Smarting under the disgrace, we obeyed, firing as we went.  Scarce thirty English ships remained out of the fifty-four that commenced the fight.  Keeping close together, and yawing from time to time in order to deliver a broadside at our pursuers, we held doggedly on our course, till at length a flat calm set in, and both fleets lay inactive at a mile apart, in which situation darkness again overtook us.