登陆注册
5191600000117

第117章

stupefaction, resumed their duty with the same mechanical precision as before.Amidst their dead and dying comrades, about whom nobody could trouble himself for the moment, they stood in the pools of warm, human blood, which made the deck slippery, and quietly served the gun which had not been seriously damaged.

A very young naval cadet, who had been sent down to the engine-room from the Prince-Admiral's conning-tower with an order, met Heideck on the narrow, suffocatingly hot passage.He was a slender, handsome youth with a delicate, boyish face.The blood was streaming over his eyes and cheeks from a wound in the forehead.

He was obliged to lean with both hands against the wall for support, while, with a superhuman effort of will, he compelled his tottering knees to carry him forward, his sole thought being that he must keep upright until he had fulfilled his errand.When Heideck inquired sympathetically after the nature of his wound, he even attempted to wreathe his pale lips, quivering with pain, into a smile, for in spite of his seventeen years he felt himself at this moment quite a man and a soldier, to whom it was an honour and a delight to die for his country.But his heroic will was stronger than his body, wounded to death.In the attempt to assume an erect military bearing before the Major, he suddenly collapsed.He had just strength enough to give Heideck the Admiral's order and ask him to carry it out.Then his senses left him.

In another battery the store of ammunition had been exploded by a shell.Not a man had escaped alive.Heideck himself, although since the beginning of the engagement he had recklessly exposed himself to danger, had hitherto, by a miracle, escaped death that threatened him in a hundred different forms.He had been permitted, by express command of the Prince, to stay a considerable time in the upper conning-tower, from which the Imperial Admiral directed the battle, and the deliberate calmness of the supreme commander, steadily pursuing his object, had filled him with unshaken confidence in a victory for the German fleet, in spite of the numerical superiority of the English.

Ever since Heideck had heard the news of Edith Irwin's death from Brandelaar, all purely human feelings and sensations that connected him with life had died in his heart.He was no longer anything but the soldier, whose thoughts and efforts were filled exclusively with anxiety for the victory of his country's arms.All personal experiences were completely forgotten as if they had taken place ten years ago.At this moment, when the existence or extinction of nations was at stake, his own life was of so little importance to him that he was not even conscious of the foolhardy intrepidity with which he risked it at every step.

Majestic and powerful, sending forth death-dealing flashes from her turrets and portholes, the Wittelsbach had hitherto proceeded on her way, not heeding the wounds which the enemy's shot had inflicted in her hull.An almost thankful feeling for the glorious ship which carried him arose in Heideck's breast.

"You do honour to the great name you bear," he thought.Through smoke and steam he looked up at the conning-tower, where he knew the Prince-Admiral was.Then he saw it no more, for suddenly a thick, black cloud overspread his eyes.He had only felt a slight blow in his breast, but no pain.He tried to lift his hand to the place where he had been hit, but it sank powerlessly.It seemed as if he were being turned round in a circle by an invisible hand.

Thousands of fiery sparks shot up suddenly from the dark cloud--the night closed completely round him--deep, impenetrable night, and still, solemn silence.

Major Hermann Heideck had found a hero's death.

.......

A torpedo-boat that had been summoned by signal hurried up at full speed to the Admiral's flagship which was lying on her side.Abroadside torpedo had struck the Wittelsbach; and although there was no fear of her sinking, it was impossible for operations to be directed from her any longer.

Regardless of the danger it involved, the Prince-Admiral had himself and his staff transferred by the torpedo-boat to the Zahringen, on which his flag was at once hoisted.

.......

The progress of the engagement had hitherto been favourable to the German fleet to a surprising extent.Its losses were considerably less than those of its numerically far superior enemy, and its ships, with few exceptions, were still able to fight and manoeuvre.

同类推荐
  • 一贯问答

    一贯问答

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 钱农部请师本末

    钱农部请师本末

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 渤海国记

    渤海国记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 十住毗婆沙论卷第

    十住毗婆沙论卷第

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • A Dissertation on the Poor Laws

    A Dissertation on the Poor Laws

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 霸汉(3)

    霸汉(3)

    西汉末年,王莽篡汉,酿就天下大乱。汉室武皇刘正七次蹄踏皇城,以无可匹敌的武力屠尽王莽的各道势力,但其仍不是宿命之帝,心灰意冷终让复国大业由天而定。无赖少年林渺出身神秘,从小混迹于市井之中,一身痞气却满腹经纶,至情至性,智深若海。偶涉武道,以天纵之资无师而成绝世高手,凭借超凡的智慧和胆识自乱世之中脱颖而出。在万般劫难之后,恰逢赤眉绿林之乱,乃聚小城之兵,以奇迹般的速度在乱世中崛起。他巧造声势,妙借诸雄之力,更以无人能敌的勇猛与战无不胜的军事天赋,带领一群忠心不二的部下征战天下,慑服群雄。历经千战终独霸大汉江山,成一代无敌皇者。他就是——东汉光武帝刘秀!
  • 沙弥罗经

    沙弥罗经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 此木宁远

    此木宁远

    木秀于林,风必摧之。顶级狙击手汤木在隐退两年后重新执行机密任务,和敌人同归于尽。再次醒来时,失去记忆的她重生到三线女星叶瑾初身上。凭借着曾经身为特种兵的能力,她开始揭开叶瑾初背后的秘密;殊不知一个惊天的阴谋也在逐渐浮现。“就算改变了身份和容貌,我依然爱你唯一不变的灵魂。”她与军界兵王的重逢,会擦出什么样的火花?“离开这里,活下去。”与昔日挚友绝境重逢,她又会做出什么样的选择?当你凝望深渊的时候,深渊也在凝望着你。这一次,不要再化身怪物了。
  • 权倾天下之妖妃传

    权倾天下之妖妃传

    昏暗的房间里,只剩下了两个人的身影交错着……低沉的说话声让这里的氛围变得更加的压抑,只是这一切终在此结束。三十年的光阴荏苒,岁月沉浮,终究在此而终结。这是一个女人一生的沉浮史,是岁月里那纠缠不清的情缘史,是无法摆脱的命运史……且看她云起云落,岁月浮沉?
  • 东观汉记

    东观汉记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重生后每天都在掐桃花

    重生后每天都在掐桃花

    某天,BK总裁毫无预兆地在发布会上高调宣布自己的婚讯。当记者问到结婚对象时,他轻轻丢下一句“江家小废物”就离开了会场,只留下全场的因那句话而带来的冲击。江·小废物·星眠:“……”???她是整个京都名流圈的笑话,也是江家最不受待见的“废物”。他是全京都最为矜贵的天之骄子,却也是玩世不恭,桀骜不驯的纨绔前世,她不敢认他,却害了他,这一世,她一定要主动出击,紧抱他的大腿,告诉他:“我江汉三又回来了!”(1v1,双洁。)
  • 节气里的村庄(下)

    节气里的村庄(下)

    农谚说:稻黄一月,麦黄一夜。一颗颗饱满的稻粒仿佛是羞涩的少女,低垂着头,不过,她们都在“咯咯咯”开心地笑着,仿佛要把这丰满成熟和喜悦传染到乡村里的角角落落。晚上,西南风刚歇脚,不知是谁在仍光着上身的男人后背摸了一把,凉嗖嗖的。转身一看,原来是秋姑娘捎来了一把北风秧子,让人感到不再那么溽热烦躁了,脸上就多了一层惬意。板桌上,蚕豆味里裹夹着大麦烧,让男人们激动不已,还有那劣质水烟飘到东飘到西,女人们飞针走线地牵扯着一段又一段的闲话。这时候的流萤,打着灯笼忽高忽低地在星夜里寻觅着失落的宝贝。
  • 不忘初心,换一生平心静气

    不忘初心,换一生平心静气

    记得,有人说:“真正的平静,不是避开车马喧嚣,而是在心中修篱种菊。尽管如流往事,每一天都涛声依旧,只要我们消除执念,便可寂静安然。”是的,如果我们心静了,就无须真正远离喧嚣,无须真正远离纷扰,不管身在何处,都能寻得桃源入口,头枕清风,尽享人生美丽风景。
  • 武印之尊

    武印之尊

    太云大陆,武道兴盛,世家门派,正魔相争。一场消失已久的争斗再次席卷而来,笼罩了整个大陆。在这场混乱当中,出生于一个小村庄的顾凡,要如何才能够生存下来。在面对着重重危机,他要如何走上这武道的巅峰,看看争斗背后究竟是什么人在作祟。可当他揭开了谜团之后,等待着他的还有更大的危机,武印现世,纷争再起,何人能够问鼎成尊!
  • 借贷危机

    借贷危机

    借贷,资本圈特有的一种融资行为。2011年以来,在浙江省温州市引发了一场因为民间借贷而导致的中小企业资金链断裂的“借贷危机”。这是一个偶发性的事件吗?为什么中小企业不去借银行的钱转而去借利息高昂的民间高利贷?为什么中小企业的资金链会突然断裂?中小企业的出路到底在哪?因温州引发的“借贷危机”会在中国蔓延吗?中国除温州外还有什么地方存在民间借贷触发危机的高危地带?对于这场“借贷危机”,我们该怎么办?您将在本书中找到你所要的答案。