CHAPTER XXVIII.
A CAPTURE.
In the little boat, in dark civilian clothes, the lads put off from the submarine, and soon were mingling with the hundreds of other little craft darting shoreward as fast as strong arms could drive them.
“I guess we shall make it all right,” Frank whispered to Jack.
“Of course we shall,” was the reply. “It’ll probably be harder getting back.”
“We’ll come through some way,” was the reply.
“Of course.”
At that moment Frank’s attention was directed to a struggling knot in the water.
“What’s that?” he asked drawing his friend’s attention.
“Looks like a fight to me,” said the latter.
“Let’s go closer and have a look.”
The lads steered the boat closer to the struggling heap, where they were able to make out three men fighting desperately, while nearby was an overturned boat.
“One of them looks like a white man,” said Jack.
“In that case we shall have to give him a lift,” said Frank.
“Remember what Lord Hastings said,” Jack warned his chum.
“But we can’t stand idly by while a couple of Turks drown a white man.”
“No, we can’t do that,” Jack agreed.
With long powerful strokes they sent their boat closer. Then Jack was able to distinguish the faces of the combatants.
“Two Turks and a German officer,” he said. “I can’t see why we should interfere on his behalf.”
“He is white,” protested Frank.
“Right,” said Jack. “That puts a different face on the matter, of course.”
The boat was right up to the struggling trio.
“No use wasting our energy,” said Frank.
He stood up in the boat and brought his oar down upon the head of one of the Turks. The latter disappeared beneath the water without a sound. Frank turned upon the second one, but he had seen the fate of his comrade and had no mind to share it. He released his hold upon the German officer and made off.
“Let the German swim to his boat. We don’t want to be bothered with him,” said Frank.
“Suits me,” said Jack.
Frank sat down, and the lads would have rowed off; but at that moment the German disappeared beneath the water.
“Tired out, I guess,” said Jack. “Well, we can’t stand by and see a man we have just rescued drown without raising a hand. I’ll have him in a minute.”
He dived overboard, and reappeared an instant later holding the German by the arm.
“Help me get him in,” he said.
Frank obeyed, and Jack climbed in after him. The German lay in the bottom of the boat, exhausted.
“Talk German when he comes to,” Jack warned. “There is no use letting him suspect anything.”
“All right,” said Frank, and while Jack sent the boat shoreward with long and powerful strokes, he attempted to revive the man they had saved.
The shore was but a short distance away when the German showed signs of returning consciousness. He moaned feebly and turned on his side. Frank slapped his hands and rubbed them vigorously, and soon the German attempted to rise.
Frank lent him a helping hand, and the German at last managed to sit up with Frank’s shoulder as a support. Then his eyes roved about and he took in the situation around him.
“And so you saved me,” he said to Frank.
“Well, my friend and I together,” replied Frank, also in excellent German.
“Those scoundrels would have killed me,” said the German officer.
“So we noticed,” replied Frank. “What was the matter?”
“Well, I was swimming in the water, and they refused to take me aboard. You see, in spite of the fact that we are doing our best for this benighted country, we Germans are not loved here.”
“I know that,” Frank agreed.
“When they refused to assist me into their boat, I became angry and tried to pull myself aboard. They hacked at my hands with knives, and the best I could do was to accidentally pull the boat over, throwing them into the water. Then they attacked me.”
“And no wonder, at that,” said Frank drily.
“Well, that’s true. Still they should have let me in their boat.”
“I am not disputing that,” said Frank. “Where do you wish us to put you ashore?”
“Wherever you chance to land.”
Frank nodded.
“But who are you?” continued the German.
“Just a couple of noncombatants,” replied Frank briefly.
“But you are German?”
“Well, yes, partly so. Also we are Americans.”
“Caught here at the outbreak of the war?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’ll do what I can to get you out of it.”
“Thanks.”
“You see, I am not without influence. It happens that I am the new military governor of the city.”
“Is that so?” exclaimed Frank in surprise.
“Yes. I only arrived today, and was having a consultation with the Turkish admiral when this disaster occurred.”
“Have you any idea what caused this disaster?” asked Frank quietly.
“I guess there is no doubt what caused it. A British or a French submarine.”
At this moment Jack took a hand in the conversation.
“You say you are the new military governor of the city?”
“Yes.”
“Then you know something of the plans of defense?”
“Well, rather. I have them in my pocket.”
“Then,” said Jack, “I should say that you are a very indiscreet sort of a military governor.”
“What do you mean by that?” asked the German, half rising.
Jack’s reply was addressed to Frank.
“Cover him with your gun, quick!” he commanded. “Don’t let him get away.”
Although taken by surprise, Frank acted quickly. His gun leaped from his pocket and was levelled at the new German military governor of Constantinople.
“What’s the meaning of this?” demanded the latter angrily.
“The meaning is that you are our prisoner,” replied Jack quietly. “Turn her about, Frank,” he added, “and we’ll go back to the submarine.”
“Submarine!” exclaimed the German. “Oh, I see, you are British.”
“You bet we are,” replied Frank.
The German grew silent, and Jack, who was watching him carefully even as he rowed, noticed that he was fumbling in his breast pocket.
“Watch him, Frank,” he cried. “Don’t let him throw anything overboard.”
Frank leaned forward and pressed the muzzle of his automatic against the German’s breast.
“No tricks,” he said quietly, “or you are a dead man.”
The German’s hand dropped to his side.
The lads rowed back to the submarine quickly. Frank jumped aboard first and Jack waited until the German had followed him before he climbed up and drew the little boat up after him. Then all went below, Frank keeping his weapon on the German as they descended.
Lord Hastings came bustling out.
“Back so——” he began, and stopped in surprise at the sight of the third man. “What is this?” he demanded.
“This,” said Jack, with a flourish of his hand, “is the new German military governor of Constantinople.”
“But,” said Lord Hastings, “why do you bring him here? What do we want with him?”
“He told me, confidentially,” said Jack, “that he carries the Turkish plan of campaign.”
Lord Hastings understood in a moment.
“In that case,” he said, “we want him badly. Mr. Military Governor, you are indeed welcome.”
“And the first thing to do,” said Jack, “is to get the papers before he can get rid of them.”
“His Excellency will give them to us, I am sure,” said Lord Hastings.
“I will not,” growled the German.
“Then we shall have to take them,” said Jack.
He stepped suddenly forward and seized the German in a firm embrace.
“You take them while I hold him,” he called.
In vain did the German struggle. Jack held him firmly while Frank and Lord Hastings explored his pockets and took therefrom every piece of paper they could find. Lord Hastings glanced them over carefully.
“They are all here,” he said. “You can let him go now.”
Jack stepped back and the German shook himself angrily.
“You’ll pay for this,” he shouted angrily.
“Why, we expect to,” said Lord Hastings smoothly, “we expect to pay for it with our big guns, which, with the help you have extended to us by giving us these plans, will make the task easier.”
The German doubled his fists and took a step forward.
Jack smiled at him.
“I wouldn’t even think of it if I were you,” he said quietly.
The German drew back.
“And shall we let him go now?” asked Lord Hastings. “He is simply a burden to us, you know.”
The German’s face lighted up.
“We can hardly do that, much as we would like to,” said Jack. “You see, he might tell them all ashore that we have their plans, and they would naturally change them. As it is, believing that he has been drowned, the Kaiser will simply appoint a new military governor and use the plan of campaign already decided upon.”
“True,” said Lord Hastings. “Then we must keep this capture a secret.”
“Yes, sir,” said Jack, “and now we may as well get away from here.”
“In the meantime,” replied Lord Hastings, “his excellency shall be our guest. You may give the word to submerge, preparatory to departure, Mr. Templeton.”
Jack turned away.