"For'ard turret: load with Mark 2 projectile," ordered Captain Brookes. Then turning to Gerald he remarked: "Perhaps that gunner lost his head. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt." The captain's humane consideration was thrown away. The shot had been intentional, and the Turkish admiral, finding there was no reply, prepared for a second round. "Give it to her!" shouted the captain. Mark 2 projectiles, though of low bursting power compared with the _Olive Branch's_ first quality shells, were not to be despised. The right-hand gun of No. 1 turret kicked slightly and emitted a slight bluish haze as the projectile screamed on its way towards the Turkish flagship. The _Azizieh_ was an old ship, being built on the Clyde in 1864, yet her 5 1/2in. belt was still capable of standing a lot of hammering; at least, so thought the Turkish authorities. The 6in. shell took her fairly and squarely amidships, and though the ship was not instantly pulverised--as she would have been had Captain Brookes so wished--her destruction was none the less complete. A small jagged hole marked the place of entry of the projectile; but on the explosion of the shell it seemed as if the vitals of the ship were thrown high in the air. Twice the _Azizieh_ made a double list, then settling down by the stern she showed that her wound was fatal. With true Oriental indifference the Turks had gone into action without throwing overboard their inflammable gear; even their wooden boats were still in davits or on the booms, and these were burning furiously. Calmly the lithe, brown-skinned seamen lowered themselves over the side or plunged into the water. Many were caught by the propellers as the ship, by some inconceivable means, threw her stern in the air and plunged bows foremost beneath the waves, dragging down many of the swimmers in the smoke-enshrouded whirlpool that marked her grave. Then a deafening roar, as the water came in contact with her boilers, gave place to an ominous silence. The _Azizieh_ was no more. That was the end of the action. The rest of the Turkish vessels immediately went about and made off at full speed towards the Dardanelles; while the Grecian admiral, having made a signal thanking the _Olive Branch_ for her intervention--an acknowledgment that Captain Brookes deliberately ignored--retired southward. Thus the near Eastern difficulty was settled with a promptitude hitherto unknown; but, though Captain Brookes was unaware of it, the averting of a European war was not complete. The inevitable struggle was ere long to be diverted through another channel. "See here, Mr. Tregarthen," remarked the American airman, a few days after this occurrence, "I'd just like to have a look inside that wonderful conning-tower. Can you work it?" "I'm afraid not, Mr. Flew; at least, not without Captain Brookes's permission. Why don't you ask him?" "Thanks, I just won't," was the reply. "Don't mention it to him."