four a.m.
We sat a little while longer , and then , rising and making our bows , retired in a body . We stood on until within an hour and a half of midnight , when we wore ship and began to retrace our steps . By three o'clock next morning we were off the spot which Captain Annesley had selected for the landing -LRB- a small strip of sandy beach , distant about a mile to the southward of the southernmost end of North - East Bay -RRB- ; and the frigate was once more hove-to . The first cutter , which was the boat selected for the service , was lowered , and at four a.m. left the ship , having on board twenty picked men , in addition to the coxswain and myself , all fully armed . On approaching the shore , we found ourselves to all appearance with a rock-bound coast under our lee , upon which the sea was breaking with considerable violence . As we drew closer in , however , I made out the point behind which the landing-place was situate , and in five minutes afterwards we slid round the projection and found ourselves in smooth water , with the beach close aboard . Giving the boat good way , we ran her well up on the sand , and all hands jumped out except two , who were to remain in her as boatkeepers .