noon
Few of those present had ever been in a hotter or better contested fight . The officers , at all events , knew how much depended on the result -- the safety , probably , of all the British possessions in the West Indies . All the seamen thought of was , how they best could thrash the Frenchmen ; and they knew that all they had to do was to stick to their guns and blaze away till they were ordered to stop . Towards noon the wind shifted , and enabled the British fleet to fetch to windward of the enemy . `` See what that gallant fellow Gardner is about with the _ Duke _ , '' observed Captain Penrose to the master , who was near him . Putting the _ Duke 's _ helm up , he was standing down under all sail in a bold attempt to break the enemy 's line . There was a groan of disappointment given by all who saw him when his maintopmast fell over his side , and , unable to keep his position , he dropped to leeward .