noon
The death of Bluewater was announced to the fleet , at sunrise , by hauling down his flag from the mizzen of the Cæsar . The vice-admiral 's flag came down with it , and re-appeared at the next minute at the fore of the Plantagenet . But the little white emblem of rank never went aloft again in honour of the deceased . At noon , it was spread over his coffin , on the main-deck of the ship , agreeably to his own request ; and more than once that day , did some rough old tar use it , to wipe the tear from his eyes . In the afternoon of the day after the death of one of our heroes , the wind came round to the westward , and all the vessels lifted their anchors , and proceeded to Plymouth . The crippled ships , by this time , were in a state to carry more or less sail , and a stranger who had seen the melancholy-looking line , as it rounded the Start , would have fancied it a beaten fleet on its return to port . The only signs of exultation that appeared , were the jacks that were flying over the white flags of the prizes ; and even when all had anchored , the same air of sadness reigned among these victorious mariners .