If he continued on the starboard tack, the van of the pursuing enemy, whose resolve to force battle could not be misunderstood, would overtake his rear ships, engaging as many of them as he might choose.

By resuming the port tack, the heads of the columns would meet, and the fleets pass in opposite directions, on equal terms as regarded position; because all the French would engage, and not only a part of their rear.

Therefore he had ordered his ships to go about, all at the same time; thus forming column again rapidly, but reversing the order so that the rear became the van.
[Illustration] Keppel so far had made no signal for the line of battle, nor did he now.

Recognising from the four days' chase that his enemy was avoiding action, he judged correctly that he should force it, even at some risk.

It was not the time for a drill-master, nor a parade.