five in the afternoon before
There ca n't be much water inside them . No doubt they could get out all right if they had plenty of time and no one to interfere with them , but it would be a difficult business to manage if the British fleet were upon them . '' At ten o'clock the next morning a number of large vessels were seen in the distance . They bore down towards Alexandria , but the wind was light and they made but slow way , and it was five in the afternoon before , having changed their course , they formed into line of battle and headed for the French fleet . The scene from the shore was intensely exciting . In each fleet there were thirteen battle-ships , but the French ships were the larger and more heavily armed . They carried forty-six more guns , and the weight of their broadside was 14,029 pounds to 10,695 pounds , while they carried 2300 more men , and were 5000 tons heavier .