One of the Navy youngsters was down in the living compartment cleaning up when the ship was struck. Some one in a boat hanging at the davits, seeing him hurry along the promenade deck, asked which boat he belonged in. “Number Four boat,” he replied. “This is Number Four. Jump in,” urged the other, and the boy answered: “Not on your life! I’ve got to go to my gun.” Unfaltering, the stricken _Finland_ ploughed along at fifteen knots with a great chasm in her side, while the anxious _Corsair_ and the destroyer _Smith_ hovered close and felt unspeakable relief when the Ushant Light was seen on the port bow in the early evening. Before midnight the _Finland_ had passed through the Raz de Sein and was safely anchored in Morgat Bay, beyond reach of submarines. Next morning her escort led her into Brest Harbor and the _Finland_, _Smith_, and _Corsair_, three weary ships, rested at the mooring buoys. The _Corsair_ courteously signalled the _Finland_: The officers and men of the _Corsair_ express their admiration of the spirit shown by your officers and men in sticking by their ship and bringing her safely into port. The _Finland_ gratefully signalled back to the _Corsair_: Thank you. I congratulate the spirit and efficiency of your command and thank you for the personal assistance in a trying time. Ships and men are much alike. Some are tenacious, hard to knock out, standing punishment, and gallant in adversity. Others crumple under defeat and surrender at one blow. The _Finland_ had a long record of faithful and successful service as one of the favorite passenger steamers of the Red Star Line between New York and Antwerp. She had the reputation of having lived up to the expectations of her builders. They had tried to make her a staunch ship that would hang together. When the cruel test came, the bulkheads stood fast, the water-tight doors did their duty, and the concussion failed to start the engines from the bed-plates. The _Finland_ was placed in dry-dock in France, but mechanics were scarce and the work dragged. Thereupon the American Army was called upon, and from the ranks came riveters, structural workers, machinists, who turned to and repaired the ship in record time. The _Corsair_ had been spared the unhappiness of seeing this fine ship lost while under her protection. And of all the ships which went in and out while the _Corsair_ was engaged in convoy duty, it was her good fortune to behold only the _Antilles_ sunk by torpedo attack. CHAPTER VI ADMIRAL WILSON COMES TO BREST