Once outside we met the Channel swell, and the ship, burying her nose in a huge roller, lifted a ton of green swirling water on to the fo’c’sle, where it broke into creaming cascades at the foot of the fore-turret, smothering the guns in white foam and rushing aft on either side, until, thrown back from the closed battery doors, it sluiced overboard with a baffled roar.
All hands turned to and stowed the coal in the bunkers, after which the decks were washed down with hoses and we went below for much-needed baths.
Then came dinner, after which we went to night-defence stations.
CHAPTER V
ALARUMS AND EXCURSIONS
As we turned out next morning the white cliffs of Portland loomed faintly through the mist ahead, and when we were within half a mile of the Shambles lightship the seven other ships of the fourth battle squadron of the 3rd Fleet, to which we also belonged, hove in sight.
We joined up in station as the third ship of the first division, and the whole squadron proceeded out to sea in single line.
When we were about two miles out the Admiral signalled from his flagship: “Form divisions in line ahead. Columns disposed to port.”