about nine o'clock
Meanwhile the commodore sent off the _ Artois _ frigate and _ Sylph _ brig to examine two suspicious ships seen away to the south-west . Night was approaching , and just before darkness came down on the ocean , we were not more than two miles astern of the chase . We could still see her dimly through the gloom ahead , and we hoped to keep sight of her during the night . Suddenly , however , about nine o'clock , a heavy squall struck us , accompanied by thunder and lightning , with tremendous showers of rain . The order was given to shorten sail . We flew aloft ; there was no time to be lost . The thunder rattled , almost deafening us , and the lightning flashed in our eyes .