But help was at hand. One of the covering destroyers had witnessed her plight. Adroitly manoeuvring, she came right alongside the burning ship.
"Jump, men!" shouted Barry.
There was no time to be lost. The danger of the flames communicating with the shells and war-heads on the destroyer's deck was to be taken into consideration.
"Come on, old man!" exclaimed Ross, as his chum looked anxiously about him.
"Where's Shrap?" asked Vernon. "He was here a minute ago."
In the confusion, occasioned by the rush of men to leap upon the destroyer, the dog had vanished.
Without a word Vernon ran towards the companion leading to the half-deck. Above the roar of the flames and the hissing of steam, he had heard the well-known bark of his pet.
"Silly ass!" muttered Ross; but he, too, followed his chum.
Wreaths of thin smoke were issuing from the companion as Ross gained the head of the ladder. Putting his muffler round his mouth, he groped his way down. 'Tween decks the air was full of smoke. He could hear Shrap's insistent bark, and Vernon's voice as, amidst fits of coughing, he called to his canine companion.
"Whatever is the matter with the brute?" thought Ross, as he fought his way along the half-deck.