JAMES A. MANSON 23I 



there was little way on the vessel. Everj-thing 

 promised a fair and square fight. Within half an 

 hour the Chesapeake was only two hundred yards 

 away, and Broke seized the opportunity for a few 

 final words to his men, urging them to remember 

 that to their keeping had been committed the duty 

 of asserting the superiority of British seamen over 

 those of any other nation. We can almost hear 

 the emphatic " Ay, ay, sir," of the bronzed tars. 

 At this stage the Shatmon gave three cheers on 

 their own account, which was readily taken up by 

 the bystanding boats, stationed as we have seen, 

 at quite a respectful distance. 



And now the fateful moment had come. The 

 duellists were but a stone's throw apart. At ten 

 minutes to six William Mindham, captain of the 

 gun, discharged the Shannon's aftermost main- 

 deck gun. It was aimed with exquisite precision, 

 as was the next, fired immediately afterwards, both 

 doing terrible execution. The Cheiapcake then 

 sent in a stinging retort, and by and by both ships 

 were holly engaged, broadside after broadside 

 being discharged as fast as the guns were loaded 

 and trained. From the very first the sujjcrior 

 accuracy of Broke's gunners asbcrtcd itself Almost 

 every shot protluced yells of anguish, and splinters 

 rose up in clouds. The Chesapeake forging ahead 

 too rapidly was hauled up, but with helm untouched 

 (the man at the wheel was probably slain or 



