Instantly Lieutenant Bush of the marines and Mr. Alwyn were by his side, when a volley from the British caused all three to fall back.
Bush was killed instantly and the other two were badly wounded.
The ships drifted asunder.
Lieutenant Tempest went to the long gun and with a hurried request for permission to fire it, sighted with deliberation.
A ringing cheer told of the result.
The Guerriere's foremast had been shot away and had dragged down the mainmast with it in its fall.
The proud, trim-built and rigged Britisher was now a shapeless hulk, tossing on the waters without chance to retrieve its fallen fortunes.