“Boom!”

Again a gun spoke aboard one of the enemy.

“We’re still out of range,” said Jack.  “Let ’em come a little closer.”

As Jack could now see, all six ships had altered their course slightly and were heading directly for the Essex.

“You may come about, Mr. Chadwick,” said Jack.

Slowly the Essex swung about.

“Train your left guns on the enemy,” Jack ordered.

This was done.

“Range finders!”

“Still out of range, sir,” was the report.

“All right But let me know the minute we can strike.”

“Aye, aye, sir.”

“Half speed ahead, Mr. Chadwick.”

“Aye, aye, sir.”

Frank signalled the engine room.

“Boom!  Boom!  Boom!”

Guns spoke simultaneously aboard three of the enemy ships.

“Still beyond range.”

It was Lieutenant Hetherton who spoke.

“Trouble is,” said Frank, “that they will be within range before we are.”

“We’ll risk it,” said Jack.  “It’s up to us to keep them busy until the warships arrive.”

The next fire from the enemy resulted in a screaming shell to port.

“They’ve got the range, sir,” said Frank.

“Make it two-thirds speed ahead.”

The speed of the Essex increased.

But the German vessels were bearing down on her swiftly, and eventually
Jack was forced to call for full speed ahead.

But still the German warships gained.

“They’ve the heels of us, too,” muttered Jack.  “Well, we’ll slow down a bit and trust to luck.  We can’t do any damage unless we get within range.”

The Essex slowed suddenly to half speed.

The German fleet dashed ahead, now in single formation.  This was fortunate for the Essex, for it meant that the guns of only one ship could be brought to bear on the British destroyer at one time.

“Range, sir!” cried the range finder at this point.

“Then fire!” shouted Jack to the aft turret battery captain.

The battery spoke sharply, and the men gave a cheer of delight.

The first shell went home.  It cleared the bow of the first German vessel apparently by the fraction of an inch and smashed squarely into the bridge.  The crash of the shell striking home was followed almost instantly by an explosion.  Timber and steel, intermingled with human bodies, flew high in the air.  This much those aboard the Essex could see by the flare of the searchlight.

“A good shot, men!” cried Jack.  “An excellent shot!”

An excellent shot it was indeed.

Something appeared to have gone wrong with the steering apparatus of the first German ship.  She veered slightly to port.

The target thus presented was an excellent one.

“Fire!” cried Jack again.

The aft battery crashed out and once more the British cheered.