noon
`` She tells us that she has seen the enemy 's fleet with a large convoy coming out of Port Royal Bay , and standing to the north-west . '' Tom Pim was immediately sent down to call the captain , and , as he appeared , the admiral threw out a signal from the _ Formidable _ to put to sea in chase of the enemy . Cheers resounded from ship to ship , and never did fleet get under weigh with more alacrity . By noon we were clear of Gros Islet Bay , when we stretched over to Port Royal , but , finding none of the French ships there or at Saint Pierre , we stood after them in the direction they were supposed to have taken . We continued on for some hours during the night , still uncertain as to whether we should overtake the enemy , when , to our joy , we discovered their lights right ahead . As morning broke , a large portion of the convoy was discovered under Dominique , while to windward we could see the French fleet forming the line of battle . As the light increased , the admiral threw out signals to prepare for action and to form the line .