THE BATTLE
"Now for it!" cried Jack, as the first shell from the British
cruiser splashed up the water only a few yards in front of the
Emden.
A second concussion was heard and an English shell struck the
heavy armored side of the German cruiser.
The sailors and officers raised a loud cheer. It was first blood
for the Sydney, and the sailors aboard that vessel also let out a
yell of delight.
So far the Emden had not answered the Sydney's fire. However,
she was dashing rapidly ahead, seeking to get within range. Two
more shells from the Sydney struck the Emden before she finally
managed to get within range, and opened fire with the 4-inch guns
in her forward turrets.
The results of the first salvos from the German guns were nil.
The range finders on the Emden had evidently not calculated
properly. The water leaped into white sprays ahead of the
Sydney, indicating that the Emden's first fire had been wasted.
But the next attempt o the Emden met with better success. A
solid shot struck the Sydney, squarely on the bow. The Sydney's
armor was, too strong for the German guns at this distance,
however, and while the vessel staggered slightly, she was not
damaged to any extent.
It became apparent early in the battle that the marksmanship of
the Sydney's gunners was much superior to that of the foe. The
range-finders were attending to their work with coolness and
precision. The fire was deliberate and accurate. It was slower
than that of the Emden, but far more deadly.
A shell struck upon the Emden's deck near the forward smokestack
and burst. Iron and steel flew high in the air and came down in
a deadly hail, killing and maiming many members of the crew.
The smokestack toppled to the deck, pinioning many more beneath
it.
Quickly a squad of men sprang forward and soon cleared away the
wreckage. But the carrying away of the smokestack now hampered
the draught of the Emden and made progress much more difficult.
Nevertheless, she still continued to pour her shells against the
armored sides of the Sydney.
Now the first shot landed among the gun crew of the Sydney,
putting one of the guns out of commission, killing three of the
crew and wounding several others. Those three men were the only
ones killed on the Sydney in the whole course of the battle.
Suddenly those aboard the Sylph became aware that the fire of the
enemy was not as rapid as before. The reason for this they soon
made out. One of the forward guns of the Emden had been,
silenced by the well-directed fire of the Sydney.
A moment later another of the enemy's guns became silent--and
then another. Up to this moment the Emden had been rushing as
rapidly as possible toward the Sydney, but now she paused in her
advance, almost stopped, swung about in a wide circle, and made
off in the other direction.
It was plain that she had had enough. A cheer went up from the
British sailors, both on the Sydney and aboard the Sylph. But
Captain Glossop, of the Sydney, had no mind to let his prey
escape. The Sydney dashed in pursuit of the enemy at full speed,
and a fierce running battle ensued.
The Emden's stern guns continued to play upon the Sydney as she
made a wild dash for the distant shore. She was headed for the
nearest point of land, and the question that now rose in the
minds of the spectators aboard the Sylph was whether the Sydney
could come up with her before she could find a certain amount of
refuge in what appeared to be a small cove.
The excitement aboard the Sylph was intense. Men shouted and
yelled, calling words of encouragement and advice to the fellow
sailors aboard the British battle cruiser, forgetting their
voices could not be heard.
As the Emden turned and made off, Jack cried out:
"She's running! She's liable to get away!"
"Don't you believe it!" called Frank excitedly. "The Sydney'll
catch 'em!"
"What's the Emden heading that way for?" asked Jack of Lord
Hastings, who stood beside the lads.
"My idea is," replied the commander of the Sylph, "that von
Mueller intends to beach the ship."
"In that event will he and his men try to escape inland?"
"I suppose so."
The Sydney continued her chase, seeming to gather additional
speed at every furlong. Her heavy shells played a merry tattoo
upon the stem and deck of the fleeing German cruiser.
But the Emden was now gradually drawing toward land. Suddenly,
she swerved and headed straight for a huge reef that could be
seen protruding above the surface of the water. A cry of dismay
went up from those aboard the Sylph.
But the cry was uncalled for. For even as the Emden swerved in
her course, a British shell burst squarely upon the bridge of the
German cruiser.
At the same instant a second found 'its way through the various
compartments to the engine-room.
There was the sound of terrific explosion, and a red sheet of
flame sprang above the cruiser. Even above the cries of battle
came the cries of German sailors, maimed and suffering horribly.
Another salvo from the Sydney put the steering apparatus of the
Emden out of commission, and now instead of steering straight for
the rocky reef, she turned her broadside toward it.
Swiftly she floated toward this dangerous projection. Almost
helpless as she was, Captain von Mueller evidently had no thought
of surrender. The three guns still in commission aboard the
vessel continued to hurl their messages of defiance at the
Sydney.
Suddenly rapid movements of those aboard the Emden told that one
of the submerged torpedoes, still undamaged, was about to be
launched. Quickly the Sydney maneuvered a trifle to the left,
and the huge explosive sped on to the sea beyond, doing no
damage. Now the second torpedo was launched, but it had no
better success.
Now the Sydney made use of her own torpedo tube, and a moment
later this engine of destruction sped through the water toward
the Emden. There was no need for a second. A terrible explosion
told that the torpedo had found its mark.
High above the burning cruiser a second sheet of flame flared up,
and at almost the same instant the Emden beached. There was a
loud crunching sound as the cruiser grounded on the rocky reef
and was battered by the heavy waves against the uneven projections.
To launch the small boats in this place and make for the shore
was impossible. The boats were launched, and the crew tumbled
in. One made off toward the shore, but it could not live in the
fierce breakers, and in a moment disappeared.
The other boats, warned by the fate of the first, put off toward
the open sea.
"Do you suppose Captain von Mueller will remain and perish with
his ship?" asked Frank of Lord Hastings.
"I do not believe so," was the reply. "There is no need for it.
If the ship were sinking, it would be another matter, but as you
see, it is not. It appears to be caught hard and fast on a
ledge, and is burning up."
It was true. Stuck suddenly fast on a rocky ledge, the Emden was
almost stationary. Flames continued to leap on all sides of her,
and it was plainly apparent that it would not be long before they
would reach her magazine; and when they did reach it, that would
be the end.
As the German small boats headed seaward, the Sydney ceased
firing at the now helpless vessel, and bore down on them. It was
plain that Captain Glossop was bent upon capturing the survivors.
Small boats and the Australian cruiser were now probably a mile
from the burning vessel, and the Sylph had started forward also
to pick up some of the German sailors.
At this moment the flames reached the magazine of the Emden.
There was a blinding flash, a terrific detonation. The Emden
sprang from the sea like a thing alive, seemed to hang in the air
for a brief moment, then turned and dived head-first into the
sea. The waters closed over her with an angry hiss, and the
German cruiser Emden, for months a terrible menace to British,
French and Russian shipping, "The Terror of the Sea," was no
more.
"A fitting end for so noble a vessel," was Lord Hastings' only
comment as the cruiser disappeared from the world's ken.
The Sylph was nearing the little flotilla of small boats, and
several were put off from the vessel to join the small craft of
the Sydney and take the surviving Germans prisoners.
Frank and Jack were in the first boat. As they, drew closer,
Jack made out a uniformed figure in one of the German boats that
he felt sure was the commander of the Emden.
He steered his boat closer. It was plain that there would be no
further resistance from the Germans, and Jack finally managed to
steer his boat alongside that of Captain von Mueller.
The latter made no protest when Jack ordered him to step aboard
the Sylph's small boat, and did so without a word. Immediately,
the little craft turned about and put back to the Sylph, leaving
the other small craft to attend to the rest of the German
survivors.
Of the Emden's crew Of 361 officers and men, there were less than
75 left alive. Dead and wounded alike had gone to a deep-sea
grave when the German cruiser took her death plunge.
Lord Hastings stood at the rail of the Sylph as the little boat
drew alongside.
Jack and Frank clambered over the side of the ship ahead of the
German commander and, with Lord Hastings, stood waiting to
receive him.