A Sub and a Submarine: The Story of H.M. Submarine R19 in the Great War
Page 26
CHAPTER XXVI
A Friend in Need
"Well done, Cassidy!" exclaimed Lieutenant-Commander Stockdale whenthe A.B., with his clothes already stiff with ice, came on board. "Gobelow--don't waste time--and shift into a dry kit; and tell Jones toserve out a stiff tot to you three men."
"Beg pardon, sir," said Cassidy, "but we found this gadget lashedround Flirt's neck--something written on it by Mr. Fordyce."
The Hon. Derek took the paper parcel. He recognized it as the dummypackage that he had assisted to make up in order to tackle VladimirKlostivitch.
"All right, carry on," he replied, dismissing the now shivering A.B.
"Mr. Macquare," he continued, turning to the Lieutenant, "come belowwith me if you please."
The two officers repaired to the Hon. Derek's cabin.
"Young Fordyce has got into hot water, judging by this messsage,"remarked the Lieutenant-Commander, holding up the sodden parcel forhis subordinate's inspection. "It's lucky the address is given, for Ibelieve I forgot it. Now what's to be done?"
"Call for volunteers for a rescue-party, sir," suggested Mr. Macquarepromptly.
The Hon. Derek shook his head.
"Won't do, Mr. Macquare. We aren't lying on an uncivilized coast,where we can act off our own bat. We've got to tread warily. All thesame, there's no time to be lost. If we work through diplomaticchannels there'll be weeks, perhaps months, of exasperating delay. Wemust be under way within the next twenty-four hours unless we are tobe frozen in here for the winter. And I don't want to leave my Subbehind. Hallo, what is it? I'm busy."
The entry of a bluejacket holding a piece of pasteboard in his handinterrupted the discussion.
The card was that of Naval-Lieutenant Rodsky.
"Show him down below," ordered the Hon. Derek. "Dash it all,Macquare, Rodsky's a sound fellow; he might help us."
The Russian officer had recently returned to Cronstadt and had takenan early opportunity of paying a formal call upon the Hon. Derek.When informed of what had befallen Sub-Lieutenant Fordyce he becamegenuinely sympathetic.
"I quite see your point," he remarked, speaking in French, since, inthe absence of the Sub, Stockdale was without the services of aninterpreter. "I would suggest that you consult my friend,Captain-Lieutenant Orloff, of the destroyer _Zabiyaka_. She is lyingin No. 3 Basin."
Acting upon this advice the three officers went on board thedestroyer, and Rodsky briefly outlined the case to his confr?re.
"Vladimir Klostivitch--do I know anything of him?" exclaimed CaptainOrloff. "One of the most dangerous men in Russia at the present time.M. Kerensky would have had him arrested, but there,"--the Captainshrugged his shoulders expressively--"Trotsky is more powerful thanM. Kerensky, and Klostivitch is in Trotsky's pay."
"And Germany's too, I fancy," added Stockdale.
"I can suggest a plan," continued Orloff. "One that will remove allresponsibility from your shoulders, Monsieur le Capitan. In theinterests of my country I will arrest this villain, Klostivitch.Fortunately my crew are loyal to me and anti-German to a man. Nowleave everything to me, and if your officer is not liberated withintwelve hours my name is not Boris Orloff."
"You will not expose yourself to the risk of the Extremists' fury?"asked the Hon. Derek, loath to accept any favour that might bedetrimental to the generous Russian's interests.
"My friend," replied Orloff, "what has England done for us? WeRussians are extremely indebted to her. Strange, then, if I shouldhesitate to run a slight risk in return for far greater sacrificethat your navy has made for ours. There is one other point. Iunderstand that you are leaving as soon as possible?"
"Directly repairs are effected," replied the Lieutenant-Commander ofR19.
"Have any difficulties been placed in your way by the present navalauthorities of Cronstadt?" asked Orloff pointedly.
"None whatever," declared Stockdale emphatically. "In fact anice-breaker has been told off to keep a channel open for us."
"I am glad to hear it," remarked the Russian. "Later on it may bedifferent, especially as I hear that the Huns, in their infamouspeace proposals, demand the surrender of all Russian and Alliedwarships in the Baltic. For my part I would sooner blow up the_Zabiyaka_, and there are, I am proud to say, many other commandingofficers equally determined on that point. When will you be ready toproceed to sea, do you think?"
"By daybreak on Thursday," replied the Hon. Derek. "Stores andprovisions are already on board."
"It is possible that the _Zabiyaka_ will escort you through themine-field in the Gulf of Finland," remarked Captain Orloff. "If so,be prepared to receive a present from me," he added grimly."Something, perhaps, that you may not appreciate, but we Russianswill be only too pleased to get rid of. Au revoir, Monsieur leCapitan."
"What is he hinting at, sir?" enquired Mr. Macquare as the twoBritish officers made their way back to the submarine.
"Goodness knows!" replied the Hon. Derek. "We can but wait and see."