“What damage do you find to the Sylph?”
he asked.
“Forward gun out of commission, sir,”
replied the lad. “Ten men killed, and
many wounded.”
Frank also had had news to report.
The British flotilla and the German squadron were
now at it hammer and tongs. Seeing that all
hope of escape had been cut off, the German commander
turned to face his new foes, determined to give battle
to the last.
Steadily the British fleet bore down on the enemy,
the great guns of the Undaunted belching fire as
they drew near.
Now Lord Hastings ordered the Sylph — still
the closest of the British vessels to the Germans
— again into the fray, and in spite of
its crippled condition, the little cruiser once more
bore down upon the Germans.
Suddenly the nearest German destroyer launched a torpedo
at the Sylph. By a quick and skillful maneuver,
Lord Hastings avoided this projectile, and a broadside
was poured into the German.
Others of the German fleet were too closely pressed
by the Undaunted and her convoys to aid the one engaged
with the Sylph, and so the two were left to fight
it out alone.
Closer and closer together the two vessels came, until
they were perhaps only a hundred yards apart.
It was evident to those on the Sylph that a shell
must have badly crippled the German, for otherwise
a torpedo would have put an end to the little British
craft.
Unable to check the advance of the Sylph, the German
destroyer turned suddenly and made off.
“After her!” shouted Lord Hastings, and
the Sylph leaped ahead at the word of command.
SAVED FROM THE SEA
The three other German vessels now singled out the
Undaunted and concentrated their fire upon her, thinking
first to dispose of the more formidable vessel and
then to turn their attention to the lighter craft.
A fierce duel ensued. Suddenly there was a terrific
explosion. One of the German torpedo destroyers
seemed to leap into the air, only to fall back a
moment later and disappear beneath the sea with a
loud hiss.
A heavy shell struck the Undaunted and carried away
part of her superstructure. The two remaining
torpedo boats of the enemy, except the one being
pursued by the Sylph, suddenly turned and dashed
directly at the Undaunted, evidently intending to ram
her.
Captain Fox avoided a collision with promptness and
skill, and the torpedo boats sped by without touching
her. Now the Loyal launched a torpedo at the
first German craft. It sped swift and true,
and a moment later there was but one German left in
condition to continue the fight. Thinking to
avoid unnecessary loss of life, Captain Fox called
upon the German to surrender. The kindly offer
was rewarded with a defiant reply, and the German
made another swift attack upon the Undaunted.
