Page:The Next Naval War - Eardley-Wilmot - 1894.djvu/46

 propeller damaged by floating wreckage, while the other had struck a buoy, which injured the stem and impeded its progress. They were grappled and taken. It only remains to say that the leader and his companion managed, after several hairbreadth escapes, to get away clear, and reached Cherbourg in the forenoon, where they were received with great enthusiasm.

Some hours later there arrived at intervals four boats of the Plymouth expedition. This had steered for the Start, and about five miles south of Prawl Point met the second division of the Channel squadron, which had left Plymouth late in the evening for Portland. The boats were discovered by a cruiser that had been placed two miles in advance of the main body. She at once fired guns, and promptly engaged the enemy. Such an eventuality had been provided for by the officer in command of the expedition. The boats were in two divisions, five in each line. Any scout or cruiser was to be attacked by the two guard boats, while the remainder, opening out, would endeavour to pass down on each side of the squadron. The ships consisted of the Empress of India, Resolution, Revenge, Narcissus, Bellona and Speedwell. The four battleships were in line ahead, while the Bellona was scouting in advance and the Speedwell on the starboard beam. The latter, seeing the firing, at once went full speed to the spot. This movement put the boats in some disorder, and gave