noon
Of course Sam was ordered to take charge of the little boy , as before . The British had not long to wait for the expected meeting with the enemy . At daylight on the 8th of April 1782 , the _ Andromache _ frigate , commanded by Captain Byron , appeared off Gros Islet Bay , with the signal flying that the enemy 's fleet , with a large convoy , was coming out of Fort Royal Bay and standing to the north-west . Instantly Sir George Rodney made the signal to weigh , and by noon the whole fleet was clear of the bay . The Admiral stretched over to Fort Royal , but finding none of the French ships there , or at Saint Pierre 's , he made the signal for a general chase . Night came on , but still a sharp lookout was kept ahead . Paul Pringle and Abel Bush walked the forecastle , where the second lieutenant of the ship was stationed with his night-glass .