' The floating batteries seemed to baffle all the powers of
the Gibraltar guns ; and no more impression seemed to be
made upon the rock itself than if the shot had been hurled
against the eternal cliffs of Sinai. The English commander
inquired with surprise, as the hours passed away, and his
heaviest shells rebounded harmless from the batteries, and
his balls of fire kindled no conflagration, " What can be the
composition of these machines, on which red-hot balls pro-
duce no effect?"

At last, as night came on, some of the shot penetrated.
Two of the batteries were on fire. Billows of smoke were
followed by bursting flames. Eockets were thrown up as
signals of distress. Numerous boats were instantly sent
from the fleet to rescue the crews from these floating masses,
which were now furnaces of flame. But the English, to
baffle this attempt, sent out twelve gun-boats, which swept
the water with grape and canister, and drove back the res-
cuing boats to the fleet At this awful moment numbers
were seen hanging to the burning sides of the vessels,
shrieking as the flames enveloped them. Others were
floating upon pieces of timber, with agonizing cries implor-
ing help. From others of the batteries flames began now
to ascend. The fate of the enterprise was decided, and the
assailants, no longer continuing their fire, as far as possible
withdrew.
