nine o'clock
Indeed , at this time , almost every fourth French vessel in those seas , if its occupation was the cutting of throats , was a `` Jean Bart . '' However , _ Jean Bart _ , long before we had done with the _ Prince William _ had spread a cloud of canvas -- a dark one , it is true -- and had considerably increased his distance from us . It was a chase dead before the wind . By nine o'clock the breeze had freshened . I do n't know how it could be otherwise , considering the abundance of wishing and votive whistling . At ten we got a good sight of Johnny Crapaud 's hull from the maintop , and found out that she was no frigate . I was not at all nervous before , but I must confess , at this certainty my courage rose considerably .