"The enemy now began to appear from the mast-head"

This quote is from the memoirs of John Byng, a British marine officer who served throughout the Seven Years' War. In this quote, Byng is describing a fight at sea. He is saying that the enemy, presumably the French, had actually ended up being noticeable from the mast-head of his ship. This would have been a tense moment for Byng and his team, as they were now aware that the opponent was close and the fight will begin.

The mast-head was an essential position on a ship, as it was the highest point and allowed the team to see further than anybody else on the ship. This implied that the team at the mast-head were the first to find the enemy, and would have been the very first to notify the rest of the crew to the upcoming fight.

Byng's quote is a suggestion of the significance of the mast-head in naval battles. It was an important position, as it allowed the team to spot the enemy prior to they were spotted themselves. This gave them an essential benefit in battle, and permitted them to get ready for the battle ahead.