eight o'clock
But it had the effect of causing her to show her colours , which proved to be French . We fired no more , for there was nothing to be gained by wasting ammunition , and it was quite clear that the stranger had no intention of heaving-to until absolutely compelled to do so . We held on , therefore , uneventfully , until we were fairly in the brigantine 's wake , and then tacked again , without waiting for orders from the commodore . It was by this time eight o'clock ; the watch was called , the boatswain came aft to relieve Simpson , and San Domingo appeared , with the announcement that breakfast was ready . Before going below , however , I ordered young Keene to bring up my sextant , with which I very carefully measured the angle between the brigantine 's main-topmast head and the top of her transom . When I had secured this I clamped the instrument and laid it aside for reference later . Then I instructed Jones to pick out the best helmsman he could find in his watch and send him aft to the tiller , explaining my reason for so doing .