noon
`` I concur entirely with you , '' replied Christy . `` Quartermaster , strike four bells , '' continued the captain to the man who was conning the wheel . `` Four bells , '' repeated the quartermaster ; and the gong could be heard on deck as he did so . In the course of half an hour , for the steam had been kept rather low for the slow progress the ship was obliged to make in order not to alarm the chase , the Chateaugay began to show what she could do in the matter of speed , and before noon she had overhauled the Ionian . The Chateaugay , with her colors flying , ran abreast of the Ionian and by her ; but the latter did not show her flag . A blank cartridge was then fired , but the steamer took no notice of it . A shot was then discharged across her fore foot , and this brought her to her senses , so that she hoisted the British flag , and stopped her screw .