CHAPTER XXIX.
THE "PRIDE OF RHODESIA."
Kenwyn's serious illness was a source of anxiety and perplexity to hischief. Captain Restronguet was loath to leave him ashore in anunhealthy district where medical comforts were of a most primitivenature, while to keep the patient on board was undoubtedly detrimentalto the health of the rest of the crew and consequently a stumbling-blockto the success of the expedition.
Finally he compromised the difficulty. Kenwyn was to be isolated fromthe rest of the crew, Mylor and Lancarrow volunteering to act as nurses,until the "Aphrodite" entered the gorge through which the Zambezi flows.Here the patient was to be landed, placed in a tent and left in chargeof the two men till the "Aphrodite's" return.
Just below the town of Kaira, where the Shire River joins the Zambezi,definite news came to hand concerning the "Vorwartz." A large canoe,laden with millet, arrived the same day as the "Aphrodite." Her crewreported, through a Portuguese interpreter who spoke indifferentEnglish, that they had passed a strange-looking vessel, somewhatresembling the "Aphrodite," four days up the river, and that it was hardaground at the mouth of a tributary known as the Zampa.
This report was confirmed by the detector which gave the "Vorwartz's"position as sixty-three miles to the north-west. Captain Restronguetnoticed that he was gaining rapidly on his rival, and had been unable toaccount for the rapid decrease in the intervening distance unless Karlvon Harburg had lighted upon an isolated spot that seemed to suit hisrequirements.
At Kaira Captain Restronguet was able to procure an old though fairlyreliable Portuguese map of the course of the river, and on this theposition of the rival submarine was carefully noted. If she succeededin floating and proceeding up the Zampa River it was evident that the"Vorwartz" would soon be in British territory--the colony of Rhodesia.
That same evening a wireless message--the first for three days--wasreceived from Captain Restronguet's English agent stating that theForeign Office was in communication with the government of thePortuguese Republic, and an arrangement had been arrived at wherebythree British sternwheeler gunboats that were used to patrol the ShireRiver, were to be allowed to descend to the Zambezi and attempt to cutoff the "Vorwartz" on her return.
"Evidently the British Navy wants to chip in at the death," commentedCaptain Restronguet. "We must look to our laurels. It would be hardlines to be searching for days amongst these unexplored backwaterswithout success, and to find that one of these little paddle-boats by apiece of sheer good luck had managed to blow the 'Vorwartz' tosmithereens while she was lying helplessly stranded on a mud-flat."
Hythe did not reply. He was naturally anxious, now that he had been onboard the "Aphrodite" for such a lengthy period and had faced perils incompany with her crew, that Captain Restronguet should receive a justreward for his strenuous endeavours; yet he did not forget that he wasstill an officer of the great British Navy, whose policy is to be ready,aye ready, in the hour of triumph or in the hour of disaster alike.
Just then Carnon, who since Kenwyn's illness had been appointed solelyfor duties in connexion with the detector, approached and saluted.
"The detector, sir, has gone wrong," he reported.
"Gone wrong? What do you mean? Have you been tampering with theinstrument?"
"No, sir. The last reading gave sixty-one miles. That was five minutesago. When I looked again there was no record at all. The batteries arestill working: I could get a spark an inch in length. The terminals areproperly clamped."
Captain Restronguet, Devoran, and the sub hastened to the compartment inwhich the detector was fixed. The indicator board was absolutely blank.
"We're not having an easy time of it at all," remarked the captain."Without the detector it is quite possible that the 'Vorwartz' may yetoutwit us. All the same, I cannot understand it."
"We know her position up to ten minutes or a quarter of an hour ago,sir," said the first officer.
"Quite so, Mr. Devoran; and we must work on that. It will take us threehours, running at the highest speed compatible with prudence in thisbrute of a river, to arrive at the spot where the 'Vorwartz' was lastreported. In three hours Karl von Harburg may have shifted a longdistance off--or he may not."
"And there's Kenwyn to be taken into account."
"I haven't forgotten him. I think after all we had better keep him onboard. It is too much of an undertaking for two men to have and tendhim, provide for themselves, and be on their guard against the wildanimals that abound, and a dozen other difficulties that a camp on shorewould entail. However, pass the word for a speed of twenty-four knots.Allowing for the adverse current we ought to be at the confluence of theZampa River well before sunset."
Just above the town of Shemba the Zambezi bifurcates, the two streamsreuniting twenty miles higher up. It was just possible that the"Vorwartz," bound towards the sea, might be passing down one branchwhile the "Aphrodite" was proceeding up the other; but this time luckwas in Captain Restronguet's favour, for above the junction the"Aphrodite" fell in with a trading steamboat, whose captain, by signs,made it clear that no vessel of any description approaching the"Vorwartz" had passed down the left-hand stream.
The river here was considerably narrower and deeper than nearer itsmouth. Its width was still over half a mile, while the soundings gave alevel bed of six fathoms. Here, also, the tide was no longer felt; but,owing to a cessation in the rainfall, the level of the river wasgradually sinking.
During the course of the day several canoes passed at a respectfuldistance; but late in the afternoon a craft of some sort was sighteddrifting down in mid-stream.
As the "Aphrodite" approached it was seen that the object was a raftcomposed of several slender spars supported by four barrels, to whichwere lashed four or five short planks. Lying on the platform thusformed were two human bodies.
"What do you make of it, Mr. Devoran?" asked Captain Restronguet. "Atragedy--not exactly on the high seas--but one of a very extraordinarynature. They look like Europeans."
"Shall I have the boat lowered to investigate, sir?"
"No, they're dead right enough. I've been watching them prettycarefully through my glass for some time. If it's a case of contagiousdisease we had better sheer off."
"Why, they're Chinese!" exclaimed Hythe.
"Chinese? Then they must be some of the crew of the 'Vorwartz'," saidCaptain Restronguet. "Evidently von Harburg has met with disaster."
As the submarine passed the aimlessly drifting raft a fairly close viewcould be obtained of the dead Chinamen. They were dressed in bluecotton suits after the style affected by Chinese seamen serving inEuropean vessels, but there was no mistaking the Tartar features and theslanting eyes. That they were stone dead there could be no doubt, forthere were several birds hovering around the raft in a manner that theirnatural timidity would not permit if the two bodies showed signs oflife.
"Do you think that a catastrophe has occurred to the 'Vorwartz,' sir, orwere these men merely attempting to escape?" asked the sub.
"Coupled with the fact that our detector has failed to give anyindication of the 'Vorwartz,' I am inclined to favour the first theory,"replied Captain Restronguet. "Since our apparatus is, as far as I cantell by careful examination, in perfect working order, I can only putits unresponsiveness down to the failure of the electric current onboard the 'Vorwartz.' That, of course, would account for the failure ofour detector."
"And the 'Vorwartz' could otherwise be capable of action?"
"To a certain extent. But without electricity she can have no means ofcompulsion, no means of offence, unless we except the use of fire-arms.However, before to-morrow is past we ought to discover her whereabouts.I am not proceeding further to-day as night is approaching. As soon aswe find a suitable depth we'll descend till morning."
Another night passed without interruption. The detector was stillsilent, but the "Aphrodite" was now within a few miles of the spot whereth
e "Vorwartz" had last given notice of her presence.
It was not a desirable day. Torrential rains were falling, while theatmosphere was too close to wear oilskins without the greatestdiscomfort. Consequently on the "Aphrodite" rising to the surface hercrew save three had to remain below.
Captain Restronguet, Hythe, and Carclew were in the for'ardconning-tower, Devoran, Carnon the quartermaster, and Polglaze occupiedthe after conning-tower, so as to maintain a careful look out on allsides. Three men, braving the heavy downpour, were stationed for'ard,where they took turns in casting the lead.
The river here was considerably narrower--about thrice the width of theThames at London Bridge. The banks on either hand were low and denselycovered with thick scrub and extensive forests of tropical trees; whilethe skyline was broken on both sides by serrated ridges of loftymountains.
"This must be the Zampa River," said Captain Restronguet, pointing to afairly wide waterway that joined the Zambezi on its right bank. "Herethe 'Vorwartz' was sighted by the natives. It would be well to explorethe stream before going further."
"It looks too shallow to take anything more than a flat-bottomedlight-draught vessel," remarked Hythe. "Still, as you say, sir, weought to leave nothing unexplored behind us. If you wish I will takecharge of the whaler and see what it is like."
"Very good, Mr. Hythe. I shall be obliged if you will. We'll remainhere. Do not proceed further than there is depth for the 'Aphrodite' tofollow. Should you require assistance fire three explosive rockets. Ifanything should necessitate your immediate return I will make a similarsignal. Should you locate the 'Vorwartz,' endeavour to return withoutbeing seen."
It certainly required plenty of zeal to volunteer for a boatingexpedition on a tropical river in such torrential rains, but the mencalled upon for the service responded with alacrity.
Four rowers stripped to the waist sat on the thwarts, apparently quiteindifferent to the rain. Hythe, Polglaze, and Carclew were in the sternsheets, partially protected by an awning, but before the whaler pushedoff the canvas covering, sagging under the quantity of rain water, wasfound to be of more trouble than use, for a regular stream pouredthrough the canopy upon the sub's head and shoulders. Since it was alsolikely to attract the attention of Karl von Harburg's men Hythe orderedit to be struck, and accepting the situation as well as he could, wassoon soaked to the skin.
The tributary was found to be nearly twenty feet deep towards theright-hand bank. On both sides were belts of malodorous mud on whichnumerous crocodiles were lying as if enjoying the rain. Others, lookingmore like floating logs, were drifting in the channel, and carefulsteering was needed to avoid them. Hythe realized that he was not on asporting expedition, and should any of the saurians become infuriated itwould be necessary to fire at the reptile. The report of the riflewould give the alarm to the "Vorwartz" should she be within hearing, andthe chances of locating her without being discovered would be veryremote.
For more than a mile the rowers toiled manfully. The current wasstrong, the boat heavy, while Polglaze had to bale incessantly toprevent the rain from rising over the stern gratings. The "Aphrodite"was now lost to view by an intervening bend in the course of the stream.
The depth still continued regular, and afforded plenty of water for acraft like the "Vorwartz" to ascend if her ballast tanks were emptied,but as reach after reach was opened out no sign of the rival submarinewas visible--only a monotonous stretch of coffee-coloured water enclosedon either hand by the soft stagnant mud that effectually prevented anyattempt at landing.
"What's that, sir?" asked Polglaze, suddenly holding up his hand andlistening attentively.
"Lay on your oars, men," ordered the sub.
Above the hissing of the rain Hythe could distinguish the deep purr of apowerful motor. Could it be that the "Vorwartz" was returning? If so,escape was impossible, for no cover of any sort was obtainable, and longbefore the whaler could return to the "Aphrodite" she would be overtakenby the swiftly moving submarine.
"It's that brute of a von Harburg coming downstream, sir," exclaimedCarclew. "We're fairly trapped."
In reply the sub ordered the boat to be turned and her head pointed downstream. Drawing the three detonating rockets from a locker under thestern sheets he rapidly lashed the sticks in position. Happen what maythe "Aphrodite" must have warning of her enemy's approach. Perhaps, asthe "Vorwartz" was now under way her electrical current would operatethe detector onboard the "Aphrodite"; if so there was every reason tosuppose that Captain Restronguet was already on his way to rescue hiswhaler's crew and engage his sworn foe. A chance of safety yetremained.
"Give way, men," ordered Hythe. "We may do it yet."
Nearer and nearer came the throb of the powerful motors. Hythe graspedthe lanyard of the nearest rocket. He hesitated. There was somethingin the sound of the motors that could not be associated with asubmarine, even allowing for the conductive properties of the water; itwas more like the drone of an aerial propeller.
The next instant the snub nose of a large airship appeared round thebend of the river. The vessel was flying low; her two suspended carswere not forty feet above the surface. Her yellow silk envelope wasliterally streaming as the rain descended upon it in torrents, and thiswas why, Hythe reasoned, she was flying so low.
The sub ordered the whaler's crew to cease rowing and soon the airshipwas overhead. Her engines were reversed, and losing way she brought upjust in front of the boat. Hythe saw with feelings of relief that aftthe airship was flying a Blue Ensign with a yellow propeller--the badgeof the recently constituted British Empire Aero-League--emblazoned onthe flag. Half a dozen men were leaning over the rail of the platformconnecting the two cars.
"What boat is that?" hailed a tall, sparsely-built man dressed in awhite uniform.
"The 'Aphrodite' submarine, Captain John Restronguet," replied Hythewithout hesitation. "What airship is that?"
"The 'Pride of Rhodesia,' of Salisbury. Is Captain Restronguet in theboat?"
"No," replied Hythe. "He is on board the 'Aphrodite' lying at thejunction of this river with the Zambesi."
"And who are you, sir, might I ask?"
"Arnold Hythe, Sub-lieutenant of the Royal Navy."
"So you are the Mr. Hythe we've heard so much about? Glad to meet you.Sorry we can't shake hands; must delay that honour till a moreconvenient time. I'm Jones of Salisbury, Rhodesia, and we're having achip-in with that villain, Karl von Harburg. I suppose we are not toolate?"
"Seen anything of her?" asked Hythe. "We are exploring this river inthe hope of finding her brought up."
"May as well give it a miss," replied Captain Jones of the "Pride ofRhodesia." "We've followed the whole of the navigable part of thisditch. We've also reconnoitred the Mali, the Tutti, and the Baraloo;the Zampa we didn't trouble about; it's too narrow to take a craft thesize of the 'Vorwartz.'"
The sub felt like shaking hands with himself. The airship had purposelyoverlooked the river in which the "Vorwartz" had been reported. CaptainRestronguet had made a mistake in thinking that this river was theZampa.
"Well, I wish you luck," he said truthfully, for there can be variousqualifying conditions to the subject of luck. "By the by, what's thename of this river?"
"The Pongo," replied Captain Jones. "It rises in Rhodesia not so veryfar from the frontier of the Portuguese territory. I reckon we've savedyou a bit. We'll save you more yet if you wish. We'll tow you downstream. I'm curious to see the renowned 'Aphrodite.' Captain Restronguetwon't object, I suppose. Will you come aboard--we'll drop arope-ladder."
"No, thanks," replied Hythe. "We won't come on board. We cannot getmuch wetter if we stay here. All the same, we shall be glad of a tow."
The sub was cautious. He did not wish to be kidnapped a second time,and not knowing who Captain Jones was or whether the "Pride of Rhodesia"was a _bona fide_ craft belonging to the British Empire Aero-League, hethought it advisable to decline the invitation to board the airship.
r /> A coil of rope whizzed from the after platform of the overhead vessel.It was caught and made fast by the bowman, the "Pride of Rhodesia's"huge propellers began to revolve and soon the "Aphrodite's" whaler wasbeing towed down the stream at a good ten knots.
"Pass that rope aboard the 'Aphrodite,' please," shouted Captain Jonesas he brought the boat alongside the submarine. Captain Restronguetwaved his hand in token of assent and soon the airship was riding headto wind with her nacelles just resting on the water.
Hythe hurriedly explained the circumstances under which he had fallen inwith the airship, mentioning that he had found out by accident that itwas not the Zampa River that he had explored after all.
"That's good," commented Captain Restronguet enthusiastically. "We canwell afford to be disappointed. This Captain Jones told you he didn'tmean to explore the Zampa, eh? Well, we'll have him on board, since heevidently desires it, but we must be careful not to drop the faintesthint concerning our information that the 'Vorwartz' was known to haveentered that river."
The boat was dispatched to bring Captain Jones on board the "Aphrodite,"and soon the owner and commander of the "Pride of Rhodesia" stood uponthe deck of the submarine. He was a fairly young man, still underthirty, and full of almost boyish enthusiasm.
"We seem to be sort of friendly rivals," he remarked. "I don't want toboast, but I think I stand the better chance. Had that German scoundrelkept to the sea the odds would be in your favour, but since he is incomparatively limited and shallow waters he cannot submerge his'Vorwartz.' But aloft I can command a vast extent of country, while youhave to grope about, if I may say so."
"I quite see the point of your argument," replied Captain Restronguetdrily. "But, might I ask, what do you propose to do when you find the'Vorwartz'?"
"Oh, we are armed," said the Captain of the "Pride of Rhodesia." "Wecarry two bomb-dropping devices, besides four quick-firers. We aresubsidized by the Government and authorized to carry offensive anddefensive weapons. Directly we spot the 'Vorwartz' I shall have nohesitation in dropping a fifty pound charge of dynamite and blowing herto atoms."
"Dropping, you say? I understand that you cannot do otherwise thanallow the bombs to fall simply by the action of gravity?"
"That is so," assented the owner of the airship. "But I think there islittle possibility of their missing the mark. We took first prize atthe Johannesburg Aero-Exhibition last year, placing six dummy bombswithin a space eighty feet by twenty, and that from an altitude of fivehundred feet."
"And your quick-firers?"
"Three-pounders."
"Not heavy enough to penetrate the plating of the 'Vorwartz,' I canassure you. Now, what do you think Karl von Harburg will be doing whileyou are manoeuvring to be in a position to drop one of your bombsimmediately overhead?"
"I don't know," replied Captain Jones. "Why--do you?"
"Step below and I will show you a weapon that is almost identical withone carried by my rival. As you are probably aware, Karl von Harburgapplied several of my inventions to his own use."
Captain Restronguet led the way below to where the aerial torpedo gunwas housed.
"Here is a weapon capable of being trained fifteen degrees in anydirection from a vertical," he explained. "Even when submerged to adepth of fifty feet I can discharge a projectile and hit an object athousand feet in the air. The bursting charge throws out a shower ofshrapnel with such force that no air-craft, within a radius of twohundred yards from the point of explosion, could possibly survive."
"By Jove!" ejaculated Captain Jones, his bronzed skin turning a lightershade. "I didn't know the 'Vorwartz' carried anything like that. But nomatter," he added cheerfully. "It is the fortune of war either way. Imean to do my duty in ridding the world of a pest, and if I fail itwon't be for want of trying."
"Hear! hear!" exclaimed Hythe, while Captain Restronguet brought hishand down heavily upon his friendly rival's shoulder.
"That shows the British bull-dog spirit isn't dead yet," he remarked."I am glad to hear you speak thus. You do your best: I'll do mine, andmay the better man win."
The commander of the airship was shown over the "Aphrodite" and allexcept the essential details of her construction were minutely explainedby his host. The inspection wound up with refreshments in CaptainRestronguet's cabin, and in reply to an invitation Captain Restronguet,Hythe, Devoran, and Jenkins went on board the "Pride of Rhodesia." Foran airship she was certainly a novelty, being built and engined inRhodesia and of Rhodesian material--a striking testimony to the growthof one of Britain's youngest children.
Curiously enough the airship was subdivided into three compartmentssimilar to the "Aphrodite." Thus, in the event of an accident to anytwo of the sections the third would be quite capable of supporting thecrew and acting as a balloon; while, should the afterpart remainuninjured, it would still be able to be driven by the motors which weresituated just abaft the division between the second and third sections.
"By the by, how do you combat with the deadly night airs?" asked CaptainRestronguet.
"We ascend to about three thousand feet," replied the owner of the"Pride of Rhodesia." "It's a splendid climate up aloft; a guaranteedcure for all sorts of tropical fevers. How do you manage?"
"Oh, we dive," was the reply. "Our air supply is quite independent ofoutside atmosphere. But night is approaching, we must return."
Had there not been an element of danger should the airship attempt tocombat the "Vorwartz" Captain Restronguet would have requested thatKenwyn should be temporarily accommodated on board so that the bracingair would aid his recovery, but under the circumstances he preferred tokeep his second officer in the submarine.
Shaking hands Captain Restronguet and his companions bade their friendlyrivals farewell and boarded their whaler. On the way back Hythe askedJenkins what he thought of the "Pride of Rhodesia."
"Not much," replied the chief aviator to the Sultan of Zanzibar. "Notmuch. If I had my three-seater monoplane and a couple of hands I'dguarantee to knock spots off her as easy as kiss your hand."
"As Captain Jones said, the odds are in his favour," commented CaptainRestronguet. "All the same I admire him. It will be a race for acoveted prize. Let the best man win by all means, but as sure as myname's what it is I'll do my level best to go one better than the 'Prideof Rhodesia.'"