Steadily the British fleet bore down on the enemy, the great guns of the Undaunted belching fire as they drew near.
Now Lord Hastings ordered the Sylph—still the closest of the British vessels to the Germans—again into the fray, and in spite of its crippled condition, the little cruiser once more bore down upon the Germans.
Suddenly the nearest German destroyer launched a torpedo at the Sylph. By a quick and skillful maneuver, Lord Hastings avoided this projectile, and a broadside was poured into the German.
Others of the German fleet were too closely pressed by the Undaunted and her convoys to aid the one engaged with the Sylph, and so the two were left to fight it out alone.
Closer and closer together the two vessels came, until they were perhaps only a hundred yards apart. It was evident to those on the Sylph that a shell must have badly crippled the German, for otherwise a torpedo would have put an end to the little British craft.
Unable to check the advance of the Sylph, the German destroyer turned suddenly and made off.
"After her!" shouted Lord Hastings, and the Sylph leaped ahead at the word of command.
CHAPTER III
SAVED FROM THE SEA
The three other German vessels now singled out the Undaunted and concentrated their fire upon her, thinking first to dispose of the more formidable vessel and then to turn their attention to the lighter craft.