CHAPTER VIII

image: 06_knee.jpg

[Illustration: THE SHOT CAUGHT THE DECOY BEARER JUST BELOW THE KNEE.]

Fieldingglanced significantly at his comrades. He was a young man, brave and resolute, and full of life; but the prospect of being mangled in a steel tomb was enough to quail the stoutest heart. Cardyke was deadly pale. He, too, was willing to face ordinary dangers, but the threatened mode of extermination was too horrible to contemplate. Hokosuka and Mukyima, who were ignorant of the nature of the threat, turned and asked General Oki to explain the pirate leader's words. The Japanese officer did so, but whether the three Asiatics felt uneasy or otherwise their stolid features betrayed no sign of their emotions.

Quite five minutes passed. The occupants of the conning-tower did not reply to Cervillo's demand, and the pirate captain began to show signs of impatience.

"Again I say—you vill surrender?"

"No," replied the sub., resolutely. His confidence was beginning to return. Perhaps after all the Spaniard might be only bluffing. Cervillo, although he would not scruple to use the most deadly measures at his command to carry out his ends, quite realised that his hostages were worth more to him alive than dead. He meant to make them his tools to achieve his purpose.

Finding threats were of no avail, he altered his tone and adopted a conciliatory attitude, but to all his advances the men at bay turned a deaf ear—they ignored him absolutely.

Presently Fielding and Cardyke were somewhat astonished to hear an English voice exclaim, "Don't shoot, sir. I've got to say a few words with you."

In reply Fielding opened one of the lids to the observation-holes in the conning-tower, and saw a broad-shouldered, black-browed man with a close torpedo beard that characterises the British tar who neglects to shave. The fellow looked sheepish and thoroughly ashamed of his position.

"Who are you?" demanded the sub.

"I was a petty officer in the navy, sir."

"Then you ought to be downright ashamed of yourself."

"I ain't here to talk about myself," replied the man, sullenly. "The cap'n wants me to explain, in a manner o' speakin', 'ow the land lies. We're out to make a bit, an' up to now we ain't done so badly. 'Respect life' is our motto, an' you are doin' your level best to capsize us. So come out an' lay down your arms. You'll be treated decently so long as things go all shipshape. An' when the cruise is over, and we're paid off, you'll be set ashore safe an' sound."

"You realise that your presence in the conning-tower somewhat upsets your arrangements?"

"Not exactly," replied the man, with a cunning leer. "But, you see, it isn't 'conducive to efficiency,' as our 'first luff' aboard the oldBelleisletold me 'cause I wore the second 'L' on my cap-ribbon over my left eye, instead of over my nose. But that ain't 'ere or there; so make the best of a bad job and don't give no trouble."

"I'll give you trouble, my man, if ever I get you on board a King's ship," replied the sub., with asperity. "Tell that scoundrel of a pirate that if he wants the conning-tower he'll have to turn us out—and he'll have a fine old job."

With that Fielding reclosed the shutter and a tense silence fell upon both parties, broken only by the hiss of the foam as the battle-cruiser pounded against a head sea.

Cervillo was furious. He knew that every moment was precious. By the aid of wireless not only were vengeful cruisers hastening in his track, but the transatlantic liners, from whom he hoped to take a heavy toll, would be warned, and take precautions accordingly.

A quarter of an hour elapsed, then Juan Cervillo's voice was heard.

"Señor Englishman!" he exclaimed.

Fielding did not trouble to reply.

"For your own sake, señor, put your eye this way."

Out of sheer curiosity the sub. raised the metal flap and looked out, then a muttered ejaculation brought Cardyke to one of the slits in the wall of the conning-tower.

Guarded by two armed seamen was Tom Hardy the coxswain. He was securely bound hand and foot, but so weak did he seem from the effects of the blow he had received that this precaution seemed unnecessary. Cervillo, stepping a few paces in front of the crowd of pirates, pointed to his prisoner in a manner that was diabolical in the extreme.

"Now, Englishmen, you vill come out an' surrendah, or we put your man ober de side—say, walk ze plank. Yes, señor, I mean as I say. Juan Cervillo has spoken. One minute I give to decide, or——" And the villain pointed meaningly over the side.

"Think he'll do it?" asked Cardyke, anxiously. "Couldn't we prevent him?"

"There is only one way, as far as I can see. To submit is out of the question. We can stay here till they starve us out, but by that time I hope a cruiser will overhaul this floating nest of rascals."

"What is the plan?" asked the mid.

Fielding hurriedly unfolded his scheme, and Oki explained it to his companions. The Japanese nodded significantly. There was no time to lose, for the minute was nearly up, and Fielding was practically certain that Cervillo would keep his word. The life of a lower-deck man was not worth considering as far as he was concerned.

Revolver in hand, General Oki and Mukyima took their places at the slits nearest the entrance to the conning-tower. The sub. uttered the sharp subdued word "Now!" The next instant Fielding, Cardyke, and Hokosuka darted from their place of shelter.

Before Cervillo could recover from his astonishment he was floored by a well-directed blow from the athletic sub., who, stooping, grasped the half-stunned pirate by the shoulders. Simultaneously the mid. caught hold of Cervillo's legs. Nor was the Japanese idle. With a bound he reached the spot where Tom Hardy was standing between the two armed men. One fell by a sharp blow in the throat; the other, thrown completely over Hokosuka's shoulders, landed in the midst of a crowd of his comrades, scattering them right and left.

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[Illustration: BEFORE CERVILLO COULD RECOVER FROM HIS ASTONISHMENT HE WAS FLOORED BY THE ATHLETIC SUB.]

Taken aback, the pirates were either too dumbfounded to use their pistols or else were afraid of hitting their leader. One or two attempted a rush, but half-a-dozen shots from the conning-tower checked all attempts at rescue.

Within fifteen seconds from the time the sub. uttered the word "Now!" the three daring men were safe within the conning-tower once more, with Tom Hardy and the pirate captain to add to the number of the steel citadel.

"Now we can have a little understanding with Señor Juan Cervillo," exclaimed Fielding as he proceeded to secure the rascally Spaniard with the bonds that had been removed from the coxswain's limbs. "I don't fancy he'll be quite so keen about chucking lumps of dynamite into the conning-tower."

Without, the pandemonium was redoubled. The British officers and their Japanese comrades paid scant attention to the noise. They had scored heavily up to the present, and they realised the fact.

"I begin to feel fairly peckish," remarked Cardyke, at length.

"So we all do, I fancy, except perhaps this rascal. We've given him twelve hours' start in the fasting competition, but I bet he'll be mighty hungry before we're done with him," said the sub., grimly. "How about you, Hardy; did they feed you at all?"

"At first, sir," replied the coxswain. "Then because I wouldn't join up with them they tried to starve me into submission. If it hadn't been for this crack across my figurehead I'd have taken on the whole mess with my fists and wiped the deck with the lot of them."

"I believe you would, Hardy," remarked Cardyke, admiringly, for the coxswain held the belt in the Inter-Port Boxing Competition. "Are you very hungry?"

"Only once afore like it in my life, as far as I can remember. That was when I was in Haslar Hospital. Low diet the 'poultice-slappers' called it. Couldn't have been much lower. An' the bloke in the next cot to me was being fed with chicken, an' 'ad port wine to drink."

"We'll have to be chewing our belts soon," remarked the sub. "But I don't know abort you fellows—I feel mighty tired."

It was now about two bells—9 a.m. Beyond a party of men who had been left to watch the conning-tower, the rest of the pirates had taken themselves off to their various duties or recreations—mostly the latter. TheIndependenciawas still heading S.S.W. according to the compass in the conning-tower. It was not one of the standard compasses belonging to the ship—these had been removed prior to sale—but had been brought on board from the pseudoSteephill Castle. Since the cruiser had not been swung to adjust compasses it was obvious that the course might be points out, since the deviation was unknown.

"We'll set watches, and the rest of us can have a snooze," continued Fielding. "We'll toss for it. I believe the rascals left a few coins in my pocket, although they bagged my purse and my gold watch. Here goes."

The coin spun in the air. The mid., Oki, and Hokosuka found that theirs was the first "watch below," while Fielding and Mukyima had to keep the first two hours' watch. Owing to his condition Tom Hardy was not called upon for this duty.

Utterly worn out, Cardyke and the two Japanese threw themselves on the hard floor, and were soon sound asleep. The sub. and the general, too fatigued even to talk, stood with their backs against the steel wall, and their faces towards the entrance to the circular metal compartment.

The day was hot, and in spite of the ship's speed through the water, the air within the conning-tower was exceedingly sultry. Once or twice Fielding found himself nodding, only to be aroused by the vigilant Oki.

An hour went by. Even the Japanese watcher was becoming drowsy. Fielding's head fell forward. This time Oki did not rouse his companion; and even when the sub. slid inertly to the ground the Japanese had not the energy to realise that anything was amiss. He saw, as in a vision, the Englishman drop—then utter oblivion.

A quarter of an hour later a squad of men entered the conning-tower without opposition. Six of the occupants were secured, and, like logs, were unceremoniously bundled into the open air, whilst Cervillo was carried upon the forebridge, where he soon recovered from his stupor. The dauntless six, able to hold their own in fair fight, had fallen victims to the insidious methods of their assailants. For fumes of chloroform had been forced through one of the voice-tubes that led into the conning-tower, and it had rendered the brave defenders absolutely helpless.

Arnold Cardykewas the first to recover from the effect of the noxious vapour. He had been sleeping nearest to the entrance to the conning-tower, and had thus more air than his companions. For some moments he lay wondering where he was. He tried to call out, but no sound came from his parched lips. Then, between him and the reddish light that seemed to encircle him, came a huge dark object that presently resolved itself into the shape of a man—one of the pirate officers. Good heavens! The partial truth swept across his mind. Desperately he struggled to rise and arouse his comrades, but realising that he was bound and weak, he rolled helplessly across the body of Hokosuka.

The weight of the mid.'s frame expelled a quantity of the chloroform fumes from the Japanese's chest, and with a grunt Hokosuka opened his eyes. In his effort to dislodge Cardyke the Asiatic prodded Fielding on the back, and the sub., already well on the road to consciousness, also began to realise his position.

"What's wrong, Cardyke?" he asked. "Why, I——" Then the truth was revealed in all its unpleasantness. He and his comrades were once more in the power of Juan Cervillo and his piratical crew.

"We've made a mess of it, sir," said Cardyke, who contrived to raise himself into a sitting posture.

"And all my fault," groaned the sub. "I fell asleep at my post. I ought to be——"

"We were drugged, or something like that," interrupted the mid. "I can't see that any blame can be attached to you. What's done cannot be helped, although it may be undone, in spite of the proverb."

Fielding sat up, and found that his ankles and wrists were secured by leather straps. His head seemed to spin round like a top for a few moments, but gradually the sensation of nausea left him. It did not take him long to discover that theIndependenciahad altered her course. By the position of the sun the sub. concluded that the direction in which she was heading was approximately N.W. by N. As far as he could command the horizon there were no other ships in sight—only a vast expanse of Atlantic rollers.

"Here comes that scoundrel," exclaimed Cardyke, and turning his head Fielding saw Juan Cervillo approaching.

The Spaniard, who never could boast of good looks, had his appearance somewhat disfigured from the result of the blow he had received in the sortie from the conning-tower, while his greasy features were sallow from the effects of the chloroform which he had inhaled.

With a supercilious grin Juan Cervillo stood in front of his prostrate captives, gloating over their plight. He could, he imagined, subject them to indignity with impunity now, but he had yet to learn caution.

Mukyima was stealthily regarding the Spaniard out of the corners of his narrow eyes. Slowly the lithe body and limbs of the Japanese contracted. Then like a stone from a catapult, Mukyima, bound as he was, hurled himself upon his foe.

Juan Cervillo saw the human thunderbolt flying towards him just in the nick of time. He gave a hurried leap aside, caught his foot in a ring-bolt, and subsided in a most undignified manner upon a particularly aggressive fairlead. As for the Japanese, he had taken the precaution of tucking his head well forward. His shoulders came in contact with a canvas "storm-dodger," and, rebounding, he, too, flopped on the deck.

Juan Cervillo did not wait for a second spring from the wiry Jap, but regaining his feet rushed away shouting for assistance. Half-a-dozen of the strongest of the pirate crew had a tough struggle ere they overpowered Mukyima; but they did it at length, lashing the Asiatic to a capstan-bar so that he was as helpless as a log.

"Me teach you!" hissed the pirate captain. "You dogs!—when I done, den ober de side I put you!"

Turning to his men he gave a lengthy order. Mukyima was borne away for'ard, the other captives, including the coxswain, were unceremoniously bundled below, and placed in the same cabin from which they had before escaped.

It did not take the sub. and his comrades long to free themselves of the straps that bound them. Fielding's first act, in recovering the use of his limbs, was to hasten to the scuttle. The pirates had taken due precautions this time. The glass had been removed, and a massive iron bar, placed across the frame of the scuttle, was secured by means of the lock-nut, the thread of which had been bent and burred so that it was impossible, without the aid of a file or hack-saw, to remove the bar from its position.

"Well, we can look out, and see what's going on; that's one comfort," exclaimed Fielding, optimistically. "What have you found, Cardyke?" For the midshipman, rummaging in a locker, had discovered a loaf of bread, some ship's biscuits, a jar of water, and a tin pannikin.

"We won't starve just yet, in any case," observed the mid.

The pangs of hunger had rounded off the unappetising appearance of the stale loaf and the "hard tack," and the water, though not particularly fresh, tasted sweet to the parched mouths of the hostages.

"Poison?" asked Oki, interrogatively.

"I think not," replied Fielding. "If they wanted to choke us off they would have done so before now; besides, the food doesn't look tempting enough. A sumptuous repast would be more suspicious."

About four o'clock the cruiser eased down. Knowing that something was about to happen, the captives took turns at looking through the scuttle. For some time nothing beyond sky and sea was visible, but when theIndependenciadescribed a half circle Cardyke announced that she had compelled a huge liner to heave-to.

"A Frenchman, by Jove!" exclaimed Fielding. "Now what's the game—more scuttling?"

The transatlantic liner's decks were crowded with passengers, who were regarding the cruiser with the greatest interest, for theIndependenciahad hoisted the white ensign, and with their faith in theentente cordiale, the Frenchmen never for one moment harboured any suspicion.

Suddenly a four-pounder boomed out, and a shell hissed betwixt the huge funnels ofL'Égalité. Like a crowd of startled rabbits, the passengers rushed pell-mell for the companion ladders. Had war suddenly broken out between Great Britain and France? They were not long left in doubt. As soon as the liner came to a standstill, two boats were lowered from the cruiser. Into them tumbled fifty men, all armed to the teeth.

"Ciel!" gasped the astounded French captain. "They are not John Bull's bluejackets. They are pirates."

His worst suspicions were confirmed when the white ensign was struck and a red flag hoisted in its place, while slowly the 'midships barbette on the starboard side, actuated by manual power, was turned till its pair of 12 in. guns were trained upon the luckless liner.

The French captain did not know that the huge weapons were without breech-blocks, but the frowning muzzles were far more terrifying to him than the quick-firers. Unresistingly he allowed the boats to come alongside, and the lawless mob to swarm over the liner's lofty sides.

The pirates went about their work in a systematic manner. Four of them went straight to the wireless-room, and interrupting an urgent call for aid, drove out the operators, and put the delicate mechanism out of action. Others, making the captain prisoner, and driving the rest of the officers into the smoking-room, compelled the former to send for the ship's papers. The whole of the specie and bullion was transferred to the boats, together with the wealthiest and most influential of the passengers. This done the terrified first and second-class passengers were made to hand over their money and jewellery, the steerage being left unmolested.

Very little resistance was shown by the passengers. An American millionaire who had made a pile in Nevada, promptly whipped out a six-shooter, vowing he'd send the cowardly Dagoes to blazes. He was quick and deadly with his pistol, and four of the pirates pitched forward on the floor of the saloon; but one man against a score was too long odds, and the tough old backwoodsman fell riddled with bullets.

Having taken all the bullion and specie, together with the hostages, to theIndependencia, the pirates proceeded to cripple the engines, leaving the liner helpless in the Atlantic. But they had not done with their prize, for directly the two boats returned to the cruiser Juan Cervillo orderedL'Égalitéto hoist out her own boats, fill them with provisions and stores, and bring them alongside theIndependencia. Under a threat that the liner would be sunk if the demand were not complied with, the captain ofL'Égalitéhastened to carry out Cervillo's order.

Two hours later, with her store-rooms filled to their utmost capacity, and nearly a million and a quarter pounds' worth of additional booty in her strong-room, theIndependenciabade an ironical farewell to the helpless liner.

From their place of confinement Fielding and his companions had watched the work of plunder and wanton destruction. They had seen the easy way by which the cruiser had replenished her stores, and the continuation of the policy of bringing off hostages to the ship in order to prevent any punitive vessel from firing at the modern buccaneer.

Cardyke turned to the sub.

"This can't go on for long," he remarked. "What will the end be?"

"Goodness only knows," rejoined Fielding; "but we've a tough time before us!"

Meanwhile, what had happened to Lieutenant Drake and the rest of theFrome'screw, after the destruction of that little craft? Directly the boats pushed off Drake and those of the men who remained with him gathered on the fo'c'sle and turtle-back deck. Then, as the water came into contact with the red-hot plates, the destroyer's deck buckled amidships. Her motors went crashing through the flaming petrol in the double-bottoms as the vessel tilted and slipped stern foremost beneath the flaming surface of the sea.

All on board imagined that the end had come, when suddenly that part of the ship between the for'ard engine-room bulkhead and the bows shook itself clear of the remainder of the shattered hull and floated on the surface. The destroyer had literally been torn in twain, and the watertight bulkhead kept the forepart afloat. True, there was a perceptible list, but on investigation there was found hardly any water in the forehold.

As soon as the petrol blazing on the water had burned itself out, the boats returned to find that Drake and his companions were alive, though scorched by the terrific heat. Deeming it inexpedient to allow the boats' complement on board the stumpy vessel, Drake ordered them to stand off and lay on their oars. Fortunately there was little wind, although the sea ran high, but guided by an anchor-lamp shown from the bridge, the boats could keep within hail of the lieutenant-commander. At frequent intervals rockets were sent up, for theFromewas not so very far from the regular steamer track, while it was known that other destroyers and one or two cruisers were heading in their direction.

Just after dawn H.M.S.Indus, a powerful cruiser of 22,000 tons, bore down. The lieutenant and his men were taken off the wrecked forepart, and a wireless message was sent to Devonport announcing the details of the outrage on the high seas, and asking for instructions.

To the surprise of everyone on board, the reply came—"Tow remains to Devonport." Not a word was said about continuing the chase, so, to the disappointment of all ranks, theIndustook the sorry remnants of theFromein tow, and at an easy ten knots headed towards Plymouth Sound.

Thousands of people assembled to see the shattered forepart of the destroyer pass up Drake's Passage. Hundreds of cameras were levelled at her, shoals of boats accompanied theIndusand her tow, till the latter was docked, safe from public observation, in the basin at Keyham.

Then followed several days of irritating official inquiries, which, while theIndependenciastill roved the high seas, was an utter waste of time. Drake wanted to be off again. His one desire was to retrieve his reputation by capturing the pirate vessel, and rescuing his brother officers.

Cruisers, scouts, and destroyers were despatched, and, spreading fanwise, scoured the Atlantic from Rockall to the Azores; but somehow or other the filibustered ship escaped detection. Then came the news of the holding up ofL'Égalité, which, according to the French captain's report, had taken place within twenty miles of the British cruiserKhartoum.

The immediate result of this affair was that a squadron of fast cruisers and a flotilla of destroyers left Brest to join in the hounding-down of theIndependencia. The Spanish Government, eager to lay hands upon the notorious anarchist, also despatched two cruisers and four destroyers; so that there was the keenest rivalry between the various nations engaged in the enterprise as to who should have the honour of laying the running and desperate Juan Cervillo by the heels.

All concerned realised that the business must of necessity be a peculiar one, for Drake had reported how the hostages from theYosen Maru, as well as his own officers who had been trapped, were utilised as screens to prevent theIndependenciafrom being sunk by gun fire. There were three alternatives: either to overhaul and board the pirate vessel, a feat that could only be accomplished on a calm day, and with theIndependenciacompelled to heave-to; or to sink the offender by torpedoes, trusting that the pirates would cut their hostages adrift ere the ship sunk; or else to dog her so tenaciously that, unable to capture any more liners or tramps, she would be compelled to haul down the red flag through sheer starvation.

The British Admiralty decided to adopt the last alternative, and orders were given that once theIndependenciawas sighted, all cruisers and destroyers within a certain radius were to be summoned by wireless, and form a close cordon around the modern buccaneer.

All merchant ships fitted with wireless were informed of this new terror of the seas, and requested to "speak" with other vessels not so equipped, as well as to transmit news of the appearance of any suspicious craft answering to theIndependencia'sdescription, so that aid could be quickly forthcoming from the nearest warships. Yet in spite of these precautions the officers of the trans-atlantic liners and tramps had an anxious time. Never had the deck officers kept such a keen look-out, especially at night, when the pirate, steaming without navigation lights, might at any moment loom through the darkness and peremptorily order her prey to heave-to.

At Lloyd's the insurance rates went up 60 per cent. The "Atlantic ferry" paid heavily, for would-be passengers, as a matter of precaution, deferred their journey until the time when the danger ceased to exist. Grain-laden tramps from the States and Canada either remained in port or else sailed under convoy, as in the days of the Napoleonic war. The price of food, in consequence, rose tremendously, and coming as it did after a succession of disastrous strikes, the effects of the modern pirate-ship's depredations began to be felt by all classes of the community.

Two days after the receipt of the wireless message from the French cruiserDesaix, announcing the outrage uponL'Égalité, the liner arrived at Cherbourg in tow of the armoured cruiserChanzy. Then followed the customary Press interviews with the passengers and crew, with the stock of conflicting and of ten misleading reports. Some of the eye-witnesses, partly through a love of exaggeration, and partly through the result of a highly strung temperament, told ghastly tales of butchery, some even going to the length of asserting that they had seen the passengers who had been removed from the liner being made to walk the plank. No satisfactory explanation could be given as to why, if the pirates were so bloodthirsty as they had been made out to be, the liner had not been scuttled with all hands, until someone explained that Juan Cervillo had spared the ship on account of the third-class passengers.

Then it was that a Socialist Parisian newspaper appeared with a eulogistic three columns and a half on Cervillo's record and aims, and calling upon the Anarchists to give him their moral and active support. The offices of the paper were raided by the gendarmes, and before night the military and the canaille were engaged in hand-to-hand fighting in the streets of Paris. Similar disturbances took place in Madrid, Barcelona, and Naples, and the French, Spanish, and Italian Governments had good cause to wish that the notorious Juan Cervillo was at the bottom of the sea.

At Barcelona the news spread that theIndependenciahad appeared off that port. The authorities knew that such was impossible, partly on account of the distance from British waters, and also that the Straits of Gibraltar were too well guarded by a strong flotilla cruising betwixt Tarifa and Ceuta. But amongst the ignorant population it was accepted that Cervillo had appeared to proclaim the anarchist rule in Spain, and that night the town was at the mercy of the mob.

It was not until it was found that the ship was the British cruiserIndefatigable—the sea-going instructional vessel for naval cadets, and which bore a striking resemblance to theIndependencia—that the disorder ceased. Even then it required four regiments of Spanish infantry to quell the insurrection.

As soon as the new scoutCerberus, could be passed out of dockyard hands, she was commissioned in order to participate in the search for the pirate-cruiser, and to Drake's unbounded satisfaction he was appointed to her for duties in the hydro-aeroplanes, of which the scout carried four.

Vast strides had been made in the construction and efficiency of the hydro-aeroplanes since their demonstration before the King in Portland Roads in 1912. Instead of being, like the first of this class, clumsy aeroplanes fitted with floats, those of the later pattern were swift motor-boats, provided with folding air-planes and propellers, so that they could either keep the sea in fairly heavy weather, or they could soar into the air and perform a thousand-mile flight. Each hydro-aeroplane consisted of an aluminium hull, 35 ft. in length, 6 ft. in breadth, and of a draught when at rest of 9 ins. These were completely decked in, with the exception of a small, open well, which could, if necessity arose, be covered with a water-tight hatch. At one-third the distance from its bows was a small observation turret, the top of which served as one of the bearings, or the shafting of the aerial propeller. The planes, when not in use, folded into recesses in the sides of the hull, the actuation of a pair of tension wires serving to extend and keep them in position for flight. Whereas the original hydro-aeroplanes could not descend to rest upon the surface of a choppy sea, those carried by theCerberuscould not only be relied upon to descend or ascend from the water, but could by reason of their strength and rigid construction safely withstand the impact of a fall from a considerable height. For armament they carried a one-pounder automatic gun, and gear for dropping small bombs charged with high explosives.

On board theCerberusthese four hydro-aeroplanes were carried on the space hitherto occupied by the funnel-casings, for the scout had internal combustion engines, and, save for a small exhaust pipe, was without funnels. Each tender could be hoisted in less than half-a-minute by means of a single-purchase wire rope passing through a block at the end of a derrick, and wound round a motor-capstan. Constructed at one-twentieth of the cost of a submarine, the hydro-aeroplane had already virtually superseded those craft. Save at night, the crews of the hydro-aeroplanes could from a height easily locate the presence of a submarine, and by means of her bombs could destroy it with ease. Before long it was recognised that the era of the submarine, as a destructive means of offence, was past.

Lieutenant Douglas Drake lost no time in reporting himself on board theCerberus, and within twenty hours of being passed out of dockyard hands the scout left Portsmouth Harbour to join in the search for the pirate-cruiser.

But before the ship had passed through the Needles Channel she was, to the disgust of all on board, ordered to return. That morning the owners of the ss.Duke of Negroponthad received a wireless message from the captain of that vessel. It was brief and to the point:—

"Independenciain collision with unknownvessel, 4.45 a.m. Lat. 40-22-10 N., Long.22-9-16 W. Both sank; no survivors."

Afterleaving the French linerL'Égalitéhelpless in the distance, theIndependenciasteamed in a south-easterly direction till out of sight; then altering helm, she plugged away at an easy eighteen knots in the direction of the West Indies. Here Juan Cervillo knew that for a time he would be fairly safe. There were no British warships capable of doing him much damage, and amid the cays of the Bahamas there was little chance of meeting with Uncle Sam's battleships or cruisers. On the other hand, he could rely on being able to intercept some of the traders in and out of Galveston and New Orleans while, if things became too hot for him, there would be a more than possible chance of slipping off to the coast of Venezuela or Columbia, where the ship could be run ashore, and her rascally crew, with their ill-gotten booty, could disperse.

Many plans were suggested by Fielding and his companions whereby they might regain their liberty, but none seemed at present feasible. Whenever their meals were brought into the cabin armed men stood without; while, in order to prevent a repetition of their escape through the scuttle, a sentry was stationed on the poop; orders to examine the bar across the scuttle every hour were also given to a petty officer, who was lowered over the side in order that he might test the condition of the metalwork.

"Couldn't we signal in Morse, sir?" asked Cardyke: "We can easily rig up a shutter from the scuttle. It might attract the notice of some passing vessel, and we could give her warning to clear out?"

"A good idea," replied the sub. "But unfortunately, unless the other vessel approaches without steaming lights, the probability is that she will be discovered long before we can call her up. Besides, unless a ship is well abeam, or on our starboard quarter, all the signalling possible from this cabin won't be seen."

"Still, it will be something to do," continued the mid. "Something to pass the time."

"Carry on, then," replied Fielding. "But I honestly think it won't help us much—or anyone else."

During the afternoon the two British officers dozed for a couple of hours. As Fielding remarked, it was advisable to sleep all you can, for you never know when you might have to do without it. Besides, it cured the terribleennui—the tedious waiting for something to turn up to break the deadly monotony.

Cardyke woke to find Hokosuka sitting on the floor, and carefully nursing a large revolver. There was a very faint suspicion of satisfaction in the Jap's eyes, but his immobile face gave no sign of elation or otherwise. The mid. could not help wondering how the man gained possession of such a powerful weapon, and his curiosity urged him to appeal to General Oki.

"The English say they love the sea," observed the Jap. "Britannia, she rule waves with eel-spear. That what you say. Me think ninety-nine of all one hundred Englishmen know how to love the sea by come to sit on seaside and throw stones in water. That English holiday; but put ninety-nine Englishmen in boat they no know how to sail."

"That's quite true," thought Cardyke; "but what on earth has that to do with the question how Hokosuka got hold of that revolver? They are trying to bamboozle me for some reason. I'll mention the matter to Fielding when he wakes up. In the meantime I'll keep a watch on Mr. Hokosuka."

Accordingly the mid. turned on his bunk, and was soon to all appearances sound asleep, but out of the corners of his almost closed eyelids he followed the movements of the mysterious Japanese.

Hokosuka had removed the cartridges from the weapon, and was carefully examining its mechanism. Placing the corner of his coat under the hammer in order to deaden the sound, he tried the trigger in a most methodical fashion, so as to get the correct "pull." Then, replacing the cartridges, he handed the weapon over to his compatriot.

Oki took the revolver in his hand, and to all appearances it vanished. Cardyke could swear that from the time the general's fingers closed over the butt his arm never moved, but where could a bulky object like that go to?

Neither of the Japs seemed to treat the occurrence otherwise than as an ordinary transaction; one might have been handing the other a cigarette-case. The mid.'s curiosity was increasing rapidly.

Having rid himself of the weapon, Hokosuka rose from the floor, crossed the cabin, and took his stand just below the scuttle. There he waited as motionless as a statue.

Presently the light that poured through the opening became obscured. The man detailed to attend to the iron bar was being lowered to make his hourly examination. As far as Cardyke could see the pirate was seated in a bos'un's chair, which was let down till the man's shoulders were level with the scuttle. Steadying himself with his left hand, the seaman tried the bar with his right; then, satisfied that it had not been tampered with, he called to his comrades to haul up.

Instantly, with a rapid, gliding, noiseless motion, Hokosuka's left hand shot through the aperture. When his arm was withdrawn the Jap had another revolver in his grasp. He had dexterously removed the weapon from the seaman's holster, as he had done to the man who had previously been doing the duty.

Just then Fielding awoke. Oki pointed to the revolver that his compatriot held.

"By Jove!" exclaimed the sub., in astonishment. "However did you get hold of that?"

"We have two," replied Oki, calmly. "One you have, other we will keep. Now put out of way—hide. Lil boy"—and to Cardyke's disgust he heard himself referred to in that strain—"lil boy, him ask where you get. I no tell; you no must tell. If he no know, then he no can tell."

image: 08_seamen.jpg

[Illustration: HALF A DOZEN SEAMEN HEADED BY THE RENEGADE ENGLISHMAN BURST INTO THE ROOM.]

"I see," agreed Fielding. "But these rascals will ransack the place when they miss these revolvers."

"Let look everywhere," replied General Oki; "revolver all gone."

And Fielding's astonishment was no less than his junior's when the weapon seemed to disappear from sight.

Barely a quarter of an hour later the cabin door was thrown open, and half-a-dozen seamen, headed by the renegade Englishman, burst into the room.

"No hanky-panky tricks, sir!" exclaimed the bo'sun. "You've sneaked a couple of revolvers. We missed one, and didn't know where it had gone; but the fellow who was lowered over the side made sure he had his when he went down, and when he came up it had gone. And I saw that his holster was fastened when he started. So no beating about the bush. Hand them pistols over, and save yourself a sight of trouble. You can't get the weather side of me, sir."

"I have no revolvers," replied Fielding. "I wish I had. I'd make sure of your losing the number of your mess."

"None of your cheek!" replied the man, fiercely. "Get over there."

Hustling the five occupants of the cabin into one corner the bo'sun directed his men to search the room, and soon all the scanty furniture was turned over and over again, but without result. This done the British officers, the coxswain, and the other two Japs were subjected to a search, their coats being removed for that purpose.

"Confound it, we're on the wrong tack!" grumbled the pirate bo'sun. And, ordering his men to clear out, he went to make his report to Juan Cervillo that a systematic search convinced him that no weapons were to be found in the prisoners' cabin.

Hokosuka waited to make sure that none of the unwelcome visitors were returning, then produced a couple of revolvers and a large sheath-knife.

"Not same 'volvers," explained General Oki. "These toll. Hokosuka make pirates pay for coming here."

"Not the same revolvers?" asked Fielding, in astonishment. "Where are the first two you had?" For it seemed incredible that after the systematic search not only were the looked-for articles not found, but two more pistols, to say nothing of the sheath-knife, were added to the defensive armoury of the occupants of the cabin.

"Me show you," replied the general, and turning to his compatriot he spoke a few words in his native tongue. Simultaneously both Japs pulled up the legs of their trousers, and revealed the weapons with their muzzles stuck between their feet and their shoes, the chambers fitting into the hollow just behind their ankles.

"I'm hanged if I saw you put yours there!" exclaimed the sub.

Oki merely shrugged his shoulders. He did not think it necessary to explain how the trick was done; but like most Japanese, he was an adept at sleight-of-hand.

"Where are we making for, I wonder?" asked Cardyke.

"If we go on at this rate and in the same direction a week will find us in West Indian waters, unless I'm very much mistaken," replied Fielding. "It's a mystery to me why this ship hasn't been headed off and captured long ago."

"Long ago!" echoed the mid. "Why, it's only a matter of a few days!"

"Yes, yes, I know; but one would naturally think that with modern scientific instruments at one's command it would be an utter impossibility to play hide and seek in the North Atlantic."

"Were you navy officer man in 1907?" asked General Oki, who, although his English was somewhat quaint, could follow ordinary conversation with comparative ease.

"In that year I was completing my last term at Dartmouth," replied Fielding.

"Then you have no heard of manoeuvres that year—how one English fleet sailed in North Sea for over sixty hour, looking for another English fleet, and no can find?"

"By Jove! I believe I heard something of the kind," replied the sub. "But you seem to know a lot about our naval matters, sir?"

"My business," replied Oki, calmly.

The British and the Japanese officers were entering into an animated discussion on the possibilities of wireless in war when they were interrupted by the crash of a quick-firer, followed by the slowing down of the cruiser's engines.

There was a rush to the scuttle, but the field of visible horizon was limited, and nothing could be seen that could give the reason for the discharge of the gun. The firing from the cruiser and the slowing-down showed that theIndependenciahad overhauled another craft and was not the pursued craft.

"It's another liner being nabbed!" exclaimed Cardyke.

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