CHAPTER VIII.
THE ACT OF A MADMAN.
"I reckon we have given that army a setback," remarked Andy Greggs after the contest was over.
"Yes," answered the young captain of the new Holland.
"But they ought not to be allowed to get to Havana, much less to land in Florida."
"What do you advise?"
"Have you reported to Commodore Garrison yet?"
"No; we were trying to find out what had become of you."
"Then we will report first, and see what the commodore has to say."
It was easy to find the commodore's flagship, and they surprised the guard on deck by coming up directly at the side of the cruiser without anybody on board being aware that the new Holland was in the vicinity.
"Hello, you!" cried the officer of the deck, when Oscar hailed him.
"Yes, sir," answered the young captain, with a salute. "I could have torpedoed you nicely had I wished."
"You're the old Nick himself," growled the officer.
Captain Oscar Pelham's interview with Commodore Garrison was brief and to the point.
"The new Holland has done more than well," said the commodore. "I don't believe that Japanese army will ever reach Havana. We have already three thousand soldiers there."
"Then I presume our duty lies elsewhere."
"It does. I have just received a message by wireless telegraphy asking if I can spare your boat to go to the coast of Canada. The Secretary of the Navy was delighted to hear of the blowing up of the Tien-Tsin, and he wishes you to help the warships which will meet the British, French and German squadron off the coast of Canada. These warships are acting as an escort to some army transports carrying about a hundred thousand soldiers, who wish to land in Canada." And the commodore gave the details so far as he knew them.
"I will go to meet the American squadron in Canadian waters without delay," answered Oscar, and bowed himself out of Commodore Garrison's presence.
Once again the submarine craft was put at her best speed and she went spinning through the ocean like a thing of life.
Several days passed and they were making rapid progress northward, when one night the new Holland came to a sudden halt.
Her screws continued to revolve for a time, but soon they were clogged up and the power had to be stopped.
"Now what is up?" cried Captain Oscar, as he leaped from the couch where he had been sleeping.
His lieutenant could not tell, nor could the engineer.
According to their charters no land was within fifty-six miles of the submarine craft.
The lights were turned on full and an examination made.
It showed that the new Holland had run into the Sargasso Sea, that dense mass of seaweed which floats along the Atlantic shore near and in the Gulf Stream.
The weeds were so long and thick that the boat could not be budged. The screws were tangled up completely, and for the time being the new Holland lay helpless.
The weeds pressed against the windows of the craft and through the mass darted innumerable fish, some of the most ugly order Oscar had ever witnessed. The larger fish were continually preying upon the smaller.
"Let us try to ascend," said the young captain, and this they did, but without success. The weeds were above them as well as around them, and to try to go down under the mass only made matters worse, for many were fast to the very bottom of the ocean.
"Here's a pickle truly," sighed Andy Greggs. "How far do you suppose this Sargasso Sea extends?"
"Humph! Perhaps for miles," answered Captain Oscar.
"Well, we've got to do something."
"We will do something," was the quiet answer. "We can't stay here."
"It's only a question of expense, Andy."
"I don't follow you."
"I mean the expense of getting out."
"How is money to get us out of this confounded mess?"
"It will cost us the price of one dynamite bomb, placed just above and in front of the new Holland."
"Oh! By ginger, I never thought of that. Oscar, you have a long head."
The young captain's plan was to float a bomb above and ahead of the new Holland, using one of the water-proof variety for the purpose.
This was done, and when the bomb was set off the dense seaweed was hurled in every direction.
Meanwhile the screws were cleaned, and as soon as an opening appeared the Holland shot upward into an open space fifty yards in extent.
A searchlight was called into play, and by this they saw that the nearest open sea was to their right.
But they had to continue to fight the seaweed with long poles, and with more shells, and even then it was nearly morning before they were clear of the mess.
"That's an experience I hadn't bargained for," remarked Captain Oscar, as they sped once more on their way. "After this we must keep a better lookout." And they did.
At last they came in sight of the Canadian coast, and rounded Cape Breton into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Here Captain Oscar Pelham reported to Admiral Fielding, who was in command of the warships stationed there.
"I am glad to have you here," said the admiral. "We have a big fleet of ships to contend with. They are lying twenty miles out to sea, awaiting a favorable opportunity to attack us."
"And what do you wish the new Holland to do, admiral?" asked the young captain.
"Go out and do all the damage you can before they have a chance to get in here."
"I will do the best I can, sir."
Once more the new Holland was off on her mission of death and destruction.
With the crew went a pale-faced lieutenant from the admiral's flagship, sent on board to watch proceedings.
The lieutenant's name was Raxtell, and Oscar did not at all like his looks. Yet he said nothing and treated the lieutenant to all the courtesy due his naval rank.
But that night Oscar could not sleep. Something worried him, he could not tell what.
"Something is wrong, and I know it," he muttered to himself, and, unknown to any of the others, began a tour of inspection.
All went well until he reached the magazine room in which the explosives were stored.
Then he heard a low chant, and looking in, saw a sight that caused his very heart to stop beating.
Lieutenant Raxtell was there, with the look of a madman upon his ghost-like face.
He had attached a long fuse to all of the dynamite bombs and was in the act of firing the explosives.
HE WAS IN THE ACT OF FIRING THE EXPLOSIVE.
HE WAS IN THE ACT OF FIRING THE EXPLOSIVE.
HE WAS IN THE ACT OF FIRING THE EXPLOSIVE.
Should they go off the new Holland would be blown to atoms!