Boy Allies under Two Flags
Page 23
CHAPTER XXIII
CAPTAIN VON MUELLER
As Captain von Mueller clambered over the rail, Lord Hastingsadvanced to meet him with outstretched hand.
"It is indeed a pleasure to receive you aboard the Sylph!" heexclaimed, with real pleasure in his voice.
Captain von Mueller grasped the outstretched hand and wrung itheartily.
"And I am glad to see you," he returned quietly, "though I wouldrather it were under more fortunate circumstances. But thebattle is over and with your permission, we will not refer to itagain."
"Agreed," replied Lord Hastings, and led the way to his cabin,motioning for Captain von Mueller, Frank and Jack to follow.
He introduced the lads to the great German commander, and thelatter expressed his pleasure at seeing them. At this moment thethird officer entered and spoke to Lord Hastings.
"Launch from the Sydney coming alongside, sir," he said.
"Show Captain Glossop here when he comes aboard," he said.
The third officer withdrew. He appeared again a moment later,however, followed by the commander of the Sydney. Introductionsfollowed.
"Captain von Mueller," said Lord Hastings at length, "it will benecessary for me to turn you over to Captain Glossop. You willgo with him aboard the Sydney. Were I returning direct toEngland, it would give me pleasure to have you accompany me.However, the Sydney will go straight back to Melbourne, and youwill be taken there and held as a prisoner of war."
Captain von Mueller signified his understanding of the situation.He expressed pleasure at having met Lord Hastings again, and thatthe fortunes of war had made him the prisoner of such gallantEnglishmen.
After some further talk, Captain von Mueller and Captain Glossopdisappeared over the side of the Sylph, and put off toward theSydney. Before either vessel proceeded on its way, severalfurther messages were exchanged between the commanders of theSydney and the Sylph; but at length the Sydney began to draw awaytoward the east.
"And so," said Lord Hastings to the two lads, as they stoodleaning over the rail, after the Sylph was once more under way,"so goes the 'German Terror of the Sea.'"
The Sylph now turned her head once more to the west, and startedon her journey back toward the Mediterranean. She steamed alongslowly, Lord Hastings, greatly satisfied with the success of hismission, being in no particular hurry. They put in at Ceylon forcoal; then once more resumed their journey.
It was the second day after leaving Ceylon that the lookout madea startling discovery.
"Submarine off the starboard bow, sir!" he called.
Instantly there was excitement on board the Sylph, for there wasno telling whether the submarine were friend or foe. At lengththose on the bridge were able to make out the periscope of thevessel, close to the water. And at this very moment it stoodhigher and higher in the water. The submarine was coming to thesurface.
The Sylph had been quickly stripped for action, for LordHastings had determined to give battle should the submarine proveto be an enemy. All available guns were turned upon the spotwhere the submarine was rising.
But hardly had the under-sea craft come to the surface than aBritish ensign was run up.
Lord Hastings breathed easier.
"Good!" he exclaimed. "I wouldn't care much to encounter asubmarine."
The commander of the submarine, Captain Nicholson, came aboardthe Sylph to pay his respects to Lord Hastings.
"I suppose you are aware," he said during the course of theconversation, "that Turkey has declared war on England, Franceand Russia?"
"What!" cried Lord Hastings. "Turkey has declared war! I hadn'theard of it."
"Well, it's true, nevertheless," replied Captain Nicholson.
Lord Hastings smiled grimly.
"I guess it will be 'The Sick Man of Europe's' last illness," hesaid pointedly.
Captain Nicholson laughed.
"It will," he said briefly.
"But what are you doing in these waters?" asked Lord Hastings,having already explained his own presence there.
"Well," said Captain Nicholson, "I understand that there are atleast three Turkish cruisers anchored in the mouth of theEuphrates, in the Persian gulf. I suppose they are there toprotect Bassora, about 70 miles up the river, from possibleattacks. I had thought of attempting to sink them."
"What, alone?" said Lord Hastings.
The captain of the submarine shrugged his shoulders.
"Why not?" he wanted to know.
"Well," said Lord Hastings, "it's a desperate venture, but if youare successful, it will be a feather in your cap."
"I'm not looking for glory," replied Captain Nicholson. "But Iwould give my right arm to destroy those Turkish cruisers,guarded as they are by a fort. And I mean to have a try at it."
"I'd like to go with you," said Lord Hastings, "but the Sylphwould be worse than useless in such an encounter."
"True," said Captain Nicholson. "But I have an idea. Have youever been aboard a submarine in action?"
"I have been aboard many submarines, yes," replied Lord Hastings,"but one in action, no."
"Then why not come with me?"
"I would like to," said Lord Hastings, "but what of the Sylph?"
"Your first officer could take command until you returned."
"No," said Lord Hastings, "it can't be done." He was struck witha sudden idea, and turned to Jack and Frank. "How would you twolads like to make such an excursion?" he asked.
"We would like nothing better, sir," replied Frank.
"Indeed, we would like it immensely," agreed Jack.
Lord Hastings turned again to Captain Nicholson.
"Why not take these two lads as substitutes for me?" he asked.
The commander of the submarine looked somewhat dubious.
"Oh, I'll guarantee they won't be in the way," said Lord Hastingswith a laugh, and he proceeded to relate to the astoundedcommander some of the things the lads had already accomplished.
Captain Nicholson arose, and took each lad by the hand.
"I shall account it an honor to have you with me,"' he saidquietly.
"So be it, then," said Lord Hastings. "I shall remain here withthe Sylph until you return."
Both lads thanked Lord Hastings heartily for giving them thisopportunity of seeing something of under-the-sea fighting aboarda British vessel.
"How soon do you plan to start?" Lord Hastings inquired ofCaptain Nicholson.
"Immediately," replied the commander of the submarine Y-3.
"And how long do you figure it will be before you can returnhere?"
"Not more than thirty-six hours."
Lord Hastings turned to the two lads.
"You had better take a few clothes with you," he told then. "Doyou prepare now, while I have a few words with Captain Nicholson."
The lads hastened to their own quarters, and rapidly threw a fewbelongings together, so anxious were they to be off.
"Lord Hastings is a brick!" exclaimed Jack.
"I should say he is!" agreed Frank. "He agrees to wait in thisoutlandish spot two days just to give us this opportunity. Howmany other commanders do you suppose there are who would go toall that trouble?"
"Not many," replied Jack dryly.
"I guess not. Are you ready;"'
"Yes."
"Come on then, let's go back to Lord Hastings' cabin."
Captain Nicholson was already on his feet, ready to go, when thelads re-entered the commander's cabin.
"I see it didn't take you long," he observed.
"We are very anxious to go, sir," Jack explained.
"They are always quick and prompt," said Lord Hastings.
"An excellent trait," commended Captain Nicholson.
Lord Hastings accompanied Captain Nicholson and the two lads tothe rail.
"All you two lads have to do," he said, "is to, look on. You arenot supposed to do any fighting, just keep out of everybody's wayand make no trouble. Also, keep out of mischief."
The three clambered over the rail and dropped into the littleboat that was rising and falling gently with the swell of thewaves on the sea below.
Quickly the launch put off toward the submarine.
Lord Hastings raised his voice and shouted after them.
"I'll wait here until you return. Don't be gone any longer thanyou can help."
"We'll be back within the time I mentioned," Captain Nicholsoncalled back.
Lord Hastings signified that he was satisfied, and waved his handto the departing boat.
Jack and Frank waved in return.