With a skill that De Guichen recognized as soon as they crossed swords, Rodney meant mischief, not idle flourishes.

Whatever incidental favors fortune might bestow by the way, the objective from which his eye never wandered was the French fleet,--the organized military force of the enemy on the sea.

And on the day when Fortune forsook the opponent who had neglected her offers, when the conqueror of Cornwallis failed to strike while he had Rodney at a disadvantage, the latter won a victory which redeemed England from the depths of anxiety, and restored to her by one blow all those islands which the cautious tactics of the allies had for a moment gained, save only Tobago.
De Guichen and Rodney met for the first time on the 17th of April, 1780, three weeks after the arrival of the latter.

The French fleet was beating to windward in the Channel between Martinique and Dominica, when the enemy was made in the southeast.

A day was spent in manoeuvring for the weather-gage, which Rodney got.