Message after message came from the radio room. Belding came breathlessly to Whistler and Al Torrance with the announcement that it was a sugar ship being attacked, and surely by the raider. Soon the distant reports of guns could be heard.
“If the Susanne can only hold the Heinies off till we get there,” said Belding, who had learned the name of the sugar-laden ship, “we will show them something.”
“We will show them if the German raider isn’t too fast for us,” responded Al. “They say this Sea Pigeon is mighty fast and a pretty nifty boat into the bargain.”
“The old Colodia will show her,” said Whistler with confidence. “Just give us a chance!”
The destroyer plowed on through both sea and fog, while the rumble of the guns grew in magnitude. Whether much damage was being done or not, a good many shots were exchanged by the combatants. It might have been a veritable naval engagement.
The fog swirled about the bows of the Colodia, and the lookouts strained their eyes to catch the first glimpse of the fighting ships. As the fog was thinning from above, the watchers in the tops had the best chance of first sighting the sugar ship and the raider that had attacked her.
A wireless transmitted news of the fight as it progressed. The Germans had not yet succeeded in putting the merchant ship’s radio out of commission. In response, the destroyer had assured the Susanne of her own approach.
“Hold on! We are coming!” the Colodia’s radio had sent forth.
“Enemy half mile off. Steaming two knots to our one,” came the response from the sugar ship.
“Fight it out! We are coming!” repeated Sparks from the destroyer.