A NORTH SEA TALE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2711, 4 March 1916, Page 13

A NORTH SEA TALE

OF THE LURKING MINE

(From the German of one Haps 801 tioiier, Mine-layer.;

"The .captain sends you word that— 'pray give mo your hand—good, good clio pulse is more nearly normal —tha lie is not. going to trouble you with an; more inquiries of a nautical nature. Hi respects your silence, but ho hopes yoi will so fitr oblige him as to grant- liin when you are feeling better v a few mill utes of your company You needn'i open your mouth except to drink a glasi of a- choice and quite neutral Spanisl wine." "I am much obliged, but I do no drink." 'Mil, Sir. Heinemann," the Englisl surgeon replied, "why so downhearted! You did not strike your flag; you di< not desert your ship even at the las' moment. Your ship deserted you— sank under your feet, while, your flat was still flying. We took you aboard" a helpless, shipwrecked man. We wisl you well, and it will be our earnesl endeavour to 'make you as little uncom fortable as circumstances permit. Yoi went into this cruel war—forgive mi for saying so—as a. very youthful office: indeed; you have won distinctioi already, and you are now spared in th< most honourable manner to, servo youi country yet further. Be glad therefori that you have been saved, forget tliai you are our prisoner. Make yourseli at home as if the ship were your own.' The twenty-year old commander anc sole survivor of the crew of the torpedoed German patrol boat, though li< did not • seem iinappreciative, was bj no means at his ease in his replies t< the Englishman. Iu a breathless sori of way, and with an eager appealingness like that of a child, he askec whether his uniform was dry, ant begged for one favour only, to bo allowed to go on deck. The surgeon shook hi: head. The lieutenant was still feverish with a chill liorVcster blowing a warm bed was for. the present tlic best place for him. Nevertheless, as-his heart seemed sel on it, it was not long before the prisoner, wrapped up warmly iii blankets, was permitted to go above." A comfortable arm-chair was conveyed to the quarterdeck, behind which at a little distanco a bluejacket was posted. A second -.chaii was brought, and a- table with a white tablecloth. Presently the commander oi the destroyer appeared. Kindly' but firmly refusing to let the German officer rise to salute him, he began, as he shook him by 'the hand, to speak ol rubber life-preserving, waistcoats. Lieutenant Heinemann took a very passive share in the discussion. For the most part he merely gave wordless assent to the views of the Englishman and smiled when his host, a groat big fellow, tall and stout, with a bald head and a round clean-shaven face,' made a ieat and shook with laughter over it. When the German did' speak it was in an embarrassed voice, and often wlmt he said was contused, as if his mind were far away. And all the time lie kept 011 starring bright-eyed in the direction in which the vessel was steaming through the sea, tossing gray-green under a sky that threatened rain. 'Hie commander of the destroyer was unable to repress, a smile when the German at last for a. .moment turned his watchful eyes sternwards. "Wo are a long way from there now," he said. "Besides thero was nothing left, not even kindling wood. A pity. We'would gladly havo found a thing or two more.!' Tho German lieutenant smiled at this frank admission. It seemed to have slipped out unawares. . "No oifenee, lieutenant,", the captain Vent on. "But it was 'a ' foolhardy thing to do to . tackle 1 three torpedo boats and a destroyer with onei little steam trawler; now,-wasn't it?" "Just such foolhardy things have sensibly' reduced the size of . the British Sleet,"- the lieutenant retorted. His v face brightened for a moment, then took on again an expression of trouble and uneasiness. "Why are. you holding a northerly course? Why aren't you steering westward?" The Englishman winked slyly. "You wont tell me either," he said, "what induced you to venture so far from your fleet 111 these waters; now, will £ou?'\ "I was : scouting, bf course. T\'e took a chance," repljed the German. Just then a steward set a bottle of red wine and two glasses on the ta/ble along with cigars and cigarettes, and though Heinemann on his side firmly .refused tti drink, the captain, nevertheless,' filled both glasses with his own hand. \No, 1 Baid Ihe a-s the steward withdrew, "no, you weren't scouting. '• I'll give you a better answeir. You had mines aboard. What I am not clear about is whether you had already planted them or were only going to -plant them." How could a little vessel like mine carry mines?" murmured the lieutenant, visibly disturbed. v The ot'lfer shot a sidelong glance at the pale young faca. / But the German did not notice. He was staring fixedly past the Englishman into the clouds of smoke and steam t'hat swirled from the funnels and drifted off to port Every few seconds appeared and reappeared behind this black curtain tho sea with a few 1 coloured buoys scattered about. Beyond,' in t]io distance, a, streak of land, could be seen. "Your mine-planting failed,", began tho talkative commander again. . "1 must, as I've said before, decline on principle to express opinions upon military or political subjects," said tho other, stiffly. "Quito right. I forgot. Tell me—do you play chess?" Instead of answering, the German snatched up suddenly the full- wine glass, cried aloud: ."My Emperor I Hurrah! Hurrah! HurrahV emptied the a gulp and tossed it overboard, the Englishman had leaped to his feet. His face grew red and angry. But he seemed to reflect and master himself. Quietly he sat, down again. "Your native German delicacy," life' remarked sarcastically, "will makft.you realise that'l cannot join in that toast —but, I saj'j what's tho matter with you ? _ I'm afraid you aren't standing the air out here very well." In fact, tho lieutenant had turned as jvjiite as chalk. • His mouth tnove3 as if ho wished to speak, but he could not utter a sound. "Now, right now I" tha words came it last. The captain whlsWd. ''Havo you a family, a mother?" Heinemann asked him' excitedly. "Yes. Yes. Don't excite yourself, my dear fellow. You are recovering." He turned to the steward. "Take the lieutenant to his cabin," he said. "He's had an attack." . But the German with a sweep of his arm waved back both sentinel and steward, who were advancing to lead him away, and callcd out earnestly to the captain: "Say your prayers, man, say your prayors I ' There! The buoys! Wo are in tho midst of a mine field." "Mines?" the Englishman asked, smiling uncertainly., "Yes, mines. ' I planted thfoi mvself. Say your prayers!" hissed the German. "Attention," ho cried out next, sharp and clears and stood bolt upright, his left hand' pressed oil his heart. Then his face iu the oxaltion of a great resolution took on an expression of strange beauty. His eyes gleamed like the eyes of one inspired, and he looked straight at a red sea marker which the destroyer was approachmg. "Full steam astern," cried the commandant, leaping up'. He, too, stare] fixedly, but darkly and wildly, at liio buoy, A ebrill try \va» bonvd. Nobody bad any horror to spare .when tha,

steward leaped overboard. The bluejacket oil guard held his ears and he ancl the two officers remained for some seconds, motionless, with wide-open, flii'ated eyes, while close on the starboard side the red buoy slid by. Then the German swayed. "Done," ho breathed tonelessly. The captain had given an order by signs to the bridge. "Dammed dog," lie growled now and drew a revolver. That gave the lieutenant back nis strength. He pulled himself together again and looked his enemy in the eye. One single word, he spoke proudly. "German." ; "Wide 'o the mark, you Judas," said the Englishman through clenched teeth, putting his revolver back into Its holster, and then, with a scornful/ ancl evil grin, "Wait, wait—l'll.— —"■ Then' came the explosion.