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

dnight

w of the Pelikan. To confirm their assertions the former produced copies of newspap

likan stopped another collier at a distance of four hundred miles east of Buenos Ayres. For eighteen hours th

had offered no resistance; but it was just possible that the kapitan of the Pelikan had sufficient humanity to see tha

the subs minded but little; it was the restrictions placed upon their movements that riled them. They were now allowed only two periods of exercise on deck during the day-from ten till noon and from two till five-and k

rogress was barred by the presence of a large field of pack ice. Von Riesser, in order to avoid any possible chance of meet

north. Gradually the temperature rose as

reached the vicinity of Mauritius, keep

black on the starboard side and a light-grey on the port. An additional funnel, a dum

remarked O'Hara, as the Pelikan reached Equatorial waters witho

fat major that another twenty-four hours would bring us in sight of

orms that had at one time been white but were now dyed to a colour nearly approaching khaki. Each m

re served out to the troops, the quick-firers were manned, and machine-guns placed out of sigh

at major, von Eckenstein, who had previously been in

ajor?" asked O'Hara. "Hitherto our orde

ne that he held in his hand and to strik

ep himself under control, but for an instant Denbigh felt certain that his comr

He critically examined in the glass the reflection of his face, on which a weal was rapidly developing. "By Jove, it was luc

igh. "It hardly pays in the circumstan

the next two hours the s

swift cruisers were known to be off the coast, a wireless message would bring half a dozen speedy British warships upon

e in a state of blockade it was useless to hoist the mercantile flag o

aft was plainly visible. She was a small

have been used. More than likely she was one of the fleet of subsidized merchantmen carrying stores

ntelligible to the Pelikan. Von Riesser promptly replied by anothe

at Sea, would bring across the bows of the other. That in itself was susp

er siren, signifying that her engines were going astern. Nevertheless she wa

ens surrounding the guns were lowered

ough a megaphone, for the tramp was now less than two

aving left Simon's Bay with a convoy under escort she had encountered the tail of a cyclone. Detained by temporary engine-room

harge of Unter-leutnant Klick was on board. The officers and crew were locked up below, and warned t

the tramp was heavily laden with warlike stores. He

With a successful issue in sight he was not incl

oom and stokehold staff to work,

he did, for by dint of threats he compelled the luc

eply. "Follow me at two cables' lengths astern. I'll slow down to enable you

er the lee of which von Riesser had decided to remain the night, since it was t

on the flagship of the East Indies India Station when he was a midshipman, and was fair

se more than 10 feet above the sea. Its surface is quite flat, having been made so by the constant treading of myriads of sea-fowl, that have consolidated

ut owing to the absence of mortar used in its construction, it was blown down by the wind. Coco-nut

essel would pass within several miles of it during the night, so the Peli

re we?" asked O'Hara. "Do you think that

show at getting into the Mohoro River. It's fairly close, and once we can pass the bar there's deep water for nearly twenty miles. I'm curiou

old man," protested the Irishman, w

enbigh laughingly. "

sentry on the aft-deck on this occasion. Overhead there was a considerable amount of noise going on. It conveyed the impres

all hard at it, buckling to in the starlight. Cautiously the sub looked about for a place of concealment

resting on the booms or transverse steel girders, were some larger boats which could only be

just below the siren. After climbing a few rungs, he was able to swing himself across to the nearest boat, which

ck in his usual bullying tone. "The whole of

full, sir?" aske

n the main hoist and

I stand a chance of getting nabbed. I wonder what the idea is o

ched in the bows. Here, unless any material was likely to be stowed in his place of concealment, Denbigh had a fighti

n von Riesser. "Are your men ready? At le

protest against this useless labour, when we ought to be making for the Mohoro River." And the Pr

by the sound of his v

hoose to give orders to facilitate our retreat, should it be necessary, it is for you to carry them out. I

I am willing to assist you," said the major grumblingly. "This business is evidently the result of a sudde

ower tone. "It would be as well if we adjourned to my cabin. When you have heard what is pr

e moved away. "See that every article enumerated o

hook of the chain sling. As he did so, his hand was within a couple of inches of the sub's face. The man withdrew his hand so suddenly, that for

of escaping steam, the pinnace rose from its resting-place. Swayin

gear into the boat. There were cans of petrol, that gave Denbigh food for reflection, bo

d by a crowd of men who, perched in every available

. Denbigh knew this by the thud of the engines, but he was una

ll, although on the outlying coral reefs the sea was breaking heavily. Her w

d as the pinnace rose higher out of the water during the

g out?" as

cer, and kneeling on the bottom board

met that of the searcher, the darkness would not screen him. A long-

aler," continued the officer. "If you cannot manage her, ask for additional ha

f two seamen, who, having taken the strain off the bow cable

ut the presence of the boat-keepers compelled him to crouch, cramped and cold in the bows. Although the day had been exceedingly hot, the night air was decidedly

Having warmed themselves, the men sat upon the sand, and produced pipes and tobacco. The sub distinctly heard the rasping of matches, and gradually the

ally disappeared, he grasped the gunwale and slowly raised himself until his head w

idden, while at a distance of twenty yards from the cache, other men were excavating a long trench, by the side of which lay

should return. Presently he became aware that his range of vision was cha

ute too soon, for just as he settled himself the boat-k

this tomorrow we ought to be able to cross the bar. I don't fancy having to remain at

afe. It is the run across to the mainland that is the trouble. Come on, let us go back to our snug seat and have

seamen and soldiers, topple bottom upwards into the trench. Without loss of time the Germans commenced to shovel back the soil. Others joined them, for the task of hiding the stores

straggling up in groups of threes and fours. The pinnace was backed out about

bare legs, caught Denbigh a blow on the forehead with his heel. Fortunately the fell

owed in its former place. The workers were dismissed,

ey he made his way along the steel beam until he gained the funnel ladder. Then he waited and listened.

d so footsteps on deck told him he was barely in time. Cautiously he lifted the curt

allen asleep. There was no response. Perhaps the Irishman had gone in search of him; but, if so, how could he have secured the door on th