Two shells plowed into the crippled German just on the water line.

“A death wound,” muttered Frank.

The lad was right.

The German vessel staggered under the force of the impact and seemed to reel backward.  Men leaped to the rails and hurled themselves into the sea.

Suddenly there was a loud explosion and the ship seemed to split in two, a blaze of red fire stretching high into the heavens from the middle of the vessel as it did so.  Then blackness enveloped it again and the two parts of the ship fell back into the water with a hiss like that of a thousand serpents.  The first German ship was gone.

It was first blood to the Essex and the crew cheered again.

But the other five German vessels came on apace.  The gun on the forward ship spoke, but the shell went wild.

“If they’ll keep that formation, we might get away with the whole bunch of them,” said Frank.

“Yes, but they won’t,” replied Jack.

He was a good prophet.

Even now, the German vessels began to spread out, and within ten minutes had formed a semi-circle.  It was possible now for the forward guns on each ship to rake the Essex without interfering with each other’s fire.

“Train your guns on the ship farthest to port,” Jack instructed.

The order was obeyed.  Again came the order for range finders, and the report that the range was O.K.

“Fire!” cried Jack.

Once more fortune was with the crew of the Essex.  The range had been absolutely accurate, and the heavy shell from the Essex carried away the superstructure of the German.  At the same moment came a cry from the lookout aft: 

“Warship coming up astern, sir!”

Quickly Jack looked around.

“The first of our reinforcements,” he said quietly.

He gave his attention again to the enemy, who was drawing uncomfortably close.

“Crash!”

Jack whirled sharply.

A shell had struck the Essex just above the water line on the port side.

“Go below and report, Mr. Chadwick!” Jack ordered.

Frank hurried away in response to this command.  He sought the engine room.

“What’s the damage, chief?” he asked.

“Slight,” was the reply.  “Shell passed clear through us, but cleared the boilers.  Better round up the carpenter, though, sir.”

Frank hurried back to the bridge and reported the extent of the damage.  Then he sent a midshipman for the ship’s carpenter.

“Crash!  Bang!”

Another shell had struck the Essex, this time in the aft gun turret.

“Report, Mr. Chadwick,” said Jack briefly.

Frank hurried to the turret.

“What’s the damage, Captain?” he asked of the chief of the gun crew.

“One gun smashed, sir,” was the reply.  “Three of the crew killed and five injured.”

“Other guns still working?”