CHAPTER XIX.
THE TRAP IS SET.
"Hastings!"
The exclamation was wrung from the lips of the astonished AdmiralFischer, in command of the naval forces operating about Dover.
"Right you are, Fischer," was Lord Hastings' smiling rejoinder, "thoughhow you recognized me in all this German toggery is more than I canexplain."
The admiral advanced and wrung Lord Hastings' hand.
"And why this German uniform?" he asked. "And who is this young man withyou?"
"I'll answer the last question first," smiled Lord Hastings, "bypresenting to your excellency, my second officer, Mr. Frank Chadwick."
Admiral Fischer acknowledged the introduction.
"Now for the answer to my other question," he said.
In a few brief words Lord Hastings explained. As he progressed with hisrecital Admiral Fischer became more and more astonished. And when LordHastings had concluded, the admiral burst out:
"And you mean to tell me the Germans have the temerity to attempt a raidin the very mouth of the Thames?"
Lord Hastings nodded.
"They certainly have," he said quietly, and he produced the order he hadreceived from the German admiral.
Admiral Fischer scanned it closely.
"It's authentic enough," he said finally, "I know his signature well.And this raid is to take place at midnight, eh?"
"Well, no. We are to gather at midnight. How long it will take to reachthe mouth of the Thames you can figure yourself."
"I can," declared the admiral. "And I can also figure that if thesesubmarines dare enter the Thames they will never get out."
"But you must figure better than that, Admiral. You must figure so theywill be unable to do any damage. That's even better than figuring thatthey cannot escape after the damage is done."
"So it is," returned the admiral. "Have you a plan?"
"Why, yes! You must immediately order all warships and other craft nowat the mouth of the Thames, further up river. Order a swift torpedo boatflotilla down the river--as many as are available--and have half a dozentorpedo boats--equipped with nets--to take their places behind themotorboat fleet."
"And then?"
"Well, the motorboats will attack the submarines as soon as they appear.A few of them undoubtedly will be sunk. Then let the rest retire. Thesubmarines, submerged by this time, will travel forward a bit. At thispoint have the torpedo boats, with nets stretched, proceed down eachside of the river. Of course, the torpedo boats must advance at themoment the motorboats flee."
"But I should think the Germans are too wary to be caught in a trap likethat."
"They won't be, because they expect the raid to be too unexpected forsuch details to have been arranged. Only one stipulation. Instruct allyour officers under no circumstances to fire at the first submersible tomove up the river."
"And why?" demanded the admiral.
"Chiefly," smiled Lord Hastings, "because I don't want to go to thebottom."
"Oh, I see! You mean to lead the German advance."
"Exactly, and for two reasons. First, because I wish to reach a place ofsafety at the earliest possible moment, and second, because if theGermans see one craft advance, apparently unafraid, the others will nothesitate to follow."
"But perhaps it will be impossible for you to lead the way."
"You just leave that to me, Fischer. I shall be in the first submarine.The only question that remains is whether you have time to lay yourplans."
"Plenty," was the reply. "I'll begin now."
He pressed a button on his desk and an orderly entered. At a command heleft the room again, only to summon other officers. Admiral Fischerscribbled rapidly, passing paper after paper to different officers. Atthe end of another half hour, he turned to Lord Hastings.
"All ready," he said quietly.
"You have lost no time," replied Lord Hastings with a smile. He glancedat his watch. "Almost ten," he said. "Come, Frank, we shall have tohurry."
"Look here, Hastings," said Admiral Fischer, "don't you think you aretaking unnecessary risks? What's the use of going back? Why not stayhere?"
"Impossible, Fischer," returned Lord Hastings. "In the first place, someof my men are there and I must return to them. Then again, I want to bein the fun."
The admiral shrugged his shoulders.
"I know you too well to insist," he said. "So be it. But one thing;remember that you must be in the first submarine."
"I'll be there," said Lord Hastings.
Admiral Fischer summoned the officer who had conducted the two to himand instructed him to return them to where he had picked them up. Theofficer looked surprised, but he said nothing. Lord Hastings shook handswith Admiral Fischer and he and Frank followed the officer from theroom.
Quickly they made their way back to the motorboat, were hurried out overto the dark water, and finally were given their own small boat again, inwhich they headed for the U-16.
"Think you can find her, sir?" asked Frank.
"No trouble at all," was the reply.
And there was no trouble.
By eleven o'clock they were safely back aboard and Jack received themanxiously.
"What luck, sir?" he asked.
"Excellent," replied Lord Hastings. "How did everything go in myabsence?"
"All quiet, sir."
"No trouble with Davis?"
"No, sir. I haven't even seen him."
"Very well. Now you may give the order to submerge and we'll make forthe rendezvous."
Jack obeyed.
It was just exactly three minutes to twelve when Lord Hastings, havingtaken his bearings and found he was in the designated spot, gave thecommand to come to the surface.
Slowly the U-16 arose from the deep, and immediately she rested upon thesurface, Jack and Frank followed Lord Hastings to the bridge.
The night was perfectly dark and at first they were unable to make outan object upon the silent water. But suddenly, to the left, there was asingle brief flash of light; a second to the right; one forward and oneastern; then other arrivals from the deep flashed a signal of their safearrival. Producing his small pocket flashlight, Lord Hastings did thesame.
"Seven besides ourselves," he muttered to himself.
Slowly now the submarines drew closer together until presently a voicefrom the bridge of one could be heard by all as Admiral Schuleraddressed his captains.
"We shall submerge until our periscopes alone show," he gave his orders."Then we shall proceed at full speed for the mouth of the Thames."
"But mines?" protested a voice.
"The mines have been swept clear," was the reply. "A flotilla of minesweepers have been busy since dark. Now, heed these orders: We shallkeep as close together as possible. Reaching the Thames, one submarinemust lead the way. I shall call for a volunteer."
"Here, sir," Lord Hastings spoke up before the other commanders had achance.
The others also volunteered, but Admiral Schuler awarded the honor tothe U-16.
"You spoke first," he explained. Then he continued: "Unfortunately, wehave been unable to learn the exact positions of the various British warvessels in the Thames, but we do know that there are many stationedthere--just how far up the river I cannot say. However, once there weshall not return until we have sunk them."
A subdued cheer ran across the water in the darkness.
"It is time to go," said Admiral Schuler. "I shall show the way to theThames, when the U-16 will take the lead. To your posts and follow meclosely."
He went below, and the other commanders did likewise. A moment later thepurr of machinery became audible aboard each vessel. Each submergeduntil the tip of her periscope protruded above the water, and then theysped after the flagship into the darkness of the night.
Swiftly they went, for Admiral Schuler realized the value of haste. Hewished to make the raid and be out to sea again before the break of day.
Aboard the eight units of the submarine flotilla there was joyu
nrestrained. The crews of each vessel had been taken into theconfidence of their commanders by this time and the men aboard seven ofthe craft were eagerly awaiting the moment when they could strike aterrible blow at the British navy. In view of the successes that hadalready attended the efforts of the German submersibles, there waslittle doubt in the hearts of the men that the present venture would beaccomplished.
Even the three British sailors aboard the U-16 were cheerful, foralthough they did not realize the exact import of their mission, theyknew Lord Hastings well enough to realize that he was acting in thismanner only because there was some big duty to perform. They werecontent to follow him blindly.
Perhaps the only four men with the fleet who did not really have theirinterests aroused were Davis and his three fellow conspirators. Theironly hope was that the sooner they came through the venture successfullythe sooner they might get to work on their own plans.
The submarine fleet sped silently through the waters, going as swift asthe wind; and when it finally reached the broad mouth of the Thames, thekey to London itself, it still lacked two hours of dawn. But it was timefor quick work and Admiral Schuler was not the man to hesitate--had hebeen, he would not have held this important post.
The submarines came to the surface now, in accordance with previousinstructions, and Admiral Schuler, by a signal with his light,instructed the U-16 to proceed ahead. The other vessels dropped back alittle.
"Well," said Lord Hastings to Frank and Jack, who stood beside him onthe bridge, "here goes. May good fortune attend us."
He gave Jack the command:
"Full speed ahead!"