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"We have no hope left us, but to anchor; our ground tackle may yet bring her up." Tom turned to his commander, and replied, solemnly, and with that assurance of manner that long experience only can give a man in moments of great danger: "If our sheet-cable was bent to our heaviest anchor, this sea would bring it home, though nothing but her launch was riding by it.
The next is the journal of Captain Hood of the Venerable. 6th July 1801. Monday, 6th July, wind variable off Algeziras, Gibraltar Bay, light breezes, and variable, the captain went on board the Cæsar, all sail set, squadron in company, the captain returned, got the sheet-cable through the stern-port, and bent it to the anchor, got springs on the sheet and bower-anchors; at 2h.
As the wind may probably blow along shore when it is deemed necessary to anchor and engage the enemy at their anchorage, it is recommended to each line-of-battle ship of the squadron to prepare to anchor with the sheet-cable in abaft and springs, &c. Vide Signal 54, and Instructions thereon, page 56, &c. Article 37 of the Instructions. To the respective Captains, &c. Mem.
I thought as strong a splice was laid, between me and Kate Whiffle, as was ever turned into a sheet-cable; but then came the law, with its regulations and shipping articles, luffing short athwart my happiness, and making a wreck at once of all the poor girl's hopes, and a Flemish account of my comfort."
P.M. dark weather; at forty-five minutes past 12, the Venerable and Pompée hauled to the wind on the starboard tack; at 1h. cut the sheet-cable, and slipped the end of the kedge hawser, and spring on the sheet-anchor, got the boats ahead to tow, found the ship drifting under the island fort, which did us considerable injury, the rocks close under the lee-bow, cut away the best bower-anchor to check her head, and bring her broadside to bear, it being calm; at twenty minutes past 1, a light breeze sprung up off-shore, cut away the best bower-cable, and made sail on the starboard tack, observed the Hannibal on shore, and the enemy take possession of her; at 4h. anchored in Rosia Bay, Gibraltar.
At 10h. 20m. the Pompée drifted between us and the French Admiral's, hove in our spring, and brought our guns to bear on the other enemy's ship on our bow, and the other's stern: at 12h. the Pompée drifted between our fire and the enemy's, slipt the sheet-cable, and eight-inch hawser, the spring, with the intention of getting alongside the enemy's southernmost ship, light air springing up at the time from the N.E.; in awaiting this opportunity, the mizen-top-mast, fore-braces, and jibb halyards, with various other standing and running rigging, shot away, and main-mast badly wounded: at 11h. 15m. breeze dying away prevented our intention, opened our fire on the southernmost ship; at 12h. calm and hazy, Cæsar, Hannibal, Audacious, Spencer, and us still firing on the enemy's ships, batteries, and gun-boats, boats of the squadron towing off the Pompée to Gibraltar; P.M. calm, still firing on the enemy's ships, which were warping farther in-shore.
It was true, the sea-wall resisted every shock of the rollers that reached it, but even the billows after they were broken by this obstacle, came down upon the vessel with a violence that brought a powerful strain on every rope-yarn in the sheet-cable.
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