ing-gear. The tramp swung hard to port,
with the idea of baffling the momentarily expected torpedo.

Kapitan Schwalbe acted up to his principles. In any case he was loath
to use a torpedo upon a comparatively small vessel. In response to an
order, half a dozen of the submarine's crew swarmed on deck, three
going for'ard and three aft. Within forty-five seconds the two
disappearing guns were raised from the water-tight "houses".

Ross, Vernon, and the German Leutnant remained gazing into the bowl of
the periscope. The vision so absorbed the attention of the two lads
that they hardly heeded the presence of Herr Rix, who occasionally
emitted grunts of satisfaction or annoyance as the scene was enacted.

The bow gun spat viciously. The range was but three hundred yards.
The missile passed a few feet in front of the tramp's bows, and,
throwing up a shower of spray that burst inboard on the British
vessel's fo'c'sle, ricochetted a mile or so away.

The tramp's skipper showed his mettle. Round swung the vessel, listing
heavily as she did so. By this time the call for more steam had been
responded to, and dense clouds of black smoke belched from her funnel,
mingled with puffs of white vapour as the siren bleated loudly for aid.

Running awash, U75 had a great advantage of speed; overtaking her prey
she was able to send half a dozen shells into the lofty target
presented as she slid by.

Holes gaped in the thin plating close to the waterline. A shell,
passing completely through the funnel, demolished the siren. Being
without wireless, the tramp was now without means of long-distance
signalling.

Another missile hit the chart-house and, exploding, swept the frail
structure overboard in a thousand fragments. The old skipper, hit by a
splinter of wood, fell inertly upon the bridge; but the next instant he
staggered to his feet, bawling to the crew to get the hand-steering
gear connected.

"He's down again!" exclaimed Ross breathlessly, as the brave old man
dropped upon the shattered planking of the bridge. "Hurrah! He's
still alive."

The skipper had deliberately taken cover behind the slender shelter
afforded by the metal side-light boards. By the frantic movement of
his arm, it was evident that he was exhorting his men to "stick it"
like Britons.

The hail of shells continued. Already fire had broken out on board in
several places. A sliver of metal sheered through the ensign staff.
Without hesitation