Mullon was then seen to address his crew briefly, holding a cap of
liberty, which he waved before them. They answered with acclamations,
shouting, "Vive la Republique!" as if in reply to the loyal watchword of
the British crew, and to mark the opposite principles for which the
battle was to be fought. The cap of liberty was then given to a sailor,
who ran up the main rigging, and screwed it on the mast-head.

At a quarter past six, the _Nymphe_ reached the starboard quarter of the
_Cleopatra_, when Captain Pellew, whose hat was still in his hand,
raised it to his head, the preconcerted signal for the _Nymphe_ to open
her fire. Both frigates immediately commenced a furious cannonade, which
they maintained without intermission for three quarters of an hour,
running before the wind under top-gallant-sails, and very near each
other. At a little before seven, the mizen-mast of the _Cleopatra_
fell, and presently after her wheel was shot away. Thus rendered
unmanageable, she came round with her bow to the _Nymphe's_ broadside,
her jib-boom pressing hard against the mainmast. Captain Pellew,
supposing that the enemy were going to board, ordered the boarders to be
called, to repel them; but the disabled state of the _Cleopatra_ was
soon evident, and he at once gave orders to board her. Immediately the
boarders rushed on the forecastle, a division of them, headed by Mr.,
afterwards Capt. George Bell, boarding through the main-deck ports, and
fought their way along the gangways to the quarter-deck. The
republicans, though much superior in numbers, could not resist the
impetuosity of the attack. At ten minutes past seven they had all fled
below, or submitted, and the pennant of the _Cleopatra_ was hauled down.

While the boarders were pouring in upon the enemy's forecastle, the
mainmast of the _Nymphe_, having been much wounded, and with the main
and spring-stays shot away, was most seriously endangered by the