y craft are bombarding the little
fishing village of Helston. It's an unfortified, small port."

"That's the kind the Huns would prefer," returned the ensign, with a
savage smile.

"Ask the chief engineer if a bit more speed is obtainable; then sound the
bell in Mr. Fernald's cabin."

A knot an hour more was soon forced from the "Grigsby's" engines, though
at that racing gait it would have been difficult for an amateur observer
to have detected the fact that speed had been gained. The "Reed," too,
leaped forward.

Minute after minute of breathless racing followed. Presently the flashes
of guns could be made out ahead against the darkness of the night.
Helston showed no lights, but the sound of bursting shells located the
fishing village to those on the bridges of the approaching destroyers.

"The hounds!" blazed Dave, indignantly. "Up to their old and favorite
game of killing defenseless people!"

Long ago the crew had been called to quarters. Everything was in
readiness to attack the enemy.

"Three of them, and all destroyers, judging by the size of the flash of
their guns," Darrin judged.

Throughout the war it has been a favorite trick of the enemy, when the
opportunity offered, to send these swift craft out on night attacks. No
other craft on the seas, except Entente destroyers, are capable of
pursuing and overtaking German destroyers when they flee.

"Open fire when we do," was the signal flashed to the "Reed."

"We're ready," came back the instant answer.

Two minutes later one of Darrin's forward guns flashed out into the
night. From the "Reed" there came a similar flash.

"Let 'em have it, fast and hard!" ordered Dave.

As the two destroyers sprang forward, firing at full capacity, the three
German craft turned and steamed toward them.

"They outnumber us, and think we'll turn tail!" exulted Dave. "They may
sink us, but if we do go down at least we'll try to carry our own weight
in enemy ships down with us!"

Though he did not make an unnecessary movement, all of Darrin's calm had
vanished. He watched every one of the "Grigsby's" shots, his eyes
flashing, breath indrawn. When he saw a hit his glance was snapping. Many
of the shells, however, splashed in the water only, for now the five
engaged craft were circling about each other in a life-and-death
struggle.

As they circled and zigzagged the German craft did not offer a very
certain mark. Darrin and Dalzell were maneuvering in similar fashi