Part 42 (1/2)
She arose and, steadying herself by means of the cabin table, made her way to the for'ard bulkhead. Drawing back a curtain, she took down the required article from a rack.
”It is a nurse's duty to become quickly acquainted with her surroundings,” she said with a smile, as she handed Rollo the telescope.
The lad returned to the c.o.c.kpit. Standing with his back against the after bulkhead of the cabin he raised the telescope. It was some time, owing to the motion of the boat, before he could get the instrument to bear.
”I must rouse Kenneth,” he said calmly.
”Why?” asked Thelma. ”Tell me: is there anything wrong? I will not be frightened.”
”There is, I fear,” he answered. ”Unless I am very much mistaken, yonder craft is a German torpedo-boat, and she is standing in pursuit of us.”
CHAPTER x.x.x
The Victorious White Ensign
”Kenneth, old man, wake up!”
Everest opened his eyes listlessly. Aroused in the midst of the sleep of utter exhaustion, he did not at once realize his surroundings.
”What's up?” he asked drowsily, with a suspicion of resentment in his voice.
”Come out into the c.o.c.kpit,” said Rollo. ”I want you to see if we are on the right course. We pa.s.sed the tramp steamer some time ago.”
”Then why didn't you call me?” demanded Kenneth, displaying considerable alacrity, and making a dash for the cabin door.
”Stay here a little longer, Yvonne,” said Rollo to the Belgian girl as she began to follow her patient. The lad's chief anxiety was to keep her in ignorance of the new danger that threatened them.
”Right as rain,” announced Kenneth, glancing at the compa.s.s.
”Look astern, old man,” said his chum in a low voice. ”I didn't want to alarm Yvonne. Thelma knows, though. That torpedo-boat coming up hand over fist is a German.”
”Never!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Kenneth. The idea of a war vessel flying the Kaiser's black-cross ensign on the high seas seemed incredible.
”Fact,” rejoined Rollo. ”Take this telescope.”
”You're right, by Jove!” exclaimed Kenneth after a brief survey. ”We must carry on as long as we can. If they fire at us we must stop, for the sake of the girls.”
The motor was running at its utmost possible number of revolutions, yet the boat was no match for the grey-painted craft now a mile and a half astern.
The German torpedo-boat made no sign of firing; she merely hung on doggedly in the wake of the motor-craft, slowly yet surely diminis.h.i.+ng the distance between them. The haze had now lifted considerably, so that the range of vision extended for quite five miles. All around, save for the pursuing craft, the horizon was unbroken.
”Perhaps those chaps think that their rotten spy, Jules de la Paix, is on board,” suggested Rollo. ”They may have a prearranged plan to pick him up at sea.”
”Should hardly think so,” replied Kenneth. ”It would have been easier for him to have run across to Dutch territory, if he hadn't the heart to remain at Antwerp during the bombardment. If that's whom they're after they'll be jolly disappointed.”
”They'll spot our uniforms, if they haven't already done so,” said Rollo. ”I wish the beggars would be stopped by a submarine.”
Kenneth did not reply. Seized by an inspiration, he grasped one of the two boat-hooks on deck, released it from its las.h.i.+ngs, and tossed it overboard.
”What have you done that for?” asked his chum.