forty-five minutes past six in the evening
After midnight the breeze freshened , and the _ Halbrane 's _ progress marked a dozen additional miles . On the morrow the good ship was less than the third of a degree , that is to say less than twenty miles , from Tsalal Island . Unfortunately , just after mid-day , the wind fell . Nevertheless , thanks to the current , the Island of Tsalal was signalled at forty-five minutes past six in the evening . The anchor was cast , a watch was set , with loaded firearms within hand-reach , and boarding-nets ready . The _ Halbrane _ ran no risk of being surprised . Too many eyes were watching on board -- especially those of Hunt , whose gaze never quitted the horizon of that southern zone for an instant .