If there's any choice in deaths, I guess that's as good and manly a one as we could choose." "Poor old Hally won't know much about it, anyway, I guess," remarked Darrin, who seemed unnaturally cool.

Possibly he was a bit dazed by the stunning nature of the fate that seemed about to overtake them.
"Maybe the ships will go by us in their final get-away," proposed Dan Dalzell very soberly.
"Not if I'm seaman enough to read the compass by what's visible of the sun," returned Midshipman Darrin.
"Then there's no help for it," answered Dan, choking slightly.

"I wonder if we could do anything for Hallam ?" "We won't do anything to bring him to, anyway," muttered Darrin.

"Under these circumstances I wouldn't do anything as mean as that to a dog!" "Maybe he's dead already, anyway," proposed Dan, now hopefully.
"I hope so," came from Darrin.
Now they saw the not very distant battleships alter their courses and steam slowly away.
All was now desolation over the angry sea, as the battleships gradually vanished.

The two conscious midshipmen were now resolved to face the end bravely.