CHAPTER V
EXPLANATIONS
"PASS the word for Mr. Greenwood," ordered the commander asGreenwood, Senior, found himself on the quarter-deck.
The voyage, short as it had been, was a revelation to him. It showedhim how the navy men handle their boats on a winter's night, withouta light to guide them, and unable themselves to show the orthodoxred, white, and green steaming lights. He was in momentary dread offinding himself in the water owing to the picquet-boat eithercolliding with something or else being cut in twain by another marinerace-horse. He marvelled at the sangfroid of his uniformedcompanions, who chatted and cut jokes with each other with the utmostunconcern. The hoarse challenge "Boat Ahoy!" from the sentry on the"Pompey's" fore-bridge and the seemingly inconsequent "Aye, aye" ofthe picquet-boat's coxswain gave him an insight into the ceaselessvigilance of Britain's first line of defence.
Almost in a whirl he found himself ascending the accommodation-ladderand gaining the spacious quarter-deck.
"Eric, my boy!" exclaimed Mr. Greenwood delightedly, as his son,arrayed in unfamiliar garb, ascended the companion.
"By Jove! pater, what on earth brings you here?" inquired the A.P.,astonished at the identity of his visitor. Then he paused, havingbecome aware of the presence of the commander, who stood like aguardian angel behind the benighted visitor.
"Your father has told me that he wishes to communicate a matter ofurgent importance, Mr. Greenwood," said the commander. "I think itwould be well if you saw him in your cabin. If, in your opinion, thebusiness is urgent, you will please report to me."
He moved away to consult with the officer of the watch before goingbelow. Father and son stood irresolute; Mr. Greenwood hardly knowinghow to begin, while Eric was beginning to wonder how and by whatpossible means could his parent possess a certain knowledge thatwould require to be reported to the commander.
Down the ladder and the half-deck Mr. Greenwood followed his son.Here an alert sentry drew himself up as the young officer passed.Then the stolidity of his face gave place to an amused expression ashe noticed the dishevelled appearance of the A.P.'s companion.
"This way," continued Eric. "My cabin's under repairs. Haven't got itquite ship-shape after that little affair off the Belgian coast. I'lltake you into Tressidar's cabin. Of course you know he's shipmateswith me?"
He knocked at the metal door. Receiving an invitation to enter, heopened the door and drew aside a curtain. The cabin was small andbrilliantly lighted. Over the closed scuttle a curtain had been drawnto make doubly sure that no stray rays were visible from without.
Seated in an arm-chair drawn close to a very small and compact stovewas Sub-lieutenant Ronald Tressidar.
"I say, old man----" began Eric; then, noticing the look ofastonishment in the sub.'s eyes, he broke off and followed thedirection of Tressidar's gaze. For the first time he became aware ofhis usually precise parent's appearance.
Mr. Greenwood wore his coat buttoned tightly round his throat. Thecoat was literally caked with mud and dust and in addition was rentacross the right shoulder. His face was as dirty as the proverbialtinker's; on his left cheek was a line of dried blood, the result ofan unheeded scratch received in his tumble in company with the deadbush. His hair, generally sleek and well brushed, was tousled andmatted with wisps of grass.
"Pater!" exclaimed Eric in utter amazement.
"It's all right, my boy," declared Mr. Greenwood reassuringly. "I'vehad the night of my life--absolutely. No, don't go, Tressidar. Listento what I've discovered."
"Have a stiff glass of grog, sir?" asked the sub., after Mr.Greenwood had washed his face and hands and had smoothed his ruffledhair.
"Thanks, I could do with one," replied Greenwood, Senior. "In fact, Iwas on the point of asking for a whisky, only I thought from yourlook of astonishment that you imagined I had already had one toomany. No, thank Heaven, I've got off lightly, but I've left my bestumbrella on the beach."
"Fire away, pater," said Eric. "We are all attention."
Mr. Greenwood "fired away." Uninterrupted he pursued his narrativeuntil he came to the discovery of the supposed derelict mine.
"It wasn't glass by any chance?" asked Tressidar.
"Glass?" repeated Mr. Greenwood. "Well, now I come to think of it,perhaps it did resemble glass. But why do you ask?"
"Because, judging by your description of its size and buoyancy, I aminclined to think that your mine was one of the glass buoys we usefor marking the position of our submarine obstructions. Afteron-shore gales the coastguards find hundreds of them."
The narrator mopped his forehead. A wave of horrible uncertaintyswept over him. Perhaps, then, the second episode of his nocturnal.adventures would have similar harmless interpretation?
"Carry on, pater," said Eric encouragingly.
"By Jove, sir!" exclaimed Tressidar, when Mr. Greenwood arrived athis discovery of the petrol-dep?t. "Cut it short, if you don'tmind. Let's have the salient facts. Every minute is of extremeimportance."
Five minutes later the sub. was reporting the matter to thecommander, who, in turn, communicated the discovery to the captain.
In ordinary circumstances the captain of the cruiser ought to havesubmitted a written report to the senior naval officer at Auldhaig,but red tape had long since gone by the board so far as naval matterswere concerned. Other Government departments were still tied hand andfoot with fathoms of red tape. Well it was that at the Admiralty theGordian knot had been severed on that memorable 4th of August, 1914.
In a very short space of time the skipper's plans were formed. Alanding-party, under the orders of Sub-lieutenant Tressidar, was toproceed at once to the solitary cottage. Since Mr. Greenwood was veryhazy as to its locality, the assistance of the National Guard formingthe coast-patrol was to be requisitioned.
Two pulling-boats, in charge of the first lieutenant, were to proceedto the bay where the entrance to the cave was situated. Mr.Greenwood's description of the spot was sufficiently accurate for theplace to be identified. Examination of the chart showed that formiles northward from the entrance to Auldhaig Firth there was onlywater deep enough for a submarine to approach within easy distance ofthe shore at this particular indentation, which bore the name ofSallach Dhu Bay.
Eric Greenwood asked and obtained permission to accompany thelanding-party. He felt that as his father had been the means oflocating the petrol-store, his son had a kind of interest in theproceedings.
Mr. Greenwood, who was now feeling the reaction of his unwontedexertions, asked to be put ashore. He was content to have a goodnight's rest at the hotel and learn developments in the morning.
"Bless my soul, Eric!" he exclaimed as his son, with a conspicuousrevolver-holster strapped to his great-coat, appeared in the doorwayof his cabin. "What are you doing with that weapon? I thoughtassistant paymasters were non-combatants?"
Eric grinned. He did not think fit to enlighten his parent on thematter. Mentally he recalled a certain forenoon off Ostend. For threehours he was on duty in the fore-top, with hostile shells flyingthick and fast. One, he vividly remembered, hurtled a few feet fromthe mast, cutting away the shrouds on the starboard side, butfortunately without exploding. He and his comrades in that loftyperch had missed annihilation by almost a miracle.
"Get so much work in the ship's office that I'm glad of a breather,"he remarked. "Oh, by the way, we're having a sort of informalreception on board to-morrow afternoon. Several of the officers'wives and families are turning up. You might bring Doris, and thenyou can sample naval hospitality in wartime. The boat will be at thestaith at six bells--that's three o'clock."
"Come on, old man," called out Tressidar. "The boat's alongside. Areyou ready, Mr. Greenwood?"
The cutter, in which about twenty armed seamen were already seated,had dropped back from the boom to the accommodation-ladder.Tressidar, the A.P. and a midshipman were Mr. Greenwood's companionsin the stern-sheets.
At the landing-place Mr. Greenwood waited as the men silently "fellin," while a sea
man hurried off to enlist the services of theNational Guard to guide them to the scene of operations.
In a very short time the two coast-patrol men arrived. Briefly thesituation was explained to them. Tressidar gave the order, and thelanding-party moved forward and were soon lost in the darkness.
For some moments Mr. Greenwood stood still, hardly able to convincehimself that he was not dreaming. Then he broke into a run in thedirection of the armed men. Guided by the thud of their footfalls, heovertook them before they were clear of the market-place.
"I say, Eric," he exclaimed breathlessly. "If you've a chance there'smy best umbrella on the beach. Don't forget it, if you can help it,there's a good lad."
And having eased his mind on that point, he wended his way to theBantyre Hotel.