No help came, however, and it was not long ere a shell struck the rudder-head. With steering gear completely wrecked, the steamer became unmanageable, and swung round at right angles to her course. Then, seeing escape was impossible, Captain Groome reluctantly rang his engines astern and signalled to the enemy that he was bringing his vessel to a standstill.
II—"THE PIRATES LOOTED OUR SHIP"
It must not be supposed that the Germans thereupon ceased fire. By no means. An unarmed and unmanageable British steamer wallowing helplessly in the swell presented a fine opportunity for a display of "frightfulness"; therefore, on general principles, they let drive a couple of shots at close range. These shells hulled the Glenholme forward on the waterline, and she commenced to sink slowly by the head.
Having accomplished her work, the submarine came close alongside and stopped, with her gun trained point-blank on the stricken vessel. The German commander, a stout-built man with bristly hair, emerged from his conning-tower. He was evidently very angry.
"Vy didn't you stop before?" he yelled. "I haf used plenty of petrol to catch you."
"I'm sorry about your petrol," suavely replied Groome.
"Vell now, hurry up and get your boats lowered!" shouted the Teuton. "I gif you ten minutes to leave—no more."
The crew of the submarine, armed with rifles, stood on their foredeck and watched the Glenholme's men abandon ship. Some ten minutes later three boats containing all hands—thirty-four all told—had shoved clear of the sinking craft.
"Now," said the submarine commander to Mr. Bolt, who was in charge of Number Three lifeboat, "I vant to make use of your boat for a little time. So crowd your men into the other two boats, and shove Number Three alongside my craft. Hurry up, now, or I gif the order to fire."
There being no help for it, Mr. Bolt and his men had perforce to do as they were told. When the empty boat was pushed alongside the submarine half-a-dozen Germans sprang into her and boarded the Glenholme, which vessel was now deep down by the head, but still sinking slowly.