CHAPTER XVI
JACK MAKES A NAME FOR HIMSELF
Frank, who had never seen Jack exhibit his prowess in the fistic art, and who was rather a skillful boxer himself, though by no means a heavyweight, muttered to himself:
“Why didn’t I insist on taking him on myself? Jack is due for a good lacing. He’s strong enough, but he hasn’t the science, I’m afraid.”
He stood nervously in his friend’s corner.
The Frenchman opened the fight with a rush, and his friends uttered subdued cheers and encouragement as he dashed at Jack. In size, it appeared that the two were about evenly matched, although the Frenchman was a shade taller than his opponent.
That his comrades believed him a master of the fistic art was evinced by their cries:
“Finish him up quickly.”
“Let him stay a couple of rounds.”
“No; one round’s enough.”
The Frenchman rushed, evidently having decided to finish the fight as quickly as possible. His expression showed that he had no doubt of his ability to polish off the Englishman and of his superiority as a boxer.
Jack met the first rush calmly, and with a slight smile on his face. His guard was perfect and not a blow reached him. The Frenchman landed blow after blow upon Jack’s arms, with which the lad covered first his face and then his body.
Frank, having a knowledge of boxing, realized that he was witnessing a defense that was indeed remarkable, and muttered happily to himself. But to the rest of the spectators it appeared that their idol was hitting his man at will, and they continued to encourage him with low words, at the same time hurling epithets at Jack.
So far Jack had not attempted to strike a blow; nor had he given ground. He had presented a perfect defense to his opponent, who danced rapidly about him, striking from this side and that. The round ended, and still Jack had not offered at his opponent.
The Frenchman himself, however, skillful boxer that he was, was not deceived. He realized, as he rested in his corner, that he had met a foeman worthy of the best he had to offer. As yet, though, he had no means of telling what the lad had in store for an attack of his own; but he realized that Jack’s defense was well-nigh perfect.
Therefore, when they advanced to the middle of the ring for the second round, he was more wary, for he had no mind to let Jack slip over a hard blow through carelessness. Suddenly Jack led with his right, then made as if to land with his left. The Frenchman threw up his arm to guard the latter blow, and Jack’s right, which had not been checked — the feint with the left having made the desired opening — caught the Frenchman flush on the nose.
The Frenchman staggered back. Jack followed this advantage with a quick left and then another right to the Frenchman’s face. Both blows had steam behind them, and his opponent, plainly in distress, covered up quickly and cinched.
In the clinch he attempted to deliver several short arm blows, but Jack was prepared for this kind of fighting, and blocked them with ease. Finally the two broke, and the Frenchman stood on the defensive.
It was apparent to all who were not too prejudiced that he now stood in awe of his opponent’s hitting power.
Then they stood off and boxed at long range, and Jack trimmed his adversary beautifully. Tiring of this, the Frenchman rushed, but time was called as he swung wildly. In swinging he left a wide opening. Jack, starting a hard blow, turned it aside when the referee called time.
“Where did you learn to box?’ asked Frank breathlessly between rounds.
“Why,” said Jack, with a smile, “from my father. He was rather proficient in the use of his fists.”
“He must have been,” said Frank dryly. “Why didn’t you tell me you could box?”
“You never asked me,” replied Jack calmly.
He arose and walked slowly to meet his opponent as the referee again called time.
“Now, my friend,” said Jack to his opponent, “I am going to give you as good a licking as you ever have had.”
He feinted with dazzling rapidity several times, and drove a straight left to the Frenchman’s ear. With lightning-like quickness he played a tattoo upon the Frenchman’s face and body. Bewildered, his opponent dashed into a clinch.
“If you say so, we’ll call this off right here,” said Jack.
The Frenchman suddenly freed himself, and his reply to this kindly offer was to send a jab to Jack’s nose, drawing blood.
“Just for that,” said Jack quietly, who felt somewhat ashamed at having been caught off his guard, “I’ll finish this fight right now. There is no need prolonging it.”
Once, twice, he rocked the Frenchman’s head, and then, as the latter came forward in a last desperate effort, Jack pivoted on his heel, and, starting his left low, swung. The Frenchman checked himself in his attack, and desperately tried to leap back.
But it was too late. Through his guard went the blow, and, catching the Frenchman on the point of the chin, it lifted him from his feet and into the air.
At least four feet through the air went the Frenchman, and came to the deck, head first, at the feet of his friends. He lay there while the referee counted him out.
Quickly Jack leaped forward, and, kneeling, raised his late opponent’s head.
“Water, some of you,” he called.
It was quickly brought, and Jack, wetting his handkerchief, bathed the Frenchman’s face. His efforts were at last rewarded by a slight groan, and finally the unconscious man opened his eyes.
“What hit me?” he asked in a faint whisper.
“It’s all right, old man,” said Jack. “You’ll be all right in a second.”
Slowly the light of comprehension dawned in the Frenchman’s eyes. He struggled to his feet, where he stood uncertainly for a few moments, looking at his conqueror.
Jack extended a hand.
“I’m sorry I had to do it,” he said, a pleasant smile lighting up his face.
The Frenchman looked at him in silence for a full minute, then, stepping forward, he grasped the outstretched hand.
“What are you,” he demanded, grinning, “a prizefighter?”
“No,” said Jack, with a laugh, “but I guess I have had better training than you.”
“Well,” said the Frenchman, “if you ever need anybody to help you out, you can count on me. Maybe some day you will bump up against someone who can best you, but I believe the two of us together can put him down.”
“Thanks,” laughed Jack, “I’ll remember that offer when the time comes.”
The other French middies now gathered found and shook Jack and Frank both by the hand, while the one who had first made himself odious apologized profusely for his actions.
“Say no more about it,” exclaimed Frank. “I’m glad we’re all friends at last.”
Further conversation was interrupted by the sudden sound of a bugle on deck. It was the call to quarters.
Quickly all sprang to their posts. Men dashed hither and thither, and in almost less time than it takes to tell it the Marie Theresa was cleared for action.
Then, at last having time to glance about, the two lads made out the cause of this sudden call. Several miles across the water could be seen two small cruisers. A closer look showed the boys the German flag flying at the masthead of each.
“Now,” said Frank to Jack, “we’ll have an opportunity of seeing how the French fight.”
“They’ll fight,” said Jack briefly. “You may make sure of that.”
“Nevertheless I would rather that we had an English crew.”
Now the range was signaled to the gunners, and the Marie Theresa quivered and recoiled as the first of her big guns spoke. The shot fell short. Again the range was signaled, and once more the shot fell short, though nearer, the first of the German cruisers.
The third shot plowed up the water under her bow.
“We have the range now,” said Jack, “we’ll hit her next time.”
His words proved true. A solid shot, hurled by one of the Marie Theresa’s forward guns, struck the first German cruiser squarely in the side. The two following ones hit her just below the water line.
“That’s pretty good shooting, if you ask me,” said Frank enthusiastically.
But now the Germans also had succeeded in finding the range, and a shell burst over the Marie Theresa, hurling its fragments upon the deck. Five men went down, never to rise again.
As the battle progressed the two German cruisers drew farther and farther apart, until now they poured their fire upon the Marie Theresa from two directions. To avoid this cross fire, the commander of the Marie Theresa signaled full speed ahead, and dashed straight for the nearest of the enemy.
In spite of the galling fire from both of the enemy, the Marie Theresa bore down on the German cruiser. Too late the latter turned to flee from her larger opponent; but her guns continued to pour in her fire.
Although raked from stem to stern, the Marie Theresa had not been hit in a vital spot. The first German cruiser turned to run, but, by a quick maneuver, Captain Dreyfuss plowed into her as she turned. The sharp prow of the Marie Theresa crashed into the German amidships, and so terrific was the impact that the French ship recoiled.
But it was the death-blow of the German cruiser. Men leaped into the small boats and put off from the ship, or flung themselves head first into the sea. The Marie Theresa drew off and turned her attention to the other German cruiser.
But the latter had had enough. She turned quickly and headed west. Boats were lowered from the Marie Theresa and hurried to the aid of the survivors of the enemy. Many were picked up and taken aboard the French ship.
On the bridge of the German cruiser’ now settling fast, could be seen the German commander. Several officers were gathered about him. They were gesticulating violently, but to each the captain shook his head negatively.
“They’ll all be drowned if they don’t hurry,” said Captain Dreyfuss anxiously. “Why don’t the fools jump!”
Suddenly the German commander drew a revolver from his pocket, and pointed it directly at the protesting officers. They drew back. The German commander followed them.
One by one they threw themselves into the sea all but one. At him the commander pointed revolver, and shook his head vigorously. The latter protested.
Finally the German commander hurled his weapon far into the sea, and held out his hand. The officer took it, and, arm in arm, the two walked, back to the bridge.
The German cruiser lurched heavily, but the two German officers were unmindful of it. Calmly the commander drew two cigars from his pocket, and offered one to the officer. The latter accepted it, and, taking a match from his pocket, struck it calmly.
He held the match so his commander could get a light, then lighted his own cigar. Thus the two stood, calmly smoking, as the cruiser settled.
Slowly the fatally wounded craft sank lower and lower in the water, until nothing was visible below the bridge. Then, with a sudden lurch, this to disappeared — nothing but the mast remained — then nothing at all.
The German commander had gone down with his ship — as had so many before him — as would so many after him.
The commander of the Marie Theresa lifted his cap, uttering no word — a silent tribute to a hero.
CHAPTER XVII
IN THE ADRIATIC
The Marie Theresa had not escaped unscathed in the combat, but, although her injuries were not serious, they were such as to prevent a pursuit of the second German cruiser, which was dashing away at full speed.
The crew set to work with a will wreckage, and finally the vessel was shipshape once more. Then, at a command from Captain Dreyfuss, she was put on her course toward the south.
Several uneventful days passed, during which Frank and Jack struck up quite a friendship with their fellow middies. The unkindly spirit of the young Frenchmen gave way to real comradeship, and all were now on the best terms.
It was on a bright, sunny morning that the Marie Theresa steamed through the entrance to the Adriatic Sea, where the French fleet, with one or two British warships, had the entire Austrian naval force cooped up. The Austrians had made several dashes, in an attempt to run the blockade, but so far all such efforts had been unsuccessful.
As the Marie Theresa steamed up to the other vessels of the fleet, she was greeted with a salute. A short time later Captain Dreyfuss put off for the flagship in a small boat to pay his respects to the admiral.
It was late when he returned aboard the Marie Theresa, and immediately he set foot on board a subdued air of excitement became apparent. The midshipmen, not being in the confidence of the superior officers, at first could not account for this; but they soon learned its cause.
The Marie Theresa had been ordered to try and get closer to the Austrian fleet.
It was a well-known fact that all the Austrian ports had been mined, and that the heavy shore batteries of the enemy were more than a match for the big guns on the cruiser — that they outranged them — but, nevertheless, the crew of the Marie Theresa made what preparations were necessary with enthusiasm.
It was well after nightfall when the French cruiser moved slowly between the other vessels of the allied fleet, heading for the enemy. Not a light shone aboard the vessel, and there was not a sound to break the stillness of the night.
Beyond the rest of the fleet the Marie Theresa was forced to go more slowly, feeling her way cautiously to avoid being blown up by one of the many floating mines.
“This is ticklish work,” said Jack to Frank, they moved slowly along.
“You bet,” was the latter’s reply. “This thing, of floating along, not knowing the next minute you are liable to be on the bottom, would try anybody’s, nerves. By Jove! I can feel my hair standing end now.”
“I guess it’s not as bad as all that,” laughed Jack.
“Well, I have a bad case of nerves, anyhow,” replied Frank.
Suddenly, at a subdued cry from forward, the Marie Theresa came to a halt.
“Vessel of some sort dead ahead,” the word was passed along.
A moment later a voice of command rang out:
“Pass the word for Mr. Chadwick and Mr. Templeton.”
“Wonder what’s up?” asked Frank, as they made their way to the bridge, where Captain Dreyfuss was standing.
“I guess we’ll know soon enough,” was Jack’s reply.
They halted before their commander and came to attention.
“If I am not mistaken,” said Captain Dreyfuss, pointing ahead, “that dark hull there is an Austrian vessel, whether a warship or not I cannot say. Now, the success of this venture depends upon silence. A shot from a big gun aboard that ship would mean failure for us. I have called you two lads to ask if you would like to undertake a dangerous task?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Jack quietly.
“We shall be only too glad,” said Frank eagerly.
“Well, then,” continued, Captain Dreyfuss, “I believe that by a quick and silent dash you may be able to board her. If You are successful in getting aboard, your first duty will be to prevent the firing of one of the big guns. Luckily, we are still far from shore, so the sounds of a hand-to-hand struggle are not likely to be overheard. Are you willing to undertake this mission?”
“Yes, sir,” replied both lads in a single voice.
“Good! You shall have fifty men. With the effect of a surprise, I believe this should be enough.”
Half an hour later, while the Marie Theresa remained stationary, not even showing a light, Frank and Jack, with five small boats at their command, were creeping silently toward the Austrian vessel. Nearer and nearer they approached, and at length the first boat scraped the side of the larger vessel.
So far their presence had not been discovered.
Softly and silently Jack led the way to the deck of the enemy, which, it was now plain, was a small Austrian cruiser. Frank and the French sailors followed close at his heels.
As Jack’s head came even with the rail, he paused to look about. And it was well that he did so. For not ten paces from him stood an Austrian sailor.
His eyes were turned in the opposite direction, and so stealthily did Jack now lower himself to the deck that he was not heard.
“I hate to do this,” he muttered to himself, “but –“
A moment later his revolver butt crashed down on the Austrian’s skull. The man dropped like a log. Hastily the lad led the way to the bridge, where, by quick action, the man on watch was overcome without the sound of a struggle.
Then half of the French turned their attention to the commander’s cabin, while the others hastened to see that all means of egress from below were barred.
With drawn revolver Jack entered the cabin first. His eyes fell upon two officers playing checkers, one evidently the commander of the cruiser. So quietly did the lad enter the room that his presence was not discovered until he spoke.
“Hands up!” he commanded.
The officers leaped to their feet with a single movement, and the hand of the commander fell upon his revolver, while the other, unarmed though he was, dashed straight at Jack.
Jack’s revolver spoke sharply once, and the second Austrian officer tumbled in a heap to the deck. Before the commander could draw his weapon Jack had him covered.
“None of that,” he said sharply, as the commander made another move as though to draw.
The Austrian commander evidently thought better of his act, for his hands flew above his head. Jack advanced quickly and relieved him of his weapons. Then he marched him to the bridge.
“Now,” said Jack calmly, “you will signal the engine-room for half-speed ahead.”
The officer started to protest, but at the sight of Jack’s revolver, leveled right at his head, he reconsidered and did as ordered. Jack now motioned Frank to stand guard over the Austrian commander, and himself took the wheel.
Slowly the Austrian cruiser, her head describing a wide circle, gathered speed and turned in the direction of the allied fleet. Evidently those below had no idea that anything was wrong, for not a sound reached the ears of those on deck.
Now, at Jack’s command, the commander signaled the engine-room for full speed ahead, and the pace of the cruiser increased. Swiftly she dashed along in the night, but was suddenly checked in her flight by a hail from across the water:
“What ship is that?”
Jack recognized the voice of Captain Dreyfuss, and called back:
“Captured Austrian cruiser, sir. This is Templeton. What shall I do with her?”
“Take her on to the fleet,” came the reply.
“Good work! I shall not wait for you to return but will continue immediately.”
This was a disappointment to the two lads, who had banked on being aboard the Marie Theresa in her raid. However, orders were not to be disobeyed.
Day was breaking when the Austrian cruiser steamed in among the French ships. Jack went aboard the admiral’s flagship and reported. It was while he was standing beside the admiral that a fearful commotion broke out on board the captured Austrian cruiser.
There was the sound of a big gun, and a shell screamed overhead.
“The fools!” exclaimed the admiral. “Can’t they understand they have been captured?”
Evidently the Austrians could not, for a second shell screamed overhead.
Quickly the flagship signaled the French aboard the captured vessel to leave, and when they were over the side and well out of harm’s way the French dreadnought opened fire on the cruiser.
Men now emerged from below on to the deck of the captured vessel, and rushed rapidly about.
An officer leveled a glass and took in the imposing sight of the French gathered about on all sides of him.
In another moment a white flag was run up at the masthead. It was the sign of surrender.
The French admiral complimented both lads highly on the success of their venture; and congratulated them again personally that night, when the Marie Theresa, after a successful raid into the very midst of the Austrian fleet, returned unscathed — leaving at the bottom of the sea two Austrian torpedo boats.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE BATTLE IN THE ADRIATIC
The French and Austrian fleets were steaming into battle in the Adriatic. This coming struggle, while it was to be by no means decisive, was nevertheless the first engagement of any magnitude to be fought in southern waters; also it was the first in which fighters of the air were to play an important part.
The Marie Tieresa, back from her successful raid, was one of the foremost in the French line of battle. Now, as she steamed forward with the rest of the fleet, her hydroplanes were made ready for action.
Captain Dreyfuss summoned Jack and Frank before him.
“You will each take a seat in one of the hydroplanes,” he ordered. “Your duties will be to drop bombs on the enemy. Each machine carries two men, one a pilot. Therefore you will each take separate machines.”
Frank and Jack saluted, and a moment later were in their places. What was Jack’s surprise to find that the pilot of his machine was none other than the French midshipman he had so lately engaged in fistic combat. The latter, whom the boys had learned to call Pierre, greeted him with a smile.
“I’m glad I am to have you along,” he said simply.
“Thanks,” was Jack’s brief reply.
The French hydroplanes, at least fifty of them, from all the battleships, now skimmed over the water, and a moment later soared in the air. Flying on beyond the French ships, a smudge of smoke came into view, then another, and then many more. Ships of all kinds, Jack could see, dreadnoughts, cruisers, torpedo boats and scout ships, advancing toward them.
Then, as they drew nearer, Jack made out other vessels, lying low in the water, without smoke, approaching. These were the Austrian submarines. Jack counted the enemy — sixteen ships of all classes, and opposed to these the French had offered almost an equal number. The forces of both sides under and above the sea, of course, he could not count.
Some of the airships from both sides now came into contact, and brisk skirmishes ensued. Rifles flashed from them, and suddenly one tumbled into the sea. It was an Austrian craft, and it was first blood for the French.
Now the aircraft, at a signal, returned to their respective fleets, and hovered over them. The speed of both squadrons was reduced together. The submarines of both fleets suddenly sank from sight, and it was evident to Jack that the first blows probably would be struck from under water.
The aircraft once more advanced, flying low, seeking to learn the positions of the submarines, and to point them out to the gunners on the big battleships and cruisers. A periscope, extending a few feet above water, gave Jack a good target, and the lad dropped a bomb.
There was a terrific explosion below the water. The periscope disappeared. There was one Austrian submarine less.
The two squadrons of ships meantime were drawing nearer together. The first French battleship, flagship of the squadron, was now engaged with the first ship of the Austrian squadron. They were engaged gun for gun.
Now the second ships of each fleet came into action, and then the third. Ship after ship engaged the enemy, until the battle became general. For an instant, after each salvo, the rival squadrons were hidden from each other by the smoke of battle, but a brisk wind soon blew this away, and the cannonading continued.
Now one of the French vessels steered aside and dropped behind the line of battle. She was disabled.
The next ship moved up, and the French advance continued as before.
The torpedo craft of the French, gathered behind the French battle line dashed forward suddenly, headlong for the Austrian fleet. For two miles they sped on, apparently unnoticed by the enemy, then the great turret guns of the Austrians opened on them. The French torpedo craft began to suffer. Two together swung broadside to the Austrians, riddled with holes; the boiler of a third burst, the ship broke in two and sank almost instantly. But the others raced on.
Toward the big Austrian battleships they dashed. Austrian torpedo boats rushed out to meet them.
A shell from a French warship struck one of these, and she went to the bottom immediately. Others suffered by the French fire.
Four thousand yards from the Austrian fleet the French torpedo boats launched their torpedoes; then they fled back to the protection of the battleships, still engaged with the Austrian pursuers with small guns.
But they had done their work. A hundred torpedoes, driven by their motors of compressed air just below the surface, were steering automatically for the Austrian battleships.
Suddenly the fourth ship of the Austrian line staggered; a white spray of water leaped high in the air, and the Austrian vessel split into many pieces. The first torpedo had gone home. The fifth and sixth Austrian battleships also now leaped from the water, and then sank from sight. Farther back another Austrian ship dropped from the line of battle.
Now a school of Austrian torpedo craft dashed forward again. They were met by a fierce hail of fire from the French, but in spite of this they succeeded in launching their torpedoes, and the French battleship, far back, suddenly disappeared from the surface of the Adriatic.
Now the battle grew so terrific that individual ship movements could not be kept track of. The Austrian torpedo craft retreated and the French gave chase. Jack and Frank saw all this, soaring above the sea, a part of it, and yet not a part of it, for so far they had had little to do.
Pierre, seated in front of Jack, suddenly uttered a shout. Following the direction of the pilot’s eyes, Jack perceived a great, gray, pencil-shaped object approaching through the air. He recognized it instantly — a German war dirigible, sent to help the Austrians. Under it flew smaller forms, aeroplanes accompanying it as guard. And now a second Zeppelin appeared — and then a third.
Swiftly they swept over the sea. A moment and they had passed over the broken line of Austrian battleships, and sped on toward the French fleet. The French perceived the menace, and their special quick-firers, elevated for aeroplane defense, came into action.
But the Zeppelins bored on, and their powerful guns fired down macarite shells. The first French battleship, already stripped by the raking fire of the Austrian fleet, seemed to crumple up, and a moment later disappeared altogether.
The rain of shells from above found breaches in the armor of a second French ship, caught a magazine forward and exploded it, almost at the same time blew up a magazine aft, and the ship, broken in two, sank.
The first dirigible, having passed over the French fleet, now turned and came back. The shells of the ships burst harmlessly below it. As the torpedo boats had gathered for an attack against the Austrian fleet, so now did the French aircraft gather for an assault upon these enemies of the air.
But the enemy’s airmen did not wait for them. They charged. Machines met, wing against wing, and toppled into the water. Others, their propellers crushed, met the same fate. But some of the French machines burst through, only to be met by the deadly fire of the Zeppelins and sent into the sea.
Yet a few survived, and their rifle bullets riddled the gas chambers of the big balloons, but these tiny perforations availed nothing. The French flyers who survived darted beyond the Zeppelins and withdrew. The attack had accomplished little, for, while some of the Austrian aeroplanes had been sent into the sea, the dirigibles were still intact. A mean for successful attack against these giants of the air had not been found.
But now, in response to a word of command from Jack, Pierre nodded his head in understanding. In the meantime the French birdmen had re-formed and had rushed forward in another gallant attack. But the result was the same, and, while they succeeded in accounting for some of the smaller planes’ the Zeppelins continued to fight as before, dropping their powerful shells upon the French fleet below.
But this time there was one plane that did not swerve as it burst through the Austrian line of small planes, and darted toward the first dirigible. Straight on it rushed, absolutely reckless, and crashed into the first giant balloon, head-on-collapse the great forward gas chamber, setting it on fire, exploding it, blowing all the mighty war balloon to atoms.
In this plane were Jack and Pierre. It was Jack’s eye that had made out the only means of effective attack against the dirigible. Even as he had ordered the attack, the lad knew that it meant almost certain death, but he had not hesitated. He realized that the French aircraft must be shown some means of destroying these huge air fighters, and knowing that there was time to convey his ideas to the other, had acted at once.
Now, this accomplished, the plane in which Jack and Pierre had performed this success, driven deep into the flaming mass of wreckage, was falling with the broken war balloon down into the sea.
The wreck fell slowly, for the fabric, yet unconsumed, parachuted and held in the air. Then, finally, hissing and splashing, it fell into the sea.
To Jack’s ears, as he came again to the surface, came the cries of men wounded and burning. An arm flung toward the sky sent his eyes in that direction, even as he swam.
He saw the two remaining dirigibles fighting together against another aeroplane attack. But the way had been shown, and no longer did the French sheer off when they broke through the Austrian air line. Two small planes crashed into the dirigibles, one into each, and exploded them.
They fell to the sea, burning, men tumbling out upon all sides. A form struck the water close to where Jack, miraculously uninjured, swam. The latter stretched out an arm, and grasped the body by the shoulder, as it reappeared upon the surface. Then a cry of amazement burst from his lips.
The form that he thus clutched so tightly was that of his friend Frank.
CHAPTER XIX
FROM THE DEAD
At Jack’s cry of amazement Frank slowly opened his eyes. His constitution was not nearly as strong, as that of his huge friend. He was almost unconscious as the result of his terrible fall. But he recognized his chum in an instant, smiled feebly, and then his muscles relaxed. He lay a dead weight in Jack’s arms.
Quickly the lad looked round for some sign of a vessel, or a piece of wreckage to which to cling until he could be picked up. There was none, so still carrying his friend he struck out in the direction of the nearest ship, which could even now be seen approaching.
The sounds of battle still continued, but they gradually grew less as the Austrian fleet, or what was left of it, retired to the protection of its land batteries.
Four warships sent to the bottom of the sea, three submarines missing, and undoubtedly gone forever, and a half score of torpedo boats sunk, was the Austrian loss. The French had lost two battleships, a submarine and three torpedo boats. The heaviest losses sustained by both sides had been to the air fleets.
Now the approaching vessel drew closer to Jack, and he at length realized that he had been seen. A small boat put off to him. Strong arms gripped him and pulled him and Frank into the boat, and a hearty voice exclaimed in English:
“By Jove! They’re English! Now, how do you suppose they got here?”
Jack was conscious of a pleasant sensation at hearing his native tongue spoken thus, but he was too exhausted to take much interest in it then. He fell back unconscious.
But, if the lad was surprised at thus being addressed in English, there was still a greater surprise and joy in store for him — and for Frank.
When Jack reopened his eyes, he lay in a small but well-furnished cabin. Frank lay near him. He already had returned to consciousness, and even now was glancing curiously about.
He glanced at Jack as the latter opened his eyes.
“By George!” he ejaculated. “I was afraid you were done for, you lay there so quietly. How did I come here?”
“Why,” said Jack, “you toppled into the sea right beside me, and I grabbed you and held on until we were picked up.”
“Then,” cried Frank excitedly, “you were aboard the first plane that dived into the dirigible?”
“I was there,” replied Jack briefly.
“By Jove! I thought so. It looked like some your doings. And, if you hadn’t thought of that method of attack, the whole French fleet probably would have been sunk!”
“Well, somebody had to do it,” said Jack modestly. “I notice you weren’t far behind yourself.”
“Well,” said Frank quietly, “I am glad we accomplished the task successfully. Where are we now?”
“I don’t know exactly,” replied Jack. “But, as we were picked up, I heard someone talking in English. I believe that we are on an English ship that happened on the scene just in time to get into the battle.”
“Well –” began Frank, and stopped suddenly, staring open-mouthed at a figure now framed in the doorway of the little cabin.
Jack turned his eyes in that direction, and also was stricken speechless.
“Am I dreaming?” muttered Frank at last. “It — it can’t be.”
“‘But it is,” exclaimed a well-known voice, and a dignified and military figure marched into the room — the figure of Lord Hastings, whom the, boys had so long mourned as lost.
In spite of their exhausted condition, both boys were upon their feet instantly, and each had him by the hand.
“But you went down with the Sylph,” protested Jack.
“You were drowned,” declared Frank. “I saw you go down.”
“So you did,” replied Lord Hastings, laughing a little. “But I came up again. I came up near a piece of floating wreckage, to which I clung for more than twenty-four hours before I was finally picked up by a British torpedo boat.”
There were tears in the eyes of both boys as they clung to their old commander.
“But what happened to you?” Lord Hastings continued. “I inquired everywhere, and could find no trace of you. I was certain that you had gone down, and I was never so surprised and overjoyed in my life as when you were lifted aboard the Sylph a few hours ago.”
“The Sylph!” ejaculated Jack.
“Yes,” replied His Lordship, smiling a little, “I have christened this vessel the Sylph II, but I always speak of her as the Sylph. But come, tell me about yourselves.”
Briefly Frank related the experiences they had gone through since the Sylph had been sunk.
“Nothing you do can surprise me any more,” declared Lord Hastings, when Frank had finished his narrative. “But now, as to the future, do you wish to remain aboard the Marie Theresa, or would you like to come with me?”
“Would we!” ejaculated Jack fervently.
“I should say we would!” declared Frank decisively.
“Well,” said Lord Hastings, “I have no doubt that it can be arranged. I shall speak to Captain Dreyfuss at once.”
“Is Lieutenant Hetherington alive?” asked Jack suddenly.
“No,” replied Lord Hastings sadly, “we three are the sole survivors of the Sylph.”
“But what are you doing in these waters?” demanded Frank.
“Well,” replied Lord Hastings, “it’s somewhat of a secret, but I don’t mind telling you. I am on the trail of the German cruiser Emden.”
“The Emden!” ejaculated both lads.
“Exactly. She has become a terrible menace to British shipping. While she is probably more than a match for the Sylph, if I come up with her I shall stay on her trail until I can raise a cruiser big enough to tackle her. My job is to find her, and, when I do, I guarantee I shall never lose sight of her.”
“Good!” cried Jack. “Now, if you can fix it up with Captain Dreyfuss, we are ready to go with you.”
“Would you like to accompany me?” asked the commander of the Sylph.
The lads signified their assent. An hour later they were all seated in Captain Dreyfuss’ cabin aboard the Marie Theresa.
“And where is Pierre?” demanded Captain Dreyfuss of Jack.
“Gone!” replied the lad quietly. “He died the death of a hero.”
“And do you mean to tell me,” demanded the captain, “that you two lads were in the machines that dived head first into the enemy?”
“It was Jack who conceived the idea and made the first attack,” replied Frank.
Captain Dreyfuss turned to Lord Hastings.
“And these are the two lads you are asking me to give up to you, eh?” he said severely.
“Well,” replied Lord Hastings, “I certainly should like to have them back again. But, of course, if you do not give your consent –“
Captain Dreyfuss interrupted him with a wave of the hand, and turned to the boys.
“And what do you say, sirs?” he demanded. “Have you not been treated well aboard my ship?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Jack, “but –“
Frank’s heart fell. From the captain’s tone, it was apparent that he did not intend to let them go.
“And you, sir?” demanded the captain of Frank.
“We have no cause to complain,” replied Frank. “But Lord Hastings -“
“Enough!” interrupted Captain Dreyfuss. “It shall be as you say.” He turned to Lord Hastings.
“Take them,” he said, “and I am sure you will never find two braver lads.”
“Thank you, sir,” said both boys.
The commander of the Marie Theresa arose to his feet, signifying that the interview was over, and extended a hand to each lad.
“Good luck,” he said simply. “You may go now. I have some matters to discuss with your new commander.”
The boys saluted and went on deck, where they awaited Lord Hastings.
It was several hours later before they returned aboard the Sylph. No sooner were they aboard, however, than Lord Hastings ordered that the vessel be put under way immediately.
“I have wasted time enough here,” he told the lads. “I must get on the trail of the Emden at once.”
The lads were given quarters corresponding to the ones they had had on the old Sylph. The vessel was built along the same lines as the Sylph I, and had been fitted out just as luxuriously and comfortably. It was, in times of peace, well adapted for a pleasure yacht.
The Sylph II carried a goodly array of fighting material, however, and a crew of 150 men.
It was while dining that night that Lord Hastings gave the boys the surprise of their lives.
“I presume you know,” he said quietly, “that as the two surviving officers of the Sylph, you now move into the vacancies left by the death of my first and second officer?”
“What!” exclaimed both lads in the greatest surprise.
“Oh, you heard me,” replied Lord Hastings. “But which of you is to be which?”
“But how about your present officers?” demanded Jack.
“They will understand when I explain to them,” replied Lord Hastings. “Now, which is to be my first officer?”
“Jack, sir,” said Frank.
“Frank, sir,” said Jack.
“Come,” said His Lordship, “I have a way to decide.”
He took two toothpicks, and broke one off a little shorter than the other. He put them behind his back for a moment, and then held his hand out in front of him.
“Whoever draws the shortest stick,” he said, “shall be my first officer. Draw!”
Jack took one of the toothpicks and Frank the other. Then they compared them.
Frank dropped his and slapped Jack heartily on the back.
“Good!” he said joyfully, “you’ve won.”
CHAPTER XX
THE “EMDEN”
“The Emden,” said Lord Hastings to Jack and Frank, “has probably done more damage to British, French and Russian shipping than all of the other German raiders and fleets at large.”
“Has she accomplished anything lately?” asked Frank.
“Yes,” replied Lord Hastings, “she has indeed. I suppose you have not heard the story of her raids?”
“No,” replied both lads, and Jack added: “Will you tell us what you know of her?”
“Well,” began Lord Hastings, “the Emden is commanded by Captain Karl von Mueller, a courteous gentleman and a competent officer — also, by the way, in times of peace, a friend of mine.”
“Then you know him well?” asked Frank.
“Very well,” returned Lord Hastings. “He has visited me more than once, and I have been his guest in Berlin. But to proceed. The first report of the activity of the Emden was received on August 6, when word came that the German cruiser had sunk the steamer City of Winchester the day before.
“The Emden has contributed to the history of the war one of its most remarkable chapters. For sheer audacity and success it has few parallels. Twenty-two ships, mostly British, have been sunk and one has been captured by this German cruiser, rightly named ‘The Terror of the Sea.’
“Since early in August the Emden has been at work. Most of this time she has been preying on shipping in the Indian Ocean. The vessels destroyed by Captain von Mueller had a total value of about $4,000,000, exclusive of their cargoes. The Emden’s largest guns, according to the best figures obtainable, are only 4-inch, and of these she has ten. Her speed of 24.5 knots is her greatest asset, but the Sylph has the heels of her. She has been able to run down merchant ships with ease and then escape from larger but slower vessels that pursued her. British, Russian, French and Japanese warships in the East have been trying for weeks to put an end to her, but without success.”
“But,” Frank broke in, “how has she been able to keep to sea month after month without replenishing her coal supply?”
“That,” said Lord Hastings, “is a mystery that is as yet unsolved. It is assumed, however, that she has obtained sufficient food and fuel to meet her needs from captured ships. In at least one instance this is known to have been done. The captain of the British steamer Exford, captured by the Emden, informed his owners that Captain von Mueller said that before he sank the Exford he intended to take on board his cruiser the 7,000 tons of steam coal with which the Exford was laden.”
Captain von Mueller must indeed be a capable officer,” said Jack.
“He is,” said Lord Hastings. “But to continue. After sinking the City of Winchester the Emden steamed into the Bay of Bengal, five days later, and sent two more British vessels to the bottom. Within three days she had sunk four vessels there. She was accompanied by the Markommania, a converted liner, as a collier. The collier was sunk off Sumatra October 16 by a British cruiser.
“Leaving the Bay of Bengal, the Emden sank three British steamers in the Indian Ocean on September 14. September 22 she appeared off Madras and shelled the city, and, extinguishing her lights, disappeared when the forts replied. Then she renewed her activity in the vicinity of Rangoon, where more British ships fell to her prey. Where she is now I don’t know.”
“How large a vessel is she?” asked Jack, greatly interested.
“She has a complement Of 361 men,” replied Lord Hastings. “Her armament, besides the ten 4-inch guns I referred to before, consists of eight five pounders and four machine guns. She is also understood to be equipped with two submerged 17.7 – inch torpedo tubes. She displaces 3,6oo tons. She is 387 feet long and has a beam of 43 1/3 feet. She was built in 1908. That’s about all I can tell you about her.”
“And Captain von Mueller,” said Frank, “is he an elderly man?”
“No,” replied Lord Hastings, “I should hardly call him that. I don’t know his age, of course, but he is under forty. I understand that the Germans are bailing him as the modern Nelson and Paul Jones, in memory of two of the greatest sea fighters of all time.”
“Well they may,” declared Jack, “for he must be a man of exceptional ability. I should like to see him.”
“So you may, with good fortune,” said Lord Hastings. “It is my hope to see him again before he has done further damage to England.”
Lord Hastings’ account of the brief history of the Emden made quite an impression on Frank and Jack. The brief though active career of probably the greatest of German sea fighters interested them greatly, as it should all young readers.
The boys talked much of the gallant German captain as the Sylph II continued on her course from the Adriatic into the sunny Mediterranean once more, through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea, after a stop for coal at Port Said, and on into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
And more news of the Emden was not to be long forthcoming. Lord Hastings had no means of knowing just in what part of the sea the Emden might be in so, after two days of fruitless cruising, he put into the port of Penang, on Malacca Straits. Here Lord Hastings received first-hand information concerning the whereabouts of the German “Terror of the Sea.”
There were two Russian cruisers, two French destroyers and one British vessel in the harbor, under the guns of the little fort, when the Sylph steamed in. These vessels also had been in search of the Emden, and had put in for coal.
The commanders of the various ships exchanged visits. The Emden was practically the sole topic of their conversation. The Russian commander had just returned aboard his own ship after a visit to Lord Hastings. There came a call from the lookout-on the Sylph.
“Cruiser coming into the harbor, sir!”
Lord Hastings, Frank and Jack hurried to the bridge.
“She shows no colors,” muttered Frank. “Wonder who she is?”
“Maybe the Emden come to pay a little social call,” said Jack.
“No ” said Lord Hastings; “this cruiser has four smokestacks; the Emden has but three.”
“They could easily rig up another one,” said Jack.
“Lord Hastings, some way I feel that all is not right.”
“Nonsense,” replied Lord Hastings.
There was the sound of a shot from one of the Russian cruisers.
“She’ll show her colors now,” said Lord Hastings.
All glanced toward the approaching vessel. A flag was run tip the masthead. Lord Hastings made it out immediately.
“Japanese,” he said, unconsciously breathing easier.
Slowly the cruiser came closer, heading right for the other ships of war in the harbor. Lord Hastings returned to his cabin and Frank followed him.
Jack continued to gaze over the rail at the cruiser. Suddenly, why he never knew, he rushed hurriedly after his commander.
“I am sure that is not a Japanese cruiser, sir,” he cried. “I don’t know why, but something tells me it is an enemy.”
“Nonsense,” said Lord Hastings again. “You are a bit nervous. That’s all.”
“No, sir, it isn’t that,” replied Jack. “I –“
He was interrupted by the boom of a single big gun followed by a heavy outbreak of cannonading. Lord Hastings jumped to his feet and dashed to the bridge, Jack and Frank close at his heels.
They glanced quickly at the supposed Japanese cruiser. But the Japanese ensign had been hauled down, and now there floated from the cruiser the flag of Germany! And the cruiser’s fourth smoke stack had come down.
“The Emden!” cried Lord Hastings.
Bugles were sounding on all the allied ships, of war in the harbor, calling the men to quarters. Caught thus unprepared, the allied vessels were at an immense disadvantage.
Suddenly there was a loud explosion aboard one of the Russian cruisers, and a moment later it burst into flames. Now the other ships poured broadsides into the Emden, but she stuck to her post. One of the two French destroyers suddenly dived, head-first, into the sea, one of the Emden’s submerged torpedoes having dealt her a deathblow.
A shell sped over the stern of the Sylph, but did no damage. Then, calmly, almost ignoring. the remaining ships of the allied fleet, the Emden put about, and made off. Her raid had been successful, and it was another victory for the Kaiser.
The Emden continued to rain shells at her foes until she was out of range. Not minded to take any unnecessary risk, Lord Hastings let the Emden get well out of range, before he gave the command for the Sylph to follow.
Then, stripped for action, the Sylph set out upon the trail of the German cruiser.
“We are on the trail at last,” said Lord Hastings, “and on the trail we’ll remain until the Emden has been sent to the bottom.” He turned to Jack. “Hereafter,” he said, “I’ll place faith in your premonitions.”
The Sylph kept just far enough in the rear of the Emden to be out of range. After three hours, it became apparent that the commander of the German cruiser was aware that he was being followed. He slowed down, waiting the Sylph to come within range and give battle.
But while Lord Hastings was a brave man, he had no idea of accepting battle now. For had the day gone against him, the Emden would have been able to disappear once more. With the superior speed of the Sylph, Lord Hastings knew that he could remain on the trail, using his wireless to pick up some British vessel big enough to put an end to the “Terror of the Sea.”
Accordingly, the Sylph also slowed down. After waiting in vain for the little scout cruiser to approach closer, the Emden again set out on her course, at full speed. The Sylph also quickened her pace, and the Emden was unable to shake her off.
Then the Emden slowed down again. So did the Sylph. The wireless operator approached Lord Hastings with a message.
Lord Hastings read it aloud:
“Remain where you are till I come up, or I shall sink you. Signed, von Mueller.”
Followed by the two lads Lord Hastings made his way to the wireless room, and ticked off this message himself :
“The Emden is doomed. Signed, Hastings.”
CHAPTER XXI
ON THE TRAIL
A reply to this message was not long coming. It read:
“Lord Hastings: Sorry you are aboard, but I must sink you.”
To this Lord Hastings replied:
“It can’t be done.”
Now the Emden put about and headed for the Sylph. Quickly also the Sylph came about and headed westward.
“If he’ll only follow long enough, we’ll lure him into the path of some British vessel,” said Lord Hastings.
“Well,” said Jack, “I don’t believe he will. As soon as he finds he cannot overtake us, he’ll continue on his way.”
“And he’ll try to lose us in the night,” said Frank.
“That is my idea,” said Lord Hastings. “To prevent that we must be on the alert continually. We’ll follow him for months, if necessary. At nights we shall have to close up a bit, and take a chance that they cannot hit us.”
It was nearing dusk when the Emden finally gave up the chase of the Sylph as futile, and once more put about. Immediately also the Sylph’s head came about, and she once more set out, to trail the German. Occasional messages were exchanged between Captain von Mueller and Lord Hastings.
Night fell, and now the Sylph began to draw closer to her quarry. She closed up the distance gradually, until Lord Hastings decided that they were near enough; and this position the Sylph maintained, her searchlight playing upon the Emden and making her as light as day.
All night and all the following day the Sylph followed the Emden. Several times the Emden put about, and made as if to give chase, but on each occasion the Sylph also changed her course. The relative positions of the two vessels remained the same, except that in the light of day the Sylph put more distance between her and her quarry.
Night drew on once more, and again the Sylph approached closer. It was plain that this remorseless pursuit was worrying the commander of the Emden and that he did not know which way to turn to avoid his pursuer.
Lord Hastings sniffed the air.
“Feels like there would be a fog tonight,” he said. “I hope it is not so dense as to dim the glow of the searchlight.”
But in this he was doomed to disappointment. The fog descended, but still those on the Sylph could dimly make out the outline of the Emden. But with the approach of morning, while Jack had the bridge, the fog suddenly thickened, and blotted out the pursued vessel entirely.
Quickly Jack summoned Lord Hastings.
Immediately Lord Hastings ordered the searchlight extinguished and all lights on board put out.
“We don’t want to let him know where we are,” he said. “I feel absolutely certain that Captain von Mueller will double back and try to come up upon us in the fog. We must avoid that at all hazards, and at the same time must so maneuver as to be near enough to pick him up when the fog lifts.”
Lord Hastings altered the course of the Sylph slightly, but continued to go forward. Six o’clock came and no sign of the Emden, and then seven. And then the fog lifted as suddenly as it had descended, and at that moment there was the sound of a big gun and a shell whistled over the stern of the Sylph.
A mile in the offing, having put about, was the Emden. She had maneuvered even as Lord Hastings had figured, and had run clear by the Sylph in the darkness.
“Full speed ahead!” commanded Lord Hastings.
The Sylph leaped quickly forward, as the bell tinkled the signal to the engine-room, running rapidly to get out of range of the Emden’s guns and torpedoes.
Several times, without reducing the speed of his ship, Lord Hastings swerved in his course, and thus spoiled the aim of the German gunners. And then the Emden’s shells began to fall short. The Sylph was out of range.
For an hour the Emden continued her pursuit, and then once more put about and herself became the pursued, the Sylph following relentlessly on her heels.
It was near noon when the wireless operator aboard the Sylph approached Lord Hastings.
“Have just picked up the Australian cruiser Sydney, sir. I gave him our identity and Captain Glossop pays his respects to you, sir.”
Lord Hastings jumped to action in a moment.
“Where is he now?”
The operator gave the position of the Sydney.
“A hundred miles away,” mused Lord Hastings.
He led the way to the wireless room.
“Send this in code,” he told the operator, handing him a slip of paper on which he had written a few words, “and instruct him to reply in code.”
The operator did as he was commanded.
The reply was plain to Lord Hastings, himself an operator upon occasion.
“Good!” he said to himself.
He turned to the boys.
“I gave the Sydney our position and told him we were trailing the Emden. He replied that he would head for us immediately; for us to keep up the chase and keep him constantly informed of our position.”
“But don’t you suppose the Emden has picked up the message, sir.”
“Undoubtedly; that is why I sent it in code. Von Mueller may surmise what we are up to, but he cannot be sure.”
That the commander of the Emden had picked up the message became apparent a few moments later.
“Emden has signaled the Sydney her presence not needed, sir,” said the operator, “and signed the message Hastings.”
Lord Hastings scribbled rapidly.
“Send this,” he ordered.
The message read:
“Disregard all communications not in code. Emden trying to throw you off the track.”
The Sydney acknowledged the receipt of this message, and Lord Hastings and the two lads returned to the bridge.
“What do you suppose Captain von Mueller will do now?” asked Jack.
“Run as long as he can,” replied Lord Hastings.
“However, the Sydney is considerably faster, so it is only a question of time till we get him.”
The Emden now headed east, on a course that eventually would land her, if she maintained it, somewhere along the Malay archipelago. The Sylph gave chase.
Continual messages were flashed between Lord Hastings and the commander of the Australian cruiser, and it became apparent that the latter gradually overhauling them.
Came a message to Lord Hastings from the commander of the Emden:
“Sorry you were afraid to fight it out.”
Lord Hastings wired back:
“I wasn’t afraid, but I will take no chance of losing you.”
All day and all another night the chase continued; and it was near noon of the following day that the lookout gave the welcome cry:
“Ship off the stern, sir!”
Quickly all eyes were turned in the direction indicated. A smudge of smoke could be seen off the horizon. Came a message from the Sydney:
“Have sighted you.”
But the Sydney was still far in the rear when land came in sight.
“What do you make it, sir?” asked Frank of Lord Hastings.
“I should say it is one of the Cocos Islands group,” was the reply.
The Emden headed straight for it. Two hours later she landed, and the Sylph stood off.
“Do you suppose Captain von Mueller will desert the ship or sink her?” asked Jack.
“Not without a fight,” replied Lord Hastings positively.
It was three hours later before the Emden lifted anchor and put to sea again. Those on board did not know it then, but a landing party from the Emden had destroyed the wireless station on the island while there.
Slowly but surely the Sydney overhauled the Sylph, and at length drew up on even terms with her. Then she forged slowly ahead, drawing closer and closer to her prey.
Now, realizing that escape was impossible, the Emden turned. Brought to bay, Captain von Mueller had decided to give battle.
“Will we go into action, sir?” asked Jack of Lord Hastings eagerly.
“Not unless it is absolutely necessary,” replied the commander of the Sylph. “The Sydney can handle the Emden alone.”
Both lads were disappointed, for they had felt certain, that when the Emden was brought to bay they would have a hand in putting an end to her.
“Well,” said Jack, “we can at least see the battle.”
“Right,” said Frank, and fortifying themselves with glasses, they took posts of vantage.
Now the Emden steamed forward to meet the Sydney, and the Sylph hove to. The crew, relieved from duty, scattered about the decks, seeking advantageous places to witness the encounter.
Slowly the two cruisers approached each other.
The Emden already has been described, and a few words here concerning the Sydney will not be amiss.
The Australian cruiser Sydney carried a main battery of eight 6-inch guns, thus giving her an advantage over the German ship. She had a complement Of 400 men. She was 400 feet long and was much greater in the beam than her antagonist. She carried several smaller guns and a number of rapid-firers. As did the Emden, the Sydney carried two submerged torpedoes.
Across the water came the call of a bugle, as the crew of the Sydney made ready for action. She was almost within range now. There was no question but that she outranged the Emden slightly, but the German cruiser was steaming rapidly forward to overcome this disadvantage as quickly as possible.
Now there was a puff of smoke from the bow of the Sydney. “Boom!” came the sound of a big gun.
The Sydney, within range at last, had opened the battle.
CHAPTER XXII
THE BATTLE
“Now for it!” cried Jack, as the first shell from the British cruiser splashed up the water only a few yards in front of the Emden.
A second concussion was heard and an English shell struck the heavy armored side of the German cruiser.
The sailors and officers raised a loud cheer. It was first blood for the Sydney, and the sailors aboard that vessel also let out a yell of delight.
So far the Emden had not answered the Sydney’s fire. However, she was dashing rapidly ahead, seeking to get within range. Two more shells from the Sydney struck the Emden before she finally managed to get within range, and opened fire with the 4-inch guns in her forward turrets.
The results of the first salvos from the German guns were nil. The range finders on the Emden had evidently not calculated properly. The water leaped into white sprays ahead of the Sydney, indicating that the Emden’s first fire had been wasted.
But the next attempt o the Emden met with better success. A solid shot struck the Sydney, squarely on the bow. The Sydney’s armor was, too strong for the German guns at this distance, however, and while the vessel staggered slightly, she was not damaged to any extent.
It became apparent early in the battle that the marksmanship of the Sydney’s gunners was much superior to that of the foe. The range-finders were attending to their work with coolness and precision. The fire was deliberate and accurate. It was slower than that of the Emden, but far more deadly.
A shell struck upon the Emden’s deck near the forward smokestack and burst. Iron and steel flew high in the air and came down in a deadly hail, killing and maiming many members of the crew. The smokestack toppled to the deck, pinioning many more beneath it.
Quickly a squad of men sprang forward and soon cleared away the wreckage. But the carrying away of the smokestack now hampered the draught of the Emden and made progress much more difficult. Nevertheless, she still continued to pour her shells against the armored sides of the Sydney.
Now the first shot landed among the gun crew of the Sydney, putting one of the guns out of commission, killing three of the crew and wounding several others. Those three men were the only ones killed on the Sydney in the whole course of the battle.
Suddenly those aboard the Sylph became aware that the fire of the enemy was not as rapid as before. The reason for this they soon made out. One of the forward guns of the Emden had been, silenced by the well-directed fire of the Sydney.
A moment later another of the enemy’s guns became silent — and then another. Up to this moment the Emden had been rushing as rapidly as possible toward the Sydney, but now she paused in her advance, almost stopped, swung about in a wide circle, and made off in the other direction.
It was plain that she had had enough. A cheer went up from the British sailors, both on the Sydney and aboard the Sylph. But Captain Glossop, of the Sydney, had no mind to let his prey escape. The Sydney dashed in pursuit of the enemy at full speed, and a fierce running battle ensued.
The Emden’s stern guns continued to play upon the Sydney as she made a wild dash for the distant shore. She was headed for the nearest point of land, and the question that now rose in the minds of the spectators aboard the Sylph was whether the Sydney could come up with her before she could find a certain amount of refuge in what appeared to be a small cove.
The excitement aboard the Sylph was intense. Men shouted and yelled, calling words of encouragement and advice to the fellow sailors aboard the British battle cruiser, forgetting their voices could not be heard.
As the Emden turned and made off, Jack cried out:
“She’s running! She’s liable to get away!”
“Don’t you believe it!” called Frank excitedly. “The Sydney’ll catch ’em!”
“What’s the Emden heading that way for?’ asked Jack of Lord Hastings, who stood beside the lads.
“My idea is,” replied the commander of the Sylph, “that von Mueller intends to beach the ship.”
“In that event will he and his men try to escape inland?”
“I suppose so.”
The Sydney continued her chase, seeming to gather additional speed at every furlong. Her heavy shells played a merry tattoo upon the stem and deck of the fleeing German cruiser.
But the Emden was now gradually drawing toward land. Suddenly, she swerved and headed straight for a huge reef that could be seen protruding above the surface of the water. A cry of dismay went up from those aboard the Sylph.
But the cry was uncalled for. For even as the Emden swerved in her course, a British shell burst squarely upon the bridge of the German cruiser.
At the same instant a second found ‘its way through the various compartments to the engine-room.
There was the sound of terrific explosion, and a red sheet of flame sprang above the cruiser. Even above the cries of battle came the cries of German sailors, maimed and suffering horribly.
Another salvo from the Sydney put the steering apparatus of the Emden out of commission, and now instead of steering straight for the rocky reef, she turned her broadside toward it.
Swiftly she floated toward this dangerous projection. Almost helpless as she was, Captain von Mueller evidently had no thought of surrender. The three guns still in commission aboard the vessel continued to hurl their messages of defiance at the Sydney.
Suddenly rapid movements of those aboard the Emden told that one of the submerged torpedoes, still undamaged, was about to be launched. Quickly the Sydney maneuvered a trifle to the left, and the huge explosive sped on to the sea beyond, doing no damage. Now the second torpedo was launched, but it had no better success.
Now the Sydney made use of her own torpedo tube, and a moment later this engine of destruction sped through the water toward the Emden. There was no need for a second. A terrible explosion told that the torpedo had found its mark.
High above the burning cruiser a second sheet of flame flared up, and at almost the same instant the Emden beached. There was a loud crunching sound as the cruiser grounded on the rocky reef and was battered by the heavy waves against the uneven projections.
To launch the small boats in this place and make for the shore was impossible. The boats were launched, and the crew tumbled in. One made off toward the shore, but it could not live in the fierce breakers, and in a moment disappeared.
The other boats, warned by the fate of the first, put off toward the open sea.
“Do you suppose Captain von Mueller will remain and perish with his ship?” asked Frank of Lord Hastings.
“I do not believe so,” was the reply. “There is no need for it. If the ship were sinking, it would be another matter, but as you see, it is not. It appears to be caught hard and fast on a ledge, and is burning up.”
It was true. Stuck suddenly fast on a rocky ledge, the Emden was almost stationary. Flames continued to leap on all sides of her, and it was plainly apparent that it would not be long before they would reach her magazine; and when they did reach it, that would be the end.
As the German small boats headed seaward, the Sydney ceased firing at the now helpless vessel, and bore down on them. It was plain that Captain Glossop was bent upon capturing the survivors.
Small boats and the Australian cruiser were now probably a mile from the burning vessel, and the, Sylph had started forward also to pick up some of the German sailors.
At this moment the flames reached the magazine of the Emden. There was a blinding flash, a terrific detonation. The Emden sprang from the sea like a thing alive, seemed to hang in the air for a brief moment, then turned and dived head-first into the sea. The waters closed over her with an angry hiss, and the German cruiser Emden, for months a terrible menace to British, French and Russian shipping, “The Terror of the Sea,” was no more.
“A fitting end for so noble a vessel,” was Lord Hastings’ only comment as the cruiser disappeared from the world’s ken.
The Sylph was nearing the little flotilla of small boats, and several were put off from the vessel to join the small craft of the Sydney and take the surviving Germans prisoners.
Frank and Jack were in the first boat. As they, drew closer, Jack made out a uniformed figure in one of the German boats that he felt sure was the commander of the Emden.
He steered his boat closer. It was plain that there would be no further resistance from the Germans, and Jack finally managed to steer his boat alongside that of Captain von Mueller.
The latter made no protest when Jack ordered him to step aboard the Sylph’s small boat, and did so without a word. Immediately, the little craft turned about and put back to the Sylph, leaving the other small craft to attend to the rest of the German survivors.
Of the Emden’s crew Of 361 officers and men, there were less than 75 left alive. Dead and wounded alike had gone to a deep-sea grave when the German cruiser took her death plunge.
Lord Hastings stood at the rail of the Sylph as the little boat drew alongside.
Jack and Frank clambered over the side of the ship ahead of the German commander and, with Lord Hastings, stood waiting to receive him.
CHAPTER XXIII
CAPTAIN VON MUELLER
As Captain von Mueller clambered over the rail, Lord Hastings advanced to meet him with outstretched hand.
“It is indeed a pleasure to receive you aboard the Sylph!” he exclaimed, with real pleasure in his voice.
Captain von Mueller grasped the outstretched hand and wrung it heartily.
“And I am glad to see you,” he returned quietly, “though I would rather it were under more fortunate circumstances. But the battle is over and with your permission, we will not refer to it again.”
“Agreed,” replied Lord Hastings, and led the way to his cabin, motioning for Captain von Mueller, Frank and Jack to follow.
He introduced the lads to the great German commander, and the latter expressed his pleasure at seeing them. At this moment the third officer entered and spoke to Lord Hastings.
“Launch from the Sydney coming alongside, sir,” he said.
“Show Captain Glossop here when he comes aboard,” he said.
The third officer withdrew. He appeared again a moment later, however, followed by the commander of the Sydney. Introductions followed.
“Captain von Mueller,” said Lord Hastings at length, “it will be necessary for me to turn you over to Captain Glossop. You will go with him aboard the Sydney. Were I returning direct to England, it would give me pleasure to have you accompany me. However, the Sydney will go straight back to Melbourne, and you will be taken there and held as a prisoner of war.”
Captain von Mueller signified his understanding of the situation. He expressed pleasure at having met Lord Hastings again, and that the fortunes of war had made him the prisoner of such gallant Englishmen.
After some further talk, Captain von Mueller and Captain Glossop disappeared over the side of the Sylph, and put off toward the Sydney. Before either vessel proceeded on its way, several further messages were exchanged between the commanders of the Sydney and the Sylph; but at length the Sydney began to draw away toward the east.
“And so,” said Lord Hastings to the two lads, as they stood leaning over the rail, after the Sylph was once more under way, “so goes the ‘German Terror of the Sea.'”
The Sylph now turned her head once more to the west, and started on her journey back toward the Mediterranean. She steamed along slowly, Lord Hastings, greatly satisfied with the success of his mission, being in no particular hurry. They put in at Ceylon for coal; then once more resumed their journey.
It was the second day after leaving Ceylon that the lookout made a startling discovery.
“Submarine off the starboard bow, sir!” he called.
Instantly there was excitement on board the Sylph, for there was no telling whether the submarine were friend or foe. At length those on the bridge were able to make out the periscope of the vessel, close to the water. And at this very moment it stood higher and higher in the water. The submarine was coming to the surface.
The Sylph had been quickly stripped for action, for Lord Hastings had determined to give battle should the submarine prove to be an enemy. All available guns were turned upon the spot where the submarine was rising.
But hardly had the under-sea craft come to the surface than a British ensign was run up.
Lord Hastings breathed easier.
“Good!” he exclaimed. “I wouldn’t care much to encounter a submarine.”
The commander of the submarine, Captain Nicholson, came aboard the Sylph to pay his respects to Lord Hastings.
“I suppose you are aware,” he said during the course of the conversation, “that Turkey has declared war on England, France and Russia?”
“What!” cried Lord Hastings. “Turkey has declared war! I hadn’t heard of it.”
“Well, it’s true, nevertheless,” replied Captain Nicholson.
Lord Hastings smiled grimly.
“I guess it will be ‘The Sick Man of Europe’s’ last illness,” he said pointedly.
Captain Nicholson laughed.
“It will,” he said briefly.
“But what are you doing in these waters?” asked Lord Hastings, having already explained his own presence there.
“Well,” said Captain Nicholson, “I understand that there are at least three Turkish cruisers anchored in the mouth of the Euphrates, in the Persian gulf. I suppose they are there to protect Bassora, about 70 miles up the river, from possible attacks. I had thought of attempting to sink them.”
“What, alone?” said Lord Hastings.
The captain of the submarine shrugged his shoulders.
“Why not?’ be wanted to know.
‘Well,” said Lord Hastings, “it’s a desperate venture, but if you are successful, it will be a feather in your cap.”
“I’m not looking for glory,” replied Captain Nicholson. “But I would give my right arm to destroy those Turkish cruisers, guarded as they are by a fort. And I mean to have a try at it.”
“I’d like to go with you,” said Lord Hastings, “but the Sylph would be worse than useless in such an encounter.”
“True,” said Captain Nicholson. “But I have an idea. Have you ever been aboard a submarine in action?”
“I have been aboard many submarines, yes,” replied Lord Hastings, “but one in action, no.”
“Then why not come with me?”
“I would like to,” said Lord Hastings, “but what of the Sylph?”
“Your first officer could take command until you returned.”
“No,” said Lord Hastings, “it can’t be done.” He was struck with a sudden idea, and turned to Jack and Frank. “How would you two lads like to make such an excursion?” he asked.
“We would like nothing better, sir,” replied Frank.
“Indeed, we would like it immensely,” agreed Jack.
Lord Hastings turned again to Captain Nicholson.
“Why not take these two lads as substitutes for me?” he asked.
The commander of the submarine looked somewhat dubious.
“Oh, I’ll guarantee they won’t be in the way,” said Lord Hastings with a laugh, and he proceeded to relate to the astounded commander some of the things the lads had already accomplished.
Captain Nicholson arose, and took each lad by the hand.
“I shall account it an honor to have you with me,”‘ he said quietly.
“So be it, then,” said Lord Hastings. “I shall remain here with the Sylph until you return.”
Both lads thanked Lord Hastings heartily for giving them this opportunity of seeing something of under-the-sea fighting aboard a British vessel.
“How soon do you plan to start?” Lord Hastings inquired of Captain Nicholson.
“Immediately,” replied the commander of the submarine Y-3.
“And how long do you figure it will be before you can return here?”
“Not more than thirty-six hours.”
Lord Hastings turned to the two lads.
“You had better take a few clothes with you,” he told then. “Do you prepare now, while I have a few words with Captain Nicholson.”
The lads hastened to their own quarters, and rapidly threw a few belongings together, so anxious were they to be off.
“Lord Hastings is a brick!” exclaimed Jack.
“I should say he is!” agreed Frank. “He agrees to wait in this outlandish spot two days just to give us this opportunity. How many other commanders do you suppose there are who would go to all that trouble?”
“Not many,” replied Jack dryly.
“I guess not. Are you ready;”‘
“Yes.”
“Come on then, let’s go back to Lord Hastings’ cabin.”
Captain Nicholson was already on his feet, ready to go, when the lads re-entered the commander’s cabin.
“I see it didn’t take you long,” he observed.
“We are very anxious to go, sir,” Jack explained.
“They are always quick and prompt,” said Lord Hastings.
“An excellent trait,” commended Captain Nicholson.
Lord Hastings accompanied Captain Nicholson and the two lads to the rail.
“All you two lads have to do,” he said, “is to, look on. You are not supposed to do any fighting, just keep out of everybody’s way and make no trouble. Also, keep out of mischief.”
“Very well, sir,” replied Jack.
The three clambered over the rail and dropped into the little boat that was rising and falling gently with the swell of the waves on the sea below.
Quickly the launch put off toward the submarine.
Lord Hastings raised his voice and shouted after them.
“I’ll wait here until you return. Don’t be gone any longer than you can help.”
“We’ll be back within the time I mentioned,” Captain Nicholson called back.
Lord Hastings signified that he was satisfied, and waved his hand to the departing boat.
Jack and Frank waved in return.