hatever course and interval, that
they were much more compact than the French, whose line, by Rodney's
estimate, extended four leagues in length.[80] The wariness of the
two combatants, both trained in the school of the eighteenth century
with its reverence for the line of battle, will appear to the careful
reader. Rodney, although struggling through this chrysalis stage
to the later vigor, and seriously bent on a deadly blow, still was
constrained by the traditions of watchful fencing. Nor was his caution
extravagant; conditions did not justify yet the apparent recklessness
of Nelson's tactics. "The different movements of the enemy," he wrote,
"obliged me to be very attentive, and watch every opportunity that
offered of attacking them to advantage."

[Illustration]

The two fleets continued to stand on opposite parallel courses--the
French north by west, the British south by east--until the flagship
_Sandwich_, 90, (Fig. 2, S^1) was abreast the _Couronne_, 80, (C), the
flagship of de Guichen. Then, at 10.10 A.M., the signal was made to
wear together, forming on the same tack as the enemy. There being some
delay in execution, this had to be repeated, and further enforced by
the pennant of the _Stirling Castle_, which, as the rear ship, should
begin the evolution. At half-past ten, apparently, the fleet was about
(Fig. 2, aa), for an order was then given for rectifying the line,
still at two cables. At 11 A.M. the Admiral made the signal to prepare
for battle, "to convince the whole fleet I was determined to bring the
enemy to an engagement,"[81] and to this succeeded shortly the order
to alter the course to port (bb), towards the enemy.[82] Why he
thought that any of the fleet should have required such assurance
cannot certainly be said. Possibly, although he had so recently
joined, he had already detected the ill-will, or the slackness, of
which he afterwards complained; possibly he feared that the wariness
of his tactics might lead men to believe that he did not mean to
exceed the lukewarm and indecisive action of days scarce yet passed
away, which had led Suffren to stigmatize tactics as a mere veil,
behind which timidity thinks to hide its nakedness.

At 11.50 A.M. the decisive signal was made "for every ship to bear
down, and steer for _her opposite in the enemy's line_, agreeable
to the 21st article of the Additional Fighting Instructions." Five
minutes later, when the ships, presumably, had altered their cours