第86章

It looked as if the cruiser was being torn asunder by the hands of giants.The enormous hull split in two.Slowly the prow leaned forwards, the stern backwards.Immediately afterwards both parts righted themselves again, as if they would close up over the gaping breach.But this movement only lasted a few seconds.Then the weight of the water rushing in drew the gigantic hull into the depths.The Royal Arthur sank with awe-inspiring rapidity.Now only her three funnels were seen above the surface of the water; a few minutes later nothing was visible save the top of the mast and the top-pennants hoisted for battle.Then a mighty, foaming billow rose on high, and only the breaking of the waves marked the spot where the proud cruiser lay.

The guns had ceased firing, and deep silence reigned on all the ships.The passengers were paralysed by overwhelming horror.The captain ordered all the boats to be launched to go to the assistance of the crew of the Royal Arthur.The Chanzy also was seen to be letting down boats.The O'Hara fled, to avoid falling into the hands of the superior French forces, and withdrew from the scene of action in an easterly direction, pursued by the Forbin, which sent shot after shot after her.If the captain of the Caledonia had abandoned all idea of flight, he was not only following the dictates of humanity, but obeying the signals of the destroyer, ordering him to bring to.He knew that there was no longer any chance of escape for the steamer entrusted to his care, since the shells of the Royal Arthur had ceased to threaten the enemy.

The struggles of the unhappy men, who had reached the surface from the gloomy depths, and were now making desperate efforts to save themselves, presented an affecting sight.Those who could not swim soon went under, unless they succeeded in getting hold of some floating object.Every second more of the numerous heads, which had been seen above the water immediately after the sinking of the cruiser, disappeared, and there was no doubt that the crews of the boats, though working heroically, would only be able to save a small part of the crew.

Meanwhile the commander of the Chanzy's gig lay to at the gangway of the Caledonia.The first officer, with four marines and a non-commissioned officer, boarded the steamer and saluted the captain with naval politeness.

"I greatly regret, sir, to be compelled to inconvenience you and your passengers.But I am acting under orders, and must ask you to show me your papers and to allow me to search the ship.""It is yours to command, as things are," replied the Englishman gloomily.

He then went down with the Frenchman into the cabin, while the non-commissioned officer remained with the soldiers on the gangway.

The proceedings lasted nearly two hours, during which the work of rescuing the crew of the Royal Arthur was continued unremittingly.

A hundred and twenty soldiers and sailors and five officers, besides the commander, were saved.Most of the officers and crew were lost.

Unusual steps were taken to secure the prize.The captain, with the first and second officers, was taken on board the Chanzy.The first officer of the Chanzy took command of the ship, and two lieutenants and fifty men were transferred to the Caledonia.These precautions were sufficiently justified by the great value of the cargo.According to the ship's papers, the Caledonia carried no less than 20,000,000 rupees, some in specie, others in silver bars, consigned from Calcutta to England.The French commander was naturally very anxious to take so valuable a cargo safely to Toulon.

A further triumph fell to the lot of the French.The British gunboat, flying the tricolour in place of the Union Jack, was brought back to the scene of action by the Forbin.All four French ships accompanied the two captive vessels on the voyage to Toulon--full steam ahead.