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Into History.

com. at Into History. History. It's the afternoon of the

it's the afternoon of August 11th, 1718, in the middle of a naval battle off Kate

Basaro, Sicily. On the quarter deck of a British ship, 13-year-old officer

cadet, John Bing stands near a cluster of senior

officers. Among them is the fleet's commander, John's own father, George Bing.

Next to his superiors John tries to do his best to hide his fear, but inside he is terrified of the scene unfolding before him.

A few days ago, war broke out in Europe between Spain and a British-led alliance.

Now a battle is raging in the Mediterranean.

All day John has washed from afar

as the British fleet engaged their Spanish enemy

from a distance.

But now the ship is heading into the thick of the battle.

As his British vessel moves alongside a Spanish flagship, John grows increasingly tense.

He struggles to calm his nerves, as one of the British sailors next to him shouts for the Spanish to lower their colors or face destruction.

When the enemy flagship fires a broadside in reply, John involuntarily ducks and covers his head,

powering. When he looks up, he sees his father glaring at him.

Shame reddens John's face.

And even as his father shakes his head in disgust, John can't keep from trembling, flinching at every

...