. Ninety-three . re sketched black profilesupright and immovable. To the west, against the moonlit sky, stood out sharply tlircc loftyrocks, erect as Celtic cromlechs. To the east, against the pale hoiizon of morning, rose eight sailranged in order at regular intervals in a formidable array. The three ro(_ks were a reef ; the eight ships, a squadron. Behind the vessel Avas the Min(juiers, a rock of an evil renown ;before her, the French cruisi^rs. To the west, the abyss; to the east,carnage: she was l)(_4ween a shiiiwreck and a combat. For nuH^ing the reef, the corvette liad a. broken Indl, ri
. Ninety-three . re sketched black profilesupright and immovable. To the west, against the moonlit sky, stood out sharply tlircc loftyrocks, erect as Celtic cromlechs. To the east, against the pale hoiizon of morning, rose eight sailranged in order at regular intervals in a formidable array. The three ro(_ks were a reef ; the eight ships, a squadron. Behind the vessel Avas the Min(juiers, a rock of an evil renown ;before her, the French cruisi^rs. To the west, the abyss; to the east,carnage: she was l)(_4ween a shiiiwreck and a combat. For nuH^ing the reef, the corvette liad a. broken Indl, rigging dis-jointed, niasts tottering in their foundations; for facing battle, she hada where one-and-twenty cannon out of thiity were dismounted,ami \\liose V)est gniiiiers wei-e dead. The dawn was yet faint; theie still remained a little night to might even last for some time, since it was jirincipally made l)ythick, Jiigh clouds presenting the solid api)earance of a vault. N-INIITY- THREE. 47. The ^^nn([, which had suceeeded indispersing the lower mists, was forcing thecorvette toward the ]\rinqniers. 48 XIXETY-THREE. In Inn* excessive feebleness and dilapidation, slie scarcely obeyedtlie helm ; she rolled rather than sailed, and, smitten by the waves, sheyielded passively to their impulse. The Minc^uiers, a dangerous reef, was still more rugged at that timethan it is now. Several towers of this citadel of the aV)yss have beenrazed by the incessant chopping of the sea. The contiguration of reefschanges ; it is not idly that waves are called the swords of the ocean ;each tide is the stroke of a saw. At that p(niod, to strike on the ]Min-quiers was to perish. As for the cruisers, they were tiie squadron of Cancale, afterwardso celebrated under the command of that (Japtain Duchesne whomLéquinio called Father Duchesne. The situation was critical. During the struggle of the unchainedcarronade, the corvette had, unol>served, got out of her course, andsailed r
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1889
