about eight o'clock at night
With equal politeness , Paul begged him to consider the danger attending a refusal , which rejoinder nettled the other , who suddenly retorted that he would answer for twenty guns , and that both himself and men were knock-down Englishmen . Upon this , Paul said that he would allow him exactly five minutes for a sober , second thought . That brief period passed , Paul , hoisting the American colors , ran close under the other ship 's stern , and engaged her . It was about eight o'clock at night that this strange quarrel was picked in the middle of the ocean . Why can not men be peaceable on that great common ? Or does nature in those fierce night-brawlers , the billows , set mankind but a sorry example ? After ten minutes ' cannonading , the stranger struck , shouting out that half his men were killed .