about
two o'clock in the morning
Slowly , however , and by imperceptible degrees , by hugging the northern shore as closely as we dared , with the lead constantly going , we managed to creep insidiously past the mangrove and densely bush-clad river bank until , just as the sun was dipping into the horizon astern in a brief but indescribably magnificent blaze of purple and scarlet and gold , we reached the place of our rendezvous with Senor Lobo . And soon afterwards we had the satisfaction of discovering that gentleman making his way toward us out of the narrow creek , his conveyance being a small native canoe about fifteen feet long , roughly hewn and hollowed out of a single log , and propelled by two natives , who apparently regarded clothes as an entirely unnecessary superfluity , for they were absolutely naked . They were fine , powerful specimens of negro manhood , however , and smart fellows withal , for they propelled their ungainly little craft along at a truly wonderful pace with scarcely any apparent effort , sheering her alongside the brig in quite respectable style without obliging us to start tack or sheet in order to pick them up , and shinning up the side with the agility of a couple of monkeys as soon as they had securely made fast the rope 's - end that was hove to them . Our impatience at the slow progress that we had thus far made was somewhat relieved by Lobo 's assurance that we might confidently rely upon a brisk breeze speedily springing up that would carry us to our destination as soon as was at all desirable ; his opinion being that our best chance of success lay in the postponement of our attack until about two o'clock in the morning , by which time the moon would have set , and the slaver 's crew would probably be wrapped in their deepest slumber . So far as his prognostication relative to the wind was concerned , it was soon confirmed , a strong breeze from the southward springing up , under the impulsion of which , and with considerably reduced canvas , we reached our destination , so far as the brig was concerned , about five bells in the first watch . This spot was situated on the northern bank of the river , at a distance , up-stream , of about thirteen miles from Boolambemba Point . It was at the mouth of a creek , named Chango Creek , and in a small bay or roadstead about a mile long by perhaps half that width formed by six islands , the largest of which was nearly two miles long by half-a-mile wide , while the smallest and most easterly of all was a very diminutive affair , of perhaps not more than an acre in area , densely overgrown , like the rest of them , with thick , impenetrable bush .