“That’s easy enough. All we have to do is to let out the ‘gas.'”
“Next we’ll have to go through the commander’s pockets without arousing him.”
“That’s more difficult, but I suppose it can be done.”
“Next we’ll have to get our hydroplane to the water. Fortunately, we came down closer to the sea than the others. We should be able to do that without awakening the sleepers.”
“Then,” said Frank, “we climb in and say goodbye, eh?”
“That’s it.”
“All right. We’ll work it that way then. It’s as good as any other. Now we’ll keep quiet until we are sure everyone is asleep.”
Their plans thus arranged, the lads became quiet. They said not a word as they waited for sleep to overcome the Germans, but gazed out quietly over the dark sea.
CHAPTER IX
THE PLAN WORKS–ALMOST
“Time to get busy.”
It was Frank who spoke. All was quiet among the sand dunes. The commander of the Germans had laid down upon the ground, some distance from the others, half an hour before. Snores from various points announced that most of the men were sleeping soundly.
Jack and Frank got to their feet
“Careful,” said Jack as they separated. “Remember, don’t give your man a chance to let out a cry.”
Frank nodded in the darkness and walked slowly toward the sentinel he had selected to silence. Jack moved in the other direction.
As Jack came within a few yards of his prey, the man raised his rifle and commanded:
“Halt!”
“It’s all right,” said Jack. “I couldn’t sleep and it was lonesome back there. I want company.”
The German lowered his rifle.
“It’s lonesome here, too,” he said. “Wish you had been selected for my job.”
“I wouldn’t have minded it tonight,” said Jack, approaching closer.
The German reached in his pocket and produced a pack of cigarettes. He extended the pack to Jack.
“Have one?” he invited.
Jack accepted a cigarette.
The German produced a match. He laid his rifle upon the ground as he struck the match upon the leg of his trousers.
It was the moment for which Jack had been waiting.
Quickly his revolver leaped out. In almost the same instant he reversed it and before the German realized what was about to happen he brought the butt down on the man’s head with great force.
The man fell to the ground without a sound.
Frank, advancing upon the other German, also was challenged when he drew close, but he, too, engaged his prey in conversation. As the man turned his head for a moment to gaze across the dark sand, the lad struck him violently over the head with his revolver butt. The German dropped like a log.
A few moments later Frank and Jack met again near the first aeroplane.
“It’ll have to be quick work here,” Jack warned “We haven’t a whole lot of time, you know.”
Frank nodded that he understood. Rapidly they passed from one plane to another letting out the gasoline. Five minutes later, with the exception of their hydroplane, which rested some distance away, every craft upon the beach was dry. They were absolutely useless–or so the lads thought.
“Now for the papers,” said Jack, as he straightened up after tinkering with the last machine.
Cautiously the two lads advanced upon the sleeping German. Frank raised his revolver and would have brought it down on the man’s head had not Jack stayed him with a gesture.
“No need of that,” he said. “I don’t like to hurt a man except when it is absolutely necessary.”
Frank put the revolver back in his pocket.
Gently, Jack thrust his hand into the German’s pocket. He fumbled about a moment and then drew forth a paper. Turning his head aside he struck a match and glanced at the paper. Then he nodded his satisfaction.
“This is it,” he said.
Frank, at that moment, had risen to his feet. Believing the work was accomplished, he was moving off toward the hydroplane. As Jack now made to get to his feet, he chanced to glance at the German he had just relieved of the papers.
The lad uttered an exclamation of surprise, and no wonder. The man’s eyes were open and gazed straight at Jack. In his hand he held a revolver and it was levelled at Jack’s head.
“Hands up!” said the German, quietly.
There was nothing for Jack to do but obey or be shot. His hands went high in the air, but he still retained the valuable papers.
“Drop those papers,” was the next command.
Jack obeyed and the papers fluttered to his feet. The German reached out and picked them up with his left hand while with his right he still covered the lad with his revolver.
“So you’re a spy, eh?” said the German.
Jack made no reply, but a gleam of hope lighted up his eye; for, Frank, chancing to turn for some unexplainable reason, had taken in the situation and was now advancing on tiptoe to his friend’s aid.
“How did you get here?” demanded the German, making ready to rise.
Again Jack made no reply; but none was necessary, for at that moment Frank had come within striking distance. His arm rose and fell, and as his revolver butt descended upon the German’s head, the latter toppled over in a heap.
Quickly, Jack stooped and again recovered the papers he had taken so much pains to get.
“Come on!” cried Frank. “We haven’t time to fool around here. The rest of this crowd is likely to wake up in a minute or two.”
Jack followed his friend across the sand. They laid hold of the hydroplane and rolled it toward the water. In it went with a splash and Frank cried:
“Climb aboard quickly!”
Jack needed no urging and a moment later the two boys were ready for flight. And then, suddenly, there was the crack of a revolver behind them and a bullet flew close to Jack’s ear.
The German leader had recovered consciousness, and springing to his feet, dashed to the water’s edge and fired point blank at the machine. Fortunately, in his excitement his aim was poor and he missed. Before he could fire again, Frank wheeled about and his revolver spoke sharply.
The German threw up his arms, and with a gasp, pitched headlong into the sea.
But the sounds of the two shots had aroused the sleeping camp. Wild cries came from the shore, followed by heavy footfalls as the Germans rushed toward the water.
“Hurry, Frank!” cried Jack.
As lightly as a fairy the hydroplane skimmed over the water; then went soaring in the air. Frank gave a loud cheer.
“Safe!” he exclaimed.
But the lad was wrong.
From on shore came a chorus of angry cries and imprecations. Hastily the Germans made a rush for their aeroplanes to give chase. None would move. Followed more cries and angry shouts.
“Wait,” said one German. “I’ve some gasoline.”
Rapidly he opened up a big can, which he took from the bottom of his machine. Quickly the tank was filled and the man climbed into the pilot’s seat. Another jumped in with him.
“Give us some of that gasoline!” cried another.
The German shook his head.
“Not enough,” he replied. “We’ll overtake those fellows and then come back for the rest of you.”
The aeroplane leaped skyward and started in pursuit of Frank and Jack.
The two boys, believing that they were safe, were going along only at a fair rate of speed when Jack’s keen ears caught the sound of the pursuing machine.
“They’re after us, Frank!” he called.
“Impossible!” replied Frank. “How can they fly without gas?”
“Well, they’re coming, all the same,” declared Jack.
He produced his two revolvers and examined them carefully.
“You run this thing and I’ll do what fighting is necessary,” he said. “Wish I could shoot like you can; but I can’t; and I can’t run this machine either.”
The German aeroplane was gaining steadily.
“He can outrun us,” said Frank, quietly. “There is only one, thank goodness. You’ll have to bring him down, Jack.”
“I’ll try,” was Jack’s reply. “If I had a rifle I might be able to pick him off now.”
“Well, he won’t hardly have any the best of it,” said Frank. “The chances are he has no rifle either.”
Frank was correct in this surmise.
Rapidly the German aircraft gained.
“Crack!” the German had fired the first shot.
It went wild. Jack fired, but with no better result.
“Hit anything?” asked Frank, without turning his head.
“No,” said Jack, “but neither did the other fellow.”
“Try it again,” said Frank.
Jack did so; but again the bullet went wild. All this time the two craft were flying straight out to sea.
Once more the German fired and Jack felt something whizz overhead.
“This is getting too close,” the lad muttered to himself. Then he called to Frank.
“Slow down, quick!”
Frank had no means of telling what plan Jack had in mind, but he did not hesitate. The hydroplane slowed down with a jerk.
The pilot of the German craft was caught off his guard. He dashed upon the hydroplane. But as he neared it he swerved to the left to avoid a collision. It was what Jack had expected. Standing up in his precarious position, Jack took a snap shot at the pilot as the German craft swept by.
At that close distance, in spite of the rate of speed at which the enemy was travelling, a miss was practically impossible.
The German machine swayed crazily from one side to the other; then dived.
“I got him, Frank!” shouted Jack.
Both lads gazed over the side at the falling enemy.
Suddenly the machine righted and descended more slowly.
“By Jove! a cool customer,” said Frank. “He’s regained control of the plane. He’ll be up again in a moment.”
Again they watched the foe carefully.
“No, he won’t,” said Jack, “he’s still going down.”
“Then we may as well be moving,” said Frank.
“Hold on!” shouted Jack. “We can’t leave those fellows there. They may get to shore or be picked up. Then they would give the warning and all our efforts would be for naught.”
“Right,” said Frank. “We’ll go down after them.”
The hydroplane descended slowly.
CHAPTER X
THE FIGHT ON THE WATER
Below, the fallen aeroplane rested upon the surface of the sea. In the darkness, it was hard for the lads to tell just how badly the craft was damaged and whether it would float; but Jack’s idea was to be on the safe side.
While still some distance from the water, there was a shot from below.
“Hello!” said Jack. “They’re alive and kicking, all right. Wonder if we can’t go down and get them from the water.”
“It’s a better plan, I guess,” said Frank. “We’ll have an even break then. This way they have all the advantage.”
He opened up the engine and the hydroplane ran some distance from the position of the men below. Then he shut off the motor and allowed the plane to glide down to the sea.
With the craft riding the swell of the waves, Jack picked up the enemy with his night glass. The disabled craft also was riding the waves gently perhaps five hundred yards away.
Jack gave the position to Frank, and the hydroplane approached the foe slowly. Within a range that would make accurate revolver shooting possible, the hydroplane came to a halt. As it did so there was the sound of a revolver shot from across the water and something whizzed overhead.
“Must have some pretty fair shooters over there,” said Frank, quietly. “However, they can’t see us any better than we can see them. Of course, they can see our craft all right, the same as we can see theirs, but they can’t spot us.”
“No; nor we can’t spot them, which makes it worse,” said Jack.
“We’ll try a couple of shots for luck,” said Frank.
He raised his revolver and fired quickly twice. His efforts were rewarded by a scream, apparently of pain.
“Must have hit one of them,” he said grimly.
Again a revolver across the water flashed and the two lads heard a bullet whistle by.
Jack fired but without result and then Frank fired again.
There was another scream.
“Either got the other one, or the same one again,” said Frank.
They waited some moments in silence, but no further shots came from the foe.
“By Jove!” said Jack, “you must have got them both. Let’s go and have a look.”
Slowly, Frank started the hydroplane and they bore down on the enemy. Now they were two hundred, then one hundred yards away.
“Must have got them, all right,” said Frank. “I—-“
The flash of a revolver from the disabled craft interrupted him. It was closely followed by another and then two more.
With a sudden move, Frank changed the course of the hydroplane. He felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder.
“Got me,” he called to Jack.
The latter was alarmed.
“Where?” he demanded.
“Left shoulder,” said Frank, quietly. “Nothing serious, though.”
Jack levelled his revolver and fired rapidly at the enemy. His pains were rewarded by howls of derision.
“They tricked us, all right,” said Jack, as he reloaded.
“That’s what they did. I should have known better, too. They almost settled us.”
“We’ve got to get them, some way,” declared Jack.
“Show me how, and I’ll go along with you,” declared Frank.
“Well, I’ve got a scheme, but I don’t know whether it will work or not.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“All right. But first, can you manage this plane all right with that bad shoulder?”
“Sure; it’s not very bad.”
“All right then. Well, you keep under cover about here, moving about just enough to spoil the aim of the foe. I’ll drop over the side and swim to the enemy. I can get there unobserved, all right, because they won’t be expecting me. I’ll pull one of them over and settle with him first. Then I’ll get the other.”
“I don’t know,” Frank considered the plan. “I suppose it might work, but there is nothing sure about it.”
“There’s nothing sure about anything,” declared Jack. “But it’s better than staying here all the rest of the night. Besides, we must hurry, you know.”
“That’s right,” agreed Frank. “All right, then. So be it. Will you take your gun?”
“No use,” said Jack. “It would be wet by the time I got there. Here I go.”
“Good luck,” Frank called after him.
Gently, Jack lowered himself over the side of the hydroplane, first divesting himself of his coat and shoes; then struck out for the disabled aeroplane.
Slowly the lad swam, for he did not wish to betray his coming by the sound of a splash. The distance was not great and a powerful swimmer, such as Jack, could cover it easily in a few moments.
Jack did not approach the enemy craft from the front. Giving it a wide berth, he swam around it and then, turning quickly, bore down upon the aeroplane more swiftly. He swam with his head barely above the water, and he was ready to dive immediately should he be sighted.
There was not a sound aboard the aeroplane as Jack drew close to it. Raising his head slightly, he could see no human form.
“Funny,” the lad muttered to himself. “Wonder where they keep themselves. No wonder we couldn’t hit them.”
He was within a few feet of the disabled craft and he now rose higher in the water to get a good look about. Still he saw no one.
Twice around the machine the lad swam and not a human being did he see.
“There is something awfully queer about this,” he told himself. “I’ll go aboard.”
He laid hands on the aeroplane and scrambled aboard. Quickly he sprang to his feet, ready to tackle any foe that might have seen him crawl aboard. Nothing happened.
Jack made a careful inspection of the disabled plane. Then, as he still gazed around, a sudden thought struck him. Without taking time to consider it, he sprang suddenly to the side of the plane and leaped into the water and with swift and powerful strokes struck out for his own craft.
Jack had hit upon the solution of the desertion of the German aeroplane.
Even as Jack had lowered himself from the hydroplane and swam across the water, the Germans in the other craft had done the same thing. Both sides had struck the same plan almost simultaneously. Jack, in making a wide detour as he approached the foes’ machine, must have passed the two Germans in the water.
Now, realizing that the Germans must be close to the hydroplane, had they not already reached it, and remembering that Frank was wounded, Jack felt a sudden dread steal over him. His long, powerful strokes sent him through the water at great speed.
But the Germans had not made their presence known to Frank yet. Neither was as swift a swimmer as Jack, and for that reason, their progress through the water had been considerably slower. Also they had gone very cautiously.
A short distance from the hydroplane, one had swum to one side of the plane and the second to the other. The Germans also had discarded their revolvers, for they had realized they would be useless after their trip through the water. Also, not being expert swimmers, they had wanted to be unhampered by weight as much as possible.
Frank was still guiding the plane about occasionally to avoid a chance bullet from the enemy, but at the moment the Germans came close, he had stopped the craft and was peering into the darkness, straining his ears for the sound of a struggle that would tell him Jack was engaged with the enemy.
Suddenly a sound came to his ears from across the water, but it was not what he expected, although it was in Jack’s voice:
“Frank! Look out! They are after you!”
Instantly, the lad understood the situation. He drew his revolver with his uninjured arm and sprang to one side of the aeroplane. As he did so, a figure reached up and grabbed him by the hand so that he could not fire. At the same time a second figure clambered aboard the craft from the opposite side. Frank raised a cry:
“Hurry, Jack!”
Jack needed no urging. He was swimming through the water as fast as possible.
With a sudden move, Frank jerked his hand loose from the grip that held him and turned just in time to encounter the second German. Frank raised his revolver and fired quickly; but the German ducked, and before Frank could fire again, he had come up close to Frank and grappled with him. In vain Frank sought to release his arm so that he could bring the weapon down on his opponent’s head. The man clung tightly.
A sudden lurching of the hydroplane told Frank that the second German was coming aboard. Unmindful of his wounded shoulder, Frank struggled on. With a sharp kick of his right foot he succeeded in knocking the first German’s legs from beneath him; and again the lad tried to raise his revolver to shoot the second German, who now advanced.
But the latter was too quick for him. Closing with the lad, the man knocked the revolver from the boy’s hand with a quick blow. The weapon spun into the sea.
The first German returned to the attack.
“Get him quick!” he shouted. “There is another one around here some place.”
Jack, at this moment, was within a few yards of the boat.
“You bet there is!” he said between his teeth. “And he’ll be there in a minute.”
He did not call encouragement to Frank, for he wished to get aboard the plane, if possible, before the men could stay him.
The two Germans rushed Frank simultaneously, and bore him back in the plane. At the same instant, Jack, unmindful of danger that might lurk aboard and thinking only of Frank’s danger, laid hold of the plane and climbed aboard. Then he stood erect and shouted:
“Come on, you cowards! Here’s the other one!”
CHAPTER XI
DAWN–AND A NEW ENEMY
The two Germans, just about to throw Frank overboard, turned quickly at the sound of this new voice. They wasted no time.
“At him!” cried one, and leaped.
The other sprang after him.
Jack, with his feet wide apart and arms extended, braced himself to receive the shock; and when it came he was ready. Frank, in the meantime, sank down in the plane almost unconscious, for one of the Germans had all but choked the life from him.
As the first German sprang, Jack met him with a straight right hand blow to the face and the man reeled back. The second, seeing the fate of his companion, dived for Jack’s legs and seized them, pulling the lad down.
Jack felt out with his left hand and encircled the German’s neck. Then he squeezed. The German gasped for breath as his wind was shut off. His hand searched his belt and presently flashed aloft with a knife. Jack saw it. Releasing his hold on the man’s throat, he seized the knife arm with his left hand and twisted sharply, at the same time driving his right fist into the man’s face.
There was a sharp snap and a cry of pain. The knife fell clattering to the deck of the plane. Jack, very angry, rose to his feet, stooped over, and picking up the German as though he had been a child, heaved him overboard.
“So much for you!” he muttered.
He stepped across the body of the second German to Frank’s side and stooped over him. Gently he raised his chum’s head to his knee.
Frank’s eyelids flickered and directly he opened his eyes.
“How do you feel, old man?” asked Jack.
Frank struggled free from his chum’s grip and sat up. He shook his head once or twice and then rose to his feet.
“I’ll be all right in–Look out!” he broke off suddenly.
He dodged. But Jack, not realizing the import of Frank’s words, remained still. He felt something hot sear the lobe of his ear. Wheeling abruptly, the lad saw the German whom he had first knocked unconscious facing him with levelled revolver–the weapon was Jack’s own, which he had left behind when he swam to the enemy’s aeroplane.
The German faced him with a smile.
“Hands up!” he commanded.
But Jack, with a few drops of blood trickling from his ear, suddenly became very angry. He objected to being shot at from behind.
“Put down that gun!” he commanded in a cold voice. “Put it down before I kill you!”
The German was struck by the menace in the lad’s tones, and for a moment he hesitated and the revolver wavered. Then he braced and brought the weapon up again.
But that moment of hesitation decided the issue. In spite of the fact that the revolver was pointed right at him, and that only a few feet away, Jack took a quick step forward.
The German fired. Jack swerved a trifle. The bullet plowed through the sleeve of his shirt and touched the skin; but that was all.
Again the man’s hand tightened on the trigger, but he never fired again. Jack’s powerful left hand seized his wrist and twisted the revolver from it Then, still grasping the wrist, the lad wheeled on his heel. The German left the spot where he had been standing as though pulled by a locomotive. He was lifted high in the air and, as Jack gave a jerk and then released his hold, the man went sailing through the air and dropped into the sea with a loud splash.
And at the same moment the intense darkness was shattered. The first faint streak of dawn showed in the east.
Jack sat down. Frank did likewise.
“That settles that,” said Jack, briefly. “Now we had better get away from here. We haven’t any too much time.”
Frank, without a word, took his place at the wheel.
“Feel fit?” asked Jack.
Frank nodded, though he felt terribly faint.
“Sure you can make it?” Jack continued.
“Yes,” replied Frank.
“Well, I just wanted to know,” said Jack, “because here comes a German torpedo boat.”
Frank was startled. He turned in his seat, and there, not a mile and a half away, was a ship of war. She was flying the German flag and was making directly for the spot where the British hydroplane rested.
“By George! Won’t we ever get out of this?” the lad muttered.
“We won’t unless you hurry,” said Jack.
“But those two Germans. Won’t they be picked up and give the alarm?”
“One of ’em won’t,” said Jack, grimly, “and I feel pretty safe about the other, too. Let’s get up in the air.”
Frank tinkered with the motor and took a firm grip on the wheel. But the hydroplane did not move.
“Something wrong,” said Frank, quietly.
“What?” demanded Jack.
“Something wrong with the motor. It won’t work.”
Frank had bent over and was examining it carefully.
Came a shot from the German torpedo boat.
“If we don’t get out of here pretty quick,” said Jack, quietly, “we won’t get out at all.”
Frank made no reply, but continued to tinker with the engine.
A second shot from the German torpedo boat. It skimmed the water ahead of the hydroplane. Jack gazed toward the vessel. As he did so a small boat put off from the German and headed toward them.
“They’re coming after us, Frank,” said Jack, “a whole boatload of ’em. How long will it take you to fix that thing?”
Frank uttered an exclamation of satisfaction.
“I’ve found it,” he cried. “Five minutes,” he answered Jack’s question.
“Five minutes is liable to be too late,” returned Jack, measuring the distance to the rapidly approaching German boat with his eye. “However, hurry as much as you can.”
Frank did not take his eye from his engine.
“How far away?” he asked as he worked.
“Three quarters of a mile,” replied Jack, calmly.
“Lots of time for us, then,” said Frank, still working as swiftly as possible.
“Maybe,” replied his chum. “Don’t forget they carry pretty fair rifles with them.”
“If we can get started before they shoot, I’ll guarantee they don’t get us,” returned Frank.
“Well, they’ll get us if you keep talking and don’t get a move on there,” said Jack. “They’re coming like the wind.”
“That’s just the way I’m working. She’s almost fixed row. Can you hold them off?”
“What, with a single revolver against a score of rifles? Not much. They’re right on us now. How’s that engine?”
“Fixed!” cried Frank at that moment, straightening up.
“All right. Let her go then,” said Jack, calmly. “They don’t know yet that we’re going to run. They have made no preparations to fire. Evidently they think we shall wait for them.”
Even while Jack was speaking, the hydroplane began to move slowly over the surface of the water. Very slowly it went at first, then faster and faster.
“Halt!” came a cry from the German boat.
Jack picked up his cap and waved it at the Germans.
“Some other time,” he called back. “We’re terrible busy today. Goodbye.”
The German officer gave a sharp command. Several sailors sprang to their feet and blazed away at the hydroplane with their rifles. Bullets flew by on all sides, but none struck home.
Again Jack waved his cap.
“Very bad shooting,” he remarked. “Looks like some of my–Hello! That wasn’t so bad.”
For the lad’s cap, which he had been waving in derision at the pursuing foe, was suddenly carried from his hand by a German bullet.
“By Jove!” said Jack, quietly, “I wouldn’t have lost that cap—-” He gazed at it as it floated in the water.
And at that instant Frank sent the hydroplane soaring into the air with a lurch. Jack glanced down into the water.
“Hold on, Frank!” he cried.
In response to this command, Frank slowed down.
“What’s the matter now?” he demanded.
“Why, one of our erstwhile German friends has come to life. He was just about to lay hold of us when you came up in the air. Great Scott! What do you think of that?”
“What do I think of what?”
“Why, the Germans in the boat have just shot him.”
“Shot whom? The German?”
“Yes; they saw him coming after us and evidently thought he was a friend of ours. Poor fellow! To be shot down by one of his own countrymen. And so goes the last chance the Germans had of learning that we have discovered their plans.”
“Then it is a good thing for us they shot him.”
“For us, yes. But think of the irony of it!”
“Well,” said Frank, “I wouldn’t like to have shot him, defenseless as he was; and I didn’t want you to. That’s why I didn’t suggest having a look for him before we came up.”
“I couldn’t have done it,” returned Jack.
“No; nor I; and yet duty would have demanded it. For with him alive, there always remained a chance that he would give the warning.”
“It just goes to show,” said Jack, slowly, “that even fate sometimes works on the side of the right.”
“True.”
Unconsciously, Frank had allowed the speed of the hydroplane to diminish during this conversation, and the crew of the German boat again had found themselves within range. They had started to abandon the chase when the plane soared aloft, but when it had slowed down, they had resumed the pursuit, hoping that something had gone wrong with the craft.
Several bullets flew about the machine.
“Great Scott! They’re at it again!” cried Jack. “Let’s get away from here right now.”
“All right, here she goes,” said Frank. “Full speed ahead!”
CHAPTER XII
THE BOYS GIVE THE WARNING
One other adventure, it transpired, was to befall Frank and Jack before they found themselves once more aboard the British battleship, _Queen Mary_; and while it did not result seriously, both lads once more approached the very door of death.
The morning sun was well above the horizon when Jack, shading his eyes, made out in the distance a smudge of smoke.
“Smoke ahead, Frank,” he called.
“Hope it’s the _Queen Mary_” replied the lad. “It should be if I have calculated correctly.”
A few moments later the outline of a large ship of war loomed up ahead.
“Can you make her out yet?” asked Jack.
“No; but she’s built like the _Queen Mary_”
The hydroplane sped on.
“By Jove! She is the _Queen Mary_” cried Frank, a few moments later. “We’re in luck.”
Frank was right. As the hydroplane drew nearer it was plain to make out that the vessel was the giant battleship the lads had quitted the day before.
“Wonder what Captain Raleigh will think of our information?” said Frank, with a chuckle.
“Don’t know. We’ve been pretty fortunate, though. I hope we are in time.”
“So do I. The trouble is, our ships are scattered so far apart that they may not be able to assemble quick enough in sufficient strength to beat off the enemy.”
“Don’t worry; they won’t get very far,” said Jack, confidently.
“Oh, I know that. But if they should happen to come upon a small portion of our fleet we are likely to get the worst of it.”
“Well, there is no reason why they should be able to do that now. We know their plans.”
“That’s true, too. And they won’t, unless it is decided to engage them in spite of their numbers, trusting reinforcements will arrive in time.”
And, though the lad had no idea he was making a prophecy, that is just what actually occurred.
The hydroplane now was less than a quarter of a mile from the _Queen Mary_ and Frank reduced its speed abruptly. Whether this sudden slowing down had anything to do with what followed it is hard to tell; but, no sooner had Frank reduced the speed of the craft, than the plane wabbled crazily.
“Look out, Jack!” shouted Frank. “She’s going down!”
Jack had not realized that there was anything wrong and now he did not grasp the full significance of Frank’s words. What Jack thought Frank meant was that he was going to glide down to the deck of the battleship. Frank, however, knew that there was something seriously wrong with the craft. His first thought had been to jump after crying out to Jack, but seeing that his friend had not understood, Frank stuck to his post, trying as well as he knew how to bring the plane to the sea as gently as possible.
For a moment it seemed that he would succeed, for, as it neared the water, the plane righted itself. Frank drew a breath of relief. But his relief was short-lived.
After remaining upon a level keel for one single instant, the hydroplane turned turtle.
There came a cry of warning from aboard the _Queen Mary_, and even before the falling boys struck water, boats were lowered over the side, manned, and dashed to the rescue.
Although Frank had been unable to maintain the plane on an even keel, his efforts had done some good; for the distance was not so great from the water when the plane capsized as it would have been but for his strenuous efforts.
Jack uttered a cry of alarm as he felt himself being hurled into space, for he had not realized what was about to happen. Frank, on the other hand, had realized his position full well and no sound escaped him as he was thrown into the water.
In falling, Jack was thrown clear of the machine, which struck the water with a great splash. Not so Frank, who, held in by the wheel, was carried down with the plane. The lad was very close to death at that moment and he knew it.
He had caught a deep breath as he was drawn under, however, and this stood him in good stead. Calmly the lad reached for the large pocketknife he always carried, and with this, under water as he was, proceeded quietly to cut the sides of the craft sufficiently to allow him to escape. And in this he was successful.
At last he was free and struck upward as swiftly as possible. When it seemed that his lungs must burst for want of air, his head suddenly bobbed upon the surface. He gasped as he inhaled great breaths of the fresh air. A boat approached at that moment and he was drawn aboard, where he sank down.
Jack, when he came up from below, had thought first of Frank. Rapidly he scanned the surface of the sea for some sign of his chum or of the wreckage. Seeing neither, he knew what had happened. Taking a deep breath he dived.
It took the lad some time to locate the sinking mass of wreckage below and when he did come upon it there was no sign of Frank. Jack stayed below until he could stand it no more; then rose to the surface. There rough hands seized him and dragged him into a boat.
In vain the lad struggled. He wanted to get loose so he could make another attempt to rescue his friend.
“Frank!” he cried.
“Be still,” said a voice kindly. “Frank is safe in the next boat.”
Jack uttered an exclamation of relief and lay still, resting from his exertions.
And so they came again to the _Queen Mary_ and were lifted aboard. Frank and Jack clasped hands when they stood on deck and Jack exclaimed:
“By Jove! I thought it was all over when I couldn’t find you down there.”
“I thought it was all over myself for a minute,” said Frank. “That’s one time when this old knife of mine helped out. I brought it back with me.”
He displayed the knife and patted it affectionately.
“How do you feel?” asked Jack.
“First rate. And you?”
“Fine. Now we want to see Captain Raleigh.”
At this moment the third officer approached.
“Captain Raleigh will receive you the moment you have put on some dry clothes,” said the third officer.
“But we must see him at once,” exclaimed Frank.
“Change your clothes first,” said the third officer kindly.
“But—-” Frank began.
“I have Captain Raleigh’s orders for you to report to him the moment you have changed,” said the third officer sharply. “You will hurry, if you please.”
Frank could see that there was no use protesting further. He shrugged his shoulders and the two boys made their way to their cabin.
“The big chump,” said Frank, as he slipped off his wet clothing. “The whole British navy might be sent to the bottom while we are doing this. What are a few wet clothes?”
“I guess it was the way we went at it,” said Jack. “If we had blurted out what we knew—-“
“To tell the truth, I’ve a good notion to say nothing about what I learned,” said Frank.
Jack looked at his companion in the greatest surprise.
“Oh, no, you’ve not,” he said at last, as he slipped on a dry shirt.
“Don’t you believe I haven’t,” declared Frank. “I’m mad. I don’t like that way of doing things. Now if it had been Lord Hastings—-“
“Well, it wasn’t,” said Jack. “I’m afraid that’s one trouble with us.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Why, simply that he allowed us to get too familiar with him. The result is we expect it from others, and when they don’t treat us that way we are disappointed.”
“That may be it, of course,” Frank conceded. “But at the same time, I didn’t like the tone of the third officer just now.”
“Perhaps I didn’t either,” said Jack, “but I’ve got more sense than to show it. As a matter of fact, I suppose we should have obeyed without question.”
Frank continued to mumble as he slipped into a dry coat. He picked up his cap and moved toward the door.
“Ready?” he asked of Jack.
“Almost. How’s that shoulder?”
“All right. How’s your wound?”
“Just a scratch. Didn’t even bleed much.” Jack picked up his cap and also moved toward the door of the cabin. “Guess maybe he’ll let us see Captain Raleigh now,” he said. “Come on.”
Frank followed his chum.
On deck almost the first person they encountered was the third officer.
“Didn’t take you long,” he said with a smile.
“That is because we have important news,” said Frank.
“Come, then. I’ll conduct you to the captain myself,” said the third officer.
Frank and Jack hurried after him.
Captain Raleigh greeted the two lads with a smile, as they stood at attention before him.
“You are back really sooner than I expected you,” he said quietly. “Have you learned anything?”
“If you please, sir,” said Jack, “I shall skip the details until later. The German high sea fleet will be off the coast of Denmark before midnight!”
“What’s that you say?” he demanded.
“It’s true, sir,” replied Frank, quietly, stepping forward. “The German high sea fleet, in almost full strength, will attack our patrol squadron in the Skagerak, off Jutland, tonight!”
For one moment Captain Raleigh looked at both lads closely. Then he cried sharply, including all in the cabin with his words:
“Follow me!”
He sprang for the bridge!
CHAPTER XIII
PREPARING FOR BATTLE
“Eleven o’clock!”
Jack returned his watch to his pocket.
“Not much time to gather the fleet together,” he said quietly to Frank.
“No,” was his chum’s reply, “but you can rest assured that all can be done will be done.”
Captain Raleigh, upon the bridge, had issued orders swiftly. The _Queen Mary_, which had been heading southward after Frank and Jack returned aboard, was quickly brought about. After several sharp commands to his officers, Captain Raleigh motioned to Frank and Jack.
“Come with me,” he said. “You shall tell me what you have learned as we go along.”
The two lads followed him.
Straight to the wireless room went the commander of the _Queen Mary_.
“Get the _Lion_ quickly,” he ordered the wireless operator.
“_Lion! Lion_!” the call went across the water.
There was no reply.
“Try the _Indefatigable_,” was the next command.
“_Indefatigable! Indefatigable_!” flashed the wireless.
The receiving apparatus aboard the _Queen Mary_ clicked sharply.
“_Indefatigable_ answering, sir,” reported the operator.
“Send this,” ordered Captain Raleigh, and passed a slip of paper on which he had scribbled rapidly to the wireless operator.
The message read as follows:
“German high sea fleet to attack off Jutland tonight. Inform Admiral Beatty. Relay message. Am steaming for Danish coast to engage enemy. Information authentic. Follow me!
(Signed) “RALEIGH.”
A short pause and again the receiving apparatus on the _Queen Mary_ clicked sharply.
“O.K., sir,” said the operator.
“All right,” this from Captain Raleigh. “Call the _Invincible._”
Again the wireless began to click. Two minutes later the operator reported:
“_Invincible_ answering, sir.”
“Send the same message,” instructed Captain Raleigh.
It might be well to state here that all these messages were sent in code, for it was probable that a German vessel of some sort might be within the wireless zone and, if able to read the messages as they flashed across the sea, would have communicated with the main German fleet.
One after another now the wireless of the _Queen Mary_ picked up the battle cruisers _Defense, Black Prince, Warrior_ and the super-dreadnaught _War-spite,_ all of which chanced to be within range of the _Queen Mary’s_ wireless. The destroyers _Tipperary, Turbulent_ and _Nestore_ also answered the call and were instructed to proceed to the Skagerak at full speed.
And to each vessel, as it answered, the single word “relay” was flashed. This meant that Captain Raleigh wanted the word sent to other vessels of the British fleet not within her own wireless radius. And the answer to this was invariably the same:
“O.K.!”
Still in the wireless room, Captain Raleigh turned to Frank and Jack and said:
“Now, I shall be glad to know how you boys learned this information.”
Jack explained as briefly as possible. Captain Raleigh interrupted occasionally as Jack proceeded with his story and when the lad had concluded, he said quietly:
“You have done well, young sirs. England has much to thank you for.”
“But will the others arrive in time, sir?” asked Frank, anxiously. “That,” said Captain Raleigh, “I cannot say. You may be sure that they will come to our assistance at all possible speed, however.”
“But you will not await them there, sir?”
“No; I shall engage the enemy single handed if necessary.”
With this Captain Raleigh turned on his heel and would have left the wireless room. At that moment, however, the wireless began to click again, and the commander of the _Queen Mary_ paused.
“For us?” he asked.
The operator nodded.
“Admiral Beatty, aboard the _Lion_, calling, sir.”
“Take his message!”
There was silence for a moment, and then the operator called off the clicks of his apparatus.
“Admiral Beatty wants to know your source of information,” he reported.
Captain Raleigh dictated a reply.
Again silence for a few moments; and then the operator said:
“The _Queen Mary_ is ordered to the Skagerak under full speed. Hold the enemy until the arrival of the main fleet. Assistance on the way. _Indefatigable, Defense_ and _Black Prince_ also steaming for Jutland to lend a hand. Open the engagement immediately you sight the enemy.”
“Sign O.K.,” said Captain Raleigh.
The operator obeyed and heard the operator aboard the _Lion_ repeat his message.
“I guess that is about all we can do,” said Captain Raleigh. Again he turned to leave the room and once more paused at the door.
“Keep your instrument going,” he ordered the operator. “Pick up any ship that may not have heard the message. Come, boys,” this last to Frank and Jack.
The boys followed their commander back to the bridge; thence to his cabin.
The interchange of messages had taken time, and glancing at his watch now, Frank saw that it was after one o’clock.
“Great Scott!” he exclaimed. “I had no idea we had been in the wireless room so long.”
Back in his cabin, Captain Raleigh seemed to have forgotten the boys’ presence. He was busy for perhaps an hour poring over a mass of charts and other papers. Frank and Jack stood at attention. They were becoming uneasy, when Captain Raleigh looked up suddenly.
“Pass the word for the first officer,” he instructed.
Jack sprang to obey and in a moment the first officer of the _Queen Mary_ was in the cabin.
“Shape your course for Jutland proper,” ordered Captain Raleigh.
The first officer saluted and obeyed.
“We’ll go back to the wireless room,” Captain Raleigh informed the two lads. “I want to keep you boys near me for I may desire to ask a question at any moment.”
The lads followed their commander back to the wireless room.
“Any calls?” he asked the operator.
“One coming now, sir.”
“Repeat it as it comes.”
“Very well, sir. _Indefatigable_ calling.”
“Ask her position.”
“Five miles south by southwest, sir.”
“Inform Captain Reynolds that we shall slow down and wait for him to come up with us.”
“Very well, sir.”
The operator sent the message.
“O.K., sir, signed, ‘Reynolds,'” the operator reported a few moments later.
“Ask her if she has picked up any other vessels.”
“Destroyers _Fortune_ and _Shark_, sir,” reported the operator a little later.
“Good. Give Captain Reynolds our position and tell him to keep working his wireless. Tell him we are likely to need every ship we can bring up.”
“Very well, sir.”
The operator sent the message.
“O.K., again, sir,” he reported.
Captain Raleigh passed a slip of paper to the operator.
“On this,” he said, “are enumerated the ships that should be somewhere in these waters. Pick up as many of them as you can. As you give the warnings when answered check them off on the list. If any information is asked, call me.”
“Very well, sir,” replied the operator, taking the slip of paper. “No other instructions, sir?”
“No. Send the same message as you sent to the _Indefatigable_.”
Captain Raleigh motioned Frank and Jack to follow him and left the room.
“I want you two to attend me closely,” he informed the lads. “I shall have lots of leg work that must be done from now until we sight the enemy and even after that. You shall act as my orderlies tonight and while the battle lasts.”
Frank and Jack were considerably flattered by this. They knew that Captain Raleigh had been pleased with their work.
They saluted.
“Very well, sir,” they exclaimed in a single breath.
“I want one of you to report to the wireless room, room, ready to bring me any message that may come,” instructed Captain Raleigh. “The other will stay here. You can suit yourselves about your positions.”
“I’ll go to the wireless room, then, sir,” said Frank.
“Very well. Report to me instantly a message is received.”
Frank saluted and took his departure. Jack stood at attention in Captain Raleigh’s cabin as the commander of the _Queen Mary_ again plunged into a mass of charts.
Captain Raleigh sprang to his feet and opened his watch.
“Four o’clock,” he said. “We won’t reach Skagerak until well after six. I am in hopes the Germans will not try to pass through before early morning. We shall be ready for them then.”
“How big a fleet have we there now, sir?” asked Jack.
“None, to speak of. Two or three cruisers and a couple of torpedo boats. I believe we have a submarine or two there also, though I cannot be sure of that.”
“We’ll lick ’em, sir,” said Jack, enthusiastically.
Captain Raleigh smiled.
“I hope so,” he said quietly.
At that moment the first officer called from the bridge.
“Battleship overhauling us fast, sir.”
“Probably the _Indefatigable_,” said Captain Raleigh.
He went on deck. Jack followed him.
CHAPTER XIV
CHANGED ORDERS
At the same moment Frank came running up.
“_Indefatigable_ reports she has sighted us, sir!”
“Good!” exclaimed Captain Raleigh. “I felt sure it was the _Indefatigable_. Tell her we shall steam slowly until she comes up with us.”
Frank saluted and returned to the wireless room.
Now Captain Raleigh gave an order to the first officer.
“Have all hands piped to quarters, Mr. MacDonald.”
Instantly, all became bustle aboard the _Queen Mary._ Men rushed hither and thither; but in a moment order was restored out of the seeming confusion.
Followed by Jack, his first and second officers, Captain Raleigh made an inspection of the giant battleship.
He addressed the different groups of men as he passed and told them what was about to transpire.
“It is likely to be a one-sided battle at first,” he told the men quietly, “but I know that none of you will shrink because of that. You have fought against odds before now. You will not mind doing it again.”
The men cheered him.
His tour of inspection completed, Captain Raleigh ordered:
“Let each man be served with a good meal and let them have two hours sleep–all but the watches.”
The necessary orders were given and a short time later the men were eating heartily. Then they went to their quarters, where some lay down to sleep while others sat in groups and discussed the impending battle.
Shortly after five o’clock Frank and Jack found themselves alone in their cabin, having been relieved of duty for an hour.
“It’s going to be a great fight, Frank,” declared Jack.
“You bet it is. It will be the greatest naval battle of history, if the bulk of the British fleet comes up in time. Never before has such a vast array of giant fighting ships as will be engaged in this struggle contended for supremacy. In total tonnage engaged and in the matter of armament and complement it will outrival even the victory of Nelson at Trafalgar and the defeat of the Spanish Armada. And the British, as always, will win.”
“Let us hope so. But, as you and I know, the Germans are no mean opponents. Considering the fact that, since the outbreak of the war, they have had little opportunity to practise war tactics on the sea and practically no chance at all to practise gunnery, the few battles that have been fought have proven them foemen worthy of the best we have to offer.”
“True,” said Frank. “Until reinforcements arrive they will outnumber us. I don’t know how many to one.”
“To my mind it is foolish to engage the German fleet with only a few ships,” said Jack. “It won’t gain us anything. I believe we should retreat slowly and draw them on.”
“I believe that would be a much better plan. We might engage them at long range, running slowly before them. Then, when the main fleet came up, we would take them by surprise.”
And even at that moment the same plan was being revolved in the mind of Vice-Admiral Beatty as, in his flagship, the _Lion_, he steamed swiftly northward.
By this time the battleship _Indefatigable_ had drawn up almost on even terms with the _Queen Mary._ The wireless of both ships were busy as the commanders exchanged greetings and discussed their plans for battle. A little later, as the _Indefatigable_ drew even closer, Captain Reynolds of the _Indefatigable_ flashed this message:
“I am coming aboard you.”
Half an hour later he came over the side of the _Queen Mary_ and disappeared with Captain Raleigh in the latter’s cabin. Directly an aide was despatched for Frank and Jack, who made their way to their commander’s quarters.
“So!” exclaimed Captain Reynolds, when his eye fell on Jack, “this lad is one of the two who gained this important information, eh? Let me hear your story again, sir.”
Jack repeated the account of the adventures he and his friend had had the night before. Captain Raleigh produced the paper the lads had taken from the commander of the German air squadron and the two commanders scanned it together.
“Well, there is one thing in our favor,” said Captain Reynolds. “The Germans will fail to get the air support they are expecting.”
“There probably will be other aircraft with the fleet,” said Captain Raleigh.
“Most likely. Probably a Zeppelin or two with them. Fortunate we have these new anti-aircraft guns aboard. They weren’t completed any too soon. Raleigh, what ships are in the Skagerak now?”
“Only three, I believe. The _Glasgow, Albert_ and the _Victoria_, the former a battle cruiser and the latter two torpedo boats. If we can arrive in time there will be five of us. Then, if the _Warspite_, the _Invincible_ and the cruisers _Defense, Black Prince_ and _Warrior_ come up in time we will be more on even terms.”
“Exactly. But the main fleet, farther south, will hardly arrive in time I am afraid; and, by the way, you are wrong in your calculations. The _Warspite_ is with the main fleet.”
“Is that so? So, then, is the _Edinsburgh_, the _Tiger_, the _Peerless_, the _Terror_, the _George IV_ and the _Richard_?”
“Yes; those, with a dozen battle cruisers and a score of torpedo boats, comprise the main fleet. If they arrive in time, the Germans must either run or be sent to the bottom.”
At this moment a message was handed to Captain Raleigh from the wireless room.
“Change in orders,” said the commander briefly, after scanning the piece of paper. “We are to engage the enemy at long range and seek to draw him farther into the North Sea. Orders have been sent to the three ships off Jutland to fall back before the approach of the enemy until we can join them, if they sight the enemy before we arrive. If not, we are all to retire slowly. The _Invincible_, three cruisers and half a dozen torpedo boats will join us soon after dawn. The main fleet cannot arrive until two hours before noon.”
“By Jove, Raleigh!” exclaimed Captain Reynolds, “I am better satisfied with those orders. There is more chance of success now. It would have been foolhardy for us to engage the whole German fleet.”
“I agree with you.”
“Well, I’ll get back to my vessel now.”
Captain Reynolds arose and extended his hand to his fellow commander.
“In case—-” he said simply.
Captain Raleigh gripped the hand. Then he accompanied Captain Reynolds and saw him over the side.
It was now after 6 o’clock. The German fleet was due off Jutland at almost any moment. Captain Raleigh and Jack made their way to the wireless room.
“Get the _Glasgow_,” commanded Captain Raleigh of the operator.
“_Glasgow! Glasgow_!” went the call.
“_Glasgow!_” came the reply a few moments later.
This conversation between the two commanders ensued:
“Have you sighted the enemy?” This from the _Queen Mary_.
“No,” from the _Glasgow_.
“Have any of your consorts picked up the foe?”
“Not yet.”
“You received my earlier instructions?”
“Yes. We are holding our ground until we sight the enemy. Then we shall retire. How long before you will come up with us?”
“In your present position, two hours. If you fall back, we shall, of course, be with you sooner. Are you ready for action?”
“Yes; cleared.”
“Good. I am giving my men all the rest possible. Goodbye.”
“Funny,” said Captain Raleigh to Jack, “they should have sighted the enemy by this time.”
“It would seem so, sir,” agreed Jack.
“Well, they probably will be in sight by the time we come up with the _Glasgow_,” said Captain Raleigh.
But two hours later, when the _Queen Mary_ and _Indefatigable_ came up with the other British ships, no enemy had been sighted yet. It was then almost nine o’clock.
“You are sure you have not miscalculated the time?” Captain Raleigh asked of Frank and Jack.
“Positive, sir,” replied the former. “Besides, you have the document relating to the attack.”
“True enough. The enemy probably has been delayed. Or perhaps they will await the coming of daylight.”
“It would be better if they did, for us, I mean, wouldn’t it, sir?” asked Frank.
“Much better,” replied his commander briefly.
“Then let us hope that is what happens.”
“But I am afraid it won’t happen,” said Jack. “If the Germans get this far safely, they won’t wait for us to overtake them.”
“No; you’re right there,” said Captain Raleigh. “The thing that worries me is that, if they do get by us, they will spread out all over the sea. They will be able to raid the British coast, may succeed in running through the English channel, and then we shall have to round them up all over again. They would scatter over the seven seas.”
“Then we’ve got to lick ’em,” declared Frank, grimly.
Captain Raleigh smiled.
“That’s the spirit I like to see,” he said quietly. “It is the spirit that has carried the British flag to victory against overwhelming odds on many occasions.”
“But he is not an Englishman, sir,” said Jack with a smile.
“What?” exclaimed Captain Raleigh. “Not an Englishman? Then what is he?”
“American,” was Jack’s reply.
“Oh, well, it amounts practically to the same thing,” declared Captain Raleigh.
“Next to being an American,” said Frank, quietly, “I would be English.”
The first officer, Lieutenant MacDonald, burst into the captain’s cabin at this moment.
“Message from the _Glasgow_, sir!” he exclaimed. “German battle squadron, steaming at twenty knots, sighted five miles off Jutland, sir!”
CHAPTER XV
THE FIRST GUN
Skagerak, in which the greatest naval battle of history was about to be fought, is an arm of the North Sea between Norway and Denmark. The scene of the battle was laid off Jutland and Horn Reef, on the southern extremity of Denmark.
From the reef of Heligoland, the main German base in the North Sea, to Jutland, is about one hundred miles as the crow flies. Therefore, it became evident that the German high sea fleet must have left the protection of that supposedly impregnable fortress some time before.
That the advance of the German fleet had been well planned was indicated by the very fact that it could successfully elude the British cruisers patrolling the entrance to the mine fields that guarded Heligoland itself. Could a British fleet of any size have got between the German high sea fleet and Heligoland the menace of the German fleet would have ended for all time.
At the moment, however, the British warships were scattered over the North Sea in such a manner as to preclude such an attempt; and the best Admiral Beatty and Admiral Jellicoe could hope for was to come up with the German fleet and give battle, preventing, if possible, the escape of any units of the fleet to other parts of the sea and to drive all that the British could not sink back to Heligoland.
The German dash of one hundred miles across the North Sea was a bold venture and one that the British had not believed the Germans would attempt at that time. British vigilance had been lax or the German fleet could never have gone so far from its base without discovery; and this laxity proved costly for the British; and might even have proven more costly still.
Above the German fleet came a fleet of aircraft, augmented to a great degree by three powerful Zeppelin balloons. Lying low upon the water also was a fleet of German submarines.
As the German fleet approached Jutland on the night of May 31, it was shrouded in darkness. The night was very black and a heavy fog hung over the sea. The night could not have been better for the attempt, which would, in all probability have succeeded, had it not been for the fact that the British had been forewarned.
Forewarned is forearmed; and this fact alone prevented the Germans from carrying out their designs. It is history that the approach of the German fleet had been reported to the commander of the British cruiser _Glasgow_ by an aviator, who had sailed across the dark sea in a hydroplane. Whether the Germans knew that there were but three British vessels in the Skagerak cannot be told, but certainly they believed they were in sufficient strength to force a passage, particularly by a surprise attack, which they believed the present venture would be.
Therefore, it must have been a great disappointment to the German admiral when a single big gun boomed in the distance.
This was the voice of the British battleship _Queen Mary,_ which, taking directions from the _Glasgow’s_ aviator, had fired the opening shot, telling the Germans that their approach had been discovered and that the passage of the Skagerak would be contested.
Immediately the German fleet slowed down; for the German admiral had no means of knowing the strength of the British fleet at that point. Hurried orders flashed back and forth. A few moments later three aeroplanes, which had been hanging low above the German fleet, dashed forward.
They had been ordered forth to ascertain the strength of the British.
In almost less time than it takes to tell it they were directly above the British fleet, which, so far, consisted only of five ships of war– besides the _Glasgow,_ an armored cruiser, the _Albert_ and _Victoria_, torpedo boats, being the _Queen Mary_ and _Indefatigable_.
As the Germans approached in the air, a hydroplane ascended from each of the British ships and British aviators gave chase to the enemy. One, which had come too close, was brought down; but the other two returned safely to the shelter of the German fleet, where the British dare not follow them because of the presence of a superior force of the enemy.
But the German aviators had learned what they had been sent to learn. They had discovered the strength of the British. Again sharp orders were flashed from the German flagship.
The fleet came on faster.
Captain Raleigh, because of his seniority, had taken command of the small British squadron. He had drawn his ships up in a semicircle, heads pointed to the foe. As his aviators signalled that the Germans were again advancing, Captain Raleigh gave the command that had been long eagerly awaited by the men–a command which the commander of the _Queen Mary_ had delayed giving until the last moment because he desired to give his men all the rest he could.
“Clear for action!” he thundered.
Jack glanced at his watch and as he did so eight bells struck.
“Midnight!”
The exclamation was wrung from Frank.
“And no aid for at least three hours,” said Jack, quietly.
As the lad spoke the fog suddenly lifted and gave to the British a view of the advancing German fleet.
“Forward turret guns!” cried Captain Raleigh, “Fire at will!”
A terrible salvo burst from the 16-inch guns in the forward turret.
At almost the same moment the leading German ships opened fire.
The first few salvos from each side did no damage, for the range had not been gauged accurately.
It became apparent now that the German admiral had no intention of risking all his first line ships in this encounter. Apparently he had decided that his smaller vessels were fully capable of coping with the small number of the enemy that was contesting his advance.
From the shelter of the larger ships advanced the battle cruisers. Not a battleship nor a dreadnaught came forward. But the smaller ships dashed on swiftly and presently their guns found the range.
A shell burst aboard the _Glasgow’s_ bridge, carrying away nearly the entire superstructure. The captain and his first officer were killed, and many men were injured as huge splinters flew in all directions. Under the command of the second officer, the _Glasgow_ fought back.
A shell from her forward turret burst aboard the closest German vessel and there was a terrific explosion, followed by a series of blasts not so loud. Came fearful cries from aboard the enemy.
And then the whole sky was lighted up for miles around as the German ship sprang into a brilliant sheet of flame. For perhaps two minutes it lighted up the heavens; then there was another violent explosion and the German cruiser disappeared beneath the water with a hiss like that of a thousand serpents.
A cheer rose on the air–a loud British cheer.
“One gone,” said Frank, quietly.
“Yes, but only one gone,” replied Jack.
“Yes, but it’s two o’clock now,” said Frank, hopefully.
“About time to begin our retreat then,” said Jack.
And the order for retreat came a few moments later.
The five British ships–for all were still able to navigate in spite of the damage that had been inflicted–came about in a broad circle and headed westward.
Then it was the Germans’ time to cheer and they did so with a will. It was not often that a British battleship had fled before a German ship or ships and the Germans, since the war opened, had little chance to cheer such a procedure. But now that they had such a chance, they cheered their best Apparently, they had lost sight of the fact that the British were retiring before superior numbers, and that, even in spite of that and the fact that they now were retreating, they still had the best of the encounter so far.
For one German cruiser lay at the bottom of the sea.
The British retreat was slow; and, for some unaccountable reason, the Germans did not press forward as swiftly as they might have done. Whether they feared a trap, or whether the German admiral had determined to await the coming of day before disposing of the enemy, was not apparent. But that he had some plan in mind, every Briton realized.
“The longer he holds off the better,” said Frank.
“Right,” agreed Jack. “Of course, we probably could run away from them if they pressed us too hard, but we wouldn’t; and for that reason he should be able to dispose of us if he came ahead swiftly.”
“Wonder why some of these Zeppelins and airships haven’t come into action?” said Frank.
“I don’t know. Perhaps the Germans are afraid of losing one of them. They probably have other uses for them, for, should they break through here, it is likely they have their plans laid. What time have you?”
“Three thirty,” said Frank, after a glance at his watch. “An hour, almost, till daylight. Do you suppose the others will arrive on time?”
“I hope so. It would be better, of course, if they arrived while it is yet dark, for then they might come up unseen. But with their arrival we still will be outnumbered; and, realizing that, the Germans, when the day breaks, will press the attack harder.”
“I guess we will manage to hold them till the main fleet arrives in the morning,” said Frank, hopefully.
“We will have to hold them,” declared Jack.
At this moment the lads’ attention was directed to the cruiser _Glasgow_. Already badly damaged, a second German shell had now burst amidships with a loud explosion.
“And that settles the _Glasgow_,” said Jack, sadly.
He was right. Gamely the _Glasgow_ fought back, but it was apparent to all, in spite of the darkness, that she was settling lower and lower in the water.
“And we can’t rescue the men,” said Frank. “Remember the admiralty orders. No ship in action is to go to the aid of another. It would be suicide.”
“So it would,” said Jack. “Poor fellows.”
Slowly the _Glasgow_ settled; and for a moment the fire of all the other vessels–Germans as well as British–lulled a bit. All eyes were bent on the sinking ship.
A wireless message was flashed from the _Glasgow_ to Captain Raleigh of the _Queen Mary_.
“Goodbye,” it said. “Hold them!”
After that there was no further word from the doomed cruiser.
The searchlights of both fleets played full upon the _Glasgow_ as she settled lower in the water. She staggered, seemed to make an effort to hold herself afloat, and then sank suddenly.
The duel of big guns broke out afresh.
CHAPTER XVI
THE BATTLE
Dawn.
With the breaking of the intense darkness what a surprise was in store for the Germans!
Back of the four remaining British ships that had at first engaged the Germans, interrupting their dash and holding them in check until the arrival of a force strong enough to engage the foe more closely, came now the relief promised by Vice-Admiral Beatty.
Gathered from various parts of the North Sea, they had steamed toward Jutland, and, arriving there at almost the same time, they had assumed battle formation in the darkness.
That the British were approaching must have been known by the German admiral, for their wireless apparatus had been working unceasingly, telling of their approach, and these signals must have been caught by the German warships, though, because sent in code, they were undecipherable. Nor could the enemy tell, by the sound, just how close the British were.
Captain Raleigh, too, as well as the other British commanders, had known the other English ships were forming some distance back. Toward these they now retreated; and just as dawn broke, and the British sailors obtained their first view of the promised assistance–and greeted the new arrivals with cheers–the British advanced to the attack.
The German admiral, taking in the situation, knew that he still outnumbered the British–that the advantage was still with him. He determined to give battle. He knew, too, that it was only a question of time until the main British fleet would approach and he determined to win the battle before the arrival of new foes. He signalled an advance.
The British fleet was great and powerful–but not so great and powerful as the German by far. As the _Queen Mary, Indefatigable_ and the two torpedo boats fell back, still the center of German fire and still hurling shell, seeking their proper places in the battle line, the other British vessels came on. And presently the _Queen Mary_ and others had gained their places in the formation.
Ahead of the larger ships now–the _Queen Mary_, the _Indefatigable_ and the _Invincible,_ advanced the speediest of light cruisers–the _Defense_, the _Biack Prince_ and the _Warrior_. Behind these, spread out fan-wise, came the destroyers _Tipperary, Turbulent, Nestore, Alcaster, Fortune, Sparrow Hawk, Ardent_ and the _Shark_. The _Albert_ and _Victoria_ also had fallen in line, though badly battered by the effects of the German shells during the night.
Then the three battle cruisers advanced; and as the battle opened, far back came the battleship _Marlborough_, hurrying to join in the struggle.
The German fleet advanced to the attack in a broad semi-circle. The flagship, the _Westphalen_, a dreadnaught of 18,600 tons, was squarely in the center. To her left was the battleship _Pommern_ and next the _Freiderich_; to her right the battleships _Wiesbaden_ and _Frauenlob_. Beyond the battleships to the left were the cruisers _Hindenburg_ and _Lutzow_, and beyond the battleships to the right the cruisers _Elbing_ and _Essen_. Torpedo boats, more than a score of them, also spread far on either side.
Directly behind the single dreadnaught and the battleships came a flotilla of submarines, ready to dash forward at the proper moment and launch their deadly torpedoes. Overhead, and moving forward, were the three giant Zeppelins and a flotilla of other aircraft.
Of all the vessels engaged, the _Queen Mary_ was the largest. The _Marlborough_, advancing rapidly, came next and then the German dreadnaught _Westphalen_. The British battle cruisers _Indefatigable_ and _Invincible_ were the next most powerful, in the order named, and the other German vessels were by far superior to the British.
Now, as the battle opened with the greatest fury, another British vessel was sighted to the westward. It was the _Lion_, the flagship of Vice-Admiral Beatty, steaming at full speed ahead.
Over the tops of the three British cruisers, light vessels travelled swiftly toward the enemy, the larger ships opened with their big guns. The range was found almost with the first salvo and shells began to drop aboard the enemy.
The British cruiser _Defense_, making straight for the German dreadnaught _Westphalen_, hurled a shell aboard the German flagship that burst amidships. There was a terrible explosion and men were hurled into the water in little pieces. A hole was blown through the upper deck.
But the _Defense_ paid dearly for this act. The forward guns of the _Westphalen_ poured a veritable rain of shells upon the British vessel and in a moment she was wounded unto death.
There was nothing the other vessels of the fleet could do to aid her; and it was plainly apparent that she must sink. But the British tars stuck to their guns and they continued to hurl shells into the German line until the water of the North Sea washed over them.
The _Defense_ was gone.
This left the _Black Prince_ and the _Warrior_ alone before the larger British vessels and they stood to their work gallantly. The fire of both cruisers was centered on the German flagship; and it was plain that if they continued at their work the _Westphalen_ was doomed.
An order was flashed to the German Zeppelins. Two sped forward.
Captain Raleigh of the _Queen Mary_ saw them advancing and the forward anti-aircraft gun was unloosened. The first Zeppelin, flying low, was pierced before it had moved forward a hundred yards; and it fell into the sea between the German battleships, a flaming mass. But the second came on.
Above the _Black Prince_ the Zeppelin paused. Something dropped through the air. There was a flash, an explosion and a dense black cloud rolled across the water. When it had cleared the _Black Prince_ was gone!
The anti-aircraft guns of the _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_ fired furiously at the Zeppelin; and a few moments later a shot from the latter struck home. The second Zeppelin fell into the sea. By this time the _Marlborough_ had drawn up with the _Queen Mary_ and the other large British ships; and now these advanced majestically.
The first to encounter the weight of their guns was the German battleship _Pommern_, of 12,900 tons. Raked fore and aft, she was soon ablaze. Her crew leaped into the sea, almost as one man, following an explosion in her boiler room; and the water was dark with bobbing heads.
The _Pommern’s_ sister ship, the _Freiderich_, slowed down and gave assistance in picking up the crew of the former vessel; and while she was engaged in this work no British gun fired at her.
Gradually the _Marlborough_, the _Queen Mary_, the _Indefatigable_ and the _Invincible_ drew closer together as they advanced upon the Germans. Shells burst over them with regularity, but so far none had reached a vital spot.
The _Queen Mary_ turned all her forward guns on the _Westphalen_ and raked her fore and aft. In vain the other vessels of the German fleet sought to detract the _Queen Mary’s_ fire. Captain Raleigh had started out with the intention of disposing of the German flagship and he was determined not to heed the others until the _Westphalen_ had been sent to the bottom.
It was no easy task he had set for himself, for he now was the center of fire of the whole German fleet–almost. A submarine darted forward to save the _Westphalen_. The quick eye of a British gunner caught it. He took aim and fired. The submarine disappeared.
With a view to disposing of the enemy immediately, Captain Raleigh ordered that one of the two forward torpedoes be launched.
There was a hiss as the little tube was released. The distance was so close now that a miss was impossible. There was an instant of silence, followed by a terrible rending sound; then a loud blast. The torpedo had reached the _Westphalen’s_ boiler room.
Quickly the German admiral and his officers clambered over the side and rowed to the _Wiesbaden_, where they were taken on board and the admiral’s flag run up. The _Westphalen_ was abandoned; and she sank a few moments later.
In the meantime, the British cruiser _Warrior_, of 13,500 tons, had been sent down by the explosion of a German shell which had reached her magazine. So rapidly had she settled that not a man of her crew escaped. Thus had the three light battle cruisers of the British–the vessels that had shown the way–been disposed of.
At this moment Vice-Admiral Beatty and his flagship, the _Lion_, entered the battle. The great guns of the flagship roared above the others and the battleship _Frauenlob_, singled out by her fire, soon sank.