DEAR BROADMAYNE,—I suppose by the time you receive this you will have had a hand in sending the Alerte to her long, last home. Really, I don't envy your job, but it will be interesting to hear how it happened when you return home, which I suppose will be before very long.
"We—old Primmer1 and I—had quite an exciting time at Mousehole. We found Porthoustoc's swag, but hanged if the Customs and police didn't butt2 in, and we spent a night in the cells at Penzance before the admiral at Devonport got us released! I'll tell you all about it in due course.
"I've received the insurance money for the poor old Ibex, and I'm in treaty with a fellow at Burnham for the purchase of a smart little motorcruiser—paraffin engines this time, so perhaps you'll find an opportunity and help me bring her round.—Cheerio, yours ever,
"ROLLO VYSE."
Sub-Lieutenant Broadmayne smiled as he replaced this missive in his pocket. The Alerte affair had already seen Rollo twice under arrest. ... Perhaps old Vyse would have a third similar experience in connection with the pirate... Hardly likely, though. The Alerte was finished and done with. His chum was wrong in his surmise3. The unenviable job had been carried out without any direct action on the part of H.M.S. Canvey.
The decoy-ship was homeward bound. She had put into the Canaries to pick up her mails and had proceeded. Already the famous Peak of Teneriffe was dipping beneath the southern horizon. Broadmayne, leaning over the taffrail, was in a pensive4 mood as he watched the water froth in the ship's wake.
Even as he looked, the ship began to circle to starboard. There was nothing very unusual about that. Possibly she was giving way to an approaching craft. But when the turning movement continued, the Sub began to show an interest in the matter. Still more did he—as did a hundred others—when the Canvey, having turned sixteen points, steadied on her helm and began to retrace5 her course to the south'ard.
Leaving the deserted6 poop, Broadmayne went for'ard. Groups of curious ratings were discussing the seemingly unaccountable turn. Several of the officers off duty, who were smoking on deck after "seven-bell tea," were also in a state of perplexity over the business.
It was not long before the secret was out and had spread the length and breadth of the ship.
A wireless7 message had just been received, stating that, since nothing had been reported of the s.s. Bronx City following her account of the destruction of the Alerte, the Canvey was to proceed in search of the American vessel8, keeping a sharp look-out on the coast as far south as the fifteenth parallel.
"Rotten stunt," grumbled9 the engineer-lieutenant, who was eagerly looking forward to the Canvey's return to Devonport—to an event that would result in, amongst other things, the hoisting11 of a garland between the ship's masts. "We were sent out here to chase a pirate, not to act as nurse to a Yankee tramp."
"Well, why didn't she show up at Teneriffe or Funchal?" demanded Allerton. "'Sides, something must have happened to her, or she'd have wirelessed again."
"Bows stove in by the collision," suggested the paymaster-lieutenant.
"But she reported she was proceeding12," rejoined the engineer officer. "Proceeding where? That's what I want to know."
"You'll probably find out, if we're here long enough," said Broadmayne chaffingly. "It'll take six months or more to carry out orders. We can't examine the coast in the dark. That means we'll have to stand off every night and close the land at the same spot at daybreak. 'Sides, there are hundreds of little harbours we'll have to explore——"
"Oh, shut up, do!" interrupted the exasperated13 engineer-lieutenant.
For three days and nights the Canvey ran south, speaking several vessels14, none of which could give any information concerning the sought-for Bronx City.
During the morning of the fourth day, Broadmayne, who was officer of the forenoon watch, received a report that a vessel's smoke was to be seen on the port bow.
This was somewhat unusual, for off this part of the African coast shipping15 gave the land a wide berth16 on account of the dangerous and unlighted Lazarus Shoal. The Canvey was, in point of fact, standing17 in closer than prudence18 demanded, although in order to carry out her instructions to watch the coast in the event of the Bronx City having run aground, she had to run a certain amount of risk.
"What do you make of her?" asked Broadmayne of the yeoman of signals, as the stranger's hull19 drew above the horizon.
"Flying Yankee colours, sir," replied the petty officer, after a prolonged look through his telescope. "There's a double-barrelled tally20 on her bows, though I can't make it out yet. She ain't 'arf 'opping it."
A few minutes later, for the two vessels were approaching each other at an aggregate21 speed of twenty-eight knots, the yeoman of signals exclaimed:
"Crikey, sir! She's the Bronx City!"
Dispatching a messenger to inform the captain, Broadmayne levelled his binoculars22 upon the approaching vessel. As far as he could make out, there was nothing wrong with her outward appearance. Her bows were certainly not stove-in; which, considering she had claimed to have rammed23 and sunk the Alerte, was what the Sub had a right to expect. Her wireless aerials were in position.
Just as Lieutenant-Commander Raxworthy gained the bridge, a three-flag hoist10 rose to the foremast head of the Bronx City: INM—Chased by a privateer. Then, before the Canvey could display the answering pennant24, the code flag over the letter E, signifying that the following words were in plain spelling, fluttered in the breeze.
"ALE——"
There was no need to complete the name.
"Sound off 'Action stations'!" ordered the owner.
Raxworthy formed a shrewd idea of what had occurred, but he was too wary25 a skipper to leave much to chance. The approaching vessel bore the name Bronx City. It might or might not be her rightful tally. If, as might possibly be the case, the Alerte had captured the Yankee vessel, it was quite likely that the pirate submarine had turned over her crew and armament to her prize. Or the Bronx City might be the Alerte disguised.
On the latter point Broadmayne was able to inform his skipper that such was not the case. The Alerte, however cleverly camouflaged26, could not assume the length and lofty superstructure of the approaching craft.
In double-quick time the Canvey was cleared for action. The guns were unmasked and trained upon the Bronx City. "Present use" ammunition27 was brought up on deck and placed beside the quick-firers, while the torpedo28-tubes on the port side were charged with their deadly missiles, ready at the first sign of aggression29 to deliver a mortal blow at the huge target presented by the stranger's hull.
The Bronx City was still a mile off when a second vessel was sighted a good five miles astern of her. Although she, too, was evidently travelling fast, there was a noticeable absence of smoke from her funnel30.
Borrowing the signalman's telescope, Broadmayne had a good look at her. He was bound to admit that the second stranger resembled the pirate submarine. There were a few trifling31 alterations32 in her appearance since the Sub had last seen her.
"She's the Alerte, sir," he declared confidently. Lieutenant-Commander Raxworthy was on the horns of a dilemma33. Should the Bronx City prove to be manned by a piratical crew and he allowed her to go on her way while he headed off her supposed pursuer, the opportunity of laying the former vessel by the heels would be lost. On the other hand, if he stopped to examine the craft flying American colours, the presumed Alerte would seize the opportunity of turning tail and disappearing. Again, he was not justified34 in ordering a United States ship to heave to, for it might result in an unpleasant international incident between the Government of Great Britain and that sitting at Washington. Having been once tricked completely by the Alerte, he was doubly cautious lest there be a repetition of the ruse35 that had succeeded almost beyond belief.
At the captain's orders, a signalman taking up a conspicuous36 position on the roof of the chart-house semaphored to the Bronx City, suggesting that for her protection the American vessel should turn sixteen points to port and follow the Canvey at a distance of ten cables astern.
To this the Bronx City replied by the single word "Sure."
The two ships were now abeam37 of each other. The stranger in the offing had turned and was retracing38 her course—additional evidence that she was not an honest craft.
The lieutenant-commander of the Canvey immediately rang down for full speed. The chase—a stern one—had commenced.
"Bronx City turning to port, sir," reported the officer of the watch.
"Good!" ejaculated the skipper. "We'll drop her, of course, but it shows she's jonnick. Ask her what she's been doing, Mr. Broadmayne."
The Sub told off a signalman to semaphore the Bronx City, which, having completed her turning movement, was dead in the Canvey's wake. For nearly half an hour the exchange of messages was maintained at high pressure. Captain Adams told briefly39 all that was necessary—the capture of the Bronx City by the Alerte, and Cain's considerate treatment; the detention40 in Bahia Arenas41 and the Alerte's broken promise in plundering42 the ship.
"Was Cain in command?" inquired Broadmayne, through the medium of the hand-flags.
"Guess not," replied the Yankee skipper. "A mutiny, possibly. Pengelly was in command when we were ransacked43."
The Sub returned to the bridge and reported events. By this time the Alerte was less than three miles away, thanks to the superior speed of the Canvey; while, on the other hand, the Bronx City, unable to keep station, had dropped nearly that distance astern of the British decoy-ship.
Raxworthy could have sunk the pirate submarine by gunfire with the greatest ease, but he refrained. He wanted to head her into shallow water before delivering the coup44 de grâce—unless she surrendered first. He therefore ordered speed to be reduced to that of the chase, the guns to be secured, and piped all hands to dinner.
Two bells in the afternoon watch found the relative positions of the Canvey and her chase unchanged. The Bronx City, in spite of the Canvey's reduced speed, was still dropping astern.
Realising that no useful purpose would be served by the Yankee ship attempting to keep in company, the Canvey signalled for her to resume her former course, with the additional intimation that as the Bronx City's wireless was disabled, the Canvey would report her position to Teneriffe station.
Almost immediately upon receipt of the signal, the Bronx City starboarded helm and dipped her ensign. Twenty minutes later she was hull down away to the nor'ard.
The Canvey now increased speed. There was no need for disguise. Bravely her battle-ensigns streamed in the breeze, while her guns were again manned and trained as far ahead as possible, ready, if need be, to hurl45 their deadly and destructive missiles upon the already doomed46 pirate submarine.
It was now a foregone conclusion that the Alerte was doubling back to her former anchorage in Bahia Arenas. She could not submerge outside without going to the bottom, and since the depth without the bar is everywhere not less than sixty fathoms47, such a manoeuvre48 would result in the submarine being crushed like an eggshell under the terrific pressure of water. It was extremely doubtful whether she would fight. Her solitary49 six-inch gun would be hopelessly outmatched against the superior ordnance50 of her pursuer. Short of taking to the boats and scuttling51 the Alerte, the pirates had no alternative but to endeavour to reach the sandy bay and evade52 detection by submerging.
Raxworthy was playing his own game. Apart from destroying the Alerte by gunfire or torpedo, he could have headed her off-shore by reason of the Canvey's superior speed and carried her in the good old-fashioned way by boarding. Such a measure, involving a certain risk of casualties amongst the Canvey's ship's company, would have appealed to most of the men; but the lieutenant-commander had other plans. He meant to compel the Alerte to surrender if it were possible. In any case, he wanted to take as many of the pirates as possible prisoners. To slay53 ruthlessly was against his principles. Prisoners, even if they were pirates captured red-handed, were entitled to a fair trial, and in that event the onus54 of dealing55 with them was removed from Raxworthy's shoulders.
At seven bells (3.30 p.m.) the Canvey gained sufficiently56 to enable one of her guns to fire a few yards wide of the chase. Simultaneously57, she hoisted58 a signal summoning the Alerte to surrender.
By the aid of glasses it was easy for the Canvey's officers to see most of what was going on on the deck of the pirate submarine. Pengelly and the gunner could be discerned crouching59 on the bridge. On the poop were several of the crew clamouring and arguing. Some of them were evidently advocating taking to the boats. Most of them had brought their personal belongings60 on deck, so that it looked as if they had no intention of offering resistance.
At length the Alerte starboarded helm in order to take the deep and narrow passage over the bar. As she did so, Broadmayne noticed a tall burly figure ascend61 the bridge, grasp the cowering62 Pengelly and literally63 boot him down the ladder.
"Now, we'll have a run for our money, sir," remarked Broadmayne, to the lieutenant-commander. "Cain's got his spoke64 in again!"
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1
primmer
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| adj.循规蹈矩的( prim的比较级 )；整洁的；（人）一本正经 | |
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2
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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3
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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4
pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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5
retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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6
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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7
wireless
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| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
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8
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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9
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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10
hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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11
hoisting
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| 起重，提升 | |
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12
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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13
exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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14
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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15
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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16
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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17
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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18
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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19
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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20
tally
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| n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致 | |
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21
aggregate
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| adj.总计的，集合的；n.总数；v.合计；集合 | |
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22
binoculars
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| n.双筒望远镜 | |
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23
rammed
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| v.夯实（土等）( ram的过去式和过去分词 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输 | |
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24
pennant
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| n.三角旗；锦标旗 | |
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25
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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26
camouflaged
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| v.隐蔽( camouflage的过去式和过去分词 )；掩盖；伪装，掩饰 | |
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27
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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28
torpedo
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| n.水雷，地雷；v.用鱼雷破坏 | |
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29
aggression
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| n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害 | |
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30
funnel
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| n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集 | |
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31
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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32
alterations
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| n.改动( alteration的名词复数 )；更改；变化；改变 | |
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33
dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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34
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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35
ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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36
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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37
abeam
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| adj.正横着(的) | |
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38
retracing
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| v.折回( retrace的现在分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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39
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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40
detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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41
arenas
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| 表演场地( arena的名词复数 )； 竞技场； 活动或斗争的场所或场面； 圆形运动场 | |
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42
plundering
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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43
ransacked
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| v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺 | |
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44
coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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45
hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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46
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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47
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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48
manoeuvre
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| n.策略，调动；v.用策略，调动 | |
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49
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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50
ordnance
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| n.大炮，军械 | |
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51
scuttling
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| n.船底穿孔，打开通海阀（沉船用）v.使船沉没( scuttle的现在分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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52
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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53
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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54
onus
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| n.负担；责任 | |
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55
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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56
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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57
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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58
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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60
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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61
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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62
cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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63
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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64
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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