Captain Paul by Alexandre Dumas

The gallant vessels side by side did lie, Yard-arm and yard-arm, and the murd'rous guns Belch'd forth their flame and shot, 'till the white decks Ran like a sea with blood. Uncertain still The victory stood, 'till Perry, waving His bright sword o'er his head, cried, "Follow me!" A hundred shouts responded to this call, Then with one spring he bounded on the deck Of his determined foe. Oxd Play.

As the motives which had induced Captain Paul to visit the coast of Brittany had no relation with our history, excepting as far as regards the events which we have related, we shall leave our readers in the same state of uncertainty as were the inhabitants of Fort Louis; and although our' vocation and our sympathies naturally incline us to terra-firma, we must follow our hero for a few days in his adventurous course upon the ocean. The weather was as beautiful as it generally is on the western coast of France, at the commencement of autumn. The _Indienne_ sailed gaily on with as fair a wind as could blow for her. The ship's crew, excepting those actually employed in manoeuvring the vessel, were availing themselves of the fine weather and occupied in their own matters, as caprice directed them, or were idly lounging about the ship, when all at once a voice which appeared to descend from the sky, called out, "Below, there!"