midnight
This was sufficient , and I made inquiries for a pilot . A man qualified to carry us to the place was found in one of the boatmen . As I feared the news of the arrival of a schooner might be carried to the ship , much as we had got our intelligence , no time was lost , but we were under-way by ten o'clock . At midnight we entered the pass between the main and the island ; there I got into a boat , and pulled ahead , in order to reconnoitre . I found the ship lying close under a high bluff , which made a capital lee , and with every sign about her of tranquillity . Still , I knew a vessel that was always in danger from the _ guarda-costas _ , and which relied on the celerity of its movements for its safety , would have a vigilant look-out . Accordingly , I took a cool and careful examination of the ship 's position , landing and ascending the bluff , in order to do this at my ease .