We were of course all ready for action, and I had given orders that all the watertight compartments were to be closed. Taylor now came up and reported everything ready, and the men assembled at their posts ready for any and every emergency. The torpedo tubes were each and all laden with their deadly freight, and the two 4·7 inch quick-firing bow and stern guns were manned; the latter under Taylor's supervision, the former under the gunner's.
I had increased our speed again, and we should soon be within hailing distance of the out-lying French cruisers, and I knew that our immunity could not last many moments more.
And sure enough, the next instant a blinding white light rested for a couple of seconds upon us, throwing every little detail up into a strong relief, and then was gone, leaving the black night blacker than ever by contrast. It was the search light of the nearest Frenchman.
"Spotted, by George!" said Taylor, vehemently. "We're done!"
"Now or never!" I shouted. "Full speed ahead!"
Like a gallant racehorse responding to its rider's whip the little craft sprang suddenly forward, and in a very few moments we were past the cruiser, who had as yet not quite determined whether she had seen us or not, out into the blackness beyond.
As I have already said, the fleet was lying well from us to port, and the cruiser who had seen us was about the only ship we had immediately to fear. But now she began to work all her search lights in our direction, and every few seconds we were disclosed relentlessly in the glare of their 25,000-candle-power lights. The attention of the other ships had by this time been drawn to us, and now several more began to dodge their lights about and around us.
"There she goes, sir," said the Quarter-master at the wheel to me the next instant, as a brilliant flash came from the bows of the French cruiser, followed by a loud and ringing report.
"Not a bad shot," said Taylor, as with a "whirrr-rrr-ooo" the projectile shrieked its way through the air high over our heads.