aft that had survived
proved to be a shade more speedy than either the "Grigsby" or the "Reed,"
so the two craft in chase endeavored to make up for the difference with
active fire.

Some direct hits were made. In a little more than half an hour, however,
the Hun destroyer was out of range of the Yankee guns.

"We'll drive her back to her base port, anyway," Darrin signalled
Dalzell.

So two narrow ribbons of searchlight glow played over the sea, keeping
the enemy in sight as long as possible.

Presently the German's hull vanished below the horizon; then the lower
parts of her masts and stacks went out of sight. Still the two Yankee
destroyers hung on, in a race that they knew they could not win.

Only when Darrin's knowledge of these waters told him that the fleeing
destroyer was safe did he signal the "Reed" to "abandon chase."

Reluctantly Dan Dalzell's little ship swung around, heading to keep the
"Grigsby" company on the new course.

"Tackled superior numbers, and sank two out of three," Dave commented,
calmly. "Not what one would call a poor evening's work, gentlemen."

"It was splendidly done, sir," glowed Lieutenant Fernald.

"We won't take too much credit to ourselves," Dave proposed. "Let us give
some of the credit to luck."

"Not with you in command, sir," protested the executive officer.

"But we did have a lot of luck," Dave insisted.

"The luck that you planned and schemed for, with your mind working like
lightning," Fernald retorted.

He was too much of a man to try to flatter his chief. Fernald spoke from
the depths of complete conviction. He had known Dave Darrin's reputation
at sea even before he had come to serve under this swift-thinking young
officer.

Dave's first care, now, was to inspect the dismounted gun. Only a few
moments did he need to convince himself that the piece was a wreck that
could never be put in use again.

He then descended to the sick bay, where the surgeon and four baymen were
giving tender attention to the wounded men.

"It was a good fight, men," Dave said, as he passed through the bay.

"Then I'm not kicking at what I found," cried one young sailor lad,
cheerily.

"Nor I," added another. "It was worth something, sir, to take part in a
fight like that. Ouch! O-o-o-h!"

Dave paused to bend over the sufferer, resting a hand on his nearer
shoulder.

"I beg pardon, sir," said the lad. "I didn't mean to make such a fuss.
You'll think me a regular baby, sir.