five o'clock
This I expected , and was as fully prepared for as I was for the fall of my foremast , which , taking the foreyard of the transport , fell over the starboard quarter and greatly relieved me on the subject of shortening sail . Thus , my pretty brig was first reduced to a sloop and then to a hulk ; fortunately , her bottom was sound . I was soon cut clear of the transport , and called out in a manly voice , `` Let go the anchor . '' This order was obeyed with promptitude : away it went sure enough ; but the devil a cable was there bent to it , and my men being all stupidly drunk , I let my vessel drift athwart-hawse of a frigate ; the commanding officer of which , seeing I had no other cable bent , very kindly sent a few hands on board to assist me ; and by five o'clock I was safely moored in the Bay of Gibraltar , and walked my quarter-deck as high in my own estimation as Columbus , when he made the American islands . But short , short was my power ! My frigate arrived the next morning . The captain sent for me , and I gave him an account of my voyage and my disasters ; he very kindly consoled me for my misfortune ; and so far from being angry with me for losing my masts , said it was wonderful , under all circumstances , how I had succeeded in saving the vessel .