Douglas Reeman - In Danger's Hour

A heaving-line snaked across and fell short. Then another, this time with a heavy piece of iron on the end, just to make sure. Hands reached out, and Ransome heard the Buffer give vent to some foul language as one of the seamen got under his feet.

But he studied Hargrave, saw him force a grin, and turn to call an order as his ship’s screws stopped, then turned slowly ahead to avoid a collision at the last moment.

Morgan whispered, ‘There she goes, see!’

The blazing L.S.T. was turning on her side, the tanks crashing down and through the thin plating while a few small figures ran away from the sea, which with an almost lazy contempt swept them from their final handhold, and swallowed them as the vessel took a last dive.

A shell crashed into the sea near one of the Rescue M.Ls. Then another, so that the launch gathered speed and scuttled into a bank of drifting smoke.

Morgan said nothing, but thought, Now it’s our turn.

Ransome held his breath as the shining hawser began to nod its way across the gap. From the bridge, the line being hauled inboard by his men was invisible against the murky water, so that the hawser appeared to be moving unaided, like a great serpent.

There was a cheer as the eye of the wire was made fast and the slack taken in. Ransome looked at the faces of his men near the bridge. Cheering, some laughing, others weeping and holding on to each other, their best friends probably. For they had not all survived this time.

He turned away and saw Mackay watching him. The yeoman said quietly, ‘She always was a good ’un, sir.’

Beckett had been observing Ranger’s agile movements, while she paid out the long hawser until its centre vanished into the drifting oil.

‘I ’ave to admit, ’e ’andles her fair enough. Still, Ranger’s got a good coxswain, o’ course.’

Ransome gripped the oilskin pouch against his aching side.

He said, ‘She trained him well. Like the rest of us.’

Ranger’s siren gave a banshee screech and very slowly at first, then with more confidence, she took the full strain on the tow.

Ransome gripped the rail beneath the smashed screen and watched the other ship until she appeared to be obscured by mist.

Then he said softly, it’s over. So let’s take her home, shall we?’