As it was, the British frigates did not lose touch of the hostile fleet, which sailed that evening.

They dogged it late into the night, going at times thirteen knots before the blast of the storm, in order to keep clear of the enemy; and at two in the morning of January 19th, being then in the latitude of Ajaccio, satisfied that the French were steering steadily south-southwest, and under a press of sail, which indicated a mission of importance, they parted company and hastened to Nelson, whom they joined twelve hours later, as already stated.
Nelson needed no time to deliberate.

His mind was long before fixed to follow, and there was but one way to do so.

The enemy's course, as reported, led to the southern end of Sardinia, after reaching which the wind was fair for Naples, Sicily, and the East.

The British ships were moored--two anchors down.