The Rival Submarines Part 47

Early in the month of November Captain Gregory Pinney, master and owner of the ocean-going tug "Wayfarer," registered at the Port of Falmouth, was the recipient of a telegram transmitted through the Lizard signal station.

"Send vessel to meet submarine 'Aphrodite' 4 miles S.S.E. of Lizard at noon on the 12th inst--Restronguet."

The worthy skipper was obviously perplexed. He rather suspected that it was a bogus message, sent by a rival firm so that their tugs could pick up a remuneration job in the absence of the "Wayfarer." That was his construction of the matter, and his views he communicated to his partner, Captain Hiram Varco.

"Powerful strange," admitted Varco. "Why not wire to the Lizard and ask 'em if it's genuine, and how they picked it up."

Acting on this device Captain Pinney requested Lloyd's Station for further particulars, and received a confirmatory answer with the additional information that the message had been sent from the "Aphrodite" when twenty miles west of Cape Finisterre.

"All the same, it be powerful strange," remarked Varco. "Submarines don't want tugs to give 'em a pluck into port, and Falmouth, too, of all places. Still, if I was you, Gregory Pinney, in a manner o' speakin'

I'd take the 'Wayfarer' out. If 'tain't one thing 'tis often another, and chances are you'll pick up something to tow into t'harbour even if 'tain't this wunnerful submarine."

Accordingly Captain Gregory Pinney made necessary arrangements for the "Wayfarer" to proceed to sea early on the morning of the 12th.

Had Captain Pinney not informed his crony of the contents of Captain Restronguet's telegram the momentous news would never have spread abroad, for the skipper of the "Wayfarer" was, for a Cornishman, extremely reticent. Captain Hiram Varco was almost the reverse, and happening to fall in with an enterprising reporter of _The Cornish Riviera Express_, he waxed eloquent over a friendly gla.s.s of double cider.

Next day the London papers published the news, not without comments, for while it was tacitly accepted the message was perfectly genuine, no satisfactory reason could be a.s.signed to Captain Restronguet's motive in requisitioning a tug.

Steps were taken to give the "Aphrodite" and her gallant crew a rousing welcome. Excursion steamers, laid up for the winter, were hurriedly chartered by speculative syndicates and sent round to Falmouth. Long before the fateful Twelfth all the accommodation was booked at a guinea a head. Fishing-boats, risking the Board of Trade regulations, became temporary pleasure craft; luggers, quay-punts, and even frail rowing boats were hired, so that should weather permit, a general exodus of the various craft for Falmouth Harbour would take place--an event to be talked about in years to come by the old salts of the West country.

Great Britain in general and Cornwall in particular, meant to show the proper way to welcome home a national, nay, world-wide hero.

Dawn was just breaking when the "Aphrodite" sighted the powerful white flash-light of the Lizard. The submarine had made short work of the run across the bay and had arrived off the English coast some hours earlier than Captain Restronguet had antic.i.p.ated.

"I thought better of Captain Pinney," remarked Captain Restronguet to Hythe as the two stood on the deck gazing towards their native land.

"Kenwyn tells me that a wireless message came through during the night.

The news has leaked out and there's to be a whole crowd of shipping to see us arrive. I think I can promise that they won't be disappointed of a spectacle."

Captain Restronguet and his guest were early on deck. The sea was smooth, the air mild for the time of year, nevertheless they were glad of their great-coats after sweltering under the African sun.

"Will nothing alter your decision, sir?" asked the sub almost pleadingly.

"Nothing, my dear Hythe. A promise with me is a promise, even if made in over-hastiness. I might regret it; but the fact remains that I have sworn never to hand my invention over to the British Government.

Consequently I have sent for a Falmouth tug to remove the crew and their personal belongings. This done I mean to open the inlet valves of the 'Aphrodite' and sink her for good and all. At the spot I have indicated the depth is more than forty fathoms. The sea will hold my secret, and from the cliffs about the Lizard I can stand and gaze upon the tomb of my invention."

"But isn't this carrying a one-sided feud too far, sir? Surely my Lords have made ample reparation for a slight for which they were responsible yet perhaps ignorant?"

"Time is a great healer, Mr. Hythe; but the reminiscences of my early struggles with fate cannot be easily erased. But let us not discuss the matter further: it cannot alter my decision in the faintest degree. Ah!

good morning, Mr. Devoran. All correct?"

"All correct, sir. We've still plenty of current left to take the 'Aphrodite' another two hundred miles if necessary."

"I don't think we shall require so much as that, Mr. Devoran. Will you please muster all hands aft. Stop the motors, so that the engineers can be present. I wish to say a few words."

As soon as the "Aphrodite" lost way the men came on deck, and formed up just abaft the after conning-tower.

"Men," began Captain Restronguet in stentorian tones, "our voyage is almost accomplished, our great task is completed and little remains to be done as far as your services are concerned. Circ.u.mstances compel me to take a drastic step. The 'Aphrodite' must never enter Falmouth Harbour. At noon we will fall in with a tug that most of you, I know, are familiar with--the 'Wayfarer.' I want every man to collect his personal effects and stow them into as small a compa.s.s as possible, ready to be transhipped on board the tug. As soon as all hands are clear of the submarine I intend to send her to the bottom."

Dead silence greeted this announcement. The men looked at each other in amazement.

"To sink her for ever, sir?" asked Polglaze, when he found his tongue.

"Certainly," replied Captain Restronguet.

"You are not going down with her, sir?" asked another.

"No," replied Captain Restronguet grimly. "I'm not at all that way inclined. Now, men, you have a couple of hours to make the necessary preparations, so dismiss and make the best of the time."

With that the captain went below and retired to his cabin. Hythe, bitterly disappointed at the failure of his attempt to swerve Captain Restronguet from his purpose, walked for'ard and remained by the fore conning-tower deep in thought.

"Say, Mr. Hythe, what is the cap'n thinking about?" exclaimed a voice, and turning the sub found himself face to face with Jenkins.

"The sun hasn't affected him, eh?" continued the aviator-in-chief to the Sultan of Zanzibar, touching his forehead significantly.

"I don't think so," replied Hythe. "It is, I believe, the outcome of a vow."

"Precious silly vow," remarked Jenkins. "He always was a queer customer when he was upset. Can't you prevent him?"

"I've tried," said the sub.

"Fair means or foul, I'd have another shot at it if I were you. I'll back you up."

The man's words stirred the sub to serious thought. A struggle between his sense of grat.i.tude to this man who had so improved his knowledge of submarine work, and his duty to his king and country waged a fierce battle. The "Aphrodite" was Captain Restronguet's by right. He was wilfully abandoning it--an act that was also within his rights. On the other hand the possession of the "Aphrodite" by the British Navy would mean an undisputed supremacy in submarine welfare. This wonderful vessel would be the means of thwarting any projected invasion by a hostile state, whether by air or by sea.

"In matters of this description personal considerations must be put aside in favour of one's obligations to one's country," decided the sub, and straightway he sought out his faithful henchman, O'Shaunessey.

"Sure, sorr, I think we wud manage ut, be dad," was the Irishman's comment when Hythe unfolded his plan.

At half-past eleven the van of the flotilla from Falmouth came abreast of the "Aphrodite"--two large steamers packed with people who cheered and shouted while strident bra.s.s bands added a deafening welcome.

Circling, these vessels followed on either quarter of the submarine--so close that Captain Restronguet had to shout to request them to keep a more respectful distance. Abreast of the Lizard the main portion of the waterborne spectators was encountered, till surrounded by nearly a hundred craft of all sizes and rigs the "Aphrodite" forged slowly ahead towards a squat high-sided vessel which Captain Restronguet recognized as the "Wayfarer."

Finding the attentions of his escort too pressing the "Aphrodite"

hoisted a red burgee from a pole set up on her fore conning-tower--a hint that explosives were about to be transhipped and that there was a certain element of danger in the undertaking. With that the obstructing vessels backed away a few yards, forming a complete circle in the almost motionless sea around the "Wayfarer" and the craft that had engaged her.

"D'ye want me to pa.s.s you a hawser out astern?" bawled the master of the tug.

"No, thank you, Gregory Pinney," replied Captain Restronguet. "Lay alongside, will you?"

"An' who may you be?" demanded the skipper, somewhat astonished to find himself hailed by name. "Mussy me! Why, it is Mr. Tretheway."

"Good shot, Pinney! How's things at home?"

"Pretty middlin', thanks, Mr. Tretheway. But what might I be wanted for?

Where's Captain Restronguet?"

The captain laughed.