Page:Final French Struggles in India and on the Indian Seas.djvu/99

Rh quality of his captains. For the first time the ships of his fleet were commanded by men whom he could trust.

At quarter-past four in the afternoon, the two fleets, having come within range, almost simultaneously opened fire. Immediately afterwards the Flamand, 50, attempting to pierce the enemy's line, was attacked on both sides by the Exeter and the Inflexible. Her captain, de Salvart, was killed, but the first lieutenant succeeded in rescuing her from her perilous position.

Whilst this was being attempted the Héros and Illustre engaged at once the Superb, the Monarca and the Burford; the Argonaute the Sultan; the Petit Annibal the Africa; the Vengeur the Magnamine; the Hardi at once the Bristol and the Monmouth. In the rear division the Fendant encountered first the Inflexible and then the Gibraltar, whilst the Sphinx tackled the Defence. The other ships of both fleets were not less actively engaged.

At about half-past five the mizen topmast of the Fendant caught fire, and her commander was forced to take her for a moment out of the line. The Gibraltar, with whom she had been engaged, seized this opportunity to attempt to break the French line, but the Flamand covered her consort and kept the enemy at bay till the fire was extinguished, and the Fendant returned to her position.

The murderous contest was kept up on both sides until past seven o'clock, when darkness supervened and