about
midnight
Such work , therefore , as needed to be done was done with the utmost deliberation and nicety ; and when at length all was finished there still remained time to spare , which the men were permitted to employ pretty much as they liked , it having by this time been ascertained conclusively that , apart from themselves , the island was absolutely without inhabitants . At length , however , the time arrived when it became necessary to put to sea again ; and on a certain brilliant morning the camp was struck , all their goods and chattels were taken back to the ship ; and , with every man once more in the enjoyment of perfect health , with every water cask full to the bung-hole of sweet , crystal-clear water , and with an ample supply of fruit and vegetables on board , the _ Adventure _ weighed anchor and stood away to the westward under easy sail , passing between the islands of Saint Vincent and Becquia with the first of the dawn on the following morning . Marshall had estimated that the passage from Barbados to Cartagena would occupy eight days ; but to provide against unforeseen delays he allowed twelve days for its accomplishment , with the result that , no unforeseen delays having arisen , the _ Adventure _ arrived off Cartagena just four days before the date upon which , according to the information obtained from the _ Santa Clara _ , the plate ship was to sail . It was just about midnight when , according to Bascomb 's reckoning , the ship reached the latitude of Cartagena , when she was hove-to . But as Marshall had observed the precaution of maintaining a good offing during the entire passage , merely hauling in to the southward sufficiently to sight Point Gallinas in passing , and thus verify his position , it was not surprising that when the daylight came no land was in sight , even from the masthead . This was perfectly satisfactory and as it should be ; nevertheless it was important that explicit information should now be at once obtained concerning the plate ship , the progress which she was making toward the completion of her loading , and especially whether she would be ready to sail on the date originally named . Marshall therefore summoned a council of war consisting of , in addition to himself , Bascomb , the master , Winter and Dick Chichester , the lieutenants , and Messrs. Dyer and Harvey , the two gentlemen adventurers .