ten o'clock
Her well-shotted guns were pointed so as to keep the enemy in check . The Spaniards had undertaken to scuttle the _ Iris _ frigate , which contained several thousand barrels of powder , as also another powder vessel , the _ Montreal _ frigate . Hitherto Sir Sydney Smith and his gallant companions had performed all their operations in darkness , the only light being the flashes of the cannon and muskets playing on them . At length ten o'clock struck -- a single rocket ascended into the air . In an instant the fireship and all the trains leading to the different magazines and stores were ignited . The boats lay alongside the former , ready to take off the crew . There was a loud explosion -- the priming had burst , and the brave Captain Hare narrowly escaped with his life .