about four o'clock in the afternoon
My intention was to tumble everything I could find into a cloth , to tie it up , and to carry it off , if I could , unperceived to the dinghy . How to lower that without being heard or seen by the watch on deck was the difficulty . The falls were so fitted that a single person might lower her , but then she would make a splash in the water . We made the land about four o'clock in the afternoon , but after standing on for some time till it was nearly dark , the captain ordered the ship 's head to be put about , as he was not well acquainted with the coast , and there were dangerous reefs which ran off for a considerable distance . Night came on , and a very dark night it was , but the darkness would favour my design . Instead of being allowed to turn in when it was my watch below , I was sent aft by the cook with a dish of devilled biscuits to the cabin , where the captain and the first and second mates were taking supper , while the third mate had the watch on deck . I intended it to be the last time I would turn into my bunk .