midday
The morning of the 16th broke fair and clear , with scarcely a breath of air to ruffle the surface of the water , and with the first streak of dawn all hands were aroused by the roar of the cannonade from the Cliff Battery , as we had named it . All day long without a moment 's intermission was the fire kept up , and on into the evening as long as there was light enough to see . Then the fire slackened down somewhat , the efforts of our gunners being merely directed through the night to the prevention of all attempts on the part of the enemy to execute repairs . On the following morning our guns again opened upon the devoted redoubt , and shortly after midday a message was brought down to me for conveyance to the admiral , the substance of which was that there was every indication of a practicable breach being effected before sunset . There was a fresh breeze dead against us , but we crowded sail on the cutter to such an extent , in our eagerness to get off to the fleet with the welcome news , that it is the greatest wonder in the world we did not carry the sticks out of her . Arrived under the lee of the `` Victory , '' Bob and I jumped into our dinghy , and , rowing alongside the flag-ship , sprang up her lofty sides , and , finding the admiral on the quarter-deck , went up to him and delivered our message . `` I was wondering , '' said Sir Hyde Parker , who was also on the quarter - deck , `` what good news you young monkeys had to tell , that you were carrying-on upon the boat in that unmerciful manner .