about midnight
But it was all to no purpose ; George and Bowen were fully as wide-awake as he was , and they successfully defeated every effort of his in this direction , principally , it must be confessed , by some lucky shooting on their part , whereby the Frenchman 's spars and rigging were so cut up that the craft soon became practically unmanageable . At length , after a brisk fight of about twenty minutes , the Frenchman 's fore and main-topmasts both went simultaneously over the side , the frigate luffed into the wind , and obstinately remained there , and she was at George 's mercy . The _ Virginie _ at once made sail and took up a position across the enemy 's bows , the _ Aurora _ placed herself across his stern , and from these two advantageous positions a raking fire was opened , which , in less than five minutes , caused the Frenchman to haul down his flag and surrender . The prize -- which proved to be the twenty-four-gun frigate _ Cigne _ -- was at once taken possession of by boats from both the _ Virginie _ and the _ Aurora _ , her crew secured , and her damages repaired ; and about midnight the three vessels made sail in company , arriving without further adventure at Spithead on the day but one following . The anchors were no sooner on the bottom than George found himself a busy man . There were certain authorities to be communicated with as to the disposal of the French prisoners , other authorities to be consulted as to the disposal of the pirates , and still others , again , to be seen and arranged with as to the disposal of the prizes . Then there were the owners of the _ Vulcan _ to be dealt with in the matter of the salvage of that vessel , so that , altogether , he was kept going to and fro from morning until night .