if he were on his own Victory.

So huge was the ship that at first he was not aware it had changed course. But the mighty flat-topped vessel to port was swinging about, as were the two lesser vessels within the range of the binoculars. The entire squadron was doubling back upon its course. Oh, to have ships so maneuverable without recourse to whim of wind and weather as these beneath him!

"They'll not be apt to drop a pattern where they've already sought us," Kirkham said in his ear. "So we'll move northeast before we swing back toward the west."

"Where is the British fleet?" Nelson asked.

"North of Scotland with our main body," said the American. "They're supporting the main troop landings to follow the airborne in. Those devils will wish they'd never driven us to fight them before we're through."

"I am glad we are allies," said Nelson.

It was then that a frightening voice came through a sort of horn overhead, announcing that missiles had been detected on their way. Kirkham barked terse orders. Suddenly the ship all around them blazed with fire.

Hundreds of rocket projectiles shot upward into the darkness, picking up speed as they rose. Seconds passed and then, far, far up in the heavens a huge flare of bright white light blazed and subsided.

"Got that one," said Kirkham tersely. "But there'll be more, never fear."

Again rockets rose from the Kentucky and from the other ships of the squadron. Again, seconds later, they hit their target and again the skies were horribly bright. That man could cause such colossal explosions was terrifying and splendid at once. Nelson forgot about his own task, his own imminent death, his own victory, in the tautness of the strange battle being fought around him.

And then, once more, the world shook and an unbelievable brightness blazed and the Briton found himself flying through the air before his senses were blotted out.

He was lying once more on the admiral's walk of his flagship and the familiar creak of rope and mast and the slap of waves against wooden hull were the first sounds that registered through the numbness of his senses.

A considerable portion of the railing of the walk had been torn jaggedly loose and a corner of it slanted ominously 

 Prev. P 10/13 next