Midshipman Maynebrace needed no spur. In a very few moments he had made his way to the foremast and was climbing the dizzy height by means of the iron rungs that, riveted to the lofty steel cylinder, formed the only means of personal communication with the fire-control platform. The interior of the _Hammerer's_ hollow masts, which were originally fitted with lifts to convey the ammunition to the now discarded quick-firing guns in the fighting-tops, were now utilized for the numerous wires and voice-tubes communicating with the various parts of the ship. Up through the lower top and upwards again the midshipman climbed with the dexterity acquired by long practice, never halting till he disappeared from view inside the elongated steel-plated box known as the fire-control platform. Down again, seemingly at the imminent risk of breaking his neck, young Maynebrace made his way; then, cool and collected in spite of his exercise, he saluted the officer of the watch. "It's the _Lizzie_, sir," he reported, using the abbreviated name by which the British seamen already knew the wonder ship of the year--the super-Dreadnought, _Queen Elisabeth_. "By all the powers!" ejaculated Bourne. "This takes the proverbial biscuit. That's a nasty slight upon poor old Tirpitz: sending our last word in battleships to the Dardanelles." "I pity the Turks, sir, when the _Lizzie_ begins to tickle them up with her fifteen-inchers," said Maynebrace. "There'll be a few people surprised, not only out here but at home." So well had the Admiralty plans been kept a secret that, until the _Hammerer's_ ship's company saw the super-Dreadnought almost within the limits of the Ægean Sea, the _Queen Elizabeth's_ presence was totally unexpected. The mere fact of her being sent out to the Near East indicated the gigantic task before the Allies: the forcing at all costs the hitherto supposedly impregnable defences of the Dardanelles. Majestic in her business-like garb of grey, and with her eight monster 15-inch guns showing conspicuously against the skyline, the _Queen Elizabeth_ overhauled and passed her older consort as easily as an express overtakes a suburban train. For five minutes the "bunting tossers" on both ships were busily engaged; then, amid the outspoken and admiring criticism of the _Hammerer's_ crew, the super-Dreadnought slipped easily ahead and was soon hull down.