The Turkish airman was not lacking in daring. Reckless of the Portchester Castle's anti-aircraft guns, he volplaned from a height of three thousand feet until he had descended to less than two hundred and fifty feet from his target.
In so doing he unconsciously swung to leeward, and got within the maximum elevation of the 4.7-inchers. One of the gun-layers saw his chance and took it. With a shrill screech the projectile sped from the inclined muzzle of the powerful weapon. It was a splendid shot, but hardly good enough, for, without exploding, the shell passed completely through the right-hand planes.
Again the biplane lurched heavily, and side-slipped to within a hundred feet of the sea. Then, with superb skill, the airman righted the damaged machine. He had had enough. It was now his endeavour to save himself by flight if possible.
"Cease fire!" ordered Captain M'Bride in stentorian tones. "She's done for."
Lower and lower sank the crippled aeroplane, despite the efforts of the pilot to keep her clear of the surface of the water. With a strange spiral-like motion the biplane carried on for nearly a mile, then with a tremendous splash struck the water, reared her tail twenty feet in the air, and promptly disappeared from sight.
"There he is, sir; there's the pilot!" shouted a score of voices, as the head and shoulders of the airman were to be discerned bobbing up and down on the waves.
"And he's still alive," added Webb, still keeping his telescope bearing upon the scene of the biplane's dive.
"Away sea-boat!" ordered the skipper, at the same time telegraphing for "Half-speed astern".
There was a rush to man the boat. The jack-tars, who a few moments previously were in danger of being blown to atoms, were now eager to show their appreciation of a brave foe by doing their level best to save his life. Although Johnny Turk had, on several occasions, made things pretty hot for the Allies, the British seamen and soldiers, unanimously regarding him as a clean fighter and far superior in chivalry to the Hun, were quick to recognize his good qualities.
Before way was off the ship the sea-boat, commanded by Dicky Haynes, had been disengaged from the falls, and was pulling strongly in the direction of the airman, who, although unable to swim, was being supported by an inflated air life-belt.