two o'clock
What would such a battle look like , and how would it end ? Meanwhile the day was passing , and although the two fleets had been within sight of each other for more than two hours , nothing had thus far been done . Both fleets were now steaming in single line ahead , the battleships leading , and the cruisers following closely , the Russian fleet being slightly ahead and steaming surprisingly well , considering the condition of their ships , though we were rapidly overhauling them . Five bells -LRB- half-past two o'clock -RRB- in the afternoon watch pealed out , and at the same moment the _ Asama _ and _ Yakumo _ received orders to haul out from the fleet and heave-to , holding ourselves ready to deal with any enemy ships which might attempt to break back toward Port Arthur . So we were not to be allowed to take part in the fight , after all ! It was positively heart-breaking , and for a moment I felt inclined to imitate Nelson at Copenhagen and turn a blind eye to the signal , but the sight of the _ Asama _ promptly sheering out from the line brought me to my senses . I knew that poor Yamada would be just as bitterly disappointed as myself ; yet there he was , obeying the order with the same promptitude that he would have displayed had he been ordered to attack the enemy single-handed .