The Rival Submarines Part 33

"That I wish to withhold," replied the Captain. "At the same time I am convinced that the Consul will be more than willing to see me."

The sergeant demurred, but just then a dapper little man, whose snow-white hair and closely trimmed grey beard contrasted vividly with his brick-red complexion, came across the courtyard.

"What's this? s.h.i.+pwrecked men?" he asked, scanning the somewhat dishevelled crowd of seamen, some of whom bore traces of hard knocks received in the struggle with the Somalis.

"These men are," replied Captain Restronguet. "I have not had that misfortune. Neither has my friend here. At the same time I wish to make an important communication to you in private."

"By all means," said the Consul. "This way. Simmons, will you please bring whisky and soda into the small study. I presume, gentlemen, you would like a peg?"

"Now," he continued, as Captain Restronguet, Captain Rees, and Hythe followed him into the room, "what can I do for you? Do you wish to make a statement on oath? If so, I must send for my secretary."

"The necessity for making a statement upon oath rests with you," replied Captain Restronguet. "Allow me to introduce myself as Captain John Restronguet, commanding the submarine 'Aphrodite,' which is now lying off the port."

The Consul stared at his informant for quite ten seconds, then recovering himself said stiffly, "This, sir, is neither the place nor occasion for a senseless joke."

"I agree with you."

"Then, why? The 'Aphrodite' was destroyed by that villain Karl von Harburg in the Red Sea more than a week ago."

"On whose authority did you hear this, might I ask?"

"On the word--if word it can be called--of Karl von Harburg himself."

"The report was false. I am he whom I claim to be. This gentleman, Mr.

Arnold Hythe, an officer of the Royal Navy, will corroborate my statement."

"I am aware that Captain Arnold Hythe was in the 'Aphrodite,'" said the Consul, who was still unconvinced. He was an old Cambridge man, and as such had both partic.i.p.ated and had been the victim of more than one elaborate hoax. Such episodes, utterly foolish as they appear to be, serve their purpose in after life. They impart a considerable amount of shrewdness into the human mind.

"Can you offer me definite proof?" continued the Consul. "If so I should be delighted, since it is my opinion that the only vessel capable of meeting the 'Vorwartz' on anything like even terms was, or perhaps is, the 'Aphrodite.'"

Captain Restronguet bowed. "Sir, I feel honoured," he replied. "But since you cannot accept the word of a gentleman, I can offer no other solution."

"It is part of my duty to investigate matters," said the Consul reprovingly. "If I remember rightly a photograph of Sub-Lieutenant Hythe appeared in the ill.u.s.trated papers at the time he was supposed to have been lost in Plymouth Sound. I cannot admit that the gentleman resembles the portrait."

"Have you a Navy List, sir?" asked the sub, speaking for the first time during the interview.

The Consul walked across the room and took from a bureau a copy of the familiar blue paper-covered book, which he handed to the sub.

"The 'Topaze' is in the roadstead," said Hythe, as he rapidly turned over the pages. "Ah, here we are. Commander the Hon. C. L. Sedgwyke, I know him, but I'm afraid he doesn't know me. Lieutenant Totterbull--h'm, yes, he might. But here's Dewerstone, he was in my term at Dartmouth. Would you mind if he were sent for, sir?"

"Certainly not. I will have a signal made at once," replied the Consul.

"You wouldn't mind, sir," continued the sub, addressing Captain Restronguet. "Dewerstone is a fellow to be trusted. He wouldn't say a word to anyone outside."

Accordingly a signal was made from the roof of the Consulate, and Sub-Lieutenant Dewerstone was informed by his captain that his presence was required ash.o.r.e. The young man did not feel particularly joyful at the intelligence. He had already obtained permission to go to a tennis party, and having to attend on Consular Service did not appeal to him.

Nevertheless, as soon as a boat could take him off, Dewerstone was ready.

"Good afternoon, d.i.c.k," exclaimed Hythe as soon as the sub from the "Topaze" had paid his respects to the Consul.

"Well, Hythe, where did you roll up from?" asked Dewerstone nonchalantly. "I thought you were in Davy Jones's locker."

"I am not," said Hythe earnestly. "Perhaps you would not mind proving my ident.i.ty to His Britannic Majesty's Consul."

"Considering we were in the semi-final for the heavyweight and you knocked me out I think I can safely do that," replied Dewerstone.

"We need not go further, gentlemen," announced the Consul. "I must apologize for not accepting your word, Captain Restronguet. Now what do you wish me to do?"

As briefly as he could Captain Restronguet explained the circ.u.mstances under which he rescued the survivors of the "Iticaba," and the reason why he wished salient facts in connection with the affair to be temporarily suppressed.

"I think it can be arranged," said the Consul. "At all events, I will take down the depositions of Captain Rees, and omit any details I consider necessary."

As soon as this was done Captain Rees took his departure.

His men had already been quartered in the Consulate, where they were to remain until they could be sent back to Liverpool.

"You will dine with me, gentlemen?" asked the Consul of Captain Restronguet and the two subs. "There is no immediate hurry for you to get back?"

"I must get a boat before four o'clock," replied Captain Restronguet.

"So I must ask to be excused."

Hythe was also unable to accept, while Dewerstone, still intent upon the tennis party, managed to find a reason for declining the stiff formality of dinner at the Consulate.

During their stay at Zanzibar Captain Restronguet and his companions visited the old town, but finding it remarkable for its malodorous nature, they beat a hasty retreat and went for a stroll inland. Before they returned it came on to blow fairly hard from the sou'west, and by the time they reached the landing-place it was pretty evident that a boat could not put off without great risk.

In vain Captain Restronguet offered the native boatmen a large sum to be rowed off beyond Bawi Island. He even tried to charter a dhow, but without success.

"We could ask the Consul to communicate with the 'Topaze' or any of the cruisers and gunboats in the roadstead; they would send a piquet-boat for us," suggested Hythe.

Captain Restronguet shook his head.

"Not if it can be avoided," he answered. "I have reasons for not falling in with your plan. We will see if we can get better luck at Shangani Point. The water ought to be smoother there."

Accordingly both men set off as briskly as they could in the moist, enervating heat, but before they had pa.s.sed the Sultan's palace a short, spa.r.s.ely-built man in European clothing overtook them. Twice the man looked over his shoulder at Captain Restronguet, then suddenly wheeling he intercepted him and held out his hand.

"What ho, there, Tretheway! Whoever would have thought of meeting you in this dead and alive corner of the globe?"

Hythe naturally thought it was a case of mistaken ident.i.ty on the part of the little fellow, but to his surprise Captain Restronguet replied in a cordial manner.

"Bless my soul! It's Jenkins. What are you doing here?"

"It is," a.s.sented that worthy. "I've been knocking about a bit since I last worked--I mean, slaved--with you in a British dockyard. Fallen on my feet at last though, that is, unless I fall on my precious skull.

Just fancy, Tretheway, I am aeroplanist-in-chief to His Highness the Sultan of Zanzibar."

"Better you than me," remarked the Captain with a laugh. "But I was unaware that the Sultan was a devotee of the art of flying."

"He is, and he isn't," replied Jenkins. "He owns a good many air crafts of various types, and I and several others, mostly Frenchmen, by the by, give exhibition flights while he sits in his state chair and watches us.

But how goes it? You look jolly fit, and don't appear as if you were hard up for a dollar?"