The Project Gutenberg eBook ofThe Stolen Cruiser

The Project Gutenberg eBook ofThe Stolen CruiserThis ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: The Stolen CruiserAuthor: Percy F. WestermanIllustrator: John De WaltonCharles NormanRelease date: August 10, 2015 [eBook #49674]Most recently updated: October 24, 2024Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by R.G.P.M. van Giesen*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STOLEN CRUISER ***

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: The Stolen CruiserAuthor: Percy F. WestermanIllustrator: John De WaltonCharles NormanRelease date: August 10, 2015 [eBook #49674]Most recently updated: October 24, 2024Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by R.G.P.M. van Giesen

Title: The Stolen Cruiser

Author: Percy F. WestermanIllustrator: John De WaltonCharles Norman

Author: Percy F. Westerman

Illustrator: John De Walton

Charles Norman

Release date: August 10, 2015 [eBook #49674]Most recently updated: October 24, 2024

Language: English

Credits: Produced by R.G.P.M. van Giesen

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STOLEN CRUISER ***

[Illustration: cover art]

THE STOLEN CRUISER

image: 02_crash.jpg

[Illustration: "CRASH! A SHELL STRIKING THE BASE OF THE FUNNEL REDUCING IT TO ATOMS."Frontispiece]

THE STOLENCRUISERBYPERCY F. WESTERMANAUTHOR OF"THE SEA MONARCH," "THE FLYING SUBMARINE" ETC.image: 03_logo.jpgILLUSTRATED BYCHARLES NORMAN & J. DE WALTONLONDONJARROLD & SONS, 10 & 11, WARWICK LANE, E.C.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONSCRASH! A SHELL STRIKING THE BASE OF THE FUNNEL REDUCED IT TO ATOMSFrontispieceRIGHT AHEAD CAME A HUGE BATTLE-CRUISERA NOOSE WAS ADROITLY THROWN OVER HIS SHOULDERS AND JERKED TIGHTTHE SHOT CAUGHT THE DECOY-BEARER JUST BELOW THE KNEEBEFORE CERVILLO COULD RECOVER FROM HIS ASTONISHMENT HE WAS FLOORED BY THE ATHLETIC SUBHALF-A-DOZEN SEAMEN, HEADED BY THE RENEGADE ENGLISHMAN, BURST INTO THE ROOMTHE PIRATES RUSHED FOR THE BOATSAFTER A QUARTER OF AN HOUR'S SUSPENSE THE "INDEPENDENCIA" GAINED THE OPEN SEAHE STRUGGLED DESPERATELY TO THROW HIMSELF ONCE MORE INTO THE SEA

THE STOLEN CRUISER

Itwas half-past eight on a May morning. The sun was obscured in a dense haze that the light south-westerly breeze failed to disperse.

Spithead lay enshrouded in the sea-fog, while from the deck of H.M. torpedo-boat destroyerFromeneither the low-lying land upon which Portsmouth is built nor the undulating downs of the Isle of Wight were visible.

"Boyne Buoy on the starboard bow, sir," reported the look-out.

"Thanks be!" ejaculated Lieutenant-Commander Douglas Drake to his companion, Sub-Lieutenant Paul Fielding. "I shan't be sorry to turn in."

TheFromehad been out for night-firing off the Medmery Bank, but ill-luck in the guise of a fog accompanied her. For hours she cruised up and down, waiting for the bank of impenetrable haze to lift, while her consort, theCalder, was standing by ready to take the canvas target in tow.

It was a nerve-racking job, forging slowly ahead in the fog. In a heavy sea, provided the weather be sufficiently clear to enable the officer of the watch to pick up the various lights, the discomfort, even when battened down, is nothing compared with the blindworm tactics of keeping steerage way in a shut-in sky of dark grey clammy vapour.

"By George! It is clearing," exclaimed Fielding. "Surely that is Southsea Castle ahead."

"You're right. I only hope the admiral won't order us out to-morrow night."

"By the mark ten!" shouted the leadsman in the monotonous drawl that seamen affect when engaged in sounding.

"Fairly in the channel, thank goodness. How's that for navigation, Mr. Cardyke?" asked the lieutenant, turning to a midshipman who stood beside him on the diminutive bridge.

"Ripping, sir," replied the lad. "I suppose we'll be able to play on Friday?"

"I hope so," rejoined Drake. "We must bear a hand in licking the Sixth Division if it's humanly possible."

Lieutenant Douglas Drake was well under thirty years of age. Although "frightfully keen" on his duties, and a stickler for naval etiquette, he was at times almost boyish in manner. His chief fault—if fault it might be termed—was excessive self-confidence. That quality was undoubtedly an asset in the old lay-alongside-and-board-'em days; but in modern naval tactics, based upon hard and fast scientific lines, a blind reliance upon one's personal qualifications is apt to lead a man into trouble. There are occasions, of course, when self-confidence has its advantages. But woe-betide the unfortunate individual who, through blind "cocksureness," jeopardised his command and failed to achieve his object.

Drake had influence behind him, and with influence behind him a hare-brained young officer might do certain things with impunity that would soon bring him under the ban of official displeasure had he not someone of importance to back him. On the other hand, influence tends to make a man unpopular with his brother officers. Drake realised this, and acted accordingly; but although he succeeded to a certain extent in winning the regard of his comrades, he was often the victim of a harmless practical joke whenever the opportunity arose.

Sub-Lieutenant Paul Fielding was, on the other hand, a cautious man. He had need to be, since he had nothing in the shape of influence at his back. He was a strict disciplinarian, somewhat inclined to be off-handish at times, yet a true comrade and a loyal supporter of his superior officer. Fired by Drake's enthusiasm he began to acquire the belief that when an opportunity did occur the littleFromewould acquit herself in a style worthy of the best traditions of the Service—and the time was at hand when his capacity was to be tried to the uttermost.

Arnold Cardyke, the midshipman "lent" to the destroyer, was a dark-featured, athletic-looking youth of sixteen. He was slightly above middle height, broad-shouldered and deep-chested, and was as hard as the proverbial nail. He was the son of an admiral, who himself was one of a long line of naval officers—for Cardykes were to be found in the Royal Navy in a continuous, and often multifold, line from the reign of King William III.

The young midshipman was doubly anxious for theFrometo be detained in harbour in order to effect the long outstanding periodical refit. One reason was that he wanted to go on leave to meet his brother, who was "paying off" after a two years' commission on the Pacific Station; the other was that he was exceedingly keen on cricket, and, with the reputation of being one of the best bats in the First Dartmouth Team, he was regarded as a pillar of strength in the forthcoming match between the officers of the Fifth and Sixth Torpedo-boat Destroyer Flotillas.

Of course, had there been any special duty to perform on board theFromeCardyke would have cheerfully foregone both of the anticipated pleasures but, with the exception of the night-firing practice—which could be performed any time during the forthcoming six weeks—there was nothing likely to occur.

Arnold Cardyke was very proud of the honour of being "lent" to theFrome, which was one of the very latest "New River" class. She was 120 ft. over all, with a turtle-back deck fore and aft, a strikingly fine entry, and a pointed, cutaway stern. Funnels she had none, being propelled by the most up-to-date Diesel motors. At the after end of the fore turtle-deck was the gun platform, mounting two eleven-pounder automatic weapons, so arranged that they could command an arc of 210 degs. of the horizon, and could be trained to fire skywards up to within 10 degs. of a vertical line.

Underneath this platform, with the observation holes barely six inches above the back of the curved deck, was the conning-tower. Above was the "navigating bridge," which could be removed if going into action. Here was the slight shelter, called by courtesy the chart-room, and two powerful searchlights.

Immediately abaft the bridge was a light telescopic mast for signalling purposes. Wireless "aerials"—always the bugbear of naval officers while overhead gear was in vogue—had been consigned to the limbo of the past, and receivers in the wireless room "picked up" the messages with unerring fidelity.

Abreast the mast were two seven-pounder automatic guns, protected from Maxim fire by light steel shields forming a complete turret. Abaft the mast, and twenty feet from the guns, were the two 21 in. torpedo tubes, taking an improved Whitehead with an effective range of five miles. From this point was a clear run of deck-space—save for the ventilating cowls and hatchways, that could be respectively unshipped or battened down should occasion arise—to the aft torpedo-tubes.

On the poop turtle-back was the supplementary conning-tower, and another eleven-pounder gun.

"All out" theFromecould do forty-three knots. With her, speed was the primary consideration. To minimise windage every object that it was possible to construct in that fashion was wedge-shaped—even the shafting of the ventilators, while with her after turtle-back deck the destroyer could go astern at twenty-one knots without fear of being swept by the waves. She carried a complement of ninety men, of whom only fifteen were "engine-room ratings."

Gradually the fog lifted, till the outlines of Southsea Beach could be followed almost as far as the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour; and now, with her speed increased to a modest ten knots, the destroyer slipped up the fairway against the surging ebb tide.

Just as theFromewas within a quarter of a mile from the Round Tower, where the entrance of Portsmouth Harbour is barely 250 yds. wide, a burst of sunshine dispersed the last vestige of the fog within the sheltered waters, though at Spithead the haze was as thick as ever.

image: 04_battlecruiser.jpg

[Illustration: RIGHT AHEAD CAME A HUGE BATTLE CRUISER.]

"That's awkward, sir," remarked Fielding. Lieutenant Drake did not reply, but motioning the quartermaster to put the helm over to port, and telegraphing to the engine-room for fifteen knots, nodded significantly to his subordinate.

It was indeed awkward. Flying from the yard-arm of the naval station of Fort Blockhouse was the signal burgee letter S—a triangular blue and yellow flag—denoting that submarines were either entering or leaving Haslar Lake. From the Semaphore Tower, and from the foremast heads of all the ships in harbour, the Pilot Jack was flying, showing that one of H.M. ships was under way, and a glance astern showed that the second-class cruiserVindictivewas entering.

Right ahead came a huge battle-cruiser, with a Government tug lashed on either side, and a gaudily painted tug panting ahead with an enormous hawser, and a sister tender puffing decorously astern of the leviathan.

"That's a bungled bit of work," commented Drake. "She can't go back with this tide under her; and theVindictivefollowing us up, too. Pass the word for a warning signal to be sent to the cruiser, Mr. Cardyke. These fellows must be as mad as March hares."

The increased speed just saved theFromefrom being in a very tight corner, for, hugging the eastern side of the entrance, she gained the broad expanse of the harbour just as the towed vessel came abeam.

Still Drake had to keep his full attention on his course; but the sub. and midshipman could devote themselves to the melancholy spectacle—for theImpregnablewas on her way to the marine knacker's yard. Her days as an effective unit were judged to be over, and, sold out of the Service, she was on her way to a Dutch port to be broken up.

TheImpregnablewas one of the earlier "Dreadnought cruisers," and in her time held the palm for speed. She was of eighteen thousand tons displacement, and had attained a speed of twenty-six knots. Her armament consisted of eight 12 in. guns—one pair for'ard, another pair aft, and the othersen échelonamidships—as well as a secondary battery of twenty-five 4 in. quick-firers. She had two tripod masts and three huge funnels.

Very different the vessel looked from when, a few months previously, she had taken her place in the fleet at Spithead as an effective unit of the British Navy. Her topmasts were "housed," her boats and secondary armament removed, and her regulation coat of grey paint was streaked with rust and dirt. In her barbettes the 12 in. guns still grinned menacingly, but their teeth were drawn, their breech-blocks having been removed previous to sale.

"Seems like parting with an old friend," remarked the sub to Cardyke, for Fielding had served a commission on board of her. "To my mind, it's a mistake scrapping the older vessels so promptly. It's not my business to say so, of course; but still, that's my opinion."

"She'd do her little bit even yet," observed Cardyke. "She never has fired a shot in anger yet, has she?"

"No," replied the sub. "And she never will. We've seen the last of the oldImpregnable, Cardyke."

But Sub-Lieutenant Paul Fielding was, for once, at least, hopelessly out of his bearings.

TheFromecame alongside the Fountain Lake Jetty, and her commander repaired to the commander-in-chief's office to make his report as to why the night gunnery exercises had not been carried out. To the relief of everyone on board the destroyer it was decided that the night-firing was to be postponed until after the little craft's refit, and in the interval theFromewas to lie alongside the jetty until her consort, theBlackadder, came out of No. 3 Dock.

"That's good!" ejaculated Fielding, as the officers went to dinner in the diminutive, cosy wardroom. "We'll have time to put in a few hours' practice at the nets. Have you seen the list of our team yet, Cardyke?"

"Thompson's sending out the names tomorrow. I know that we are in the team; Simpson gave me the cue," replied the midshipman. "The practice-nets will be available at ten o'clock to-morrow morning. I suppose we may go, sir?"

"Of course," assented Drake, good-naturedly. "The gunner will be in charge up to eight bells."

The four officers—for the engineer-lieutenant formed one of the party—fell to discussing everyday topics. "Shop" was rigidly tabooed in theFrome'swardroom unless absolutely necessary for Service reasons.

The following day, Thursday, passed almost without incident. Fielding and Cardyke put in a good morning's work at the practice-nets in the United Services ground; while Drake went ashore in the afternoon for a motor-drive.

Friday dawned bright and clear, with every prospect of a blazing hot day. Shortly after breakfast a newsboy brought off the daily papers to the ship, and for the next half-hour the officers "stood easy."

"By Jove! They think that something's happened to the oldImpregnable," exclaimed Paul Fielding. "She ought to have turned up at the mouth of the Scheldt yesterday morning, and nothing has been seen or heard of her."

"Delayed by fog possibly," remarked the lieutenant-commander. "Still, it's no affair of the Admiralty's since the ship is sold."

"The paper hints at something mysterious."

"Naturally. There's been a dearth of news for the last month or more, and this is a good opportunity of arousing public interest. She'll turn up all right, with two tugs looking after her. Well, what's this?"

Drake turned to receive a message from a signalman.

"I say, you fellows," he exclaimed. "TheFromewill be well represented in the Fifth Division Team. Thompson's sent a signal from the depot-ship asking me to play. They must be fearfully hard up for players, because I am awfully out of practice."

"Of course you'll play?" asked Fielding, eagerly, for Drake had a reputation as a hard slogger at no very distant date.

"I'll do my best, rest assured," replied Drake, modestly, as he deliberately folded his newspaper, and placed it in the rack. "But business first and pleasure afterwards—it's time for divisions."

The morning passed only too quickly, for there was much to be done in the way of routine, and at 2 p.m. Drake, Fielding, and Cardyke, all in mufti, went ashore. A taxi quickly bore them to the officers' Recreation Ground, where most of the rival teams had already gathered.

Matches between the officers of the various ships and torpedo destroyer divisions were a favourite amusement in the Portsmouth command, the game usually being followed by an informal dinner, the losing side having to pay all expenses.

Confident in the batting capabilities of the Fifth Division team, Drake expressed his willingness to eat his hat should they fail to win.

"Eating his hat" was the lieutenant's favourite figure of speech; but, somewhat to his surprise, Lieutenant Player, the skipper of the Sixth Division team, promptly made a note of his rival's promise in his pocketbook, amid the laughter of his companions.

Possibly this action unsettled Drake, for, instead of coming up to his average, he was clean bowled before the end of the first over. The wickets fell in quick succession, and in spite of the determined stand of young Cardyke, the Fifth closed with a miserable forty-three. As for the Sixth, they soon piled on runs till the scoring-board stood at 108.

"Now then, Drake," exclaimed Player, boisterously. "Where's your hat?"

Drake began to glare at his tormentor; then, realising the absurdity of "getting his rag out": "See what I'll do to-night," he replied. "A Drake always keeps his word."

Just at that moment a marine orderly, mounted on a bicycle, rode at a high speed over the turf, threw himself out of the saddle abreast of the pavilion, and, with a salute, handed Drake an envelope.

Without a word the lieutenant-commander opened the buff covering, read the contents, and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

At length Drake dismissed the messenger, thrust the missive into his pocket, and strolled casually out of the pavilion. The news was important, but it was almost as important that none of his companions save his subordinates should know its import.

Outside the pavilion Drake beckoned to Fielding, and the two strolled a few yards away from the others.

"Looks like business, sir," commented Fielding, as he read the momentous news. "I thought there was something fishy when the papers hinted at it this morning."

"It's a rattling good chance, Fielding, my boy—a rattling good chance. If we don't score I'll eat my——"

But recollecting that he had already promised to masticate more than he wished for, Drake checked himself in time.

"Mr. Cardyke," he exclaimed, as the midshipman passed on his way to the pavilion. "Not a word to the others, mind. A message has just come from the commander-in-chief ordering us to put to sea with the utmost promptitude on particular service."

"Anything startling, sir?"

"Only that news has been received that theImpregnablehas been seized on the high seas. How, when, or where we have to find out. Our instructions are to investigate, and take action if necessary."

"I hope, sir, there will be plenty of 'if necessary' about it."

"So do I," agreed Drake, grimly. "We've the chance of a lifetime—and I mean to make the most of it."

Withina quarter of an hour of the termination of the match Fielding and Cardyke were on board the destroyer, Drake having gone post-haste to the commander-in-chief to receive definite instructions as to the course of action.

Already the water police were busily engaged in hunting up the absentees of the crew. Those who were gone away from the port on leave could not conveniently be recalled, and other men were drafted in to fill up the complement. Stores were being hastily dumped on board, the usual "red tape" formalities having perforce to be dispensed with. Fresh water was being supplied to the tanks by one set of hoses, while another pipe was in use filling up the double bottom petrol tanks with liquid fuel. Fortunately, owing to the fact that the night-firing had not taken place, the magazines were filled with quick-firing ammunition, and the delay occasioned by having to "ship powder" at one of the buoys in harbour was obviated. It was primarily on this account that theFromewas selected for the purpose of investigating the mystery enshrouding theImpregnable.

"I wonder if there will be a scrap?" asked the mid. "It's about time we had something exciting. What do you suppose is the matter?"

"Goodness only knows. You heard what Drake said," replied Fielding, as he struggled into his uniform with more haste than he usually displayed, for the sub. had the reputation of being a careful, deliberate man in the matter of dress, and gold lace won't stand rough usage.

"He said 'seized on the high seas,'" continued Cardyke. "By whom?"

"County Court officials, probably. Don't take it for granted that there's anything serious, Cardyke. We may be sent on a fool's errand. Ah! Here's Drake coming aboard!"

"A rummy affair, by George!" exclaimed the lieutenant-commander as he entered the wardroom, and threw a bundle of papers on the table. "The news came from the ss.Wontwash, an American tramp that put into Dover this morning. Her master reports that he was somewhere between the Owers and the Royal Sovereign lightships, the weather being thick. A temporary lifting showed him theImpregnablelying a quarter of a mile or so on his port bow, with a large cargo vessel, name and nationality unknown, lashed alongside with a considerable list to port. Two hundred yards astern of theImpregnablewas a tug with red and yellow bands on her funnel—that's one of the Dutchmen, you'll remember. The tug was sinking by the head, apparently deserted. There was no mention of the second tug.

"Captain Emory, the master of theWontwash, thinking that a collision had occurred, hailed to know whether he could be of any assistance, but to his surprise he was peremptorily ordered, in broken English, to sheer off.

"He complied slowly, he says, and before the fog shut out theImpregnableand the vessel alongside her he saw what he believed to be a number of small quick-firers being hoisted out of the latter into the cruiser, whose decks were swarming with men.

"Being without wireless Emory could not communicate with the shore until he came within signalling distance of the Royal Sovereign light. The lightship forwarded the report by wireless, and, allowing for errors in transmission, the story seems remarkably mysterious.

"The Admiralty is in a bit of a hole. Nominally theImpregnable, sold to a Dutch private firm, is beyond their control. The Dutch Government has been communicated with, and they are sending a destroyer to make inquiries. But since, by virtue of the conditions of sale, the cruiser is to be broken up, and not to be used as a vessel, we still hold a certain amount of authority over her, and my orders are to see that the terms of sale are complied with. Now, gentlemen, you know as much as I do about the business. We must find theImpregnable, take possession of her—by force, if necessary—and bring her back to port pending Admiralty investigation. All ready, Mr. Spanner?" he added, addressing the engineer-lieutenant.

"All ready, sir," repeated Spanner. "The whole of the petrol-tanks are filled."

The officers went on deck. Men were busily engaged in easing off the steel hawsers by which the destroyer was secured to the jetty. The signal for "permission to part company" was fluttering from her mast. head. Aft the awnings had been unrigged, and were being handed down for stowage below.

Presently a hoist of signal flags was run up to the yard-arm of the semaphore tower.

"Permission, sir," reported the signalman of the destroyer, laconically.

The engine-room telegraph bell clanged, the water churned under the destroyer's stern as her propellers began to revolve. The last "spring" that held her to the shore was cast off, and theFromestarted on her mission of investigation.

Three hours later she was off Beachy Head, but, although keeping in touch with Portsmouth Dockyard by means of wireless, and communicating with every vessel that passed up and down that busy highway—the English Channel—theImpregnableseemed to have vanished, leaving no trace behind her.

"Wreckage, sir," reported the look-out.

Heading towards the spot, and ordering the propellers to be stopped, Drake got his glasses to bear upon the spot. There were a number of oars, some gratings, a large hatch, and a yellow-painted lifebuoy, bearing the name "Hekla, Rotterdam."

"That's the name of one of the tugs, sir," said Fielding. "So the master of theWontwashhas not been telling a mere fairy tale."

"That's so," assented the lieutenant-commander. "I suppose we ought to secure that lifebuoy as evidence. Stand by with a boathook there."

Slowly theFromeforged ahead, but with little way on she was scarcely under control. The lifebuoy was passed ten yards to leeward.

"Be careful of the propellers, sir," cautioned Fielding. "There's a lot of wreckage about. Shall we pipe away the collapsible?"

Drake assented, but as Cardyke went aft to take charge of the Berthon one of the starboard propellers became entangled in a length of floating grass-rope. In a second the fibre was wound round the tail shafting as hard as a steel band.

"Hang it!" muttered Drake. "That's done it. I wish to goodness I'd sent away the boat instead of drifting into the middle of this stuff."

In four minutes the Berthon was slung outboard by means of the quadrant davits, and her crew rowed towards the derelict lifebuoy.

"Here you are, sir," said the bow-man to Cardyke, as he dexterously whisked the salvaged object into the boat. "There's some scrawl on it."

Scored deeply into the canvas were some words written in pencil. The midshipman examined the writing, but it was beyond him to decipher its meaning. It was in Dutch, a language that Cardyke was not familiar with, although it bore a slight resemblance to German.

On returning to theFromethe mid. produced his prize; but his superior was too intent upon the damage to the propeller to take very much notice of it. Nor was it till Cardyke pointed out that there was writing upon the buoy that Drake gave his attention to it.

"Scuttled. Finder please notify V. der Coote,Rotterdam.—Stalkart, master, tugVulkan."

"We've some good evidence here, by Jove!" exclaimed Drake. "Now comes the task of running down the miscreants."

"But the propeller?"

"Let it rip. We'll run her on three."

"That ought to give her twenty-three knots at the very least, sir," suggested Spanner, who had come up from the engine-room to report.

"Not with the helm slightly over to counteract the unequal drive," observed Drake. "She'll do seventeen comfortably, and I doubt whether theImpregnablein tow will be making more than seven. I'll carry on, even if there's only one propeller left."

Communicating his find by wireless Drake received instructions to cruise eastward, in order to effect a junction with two destroyers sent out from Dover, unless she picked up definite information from passing vessels that might enable her to follow in the track of the filibustered battle-cruiser.

"It won't do to fall in with the Dover t.b.d.'s," remarked Fielding. "They'll know we are crippled, and our chances of gaining kudos will be knocked on the head."

"I don't mean to if I can avoid it," agreed Drake. "We'll shape a course S.S.E. for a couple of hours, and then N.N.E. for another two hours, and so on. We'll still be carrying out instructions, you see, but it will be a precious long time before we get in touch with the Dover destroyers."

Fielding and Cardyke smiled. They knew Drake well enough by now to know that if there were a way of gaining his end he would generally do it successfully and diplomatically.

"It's my private opinion," continued the lieutenant, "that theImpregnableis not heading up-Channel at all, but rather towards the Atlantic. I don't know why, but that's my firm conviction; so the longer we take before we hear any news the sooner we'll be able to retrace our course. I only hope that the other destroyers sent from Portsmouth and Portland won't snap her up."

"So do I, sir," agreed Fielding.

"Sail-ho, on the starboard bow," sung out the look-out man.

"A tramp, judging by the smoke," remarked the sub. after the lapse of a few minutes.

Soon the vessel was observed to be steaming eastwards, so slowly that the following wind drove her smoke in a dense, trailing cloud over her bows.

Directly theFromewas within signalling distance the tramp made her number.

"SS.Steephill Castleof Hull," announced Fielding, after consulting the register. "She's light, by George! One blade of her propeller is quite clear of the water."

"Yes; I shouldn't care to be caught out in dirty weather in a craft so high in ballast as that," added Drake. "We'll close, and ask her if she has any information to give."

Drake made known his request by megaphone, and in reply the master of the tramp shouted from the bridge—

"Cruiser, two masts and three funnels, in tow. Passed her three and a half hours ago. Thought she had broken down."

"On what course?" asked Drake, eagerly.

"Due west, I should think, sir," replied the "old man." "Anything amiss?"

"We hardly know till we find her," replied the lieutenant, guardedly.

TheSteephill Castledipped her ensign in farewell, and theFromereturned the compliment; then, describing a quarter-circle, the destroyer headed due west on her quest for the filibusteredImpregnable.

Itwill now be necessary to follow up the events relating to the object of the torpedo-boat destroyerFrome'ssearch.

The scrapped Dreadnought-cruiser Impregnable had been sold by public auction, the purchaser being Mynheer Van der Coote, shipbreaker, of Rotterdam. According to the usual terms of sale the purchaser was bound to complete the breaking-up of the ship within six months. The machinery could be utilised again, and, in consequence, was in fair order. Owing to the fact that it would be necessary to employ a large engine-room and stokehold staff to take the ship across to Holland under her own steam, Mynheer Van der Coote took the far more economical course of sending two powerful tugs to Portsmouth to tow theImpregnableto her last port.

Directly the cruiser gained Spithead the two dockyard tugs cast off and returned. The last link with Great Britain had been severed; the purchase money had been paid, and the obsolete craft was now private property.

Before the Warner Lightship was abeam the fog enveloped the ship, so that her tugs were quite invisible. Captain Stalkart, the master of the leading tug, therefore eased down to half speed, reduced the scope of hawser by one half, and steered a compass course towards the English Channel. The tugs' syrens kept up a continuous and discordant bellow—one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts, signifying that they had a vessel in tow—for the appalling risks of a collision in a fog were more than doubled by reason of the fact that the unwieldy craft lumbering astern was almost incapable of being manoeuvred with any degree of celerity.

At 4.45 the master of the tug heard the characteristic blast of the reed-horn of the Owers Light vessel, and deeming that the warning came from a bearing well on his port bow, altered his course a couple of points to starboard.

Suddenly a black shape, distorted out of its proportion by the watery atmosphere, loomed up dead ahead. There was no attempt made by the vessel—for such it was—to give warning of her presence. She was simply forging ahead with bare steerage way.

Signalling to the rearmost tug to go full speed astern, the master of the leading tender promptly gave orders for the engines to be stopped. He dared not go astern, otherwise the momentum of theImpregnablewould cause the giant vessel to overrun her diminutive escort. As it was the cruiser forged ahead till the tug was swept alongside.

Just then the mysterious vessel, that had made no attempt to get out of the way, went astern, and, describing a graceful curve, ran alongside theImpregnable. There was a rending of steel as the ex-cruiser's torpedonet-booms were shorn from their securing-lashings by the wall-sided vessel. The next instant fifty men poured upon theImpregnable'supper deck; hawsers were passed out and the two ships were soon locked in a close embrace.

Captain Stalkart, knowing that something was amiss, but ignorant of what had actually occurred, shouted through his megaphone for the other tug to come alongside. She promptly complied, making fast on the port side of theImpregnable, and slightly astern of the first tug.

Under the impression that a serious collision had occurred, and wishing to do his best to save the huge vessel he was towing, Stalkart gave orders for the powerful centrifugal pumps to be manned, and the suction-pipes to be led aboard theImpregnable; but ere the hoses could be coupled up a score of men armed with revolvers and automatic pistols lowered themselves over the cruiser's side, and on to the two tugs.

The phlegmatic Dutchmen, finding it useless to resist, promptly ran below, their retreat being hastened by a few pistol-shots fired over their heads. To do the crews of the tugs personal injury was evidently not the intention of the assailants.

As for Captain Stalkart, the minute he saw how things were turning out, he ran into the chart-room and seized a revolver. Fortunately for his own sake he did not attempt to fire, nor did the aggressors find him for some considerable time. During that interval he wrote a hurried message on one of the lifebuoys, and heaved it over the side.

Meanwhile, in addition to the work of pillaging both tugs of everything that might be of service, the modern buccaneers were busily engaged in transhipping stores, arms, and ammunition from the tramp to theImpregnable.

It was soon evident that they had laid their plans carefully beforehand, and that the capture of theImpregnablewas not an act on the spur of the moment. From the hold of the steamer twenty-five seven-pounder quick-firers with their mountings were soon hauled up, and placed in position on the captured cruiser. Tons of oil were pumped into her double bottoms; water and provisions were stowed away in the usual tanks and store-rooms.

Down in theImpregnable'sengine-room men—experienced mechanics—were overhauling the machinery. Only a few weeks before the cruiser had been in commission with a nucleus crew, and, as is usually the case, her engines had lacked proper attention, but in less than a couple of hours the filibusters had succeeded in firing the oil-fuel burners and raising steam.

This done the Dutchmen were ordered to come up from below, and were placed in one of the store-rooms of the after-flats of the cruiser. TheVulkanhad been scuttled and was sinking fast, but ere she dropped beneath the waves her master, the taciturn Stalkart, rushed from the chart-room, where he had been concealed, on to the bridge. Volubly cursing and shaking his fist at the rascally crowd who had sunk his ship, the captain remained bravely at his post, scorning the gestures that indicated that he should save himself.

TheVulkan'sbows rose high in the air as her stern slipped beneath the surging cauldron of foam. In another instant the loyal skipper would have gone to his doom, when a lariat whizzed through the air. The noose tightened round Stalkart's portly waist, and, amid a round of jeers and ironical laughter, the Dutchman was hauled ignominiously but effectively on board theImpregnable.

The second tug suffered a similar fate; but just then a lifting of the fog revealed the presence of the ss.Wontwash.

For a few moments all was confusion, the crowd of men on theImpregnable'sdeck running below to hide themselves from the inquisitive gaze of the undesirable steamer. The Dutchmen, thinking that assistance was at hand, began to clamour for aid, till quieted by the silent threat of a revolver being pointed at them.

Seizing a megaphone the leader of the pirates—for that they were to all intents and purposes—sprang upon the fore-bridge.

"You vill clear out of dis!" he shouted. "No vant 'elp; go 'way."

TheWontwash'sskipper was completely taken aback. Naturally he was at first under the impression that the tramp alongside theImpregnablewas engaged in salvage work, and did not want outside interference that might lead to reduction of the salvage court's award; but when he saw that the steamer alongside bore no name, and that the men were far in excess of the number of an ordinary crew, and, in addition, armed, he decided that discretion was the better part of valour, and promptly did as he had been peremptorily told—he sheered off.

Directly theWontwashwas lost to view in the still thick haze men were lowered over the taffrail of the vessel that had effected the seizure of the battle-cruiser, and the words "Steephill Castle, Hull," were prominently painted on her stern. Ere this was completed the final stages of transferring the stores were finished, and theImpregnable'spropellers began to revolve slowly.

The vessels then parted company, the pseudoSteephill Castleproceeding up Channel, while theImpregnable, steaming at a steady fifteen knots, headed due south.

Forty miles from the Sussex shore she eased down. The wordImpregnablewas erased from her stern andIndependenciasubstituted. Her crew were mustered aft, divided into port and starboard watches, and told off to their respective quarters. The men were literally the scum of the Mediterranean ports—Greeks, Italians, Spaniards, Algerines, and Egyptians, with a renegade Englishman (formerly a naval petty officer) as bo'sun. The officers were mostly Spaniards, the captain being a native of Barcelona, and a member of a formidable Anarchist society.

All hands knew that theirs was a desperate and unlawful enterprise—piracy. The stake was a high one, the inducements great. In a few days all hands would either be wealthy or doomed to an ignominious end.

Juan Cervillo, the leader of the rascally crew, was a Spaniard of good family He had served as an officer in the Spanish Navy; but, imbued with revolutionary sentiments, he became mixed up in an anti-monarchist plot. Exposed, he was arrested, brought to trial; and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment.

Before he had done twelve months of his sentence he contrived, with the assistance of his revolutionary associates, to effect his escape from the prison-fortress of Saragossa. For some months he lay hidden in Barcelona, when his daring, undoubted courage, and vehement denunciations of all authority, gained him a prominent position amongst the anarchist community of that city.

As a delegate he attended the secret revolutionary conferences in Paris, and London, and the Mediterranean seaports; and in the course of his wanderings contrived to gather together a band of seafaring rascals in whom the piratical instincts of their forefathers lay dormant.

It wanted but a leader, bold, determined, and unscrupulous, to bind them together into a formidable band—and that leader was forthcoming in Juan Cervillo.

A daring raid upon one of the leading banks in Rome, and an equally successful coup in the commercial quarter of Marseilles, provided Juan Cervillo with ample funds. He could have retired into some remote South American town, and lived a life of luxury; but the desire for adventure and the lust for gold were too great.

With the money at his disposal he proposed to buy a swift cruiser, prey upon the world's sea-borne commerce, and recoup his outlay tenfold.

Then it was that the possibility of securing a discarded British warship occurred to him. Careful and guarded inquiries revealed the information that theImpregnablewas leaving Portsmouth for Holland. He resolved to intercept her—and succeeded.

The next few days were to be spent in wholesale depredations; then, as soon as the high seas became too unsafe to continue his nefarious exploits, he meant to convey his booty to some out-of-the-way port, and, temporarily satisfied with his war upon civilisation, he would lie low till a favourable opportunity again occurred.

Thus, while theFrome, lured on a false scent, was running westward, theIndependenciaex-Impregnablewas steaming southward, ready like a beast of prey to pounce down upon the first unsuspecting merchant ship that came across Cervillo's course.

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