"UP aloft, one of you!" shouted Marchant. "See if the swine's in sight."
The Alerte was pitching as she faced the long Atlantic swell1 after crossing the bar in pursuit of the Bronx City. A few—a very few—of the crew were sober; the majority were befuddled2 in the transition stage between drunkenness and sobriety; while four or five, helplessly intoxicated3, lay rolling in the scuppers.
One of the hands, pot-valiant, made an attempt to go aloft. Before he had ascended4 half a dozen ratlines he slipped. Luckily for him, the Alerte was at the limit of her roll. Instead of dropping into the sea he slithered helplessly round the aftershroud and subsided5 heavily upon the gunner. The pair fell in a heap on deck. The drunken seaman6, none the worse for his involuntary descent, sat up and looked around as if seeking applause. Marchant staggered to his feet, his right shoulder dislocated.
Pengelly, from the bridge, saw the incident. It cheered him considerably7, for with Marchant rendered hors de combat he was able to reassert his lax authority on the undisciplined crew.
A seaman, less drunk than his predecessor8, went aloft. Before he reached the cross-trees he shouted, "There she lies—a point on our port bow.
"Sure she's the Bronx City?" inquired Pengelly anxiously.
"Do you call me a liar9?" shouted the lookout10 man in reply. "If I says she's the Bronx, then she is. That's all about it."
With the oil-engines running "all out," the Alerte stood in pursuit of the fugitive11. A couple of hours enabled her to gain on the Bronx City to such an extent that the latter was barely six miles ahead. At that rate, another hour and a half would enable the pirate submarine to overhaul12 her prey13.
Although Pengelly had no liking14 for Marchant, he was forced to admit that the gunner's proposal to abandon the Alerte and take the Bronx City over to some obscure South American port was a sound one. The question of fuel largely influenced his decision. The Alerte's tanks were seriously depleted15; the Bronx City's coal bunkers were three-quarters full. It was on that account that Pengelly refrained from opening fire upon the Yankee vessel16, otherwise he could have ended the chase half an hour ago.
At intervals17, Pengelly raised his binoculars18 and watched the chase. It was on one of these occasions that he noticed a faint blur19 of smoke on the horizon at less than a degree to the left of the Bronx City.
Cursing under his breath, the pirate called to the gunner to come on the bridge. Marchant, his right shoulder swathed in bandages, complied, grumbling20 and wincing21 as every step shot a sharp pain through the injured part.
"There's another vessel," announced Pengelly. "She's coming this way, I think. What's to be done?"
"Done?" repeated the gunner. "Why, collar the pair of 'em. We'll make a fine haul, I'll swear."
"Is it likely?" rejoined Marchant. "What would a warship be doing on this part of the coast? Seein' as Cain reported us sunk—say what you like, that chap's got a head on 'im—there'll be none lookin' for us. Where's that glass of yours?"
Steadying the telescope on the bridge-rail, the gunner, groaning23 with the effort, bent24 his head and applied25 his eye to the instrument.
"Tramp of sorts," he announced. "She's flying no colours. Odds26 are the Bronx City'll tip her the wink27. That being so, we'll have to send her to the bottom.... Yes, hang me, if she ain't closing."
For the next minute or so the gunner kept his eye glued to the telescope. Suddenly he dropped the glass and sprang to his feet.
"She's a British cruiser, blast her!" he shouted. "Put about and leg it, Pengelly. If she spots us, it's all UP!"
Without waiting for Pengelly to give the order, the quartermaster put the wheel hard down. Round swept the Alerte, listing heavily to port as she swung to starboard.
The hands on deck, surprised by the sudden change of course, were clamouring to know why the pursuit had been abandoned.
"Why?" shouted the gunner. "'Cause we're being chased. No blessed Dago destroyer this time, but a British cruiser. We'll have to be mighty28 smart to dodge29 the white ensign."
"She's spotted30 us!" exclaimed Pengelly, in a high-pitched voice. "The Bronx City is slewing31 round, too. Confound Cain! If he'd crippled the Bronx City instead of just running her gently on the mud, there'd have been none of this business."
"We'll be glad to have Cain on board before long," said the bo'sun, who had joined Pengelly and the gunner on the bridge. "I reckon our only chance is to submerge. Without Cain, how's it to be done? You couldn't take her down, nor can I."
"Soundings are too deep for diving in any case," declared Pengelly. "Seems to me we're holding her, even if we aren't gaining. What's the time?"
"Close on one bell," replied the bo'sun.
"Time to make Bahia Arenas32 well before dark then," continued Pengelly. "See here, Mr. Barnard, go aft and sound that swine Cain. Don't tell him I sent you, but ask him if he'll take charge of the ship for submerging."
The bo'sun departed on his errand. Presently he returned.
"Cap'n Cain says he'll consider the matter if you go and ask him yourself," he announced.
"Then you'd better go," added Marchant.
"Not I," said Pengelly.
While the Alerte held her own, Pengelly adhered to his resolution not to eat humble33 pie. But when, in the course of the afternoon, the pursuing vessel began to gain rapidly, he yielded to the importunities of the gunner, the bo'sun, and the majority of the crew.
"Look here, Trevorrick," he began, addressing his former partner and skipper by the name by which he was known at Polkyll Creek34; "'spose we let bygones be bygones? Will you take charge of the ship and submerge her when we make Bahia Arenas?"
Cain looked him straight in the face. Pengelly could not bear the other's gaze. Unsteadily he averted35 his eves.
"I'll submerge when I'm captain of the Alerte again, not before," replied Cain.
"Three cheers for Cap'n Cain!" shouted one of the hands, several of whom had followed the deputation aft.
At that moment a plugged shell shrieked36 past the pirate submarine, throwing up a huge column of spray as it ricochetted to strike the surface of the water a good five hundred yards ahead of the ship.
Pengelly made no protest to the demonstration37 in favour of the ex-captain. Followed by Marchant he returned to the bridge.
"Carry on, sir!" shouted half a dozen of the pirates.
Some one cast off the lashings that secured Cain's wrists. The bo'sun slipped an automatic into his hand. With a grim smile, Cain went forward and ascended the bridge ladder.
"Now then!" he exclaimed, sternly addressing the trembling Pengelly. "Who's skipper now!"
"You are," admitted the thoroughly38 scared man. "For heaven's sake, don't shoot!"
"Good lead is too precious to waste on rats," retorted Cain, thrusting the automatic into his pocket. "Get down, you treacherous39 swab!"
Pengelly began to descend40 the bridge-ladder, his progress materially assisted by the application of the reinstated captain's boot. The crew, notwithstanding their imminent42 peril43, applauded lustily.
"Avast there!" shouted Captain Cain. "Shout when you're out of the wood—not before. Strike and secure masts! Look lively, there!"
"Look here, Barnard!" he exclaimed in a low voice; "remove the rapid-flooding valves from all the boats. Take one below; heave the others overboard."
This the bo'sun did, unshipping a hinged plate that when secured by two butterfly nuts rendered each boat watertight. When open, the valves allowed the boats to take in water rapidly, so that their natural buoyancy was destroyed and did not hinder the submergence of the submarine. The solitary45 valve that was not thrown overboard was placed below, under the conning46-tower hatchway ladder.
"Well done, Mr. Barnard!" said Cain approvingly. "Now, tell Cross and Davidge to go below and secure both the for'ard and after hatches on the inside. Also tell Cross to inform the engine-room staff from me that as soon as I ring down for 'Stop' they are to come on deck through the conning-tower hatchway with all possible speed. Is that clear?"
The bo'sun repeated his instructions and went off to see that they were carried out. By the time he returned the crew had lowered and secured the masts and funnel47 for diving and were standing41 by, anxiously dividing their attention between the pursuing Canvey and their reinstated skipper's next order.
"All hands fall in in the waist!" shouted Cain.
The deck hands trooped to the place indicated, with the exception of Davidge and Cross, who, acting48 under orders, were standing by the valve actuating gear of the ballast tanks.
Deliberately49, Cain thrust the telegraph indicators50 to stop, gave one quick glance at the vessel in pursuit and descended51 from the bridge.
By this time the Alerte was over the bar and about half a mile from the land-locked shore. The Canvey, none too sure of the entrance, had slowed down, the leadsman sounding as she cautiously smelt52 her way in.
As soon as the men whose duty lay in the engine-room came on deck, Cain made a slight imperceptible movement with his hand. Unconcernedly, the bo'sun stepped to the wake of the conning-tower and took three steps down the ladder. There he waited.
"Now, you treacherous, mutineering swine!" thundered Cain. "I'll give you one minute to get your lifebelts. You're to choose between being eaten by sharks or hanging by your necks in a British prison."
Before the astounded53 men could realise the significance of their captain's words, Cain made for the only open hatchway. There he stopped, his eyes roving whimsically over the dumbfounded men, a supercilious54 smile lurking55 in his heavy bulldog features.
Marchant fumbled56 for his automatic. But for his injured shoulder he might have achieved his object. The pistol cracked, the bullet mushrooming on the armour-plated conning tower.
"Forty-five seconds more!" announced Cain, in cold, level tones.
The next instant Captain Cain disappeared from view. The conning-tower hatch descended with a metallic57 clang.
With the closing of the last means of entering the hull58 of the submarine the spell was broken. The crew, realising the fate that awaited them, were seized with panic. Some began to struggle into their cork59 lifebelts, others made a mad rush for the davit-boats, to find to their consternation60 that they were no longer capable of floating.
A shell, evidently of light calibre, struck the Alerte a few feet abaft61 the bows, demolishing62 the dummy63 fo'c'sle like a pack of cards. It was fortunate for the men that they were either in the waist or on the poop, for no one was hit; but the exploding missile warned them that their pursuer was getting to work in earnest.
"Lower that cursed rag!" shrieked Pengelly, pointing to the skull64 and cross-bones which, on the masts being lowered, the gunner in reckless bravado65 had hoisted66 at the end of a boathook. "Has anybody got anything that'll do for a white flag? No? Then, for heaven's sake, some of you in the poop hold your hands up, or she'll blow us to bits."
Several of the hands did so, while the signalman, clambering on the bridge, frantically67 semaphored that the ship had surrendered.
Even as the message was being signalled, the Alerte began to settle. In less than half a minute she disappeared beneath the surface, leaving the agitated68 water of the Bahia Arenas dotted with the heads of her mutinous69 crew.
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1
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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2
befuddled
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| adj.迷糊的，糊涂的v.使烂醉( befuddle的过去式和过去分词 )；使迷惑不解 | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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4
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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6
seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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7
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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8
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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9
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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10
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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11
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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12
overhaul
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| v./n.大修，仔细检查 | |
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13
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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14
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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15
depleted
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| adj. 枯竭的, 废弃的 动词deplete的过去式和过去分词 | |
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16
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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17
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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18
binoculars
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| n.双筒望远镜 | |
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19
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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20
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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21
wincing
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的现在分词 ) | |
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22
warship
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| n.军舰，战舰 | |
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23
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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24
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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25
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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26
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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27
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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28
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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29
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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30
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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31
slewing
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| n.快速定向，快速瞄准v.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
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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33
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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34
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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35
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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36
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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38
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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39
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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40
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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41
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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42
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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43
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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44
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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46
conning
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| v.诈骗，哄骗( con的现在分词 )；指挥操舵( conn的现在分词 ) | |
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47
funnel
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| n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集 | |
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48
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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49
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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50
indicators
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| （仪器上显示温度、压力、耗油量等的）指针( indicator的名词复数 )； 指示物； （车辆上的）转弯指示灯； 指示信号 | |
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51
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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52
smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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53
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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54
supercilious
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| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
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55
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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56
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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57
metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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58
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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59
cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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60
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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61
abaft
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| prep.在…之后；adv.在船尾，向船尾 | |
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62
demolishing
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| v.摧毁( demolish的现在分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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63
dummy
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| n.假的东西；(哄婴儿的)橡皮奶头 | |
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64
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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65
bravado
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| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
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66
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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68
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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69
mutinous
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| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
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70
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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