About nine o'clock
The next day , all being in readiness , the boats set off on their dangerous errand about two bells in the afternoon watch , immediately after the seamen had taken their mid-day meal . They were accompanied by the prayers and good wishes for success from all in the fleet , but no cheering was indulged in , lest perchance some wandering herdsman on the heights should catch the sound , look for its source , discover the lurking ships , and hasten away to the city to give it warning . They kept as close under the huge cliffs that towered above the narrow beach as they could with safety , in order to lessen the danger of being seen to seaward , and after dark pulled slightly farther out to sea to avoid the possibility of running on some rock which they might see and avoid by daylight , but not after dark . About nine o'clock , Roger , who was away up in the bows of the leading boat , keeping a lookout , passed the word aft to the officer in charge that they had just opened up a light , apparently on shore . `` That 's our goal , then , '' said the officer ; `` that 's La Guayra ! And now to find out whether there is anything in there that it may be worth our while to attack . '' He then made the signal for the other two boats to close , to give the officers in command an opportunity for a final consultation .