Part 27 (1/2)
CHAPTER XVIII
THE SINKING OF THE ”QUEEN MARY”
Perceiving this move by two vessels that he believed the same as at the bottom of, the sea, so far as fighting purposes went, the German admiral became very angry again.
”A blight on these Englis.h.!.+” he exclaimed. ”Don't they know when they are beaten?”
Certainly it seemed not, if the Admiral's version that they were defeated was correct.
The _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_ steamed after the enemy at full speed.
Jack had relinquished his duties in the gun turret to more experienced hands and had joined Frank on deck. To some extent the forward turret had been repaired and was now in condition to hurl more sh.e.l.ls after the fleeing enemy.
It was well after noon when the Germans fled; and as the two British s.h.i.+ps followed close on the heels of the enemy--with the main British fleet still some distance back--one of those deep impenetrable fogs that often impede progress on the North Sea suddenly descended.
It was indeed a boon to the fleeing Germans, for without its aid, there is little likelihood that they could have escaped the British fleet, which had the heels of the enemy. But the fog blotted the foe completely from the sight of the main British fleet; and even from the decks of the _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_, much closer, it was impossible to make out the whereabouts of the Germans.
The British continued to fire ahead into the fog, but with what result it was impossible to tell.
The fog became more dense until it was impossible to see ten yards ahead. Even the great searchlights on the vessels failed to penetrate the gloom.
”Well, I guess that settles it,” said Frank.
”Looks that way,” Jack agreed. ”These Germans are pretty slippery customers anyhow. It's impossible to catch them in the dark.”
”This fog descended as though it were all made to order for them,”
Frank complained.
”Pretty hard to beat a fellow when the elements are fighting on his side,” Jack admitted. ”I imagine Captain Raleigh will give up the chase now.”
But Jack was wrong, though, as it turned out, it would have been a great deal better for all concerned if the chase had been abandoned at that point.
After some conversation with Captain Reynolds of the _Indefatigable_ by wireless, Captain Raleigh announced that the pursuit would be continued and ordered full speed ahead in the deep darkness.
As the vessel gathered momentum, Frank exclaimed:
”I don't like this. I feel as though something disastrous was about to happen.”
”Another one of those things, eh?” said Jack, grinning in the darkness that enveloped them.
”What things?”
”I never can remember what you call them. Premonitions, I mean.”
”You mean a hunch,” said Frank, quietly. ”Yes, that's just what I have --a hunch.”
”Take it to Captain Raleigh. Maybe he will give you something for it,”
said his friend.