Captain Restronguet

“ Stopping at one of the branch passages Captain Restronguet pointed towards it, then switching on his lamp began to clear away through the seaweed that grew to a height of nearly twenty feet. Hythe followed, tit was like pushing aside a Japanese curtain, for the flexible tendrils closed behind him.
The belt of weed was comparatively narrow; less than five yards brought the men to a close sandy space. Here the sub stopped. Right in front of him, and hidden from the natural light by a thick canopy of weeds, were the jagged, barnacle-encrusted timbers of a ship. ”

“ All the fat is in the fire now."
Quickly the dispiriting news spread from ship to ship, and from boat to boat. A panic seemed to seize the spectators in private craft, for, as if by a sudden impulse, they made a wild stampede from the shelter of the shallow water of Cawsand Bay. But nothing happened to imperil their safety. No huge sea-monster, the work of human hands, appeared to scatter destruction broadcast upon those venturesome individuals who had gone forth to witness the capture of the mysterious Captain Restronguet. ”

“ Then majestically the huge yellow enveloped craft eased up till just holding her own against the light breeze, sank gently towards the earth, alighting on the sun-baked ground within twenty yards of the captured submarine.
"The best man has won, sir," exclaimed Captain Jones, raising his white cap. "I heartily congratulate you."
"More by good luck than anything else," returned Captain Restronguet modestly. "If I hadn't sent a sick man ashore we might never have spotted her stowed away so snugly behind the hill. I suppose you've seen nothing of the crew?" ”

“ On gaining the main stream, greatly to the relief of all in the boat, no red and green lights of patrolling launches were to be seen. Boldly Captain Restronguet steered across the bows of the cruiser that had hailed him on the outward trip. To lurk inshore would be courting suspicion. ”

“ That exception was a German named Karl von Harburg."
Captain Restronguet paused as if he feared that the growing excitability would overmaster him. He was evidently labouring under a strong recollection of bygone insults. Hythe had the sense to keep silence, he realized that the listener is the one who hears most.
"But before I say anything more about Karl von Harburg," continued the Captain, "I must mention another incident. The concession I had acquired paid beyond all expectations, for not only were copper and tin found in abundance but also gold. We were all rich men. ”

“ It whizzed perilously close to Captain Restronguet's head, bouncing on the sun-baked mud.
"Attract his attention," ordered Captain Restronguet. "Try to entice him towards the bows and give those fellows a chance to board."
Picking up lumps of hard mud the "Aphrodite's" men opened a heavy yet comparatively harmless fusillade upon the solitary figure upon the deck of the "Vorwartz." Still keeping up his discordant yells the madman stooped and picked up an object at his feet. With wellnigh superhuman force he hurled it at his assailants. The missile fell at Hythe's feet. ”

“ He knew that when Captain Restronguet meant business he always adopted a resolute bearing. The magnetic personality of the man more than half won his battles.
An awning was rigged in the whaler, and under this, Kenwyn, lying in his cot, was placed. Mylor and Lancarrow accompanied him, while the boat's crew, thoroughly disinfected to prevent contagion, rowed them to the steep bank of the isolated hill the captain had pointed out. The ascent took some time, and the boat's crew had received instructions to rig up a tent and make everything snug for the patient before returning. ”

“ In vain Captain Restronguet asked for information by wireless. No news came to hand; his quest had received a check, for cooped up within the creek he was unable to gain or even keep pace with his sworn enemy.
It was not until the third day that the gale moderated sufficiently for the "Aphrodite" to rise to the surface. Her appearance was the cause of a wild stampede by the Somalis still engaged in enriching themselves with the stranded cargo. To see a vessel that they confidently believed to have sunk suddenly rise from the deep was to them incomprehensible. ”

“ Perched upon a flat rock so insecurely that it seemed as if the faint "wash" from the "Aphrodite" would topple it over, was a regularly-shaped mass literally covered with barnacles and plentifully festooned with trailing seaweed. But even these disguises Hythe could penetrate: there was no mistaking the tapering stern, the horizontal and vertical rudders, and the twin screws of a standard type of submarine.
"'La Flamme,'" announced Captain Restronguet, at the same time raising his right hand to the salute in honour of the brave dead, an example that Hythe promptly followed. ”

“ I am just running up to Saltash in order to pick up a man returning from leave," replied Captain Restronguet with a laugh. He spoke as casually as if he were the coxswain of a British battleship's liberty-boat. "We are now passing the South Yard of Devonport Dockyard. But excuse me, I have something to attend to in the after conning-tower. You won't mind remaining here, I trust? Keep her as she is, Mylor; I am going to reduce speed to five knots or even less."
Hythe sat down on a folding seat fixed below the port scuttle, whence he could see either ahead or on his left. ”

“ Von Harburg, did he but know it, has a unique opportunity now our propeller shafting is gone; he might wait till we rose to the surface and then ram us."
"But why didn't you torpedo his 'Vorwartz'?" asked Hythe. "Your torpedoes would easily overtake that vessel."
"It was in my power to do so," replied Captain Restronguet calmly. "But I refuse to do so in the interests of humanity. It is part of my creed that human life is sacred, and should not be sacrificed unless absolutely necessary." ”

“ I took good care to ram the fluke of the kedges well home."
"What is it like up above--dark?"
"I went up to have a look round, sir," announced Gwennap. "It is a pitch-dark night, the stars are in, and there's hardly a breath of wind."
"Good!" exclaimed Captain Restronguet approvingly. "Pass the word to Mr. Devoran to bring the vessel awash."
The water in two of the buoyancy tanks was quickly expelled, and majestically the huge submerged hull rose from the bed of the river, till with her deck just a few inches above the surface she fretted gently at her mooring-rope. ”

“ For three whole days the "Aphrodite" lay on the floor of the Red Sea. Captain Restronguet was making steady progress towards recovery, but the news of the disaster had been studiously kept from him. All on board knew that sooner or later their leader must learn of the catastrophe; but every one was in favour of deferring the evil day, fearing what the consequences would be in the case of a highly strung man who was still suffering from a severe physical and mental shock.
But until Captain Restronguet did know Devoran stoutly refused to take any action in the navigation of the vessel. ”

“ Quickly Polglaze and Lancarrow sprang up the ladder and entered the conning-tower.
"There's a boat or small craft lying across our deck," explained Captain Restronguet. "I believe there are some of her crew still aboard. I want you to investigate, and should there be any men bring them back."
Deftly the two members of the "Aphrodite's" crew secured the life-lines round their waists. Devoran unlocked the lid of the aperture in the conning-tower. ”

“ THE AERO-HYDROPLANE.
"I want you men to promise me," said Captain Restronguet, addressing the survivors of the "Iticaba's" crew, who were drawn up in the submarine deck--"I want you to give me your word of honour that on landing, and in a period of fourteen days from that time, you will make no mention whatsoever about the 'Aphrodite' being still capable of action. Mind, I do not bind you down by conditions, threats, or intimidation of any sort. ”

“ Hythe, what did you think of that ghastly spectacle?" asked Captain Restronguet after their return to the "Aphrodite."
The sub was deadly pale. Hitherto he had looked only on the bright side of a submarine officer's life, now he had seen----
"It is simply horrible, sir."
"It is. And there are persons--experts they call themselves--who boldly maintain that death under these circumstances comes swiftly and painlessly. Would to heaven those men had been with us, and had seen what we have seen. Submarine work is a dangerous game." ”

“ Captain Restronguet's spirits rose. He was flattered with the reception accorded him by the Canal authorities. He realized that, instead of being regarded with suspicion, the world was beginning to appreciate his services to mankind.
"We'll have him right enough," he remarked confidentially to Devoran. "There's a faint tremor noticeable on the detector that cannot mean anything but the presence of the 'Vorwartz.' I have been officially informed that no Government submarine is within a thousand miles of us."
"How far do you think the vessel is, sir?" asked Hythe. ”

“ I'll go myself," declared Captain Restronguet. "Mr. Devoran, keep an offing, will you? I'm going ashore in the 'Iticaba's' boat; I'll hire some sort of craft to get back, so keep a sharp look-out for me on the west side of Bawi Island, that's over yonder. It is on the north side of the Western Pass, as the approach of Zanzibar Town is called. Should any large craft come in sight, don't hesitate to dive. We must preserve our secret at all costs."
"Are you going alone, sir?" asked Hythe. ”

“ The presence of the "Vorwartz" in the Red Sea meant a far greater loss to them in due and tolls than while she was in the Levant, and even then there had been an appreciable falling off in the receipts. Without the faintest delay Captain Restronguet received permission to take his wonderful submarine through the hundred miles of artificial waterway, special facilities being granted so that no undue delay would be experienced. It was generally recognized that if anyone had the honour and distinction of ridding the seas of a danger and a pest that man was Captain Restronguet. ”

“ Hythe," said Captain Restronguet, when the sub was shown into the cabin, "I may as well tell you that I have reported your presence and that of the able seaman to the Commander-in-Chief, and doubtless I shall have a reply before noon to-morrow. If you would like to see our periscope in working order now is a good opportunity. We are travelling dead slow, and there is plenty to be seen here--more so than at sea." ”

“ But once let a vessel go ashore or get into difficulties, armed dhows, manned by cut-throat Arabs, gather round like flies about a honey-pot. Goodness only knows where they come from."
"I'll tell you where they'll go to if they don't pretty soon sheer off," rejoined Captain Restronguet grimly.
"Are you standing in pursuit, sir?" asked Devoran.
"Impossible under present circumstances, Mr. Devoran. Look, those motor-boats cannot make headway against wind and sea. They have too much to tow. Another hour will see the whole swarm of boats smashed to firewood unless we do something." ”

“ Captain Restronguet bowed. "Naturally," he added. "Our interests in the business lies in the same direction."
"Anything I can do to aid you I will most willingly do," continued Captain Sedgwyke. "I might suggest that the wireless of this vessel is at your disposal, and by sending a message to the Admiralty you could have it re-transmitted through your agent to the 'Aphrodite.'"
"An excellent arrangement," said Captain Restronguet, "only it is certain that the news will reach Karl von Harburg, and that is what I particularly wish to avoid." ”

“ Ordering half speed ahead, Captain Restronguet stood by the quartermaster and gave directions as to the course. Gathering way the submarine started on her bid for freedom, the remaining boat of the "Iticaba" being towed astern. No one remained in the boats, while at the stern of the "Aphrodite" a man stood ready with a sharp axe to sever the towing hawser should any of the lumbering craft become swamped. ”

“ Captain Restronguet waved his hand in token of assent and soon the airship was riding head to wind with her nacelles just resting on the water.
Hythe hurriedly explained the circumstances under which he had fallen in with the airship, mentioning that he had found out by accident that it was not the Zampa River that he had explored after all.
"That's good," commented Captain Restronguet enthusiastically. "We can well afford to be disappointed. ”

“ Devoran?" asked Captain Restronguet. "A tragedy--not exactly on the high seas--but one of a very extraordinary nature. They look like Europeans."
"Shall I have the boat lowered to investigate, sir?"
"No, they're dead right enough. I've been watching them pretty carefully through my glass for some time. If it's a case of contagious disease we had better sheer off."
"Why, they're Chinese!" exclaimed Hythe.
"Chinese? Then they must be some of the crew of the 'Vorwartz'," said Captain Restronguet. "Evidently von Harburg has met with disaster." ”

“ That's what's keeping her hard and fast, I should think."
"You are awfully good," replied Captain Restronguet. "I shall be only too happy to avail myself of your services."
"And the sooner the better," added Captain Jones. "Five additional helpers, all used to plenty of hard slogging, will soon make a show."
Telling Polglaze to make his way back to the spot where they had landed from the "Aphrodite," in order to let Devoran know that all was well, Captain Restronguet, accompanied by Hythe and Captain Jones, began a systematic examination of the captured submarine. ”