"Dot va.s.s der hope, but last night"s vinds held us back more dan ve knew," replied Captain Kennor. "Id vill be two dis afternoon before ve make--"
He was interrupted by a shattering jar that made the ship stagger. It was accompanied by a crashing explosion.
Uttering a cry of fright Mrs. Launce sprang to her feet.
"Can that be--" she began.
"Yes, madam, a torpedo," Dave replied, rising more slowly. "It was evidently a hard hit, but this twenty-eight-hundred-ton ship should remain afloat at least half an hour, unless another torpedo be launched.
There is plenty of time. Will you permit me?"
There were life-belts at hand. Dave quickly and deftly fastened Mrs.
Launce"s life-belt about her, then performed a similar office for her husband. This done he went to his recent cabin, where he donned his own belt and stepped out on the deck, joining his fellow pa.s.sengers.
Struck on the port side, just forward of her boilers, the "Rigsdak" was already listing considerably to that side.
"The captain and the first officer are below," hailed Dr. Valpak. "They will examine the ship"s injuries and decide. It may not be necessary to abandon ship."
Mrs. Launce turned to Darrin, who had just turned back from the port rail. She looked at him so imperatively that he nodded and replied:
"We shall have to take to the boats. This ship is not going to float. Her pumps will not save her, for the hole in the side is beyond temporary repairs."
Within two or three minutes Captain Kennor and his mate appeared, confirming Dave"s verdict.
Darrin had already looked out over the sea, but he had been unable to make out any sign of the presence of a submarine.
"Could it have been a mine?" demanded Mr. Launce.
"No, sir," Dave answered, promptly. "Had we struck a mine the explosion would have been much more violent."
"Then a torpedo provides sufficient experience of this sort of thing,"
cried Mrs. Launce, making a face.
"Der pa.s.sengers vill my boat go in!" called Captain Kennor. "Dere vill time be."
Again Mrs. Launce glanced inquiringly at Darrin, who nodded his confirmation.
Three boats were cleared away, carrying most of the crew and all the officers except the master. The boats were safely launched, and fortunately the sea was not too rough for them.
Then Captain Kennor appeared, carrying a bag and his navigating instruments.
"Are your ship"s papers and instruments intended for the Germans, sir?"
Dave inquired, significantly.
"No; you be right," admitted Captain Kennor, opening his eyes wide, after a brief moment"s thought.
Going to the rail he tossed bag and instruments over into the sea.
Then the last boat was lowered, the seamen who remained behind jumping as soon as their work was completed, and being picked up from the water.
"Ve shall but a few hours of rowing haff," declared Captain Kennor. "It vill not so hard be upon uss."
Dave was thinking of another prospect, but did not voice his thought. The men in the captain"s boat gave way at the oars, Kennor steering. The other boats had already pulled well clear of the coming foundering, and now the captain"s boat followed. The "Rigsdak" was likely to remain afloat for some minutes yet.
"I thought so," muttered Darrin, pointing to where a gray conning tower was emerging from the sea.
Captain Kennor gave an order in his native tongue, and the men in his boat ceased rowing.
"Dey vill uss hail, so ve need not be too far avay," he explained to his pa.s.sengers.
After the conning tower the gray back of the sea pest rose into view. The manhole of the tower was opened and an officer appeared, followed to the deck by a few seamen, two of whom stationed themselves by a gun that popped up into view.
"Come alongside!" shouted the officer, in English, through a megaphone.
Again Captain Kennor"s oarsmen gave way, their skipper heading for the submarine.
"That will do. Cease rowing," commanded the German officer. "What ship is that yonder?"
"Der Danish freighter, "Rigsdak,"" replied Captain Kennor.
"And its master?"
"Dat iss me."
"Come aboard."
At the order Dave, who had quietly loosened his belt and holster containing his automatic revolver, quickly dropped them overboard on the side farthest from the German craft.
There was sufficient sea running to make the task of getting close alongside a difficult one. A German sailor reached out to catch Kennor"s arm and aid him aboard the submarine.
"And your instruments and papers," ordered the German officer, sharply.
"I did not dem with me bring," replied Kennor.
"Perhaps that will be so much the worse for you," was the scowling reply.
"We want the papers, and we have need, especially, of ship"s instruments."
The German eyed Dave Darrin curiously. The American officer"s uniform was concealed under his sou"-wester, rubber coat and boots, but after a moment"s inspection, the German said curtly:
"You, too, will come aboard."
As refusal would have been absurd under the circ.u.mstances Darrin promptly obeyed. Instantly the German officer s.n.a.t.c.hed a fold of Darrin"s rubber coat, pulling it aside and thus revealing a glimpse of the uniform beneath.
"Take off that rubber coat!" the Hun ordered, brusquely.
Flushing slightly, Dave obeyed, his uniform now being fully revealed.
"Ha!" snarled the Hun. "I suspected something of the sort. You two will go down through the manhole. And this man and woman are pa.s.sengers? They will come aboard."
Captain Kennor led the way below, Mr. and Mrs. Launce following. Dave, as he reached the manhole, turned to see the "Rigsdak" vanish beneath the waters.