THE BRETON PILOT. 



301 



The year 1692 was specially disastrous to France, and a fleet of twenty- two vessels were 

 hotly and closely pursued by the English. The squadron came helter-skelter, " like a crowd 

 of frightened porpoises " with the sharks after them, to St. Malo on the Ranee. The pilots 

 who were on board laughed at the bare idea of their great ships entering the rocky passage; 



" THF.EE FISHERMEN SAILED AWAY TO THE WEST." 



and Damfreville, the admiral of the fleet, was seriously thinking of blowing up or burning 

 all his ships, when out stepped in front of all the assembled officers a poor coasting- pilot. 



" Are you mad, you Malouins ? are you cowards, fools, or rogues ? " said he, as he 

 hurriedly and impetuously assured the admiral that he knew every rock and shoal, and could 

 lead the fleet in safely. 



" ' Sirs, they know I speak the truth ! Sirs, believe me there's a way ! 

 And if one ship misbehave 

 Keel so much as grate the ground, 

 Why, I've nothing but my life here's my head ! ' cries Herve RieL 



