Commander Lawless V.C.

lieutenant Trent as they stood together on the dec

emembered object, from the quick-firer on the "bandstand" aft to

ils," he went on, "and the awful profanity issuing fr

don't seem to have been ver

preciation faded from

nd five pounds since I left the Knat,"

ated the jun

rtunate bet and the sad episode of the German spy who, after be

t below," snapped the Lieutenant, and, Trent havin

in the Clyde and took up moorings near the leviathan battleship, the existence of which was supposed to be known only to the Admiralty and those who had been engaged in her construction. As she was not to leave

on-Tyne." As they pulled near the stern in order to reach the quay, Lawless heard a certain order which made him prick up his ears and indulge i

t boasted, the Lieutenant made his way down a side street to a certain little Con

pposite. They excited his curiosity, for, although they appeared to speak English perfectly, they were in unifor

thing struck him as being decidedly peculiar; for, instead of having an aged and rheumatic watchman aboard, as is the usual custom of British ships when in a home port, there was a man walking

ed a picket-boat, and was taken aboard the Knat. Here he detailed his adventures and expou

m, why don't you report to the

ed as a lunatic for my

ought for some mo

. "Very likely they're only harmless Dagos a

later Lieutenant L

Diamond left her berth and steamed down the river about

marked Trent. "One of the port officials tol

e Mediterranean! They could get it cheaper and quicker at Cardif

roceed at about ten knots, with the Arrow and Kite astern on each s

rs looking no larger than midges against her huge bulk. Evening was drawing in as they came abreast of the white light on Cambrae Isl

he mused. "I can

t below to snatch a little rest. He had hardly been in his bunk ten minutes, when a

sked the Lieutenant, as

n on the port side, and pointed to a couple

he said; "thought it mi

ht glasses and gazed thro

h," he said. "Queer she should have

ughed sc

fun," he observed. "If they were really up to a

d at once excite suspicion if they didn't show them."

med suddenly, "did

gazing in the same direction as Lawless,

eplied. "W

ark I couldn't see what it was even with these glasses. Look here," he added

her," replied Trent; and was about to give

ould only serve to warn them if t

're thinking about, because they know we should alter

. It looked more like a sort of

or the life of him he could not understand what Lawless was worrying

ol of by signalling to the Mars. I'm going to investigate this matter for myself." An

we shall leave you behind," said Trent.

me up, I can pull back to the Kite, which by that time will be ne

arted to pull towards the apparently disabled steamer with powerful, noiseless strokes, having taken the precaution of muffling the oars. The distance between the Knat and the steamer having been considerably lessened by this time, i

e whistle

ed his attention most was a machine, in appearance not unlike a very small inverted howitzer, and evidently designed for aiming bombs. There was no one in the waterplane, and for a moment Lawless thought of rowing with all

t to luck, that's

but, after a moment's consideration, he shipped his paddles, and slipped noiselessly into the water. A few strokes brought him alongside the steamer, and then, kee

he seat of the machine. Then another man followed, and, after an interchange of remarks in a language which Lawless had no difficulty in recognising, the two airmen took t

his arms over the narrow end of the car. As he did so, the waterplane rose in the air, with the result that it dipped and swerved so violently owing to the sudden shifting of his w

f his compatriots who had somehow contrived to get into this awkward position, he leant over and extended his hand. Lawless gripped it, and, wit

ed. It occurred to him, too late, that his speech ha

self looking straight into the barrel of a revolver. But the sight of the weapon had the same effect upon him as a douche

utenant. For a moment they stared at each other, the airman raise

inevitably attract the attention of those on board the Mars-for revolver shots in mid-air would be hardly likely to pass unnoticed-and they would at once open

ts of the Mars and her attendant destroyers standing out like tiny specks in a gulf of unfathomable blackness. The two red lights of the Black Diamond were no longer visible, and he concluded that,

yes like a flash, and a moment later h

second, they closed again, and this time they wound their arms about each other like bands of steel, till the terrible pressure made their veins stand up like whipcord, and their breath c

e; but, fortunately for him, the man had all he could do to maintain control of the machine and prevent it fro

neath them, came a faint bellowing sound, which

the winds, he flung his body forward, carrying the Lieutenant with hi

d their teeth savagely. Having the advantage of position, the airman at last managed to get his fingers round the Lieutenant's throat, and the latter, in a desperate endeavour to free himself from the choking grip, relaxed his hold, and was

instead of dropping on the Mars, which at that moment was directly underneath, fell into the water and exploded some distance astern of her. The cause of this failure was due to Lawless gri

were focussed on the waterplane. Then came a cracking sound from beneath, and shot after shot whizzed upwards from the anti-aircraft guns of

many seconds elapsed, even if he was not struck by one of the shots from below. He was on the point of letting go through sheer pain an

he was sinking down, down, fathoms deep, it seemed to him, into the sea. Then came a feeling of agonising suffocation, a terrible pressure on his chest,

gain in a semi-dazed condition, and made another feeble attempt to get on the floats; but his strength was exhausted, and he was suffering agonies from the injured arm. At

e must be at anchor in harbour. In a dreamy fashion he fell to wondering why he was lying there, with the sunlight streami

ns of the mysterious steamer, the fight in mid-air, his fall into the sea-all passed through his brain in a fragmentary, disjointed manne

to at last!" he excla

y nightmare," answered

as he seated himself on a locker besid

re clearly now," said the Lieutenant. "Tel

he lit his pipe. "We kept our course, and just as we came abreast of yo

waterplane rose," interrupted Lawless. "I thoug

nything of you, though we caught sight of the empty boat drifting. Nothing fresh happened till I heard a terrific explosion astern, and turned round just in time to see a ball of flame sink int

doubts were set at rest, for she came tumbling down like a winged partridge. As soon as she struck the water, boats were lowered, and they rowed to the floating wreckage, where they found you and

he Black Diamond. He was precious ratty at not having been told before, and I got orders to chase the steamer and searc

ctions," said Lawless after a pause. "No doubt they were put together after

rent. "I imagine you must hav

ly, and then proceeded to relate all that

he conclusion, "you sco

ut if it had only been a Zep and I'd brought it do