six in the evening, September twenty-sixth
I hailed her , but could get no answer ; yet I found I gained upon her , for the wind slackened . I made all the sail I could , and in half-an-hour she spied me , then hung out her ancient , -LSB- 37 -RSB- and discharged a gun . It is not easy to express the joy I was in , upon the unexpected hope of once more seeing my beloved country , and the dear pledges I left in it . The ship slackened her sails , and I came up with her , between five and six in the evening , September twenty-sixth ; but my heart leaped within me to see her English colors . I put my cows and sheep into my coat-pockets , and got on board with all my little cargo of provisions . The vessel was an English merchantman returning from Japan by the North and South Seas ; the captain , Mr. John Biddle , of Deptford , a very civil man and an excellent sailor . We were now in the latitude of 30 degrees south .