The British sensed the approach of doom. The _Scharnhorst_ paused within the gloom, But then a star shell, bursting high, Illumined her against the sky. The great seabeast began to snort From every nostril turret fort. The _Sheffield’s_ guns belched smoke and flame; _Belfast’s_ quick turrets did the same, The _Norfolk’s_ screaming shell bursts bit The monster’s triple hull, a hit! The _Scharnhorst_ screamed, she turned and fled To mend her wound, to count her dead. _Belfast_ forbade his ships pursue. He judged what _Scharnhorst_ meant to do, Pretend retreat and then renew Attack upon the convoy later. _Scharnhorst’s_ speed he knew was greater, So he kept his course the straighter. _Scharnhorst_ circled east and nor’ward, Hoped to bring her power forward. But the convoy changed its course To shun this grim, abhorrent horse. The cruisers cut the arc and then Awaited _Scharnhorst’s_ charge again. When, hours later, tense with rage, The Scharnhorst, plotted to engage Just merchant ships and escort craft, Had reappeared to run the raft, She met instead the concerted blast Of _Norfolk_, _Sheffield_ and _Belfast_. Once again the salvos thundered. _Scharnhorst_ knew that she had blundered, While her gunners cursed and wondered Shells and fire as before Through the gloomy twilight tore, Swiftly, surely, more and more. The _Norfolk’s_ afterdeck was hit, A blaze of flame, the air was lit. The _Scharnhorst_ did not wait to see What damage or what victory. She turned once more in fearful dread, Homeward set her course and fled. For _Scharnhorst_ was a worthy prize. Correctly had she made surmise That other ships, the British fleet, Would steam to intercept or meet, And so she fled, a wounded beast, To seek the dark, protective east. But all this while, to interplace Between the _Scharnhorst_ and her base, To cut the Nazi monster’s course, To bridle all her vicious force, To leave a wreck of twisted torque, There steamed the mighty _Duke of York_. Two hundred miles away or more The _Duke_ and her destroyers bore When first the battle message came. _Belfast_ continued to proclaim The _Scharnhorst’s_ course, and from this plot The _Duke_, her speed, position got. For brave _Belfast_, and _Sheffield_, too, And _Norfolk_ this time did pursue. The _Scharnhorst_ turned, she headed south, And flung herself into the mouth Of _Duke_, _Jamaica_, and the horde, _Saumarez_, _Savage_, _Scorpion_, _Stord_. “Illuminate the enemy!” _Belfast’s_ bright shell broke high and free. The heavy night with heavy haze Had been descending, but the blaze Of light and brilliance caught the steed, Betrayed her form, her frothing speed.