



Produced by R.G.P.M. van Giesen




[Illustration: cover of "The Captain" volume XXV]




THE SEA MONARCH

By

Percy F. Westerman




  [Transcriber's note:

    Mr. Percy F. Westerman has written this story for:

    THE CAPTAIN
    A MAGAZINE FOR BOYS & "OLD BOYS".

    VOL. XXV
    _APRIL to SEPTEMBER, 1911_

    _London:_
    GEORGE NEWNES, LIMITED, 3 to 12, SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND.

    The magazine was a periodical that appeared monthly and was also
    sold in volumes of 6 months, in this case April to September
    of 1911. In the index of this volume the story appeared as
    follows:

    *SEA MONARCH, THE.* By Percy F. Westerman 40
                        98, 217, 311, 386, 482

    Each instalment, except the first, has a copyright-statement
    at the bottom of the first page:

    _Copyright_ 1911, _by George Newness, Ltd., in the United States
    of America._

  ]




         CONTENTS

    CHAP.
      I. THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE "ZIETAN"
     II. INTRODUCES THE "PLAYMATE" AND HER SKIPPER
    III. RUN DOWN
     IV. A PRISONER ON THE MYSTERIOUS SHIP
      V. CAPTAIN BROOKES
     VI. THE CONNING-TOWER OF THE "OLIVE BRANCH"
    VII. RUMOURS OF WAR
   VIII. TREACHERY
     IX. AN ACT OF PIRACY
      X. CLEARED FOR ACTION
     XI. WIPED OUT
    XII. THROUGH THE MINE FIELD
   XIII. TRAPPED
    XIV. RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
     XV. A ONE-SIDED ENGAGEMENT
    XVI. IN THE CLUTCHES OF THE PATAGONIANS
   XVII. GERALD'S RUSE
  XVIII. THE CAPTAIN'S REVENGE
    XIX. GERALD'S PROMOTION
     XX. THE AIRMAN
    XXI. THE MISSING WIRELESS GEAR
   XXII. THE TOUCHSTONE OF PERIL
  XXIII. THE CRIPPLED SUBMARINE
   XXIV. A FRUSTRATED PLOT
    XXV. THE EMPIRE'S ORDEAL
   XXVI. THE VINDICATION OF THE "OLIVE BRANCH"




  ILLUSTRATIONS

  Crash! The huge vessel, looming out of the fog, struck the little
  yacht amidships. The stout planks were shorn through as if made of
  match-board, and the water poured in a cataract over the lee side.

  There was the sound of a hasty scuffling; then appeared the head
  and shoulders of the owner of the _Playmate_

  The mast snapped off close to the deck, and a block, hurtling
  through the air, struck Gerald a terrific blow over the head.

  Staggering to the door he threw it open. To his great surprise he
  saw a burly sentry standing without.

  In spite of his strenuous resistance they hauled the deserter out
  of the empty tank, and then unceremoniously bundled him into the
  gig.

  "Look here, Mr. Schneider, you've come to the wrong box with your
  sneaking complaints. So clear out!"

  Bending over the instrument was a young officer, his head
  practically covered with a metal cap fitted with receivers.

  The man staggered, clapped his hand to his shoulder, and fell to
  the deck, the weapon slipping from his grasp.

  Schneider cleared the rail, and leapt into the sea.

  The doomed vessel was instantly swept out of existence. The massive
  outlines of the cruiser seemed to melt into a hundred thousand
  fragments.

  As night fell the searchlights played with unceasing vigilance upon
  the harbour. Suddenly Captain Brookes turned to Gerald. "Does my
  compact forbid me using the Z-rays?" he asked.

  A party of natives appeared on the beach regarding the cruiser with
  obvious amazement. In their hands they carried long slender spears,
  which they brandished menacingly.

  Like a terrier let loose amidst a swarm of rats the submarine
  dashed towards the canoes.

  A terrific detonation shook the ground, and a thick cloud of smoke
  obscured the view of the pinnacle. In an agony of fear the natives
  threw themselves face downwards in the dust.

  Seated up to his waist in water was the aviator, clad in an
  inflated rubber suit. The engine was lost to view, the tips of the
  twin propellers just projected above the surface.

  "Good shot!" yelled several of the officers on the _Olive Branch_.
  For a full ten seconds the monoplane held on its course, then,
  lurching like a wounded bird, it swooped swiftly downwards.

  The searchlight revealed a huge circular turret with a pair of
  monster guns. Slowly the submarine swung round, the light
  travelling the length of the huge mass of weed-encrusted iron
  and steel.

  The four men threw themselves on the astonished foreigners, and
  a desperate conflict ensued.

  "In view of possible events I must ask you to take up your quarters
  beneath the armoured deck," said Captain Brookes.

  An admiral's pinnace was approaching the shattered _Olive Branch_.
  Gerald hastened on deck to receive the distinguished officer.




[Illustration: Crash! The huge vessel, looming out of the fog, struck
the little yacht amidships. The stout planks were shorn through as if
made of match-board, and the water poured in a cataract over the lee
side. (_See page_ 52)]




THE SEA MONARCH

BY PERCY F. WESTERMAN

Author of: "A Lad of Grit," "The Quest of the Golden Hope," etc.,
etc.

_ILLUSTRATED BY E. S. HODGSON_




[Illustration: chapter I]
CHAPTER I

THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE "ZIETAN"


IT was a scorching afternoon in the month of August. The slanting
rays of the sun beat powerfully upon the tranquil waters of
Portsmouth Harbour, while the white ensigns of the numerous warships
fluttered idly in the almost motionless air.

Swinging easily at her moorings to the first of the young flood lay
the torpedo-boat destroyer _Calder_, presenting a very different
appearance from its trim state of a few days before. Engine-room
defects had occasioned her return to harbour, and as these were of a
somewhat serious nature, the opportunity was taken to place the
destroyer into dockyard hands for at least two months. The
commissioned officers had obtained permission to go on leave, while
the _Calder_, in the charge of a gunner, was to be put into dock the
following day.

_Ting-ting! Ting-ting! Ting-ting! Ting