elp was at hand and then the Germans would get
the thrashing of their lives, the men told themselves. They would keep
the Germans busy until this help arrived.

Hardly a man aboard the _Queen Mary_ that had not been wounded. Sweat
poured from their faces, hands and body as they continued to fight
their guns; and as they fought they shouted and yelled encouragement to
one another.

"Boom!"

There was a different tone to this deep voice and every man on board
the hard pressed British ships knew what it meant.

The first ship of the main British fleet had come within range and had
opened with her biggest gun.

Other new voices took up the challenge and within a few moments the
roar of battle was at its height once more.

Still a considerable distance away, the dimensions of the approaching
British fleet now became apparent to the German admiral. He had
thought, at first, that perhaps the newcomers would number a few ships,
attracted by the sounds of battle, but as he looked at the formidable
array now bearing down on him he knew that his plans, whatever they
were, had been frustrated.

"And we had it all planned so carefully," he said between clenched
teeth.

He strode up and down angrily, beating the palm of one hand with a
knotted fist.

"How could they have learned of it?" he cried. "How could they?"

He was very angry. An officer approached him.

"Shall we draw off, sir?" he asked, and pointed to the fresh British
ships bearing down on them.

"No!" thundered the admiral. "Why don't you sink those three ships
ahead of you there? Sink them, I tell you!"

The officer saluted and moved away.

For some moments the German admiral continued to talk to himself in
great anger; then he suddenly cooled down. With a finger he summoned
the officer who had accosted him a moment before. The officer
approached and saluted.

"I forgot myself a moment ago," said the admiral. "You may give the
signal to retire!"

A moment later the big German ships began to come about; and from the
decks of the _Queen Mary_, the _Lion_ and the _Indefatigable_ there
came loud British cheers.

The _Marlborough_, still helpless, poured shell after shell upon the
enemy.

Some distance away still, the British fleet was approaching in an
endeavor to intercept the retreat of the enemy. Captain Raleigh of the
_Queen Mary_ took in the situation at a glance.

"They'll never do it!" he exclaimed.

He determined upon a bold step. He gave