Crosthwaite smiled grimly. The idea of further damage being done to the Warrior seemed out of the question, while he considered he was quite capable of bringing the Calder alongside without denting a single plate.
Ordering "easy ahead", Crosthwaite brought the Calder close alongside the Warrior's port quarter. Although the sea was now running high, and the waves were breaking over the latter's almost submerged quarter-deck, it was comparatively calm under her lee.
"There's your glorified Thames penny steamer alongside, old man," remarked Sefton's chum as the Calder was made fast fore and aft, her deck being little more than a couple of feet below that of the cruiser--so low had the latter settled aft. "No, don't trouble to return my coat. It's positively not respectable for the quarter-deck. Well, so long! I'll run across you again before this business is over, I guess."
Scrambling over the debris, from which smoke was still issuing in faint bluish wisps, Sefton gained the armoured cruiser's side. Poising himself for an instant he leapt on the Calder's deck, followed by Able Seaman Brown.
"POISING HIMSELF FOR AN INSTANT, SEFTON LEAPT ON THE 'CALDER'S' DECK"
"Can I be of any assistance, sir?" enquired Crosthwaite from the bridge of the destroyer.
The commanding officer of the Warrior returned the salute and shook his head. He was loath to detain even one destroyer from the fighting that yet remained to be done.
Amid the cheers of both crews the Calder sheered off, and, porting helm, resumed her course, while the Warrior, in tow of the Engadine, was confronted with the approach of night and a steadily-increasing rough sea.
The badly-damaged Warrior never reached port. After being towed for twelve hours, her position became so serious that the sea-plane carrier hove alongside and removed her crew.