Part 22 (1/2)
replied the man.
Pacing the deck he found many of the pa.s.sengers excited at the news, although it was the policy of the officers to keep the most alarming information from them. Meeting the second officer he inquired about the captain, and was informed that he had just gone down to see Alfred.
Nearing the companionway he met the captain and Alfred, the latter looking somewhat pale, and rather weak or unsteady in his walk.
”I am glad to see you looking so well,” said Ralph. ”Where are you hurt the most?”
”Look at the back of my head,” replied Alfred. ”I suppose I must have struck the railing as the thing heaved up.”
The captain suddenly sprang forward and the boys followed in wonderment.
Before they had time to ask any questions they were startled by a shot.
”That was a pretty big gun to make such a racket,” remarked Ralph.
”It's one of the four-inch forward guns,” said a seaman, standing near.
”But what are they shooting at?” asked Alfred.
”Submarine, I suppose,” was the reply.
”But where?” asked Alfred.
”Don't know; haven't seen one; but I suppose the lookouts spotted the fellow,” was the reply.
Every one now crowded forward, and gazed in the direction of the pointed gla.s.ses in the hands of the officers. In the distance nothing was visible but the conning tower and the two periscope tubes, but that was enough.
[Ill.u.s.tration: _The Conning Tower, All That Could Be Seen of the Submarine_]
The boys moved forward, and the captain noticing them, spoke a word to the commander on the bridge.
”Come up, boys,” said the captain.
Once on the bridge the captain said: ”I take pleasure in introducing my companions on our little jaunt; they are brave fellows, and are made of the right kind of stuff. I think you will hear from them if America gets into the fight.”
”And America is bound to get in, for we have just learned that the first American s.h.i.+p has been sunk without warning,” said the navigating officer, as he pressed the hands of the boys.
The captain took up the receiver, which communicated with the topmast.
After listening awhile, he turned to the group and said: ”The sub has disappeared.”
”That will mean an interesting time for us,” said the captain. ”I have had the same experience, but was not fortunate enough to be armed when they attacked us. Are all the vessels from England now armed?” he asked the captain commanding the vessel.
”Yes; fore and aft. We have found that but a small percentage of armed vessels have been sunk, and those which have guns at both ends are surely doubly armed,” answered the commander.
The boom of the guns had brought every pa.s.senger on deck. The officers could not conceal the real state of affairs, but there was no sign of a panic. The officers did not even take the precaution to warn the pa.s.sengers that they should apply or keep the life belts close at hand.
”That is the policy I suggested from the first,” said the captain. ”That boat must have been three miles away, at least, and a careful gunner would come pretty close to hitting the mark at that distance, and those fellows know it.”
”Then why do you think the interesting or dangerous time is now coming?”