"But we officers are gentlemen!" retorted the ober-lieutenant, drawing himself up stiffly.
"It"s a point that might be argued," returned Darrin, lightly. "Yet there is no other course, for we have no detention s.p.a.ce apart from the main one on board, so it is the only place that we can use for confining German officers--and gentlemen."
"May I request the privilege of a few words with you before you send me below?" requested the ober-lieutenant, unbending a trifle.
"Certainly," Dave a.s.sured him, and the guard that was marshaling the prisoners below permitted the recent German commander to step out of the line.
"I will see you in my chart-room," said Dave. Lieutenant Fernald, who had been standing by, caught Dave"s signal and entered with his chief.
Once inside Ober-Lieutenant Dreiner turned and gazed at Fernald.
"I had expected a private interview, Herr Darrin," he said, rather stiffly.
"Lieutenant Fernald is my executive officer, and nothing goes on board with which he is not familiar," Darrin replied. "Have a seat, Herr Ober-Lieutenant."
"And must I speak before--before your subordinate?" asked the German, as he dropped into the chair that had been indicated.
"If you speak at all," Darrin answered.
"But will Herr Fernald keep inviolate what I have to say?"
"In that," Darrin promised, "he will be governed by circ.u.mstances."
Dreiner hesitated for a few seconds before he began:
"I--I--er--I have to refer to an incident that followed our last words together on a former occasion."
"You mean, of course, the time, when you a.s.sembled on the deck of your craft four prisoners, of whom I was one, then closed your manhole and submerged, leaving us floundering in the water, and, as you expected, to die by drowning?"
"I have not admitted that any such thing took place," Herr Dreiner cried, hastily, with a side glance at Lieutenant Fernald.
"It will make no difference, Herr Dreiner, whether you admit or deny that inhuman attempt to murder four helpless prisoners," Dave rejoined. "It so happened that all four of us kept alive until rescued, and we are all four ready, at any time, to appear against you. So there is no use in evasion."
"Then you intend to bring the charge against me?" asked Dreiner, in a voice husky with either emotion or dread.
"I can make neither promises nor threats as to that," Darrin countered.
"The stern British military courts would sentence me to death on that charge."
"Probably," Dave agreed.
"And I have a very particular reason for wanting to live," Dreiner went on.
"Yes?"
"I have eight young children at home, and their sole dependence is on what I earn," the German continued. "I do not mind dying, for myself, but in that event what will become of my poor little children?"
"You Germans fill me with disgust!" Dave Darrin exclaimed, rising, as though to terminate the interview. "It seems to be a rule with you fellows, when you find yourselves facing death, to whine about the children you must leave behind to starve. Before you set out to murder me in an especially brutal manner, did you take the trouble to ask me whether _I_ had any children who would starve? Did you ask Mr. and Mrs.
Launce whether they had children that were not provided for? And what about that honest old sea-dog, Captain Kennor? Did you pause to inquire whether he was leaving hungry children behind? For that matter, have any of you wild beasts on German submarines ever worried yourselves about the families you orphaned by your inhuman crimes at sea? Even in the case of the "Lusitania," did _that_ submarine commander ask himself, or any one else, what would happen to the women and children who were pitched into the sea? You are wild to murder innocent, harmless people belonging to an enemy nation, yet when you yourselves are brought face to face with death you are all alike. You whine! You beg! Dreiner, you are not man enough to play the game! Your appeal in the name of your eight children, who, for that matter, may not even exist, falls on deaf ears when you address me. I hope that you will be summoned before a British court and that you may be sentenced to pay the full penalty for your crimes!"
Dreiner"s face went ashen-gray as he staggered to his feet. Probably he really was concerned for the fate of his children, but his was not the sort of record that invited pity.
"I will not detain you here," Dave finished coldly. "If I did, I might be tempted to abuse a prisoner, and that is something no American fighting man can really do. Orderly!"
As the orderly stepped in, saluting, Dreiner tried a last appeal:
"Why do you hate us Germans so?" he whined. "I know that you do not hate me especially, but that you hate all of our race!"
"Why do we hate you?" Darrin echoed. "The reason is that, from all we hear, fellows like yourself appear to be fair samples of the German officer, on land and afloat. If that does not answer your question fully, I can think of other reasons to give you. I would rather not, for it brings me perilously close to the offense of abusing a prisoner, and that I do not wish to do. Orderly, call two men and instruct them to take Ober-Lieutenant Dreiner below to join the other prisoners."
As the German stepped past the Yankee commander he glared into Dave"s face, hissing:
"To-day it is your chance to humiliate and condemn a German. It may not be long ere your turn comes, and a German officer tells you what your end is to be!"
"I am ever at Fate"s orders," Darrin answered, with a bow.
CHAPTER XXI
ON A MISSION OF GREAT TRUST
WHEN the "Grigsby," in broad daylight, steamed into the base port with a captured submarine and her crew, and a German commanding officer who was liable for a dastardly crime at sea, there was great rejoicing both on the other naval vessels and on sh.o.r.e.
If the German prisoners expected a stormy reception when they were landed and placed under a guard of soldiers, they were disappointed, for nothing of the sort awaited them.
The British populace, though it turned out to see the captives marched through the streets, proved to be too good sportsmen to make a violent demonstration against their now helpless enemies.
Darrin had no sooner turned over the prize and made his report to the British admiral than he was ready for sea once more.
"Mr. Darrin," said the admiral, heartily, "when you went out the other day you promised to show me results. I take this opportunity to a.s.sure you that you have. You yourself have made some notable captures, and have destroyed some enemies whom you could not capture. Mr. Dalzell"s record has also been a splendid one. The plan by which you are catching mine-layers on or near the shoals before they start out on new mine-laying work is one that has enabled our mine-sweeping craft to accomplish more than they have hitherto been able to do. The record of mines discovered and swept out of the paths of navigation is a fine one, but you have done even better work in blocking the enemy so thoroughly in their operation of laying the mines in the first instance. Your successes are a.s.suming extremely notable proportions. To-morrow the dirigible will be ready to start out again to aid in finding mine-cargo-carrying submarines bound for these waters."
"Sir," Dave replied, "I greatly appreciate your words of praise, and I can speak in the same vein for Mr. Dalzell. Now, as he has had no share in destroying the submarines that bring over cargoes of mines I intend to detail him for that work to-morrow."
"That fits in with my plans," nodded the admiral. "If you will put to sea and find the "Reed," and then return to this port, dropping anchor, but keeping up steam, I shall have for you, to-night or to-morrow, a special task of the greatest importance."
"Very good, sir. Is that all for the present?"
"Yes. Your further instructions will be given to you when the time comes."
"Very good, sir. Thank you."
Saluting, Darrin left the flagship, returning at once to the "Grigsby,"
which soon put to sea. The weather being now comparatively clear, Darrin raced away at nearly full speed. Not long afterward he overhauled and boarded the "Reed," informing Dalzell of his chance to go on the hunt for the submarine mine-carrying craft on the morrow.
"I had been wondering if I was to have a little share in that sport of kings," said Dan, with one of his grins.