CHAPTER V.
BOARDED.
WHILE von Eckenhardt was recovering consciousness and the two youngofficers were pulling themselves together after their trying ordeal,Captain Ramshaw, who had been informed of the successful issue of theaffair, proceeded to the cabin taken by the German under the name ofDuncan McDonald.
It was a single berth cabin, furnished in the luxuriant style thatthe Red Band Line provided for their first-class passengers.
The "old man" first directed his attention to an unlockedportmanteau. It was filled with clothes. Methodically the chiefsteward, under Captain Ramshaw's supervision, went through thepockets. He found nothing incriminating. There was somecorrespondence in English of a commonplace order, which gave no riseto suspicion.
A second portmanteau was doubly locked. The steward cut the Gordianknot by ripping the cowhide with his pocket-knife. Inside the casewere more clothes, but between the folds was a metal case half filledwith phosphor-bronze filings. There were also a revolver and twohundred rounds of ammunition, the presence of which in a passenger'spossession was in itself a breach of the Company's regulations.
"Now, that cabin trunk, Saunders," exclaimed Captain Ramshaw,pointing to a large, strongly made box. "You won't open that withyour penknife, my man."
"One minute, sir," said the steward.
He left the cabin, returning in a very short space of time with aheavy hammer and a cold chisel.
He was about to attack the lock when the "old man" interposed.
"Avast there, Saunders!" he ejaculated. "We'll have the job tackled alittle more quietly. Go and ask the doctor for a small bottle of thestrongest acid he has."
"That's good, Saunders," he remarked when the man returned. "Now layon the acid all round the lock. Mind your eyes: it will splash a bit.We'll ruin the carpet, I fancy; but there'll be more serious damagedone to the Company's property before long, unless I'm muchmistaken."
Rapidly the powerful acid ate its way into the metal. The cabinreeked with the pungent fumes.
Captain Ramshaw waited until he considered that the corrosive fluidhad sufficiently weakened the metal, then he soused the side of thetrunk with water.
A gentle pressure of his boot brought the lock clean away. He raisedthe lid. The portmanteau was apparently full of clothes. VonEckenhardt evidently had an extensive wardrobe.
"There's a double bottom, sir," announced the steward.
"I thought so," replied the captain quietly. "Be careful, Saunders.You will find a secret spring. Don't use unnecessary force."
Wondering why the skipper harped upon the necessity for caution thesteward continued his investigations. At length he discovered aninvisible push, close to the bottom of the trunk. As he pressed it,the false bottom opened upon a pair of hinges. The space containedseveral sealed envelopes and a tin case measuring about ten inches bysix, and two inches in depth.
"You might hand over those papers," said the captain. "Now, openthat tin."
"It's full of gummy string, sir ."
"Powerful explosive, Saunders, enough to blow a big hole in the old'Saraband.' There are fuses and detonators, too. I wonder the foolhadn't more sense than to stow this stuff in a cabin trunk."
"What shall I do with it, sir?" asked the steward, eyeing the box oflatent death and destruction with undisguised apprehension.
"Overboard with it," decided the "old man" promptly.
Before Captain Ramshaw could proceed further with his investigationsa messenger brought the news that a strange vessel, apparently awarship, was bearing down in the direction of the "Saraband."
The skipper broke all records in his dash for the bridge. Bringinghis binoculars to bear in the direction indicated by the chiefofficer he saw that a large grey-painted cruiser was shaping a courseto cut him off.
"If she's a German we're nabbed, Lymore," said the captain. "She'sheavily armed, and we are within range of her guns. Unless I'm muchmistaken, she can give us points in speed."
"Will you alter our course and run for it, sir?" asked the chiefofficer.
"Useless," decided Captain Ramshaw, with a shrug of his shoulders."If she were a hostile armed merchantman I'd engage her in a runningfight, but she'd blow us out of the water in two minutes. There arethe passengers to consider."
Rapidly the cruiser approached. She made no attempt to communicatewith wireless, but when within signalling distance she hoisted theletters E.C. meaning, in the International Code, "What ship isthat?"
The "Saraband" immediately "made her number" and hoisted her ensign.By this time the approach of the cruiser had been noticed by thepassengers, whose interest became intense, although they were stillin ignorance of the fact that a state of war existed between GreatBritain and Germany.
"Thank Heaven!" ejaculated Lymore fervently, as the White Ensign washoisted to the masthead of the cruiser, which was, it was remarked,fully cleared for action.
"Don't be too cocksure," remonstrated the "old man."
"She's a British cruiser, sir," protested the chief officer. "One ofthe 'Town' class, that I'll swear. There she goes: code flag over'H,' sir."
The signal to stop was quickly complied with. Orders were telegraphedto the engine-room for half-speed astern until the "Saraband" lostway. The cruiser swung round in a semi-circle and likewise stoppedwithin two cables' length. A boat was lowered, manned, and rowedtowards the "Saraband."
"Clear the promenade deck, Mr. Lymore," ordered the captain."Request the passengers to go below. Don't give them any reason--letthem think what they jolly well like. Mr. Aubyn, see that theaccommodation ladder is shipped. You will receive the naval officerand pay him the proper compliments."
The boarding officer proved to be a youthful lieutenant. Terenceescorted him to the bridge, where he immediately subjected CaptainRamshaw to a close examination.
"Have you sighted any German armed merchantmen?" asked the officer,whose ship, it transpired, was the light cruiser "Padstow."
"The 'Hertzolf:' that was before war was declared."
"Have you communicated by wireless with any craft?"
"Only your ship," replied Captain Ramshaw. "You may remember yourequested us to alter our course and fall in with you in a certainlatitude and longitude."
"Rather lucky for you that you didn't, then," rejoined thelieutenant. "We sent out no wireless message. We had good reason tokeep the knowledge of our presence south of Las Palmas a secret. Doyou remember the position?"
Captain Ramshaw gave the desired information, Chief Officer Lymorecorroborating the statement by a reference to the log-book.
"It's a decoy message from the 'Hertzolf,'" announced the navalofficer, "she's been particularly active. Sunk the 'Walrus' and 'TheStar of Hope,' and captured two colliers. We're on her track now. IfI were you, Captain Ramshaw, I'd give Las Palmas a wide berth. Coalat Gib., if you can fetch there with what coal you've on board."
"Very good, I will," answered the master of the "Saraband."
Courteously declining an offer of refreshments the lieutenant wentover the side and was rowed back to the "Padstow." Almost before theboat was hoisted up the cruiser pelted off at twenty-five knots toattempt to intercept the already too active "Hertzolf."
It was now no longer necessary in the interests of the ship towithhold the momentous news of the outbreak of war from thepassengers. Notices were posted on the various saloons, theirappearance being hailed by rousing cheers. Instructions were alsogiven that in the event of the "Saraband" being chased, thepassengers were to assemble for'ard in such places as would bepointed out, in order to be as safe as possible from shells from thepursuing vessel.
At two bells in the second dog watch the ship's doctor reported tothe captain that von Eckenhardt was sufficiently recovered to beinterrogated. Accordingly Captain Ramshaw, Aubyn, Raeburn, and thetwo quartermasters proceeded to the cabin in which the German hadbeen kept a prisoner.
"Now, von Eckenhardt, what have you to say in answer to the charge ofconspiring to cripple the vessel?" dema
nded Captain Ramshaw.
At the name von Eckenhardt the Teuton started wildly. He had, likehis companion in the outrageous attempt, been completely taken aback.
"So Slieber has given me away," he exclaimed passionately. "I am notsurprised. Slieber is not a true German. He worked for money. I didwhat I could for the sake of the Fatherland. Remember I demand to betreated as a prisoner of war."
Captain Ramshaw did not immediately reply. He, too, was taken bysurprise. Von Eckenhardt had blundered badly. He had revealed thefact that the real name of the greaser who passed under the name ofStone was Slieber. Also von Eckenhardt was fully aware that a stateof war existed between Great Britain and Germany. He claimed asimilar privilege to that demanded by Slieber, yet the passengers hadbeen kept in ignorance of the news until half an hour ago. In thecaptain's mind there was no doubt that both Germans had receivedinformation from official sources that a rupture was planned to occuron or about the 4th day of August; and that, even had Great Britainnot delivered her ultimatum, the German Empire would have taken theinitiative almost at the same time as she threw down the gauntlet toFrance and Russia.
"The pair of you have quaint notions concerning the rights ofprisoners of war," remarked Captain Ramshaw. "No doubt they areperfectly in accord with the views of the German Government, butunfortunately for you, you are not in uniform. In that case you areliable to be placed upon your trial as a spy."
Von Eckenhardt shrugged his shoulders. Although at the moment ofdetection he had attempted to put an end to his existence by throwinghimself into the engine-room, it was because he feared summaryvengeance on the part of the officers and men of the "Saraband." Nowthat that immediate danger was over he took a calm view of thesituation. Previous experience told him that German spies brought totrial in England were treated lightly as compared with the severepunishment meted out in the Fatherland to Englishmen accused ofespionage.
"I am not a spy," he declared vehemently.
"That remains to be proved, Major von Eckenhardt," rejoined the "oldman," in his cool, deliberate manner. "At the same time I may as wellexpress my opinion that, with these documents in the hands of thepublic prosecutor, you will have some difficulty to prove to thecontrary," and he held up the bundle of papers he had removed fromthe German's cabin.
Von Eckenhardt's jaw dropped, but only for a moment. Then his teethclosed together with a snap like those of a rat-trap. He seemed to beon the point of hurling himself upon the skipper. Then, controllinghimself with an effort:--
"There is nothing more for me to say at present," he remarked with aslight inclination of his head.
"Very well. You will be under close arrest till we arrive atSouthampton."
The German smiled sarcastically. Under his breath, just loud enoughfor his captor to hear, he muttered "Perhaps."
Captain Ramshaw resisted the inclination to answer. Obviously thetaunt was meant as an insult. More, it suggested the possibility thathostile commerce destroyers had marked the "Saraband" with herprecious cargo as a most desirable prey. Without another word he leftthe cabin, signing to the quartermasters to double-lock the steeldoor.
The captain was convinced that he had made an important capture. Fromthe documents found in von Eckenhardt's cabin it was clear that theprisoner was a major in the Prussian Guards, and that he had beendetailed for secret service to report upon the military and politicalsituation in South Africa. Von Eckenhardt's instructions were writtenin guarded language and signed by the initial X. Captain Ramshaw hadyet to learn who the mysterious X was, and the most important part heplayed in the extensive and highly active espionage system fosteredby the Government of the German Empire.