He so far succeeded that--thanks to the injury done by him and their better speed--they did that day escape action at close quarters, which could only have ended in their capture.

When he hauled down his flag, his three topmasts were gone, the mizzen-mast fell immediately after, and the hull was so full of water that the ship was with difficulty kept afloat.

M.de Sabran--his name is worthy to be remembered--had received eleven wounds in this gallant resistance, by which he illustrated so signally the duty and service of a rearguard in retarding pursuit.

That night two of the French ships hauled off to the westward, and so escaped.

The other four continued their flight as before; but the next morning the commodore, despairing of escape, headed for the Portuguese coast, and ran them all ashore between Lagos and Cape St.Vincent.The English admiral followed and attacked them, taking two and burning the others, without regard to the neutrality of Portugal.