Carefully making his way along one of the struts that held the anti-mine-girder to the side of the submarine, d.i.c.k swung himself upon the nearest fender. Then, swarming up a ladder until his head was on a level with the hulk"s upper deck, he took a careful survey.
The craft looked a picture of desolation. Unshipped derricks, tackle, and a confused heap of ropes littered the limited deck s.p.a.ce, for the greater portion was taken up by uncovered hatches. Under the break of the p.o.o.p hung a large drum, which in Ottoman vessels takes the place of a ship"s bell. Close to it were a long-necked earthenware vessel and a platter. These were the only signs of human occupation. The watch-keepers, if they were still on board, must be either deaf or sound asleep.
With his boots crunching the thick deposit of coal-dust d.i.c.k crept aft, and, satisfying himself that the cabin under the p.o.o.p was deserted, ascended the rickety ladder.
Here he was comparatively safe from detection by the search-lights, for the p.o.o.p was enclosed by tow bulwarks.
"Ah, I know where we are," thought the Sub, as from his elevated position he caught sight of the dome of the Mosque of Omar and a cl.u.s.ter of minarets that, marking the position of Constantinople, stood out distinctly against the loom of the distant search-lights of the forts on the northern sh.o.r.es of the Sea of Marmora. "That"s good enough."
He proceeded to retrace his footsteps. As Huxtable had said, every second was of importance. At any moment an inquisitive patrol-boat might put in an appearance under the stern of the hulk, and although the surprise might be mutual, the submarine would run a serious risk of being rammed unless the Turkish officer in charge lost his head completely.
Just as d.i.c.k was about to descend the p.o.o.p-ladder, a giant beam of light was flung athwart the deck. It was a search-light from Kadi Kohr, one of the forts on the Scutari side of the Bosphorus. Instantly the Sub flung himself upon the coal-dusty deck. As he did so he became aware that in the waist of the hulk a Turk was intently peering over the side at the British submarine.
Apparently he was puzzled as to her nationality. It was quite possible that he had not heard anything concerning the sinking of the Ottoman cruiser and the transport. On the other hand, German submarines were hourly expected at Constantinople, yet there was no valid reason why one should stealthily make fast alongside a coaling-hulk. Coal was of no use to her.
Suddenly something aroused his suspicions. Running aft, the Turk s.n.a.t.c.hed up a drumstick and began to belabour the drum with all the energy at his command.
Realizing that the "game was up" and that he must regain the submarine with all dispatch, d.i.c.k left his place of concealment and scurried down the p.o.o.p-ladder. As he did so the watch-keeper sought to intercept him, brandishing an iron crowbar above his head. Down swept the formidable weapon, but by leaping nimbly aside the Sub avoided the blow. The next instant his fist struck the Turk a heavy blow on the point of the chin, stretching him senseless on the deck.
Then, for no apparent reason, d.i.c.k tore the drum from its support and hurled it over the side. It was a sort of satisfaction to get rid of the instrument that had raised the alarm.
By this time a dozen search-lights were concentrated on the coal-hulk, with the result that the submarine lying on the lee side was in even greater darkness.
Fumbling for the topmost rung of the ladder over the hulk"s side, d.i.c.k sought to find a means of descending to the British craft. It was impossible to see where he was going. He had to rely solely upon his sense of touch.
"Hurry up there!" sang out the Lieutenant-Commander impatiently, for he could see Crosthwaite"s form silhouetted against the blaze of electric light.
There was no time to be lost. Patrol-boats were already hastening to the scene. Judging his distance d.i.c.k leapt, falling into the sea between the submarine and the hulk, and fortunately missing any of the struts that supported the horizontal girders. As he rose to the surface the two seamen who had remained on deck to cast off the hawser grabbed him by the shoulders and hauled him into safety.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "THE TWO SEAMEN HAULED HIM INTO SAFETY"]
Just then a furious burst of quick-firing guns shook the air. With complete indifference to the fact that half a dozen of their own patrol-boats were hastening towards the hulk, the nearest batteries had opened fire.
Fortunately the patrol-boats flung about and steamed off from the danger-zone as hard as their engines could go.
"What are those fools firing at?" asked Huxtable, making way for the dripping form of the Sub as he descended the conning-tower hatchway.
The Lieutenant-Commander knew that the batteries were not firing at the British craft, for she was quite invisible to the gunners. The sh.e.l.ls were churning the water all around a dark object drifting with the current.
It was the drum which d.i.c.k had thrown overboard. Picked up by the united glare of a dozen search-lights, ineffectually sh.e.l.led by twenty or thirty quick-firers, the drum floated serenely towards the Bosphorus.
Huxtable saw his chance and took it. So intent were the Turkish gun-layers upon blowing to pieces what they imagined to be the conning-tower of the hostile submarine, that neither they nor the men working the search-lights thought of anything else. Save for the sh.e.l.l-torn water in the immediate vicinity of the drifting drum, the sea was shrouded in intense darkness.
"Cast off there!" ordered the Lieutenant-Commander; "diving stations."
As soon as the two seamen had regained the interior of the vessel, hatches were closed and secured, and the submarine, with her conning-tower just awash, forged gently ahead against the stream. Then under the action of her horizontal rudders she quickly slipped beneath the surface and dived to sixty feet.
"Here we are, sir," reported d.i.c.k, indicating on a chart the position of the submarine. "A course due east will take us towards the centre of the Bosphorus, and in the direction of Scutari."
"Good!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Huxtable. "Crosthwaite, you"re a rattling good fellow. It was a smart idea of yours, slinging the drum overboard. It drew their fire splendidly. I don"t suppose the rotten gun-layers have settled it yet."
d.i.c.k said nothing in reply. Already he realized that his action had been done on the spur of the moment. The good result was simply a fluke. It seemed an absurd thing to have to confess that he had jettisoned the drum merely as an act of pique. Huxtable took his silence as a sign of modesty, and was still further impressed by the Sub"s forethought.
The submarine came to rest on the bed of the sea. To plough blindly through the darkness was to court disaster. Her commander"s plan was to await the first blush of dawn, ascend and take a rapid bearing, and then shape a course for the broad expanse of the Sea of Marmora. As he had expected, the Turks imagined that their daring a.s.sailant was one of the Russian flotilla of submarines, and their chief attentions were centred upon preventing its return to the Black Sea by means of the twenty-four miles of narrow, intricate waterway between the two inland seas.
At daybreak the submarine made a cautious ascent. Almost as soon as the periscope showed above the surface, Huxtable gave vent to an exclamation of mingled surprise and annoyance, for depicted upon the object-bowl was a large cruiser, lying at anchor within easy torpedo range.
It was the recreant _Goeben_. The Turco-German battle-cruiser bore distinct traces of the rough handling she had undergone. Her lofty, grey-painted sides were holed in several places, both of her funnels were perforated, while two of her big guns had been removed, either because the turret had been put out of action, or else because the huge weapons were badly wanted for sh.o.r.e defence. In addition she was badly trimmed, and showed a decided list to starboard.
"Just our luck!" grunted Huxtable as he promptly caused the submarine to dive once more. "I would give anything for a torpedo; we couldn"t possibly miss her at this range."
Ten minutes later another view was obtained through the periscope.
Ahead lay the Sea of Marmora: the hazardous return voyage had begun in earnest.
CHAPTER XVIII
A Midnight Encounter
At noon the submarine rose to the surface. All around the sea was unbroken; not a craft of any description was in sight. Eagerly the officers and men welcomed the chance of being able to inhale the pure air after being cooped up for hours within the narrow limits of the steel hull.
Advantage was also taken of the respite to rig the wireless mast.
Since the Turks were already acquainted with the fact that a hostile submarine had appeared at the very threshold of the Ottoman capital, there was no further need to abstain from the use of "wireless".
Accordingly a message in code was sent to the British flagship, announcing the good work performed by "E--".
Promptly came the reply, also in code:
"Flag to "E--". Do not attempt the Dardanelles until after the night of the 11th instant. Situation developing, and movements of our submarine craft are in consequence undesirable."
"Plain as a pikestaff," commented Huxtable when the message had been decoded. "More German submarines, and our destroyers and minesweepers are operating in the hope of netting them."
"Then we are best off where we are, sir," said d.i.c.k,
"M"yes," admitted the Lieutenant-Commander grudgingly. "But here we are without being able to let rip at even the most tempting target. If there had been time to slip down to Tenedos and get a fresh supply of torpedoes from our parentship I wouldn"t mind in the least. As it is, we"ve to mark time for the next three days."
"Might I make a suggestion, sir?" asked d.i.c.k.
"By all means," replied Huxtable.
The two officers were alone on the after platform of the little craft.
The rest of the officers, having been on deck for some time, were down below. Most of the crew were "standing easy" on the limited expanse of fore deck--the narrow platform extending from the base of the conning-tower to within ten feet of the snub bows.
"If we make for Prince"s Island again," suggested d.i.c.k, "we could keep that tower under observation. There are some of our men imprisoned in it, and the place appears to be slenderly guarded."
"Dash it all, man!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Huxtable; "surely you don"t suggest that a submarine should bombard a fort? That, apparently, is the crux of your proposition."
"Not necessarily," replied the Sub. "If it came to the point, our guns would make small beer of the Turkish garrison. But if you would let me have half a dozen men, sir, I"d take Farnworth with me, and make a night attack upon the place. We ought to be able to rescue the prisoners and back on board within half an hour, with very little risk."