About one
o'clock in the morning
During the first fortnight we were fortunate enough to make two recaptures of considerable value , which arrived safely in the Thames , after which we had a succession of gales front the southward , it being the time of the equinox , which drove us close to the sands of Yarmouth , and we even had difficulty in clearing them and getting into sea-room by standing to the eastward . The weather still continued very bad , and we were lying-to under storm sails for several days , and at last found ourselves a degree and a half to the northward , off the coast of Norfolk , when the weather moderated , and the wind changed to the northward . It was a fine clear night , but with no moon , and we were running before the wind to regain our cruising-ground ; but the wind again shifted and baffled us , and at last it fell light , and , being on a wind , we did not make more than four miles an hour , although there was very little sea . About one o'clock in the morning , I had gone on deck , and was walking to and fro with the first officer , Mr. James , when I thought that I heard a faint hallo from to windward . `` Stop , '' said I ; `` silence there forward . '' I listened , and thought that I heard the cry again . `` Mr. James , '' said I , `` did you not hear some one shout ? ''