Suddenly the two ships took their final plunge. Men still on board, those of the crew who had been frightened and had not cast themselves into the sea, straightened instinctively as they felt the vessels give beneath them. In the presence of death--when they knew it had arrived-- they were as brave and courageous as in the midst of battle. So there was silence aboard the _Queen Mary_ and aboard the _Indefatigable_ as the waves parted for their coming. All on board, officers and members of the two crews as well, stood calmly, waiting for the dark waters to close over them. The two ships made a last desperate effort to resist the call of the sea. They failed. A moment later they disappeared from sight. No sound came from the depths. When Frank and Jack had felt themselves in the water, the latter, realizing immediately what would happen if the ships sank before they had put some distance in between them, struck out swiftly toward what he felt to be the south, giving Frank a hand as he did so. The latter recovered himself a moment later, however, and gasped. "I'm all right, Jack. Let me swim for myself." "All right," said Jack, "but keep close beside me. We'll have to hurry or we shall be pulled under by the suction when the ships sink." Keeping close together they swam with powerful strokes. And so it was that they were out of harm's way when the two ships disappeared from sight with a deafening roar as the waters closed over them; they were beyond reach of the suction. "There they go," said Frank, sadly. "And it is only a miracle that prevented us from going with them," said Jack. "We might as well have gone as to be in the middle of the North Sea," said Frank. "Nonsense. While there's life there's hope." They swam on. Suddenly Jack's hand came in contact with something in the darkness. "A man!" he exclaimed. "What did you think I was? A fish?" came the reply. "I've a right to escape as well as you." "Who are you?" asked Frank. At that moment, as suddenly as it had descended, the fog lifted. Jack looked at the other man in the water and uttered an exclamation of pleasure. "Harris!" he cried. CHAPTER XIX ADRIFT The great naval battle of Jutland was over. The British fleet now had given up pursuit of the fleeing Germans and Vice-Admiral Beatty paused to take stock of his losses; and they were enormous. Three great battle cruisers had gone to the bottom--the _Queen Mary_, of 27,000 tons; the _Indefatigable_, of 18,750 tons, and the _Invincible_, of 17,250 tons. Cruisers lost included the _Defense_, of 14,600 tons; the _Black Prince_; of 13,550 tons, and the _Warrior_, of 13,550 tons. The giant battle cruiser _Marlborough,_ of 27,500 tons, had been badly damaged, as had the _Lion_ and other vessels. The destroyers _Tipperary, Turbulent, Nestore, Alcaster, Fortune, Sparrow Hawk, Ardent_ and _Shark_ had been sunk. Total losses ran high into the millions and in the number of men above 7,000.