The Watchers on the Longships (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878 Excerpt: ... sea, Her rudder gone, her mainmast o'er the side; Her scuppers from the waves' clutch staggering free Trailed threads of priceless crimson through the tide; Sails, spars, and shrouds with hostile cannon torn, ' We lay awaiting morn."--J. R. Lowell. Half-an-hour after the conflict had ceased, the gallant "Redoubtable," a mass of flames and smoke, sank beneath the clear blue waters of that tranquil sea, taking with her the remains of many heroes who had fallen in the service of their king and country. Every effort, meanwhile, was made to save the injured French ship, but though all hands were sent to the pumps, it was at last found necessary to abandon her, and the captain, officers, and crew, together with a large number of wounded men, had to take refuge on board her companion. The.English might well claim the victory, for out of three antagonists they had sunk two, and only yielded at the last moment, when weakened and disabled, to superior numbers. The French vessel was fearfully overcrowded, and as English cruisers might anywhere be met with in those seas, it was necessary that she should without delay make for a friendly port, or join a large French squadron known to be about in those waters. When Philip revived, he found himself in almost complete darkness. On raising himself upon his elbow, his eye fell upon a sad scene. The wounded men, French and English, lay huddled close together beside him in the cockpit of the French vessel. Groans and sighs, too, fell upon his ear. As his eye got more accustomed to the light of the one dim lantern, he recognised two or three comrades, but most of the men near him seemed to be French. Tortured with thirst, and suffering acute pain from his wound, he soon sank back again exhausted. But the events o...