her isn't far from
company, you may be pretty sure. She's help near, and from that help
I'm going to cut her off, and quick. Take your stand here by me, and
watch the seas while I manage the light."

He had his hand upon a little tap which enabled him to throw the arc
upon every point of the horizon, and, as the light travelled, he asked
me--

"Do you make out anything? Is there more of 'em at her heels?"

"Nothing that I can see; she seems alone."

"Then God help her, though we're only running two engines. Now watch
the shot."

The focus was then upon the cruiser, whose own light kept playing upon
the horizon as though searching for a convoy she awaited. But when the
conning-tower shook with the thunder of our fore gun, the other reeled,
and her arc light went out with a great flash.

"That's a hit," I exclaimed with ridiculous want of control; "I believe
you've hit her abaft the funnel. Yes, I can see the list on her; you've
hit her clean."

His face never moved at the intelligence, but he rang the order "Hard
to port!" and we weathered round, showing our aft turret to the enemy,
whose bark for the moment was stilled.

"Watch again," said Black, as he rang to the turret chamber, and the
aft gun roared; but I could not see that the shot struck, and I told
him so.

"I'll give that parson a dozen if he does that again," he remarked,
unmoved by the crash of a shot which struck us right under our turret.
Then he took a cigar and spoke between his teeth when he had lighted
it--

"There's twelve inches of steel there," he said with a laugh; "let 'em
knock on it and welcome. Don't you smoke?--I always do; it keeps my
head clear."

Two more shots, one right above the engine-room and the second at the
ram, answered his levity.

"Come on, you devils!" he blurted out with glee. "Come in and dance, by
thunder, while I play ye the tune! Now hearken to it."

We came up again, and fired at the cruiser, hitting her right under the
funnel, and a second time near her fore gun, so that you could see her
reel and shiver even under the rays of the search-light. Nor did she
answer our firing, but rolled to the swell apparently out of action.
All this I could see, and I answered the skipper's hurried and anxious
questions as every fresh movement was visible.

"What's she doing, eh?" he asked. "Did that stop her? Is she coaling
up, or does she signal? Lord, if I had the oil I'd sweep the sea from
New York to Queenstown. Wh