, and the third enemy destroyer was maneuvering for a
position from which she could render herself effective to send Darrin and
his men to the bottom.

Just when it happened Lieutenant Fernald hardly knew, but once more
Darrin stood on the bridge at his side.

"Circle!" Dave shouted. "The shortest circle we can make, so as not to
show our broadside longer than we must."

Running under full speed, and with a helm that she minded, the "Grigsby"
swung around. So unlooked for was this maneuver that the pursuing Hun
craft did not succeed in making a direct hit on the Yankee ship during
the turn.

And then, just as the turn brought him where he wished to be, and at
deadly close quarters, Darrin gave his next order.

Forward leaped the American destroyer. Too late the astonished German
commander saw the purpose of the maneuver.

With knife-like prow the "Grigsby" crashed into the German vessel, the
blow striking just forward of amidships.

As the butcher's cleaver passes through the bone, so did the bow of the
Yankee destroyer go through the Hun.

Yet in the moment of impact Darrin rang the bridge signal to the
engine-room for full speed astern. Nor was this command executed an
instant too soon. Just in the nick of time Dave's gallant little ship
drew back out of the fearful hole that she had torn in the enemy.

Aboard the Hun craft the yells of dying men rose on the air, for the
enemy destroyer had been all but cut in two.

Listing before an irresistible inrush of water, the German destroyer
almost turned turtle, then sank quickly beneath the waves.

To the northward a muffled roar sounded, followed instantly by another.
Dalzell had let go with both forward torpedo tubes, and both had scored.
The second stricken enemy ship began to fill and sink slowly.

"Shall we stop to pick up men?" called Fernald.

"Too bad, but we cannot linger while one of the enemy craft still
floats," Darrin replied, calmly. "Our first business is to sink enemy
ships. We cannot be humane just yet. Give full chase, Mr. Fernald!"

The German survivor had already turned tail, for these Yankee fighters
were altogether too swift in their style of combat. Dalzell, whose craft
was nearer the fugitive, was now first in pursuit.

To avoid firing over his chum's craft Darrin steered obliquely to
starboard, then joined in the chase, firing frequently with his remaining
forward three-inch gun.

As to speed it proved a losing race. The German cr