a few
minutes before six o'clock in the evening
`` I now know the ship 's position at noon to-day almost to a foot ; and I was anxious to make a really good departure , for I have worked out a very elaborate and complete system of Great Circle courses from the Lizard to the north - west end of the Little Bahama Bank , which is a spot that must be hit off very accurately if one would avoid disaster . Thence I shall run down the Florida Strait to Key West , the course which I intend to steer being the shortest possible distance to that spot . And we must not run a mile farther than is necessary , Jack , for Macintyre tells me that it will take him all his time to make his coal last out . '' As it happened , there was no cause for apprehension as to the coal lasting out , for when the _ Thetis _ was two days out from the Lizard she fell in with a fresh easterly wind which enabled her to use her sails to such great advantage that she saved a full day in the run across , steaming in through the East Channel and dropping her anchor in four fathoms of water within half a mile of the town of Key West a few minutes before six o'clock in the evening of her eleventh day out from the Lizard . There were several American men-o ' - war of various descriptions , ranging from battleships to torpedo boats , lying at anchor in the roadstead , as well as two cruisers , three gunboats , and a torpedo boat flying the Spanish flag ; and Singleton noticed , with mingled concern and amusement , that , as the little _ Thetis _ swept past the Spanish vessels at close quarters , with the blue burgee and ensign of the `` Royal Thames '' gaily fluttering from masthead and ensign staff , the yacht was an object of the keenest interest to the officers who were promenading the navigating bridges . A boat from the custom-house , with the health officer of the port in her , came off to the yacht almost as soon as her anchor was down : but as the _ Thetis _ had a clean bill of health there was no difficulty about getting pratique , and the party might have landed forthwith had they so pleased ; they deemed it wise , however , to exercise a certain measure of restraint , by abstaining from landing until the next morning . But although the port authorities were perfectly polite , Singleton thought -- or was it only a case of a guilty conscience ?