CHAPTER XXVII
TRAPPING THE ENEMY
"Land ahead!" came the cry of the lookout.
It was now early morning, and Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank stood on the bridge taking a breath of the fresh, invigorating air.
Glasses were quickly leveled, and soon the distant shore was made out.
"What port are we making for, sir?" asked Jack.
"Port Stanley," was Lord Hastings' reply.
Rapidly the Sylph steamed on, and finally, rounding into the little harbor, they made out a welcome and unexpected sight. Frank and Jack cried out in surprise, and even Lord Hastings was moved to an expression of wonder.
In the little harbor, screened from the sea, riding gently on the swell of the tide, were eight British ships of war!
"Oh, my!" exclaimed Frank joyfully, doing a little clog dance on the bridge, "won't we give it to the Germans now!"
Jack was equally as enthusiastic, though he was not given to such outbursts of emotion, being naturally more quiet.
"It looks like the end of the German squadron to me," he said simply.
As the Sylph steamed into the little harbor, one of the British war vessels turned slightly, and a shell screamed over the Sylph's bow.
"Want to know who we are," explained Lord Hastings.
The British ensign was quickly run up, and there followed a loud, cheer from the sailors of the fleet.
On the ship closest to shore flew the flag of Vice Admiral
Sturdee.
"I guess I had better pay my respects to the admiral at once," said, Lord Hastings. "Would you boys care to come with me?"
"Nothing would please us more," replied Frank, speaking for both.
The Sylph steamed close to the British fleet, and then the three put off for the flagship in a small boat. Aboard, they were shown immediately to the admiral's cabin, where the nearness of the German squadron was rapidly related.
"Fortunate!" cried Admiral Sturdee. "I feared I would have to chase them all over the sea. I didn't expect them to come to me. Have you a plan to suggest, Lord Hastings?"
"I fear, Sir Frederick," replied Lord Hastings, "that if you put to sea to give battle, the Germans will turn and flee upon recognizing the power of the British fleet."
"True," mused the admiral.
"May I offer a suggestion, Sir Frederick?" asked Jack.
The admiral glanced at the lad sharply, but Jack bore up bravely under the close scrutiny.
"Speak, sir," ordered the admiral.
"Then I would suggest, sir," said Jack, "that one of your cruisers be sent out so the enemy may be able to get a bare glimpse of her. Believing that she is alone, they undoubtedly will approach to attack. Let the cruiser, retiring slowly, give battle. When she has drawn the enemy close enough, the remainder of the fleet can make a dash and nab the Germans before they have time to flee."
"An excellent plan!" cried the admiral, springing to his feet.
"It shall be put into execution."
With a wave of his hand he signified that the interview was over, and Frank, Jack and Lord Hastings made their way back to the Sylph.
That Admiral Sturdee was a man of action became apparent in a few moments. Unaware just how far off the German squadron was, Sir Frederick took the necessary steps immediately.
Less than an hour after Lord Hastings and the two lads had returned aboard the Sylph, the British battleship Canopus got under way, and steaming away from her sister ships, made for the entrance to the little harbor, going slowly.
Here she took up her position, steaming slowly back and forth. As yet, however, there was no sign of the enemy. Meantime, other vessels in the fleet continued to coal swiftly. Steam was gotten up and every ship prepared for action.
Against the German fleet of five ships—the armored cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the protected cruisers Leipzig, Dresden and Nurnberg, accompanied by two colliers—the British admiral, besides the Sylph, would go into battle with eight ships of war—the battle cruisers Invincible and Inflexible, the former Admiral Sturdee's flagship, the cruisers Kent, Cornwall, Carnarvon, Bristol and Glasgow, and the battleship Canopus.
At Sir Frederick's command, every sailor in the English fleet was given a light meal, and then each man took a cold bath. Following this, those who were not on watch, turned in for a brief rest. And to show the hardihood and bravery of the British tar, there was not a man who showed signs of nervousness or fear.
There was a signal from the Canopus—a signal by flags, for the British did not wish to betray their presence by the use of the wireless, which could be as easily picked up by the enemy.
"Enemy approaching," read the signal.
Admiral Sturdee signaled back.
"Engage him when he has approached so close that he believes you are unable to get away."
The commander of the Canopus signified his understanding of this command, and continued steaming to and fro, ostensibly guarding the harbor.
At last the first gray form of a German cruiser came within sight of those on the Sylph. It was steaming slowly forward, apparently in no hurry and secure in its belief that there was no enemy near to be feared.
The Sylph had been stripped for action with the rest of the British fleet, for Lord Hastings had no mind to keep out of the battle.
"We've come a long ways to see an engagement," he told the lads, "and I think we are entitled to a hand in the affair."
"Hurrah!" shouted Frank.
"Good!" said Jack, quietly. "I was afraid we would have to stand off and look on."
"That's what I was afraid of, too," declared Frank.
"Well, we won't," said Lord Hastings. "Not this time, at any rate. I guess you will see all the fighting you wish presently."
Still the German squadron came on, apparently unconscious of the presence of the British battleship Canopus, the only English vessel that could be seen from the open sea. All seven ships—five vessels of war and the two colliers—could be plainly discerned now.
"What's the matter with 'em?" demanded Frank. "Surely they can see the Canopus."
"I guess they are figuring she hasn't spotted them yet," said Jack. "Believing he has only one enemy to contend with, Admiral von Spee evidently is trying to get as close as possible without being seen."
Indeed, this seemed a plausible explanation. At any rate, in lieu of a more reasonable one, it answered. Men on the Canopus now rushed hurriedly to and fro, officers darted hither and thither. The Canopus was ready for instant battle.
All the other ships of the British fleet also had come to life. Men who had been sleeping hurried to their posts. The gun crews stood at their places, the range finders were at their posts, and the officers stood ready to repeat the signal for advance as soon as Admiral Sturdee should give it.
Stripped to the waists, in spite of the chilly atmosphere outside, the crew of the Sylph also was ready. There was grim determination written plainly on the face of every man. In spite of the apparent superiority of the British fleet, each man realized that the battle would be to the death.
They knew that, although surprised, the Germans would not give up without a struggle—that they would battle desperately for supremacy although outnumbered. Confident of their own prowess and marksmanship, they nevertheless did not discount the ability of the foe.
"It will be a furious battle," said Lord Hastings to the lads, who stood beside him.
"I have an idea," said Frank, "that when the enemy finds he is outnumbered, he will not engage all his ships, but will try to protect the flight of most of them with one or two."
"By love!" said Lord Hastings. "I hadn't considered such a contingency. I wouldn't be surprised if you have hit it."
"I believe he has," said Jack.
"Well," said Lord Hastings grimly, "we will make that our business. Admiral Sturdee can take care of the fighting part of the fleet, and we will try to intercept any vessel that tries to escape."
"But do you suppose we can?" asked Frank.
"We can try," replied the commander of the Sylph, with slightly compressed lips. "As soon as the Germans engage the Canopus, we will try to get out ahead of the rest of the fleet and, keeping out of the thick of battle, steam to sea. Then if any of the enemy try to get away, with our superior speed we can at least head them off and engage them until help arrives."
"A first-class plan," Jack agreed. "However, I shouldn't be surprised if Admiral Sturdee had anticipated such a maneuver by the enemy."
"Even if he has," said Lord Hastings, "we probably wouldn't be selected to accomplish the work, and that's what we want to do. Therefore, we will act without being ordered."
"Good," said Jack.
In the meantime the German fleet had been approaching steadily.
It was apparent that the presence of the British battleship
Canopus, in the entrance to the harbor, had at last been
discovered. A wireless message flashed through the air.
"Surrender or I shall sink you!" it read.
"An Englishman never surrenders!" was the reply flashed back by the commander of the Canopus.
The German admiral tried again.
"I would avoid all unnecessary loss of life," he signaled.
"Thanks," was the laconic response of the Canopus. "We are able to take care of ourselves."
To this there was no reply, and still the German squadron came on without firing a shot.
"Wonder why they don't shoot?" asked Jack.
"Guess they want to get as close as possible first," replied
Frank. "Remember, they believe they have only one to deal with."
"True," said Jack. "But why doesn't the Canopus fire?"
"I suppose," replied Frank, "it's because the commander wishes to draw the enemy so close that escape will be impossible."
And the lad had hit upon the exact reason. Mindful of his instructions to draw the enemy in as close as possible before engaging him, the commander of the Canopus had no mind to open the battle.
And ever the German squadron was steaming closer and closer to destruction. But there is an end to everything, and so there finally came an end to this inaction.
"Boom!"
A single German gun had opened the battle.
There was no reply from the Canopus.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Two of the enemy's ships cut loose at the Canopus.
Still the British battleship did not reply.
But the Germans had not yet found the range, and the Canopus was untouched, although several shells struck near her.
Then: "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The Canopus had at last opened fire on her foes. And, even as the first British shell sped across the water, the Canopus turned and began to retreat.
Fearful of losing their prey, the German vessels increased their speed and steamed rapidly after her, their big guns continuing to hurl shells across the water.
The Canopus was replying gun for gun, now, and with each moment the roar of battle increased.
And then, suddenly, in perfect battle formation, imposing and majestic in their advance, out of the little harbor steamed proudly the battle fleet of Great Britain, moving swiftly forward to engage the enemy!