The Boy Allies Under Two Flags

Robert L. Drake
ஆ The Boy Allies Under Two Flags

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Allies Under Two Flags
by Ensign Robert L. Drake Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.
This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the header without written permission.
Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is important information about your specific rights and restrictions in how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.
**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**
*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****
Title: The Boy Allies Under Two Flags
Author: Ensign Robert L. Drake
Release Date: August, 2004 [EBook #6337] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on November 28, 2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS ***

Scanned by Sean Pobuda
#2 of a series.

THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS
By Ensign Robert L. Drake

CHAPTER I
IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
"Boom! Boom!"
Thus spoke the two forward guns on the little scout cruiser H.M.S. Sylph, Lord Hasting, commander.
"A hit!" cried Jack, who, from his position in the pilot house, had watched the progress of the missiles hurled at the foe.
"Good work!" shouted Frank, his excitement so great that he forgot the gunners were unable to hear him.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The Sylph had come about, and now poured a broadside into the enemy.
Then, from the distance, more than a mile across the water, came the sound of many guns. The German cruisers Breslau and Goeben were returning the fire.
Shells, dropping in. front, behind and on all sides of the Sylph threw up the water in mighty geysers, as if it were a typhoon that surrounded the little vessel. Shells screamed overhead, but none found its mark.
All this time the vessels were drawing closer and closer together. Now, as the little scout cruiser rose on a huge swell, a single shock shook the vessel and a British shell sped true.
A portion of the Breslau's superstructure toppled; a second later and the faint sound of a crash was carried over the water to the Sylph.
"A hit!" cried Jack again.
A loud British cheer rose above the sound of battle, and the gunners, well pleased with their marksmanship, turned again to their work with renewed vigor.
"Lieutenant Templeton on the bridge!" came the command, and Jack hastened to report to Lord Hastings.
"What do you make of that last shot, Mr. Templeton?" demanded the commander of the Sylph. "Is the enemy seriously crippled, would you say?"
"No sir," replied Jack. "I think not. You may see that the wreckage has already been cleared away, and the enemy is still plugging away at us."
"Mr. Hetherington!" called the commander. The first lieutenant of the little vessel saluted. "Yes, sir"
"I fear the enemy is too strong for us, sir. You will have to bring the Sylph about."
"Very well, sir."
A moment later the head of the little scout cruiser began to swing gradually to the left.
Jack returned to the wheelhouse.
"What on earth are we coming about for?" demanded Frank, as his friend entered.
"Lord Hastings believes the enemy is too strong for us," was the other's reply.
"But that's no reason to run, is it?"
"I don't think so, but it appears that Lord Hastings does. I guess he knows more about it than we do."
"I guess that's so; but I don't like the idea of running."
"Nor I."
At this instant there was a. hail from the lookout:
"Steamer on the port bow, sir!"
"What's her nationality?" bellowed Lord Hastings.
"British, sir," was the reply.
"Can you make her out?"
The lookout was silent for a moment and then called back. "Yes, sir; Cruiser Gloucester, sir!"
"Good!" shouted Lord Hastings. "Lieutenant Hetherington! Bring her about again."
The Sylph came back to her course as if by magic, and once more rushed toward the enemy. Several miles to port, could now be seen the faint outline of the approaching British battle cruiser, sailing swiftly, under full steam, as though she were afraid she would not arrive in time to take part in the battle.
"Full speed ahead!" came the order from the Sylph's commander, and the little craft leaped forward in the very face of her two larger enemies.
A shell from the Goeben, which was nearer the Sylph than her sister ship, crashed into the very mouth of one of the Sylph's 8 inch guns, blowing it to pieces.
Men were hurled to the deck on all sides, maimed and
Continue reading on your phone by scaning this QR Code

 / 64
Tip: The current page has been bookmarked automatically. If you wish to continue reading later, just open the Dertz Homepage, and click on the 'continue reading' link at the bottom of the page.