from his bridge, and travelling at the time something approaching thirty knots an hour, he saw an enemy torpedo, ten knots faster, that, in a matter of moments, {42} would strike him amidships. The destruction of the _Queen Mary_, had the submarine achieved it, would have more than outbalanced all the German losses, but, by very sharply turning full helm, the impact was just avoided in time--the battle-cruiser and torpedo, till the latter sunk, actually travelling side by side. This was the last sign of hostile reaction to one of the most brilliant little raids in our naval history; and, for the closing picture, we must turn to Admiral Christian, who, with yet another squadron, had been waiting out at sea. To him and Rear-Admiral Campbell had been allotted the task of intercepting any vessels that might have escaped in this direction; and, at about half-past four, some of Admiral Campbell's cruisers met Commodore Keyes in the returning _Lurcher_. Limping along in company with him were the destroyers _Laurel_ and Liberty, and on board her were 220 of the crew of the _Mainz_, Commodore Keyes having laid himself alongside the burning cruiser with the greatest chivalry and skill. The _Laurel_ was by this time quite unable to proceed farther under her own steam, and she was accordingly taken in tow by the cruiser _Amethyst_, the _Bacchante_ and _Cressy_ relieving the _Lurcher_ of her prisoners, and sailing with them to the Nore. Meanwhile, the _Arethusa_, after her fiery ordeals, was in hardly better case than the _Laurel_, and, at seven o'clock, after struggling along homeward at about six knots an hour, found herself unable to proceed farther, and signalled for assistance. Two and a half hours later it was then pitch dark--and with no lights, of course, permissible, the _Hogue_ took her in tow, the {43} necessary arrangements being carried out with the aid of a couple of hand lanterns. So the day ended without the loss to ourselves of a single vessel of any description; and when, many hours afterward, the news having preceded her, the _Arethusa_ returned to harbour, scarred and lopsided--with her eleven dead and seventeen wounded officers and men--it was little wonder that every ship's syren of all that were assembled there blew her a welcome, and that every seaman who could scramble on deck cheered and cheered her again till he was hoarse. {44} CHAPTER III CORONEL The blood-red sun betrayed our spars, Fate doomed us ere we started, Out-gunned, out-manned, out-steamed, we sank, But not, thank God, out-hearted.