rd, two
midshipmen were stationed at each cathead to look out. Soon after,
several lights were seen, which were supposed to be those of the fleet.
The _Juno_ accordingly stood on under her topsails till she made out a
brig which lay off Point Grandtour, when the captain, finding that he
could not weather her, set more sail. The brig, as he approached,
hailed; but no one understood what was said. Captain Hood, in reply,
gave the name and nation of his ship, upon which the people on board the
brig shouted "Viva!" and soon after some one cried out "Luff." The
_Juno's_ helm on this was put a-lee, but before the ship came head to
wind, she took the ground. Directly afterwards, a boat was observed to
pull from the brig towards the town, but even then her object was not
suspected. Happily, while the _Juno's_ people were still on the yards,
a sudden flaw of wind taking the ship, drove her astern. To help her
off, the driver and mizen-staysail were hoisted, and directly the ship
lost her way, an anchor was let go, but she still touched the ground
abaft. Accordingly, to get her off, the launch and cutter were ordered
to carry out a kedge-anchor ahead. While the boats were still away, a
boat from the shore came alongside, out of which several officers
hurried on board. One of them informed Captain Hood that it was the
commanding officer's orders that the ship should go into another branch
of the harbour to perform ten days' quarantine. From some of the
remarks now made, suspicions were aroused, and they were confirmed when,
on a midshipman exclaiming, "Why, those are the national cockades," the
captain, looking at the Frenchmen's hats, discovered by the light of the
moon the tricolours of the republicans. The captain again asking where
Lord Hood's squadron lay, one of the French officers replied, "Soyez
tranquilles. Les Anglais sont des braves gens; nous les traiterons
bien. L'Amiral Anglais est sorti il y a quelque temps."

"Be calm. The English are brave people; we will treat them well. The
English admiral sailed some time ago."

It may easily be conceived what were Captain Hood's feelings on hearing
this. The alarming intelligence ran through the ship; some of the
officers hurried aft to inquire if it were true. Happily, at this
moment a flaw of wind came down the harbour, when Mr Welby, the third
lieutenant, said to Captain Hood, "I believe, sir, that we shall be able
to fetch out if we can get under sail."