CHAPTER XXV
HOLCOMBE'S SURPRISE
"S.O.S. MESSAGE through, sir," reported the yeoman of signals of H.M.S. "Antipas," saluting, as he handed Lieutenant-Commander Aubyn a signal pad.
The skipper took the proffered message, scrawled in indelible ink upon a flimsy sheet of damp paper, for the destroyer was making heavy weather of it.
Without a word Aubyn passed the message on to Holcombe, who was with his chief on the destroyer's bridge. The sub read the momentous appeal:
"Transport 'Epicyclic' torpedoed, sinking. Lat. 34° 20' 30" N., Long. 25° 15' 10" E."
"Reply, 'Am proceeding to your assistance,'" ordered the lieutenant-commander, addressing the waiting signalman. "South 50 East, quartermaster," he added, as he passed the steam steering-wheel on his way to the chart-room.
Aubyn could have delegated the setting out of the new course to his sub-lieutenant, but conscientious in all matters he himself took parallel rulers and dividers and laid off the compass course that would bring the "Antipas" to the position indicated by the sinking "Epicyclic."
"Not so dusty, eh?" he remarked to Holcombe, when the result was obtained. The preliminary direction he had given to the quartermaster was only half a degree out. "Seventy-two miles: two and a half hours' run. Let's hope we'll be in time."
A shadow fell athwart the chart. Both officers turned to find the barefooted signalman standing at the open door.
"Can't get no reply from 'er, sir," he reported.
"H'm! Dynamos out of action, I suppose," observed Aubyn. "Looks bad. All right; carry on."
The "Antipas" was cleared for action. Stanchion rails were stowed; only life-lines, led fore and aft, serving to prevent men from being washed overboard. Everything on deck was battened down, for in spite of her high fo'c'sle and exaggerated "flare" in her bows the destroyer was shipping green seas right over her bridge, the water almost instantly changing into clouds of vapour as it drifted aft against the red-hot funnels. The destroyer had just entered the limits of the path of the storm experienced by the "Georgeos Nikolaos," and on her new course she was making for the centre of the severe atmospheric disturbances. In really dirty weather a craft of this type is one of the most undesirable that can be imagined, for possessing great length to a comparatively small beam she drives through rather than over the waves, while to the vibrations imparted by the pulsations of the powerful engines must be added the disconcerting hogging and sagging of the lightly built hull.
On her errand of succour the "Antipas" was running great risks, apart from the danger of carrying on at full speed through the gale. In the rain storms there were chances of colliding with other vessels summoned by the general wireless S.O.S., while the U-boat that had dealt the transport the fatal blow might be lying in wait, possibly with others, to repeat her exploit by torpedoing some of the rescuing ships. Yet, in spite of the triple risk, Aubyn, like every one of his brother officers of the Senior Service, had not the slightest hesitation in proceeding to the scene of the disaster.
There were soon indications that others of His Majesty's ships had picked up the "Epicyclic's" S.O.S. Wireless messages in code were picked up, which, by reference to the secret code book, were found to have been sent from the destroyers "Antigone" and "Amaxila," although both were several miles farther from the scene than was the "Antipas."
At about one bell in the forenoon watch the look out reported a tramp bearing two miles on the destroyer's port bow. Ordered to "make her number" the vessel proved to be the s.s. "Andromeda" of Avonmouth, bound for Damietta.
"Very good," commented Holcombe, who was officer of the watch at the time. "Signal to her that a hostile submarine has been reported in latitude and longitude so and so "—giving the position indicated in the "Epicyclic's" message for aid. "We don't want to spend the whole day in picking up torpedoed crews."
A quarter of an hour later the "Andromeda" was out of sight, and the "Antipas," swept again and again by the terrific seas, held swiftly on her course.
"We'll have a deuce of a job, Mr. Holcombe," remarked Aubyn, as he rejoined his junior officer on the bridge. "Unless the weather moderates it will be a touch-and-go business to run alongside—that is, if the transport's still afloat."
"She may be able to pump oil overboard," suggested Holcombe. "According to——"
"Periscope on the port bow!" shouted a voice that, although stentorian in volume, was only just audible above the howling of the wind and the hiss of the flying spray.
The gunlayer of the for'ard quick-firer was quick on the mark, but a peremptory order caused him to relax his hold on the trigger of the firing-pistol. Only just in time did Aubyn detect the real nature of the supposed periscope: a portion of a foretop mast that, weighted down, was floating in a vertical position.
It was one of those common instances that would bring a volley of chaff upon the head of the mistaken look-out man, but it is also an indication of the effect of the mental and physical strain that arises from constant expectation of sighting the outward and visible sign of the modern pirate.
"No deception this time, sir," observed Holcombe, as a burst of brilliant sunshine lit up the sinking transport, which had hitherto been hidden in the scud.
"We're in time, I fancy," said the lieutenant-commander, "Fritz and other trivialities permitting."
With the guns' crews keeping a sharp look out for U-boats the "Antipas" circled completely round the "Epicyclic," pumping out gallons of crude oil as she passed to windward. Then, seizing her opportunity, the destroyer ran alongside the sinking ship on the leeward side—Aubyn had had to do this manoeuvre several times before, and was getting expert—and was made fast while the remaining Tommies and the officers and crew gained safety on the destroyer's deck.
It was an anxious ten minutes, for in spite of flexible "springs" and huge "pudding fenders" the lightly built "Antipas" was grinding heavily against the heeling sides of the transport, the port bilge keel of which was momentarily above the oil-quelled waves; but with no other casualty amongst the destroyer's crew beyond a petty officer having received a nasty "nip," the "Antipas" drew clear.
Before she had put two cables' lengths between her and the transport the latter's bows rose higher in the air, at an angle of sixty degrees. To the accompaniment of a super-cloud of smoke and steam the torpedoed vessel glided, rather than plunged, beneath the surface of the iridescent water.
The bark of the after four-inch quick-firer instantly diverted Sub-Lieutenant Holcombe's attention from the impressive spectacle of the sinking ship and the comparatively insignificant sight, though none the less to be ignored, of a torpedo cleaving through the waves. The missile had apparently been badly adjusted, for it shot clear of the water as it passed the trough of the heavy seas. Nevertheless it was heading straight for the bows of the rapidly moving destroyer; and had the mutual speed and direction been maintained, the weapon would have struck the "Antipas" amidships.
The gunlayer had been exceptionally smart on his sights. Even as the lively helmed destroyer swung round, listing heavily as she did so, a shell struck the water directly in front of the locomotive weapon. A tremendous waterspout and a deafening crash announced that a Schwartzkopff torpedo had ended its career in a manner not anticipated by its Hunnish makers or the Black Cross pirates on board the lurking U-boat.
For the next twenty minutes that U-boat had a most unpleasant time, for in spite of the heavy seas the alert destroyer "cut rings" round the spot where the periscopes were seen in the act of disappearing. Depth charges were brought into action, but whether the powerful explosions strained the submarine's hull and caused her to sink for good and all, or whether she succeeded in evading the terrible menace, neither Aubyn nor his officers and crew were able to determine. In any case, Fritz had received such a severe mental shock that the U-boat made no further attempt to torpedo the destroyer and the heavy load of rescued men.
"What's that craft doing, sir, I wonder?" asked Holcombe, calling his skipper's attention to a two-sticked sailing vessel lying head to wind at about four miles to leeward.
"Dunno; but we'll soon find out," was the laconic rejoinder, for Aubyn was perfectly aware that U-boats have been known to receive information from supposedly harmless neutrals.
The "Antipas" turned, steadied on her helm, and bore down upon the suspicious craft. On decreasing the distance the officers discovered by means of their binoculars that she was a felucca flying the Greek mercantile flag, while strung out to leeward of her were four of the transport's boats.
"She's been on the rescuing stunt, sir," observed Holcombe.
"P'r'aps," added Aubyn. "And when there's nothing about she'll start sinking them. Greek, yes—perhaps. More than likely a Levantine in German or Turkish pay."
Asked by International Code to make her number, the felucca ran up a hoist of four flags. Reference to the signal book did not elucidate matters, for the letters comprising the vessel's "number" did not appear upon the latest edition of the code book.
"Her deck is simply crowded," reported Holcombe.
"Rescued Tommies," explained the lieutenant commander.
"And men in naval rig, as well as a sprinkling of picturesque-looking villains, sir," continued the sub. "Unless I'm much mistaken she's carrying a couple of guns."
Visions of the prospect of capturing an armed raider, albeit a small one, flashed across Aubyn's mind. At this pleasurable anticipation he displayed his white teeth in a broad smile.
"Signal her to heave to until the weather moderates," he ordered. "The 'Antigone' and 'Amaxila' can't be so very far off. When they put in an appearance we can board the felucca while they buzz round for Fritzes."
"Those fellows in the boats are having a rough time," remarked Holcombe. "They're riding to sea-anchors, but there's plenty of water breaking inboard."
"Yes," agreed the skipper of the "Antipas," who knew by experience what life on board an open boat in a heavy sea meant. "But for the present we can do nothing. A boat load of landlubbers trying to board us with this tumble on would stand as much chance as a cripple trying to climb Nelson's Monument."
Maintaining an erratic zigzag course the "Antipas" steamed round and round the felucca and the boats, until with the arrival of her sister ships and the subsidence of the gale she was able to make a closer acquaintance with the suspicious-looking Greek.
At three bells in the first dog watch a large vessel was sighted bearing down in the direction of the destroyers. The "Antigone" steamed off to offer protection against U-boat attack, while the new arrival, which proved to be the empty transport "Hopalong," manoeuvred to windward of the boats in order to receive the survivors of the ill-fated "Epicyclic."
With the rapidly subsiding sea this was done without delay or loss. The "Antipas" then discharged her complement of supernumeraries, while the felucca was ordered by signal to run under the "Hopalong's" lee.
"You might board her, Mr. Holcombe," suggested Lieutenant-Commander Aubyn. "See that her papers are all in order, and find out what those guns mean."
"I may have been mistaken, sir," said the sub, giving the felucca another glance through his glasses; "but I'm hanged if I can see any signs of guns now."
"All the more reason for a strict search," rejoined the skipper grimly. "Once when I was on examination service in the North Sea I came across a short-calibred quick-firer stored in the case of a grand piano. Quite a bit of luck on my part, though," he added modestly. "The thing was in the main saloon of a supposedly Norwegian passenger and cargo boat. There was a bit of a lop on—almost as bad as it was this morning—and one of my men, an R.N.V.R. who hadn't quite found his sea legs, was shot clean on top of the blessed piano, rifle and all. I apologised to the master for the damage done, but the old chap seemed mighty particular to let the matter drop—too mighty particular I thought. So I had the top lifted—deuce of a job, for the old rascal of a skipper swore he'd lost the key. Nothing much doing at first sight—only wires and hammers and all that sort of fakelorum appertaining to pianos; but sure enough, my testing rod rasped against metal that was a jolly sight too solid even for an iron-framed 'Grand.' Yes, it was all U P with the ship. No more a Norwegian than I was, but a commerce raider two days out of Swinemunde. So you see, Mr. Holcombe, it's up to us to 'frustrate their knavish tricks.' It's our job; but as to 'confounding their politics,' well——"
The lieutenant-commander shrugged his broad shoulders. Like many another naval and military officer he had about as much admiration for the British diplomatic service as the office cat.
As soon as the felucca ran alongside the "Hopalong" Holcombe took the destroyer's whaler and an armed crew and boarded the object of his suspicions.
The felucca's deck was now almost deserted. The last of the rescued Tommies had been taken on board the transport. There were no men in naval uniform; only a handful of moustachioed Greeks.
"Where's your capitano?" demanded Holcombe, trusting that some of the crew spoke English.
The only reply he received was a prodigious grin and a most exasperating wink.
"Dash you, you fat-headed rascal!" exclaimed the incensed sub; "do you or do you not understand? Are you the captain? Where are your papers?"
Again a stolid movement of the fellow's left eye was the sole response.
"Cast off there!" ordered Holcombe. "Hanged if I won't have you taken in tow and introduce you to the Prize Court at Valetta."
Some of the whaler's crew cast off the hawser by which the "Georgeos Nikolaos" was made fast alongside the "Hopalong." The transport, with a destroyer in attendance, shaped a course to the nor'west, while the felucca was left rolling in the long swell.
Meanwhile Holcombe, ordering the Greek master to stand back—which he did with considerable alacrity to avoid the butt-end of one of the bluejackets' rifle descending upon his toes—proceeded to make a thorough overhaul of the presumed prize.
"Thought so!" he exclaimed triumphantly, as one of the seamen threw back the awning over the boat amidships, revealing a quick-firer. "A German gun, by the powers! Good enough, Knight. Clap those dirty-looking rascals under hatches. Flannigan," he continued, addressing a signalman, "semaphore the 'Antipas' and report that we have discovered the prize to be armed with a German-made quick-firer."
"Two, sir," corrected the signalman. "There's one on disappearing mountings up for'ard."
"Better still," chortled the hugely delighted sub. "Now, you blighters, you're under escort—can do? Savvy? Comprenez? Verstehen Sie das? Oh, chuck it with that infernal wink of yours!"
The Greek amiably complied with Holcombe's rather ungracious request, but promptly raised one eyebrow, which exasperated the sub still more. But just at that moment the fellow's facial contortions proved too much for the adhesibility of his moustache, which fell to the deck, revealing the features of Sub-Lieutenant Nigel Farrar.
"Slogger, you—you—you——!" exclaimed the astounded Holcombe. "What on earth are you doing in this rotten rig-out?"
"Allow me to correct you on a few points, old bird," said Farrar. "In the first place, 'on earth' is hardly appropriate; secondly, my get-up could not be so very rotten, for it got the weather side of you."
"Well, carry on," rejoined Holcombe tentatively.
"There's little to tell," replied his chum. "We are on a strafing stunt. Bagged two Fritzes already. Wonder the skipper of the 'Epicyclic' hadn't given the show away."
This certainly was a puzzler. Later inquiries showed, however, that the officers and crew of the torpedoed transport were so occupied with the task of getting the boat away and anxious concerning the presence of the U-boat that they had failed to notice the approach of the little felucca. Nor did they attribute the strafing of the submarine to her agency, putting down the explosion to internal causes.
"Your independent cruise was kept very much in the dark as far as we were concerned," said Holcombe. "We hadn't the faintest inkling of it when we left Malta."
"Let's hope the secret won't out a while—at least, as far as Fritz is concerned," rejoined Farrar. "We're just beginning to like the job."