s in keeping with the scene of desolation.

Suddenly the deafening blast of the _Hunbilker's_ siren rent the air.
It was the prearranged signal that she was in readiness; it was also
her challenge to the Kiel-tied German fleet.

Ten minutes later a lurid flash, followed by a dull booming noise, came
from the nearmost of the two vessels Ross had previously noticed.

"Either mine or torpedo," remarked Barry casually. "It doesn't
signify. They won't sink her in a hurry."

"What is she, sir?" asked Vernon.

"Our opposite number, the _Snark_," replied the Lieutenant-Commander.
"See, she's steaming northwards, without any apparent injury. It will
be our turn before very long."

At frequent intervals the siren shrieked, as if calling to the rest of
the squadron for assistance. Then out of the rising mist, for with the
break of day a thin pall of vapour rose from the ice-flecked water,
leapt two German torpedo-boats.

"Port side, all hands!" roared Barry.

Officers and crew put the greatest possible distance between them and
the side of the ship exposed to the hostile craft. Without slackening
speed, the torpedo-boats described a sharp curve. Their officers must
have wondered why they were not greeted by the stranded battleship's
quick-firers. As they turned, two gleaming objects flopped
ungracefully from their decks and disappeared with a splash beneath the
surface. Each boat had fired a torpedo from her broadside tubes.

From the place where the midshipmen stood, they were not able to follow
the track of the formidable missiles; but they had not long to wait.
Both torpedoes struck almost simultaneously--one abreast of the for'ard
dummy turret, the other fifty feet farther aft.

High in the air rose a column of water mingled with fragments of iron
plating; while in their place of hiding the two lads were smothered
with cork-dust and blackened cotton that had been blown from the space
betwixt the outer and inner hulls.

"It's lucky for us that they didn't use their quick-firers," remarked
Barry. "They would have pulverized us before our destroyers romped up.
By Jove, Haye, that dog of yours looks as though he likes it! Hulloa!
There you are!"

The Lieutenant-Commander pointed to the southward. A rift in the mist
disclosed a two-masted, two-funnelled armoured cruiser about two miles
off.

"The _Prinz Heinrich_ or the _Fuerst Bismarck_," declared Barry. "We've
turned 'em out. Hope to goodness our litt