Part 28 (1/2)
”There's a bit of a dust-up on board, sir,” reported Sub-lieutenant Devereux of Submarine E--, as the British craft steadily overhauled the _Kondor_, whose engines had already been stopped in response to the peremptory signal. ”Fellows sc.r.a.pping like billy-ho. I can just see their heads at intervals above the taffrail.”
”They can sc.r.a.p as much as they like while they have the chance,”
remarked Lieutenant-Commander Huxtable grimly. ”You know your instructions, Mr. Devereux? Any rumpus, then signal us, and we'll give them our last torpedo.”
A canvas collapsible boat had been brought up from below, and in this the boarding-officer and five seamen, all armed, took their places.
Both the _Kondor_ and the submarine were almost without way, lying at two cables'-lengths apart, E--'s two quick-firers covering the prize as the boat made for the German vessel.
Devereux was received with well-feigned affability by the soi-disant Swedish skipper, a politeness that the sub thought fit to reciprocate, at least for the present.
But when Devereux had examined the supposed _Gefle's_ papers his manner underwent a change.
”Thanks for letting me see them, Herr Kapitan,” he remarked, ”but now I must ask you to order your crew below and consider yourself a prisoner of war. I warn you that at any attempt at resistance your s.h.i.+p will be sent to the bottom.”
”But----,” began the astonished Hun. ”I--I do not understand. This Swedish merchant-s.h.i.+p. You mistake make.”
”Perhaps,” drawled the sub. ”If I have, I'll take full responsibility.
If you can satisfactorily explain to the British naval authorities why you were surrounded by Hun submarines yesterday, why you supplied them with munitions of war, why you were then His Imperial Majesty's s.h.i.+p _Kondor_, and why you are now the s.s. _Gefle_----.”
”Donnerwetter!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the German skipper furiously, then, before Devereux could interpose, he dashed out of the chart-house and shouted to one of the officers stationed aft.
Almost immediately a m.u.f.fled explosion was heard, and the _Kondor_, giving a violent shudder, began to settle by the stern. Rather than surrender, their captain had given orders for a bomb to be exploded in the after hold.
”We have cheated you, Englishman!” he exclaimed in a shrill falsetto.
There was a wild rush for the boats. Hastily those in davits were lowered, with the result that one was capsized, while in the confusion a German seaman leapt headlong into the submarine's collapsible boat and overturned it.
To do him credit, the kapitan made no attempt to quit the bridge.
Regarding the British officer with a leer of triumph, he waited while the panic-stricken men got clear of the doomed s.h.i.+p.
Meanwhile, having witnessed the swamping of her dinghy, E--had approached with the intention of taking off her boarding-party.
”What's that?” exclaimed Devereux, as, during a temporary lull in the clamour, the sound of a voice appealing for help was borne to his ears.
The words were shouted in unmistakable English.
”Someone cooped up down below, sir,” declared one of the submarine's crew.
Devereux looked enquiringly at the German skipper of the _Kondor_. The latter too had heard the shout. The self-a.s.surance and air of contemptuous indifference faded instantly.
”You murderous swine!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the sub. ”What dirty game have you been up to? Come along down below with me.”
The Hun, trembling violently, clung desperately to the bridge rail. The risk of going below and being taken down by the sinking s.h.i.+p was nothing compared with the fear of a just retribution.
It was not a suitable occasion for arguing the point. Devereux, a huge, loose-limbed fellow, was a giant beside the little, podgy Hun.
Wrenching the kapitan's hand from the rail, Devereux dropped him to the deck like a sack of flour, then, skipping down the bridge ladder, he picked him up and carried him, screaming and struggling, down the companion.
Guided by the sounds, the sub bore his captive for'ard, two of the submarine's crew following their youthful officer.