Trehallow glanced at the signal book.
"Use that and risk it," he replied, adding in an undertone, "s'pose the Tower of Babel is responsible for this."
"Beg pardon, sir?" reiterated the Yeoman of Signals interrogatively.
"Carry on," said the Lieutenant-Commander curtly. So the signal had flashed forth as follows:
"Surrender—I will give you one-fourth!"
The answer was in the negative. The Cerro Algarrobo replied with five or six rounds, one of the projectiles penetrating the Messines' quarter and completely wrecking the Skipper's cabin.
There was no hope for it. Both destroyers reopened fire. In less than thirty seconds an explosion was observed on board the hostile craft. Then, in a pall of smoke, she disappeared beneath the waves.
The crews of both destroyers broke into a round of stentorian cheers. With searchlights still playing on the debris-strewn water, the Messines hastened to search for possible survivors.
Slowing down, she lowered a couple of boats. The Armentières, lying-to a couple of cables away, assisted in the search.
Two half-naked and badly burnt men were rescued from the keel of an upturned boat. Others were observed to be clinging to a large float, somewhat resembling a "Carley" raft, at a considerable distance from the scene of the Cerro Algarrobo's disappearance.