The combatants being in close proximity the battle began at half-past nine in the morning. The French commander came straight for the _Hampshire_, whose captain, believing it was his enemy's design to board, instantly lowered his mainsheet and put up his fore-top-sail. Contact having been by these means narrowly evaded, the scene of battle suddenly shifted to the _Pelican_ and the _Dering_, whose mainsail was smitten by a terrific volley. At the same time the _Hudson's Bay_, veering, received a damaging broadside. The Company's men could distinctly hear the orders shouted by Iberville to both ships to discharge a musket fire into the _Dering's_ forecastle, but in this move he was anticipated by the English sailors, who poured a storm of bullets in upon the Frenchman, accompanied by a broadside of grape, which wrought havoc with her sails. While the cries of the wounded on the _Pelican_ could be distinctly heard, all three of the Company's ships opened fire, with the design of disabling her rigging. But the captain of the _Hudson's Bay_, seeing that he could not engage the _Pelican_, owing to Iberville's tactics, determined to run in front of her and give her the benefit of a constant hull fire, besides taking the wind from her sails. Iberville observed the movement; the two English vessels were near; he veered around, and by a superb piece of seamanship came so near to the _Hampshire_ that the crew of the latter saw that boarding was intended. Every man flew out on the main deck, with his pistol and cutlass, and a terrific broadside of grape on the part of the Englishman alone saved him. [Illustration: THE EVACUATION OF FORT NELSON. (_See page 166._)] The battle raged hotter and fiercer. The _Hampshire's_ salvation had been only temporary; at the end of three hours and a half she began to sink, with all sails set. When this occurred, Iberville had ninety men wounded, forty being struck by a single broadside. Notwithstanding this, he decided at once to push matters with the _Hampshire's_ companions, although the _Pelican_ was in a badly damaged state, especially the forecastle, which was a mass of splinters. The enemy made at once for the _Dering_, which, besides being the smallest ship, had suffered severely. She crowded on all sail and managed to avoid an encounter, and Iberville being in no condition to prosecute the chase, returned to the _Hudson's Bay_, which soon surrendered. Iberville was not destined, however, to reap much advantage from his prize, the _Hampshire_. The English flag-ship was unable to render any assistance to her and she soon went down with nearly all on board.[33] To render the situation more distressing, no sooner had some ninety prisoners been made, than a storm arose; so that it became out of the question to approach the shore with design of landing. They were without a long-boat and each attempt to launch canoes in the boiling surf was attended with failure. [Sidenote: A great storm.]