Page:Jack the giant-killer.pdf/21

21 would be safer to attempt entering the port of Calais then standing out to sea, determined on the former;—and although he had neither a pilot on board nor any personal knowledge of the coast, he hazarded an effort to carry it into execution; but overpowered by the force of the winds, currents, and the waves, he was driven on the works to the east of the port, where he stuck. The danger soon became eminent, and the wrecks thrown on shore announced the certain death of the seven unfortunate mariners. Numerous witnesses of this scene of desolation lamented that they could offer no assistance. At this moment there was seen advancing with force of oars, a pinnace-boat sent from the British yacht called the Royal Sovereign, which had carried to Dunkirk the Duke of Orleans some days before. This boat, commanded by lieutenent Charles Moore, who had under him eight sailors from the yacht, advanced with intrepidity, in spite of ofof [sic] the dangers with which it was surrounded. Captain Owen, the commander of the yacht, displaying a zeal worthy of the greatest praise, stood upon the extremity of the pier, and cheered by his gestures and his voice, the brave and intrepid lieutenant and his eight sailors; and although he was incessantly covered with the waves that dashed against the pier, he perseveringly maintained his painful and dangerous position for the purpose of pointing out together with M. Sagot, the port-captain, and some other French officers, the measures proper to be adopted, and of adding, if