'Those on the ship wore waving and cracking Jokes with the others who were already safe down the. ladder. From the flight-deck swung a 17-stone ymmander, red-faced oval, "Come on' landlord,"
sta voice, and he poised halfway
arm, his face spread vith his usual "THIS is luxury torpedoing;* said ne marine lieutenant as he. swung {to safely. We knew he was speaking. of the day before when we wore Giving through heavy seas in a halt ale. "dri sich weather no destroyer could Nave come alongside and. the loss of life might have been heavy.
Towards the bows T could see mon in rubber boats, and one or two swimming in the. water. Whalers Taunehed from the ship were already picking them up. For neatly an hour men sild down the ropes til the docks forward were "packed with men. 'Then we heard a piercing whistle, Gazing upward we saw the Captain's head over she edge of the fight-deck, Cupping his hands he shouted to the men' fo. go-aft and make room for their comrades, The Ark Royal seemed to have steadied, The Captain, certain senter officers and engineer offlecrs with A strong. body "of men remained, A we Were ordered away "Wo could hear the "repeated dull booms of Cepth charges as destroyers searched for the Ark Royal's assailant.
Ship Inclined steeply AAs we veered away from the side realized' how "aevately lit abe Was. She lay ata steep one to the Water, which suggested. motor-ent the oad. with both "wheels off Missing clouds' of steam wore pouring from her, "Sienty we. gazed'at het and yo Llgutenan(-Comnandet thed tp our feelings withthe words "Star fe the sndldt sight 1 have ever stricken carer' to" prevent ang.
The destroyers were. circling the
teem the Ari Royal again Not tint dovkness hia their ship dia the fineers ang me of ihe Ape foyn feck warmth below decks from the Bilo ina Wo hour later we heard the Joyful hell of q'voke caling si "re-haining members of the enginesrost Hq" to, return aboard abi One of the Navy's pocket. destroy geet aloonida othe Hah forches, ud burly slokers scrambled tngetiy' over the falls from eet Srike, from the: Ave Resale tun net was bine aguinst the sk)" bilow ing Qvee the stib, sand" riga fall plow of the lights of ora Whichshe was trying to make 30 de! Speratelgs we could see the dark tic reined below, and then the ship ner eased her spesa and We were {old fe were. on our way" fo Gib tar, 'Two tugs, were thet towing tie Ark, Rotal and "destroyers were Hanaing' by.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.