about
noon
`` Pray go on and tell us , Mr Voules . '' `` For some time I must own that we fully expected to be captured , for wounded as our masts and spars were , we could not venture to make more sail ; indeed , it is a wonder those of the prize which remained standing did not fall over the side . Fortunately , we had a good start , and the wind being light , the French ships did not gain on us as fast as they would otherwise have done . To our infinite satisfaction , just about noon , we saw them haul their wind , having been probably recalled by their admiral , who thought it possible that they might run into the jaws of an English squadron , which he must have known was cruising in the neighbourhood . We had still no small anxiety about our prisoners , and , I believe , it was not a little owing to the vigilance of Lord Reginald that they were prevented from rising . His perfect knowledge of French , for which he tells me he is indebted to his sisters , enabled him to speak to the men , warning them of the danger they would run should they make the attempt , and in a short time he brought them into good humour , notwithstanding which , as before , a strict watch was kept on their movements . Having stood well to the westward , we got a fair breeze , which carried us up Channel and safe inside the Isle of Wight , where I hope the prize is by this time , for she was close in with the Needles , and was only prevented following us for want of wind and the ebb still making out against her .