a
quarter to eight
said Mr Edwards as we prepared to pour another broadside into him . `` Not a bit of it ; he has as much pluck as at the first left in him , '' exclaimed O'Driscoll , as the thunder of our artillery once more ceased . I could not help longing that , for the sake of the lives of his people , the French captain would give in . The action had now lasted from a quarter to eight to half-past eight . Of course the time appeared very much longer . The Bienfaisant was about to pour in another of her broadsides which had already produced such fearful effects . The deck of the Frenchman was truly a shamble ; not a spot appeared free from some dead or wounded occupant .