he line,
anchored only four miles from the point which the relief ships must
reach. This was the problem which Howe had to solve. More important
still, though of less bearing upon his mission, was the cheering news
brought by the frigate, when she rejoined on October 10th, that the
long-intended attack had been made on the 13th of September, and had
been repelled gloriously and decisively. The heavily protected Spanish
floating batteries, from which success had been expected confidently,
one and all had been set on fire and destroyed. If Howe could
introduce his succours, the fortress was saved.

The admiral at once summoned his subordinate officers, gave them
full and particular instructions for the momentous undertaking, and
issued at the same time, to the masters of the supply-ships, precise
information as to local conditions of wind and currents at Gibraltar,
to enable them more surely to reach their anchorage. On the 11th of
October, being now close to its destination, the fleet bore up for
the Straits, which it entered at noon with a fair westerly wind. The
convoy went first,--sailing before the wind it was thus to leeward
of the fleet, in a position to be defended,--and the ships of war
followed at some distance in three divisions, one of which was led
by Howe himself. At 6 P.M. the supply-ships were off the mouth of
the Bay, with a wind fair for the mole; but, through neglect of the
instructions given, all but four missed the entrance, and were swept
to the eastward of the Rock, whither the fleet of course had to follow
them.

On the 13th the allied fleets came out, being induced to quit their
commanding position at Algeciras by fears for two of their number,
which shortly before had been driven to the eastward. During the
forenoon of the same day the British were off the Spanish coast, fifty
miles east of Gibraltar. At sunset the allies were seen approaching,
and Howe formed his fleet, but sent the supply-ships to anchor at
the Zaffarine Islands, on the coast of Barbary, to await events. Next
morning the enemy was close to land northward, but visible only from
the mastheads; the British apparently having headed south during the
night. On the 15th the wind came east, fair for Gibraltar, towards
which all the British began cautiously to move. By the evening of the
16th, eighteen of the convoy were safe at the mole; and on the 18th
all had arrived, besides a fireship with 1,500 barrels of powder, sent
in by the