They had hit us in the stern, and evidently low down.
Jumping to my feet and half stunned by the shock, I rushed down below, and attempted to discover the extent of the damage. The shell had crashed right through the after bulk-heading, and had exploded in the ward-room.
The wreckage was fearful. As far as I could tell from a hasty glance round, there was not a single thing untouched.
I had no time to observe details though, but I noticed that the foremost water-tight doors had held good, and the water, which was now coming in very fast astern, would thus be prevented from gaining on the fore part of the vessel.
But were the screws touched, or the steering-gear?
"A SHOT CARRIED AWAY A FUNNEL AND KILLED POOR TAYLOR."
"A SHOT CARRIED AWAY A FUNNEL AND KILLED POOR TAYLOR."