Part 16 (1/2)
Pyecroft lay on his disreputable oars till Captain Malan, full-uniformed, descended the _Devolution's_ side. With due compliments--not acknowledged, I grieve to say--we fell in behind his sumptuous galley, and at last, upon pressing invitation, climbed, black as sweeps all, the lowered gangway of the _Cryptic_. At the top stood as fine a constellation of marine stars as ever sang together of a morning on a King's s.h.i.+p. Every one who could get within earshot found that his work took him aft. I counted eleven able seamen polis.h.i.+ng the breechblock of the stern nine-point-two, four marines zealously relieving each other at the life-buoy, six call-boys, nine mids.h.i.+pmen of the watch, exclusive of naval cadets, and the higher ranks past all census.
”If I die o' joy,” said Pyecroft behind his hand, ”remember I died forgivin' Morgan from the bottom of my 'eart, because, like Martha, we 'ave scoffed the better part. You'd better try to come to attention, Sir.”
Moorshed ran his eye voluptuously over the upper deck battery, the huge beam, and the immaculate perspective of power. Captain Panke and Captain Malan stood on the well-browned flash-plates by the dazzling hatch.
Precisely over the flagstaff I saw Two Six Seven astern, her black petticoat half hitched up, meekly floating on the still sea. She looked like the pious Abigail who has just spoken her mind, and, with folded hands, sits thanking Heaven among the pieces. I could almost have sworn that she wore black worsted gloves and had a little dry cough. But it was Captain Panke that coughed so austerely. He favoured us with a lecture on uniform, deportment, and the urgent necessity of answering signals from a senior s.h.i.+p. He told us that he disapproved of masquerading, that he loved discipline, and would be obliged by an explanation. And while he delivered himself deeper and more deeply into our hands, I saw Captain Malan wince.
He was watching Moorshed's eye.
”I belong to Blue Fleet, Sir. I command Number Two Six Seven,” said Moorshed, and Captain Planke was dumb. ”Have you such a thing as a frame- plan of the _Cryptic_ aboard?” He spoke with winning politeness as he opened a small and neatly folded paper.
”I have, sir.” The little man's face was working with pa.s.sion.
”Ah! Then I shall be able to show you precisely where you were torpedoed last night in”--he consulted the paper with one finely arched eyebrow--”in nine places. And since the _Devolution_ is, I understand, a sister s.h.i.+p”-- he bowed slightly toward Caplain Malan--”the same plan----”
I had followed the clear precision of each word with a dumb amazement which seemed to leave my mind abnormally clear. I saw Captain Malan's eye turn from Moorshed and seek that of the _Cryptic's_ commander. And he telegraphed as clearly as Moorshed was speaking: ”My dear friend and brother officer, _I_ know Panke; _you_ know Panke; _we_ know Panke--good little Panke! In less than three Greenwich chronometer seconds Panke will make an enormous a.s.s of himself, and I shall have to put things straight, unless you who are a man of tact and discernment----”
”Carry on.” The Commander's order supplied the unspoken word. The cruiser boiled about her business around us; watch and watch officers together, up to the limit of noise permissible. I saw Captain Malan turn to his senior.
”Come to my cabin!” said Panke gratingly, and led the way. Pyecroft and I stayed still.
”It's all right,” said Pyecroft. ”They daren't leave us loose aboard for one revolution,” and I knew that he had seen what I had seen.
”You, too!” said Captain Malan, returning suddenly. We pa.s.sed the sentry between white enamelled walls of speckless small arms, and since that Royal Marine Light infantryman was visibly suffocating from curiosity, I winked at him. We entered the chintz-adorned, photo-speckled, bra.s.s- fendered, tile-stoved main cabin. Moorshed, with a ruler, was demonstrating before the frame-plan of H.M.S. _Cryptic_.
”--making nine stencils in all of my initials G.M.,” I heard him say.
”Further, you will find attached to your rudder, and you, too, Sir”--he bowed to Captain Malan yet again--”one fourteen-inch Mark IV practice torpedo, as issued to first-cla.s.s torpedo-boats, properly buoyed. I have sent full particulars by telegraph to the umpires, and have requested them to judge on the facts as they--appear.” He nodded through the large window to the stencilled _Devolution_ awink with bra.s.s work in the morning sun, and ceased.
Captain Panke faced us. I remembered that this was only play, and caught myself wondering with what keener agony comes the real defeat.
”Good G.o.d, Johnny!” he said, dropping his lower lip like a child, ”this young pup says he has put us both out of action. Inconceivable--eh? My first command of one of the cla.s.s. Eh? What shall we do with him? What shall we do with him--eh?”
”As far as I can see, there's no getting over the stencils,” his companion answered.
”Why didn't I have the nets down? Why didn't I have the nets down?” The cry tore itself from Captain Panke's chest as he twisted his hands.
”I suppose we'd better wait and find out what the umpires will say. The Admiral won't be exactly pleased.” Captain Malan spoke very soothingly.
Moorshed looked out through the stern door at Two Six Seven. Pyecroft and I, at attention, studied the paintwork opposite. Captain Panke had dropped into his desk chair, and scribbled nervously at a blotting-pad.
Just before the tension became unendurable, he looked at his junior for a lead. ”What--what are you going to do about it, Johnny--eh?”
”Well, if you don't want him, I'm going to ask this young gentleman to breakfast, and then we'll make and mend clothes till the umpires have decided.”
Captain Panke flung out a hand swiftly.
”Come with me,” said Captain Malan. ”Your men had better go back in the dinghy to--their--own--s.h.i.+p.”
”Yes, I think so,” said Moorshed, and pa.s.sed out behind the captain. We followed at a respectful interval, waiting till they had ascended the ladder.
Said the sentry, rigid as the naked barometer behind him: ”For Gawd's sake! 'Ere, come 'ere! For Gawd's sake! What's 'appened? Oh! come '_ere_ an' tell.”