THE LAST SEA BATTLE

The cannonading became terrific.

Now that assistance arrived, Jack ordered the Essex, which still was the nearest British vessel to the enemy, back into the fray.

“The big fellows will look out for us,” he confided to Frank.

The revolving turrets of the Essex were kept on the move and guns crashed as fast as they could be brought to bear.  Shells struck on all sides of the destroyer and occasionally one came aboard.  But thanks to Jack’s maneuvering of the vessel, so far she had not been struck in a vital part.

The main British fleet bore down on the enemy from two sides, and to protect themselves against these new foes, the Germans were forced to turn their attention elsewhere than the Essex.  Already big shells from the British warships were striking aboard the enemy.  The range had been found almost with the first fire from the approaching war vessels and the Germans were replying as fast as they were able.

The fighting was at such close range now that Jack was able to distinguish the names of the German battleships.  In the center, flying the flag of Admiral Krauss, was the Bismarck.  On the right of the flagship were the Hamburg and the Potsdam, while on the left the flagship was flanked by the Baden and the Wilhelm II.

The fire of all five German vessels, at order of the admiral, was now directed upon the Lion, which bore down swiftly and was perhaps a quarter of a mile closer to the enemy than any other British craft except the destroyer Essex, commanded by Jack.

The forward guns of the Lion roared angrily and spat fire in the darkness as she bore down on the Germans at full speed.  As yet no enemy shell had struck the Lion, but she had put several shells aboard the nearest German battleship—­the Baden.

Now that the German fire had been momentarily lifted from the Essex, Jack ordered his ship in closer; and a veritable hail of shells were dropped on the Potsdam.  For a moment or so the Germans paid no attention to the destroyer, but the fire from Jack’s men became so accurate that the captain of the German ship found it necessary to disregard the admiral’s orders and turn his attention to the Essex in self-defense.

The first shell from the Potsdam flew screaming over the bridge of the destroyer, but did no damage.  The second was aimed better.  It struck the bow of the destroyer on the port side and plowed through.  The destroyer quivered through her entire length.

“Go below and report, Mr. Chadwick,” Jack commanded.

Upon investigation, Frank learned that the shell had plowed through the forward bulkheads and that the outside compartments were awash.  But the inner compartments had not been penetrated.  He rounded up the ship’s carpenter, who announced that the damage could be repaired in half an hour.  There had been no casualties.

Jack accepted Frank’s report with a brief nod; then gave his attention again to fighting his ship.