eight o'clock
Then they crossed to Jamaica , where they enjoyed ample opportunity to compare the condition of that island , under British rule , with Cuba under the government of the Spaniards , as also to learn how the Jamaicans construe the word `` hospitality '' . Dances , picnics , dinners at Government House and elsewhere , balls at Up-Park camp and on board the battleships at Port Royal succeeded each other with bewildering rapidity ; while they were positively deluged with invitations to spend a week or more on various sugar estates dotted about here and there in some of the most beautiful parts of the lovely island : small wonder was it , therefore , that six full weeks slid away ere the _ Thetis _ again steamed out to sea from Port Royal . Thence , coasting along the southern shores of San Domingo , the travellers visited Porto Rico , where Don Hermoso again had much business to transact with mysterious strangers , occupying a full fortnight ; after which Saint Kitts , Antigua , Montserrat , Guadeloupe , Dominica , Martinique , Saint Lucia , Barbados , Saint Vincent , Grenada , and finally Trinidad -LRB- to see the wonderful Pitch Lake -RRB- were visited : by which time the month of February in the year 1895 had arrived , and Don Hermoso became anxious to be at home again , as certain very important and momentous events were pending , the progress of which he was anxious to watch as closely as might be . Wherefore , on a certain evening , the yacht weighed her anchor shortly before two bells in the first dogwatch , and , steaming close past the Five Islands , the Diego Islands , Gaspar Grande , and Mono Island , swept out through the Boca de Navios , and shaped a course north-west by west for Cape Tiburon , in the island of Hayti , which was passed at daybreak on the morning but one following ; the yacht finally entering Havana harbour and making fast to a buoy at eight o'clock on the morning of the succeeding day . The Montijo family landed immediately after breakfast , and took the first available train to Pinar del Rio , hoping to arrive home the same evening : but Jack remained on board the yacht , as she was by this time so exceedingly foul that it had been decided to dock her and have her cleaned in readiness for any emergency ; and , Singleton being her ostensible owner , it was deemed a wise and prudent thing that he should remain at Havana to personally arrange for the work to be done , lest suspicion as to the genuineness of his ownership should arise in the minds of any of the Spanish officials . As Jack went hither and thither about his business , after having seen his friends off by train , he was astonished at the change that had taken place in the appearance of Havana since he had last seen it on that memorable day when the Capitan-General had visited the _ Thetis _ and persuaded -- or , rather , practically compelled -- him to lend that vessel for the purpose of attempting the capture of the _ James B. Potter _ . Then , Havana was simply a busy seaport ; now , it was a fortress preparing for war .