The Angel of the Revolution: A Tale of the Coming Terror

by George Chetwynd Griffith

  CHAPTER XXX.

  AT CLOSE QUARTERS.

  As soon as the captive war-balloons had been released, the _Ithuriel_and her consorts, without any further delay or concern for the issueof the decisive battle which would probably prove to be thedeath-struggle of the German Empire, headed away to the northward atthe utmost speed of the two smaller vessels. Their objective pointwas Copenhagen, and the distance rather more than two hundred andsixty miles in a straight line.

  This was covered in under two hours and a half, and by noon they hadreached the Danish capital. In crossing the water from Stralsund theyhad sighted several war-vessels, all flying British, German, orDanish colours, and all making a northerly course like themselves.They had not attempted to speak to any of these, because, as theywere all apparently bound for the same point, and, as the speed ofthe air-ships was more than five times as great as that of theswiftest cruiser, to do so would have been a waste of time, whenevery moment might be of the utmost consequence.

  Off Copenhagen the aerial travellers saw the first signs of theterrible night's work, with the details of which the reader hasalready been made acquainted. Wrecked fortifications, cruisers andbattleships bearing every mark of a heavy engagement, some with theirtop-works battered into ruins, their military masts gone, and theirguns dismounted; some down by the head, and some by the stern, andothers evidently run ashore to save them from sinking; and theharbour crowded with others in little better condition--everywherethere were eloquent proofs of the disaster which had overtaken theAllied fleets on the previous night.

  "There seems to have been some rough work going on down there withinthe last few hours," said Arnold to Natas as they came in sight ofthis scene of destruction. "The Russians could not have done thisalone, for when the war began they were shut up in the Baltic by anoverwhelming force, of which these seem to be the remains. And thoseforts yonder were never destroyed by anything but our shells."

  "Yes," replied Natas. "It is easy to see what has happened. The_Lucifer_ was sent here to help the Russian fleet to break theblockade, and it looks as though it had been done very effectually.We are just a few hours too late, I fear.

  "That one victory will have an immense effect on the course of thewar, for it is almost certain that the Russians will make for theAtlantic round the north of the Shetland Islands, and co-operate withthe French and Italian squadrons along the British line ofcommunication with the West. That once cut, food will go up to famineprices in Britain, and the end will not be far off."

  Natas spoke without the slightest apparent personal interest in thesubject; but his words brought a flush to Arnold's cheeks, and makehim suddenly clench his hands and knit his brows. After all he was anEnglishman, and though he owed England nothing but the accident ofhis birth, the knowledge that one of his own ships should be themeans of bringing this disaster upon her made him forget for themoment the gulf that he had placed between himself and his nativeland, and long to go to her rescue. But it was only a passingemotion. He remembered that his country was now elsewhere, and thatall his hopes were now alien to Britain and her fortunes.

  If Natas noticed the effect of his words he made no sign that he did,and he went on in the same even tone as before--

  "We must overtake the fleet, and either recapture the _Lucifer_ ordestroy her before she does any more mischief in Russian hands. Thefirst thing to do is to find out what has happened, and what coursethey have taken. Hoist the Union Jack over a flag of truce on allthree ships, and signal to Mazanoff to come alongside. We had betterstop here till we get the news."

  The Master's orders were at once executed, and as soon as the _Ariel_was floating beside the flagship he said to her captain--

  "Go down and speak that cruiser lying at anchor off the harbour, andlearn all you can of what has happened. Tell them freely how ithappened that the _Lucifer_ assisted the Russian, if it turns outthat she did so. Say that we have no hostility to Britain at present,but rather the reverse, and that our only purpose just now is toretake the air-ship and prevent her doing any more damage. If you canget any newspapers, do so."

  "I understand fully," replied Mazanoff, and a minute later his vesselwas sinking rapidly down towards the cruiser.

  His reception was evidently friendly, for those on board the_Ithuriel_ saw that he ran the _Ariel_ close alongside theman-of-war, after the first hails had been exchanged, and conversedfor some time with a group of officers across the rails of the twovessels. Then a large roll of newspapers was passed from the cruiserto the air-ship, salutes were exchanged, and the _Ariel_ rosegracefully into the air to rejoin her consorts, followed by theenvious glances of the crews of the battered warships.

  Mazanoff presented his report, the facts of which were substantiallythose given in the _St. James's Gazette_ telegram, and added that theBritish officers had confessed to him that the damage done was sogreat, both to the fleet and the shore fortifications, that the Soundwas now practically as open as the Atlantic, and that it would be twoor three weeks before even half the Allied force would be able totake the sea in fighting trim.

  They added that there was not the slightest need to conceal theircondition, as the Russians, who had steamed in triumph past theirshattered ships and silenced forts, knew it just as well as they did.As regards the Russian fleet, it had been followed past the Skawe,and had headed out westward.

  In their opinion it would consider itself strong enough, with the aidof the air-ship, to sweep the North Sea, and would probably attemptto force the Straits of Dover, as it has done the Sound, and effect ajunction with the French squadrons at Brest and Cherbourg. This done,a combined attack might possibly be made upon Portsmouth, or thedestruction of the Channel fleet attempted. The effects of theair-ship's shells upon both forts and ships had been so appallingthat the Russians would no doubt think themselves strong enough foranything as long as they had possession of her.

  "They were extremely polite," said Mazanoff, as he concluded hisstory. "They asked me to go ashore and interview the Admiral, who,they told me, would guarantee any amount of money on behalf of theBritish Government if we would only co-operate with their fleets foreven a month. They said Britain would gladly pay a hundred thousand amonth for the hire of each ship and her crew; and they looked quitepuzzled when I refused point-blank, and said that a million a monthwould not do it.

  "They evidently take us for a new sort of pirates, corsairs of theair, or something of that kind; for when I said that a few oddmillions were no good to people who could levy blackmail on the wholeearth if they chose, they stared at me and asked me what we did wantif we didn't want money. The idea that we could have any higher aimsnever seemed to have entered their heads, and, of course, I didn'tenlighten them."

  "Quite right," said Natas, with a quiet laugh. "They will learn ouraims quite soon enough. And now we must overtake the Russian fleet assoon as possible. You say they passed the Skawe soon after five thismorning. That gives them nearly six hours' start, and if they aresteaming twenty miles an hour, as I daresay they are, they will nowbe some hundred and twenty miles west of the Skawe. Captain Arnold,if we cut straight across Zeeland and Jutland, about what distanceought we to travel before we meet them?"

  Arnold glanced at the chart which lay spread out on the table of thesaloon in which they were sitting, and said--

  "I should say a course of about two hundred miles due north-west fromhere ought to take us within sight of them, unless they are makingfor the Atlantic, and keep very close to the Swedish coast. In thatcase I should say two hundred and fifty in the same direction."

  "Very well, then, let us take that course and make all the speed wecan," said Natas; and within ten minutes the three vessels werespeeding away to the north-westward at a hundred and twenty miles anhour over the verdant lowlands of the Danish peninsula.

  The _Ithuriel_ kept above five miles ahead of the others, and whenthe journey had lasted about an hour and three-quarters, the man whohad been stationed in the conning-tower signalled, "Fleet in sight"to t
he saloon. The air-ships were then travelling at an elevation of3000 feet. A good ten miles to the northward could be seen theRussian fleet steering to the westward, and, judging by the denseclouds of smoke that were pouring out of the funnels of the vessels,making all the speed they could.

  Arnold, who had gone forward to the conning-tower as soon as thesignal sounded, at once returned to the saloon and made his formalreport to Natas.

  "The Russian fleet is in sight, heading to the westward, andtherefore evidently meaning to reach the Atlantic by the north of theShetlands. There are twelve large battleships, about twenty-fivecruisers of different sizes, eight of them very large, and a smallswarm of torpedo-boats being towed by the larger vessels, I supposeto save their coal. I see no signs of the _Lucifer_ at present, butfrom what we have learnt she will be on the deck of one of the largecruisers. What are your orders?"

  "Recover the air-ship if you can," replied Natas. "Send Mazanoff withProfessor Volnow to convey the Tsar's letter to the Admiral, anddemand the surrender of the _Lucifer_. If he refuses, let the _Ariel_return at once, and we will decide what to do. I leave the detailswith you with the most perfect confidence."

  Arnold bowed in silence and retired, catching, as he turned to leavethe saloon, a glance from Natasha which, it must be confessed, meantmore to him than even the command of the Master. From the expressionof his face as he went to the wheel-house to take charge of the ship,it was evident that it would go hard with the Russian fleet if theAdmiral refused to recognise the order of the Tsar.

  When he got to the wheel-house the _Ithuriel_ was almost over thefleet. He signalled "stop" to the engine-room. Immediately thepropellers slowed and then ceased their rapid revolutions, and at thesame time the fan-wheels went aloft and began to revolve. This was aprearranged signal to the others to do the same, and by the time theyhad overtaken the flagship they also came to a standstill. As soon asthey were within speaking distance Arnold hailed the _Orion_ and the_Ariel_ to come alongside.

  After communicating to Tremayne and Mazanoff the orders of Natas, hesaid to the latter--

  "You will take Professor Volnow to present the Tsar's letter to theAdmiral in command of the fleet. Fly the Russian flag over a flag oftruce, and if he acknowledges it say that if the _Lucifer_ is givenup we shall allow the fleet to go on its way unmolested and withoutasking any question.

  "The cruiser that has her on board must separate from the rest of thefleet and allow two of your men to take possession of her and bringher up here. The lives of the four traitors are safe for the presentif the air-ship is given up quietly."

  "And if they will not recognise the authority of the Tsar's letter,and refuse to give the air-ship up, what then?" asked Mazanoff.

  "In that case haul down the Russian flag, and get aloft as quickly asyou can. You can leave the rest to us," said Arnold. "Meanwhile,Tremayne, will you go down to two thousand feet or so, and keep youreye on that big cruiser a bit ahead of the rest of the fleet. I fancyI can make out the _Lucifer_ on her deck. Train a couple of guns onher, and don't let the air-ship rise without orders. I shall stop uphere for the present, and be ready to make things lively for theAdmiral if he refuses to obey his master's orders."

  The _Ariel_ took the Professor on board, and hoisted the Russiancolours over the flag of truce, and began to sink down towards thefleet. As she descended, the Admiral in command of the squadron,already not a little puzzled by the appearance of the threeair-ships, was still more mystified by seeing the Russian ensignflying from her flagstaff.

  Was this only a ruse of the Terrorists, or were they flying theRussian flag for a legitimate reason? As he knew from the experienceof the previous night that the air-ships, if their intentions werehostile, could destroy his fleet in detail without troubling toparley with him, he concluded that there was a good reason for theflag of truce, and so he ordered one to be flown from his ownmasthead in answer to it.

  The white flag at once enabled Mazanoff to single out the hugebattleship on which it was flying as the Admiral's flagship. Thefleet was proceeding in four columns of line abreast. First two longlines of cruisers, each with one or two torpedo boats in tow, andwith scouts thrown out on each wing, and then two lines ofbattleships, in the centre of the first of which was the flagship.

  It was a somewhat risky matter for the _Ariel_ to descend thus rightin the middle of the whole fleet, but Mazanoff had his orders, andthey had to be obeyed, and so down he went, running his bow up towithin a hundred feet of the hurricane deck, on which stood theAdmiral surrounded by several of his officers.

  "I have a message for the Admiral of the fleet," he shouted, as soonas he came within hail.

  "Who are you, and from whom is your message?" came the reply.

  "Konstantin Volnow, of the Imperial Arsenal at Petersburg, brings themessage from the Tsar in writing.'

  "His Majesty's messenger is welcome. Come alongside."

  The _Ariel_ ran ahead until her prow touched the rail of thehurricane deck, and the Professor advanced with the Tsar's letter inhis hand, and gave it to the Admiral, saying--

  "You are acquainted with me, Admiral Prabylov. Though I bear itunwillingly, I can vouch for the letter being authentic. I saw hisMajesty write it, and he gave it into my hands."

  "Then how do you come to be an unwilling bearer of it?" asked theAdmiral, scowling and gnawing his moustache as he read the unwelcomeletter. "What are these terms, and with whom were they made?"

  "Pardon me, Admiral," interrupted Mazanoff, "that is not thequestion. I presume you recognise his Majesty's signature, and seethat he desires the air-ship to be given up."

  "His Majesty's signature can be forged, just as Nihilists' passportscan be, Mr. Terrorist, for that's what I presume you are, and"--

  "Admiral, I solemnly assure you that that letter is genuine, and thatit is really his Majesty's wish that the air-ship should be givenup," the Professor broke in before Mazanoff had time to reply. "It isto be given in exchange for nine war-balloons which these air-shipscaptured before daybreak this morning."

  "How do you come to be the bearer of it, sir? Please answer me thatfirst."

  "I am a prisoner of war. I surrendered to save the Arsenal andperhaps Petersburg from destruction under circumstances which Icannot now explain"--

  "Thank you, sir, that is quite enough! A pretty story, truly! And youask me to believe this, and to give up that priceless air-ship onsuch grounds as these--a story that would hardly deceive a child? Youcaptured nine of the Tsar's war-balloons this morning, had aninterview with his Majesty, got this letter from him at Cuestrin--morethan five hundred miles away, and bring it here, and it is barely twoin the afternoon!

  "No, gentlemen, I am too old a sailor to be taken in by a yarn likethat. I believe this letter to be a forgery, and I will not give theair-ship up on its authority."

  "That is your last word, is it?" asked Mazanoff, white with passion,but still forcing himself to speak coolly.

  "That is my last word, sir, save to tell you that if you do not haulthat flag you are masquerading under down at once I will fire uponyou," shouted the Admiral, tearing the Tsar's letter into fragmentsas he spoke.

  "If I haul that flag down it will be the signal for the air-ships upyonder to open fire upon you, so your blood be on your own heads!"said Mazanoff, stamping thrice on the deck as he spoke. Thepropellers of the _Ariel_ whirled round in a reverse direction, andshe sprang swiftly back from the battleship, at the same time risingrapidly in the air.

  Before she had cleared a hundred yards, and before the flag of trucewas hauled down, there was a sharp, grinding report from one of thetops of the man-of-war, and a hail of bullets from a machine gunswept across the deck. Mazanoff heard a splintering of wood andglass, and a deep groan beside him. He looked round and saw theProfessor clasp his hand to a great red wound in his breast, and fallin a heap on the deck.

  This was the event of an instant. The next he had trained one of thebow-guns downwards on the centre of the deck of the Russian flagshipand sen
t the projectile to its mark. Then quick as thought he sprangover and discharged the other gun almost at random. He saw thedazzling green flash of the explosions, then came a shaking of theatmosphere, and a roar as of a hundred thunder-claps in his ears, andhe dropped senseless to the deck beside the corpse of the Professor.

  "There was a sharp, grinding report from one of thetops of the man-of-war."

  _See page 232._]