CHAPTER V.
TROUBLE ON BOARD.
"It's as well to go quickly," Lord Hastings said, giving his reason forordering full speed ahead. "I hardly anticipate they have mined verydeep here. We'll slow down further along."
"If we bump a mine," said Frank, "I can't see that it will make anydifference whether we are going fast or slowly."
"It won't make much," agreed Jack dryly.
According to Lord Hastings' calculations, which proved to be correct,they were now off the coast of Holland.
Several hours passed, and then, at Lord Hastings' command, the solidglass front of the submarine was plunged into utter darkness and thepowerful searchlight brought to bear on the water ahead, while, at thesame time, the speed was reduced to seven knots.
In spite of its powerfulness, the searchlight lighted up the water foronly a short distance ahead, and, as Lord Hastings said, should a minebe seen ahead prompt action would be necessary to save them fromdisaster.
Frank took his place just behind the searchlight, while the compartmentbehind was closed that no light might enter from without, thus adding alittle to the effect of the searchlight.
His watch was set for two hours, and he had sat most of that time witheyes straight ahead, when he became conscious that the door behind himwas being pushed slowly open.
Certain in his own mind that his watch was not up, and mindful of LordHastings' order that the door be not opened unless absolutely necessary,Frank nevertheless did not take his eyes off the sea ahead, but calledout:
"Who's there? What is it?"
There was no answer.
"Something wrong," muttered the lad to himself, and acted upon theinstant.
Through the little tube at his elbow he shouted a command:
"Stop her!"
At the same moment, even as he felt the sudden shock as the submarinepaused abruptly in her pace, he sprang from his seat and turned towardthe door, ready for anything with one hand on his automatic, for he feltsure that he was in danger.
In the darkness behind he could see nothing, but the slight squeaking ofa board gave evidence of another presence. Frank, with the searchlightbehind, was in full view of the other, and the lad realized it.
With a quick backward leap he snapped off the searchlight, and thendropped quickly to the floor, even as a figure rushed toward him in thedarkness.
Frank's ruse undoubtedly stood him to good advantage. A foot struck hisprostrate body, and the figure of a man pitched over him, muttering afierce imprecation as he fell to the floor.
Before the latter could rise, Frank grappled with him. Quickly reversinghis revolver, he brought the butt of the weapon down in the direction inwhich he judged the man's head to be. It struck something soft, and aguttural howl of pain went up.
"A spy!" Frank found time to think to himself.
But he had not struck the man's head, only a hand which had beenoutstretched, and before he could draw his pocket searchlight toascertain what damage he had done, the lad felt a pair of arms about hisneck, and a hand seeking to entwine itself in his throat.
His revolver he found now to be of no use, so he dropped it and struckout blindly with his bare fists. Once, twice, his fists found theirmark, and each time a blow went home the lad was rewarded by hearingcries of pain from his opponent.
As the two struggled, there flashed before the lad a vision of a manrunning from where the D-16 lay in drydock some days before.
"I guess we have got him at last," the lad muttered between his teeth,and putting all his force behind one more blow, he struck out savagely.
The arms about his neck relaxed their pressure and the man sank to thefloor while Frank felt the form grow limp beneath him.
The lad stood up and walked across the little room to snap on thesearchlight.
As he did so the man on the floor came quickly to his feet, and beforeFrank could stop him, had darted from the room and disappeared. Throughthe door he left open streamed a faint light.
Frank sprang after the retreating figure with a cry of anger. Dashingout of the door he bumped squarely into the figure of another manadvancing toward him. Without pausing to see who the newcomer might be,Frank grappled with him.
"Here, here, what's the meaning of this?" asked a well-known voice, andFrank released his hold and stepped back.
The newcomer was Lord Hastings.
"What's the matter with you?" asked the commander of the vessel. "Haveyou gone crazy? I stopped the ship in response to your command and whenI asked you, through the tube, what was wrong I didn't get an answer.And now you jump on me. What's the matter?"
"Spy aboard, sir," replied Frank briefly.
"What!" exclaimed Lord Hastings, starting back.
"Spy aboard, sir," repeated Frank.
"Impossible!" exclaimed Lord Hastings. "Have you lost your senses? Howcould a spy have got aboard?"
"As to that I don't know," replied the lad, "but nevertheless there is aspy aboard. I'll stake my life on that."
Then he proceeded to relate what had occurred.
Lord Hastings grew very grave. He took Frank by the arm.
"Come with me," he said quietly.
He led the way to his own cabin, where he passed the word for Jack. Thelatter arrived almost immediately, and the situation was explained tohim.
"I believe," said Frank, "that the man is the same I saw lurking aboutthe ship yard before the D-16 was put into commission.
"So you saw him, too?" exclaimed Jack.
"Yes, I saw him, but I didn't know you did," replied Frank.
"I didn't say anything because I thought I must be wrong," said Jack."It didn't seem possible a German spy could have gained admittancethere."
"Just what I thought," said Frank.
"Do you suppose the man who attacked you just now is one of the crew?"asked Lord Hastings.
"Who else could he be, sir?"
"But I could have sworn by the members of my crew. They have all been inthe service for years and are British to the backbone."
"There must be one who isn't," said Frank, "for when I struck him he letout a stream of German oaths."
"Would you recognize him?"
"I am afraid not. It was perfectly dark, and I didn't even get a glimpseof his face. All that I could make out was that he was a big man."
"We have several big men in the crew," said Lord Hastings.
"But," said Frank suddenly, "I might be able to identify him if I got alook at his hand."
"Why?"
"I hit him with my revolver butt. I thought it was his head but it musthave been his hand."
Lord Hastings, who had been seated, stood up.
"We'll see," he said.
He walked to the door and summoned the chief gunner's mate.
"Johnson," he said, "take a brace of automatics and summon every man ofthe crew here, coon, engineer and all. Don't let a single one get thedrop on you."
Johnson looked blankly at his commander.
"Why--why----" he stammered.
"There is a spy aboard, Johnson," said Lord Hastings calmly. "Hurry."
The old man drew himself up and touched his cap.
"Aye, aye, sir," he said quietly. "I'll bring 'em."
He turned and marched rapidly away.
"I happen to know he's not your man," said Lord Hastings with a slightsmile, "for I was standing right beside him when I got your command tostop."
"We had better let Johnson line them all up outside the door, andquestion each man separately, sir," said Frank.
"A good suggestion," said Lord Hastings.
They sat quiet for perhaps five minutes, and then Johnson's voice camefrom outside.
"I've got 'em all here, sir."
Frank arose and walked out the door. There stood the full crew of theship with arms in the air, under the muzzles of Johnson's twoautomatics.
"Send them in one at a time, Johnson," Frank ordered.
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bsp; "Aye, aye, sir," replied the old man, and waving his revolver at one hecommanded: "You first."
The first sailor was white of face and evidently badly frightened. Heentered the room slowly and came to attention before Lord Hastings.
"Your name?" demanded the commander.
"Brice, sir."
"Any other name?"
"Yes, sir, Harvey, sir."
"No; I mean were you ever known by another name; an alias?"
"Well, sir," replied the sailor plainly confused, "no, sir, yes, sir.Before I enlisted I was known as Ryan, sir."
"That's hardly German," said Lord Hastings. "And why did you change yourname?"
"A little trouble with the police, sir, if you must know."
At this moment Frank, who had approached closely, suddenly spoke inGerman.
"Your name?" he commanded.
The sailor stared at him blankly.
"He's not the one," said Jack. "His surprise is genuine enough. Call thenext."
"Stand over there in the corner," said Frank to the sailor. "Jack, youkeep them covered as I line them up. We must be careful."
"Send in another, Johnson," called Lord Hastings.
A second sailor appeared in the door. His right hand was wrapped in ahandkerchief!
The Boy Allies with the Terror of the Seas; Or, The Last Shot of Submarine D-16 Page 5
