WATCH-TOWER OF KOAT-VEN. 585 



cruizing between the land and the fleet. In the very midst of this 

 forest of masts lay the Count de Vaudrey's beautiful frigate La 

 Sylphide. 



The first lieutenant, John Thomas, was standing on the poop, 

 observing with attention the signals which were rapidly transferred 

 from a watch-tower, which stood upon a projecting point on the 

 north-west, to the marine telegraph on the tower of Brest. At this 

 moment the distant booming of artillery was heard in the direction 

 of the watch-tower; " It must be the Minerva," exclaimed the lieu- 

 tenant, " contending with a superior force." The rest of the officers 

 had by this time assembled round the lieutenant, and were eagerly 

 conjecturing the locality of the combat, and the chances of the en- 

 gagement. 



They were suddenly aroused from their discussion by the sentry 

 announcing the approach of the commander. Indeed, they were all 

 so much occupied in watching the signals, that the captain's barge 

 was within two cables' length of the ship before she was perceived. 

 The crew were rowing rapidly, and almost before the main ropes 

 could be thrown over the side, the barge was alongside, and Henry 

 on deck. 



" The admiral has given orders to the Vengeur and the Thun- 

 derer to sail instantly," exclaimed the count to his first lieutenant. 

 " A French frigate is sustaining an unequal encounter with two 

 English frigates. You must despatch for sea ; the commander of 

 the Thunderer has already called all hands.'* 



" My trumpet," said he to a messenger ; and turning to the lieu- 

 tenant, " the wind's fair and we have the ebb tide, Sir, you must put 

 a spring upon the cable, and pass a hawser through the quarter-port 

 on the starboard side; then cut the cable and away." 



" Cut the cable," exclaimed the lieutenant, " how shall we replace 

 it, Sir?" 



" The English have always plenty," said Henry gaily ; " and if 

 they hav'n't, their first frigate will serve us as a mooring buoy." 



" The spring is passed around the capstan," reported Saint Sau- 

 veur to Henry, The count raised his trumpet to his mouth and 

 exclaimed, " Stand by there to hoist the gib, and set the fore-sail ; 

 and heave briskly upon the spring." Then seeing the ship suffi- 

 ciently paid off, he cried, " Stand by to hoist the flying gib and cut 

 the cable ; cut there !" 



" Now cut the spring cut away," cried Henry, in a tone of voice 

 that showed with what pleasure he gave the order. 



The Sylphide keeled lightly to the breeze, then luffed to the 

 wind, and made a board towards the Mingen rock to clear the road- 

 stead. This manreuvre had been so well and so expeditiously 

 executed that the Thunderer was still lying at her anchors, while 

 the Sylphide had cleared the strait. The ship of the line, as if 

 piqued at the promptitude with which the frigate had executed the 

 order of the admiral, made a signal to the Sylphide to back her 

 sails and lay to; for the commander of this ship being the oldest 

 captain of the fleet, had the little squadron under his orders, and 

 carried the broad pennant. 



