CHAPTER XVIII.
MISTAKEN FOR AN ENEMY.
Davis had won--fairly and cleanly--there was no doubt about that.
But Jack and Lord Hastings wasted no time in considering the merits ofthe encounter. Each sprang forward and bent above the lad. Lord Hastingsraised the boy's head to his knee.
"Water," he said to Jack.
The latter hastened to get it, and after a few drops had been sprinkledover his face, Frank opened his eyes. He glanced up curiously at LordHastings.
"What's the matter?" he asked. "What's happened?"
"Matter is," returned Jack quietly, "that you have just been convincedthat you are not such a terrible fighter as you have been thinking."
"You mean he licked me?" demanded Frank, suddenly realizing just whathad happened.
"He did," returned Jack dryly; "and he did a pretty good job of it."
"But I tell you I had him," cried Frank. "One more blow and--and----"
"The one more blow didn't land," replied his chum.
"But I tried----"
"Yes, you tried, all right. I saw you. You just missed him and then helanded on you--twice, and hard. That's why you're here."
"He couldn't do it again," said Frank feebly.
"Maybe not and maybe yes," said Jack. "However, you're not going to haveanother trial. You've been licked, and licked good and proper, andthat's all there is to it. See if you can get up now. I'll take you toour own quarters."
Frank pulled himself to his feet, and, leaning on Jack, walked from theroom.
Davis now had donned his coat and stood near as the two passed out.There was a sneering smile on his puffed face, and he spoke.
"Perhaps you fellows will pay a little more attention to me when I saysomething after this," he muttered.
Jack whirled on him sharply.
"See here," he said quietly, "if you make any trouble in the future I'lltake you in hand myself. You'll find that the result will be somewhatdifferent."
"So?" sneered Davis, feeling not a little proud of himself. "You are atliberty to try at any time. Right now, eh?"
He made as if to discard his coat. Flushed with victory, he manifestedno doubt that he could handle Jack as well as Frank.
In spite of himself, Jack was forced to smile.
"We won't fight now," he said quietly. "You're not in condition in thefirst place. But when you have been fixed up, I just want to tell younot to trifle with me."
"Threats, eh?"
"Call them what you please. I don't want to have to spank you, but I mayhave to. Don't bother me, that's all."
He helped Frank from the room without another word. Lord Hastings, aboutto leave the room, stopped for a word with Davis.
"Just a word of advice," he said. "As you know, we are on a perilousduty. Any more trouble and I'll have you ironed if necessary. You're inno position to make a nuisance of yourself."
Davis made no reply. He recognized Lord Hastings' authority to do as hesaid and he was smart enough to say nothing. Lord Hastings left Daviswith the sailors.
An hour after leaving the spot where the U-16 had so recently sent aGerman submarine to the bottom, Lord Hastings again gave the command tocome to the surface; and the vessel proceeded then upon the top of thewater.
Frank and Jack, tired out, had retired for a brief rest before theirservices would again be required; but had they been in Davis' cabin theywould have overheard a strange conversation.
Davis and three of the German sailors were engaged in a deep andapparently serious discussion. They talked in subdued tones and castoccasional furtive glances at the door. Occasionally the three noddedtheir heads affirmatively as Davis talked, each occasionallyvolunteering a few words himself.
"Then you are with me?" asked Davis at length.
The men nodded.
"Good. But we shall have to bide our time. A false step and it would bethe end of all of us. This Commander Bernstorff, I should say, is a badman to fool with. But once we can get him in our power and silence theothers, we can make something of ourselves."
"Yah!" muttered one of the sailors. "What is this war to us anyhow? Youare English and we are German; but what of it? Why should we take ordersfrom such men as Herr Commander Bernstorff and others of his kind?"
"Why, indeed?" echoed another.
"You are right," said Davis. "Now, when we take possession of thisvessel we will be our own masters. No one to tell us what to do. Wewon't have to risk our lives for some one else's gain. And what booty wecan get shall be evenly divided among us. There is rich prey upon thesea."
"But first," said one of the sailors, "to come into possession of thisvessel, we shall have to dispose of Commander Bernstorff, hislieutenants, and others of the crew."
"How," exclaimed one of the others suddenly, "how if some of the otherswould join us? I have no doubt they would if approached in the rightway."
"We don't want too many," protested the third. "The fewer of us, thefewer to share in the spoils."
"True enough," said Davis, "but we must have men enough for a crew. I,of course, shall command. You three will be my officers. We must have acrew."
"How about the English sailors?" asked one of the Germans. "They must bedissatisfied. Here they are prisoners and will be kept under guard untilthe end of the war. Certainly they should be willing to join us. It willmean freedom and a share in the rich spoils."
"With which to retire when the war is over," put in another. "Why, wecan go to America and live at ease for years to come."
"Which is my plan exactly," declared Davis. "Yes, we must have a crew.Hans, do you think you could approach these prisoners?"
"Leave that to me, sir," replied Hans with an evil wink. "I think I canconvince them, sir."
"Good; but in the meantime, do not talk this among yourselves. I believewe had better wait until after the end of the expedition we are now on.Vigilance, probably, will relax then. In the meantime, we must try andshow ourselves to be perfectly loyal to the Kaiser."
"Very well, sir."
"All right then," said Davis. "You fellows clear out now. I want to geta little sleep."
Silently the three conspirators made their way from the traitor's cabin.No one saw them go and the success of the plot seemed assured as theU-16 continued on her journey, Lord Hastings, Frank, Jack and the otherBritish aboard unaware and unsuspecting.
Shortly after dusk of the night upon which the German under-sea fleetexpected to spring its coup, the U-16 lay upon the calm surface of thewater still some distance from the point set for the gathering of thesubmarine flotilla at the midnight hour, and likewise a considerabledistance from Dover.
Explaining his reason for stopping here, Lord Hastings said: "There maybe British patrol boats about--probably are. I want you boys to remainin charge here, while I take a boat and try to reach the Britishauthorities."
"One of us had better go along, sir," declared Frank.
Lord Hastings considered this a minute.
"I don't know but you are right," he finally said. "Frank shall go. Jackwill take command in my absence."
He addressed the latter. "Arm Edwards and our other men," he continued,"though do it unknown to the Germans. I don't altogether trust thisDavis. Of course he is in the pay of the Germans; but once a traitoralways a traitor. Watch him closely."
"I'll watch him," said Jack quietly.
"Very well. Frank and I shall leave at once."
Lord Hastings ordered a small boat over the side, the two jumped into itand rowed rapidly away, leaving Jack to pass the word among the crewthat Commander Bernstorff had gone on a little scouting expedition.
For half an hour Lord Hastings and Frank rowed along without incidentuntil they could see a few dull lights in the distant town of Dover.
"Seems to me there is a terrible lack of vigilance hereabouts," declaredFrank.
"It does look that way," Lord Hastings admitted. "However----"
There came a sudden interruption--the sound of a shot, an
d a bulletwhistled overhead.
"Not such a terrible lack of vigilance, either," remarked Lord Hastings."I wonder where that shot came from?"
He gazed about but could see nothing in the darkness. Came a second shotfrom behind him, and turning, the two saw a little motorboat that hadcrept up behind them unnoticed.
"We surrender!" called Lord Hastings, fearing to take a chance that thenext shot would miss.
The motorboat came toward them quickly.
"Who are you?" demanded a figure standing in the bow, and at thisdistance Lord Hastings could dimly make out that the man wore a Britishuniform.
"Friends," was the reply.
The British officer peered at them sharply, then noticed their Germanuniforms.
"Friends, eh," he said; "in those uniforms. Not likely. Climb into myboat."
Lord Hastings and Frank obeyed without a word, and at a command from theBritish officer the motorboat put about and headed shoreward.
"Where are you taking us?" asked Lord Hastings quietly.
"None of your business," was the sharp response.
"So?" said Lord Hastings quietly. "I would advise you to speak morerespectfully. I would not like to report you. I asked you a civilquestion and I would appreciate a civil answer."
"Well, I'll tell you, seeing that you are so anxious," replied theofficer. "I am taking you to Admiral Fischer, at Dover, who, mostlikely, will know better how to attend to your case than I do."
"Most likely," repeated Lord Hastings. "And how long before we mayexpect to see the admiral?"
"About half an hour."
"Good!" And Lord Hastings whispered to Frank: "Plenty of time.Fortunately I am well acquainted with Admiral Fischer."