CHAPTER XXXI.
THE UNSUCCESSFUL COMPETITORS.
Hardly had the echoes of the three ringing cheers that greeted thehoisting of the ensign died away than the distant throbbing of anairship's motors was heard. Just appearing over the knoll was the"Pride of Rhodesia."
"Hope they won't start dropping bombs on us," exclaimed Polglaze.
"No fear of that," said Captain Restronguet reassuringly. "They've seenour ensign. They're dipping theirs, by smoke!"
Slowly the Blue Ensign at the stern of the air-ship was lowered and asslowly rehoisted. Unable to "dip" in the orthodox way the green andwhite flag was lowered staff and all.
Then majestically the huge yellow enveloped craft eased up till justholding her own against the light breeze, sank gently towards the earth,alighting on the sun-baked ground within twenty yards of the capturedsubmarine.
"The best man has won, sir," exclaimed Captain Jones, raising his whitecap. "I heartily congratulate you."
"More by good luck than anything else," returned Captain Restronguetmodestly. "If I hadn't sent a sick man ashore we might never havespotted her stowed away so snugly behind the hill. I suppose you'veseen nothing of the crew?"
"Her crew?" repeated the Captain of the "Pride of Rhodesia." "Why,haven't you bagged the whole crowd of rascals?"
"Only one," replied Captain Restronguet. "Much to my sorrow and regret."
"Never say die," was the cheerful response. "Now you've captured the'Vorwartz' what are you going to do with her?"
"I haven't given the matter a thought yet. She's hard and fast aground.Even if we floated her, I don't know how we could manage to get her downto the sea or what to do with her when we did."
"You'll have plenty of help in an hour or so," announced Captain Jones."That is, if you want any. There's a regular flotilla of stern wheelerscoming up stream. They're flying the British Ensign."
"I heard they were on their way up," said Captain Restronguet. "Theyare from Lake Nyassa. Let 'em all come, as the catch-phrase used to bewhen I was at school."
"Look here," said the airship's owner. "If you like I'll stand by andlend a hand. Please understand I don't want to take away any creditthat belongs to the 'Aphrodite' alone; neither are we after a share inthe prize money, although I hear the 'Vorwartz' is chock full of gold.That's what's keeping her hard and fast, I should think."
"You are awfully good," replied Captain Restronguet. "I shall be onlytoo happy to avail myself of your services."
"And the sooner the better," added Captain Jones. "Five additionalhelpers, all used to plenty of hard slogging, will soon make a show."
Telling Polglaze to make his way back to the spot where they had landedfrom the "Aphrodite," in order to let Devoran know that all was well,Captain Restronguet, accompanied by Hythe and Captain Jones, began asystematic examination of the captured submarine. Except for themaniac, who was now babbling in a childish manner and was quiteunconscious of his surroundings, not a man of von Harburg's companyremained. Everything on board showed signs of a hurried departure. Inthe galley the men's dinner was still in the boilers. The electricpower had apparently failed, for some time since a temporary stove forburning wood had been erected in the galley, the funnel leading throughthe open fore hatch. By examining the thickness of the deposit of sootCaptain Restronguet was able to come to the conclusion that the failureof the electrical supply coincided with the time the "Aphrodite's"detector ceased to record the position of her rival.
Stowed away in the emergency water ballast tanks were hundreds of barsof gold--plundered from many a richly-laden vessel. This horde had notbeen touched, but almost all the specie and bullion in the after cabinshad been removed.
"What prompted the rogues to make such a hasty flight, do you think,sir?" asked Hythe.
"They undoubtedly got wind of the news that we were on their track. Thefailure of their electrical gear added to their panic. They decided toremove as much of their plunder as they could conveniently carry, andtrust to luck that the rest of the booty remaining on board might yet berecoverable. I think they must have gone up stream in a boat, sincethere are traces of their footprints through the grass."
"You mean to pursue your search?" asked Captain Jones.
"Certainly," replied Captain Restronguet with conviction.
"Judging by the state of the river," continued the captain of the "Prideof Rhodesia," "which is still falling, even a boat expedition will be adifficult matter. Why not make a voyage in my craft? We can follow thecourse of the river at any height you wish, and if Karl von Harburg hasattempted flight by means of a boat we shall be bound to overtake himand effect his capture. I can easily find room for a dozen of yourmen."
"I will gladly accept your offer," replied Captain Restronguet withouthesitation. "When will it be convenient for you to start?"
"At once," replied Captain Jones promptly. "We ought to complete thebusiness and be back here well before night. Meanwhile those of yourmen who are left behind--I will leave some of my crew as well--canproceed with the unloading of the 'Vorwartz.' The gold will beperfectly safe ashore, for there do not seem to be any inhabitants inthis district. Even if there are, and they are tempted to give trouble,twenty rifles firing from the deck of the submarine will make them keepa respectful distance."
"Come along, Mr. Hythe; this will be another experience for you," saidCaptain Restronguet. "Carnon and Carclew you will come with us. Eh?What's that? Mr. Hythe, here's your Irishman anxious to have an aerialtrip."
Ascending the swinging ladder the men gained the platform connecting thetwo deck-houses of the airship. Hythe found himself on a promenadenearly three hundred feet in length and forty in width converging foreand aft, and terminated by the aluminium cabins that afforded sleepingaccommodation for the crew and also means of manoeuvring the airship inbad weather.
"Cast off there," shouted Captain Jones.
Those of the airship's crew who remained ashore hastened to unfasten thestout hempen hawsers that held the "Pride of Rhodesia" to the ground.Since the total number of men on board was less than that of the presentcrew no throwing out of ballast was necessary. The airship rose swiftlyand smoothly to a height of eight hundred feet.
"Guess we'd best descend at once," said Captain Jones.
"Descend--why?" asked Captain Restronguet.
The skipper of the "Pride of Rhodesia" pointed towards the broadZambesi. Abreast of the junction of the stream in which the "Vorwartz"had taken a vain refuge were three river gunboats.
The huge aerial propellers began to revolve and the "Pride of Rhodesia"gathered way. In view of her skipper's remark Hythe could not at onceunderstand this manoeuvre; but Captain Jones was not a man to waste gaswhen he could bring his airship to earth by other means.
Circling in ever-descending spirals the huge craft approached withinfifty feet of the place where a few minutes before she had beenanchored. The bow and stern ropes were thrown down, and assisted by the"Aphrodite's" men those of the crew of the airship who had been leftbehind dragged the "Pride of Rhodesia" to earth.
Almost as soon as Captain Restronguet, Hythe, and the skipper of theairship had alighted, a motor launch in which were severalwhite-uniformed officers came pelting up stream and brought up alongsidethe captured submarine.
"We are a trifle too late, I see," exclaimed the senior officer from thegunboats, as salutes were gravely exchanged.
"Third in the field," commented Captain Jones, pointing to his airship."This is the lucky individual--Captain Restronguet."
"Thought we'd been done in the eye when we saw his submarine out in thestream," said the commodore of the flotilla. "Well, CaptainRestronguet, we congratulate you upon having rid the world of a pest."
"The business is not finished yet," said the "Aphrodite's" captain. "Wewere on the point of following up the rascals."
"Some have escaped, then?"
"All save one, and he's as mad
as a hatter."
"Well, it strikes me we are not required here," continued the commodore."But before we return we would very much like to look over bothsubmarines."
"With pleasure," assented Captain Restronguet. "Unfortunately I cannotstay to have the honour of showing you round, as we wish to overhaulKarl von Harburg and company and be back before night. I'll have asignal sent to my chief officer, Mr. Devoran, and he will act as mydeputy."
"Has the news of the capture been sent home?"
Captain Restronguet consulted his watch.
"I believe I am right in assuming that already the newsboys are sellingspecial editions in the streets of London."
"Smart work!" ejaculated the commodore admiringly.
"Fairly," admitted the captain of the "Aphrodite" modestly. "The momentour flag was hoisted on the 'Vorwartz' the news was signalled to the topof the hill. Two of my men are stationed there. They in turn signalledon to my chief officer, who by wireless communicated direct with myLondon agent. He, I feel certain, lost no time in giving the news tothe proper authorities; but making due allowance for slight delays Ithink my assumption is correct."
"What do you propose doing with the 'Vorwartz,' may I ask?"
"Tow her off as soon as possible and take her down the river. I hopebefore night to get into wireless communication with the officercommanding H.M.S. 'Pique,' and hand the prize over to him. He can thentow her to Cape Town and there the necessary transactions can beeffected. But I must be going. If you will excuse us we will bid yougood-day. Perhaps we may meet again in the near future."
Upon re-embarking Captain Jones gave the order for half speed ahead, andthe "Pride of Rhodesia," at a modest twenty-five miles an hour, flewover the course of the tributary at a height of less than five hundredfeet.
Glasses were brought to bear upon the country beneath them, and everyrock and shoal in the river was thus carefully examined. The "Vorwartz"had almost reached the limit for navigation, for at less than a mileabove the spot where she had stranded the river shallowed considerablyand was interrupted by a series of cataracts. In one of these Hythespotted a brass-bound box wedged in between two rocks, and by theidentification letters on its side Captain Restronguet knew that it wasone from a liner's strong-room.
"They've been in difficulties already," he observed. "They've had tojettison some of their booty. Judging by the state of the river, Idon't think they can have gone very far."
"There's a dense forest ahead," announced Captain Jones. "That makesour task more difficult. If the rascals have taken it into their headsto make a way through the trees, the thick foliage will screen them fromview. However, I'll keep up-stream for some distance yet. Perhaps theyhaven't the sense of caution to destroy their boat or haul it up out ofsight. However, we will see."
"No chance of a boat getting over that," exclaimed the sub, as after ashort interval the airship came in view of a waterfall quite forty feetin height and extending from bank to bank. As the "Pride of Rhodesia"drew nearer the noise of the falling water almost outvoiced the purr ofthe airship's motors. One glance was sufficient to show that nothingafloat would be able to surmount that formidable barrier.
"There's their boat," bawled Captain Jones, into the ear of hissuccessful rival.
He was right. Lying half-way up the steep bank, and only partiallyscreened by the foliage, was a craft of native construction. Two orthree paddles, a length of rope and a piece of canvas lay within it,while a jagged hole close to the water-line showed that the boat hadcome to grief against one of the sharp rocks with which the bed of theriver abounded.
"See any tracks?" asked Captain Restronguet.
Hythe, to whom the question was addressed, was minutely studying theground through a powerful pair of binoculars.
"Not much doubt about it, sir," he replied. "There's a well-definedtrack leading in a south-easterly direction. I can follow it as far asthose trees."
"We'll take the craft up a bit and follow the supposed direction," saidCaptain Jones. "Ten to one there'll be some sort of a clearing furtheron. Tilt the forward planes, McPherson. That's enough; keep her as sheis and carry on."
For nearly two miles the "Pride of Rhodesia" flew steadily over thetree-tops. So dense was the foliage that for the whole of that distanceno sign of the ground was visible.
"Are you prepared to have a bullet through the envelope of the airship?"asked Captain Restronguet.
"No, I'm not," replied Jones bluntly. "Why?"
"We offer a tempting mark. If any of those rogues spot us and openfire----"
"There they are!" exclaimed Hythe.