midnight
As each vessel filled on the larboard tack , she shortened sail to allow the ships astern to keep away , and close to her station . It is scarcely necessary to say , that this change again brought the Plantagenet to the head of the line , with the Warspite , however , instead of the Carnatic , for her second astern ; the latter vessel being quite in the rear . It was a glorious afternoon , and there was every promise of as fine a night . Still , as there were but about six hours of positive darkness at that season of the year , and the moon would rise at midnight , the vice-admiral knew he had no time to lose , if he would effect any thing under the cover of obscurity . Reefs were no longer used , though all the ships were under short canvass , in order to accommodate their movements to those of the prize . The latter , however , was now in tow of the Druid , and , as this frigate carried her top-gallant-sails , aided by her own courses , la Victoire was enabled not only to keep up with the fleet , then under whole top-sails , but to maintain her weatherly position . Such was the state of things just as the sun dipped , the enemy being on the lee bow , distant one and a half leagues , when the Plantagenet showed a signal for the whole fleet to heave to , with the main-top-sails to the masts .