Then the corvette was turned broadside on. She carried six anchors, like a frigate, and all of them were cast,--the spare anchor forward, the kedger aft, the sea-anchor towards the open, the ebb-anchor towards the breakers, the bower-anchor to starboard, and the sheet-anchor to port. The nine uninjured carronades were placed as a battery on the side towards the enemy. The squadron, equally silent, had also finished its evolutions. The eight ships now stood in a semicircle, of which Minquiers formed the chord. The "Claymore" enclosed within this semicircle, and held furthermore by its own anchors, was backed by the reef,--signifying shipwreck. It was like a pack of hounds surrounding a wild boar, not giving tongue, but showing its teeth. It seemed as if each side were waiting for something. The gunners of the "Claymore" stood to their guns. Boisberthelot said to La Vieuville,-- "I should like to be the first to open fire." "A coquette's fancy," replied La Vieuville. IX. SOME ONE ESCAPES. The passenger had not left the deck; he watched all that was going on with his customary impassibility. Boisberthelot went up to him. "Sir," he said, "the preparations are completed. We are now clinging to our grave; we shall not relax our hold. We must succumb either to the squadron or to the reef. The alternative is before us: either shipwreck among the breakers or surrender to the enemy. But the resource of death is still left; better to fight than be wrecked. I would rather be shot than drowned; fire before water, if the choice be left to me. But where it is our duty to die it is not yours. You are the man chosen by princes. You have an important mission,--that of directing the Vendean war. Your death might result in the failure of monarchy; therefore you must live. While honor requires us to stand by the ship, it calls on you to escape. You must leave us, General; I will provide you with a boat and a man. You may succeed in reaching the shore, by making a détour. It is not yet daylight; the waves are high and the sea dark. You will probably escape. There are occasions when to flee means to conquer." The old man bent his stately head in token of acquiescence. Count Boisberthelot raised his voice. "Soldiers and sailors!" he called. Every movement ceased, and from all sides faces were turned in the direction of the captain. He continued:-- "This man who is among us represents the king. He has been intrusted to our care; we must save him. He is needed for the throne of France. As we have no prince, he is to be,--at least we hope so,--the leader of the Vendée. He is a great general. He was to land with us in France; now he must land without us. If we save the head we save all." "Yes, yes, yes!" cried the voices of all the crew. The captain went on:--