four o'clock
As our course from this point to Key West was on the circumference of a quarter-circle , I supposed Captain Blastblow only intended to take the shortest way by keeping inside of us , and I did not alter anything . But I was confident that he would have to run outside again in order to avoid the shoals of Virginia and Biscayne Keys . I had studied the chart carefully every day , and had found places where there was not more than four , or even more than two , feet of water at low tide , as it was at this time . At four o'clock the Islander was not more than a mile to the south of us , though she was two miles nearer shore than we were . We were abreast of the light-house at Cape Florida , and I expected to intercept the Islander when she came out from the dangerous shoals , rendered doubly dangerous by the threatening weather . But the other steamer gave no indications of changing her course , and I soon saw her close to the light-house . `` She seems to be behaving very strangely , Captain Alick , '' said the mate , as we were watching her from the pilot-house .