Kapitan Karl von Giespert, ex-Unter-Leutnant of the now defunct Imperial German Navy, was in a very bad temper, which was saying a good deal, since he was rarely in a good one.
He was beginning to realize that his latest bit of dirty work—one of many pet schemes—had been a wash-out. The boat containing Strauss and three of the crew had not returned. He didn't mind losing the men overmuch, but he regretted his decision to send Siegfried Strauss in command of the submarine mining expedition; not that he had any affection for Strauss, but because Strauss was a capable navigator and he was not. And it was a long, long voyage back to the Fatherland.
After taking several turns up and down the deck, von Giespert went for'ard, descended the steep ladder to the fo'c'sle, and thence to the store-room, where for quite a considerable time he stood pensively contemplating the for'ard water-tight bulkhead of No. 1 hold.
Then he bawled to one of the men to pass the word for the carpenter. That individual arrived at the double, rather breathless and perspiring freely not solely on account of the heat, but in anticipation of a scene with his employer.
"I want you," ordered von Giespert, "to shore up this bulkhead from the other side. Use every available baulk of timber. If you want more, send a party ashore to fell some trees. I want the job done quickly and properly."
Had von Giespert told the carpenter to construct a ladder long enough to reach the moon, or given him similar impossible instructions, the latter's surprise would hardly have been greater. The bulkhead of No. 1 hold was of massive construction, and its condition was as good as the day when the ship was launched.
"It will take a day and a half, Herr Kapitan," replied the carpenter, in reply to his employer's question as to the length of the task involved.
"Then have it done," snapped von Giespert, and hied him to interview the chief engineer in his cabin.
"I want steam raised the day after to-morrow," he said. "We're sailing at noon. What's the working-pressure of the boilers?"
The engineer told him.
"No more?" asked von Giespert.
"I might raise another two atmospheres, Herr Kapitan," replied the chief dubiously. "The boilers wouldn't stand that for long."
"They'll have to stand it for an hour," declared von Giespert. "An hour will be enough for my purpose. I will give you ample warning when I require the additional pressure."
His latest project was to sail for Nua Leha, arriving at dawn. If, as he expected, theZugwere sighted by the look-out of theTitania, he would hoist urgent signals—the international NV, signifying "short of provisions". He would then make out that theZugintended to anchor within a cable's length of her rival, and, suddenly increasing speed and putting her helm hard-a-port, ram theTitaniafull on her beam. And, since he still required theZugto get him home, the reason for the shoring up of the for'ard watertight bulkhead was apparent. But at all costs there must be no survivors from theTitania.
It was a desperate scheme that gave fair promises of success. The one fly in the ointment was the knowledge that theTitaniamounted a 4.7-inch quickfirer. Von Giespert did not, of course, know that the "quick-firer" was at that moment performing its ordained task of carrying off the smoke of the galley-fire in its humble, yet important, capacity of a chimney.
As a counter-measure, if theTitania'sgun should be manned and trained, von Giespert could hoist a "not under control" signal and trust that the excuse would pass, but he was beginning to have a wholesome respect for Harborough. Not once but many times that fool of an Englishman had got to windward of him. It behoved him to act warily.
Von Giespert was a firm believer in the German equivalent for the proverb "Desperate diseases need desperate remedies". To him theTitaniaand her crew represented the disease; theZugwas to apply the remedy. At the same time he realized that it was the last straw, the final desperate plunge of the despairing gamester, staking his all upon the cast of the die.
For the greater part of the day the carpenter and his crew toiled in the burning rays of the sun, hauling and setting in position huge baulks of timber, supplemented by lengths of stout bamboo, felled and towed alongside and thence whipped up and placed in the for'ard hold by means of the vessel's derricks. Before sunset the carpenter reported complete, but von Giespert was not satisfied.
He ordered the men to fill sacks with sand and pile them up against the timber shores. He meant to make certain of that bulkhead. TheZug'sbows might be torn like paper in the projected ramming evolution, but the bulkhead must hold at all costs.
The crew obeyed reluctantly. They were of a type that could be driven and did not take kindly to being led; but in the matter of being driven there could be "too much of a good thing ". And von Giespert failed to realize the presence of the danger-signal.
Headed by one of the quartermasters, the deck hands came aft in a body and demanded of the now astounded but still mule-headed von Giespert the reason for this excessive amount of work. They could not see why the bulkhead should be strengthened, considering it was strong enough already, unless some desperate scheme were afloat.
Von Giespert told them. He had to admit failure in the quest of the gold and that his British rivals had both hoodwinked him and secured the real prize.
"That is all very well, Herr Kapitan," observed the spokesman of the deputation. "We don't mind taking desperate measures if there's anything to be got out of it. If we sink the English yacht, how do we stand as far as the gold is concerned? And suppose we fail, how do we stand then? It will mean penal servitude in an English prison."
"Not at all," protested von Giespert. "If we fail, the responsibility is mine. You are acting under my orders. If we succeed in sinking the yacht, as I believe we shall, then it's merely a question of diving and recovering the gold. We would know its position to a certainty this time."
He stopped to make a rapid calculation.
"How do we stand in, Herr Kapitan?" asked one of the men.
Von Giespert, who was on the point of offering twenty per cent of the proceeds, came down to ten. Inwardly he vowed that these swinish fellows of his would pay for their temerity in trying to beard him in his den.
"Very well, Herr Kapitan," agreed the spokesman. "One tenth of the proceeds in addition to our wages, and you'll please to sign a paper absolving us from all blame in the matter of the collision."
Muttering angry oaths, von Giespert drew up and signed a document to that effect and handed it to the leader of the deputation. The men withdrew, and for the present at least the trouble had blown itself out.
At eleven on the following morning smoke began to issue from theZug'sfunnel. Half an hour later steam was raised, and by noon the safety-valves were lifting under the internal pressure. The chief engineer reported that all was ready; but no answering clang of the bridge-telegraph was transmitted to the engine-room.
Von Giespert, on the bridge, was hesitating.
"What is the glass doing?" he inquired.
"It has risen a point since six this morning, Herr Kapitan," reported the quartermaster.
Von Giespert shrugged his shoulders. He had not even the excuse of approaching bad weather to delay him.
With feelings akin to those of a man about to plunge into icy-cold water he leant over the bridge stanchion-rail. The bos'un in the fo'c'sle had already shortened cable and was awaiting the command to weigh.
The kapitan nodded. At the signal the steam capstan began to clink.
"Up and down, sir," announced one of the men, and a few moments later the rusty stockless anchor came into view.
"Easy ahead."
TheZugbegan to forge through the placid water, increasing speed as she passed through the gap in the reef.
Von Giespert turned to the quartermaster.
"Ost zu sud," he ordered.
That course, east by south, was the course for Nua Leha.
"What's that made fast to the shot-line, old man?" inquired Beverley, as Villiers, divested of his helmet and diving-dress, sat in the stern-sheets of the boat that von Giespert had unwittingly given over to theTitania'speople.
"That?" replied Villiers. "I dunno. Ballast, I expect. There are tons of it down there. Wonder if it's lead?"
"If so, it's a fortune for anyone who can get it back to England," observed Harborough, unclasping his knife and digging the point into the block of metal.
"Tough for lead," he commented, "and yet too soft for iron, unless the stuff's badly corroded. By Jove! Villiers! I believe—yes, I'm sure—it's silver."
"Regular Tom Tiddler's ground then," remarked Jack. "When we left England silver was soaring. Wonder what it's worth now?"
"At any rate, we won't fly in the face of Providence," declared Harborough. "A few days more won't matter very much. When we've finished with theFusi Yama, we'll lift some of this stuff."
"There's enough to sink theTitania," declared Villiers. "The hold of that ship must have been chock-full of silver. Rum sort of ballast."
"Probably a Spanish treasure-ship or a buccaneering craft that sunk with her booty," suggested Claverhouse. "They did that sort of thing once, I believe."
"Then that's settled," declared Harborough briskly. "Finish with theFusi Yama, and then carry on with the silver that friend von Giespert, by the hand of pal Strauss, kindly discovered for us. How's the glass, by the by? I forgot to look this morning."
"It rose a point and a half after eight," reported Villiers, "and now it is dropping rather too rapidly."
"H'm!" exclaimed Harborough. "That's bad. It may interfere with our work, and we can't afford to lose much more plant. We'll work double shifts, and keep our weather-eye lifting."
By sunset the task of clearing theFusi Yama'sstrong-room was accomplished, and an hour later the last of the gold was safely on board theTitania—an event that was signalized by three hearty cheers and splicing the "mainbrace" with discreet tots of champagne.
The while the glass was falling rapidly, although not so low as on the occasion of the devastating hurricane. Nevertheless, every possible precaution was taken. The boats were hoisted in and lashed down, awnings and side-curtains stowed, and additional cable veered out. The engine-room stood by ready to start the heavy oil-engines, and thus ease the strain on the anchor-chains should occasion arise. All hands were on board, preferring to face the storm in a staunch craft anchored in a fairly-sheltered lagoon to risking a wet and uncomfortable, if not dangerous, night ashore.
At midnight it was blowing a gale, but, in contrast to the preceding storm, there was no preliminary rain—simply a terrific blast of wind that heralded an almost uninterrupted blow.
It started from the nor'-nor'-east, or obliquely to the coast-line off which theTitanialay at anchor. Although the noise of the breakers on the reef was like that of a continual roar of thunder, the lagoon itself was only slightly agitated.
But when, at about 3 a.m., the wind veered four points to the east'ard, the beach became a dead lee shore. Huge billows, crashing madly upon the coral reef, swept in masses of white foam across the lagoon and churned themselves upon the beach, until in the pale moonlight the palm groves appeared to be growing from an undulating field of white water.
Pounding and thudding, quivering under the terrific pressure of the wind, theTitaniaheld grimly to her cables. At one moment full fifty feet of chain, stretched taut and obliquely like an iron bar, would be visible; the next the yacht would lurch forward as a giant roller passed her by, and would threaten to overrun her anchors, until she "snubbed" with a sickening jerk that almost tore the stout mooring bits from the deck.
"It won't last long," declared Villiers, as a hissing shower of rain mingled with the driving spindrift. "Wind before rain, you know. It'll ease down by dawn."
He was right. By sunrise, although the wind was still high, its force had moderated considerably, and the sun rose in a grey sky, betokening fine weather before many hours had passed.
"Vessel making for the island, sir," suddenly announced Merridew, pointing dead to windward.
"By Jove! It's theZug!" exclaimed Harborough.
"No doubt about it, sir," agreed Villiers, after a lengthy survey through his binoculars. "Wonder what she's doing here?"
TheZugwas steering due south, and, therefore, on a slightly diverging course from the eastern side of the island; but when immediately abeam of the entrance to the lagoon, she ported helm as if to approach the narrow gap in the coral reef.
"Either von Giespert's mad or he doesn't know the risk he's running," said Harborough. "Make him a signal, Villiers. Say 'bar unsafe'."
"He's flying some sort of signal, sir," reported Jack. "Can't make out the flags; they're dead to windward."
"If we can't see his, he can't see ours," observed Harborough. "But we'll risk it, and give him a chance."
"I've got it, sir," declared Beverley. "It signifies short of provisions '."
Harborough shrugged his shoulders.
"What's wrong with the pigs and the bread-fruit trees at Ni Telang?" he remarked pointedly. "If I were von Giespert, I would tighten my belt a notch before I'd tackle the entrance to the lagoon. There's one thing, the wind's moderating, but look at the broken water on the bar."
"It doesn't look so bad from seaward," said Merridew. "He'll feel sorry for himself when he's in the thick of it, I fancy."
With a following wind, theZugwas rolling heavily and frequently obscured from view by the thick cloud of smoke from her funnel. When quite a mile from the reef, she suddenly fell off her course, vast quantities of steam issuing from her engine-room. She lost way, and was now rolling excessively in the trough of the seas.
"Looks like a boiler-explosion," exclaimed Harborough, glancing over the side atthe still tumultuous waterwithin the reef. "We'll have to get the boats ready for lowering, Mr. Villiers. They'll be wanted pretty badly, I expect."
TheZugwas doomed. Von Giespert had again overreached himself, although the crew of theTitaniahad no suspicion of his desperate move. Von Giespert's orders to his chief engineer had been carried out only too well. The main steam-pipe, unable to withstand the abnormal internal pressure, had burst, the explosion killing everyone in the boiler-room, while the escaping steam had severely injured the chief engineer and his assistants.
Helpless in the trough of the seas, theZugwas now drifting rapidly on to the reef. Von Giespert, after bellowing incoherencies, ordered a storm trysail to be set in the hope that the vessel's head would pay off. But the moment the canvas was hoisted it blew to atoms.
As a last resource both anchors were let go. Owing to the depth of water outside the reef, it was a long time before they obtained a grip. When they did, theZugwas within two hundred yards of the coral barrier.
Momentarily she swung to her cables, then with a vicious snub both chains parted simultaneously. Seven minutes later, with a crash that was audible above the roar of the breakers, theZugended her career upon the outer reef of Nua Leha.
Harborough had not waited for the doomed vessel to strike. Already theTitania'stwo boats—the only serviceable ones—had been lowered, and were pulling towards the leeside of the reef.
Villiers was in charge of the cutter that had formerly belonged to theZug. Beverley was in command of the gig. Both crews were wearing life-belts.
It was as well they did, for barely had the gig gone fifty yards from theTitaniawhen she shipped a heavy sea and filled completely. Luckily all hands managed to gain the yacht by means of ropes thrown them from theTitania'sbows.
Satisfying himself that his comrades late of the gig were safe, Villiers held on, encouraging the crew by word and gesture, and skilfully handling the boat to meet every dangerously-crested wave.
It was grim, desperate work. Sometimes the boat would lose ground in spite of the efforts of the rowers, who, with cracking sinews and aching backs, stuck gamely to their task. More than once the stroke had to boat his oar and bale out the water, for, in spite of her weatherly qualities, the cutter was shipping dangerous quantities of spray.
As they approached the lee side of the reef, which afforded very little shelter as the breakers were thundering right over it, Villiers could hardly see the wreck owing to the volume of spindrift.
TheZugwas breaking up fast. Already her after-part, unable to withstand the terrific hammering, had broken off and had disappeared in deep water. On her bows, that were momentarily in danger of being smashed to pieces, were five or six of her crew, swept by the waves, and hanging on tenaciously to the heavier fittings. The rest of her crew had disappeared, having been swept overboard on the impact.
For the present Villiers could do nothing but keep the boat's head on to the seas and wait. A hundred feet of coral reef, showing in the trough of every breaker that swept over it, lay between him and the wreck. To attempt to get alongside theZugwould be hopeless. Had there been a ghost of a chance, he would have taken it in his efforts to save life, but there was none. All he could do was to stand by and wait, trusting that some of the luckless Germans might be swept over the reef into the smoother water inside the lagoon. At length one of theZug'screw took a desperate step and plunged into the sea. Caught by a crested breaker, he was hurled for a full fifty yards before he disappeared from view.
"Watch for him!" shouted Villiers. "He's over the reef."
A few seconds later the man reappeared, feebly striking out. He was in danger of being swept past the cutter before he was seen. To attempt to turn meant the boat being caught broadside on and swamped.
"Back all," ordered Villiers, gripping the tiller to prevent the rudder broaching to as the boat gathered sternway.
The cutter backed almost half-way across the lagoon before Villiers gave the order to "give way". Then, gradually edging towards the swimmer, the boat, ably handled, came within an oar's length of the exhausted man.
A few seconds of breathless suspense, then:
"Got him!" yelled Swaine the bowman.
At a cost of enough water to fill the cutter to the thwarts, the German was hauled into at least temporary safety, and while two men kept the boat head to wind and sea the others baled desperately, using canvas bucket and baler until most of the water was ejected.
Once more the cutter approached the reef, the rowers straining desperately at their oars to recover the lost distance.
"There's another of 'em off," shouted Jack, bawling to make himself heard above the roar of the breakers and the rush of the wind.
A stout German, wearing a pair of canvas trousers only, cast off the ropes that secured him to the deck and leapt into the foaming water. In vain the cutter's crew looked for his reappearance. He was never seen again.
The remaining four, deterred by the fate of their luckless comrade, held on. TheTitania'smen, rowing frantically the while to keep the boat from being driven to leeward, watched them over their shoulders. Villiers realized that his crew were now almost played out. It looked as if it were a case of the triumph of matter over mind. The men were grimly determined to "stick it", but the ceaseless labour for the last hour at the oars was wearing them out. It was not straightforward rowing, but a constant tussle in confused breaking water and against a furious wind.
The while the bow portion of theZugwas breaking up fast. Alive to the latest danger, the four men, abandoning their position, took to the water. Three of these were picked up, the last not before the cutter had been backed to within half a cable's length of the beach.
Then, with rescued and rescuers almost in the last stage of physical exhaustion, Villiers succeeded in running under theTitania'squarter.
"Only four saved, sir," reported Jack.
"More than I expected," replied Harborough. "Get them below. Dry clothes and hot drinks are what they want. Right-o, Villiers, you turn in; you're in need of a rest, I'm sure."
Jack was. Although he had not had the actual manual labour at the oars, he had been badly knocked about by the buffeting of the boat. One side was black and blue, owing to the tiller thumping his ribs, while his left hand, which was still unhealed of its injuries received during the submarine encounter with the poisonous fish, was now raw and smarting horribly owing to the action of the salt water.
Later in the day it was discovered that five others of theZug'screw had succeeded in escaping with their lives. By some strange freak on the part of a wave, they had been swept through the entrance to the lagoon, and unobserved by anyone on board theTitania, were washed up on Nua Leha.
When the wind moderated and a landing was possible, they were brought off to theTitania, almost dead by reason of their terrible struggle to gain the beach. Amongst them was theZug'scarpenter, but Kaspar von Giespert did not figure in the list of survivors.
Jack Villiers, protesting that his injuries did not much matter, was on deck at the second dog watch. After dinner Harborough called him aside.
"I think we'll cut the silver stunt, Villiers," he said. Then he paused to watch the effect of the announcement.
"Very well, sir," replied Jack.
"We've wrestled with Fortune and won, where other men have failed," continued the baronet. "I'm sorry that lives have been lost over the business; but we've this to be thankful for: we've come through it, if not with whole skins, without a single D.D. on the muster-book. I propose making for Sydney, transferring the gold to a liner, and taking passage home in her."
"Quite a good scheme," agreed Jack.
"We can sell the oldTitaniaat a good figure," resumed Harborough, "and no doubt get a round sum for the secret of the silver. Let some other fellows have a run for their money; personally, I don't believe in playing Dame Fortune too hard. This gale is blowing itself out, so to-morrow we'll fill up the water-tanks, lay in such provisions as the island supplies, and say good-bye to Nua Leha."
On the following day all available hands, including the two Germans who had been under arrest, but were now released from their cells, went ashore to complete the preparations for the voyage, and by nightfall theTitaniawas revictualled and had water-tanks replenished.
At daybreak she sailed, her crew watching, with a certain amount of regret, the triple peaks of the island sinking lower and lower behind the horizon. Not only had the arduous work been successful, but the varied experiences had cemented a band of life-long comradeship between the members of the expedition.
After an uneventful run theTitaniaarrived at Sydney, where Harborough put his plans into execution.
To him came Swaine.
"If you've no objection, sir," he began, "I'd like to make an offer for theTitaniaand the right to exploit the silver stunt."
"What!" exclaimed Harborough. "You're a sticker, Swaine. You haven't had enough treasure-hunting, eh?"
"Must do something to keep me out of mischief," replied Swaine. "Even with pots of money a fellow is at a loose end when he's got nothing to occupy his mind. I reckon I've more than enough of my share of theFusi Yamagold to pay for the yacht and float a company here for the recovery of the silver."
"I'm quite agreeable," assented Harborough. "But I'll have to arrange with the others concerning the value of the yacht and the other matter."
When the idea was put before the now-dissolving syndicate, not only did they agree to let Swaine have theTitaniaat a reasonable sum, but O'Loghlin and Fontayne offered to join in the new venture.
Claverhouse and Trevear expressed their intention of remaining at Sydney, prior to taking up farming in New Zealand. To them Harborough advanced a sum sufficient to carry them on, pending the realization of the gold in London. Griffiths and Bell, inseparable chums, decided to try their luck at fruit-growing in Tasmania.
Pete, with a pocketful of notes that represented to him a small fortune, departed for the West Indies via Panama. He went with genuine regret, followed by the good wishes of the erstwhile crew of theTitania, who regarded him as a cheerful hard-working cook who looked after their inward needs with the utmost fidelity.
The rest of theTitania'sparty accompanied Harborough to England. Villiers and Bobby Beverley, acting upon Swaine's principle, formed a coastal shipping company, which not only kept them busy but gave a good return for their outlay. Within six months of his return home Dick Beverley gained tenth place in the entrance examination to Sandhurst.
Sir Hugh Harborough, rich and contented both in mind and body, was able to run Thalassa Towers in a manner that bid fair to make it one of the choicest country seats in Hampshire. He entertained lavishly, but of his numerous guests none were more welcome than his former comrades of the good shipTitania.
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAINBy Blackie & Son, Limited, Glasgow
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAINBy Blackie & Son, Limited, Glasgow
Transcriber's Notes:This book contains a number of misprints.The following misprints have been corrected:["It's like this," resumed Billy] —>["It's like this," resumed Bobby]There is no Billy in this book. This should be Bobby.[messenger to Thelassa Towers] —>[messenger to Thalassa Towers][Straus had tried] —>[Strauss had tried][the compact air-craft begin to] —>[the compact air-craft began to][the still tumultous water] —>[the still tumultuous water]Two illustrations were missing in the paper version used for producing this digitised text. These are: 'A SUBMARINE DUEL' and 'UNMASKED HE WAS NO LONGER AN AMIABLE SWEDE'. They are marked with "(missing from book)" in the Illustrations-list and at the place where the image would have been.A few cases of punctuation errors were corrected, but are not mentioned here.
This book contains a number of misprints.The following misprints have been corrected:["It's like this," resumed Billy] —>["It's like this," resumed Bobby]There is no Billy in this book. This should be Bobby.[messenger to Thelassa Towers] —>[messenger to Thalassa Towers][Straus had tried] —>[Strauss had tried][the compact air-craft begin to] —>[the compact air-craft began to][the still tumultous water] —>[the still tumultuous water]Two illustrations were missing in the paper version used for producing this digitised text. These are: 'A SUBMARINE DUEL' and 'UNMASKED HE WAS NO LONGER AN AMIABLE SWEDE'. They are marked with "(missing from book)" in the Illustrations-list and at the place where the image would have been.A few cases of punctuation errors were corrected, but are not mentioned here.