was sufficient for Captain Lumley:
he put the helm down, and poured a raking broadside into the enemy, who
was by no means prepared for such a sudden salute, although her guns
were cast loose, ready for action, in case of accident. The answer to
the broadside was a cry of "_Vive la Republique_!" and in a few seconds
both ships were hotly engaged--the _Portsmouth_ having the advantage of
lying upon the bow of her antagonist.

As is often the case, the heavy cannonading brought on a dead calm, and
the two ships remained in their respective positions, except that the
_Portsmouth's_ was the more favourable, having drawn ahead of the French
vessel, so that her broadside was poured into her opponent, without her
being able to return the fire from more than four or five of her guns.

The fog became more opaque than ever; the two ships had neared each
other considerably or it would have been impossible to distinguish. All
that they could see from the deck of the _Portsmouth_ was the jibboom
and cap of the bowsprit of the Frenchman; the rest of her bowsprit, and
her whole hull, were lost in the impenetrable gloom; but that was
sufficient for the men to direct their guns, and the fire from the
_Portsmouth_ was most rapid, although the extent of its execution was
unknown. After half an hour of incessant broadsides, the two vessels
had approached each other so close, that the jibboom of the Frenchman
was pointed between the fore and main rigging of the _Portsmouth_.
Captain Lumley immediately gave orders to lash the Frenchman's bowsprit
to his main-mast, and this was accomplished by the first lieutenant,
Alfred, and the seamen, without any serious loss, for the fog was still
so thick that the Frenchmen on their forecastle could not perceive what
was doing at their bowsprit's cap.

"She is ours now," said Captain Lumley to the first lieutenant.

"Yes, sir,--fast enough. I think, if the fog were to clear away, they
would haul down their colours."

"Not till the last, depend upon it," replied Captain Lumley. "Fire away
there, on the main-deck, give them no time to take breath. Mr
Campbell, tell the second lieutenant to let the foremost lower deck guns
be pointed more aft. I say, not till the last," repeated Captain Lumley
to the first lieutenant; "these Republicans will take a great deal of
beating, even upon the water."

"It's clearing up, air, to the northward a little," said the master.

"I see--yes, it is," replied C