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By James Fenimore Cooper: French
After a series of the most brilliant tactical maneuvers and a successful minor engagement with the whole French fleet by his division alone-the two divisions had got separated in the mad gale and Bluewater had called his own ships around him-the Vice-Admiral found himself with five ships in the vicinity of the French, who were just double in number. Far away to windward the morning disclosed the five ships of the Rear-Admiral's division slowly standing down toward his superior under easy sail.
Bluewater was still in his state of painful indecision. As soon as within signal distance, by using a private and personal code he sent the following pleading despatch to his considerate superior: "God sake-make no signal-engage not."
This signal plunged Oakes, fully aware of the state of his beloved junior's mind, into the most terrible dilemma. Without the assistance of Bluewater's division he could not hope to engage the enemy with the least chance of success. On the other hand, should he now withdraw without fighting he would have failed in his duty and would have been professionally ruined-and rightly. His mind was at once made up. Attack he would and must. Would the friendship between the two admirals stand the test he imposed upon it? Did the younger care more for Oakes and England than for the young prince and France? A short time would determine. Magnanimously refraining from making any embarrassing signal to his friend, which might force his hand untimely, Oakes boldly led down upon the waiting French line and with his five ships brought them to close action. The French were quick to take advantage of the opportunity given them by the hesitations of the English Rear-Admiral. Holding Oakes with five of his ships to leeward, De Vervillin threw the other five, under Des Prez, his contre-amiral, on the windward side of the English, doubling on them, placing them between two fires.
Although Oakes's division was fought with the fury of despair, the end was at hand, when the opportune arrival of Bluewater, who could not stand seeing his friend pounded to pieces and who threw poltical considerations to the wind and bore down on the triumphant French under a press of sail, completely changed the issue and wrested victory from defeat. All of which is set forth in a succession of sea pictures of surpassing grandeur.
Bluewater, remorseful over his incertitude, actually carried the French Rear-Admiral's ship by boarding at the head of his men, receiving a mortal wound in the attack by way of expiation.
Space allows me only to mention the masterly descriptions of ship-maneuvering and thrilling sea fighting. I can only refer to some of the well-drawn characters in the story--the two splendid admirals, their captains, the officers and seamen, especially old Galleygo, the admiral's steward, delineated out of a large experience with a sure hand. And the great ships themselves are imbued with personality so dear to a seaman's heart. The touching scene at the close of the book, in which Oakes, old, infirm, forgetful, praying before the tomb of Bluewater in the great Abbey of Westminster, recalls the last battle the two had fought, and with all of his former fire and fervor describes again those moments of suspense preceding the glorious victory, fitly rounds out the tale. And then death unites him with the friend he had loved and lost.
I have read the book a score or more of times with ever-increasing joy. I envy any one who takes ship for the first time to sail and fight with these two great masters of the sea.
GABORIAU EMILE GABORIAU was born in Saujon, Charente Inferieure, November 9, 1833. He died in Paris, September 28, 1873. Gaboriau is an admirable example of a man who arrived by finding out for himself what his real job was. Lawyer's clerk, volunteer in a cavalry regiment, he was writing with modest success pieces from life as it came before his eyes, when, bang! he wrote "L'Affaire Lerouge" in 1866. He suddenly became a European, indeed an international, character as the great master of the detective story. As has been the case with Sherlock Holmes, readers were not content with the printed page, but demanded to see upon the stage the personages who had excited their wild enthusiasm in a career of crime. "Le Dossier No. 113," "Monsieur Lecoq," "La Corde au Cou," "La Degringolade," "Le Crime d'Orcival," "Les Esclaves de Paris," "L'Argent des Autres," are some of the books which have revealed the mysteries of crime, the procedure of the police courts, the pursuit by ingenious sleuths, and all such processes as give a thrill of delight to that very great body of humanity ranging from grave to gay who take pleasure in a good detective story.