The Marie Theresa had not escaped unscathed in the combat, but, although her injuries were not serious, they were such as to prevent a pursuit of the second German cruiser, which was dashing away at full speed.
The crew set to work with a will wreckage, and finally the vessel was shipshape once more. Then, at a command from Captain Dreyfuss, she was put on her course toward the south.
Several uneventful days passed, during which Frank and Jack struck up quite a friendship with their fellow middies. The unkindly spirit of the young Frenchmen gave way to real comradeship, and all were now on the best terms.
It was on a bright, sunny morning that the Marie Theresa steamed through the entrance to the Adriatic Sea, where the French fleet, with one or two British warships, had the entire Austrian naval force cooped up. The Austrians had made several dashes, in an attempt to run the blockade, but so far all such efforts had been unsuccessful.
As the Marie Theresa steamed up to the other vessels of the fleet, she was greeted with a salute. A short time later Captain Dreyfuss put off for the flagship in a small boat to pay his respects to the admiral.
It was late when he returned aboard the Marie Theresa, and immediately he set foot on board a subdued air of excitement became apparent. The midshipmen, not being in the confidence of the superior officers, at first could not account for this; but they soon learned its cause.
The Marie Theresa had been ordered to try and get closer to theAustrian fleet.
It was a well-known fact that all the Austrian ports had been mined, and that the heavy shore batteries of the enemy were more than a match for the big guns on the cruiser—that they outranged them—but, nevertheless, the crew of the Marie Theresa made what preparations were necessary with enthusiasm.
It was well after nightfall when the French cruiser moved slowly between the other vessels of the allied fleet, heading for the enemy. Not a light shone aboard the vessel, and there was not a sound to break the stillness of the night.
Beyond the rest of the fleet the Marie Theresa was forced to go more slowly, feeling her way cautiously to avoid being blown up by one of the many floating mines.
"This is ticklish work," said Jack to Frank, they moved slowly along.
"You bet," was the latter's reply. "This thing, of floating along, not knowing the next minute you are liable to be on the bottom, would try anybody's, nerves. By Jove! I can feel my hair standing end now."
"I guess it's not as bad as all that," laughed Jack.
"Well, I have a bad case of nerves, anyhow," replied Frank.
Suddenly, at a subdued cry from forward, the Marie Theresa came to a halt.
"Vessel of some sort dead ahead," the word was passed along.
A moment later a voice of command rang out:
"Pass the word for Mr. Chadwick and Mr. Templeton."
"Wonder what's up?" asked Frank, as they made their way to the bridge, where Captain Dreyfuss was standing.
"I guess we'll know soon enough," was Jack's reply.
They halted before their commander and came to attention.
"If I am not mistaken," said Captain Dreyfuss, pointing ahead, "that dark hull there is an Austrian vessel, whether a warship or not I cannot say. Now, the success of this venture depends upon silence. A shot from a big gun aboard that ship would mean failure for us. I have called you two lads to ask if you would like to undertake a dangerous task?"
"Yes, sir," replied Jack quietly.
"We shall be only too glad," said Frank eagerly.
"Well, then," continued, Captain Dreyfuss, "I believe that by a quick and silent dash you may be able to board her. If You are successful in getting aboard, your first duty will be to prevent the firing of one of the big guns. Luckily, we are still far from shore, so the sounds of a hand-to-hand struggle are not likely to be overheard. Are you willing to undertake this mission?"
"Yes, sir," replied both lads in a single voice.
"Good! You shall have fifty men. With the effect of a surprise,I believe this should be enough."
Half an hour later, while the Marie Theresa remained stationary, not even showing a light, Frank and Jack, with five small boats at their command, were creeping silently toward the Austrian vessel. Nearer and nearer they approached, and at length the first boat scraped the side of the larger vessel.
So far their presence had not been discovered.
Softly and silently Jack led the way to the deck of the enemy, which, it was now plain, was a small Austrian cruiser. Frank and the French sailors followed close at his heels.
As Jack's head came even with the rail, he paused to look about. And it was well that he did so. For not ten paces from him stood an Austrian sailor.
His eyes were turned in the opposite direction, and so stealthily did Jack now lower himself to the deck that he was not heard.
"I hate to do this," he muttered to himself, "but—"
A moment later his revolver butt crashed down on the Austrian's skull. The man dropped like a log. Hastily the lad led the way to the bridge, where, by quick action, the man on watch was overcome without the sound of a struggle.
Then half of the French turned their attention to the commander's cabin, while the others hastened to see that all means of egress from below were barred.
With drawn revolver Jack entered the cabin first. His eyes fell upon two officers playing checkers, one evidently the commander of the cruiser. So quietly did the lad enter the room that his presence was not discovered until he spoke.
"Hands up!" he commanded.
The officers leaped to their feet with a single movement, and the hand of the commander fell upon his revolver, while the other, unarmed though he was, dashed straight at Jack.
Jack's revolver spoke sharply once, and the second Austrian officer tumbled in a heap to the deck. Before the commander could draw his weapon Jack had him covered.
"None of that," he said sharply, as the commander made another move as though to draw.
The Austrian commander evidently thought better of his act, for his hands flew above his head. Jack advanced quickly and relieved him of his weapons. Then he marched him to the bridge.
"Now," said Jack calmly, "you will signal the engine-room for half-speed ahead."
The officer started to protest, but at the sight of Jack's revolver, leveled right at his head, he reconsidered and did as ordered. Jack now motioned Frank to stand guard over the Austrian commander, and himself took the wheel.
Slowly the Austrian cruiser, her head describing a wide circle, gathered speed and turned in the direction of the allied fleet. Evidently those below had no idea that anything was wrong, for not a sound reached the ears of those on deck.
Now, at Jack's command, the commander signaled the engine-room for full speed ahead, and the pace of the cruiser increased. Swiftly she dashed along in the night, but was suddenly checked in her flight by a hail from across the water:
"What ship is that?"
Jack recognized the voice of Captain Dreyfuss, and called back:
"Captured Austrian cruiser, sir. This is Templeton. What shallI do with her?"
"Take her on to the fleet," came the reply.
"Good work! I shall not wait for you to return but will continue immediately."
This was a disappointment to the two lads, who had banked on being aboard the Marie Theresa in her raid. However, orders were not to be disobeyed.
Day was breaking when the Austrian cruiser steamed in among the French ships. Jack went aboard the admiral's flagship and reported. It was while he was standing beside the admiral that a fearful commotion broke out on board the captured Austrian cruiser.
There was the sound of a big gun, and a shell screamed overhead.
"The fools!" exclaimed the admiral. "Can't they understand they have been captured?"
Evidently the Austrians could not, for a second shell screamed overhead.
Quickly the flagship signaled the French aboard the captured vessel to leave, and when they were over the side and well out of harm's way the French dreadnought opened fire on the cruiser.
Men now emerged from below on to the deck of the captured vessel, and rushed rapidly about.
An officer leveled a glass and took in the imposing sight of theFrench gathered about on all sides of him.
In another moment a white flag was run up at the masthead. It was the sign of surrender.
The French admiral complimented both lads highly on the success of their venture; and congratulated them again personally that night, when the Marie Theresa, after a successful raid into the very midst of the Austrian fleet, returned unscathed—leaving at the bottom of the sea two Austrian torpedo boats.
The French and Austrian fleets were steaming into battle in the Adriatic. This coming struggle, while it was to be by no means decisive, was nevertheless the first engagement of any magnitude to be fought in southern waters; also it was the first in which fighters of the air were to play an important part.
The Marie Tieresa, back from her successful raid, was one of the foremost in the French line of battle. Now, as she steamed forward with the rest of the fleet, her hydroplanes were made ready for action.
Captain Dreyfuss summoned Jack and Frank before him.
"You will each take a seat in one of the hydroplanes," he ordered. "Your duties will be to drop bombs on the enemy. Each machine carries two men, one a pilot. Therefore you will each take separate machines."
Frank and Jack saluted, and a moment later were in their places. What was Jack's surprise to find that the pilot of his machine was none other than the French midshipman he had so lately engaged in fistic combat. The latter, whom the boys had learned to call Pierre, greeted him with a smile.
"I'm glad I am to have you along," he said simply.
"Thanks," was Jack's brief reply.
The French hydroplanes, at least fifty of them, from all the battleships, now skimmed over the water, and a moment later soared in the air. Flying on beyond the French ships, a smudge of smoke came into view, then another, and then many more. Ships of all kinds, Jack could see, dreadnoughts, cruisers, torpedo boats and scout ships, advancing toward them.
Then, as they drew nearer, Jack made out other vessels, lying low in the water, without smoke, approaching. These were the Austrian submarines. Jack counted the enemy—sixteen ships of all classes, and opposed to these the French had offered almost an equal number. The forces of both sides under and above the sea, of course, he could not count.
Some of the airships from both sides now came into contact, and brisk skirmishes ensued. Rifles flashed from them, and suddenly one tumbled into the sea. It was an Austrian craft, and it was first blood for the French.
Now the aircraft, at a signal, returned to their respective fleets, and hovered over them. The speed of both squadrons was reduced together. The submarines of both fleets suddenly sank from sight, and it was evident to Jack that the first blows probably would be struck from under water.
The aircraft once more advanced, flying low, seeking to learn the positions of the submarines, and to point them out to the gunners on the big battleships and cruisers. A periscope, extending a few feet above water, gave Jack a good target, and the lad dropped a bomb.
There was a terrific explosion below the water. The periscope disappeared. There was one Austrian submarine less.
The two squadrons of ships meantime were drawing nearer together. The first French battleship, flagship of the squadron, was now engaged with the first ship of the Austrian squadron. They were engaged gun for gun.
Now the second ships of each fleet came into action, and then the third. Ship after ship engaged the enemy, until the battle became general. For an instant, after each salvo, the rival squadrons were hidden from each other by the smoke of battle, but a brisk wind soon blew this away, and the cannonading continued.
Now one of the French vessels steered aside and dropped behind the line of battle. She was disabled.
The next ship moved up, and the French advance continued as before.
The torpedo craft of the French, gathered behind the French battle line dashed forward suddenly, headlong for the Austrian fleet. For two miles they sped on, apparently unnoticed by the enemy, then the great turret guns of the Austrians opened on them. The French torpedo craft began to suffer. Two together swung broadside to the Austrians, riddled with holes; the boiler of a third burst, the ship broke in two and sank almost instantly. But the others raced on.
Toward the big Austrian battleships they dashed. Austrian torpedo boats rushed out to meet them.
A shell from a French warship struck one of these, and she went to the bottom immediately. Others suffered by the French fire.
Four thousand yards from the Austrian fleet the French torpedo boats launched their torpedoes; then they fled back to the protection of the battleships, still engaged with the Austrian pursuers with small guns.
But they had done their work. A hundred torpedoes, driven by their motors of compressed air just below the surface, were steering automatically for the Austrian battleships.
Suddenly the fourth ship of the Austrian line staggered; a white spray of water leaped high in the air, and the Austrian vessel split into many pieces. The first torpedo had gone home. The fifth and sixth Austrian battleships also now leaped from the water, and then sank from sight. Farther back another Austrian ship dropped from the line of battle.
Now a school of Austrian torpedo craft dashed forward again. They were met by a fierce hail of fire from the French, but in spite of this they succeeded in launching their torpedoes, and the French battleship, far back, suddenly disappeared from the surface of the Adriatic.
Now the battle grew so terrific that individual ship movements could not be kept track of. The Austrian torpedo craft retreated and the French gave chase. Jack and Frank saw all this, soaring above the sea, a part of it, and yet not a part of it, for so far they had had little to do.
Pierre, seated in front of Jack, suddenly uttered a shout. Following the direction of the pilot's eyes, Jack perceived a great, gray, pencil-shaped object approaching through the air. He recognized it instantly—a German war dirigible, sent to help the Austrians. Under it flew smaller forms, aeroplanes accompanying it as guard. And now a second Zeppelin appeared—and then a third.
Swiftly they swept over the sea. A moment and they had passed over the broken line of Austrian battleships, and sped on toward the French fleet. The French perceived the menace, and their special quick-firers, elevated for aeroplane defense, came into action.
But the Zeppelins bored on, and their powerful guns fired down macarite shells. The first French battleship, already stripped by the raking fire of the Austrian fleet, seemed to crumple up, and a moment later disappeared altogether.
The rain of shells from above found breaches in the armor of a second French ship, caught a magazine forward and exploded it, almost at the same time blew up a magazine aft, and the ship, broken in two, sank.
The first dirigible, having passed over the French fleet, now turned and came back. The shells of the ships burst harmlessly below it. As the torpedo boats had gathered for an attack against the Austrian fleet, so now did the French aircraft gather for an assault upon these enemies of the air.
But the enemy's airmen did not wait for them. They charged. Machines met, wing against wing, and toppled into the water. Others, their propellers crushed, met the same fate. But some of the French machines burst through, only to be met by the deadly fire of the Zeppelins and sent into the sea.
Yet a few survived, and their rifle bullets riddled the gas chambers of the big balloons, but these tiny perforations availed nothing. The French flyers who survived darted beyond the Zeppelins and withdrew. The attack had accomplished little, for, while some of the Austrian aeroplanes had been sent into the sea, the dirigibles were still intact. A mean for successful attack against these giants of the air had not been found.
But now, in response to a word of command from Jack, Pierre nodded his head in understanding. In the meantime the French birdmen had re-formed and had rushed forward in another gallant attack. But the result was the same, and, while they succeeded in accounting for some of the smaller planes' the Zeppelins continued to fight as before, dropping their powerful shells upon the French fleet below.
But this time there was one plane that did not swerve as it burst through the Austrian line of small planes, and darted toward the first dirigible. Straight on it rushed, absolutely reckless, and crashed into the first giant balloon, head-on-collapse the great forward gas chamber, setting it on fire, exploding it, blowing all the mighty war balloon to atoms.
In this plane were Jack and Pierre. It was Jack's eye that had made out the only means of effective attack against the dirigible. Even as he had ordered the attack, the lad knew that it meant almost certain death, but he had not hesitated. He realized that the French aircraft must be shown some means of destroying these huge air fighters, and knowing that there was time to convey his ideas to the other, had acted at once.
Now, this accomplished, the plane in which Jack and Pierre had performed this success, driven deep into the flaming mass of wreckage, was falling with the broken war balloon down into the sea.
The wreck fell slowly, for the fabric, yet unconsumed, parachuted and held in the air. Then, finally, hissing and splashing, it fell into the sea.
To Jack's ears, as he came again to the surface, came the cries of men wounded and burning. An arm flung toward the sky sent his eyes in that direction, even as he swam.
He saw the two remaining dirigibles fighting together against another aeroplane attack. But the way had been shown, and no longer did the French sheer off when they broke through the Austrian air line. Two small planes crashed into the dirigibles, one into each, and exploded them.
They fell to the sea, burning, men tumbling out upon all sides. A form struck the water close to where Jack, miraculously uninjured, swam. The latter stretched out an arm, and grasped the body by the shoulder, as it reappeared upon the surface. Then a cry of amazement burst from his lips.
The form that he thus clutched so tightly was that of his friendFrank.
At Jack's cry of amazement Frank slowly opened his eyes. His constitution was not nearly as strong, as that of his huge friend. He was almost unconscious as the result of his terrible fall. But he recognized his chum in an instant, smiled feebly, and then his muscles relaxed. He lay a dead weight in Jack's arms.
Quickly the lad looked round for some sign of a vessel, or a piece of wreckage to which to cling until he could be picked up. There was none, so still carrying his friend he struck out in the direction of the nearest ship, which could even now be seen approaching.
The sounds of battle still continued, but they gradually grew less as the Austrian fleet, or what was left of it, retired to the protection of its land batteries.
Four warships sent to the bottom of the sea, three submarines missing, and undoubtedly gone forever, and a half score of torpedo boats sunk, was the Austrian loss. The French had lost two battleships, a submarine and three torpedo boats. The heaviest losses sustained by both sides had been to the air fleets.
Now the approaching vessel drew closer to Jack, and he at length realized that he had been seen. A small boat put off to him. Strong arms gripped him and pulled him and Frank into the boat, and a hearty voice exclaimed in English:
"By Jove! They're English! Now, how do you suppose they got here?"
Jack was conscious of a pleasant sensation at hearing his native tongue spoken thus, but he was too exhausted to take much interest in it then. He fell back unconscious.
But, if the lad was surprised at thus being addressed in English, there was still a greater surprise and joy in store for him—and for Frank.
When Jack reopened his eyes, he lay in a small but well-furnished cabin. Frank lay near him. He already had returned to consciousness, and even now was glancing curiously about.
He glanced at Jack as the latter opened his eyes.
"By George!" he ejaculated. "I was afraid you were done for, you lay there so quietly. How did I come here?"
"Why," said Jack, "you toppled into the sea right beside me, andI grabbed you and held on until we were picked up."
"Then," cried Frank excitedly, "you were aboard the first plane that dived into the dirigible?"
"I was there," replied Jack briefly.
"By Jove! I thought so. It looked like some your doings. And, if you hadn't thought of that method of attack, the whole French fleet probably would have been sunk!"
"Well, somebody had to do it," said Jack modestly. "I notice you weren't far behind yourself."
"Well," said Frank quietly, "I am glad we accomplished the task successfully. Where are we now?"
"I don't know exactly," replied Jack. "But, as we were picked up, I heard someone talking in English. I believe that we are on an English ship that happened on the scene just in time to get into the battle."
"Well—" began Frank, and stopped suddenly, staring open-mouthed at a figure now framed in the doorway of the little cabin.
Jack turned his eyes in that direction, and also was stricken speechless.
"Am I dreaming?" muttered Frank at last. "It—it can't be."
"'But it is," exclaimed a well-known voice, and a dignified and military figure marched into the room—the figure of Lord Hastings, whom the boys had so long mourned as lost.
In spite of their exhausted condition, both boys were upon their feet instantly, and each had him by the hand.
"But you went down with the Sylph," protested Jack.
"You were drowned," declared Frank. "I saw you go down."
"So you did," replied Lord Hastings, laughing a little. "But I came up again. I came up near a piece of floating wreckage, to which I clung for more than twenty-four hours before I was finally picked up by a British torpedo boat."
There were tears in the eyes of both boys as they clung to their old commander.
"But what happened to you?" Lord Hastings continued. "I inquired everywhere, and could find no trace of you. I was certain that you had gone down, and I was never so surprised and overjoyed in my life as when you were lifted aboard the Sylph a few hours ago."
"The Sylph!" ejaculated Jack.
"Yes," replied His Lordship, smiling a little, "I have christened this vessel the Sylph II, but I always speak of her as the Sylph. But come, tell me about yourselves."
Briefly Frank related the experiences they had gone through since the Sylph had been sunk.
"Nothing you do can surprise me any more," declared Lord Hastings, when Frank had finished his narrative. "But now, as to the future, do you wish to remain aboard the Marie Theresa, or would you like to come with me?"
"Would we!" ejaculated Jack fervently.
"I should say we would!" declared Frank decisively.
"Well," said Lord Hastings, "I have no doubt that it can be arranged. I shall speak to Captain Dreyfuss at once."
"Is Lieutenant Hetherington alive?" asked Jack suddenly.
"No," replied Lord Hastings sadly, "we three are the sole survivors of the Sylph."
"But what are you doing in these waters?" demanded Frank.
"Well," replied Lord Hastings, "it's somewhat of a secret, but I don't mind telling you. I am on the trail of the German cruiser Emden."
"The Emden!" ejaculated both lads.
"Exactly. She has become a terrible menace to British shipping. While she is probably more than a match for the Sylph, if I come up with her I shall stay on her trail until I can raise a cruiser big enough to tackle her. My job is to find her, and, when I do, I guarantee I shall never lose sight of her."
"Good!" cried Jack. "Now, if you can fix it up with CaptainDreyfuss, we are ready to go with you."
"Would you like to accompany me?" asked the commander of theSylph.
The lads signified their assent. An hour later they were all seated in Captain Dreyfuss' cabin aboard the Marie Theresa.
"And where is Pierre?" demanded Captain Dreyfuss of Jack.
"Gone!" replied the lad quietly. "He died the death of a hero."
"And do you mean to tell me," demanded the captain, "that you two lads were in the machines that dived head first into the enemy?"
"It was Jack who conceived the idea and made the first attack," replied Frank.
Captain Dreyfuss turned to Lord Hastings.
"And these are the two lads you are asking me to give up to you, eh?" he said severely.
"Well," replied Lord Hastings, "I certainly should like to have them back again. But, of course, if you do not give your consent—"
Captain Dreyfuss interrupted him with a wave of the hand, and turned to the boys.
"And what do you say, sirs?" he demanded. "Have you not been treated well aboard my ship?"
"Yes, sir," replied Jack, "but—"
Frank's heart fell. From the captain's tone, it was apparent that he did not intend to let them go.
"And you, sir?" demanded the captain of Frank.
"We have no cause to complain," replied Frank. "But LordHastings—"
"Enough!" interrupted Captain Dreyfuss. "It shall be as you say." He turned to Lord Hastings.
"Take them," he said, "and I am sure you will never find two braver lads."
"Thank you, sir," said both boys.
The commander of the Marie Theresa arose to his feet, signifying that the interview was over, and extended a hand to each lad.
"Good luck," he said simply. "You may go now. I have some matters to discuss with your new commander."
The boys saluted and went on deck, where they awaited LordHastings.
It was several hours later before they returned aboard the Sylph. No sooner were they aboard, however, than Lord Hastings ordered that the vessel be put under way immediately.
"I have wasted time enough here," he told the lads. "I must get on the trail of the Emden at once."
The lads were given quarters corresponding to the ones they had had on the old Sylph. The vessel was built along the same lines as the Sylph I, and had been fitted out just as luxuriously and comfortably. It was, in times of peace, well adapted for a pleasure yacht.
The Sylph II carried a goodly array of fighting material, however, and a crew of 150 men.
It was while dining that night that Lord Hastings gave the boys the surprise of their lives.
"I presume you know," he said quietly, "that as the two surviving officers of the Sylph, you now move into the vacancies left by the death of my first and second officer?"
"What!" exclaimed both lads in the greatest surprise.
"Oh, you heard me," replied Lord Hastings. "But which of you is to be which?"
"But how about your present officers?" demanded Jack.
"They will understand when I explain to them," replied LordHastings. "Now, which is to be my first officer?"
"Jack, sir," said Frank.
"Frank, sir," said Jack.
"Come," said His Lordship, "I have a way to decide."
He took two toothpicks, and broke one off a little shorter than the other. He put them behind his back for a moment, and then held his hand out in front of him.
"Whoever draws the shortest stick," he said, "shall be my first officer. Draw!"
Jack took one of the toothpicks and Frank the other. Then they compared them.
Frank dropped his and slapped Jack heartily on the back.
"Good!" he said joyfully, "you've won."
"The Emden," said Lord Hastings to Jack and Frank, "has probably done more damage to British, French and Russian shipping than all of the other German raiders and fleets at large."
"Has she accomplished anything lately?" asked Frank.
"Yes," replied Lord Hastings, "she has indeed. I suppose you have not heard the story of her raids?"
"No," replied both lads, and Jack added: "Will you tell us what you know of her?"
"Well," began Lord Hastings, "the Emden is commanded by Captain Karl von Mueller, a courteous gentleman and a competent officer—also, by the way, in times of peace, a friend of mine."
"Then you know him well?" asked Frank.
"Very well," returned Lord Hastings. "He has visited me more than once, and I have been his guest in Berlin. But to proceed. The first report of the activity of the Emden was received on August 6, when word came that the German cruiser had sunk the steamer City of Winchester the day before.
"The Emden has contributed to the history of the war one of its most remarkable chapters. For sheer audacity and success it has few parallels. Twenty-two ships, mostly British, have been sunk and one has been captured by this German cruiser, rightly named 'The Terror of the Sea.'
"Since early in August the Emden has been at work. Most of this time she has been preying on shipping in the Indian Ocean. The vessels destroyed by Captain von Mueller had a total value of about $4,000,000, exclusive of their cargoes. The Emden's largest guns, according to the best figures obtainable, are only 4-inch, and of these she has ten. Her speed of 24.5 knots is her greatest asset, but the Sylph has the heels of her. She has been able to run down merchant ships with ease and then escape from larger but slower vessels that pursued her. British, Russian, French and Japanese warships in the East have been trying for weeks to put an end to her, but without success."
"But," Frank broke in, "how has she been able to keep to sea month after month without replenishing her coal supply?"
"That," said Lord Hastings, "is a mystery that is as yet unsolved. It is assumed, however, that she has obtained sufficient food and fuel to meet her needs from captured ships. In at least one instance this is known to have been done. The captain of the British steamer Exford, captured by the Emden, informed his owners that Captain von Mueller said that before he sank the Exford he intended to take on board his cruiser the 7,000 tons of steam coal with which the Exford was laden."
"Captain von Mueller must indeed be a capable officer," said Jack.
"He is," said Lord Hastings. "But to continue. After sinking the City of Winchester the Emden steamed into the Bay of Bengal, five days later, and sent two more British vessels to the bottom. Within three days she had sunk four vessels there. She was accompanied by the Markommania, a converted liner, as a collier. The collier was sunk off Sumatra October 16 by a British cruiser.
"Leaving the Bay of Bengal, the Emden sank three British steamers in the Indian Ocean on September 14. September 22 she appeared off Madras and shelled the city, and, extinguishing her lights, disappeared when the forts replied. Then she renewed her activity in the vicinity of Rangoon, where more British ships fell to her prey. Where she is now I don't know."
"How large a vessel is she?" asked Jack, greatly interested.
"She has a complement Of 361 men," replied Lord Hastings. "Her armament, besides the ten 4-inch guns I referred to before, consists of eight five pounders and four machine guns. She is also understood to be equipped with two submerged 17.7-inch torpedo tubes. She displaces 3,600 tons. She is 387 feet long and has a beam of 43 1/3 feet. She was built in 1908. That's about all I can tell you about her."
"And Captain von Mueller," said Frank, "is he an elderly man?"
"No," replied Lord Hastings, "I should hardly call him that. I don't know his age, of course, but he is under forty. I understand that the Germans are bailing him as the modern Nelson and Paul Jones, in memory of two of the greatest sea fighters of all time."
"Well they may," declared Jack, "for he must be a man of exceptional ability. I should like to see him."
"So you may, with good fortune," said Lord Hastings. "It is my hope to see him again before he has done further damage to England."
Lord Hastings' account of the brief history of the Emden made quite an impression on Frank and Jack. The brief though active career of probably the greatest of German sea fighters interested them greatly, as it should all young readers.
The boys talked much of the gallant German captain as the Sylph II continued on her course from the Adriatic into the sunny Mediterranean once more, through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea, after a stop for coal at Port Said, and on into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
And more news of the Emden was not to be long forthcoming. Lord Hastings had no means of knowing just in what part of the sea the Emden might be in so, after two days of fruitless cruising, he put into the port of Penang, on Malacca Straits. Here Lord Hastings received first-hand information concerning the whereabouts of the German "Terror of the Sea."
There were two Russian cruisers, two French destroyers and one British vessel in the harbor, under the guns of the little fort, when the Sylph steamed in. These vessels also had been in search of the Emden, and had put in for coal.
The commanders of the various ships exchanged visits. The Emden was practically the sole topic of their conversation. The Russian commander had just returned aboard his own ship after a visit to Lord Hastings. There came a call from the lookout-on the Sylph.
"Cruiser coming into the harbor, sir!"
Lord Hastings, Frank and Jack hurried to the bridge.
"She shows no colors," muttered Frank. "Wonder who she is?"
"Maybe the Emden come to pay a little social call," said Jack.
"No," said Lord Hastings; "this cruiser has four smokestacks; theEmden has but three."
"They could easily rig up another one," said Jack.
"Lord Hastings, some way I feel that all is not right."
"Nonsense," replied Lord Hastings.
There was the sound of a shot from one of the Russian cruisers.
"She'll show her colors now," said Lord Hastings.
All glanced toward the approaching vessel. A flag was run tip the masthead. Lord Hastings made it out immediately.
"Japanese," he said, unconsciously breathing easier.
Slowly the cruiser came closer, heading right for the other ships of war in the harbor. Lord Hastings returned to his cabin and Frank followed him.
Jack continued to gaze over the rail at the cruiser. Suddenly, why he never knew, he rushed hurriedly after his commander.
"I am sure that is not a Japanese cruiser, sir," he cried. "I don't know why, but something tells me it is an enemy."
"Nonsense," said Lord Hastings again. "You are a bit nervous.That's all."
"No, sir, it isn't that," replied Jack. "I—"
He was interrupted by the boom of a single big gun followed by a heavy outbreak of cannonading. Lord Hastings jumped to his feet and dashed to the bridge, Jack and Frank close at his heels.
They glanced quickly at the supposed Japanese cruiser. But the Japanese ensign had been hauled down, and now there floated from the cruiser the flag of Germany! And the cruiser's fourth smoke stack had come down.
"The Emden!" cried Lord Hastings.
Bugles were sounding on all the allied ships, of war in the harbor, calling the men to quarters. Caught thus unprepared, the allied vessels were at an immense disadvantage.
Suddenly there was a loud explosion aboard one of the Russian cruisers, and a moment later it burst into flames. Now the other ships poured broadsides into the Emden, but she stuck to her post. One of the two French destroyers suddenly dived, head-first, into the sea, one of the Emden's submerged torpedoes having dealt her a deathblow.
A shell sped over the stern of the Sylph, but did no damage. Then, calmly, almost ignoring the remaining ships of the allied fleet, the Emden put about, and made off. Her raid had been successful, and it was another victory for the Kaiser.
The Emden continued to rain shells at her foes until she was out of range. Not minded to take any unnecessary risk, Lord Hastings let the Emden get well out of range, before he gave the command for the Sylph to follow.
Then, stripped for action, the Sylph set out upon the trail of the German cruiser.
"We are on the trail at last," said Lord Hastings, "and on the trail we'll remain until the Emden has been sent to the bottom." He turned to Jack. "Hereafter," he said, "I'll place faith in your premonitions."
The Sylph kept just far enough in the rear of the Emden to be out of range. After three hours, it became apparent that the commander of the German cruiser was aware that he was being followed. He slowed down, waiting the Sylph to come within range and give battle.
But while Lord Hastings was a brave man, he had no idea of accepting battle now. For had the day gone against him, the Emden would have been able to disappear once more. With the superior speed of the Sylph, Lord Hastings knew that he could remain on the trail, using his wireless to pick up some British vessel big enough to put an end to the "Terror of the Sea."
Accordingly, the Sylph also slowed down. After waiting in vain for the little scout cruiser to approach closer, the Emden again set out on her course, at full speed. The Sylph also quickened her pace, and the Emden was unable to shake her off.
Then the Emden slowed down again. So did the Sylph. The wireless operator approached Lord Hastings with a message.
Lord Hastings read it aloud:
"Remain where you are till I come up, or I shall sink you.Signed, von Mueller."
Followed by the two lads Lord Hastings made his way to the wireless room, and ticked off this message himself:
"The Emden is doomed. Signed, Hastings."