Escape from Timor (continued)

'To his consternation, as soon as the group around the fire caught sight of him, they leapt to their feet and ran into the bush. Something was definitely wrong. Completely puzzled and more than a little alarmed, Cook took the only course left to him—he plunged into the sea and fought his way back through the surf and sharks to the wherry.'

'Empty-handed, the rescue party returned to the submarine, where their arrival was received with a sigh of relief by her captain. From the sub, moving lights had been seen from time to time back in the hills. There also had been signals flashed back and forth. It seemed to the Americans more than likely that they came from Japanese searching parties, and perhaps from enemy tanks beating through the bush.'

'Two attempts at locating the Aussies having been unsuccessful, Cassedy decided to report and get further instructions. He pulled clear of the area and moved down toward Australia, in order to be able to transmit his message without disclosing his position to the enemy. Back to him came the information that the Australians had been driven deep into the hills by Jap searching parties, and he was told to return to the rendezvous and try once more to make contact.'

'When the American submarine glided in towards the beach the next time, she got a different reception. Her signals were promptly answered. Yet, as the wherry was put over again, in the minds of all was the question whether the light flashes had come from the Aussies or from Japanese, who had intercepted the messages and managed to decode them. Undeterred, Cook, McGrievy and Markeson paddled towards the surf. Just outside, they dropped their makeshift anchor.'

'On the beach, they could make out a number of shadowy forms. They tried to call to them, and, although neither group could make the other understand what was said through the booming of the surf, the Americans heard enough to realise that at last they had found the Aussie refugees.'

Bureau of Meteorology