Chapter Ten Summary

The fleet is eight days out of Sierra Leone, and nearing the point where the most recent intelligence has indicated they can intercept the French fleet. Stephen is still unable to decipher the final message from Blaine, though he is sure that Diana's name is mentioned in it.

Finally, the Ringle spots a ship of the line flying American colors escorting two transports toward the rendezvous area. Jack keeps the Ringle ten miles off, watching the ships with her private colors showing. The second message had contained news of possible American involvement. The appearance of the American ships seems to confirm this. Jack hopes to tail the American to a rendezvous point with their French allies, so that he may engage the invasion fleet upwind, seizing the nautical equivalent of the high ground.

The fleet watches the rendezvous from a distance...