two
o'clock in the morning
There was not much fear of pursuit if the vessels hit their marks , as we knew that the boats of the squadron would be engaged in endeavouring to clear their ships of the burning craft . If , however , through a change of wind , or any other circumstance , they should drift clear of the ships , it was probable that the boats might come in chase of us to take vengeance on our heads for the injury we had attempted to inflict on them . There lay the French squadron before us , no one on board dreaming of the havoc and destruction about to be wrought among them . It was just two o'clock in the morning . Our little flotilla of evil was slowly approaching . Evidently no sufficient watch was kept ahead of the French ships . Our success appeared certain .