midnight
The inlet from the sea was at no great distance , and I sent one of the men back to the yawl , with orders for the boat to proceed thither . I next sounded the inlet and the bay , and found everywhere a sandy bottom , and about ten fathoms of water . As I expected , the shoalest spot was the inlet ; but in this , which I sounded thoroughly , there was nowhere less than five . It was now midnight ; and I should have remained on the island until morning , to make further surveys by daylight , had we not seen the ship , under her canvass , and so much nearer to us than we had supposed possible , as to satisfy me she was drifting in fast towards the land . Of course I did not hesitate , but pulled on board . It was as I suspected . The rocks so near the reef had chafed off the cable ; the ship struck adrift , and Marble was under his canvass waiting my return , in order to ascertain where he might anchor anew .