Part 39 (1/2)
”Close in.”
”I haven't been able to pick up the position of the s.h.i.+p that sent that, sir,” the operator volunteered.
”If you can do so,” said Lord Hastings, ”let me know immediately.”
”Do you know what German s.h.i.+ps are supposed to be in these waters?” Jack asked of Lord Hastings.
”Why, yes,” was the latter's reply. ”The armored cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, the former the flags.h.i.+p of Admiral Count von Spee, and the protected cruisers Leipzig, Dresden and Nurnberg. Why?”
”Well,” Jack explained, ”judging by the message just picked up, they must be separated. Couldn't we, by representing ourselves as one of these vessels, possibly pick up a little useful information?”
”By Jove!” said Lord Hastings. ”We could.”
”But how are we to know which s.h.i.+p sent that message?” asked Frank. ”We wouldn't want to make a mistake, and we might try to pa.s.s ourselves off as the very cruiser that flashed that message.”
”The message was undoubtedly sent from the flags.h.i.+p,” said Lord Hastings, ”so we are safe enough there. Come with me.”
He led the way to the wireless room, where the operator was making unsuccessful efforts to pick up more messages from the air.
Now, at Lord Hastings' direction, he tapped his key.
”Scharnhorst! Scharnhorst!” the instrument called through the air.
There was no reply, and the call was repeated.
”Scharnhorst! Scharnhorst!”
A moment later and there was a faint clicking of the Sylph's apparatus. The call was being answered. The operator wrote it off.
”What s.h.i.+p is that? Admiral von Spee orders all to close in,”
and the exact position of the German flags.h.i.+p was given.
”'Dresden!” flashed back Lord Hastings. ”Signed, Koehler.”
”I happen to know Captain Koehler commands the Dresden,” Lord Hastings confided to the boys.
He sent another message to the German admiral:
”Where are you headed?”
”Falkland Islands,” came back the answer.
”To attack the British?” was the message Lord Hastings sent through the air.
”Will sink one British s.h.i.+p in harbor and destroy Wireless plant,” was the answer to this query.
”Good!” said Lord Hastings to the lads. ”We now know his objective point, and if we could pick up the English fleet we would be prepared to receive them.”
”Is there a British fleet in these waters?” asked Jack, in some surprise.
”Yes,” replied the commander of the Sylph. ”Vice Admiral Sir Frederick St.u.r.dee, chief of the war staff, is hereabouts with a powerful fleet. The fact has been generally kept a secret, but I am in possession of that much information.”