All followed her excepting the disabled Levity, which remained rolling helplessly within point blank range of the Schiller's guns. The explosion of the shell in her engine-room had burst one of her main steam-pipes, crippling her for the time. Her own 4-inch guns were served, but her shells fell short. Below decks the men kept grimly at their work in their efforts to repair the damaged machinery, and all the time shells fell fast and thick round the wounded vessel.
"It looks as if we were done for, this time," the commander admitted to one of his lieutenants, as Rodney Redisham mounted to the bridge to give a report from the chief engineer. "We can't live long through this."
"Unless one of the flotilla should return and take us in tow," suggested the lieutenant. "They don't seem to realise that we are crippled, sir."
"I am not going to ask for help, however," the commander resolved. "It would be too risky for one of them to come back now." He lighted a cigarette. "We will just hold on with our flag flying until we sink. Anyhow, we have done our duty."
"The chief engineer says he can't repair the steam-pipe without drawing the fires, sir," Rodney reported.
"Thank you, Redisham," nodded the captain, "We will stick to the ship, but see that every one wears a life collar."
He continued to pace the bridge. The officers stood each at his post waiting for the end. No mercy could be expected from the Germans. The Schiller had now only one small target within range, and although her gunners were aiming badly, yet here and there a sailor dropped wounded by flying shrapnel, and more than one shell burst inboard, wrecking cabins and killing two men.
Ah! Suddenly the Lupin, with magnificent British pluck, was seen bearing down upon the Levity at full speed, little heeding the fact that she was charging into an inferno, and that at any moment a well-placed shot might sink her. She was coming to the help of her sorely-tried consort.
With splendid seamanship she was brought round. Not a shot touched her. She came close alongside. A rope was thrown to the Levity; a hawser was quickly passed and secured. In another minute both destroyers would have been out of danger; but just as the Levity was hauled round broadside on to the German guns, the strained cable snapped.
All seemed over now. There could be no escape for either the stricken Levity or her daring rescuer. The gunlayers on board the Schiller, fearing that they were being baulked of their prey, redoubled their efforts to sink her.