Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 11, 2025
L'Heureuse, commanded by the Commodore de la Pailletine, was the head of a squadron of six galleys then quartered in the port of Dunkirk. But it is necessary here to say a word or two about these strange vessels which the Count de Tourville had recently brought round to the north coast of France from Marseilles and the ports of the Mediterranean.
And none knew better than M. de la Pailletine that the slaves, if left without sufficient guard to coerce them, were as likely as not to murder their overseers and hand their galleys over to the first enemy they met.
Pray do not imagine that I resent this expression of your feelings. On the contrary, I am grateful to you for treating me so frankly. I have consolations. Your sovereign" he pointed to the letter which M. de la Pailletine was folding up and placing in his breast-pocket "has a more intelligent sense of my merits and my honour."
For a minute and a half she fetched up as if awaking to the consequences of her folly; shuddered and shook against the wind; and, as her sails filled again, fetched away on the westerly tack for her life. For a full two minutes the French were taken aback. "Fools, fools!" shouted M. de la Pailletine, beside himself with joy.
It was not wonderful that he had failed to recognise in the young forcat with the shaven head and rough, stubbly beard the son whom he had abandoned more than a month before. Besides, he was busy composing in his mind an introductory speech to be let off on M. de la Pailletine, in whose manner of receiving him he anticipated some little frigidity.
Nevertheless his manner was cool enough as he bowed to all present. "I must apologise, gentlemen, for the state of my clothes; but I heard you were sitting and could not rest until I had saluted you." They welcomed him heartily as he dropped into a vacant chair. M. de la Pailletine reached across the table and shook hands with him. "It is very thoughtful of you," said the Commodore.
But, all of a sudden, as M. de la Pailletine was in the act of offering some remarks upon a scheme of Captain Denoyre's for a descent upon the Isle of Thanet, the Englishman, still yawning, got upon his legs and said very carelessly: "I regret to interrupt M. le Chef d'escadre, but we waste time." The Commodore paused, open-mouthed, in the middle of a sentence, and stared.
It was a gallant stroke, and a subtle so subtle that M. de la Pailletine mistook its meaning and gave a great shout of joy. He fancied he saw the English delivered into his hand. But his rejoicing was premature. To begin with, he perceived the next moment that the frigate, by hastening the attack, had caught his galley alone. Into this trap he had been led partly by the excellence of his crew.
However, he stepped on deck and advanced towards the officer on the poop with a pleasant smile, doffing his laced hat with one hand and holding forward a letter in the other. M. de la Pailletine took his hands from beneath his coat-tails and also advanced, returning the salute very politely. "The Commodore de la Pailletine, I believe?" "The same, monsieur."
As for the ships, I saw the last of 'em slip into the Thames ten minutes since, from my cabin window. Sorry to keep you parleying so long, but couldn't come out before." He blew his nose violently, cocked his head on one side, and added ". . . though, to be sure, sir, your words are devilish kind devilish kind, 'pon my soul!" M. de la Pailletine, with a pleasant smile, held out his sword to him.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking