For a moment she seemed to
hesitate, then she plunged forward again, her beak-head in splinters,
her forecastle smashed, and a gaping hole forward, that was only
just above the water-line. Indeed, to make her safe from bilging,
Blood ordered a prompt jettisoning of the forward guns, anchors,
and water-casks and whatever else was moveable.
Meanwhile, the Frenchmen going about, gave the like reception to
the Elizabeth. The Arabella, indifferently served by the wind,
pressed forward to come to grips. But before she could accomplish
her object, the Victorieuse had loaded her starboard guns again,
and pounded her advancing enemy with a second broadside at close
quarters. Amid the thunder of cannon, the rending of timbers, and
the screams of maimed men, the half-necked Arabella plunged and
reeled into the cloud of smoke that concealed her prey, and then
from Hayton went up the cry that she was going down by the head.
Blood's heart stood still. And then in that very moment of his
despair, the blue and gold flank of the Victorieuse loomed through
the smoke.
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