about nine o'clock
The Kalamazoo and its mouth were soon far behind , and le Bourdon no longer felt the least apprehension of the savages left in it . The Indians are not bold navigators , and he felt certain that the lake was too rough for the savages to venture out , while his own course gradually carried him off the land , and out of the track of anything that kept near the shore . A short time produced a sense of security , and the wind appearing to fall , instead of increasing in violence , it was soon arranged that one of the men should sleep , while the other looked to the safety of the canoes . It was about nine o'clock when the fugitives made sail , off the mouth of the Kalamazoo ; and , at the return of light , seven hours later , they were more than forty miles from the place of starting . The wind still stood , with symptoms of growing fresher again as the sun rose , and the land could just be seen in the eastern board , the coast in that direction having made a considerable curvature inland . This had brought the canoes farther from the land than le Bourdon wished to be , but he could not materially change his course without taking in one of his sails . As much variation was made , however , as was prudent , and by nine o'clock , or twelve hours after entering the lake , the canoes again drew near to the shore , which met them ahead .