|
lee beam of the two British vessels, and the Lougen and Kiel about two distant on the same quarter of their commodore, the Langland. Lieutenant Blow now sent a boat on board the gun-brig, and proposed to Lieutenant Devon, that the two vessels should bear down and cut off this brig. The proposal was cheerfully acceded to, and the Algerine and Brevdrageren began sweeping towards the Langland ; but the latter, seeing their intention, bore away and closed her consorts. Their plan being thus frustrated, the cutter and gun-brig hauled up and resumed their efforts to escape. This well-meant manoeuvre, on the part of the Algerine and Brevdrageren, had brought them much nearer to the Danish brigs ; and these, being now concentrated, resumed the chase with redoubled vigour. By 11 a.m. the Langland, with sails clewed up, and assisted by boats from her consorts, had again swept herself ahead of them. Again the Algerine and Brevdrageren, it now being quite calm, began sweeping towards her. On this occasion finding the Lougen at no great distance astern of him, the Danish commodore awaited the attack. At about noon the Langland began firing at the Algerine and Brevdrageren ; and at a few minutes before 1 p.m., while the Brevdrageren was in close action with the Langland, and just as the Lougen had got upon the British brig's starboard quarter, the Algerine suddenly ceased firing and swept herself out of the battle ; making a signal to the Brevdrageren to do the same. Circumstanced as the gun-brig then was, with the Langland close on her larboard beam and the Lougen advancing rapidly on her starboard quarter, a compliance with the order was impracticable, unless the Brevdrageren hauled down her colours, and that Lieutenant Devon had no intention of doing. He therefore answered Lieutenant Blow's signal, by hoisting the recall. That. was not attended to and the Algerine, whose facility of moving by sweeps, both from the form of her hull and the increased number of her crew, far exceeded that of the Brevdrageren, was presently beyond the reach of active co-operation. At 1 h. 30 m. p.m., when the Brevdrageren had received several shot between wind and water, and had had three of her guns disabled, a light air sprang up from the westward. Of this immediate advantage was taken by the British brig, whose sails, being already set, had only to be trimmed to the breeze ; while the Langland still had hers clewed up. The promptitude of the Brevdrageren certainly saved her ; for, just as she had got one mile from the Langland, the breeze died away, and it was then only that the Danes, who had never ceased firing, began to sheet home their topsails to go in pursuit. The Langland continued to fire occasionally at the Brevdrageren ; but, making a good use of her sweeps, and receiving a reinforcement of two additional sweeps and 10 men from the Algerine, the British brig kept gradually increasing her distance. When at about 5 ^ back to top ^ |