ten o'clock
No time , however , was lost . They had hoped to have arrived before the place just at daybreak , when they would certainly have surprised it , and even now it was hoped that the enemy would not have heard of their approach . On the summit of a high hill , overlooking the fortress , stands the governor 's house -- a very important post . Towards it they hurried , and before ten o'clock reached its base . Up the hill like a swarm of ants they rushed , and in spite of all opposition quickly carried it . The garrison were now , of course , on the alert to receive us . It was not , however , till three in the afternoon that the wind allowed us to stand into the harbour , when we made the signal to the forces on shore that we were ready to co-operate with them .