"Signal the engine room to slow down," said von Ludwig to Jack. Jack obeyed and the ship came to a pause. Apparently the men below believed the Germans had recaptured the ship. "If Harris is still in command down there, we are all right," said von Ludwig. "If not, there will be more of the enemy up here in a minute." And within a minute more of the enemy appeared. "Back here, Chadwick!" exclaimed von Ludwig. "Never mind the wheel." Frank sprang to the shelter of the bridge, Jack and von Ludwig protecting his retreat. Frank drew his revolver. A German poked his head from the companion-way and Frank took a snap shot. The head disappeared and there was a howl of pain. "Got one, I guess," said the lad quietly. The effect of this shot was to infuriate the Germans. The first officer commanded a charge on the bridge. Ten men dashed forward at the word. Now the four in the shelter of the bridge--von Ludwig, Frank, Jack and the man who had come from the after part of the vessel, stood to their full height and fired into the crowd. From the rear, the three other British also poured in a volley and the lookout stepped into the open and fired. Caught thus between three fires, the Germans were at a loss what to do. One man dropped and the others dashed for the protection of the companionway. Before reaching there, however, the first German officer gave the command to scatter and several of the Germans posted themselves behind whatever shelter offered on deck. The battle had reached a deadlock. The British could not expose themselves without danger of being struck by a German bullet; and the Germans confronted the same situation. "Signal the engine room, Jack," instructed von Ludwig. "We must know whether Harris is still alive." There was no response to the signal. "Poor fellow," said von Ludwig. "They probably have done for him." From time to time Jack signalled the engine room, thinking perhaps that Harris had only been wounded and that he might answer. Upon the fifth signal he received an answer. Then Jack signalled: "Full speed ahead." A moment later the vessel leaped forward. There came a cry of consternation from the Germans, who tumbled back down the steps. As they did so, Frank again sprang to the wheel and brought the head of the _Bismarck_ sharply about--for since he had released his hold on the wheel the vessel had been drifting. Quickly the lad lashed the wheel with several lengths of cable and then sprang back to the bridge amid a volley of revolver bullets from the Germans who still held the deck. None hit him. Below, in the engine room, Harris was facing heavy odds. Before answering Jack's signal, after regaining consciousness, he had closed and barred the engine-room door and now he paid no attention to the hammering upon it. He smiled grimly to himself. "You won't get in here as long as that door holds," he said. "Before that I should have assistance." The pounding upon the door continued.