all on board, nor did any of its ill-fated victims come to the
surface again.

The two lads, now clinging to pieces of wreckage, continued at
the mercy of the sea, and also in constant danger of being struck
by an exploding shell, while they swam slowly toward the Sylph.

In one final despairing, attempt to sink the Undaunted, the last
German destroyer launched another torpedo. By a wonderful
maneuver the British cruiser again avoided the projectile, which
sped on through the water.

Swimming, the boys could plainly follow its flight. As the
Undaunted swung out of the way to avoid it they could see that
the missile had a clear path to the Sylph.

With a gasp the boys saw the torpedo speed toward the little
scout cruiser. Lord Hastings had not seen the projectile
launched -- because a view of the German ship had been obstructed
until the Undaunted swung out of the way -- and no effort was
made to avoid it.

The torpedo crashed into the Sylph on the water line, and the
explosion which followed must have torn through all the various
compartments to the engine room, for there was a second loud
explosion, steam leaped up on all sides of the Sylph, and when it
had cleared away, there was no Sylph to be seen.

The little scout cruiser had disappeared; vanished, had been
destroyed.