opean latitudes, was
seen instead, and streaky clouds scudded over the pale-blue sky. The
movements of the ships could be closely followed by this light.

The English vessels approached rapidly. When the distance between the
Royal Arthur and the French destroyer was about two knots and a half
the cruiser opened fire from her bow-guns upon the destroyer, which only
stood out a little above the surface of the water. One of the heavy shot
whizzed so closely past the Caledonia, which was now between the two,
that the passengers could plainly hear the howling noise of the shell as
it cut through the air.

The Frenchman, without returning the fire, slackened speed, to wait till
the Chanzy came up. Meanwhile the Forbin advanced from the north
and opened fire from its bow-guns upon the British gunboat, and soon
afterwards the Chanzy fired its first shot. The position of the vessels
was now as follows: the gunboat lay broadside opposite the Forbin, the
two cruisers were firing with their bow-guns on each other, while the
destroyer kept in the background. In the meantime the Caledonia had
advanced so far that she was completely protected by the British guns.

If the captain had now continued his course he would probably have
reached Alexandria in safety. But he wished to avoid the delay, which
would have been considerable, and the entreaties of the passengers,
who, greatly excited, begged him to remain near the scene of action,
coincided with his own wishes.

Accordingly the Caledonia slackened speed, and took up a position to the
south-east of the field of battle, whence she could make for Brindisi or
Alexandria as soon as the result was decided.

For some time neither side gained the advantage. The Chanzy and Royal
Arthur had turned broadsides to each other and fired, but the effect was
not visible from the Caledonia.

Suddenly the Royal Arthur began to move in a northerly direction, firing
upon the enemy from her stern-guns.

"It almost looks as if he meant to help the O'Hara," said Heideck to
Edith, who was standing by his side with a field-glass. "The gunboat
is clearly no match for the Forbin, and has perhaps been hopelessly
damaged."

In fact, the Royal Arthur continued her course northwards, maintaining
an incessant fire upon the Chanzy and the destroyer, which still kept on
the watch in the rear, and made for the Forbin, on which she immediately
opened fire with her bow-guns.

As the scene of action thus shift