nearly two o'clock in the afternoon
-- that the custom-house officer betrayed even more than ordinary Yankee curiosity as to the reasons which had prompted Jack to select West Indian waters as the spot in which to pursue his quest of renewed health ; and there seemed to be a very marked disposition on the part of the man to indulge in hints and innuendoes suggesting that he was perfectly aware of the existence of a certain something `` under the rose '' , until Singleton at length put a stop to it by asking him , point - blank , what it was at which he was hinting . And when he at length went down the side to return to the shore , he left a subordinate on board the yacht . The Montijos were very wroth at this act of the customs authorities , which they rather wished Jack to resent as an act of discourtesy on the part of the American Government ; but Milsom promptly interposed , explaining matters , while Jack laughed heartily , declaring that there was not the slightest need to worry , since they had nothing in the shape of contraband or otherwise that they wished to land at Key West . The saloon party breakfasted at nine o'clock the next morning , and , embarking in the steam pinnace about ten , went ashore , ostensibly to enquire at the post office for letters , and to view the quaint little town , but really to visit an agent of the Cuban Junta who was established there ; upon whom , however , Don Hermoso did not call until nearly two o'clock in the afternoon , at which hour the streets were practically deserted . The first visit of the party was to the post office , where , as he had expected , Don Hermoso found awaiting him a long letter , written in cipher , from the Junta at New York , cordially thanking him for his generous assistance , and informing him that arrangements had been made for a trusty party to await the arrival of the yacht in the Laguna de Cortes , at the south-west end of Cuba , where everything was to be landed , and where also a pilot would be found waiting to take the yacht into the lagoon . The letter ended up by giving a password which would be evidence of the _ bona fides _ both of the pilot and of the party who had been told off to receive the contraband . It soon became apparent to Jack that he and his party were attracting a very considerable amount of attention from certain individuals , who appeared to be following them about the town persistently , and apparently with very little pretence at concealment .