A shell from the German battleship _Lutzow_ exploded on the bridge of the _Marlborough_. The bridge was carried completely away and the commander of the ship was killed, as were half a score of other officers. A second shell struck the _Marlborough_ and carried away her steering apparatus. Absolutely uncontrollable now, the _Marlborough_ drifted toward the _Lion_, with which she almost collided before the _Lion_ could get out of the way. There was nothing that could be done for her until after the battle, at any rate, and the others left her to her fate. Drifting as she was, the _Marlborough_ continued her fire; and of a sudden she put a shot aboard the _Lutzow_ in a vital spot. The _Lutzow_ blew up with a terrible roar. The crew of the _Marlborough_ cheered and waved their hands to their companions on the other British ships. Apparently this was more than the German admiral had bargained for. With his whole second squadron intact and the British apparently helpless, he had thought to crush these few ships before aid should reach them; and then, if the approaching British were not too formidable, to offer them battle also. Now there were only three British ships in line--the _Lion_, the _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_--and these were really not fit nor able to continue the fight. But the men fought on doggedly. None of the others had thought of surrender and no such idea entered the head of a single man aboard any of the British ships. Help was at hand and then the Germans would get the thrashing of their lives, the men told themselves. They would keep the Germans busy until this help arrived. Hardly a man aboard the _Queen Mary_ that had not been wounded. Sweat poured from their faces, hands and body as they continued to fight their guns; and as they fought they shouted and yelled encouragement to one another. "Boom!" There was a different tone to this deep voice and every man on board the hard pressed British ships knew what it meant. The first ship of the main British fleet had come within range and had opened with her biggest gun. Other new voices took up the challenge and within a few moments the roar of battle was at its height once more. Still a considerable distance away, the dimensions of the approaching British fleet now became apparent to the German admiral. He had thought, at first, that perhaps the newcomers would number a few ships, attracted by the sounds of battle, but as he looked at the formidable array now bearing down on him he knew that his plans, whatever they were, had been frustrated. "And we had it all planned so carefully," he said between clenched teeth. He strode up and down angrily, beating the palm of one hand with a knotted fist. "How could they have learned of it?" he cried. "How could they?" He was very angry. An officer approached him. "Shall we draw off, sir?" he asked, and pointed to the fresh British ships bearing down on them.