seven o'clock
With the dawn of the third day after we had parted company with the _ Shark _ we found ourselves about two miles distant from our consort , both vessels steering to the north-westward , with the wind well over our starboard quarter , and our starboard studding-sails set . The wind was blowing a moderate breeze , there was a long but very regular sea running , and we were doing ten knots very comfortably , the little _ Francesca _ , sliding over the long liquid hills and down into the broad valleys as easily and buoyantly as a sea gull . We in the schooner were showing every rag we could spread , but the brig had her royals stowed , in order that she might not run away from us . At seven o'clock San Domingo entered my cabin with a cup of chocolate , informed me as to the state of the weather , the whereabouts of the brig , and so on , and intimated that it was time for me to turn out if I wished to indulge in my usual luxury of a salt-water bath under the head-pump . I accordingly tumbled out , and , going on deck , made my way forward along the heaving planks into the eyes of the little vessel . I was just about to place myself under the clear sparkling stream of salt-water that gushed from the spout of the pump when the sound of a loud snap overhead caused me to look aloft , and I saw that the royal halyard had parted , and that the yard was sagging down with its own weight , and the sail bellying out with the pressure of the wind in it . Jones , the acting boatswain , who had charge of the deck , instantly observed the trifling mishap , and shouted an order for the sail to be temporarily clewed up , and for a hand to go aloft and bend the halyard afresh .