Boy Volunteers with the Submarine Fleet

by Harry Castlemon

  CHAPTER X

  THE SECRET KEY TO THE BOMB FUSE

  "Shall I go down and assist in bringing up the lieutenant?" said thesub-lieutenant, as the doctor of the submarine passed out.

  "No; I have decided that he shall not be removed until this evening,"said the captain. "In the meantime the doctor may return, and give himsuch aid as is necessary."

  The sub-lieutenant's face turned pale, and he trembled. This was thefirst show of weakness that he exhibited. The boys looked at thecaptain, and turned their glances toward the officer of the chaser. Theycould not understand it. The captain continued:

  "I believe the chief machinist is also injured, as well as two of themachine tenders. They may also remain until after the lieutenant isbrought up."

  All present noticed the wrought-up condition of the sub-lieutenant, andthe latter soon exhibited evidence that he was breaking down. At last heremarked with trembling voice:

  "At what time can they be brought up?"

  "I cannot tell at this time; possibly not until tomorrow," said thecaptain, directing a searching glance at the officer.

  "He is very ill," said the doctor.

  "I have no doubt of it," replied the captain. "The length of their stayin the submarine will depend on the length of the fuse attached to thetime explosive in the hold."

  The sub-lieutenant almost dropped as the captain uttered these words,and the boys exchanged significant glances, while the lieutenant of thechaser smiled.

  "You did not think," continued the captain, "that I would be so lax inmy duty as to permit you to plant a mine under our feet?"

  The sub-lieutenant dropped his eyes without answering. The captain gazedat him intently, as he continued: "For the present you will be detained,and the time of the removal of the lieutenant with his companions willbe decided within the next two hours."

  With this decision the sub-lieutenant was put in charge of the marines,while he descended to enter the boat. As he was about to step aboard, heturned to the captain and said: "It will be too late if you defer thedecision for two hours."

  "Ah!" said the captain with a faint smile, "you have thought better ofit. Will the fuse last an hour?"

  The sub-lieutenant nodded. The captain waved his arms and directed theofficer to proceed. The latter unceremoniously pushed the sub-lieutenantinto the boat.

  "I will see to it that the fuses are taken out," said thesub-lieutenant, recovering from his sullen attitude.

  The captain paid no attention to the remarks of the officer. As soon asthe sub-lieutenant was well out of hearing, the captain turned to theboys and said: "It may be a difficult and trying duty to you to perform,but it is the only safe thing to do. As you know almost every part ofthe submarine from the investigation you have made, I would ask you tofollow me, and I will tell you what to do."

  The boys nodded their heads, and entered the conning tower with thecaptain. The latter turned, before descending, and said:

  "You will have observed, no doubt, that the scheme was to turn over thesubmarine to us as soon as possible, leaving a time fuse, which, withina specified time, would have blown the ship to atoms. By so doing theywould accomplish two purposes, namely, destroy the ship, and save theirown lives. We must not put confidence in any statement they may make."

  "But wouldn't it be a good idea to let the sub-lieutenant remove thefuses, as he said he would do?" asked Ralph.

  "Would you be willing to rely on that?"

  "Well, I wouldn't," replied Alfred. "I could tell by the way thesub-lieutenant acted that he would play a trick if he could."

  "That is just why I want you to assist me in check-mating," said thecaptain.

  "Tell us just what to do, and you may depend on us," replied Ralph.

  "As you know many of the dark places below I want you to go down with meand find several where you can secrete yourselves. I will then send thesub-lieutenant down, and order him to remove the fuses. I want you to beparticular to observe every step he takes, and, as far as possible, notewhat he does at each place; do you understand?" said the captain.

  "Perfectly," replied Ralph.

  Together they descended. All were well aware that the lieutenant, thedoctor, and the three wounded men were still in the dining galley, thedoor of which had been closed and locked by orders of the captain, afterthe last of the submarine crew reached the upper deck.

  "I know one good place where a fellow can hide and still see what isgoing on," said Alfred.

  "Where is that?" asked the captain.

  "At that tank by the side of the dining galley," replied Alfred.

  "That would be a good vantage point," answered the captain. "It is theaft trimming tank, and if you can find a place of concealment it would,at the same time, enable you to overhear any conversation that mightpossibly take place, when the sub-lieutenant is performing his unwelcomeduty."

  "Then maybe I ought to get somewhere forward of the main hatch?"proposed Ralph.

  "I suppose you have your revolvers with you?" said the captain.

  "I know mine is all right," replied Ralph.

  "So is mine, I think," said Alfred, "although I haven't had anopportunity to try it so far."

  "I hope there will be no necessity for anything of that kind," said thecaptain. "However, we are dealing with men who are desperate, and whohave been taught that they must do desperate things to accomplish theirpurposes, hence the safe rule, in all cases, in dealing with them, is todo the very opposite of that which they wish you to do."

  "Is that the reason why you refused to let him remove the fuse?" askedAlfred.

  The captain laughed quietly, as he replied: "He thinks I have refused tolet him do so, but he will be surprised to get the order to remove thefuses, and be permitted to go down into the vessel unaccompanied."

  "Then he is to come down here without you?" said Ralph in surprise.

  "Why, certainly; and that is why I want some one here to watchproceedings," said the captain.

  "Oh! I understand now," replied Alfred. "That's a good idea. If anythinghappens we'll find out what it is if any one can."

  "I believe it," answered the captain. "And now select your places. Iwill go up and send him down within the next fifteen minutes."

  Alfred took up his station at one side of the aft trimming tank, andRalph, after some investigation, upturned one of the boxes which wasstill lying in the passageway directly to one side of the steps leadingto the conning tower, and after a little search, found two more, whichwere drawn together, thus forming a retreat which enabled him to observethe movements of any one on three sides.

  All this was done in silence, and all preparation having been made, thecaptain ascended. After reaching the deck-house of the chaser, herequested the sub-lieutenant's presence. As he approached, between thetwo guards, the captain said: "I have concluded that you may go down andremove the fuses, and I shall depend on your honor to do iteffectually."

  The sub-lieutenant bowed stiffly, and was led to the boat, followed bythe captain. As they reached the conning tower, the captain continued:"I will remain here. I shall give you ten minutes' time to do the work."

  The sub-lieutenant descended, and was somewhat surprised to find himselfalone in the interior. The electric lights were burning brightly. Ralphwas the first to view his movements. The officer first moved to a pointdirectly opposite, and with a key opened a door, which Ralph had nevertheretofore noticed. In a moment the door was again closed and Ralph sawa short section of a fuse, which the officer quickly pushed into a darkrecess below.

  From that point he moved toward the stern, stopping at the motors; thenhe quickly turned around and glanced about in a suspicious manner. As hestooped down, Ralph made a slight noise on one of the boxes, and theofficer straightened up like a shot. The movement indicated a guiltyact, and Ralph divined that the purpose was to injure the motors.

  The sub-lieutenant moved cautiously to the rear, and in a few momentswas abreast of the dining galley. Here he was within hearing of Alfredbehi
nd the aft trimming tanks. He saw the officer go to the door, andgive three quick knocks. "Herr Schwoger!" he said in a subdued voice. Inanother moment a voice within replied: "The fuses; you must not forgetthem."

  To this the sub-lieutenant answered: "I have been ordered to removethem; what shall I do?"

  "Take out all but the forward fuse, and report," said the voice. "Tellus what has happened," continued the voice, which was now recognized asthe doctor's.

  "They have complete command, and two warships are outside," was thereply.

  From this point the officer crossed over to the starboard side of thevessel and at a large stand-pipe stooped down. Alfred tried to ascertainwhat he was doing, but was unable to detect the nature of his work. Thesub-lieutenant then crossed back to the other side, and, working his wayquickly to the motors, stooped down. Ralph could no longer restrainhimself. He quickly and quietly moved toward the officer, as he saw himwith a long tool of some kind in his hand reach down to the base of themotor.

  "Hands up!" shouted Ralph.

  The tool dropped from the hands of the officer with a click.

  Alfred was at the side of the sub-lieutenant in an instant. "You may goon deck," said Ralph.

  The officer glanced at Alfred, whom he had seen emerge from the afthiding place, and then turned a look of contempt on Ralph.

  "Move!" said Ralph, pointing to the gangway.

  Alfred cocked his revolver and menacingly pointed it at him.

  There was only one thing to do and he did it. He was met by the captainat the head of the stairway.

  The boys followed quickly. The captain looked on at the leveledrevolvers and appeared to be surprised.

  "What does all this mean?" he asked.

  "It means that he tried to destroy the motors, and we caught him at itin time," said Ralph.

  "That is not so," replied the officer.

  "What is this for?" asked Alfred, as he held up the tool which theofficer had dropped.

  "But you have removed all the fuses, of course?" said the captain,apparently not heeding the tool referred to.

  "I have," said the officer, straightening up.

  "All but the one at the forward part of the vessel," replied Alfred.

  The officer turned, with a look of surprise and chagrin on his face. "Hedoes not know what he is talking about," said the officer.

  "Then you are lying to me as you are to the captain," said Alfred. "Youtold the doctor in the galley that you had removed all but the forwardone. Did you lie to him?" asked Alfred.

  A blush seemed to suffuse the officer's face, as the captain said:

  "We will go down together. There may be some more work to do; come on,"said the captain, as he indicated the way. "You may go first, Ralph, thesub-lieutenant will follow."

  There was no help for it. Once below the captain said: "You will saveyourself considerable trouble by removing the fuse from the forwardbomb, and that without further waste of words."

  The officer knew that the manner in which the words were uttered meantbusiness. Without waiting for the second warning, he led the way, openedanother secret door, and removed the tell-tale fuse.

  "Ah, ha! cut for two hours! Now, while we are about it you might as wellstart the motor; we have some use for it," said the captain.

  "I cannot do that," replied the officer.

  "So you succeeded in injuring it," said the captain.

  "No," was the reply.

  The captain picked up the tool, which Alfred was so particular to carryalong. "And what was this used for?" he asked.

  "Yes; I have disarranged the motor fields so that they are useless; andI don't deny it," said the officer, straightening up and looking at thecaptain defiantly.

  "There; that is something like it; but you haven't deceived me in theleast. I have brought a very useful article with me," continued thecaptain, drawing from his pocket a paper and presenting it to theofficer. "It contains instructions, which I expect you to follow, foryour own safety. I shall see to it that the fuses you removed are againput into place and the mechanism set for one hour. Of course, I shallhold the keys. Under those conditions you may remain locked below, and Ishall expect you to obey my signals, as we intend to navigate the vesselto port, which will, as you know, occupy about fifty minutes of time. Doyou know where the fuse boxes are?" said the captain, turning to theboys.

  Ralph marched to the side wall and pointed to the place where thesub-lieutenant opened the first box.

  "Open it!" ordered the captain, turning to the sub-lieutenant.

  The latter hesitated. The captain stared at him sternly and repeated theorder. As he made no motion, the captain continued: "Why do youhesitate?"