eleven o'clock
Since they had gone considerably faster than this when the occasion had warranted it in the past , they felt no anxieties now . John , who was at the throttle , opened the Sky-Bird up to 165 , and at this gait they skimmed swiftly along over the blue-green waters of the big Pacific . `` This speed ought to bring us in by twelve-thirty -- a good half-hour ahead of our limit , -- so there 's no need of rushing matters , '' said John , to which sentiment his comrades agreed . By eleven o'clock all were keenly on the look-out . Each flyer coveted the honor of being the first one to see the coastline of Central America , the resting-place of Panama . Paul , with the binoculars to his eyes , was the one to win . It was just exactly 11:25 when he shouted in true mariner 's style : `` Land ho , my hearties ! ''