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or the launch belonging to the _Almirante Cochrane_. This craft had, like Jim's boat, several times made the circuit of the bay; and she was away down at the south end of the harbour when her lieutenant in charge first heard the sounds of firing. He immediately guessed the cause and, putting his engines at full speed, raced along toward the spot where he could see the rifles flashing, and before he had gone very far he had the _Blanco Encalada's_ beacon-fire to help him. As the launch came rushing along toward her consort, Jim blew his steam- whistle three times to attract her attention, and he was only just in the nick of time, for the Peruvian would have been in front of the _Cochrane's_ launch in another half-minute. But like a hawk upon its prey the _Cochrane's_ boat dashed forward, her commander determining to hazard all in one stroke, instead of using his guns. He aimed straight for a point which the torpedo-boat must pass in a few seconds, and went ahead full speed. The impact was so violent that the Peruvian torpedo-boat collapsed like an eggshell, the _Cochrane's_ launch driving right over the wreck without doing herself any very serious injury. The torpedo-boat's boilers exploded as she sank, and probably killed every remaining man among her crew, for not a single living being was to be found when the Chilians proceeded to search for the survivors. This exciting little episode over, Jim and his consort resumed their patrol of the harbour until daylight, when their long and trying vigil ceased. The ships finished coaling by five o'clock in the afternoon of the new day, and immediately stood out to sea, much to Douglas's relief, for he felt that another night like the last would have been too much for him. Once outside the harbour, the two ironclads turned their heads to the south again; and Riveros made the signal that Antofagasta was to be their next port of call. It was 3:30 a.m. on the 8th of October when Jim was awakened by a stentorian cry from the deck of "Two ships ahead!" Galvanised into alertness he listened intently, and heard the officer of the watch calmly reply, "Where away?" There was a short pause, and then the seaman answered, "Three points on our port bow. They are hull-down; but there are two columns of smoke approaching at a great speed from the south-east. They are about twelve miles away and, so far as I can make out, are just abreast of Point Angamos." Jim did not
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