TRAPPING THE ENEMY
"Land ahead!" came the cry of the lookout.
It was now early morning, and Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank stood
on the bridge taking a breath of the fresh, invigorating air.
Glasses were quickly leveled, and soon the distant shore was made
out.
"What port are we making for, sir?" asked Jack.
"Port Stanley," was Lord Hastings' reply.
Rapidly the Sylph steamed on, and finally, rounding into the
little harbor, they made out a welcome and unexpected sight.
Frank and Jack cried out in surprise, and even Lord Hastings was
moved to an expression of wonder.
In the little harbor, screened from the sea, riding gently on the
swell of the tide, were eight British ships of war!
"Oh, my!" exclaimed Frank joyfully, doing a little clog dance on
the bridge, "won't we give it to the Germans now!"
Jack was equally as enthusiastic, though he was not given to such
outbursts of emotion, being naturally more quiet.
"It looks like the end of the German squadron to me," he said
simply.
As the Sylph steamed into the little harbor, one of the British
war vessels turned slightly, and a shell screamed over the
Sylph's bow.
"Want to know who we are," explained Lord Hastings.
The British ensign was quickly run up, and there followed a loud,
cheer from the sailors of the fleet.
On the ship closest to shore flew the flag of Vice Admiral
Sturdee.
"I guess I had better pay my respects to the admiral at once,"
said, Lord Hastings. "Would you boys care to come with me?"
"Nothing would please us more," replied Frank, speaking for both.
The Sylph steamed close to the British fleet, and then the three
put off for the flagship in a small boat. Aboard, they were
shown immediately to the admiral's cabin, where the nearness of
the German squadron was rapidly related.
"Fortunate!" cried Admiral Sturdee. "I feared I would have to
chase them all over the sea. I didn't expect them to come to me.
Have you a plan to suggest, Lord Hastings?"
"I fear, Sir Frederick," replied Lord Hastings, "that if you put
to sea to give battle, the Germans will turn and flee upon
recognizing the power of the British fleet."
"True," mused the admiral.
"May I offer a suggestion, Sir Frederick?" asked Jack.
The admiral glanced at the lad sharply, but Jack bore up bravely
under the close scrutiny.
"Speak, sir," ordered the admiral.
"Then I would suggest, sir," said Jack, "that one of your
cruisers be sent out so the enemy may be able to get a bare
glimpse of her. Believing that she is alone, they undoubtedly
will approach to attack. Let the cruiser, retiring slowly, give
battle. When she has drawn the enemy close enough, the remainder
of the fleet can make a dash and nab the Germans before they have
time to flee."
"An excellent plan!" cried the admiral, springing to his feet.
"It shall be put into execution."
With a wave of his hand he signified that the interview was over,
and Frank, Jack and Lord Hastings made their way back to the
Sylph.
That Admiral Sturdee was a man of action became apparent in a few
moments. Unaware just how far off the German squadron was, Sir
Frederick took the necessary steps immediately.
Less than an hour after Lord Hastings and the two lads had
returned aboard the Sylph, the British battleship Canopus got
under way, and steaming away from her sister ships, made for the
entrance to the little harbor, going slowly.
Here she took up her position, steaming slowly back and forth.
As yet, however, there was no sign of the enemy. Meantime, other
vessels in the fleet continued to coal swiftly. Steam was gotten
up and every ship prepared for action.
Against the German fleet of five ships--the armored cruisers
Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the protected cruisers Leipzig,
Dresden and Nurnberg, accompanied by two colliers--the British
admiral, besides the Sylph, would go into battle with eight ships
of war--the battle cruisers Invincible and Inflexible, the
former Admiral Sturdee's flagship, the cruisers Kent, Cornwall,
Carnarvon, Bristol and Glasgow, and the battleship Canopus.
At Sir Frederick's command, every sailor in the English fleet was
given a light meal, and then each man took a cold bath.
Following this, those who were not on watch, turned in for a
brief rest. And to show the hardihood and bravery of the British
tar, there was not a man who showed signs of nervousness or fear.
There was a signal from the Canopus--a signal by flags, for the
British did not wish to betray their presence by the use of the
wireless, which could be as easily picked up by the enemy.
"Enemy approaching," read the signal.
Admiral Sturdee signaled back.
"Engage him when he has approached so close that he believes you
are unable to get away."
The commander of the Canopus signified his understanding of this
command, and continued steaming to and fro, ostensibly guarding
the harbor.
At last the first gray form of a German cruiser came within sight
of those on the Sylph. It was steaming slowly forward,
apparently in no hurry and secure in its belief that there was no
enemy near to be feared.
The Sylph had been stripped for action with the rest of the
British fleet, for Lord Hastings had no mind to keep out of the
battle.
"We've come a long ways to see an engagement," he told the lads,
"and I think we are entitled to a hand in the affair."
"Hurrah!" shouted Frank.
"Good!" said Jack, quietly. "I was afraid we would have to stand
off and look on."
"That's what I was afraid of, too," declared Frank.
"Well, we won't," said Lord Hastings. "Not this time, at any
rate. I guess you will see all the fighting you wish presently."
Still the German squadron came on, apparently unconscious of the
presence of the British battleship Canopus, the only English
vessel that could be seen from the open sea. All seven ships--five
vessels of war and the two colliers--could be plainly discerned now.
"What's the matter with 'em?" demanded Frank. "Surely they can
see the Canopus."
"I guess they are figuring she hasn't spotted them yet," said
Jack. "Believing he has only one enemy to contend with, Admiral
von Spee evidently is trying to get as close as possible without
being seen."
Indeed, this seemed a plausible explanation. At any rate, in
lieu of a more reasonable one, it answered. Men on the Canopus
now rushed hurriedly to and fro, officers darted hither and
thither. The Canopus was ready for instant battle.
All the other ships of the British fleet also had come to life.
Men who had been sleeping hurried to their posts. The gun crews
stood at their places, the range finders were at their posts, and
the officers stood ready to repeat the signal for advance as soon
as Admiral Sturdee should give it.
Stripped to the waists, in spite of the chilly atmosphere
outside, the crew of the Sylph also was ready. There was grim
determination written plainly on the face of every man. In spite
of the apparent superiority of the British fleet, each man
realized that the battle would be to the death.
They knew that, although surprised, the Germans would not give up
without a struggle--that they would battle desperately for
supremacy although outnumbered. Confident of their own prowess
and marksmanship, they nevertheless did not discount the ability
of the foe.
"It will be a furious battle," said Lord Hastings to the lads,
who stood beside him.
"I have an idea," said Frank, "that when the enemy finds he is
outnumbered, he will not engage all his ships, but will try to
protect the flight of most of them with one or two."
"By love!" said Lord Hastings. "I hadn't considered such a
contingency. I wouldn't be surprised if you have hit it."
"I believe he has," said Jack.
"Well," said Lord Hastings grimly, "we will make that our
business. Admiral Sturdee can take care of the fighting part of
the fleet, and we will try to intercept any vessel that tries to
escape."
"But do you suppose we can?" asked Frank.
"We can try," replied the commander of the Sylph, with slightly
compressed lips. "As soon as the Germans engage the Canopus, we
will try to get out ahead of the rest of the fleet and, keeping
out of the thick of battle, steam to sea. Then if any of the
enemy try to get away, with our superior speed we can at least
head them off and engage them until help arrives."
"A first-class plan," Jack agreed. "However, I shouldn't be
surprised if Admiral Sturdee had anticipated such a maneuver by
the enemy."
"Even if he has," said Lord Hastings, "we probably wouldn't be
selected to accomplish the work, and that's what we want to do.
Therefore, we will act without being ordered."
"Good," said Jack.
In the meantime the German fleet had been approaching steadily.
It was apparent that the presence of the British battleship
Canopus, in the entrance to the harbor, had at last been
discovered. A wireless message flashed through the air.
"Surrender or I shall sink you!" it read.
"An Englishman never surrenders!" was the reply flashed back by
the commander of the Canopus.
The German admiral tried again.
"I would avoid all unnecessary loss of life," he signaled.
"Thanks," was the laconic response of the Canopus. "We are able
to take care of ourselves."
To this there was no reply, and still the German squadron came on
without firing a shot.
"Wonder why they don't shoot?" asked Jack.
"Guess they want to get as close as possible first," replied
Frank. "Remember, they believe they have only one to deal with."
"True," said Jack. "But why doesn't the Canopus fire?"
"I suppose," replied Frank, "it's because the commander wishes to
draw the enemy so close that escape will be impossible."
And the lad had hit upon the exact reason. Mindful of his
instructions to draw the enemy in as close as possible before
engaging him, the commander of the Canopus had no mind to open
the battle.
And ever the German squadron was steaming closer and closer to
destruction. But there is an end to everything, and so there
finally came an end to this inaction.
"Boom!"
A single German gun had opened the battle.
There was no reply from the Canopus.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Two of the enemy's ships cut loose at the Canopus.
Still the British battleship did not reply.
But the Germans had not yet found the range, and the Canopus was
untouched, although several shells struck near her.
Then: "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The Canopus had at last opened fire on her foes. And, even as
the first British shell sped across the water, the Canopus turned
and began to retreat.
Fearful of losing their prey, the German vessels increased their
speed and steamed rapidly after her, their big guns continuing to
hurl shells across the water.
The Canopus was replying gun for gun, now, and with each moment
the roar of battle increased.
And then, suddenly, in perfect battle formation, imposing and
majestic in their advance, out of the little harbor steamed
proudly the battle fleet of Great Britain, moving swiftly forward
to engage the enemy!