Hancock Harrie Irving - Dave Darrin and the German Submarines. Or, Making a Clean-up of the Hun Sea Monsters стр 12.

What infamous lie is this that you are threatening to utter against me? demanded the German officer, leaping to his feet.

No lie at all, as you know quite well, Dave went on. I am sorry to have to bring you to this plight, von Bechtold, but you know that I cannot do otherwise.

Gazing into the steady eyes of the young American naval officer von Bechtold realized the folly of further acting. Breathing hard, he dropped into a chair.

It is not a fine thing that you propose to do to me, he declared. You do not know, of course, that I have five young children at home, who will need a father.

I did not know it, Dave answered gently. Yet I feel quite certain that some of the information you have gathered, when ashore in these parts, has resulted in the drowning at sea of a good many men who may have left behind even more than five children.

I feel that I am doomed, shuddered the German, throwing a hand up over his eyes. My five little children will not see their father again not even when this war is over.

It is too bad, Dave answered, but I suppose, Herr Ober-Lieutenant, that it must be classed with the fortune of war. Now, as to the identity of the civilian who lies dead in a berth aboard your late command, it may be that, if you were ready to tell something about the reasons for his presence on board, and why he had in his possession this paper

Here Darrin spread out the wet sheet of paper that he had brought from the submarine.

I can tell you nothing about either the civilian or that paper, declared von Bechtold, doggedly.

That is your own affair, Darrin admitted. I shall not make any attempt to force you.

You had better not! declared the German, fiercely. I can die, but I cannot betray my country. Yet have you no heart? when I tell you about my five little children whom you would deny the privilege of ever seeing their father again?

If I were to suppress my report of your activities as a spy, Darrin continued, I would be guilty of betraying my country and my countrys allies. It would also be necessary for me to induce my subordinate officer to do the same thing. You will realize the impossibility of our doing such a thing. On the other hand, between now and the time that you are tried by court-martial you will have time to reflect upon whether you wish to try to save yourself from the death sentence by explaining to the British authorities the full meaning of what had been written on this sheet of paper and also the reasons for that civilian being aboard your craft. Then, by

throwing yourself on the mercy of the court, you might escape the full penalty meted out to a spy.

I shall not do it, declared von Bechtold, rising and drawing himself to his full height.

Nor do I believe I could be induced to tell what I knew if I stood in your boots. Orderly!

To the marine who entered Dave gave the order to summon the guard. Von Bechtold was taken back to the Logans brig, and locked in for absolutely safe keeping. Darrin went up to the bridge.

Do you feel sorry for the fellow? asked Dalzell, when he had heard an account of the interview.

No more sorry than I do for any man who is down and out, Dave replied, truthfully. Now that he is captured and his spy work ended, I believe that ships on these waters will be much safer.

He will be just one Hun less, after a firing squad has finished with him, Dan rejoined.

Dave nodded thoughtfully.

War breeds savage ideas, doesnt it? demanded Danny Grin, with a shrug of his shoulders.

Not breeds, but brings out, answered Darrin.

They were nearing the coast now. Destroyers, patrol boats, drifters and mine-sweeping craft sighted the Logan and her prize, and the shrill whistles of these hunters of the sea testified to their joy over the capture.

Then the destroyer and her prize entered the port. Darrin brought his craft to anchorage, while the captured submarine was anchored not far away. The German prisoners were taken ashore under guard and turned over to the British authorities.

Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold, under the charge of being a spy, was marched away under a special guard.

And then Dave made haste to present himself, with the half-destroyed sheet of paper in his pocket, before the flag lieutenant of Vice Admiral Speare.

CHAPTER V DAVE TALKS OUT IN COUNCIL

So far as Dave was concerned the document that he had discovered, mutilated as it was, had supplied hints that filled the British Admiralty and the American naval commander with deep apprehension.

Both Darrin and Dalzell were present in the crowded council room on board the vice admirals flagship. There were other American naval officers, as well as a few American Army staff officers present. Their faces displayed anxiety.

It is too bad, one of the American army staff officers declared, after scanning the damaged sheet under a magnifying glass, that so much of this is obliterated. Of course, Mr. Darrin, we know that you acted promptly and that you did all in your power, and at considerable risk, to preserve this document. From the disconnected sentences that we can decipher, it would seem that at least sixty of the enemys submarines are to concentrate in near-by waters. It is also plain that their mission is to destroy the convoy escort and sink the troopships that are nearing these waters troopships that convey the entire One Hundred and Seventeenth Division of the United States Army.