about midnight
To have left him in the hands of the Spaniards would have been to leave him in slavery for the remainder of his life ; and , judging by himself , Leicester felt that death itself would be preferable to such a fate . Then , again , there was the possibility -- a slender one , it is true , but still a possibility -- of their speedy rescue ; in which case , with the care and nursing which he would be sure to receive , there was no reason why Walford should not recover both his health and his intellect . So , comforting himself with the reflection that he was doing the best he could for the unfortunate man , George arranged a comfortable berth for him in the sternsheets of the boat , and deposited him thereon , still lashed up in his canvas hammock , the grass packing of which formed a comparatively soft and comfortable support to his emaciated frame . The breeze continued fresh until about midnight , after which it lessened a trifle , and came off from the larboard quarter . Daybreak found the boat off the north-eastern extremity of the Isle of Pines , and about five miles distant from that curious chain of islets called by the Spaniards the Islas de Mangles , which curves out like a breakwater across the northern face of the island . Their hunger , which had to some extent been appeased by their last plentiful meal of wild raspberries , and which had been altogether forgotten in the excitement of their subsequent flight now returned to them in full force , and , the breeze failing them , George determined to put the line overboard and try for a few fish . He was successful beyond his most sanguine expectations , half-a-dozen fine but grotesque-looking fish speedily rewarding his efforts .