hand on Abel's shoulder. "Look out now there, mate; what do you see
now?"

"Ten, fifteen, twenty lights at least. Huzza! That's the enemy's
fleet. We shall be up to them in the morning."

The lieutenant was of the same opinion, and went to make his report to
the Captain. The men now clustered thickly on the forecastle to watch
the Jack o' Lantern-looking lights, which they hoped proceeded from the
ships with which they expected in the morning to contend. As the mists
of night cleared away on the morning of the 9th, the French were
discovered in the passage between Dominique and Guadaloupe. A signal
was seen flying, too, at the masthead of Sir George Rodney's ship, to
prepare for battle and to form the line. The French convoy was made out
under Dominique, but the ships of war appeared forming their line to
windward and standing over to Guadaloupe.

Unfortunately, however, the British fleet got becalmed for some time
under the high lands of Dominique, and unable to get into their
stations. The instant, however, that the welcome breeze at length
reached the van division under Sir Samuel Hood, he stood in in gallant
style and closed with the enemy's centre. By noon the action had
commenced in earnest, and was maintained by this division alone for
upwards of an hour without any support from the rest of the squadron,
the gallant _Barfleur_ being for most of the time hotly engaged with
three ships firing their broadsides at her. At length the leading ships
of the centre got the breeze, and were able to come to the support of
the van. Many of the French ships even fought well and gallantly, but,
in spite of their superiority in numbers, were very roughly handled. In
consequence of this, when the Count de Grasse saw the rear of the
British fleet coming fast up, having the weather-gage, he hauled his
wind and withdrew out of shot. Two of the French ships were, however,
so much cut up in hull and rigging that they were compelled to leave the
fleet and put into Guadaloupe.

Nothing could exceed the disappointment and rage of the British seamen
at this proceeding. They had made sure of victory, and now to have the
enemy run away and leave them in the lurch was provoking beyond all
bearing.

Several British ships had suffered--the _Royal_ and the _Montague_, and
the _Alfred_ especially, Captain Bayne, who commanded her, being killed.
Still the crews entreated that they might not be sent into port, and,
with the