nine o'clock
But when he perceived that the English ships did not attempt to increase their distance he was sadly puzzled . The French tricolour hardly had time to blow clear from their taffrails , when the English unions waved aloft in defiance ; and that Admiral Linois might be more perplexed by the arrangements of the night , three of the most warlike Indiamen displayed the red ensign , while the remainder of the ships hoisted up the blue . This _ ruse _ led the French admiral to suppose that these three vessels were men-of-war , composing the escort of the fleet . At nine o'clock the commodore made the signal to fill ; and the French squadron not bearing down , the India fleet continued its course under easy sail . The French admiral then edged away with his squadron , with the intention of cutting off the country ships , which had been stationed to leeward ; but which , since the British fleet had hauled their wind , had been left in the rear . It was now requisite for the British commander to act decidedly and firmly . Captain Timmins , an officer for courage and conduct not surpassed by any in our naval service , who commanded the _ Royal George _ , edged to within hail of the commodore , and recommended that the order should be given to tack in succession , bear down in a line a-head , and engage the enemy .