1808	Amethyst and Thetis	83

imagined : one proof of it was, that four guns only were returned by the Thétis. In a minute or two afterwards the outer arm of the Amethyst's best bower anchor entered the foremost maindeck port of the Thétis, and held her fast. In this way the action was maintained, with destructive effect on both sides, particularly to the Thétis, who had been set on fire in several places, until about 20 minutes past midnight ; when, having completely silenced the guns of her antagonist, the Amethyst boarded and carried her.

The following diagram will explain the manoeuvres that took place in this action ; but we must observe, that the straight tracks, as in many other similar cases, are necessarily shortened, to suit the space to which we are restricted. The difference in the time, and the rate at which the ships may be supposed to have been sailing, will show the impracticability of an adherence to truth in this unessential point.

It was not until 45 minutes past midnight, after several prisoners had been received by the Amethyst, that her cable was cut and the Thétis disentangled. In five minutes afterwards the fore and main masts of the Thétis went over the side. At 1 h. 15 m. a.m. on the 11th, a light was observed in the north-east and the Triumph soon came up under a press of sail. In about another quarter of an hour the 38-gun frigate Shannon, Captain Philip Bowes Vere Broke, joined from the westward, and, after receiving on board several prisoners, took the prize, now wholly dismasted, in tow.

The Amethyst (of same force as San-Fiorenzo, at vol. iv., p. 123) had her rigging and sails cut to pieces, and, besides the fall of her mizenmast, had her fore and main masts greatly injured. She had also three feet and a half water in the hold from the number of shot-holes in her hull. Her loss, out of crew of 261 men and boys, amounted to one second lieutenant of marines (Bernard Kindall), 10 seamen and eight marines

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