The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-03
upon one of the ships Of Hawkes. fleet
though upon which one he could not, Of

upon one of the ships Of Hawkes. fleet, !
though upon which one he could not, of
course, determine. ~. ~. .-~~--. - -.p.
The two ships were very close together
before they engaged, each reserving his
fire, for a smashing blow, and the men
on the poop decks were already clearly
visible to each other. Grafton could see
the huge form Of de Kersaint standing to
leeward, looking at the Torbay as she
came up. BY his side stood the tall, thin
form Of the old marquis. Behind him rose
the burly person Of faithful TJean-Renaud.
They had embarked, as the marquis had
declared, then. In order to get a better
view of them Grafton sprang up on the
rail, and, steadying himself by the back
stay, stared hard at the little group on
LIE These. Where was his wife, he
wondered with a word Of quick prayer.
Anxiety unspeakable filed his soul.
At the same moment the Frenchmen
recognized him. The marquis pointed
him out to de Kersaint. The count flung
his hand to heaven in a gesture half Of
rapture, half Of prayer, and shouted an
order for LIE These to put up her helm
and swing toward the Torbay. Joy was
! in the Breton's heart and savage deter
mination. The opportunity he had prayed
| for was granted him. @.%z.. -,.-
Hes coming!" cried Grafton to the
men Of his staff, as he saw the move
ment. ITO the batteries, gentlemen! Tell
! them to be ready-By heaven, he's open
ing his mainzdeck ports in such a sea!
Well not be outdone by him. And his is
! the greater risk. Have our main batteries
scaled" .$s<# s.:r@+1 ~, ri
He welcomed the attack with a fierce
pleasure; the distraction Of action alone
saved him from breaking his. heart A
short space OF water and two wooden
walls separated him from his wife-so lit
| tie, yet the water was dashed into mad
| turbulence by the tempest, and the
| vucoSoy, xxya11 Ia mic k,,e
guns ready to sweep him from the sea-
Yet he would have her!.
! Both ships were Of course heeled to
! the wind, but LIE Thesee, being to wind
ward, was forced to fight her lee bat
4 terry; and the main deck ports, as she
lay over under the furious gale, were so
close to the waves that y the waters
splashed and rippled over the port -sills
with every ROLL It was reckless trifling
with the deadliest OF perils, but that he
could do SO indicated the emotions ami
mating the soul Of the French captain.
windward guns, and the inclination
i Of the ship lifted his own
main-deck battery little farther
above the water. Still, his own position
was also dangerous in the extreme.
4 Hawke had opened his main deck ports
but 1t was in the stiller waters Of the bay
that he had done 50. Grafton and de Ker.
, saint were yet off the Cardinals, the yer,
toughest, stormiest position in the melee
| taking place all about them. Their &C.
ton was madness; yet II the Frenchmar
did it in his overwhelming desire to crust
|, the man who had stolen his BRIDE and nov
rolled along under his lee, the Englishma1
!, could do no less than meet him.
simultaneously the two broadside
, roared out. Again and again, as the ship,
: swept on they poured torrent Of de
/ struction upon each other from every gun
: that bore. The firing upon both sides wa
{ fast and furious, but the English. with TIL
advantage Of the weather battery, prove,
s the better gllnners. Many OF the shot from
! the French ship struck the water an,
r glanced over the English ship, but tn
: steady broadside from the Torbay mad
eldeadly havoc on the magnificent Frencl