Instinctively both men lowered their glasses and stood with uncovered heads until the music died away and only the dark blue bodies of our boys were seen where a mighty ship had gone down. “We’ve but one life to give!” Hood exclaimed. “It’s a pity we haven’t the tools now to make that life count for more!” The little torpedo boat flotilla closed in and dashed headlong for the submarines. To the surprise of the watchers not one of the undersea craft dived or yielded an inch. Their five-inch disappearing guns leaped from the level of the water and answered our destroyers gun for gun. Their decks were awash with the sea and armored so heavily that little danger could be done by our shells. The battle of the sharks was over in thirty minutes. Not a single destroyer escaped. They had dashed headlong into a field of more than a hundred dreadnaught submarines. One by one our destroyers broke in pieces and sank to rise no more. A few dark blue blots on the smooth waters could be seen--all we had left afloat--and they were sinking one by one without a hand being lifted to their rescue. The imperial armada was mistress of the seas. The great ships moved majestically in and prepared to shell the shores to clear the way for their landing. CHAPTER XXVI So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies. The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons. The tragedies of this battle were no less grim and desperate. Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk. They saw one of these couriers descending in swift, graceful circles. He landed on the sand dunes, sprang from his seat and saluted the General. “Well, sir?” General Hood cried. The birdman was a smiling young giant with blond hair and fine blue eyes. They were sparkling with pride. “It was some fight, General--believe me! Our fellows covered themselves with glory--that’s all! I nearly died of heart failure because I couldn’t go in with ’em.” “How many escaped?” “I didn’t see any of the boys try to get away, sir--” “They all fell?” “Oh, yes sir, of course, they all fell--but, take it from me, they gave those fellows merry hell before they did--” He paused and mopped his brow.