There was a sudden burst of speed on the part of the destroyer, which was immediately allowed for.
‘Down 400. Close rate 200. Rate 750 closing! Shoot!’
‘Good hunting!’ he muttered, as the destroyer swerved in her path and, apparently badly injured, commenced to alter her course so as to get out of action.
Smoke and flame were belching from her forward, whilst amidships a ragged hole in her side could be seen from which great clouds of steam came out in gasps. She was heeling towards him, and the crew could be seen plainly through glasses, fitting on their life-belts and dragging at the falls of their badly damaged whaler. Rafts were being cast loose, and the deck was strewn with bodies which, even as they watched, commenced to roll slowly down the sloping deck.
‘Not much need to worry about him!’ thought the lieutenant. ‘He’s finished. Time to get on with the next.’
The second destroyer had been attended to by the ship astern, but the third was still coming on, apparently uninjured. She was rapidly altering both course and speed in order to avoid the deadly salvoes and spoil the range-finding.
‘Oh, that’s your game,’ said the officer. ‘We’ll see what we can do for you.’ Speaking down the voice-pipe again, he shouted: ‘Object shifted. Third destroyer from left. Range 8500. Same deflection and rate! Salvoes! Shoot!’
All-overs was reported by the spotter.
‘Down 400. Shoot!’
‘One hit, others short!’ shouted the spotter.