As soon as she saw the fleet, knowing they must be enemies, she hauled in for the land and began firing signal-guns.

Pursuit was useless; flight alone remained.

Hoping to elude the chase he knew must follow, the French commodore steered west-northwest for the open sea, putting out all lights; but either from carelessness or disaffection,--for the latter is hinted by one French naval officer,--five out of the twelve ships headed to the northward and put into Cadiz when on the following morning they could not see the commodore.

The latter was dismayed when at daylight he saw his forces thus diminished.

At eight o'clock some sails made their appearance, and for a few minutes he hoped they were the missing ships.