_ CHAPTER XXI. MAKING STERN WORK OF IT
The young American Naval officer in command of a boarding party on the plotter's yacht, is neatly trapped. Lieutenant Whyte then unfolded, briefly, the plan of Admiral Barkham for procedure against the yacht and the submarine. To these plans Admiral Timworth quickly agreed.
"We have four large launches on the flagship," the fleet commander stated. "Three of these shall be put over the side, officered and manned and ready for instant service."
"Admiral Barkham also suggests, sir, that, during the night, the officers in command of your launches run without lights, when possible, for secrecy," Whyte continued.
"How many launches will Admiral Barkham put in service?" Admiral Timworth inquired.
"Three, sir," responded Whyte.
"Who will be the ranking officer in your fleet of launches?"
"I believe I am to be, sir," Lieutenant Whyte replied, bowing.
"Very good," nodded Admiral Timworth. "It would not be courteous, in British waters, Mr. Whyte, for me to appoint an officer who would rank yourself, so I shall ask Captain Allen to designate Ensign Darrin as ranking officer in our launch fleet. Ensign Dalzell will naturally command another of the launches. Who will command the third, Captain?"
"Ensign Phillips," replied Captain Allen.
The courtesy of appointing an ensign to head the American launch fleet lay in the fact that an ensign is one grade lower in the service than a junior lieutenant. When naval forces of different nations act together the ranking officer, no matter what country he represents, is in command. Had Admiral Timworth put his launch fleet in charge of a lieutenant commander, for instance, then the British launches, too, would have been under the command of the American officer. As it was, Lieutenant Whyte would be ranking and commanding officer in the combined launch fleet. This was both right and courteous, as Malta is an English possession, and the waters near by are British waters.
Plans were briefly discussed, yet with the thoroughness that is given to all naval operations. Lieutenant Whyte departed, and Ensign Phillips was sent for. Admiral Timworth and Captain Allen charged the young officers with their duties, upon the successful performance of which so much depended.
"Remember, gentlemen," was Captain Allen's final word, "that, in line with what the Admiral has stated, you are merely to co-operate with, and act under the orders of, the British ranking officer. Yet, if occasion arise, you will display all needed initiative in attaining the objective, which is the capture of the scoundrelly plotters and the seizure of the submarine before it can work any mischief. You will even sink the submarine by ramming, if no other course be open to stop her wicked work."
Each of the flagship's launches was equipped with a searchlight. While the council was going on in the Admiral's quarters the electricians of the ship were busy overhauling these searchlights and making sure that all were in perfect working order.
From the British flagship came a prearranged signal to the effect that Lieutenant Whyte was about to put off.
Dave's launch crew comprised, besides machinists and the quartermaster, twenty-four sailors and eight marines. A one-pound rapid-fire gun was mounted in the bow, and a machine gun amidships.
"Send your men over the side, Ensign Darrin," Captain Allen ordered, as he took Dave's hand. "Go, and keep in mind, every second, how much your work means to-night."
"Aye, aye, sir," Dave answered.
When the word was passed, Dave's launch party was marched out on deck and sent down over the side. Dave Darrin took his place in the stern, standing by to receive any further instructions that might be shouted down to him. "Cast off and clear!" called down the executive officer.
Dan Dalzell, whose launch party was not to clear until a later hour, waved a hand at his chum. Dave waved back in general salute.
At the same time Lieutenant Whyte put off from the "Albion" and sped onward to meet the American craft.
"We are to sail in company to North Channel," called Whyte.
"Very good, sir," Dave answered, saluting.
With three hundred feet of clear water between them, the launches moved rapidly along.
The distance to the middle of North Channel was about fifteen miles. Time and speed had been so calculated that the yacht should not be able to sight them by daylight. After dark the two launches were to maneuver more closely together, and Whyte, who knew the North Channel, was to be pilot for both craft until it came time to use their searchlights.
Over in the west the sun went down. Darkness soon came on. Neither launch displayed even running lights. One had a sense of groping his way, yet the launches dashed along at full speed.
Dave Darrin was now in the bow, with the signalman at his side, who would turn on the searchlight when so ordered. With his night glasses at his eyes, Ensign Dave could tell when the British launch veered sharply to port or starboard, and thus was able to steer his own course accordingly.
Twelve minutes later a brief ray shot from the Englishman's searchlight. It was the signal.
"Turn on your light," Dave ordered to the man at his side. "Swing it until you pick up the North Channel. Then pick up and hold a yacht--"
Ensign Darrin followed with the best description he had of the strange yacht.
Less than a minute later the lights on both navy launches had picked up the strange yacht, well over in the Channel. Dave studied her through his glass.
"That's the craft," Darrin muttered to himself. "My, but she looks her part! While she isn't large for a freighter, she's well calculated for that class of work."
"Your best speed ahead, sir!" shouted Whyte, through a megaphone. "Board the yacht on her starboard quarter. Quick work, sir!"
"Very good, sir!" Dave called back.
Then he stepped swiftly amidships to the engineers.
"Get every inch of speed to be had out of the engines, my man."
Next, to the helmsman:
"Quartermaster, steer straight ahead and make that yacht's starboard quarter!"
As Dave turned, he found his own face within three inches of Seaman Runkle's glowing countenance.
"Runkle," Dave smiled, "we are fond of the Englishmen. Their commanding officer called for our best speed, and we're going to show it."
"Aye, aye, sir!" grinned Runkle. "When any foreigner asks for the best we have in speed, he's likely to see it, sir."
Already the "Hudson's" launch had drawn smartly ahead of the British craft, and the distance between them grew steadily, though the Englishman was doing his best to keep up in the race.
Under the yacht's stern dashed the launch, and brought up smartly under the starboard quarter, laying alongside.
"Hullo, there! Vat you call wrong?" demanded a voice in broken English from the yacht's rail.
"Naval party coming aboard, sir," Dave responded courteously. "Take a line!"
"I vill not!" came the defiant answer.
"All the same, then," Dave answered lightly. "Bow, there! Make fast with grapple. Stern, do the same!"
Two lines were thrown, each with a grappling hook on the end. These caught on the yacht's rail. Three or four sailormen, one after the other, climbed the grappling lines. Two rope ladders were swiftly rigged over the side, by the Americans on the yacht's deck. Dave Darrin was quickly on board, with twenty of his seamen and all his marines, by the time that the English launch rounded in alongside the port quarter.
"You? Vat you mean?" demanded a short, swarthy-faced man, evidently captain of the yacht, as he peered at Dave's party. "You are American sailors!"
"Right," Darrin nodded.
"And dese are British vaters!"
"No matter," Dave smiled back at the blustering fellow. "Here come the Englishmen."
For he had sent four of his men to catch and make fast the lines from the British launch, and now the British jack-tars, taking their beating in the race good-humoredly, were piling on board.
"Captain," cried Lieutenant Whyte, striding forward, "I represent Admiral Barkham, ranking officer of His Majesty's Navy in these waters. I have the Admiral's orders to search this craft."
"You search him for vat, sir?" demanded the skipper.
"My orders are secret, sir. The search will begin at once. Ensign Darrin, if you will leave your marines to hold the deck, we will use all our seamen and yours below."
"Very good, sir," Dave replied, saluting. "You do not wish any one allowed to leave the yacht, do you, Lieutenant?"
"Not without my permission or yours, Ensign."
Dave accordingly gave the order to the corporal in charge of his marine party.
In another minute American and English tars were swarming below decks on the yacht.
On deck and in the wheel house Darrin had not seen more than four men of the yacht's crew, besides the skipper.
"There do not seem to be any men below," Dave muttered, as he explored the yacht between decks. "I wonder if that skipper gets along with four deck hands in addition to his engine-room and steward forces."
His men in squads, under petty officers, worked rapidly. Dave Darrin moved more slowly, passing on into the dining cabin and the social hall of the yacht, which were below decks.
Adjoining the social hall were several cabins. Dave threw open the doors of the first few he came to, finding in them no signs of occupation.
Then a steward, smiling and bowing, appeared and asked him in French:
"Do you seek any one here?"
"You have a Prince aboard?" Dave asked.
"Even so."
"And a Japanese nobleman?"
"We have."
"I wish to see them."
"Both are resting at present," the steward expostulated.
"I must see them immediately," Dave insisted.
"It is hardly possible, sir," protested the steward. "It is not to be expected that I can disturb such august guests."
"Steward, do you wish me to summon my men and have these cabin doors battered down?"
"Do not do that!" urged the steward in alarm. "Wait! I have pass-keys. Which would you see first?"
"The Prince, by all means."
"I will admit you to his room, Monsieur, and next silently slip away. But be good enough to let the Prince believe that he left his door unlocked. This way, monsieur."
Finishing his whispered speech, the steward glided ahead. He unlocked a cabin door, opening it but a crack. Dave stepped softly inside. Instantly the door was pulled shut and locked.
Through transoms on opposite sides of the cabin Mender and Dalny showed their evil faces, as each trained on the young naval officer an ugly-looking naval revolver. _