"The strange thing about the Hun," said my companion, as we mounted upward again, "is that he is so amazingly accurate with his big guns. Anyway, as we steamed into range he registered direct hits time after time, and his misses were so close the spray was flying all over us. Yes, Fritz is wonderfully accurate, but"--here my companion paused to flick some dust from his braided cuff--"but when we began to knock him about a bit it was funny how it rattled him--quite funny, you know. His shots got wider and wider, until they were falling pretty well a mile wide--very funny!" and the lieutenant smiled dreamily. "Fritz will shoot magnificently if you only won't shoot back. But really I don't blame him for thinking he'd sunk us; you see, there were six of 'em potting away at us at one time--couldn't see us for spray--" "And how did you feel just then?" I enquired. "Oh, rotten! You see I'd jammed my finger in some tackle for one thing, and just then the light failed us. We'd have bagged the lot if the light had held a little longer. But next time--who knows? Care for a cup of tea?" "Thanks!" I answered. "But where are the others?" "Oh, by Jove! I fancy your party's gone--I'll see!" This proving indeed the case, I perforce took my leave, and with a midshipman to guide me, presently stepped aboard a boat which bore us back beneath the shadow of that mighty bridge stark against the evening sky. Riding citywards through the deepening twilight I bethought me of the Midshipmite who, amid the roar and tumult of grim battle had been "too busy" to be afraid; of the round-headed gunner who, like his gun, was ready and eager for more, and of the tall lieutenant who, with death in many awful shapes shrieking and crashing about him, felt "rotten" by reason of a bruised finger and failing light. And hereupon I felt proud that I, too, was a Briton, of the same breed as these mighty ships and the splendid fellows who man them--these Keepers of the Seas, who in battle as in tempest do their duty unseen, unheard, because it is their duty. Therefore, all who are so blest as to live within these isles take comfort and courage from this--that despite raging tempest and desperate battle, we, trusting in the justice of our cause, in these iron men and mighty ships, may rest secure, since truly worthy are these, both ships and men, of the glorious traditions of the world's most glorious navy. But, as they do their duty by Britain and the Empire, let it be our inestimable privilege as fellow Britons to do our duty as nobly both to the Empire and--to them. VII. A HOSPITAL. The departure platform of a great station (for such as have eyes to see) is always a sad place, but now-a-days it is a place of tragedy.