 Rowley , stationed at Saint @-@ Paul to the west of Saint @-@ Denis , received word that Africaine had arrived at Saint Denis and immediately sought to drive off the French blockade . <unk> eastwards , Boadicea came within sight of Bouvet 's squadron at 15 : 00 and the British flagship followed by the small <unk> HMS Otter and HMS Staunch . Corbet recognised Rowley 's intention and joined the attack , embarking 25 soldiers from the 86th Regiment of Foot to replace his losses at Grand Bay . The French , still believing Africaine to be Boadicea , assumed that Boadicea was an East <unk> named <unk> in disguise , and fell back towards Isle de France before the British force . 
