Page:Final French Struggles in India and on the Indian Seas.djvu/80

52 Here he found ready to receive him, and arranged with that care for discipline and obedience to orders which is one of the glories of the English services, the Burford, the Superb, the Sultan, the Eagle, the Hero, and the Monarca. For one hour the unequal combat lasted, fought with admirable courage on both sides; at the end of that period Suffren saw that the odds were too great, and that, unless he received prompt assistance, he must succumb. He signalled, therefore, to the St. Michel, commanded by d'Aymar, and to the Annibal, commanded by de Tromelin, to come to his aid. Neither obeyed. De Kersaison, however, brought up the Brillant, though not in a position to offer the most effectual assistance.

Whilst this murderous hand-to-hand conflict was going on in the centre, the two extremities continued pounding at each other at long distances. In this the French had somewhat the advantage. The Exeter was disabled, and forced to draw out of the line; the Isis suffered severely, and her captain, Lumley, was killed; the Worcester, who lost her captain, Wood, and the Monmouth, were riddled. On the French side, the Consolante, a 40-gun frigate, which had been brought into action, lost her captain, Pean; the Vengeur, having fired away all her ammunition, withdrew from the line, and caught fire, with difficulty extinguished; the remainder of the squadron continued to fire without order, and at long distances, notwithstanding that the signal for close action was still flying on the commodore's ship.