10 a.m.
The order to clear for action was received with enthusiasm ; and the little round ball which immediately soared aloft , breaking abroad and displaying the naval ensign as it touched the main truck , was greeted with a rousing cheer . The `` green '' hands were by this time not quite so verdant as they had been a few days before , Mr Sennitt having drilled them most remorselessly at every available opportunity -- and as they had been very judiciously intermingled with the experienced `` salts , '' in appointing them to their various stations , the work went on with , as Captain Brisac remarked , `` very creditable celerity . '' In little more than half an hour , the yards had been slung , bulkheads knocked down , the magazine opened , guns cast loose , loaded , and run out , and every other preparation completed . Meanwhile the two brigs had been slowly drawing together , and by 10 a.m. were within a couple of miles of each other . There had been a little manoeuvring on each side to secure the weather-gage ; but our skipper , perceiving that the action was likely to be thereby delayed , speedily yielded the point , and allowed the Frenchman to take the coveted position . `` It will make very little difference , five minutes after we are engaged , '' he remarked to the first lieutenant , who , after having gone the rounds and personally seen that everything was ready , had rejoined him aft , just as the order had been given to the helmsman of the `` Scourge '' to `` keep away . '' `` There is one thing which we have not yet done , '' he continued , `` it seems quite unnecessary , but we may as well avoid all possibility of mistake by showing the private signal . ''