The German fleet, while not as powerful as the British, nevertheless presented a formidable array of fighting ships. Three first-class battle cruisers and one second-class battle cruiser and a torpedo boat flotilla greater than that of the English were in line, and it seemed to Frank and Jack that the odds were nearly enough equal for the German commander to give battle. However, such was not the enemy's plan; for, once having turned tail to the British, the German ships put on full speed and made as fast as possible for the protection of the German mine field which protected the entrance to Heligoland. It became evident that the enemy would fight only as a last resort. The British fleet was in full chase. First came the _Tiger_, the flagship of Admiral Beatty. Next in line was the _Lion_, a cruiser of the same class, and behind these followed three other powerful English cruisers. At a command from the flagship, the British torpedo boats headed in the direction of the German ships of the same class, which had borne off a trifle to the north. So far not a shot had been fired, for the British had not yet drawn close enough to the flying enemy to be within range. Half an hour passed, an hour, and then the great forward turret guns of the _Tiger_ opened upon the rear German ship, which proved to be the _Bluecher_, a cruiser of the second class. The first shot went wide, and the second. But with the third shot the British gunners found the range, and a shell dropped squarely upon the bridge of the _Bluecher_. A veritable cloud of steel and débris of all sorts rose high in the air above the _Bluecher_, and, falling, showered death among the crew. A second and a third well-directed shell struck the _Bluecher_ amidships and staggered her. She reeled like a drunken man, seemed about to roll over on her side, then righted herself and steamed on, but slower than before. Now the _Tiger_, the first British ship, was upon her; but the _Tiger_ did not stop. She had no time to waste on the _Bluecher_, already wounded unto death. As she steamed majestically past, however she poured a broadside into the reeling ship; then sped on in pursuit of the other enemies. Now the _Lion_ also came abreast of the _Bluecher_, and she, too, as she passed, poured in a broadside. It was more than the sinking _Bluecher_ could stand. One last shot she hurled toward the _Tiger_, and almost before the British vessel had drawn away from her, she reeled once more and disappeared beneath the sea. As she did so, her crew hurled themselves into the water. Now the _Lion_ and _Tiger_ had drawn within range of the other German cruisers and their huge shells were raining death and ruin upon them. Suddenly the rear German ship burst into flames, and her pace slackened. Flushed with success, and with victory within their grasp, the British sailors raised a loud cheer, and the British guns spoke oftener and with greater effect than before.