re that there
is no danger--we slowed down, merely drifting along southwards towards
the port. I was myself on the bridge, and could see all over the decks.
I could also see preparations going on upon the warship. Ports were
opened, and the great guns on the turrets were lowered for action. When
we were starboard broadside on to the warship, I saw the port side of the
steering-house open, and Rooke's men sliding out what looked like a huge
grey crab, which by tackle from within the wheel-house was lowered softly
into the sea. The position of the yacht hid the operation from sight of
the warship. The doors were shut again, and the yacht's pace began to
quicken. We ran into the port. I had a vague idea that Rooke had some
desperate project on hand. Not for nothing had he kept the wheel-house
locked on that mysterious crab.

All along the frontage was a great crowd of eager men. But they had
considerately left the little mole at the southern entrance, whereon was
a little tower, on whose round top a signal-gun was placed, free for my
own use. When I was landed on this pier I went along to the end, and,
climbing the narrow stair within, went out on the sloping roof. I stood
up, for I was determined to show the Turks that I was not afraid for
myself, as they would understand when the bombardment should begin. It
was now but a very few minutes before the fatal hour--six bells. But all
the same I was almost in a state of despair. It was terrible to think of
all those poor souls in the town who had done nothing wrong, and who were
to be wiped out in the coming blood-thirsty, wanton attack. I raised my
glasses to see how preparations were going on upon the warship.

As I looked I had a momentary fear that my eyesight was giving way. At
one moment I had the deck of the warship focussed with my glasses, and
could see every detail as the gunners waited for the word to begin the
bombardment with the great guns of the barbettes. The next I saw nothing
but the empty sea. Then in another instant there was the ship as before,
but the details were blurred. I steadied myself against the signal-gun,
and looked again. Not more than two, or at the most three, seconds had
elapsed. The ship was, for the moment, full in view. As I looked, she
gave a queer kind of quick shiver, prow and stern, and then sideways. It
was for all the world like a rat shaken in the mouth of a skilled
terrier. Then she remained still, the one