But there was no time to think of it. We were wheeling round after our next ahead; and out of the dense smoke which we were leaving, issued stray missiles tearing past, and sometimes striking davits or stanchions, or shattering the planking of a boat. There was nothing, in fact, now but a roar of guns all round us, and we were covered with a canopy of smoke. The sole design perceptible was that we were only firing into the smoke to starboard, and no missiles were coming from the port side, while every now and then we got a glimpse of our next ahead and next astern. As we steamed on, messages went from the captain to the lieutenants not to fire any more till they could see the enemy; and it was becoming clear that the French fire was ceasing, though whereabouts they were could hardly be ascertained. Presently, however, we found ourselves quite clear of smoke and could see then that the French ships must, most of them, have stopped, for our vessels—as well as could be seen—were nearly in their old formations, while the French were well astern, still somewhat entangled by the smoke, and evidently in some confusion. Out of this smoke there quickly emerged a ship, which we made out to be the flag-ship _Formidable_ with a considerable heel to port and steering to the N.W. With the general signal flying that the Division was to continue its course, the _Trafalgar_ suddenly put on steam and went after the _Formidable_ full speed. The two ships were now in close action and enveloped in smoke, so that we could only make out their positions occasionally, the _Trafalgar_ apparently hanging on the starboard quarter of the _Formidable_. The firing did not last more than ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, when, the smoke clearing away, it was seen that the _Formidable’s_ colours were down. What had happened we only knew afterwards. The _Formidable_ had been badly torpedoed in passing, and was steaming as she hoped out of action when we saw her. As the _Trafalgar_ approached, she made a short gallant defence with her guns, and fired two torpedoes at her; but the water was rising in the stoke-holds, and it was impossible to keep steam. Admiral Markham, seeing plainly what the case was, passed close under the _Formidable’s_ stern, and hailed to claim surrender in the interests of humanity, or he would ram and sink her. It was the chance of war, and there was nothing but surrender before our gallant opponent.