With it went the man with the rope.
At the same moment the survivor who was clinging to the dinghy let go his
hold. Stunned by the concussion of the previous shell, he was sinking into
the depths.
'I can't stand that,' cried Roy, and with one spring was overboard and
striking out hard for the drowning man.
The racket and roar were appalling. Some field batteries behind Kephez had
joined in, and the whole night echoed with the quick crashes of the guns,
while the air was full of the train-like rattle of flying shells.
But in all the confusion Ken kept his head. Catching sight of a coil of
line on the deck close by the forward hatch, he sprang for it, made one
end fast to a bollard, and with a shout flung the other towards Roy.
It fell short, but Roy saw it and with a great effort reached it.
'Hang on!' roared Ken at the top of his voice. 'I'll pull you in.'
[Illustration: When the men return from the trenches, they find
sea-bathing most pleasant.]
[Illustration: French and British sailors are friends in play-time as in
war-time.
Pages:
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219