nine o'clock
It was standing there and eyeing my dragon-trees that over the tops of them I caught sight of the pinnace plying towards the island . I remember clearly what manner of day it was ; clear and fresh , the sea scarce heaving , but ruffled under a southerly breeze . The small vessel , though well enough handled , made a sorry leeway by reason of her over-tall sides , and lost so much time at every board through the labour of lowering and rehoisting her great lateen yard that I judged it would take her three good hours before she came to anchor in the port below . I could not find that she had any hostile appearance , yet -- as my duty was -- sent down word to the guard to challenge her business before admitting her ; and a little before nine o'clock I put on my coat and walked down to the haven to look after this with my own eyes . I arrived almost at the moment when she entered and her crew , with sail partly lowered , rounded her very cleverly up in the wind . The guard-boat put off at once and boarded her ; and by-and-by came back with word that the pinnace was English -LRB- which by this time I had guessed -RRB- , by name the _ George of Bristol _ , and owned by an Englishman of quality , who , by reason of his extreme age , desired of my courtesy that I would come on board and confer with him . This at first I was unwilling to risk : but seeing her moored well under the five guns of our fort , and her men so far advanced with the furling of her big sail that no sudden stroke of treachery could be attempted except to her destruction , I sent word to the gunners to keep a brisk look-out , and stepping into the boat was pulled alongside .