Rounding up the Raider: A Naval Story of the Great War

eat

ans, the captive sub-lieutenants avoided takin

bin placed at least fifty feet

osed and locked. The door, too, was shut, but

uted to attend to their needs had gone. "It's all very well k

rate," suggested Pa

shook

ection of the small "bogie" stove. "I suppose there

ck," said O'Hara, glad of the opportunity of countering Denbigh's

was addressed, thrust his hand in

ter you?" he enquired, at the same time produci

d O'Hara, lifting his

g with asperity. "Goats are, I believe

as from the same decanter that they had taken some the p

the poisonous stuff. Slip your sponge into your pocket, Denbigh. Don't squeeze it.

t the illustrations of some old Spanish newspapers until lights out; then, turning in, they lay awake awaiting possible developments. Eight bells struck. The Pelikan w

voice which the sub recognized as that of Kapitan von R

of the watch was accompanying the captain on his rounds. "But

e quite safe to settle that vessel. When she first answered ou

ould hear the kapitan rub

't wait until night when we tackled the Japanese ship. We run a good risk of being made a quarry for a dozen or more of those acc

at terrific explosion when our torpedo took the Frenchman by surprise never disturbed them

's no time to be lost. That English vessel ought t

In a trice Denbigh communicat

pirator!" whi

electric fan will carry off the fum

tuating the ventilating gear had been switched off. Alread

tubes," his

d Stirling. "They are blocked

ommunicated with the captain's cabin, the head steward's quarters, and the clerk's offic

d. The second gave more trouble. As he was straining at it a sharp rasping sound fell upon hi

wo of the detached pipes with soap from th

," he whispered. "

zed that this was Denbigh's pigeon, and once Denbigh

d length of tubing was now nearly nine feet. One end Denbigh wedged into the openi

Marking the spot he instantly switched off the light. A dull thud announced that the boring

xible piping over the projecting nozzle. Then he waited. He could hear the Irishman breathing heavily. The portion of the tube that he

the stupefying fumes by means of a bellows. A faint, sickly odour assailed Denbigh's nostrils.

h the pipe and had been carried through the louvres of the ventilator, while the hot a

f the tube. As he did so

had better enter the cabin, Herr Doktor,

piping from his c

ispered, fearful lest the sound should be hear

er when the door was unlocked and

ttural voice. The smell of the an?sthetic

tor," replied a

light. In spite of their efforts to the contrary

spicions. He turned to the bunk on which Stirling was lying, and, lift

German, for Stirling had been co

Denbigh's case; then, without another w

o it," muttered Denbigh. "Now

followed the doctor into the cabin, made his presence known by bawli

ng the sham sleepers. "It is that I know yo

lf-hoping that the doctor's test had not been

ke a delight in roughly handling anyone of commissioned rank. Perhaps, if von Langer did but know it, his men would have been only too please

hey had to cool their heels at the pleasure of their captors. It was a bright moonlight night. The air was decidedly chilly for the Tropics.

moon-since no stars were visible-he was able to fix the approximate course of the vessel. She was steering roughly so

gone awry. He had feared to treacherously torpedo an unsuspecting me

atcoat over his white uniform, appea

von Langer

ber-leutnant. "Shall I br

uple of hands to guard the prisoners and another half-dozen to wait

creation, and a sleeping cabin opening from it. Denbigh and his companions were marched into the outer cabin an

ge book-rack, and half a dozen cane chairs. On the table lay a pile of Dutch charts. Books for navigatio

rely fixed to the bulkhead between the two cabins. The only other picture was a sepia-toned photograph of the Queen of Holland, in a narrow, plain gilt frame. When it became necessary to hide the features of the All Highest War Lord from the eyes of the strafed English, who had practically contrived to drive the War Lord's battleships

eclipse the All Highest War Lord, so the three British subs found

Riesser entered with the dramatic effect of which Prussians are so fond. Gravely saluting the E

sser abruptly, lowering his brows and look

it is rather unusual to turn a fellow

bigh," snapped the kapitan. "

steps to avoid being gassed o

ink it desirable that our prisoners should b

e to be said," declared the

lish swine!" almost howled

nd Stirling's firm lips hovered the suspicion of a grim smile. Their utter

o do to the ship which you were luring. I suppose you call those tactics frightfulness. I call them low-down, skulking treachery. How a man who professes to be a sailor, who has lived a free and healthy life upon the sea, could bel

ted. Once or twice he glanced anxiously at his ober-leutnant, as

not a natural outburst of an unb

to put into operation the principle of your worthy Prime Minister? One

ly applicable in your case

ing a weight to be put about your neck and cast you

ugh unable to comprehend the significance, showed

gh. "You see, the Nichi Maru's people know that you carried us off. Some day you

having ever received the three British officers on board the Pelikan. He was plunging

scribbled a note and

ficer of the watch,"

ained. They, fortunately, knew no English, save a few catch phras

r all there's no great harm done. I'll admit I planned to trap yonder vessel. You must have misunderstood me when I said that

urselves," replied Denbigh. "If you have no obje

te surprised Denbigh and his companions. He gave an o

their own quarters. Time had been called after the f