ten o'clock
I thought it best to put a bold face on the matter , knowing that sufficient time might be wasted to enable the sloop of war to get near enough to prevent the privateer from again manning us . My principal apprehension was , that he might carry us all off , in revenge for what had happened , and set fire to the ship . Against either of these steps , however , I should offer all the resistance in my power . It was just ten o'clock when the Polisson ranged up abeam of us the second time , and we hove-to . It was evident the French recognised us , and the clamour that succeeded must have resembled that of Babel , when the people began first to converse without making themselves understood . Knowing we had no small boat , Monsieur Gallois lost no time , but lowering a yawl of his own , he came alongside of us in person . As I had commanded the three Frenchmen to remain below , he found no one on deck but Marble , Diogenes , Neb and myself .