nearly seven
o'clock
Then -- one -- two -- three ! '' Jack most carefully observed every one of the instructions given him by his second , including that which referred to looking his antagonist steadily between the eyes , and he quickly saw that this simple proceeding had a most disconcerting effect upon Alvaros , whose return gaze at once became shifty and uncertain ; the result being that the Spaniard 's bullet flew wide , while Jack 's , aimed by a hand as steady as a rock , struck Alvaros ' right elbow , completely shattering the bone and inflicting an injury that the surgeon , at a first glance , thought would probably stiffen the arm for the remainder of its owner 's life , to the extent of very seriously disabling him . Under these circumstances Alvaros ' second expressed himself satisfied , and declined any further shots ; whereupon Jack and his friend left the ground and went their respective ways , Jack back to the yacht , and the Colonel of Cuirassiers to his quarters . By the time that Jack got back on board the _ Thetis _ it was nearly seven o'clock , and the crew were busily engaged in performing the ship 's toilet for the day , spreading the awnings , and so on ; he therefore retired to the interior of the deck-house with Milsom , and arranged with that individual that he should spend the day in filling the bunkers `` chock-a-block '' with coal , taking in fresh water , laying in a supply of fresh meat , vegetables , and fruit for sea , and generally preparing to go out of harbour on the following day . Then , a thought suddenly striking him , he wired to Calderon , directing him to pack and dispatch forthwith to the yacht all the wearing apparel of every description that he could find , belonging to any of the members of the Montijo family ; the boxes to arrive at Havana next day , without fail , not later than by the mid - day train . This done , he hurried away to keep his breakfast appointment with Don Ramon Bergera , whom he found awaiting him in a somewhat anxious frame of mind lest anything untoward should have resulted from the duel . Reassured on this point , Don Ramon chatted with Jack upon indifferent subjects until breakfast was served and the servants had been dismissed , when he said : `` You are no doubt anxious to learn the result of the enquiries into the truth of Alvaros ' story which I undertook to make , yesterday afternoon .