Rounding up the Raider Part 34

Briefly Denbigh explained.

"It would be as well if we sent a sh.e.l.l into one of those barrels," he added.

"Waste of good ammunition," objected the lieutenant-commander. "The steamboat can take it bows on at full speed ahead. She'll do it easily."

"That I do not doubt," replied the sub. "But I have an idea that those barricoes are filled with explosives, although we b.u.mped into one of them when we were in a light punt."

Just then the P.O. telegraphist for wireless duties, who was ensconced in a small insulated cage on the rearmost cutter, received a message from one of the sea-planes to the effect that the Germans had been located. They had landed from the boats at a spot twenty miles above the former anchorage of the _Pelikan_ and were making their way towards the hills.

"They're funking it," declared Bourne. "Everything points to a hurried flight. They may have swung the boom back in position, but I doubt the accuracy of your mine theory."

"Very good, sir," replied Denbigh. "Then you wish the steamboat to charge the obstruction?"

"Yes, carry on," said Bourne.

Denbigh was too accustomed to discipline to demur in the face of definite orders. He prepared to cast off the tow, for the steamboat was to essay the feat alone. The two cutters were to anchor until a pa.s.sage had been cleared through the obstruction.

"Well, I hope I'm wrong," thought the sub as he ordered the leading stoker to "let her rip for all she's worth."

But before the boat could gather way there was a commotion in the water ahead. A large hippo, frightened by the unusual noises that had disturbed the usually peaceful river, made off up-stream.

Swerving neither to the right hand nor the left the huge animal bore down upon the line of floating barrels. It pa.s.sed between a pair of them. For a moment it seemed that he had surmounted the ma.s.sive chain, until the sudden displacement of the barrels showed that its body had fouled the hidden barrier.

The hippo reared in fury and terror, bringing its whole weight down upon the chain. Instantly a line of waterspouts shot high in the air accompanied by a simultaneous discharge of half a dozen mines. The sudden strain had ignited tubes of fulminate of mercury, which in turn had exploded heavy charges of gun-cotton. Had the boat been a hundred yards nearer not one of her crew would have escaped.

In silence Denbigh brought the steamboat abreast of the first cutter and re-established communication.

The lieutenant-commander stood up, and in a steady, clear voice exclaimed:

"Well done, Mr. Denbigh! My judgment was hopelessly at fault."

"That's all right, sir," replied the sub. He knew the effort that Bourne had had to make to tender his apologies. Having given his order in the hearing of the men it was the only course open to him. And Bourne was an officer who, although somewhat impetuous, was never afraid to acknowledge an error.

With the flood-tide the flotilla made good progress. Rounding the sharp bend where the _Myra_ had disappeared, the boats entered a gently curving reach that apparently made a long horseshoe sweep. At this point the mangroves ceased. The ground became higher, the banks being precipitous in places, and covered with long rank gra.s.s.

"There are the _Pelikan's_ boats," reported Denbigh, pointing to two large pinnaces lying against the banks to which they had been carried by the tide.

In answer to an enquiry the scouting sea-plane reported that further progress a mile round the next bend was barred by a series of rapids, and that the Germans had established a gain of nearly ten miles, and were approaching the bottle-neck formed by the extreme sinuosities of the river.

"Can you check them?" asked Bourne anxiously. He was not at all keen on a ten- or twenty-mile march through the rough gra.s.s. If the sea-planes could command the narrow stretch of ground between the horseshoe bend von Riesser's men might be headed off.

"We'll try," was the wirelessed reply.

Meanwhile the steamboat had cast off the tow, and the cutters still carrying way were steered towards the bank. Here, owing to the rush of the tide, there was fairly deep water close to the land, and fortunately an absence of mud.

Grounding twenty feet apart the boats disgorged their loads, the seamen leaping ash.o.r.e in spite of the weight of arms and accoutrements. The Maxims, too, were landed and mounted upon light travelling carriages.

The portable wireless apparatus was to accompany the landing-party, while the officers and men left behind were to land the quick-firers, since they could not command the ground from the boats owing to the height of the banks.

Bourne realized that such things as reverses do happen, so he took precautions accordingly. The men advanced in open order, with flankers thrown far and wide.

From the top of a small hillock Denbigh watched the straw hats of the men out of sight as they marched through the long gra.s.s; then, knowing that some time must necessarily elapse before the landing-party came in touch with the enemy, he busied himself in preparing for the re-embarkation, should the operations prove to be shorter than Captain Holloway had antic.i.p.ated.

With the turn of the tide the boats were taken out into mid-stream and anch.o.r.ed. Tripping lines were bent to the crowns of the anchors, the other end of each line being made fast to a watch-buoy, so that the operation of weighing would not be delayed by the fouling of the flukes in possible snags on the bed of the river. Gang planks were prepared in order that no hitch might occur should the men return at or near dead-low water, when a stretch of ooze separated the dry ground from the river.

For two hours Denbigh directed operations under the blazing sun. His men worked like n.i.g.g.e.rs, knowing that they, too, were doing their bit although not in the actual firing-line.

At intervals came the faint detonations of a series of heavy explosions. The sea-planes were at work, attempting by means of bombs to arrest the flight of von Riesser's men across the narrow neck of land.

Late in the forenoon one of the sea-planes flew overhead. Without essaying to make a landing on the river, it flew down-stream, presumably to take in a fresh supply of petrol and bombs. In an hour's time it returned, and presently its opposite number flew overhead in the direction of its parent ship.

Slowly the day wore on. At frequent intervals Denbigh climbed the hillock and brought his gla.s.ses to bear upon the distant high ground.

Once or twice he fancied he heard the sounds of musketry and Maxim firing in the sultry air. Armstrong and several of the men were of the same opinion, agreeing that the firing was desultory and not constantly maintained.

At length darkness fell. No one had seen the sea-planes returning before sunset, and in addition to the great risk of making a night landing these craft are of little practical use except in daylight.

With the approach of night Denbigh ordered double sentries to be posted, and cautioned the boat-keepers to be alert and watchful for signals. Those of the men left behind slept or rested beside the quick-firers, protected from the heavy dew by boat awnings stretched on oars and boat-hooks.

For Denbigh sleep was out of the question. m.u.f.fled in a boat-cloak, for the off-sh.o.r.e wind blew chilly, he paced up and down with the mate of the _Myra_.

"What's that over yonder?" asked Armstrong.

"Flashes--musketry," replied Denbigh. "It's strange that we cannot hear the reports, for the wind is in our favour."

"Too steady for rifle-firing," suggested the mate. "Looks to me like a bush fire."

"By Jove, I hope not," said the sub earnestly. "The gra.s.s will catch like tinder."

A minute or so pa.s.sed, then Denbigh lowered his binoculars.

"You're right, Armstrong," he said. "It is a fire. Those brutes have set the gra.s.s ablaze to cover their retreat."

"Hark!" exclaimed the mate.

Overhead came the unmistakable buzzing of an aerial propeller. One of the sea-planes, if not both, was returning.

Seizing a flashing-lamp Denbigh directed it skywards. It was the only means at his disposal for communication.

"All right?" he asked.

A light blinked through the darkness.

"_Dash, dot_. Pause. _Dash, dash, dash_" it flashed; then it ceased abruptly. Nevertheless the answer was to the point. It was NO.

CHAPTER XXV