The Boy Allies Under the Sea Part 36

CHAPTER XX.

THE TRAP IS SPRUNG.

As the three officers aboard the U-16 knew, British battles.h.i.+ps and vessels of war of all descriptions had been stationed all along the Thames, many of them patrolling the very mouth of the river. But now, as Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank stood upon the bridge of the little submarine after it had entered the mouth of Thames, there was not a vessel of any kind to be seen in the darkness.

"Admiral Fischer's orders have been followed out, sir," said Jack in a low voice.

Lord Hastings nodded but made no reply.

Behind the U-16 the other German submarines followed closely, two abreast. Aboard each the men stood to their posts, awaiting the signal they expected at any minute. All the vessels moved along upon the surface. The officers, from their places upon the bridge, followed with their eyes the movements of the U-16, which displayed a small stern light to guide them on.

In case of danger Lord Hastings had been instructed to give immediate warning, that the vessels behind might have time to dive.

Perhaps a hundred yards away in the darkness Frank's keen eyes now made out the forms of many little craft approaching them silently and swiftly. He immediately called Lord Hastings' attention.

"The motorboats," replied the latter quietly. "Things are working out just right."

Behind the motorboat flotilla could be seen forms of larger and mightier s.h.i.+ps of war--the torpedo boats which were advancing in the wake of the mosquito fleet to surround the enemy submarines and capture or sink them. They came along close to the sh.o.r.e on either side of the river and the U-16 continued up the river in the exact center.

"When we get by, they'll close in," said Lord Hastings.

But now one of the commanders with the motorboat flotilla could restrain his impatience no longer, and while still some distance from the enemy gave the command to fire.

A single big gun boomed in the darkness and a sh.e.l.l screamed over the U-16 toward the German submarines beyond.

"The fool!" exclaimed Lord Hastings angrily. "Why could he not wait?

There is no reason for concealment longer."

Immediately he gave the signal agreed upon with the German admiral, the darkening of the tail light--the signal for the others to submerge--and the U-16 dashed forward faster than before--to reach a place of safety as quickly as possible and to get out of range of the British s.h.i.+ps, which, a moment later, opened upon the enemy with every available gun.

Directly opposite the U-16 there was a terrible explosion, a blinding flash, illumining the night like day. A German submarine had launched a torpedo and it had gone home. The foremost British torpedo boat had been destroyed.

But the others rushed on.

The Germans had heeded Lord Hastings' signal to submerge and were doing their best to disappear beneath the water before the British could reach them, the while firing an occasional torpedo, in the hope that it would go true, for they were unable to find the range and were working on mere guesswork.

Before the first of the foe could submerge a sh.e.l.l from one of the little motorboats struck her squarely upon the bridge, killing the captain and other officers, and shattering the conning tower. The men below no longer had a means of guiding the vessel, which drifted toward her nearest neighbor and rammed her amids.h.i.+ps. This blow, while not necessarily fatal, threw the latter out of her stride, and being unable to tell for the moment what was wrong, the German commander gave the order to cease submerging; and the vessel remained where she was until a sh.e.l.l from a British torpedo boat put an end to her.

The two enemy under-sea boats last in line had turned about with the first warning and were making full speed down river again. The rest had submerged before the British could come upon them and had sought to come about and make their way to safety beneath the water.

But the British vessels were too swift for them. With mine nets stretched clear across the river, now that the U-16 had pa.s.sed to safety, the torpedo boats dashed ahead; and an hour later four more German submarines, caught in these powerful nets, were helpless. It only remained to drag them to the surface and make prisoners of the crews, which work was deferred until daylight.

Aboard the U-16 none knew what had occurred save the three upon the bridge--Lord Hastings, Frank and Jack. Below, all stood to their posts, awaiting they knew not what.

Jack descended.

"All right, men," he said, "you may turn in, if you wish. There'll be no fighting to-night."

There was an exclamation of disappointment from among the German sailors, who apparently had been banking on dealing a severe blow to the British. There were several questions, which Jack answered by saying:

"We haven't come upon the enemy yet, and will not to-day."

He returned to the bridge.

"I suppose," said Lord Hastings, "the best thing we can do now is to go ash.o.r.e and report. Frank, you shall come with me. Jack will remain behind."

The lads nodded.

Half an hour later Jack was left aboard the U-16, while Lord Hastings and Frank were being rowed ash.o.r.e.

Below, although Jack did not know it, trouble was brewing. Davis and his three fellow-conspirators were plotting again.

"And what did this man Edwards say?" demanded Davis of one of the Germans.

"He said he would let me know some time to-day," was the reply. "Also, that he felt sure the others would follow his lead--would do whatever he said. He agreed with me that this was no war of ours, and added that as long as kings and emperors were using us to do their will, there was no reason why we shouldn't confiscate the property of kings and emperors to gain a few advantages for ourselves."

"By Jove!" exclaimed Davis. "The fellow reasons well. He may prove the very man for us." And he added to himself: "It would be a good thing to have another Englishman with me, if he is of the right sort."

The conversation continued for some moments, and then Davis said:

"Say, one of you fellows, tell Edwards I want to see him now."

One of the men departed, and returned a moment later, followed by Edwards. Davis engaged him in conversation and the two talked in low tones for perhaps five minutes. Then Davis turned to the others.

"I can see no reason why we should wait longer," he said. "Bernstorff and one of his officers is ash.o.r.e. There remains only one and the crew.

We can dispose of the one officer easily enough, and as for the crew, I am of the opinion that most of them will join us."

"Then," said Edwards, "if you will wait here until I return I will get my other men."

"It would be better that way," agreed Davis. "There will be seven of us and that should be enough. Hurry."

Edwards withdrew. First he made his way to where O'Brien and McDonald were asleep, and, rousing them, bade them follow him; but instead of returning to Davis' quarters, he led the way rapidly to where Jack stood upon the bridge.

Edwards explained the situation in a few brief words and Jack was dumbfounded.

"And you say Davis is preparing to spring this coup to-night?" exclaimed Jack.

"Right now, sir," returned Edwards quietly. "That's why I brought O'Brien and McDonald here. We are all armed, sir."

"Oh, we are more than a match for Davis and his trio of conspirators,"

Jack agreed. "The only thing that troubles me is that the others of the crew may join him. We shall have to act quickly. Follow me."

He drew his revolver and led the way below. There he hurried straight to Davis' quarters and flung open the door. Then he stopped in surprise.