two o'clock in the morning
The harbour was a snug enough place , and excellently adapted for the purpose of sheltering shipping from the attack of an enemy ; the entrance being guarded by two six-gun batteries -- one on each headland -- mounting thirty-two pounders , the combined fire of both batteries effectually commanding the entrance . These two batteries were apparently all that we had to fear ; but they were quite enough , nay , more than enough , for they were capable of sinking a much bigger craft than the _ Dolphin _ in less than ten minutes . It was these batteries , therefore , that we had to reckon with in the first place ; and , after talking the matter quietly over in the cabin , it was ultimately decided that , as soon as it was dark enough to conceal our movements , the canvas should be taken off the schooner , and she should be allowed to drive , under bare poles , along the coast back to the eastward until once more abreast of the harbour entrance , when the anchor was to be let go . Then a sharp look-out was to be kept for the barque , and if there were no signs of her making an attempt to slip out to sea again before two o'clock in the morning , the boats were to be lowered , and the skipper and I , with all the hands that could be spared , were to pull in , surprise the batteries , spike the guns , and then dash aboard the barque and bring her out . The night happened to be dark , with an overcast sky and a thick drizzle of rain ; it was therefore excellently adapted for our purpose , and having arrived within about a mile and a half of the land , the first part of our programme was carried out by furling everything and allowing the schooner to drive up the coast until a deeper blackness in the shadow that indicated the land revealed that we were off the harbour 's mouth . Here the anchor was let go ; and as every precaution had been taken to prevent any light from showing on board the schooner , we had good reason for hoping that our presence in that particular spot was unsuspected . An anchor watch was set , with instructions to keep a sharp look-out and at once report to the skipper anything of an unusual or suspicious character , when all hands turned in for the purpose of securing as much rest as possible prior to the execution of the important task that we had set ourselves .