nine o'clock
There was more frequent firing upon the town , and feints were made with ladders and ropes for escalades at different points . An armed schooner , named the Gaspé , captured during the autumn , was prepared as a fire-ship to drift down and destroy the craft that was moored in the Cul-de-Sac , at the eastern extremity of Lower Town . Other vessels destined for a similar service were also made ready . At nine o'clock on the night of the 3rd of May , the attempt was actually made . One of the fire-ships turned out from Levis , and advanced near to the Quebec shore without molestation , the garrison imagining that it was a friend . Success seemed almost within reach , when on being hailed , and not answering , guns were fired at her from the Grand Battery over the Cape . At this signal that they were discovered , the crew at once set a match to the combustible material on board , and sent the vessel drifting directly for the Cul-de-Sac .