six o'clock in the morning
The weary slaves were therefore again set to work at the oars ; but `` kind Nature '' took pity on them . A breeze sprang up and increased into a gale , under the influence of which the prows sped out to sea and soon left the islands far behind them . It was while thus attempting to evade their enemy that the pirates had the misfortune to run at last into the very jaws of the lion . At six o'clock in the morning , the tide suiting , the gun-boat crept out to sea , and steamed slowly along the coast to the southward , keeping a good look-out . They soon discovered sundry prows , but , after ordering them to come alongside , found that they were legitimate traders . Thus the day was spent in a vain search , and at night they returned to their anchorage , as it was not possible to make any discoveries in the dark . Next morning , at the same hour , they steamed out to sea again , intending to keep about twelve miles off the coast , so as to be able to command a broad expanse of water in every direction ; but before they had got two miles from the anchorage , three prows were observed about four or five miles to seaward .