aptain Lumley.

"Well, the sooner the better; we shall see what has become of all the
shot we have been throwing away."

A white silvery line appeared on the horizon, to the northward;
gradually it increased, and as it rose up, became broader, till at last
the curtain was lifted up, and a few feet were to be seen above the
clear blue water. As it continued to approach, the light became more
vivid, the space below increased, and the water was ruffled with the
coming wind, till at last the fog rolled off as if it had been gradually
furled, and sweeping away in a heavy bank to leeward, exposed the state
and position of the whole convoy, and the contending vessels. The
English seamen on board of the _Portsmouth_ cheered the return of
daylight, as it might truly be termed. Captain Lumley found that they
had been contending in the very centre of the convoy, which was still
lying around them, with the exception of fifteen vessels, which were a
few miles apart, with their heads in an opposite direction. These were
evidently those which had been captured. The two frigates, which had
been stationed in the rear of the convoy, were still two or three miles
distant, but making all sail to come up and assist the _Portsmouth_.
Many of the convoy, which had been in the direction of the fire,
appeared to have suffered in their masts and sails; but whether any
injury had been received in their hulls it was not possible to say. The
French line-of-battle ship had suffered dreadfully from the fire of the
_Portsmouth_. Her main-mast and mizen-mast were over the side, her
forward ports were many of them almost beat into one, and everything on
board appeared to be in the greatest confusion.

"She can't stand this long," observed Captain Lumley. "Fire away, my
lads."

"The _Circe_ and _Vixen_ are coming down to us, sir," observed the first
lieutenant; "we do not want them, and they will only be an excuse for
the Frenchmen to surrender to a superior force. If they recaptured the
vessels taken, they would be of some service."

"Very true. Mr Campbell, make their signal to pursue captured
vessels."

Alfred ran aft to obey the orders. The flags had just flown out at the
mast-head, when he received a bullet through his arm; for the French,
unable to use the major portion of their guns, had, when the fog cleared
up, poured in incessant volleys of musketry upon the decks of the
_Portsmouth_. Alfred desired the quarter-master to unti