BY PERCY F. WESTERMAN

image: 13_complaints.jpg

[Illustration: "Look here, Mr. Schneider, you've come to the wrong box with your sneaking complaints. So clear out!"]

"I am a professor of languages and sciences. You came from Poole, is it not? Zen perhaps you are acquainted with Colonel Mortebeque? I was at one time tutor to his son——"

"Look here, Mr. Schneider," broke in Tregarthen, impatiently. "I don't know Colonel What's-his-name, nor do I want to hear your personal history. Come to the point—what do you want with us?"

"Alas!" groaned the professor with a shudder and a curious grimace. "I have been trapped; brought on ze voyage under false representations. It was to be scientist zat I was brought, but ze Captain Brookes he would me make fill ze shells in ze laboratories. I like it not. He is pirate."

"Who says he is a pirate?" asked Gerald sternly.

"Me, I will not say it. But zen, he is a—a what you call it. Ah! I know—a wizard. You two are also in peril. Will you ask ze captain to let you go on land at ze first port we touch, and take me wit you? Zen we run away and be safe."

"Look here, Mr. Schneider, you've come to the wrong box. If you've any complaint, why not lay it before the captain himself? If as you say the captain is a wizard he might be listening now to what you are saying. You understand? Well, then, clear out."

"A bright specimen of a sneaking waster," remarked Jack, as the cabin door closed on the retreating figure of the professor. "I wonder if there's any truth in his tale, eh?"

"I don't think the skipper will go to that extent," replied Gerald; as he prepared to turn in. "Anyway, we're here, so let's make the best of things. By George! old chap, to tell the truth, I'm jolly glad we came."

image: chapter_08.jpg[Illustration: CHAPTER VIII]

FOR several days theOlive Branchcontinued her headlong course southwards, bound for the Magellan Straits, the gateway to the Pacific.

During that time Tregarthen had little opportunity of speaking to Captain Brookes. The little man was literally working night and day.

At length the line was crossed, without the observance of the time-honoured custom of receiving Father Neptune and his court. Then, as if the classic Sea God smarted under the slight, theOlive Branchencountered a terrific hurricane ere she had run clear of the Doldrums.

It was as if the sea and sky conspired to wreak vengeance upon the cruiser. The waves ran "mountains high," their rugged crest whipped into clouds of spindrift by the tempestuous wind, while torrential rain, accompanied by rapid and brilliant flashes of lightning, blotted out the field of vision to less than a cable's length ahead.

Yet in spite of the elements theOlive Branch, her speed reduced to a bare thirty knots, charged through the foaming waters. Everything was battened down, and well it was, for instead of lifting to the waves the cruiser dashed straight through them.

Tons of water swept her decks as far as the aftermost turret, the spray flying in solid sheets high over her charthouse. Yet she maintained a remarkably even keel, so that, had it been necessary, her guns could have been fought with comparative ease.

Gerald, who, like the rest of the crew save those whose presence was necessary in the chart-house, was compelled to remain below, could not help admiring the steadiness with which the vessel behaved.

"Yes, she's a marvel!" assented Alec Sinclair, the first "luff."

"I don't want to alarm you, but this stability is owing to her low metacentric height. It's only her speed that gives her safety, though I would not give much for my life if she were caught broadside on by one of those waves."

Fortunately these storms, though violent, are of comparatively short duration, and, running directly across the path of a hurricane, it was not long before theOlive Branchemerged from the zone of the tempest.

The sea still ran high, though the crests rarely broke inboard, but the hatches were able to be unbattened, and the crew to breathe the fresh air.

"Sail on the starboard bow!"

The officer of the watch, on hearing the hail, immediately acquainted Captain Brookes. During the voyage several craft had been sighted, but, with the exception of thePuma—which had previously been ordered to rendezvous at a certain latitude and longitude—they had invariably been carefully avoided. It was a matter of surprise, therefore, that the captain ordered the cruiser's head to be turned towards the strange vessel.

It did not take theOlive Branchlong to overhaul the craft, which proved to be a German tramp steamer of about 4,000 tons. She was rolling helplessly in the trough of the waves, alternately dipping her topstrakes and showing the greater part of her bilge-keels, while from her mainmast fluttered the international signal signifying that her main shafting was broken.

Maintaining a bare steerage way theOlive Branchwas brought as close to the disabled vessel as was consistent with safety, and by the aid of a megaphone Captain Brookes expressed his intention of giving the tramp a "pluck" into Pernambuco.

"Are you Engliche sheep of war?" asked the gold-laced Teuton in command, knowing full well that in that case he would be freed from the obligation of paying salvage.

"No," replied Captain Brookes, shortly.

"Den how much you want?" continued the German officer, astutely.

"The same as if this ship were a British Government vessel—nothing at all. So stand by to get out a hawser."

The delighted skipper thereupon asked the name of the cruiser, but Captain Brookes preferred to keep a mysterious silence. Possibly he had ulterior motives in acting the good Samaritan, but Tregarthen was unable to fathom them.

It was a hard task to bring the tramp's hawsers aboard the cruiser. Twice they parted like pack-thread, but at the third attempt a strong cable was secured to a stout "necklace" passing round the base of the after-turret. Then, at a steady twelve knots, theOlive Branchheaded for Pernambuco, the disabled tramp wallowing astern like a wounded porpoise.

image: 14_receivers.jpg

[Illustration: Bending over the instrument was a young officer, his head practically covered with a metal cap fitted with receivers.]

"We can now complete our tour of inspection," remarked Captain Brookes, "since the presence of yonder craft interferes somewhat with our preparations. Bring Mr. Stockton with you."

"Very good, sir," replied Gerald, and in a few minutes the captain and his twoprotégéswere descending the steep iron ladder that communicated with that part of the ship below the armoured deck.

Being below the water-line the place was lighted by electric lamps, while every bulkhead and partition was traversed by a mazeof wires, hidden by metal casings, each painted in distinctive colours.

At length Captain Brookes stopped before a sliding steel door and beckoned Gerald and Jack to enter. The two chums found themselves in a small lobby, their progress barred by a door similar to the one they had just entered. Carefully closing the outermost door their guide proceeded to slide back the other panel, disclosing a small room lighted only by the fitful bluish sparks emanating from an electrical machine. Bending over the instrument was a young officer, his head practically covered by a metal cap fitted with receivers similar to those worn by telephone exchange operatives.

"This is our wireless room," said the captain, raising his voice to make it audible above the succession of sharp reports like the crack of a whip. "No overhead gear to be carried away in action or in a gale; our wireless messages are received by an electrical current passing through water. The apparatus is merely an extension of the submarine signalling system. We are in touch with our agents at Swanage in England, Plougastel in Brittany, Cape Cod in the U.S.A., and ere long with Sydney, N.S.W., and Antofagasta in Chili. Thus we are well informed of events that are likely to call for our intervention."

"Then that is how you learned the result of your experiments with theZietan, is it not?" asked Tregarthen.

"A shrewd guess, only it happens to be wrong," replied Captain Brookes. "However, I'll enlighten you on this point."

From the wireless room he led the way for'ard, between walls of steel that doubtless contained more wonders of mechanical triumph. Passing the cable lockers he dived down a narrow hatchway, leading still deeper into the bowels of the ship, till he arrived at the door of a wedge-shaped room corresponding with the bow of the vessel. Here was a table on which were several electrical coils and a pair of dials resembling galvanometers.

"Here you are," continued the captain. "What do you make of this contrivance?"

"I cannot say," replied Gerald, still nettled by the failure of his previous conjecture.

"That apparatus gives us warning when we are passing over a submarine cable. It used to be an accepted fact that the insulation of our deep sea cables is so perfect that the 'leakage' is infinitesimal, but by this instrument we can detect their presence in any depth down to one hundred fathoms. This done, it is a comparatively simple matter to grapple for the cable, hoist it to the surface and tap it. The great disadvantage is that the ship must be brought almost to a standstill to enable the 'detector' to act, and, of course, wholly so while the wire is being brought on board."

"Then you tapped the Borkum and Lowestoft cable—I remember the newspaper report stated that it was interrupted."

"No, I did not. If anything went wrong with that cable it was merely a coincidence. What would be the use of tapping a cable if by so doing it was made useless for transmitting messages? No, it was the Middlekerke and Dumpton Gap lines we took on board, and consequently heard the whole of the business concerning theZietan, and a considerable amount of other intelligence as well. Now I think you have seen all that there is to be seen for the present," continued Captain Brookes, after the engine-room had been inspected. "There is one more marvel, on which I pride myself not a little, but until the finishing touches are completed it would be better to say nothing about it. Some day, and at no distant date, I hope to enlighten you on that subject."

"One question I should like to ask—I hope you will not think me impertinent or unduly inquisitive—that is, where did you obtain your officers?"

The captain pursed his lips for a few moments before replying. "They are, for the most part, gentlemen," he observed. "But, unfortunately, they have fallen in the social scale, and wish to regard their past as a closed book. I can tell you of a few cases, though, of course, in strict confidence. Mr. Palmer, one of our lieutenants, for example, was but a few years ago a commander in the Royal Navy. Ran his vessel full tilt on the rocks, was court-martialled, and 'smashed.' As far as his friends are concerned, Palmer—though that is not his real name—is supposed to be away for a three-years' tour in the Rockies. Then there's White, the surgeon—also analias, by the bye. He was a well-known country doctor with a good practice till he fell foul of a coroner's court over some trivial detail. It broke him as far as England was concerned."

"And the men?"

"Are mostly the discarded victims of the British Admiralty's short service system, with a sprinkling of merchant seamen who have been ousted by cheap and inferior foreigners."

"Are you not afraid that some of them will desert and reveal the secret of theOlive Branch?"

"It matters little so long as they do not desert in a body; but, thanks to the condition under which they are engaged, I do not anticipate any trouble in that direction. No man is acquainted with the whole of this vessel's mechanism. Even the officers' duties are not entirely interchangeable. For instance, Sinclair, the gunnery Jack, would be helpless on the Z-rays; Taylor—oh! I have forgotten something, after all. With the load of responsibility on my shoulders it's a wonder that I am not even more forgetful. There's Taylor, the scientist; he runs the laboratory with Guy Temple as his assistant. I have not yet shown you his sanctum."

The laboratory was a spacious apartment on the starboard side of the base of the fore-turret, with a hatchway communicating with the orlop deck. In one corner was a wide bench covered with test tubes, retorts, and similar articles used in chemistry, while on the floor were ranged nearly a hundred cylinders.

"Where's Mr. Taylor?" asked Captain Brookes, of an alert young officer who was engaged in some experiment of scientific research.

"I have not seen him during the last two hours, sir."

"H'm!"

"Shall I send for him, sir?"

"No, it does not matter particularly. Now, Mr. Tregarthen. Here are the explosive charges for the 6in. shells. The projectiles are discharged with Whaddite, an improved form of cordite, but what do you think is the composition of the bursting charges? I'll tell you; it's liquid air. With this explosive a 6in. is more deadly than a thirteen point five shell charged with lyddite. No armour plate can withstand it. Directly we have parted company with the tramp we have in tow, I'll give a demonstration of its power."

The captain's words were interrupted by the appearance of a lieutenant, pale-faced in spite of his tanned complexion, and evidently labouring under suppressed excitement.

"Sir," he exclaimed. "Will you come on deck? The officer of the watch has sent me to say that there's treachery aboard theOlive Branch."

"Oh, is that so?" asked Captain Brookes, calmly, then turning to Tregarthen he requested him to accompany him to the quarter-deck.

"Well, Mr. Sinclair," exclaimed the captain as the officer of the watch hurried to meet him. "What's amiss?"

"I observed someone in that vessel astern signalling from the shelter of the bridge, sir," he explained. "I couldn't make out the message, and judging by the manner in which they signalled I took it for granted that the sender wished to avoid outside attention. When I strolled aft the flag-wagging ceased, so I sent Mr. Weeks to your cabin to investigate. He informs me that Mr. Taylor is in the stern-walk and is signalling to yonder German."

"How could he gain the stern walk without attracting the attention of the sentry on the half-deck?"

"I believe, sir, that he slipped over the rail when no one was looking, lowered himself to the canopy of the gallery, and thence to the stern-walk; that's a comparatively easy matter."

"Very good, Mr. Sinclair; carry on as if nothing were amiss."

Thereupon Captain Brookes made for the shelter of the after-turret, whence from the sighting-hood he could command an uninterrupted view of the German vessel without being observed.

"Can you understand German?" he asked.

"Fairly well, sir," replied Gerald.

"Then see what you can make of that," pointing to the rapidly waving flag. "I shall require corroboration."

"'Make an attempt to leave the ship tonight; we will be awaiting you,'" read Gerald.

"That's it," assented Captain Brookes. "They've finished for the present; but I've learnt enough."

image: chapter_09.jpg[Illustration: CHAPTER IX]

DURING dinner there was nothing to indicate that ere morning strange doings were to be enacted on board theOlive Branch. Captain Brookes had given strict instructions to those who were in the secret to maintain silence and to abstain from any words that might alarm the traitor.

The meal therefore proceeded as smoothly as usual, though Gerald noticed that Taylor,aliasSchneider, was ill at ease, refraining fromindulging in conversation, and looking across the table in an absent-minded manner.

When permission was given to smoke the captain excused himself and withdrew.

"Well, Mr. Sinclair?" said he to the officer of the watch.

"I've examined the stern-walk, sir; there is a snatch-block and a coil of rope under the seat."

"You did not disturb them, I hope?"

"No, sir."

"Very good; I'll have the lights going in my cabin and the curtains drawn over the scuttles and gallery door. Keep an eye on Taylor without being observed, and when he makes for the stern-walk inform me."

Shortly after midnight word was brought that the scientist had lowered himself on to the stern gallery; and Captain Brookes, Gerald, Stockton, and the officer of the watch crept cautiously aft so that they could hear the traitor's movements.

The night was pitch dark. All the deck lamps were screened, save the navigation lights, which were invisible from the quarter-deck. TheOlive Branchwas still maintaining a steady ten knots, her wake showing a path of faint phosphorescence till it was interrupted by the hull of the German tramp a cable's length astern.

After a quarter of an hour's vigil the watchers were rewarded by the sound of a sullen splash, and a dark object, outlined in a spray of dim light, veered slowly astern.

"Has he jumped overboard?" whispered Jack Stockton.

"Hist! No, he's slung the life-buoy overboard. There's a line bent on to it."

"You're right," remarked Captain Brookes, as he watched the towed craft through a pair of night-glasses. "They've brought the buoy over the side."

Suddenly the canopy over the stern-walk vibrated violently. The watchers instantly drew back and laid themselves flat on the deck. The next instant the dark outline of a man appeared above the metal covering of the stern-walk. It was Schneider.

The man was active in spite of his obvious cowardice, for with the utmost dispatch he passed the heavy snatch-block over the hempen cable that connected the two vessels and closed its hinged side.

From the hook of the block was a bo's'un's chair. On this the rogue adroitly took his seat, and instantly let go. So cunningly had he laid his plans that he had omitted no detail to ensure success, for the sheave made no sound as the block descended the bight of the hawser, showing that he had not forgotten to oil the large lignum-vitae roller.

"Wait till he reaches the middle of the slack," ordered the captain. Then, having ascertained by the aid of his glasses that the fugitive was dangling a few feet from the water midway betwixt theOlive Branchand the German vessel, he whipped out a knife and proceeded to sever the hawser.

"Good heavens!" muttered Jack Stockton under his breath. "It's murder!"

"No fear; he'll only get a ducking. They'll haul him inboard by means of the whip," replied Gerald. "Stand by and look out for the hawser when she goes."

The warning had hardly been given when the last strands of the stout cable snapped, the inboard portion flying across the deck. Then, like a greyhound released from its leash, theOlive Branchdarted off into the darkness.

"Pass the word for the searchlight to be run," ordered Captain Brookes. "Hard a-starboard with the helm."

Round spun the cruiser. Her giant beams swept the gently heaving water, and revealed the tramp, like a silver bark, lying well-nigh motionless a couple of miles away on the starboard bow.

"That will do. Keep yonder craft in sight," continued Captain Brookes. "Now gentlemen, we'll retire. To-morrow morning I'll finish up this business."

At daybreak Gerald went on deck, eager to learn the state of affairs, and found that Captain Brookes had already forestalled him.

Less than a mile away was the German vessel. Her crew had taken the severed cable on board, and had doubtless discovered that the parting of the tow-rope was caused by a deliberate act, for they had hoisted a staysail and trysail, and were heading slowly S.S.W.

In obedience to the captain's order theOlive Branchwas brought within hailing distance of the vessel she had befriended, and had in return received such despicable treatment.

"Heave-to," thundered Captain Brookes. "I'm going to send a boat."

"Mr. Slade," he added, addressing one of the lieutenants, "you will please board yonder craft and bring back Mr. Taylor at any cost. Mr. Tregarthen, will you also accompany Mr. Slade?"

The gig's crew scrambled into the boat with alacrity. Every man was armed with acutlass, while from their somewhat exaggerated holsters peeped the butts of revolvers. The lieutenant was also provided with a pistol, but Gerald preferred to go unarmed.

As the boat drew near to the foreigner the bulwarks of the latter were lined with fair-complexioned, stolid-faced Germans, but no attempt was made on their part to encourage the men of the cruiser to board.

"Throw us a line, will you?" shouted Slade.

"What do you want?" demanded the master of the tramp.

"We want the person who deserted from our ship last night. We know that you aided and abetted him," replied the lieutenant.

"You no come aboard my ship," retorted the master, resolutely. "See dis flag; dis ship German territory," and he pointed aft to where the red, white, and black ensign fluttered from the staff.

image: 15_staggered.jpg

[Illustration: The man staggered, clapped his hand to his shoulder, and fell to the deck, the weapon slipping from his grasp.]

"In bow! Oars!" ordered the lieutenant, and the boat ran alongside the towering wall-sided hull.

Taking advantage of the roll of the ship the bowman managed to obtain a hold with his boathook on the iron bulwarks. The next instant a sweep with a hatchet severed the head of the boathook and a lump of coal was hurled into the boat. Fortunately it struck one of the thwarts, which prevented the little craft from being stove in.

Slade's face darkened with anger.

"Dothat again, and I'll fire," he shouted. At this threat the Teutonic skipper leant over the bridge rails and flourished a revolver. "You pirates!" he drawled. "Stand off, or me fire!"

Then, on giving an order to his men, the cruiser's boat was saluted by a volley of coal and scraps of iron, some of the boat's crew receiving nasty injuries.

This was more than the lieutenant could stand. Without another moment's hesitation he drew his revolver, took a rapid aim, and pressed the trigger.

There was no flash, no noise, only a slight twitching of the lieutenant's arm as the powerful weapon kicked; but Tregarthen saw the German stagger, clap his hand to his shoulder, and fall to the deck, his weapon slipping from his nerveless grasp.

"Now, lads, away boarders!"

Aghast at the fall of their skipper, and still more astounded at the silent messenger that had laid him low, the crew of the tramp offered little resistance, and in a few minutes the cruiser's people were in possession of the tramp's deck.

In response to a signal a second boat left theOlive Branch, containing the surgeon in addition to an armed party. Examination showed that the German master's wound was not serious, the bullet having passed completely through the fleshy part of his shoulder; and having attended to the wounded man, Dr. White ordered his removal to his cabin.

"Look here, Tregarthen," exclaimed Slade, "you speak their lingo; tell the first mate to muster his men on deck, or there'll be more trouble."

Thoroughly cowed, the German obeyed, and the crew having fallen in on the upper deck, Slade told off a party of his men to search theAfrika, for that was the name of the vessel. A prolonged search revealed no trace of the missing scientist. The mate was sullen under examination, and for a time neither requests nor threats were of any use.

At length, unable to curb himself, Slade drew his revolver and pointed it at the man's head, bidding Gerald to inform him that Taylor must be produced, dead or alive, within five minutes.

Whether the lieutenant meant to keep his word or not his grim determined features compelled the mate to give way, and in response to a guttural order two of his crew, accompanied by four of the cruiser's men, descended to the fore-peak.

The deserter was discovered hidden in an empty tank, and in spite of his strenuous resistance he was brought on deck and unceremoniously bundled into the gig. Then, having achieved the object of their mission, the two boats' crews pulled back to the cruiser.

"Take him below and lock him in his cabin," ordered Captain Brookes, sternly. "Let two men remain with him in case he tries to injure himself. Mr. Tregarthen," he added, "I have to thank you for your assistance in the matter. No doubt you are in need of a meal; your breakfast awaits you."

"I wonder why the captain was so keen on seeing that I had my breakfast?" remarked Gerald to his friend Jack as the pair attacked their meal.

"Goodness only knows," replied Stockton, who had already been acquainted with the details of the visit to theAfrika. "But, by jove, if that man calls himself the Exterminator of War, all I can say is he's going a funny way to work. It will end with theOlive Branchbeing denounced as an ocean pariah, and we shall all be hanged."

"It's certainly an act of piracy," assented Gerald. "I should not be surprised if within a week an international squadron is sent in pursuit of us. Yes, Jack, it's rank piracy."

And even while Tregarthen was thus expressing himself, Captain Brookes, with the coolest audacity imaginable, had hoisted the white ensign to the gaff as theOlive Branchglided rapidly away from the outraged German ship.

(To be continued)image: to_be_continued.jpg

image: 12_instalment_image.png[Illustration: third instalment]BY PERCY F. WESTERMANAuthor of "A Lad of Grit," etc.ILLUSTRATED BY E. S. HODGSONSynopsisGERALD TREGARTHEN, sub-lieutenant of H.M.S.Calder, being on leave, sails from Poole with his old school chum Jack Stockton on board the latter's yachtPlaymate. In mid-Channel the yacht is run down; the two friends are rescued, and find themselves on board a mysterious cruiser—theOlive Branch—commanded by Captain Brookes. Finding that Tregarthen is a British naval officer, Captain Brookes announces his intention of keeping him on board, and, after due deliberation, Gerald decides to fall in with the captain's plans, as far as his sense of loyalty will permit.Tregarthen is initiated into the secrets of theOlive Branch, including that of the deadly ZZ-rays—an irresistible charge of electricity whereby the destruction of a hostile ship can be effected at will. Captain Brookes also explains that by the power at his command he hopes to make war so terrible that no nation will venture to declare war; thus universal peace will be assured.During the voyage south Schneider, the ship's scientist, deserts, taking with him some important plans. He is found on board a German "tramp," and is brought back to theOlive Branch, whereby an act of piracy is committed.

image: 12_instalment_image.png[Illustration: third instalment]

BY PERCY F. WESTERMANAuthor of "A Lad of Grit," etc.ILLUSTRATED BY E. S. HODGSONSynopsis

GERALD TREGARTHEN, sub-lieutenant of H.M.S.Calder, being on leave, sails from Poole with his old school chum Jack Stockton on board the latter's yachtPlaymate. In mid-Channel the yacht is run down; the two friends are rescued, and find themselves on board a mysterious cruiser—theOlive Branch—commanded by Captain Brookes. Finding that Tregarthen is a British naval officer, Captain Brookes announces his intention of keeping him on board, and, after due deliberation, Gerald decides to fall in with the captain's plans, as far as his sense of loyalty will permit.

Tregarthen is initiated into the secrets of theOlive Branch, including that of the deadly ZZ-rays—an irresistible charge of electricity whereby the destruction of a hostile ship can be effected at will. Captain Brookes also explains that by the power at his command he hopes to make war so terrible that no nation will venture to declare war; thus universal peace will be assured.

During the voyage south Schneider, the ship's scientist, deserts, taking with him some important plans. He is found on board a German "tramp," and is brought back to theOlive Branch, whereby an act of piracy is committed.

image: chapter_10.jpg[Illustration: CHAPTER X]

IT was six bells in the forenoon watch. TheOlive Branch, her speed reduced to a bare ten knots, slipped noiselessly through the oily waters, the tropical sun beating down fiercely upon the awning that had been spread over the quarter-deck.

Seated upon chairs abaft the after-turret were the ship's officers, while on either hand were mustered as many of the crew as could be spared from their duties. There was an air of sternness about the assembly, for Taylor, the scientist, was about to be tried on a charge of desertion and treachery.

"Bring in the prisoner!" ordered the captain, and escorted by two armed seamen the culprit was marched on deck and directed to take up a position facing his judges.

"Mark Taylor," exclaimed Lieutenant Palmer, who appeared as prosecutor, "you are accused upon direct evidence of having broken out of this vessel and having sought to obtain a refuge on board the German shipAfrika. That in itself is a serious charge; but not content with that breach of discipline you wittingly informed the master of the aforesaidAfrikaof the secrets appertaining to the ordnance of this cruiser, theOlive Branch. Do you plead guilty or not guilty?"

"Not guilty," replied the accused man, with a forced tone of defiance. "I——"

"That will be sufficient for the present," said the lieutenant. "Your evidence will be taken in due course."

Five witnesses for the prosecution having been called, the prisoner was allowed to speak on his own behalf.

The accused scientist tacitly admitted that he had broken out of the ship, but strenuously denied having given any information regardingthe cruiser to the master or any member of the crew of theAfrika. At first his speech was delivered in perfectly pure English, but by degrees he waxed excitable and spoke with a decided foreign accent.

"And I claim," he continued, "ze protection of ze German flag, for I am a German by nationality."

"Is that so?" demanded Captain Brookes. "How is it that this fact was concealed when you joined this vessel? And why has it remained a secret till this moment?"

"I am a German," reiterated the prisoner. "My name is Schneider, not Taylor. I told zese gentlemen it was so," indicating Gerald and Jack with a wave of his hand. "I told zem I was a German subject, and zat I was about to run away from ze ship as soon as I was able, and zey know it."

"Then why did you not report this to me, sir?" asked Captain Brookes, turning to Gerald.

"The man came into my cabin one evening in an excited manner," replied Gerald, calmly. "He certainly said his name was Schneider, and began to tell us a long rigmarole concerning his private affairs. We told him that if he had a grievance, you, sir, were the best person to hear it. With that we kicked him out."

"Thank you," said Captain Brookes, and, addressing the prisoner, continued, "Are you in a position to inform us where are the drawings and specifications relating to the 6in. shells?"

The accused turned a shade paler than before.

"In one of ze lockers in ze laboratory," he replied.

"If I send you to the laboratory under escort, can you produce them?"

"Hein! If zey are not zare zey haf been stolen," exclaimed Schneider. "Perhaps you haf hidden zem."

"Theyhavebeen stolen, sir," rapped out the captain, harshly; "and by you. They were found in the cabin of the master of theAfrikaby Lieutenant Slade. What have you to say to this?"

Schneider's limbs were trembling so violently that one of the seamen had to support him, otherwise he would have fallen to the deck.

"Well, gentlemen, your verdict?"

"Guilty on both counts."

"Mark Taylor, otherwise Schneider, you stand convicted on charges of desertion and treachery. With reference to the first crime I now admit that you are a German subject, and that I was in error in removing you from the protection of the German flag. However, the mischief is done, and I must abide the consequences, though I fear not the whole naval force of that Empire. As to your traitorous act, I can only point out that while in my pay and holding a position of trust on board this cruiser you wilfully betrayed your position as a responsible officer of theOlive Branch. In every community treachery against the supreme authority is punishable by death, and it is in my power to inflict that penalty upon you. As, however, your wretched crime has failed to achieve its object, and these drawings are again in our possession, I will waive the capital punishment. You are sentenced to solitary confinement, with sufficient exercise for the maintenance of your health, as long as theOlive Branchremains in commission. Remove the prisoner."

Escorted by the two armed sailors, Schneider was led from the quarter-deck. Grimly defiant, he marched between his guards, till on arriving at the companion ladder one of the men preceded him, the other stepping one pace in the rear.

The prisoner descended two steps, then, suddenly turning, he butted the seaman at the head of the ladder. The man fell, and Schneider, seizing his advantage, sprang over his prostrate body, cleared the rail with a single bound, and leapt into the sea.

There was a rush to the side to see the termination of the tragedy, but the luckless man was never seen again.

"That has saved us a great deal of trouble," said Captain Brookes; "unless the mischief's already done," he added, under his breath.

On the following day theOlive Branchwas running off the east coast of Patagonia, the rugged barren heights of that inhospitable country being plainly visible on the starboard hand.

"Ah, good morning, Mr. Tregarthen," exclaimed Captain Brookes as Gerald made his appearance on deck. He spoke with an affability that had been missing during the last few days, but on this particular morning his customary geniality seemed to have reasserted itself. "At last I think that this vessel is fit for action; that is, as far as her armament is concerned. Of course, there may be failures, but these can be easily rectified. I mean to make an experiment to demonstrate thepower of theOlive Branch, beyond that of her electrical means of offence. In another hour we ought to sight Carlos Rock—you've heard of that, perchance?"

"No, sir," replied Gerald.

"Carlos Rock is a small uninhabited island of less than a quarter of a mile in extent, and towering to a height of 600ft. How many rounds from a 13.5in. gun would demolish it, do you think?"

"I cannot say, sir; but one hit would make a great difference in its appearance."

"Then you'll have an opportunity of seeing what our 6in. gun will do. By the bye, why are most of the British Dreadnoughts able to fire two more guns astern than they can ahead."

"Merely the result of circumstances," replied Tregarthen, bridling under the sting of the suggestion. "The position of the after-turrets is to facilitate the broadside fire."

image: 17_schneider.jpg

[Illustration: Schneider cleared the rail, and leapt into the sea.]

"Other nations may not think so."

"They can think what they like, sir," replied Gerald.

"So they can, so they can," rejoined Captain Brookes, with an air of a man wishing to remove a wrong impression. "Now, if you will accompany me to the conning-tower, we'll see what's to be done."

The order for general quarters was given by means of a bugle-call, and in a few minutes the scanty crew of theOlive Branchwere busily engaged in un-shipping stanchions and rails. Then, in response to another order the decks were deserted.

"Do they call this 'cleared for action,' I wonder?" thought Tregarthen, but barely had his mind expressed the thought ere Captain Brookes thrust home a pair of levers. Silently the massive steel windshields athwartships sank flush with the deck; the funnel dropped out of sight; the steel boats and other deck lumber disappeared into yawning cavities prepared for their reception; while simultaneously every watertight door in the ship was hermetically sealed. From end to end of the upper deck everything was cleared, save for the four turrets, the light quick-firers, and the massive conning-tower.

"How's that?" asked Captain Brookes, enthusiastically. "Here we are cleared to rapid torpedo-boat attack. Now, watch while I move this lever."

This time the light quick-firers disappeared below the armoured deck, leaving only the principal armament, while heavy steel plates slid noiselessly over the pits into which they had vanished.

"This is where we score again. In modern battleships most, if not all, of the light torpedo-repelling armament is badly protected. In a general engagement the lighter guns would be dismounted in five minutes, and the ship would fall an easy prey to a torpedo-boat attack, especially if carried out with a combined dash. Here the guns are ready whenever they are required. Now, here's Carlos Rock."

Gerald glanced ahead and saw a mass of stone rising almost perpendicularly from the sea, its base lashed by the milk-white surf that pounded incessantly upon its iron-bound shores.

Meanwhile Captain Brookes had given directions to the quartermaster to encircle the rock at a distance of two miles so as to make sure that it was inhabited by no human beings. Ten minutes were sufficient for this manoeuvre, during which time the occupants of the conning-tower swept the desolate-looking island with their glasses; but beyond the presence of myriads of sea-birds the rock showed no signs of life.

"Now, stand by!" exclaimed the captain to Gerald. "I cannot go into details, but you will easily follow what I mean. All eight guns are coupled, ready to fire a broadside. You see those three index-hands? One shows the speed of the ship, the second the range of the object to be fired at, and consequently the required elevation, the third corrects the effect of windage. When set, a resultant pointer fitted with telescopic sights gives us the correct aim. Stand here and look through this aperture."

Tregarthen did so, and at that moment Captain Brookes depressed the firing-key. Instantly there was a slight tremor throughout the ship, an almost imperceptible recoil, and then a thin haze of brownish smoke, but no noise was audible save the shriek of the projectiles as they left the muzzle with a velocity of 2,500ft. per second. Four seconds later the whole face of Carlos Rock was covered by a dense cloud of dust, and with a dull rumble thousands of tons of rock slid into the sea.

"You've altered Carlos's features, sir," exclaimed Gerald, when he had recovered from the effects of watching this wonderful broadside.

"Ay!" assented Captain Brookes. "What ship would stand up to that, d'you think? Now you can go below and watch the loading operations, for we are going to keep up a rapid fire for half a minute."

Descending a spiral steel ladder which led from the conning-tower to below the armoured deck, Tregarthen found nearly the whole of the ship's company, including those men whom he knew to be captains of turrets. Why the latter should be away from the turrets he could not quite understand.

Seamen, stripped to the waist, were running small trucks laden with shells from the after-magazine. These were placed in a metal hopper at a position corresponding with the base of the foremost turret. When twelve rounds had been deposited in this hopper its doors were closed, and a red light instantly appeared in a dial overhead.

Once again a slight jar shook the ship, followed by eleven others in less than twice that number of seconds. The next instant the hopper door fell open and twelve empty and still smoking cylinders fell upon the floor; a seaman dashed a bucket of water into the compartment, and the work of reloading was repeated.

Then a bugle sounded the "Cease fire," and the officers returned on deck to observe the effects of the terrible ordnance of theOlive Branch.

"How's that for going into action?" asked Captain Brookes. "With the exception of three men and myself all hands were safe beneath the armoured deck. Automatic loading and firing, unerring aim, and the victory's won, eh?"

"I certainly should not like to be on board a craft that received one round from those guns, sir," replied Gerald. "But suppose, in the heat of an engagement, one pair of guns was trained so that some portion of this ship intercepted the line of fire?"

"That has been arranged for," said the captain. "Directly the arc of fire on one pair of guns is exceeded, that turret remains locked till the other guns are trained backward sufficiently for that pair to be automatically linked up, so that damage to our own ship from that cause is impossible. Of course, if necessary, each turret can be worked independently, and in that case the captains of the guns would have the control of the firing arrangements."

Further conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a signalman.

"Wireless message just received, sir," he reported, handing a sealed envelope to the captain with a salute.

Captain Brookes broke open the envelope, and read and reread its contents without moving a muscle; then he beckoned to those of the officers who happened to be on the quarter-deck.

"Gentlemen," he exclaimed, "a wireless of extreme importance has just been handed to me. The captain of theAfrikahas reported an outrage by a ship flying the White Ensign, and representations have been made by the German Ambassador in London. The British Government has rightly repudiated the suggestion that the delinquent was a British man-of-war, and has asserted that, from the description given, it can only be the ex-Brazilian cruiserAlmirante Constant. Consequently the British and German Governments have issued a joint note branding that vessel as a pirate, and have stated their intention of hounding her down at all costs, and invite the navies of all nations to join them in their task. So, gentlemen, theOlive Branchis a modern buccaneer. Every port and harbour is closed against her. However, I'll stick to my purpose, but, rest assured, I will never fire a shot against a British ship—I'll trust to theOlive Branch'sspeed to shake off pursuit. But"—here his face clouded ominously—"should a vessel of any other nationality attempt to interfere with us, I'll give her a fair warning. If she persist, by Jove, I'll blow her sky high!"

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