or the launch
belonging to the _Almirante Cochrane_.

This craft had, like Jim's boat, several times made the circuit of the
bay; and she was away down at the south end of the harbour when her
lieutenant in charge first heard the sounds of firing. He immediately
guessed the cause and, putting his engines at full speed, raced along
toward the spot where he could see the rifles flashing, and before he
had gone very far he had the _Blanco Encalada's_ beacon-fire to help
him.

As the launch came rushing along toward her consort, Jim blew his steam-
whistle three times to attract her attention, and he was only just in
the nick of time, for the Peruvian would have been in front of the
_Cochrane's_ launch in another half-minute. But like a hawk upon its
prey the _Cochrane's_ boat dashed forward, her commander determining to
hazard all in one stroke, instead of using his guns. He aimed straight
for a point which the torpedo-boat must pass in a few seconds, and went
ahead full speed.

The impact was so violent that the Peruvian torpedo-boat collapsed like
an eggshell, the _Cochrane's_ launch driving right over the wreck
without doing herself any very serious injury. The torpedo-boat's
boilers exploded as she sank, and probably killed every remaining man
among her crew, for not a single living being was to be found when the
Chilians proceeded to search for the survivors.

This exciting little episode over, Jim and his consort resumed their
patrol of the harbour until daylight, when their long and trying vigil
ceased. The ships finished coaling by five o'clock in the afternoon of
the new day, and immediately stood out to sea, much to Douglas's relief,
for he felt that another night like the last would have been too much
for him. Once outside the harbour, the two ironclads turned their heads
to the south again; and Riveros made the signal that Antofagasta was to
be their next port of call.

It was 3:30 a.m. on the 8th of October when Jim was awakened by a
stentorian cry from the deck of "Two ships ahead!" Galvanised into
alertness he listened intently, and heard the officer of the watch
calmly reply, "Where away?"

There was a short pause, and then the seaman answered, "Three points on
our port bow. They are hull-down; but there are two columns of smoke
approaching at a great speed from the south-east. They are about twelve
miles away and, so far as I can make out, are just abreast of Point
Angamos."

Jim did not