noon
`` All the better , '' replied the captain ; `` it 's a squeak for Mr Dott . '' In a few minutes we perceived that the other vessel had met the change in the wind and had broken off as well as ourselves . The Frenchman did not now lay up for the merchant vessel as she did before , and the latter had some chance of escape . It was very exciting : for as the time drew nearer to noon , the wind became more light and more variable , and at one time all the vessels broke off another point ; shortly afterwards , the wind flew back again to the point which it at first blew from , and the enemy lay once more right up for the merchant vessels . The French line-of-battle ship was still about four miles astern of the merchant vessel nearest to her . `` I think we shall have a calm soon , '' observed Captain Delmar . `` Square the mainyard ; we may as well be nearer to her , as not , now ; for if it falls calm she will recapture them with her boats , and we shall be too far to give any assistance .