It was just five days before the full moon;[1308] and high tide that evening was about six o’clock. About midnight the moon set, and we may suppose that, like the ships of William when he sailed to encounter Harold, each vessel carried a lantern.[1309] Soon afterwards the signal was given to weigh anchor,[1310] and the ships stood out to sea and steered against the ebb tide, which, however, was moving at less than one knot an hour,[1311] for Dover harbour.[1312] As they passed Ambleteuse, there was no sign that the cavalry transports had [Sidenote: His cavalry transports fail to put to sea in time.] yet got under way. About half an hour before sunrise the stream turned eastward; and by that time Cape Grisnez had been left behind. But at some period of the voyage the wind must have shifted to an unfavourable quarter,[1313] for [Sidenote: Aug. 26.] it was not until the fourth hour of the day, or about nine o’clock in the morning,[1314] that the galleys approached the Dover cliffs; and at that time the transports, which were slower sailers and had no oars, were far behind. Above the white precipices, ranged on the undulating downs behind, Caesar descried an armed host of the enemy. ‘The formation of the ground,’ he observed, ‘was peculiar, the sea being so closely walled in by abrupt heights that it was possible to throw a missile from the ground above on to the shore.’[1315] To attempt a landing in the harbour or below the cliffs on either side of it was of course out of the question; and [Sidenote: He anchors off the Dover cliffs.] Caesar determined to remain at anchor until the rest of the fleet should arrive. The reader who is familiar with the _Commentaries_, and can comprehend their implied meaning, will perceive that the vessels must have been grouped in the bay somewhere between the Castle Cliff and the South Foreland, the one on the extreme right being about a mile westward of the latter.[1316] Caesar summoned his generals and tribunes to come on board, communicated to them the substance of the report which he had received from Volusenus, and instructed them how to handle their ships and troops when the landing-place should be reached, warning them above all to bear in mind that rapid and irregular movements were of the essence of seamanship, and to be prepared to obey orders on the instant. When he was satisfied that all understood what was required of them, he sent them back to their ships. Between three and four in the afternoon the infantry transports arrived; and although Caesar does not expressly say so, it seems reasonable to assume that he communicated with their officers as well.[1317] Between four and five the stream, which, for about six hours, had been running down the Channel, turned towards the east, and, as the wind was now blowing from a favourable quarter, Caesar gave the signal to weigh anchor.[1318] A few minutes later galleys, transports, and smaller craft, with all sail set, [Sidenote: Late in the afternoon he sails on to Walmer--Deal.] were running in an extended line past the Foreland, while the British chariots and cavalry, followed by their infantry, were hurrying across country to intercept them. In about an hour the armada was off the coast between Walmer and Deal, heading straight for the shore; and, while the galleys were held ready for emergencies, the transports were run aground.