hands in each. Guns' crews stand by!"

Clang, chang, went the engine-room telegraph. Like a greyhound, the
_Capella_ increased her speed, until she was within a quarter of a mile
of the foundering vessel. Then reversing engines, she almost lost way
at less than a cable's length from the transport.

By this time Ross and Vernon were in their respective boats. Before
way was off the ship the falls were paid out and the disengaging gear
cast off.

"Give way, men," ordered Ross.

His scanty crew, for more men could not well be spared, "gave way" with
a will, gaining a couple of lengths before his chum was able to push
off.

With hardly a pause the _Capella_ dashed off, quickly increasing her
pace to full speed ahead, in her quest for the U-boat that had launched
the deadly torpedo.

The _Orontabella's_ stern was now under water. She had a pronounced
list to starboard. Dense volumes of smoke and steam, pouring from her
funnels and hatchways, showed that the water had already invaded her
boiler-room. Above the hiss of the scalding vapour and the rush of
escaping air, could be heard the terrified neighing of a dozen or more
wounded horses, for whom no escape was possible.

Clustering on the fo'c'sle were about twenty or thirty men, the
officers and crew who had survived the explosion; for the death-roll,
especially in the engine-room and stokehold, was very high, men being
overwhelmed by the inrush of water before they could scramble up the
steep ladder and through the narrow hatchway.

The waiting men showed no signs of panic. Those who could swim had not
troubled to don their cork life-belts, but were calmly engaged in
lashing their life-saving devices round the shoulders of their less
fortunate comrades.

[Illustration: THE SINKING OF THE "ORONTABELLA" (missing from book)]

Ross ordered his men to back towards the foundering vessel. He
realized that at any moment the transport might plunge suddenly, and
the danger of being dragged down by the suction was a thing he had to
avoid. There was also a risk of the boat being swamped by the men as
they clambered on board.

"Jump!" he shouted. "Not too many at a time."

Three men accepted the invitation: two good swimmers and a non-swimmer.
The former, grasping their struggling companion by the shoulders,
struck out without much difficulty and reached Ross's boat, where they
were quickly hauled into safety.

Setting the rescued men to take an oar each,