Page:Final French Struggles in India and on the Indian Seas.djvu/170

142 occurred about two hours after the action had begun. The Victor then took a raking position athwart the bows of the Ceylon, and the latter, then quite helpless, struck her flag.

But there was speedy vengeance in store for the British. The Boadicea, accompanied by the Otter and Staunch, having descried the French frigate with her prize abreast of St. Denis, started off at once in pursuit. The Victor vainly endeavoured to take in tow the damaged Ceylon, and the latter, cast off, was re-captured. Then came the turn of the Vénus. But she had been too much crippled in her fight of the previous night to be able to offer effectual resistance to a fresh and more powerful frigate, and too much damaged in her rigging to escape. Captain Hamelin, who commanded her, made, however, a hot fight of it, and only struck when further resistance had become impossible.