CHAPTER XX
THE ATTACK
Jack now explained to the others how he and his two companions had encountered the pirate forces in the forest.
"So after I fired at the treacherous pirate," he concluded, "we framed up an agreement to come along with those able to walk. It's true we held the upper hand at that moment, but we were strangers in a strange land, so to speak, and we needed help. Besides, the man didn't explain that they were pirates."
The attack upon the German raider was set for the next night when a messenger from the wireless station in the woods apprised Captain Jack of the approximate hour at which the German ship would pass a certain point.
That night the friends spent aboard the submarine at the bottom of the harbor. The fact that the vessel submerged with the coming of darkness accounted for its sudden appearance from nowhere the morning the castaways landed.
The following day was spent quietly ashore. Jack and Frank talked over the decision they had reached to join the pirate forces against the Germans and each felt certain that they were acting wisely and well.
"And what will Captain Jack do with us when we return?" asked Frank.
Jack shrugged his shoulders.
"It's hard to say," he replied. "However, there is no use worrying.
Let tomorrow take care of itself."
"Well," said Frank, "I'm going to secrete a couple of revolvers. I'm not going to be shot down after this piece of work is done."
"Right," Jack agreed. "I'll do the same if I can and I'll pass the word to Williams, Captain Glenn and the sailors."
Thus it was arranged.
It was two hours before dark the following day when, with Captain Jack at the wheel and the Roger running submerged, the start was made to intercept the German raider.
"There is probably no one near now," said Captain Jack, "but I am running submerged because I think it is foolish to take chances."
"Will you have to submerge to launch your torpedoes?" asked Frank.
"I will in this case. Here's my plan: I want to hit the German in a vulnerable and not a vital spot. I don't want her to sink, but I do want to damage her so badly that the crew will abandon her. Then I can go aboard and get whatever I want."
"I don't think so much of the second part of the program," said Jack. "It would be all right, of course, if whatever is found was to be used by nations at war with Germany, but by a—"
"Pirate," interposed Captain Jack, with a slight smile. "Why don't you say it? You don't need to spare my feelings. I'm perfectly hardened, I assure you."
"Well, I don't like the word," said Jack. "It has an ugly sound."
Captain Jack's face flushed and his hands clenched, but lie said nothing.
With the coming of nightfall, Captain Jack ordered the automatic pumps to work, and as the water was forced from the tanks the submarine came to the surface. Captain Jack motioned Jack and Frank to follow him on deck.
The night was still. There was hardly a ripple on the sea.
"How much farther do we go?" asked Frank.
Captain Jack glanced at his pocket compass and then at his wrist watch. "If I've calculated correctly," he replied, "we shall reach our station within two hours. The German should be along within the next sixty minutes. You fellows wait here a minute. I'm going below."
He left the two lads alone on deck, which was only a few feet above the level of the ocean. The conning tower closed behind him. The same thought flashed through the minds of both lads, but Frank gave it expression.
"Wonder if he's going to submerge and let us be washed away?" he asked.
Jack shrugged his shoulders again—a habit he had.
"We should have thought of that sooner," he said. "It's too late now.
We'll have to wait and see."
But the vessel remained on an even keel and directly the conning tower opened and Captain Jack emerged.
"Think I was going to run from under you?" he asked, with a smile.
"Such a thought had struck us, to tell the truth about it," said Jack.
"Don't worry," said Captain Jack, and added grimly, "at least not until this night's work is over."
Neither Jack nor Frank felt called upon to reply to this remark. For some moments the three stood in silence scanning the black expanse of water as the submarine nosed gently along. Then Captain Jack broke the silence.
"Let's go below," he said.
Two hours later Captain Jack again went on deck. He motioned to Frank to follow him. In spite of the fact that Captain Glenn, a man of proven experience, was aboard and that Jack had ranked above Frank on the Albatross, the pirate chief still held to Frank for his first officer.
"Chadwick," he said, "I shall leave the handling of the craft to you when we go into action. I shall be busy with the torpedoes. Your friend Templeton I will post at the periscope to get the range."
"Very good, sir," said Frank, saluting as though he were aboard a ship of war and serving under a military officer.
Captain Jack poked his head down the hatchway and called to Jack, who was stationed there:
"Stop the engines, Mr. Templeton."
"Very good, sir," was Jack's reply.
The submarine's progress was stopped. She rode gently on the waves now, moving only with the tide. Captain Jack and Frank scanned the distant and dark horizon for some sight of the raider.
"She'll come dark," said Captain Jack. "She won't dare show a light for fear of being picked up; and I don't dare use my searchlight for the same reason. She should be here now."
"Plans may have been changed," said Frank briefly.
"That's so, and still I hardly believe that is it. They were flashed, you know, to a point on the South American coast, from which they are relayed to Berlin. The German government, in spite of the efforts of the Allies to prevent it, is still informed of every move this fleet in far-off waters makes."
"It seems incredible," declared Frank.
"Nevertheless it's true. Is it any wonder a fellow who is playing as safe as he can would lean toward Germany rather than the Allies. Also, to my mind, it seems to be a case of Germany being the under dog and my sympathies are naturally with that animal."
"It isn't that," said Frank. "The Allies, the United States included, are not in this war to thrash any one. They're in this war to make the world safe to live in. So long as Prussian militarism exists, there will be no peace and no safety for any man, woman, or child in any country."
"You may be right," said Captain Jack, "and you may not be. Fact is, I haven't bothered to give the matter much thought. My business has to do with making money, and more particularly, at this moment, of catching sight of the German at the earliest possible moment. She will come close in this darkness before we are able to see her, and fast work will be necessary then. We can't make much time in this submarine, you know, and if we are not careful she'll run away from us."
"Trouble is," said Frank, "that she may be some distance away when she passes this point. You can't tell exactly where she'll pass."
"That's it," said Captain Jack. "That's what I am worrying about."
"Well," said Frank, "she—what's that?"
He broke off suddenly. A large shape loomed up in the darkness, some distance away.
"The raider!" cried Captain Jack. "Quick! Below!"
He sprang for the hatchway and dashed to the torpedo tubes. Frank scrambled madly after him and took the wheel from the helmsman with such promptness as to send the man sprawling.
"Get the range, Jack!" he cried.
Jack, with his eye to the periscope, called out sharply:
"Number three, torpedo."
Captain Jack himself sprang to the tube.
"Hold her as she is!" cried Jack. "Fire!"
Captain Jack, instead of touching off the torpedo, suddenly stepped back.
"I'm liable to sink her, and I don't want to do that," he said.
"Shoot, man!" cried Jack. "Shoot or she'll get away."
"Well, there is no use angering the Germans for nothing," said Captain Jack. "They'll start a search for me. If I can't get the rich booty aboard there is no reason for me to fire. No, I'll wait until some other night, when I can be sure the shot will go where I intend it and merely cripple her."
With a sudden angry cry, Jack hurled himself forward. Captain Jack had stepped back some distance from the tube. He leaped, forward as he realized the lad's intention. But he was too late.
There was a slight metallic click; that was all.
The torpedo sped on its errand of destruction. Jack whirled about in time to meet the attack of the pirate chief. They grappled and went to the deck with a crash.