UNDER PETER THE GREAT 33

about seven Russ ships and two frigates came sonear that, at the next tack, or in three-quarters of anhour’s space, they must engage this hindermost ship.At this juncture the Vice-Admiral hauled up hislower sails and bore down before the wind, stillkeeping in line of battle, to the ship in danger ; andreceiving her into her station kept upon a windunder his topsails. This resolute behaviour of thebrave Swede, determined to lose all or none, dauntedthe Russ, so that, willing to have the rest of thefleet—some one, others two leagues astern—comeup to their assistance, they stood longer than usualupon the next tack: for they might upon goingabout have fetched the enemy. But they knew nothow to act ; some that had shown great forwardness,upon the prospect of half a dozen engaging a singleship, now acted the quite reverse ; not trimmingtheir sails, making bad steerage, &c. The Katharina,one of the best sailers and the best manned, whereinthe Tsar sailed whilst in the fleet, and by far thebest of the headmost ships, had her mizen 1 topsailaback near an hour. In this uncertainty theyobserved a signal from the snow Princess to bearaway for Revel, she having borne away to makethe fleet the better observe her. This was but littleexpected ; however, all knew it was from the Tsar.Some immediately conformed and the rest followedthe example of Commodore Scheltinga upon hisrepetition of the signal. The Swedish Vice-Admiralfired two shot at the Russ galleys. It was still littlewind, and very uncertain. Had there been a galeto be depended upon, ’tis thought the Swedes wouldhave attacked the Russians in their return. 2

1 MS. ‘missen.’

2 The Swedish naval historian, Backstrom, makes no mentionof this.

D