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Thank you. It's November 13, 1755, in the Atlantic Ocean.

27-year-old British sailor James Cook grips the rail to keep his balance as HMS Eagle skims through the waves in pursuit of a French worship. For the past year, Britain has been at war with France. It's not unusual for these two

powers to be in conflict, but this time, the fighting isn't just taking place in Europe. The theater

of war has expanded to British and French colonies in North America.

And over the last few weeks, HMS Eagle has been part of a British fleet patrolling the Atlantic ocean, and now the ships have cited the French warship Esperance nearing the end of a transatlantic

crossing. The nearest British ships to the Esperance opened fire, but the Eagle is still too far away to use its cannons.

So at a signal from his captain, Cook turns to a sailor and tells him to unfurl another sail in an attempt to close the gap.

As Master's mate, Cook is one of the officers on board the Eagle, and it's his job to relay the captain's orders to the crew.

Soon, Cook feels the ship accelerate as the extra sail catches wind. But by the time the eagle

comes alongside the Esperance, flames are already consuming the French warships hull.

The other British ships have crippled the enemy vessel. So Cook watches as French sailors abandoned ship,

jumping off the side and into the water.

Without waiting for his captain's orders,

Cook hurriedly tells the sailors manning the wheel to steer away.

There's no greater danger on the high seas than a warship on fire,

and if the Esperanza's gunpowder store explodes,

it might take the eagle down with it.

A few minutes later, the Esperance sinks beneath the waves. It's the second victory in as

...