CHAPTER II
TWO FRIENDS
Frank Chadwick was an American lad, some 15 years old. In Europewhen the great European war broke out, he succeeded, with hisfather, in getting over the border into Italy, finally reachingNaples.
Here the lad lost his father, and while searching for him, hadgone to the aid of a man apparently near death at the hands of asailor. After thanking the lad for his timely aid, the man hadimmediately shanghaied the lad, who, when he recovered consciousness,found himself aboard a little schooner, sailing for he knew not where.
There was a mutiny on the ship and the captain was killed. Themutineers, putting in at a little African village for supplies,attempted to fleece Jack Templeton, an English youth out of hisjust dues. Jack, a strapping youngster, strong as an ox, thoughno older than Frank, succeeded in getting aboard the mutineersvessel, and by displaying wonderful strategy and fightingprowess, overcame the mutineers.
The boys became great friends.
After capturing the schooner from the mutineers, a prisoner wasfound on board, who proved to be a British secret service agent.The boys released him, and then, with Lord Hastings, who had cometo Africa in his yacht, succeeded in striking such a blow at theTriple Alliance that Italy refused to throw her support to Germanarms in spite of the strongest pressure the Kaiser could bring tobear.
So valuable was the service the boys rendered in this matter,that when they expressed their intentions of joining the Britishnavy, Lord Hastings, who had taken an immense liking to them,secured them commissions as midshipmen. Later they were assignedto duty on his yacht, the Sylph, which, in the meantime, had beenconverted into a scout cruiser.
The lads had already played an important part in the war.Through them, a plot to destroy the whole British fleet had beenfrustrated and the English had been enabled to deliver a smashingblow to the German fleet at Heligoland.
In Lord Hastings the boys had found an excellent friend.Although apparently but a commander of a small scout cruiser--unknownto but a very few--he was one of the most trusted of British secretagents. He was a distant relative of the English monarch and,as the boys had already learned, had more power in naval affairsthan his officers and associates surmised. This fact had beenproved more than once, when he had given commands to men apparentlymuch higher in rank.
Following the brilliant victory of the British fleet offHeligoland, in which a number of the Kaiser's most powerful seafighters had been, sent to the bottom, the Sylph had returned toLondon for repairs. Here Frank and Jack had been personallypresented to King George, who had thanked them for their braveryand loyalty and raised them to the rank of Fourth Lieutenant.
Lord Hastings had been ill, but his illness had been of shortduration; and so it was not long before the two lads once morefound themselves pacing the deck of the Sylph, going they knewnot where; nor did they care much, so long as it took them wherethere was fighting to be done.
It was on the very day that the Sylph lifted anchor for hersecond cruise, that London heard of the prowess of the Germancruiser Emden, a swift raider which later caused so much damageto British shipping as to gain the name "Terror of the Sea." Thenews received on the day in question told of the sinking of anEnglish liner by this powerful enemy.
When Frank and Jack sought to learn the destination of the Sylphfrom Lord Hastings, he had put them off with a laugh.
"You'll know soon enough," he said with a wave of his hand.
"Are we likely to see action soon?" asked Jack.
"If we are fortunate," was the reply.
"Well, that's all we wanted to know," said Frank. "Don't worry,"replied His Lordship. "You will see all the action you wantbefore this cruise is over, or I am very badly mistaken."
And with this the boys were forced to be content.
For two days they sailed about in the sunny Mediterranean,sighting neither friend nor foe, and then suddenly had encounteredthe two German cruisers, the Breslau and the Goeben, and theskirmish with these two ships, described at the opening of thisstory, ensued.
But now, as the enemy had succeeded in making off in thedarkness, and as Lord Hastings had ordered that the originalcourse of the Sylph be resumed, the little vessel was again--asJack said when they had started on their journey--"sailingunder sealed orders."
The two lads were about bright and early the morning followingthe encounter with the German cruisers; and as they stood lookingout over the sea, Lord Hastings approached them.
"More news of the Emden," he said, as he came up.
"Another British merchant vessel sunk?" asked Jack.
"Worse," replied Lord Hastings. "A cruiser this time!"
"A cruiser!" exclaimed Jack in surprise. "I always thought thatany cruiser of ours was more than a match for a German."
"Well, you are wrong," was Lord Hastings' reply. "From what Ihave heard by wireless, our vessel attacked, but was sent to thebottom by the Emden before she could do much damage to theGerman."
"What was the name of the British ship?" asked Frank.
"I haven't heard," replied Lord Hastings; "but the action wasfought in the Indian Ocean."
"It seems to me," said Jack vehemently, "that it is about timethis German terror of the sea was sent to the bottom."
"So it is," declared Lord Hastings; "and mark my words, she willbe when one of our big ships comes up with her."
"May it be soon!" ejaculated Frank.
But it was not to be soon. For almost another month the Germanterror prowled about the seas, causing great havoc to British andFrench merchantmen.
For three days the Sylph continued on her way withoutinterruption, and then turned about suddenly and headed for home.Under full speed she ran for days, until the boys knew they wereonce more in the North Sea, where they had so recently participatedin their one great battle.
"Will you tell us why we have come back so suddenly, sir?" askedFrank of Lord Hastings.
"Why," said His Lordship, "the Germans seem to be growingextremely active in the North Sea. Only three days ago, a Germansubmarine, after apparently running the blockade, sank thecruiser Hawke off the coast of Scotland.
"What?" cried both boys in one voice.
"Exactly," said Lord Hastings grimly, "and it is for the purposeof attempting to discover some of these under-the-sea fighters,or other German warships, that we have come back. The wholeNorth Sea is being patrolled, and we are bound to come upon someof the Germans eventually."
"Well, I hope we don't have to wait long," said Frank.
"And so do I," agreed Jack. "I hope that every German shipafloat will be swept from the seas."
The Sylph did not go within sight of the English coast, but fortwo days cruised back and forth, east, west, north and south,without the sight of the enemy.
This inaction soon began to pall upon the two lads, to whom afight was as the breath of life itself.
"I wish we had continued on our way, wherever we were going, andnot have come back here," said Jack to Frank one afternoon.
"This is about the limit," agreed Frank. "I believe we wouldhave done better to have joined the army. At least we would haveseen some fighting."
But the boys desire for action was to be soon fulfilled. Thevery next day some smoke and dots appeared on the horizon.Quickly they grew until they could be identified as enemy ships.The captain of the Sylph set out a wireless message requestinghelp from any units in the area:
"Have sighted enemy; four vessels: approaching rapidly," andthe exact position of the Sylph.
In a moment came the answer:
"Head north, slowly. We will intercept the enemy when activelyengaged. Remember the Hawke!"
Lord Hastings sent another message:
"How many are you?"
"Five," came back the answer. "Undaunted accompanied by torpedodestroyers Lance, Lenox, Legion and Loyal, as convoys."
"Good!" muttered Lord Hastings; then turned to LieutenantHetherington:
"You may clear for action, si
r!"
The gallant British sailors jumped quickly to their posts, thelight of battle in their eager eyes. At Lord Hastings' command,the Sylph was brought about, and soon had her stern toward theenemy.
There came a wireless message from the German commander.
"Surrender!" it said.
"We will die first!" was the answer sent by Lord Hastings.
Steaming slowly, the Sylph apparently was trying to escape; atleast so figured the German commander. To him it appeared thathe could overtake the little vessel with ease, and his squadronsteamed swiftly after it.
Gradually the Germans gained upon the little vessel, finallycoming close enough to send a shot after it. They were not yetwithin range, however, and the shell fell short.
"We'll have to let him get a little closer," muttered LordHastings, "or he may draw off. We'll have to face the danger ofa shell striking us."
A second shell from the Germans kicked up the water alongside theSylph.
"He'll have the range in a minute, sir," said LieutenantHetherington.
"Bear off a little to the south," was the commander's reply.
For almost an hour the Sylph outmaneuvered the German flotilla,and avoided being struck. All this time Lord Hastings was inconstant wireless communication with the Undaunted, which waseven now coming to give battle to the Germans.
At last the lookout made them out.
"Battle fleet--" he began, but Lord Hastings keen eye hadalready perceived what the lookout would have told him.
Well to the rear, perhaps three mile's north, came the Britishcruiser Undaunted and her four convoys. They were steamingrapidly and in such a direction that they would intercept theGermans should the latter attempt to return in the direction fromwhich they had come.
To escape, the Germans must come directly toward the Sylph.Those on board the Sylph noticed a sudden slackening in the speedof the German squadron.
"They have sighted our fleet, sir," said Jack, who had stoodimpatiently on the bridge while all this maneuvering was goingon.
"So they have," said Lord Hastings, and then turned to LieutenantHetherington. "You may bring the Sylph about sir," he saidquietly.
Swiftly the little scout cruiser turned her face directly towardthe enemy, who even now had turned to escape toward the south, atthe same time heading so they would pass the Sylph at thedistance of perhaps a mile.
"Full speed ahead!" came the command on the Sylph.
The little vessel darted forward at an angle that would cut offthe Germans in the flight. It was a desperate venture, and none,perhaps, realized it more than did Lord Hastings; but he was notthe man to see the prey escape thus easily if he could help it.
Rapidly now the Sylph drew closer to the German torpedodestroyers. The gunners were at their posts, the range finderalready had gauged the distance, medical supplies for the woundedwere ready for instant use. In fact, the Sylph was ready to givebattle, regardless of the number of her enemies.
There was a loud crash as the first salvo burst from the Germans,but the Sylph was untouched. Still the British ship drew nearerwithout firing. Then Lord Hastings gave the command: "Mr.Hetherington, you may fire at will!"
The Sylph seemed to leap into the air at the shock of the firstfire. One shell crashed into the side of one of the Germandestroyers, and a cheer went up from the British. Then cameseveral broadsides from the Germans, who had stopped now todispose of this brave little vessel, before continuing theirflight.
Suddenly the Sylph staggered, and her fire became less frequent.A German shell had struck her forward turret with terrible force,putting her biggest gun out of commission. But the Sylphrecovered, and continued to fight on.
Jack and Frank darted hither and thither about the vessel,carrying orders from Lord Hastings and Lieutenant Hetherington,now and then taking a man's place at one of the guns as hetoppled over until another relieved them.
Two distinct shocks told that the Sylph had been struck twicemore. Then Lord Hastings gave the command for his vessel towithdraw.
In attacking the enemy as he had, in the face of terrible odds,he had accomplished his purpose. He had halted the Germans intheir attempt to escape, and had given the Undaunted and theBritish torpedo boats time to come up.
Before the Germans could again get under full headway, there camethe heavy boom of a great gun. The Undaunted was within range,and had opened fire.
Lord Hastings summoned Jack to him.
"What damage do you find to the Sylph?" he asked.
"Forward gun out of commission, sir," replied the lad. "Ten menkilled, and many wounded."
Frank also had had news to report.
The British flotilla and the German squadron were now at ithammer and tongs. Seeing that all hope of escape had been cutoff, the German commander turned to face his new foes, determinedto give battle to the last.
Steadily the British fleet bore down on the enemy, the great gunsof the Undaunted belching fire as they drew near.
Now Lord Hastings ordered the Sylph--still the closest of theBritish vessels to the Germans--again into the fray, and inspite of its crippled condition, the little cruiser once morebore down upon the Germans.
Suddenly the nearest German destroyer launched a torpedo at theSylph. By a quick and skillful maneuver, Lord Hastings avoidedthis projectile, and a broadside was poured into the German.
Others of the German fleet were too closely pressed by theUndaunted and her convoys to aid the one engaged with the Sylph,and so the two were left to fight it out alone.
Closer and closer together the two vessels came, until they wereperhaps only a hundred yards apart. It was evident to those onthe Sylph that a shell must have badly crippled the German, forotherwise a torpedo would have put an end to the little Britishcraft.
Unable to check the advance of the Sylph, the German destroyerturned suddenly and made off.
"After her!" shouted Lord Hastings, and the Sylph leaped ahead atthe word of command.
Boy Allies under Two Flags Page 2