ten o'clock at night
Mr Sawbridge had the command of the expedition in the pinnace ; the first cutter was in charge of the gunner , Mr Linus ; and , as the other officers were sick , Mr Sawbridge , who liked Jack more and more every day , at his particular request gave him the command of the second cutter . As soon as he heard of it , Mesty declared to our hero that he would go with him ; but without permission that was not possible . Jack obtained leave for Mesty to go in lieu of a marine ; there were many men sick of the dysentery , and Mr Sawbridge was not sorry to take an idler out of the ship instead of a working man , especially as Mesty was known to be a good hand . It was ten o'clock at night when the boats quitted the ship ; and , as it was possible that they might not return till late the next day , one day 's biscuit and rum were put on board each , that the crews might not suffer from exhaustion . The boats pulled in-shore , and then coasted for three hours without seeing anything : the night was fine overhead , but there was no moon . It still continued calm , and the men began to feel fatigued , when , just as they were within a mile of a low point , they perceived the convoy over the land , coming down with their sails squared , before a light breeze . Mr Sawbridge immediately ordered the boats to lie upon their oars , awaiting their coming , and arranging for the attack .