Dave Darrin and the German Submarines Part 38

"Weak, but she's going to mend all right-thank heaven!"

Their hands gripped.

"I was greatly worried," Dan confessed in a low tone.

"Hang it all," Darrin admitted, a new joy in his own low tones, "I believe I would have been worried to death if I had realized how all the chances were against me. But I felt as though such a thing as Belle's death couldn't be-and so it didn't happen."

"You're not talking very straight, chum, but I understand you," Dan nodded.

"And now, as to our duties," Dave went on. "Fernald a.s.sured me he could attend to everything, and I knew that of course he could. So I let him.

Were any of the 'Griswold's' pa.s.sengers lost? Yes, of course some must have been, for I saw the sh.e.l.l strike in that boat-the one Belle was in."

"Three were killed by the exploding sh.e.l.l, and you have two on board who were wounded by fragments. Two more were drowned-probably because the shock stunned them and left them helpless in the water."

"And I have been keeping Hunter with Belle all this time!" Dave uttered, rather shamefacedly. "I must call him. Perhaps he can revive the two who seemed to be drowned. Besides, some of the others need a.s.sistance."

"Not a chance of it," Dan continued. "I've had my own medico and two sick-bay men working over the cases. Both patients are dead. And there are others missing. Your executive officer is having lists made.

Fortunately the 'Griswold's' crew and pa.s.senger lists were saved. Your ship and mine have on board all who were picked up. Fernald should soon know just who were lost."

So Hunter and the two women remained with Belle Darrin. Half an hour later Dave was called back into the cabin. Dan, who had remained with him all this time, still stayed outside.

"I'm going to be all right, Dave, as you can see for yourself," Belle smiled, brightly, though her voice was but little above a whisper. "So you got me out of the water yourself? They have told me that much."

"You're all right again, little girl, but you must gain a lot of strength," Dave answered, joyously. "I see old Hunter looking at me frowningly this minute-"

"I wasn't," interrupted the ship's surgeon, "but you have the right idea, anyway. Mrs. Darrin is going to need sleep now, and then something light and nourishing to eat. So you'd better return to your duties, sir, and look me up later in the evening."

"Good little girl!" Dave whispered, bending over and kissing Belle on the forehead. "I knew you'd finish your cruise all right. Now, I'm going to obey the surgeon's orders. I'll come back at the very earliest moment that I'm allowed to do so."

Outside he thrust an arm gaily under Dalzell's, and in this fashion the two chums walked briskly to the deck and bridge. They were soon busy with the figures of the day's work. Between them, the "Grigsby" and the "Reed" had picked up nearly two hundred and fifty persons. Both craft were crowded. Five bodies had been recovered from the water, and about fifteen more people were listed as missing, though every effort had been made to discover more of those who were missing.

"I hate to think what would happen," muttered Dalzell, "if an enemy submarine were to get between our two craft and let us have it right now-a strike against each of our ships!"

Right at that instant there came to their ears the jarring hail:

"'Ware torpedo! Headed starboard-amidships!"

CHAPTER XXIV

CONCLUSION

Dave did not glance for the tell-tale torpedo trail. His hand signalled the engine-room for fullest speed. His voice gave the order for the sweeping turn that the "Grigsby" quickly made.

A few breathless seconds. The destroyer turned, then swung her stern again.

The "Grigsby" leaped forward, her bow aimed at the slender shaft of a periscope that lay in outline against the water.

Yonder, half a mile away, the "Reed" had executed a similar movement.

The two destroyers were racing toward each other, each bent on ramming the new monster that had appeared between them. But Dave did not forget his forward guns.

Springing from the bridge he himself took station behind one of the guns just as the breech was closed on a load.

"I haven't yet sighted a gun on this ship," he announced, coolly. "I want to see what I can do."

Seldom had a piece been aimed more quickly on any naval craft. Darrin fell back as the piece was fired. He had aimed to strike under water at the base of that periscope. This had seemed the best chance, though he knew the power of water in deflecting a sh.e.l.l aimed through it.

"A hit!" cried an ensign, as he beheld the periscope itself waver, then stand nearly straight before it was hauled swiftly in.

"A hit-a good one!" came the signal from the "Reed."

"I believe we did smash the hound!" chuckled Darrin, leaning forward and taking the gla.s.s that was placed at his hand.

"Yes, sir. I can make out the oil patch ahead."

With the gla.s.s to his eyes Darrin confirmed this report.

"That was unusual luck," he said, coolly.

"Unusual shooting, I'd say, sir," voiced the ensign.

"It's over, anyway, with that Hun pirate," declared Darrin. He ordered the course changed as soon as Dan left for his own ship. Then he went to the radio room to dictate a message to American naval headquarters at the home port. That message told of the rescue of all but a score of the crew and pa.s.sengers from the sunken "Griswold," and also of the now crowded condition of both destroyers.

Within fifteen minutes the orders from sh.o.r.e arrived, in this form:

"Come in with rescued pa.s.sengers and crew. Commanding officers of 'Grigsby' and 'Reed' directed report for new orders."

If Dave was anxious to have Belle safe on sh.o.r.e, the jackies on the two craft were hardly less eager to put all the civilians ash.o.r.e as soon as possible, that the ships' crews might once more have elbow room.

It was not until evening that port was made. On the trip Dave Darrin barely left the bridge, but remained on duty hour after hour, refusing to close his eyes. He would take no chances whatever with this most precious cargo of men and women.

By the time that the destroyer had reached moorings, Belle was able to go up on deck, on Dave's arm. He took her ash.o.r.e at once, placed her in a hotel, and arranged for medical attendance to be summoned if needed.

And Runkle, with sh.o.r.e leave for the night, insisted on remaining in the hotel, where he could be called at any instant when Mrs. Darrin might need anything that he could do for her.

Though the flag lieutenant was present at the interview which followed at naval headquarters, it was the admiral himself who received Dave and Dan.

"You report more good luck-fine management, too!" cried the admiral, his face beaming. "You two officers do not seem to be able to put to sea without running into the sort of doings that make fine reading in the newspapers at home. You have made wonderful drives against the submarines, but your nerves must be well gone to pieces by this time."

"No, sir," Darrin replied. "I'm ready for new sailing orders to-night."

"You won't get them," the admiral retorted, bluntly. "Mr. Darrin, your wife, and ill at that, is ash.o.r.e, I am informed. She was one of your rescued ones to-day."

"Yes, sir."

"Is she wholly recovered?"