that little boy
below out of danger."

Soon after he had spoken, he again became partly delirious, and Billy
shrieked and struggled so violently that the midshipman, who had a
fellow-feeling for him, again set him down, and he ran back to his dying
friend.

Captain Penrose now cried out for something to drink; but when it was
brought, he would take it from no hands but those of Billy. Unconscious
or regardless of the danger which surrounded him, the child sat himself
down composedly on the deck, and continued to moisten the lips of the
old man. Now a loud, true British hurrah ran along the decks of the
_Fame_. Another English ship was coming up, and the crew of their
opponent, unwilling to encounter the fire of a fresh antagonist, were
hauling down her colours. The Captain raised himself up on one arm, and
his eye fell on the white flag of France coming down from the masthead
of the enemy.

"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" he feebly exclaimed.

"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Billy in a shrill tone, waving his
little hat. Then the fine old seaman fell back, and when they got up to
him he had ceased to breathe.

Hitherto Sir Samuel Hood's division had been becalmed, but now getting
the breeze, it came up in gallant style to take part in the action.
Still many of the French crews fought on with the most heroic bravery.
The _Glorieux_ especially, commanded by the Vicomte D'Escar, made a most
noble defence. Her masts and bowsprits were shot away by the board, but
her colours were not struck till all her consorts were taken or put to
flight. Her brave commander fell in the action. Monsieur de Marigny in
the _Caesar_ displayed equal bravery. Having sustained the fire of
several ships, he was, when almost a wreck, closely and vigorously
attacked by the _Centaur_. His colours, it appeared, were nailed to the
mast; and though his men were falling thickly around him, and he himself
mortally wounded, he would not yield.

At length, several other British ships coming up, one of the French
officers cried out that the ship had surrendered, and at that moment her
brave Captain was said to have breathed his last. No sooner did the
_Caesar_ surrender than her masts fell over the side. The _Ardent_,
which was in the midst of the British fleet, struck to the _Belliqueux_,
an English ship with a French name, and the _Hector_, 74, to the
_Canada_, 74, commanded by Captain Cornwallis. He, however, left his
prize to be taken p