A Lively Bit of the Front

own in M

deep voice. "It's only the Padr

ecognized

on the crowd. Someone struck a match, and held it so tha

n the upper deck. I'll follow you out. We are not going over

ed by some troops, who, detailed for duty, had not attended th

s cleared. The first signs of panic nipped in

rest land?" enquired one

nderneath your feet,"

he emerged into the open air he remarked to the Chaplain: "My word,

y repudiated the statement; but he was conscious of a peculiar sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. To a man not a sailor by profession the knowledge that only a comparatively thin steel plate, and fractured at that, is between

o, Ma

ed into the face of his right

n't recognize your

stick together. Why aren't they lowering the b

is as well.

rang out. The

There has been a slight explosion in a bunker. One compartment--the for'ard stokehold--is floode

and chances of the catastrophe. The explosion had been an internal one, sufficient to cripple

who yelled out something about bei

the man in questio

d give you poison," declared th

, "if I were in C Company

non; I've noticed it before. While there's danger they are as well-behaved as kids in a drawing-room; directly it's over they let themselves go and

assistance, I've been

e's a faster boat, you know. But I might add," he said, lowering his voice, "that we've been warned that the See Adler is somewhere

h two 4.7 guns both mounted aft. These were of little use against a swift hostile craft should the latter approach on a bearing three degrees on either side of the Awarua's b

sation by her depredations in the Atlantic, until British cruisers made that locality too hot for her. She vanished mysteriously. There were vague rumours that she had been sent to the bottom by one of the A

d by coal-sacks and mealie-bags, were kept ready for instant action, while each company took duty in tur

y from the flooded stokehold to the adjoining compartments. The ship's artificers were busily engaged in repairing the fractured main steam-pipe. It was just possible that the vessel might be able to proceed under her own steam, either back to Wellington or else to Port Stanley

of hard work. Parades, boat drill, physical exercises, almost filled the bill; but even then there were plenty of enthusiasts

s arriving upon the scene. Two hours later, in the starry night, the new arrival

e boys showing their relief at the thought that the tedious period of immobility was at an end. The repairs to the steam-p

ound that Transport 101 was hull down to the west'ard, while a couple of cable-length

was a loquacious Welsh-man, always "in the know", and one of the r

of the cruiser. "How's that, eh? Sorter objec' lesson on the great

just the right momen

eant. She's been hoppin' about us for the last three days. I 'eard our O

asked Car

that the Dutchy would have a smack at us, and then she'd butt in. Howsomever, they say as a jap crui