Aphrodite" had passed the
influence of the eruption, for she no longer rolled
and plunged on her submarine course.

"The danger is now over, Mr. Hythe," said
Captain Restronguet at length.  "Perhaps you
would care to resume your bed?  I am afraid
that everything is in a fearful mess 'tween decks,
though."

"It is lucky for us it is no worse, sir.  For the
moment I----"

A dull thud upon the deck of the submarine
caused the sub's remarks to remain incompleted.
The shock literally caused the "Aphrodite" to reel.

"Bring her up, sir, bring her up!" exclaimed
Devoran's voice at the telephone.  Captain
Restronguet did not wait for an explanation.
Ordering the quartermaster to trim the horizontal
rudders he himself pressed the lever controlling
the emergency ballast tanks.  Up rose the
submarine, though not with her accustomed rapidity,
and soon she was pounding sluggishly in the still
agitated sea that swept her fore and aft and
washed over on all sides.

"A craft of sorts has foundered right on top
of us, sir," continued the chief officer.  "There
are men still alive in her--or, at least, I fancy so."

Captain Restronguet and Hythe waited to
hear no more.  Leaving the conning-tower in
charge of the quartermaster they rushed off to
where Devoran was stationed.  The fore-scuttle
of the rearward conning-tower was obstructed
by the bulky quivering hull of a large
fishing-vessel.  She was lying on her port bilges, her
keel being wedged in between the deck and the
base of the conning-tower, but so insecure was
her balance that every movement of the "Aphrodite"
in the furious sea threatened to slide her
once more into the depths.

"Are the men still there?" asked Captain Restronguet.

"They were, sir, when she settled on our deck."

The sound of the concussion had brought
the rest of the crew aft, and in a crowd they
stood at the foot of the steps leading to the
tower.  The captain leant over the circular
aperture and hailed them.

"Men," said he, "who will take the risk and
venture outside?"

A dozen voices replied in the affirmative, even
that of Gwennap, the non-swimmer.

"You, Polglaze, and you, Lancarrow.  A
couple of life-lines there, and two men to tend
them."

Quickly Polglaze and Lancarrow sprang up
the ladder and entered the conning-tower.

"There's a boat or small craft lying across our
deck," explained Captain Restronguet.  "I
believe there are some of her crew still aboard.
I want you to investigate, and should there be
any men bring them back."

Deftly the two members of the "Aphrodite's"
crew secured the life-lines round their waists.
Devoran unlocked the lid of the aperture in the
conning-tower.  As the hatch opened a wave
burst through, flooding the floor to a depth of
two inches--the height of the coaming round the
trap-door leading to the Number Two Platform.
Before a second wave had time to add to the
mischief already Polglaze and Lancarrow were
battling their way up the shelving, slippery sides
of the stranded vessel.  To gain her deck there
were no other means, for her keel extended far
beyond the side of the submarine.  Twice
Lancarrow slipped, but aided by his companion,
who was already astride the fishing-boat's shattered
bulwarks he succeeded in scaling the wall of wood.

Just then a heavy sea came inboard.  The
wrecked craft rocked, seemed on the point of
lurching once more into the depths, when a
correcting heel of the "Aphrodite" saved the
situation and the lives of the two heroes.

Peering through the almost closed hatch
Devoran and Hythe saw Polglaze slide down
the boat's hull, grasping what looked like a
bundle of clothing in his arms.

"Keep a strain on the life-line," ordered the
chief officer.  "Smartly now--haul away."

Another sea flooded the deck and swirled past
the base of the conning-tower.  The strain on
Polglaze's life-line was enormous, but fortunately
the rope was a sound one.  As the smother of
foam subsided Polglaze's face appeared at the
almost closed hatchway.

"Here you are, sir," he exclaimed breathlessly.
Hythe and the first officer instantly opened the
lid, and the bundle--the body of a boy about ten
years of age--was thrust into their arms.  Ere
another wave hurled itself upon the rescuer
Polglaze was safe within the conning-tower.

And now Lancarrow's burly form appeared
sitting astride the fishing-craft's bulwarks.  He
evidently had a weightier burden, for in spite of
his efforts the powerful Cornishman could not at
first raise it clear of the sides.  Thrice he essayed
the task and the third time was successful.  His
burden was the *padrone* or master of the wrecked
craft.

Just then a formidable sea, higher than the
rest, came hissing and foaming down upon the
submarine.  Lancarrow with his back turned to
it was unaware of the danger, but both Hythe
and Devoran saw it and shouted a warning.
Their voices were drowned in the howling and
shrieking of the gale.

With a smother of hissing foam the wave
burst.  Lancarrow, still grasping his burden, was
hurled from the bulwarks and thrown upon the
"Aphrodite's" deck.  The same wave sent the
fishing-boat back into the depths, thus depriving
Lancarrow of the slight shelter hitherto afforded by
the hull, and hurled him across the slippery deck.
Fortunately he was not stunned by the impact
and did not relinquish his hold of the man he
had rescued, while the life-line saved both from
being washed overboard.

Realizing the danger Hythe fastened round
his own waist the rope that Polglaze had cast off,
and bidding Kenwyn and Devoran to open the
hatch, he dashed to the aid of the rescuer and
rescued.

Another wave flung him back just as he was
on the point of gripping Lancarrow round the
chest.  The rush of water swept all three against
the conning-tower.  The slack of the life-lines
were hauled in, and the receding water left them
close to the hatchway.

"I've got him," spluttered the sub, as he laid
hold of the unconscious Italian.  "You look after
yourself, Lancarrow."

With a heave Hythe lifted the *padrone* within
reach of those within the conning-tower, the
Cornishman followed, and by a display of
remarkable yet undignified agility the sub succeeded
in gaining safety ere a tremendous breaker hurled
itself in vain against the massive metal plating.

The "Aphrodite" was quickly submerged to
a depth of nine fathoms and driven ahead at a
modest seven knots, while steps were taken to
restore the rescued man and boy to life.  It did
not take long for the latter to open his eyes, but
in the case of the old man three hours of
unremitting toil failed to give any sign of success.
More than once Hythe shook his head doubtfully,
but Captain Restronguet had no intention
of admitting defeat.  As fast as one of the
operators showed signs of fatigue another took
his place in their efforts to restore the action of
breathing.

After exactly three hours and ten minutes'
steady work the old Italian showed signs of
respiration.

"We've managed it," exclaimed Kenwyn
joyfully, in the tone of a man who has fought a
hard struggle and has won the victory.

"Avast there!" ordered the captain to Gwennap
who was still pressing and relaxing the
pressure on the patient's body.  "Watch him
carefully."

But in less than a minute the natural breathing
ceased, and the efforts to restore respiration had
to be renewed.  It was not until half an hour
later that the *padrone* was able to be put to bed
and allowed to sleep, Kenwyn and Hythe
volunteering to stand by and keep a watch over
the patient.

It was now daylight.  The fury of the waves
had abated, and only a long sullen roll served as
a reminder of the terrific agitation of the sea a
few hours previously.

Captain Restronguet, therefore, decided to
bring the "Aphrodite" to the surface, so that the
loss of time during the period when the submarine
was in the zone of the volcanic disturbance could
be made good.

"The deck looks different to me, sir," remarked
the quartermaster when Captain Restronguet
entered the conning-tower.  "I've noticed it
ever since it grew light."

"How do you mean different?" asked the
captain going towards one of the scuttles.  A
moment later he shouted to the chief officer.

"Hurry up and open the fore-hatch, Mr. Devoran,
if you please.  We're in for a run of
bad luck, it seems."

Well might Captain Restronguet exclaim thus,
for instead of the protective garb of light
absorbing metal the submarine from stem to stern and
from the top of the conning-tower to the keel was
as black as a lump of coal.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE RESCUED ITALIANS`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XVII.


.. class:: center medium

   THE RESCUED ITALIANS.

.. vspace:: 2

As soon as the fore-hatch cover had been
unshipped Captain Restronguet, accompanied by
Devoran and Kenwyn, hastened on deck.  Hythe,
hearing the captain's exclamation, hurried after him.

The sky was now perfectly clear, the motion
of the sea had almost subsided.  But instead of
the stinging, ozone-laden breeze a faint odour
resembling that of rotten eggs seemed to pervade
the air.

"H'm," ejaculated Captain Restronguet.  "In
spite of my faith in the high qualities of restronium
the metal has played me false!"

"How so, sir?" asked the chief officer.

"It is not proof against the action of sulphur.
Even now the air reeks of sulphur, and it was a
sea highly charged with sulphur that the
'Aphrodite' passed through when she was in the
immediate vicinity of the submarine volcano.  Thus
the silver in the alloy has been affected, and in
place of a light-absorbing metal we have a
dead-black surface."

"It is a serious look-out, sir," observed the sub.

"Serious.  Serious isn't the word for it.  We
have lost a great factor in our means of offence
and defence.  We are no longer practically invisible."

"Can the defect be remedied?"

"Only by subjecting the plating to a fresh
treatment, and that can only be done at our base
in Sumatra.  But be that as it may I mean to
continue my search for the 'Vorwartz'.  Possibly
the margin of superiority lies with her, but,
without boasting, I venture to assert that John
Restronguet will prove a match for Karl von
Harburg.  I hope the wireless is intact, Kenwyn?"

"It is, sir," replied the second officer.  "We
have just tapped a message from the P. & O. liner,
'Coghlania,' seventy miles south of Brindisi."

"Anything of importance?"

"No, sir; merely on a matter of ordinary routine."

"Very good, Mr. Kenwyn.  By the by, you
might let me know the state of your accumulators.
Have we sufficient power to take us to the Ægean?"

"I'll ascertain, sir," replied the second officer.

Before noon the man and boy rescued from the
fishing-boat had recovered sufficiently to sit up.
Their story was a thrilling one.  Hythe's
knowledge of Italian enabled him to follow the patois
without much difficulty.  They had, in company
with seven other craft, put out of Porto
Empedocle, on the south coast of Sicily.  It was a fine
night with a light off-shore breeze, the weather
being fair.  Thus tempted they ventured farther
from land than they were accustomed to.  Shortly
after midnight a strange phenomenon was
observed.  The stars were shining through a
blood-red haze, while a strong sulphurous odour was
noticed.  The superstitious fishermen, frightened
more by omens than by bad weather, prepared
to return homewards, but the wind died
completely away.  At two in the morning a strong
nor'easterly breeze sprang up, which soon
developed into a cyclonic gale.  Hastily reducing
their canvas the fishing fleet drove at the mercy
of wind and wave, till after ten minutes of great
peril they found themselves once more becalmed
in an agitated sea.  Once more sail was hoisted,
in anticipation of a favouring breeze.

Suddenly the water seemed to be rent in twain.
A deep trough appeared less than a hundred
yards from the sternmost boat, and horror-stricken
the terrified Italians found that their frail vessels
were being sucked into the abyss.  Then the
cavity in the sea closed and instead a column of
water, stones, mud, steam, and smoke was thrown
up with tremendous force.  The starlight gave
place to inky blackness, and the next thing the
*padrone* of the "Favarganna"--that being the
name of the craft belonging to the rescued
man--realized that the doomed vessel was on her
beam ends.  She righted, though half filled with
water.  The old man had barely time to lash his
grandson and himself to the rudder head, ere a
huge wave swept the boat from stem to stern
and down in the depths she plunged.

Nor was old Beppo's awe any the less when
he heard from Hythe of the manner of his almost
miraculous escape.  Devoutly crossing himself
the Italian burst into a torrent of thanks to his
preservers, and finished up by asking where they
thought of landing him?

"I had thought of that," said Captain Restronguet
when the sub interpreted the *padrone's* request.
"Since there is now no real necessity
for concealment, I think we might hail the first
vessel we come across that is proceeding to
Messina--if Messina still stands after the eruption."

An opportunity presented itself late in the
afternoon.  The "Aphrodite" was about two
hundred miles S.S.E. of Cape Passaro, and
running on the surface, when a tramp steamer hove
in sight steering N.W.  "We'll stop that fellow,
Devoran," exclaimed the captain.  "What does
she look like?"

"I cannot make out, sir, she flies no ensign,"
replied the chief officer, after a lengthy survey
through his telescope.

Still unperceived by the oncoming vessel the
"Aphrodite" stood out in order to intercept her.
At a request from Captain Restronguet two of
the seamen shipped a light mast abaft the
fore-conning-tower, and on this was hoisted the
International Code signal--flags indicating "I wish
to communicate--heave to."

As soon as the signal was observed the tramp's
helm was ported as if she meditated flight, but
ordering full speed ahead Captain Restronguet
soon made it evident that the "Aphrodite" could
go two knots to the steamer's one.  The tramp's
engines were set at half-speed astern and
simultaneously the affirmative pendant fluttered from
her stumpy foremast, while the Greek mercantile
flag was hoisted on her ensign-staff.

.. _`"CAPTAIN RESTRONGUET SOON MADE IT EVIDENT THAT THE APHRODITE. COULD GO TWO KNOTS TO THE STEAMER'S ONE."`:

.. figure:: images/img-222.jpg
   :align: center
   :alt: "CAPTAIN RESTRONGUET SOON MADE IT EVIDENT THAT THE APHRODITE. COULD GO TWO KNOTS TO THE STEAMER'S ONE."

   "CAPTAIN RESTRONGUET SOON MADE IT EVIDENT THAT THE APHRODITE. COULD GO TWO KNOTS TO THE STEAMER'S ONE."

"The 'Eleusis' of the Piraeus," announced
Captain Restronguet, who was able to decipher
with ease the modern Greek characters on her stern.

Gracefully the "Aphrodite" was brought to a
stand-still within fifty yards of the Greek tramp,
over whose red-leaded bulwarks appeared the
heads of about twenty nondescripts who formed
her crew.

"'Eleusis' ahoy!" hailed Captain Restronguet
in stentorian tones.

"What ship's dat?" asked the Grecian master,
who spoke English by reason of several years'
service in the British Mercantile Marine.

"Submarine 'Aphrodite,'" replied her captain.

Evidently the fame of Captain Restronguet
had already reached the ears of the master of the
"Eleusis," for he gave a dramatic gesture of surprise.

"What want, eh?  Me peaceful."

"So are we," rejoined Captain Restronguet.
"We have just picked up a man and a boy from
an Italian fishing-boat.  Where are you bound?"

"Messina, Napoli an' Civita Vecchia, sar."

"Will you take these two men as far as Messina?"

The Greek hesitated.  His natural cupidity,
now that the submarine had shown no hostile
intentions, returned.

"Can dey pay passage-monnaire?"

"Passage-money, you white-livered swab!"
roared Captain Restronguet.  "Is that the way
you would treat poor shipwrecked mariners?
Send a boat instantly, and take these people to
Messina.  If I fail to hear of their safe arrival from
the Consul of that port I will take good care to
obtain satisfaction from you on your homeward
voyage.  Do you understand?"

"Yas, captain," replied the fellow, thoroughly
cowed.  "Me send boat."

"If that Greek scoundrel had not been so jolly
mean I would have paid him well for his
assistance," remarked Captain Restronguet to the
sub.  "As it is, not a penny will he get from me.
Excuse me a few minutes, Mr. Hythe?"

So saying the captain went below; but hardly
had his head and shoulders disappeared down the
hatchway when he reappeared.

"Would you mind coming with me, Mr. Hythe?"
he asked.  "I am about to give that
poor fisherman a small present to set him up
after his severe loss.  I prefer to perform little
acts of this nature in private, but since I am
unable to speak a word of their lingo I realize I
must enlist your services.  But, please, no
mention of this to anyone on board."

Upon entering the cabin in which old Beppo
and his grandson were, Captain Restronguet
produced a leather pouch and took from it thirty
English sovereigns.  These he gave to the
*padrone* and bestowed another gold coin upon the
lad, whereupon the rescued Italians' thanks were
so profuse and pantomimic that their benefactor
asked the sub to tell them peremptorily to "shut up."

"And let them know that the British Consul
at Messina will arrange for them to have the gold
changed into the national currency," he added.
"Here is a note explaining that this man came
by the money honestly.  I think His Britannic
Majesty's Consul will recognize that the signature
is genuine.  Also tell Beppo that he is on no
account to pay the Greek skipper anything for
his passage beyond a fair price for all meals
supplied."

So saying Captain Restronguet strode out of
the cabin leaving the sub to explain matters to
the bewildered *padrone*, to whom the gold was a
sum greater than he could hope to amass in ten
years' hard toil.

"Boat alongside, sir," announced Polglaze.

Followed by Beppo and his grandson, who,
radiant with pleasure, had now almost forgotten
the perils they had undergone, Hythe went on
deck.  Here were gathered almost every one of
the officers and crew of the submarine, while in
a gig made fast on the "Aphrodite's" starboard
quarter were four disreputable-looking Greek
seamen.

The "Aphrodite's" men gave the departing
Italians a rousing cheer, then as soon as the boat
returned to the "Eleusis," Captain Restronguet
gave orders for general quarters.

Ere the Greek vessel's propeller began to
revolve the submarine disappeared beneath the
surface, only to reappear on the port side of the
tramp.  Then, hoisting and dipping Captain
Restronguet's green and white ensign, a
compliment that the skipper of the "Eleusis"
grudgingly returned, the "Aphrodite" resumed her
voyage on her quest of the desperado, Karl
von Harburg.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE RIVALS PASS THROUGH THE SUEZ CANAL`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XVIII.


.. class:: center medium

   THE RIVALS PASS THROUGH THE SUEZ CANAL.

.. vspace:: 2

Four days later, with her accumulators charged
to their fullest capacity, the "Aphrodite" arose
from her anchorage in the Dardanelles.

During that period, although wireless messages
were being received with almost monotonous
regularity, no definite news had come to hand
with reference to the movements of the "Vorwartz."

True, the captain of the Russian battleship,
"Imperator Pavel," sent a wireless message to
Sevastopol, which was in turn transmitted to
St. Petersburg and thence to the world in
general, to the effect that at eight a.m. on the
morning of the 6th he had sighted a submarine
eighty miles S.S.W. of that Crimean port.  Having
orders to sink the "Vorwartz" without warning,
the Russian officer caused a heavy fire to be
opened upon the submarine with the "Imperator
Pavel's" twelve and three-pounder quick-firers.
Every one of these guns that could be brought
to bear--eighteen out of forty--joined in the
racket, and confident of having destroyed the
modern buccaneer, the Russian battleship
returned to Sevastopol.

Captain Restronguet received this intelligence
with mixed feelings.  He had his doubts.  He
knew that the rapid firing of the Russian fleet
was notoriously ill-aimed and inaccurate; he
knew also that with a battleship in the vicinity
Karl von Harburg would hesitate to bring his
craft to the surface.  If, however, the news was
correct he was saved a lot of trouble, and was
now at liberty to return to his base in the Dutch
East Indies.  Nevertheless he regretted, in no
small measure, the fact that he had not been
able to achieve the distinction of sinking the
"Vorwartz" under conditions favourable to the
lives of her crew.

An hour or so later the stalwart Cornishman
executed a dance in his cabin, much to the
astonishment of Hythe and Kenwyn who happened
to be present.

The report of the captain of the "Imperator
Pavel" was replied to by a demand from the
Bulgarian Government to know why the Russians
had fired upon one of their vessels.  It appeared
that a submarine had been ordered and built at
Ansaldo's Works at Sestri, Italy, for the new
Bulgarian Navy, and having finished her
acceptance trials was returning to Varna.  She was
running on the surface and made no attempt to
alter her course, or to act in any way that might
be regarded as suspicious; but when passing the
"Imperator Pavel" at a distance of two miles,
the Russians greeted her with a sudden and
totally unexpected volley of quick-firing shells.

The Bulgarian submarine quickly dived.  According
to the estimate of the Italian contractors'
representative who was on board, not less than
one hundred and twenty shells were fired, of
which not one did the slightest damage beyond
cutting away the ensign-staff.

"Those Bulgarians will make a fine business
of this, Hythe!" exclaimed Captain Restronguet.
"With Russia on bad terms with Austria and
Germany the Balkan States can pull the Bear's
tail as much as they like.  And trust any of the
Balkan States for that; they would draw blood
out of a stone if they could.  But some day the
Powers will settle down harmoniously, and the
successors to the Turkish Empire in Europe will
have to knuckle under somewhat."

"You don't seem very partial to the Balkan
States, sir," remarked the sub.

"Partial?  By Jove, I wish I could be!  We
had a very good specimen the other day in the
person of that rascally skipper of the Greek
tramp.  The stalwarts of ancient Greece would
turn in their graves could they but realize to
what depths their so-called descendants have
fallen.  Well, Kenwyn, what is it now?  Another
purposeless message?"

"I think not, sir," replied the second officer,
handing his chief the latest "wireless" received
on board.

This time, instead of executing a dance,
Captain Restronguet very nearly lost his temper.

"That rogue von Harburg has done me very
neatly this time, Hythe!" he exclaimed.  "He
never was in the Black Sea, that's my belief.
Here's a message announcing that the
'Vorwartz' has passed through the Suez Canal."

"Surely that's impossible!"

"Well, then, there's the message.  It is from
an exceptionally trustworthy agent.  I say,
Mr. Kenwyn, just reply, will you?  And ask to be
kept in touch with events."

"Very good, sir," replied the second officer,
withdrawing.

"I am anxious to know how a submarine
could pass through the Canal without being
detected and stopped," remarked the sub, who
entertained grave doubts as to the authenticity
of the wireless message, especially after the
"Imperator Pavel" affair.

"So am I, Mr. Hythe," rejoined Captain
Restronguet, who had now recovered his
customary coolness of mind.  "So am I, since
where the 'Vorwartz' can go the 'Aphrodite
can go also."

"You mean to traverse the Suez Canal?"

"By fair means, or failing that by foul.
Otherwise it would mean that we have to
circumnavigate the African Continent, and in the
time we were so occupied what would Karl von
Harburg be doing?"

Within twenty minutes of the receipt of the
momentous news the "Aphrodite" was abreast
of the classic Isle of Tenedos, bound for Port
Said.  All the while she had remained in the
Dardanelles, although within a few miles of the
seaport of Gallipoli, she had refrained from giving
any signs of her presence.  But at the moment
of departure Captain Restronguet could not
resist leaving his card in the shape of one of his
green and white buoys on which were painted
his customary compliments.

During the run across from Gallipoli to Port
Said a complete text of Karl von Harburg's
feat, as reported in the *Egyptian Monitor*, was
transmitted by Captain Restronguet's agent for
the information of his employer.

It was indeed a daring coup on the part of the
German renegade.

Early one morning the "Vorwartz," running
light, brought up between the breakwaters that,
extending nearly two miles from shore, mark the
Mediterranean entrance to the Canal.  Here,
landing a party of armed men, he took possession
of the two lighthouses, and terrified the
lightkeepers into submission.  He compelled them
to ascertain by telegraph what vessels had entered
the canal during the previous twenty-four hours
and what were expected.  Finding that there
were no armed ships between Port Said and
Suez, and none within easy steaming
distance of the latter port, he resolved upon the
desperate enterprise of passing through at full
speed.  To keep submerged would mean loss of
time and possibilities of running aground in the
Bitter Lakes.

Thus, almost before the Canal authorities at
Port Said recovered from their astonishment that a
strangely-constructed vessel should have passed
into the Canal at several knots above the
regulation speed and without paying the customary
dues, the "Vorwartz" was well on her way to
Ismalia.

In the Little Bitter Lake her luck deserted
her, for in attempting to pass a lumbering Dutch
tramp steamer, the "Vorwartz" struck upon the
sand on the west side of the Canal.

Meanwhile the telegraph had not been idle.
It was rightly conjectured that the mysterious
craft was that of the modern buccaneer, and a
battery of Egyptian artillery had been ordered
from Cairo.  The artillerymen were sent by
train, the route being so roundabout that several
hours elapsed before the men and guns detrained
at the nearest station, where they were separated
by a fresh water canal and a stretch of desert from
the spot where the "Vorwartz" had grounded.

It was fortunate for the 'Gippy artillery that
Karl von Harburg did not possess the same
potential means of offence as did the captain of the
"Aphrodite," otherwise the charged shells in the
limbers might have exploded with disastrous
results.  Eventually, after great exertion, the blacks
got their guns into position and prepared to hull
the helpless submarine.  Just then a heavy
sandstorm swept down.  The breech-blocks of the
quick-firers had to be promptly covered up to
prevent the ill-effects of the sand upon the
delicate mechanism.  When the storm ceased the
"Vorwartz" was once more afloat and hidden
by the sand hills.

Only one course remained for the British
officer in charge of the Artillery to take.  That
was to regain the railway and entrain for Suez,
where another chance of cutting off the
submarine's retreat was left.  But once again the
troops were foiled, for before they reached Suez,
the "Vorwartz" had passed Port Ibrahim, the
Red Sea entrance to the Canal.

Now was Karl von Harburg's opportunity to
enrich himself with the plunder from helpless
liners and merchantmen.  The Red Sea was
practically denuded of men-of-war.  A pair of
obsolete gunboats lay off Suakin.  They were not
capable of doing more than twelve knots, and
could be regarded with contempt.  A British
third-class cruiser, one of the units of the East
Indies squadron, was stationed at Aden, while the
remainder of the squadron was at Bombay, with the
exception of a second-class cruiser that could not
well be withdrawn from the Persian Gulf, without
the risk of allowing dangerous cargoes of rifles
to be "run" by the Arab dhows that were ever
awaiting their opportunity for the hazardous yet
profitable business.

Upon the arrival of the "Aphrodite" at Port
Said, Captain Restronguet was literally received
with open arms by the harassed and distracted
Canal officials.  The presence of the "Vorwartz"
in the Red Sea meant a far greater loss to them
in due and tolls than while she was in the
Levant, and even then there had been an appreciable
falling off in the receipts.  Without the faintest
delay Captain Restronguet received permission
to take his wonderful submarine through the
hundred miles of artificial waterway, special
facilities being granted so that no undue delay
would be experienced.  It was generally
recognized that if anyone had the honour and
distinction of ridding the seas of a danger and a pest
that man was Captain Restronguet.

The "Aphrodite" made the journey on the
surface and by night.  She was twelve hours
behind her rival.  Fortunately it was bright
moonlight, and aided by the powerful search-light
on board and the electric arc lamps that had
recently been placed on the banks of the canal,
the passage was performed most expeditiously.
At every town and village crowds assembled to
cheer the modern magician.  At Ismalia the
Khedive's band, sent specially from the palace
at Cairo, serenaded the "Aphrodite"; the
shipping at Port Ibrahim hailed her approach with a
deafening salute upon their syrens; and just as
dawn was breaking the submarine, having
accomplished the trip in less than seven hours,
slipped gracefully under the waters of the Gulf
of Suez.

Captain Restronguet's spirits rose.  He was
flattered with the reception accorded him by the
Canal authorities.  He realized that, instead of
being regarded with suspicion, the world was
beginning to appreciate his services to mankind.

"We'll have him right enough," he remarked
confidentially to Devoran.  "There's a faint
tremor noticeable on the detector that cannot
mean anything but the presence of the 'Vorwartz.'  I
have been officially informed that no Government
submarine is within a thousand miles of us."

"How far do you think the vessel is, sir?"
asked Hythe.

"The detector is sensitive to anything of that
nature within a hundred and twenty miles, but,
of course, the actual position of the chase cannot
be fixed with any degree of accuracy at that
distance.  But as soon as we approach within twenty
miles of von Harburg's counterfeit presentment of
my submarine, the position of the 'Vorwartz'
will be accurately recorded on the chart controlled
by the electric detector."

During lunch the wireless room reported that
a vessel was sending out calls for urgent aid, and
in response to a request for further details came
the startling news that the Dutch liner, "Noord
Brabant," had been forcibly boarded by the crew
of the "Vorwartz" fifteen miles due east of Wadi
Jemel.  Several of the Dutchmen had been
wounded when attempting to resist; the
strong-room had been forced, and nearly ten thousand
pounds worth of gold had been removed.  Not
satisfied with this, Karl von Harburg discharged
a torpedo at the ill-fated "Noord Brabant,"
which, exploding under her starboard quarter,
completely flooded the after compartments.
Leaking badly, for the shock had strained the
water-tight bulkheads, the liner headed slowly for Sherm
Sheikh, an inlet in the mainland, where her
captain hoped to run her aground on the mud and
sand that form the bottom of the cove.

"Here we are," exclaimed Captain Restronguet,
running his finger over the chart of the Red Sea.
"Ninety miles from Wadi Jemel; three hours
run at our maximum speed.  Keep her going for
all she's worth, Kenwyn.  I'll be with you in the
conning-tower in less than ten minutes.  Let the
'Noord Brabant' know we're on our way, and
keep me informed of how she's progressing."

While the "Aphrodite" tore on her errand of
mercy, Carclew was keeping vigilant watch upon
the electric detector; but, to the disgust of all on
board, instead of the "Vorwartz" making her
presence felt more strongly the sensitive current
grew more and more feeble.  Was it possible,
then, that the "Vorwartz" was able to attain
a much greater speed than her rival, and in
consequence slipping farther and farther from the
doggedly-pursuing avenger?

Just as Captain Restronguet, accompanied by
his guest, was about to proceed to the conning-tower,
a final message came from the ill-fated
"Noord Brabant"--"Sinking; are taking to the boats."

But the "Aphrodite" was not the only vessel
hurrying to the rescue.  The P. & O. Liner,
"Persia," a magnificent internal-combustion
propelled ship of 40,000 tons, that had been built to
"knock spots off" the largest North German
Lloyd boat on the Australian route, was returning
on her maiden voyage.  Warnings of the
presence of the "Vorwartz" had been given her.
Her cargo was a precious one; moreover she
carried His Majesty's mails; but at the urgent
call of distress all other considerations were set
aside.

The officers of the "Persia" knew the risks they
were running.  It was recognized that Karl von
Harburg would not attempt to attack or intercept
the liner unless the "Vorwartz" were submerged,
consequently the speed of the submarine would
then be considerably lower than that of the liner.
The "Persia" being a subsidized vessel under
the recent Admiralty regulations, had a large
percentage of Royal Naval Reserve officers and
men in her crew; she was armed with light,
quick-firing guns, and, in fact, was a powerful
"protected" cruiser.

Owing to the danger the captain and the first
officer were both on the "Persia's" bridge.
Elaborate precautions had been taken to keep
the news from the passengers, but, as is frequently
the case, the intelligence was soon common
property.  That night no one went to bed; since it
was within the bounds of possibility that in the
event of being torpedoed by the ruthless
"Vorwartz" it would be necessary to take to the boats.
All lights were carefully screened; yet in spite of
these preparations the "Persia" had the narrowest
escape in her career.

Unseen and unheard by the officers of the
watch, a torpedo discharged from the lurking
"Vorwartz" glided within ten feet of her rudder.
Just at daybreak the "Aphrodite" sighted the
boats of the ill-fated "Noord Brabant."  Towed
by two motor pinnaces the life-boats, crowded with
passengers, were slowly making their way northward.
The "Aphrodite" had arrived in the
very nick of time, for the sudden change from
intense darkness to daybreak revealed the fact
that three suspicious-looking Arab dhows were
making ready to pounce down upon the unarmed
boats.

"Red Sea pirates, by Jove!" exclaimed Captain Restronguet.

"Certainly looks like it, sir," replied the sub.
"It's a curious fact, but our cruisers systematically
search every little harbour on the Arabian coast
and find nothing beyond a few dhows owned by
Arab traders whose papers are quite in order.
But once let a vessel go ashore or get into
difficulties, armed dhows, manned by cut-throat
Arabs, gather round like flies about a honey-pot.
Goodness only knows where they come from."

"I'll tell you where they'll go to if they don't
pretty soon sheer off," rejoined Captain
Restronguet grimly.

"Are you standing in pursuit, sir?" asked Devoran.

"Impossible under present circumstances,
Mr. Devoran.  Look, those motor-boats cannot make
headway against wind and sea.  They have too
much to tow.  Another hour will see the whole
swarm of boats smashed to firewood unless we
do something."

The "Noord Brabant's" boats were indeed
in a perilous position.  Those provided with
oars were two overcrowded to allow the rowers
to materially assist; waves were repeatedly
breaking over the deeply laden boats, and every
available article that could be used as a baler was
pressed into use.  All the while the flotilla was
slowly drifting shorewards, the rearmost boats
being almost inside the broad expanse of broken
water.

Bringing the "Aphrodite" head to wind Captain
Restronguet ordered a heavy grass warp to be
veered out by means of a barrel.  This one of
the motor launches secured and made fast, while
the second slipped half of the boats and
transferred them to the care of the first towing craft.
With a reduced number of boats in tow the
second pinnace was then able to make headway.

"Easy ahead!" ordered the "Aphrodite's"
captain, and with a long string of boats straining
at the hawser the submarine, still on the surface,
forged ahead.

"Steady, sir," ejaculated Kenwyn.  "We're
pulling them under."

Such was the case.  The speed of the "Aphrodite"
was sufficient to cause sheets of solid water
to fly over the bows of the Dutch boats.  To
reduce speed was impossible, since that would
have meant a backward movement on to a lee shore.

"Have we any oil to spare on board?" asked the sub.

"We might manage a barrel of lubricating oil,"
answered Captain Restronguet.  "A good idea
of yours, Mr. Hythe."

To attempt to hoist a heavy barrel of oil with
the "Aphrodite" rolling like a barge would be
hazardous both to the barrel and the men engaged
in sending it up the hatchway.  Accordingly the
barrel was tapped and the centrifugal pump,
worked by one of the auxiliary motors, threw the
heavy oil over the side.  Soon, instead of a
turmoil of white crested wind-swept waves a broad
belt of sluggishly heaving water trailed in the
wake of the "Aphrodite," and through this patch
of comparatively calm sea the boats of the "Noord
Brabant" were towed in safety.

Long before the barrel of oil was exhausted
the flotilla was clear of the broken water close
to the land, and the risk of being swamped was
reduced to a minimum.

"Now what's to be done," asked Kenwyn of
Hythe, as the two stood on the wake of the after
conning-tower watching the procession of boats.
"We must return to Port Ibrahim with this little
mob, I suppose?"

"If we do we'll have our work cut out," replied
the sub.  "As soon as we make for that port
the wind will be broadside on, and the boats will
again be in danger of swamping.  All the oil we
have on board would not save them, since it would
drift to lee'ard.  No, the only way I can suggest--and
Captain Restronguet is apparently of the
same opinion--is that we plug head to wind until
some vessel comes along and picks up the survivors."

Just then the "Aphrodite's" wireless picked up
a general message sent out by the "Persia" to
the effect that she was going at full speed to the
scene of the disaster.

Captain Restronguet's face lighted up when
he heard the good news.

"We shall now have a free hand," he remarked.
"But at the same time it is a mystery to me how
our detector has failed to record the presence of
the 'Vorwartz.'"

"Perhaps she has cleared off due south, while
we are heading due west," suggested the chief
officer.

"That is the only explanation, Mr. Devoran.
It is five hours since the apparatus, sensitive
enough in all purpose, has recorded any
movement.  Well, Carnon?"

"'Persia' in sight, sir," replied the quartermaster,
who had taken up his position, telescope
in hand, on top of the fore conning-tower.

"Capital!" exclaimed Captain Restronguet.
"She'll be close alongside within half an hour.
Pass the word to the leading boat, Mr. Devoran,
and tell them to stand by ready to cast off."

Rapidly the "Persia" approached, then, laying-to
to windward of the string of boats, waited
for them to be towed under her lee.  Boat after
boat discharged its band of passengers, the empty
craft being turned adrift, and within half an hour
of the liner's arrival five hundred Dutchmen had
found shelter under the Blue Ensign.

Great though the attention was towards the
rescued men the chief object of interest to the
British passengers and crew of the "Persia" was
the strangely unfamiliar outline of the
"Aphrodite."  Much had been heard of the mysterious
submarine, the avowed rival of the piratical
"Vorwartz," and now the liner's people had a
unique opportunity of viewing her at close quarters.

When the work of transferring the rescued
Dutchmen was completed Captain Restronguet
took off his cap and saluted the captain of the
huge liner.  Simultaneously a tremendous burst
of cheering came from throats of hundreds; and
with the echoes of the prolonged chorus of
welcome and approbation ringing in their ears, the
crew of the "Aphrodite" quietly yet majestically
disappeared beneath the waves.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`STRUCK BY LIGHTNING`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XIX.


.. class:: center medium

   STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

.. vspace:: 2

"It's a jolly fortunate thing that we fell in with
the 'Persia,'" remarked Kenwyn, within two
hours of parting company with the liner.
"Otherwise it would have been a serious matter with
those Dutchmen in the boats."

"You are right," assented Devoran.  "It is
going to be dirty weather.  The glass is falling
rapidly."

"It will soon be over," observed Hythe.
"'Long foretold, long last; short notice, soon
past.'  That's how the rhyme goes, doesn't it?"

"And a brute of a business while it lasts,"
added the second officer.

The three officers were standing on the after
deck of the "Aphrodite."  The submarine had
again risen to the surface and was plugging away
in a southerly direction on her vague quest for
the unbeatable "Vorwartz."  Captain Restronguet
remained below, absorbed in some abstruse problem.

The sea was smooth, but dark clouds, edged
with bright, copper-tinted hues, were rapidly
banking up against the westerly breeze, while
the rumble of distant thunder was heard at
frequent intervals.  Even though it was close on
midday the sun's light was greatly obscured;
while, on the other hand, the far away Sudan
coast stood up clearly under the effect of
atmospheric refraction.

There was every indication of a sharp yet
severe storm.

"Are you going to submerge her, Devoran?"
asked the sub.

"Not on my own responsibility," replied the
chief officer.  "Until the captain gives the
order--ah, here he is."

"I cannot understand how the detector is
acting," said Captain Restronguet, as he gained
the group of officers.  "I have most carefully
tested the currents and examined the platinum
contact breakers.  The instrument seems in order,
yet it records nothing of the presence of the
'Vorwartz.' It is inexplicable."

"The 'Vorwartz' is doubtless beyond the field
of electrical action, sir," remarked Kenwyn.

"So I have been told before," replied Captain
Restronguet with asperity.  "All the same that
theory will not hold good.  We ought to have
had an intimation of that craft's presence when
she torpedoed the 'Noord Brabant.'  How can
you explain that?"

"Don't you think, sir, we ought to submerge
the ship?" asked Devoran, anxious to change the
subject.  "The glass is falling----"

"There is plenty of time," declared the
captain, who was evidently not in his usual
easy-going humour.  "It certainly looks threatening,
but at this moment the sea is as calm as glass.
Look at those sharks, Devoran.  Vicious looking
brutes, aren't they?  Suppose we give the men
an opportunity at rifle practice."

The captain strolled off to watch the antics of
the tigers of the deep, for four ferocious-looking
sharks had been persistently following the
"Aphrodite" as if anticipating a catastrophe.

The chief officer, although he would much
rather have preferred to make all snug and dive
to a depth of seven or eight fathoms, was not a
man to quibble.  He made his way to the hatch-way,
to call up the small-arms party.  Kenwyn
stood a few paces from his superior, while Hythe,
unwilling to say anything that might lead to his
being snubbed, remained by the after conning-tower.

Suddenly the semi-gloom was rent by a vivid
flash of lightning, that played upon the metal
deck and upon the placid surface of the ominous
sea.  A deafening peal of thunder succeeded the
flash.  For a moment the sub was dazzled by the
glare.  When he looked aft, Kenwyn was lying
on the deck, a portion of the stanchions and rails
were shattered, and Captain Restronguet nowhere
to be seen.

Raising a shout of "Man Overboard!" Hythe
took a running dive and plunged into the sea.
He struck the water heavily, for the "Aphrodite"
was moving at a good speed.  He might very
well have broken his back but for the velocity
with which he executed his dive.  Not till he
rose to the surface did he give one thought to
the dreaded sharks: it was then too late to count
the risk.

Fortunately the monsters, frightened by the
flash of lightning, had for the time being
disappeared.  Hythe struck out to the spot where the
bubbles indicated the captain's position, for,
winded by the shock, the unfortunate man was
sinking never to rise again.

Guided by the bubbles the sub dived.  Eight
powerful strokes he made ere he perceived
Captain Restronguet's form slowly settling
towards the bottom of the sea.  Four more and his
left hand grasped the unconscious man by his
collar.

Striking out with his right, and his unimpeded
legs, Hythe rose towards the surface.  He had
been almost winded by his plunge overboard,
and had had no opportunity to recover his breath.
His lungs felt as if they were on the point of
bursting; his temples throbbed.  It seemed ages
before his head appeared above the surface,
and he was able to take a deep draught of the
sultry air.  Turning on his back he kept himself
afloat, at the same time supporting the unconscious
captain.

The "Aphrodite" had already lost way and
was going astern; in a few minutes a dark,
triangular object cleaving the leaden-coloured water
attracted the sub's attention.  His whole senses
momentarily deserted him.  He realized that a
shark was approaching.

His first instinct was to abandon the
unconscious man and strike out madly towards the
submarine; but in a moment the temptation
passed.  Lashing out with his legs Hythe
churned up a column of water.  The shark
stopped, wheeled and retreated a few yards.

Another of these dreaded fish came up, and
the pair, regaining confidence, began to approach,
swarming towards the two men in ever-narrowing circles.

Hythe could hear the monsters snapping their
triple lines of teeth in anticipation of a meal.
He kicked the more, shouting at the top of his
voice in the hope that the sharks would delay
close investigation until it was too late for them
to consummate their intentions.

The sub had heard tales of how native divers
in the Pacific, knife in hand, boldly attacked the
tigers of the deep.  The recollection gave him
but cold comfort.  True he had a knife, but he
lacked the marvellous aquatic agility of the
Japanese and South Sea Islanders.  Moreover,
directly he released his hold his unfortunate
captain would sink.  He vaguely argued that
it was but another instance of where theory
does not always go hand in hand with practice.

With a sudden rush one of the sharks dashed
straight towards the horrified man.  The brute
turned on its back in order to deliver a terrific
bite.  Then, apparently seized with a sudden
panic, it brought its huge jaws together with a
sickening snap and darted off.  It was a narrow
shave; so narrow that on turning the shark had
rasped Hythe's hand with his rough skin.

Finding that nothing happened to hurt it, the
shark returned to the charge; as it turned on its
back the sub could see right into his capacious
mouth.  He gazed horror-stricken, too terrified
even to kick out or utter a sound.  Even as he
looked the brute's head was literally shattered,
dyeing the water with blood, while the sharp
report of a rifle rang in Hythe's ears.

The coils of a rope hurtling through the air
fell within his reach.  He grasped the means of
safety, yet was too exhausted to do more.
Another shot, and yet another, rang out; then
O'Shaunessey, leaping overboard with a bowline,
passed the loop over his officer's shoulders.

"All right, sorr," exclaimed the Irishman
cheerily.  "Do you let go.  I'll see to the
cap'n, sure I will."

Pale and breathless Hythe was hauled upon
the deck of the "Aphrodite."  Captain Restronguet
was also drawn into safety, and O'Shaunessey,
without any attempt at haste, swarmed
up the rope hand over hand.

Devoran and Kenwyn, handing their still
smoking rifles to a seaman, hastened to where
Captain Restronguet was lying.

"Is he dead?" asked the second officer.

"I am afraid so," replied Devoran gravely,
then as the first blast of the approaching storm
thrashed the hitherto placid water into sheets of
foam he added:--

"Take them below.  Secure the hatches.
All ready, Mr. Kenwyn."

Gliding serenely deep beneath the surface the
"Aphrodite" pursued her way, regardless of the
storm that was now raging fiercely overhead.
Flash after flash of vivid lightning played upon
the angry water, the glare being plainly visible
through the glass scuttles of the conning-towers,
while the deep roar of the thunder literally
shook the heavy metal structure of the submarine.

Gathered around the still unconscious form of
the captain were Hythe, Devoran, Polglaze, and
Mylor the second quartermaster, while without
the cabin, anxiously awaiting the latest news of
their leader, were all the crew who were not
actually on duty.

Kenwyn was at his post in the after conning-tower,
Lancarrow in the fore conning-tower was
entrusted with keeping the "Aphrodite" on her
course, while Carclew was stationed at the
electric detector in order to catch the first
intimation of the return of the "Vorwartz" to within
the range of that instrument's action.

As soon as Captain Restronguet had been
undressed the effect of the lightning stroke was
apparent.  From the nape of his neck to the
lower rib was tattooed the image of part of the
chain rails and the head of the stanchion.
Whether the damage was merely superficial or
whether the spine had been affected was still a
matter of conjecture.  His face was pale and
pinched, his wide-open eyes dull, his pulse almost
imperceptible.  Only by holding a glass close to
his mouth was Devoran able to pronounce that his
chief was still alive, for there was absolutely no
signs of respiration and circulation.

By careful treatment, and by giving the patient
small doses of stimulants, the anxious men
succeeded in bringing back the colour to Captain
Restronguet's wan cheeks.  The pupils of his
eyes began to dilate, but although he looked at
those who stood around him he gave no signs of
recognition.

"You did not rescue a dead man, Hythe,"
remarked Devoran in a low tone.  "But I'm
afraid his brain is affected."

"It is too early to form a definite opinion,"
replied the sub, anxious to put a bold face upon
the matter, although in his mind he had his doubts.
"I remember on the old 'Velox,' we had a signal-man
struck by lightning.  He was unconscious
for nearly three days; yet he recovered, and
was passed for duty after a week in the sick bay."

"Yes, that's all very well," rejoined the chief
officer, "but----"

A violent ringing of the bell of the "steering
sentry" interrupted Devoran's remark.  Both
men crossed the cabin and consulted the tell-tale
compass.  The "Aphrodite" was fifteen degrees
off her course, and the "steering sentry," an
automatic instrument that gives a warning in
the captain's cabin when the vessel deviates from
the course set, was ringing incessantly, showing
that the error in direction was a grave one.

"What are you up to, Lancarrow?" asked
Devoran through the telephone communicating
with the fore conning-tower.  "Anything in the way?"

There was no reply.

The chief officer hailed again.  Still an
ominous silence.

"What's up now, I wonder," he muttered as
he hastened towards the conning-tower.  To
his surprise he found Lancarrow huddled up on
the floor, with his hands tightly clenched.  Left
to herself the "Aphrodite" was gradually
describing a wide circle to starboard, and only the
action of the automatic alarm had called attention
to the fact.

Steadying the submarine on her course,
Devoran shouted for a couple of hands to carry
the unfortunate helmsman below.  This done he
told Carnon to take charge of the helm, while
he made a tour of the vessel to make sure that
all was in order.  Devoran realized that he was
now in command and that the responsibility was
great.  The mysterious striking down of the
former steersman, whether by violence or by
natural causes, could not be at present explained;
but since a similar thing might happen to others
who were on duty he felt it necessary that he
should visit all the men at their stations and
make sure that everything was in order.

Carclew was still at the detector.  He had
nothing to report.  The instrument was as silent
as the Sphinx.  Kenwyn in charge of the
horizontal rudders and the trimming tanks was
attending strictly to his duty.  He had been
unaware of the affair in the other conning-tower,
and since it was not his business to consult the
compass and not knowing what course had been
given to the helmsman, he had not remarked
the erratic steering of the vessel.

"Do you think the lightning struck
Lancarrow down?" asked Kenwyn.

"Bless my soul, I hope not!" ejaculated the
first officer.  "One affair of this sort is quite
enough.  Why did you ask?"

"The flashes have been terrific.  They
seemed to play upon the deck, even though we
are nine fathoms down."

"Had Lancarrow been touched by the electric
fluid it is reasonable to suppose that the electrical
steering gear would be affected.  As a matter
of fact it isn't."

"Give it up, then," rejoined the second officer.
"But how is Captain Restronguet?"

"Coming round, thank Heaven.  But it's
the after effects I am anxious about.  By Jove!
That's a flash."

It was indeed a vivid fork of dazzling blue
light that seemed to corkscrew along the deck
of the vessel and dart up over the for'ard
conning-tower, till the submerged craft looked as
if she were surrounded by a supernatural light.
The phenomenon lasted only an instant, but that
instant was enough for the chief officer to
realize the "Aphrodite's" peril.

.. _`"BEATING DOWN, AND READY TO RAM THE APHRODITE, WAS ANOTHER SUBMARINE!"`:

.. figure:: images/img-252.jpg
   :align: center
   :alt: "BEATING DOWN, AND READY TO RAM THE APHRODITE, WAS ANOTHER SUBMARINE!"

   "BEATING DOWN, AND READY TO RAM THE APHRODITE, WAS ANOTHER SUBMARINE!"

Beating down, and ready to ram the "Aphrodite"
amidships, was another submarine!  But
its similarity to the former Devoran had no
doubt as to what it was.  It was the "Vorwartz."

"Hard a-port!" he shouted through the
telephone to the helmsman.  At the same
moment Kenwyn elevated the horizontal
rudders in a vain endeavour to make the
"Aphrodite" dive under the on-coming attacker.  It
was too late.  With a rending crash the
knife-like bows of the "Vorwartz" crashed into the
'midships compartment of her hitherto unsuspecting rival.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`RAMMED AMIDSHIPS`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XX.


.. class:: center medium

   RAMMED AMIDSHIPS.

.. vspace:: 2

In the captain's cabin Hythe heard Devoran
shouting for the helm to be put hard a-port.
He felt the vessel begin to slew round, then a
crash that shook the "Aphrodite" from stem
to stern, sent him and the other occupants
of the cabin reeling against the starboard side.

Simultaneously the watertight doors in the
two principal transverse bulkheads were
hermetically sealed, save a small emergency exit from
Number Three Platform to the fore compartment.
Through these those of the crew who were
in the holed division made their hasty escape.
They were not a moment too soon, for, although
the "Vorwartz" made no attempt to back out,
the fracture was ragged enough for the water
under great pressure to pour in cascades into
the midships compartment of the ill-starred
submarine.

As soon as the men were safely in the fore
part of the vessel Devoran gave orders for the
remaining watertight doors to be closed.  He
knew that, although the danger was great, there
still remained a chance of saving at least
two-thirds of the "Aphrodite."

"If only I had been in the fore conning-tower,"
he thought, "I would have given that
'Vorwartz' something to remember us by.
I'll try it, though."

And calling up Carnon, who was the senior
hand in the now isolated fore part, he ordered
him to stand by with electrical destructors,
whereby a potential charge of electric fluid could be
directed upon the "Vorwartz" as soon as she
had backed a certain distance from the vessel
she had rammed.

In answer Carnon replied: "I've tried the
gadget, sir, and there's no current on."

"For goodness' sake try the supplementary
current!" exclaimed the chief officer anxiously,
but the result was the same.  The apparatus by
which the powerful means of offence was
controlled was out of order.  Either the lightning
or the shock of the impact of the "Vorwartz's"
stem had thrown the delicate mechanism out of
gear.  Nor could the torpedoes be used, for the
tubes, having an arc of only four degrees on
either side of the bows, could not be brought to
bear upon the rival submarine.

This time Karl von Harburg had scored
heavily, and stood every chance of getting clear
without the "Aphrodite" being able to revenge
herself upon the submarine that had caught her
napping.

Meanwhile the crew of the "Aphrodite," after
the first shock, had taken up their stations with
consummate coolness.  Every man knew that
the damage was great, and that the "Vorwartz"
was the cause of it.  One chance yet remained
for them to revenge themselves upon Karl von
Harburg.  Directly the "Vorwartz" backed out
of the rent in her rival's side, the "Aphrodite"
might be able to turn sufficiently to discharge a
torpedo.  At the same time steps must be taken
to prevent the stricken craft from sinking into
depth where the pressure of the water would
literally crush their as yet undamaged sections
of the submarine like an egg-shell under a
hundred-ton hammer.

As soon as the water in the midship section
rose to the level of the centre platform Devoran
gave orders for the detachable keel of that
compartment to be dropped.  Kenwyn touched the
emergency switch, and the massive dead weight
fell.  Relieved of this mass of iron the "Aphrodite"
lurched in an effort to rise to the surface.

The sudden strain wrenched her free of the
bows of the "Vorwartz."  Instantly the water,
pouring through the greatly enlarged aperture,
filled the whole of the centre compartment, and
before the submarine had a chance to turn and
let fly a torpedo at her antagonist, the
"Aphrodite" sank slowly and surely.

This, although serious, was a point in her
favour, for Karl von Harburg, observing with
savage glee the havoc he had wrought, concluded
that his rival's craft was sinking for the last time
to the bottom of the Red Sea.  Accordingly,
satisfied that he was now free to pursue his
piratical acts, since the "Aphrodite" was the
only submarine he feared, he backed astern, rose
to the surface, and proceeded in a southerly
direction towards the Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb.
Hardly a word was spoken as the "Aphrodite"
sank.  Devoran, his eyes fixed upon the depth
gauge, was waiting his time.  He, too, realized
that should the submarine rise to the surface it
would merely be giving her antagonist a unique
opportunity of holing another of the sections that
as yet remained intact.  On the other hand, he
had to guard against the danger of descending too far.

Thirty fathoms; the "Aphrodite" was now in
total darkness as far as the water was concerned.
Within the electric lamps still burned brightly,
save for a few that had been shattered at the
moment of impact.

"Easy ahead!" he ordered, and as the partially
flooded vessel forged slowly and laboriously
ahead, the chief officer trimmed the horizontal
rudders so that the resistance at a certain angle
just corrected the tendency of the whole vessel to sink.

Devoran set a course due east, hoping to fetch
the shallower water on the African shore.  Twenty
minutes later he ventured to switch on the parallel
bow searchlights.  Even these powerful rays
failed to reveal anything more than fifty miles
away.  Huge fish, that are rarely seen in shallow
water, flitted past the thick scuttles.  They made
no attempt to dart out of the way of the
submarine; they were blind, since the gift of sight
at these depths is useless to them.

"She's standing the strain all right," remarked
the chief officer to Hythe in quite a cheerful tone.

The sub nodded appreciatively.  Under similar
conditions on board a British submarine the state
of affairs would be hopeless.  With a rent
amidships, extending from the upper platform to the
bilges she would have sunk instantly, and given
her crew no possible chance of escape; but here
was the "Aphrodite" still under control and with
the odds greatly in her favour.  Next to Captain
Restronguet, Devoran was the most capable man
in whom to trust.

"Bottom shoaling!" exclaimed the sub, as the
head searchlights glimmered upon an expanse of
ooze, so shapeless and ill-defined that it required
a practised hand to distinguish it from the deep sea.

The chief officer instantly adjusted the planes,
and the submarine, though lacking her usual
sensitiveness to the action of the horizontal
rudders, rose steadily.

At twenty fathoms the bottom ceased to shoal,
and in place of the slimy mud appeared fantastic
formation of coral; a sure sign that shallower
water was not far off.  Again the "Aphrodite"
was brought nearer the surface, till the welcome
sunlight could be faintly noticed.

"Ten fathoms," announced Devoran.  "This
is our limit.  We must carry on till we ground.
Look! what a rent, by Jove!"

He pointed out of the scuttle, and Hythe
following his gaze saw the fracture that the
"Vorwartz" bow had caused.  Her comparatively
straight stem had cut nearly five feet into the
upper platform of the "Aphrodite" in addition to
making a vertical gash nearly fifteen feet in length
in the stricken vessel's side.  As a result the whole
of the centre compartment had become a dead
weight, and the buoyancy of the submarine being
imparted only by the fore and aft compartments
the tendency of the whole vessel was to sag
amidships.  Already the upper platform was
curving ominously.  It would not take much
more strain to buckle the "Aphrodite."  Although
her steel plating was badly cracked and jagged,
the restronium sheathing was severed as evenly
as if made of wax.  This, no doubt, accounted
for the fact that the inrush of water at the moment
of impact was comparatively slight, and in
consequence the men stationed in the midship
compartment were able to make good their retreat
long before the water completely filled the space
between the two principal transverse bulkheads.

"Let her down gently, Carnon!" ordered
Devoran, as the "Aphrodite" passed the broad
belt of coral and a clear sandy bottom was visible
on all sides.

The quartermaster in the fore conning-tower
knew his business thoroughly, and with hardly
a bump the submarine settled on the bed of the
Red Sea.

"All ready to let go?" asked the chief officer,
and from the for'ard compartment came the alert
reply that everything was in order.

"It is almost like abandoning one's ship,"
remarked Hythe.

"Hardly so bad as that," replied Devoran.
"But all the same we are shedding a large portion
of her.  Would you mind standing by that lever,
and when I give the word push it hard down.
No, not just yet.  We will wait and watch the
fore part shake itself clear."

It was indeed a strange sight.  At one
moment Hythe saw the slightly buckling deck and
the fore conning-tower, the upper platform,
except for the fracture caused by the collision,
being all in one piece.  The next instant the whole
of the bow compartment, including the
conning-tower, gave a sudden bound and darted upwards
towards the surface.  Hythe could see the
bulkhead with its watertight doors securely fastened,
and the bright copper electrical contacts with
their surrounding belt of insulated material.  It
reminded him of a salmon cut clean in halves.

Already the ballast tanks of the freed section
were being filled, till, the upward motion checked,
the structure slowly sank and settled once more
in the bottom of the sea a few yards to the left
of the remaining portion of the submarine.  There,
cut off from all communication with the still
intact after part, the compartment had to remain,
till, worm-like, the third section was detached
from the damaged portion and united to form a
smaller yet still efficient submarine.

Kenwyn had meanwhile opened the scuttle in
the bottom plates of the vessel in order to guide
her on her descent.  Since the after portion alone
possessed propelling machinery it was necessary
that the fore part should be disconnected first.

"Down with it!" exclaimed Devoran, at the
same time operating a switch.  Hythe instantly
depressed the lever as he had been instructed.
The motion following the action was similar to
that experienced in the sudden rising of a lift.

The damaged midship section had been abandoned
to its ocean grave.

Directly the sub liberated the after portion of
the vessel the hiss of the inrushing water could
be heard, and, as in the case of the fore part, the
surface was still several fathoms off when the
upward tendency was checked.

At a few feet from the bottom Kenwyn
announced that the required depth was reached,
and the chief officer gave the order for "Half
speed ahead."

The best engine-driver in the kingdom could
not have brought his locomotive up to a train
of waiting carriages easier than Devoran
manoeuvred the after part of the "Aphrodite"
up to the fore compartment.  There was no
perceptible shock, in fact nothing to indicate the fact
that the union had been accomplished except that
telephonic communication was automatically
reestablished in all parts of the reduced "Aphrodite."

Into the air locks next to each exterior
bulkhead divers were quickly sent.  As soon as the
water was admitted into these spaces new locking
bolts were passed through and secured, and
within twenty minutes of being placed in position
the two parts of the submarine were made one.
But instead of her two hundred feet from stem
to stern the new "Aphrodite" was reduced by
about one third.  Nearly seventy feet of valuable
length had been sacrificed; but, as Devoran
remarked, "It might have been worse."

"That is true," agreed Hythe.  "But what
will Captain Restronguet say?"





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`CAPTAIN RESTRONGUET LEARNS THE NEWS`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XXI.


.. class:: center medium

   CAPTAIN RESTRONGUET LEARNS THE NEWS.

.. vspace:: 2

For three whole days the "Aphrodite" lay on
the floor of the Red Sea.  Captain Restronguet
was making steady progress towards recovery,
but the news of the disaster had been studiously
kept from him.  All on board knew that sooner
or later their leader must learn of the catastrophe;
but every one was in favour of deferring the evil
day, fearing what the consequences would be in
the case of a highly strung man who was still
suffering from a severe physical and mental shock.

But until Captain Restronguet did know
Devoran stoutly refused to take any action in the
navigation of the vessel.  Nor would he open up
wireless communication.  It was desirable, nay
imperative, that Karl von Harburg should think
that his coup had been entirely successful, and on
that account the danger of unauthorized news
leaking out had to be strongly guarded against.

In her present state the "Aphrodite" was no
better than her rival.  Her state of partial
invisibility was no more, her electrical detector, whereby
the position of the "Vorwartz" could be
determined was no longer in working order.  It was
mainly responsible for the dramatic appearance of
the craft under Karl von Harburg's command.
Her chief means of offence--the discharge of an
electrical current that would detonate any
explosives within a three-mile limit--had mysteriously
failed; and only upon her powerful six-inch
torpedoes could she implicitly rely.  Nevertheless,
all on board, from the chief officer downwards,
had no doubts as to the issue of the
struggle, even though so far things had gone in
favour of the "Vorwartz."  Herr Karl von
Harburg's submarine must be destroyed; her
power must be completely shattered; but until
Captain Restronguet was in a position to once
more take charge of affairs, Devoran advocated
a campaign of non-activity.

Curiously enough no reason could be given for
Lancarrow's sudden illness in the conning-tower.
He had completely recovered before the rejoining
operations of the fore and aft sections were
completed, but could give no account of what had
happened.  He did not remember falling: for
he stated that he glanced at the clock less than
half a minute before the "sentry" began to ring,
and up to the last moment his recollections were
perfectly clear; he did not notice any particularly
brilliant flashes of lightning about that time.
He knew nothing till he returned to consciousness
and found himself in a bunk in the fore part of
the submarine, whither his companions had
carried him when the men's quarters were flooded
after the collision.

On the other hand Captain Restronguet was
aware that he had been struck by lightning,
although he had no recollection of falling into
the sea.  The story of how he had been rescued
at the risk of the sub's life had been told him,
and his gratitude was expressed by grasping his
rescuer's hand.  Not a word was exchanged
between them on the subject, but the action was
worth volumes of words.

"How are we progressing, Devoran?" asked
the captain, on the morning of the fourth day of
the submarine's sojourn on the bottom of the
Red Sea.  "Any indication of the presence of
the 'Vorwartz,' eh?"

Devoran hesitated.  It would be a nasty shock
to have to confess that the progress was nil and
that the presence of the rival submarine had been
very pronounced.

Captain Restronguet looked up sharply.  He
saw the chief officer and the sub exchange
significant looks.

"You have a pleasant surprise for me, then?"
he continued.  "I'll get up and find out for
myself."

"But, sir----" began Devoran.  The captain
stopped him by an emphatic gesture.

Hythe never felt more uncomfortable.  He
would right willingly have given a month's pay
to be out of the business.

Drawing a great-coat over his sleeping-suit
Captain Restronguet walked out of the cabin.
Hythe and Devoran looked at each other and by
a common impulse followed.

At the end of the alley-way terminating at the
watertight transverse bulkhead Captain Restronguet
stopped as if he were about to ascend to
the after conning-tower; but changing his mind
he opened the watertight door.  One glance was
sufficient.  Instead of the midship compartment
he was looking down the passage of the fore part
of the ship.

"Well, Devoran, we've had a mishap, I see,"
he remarked in a casual tone.

"Yes, sir; a very unfortunate----"

"But at the same time unavoidable accident,
Devoran.  Of that I feel sure.  No, no, there is
no need to apologize.  If ever a man would do
his best to save the situation, that man is my
chief officer.  But how did it occur?"

In a few words Devoran told the story--a
plain unvarnished statement of actual facts,
while Hythe stood mutely by, marvelling at
the captain's calmness at the news.

"I am not surprised, Devoran," continued
Captain Restronguet.  "Not in the least.  I had
a presentiment that Karl von Harburg would
score at one time.  Besides, have I not prepared
for such a contingency by providing three distinct
compartments to the 'Aphrodite'?  But after
von Harburg's success my counter-stroke will
hit the harder.  I know it, Devoran.  I feel
certain that we shall score in the long run.  Were
any men lost or injured in the collision?"

"No, sir."

"Thank God for that!" ejaculated Captain
Restronguet fervently.  "And are all the electric
circuits working properly?"

"No, sir.  The detector is entirely out of gear,
and so is the offensive apparatus."

"H'm, unfortunate, but we will set that right.
And the wireless?"

"I have not used or tried it, sir.  Until you
were fit to command I preferred to remain here
and make no communication whatsoever."

"An excellent policy, Devoran.  Unfortunately
we must resume our wireless communications
otherwise we are in the dark as to the
movements of the 'Vorwartz.'  But our Highgate
operator is to be implicitly trusted, and if
all messages are sent in code it matters little
whether they are picked up by other ships or
stations.  Get Kenwyn to send a message
asking whether any news of von Harburg has
been received, and let me know directly you
have a reply.  I am going to my cabin now.
I want to be alone.  But do not feel anxious on
my account.  I shall be perfectly fit for duty in a
very short space of time."

"Didn't he take the news calmly?" remarked
Hythe after Captain Restronguet had gone back
to his cabin.  "It was enough to drive a fellow
off his head."

"It's his way," said Devoran slowly.  "It is
his way.  Reverses that are seemingly
overwhelming and would be so to almost every one
else, only spur him to renewed activities.  Believe
me the fun is now about to commence."

Within an hour and twenty minutes of the
despatch of the wireless message to London a
reply was received that threw considerable light
upon the movements of the modern buccaneer.

Karl von Harburg had caused a report to be
sent to the news agencies to the effect that he
had destroyed the only submarine that stood
between him and his definite aim, and now he
was at liberty to do what damage he wished to
the naval and mercantile fleets of the world,
irrespective of nationality or any other
consideration.  With this object in view he had sunk a
French liner off Cape Guadafui, after ransacking
her strong rooms.  He had even been
compelled to substitute gold ingots for the common
metal ballast of his craft.  Silver he would hardly
look at.

This ultimatum was received with amazement
and in dismay shipping circles.  It seemed in
vain to appeal for armed warships to destroy the
"Vorwartz," since she could keep below the
surface for days at a stretch, and could descend
deeper than any submarine with the exception
of the "Aphrodite."  And Karl von Harburg
believed that his rival was no longer in existence.

There was no doubt that Karl von Harburg
was a madman.  However successful his raids on
shipping might be, however great his hoards of
ill-gotten gold, he would never be able to make
use of his wealth.  He was a world-wide pariah.
No civilized country would give him refuge.
Even his base in the Island of Sumatra was
closed against him, for the Dutch officials,
aroused out of their customary lethargy, had
seized his concession and had taken strong
measures to prevent his return.

Thus, with a crew composed of renegade
Germans, Dutchmen, Malays and Chinese,
he was compelled to keep to the limits of his
submarine until his career of wanton destruction
was brought to a close either by an act of God
or the missiles of one of the avenging craft that
were ever on the look-out to rid the seas of a
scourge.

Meantime Karl von Harburg was directing
his attention to the Somali and Zanzibar coasts.
Here he could, with little risk, replenish his
stock of provisions, while he was within easy
distance of the recognized tracks of vessels
trading on the East coast of Africa.

"So our sphere of operations is pretty well
defined," remarked Captain Restronguet when
the message was brought him.  "It is not
altogether to my liking, for I have some unpleasant
recollections of the Somali coast.  Not quite so
bad as the West Coast, of course, but quite
bad enough."

"You have already visited this coast in the
'Aphrodite'?" asked the sub.

"No; it was in a tramp steamer.  We were
trading, and instead of getting a profit for the
owners we lost half our crew by fever and the
bulk of our cargo was seized by the Arabs.  That
was some years ago.  The fever is still there,
and no doubt the predatory instincts of the
Swahilis and Somalis are as strong as ever.  But
in a submarine things may be very different."

Once more the quest was resumed, the
"Aphrodite" keeping on the surface except when a
passing vessel was sighted.  As secrecy was an
essential point Captain Restronguet took no
risks, and the submarine was submerged several
times during each day.

Early opportunity was taken to thoroughly
overhaul the detector, and on taking the sensitive
gear to pieces the fault was discovered.  It was
caused by a thin strand of the insulated copper
wire protruding from the amalgam covering and
thus setting up a short circuit.  In a way that
was a matter for congratulation, as it showed that
the defect was no way due to magnetic
disturbances caused by the heavy thunderstorm, as
Captain Restronguet fully expected it to be.

On the other hand the apparatus controlling
the potential current of electricity that could
instantaneously destroy a hostile vessel by
detonating her powder was for the time being
beyond remedy.  This was a grave business,
but the belt of electric fluid that rendered the
"Aphrodite" immune from torpedo attack was
still in an efficient state.  Had the current been
in action when the "Vorwartz" rammed her
rival the effect would have been fatal to the
former, since, herself a huge torpedo, the
submarine would have spontaneously exploded.

Shortly after rounding Cape Guadafui the
"Aphrodite" once more came in touch with the
"Vorwartz," the detector indicating that the
latter was within eighty miles.  Two hours later
Kenwyn, who was keeping watch on deck,
reported that he heard the distinct sound of small
arms firing.

Captain Restronguet, Devoran, Hythe, and
several of the crew were on deck as soon as they
heard the news.  The sound was apparently
coming from a place about twenty miles to the west.

"That's nothing to do with the 'Vorwartz,'
sir," suggested the chief officer.

"I am not so sure about that," replied the
captain.  "It may have some connexion with
that scoundrel Marburg's villainies.  We will
run in and see what is amiss."

"Submerged, sir?"

"No; on the surface.  Time and speed are
to be considered."

As the "Aphrodite" came in sight of the coast--a
low-lying expanse of sand dunes fringed with
a belt of milk-white surf--the hull of a large
vessel could be distinguished.  Ere long those
on the submarine made out that the ship was
aground and was heeling at a dangerous angle.
She was funnelless, being driven by internal
combustion engines.  Her masts were still
standing, though threatening to go by the board as
each sullen roller thrashed against her lofty
sides.

Hoisted half way to her mainmast head was
the Red Ensign--upside down--as a signal of
distress.

Barely two hundred yards to starboard of the
stranded vessel was a break in the line of surf
and a corresponding break in the coast-line,
where either a river gained the sea or the sea
formed a narrow inlet.  Drawn up on shore at
the point formed by the entrance to the creek
were three ship's boats, while a quantity of boxes
and casks, apparently thrown overboard from
the wrecked vessel, fringed the beach.

On a sandy hillock, standing well apart from
the rest of the dunes and within fifty yards of the
inlet, were several men in European clothes, who,
kneeling behind a shallow embankment of sand,
were firing at a foe invisible to the crew of the
"Aphrodite."

Three or four had been hit, for they were
lying on the sand to the rear of the defences,
while, judging by the smoke and the louder
reports, the crew of the stranded vessel were
being attacked by a far more numerous body of
men armed with rifles firing black powder.

"Arabs!" exclaimed Devoran laconically,
without removing his binoculars from his eyes.

"Or Somalis," added Captain Restronguet.
"Clearly we are in the nick of time, for as soon
as it gets dark those fellows will rush the seamen
and massacre every man-jack of them."

Hythe could not help wondering how the crew
of the submarine could render any effective
assistance.  The canvas boat had been lost in the
encounter with the "Vorwartz," since it was
stowed under the midship hatchway.

Captain Restronguet touched him on the shoulder.

"Mr. Hythe, you have had experience with
landing parties.  I have had none.  Will you,
then, take charge of our automatic quick-firer?
I am sending it ashore with nine men."

"Very good, sir," replied the sub unhesitatingly,
although he was still at sea as to how the
men could be landed.

"Blow all the ballast tanks!" ordered the
Captain.  "A leadsman for'ard."

Then the sub realized the plan of action.
Captain Restronguet was going to take the
"Aphrodite" across the bar.

With no more ballast than the two sections of
iron bolted to her keel for use in emergencies,
the "Aphrodite" drew but five feet for'ard and
seven aft.  The first soundings gave four fathoms:
soon the depth decreased to three.

Yet unhesitatingly Captain Restronguet held
the "Aphrodite" on her course, heading towards
the smooth patch in the line of breakers that
marked the entrance to the creek.

Suddenly the submarine gave a jerk that
almost capsized every man on deck.  She had
stuck right in the centre of the bar, with threatening
breakers only a few yards off on either hand.

Simultaneously came a hail of bullets from the
opposite bank to which the crew of the tramp
steamer were holding.  A strong body of Somalis,
seeing the helpless state of the "Aphrodite," had
commenced to direct a heavy fire upon the
stranded submarine.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`BESET BY SOMALIS`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XXII.


.. class:: center medium

   BESET BY SOMALIS.

.. vspace:: 2

"Take cover!" ordered Captain Restronguet
calmly.  "Down below, every man."

The order was promptly obeyed, for several
of the leaden messengers were flying perilously
close, some impingeing upon the metal sides and
conning-towers, that offered a huge target.

"It is as well we afford those rascals something
to fire at," he continued, as he entered the fore
conning-tower and closed the scuttles on the
starboard side.  "Otherwise they would be firing
into the rear of the position on shore.  Serve out
the rifles, Mr. Devoran.  We must drive them
off before we can attempt to land."

So saying the captain ordered full speed astern.
For quite five minutes the twin screws ran at
their greatest rate, causing the hull to vibrate
and the sea to be discoloured with mud and sand
churned up by the action of the propellers.  Then,
with a rasping sound, the "Aphrodite" glided off
the bank and gained the slightly deeper water.

"Easy ahead!"  This time the submarine
was headed slightly to the left of the spot where
she had just stranded.  Another dull shock told
all on board that once more she was held up,
this time by her keel.

All the while bullets were flattening
themselves against the submarine's plating, but in
spite of the danger Hythe thought of something
which he immediately put into action.  Grasping
the lead line he gained the upper platform, ran
forward and made a cast.  The lead touched
bottom at twenty feet.

A bullet cut a gash through the sleeve of his
coat, another grazed his shoe, but grimly the
sub stuck to his task.  Gathering in the line he
made his way amidships and made another cast.
Here the sounding gave ten feet.  He had
learnt enough.

"We're nearly over the bar, sir," he exclaimed,
as he rejoined his companions in the fore
conning-tower.  "If we gave her full speed ahead
I think she would do it.  We're in quite deep
water as far aft as the after conning-tower."

Without a word in reply Captain Restronguet
telegraphed for full speed ahead.  With barely
ten seconds' hesitation the "Aphrodite" slipped
over the bar and started off up the creek at a
great speed till the motors were reversed.
Losing way she brought up abreast of the sorry
defences held by the shipwrecked crew.

"Here we are, then," exclaimed Captain
Restronguet.  "But how are we going to get out
again?  However, that problem can wait.  All
ready, Mr. Devoran?"

Under the fore hatchway every available man
was waiting, armed with automatic rifles.  The
field gun was dismounted, in order to facilitate
its transport ashore, tackles being in readiness
to hoist it on deck.  Up the hatchway the men
swarmed, and taking advantage of every bit of
cover afforded by the base of the conning-tower
and other projections on deck, opened a rapid,
well-aimed fire upon the Somalis.

So intent were the Englishmen on shore with
the work they had in hand that hitherto they
had not noticed the arrival of the "Aphrodite,"
but with the rattle of musketry so close to where
they stood they could not fail to notice that help
was at hand.

With a ringing cheer the shipwrecked men
redoubled their fire, for hitherto they had been
compelled, except when it became necessary to
repel a rush, to husband their cartridge supply.

Soon the volleys from the submarine's deck
became too much for the liking of the Somalis.
The accurate fire bowled dozens of them over
like rabbits, and the rest promptly bolted for the
shelter of the sand-dunes, whence they began
to work round to join their forces with their
brethren on the other side of the creek, where
the chances of sending a score of unbelievers to
perdition were considerably greater.

Turning the "Aphrodite's" bows towards the
shore Captain Restronguet ordered easy ahead
till her forefoot grounded on the stiff clay soil
that formed the banks of the creek.  Polglaze and
Mylor immediately jumped overboard, the water
reaching almost to their chins, and walked ashore,
dragging the end of a three-inch rope.  This
they fastened to a bolt passed through a hole in
the forefoot of one of the stranded vessel's boats,
and the "Aphrodite" going astern pulled the
ponderous wooden craft down the beach into
the water.

As soon as it was brought alongside the field
gun was placed into it in sections.  The gun's
crew, under Hythe's orders, followed, and the boat
was hauled ashore by Polglaze and Mylor, who
had taken the precaution to bend a rope to the
painter.

Although lacking the dash that characterizes
the British bluejacket, the men of the
"Aphrodite" ably supported their young commander;
and Hythe was surprised at the resolute bearing
of the submarine's crew immediately under his
orders.

The moment the boat's keel touched the
ground the brave fellows heaved the heavy
portion of the gun over the side and upon the
beach.  In twenty-five seconds the wheels were
placed upon the axles and the lynch-pins thrust
home.  The gun, its muzzle protected against
damage by a piece of stout canvas, was raised in
an almost vertical position by means of ropes
and levers, while the carriage was backed close
to the heavy steel cylinder.  Then, with a crash,
the gun was allowed to drop into its proper place,
and within a minute the quick-firer was
"assembled" and ready for action.

Up the soft, sloping sand dunes the men
raised the gun, Hythe himself staggering under
the weight of a wooden case filled with
projectiles.  Wheeling, the men brought the muzzle of
the powerful weapon to bear upon the foe, and
the first of the belt of shells was placed within
the breech-block.

The "Aphrodite's" landing party were only
just in time.  Already the Somalis, reinforced
by those who had vainly attempted to stop the
approach of the submarine, were massing for
a concentrated rush upon the handful of men
from the stranded merchant-vessel.  Under a
heavy fire of Martini and other rifles--weapons
discarded by various Governments and sold by
unscrupulous tenders to the fierce and lawless
Equatorial tribes--nearly two thousand spearmen
were advancing stealthily, till, in spite of a steady
fire maintained by the British seamen, the
attackers were within two hundred yards.  Here
they paused, then giving vent to a terrific roar
of defiance, they broke into a headlong rush,
brandishing their broad-bladed spears and leather
shields in order to demoralize the unbelievers
who had been rash enough to land on that
inhospitable shore.

Hythe raised his hand.  The gunner pressed
home a small lever with his thumb.  The belt
of projectiles in the capacious maw of the
automatic gun, grew shorter and shorter, while the
steam from the water-jacket soon outrivalled
the haze from the smokeless powder.

It was no longer a fight: it was a massacre.
The sub saw the Somalis mown down as though
with a scythe, till, unable in spite of their fanatical
bravery, to face the hail of death they fled,
leaving the ground thickly covered with dead
and dying.

"Cease fire!" ordered Hythe; then, "Carry
on.  Search the bush away on the right.  There
are hundreds of the enemy lurking there."

Round swept the muzzle of the gun; up went
the sight to a thousand yards.  "Pop, pop, pop,"
went the sharp detonation of the quick-firer, till
half a dozen rounds had been fired.  Then came
an ominous silence.

"Carry on," repeated the sub in a loud voice.
"I gave no orders to cease firing."

"Can't help it, sir," replied Polglaze, who was
sitting across the trail and manipulating the
firing-gear.  "The blessed thing's jammed."

It was indeed fortunate that the mechanism
had not gone wrong during the attack, but the
danger was not yet over.  It was imperative
that the weapon should be rendered serviceable
again before the rescued crew could be taken off.

As soon as the Somalis withdrew beyond range
the wearied men of the stranded vessel hastened
to greet their new-comer, while the master, a
short, broad-shouldered, rubicund-visaged old
salt, briefly explained to Hythe the circumstances
under which the vessel went ashore.

It came as no surprise to the sub to learn that
the ship--the two-thousand ton Diesel engined
tramp, "Iticaba"--had been chased by the
"Vorwartz."  Scorning to surrender, the sturdy
skipper served out rifles and ordered his men to
fire at the submarine as she rose to the surface
to hail the "Iticaba" to heave-to.  The bullets
had no more effect than peas rattling on a
corrugated iron roof, but Karl von Harburg lost no
time in retiring to the security of the conning-tower.

The chase was a long one, and although the
"Vorwartz," fired three torpedoes only one hit the
mark, exploding under the "Iticaba's" starboard
quarter and destroying one of her twin propellers
and buckling the rudder, while the steel plating
of the hull was fractured sufficiently to cause the
vessel to be in a sinking condition.

Still the old skipper stood doggedly on the
bridge, refusing to surrender.  His one hope was
to run the ship ashore in shoal water where the
submarine could not follow.  Ordering every
available pump to be worked to its utmost capacity
the "old man" still found the leak gaining, and
it was a question whether the "Iticaba" would
or would not founder in deep water.

Apparently the "Vorwartz" was unwilling to
waste another torpedo on a ship that was already
doomed; and since her rascally crew could not
hope to gain any plunder from a foundering ship,
the submarine sheered off and made way to the
south'ard.  Unmolested the "Iticaba" managed
to reach the shore, and on striking was cast
broadside on upon the breakers.

Being unprovided with wireless, the stranded
vessel could not call for assistance; nevertheless
the skipper, trusting that the sound might be
heard by passing ships, fired distress guns at the
stipulated intervals.  Loath to abandon his
command he still held hopes that with the aid of
another vessel and the rent of the hull temporarily
patched up, the "Iticaba" might even yet be
towed off and brought safely into port.

But the heavy ground-swell soon knocked this
idea out of the skipper's head.  Serious leaks,
apart from those caused by the torpedo, appeared,
and in less than an hour from the time of stranding
the forehold was flooded.  The first on-shore
gale would complete the work of destruction,
and as there were indications of the approach of
bad weather, the skipper reluctantly decided, on
he representations of his chief officer, to give
orders to abandon ship.  Fortunately the
"Iticaba," broadside on, afforded a breakwater for
the boats under her lee, and after carefully
provisioning and manning two whalers, a cutter and
a gig, the crew pulled for the shore.

It was the skipper's intention to camp ashore
till the forecasted storm had blown itself out, and
then to coast southwards to Mombassa or
Zanzibar; but the plan was foredoomed to failure.

A keen-eyed Somali, hearing the report of the
distress signals, had ridden his fleet camel to the
landward side of the sand dunes fronting the
shore.  He could see that a ship was ashore,
and that there was a most excellent opportunity
for his fellow-tribesmen to enjoy the congenial
task of massacring a handful of unbelievers and
pillaging their goods.  He returned at full speed
to the encampment, and soon eighty swarthy
Somalis were ready for the shore.

With seamen's true contempt for danger the
crew of the "Iticaba" had neglected to make
any preparations for defence against hostile
tribesmen.  They knew that they were cast
ashore upon a district over which the Italians
exercised something less then a nominal sway,
and that the Somalis were noted for their excesses
upon any strangers who had the misfortune to
fall into their hands.  Yet they suffered
themselves to be surprised by eighty savages while
they were straggling inland to find brushwood
to light a fire.

The crew paid dearly for their rashness.
Four men fell under the keen broad-bladed spears
of the Somalis.  The rest contrived to form up
and open fire; and finding that their self-imposed
task had already cost the lives of twenty of the
Faithful, the Somalis beat a retreat in order to
summon the neighbouring tribes to aid them.

From north, west and south the fanatical
warriors assembled, till, with numbers sufficient
to overwhelm the handful of Englishmen, they
advanced to the second attack.

Profiting by experience the crew of the
"Iticaba" had meanwhile constructed rough-and-ready
defences.  They realized that they were
fairly trapped, for to attempt to put to sea in
open boats with the probability of encountering
a gale would be sheer madness.  On the other
hand it was possible that they might hold out
against the attackers, until either the weather
became fair or means of rescue were afforded them.

"Well, the sooner we get you out of this mess
the better," said Hythe, when the master of the
"Iticaba" had concluded his narrative.

"Strikes me you are no better off than we
are," remarked the old skipper.  "There's too
much sea running on the bar for you to get out.
What water d'ye draw?"

The sub told him.

"Suppose you are one of those new-fangled
craft--all top-sides and no draught in a manner
o' speaking," remarked the "old man" bluntly.

"Well, hardly," replied Hythe smiling.  "You
see yonder vessel is the submarine 'Aphrodite,'
of which you may have heard."

The master of the "Iticaba" looked at the
sub for a few seconds, then shrugging his
shoulders he replied,

"Look here, sir, I'm grateful for your assistance,
but Cap'n Nick Rees isn't a man to be
bamboozled.  I know for a fact that that cursed
'Vorwartz' destroyed the 'Aphrodite' some days
ago.  I heard the news from official sources
while I was lying at Aden."

"News from official sources is apt to be
misleading, Captain Rees.  It is in this case.  That
vessel is the submarine 'Aphrodite' and there is
Captain Restronguet standing abaft the after
conning-tower.  There is no doubt but that he
may be able and willing to afford accommodation
for you and your crew.  The quarters will be
somewhat cramped, I fear.  But as soon as we
can get out of the creek it will not take us very
long to tow your boats to Mombassa or Zanzibar
as you suggested.  How are you getting on,
Polglaze?"

"A fair brute of a job, sir," replied the man,
as, streaming with perspiration, he struggled with
the refractory mechanism of the gun.

"It's lucky for us they have not persisted in the
attack," observed Hythe.  "All the same, there's
no time to be lost.  Mylor and Gwennap, will
you take the boat and row off to the 'Aphrodite.'  Inform
Captain Restronguet of the state of affairs,
and how the position will be difficult to hold in
the event of a night attack.  Ask him if there is
any objection to bringing off the survivors of the
'Iticaba'?"

While the two men were on their errand, and
Polglaze, with two or three assistants, was
endeavouring to get the automatic gun into
working order, the rest of the landing-party assisted
the crew of the "Iticaba" to launch the ship's
boats.  Within an hour they were afloat and
moored a few feet from the bank of the creek,
stern ropes and kedges having been laid out so
as to haul them off into deep water should it be
necessary to embark in a hurry.

Presently the quartermaster and Gwennap
returned with the order that Captain Restronguet
wished the landing party and the rescued men to
embark at once, as the wind was rising and there
was a heavy swell tumbling in over the bar.

The crew of the "Iticaba" received the
communication with mixed feelings.  They were
glad to leave this inhospitable shore, but at the
same time they had grave misgivings as to
whether they ought to trust themselves on board
a submarine.  The majority of the men, although
members of the Royal Naval Reserve, were blue
water seamen, to whom a storm at sea had no
perils providing they were at a safe distance from
a lee shore.  They were sufficiently conservative
in their ideas to regard with obvious distrust the
interior of a submarine as a haven of refuge.

"Are you going to dive, sir?" asked Captain
Rees.  "If so, I'd rather stick it ashore and
chance my luck; and most of my men would too,
I'm thinking."

"Please yourself, then," replied the sub
brusquely.  "I wouldn't give a rope's-end for
your chances if you remain here.  Now, then,
Polglaze, hurry up.  Limber up, there, we'll
finish the repairs on board."

"Nearly finished, sir," answered Polglaze
remonstratively.

"Can't help it.  There'll be too much of a
swell on the beach in a minute.  Fall in, men."

Captain Rees glanced in the direction of the
"Aphrodite," which was moored by a pair of stout
chain cables, since her patent anchoring device
was useless when afloat.  He gave another look,
this time at the slender mounds of sand that had
been hastily heaped over the victims of the
Somalis.

"Come along, men!" he exclaimed.

Quickly the landing-party and the crew of the
"Iticaba" embarked.  Polglaze, still lingering
longingly over his array of spanners and other
armourers' tools, accompanied the gun to the beach.

Just as the gun's crew were about to unmount
the heavy weapon from its carriage a blood-curdling
roar of mingled yells and shouts burst
from a dense body of Somalis, who, observing
the embarkation in progress, had crept up the
remote side of the dunes, and barely a hundred
yards from the shore.

Three of the seamen who had not yet embarked
dropped on one knee, and using their
rifles, strove to check the furious rush.  Others
in the boats joined in the firing, while from the
deck of the "Aphrodite" every man left on board
hastened to aid their comrades with well-aimed
volleys.

Coolly Polglaze attempted to adjust the small
pieces of mechanism necessary to make the
automatic gun serviceable, while Gwennap stood
ready to thrust the end of the ammunition belt
into the breech-block feeder.

The next instant Polglaze dropped limply
across the trail with a broad-bladed spear thrown
at less than ten yards' distance sticking into his
body.  Gwennap, using the butt-end of his rifle,
stood over his comrade till, desperately fighting,
he fell.  The gun was surrounded by a swarm of
blood-thirsty foes.

Seeing this the men who still remained ashore
made a wild scramble for the boats, and the fire
in consequence slackened.  Revolver in hand,
Hythe called to them to make an effort to recover
the gun.  The call was promptly obeyed, and a
dozen men, comprising several of the "Iticaba's"
crew, in addition to those of the "Aphrodite"
jumped ashore, pouring in a hot fire as fast as
they could handle the bolts of their magazine
rifles.

Unable to withstand so concentrated a fire the
horde of Somalis melted away.  The gun stood
alone with a score or more of corpses to bear
testimony to the efficacy of the rifle-fire.

But there was no time to be lost.  Already a
swarm of the enemy, four or five times as
numerous as the crowd that had just been driven off,
were racing like furies to renew the conflict.

As soon as Hythe gained the place where the
quick-firer stood he realized that it was impossible
to remove it.  Even in the short interval during
which it had remained in the enemy's possession
the Somalis had taken good care to sever and
remove the drag ropes.

Calling to his men to carry off the bodies of
Polglaze and Gwennap, the sub removed the
breech mechanism, and staggering under the heavy
weight, he followed his men to the boats, where,
under a heavy but ill-aimed rifle fire from the
Somalis, they pushed off towards the "Aphrodite."

Under the lee of the submarine the men
boarded their haven of refuge.  One glance
sufficed to show that poor Gwennap was no
more.  The Somalis, not content with slaying
outright, had hacked his body in a most atrocious
manner.  Polglaze still showed signs of life, for
protected by his comrade's body, he had escaped
the demoniacal fury of the savages.  Nevertheless
the spear-thrust through his left shoulder
looked very dangerous.

What had to be done must be done quickly,
for night was approaching, and the Somalis were
evidently making preparations to remove the gun
which had been left in their hands.  As long as
daylight lasted the rifle fire from the deck of the
submarine would effectually check any attempt in
this direction, while an additional deterrent was
provided in the form of a powerful rocket.  This
could only be fired at an angle of less than five
degrees from the perpendicular, and in consequence
could do no physical hurt to the Somalis.
Nevertheless the moral fear it inspired served to
make the natives clear off to a respectful distance,
where they waited for nightfall.

It was obvious that the attempt to recapture the
quick-firer must be made early for other reasons.
The wind was now blowing strong from the
east'ard, and with the rising sea landing would
be a very difficult matter; while, floating light,
the submarine stood a good chance of being blown
from her anchorage.

As soon as night had fallen twenty men led by
Hythe fell in on the upper platform.  Rifles were
discarded as encumbrances, but each of the party
carried an automatic pistol in his belt, the weapon
holding ten cartridges, while separate clips, each
containing a similar number, were placed in their
ammunition belts.

Into the stern-sheets of the "Iticaba's" cutter
was stowed a coil of three inch rope--the "coil"
measuring the orthodox one hundred and thirteen
fathoms.  One end of the rope was made fast to
the "Aphrodite's" for'ard capstan, while to the
other end was spliced a length of flexible steel
wire rope.

With muffled oars the boat's crew gave way,
Mylor the quartermaster paying out the rope as
the boat stole shorewards.  There was little need
for silence, for the thunder of the surf on the reef
drowned every other sound.

All went well till the cutter grounded on the
shore, then from a distance of nearly two hundred
yards along the bank the darkness was pierced
by the flash of the Somalis rifles, while a swift
rushing sound indicated that swarms of fierce
foes were charging down upon the boat.





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.. _`OVER THE BAR`:

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   CHAPTER XXIII.


.. class:: center medium

   OVER THE BAR.

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Although the air seemed alive with the screech
of the bullets the Somalis fired so high that not
a man was hit.  At the first volley Hythe ordered
the quartermaster to haul the cutter off, then
bringing her broadside on, he gave the word to
open fire.

It spoke volumes for the discipline of the men
under his command that not one of them gave
way to the temptation to discharge his pistol.
The pressure of a few ounces on the trigger
would be sufficient to send ten shots into the mob
on shore, but in the dark there was the danger
of the men in the boat accidentally hitting their
comrades, but until the cutter swung round
broadside on, the boat's crew resisted the almost
overwhelming desire to return the fire.

But Captain Restronguet had taken precautions
to counteract the surprise.  Simultaneously
the two starboard search-lights were switched on
and swung abeam till the powerful rays flashed
full in the faces of the astonished Somalis.  To
the latter it savoured of magic.  Blinded by the
glare, galled by the fusillade from the automatic
pistols, and harassed by the fire from the deck of
the "Aphrodite" they fled.  Some, however,
too terrified to move, flung themselves on the
ground, which was already littered with the bodies
of several of their comrades.

"Give way," ordered the sub.

Directly the boat touched shore all hands save
two jumped out, and carrying the rope, dashed
for the gun, that now stood revealed as if
outlined in silver in the rays of the search-light.

In a trice Mylor had secured the steel wire
rope to the trail.  A long and a short blast on
Hythe's whistle was the signal that this part of
the task had been satisfactorily performed.

The electric capstan on the submarine's deck
began to revolve, and the heavy gun with a
succession of jerks was hauled through the yielding
sand.

"Avast heaving!" shouted the sub, as the
recovered weapon reached the water's edge.

"Look out, sir!" shouted O'Shaunessey, and
raising his pistol the Irishman shot through the
head a Somali who, feigning death, had allowed
Hythe to approach within three yards of him
ere, springing to his feet, he was about to hurl
his spear at the sub's back

"Thanks, O'Shaunessey," exclaimed Hythe.

To the accompaniment of a desultory and
erratic fire from a distance of over a thousand
yards the gun was dismounted and "parbuckled"
into the cutter.  The carriage and limber followed
piecemeal, and without a casualty beyond a
few bruised knuckles and jammed fingers the
landing party re-embarked.

It was tricky work transhipping the gun to the
submarine, for the "Aphrodite," with nearly
fifteen feet freeboard, was rolling heavily.  The
men were working in the dark since the searchlight
could not be swung from off the shore without
attracting the Somalis to closer range.  Even
as it was chance bullets were impingeing upon
the submarine's plating, while one cut a clean
hole through the side of the cutter, fortunately
without hitting any of the men on her.

As soon as the gun was safely housed below
steps were taken to spend the rest of the night
in quietness.  The boats of the "Iticaba" were
heavily ballasted and their bungs removed, so
that they sunk to the bottom of the creek.  Thus
they were immune from danger from the enemy's
rifle bullets, while, when occasion arose, they
could easily be raised and again pressed into
service.

Reluctantly the survivors of the "Iticaba" went
below.  The men were temporarily quartered
for'ard in one of the store compartments, their
comrades of the "Aphrodite" making them as
comfortable as they could; while Captain Rees
and his first mate were accommodated in
Kenwyn's cabin, that officer having to share
Devoran's quarters.

But when the "Aphrodite" settled easily upon
the bed of the creek and nothing alarming
occurred, the rescued men's misgivings were set at
rest, and before long, worn out with fatigue,
exposure, and excitement they were sound asleep,
regardless of the fact that thirty or forty feet
above them the seas were tumbling wildly into
the exposed inlet.

Throughout the rest of the night the Somalis
wasted their ammunition in firing at the position
where they last saw the submarine lying, and with
the dawn the anchorage was bare.  Their losses
were made light of, for, according to their
belief, they had rid the world of a shipload of
unbelievers.  No doubt they were a little
disappointed that there were no trophies of their
victory, but they contented themselves with
removing the wreckage and stores washed ashore
from the ill-fated "Iticaba," which had completely
broken up during the gale.

Early on the morning of the second day of the
"Aphrodite's" detention in the creek the men
of the "Iticaba" were surprised to see nine men,
clad in air-tubeless diving-suits, make their way
through the compartment which had been allotted
to them.

Half an hour later the nine returned.  In that
half hour the remains of poor Gwennap had been
buried in the sand at the bottom of the creek.
Captain Restronguet would have preferred to
have given his faithful comrade a sailor's grave
in the open sea, but since it was impossible to
say how long it would be before the submarine
could recross the bar, the corpse had to be
removed by a funeral party in diver's dress.

During the day the detector, which had
hitherto given plenty of indications of the
"Vorwartz" gradually failed to record the movement
of the submarine under Karl von Harburg's
command.  Either the vessel had been driven
ashore in a gale or else she had gone many miles
to the south'ard, and beyond the field covered by
the electrical rays of the detector.  In vain
Captain Restronguet asked for information by
wireless.  No news came to hand; his quest had
received a check, for cooped up within the creek
he was unable to gain or even keep pace with
his sworn enemy.

It was not until the third day that the gale
moderated sufficiently for the "Aphrodite" to
rise to the surface.  Her appearance was the
cause of a wild stampede by the Somalis still
engaged in enriching themselves with the stranded
cargo.  To see a vessel that they confidently
believed to have sunk suddenly rise from the deep
was to them incomprehensible.  They fled, never
stopping till they had placed a good half day's
journey between them and the sea.  In future
they regarded the vicinity of that inlet as a
district frequented by djinns, or evil spirits, and for
some time to come, at least, should the crews of
any vessel have occasion to land upon that
inhospitable shore, they would be spared the
possibilities of a fight against overwhelming numbers
of fanatical Somalis.

Two more precious days were wasted after the
weather had moderated sufficiently to allow the
"Aphrodite" to rise.  Captain Restronguet
began to get anxious, for provisions were running
short.  A considerable quantity of "emergency
rations" had been lost with the central section
of the submarine, and now, with a refugee crew
to feed, the vessel's resources were severely
strained.

Since there was little current in the inlet it
was impossible to recharge the accumulators,
and the reserve of electricity had to be carefully
husbanded.  Fortunately fairly fresh water for
drinking purposes could be obtained on shore,
and thus the necessity of using the condensers
was for the time being no longer urgent.

After the storm the tide fell short of its
customary height, for the gale occurring at the time
of spring tides, there had been an abnormal rise
on the bar.  Careful soundings revealed the
unpleasant fact that at the top of the tide there
would be only a few inches under the keel of the
submarine, while, with the ground swell still
breaking, this margin was quite insufficient to
attempt the passage with any chance of safety.

Then news arrived by wireless that the
"Vorwartz" had been operating in the
Mozambique Channel, a French liner bound for the
ports on the west coast of Madagascar being
ruthlessly sunk.  In this instance there was no
attempt by the modern buccaneer to plunder his
prize.  Without attempting to take possession of
her he had sunk her in deep water, there being
barely time for the passengers and crew to take
to the boats.

Furthermore, it was announced that rewards
totaling nearly a hundred and forty thousand
pounds had been offered to whoever succeeded
in capturing or destroying the "Vorwartz."  Of
this amount Lloyd's--already a heavy sufferer by
these depredations--had guaranteed thirty
thousand, the remainder being provided by the
Governments of Great Britain, France, Germany
and the United States of America.

Captain Restronguet fumed at the delay.  It
was not on account of the bounteous guerdon,
but because he was unable to put a stop once
and for all to his rival's insane acts, for without
doubt Karl von Harburg was now nothing less
than a dangerous maniac, who possessed sufficient
cunning and authority to bend the will of his
crew to suit his own aims.  It seemed hard
indeed that a vessel like the "Aphrodite," equipped
with every appliance that human ingenuity
could contrive, should be penned in by a narrow
strip of sand and shingle on which the surf rolled
incessantly.

"I'll have a shot at it at next high water,"
announced Captain Restronguet to his officers.
"That will be at three o'clock!  It is high
water full and change on this part of the coast
at a quarter past four, and as there is a new moon
the day after to-morrow each tide until that day
ought to be higher than the preceding one."

"Unless influenced by the wind, sir," added
Hythe.  "That is a great consideration."

"Undoubtedly," admitted the captain.  "But
the sooner we make our preparations the better.
Pass the word for Captain Rees, and ask him
to warn his men to bear a hand.  Unless every
one works with a will our chances of success will
be severely threatened."

The sunken boats of the "Iticaba" were
raised, baled out, and laden with movable
stores from the submarine.  Everything that
could possibly be taken from the "Aphrodite"
to lessen her already diminished draught was
hoisted out, till the boats were laden as deeply
as they could be in view of the fact that they
would also have to pass the dangerous bar.

"We had a matter of three hundred barrels of
heavy oil in the old 'Iticaba,' sir," announced
Captain Rees.  "It's just possible that those
murdering rascals have not stove in the heads
of every barrel that came ashore.  They might
be of service in keeping down the broken water."

"Might," remarked Captain Restronguet
dubiously.  "What do you say, Mr. Hythe?"

"I've had no experience under circumstances
like the present, sir," replied the sub.  "The
Board of Trade officials state that in a surf, or
waves breaking over a bar, the effect of the oil
is uncertain."

"We'll try it, anyhow," said Captain
Restronguet.  "Tell Mr. Kenwyn to take a party
ashore--see that they are well armed and keep
a sharp look-out--and bring back any barrels
of oil that may have come ashore."

In less than an hour Kenwyn's party returned,
pushing five large barrels over the sand.  These
were placed in the cutter, which was immediately
sent seawards, for it was now nearly the time of
high water.  As the boat gained the fringe of
breakers one wave washed over her bows.  From
the deck of the "Aphrodite" it could be seen
that they were baling furiously.  It was a
question whether this cutter would escape being
swamped; but after a strenuous struggle the
boat succeeded in drawing clear of the surf.

Anchoring, Kenwyn prepared to liberate the
oil.  Simultaneously the 'Aphrodite' weighed
her anchors, and with the other boats of the
'Iticaba' in tow awaited the critical moment to
attempt the risky passage.

"They're staving in the barrel, sir,"
announced Devoran.  "There's one overboard."

"It makes a difference to the water already,"
observed Captain Restronguet.  "But we'll wait
till they heave the contents of another couple of
barrels overboard, and then we'll see what we
can do.  By Jove, what's that?"

A sudden flash, vivid even in the strong
sunlight, was followed by a dense cloud of smoke
that completely hid the cutter from sight.  Owing
to the lack of wind the vapour hung about like
a pall, but presently the heads of several men
could be seen as they swam for all they were
worth towards the shore.

There was a rush for the boats that still
remained alongside the "Aphrodite," and
heedless of the risk they ran in pulling the
laden craft towards the bar the crews bent to
their oars.

In a comparatively short space of time the
swimmers were all picked up, several of them
being slightly burned, while in some instances
their hair and beards had been singed off.

"What has happened, Mr. Kenwyn?" demanded
Captain Restronguet, as the unlucky
boat's crew boarded the submarine.

"One of the barrels contained sodium carbide,
sir, and we didn't know it till the head was
knocked off.  There was a lot of water in the
bottom of the boat----"

"And what caused it to take fire; some one
was smoking, eh?"

"Yes, sir," replied the second officer.

"Was it one of my men?"

"No, sir."

"Very well, I'll say no more.  Had the
culprit been one of the 'Aphrodite's' crew
there would be trouble; but I do not want to
exercise any jurisdiction over the men of the
'Iticaba.'  At the same time, Mr. Kenwyn, it
was your duty to keep order in the boat, and
with an inflammable cargo of oil on board, you
ought to have maintained the strictest vigilance."

Kenwyn did not reply.  The captain's
strictures were necessary, but the second officer
was not a man to make lame excuses, even
though one of the seamen from the "Iticaba"
had quietly lit his pipe while Kenwyn's back
was turned.

The carbide had by now burnt itself out, but
patches of burning oil were still drifting
shorewards.  Nevertheless the object of the
expedition was in the main successful, for the seas no
longer broke heavily, but continued in a sullen
roll right into the deeper water within the creek.

Ordering half speed ahead, Captain
Restronguet stood by the quartermaster and gave
directions as to the course.  Gathering way the
submarine started on her bid for freedom, the
remaining boat of the "Iticaba" being towed
astern.  No one remained in the boats, while at
the stern of the "Aphrodite" a man stood ready
with a sharp axe to sever the towing hawser should
any of the lumbering craft become swamped.

Nearer and nearer to the danger zone the
"Aphrodite" headed.  Suddenly there was a
dull thud.  She was aground aft.  The boats
in tow came surging alongside, only to be swept
backwards with a tremendous jerk on the hawser
as a roller came swinging by.

That wave did it.  Lifting the "Aphrodite's"
heel clear of the sand it enabled the
submarine under the action of her powerful
engines to glide into deep water, followed by
the half water-logged flotilla of boats.

As soon as a safe distance had been placed
between her and the inhospitable shore the
submarine eased down; the "Iticaba's" boats were
brought alongside and the work of bringing the
"Aphrodite's" spare gear on board again was
pushed forward with feverish energy.

All the boats save the largest whaler were
cast adrift, as if kept in tow they would have
made a great difference in the submarine's speed,
and anxious to fall in with the piratical
"Vorwartz," Captain Restronguet ordered a course
to be shaped for Zanzibar at the utmost capacity
of the "Aphrodite's" motors.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE AERO-HYDROPLANE`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XXIV.


.. class:: center medium

   THE AERO-HYDROPLANE.

.. vspace:: 2

"I want you men to promise me," said Captain
Restronguet, addressing the survivors of the
"Iticaba's" crew, who were drawn up in the
submarine deck--"I want you to give me your
word of honour that on landing, and in a period
of fourteen days from that time, you will make
no mention whatsoever about the 'Aphrodite'
being still capable of action.  Mind, I do not
bind you down by conditions, threats, or
intimidation of any sort.  I would not insult a body
of true-hearted British seamen by so doing.
I merely ask, in the interests of every vessel
within range of the 'Vorwartz's' atrocities, that
the presence of the 'Aphrodite' should not be
revealed."

The submarine was now within ten miles of
Ras Nungwe, the northernmost part of Zanzibar
Island, and the "Iticaba's" people were about
to be sent ashore.  They had, through their
skipper, expressed their most grateful thanks for
their gallant rescue in the nick of time, and in
replying Captain Restronguet had made this
request with reference to the "Vorwartz."

"Strikes me very forcibly, sir," answered
Captain Rees, "that you have made a very
difficult request.  You see, there's bound to be
an inquiry by the Consul, and a report will have
to be sent to Lloyd's before the owners can
recover the insurance.  And without I make a
clean breast of it the Board of Trade will take
away my ticket."

"By Jove, I hadn't thought of that!" exclaimed
Captain Restronguet.  "As you say, it is a very
difficult point to take into consideration.  Yet in
an affair of this description, where so much
depends upon the issue, the ordinary routine followed
in cases of shipwreck ought to be put aside, at least
for a few days."

"I could answer for my men," continued the
old skipper, and a lusty chorus of "Ay, ay," that
had a ring of sincerity in it, came from the
survivors of the ill-fated tramp.  "But, you see,
sir, it's a ticklish business trying to bamboozle
the Board."

"If I were to write a letter to the President of
the Consular Court--no, I'll tell you what I'll do;
I'll go myself," declared Captain Restronguet.
"Mr. Devoran, keep an offing, will you?  I'm
going ashore in the 'Iticaba's' boat; I'll hire some
sort of craft to get back, so keep a sharp look-out
for me on the west side of Bawi Island, that's
over yonder.  It is on the north side of the
Western Pass, as the approach of Zanzibar Town
is called.  Should any large craft come in sight,
don't hesitate to dive.  We must preserve our
secret at all costs."

"Are you going alone, sir?" asked Hythe.

"I did think of so doing; but why?  Would
you like to accompany me ashore?"

"I should, sir.  You see, I know the place fairly
well.  Spent three months in the East Indies
flagship in these waters when I was a midshipman."

The whaler was manned, Captain Restronguet,
the skipper of the "Iticaba," and Hythe
sitting in the stern sheets.  There was no wind,
so the men had recourse to their oars, and a five
mile pull under a blazing sun was no light task.
Nevertheless, within an hour and a quarter of
leaving the "Aphrodite" the whaler ran
alongside the landing-slips at Zanzibar.

A crowd of Arabs, Zanzibaris, and negroes,
with a sprinkling of Europeans, awaited the arrival
of the boat, for since there was no large vessel
lying outside the Western Pass, it was rightly
conjectured that the men were survivors from
some disaster.

Loyally the seamen maintained silence, and
stolidly refused to be questioned by several of the
seamen from other ships that happened to be
lying in the roadstead, and in a body they
marched to the British Consulate, where Captain
Restronguet asked to be shown into the presence
of His Majesty's representative.

"What name, sir?" asked the stalwart sergeant
of marines, who was in charge of the guard.

"That I wish to withhold," replied the Captain.
"At the same time I am convinced that the
Consul will be more than willing to see me."

The sergeant demurred, but just then a dapper
little man, whose snow-white hair and closely
trimmed grey beard contrasted vividly with his
brick-red complexion, came across the courtyard.

"What's this?  Shipwrecked men?" he asked,
scanning the somewhat dishevelled crowd of
seamen, some of whom bore traces of hard knocks
received in the struggle with the Somalis.

"These men are," replied Captain Restronguet.
"I have not had that misfortune.  Neither has
my friend here.  At the same time I wish to
make an important communication to you in
private."

"By all means," said the Consul.  "This way.
Simmons, will you please bring whisky and soda
into the small study.  I presume, gentlemen, you
would like a peg?"

"Now," he continued, as Captain Restronguet,
Captain Rees, and Hythe followed him into the
room, "what can I do for you?  Do you wish
to make a statement on oath?  If so, I must send
for my secretary."

"The necessity for making a statement upon
oath rests with you," replied Captain Restronguet.
"Allow me to introduce myself as Captain John
Restronguet, commanding the submarine
'Aphrodite,' which is now lying off the port."

The Consul stared at his informant for quite ten
seconds, then recovering himself said stiffly,
"This, sir, is neither the place nor occasion for
a senseless joke."

"I agree with you."

"Then, why?  The 'Aphrodite' was destroyed
by that villain Karl von Harburg in the Red Sea
more than a week ago."

"On whose authority did you hear this, might
I ask?"

"On the word--if word it can be called--of
Karl von Harburg himself."

"The report was false.  I am he whom I claim
to be.  This gentleman, Mr. Arnold Hythe, an
officer of the Royal Navy, will corroborate my
statement."

"I am aware that Captain Arnold Hythe was
in the 'Aphrodite,'" said the Consul, who was
still unconvinced.  He was an old Cambridge man,
and as such had both participated and had been
the victim of more than one elaborate hoax.
Such episodes, utterly foolish as they appear to
be, serve their purpose in after life.  They impart
a considerable amount of shrewdness into the
human mind.

"Can you offer me definite proof?" continued
the Consul.  "If so I should be delighted, since
it is my opinion that the only vessel capable of
meeting the 'Vorwartz' on anything like even
terms was, or perhaps is, the 'Aphrodite.'"

Captain Restronguet bowed.  "Sir, I feel
honoured," he replied.  "But since you cannot
accept the word of a gentleman, I can offer no
other solution."

"It is part of my duty to investigate matters,"
said the Consul reprovingly.  "If I remember
rightly a photograph of Sub-Lieutenant Hythe
appeared in the illustrated papers at the time he
was supposed to have been lost in Plymouth
Sound.  I cannot admit that the gentleman
resembles the portrait."

"Have you a Navy List, sir?" asked the sub,
speaking for the first time during the interview.

The Consul walked across the room and took
from a bureau a copy of the familiar blue
paper-covered book, which he handed to the sub.

"The 'Topaze' is in the roadstead," said
Hythe, as he rapidly turned over the pages.  "Ah,
here we are.  Commander the Hon. C. L. Sedgwyke,
I know him, but I'm afraid he doesn't
know me.  Lieutenant Totterbull--h'm, yes, he
might.  But here's Dewerstone, he was in my
term at Dartmouth.  Would you mind if he
were sent for, sir?"

"Certainly not.  I will have a signal made at
once," replied the Consul.

"You wouldn't mind, sir," continued the sub,
addressing Captain Restronguet.  "Dewerstone
is a fellow to be trusted.  He wouldn't say a
word to anyone outside."

Accordingly a signal was made from the roof
of the Consulate, and Sub-Lieutenant Dewerstone
was informed by his captain that his presence
was required ashore.  The young man did not
feel particularly joyful at the intelligence.  He
had already obtained permission to go to a tennis
party, and having to attend on Consular Service
did not appeal to him.  Nevertheless, as soon
as a boat could take him off, Dewerstone was
ready.

"Good afternoon, Dick," exclaimed Hythe as
soon as the sub from the "Topaze" had paid his
respects to the Consul.

"Well, Hythe, where did you roll up from?"
asked Dewerstone nonchalantly.  "I thought you
were in Davy Jones's locker."

"I am not," said Hythe earnestly.  "Perhaps
you would not mind proving my identity to His
Britannic Majesty's Consul."

"Considering we were in the semi-final for the
heavyweight and you knocked me out I think I
can safely do that," replied Dewerstone.

"We need not go further, gentlemen,"
announced the Consul.  "I must apologize for not
accepting your word, Captain Restronguet.
Now what do you wish me to do?"

As briefly as he could Captain Restronguet
explained the circumstances under which he
rescued the survivors of the "Iticaba," and the
reason why he wished salient facts in connection
with the affair to be temporarily suppressed.

"I think it can be arranged," said the Consul.
"At all events, I will take down the depositions
of Captain Rees, and omit any details I consider
necessary."

As soon as this was done Captain Rees took
his departure.

His men had already been quartered in the
Consulate, where they were to remain until they
could be sent back to Liverpool.

"You will dine with me, gentlemen?" asked
the Consul of Captain Restronguet and the two
subs.  "There is no immediate hurry for you
to get back?"

"I must get a boat before four o'clock," replied
Captain Restronguet.  "So I must ask to be
excused."

Hythe was also unable to accept, while Dewerstone,
still intent upon the tennis party, managed
to find a reason for declining the stiff formality
of dinner at the Consulate.

During their stay at Zanzibar Captain Restronguet
and his companions visited the old town,
but finding it remarkable for its malodorous
nature, they beat a hasty retreat and went for a
stroll inland.  Before they returned it came on
to blow fairly hard from the sou'west, and by the
time they reached the landing-place it was pretty
evident that a boat could not put off without
great risk.

In vain Captain Restronguet offered the native
boatmen a large sum to be rowed off beyond
Bawi Island.  He even tried to charter a dhow,
but without success.

"We could ask the Consul to communicate
with the 'Topaze' or any of the cruisers and
gunboats in the roadstead; they would send a
piquet-boat for us," suggested Hythe.

Captain Restronguet shook his head.

"Not if it can be avoided," he answered.  "I
have reasons for not falling in with your plan.
We will see if we can get better luck at Shangani
Point.  The water ought to be smoother there."

Accordingly both men set off as briskly as
they could in the moist, enervating heat, but
before they had passed the Sultan's palace a
short, sparsely-built man in European clothing
overtook them.  Twice the man looked over his
shoulder at Captain Restronguet, then suddenly
wheeling he intercepted him and held out his hand.

"What ho, there, Tretheway!  Whoever would
have thought of meeting you in this dead and
alive corner of the globe?"

Hythe naturally thought it was a case of
mistaken identity on the part of the little fellow, but
to his surprise Captain Restronguet replied in a
cordial manner.

"Bless my soul!  It's Jenkins.  What are you
doing here?"

"It is," assented that worthy.  "I've been
knocking about a bit since I last worked--I mean,
slaved--with you in a British dockyard.  Fallen
on my feet at last though, that is, unless I fall on
my precious skull.  Just fancy, Tretheway, I
am aeroplanist-in-chief to His Highness the
Sultan of Zanzibar."

"Better you than me," remarked the Captain
with a laugh.  "But I was unaware that the
Sultan was a devotee of the art of flying."

"He is, and he isn't," replied Jenkins.  "He
owns a good many air crafts of various types,
and I and several others, mostly Frenchmen, by
the by, give exhibition flights while he sits in
his state chair and watches us.  But how goes
it?  You look jolly fit, and don't appear as if you
were hard up for a dollar?"

"No, I cannot complain on that score," said
Captain Restronguet quietly.

"Well, come and have a look at my little
air-fleet.  Really they don't make a bad show.  And
your friend, of course."

"Sorry," replied Captain Restronguet.  "But
we're in a regular hurry.  I am trying to get a
boat to put me off."

"Where to?" asked Jenkins.  "One of the
liners in the Roads?"

"No, further out; quite five miles off."

"Guess you won't get a Zanzibari to take on
the job.  There's a brute of a swell tumbling in.
Look here, I'll tell you what: I'll give you a lift
in one of our aero-hydroplanes, if you like."

"Is it safe?" asked Captain Restronguet
earnestly, whereat Hythe wondered, for his
companion had never before shown signs of
timidity, even when in tight corners in the depths
of the sea.

"Safe as a house," replied Jenkins reassuringly.

"Jenkins, my friend, you misunderstand me,
although I quite admit the question was
ambiguous.  Is it safe--or shall we say discreet?--to
take us for a 'joy-ride' in one of the Sultan's
air-craft?"

"If anything His Highness would be pleased
to see me making a flight in gusty weather with
two passengers; so say the word and I'll trot out
the contraption.  It's the only way."

"Carry on, then," assented Captain Restronguet.

Within the spacious outer courtyard of the
palace stood a number of lofty sheds with sliding
doors.  At a wave and a gesture from the chief
aviator a number of natives opened the doors
and dragged a huge aero-hydroplane of an
obsolete pattern into the sunlight.  The machine
was a biplane.  Underneath the two long floats
were four wheels, so that it could be adapted
either for alighting and rising from the sea or
land.

Jenkins critically examined various nuts and
tension wires, started the engine, till the machine
was all a-quiver with the vibration from the
revolving cylinders.

"All correct," he bawled, for the rapid
explosion of the motor practically deadened every
other sound.  "Get aboard."

Captain Restronguet occupied a seat immediately
behind and slightly higher than the pilot,
while Hythe sat behind the biplane.  Jenkins
vaulted agilely into his place, motioned to the
attendants to stand clear and thrust home the
clutch of the propeller shaft.

The aero-hydro-craft leapt over the ground for
about twenty yards with a jerk that nearly
capsized the two passengers; then soaring upwards
it cleared the courtyard wall by barely six feet,
passed over the upturned faces of a crowd of
natives in the roadway, and shot rapidly across
the harbour.

The motion was exhilarating, but the air, by
contrast with the heat ashore, was cold and
cutting to the faces of the passengers.  Hythe
realized that aeroplaning in white ducks, even in
the Tropics, was rather out of place.

"Look, sir," he exclaimed.  "There's the
'Topaze' going out."

"That's rotten luck," replied Captain Restronguet
leaning sideways to watch the cruiser, that,
a thousand feet below, looked no larger than a
model boat.  "Your friend Dewerstone has given
the show away."

"I think not," replied the sub confidently.
"He told me he was on leave till the day after
to-morrow."

"Where's your ship, Tretheway?" shouted Jenkins.

"Away beyond Bawi Island.  There she is."

"Rum looking craft, anyway," commented the
aviator.  "Looks more like a dog's kennel to me."

"Thanks," remarked Captain Restronguet in
an undertone; then louder he added, "She's
hove-to.  If you come down within hailing
distance they'll range up alongside to pick us up;
they haven't a boat."

"Haven't a boat," ejaculated Jenkins.  "Rum
craft.  Look here----"

He ended abruptly, for with a report like a
pistol shot one of the wires supporting the wing
plane snapped.  The aero-hydroplane began to
tilt ominously.  Hythe and his companion
instinctively realizing that a disaster was imminent
grasped the rods nearest to hand in a grip of iron.

Pluckily the aviator strove by manipulating the
elevating rudder to restore the doomed aircraft's
equilibrium, but in vain.  He, therefore, shut off
the engine and attempted a vol-plane.  Already
the air-craft was standing almost on its nose, and
falling with fearful velocity, till Captain Restronguet
slid out of his seat and was prevented from
falling clear only by his grasp upon a metal rod.

Finding that the machine was quite out of
control, Jenkins touched a lever with his foot.
Instantly a length of stout canvas trailed out
astern.  Before the aero-hydroplane had descended
another fifteen feet the canvas, distended
by the resistance of the air, took the shape of a
huge parachute.  The fall, though still rapid, was
appreciably retarded, while the three men, literally
hanging on tooth and nail, became aware that
hope was not yet dead.

With a tremendous splash the wrecked
aero-hydroplane struck the water.  Hythe found
himself torn from his support, and plunging feet
below the waves.  Fearing that he might be
entangled in the sinking machine he struck out
and swam a considerable distance ere he rose
to the surface.

Shaking the water out of his eyes, he looked
around.  The aero-hydroplane was still floating,
but with a heavy list.  The concussion had burst
the seams of one of her floats, which was now
completely filled with water, while the other was
leaking slightly.  Clinging to the still buoyant
float were the captain and Jenkins.  The
"Aphrodite" was nowhere to be seen.

"We're all right for the present," called out
the former cheerily.  "The water's warm and I
have not seen any sharks about, and the cruiser
will bear down and pick us up."

"Where's your ship, Tretheway?" asked the
aviator anxiously.  "We were falling close to
where she was hove-to."

"I'm rather afraid she didn't spot us," replied
Captain Restronguet.  "And seeing the 'Topaze'
approaching, she dived."

"Dived!" exclaimed the astounded Jenkins.
"What d'ye mean?  You don't mean to tell me
the ship you belong to is a submarine?"

"It is," assented the Captain coolly.

"Not that rascally 'Vorwartz' by any chance?"

"No."

"Well, then, what's her name?  I haven't
heard of any other submarine in these waters."

"Not the 'Aphrodite'?"

"Don't try to be funny, Tretheway.  You
know as well as I do that that submarine was
blown to atoms."

"I am afraid, my dear Jenkins, that I cannot
agree with you.  The 'Aphrodite' is even now
submerged in the Zanzibar Channel, and I--whom
you know as Hugh Tretheway--I am
Captain John Restronguet."





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE APPROACH OF THE "VORWARTZ"`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XXV.


.. class:: center medium

   THE APPROACH OF THE "VORWARTZ."

.. vspace:: 2

Beyond muttering "Well, I'm dashed!" the
aviator relapsed into silence.  In vain Captain
Restronguet and Hythe looked for a trace of
the "Aphrodite."  As a last resource the former
produced a silk green and white flag from his
pocket and lashed it to one of the vertical stays
in the hope that the submarine might locate it
by means of her periscope.

"They're carrying out orders," said Captain
Restronguet at length.  "I told Devoran to
dive if he saw any vessel approaching.  He
spotted the 'Topaze' and immediately descended.
It's awkward, because the secret is bound to
leak out.  But after all it is rather remarkable
that it didn't become common property hours ago."

"How shall we get on board the 'Aphrodite,'
sir?" asked the sub.

"We'll manage it sooner or later, but there's
valuable time lost.  Ha, there's the 'Topaze'
altering helm.  She's sighted us."

A quarter of an hour later the cruiser's gig
picked up the three unlucky aviators, while the
aero-hydroplane was secured and towed alongside
before she sank, and was hoisted on board by
means of a boat's davit.  Dry clothing was
immediately forthcoming, and clad in borrowed
garments the rescued men were taken aft to be
introduced and interviewed by the Hon. Charles
Sedgwyke, captain of H.M.S. "Topaze."

Realizing that it would be useless to attempt
to conceal anything Captain Restronguet made
a full report of all that had occurred, and requested
that he and his companions might be taken back
to Zanzibar, whence the "Aphrodite" might be
communicated with by wireless.

"I am afraid that it is at present impossible,
Captain Restronguet," said the Hon. Sedgwyke.
"We are under urgent orders to proceed to
Delagoa Bay, for there that villainous von
Harburg has been making himself particularly
objectionable.  We are to meet and co-operate
with the 'Pique,' and should our efforts meet
with success we are to carry on to Table Bay.
There is, I am afraid, no option.  You must
accompany us, and no doubt, your valuable
experience in connection with the affair will
enable us to settle with the 'Vorwartz.'"

"I would much rather settle with her myself,"
replied Captain Restronguet.

"That I can quite understand.  I can also
safely assert that Captain Restronguet will not
prevent the 'Topaze' from distinguishing
herself by standing aloof when he might otherwise
render us good service."

Captain Restronguet bowed.  "Naturally,"
he added.  "Our interests in the business lies
in the same direction."

"Anything I can do to aid you I will most
willingly do," continued Captain Sedgwyke.
"I might suggest that the wireless of this vessel
is at your disposal, and by sending a message
to the Admiralty you could have it re-transmitted
through your agent to the 'Aphrodite.'"

"An excellent arrangement," said Captain
Restronguet, "only it is certain that the news
will reach Karl von Harburg, and that is what
I particularly wish to avoid."

"I trust that within the next few days Karl
von Harburg will be totally indifferent to news
of any description," remarked the captain of the
"Topaze" drily.  "But in the meanwhile make
yourselves comfortable on board.  You will,
I hope, do us the honour of being a temporary
member of the Ward Room.  Mr. Hythe, who
is still under the Naval Discipline Act, must, of
course, mess in the Gun Room.  I am still
slightly hazy as to the exact official and social
status of the aviator-in-chief to His Highness
the Sultan of Zanzibar."

Three days later the "Topaze" was threshing
her way southward at a good twenty-two knots
and was approaching the rendezvous.  It was
now night, but the moon, shining with all the
lustre that only the tropics can enjoy, made
everything on deck quite discernible.

Surrounded by a group of officers, all of
whom were most anxious to gather particulars
of the rival submarines from two of the principal
characters, Captain Restronguet and Hythe had
to exercise their ingenuity to prevent themselves
being "pumped," for even to their kind hosts
it was not advisable to give themselves away.
Nevertheless the time passed pleasantly.  The
paymaster's cigars were excellent, the surgeon
was a lively raconteur, and the first lieutenant
was kindness personified; but at length Captain
Restronguet contrived to draw Hythe aside to
the lee of the after nine-point-two-inch gun
turret.

"No doubt you wondered why that fellow
Jenkins addressed me as Hugh Tretheway," he
began.  "Well, it certainly was strange running
across him in far-off Zanzibar.  You may
remember I told you that for some months, when down
on my luck, I worked as an electrical fitter in
Devonport Dockyard?  That man Jenkins was
in the same shop.  He isn't a bad fellow by any
means, though somewhat of a rough diamond.
Hugh Tretheway is my baptismal name, but for
certain reasons I preferred to drop it and assume
the name of John Restronguet.  I hope that for
the present at all events you will keep that
information a secret.  I have already had a quiet
talk with Jenkins on the matter, and from what
I already know of him, he will be as silent as
the dead."

"Of course I will carry out your wishes, sir,"
said the sub.

"Thank you.  But to change the subject:
what do you think of the chances of the 'Topaze'
against the 'Vorwartz'?"

"She has her work cut out," replied the sub.
"But I feel certain that every man on board will
do his best."

"They cannot do more," added Captain
Restronguet earnestly.  "At the same time they are
running needless risks when, once I locate the
'Vorwartz,' I could destroy her without a quarter
of the danger.  Suppose, now, that the Delagoa
Bay report was false and Karl von Harburg is
knocking about in these waters: what is there to
prevent her from torpedoing the ship and sending
her to the bottom?"

"That is a risk that every ship must run in
naval warfare," replied Hythe.  "Ever since the
invention of torpedoes that risk has increased, and
now that submarines form a formidable arm of
the Naval Service there is still the greater
possibilities of a ship being sent to the bottom
without a shot in self-defence."

Before Captain Restronguet could say another
word a hoarse order came from the fore bridge,
followed by a shrill bugle-call for "General
Quarters" and the long-drawn notes of the
bo's'un's-mates' whistles.

"What's that?" demanded Captain Restronguet.

"'Clear for action'--a test order perhaps,"
replied Hythe.  "See how those fellows get to work."

Up the companion-ladders officers hurriedly
appeared, still fumbling with the buckles of their
sword-belts.  From for'ard tumbled a swarm
of hefty bluejackets, who, invading the sacred
precincts of the quarter-deck, began to unship
stanchions, davits, ventilating-cowls, and other
impedimenta; steel covers were lowered over
skylights and companion-hatchways.  The
securing bolts of the after nine-point-two gun turrets
were cast loose, and the long muzzle swung
round, causing Captain Restronguet to hurriedly
duck his head.  In five minutes the quarter-deck
of the "Topaze" was deserted, as were the other
exposed parts of the ship, every man being at
his station behind the armoured portions of the
vessel.

Another bugle-call.

"As you were," exclaimed Hythe.  "Suppose
we go up on the after-bridge.  They are exercising.
Perhaps the next evolution will be 'Out
collision mats.'"

"Hope they won't have to do it in real earnest,"
remarked his companion as the two men ascended
to their coign of vantage.

Once more the bo's'un's-mates' whistles
sounded while the bo's'un shouted in stentorian
tones "Out nets."  The cry was repeated in half
a dozen different parts of the ship, and the
hither-to deserted decks became a scene of disorder and
chaos: at least that's what it seemed to Captain
Restronguet, who was for the time being a stranger
in a strange land.

Instinctively Hythe pulled out his watch, which
once more had stedfastly resisted the assaults
of the sea water.  Captain Restronguet, gripping
the rail, leant over and watched the scene of
activity upon the moon-lit deck.  Over the side of
the gently-rolling craft active seamen slid down
upon the apparently insecure net-shelves, and by
a series of gymnastic feats succeeded in rolling
ten tons of close-meshed steel netting over the side,
to the accompaniment of shouts of "Look alive
there!" from their officers.  Hardly had the
last man regained the deck ere the motor
capstans of the fo'c'sle began to clank.  Seamen
armed with spars thrust at the ends of the torpedo
booms to give the motor-worked wire rope a
chance; then slowly yet surely the twenty
hollow steel booms were swung outwards till the
"Topaze" was encircled with a "crinoline" of
nets at sufficient distance from the ship to stop a
deadly torpedo.  Back doubled the men to their
stations for action.

The sub glanced at his watch.  The evolution
had taken only forty-five seconds.

"Smart work!" ejaculated Captain Restronguet.

"Yes," assented Hythe.  "But we did it in
forty seconds on the old flagship.  Apparently
Captain Sedgwyke is not satisfied for I can hear
him storming to some one."

"It is hardly my place to offer suggestions,"
said Captain Restronguet, "but I think it would
be advisable if they kept the nets in position.
It might save the 'Topaze' from being torpedoed,
although I know that the speed is greatly
diminished by the drag in the water."

"We never do," replied the sub.  "It is the
first time I have seen 'Out nets' performed
with the ship underway.  It is essentially a
defence when lying at anchor.  There: 'In
net defence,' they are going to stow the nets."

In the midst of the scramble that ensued the
bugle suddenly sounded "General Quarters."  To
leave an evolution half completed was a very
unusual thing.

Something prompted Hythe to look seaward.
At less than a cable's distance the two conning-towers
of a submarine had just appeared above
the surface of the moon-lit sea, a smother of foam
making them still more conspicuous.  The sub
gripped his companion's arm and pointed.

"The 'Vorwartz!'" he exclaimed.

Several of the officers of the "Topaze" had
observed the sudden appearance of the sinister
craft, and hence the call to General Quarters.
The light quick-firers were manned, their
muzzles swung round till they pointed full at the
submarine's conning-towers, which, proceeding at
nearly the same rate and in a similar direction to
that of the cruiser, presented an easy target.

Captain Sedgwyke was puzzled.  It was
inexplicable that the submarine should show herself
when she might have let loose a torpedo while
completely submerged.  Nevertheless he was on
the point of giving the order to open fire when
Captain Restronguet, in a voice that could be heard
from one end of the ship to the other, shouted:--

"Don't fire, it is the 'Aphrodite.'"

Something in the captain of the "Aphrodite's"
words prompted Captain Sedgwyke to issue a
confirmatory order.  Hythe was astonished--even
doubtful.  He could not be certain as to
whether it was the "Aphrodite" or her counter-felt
rival; but the inventor and constructor had
made no error.  It was the "Aphrodite."

Thirty feet in front of the fore conning-tower the
sharp bows of the submarine appeared above the
water, followed by the whole length of her decks,
from which the water poured in silvery cascades.

Then a hatch was thrown open and a figure
that Hythe recognized as that of the first officer
appeared.  Raising a megaphone Devoran shouted:--

"Is Captain Restronguet on board?"

"Ay, ay," replied a voice from the fore-bridge.
"What submarine is that?"

"The 'Aphrodite,'," replied Devoran, merely
as a matter of form, since his identity was now
established.  "Can you send a boat?  We have
important intelligence to communicate."

At that moment a petty officer ran up the
ladder of the after-bridge and requested Captain
Restronguet to speak to Captain Sedgwyke.

"I suppose you wish to board your craft," said
the Captain of the cruiser.  "We will lower a
boat as soon as we get a bit shipshape."

"If you will kindly do so I will rejoin the
'Aphrodite,'" replied Captain Restronguet.  "At
the same time I think the information is urgent.
Shall I ask my first officer to deliver it verbally
to save time?"

"Very good," assented Captain Sedgwyke.

The information was indeed startling.  The
electric detector of the "Aphrodite" had picked
up the position of the "Vorwartz."  Karl von
Harburg's submarine was proceeding northwards,
and was even now within twenty miles of the
British cruiser.





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.. _`THE SINKING OF THE "TOPAZE"`:

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   CHAPTER XXVI.


.. class:: center medium

   THE SINKING OF THE "TOPAZE."

.. vspace:: 2

"This is indeed news!" exclaimed Captain
Sedgwyke.  Then in a lower tone he added, "Captain
Restronguet, will you do me a favour?  If we
fall in with the 'Vorwartz' will you stand off and
give the 'Topaze' a chance to distinguish herself?
If so you will earn the gratitude of every officer
and man on board."

The captain of the "Aphrodite" hesitated a
few moments.

"Captain Sedgwyke," he replied, "you have
asked a hard thing.  Had any other captain made
me a similar request I would have declined.  But
I owe you a debt of gratitude for having picked
us up out of the sea.  I will do as you request.
I will give you an hour's uninterrupted action
from the time the 'Vorwartz' is within four miles
of us.  One thing I would suggest, the 'Vorwartz'
is the attacking vessel; you will not have
to pursue her, so, since speed is not a vital
consideration, keep your torpedo nets out."

"I, too, am indebted to you," said Captain
Sedgwyke.  "In an hour I hope to be able to
help to uphold the glorious traditions of the Flag
under which I serve."

"You have my best wishes," added Captain
Restronguet as he turned to go over the side into
the waiting boat.  "At the end of the hour it
will be my show; but should you require any
assistance before then either communicate by
means of wireless--I will order the coil to be
adjusted as soon as I get on board--or else give
four blasts in quick succession should anything
happen to put the wireless out of gear."

"Are you taking Mr. Hythe?"

"Certainly; he is officially lent to the 'Aphrodite';
and Mr. Jenkins will accompany us, since
I am morally responsible to His Highness, the
Sultan of Zanzibar, for his safety."

The two captains shook hands, and Captain
Restronguet and the sub entered the waiting
boat, which had to pass over the upper edge of
the torpedo nets that had to be lowered beneath
the surface for the purpose.

Barely was the cruiser's boat clear of the
"Topaze" when the order came "Out nets."

"Captain Sedgwyke is acting upon my
suggestion," observed Hythe's companion.  "It is
the best plan, but honestly I favour the chances
of the 'Vorwartz.'"

"You have a bias towards the advantage of
submarines," said Hythe.  "At the same time
you must remember Karl von Harburg has, for
the first time, to try conclusions with a British
ship whose guns are sighted by trained seamen-gunners."

"We shall see," observed Captain Restronguet
oracularly, and both men relapsed into silence
until the boat ranged alongside the "Aphrodite."

"'Vorwartz' is now only eleven miles off, sir,"
announced Devoran.  "We've cleared for action,
I presume you will go straight for her, sir?"

"No," replied Captain Restronguet.  "We
are going to run away."

"Run away, sir?"

"Yes; in a moment of weakness I promised
the captain of yonder cruiser to give him a free
hand for one hour from the time the 'Vorwartz'
gets within four miles of her.  He wishes to
distinguish himself.  Accordingly we will run
northward and put a good two miles between us.
That, I think will be a safe distance, for on no
account must we let the 'Vorwartz' spot us, or
she will be off like a startled hare."

Hythe took up his position in the wake of the
foremost conning-tower, whence he could
command an uninterrupted view of the "Topaze."  The
British cruiser made a fine picture in the
dazzling moonlight in spite of her ugly lines and
the absence of masts and funnels.  Already her
boat had returned, but, instead of being hoisted
to the davits, was made fast astern, while the
remaining boats were being hurriedly yet
methodically lowered into the water, one man being
placed in each to act as boat-keeper.  These were
taken in tow of a motor-cutter, so that they would
be safe from any explosions against the side of
the ship.

This done, the "Topaze" trimmed her fringe
of nets, and forging slowly ahead, bore down
in the supposed direction of the on-coming "Vorwartz."

There was no attempt at concealment.  Her
so-called masthead light, hoisted on the slender
signalling-mast abaft the conning-tower, was
burning brightly; Hythe could see the green
starboard lamp throwing its reflection upon the
scintillating water.  It was part of Captain
Sedgwyke's plan to deceive the "Vorwartz."  The
latter, thinking she had fallen in with a large
tramp, would doubtless either fire a torpedo at
her to wantonly send her to the bottom, or else
rise to the surface and demand her to surrender.
In the first case the torpedo would, he hoped,
explode harmlessly against the net.  The
submarine would then rise to enable the scoundrel
Karl von Harburg to witness the sinking of his
latest victim.  In the event of either of these
possibilities taking place the "Vorwartz," once
on the surface, would be the target for twenty
powerful quick-firing guns, and since the
"Topaze" nearly headed the list of results in the
Gunlayers' Test for the whole of the British Navy,
the destruction of the modern pirate seemed
certain.

Captain Sedgwyke was a man who scorned to
take a mean advantage; and since he would not
encroach upon the distance limit set down by his
chivalrous rival, he ordered the helm to be put
over, thus keeping the "Topaze" within a radius
of three cables' length, until the "Vorwartz"
was within four miles of him.  Seeing this
Captain Restronguet gave the word for half speed
ahead, until he placed a distance of two miles
between him and the cruiser.

"Seven and a half miles, sir," announced Devoran.

"Then another two minutes will be the
commencement of the hour's limit," said Captain
Restronguet consulting his watch.  "Mr. Kenwyn,
will you please signal the 'Topaze' and give
her the latest information as to her enemy's
position."  The second officer, adroitly working
the flashing lamp, communicated the intelligence,
receiving in reply an affirmative signal.

Practically every officer and man, except
those on urgent duty below, stood on the upper
platform of the "Aphrodite."  Telescopes and
binoculars were brought to bear upon the cruiser
that now looked like a phantom castle in the
moonlight.

Hythe felt his blood tingle in his veins.  He
realized that he was to be the spectator of a duel
to the death between a cruiser and a submarine--the
first engagement of such a character that
had ever taken place in naval history.

"Four miles, sir," announced Devoran, as the
position of the "Vorwartz" was reported to him
by the seaman stationed at the detector.  "She's
coming straight for the cruiser, by Jove!"

"I thought she would swallow the bait," exclaimed Hythe.

"Let us hope she will swallow more than is
good for her," added Kenwyn.  "By Jove!  The
'Topaze' has opened fire."

A flash like distant lightning seemed to leap
from the cruiser's deck, followed by another, and
then by a regular salvo of quick-firers.  Ere the
first deep report reached the ears of the watchers
on the "Aphrodite" the "Topaze" unscreened
her search-lights and played them on a spot
about four hundred yards on the starboard hand,
where the shells were churning up a perfect
cauldron of foam and spray.

"Good heavens! they've hit something!"
exclaimed several voices.  Those of the
"Aphrodite's" crew who possessed glasses could see a
dark mass, rent in deep furrows by the projectiles,
appear amid the columns of foam; then throwing
itself ten feet into the air the object disappeared
from view.

Captain Restronguet clenched his fists.  He
deeply regretted his action in allowing the
captain of the "Topaze" a free hand.  His quest
was over.  The rival submarine had been sent
to the bottom with all hands, and he----

"Cruiser signalling, sir," announced Kenwyn,
who was perched upon the rounded top of the
fore-conning-tower.  "Reports having wasted
ninety rounds of ammunition by firing at a whale,
and requests to know whether the captain of the
'Aphrodite' has been guilty of a senseless joke?"

"Senseless joke, indeed!" ejaculated Captain
Restronguet.  "If those fellows in their
excitement mistake a whale for a submarine they will
be rudely awakened when the 'Vorwartz' does
show.  Senseless joke, indeed!  Look here,
Mr. Kenwyn, reply that my detector does not record
the presence of whales, but it does record the
presence of the 'Vorwartz.'  She is now only--how
many miles, Mr. Devoran?"

"Two and three quarters from us, sir."

"Only three quarters of a mile from the
'Topaze,'" continued the Captain.  "It was
quite possible that that wilful waste of ammunition
made the valiant Karl von Harburg turn tail;
but evidently such is not the case.  It has made
the task of the 'Topaze' still more difficult, since
the 'Vorwartz' is now aware that she is not about
to tackle a merchant vessel."

The "Topaze" had now shut off her searchlights,
and was slowly circling to port.  After
the deafening cannonade there seemed an ominous
silence in the air.  The detector showed that the
"Vorwartz" was still approaching.

"She will be within range shortly," remarked
the sub.  "I hope to goodness those nets will
ward off the torpedoes.  What charge do they
carry, sir?"

"I believe I am right in saying a charge of
eighty pounds of nitro-gelenite, which is
equivalent to nearly a ton of gunpowder.  You may
remember how the shock of the explosion shook
the 'Aphrodite' in the chase off Ushant?"

"Rather," remarked Hythe.  "At that time I----"

A column of mingled flame and water
bursting apparently from the fo'c'sle of the
"Topaze" effectually checked the sub's
remarks.  To the watchers on the "Aphrodite"
it seemed as if the bows of the cruiser were lifted
clear of the water.  Then came a deafening
detonation, like the noise of thunder above one's
head.

The cruiser rocked violently two or three
times, then seemed to settle on an even keel,
while her quick-firers blazed away in a frantic,
aimless manner, for several of the projectiles
could be observed striking the water a mile apart.

"Any wireless message?" asked Captain
Restronguet coolly.

"No, sir," replied Kenwyn.

"She's withstood the shock, thank heavens!"
ejaculated Hythe, then, "No, she hasn't, by
George!  There's 'Out Collision Mats,'" he added,
as a bugle rang out from the stricken ship.

"'Vorwartz' is making off, sir," announced
Mylor, who had relieved the observer at the
electric detector.

"Hard lines on us," exclaimed Captain
Restronguet.  "What are we to do?  The hour is
not anything like up, and no signal of distress
from the 'Topaze.'  Send them a message,
Kenwyn.  Wireless, please."

"No reply, sir," announced the second officer
after a wait of nearly two minutes.

"Then her wireless is disabled by the shock.
Speak her in Morse, Kenwyn.  Ask whether
Captain Sedgwyke will release us from the
remainder of our period of inaction, as the
'Vorwartz' is now making off in a southerly direction."

But before Kenwyn could get to the flashing
signal lamp four loud blasts from the motor
fog-horn of the "Topaze" sent forth their cry for
urgent assistance.

"She's settling down by the bows," exclaimed
one of the spectators of the ocean drama.

"Full speed ahead," ordered Captain Restronguet.
Within five minutes from the request for
aid the "Aphrodite" was abreast the stricken
vessel at less than a cable's length away.  Her
fore part, already deep in the water, showed
unmistakable signs of the mortal blow she had
received.  Her armoured belt, that extended
right to the bows, had already disappeared from
view, but for nearly thirty feet on the starboard
side and nearly opposite the for'ard nine-point-two-inch
gun the lighter steel plates were rent
and buckled in all directions.  Over the gaping
wound a collision mat had been placed, but one
might as well attempt to stop a mill-stream with
a mop-head.

The order had already been given to abandon
ship, and with the utmost precision and coolness
the seamen were drawn up to await the approach
of the cruiser's boats, that were now only a few
yards off.

"Do you want me to pick up any of your
crew, sir?  I'll stand by if you desire it," shouted
Captain Restronguet to a solitary figure on the
steeply-inclined fore-bridge that the men of the
"Aphrodite" recognized as Captain Sedgwyke.

"Thank you," replied the captain of the
"Topaze."  "We have enough room in the boats
for the whole of the ship's company.  Do you,
sir, kindly take up the work that I had the
misfortune to interrupt you in, and may you have
better luck."

Captain Restronguet gravely saluted the gallant
yet ill-fated officer.  At the same time, although
anxious to set off in pursuit, he was loth to leave
the cruiser until every man was saved.

"What are you waiting for, sir?" hailed
Captain Sedgwyke, his voice barely audible above
the hundred different noises emanating from the
doomed cruiser, as the water, pouring in, broke
down bulkheads, swept buoyant objects 'tween
decks in a wild stampede against the partitions,
and caused the imprisoned air to escape with a
vicious hiss.

"I am standing by," replied Captain Restronguet.
"You gave a signal for urgent aid, sir."

"We thought the ship would sink before the
boats could arrive," said the captain of the
"Topaze."  "There is no danger to life.  Our
consort the 'Pique' is on her way to pick us up."

Still Captain Restronguet stood by.  He was
not so sure that the "Pique" might not share
the same fate as the "Topaze" since the "Vorwartz,"
going south, was almost bound to fall in
with the British cruiser from Delagoa Bay.

Just then the "Topaze" gave a sudden lurch
to starboard, heeling so much that the line of men
still remaining on board was broken.  But only
for an instant, it was the unexpected lurch and
not panic that caused the seamen to move out
of position.  Sharply they redressed line--and
waited.

Boat after boat received its full complement,
and pushed off to a safe distance lest the cruiser
in her final plunge should swamp them.  Not
until the last of his officers and men had taken
to the boats did the gallant captain descend from
the bridge.

It was touch and go with him, for to gain the
boat he had to wade up to his waist in water that
swirled over the steeply sloping decks.

"She's going!" ejaculated Devoran.

Heeling more and more the "Topaze" turned
completely on end, so that the whole length of
her keel plates and her four propellers were out
of water.  Then, slipping bows foremost, she
disappeared from view in a smother of foam, leaving
only an expanse of oil and petrol, a few floating
pieces of timber and her boats to mark the grave
of a splendid cruiser.  Twenty seconds after she
had disappeared the muffled sound of an explosion--the
bursting of the air in one of her compartments--threw
up a column of water that almost
swamped the nearest boat, the gig in which
Captain Sedgwyke had taken refuge.  That was
the last message from the "Topaze" as she sped
to her ocean grave one hundred and eighty
fathoms beneath the surface.





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.. _`A PILOT UNDER COMPULSION`:

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   CHAPTER XXVII.


.. class:: center medium

   A PILOT UNDER COMPULSION.

.. vspace:: 2

Dawn was just breaking as the "Pique" arrived
on the scene of the disaster.  Her escape, of
which her crew were totally in ignorance, was
owing solely to the fact that Karl von Harburg
had fired his last torpedo at the ill-fated "Topaze."  His
means of offence were now reduced, for the
power of being able to deliver his antagonist a
smashing blow below the surface was no longer
possible: he could only ram.  Yet the captain of
the "Vorwartz" hesitated to attempt to deal
thus with the "Pique."  The British cruiser
had passed within two cables' length of where
the modern buccaneer was running beneath the
surface; but the risks to himself by ramming
a large armoured vessel travelling at thirty knots
were far too great.

Seeing that he could render no further
assistance Captain Restronguet ordered the
"Aphrodite" to be submerged.  It was the safest plan,
for although he communicated with the "Pique"
by wireless, the message was not in code, and
the British cruiser, determined to take no risks,
might open fire at the submarine.

The position of the "Vorwartz" was now,
according to the detector, forty miles S.W. of
her pursuer.  When Captain Restronguet came
to fix her position on the chart he knitted his
brows in perplexity.  The rival submarine was,
if his information was correct, actually within the
delta of the great Zambezi River.

"Now we have her!" exclaimed Captain
Restronguet gleefully.  "It will be a bit of a
shock to Von Harburg when he finds that his
return journey is barred by the only craft he
feared and one that he thought he had destroyed."

"Do you think he's heard that the 'Aphrodite'
was not smashed up after all?" asked Hythe.

"It is doubtful.  If he has I can only conjecture
that he has decided to ascend the Zambezi
in the hope of eluding us.  Otherwise I cannot
suggest any reason unless he wishes to form a
base in this unhealthy Portuguese territory since
his Sumatran refuge is closed to him."

"I have heard that the district is reeking with
fever, sir," remarked the sub.  "Many times
men-of-war have sent exploring parties up the
river and almost invariably some, and once every
man, of the crew have been stricken down.  The
Portuguese have, apparently, taken no active
steps to rid the locality of the mosquitoes.  If
the deadly climate could be rendered habitable,
as in the case of the Canal Zone at Panama, the
Zambezi would be one of the greatest trading
arteries of the world."

"Some day it will," said Captain Restronguet.
"The British Government has had its eye upon
Portuguese East Africa for some time.  Could the
Portuguese Republic be induced to sell it there
would be a splendid outlet for Rhodesia, and
under active management the Zambezi would
make a splendid waterway.  Even now it is
navigable as far as Kebrabassa Falls, nearly
three hundred miles from the delta."

"It strikes me, sir, that we shall be grilling in
a fetid atmosphere before many hours are past,"
observed Devoran.  "Why couldn't Karl von
Harburg stick to the sea?"

"There's nothing like variety," replied Captain
Restronguet complacently.  "After we've settled
with the 'Vorwartz' we may have a little shooting;
lions and rhinos are fairly plentiful, to say nothing
of smaller fry.  But I do not think we need
entertain fears of the climate.  It is only at night
that the pestilential mists are really dangerous.
Every day just before sunset, we will submerge
the 'Aphrodite,' since there is reason to suppose
there are deep holes in the bed of the river for
this to be done even if the normal depth is
insufficient.  We shall not thus be inhaling the
noxious gases, nor be exposed to the attacks of
mosquitoes and other germ-bearing insects; whilst
river-water passed through our condensers will be
perfectly drinkable."

According to the rosy views held by the
captain of the "Aphrodite" the new phase of the
cruise was to be a sort of picnic; but he had
reckoned without his host.

On arriving off the First Bluff Point, on the
western side of the main outlet of the Zambezi,
it was found that there was such a heavy tumble
on the bar that to attempt to cross it would be
an impossible task.

The detector showed that the "Vorwartz" was
maintaining her distance; evidently she was in
luck, and had negotiated the difficult entrance in
the nick of time.

For twenty-eight days the "Aphrodite" lay in
sight of the clump of high, straight trees, that lay
very close together, giving the point the appearance
of a cliff, to which the name of First Bluff
Point owes its origin.

Meanwhile the news of the great disaster to
H.M.S. "Topaze" had been sent by wireless
to Cape Town by the captain of the "Pique,"
and in a very short space of time the Admiralty
were in possession of the salient facts of the latest
outrage by Karl von Harburg.  There was a
panic amongst the merchantmen in East African
waters; the scanty harbours of that coast were
filled with ships whose skippers feared to put to
sea.  Even the mail-boats took particular care to
give the supposed cruising-ground of the
"Vorwartz" a wide berth; while the liners running
between London and Liverpool and Australia
and New Zealand abandoned the Cape route and
stuck to that via Cape Horn.

People began to ask what was the use of having
command of the sea when one solitary submarine
could do practically what it liked beneath the
surface.  Vast sums had been spent to keep the
British navy in a state of efficiency and numerical
supremacy; money had been poured out like
water to provide defence against hostile aircraft
that might menace our shores; yet one submarine--not
a new invention, but merely a great
improvement on existing types--was playing a
one-sided game not only with British shipping, but
with the mercantile marine of the whole of the
nautical world.  And now even warships were
being sent to the bottom without so much as a
glimpse of the attacker.

In the midst of this gloomy outlook came a
consoling gleam of light.  The "Aphrodite" was
now known to have survived the attack made
upon her by her rival; and to Captain Restronguet
the entire civilized world pinned its faith.

Although Captain the Hon. C. L. Sedgwyke
had refused to make any public statement
concerning the disaster to his ship until the impending
court martial took place, he telegraphed a full
report to the Admiralty.  It was the plain,
unvarnished story of a brave yet unfortunate British
officer.  He laid particular emphasis upon the
fact that Captain Restronguet was in the "Aphrodite,"
ready and willing to grapple with the modern
buccaneer, but only at earnest solicitation of the
captain of the "Topaze" did he stand passively
aloof in order to give the British cruiser a chance
to distinguish herself.

Britons are generally supposed to be a
phlegmatic race, but when they have an attack of
hero-worship they get it pretty badly.  Captain John
Restronguet was the hero of the day.  A
photograph that an amateur photographer on the
"Persia" took of him during the "Aphrodite's"
passage through the Red Sea appeared in all the
papers, edition de luxe copies were sold by
hundreds of thousands, and the firm who bought
the copyright for one guinea made nearly £30,000
out of the transaction.  Restronguet coats, hats,
and boots were all the rage; in fact the name
Restronguet applied to any article ensured it
a ready sale.  The nation was Restronguet mad.

But the captain of the "Aphrodite" was not
a man to have his head turned by fatuous
hero-worship.  He knew perfectly well that in the
course of a few years his name would be a mere
byword.  Reports of his popularity had been
transmitted to him by his agents.  He merely
shrugged his shoulders, and impressed upon the
wireless operator who received the messages to
maintain a strict reticence as to their nature.
He had a mission to perform, and he meant to
accomplish it.  Thus, with ill-concealed
impatience he waited and waited till, with his crew,
he became heartily sick of the sight of First Bluff
Point and the forbidding bar of the mighty Zambezi.

On the morning of the twenty-ninth day of
the "Aphrodite's" detention a native boat,
manned by half a dozen blacks, was observed
to have managed to cross the bar and was bearing
down towards the vessel.  In the stern was
a European, a sallow-faced man dressed in
dirty white clothes and a broad sun-hat.

As soon as the boat came alongside the
bowman dexterously threw a rope, and when this
was made fast the white man, without waiting
for an accommodation ladder to be shipped,
swarmed up on deck.

"Me pilot," he explained, with a deep bow
and a flourish of his hat.  "Me pilot 'pointed by
Republic.  Me take you in."

"Is it safe to cross the bar?" asked Captain
Restronguet eagerly.

"Yes, senhor; me take you in for so many
milreis," and he held up the fingers of both hands
four times.

It was a matter of nearly nine pounds--thrice
the amount the Portuguese expected to receive.
It was part of his nature to make allowances
for being beaten down.

"I'll make it gold to the value of eighty
milreis if you put me inside the bar to-night,"
said Captain Restronguet.

"Me take you up to Marromea--that am de
port--for dat," exclaimed the pilot gleefully.
"How much you draw?"

"Twelve feet," replied Captain Restronguet.

The Portuguese had no need to make a
calculation to arrive at the depth in "bracas,"
since the British fathom is almost identical with
the Portuguese "braca."

"Too ver' much," he exclaimed, shaking his head.

"I can reduce it to seven feet."

"How can do?  You no throw cargo
oberboard?" asked the astonished Portuguese.

Without replying, Captain Restronguet gave
an order for the emergency tanks to be emptied,
and still greater was the pilot's amazement to
find the vessel rising higher and higher out of
the water.

Suddenly it occurred to his slow-witted brain
that the craft he had boarded was a submarine,
and since the only submarine he had heard of
was the "Vorwartz," that had made the passage
under cover of night, he came to the startling
conclusion that he had boarded the pirate vessel.
His olivine features turned a sickly yellow till
there was hardly any contrast between his face
and the whites of his eyes, and turning, he made
a rush for the side.

"Steady, my worthy friend!" exclaimed
Captain Restronguet, as Devoran and Kenwyn
caught the Portuguese by the shoulders.  "A
contract is a contract.  You've got to pilot my
vessel over the bar."

"Mercy, senhor!" whined the fellow falling
on his knees.

"Get up, you idiot!" said Captain Restronguet
sharply, but all to no purpose; the pilot
maintained his entreaties at the top of his voice.

"I believe he imagines he's on board the
'Vorwartz'," suggested Hythe.

"Perhaps," agreed the captain, then addressing
the pilot he told him that he was in no
danger, and that he was on the "Aphrodite."

But the man was so terrified that the words
fell on deaf ears.  His terror was increased by
a sudden commotion over the side as his native
crew, hearing the cries of their master, took
their paddles and made off for the shore as hard
as they could urge their cumbersome craft.

At last Captain Restronguet became out of
patience with the craven pilot.  At a sign from
him Devoran whisked the Portuguese to his
feet and led him for'ard.  Here he again
collapsed, grovelling on the deck.  It was now
nearly high water, and unless something were
done another delay of twelve hours at
least--possibly of days--would necessarily ensue.

Drawing his automatic pistol he clapped the
muzzle to the pilot's temple.  The touch of cold
steel did what words had failed to do.  Abject
terror was banished by the stern menace of that
small yet powerful weapon.

"No shoot, senhor capitan!" howled the
wretched man.  "Me take you ober: no shoot."

Captain Restronguet replaced his pistol, the
pilot, still shaking, stood in front of the
helmsman in the fore-conning-tower and directed him
by movements of his hand.  Four minutes
sufficed to bring the "Aphrodite," rolling like
a barrel, through the agitated water on the bar,
and thus after nearly a month of inaction the
avenging submarine floated in the turgid waters
of the broad Zambezi.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`IN THE BALLAST TANK`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XXVIII.


.. class:: center medium

   IN THE BALLAST TANK.

.. vspace:: 2

At Marromea Captain Restronguet paid the
pilot, who was taken ashore in a native boat.
The Portuguese, as soon as he received his
money and found that he had not been harmed,
became quite enthusiastic over the generous
"Ingles," and vowed that, whatever other work
he had in hand, he would await the "Aphrodite"
on her return.  "If the senhors ever come back,"
he added darkly, for he knew the effect of the
pestilential climate upon unseasoned Europeans.

Marromea, where the Portuguese once had
a fairly prosperous trading station, had fallen into
decay.  Fever had decimated the inhabitants,
the railway, intended to fellow the course of the
river and effect a junction with the Cape to
Cairo line at Victoria Falls, had been abandoned.
Long grass and tropical foliage had already
hidden the melancholy remains from view.

There were scarcely thirty Portuguese in the
place; the others were natives who, being partly
civilized, were infinitely greater scoundrels than
their unenlightened brethren.  Of the thirty
Portuguese, two-thirds of the number were
Government officials, and with the idea of
displaying their powers, threw every obstacle in
Captain Restronguet's way.  Dues were
demanded and paid, then a peremptory request to
be shown the ship's papers--documents that
the "Aphrodite" did not possess.

Fortunately Hythe had a sheet of printed
matter that he had brought off at Gibraltar with
his purchases, and this was duly presented.  After
a lengthy scrutiny the officials returned it, saying
the papers were quite in order but forty milreis
must be paid to *visé* them.

"I'll see you to Jericho, first!" exclaimed
Captain Restronguet wrathfully, and ordering his
men to arm themselves he paraded them on deck
as a gentle hint to the mercenary representatives
of the Portuguese Republic.

If they knew of the presence of the "Vorwartz"
in the river the authorities would not
admit it; they refused to allow the telegraph to
be made use of to communicate with the trading
stations up-stream, and resolutely declined to
provide a pilot for the navigation of the
shoal-encumbered reaches as far as Kaira--a hundred
miles above Marromea.

At last Captain Restronguet resolved to take
stern measures.  He was ready to abide by the
usual customs of a foreign country, but he was
not going to be fooled by a pack of rascally
Portuguese.

"Clear for diving, Mr. Devoran!" he shouted.

The Portuguese officials, filled with curiosity,
lined the edge of the wharf, talking volubly
amongst themselves, while to show their
contempt towards the foreign craft they amused
themselves by throwing cigarette ends upon her
deserted deck.

Down below the crew tumbled; hatches were
secured, and the ballast tanks flooded.  The
"Aphrodite," made fast bow and stern to the
wharf by the hempen hawsers, sank till her deck
was only a few inches above the water.  It was
now just after high water, and there was a depth
of forty feet alongside the quay.

Then with a jerk the strain on the ropes began
to tell, a large portion of the crumbling quay
was destroyed and tumbled into the river.
Down sank the submarine till the tops of her
conning-towers were fifteen feet beneath the
surface.  She was resting on the bottom of the
river.

"Man the aerial torpedo tube, Mr. Kenwyn,"
ordered the captain.  "Give them a sixteen
pounds charge."

With a whizz and a roar the projectile leapt
through the water and soared four hundred feet
in the air.  There it burst, the concussion
shaking every miserable hovel in Marromea to its
foundations.  When the "Aphrodite" returned
to the surface the quay was deserted; the terrified
officials, suffering with injured ear-drums, were
skulking in the bush.

.. _`"WITH A WHIZZ AND A ROAR THE PROJECTILE LEAPT THROUGH THE WATER."`:

.. figure:: images/img-354.jpg
   :align: center
   :alt: "WITH A WHIZZ AND A ROAR THE PROJECTILE LEAPT THROUGH THE WATER."

   "WITH A WHIZZ AND A ROAR THE PROJECTILE LEAPT THROUGH THE WATER."

"Ah, that is what we want," remarked Captain
Restronguet, pointing to a ship's whaler lying on
the quay.  "Under the circumstances, considering
how extortionately we have been charged, I
have no qualms in annexing yon craft."

The whaler was a heavy one, but a dozen men
soon brought her on board.  This done the
"Aphrodite" cautiously made her way upstream,
for mudbanks and shoals abounded, and only
by the frequent use of the lead was the
submarine, running light, able to keep to the main
channel.

It was now within two hours of sunset, and
the "Aphrodite" had to find a suitable berth in
order to carry out the plans Captain Restronguet
had suggested for the safeguarding of his crew.

The confiscated boat had been securely lashed
down amidships.  It was too large to be taken
below through the hatchway, but in order that it
would not burst its lashings as the submarine
sank Mylor bored four fairly large holes in the
garboards so that the water could easily make its
way out.  The holes could be plugged when the
whaler was required for service afloat, and as
Hythe remarked an additional washing would do
a lot of good to a boat that had been left lying
on the wharf of that malodorous and inhospitable
town.

Fortunately a fairly deep and extensive hole
was discovered in the bed of the river, the
soundings giving ten fathoms.  Being the rainy
season the river was three or four feet higher
than its normal level, a circumstance greatly in
the favour of the submarine's voyage of
exploration and retribution.

The night passed fairly quietly, the air within
the submarine being perfectly clear.  Looking
through the observation scuttle the crew could
see that the so-called fresh water was of a deep
brown colour, while the full moon, shining through
the miasmic mists looked like a ball of greenish
yellow copper.  Occasionally a crocodile would
alight upon the deck of the "Aphrodite" and
drag its armoured body over the metal plating
with a dull metallic sound.  Once a couple of
hippopotami in their moonlight gambols brushed
against the side of the conning-tower, the shock
being distinctly felt by the men on watch.

In the morning the detector registered the
position of the "Vorwartz" at eighty-five miles,
which was precisely the same distance as it gave
overnight.

Not until the mists had disappeared did Captain
Restronguet order the "Aphrodite" to be
brought to the surface and the hatchways opened.
He would not risk the health of his crew by
exposing them to the fever-laden atmosphere.
Almost as far as the eye could reach the water
extended, for being in flood the river, wide under
ordinary circumstances, now resembled a vast lake.

Proceeding at twelve knots, that took her over
the ground against the current at barely nine
miles an hour, the submarine held steadily on her
course, literally feeling her way between the
shoals of loathsome black mud.

Just before noon a motor-launch manned by
Portuguese passed, downward bound.  In reply
to a signal to close, the little craft ran alongside
the "Aphrodite" without the faintest hesitation.
Two of her crew who could speak French were
interrogated by Hythe.  They had neither seen
nor heard anything of a vessel resembling the
"Vorwartz" although they had come from Tete,
a few miles below the limit for navigation.  In
reply to a request that one of their number should
accompany the submarine as far as Sena, to act
as a pilot, the Portuguese resolutely refused,
saying that a qualified man could be obtained at
Molonho, ten miles further up the river.

"What does the detector say, Mr. Kenwyn?"
asked Captain Restronguet for the tenth time
that morning.

"Eighty-three miles, sir."

"H'm; two gained.  But it's very strange that
that motor-boat should not have noticed the
'Vorwartz.'  Perhaps the river is deeper, and
Karl von Harburg took the precaution to run
submerged."

"It is wide enough for a large craft to pass
unnoticed," said Devoran.

"Not the actual channel; if we went half a
mile to port or starboard we would be hard and
fast aground."

"Is it likely that the 'Vorwartz' has taken to
a backwater?" asked Hythe.

"By Jove!  I hope not," exclaimed Captain
Restronguet; then in a confident tone he added,
"No matter, our detector will locate her.  One
thing we know, she hasn't ascended the Shiré--a
tributary that drains Lake Nyassa.  I almost
wish she had, for I would like to see the final
act take place in British waters."

To guard against the tropical heat awnings
had been spread fore and aft, extending the whole
length and breadth of the deck.  Under this
the officers and crew not on duty "stood easy,"
the former seated in deck-chairs brought from
the cabins.

To Hythe the voyage seemed more like a
pleasure trip than a mission of destruction.  He
and Kenwyn amused themselves by shooting at
crocodiles and hippopotami that frequently came
within a hundred yards of the "Aphrodite,"
while Captain Restronguet did a more practical
act by bringing down a bird resembling a turkey,
which, falling on the awning, was received as a
welcome change to the menu.

Captain Restronguet was in high spirits, but
his enthusiasm received a set-back when the
"Aphrodite" ran full tilt upon a shoal.  It was
through no fault of the leadsman.  The depth
gave six fathoms but a few moments before.
The discolouration of the water prevented any
indication of the shoaling of the depth from
being noticed.  It was simply a case of sheer
bad luck.

"Empty the reserve tanks," ordered Captain
Restronguet, for the "Aphrodite" was now
drawing ten feet for'ard and twelve aft.  Quickly
the foremost tank was emptied, but the after one,
in spite of the action of the powerful pumps,
refused to be discharged.  Consequently the
draught for'ard decreased while the submarine's
stern sank lower into the slimy mud.

"Full speed astern," was the next order, but
beyond churning up the brownish black ooze
the propellers failed to do the slightest good.

"Lay out an anchor, Mr. Devoran," exclaimed
his superior officer.  "Be sharp, for the tide is
falling."

Hastily the boat was lowered, the heaviest
anchor slung underneath, and laid out a hundred
yards astern.  The stout hempen hawser was led
to the motor capstan, but as the powerful
machinery made it revolve it simply "walked
home" with the anchor.  The soft mud offered
little or no resistance to its broad palm.

The "Aphrodite" seemed doomed to remain
hard and fast for another ten hours.  Night with
all its terrors would envelop her ere the next
tide was at its height, and to work in the
germ-laden mists was to court the deadly fever.

"Can the ballast tank be got at from the
inside, sir?" asked Hythe, struck by an inspiration.

"Not without flooding one of the sub-divisions
of Number Three Platform," replied Captain
Restronguet.  "But why do you ask?"

"I thought perhaps I might put on a diving-dress,
and enter the tank and examine the valves."

"It's feasible," observed Captain Restronguet.
"If you attempt it and succeed I shall be still
more indebted to you."

"Then I have your permission?"

"Certainly."

"Look here, Hythe," exclaimed Kenwyn.  "If
you tackle the job I'm with you."

"Thanks," replied the sub.  "The sooner we
start the better."

Donning their diving-suits and equipping
themselves with brushes, spanners, rubber-sheeting for
the valves, and an electric lamp each, the two
men entered No. 4a compartment, as the
subdivision was designated.  As soon as the
water-tight doors were shut they began unbolting the
man-hole cover that gave access to the faulty
ballast-tank, guided in their self-imposed task
solely by the rays of the lamps.

Presently the water began to ooze between
the partially removed cover and side of the tank,
increasing in volume till the whole of the
compartment was flooded with a liquid resembling
thick pea-soup.  It was only by the concentrated
rays of the two lamps and by keeping his helmeted
head within six inches of the metal lid that Hythe
was able to complete the work of opening a
means of communication with the ballast-tank.

As soon as this was done the sub squeezed
through the manhole.  His feet touched a thick
layer of stiff mud on the floor of the tank.
Bringing his lamp down he carefully examined
the outlet valve.  The secret of the defect was
his: when the "Aphrodite" had been submerged
by the side of the wharf at Marromea the inrush
of water had brought with it a quantity of
sediment sufficiently plastic to form a layer over the
outlet valve and thus prevent its action.

For an hour Hythe toiled.  He had neglected
to bring anything of the nature of a spade, and
had to recourse to his bare hands.  Handful
after handful of the noxious mud he scooped up
and passed through the manhole into the
compartment without, till the interior of the tank was
perfectly free from anything of the nature to
retard the action of the pumps.

After a lapse of two hours and a half from the
time of entering the compartment the two men,
their diving-dresses covered in slime, gave the
pre-arranged signal to start the pumps.  Ten
minutes later both the compartment and the tank
were emptied of water, and the task of replacing
the cover was proceeded with.

But even then Hythe, nothing if not practical,
refused to come on deck.  He asked for a couple
of buckets full of strong disinfectant fluid to be
sent down, and, using a mop vigorously, he
thoroughly scrubbed out the interior of the
compartment, finishing up by mopping his
companion's dress with the liquid, while Kenwyn
performed the same office for him.  Thus the risk
of fever from the river-mud was entirely obviated.

"I would like a cold bath," exclaimed Kenwyn
as the two officers rejoined their comrades.

"You jolly well won't, then," replied Hythe
emphatically.  "At least unless you wish to pay
an indefinite visit to Davy Jones.  Why, man,
you are as warm as you can possibly be.  Have
a hot bath, if you like.  I will, with plenty of
disinfectant in it."

By this time the "Aphrodite," her draught
aft considerately lessened, was afloat and
resuming her voyage.  Kenwyn had had his hot bath
and foolishly sat in the fairly strong breeze to
cool himself afterwards.

Before night he was lying unconscious in his
bunk, prostrate with blackwater fever.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE "PRIDE OF RHODESIA"`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XXIX.


.. class:: center medium

   THE "PRIDE OF RHODESIA."

.. vspace:: 2

Kenwyn's serious illness was a source of anxiety
and perplexity to his chief.  Captain Restronguet
was loath to leave him ashore in an unhealthy
district where medical comforts were of a most
primitive nature, while to keep the patient on board
was undoubtedly detrimental to the health of the
rest of the crew and consequently a stumbling-block
to the success of the expedition.

Finally he compromised the difficulty.  Kenwyn
was to be isolated from the rest of the crew,
Mylor and Lancarrow volunteering to act as
nurses, until the "Aphrodite" entered the gorge
through which the Zambezi flows.  Here the
patient was to be landed, placed in a tent and
left in charge of the two men till the
"Aphrodite's" return.

Just below the town of Kaira, where the Shiré
River joins the Zambezi, definite news came to
hand concerning the "Vorwartz."  A large canoe,
laden with millet, arrived the same day as the
"Aphrodite."  Her crew reported, through a
Portuguese interpreter who spoke indifferent
English, that they had passed a strange-looking
vessel, somewhat resembling the "Aphrodite,"
four days up the river, and that it was hard
aground at the mouth of a tributary known as the
Zampa.

This report was confirmed by the detector
which gave the "Vorwartz's" position as
sixty-three miles to the north-west.  Captain
Restronguet noticed that he was gaining rapidly on
his rival, and had been unable to account for the
rapid decrease in the intervening distance unless
Karl von Harburg had lighted upon an isolated
spot that seemed to suit his requirements.

At Kaira Captain Restronguet was able to
procure an old though fairly reliable Portuguese
map of the course of the river, and on this the
position of the rival submarine was carefully
noted.  If she succeeded in floating and
proceeding up the Zampa River it was evident that the
"Vorwartz" would soon be in British territory--the
colony of Rhodesia.

That same evening a wireless message--the
first for three days--was received from Captain
Restronguet's English agent stating that the
Foreign Office was in communication with the
government of the Portuguese Republic, and an
arrangement had been arrived at whereby three
British sternwheeler gunboats that were used to
patrol the Shiré River, were to be allowed to
descend to the Zambezi and attempt to cut off
the "Vorwartz" on her return.

"Evidently the British Navy wants to chip in
at the death," commented Captain Restronguet.
"We must look to our laurels.  It would be hard
lines to be searching for days amongst these
unexplored backwaters without success, and to find
that one of these little paddle-boats by a piece of
sheer good luck had managed to blow the
'Vorwartz' to smithereens while she was lying
helplessly stranded on a mud-flat."

Hythe did not reply.  He was naturally
anxious, now that he had been on board the
"Aphrodite" for such a lengthy period and had faced
perils in company with her crew, that Captain
Restronguet should receive a just reward for his
strenuous endeavours; yet he did not forget that
he was still an officer of the great British Navy,
whose policy is to be ready, aye ready, in the hour
of triumph or in the hour of disaster alike.

Just then Carnon, who since Kenwyn's illness
had been appointed solely for duties in connexion
with the detector, approached and saluted.

"The detector, sir, has gone wrong," he reported.

"Gone wrong?  What do you mean?  Have
you been tampering with the instrument?"

"No, sir.  The last reading gave sixty-one
miles.  That was five minutes ago.  When I
looked again there was no record at all.  The
batteries are still working: I could get a spark
an inch in length.  The terminals are properly
clamped."

Captain Restronguet, Devoran, and the sub
hastened to the compartment in which the
detector was fixed.  The indicator board was
absolutely blank.

"We're not having an easy time of it at all,"
remarked the captain.  "Without the detector
it is quite possible that the 'Vorwartz' may yet
outwit us.  All the same, I cannot understand it."

"We know her position up to ten minutes or
a quarter of an hour ago, sir," said the first officer.

"Quite so, Mr. Devoran; and we must work
on that.  It will take us three hours, running
at the highest speed compatible with prudence
in this brute of a river, to arrive at the spot
where the 'Vorwartz' was last reported.  In
three hours Karl von Harburg may have shifted
a long distance off--or he may not."

"And there's Kenwyn to be taken into account."

"I haven't forgotten him.  I think after all we
had better keep him on board.  It is too much
of an undertaking for two men to have and tend
him, provide for themselves, and be on their
guard against the wild animals that abound, and
a dozen other difficulties that a camp on shore
would entail.  However, pass the word for a
speed of twenty-four knots.  Allowing for the
adverse current we ought to be at the confluence
of the Zampa River well before sunset."

Just above the town of Shemba the Zambezi
bifurcates, the two streams reuniting twenty
miles higher up.  It was just possible that the
"Vorwartz," bound towards the sea, might be
passing down one branch while the "Aphrodite"
was proceeding up the other; but this time luck
was in Captain Restronguet's favour, for above
the junction the "Aphrodite" fell in with a
trading steamboat, whose captain, by signs, made
it clear that no vessel of any description
approaching the "Vorwartz" had passed down the
left-hand stream.

The river here was considerably narrower
and deeper than nearer its mouth.  Its width
was still over half a mile, while the soundings
gave a level bed of six fathoms.  Here, also,
the tide was no longer felt; but, owing to a
cessation in the rainfall, the level of the river was
gradually sinking.

During the course of the day several canoes
passed at a respectful distance; but late in the
afternoon a craft of some sort was sighted
drifting down in mid-stream.

As the "Aphrodite" approached it was seen
that the object was a raft composed of several
slender spars supported by four barrels, to which
were lashed four or five short planks.  Lying
on the platform thus formed were two human bodies.

"What do you make of it, Mr. Devoran?"
asked Captain Restronguet.  "A tragedy--not
exactly on the high seas--but one of a very
extraordinary nature.  They look like Europeans."

"Shall I have the boat lowered to investigate, sir?"

"No, they're dead right enough.  I've been
watching them pretty carefully through my glass
for some time.  If it's a case of contagious
disease we had better sheer off."

"Why, they're Chinese!" exclaimed Hythe.

"Chinese?  Then they must be some of the
crew of the 'Vorwartz'," said Captain
Restronguet.  "Evidently von Harburg has met
with disaster."

As the submarine passed the aimlessly drifting
raft a fairly close view could be obtained of the
dead Chinamen.  They were dressed in blue
cotton suits after the style affected by Chinese
seamen serving in European vessels, but there
was no mistaking the Tartar features and the
slanting eyes.  That they were stone dead there
could be no doubt, for there were several birds
hovering around the raft in a manner that their
natural timidity would not permit if the two
bodies showed signs of life.

"Do you think that a catastrophe has occurred
to the 'Vorwartz,' sir, or were these men merely
attempting to escape?" asked the sub.

"Coupled with the fact that our detector has
failed to give any indication of the 'Vorwartz,'
I am inclined to favour the first theory," replied
Captain Restronguet.  "Since our apparatus is,
as far as I can tell by careful examination, in
perfect working order, I can only put its
unresponsiveness down to the failure of the electric
current on board the 'Vorwartz.'  That, of course,
would account for the failure of our detector."

"And the 'Vorwartz' could otherwise be
capable of action?"

"To a certain extent.  But without electricity
she can have no means of compulsion, no means
of offence, unless we except the use of fire-arms.
However, before to-morrow is past we ought to
discover her whereabouts.  I am not proceeding
further to-day as night is approaching.  As soon
as we find a suitable depth we'll descend till
morning."

Another night passed without interruption.
The detector was still silent, but the "Aphrodite"
was now within a few miles of the spot where
the "Vorwartz" had last given notice of her
presence.

It was not a desirable day.  Torrential rains
were falling, while the atmosphere was too close
to wear oilskins without the greatest discomfort.
Consequently on the "Aphrodite" rising to the
surface her crew save three had to remain below.

Captain Restronguet, Hythe, and Carclew
were in the for'ard conning-tower, Devoran,
Carnon the quartermaster, and Polglaze occupied
the after conning-tower, so as to maintain a careful
look out on all sides.  Three men, braving the
heavy downpour, were stationed for'ard, where
they took turns in casting the lead.

The river here was considerably narrower--about
thrice the width of the Thames at London
Bridge.  The banks on either hand were low
and densely covered with thick scrub and
extensive forests of tropical trees; while the skyline
was broken on both sides by serrated ridges of
lofty mountains.

"This must be the Zampa River," said Captain
Restronguet, pointing to a fairly wide waterway
that joined the Zambezi on its right bank.
"Here the 'Vorwartz' was sighted by the
natives.  It would be well to explore the stream
before going further."

"It looks too shallow to take anything more
than a flat-bottomed light-draught vessel,"
remarked Hythe.  "Still, as you say, sir, we
ought to leave nothing unexplored behind us.
If you wish I will take charge of the whaler and
see what it is like."

"Very good, Mr. Hythe.  I shall be obliged
if you will.  We'll remain here.  Do not proceed
further than there is depth for the 'Aphrodite' to
follow.  Should you require assistance fire three
explosive rockets.  If anything should necessitate
your immediate return I will make a similar
signal.  Should you locate the 'Vorwartz,'
endeavour to return without being seen."

It certainly required plenty of zeal to volunteer
for a boating expedition on a tropical river in
such torrential rains, but the men called upon for
the service responded with alacrity.

Four rowers stripped to the waist sat on the
thwarts, apparently quite indifferent to the rain.
Hythe, Polglaze, and Carclew were in the stern
sheets, partially protected by an awning, but
before the whaler pushed off the canvas covering,
sagging under the quantity of rain water, was
found to be of more trouble than use, for a
regular stream poured through the canopy upon
the sub's head and shoulders.  Since it was also
likely to attract the attention of Karl von
Harburg's men Hythe ordered it to be struck, and
accepting the situation as well as he could, was
soon soaked to the skin.

The tributary was found to be nearly twenty
feet deep towards the right-hand bank.  On both
sides were belts of malodorous mud on which
numerous crocodiles were lying as if enjoying the
rain.  Others, looking more like floating logs,
were drifting in the channel, and careful steering
was needed to avoid them.  Hythe realized that
he was not on a sporting expedition, and should
any of the saurians become infuriated it would be
necessary to fire at the reptile.  The report of
the rifle would give the alarm to the "Vorwartz"
should she be within hearing, and the chances of
locating her without being discovered would be
very remote.

For more than a mile the rowers toiled
manfully.  The current was strong, the boat heavy,
while Polglaze had to bale incessantly to prevent
the rain from rising over the stern gratings.
The "Aphrodite" was now lost to view by an
intervening bend in the course of the stream.

The depth still continued regular, and afforded
plenty of water for a craft like the "Vorwartz"
to ascend if her ballast tanks were emptied, but
as reach after reach was opened out no sign of
the rival submarine was visible--only a
monotonous stretch of coffee-coloured water enclosed
on either hand by the soft stagnant mud that
effectually prevented any attempt at landing.

"What's that, sir?" asked Polglaze, suddenly
holding up his hand and listening attentively.

"Lay on your oars, men," ordered the sub.

Above the hissing of the rain Hythe could
distinguish the deep purr of a powerful motor.
Could it be that the "Vorwartz" was
returning?  If so, escape was impossible, for no
cover of any sort was obtainable, and long
before the whaler could return to the "Aphrodite"
she would be overtaken by the swiftly moving
submarine.

"It's that brute of a von Harburg coming
downstream, sir," exclaimed Carclew.  "We're
fairly trapped."

In reply the sub ordered the boat to be turned
and her head pointed down stream.  Drawing
the three detonating rockets from a locker under
the stern sheets he rapidly lashed the sticks in
position.  Happen what may the "Aphrodite"
must have warning of her enemy's approach.
Perhaps, as the "Vorwartz" was now under way
her electrical current would operate the detector
onboard the "Aphrodite"; if so there was every
reason to suppose that Captain Restronguet was
already on his way to rescue his whaler's crew
and engage his sworn foe.  A chance of safety
yet remained.

"Give way, men," ordered Hythe.  "We may
do it yet."

Nearer and nearer came the throb of the
powerful motors.  Hythe grasped the lanyard
of the nearest rocket.  He hesitated.  There
was something in the sound of the motors that
could not be associated with a submarine, even
allowing for the conductive properties of the
water; it was more like the drone of an aerial
propeller.

The next instant the snub nose of a large
airship appeared round the bend of the river.  The
vessel was flying low; her two suspended cars
were not forty feet above the surface.  Her
yellow silk envelope was literally streaming as
the rain descended upon it in torrents, and this
was why, Hythe reasoned, she was flying so low.

The sub ordered the whaler's crew to cease
rowing and soon the airship was overhead.  Her
engines were reversed, and losing way she brought
up just in front of the boat.  Hythe saw with
feelings of relief that aft the airship was flying a
Blue Ensign with a yellow propeller--the badge
of the recently constituted British Empire
Aero-League--emblazoned on the flag.  Half a dozen
men were leaning over the rail of the platform
connecting the two cars.

"What boat is that?" hailed a tall, sparsely-built
man dressed in a white uniform.

"The 'Aphrodite' submarine, Captain John
Restronguet," replied Hythe without hesitation.
"What airship is that?"

"The 'Pride of Rhodesia,' of Salisbury.  Is
Captain Restronguet in the boat?"

"No," replied Hythe.  "He is on board the
'Aphrodite' lying at the junction of this river
with the Zambesi."

"And who are you, sir, might I ask?"

"Arnold Hythe, Sub-lieutenant of the Royal Navy."

"So you are the Mr. Hythe we've heard so
much about?  Glad to meet you.  Sorry we
can't shake hands; must delay that honour till
a more convenient time.  I'm Jones of Salisbury,
Rhodesia, and we're having a chip-in with that
villain, Karl von Harburg.  I suppose we are not
too late?"

"Seen anything of her?" asked Hythe.  "We
are exploring this river in the hope of finding her
brought up."

"May as well give it a miss," replied Captain
Jones of the "Pride of Rhodesia."  "We've
followed the whole of the navigable part of this
ditch.  We've also reconnoitred the Mali, the
Tutti, and the Baraloo; the Zampa we didn't
trouble about; it's too narrow to take a craft the
size of the 'Vorwartz.'"

The sub felt like shaking hands with himself.
The airship had purposely overlooked the river
in which the "Vorwartz" had been reported.
Captain Restronguet had made a mistake in
thinking that this river was the Zampa.

"Well, I wish you luck," he said truthfully,
for there can be various qualifying conditions
to the subject of luck.  "By the by, what's the
name of this river?"

"The Pongo," replied Captain Jones.  "It
rises in Rhodesia not so very far from the
frontier of the Portuguese territory.  I reckon
we've saved you a bit.  We'll save you more
yet if you wish.  We'll tow you down stream.
I'm curious to see the renowned 'Aphrodite.'
Captain Restronguet won't object, I suppose.
Will you come aboard--we'll drop a rope-ladder."

"No, thanks," replied Hythe.  "We won't
come on board.  We cannot get much wetter
if we stay here.  All the same, we shall be glad
of a tow."

The sub was cautious.  He did not wish to
be kidnapped a second time, and not knowing
who Captain Jones was or whether the "Pride
of Rhodesia" was a *bona fide* craft belonging
to the British Empire Aero-League, he thought
it advisable to decline the invitation to board the
airship.

A coil of rope whizzed from the after
platform of the overhead vessel.  It was caught and
made fast by the bowman, the "Pride of Rhodesia's"
huge propellers began to revolve and
soon the "Aphrodite's" whaler was being towed
down the stream at a good ten knots.

"Pass that rope aboard the 'Aphrodite,'
please," shouted Captain Jones as he brought
the boat alongside the submarine.  Captain
Restronguet waved his hand in token of assent
and soon the airship was riding head to wind
with her nacelles just resting on the water.

Hythe hurriedly explained the circumstances
under which he had fallen in with the airship,
mentioning that he had found out by accident
that it was not the Zampa River that he had
explored after all.

"That's good," commented Captain Restronguet
enthusiastically.  "We can well afford
to be disappointed.  This Captain Jones told
you he didn't mean to explore the Zampa, eh?
Well, we'll have him on board, since he
evidently desires it, but we must be careful not to
drop the faintest hint concerning our information
that the 'Vorwartz' was known to have entered
that river."

The boat was dispatched to bring Captain
Jones on board the "Aphrodite," and soon the
owner and commander of the "Pride of Rhodesia"
stood upon the deck of the submarine.
He was a fairly young man, still under thirty,
and full of almost boyish enthusiasm.

"We seem to be sort of friendly rivals," he
remarked.  "I don't want to boast, but I think
I stand the better chance.  Had that German
scoundrel kept to the sea the odds would be in
your favour, but since he is in comparatively
limited and shallow waters he cannot submerge
his 'Vorwartz.'  But aloft I can command a
vast extent of country, while you have to grope
about, if I may say so."

"I quite see the point of your argument,"
replied Captain Restronguet drily.  "But, might
I ask, what do you propose to do when you find
the 'Vorwartz'?"

"Oh, we are armed," said the Captain of the
"Pride of Rhodesia."  "We carry two
bomb-dropping devices, besides four quick-firers.  We
are subsidized by the Government and authorized
to carry offensive and defensive weapons.  Directly
we spot the 'Vorwartz' I shall have no hesitation
in dropping a fifty pound charge of dynamite
and blowing her to atoms."

"Dropping, you say?  I understand that you
cannot do otherwise than allow the bombs to
fall simply by the action of gravity?"

"That is so," assented the owner of the
airship.  "But I think there is little possibility of
their missing the mark.  We took first prize
at the Johannesburg Aero-Exhibition last year,
placing six dummy bombs within a space eighty
feet by twenty, and that from an altitude of five
hundred feet."

"And your quick-firers?"

"Three-pounders."

"Not heavy enough to penetrate the plating
of the 'Vorwartz,' I can assure you.  Now,
what do you think Karl von Harburg will be
doing while you are manoeuvring to be in a
position to drop one of your bombs immediately
overhead?"

"I don't know," replied Captain Jones.
"Why--do you?"

"Step below and I will show you a weapon
that is almost identical with one carried by my
rival.  As you are probably aware, Karl von Harburg
applied several of my inventions to his own use."

Captain Restronguet led the way below to
where the aerial torpedo gun was housed.

"Here is a weapon capable of being trained
fifteen degrees in any direction from a vertical,"
he explained.  "Even when submerged to a
depth of fifty feet I can discharge a projectile
and hit an object a thousand feet in the air.  The
bursting charge throws out a shower of shrapnel
with such force that no air-craft, within a radius
of two hundred yards from the point of explosion,
could possibly survive."

"By Jove!" ejaculated Captain Jones, his
bronzed skin turning a lighter shade.  "I didn't
know the 'Vorwartz' carried anything like that.
But no matter," he added cheerfully.  "It is
the fortune of war either way.  I mean to do
my duty in ridding the world of a pest, and if
I fail it won't be for want of trying."

"Hear! hear!" exclaimed Hythe, while Captain
Restronguet brought his hand down heavily
upon his friendly rival's shoulder.

"That shows the British bull-dog spirit isn't
dead yet," he remarked.  "I am glad to hear
you speak thus.  You do your best: I'll do mine,
and may the better man win."

The commander of the airship was shown over
the "Aphrodite" and all except the essential
details of her construction were minutely explained
by his host.  The inspection wound up with
refreshments in Captain Restronguet's cabin, and
in reply to an invitation Captain Restronguet,
Hythe, Devoran, and Jenkins went on board the
"Pride of Rhodesia."  For an airship she was
certainly a novelty, being built and engined in
Rhodesia and of Rhodesian material--a striking
testimony to the growth of one of Britain's
youngest children.

Curiously enough the airship was subdivided
into three compartments similar to the
"Aphrodite."  Thus, in the event of an accident to any
two of the sections the third would be quite
capable of supporting the crew and acting as a
balloon; while, should the afterpart remain
uninjured, it would still be able to be driven by the
motors which were situated just abaft the division
between the second and third sections.

"By the by, how do you combat with the
deadly night airs?" asked Captain Restronguet.

"We ascend to about three thousand feet,"
replied the owner of the "Pride of Rhodesia."
"It's a splendid climate up aloft; a guaranteed
cure for all sorts of tropical fevers.  How do you
manage?"

"Oh, we dive," was the reply.  "Our air supply
is quite independent of outside atmosphere.  But
night is approaching, we must return."

Had there not been an element of danger
should the airship attempt to combat the
"Vorwartz" Captain Restronguet would have
requested that Kenwyn should be temporarily
accommodated on board so that the bracing air
would aid his recovery, but under the
circumstances he preferred to keep his second officer
in the submarine.

Shaking hands Captain Restronguet and his
companions bade their friendly rivals farewell and
boarded their whaler.  On the way back Hythe
asked Jenkins what he thought of the "Pride of
Rhodesia."

"Not much," replied the chief aviator to the
Sultan of Zanzibar.  "Not much.  If I had my
three-seater monoplane and a couple of hands I'd
guarantee to knock spots off her as easy as kiss
your hand."

"As Captain Jones said, the odds are in his
favour," commented Captain Restronguet.  "All
the same I admire him.  It will be a race for a
coveted prize.  Let the best man win by all
means, but as sure as my name's what it is I'll
do my level best to go one better than the 'Pride
of Rhodesia.'"





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.. _`CAPTURED.`:

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   CHAPTER XXX.


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   CAPTURED.

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An hour after sunrise the "Aphrodite" came to
the surface.  The rain had ceased, the mists had
rolled away, and the slanting rays of the sun,
already powerful, beat fiercely down upon the
coffee-coloured surface of the river.  There was
no sign of the "Pride of Rhodesia."  She had
taken herself off betimes.

"I hope she has continued her investigations
down stream," said Captain Restronguet.  "It
was a lucky chance that Jones mentioned to you
about not considering the Zampa worthy of his
notice.  We'll just have a look round and see if
the 'Vorwartz' has found room enough to stow
herself away in that little ditch."

"A wireless message has just come through,
sir," said Devoran.  "The 'Swallow,' 'Puffin,'
and 'Sandpiper,' three stern-wheeler gunboats
from Lake Nyassa, have descended the Shiré
and were reported to the Admiralty as having
reached Sena yesterday."

"The more the merrier," commented his
superior grimly.  "They ought to be here this
afternoon if they kept under way all last night.
We must bestir ourselves.  I think before we do
anything else we ought to put Kenwyn ashore.
You see that knoll on our left, Devoran?  It
stands fairly high, and should be pretty healthy;
in daytime, at all events.  We'll land him and
his two nurses and pick them up on our return."

Captain Restronguet spoke as calmly as if he
were going on an excursion instead of about to
engage in a desperate encounter with his
implacable foe.  Hythe understood his manner better
by this time.  He knew that when Captain
Restronguet meant business he always adopted a
resolute bearing.  The magnetic personality of
the man more than half won his battles.

An awning was rigged in the whaler, and under
this, Kenwyn, lying in his cot, was placed.
Mylor and Lancarrow accompanied him, while
the boat's crew, thoroughly disinfected to prevent
contagion, rowed them to the steep bank of the
isolated hill the captain had pointed out.  The
ascent took some time, and the boat's crew had
received instructions to rig up a tent and make
everything snug for the patient before returning.

Looking through their binoculars Captain
Restronguet and Hythe watched the tedious
procession.  At length Kenwyn was carried to
the summit and placed in the shade of a solitary
tree.  Apparently this site did not suit, for Mylor
was observed to be pointing to a clump of
densely-foliaged trees on the north side of the knoll.
The boat's crew raised objections, since time was
precious, and the argument ended by Mylor and
two others carrying the tent across to the clump
and leaving the others with the sick man.  Before
Mylor gained the desired position the rest picked
up the cot and followed.

"I can see the objection to Mylor's plan,"
remarked Captain Restronguet.  "They will be
hidden from the river everywhere except from this
bearing.  However, it is well to windward, and
ought to be fairly pleasant under the shade of
the trees.  But I wish those fellows would bestir
themselves a little more."

Presently Mylor disappeared from view behind
the trees.  He had not been gone very long
before he returned to his companions running as
hard as he could go.  A few words passed and
the whole crowd, leaving Kenwyn lying in the
shade, doubled off behind the clump.

"Now what's up," muttered the captain
impatiently.  "I wish I had sent Devoran with them
to keep them together.  They are like a pack of
schoolboys out of bounds."

Back came the men, never pausing till they
reached the brink of the hill on the river side.
Here Mylor, standing well apart, began to
"call-up" the "Aphrodite" by semaphore.

"Acknowledge, Mr. Devoran," said Captain Restronguet.

Clambering on to the top of the conning-tower
the first officer signalled that attention was being
paid to the message.

"'Vorwartz' is lying on the other side of the
hill," semaphored Mylor.

"What's that?  Impossible!" exclaimed the
captain, for both he and Hythe had read the
message correctly.  "Ask them to explain more fully."

"'Vorwartz' is in a river flowing behind this hill."

"Boat's crew to return instantly," ordered
Devoran at Captain Restronguet's request.
"Leave Kenwyn and his two men."

"I hope they didn't let those on the
'Vorwartz' see them," said Captain Restronguet.
"If it be the 'Vorwartz'--and I have no reason
to suppose that there is another submarine beside
her and the 'Aphrodite' on the Zambezi--we
have just saved ourselves from being nicely fooled.
We might have been searching the tributaries
on the right bank till Doomsday."

"And the 'Pride of Rhodesia' is devoting her
attentions to the right bank also," added the sub.

"Let her," said Captain Restronguet with a
hearty laugh.  "This seems almost too good to
be true."

Bending to their oars and heedless of the
blazing sun the whaler's crew brought the boat
back at breakneck speed.  Almost before her
way was checked as she came alongside Captain
Restronguet, Hythe, and five of the crew leapt
on board.  They had taken the precaution to
arm themselves, for it was quite possible that
some of Karl von Harburg's men had gone
ashore and had already sighted the "Aphrodite"
lying in mid-stream.

Up the hill the landing party toiled, and
crossing the plateau gained the clump of trees on the
landward side.  Here they hid, while Captain
Restronguet and the sub reconnoitred by means
of the binoculars.

Yes, there was no longer any cause for doubt.
The twin conning-towers and a portion of the
upper deck of the "Vorwartz" were just visible
above the reeds that fringed the narrow river.
She was floating high, all her ballast tanks having
been started.  Two of the hatches were flung
back but no signs of any of the crew were to be seen.

"She's hard aground, I think," observed Hythe.
"The river has fallen in spite of the rains, and
she's fairly caught."

"I wouldn't like to say that such is the case,"
replied Captain Restronguet.  "It seems to me
that they are lying low: shifting some of their
booty to a safe hiding-place.  At all events I
don't feel inclined to take the 'Aphrodite'
up the stream.  I'll get Devoran to lie off the
junction of this river with the Zambezi.  If the
'Vorwartz' attempts to escape he can easily sink
her in shallow water.  Meanwhile I'll have the
field gun landed.  Firing capped shell she will
be able to hull yonder craft through and through.
All the same I cannot account for the lack of
signs of life aboard."

Captain Restronguet left nothing to chance.
In order to guard against a possible surprise he
had outposts placed at proper distances from his
main body.  Hythe volunteered to superintend
the landing of the field-gun, and in less than an
hour that piece of ordnance was by dint of sheer
hard work brought ashore and hauled to the top
of the hill.  Here it was placed in position,
carefully screened by the trees, and its muzzle
pointed menacingly upon the visible part of the
"Vorwartz."

Another hour passed.  Still no signs of activity
were noticeable on board the rival submarine.

"Would you mind taking two men with you
and creeping down as near as you can get to
the 'Vorwartz,' Mr. Hythe?" asked the Captain,
who was beginning to get impatient.  "Take
every precaution to keep hidden from view and
do not use your fire-arms save as a last resource."

"Very good, sir," replied Hythe.

"I need hardly remind you that I want evidence.
Observe traces of footmarks on the banks.
They ought to tell whether the crew have landed.
If they have put their precious cargo ashore there
must be traces of where the heavy chests and
bags were hauled over the banks; the reeds will
be trampled down, and so on."

Had Hythe not been a sailor he would have
made an excellent backwoodsman.  Knowing
the risk of appearing on the skyline, he led his
little band down by the remote side of the hill,
and creeping through the bushes at the base
gradually worked round in the direction of the
river in which the "Vorwartz" lay.

It was risky work, for the lower ground was
marshy.  Poisonous snakes darted across their
path, lizards, more repulsive than dangerous, lay
basking in the sun right in their way, while
myriads of flies of great size buzzed incessantly
over the men's heads, till the tortured three could
scarce resist the temptation to raise their arms
and beat off their unwelcome attendants.  Once
a heavy body crashed through the brushwood,
scattering the reeds in all directions and uprooting
young saplings like ninepins.  Hythe had just
time to see that the creature was a huge rhinoceros.

Straight towards the "Vorwartz" the creature
tore, then plunging into the opposite stream swam
boldly across to the opposite bank.  Although
it made enough noise to be heard for half a mile
away the crew of the "Vorwartz" showed no
sign of activity.  The submarine lay as deserted
and silent as the city of the dead.

"Steady, there," cautioned Hythe as one of
his companions started forward with disregard
to caution.  "They may be luring us on.  We
are near enough at present."

Concealing themselves in the long grass fringing
the river, even at the risk of fever, the three
waited and watched.  The "Vorwartz" was
lying close to the bank, the channel evidently
trending close to the eastern side of the stream,
and there being a total absence of mud in the
vicinity, the submarine could not have found a
better landing-place.

She was secured fore and aft with ropes made
fast to the trunks of trees growing close to the
water's edge.  No anchor had been run out into
the stream and consequently the submarine had
swung well in.  A fall in the level of the river
had left her fairly hard aground with a slight list
to port.

That men had landed during the heavy rains
was quite evident by the fact that the stiff clay,
now burned to the hardness of a brick, was
covered with footprints pointing in all directions,
but although Hythe made a semi-circular patrol
almost from the brink of the stream past the
"Vorwartz" and back to the river again he could
find no trace of human beings having strayed
more than fifty yards from the submarine.

"Strange," he muttered.  "The craft looks
deserted and there are no signs of the rascals
making off by land.  They couldn't very well
travel by air, so the only solution is, unless they
are still on board, that they have gone by water.
How?  By boat or walking in their diving
dresses?  By boat, I suppose, since if they
decided to abandon the vessel they would naturally
take part if not all of their precious booty with them."

At length so convinced did the sub become
that the "Vorwartz" was in truth deserted that
he felt sorely tempted to take possession of her.
But his sense of discipline prevailed.  He realized
that temporarily he was under Captain Restronguet's
orders and to Captain Restronguet alone
ought the honour to be given to be the first to
board.

He was on the point of ordering the men to
retire when a violent rustling in the reeds attracted
his attention.  Either a human being or an
animal was approaching.  He motioned to his
companions to be on the alert.  Holding their
rifles at the ready the two men waited.

Suddenly a man lurched forward from the edge
of the reeds.  He was literally in rags, fragments
of blue clothing scarcely concealing his massive
limbs.  He was hatless, a strip of dirty white
linen alone protecting his head from the pitiless
rays of the sun.  In the holster of his belt was a
revolver, while his right hand grasped a magazine
carbine.

"One of the villains; shall we nab him
unawares, sir?" asked one of Hythe's men in a
whisper.

The sub shook his head.  The fellow was
armed; he might not be alone, while the discharge
of a fire-arm might give the alarm to a still
unsuspecting foe.  Better to watch and see what the
fellow was up to.

The new-comer lurched as if spent; but
without any attempt to conceal his movements he
made straight for the "Vorwartz."  At the edge
of the bank he hesitated, walked to and fro as if
looking for a shallow spot or a means of clambering
up the side of the vessel.  Finding none he
hurled his carbine against the submarine's side,
shivering the stock into fragments.  Then uttering
a demoniacal yell he broke into a ribald song
in German.

The man was mad.

"Karl von Harburg?" whispered Hythe interrogatively.

The seaman nearest him shook his head.  He
knew the captain of the "Vorwartz" well by
sight during his stay in Sumatra.  This fellow
was a stranger.

"Heave a rope!" hailed the German in his
native tongue.  "Heave a rope!  I want to get
on board and fetch more gold.  Yes, more gold,
I say.  I'll carry another load of it myself.  Fritz
took two shares; why shouldn't I?"

Receiving no reply the maniac whipped out
his revolver and emptied the contents of the
chambers against the metal plating.  The noise
of the firing was heard by Captain Restronguet
and the main body.  They could not see the
German's approach by reason of the intervening
fringe of long grass; but suspecting that Hythe
had been attacked they raced down the hill to his aid.

Springing to his feet Hythe signed to them
to continue cautiously, but the madman,
although he must have heard the noise of the new
arrivals, paid no attention.  He was still cursing
imaginary comrades for their laxity in not giving
him a means of getting on board.

"What has happened?" asked Captain Restronguet
breathlessly.

"One survivor only, I think," replied Hythe.
"There he is.  He's absolutely off his head."

"Are you sure there are no more on board?"
asked the captain.

"Not certain, but I don't think there are.  Do
you wish me to make that fellow a prisoner or
wait till he's on board?  He hasn't reloaded his
revolver and he's thrown his carbine away."

"We'll wait," said Captain Restronguet
decidedly.  "Perhaps there are others on board
and they've quarrelled.  That may be the reason
why they are lying low and won't let this fellow
on board.  Now look at him!"

The maniac put one foot in the water with the
intention of wading close to the submarine's side,
but at the contact with the fluid he leapt back,
held his foot with both hands and hopped about
uttering discordant shouts as if the water pained
him.  Then, calming down a little, he seated
himself on the shore and began to sob like a child.

"Now's our chance," whispered Captain
Restronguet.  "We must risk a few rifle shots from
on board.  You three men--that will be enough.
Now follow me and get him on his back before
he's aware of it."

Noiselessly the three men followed their
captain.  Forty yards of open ground separated them
from their intended captive.  Nearly half this
distance was covered when the madman suddenly
rose and looked over his shoulder.  His wild
glance fell upon his would-be assailants.

"Bowl him over," shouted Captain Restronguet,
breaking into a run.

The German waited apathetically till the
nearest of his foes was within ten yards.  Then,
uttering a wild unearthly laugh, he turned and
dashed headlong into the river.  Half a dozen
strokes brought him to the stern of the submarine.
Here he tried to haul himself up, clinging
tenaciously to the slight support afforded by the upper
edge of the propeller brackets.  Baulked in this
direction he slipped back into the water and
swam to the other side of the "Vorwartz."

By this time the whole of the landing party
arrived on the scene.  Half a dozen powerful men
tailed on to the stern warp till it was almost as
taut as a bar of steel.  Two others, one being
O'Shaunessey, grasping the rope with both
hands and throwing their legs round it began to
make their way towards the submarine; but
before they had swung themselves over half the
distance the maniac appeared on deck.

Once more drawing his revolver, from which
the moisture dripped copiously, he steadied it in
the crook of his arm and pressed the trigger.
The hammer clicked harmlessly on the empty
chambers.  With a snarl of rage the German
hurled the useless weapon not at the two men
hanging on to the rope, but at the group ashore.
It whizzed perilously close to Captain Restronguet's
head, bouncing on the sun-baked mud.

"Attract his attention," ordered Captain
Restronguet.  "Try to entice him towards the
bows and give those fellows a chance to board."

Picking up lumps of hard mud the "Aphrodite's"
men opened a heavy yet comparatively
harmless fusillade upon the solitary figure upon
the deck of the "Vorwartz."  Still keeping up
his discordant yells the madman stooped and
picked up an object at his feet.  With wellnigh
superhuman force he hurled it at his assailants.
The missile fell at Hythe's feet.  Something
prompted him to stoop and examine it.  It was
an ingot of pure gold.

"By Jove!" he exclaimed.  "I never had
gold thrown at me before!"

His remark attracted the attention of the men
nearest to him.

"Keep it up, old sport," shouted Carclew.
"We don't mind."

The next instant he had cause to regret his
words, for a lump of the precious metal, hurtling
through the air with tremendous force, hit him
fairly in that part of his anatomy commonly
known as "the wind."  For the next ten minutes
Carclew lost all interest in the proceedings.

Meanwhile O'Shaunessey, unobserved by the
madman, succeeded in clambering over the stern
of the "Vorwartz."  Here he waited till his
comrade rejoined him, and together they stealthily
crept towards the German.

The fellow was in the act of hurtling another
missile when O'Shaunessey sprang on him from
behind, flung his powerful arms round the
madman's head and pressed his right knee into the
small of the man's back.  Simultaneously the
Irishman's comrade grasped the astonished
German just below the knees, and with a tremendous
crash the captured man fell upon the metal deck.
Even then his captors had no easy task, for the
maniac, powerful under ordinary circumstances,
now possessed the strength of ten.  His right
hand gripped O'Shaunessey's calf till the Irishman
bellowed with pain.  For a few moments it
looked as if the madman would be more than a
match for his two antagonists till O'Shaunessey's
companion, loth to run any unnecessary risk,
planted a heavy blow on the point of the
madman's chin.  The fellow's resistance ceased.  He
lay on his back groaning dismally, while the
Irishman deftly bound him hand and foot with a couple
of silk handkerchiefs.

"All clear now, sorr," shouted O'Shaunessey.
"Sure, you can come aboard aisy and comfortable.
We'll heave a line."

Looking about the Irishman discovered a wire
ladder and a couple of long boat-hook staves.
Lowering the former he swarmed down and
succeeded in passing the end of one of the
boat-hooks ashore, keeping the other end on the
bottom rung of the ladder.  The second one formed
a handrail, and along this precarious bridge, which
sagged to such an extent that those making use
of it were ankle deep in water, Captain
Restronguet, Hythe, and four of the "Aphrodite's"
crew made their way.

"At last, sir," exclaimed Hythe.

"It is yet too early for congratulations,
Mr. Hythe," replied the captain.  "We have made
an easy capture, but until I am face to face with
my enemy, Karl von Harburg, my mission is
not at an end.  Nevertheless, we have much to
be thankful for.  Polglaze, bring that boat-hook aft."

The man did as he was ordered.  Drawing
from his pocket a small neatly-rolled bundle of
silk Captain Restronguet unfolded it.  It was
his white and green ensign with the initials
"J. R." upon it.  For want of halliards the flag
had to be lashed to the stave, which was
thereupon set up on the stern of the "Vorwartz"--a
visible token that the rival submarine was now
in the possession of the captain of the "Aphrodite."





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE UNSUCCESSFUL COMPETITORS`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XXXI.


.. class:: center medium

   THE UNSUCCESSFUL COMPETITORS.

.. vspace:: 2

Hardly had the echoes of the three ringing cheers
that greeted the hoisting of the ensign died away
than the distant throbbing of an airship's motors
was heard.  Just appearing over the knoll was
the "Pride of Rhodesia."

"Hope they won't start dropping bombs on us,"
exclaimed Polglaze.

"No fear of that," said Captain Restronguet
reassuringly.  "They've seen our ensign.  They're
dipping theirs, by smoke!"

Slowly the Blue Ensign at the stern of the
air-ship was lowered and as slowly rehoisted.  Unable
to "dip" in the orthodox way the green and
white flag was lowered staff and all.

Then majestically the huge yellow enveloped
craft eased up till just holding her own against the
light breeze, sank gently towards the earth,
alighting on the sun-baked ground within twenty
yards of the captured submarine.

"The best man has won, sir," exclaimed
Captain Jones, raising his white cap.  "I heartily
congratulate you."

"More by good luck than anything else,"
returned Captain Restronguet modestly.  "If I
hadn't sent a sick man ashore we might never
have spotted her stowed away so snugly behind
the hill.  I suppose you've seen nothing of the
crew?"

"Her crew?" repeated the Captain of the
"Pride of Rhodesia."  "Why, haven't you
bagged the whole crowd of rascals?"

"Only one," replied Captain Restronguet.
"Much to my sorrow and regret."

"Never say die," was the cheerful response.
"Now you've captured the 'Vorwartz' what are
you going to do with her?"

"I haven't given the matter a thought yet.
She's hard and fast aground.  Even if we floated
her, I don't know how we could manage to get
her down to the sea or what to do with her when
we did."

"You'll have plenty of help in an hour or so,"
announced Captain Jones.  "That is, if you
want any.  There's a regular flotilla of stern
wheelers coming up stream.  They're flying the
British Ensign."

"I heard they were on their way up," said
Captain Restronguet.  "They are from Lake
Nyassa.  Let 'em all come, as the catch-phrase
used to be when I was at school."

"Look here," said the airship's owner.  "If
you like I'll stand by and lend a hand.  Please
understand I don't want to take away any credit
that belongs to the 'Aphrodite' alone; neither
are we after a share in the prize money, although
I hear the 'Vorwartz' is chock full of gold.
That's what's keeping her hard and fast, I should
think."

"You are awfully good," replied Captain
Restronguet.  "I shall be only too happy to avail
myself of your services."

"And the sooner the better," added Captain
Jones.  "Five additional helpers, all used to
plenty of hard slogging, will soon make a show."

Telling Polglaze to make his way back to the
spot where they had landed from the "Aphrodite,"
in order to let Devoran know that all was well,
Captain Restronguet, accompanied by Hythe
and Captain Jones, began a systematic examination
of the captured submarine.  Except for the
maniac, who was now babbling in a childish
manner and was quite unconscious of his
surroundings, not a man of von Harburg's
company remained.  Everything on board showed
signs of a hurried departure.  In the galley the
men's dinner was still in the boilers.  The
electric power had apparently failed, for some
time since a temporary stove for burning wood
had been erected in the galley, the funnel leading
through the open fore hatch.  By examining the
thickness of the deposit of soot Captain
Restronguet was able to come to the conclusion that
the failure of the electrical supply coincided with
the time the "Aphrodite's" detector ceased to
record the position of her rival.

Stowed away in the emergency water ballast
tanks were hundreds of bars of gold--plundered
from many a richly-laden vessel.  This horde
had not been touched, but almost all the specie
and bullion in the after cabins had been removed.

"What prompted the rogues to make such
a hasty flight, do you think, sir?" asked Hythe.

"They undoubtedly got wind of the news
that we were on their track.  The failure of
their electrical gear added to their panic.  They
decided to remove as much of their plunder as
they could conveniently carry, and trust to luck
that the rest of the booty remaining on board
might yet be recoverable.  I think they must
have gone up stream in a boat, since there are
traces of their footprints through the grass."

"You mean to pursue your search?" asked
Captain Jones.

"Certainly," replied Captain Restronguet with
conviction.

"Judging by the state of the river,"
continued the captain of the "Pride of Rhodesia,"
"which is still falling, even a boat expedition will
be a difficult matter.  Why not make a voyage
in my craft?  We can follow the course of the
river at any height you wish, and if Karl von
Harburg has attempted flight by means of a boat
we shall be bound to overtake him and effect his
capture.  I can easily find room for a dozen of
your men."

"I will gladly accept your offer," replied
Captain Restronguet without hesitation.  "When
will it be convenient for you to start?"

"At once," replied Captain Jones promptly.
"We ought to complete the business and be
back here well before night.  Meanwhile those
of your men who are left behind--I will leave
some of my crew as well--can proceed with the
unloading of the 'Vorwartz.'  The gold will
be perfectly safe ashore, for there do not seem
to be any inhabitants in this district.  Even if
there are, and they are tempted to give trouble,
twenty rifles firing from the deck of the submarine
will make them keep a respectful distance."

"Come along, Mr. Hythe; this will be another
experience for you," said Captain Restronguet.
"Carnon and Carclew you will come with us.
Eh?  What's that?  Mr. Hythe, here's your
Irishman anxious to have an aerial trip."

Ascending the swinging ladder the men gained
the platform connecting the two deck-houses of
the airship.  Hythe found himself on a promenade
nearly three hundred feet in length and forty
in width converging fore and aft, and terminated
by the aluminium cabins that afforded sleeping
accommodation for the crew and also means of
manoeuvring the airship in bad weather.

"Cast off there," shouted Captain Jones.

Those of the airship's crew who remained
ashore hastened to unfasten the stout hempen
hawsers that held the "Pride of Rhodesia" to
the ground.  Since the total number of men on
board was less than that of the present crew no
throwing out of ballast was necessary.  The
airship rose swiftly and smoothly to a height of
eight hundred feet.

"Guess we'd best descend at once," said Captain Jones.

"Descend--why?" asked Captain Restronguet.

The skipper of the "Pride of Rhodesia"
pointed towards the broad Zambesi.  Abreast
of the junction of the stream in which the
"Vorwartz" had taken a vain refuge were three
river gunboats.

The huge aerial propellers began to revolve
and the "Pride of Rhodesia" gathered way.  In
view of her skipper's remark Hythe could not at
once understand this manoeuvre; but Captain
Jones was not a man to waste gas when he could
bring his airship to earth by other means.

Circling in ever-descending spirals the huge
craft approached within fifty feet of the place
where a few minutes before she had been anchored.
The bow and stern ropes were thrown down, and
assisted by the "Aphrodite's" men those of the
crew of the airship who had been left behind
dragged the "Pride of Rhodesia" to earth.

Almost as soon as Captain Restronguet, Hythe,
and the skipper of the airship had alighted, a
motor launch in which were several white-uniformed
officers came pelting up stream and
brought up alongside the captured submarine.

"We are a trifle too late, I see," exclaimed
the senior officer from the gunboats, as salutes
were gravely exchanged.

"Third in the field," commented Captain
Jones, pointing to his airship.  "This is the
lucky individual--Captain Restronguet."

"Thought we'd been done in the eye when
we saw his submarine out in the stream," said
the commodore of the flotilla.  "Well, Captain
Restronguet, we congratulate you upon having
rid the world of a pest."

"The business is not finished yet," said
the "Aphrodite's" captain.  "We were on the
point of following up the rascals."

"Some have escaped, then?"

"All save one, and he's as mad as a hatter."

"Well, it strikes me we are not required here,"
continued the commodore.  "But before we
return we would very much like to look over
both submarines."

"With pleasure," assented Captain Restronguet.
"Unfortunately I cannot stay to have the
honour of showing you round, as we wish to
overhaul Karl von Harburg and company and
be back before night.  I'll have a signal sent to
my chief officer, Mr. Devoran, and he will act
as my deputy."

"Has the news of the capture been sent home?"

Captain Restronguet consulted his watch.

"I believe I am right in assuming that already
the newsboys are selling special editions in the
streets of London."

"Smart work!" ejaculated the commodore admiringly.

"Fairly," admitted the captain of the
"Aphrodite" modestly.  "The moment our flag was
hoisted on the 'Vorwartz' the news was signalled
to the top of the hill.  Two of my men are
stationed there.  They in turn signalled on to
my chief officer, who by wireless communicated
direct with my London agent.  He, I feel certain,
lost no time in giving the news to the proper
authorities; but making due allowance for slight
delays I think my assumption is correct."

"What do you propose doing with the
'Vorwartz,' may I ask?"

"Tow her off as soon as possible and take
her down the river.  I hope before night to get
into wireless communication with the officer
commanding H.M.S. 'Pique,' and hand the
prize over to him.  He can then tow her to
Cape Town and there the necessary transactions
can be effected.  But I must be going.  If you
will excuse us we will bid you good-day.
Perhaps we may meet again in the near future."

Upon re-embarking Captain Jones gave the
order for half speed ahead, and the "Pride of
Rhodesia," at a modest twenty-five miles an hour,
flew over the course of the tributary at a height
of less than five hundred feet.

Glasses were brought to bear upon the
country beneath them, and every rock and shoal
in the river was thus carefully examined.  The
"Vorwartz" had almost reached the limit for
navigation, for at less than a mile above the spot
where she had stranded the river shallowed
considerably and was interrupted by a series of
cataracts.  In one of these Hythe spotted a
brass-bound box wedged in between two rocks,
and by the identification letters on its side
Captain Restronguet knew that it was one from a
liner's strong-room.

"They've been in difficulties already," he
observed.  "They've had to jettison some of
their booty.  Judging by the state of the river, I
don't think they can have gone very far."

"There's a dense forest ahead," announced
Captain Jones.  "That makes our task more
difficult.  If the rascals have taken it into their
heads to make a way through the trees, the
thick foliage will screen them from view.
However, I'll keep up-stream for some distance yet.
Perhaps they haven't the sense of caution to
destroy their boat or haul it up out of sight.
However, we will see."

"No chance of a boat getting over that,"
exclaimed the sub, as after a short interval the
airship came in view of a waterfall quite forty
feet in height and extending from bank to bank.
As the "Pride of Rhodesia" drew nearer the
noise of the falling water almost outvoiced the
purr of the airship's motors.  One glance was
sufficient to show that nothing afloat would be
able to surmount that formidable barrier.

"There's their boat," bawled Captain Jones,
into the ear of his successful rival.

He was right.  Lying half-way up the steep
bank, and only partially screened by the foliage,
was a craft of native construction.  Two or three
paddles, a length of rope and a piece of canvas
lay within it, while a jagged hole close to the
water-line showed that the boat had come to
grief against one of the sharp rocks with which
the bed of the river abounded.

"See any tracks?" asked Captain Restronguet.

Hythe, to whom the question was addressed,
was minutely studying the ground through a
powerful pair of binoculars.

"Not much doubt about it, sir," he replied.
"There's a well-defined track leading in a
south-easterly direction.  I can follow it as far as those
trees."

"We'll take the craft up a bit and follow the
supposed direction," said Captain Jones.  "Ten
to one there'll be some sort of a clearing further
on.  Tilt the forward planes, McPherson.
That's enough; keep her as she is and carry on."

For nearly two miles the "Pride of Rhodesia"
flew steadily over the tree-tops.  So dense was
the foliage that for the whole of that distance no
sign of the ground was visible.

"Are you prepared to have a bullet through
the envelope of the airship?" asked Captain
Restronguet.

"No, I'm not," replied Jones bluntly.  "Why?"

"We offer a tempting mark.  If any of those
rogues spot us and open fire----"

"There they are!" exclaimed Hythe.





.. vspace:: 4

.. _`THE FATE OF VON HARBURG`:

.. class:: center large

   CHAPTER XXXII.


.. class:: center medium

   THE FATE OF VON HARBURG.

.. vspace:: 2

The sub pointed to a glade in the forest slightly
to the north of the course the "Pride of
Rhodesia" was following.  Here the ground rose
gradually, and save for a few prickly pear-trees
was destitute of verdure.  Four roughly-constructed
tents made from ships' sails had been
erected, with a breast-work of boxes surrounding,
except for a narrow opening that gave access to
the camp.  Seven or eight men, regardless of
the blazing sun, were lying down or sitting with
their backs propped up against the boxes.  No
attempt had apparently been made to post sentries
or to take any steps against a possible surprise,
although every man had either a rifle or a revolver
close to hand.

"Wonder they haven't heard our motors,"
remarked Captain Jones, as he ordered the engines
to be stopped and the quick-firers to be manned.
"They must be sound asleep.  I vote we cover
them pretty tightly, fire a blank shot and summon
them to surrender at discretion."

"They'll fight; they know that as prisoners
they'll have a halter round their necks," said
Captain Restronguet.  "But where are the
others?  There were several more of the rascals."

"How many, do you think?"

"Not less than thirty all told."

"Well, here goes," ejaculated the "Pride of
Rhodesia's" Captain.  "Fire a blank from the
for'ard starboard quick-firer, Evans.  That ought
to give them a shake up."

The forest re-echoed to the sharp detonation
of the gun, but not a man of von Harburg's
party stirred.  From the trees myriads of birds,
alarmed by the report, rose and flew terrified away,
uttering harsh and discordant cries.  Then a
strange silence brooded over the solitary camp.

Captain Restronguet and Hythe exchanged
glances.  The look was significant.  Captain
Jones whistled softly.

"There's murderous work down there," he remarked.

"Sure, sorr, they are as dead as door-nails,"
exclaimed O'Shaunessey.  "Faith, I can see it
is a bash over the head as that man has.  'Twould
take more than a rale Irish shillelah to do that."

"We must investigate," said Captain Restronguet.

"Don't fancy it somehow," objected Captain Jones.

"All the same it is desirable," continued the
"Aphrodite's" owner.  "If von Harburg is not
down there our quest is not yet at an end.
Personally I do not like the business, but how
can we report the death of the modern pirate
unless we know definitely that such is the case?"

"Very well," agreed Jones.  "I'll land you.
I'll remain here, for if there are any survivors of
the gang and they show fight I can render you
much more assistance than if I were down there."

Accordingly the airship was brought close to
the ground and Captain Restronguet, Hythe, O'Shaunessey,
and Carnon descended the wire rope ladder.
Revolver in hand they advanced towards the silent
camp.  As they approached evidences of what
had occurred were not wanting.  The canvas
tents were shot through and through, the packing
cases were riddled and splintered.  Every man
lying within the wooden breastwork was
stone-dead, only one of them being killed otherwise
than by a bullet.

Cautiously picking his way Captain Restronguet
opened the flap of one of the tents.  He
paused to allow his eyes to get accustomed to
the gloom, then turned and signed to Hythe to enter.

Lying across an empty box was a short, heavily-built
man, whose long matted hair and unkempt
beard well-nigh concealed his features.  A
partially discharged revolver lay by his side, his
left hand still grasped a flask of spirits.  He was
stone-dead.

"Karl von Harburg," whispered Captain Restronguet.
"My debt in that direction is paid,
though I'm glad that he did not die by my hand.
He has altered somewhat since last I saw him,
but we ought to be able to find conclusive means
of identification."

Bending over his dead rival the captain drew
a watch from von Harburg's pocket.  It was a
gold hunter.  Within the case was an inscription
in German: "To Karl von Harburg from his
friend, Ludwig von Thale--September, 1913."

"We'll take this," continued Captain
Restronguet.  "He was very fond of showing it to
people.  Ludwig von Thale was a high court
official whom von Harburg sold very neatly.
But we've seen enough here.  Let us get some
fresh air."

Further examination showed that most of the
boxes had contained gold.  By strenuous
exertions the crew of the "Vorwartz" had succeeded
in dragging a portion thus far.  Then they
quarrelled amongst themselves.  A desperate
fight ensued, and of the thirty men only one
survived, and he was a raving lunatic.  Of the
others twelve were found within the camp, the
remainder having continued their fight to the
death in the neighbouring wood, for there
O'Shaunessey and Carnon discovered their
bodies, some of them literally grasping their
former comrades' throats.

"What's to be done with them, sir?" asked
Carnon, pointing to the gold ingots.

"Leave them," replied Captain Restronguet
shortly.  Then in a lower tone he added, "They
are veritably the price of blood.  Let them stay.
Perhaps someone will find them who will have
more need of riches than either you or I will,
Carnon.  My life-work is practically done now,
Mr. Hythe, so let's get back to England as
quickly as we can."

"To England!" ejaculated the sub.  "I
thought you had----"

"Mr. Hythe, remember I am still an Englishman.
It is now my intention to settle down in
my native Cornwall.  I have now more than
enough to keep me in ease.  My comrades who
stood by me so faithfully in times of peril and
misfortune, will likewise be amply provided for."

"And the 'Aphrodite,' sir?"

Captain Restronguet's brow clouded.

"I know what you mean, Mr. Hythe," he
exclaimed.  "No, I mean to keep my vow.  I
swore I would never hand her over to the
Admiralty, and I must keep my word.  In due
course, Mr. Hythe, I will let you know my
intentions; but do not seek to swerve me from my
decision.  It will be useless to attempt to do so."

Without another word Captain Restronguet
turned and strode swiftly towards the airship's
ladder.  His companions followed.  All save the
sub put down their leader's taciturn manner to the
reaction of the excitement caused by the dramatic
termination of his quest.  But they were mistaken.

"All accounted for," commented Captain
Jones.  "Well, that's a blessing, for we don't
want rascals of that sort finding their way into
British territory.  Let her go, McPherson.
Full speed ahead.  We've got to look pretty
smart if we want to get back before sunset."

But the captain of the "Pride of Rhodesia"
was mistaken in his calculations.  The outward
journey at a retarded speed had taken thrice as
long as the airship did to fly back to where the
captured "Vorwartz" lay.

"The gunboats haven't gone yet," announced
Captain Jones, as the broad Zambezi came in
sight once more.

The sub's practised eye saw that the two
vessels lying just ahead of the "Aphrodite" were
not the sternwheelers from Lake Nyassa.  He
snatched up his binoculars and brought them to
bear upon the strange craft.

"Portuguese Government gunboats, by Jove!"
he exclaimed.  "What's their little game, I
wonder?"

"Eh!  What's that?" ejaculated Captain
Restronguet, overhearing the sub's remark.
"Hanging round to see what they can make out of the
business, I suppose.  Why, there's a crowd of
them on shore close to the 'Vorwartz'."

"When Portuguese colonial officials begin
buzzing round they're bound to give trouble if
you treat them courteously," observed Captain
Jones.  "I've had experience of them.  If you
take my advice you'll send them about their
business without delay."

"They won't trouble me," replied Captain
Restronguet grimly.

"At any rate I'll stand by till they pack,"
continued the captain of the "Pride of Rhodesia."  "We'll
descend here.  I don't want to bring my
craft too close to those gentry."

The airship came to earth at the foot of the
little hill on which Kenwyn had been left, and,
with the exception of three men who were ordered
to remain on guard, the whole of her complement
hurried towards the bank of the river.

"Those rogues have been trying to get aboard
the prize, sir," exclaimed Polglaze, who had run
to meet his captain.  "They've given us a stiff job
to keep them off.  None of us can make head or
tail of what that yellow-faced, gold-laced Johnnie
was talking about, although he thinks he can speak
English."

"Did you come to blows?" asked Captain Restronguet.

"Oh, no, sir; we had to lift one fellow up by
his trousers and drop him overboard, but we
handled him very gently, although he whipped
out a knife."

The Portuguese officer in charge advanced and
punctiliously raised his cap, a courtesy that
Captain Restronguet returned.

"We haf come to take possession of the pirate,
senhor," announced the former.

"To take possession of what?" asked the
"Aphrodite's" captain.

"Of pirate ship, over thar."

"You're too late, my friend," announced
Captain Restronguet affably.

"Too late?  How so?" asked the perplexed
Portuguese.  "She thar.  Me come to take
possession in name of Republica."

"You go to blazes!" retorted Captain Restronguet,
beginning to lose his temper.  "She is my prize."

"By what authority you hold her?" demanded
the Portuguese.

"By what authority--we had the permission
of the Portuguese Government to ascend the Zambezi."

"Yes; to destroy pirate, not to capture.  Since
she captured is in Portuguese waters she property
of Republica."

Captain Restronguet looked at Captain Jones,
and the skipper of the "Pride of Rhodesia" looked
at the captain of the "Aphrodite."  The
absurdity of the Portuguese officer's logic caused
them to laugh heartily.

"Tell him we could wipe him off the face of
the earth in a brace of shakes," suggested
Captain Jones speaking rapidly and in a low tone so
that the captain of the gunboat could not understand.

"No, I'll deal with him in quite a different
way," was the reply.

"Why you laugh?  Me no be laugh at,"
exclaimed the irate Portuguese.  "Me representative
of Republica."

"Look here, my friend," said Captain Restronguet.
"Do you see that tent pitched on the top
of the hill?  We've fever amongst us.  Had we
known you were coming we would have had the
yellow flag hoisted to warn you."

The Portuguese officer's face paled under his
yellow skin.

"Fever?  How say.  Madre de Dios!" and
he agilely skipped back a couple of paces.

"Yes, very bad case, senhor.  Perhaps you
would care to see our hospital arrangements?"

But the Portuguese did not care to do so; he
precipitately retreated to his boat, followed by his
thoroughly scared men, and half an hour later
the gunboat was pelting down stream as fast as
her crazy engines would drive her.

"Another example of the curse of petty
officialdom," commented Captain Restronguet.  "No
wonder the Portuguese colonies are almost at a
standstill.  Well, Polglaze, how is the work
progressing?"

"We got the whole of the gold on deck, sir,"
replied the man.  "If it hadn't been for those
jabbering Dagoes hindering us we would have
had the whole lot ashore by now."

"Time to be off," remarked Captain Restronguet.
"It will be dark in less than twenty
minutes.  Leave the stuff there; it won't be
touched."

Hastily the "Aphrodite's" men made their way
back to the banks of the Zambezi, bringing
Kenwyn with them--the second officer was
already on the road to recovery, and the spell
ashore did him a considerable amount of good.

As soon as the crew regained the "Aphrodite"
she was battened down and submerged.  The
wearied crew sought slumber, but it was long ere
Captain Restronguet, Devoran, and Hythe retired
to rest, for the first officer had to be told in
detail of the momentous events of the day.

Captain Jones did not relinquish his task at that
point, for anxious to aid his successful rival to
the utmost of his ability he kept the "Pride of
Rhodesia" floating over the captured submarine.
All night the airship's searchlights played upon
the "Vorwartz" and the store of gold lying on
the shore, but the precaution, though desirable,
was unnecessary.

Early on the following morning all hands
assisted in warping the "Vorwartz" into deep
water.  The bullion and species were then taken
on board by means of the "Aphrodite's" whaler,
and, bidding the captain and crew of the "Pride
of Rhodesia" a hearty farewell, the two submarines
commenced the descent of the river.

Two days later the "Aphrodite," with the
captured "Vorwartz" in tow, recrossed the
dangerous bar.  Five miles off-shore the British
cruiser "Pique" was awaiting them, and handing
the prize over to the care of the latter, Captain
Restronguet ordered full speed ahead.

All Cape Town was bubbling over with
excitement when the "Aphrodite" dropped anchor
in Table Bay.  The shipping was gay with
bunting, flags were flown from the Government
buildings and most of the houses.  Bands were
playing and people shouting themselves hoarse,
while the renowned submarine was literally
wedged in between tiers of boats filled with
curious and enthusiastic spectators.

The Admiralty had telegraphed to the
Commander-in-Chief of the Cape offering Captain
Restronguet a commission in the Royal Navy as
Inspecting Officer of Submarines; Lloyd's had
asked his acceptance of a sword of honour; the
Crowned Heads of Europe bestowed decorations
with lavish hands, while the President of the
United States of America telegraphed his
congratulations, and begged Captain Restronguet to
be the honoured guest of the greatest Republic
on earth.

But the captain of the "Aphrodite" showed
no enthusiasm at these honours.  Some he could
not with courtesy decline, but he strenuously
refused to accept the proffered commission.  His
sole object, he avowed, in calling at Table Bay
was to make necessary arrangements with the
authorities for the disposal of the "Vorwartz"
and the distribution of the prize-money.

"Now, lads," he exclaimed, addressing his
faithful crew, "our mission is ended.  We are
now homeward bound; not to our temporary
quarters in Sumatra but to our only home, Old
England.  I am in a position to state that the
individual share of prize-money will be duly paid
on our arrival in England, and that every man
will be in a state of affluence.  I only hope you
will be long spared to enjoy it.  In less than
three weeks, all being well, I hope to land you all
at Falmouth."

"Three cheers for Falmouth!" shouted Polglaze.

"An' three cheer for Ould Oireland," added
O'Shaunessey.  "Faith!  I'll take me discharge
an' boi the largest farm in all County Wexford."





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.. _`HYTHE'S MASTERSTROKE`:

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   CHAPTER XXXIII.


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   HYTHE'S MASTERSTROKE.

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Early in the month of November Captain
Gregory Pinney, master and owner of the
ocean-going tug "Wayfarer," registered at the Port of
Falmouth, was the recipient of a telegram
transmitted through the Lizard signal station.

"Send vessel to meet submarine 'Aphrodite'
4 miles S.S.E. of Lizard at noon on the 12th
inst--Restronguet."

The worthy skipper was obviously perplexed.
He rather suspected that it was a bogus message,
sent by a rival firm so that their tugs could pick
up a remuneration job in the absence of the
"Wayfarer."  That was his construction of the
matter, and his views he communicated to his
partner, Captain Hiram Varco.

"Powerful strange," admitted Varco.  "Why
not wire to the Lizard and ask 'em if it's genuine,
and how they picked it up."

Acting on this device Captain Pinney requested
Lloyd's Station for further particulars, and
received a confirmatory answer with the additional
information that the message had been sent from
the "Aphrodite" when twenty miles west of Cape
Finisterre.

"All the same, it be powerful strange,"
remarked Varco.  "Submarines don't want tugs
to give 'em a pluck into port, and Falmouth, too,
of all places.  Still, if I was you, Gregory Pinney,
in a manner o' speakin' I'd take the 'Wayfarer'
out.  If 'tain't one thing 'tis often another, and
chances are you'll pick up something to tow into
t'harbour even if 'tain't this wunnerful submarine."

Accordingly Captain Gregory Pinney made
necessary arrangements for the "Wayfarer" to
proceed to sea early on the morning of the 12th.

Had Captain Pinney not informed his crony of
the contents of Captain Restronguet's telegram
the momentous news would never have spread
abroad, for the skipper of the "Wayfarer" was,
for a Cornishman, extremely reticent.  Captain
Hiram Varco was almost the reverse, and
happening to fall in with an enterprising reporter of
*The Cornish Riviera Express*, he waxed
eloquent over a friendly glass of double cider.

Next day the London papers published the
news, not without comments, for while it was
tacitly accepted the message was perfectly genuine,
no satisfactory reason could be assigned to
Captain Restronguet's motive in requisitioning a tug.

Steps were taken to give the "Aphrodite"
and her gallant crew a rousing welcome.
Excursion steamers, laid up for the winter, were
hurriedly chartered by speculative syndicates and
sent round to Falmouth.  Long before the
fateful Twelfth all the accommodation was booked
at a guinea a head.  Fishing-boats, risking the
Board of Trade regulations, became temporary
pleasure craft; luggers, quay-punts, and even
frail rowing boats were hired, so that should
weather permit, a general exodus of the various
craft for Falmouth Harbour would take place--an
event to be talked about in years to come by
the old salts of the West country.  Great Britain
in general and Cornwall in particular, meant to
show the proper way to welcome home a national,
nay, world-wide hero.

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Dawn was just breaking when the "Aphrodite"
sighted the powerful white flash-light of
the Lizard.  The submarine had made short
work of the run across the bay and had arrived
off the English coast some hours earlier than
Captain Restronguet had anticipated.

"I thought better of Captain Pinney,"
remarked Captain Restronguet to Hythe as the
two stood on the deck gazing towards their native
land.  "Kenwyn tells me that a wireless
message came through during the night.  The news
has leaked out and there's to be a whole crowd of
shipping to see us arrive.  I think I can promise
that they won't be disappointed of a spectacle."

Captain Restronguet and his guest were early
on deck.  The sea was smooth, the air mild for
the time of year, nevertheless they were glad of
their great-coats after sweltering under the African
sun.

"Will nothing alter your decision, sir?" asked
the sub almost pleadingly.

"Nothing, my dear Hythe.  A promise with
me is a promise, even if made in over-hastiness.
I might regret it; but the fact remains that I
have sworn never to hand my invention over to
the British Government.  Consequently I have
sent for a Falmouth tug to remove the crew and
their personal belongings.  This done I mean to
open the inlet valves of the 'Aphrodite' and sink
her for good and all.  At the spot I have
indicated the depth is more than forty fathoms.
The sea will hold my secret, and from the cliffs
about the Lizard I can stand and gaze upon the
tomb of my invention."

"But isn't this carrying a one-sided feud too
far, sir?  Surely my Lords have made ample
reparation for a slight for which they were
responsible yet perhaps ignorant?"

"Time is a great healer, Mr. Hythe; but the
reminiscences of my early struggles with fate
cannot be easily erased.  But let us not discuss
the matter further: it cannot alter my decision in
the faintest degree.  Ah! good morning,
Mr. Devoran.  All correct?"

"All correct, sir.  We've still plenty of current
left to take the 'Aphrodite' another two hundred
miles if necessary."

"I don't think we shall require so much as that,
Mr. Devoran.  Will you please muster all hands
aft.  Stop the motors, so that the engineers can
be present.  I wish to say a few words."

As soon as the "Aphrodite" lost way the men
came on deck, and formed up just abaft the
after conning-tower.

"Men," began Captain Restronguet in
stentorian tones, "our voyage is almost
accomplished, our great task is completed and little
remains to be done as far as your services are
concerned.  Circumstances compel me to take
a drastic step.  The 'Aphrodite' must never
enter Falmouth Harbour.  At noon we will fall
in with a tug that most of you, I know, are
familiar with--the 'Wayfarer.'  I want every
man to collect his personal effects and stow them
into as small a compass as possible, ready to be
transhipped on board the tug.  As soon as all
hands are clear of the submarine I intend to send
her to the bottom."

Dead silence greeted this announcement.
The men looked at each other in amazement.

"To sink her for ever, sir?" asked Polglaze,
when he found his tongue.

"Certainly," replied Captain Restronguet.

"You are not going down with her, sir?"
asked another.

"No," replied Captain Restronguet grimly.
"I'm not at all that way inclined.  Now, men,
you have a couple of hours to make the necessary
preparations, so dismiss and make the best of the
time."

With that the captain went below and retired
to his cabin.  Hythe, bitterly disappointed at
the failure of his attempt to swerve Captain
Restronguet from his purpose, walked for'ard and
remained by the fore conning-tower deep in thought.

"Say, Mr. Hythe, what is the cap'n thinking
about?" exclaimed a voice, and turning the sub
found himself face to face with Jenkins.

"The sun hasn't affected him, eh?"
continued the aviator-in-chief to the Sultan of
Zanzibar, touching his forehead significantly.

"I don't think so," replied Hythe.  "It is, I
believe, the outcome of a vow."

"Precious silly vow," remarked Jenkins.  "He
always was a queer customer when he was upset.
Can't you prevent him?"

"I've tried," said the sub.

"Fair means or foul, I'd have another shot at
it if I were you.  I'll back you up."

The man's words stirred the sub to serious
thought.  A struggle between his sense of
gratitude to this man who had so improved his
knowledge of submarine work, and his duty to
his king and country waged a fierce battle.  The
"Aphrodite" was Captain Restronguet's by right.
He was wilfully abandoning it--an act that was
also within his rights.  On the other hand the
possession of the "Aphrodite" by the British
Navy would mean an undisputed supremacy in
submarine welfare.  This wonderful vessel would
be the means of thwarting any projected invasion
by a hostile state, whether by air or by sea.

"In matters of this description personal
considerations must be put aside in favour of one's
obligations to one's country," decided the sub,
and straightway he sought out his faithful
henchman, O'Shaunessey.

"Sure, sorr, I think we wud manage ut, be
dad," was the Irishman's comment when Hythe
unfolded his plan.

At half-past eleven the van of the flotilla from
Falmouth came abreast of the "Aphrodite"--two
large steamers packed with people who
cheered and shouted while strident brass bands
added a deafening welcome.

Circling, these vessels followed on either quarter
of the submarine--so close that Captain
Restronguet had to shout to request them to keep a
more respectful distance.  Abreast of the Lizard
the main portion of the waterborne spectators
was encountered, till surrounded by nearly a
hundred craft of all sizes and rigs the
"Aphrodite" forged slowly ahead towards a squat
high-sided vessel which Captain Restronguet
recognized as the "Wayfarer."

Finding the attentions of his escort too pressing
the "Aphrodite" hoisted a red burgee from a pole
set up on her fore conning-tower--a hint that
explosives were about to be transhipped and
that there was a certain element of danger in the
undertaking.  With that the obstructing vessels
backed away a few yards, forming a complete
circle in the almost motionless sea around the
"Wayfarer" and the craft that had engaged her.

"D'ye want me to pass you a hawser out
astern?" bawled the master of the tug.

"No, thank you, Gregory Pinney," replied
Captain Restronguet.  "Lay alongside, will you?"

"An' who may you be?" demanded the
skipper, somewhat astonished to find himself
hailed by name.  "Mussy me!  Why, it is Mr. Tretheway."

"Good shot, Pinney!  How's things at home?"

"Pretty middlin', thanks, Mr. Tretheway.
But what might I be wanted for?  Where's
Captain Restronguet?"

The captain laughed.

"Thought you'd have cottoned to it before
now, Pinney.  I am Captain Restronguet, but
only for a few moments more.  After that I am
plain Hugh Tretheway--and I do not feel
altogether sorry.  But get your masthead derrick
swung out: we've plenty of gear for you to take."

For nearly an hour the task of unloading the
"Aphrodite" continued, for the personal effects
of the officers and men reached considerable
dimensions.  It seemed really marvellous where
the stuff had been stored within the limited
accommodation of the submarine.

"That's all, sir," announced Devoran.

"Very good.  Now, men, on board the tug."

One by one the men passed over the narrow
gangway between the two vessels.  As the first
was about to leave the "Aphrodite's" deck he
drew himself up and gravely saluted the green
and white flag still flying at the stern of the
submarine.  His example was followed by the
others, while Captain Restronguet, for the last
time in his official capacity, promptly returned
the salute--a final tribute of devotion to a brave
and gallant leader.

After the men the officers boarded the
"Wayfarer," till Captain Restronguet alone remained
on the deck of the "Aphrodite."  The
submarine was battened down with the exception
of the main hatch close to which the captain
stood with his hand resting on a lever actuating
the sea-cocks.

Then with a swift deliberate motion he thrust
the metal rod hard down, saluted his flag, and
walked slowly up the gangway.

"Cast off there, Captain Pinney, unless you
want to be dragged down," he exclaimed.  "The
'Aphrodite's' sinking."

The men of the tug hastened to unfasten the
securing hawsers.  The for'ard one was soon
cast off, but by the after one three men purposely
impeded the efforts of the "Wayfarer's" deckhands.
The three men were Hythe, O'Shaunessey, and Jenkins.

The tug's engine-room telegraph bell clanged,
the water churned under her squat counter, and,
as she slowly forged ahead, the strain on the
after-rope swung her stern close to the "Aphrodite's" deck.

Simultaneously Hythe and O'Shaunessey
vaulted over the low bulwarks and leapt upon
the submarine, Jenkins making a good third.
Before Captain Restronguet and his companions
could grasp the situation the three men gained
the open hatch.  They were not a second too
soon, for the water was rising over the deck and
lapping against the coamings of the hatchway.

With a clang the metal covering fell.  The
"Aphrodite" was heremetically sealed, with
her captors safe within.

"Start the motors, Jenkins," exclaimed the
sub triumphantly.  "O'Shaunessey, bring that
lever hard down."

Seven fathoms deep the submarine sank, then
as her motors began to purr rhymically, Hythe
pointed her head due east.

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Early next morning, before it was light,
Sub-Lieutenant Arnold Hythe dexterously brought
the submarine into Portsmouth Harbour, and,
confident that the importance of his errand would
justify the unearthly visit, boldly called upon the
Commander-in-Chief.

Forgetting his dignity in his anxiety to hear
what had actually occurred to the "Aphrodite"--for,
as usual, vague rumours had been floating
round--Sir Peter Garboard made his appearance
clad in a dressing-gown.

"You're back again, Mr. Hythe?  Tell me,
is it right that Captain Restronguet has scuttled
the 'Aphrodite'?"

"Hardly that, sir; she is at this moment
alongside the North Railway jetty.  You see,
sir, I stole her."

"You stole her?  Explain yourself."

Hythe explained, pointing out the difficulty
in which he had been placed in his desire to do
his duty.

"Rest easy on that score, Mr. Hythe," said
the Admiral good-humouredly.  "From a strictly
legal point of view your action is justifiable.  The
submarine was a derelict after the captain had
abandoned her, and as a naval officer you did
right by taking possession of her.  But have
you had breakfast?"

The sub was perforce obliged to partake of
a repast with his superior officer, who kept him
busily employed the whole while in answering
questions.  Presently the Admiral's secretary
entered.

"Ah, good morning, Holmes; anything startling?"

"No, sir.  Captain Restronguet has apparently
vanished into thin air.  All inquiries
at Falmouth have proved fruitless.  But I
expected to find Mr. Hythe here."

"How so?"

"Because there is a telegram sent to him,
care of the Commander-in-Chief, sir," replied
the secretary.

The sub took the proffered envelope and
opened it, with a muttered apology to his superior
officer.

"That's all right!" he exclaimed with a sigh
of relief.  "Read this, sir."

Sir Peter read it aloud:--

"Hythe, care of C.-in-C., Portsmouth.
Thoroughly glad you acted as you did.  Aphrodite
is the nation's.  Still I have kept my
vow.--Tretheway."

"Tretheway, who is he, Mr. Hythe?"

"Tretheway, sir, was Captain John Restronguet,
until yesterday commander of what is
now the latest and most powerful acquisition
to His Majesty's Navy--the 'Aphrodite.'"

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   THE END.

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   WILLIAM BRENDON AND SON, LTD., PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND

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