The _Camperdown_, fighting fiercely with the _Requin_, the _Terrible_, and the _Courbet_, was suffering terrible damage from bow to stern; nevertheless her guns kept up an incessant torrent of shot, until suddenly, just after one of her shells had struck right under the turret of the _Terrible_, there was a deafening report, the air was filled with dense smoke, and the French ship, with her engines disabled, commenced to fill and sink. A portion of the shell had penetrated to her magazine, and she had blown up, nearly half her crew being killed by the terrific force of the explosion. Many of the remaining men, however, scrambled on board the _Caïman_, which by some means had come into slight collision with her; but scarcely had the last terrified man left the sinking vessel, when the _Camperdown's_ powerful ram entered the _Caïman's_ bows, breaking her hull, and she also foundered, carrying down with her not only her own crew, but also the survivors of the _Terrible_. This success was witnessed with satisfaction by the British Admiral, who nevertheless saw how seriously weakened was his force, and how critical was the position of his few remaining ships. Yet he remained quite cool, for the heavy guns of the steel monster in whose conning-tower he stood continued thundering forth their projectiles, and the White Ensign still loomed defiantly through the dense black smoke, fluttering in the freshening breeze that was now springing up. Although a number of the enemy's vessels had been sunk, he knew the issue must be fatal to his force, for they were now surrounded by a number of ships so vastly superior to them in armament and speed, that to die fighting was their only course. Though the cockpits were full, true British indomitable courage was showing itself everywhere on board our ships. Officers by words of encouragement incited their men to splendid heroic deeds, and guns' crews, with dark determined faces, seeing only death ahead, resolved to fight and struggle to the last for the honour of the Union Jack, which should never be surmounted by the Tricolor. A moment later, the captain, standing with the Admiral, who had just entered the conning-tower of the _Royal Sovereign_, suddenly uttered a cry of dismay, and with transfixed, horrified gaze pointed with his finger to the sea. Breathlessly the Admiral looked in the direction indicated. Though one of the bravest men in the Navy, and on his breast he wore the Victoria Cross, his eyes fell upon a sight that appalled him. It was a critical moment.