"Don't you believe it!" called Frank excitedly. "The Sydney'll catch 'em!"
"What's the Emden heading that way for?" asked Jack of Lord
Hastings, who stood beside the lads.
"My idea is," replied the commander of the Sylph, "that von
Mueller intends to beach the ship."
"In that event will he and his men try to escape inland?"
"I suppose so."
The Sydney continued her chase, seeming to gather additional speed at every furlong. Her heavy shells played a merry tattoo upon the stem and deck of the fleeing German cruiser.
But the Emden was now gradually drawing toward land. Suddenly, she swerved and headed straight for a huge reef that could be seen protruding above the surface of the water. A cry of dismay went up from those aboard the Sylph.
But the cry was uncalled for. For even as the Emden swerved in her course, a British shell burst squarely upon the bridge of the German cruiser.
At the same instant a second found 'its way through the various compartments to the engine-room.
There was the sound of terrific explosion, and a red sheet of flame sprang above the cruiser. Even above the cries of battle came the cries of German sailors, maimed and suffering horribly.