the braces below, and preparing to
cast anchor!

Nelson's fleet did not all enter the bay at once, but each vessel lost
no time in taking up position as it arrived; and as, one after another,
they bore down on the enemy, anchored close alongside, and opened fire,
the thunder of the French fleet was quickly and increasingly augmented
by the British, until the full tide of battle was reached, and the
shores of Egypt trembled under the incessant rolling roar of dreadful
war; while sheets of flame shot forth and rent the thick clouds which
enwrapped the contending fleets, and hung incumbent over the bay.

An attempt was made by a French brig to decoy the English ships towards
a shoal before they entered Aboukir Bay, but it failed because Nelson
either knew the danger or saw through the device.

It seemed as if the _Zealous_ (Captain Hood) was to have the honour of
commencing the action, but Captain Foley passed her in the _Goliath_,
and successfully accomplished that feat which the French had deemed
impossible, and had done their best to guard against. Instead of
attacking the leading ship--the _Guerrier_--outside, he sailed round her
bows, passed between her and the shore, and cast anchor. Before he
could bring up, however, he had drifted down to the second ship of the
enemy's line--the _Conquerant_--and opened fire. It had been rightly
conjectured that the landward guns of the enemy would not be manned, or
even ready for action. The _Goliath_, therefore, made short and sharp
work of her foe. In ten minutes the masts of the _Conquerant_ were shot
away! The _Zealous_ was laid alongside the _Guerrier_, and in twelve
minutes that vessel was totally disabled. Next came the _Orion_ (Sir J.
Saumarez), which went into action in splendid style. Perceiving that a
frigate lying farther inshore was annoying the _Goliath_, she sailed
towards her, giving the _Guerrier_ a taste of her larboard guns as long
as they would bear upon her, then dismasted and sunk the frigate, hauled
round towards the French line, and anchoring between the _Franklin_ and
the _Souverain Peuple_, received and returned the fire of both.

In like manner the _Audacious_ (Captain Gould) justified her name by
attacking the _Guerrier_ and _Conquerant_ at once, and, when the latter
struck passed on to the _Souverain Peuple_.

The unfortunate _Guerrier_ was also worthy of her title, for she bore
the brunt of the battle. Every ship that passed her appeared