From these shore reports, it seemed that the huge submarine was circling about the steamship lane again, boldly attacking everything that came in her way; but it was not until next day that the destroyer got out of the air a bona fide call for help. This was from the radio of the British steamship Western Star bound up the Cape of Good Hope.
She had merely time to repeat her S O S signal when her spark was cut off. Doubtless the radio plant of the freighter was destroyed by shellfire.
She had, however, given the Colodia clearly her situation, and the United States destroyer started upon another of those remarkable dashes for which she and her sister ships were originally built.
There was a chance that they might reach the spot where the Western Star was being held up before the submarine could get away; and the Colodia’s crew was at stations, ready for what was coming.
CHAPTER XVII—THE SPITFIRE
That was a great race, as the boys declared. The engines of the Colodia seemed to pick her right up and fling her onward over the sea.
They passed no other ship, and after the breakdown of the Western Star’s wireless, they got but vague whispers out of the air, and nothing at all about the huge German submarine that was attacking the British freighter.
The lookout tops were filled with excited men and boys; every member of the crew was on the alert. Tearing on through the calm sea, the destroyer reeled off the miles as fast as ever she had since her launching.
Two hours passed. Keen ears distinguished intermittent explosions from a southerly direction. Then a smudge of smoke appeared on the horizon, as though a giant’s thumb had been smeared just above the sea line.
“There she is!” went up the cry from the destroyer’s crew.