CHAPTER XIX.
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
"It's a jolly fortunate thing that we fell in with the 'Persia,'"remarked Kenwyn, within two hours of parting company with the liner."Otherwise it would have been a serious matter with those Dutchmen inthe boats."
"You are right," assented Devoran. "It is going to be dirty weather.The glass is falling rapidly."
"It will soon be over," observed Hythe. "'Long foretold, long last;short notice, soon past.' That's how the rhyme goes, doesn't it?"
"And a brute of a business while it lasts," added the second officer.
The three officers were standing on the after deck of the "Aphrodite."The submarine had again risen to the surface and was plugging away in asoutherly direction on her vague quest for the unbeatable "Vorwartz."Captain Restronguet remained below, absorbed in some abstruse problem.
The sea was smooth, but dark clouds, edged with bright, copper-tintedhues, were rapidly banking up against the westerly breeze, while therumble of distant thunder was heard at frequent intervals. Even thoughit was close on midday the sun's light was greatly obscured; while, onthe other hand, the far away Sudan coast stood up clearly under theeffect of atmospheric refraction.
There was every indication of a sharp yet severe storm.
"Are you going to submerge her, Devoran?" asked the sub.
"Not on my own responsibility," replied the chief officer. "Until thecaptain gives the order--ah, here he is."
"I cannot understand how the detector is acting," said CaptainRestronguet, as he gained the group of officers. "I have most carefullytested the currents and examined the platinum contact breakers. Theinstrument seems in order, yet it records nothing of the presence of the'Vorwartz.' It is inexplicable."
"The 'Vorwartz' is doubtless beyond the field of electrical action,sir," remarked Kenwyn.
"So I have been told before," replied Captain Restronguet with asperity."All the same that theory will not hold good. We ought to have had anintimation of that craft's presence when she torpedoed the 'NoordBrabant.' How can you explain that?"
"Don't you think, sir, we ought to submerge the ship?" asked Devoran,anxious to change the subject. "The glass is falling----"
"There is plenty of time," declared the captain, who was evidently notin his usual easy-going humour. "It certainly looks threatening, but atthis moment the sea is as calm as glass. Look at those sharks, Devoran.Vicious looking brutes, aren't they? Suppose we give the men anopportunity at rifle practice."
The captain strolled off to watch the antics of the tigers of the deep,for four ferocious-looking sharks had been persistently following the"Aphrodite" as if anticipating a catastrophe.
The chief officer, although he would much rather have preferred to makeall snug and dive to a depth of seven or eight fathoms, was not a man toquibble. He made his way to the hatch-way, to call up the small-armsparty. Kenwyn stood a few paces from his superior, while Hythe,unwilling to say anything that might lead to his being snubbed, remainedby the after conning-tower.
Suddenly the semi-gloom was rent by a vivid flash of lightning, thatplayed upon the metal deck and upon the placid surface of the ominoussea. A deafening peal of thunder succeeded the flash. For a moment thesub was dazzled by the glare. When he looked aft, Kenwyn was lying onthe deck, a portion of the stanchions and rails were shattered, andCaptain Restronguet nowhere to be seen.
Raising a shout of "Man Overboard!" Hythe took a running dive andplunged into the sea. He struck the water heavily, for the "Aphrodite"was moving at a good speed. He might very well have broken his back butfor the velocity with which he executed his dive. Not till he rose tothe surface did he give one thought to the dreaded sharks: it was thentoo late to count the risk.
Fortunately the monsters, frightened by the flash of lightning, had forthe time being disappeared. Hythe struck out to the spot where thebubbles indicated the captain's position, for, winded by the shock, theunfortunate man was sinking never to rise again.
Guided by the bubbles the sub dived. Eight powerful strokes he made erehe perceived Captain Restronguet's form slowly settling towards thebottom of the sea. Four more and his left hand grasped the unconsciousman by his collar.
Striking out with his right, and his unimpeded legs, Hythe rose towardsthe surface. He had been almost winded by his plunge overboard, and hadhad no opportunity to recover his breath. His lungs felt as if they wereon the point of bursting; his temples throbbed. It seemed ages beforehis head appeared above the surface, and he was able to take a deepdraught of the sultry air. Turning on his back he kept himself afloat,at the same time supporting the unconscious captain.
The "Aphrodite" had already lost way and was going astern; in a fewminutes a dark, triangular object cleaving the leaden-coloured waterattracted the sub's attention. His whole senses momentarily desertedhim. He realized that a shark was approaching.
His first instinct was to abandon the unconscious man and strike outmadly towards the submarine; but in a moment the temptation passed.Lashing out with his legs Hythe churned up a column of water. The sharkstopped, wheeled and retreated a few yards.
Another of these dreaded fish came up, and the pair, regainingconfidence, began to approach, swarming towards the two men inever-narrowing circles.
Hythe could hear the monsters snapping their triple lines of teeth inanticipation of a meal. He kicked the more, shouting at the top of hisvoice in the hope that the sharks would delay close investigation untilit was too late for them to consummate their intentions.
The sub had heard tales of how native divers in the Pacific, knife inhand, boldly attacked the tigers of the deep. The recollection gave himbut cold comfort. True he had a knife, but he lacked the marvellousaquatic agility of the Japanese and South Sea Islanders. Moreover,directly he released his hold his unfortunate captain would sink. Hevaguely argued that it was but another instance of where theory does notalways go hand in hand with practice.
With a sudden rush one of the sharks dashed straight towards thehorrified man. The brute turned on its back in order to deliver aterrific bite. Then, apparently seized with a sudden panic, it broughtits huge jaws together with a sickening snap and darted off. It was anarrow shave; so narrow that on turning the shark had rasped Hythe'shand with his rough skin.
Finding that nothing happened to hurt it, the shark returned to thecharge; as it turned on its back the sub could see right into hiscapacious mouth. He gazed horror-stricken, too terrified even to kickout or utter a sound. Even as he looked the brute's head was literallyshattered, dyeing the water with blood, while the sharp report of arifle rang in Hythe's ears.
The coils of a rope hurtling through the air fell within his reach. Hegrasped the means of safety, yet was too exhausted to do more. Anothershot, and yet another, rang out; then O'Shaunessey, leaping overboardwith a bowline, passed the loop over his officer's shoulders.
"All right, sorr," exclaimed the Irishman cheerily. "Do you let go.I'll see to the cap'n, sure I will."
Pale and breathless Hythe was hauled upon the deck of the "Aphrodite."Captain Restronguet was also drawn into safety, and O'Shaunessey,without any attempt at haste, swarmed up the rope hand over hand.
Devoran and Kenwyn, handing their still smoking rifles to a seaman,hastened to where Captain Restronguet was lying.
"Is he dead?" asked the second officer.
"I am afraid so," replied Devoran gravely, then as the first blast ofthe approaching storm thrashed the hitherto placid water into sheets offoam he added:--
"Take them below. Secure the hatches. All ready, Mr. Kenwyn."
Gliding serenely deep beneath the surface the "Aphrodite" pursued herway, regardless of the storm that was now raging fiercely overhead.Flash after flash of vivid lightning played upon the angry water, theglare being plainly visible through the glass scuttles of theconning-towers, while the deep roar of the thunder literally shook theheavy metal structure o
f the submarine.
Gathered around the still unconscious form of the captain were Hythe,Devoran, Polglaze, and Mylor the second quartermaster, while without thecabin, anxiously awaiting the latest news of their leader, were all thecrew who were not actually on duty.
Kenwyn was at his post in the after conning-tower, Lancarrow in the foreconning-tower was entrusted with keeping the "Aphrodite" on her course,while Carclew was stationed at the electric detector in order to catchthe first intimation of the return of the "Vorwartz" to within the rangeof that instrument's action.
As soon as Captain Restronguet had been undressed the effect of thelightning stroke was apparent. From the nape of his neck to the lowerrib was tattooed the image of part of the chain rails and the head ofthe stanchion. Whether the damage was merely superficial or whether thespine had been affected was still a matter of conjecture. His face waspale and pinched, his wide-open eyes dull, his pulse almostimperceptible. Only by holding a glass close to his mouth was Devoranable to pronounce that his chief was still alive, for there wasabsolutely no signs of respiration and circulation.
By careful treatment, and by giving the patient small doses ofstimulants, the anxious men succeeded in bringing back the colour toCaptain Restronguet's wan cheeks. The pupils of his eyes began todilate, but although he looked at those who stood around him he gave nosigns of recognition.
"You did not rescue a dead man, Hythe," remarked Devoran in a low tone."But I'm afraid his brain is affected."
"It is too early to form a definite opinion," replied the sub, anxiousto put a bold face upon the matter, although in his mind he had hisdoubts. "I remember on the old 'Velox,' we had a signal-man struck bylightning. He was unconscious for nearly three days; yet he recovered,and was passed for duty after a week in the sick bay."
"Yes, that's all very well," rejoined the chief officer, "but----"
A violent ringing of the bell of the "steering sentry" interruptedDevoran's remark. Both men crossed the cabin and consulted thetell-tale compass. The "Aphrodite" was fifteen degrees off her course,and the "steering sentry," an automatic instrument that gives a warningin the captain's cabin when the vessel deviates from the course set, wasringing incessantly, showing that the error in direction was a graveone.
"What are you up to, Lancarrow?" asked Devoran through the telephonecommunicating with the fore conning-tower. "Anything in the way?"
There was no reply.
The chief officer hailed again. Still an ominous silence.
"What's up now, I wonder," he muttered as he hastened towards theconning-tower. To his surprise he found Lancarrow huddled up on thefloor, with his hands tightly clenched. Left to herself the "Aphrodite"was gradually describing a wide circle to starboard, and only the actionof the automatic alarm had called attention to the fact.
Steadying the submarine on her course, Devoran shouted for a couple ofhands to carry the unfortunate helmsman below. This done he told Carnonto take charge of the helm, while he made a tour of the vessel to makesure that all was in order. Devoran realized that he was now in commandand that the responsibility was great. The mysterious striking down ofthe former steersman, whether by violence or by natural causes, couldnot be at present explained; but since a similar thing might happen toothers who were on duty he felt it necessary that he should visit allthe men at their stations and make sure that everything was in order.
Carclew was still at the detector. He had nothing to report. Theinstrument was as silent as the Sphinx. Kenwyn in charge of thehorizontal rudders and the trimming tanks was attending strictly to hisduty. He had been unaware of the affair in the other conning-tower, andsince it was not his business to consult the compass and not knowingwhat course had been given to the helmsman, he had not remarked theerratic steering of the vessel.
"Do you think the lightning struck Lancarrow down?" asked Kenwyn.
"Bless my soul, I hope not!" ejaculated the first officer. "One affairof this sort is quite enough. Why did you ask?"
"The flashes have been terrific. They seemed to play upon the deck,even though we are nine fathoms down."
"Had Lancarrow been touched by the electric fluid it is reasonable tosuppose that the electrical steering gear would be affected. As amatter of fact it isn't."
"Give it up, then," rejoined the second officer. "But how is CaptainRestronguet?"
"Coming round, thank Heaven. But it's the after effects I am anxiousabout. By Jove! That's a flash."
It was indeed a vivid fork of dazzling blue light that seemed tocorkscrew along the deck of the vessel and dart up over the for'ardconning-tower, till the submerged craft looked as if she were surroundedby a supernatural light. The phenomenon lasted only an instant, but thatinstant was enough for the chief officer to realize the "Aphrodite's"peril.
"BEATING DOWN, AND READY TO RAM THE APHRODITE, WASANOTHER SUBMARINE!"]
Beating down, and ready to ram the "Aphrodite" amidships, was anothersubmarine! But its similarity to the former Devoran had no doubt as towhat it was. It was the "Vorwartz."
"Hard a-port!" he shouted through the telephone to the helmsman. At thesame moment Kenwyn elevated the horizontal rudders in a vain endeavourto make the "Aphrodite" dive under the on-coming attacker. It was toolate. With a rending crash the knife-like bows of the "Vorwartz"crashed into the 'midships compartment of her hitherto unsuspectingrival.