hree of seventy-four, in addition to the three
French ships we had already engaged, and their prize, the Hannibal.
But our chief had counted the cost, and made up his mind to the
enterprise. His intention was to throw his whole force upon whatever
part of the enemy's line he might be able to reach; depending upon the
talents of his captains, and the discipline of his ships, to make up
for the disparity of force, especially in a night action.

[38] While off Europa point, and probably at the distance of
more than half a mile, a boat with two men was observed
pulling towards us, and, on coming alongside, the men proved
to be two of our own people, who had been wounded in the
action of Algeziras, and sent to the hospital at Gibraltar. On
seeing the ship under sail, with the evident intention of
attacking the enemy, these gallant fellows asked permission of
the surgeon to rejoin their ship, and being refused, on
account of their apparent unfitness, they made their escape
from the hospital, and taking possession of the first boat
they could find, pulled off to the ship.

Two other seamen belonging to the Pompee, who had not been
selected as part of the reinforcement to the crews of the other
ships, secreted themselves on board the Caesar, and the day after
the action presented themselves on the quarter-deck, with a
request that intercession might be made for them with their
captain, telling their story in the following quaint
manner:--"Sir, we belongs to the Le Pompee, and finding our ship
could not get out, we stowed ourselves away in this ship, and,
in the action, quartered ourselves to the "10th gun, and
opposite ---- on the lower deck," referring, at the same time, to
the officer in command of this division of guns, for the truth
of their statement.

"The squadron was soon assembled off Europa, and we beheld that of the
enemy forming their line off Cabrita, about five miles to leeward,
waiting for the Hannibal, which was the last ship to leave Algeziras.
Sir James now made the interrogatory signal to know if all the ships
were ready for battle, which was most properly answered in the
negative, as all had much to do. The time which the combined squadron
took to get into the order of battle and sailing was invaluable to all
of us, by enabling us to complete the arrangements so necessary upon
so momentous an occasion. At length, every ship having annou