CHAPTER IV.
STRANGE WARFARE.
It was the following night.
Clad in heavy oilskins, Frank and Jack stood in the bow of the large,high-powered motorboat as it sped down the Thames in the darkness. Not alight was visible anywhere and it was impossible to see a yard ahead.But in spite of this, the boat fairly flew over the water; for thestrong hand of Lord Hastings was on the wheel and there was not a spotin the river with which he was not familiar.
"Whew!" said Jack, as he turned about to shield his face from the icyspray. "This is what I call taking a long chance, if you ask me."
"I should say so," replied Frank, raising his voice to a shout to makehimself heard above the sound of the whistling wind. "Wonder how long weare going to keep this up?"
"Don't know," responded Jack. "But I don't feel very comfortable. Thisis too fast for me."
"Particularly when you can't see where you are going," Frank agreed.
Both became silent and peered into the intense darkness ahead.
For possibly half an hour the motorboat continued its terrific speed;and then it slowed down abruptly. The two boys heard Lord Hastings callthem. They felt their way to where he stood by the wheel, for it wasimpossible to see.
"Here," said their commander, "take this searchlight and flash it ahead.See if you can pick up anything."
He passed a small but powerful searchlight to Jack, who again moved tothe bow.
Jack pressed the little button and a tiny but brilliant light flashedover the water before the boat. There was nothing in sight, so far asthe boy could see.
"Nothing ahead, sir," he reported to Lord Hastings.
"Guess we had better remain about here, anyhow," muttered Lord Hastings,half to himself.
Although the lads had no idea of the nature of their present mission,they had asked no questions of their commander. They knew he would tellthem whatever he deemed necessary when the time was ripe; and until thattime they were satisfied to await whatever might transpire.
But one thing the boys had noticed which had given them much food forthought. In the prow was mounted a small but heavy gun, and a second oneof the same size loomed up formidably astern. Plainly they were therefor a purpose, and Frank and Jack both realized that there was seriouswork ahead of them.
Lord Hastings himself had examined both guns carefully and announcedthat they were in first-class condition.
"All ready for use," he had said.
And now, although neither lad knew it, the time was fast approachingwhen they were to be greatly needed.
Several times in the course of the next hour Lord Hastings ordered Jackto see what he could pick up ahead; but each time the result had beenthe same. There was nothing to disturb the calm peacefulness of thenight.
And then they were spared the need of another look, for there suddenlyloomed up less than a hundred yards ahead a dull-glowing white light.
"To the forward gun, Mr. Templeton," ordered Lord Hastings, thus, forthe first time on this mission, falling into old aboard-ship terms.
Jack sprang forward.
"Man the gun astern."
Frank obeyed this command with alacrity.
Then the two lads awaited developments.
Apparently the craft ahead had not discovered the presence of themotorboat containing Lord Hastings, Jack, Frank, and a crew of four men;neither did the distance between the two boats seem to diminish. The twowere not approaching each other.
"Twenty-five knots," came Lord Hastings' command, and the little craftseemed to leap ahead.
The light ahead drew closer.
"Train your gun on her, Mr. Templeton," ordered Lord Hastings, "and if Igive the command, fire to sink her."
This command was needless, for Jack had already gauged the range andtrained the gun. Nevertheless he replied:
"Yes, sir."
The pursuers now had approached within fifty yards of their quarry, andstill not a sound save an occasional order from Lord Hastings had brokenthe stillness of the night. There had been nothing to indicate that theother boat was even occupied, save the sudden appearance of the lightaboard.
But now, as the pursuers crept even closer, there came a sudden startledexclamation from ahead; and at the same moment the light disappeared.
"Fire!" cried Lord Hastings.
"Boom!"
Jack had fired the gun.
There was another startled exclamation from ahead.
"Did you hit her?" asked Lord Hastings.
"Think so, sir," replied Jack. "Don't see how I could have missed atthat distance."
"We'll cruise about a bit and see," said Lord Hastings.
He gave the command and the motorboat slowed down.
For half an hour the little craft circled about, but there was no traceof the other boat. All aboard flashed searchlights about the water, andthe larger light in the bow was turned on, casting a bright ray over thewater.
"They've either gone away or to the bottom, sir," said Frank.
"And I guess it's away," said Lord Hastings. "Jack must have missed."
"Don't see how I could, sir," declared the lad.
"Better let me try with a revolver next time," put in Frank. "I know Icould have landed one of them."
"Well, they have gone. But we'll get them if we have to follow them fora month."
"Who, sir?" asked Frank, who could restrain his curiosity no longer.
"Why, your fellow conspirators, Davis and Baron Blosberg."
"Baron who?" asked Frank.
"Blosberg. He is the man we are after. We have evidence to prove that heis at the head of a body of spies that have been divulging our plans tothe enemy. Davis is merely one of his instruments."
"I don't know anything about the baron," interrupted Jack, "but if he isanything like Davis, I haven't any use for him on general principles."
"He's just a bit worse, if that is possible," declared Lord Hastings.
"Then we shall have to get him," declared Frank.
"Right," agreed Jack. "A man like that is too dangerous to be runningaround loose."
"We may as well proceed then," Lord Hastings decided. "The chances arewe shall find them at the mouth of the river. However, we will hardlypick them up before daylight."
And Lord Hastings was right.
Day dawned cool and grey, and in spite of their heavy oilskins, Frankand Jack were chilled to the bone from their long stay in the cold.Several times Lord Hastings had asked them if they wished to go belowand warm up a bit, but each was too interested to leave his post for amoment.
"Can't tell what minute we may run across them, sir," Jack had said,"and I want to get even for the miss I made a while ago."
A slight fog rose over the water. Lord Hastings gave an exclamation ofimpatience.
"Even the elements conspire against us," he said aggrievedly.
"It's not much of a fog, sir," said Jack. "It may lift at any minute."
But it didn't lift, and at noon was as dense as before.
But the very fact of the fog finally brought the pursuers upon theirquarry.
A small boat appeared suddenly perhaps a hundred yards ahead, barelyvisible in the gloom.
"Looks like them, sir," declared Jack.
"What makes you think so?" demanded Lord Hastings, at the same timethrowing over the wheel.
"I don't know, sir," replied Jack. "I don't really mean it looks likethem. I just think it is them. It's what Frank would call a--a--a----"
"Hunch." Frank supplied the word.
"That's it," agreed Jack. "A hunch, sir."
"We'll see," said Lord Hastings grimly.
At this moment the occupants of the craft ahead realized that they werepursued. The boat bounded ahead with a sudden burst of speed.
"It must be they," declared Lord Hastings. "If they were not here forsome ulterior purpose they wouldn't run."
He signalled full speed ahead and the motorboat sprang forward.
"Shall I have a shot at th
em?" shouted Jack.
"Not yet," replied Lord Hastings. "It may not be the boat we are after."
The race continued.
Suddenly the foremost boat swerved sharply to the left, then dashedstraight ahead again.
"They are heading for the shore, sir!" shouted Jack.
The pursuing boat also swerved sharply, one side dipping to the water'sedge and all but throwing Jack overboard.
"So they are," replied Lord Hastings, "Gun ready, Mr. Templeton?"
"All ready, sir."
"Good. Try and do better this time. Fire!"
"Boom!" went the little gun, and all strained eagerly forward to watchthe result of the shot.
A volume of water shot up a few yards behind the pursued.
"Missed again," said Frank sorrowfully.
"Again," commanded Lord Hastings. "Fire!"
And the second shot also went wide, for even as Jack fired the boatahead again swerved suddenly. Now the pursued began to steer first toone side and then to the other, momentarily approaching closer to shore,however.
Twice more Jack fired in response to Lord Hastings' command, but theresult was always the same. As long as the pursued continued to zig-zagthere was little hope of a successful shot.
But in the meantime the pursuers were gaining. A bullet from aheadwhistled over Frank's head.
The lad grew angry and drew his own revolver. Taking careful aim, hefired. So far as he could see there was no result.
"Where's that infallible aim of yours?" demanded Jack.
Frank made no reply but fired again. This time his effort was rewarded.
A figure straightened up in the boat ahead, waved his arms above hishead, and with a cry toppled into the water. The boat did not slow down.The others plainly did not intend to take the time to attempt a rescue.
"Shall we pick him up, sir?" asked Frank.
Lord Hastings shook his head.
"We have more serious business in hand," he replied. "He will have totake his chances."
Still the pursuers gained; but it became apparent now that they couldnot hope to overtake their quarry before he reached shore.
"Ready to take a shot as they jump out of the boat," was Lord Hastings'command.
All drew their revolvers and stood ready.
Now, there was little doubt in the minds of all that they could pick offthe fugitives as they leaped ashore, and they probably would have doneso but for an unforeseen occurrence.
The pursuers had lost a little time in maneuvering to get in aneffective shot, and the pursued now were more than a hundred yardsahead.
As the first boat was a scant fifty yards from shore, a third craft hovein sight, headed down the river. It was going in such a manner as topass directly between pursuer and pursued as the latter landed.
In vain Lord Hastings signalled the third boat to stop. It came on,paying no heed; and what Lord Hastings feared came to pass. Just as thefirst boat grounded and its occupants leaped ashore, the third craftpassed between the first and the pursuers. Although all held revolversready, there was no chance to fire; and when the pursuers reached shoretheir quarry were some distance away.
"After them!" cried Jack.