With Beatty off Jutland: A Romance of the Great Sea Fight

taking advantage of a lull in the firing to put the q

ulars. "With this rotten mist hanging around, one has to be jolly careful not to pitch a salvo into one of our own craft. Wish t

for you," vol

looked at him

or quite ten minutes, unless those Huns take it into their hea

e. They were German light cruisers, which, having had a taste of the salvoes of th

ing the thing; I'd go myself if I were not here on duty with a capital

ady fragments of exploding shells had cut through several

d, passing in the wake of the trained-abeam turrets, reached the only hatc

rdite fumes. Through the brown haze a streak of yellow light played upon the d

through a hatchway. On the stretcher was strapped a wounded pet

s. Ignorant of his terrible injuries, he was insisting on being all

e sub, and knowing that he was new to the ship. "Bulkhead doors are shu

irregular-shaped space, which on one side was bounded by the

argument: two assistant ship's stewards were discus

the discussion--that o

e or t'other," he bega

peaker. "Those casks look a regular disgrace. You haven't polished the

rnalia pertaining to the ship's steward's department. Across the raised coaming of the doorway trip

it the Warrior abreast of the after turret. It was some lit

imself up was the s

b," he remarked nonchalantly, as he heaved the winded petty offic

-room. Slinging it round his neck, he gained the upper

im. "You're only just in time. Those light cruisers have altered helm 16 po

g shells at the leading German light cruiser at 14,000 yards,

although, as Sefton's chum had remarked, th

ire into the head of the approaching column. One of the hostile cruisers, hit by a double salvo from the Warri

inder, for the distance had now decreased to 5000 yards, so that the gun-layers

n, riddled the flagship Defence through and through. Her masts and funnels went by the board, flames

head, other enormous shells straddled her, coming in different

ated Sefton. "We'

not those of Jellicoe's command, but flying the Black Cross ensign of Germany. On the port side, at less than 4000 yards

er calibre, were seemingly doomed to annihilation. All that remained, as far as human judgment

circle of big German ships. In spite of the terrific hail of projectiles rained upon her, the Warrio

ght the whole concern was about to tumble over the side. A shell had shattered the fore-topmast, the debris falling athwart t

s had gone by the board; the remaining pair, perforated like sieves, were held in position merely by the wire guys. A fierce fire was raging aft,

an 11-inch shell, ripping through her 6-inch armoured belt, bu

extinguished by the noxious fumes. The floor of the engine-room was flooded to a depth of four inches with scalding water that surged

desert them, and dozens of heroic and never-to-be-recorded dee

nt the casualties amongst the courageous "black squad". For nearly two miles the Warrior carried aw

Revenge over again, but

red to risk descending through that tornado of shrapnel and flying slivers of molten steel, their means of escape

end, their eyes fixed upon the German battle-cruisers as at interval

ing slowly, yet resolutely, as they sent their projectiles hurtling thro

g with a bandaged hand at a large object looming

gantic battle

ded to administer a coup de grace to the crippled Warrior, and which for the most part rebounded harmlessly from her armour, the Warspite

ire most erratically. Many of the projectiles fell into the sea. Their shooting, hitherto fairly accurate, became wild and

, and round she circled, straight for the enemy's line. Before the damage could be rectified she was hit several times, losing, amongst other gear,

rior. She had played her part. It remained to save herse