noon
It was just nine o'clock in the evening when the _ Thetis _ rounded Beachy Head ; and at noon next day she was abreast of the Lizard and two miles distant from it . `` A splendid ` departure ' ! '' exclaimed Milsom enthusiastically , when he had taken a careful bearing of the headland . `` I now know the ship 's position at noon to-day almost to a foot ; and I was anxious to make a really good departure , for I have worked out a very elaborate and complete system of Great Circle courses from the Lizard to the north - west end of the Little Bahama Bank , which is a spot that must be hit off very accurately if one would avoid disaster . Thence I shall run down the Florida Strait to Key West , the course which I intend to steer being the shortest possible distance to that spot . And we must not run a mile farther than is necessary , Jack , for Macintyre tells me that it will take him all his time to make his coal last out . '' As it happened , there was no cause for apprehension as to the coal lasting out , for when the _ Thetis _ was two days out from the Lizard she fell in with a fresh easterly wind which enabled her to use her sails to such great advantage that she saved a full day in the run across , steaming in through the East Channel and dropping her anchor in four fathoms of water within half a mile of the town of Key West a few minutes before six o'clock in the evening of her eleventh day out from the Lizard .