ight. We two were alone upon the Atlantic, there to fight the duel of
the nations; and I confess that in the unparalleled excitement of the
moment I rejoiced that it was so; I hoped, even, that the nameless ship
would carry the hour, so much had she fascinated me, so astounding were
her achievements.

This truly was the critical moment in Black's career. He stepped on the
bridge to find Karl wringing his hands, and "Four-Eyes" was no less
uneasy.

"Faith, sorr," said he, as soon as we had come aboard, "it's bad times
intoirely if ye've no oil--we've been working two engines for three
days, and we'll be sore put to ut to kape the third going, if ye can't
mend us."

Karl emphasised the words with stamps and tears and frantic
gesticulation--not lost upon Black, who advanced to the front of the
bridge, and called for silence in a voice that would have split a berg.
A deathlike stillness succeeded; you could hear the wash of the waves
and the moaning of the wind: two hundred upturned faces shone ghastly
white under the spreading beams which the cruiser's lantern cast upon
them.

"Boys," cried Black, "yonder's a Government ship. You know me, that I
don't run after war-scum every day, for that's not my business. But
we're short of oil, and the cylinders are heating. If we don't get it
in twenty-four hours, there'll be devil's work, and we shan't do it.
Boys, it's swing or take that ship and the oil aboard her--which'll you
have?"

There was no doubt about their answer--there could be none. In one way
it was almost as if the cruiser herself gave reply, for there was the
roar of a great gun when Black had finished speaking, and a shot hissed
from above our poop and burst in the seas beyond us. A mighty shout
followed, but was converted instantly into a cry of warning, as the
forward hands sang out--

"Look out aft--the torpedo!" and other hands took up the cry, yelling
"The torpedo! The torpedo!"

The tiny line of foam was just visible for a second in the way of the
light; but, the moment the cruiser had shot it from her tube, she
extinguished her arc, leaving us to light the waters with our own.
There was no difficulty whatever in following the line of the deadly
message, and for a moment every heart, I doubt not, almost stood still.

"Full speed astern!" roared Black, forgetting himself, but instantly
ringing the bell, and the nameless ship moved backwards, faster and yet
faster. But the black death-bearer followed