“WHAT THE devil is he up to now?” Graves asked in wonder. Halfhyde shrugged; von Merkatz was still drawing ahead, slowly but surely, and seemed to be manoeuvring to come across the Tacoma’s bows. Of the other two ships, the Stuttgart, next in the line, had altered a little to port and was coming up dead astern of the British ship. The Potsdam was also coming across to port of her original course and as Halfhyde watched she came across the Tacoma’s stern and then altered again to starboard to steam parallel with the clear intent of moving up on the Tacoma’s port beam.
Suddenly it dawned on Halfhyde; he said, “I don’t think he means to board while he has way upon him. He’s trying to get us into a corner. To box us in!”
“Force us to heave to?”
“Exactly, sir. When he’s got all his ships into position, and dangerously close, he’ll reduce speed. We’ll be forced to follow suit. Then, when we’re stopped and surrounded, he’ll be able to board much more easily and with less risk to his seamen.”
“Then we’ll have to stop him,” Graves said stoutly.
“We shall be impossibly outnumbered. You’ll have to hand me over.”
“I shall not do that, Mr Halfhyde.”
Halfhyde gave a faint smile. “It’s a noble gesture and I’m grateful. But I shall not put you to the risk.” He paced the deck, fists beating now at his forehead. “There must be a way. There always is. My kingdom, if I had one, for a stratagem!”
But nothing would come. The German ships moved inexorably into their ordered positions. Graves handled his ship well, but every move he made to avoid the in-closing movement was at once countered by the Germans. His ship had not the speed in hand to make a dash away to port or starboard, while the Germans had just enough in reserve to use it to the best advantage, and as the Tacoma paid off to one side or the other, a cruiser was always there to turn her back again. Graves had taken all his canvas off so as to make for greater manoeuvrability and so as not to be forced to obey the wind; but it made no difference to his ability or lack of it to elude von Merkatz.
Halfhyde watched the cruisers narrowly. Von Merkatz was taking a big risk, to his own ships as well as to the Tacoma. The fellow must be consumed with his hatred, his wish for revenge, and was pushing matters to the limit and beyond. That could, with luck, redound to the British advantage, if he, Halfhyde, could make it so. Possibly he could; he frowned in deep thought then smacked a fist into his palm, stopped his pacing and turned to Graves.
“A favour, sir.”
“Well?”
“May I handle the ship myself, sir?”
“Do you doubt my ability, Mr Halfhyde?”
Hafhyde answered sincerely. “By no means, sir. You know your ship better than I. But I would feel more confident of myself if I were to have the handling…like the man who tries to drive the coach when not upon the box himself, it is harder to give directions than to have the reins in one’s own hands. I don’t know if you follow?”
“I think I do. What are your intentions?”
Halfhyde said, “I see a situation developing somewhat similar to a situation I’ve been faced with before. I believe I can handle it.” He paused, then asked again, “Have I your permission, sir?”
Graves nodded and stepped away from the binnacle. Halfhyde looked around, bent to the azimuth circle and took quick bearings of all three ships. Then he passed an order to the helmsman, taking the ship a little to starboard. It was an almost imperceptible movement, but he knew it would show up in their wake. A few minutes later he altered a little more to starboard. On his port beam, the Potsdam began to follow, moving herself to starboard. As she did so, Halfhyde rang down to the engine room for reduced speed. Soon the Stuttgart on his starboard bow slowed in order to hold her position vis-à-vis the British ship. Halfhyde repeated his manoeuvre; the German slowed still more, and as she did so Halfhyde increased speed to full and ordered his wheel ten degrees to port, thus swinging his how fairly sharply over to starboard. From the Stuttgart it would have looked as though he was attempting a break-out by cutting across the cruiser’s bow. The reaction was fast: the Stuttgart swung inwards and the water boiled up below her counter as her Captain put his engines astern to take avoiding action. At the same time the Potsdam, altering to keep close to the Tacoma’s beam, came across from the British port side, just as Halfhyde swung his wheel again and passed the order to the engine room to go astern. The Tacoma began to slide out backwards, leaving the slowing Stuttgart exposed.
Halfhyde gave a shout of laughter. He said, “Now there’s a very nice inevitability about what’s going to happen! The Germans, as always, have minds like slugs.”
Inevitable it was: the cruisers were now too close for avoiding action to be taken in time. The Stuttgart was in the position of a sitting duck, her port side all
