THE FREEDOM OF THE SEAS
"When was that?"
"The first year of the war, I think."
"Oh, that! Take it from me, Troy, the Arethusa didn't go near enough that little rock to be seen. That was off the North Frisians, if I remember, and the British ships were careful to pick out a fine misty day. The Arethusa did well, though. I'm not saying she wasn't a plucky one. As I figure that little ruction, this fellow Beatty—wasn't he the chap that time?—had his big ships waiting outside in case the Germans showed fight. The Arethusa went in close to draw 'em out. She did it, too, for a couple of German cruisers met her and smeared her considerable. Then she backed out and had tea and fixed things up and went back to it. And they say—and I guess it's right—that she 'strafed' the two Fritzes before she called it a day. Sank one and set the other afire. There were other ships mixed up in that row: the Lion, the Queen Mary, the Invincible, I think it was, and some more. And I dare say there were destroyers barking around, too. And German subs, maybe, I guess it was a pretty scrap, all right, only it was so foggy and dark no one could see who they were fighting. The British did for three German cruisers and some destroyers, and she took hundreds of prisoners; old
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