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

La

n would be of little use. Nor could he hope to bluff the fellow, since there was too much light to attempt to pass himself off as one

not he was unable to ascertain. Closing the door he stood stock-still and listened. He could hear no sound of a person breathing. For five minutes he waited,

in turn, until he was able to come to the happy decision t

ad-light in position over the opening. In that case it would be to

n deck heard the sound. He waited again. There were many footsteps descending the companion. He

d perspiration standing out on his foreh

ulging in horse-play, for once a heavy body struck the wal

, the officers went along the pas

-stained portmanteaux. Hanging from a coat-hook was an officer's sword-belt. It was mildewed; the stitching of the holster

strap and open the case. Within was a pocket-compass. What was more, it was a spirit one and seemin

to his ear. He wheeled abruptly and shot a glance in the direction of one

ated. This time the sound seemed to come from th

the aperture drilled by the Germans when they made their i

t sufficient to observe O'Hara lying on his back in his bunk. He was writhi

l was quie

whispered Denbig

ed to speak, but could not. With an effort he rolled ou

d Denbigh peremptori

traw," he soliloquized. "I'll have t

removed the chair which had been wedged against the lock. Then

ting to see if everything were clear. The door opened easily. He ent

you cleared out," muttered the Iris

d Denbigh, for O'Hara's regret was

eplace a portion of the lock. Grasping the screw-driver he set to work, and had j

r of an hour before the doctor arrived. He came prepared to deal w

or did he again put in an appearance. He sent, however

ernal pains passed off. His temperature fell. He was able to talk rationally. By noon he was practica

her prize arrived off the entrance to the Mohoro River. Here the two ships

ra, the reason being that von Riesser was terribly afraid of illness, and in spite of the doctor's assurances he had a fir

rishman joyfully. "I feel as fit as a fid

igh accompanied him, taking good care to bring all their scanty personal property that they had been p

officers, and crew of the tramp, numbering thirty-two persons. The officers were given a fair amount

e greeting of Captain Pennington, the master of the captured Myra, when the two subs

ks," said Denbigh. "The luck th

st, as some wreckage and one of her boats were picked up in the South Atlantic. That is why our cruisers rel

nitors?" as

ined for repairs at Simon's Bay. The others must be at Zanzibar by

r-hopes to ascend the Mohoro River. Her draught is about t

"It will be as much as she can manage to cross th

water?" enq

4 p.m. I take it that it's the top of the tide to-day at eleven or thereabouts. They'll

ll speed ahead, the Pelikan following at four cables' lengths aster

st about, for the land breeze had not

broke with a sullen roar into masses of milk-white foam. There were nearly a dozen visible gap

soil accumulated upon the coral. These trees marked the entrance to the lagoon

s. A boat was manned and lowered from the Pelikan and rowed towar

e boat signalled to the Myra, and at half speed t

ade her way, until she lay quietly up

n prepared

," he added, as the raider touched the bottom with a dull grinding sound. Still s

tom," said O'Hara. "See, the

were unable to say, but it was evident from the expression of the fac

erned, low-lying ground densely covered with mangroves and backe

on beyond the range of vision. Southward it gradually converged towards the coa

rom the pestilential swamps. Do you see that peculiar isolated tree? It's a casuarina. It marks the principal entrance to the M

ight up," remarked O'Hara. "

ed his chum. "At all ev

of the highest part of the shore, where a cliff rose abruptly to the height of thirty or forty feet. On the summit the ground shelved gently. The

om her captor, and so close to the shore that when she swung her stern was within forty yards of the cliff. The wa

in?" asked Unter-leutnant Klick. "

ity of the two ships was furrowed with diverging lines of ripples as

lieutenant," remarked Captain Penn

k laughed b

hark is der ally of

onish me one little bit," rej

-leutnant, instinctively guessing

nger, another signal was made from the Pelikan, ordering the Myra t

ow and compelled to assist in handing and stowing the gear, for it was von Riesser's intention to lighten h

rk, for not a light that could b

nt Klick had appropriated the skipper's quarters, and Pennington and his chief engineer were obliged to share the small space

the state-room, where in normal times the Myra's officers used to have their meals. At present that limited space was still further restricted by the huge cas

strong. "They don't know that each officer of this hooker has a duplicate key to his cabin. I took jolly good care to keep

t hid the shore had dispersed. Two boats were dispatched from the Pelikan to the shore and ret

ed to weigh and ascend the river. Even in her deeply laden condition she drew a g

ing-out" when a warning shout came from one of the look-out men on the P

through the reef. Heading for it was a small gunboat. Although the distance was too great for the

ur gunboats," a

d by a sharp bark as the Pelikan, unmasking her