Within lay the bodies of the captain, first lieutenant, and three seamen. One of the latter had been struck on the temple with a sliver of steel that had entered the narrow slit in the armoured walls. The rest of the occupants were stunned, as effectually as if each had been hit on the head with a club, for blood was trickling from their mouths and nostrils.
It was no time to render assistance. A glance ahead showed that the "Anzac" was still describing a vast curve. Already she had turned more than nine points and was again drawing within range of the invisible shore-batteries.
Grasping the wheel of the steam steering-gear, the sub. attempted to steady the vessel on her helm. There was no response. The mechanism was no longer in order.
The voice-tube communicating with the engine-room was fortunately intact, although the telegraph-indicator had been shattered by the tremendous concussion. On enquiry, Tressidar learnt that the main steam-pipe of the port engine had been fractured by a shell that had entered the engine-room, although the main force of the explosion had been directed against the coal in the wing bunkers. Down below, the artificer engineers and engine-room ratings were toiling desperately, placing copper sheathing on the fractured pipe and making it secure by means of "lagging" and rope.
Only the starboard engine was running, with the result that, in the absence of control of the helm, the monitor was circling aimlessly.
The sub. tried another voice-tube. To his satisfaction he was answered by the chief quartermaster.
"Hand wheel party present?" enquired Tressidar.
"All present, sir," was the reply.
"Then connect up and stand by."
Quickly the change was made, and once more the battered monitor was under control.