one o'clock
As soon as I had given the orders to the prize-masters and returned on board , the boat was hoisted up , and all sail made for the land . At twelve o'clock we sounded , and found ourselves in nine-fathom water , by which we calculated we were about thirty miles from the land . I hardly need say that a most careful lookout was kept up , that we might not fall in with our formidable adversary . At one o'clock the moon rose , and I , having the middle watch , surveyed the horizon on every side , but without discovering the enemy ; but at half-past three the day dawned , and before my watch was over it was broad daylight ; and then , just as I was going down , having been relieved by the second lieutenant , a strange sail was reported about eight miles to leeward , two points before the beam . The second lieutenant hastened down to the cabin , to report to the captain , and I went up to the mast-head to make her out , and I soon discovered that she was a line-of-battle ship : I immediately descended , and reported to the captain , who had come on deck . As we could distinguish the masts and sails of the enemy very well from the deck , the glasses were fixed upon her at the gang-way , and she was seen to set her royals and flying jib in chase of us ; but we felt that we were safe , as we should be in shallow water long before she could beat up to us . All we had to fear for was the merchant vessels which we had re-taken , and which were two or three miles astern of us , with all the sail that they could carry .