six o'clock
This much determined , Don Manuel next led us to a spot from which he assured us that Senor Madera 's vessel could be seen ; and there , sure enough , we saw our old foe the _ Black Venus _ snugly moored in the creek . A council of war was at once held as to what should be our next proceeding . It was manifestly impossible to attack the brig there and then ; our little force was wholly inadequate to the capture of the vessel , and any attempt to do so would only have resulted in putting her crew upon their guard . Don Manuel informed us that , from his knowledge of the creek , he was certain there would not be a sufficient depth of water over the sand-bar at its mouth to allow of the brig sailing before high-water , which would be at about half-past six o'clock that evening ; but we were unanimously of opinion that , having secured his prey , Senor Madera _ would _ sail then . As to what might happen in the interim , it would not bear thinking of , and we could only hope and pray for the best . Having by this time obtained all the light which it was possible to gain on the matter , we prepared to return to the _ Virginia _ , Don Manuel eagerly accepting Smellie 's invitation to accompany us . But before doing this , there lay before us the melancholy task of burying poor Pedro 's body , and with the aid of half a dozen men from the gig this was accomplished as speedily as possible , after which the house was shut up , and we hastened down to the boat and made the best of our way back to our ship .