She then kept away a little, to close nearer, evidently examining the force opposed to her.

The Indiamen had formed the line of battle in close order, the private signal between English men-of-war and East India ships flying at their mast-heads.
"Extremely strange, that she does not answer the private signal," said the colonel to the second mate.
"Not at all, if she don't know how." "You are convinced, then, that she is a French frigate ?" "No, not positive; but I'll bet you ten to one she is:--bet off if either of us are killed, of course!" "Thanky; I never bet," answered the colonel, turning away.
"What do you think of her, Mr Mathews ?" said Captain Drawlock to the first mate, who had his eye on the ship.
"She is English built and English rigged, sir, that I'll swear; look at her lower yard-arms, the squaring of her topsails.

She may be French now, but the oak in her timbers grew in Old England." "I agree with you," said Newton: "look at the rake of her stern; she is English all over." "Then, why don't she answer the private signal ?" said Captain Drawlock.
"She's right in the wind's eye of us, sir, and our flags are blowing end on from her." "There goes up her bunting, sir," cried the first mate.
"English, as I said.

The commodore is answering, sir.

Up with the ensign there abaft.