Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-15

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disappearance. The last glimpse Graf
ton caught OF the group on the poop
deck, de Kersaint still stood with fold
ed arms looking forward The mar
quis took off his hat and looked up to-
ward the flag France, France" he
murmured. He made fine end for a
soldier. The Ems lsh saw it futtering
on the surface of the water for mo-
ment as the mighty spars sank slow
ly down. and then the waves washed
over 1t. The ship was gone Not a
cheer was heard from the English
decks; groan of horror broke from
her men, in fact, as they witnessed
this sinister placement of ship.
Scarcely a minute had elapsed since
the last brOadside was fred. and now
1t was over. A few bits Of wreckage.
a few desperate men clinging to them,
perhaps score out of 800 gallant souls
who had manned and fought her mo-
ment since-that was all. Grafton
gave one agonized glance aft He
thought in the darkness he could
make out the forms of Jean Remand
and his wife in the water drifting on.
Another moment and they We're ,ost
to view.
Have we boat that will swim ?"
he cried in despair to the master.
Not one is left at the davits. sir"
wered that officer. sadly.
Breakers, Breakers ahead!"
roared one of the officers forward.
They were right on the Cardinals.
Up with the helm, Hard up"
shouted Grafton. instinctively. But
the sluggish ship steered slowly. For
few moments She held her way to-
ward the rock They thought she was
doomed also. For himself Grafton did
not care, but for his men, They
waited in awful apprehension. bu, at
last she slowly swung around and
slided by, and peril was ESCAPED
Right next TO her was the French
ship lie Juste, splitting fire and shot
from her guns a the Torbay.
I'VE will attack that ship," cried
Grafton, recklossly turning the prov
of his vessel toward her. Fire on
her Let her have it, mem"
But there was no response to his
command. His guns were silent
Beg pardon, sir, the magazines
were flooded and all our powder was
wetted when We came 50 near founder
ing" reported the gunner who had jusi
come on deck.
"Ah, | had rather have gone down
en- the Cardinals than be thus help
less.' murmured the young command
er, quite beside himself with the dis
appointments and anxieties of the
hour.
Sir, sir some dry powder is
found cried another running up On
the instant.
"Eneage, Engage. them" screamed
Grafton, hcrcel.. His mind was so
overwhelmed by the catastrophe that
he could find no relief save in action,
and presently from the iron muzzles
OF MS not guns once more rang out the
deadly discharge. A savage desire 10
Stay, to Kill, had supplantrd every
other emotion in Graftons heart He
stood, wild-eyed and despairful, mad
u7an on his own deck, melting his men
to action.
After half dozen broa 1sides LIE
Juste badly riyen and shattered.
sheered off and attempted 10 with
draw, having had enough Of It. Graf
ton, howe or. was not to be shaken off
He pursued the rctreating French
snip with impacable ferocity, work.
Ing every gun that would bear upon
her.
AS the two ships swept along before
the wind Ora. on suddenly found him.
self mixed mp with six other ships one
of which happened To be lie Tonnant,
carrying de Beauffremont. Having
had enough of the fight, the vice ad-
mral-nOt greatly to his Credit-had
called these ships about him. and
they were all endeavoring 10 escape to
the southwark through the narrow pass
between LIE Four bank and Pointe dc
CrOisic on the shore. But the young
Englishman's blood was up now. and
he followed hard on their heels, and
the singular spectacle of one water
logged and sodden ship pursuing six
ships Of the enemy was presented. In
their wild haste to get away the French
neglected the opportunity afforded to
capture him.
AS they swept around lie Four and
headed for the south, Grafton, who
was ignorant of these waters, as were
all the English captains, headed
straight for them, firing on them with
his chase guns at the same time the
French making but feeble reply He
had gone only few cables length h,
however, when, without any warning,
in the darkness his ship took ground
She struck with tremendous force upon
the rocky shoal of LIE Four and each
succeeding wave lifted her higher ana
higher and hurled her farther upon
the shore. The light spars snapped
like pipe-stems az the first blow, and
as the ship pounded upon the reel
mast after mast went, until she lay
grinding on the sands total wreck
the waves breaking over her and
sweeping her from stern to stem.
The last shot from lie Juste struck
the Torbay on the quarter just as she
hit the reef. II sent n shower OF
splinters inboard. one of which struck
Grafton In the breast and hurled him
over the rail to windward. He caught
feeblv at q backstay shouted COM
mand. and the next moment ialllhe
spar dashed him into the sea.