2 14 THE CALL OF THE SEA 



wind was at this time very light, with partial 

 breezes, mostly from the S.S.W. Nelson ordered 

 the signal to be made for a chase in the south-east 

 quarter. About two, the repeating ships announced 

 that the enemy were at sea. All night the British 

 fleet continued under all sail, steering to the south- 

 east. At daybreak they were in the entrance 

 of the Straits, but the enemy were not in sight. 

 About seven, one of the frigates made signal that 

 the enemy were bearing north. Upon this the 

 Victory hove to ; and shortly afterwards Nelson 

 made sail again to the northward. In the after- 

 noon the wind blew fresh from the south-west, 

 and the English began to fear that the foe 

 might be forced to return to port. A little before 

 sunset, however, Blackwood, in the Euryalus tele- 

 graphed that they appeared determined to go to 

 the westward. " And that," said the admiral, in 

 his diary, " they shall not do, if it is in the power 

 of Nelson and Bronte to prevent them." Nelson 

 had signified to Blackwood that he depended upon 

 him to keep sight of the enemy. They were 

 observed so well, that all their motions were made 

 known to him ; and, as they wore twice, he inferred 

 that they were aiming to keep the port of Cadiz 

 open, and would retreat there as soon as they saw 

 the British fleet ; for this reason he was very care- 

 ful not to approach near enough to be seen by 

 them during the night. At daybreak the combined 



