noon
We ceased rowing for a moment , and Castro explained to me that a fire was always lit when any of these thieves ' boats were stirring . There would be three or four men to keep it up . On this very night Manuel-del-Popolo was outside with a good many rowboats , waiting on the _ Indiaman _ . The ship had been seen nearing the shore since noon . She was becalmed now . Perhaps they were looting her already . This fact had so far favoured our escape .