midnight
He mustered his crew aft , however , and proceeded to read his commission to them . His appointment to the command was received with cheers of delight , for the crew was made up , for the most part , of men drafted from the other ships of the squadron , consequently they either knew Jim personally or had heard something of his exploits . They therefore knew what sort of commander they were sailing under , and looked forward to a lively and adventurous cruise . Douglas then sent the purser and a few men ashore to hurry up the belated stores ; and by midnight everything and everybody was on board -- and the ship ready . But remembering Admiral Riveros ' orders as to sailing on the morrow , he waited until daybreak , and then signalled that everything was in readiness for his departure , and inquired whether it was the admiral 's pleasure that he should sail at once . The answer promptly came back that the sooner he sailed the better ; and Jim , ordering the saluting guns to be manned and loaded , made his way with a proud step to the navigating bridge , and rang his engines to half-speed ahead , the anchor having already been got up . There was a responsive tinkle from the bridge-telegraph , at which the young commander smiled , for he recognised , in the long-continued response , the hand of Mr Terence O'Meara .