Then Dave Darrin stepped inside the conning tower and began to descend the ladder--a German prisoner at last!
CHAPTER IX
THREATS TO A PRISONER
AS for the seamen in the boat, the officer, after a scowling stare in their direction, ordered them also on board, where he had them lined up forward.
"Take off those life-belts," he ordered, still in English, and a seaman who understood interpreted to his fellow-Danes.
Off came the life-belts, which were dropped to the deck. German sailors then kicked them all overboard.
Now the submarine began to move slowly. A shot was fired from the forward gun into the lifeboat, wrecking and sinking her. This done, the German seamen followed their officer in through the manhole, which was closed.
For at least two miles the submarine moved along on the surface, then, slowly, began to submerge. One of the Danish sailors on deck set up a howl of fright when he found his shoes six inches under water. The cry was taken up by the other sailors with him.
The water rose to their knees--higher. The conning tower settled down into the sea, and the wretched sailors of the captain"s boat were left floundering in the water, without life-belts or anything buoyant to keep them afloat.
The last vestige of the submarine vanished, leaving more than a dozen despairing men to flounder and to die, for the "Rigsdak"s" other boats were now too far distant to see what had happened.
Going below, Dave and his friends from the "Rigsdak" were conducted into a tiny wardroom behind the mess table at which sat a frowning, leering German ober-lieutenant.
"A ship"s master who did not like us well enough to bring his papers and his instruments," barked this commanding officer of the sea-hornet. "An Englishman and his young wife, eh? But we have here--?"
"An American naval officer," replied the younger German officer.
For some reason the ober-lieutenant"s manner changed. He looked Dave over curiously, but without the same ferocity.
"Be good enough to be seated," he said, with a wave of the hand toward a chair. "Let these swine stand!"
But Dave chose to remain on his feet. Again the ober-lieutenant turned to him, though with comparative courtesy.
"I offered you a seat, sir. I trust you will avail yourself of the invitation."
"I cannot seat myself, sir," Darrin answered, stiffly, "while a lady is forced to stand."
"Then the woman will have a seat too," replied the ober-lieutenant, with a contemptuous glance in Mrs. Launce"s direction. But that young Englishwoman met his look of contempt with a glance that beat the German at his own game, and remained on her feet.
"Oh, very well," said the German commander, carelessly. "Now, I will enter in my log the name and other particulars concerning the master of the "Rigsdak.""
Captain Kennor accordingly supplied the particulars, which were written down.
"The English cattle next!" ordered the ober-lieutenant, gruffly.
Mr. Launce therefore stated the names, ages and residence of himself and wife.
"Your reason for travelling?" rasped the German commander, looking up from his record.
"Health," replied the Englishman, stiffly.
"Whose?"--sneeringly.
"Mine."
"You do not look ill."
"That cannot be helped," replied Mr. Launce, as stiffly as ever.
"You must have pa.s.sports, since you are travelling," suggested the ober-lieutenant.
"Yes; we have," admitted Mr. Launce.
"Turn them over to me."
Receiving the doc.u.ments in question, the German commander looked them over carefully. Without comment, he handed them to a younger officer, who left the room with them, but soon returned.
"Take these people away," ordered the ober-lieutenant. "And see that you obey all orders without question," he added, to Kennor and the English couple.
When they had been left alone the ober-lieutenant rose to his feet, holding out his hand to Darrin though a bit stiffly.
"We are brothers in arms, it seems, though just now we are enemies," said the German.
"We are enemies, yes," Dave admitted, ignoring the outstretched hand. At this the German flushed, allowing his proffered hand to fall.
"You shall have all permissible courtesy while you are my prisoner, and I trust you will show the same," said the ober-lieutenant.
"I bespeak no courtesy, sir," Dave replied coolly, though without direct affront. "I quite understand that I am a prisoner of war, and, as I cannot help the fact, I will not resent it. You are going to confine me, I take it?"
"No," said the ober-lieutenant, again seating himself and picking up his pen. "You will be given quarters, and allowed some freedom as long as you do not forfeit it. You may even eat at table with us."
"Thank you," said Darrin, bowing stiffly.
"I have not yet entered your name. Be good enough to supply me with it."
"David Darrin."
"Rank?"
"Lieutenant commander."
"Yankee Navy?"
"United States Navy, sir."
"Present detail?"