running out of an artificial pier from the mainland to the small island
of Penon, which lies close to the town. On this island stood, (and
still stands), a light-house, at the base of which was a powerful
three-tier battery of fifty guns. The island itself was defended all
round by ramparts and batteries of heavy guns. This was the strong
point of the fortifications, and within the small harbour thus formed
was collected the whole Algerine fleet, consisting of four frigates,
five large corvettes, and thirty-seven gun-boats.

But besides these harbour defences, the sea-wall of the town extended
nearly a mile to the southward and a considerable distance to the
northward of the harbour, being everywhere strengthened by powerful
batteries. The arrangement of the British Admiral was that each battery
should be engaged by a special ship or ships of heavy metal, and that
the smaller vessels should take up position where they could find room,
or cruise about and do as much damage to the enemy as possible. While
the liners and frigates were to batter down the walls, the small craft--
bomb and rocket boats, etcetera--were to pour shells and rockets into
the arsenal. It was terrible work that had to be done, but the curse
which it was intended to do away with was more terrible by far, because
of being an old standing evil, and immeasurably more prolific of death
and misery than is even a hard-fought battle.

The signal to go into action being given, Lord Exmouth led the van in
the _Queen Charlotte_, and the whole fleet bore up in succession, the
Dutch Admiral closing in with the rearmost ship of the English line.

Truly it was a grand as well as a solemn sight to see these majestic
ships of war sail quietly down on the devoted city in the midst of dead
silence, for as yet not a shot had been fired on either side. And the
eyes of many, already wide with eagerness, must have opened wider still
with surprise, for Lord Exmouth pursued a course of action that was bold
even for a British Admiral. He ran the _Queen Charlotte_ before the
wind, close up to the walls, and with the sails still standing let go
three anchors from the stern, so as to keep her exactly in the required
position, just before the opening of the mole, and with her vast
broadside _within pistol-range_ of the walls, flanking all the batteries
from the mole-head to the light-house.

Still no shot was fired. The boldness of the act seemed to have
confounded