Commander Adams, followed by Frank and his men, were the first to land.  At that moment no enemy was seen on the Mole.  They found themselves on a pathway on the Mole parapet about eight feet wide, with a wall four feet high on the seaward side, and an iron railing on the Mole side.  From this pathway, there was a drop of fifteen feet on the Mole proper.

Followed by his men and Frank and the latter’s command, Commander Adams went alongside the parapet to the left, where he found a lookout station or control, with a range finder behind and above it.

“Blow it up!” he shouted to Frank, who was close to him at that moment.

Frank gave a command to one of his men.  A moment later there was an explosion and the station disappeared as though by magic.

Near the lookout station aft iron ladder led down to the Mole and three of Frank’s men descended it.  Frank went with them.  Below they encountered half a dozen of the enemy.

It was no time to hesitate and Frank knew it.

“Bombs, men,” he said simply.

Three hands drew back, then were brought forward.  Three hand grenades dropped among the foes.  There were three short blasts, and when the smoke cleared away, there were no Germans to be seen at that point.  Then Frank and his men rejoined the others.

The situation now was that Commander Adams, Frank, their few men and a few Lewis guns, were beyond the lookout station protected from machine-gun fire from the direction of the Mole head, but exposed to fire from their own destroyers, alongside the Mole.

Commander Adams called Frank to him.

“We’re in a ticklish position here, lieutenant,” he said.  “We’re in danger of being shot down by our own guns.  At the same time, if we move from behind this station, we are not in sufficient strength to drive the enemy away.”

“Why not risk our own, fire, sir,” said Frank, “and ask for reinforcements.”

“That’s a request that will have to be made in person,” said Commander Adams, “and it will be rather risky.”

“I’ll be glad to try it sir,” said Frank.

Commander Adams shrugged.

“It’d about as broad as it is long,” he said.  “If you’re shot on the way I guess it will be no worse than dying here.  Go ahead, if you wish.”

Now to gain the needed reinforcements, Frank knew that it would be necessary to return to the side of the Vindictive.  To reach that vessel it would be necessary to pass through places exposed to enemy machine-gun fire.  However, at the moment, the German guns covering those particular spots were silent, so Frank decided to take the risk.

He set out at a run.  At first his appearance was apparently unnoticed, but soon a rain of bullets poured after him.  Two or three times the lad threw himself to the ground just in time.  He was on his feet again a moment later, however, and at last reached his destination safely.