"I would advise that you have the submarine keep away, for if she comes too close we shall sink her." Lord Hastings made no reply. All the afternoon the Russian cruiser continued her eastward journey, the D-16 trailing behind at a considerable distance. It was five o'clock. Came a cry from the lookout aboard the Russian cruiser. "Cruiser off the port bow!" Instantly all was haste and bustle aboard the war vessel. "German cruiser!" came the next cry, and it was followed immediately by the cry of the Russian commander: "Clear for action!" "Now," said Jack to Lord Hastings, "we shall see how the Russians fight." In spite of the fact that the ship bearing down on them appeared to be much larger, the Russian commander determined to give battle, and this, too, in face of his belief that one of the enemy's submarines was trailing him. At last the vessels came within range. A shell from the German struck the Russian squarely in the bow, cutting a deep hole and sending up a cloud of splinters, which, falling, laid three men low. The first three Russian shells went wild. "Rotten," said Lord Hastings. "I should say so," agreed Jack. "Now----" He broke off suddenly, for at that moment, chancing to glance back, he saw the D-16, half a mile to stern, disappear from sight. "The fight won't last long now," he said to his commander. "Why?" demanded the latter. "Because the D-16 is going into action." "By Jove!" exclaimed Lord Hastings. "If Frank just acts quickly enough." "He will, never fear," said Jack quietly. Still the battle raged. Shells fell aboard the Russian cruiser with great regularity now. Men lay wounded and bleeding upon the deck, in the turrets, and in the engine room, where one German shell had penetrated. But the Germans had not escaped. The Russians, once they had found the range, poured a veritable hail of shells aboard the enemy. The forward turret guns of the German were silenced by a shell that struck the revolving structure squarely and destroyed it. For half an hour the battle raged, and then, suddenly, there came terrible cries from aboard the German, carrying plainly over the water to the ears of the Russians. "Submarine!" came the cry. "We have been torpedoed!" The fight was over. German sailors, those of them who were able, sprang into the sea by the dozens. Others attempted to launch the life boats. And while this was going on, there came a terrific explosion from aboard the enemy, and she sprang into flame, lighting up the semi-darkness for miles around. Lord Hastings turned to the Russian commander, who passed him at that moment. "You have my submarine to thank for this victory," he said quietly. The Russian bowed gravely, and replied: "I know it. I have treated you badly. I am sorry. However, I am willing to answer for my actions, for I had the good of my country at heart." Lord Hastings stretched forth a hand. "I am sure of it," he said simply. "I bear no ill will."