4 p.m.
And away he accordingly walked to carry out his resolve . We stood on as we were going until eight bells in the afternoon watch that day , when the ship was hove round on the larboard tack and a course shaped for Saint Paul de Loando , our skipper having come to the conclusion that the brig referred to in the _ Vestale 's _ signal was undoubtedly the craft which we had been on our way back to the Congo to look for , and that as , according to the gun-brig 's statement , she was no longer there , we were now free to proceed direct to Saint Paul to land the burnt-out crew as soon as possible . We entered the bay -- upon the shore of which the town is built -- about 10 a.m. on the second day after our last meeting with the _ Vestale _ , and , anchoring in ten fathoms , lowered a boat , in which Mr Richards and his crew were landed , Captain Vernon going on shore with them . The skipper remained on shore until 4 p.m. , and when he came off it was easy to see that he was deeply preoccupied . The boat was at once hoisted in , the messenger passed , the anchor hove up , and away we went again , crowding sail for the Congo . As soon as the ship was clear of the Loando reef and fairly at sea once more , Captain Vernon summoned the first and second lieutenants to his cabin , where the three remained closeted with him for some time , indeed the two officers dined with him ; but , whatever the matter might be , neither Mr Austin nor Mr Smellie let fall a word as to its nature , though it was evident from their manner that it was deemed of considerable import . When I turned in that night I felt very greatly dissatisfied with myself .