CHAPTER IX
Drifting Mines
It was a situation in which skilful handling and consummate coolnessalone would extricate R19 from the perils that encircled her. Toattempt to back astern or forge ahead in the hope of escaping thefloating mines would be courting disaster. Fortunately there waslittle to fear from partly-submerged anchored mines, for the depth ofthe Skager-rack was here not far short of four hundred fathoms. Onthe other hand, the drifting mines were either in pairs or inmultiples of two, connected by lengths of wire of sufficient lengthto cause the explosive cylinders to hit amidships the hull of anyvessel unfortunate enough to pick up the middle part of the bight ofrope.
Promptly the whaler and one of the Berthons were brought on deck. Theformer was launched over the side and a couple of coils of ropetossed into her. The canvas boat was unfolded, the stretchers put inposition, and also put afloat.
The Berthon, in which were three bluejackets acted as scout, rowingon ahead, while one of the hands kept a sharp look-out for anyobstructions. The whaler followed, towing a buoy to which wasattached a grapnel by means of a 30-foot length of rope.
Provided the grapnel fouled none of the spans connecting the mines itwas reasonable to conclude that the submarine could likewise followwithout risk, since the depth at which the grapnel was suspended wasgreater than the draft of R19 when awash.
A cable's length astern of the whaler the submarine cautiously creptthrough the water, ready at the first alarm to back from the danger.
"Heavens! What is that lubber doing?" exclaimed the Hon. Derek, asthe bowman of the Berthon laid aside his oar, seized a boat-hook, andprepared to fend off a circular mine.
"Avast there!" roared the Lieutenant-Commander through his megaphone;but he was too late. Already the foolhardy man was thrusting themetal head of the boat-hook hard against the slippery surface of themine. Even in calm water the act would have been that of a madman. Asit was, the choppy waves rendered the result of the attempt aforegone conclusion. Metal grated on metal, and the next instant oneof the fragile horns of the mine snapped off close to its base.
Through his binoculars Fordyce could see the horrified looks on thefaces of the men in the Berthon as they attempted to back from thescene of the bowman's ill-judged activity. In four or five secondsthe chemical action of the salt water upon the contents of thefractured tube would cause the charge to explode, with annihilatingresults to the three bluejackets.
Four seconds passed in long-drawn suspense. Five, six, seven--but theexpected disaster did not take place.
Not until the Berthon was beyond the danger zone did the Hon. Derekgive vent to his feelings.
"Thank Heaven, it's a dud!" he exclaimed fervently.
Then, ordering the Berthon alongside, he addressed the bowman with afew very forcible remarks upon his lubberly action, and, as aprecaution, made the men leave their boat-hooks on the submarine'sdeck.
For nearly an hour the nerve-racking ordeal continued as R19 slowlythreaded her way through the mine-field. By a skilful use of the helmthe submarine, under the guidance of the whaler, contrived to avoidmost of the dangers. Those mines that lay athwart her course, andcould not be otherwise avoided, were tackled by the whaler, theirspans grappled for and secured, and thus towed out of the way.
"By Jove, if we had time I'd like to explode the whole crowd ofthem!" remarked the Lieutenant-Commander, referring to the mines, nowhappily astern. The whaler, now a mile ahead, was returning, afterhaving made sure, as far as human agency could provide, that thelimit of the field had been passed, and R19, having hoisted therecall, was only waiting for the boats to be safely stowed beforeproceeding.
"Destroyer on the starboard bow."
The disconcerting announcement could hardly have been made at a worsetime. The chances were that the approaching craft was a Hun, sinceboth Heligoland and Kiel were within easy steaming distance of theSkaw, and German light cruisers and torpedo-boats could manoeuvrewith slight risk of being brought into action. If surprised by aBritish flotilla, it was a simple matter to make for Danishterritorial waters. On the other hand, should no hostile craft put inan appearance, the presence of Hun warships off the shores of Jutlandserved to impress the Danes with the fact that Germany held supremecommand of the North Sea.
By the fact that the destroyer had altered helm and was bearing downupon the submarine, it was certain that she had spotted the latter.R19 was at a decided disadvantage. Without abandoning her boats shecould not dive and attack by means of torpedoes. If she remainedawash, her comparatively low speed and inferior gun-power would be nomatch for the swift and well-armed destroyer.
The master-mind of the Lieutenant-Commander instantly gripped thesolution to the problem.
"Action stations! Prepare for diving!" he ordered. "I'll fight her,and the victors can pick up the boats' crews."
A Sub and a Submarine: The Story of H.M. Submarine R19 in the Great War Page 9