CHAPTER VII.IN THE CONNING-TOWER.For several minutes Arnold Hythe sat motionless, watching the rapidly-changing objects that flitted across the inclined mirror. Captain Restronguet made no attempt to distract his attention, but standing with folded arms he watched with feelings of satisfaction the effects of the spectacle upon the young officer's face."Wonderful!" exclaimed the sub at length."You think so, Mr. Hythe? Let me assure you that this view is nothing to what I can show you. Suppose we take a stroll for'ard?"The captain opened the door of his cabin."You will excuse me preceding you," he remarked apologetically. "We will proceed to the fore conning-tower. Oh, yes, the 'Aphrodite' has two. That accounts for the reports of the master of the 'Barberton Castle,' that he sighted two submarines lying side by side. As a matter of fact he saw the two conning-towers of the 'Aphrodite' against the light, and influenced by the fact that he had hitherto seen submarines with single conning-towers he was misled. Had he really seen two submarines"--and here Captain Restronguet's features darkened ominously--"he would have witnessed a catastrophe to one of them. But of that I will say more later. Suppose we look into this compartment on our way for'ard."Hythe's guide rolled back a sliding-hatch that communicated with the men's quarters--a fairly spacious room on the starboard side amidships. To the sub's surprise he saw O'Shaunessey."Holy St. Pathrick!" ejaculated the seaman, almost forgetting in his excitement to salute. "Faith! sorr, how came you in this shebeen? Sure, I thought 'twas meself only as these rascally foreign spalpeens 'ad taken.""They collared me too, O'Shaunessey," answered Hythe."Bad cess to them!" continued the gigantic Irishman, shaking his fist in the direction of half a dozen almost as powerfully built men who were imperturbably regarding their captive. "They tackled me with some insthrument, an' I couldn't raise me hand in self defence. They must have known that I could never stand being tickled, the ign'rant foreigners.""Why foreigners, O'Shaunessey?" asked the sub, while Captain Restronguet gave a low chuckle."Ain't they foreigners, bedad? I prached to 'em like the blessed St. Pathrick held forth to the sarpints, an' all they did was to shake their heads.""There is no necessity to keep up this pretence any longer, men," exclaimed Captain Restronguet. "This sailor must be treated as one of yourselves for the time being. You might reassure him, Mr. Hythe, for in spite of our electric treatment he seems inclined to be troublesome, and a good deal of damage might be done if we have to use strong measures.""Look here, O'Shaunessey," said the sub, "we must make the best of our present position. This gentleman, Captain Restronguet, will doubtless put us ashore in good time," and with a swift look that the sailor rightly interpreted that he must keep his weather eye lifting, Hythe followed the captain out of the compartment."This is the for'ard double bulkhead," explained Captain Restronguet, as the pair came to the doors that Hythe had previously noticed. "The 'Aphrodite' is built in three separate sections, any of which can, in a case of emergency, be detached from the remaining portion and still remain watertight. The midship sections at the two principal bulkheads are identical. Thus if the centre compartment should happen to be holed the fore and after sections can be detached, brought together, and secured. We would then still be a submarine of two-thirds the length of the present one. In the foremost section are the offensive appliances, subsidiary motors, and certain stores. The midship portion forms the living space for the crew, main store rooms, etc.; the after section contains the officers' cabins, and underneath them the main propelling machinery. In each section is a diving-chamber capable of being flooded in order to allow the crew to leave the vessel when occasions arise. The exit in the midship section is on Number Two Platform; in the others it is on Number Three.""Sounds like a railway station," thought Hythe; then--"What do you mean by platforms?" he asked."You might prefer to call them decks, Mr. Hythe. Number One is literally on deck, and extends practically the whole length and breadth of the vessel. Her sections are, as you doubtless have observed, almost square, the ridges of the deck and the bilges being very slightly rounded off. This gives plenty of space for the crew when running on the surface, and also enables the 'Aphrodite' to rest on the bottom of the sea without any perceptible list, unless, of course, the bed shelves at all. Number Two Platform--but perhaps you are not interested?""Rather!" exclaimed the young officer eagerly."Well, then, Number Two Platform runs fore and aft at nine feet below the overhead girders, so there is no necessity to have to stoop when in any of the compartments or alley-ways. Number Three Platform rests on the cross girders that are bolted to the keelson, and being airtight form a hollow bottom. As a matter of fact these double bottom compartments are nearly always filled with water, which can be ejected by powerful, quick-delivery force pumps when necessary. Here is the door in the base of the for'ard conning-tower."Unfastening the door by a cam-action lever Captain Restronguet agilely negotiated the narrow way and sprang up a steel ladder. Hythe followed and found himself standing on a metal grating in the company of the captain and a quarter-master. The latter took no notice of his superiors beyond moving a little to one side; his whole attention was fixed upon the task of steering the submerged craft.The interior of the conning-tower was literally lined with electrical appliances, each switch distinctly marked according to the work it had to perform, but for the moment the sub paid scant heed to them. His eyes travelled in the direction of one of three large oval scuttles filled with plate glass.The submersion indicator pointed to thirty-four feet, a depth that allowed the "Aphrodite" to pass under the keel of the deepest draughted battleship afloat, with five feet to spare. The compass pointed due east."We are just pottering about, as it were, between the Draystone and the Mewstone," announced Captain Restronguet. "The depth here averages ten fathoms, which gives us a margin of five feet under our keel. There is a battleship coming out of harbour, she is now in Smeaton Pass, and we are waiting for her to draw clear. On a falling tide we must take no risks.""What do you mean?" asked Hythe."Simply that as soon as the vessel is outside the Breakwater I mean to take the 'Aphrodite' into the Hamoaze, and give you a chance to see that historic stretch of water under slightly different conditions from that which you have been accustomed to, Mr. Hythe. You were in the submarine service, I believe?""Yes," assented the sub. "But how do you know that?""Merely by a reference to the Navy List. But look ahead; see that object dead in line with our bows?""An electro-contact mine, by Jove!" exclaimed Hythe."Right again. Since the beginning of this German war-scare, which I venture to predict will pass away, unless my powers of reasoning play me false, the approaches to all British ports of any magnitude, especially the naval ones, have been strewn with these contrivances. Watch."A slight touch on the switch controlling the helm and the "Aphrodite" swung away to starboard, clearing the deadly mine by less than twenty feet. Another loomed up ahead, only to be avoided by another touch of the helmsman's finger."I do not want to boast," remarked Captain Restronguet, "but I have enough electrical energy stored within this vessel to explode simultaneously every mine, be it a mechanical, observation, or electro-contact one, in Plymouth Sound, and even seriously imperil every fort and ship in the vicinity. Some day I may have to put the powers at my command to a stern test, but until the necessity actually arises I prefer to exploit the 'Aphrodite' solely as an example of what I am capable of producing in the interests of science. Look out of that scuttle on your left; what do you see?""A regular pile of huge stones," replied the sub."The eastern extremity of that wonderful work known as Plymouth Breakwater. We are now in only forty-five feet of water allowing for the state of the tide. The top of our conning-towers are but fifteen feet above the surface, yet I can assert with confidence that anyone standing on Staddon Heights and looking down upon this channel from an altitude of not less than three hundred and fifty feet would not see the faintest sign of the 'Aphrodite.'""What causes her to be almost invisible?" asked Hythe. "Are her plates made of or faced with glass?""Oh, no. Glass would not serve the purpose. The light would be reflected too much. In fact the 'Aphrodite' would be a huge heliograph, sending out rays of reflected sunlight in all directions. The composition placed over the steel plating of this submarine is a secret. All I can say at present is that it has the power to reflect the image of near objects only. It absorbs all brilliant rays of light, and is in consequence an almost perfect form of invisibility.""What is that?" asked Hythe excitedly, pointing to a sudden turmoil in the water ahead."Only the action of the triple propellers of a torpedo-boat-destroyer. We are overhauling her. Ease down to ten knots, Carnon. She's off through the Asia Pass. There's not enough water for us; so let her come round to starboard."The quartermaster telegraphed for speed to be reduced; the submarine turned towards the deeper Smeaton Pass, leaving the destroyer, in blissful ignorance of the proximity of the much-searched-for Captain Restronguet, to take the short cut into the Hamoaze."Now we can take things more easily," observed the captain after awhile. "The channel is now ninety feet deep, although we are but a few hundred yards from Plymouth Hoe. We are now approaching the Drake Channel, between the Victualling Yard and Drake's Island.""However do you contrive to find your way about in a complicated waterway like this?" asked the sub, who was well acquainted with the above water navigation of that part of Plymouth Sound within the Breakwater. "You have no periscope?""A periscope would soon give the show away," observed his companion. "For the present, we simply rely upon the chart and compass, and look out for the sudden shelving of the bottom. See, there! Hard a starboard, quartermaster: there's the Vanguard Bank dead ahead."From almost due south the "lubber's line" in the compass-bowl pointed to almost due north. The "Aphrodite" had reached the "Narrows" between the Devil's Point and Cremyll.At a word from Captain Restronguet the quartermaster set the engine room telegraph indicator to stop; another movement, a gentle hiss betokened the admittance of water into one of the sub-compartments of the vessel. Then slowly and mysteriously the "Aphrodite" sank in twenty-two fathoms of water to the bed of the narrow channel.At that depth, and owing to the swift-running tide, charged with the mud brought down by the River Tamar, the water was so thick that, till the electric lamps were switched on, the submarine was in total darkness."Prepare to anchor," ordered Captain Restronguet through a telephone."Good!" he ejaculated, after about a minute had elapsed. "Now, Mr. Hythe, you must be feeling hungry; so will you do me the honour of having lunch in my cabin?"CHAPTER VIII.EXPLANATIONS."By the by," observed Captain Restronguet, as he entered the cabin, "I have already sent a reassuring message concerning you to the British Admiralty.""You have! How?" asked Hythe in astonishment. "You are not fitted with wireless?""And why not? As a matter of fact we are; with one of the latest type of Raldorf-Holperfeld instruments, which, as you know, do not require out-board aerials. The message is received by an automatic recorder.""And, might I ask, with whom do you communicate?""That need not be kept a secret from you, Mr. Hythe.""Why not, sir?""Because I wish to detain you on board the 'Aphrodite' until I have no further use for secret correspondents. My wish is law, Mr. Hythe, and please to remember that. At the same time I wish to make your period of enforced detention pass as pleasantly as possible, and you will have complete facilities, up to a certain point, of gaining valuable information that will in time to come amply recompense you for any slight inconvenience that might arise.""But my career? Remember, sir, I'm a naval officer.""Of course. That is one reason why I think fit to keep you. Had you been an ordinary or even an able seaman, I should have taken the first opportunity of putting you ashore, with hardly any chance of your seeing anything on board the vessel that might be put to my disadvantage. As soon as I learned that you were a naval sub-lieutenant I made up my mind to retain you as my guest for awhile.""Then you are going to release O'Shaunessey?""Not at present. He, too, will serve a good purpose. He will be able to corroborate my statement that you will be honourably treated.""But that will be unnecessary. Surely my word----""I have every confidence in the word of an officer and a gentleman, Mr. Hythe. But my proposals are rarely influenced by circumstances other than the workings of Providence. You asked me a question concerning my shore agents. The answer is this: so long as the Government bestows licences upon private individuals to dabble in wireless telegraphy experiments it is a simple matter to keep in touch with events ashore. My principal agent lives in Highgate. He is a skilled operator, but he has contrived to keep his capabilities masked under the role of a harmless amateur. By advancing or retarding the spark of the powerful coil of his instrument he can 'tap' any messages, whether from British or foreign warships, within seven hundred miles, while on occasions he has accurately read messages from Cape Race. Of course, most of the naval messages are in code, and are unintelligible to the uninitiated. Nevertheless I can learn all outside news from this particular agent even when in the Mediterranean. For short distances we make use of wireless telephony, and by this means I can communicate with trusty agents in Devonport, Portsmouth, Sheet-ness and Chatham, and under certain circumstances with Rosyth and Dundee.""Why did you come to a standstill here?" asked the sub."To partially recharge our accumulators. Our motive power is electricity. My invention in that direction is a revolution in marine and submarine propulsion. We are now anchored.""Anchored?" echoed Hythe. "How? I saw no anchors when I examined your vessel from the outside.""Anchoring, as we understand the term, consists of allowing the 'Aphrodite' to settle on the bottom of the sea. By lowering four steel plates, inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees--the acute angle facing aft--an almost irresistible brake, something after the principle of the spade recoil brake of the French quick-firing field guns, is formed. At this moment the ebb tide is swirling past at four knots. The force of the current is turning our propellers, which, acting for the time being on subsidiary shafting, drive the dynamos that in turn replenish our accumulators.""Then that means that every day you must recharge? How do you manage when there is not sufficient tide to actuate the propellers?""My dear sir," replied Captain Restronguet, "I ought to have said that we werepartiallyreplenishing our reserve of electricity. At this moment there is sufficient power on board to drive the 'Aphrodite' at a speed of thirty-five knots on the surface or twenty when submerged, for a continuous period of at least one hundred and twenty hours. We merely take advantage of the opportunity to increase our reserve. But you are not eating. Is my meagre fare not sufficiently tempting?""I am too interested to think about eating," replied Hythe. "But now you mention it I feel quite peckish.""We are obliged to do without fresh meat," said Captain Restronguet apologetically. "Nevertheless I think you will find this dish of pilchards excellent. Here is seakale sauce that by the skill of the 'Aphrodite's' cook can hardly be distinguished from asparagus. Roast dog-fish, if you care to try it, you will find hard to believe anything but beef-steak. By a certain process, simple to apply, all taste of fish is eliminated."Captain Restronguet helped his guest to a slice of dog-fish--a fish that fishermen not so many years back generally threw back into the sea as useless."Excellent," declared the sub. "However is this dish produced in this guise?""Also by electricity," said Captain Restronguet calmly. "By applying a certain form of current all the oily portions of the fish are destroyed, leaving only the red corpuscles in the flesh."Just then came a knock at the door, and in response to the captain's permission to enter one of the crew appeared, holding an envelope in his hand."H'm! Message from the wireless room--excuse me," remarked Captain Restronguet, as he began to tear open the flap. "Shouldn't be surprised, Mr. Hythe, if this doesn't concern you. Yes, listen: 'Secretary of Admiralty acknowledges Captain Restronguet's message re safety of Sub-Lieutenant Arnold Hythe and Michael O'Shaunessey, A.B. If genuine a message from the naval officer detained is requested. Reasons are also desired why Captain Restronguet took forcible possession of two of His Majesty's subjects.' Ha! That is a reasonable message.""Reasonable?""Yes. The Admiralty are beginning to realize that I, Captain Restronguet, am a person worthy of their consideration. That is more than they did a few years' back. As a matter of fact I have had a little quarrel with My Lords. Some day I will give you details; but meanwhile I am continuing my harmless yet disconcerting tactics that tend to prove how futile the defences of this country are against the latest product of modern science. Yes, Mr. Hythe, the Secretary of the Admiralty will have definite evidence before many hours have passed."* * * * *To go back to H.M.S. "Investigator": as soon as Hythe's appeal for help was received the attendants on the diving-party began to haul in the sub's life-line, but before five fathoms had been brought inboard a sudden relaxation of the strain told them that the rope had been severed."Be sharp, men! Blow him to the surface," ordered Egmont. "There's something up down there.""Mr. Hythe's just signalled for more air, sir," announced the seaman who had charge of the telephone.Rapidly the handles of the air-pump revolved. An increase in the number and size of the bubbles rising to the surface was the only result."See if the others are all right," ordered the lieutenant. "What's that? O'Shaunessey reports all correct; tell him to find out what's wrong with Mr. Hythe. Can't you get any reply from Mr. Hythe, Mr. Smithers?""No reply, sir," said the man laconically.A paying out of the Irishman's life-line told them on deck that O'Shaunessey was on his way to look for his officer. Five minutes elapsed, then a confused jumble of ejaculations through the telephone betokened the unmistakable fact that the Hibernian diver was shouting at the top of his voice."Stow it, mate; what's the bloomin' use of shoutin' like that?" spoke the man on O'Shaunessey's telephone reprovingly. Then, after a short interval, he took the instrument from his ear and turned to Lieutenant Egmont."Wire's cut off, sir," he announced."And his life-line and air-tube cut, too, sir," added another seaman."Great heavens! what's up?" ejaculated the lieutenant. "Here, bring Price up before he's done for."Hastily Egmont communicated this disquieting news to Captain Tarfag. The latter went for'ard and awaited Diver Price's re-appearance.As soon as Price's helmet appeared above the surface his glass plate was unscrewed, revealing his features as pale as a sheet."What has happened?" demanded Captain Tarfag anxiously.The man was incapable of speech. He could only raise one hand in a gesture of horror and despair."Help him over the side, men," ordered the captain. "Run aft, one of you, and ask the steward to give you a stiff glass of grog."Quickly Price was divested of his helmet and dress. Shaking like a leaf he sat down upon a bollard. He drained the glass of whisky at one gulp, and the colour began to return to his face."Both done for!" he cried. "Saw my mate stabbed by the villains. Never caught a sight o' Mr. Hythe.""By heavens, I'll not stand this!" thundered Captain Tarfag. "I want three men to go down--who will volunteer?""I will, sir!" came a chorus of voices. Every man qualified as a diver had offered to risk possibly certain death in the depths of the sea."You three," ordered the captain, indicating Moy, Banks, and Smithers. "Keep your knives in your hands and don't hesitate to use them. Take a charge of guncotton. If you've a chance place it under her bilges, and I'll take the risk of blowing this infernal submarine to Jericho."Quickly the three dauntless divers prepared to descend, while a petty officer and two seamen hastened to bring the explosive from the magazine and the batteries for firing the charge.But ere the divers were ready a sudden commotion on shore attracted the attention of Captain Tarfag and the crew of the "Investigator." The working party on the beach had discovered that the net entanglements no longer held. They were coming home with hardly any resistance, bringing with them the grapnels of the picquet-boats till the latter had to hastily cast off in order to prevent themselves being dragged ashore."She's given us the slip, by George!" ejaculated Mr. Egmont."Perhaps the nets have parted," suggested Captain Tarfag. "Look alive, men!"One after another the divers disappeared over the side. Three distinct patches of bubbles indicated their course. They were, for mutual safety, keeping close together. To all inquiries on the telephone the answer was, "Nothing to be seen," until Moy reported that he had discovered distinct traces in the sand of the impression of a fairly flat-bottomed vessel of at least thirty foot beam."It's no go," exclaimed Captain Tarfag. "Order the men back, and report the loss of Mr. Hythe and O' Shaunessey to the Commander-in-Chief at Devonport. By smoke! All the fat is in the fire now."Quickly the dispiriting news spread from ship to ship, and from boat to boat. A panic seemed to seize the spectators in private craft, for, as if by a sudden impulse, they made a wild stampede from the shelter of the shallow water of Cawsand Bay. But nothing happened to imperil their safety. No huge sea-monster, the work of human hands, appeared to scatter destruction broadcast upon those venturesome individuals who had gone forth to witness the capture of the mysterious Captain Restronguet. The elusive submarine had calmly stolen away, without a trace of the tragedy that every one imagined had been enacted beneath the waves, save for portions of the two life-lines and the disconnected air-tubes.The "Investigator" and the rest of the Government vessels lost no time in putting into the Hamoaze. Captain Tarfag, accompanied by Lieutenant Egmont, immediately went on shore to report to the Commander-in-Chief. Already special editions of the papers were out, giving more or less accurate accounts of the futile operations in connexion with the attempt to capture the submarine, and all laid particular stress upon the fact that the lives of an officer and a seaman had been sacrificed on the altar of duty."You saw nothing, Tarfag?" asked the Admiral."Nothing, sir. The diver who escaped reported that the whole time he was below he saw no trace of the submarine, although he followed the line of netting for several yards. What he did see was his comrade, O'Shaunessey, beset by half a dozen men. He admitted he was terribly scared, but went to his fellow-diver's assistance. Before he could get close enough he saw that O'Shaunessey's life-line had been cut and his air-tube disconnected. Realizing that he could do nothing, and that he was in pressing danger, Price signalled to be hauled up.""But how did the submarine contrive to get clear of the wire and rope entanglements? Surely you saw some signs of a commotion?""Nothing--not even a ripple. The first intimation we had was from the shore. The nets came home quite easily.""H'm," ejaculated the Admiral. "Perhaps I----"The entrance of an assistant secretary caused the Commander-in-Chief to pause abruptly. The newcomer held out a type-written document."Message through from the Admiralty, sir," he announced."By Jove! What's this?" exclaimed the astonished Admiral. "The Secretary to the Admiralty reports that a telephone message was received from a North London call-office, reporting that Mr. Hythe and O' Shaunessey are prisoners on the submarine. Furthermore, a telegram from Dantzic announces that Captain Restronguet--confound that fellow!--has destroyed the armoured cruiser 'Breslau.'""When was that, sir?" asked Captain Tarfag."The message from Dantzic is dated 8 a.m. this morning. Allowing for differences in Greenwich time----""Then, if the submarine we were after is under the command of Captain Restronguet, it is morally impossible for him to be in the Baltic at precisely the same hour----""Unless there are two of these blessed submarines.""Or two captains of the name of Restronguet," added Captain Tarfag."I suppose this fellow means to hold Mr. Hythe to ransom, sir?" asked Mr. Egmont."There is no mention of that," replied the Admiral. "But, of course, that may be his intention. I wonder where the mysterious submarine will turn up next?""The Superintendent of Police, sir," announced the head-messenger."Ah, Richardson, what's the trouble now?" asked the Commander-in-Chief, as a tall, alert-looking man stepped briskly into the room."More evidence of Captain Restronguet, sir," replied the Superintendent of Police. "The rascal's actually in the Hamoaze. Our duty boat, whilst returning from Bull Point, picked up a green and white buoy, just abreast of Wilcove. Attached to the buoy, and protected by a water-proof covering, was this document."The admiral took the paper--a foolscap sheet, with a crest and the words "Submarine 'Aphrodite'" embossed upon it. In silence he read it to the end, then--"Well, of all the most confounded cheek!" he ejaculated. "Read that, Tarfag, and tell me what you think of it.""I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Admiralty's message of even date. In order to prove conclusively that this reply is authentic, I have taken steps to see that this document is placed in the hands of the Commander-in-Chief of the Devonport Command. Mr. Arnold Hythe and A.B. O'Shaunessey, official number K14,027, are on board my vessel 'Aphrodite.' In the interests of the Service, and also in my own, it is desirable that Mr. Hythe remain on board for a period not exceeding six months. Any information the officer in question may gain is entirely at the disposal of the British Admiralty, and since the possibilities of so doing are great, I would suggest that covering permission be given for Mr. Hythe's absence from his official duties. Incidentally I may mention that this suggested permission is merely formal, for in any case my guests will not be put ashore until I think fit."I am at present giving a series of demonstrations in British waters, but not with any aggressive intent. It is hopeless to attempt the capture of my submarine, and no useful purpose will be thereby served."I take this opportunity of explaining the cause of the hostile acts committed against an outwardly friendly State, in the hope that the calamity of a great war may be averted."The submarine in Baltic waters is the property of Karl von Harburg, a German renegade, who has certain motives in committing these excesses, which can neither be justifiable nor excusable. His submarine, itself a craft of great abilities, is but a feeble imitation of my 'Aphrodite.' It will not help matters to any great extent by explaining my reasons, but I can assure you that at the first available opportunity I mean to destroy the submarine owned and commanded by Karl von Harburg, as I regard the man as an unprincipled international scoundrel and a scourge to humanity."Will you kindly forward this document to the Secretary of the Admiralty, and inform him that my agent will receive his reply per telephone, at the hour of 10 a.m. to-morrow."I have the honour to be, Sir,"Yours, etc.,"JOHN RESTRONGUET."CHAPTER IX.THE FIRST DAY IN THE "APHRODITE."A bell rang out sharply in the captain's cabin of the "Aphrodite," and one of the electric indicators oscillated rapidly."Accumulators charged," announced Captain Restronguet laconically."It is a revelation to me," said Hythe. "And when one comes to consider that at every hour of the day hundreds, nay thousands, of ships are straining idly at their moorings, it is certainly remarkable that no satisfactory attempt has hitherto been made to harness the tides.""That's only one of the many lessons you will learn," remarked the Captain. "But we are getting under way once more. Perhaps you would like to see the mechanism on Number Three Platform?""Most certainly I should," replied the sub.In the alley-way they encountered a short, broad-shouldered man who had to set his back against the metal wall in order to allow his captain to pass."All correct, sir," he said saluting."Right, Mr. Devoran. Who's in the conning-tower?""Mylor, sir.""Good. I will take the 'Aphrodite' up the river. You need not turn out till midnight. I shall want you then.""That is my chief mate, Mr. Devoran," remarked Captain Restronguet, after the man had gone to his cabin. "A truer-hearted comrade one could not possibly desire. He is the only man on board beside myself who thoroughly understands the whole of the complicated mechanism of my masterpiece. There are others who are capable of manoeuvring the 'Aphrodite,' but they do not understand how to handle her for offensive purposes."Throwing back a watertight sliding-door in the port fore and aft bulkhead Captain Restronguet signed to the sub to enter. Hythe found himself in a small compartment on the walls of which were several articles and gear. No space was wasted on board the "Aphrodite."In the centre of the floor was an oval-shaped aperture, sealed with a rubber-lined lid, that by means of double levers could be opened from either above or below. As the hatch opened Hythe saw a portion of the well-lighted interior of the lower deck, access to which being gained by means of a vertical steel ladder.The for'ard compartment, extending the whole length and breadth of the foremost section of the submarine, with the exception of the space taken up by the diving-exit, was as far unlike the forehold of a ship as the sub could possibly imagine. The cement-cased walls were distempered a pale green; thick corticene--a kind of linoleum used in the Navy--covered the floors; alongside the after bulkhead were two arms-racks filled with automatic rifles and pistols, and other modern small-arms. Secured to the deck was an automatic one-pounder field-gun. Towards the bows were two long narrow tubes, the external diameter by less than seven inches, while a seemingly complicated arrangement of double-locking doors, electric wires, trippers and gauges suggested to the sub that these instruments were torpedo tubes."Quite right," said Captain Restronguet in reply to Hythe's question. "A pair of six-inch tubes firing electrically directed torpedoes. They will never miss their target, I can assure you, even at five miles range, if controlled from a lofty station. Here we are limited, but so long as we can see our target by means of our flexibly attached periscope, there is a million chances to one on the weapon striking the mark. But listen!"The hiss of a powerful water jet was just audible through the double plating of the submarine's hull."Merely a precautionary measure to clear the holding plates of mud and seaweed," explained Captain Restronguet. "If the spades, as I might term them, do not fold absolutely flush with the vessel's bottom, there's bound to be a tremendous resistance to the water and consequently a serious loss of speed. Now the jet is turned off. Listen again and you will hear the anchor plates come home.""That they are!" exclaimed the sub, as a distinct thud shook the plates under his feet. "I suppose they are lifted by metal rods working in water-tight glands?""Oh, no; merely by the attraction of electromagnets. Every valve and door in this vessel is electrically controlled, although in some cases, such for instance the hatch by which we gained this compartment, manual power can be used. When next an opportunity serves I will show you the engine-room, but we are about to rise now. I must go to the for'ard conning-tower. You may come, too, if you feel inclined, or if you prefer there is a private cabin at your disposal.""How does the submarine rise, might I ask? By means of horizontal rudders?""Yes and no," replied Captain Restronguet. "But before I explain perhaps this might interest you."Stepping over to where three levers stood in the centre of the compartment the captain thrust one hard down. Instantly a portion of the floor opened. Another lever caused a corresponding part of the outer plating to slide back, revealing an observation plate of about three feet by two through the double skins of the starboard bilge-plates."I can see nothing," said Hythe, as he strove to peer through the glass. "It is perfectly dark.""There ought to be sufficient light at this depth to see fairly well, but since the 'Aphrodite' is still on or nearly on the bottom of The Narrows, the hull intercepts what little light there is to penetrate the water. Now look!"Touching a switch Captain Restronguet caused a strong search-light to shine vertically downwards. About a fathom of water lay between her keel and the floor of the sea. She was slowly moving under the influence of the young flood tide. The bed was shelving steeply from one hundred and twenty feet to less than ninety. Hythe could see the seaweed waving in the current and the fash, mostly of the flat-fish tribe, darting rapidly towards the dazzling light."What's that?" he asked, as two objects, resembling barnacle-covered pipes passed slowly across the field of light."Telephone cables between the Victualling Yard and Mount Edgcumbe," replied his companion. "If I felt inclined, what is to prevent me from sending out a man and tapping those wires? All submarine cables are entirely at my mercy. If I wished I could create a greater panic than the Stock Exchange, the Bourse, or Wall Street ever yet experienced. But I must switch off the light and close the panels now. I am wanted in the conning-tower."As the sub followed his companion he could not help noticing the freshness of the atmosphere. Compared with the nauseating reek of the submarines he had served in the interior of the "Aphrodite" was as wholesome as could be. There was, moreover, a sting in the atmosphere that recalled the health-giving breezes of the Scottish moors."All right, Mylor, you carry on," exclaimed the captain to the helmsman in the conning-tower. "Starboard your helm a bit--go!"Forty feet beneath the surface the submarine swung round the sharp band formed by the high ground of Cremyll and Mount Edgcumbe. Close to the heavy mooring-chains to the south of the Rubble Bank she glided, till her course, almost due north, lay right up the land-locked Hamoaze."Why, we're going up the River Tamar!" exclaimed Hythe, glancing at the compass. His knowledge of the intricacies of Plymouth Harbour and the Hamoaze, and the compass course told him that, for nothing was to be seen through the conning-tower scuttles save an expanse of pale green water."Yes, that is so. I am just running up to Saltash in order to pick up a man returning from leave," replied Captain Restronguet with a laugh. He spoke as casually as if he were the coxswain of a British battleship's liberty-boat. "We are now passing the South Yard of Devonport Dockyard. But excuse me, I have something to attend to in the after conning-tower. You won't mind remaining here, I trust? Keep her as she is, Mylor; I am going to reduce speed to five knots or even less."Hythe sat down on a folding seat fixed below the port scuttle, whence he could see either ahead or on his left. The helmsman's head and shoulders obstructed the view to starboard.It was fascinating work watching the sea swirl past, and noting the changes as the "Aphrodite" passed through patches of various coloured water, for the tide was beginning to stir up the dark brown sediment brought down from the Devonian Hills by the swift-running Tamar, and the result was a constant kaleidoscope. But after a while, finding that nothing else was visible, the sub transferred his attention to the interior of the conning-tower.Presently a bell gave forth a warning note and the helmsman promptly touched a lever. The depth according to the gauge diminished to less than thirty-five feet."Is that an automatic sounding machine?" asked Hythe.Mylor, still keeping his eyes fixed in front of him, shut his lips tightly, and Hythe, thinking that he had not caught what had been said, repeated the question."Cannot say, sir," said the helmsman decidedly. "It's against orders. For any information ask the cap'n.""That's a staggerer," thought the sub. "One thing about it the fellow's true to his master."Meanwhile Captain Restronguet had retired to his cabin, where he drafted a communication to the Commander-in Chief of the Devonport Command. This done, he ascended to the after conning-tower where two seamen were on duty."Ship the periscope, Carclew. Directly you sight any small Government craft bearing down this way let me know. And Gwennap, get this letter ready for delivery."The periscope consisted of a double-wedge shaped instrument connected to the top of the after conning-tower by means of a flexible armoured insulated wire. Carclew, by switching off the current from an electro-magnet, allowed the float to rise to the surface, where, owing to the comparatively slow rate of the submarine, it was towed without being dragged under. As soon as this was done another switch was manipulated, and instantly a reproduction of the surrounding objects was faithfully projected by an advanced form of telephotography upon a dull white board fixed to the wall of the conning-tower."There's a black pinnace with a yellow awning coming down stream, sir," announced Carclew. "She's got the letters M.P. on her bows.""Police launch evidently," said Captain Restronguet. "Now Gwennap, stand by. Are we right under her course, Carclew?"The man Gwennap had meanwhile placed the document in an oiled covering which in turn he lashed to a globular white and green buoy. This he placed in an ejector, made on the principle of a submerged torpedo tube."All ready, sir," he announced.Captain Restronguet held up his hand, and receiving an affirmative gesture from the seaman at the periscope-board, nodded his head. There was a slight, almost inaudible hiss and the buoy with the message attached, was ejected out of the conning-tower, rising to the surface within fifty yards of the on-coming launch."They've picked it up, sir," declared Carclew, after half a minute had elapsed."That's well," murmured the captain, as he descended the conning-tower ladder. "I wonder if the reply will be in a similar strain to the one I received five years ago. Ah! I wonder."And with a grave smile on his resolute features Captain Restronguet returned to his cabin."Send Mr. Hythe to me," he ordered, when a seaman appeared in answer to his summons. "And tell the diving-party detailed for duty to have the boat ready for launching; warn Polglaze and Lancarrow to stand by at eleven to-night.""Now, Mr. Hythe," said Captain Restronguet, when the sub was shown into the cabin, "I may as well tell you that I have reported your presence and that of the able seaman to the Commander-in-Chief, and doubtless I shall have a reply before noon to-morrow. If you would like to see our periscope in working order now is a good opportunity. We are travelling dead slow, and there is plenty to be seen here--more so than at sea.""It is a picture," exclaimed the sub enthusiastically, as he gazed upon the electrically-depicted panorama. "The whole horizon is included; but how do you know in what direction an object is lying?""Simply by the position of this board. It revolves by the same magnetic influence that causes the compass card always to point to the magnetic-north, only here we have made corrections for the variation of the compass. The only drawback is that objects to the south are shown inverted on the board, but with a little practice one soon gets accustomed to this. It is like the inverted image on the ground glass of a camera, and to an experienced photographer that state of affairs presents no difficulty. Here we are: right abeam on the starboard hand you can see Bull Point, the ordnance depot. When were you last up the river Tamar, might I ask?""Quite two years ago.""And it is more than seven since last I saw Saltash Bridge. There have been vast changes, and I suppose had you been at the periscope all the way up the Hamoaze you would have noticed a difference in the aspect of the place.""I see that they've covered in the magazines with earth," said Hythe. "That's for protection against attack from aerial craft.""And it is the same in Devonport and Keyham Yards. There's no doubt the British nation has developed an air-invasion panic. For instance: years ago all the building slips in the Royal Dockyards were roofed in. I can remember the huge sloping roofs with their skylights arranged after the manner of the ports of an old three-decker man-of-war. Early in the present century these roofs were removed, and the slips were left entirely open and uncovered. Now what do I see? Every dock, every slip, every Government workshop of importance is housed in with a bomb-proof steel roof. And with one touch of my little finger I could do more damage, and without being seen, to that place yonder than the combined aerial fleets of Germany and Austria. But see, we are in sight of Saltash Bridge. Just below that structure I mean to bring up for the night. I regret, Mr. Hythe, I cannot give you an opportunity to stretch your legs upon Devon or Cornish soil, but I trust that you will realize that circumstances prevent my so doing."The "Aphrodite" sank to the bed of the river between the lofty bridge and the chains of the floating-bridge plying between the village of Saltash and the left bank of the Tamar. Here in fifty-six feet of water she was in absolute safety, and since there was no occasion to recharge her accumulators, she had chosen a berth where she was partially protected from the full force of the tide by water-pipes that are laid across the bed of the river by the side of the Albert Bridge.Just before dinner Hythe asked if he could see his man, O'Shaunessey, and to this request Captain Restronguet made no objection. The sub could, of course, have had the Irishman sent to the cabin allotted to his personal use, but somehow he preferred to see the man in the crew's quarters. With so many mechanical and electrical contrivances about her Hythe fought shy of conversing with O'Shaunessey in his cabin; there might, he thought, be some device whereby the captain could overhear every word.The men's living-room presented quite an animated scene when Hythe entered. Tea had just been finished, and the crew who were on "watch below" were playing cards, dominoes, and billiards, or else reading or talking. A large electric gramophone was reproducing the latest songs, interspersed with the old-time seamen's chanties that seemed utterly out of place within a submarine. Captain Restronguet, recognizing the demoralizing effect of ennui, had taken every safeguard to maintain a cheerful demeanour amongst his men.Although nearly every one was smoking there was hardly any sign of fumes. Overhead three electric fans were expelling the smoke, but how the vapour was ejected from the vessel Hythe could not imagine.O'Shaunessey was sitting at a table, eagerly conversing with two of the crew. The Irishman's sense of humour appealed to his new comrades, and with an adaptability that contrasted forcibly with his belligerent attitude earlier in the day, O'Shaunessey was cracking jokes right and left.As the young officer entered, the crew stood up--not with the alacrity of naval men, but all the same with a sense of respect towards their superiors in rank."Carry on, men," exclaimed Hythe, and crossing over to where O'Shaunessey stood he asked him how he fared."Sure, an' I've fallen on me fate this time, sorr," replied the Irishman with a grin. "They are feeding me up like O'Leary's pig, an' it's a drap o' the old cratur they serve out at eight bells, which is more to me loikin' than navy rum--after the steward's wathered it."The men to whom O'Shaunessey had been talking smiled broadly at this, and considerately moved away so that the sub and the seaman could converse in private. Hythe was beginning to be afraid that the Irishman was too contented to make an effort to obtain his liberty should occasion arise; but lowering his voice O'Shaunessey continued,"All the same, sorr, it's to be back aboard the 'Investigator' that I'm wanting. 'Ave you any idea wan they'll let us out o' this?""Not in the least, O'Shaunessey. Nevertheless we must try to get clear as soon as possible, unless I receive definite orders to the contrary.""Definite orders to the contrary, sorr? From where, may Oi make so bold as to ask?"In a few words the sub imparted the information that news of their presence within the submarine had been sent to the Admiralty."St. Pathrick and the rest of the Saints be prised, sorr!" exclaimed O'Shaunessey fervently. "Sure, 'tis a load off me mind, for 'tis me ould mother in Ballydonfin, County Wexford, that might be lamentin' for her only son.""They haven't asked you to join the crew?""Bad luck be on their heads if they did, by Jabers!" ejaculated the Irishman. "Sure, I'm thrue to me salt.""Ssh," muttered Hythe warningly, then in a louder tone he added, "Well, I am pleased to learn that you are being well looked after, O'Shaunessey. I'll look in again soon, and see how you are getting on."On returning to the captain's cabin Hythe found that dinner was about to be served, and Captain Restronguet and Devoran, the chief officer, were in evening dress."I am sorry I had no opportunity of bringing my mess-jacket," said the sub, half-humorously, half-apologetically. "But you see I came on short notice.""Don't let that trouble you, Mr. Hythe," replied Captain Restronguet. "As a matter of fact, we invariably make it a practice of dressing for dinner. It recalls old times, doesn't it, Devoran?""Rather," replied the chief officer. Hythe noticed that for the time being all traces of differences in rank were set aside. Captain Restronguet and Mr. Devoran were more like staunch friends than superior and subordinate officers; but on all other occasions the latter's attitude was strictly conformable to etiquette afloat.The dinner passed pleasantly. The three men, by an unspoken yet mutual consent, studiously avoided "shop," their conversation dwelling on ordinary every-day topics. All the same Hythe could not help noticing how conversant they both were with the latest plays, books, and the events that afford interest to the Man-about-Town.After dinner Devoran left the cabin. The captain busied himself with writing, while Hythe, selecting a book from a small library, and lighting a cigar, sought the comfort of an easy chair.For an hour Captain Restronguet wrote steadily. He seemed quite indifferent to his guest's presence. Presently the sub found himself nodding over the book. He had been up early, and had had a trying and exciting day."What, nearly asleep!" exclaimed Captain Restronguet, as he set aside his papers and writing material. "But I forgot; you must be tired. Your bed is quite ready, so you can retire as soon as you wish."Nothing loth Hythe bade his host good-night, and ten minutes later he was sound asleep in a comfortable bunk, ten fathoms beneath the surface of the River Tamar.
CHAPTER VII.
IN THE CONNING-TOWER.
For several minutes Arnold Hythe sat motionless, watching the rapidly-changing objects that flitted across the inclined mirror. Captain Restronguet made no attempt to distract his attention, but standing with folded arms he watched with feelings of satisfaction the effects of the spectacle upon the young officer's face.
"Wonderful!" exclaimed the sub at length.
"You think so, Mr. Hythe? Let me assure you that this view is nothing to what I can show you. Suppose we take a stroll for'ard?"
The captain opened the door of his cabin.
"You will excuse me preceding you," he remarked apologetically. "We will proceed to the fore conning-tower. Oh, yes, the 'Aphrodite' has two. That accounts for the reports of the master of the 'Barberton Castle,' that he sighted two submarines lying side by side. As a matter of fact he saw the two conning-towers of the 'Aphrodite' against the light, and influenced by the fact that he had hitherto seen submarines with single conning-towers he was misled. Had he really seen two submarines"--and here Captain Restronguet's features darkened ominously--"he would have witnessed a catastrophe to one of them. But of that I will say more later. Suppose we look into this compartment on our way for'ard."
Hythe's guide rolled back a sliding-hatch that communicated with the men's quarters--a fairly spacious room on the starboard side amidships. To the sub's surprise he saw O'Shaunessey.
"Holy St. Pathrick!" ejaculated the seaman, almost forgetting in his excitement to salute. "Faith! sorr, how came you in this shebeen? Sure, I thought 'twas meself only as these rascally foreign spalpeens 'ad taken."
"They collared me too, O'Shaunessey," answered Hythe.
"Bad cess to them!" continued the gigantic Irishman, shaking his fist in the direction of half a dozen almost as powerfully built men who were imperturbably regarding their captive. "They tackled me with some insthrument, an' I couldn't raise me hand in self defence. They must have known that I could never stand being tickled, the ign'rant foreigners."
"Why foreigners, O'Shaunessey?" asked the sub, while Captain Restronguet gave a low chuckle.
"Ain't they foreigners, bedad? I prached to 'em like the blessed St. Pathrick held forth to the sarpints, an' all they did was to shake their heads."
"There is no necessity to keep up this pretence any longer, men," exclaimed Captain Restronguet. "This sailor must be treated as one of yourselves for the time being. You might reassure him, Mr. Hythe, for in spite of our electric treatment he seems inclined to be troublesome, and a good deal of damage might be done if we have to use strong measures."
"Look here, O'Shaunessey," said the sub, "we must make the best of our present position. This gentleman, Captain Restronguet, will doubtless put us ashore in good time," and with a swift look that the sailor rightly interpreted that he must keep his weather eye lifting, Hythe followed the captain out of the compartment.
"This is the for'ard double bulkhead," explained Captain Restronguet, as the pair came to the doors that Hythe had previously noticed. "The 'Aphrodite' is built in three separate sections, any of which can, in a case of emergency, be detached from the remaining portion and still remain watertight. The midship sections at the two principal bulkheads are identical. Thus if the centre compartment should happen to be holed the fore and after sections can be detached, brought together, and secured. We would then still be a submarine of two-thirds the length of the present one. In the foremost section are the offensive appliances, subsidiary motors, and certain stores. The midship portion forms the living space for the crew, main store rooms, etc.; the after section contains the officers' cabins, and underneath them the main propelling machinery. In each section is a diving-chamber capable of being flooded in order to allow the crew to leave the vessel when occasions arise. The exit in the midship section is on Number Two Platform; in the others it is on Number Three."
"Sounds like a railway station," thought Hythe; then--
"What do you mean by platforms?" he asked.
"You might prefer to call them decks, Mr. Hythe. Number One is literally on deck, and extends practically the whole length and breadth of the vessel. Her sections are, as you doubtless have observed, almost square, the ridges of the deck and the bilges being very slightly rounded off. This gives plenty of space for the crew when running on the surface, and also enables the 'Aphrodite' to rest on the bottom of the sea without any perceptible list, unless, of course, the bed shelves at all. Number Two Platform--but perhaps you are not interested?"
"Rather!" exclaimed the young officer eagerly.
"Well, then, Number Two Platform runs fore and aft at nine feet below the overhead girders, so there is no necessity to have to stoop when in any of the compartments or alley-ways. Number Three Platform rests on the cross girders that are bolted to the keelson, and being airtight form a hollow bottom. As a matter of fact these double bottom compartments are nearly always filled with water, which can be ejected by powerful, quick-delivery force pumps when necessary. Here is the door in the base of the for'ard conning-tower."
Unfastening the door by a cam-action lever Captain Restronguet agilely negotiated the narrow way and sprang up a steel ladder. Hythe followed and found himself standing on a metal grating in the company of the captain and a quarter-master. The latter took no notice of his superiors beyond moving a little to one side; his whole attention was fixed upon the task of steering the submerged craft.
The interior of the conning-tower was literally lined with electrical appliances, each switch distinctly marked according to the work it had to perform, but for the moment the sub paid scant heed to them. His eyes travelled in the direction of one of three large oval scuttles filled with plate glass.
The submersion indicator pointed to thirty-four feet, a depth that allowed the "Aphrodite" to pass under the keel of the deepest draughted battleship afloat, with five feet to spare. The compass pointed due east.
"We are just pottering about, as it were, between the Draystone and the Mewstone," announced Captain Restronguet. "The depth here averages ten fathoms, which gives us a margin of five feet under our keel. There is a battleship coming out of harbour, she is now in Smeaton Pass, and we are waiting for her to draw clear. On a falling tide we must take no risks."
"What do you mean?" asked Hythe.
"Simply that as soon as the vessel is outside the Breakwater I mean to take the 'Aphrodite' into the Hamoaze, and give you a chance to see that historic stretch of water under slightly different conditions from that which you have been accustomed to, Mr. Hythe. You were in the submarine service, I believe?"
"Yes," assented the sub. "But how do you know that?"
"Merely by a reference to the Navy List. But look ahead; see that object dead in line with our bows?"
"An electro-contact mine, by Jove!" exclaimed Hythe.
"Right again. Since the beginning of this German war-scare, which I venture to predict will pass away, unless my powers of reasoning play me false, the approaches to all British ports of any magnitude, especially the naval ones, have been strewn with these contrivances. Watch."
A slight touch on the switch controlling the helm and the "Aphrodite" swung away to starboard, clearing the deadly mine by less than twenty feet. Another loomed up ahead, only to be avoided by another touch of the helmsman's finger.
"I do not want to boast," remarked Captain Restronguet, "but I have enough electrical energy stored within this vessel to explode simultaneously every mine, be it a mechanical, observation, or electro-contact one, in Plymouth Sound, and even seriously imperil every fort and ship in the vicinity. Some day I may have to put the powers at my command to a stern test, but until the necessity actually arises I prefer to exploit the 'Aphrodite' solely as an example of what I am capable of producing in the interests of science. Look out of that scuttle on your left; what do you see?"
"A regular pile of huge stones," replied the sub.
"The eastern extremity of that wonderful work known as Plymouth Breakwater. We are now in only forty-five feet of water allowing for the state of the tide. The top of our conning-towers are but fifteen feet above the surface, yet I can assert with confidence that anyone standing on Staddon Heights and looking down upon this channel from an altitude of not less than three hundred and fifty feet would not see the faintest sign of the 'Aphrodite.'"
"What causes her to be almost invisible?" asked Hythe. "Are her plates made of or faced with glass?"
"Oh, no. Glass would not serve the purpose. The light would be reflected too much. In fact the 'Aphrodite' would be a huge heliograph, sending out rays of reflected sunlight in all directions. The composition placed over the steel plating of this submarine is a secret. All I can say at present is that it has the power to reflect the image of near objects only. It absorbs all brilliant rays of light, and is in consequence an almost perfect form of invisibility."
"What is that?" asked Hythe excitedly, pointing to a sudden turmoil in the water ahead.
"Only the action of the triple propellers of a torpedo-boat-destroyer. We are overhauling her. Ease down to ten knots, Carnon. She's off through the Asia Pass. There's not enough water for us; so let her come round to starboard."
The quartermaster telegraphed for speed to be reduced; the submarine turned towards the deeper Smeaton Pass, leaving the destroyer, in blissful ignorance of the proximity of the much-searched-for Captain Restronguet, to take the short cut into the Hamoaze.
"Now we can take things more easily," observed the captain after awhile. "The channel is now ninety feet deep, although we are but a few hundred yards from Plymouth Hoe. We are now approaching the Drake Channel, between the Victualling Yard and Drake's Island."
"However do you contrive to find your way about in a complicated waterway like this?" asked the sub, who was well acquainted with the above water navigation of that part of Plymouth Sound within the Breakwater. "You have no periscope?"
"A periscope would soon give the show away," observed his companion. "For the present, we simply rely upon the chart and compass, and look out for the sudden shelving of the bottom. See, there! Hard a starboard, quartermaster: there's the Vanguard Bank dead ahead."
From almost due south the "lubber's line" in the compass-bowl pointed to almost due north. The "Aphrodite" had reached the "Narrows" between the Devil's Point and Cremyll.
At a word from Captain Restronguet the quartermaster set the engine room telegraph indicator to stop; another movement, a gentle hiss betokened the admittance of water into one of the sub-compartments of the vessel. Then slowly and mysteriously the "Aphrodite" sank in twenty-two fathoms of water to the bed of the narrow channel.
At that depth, and owing to the swift-running tide, charged with the mud brought down by the River Tamar, the water was so thick that, till the electric lamps were switched on, the submarine was in total darkness.
"Prepare to anchor," ordered Captain Restronguet through a telephone.
"Good!" he ejaculated, after about a minute had elapsed. "Now, Mr. Hythe, you must be feeling hungry; so will you do me the honour of having lunch in my cabin?"
CHAPTER VIII.
EXPLANATIONS.
"By the by," observed Captain Restronguet, as he entered the cabin, "I have already sent a reassuring message concerning you to the British Admiralty."
"You have! How?" asked Hythe in astonishment. "You are not fitted with wireless?"
"And why not? As a matter of fact we are; with one of the latest type of Raldorf-Holperfeld instruments, which, as you know, do not require out-board aerials. The message is received by an automatic recorder."
"And, might I ask, with whom do you communicate?"
"That need not be kept a secret from you, Mr. Hythe."
"Why not, sir?"
"Because I wish to detain you on board the 'Aphrodite' until I have no further use for secret correspondents. My wish is law, Mr. Hythe, and please to remember that. At the same time I wish to make your period of enforced detention pass as pleasantly as possible, and you will have complete facilities, up to a certain point, of gaining valuable information that will in time to come amply recompense you for any slight inconvenience that might arise."
"But my career? Remember, sir, I'm a naval officer."
"Of course. That is one reason why I think fit to keep you. Had you been an ordinary or even an able seaman, I should have taken the first opportunity of putting you ashore, with hardly any chance of your seeing anything on board the vessel that might be put to my disadvantage. As soon as I learned that you were a naval sub-lieutenant I made up my mind to retain you as my guest for awhile."
"Then you are going to release O'Shaunessey?"
"Not at present. He, too, will serve a good purpose. He will be able to corroborate my statement that you will be honourably treated."
"But that will be unnecessary. Surely my word----"
"I have every confidence in the word of an officer and a gentleman, Mr. Hythe. But my proposals are rarely influenced by circumstances other than the workings of Providence. You asked me a question concerning my shore agents. The answer is this: so long as the Government bestows licences upon private individuals to dabble in wireless telegraphy experiments it is a simple matter to keep in touch with events ashore. My principal agent lives in Highgate. He is a skilled operator, but he has contrived to keep his capabilities masked under the role of a harmless amateur. By advancing or retarding the spark of the powerful coil of his instrument he can 'tap' any messages, whether from British or foreign warships, within seven hundred miles, while on occasions he has accurately read messages from Cape Race. Of course, most of the naval messages are in code, and are unintelligible to the uninitiated. Nevertheless I can learn all outside news from this particular agent even when in the Mediterranean. For short distances we make use of wireless telephony, and by this means I can communicate with trusty agents in Devonport, Portsmouth, Sheet-ness and Chatham, and under certain circumstances with Rosyth and Dundee."
"Why did you come to a standstill here?" asked the sub.
"To partially recharge our accumulators. Our motive power is electricity. My invention in that direction is a revolution in marine and submarine propulsion. We are now anchored."
"Anchored?" echoed Hythe. "How? I saw no anchors when I examined your vessel from the outside."
"Anchoring, as we understand the term, consists of allowing the 'Aphrodite' to settle on the bottom of the sea. By lowering four steel plates, inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees--the acute angle facing aft--an almost irresistible brake, something after the principle of the spade recoil brake of the French quick-firing field guns, is formed. At this moment the ebb tide is swirling past at four knots. The force of the current is turning our propellers, which, acting for the time being on subsidiary shafting, drive the dynamos that in turn replenish our accumulators."
"Then that means that every day you must recharge? How do you manage when there is not sufficient tide to actuate the propellers?"
"My dear sir," replied Captain Restronguet, "I ought to have said that we werepartiallyreplenishing our reserve of electricity. At this moment there is sufficient power on board to drive the 'Aphrodite' at a speed of thirty-five knots on the surface or twenty when submerged, for a continuous period of at least one hundred and twenty hours. We merely take advantage of the opportunity to increase our reserve. But you are not eating. Is my meagre fare not sufficiently tempting?"
"I am too interested to think about eating," replied Hythe. "But now you mention it I feel quite peckish."
"We are obliged to do without fresh meat," said Captain Restronguet apologetically. "Nevertheless I think you will find this dish of pilchards excellent. Here is seakale sauce that by the skill of the 'Aphrodite's' cook can hardly be distinguished from asparagus. Roast dog-fish, if you care to try it, you will find hard to believe anything but beef-steak. By a certain process, simple to apply, all taste of fish is eliminated."
Captain Restronguet helped his guest to a slice of dog-fish--a fish that fishermen not so many years back generally threw back into the sea as useless.
"Excellent," declared the sub. "However is this dish produced in this guise?"
"Also by electricity," said Captain Restronguet calmly. "By applying a certain form of current all the oily portions of the fish are destroyed, leaving only the red corpuscles in the flesh."
Just then came a knock at the door, and in response to the captain's permission to enter one of the crew appeared, holding an envelope in his hand.
"H'm! Message from the wireless room--excuse me," remarked Captain Restronguet, as he began to tear open the flap. "Shouldn't be surprised, Mr. Hythe, if this doesn't concern you. Yes, listen: 'Secretary of Admiralty acknowledges Captain Restronguet's message re safety of Sub-Lieutenant Arnold Hythe and Michael O'Shaunessey, A.B. If genuine a message from the naval officer detained is requested. Reasons are also desired why Captain Restronguet took forcible possession of two of His Majesty's subjects.' Ha! That is a reasonable message."
"Reasonable?"
"Yes. The Admiralty are beginning to realize that I, Captain Restronguet, am a person worthy of their consideration. That is more than they did a few years' back. As a matter of fact I have had a little quarrel with My Lords. Some day I will give you details; but meanwhile I am continuing my harmless yet disconcerting tactics that tend to prove how futile the defences of this country are against the latest product of modern science. Yes, Mr. Hythe, the Secretary of the Admiralty will have definite evidence before many hours have passed."
* * * * *
To go back to H.M.S. "Investigator": as soon as Hythe's appeal for help was received the attendants on the diving-party began to haul in the sub's life-line, but before five fathoms had been brought inboard a sudden relaxation of the strain told them that the rope had been severed.
"Be sharp, men! Blow him to the surface," ordered Egmont. "There's something up down there."
"Mr. Hythe's just signalled for more air, sir," announced the seaman who had charge of the telephone.
Rapidly the handles of the air-pump revolved. An increase in the number and size of the bubbles rising to the surface was the only result.
"See if the others are all right," ordered the lieutenant. "What's that? O'Shaunessey reports all correct; tell him to find out what's wrong with Mr. Hythe. Can't you get any reply from Mr. Hythe, Mr. Smithers?"
"No reply, sir," said the man laconically.
A paying out of the Irishman's life-line told them on deck that O'Shaunessey was on his way to look for his officer. Five minutes elapsed, then a confused jumble of ejaculations through the telephone betokened the unmistakable fact that the Hibernian diver was shouting at the top of his voice.
"Stow it, mate; what's the bloomin' use of shoutin' like that?" spoke the man on O'Shaunessey's telephone reprovingly. Then, after a short interval, he took the instrument from his ear and turned to Lieutenant Egmont.
"Wire's cut off, sir," he announced.
"And his life-line and air-tube cut, too, sir," added another seaman.
"Great heavens! what's up?" ejaculated the lieutenant. "Here, bring Price up before he's done for."
Hastily Egmont communicated this disquieting news to Captain Tarfag. The latter went for'ard and awaited Diver Price's re-appearance.
As soon as Price's helmet appeared above the surface his glass plate was unscrewed, revealing his features as pale as a sheet.
"What has happened?" demanded Captain Tarfag anxiously.
The man was incapable of speech. He could only raise one hand in a gesture of horror and despair.
"Help him over the side, men," ordered the captain. "Run aft, one of you, and ask the steward to give you a stiff glass of grog."
Quickly Price was divested of his helmet and dress. Shaking like a leaf he sat down upon a bollard. He drained the glass of whisky at one gulp, and the colour began to return to his face.
"Both done for!" he cried. "Saw my mate stabbed by the villains. Never caught a sight o' Mr. Hythe."
"By heavens, I'll not stand this!" thundered Captain Tarfag. "I want three men to go down--who will volunteer?"
"I will, sir!" came a chorus of voices. Every man qualified as a diver had offered to risk possibly certain death in the depths of the sea.
"You three," ordered the captain, indicating Moy, Banks, and Smithers. "Keep your knives in your hands and don't hesitate to use them. Take a charge of guncotton. If you've a chance place it under her bilges, and I'll take the risk of blowing this infernal submarine to Jericho."
Quickly the three dauntless divers prepared to descend, while a petty officer and two seamen hastened to bring the explosive from the magazine and the batteries for firing the charge.
But ere the divers were ready a sudden commotion on shore attracted the attention of Captain Tarfag and the crew of the "Investigator." The working party on the beach had discovered that the net entanglements no longer held. They were coming home with hardly any resistance, bringing with them the grapnels of the picquet-boats till the latter had to hastily cast off in order to prevent themselves being dragged ashore.
"She's given us the slip, by George!" ejaculated Mr. Egmont.
"Perhaps the nets have parted," suggested Captain Tarfag. "Look alive, men!"
One after another the divers disappeared over the side. Three distinct patches of bubbles indicated their course. They were, for mutual safety, keeping close together. To all inquiries on the telephone the answer was, "Nothing to be seen," until Moy reported that he had discovered distinct traces in the sand of the impression of a fairly flat-bottomed vessel of at least thirty foot beam.
"It's no go," exclaimed Captain Tarfag. "Order the men back, and report the loss of Mr. Hythe and O' Shaunessey to the Commander-in-Chief at Devonport. By smoke! All the fat is in the fire now."
Quickly the dispiriting news spread from ship to ship, and from boat to boat. A panic seemed to seize the spectators in private craft, for, as if by a sudden impulse, they made a wild stampede from the shelter of the shallow water of Cawsand Bay. But nothing happened to imperil their safety. No huge sea-monster, the work of human hands, appeared to scatter destruction broadcast upon those venturesome individuals who had gone forth to witness the capture of the mysterious Captain Restronguet. The elusive submarine had calmly stolen away, without a trace of the tragedy that every one imagined had been enacted beneath the waves, save for portions of the two life-lines and the disconnected air-tubes.
The "Investigator" and the rest of the Government vessels lost no time in putting into the Hamoaze. Captain Tarfag, accompanied by Lieutenant Egmont, immediately went on shore to report to the Commander-in-Chief. Already special editions of the papers were out, giving more or less accurate accounts of the futile operations in connexion with the attempt to capture the submarine, and all laid particular stress upon the fact that the lives of an officer and a seaman had been sacrificed on the altar of duty.
"You saw nothing, Tarfag?" asked the Admiral.
"Nothing, sir. The diver who escaped reported that the whole time he was below he saw no trace of the submarine, although he followed the line of netting for several yards. What he did see was his comrade, O'Shaunessey, beset by half a dozen men. He admitted he was terribly scared, but went to his fellow-diver's assistance. Before he could get close enough he saw that O'Shaunessey's life-line had been cut and his air-tube disconnected. Realizing that he could do nothing, and that he was in pressing danger, Price signalled to be hauled up."
"But how did the submarine contrive to get clear of the wire and rope entanglements? Surely you saw some signs of a commotion?"
"Nothing--not even a ripple. The first intimation we had was from the shore. The nets came home quite easily."
"H'm," ejaculated the Admiral. "Perhaps I----"
The entrance of an assistant secretary caused the Commander-in-Chief to pause abruptly. The newcomer held out a type-written document.
"Message through from the Admiralty, sir," he announced.
"By Jove! What's this?" exclaimed the astonished Admiral. "The Secretary to the Admiralty reports that a telephone message was received from a North London call-office, reporting that Mr. Hythe and O' Shaunessey are prisoners on the submarine. Furthermore, a telegram from Dantzic announces that Captain Restronguet--confound that fellow!--has destroyed the armoured cruiser 'Breslau.'"
"When was that, sir?" asked Captain Tarfag.
"The message from Dantzic is dated 8 a.m. this morning. Allowing for differences in Greenwich time----"
"Then, if the submarine we were after is under the command of Captain Restronguet, it is morally impossible for him to be in the Baltic at precisely the same hour----"
"Unless there are two of these blessed submarines."
"Or two captains of the name of Restronguet," added Captain Tarfag.
"I suppose this fellow means to hold Mr. Hythe to ransom, sir?" asked Mr. Egmont.
"There is no mention of that," replied the Admiral. "But, of course, that may be his intention. I wonder where the mysterious submarine will turn up next?"
"The Superintendent of Police, sir," announced the head-messenger.
"Ah, Richardson, what's the trouble now?" asked the Commander-in-Chief, as a tall, alert-looking man stepped briskly into the room.
"More evidence of Captain Restronguet, sir," replied the Superintendent of Police. "The rascal's actually in the Hamoaze. Our duty boat, whilst returning from Bull Point, picked up a green and white buoy, just abreast of Wilcove. Attached to the buoy, and protected by a water-proof covering, was this document."
The admiral took the paper--a foolscap sheet, with a crest and the words "Submarine 'Aphrodite'" embossed upon it. In silence he read it to the end, then--
"Well, of all the most confounded cheek!" he ejaculated. "Read that, Tarfag, and tell me what you think of it."
"I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Admiralty's message of even date. In order to prove conclusively that this reply is authentic, I have taken steps to see that this document is placed in the hands of the Commander-in-Chief of the Devonport Command. Mr. Arnold Hythe and A.B. O'Shaunessey, official number K14,027, are on board my vessel 'Aphrodite.' In the interests of the Service, and also in my own, it is desirable that Mr. Hythe remain on board for a period not exceeding six months. Any information the officer in question may gain is entirely at the disposal of the British Admiralty, and since the possibilities of so doing are great, I would suggest that covering permission be given for Mr. Hythe's absence from his official duties. Incidentally I may mention that this suggested permission is merely formal, for in any case my guests will not be put ashore until I think fit.
"I am at present giving a series of demonstrations in British waters, but not with any aggressive intent. It is hopeless to attempt the capture of my submarine, and no useful purpose will be thereby served.
"I take this opportunity of explaining the cause of the hostile acts committed against an outwardly friendly State, in the hope that the calamity of a great war may be averted.
"The submarine in Baltic waters is the property of Karl von Harburg, a German renegade, who has certain motives in committing these excesses, which can neither be justifiable nor excusable. His submarine, itself a craft of great abilities, is but a feeble imitation of my 'Aphrodite.' It will not help matters to any great extent by explaining my reasons, but I can assure you that at the first available opportunity I mean to destroy the submarine owned and commanded by Karl von Harburg, as I regard the man as an unprincipled international scoundrel and a scourge to humanity.
"Will you kindly forward this document to the Secretary of the Admiralty, and inform him that my agent will receive his reply per telephone, at the hour of 10 a.m. to-morrow.
"JOHN RESTRONGUET."
CHAPTER IX.
THE FIRST DAY IN THE "APHRODITE."
A bell rang out sharply in the captain's cabin of the "Aphrodite," and one of the electric indicators oscillated rapidly.
"Accumulators charged," announced Captain Restronguet laconically.
"It is a revelation to me," said Hythe. "And when one comes to consider that at every hour of the day hundreds, nay thousands, of ships are straining idly at their moorings, it is certainly remarkable that no satisfactory attempt has hitherto been made to harness the tides."
"That's only one of the many lessons you will learn," remarked the Captain. "But we are getting under way once more. Perhaps you would like to see the mechanism on Number Three Platform?"
"Most certainly I should," replied the sub.
In the alley-way they encountered a short, broad-shouldered man who had to set his back against the metal wall in order to allow his captain to pass.
"All correct, sir," he said saluting.
"Right, Mr. Devoran. Who's in the conning-tower?"
"Mylor, sir."
"Good. I will take the 'Aphrodite' up the river. You need not turn out till midnight. I shall want you then."
"That is my chief mate, Mr. Devoran," remarked Captain Restronguet, after the man had gone to his cabin. "A truer-hearted comrade one could not possibly desire. He is the only man on board beside myself who thoroughly understands the whole of the complicated mechanism of my masterpiece. There are others who are capable of manoeuvring the 'Aphrodite,' but they do not understand how to handle her for offensive purposes."
Throwing back a watertight sliding-door in the port fore and aft bulkhead Captain Restronguet signed to the sub to enter. Hythe found himself in a small compartment on the walls of which were several articles and gear. No space was wasted on board the "Aphrodite."
In the centre of the floor was an oval-shaped aperture, sealed with a rubber-lined lid, that by means of double levers could be opened from either above or below. As the hatch opened Hythe saw a portion of the well-lighted interior of the lower deck, access to which being gained by means of a vertical steel ladder.
The for'ard compartment, extending the whole length and breadth of the foremost section of the submarine, with the exception of the space taken up by the diving-exit, was as far unlike the forehold of a ship as the sub could possibly imagine. The cement-cased walls were distempered a pale green; thick corticene--a kind of linoleum used in the Navy--covered the floors; alongside the after bulkhead were two arms-racks filled with automatic rifles and pistols, and other modern small-arms. Secured to the deck was an automatic one-pounder field-gun. Towards the bows were two long narrow tubes, the external diameter by less than seven inches, while a seemingly complicated arrangement of double-locking doors, electric wires, trippers and gauges suggested to the sub that these instruments were torpedo tubes.
"Quite right," said Captain Restronguet in reply to Hythe's question. "A pair of six-inch tubes firing electrically directed torpedoes. They will never miss their target, I can assure you, even at five miles range, if controlled from a lofty station. Here we are limited, but so long as we can see our target by means of our flexibly attached periscope, there is a million chances to one on the weapon striking the mark. But listen!"
The hiss of a powerful water jet was just audible through the double plating of the submarine's hull.
"Merely a precautionary measure to clear the holding plates of mud and seaweed," explained Captain Restronguet. "If the spades, as I might term them, do not fold absolutely flush with the vessel's bottom, there's bound to be a tremendous resistance to the water and consequently a serious loss of speed. Now the jet is turned off. Listen again and you will hear the anchor plates come home."
"That they are!" exclaimed the sub, as a distinct thud shook the plates under his feet. "I suppose they are lifted by metal rods working in water-tight glands?"
"Oh, no; merely by the attraction of electromagnets. Every valve and door in this vessel is electrically controlled, although in some cases, such for instance the hatch by which we gained this compartment, manual power can be used. When next an opportunity serves I will show you the engine-room, but we are about to rise now. I must go to the for'ard conning-tower. You may come, too, if you feel inclined, or if you prefer there is a private cabin at your disposal."
"How does the submarine rise, might I ask? By means of horizontal rudders?"
"Yes and no," replied Captain Restronguet. "But before I explain perhaps this might interest you."
Stepping over to where three levers stood in the centre of the compartment the captain thrust one hard down. Instantly a portion of the floor opened. Another lever caused a corresponding part of the outer plating to slide back, revealing an observation plate of about three feet by two through the double skins of the starboard bilge-plates.
"I can see nothing," said Hythe, as he strove to peer through the glass. "It is perfectly dark."
"There ought to be sufficient light at this depth to see fairly well, but since the 'Aphrodite' is still on or nearly on the bottom of The Narrows, the hull intercepts what little light there is to penetrate the water. Now look!"
Touching a switch Captain Restronguet caused a strong search-light to shine vertically downwards. About a fathom of water lay between her keel and the floor of the sea. She was slowly moving under the influence of the young flood tide. The bed was shelving steeply from one hundred and twenty feet to less than ninety. Hythe could see the seaweed waving in the current and the fash, mostly of the flat-fish tribe, darting rapidly towards the dazzling light.
"What's that?" he asked, as two objects, resembling barnacle-covered pipes passed slowly across the field of light.
"Telephone cables between the Victualling Yard and Mount Edgcumbe," replied his companion. "If I felt inclined, what is to prevent me from sending out a man and tapping those wires? All submarine cables are entirely at my mercy. If I wished I could create a greater panic than the Stock Exchange, the Bourse, or Wall Street ever yet experienced. But I must switch off the light and close the panels now. I am wanted in the conning-tower."
As the sub followed his companion he could not help noticing the freshness of the atmosphere. Compared with the nauseating reek of the submarines he had served in the interior of the "Aphrodite" was as wholesome as could be. There was, moreover, a sting in the atmosphere that recalled the health-giving breezes of the Scottish moors.
"All right, Mylor, you carry on," exclaimed the captain to the helmsman in the conning-tower. "Starboard your helm a bit--go!"
Forty feet beneath the surface the submarine swung round the sharp band formed by the high ground of Cremyll and Mount Edgcumbe. Close to the heavy mooring-chains to the south of the Rubble Bank she glided, till her course, almost due north, lay right up the land-locked Hamoaze.
"Why, we're going up the River Tamar!" exclaimed Hythe, glancing at the compass. His knowledge of the intricacies of Plymouth Harbour and the Hamoaze, and the compass course told him that, for nothing was to be seen through the conning-tower scuttles save an expanse of pale green water.
"Yes, that is so. I am just running up to Saltash in order to pick up a man returning from leave," replied Captain Restronguet with a laugh. He spoke as casually as if he were the coxswain of a British battleship's liberty-boat. "We are now passing the South Yard of Devonport Dockyard. But excuse me, I have something to attend to in the after conning-tower. You won't mind remaining here, I trust? Keep her as she is, Mylor; I am going to reduce speed to five knots or even less."
Hythe sat down on a folding seat fixed below the port scuttle, whence he could see either ahead or on his left. The helmsman's head and shoulders obstructed the view to starboard.
It was fascinating work watching the sea swirl past, and noting the changes as the "Aphrodite" passed through patches of various coloured water, for the tide was beginning to stir up the dark brown sediment brought down from the Devonian Hills by the swift-running Tamar, and the result was a constant kaleidoscope. But after a while, finding that nothing else was visible, the sub transferred his attention to the interior of the conning-tower.
Presently a bell gave forth a warning note and the helmsman promptly touched a lever. The depth according to the gauge diminished to less than thirty-five feet.
"Is that an automatic sounding machine?" asked Hythe.
Mylor, still keeping his eyes fixed in front of him, shut his lips tightly, and Hythe, thinking that he had not caught what had been said, repeated the question.
"Cannot say, sir," said the helmsman decidedly. "It's against orders. For any information ask the cap'n."
"That's a staggerer," thought the sub. "One thing about it the fellow's true to his master."
Meanwhile Captain Restronguet had retired to his cabin, where he drafted a communication to the Commander-in Chief of the Devonport Command. This done, he ascended to the after conning-tower where two seamen were on duty.
"Ship the periscope, Carclew. Directly you sight any small Government craft bearing down this way let me know. And Gwennap, get this letter ready for delivery."
The periscope consisted of a double-wedge shaped instrument connected to the top of the after conning-tower by means of a flexible armoured insulated wire. Carclew, by switching off the current from an electro-magnet, allowed the float to rise to the surface, where, owing to the comparatively slow rate of the submarine, it was towed without being dragged under. As soon as this was done another switch was manipulated, and instantly a reproduction of the surrounding objects was faithfully projected by an advanced form of telephotography upon a dull white board fixed to the wall of the conning-tower.
"There's a black pinnace with a yellow awning coming down stream, sir," announced Carclew. "She's got the letters M.P. on her bows."
"Police launch evidently," said Captain Restronguet. "Now Gwennap, stand by. Are we right under her course, Carclew?"
The man Gwennap had meanwhile placed the document in an oiled covering which in turn he lashed to a globular white and green buoy. This he placed in an ejector, made on the principle of a submerged torpedo tube.
"All ready, sir," he announced.
Captain Restronguet held up his hand, and receiving an affirmative gesture from the seaman at the periscope-board, nodded his head. There was a slight, almost inaudible hiss and the buoy with the message attached, was ejected out of the conning-tower, rising to the surface within fifty yards of the on-coming launch.
"They've picked it up, sir," declared Carclew, after half a minute had elapsed.
"That's well," murmured the captain, as he descended the conning-tower ladder. "I wonder if the reply will be in a similar strain to the one I received five years ago. Ah! I wonder."
And with a grave smile on his resolute features Captain Restronguet returned to his cabin.
"Send Mr. Hythe to me," he ordered, when a seaman appeared in answer to his summons. "And tell the diving-party detailed for duty to have the boat ready for launching; warn Polglaze and Lancarrow to stand by at eleven to-night."
"Now, Mr. Hythe," said Captain Restronguet, when the sub was shown into the cabin, "I may as well tell you that I have reported your presence and that of the able seaman to the Commander-in-Chief, and doubtless I shall have a reply before noon to-morrow. If you would like to see our periscope in working order now is a good opportunity. We are travelling dead slow, and there is plenty to be seen here--more so than at sea."
"It is a picture," exclaimed the sub enthusiastically, as he gazed upon the electrically-depicted panorama. "The whole horizon is included; but how do you know in what direction an object is lying?"
"Simply by the position of this board. It revolves by the same magnetic influence that causes the compass card always to point to the magnetic-north, only here we have made corrections for the variation of the compass. The only drawback is that objects to the south are shown inverted on the board, but with a little practice one soon gets accustomed to this. It is like the inverted image on the ground glass of a camera, and to an experienced photographer that state of affairs presents no difficulty. Here we are: right abeam on the starboard hand you can see Bull Point, the ordnance depot. When were you last up the river Tamar, might I ask?"
"Quite two years ago."
"And it is more than seven since last I saw Saltash Bridge. There have been vast changes, and I suppose had you been at the periscope all the way up the Hamoaze you would have noticed a difference in the aspect of the place."
"I see that they've covered in the magazines with earth," said Hythe. "That's for protection against attack from aerial craft."
"And it is the same in Devonport and Keyham Yards. There's no doubt the British nation has developed an air-invasion panic. For instance: years ago all the building slips in the Royal Dockyards were roofed in. I can remember the huge sloping roofs with their skylights arranged after the manner of the ports of an old three-decker man-of-war. Early in the present century these roofs were removed, and the slips were left entirely open and uncovered. Now what do I see? Every dock, every slip, every Government workshop of importance is housed in with a bomb-proof steel roof. And with one touch of my little finger I could do more damage, and without being seen, to that place yonder than the combined aerial fleets of Germany and Austria. But see, we are in sight of Saltash Bridge. Just below that structure I mean to bring up for the night. I regret, Mr. Hythe, I cannot give you an opportunity to stretch your legs upon Devon or Cornish soil, but I trust that you will realize that circumstances prevent my so doing."
The "Aphrodite" sank to the bed of the river between the lofty bridge and the chains of the floating-bridge plying between the village of Saltash and the left bank of the Tamar. Here in fifty-six feet of water she was in absolute safety, and since there was no occasion to recharge her accumulators, she had chosen a berth where she was partially protected from the full force of the tide by water-pipes that are laid across the bed of the river by the side of the Albert Bridge.
Just before dinner Hythe asked if he could see his man, O'Shaunessey, and to this request Captain Restronguet made no objection. The sub could, of course, have had the Irishman sent to the cabin allotted to his personal use, but somehow he preferred to see the man in the crew's quarters. With so many mechanical and electrical contrivances about her Hythe fought shy of conversing with O'Shaunessey in his cabin; there might, he thought, be some device whereby the captain could overhear every word.
The men's living-room presented quite an animated scene when Hythe entered. Tea had just been finished, and the crew who were on "watch below" were playing cards, dominoes, and billiards, or else reading or talking. A large electric gramophone was reproducing the latest songs, interspersed with the old-time seamen's chanties that seemed utterly out of place within a submarine. Captain Restronguet, recognizing the demoralizing effect of ennui, had taken every safeguard to maintain a cheerful demeanour amongst his men.
Although nearly every one was smoking there was hardly any sign of fumes. Overhead three electric fans were expelling the smoke, but how the vapour was ejected from the vessel Hythe could not imagine.
O'Shaunessey was sitting at a table, eagerly conversing with two of the crew. The Irishman's sense of humour appealed to his new comrades, and with an adaptability that contrasted forcibly with his belligerent attitude earlier in the day, O'Shaunessey was cracking jokes right and left.
As the young officer entered, the crew stood up--not with the alacrity of naval men, but all the same with a sense of respect towards their superiors in rank.
"Carry on, men," exclaimed Hythe, and crossing over to where O'Shaunessey stood he asked him how he fared.
"Sure, an' I've fallen on me fate this time, sorr," replied the Irishman with a grin. "They are feeding me up like O'Leary's pig, an' it's a drap o' the old cratur they serve out at eight bells, which is more to me loikin' than navy rum--after the steward's wathered it."
The men to whom O'Shaunessey had been talking smiled broadly at this, and considerately moved away so that the sub and the seaman could converse in private. Hythe was beginning to be afraid that the Irishman was too contented to make an effort to obtain his liberty should occasion arise; but lowering his voice O'Shaunessey continued,
"All the same, sorr, it's to be back aboard the 'Investigator' that I'm wanting. 'Ave you any idea wan they'll let us out o' this?"
"Not in the least, O'Shaunessey. Nevertheless we must try to get clear as soon as possible, unless I receive definite orders to the contrary."
"Definite orders to the contrary, sorr? From where, may Oi make so bold as to ask?"
In a few words the sub imparted the information that news of their presence within the submarine had been sent to the Admiralty.
"St. Pathrick and the rest of the Saints be prised, sorr!" exclaimed O'Shaunessey fervently. "Sure, 'tis a load off me mind, for 'tis me ould mother in Ballydonfin, County Wexford, that might be lamentin' for her only son."
"They haven't asked you to join the crew?"
"Bad luck be on their heads if they did, by Jabers!" ejaculated the Irishman. "Sure, I'm thrue to me salt."
"Ssh," muttered Hythe warningly, then in a louder tone he added, "Well, I am pleased to learn that you are being well looked after, O'Shaunessey. I'll look in again soon, and see how you are getting on."
On returning to the captain's cabin Hythe found that dinner was about to be served, and Captain Restronguet and Devoran, the chief officer, were in evening dress.
"I am sorry I had no opportunity of bringing my mess-jacket," said the sub, half-humorously, half-apologetically. "But you see I came on short notice."
"Don't let that trouble you, Mr. Hythe," replied Captain Restronguet. "As a matter of fact, we invariably make it a practice of dressing for dinner. It recalls old times, doesn't it, Devoran?"
"Rather," replied the chief officer. Hythe noticed that for the time being all traces of differences in rank were set aside. Captain Restronguet and Mr. Devoran were more like staunch friends than superior and subordinate officers; but on all other occasions the latter's attitude was strictly conformable to etiquette afloat.
The dinner passed pleasantly. The three men, by an unspoken yet mutual consent, studiously avoided "shop," their conversation dwelling on ordinary every-day topics. All the same Hythe could not help noticing how conversant they both were with the latest plays, books, and the events that afford interest to the Man-about-Town.
After dinner Devoran left the cabin. The captain busied himself with writing, while Hythe, selecting a book from a small library, and lighting a cigar, sought the comfort of an easy chair.
For an hour Captain Restronguet wrote steadily. He seemed quite indifferent to his guest's presence. Presently the sub found himself nodding over the book. He had been up early, and had had a trying and exciting day.
"What, nearly asleep!" exclaimed Captain Restronguet, as he set aside his papers and writing material. "But I forgot; you must be tired. Your bed is quite ready, so you can retire as soon as you wish."
Nothing loth Hythe bade his host good-night, and ten minutes later he was sound asleep in a comfortable bunk, ten fathoms beneath the surface of the River Tamar.