That evening we sailed on a cruise to ascertain the movements of the French fleet. We had not been to sea many hours when we saw them standing in for Nevis Point, where they came to an anchor; and counting them, we found that they numbered no less than twenty-four sail of the line, several ships having lately joined them. We at once returned with the information to Sir Samuel Hood. It was now discovered that the French had been throwing up gun and mortar batteries on a hill, which would completely command the fleet. We were seated in the berth after we had brought up, discussing the state of affairs. "We're in a nice position," said Chaffey. "We shall be pounded at from the shore, and shall have the French fleet, with half as many more ships as we possess, down upon us before long, and it will be a tough job to fight our way out from among them." "Just trust our admiral," answered Tom; "he knows what he's about, depend on that; he won't let us be caught like rats in a trap." As he was speaking, Nettleship came into the berth. "The captain was sent for on board the flag-ship, and he's just returned," he said. "I hear that he met all the captains of the fleet on board, and the admiral told them to set their watches by his timepiece, and directed all the ships to slip or cut their cables at eleven o'clock. The sternmost and leewardmost ships are to get under weigh first, and so on in succession, and we're to stand on under easy sail, in sight of each other, till we receive further orders from the admiral." No one turned in; the crews were at their stations; not a sign was shown which might allow the French--who were of course watching us from the shore--to discover that any movement was in contemplation. At the appointed time, the _Alfred_, the most leeward of our ships, was seen to get under weigh, followed in rapid succession by the _Canada_ the _President_, and the rest of the line-of-battle ships, which stood out of the bay, accompanied by the frigates, before probably the French were aware what we were about. It was a masterly movement, as it would have been madness to have stopped to be attacked by so superior a force as the French possessed; for though we might have driven them off, we must have suffered severely, and have had to return into harbour to refit. At this time we were outnumbered, and even out-manoeuvred, by the French, who took possession of several of our islands, which we were unable to protect. We were not to be idle, for there was plenty of work for the frigates in watching the enemy, and occasionally in engaging their frigates. We had not been long at sea when our captain received orders from Sir Samuel Hood to stand in towards where the French fleet were supposed to be, and ascertain what they were about.