Part 27 (2/2)

There were risks of mines and torpedoes, but these were unavoidable. By keeping well out of the wake of the German s.h.i.+ps, the danger of b.u.mping over a hastily dropped mine was obviated, while a quick use of the helm would enable the swift cruisers to minimize the chances of successful submarine attack.

In the early hours, the British light-cruisers and destroyers encountered the _unterseebooten_ purposely detailed by von Hipper to intercept the pursuing vessels. Three, at least, of the German submarines were sent to the bottom by gun-fire or by use of the ram; but, unfortunately, the _Falmouth_ and _Nottingham_ fell victims to torpedo attack.

Even as Sefton was watching the retreating wars.h.i.+ps, a column of water was thrown high in the air close to the port quarter of the German Dreadnought _Westfalen_. Before the m.u.f.fled roar of the explosion was borne to his ears, the sub saw the huge battles.h.i.+p reel under the terrific blow.

Regardless of the consequences, he cheered l.u.s.tily; but, thrown into a state of consternation by the magnitude of the disaster to one of their capital s.h.i.+ps, the crew of the _Kondor_ made no attempt to hurl the rash Englishman to the deck.

Spellbound, they watched the throes of the stricken Dreadnought, to whose a.s.sistance the six German destroyers were making at full speed.

As for the rest of the German battles.h.i.+ps and cruisers, they steamed off as hard as they could, lest a like fate should befall them.

The _Kondor_ slowed down and stood by, making no effort to close to the aid of the torpedoed s.h.i.+p, while two destroyers circled aimlessly in a vain search for the daring British submarine.

Then, very slowly, under her own steam, the _Westfalen_, with a heavy list, crawled toward the distant German sh.o.r.e, the four destroyers in her wake ready to rush alongside, and rescue the battles.h.i.+p's crew, should the vessel founder.

”Think they'll get her back to port?” Leslie asked excitedly.

”'Fraid so,” replied his brother. ”She shows no signs of an increasing list. A lot depends upon the condition of her bulkheads. When the _Marlborough_----”

Before the sub could complete the sentence, another cloud of smoke and water shot up alongside the damaged battles.h.i.+p. Lurching heavily, this time to starboard, the _Westfalen_ was hidden from sight by a dense volume of steam and smoke from her engine-rooms.

The attacking submarine had evidently meant to see the job done properly. Mindful of the risk of being sent to the bottom by the attendant German destroyers, the British craft had stealthily exposed her periscope for a brief instant, yet sufficient for her to send a deadly torpedo on its errand of destruction.

By this time the crew of the _Kondor_ had come to the conclusion that their prisoners had seen much more than was desirable. Peremptorily Jack and Leslie were ordered below. The latter, unable to restrain his delight, pointed mockingly at the boastful writing on the notice-board, receiving a brutal kick on his s.h.i.+ns for his temerity.

”I don't mind, Jack,” remarked Leslie, when, left alone by their captors, the sub examined the angry abrasion on his brother's leg. ”I'd let them give me another hack without a murmur if I could see another German battles.h.i.+p go the same way home.”

After a long interval, a meal consisting of very dry tinned meat and hunks of black bread was provided for the famished prisoners, the unpalatable food being washed down with a pannikin of warm and insipid water.

The unappetizing repast over, the two prisoners were again allowed on deck. By this time there were no signs either of the stricken battles.h.i.+p or her attendant destroyers. The _Kondor_, alone on the wide North Sea, was steaming at about 12 knots on an easterly course. The rest of the crew had by now discarded their German uniforms. There was nothing to denote that the vessel had ever sailed under the Black Cross Ensign of the Imperial German Navy.

Suddenly, and right in the frothing wake of the _Kondor_, appeared two pole-like objects--the periscopes of a submarine. Then, without the hesitancy generally displayed by _unterseebooten_ when about to attack a merchantman, a British submarine of the ”E” cla.s.s shook her conning-tower and deck clear of the water. Her hatches were flung open, and a number of duffel-clad seamen appeared. Quickly a light signalling-mast was set up, from which two flags fluttered in the breeze.

There was no mistaking the meaning of that yellow square flag with the black ball, hoisted above a triangular blue pennant with a white spot.

As plainly as if a shot had been fired across the _Kondor's_ bows, the signal ”ID” told her to ”stop instantly or I will fire into you”.

Besides, it saved ammunition, and the lieutenant-commander of the submarine did not consider the prize worth powder and shot.

But the German skipper was not a man to own that the game was up without making an effort to save himself and his s.h.i.+p. A stumbling-block in his way was Jack Sefton and his brother.

At a sign four burly Huns threw themselves upon the prisoners. For a full minute the sub resisted stoutly, while Leslie put up a tough struggle against odds. Others of the crew came to their compatriots'

aid, and, still struggling, the two captives were taken below and locked in the cell in the for'ard hold.

CHAPTER XXIII--And Last

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