ten o'clock
When , on the following morning , the saloon party on board the _ Thetis _ mustered for breakfast beneath the awning which sheltered the top of the deck-house from the too-ardent rays of the sun , they found that their alfresco breakfast-room commanded an uninterrupted and most charming view of the whole of Havana harbour , with the picturesque old town stretching along the waterside on their port hand . It was at that moment a dead calm , for the sea breeze had not yet set in , and the mirrorlike surface of the water reflected a perfect picture of the various craft dotted about the harbour , and of the buildings ashore , already blazing in the dazzling light of the unclouded sun . The business of the day had hardly begun ; the ferryboats to Regla were loaded with passengers ; boats conveying meat , vegetables , fruit , and fish to the shipping were lazily rippling through the scum that coated the surface of the water ; belated fishermen were sweeping their crazy - looking craft out to sea ; and a thin column of brown smoke was rising vertically into the motionless air from the funnel of torpedo boat Number 19 , which was evidently getting up steam in good time to go in search of the _ James B. Potter _ . But for the awning over their heads the party would also have seen that a thin , feathery film of smoke was curling upward from the cream-coloured funnel of their own craft ; for although it had been decided not to go to sea until the afternoon , Jack had given instructions to have steam for ten o'clock , so as to be prepared for any emergency . The party dawdled over breakfast , the ladies in particular finding so much pleasure in their unwonted surroundings that they could scarcely find time to eat because of the many novel incidents that were continually demanding their attention . Moreover , they were in the enviable condition of people who were in no hurry : their preparations were all complete ; nothing remained to be done or to worry about ; they were embarked upon a pleasure excursion , and part of the pleasure was to sit still and gaze upon the increasing animation of the charming picture that unfolded itself around them . When they were tired of gazing , a word was all that would be necessary to provide them with a change of scene ; and meanwhile Jack was entertaining them all with a humorous account of the adventures of himself and Milsom during the small hours of the morning .