Percy F. Westerman

“ Better to prowl about half-starved in a German fortress than to be lying on the bottom of the North Sea."
"You cautious critter!" ejaculated Detroit.
"Exactly, my dear fellow. Caution is the modern naval officer's sheet anchor. Caution is instilled into him from the moment he's placed in charge of a ship's boat under sail. No doubt it's the means of often neglecting to make full use of an opportunity; but there you are. Modern warfare has no use for fire-eating daredevils; it's the level-headed admiral who will win the next great naval war. ”

“ Hamerton could not see over the wall, but he knew by the presence of a screen of furze and gorse that the face of the fortifications was composed of earth and sand, the best material for minimizing the effects of heavy projectiles.
There his range of vision ended, save for the expanse of blue sky overhead. He might sit at the window for days at a stretch and still see nothing of a confidential nature. Save for an occasional fatigue-party and the passing of a carefully-covered-in train of trucks drawn by electric tractors, the courtyard was deserted. ”

“ They seemed perfectly content to stand on the quay-side and gaze meditatively at the mysterious craft that the steam-drifter Hoorn had brought in.
The arrival of the Englishmen with their attendant throng roused the lethargic Dutchmen. They too added their voices to those of their fellow townsfolk.
"Thank goodness the yacht seems all right," ejaculated Smith fervently. "Let's get on board. It's the only way to escape the babel."
The Diomeda looked exactly as if she had been lying on her own moorings in Lowestoft harbour. ”

“ Nevertheless all the town seemed to congregate on the quay to await the British destroyer's arrival.
Smartly the Boxer came alongside, and without the loss of so much as a square inch of paint was soon moored to the jetty.
"Ready, Mr. Smith?" asked Mallet, after Stirling had duly introduced the skipper of the Diomeda to the lieutenant-commander of the destroyer. "Good! we'll get out a hawser at once. The tide won't serve us much longer. The sooner we start the better, for, unless I am very much mistaken, there's heavy weather knocking about within fifty miles of us." ”

“ Detroit was mentally bemoaning the rashness that prompted Hamerton to suggest the exploration of the aircrafts' subterranean shelter instead of making for the base of the cliffs; while the latter regretted that he had not been able to continue his nocturnal tour of investigation.
Yet, although men were running hither and thither, none came across the floor of the turntable. Trucks were rumbling along the tram lines, men were shouting in guttural tones, electric motors were whizzing and buzzing. ”

“ The time was not yet ripe for Germany to measure steel with the nation that in the Teutonic mind formed the sole barrier to colonial expansion, and for the present it was considered advisable to remove Von Wittelsbach to a more remote sphere, where his activities could be prosecuted in secret and with an energy that suited the old veteran's ideas to a nicety. So the general was placed in command of the important military and naval station of Heligoland.
Like most German officers Von Wittelsbach was badly attacked by the espionage mania. In his eyes every man not in German uniform was a spy. ”

“ Hamerton's post was with Sir Noel Armitage in the conning tower, the most vulnerable of the armoured parts of the ship; vulnerable because it is a matter of impossibility for the officer working the ship to be completely shut in. He must be able to see what is going on, and the smallest slit in those massive armoured walls will admit a white-hot sliver of steel from a bursting shell, while the conning tower is the favourite mark for the hostile gunners.
Until the German fleet actually hove in sight Sir Noel preferred to remain with his staff upon the bridge. ”

“ The destroyers were now out of earshot, swallowed up in the still dense watery mist. More than likely the absence of the unfortunate seaman would not be noticed for some considerable time, and then it was doubtful whether the vessels of the flotilla would retrace their course far enough to come in touch with the Diomeda.
"I'm glad I didn't miss that sight, by Jove!" said Hamerton, with unstinted praise. "Those Germans know how to handle their torpedo craft. Fancy taking them at that bat through a fog!"
"It's fools' work," said Detroit, who was struggling into a change of clothing. ”

“ Detroit clambered on to Hamerton's shoulder, grasped one of the revolving rods, and passed the bight of the rope around it. By this means he was able to draw himself up and crouch astride of the obstacle until Hamerton swarmed up beside him. The drop on the other side was a more nerve-racking ordeal, for neither of the fugitives knew what was beneath them. Fortunately it was a vegetable garden belonging to one of the jailers, and the soft earth effectually neutralized the otherwise nasty jar of a twelve-foot drop. ”

“ In the third cavern lights burned at the farthermost end, and a party of officers and men were busily engaged in overhauling the after-car.
"Seen enough?" asked Detroit. "Let's quit."
"Suppose we must," replied Hamerton reluctantly. "It must be close on dawn, and we'll have to find a place to stow ourselves away."
"I say," began the American.
"Well?"
"That airship facing the incline can come out of its dogbox all right, but I don't see how the others can be turned. There can't be more than a few feet between their extremities and the cliff when they are hauled out." ”

“ Late in the afternoon, the wind falling light, Norderney lightship was passed. Curiously enough, with the breeze dropping the fog dispersed, and Hamerton was able to set a course for the Elbe light-vessel.
"Here's a tramp bearing down upon us," he announced, after intently watching the oncoming craft through his binoculars. "We'll signal her." Again the flags that the German warship had all but ignored were hoisted, and before long the crew of the Diomeda saw the steamship alter helm and head so as to pass within a cable's length of the yacht. ”

“ The place, hitherto practically deserted, resembled a gigantic beehive.
"They are not looking for us," whispered the Sub. "They are evidently getting one of the Zeppelins ready for a flight. I hope we won't be disturbed. We may as well have a tour round our limited quarters, to make ourselves acquainted with our hiding place."
"Go steady," cautioned Detroit.
"Trust me for that," rejoined Hamerton, "We don't want to electrocute ourselves, or start the turntable spinning round at the rate of knots."
"Like a new form of joy-wheel," added the American. ”

“ Into the blinding rain the fugitives made their way, pausing under the lee of a low stone wall in order to get accustomed to the darkness.
"Now there'll be a rumpus," whispered Detroit. "The best thing we can do is to get back to our quarters under the turntable. Since the place is well guarded they won't expect to find us there, especially as they're bound to know that we've been pillaging one of the keepers' cottages."
"That's so," assented Hamerton. "Plucky old woman, that. She would have used that rifle if she had managed to get hold of those cartridges." ”

“ The Diomeda was "in irons". Her sails were slatting violently in the wind. She carried no way, nor would she answer to her helm, and some minutes elapsed ere the ketch fell off sufficiently for her canvas to draw.
Running forward and gripping the shrouds, Hamerton seized a boathook. The unfortunate man still floated, face upwards, but made no attempt to save himself.
"Guess he's broken his back," shouted Detroit to his companion, in reply to which the Sub nodded. Falling off a boat travelling at thirty knots, a man would strike the water with terrific force. ”

“ Meanwhile General Heinrich von Wittelsbach had been hurriedly summoned to Berlin. He fully realized that there was danger ahead. There were two courses open to him: either to confess his error, explain his motives, and throw himself upon the clemency of his Imperial master; or else to take a high hand, stanchly declare that no mistake had been made, and appeal to the Kaiser not to lower the dignity of the Hohenzollerns by submitting to the arrogant demands of the ambassadors of Great Britain and the United States. ”

“ In an instant swarms of men were being lifted off the ground or being dragged over it like dead flies on a resinous string. Gamely they struggled to keep the errant aircraft under control, but in vain.
Rapidly the Zeppelin drifted towards the West Kalbertan Battery, till her huge envelope loomed high above the fortifications. With a dull thud the nacelles struck the earthworks. The frail aluminium gave before the shock, and the remainder of her crew, with one exception, were precipitated upon the sand. ”

“ How am I to know that this is the value of the yacht?"
"My word for it," replied Smith heatedly.
"Is not good enough," added the harbourmaster.
"Then why in the name of thunder didn't you ask me to get it with the other papers?"
Van Wyk shrugged his shoulders.
"I shall require it," he said simply.
"What's wrong now?" asked Stirling, as his chum rejoined him in the street.
"Every mortal thing. Wants a copy of the bill of sale to prove how much I gave for the yacht. Luckily I have that at home. I'll wire for it. This petty officialdom is enough to make a fellow wild." ”

“ Then, sloping his rifle, the sentry faced about and stolidly marched away, following the direction of the fence.
"There must be some object in posting a sentry so far from the road and away from the cliff," thought Hamerton. "I'll investigate."
With that he rose to his feet, grasped the lowermost of the barbed wires, and held it up as high as the tension would allow. The quick-witted American understood, and, throwing himself flat on the ground, crawled under the formidable fence. ”

“ As the Zeppelin was being guided on to the turntable a fragment of the plugging material fluttered to the ground. A breeze caught it and swept it towards the edge of the turntable pit. There it stopped, provokingly out of reach even if the Sub had dared to stretch out his hand to grasp it.
Just then one of the sailors manning the trail ropes kicked the piece of packing. It fell literally into Hamerton's hands.
Hamerton and his comrade exchanged glances of satisfaction. They dared not speak. They realized that they had made a great discovery. ”

“ Do you see those patches of misty light on the sky?"
"Well?"
"They're searchlights playing on the clouds. Evidently the Heligoland torpedo flotilla are engaged in night manoeuvres; to me it seems like a trial of aircraft versus submarines and destroyers."
"And the vessel that turned her searchlight on the Boxer? She wasn't sky hunting?"
"No; not just then. You see, she spotted the navigation lights of the Boxer and the Diomeda, and was naturally curious. But there she goes!" ”

“ Without further delay the steamship gathered way, hoisting and dipping her ensign, to which the Diomeda replied, while from the taffrail could be discerned the oilskin-clad figure of the German sailor, still waving adieux to the men who had saved him from a watery grave.
"Haul down that ensign, old man," said the Sub when the tramp was almost out of sight. "It's too pretty to be flapping itself against the mizen halyards, now that a breeze is springing up." ”

“ Both men recognized in the snub-nosed object projecting far above their heads the bow of a military Zeppelin.
Hamerton could have danced with sheer delight. He had discovered what was supposed to be the shell-proof lair of three powerful airships. Deep in the bowels of the earth they were immune from hostile shell. A high-angled fire might result in a projectile dropping into the vast circular pit, but the possibility of the aircraft being damaged by fragments of shells was guarded against by the provision of massive steel doors sliding on rollers. ”

“ Stepping cautiously over the tram lines, since one of them might be a "live rail", Hamerton and Detroit resumed their down-grade journey till they had traversed nearly a quarter of a mile of the incline.
"I believe we've tumbled upon the approach to a submarine tunnel to Sandinsel," whispered Detroit.
"Much too wide for that," replied the Sub, "unless, of course, there is a subsidiary tunnel. But, look, we are getting to the end. There's rock ahead of us." ”

“ We will have to remain hidden on this little rock till hunger compels us to give ourselves up."
"We'll risk that. In almost every enterprise there is an element of chance that oft leads to success. Once we break out of this place we'll have a good look round. They've condemned me as a spy, and, by Jove, I'll do a little espionage!"
"And I'll have a shot at it," added Detroit. "Who knows but that some day the United States Navy may be glad of certain information concerning this island."
"'Of course we may stumble upon a boat," continued Hamerton. ”

“ It was day; a dull light filtered through the skylight, though not strong enough to be caused by the sun. The Diomeda was rocking sluggishly in the slight swell as she rode to her cable.
"Eight o'clock, by Jove!" exclaimed Hamerton drowsily; "and drizzling with rain, I fancy. What was that noise?"
"We won't find out by lying here," said Detroit, setting the example by springing out of his cot. As he did so came the unmistakable sound of a boathook engaging the little craft's rigging screws, and a peremptory voice hailed in German.
"Custom-house people. They're early," announced the Sub. ”

“ Tearing betwixt the battleships came the British destroyers like wolves upon a sheepfold. This phase of action became a mêlée. In several cases the British craft, charging their opponents at full speed, literally cut these latter in twain. It was but another of those instances when, in the heat of battle, men neither ask nor expect quarter. Only four German boats, badly damaged, were able to regain a temporary and insecure shelter under the lee of Sandinsel. ”