noon
There was nothing worthy of note about it ; the shores were low and pretty even all the way , and seemed to have suffered no alteration since the breaking of the isthmus . Long , in obedience to the Lieutenant , made bench marks along the beach , that any future change might be easily noted . Hobson was naturally anxious to get back to Fort Hope the same day , and Mrs Barnett was also eager to return to her friends . It was of course desirable under the circumstances that the commanding officer should not be long absent from the fort All haste was therefore made , and by taking a short cut they arrived at noon at the little promontory which formerly protected Port Barnett from the east winds . It was not more than eight miles from this point to Fort Hope , and before four o'clock P.M the shouts of Corporal Joliffe welcomed their return to the factory . CHAPTER V. FROM JULY 25TH TO AUGUST 20TH . Hobson 's first care on his return to the fort , was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony .