noon
The unusual cargo of empty coffee-bags was looked upon by the customs officials as a bit of Yankee thrift , it being likely enough that the captain could obtain coffee-bags in Mexico much cheaper than in Rio Janeiro . The voyage to the Peruvian coast was a slow one , the _ Miranda _ proving to be anything but a clipper , and the winds were seldom in her favor . But at last she rounded Aguja Point , and the captain shaped his course toward the coast and the Rackbirds ' cove , the exact position of which was now dotted on his chart . A little after noon on a quiet October day , they drew near enough to land to recognize the coast-line and the various landmarks of the locality . The negroes were filled with surprise , and afterwards with fright , for they had had no idea that they were going near the scene of their former horrible captivity . From time to time , they had debated among themselves the intentions of Captain Horn in regard to them , and now the idea seized them that perhaps he was going to leave them where he had found them . But , through Maka , who at first was as much frightened as the rest , the captain succeeded in assuring them that he was merely going to stop as near as possible to the cave where he had stayed so long , to get some of his property which it had been impossible to take away when the rest of the party left .