et through the long, crooked channels without a
pilot, and no Frenchman would lead the English.

Without even waiting to anchor, the captains made signals for pilots and
many skilled ones came off to the ships. When the pilots heard that the
French were crippled and must get into the harbor they laughed at the
captains.

"Go through there now?" they said. "Why, you can't do it. Don't you see
it's low tide and the rocks are showing everywhere? The channel is
crooked and very dangerous at high water and now you could not get your
smallest ship through safely, let alone such a large ship as the
_Formidable_ here, with her ninety-two big guns. It can't be done."

Nothing could change the minds of the pilots. They knew their business
thoroughly. So the captains met to decide what they should do. The
commander addressed them, saying:

"The English are at our heels. What shall we do? Do you want them to tow
us all, one behind the other, back to their country to become their
prizes? Not I. Better run all the ships aground, set fire to them, and
escape ourselves if we can."

The brave captains all looked at their commander. Every man shut his
teeth together, set his brows, and with flashing eyes said, "Speak the
word; we will obey."

But the commander never gave his order! Right into the excited group
stepped a man; not a captain, not even a second mate; just a plain,
simple sailor who lived near Saint Malo. He had not even joined the
fleet of his own will, but had been seized and carried on board long
before the battle, because the navy was short of sailors. You might
think he would want revenge for being taken away from his home and his
fishing. Did he? At first he was too much excited to speak, but in a
moment he stormed out:

"What's the matter with you pilots? Are you mad, or fools, or cowards,
or have the English bought you body and soul? Don't talk to me of rock
and shallow places and crooked channels! Haven't I sailed these waters
for years, and don't I know every shallow place, every dangerous turn,
every inch of the way? You cowards! There's a way through, I tell you."

Then Herve Riel turned to the commander and shouted, "Put me in charge
of this ship, the biggest, this _Formidable_, and I'll steer her
through. Make the others follow me closely. They'll all come safely in.
Try me; I'll do it. I haven't much to offer for the chance, but if this
ship so much as touches her keel on a hidden rock, you may cut off