“I fear, neighbor Vito, this will only prove too true.  I see the bodies of Sir Dashwood and Sir Smees; and God knows how many more have this day departed for the world of spirits.”

“Leaving behind them only a world of shadows,” muttered Vito Viti, even that melancholy spectacle failing to draw his thoughts altogether from a discussion that had now lasted near four-and-twenty hours.  But the moment was not propitious to argument, and the two Italians landed.  This was within half an hour after the struggle had ceased; and our intentions are to advance the time to the moment mentioned in the opening of this chapter.

We must give here, however, a rapid sketch of the proceedings that narrowed down the view to that we intend shortly to lay before the reader.  As soon as there was leisure, Winchester made a survey of the field of battle.  He found many of his own men slain, and more wounded.  Of the French on the islet, quite half were hurt; but the mortal wound received by their leader was the blow that all lamented.  The surgeon soon pronounced Raoul’s case to be hopeless; and this declaration was heard with regret even by generous enemies.  The defence had been desperate; it would have succeeded, had it been within the scope of possibility for so few courageous men to repel double their numbers of those who were equally brave.  Both sides had fought for honor; and, when this is the case, victory generally awaits the strongest.

As soon as it was perceived that all the ships were likely to be led far to leeward in chase, the English officers felt the necessity of acting for themselves.  The medical men had been busy from the first, and in the course of a couple of hours all had been done for the wounded that present circumstances would allow.  The amputations were few, and, each vessel having sent a surgeon, these were all made, while the other appliances had been successfully used in such cases as would be benefited by them.  The day was drawing near a close, and the distance from the fleet was so great as to call for exertion.

As soon, therefore, as the uninjured men were refreshed and the wounded cared for, the latter were put into the launches, in the best manner they might be, and the cutters took them in tow.  One had no sooner received its melancholy freight, than it left the islets, on its way to the hospital-ship of the fleet.  The others succeeded, in turn; the unhurt French willingly offering to assist in the performance of this pious duty.  At length but three boats remained.  One was Sir Frederick’s gig, which Winchester had kept for his own particular use; another was the yawl of Andrea Barrofaldi; and the third, the little craft in which Carlo Giuntotardi had come from the shore.  Of the French, no one remained but the surgeon of the lugger, Raoul’s steward and personal attendant, and Raoul himself.  If to these be added the two Italians and their oarsmen, Carlo and his niece, with Winchester and his boat’s crew, we enumerate all who now remained at the rocks.