CHAPTER V
Aboard U75
Like Ross, Vernon Haye made a poor meal. He had barely finished when apetty officer appeared and curtly ordered the lads to follow him.Since he did so in German it was fairly certain that Trefusis'admission had been communicated to both officers and crew.
Staggering, they passed along the alley-way into a broad subdivisionthat extended completely athwartships. It was one of the two broadsidetorpedo-rooms, and contained two tubes of slightly greater diameterthan the British 21-inch. In "launching-trays" by the side of thetubes were eight torpedoes with their deadly war-heads attached. Bothtransverse bulkheads were almost hidden by indicators, voice-tubes, andpipes for transmitting the compressed air from the air-flasks to thetorpedo-tubes.
Passing through another water-tight door the prisoners found themselvesin yet another compartment. On one side was an "air-lock", with itscomplement of life-saving helmets; on the other was an oval-shaped doorforming means of communication with the small room built against thecurved sides of the submarine. Ross guessed, and rightly as itafterwards transpired, that the door led into a space that could beflooded at will, and which in turn enabled a diver to operate from theU-boat while submerged.
Confronting the lads was an almost perpendicular steel laddercommunicating with the conning-tower. Their guide was about to ascendwhen a stern voice exclaimed in German:
"Not that, you idiotic clodhopper! Have you lost your reason? Theforward hatchway, don't you know?"
"Pardon, Herr Leutnant," said the petty officer, abjectly apologetic,and, backing down the ladder, he passed through another door enteringinto an alley-way between the officers' cabins. Here was the bowl of asupplementary periscope, so that a vision of what was taking placecould be obtained without going into the conning-tower.
The alley-way terminated at another broadside torpedo-room, the pairsof tubes pointing in the opposite direction to those the lads had justseen.
Beyond were the living-quarters of the crew, kept spotlessly clean andtidy, yet Spartan-like in their simplicity. Two of the men were soundasleep in their bunks. Three more, who were playing cards at a plaindeal table, glanced up from their game as the British lads passed by;but their interest was of brief duration, and stolidly they resumedtheir play.
Stooping down to avoid a large metal trough--the "house" for thefor'ard 105-millimetre disappearing gun--Ross and his chum arrived atthe ladder by which they were to gain the open air.
The hatch-cover was thrown back. For the first time during theircaptivity they made the discovery that it was night. Looking upwards,they could see a rectangle of dark sky twinkling with stars that, withthe slight motion of the submarine, appeared to sway to and fro.
The cool night breeze fanned their heated foreheads as they gained thedeck. For some time, coming suddenly from the glare of theelectrically lighted interior, their eyes were blinded. They could seenothing but an indistinct blurr of star-lit, gently heaving water.
Gradually the sense of vision returned. They found themselves on thefore-deck of the unterseeboot. They had made up their minds to see aturtle-back deck with a narrow level platform in the centre; insteadthey found that the deck was almost flat and, in nautical parlance,flush, save where it was broken by the elongated conning-tower toppedby the twin periscopes and slender wireless mast.
Lying on the deck in all conceivable attitudes were most of theU-boat's crew, taking advantage of a brief spell on the surface tobreathe deeply of the ozone-laden atmosphere.
Not a light was visible on board. Even the hatchway by which the ladshad gained the deck was constructed to trap any stray beam from thebrilliant glare below.
Miles away, and low down upon the horizon, a white light blinkedsolemnly; then after a brief interval it was succeeded by a red gleam.This in turn was followed by white again.
Trefusis, with a sailor's inborn instinct, began to count theintervals. Although having no means of consulting the onlytime-recording watch in the possession of the two captives, he had afair idea of counting seconds. At fourteen from the disappearance ofthe red light the white appeared. An almost identical space of timeoccurred before the red reappeared.
"It's the Wolf Light," mentally ejaculated the lad.
His next step was to fix the bearing of the lighthouse. This he did bylooking for the Great Bear, and then, following the Pointers, the NorthStar.
"Phew!" he muttered softly. "Nor'-nor'-west. This brute of asubmarine is right in the chops of the Channel--the main highway forvessels making for London and the south coast ports."
"What's that?" asked Vernon, who heard his chum speaking, but hadfailed to grasp the significance of his words.
"Nothing," replied Ross almost in a whisper. "I'll tell you later."
The cool air had revived both lads wonderfully. They had been left totheir own devices, for the petty officer had gone aft. Those of thecrew who were on deck seemed as apathetic as the men below concerningthe presence of the kidnapped youths. They looked like men utterlyworn out by fatigue and nervous strain.
Grasping the flexible wire hand-rail Ross continued his survey of thehorizon, all of which was visible except a small portion obscured bythe rise of the conning-tower. The air was remarkably clear. Takinginto consideration the refraction of the atmosphere, the navigationlamps of a vessel shown at twenty feet above the sea would be visiblefrom the low-lying deck of the submarine at a distance of six to sevenmiles.
But there were no signs of any vessels in the vicinity. The Germansubmarine rolled lazily in complete isolation, waiting, like a snake inthe grass, for its prey.
"Herr Kapitan would see you," exclaimed the guttural voice of the pettyofficer. "Come aft. Remember, when you are addressed, to remove yourcaps."
The man led the way, making no attempt to avoid the recumbent limbs andbodies of the crew who impeded his passage. Treading with discretionRoss and Vernon followed till, after skirting the base of theconning-tower, they found themselves in the presence ofLieutenant-Commander Schwalbe, the Kapitan of U75.
Schwalbe was sitting in a small arm-chair which had been brought fromhis cabin. He was smoking a cigar. At his elbow stood his satellite,Hermann Rix, who was also smoking. This luxury was denied the crew,the officers being permitted to smoke only when the submarine wasrunning awash or resting on the surface.
THE INTERVIEW WITH THE GERMAN CAPTAIN (missing frombook)]
"So you have recovered from your little involuntary rest," exclaimedSchwalbe in excellent English. He was a remarkably good linguist, forprevious to the outbreak of the war he had been the skipper of aNorth-German-Lloyd boat. By sheer good luck he had reached a home portthe day after the momentous declaration of hostilities, having narrowlyescaped capture by a British destroyer.
Owing to the great expansion of the German submarine service, and itsequally rapid reduction at the hands of the British Navy, the supply ofspecially trained officers of the Imperial Navy for this branch had runout. More had been transferred from the pent-up High Seas Fleet, whileothers had been absorbed from the now useless German Mercantile Marine,and hastily put through a course of instruction. Schwalbe was one ofthese, and after less than two months' hazardous work in the capacityof Unter-leutnant found himself in command of U75, one of the "lastwords" of von Tirpitz's piratical fleet.
Neither Ross nor Vernon replied. They could form no suitable answer.It was no doubt very considerate on the part of the Kapitan to enquireafter their healths, but somehow the lads felt that the skipper of U75was responsible for their presence on board.
"Come, come," continued Schwalbe. "Don't be sulky."
"We are not," expostulated Ross.
"I'm glad to hear it," rejoined the Kapitan, with a grin that had theeffect of letting his cigar fall to the deck. He stooped to retrieveit, but, suddenly remembering that it was beneath his dignity, changedhis mind and kicked the glowing stump on one side. Having takenanother from a gun-metal case, he lit it with a device that mere
lysmouldered instead of giving a bright light.
"It is as well we understand each other," he continued. "Do you knowwhy you are on board U75?"
"No, sir," replied Ross.
"Neither do I," rejoined Schwalbe with astonishing candour. "I wish Ihad not been honoured with your company."
"The remedy is in your hands then, sir," said Trefusis. "You can landus the next time you put in at St. Mena's Island for petrol, or elseput us on board the first fishing craft we fall in with."
"I beg to differ," was the rejoinder. "Unfortunately you are on board,and you must make the best of it, I understand from my friend--shall Isay Dr. Ramblethorne--that you are both very inquisitive.Inquisitiveness is a bad trait in ones so young. You see, it has gotyou into trouble. The doctor has strong reasons for getting me to takecare of you for some considerable time, so you will have an opportunityof seeing how we Germans make war. No half-measures, mark you. It isuseless to make war with a velvet glove. You English people call uspirates, I believe?"
"It certainly looks like piracy when German submarines sink harmlessmerchantmen without warning," declared Vernon.
"For my part I have never sent a merchant vessel to the bottom withoutwarning," said Schwalbe. "As a seaman I regret having to sink any shipof commerce. As an officer of the German Navy I have to obey ordersunquestionably. Nevertheless I have always given the crews of Britishships a chance of escape, and have never sunk any vessel until the menare safely in the boats, unless she attempts to show fight or to runaway."
"Would you blame a skipper for trying to save his ship?" asked Ross.
"You do not understand," exclaimed Schwalbe. "We are at war. Ablockade has been declared upon the British Islands. If, after fullwarning, merchantmen persist in taking the risk, it is their look-out,not mine. However, to return to a more personal matter: having beensaddled with you, I must endure your presence. You will be well fed,as far as the resources at our command will allow. You will be free togo wherever you wish on board, with the exception of the conning-tower,motor- and torpedo-rooms. I am not ungrateful, for my brother, who hadthe misfortune to be in the _Ariadne_, was captured by your fleet. Heis being well treated somewhere in England. Hence I give privileges tothe son of Admiral Trefusis and the son of Commander Haye so long asthey are my compulsory guests. But bear in mind: you will be watched.Should you commit any fault, however slight, you will pay dearly forit. If you are foolish enough to attempt any act of treachery, deathwill be the penalty. Have I made myself perfectly clear?"
"Yes, sir," replied both lads.
"Very well. Is there anything you would like me to do within thebounds of reason?"
"Could we communicate with our parents?" asked Ross.
"No," replied Schwalbe decisively. "There are strong objections. And,while I am on the subject, should you fall in with the crews ofdestroyed ships you are strictly forbidden to communicate with themeither by word or gesture. That will be a punishable offence of thesecond degree. Anything more?"
"My friend has had a nasty knock on the head," said Trefusis. "Haveyou a doctor on board?"
Again Kapitan Schwalbe smiled broadly.
"No," he replied. "There is no need. Cases of illness must wait tillwe return to port. The only injuries we are likely to sustain wouldput us beyond all medical aid. But several of the men are fairlyskilled in rough surgery, so I will----"
"Vessel on the port bow, sir; she's showing no lights," announced avoice.
"All hands to stations!" ordered the skipper.
"Down below with you!" hissed the petty officer, who during theinterview had stood rigidly at attention at two paces to the rear ofhis charges.
Already the hitherto recumbent men were alert. Quickly, yet in order,they disappeared down the fore hatchway, and amongst them were Ross andVernon.
The officers had taken their places inside the shelter of theconning-tower. Everything was battened down from within, and with agentle purr the electric motors were set in motion, while at the sametime water ballast was admitted into the trimming-tanks.
Swift and stealthy had been their preparations, but the presence of thesubmarine was betrayed by the phosphorescent swirl of the water causedby the churning of the twin propellers as she slipped beneath thesurface.
Twenty seconds later a swift vessel that looked suspiciously like atrawler, although her speed belied her, tore over the place where U75had disappeared. Bare inches only separated the top of the latter'sconning-tower from the massive keel plates of the craft that had allbut accomplished its mission.
The watch-dogs of the British Navy were at work.