ippled ships;
so losing much of his hard-won ground, and entailing a further
misfortune that night. Rodney hung doggedly on, relying on the
chapter of accidents, as one who knows that all things come to him
who endures. To be sure, there was not much else he could do; yet
he deserves credit for unremitting industry and pluck. During the
afternoon, the signals noted in the British logs--to call in all
cruisers and for the fleet to close--attest mutely the movement of de
Grasse in bearing down,--coming nearer.

[Illustration]

During the night, at 2 A.M. of April 12th, the _Zele_ and de Grasse's
flagship, the _Ville de Paris_, 110, crossing on opposite tacks, came
into collision. The former lost both foremast and bowsprit. It has
been stated by John Paul Jones, who by permission of Congress embarked
a few months later on board the French fleet as a volunteer, and
doubtless thus heard many personal narratives, that this accident
was due to the deficiency of watch-officers in the French navy; the
deck of the _Zele_ being in charge of a young ensign, instead of
an experienced lieutenant. It was necessary to rid the fleet of the
_Zele_ at once, or an action could not be avoided; so a frigate
was summoned to tow her, and the two were left to make their way to
Guadeloupe, while the others resumed the beat to windward. At 5 A.M.
she and the frigate were again under way, steering for Guadeloupe, to
the north-west, making from five to six miles (Position 3, a); but in
the interval they had been nearly motionless, and consequently when
day broke at 5.30 they were only two leagues from the _Barfleur_,
Hood's flagship, which, still in the British rear, was then standing
south on the port tack. The body of the French, (Position 3), was at
about the same distance as on the previous evening,--ten to fifteen
miles,--but the _Ville de Paris_ (c) not more than eight. Just before
6 A.M. Rodney signalled Hood, who was nearest, to chase the _Zele_;
and four of the rearmost ships of the line were detached for that
purpose (b). De Grasse, seeing this, signalled his vessels at 6 A.M.
to close the flagship, making all sail; and he himself bore down to
the westward (cc'), on the port tack, but running free, to frighten
away Rodney's chasers. The British Admiral kept them out until 7
o'clock, by which time de Grasse was fairly committed to his false
step. All cruisers were then called in, and the line was closed to one
cable.[115] Within an hour