The master had scarcely disappeared down the hatchway, on his way to his cabin, when the French ship--which, having made an ineffectual effort to round-to, had fallen off again and had continued to run dead to leeward--suddenly broached-to; a terrific sea struck her on her port quarter, turning her broadside-on to us, and her foremast went over the side.  Instantly a dozen voices shouted excitedly--"The Frenchman is ashore, sir!"